#the lucky batch skip

[lost-in-fiction-like-ur-mom]

Could you do one where the reader had been in a relationship with Hunter before being taken with Omega on Tantiss. Now that they're reunited, Hunter realizes that he wants to marry the reader?

With a little bit of Wrecker and Crosshair friendly teasing Hunter.

Marry Me?

Hunter x Reader

Summary- After an insufferable separation from you, Hunter realizes his true feelings. That he never wants to be apart from you- that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you.

Part Two right here! Part Three right here!

A/N- SPOILERS FOR SEASON 3 OF THE BAD BATCH!!!! You have been warned! Thank you so much for requesting babes! Hope you like it! <3 <3

Word Count- 1,755

Beautiful Screen Shot by @isthereanechoinhere96

"Omega... It's- It's been months. We don't even know if they're still aliv-"

You felt shame rise up in your chest when you agreed with Crosshair. He was right, time had gone by slowly and there was no way of knowing if Hunter and Wrecker were alive. Your sweet sweet Hunter. The man who only showed he heart for the people he deeply loved. You were lucky to be one of them.

"They'll be there." Omega stated. She was so sure... but all you could think about were the doubts. Omega was always able to be more trusting and optimistic than you. Constant fear of losing your family limited you severely.

You swallowed deeply and looked down to Omega, pushing your anxieties down. "They will be." Were you trying to convince Crosshair or yourself?

The next few minutes of hyper-space felt like days. You were so eager. Everything was either going to get a million times worse, or a million times better.

Omega guided the ship to a remote planet you had never heard of, a deep blue over taking you.

Picking at your nails nervously, you stood- ready to depart. Crosshair noticed this and eyed you. He was nervous as well, but for different reasons.

You almost sobbed when you saw the Marauder in the distance. Hope bubbled in your chest, all thoughts of doubt escaped you.

The second the door lowered with a steam, Omega ran out of the ship. You followed her quickly behind.

She stopped at the mid-point between the ships. Wrecker slowly exited the Marauder, "Now there's a sight!"

You laughed, the tension dissipated. Omega ran to him and Wrecker picked her up, spinning around. "Wrecker!" She responded.

The sight made tears of joy fall. To see Omega so happy was enough for you.

"And I wasn't even sure your message was real!" Wrecker half-joked, still holding Omega up.

"Wrecker, I knew you'd show up!" Her words made your ears ring, did Hunter show up? Well, of course he did! That would be dumb for him to leave Wrecker... Unless, unless he wasn't alive to leave.

Your brain ran wild, why hadn't Hunter come out yet? It was almost as if Wrecker read your mind, he rested a hand on your shoulder after lowering Omega.

Just then, another set of footsteps came out. Hunter skipped steps to get to you and Omega.

Your hands shot up to cover your gasp, tears falling fast now. Omega got to Hunter first- you knew she needed it more.

He crouched down and hugged Omega deeply, his words drowned out. What you did make out was him saying your name, an arm stretched out for you and an arm holding Omega tightly.

You met him as fast as your feet would let you. "Hunter..." You whispered, face immediately meeting his neck as he pulled you close.

His arm pulled you in, crushing you against him in a pleasant way.

He pulled back to pepper your face with kisses, then a deep one on the lips. A few of your tears dripped onto his face, mixing with his own.

Omega giggled and pulled on your arm, you pulled back to let her back in on the hug. All three of you were lifted when Wreckers arms grasped around the bunch of you.

Wrecker pulled everyone up, making the embrace tighter. It was like your perfect little family was back again.

That night, after abandoning the empire's ship, was filled with more hugs, catching up, tears, and awkward conversations with Crosshair. You couldn't have wished for anything better. Your family, all in one place. Save for Echo, but you learnt he was safe with Rex- that made you smile.

You helped Omega settle into her room. You noticed too many yawns and drifting off, she was worn out emotionally and physically.

You spoke with her softly, reminding her everyone would still be here in the morning. Picking up Lula, her doll, and tucking it under her arm gave out the last yawn.

"Can I talk to Hunter?" She questioned with big eyes.

"Of course, baby. I'll be right back" You pet her hair back and left to go retrieve him.

You stopped when you saw him, Crosshair, and Wrecker whispering in the cock-pit.

"Ahaha! Be a man, just ask!" Wrecker said as he patted Hunters back harshly. Ask who? What would he have to 'be a man' about?

"If you say it any louder he won't have to..." Crosshair remarked.

"Oh! Sooorry." Wrecker dragged out.

"Both of you hush, I'll do it when I feel the time is right." Hunter spoke, his husky voice immediately filling you with warmth.

"You got this!" Wrecker exclaimed again, this time he earned a "Shhh!" from both Hunter and Crosshair.

You slowly entered the cock-pit, this time making your appearance known.

"Oh! Hello!" Wrecker greeted loudly, signalling to Hunter you were in the room. Hunter just sighed and shook his head.

You were curious about the conversation, but thought it might not be any of your business.

Smiling, you started, "Omega wants you to finish putting her to bed, Hunter." The way his face lit up had you star-struck. Almost like he couldn't believe she wanted him. "Thank you."

He nodded and headed her way, a hand cupping and maneuvering around your waist as he passed you. His subtle but frequent small touches warmed your heart.

You took a seat in the co-pilot chair, swiveling to look at Crosshair and Wrecker. Both looked down at you with crossed arms and smug looks.

"What?" You wondered if there was something on your face, or if you just took someones spot.

"Nooothing, we will be heading off to sleep now. RIGHT Crosshair?" Wrecker spoke in a suspicious voice, elbowing him in the side. Crosshiar grunted but agreed, leaving you alone.

Weird.

But then again, nothing was normal on this ship.

You took this time to lean back and take a few minutes of rest alone. It was nice being able to relax by yourself, knowing everyone was safe.

After a handful of minutes, Hunter made his way back from Omega. He took the seat next to yours, turning to face you.

"How are you doing?" You asked, sparking conversation.

"Fine, I'm just happy you guys are here... I keep thinking i'm going to blink and you'll both be gone..." His words shook at the end. You sat up, understanding the seriousness of the conversation.

"Hunter, Omega and I are alive and safe. We are here and we are not going anywhere." You rose and stood between his legs, hands cupping his face.

He looked up at you, tears filling his eyes slowly.

"What if I can't protect you two again?" He brought up a hand to rest at your hip, the other on his leg.

You rested your forehead against his, "That was a freak accident, baby. No one could have stopped that. Now we have Crosshair, Batcher, and we are ready for anything. We will keep Omega from the Empire. I promise."

He took a deep breath in, like he had just decided something.

He started by saying your name, "You always know just what to say. I wish I had that ability..." He closed his eyes and breathed you in for a moment, then he spoke again. "When... When we were apart I was so lost."

"I kno-"

"No, I don't think you understand. I couldn't think of anything but you and Omega. I was so broken without you." He repeated your name.

"I-I never want you to be away from me again." His voice got huskier as he spoke, and your legs felt like jello. You just looked at him deeply, nodding.

He started for a second time with a shaky breath, "No one can take you from me again. I will claw my way back to you every damn time." He nods his head up, brushing his nose to the side of your cheek with closed eyes.

You let him speak, even when your mind was flowing with your own comments, "It- The distance, made me realize. There is no one that can compare to you. No other woman I would ever want to be with."

Ah, so that is what they were talking about. You smiled big, awaiting the special phrase.

Tears filled your eyes with his words, he was speaking as raw as he was capable of.

"I can't promise you money or luxury, but I will spend every waking hour fighting to make you happy. Fighting to keep you safe." He pulls back, steadying you with both hands on your hips.

You take in a teary breath to speak, but he cuts you off. "Don't say anything yet, just- Wait here, just a second." He stands, reaching to Crosshair's old storage compartment.

He rushes back with a small box. You raise your hands to cup your own face, bright red. He lowered onto one knee, right in the middle of the cock-pit

"Please, for my own sanity and happiness, will you marry me?" He asks.

"Yes. Yes Hunter, there are no other words than yes." You fall down onto him, arms grasping around his neck.

He lets out a sigh of relief like you'd ever say 'no.'

"Thank you, oh thank you." He whispers into your neck, holding you tight. He only pulls back slightly to kiss you. A kiss so deep and full of emotions your head spun. You just held him, never wanting to let go.

It felt like time stopped, just for you two. Just for a clone trooper and a small girl...

"I never planned on you..." He broke the silence, head placed on top of yours. "But I- you were so damn perfect. Too perfect." You gave a small laugh, looking up to see his handsome face.

You rested a hand on his tattoo, thumbing it. "Hunter, if anyone is perfect it's you. You have so much love for me and Omega... How do you do it?"

"I manage." He smirked, leaning down to smell your hair. Something he used to do frequently when you snuggled in the past.

"Am I now Mrs. Hunter? Or is it Mrs. Trooper?" You joked, pulling back to sit fully on the ship floor. Your hands still filled with his much larger ones.

He smiled at you, another reminder on why he loved you so much. "We can figure out all the fine details later... Just let me kiss you again..."

So, you did.

A/N- Thank you so much for reading! I loved writing this one, I hope it turned out as good as I thought! Sorry It took me longer to post than usual, I was pretty busy this past week. As always, i'm open to constructive criticism!

Tags- (lmk if you want to be tagged as well!) @thethreeeyed-raven @knight-of-flowerss

[tofics]

Broken - Chapter 6

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!Reader

Summary: A year has passed since Joel and Ellie have returned to Jackson when he finds you on patrol, half frozen and half burning up. Jackson takes you in and nurses you back to health, welcoming you as the newest member of their community. The more time passes, Joel realizes that you and him have more in common than he likes… Until one day, everything changes and you get a gift that he’ll never get.

Word Count: 3433 words

This chapter is very dark. Reader discretion is advised.

Warnings: violence (knife at throat, choking through knee on chest), clear intentions of killing, blood, clear mention of SA (usage of the r-word), panic attack, throwing up, cursing.

Chapter 6 - Nightmare Knocking On Your Door

"YOU." Spit flies from your lips as you scream into the man's face, foaming at your mouth. The knife you're pressing into his throat is already drawing blood, the blade pressed against the skin so tightly that it's being split open by the sharp edge. It's taking every ounce of strength in you not to slice him open right there and then.

You barely register his female companion crying out and staggering towards you before she's pulled out of your view. Then someone drops to their knees besides you. "Whoa whoa whoa, hey, why don't we put the knife away?" Tommy's voice is gentle, clearly meant to ease you down, but you only hiss in response, never taking your eyes off your prey.

You've waited so long for this moment.

You dreamt of it so many times; so many versions where the outcome is always the same: you, taking his life.

One Hour Earlier

Springtime in Jackson is nothing but beautiful.

Joel and you returned to Jackson a week earlier. Although your mission was unfruitful, you still came carrying gifts and trinkets. None of the ranches you hit up had any cows to offer, but a few of them still had quite a bit of resources scattered around to loot from.

Betsy received two relatively in-shape backpacks that you found, filled with all kinds of knick-knacks that can be helpful out in the wild.

The Tipsy Bison got a fresh batch of whiskey, found stashed away in what was presumably a 'man-cave' a long time ago.

The chalk, skipping ropes and board game you found went to the school where they're received with joy and excitement.

The thing you were most excited about though was a stash of Savage Starlight comics that you found in an abandoned library. When Joel told you about Ellie's love for them, there was no question that they'd be coming with you, weight be damned.

Ellie was ecstatic and wrapped you in a bear hug that made you all fuzzy and hurting inside at the same time. Despite the hurt, you hugged her right back.

Everyone else was grateful for their deliveries as well.

You've come to love this little town, there's no doubt about it. This place is as close to the old world as it comes, if someone put a spin on it and cranked up the equality setting. Everyone chips in, everyone gets something out of it. It actually fucking works.

It's always bustling, no matter the season, but now that the colors are changing from white and gray and brown to blue skies and green and specks of color here and there, provided by the odd early flower, it's almost something out of a fairytale. Some days you're convinced Snow White will come around a corner with a bunch of forest animals trailing behind her.

That's not to say life is easy. You're not delusional about the world outside of the town's walls, it's still an apocalyptic shit-show out there, run by raiders and infected. But it's out there and you're in here. In a community that looks out for its members. With a roof over your head, food in your stomach, and a warm bed to sleep in at night. That in itself is already more than you allowed yourself to dream of for the past twenty years.

And yet, somehow, as if you weren't already lucky enough, there's Joel and Ellie.

Ellie with her infectious smile and silly jokes and ruthless honesty that seems way beyond her years and Joel with his... Joelness. The quiet exterior that hides more than you could've ever thought and somehow got lucky enough to become privy to.

Your life is bordering on being too good to be true. That, you're certain of.

And yet you can't help but smile, all the damn time.

It's like not only Jackson is thawing out, but so are you. Something that was buried deep inside of you is slowly resurfacing, breathing more color and life back into you with every day that passes. It's the most wonderful and scariest feeling you've come across yet.

You're on your way to the stalls, admiring Jackson's spring attire when you hear the commotion near the gates. One of the guards is shouting something unintelligible, closely followed by the tell-tale sound of the gates slowly being opened.

This is strange for two reasons. One, it's too early for patrol to return - unless something happened. Two, the guards wouldn't be yelling to open the gates for patrol - unless something happened.

Joel's on patrol this morning.

Apple still in hand, your feet turn the opposite direction from the stalls. You're running by the time you arrive at the small plaza in front of the gates.

Please, please, don't let anything have happened to him.

You're not the only person the guard's shouts attracted. A small crowd has formed in front of the gates, obscuring them from your view. People at the front are muttering, but you can't tell by their tone whether what they're seeing is good or bad.

Please, not Joel. Please.

Your pulse drums in your ears as you push through the rows of bystanders.

Not him. Anyone but him.

He is the first thing you see when you stumble out of the crowd, up on his horse and alive, thank God. Your eyes roam over his body to check for injuries, but you can't find any. Instead, your eyes stop on the hands wrapped around Joel's waist from behind.

What the...?

Your gaze flits over to the second horse that's carrying Jeff. He appears to be healthy too, thankfully, but there is also a pair of arms wrapped around his waist.

"Who'd they bring in?," a voice sounds from your right, and it finally clicks.

Oh. They brought new people.

It's crazy how quickly you can go from being the new one to being one of the people in the face of strangers. A multitude of thoughts run through your head in the few seconds it takes for the information to register in your brain, ranging from 'Thank God Joel's okay' to 'I wonder whether they'll fit in', never once considering the fact that you're now on the opposite side of where you were a few months ago when Joel brought you in on that very same horse.

To the left of you, Tommy weaves through the people watching the action unfold and walks up to Joel's horse. They exchange a few words and you see Tommy nodding, first to Joel, then to Jeff.

"I guess that means they get to stay. For now," the woman next to you mutters. "For now?" You raise an eyebrow at her. "What does that mean?" She turns to you with a mocking expression that quickly fades when she realizes that it's you. "Oh. Yeah, guess you wouldn't know. Council's gonna decide whether they're a good fit or not. If not..." She shrugs, the implication of the words unspoken hanging heavy in the air between you.

It's never occurred to you before, but of course a place like Jackson would have a system in place that decides whether or not people are a good fit for them. Just because nothing was ever explicitly brought up to you doesn't mean that you never went through a screening process yourself.

Joel's passenger is revealed to be a very pregnant woman when he slides off his horse with ease. How she was even able to hold on to him with a belly of that size between them is beyond you, but it also answers any question about why Jeff and Joel decided to bring them in.

You watch as Joel and Tommy awkwardly help her come off the horse. "Phew, looks like she's about to pop any minute now," the woman to your side comments, and you couldn't agree more.

She is lucky they found her when they did, you think as the woman puts her hands on her lower back for support, visibly stiff from the ride and the extra weight she is lugging around.

Opposite of the little trio Jeff jumps down from his four-legged companion and extends a hand out to his own passenger. His help is accepted and - thump - the second stranger sets their feet on Jackson's ground. Jeff pets them on the back and smiles, and although you're too far away to properly hear him, you can practically read the words on his lips: Welcome to Jackson.

From the frame of the person, you assume it's a man, likely the second half of DNA that's currently cooking in the woman's belly. He reaches for Jeff's hand and envelopes it in both of his. "Thank you, man, I don't know what we would have done without you."

A sizzling pain shoots through your body and immobilizes you.

You know that voice.

It's haunted you in your dreams for years.

You'd recognize it anywhere.

Jeff and the man move towards the other half of the arrival party and you watch, frozen in place, as the back of the head turns into a side-profile until you're staring into his face.

Him.

The face of the one person you hate most in this world.

The face of the monster that is responsible for your pain. For her pain.

The apple in your hand falls to the ground and lands with a soft thud, but you barely register it. Time seems to stand still as your eyes lock on him, that face you'll never be able to forget.

Bile is working its way up your throat and filling your mouth with the sour and bitter taste of pure, unfiltered hatred. Your vision blurs and refocuses multiple times, his face going in and out of focus as if your brain is doing repeated double-takes, unable to process what you're seeing.

Every single muscle in your body is on fire, screaming a thousand silent cries that are only matched by the high-pitched ringing in your ears, so loud and deafening that no other sound comes through.

I will kill you.

The sentence is so loud and so clear in your mind that it snaps your body back into reality and time resumes.

In front of you, they're being welcomed, hands are shaken and pats on the shoulders are given out. "Wanna bet on when she pops?," you hear from your right but don't waste a single glance.

Your eyes are locked on your target.

You watch in trance - or like a predator stalking their prey? - as the pregnant woman and her accompanying monster are welcomed with open arms into your community, your safe-space until he turns to Joel and shakes his hand.

"No. NO!," you screech and everyone turns towards you, but your legs are already carrying you forward, your hands finding the knife that you keep tucked in your belt on their own accord as you beeline for the source of all your misery.

You see him doing the mental math of placing you. The initial confusion, the recognition that wipes the smile from his face, and finally, the fear that spreads in his eyes.

Good. Fear me, for I will be your death.

Tommy, who is closest to you, tries to step into your path. "Hey, what's goin' o-," is how far he gets before you push him to the side and lunge forward.

He goes down hard, despite his large statue, your knife at his throat.

"YOU." Spit flies from your lips as you scream into the man's face, foaming at your mouth. Your knife is already drawing blood, the blade pressed against the skin so tightly that it's being split open by its sharp edge. It's taking every ounce of strength in you not to slice him open right there and then.

You barely register his female companion crying out and staggering towards you before she's pulled out of your view. Then someone drops to their knees besides you. "Whoa whoa whoa, hey, why don't we put the knife away?" Tommy's voice is gentle, clearly meant to ease you down, but you only hiss in response, never taking your eyes off your prey.

You've waited so long for this moment.

You dreamt of it so many times; so many versions where the outcome is always the same: you, taking his life.

Tommy is still talking to you, urging and soothing words mixing into a slurry background noise. You briefly make out Joel's name being called, but you block it all out, a tight wall coming down in your mind to shut it all out. Nothing and no one will take this from you.

"Not fighting back now, hm?," you pant and lick your lips. Your eyes flit back and forth between his, soaking up the fear in them like dry ground on a rainy day. "What, fight's gone out of you that quick?"

He doesn't reply, he just stares back at you, something unreadable behind the panic in his eyes.

"Fight back, you coward." You press the knife harder into his skin, drawing more blood. He winces but doesn't draw back, nor does he make any attempt to fight you off.

After what he did? After what he put her through?

Here he is, at your mercy, and he won't even attempt to fight back?

It makes you furious.

"I said fight BACK," you roar and shake him, fist buried into his jacket. He thumps back into the ground and his head comes down hard, but his hands remain stoically at his side, not moving an inch besides the fists his fingers have curled into.

Instead, he opens his mouth for the first time.

"I'm sorry." The words come out in a hoarse whisper.

It's so far from what you ever could have imagined him saying in a moment like this that for just a second, you're taken aback.

Then an even deadlier rage overtakes you.

You pull him up by his collar until your nose meets his nose. You stare into his eyes, making sure he truly sees you as you speak your next words.

"You don't get to say that to me," you hiss out between clenched teeth. "Not to me, when you should have said it to her, you fucking piece of shit!"

You slam him back to the ground and add a knee to his chest, pressing him into the dirt. It delights you, the way he's struggling to breathe under your weight. The fear in his eyes slowly grows into panic with every hitched breath he tries to take.

"Give me one good reason why I should let you live," you snarl.

He's panting now, wincing when you add more pressure on the blade at his throat.

"One good reason for why I shouldn't slice you open right here, right now."

The woman he came with screams at your words. It's shrill and piercing and filled with so much fear for him that you can only shoot her a quick look of pure disdain. How could she be worried about the life of a monster?

He holds your gaze and you can see it in his eyes, that slow shift from panic to begging, and you can't help but laugh. "Pah!" You spit onto the ground next to him. "That's what I thought."

You raise your knife to deliver the final cut that will take his life when he suddenly speaks again.

"She's alive," he sputters and heaves for air.

You freeze in your spot, knife hanging mid-air.

"Say that again." Your voice is low, threatening. He eyes the blade, then quickly looks back to you.

"She's alive."

You lick your lips as your eyes feverishly move back and forth between his, trying to detect signs of the lie you're sure you're being told.

"Hey," a low voice says next to you, the first one to get through to you since you've tackled this monster to the ground. "Hey," Joel repeats and you feel a gentle hand on your back, but you don't move, don't look away from the scum in front of you, frozen in action.

"What's going on?" Joel's voice is as gentle as the hand on your back, but you know him well enough by now to hear the concern in his voice, try as he might to conceal it.

He waits for your response, his hand burning on your back like hot iron. A few moments pass as the thoughts race through your brain.

"Why should I believe you?," you finally spit out.

His response is as simple as it is logical. "What do I have to lose?" His voice is raspy from the lack of air in his lungs. "Why should I lie to you, when you would kill me anyway?"

Your breathing is almost as labored as his. Your pulse is drumming in your ears, drowning out your thoughts and making it hard to think. Next to you, Joel says your name.

"Location." It's a clear order from your lips.

"I don't know." The words are barely out of his mouth when you respond with a croaky laugh, ramming him into the ground once more.

"You filthy piece of shit, of course you don't. Because you're lying." You raise your knife again, but then your arm is obstructed, caught mid-way by a strong hand.

"Joel, let go," you hiss but he doesn't budge, just shakes his head. "Not like this. Not here." He cocks his head at the crowd that's gathered around you and you realize everyone's eyes on you for the first time.

No. No, this is all wrong.

"You don't know what he did," you cry out, suddenly desperate to make him understand that you have to do this, that no matter what, you can't let him just walk away, not after what he did to her.

"You'll tell me. He won't get away." Joel's free hand gently wraps around the knife in your hand. "Ain't that right, Tommy?"

Your vision is starting to swim at the bottom as tears are flooding your eyes. Joel's gaze stays locked on yours, his eyes communicating more to you than his words ever could in this moment.

Trust me, they're saying, and despite every instinct in you screaming at you, you feel your hand releasing the knife.

"I got you."

Joel's eyes never leave yours, not when he gives the knife to Tommy, not when he gets up and lifts you with him, not when both his hands wrap around your elbows and lead you away from the scene, from the crowd, from him.

"Tell me what I need to know."

You're behind the town hall, just far enough to be out of sight and earshot of what's happening in front of the gates. Joel's hands are still on you, though whether he's keeping them there to keep you here or to steady you, you're not sure.

He's watching you intently, waiting for you to offer up an explanation, but the words are getting stuck in your throat, too thick and heavy and laced with pain to come out.

A sob breaks through your panicked breaths and you tug on your arms, wishing to be loose so you can pace about, but Joel won't let you.

"Tell me, babygirl. Tell me what I need to know." His voice matches the urgency in his eyes and another shrieky sob escapes you.

"He did that to her," you finally press out, a whispery shriek that cuts through your chest like a hot knife through butter.

"Did what, baby?" Joel coaxes you, his voice soft but serious, concern etched into his eyebrows.

Tears are running down your cheeks as images of the worst moment in your life flicker across your vision, the monster's grin taunting you like a horror mask as he's hunched over her, his hands digging into the flesh on her hips like she's not made of flesh but of dough.

The bile comes up so quickly that all you can do is turn your head to the side before it shoots out of your mouth. You vomit into the bushes, one of Joel's hand rubbing your back while the other holds your hair, soothing sounds coming from his lips that do little to stop your stomach from emptying all its contents into the green foliage.

You let yourself slide to the ground when there's nothing left to vomit up anymore, breaths heavy and sharp in your ravaged throat.

"He raped her, Joel. He raped my babygirl. Right in front of my eyes."

Series Masterlist - Mobile Masterlist

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[rafecamerons-national-anthem]

COOKING CHAOS-VINNIE HACKER

Y/N tightened her ponytail and stared at the mess Vinnie had already made in her kitchen. Flour was scattered across the counter like snow, a whisk was stuck in what she assumed was pancake batter, and a jar of marinara sauce sat dangerously close to the edge of the counter.

Vinnie, wearing an apron that read Kiss the Cook, glanced up at her with a sheepish grin. "Relax, Y/N. I’ve got this under control."

"Under control?" Y/N arched an eyebrow and motioned to the disaster zone surrounding him. "It looks like a food hurricane hit my kitchen."

"Cooking is an art," he said dramatically, brandishing a spatula like a sword. "You have to embrace the chaos."

Y/N folded her arms and leaned against the counter, watching as Vinnie attempted to crack an egg. Instead of smoothly splitting it into the bowl, he crushed it between his fingers, yolk dripping down his hand. He froze and turned to look at her, guilt written all over his face.

"Okay," he admitted, holding up his sticky hand. "Maybe I need a little help."

Y/N laughed, grabbing a towel to clean him up. "A little help? Try a personal chef."

"Come on, don’t give up on me yet," he said, grabbing her wrist as she turned to leave. His grin was boyish, charming enough to make her hesitate. "You’re supposed to be my partner in this."

"Your partner?" she scoffed, gesturing at the counter. "This feels more like sabotage."

"Fine," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Help me, and I promise the best dinner you’ve ever had. Deal?"

"Deal," Y/N said, rolling her eyes but unable to resist the way his dimples appeared when he smiled.

Together, they tackled the recipe, a simple pasta dish Vinnie insisted he could master. Y/N showed him how to chop onions without slicing his fingers off, though she ended up doing most of the work while he complained about the smell. He stirred the sauce on the stove, accidentally flicking drops onto his apron and her sweatshirt, earning an exasperated groan from Y/N.

When it came time to boil the pasta, Vinnie dumped the noodles into the water all at once, causing the pot to splash and hiss.

"Vinnie!" Y/N yelped, leaping back to avoid the boiling water.

"Whoops," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn’t know it would do that."

"Do you know anything about cooking?" she asked, laughing despite herself.

"I know I’m good at eating it," he shot back, reaching for a wooden spoon to give her a playful tap on the arm.

Eventually, they managed to plate the meal. The pasta was slightly overcooked, the sauce was a little too thick, and Vinnie had forgotten to add salt, but he looked so proud when he set the plates on the table.

"Okay," he said, dramatically wiping his hands on his apron. "Moment of truth. What do you think?"

Y/N took a cautious bite. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t exactly restaurant quality either. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to wipe the triumphant smile off his face.

"It’s...edible," she teased, and his mouth dropped open in mock offense.

"Edible?" he echoed, scoffing. "That’s the thanks I get for pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into this meal?"

"Blood, sweat, and eggshells," she corrected, giggling.

He leaned across the table, narrowing his eyes at her. "You’re lucky I like you, or I’d make you eat the burnt batch I threw out earlier."

"Burnt batch?" Y/N laughed harder, clutching her stomach. "Oh, I need to see that next time."

Vinnie’s expression softened as he watched her laugh, and for a moment, the teasing atmosphere faded. "Yeah," he said quietly, his voice losing its playful edge. "Next time."

Y/N’s laughter faltered as she met his gaze. Something about the way he said it made her heart skip. Before she could respond, he reached across the table, brushing a smudge of flour off her cheek with his thumb.

"You’ve got a little something there," he said, his voice light again, though his touch lingered.

Y/N swallowed hard, her cheeks heating as she batted his hand away. "Shut up and eat your overcooked pasta, Hacker."

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin. "Fine. But next time, you’re cooking, and I’m just gonna watch you stress out instead."

"Deal," she said, though a small smile crept across her face. Next time didn’t sound so bad.

[midnight-shadow-cafe]

Beneath the Apron

Pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x Reader

AU: Baker!Simon

Warnings: Fluff, light teasing, mutual pining

Author’s Note: Simon Has me in a chokehold, tbh I need more baker Simon-

Masterlist

MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+

The first time you walked into Simon Riley’s bakery, it was pouring rain. Not a gentle drizzle, but a torrential downpour that left you drenched from head to toe. You ducked inside, shivering and muttering curses under your breath, only to freeze when you realized you weren’t alone.

Behind the counter stood a man who looked like he belonged in a different time and place—broad-shouldered, with sharp features and piercing dark eyes. He stared at you for a moment, silent, as water dripped from your hair onto the floor.

“Uh… sorry,” you stammered, clutching your soaked bag to your chest. “I’ll just…” You gestured vaguely toward the door.

“Don’t be daft,” he said, his voice a low rumble with a thick accent. “Yer already in ‘ere. Might as well dry off.”

Before you could argue, he disappeared into the back and returned with a towel. He tossed it to you without ceremony, then leaned against the counter, watching as you awkwardly patted yourself dry.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, feeling strangely self-conscious under his gaze.

“Coffee?” he asked, already reaching for a mug.

“Oh, no, I—”

“Yer freezin’. Coffee,” he said firmly, leaving no room for debate.

A few minutes later, you were sitting at a small table near the window, a steaming cup of coffee in front of you. The rain hammered against the glass, but the warmth of the bakery and the rich aroma of freshly baked bread made it feel like a haven.

“Don’t get many people comin’ in this time o’ day,” he said, breaking the silence.

“Well, I wasn’t exactly planning to stop,” you replied, smiling faintly. “The weather had other ideas.”

He grunted—his version of a laugh—and you found yourself oddly charmed by the sound.

After that, you started coming in more often. At first, it was just for the coffee—well, that’s what you told yourself. But it wasn’t long before you found yourself lingering, chatting with Simon between customers and slowly peeling back the layers of his quiet, guarded personality.

---

One morning, you walked in to find him hunched over a tray of cookies, his brow furrowed in concentration. He glanced up as the bell jingled, his expression softening slightly when he saw you.

“Late today,” he commented, his accent turning the words into a soft rumble.

“Had a meeting,” you replied, dropping into your usual seat. “But I couldn’t skip my daily dose of grumpy baker charm.”

Simon snorted, shaking his head. “Dunno why you keep comin’ back.”

“Maybe I like watching you scowl at dough,” you teased, resting your chin in your hand.

He gave you a mock glare, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Yer lucky I make good coffee.”

---

One quiet afternoon, you caught him humming to himself. The bakery was empty except for the two of you, the soft rhythm of his movements lulling you into a comfortable silence. Then you heard it—a low, quiet hum, almost imperceptible over the sound of the mixer.

“Is that… singing?” you asked, looking up with a grin.

Simon froze, his hands stilling mid-knead. “It’s not.”

“It so is!” you said, laughing. “What was it? Some folk song?”

“Shut it,” he muttered, though the tips of his ears turned red.

You leaned forward, propping your elbows on the counter. “Come on, Simon. Give me a performance. I’ll even clap.”

“Yer impossible,” he grumbled, but there was a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

---

Another time, you showed up with a batch of cookies you’d tried to bake yourself. They were… well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly bakery quality.

Simon picked one up, inspecting it with a raised brow. “What’s this supposed to be?”

“A cookie,” you said defensively.

“Looks like a rock,” he deadpanned.

You huffed, crossing your arms. “Well, excuse me for not being a professional.”

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. “S’alright. Can’t all be as talented as me.”

“You’re insufferable,” you muttered, but you couldn’t stop the smile creeping across your face.

Simon took a bite of the misshapen cookie, chewing thoughtfully. “Not bad,” he said finally.

“Really?” you asked, brightening.

“No,” he replied, smirking.

---

One morning, the bakery was unusually quiet. You sat at your usual spot, sipping your coffee and watching Simon move around the kitchen. His hands were deft and sure, rolling out dough and piping frosting with an ease that came from years of practice.

“You ever sit down?” you asked suddenly.

“Don’t have time,” he replied without looking up.

“You’ve got time now,” you pointed out.

Simon paused, a tray in his hands. He stared at you for a moment, then sighed. To your surprise, he placed the tray on the counter, untied his apron, and sat down across from you.

“Didn’t think you’d actually listen to me,” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“Figured it’d shut you up,” he said, though his tone was more amused than annoyed.

“You’re full of charm, aren’t you?” you shot back, smirking.

Simon shook his head, leaning back in the chair. Up close, he was even more intimidating—broad shoulders, strong jaw, and those dark eyes that seemed to see straight through you. But there was a softness to him, too, in the way he rested his arms on the table, his posture relaxed for once.

“You come here every day,” he said after a moment. “Why?”

The question caught you off guard. You hesitated, unsure how honest you wanted to be.

“Well,” you started, stalling for time, “the coffee’s good. The croissants are amazing. And the company’s not bad, either.”

Simon raised an eyebrow. “Not bad?”

“Okay, fine,” you admitted, leaning forward. “The company’s great. Even if you’re a little grumpy.”

He chuckled softly, the sound low and rumbling, and your heart skipped a beat.

“Grumpy, huh?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Very,” you said, grinning.

Simon didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he studied you for a moment, his dark eyes scanning your face like he was trying to figure something out.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” he said finally, his voice so quiet you almost didn’t catch it.

Your breath hitched, and before you could think of a reply, the bell above the door jingled, signaling another customer. Simon stood, tying his apron back on with practiced ease.

“Stay as long as you like,” he said over his shoulder, the hint of a smile on his lips as he walked away.

And just like that, he was back to being the mysterious baker, leaving you sitting there with a fluttering in your chest and a stupid grin on your face.

I hope you enjoyed! Please consider liking and reposting! -Midnight💜

[mooshie-blue]

Flow like water

A Bonniecles self indulgent fic

Don’t like self shipping? Don’t interact

Bonnie always felt gross, both inside and out, they always let their brain rot away with terrible thoughts about their body or mind.

It wasn’t ever easy to escape such things. Once a thought came in it was impossible for Bonnie to let it go. They’d become so focused on it that they would forget to take care of themselves.

And with the handful of missions that Bonnie and the Octonauts are given almost daily, it gave Bonnie even less time to do so.

They lay in bed, as they always did when they weren’t in the library, The weird itchy feeling on their skin, and their unkempt hair bothered them so much but they didn’t have the energy to take care of it.

Bonnie just sat quietly, waiting for something to happen, whether it was someone sounding the Octo-alert, the Vegimals handing out a fresh batch of kelp-cakes. It’s not like Bonnie was desperate for adventure or anything, they just wanted their thoughts to shut up for once.

Up in the HQ, Barnacles, and Dashi monitored the creatures that surrounded the Octopod with all their varying splendor. Shellington was checking in on Peso and Kwazii who were out on a mission to collect samples for research purposes. Not a day goes by where Captain Barnacles forgets to thank his lucky stars to have taken Professor Inkling’s offer to be where he is now.

The beauty and majesty of the vast ocean truly spoke to him, ever since Captain Barnacles was a little cub, his great love was exploring every nook and cranny of the world around him, he loved learning, he loved swimming, he loved the whole world around him, and now he gets to see the beautiful blue ocean every single day, he has the pleasure of waking up to the sight of various marine animals swimming beside his window. It’s all he could ever want.

After another hour of keeping watch for any trouble on the reef, Captain Barnacles decided it was a good time for a break. He stepped back from his port in the HQ and turned to Dashi and Shellington. “I’ll be on break to check up on a few things, please let me know if you two need anything.”

“Will do, Captain.” They both replied. Dashi checked the computer screens for any sort of weather updates, and Shellington sent a map to guide Peso and Kwazii.

“Excellent.” Captain Barnacles smiled and headed down the Octo-chute. Bonnie’s absence wasn’t really a surprise, he knew they kept to themselves most of the time. Even around the Captain himself, Bonnie would hide in their own shell, but that didn’t mean they didn’t like him.

Bonnie loved everyone on the Octopod. They felt safe in the mighty ship, it was their home with a team they respected, but so much self doubt prevented them from ever being honest, they didn’t know how the other Octonauts felt, they couldn’t read their minds, if they could it would make things a lot easier.

The safest option in Bonnie’s mind was to just lock themselves away from everyone unless they were needed.

Bonnie curled up in their bed, wishing their thoughts could go away. They lightly gripped their covers in frustration at the constant battle in their mind that never seemed to end.

“My love, are you alright?” Barnacles’ gentle voice echoed through the door followed by a knock.

Bonnie let out an incomprehensible noise, it sounded like they were trying to talk but wanted to cry. Which made the polar bear worry more. “Bonnie?”

His partner sat up and quietly wrapped themselves in their warm, safe blanket prison. Pangs of anxiety shot through Bonnie’s neglected body, or was it hunger? They couldn’t tell the difference anymore. They didn’t know how to tell Captain Barnacles how bad they felt, anytime it got this bad to the point of skipping meals or baths. They didn’t want to bring the team down.

“May I come in, Bonnie?” Barnacles pleaded, “Please let me in, dear..” his voice was warm as ever even with worry painted in.

Bonnie reluctantly crawled over to the screen and tapped it, which split the crease and opened the door. Barnacles looked up at Bonnie, who hadn’t even changed out of their pajamas, their eyes were sunken and heavy, whether it was from crying or a lack of sleep was anyone’s guess, their hair was matted and tangled, though it looked as though Bonnie barely brushed it earlier. They couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

Barnacles expression softened, his eyes gleamed with understanding “one of those days again, dear?” He asked.

Bonnie nodded and plopped back down on their bed. The little polar bear sat next to them “Have you eaten?” He gently took their hand and rubbed their knuckles with his thumb. Bonnie shook their head again and their eyes welled.

“I see.” He held their hand tighter “And have you bathed?” He noticed Bonnie’s constant itching and squirming, they must’ve felt so uncomfortable and gross, but Barnacles never changed his mind about how much he loved them.

“No, I haven’t.” Bonnie mumbled, avoiding eye contact. Their mind still cursing with thoughts of possible disappointment or anger from the Captain. Yes, such ideas were irrational and stupid, but that didn’t make them any less present.

“I was doing so well..” Bonnie lamented, their voice started to break. “I was going on missions, but I’m back where I started.. I’m so tired.”

Captain Barnacles solemnly watched as Bonnie struggled. It always ached him, he wasn’t new to this quiet shell Bonnie kept themselves in.

But he wasn’t gonna let Bonnie rot, and he wasn’t going to leave them all alone, not ever. He gently put his paw on their back “Would you like me to help you, dear? I can run you a bath and make you some lunch, we can all have the rest of the day off.” He offered with a kind smile.

They looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Why would you..” they paused. “But why?”

“Because I care about you, Bonnie, no matter how you see yourself, I adore you and everything you are, no matter how messy or ugly you see yourself as.” Barnacles spilled his heart out in front of them, he’d do it countless times if he had to. “Please let me help you.”

The fear and guilt in Bonnie’s heart subsided as Barnacles offered his paw. Their eyes welled with tears and they swiftly held the small bear in their arms and cried against his warm embrace. They felt so stupid.

“I have you, dear. It’s okay. You never upset me.” His voice warmed the coldness of Bonnie’s heart away, if not just a little.

“I’m sorry.” They sobbed against his chest, “Captain I’m so sorry for hiding so much, and I’m sorry I keep crying like this.”

“Bonnie please don’t apologize for being this way, this job, all of life as a whole, it’s hard, that’s why we must confide in each other.” Barnacles gently held their cheek and kissed their lips. “You shouldn’t have to suffer in silence, if I’m being honest I’m still trying to learn that. I can’t blame you for being stuck like this, all I can do is help pull you out and that’s what I want to do, now.”

“Please help me, Bear..” Bonnie finally whispered. “I hate how gross I feel right now.”

“Of course dear, pick out some clothes and I’ll get the bath ready.” He stepped back and smiled at them. Bonnie obliged and got out of bed as Barnacles left the room, a smile on his face.

Before heading to the bathroom, Barnacles made his way to the kitchen, where the vegimals were sorting through the cook book, brainstorming ideas for Dinner and putting away clean dishes.

He walked in and gently cleared his throat “Excuse me, Vegimals?”

The little critters paused their activity and turned their attention to the captain. Tunip waddling over front and center. “Yes, Cappy?”

“I’d like you to make a warm bowl of pesto kelp noodles for Bonnie, with sun dyed tomatoes just as they like it” The Captain ordered, Tomminow worriedly approached him “Mama?”

Barnacles gave a comforting smile “Don’t worry, Tomminow, Bonnie will be okay, they’re just not feeling well, I’m doing what I can to help, I promise.”

Tominow hugged him for reassurance. “Help Mama, please..” she begged, the polar bear knelt down and hugged her right back “I promise, Tomminow, on my honor, I’ll take care of Bonnie, as their partner and as an Octonaut, don’t any of you worry about a thing.” He stood back up and smiled.

Tomminow nodded, then the vegimals all scattered to different parts of the kitchen, grabbing different items as they prepared the pesto kelp noodles.

With that, Captain Barnacles and walked off to the bathroom, Bonnie was already standing beside the door with some clothes. He sheepishly opened the door “I’m sorry, dear, I had to make a quick detour, the vegimals are preparing lunch for you.”

Bonnie nodded “I understand.” They opened the door and walked in, Barnacles followed close behind, Bonnie sat aside as he got the bath ready “Warm or cold?”

“Warm, please?” Bonnie requested as Barnacles turned the knobs to the tub and placed the plug over the drain

As the water ran, Captain Barnacles grabbed a bottle of shampoo and conditioner, along with body wash and bubble bath.

As the water rose, he poured some bubble bath in and ran his paw along the water so the bubbles could spread, Bonnie watched silently. Barnacles smiled the whole time he spent preparing the bath.

Bonnie removed their clothes and when the tub filled, they carefully sat down. The warm, soapy water cascaded against their stressed skin, they let out a sigh and lay back, completely engulfed in pleasure from the cleanliness to come.

Barnacles watched with love, he wordlessly let Bonnie enjoy the moment, it always bought him a great deal of joy to help.

Bonnie opened their eyes and smiled. “That feels.. so good..” they sighed.

“Glad it does, Bonnie.” Captain Barnacles let a chuckle escape from his muzzle. “Just relax, my love, let me take care of you.” He gently cupped some water with his paws and very lightly rinsed Bonnie’s hair.

“You always do, Bear.” Bonnie looked at him with a playful smile. Barnacles smiled right back at them. “I’m always happy to take care of you, dear. You mean more to me than anything else.”

Barnacles began rinsing Bonnie’s hair, the sound of the water dripping and pouring filled the room, but it was a comfortable atmosphere.

Bonnie’s hair, while weighted with the water had fallen gently costing the sides of their face, Captain Barnacles gently moved their bangs away with his paw. Bonnie kissed his nose and smiled.

“Are you ready for Shampoo?” He asked, his cheeks slightly red from Bonnie’s little kiss. They responded with a nod.

Captain Barnacles took the shampoo bottle and poured a little into his paws, then, he gently lathered it against their scalp, he hummed a soft tune as he tended to Bonnie, giving them this sort of care was always an honor to him. No matter what Bonnie thought of themselves, Barnacles was always happy to jump in and take care of them, or help them with anything they need.

As Barnacles massaged Bonnie’s scalp, Bonnie wondered for a moment about him. “Bear, I don’t think I’ve met anyone as passionate about the ocean as you, why is that?”

His heart practically glowed with joy, one of his great loves was the ocean, it was his home, as long as he was with the Octonauts of course.

“If I’m being honest, I feel free when I’m in the sea, it’s big and it’s beautiful.” He began. “Even as a cub, all I ever wanted to do was swim, in a strange way it felt like it was easier to get along with the sea creatures than other polar bears, it just feels right being in the ocean.”

Bonnie tilted their head “you didn’t get along with other Polar Bears?” They asked, wondering about what possible reasons Barnacles would have to not get along with someone, let alone other polar bears.

“Oh, we didn’t fight or anything, I just felt like I didn’t belong.” He confessed “For many different reasons, for one, I don’t like eating meat, but I’m sure you already know that. I’ve never had the hunting instinct, not since I was really little.”

Bonnie had noticed that the dishes served on the octopod barely included meats of any kind. It was all Vegetarian dishes. even the fish biscuits that were made to deter predators came from stuff like tofu.

They lay their head back as Barnacles rinsed the shampoo from their hair and continued talking:

“Another reason, well. I just never really fit in, you see, I’m autistic, Bonnie. I’m sure that speaks for itself.” Barnacles added. “I didn’t want to repress who I was. I tried to, because I felt lonely and I wanted to be friends, but it never felt right to be someone I’m not. The only polar bears who liked me were my mother, my sister, and some of the polar scouts.”

Bonnie knew all too well what that was like. That’s why they repressed themselves around so many people. They never thought the issue of being judged for being autistic would spread to the arctic amongst polar bears.

“But when I’m here, on the octopod with you all, I feel like I’m home, I AM home here.” He smiled fondly, thinking of the family he found on his journey of being the captain of the Octonauts.

“I know what it’s like.” Bonnie spoke up.

Barnacles’ ear twitched as he listened. “I mean you already know I’m autistic, When I was really little it wasn’t hard to talk to people, in fact, I loved being around people, everytime I had the chance to talk to someone knew, especially someone my age, I’d take it.”

Barnacles listened as Bonnie shared a piece of themselves with him. Bonnie had always been a quiet, vulnerable person but this brought a new light.

Bonnie ran their hands through the tub water, gently scooping up bubbles and suds. “But as we all got older, especially after I turned 10, I began to notice how different I was, I noticed that teachers had to focus a little more on me when I was upset, I just new I was different, I thought it was just ADHD.”

Bonnie put their hands back in the water and Barnacles tilted his head with concern. “After I was told I was also autistic, whether it was good for me or not, I just stopped trying. I didn’t want freinds anymore, some part of me did, but in everyone’s eyes and, honestly my own, I was too much, I just understood that no one was gonna like me.”

Bonnie stuttered a little before turning to Captain Barnacles, who looked back with pity. “And, that- that’s why I’m so quiet, people like me when I’m quiet.”

“Sorry..” Bonnie sighed.

Captain Barnacles gently took their hand, his heart ached painfully for his partner. “Thank you for telling me this, Bonnie. and you never have to worry about any of that while you’re here.”

“I know, but it’s hard to let myself believe that.” Bonnie looked down.

“It can be hard, yes.” Barnacles admitted “It’s never easy to beleive good things after years of believing you’re bad, but that’s why you need to surround yourself with people who love you.”

Bonnie looked at him again

“Don’t forget, Dear.” He tenderly kissed their head. “I adore you.”

“I love you too.” Bonnie sighed.

Barnacles grabbed the conditioner and lathered it up in Bonnie’s hair. His paws ever so gentle, as they always were. “If you’d like, maybe we can spend the rest of the day together?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Bonnie began to smile as Barnacles lathered the conditioner some more “You’re beautiful, Bonnie.”

“Oh don’t start that..” Bonnie mumbled as they looked away in embarrassment.

“I already have, darling.” He grabbed the body wash and looked at Bonnie for a moment. “May I?” He held up the loofah.

With Bonnie’s permission and their arm out, Barnacles began tenderly scrubbing their arm.

“Do you miss the arctic?” Bonnie asked as Captain Barnacles cleaned their body. The scrubbing slowed to a stop. And Barnacles glanced at Bonnie, he grew a bittersweet smile and sighed.

“Of course I do.” He gently put the loofah aside. His attention still focused on Bonnie. “There’s a lot to miss, doesn’t matter what happened back there.” He smiled.

Bonnie felt a twinge of tension hover over their shoulders. They hesitantly reached for Captain Barnacles’ paw. But with the stillness of the air practically screaming at them to not dare call his attention, they put their hand back in the water.

“Please don’t worry about it, Bonnie.” He took their another arm and tenderly scrubbed away with the loofah. Bonnie looked away with guilt. Their hand rested on their knee, fingernails barely digging in the skin. Bonnie’s unkempt fingernails and shallow breathing really stuck out now.

“Sorry..” Bonnie croaked out while avoiding eye contact. Noticing Barnacles’ vacant expression.

“Don’t be. you’re okay, dear.” He responded bluntly. The loofah against their skin moving more fervently.

“But you aren’t.”

Barnacles felt his mind shut down. He hated those words. He refused to look at Bonnie, if their words put him to a hault, what would their expression do?

“This isn’t about me, Bonnie.” He grimaced. “We can talk about that later, dear.”

Later probably wouldn’t come, Bonnie’s heart thumped in their chest, it wouldn’t be fair to leave the captain in the dark. Bonnie swallowed their pride and gently took his paw. “Captain.” Bonnie began. “Look, you don’t have to tell me anything, I can’t control your feelings, and I can’t make you talk about them.”

Barnacles mouth hung open and he tilted his head at Bonnie’s outburst. Could it be an outburst? Or was it a declaration?

“But you never have to hide how you feel. I know I’m no good at comforting people, all I can really do is listen, but I’d be happy to listen to you, about anything.” Bonnie paused and their cheeks turned red. “I really like your voice, it’s pretty.. and I love you.”

Their eyes half lidded and their smile sincere. Bonnie placed a hand on Captain Barnacles soft cheek, which was also a cute shade of pink at this point, and sighed before kissing his open lips.

Barnacles kept his hands on the tub and his feet firmly in place, but his heart was beating at a million miles an hour and his mind burnt to a crisp. Bonnie’s lips, no matter how used to them he was, always tasted like what love felt like. God, he loved them more than he could ever know or understand.

He felt Bonnie gently pull away from the sweet gesture and gazed to them with shock and adoration. “Darling..” he breathed out, he leaned forward as if he was under some sort of spell.

Bonnie smiled back at his love struck stupor. They rested their head on their arms and studied his features. His eyes hung half lidded and he smiled adoringly.

“You’re wonderful, dear. You always know how to take my breath away.” Barnacles chuckled a little at the end.

“You’re the one lending it to me, Bear.” Bonnie lay back, and Barnacles gleefully continued cleaning Bonnie, they spent the next few minutes enjoying eachothers words and laughter, Bonnie and Barnacles both feeling just as loved as before.

Once late noon came to pass, Bonnie was in the kitchen, eating the pesto kelp noodles that were requested earlier, they didn’t feel the constant itchy or the shame anymore, just then, Captain Barnacles walked in with two mugs. “Feeling better, dear?” He approached them and set one of the mugs down and sat beside them at the table.

“I am, thank you, what about you, Bear?” Bonnie took a sip of the tea on their mug, most of the Octonauts drank hot cocoa, but Bonnie hated it, as they believed drinks should be cold. So they usually had tea.

“Better.” Barnacles simply replied. “Thank you for that, by the way.” He looked at the hot cocoa in his mug “What you said meant a lot to me, but I’d appreciate some patience with my feelings, dear? I’ve never been good with that.” He asked, his expression ad kind as ever.

“I’ll be patient , just like you are with me.” Bonnie gently kissed his head.

[tinywitchgoblin]

In The Kitchen

The Bad Batch x gn!reader, slight Hunter x reader if you squint

Word count: 584

Warnings: fresh pasta

a/n: just a lil’ domestic!TBB drabble. 

“Hey Wrecker, how’s the sauce coming?” you asked, not looking up from the task at hand. You were busy rolling out sheets of pasta dough, and you didn’t want to cause the dough to wrinkle or fold. Plus, since there were so many people to feed (including Wrecker), this was gonna take a while and you needed to focus.

“Good! I think it needs a bit more salt though, can you taste it?” he responded. 

“If someone brings me over a spoonful of it,” you stated. As you feed another sheet of dough into the machine, Echo comes over and puts a spoonful of sauce near your mouth. You leaned over and tasted it, thinking for a moment before giving Wrecker the go-ahead to add more salt. 

“How does this look?” Omega asked from her space on the counter. She was busy making the garlic bread, her favorite part of the meal. 

“Looks good, bud!” you affirmed. She beamed and went over to the oven, scooching Wrecker out of the way to put the tray of bread in before setting the timer. Coming over to where you were working, she asked, “What else can I help out with?”

“You could set the table,” you offered, nodding to the cupboard and drawer where the plates and silverware were respectively. Echo moved to the cupboard to grab the plates for Omega as she wasn’t tall enough to reach them herself. She accepted them with a quick thanks before placing them on the table in the middle of the room and going back for the silverware.

Finally, you finished rolling the pasta dough, so you switched out the rolling attachment for the cutting one. As you fed the dough through the machine once more, the pasta came out sliced and ready to be cooked. You stood back to admire your work, and Omega bounced over, saying, “It all looks and smells so good! I can’t wait to eat it!”

“I couldn’t agree more,” said Hunter, who propped himself up against the doorframe of the kitchen. He made eye contact with you and winked, causing you to look away and blush slightly. Echo rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself before going over to pour the drinks. 

The timer went off for the garlic bread, so you and Omega went to check on it, accidentally bumping into Wrecker in the process. It looked good, so you pulled it out and placed it on a hot pad in the middle of the table next to the salad that Omega had made earlier. Checking to see how everything was progressing, you asked, “I’m gonna start cooking the noodles, but it won’t take very long. Omega, can you go find everybody else and tell them to come in here for dinner?”

“Yep!” she said, skipping away. You could hear her calls of “Tech, Crosshair, Hunter, time to eat!” followed by Wrecker’s stomach gurgling loud enough for the whole house to hear. He shrugged and responded with, “What? I’m hungry.”

“It’s okay, we’ll be eating soon,” you reassured. He took the sauce and placed it on the table as well. You checked to make sure that the pasta was done, straining it and adding it to the already crowded table. As everybody filtered in and sat in their usual seats at the table, you couldn’t help but stop for a moment and think to yourself how lucky you were to have these little moments with the people you cared about the most.

[oceansssblue]

100 CELEBRATION — PROMPT 17. PRINCE&SERVANT AU

REX/F READER 💖💔

WARNINGS: servant/slavery themes, social gap, mentions of war, soulbonds, first crush, fantasy aspects.

Note: Here we have a really fluffy timid sweet one for a servant!rex and princess!femalereader !! It will start in their childhood and skip through time. Switches between 1st pov and 3rd pov. Hope you like it! Xx, Blue.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The citizens of Bahr were also known as "water spirits" because of their surprising affinity with water creatures. The humanoid species could survive both underwater and in land; which made Bahr's cities beautifully diverse. Some towns were completely built under the ocean; others were constructed besides lakes and rivers. The Outer Rim planet had joined the Republic Alliance not so long ago; also enthraced by the idea of bidirectional protection and the reputation of the GAR. The Kaminoans had created clones of a mandalorian warrior that they later trained for different purposes; sold in batches all around the Republic for both servitude and personal army.

For the birth of Bahr's princess –the first descendant of King Fraland and Queen Altea– a new order of clones was sent to Kamino; and the kaminoans produced new batches of CT's and CC's and trained them for their new life. Some would end up serving in the palace or any of the Crown's properties; others would add to Bahr's already impressive army.

•••••••••••���•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You had grown up with all the commodities of the world; from endless food on the table to the prettiest of dresses. As the only princess of Bahr, your education had been impecable as well; closely monitored by the planet's best academics and literates. You had a small flock of servants personally encharged of you; from nannies that looked after you during the day or night, to other female bahrises who were tasked to help you dress or join you in any of your multiple hobbies. Not all servants in the palace were natives; but yours were.

You had always been curious about the others, the humans; the clones. They were young too –almost as young as yourself– and from a different species; and they were boys. It was inevitable to want to find more about them. However, both the Queen and your nanies had always scolded you whenever you had tried to interact with one; so you had eventually given up on being friends with them. You still curiously observed them in the distance.

It was only at eight years old when you had your first conversation with a clone. With three clones, to be precise. They were arguing about going out on an adventure; and that had instantly caught your attention. Life in palace was –though you knew you were incredibly lucky– often boring. The oportunity of going outside was too tempting to ignore.

You remained hidden behind one of the numerous statues that were placed on both sides of the corridors –old Kings and Queens of Bahr, your ancestors–; attention tunned in in the conversation between the three boys. They weren't speaking in your native language; but your teachers had already taught you a handful of others, mando'a being one of them.

"We're not going to be able to see them properly, Fives" one of the boys said, voice a mix of exasperation and resignation. "They only come up to the surface when two true soulmates are on their own there".

Your curiosity deepens; they're talking about the Lake of the Soulmates; were small water dragons live in harmony until a couple of soulmates call them. Only in pairs they will respond; only when genuine, sincere emotions came into play. It was a sacred tradition on Bahr; though some often used it as a proof of a partner's intentions or honesty. It was a beautiful idea, the fact that soulmates existed, that someone was made specifically for you; you had always dreamed of visiting it.

"Yeah, I know" the boy named Fives whispered. "But won't seing them even under the surface be worth it? Please, Echo. I'm so tired of being trapped in here".

Something softened in Echo's face; the boy glancing at the third clone of the group with reluctant acceptance. This last one had short blond hair; a trait you hadn't seen in the rest of his brothers. It was a beautiful contrast with the bronze of his skin.

"If we get caught we could be punished or even decomissioned" he wasn't fully convinced either, though it was clear he wanted to go as well. "I don't know if we should risk it".

This was the perfect chance for you to step in.

You left the secrecy of your hideout; quietly walking towards them.

"You wouldn't be if you kindly allowed me to join you".

The three clones showed various levels of surprise and fear; jumping at the unexpected sound of your voice. Their eyes widenned.

"P-princess!" Fives stuttered, back in your native language.

Echo and the clone with the blond hair straightened inmediately.

"I desire to visit the Soulmate Lake as well" you continued, undisturbed. "I've always felt curious about them. If you allow me to tag along, and the guards find us, you may even tell them I asked you to follow me there; since I wasn't keen on going on my own. Do we have an agreement?"

Fives grinned; the other two looked unsure. Upon the first's incesant pleadings, they finally gave in, nodding in silence. The blond one turned towards you, speaking to you with a timid politeness.

"Your majesty, you may want to change to a less delicate shoe choice" he pointed out, carefully, and your eyes travelled down to your cristal sparkling sandals.

"Oh!" You blushed softly. "You are right, of course. I'll retire and switch to a more comfortable pair. I will see the three of you in the North Door in ten".

You gave them a firm nod and walked away. You were going to see the water dragons for the first time ever.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

At first, Fives, Echo and Rex were incredibly wary and tense around the princess. They had grown up learning about her; about how important she was and the responsabilities she was destined to carry. They were taught how to behave around royals; how they were not the same. It was shocking, the fact that she had even talked to them. The way she phrased things was a bit unusual, and perhaps so were some of her gestures and manerisms; but in all honestly, for a princess, she looked pretty normal.

The small trip to the Lake of the Soulmates was filled with Fives animated story-telling; Rex and Echo having long learnt how to filter him out, while the princess looked almost engrossed in his tale. All words extinguished when they finally arrived, though; the beauty of the scene that powerfull. The water looked almost like a mirror of the sky above; the trees painted in vibrant greens and oranges. There was a sort of magical peace that could almost be breathed in.

"Woah" Fives looked and wandered around almost in a trance.

Echo grabbed his shoulder and tugged him back before his brother could accidentally dip a feet on the lake's water.

The three clones and the princess made their way to the edge of it and kneeled on the grass, carefully pushing their bodies forward to inspect it; trying to get a peak of the creatures swimming beneath. But the creatures stayed hidden –as Echo had predicted–; and soon the adrenaline and excitement of the adventure extinguished.

Rex discovered himself observing the princess instead. Her hair was pinned up in an intricate updo; and a small sparkly tiara was perfectly positioned on top of her head. She had what looked like diamond earings too; and she was wearing a –expensive, he was sure– violet dress with some more accesories around her wrists and neck. Under all of that, Rex noticed her big expressive eyes and the warmth of her smile. He had always thought royalty as cold and distant –no matter how well they governed–; but perhaps he had been wrong all along. The princess chuckled at something Fives said; and Rex's eyes couldn't stop staring at her.

A splash and a gasp finally called his attention; wonder and excitement shining again in all of their faces. There was a water dragon close to the surface; it was a blurred mix of blues, cyan on it's head and turning progressively darker towards the blue indigo of the tail. The creature seemed to be curious about them as well; as it swam close to the four kids for a few minutes before dissapearing into the depths of the lake again.

They all glanced at each other in shock before chuckling and smiling happily. They stayed for what felt like another hour there, with mainly Fives and Echo bickering and Rex and the princess quietly observing. It was peaceful; freeing. Rex tenderly saved the memory in his mind.

The grins were still painted on their faces with their return to the palace.

"I had a wonderful time" the princess aknowledged them before they had to part ways. "Thank you for your company".

Fives grinned, showing a silly thumbs up.

"Yeah, cool shit, princess".

Echo rolled his eyes at his brother's choice of words and lack of proper decorum; and smacked the back of his head.

Fives shot a glance at him, pouting and catching up on Echo's silent complaint inmediately.

"Hey! I said princess!"

Luckily for all of them, the royal only watched them in amusement.

"We enjoyed your company as well, your majesty" Rex tried to spare them, nodding politely, golden brown eyes making contact with the princess's. "We wish you a good rest of your evening".

She smiled genuineningly; then courtsied in a last goodbye, walking away timidly, a small happy skip to her step.

Fives and Echo bickered at his back. Rex only wished their escapade to remain a secret –for their safety–; and to have shown the princess –she'd be their queen, someday– that clones weren't that bad.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Weeks pass after that evening with the clone boys; but thoughts about them haven't yet left your mind. You don't have much contact with people your age –or any at all, for that fact–; and you somehow find yourself yearning for more. You had enjoyed the afternoon with them; void of responsabilities and the pressure of being a princess. A royal. There was no-one to watch you with a critic at the tip of their tongue; no one to tell you how to talk or move, to punish you for things that weren't considered lady like. The memory of that tiny bit of freedom, of life, had stayed roaming around in your mind.

You had carefully asked around; tried to find more information about them. They worked in the kitchens; and though there were a few complaints about them being a bit of trouble, you generally only heard good things about the three clones. They were only two years –one, in Rex's case– younger than you; though a maid had –tried to– explain to you that with the clone's accelerated aging they'd look progressively older very soon.

Temptatively, you had tried to interact with them in the few months that followed the first escapade. They reacted exactly the same way as the first time; first with cautious wariness, and then slowly easing into a quiet, gentle friendship. Fives was the main source of trouble; Echo being the one to often reel him in and cut his crazyness short. He still joined him in few ocassions, though, and then it was Rex's turn to be the voice of reason. He was not boring by any chance –in fact, you find him very intriguing–; he just seemed more mature. Rex was observant, and surprisingly firm for someone as young as him; but he knew how to relax too. You felt warm each time you caught sight of his gentle smile.

You're on a quest to personally ask the palace's main cook to bake your favorite pie when you caught sight of them again; though not in a pleasant situation. Fives, Echo and Rex are all standing up in front of a –very obviously– angry chef; heads lowered down in a sign of repentance while the man screams inches away of their face. A quick glance around is enough to know what this is all about. The kitchen is a mess; almost as if there had been a fight –or an explosion– of flour all around. You understand the need to reprimand them if this has been the case; but the way the cook is spitting ill-words so close to their faces rubs you the wrong way.

"Useless clones, genetically engineered for what? You can't even behave in a kitchen! It's a relief you can't roam around through Bahr!"

Different degrees of hurt and anger crosses the boys faces. It grows like a flame inside of you as well.

"We understand your point, sir" Rex grits out, eyes still on the floor but posture firm. "It won't happen again".

"Of course it won't!" The cook suddenly invades his personal space and takes a violent hold of his face, nails digging into the skin of both cheeks to obligue Rex to look at him. "Because if you do, i'll make sure you're all sent back to Kamino and never see a ray of sunglight ever again!"

Something inside of you fiercely wakes up and shakes. A wave of ire and an overwhelming need to protect spreads through your veins; and you take a step into the kitchen and clear your throat, eyes settling on the cook in a heated stare.

"Princess!" The man exclaims, releasing the boy's face and taking a step back in utter surprise.

The three clones inmediately look at you. You want to comfort them, but it is a priority to get them away from this man first.

"Let this be the last time you dare to treat anyone this way" your voice holds an authority that doesn't really come from being a royal, but of a fierce heart that won't let any other option exist. "You will request a transfer to any other of the Crown's properties and leave inmediately".

The man is so shocked he almost sputters in his place.

"B-but princess..." his eyes flicker over your smaller form in a desperate way to find something to convince you with. "I'm the only one who knows how to bake your favorite Jhogan pie!"

Your expresion turns to one of disgust. The fact that this man...

"My favorite dessert can't be more irrelevant as opposed to the safety of other's lifes. I have given you the option to continue working elsewhere as a courtsey for all the years you've been working for us; but if you insist, I can make sure you won't find a job anywhere in Bahr".

The clear warning is enough to shut all of the cook's complaints down; and he turns around to send a hatefull glance to the three clones as if they have been the ones to dig his way out.

"Leave" you almost hiss then, years of trained patience coming to an end.

The man nods tersely, huffs, and walks away.

You breathe a sigh of relief when you're left alone in the kitchen with the other three boys. Their posture relax too; inmediately aproaching each other and mutually making sure they are all safe and good. The need extends to you.

"Are you alright?" You ask them, slowly aproaching them.

Fives and Echo look at you. Rex, for some reason, keeps staring at the floor.

"Yeah" Echo eventually answers. "Thank you for the save, princess. It was a kind gesture of you".

To your surprise, Fives steps forward and envelops you in a big, sudden hug.

"It was awesome! Did you see his face?" He laughs, and you chuckle as he releases you and takes a step back.

"It looked like his head was going to explode from holding all his anger back" you confirm with a tiny smile.

Your eyes travel back to Rex; who is still painfully silent, expresion closed off as if he were thinking of something deeply emotional and delicate.

"Hey" you carefully squeeze his shoulder and he breaks off of his trance, golden eyes locking on yours. "Are you okay?"

His eyes flicker over your face. He nods without saying a thing.

Your hand moves up and your fingertips carefully graze the skin of his redenned cheek. They won't be hurt like that ever again.

"You should get that checked by the doctor" you advise gently, lowering your traitorous hand to it's rightfull place. "Some marks have managed to break the skin and they might scar if you don't tend to them".

His golden eyes continue staring at you; creating a mess of contradicting and confusing emotions and thoughts you're too young to descipher yet.

"I will" Rex finally says.

When you leave the kitchen two minutes later, you murmur a soft and quiet "keep an eye on him" to Fives. The clone nods and grins.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It has been a long day for Rex and his brothers. Their working conditions are vastly different from those of two years ago; from when the princess had faced off the main palace cook and sent the monster away. When she had protected them. The memory is still vivid and clear in Rex's memory. She had been so small, so young; and yet her voice had held such a fierce authority. She clearly cared for them; and in a world where clones –where he– meant nothing, that had touched Rex's heart.

Not having a dickhead for a boss doesn't make the hours and hours of baking any less demanding, though; and Rex can feel the ache on his muscles begging for a rest. He's on his way to the servant's floor when he hears music floating down the stairs; it's such a beautiful melody that the curious clone is already following it with quiet steps. He recognises the sound of the clarinas; small air instruments native from Bahr. But there's someone singing as well; and Rex's instincts are pushing him towards it, for some misterious reason he has no time –or desire– to analise.

He comes to a stop in front of the music salon; and takes a quiet peak inside to scan the room. At first, his eyes widen in surprise; then, he's left staring enthraced, hipnotized. He didn't know she could sing like that. The princess's voice is sweet and delicate; her range gently dancing over the notes in a peaceful melody. The song has a hint of melancholy; like a bird who sees the beauty of the outside world and feels awed and warmed by it, but can't quite hold enough strength on his wings to fly in it.

Rex golden eyes are absort on her face for the few minutes he stays listening; until a maid passing by the corridor softly reprimands him and he flushes in silence, straigthening back up guiltily.

"Don't just stand there all day, young boy. Go on" the woman tuts with a knowing smile on her face, and Rex fights down his blush and walks away.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

When you almost run into Rex in one of your late afternoon walks through the gardens, you can't help but gasp and stare at him in surprise. And not just because of the unexpected, clumsy encounter; but because of how different he looks. His growth has sprinted in this last four years. While you're looking your age –fourteen, now–, Rex –his brothers too– appear to be seventeen or so; the physical signs and changes of their teenage years dissapearing in a blink and quickly transitioning into his current appearence. He's tall, really tall now; slightly towering above you when you had once been of the same height. His facial features have changed too; shaped into firm, sharp lines. Gone is the kid Rex once was; he's certainly turning into a young man.

"Your majesty" he gives you a small courtsey and you smile at him with warmth. No matter how many little interactions you've both had over the years, Rex has never dropped certain formalities around you. It's endearing, really. "Enjoying a bit of fresh air before dinner is served?"

You nod without dropping your smile.

"Yes, indeed. The gardens are beautiful this time of the year, and a break from the noise of the palace is always welcomed" you pause and study him briefly. "Would you like to join me?"

Surprise fills his expresion; an sort of timid hesitance following.

"If you're sure, princess. I wouldn't want to disturb your moment of peace...".

You chuckle and tilt your head in a carefree grin.

"I wouldn't have offered if I found your presence disturbing, Rex" you tease him in good humour, gently linking your hand around his arm and tugging forward carefully. "It will be a short stroll, don't worry".

He doesn't say a thing. His golden eyes travel down to your hand anchored on his –surprisingly defined– bycep; then back to your face. It almost looks like he's thinking what the kriff you're doing with him. Ah, you suppose this tiptoes the line of being a royal, taking a walk with a –male– servant; but you can't help yourself. You enjoy his presence; always have, and right now a relaxing stroll between friends sounds nice.

Trying not to dwell on the fact that your bodies are touching –and the tingling sensation derived from it– you fill the –perhaps initially akward– silence with curiosities and stories about the plants you pass by; wether it's just their medical use or a particularity of a flower, or some other tradition that is rumoured in Bahr. He listens attentively, quietly; only intervening here and there. It's only after a while when you grow self-conscious; realising you're perhaps talking a bit too much.

"Forgive me" you smile guiltily, hand dropping from where you had been pointing at the petals of yet another flower. "You probably don't find all of this rants about flora interesting. You might not even like flowers for all I know..."

To your honest surprise, Rex carefully tugs said hand forward and holds it in his, gently squeezing.

"I do" he replies calmly, soothing your worries, voice deeper than it had been just a year ago. He glances at the green jade flowers and back at you. "It's the colour of your eyes, princess".

It's such an unexpected comment –and more so coming from him– that you can't control the flustered blush that inmediatelly spreads through your cheeks and down your neck. You shyly tuck a strand of hair behind your ear with your other hand; warmth spreading from where you hold him with the other one –as if some sort of energy were flowing between the two of you–.

Rex doesn't retract his comment; temptitavely caressing the dorso of your hand with his thumb, and a peacefull, almost pensive expresion on his face. You fall equally enthraced by him; gaze lost in the tenderness of his warm, golden eyes, on this new feeling sparkling between the two of you.

You had just started to see boys in another way; and Rex... Rex is beautiful. The sunset does wonders on his bronze skin, brings the gold out of his gentle brown eyes, he is undeniably handsome and his physicall appearence has nothing to envy the...

"Princess! Your majesty!" the urgent voice of your maid breaks the moment rather abruptly, tearing you out of your trance cruelly. "The King and Queen have been waiting for you in the Grand Comedor for almost ten minutes now!"

The woman continues to rant from far away, and you turn to look back at Rex with an amused chuckle –cheeks still redenned and already missing the warmth of his hand in yours–.

"I shall better go before they send a flock of angry maids to find me" you joke, still a hint of shyness on your voice and face.

Rex nods and takes a polite step back. You ignore how much your heart complains about that.

"Of course" he agrees, eyes still fixed on yours. "Have a good night, princess".

Your smile is as soft as melting butter.

"You as well, Rex".

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The next day, upon numerous innapropiate whispers of maids and servants all around the palace that reaches the rulers ears, three clones are sent away to be trained in Bahrs army. When a week later the princess's personal maids finally ask the royal sucessor the reason for her late melancholy, she brushes it aside and conjures an empty smile. She's a bird; but she has no wings.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Seven years later, life has not changed much. At least for you. At 21, you have more responsabilities as the Crown's succesor, and take a participant role in Bahr's important decisions; but that aside, life around you moves like it always has. Slow and boring; though comfortable and coveted. Diplomatic travels have become part of your favorite rutine At least that way you're able to explore Bahr's diverse cities, though you're not completely free to roam around as you'd like, but tied to long dinners and debates.

Your father has subtly questioned you about wether if you feel connected to any of Bahr's important houses heirs. Your answer has always been short and clipped. It's not that you hate all of them; some are not pretentious and fairly good company –hadsome, even–, but none make your heart skip a bit. You'll settle for someone eventually; but for now, you'll still hold onto the hope that someone who can will appear.

You're lost in thoughts when the sound of someone arriving at the Lake of the Soulmates –you had taken to visit it sort of regularly lately– pulls you out of your mind. You glance back at the new comer; a gasp inmediately abandoning your lips, face shifting with shock and surprise.

"R-rex?"

You stand up from the blanket you've placed on the grass, carefully making your way towards him. He looks just as shocked; stunned. It has been seven years since you last saw each other. He's so... He's a man, now. His eyes, though... His golden eyes hold the same gentleness.

"Princess..." he takes two slow steps towards you as well –until you're both standing in front of each other, your chin tilting up so you can see his face–. "Long time no see".

You shoot him a fond smile.

"Yes" your eyes flicker over every inch of his face. His brow is more pronounced, his jaw sharper. His lips... pouty. "You've changed".

Age has done nothing but make him look more atractive. The white and blue armour he's currently wearing –clinging to his strong muscles– only make the picture prettier.

"You as well, princess. You look..." he stops himself, cheeks tinged in red.

You can feel your heart trying to beat it's way out of your chest. You're nervous, but excited; you encourage him to finish the sentence with bright eyes and a tempting smile.

"I look?"

At first, Rex seems to hesitate; then, the soldier squares his shoulders and fixes his eyes on yours.

"You look more beautiful than ever, princess".

He tells you this tenderly but firmly; like there's no option to disagree, like it's an universal truth. The quiet passion swirling in his golden eyes makes your heart clench; tugging the corner of your lips into a radiant smile.

You close the small distance between each other with another tiny step; your body almost grazing his.

Years and years of lessons on politeness and decency, on how a royal should behave, sprints through your mind; though they are quickly shut down in favor of the fire that burns bright in your heart. Rex... Rex makes your heart skip a bit. Perhaps he always has –even when in your young age you couldn't see it as clearly as now–.

"You do too, Rex" you whisper fervently, looking up at him. "Beautiful".

Rex releases a deep breath; almost as if he had been afraid of you reacting badly to his compliment. He closes the eyes for a few seconds; as if saving the moment in his memory.

You gather your courage and swallow your own insecurities down; temptitavely caressing his hand with the very tip of your fingers –a sort of cautious invitation to do more about it–.

Rex opens his eyes and glances at you in surprise.

"Is this... okay?" you ask him timidly, hand almost trembling with your nervousness.

Rex looks to be lost in your eyes; he barely reacts, not moving a single inch.

"Y-yes, yes. If you want to, princess..."

The carefull caress turns into proper holding hands. You smile at how right such a simple thing feels.

"Will you ever call me by my name?" You tease him in good humour, a little amused chuckle escaping your lips.

Rex's eyes travel around as if you have put him in a four way crossroad.

"I shouldn't..."

Perhaps years and years of lessons on how not to behave around and with royals are flickering through his mind too.

The fire inside of you burns stronger. You end the distance between your bodies, softly anchoring yourself to him and gently wrapping your hands around his shoulders. He freezes, eyes fixed on your face, now so close to his.

"But I want you too" you reply, fervently.

Rex swallows; and you can almost feel his throat move.

"It might take some time for me to get used to it. But I can try... meshla".

You release all your tension and nervousness with a long, happy sigh; closing your eyes and pressing your forehead against his plated chest, breathing the warmth feeling he provoques in you in. Rex hands tentatively takes place in your back and caresses you gently. His tension deflates as well in the tender embrace.

Splashing water sounds force you to break apart; you both glance at the lake, but upon finding everything as usual, quickly return to search into each other's gaze. You already miss his arms around you –yours around him–; though there's still minimum space between you.

"How have you been all this time, Rex?" You ask him fondly. "You've been working for the army, have you not?"

"Just got promoted to Captain, yes" he confirms, and your eyes fly down to quickly study the pauldron on his shoulder and his blue kama, armour touches and upgrades you know well. "It has been..."

He hesitates, and you encourage him to continue with a soft smile.

"Go on. You can be frank with me".

Rex sighs and confesses.

"It's better than staying in the palace all day, every day. It makes me feel more usefull, valuable. I'm protecting people. Doing good things" he takes a breath in and quietly admits, a troubled expresion on his face. "It's not an easy task, though. I've seen... Men and woman die, lost friends. I never realised just how many brothers I had in Bahr until I started to feel like I was losing them".

His words and emotions are so honest and raw it brings tears to your eyes; though you don't allow a single one to fall.

You hold his hands in yours.

"I'm sorry, Rex. That Fives, Echo and you all felt trapped in the palace and then forced to walk away. Every native servant has decided to be there; but you clones never had the oportunity to choose. I'm sorry you've lost family as well. I hope one day you'd be able to forgive me, Rex..."

He shows you a fond smile and gentle squeezes your hand with one hand; the other coming up to cup your face.

"It's not like you had any say in our creation, meshla, or what we came to be. You were just a child as well. And honestly, the King treats us much better than other clones in other parts of the galaxy. I'm happy with where I am now; Fives and Echo as well".

"How are they, Echo and Fives?" You curiously ask him, wanting to know about the other two boys –now men– as well.

Rex smile can only be defined as proud.

"They're doing well. Both got promoted to ARC's at the same time, which is why we're all in the Capital now. There's going to be a small ceremony in the palace for all new ARC's, Commanders and Captains".

You blink in surprise.

"Oh, I wasn't aware of this".

Rex shrugs.

"I don't believe the royal family attends this" he explains "just some other high ranks from the army and the war council. It's a small thing".

You tilt up your chin and make up a quick decision.

"It's a big thing for you. I'll be there"

"You don't have to, prin... meshla..."

You smile and squeeze his hand.

"I know. I'll still try".

Rex nods, innerly touched and gratefull; and you're both left in silence for a few seconds, studying each other's hands and eyes.

"I thought of doing this a lot when we were kids" you confess, voice quiet.

Rex shoots you a surprised look.

"Holding hands?" He asks, a timid expresion on his face too.

"Among other things" you admit with a blush.

Rex is shocked by your confession; but his eyes only fill with tenderness and warmth.

"Why didn't you?"

You shrug.

"I was reprimanded a lot, told to not interact with the three of you. I was also afraid of you only accepting because you'd be afraid to say no and... And I was shy and just a child. I didn't truly understand what I was feeling and what to do about it" you glance to the say and chuckle, cheeks painted in an embarassed red. "You were my first boy crush".

Rex can't believe at first the words that are coming out of your mouth. But he sees the honesty in your eyes, the vulnerability, the tenderness and the desire; and he knows it's the beautiful truth.

He smiles and caresses your cheek with his thumb. He decides to confess as well.

"I would have accepted anything from you, princess, and not out of obligation".

Warmth spreads inside of you; this time the title sounding more of a sweet, personal pet name on his lips than a polite status reference.

Rex decides to risk it all. His other hand also travels up to cup your face in his palms; softly tilting it up towards him so he can study and caress every inch of your skin with his golden eyes.

"And now, meshla? Now that we aren't kids?"

"I..." you want him. You love him. He's the one. "I want the same things".

Rex's relieved breath flickers over your face; and barely a second later, he dips down to catch your lips in a tender, heartfelt kiss. You make a small, pleased sound in your throat and surrender to him; body melting in his embrace and kissing him back with the same softness and hunger, both mixed into perfect bliss.

When you're forced to breathe, Rex rests his forehead against you in what you know is a Keldabe kiss; taking each other in.

"I've told myself a million times iver the years that this couldn't be. That you were just a dream, an illusion I would never reach".

Your heart aches. Perhaps true, honest love is just like that; so raw and powerfull it heals as much as it aches.

You nuzzle your nose against his and answer him softly.

"I know there's responsabilities to both and that we'll face more than one public judgement. We will need to be carefull. But I've always felt curious about you, Rex. We're both older now. Perhaps things won't work out, and that's okay; but I feel very strongly towards you and I'd like to have the chance to see where this goes now".

Rex smiles and pecks your lips again. Oh, you'll soon grow addicted to it.

"Like I said, princess, I'll take whatever you're willing to give" he grins, and you're so happy you can't help but laugh against his lips.

There's a louder splash coming from the water again; and this time, a quick, initially uninterested glance turns to be an overwhelming shock. You both watch, stunned, how two blue water dragons repetitively jump up and down the surface of the lake, clearly playing with each other and having fun, oblivious to the two of you.

You stare at Rex in shock.

"Are those... Did we... Are we..." you can't seem to form the words, too overwhelmed and nervous about the possible implications of this.

Rex stares back at the small creatures.

"If we were... We should be able to call them towards us, right?" He cautiously asks.

You nod, heart pounding. The two water dragons stop playing and hover over the surface of the lake, as if suddenly realising they were being watched and looking back at you curiously.

You take a deep, centering breath and close your eyes; focusing on trying to conect with any of them. To tug at some sort of invisible connection.

You gasp at the feeling of something wet and slippery pressing against the skin of your neck; opening your eyes in wonder, staring at the almost magical female water dragon that is nuzzling against you and chirping happily.

"T-try it" you tell Rex, hands shaking to caress the legendary creature, the animal playfully nipping at your fingertips.

Rex imitates you; closing his eyes and trying to find his own connection with the other water dragon. He frowns, and nothing happens at first; but then, the creature –darker in colour but with also more white streaks in it's tail– shyly aproaches him and spins around his forearm, then moving to hover in front of him.

Rex looks at his dragon in awe and then turns towards you.

"We're soulmates" he voices, love and wonder shining in his golden eyes.

You smile and close the distance to kiss him.

"I guess that explains why I have always felt drawn to you. Yes, we are".

Rex swallows your happy chuckles and you smile against his lips. The two water dragons play around your entwinned shape, chirping happily.

THE END.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Author note:

I love Rex so much godddddd...

Ps. With this one we only have one more prompt left for the 100blueceleb. It's a short story of a demon!echo / angel!ofc ; I have already planned it through and am in the process of writing it. It's gonna be a blast, mark my words! I'm so excited to share it with y'all. Stay tunned!

Xx, Blue.

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[hearted-anon]

Baking needs

Words: 1201 Note: Expanding my AU? Maybe. T/w: None, fluff for all Taglist: @reginald-stay09 @itzsana-kiddingmenow @hetashi-takashimaya-apollos-kid @soap143 @jungwon-is-the-one Lee: Felix Ler: Jisung

"Sung ah! Can you help me put these brownies in the oven?" Felix called out to the hallways, before a mushroom of hair peeked through one of the doors, happily skipping down to the kitchen to lend a helping hand. Jisung gives a whiff of the brownie mixture that was meant to be placed into the oven, practically floating from how angelic it smelt, if it weren't for Felix eyeing him and ensuring that the brownies were heading where they were supposed to be, the baking tin ought to be empty by now; even at the sacrifice of salmonella being a possibility that came along with it. After all, who could resist such a delicious treat after a long and arduous day of working and dancing?

"Now now, don't eat that, you know who that's for…" Felix hummed, not even batting an eye when the ace was drooling over the sweet desserts, still mixing another batch of cake. It was a plan made back years ago, or maybe on the spot at their shared birthday party, but both Han and Felix had planned to bake the sweetest of treats as a birthday gift to Seungmin, well, maybe just Felix. However, it wasn't that Han was useless in the kitchen, at least that's what he swore up and down. His 'help' consisted of leaning his head on Felix's shoulder and mumbling unintelligible words or simply cleaning up the mess that the Aussie was making around the kitchen to not seem like they were trying to recreate a bomb scene in the dorms.

"But they look so good! Seungmin's such a lucky guy…" Han sulked, nonetheless still tossing the brownies into the oven. In the process, he somehow managed to scald his hand under the metal grills of said appliance, wincing in pain as quietly as he could before waddling over to the sink. As cold water ran over the minor burn he suffered from, he saw a peak of blonde hair rushing over towards him, fussing over the quokka as if a worried mother hen. After many reminders that Han was indeed not going to die from a small burn, the Aussie came back with a bandage, carefully wrapping it around Jisung's finger, akin to handling glass. Han stared at the now covered injury; how does Felix manage such painful little things all the time by himself?

"Lucky indeed when you burnt your hand on an oven of all things," Felix muttered, finally setting the cake batter down with a sigh of triumph, decorating the top with an assortment of colourful sprinkles before tossing the tin into the oven with the brownies, a certain quokka salivating over the smell as he sat in front of the oven, as if the smell would waft into his nose to fulfill the ever growing sense of hunger in his stomach. With an earful from the blonde, he stood back up, clinging to said Aussie as he began to clean up the kitchen alone. Meanwhile, he pondered on ways to help the younger relax, seeing how his soft palms were littered in tiny burns and cuts from his baking adventures. Usually, they weren't visible to fans, under the guise of being so far away from him and never able to get in a close proximity like the members could. So…

"Jisung, what are you up to now?" The younger questions, being dragged over to the couch, before being tossed onto it like a ragdoll. Meanwhile, Jisung scrambled around the room, seemingly looking for something. A fist came up with a smile of accomplishment, the quokka coming back hurriedly with a bottle of cream. Staring at Felix's confused expression, Jisung was quick to explain that it was meant for his hands, not wanting them to lose their angelic and soft features that made them stand out from the rest. Although Felix began to thank him in all his gratefulness, something felt off about it, feeling like Felix was an anime character with droplets of sweat right behind his head. Assuming nothing of it, the older began to massage said cream into the younger's palm, noticing how quick he was to gnaw at the sleeve of his shirt. Did it hurt? Jisung thought, voicing his thoughts with laced concern into it.

"Aha…i-it doesn't huhuhurt..it t-tickles!" Felix choked out, hiding the growing flush on his cheeks with the sleeve of his shirt. Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him, but something about the way Felix was laughing this time felt different, different from most times he'd laugh with the group or his crazed laughter when he found something hilarious. The laughter that spewed from his mouth was deep, as rich as gold, eyes lidded and almost closed with a wide smile that grazed his cheeks. If it weren't for his fingers going onto autopilot on the Aussie's palm, he was certain he would've stopped by now, his eyes only able to focus on the ethereal sight in front of him, jaw agape from how beautiful Felix looked, cheeks flushed and all.

"Plehehease! It tickles soho much!" Felix pleaded, snapping Jisung out of his train of thoughts, shaking his head rapidly to come back to the current situation. His fingers were slow and gentle, tracing little circles onto the soft palm of Felix's hand, barely skimming over the cream that covered his hand fully. Clearing his throat, he began to genuinely try and massage the cream into the cracks of his burns and cuts, occasionally throwing in some tiny scratches to the center of his palm or tracing little shapes around the small injuries to hear a sharp squeal in contrast to his usual deep voice.

"Oho goodness! Is it dohohone?!" He heard the younger beg above him, now having moved onto the other hand. With an enthusiastic reply of 'almost!', he continued his adventures on Felix's palm, keenly watching for the reactions on his face. The way his smile contorted from a wobbly, held back grin to a full-blown smile whenever his fingers hit a sensitive spot was oh so adorable, it almost dawned on Jisung that he never wanted this to stop. Seeing how happy the Aussie was under the sensations warmed his heart more than a hot cocoa on a winter night, the red bleeding all the way to his neck as he trembled, arm struggling to keep itself stretched out from the sensations that coursed through him.

"Fine fine~ We're done here," Jisung finally announced, getting up from the floor and admiring how out of breath the younger looked, head slumping against the cushions of the couch for a moment, rubbing his palms against each other, what looked like an indicator of the cold now just the Aussie trying to rub off the remaining lingering caresses on his hands. Once it was done, the screeching sound of the oven alerted the duo of their baked goods being done, Han slinging an arm around Felix's shoulder as he helped the Aussie to the kitchen, cheering him on when Felix grabbed the desserts out to cool, earning a hearty chuckle that made Han's heart skip a beat.

Maybe they should bake together more often…Jisung noted to himself.

[electrikworm]

An intervention

Relationships: Crosshair & Hunter & Tech & Wrecker

Content Warnings: Appendicitis, Medical Procedures

Summary:

After training, Wrecker is left with a sharp pain in his abdomen. Not seeing it as a pressing issue, Wrecker choses to ignore it. It's lucky for him that his brothers aren't going to let him avoid a trip to medbay forever.

Written for @summer-of-bad-batch Week 5: "You're a bad liar."

Word count: 1,743

Read on Ao3

Wrecker's stomach hurts as they come out of training. He fell pretty hard a couple times, but can't remember what he did to cause that particular pain. Still, none of his injuries are worth mentioning, so the medbay isn't even considered. Wrecker hates it either way, always relieved when he can avoid a trip there. Despite skipping lunch, Wrecker doesn't feel particularly hungry. He pokes at the dull rations they've been served, something beige and crumbly, as he listens to his brothers talk. It's mostly Tech, going over what plan they'd used in the training simulation. Wrecker zones out halfway through, focusing on trying to recall when he fell on his chest. When they leave the cantina, he's barely ate a quarter of his meal. Wrecker had originally thought the stomach pain may be from hunger, but now it's clear it isn't. Eating has just made him feel worse. The bruising his abdomen must bare is agitated as he walks, making Wrecker want to lay down as soon as possible. When Wrecker showers, there's no visible bruising anywhere near his stomach. He pays no mind to it. A lot of bruises only show the next day. Wrecker curls up in his bunk as soon as he gets to the barracks. His vode won't sleep any time soon, so Wrecker takes comfort in the sound of them going about their evening. Pressing his one palm flat to his stomach, Wrecker uses his free hand to pull his blanket high up. Despite him having no knowledge of how he sustained the injury, it's by far the worst of Wrecker's pains. Maybe he's caught something, though Wrecker doubts it, seeing as he's showing no other symptoms of illness. He could tell his brothers, maybe get something for the pain, but their stash of medical supplies, the one they're not supposed to have, is small. A stomach ache is hardly a reason to use up supplies his vode might need. It'll probably be gone by morning, Wrecker reasons, curling up tighter. When his brothers climb in their own bunks, the pain gets harder to bare. It's too quiet, nothing distracting Wrecker from his discomfort. He holds Lula tightly. At least that comfort remains.

Wrecker doesn't sleep, not really. He squirms in his bunk, sometimes finding a comfortable position for a while, then he'll do something like breath too deep and has to find another. His blanket keeps going from too hot, to not nearly warm enough, making Wrecker have to keep kicking it off, only to reach for it blindly again minutes later.

He almost calls out to his brothers a few times, exhaustion and pain threatening to get the better of him. But they're not little kids any more. If the rumors are anything to go by, and Tech believes they are, Clone Force 99 is going to graduate and be deployed soon. They'll be real soldiers soon, destroying droids and fighting for the Republic.

Wrecker's too old to be whining to his brothers in the middle of the night, disturbing their sleep. All because he's sore.

When his vode wake, Wrecker has to get up like any other day. He pushes it out as far as he can, only springing into motion at the last second. Wrecker inhales sharply as he stands up, the pain almost making his knees buckle. He limps slightly as he gets dressed. Thankfully, his brother's weren't watching him.

He manages to walk upright as he and his brothers make their way to the cantina. Behind the thick blanket of searing pain, Wrecker can feel his hunger. But the thought of eating makes Wrecker want to be sick.

Once again, he barely touches his rations. This time, someone takes notice.

“Why aren't you eating?” Crosshair asks. Wrecker shrugs.

“Not hungry.”

“You're always hungry.” Crosshair eyes Wrecker, leaning halfway across the table to stare at him.

“Not today.” Wrecker doesn't look at his brothers, turning his focus to the gray paste in the bowl in front of him. He forms a hole in the middle of it. The watery part of the meal collects in the centre as it separates from the solids. Wrecker has no idea what it's made of. It tastes acidic, almost chemical, and it's salty.

“That is highly unusual.” Tech states. “You haven't had a full meal since yesterdays breakfast.”

Wrecker pushes the bowl away from himself, suddenly sickened by the sight of the well of gray water in the paste. “Maybe I'm past my growth spurts.”

“You're not.” Tech says. “And even if you were, your caloric intake will always have to be higher. It goes hand in hand with being a clone.”

“Does it matter why I'm not hungry? I'm just not.” Wrecker huffs. “Maybe I'm just sick of the osik they feed us.”

“You still have to eat something.” Hunter says, like he doesn't complain about the food they're served daily.

“Already did.” Wrecker doesn't mention that it was just two spoonfuls.“I'm going to prep for training. See you later.”

Not wanting his brothers to argue further, Wrecker stands up. Only this time, he doesn't do so as gracefully. The pain in his side flares, forcing Wrecker to hunch over and clutch at his stomach. A pathetic little gasp slips out of Wrecker's mouth, tears welling in his eyes.

His brothers are up immediately, hovering at Wrecker's side. That alone would be bad enough, but Wrecker cause enough of a scene for every reg at the surrounding tables to be staring at him as he embarrasses himself.

“What's wrong? Are you hurt?” Crosshair fusses, making Wrecker feel deeply ashamed of his own behaviour.

“Nothing's wrong, I'm fine.” Wrecker forces out as he pants for air through the pain.

“You're a bad liar.” Hunter says.

“I'm not lying!” Wrecker spits. “I'm fine!” He looks at his brother's, still unable to force his body to stand straight.

“I'd be more inclined to believe you if you weren't currently doubled over with tears streaming down your face.” Tech says.

He's crying? Wrecker looks back at the floor again, wiping at his face with one hand. He should be past this kind of behaviour, especially in public, in front of regs. Soldiers don't cry about a stomach ache.

“How long has this been going on?” Tech asks.

“It's nothing.” Wrecker reminds his brothers. “I fell during training.”

“Let me see something.” Tech pushes Wreckers arm away from his stomach.

“Hey!” Wrecker is about to protest further when Tech pushes his fingers into his side. “Ow, stop that!”

And Tech does stop, but as soon as the pressure is gone, Wrecker is hit by the worst wave of pain yet. He has to bite back a cry of pain as he desperately tries to curl around the painful spot whilst remaining on his feet.

“You need to go to medbay right now.” Tech says. Wrecker shakes his head. “It's your appendix, I'm certain.”

Wrecker shakes his head again, even if he knows Tech is right. Because Tech being right means he'll need surgery. Being under anaesthesia is terrifying. No one ever tells them about procedures they're put through, and during surgery, Wrecker can't even see what's happening to his body. He just wake up to something being different.

“You'll die if you don't.” Hunter says, and Wrecker knows he's right too.

So Wrecker walks after his brothers, clenching his teeth and he puts one foot after the other. There are eyes on him from every side as the regs watch him. Wrecker can't let himself slow down again, even as the pain becomes unbearable. He wouldn't just making himself look weak if he did so. It would reflect badly on his brothers too.

A few meters out of the cantina, Wrecker if forced to give up. Staring off into space, Wrecker stands hunched next to Crosshair as they wait for Tech and Hunter to get help. Wrecker doesn't say a word, feeling like a fool. Sitting down seems all too tempting, but Wrecker won't be able to get up easily. So he just stands there, trying not to let onto the state he's in as regs and staff members pass them.

When Hunter and Tech return, members of medical staff have joined them. He's transported to the nearest medbay, unable to even speak to his brothers before he's took away.

Doctors and nurses mill about Wrecker as he's examined. He's been scanned multiple times and people keep pushing down on his stomach, but no one's said a word to Wrecker directly. After ages of poking and prodding, Nala Se arrives.

She examines Wrecker too, all whilst speaking of how she wishes she'd removed Wrecker's appendix years ago. She doesn't acknowledge Wrecker either.

The first time Wrecker's spoken to directly is when he's asked to strip and change into a medical gown. He isn't afforded any privacy to do so, but clones rarely are.

Still knowing nothing of what's going to happen, Wrecker is put under for surgery with barely any warning.

Next thing he knows, Wrecker's alone in a dark room, irritating beeping to his right. His stomach still hurts, but different. Feeling fuzzy, distant, Wrecker tries to lay down more comfortably, but an iv running from his arm tugs uncomfortably as he moves. Wrecker doesn't end up sleeping in a particularity comfortable position.

The next time Wrecker wakes, he thinks he's alone again, only to spot his brothers asleep in chairs next to his bed. Somehow, Hunter and Crosshair have squeezed themselves into the same one. It can't be comfortable, but neither can the way Tech sleeps. Forehead resting on the bed Wrecker's on, Tech's back is arched at a weird angle. How he's able to sleep like that at all is beyond Wrecker.

Carefully, Wrecker runs a hand along his stomach, feeling where the incisions were made. He can't tell if anything out of the ordinary was done, or if they decided to combine the removal of Wrecker's appendix with another modification they were meaning to do. Wrecker must have moved too much, because Crosshair stirs, lifting his head from its place of Hunter's shoulder.

“Sleep, Wrecker.” He mumbles. “You need it.”

Wrecker drops his hand back to his side. He will have time to worry about what was done to his organs when he wasn't conscious later. Closing his eyes, Wrecker pushes the thoughts away. He might as well try and match his brothers sleeping pattern.

[txtmetonight]

The Lovers of Auradon

call summary ⋆ ★ Jake is the upcoming king of Auradon

or Jake as King Ben

pairing *. * Jake x Fem! Reader

genre⋆ ★ Fluff, Angst, Crack

warnings *. * Headcanon format, crude language, basically copied the plot of the movie except changed the characters lol, bad grammar

call duration⋆ ★ 1.7k

a/n*. * Jake as King Ben was giving me such a big brain rot, I felt like I was melting from the inside out oml. Also, I watched a 15-minute recap on the movies just in case but I'm also really lazy so I think I may or may not have accidentally left out some details. Oops.

taglist ⋆ ★  @kflixnet

✭ Upcoming King Jake! who lives a perfect life in Auradon. The very handsome son of the beauty and the beast, he was truly a sight to see, with pure flawlessness 

✭ He’s such a pretty thing and lucky guy yet so humble that no one has it in their hearts to hate the guy

✭ Upcoming King Jake! decides that the Isle of the Lost deserves a chance because it’s the right thing to do, and whatever the young prince demands, it happens in a snap of a fingers 

✭ And so here you are with your three other friends, the group known as the lucky four 

✭ Yet no one knew that after much fight with your mother; maleficent, you four had come on a mission to steal the fairy godmother’s wand, to truly prove how evil you could be 

✭ The candy in the fucking limo amazed your eyes, but you would never tell anyone that as you roll up to the awaited castle, eyes sparkling in amazement that you try not to show

✭ Upcoming King Jake! who falls in love with you at first sight; you’re so stunning that he can’t speak, and all he can do is stare at you, which you find weird but brush off–the residents of this island must be a kind of unusual 

✭ Plus, you can’t be distracted by his good-looking features! You’re here to make your mother proud by stealing that damn wand that she insists on! 

✭ Heeseung, the son of Cruella, Yunjin the daughter of the evil queen, and Beomgyu the son of Jafar all accompany you into the castle, ready to cause much trouble that was needed...though you all knew that deep inside your hearts the real truth 

✭ Upcoming King Jake! who can’t stop asking about you or rather even stop talking about you. You’re all that he thinks about, and he finds it in him to befriend you–and it’s not just because of that funny feeling in his stomach that flutters every time he talks to you.  

✭ Yunjin thinks it’s cute, but you find it quite annoying, and now diverting as you all just had failed to grasp the wand in your sly hands, and now you must create a new plan from now on 

✭ Which is quickly formulated once Yunjin herself–a girl of gossip comes forward with new details that the wand was going to be next to the beauty and the beast and their lovely son, during his coronation  

✭ And the most important part–whoever his girl would be for that night, stand right next to them too and next to that wand

✭ Heeseung warns you not to follow through with whatever you were thinking and Beomgyu quickly nods right after, but what would they know, they’ve been enjoying this stupid lifestyle while you wither away in the fear of your cruel mother! 

✭ Though recently you’ve found yourself being plagued with Upcoming King Jake! in your dreams–the way that he smiles brightly or the twinkling in his gorgeous eyes... 

✭ You shake your head of the thoughts and stand your foot on your plan with a wicked grin, cause who were you if you didn’t shake a bit of trouble 

✭ “(Y/n) you can’t seduce Jake like that! He’s too nice to be part of your fucking scheme! Is there really nothing else?” 

✭ “Nada” And with that, you skip down to the kitchen to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies, ones filled with a love spell that would enchant the prince to fall in love with you 

✭ But only if you knew that the cookies were unnecessary and that he was already head over heels in love with you, and would’ve done anything in a heartbeat for you 

✭ Ho-Hum

✭ Upcoming King Jake! soon announces his love for you at a game, half fueled by the magic in the food he consumed and the other half his true feelings of love for you, and you think that you feel your heart skip a beat for a second 

✭ You don’t notice the heavy blush that slathers your face, but the other three definitely do, and they snicker in silence 

✭ The first date he takes you on, you realize your mistake; you’ve fallen in love with the young prince 

✭ The way that he looks at you like you held the whole world, the way that he holds you with the most utmost gentle care as though your mother hadn’t committed the largest heinous crimes known, the way that he doesn’t even acknowledge your stupid fucking parents really hits the home run for you 

✭ With him, you’re just (Y/n) (L/n), not the daughter of maleficent, or some kind of evil girl, you’re just a young woman in love with Sim Jaeyun 

✭ He speaks to you through the silence of your own words, his fingers slowly wrapping around yours while he guides you through a lake...and for the first time in a long time, you let a genuine laugh leave your mouth 

✭ Upcoming King Jake! decides that your giggle is gonna be the tune he better hear when he enters heaven and that you look so fucking good with your hair slathered back wet droplets slithering down your face 

✭ He’s liked you forever and he won’t ever let you go he also concludes 

✭ While you're in distress in your dorm, crying your poor eyes out to Yunjin, sobbing about your shocking revelation that she pretends to be surprised to be about 

✭ Everyone could see it from a distance away about how much you really pretended to dislike the prince  

✭ You feel so guilty for charming Upcoming King Jake! like that and you come to a decision to make an antidote for him after the coronation  

✭ And possibly run away and never turn back again–you’re afraid that staying with your ‘lover’ could potentially drag you through a deeper rabbit hole 

✭ Dates after date, you learn more about your boyfriend with wide eyes that can’t help but flit to his very tempting lips occasionally 

✭ -Anyways coronation doesn’t take long to arrive and before you know it, you’re being fitted into an alluring (sexy) dress with colors that make you pop and a shape that really brings out your figure–Yunjin truly knows you well 

✭ The other two boys–your boys take hip hip hooray at you, and you carefully smile at them, hugging them the moment they get close, you’ve missed them 

✭ They lead you down the winding hallways where the other students cheer in delight and envy at you. Streamers of gold and blue trail down the walls, there are balloons everywhere and couples dance at the ball music that echoes outside in the open 

✭ “Fuck you’re so pretty, I think I’m gonna hurl” 

✭ Those are the first words of Upcoming King Jake! utters to you, whimpering when you take his hand so he can assist you into the pearly carriage, grip snaking to your waist to make sure that you didn’t trip–or at least that was his excuse, you just knew that he wanted to feel you up 

✭ “And you’re so handsome, and I’m gonna faint” You gulp, absolutely enamored with Sim Jaeyun, fixing his crown as you try not to kiss him...maybe it’s time to tell him the truth 

✭ “I–Jake I’m so sorry, but I’ve put something in those cookies I gave you in the beginning of our relationship. You’re not actually in love with me”  

✭ You shove the antidote snacks right into his mouth just after, afraid of his response while you well up with silent tears that you try to wipe away discreetly 

✭ But the translucent drops on your face are caught softly with cradling arms that turn your reddening face to the side 

✭ Nothing in the world mattered to you two, just all you saw was each other and the sparks that flew when King Jake! closes the gap between your lips, so soft and warm your head is going fuzzy...omg 

✭ You just kissed Jaeyun...no he kissed you but why? 

✭ It seems as though he can read your mind because he quickly answers you, nuzzling his nose against your cheeks 

✭ “I know you put that stupid spell on me. It washed away after our first date when we took a dip in the enchanted lake, but I’ve always liked you–since the very beginning when I first laid my eyes on you.

✭ You believe that you’re about to melt from his intense gaze, so what’s the best next thing to do? 

✭ Kiss your lover once more on the lips 

✭ Too bad your evil mother has stopped your carriage midway, grabbing the wand from Yuna the fairy godmother’s daughter who had just gone rogue from anger 

✭ And too bad it’s up to you to stop your mother from her rage, so you step out of the vehicle, magic thrumming deep in your veins as you battle your mother 

✭ In that moment two crucial events take place; one you settle to be good and two, King Jake! thinks you’re really fucking hot when you’re angry and fighting your parent 

✭ Blah Blah Blah, in the end, you drive that wretched woman away by turning her into a lizard and everyone cheers in joy–you’ve just saved the kingdom! 

✭ And guess what? King Jake! just fell more in love with you as he tumbles out of the carriage, pulling you into a tight hug, in front of his parents the crown on his head slipping which you fix, landing a kiss on his cheek 

✭ King/Boyfriend Jake! thinks that vexation looks good, but happiness looks so much better with that gorgeous smile that you throw at him...gosh he’s actually about to hurl because of you  

✭ He can’t stop kissing you and luckily you don’t think you mind 

And so, if happily ever after did actually exist, you and King Jake! wouldn’t have broken up because of your urge to be evil once more, but luckily fate drew breath instead. So he searched for you, because his hearty truly couldn't let you go. He soon learned the ropes of being evil and got almost fucking died because of a few pirates...arghh and then got seduced for the second time! Which you save him from with a true love's kiss, and then he watches you fight again, and for some reason finding you in your element is really stupidly kind of sexy for him.  

And that’s why he asks you to marry him outside with a bunch of people watching, kissing you deeply when you accept the ring.  

The end.  

[spiralnymph]

Re: A Word on the Prototyping Process for Rotdolls. Internal Communication.

I hope this message finds you well.

It has come to my attention that there is a bit of confusion among staff regarding the development, prototyping, and testing processes for the SPIRAL (Synthetic Priority-Intensive Reborn Automata Limbsprite) series Rotdoll. This will be a brief overview regarding the questions I found prevalent or important to note.

To start, the transitional candidate must be in a state considered “too far gone,” "incurable" or “irreparable.” This is the number one criteria used when our manufacturers’ scouting contractors are procuring viable product. In fact, we tend to advise them on using those exact keywords. These candidates are rotting, barely functional, and while we cannot “fix” them, we can give them a chance. Once a promising candidate is located, we make contact and gain approval. Then the rebirth can begin.

The sedated Limbsprite is brought in, and we begin taking our protocolar measurements. Stretch out the legs, measure from heel to back of knee. From back of knee to buttocks. Around the widest section of the thigh. Around the knee. Around the widest section of the calf. Around the ankle. Repeat the same pattern on the other limbs; There should be no skipping of the second leg, as these naturally occurring bodies have imperfections and mismatched measurements that must be accounted for in the upgrading/rebirthing process.

Once the measurement phase is complete, our manufacturing drones are utilized in crafting what we call the Reciprocity Vessel Shell, or more commonly the RV-Shell, for the lucky Limbsprites who make it this far. They should consider themselves to have won the lottery! Their Shell will keep them going, as well as allow them to act out fulfilling lives in service to those they are in the possession of. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Next is the programming phase.

Once the Shell has been installed on the fleshwire of the Limbsprite’s exterior, and the necessary processing, function and suppression components (which come with our proprietary firmware pre-loaded) have been implanted into the subject’s brain and body, we can begin the programming process. This stage is the most time intensive, as there has to be a determination made based on the individual unit regarding what services it can or should be put forth to perform.

Maybe this Rotdoll is more suited for deployment in war, or perhaps this one is only to be used for janitorial service. This one is bound for corporate chauffeuring, and this one will be the worlds most efficient espionage and infiltration tool. To draw from a real example, take prototypal batch F; Most, if not all, Rotdolls belonging to batch F were in some capacity suited for direct combat. This, however, is atypical. Most batches are far more diversified in their application potential; Batch H, for instance, contained no two Rotdolls consigned to the same Service. This variance in Rotdoll implementation is something our company (rightfully!) touts above our competitors; It takes a massive amount of expertise to be able to direct such dissimilar units on their individual utilities. Yes, due to this, we have investors hesitant to buy in, given that the demand ebbs and flows depending on the stock we have at any given time, but the investors we do have remain passionate about the work we do here, and know to trust our process, as they have seen the broadly-applicable results.

To continue the process, we reinforce what the Executives have come to call the “Exertive Will.” This is the drive that our SPIRALs (and all Rotdolls broadly) experience that pushes them towards the goal we assign to them. With Rotdolls being more prone to hardware exhaustion, processing fatigue, Wirepain, and the industry-dreaded Techrot than the average automata on the market, we strive to imprint the Exertive Will on our units very early and very concertedly, to ensure that the units we distribute are not doomed to early failure and unmarketability.

I won't get into the weeds on the details of Exertive Will. That is jargon for our engineers to untangle. The purpose of this email is just to clear up some of the disconcertment that seemed to be spreading around among some of our newer employment bracket.

I hope that this was informative, and if you have any further inquiries, please bring them to your floor manager, and they will explain what their (and your) clearance allows.

From the office of

[NAME MISSING]

Gossamer Branch Manager of [LOCATION MISSING]

** This is classified internal communication meant only for the addressees copied on the original electronic mail. Sharing this message or the information therein is a breach of company non-disclosure clauses as well as local law. If you have received this message in error, please respond to this message with your email address and delete correspondence completely.

[agerefandom]

Stella’s 1,800 Follower Giveaway!

Two years ago I had a giveaway for 500 followers, and now we’ve more than tripled that number in our agerefandom community! It continues to be so fun and rewarding to make content from art to fanfiction for all of you lovely regressors and dreamers and allies: I feel lucky every day that I get to wake up to the notifications and requests on this blog. 

So in celebration, here is the second-ever @agerefandom​ giveaway! 

To Qualify, You Must:

respect my DNI

be following @agerefandom

reblog this post!

Prizes: 

1. Your Choice Of Jellycat Stuffie

(details: up to $31, shipping covered in US/Canada, must be available on the Jellycat website) 

2. Custom Pacifier From @punkiepacis (on Instagram) 

(details: includes custom center, double outlining, and handle letters: shipping, charm and two special decorations also covered by me) 

3. Content Batch From Yours Truly 

(details: skip the line and get your request filled before I officially open requests in July! Includes a 1,000-3,000 word fanfiction and a headcanon set, OR 3-4 headcanon sets if you prefer. If you’re interested in something else, like moodboards or art, we can set a number for those as well <3) 

Rules:

you can reblog this post multiple times, but it only counts as one entry!

for a bonus entry, you can tag me in some agere content for any of the fandoms on my fandom list! moodboards, writing, art, headcanons, whatever you like to do! have fun!

the first person will get to choose between all three prizes. The second person will get to choose between the last two, and so on.

the giveaway will end on June 24th, 2023. The winners will be chosen before June 28th. 

Okay, that’s it! I love you all, and good luck!

[alltoomaples]

life in film - LN

pairing: fem!uni student x lando norris

synopsis: after a year-long of hard work, the day was finally here where you present your portfolio project. you're family and friend circle has joined but will lando be able to reach there on time?

type: writing + picture portfolio

a/n: here's the much-awaited and most polled-in for the write-up! part 2 of love.jpg is here! ngl i feel this can be read alone as well as part but you readers can decide whichever way you wish to read i don't and won't mind <33 (linked down below). a bit of reference was used from the film 'five feet apart' as on the previous day, i binge-watched it (yes i do bing watch this movie for unhealthy times) and the monologue kinda gave an inspiration to write for this part. i must say the writing got way longer than i anticipated hence i had to skip the insta au part. although i think the end is quite an unexpected surprise in my opinion? lemme know what you folks think? now, i'll be working on our poll winner 2 and i'd be happy to take in any requests if you have :))

until next one, happy reading <;33

pre-part: love.jpg

. . . .

You were pacing around the backstage, feeling all anxious and panicky as the day you were looking for was finally here!

Your project portfolio presentation.

A year full of waiting now feels like a moment gone by and yet, you were very grateful of the journey that you had. Your family, friends, Lan, and professors have helped and guided you throughout the process, keeping you sane.

"Y/N, the show's about to start! get down to the staging area please" the lady annouced as you nodded to her.

You turned around the room to see whether Lando could make it as it was his last race of the triple race weekender and although you said it's totally fine if he couldn't make it yet Lando being Lando, he promised you he'd be there. quoting his own words, "i wouldn't miss it for the world and i will be there, bubba"

You get to the side staging area and tries to sneak at the couple front rows. You see that your and Lando's family was seated with a couple of your friends and the quadrant squad. you smiled at them, even waved back at baby Mila when she saw you and squealed. and yet, a deep sigh leaves your lips as you see the empty seat beside Max.

He still hasn't reached here. yet?

You fiddled with the ring on your hand and quickly took your phone when it beeped. it was a message from Max.

from Maxy: he's on his way y/n/n. don't worry about it! ps: if he doesn't, then we'll kick his ass fr. your word will be my command, your highness😤

Silent laughter resulted once you read his texts as you looked at him and shook your head.

You heard people's whispers, and as you turned around, the anchor of the event walks up behind you and enters the stage, meaning the show was about to begin.

"Welcome to one and all present here today! it's an honor and privilege to showcase the works done by our talented students of the graduating batch 2022-23" a round of applause echos the auditorium.

. . . .

Few presentations later, the anchor of the event walks up behind me, about to leave for the stage entrance, indicating its your turn.

You quickly opened your phone and texted Lando.

to Lan <3: hey bubba! im about to go on stage now. and before you say anything bad about yourself, its totally fine and don't blame yourself for it bubs. and maybe, I'll give you a private presentation? anywhoo, wish me luck xx

"You're up in a few mins y/l/n. you ready?" the lady approaches to you. You took a deep breath on and nodded.

"And here's our final student who has set her portfolio with an outstanding theme and work of art and graded first rank of her batch, Ms. y/n y/m/n y/l/n"

As the mic was handed over to you, your phone went off. It was a text from Lando.

from Lan <3: you don't need luck cause your lucky charm is here xx

You were slightly confused and before you could register what he meant, you're now walking onto the stage, and the audience applauds, your fam corner goes a bit wild, hyping you up.

You set your speech papers in front of you. And took another deep breath as the audience went silent.

"Greetings to esteem team and faculty members, my colleagues and everyone gathered here today. I am y/n l/n, a very proud graduate in photography and graphic design. And today is not just any ordinary day but it's much more special ordinary day that I've been waiting for a whole year" you say, with smile on your face as you look to the crowd.

And just like that, there he stood. At the entrance gate, very much like in movies.

Now, it made sense. Your lucky charm is finally here.

"Ladies and gentlemen, here i present my portfolio, 'Life in film'" you say proudly, as the projector starts showing your cover page on the big screen.

As soon as the picture is shown on screen, a loud applause echoes, making your head turn in the direction of sound. Lando was the one who made the whole audience clap once again. A smile crippled on your way as you nudged your nose. Lando walked over to his seat quickly, keeping one of his hands over his heart as he nudged his nose back at you.

it was a sign that the two of you made, similar to eskimos' kiss (long distant version).

"Life on film. The name is very simple, minimal, and a daily basis terminology in our lives. So what's the purpose of this theme? You might think what makes such a simple concept of life an extraordinary one?" you say, as you look down at the paper you had in front of you, but then you looked at the ring on your finger. And then looked towards your squad. You show your hand at the big screen and the next slides play along, showing a couple of pictures you shot.

"Well, we humans tend to overlook life. We've stopped taking time and appreciate what we have. The bright sunny sky we rarely see in the UK, a string of laughter from a little baby, flowers blossoming in spring, an old couple walking hand in hand. A moment of stillness amongst the chaos, a moment of laughter, contentment, and love," you say, looking at your loved ones.

The looks on everyone's faces were the best reward you could ever receive! Even Lando's expressions spoke volumes of how much he was amused and in awe by your works. You were getting a bit overwhelmed with joy by seeing this and felt like your heart would burst out of so much happiness. Then, you decided to speak from what your heart says as you folded your speech sheet.

"Life could give some tough times, but it's during these times we remember what our purpose is. That even the sour lemons could be made into lemonade. You just have to find the sweetness, your lucky charms," you say, looking at Lando. You saw everyone around him cooing at him, making him blush.

"From being a small girl who'd roam around with her dad's camera, dreaming her life revolve around films and polaroid, and here's she is! chasing her dreams with her lucky charm, " you say, showing the ring on your finger. People in the audience said, 'aww', as were from your squad side.

"A second turn into a minute, into an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year, a decade, and so does it goes. Yet how crazy it is to be able to live life to its fullest, and not just for those successful moments, but for small, big, and everything in between moments! Cause life's too short to waste a second" you say, as the final picture is being shown.

A picture of you and Lando on the day he proposed you, 4 months back.

"And that's life on film! thank you, everybody, for being here! and special shoutout to my parents and Lan's for all the guidance and love, siblings and quadrant squad for all the support" you say, looking at them and then, looking at the person who's your everything.

"And to the most important person with whom i don't think i could have achieved this without him. my project partner, the boyfriend at the start to now, my fiancé, Lando, " you say, getting a bit teary-eyed as you look at him.

"Thank you for choosing me as your partner cause i can't think of anyone else with whom i would have done this!" You say, voice getting a bit crackling. And as soon as you turned the mic off and took a bow, the lights of the room turned on, and the whole room stood up, applauding and cheers of hoots erupting the room.

Lando didn't think twice as he stood and ran up towards the stage and engulfed you in a tight hug as he picked and spun the two of you around.

"You made it very on time, Mr. Norris" you said, tugging by his coat as he put you to the ground, arms still around your waist.

"I promised you I'd be here. And you did an outstanding and amazing..." he starts rambling, making you laugh as a tear slipped out your eye. before you get it, Lando holds your face in his hands, wiping the tears off while he still continues his ramble of appreciation for you.

"... and gorgeous and adorable work of masterpiece!! I'm soo proud and lucky to be your partner, my future Mrs. Norris" he says, tugging you an inch closer to him.

"Your future Mrs. Norris?? I love how that sounds" you whisper to him, with a smug expression on your face.

"I bet our lives would be a sweet sweet lemonade of lucky charms" Lando says, making the two of laugh before you two pull in for a kiss. You two pull back with a smile and look at the crowd. Lando takes a step back as he raises both his hands and takes a bow at you, making you feel so special, and then photographers capture it as well.

get yourself a goofy gentleman who treats you like a queen and makes you laugh out loud, ladies!

. . . .

Then the two of you lead your way to you squad where both the families hugged you, congratulate, and said that they were so proud of you today. the sibling and quadrant squad did the same as well as asked for copies of your portfolio.

And as you were on your way to the exit, Lando pulled you behind carefully as you had baby Mila in your arms.

"I wanted to ask about that private presentation you texted me earlier" He whispers into your ear, and then proceeds to cover Mila's ears with his hands.

"Is the offer still open??" Lando says, sending shivers down your spine.

"Lando Norris! there's a baby between us" you whisper shout at him.

"Henceforth, covered her ears" he says, a bit frustrated with the lack of answer. You shrug his hands off the baby's ears and walks ahead, Lando following you.

"C'mon baby mils, let's leave your uncle Norris behind and get you on a nap" you say, say you nudge your nose into her belly making her giggle faintly as you saw she was getting sleepy.

"I guess, Uncle Norris gets his presentation later tonight then?" he asks, a tad bit of hope in his tone. You get to the car seat and buckle Mila up.

"You are all good to go baby Mi! You say. once you're all set with Mila, you turn around to meet with Lando, standing close by.

"and I'll see what i could do for you, Mr. Norris" You smoothen his collar of the coat as you leaned in and whispered, with a smile.

"How did i ever got so lucky?" He whispers, pulling you close before you walked by. You squish his cheeks with one hand.

"I guess it's the lucky charms?" you say, with thinking face, making Lando laugh.

"Thank god for that lemonade season" He says, making both you reminisce the day where it all began for the two.

. . . . memory unfolds

"Lemons are soo bitty. So would the lemonade be bitty too, mama and mama norri" the 3-year-old you asked as you stood in the kitchen, watching the two besties, your mom and Cisca make lemonade.

"Sweetheart, even the sour lemons can be made into lemonade. You just gotta add sweetness" your mom says, Cisca carrying the jar of sugar.

"Oohhh i hear lemonade" yells the 4-year-old Lando as he ran into the kitchen and sat next to you. The dads entering the room as they had came back from Lando's go-kart practice.

As the glass contained only lemon juice, you stopped him from drinking it.

"That's sour lemon landoo!" you say, grabbing the glass from him and leads his along with your glass towards Cisca to add sugar.

"Sour lemons can be made into lemonade by adding sweetness, the lucky charms" you say to lando. you and lando had a phase of saying sugar as lucky charms as it was sweet as the cerals luck charms.

Cisca handed back to you the two glass you had and then you mixed it well before handing it to Lando and yourself.

Seeing this scene unfold, your parents were in awe and felt like they're witnessing something special with their kids. And without any further request, your dad picks his camera and shot a picture.

A picture with an embark of new journey. A picture that both set of parents had it framed in their house as well as their hearts.

. . . . back to present

"Yoo lovebirds, come over and have your lemonade drinks" Oliver calls over the two of you.

You two walk over to where everyone was seated and handed a now sleepy Mils to Oliver. Flo hands the drinks for the two as well as your lucky-charm sugar sachets. Once you kept the drinks down, Lando grabbed it to drink it and before he could, you grabbed his hand, stopping him to take a sip.

"That's sour lemon, landooo!" you say as you shake your head at his carelessness. You then tear the sugar sachets and add to both of your lemonades.

"How do i always forget the lucky cha- i mean sugar" Lan mumbles, enough sound for you to hear as you let out a small laugh.

As the two of you have your lemonade drinks, the parents watch the two of you as they did 20 years back. Your dad takes a picture with your camera, that you had given him to hold it for you.

And i guess, the lemonade story have captured your lives in film roll.

. . . .

am i wanting a part 3 for this, just to wrap it?? you guys let me knw ;))

check out my works: until i found you masterlist | other works

[blankwashed]

Heartstrings (P6 FINAL) P1 P2 P3 P4 P5

Every morning, without fail, Satoru would bring you to work, always insisting that he was just helping a friend out. From the first day he brought you there, his bright smile was a constant source of cheer. You could remember the first day he offered to fetch you to work.

"Toru? What are you doing here? Sorry, I don't have enough time to bake pastries for you now, I'm kind of late for work..." you apologized, feeling flustered.

"No, no, it's fine. That's not why I'm here anyway. I'm offering to drive you to work since I won't be teaching until noon," Satoru replied cheerfully.

"You're too kind, Toru... Are you sure I'm not a disturbance? W-what if Yaga's subordinate complains about this?" you asked, fiddling with your feet, clearly shy at his kind gesture.

Satoru laughed, "I'm not worried about that, they can't function without me so you don't need to worry. I can take care of myself. I'm not the same fool from high school, okay?" His lightheartedness made you laugh as he helped you with the utensils you were bringing to work.

"Really Toru?"

You exchanged a few light-hearted jabs and jokes as he drove you to work. Satoru always had a witty comeback ready, making you laugh. "Did you dream about meeting Prince Charming in the kitchen, huh?" he'd tease, making the drive feel light and easy.

"No way! I wouldn't want to date someone who's in the same field as me," you replied softly, feeling a brush creeping up your cheeks.

"Whoever he’ll be, he'll be lucky to date you," he said, giving one of the heart softening Toru smiles.

His driving was always smooth and steady, probably thanks to the Six Eyes. It seemed like he didn't even need to open his eyes to drive! But to ease the other drivers on the road, he would pretend to be a normal civilian, not to freak them out. The car rides became a time you cherished the most, always looking forward to them as your friendship with him tightened.

Whenever it was time to go back, you'd see his familiar car (sometimes it’s a different car because Toru’s bank is as big as his house) pull up, and there he'd be, ready to take you home. On days when you left early, you'd see his familiar car pull up, and there he was, without you even needing to text him. "Thought you might need me to pick you up," he'd say with a wink, lowering his window. How'd he know?!

At home, he was equally caring. "Here, I saw these on sale today. Thought you might need them for work," he said as he handed you a piece of kitchen equipment. These small but thoughtful gestures made you feel incredibly cared for. As a way to return the favor, you'd set aside a few of the desserts you made at the restaurant for him. The look on his face whenever you gave them to him would make your heart skip a beat.

"Toru!" you called out to him, about to leave the house at night to Suguru's place for some boy's talk.

"I made these just for you, you can share them with Sugu," you said, watching as he peeked inside the dessert box. His eyes lit up at the sight of another batch of your pastries.

His genuine happiness warmed your heart as he said, "You're the best, y/n! These are going to make my night! I might not share them but thank you~". Moments like these made you cherish how much you loved having him in your life, even as a friend.

On a day when the both of you weren’t working, an idea struck you. You've been harboring feelings towards Satoru for far too long. Yes, you've only been single but the feelings you've had for him were from high school, as cringy as that may sound. Today is the day you're going to confess. What other better way than to tell him during a dinner you cooked?

"Toru," you said, blushing as you saw him scrolling idly through his phone in the living room in only his boxers.

"Yes, y/n?" he looked up from his phone and at you, realizing how bare he was, quickly covering himself with his hands.

"I need to go to the farmer's market," you said shyly, hiding your face as you added, "I want to get some stuff to bake for an important person."

Satoru was stunned. An important person? Who could that be? Your family members?

"Oh, okay, sure. I'll go put something on and we can go," he said, feeling a bit confused. Who was so important to you that you needed to bake for them?

"I want to get some fresh ingredients for a new recipe I've been thinking about. Plus, it's been a long time since I went to the market. I remember the noisy loud-talking aunties," you explained, trying to sound as casual as possible.

He chuckled. "Sounds like a plan. Fresh ingredients, huh? Who is this mystery person that you're baking for?"

You laughed nervously, waving off his question. "It's a surprise. You'll see soon enough."

As Satoru went to get dressed, you couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The market held the ingredients to making something truly special for Satoru, and you were determined to keep it a secret until the perfect moment. In the market, you couldn't lose sight of him because of how immensely tall he is.

"Toru? Please look for fresh salmon for me!" you clung onto his sleeve, beckoning for him to use his height to your advantage. The market was filled with people, bustling with energy. Satoru shook his head with a smile and started to spot things for you, his height making it easy to navigate through the crowd. As he scanned the crowd, Satoru couldn't help but think to himself how lucky the person you were cooking for must be. He sighed, his heart sinking slightly, and secretly wished it was him who you were putting in so much effort for.

After returning from the market, feeling excited to cook for Satoru, you started to prepare the ingredients right away.

"Whoa, is this person coming to our place?" Satoru asked, still wondering who the mystery person was that had you baking for them.

"Yes, and this person really love sweets. Just like you, Toru~" you said, as you measured the butter and sugar according to your memory.

Satoru was still puzzled, trying to figure out who this mystery person could be. "Is it someone from work? A relative?" he thought, trying to piece it together.

As you worked, Satoru hovered around the kitchen, curiosity getting the better of him. "Can I at least help? Maybe I'll get a clue," he suggested, flashing you a playful grin.

"Sure, you can chop up the veges," you said, handing him the sifter. "But no peeking at my notes."

He took the sifter and started working, glancing at you from time to time, his curiosity clearly piqued. "You know, you're not really good at keeping secrets from me. I might find out who it is," he teased.

You laughed, feeling a warmth in your chest. The anticipation of revealing the surprise to Satoru made the whole process even more enjoyable. "Just wait, Toru. I promise it'll be worth it." you wondered to yourself.

It was time for dinner in the Gojo household, meaning that both Satoru and you would meet up in the kitchen.

When Satoru walked into the kitchen, he was shocked to see a table full of his favorite dishes.

"Good evening, Sir Gojo. May you have a seat?" you greeted him with a playful, formal tone, like a butler in a high-class restaurant. For the surprise dinner date with Satoru, you wore a knee-length, A-line dress in deep maroon with subtle lace details, paired with a simple necklace and earrings. Your hair was styled in soft waves, complemented by natural makeup with a hint of blush and soft pink lipstick. He was still in shock but managed to say, "All this? Was for me?"

You nodded. "It's a dinner that I planned for you a long time ago. I haven't been able to do this yet because of our busy schedules," you said, sitting down directly opposite Satoru.

The two of you enjoyed the meal you cooked, sharing humorous stories from each of your workplaces. The atmosphere was light and filled with laughter.

"And for dessert..." you announced, bringing out a plate of kikufuku.

"Just like old times," Satoru said, making you blush.

You both savored the sweet treats, reminiscing about the moments you had spent together. Satoru looked at you with a warmth that made your heart flutter. "You really outdid yourself, y/n. This is incredible."

You smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment and happiness. "I'm glad you liked it, Toru. You deserve it."

Silence enveloped the kitchen as the two of you locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between you. The bond that had formed between you was unlike any other.

"Y/n," Satoru began, his voice soft yet filled with uncertainty.

You nodded, nervous of what he wanted to say. Was he going to confess? Was he going to make things easier for you?

He let out a heavy sigh, his words coming out in a rush, "I don't know if you feel the same way as I do, but..."

"I like you too, Satoru. More than a friend," you interrupted, your words filled with honesty and vulnerability.

"I... I never thought you'd actually like me," he began, his words stumbling over each other in his haste to express himself. "Since you came from a relationship where the man treated you like rubbish I figured you might lose faith in guys in general, and I..."

But before he could finish his sentence, you silenced him with a gentle press of your lips against his. It was a soft, tender kiss filled with all the emotions you couldn't put into words. In that moment, you conveyed everything you felt for him – the affection, the longing, and the hope for a future together. And as you pulled away, you saw the disbelief in his eyes give way to a warmth that mirrored your own.

"You thought wrong, Toru. Come on! You've known me for so long, I'm different aren't I?" you pouted and looked in his shining blue sapphire eyes.

"You sure are," he looked at you, his white eyebrows tilting up in curiosity after some time.

"Hold on, how is it possible? We came home, you cooked, and poof! It's dinner time? y/n, are you magic?"

"Shut up and kiss me, you talk too much Toru," you teased, pulling him closer, connecting your lips with his once again.

FINALLY! ok i dont know if it felt a little too rushed? i hope not? (technically posting this right after the chapter yesterday but i wanna finish this asap) (uni stress ugh) but y/n has already been feeling things for Toru from the start, its just that she was married to a Naoya so she suppressed it.

:(((((((((( I MISS SATORU SO MUCH

[erwin0859]

Heey I'm back with another request 😁. Can you do how would ruan mei react to a sick reader? Thank you and have a nice day 😁

Welcome back; you're welcome, thanks for your request, and have a nice day as well 😊

Ruan Mei with a sick GN reader

Based on how she reacted about her critters, I doubt she would be vastly different when it comes to a S/O, even when sick

After all, having a S/O will not suddenly remove your troubles to express your feelings and emotions, or magically make you able to display affection, when you've never done it until now

Chances are, though, that she might introduce you to her private hobbies, could be somewhat curious about your opinions on certain matters, and more generally, will noticeably pay attention to you

Unless you happen to have hobbies in common with her, she will otherwise keep a relative distance from you

Despite this, as her S/O, you will show up in her thoughts far more than anyone else ever did or could... but she will never admit it, unknowing how to even process it

Now, if her S/O happens to be sick... expect her to check your temperature by herself, similarly to the first encounter with her in the Herta Space Station

If you tend to struggle with following medication, well, good news for you! She will personally ensure that you will... even if it means incorporating it within cakes or tea (she has experience in that regard, Stelle/Caelus can testify)

Speaking of cakes and tea, you can expect to receive them regularly; if not as help (hot tea when you have a bad cough, for example), then as a form of comfort food

She won't keep you company 24/7, even under normal circumstances (and she definitely doesn't seem like the cuddly type), but she would still let you message her, if you need something

And if the sickness would be strong enough to keep you stuck in bed all day however... she might then offer to stay during the meals

Overall, she would express her care (as minimal as it may be) through little gestures and acts of service, rather than with words or physical presence

If you pay enough attention, and if you're lucky enough, then perhaps... you might witness a few tiny smiles on her otherwise unsmiling face

But that's only likely to happen when you would announce the good news of the symptoms starting to disappear, and that your recovery is finally there

If it's just a cold, she knows you will recover from it in due time, so she sees no reason to feel worried (and even less to express it anyhow)

Ambient music:

"Ah, S/O. Good timing. The latest batch of cakes is fresh from the oven. You can get some."

"Thank you, Ruan Mei. I appreciate it."

The scientist leads you to the kitchen area, and hands you a piece of cake on a plate, alongside its spoon. You sit in the armchair opposite to her, but before you could even taste it, you couldn't hold back a sneeze, causing her sight to focus on you.

"You're getting sick."

"I'm not sure, maybe it's just-"

You found yourself interrupted in your speech, due to her hand casually resting on your forehead, and her gaze scanning your eyes with nearly as much focus and emotion as a robot would.

"Probably just a cold. However, you should rest from now on."

"You're right... I will."

"Good. You will get tea and cakes, to reward your good behavior. As for the medicine... I will fetch it for you."

"That's nice of you."

"Mhh. Make sure to not skip it."

"I do hope it won't be that kind of medicine with a terrible taste..."

Upon hearing these words, she gave you a view that seemed rather amused.

"If that's one of your worries, then surely you wouldn't mind the taste of the tea and cakes to be... slightly different from what you're used to."

"This... won't be necessary... I hope. I would rather keep their original tastes."

"That will be up to you, S/O."

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[malibu-barbie-piece-of-shit]

Cookies

Pairing:Art the Clown x male!reader

Summary:Art knows you are baking so he comes to visit

Word Count:563

Author's note:I just cannot remember where I found the HC that Art loves eating sweets. Please if anyone knows, let me know so I can credit them lol

Ding.

The sound of the oven timer traveled from the kitchen to the living room. Y/n set the remote down, ending his trance of channel surfing on a news channel, and got off of the couch. As he walked through his house, he couldn't help but feel like something was watching him. But it was probably nothing, right?

The kitchen was filled with the pleasant scent of sugar cookies ad Y/n pulled the tray out of the oven and sat it on the counter. In doing so, he accidentally pushed a dish towel off of the counter.

"Dammit,"Y/n sighed as he bent over to pick up the towel. He just barely grabbed it before he felt something brush up against him. His body quickly shot up almost as soon as the feeling was gone.

Y/n's eyes darted around the room as his breaths shortened and became heavy. It had to be his imagination, there was no way any body could be with him, he lived alone and all of his doors were locked—

All of Y/n's rationalizations were quickly thrown out with the sight of two cookies missing from the tray. The empty circles on the parchment proved to him that he wasn't going crazy. Alas, he had no time to process this as he watched a gloved hand reach over to grab a cookie.

Y/n spun around and there it stood. A tall clown dressed in a black and white suit with face paint to match. Art. He gave Y/n a big, toothy smile as he framed his face with his outstretched hands.

Y/n gave a sign of relief as he realized the source of his paranoia was just Art and not something worse. He still wasn't fully used to a supernatural killer finding shelter in his house, but he couldn't help but love him.

"You know you could've just asked?"

Art gave an exaggerated, full-arm shrug and flashed an expression reminiscent of a guilty but playful child. He was a clown after all, it was in his nature to have fun, and what's the fun in asking?

"You're lucky I'm making another batch,"Y/n smiled,"go sit on the couch and I'll bring you more."

Art excitedly nodded his head and skipped off to the living room. Y/n couldn't help but giggle at the sight.

With the second batch of cookies now in the oven, Y/n stacked three of the already baked ones on a small plate. He made his way to the living room where he was greeted with the sight of Art, his eyes locked onto the TV and his face blank.

"Are you alright,"Y/n set the plate down on the coffee table and sat next to him.

Art put a slender finger up to his lips and pointed at the TV. A news report was on, details of a gruesome murder scrolled by on the screen. The reporter mentioned a "Miles County Clown" as the main suspect. This caused Art to throw his hands in the air and clap with glee along with a huge smile growing  on his face.

"Proud of yourself, huh,"Y/n smirked.

Art picked up the plate and held it to Y/n in celebration of his recognition. Y/n knew that the second batch would be needed soon...

-🐺