#the one from 2 years ago is a little plain... and i didnt make one for last year. so i had to go a little wild for this one

[paradigmrust]

we meet on sad occasions, and in happier times

[megismorallysunny]

25/09/23

i might upload 2 today bc i have a lot, not from today just in general, so much so that i wrote it down. i had science first, turns out the school wanted every teacher for their first class to show their classes the new one way system because they felt it was clogged up. its really fucking stupid and we were supposed to follow it as soon as we left first class.. spoiler alert no one did, absolutely no one, i didnt see any teachers not following but no students are. I feel like using that system its only a matter of time before a 1st year gets hit by a car, your supposed to go outside to get to some classes that would have only been a few metres away now, and the way you go sometimes has cars on it, i seen one going pretty fast just a minute after class started.

i had irish after science and turns out that irish hw i was doing wasnt even the hw, and i had already done the hw a week ago, omg i just cant but it was a-ok. after that was maths, everyone was in for once so there wasnt enough seats for everyone, hopefully 4k4 and his other friend 5k5 dont steal my seat, i worked my ass off for that. a student who came 2 weeks ago, nickname -bluebird, is just annoying, its not that shes done anything wrong its that shes a complete loner, wont talk to anyone, not like ive tried but more in the sense, you wont hear even a squeak. in business she doesnt take down notes, in maths she doesnt do questions (not that i can say much) and in french she doesnt even know ça va and wont do her french hw. so yeah plain infuriating. i did my english hw wrong after i spent an hour carefully constructing only a third of my answer for an hour last night. my friends went to the shop but i didnt bc i wanted to stay in the cspe classroom and eat my lunch and maybe also read trollhunter fanfics, hard enough to find good ones involving a very cute and fluffy relationship between jim and walter. anyways we had to have a fake election in cspe, to try out ballot box voting, in first year for student council i tied with another girl for top votes. guess how many i got this time? yeah thats right a solid one, thinking about it makes me sad, does no one like me anymore??? but i laughed at the time even tho every1 looked back at me, it felt really dehumanising, the only way i deal with bad situations is by laughing and joking, and that situation made me feel a little shit.

made me also feel real great when aprciot turned back at me and said i put you 5, its like he constantly tries to talk to me and be my friend and when i ignore him he gets mad, its not great that i was standing beside granite today and apricot started pushing granite and while he did that his hand touched my tit. great. made me feel just great, it wasnt on purpose he wouldnt even try.. well he did say consent didnt matter today if it was me. he was obvi joking but considering he tried to sa someone before and this day a year ago, "mango" his friend and apples friend sent diorite a voice message saying apricot said he was gonna do a thing to her. idk im sorry i feel uncomfortable typing out the word rape. but yeah thats what he said apparently. doesnt make it better he could walk to her house and he knows where that is. but unfortunately it is what it is no matter how cruel it can be.

anyways, after cspe i fucking raced through the classroom to get to another because it had a door to the outside which was closer to the door to the other outside door to get to or religion classroom, we had a proper sound sub, she was rly nice and i thought she was a bitch because of her hairstyle but she really wasnt, AND I GOT MY FAVOURITE SEAT!!!! mission acomplished, my friend was happy bc i always run to get good seats and i actually did unlike last time where some people were unfortunately quicker.

idk if i mentioned this but i learned about shifting maybe early 2021 and it didnt really go anywhere, id tell you where i have planned out for me to go but it would be embarassing, i have one for the embarassing one and one for a library, filled with extensive knowledge and characters from shows i watch. anyways my body felt like it was floating last night, just like my first shifting attempt nearly 2 years ago now, i nearly did it but i chickened out, opened my eyes and couldnt ever do it again or get those symptoms. when i woke up at 4 in the morning i was half stuck in a dream, and was trying to do my tasks to meet my goal, i dont even remember what my tasks or goal was.

i skimmed the entirety of sex education, it was my first time watching it, it was pretty good, i really liked ruby she was definitely my favourite i also really loved roman but cmon ruby, she was so good also aimee. i redownloaded farmville2 so its time to relive my farmer life whoop whoop. ill do another blog post later. anyways goodbye have a good morning, good day and good night

[cynettic]

hi, i hope i'm not bothering you, but i can order a Scaramouche × Kitsune reader, the two met before the vision hunt (and before he was a fatui if you want) the reader was always in the same place, sometimes having a conversation , the good old routine, but with the hunting of visions the reader disappeared not wanting to give up his own vision, and years later a reunion, SFW or NSFW is by your will, thank you, I really admire your work

Summary - Scaramouche met you as a child, growing up with the constant assurance that you would be right there, sitting at your spot where he could meet you with every visit. He isn't happy when you suddenly disappear.

Pairing - Kitsune!Reader x Yan!Scaramouche

Warning - Slight Yandere warnings?

Penpal - Ahhh- hope this is what you were looking for. I couldn't find a spot to put much nsfw unless I considered writing more for the series ( I could, just put a request in if thats what you’re looking for ). But I hope you liked it!! You're not bothering me at all and I'm glad you like my work!

A/N - Alright- so considering that with the 2.1 update with Scaramouche coming in, I just wanna state beforehand that I wrote this prior so I dont know if we learn about his backstory or anything!!

Link for Part 2

Stay With Me

Scaramouche was used to the routine he’d found himself going along with every visit to Inazuma. As a child he’d pass through the wild fields that stretched just beside his hometown, adventurous and curious with all the tenacity of a child.

And of course you, a kitsune that sat perched on the ground awaiting the Kitsune Saiguu, was bound to notice him. Unlike the other earth kitsune statues, you hadnt turned to stone during your wait. Instead, staying in the same place did you interact with travellers and the locals, which included Scaramouche.

“Fox person!” The little boy chanted, pulling at the hems of your clothing. Bright blue eyes bore into your own, and you slowly shifted your head to pay attention to the boy who was on the verge of bouncing on you.

Humming in reply to his excitement, the little boy paused, both of his small hands still tightly clasping the fabric of your clothes. Soft matted hair brushed past his face in a messy manner, calling out the boy for his boundless running and rebellious urge to keep his hair messy despite his parents wishes.

“Play with me!”

Staring at the boy only a moment longer, you simply chuckled at his antics. “I’m afraid I cannot move from the spot in which I dwell~ Perhaps I’ll be able to entertain you if you bring cards?”

But the young boy had made up his mind at the statement to which you couldn't move. A pitiful frown enfluged his face as he cast you the nastiest glare a five year old could muster. “Boring!” He shouted into the distance of the fields, dramatically turning on his heels and bouncing up into a sprint away. You watched his small figure fade away into the background, absentmindedly sighing and returning to your mindless thoughts.

As a child, Scaramouche would pass by you fairly often. Frequent when he asked you to play with him, and storming away with the same expression when you denied him. Nothing out of the ordinary, you’d lived for an exceptional amount of time, and even though grumpy children were not your specialty, you’d grown accustomed to their behaviour.

Growing up, Scaramouche got no better. You soon noticed his violent tendencies before they became an issue, the way the children shied away from him when playing Temari. Hiding in front of a tough exterior, he scared them away and laughed, approaching you later with tearful sob.

“Will you play with me?” He asked again, trying to hide the fact that he still wept when the other children pushed him away.

But your answer stayed the same, helping him wipe his tears and coaxing him into your arms. Not the first time you’d made contact with a human, but the first time you held them in such an affectionate manner.

It was clear Scaramouche was beginning to see you as some sort of pillar of reassurance when he began running away from home to simply ask to be held. You always welcomed him with open arms, urging him to head back to his household and sort things out. There was no harm in simply providing love and comfort for a child who received none was there?

“Now now, hurry back home little one. Your parents must be growing awfully worried if you’re out by this time at night.”

“My parents dont care about me!”

Darkness slowly pooled into the fields, an obscure shade covering the two of you from the tree you were under. Biting back form your normal emotionless statements, you pondered for something to soothe and convince the boy. Misunderstandings and hardships were normal from what youd seen with children, and you could only offer your hand on his shoulder, a promise. “Go back, I promise to stay here if anything further happens. But you shold give them another chance dont you think?”

And so he’d sprint back to his hometown, and you wouldnt hear from him again till he ran up right up to you a few days later. Begging you to play a game with him. The normal you supposed, and with a grin that seemed to stretch wider with every day, you told him the same thing you told him every single time.

“You cant move?!” Scaramouche nearly yelled one time, tiny fists curling at his side. “Thats… thats stupid!”

“It is isnt it?” You only smiled in response.

Unsatisfied with your response, he clawed your arm, pulling you with all his might. Strong, you realized with surprise that he was much stronger than most children his age. Easy enough to tug away from, but strong enough to take you off guard.

Snapping your hand back to your side, you narrowed your eyes. You weren't angry… no, you hadnt felt strong feelings like that after the disappearance of the Kitsune Saiguu. “Do not attempt to move me,” was your curt response, said in the most stern voice you’d used with the boy.

He’d looked at you only a few seconds longer before bursting into tears, turning away and running. You didn't feel regretful for defending yourself, only turning once more with a tired sigh to stare at the distance.

But just as you stayed ageless, Scaramouche grew older. Still, crossing each others pass was inevitable when you sat in the plains, just alongside the path that lead to his hometown.

With a permanent scowl that seemed to stain his face, he still seemed to have mature a tad bit. Maybe hadnt improved in the social department, because he now scared children and adults and alike, but more mature…

“Hm? Whats this?”

Once again, sitting criss cross under the large tree that provided the perfect shade on sunny days, you stared at the boy expectantly. His hands hesitated at your question, but he resumed shuffling. “Cards,” he simply said in response.

A small featherlike feeling flitted across your chest, making you feel lighter and… almost ticklish. A small smile crossed your face, and you recognized the emotion to be one of adoration. For him to have remembered words you’d spoken years ago, it gave you a warmth you’d sorely missed. A warmth akin to watching him and the other children grow up.

“Ew, dont smile like that, its creepy.”

Swatting at his head, he frowned further when you laughed. “You’re more mature,” you pointed out, lazily leaning back. “You need to work on your people skills though, as someone who hasnt moved in years, thats pitiful that I know more than you.”

“Shut it!”

But as he grew up, you hardly got to see much of him. He’d reached your height and then fully disappeared, leaving no goodbye. And much as you hated to admit it, you hardly noticed, not when days passed in a flurry. You were used to being by yourself, entertaining the kids and greeting the people that passed by.

Sometimes, there’d be the reminder of the warmth he’d given you. But it was quickly overshadowed by your duty to remain seated in wait for the Kitsune Saiguu. A dedication kept in its earnest, but beginning to dwindle.

Inazuma was beginning to change.

“The vision decree…” you repeated, staring at the traveller who’d mentioned it to you. “Care to elaborate?”

The new archon threatenening to take away visions from every inhabitant of Inazuma. It was preposterous, so much that you didnt move. Your vision meant the world to you, but so did the Kitsune Saiguu. You werent sure just how you weighed the two till you saw civilians passing by you, ones you recognized, ones that didnt recognize themselves.

It was snowing, cold snowflakes melting into your skin while your hair soaked in the water. Unflinching, you hummed to a little tune, awaiting someone to pass you so that you could attempt to strike a conversation of somesort. The unnatural weather distanced all who entered the field though, and you simply waited. For the Kitsune Saiguu, for someone, or for some form of entertainment, you didnt know. You Slowly closing your eyes, you decided not to care.

“Im gone for five years and you’re still sitting here like a dumbass.”

Eyes snapping open, you find yourself face to face with a complete stranger. Dark purple hair with dark blue eyes, piercing and dangerous in a way you dont recognize at all. Fancy clothing that you cant identify or put a name on.

The boy took a step towards you, crouching down to stare at you directly. His eyes scanned over your figure briefly, and he brushed the snow out of your hair and ears with one flick of his hand. In the next, he was offering a coat to you. “Take it, you’re probably getting cold.”

You leaned forward, ignoring the coat he offered you. Gently, you raised your hand to brush the hair from his eyes, centred on the way his pupils widened. Offering a small moment of surprise and one glimpse into the small childlike blue eyed wonder he was. “Kiddo,” you breathed, pulling your hand back and scanning him once again. “You’ve grown.”

“And you havent.”

Snickering at his comment, you took the coat. You didnt need it, but he looked like he didnt either. He was already wearing clothing that kept him warm, and with careful observation and an untouched coat, you settled on the fact that he’d brought it here. Brought the coat here for you.

“Still havent improved with those social skills of yours have you?”

He scoffed, letting himself fall back till he was sitting fully. “I dont want to hear it from someone who refuses to move an inch for years. Lazy ass.”

You open your mouth to retort, but instead laugh at his comment, shaking your head. “Gained some humour on your journeys have you? Bad words too it seems. Anyways...” He had sat down, which meant that he meant fully well to sit, chat, and catch up. That familiar warmth filled your chest, a contrast between the cold snow. “Welcome back.”

It wasnt often that Scaramouche visited Inazuma, but when he did, he was sure to visit you. The two of you would sit down for hours, talking about the most trivial topics. He never mentioned what he did in his time away, and you never asked.

But things began to go downhill when news of the vision decree finally took action.

“Its no joke anymore! The Raiden Shogun has taken custody of almost a hundred visions!”

In that moment you made your decision, weighing your vision over the Kitsune Saiguu. Awfully selfish you knew, but you’d spent decades sitting there in wait.

And for the first time you sat up from your position on the ground, clumsily stumbling upright but gaining balance. It takes a few steps until you’re back to normal, and you begin your journey in order to escape the Raiden Shogun’s vision hunt decree.

_-_-_-_

You didnt expect to see him again.

Long grass tickled at the skin of your legs, making you adjust your footing to no avail. Sun slowly descending past the mountains to mark the start of an evening and the soon approaching night. A normal day of exploring the mountains and islands of Inazuma, observing the constant changing situation, and running away from the vision decree like a favourite past-time.

With the exception of a firm grip on your wrist.

Dark purple like hair, same hate brimmed eyes and lavish clothing. You recognized Scaramouche the moment he had appeared, looking just as surprised as you were. That being before he snatched your wrist and snarled, “You.”

You wouldve considered it pure luck to find him, an unexpected reunion with someone you actually remembered. But no, his tone had some predatorial edge to it that had you cringing. Hard. “Yes, its me.” You answered back with a frown, trying to loosen his hold. “Nice to see you too, is something the matter?”

He only seemed confused at your words, pulling you closer.

“Something the matter?” He asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Well, to start, you’re not sitting at your damn spot.”

Taken aback for a moment, you wondered if that sole fact was what drove the boy to such lengths. Surely he couldn't be so troubled over the fact that you moved… “The vision hunt decree, I'm sure I mentioned that I was sticking around in wait for the Kitsune Saiguu. I decided to wander around and avoid the conflict until I could settle back.”

“You could’ve waited for me,” he stated almost instantly. “I could have protected you.”

You felt your brows furrow quizzically. “Wait for you? Why in the world would I-”

“Why wouldn't I?” He pushed you closer till he could fully grab both wrists, taking a step closer as if his words would resonate clearer in your head. “You took care of me as a child, it would only be fair for me to repay the favour.” But he only seemed to be looking for excuses. “And besides, you can't just up and leave… I didn't know.”

Before you could interject with the obvious answer that he didn't need to know, you stopped. You’d lived decades, nearly centuries if you’d kept count, and you had learned to read people's expressions even when you’d stayed away from them for so long. He didn't know. It hit you in the most unpleasant way that he wasn't aware that it was none of his concern. To him, you were just another thing he needed to keep track of, something he had control over. His face basically screamed, ‘I depended on you to stay in that place.’

Deep breath in and out. You’d lived long, longer than him, you could deal with a child throwing a tantrum.

“Don't worry,” you gestured to the vision ta your side. “I'm strong enough to protect myself, I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be back when the vision decree ends.”

Unconvinced, he pulled you closer, just until your faces were mere inches away from each other. “No,” he said in a stern voice. “I’d rather you by my side, where I can protect you. I hate to question what you’re capable of, but you’ve been sitting down for as long as I’ve known you for.”

“I’ve lived decades more than you,” a simple reply, hopefully enough to get by him. You snatched your hands back with ease, ears flinching slightly when a cold breeze swept past you. But you stayed firm, not wanting to look vulnerable against the imposing air he had around him.

Still unconvinced. “You’re coming with me.”

“No I’m not.”

You’d known him as a kid, watched him grow up along with all the other small ones in his hometown. And maybe you admit you cared a smudge bit about the warmth he gave you when settling down to play cards, but he was different. He had changed in the worst way and you weren't about to deal with it.

“So you’re not coming with me voluntarily?” He asked softly, taking a small step to which you responded by stepping back. He had his hands up, as if telling you he wouldn't hurt you. But the way he said voluntarily sent shivers up your spine.

“No.” Hand on your vision, you held your own hand up threateningly.

He took his time when tilting his head, taking a deep breath in, and then appearing in front of you in just a short stride. Too quick to react, you hesitated before you could attack him. You didn't want to hurt him, he was still a child in your eyes, and you paid the consequences for that. He slid his hand just along your neck, and a jolt of electricity seemed to thrum inside you just as you collapsed in his arms.

Scaramouche was quick to catch you, hoisting you up into his arms dearly. “I do hope you’ll come to understand,” he said softly, cradling your unconscious form in his arms. Making sure not to crush your tail when carrying your legs, he looked past the mountains, sigh resting on his lips.

Because Scaramouche liked to have control of the things he held dear. Like keeping all your valuables neat and tidy in a closet, he was happy knowing you were safe and stable in that spot you always sat on.

And he couldn't have you moving could he?

[guardianofjunmyeon]

Finding Atlantis (part 14)

Genre: Action/Adventure, Enemies to Lovers, PirateAU

Description:  20 years ago the seas became angry. Unruly and unkind to any sailor, to  any ship that dared venture too far out in her waters. Many a man has  heard the tales of Atlantis, the lost city, the key the ocean. But fewer  men know the tale of it’s missing child. The key to the ocean, the key  to Atlantis but a lost little one. The power one would hold should they  find this child would be nearly that of Poseidon himself. Thus, the hunt  began.  

A/N: wait i forgot i left you all on a cliffhanger akjfhjf. Here’s an update (finally) im a bitch blocked about where the next chapter is going so it might take...about as long as this one took to be uploaded. Its gonna have some smut tho. This chapter has new characters and PLEASE appreciate my fucking bubble conversation, i wanted to use the whole “she came down in a bubble dawg!” convo but i didnt

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18

There are certain experiences you’ve lived through enough times to consider yourself a pro at handling. Situations like being handcuffed to a bed. Like being left on an island with no food or water. Like having to fight your way out of a bar when someone is getting too rough with the other patrons.

Drowning is quickly becoming a situation with which you are getting too closely acquainted.

When the ocean swallowed your little dinghy, your life flashed before your very eyes. This was truly the end. The last thing you would ever live through would be the song of Atlantis tickling your ears, the sight of Junmyeon glowing blue, and the feeling of Baekhyun’s skin beneath your palm.

All in all it wasn’t the worst way to go, but there was still so much more that you wanted to experience.

You’d never gotten a chance to return home, to sit at that cliff where you sent off your mother’s body and tell her about all of the things you’d done with your life. To describe to her the ship you’d bought, the friends you’d made, the adventures you’d gone on and the memories you’d made. You wanted to go find Victoria again and thank her for taking you in.

You wanted to find that boy that saved your life when you were but a child and to thank him properly. You wanted to tell him all that you’d done and repay him for giving you that chance at life. You wonder if he’s grown up into a handsome man now. If he has a spouse and kids and a happy home on that island you once called home that you left as soon as you could. You wonder if he’d even remember you.

You’d never gotten a chance to get the Storm Chaser those new upgrades that you’d been saving up for. An extension to the crew cabins, sturdier masts, a new set of sails.

You hadn’t gotten the chance to fall in love, to have your heartbroken, to have a baby or even hold one for that matter. Would you have made a good mother? Would you have made a decent wife? Would you have been able to find someone willing to spend the rest of their life with you, on the seas, on land, wherever your hearts could make a home?

Would you have tried to make a home with Baekhyun?

The feeling of being sucked down into the depths of the ocean doesn’t get any less terrifying the second time that you go through it.

As a matter of fact, having it happen again is more terrifying than the first time. Maybe it’s because you can actually feel the pressure of the water crushing your chest. You can feel the way you’re being sucked farther down and the way the water rushes into your nose from the shock of being suddenly dragged under.

It’s nothing like the storm, nothing like fighting the waves and catching the flashes of light as you fought to climb to the surface. Of being tossed around and dropping and rising hundreds of feet seconds at a time. At least then you had a purpose. You aren’t trying to save a life this time. You aren’t able to fight the invisible force dragging you farther and farther down into the water. The water around you is calm, the movement of your body whizzing through the water feels scarily misplaced.

Magical. Unnatural.

Then it all finally stops.

The force pulls you into a pocket of air and gravity takes you by force. Your body collapses on solid ground, and you can breathe. You gasp frantically for air and cough violently as you attempt to catch your breath and your bearings.

You sit up and position yourself on shaky hands and knees as you heave on the dark basalt beneath your splayed fingers.

It takes a few moments of panicked breathing to realize –you’re alive.

You’re alive.

You realize that you’re alive and then you regain enough brain power to panic over if Junmyeon and Baekhyun are also alive. You hear dramatic coughing and hurling to your left and when you investigate you find Baekhyun on his ass with his head between his knees as his spits out salt water.

He looks like a miserable wet dog. You would laugh if you weren’t sure that you look the same.

But where is Junmyeon?

You look left and right, in front of you and behind you but you see no trace of him. No sign of him in the underwater cave you’ve somehow found yourself.

“How did we even get in here?” you spit more salt water on the ground and look for your area of entry. Down. It felt like you fell down. So maybe there is something above.

A gasp gets caught in your throat at the sight above you. Open water somehow suspended above. If you weren’t nearly positive that you somehow fell from there, you would think there was some extremely strong glass blocking the water from falling through the hole above. You can see the glow of deep sea fish swimming by and you’re hit with just how far below the surface you are.

Dizziness pounds through your skull and you hurl out more water all over your hands.

Disgusting.

“Are you guys alright?”

You lift your head at the sound of Junmyeon’s voice and feel your remaining strength seeping from your bones. He looks between you and Baekhyun’s pathetic forms with distressed eyes.

Baekhyun looks up from between his legs with an incredulous open-mouthed frown. He looks your first mate from his toes to his head. “How the hell are you dry?”

It’s then that you notice he looks remarkably put together. As if he never even experienced the sensation of being pulled straight towards hell through water. The patterns on his skin have dulled down to a pale blue, but they are still there as clear as day.

“An Atlantian thing,” Junmyeon answers with a shrug and a smile. He reaches out a hand to help you to your feet but you wave him away with a shake of your head.

“No, give me a second. I just- I need,” you point to the hole above, “This is just-” you close your eyes and wave him away weakly. “Fuck, I need some time.”

He laughs lightly and chooses to help Baekhyun up while you gather your wits. This is overwhelming. “Did you just materialize down here what the fuck?”

“No, I came down in a bubble.”

“A…bubble.”

“Yeah you know one of those things filled with air-”

“You couldn’t lend us one of those bubbles?!”

“I didn’t know how. I don’t even know how I got it around me. Must be an Atlantian-”

“If you say ‘Atlantian thing’ one more time I will, and I swear to Poseidon, strangle you with my bare hands right here.”

“…Atlantian thing,” Junmyeon finishes cheekily. Baekhyun groans loudly and you can hear the weak thumps of him trying to smack your first mate and being deflected.

You struggle onto your feet as Junmyeon and Baekhyun argue. Typical back and forth between the two of them, you know Baekhyun is all talk when it comes to most people; he won’t hurt Junmyeon.

Letting your eyes fully wander the cave, you take in the shiny crystals in the rock around you and the way everything glows a tranquil light blue.

You hear the thundering footsteps before you see the people coming charging towards you out of the alcove hidden from your view.

“INTRUDERS, DROP TO THE GROUND NOW!”

“We just got up,” Baekhyun whines at your side. You lower your still shaking body back down to your knees and hold your hands up in the air to show your willingness to cooperate. In the corner of your eye you catch Junmyeon landing a swift kick to the back of Baekhyun’s legs with his good leg and sending him to the ground with a painful crash.

You flinch at the noise and the people in matching outfits in front of you hold out their swords, ready to strike at any moment. Once Junmyeon has lowered himself to his knees, the group of people break apart to make way for who you assume must be the leader. If the aura of dominance and the extra sparking pink embellishments on their otherwise plain white uniform is anything to go by.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” The man asks gruffly. He’s tall, handsome, big eyes rimmed in dark black kohl. His analyzing brown eyes drag from you, to Baekhyun, and finally land on Junmyeon. You catch the exact moment that recognition crosses his face.

His eyes widen and he blinks rapidly in disbelief, the sword in his hand clatters to the ground and resounds through the cave. “S-Suho? Prince Suho is that you?”

You turn to look at Junmyeon who has locked eyes with the leader with a look of confusion on his face.

“Do they know each other?” Baekhyun whispers to you.

“Shut up,” you hiss.

Junmyeon gasps and climbs to his feet. “Minho? Minho! I can’t believe it,” he says elatedly. The two of them run (Junmyeon more hobbling than running with the shitty cast still on his leg) into each other’s arms to embrace and you watch with a kind of fond sadness as they grip one another as if the other will vanish into thin air.

The other guards slowly lower their swords and break out into disbelieving whispers. Baekhyun grabs your left hand and lowers it to your lap. “I think you can lower your hands now prisoner. I don’t think they’re going to kill us yet.”

“It’s as if nothing in this world is enough to keep you from annoying the absolute hell out of me,” you grumble.

He beams, a wide and happy smile. “It’s my charm.”

You snort out a laugh while he stands up on both feet and holds out a hand for you to take to get up. You slap your hand in his and let him heft you to your feet.

Junmyeon calls out your name and you whip in his direction in alarm. He drags over the leader of the guard with a hand on his bicep and matching grins on their faces. “I want you to meet my childhood friend Minho!” He looks up at Minho with eyes beaming with happiness. “We grew up together, and Minho here is the Captain of the entire Atlantian military.”

Minho looks down at the ground bashfully.

“It is an honor to meet you. Junmyeon says that he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I, as well as all of our people owe you our highest form of gratitude,” Minho says with a deep bow.

You blink at the gesture, stupefied into immobility. Junmyeon gives you a pointed look and a subtle bow of his own to hint that you should bow back. You quickly bend at the waist and rise up. “It’s- Uhm, thank you. It wasn’t just me though, there are lots of people to thank for his return up on the surface,” you say with a nervous smile.

Minho laughs. “I’m sure. You can all amaze us with tales of your time above at breakfast in a few hours. I’m sure you would all like a moment to settle and…” he looks at Baekhyun and your soaked clothing. “…clean yourselves up.”

The two of you frown indignantly.

As if you planned on showing up soaking wet.

Minho whistles loudly and a smaller man comes scrambling out of the group of guards. “Hendery, show our two outsiders where they can rest. I will take the prince directly to the Queen.”

The smaller man nods vigorously. “Yes sir. I would like to have Xiaojun assist me, if I can.”

“Take who you need,” Minho gives you both another once over before leaning down to whisper, “Make sure there is plenty of soap in their bathrooms.”

You squawk in embarrassment. Junmyeon offers an apologetic smile before coming to place both of his hands on your shoulders and lowering his voice to talk to you and Baekhyun as privately as he can. “Just follow them and relax. I will come find you once I am finished talking to the Queen. They won’t do anything to hurt either of you.” He squeezes your shoulder. “I’ll make sure of it.”

You nod in affirmation. Baekhyun grunts at your side.

Hendery and another young guard lead you away and out of the cave. You are only allowed one final look over your shoulder before Junmyeon vanishes from your sight.

The bleakness of the cave gives way to a wide low hallway covered from top to bottom in blue crystals, or maybe it’s glass.

“You’re awfully quiet,” you murmur to the man at your side. Neither of the guards bother to turn around at the sound of your voice.

“I’m trying to take it all in. This is insane I never thought I would ever actually see this place,” Baekhyun whispers back. You’re shocked by the genuine way he explains himself. “Why? Do you already miss the sound of my voice? I can keep talking if you want.”

“I’ll pass. I already miss the silence.”

His giggle resonates against the walls. You bite down on your lip to keep from smiling in return.

Your group reaches the end of the tunnel and the guards suddenly stop. Hendery turns around first. “Because we are unable to trust you we will have to transport you while keeping our city and location a secret.”

“Huh?”

“I think we’re going to get blindfolded,” Baekhyun whispers to you.

The other guard reaches into his coat and produces two pieces of cloth while Hendery slams a fist on the wall. A hole opens up where seamless wall once stood. You watch dumbly as the other guard, Xiao…Xiao something sits in the human-sized hole and then lies on his back before disappearing through a tube.

What the fuck is this place?

You’re blindfolded first and led to the hole. “Sit.” So you do. What kind of transport requires you to sit in a hole blind? You’ve lived a couple of years now and that's long enough to know that this doesn’t feel quite safe.

Before you can argue your way out of it, you’re pushed and then careening through space. With your eyes covered and the jolt of bewilderment at sliding too fast to be humanly possible you don’t have any choice but to let out a scream.

You’re on your feet again before you know it –albeit dizzy and shaking. The blindfold is removed and you’re met with the impassive face of the guard. You look around yourself to figure out what in the deep sea hell you just slid through.

“You might want to get out right about now,” he suggests.

You hear the telltale sound of Baekhyun’s yelling and cursing getting closer by the second, so you hobble out of the exit compartment and watch in wonder as the top of the compartment opens up and air blasts from the bottom to decrease the force of gravity as Baekhyun drops to his feet.

He’s shaking like a log and his wet hair and clothes are even more disheveled than they were before.

Maybe it’s the overload of being exposed to all the new technology and scenery, but you can’t stop yourself from loudly laughing at his appearance.

Xiaoxi…Xiaode…Xiaojun, that sounds right-

Xiaojun walks forward with a smile twitching on his lips to remove the blindfold from the once one-eyed troublemaker. But, Baekhyun has his eyes squeezed closed, refusing to open them. You take it upon yourself to physically pull him out of his spot.

“It’s over, you’re on solid ground now,” you tease. He peaks open one eye and it darts around distrustfully before he opens them both and leans forward with his hands on his knees to let out a dramatic exhale of breath. Another humored giggle escapes you. “You look like shit and the way you screamed-.”

He stands up straight with reddened cheeks. “Never speak of it,” he threatens in a low voice. You roll your eyes and lift a hand to fix his messy hair. You hear the hiss of air from the tube, knowing that Hendery will be arriving soon, but you busy yourself with smoothing down the unruly strands.

The red darkens on his face as you rake your fingers through the hair at his fringe. You aren’t sure what compels you to initiate the act, but he doesn’t stop you so selfishly you continue to take what you can. Satisfied with your work you smile shyly and turn away to hide your face and the heat you can feel creeping up your neck.

A cough snaps you back into attention.

Right, the guards.

Hendery has a creepily knowing smirk on his face while Xiaojun covers his mouth with his hand, but you can see mirth shining in his eyes.

Baekhyun clears his throat and crosses his arms over his chest. “So…where are we supposed to rest exactly? Or are we supposed to wander around and find it ourselves?”

Hendery motions to the right. “Down this hallway.” He nudges Xiaojun and they both walk forward. You resist the urge to smash your head into the wall as you follow behind. Into one of the…beautiful smooth white walls. For the first time you take in the interior of the building where you have ended up.

High ceilings and pillars. Enormous windows that go from ceiling to floor to show an expansive view of what awaits outside.

You’ve had plenty of time to image what Atlantis would look like, but seeing it in front of you now, bathed in a light like that of early dawn, with the reflection of water moving over the architecture…it’s too unreal, too magical to put into words.

“Keep up. You’ll be able to see the city after breakfast with the Queen,” Xiaojun advises. Both you and Baekhyun pick your pace back up after having fallen behind trying to take in all that around you.

Attempting to keep your gawking to a minimum you keep your eyes ahead and try to quickly take in as much as you can.

“We’re here,” Hendery says. You almost tumble into his side when he suddenly stops; and Baekhyun trips over his own feet at your side. “These will be your rooms. There will be drinking water and a bathroom for you to clean up. We have already notified the castle staff of your arrival and there will be clothes delivered to you for you to change into for the meal.

“Breakfast will be served in 3 hours. One of the castle butlers will come for you to show you to the dining area at that time. Until then we advise you entertain yourself inside of the room.” The door is opened and a grand suite awaits you. Your mouth drops at the extravagance of it.

A large bed rests at the very center of the room, draped in iridescent white curtains that look as creamy as milk. The floor is covered in cold white marble and speckled with shells and pearls embedded into it. A large couch is perched near the entrance, a lit fire in front of it keeping the room comfortably warm. A book shelf stretches across a third of the room only stopping at a golden archway that you assume leads into the bathroom. The room is decorated in soft golds, creamy whites and pale blues. You catch little accents of pink in the wall paint and on the couch pillows.

The dome-like shape of the room makes you feel like you’re in a bubble.

“What is with you guys and bubbles?” You grumble to yourself.

Xiaojun shrugs. “It’s an Atlantian thing,” he says simply.

You close your eyes in frustration while Baekhyun grumbles at your side.

“So whose room is this?” Baekhyun asks once he’s done cursing Atlantis and its obsession with bubbles. Hendery and Xiaojun share a look and you catch the sneakiness on their expressions.

Hendery is the one who decides to answer, cheerily as if he isn’t intentionally planning to ruin your time here in Atlantis. “Both of yours.”

“I’m sorry what did you just say?”

“This room is for the both of you.” Hendery casts Baekhyun a wide smile. “You’ll have to share because…uhm..”

“Because we’re low on rooms,” Xiaojun chimes in.

“Yes! Low on rooms,” Hendery agrees quickly, conspicuously. You narrow your eyes. “You see we have a lot of guests recently because of a…” he looks to Xiaojun for help.

“For a uh, for a wedding!”

“Who is getting married?” Baekhyun asks, just to catch them in their lie.

“One of the princes! Ah we must be returning to our Captain now. Rest well!” Hendery says quickly before he and Xiaojun rush away with their hands over their mouths, giggling like school children. You’re adults, you can share a room. You won’t let the giggling of the younger boys worsen the pounding in your chest.

You exhale and shake your head. “Come on.” You enter the room first and immediately feel relaxed by the colors, the roundedness, and general softness of everything around you.

The fire feels like it’s calling your name so you wander over to warm yourself up by its flames. Your wet clothes are beginning to feel bothersome again now that the excitement of being in Atlantis and being alive have begun to fade.

The sound of something sopping wet hitting the ground heavily pulls your attention from the flickering flames. When you turn around you don’t expect to see your roommate getting ass naked…

But alas that is what your eyes land on. His shoes and shirt are already in a wet pile by his feet.

“Baekhyun,” you admonish. He stops with his pants halfway down his legs. You look at his soft naked dick only momentarily before you raise your eyes back to his anticipatory face. “Really?”

“I’m cold and wet. I need a shower do you want me to get sick?”

“You couldn’t even wait to go change in the bathroom?”

“It’s nothing you haven’t seen before,” he responds before shucking the last of his clothing and standing in the middle of the room proudly.

In all his naked glory.

You can’t help but feel a bit put off by the fact that he doesn’t have any issue getting naked around you. He’s not even hard. It’s like your presence doesn’t affect him in the slightest.

Bitterly you wonder if you’d been Jongin would he have a different reaction in this situation. You stand up abruptly. Fuck Baekhyun.

Pettily you strip out of your clothes as you walk towards the bathroom, leaving the wet articles in your wake. “I’m cleaning myself first,” you state coldly as you all but rip the last of your clothing off at the archway of the bathroom.

You don’t turn around and you don’t bother to investigate why he seems stunned to his spot or why he averts his eyes as you walk by.

~~~

The bathroom is just as opulent as the main room. A creamy white with pretty pale pinks streaked through the marble and coloring the crystals that illuminate the room in a soft pinkish glow.

A tub the size of a small pool is carved into the corner of the room. Oils and scented salts in jars cover the expansive shelf built into the wall at its side. A wide mirror stretches across the room with a spout and basin to wash your hands in front of it. A varied range of brushes and facial oils and paints are neatly organized across the counter, settled in front of a thick patterned chaise. You find candles nestled snuggly beneath a shelf of towels and unused sponges on ropes.

Looking at your appearance in the mirror, your hold in the need to physically recoil. You skin looks blanched from the overexposure to water, and the hair on your head is knotted beyond belief. Not wanting to look at your naked form for too long you twist the knob at the tub to release a steady flow of lukewarm water. You toss in some oil that smells good and a soap that catches your attention. The bottle is make of glass and has writing that you can’t read as it must be in Atlantian, but it smells and looks good and bubbles up when it comes in contact with the running water.

Grabbing a comb from the counter of goodies and the specialized hair soap left at the side of the tub, you decide to make an event out of pulling your appearance back together. You will be meeting the Queen in a few hours.

Gingerly, you lower yourself into the water and shove your head under the spout before lathering it in hair soap and detangling the strands on your hand. Rinsing out the suds and then turning off the water, you allow yourself to be semi submerged in the water.

“Yah, you can’t steal the bath and then spend an hour using it. I could have been in and out already.” You crane your neck to find Baekhyun’s complaining form leaning against the archway.

“You weren’t fast enough. Not my problem. You can wait.”

“No I can’t.”

“You can, and you will. I’m not fucking moving.”

In the month you have spent time more intimately with Baekhyun aboard your ship as a fellow crewman, you’ve learned one thing about him that you didn’t know before. He can be astoundingly petty.

His intelligence, his wit, his strength and skill as a pirate, his ability to charm and talk his way out of anything –you knew of it all before. But this petty level of childishness is new.

That being said, you aren’t surprised to find him padding over and then climbing into the large tub across from you. He settles and then his bottom lip juts out.

“Happy now?”

“No.”

You snort loudly and his pout breaks off into something like a smile. You push a handful of water in his direction, not enough to do much and not with enough strength to even be called a splash.

The little shithead he is takes your push of water as permission to send a small tidal wave in your direction, splashing you directly in your face.

You splutter and wipe the water from your eyes while he laughs his loudest most punctuated laugh at your expense. When you squint at him through the water still in your eyes you see pure relaxed happiness in his features, and you can’t find it in you to even attempt to be mad.

This Baekhyun is the real one. The one he covers up with cocky smiles and biting words. The one he leaves locked away and protected from the heartlessness that is required of your jobs.

Happy Baekhyun is a vulnerable Baekhyun. A soft version of him that makes your heart hammer in your chest and sparks a juvenile desire to keep him at your side safe from anyone who dares try and take that side of him away.

His laughing calms to muffled chuckles hidden behind his hand. “Okay, now I’m happy.”

“That makes one of us,” you scoff out. The water begins to agitate your eyes so you run the water from the spout to flush out the fragrance laced liquid. Blindly you reach out for the stream only to continuously miss.

“Come here,” you hear at your side. “Here, lean back.” You’re moved to the side and you lean backwards only to come in contact with his chest. You tense before giving in and letting yourself relax against him. You feel his muscles shifting as he reaches around you to cup water and pour it over your eyes. You blink away the water and scrunch up your face in discomfort. “I’m not done, try and keep your eyes open this time,” he says gently.

You reach up and hold open each eyelid as he cups the water and lets it flush out the soap. Finally you can blink without agitation. You contemplate thanking him, but decide to do it once you’re safely on your side of the bath. As you’re making your escape, arms wrap around you and pull you back securely down between strong thighs and against a warm chest.

“Can you…uh can you let me go?”

“Nuh uh,” he grunts with a head shake.

You look down at where his arms are crossed over your chest and swallow thickly. He perches his chin on your shoulder and takes in a deep relaxed breath. You feel stiff as a board. “This is nice,” he sighs out.

This is too intimate. This is too intimate. This is too intimate.

“How long have you been in love with Jongin, Baekhyun?” you ask in a rush of breath. His grip on you loosens to nothing and you pull yourself away from him, crossing your arms over your chest to hide the hardening of your nipples. From the cold of the air and the all too close embrace you’d found yourself enjoying just a tad too much.

He splutters. “I- wh-” he starts to cough violently. You feel your heart sinking with each noise he makes. “I don’t- I’m not in love with Jongin!”

You let your silence and your frown portray your disbelief.

“I’m serious. I’m not in love with Jongin he’s like my younger brother, what would make you think that?!” He fake gags. “Oh gross, just the thought-” he covers his mouth to fake gag again.

You gawk at him. Is he overcompensating to hide the truth?

“What in Poseidon’s name would lead you to believe that I’m in love with Jongin? I nearly raised the kid.”

You feel embarrassment creeping up your neck like snakes. “You- the…Minseok said…”

“Minseok said I was in love with Jongin?!”

“No! Wait let me-” you smack a hand to your forehead. “Minseok said that you took the compass with you when you came to find the three of us and I guess I just I don’t fucking know assumed you had to want to find your crew most in the world and then I figured you were actually in love with one of them and Jongin seemed like the most likely of him and Chanyeol because Chanyeol doesn’t really seem like your type but I guess it could also be him since he’s kind of goofy and airhead at times too-”

His hands come out of the water to cup your cheeks and then –lips.  

“Stop talking,” he says softly. Another quick press of his lips against yours. “You’re wrong and you’re stupid and you need to stop thinking before you overload your dumb little brain.”

“Hey-”

“Ah ah. What did I say?”

You purse your lips and let him squish your cheeks closer together until your lips are puckered ridiculously. The look in his eyes is fond almost, the smile on his lips and the shine in his eyes soft as he squishes and unsquishes your face.

You bat away his hands. “You still didn’t answer my question,” you whine despite yourself.

“Aw the baby getting upset?” he makes a face of exaggeratedly fake concern. “Come here, sit on daddy’s lap and I’ll make you feel all better.”

“Baek that was gross.”

“The invitation still stands.” He waggles his eyebrows and shimmies his shoulders. When his gaze drops down to your uncovered chest and a bit of the playfulness gets swallowed up by want, you feel a bit of that desire rushing through your veins again.

He isn’t in love with Jongin?

That only leaves more unanswered questions, but you let them go easily at the sight of Baekhyun reclining lazily against the side of the tub, rubbing up and down his thighs slowly and watching you with predatory closeness.

He is so sexy, you are so fucked.

Squashing the tiny feeling of shame, you crawl over and wrap yourself around him. You can feel him rising in excitement from beneath you. You let your arms rest lazily around his shoulders while he busies his hands with massaging circles on your hips.

“That feels nice,” you whisper in a puff of breath. You know that he can see how affected you are –can feel it in your impatient squirms against him as you attempt to subtly relieve the ache growing inside of you. He hums in agreement and focuses his eyes on your mouth.

You can take a hint when it’s staring you in the face like this. You lean forward and connect your lips softly. A peck. Another one. A kiss on the corner of his mouth. A kiss on the tip of his nose. Another on his smiling lips.

When you pull back there’s emotion swimming in his irises that sparks a heat in your core. You nip at his bottom lip.

A lick, a nibble, a juvenile laugh against pressed lips.

He sticks his tongue out through pursed lips, waiting for you to try and kiss him with his ridiculous expression. You pull away to grimace, only to laugh and lick a messy wet stripe from his upper lip to the tip of his nose.

“You’re a dick,” he laughs, wiping your saliva off his nose.

“And you’re a bastard,” you respond easily. You look at your deeply pruning skin with disdain. “We should dry off.”

“But I like it here in the tub; I haven’t even scrubbed the dirt off.”

“We can clean ourselves properly after I get your cock inside me.” You feel him twitch from beneath you. You cock your head to the side teasingly. “Oh, now you’re ready to get out?”

He scrambles from under you and over the edge of the tub right to the towels. You roll your eyes playfully and climb out just as he plops a towel on your head and quickly tries to dry your hair, only messing it up further.

“Hurry up. We’ll get sick if we stay like this for too long. We need to go to the bed and warm up, I can already feel a cold coming on.”

[thequeendesi]

Title: Never Forget It

Alt Title: You mean me?

Warnings: Vaguely mentioning reader's been assulted before

Pairings: Scott Reed x Reader

AU: N/A

Disclaimer: i dont own you or the 13 Reasons Why franchise, i do own the writing.

Rating: PG-13

..

You sighed, your hand flat on the door. Your mother suggested the group to you. A support group, though you couldn't help but still feel like you weren't victim enough.

"You going in?" You snapped out of your thoughts as you made eye contact with brown ones. "Oh.. hi." You moved out of her way. "I'm scared too." You let out a soft laugh.

"I was my first meeting too. You want me to walk in with you?" Tears threatened to spill as you nodded. The girl reached out her hand as you took it.

The room smelled like vanilla and pop. A few girls had already sat down and made small talk. "Jess! Nice to see you again." The older woman said who sat at the north of the circle.

You bit at your lip nervously as you sat next to Jess, your denim purse in your lap, your ankles crossed.

You watched as Jess conversed with the other girls, smiling happily. "Will you be going to Liberty High?" A girl sat next to you. "I'll be starting the week after your guy's first week."

"My name is Nina."

"(Y/N)."

"What grade are you in?" She asked, trying to make conversation with you. "Senior." You rubbed your shoulder. "I'm taking extra classes so i can graduate earlier."

"That must be a lot work." Nina smiled at you.

Honestly, you could feel your nervousness leave your body.

…

You listened to everyone talk about how they were coping.

"Now would anyone else like to share… new girl?" The woman looked at you. "Can… can i stay sitting down?" You fidgeted with your thumbs.

"Of course, as long as your comfortable."

"Oh.. alright, um.. My name is (Y/N), I'm 17, turning 18 (Y/BD), my favorite color (color), and I moved here a week or so ago." You cleared your throat. "I don't know what else to say."

"And that is perfectly fine. You're doing just fine (Y/N)." Everyone began to chime in, telling you it was fine and you're doing well.

..

You sigh, and rub your knuckles as someone approached you over at the snack table. "I think you're really brave for coming here."

You turned around, "thank you. Justin, right?" You tucked some hair behind your ear. "Oh yea." He laughed a little.

"So, where'd you come from?" He asked, grabbing a red cup of Sprite. "Dothan." You said, looking over at his confused expression. "Alabama." You chuckled nervously, you hadn't really been that close to another person since..

"Have you gone too our towns movie theater yet? Me and Jess we're going to go see that new comedy."

"Oh are you and Jess..?" You asked, looking over at the caramel skinned girl, who, surprisingly, thrown a thumbs up at you.

"Yea. She thought you might need some friends who.. get it."

That's all you needed, honestly, you felt alone and wanted friends who understood.

..

Soon, you were included into Jess and Justin's friend group. Upon that, you met Zach Dempsey, Tyler Down, Clay Jensen, Tony Padilla, Alex Standall, Sheri Holland, Courtney Crimson, Scott Reed and Sheri Holland. They'd allow you at the table at Monet's, you definitely had a strict 'no-touching-me' rule. Which everyone ahered too.

"Did anyone do any of the math homework last night?" Zach asked, sitting down in his usual spot. "I did." You said. "Do you all need it?" You asked, looking up from your other classes' homework.

You ended up discarded your wants to graduate early. The high school experience seemed to suit you.

Your friends nodded, making you give a soft laugh and get the paper out of your binder, putting it on the middle of the table.

You looked over to the other side of the table. "So, (Y/N), got any plans for the weekend?" Alex asked you, prompting you to shake your head.

"Want to go see that new movie with me and Zach?" Alex rose an eyebrow.

Zach and Alex had been dating for a few weeks. "I wouldn't want to intrude." You laughed a little.

"I, honestly, just wanted to stay home this weekend, watch both Zombielands, eat pizza and just… just chill." You messed with your knuckles. "Not to say that I don't really like hanging with you guys, but I just want a weekend in." You dont say love, you haven't in months, not since him. "Calm down (N/N)... you don't have to explain shit to us." Tony who sat next to you, moved to nudge you, but stopped before you could notice.

"I know a pretty good pizza place. I could bring one over." Scott said, looking over at you, holding a mug in his hand. "That sounds... nice. Thank you."

..

You sighed, you wore a pair of grey baggy sweats and a Repzion hoodie, two sizes too big. You sat on the couch, legs crossed. Commercials started as you checked your phone for the time.

A knock at the door made you jump up and walk over to it, looking through the peephole. "I bring gifts." Scott smiled, holding up 2 boxes of pizza and a bottle of Sprite.

You unlocked the door letting him in. "Welcome to my humble adobe." You watched as he found his way to the kicthen with ease. "Wow… you really know this house."

"I actually lived here as a kid, then moved to my current house 8 years ago." Scott said. "I got plain cheese and a pepperoni meat pizza." You walked behind him. "And in case you had an allergy or something, gluten-free."

"Well, don't just stand around," he laughed. "Grab a slice." You nodded, grabbing a (pizza) slice. "So, what made you come here?" He asked as you both ate a slice of pizza.

"I don't like talking about it." You said, discarding the crust. "I can respect that." You nodded. "Do.. you want to stay?" You looked at him. "Watch the movie with me?"

"Are you comfortable with that?" He asked.

You paused, before nodding. "Yea. I am."

..

You ended up asleep, your head on the side of his chest. Your breaths were slow, calm, anxiousless. Scott hasn't even noticed, his arm was draped over your shoulder.

Your parents ended up coming home at around 11pm at night. This wasn't the first time Scott had been over, however it was the first time with out Jess, or any one else for that matter. Scott came over loads of times in the few months you has began hanging out with the group and your parents quite liked him, kind, respectful, 'a good pickle' as your dad said.

They nodded to him as they put the pizzas in the fridge along with the soda. "You get sleep soon Scott." Your mother said too him as she went down the hall to her bedroom with your father, closing the door behind them.

Scott sighed as he turned his head to the TV, watching the remainder of the movie.

..

Morning came and assuming Scott left you let out a disappointed sigh, sitting up you pushed your hair from your face and stretched.

"Good morning sunshine." Scott said before handing you a biscut and a cup of coffee he had gotten at the local breakfast place. "Oh, good morning." He had went into the kitchen, placing down two other coffees and biscuts on the counter before drinking his own walking back over too you.

"How'd you sleep?" He asked sitting next to you on the couch.

"I slept… fine." You said, even shocked yourself at the end part. "Well, I gotta start getting back to the house." He said before reaching his hand out. "Goodbye handshake?" He asked. "I know you don't exactly like touching, but what's a handshake got to hurt?" He asked, smiling softly. It make your stomach flutter as you grabbed his hand, shaking it.

"Come back another time?" You asked, a tinge of hope in the question.

"Maybe Saturday's can be our movie night." Scott smiled before taking his hand back.

"Maybe." You smiled a little.

..

And so it did, just about every Saturday, you two would watch a movie, eat a box of pizza, drink a liter of soda, fall asleep, Sunday, Scott would bring you and your family breakfast and a coffee for each and then leave around midday.

This went on for an entire school year, and in that school year, Scott had immense joy watching you change into someone new.

You were still socially awkward and wary of new people, but it wasn't as bad as it was when you first got here. You didnt wear as many hoodies anymore either, it was upgraded to teeshirts and jackets, his jacket sometimes.

There was no doubt about it. Your best friends definitely went Jess, Scott and Tyler.

"So... plan on telling me the details with Reed?" Justin teased. "(N/N) definitely has a crush." Jessica teased. "Even if I did?" You rose an eyebrow, sitting at the lunch table. "Why dont you ask him out?"

"I don't want to mess anything up with him." You sighed. "With who?" Scott asked, sitting next to you. "My dog! Uh, we're training professionally." You said, making a quick excuse up.

"You don't even have a dog." Scott rose an eyebrow.

"We're getting a Dobbie." You said. "Oh, cool. So what's gonna be the movie for tomorrow night?" He asked, eating a french fry. "I was thinking The Grudge? In theaters?" You asked, looking up at him.

"Oh dude, that's sick. Hell yea. Let's definitely do it."

You heard Jessica snort a little, she could obviously tell your attempt of asking Scott out on a date was, to say the least, failing.

"What are we gonna do for food though?" Scott asked. "I got paid yesterday.. we could go out for dinner too." You paused. "Finally could actually go to that pizza place you talk about." You looked at him.

"Oh, uh, sure." He laughed a little.

"Pizza and a movie? Don't you guys do that every weekend? Switch it up a little. There's a new restaurant opened next to the theater, just gotta go next door." Jess winked at you two.

"What kind of restaurant?" Scott asked, his hands in his pocket.

"Hibachi."

"Hibachi next to a theater… sounds sanitary." You laughed a little bit, causing your friends to look at you. "Hibachi sounds fine." You cleared your throat, shoving your hands in your pocket.

..

You sighed, looking at yourself in the mirror. You couldn't even remember the last time you wore makeup, you wore a smokey eyeshadow look and black lipstick. "Why not do something different?" You asked yourself outloud.

"(N/N)?" Your mom walked into your room, her eyes welling with tears as she saw you looking at yourself in the mirror, a smile on your face. "It seems so long since you've smiled at yourself." She walked over to you.

"Is he here yet?" You asked, rubbing your arm. "Living room." She smiled at you. "No later than 2."

"Alright mom." You said, walking towards the living room, messing with the scrunchie on your wrist. "Hey Scott." You said, making him stand and face you. "Oh wow." He chuckled, looking up at you.

"Ready to go?" You asked, grabbing your wallet.

..

You laughed as you leaned back in your chair. "You didn't!"

"Oh, but I did." He smiled, obviously beeming with pride. "All I've done is talk about me. Why don't you ever wanna talk about you?" He asked, putting a forkful of his food in his mouth.

"I'm not very interesting." You laughed a little.

"C'mon. Tell me something from your past." He grinned.

"Hm.. When I was 13 I dyed my whole head green because I was watching some anime and I wanted to look just like the main character." You chuckled a little at the memory.

"Have you ever gotten into a physical fight?" He asked. "A few times." You looked up at him.

"I didn't expect that from you." He joked.

"I was a pretty scary person at my old school." You paused. "Was the the all mighty 'goddess' there. No one really fucked with me… but it uh.. it changed because..." you trailed off, staring at Scott's hand.

"Hey, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. Don't stress it." He held your hand.

"Thank you." You whispered. "Ever had a boyfriend before?" He asked.

"Not really." You looked up at him.

"Is there someone you want? 'Cause I could hook y'all up, just say the name."

"Scott."

"Scott Shellings, Scott Quinn, Scott Brown?"

"Scott… Reed."

"We don't have a Scott Reed… oh… oh… oh! You mean me?" He asked, smiling a little.

"Nevermind, it's stupid, I should've figured you didn't like me like that."

"Hey, stop." He squeezed your hand a little. "I… figured it was the other way around." He chuckled.

"What?" You picked your head up, looking at him. "I've... I like you. You're sweet and funny and kind and… you're my best friend." He chuckled.

"You don't have to lie to me." You looked down. "Have I before?" You looked back up at him after he asked that question. "No."

"Do you think I am now?"

"No..."

"Do you think I will ever?"

"No Scott." You said.

"One more question, how would you feel about being mine?"

"I feel… okay with that." You smiled at him.

"Just ok?" He chuckled, kissing the knuckles of your hand. "I'm not gonna say I love you just yet. But when I do, you'll never forget it." He grinned.

"I'll never forget this night."

[cybernightwanderer]

How whats left of me faded away, and how my first christmas home became my last : - The day my mom died. - The concept of family finally ended for me. - And how “ it doesnt get any better”.

23rd December.

These past few months i have been on psiquiatric medical leave from work due to a very severe depression thanks to the amazing workplace enviroment that has now crippled me so deeply physically and mentally, more before.

Its funny how when i try my hardest to recover and get my life back, its becomes so clear its a fucking joke.

Begining of the year i managed to fight off my mom on the money she was forcing me to pay her, and i managed to pay less from what i was paying before, and due to these medical leaves and corona, i get very little support finnancialy. I managed to save up almost 1k, i was ready to start believinng i could fix up my life. However i still pay her what i have to monthly, half the bills, 50 euros for food that i may consume at the house, and i also buy my food and my own things like i always did.

My mom has the tendancy to force me to take borrowed money she lends me.

For example mid corona time, i had to have gum surgery due to an old tooth infection, wich turned out to be 3 tooths, and i took out 2, needless to say my mom helped me with half of the apointments, i payed the surgery ones but then i needed follow up apointments so i wouldnt lose 4 more teeth. Apointments i canceled right away , beause i didnt have any money, and my mom being the mom that she is i always refuse her “ loans “ due to her being worse than a fucking stereotipical loan shark that takes that money back with interest, but in mental health and sanity. However she kept squedueling the apointments without me knowing, then tell me 1 day early, then get mad at me because id tell her i had no money so i told her to cancel and not make apointments without my consent and knowledge. This to wich she responded with screams , name calling , telling me to cancel myself and the general griefing of : “OK fine ill never help u with anything again “ / “ ok fine i dont care anymore then “, “ what you are too good to take my money is that it? “ Then when i standed my ground , proceeding to treat me miserably for the following week, demanding me to do random chores, just for the sake of punishing me , leaving dirty dishes of her own food acumulating so she could force me to do them and threaten me with a beating if i didnt, or making me wash the bathroom everyday for no reason.

With all this mess, half the money i had saved up + using it on the apointments and paying her back right away at the end of the month the consultations i owed her. I was left with 400 bucks.

Wich later on were also spent in dentist urgency apointments, because i kept having infections, psiquiatrist apointments and medicine and a laywer for the work harrassement situation, and then and there, all my money was gone.

The situation goes by, im home , receiving basic support for the medical leave, i pay my share of the bills and i do my own thing, however depression has gotten worse, my attacks have gotten worse, and everything just feels like rock bottom here.

These last 2 months, ive been trying so hard... so hard to get back on my feet, i was taking my medicine, i was taking a languague course, i was going to the doctor. I was really, really trying. Its funny how hard i was trying, for the first time in my life i was really trying to believe it could get better.

My mom was even acting nice and it almost seemed like she was really supporting me and trying.

December 23. Me and my mom go the psiquiatrist apointment for him to avaluate my condition. For the first time the apointment wasnt so heavy, it didnt leave me so weary from it. I finally believed. By the end of the consultation my doctor asks my mom to make sure i dont go back to that work place, because it might have a huge take on my life. My mom turns to the doctor and says : “ I know she cant go back , but she cant be unemployed either.” And the doctor says : “ I know, but if she goes back it can make her worse, we cant let that happend, its damaging her“ ( meaning she could kill herself, due to the last apointments conversation ) On to wich my mother replied : “ Well i cant be providing for us both with my money “.

...

When we arrived at the car i asked her why she said that and what she meant by that. And i told her that i pay for my food and that i pay for the things i eat that she buys ( wich is not much ) and that i also pay for half the bills.

To wich she agressivly threatned me to shut up and started yelling right away and acting like a victim with her mild aneurism that happend quite a few years ago in wich she HAS BEEN FULLY HEALED AND PERFECT HEALTHY, but always uses as an excuse to dodge the discussion after demanding certain shit or just plain insulting me. After a lot of lying and name calling and even telling me that i eat her food and that i live off of her. Into wich i replied, i dont always eat your food , and theres a lot of times when i dont eat and you yell at me and treat me badly for not eating your food wich led me to just eat cereals for months everyday as all 3  meals or not even eating and skipping meals for being too afraid of making my own food in the kitchen.

And so on... And i asked her what she wanted from me. And after a long car fight and a lot of gaslighting, she finnaly admitted she just wanted more money “ because if all your friends pay normal rent , you should too “ ( meaning a 450 rent ).

And then i just gave up and told her ok, ill pay you a full rent and i will also never toutch your food again. She laughed and made fun of me. And said : like ur even gonna buy your own food, you always use my things. to wich i asked what things? Oh you use my shampoo and toilet paper. To wich then i replied, everytime i buy toiler paper for me, you just take it as your own, and i dont use your shampoo or body wash i buy my own and i have been buying my own. And she just kept fighting me on it saying i do...and i told her i dont, if i by any chance dont have shampo ill use body wash as shampoo or vice versa. She just wanted to be right, so i just told her, ill pay you anything you want, i just dont wanna fight anymore im tired. To wich then she just kept saying “ oh now ur just trowing a fit “ And i sayd to her, why me agreing to what u ask and calmly shutting up to not fight anymore , how is that trowing a fit? i just gave you what you wanted, you dont need to be angry anymore.

And she just kept going at it, trying to poke my nerves until i just completly yelled and when crazy. The she acted like a victim again.

I am so drained, i am so tired....

After that discussion it was just 10 minutes of silence. I made a decision. That woman is not my mother anymore.

She wants to be a landlord so bad, she will be one.

My mother has died.

After a few minutes almost home , she decides to turn the “ mother mode “ on, and goes like “ oh you have to go to the doctor blah blah lets get your medicine etc. And i just told her, no. Ill go to the doctor on my own means, and ill buy the medicine when i have money.

Obviously she completly dismissed what i sayd and tried to drive me to the doctor and the pharmacy. After a few NO’s , she went home.

I got home, i took care of my things and i sorted out my doctors paperwork, she tries to come into my room, and acting like a worried mother like : “ oh did you do this -- etc” ( what i was already doing ) and i just told her, to stop. That she doesnt get to “ talk to me about those things anymore, or about my buisness.

Shes not my mother anymore. She doesnt get to act like a mother do just order me around and controll me. She is just a landlord now.

A few hours later, shes wrapping up presents and asks me to do it and asks me for my gifts wrapping thingies, and i told her no. Immediatly got mad at me and kept trowing provocative comments. And i told her, i didnt want any xmas gift from her, and that i wouldnt be spending xmas with her.

She made that usual smirk she mades when she sees me upset.

fast forward, the next day.

24 December

---

[rainingspellforlove]

captivated.

Chanhee likes being alone. he likes to enjoy his me-time the most, even he had so many friends out there. sometimes he hangs out with his squad, but mostly he likes strolling the street alone while sips a coffee in the nearby cafe he found. he mostly spends his time alone or with his friends.  but everything changed when he met this guy. this very guy that he met in the club few months ago.

it’s the first time chanhee went to a club. it was because  his friends forcefully asked chanhee to come.  chanhee didn’t like crowds at all. he hates it so much. so he never to come to crowd place especially a club. that’s the first place that he didn’t want to go to so much. that day, chanhee (unwillingly) came with his friends. he just loved his friends and didn’t want breaking the friendship, so he decided to come. he just wears his usual shirt and jeans. while his friends totally went off like a fashion models. their friends basically are bunch of lovers. he had 4 friends and there’s 2 couple from it. first is younghoon and changmin and the second couple is kevin and jacob. that’s why he likes to go alone because he’s always left out when the 4 of them being such a lovey dovey. he’s really gonna puke if he stayed too long with them but their friends are so caring about chanhee. they would like to do anything for him to get a good catch. actually, that is the reason his friends bring chanhee to club. to get a hot guy. 

“i really hated this so much but i love you all sooo much, thats the reason i come today okay, dont get me wrong” chanhee said

“i promised you’ll get a hot snack today” kevin said enthusiastically

“hot my ass, lets just go there then back home quick”  

they arrived at the famous club in the center of the city where most of them wears expensive clothes and accessories. chanhee didn’t pay for this, younghoon paid it all. he’s extra rich so he’s willingly to pay for the five of them. changmin is the luckiest for sure. he got a hot and rich boy out there without even trying, because younghoon made a move first. 

chanhee felt he went to a wrong place moreover he wears just plain clothes. 

“wtf i just wear this... ugh bye i dont care, i just sit my ass of in the bar” 

 chanhee just went off leaving his friends who right now enjoying themselves out in the crowds. he looked at the menu but he’s like 

“the fuck i didn’t have that much money.. should i ask younghoon to pay or ugh but he already paid for this ughhhh” chanhee just blabbering himself with frustation until someone tall came approaching him in the bar

“what do you like? i buy it for you” he said it softly. 

chanhee seems a bit surprised by a approachment. he dressed casually with a black top shirt and black jeans also. this guy is tall, but not so tall as younghoon, maybe 2 cm lower. he had his raven black hair which it seems he styled it so good. he seems like an actor coming out from the tv. he had sharp-edged nose which made him looked even more like a celebrity. 

“o-oh no no it’s okay i didn’t feel like to drink tonight. i must go back sober because im sure my friends wont be sober at all later” chanhee got panicked a little by the coming of this real hot guy. so kevin is true? is it their plan afterall? 

“it’s okay, you can order some cocktails.”

“no it’s okay-”

then the tall guy ordered some cocktails for chanhee and for himself too. 

“it’s my treat because i need someone to talk to and you seem not interested, i guess?”

“uhm, thank you for the treat i guess.. i promise i’ll pay it soon-”

“no, there’s no need. it’s okay. it’s really okay”

“okay fine, thankyou anyway. and yes im not interested in this kind of amusement. it’s not amusing at all for me”

“so what kind of amusement you like to see mr? what should i call you?”

“chanhee. call me chanhee” chanhee finally looked at him. that tall guy sat beside him in the bar. chanhee can finally looked that guy’s feature even more clearly right now. 

“hi chanhee, im not weird person, so dont be scared okay, im just like you. bored with these kind of stuffs. im just dragged here along with my friends too.” he chuckled

“no i didnt think it that way, you seem like a good person. but i dont know it’s just my guts, hey you didn’t tell me your name yet”

“yes right, sorry. im juyeon. nice to meet you chanhee”

“of course nice to meet you too”

they talked for a while there while having their cocktails. somehow juyeon is fun to talk to even with his lame dad jokes. and juyeon is easily to be fooled. chanhee really likes to fool someone and laughing at them. they really having fun talking to each other like that. chanhee found they kinda had no ending convos between each other. juyeon just told him that he’s actually working as a new journalist, because he’s a fresh graduate and it stressed him out because there were so many tasks to do. and it turned out they are in the same age but juyeon graduated first because he entered the college one year early. after those fun and funny convos between each other, juyeon stated something.

“chanhee-ya, you looked so pretty today, i cant take my eyes off of you since you come today” he looked so serious and his eyes told him so. the way his black pearled eyes see chanhee thoroughly and softly. chanhee looked at him back. in his eyes. 

chanhee didn’t realize he’s been drowning into his eyes the whole time he had this long convo with juyeon. he rarely looked at someone’s eyes while having a not serious conversation, but today is different. juyeon’s eyes. the way his eyes looked at chanhee is a whole different. chanhee is captivated into them. he’s so lost into juyeon’s eyes. he admired those pretty and captivating eyes which made him forget that he’s right now in the least place he wants to go. but right now, he’s stuck here in someone’s eyes for some moments. he felt like there’s no one here in this shitty place, but he’s right here  with juyeon only. both of them alone. 

chanhee looked so flustered. and he started to blush withouth he even realized. 

“uhm- i- that’s so much blunt of you wow thank you i guess..”

“such a pretty boy doin here alone, im scared you’ll be get kidnapped or something while your friends out there,” then he moved closer to chanhee’s ear then he whispered

“there’s so many guys lookin at you lustfully if you didnt notice.. look at your surrounding”

chanhee didn’t realize it at all, there’s really some guys lookin at him with nasty look that he’s really gonna puke at them right now. 

“shit. i should go home i guess. that’s why this is the least place that i wanna come sigh, but wait how can i know youre not like them huh?”

“uhmm, you’ve been with me an hour, so i conclude youre comfortable with me”

“yes youre right...” then he looked at juyeon for a while, he really like a good boy with his fool-like smile but still handsome. and the eyes which can smile too. 

“lemme take you home can i?”

“ugh why? you have your friends right, and i got my friends too..”

“it feels like you didnt want to stay here longer right”

“how did you know though”

“it’s seen by your face you dummie cutie” he pinched chanhee’s left cheek softly. 

“uhm right.. we  just talked for 1 hour but why i feel like it’s already 2 hours... time really ticks longer here”

“go tell your friends then, i’ll take you home.” 

“how should i trust you, youre not like the nasty guys right there?”

“i promised i’ll drive you safe and sound without even do anything nasty to you. i promise please let me take you homee, im just wanna talk to you longer though. i kinda had so much fun talking to you and bonus you’re pretty”

“finee let me chat my friends first okay, then we can go”

“yes!”

he’s enthusiastically happy and he smiled like a puppy. chanhee for the countless times drown into his eyes again and he said this without even he realized.

“juyeon, did you know that you are so cute?” 

“ah- oops, it went off from my mind” chanhee said again

juyeon just smiled 

he moved closer to chanhee. he looked at chanhee’s eyes softly and took chanhee’s hand. he carressed it softly. then lookin at chanhee’s lil cross tattoo in his pinky and carressed it again. after that, juyeon just kissed chanhee’s knuckles one by one. 

“but you’re way more cuter.”

“i- i- o-okay.” 

chanhee flustered as hell and blushed like a tomato. he feels his ears hot like a pan. 

“lets go” juyeon dragged chanhee out from the club with his hand intertwining in chanhee’s.

juyeon brought his sport car with him today and chanhee will ride in there the expensive car. 

“oh my, it’s really your car? oh God you didnt look like a rich sugar daddy but you really are?”

“im not yet a sugar daddy, im still in my twenties, im just a hot man that you just met in the club” he teased

“okay whatever” 

then juyeon laughs and they both entered the car. 

“do you want to straight go home or?”

“i didnt feel asleep yet. do you want to go somewhere?”

“not really, but do you have a place to go in this hours?”

“uhm let me think, there’s a cafe near my house, it’s just a small cafe but it’s really cozy and-” chanhee didnt even finish but juyeon just smiled softly

“yes lets go there anywhere you want”

 “okay” 

 juyeon always looked at chanhee everytime there’s a traffic light. 

“stop looking at me like that, you seems like wanna eat me alive or what”

“sorry you’re just so pretty”

“stop telling me!!”

“why? it’s true though, you’re really beautiful, did i make you uncomfortable?sorry-”

“no no it’s just, i cant take compliments, cant you look at my ears that flushed red like a tomato right now?”

juyeon laughs and seems enjoying it so much

“you’re really pretty. really.”

“i even just wear this pair of not so expensive clothes, you still call me pretty?”

“uhm” he nods and smiled like a puppy again

“geez whatever you say” 

they drived along and arrived at the place. 

“it’s a cute place so thats why you like to come here. so cute people tend to go here”

“stopppp” 

juyeon laughs again and they both entered the cafe

the barista knew chanhee and actually it’s his childhood friend too. his name is sunwoo. and sunwoo looked so surprised seeing him with a new guy

“HYUNG WHO IS TH-!” he almost shouts

“shut up sunwoo or i kill you” chanhee said while glaring at him

“oh you know him?”  juyeon asked

“yes he’s just my annoying childhood friend that eventually lived around here too.” 

“oh, he’s not gonna into your lane right?”

“what?”

“so i will not have any rival to get into you”

“lee juyeon please stoppp” 

“okay i’ll stop for now idk later” juyeon just laughs

they sat in the side of the cafe while lookin at the street outside. 

“it’s my usual seat anyway if you dont mind we’ll sit here”

“anywhere you go princess” 

“geez stop it lee juyeon!” chanhee blushing again

juyeon enjoys chanhee being like this so much. 

they finally sit together in the side. they had their own world again, they talked so many things again even their TMIs. they had so much fun talkin to each other until they didnt realize their cups of coffee almost empty. 

“lee juyeon, i dont know you are just dumb or just being pure. it’s slightly the same!”

“it’s just good being pure, like it’s pure my thought that i pour in and it feels so genuine right? i like being pure, because it’s me, that’s my charm hahaha”

“i guess so, but don’t be so pure too much juyeon! you can be easily fooled!!”

“i will try hahaha”

they’re being quiet for a while to take a sip of their coffee. chanhee quietly looks at juyeon’s features again. his smile. his jawline. his sharp-edged nose. his eyes. then his lips. he almost imagined how it feels to place a chaste kiss to his lips. juyeon is beautiful. how can someone like juyeon being with him right now in here in his usual cafe. today is beautifully weird. but he loves it. it’s a whole new feeling. he never been feeling so light and joy like this before. even with his friends. it’s a new feeling. 

“i know youre staring chanhee”

“o-oh im-no- im not staring” he quickly looked aside to the window

“cute. i like how you’d been flustered.” he teased

chanhee felt his ears hot again. 

“dont tease me!”

“fine fine i’ll stop” juyeon chuckles

then chanhee quickly takes a sip again to his cup of caramel latte. chanhee suddenly said bluntly

“sunwoo had a boyfriend”

“hm oh? why suddenly-”

“there’s his boyfriend, the cashier boy. his name is haknyeon.”

“ah” he smiled so widely and chanhee knew he’s about to tease chanhee again

“stop saying anything okay, i just stated facts maybe you should know about this” chanhee didnt look at juyeon directly and just lookin at the window

“okay okay i know” juyeon just smiled again looking at the shy boy in front of him

“you know that im straightforward right?” juyeon suddenly said

“uhm yes so?”

“i’d really like to kiss you right now”

“uhm- s-sorry, w-what?”

“sorry i- it’s just my mind that slips out- i didnt mean to-”

“later okay, we can kiss but later” chanhee just smiled at juyeon and continue to sip his coffee while looking at his black pearled eyes who captivates him so deeply in the past hours they’ve been together. 

juyeon looked a bit flustered and suddenly he grabbed chanhee’s hand.

“lee juyeon- wait-”

chanhee cant finish his words and just followed juyeon along. chanhee got so confused and say goodbye to his friend sunwoo quickly. sunwoo mouthed 

“congrats hyung youre gonna get laid today!!” 

then chanhee just mouthed “fckk youu kim sunwoo!!” 

then chanhee really got dragged away from the cafe. 

“lee juyeon what’s wrong? why suddenly?”

“just get in” he seems serious but didnt express any emotions too. 

“o-okay”

then they both got in the car. 

they were being quiet for a while. juyeon started the engines but he didnt press the pedal yet.

“lee juyeon are you mad or-?”

“im not chanhee..”

“so why?” juyeon being silenced and then looked chanhee closely. his black pearled eyes lookin more clearly while looking directly in chanhee’s eyes. chanhee feels like he’s drowning and drowning again into his eyes. his captivated gaze. chanhee really been lost in these beautiful eyes of juyeon for these past hours and he didnt deny it. he really wants to go deeper into his eyes.

“can i kiss you?”

so chanhee nods softly after that. 

juyeon  leaned in as well as chanhee who moves closer to juyeon. juyeon really placed chaste kiss into chanhee’s lips. juyeon puts his wide palm around chanhee’s soft jaw and softly carressed chanhee’s cheek with his thumb. chanhee grips his jeans tightly while feeling a soft kiss in his slim cherry lips. juyeon kissed chanhee slowly, from chanhee’s bottom lips then decided to kiss it even more deeper. chanhee’s lips just move along with juyeon soft kiss toward his lips. chanhee really melts into juyeon’s. chanhee feels like he’s already get into juyeon. when they already a lil out of breath, juyeon pulls away and moves to place a kiss to chanhee’s corner of the lips. then moves along to kiss chanhee’s chin softly, moves along again and kissed chanhee’s fluffy cheek. chanhee feels like so much butterfly flying over in his stomach. he almost died because of tachycardia. juyeon still place a soft chaste kiss in chanhee’s face. he moves to chanhee’s eyes then his nose. and lastly his forehead. 

juyeon finished his long lasting kiss towards chanhee and they still few inch apart.

“you’re really beautiful. i do really mean it. it’s just few hours but why i already really like you. admit it, you kinda had a spell on me huh?” while carressing chanhee’s soft cheek with his big thumb. chanhee still blushed red. 

“i cant say anything for now or my heart’s gonna explode”

“cute.” juyeon smiled while looking at chanhee’s eyes. 

“lee juyeon. let me state this. we just knew each other for just few hours why did you make me like this?”

juyeon just chuckled and keep carressing chanhee’s cheek softly. then chanhee brings his hand to grab juyeon’s hand. 

“uhm-” chanhee tried to say something

“can i-” he stutters then try to look into juyeon’s black pearled eyes. 

“can i kiss you again?” chanhee finally looked at juyeon’s beautiful captivating eyes clearly

“no need to ask” juyeon smiled softly and started to lean in again

chanhee circled his arms into juyeon’s neck and they melted into each other. juyeon can feel chanhee’s caramel latte into his bitter lips of americano. they kissed so deeply until juyeon pulls away. then juyeon lifts chanhee’s small waist 

“juyeon what are you doing?”

“sit on my lap”

“w-what?”

“come” juyeon didnt let chanhee finish his words and just pulls chanhee into his lap softly. chanhee just moves along and he’s already in juyeon’s lap.

chanhee puts his both hands in juyeon’s shoulder.

“i-”

“ssh, im not gonna steal your virginity for now. not now. and not here. “

“okay but-”

juyeon just pulls chanhee’s waist closer and pulls chanhee’s face into his. juyeon can feel chanhee’s hot lips after kissing him too long. juyeon just kissed him so deeply again while hugging his tiny waist. chanhee grips juyeon’s shoulders harder while feeling the kiss. juyeon’s lips dominate chanhee’s and chanhee didnt mind at all. he moves along and just follow juyeon’s moves. 

it lasted for awhile after suddenly chanhee’s phone buzzed. 

chanhee pulled away suddenly and there’s 5 messages already. from kim sunwoo. 

“YAHH GET A ROOOM NOT IN FRONT OF MY CAFE PLEASE”

oops. chanhee just realized they both just been makin out in the parking lots in front of the cafe. 

“uhm- i think we should go- sunwoo just-”

“okay sweetie we can do it another time” juyeon said while carressing chanhee’s hair and kissed chanhee’s corner of the lips. 

“uhm right. uhm- do you mind if- uhm”

“uhm?” juyeon leaned in closer

chanhee still blushing red as hell. but he’s not himself right now he’s just gonna explode at anytime

“you can go to my house if you dont mind we can-”

“we can? what?” juyeon teased.

“uhm eish just drop me then in front of my house.” chanhee said frustatedly

then juyeon chuckled again and whispered to chanhee’s ear

“lets go home and continue our unfinished tasks” 

chanhee blushed red red so red. 

but then he just nods and go back to passenger seat quickly. 

juyeon finally press the gas pedal and started to drive. 

he began to drive to chanhee’s house to finish their uncomplete tasks ;)

- fin 

[epahetero]

thank you for the tag @thisdamnfoolofalesbian ! sorry it took me so long to answer to this fghdsjfdsfl

1. what’s the colour of your hairbrush?

- two are black and one is pink

2. is there a food you never eat?

- i mean out of the foods i can choose to eat or not, its rice porridge

3. are u usually too warm or too cold?

- too warm (i get overheated really easily, so my room is always so cold that people just call it the freezer)

4. what were you doing 45 minutes ago?

- playing guitar!

5. what’s your favourite candy bar?

- snickers probaply!

6. have u ever been to a professional sporting event?

- nope

7. what was the last thing you said out loud?

- “Whats up rat” to my sister

8. favourite ice cream

- salty caramel or salmiac

9. what was the last thing you had to drink

- zero coke

10. do u like your wallet? 

- yes though i use it rarely! (its a cute small red fake leather one but i have a bad habit of using my phone case as my wallet)

11. what was the last thing u ate? 

- a sushi roll!

12. did u buy any clothes last weekend? 

- nope

13. what’s the last sporting event you watched?

- oh man i watch sports so rarely, i think it was a hockey game last winter

14. favourite flavour of popcorn?

- butter and salt (basic i know i know)

15. last person you sent a text to?

- my best friend Daniel

16. ever go camping?

- yeah, haven’t in a while though!

17. do you take vitamins?

- i try to lol

18. do you go to church on sundays

- nope (i do like to visit churches when travelling if they’re old ones but other than that i only go when i have to)

19. do you have a tan

- i literally reflect light, if i step outside in the sun without a shade i will probably turn to ash within 5 minutes

20. chinese food or pizza?

- that’s like asking which of my cats i love the most

21. do u drink pop with a straw 

- nope (i do use silly straws when drunk sometimes but only to drink wine lmao)

22. what colour socks do you usually wear

- either plain black or red ones with fried eggs shaped like hearts (this made me realize i have a whole lot of socks with food images on them???)

23. ever drive above the speed limit

- for legal reasons no officer (only when driving a moped in places with little to no other drivers)

24. what terrifies you

- driving a car, loss of loved one and spiders

25. look to your left; what do u see?

- a moomin mug (a pink one with snork maiden putting on some make up)

26. what chore do u hate?

- washing the floor and windows (i have 4 cats who love licking all floors and windows + smacking their paws on em)

27. what do u think of when you hear an australian accent?

- a cute barista girl i met when she was an exchange student here (she didnt work at a coffee store here but always had coffee with her)

28. favourite pop? 

- zero coke, cherry coke (ja muumi limppari!)

29. do u go into fast food places or hit up the drive thru

- usually in if there is one of those self order things, otherwise drive through (when you and your whole friend group is anxious to talk to restaurant workers)

30. last person u talked to 

- my sister

31. favourite cut of beef 

- rarely eat beef but i think ground beef is the one usually have

32. last song you listened to?

- Washing machine heart by mitski

33. last book u read?

- Useless magic by Florence welch

34. favourite day of the week?

- saturday

35. can u say the alphabet backwards

- i have like 3 brain cells so no

36. how do u like ur coffee

- black with bit of honey in it or one of those caramel bitches no idea what they’re called

37. favourite pair of shoes

- basic black combat boots

38. what time do u usually go to bed?

- oh man, it changes so much, either at 8pm, 3am, 6am, 12pm....

39. when do u get up?

- again, changes so much, usually around midday or midnight

40. sunrises or sunsets

- i love both but sunsets take the win

41. how many blankets are on your bed

- one blanket and two fleece blankets

42. describe your kitchen plates

- i think the only set i own myself is dark blue (i mostly own mugs since i still live home lmao)

43. go to alcoholic drink?

- white wine if im just at home, when out its either dark ice smirnoff or vodka with redbull 

44. do u play cards?

- nope, really want to real though

45. what colour is your car?

- nonexisting!

46. can you change a tire?

- no

47. favourite province?

- if out of the ones in finland probably the southern areas

48. favourite job you ever had?

- i loved and hated working at an elders home, i mostly spent time keeping company for the old ladies and shaving beards, cleaning around etc, but it also was really sad being there

49. how did you get your biggest scar?

- i don’t have any like Big big scars but i have few on my forehead from being stubborn as a kid and hitting my face on a cliff (i wanted to walk myself even tho i was a wobbly baby, ripped my hand from my mom and fell on my face, even like 15 years after that i still have few scars on my forehead and eyebrows lmao)

50. what did you do today that made someone happy?

- i joked around with my sister wich cheered her up

i’m gonna tag @yourantagonist and @viir-tanadhal @bblissfulgay because you were the first to pop up lmao

[013kfe]

50 Questions You’ve Never Been Asked

tagged by @awkward-ghostt thank u for tagging ! (:

1. What is the color of your hairbrush?: patterns w different shades of blue at home and plain black at my moms(pretty much my second home, im here a lot)

2. Name a food you never eat?: fish, seafood in general, hate it

3. Are you typically too warm or too cold?: uhh, seems to depend tbh

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?: watching a Thai ..drama? I think its considered one. Paused it to fuck around on youtube though

5. What is your favorite candy bar?: payday I guess, dont really like candy bars, not much of a chocolate fan

6. Have you ever been to a professional sports event?: a few times yes

7. What is the last thing you said out loud?: 'dunno, been a minute. Think I said thanks or something

8. What is your favorite ice cream?: probably bubblegum cause I like the bubblegum pieces 

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?: ..strawberry milk..

10. Do you like your wallet?: yah! its a little big, but overall nice ig

11. What was the last thing you ate?: hot chips

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend?: last weekend no but a few weekends ago ye

13. The last sporting event you watched?: dont usually watch them, think it was baseball, dunno for sure

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?: kettle corn or just lightly salted

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to?: one of my best buds

16. Ever go camping?: never been no

17. Do you take vitamins?: nah, probably need to

18. Do you go to church every Sunday?: nope! not religious at all, last I went was many years ago

19. Do you have a tan?: im pale as hell tbh

20. Do you prefer Chinese food or pizza?: Chinese, not a fan of pizza, will eat it but not my go to

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?: I dont usually drink it, but I use straws for most drinks in general 

22. What color socks do you usually wear?: ones with patterns, sometimes colorful socks or black 

23. Do you ever drive above the speed limit?: i don’t have a license, cause I hate driving(I can just rather not) BUT when I do drive, which is rare, then yeah. Seems that and too wide turns are my bad habits

24. What terrifies you?: oof lets not

25. Look to your left, what do you see?: a wall and a window

26. What chore do you hate?: folding clothes 

27. What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent?: nothing in particular 

28. What’s your favorite soda?: if I do drink it I tend to go for fruit flavors

29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive-thrus?: depends who Im with

30. Who’s the last person you talked to?: same best bud as above

31. Favorite cut of beef?: I dont like meat really

32. Last song you listened to?: as im typing this its Bang by AJR, Im not calling you a liar by Florence + The Machine, the dragon age 2 end credit version as I finish this

33. Last book you read?: uhh.. jeez, book? Mo Dao Zu Shi, nearly a year ago, typically read webtoons, comics, manga, fics, novels have been tough lately 

34. Favorite day of the week?: dont have one 

35. Can you say the alphabet backwards?: not at all! dyslexia whats up 

36. How do you like your coffee?: dont really drink it for reasons but if I do I pour lots of sugar and cream/milk, sometimes add a flavoring. More of a tea person out of the two

37. Favorite pair of shoes?: in general crocs lmao, comfy 

38. The time you normally go to sleep?: changes too much, insomnia n all

39. The time you normally get up?: also changes too much

40. What do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets?: both

41. How many blankets on your bed?: depends on the temp, rn I /use/ one but have like... 3 on my bed or somethin

42. Describe your kitchen plates: we use paper plates mostly, the plates we do have are old basic blue hard plastic ones

43. Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage?: not really, drinking makes me feel awful as hell and sleepy, yes im a lightweight/ dont handle alcohol great, but my go to at home is coconut rum with whatever juice is around and changes when im out

44. Do you play cards?: never get the chance, but its fun

45. What color is your car?: dont own one

46. Can you change a tire?: I havent learned, probably should

47. Your favorite province?:  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

48. Favorite job you’ve ever had?: wasnt the main part of my job but shockingly liked interviewing people, wouldnt call it my fav, havent had a lot of experience 

49. How did you get your biggest scar?: my cat tried to jump on the chair I was in, didnt work out as he planned, got two matching scars on my arm from it

50. What did you do today that made someone else happy?: probably giving the ^friend mentioned above a kitten somebody dumped at my moms house that I (sadly) couldnt keep

thanks for tagging again!★ I do like doing these, just took awhile to get to

Ill tag @nyxiiis @yesitisijessie and @willowfreakgaming @nerdypotaoe

[i-looktothe-stars]

thanks @s-ongbir-d for tagging me!!

1) what is the colour of your hairbrush?

pink and green

2) what's a food you never eat?

mushrooms are awful and I hate them

3) are you typically too warm or too cold?

I'm usually really cold, my friends joke that I can't thermoregulate because I'll be wearing 5 layers (including 2 jumpers and a coat) and still be shivering)

4) what were you doing 45 minutes ago?

listening to the latest episode of rusty quill gaming! I binged it all in...less than a week(? idk time doesn't exist anymore) so now it's frustrating having to wait for new episodes

5) what's your favourite chocolate bar?

crunchies are top tier and I will fight about that if I have to

6) have you ever been to a professional sports event?

nope! my mum wanted to get tickets to the olympics in 2012 though

7) what's the last thing you said out loud?

"all the doors are open now" (I was singing along to red signal okay)

8) what's your favourite ice cream?

okay the Ben and Jerry's ice cream with the caramel in the middle is So Good, but I also like mint chocolate and coffee (not together obviously)

9) what's the last thing you had to drink?

...probably a blackberry tea this morning? (it's 8pm. hydration? I don't know her)

10) do you like your wallet?

ehhh it's fine, it's just this embroidered black purse with a zip. its juuust big enough to keep my card, train tickets, and some physical money, so it's good enough. I don't really need a bigger one

11) what was the last thing you ate?

I'm snacking on jaffa cakes as I write this

12) did you buy any new clothes in the last week?

for once, yes! I bought the very cool and sexy new magnus merch. unfortunately it's too big so I need to send it back and get a smaller size :/

13) what was the last sporting event you watched?

uhhh idk probably the races at my school's sports day 3 years ago? I skipped two of them because sports day is The Worst, then y11 ended early so I didnt have to watch it

14) what's your favourite flavour of popcorn?

my friends hate me for it but I looove salty popcorn. I can't stand toffee because it's the only one my sister likes, so I got sick of it when we had to share during movie nights when we were younger. (same with ham and pineapple pizza)

15) who was the last person you sent a message to?

my dnd discord! love you guys 💜

16) ever go camping?

my dad lives in wales so yes. a lot. it's fun when it's not raining?

17) do you take vitamins?

no but I probably should

18) do you go to church on sundays?

nope, I've only ever been to church for christingle services with brownies/guides, and that was mostly for the orange with sweets on it

19) do you have a tan?

ahahahahah no, I look like a dying victorian child. last time I tanned, it was because I got sunburned at pride and I had tan lines around my glasses

20) do you prefer chinese food or pizza?

love me some chinese takeaway! (although spicy meat feast pizzas are also very good)

21) do you drink soda with a straw?

only at fast food places, although I usually get iced tea instead of something fizzy

22) what colour socks do you wear?

I have multiple pairs of this one kind of grey fluffy socks, that's like basically half my sock drawer. the rest are either black, or super brightly coloured

23) do you ever drive over the speed limit?

I can't drive yet so no. i was supposed to get lessons for my birthday in march but uhh. that couldn't happen for obvious reasons. i probably wouldn't though? because the speed limit is a Rule and breaking a Rule is Bad

24) what terrifies you?

going outside, phone calls, answering questions in class, windows at night ("because what if there's Something there?")... more like what doesn't terrify me? although honestly, I'm not scared by horror media, as long as it doesn't have any jumpscares

25) look to your left! what do you see?

my book collection! (specifically my regular sized paperbacks. I have a pretty weird organisation system? I split paperbacks and hardbacks, then sort by size, colour and alphabetically by title in that order)

26) what chore do you hate?

washing up. Wet Food Bad

27) what do you think of when you hear an australian accent?

australia I guess? idk, what else would i think of

28) what's your favourite soda?

probably apple tango? I don't really drink anything fizzy. except sparkling water because it's great fuck you

29) do you prefer going into fast food places or using the drive through?

none of my friends can drive yet either so going in

30) who was the last person you talked to?

my mum, she wanted me to come and look at the pond she made today

31) what's your favourite cut of beef?

I don't know?? I don't ask what cut it is when I have beef, I just eat it

32) what's the last song you listened to?

red signal by the mechanisms, because sometimes you just need a little bit of eldritch chanting to make everything okay

33) what's the last book you read?

stuff matters by mark miodownik! it's about material science and it's one of my favourite books

34) can you say the alphabet backwards?

lol no what kind of sorcery--

35) how do you like your coffee?

2 sugars and a bit of milk, but I prefer those sweet iced coffees you get at tesco. those were basically the only things getting me through sixth form until quarantine happened

36) what's your favourite pair of shoes?

ok I currently only have 2 pairs, my black and white trainers and a pair of heels that I haven't worn since new year 2019. so the trainers I guess

37) what time do you normally go to bed?

I usually go to bed around 10, but i stay up at least until midnight, usually closer to 2 am

38) what time do you normally wake up?

for school I wake up at 6:30 and get up at 7, because I physically can't get out of bed until I've snoozed my alarm at least 3 times. although at the moment,,,,,,,,,,,probably around 10:30? I set alarms to try and keep some kind of structure... and then sleep through them

39) do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

absolutely sunsets. I live about 10 mins away from the beach, so watching the sky change colour and the stars come out as the sun sets over the sea, with a mug of fruit tea warming my hands... fantastic

40) how many blankets are on your bed?

just one, but I have wayyy too many pillows

41) describe your dinner plates

my parents just get plain black or white sets from ikea or wherever

42) what's your favourite alcoholic beverage?

I Am A Minor And I Have Never Drunk Alcohol I Don't Even Know What Alcohol Is Ha Ha Ha

43) do you play cards?

no, although I used to play solitaire A Lot because it was one of the only games I had on my shitty purple ipod

44) what colour is your car?

train coloured (I don't have a car yet)

45) can you change a tire?

nope

46) what's your favourite province?

I'm english what does this mean

47) what's your favourite job you've had?

I've only really had 3 jobs: I answered the phone when my parents ran a takeaway from home, I work in their cafe every now and again doing washing up or sometimes waitressing, and I used to have a paper round. I Do Not like any of them, but the second is probably my favourite

48) what's the biggest scar you've got?

a surgery scar from my appendectomy 6 years ago,,,,,,,,,,,,I thought it was just really bad food poisoning for maybe an entire week

49) how have you made someone happy today?

I hope I made my friends happy? I really enjoy talking to all of you in our discord server, y'all make me smile so much and I hope I can return the favour

i tag @johnathansims @spookyhetero and @two-am-art if y'all want to get involved

[final-fantasy-mama]

Licorice Twists and Cinnamon Buns

''FFXIV: Emet Selch X Wol Licorice twists and cinnamon buns This is drabble for now but I do have a plot planned for future chapters. First part is fluff, second part is a bit angsty. Enjoy! ********************************************************************************

(Very sorry for any spelling mistakes, I don’t have a spell checker and have to edit manually so I miss many mistakes)

It wasn't often that the Warrior of Light got time to herself for anything. Most days were spent tending to battle wounds, civilian requests and the ever growing demands of her scion brethren but today was special. Today she had a full day all to herself and should she decide to rest, she could roost in bed till the chocobos came home. But she was a restless soul and having that much free time made her a bit antsy. So she wore her best casual clothes, a off shoulder sun dress and sandals, and made for the Musica Universalis for a small walk about. And as always, following closely in her shadows was her ever sneaky and equally snarky ascian companion, Emet Selch.

He had often spied in on her whenever it suited his fancy though she was quick to catch on to his Aether trail, making any chances of sneaking up on her null and void. If he kept his distance enough she couldn’t distinguish his presence from the multitudes of others within the crystarium which was the only opportunity he had to observe her habits and actions unabieted. He wasn’t really one to take too much of an interest in anyone or anything outside his devotions to Zodiark but he had to admit this one Hyur Female caught his undivided attention. 

She was pretty in a simple way, with features that could have easily passed for Garlean if it weren’t for her height. Not that Emet Selch placed much value on physical appearances outside of his own. And she was strong, oh so strong and noble in a un nauseating way. She never spouted nonsense of high ideals and morality, was pragmatic, straightforward and witty.

Now he watched her walk through the crystarium, stopping now and then to look at what bits and baubles surrounded her, her head tilting to one side as she studied everything with a keen eye only a warrior could possess. He watched from the shadows of a nearby pillar how her eyes lit up while she looked at a merchants jewelry stall, picking up a necklace and holding it to her chest while staring in the mirror afforded to her by the vendor. 

All women were wanton creatures for fine jewels and furs. Oh how he could give her all that and more were she his woman. What a empress she would have made with her proud face and feminine features but he didnt know her back then and avoided all contact with her or her shards on the other stars.  She was a poor sundered creature after all, albiet a charming one, and he didn’t need any more misery in his immortality then what was already afforded to him. If she had any clue just how far back her shards and former selves went, who and what she was, she kept it keenly to herself. He wondered just how much she did know. She never really talked about her memories short of what was absolutely necessary.

She struggled with the clasp of the necklace and just when he was about to step in to do it for her, a certain other man did it instead. The crystal exarch was making his rounds through town. Emet Selch gritted his teeth as her eyes turned to the cowled man and truly sparkled, her red lips spreading into a wide smile as she thanked him. They made casual banter with each other, each laughing and smiling as they walked away, her hand holding his arm in a way that was too intimate for the ascians liking.

That slick conniving whelp of a man! Emet sneered as he followed them in the shadows. Look how she touches him so casually, like 2 fools in love! What can this creature offer a warrior like her? By what magic did he bring her here and dare to speak to her so fondly! He stopped his train of thoughts and held his breath. He had seen this scene before oh so many millenia ago when the hero had been alive in Amarout. But it was a memory Emet did not want to remember and he quickly pushed it out of his mind.

The hero and the exarch stopped at a small candy shop and the hero exclaimed how she hadn’t sampled some of the confections since her childhood. She filled a small paper bag with her favorites and vowed to share it with her child when they reunited. Her daughter, only 8 years of age, and the only family she had in the source. Surely that child must have looked like her mother. Emet could see it as surely as his own children took after his late wife. Oh those long lost days when he had some small measure of happiness but lives came and went so quickly and thus his happiness was only temporary if not fleeting.

The couple moved on, once again arm in arm, their happy voices talking of frivolous things. The Hero leaning in and squeezing her shoulder into the exarchs as he hid his head shyly in his hood. In fact she seemed to go out of her way to make any sort of physical contact with her partner weather it was a touch of the hands, squeezing his arm tightly against her chest in a flirtatious manner or leaning in so her forehead was almost against the exarch. The shy Exarch laughing nervously but accepting her little showers of affections non the less. It made Emet suspicious. 

It would seem those two have a history with each other....how interesting. He clenched his fists at his sides tightly. She is obvious in her affections for him but he tries to hide how much she affects him. Ah, the exarch is hiding his identity but she already knows......then that would mean the exarch is not a native of the 1st and they both hailed from the source....by what means did he arrive her and manage to bring her as well?

When the couples time came to part, the exarch kissed the fair ladies hand and waved goodbye as she watched him go, once again left to her own devices in the market place. She did not move from her spot as he dissappeared from view and Emet used that chance to sneak up behind her, or at least try. She knew he was coming a mile away.

"Shopping for a swanking new coat Emet?" She asked as she turned to him and gave him her usual coy look.

"Shopping for a new lover?" He shot back and jutted his chin in the direction the exarch had left.

The hero smiled something sly and admitted easily. "Mmmm Hmmmm. That man is a cinnamon roll and I just want to bite right into him."

"So that's your type." The ascian said dryly. 

"And you, you sneaky bastard." She jabbed a finger into his chest. "Are Black Licorice."

"Licorice!?" He asked in surprise.

The hero reached into her paper bag and pulled out a black twig of candy, holding it up this face before saying, "They make it, so someone must love to eat it but most people want to spit it out after one bite!"

He pursed his lips as he stared down at the feisty lady who so defiantly waved her candy in his face and for once in his immortal life, he was speechless. He wasn’t sure if he should get angry or laugh. Her barbs at him were easily becoming legendary.

She didn’t wait for him to answer before taking a hearty bite out of the black candy. "Lucky for you I have acquired a taste for Licorice." and gave him her oh so sweet smile which meant both good things and dangerous things. He had to smile back and she noted how soft his face was when he was happy. He almost looked kind when he was like that as opposed to his usual grumpy self.

"Zodiark’s mercy hero, are you admitting you're in love with me?" He drawled out and held his hand to his heart.

"Hydaelyn’s blessing Emet Selch, You're such a drama king." She shot back and turned to walk away. "Lets see its just past 2....its a good time to break for tea. Join me if you dare."

"Bothering you is the only thing I have to look forward to in my day." He admitted and followed after her. **************************************** They both seated themselves at a small table within the atrium next to the market and ordered a few plates of cheeses and meats along with some pastries. The hero poured tea into two saucers and slid one over to him as she sat down in a wooden chair and fanned herself with the menu. 

"How do you survive in the Jacket? Its bloody hot out here." She complained.

"Is that your way of asking me to take it off?" He wiggled his brows at her and sipped his tea oh so properly like the blue blood he was.

She laughed. "Actually I am curious what’s under all that, I won’t lie."

He quickly unbuckled the front and in a dramatic flourish, stood up and swept if off his shoulders as he placed it on the back of his chair. The undershirt he wore was a plain white cotton one with a few buttons down the chest and loose sleeves.

"If you ask politely I may take off even more." He purred and She nearly spat out her tea.

"Woah their partner, you need to leave something to my imagination." She smirked and took a long sip of tea before reaching into her blouse and producing a small metal case from her brasier. She opened it up with a click and pulled a small cigarillo from it, put it to her lips and lit it with the small lighter. She took a long drag and offered one to her company.

Emet shook his head lightly. "A habit you picked up adventuring?"

"A habit I picked up from one of my "others" who was a middle aged drunk whiskey lover, smoked like a chimney and ate bacon like pork was going out of season." She laughed.

When She fumbled with her cigar case a piece of paper fell out. It was a small photo of some sort of a small child with dark brown hair and a cherubs smile, riding on the back of a tall elezen male with light blue hair and a equally charming smile. If he didn’t know any better he would have said this was a family photo but the child looked nothing like that man in the photo so he knew instantly the she wasn’t his

. "Your daughter and....?" He asked.

"Haurchefant Greystone, one of my dearest friends. He passed away a few years ago." She sipped her tea. "He had a way with children and my daughter fell in love with him. She said that If I didn’t marry him then she would." The small smile on her face spoke volumes of her feelings for this man.

"At first all the adventuring was just to secure some money for myself and my daughter....and then I was discovered by the scions....I suppose the rest after that was just cause and effect or the results of being the warrior of light." she shrugged and tucked the photo away. “After an attempted assassination on the Sultana of Ul Dahl, myself and the scions had to go into hiding. So I took my daughter with me to Ishgard where we parlayed for our protection. Haurchefant was the first to extend any hospitality to us and took care of us. He was really a wonderful friend.” She said fondly.

“You were in love with him.” Emet stated and she couldn’t deny it.

“I suppose I was. But his life was cut short and after that there was no one else, I never even bothered looking or trying.” she admitted sadly.

The Ascian looked at the hero carefully, noting how sad her eyes looked in that moment. She was lonely even though she would never admit it, using her duty with the scions as an excuse to fill her time. For one small moment, Emet saw something else as he looked at her, the ghost of another who’s face was equally sad but always had a small smile on her lips. He blinked the apparition away.

"Your child is what grounds you to this reality. You would fight and die for her." Emet said matter of factly. It was a universal fact that a mother protecting her young was the fiercest thing in the cosmos, something he had witnessed first hand so long ago. This will to protect is exactly what brought about Hydaelyn to begin with. In all these years, after all these rebirths and in all her incarnations, that one truth never changed, she would protect those near and dearest to her even if it meant tearing the universe apart. her child was the source of her power.

The uncomfortable reality that the child would die in the grand plan of the ascians was not lost on the hero or him. It was a unspoken truth that would always be the catalyst of her never ending battles with all her enemies and him. As cordial as the two were with each other, the fact that at the end of the day one or the other was going to be destroyed was not ever going to change.

  The hero stared up at the glass ceiling and finished off her cigarillo, putting it out in the small ashtray on the table. Her heart felt heavy thinking of the future, of his and hers but it wasn’t something she could express in words, its just the nature of her being Hydaelyn’s blessed and him beings Zodiark’s Tempered. When she turned her head to him it was obvious he had been thinking the exact same thing.

"Oh hero, don’t look at me like that." He cooed in a oh so sweet voice. "All is not lost yet, there is still time to change my mind. If you can accomplish the impossible then even I will be forced to throw my lot in with you. We Ascians don’t wish for our own destruction you know."

The hero cleared her throat and swallowed back her feelings, replacing it with a smile. "What a pair we make, Architect." 

"Oh yes, the warrior of light and her arch enemy sitting together drinking tea. What is this universe coming to?"

"Shite apparently."  She laughed.

"I'll drink to that." Emet agreed and they clinked glasses.

“So what’s next on our agenda?”

“101 ways to destroy the world.” He replied dryly.

She gawked at him. “Not funny!”

“You’re still laughing on the inside.”

She shoved a big piece of cake into her mouth and said in a muffled voice. “I laugh only so I don’t cry.”

He reached over a caught a dollop of frosting from the corner of her mouth then licked it off his white gloves slowly and deliberately.

She blinked twice. “Oh that was smooth.”

“Full glad am I to hear that.” He purred.

“Have you made it your personal mission to seduce me?” She squinted at him.

“Seeing as you get flustered when a man expresses desire for you, I’ve made it my mission to make you as uncomfortable as possible from here on out.” He admitted.

“Flustered?!” You gasped and that made him chuckle.

“You wear your heart on your sleeve hero.”

“I’ll wear a mask then.” She said suddenly and it made him stop. He watched her for a second before turning back to his tea.

He looked down into the brown water. “A thousand masks for a thousand desires.” He said off handedly.

She watched him carefully but didn’t quite grasp his meaning, something about it though made her heart feel strange. A small moment of recognition and longing. For him? For this ascian drinking tea with her? Surely not, but maybe just maybe for the man Emet Selch had been.

(I wasn’t sure how to end this so i abruptly did before it prattled on again. Next chapter will be main story driven and have more character development for Emet. Its just fun to write fluff for characters who are notoriously not fluffy lol)

[atomicwedgienerd]

Boyfriend Twins No Longer

Derek was furious. Last night had been his 21st birthday and what should have been a blast had been ruined by all the jerks at that gay bar. “Boyfriend twins!” The taunt rung through his mind. Nobody had ever made fun of him and Arjun before! They didn’t even look that similar. After all, Derek might be tan but he could never be compared to Arjun. Sure they had both been wearing Abercrombie shirts and khakis in nearly the same hue, but lots of people dressed like that! And besides, Derek though their matching sneakers were cute. And yet, when they walked into that one queer bar in town, the hipsters all turned to them and immediately started laughing. The door guy asked if they were clones and the bartender asked if there was a 2-for-1 special at the Abercrombie shop. Like they were so cool just because they had piercings and tattoos! That didn’t make them unique! There were plenty of hipster “boyfriend twins” in that bar and nobody gave them any guff! Regardless, Derek couldn’t stop fixating on it. He hated being criticized by other gays after a lifetime of being mocked by straight people for being different. He glanced over at Arjun as he snoozed, admiring his butt in the matching pair of Andrew Christian briefs that they had actually bought in a 2-for-1 sale. Well damn, thought Derek, maybe we are a little similar. “Are you ok, hun?” Arjun asked, stirring from his sleep. Derek sighed and turned away. “You can’t be upset about the boyfriend twins thing, can you?” Derek harumphed and turned to his lover, unaware that the mystical forces that grant birthday wishes had decided to pay attention to Derek this year. “I just wish we weren’t so similar!” Derek said angrily. A lighting bolt cracked across the sky, scaring both of the boyfriends. “You’re being dramatic,” Arjun sighed as he got up from the bed. “Let me make you some coffee and we can do something fun for your birthday. Arjun headed out to the kitchen, his ass looking great in the jockstrap he was wearing. Wait, that wasn’t right, thought Derek. They had the same pair of underpants! “Arjun!” Derek cried. “What’s up with that jockstrap!?” “Uh duh, it’s what I always wear, bro,” Arjun yelled back from the kitchen. That didn’t seem right to Derek. He looked down at his own lap and noticed that he was now wearing a pair of plain Hanes tighty-whiteys. That definitely wasn’t right. He sat up and leaned over the edge of the bed but something else was wrong. His feet didn’t reach the floor anymore. Derek panicked and stood up. He looked in the mirror and something was off. Where they had both been a solid 5’11” before, Derek couldn’t be more than 5’8” now and he was looking leaner than usual. There was something weird going on with his hair but Derek couldn’t really discern it in the mirror. He grabbed his pair of thick black framed glasses from the end table and threw them on. His hair was paler, more red, than before and seemed to be stuck in a weird center part. This was not the haircut he had gotten a week ago. And wait a minute! Derek didn’t need glasses! He threw them off and the world turned into a total blur. Derek started to panic, breathing heavily and starting to hyperventilate. Arjun reentered the room, or at least Derek thought the blurry shape was Arjun—it seemed taller—and handed Derek a glass of skim milk. “What’s this?” Derek whined, his voice noticeably higher pitched. “Where is my coffee?” “You can’t drink coffee, bro,” Arjun laughed, his voice noticeably deeper. “You’re spastic enough as it is.” Arjun took a deep sip of his coffee. “Give me a sip of your coffee then!” Derek whined. Arjun laughed. “You need to put on your glasses dude.” Derek did as he was told and was shocked as the world came into focus. The Arjun in front of him was different. He was taller for one, at least 6’2” now, and substantially more muscular than he had been before. Whereas Arjun had always been clean shaven, he was now sporting a decent five o’clock shadow. Derek rubbed his face; it was now smooth where before he had been sporting the beginnings of a beard. And then Derek noticed Arjun wasn’t drinking coffee at all. He had a protein shake. “Something isn’t right!” Derek wheezed. Arjun rolled his eyes and handed him an inhaler. “You need to calm down bro. And use your inhaler. You know you’re not supposed to get excited. It’s time for us to get dressed and head to campus anyways.” “But it’s my birthday!” Derek complained, taking three short puffs of the inhaler. “So who cares!?” Arjun laughed. “Get out of my room and go get dressed!” Arjun’s room!? But they had shared a room for six months. Regardless, Derek felt too timid to argue and he shuffled meekly out of the room. Derek headed down the hallway and then noticed his backpack peeking out from their study. He opened the door and was shocked at what he saw. It wasn’t a study any more. It had turned into a bedroom. In the center was a twin sized bed with Pokemon sheets. The walls were decorated with anime posters and cardboard cut outs of Lord of the Rings figures. There was an entire shelf of trophies from Math League, Chess Club, the 24-Hour Coding Challenge, Klingon Karaoke. Whoever had this room was a total dork! And that’s when Derek saw it. A framed picture on the wall of a total dork with Patrick Stewart at a comic convention. The guy looked familiar even though he was wearing thick glasses and the nerdiest clothes Derek had ever seen. He looked closer and gasped. It was HIM. But this wasn’t right! This room belonged to a total dork and Derek wasn’t a geek! He barely even used his computer. And yet this room had a massive desk with multiple computers on them, running World of Warcraft! Derek looked at the picture again and shook his head. This couldn’t be right. He would never dress like this! And yet when Derek opened the closet. all the clothes matched those in the pictures. Plaid button downs, cheap pleated dress slacks, shiny leather shoes. None of it seemed right. “Hurry the fuck up and get dressed!” Arjun yelled from out in the hall. Derek had never heard him yell like that before. That wasn’t the Arjun he knew but something made Derek quiver. He did not want to make Arjun mad! He sighed and started getting dressed. He buttoned up the button down all the way to the top and felt compelled to add a too short black tie. He put on a pair of clashing brown slacks that stopped a couple of inches above his ankle and couldn’t stop himself from attaching a pair of red suspenders that yanked the waist of the pants up above his belly button. All of Derek’s socks were white crew socks now and they clashed with his black patent leather shoes but he could hear Arjun getting impatient so he threw them on in resignation. He was scared to make Arjun mad; something he had never felt before. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. He looked like a total dork! He had definitely shrunk too! There was no way he was over 5’2” now. “HURRY UP DWEEB!” Arjun boomed from the living room. Derek grabbed his backpack and meekly shuffled out, his confidence totally eradicated. He gasped when he saw his boyfriend. Arjun towered over him now, standing at a solid 6’6”. Where he had been slightly muscled before, he was now a total meathead, weighing in at 300 lbs of pure muscle. The five o’clock shadow he had moments before was now a beard of epic proportion that came down to mid chest and his hair was up in an unruly and super masculine bun. Arjun’s muscles were massive… unlike anything Derek had ever seen and they were on full display as Arjun was now wearing a muscle tank that said “Give Me Deadlifts or Give Me Death” on it. On his legs, he wore tight black sweats that showed off every bit of muscle in his thighs and his massive calved. His arms were now dotted with tattoos and an 8 gauge septum piercing adorned his nose while double zero gauges rested comfortably in his ears. “S-s-s-since when do you l-l-l-lift weights?” Derek said, now aware that he stuttered. “S-s-s-s-since fucking forever, braceface,” Arjun laughed. Braceface? Why would Arjun call him that? But Derek reached up and touched his mouth and knew the answer. Huge clunky orthodontics were now glued to his teeth and when he caught his reflection in the mirror, he sighed. “You sh-sh-shouldn’t talk to your own boyfriend like that,” Derek implored. This sent Arjun into a series of hearty chortles. “Boyfriend!?” he laughed. “I would never date a dweeb like you, fuckwad. The only reason we live together is that the college said I needed to get my grades up if I wanted to stay on the weightlifting team and well, you’re too much of a fucking pussy to stand up to me when I ask you to do my homework.” Derek tried to argue but found himself getting too nervous. I guess I am too much of a pussy, he thought. “You’re right, Arjun,” Derek complied. Arjun rolled his eyes. “How many times have I told you? It’s AJ, not Arjun. Only my mom calls me Arjun. Now let’s get going.” Arjun grabbed Derek by the waist of his tighty whiteys, effortlessly lifting him up in a painful wedgie and carried him out the door. As they walked to campus, Derek felt all eyes on them. People were swooning over Arjun—er—AJ and pointing and laughing at Derek the whole way. He couldn’t stand it! AJ and Derek couldn’t be more different. That’s when it hit Derek. The wish. HE HAD WISHED FOR THIS. “Th-th-this isn’t what I wanted,” Derek said meekly as they arrived on campus. “Well I didn’t want to have to spend time with the university’s least attractive virgin but here we are,” AJ said as he dumped a bunch of books in Derek’s hands. “I’m going to need all these papers written by Monday so I can stay on the team.” “B-b-b-but-“ “No buts, dork!” AJ yelled as he shoved him towards the library. Derek looked at AJ with tears in his eyes. They had been so close, so in love, and now this was their life. More muscular hunks walked up to AJ as they started heading off to the gym. Derek turned meekly and started shuffling towards the library, his spindly legs giving him an awkward gait. “Hey nerd!” AJ yelled after Derek. “You forgot your student ID!” He flung it at Derek and it hit him right in the forehead, causing a chorus of laughs from AJ’s weightlifting bros. Derek struggled to pick it up from the ground without dropping all his books and gasped at his ID. For a brief moment, it listed the correct information: “Derek Parker, English Comp” before shimmering for a moment and changing. Derek blinked his eyes and looked at it again through this thick coke-bottle glasses. “Derwin Pimpleberg, Computer Science,” he sighed. Derek—make that Derwin—had totally changed, and all because of this stupid birthday wish. He headed into the library wanting to cry. Luckily, Derwin found academic achievement easy, which was great because soon AJ was making him do not only his homework, but also all of AJ’s weightlifting bros’ homework. AJ and his boys would come around on Saturdays and get wasted before heading out leaving Derwin alone to play World of Warcraft all weekend. While AJ would bring home a different stud every night to fuck, Derwin was alone reading fantasy novels and writing World of Warcraft fanfiction. And the noise from AJ’s heavy fucking made Derwin sad. Before the change, Derek and Arjun had had plenty of sex, but Derwin—well that was a different story. He was a virgin and try as he might over the next few decades, no one ever wanted to have sex with him and he remained a virgin forever. Eventually, the now roommates graduated but AJ didn’t want to let Derwin go. Why would he? Derwin was too meek to fight with AJ and would clean up after him, make his protein shakes, and wash his dirty gym clothes for him. Besides, whereas AJ’s degree was useless, Derwin’s computer science degree was a cash cow and Derwin was making tons of money consulting. Of course, AJ had made Derwin sign over all of his bank accounts to him so AJ could focus on professional body building instead of working, meaning that Derwin still had to wear cheap dorky clothes and couldn’t really afford to go out, not that he had any friends he needed to see. A few year later, Derwin had to go to his high school reunion and AJ decided to tag along. All of Derek’s friends were shocked to see that their old buddy was now a total nerd stereotype that went by Derwin but they were all enamored with AJ and joined in on mocking, ridiculing, and beating up Derwin. As his former friends hoisted him up the flagpole so he had to just dangle there in an atomic wedgie, Derwin sighed. He had wished that he and AJ were different and well, it couldn't have come any more true. 

[do-lvn]

Hey there, Grayson

SUMMARY: Grayson and (Y/N) were best friends since second grade, they grew and so did their love.

based off ‘hey there, Delilah.’ By plain white t’s :)

15, you were fifteen when you realized that you were in love with Grayson. It was a simple day, a normal one to be exact, it was spent at the Dolan household. Being only 7 when you had met Ethan and Grayson, it made you all inseparable. So days at their house was nothing new. Once when your parents left for a business trip you ended up staying with them for a whole month. And even though you all had been inseparable, there was something that you and Grayson had and with being so little, was something you couldn’t quite wrap your head around just yet. So as a young one you ignored it, but when you all were huddled in a blanket outside by the fire it hit you hard. You turned to look at Grayson who was smiling at some absurd joke Ethan had just told and you felt your heart slow down, as you watched him laugh.

You felt your chest tighten and your heart started pounding as it felt like a truck was running straight through you. He took notice of someone's gaze and turned to meet eyes with you, sending you a shy smile and ducking his head further into the blanket, because whether or not he would admit it everyone knew you were truly the only girl who would drive Grayson crazy.

Yet you didn't know that, because when you hit the age 16, Grayson confessed his love for you on - only - the second date. He couldn't help it. He had taken you to the beach to watch the sun go down, simple, yet you loved every second of it. That's when he looked over at you and said it. “(Y/N), I'm in love with you.” your heart only swelled as you pulled him into a bone crushing hug. All the current events shocking you nonetheless.

Then 4OU happened and you were thrilled when Grayson invited you to join, both him and Ethan agreeing it wouldn’t be as fun without their best friend. So you had begged your mom to go and when she finally said yes, you were quickly packing your bags for months on the road. You even had Grayson on the phone not believing you were actually able to go. “I know, it’s crazy. I didn't think she was going to give in.” he chuckled at that, “me neither but I'm not complaining like my girlfriend gets to go on tour with me.” you felt your stomach start doing flips at the title. His girlfriend.

17, was the age Grayson broke your heart, along with his. His career had a huge take off after tour and his manager had insisted they move to Los Angeles for better business when you found out the news your heart shattered, it was just the beginning of your junior year. “It’s best if we break up, angel. You still have school and things will be hard.” you nodded, he knew you understood and you couldn't hold him back making videos was something he enjoyed and you weren't about to be another person telling Grayson he couldn't do it. “Don’t forget about me, okay?” you ask while wiping a tear from his cheek, he laughs and pulls you into a quick kiss. “I couldn’t even if I tried, I love you.” you smile and hug him tighter.

Even though you were sad, and so was Grayson no doubt. You both knew how big the situation was and it was an opportunity they couldn't pass up, so with one last hug and a quick peck he was out the door.

19 - PRESENT DAY

“Ethan! You bitch ass.” Grayson groaned as he watched Ethan take a quick shot at him. He quickly dropped his headset, “Fuck you, I was about to get victory royale.” Ethan snickers, “so? I wanted to win.” Grayson turned around in his chair and threw the nearest pillow at Ethan. “Hey! Don’t be a sore loser.” Grayson sighed, “whatever, I'm going to finish editing the video.”

Ethan didn’t bother to pry his eyes away from the screen, just stuck up a hand and waved Grayson off. He made his way back to his bedroom and flopped onto his mattress, life was good, but there was something missing that even though Grayson couldn’t quite figure out exactly what it was, he knew he would find out soon.

Very soon.

“(Y/N), please be a dear and set these on the table for me.”  Your mom was having a dinner party for her co-workers, one you weren’t invited too “I don’t get why I’m helping when you're not even letting me join!” you said jokingly. “I’ll have your father send you a plate straight to your room, sound good?” you set down the last plate and place a hand on your chin, “hmm not sure, I will say yes only if I get a cherry cola.”

She smiles, “I’ll do you one better, this was supposed to be a surprise but Lisa is coming along with the twins, they finally came around the time you were here, so I'll have your father bring you Grayson, k?” you feel your heart stop and your smile get wider, “sounds perfect.”

Seeing Grayson for the first time in 2 years had your heart racing. You had talked here and there over the years but nothing recent with you being so busy with college, so it was now winter break and you were happy that you were finally having a nice breather away from all the exams. You were going on to your second year and it was nice, college was looking way better than high school.

“So mom, she’s going into her second year right?” Lisa laughed at Grayson's nervousness, “yes gray, and calm down, you know her, she’s still the same bubbly girl she was three years ago.” he nodded. “Right right, would've been nice if Ethan joined.” she nodded, “yeah, a nice reunion.” he looked down, “yeah.”

When the door got pulled open, revealing your mother. Grayson’s nerves got bad he was thinking nothing but the worse. That maybe you would be mad at him for not talking to you recently. But he was wrong and it was just panic. “Nice to see you gray, (Y/N)’s upstairs, you know the way.” she shooed him off and continued to conversate with Lisa.

He took a look at your stairs and let all the memories you two had come back to him, it made him feel better knowing that you guys didn't end on a bad note, he took one last deep breath before knocking on your door. When he did you were quick to hop up. It had been three years since you had seen gray in person and you didn’t know how to feel, or how he looked.

The door opened and gray smiled, “hey.” he didn’t say anything back just quickly pulled you into a hug. “I missed you so much, how are you? How’s school? Tell me everything.” you smile and close your door.

“I'm going into my second year of college, only 2 more left after that. I'm good, just busy. Schools so stressful and on top of that my job is irritating. But i'm managing, how about you, how are you?” he casually shrugged, “good, things have been good. I've just been busy with filming and meetings and stuff like that.” you smile.

“Im happy your good. Hows ethan?” he laughed. “Good, still dramatic as fuck.” this time you both shared a laugh. “I really did miss you (Y/N). just things aren't the same without you.” you look down.

“ i miss you guys too, i think about you all the time gray. Wish we didn’t drift like we did, but we could fix that. If you want.” he smiled. “Would love that, now tell me what’s college like?”

You laugh. “Well…” he let your voice fade as he admired you, a lot had changed, your hair was shorter and lighter, your eyes brighter than before and lips plumper. “And other than frat parties every weekend it just stress. I don't go to parties though not my thing.” he nodded. “Never has been.”

The night went on and you fully forgot about all the guests your mom had downstairs, your whole focus on how life was for gray in l.a. He even mentioned the new house him and ethan had, “you should come to visit when your on break, again.” you smile. “I could, i have spring break next.” he smiled. “Really, that’s perfect, me and e can show you around l.a.” you laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”

You both ended up at the park, a childhood spot. You pointed to the slide that over the years became old and damaged. “Remember when we pushed ethan down the slide and he landed on his face.” he chuckled, “and we got into so much trouble, yeah i think i remember. My mom took away my ipod.” you laugh and look over at the old tire swing. “Our first kiss was on that tire swing, then right after you fell off.” you felt your cheeks heat up at the memory. “Gosh don't remind me, that was so embarrassing.” he chuckled. “It was cute, your cheeks were so red, you looked like a tomato, hey kind of like you do right now.” you playfully smack his shoulder, he only smiles and looks down.

“It’s kind of crazy to remember where i was only three years ago and now look at me.” you laugh, “i know, when did you start working out?” it was his turn to playfully push you. “I've always worked out, don't be rude.” you put your hands up in defense, “okay, okay.”

The last encounter was better than before, “it was amazing to see you, keep in touch okay?” you nod. “Of course, i miss you already.” he pulls you into a quick hug. “Hey two more years and then your done and i'll be waiting for you.” you pull him closer. “Yeah, i’ll see you soon, gray.” he squeezed tighter and placed a kiss to your forehead. “Goodnight, (Y/N).”

“G’night gray.”

You were currently at home finishing up an assignment when your phone started ringing, to occupied with work you didnt even bother to see the name. “Hey there, (Y/N).” you smile at the voice.

“Hey there, grayson.”

- THE END

[mazojo]

Favorite Sohma’s

Hi yes, uh, I needed a space to rant about fruits basket because I am still very broken so yea

Disclaimer that this is just my opinion and I still love them all very much, just needed to get this out of my system ayee. Also I will include a song that reminds me of them because I am that invested in this so yeaaaa

14- Kagura Sohma

Boy by Little Mix - “I know what you’re worth girl, you know what you got”

I rank Kagura as my least favorite just for the fact that I cant really relate to her I guess? I mean, she is okay, I think she is cute and all but I don't think violence is the way to go about her struggles and she is so much more worth than she gives herself credits for. In the end, I dont think I full understood her big struggle as much as the other characters and thats why she is at number 14, although I want her to be happy and full of love and support like the others ;w;

13- Akito Sohma

My Eyes by Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day - “But it’s plain to see, Evil inside of me is on the rise”

Akito is a complicated one for me man. Of course, in the beginning and throughout the manga you learn to really dislike her because she did some terrible things, specially to my baby boi Yuki and eye-.... But then when we learn more about her and everything she has gone through we start sympathizing with her but i..... cant just forget everything she did. I get she was traumatized since she was little, she became dependent on the zodiacs because of her father’s words and mother’s behaviour thus becoming a broken person with this big responsibility she didn't ask for. It really ticks me however, how much pain the others underwent through her, and even though its a healing process, the traumas and everything they suffered is still there which is why I cant place her higher. I do not hate her by any means, but she isnt my favorite person on this list either. I do ship her with Shigure and I think they help each other out, and they grow from the other.

12- Shigure Sohma

Used to the Darkness by Des Rocs - “Now would you pray before you twist the knife? Yeah, would you take my hand and take a life?”

*big sigh* Shigure is also a complicated one for me. It may be my big dumb energies showing but I didnt fully get a grasp on his character? I know he was doing everything for Akito’s sake to liberate from the curse and be with her so she is finally a “woman” but he always acted a bit shady xD?? I would have love to know more about his backstory, we dont get much from his motivations and character other than the perverted aspect and that he loves Akito lmaoo. I do think he is hilarious and I love the dynamic he has with Hatori and Ayame lol

11- Ayame Sohma

Starships by Nicky Minaj - “Starships were menat to fly, Hands up and touch the sky “

To be honest I am pretty neutral about Ayame’s character. He is hilarious and I love how Yuki insults him every tike he gets the chance lolll. I like how throughout the story he tries to change to become a better brother to Yuki and person even though he is pretty extra most of the time about it. He has a good heart and even though he made some mistakes he owns up to them which in my opinion, makes him a good character <33 I love his friendship with Hatori lmaooo they balance each other out sooo well

10- Kureno Sohma

Taking Chances by Celine Dion - “Never knowing if there's solid ground below, Or a hand to hold, or hell to pay”

I really like Kureno! He has gone through quite a bit and he needs a hug. I am sad thinking how most of his life he lead it pretty similarly to Yuki’s, apart from everyone and super enclosed to his relationship with Akito due to him breaking the curse and feeling bad about it. I do wish we would have gotten to know more about his personality and story, if we did I would have definitely ranked him higher! He really reminds me of Tohru’s father and I think Uotani is perfect for him <33 would have love to see more about the two of them and hopefully they expand upon it in the anime

9- Ritsu Sohma

Waving Through a Window by Ben Platt - “On the outside, always looking in, Will I ever be more than I've always been?”

Okay okay so I have a lot of thoughts on Ritsu. Manga Ritsu is okay, I really dont have much of an opinion on him due to him appearing only in a few chapters, I feel like from the Sohma’s, he is the one we get the least information about. But then the anime episode came out where they presented Ritsu and I thought they gave him so much more life and rounded personality where, I get to relate a lot to him? I am someone who is constantly apologizing for absolutely no reason and seeing him be all anxious and stressed about others interactions is big relate to me and I stan. I also think the whole dressing as a woman plot line is better dealt with in the anime and I hope we get to see more about his insecurities and troubles in the future because he is truly a very interesting character! I stan my one (1) anxious monkey.

8- Kisa Sohma

Mean by Taylor Swift - “But you can take me down with just one single blow, But you don't know what you don't know”

Cinnammon rooooooolll. Kisa is such a cutie. I dont have much to say other than my mood every time I think about Kisa is hugging her like Tohru does because she is babyyyy. Also her bullying story is one I think many viewers and readers can relate a lot to and such an important topic I think they covered pretty well and I loveee. Also her and Hiro are one of my favorite ships because they work so well and asdfgh in this household Kisa is a queennn.

7- Isuzu Sohma

Take me Home by Jess Glynne - “Came to you with a broken faith, Gave me more than a hand to hold”

I really like Isuzu!! I am pretty bummed we wont get to meet her in season 1 of the Anime reboot but hopefully in the nest season! She is quite a complex character that I didnt really understand at the beginning but once we see how much she loves Haru and all that she does in order to protect and keep him save she really went up my list. She has gone through so much, from her shattered reality from her parents, Akito threatening Haru, her being locked up withour given any food.... Isuzu is so strong and one of the best build characters in the series and I am super excited to see her in the anime!

6- Hiro Sohma

Time to be a Man by The Airborne Toxic Event - “And it’s time to be a man, Tell me how does that go?”

My bastard childdd <33 He is such an asshole and such a sweetie at the same time. His whole inner struggle of not feeling like a good enough man for Kisa is so heartwhelming and I think it really makes sense to the type of person he is. The flashbacks of him telling Akito how he loves Kisa and the feeling of uncertainty and impotency when seeing the girl he loves being hurt by his actions and wanting to be good enough for her even though he is more than enough sdfghjasd. I am also a softie for older brothers who love their families *cough cough* spoiler alert: Momiji *cough cough* that I love me one angry boi

5- Hatsuharu Sohma

4 Seasons by Rex Orange County - “I saw myself as less and you so high above me”

Cow boil! apart from the fact that I love love loveeee Haru’s design, I think he is also such a well build character! He is not only supportive of everyone (aka the loves of his life, Rin and Yuki xDD) but he is so interesting! His split personalities give him a cool trait (even though dark Haru doesnt appear much in the end of the manga) and I love how he helps everyone and makes sure those he loves are protected at all cost and happy. He is Rin and Yuki’s fan club stan leader and I am co-leader so we been stanning aye

4- Hatori Sohma

Fireflies by Owl City - “I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes, I got misty eyes as they said farewell”

Boooooy the next four to come are my absolute favorties and I would die for their happiness and love so *takes big breathe* I LoVE hAtORi sOhMAAa. To be honest when we first meet him I didnt like him much. I thought he was your usual dark deep character who doesnt talk much because he is too cool for everyone (which, he is) and that was that. But boi was I in for a riDE. His story about having to erase the memories from the woman he loves is one of the ones I cried through the most. I put myself in his shoes and wonder if I had to erase the memory of the person I loved the most, make them forget they ever met me, all our happy times, sad times, angry times.... No matter what its one of the most saddening moments and the whole scene is heartbreaking, which makes me love Hatori even more for the fact of how strong he is and selfless. He puts himself before others and he need to know he also deserves happiness and I am glad in the end he got it because homeboy needed a break ;w;. I also adore Ayame’s relationship with him xDD, he is like his idol and big same.

3- Kyo Sohma 

This song saved my Life by Simple Plan - “Sometimes it feels like nobody gets me, Trapped in a world where everyone hates me”

Top three babyyyy. We have now my angry cat boi™. I mentioned it before but going into the reboot firsthand without reading the manga nor watching the first anime, I thought Kyo was going to be my absolute favorite character. I knew he would be the angry boi who was soft inside and probably had a tragic backstory™ that made him act the way he did and I am a sucker for those types of characters. And I love Kyo, I really do, specially when we find out more about his struggles and past. The exclusion he felt throughout his life for being the cat, the abandonment, feeling like he had no one and was ready to die because he didn't have any source of genuine happiness (well, apart from Kazuma ya know but stillll). Then he finds Tohru, the girl he promised to protect, the one that reminded him of the woman that helped him out all those years ago and I just.... poetic cinema at its finest. Kyo and Tohru make one of my favorite couples and I love how flustered and In absolute l o v e he is with her and Kyo is great man....

2- Yuki Sohma

Nandemonaiya by RADWIMPS - “Crying even when you're happy, Smiling even when you're feeling lonely”

THIS WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS OF MA ENTIRE WEEB CAREER SO EXCUSE WHILE I SCREAM. Yuki Sohma won my heart and entire soul throughout the series. I liked him from the start but he wasn't my favorite favorite at the beginning you know? I thought he was isolated and thats why he didn't have much friends and he was perfect and what not but boi was I wrong and happy about it. I think one of the reasons Yuki is one of my favorite characters in fruits basket is how much I can see myself in him. Having the constant need of perfection while also wanting to connect with others but finding it hard is something I personally struggle with and every time we learned a little bit about his backstory my heart broke. Everything Yuki had to go through, the rejection, the isolation, understanding that you are loved and not a burden, falling in love with someone, finding that figure of a mother/friend he always yearned for.... The complexity of Yuki’s character is astounding and I love my rat boi so so much.... When he joins the student council, finding his little group of friends and opening up to a more carefree and true Yuki, forgiving those around him and going and eye- YuKI IS MY BABY RAT BOI AND STAN HIM OR PERISH FROM HERE ;w;

1- Momiji Sohma 

Eine Kleine by Rachie - “If I were to go through life living just to take somebody else's place, Then I would rather have been born as a pebble, living out my peaceful days “

*Clears throat* *trumpets sounds intensify* *stands on podium* I LOVE MOMIJI SOHMA WITH ALL MY HEART AND HE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. Thats it. Thats what I want you to get out of this post. I don't know if this is maybe an unpopular opinion-ish but Momiji’s backstory of his mother rejecting him, saying awful things, him having to accept being forgotten by his mother and sister whom he loved, not even being able to live with his family, is one of the most heartbreaking ones of fruits basket. Maybe its like what I said with Hiro and I am a sucker for big brothers that love their families, the sad smile of Momiji, my baby, angel, perfection when he sees his family and not being able to be with them, him loving Tohru but letting her go and be with Kyo because its her happiness that matters to him and I am-..... The selflessness of Momiji and how much of a sweetheart he is, his heart of gold and always being there for those around him, that moment where Akito was looking for Tohru and he got hurt trying to defend her.... Momiji is one of my all time favorite characters. He is a precious bean and I will never not shut up about my love for ma boi <333

Anyways that was long and ramble but I just needed to shout this somewhere because I've been missing they //rip

[legion1993]

Weddings are Magical Moments

AN: this is part 3 and probably final part to this series… written in compilation with @icantlivewithyou‘s writting challenge. i hope this concludes the series nicely.  really really really super sorry this was late... life got really busy and i found i could not think of the ending... again super sorry about the late entry... hope this concludes nicely.

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Reader

Prompt #43 “How did i manage to get the most beautiful girl in the world?”

summery: surprise!!!!

masterlist

~summer just after graduation~

the summer consisted of you and Draco finishing getting your apartment set up… it was a messy process, but the photos from graduation now hung on your walls, you didnt use magic to finish setting up your apartment except to reach the high stuff… 

Draco: “i can’t believe we defeated the dark forces and graduated all in the short course of a year… now we have started making this place more homey… but when do we want to do the most important task…”

you turned your attention on Draco as you went over to sit on his lap, wrapping your arms around his neck allowing your noses to collide… 

YN: “and which task is that love?”

Draco: “telling your family… any plans to see then this summer?”

YN: “no but im sure they wouldnt mind if i came for a visit…”

Draco: “what do you think if we went to see them in a few weeks? i mean we could spend about 2 weeks with them and then we will make sure to break the news of our relationship status during those 2 weeks. i just hope its alot smoother than telling everyone else.”

YN: “well if it helps babe, we will leave in a few hours, i am magically packing our things as we speak… if i know my parents and i do, they will bring over all the family that they can get in touch with once we tell them of the engagement. trust me, my family has part scottish and part spanish heritage so its gonna be alot of partying… are you sure you can handle that…”

Draco could only laugh at the thought of what meeting the family would mean… but he was excited by the opportunity. 

Draco: “as long as we are together we will be able to conquer anything. now lets get this show on the road… where do your parents live..”

you had to smile, you had to take a deep breath before revealing your hometown… cause it wasnt the london house that you would stay in every summer with your uncle and aunt… it was elsewhere that your parents mostly lived..

YN: “barcelona… they live in barcelona…”

Draco: “can we get there by train?”

you nod your head and smile, you knew his little tricks, you knew how Draco’s mind worked, though you both had agreed to wait till you were properly married, this didnt mean you both couldnt make out passionately…

you felt his lips graze your neck, your only thought in that moment was of the bliss you felt with each of his kisses. after a very passionate make out session you both grabbed your bags, hopped a taxi all the way to the train station. 

you approached the ticket agent who was nice enough to tell you the time your train would depart, arrive, and even book you guys a ride once there… you both were grateful. 

you both went to wait for the train, you decided to wander into the gift shop… Draco seemingly followed you, you were so lost in your own little daze that you didnt see Draco buying a small bracelet and necklace set for you… 

you went to the counter to spot Draco near papers and magazines. you chose a nice plain gold chain for your fiance. you hid it in your pocket when he met your gaze. 

Draco: “hey love ready to go meet our train?”

YN: “of course. lets go…”

you and Draco hand in hand with your luggage walked over to the train platform… the ride was gonna be 6 hours and 30 mins long. you and Draco would use that time to take a nap and figure out how you guys would tell you parents about the engagement.

the train arrived and was unloaded, your only hope was that with your soon to be family reunion that your parents would be totally understanding about why you hadnt brought Draco home sooner.

you and Draco found your own private stall, your own private stall in the 1st class car, you really get what you pay for… this was sure to make the ride more comfortable. you watched as Draco placed your luggage in the over head storage compartments and took his seat beside you. 

the train was loaded and ready to go in 15 minutes. lots of people, lots of background noise that was drowned out with a sound proofing spell… the only sound you both would be able to hear was the ticket man coming round to check the tickets. 

but before that would happen, you were staring out the window lost in thought. 

Draco: “Love… are you okay?”

you snapped out of it at the feeling of your fiance’s hands on your own.

YN: “of course i’m just trying to figure out the best way with which to approach my parents about the engagement.”

Draco: “come on love, lean into me we will sleep on it, if the ticket checker comes around our magic will put the tickets in the box, they are sitting on the inner window of the door with a do not disturb on the door nob. the ticket man wont come in but he will do the check of the tickets from the look on the door. now lean into me love, we will do the best thinking while we dream.”

you did as Draco suggested, it was amazing how soothing the movement of the train could be, well it was a soothing 4 hours of rest till the train stopped at one of the stations along the route… this was the kind of layover thing that you really didnt expect… but you stirred and looked up at Draco who was still fast asleep.

you moved slightly and smiled as you exited your cabin heading for the washroom. your only hope was to get there and back before Draco would wake up…

you made it to the washroom and did what you wanted to do, before heading back you stopped at the snack cart picking up a small treat for the love of your life and heading back to your cabin. 

you entered to find Draco looking around having just woken up…  his hair a mess, his eyes barely open, you shut the door and went back to his embrace… 

Draco (sleepily): “what time is it?”

YN: “shh go back to sleep love we still have 2 hours till arrival… we will arrive soon! im still here just wrap your arms round me love, we will arrive soon! you will need all the energy and rest you can get before you meet my parents.”

Draco was already holding you from the moment you started talking, but he had passed out short moments ago… all you could think was how you were so lucky… but there it was you felt it, you felt a dark energy enter the train. 

you weren’t sure about what was actually happening, but you ignored the energy, you had no idea about what was about to transpire… you had no idea that someone from your past would soon make an appearance. 

Draco woke up an hour later, you decided that it was time to tell him the rest of the truth. 

Draco: “whats wrong love? you look more worried than before…”

YN: “i feel a presence, a force that i havent felt since before my years at Hogwarts. before i got my acceptance letter to hogwarts, my parents had arranged for me to marry another magic being, a young wizard who was always kind of a creep. last time i ever saw him was the day he tried to rape me… but the last thing i heard he had been told to appear before the ministry for use of the dark arts… but he had been cursing my name in front of the ministry… my parents after that stopped the arrangement, but everywhere i went for a while i felt this dark energy, this energy is the same kind i felt only but an hour ago… Draco what if he is here, what if he is hunting me…”

Draco: “babe, its okay if anyone with so much as a small bit of dark energy gets within 5 feet of you, i’ll fight by your side as i have now sworn to always do… do not forget we are the ones now engaged to be married. we are the ones that defeated the dark powers invading our school, we are the new professors at Hogwarts school… we have the power of love on our side, as long as we are together nothing bad will go wrong… now once we get to barcelona we will find our way to your parents place. then we will be safe…”

YN: “i hope your right babe…”

~arrival in Barcelona, Meeting the parents~

you and Draco hear the station name in both english and spanish, then you both grab your bags and get off the train… you knew the way home so you decided to hail a bicycle taxi which conversation goes like this.

Taxi Driver: “where to guys?”

YN: “YLN manor…”

Taxi Driver: “how do you know the YLNs?”

YN: “i’m their daughter…”

the driver immediately cut all the cost of the ride…

taxi driver: “my apoligies mi’lady i’ll cover the cost of the ride, dont worry about a thing you and your man just relax and enjoy the ride…”

YN: “dont worry about it, it will always be my pleasure to use your services…”

Taxi driver: “you honor me with your presence…”

the driver started driving, it was a very nice scenic ride, you were very happy to be home, you were also very nervous to introduce Draco to your parents. but showing him the way to your spanish home, something about this made things feel right…

Draco: “this is a breath taking sight, but not as breath taking as the first time i saw you…”

YN: “it is beautiful, i cant wait to give you the entensive tour of the grounds… the rose garden, the rest of the house, the maze, my room!”

Draco: “your family sounds loaded… why do you not take advantage of it?”

YN: “cause i like being independant… now lets relax and enjoy the barcelona sights…”

the ride lasted another 30 minutes before arriving outside the gates of your property, you and Draco got off the cart pulling off your luggage turning to the taxi driver… you hand him a $15 tip, he looks at you confused..

YN: “keep it you deserve it… trust me your only the best taxi driver ive ever had bring me up here… thank you so much for all you do…”

the taxi driver went on his way grateful for the kindness shown, you went to the intercom and pressed the call button…

helen: “yes?”

YN: “i’m here to see the lord and lady of the house…”

Helen: “ill let you inside…”

the gates open, you and Draco walk through the gate, you wait to make sure it closes behind you guys before continuing your walk to the door… the door doesnt open right away but you wondered if anyone would even recognize you… 

the door opened at your steps, joys of a magical house… you and Draco entered and the sounds of 2 sets of footsteps echoed growing closer and closer… till you heard your name being called…

Sophie (mom): “YN, YN darling is that you?”

Brandon (dad): “is that my little girl?”

YN: “mom, Dad it is me…”

your mom and dad immediately surrounded you with hugs and love… Draco stood there and let you have a few moments with your parents… then the real conversation began…

You backed out of your parents embrace and into the open embrace of Draco…

YN: “mom, dad this is Draco Malfoy… he is my man…”

Draco: “it is an honor to meet the people who brought such an amazing woman into the world and allowed her to go to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry…”

Sophie (mom): “its an honor to meet you Draco… my name is Sophie…”

Brandon: “its an honor to meet the man who seems to have won the heart of my charming daughter… my name is Brandon… come on in you guys… why didn’t you let us know you were coming pumpkin…”

YN: “i wanted to surprise you guys, i knew you guys were here cause i did a magical check-in… you are gonna love hearing about my final year… this is gonna be one crazy story, but it also leads into my starting to date Draco…”

Sophie (mom): “well lets have Helen take your bags to one guest room and we will have a nice sit down in the living room…”

you and draco follow your parents to the living room…

YN: “place looks the same still… i missed it here…”

Sophie(mom): “and we missed having you here… now you appear and dont even write… like this is crazy… and you show up now with a guy! please darling please explain…”

you and Draco sat on the love seat across from your parents as you began to explain in a little bit of detail the story of what happened and how you met Draco…

YN: “well the story goes like this: me and Draco started at Hogwarts at the same time, he was in my year… we had this kind of rivalry especially in quiddich but thats besides the point… the rivalry was famous, it did wonders for the schools publicity… but during our 3rd year i started being a magic tutor, it was mostly slytherins that needed the help, by the way, that is what house Draco belonged to… but he started to be gentler once i started tutoring him. we started growing closer but didnt admit our feelings till 2 years ago, we hid from public eye ever chance we got to steal a few moments alone… there was a kick our birthdays are within a week of eachother… it was a kick in the pants when the summer before graduating year showed great promise, we had just turned 18 yay for us… we met in hogsmede great minds think alike so we had a butterbeer together but his father and some followers of voldemort showed up at the three broomsticks, it was a scary situation… we booked it out of there and to the alleyway behind grand central station in london… and the feelings came out, from there on we snuck around alot more, before then it had only been the moments before and after quidditch and during the summer, and the moments during the tutoring sessions… the school year started with a moment in the shared slytherin/ravenclaw quidditch captains tent… it was the only lone moment before the school was under attack, we were summoned as house prefecs to the great hall where we were told that the dark forces were entering the school ground, trying to break down the barrier, voldemort and his forces invaded the school, no students were harmed, many teachers were hurt, we only had 2 casualties but voldemort got vanquished but not before voldemort killed Dumbledore… there was only so much that people could do… but after the order of the phoenix and the ministry got there Draco’s parents were disarmed by me and Draco but then were arrested by the order… the school which was semi-destroyed got repaired… the year went on as normal as could be… we didnt loose any students… Professor McGonigal stepped up as the headmistress of the school, i stepped into her position for the classes that she taught that wasnt mine… but Draco stepped in to help fill the position of wherever he could be helpful…”

you had to take a breather, you had basically been taking none stop… tears had been spilling, Draco’s hands on your own as he took over speaking…

Draco: “Sophie and Brandon, during the beginning of the battling i got up to address the school, kind of a we will survive this mess type of speech… and i confessed to the entire school of my feelings for your daughter… naturally the school was amazed but a little shocked, it became the next chapter in our love story… sir, madame, i know that she has already said yes but i still want to ask your permission will you guys allow me the honor of having your daughter’s hand in marriage?”

your parents no sooner had shocked looks on their faces, but there are many ways this could go, your mother now had a look of ‘omg yay!’… your father had just a plain look of ‘omg’… 

Sophie (mom): “i give my blessing… Brandon? what do you think?”

Brandon (dad): “well this is certainly quite the ordeal that you guys have been through, but love builds up through even the smallest things, you know when your mother and i met we were from different houses too… love takes time to bloom into a force more powerful than anything… i too give my blessing on this union… so you guys got engaged at school, during the battle… what a time to do that… but still i suppose live in the now is still a thing… congratulations daughter may your years live long and prosper…”

~celebrate with a healthy horse race~

your father snapped his fingers and champange appeared in all of your hands…

Brandon (dad): “Draco i havent known you very long and i look forward to the day i do, but i have observed how you are around my daughter and i happily approve this union… how are you both feeling?”

You and Draco looked at eachother and smiled lightly…

YN: “we slept on the train ride over, we are pretty good right now… do you guys still have the barn?”

Brandon (dad): “ah my little girl wants to race me again?”

YN: “oh dad when are you gonna learn that you will never beat me?”

Brandon (dad): “apparently never… shall we daughter?”

You got up and followed his gesture with Draco and your mother on your heals…

YN: “of course father!”

arriving at the barn you entered to find your star horse munching on her hay… but when you walked in and called her name she looked at you and let out a happy neigh… 

YN: “hey girl, i missed you too… Draco come meet my baby…”

Draco came up beside you as you stroked your horses nose…

YN: “draco, meet Lyla… Lyla this is my Fiance Draco…”

Lyla approached Draco and nudged his hand, he started to pat her nose… you smiled lightly, you were so hopeful that everything would work the way you wanted it to during this race… like so many times before you would beat your father in the maze race… the hardest track with which to race… 

Sophie (mom): “i have an idea how bout we go in pairs for this race… i go with your father and Draco can go obviously with you YN honey… what do the competitors think?”

you and your father exchanged a look and then turned back to your horses…

Brandon (dad): “sounds fine to me…”

YN: “lets see how well this goes… same rules as usual Dad?”

Brandon (dad): “wands are only for emergency use, this is purely relying on pure riding skill only… Draco, better watch closely for one day you might have to race against me in a singles match…”

Draco: “i look forward to that day…”

you finished grooming your horse and putting on the sattle… then you slid into your riding boots… 

YN: “have you ridden before draco?”

Draco: “a few times, not as often as you it seems… but no matter, we will have a nice healthy race…”

YN: “its not all fun and games… its also not a nice healthy race either… its a vital race that happens at least once every 1-2 years… this is just a little competition between father and daughter, we dubbed it a tradition… but my goal is to remain champion… it gives me sweet perks throughout the year… like little gifts appearing around me, within my things etc… its really sweet…”

Draco came up and gave you a kiss on your forehead, your only trait wrong was your inner demons… you had been feeling them more and more since arriving back on spanish soil… 

Draco felt you shudder beneath his embrace and pulled your chin to face him… 

Draco: “your trembling love… are you sure your up to this?”

YN: “of course… just dont let me fall if i start to…”

Draco: “never… now get up there and lets show your parents what a winning team looks like.”

you got on Lyla first, then helped Draco get on behind you… Your father and mother did the same thing… it was a nightmare… you had no idea how you were supposed to explain your feelings…

Brandon(dad): “lets make this interesting… winning couple gets to have our nicest private room in the barcelona hot spring resort for 2 nights… its gonna be a nice weekend getaway for the people who win that… now  does that sound fair?”

YN: “yes on your mark…”

Brandon (dad): “get set…”

YN: “go…”

you and Lyla took off, Draco holding on as tight as possible… he smiled as you let out a war cry that sounded like something out of hercules legendary journeys or something… (***lol one of my current watchlist***)

anyway, your father and mother were not far behind but you rounded the first corner, and took off at high speeds…

Draco: “hey love, this is beautiful, lets take a walk through here later…”

YN: “you think its beautiful now, wait till nightfall its even prettier…”

Draco started kissing your neck gently, you keep your speed increasing not letting up till the entrance to the maze, where as per tradition you slowed down a bit as to not get hurt or run into anything…

Draco: “this is a-maze-ing!!!!”

You started to giggle, but then silenced your self…

YN: “be extra careful with your vocal tones this maze can send echo’d vibrations of vocals if they are too loud… this route is the one i take its clearly marked with symbols only to be seen by my magic’s eye, my father did the same thing… it is how we trained our horses on which path to take…”

Draco: “understandable… but as long as we are speaking calmly and quietly, what kind of wedding do we want?”

you were not startled but a little surprised at the question…

YN: “something obviously to reflect who we are… how do you feel about a wedding at hogwarts just before the students leave on christmas break?”

Draco: “of course we could use the great hall, all the students, teachers and guests can attend the great hall is probably one of the biggest spaces in the entire school.”

YN: “this will probably shock my parents, but i know there will be some people from my family that will not agree with us on where we decide to hold our wedding but we can count on one thing, that is my parents insatiable appetite for trying to over help with everything…”

Draco: “control freaks eh…”

You nod as the exit to the maze comes into view… you clicked your tongue and felt the wind blow… you knew that your parents were no longer far behind… you and Draco made it out of the maze this sent a shockwave to your parents… your father knew instantly that you had made it out of the maze, but he also knew he had to follow the rules..

Brandon: “Sophie do you think our little girl is gonna be okay? i mean i can see the change but i’m not sure what to entirely make of it…”

Sophie: “well she does seem happy and they do look good together. she wouldnt have brought him home unless she was absolutely sure…”

Brandon: “should we tell her?”

Sophie: “soon we just got her back under our roof, but if we dont tell her before they leave our sted, he will surely come for her…”

Brandon: “do you really think he will, i mean he hasnt set foot back on our property since that day…” 

Sophie: “look dear the exit, hurry lets catch up to our daughter and future son-in-law…”

you and Draco were almost half way round the final bend when you felt a shockwave, your father let out his war cry, it made you look back, you urged Lyla to go faster, as you finished your final round of the hill…

you stood at the top waiting till your father and mother reached the mid way point on the hill, before you urged Lyla in a charge motion with which to pass your parents on their assent of the hill… that is exactly what happened… the look on your father’s face was priceless, works every time… 

Draco: “that was some hardcore stare down…”

YN: “happens every single time we race.. its nothing new… just a little healthy shock your parents, type thing.. now lets win that trip, it will be a nice stay before we head back… plus i was hoping to take you there…”

Draco: “some nice relaxing fun with my fiance sounds like a momentous occasion, was your dad acting a little weird?”

You turned slightly to look at Draco as you both ducked beneath the apple trees…

YN: “you noticed that too… i thought it was just me that noticed…”

Draco: “i hope he doesnt have alterier motives for putting that getaway as the reward…”

you suddenly had to think about this, you were so sure that something had been wrong from the moment your father upped the race stakes… you had never heard him talk that way before…

another shockwave hit, this time it wasnt from the race… you stopped lyla and turned around…

YN: “somethings wrong…”

Draco: “i feel it too… your horse and grounds mi’lady, what do we do?”

YN: “take out your wand and be ready to shoot anything that doesnt look like what we have just ridden through…”

you also drew your wand out of your boot, pulling the reigns Lyla turned around and spoke…

Lyla: “whats wrong? i thought this was a race why are we turning around…”

Draco: “love your horse is talking…”

YN: “did i forget to mention that? oops… yes Lyla something is wrong we just arent sure what just nice and steady down the path Lyla we dont know whats wrong yet…”

Lyla started slowly back down the trail, you and Draco keeping your eyes open for anything suspicious…  you both then heard it, the distant sound of spells being cast… 

you urged Lyla to go faster, you and Draco with your wands ready cast your disarming charm at the same time to the 2 men standing over your parents… you both then got off your horse and stood with wands ready.

YN: “turn around slowly and back away from my parents…”

the 2 guys turned slowly but only one of them spoke…

Trevor: “its good to see you again YN… i see you have returned from school… long time no see…”

YN: “Trevor… back away from my parents.. leave this property before i send you back to the ministry dungeon for obstruction of rules…”

Trevor: “relax i heard you were back in town i figured we should talk…”

YN: “back away from my parents then talk quickly… then ill let my fiance decide what happens to you after that…”

Trevor and his friend now backing away from your parents as they got off the ground and poofed back to the house… you and Draco now stood blocked them from being able to approach the house. 

Trevor: “i gather that the twit beside you is your fiance…”

Draco: “who are you calling a twit asshole…”

Trevor: “YN this guy has a mouth to him… you really picked a charmer… now how bout you guys let us inside and we wont hurt you both…”

Draco: “hey buddy back off, the lady said speak and then let me decide what to do with you…”

You were appauled that he would dare to show his face after all those years ago when he tried to rape you… but he would never get that far this time not with Draco still guarding you…

YN: “Trevor you dare to show your face here after all the pain and turmoil that you pretty well caused me… you got some nerve… Draco dispose of them…”

Draco: “with pleasure my love… then we shall go see if your parents are alright…”

Draco and Trevor now at odds, you were kinda turned on by Draco’s sudden take on a hero verses jealous villain type thing… it was the moment where the knight would keep the princess behind him and face off with the person who was trying to get at her… this case that was true..

Draco: “you leave her be, leave now and i wont defy every bone in my body telling me not to kill you right now…”

Trevor: “you know i would leave but im starting to get really turned on by how hot she looks today, cowering behind you, the way her eyes sparkle in the light of the sun…”

Draco (spell casting): “Sectumsempra”

you watched in delightful horror as Draco now seeming to be enjoying his new magical freedom, aimed that at Trevor… as graduates and full fledged wizards you guys could do magic as often as you like, just not in front of muggles. 

Trevor: “you little rat… Clyde get him…”

Clyde (spell casting): “Levicorpus”

you slowed time a bit and stepped right in front of Draco, unfroze time and let the spell hit you. you hung upside down, and you floated away from the fight… you were so scared, but watched intently as the next spell was cast…

Draco: “Nox”

the field and town went dark… then Draco helped set you back on your feet you both started running, you ran towards the maze… only you knew the way through… out of your family, only you were crazy enough to go into the maze in the dark. 

YN: “remember speak calmly… the walls still send echoes… ugh why is he… wait a minute… thats it…”

 you pulled out your phone and send a 911 Barcelona home to the order… you one response of on way… you were just supposed to hold out till they got there… within seconds you and draco were out of the maze… you guys made your way towards the barn… 

there you guys found Remus…

remus: “whats wrong?”

YN: “he is here, somehow he got out of azkaban… he had been in prison for the last 4 years, but thats because he had tried to rape me, my parents banished him from the grounds, ministry guards took him away i went to hogwarts that fall as though the incident hadnt happened. there were so many things wrong that school year, someone very special told me that he believed in all i could be, told me to believe in myself that things would get better. you know what i believed him, look at where i ended up. the way that life has worked out for me so far is amazing, if not for Draco’s encouragement i would have given up hope a long time ago… but this guy and his pal are dangerous… they need to be put away for a long long time… forever would be nice…”

Remus: “well i have order members searching the ground and Nymphadora is inside with your parents YN, she is explaining things to them as well as protecting them. my job is to stay close to you guys and hit these guys head on…”

YN: “don’t underestimate them, especially the one who calls himself trevor… that scumbag walked away from the sectumsepra… i was sure that he was done for… but that was not the case sadly… last time we saw them was just outside the maze… they followed us in to the maze i know that place like the back of my hand but for those guys odds are they are still in there… if you can tell the order members in the field to surround the maze and be wand ready ill lower the maze… its a simple spell that my parents use to mow the grass in the maze.”

once you had finished speaking Remus ushered you and Draco to the side out of direct view of the entrance to the barn… as footsteps came up the path, you were not sure of who was coming down the path but there was more than one set of steps coming. 

you huddled into Draco who was leaning against the wall… you then realized that there was no light in the barn…

YN: “alohamora..”

the barn lit up as the group of 6 people entered the barn, 4 order members 2 criminals. you breathed a sigh of relief. this was your downfall, you felt a pull away from Draco but as always you fought it. 

Trevor: “you little bitch, you and your skeeving little fiance are gonna pay dearly for this… we are the innocent not them…”

Remus: “silence, you evil skum, order take them to the ministry im sure they are missing some prisoners. ill follow shortly.”

the 6 people disappeared, Remus came over to you and Draco…

Remus: “children i expect to see both of you at the ministry/teachers luncheon the last saturday before school starts…”

Draco: “of course wouldnt miss it…”

YN: “thank you for coming to help with this… ive already sent a file on trevor to the minister they are not going anywhere… thank you again Remus…”

with that Nymphadora comes up beside Remus but not before giving you a homely embracing hug…

Nymphadora: “don’t worry about anything YN you and Draco will live a happy life together. be the greatest power couple to live. dont live according to what your parents have set for examples. make your own examples control your own destinies.”

YN: “i believe we still have a rematch in dueling to do… N..”

Nymphadora: “of course we do and we will get to it soon! once the ministry and the order stop being so hectic.”

you smiled and let her go back to Remus watching as they both disappeared. you went to Lyla and de saddled her and gave her a fresh bale of hay and a few carrots…

Draco: “don’t worry love those creeps will stay put this time… now lets get out of this night air as beautiful as it is, its a little chilly. lets go inside love.”

you and Draco hand in hand walk back towards the house, entering inside you both take off your shoes and head over to the kitchen… you wave your wand and 2 cups of hot chocolate were made… 

you shivered as you took off your sweater, Draco didnt shiver at all he also was dressed better than you…

Draco: “your shivering love, here go sit in the living room, ill bring the drinks.”

you went to sit in the living room, you could hear your parents who were upstairs in their room… it had been a trying day, quite frankly you were exhausted, you were sure that if Draco was smart he wouldnt want to marry into the family…

Draco came over a few moments later and set the hot chocolate on the table. he went to the couch and grabbed a blanket bringing it over to where you and he would be sitting. he opens the blanket and places it around his shoulders making sure that there was enough leyway to wrap you in it as well.. 

Draco: “are you gonna be okay?”

YN: “are you sure you still want to marry me after what just happened?”

Draco pulled you to lay your head in his lap the blanket enchanted by the love emitting off you and Draco fit itself around you guys to keep you both warm. 

Draco: “why would you say that… YN as far as i’m concerned your the best part of everything that i am. i wouldnt be the man i am today if not for you. why would you think i wouldnt want to marry you?”

YN: “i saw how you looked when you saw trevor and me exchange glares and words. you looked like…”

Draco: “like any guy would who just wants to protect his girl from a slimey self absorbed dick head. babe i would marry you right now if it was do-able. but we both know we have people who are waiting for us to say the word on the wedding date and location… i wouldnt trade what we have for anything. now just relax, when your ready we will go upstairs and cuddle like we normally would.”

you lay there in his lap and made a feble attempt to put those horrible thoughts of the events that took place out of your head. Draco kept petting your hair, you kept making sure to keep your thoughts pure and simple… you then pulled out your wand and started to design the Save the Date cards…

Draco watched you do this, he was impressed with the design, once finished you both stared at it with intent looks… 

Draco: “so does this mean we are officially sending these out…”

YN: “i mean the stationary will be better designed by magic and easier to replicate too… everything else can be hand picked no magic necessary… but the stationary will be cheaper and better quality if we do it ourselves with magic.”

Draco: “r u ready to go upstairs love?”

you nod leaving the design on the table… there are many things in this world that you feel extremely comfortable with but the way Draco had you sit up removing the blanket as he picked you up in a craddle and you guys made your way upstairs.

you pointed the way to your room, arriving inside you guys saw your bags on the chair and found your room hadn’t been changed… Draco put you back on your feet and shut the door. 

Draco: “looks like you live better here than at the paris house…”

YN: “not really, kinda but not really… i consider home not by what i have but where my heart is… but you have my heart so my home is now where you are.”

Draco:  “How did i manage to get the most beautiful girl in the world?”

YN: “you simply were a little terrible at school.”

Draco shut the door and playfully stalked towards you… 

Draco: “you know i can’t wait will we get married, i cant wait to see all of you, to be able to have all of you… to be able to say that i am no longer pure… to say that i gave myself to the girl of my dreams as she has given herself to me…”

YN: “draco darling that sounds like seduction in your vocal tones…”

Draco: “then lets live the passion we felt that day 2 weeks before the start of our final year.”

you snapped your fingers making you and Draco shift into your nightware… it was then like the night you guys spent together in london, making out, not caring, not stopping. 

that was the best sleep you had since well that night in london. you and Draco didnt care what time you fell asleep, as long as you both woke the next morning in eachothers embrace that was what truly mattered.

~*time jump* the rest of your stay with your parents in barcelona was fantastic, you and draco celebrated your engagement with a meet ‘n’ greet of the rest of your family… the dancing food music it was alot to take in. by the end of the 2 weeks you guys were ready to get back to your normal lives. as luck would have it when you both got back your teachers owls arrived at the same time. you both decided in a few weeks you would make a trip to diagon alley to do some shopping… and that is where we pick up our story…*~

you both flu power to diagon alley, you guys arrive and start doing your together and individual shops. it was apart of your tradition. it was alot more aparent now than ever the wizarding community didn’t care that you and Draco were together.

YN: “okay how bout we finish the shopping here then we look and see what the wizarding community has for wedding stuff… cause obviously we want some of our lives as wizards in the wedding right.”

Draco: “what about the wedding bands we could have the specially crafted… my father always used this store for all his accessory needs. come along.”

Draco leads you down to the lower side of the alley, you both looking around feeling many eyes on you. but you both stopped before entering the jeweller… 

YN: “why dont we go in love?”

Draco: “cause this man who runs this store was a follower of voldemort.. he was never really apart of anything but he was a low key death eater… i know cause he was often at family gatherings. we have to be very very careful… let me do most of the talking… just stay attached to my arm and be quiet unless spoken too.. i say this for your protection and mine love, not to be mean…”

you nod knowing that if Draco was right and he usually was this man could be especially dangerous. you clung to the arm of your fiance as you both walked inside. within 5 seconds of entering you both were approached by a man who looked to be in his mid to late 40′s maybe a bit older… 

Henry: “Draco, what a plesent surprise, come without your parents. havent seen them for ages how are they…”

Draco: “on their way to a ministry trial… they caused trouble at hogwarts tried to kill me and my fiance here, and attacked the school with voldemort who is now dead, voldemort killed dumbledore and now me along with my gorgeous fiance happen to be in town for some wedding browsing and school prep as we are 2 of the newest hogwarts professors.”

Henry looked shocked… like he had heard nothing about this… 

Henry: “i’m so sorry sir, i had no idea any of this had taken place. now what brings you both into my fine establishment this fine afternoon.”

Draco: “can we place the order for our wedding bands please.?”

Henry: “whats the date of your wedding sir?”

Draco: “december 20, 2020…”

Henry: “why start so early for the wedding collecting?”

Draco: “cause it will save us time in the long run. now can you help us or not?”

Henry: “of course if you guys don’t mind filling out some paper work for the bands and the engravings if any…”

draco nodded Henry went to grab the paperwork, you left Draco to go sit down at the table, you both knew that out of the 2 of you, your writing was the most legible.

Henry re appeared a few moments later with paper work. he placed it on the table in front of you…

Henry: “ive marked everything thats essential to the ring process… ive also marked the spots that need signatures or initials. please feel free to fill out the essential parts plus more if you wish. as much detail as possible when describing what you want done with the rings. please do not hesitate to ask questions.”

Draco sits beside you as you start filling out the form. you inputted as much information as possible, Draco simply drapped his arm around your shoulder as he leaned back in his seat. 

within 5 minutes you were just signing it for the final time… 

YN: “babe sign and initial where i did it is apparent that we both sign and initial this document.”

Draco did so, then brought the document to Henry… who looked it over very carefully, Draco brought you with him to the counter where Henry stood.

Henry: “well it appears everything is in order… how will you guys be paying today…”

Draco: “put it on my new personal tab as i no longer live at home.”

Henry: “very well Mr. Malfoy we will see you in a year…”

you and draco left the store in a happy happy daze, neither of you really caring too much about what the cost would be, this wedding was yours and you both intended to not let any superstition or anything like money stand in the way of having what you both wanted this wedding to be.

you and draco finished your rounds and went home. it was gonna be a long 2 weeks  to finish getting ready and lesson prep for school. you had to prepare what you would teach your students as did Draco… 

Drawing up lesson plans included having some fun mock-dueling. it was a great way to keep eachother on your toes. you both also happened to be the leaders of the schools dueling club. 

Draco: “lets drift into a world thats entirely our own as we binge watch random disney movies.”

~*you guys spent the next week and a half packing and watching iconic disney classics… Draco loved how you would sing every single song, every verse every word… he loved your voice, he loved listening to you sing. the week and a half flew by and soon it was time to travel to london to spend a few days with the order and the ministry. these next few days would include signing a few legal documents, getting the ministries blessing to marry, the orders blessing to marry and attending the teachers/ministry/order dinner before the start of school. the dinner went well, everyone made a toast to you and Draco calling you the heroes of hogwarts, swearing you guys in as professors, and socializing. then it was the day to board the train to hogwarts. of course teachers have to arrive earlier than students. duh… thats how it always works. taking the teachers train then the boats made you guys feel nostolgic, thinking of your first day of your first year at Hogwarts. but this time it was different. you both knew what to expect… or did you…*~

you guys stepped off the boats and walked up the hill to the entrance hall… using your wands you sent your luggage to your room, changing into your professor robes… you guys went to meet the teachers in the great hall… 

Minerva: “Draco, YN welcome back to Hogwarts, i hope you guys enjoy your first year as professors, this year we have taken precautions for any unexpected thing that could happen or befall the school. a repeat of last year will never ever happen again… the students arrive in  a few hours and then we will make our enviroment a magical experience. now teachers i invite you all to go set up your classrooms ill make the announcement when the students arrive.”

You and Draco remained behind to speak a few moments with Minerva… 

Minerva: “i have a special request for you both to have something formal on tonight.. the dinner is gonna be one to harold and don’t worry everyone will be here to witness…”

YN: “what exactly is harolding this evening Minerva?”

Minerva: “sorry dear its a surprise now off you both go, set up your classrooms, press your evening wear, make sure of your hearts and prepare speeches for tonight as well… it will be a momentous occasion.”

you and Draco walk off towards the hallway containing your classrooms. first stopping at yours… you entered looking around the room and thinking about design as you had done from the day you guys got these jobs… you guys had done design ideas for your classrooms… 

YN: “so i dont really want to change too much as i said, i still want to feel like i did when i taught here during graduating year… Draco i dont know which robe to wear tonight… she said formal, what the hell are we going to wear…”

Draco: “dont worry love, we will figure that out after we decorate our classrooms… now decorate your classroom love, something that reflects you and your teaching style.”

You walk into the center point of your classroom and close your eyes, you open your arms to the sides and the classroom transforms to a teal color, the stone straightens up the desks change to a navy color. your desk changes to a emerald green, with a ravenclaw logo on it… 

Draco came up behind you, he made sure to wrap his arms around your waist with a clear view on everything. 

YN: “just tell me its awful or too much and ill change it…”

Draco: “its hot…”

YN: “that also sounds like a heeping wad of seduction in your voice. just you wait till our wedding night, it will be a romantic occasion… though once we start we might not want to stop.”

Draco and you could only laugh as you both exited your classroom and headed for the D.A.T.D.A classroom (defense against the dark arts)… ~(*yes i had to abreviate but i also put what it means cause its fun!*)~

Draco and You walked in and remembered instantly your first official duel, it happened right here in the classroom under the guidance of RJ it was a exercise to see a few students skill levels. this was also where both you and Draco admitted to your individual selves of your feelings for the other. now here you guys are preparing for a wedding, your wedding.

Draco: “i know i need to make a choice so im just going to close my eyes and let the magic happen.”

You watched as Draco’s room turned into like minded shades of teal emerald green and black… it was a very draco like room. you spun around a bit and smiled… 

Draco: “that is much better more me and me when im with you.”

YN: “lets now go spend some time setting up our quarters, maybe have a small makeout session before the announcement of the students arrival is made…”

Draco: “if you were my wife already we would be making a baby by now…”

YN: “i’m surprised Draco Malfoy wants children…”

Draco: “of course i do now hold on tight… ill teleport us there…”

you hold onto Draco as he sends both of you to your new quarters. the shared room approved by the ministry, the school board and the order. you and Draco now had some time alone, finally being back at Hogwarts and not having to hide or sneak around.. 

After a few hours, the sun was finally setting  you and draco decided to find your outfits for the evenings festivities. 

Draco: “wear this one love, it’s as formal & professor like as anything else in your closet…”

draco used his wand to put the dress on you, you took your wand and used it to Bring out Draco’s suit…

YN: “wear this one babe, it will be especially handsome on you.”

Draco: “babe we will look amazing, now are you gonna put it on me or do i have to do it myself.”

you pulled out your wand and used it to put the suit on Draco. you both then stood by the mirror and starred at yourselves together all formal.

Draco: “we look like professors now…”

YN: “yes we do…”

Draco then held his arm towards you facing away from the mirror towards the door.

Draco: “shall we go love?”

You took his arm and smiled.

YN: “of course babe!”

you both made your way down to the great hall which was decorated alot fancier than normal… you both thought nothing of it, for you both thought it was just a ploy to make the school seem a bit more cheery…

you walked out to the balcony leaving Draco who was in conversation with Hagrid but noticed quickly of your absense.

Hagrid: “it is gonna be a pleasure workin’ wit you and YN it is gonna be nice to have 2 of the yungins that i have had the pleasure to watch grow into a fine witch and wizard couple. by the way i was routing for both of you from the moment i met you both. i was hoping you would become a couple.”

Draco: “thank you Hagrid, but do you mind if we continue this conversation in a while, im gonna go make sure YN is okay…”

Hagrid: “of course ill se you at the feast!”

Draco leaves Hagrid with a smile and approaches you from behind wrapping his arms around your waist.

Draco: “here come the boats…”

YN: “there seem to be alot of them..”

Draco: “i’m sure that whatever students come through these halls will adore the professors and learn lots like we did…”

YN: “our first day seems like so long ago now…”

Draco: “today is the first day of our forever… now lets just enjoy watching them come in…”

you and Draco now enjoyed the sight of the boats coming in closer, the lamps lighting the sky, soon you both would hear the wonder of the children to walk these halls for the first time.

but the bell sounded saying that the boats had docked and children were walking up, you and Draco went into the great hall, you both sat in the seats you were assigned… you thought that strange as well but didnt question. for there in the room was a very very different seating arrangement, yes you could tell where the houses were sitting but the set up kinda reminded you of a church… 

but that was probably your brain going into decorating over drive, Minerva then stood before the staff…

Minerva: “the students are just lining up outside i hired another staff member as kind of a run around person for the school, she will be helping out in various activities but mostly as the new head of Gryphondor house.  you will see her in a few seconds. but before we open the doors i want to say i hope this year is gonna shine bright… now bring in the students.”

the doors opened, Draco’s hand was on the small of your back both of you watching the students both first years and originals walk in the room… then you saw the person, the person who you were sure would have ended up working for the ministry…

you let out a smile one that you were sure she had also seen… the sorting process began, the memories of you and Draco getting sorted were coming back everything seemed so long ago and yet not so far. 

Draco (in your ear): “no matter what happens you always have people who care for you always and forever.”

that sent a shiver down your spine as did the open speech that Minerva was now giving…

Minerva: “now that the first years have been sorted i have a few things to introduce… the first is we have some staffing additions… i as the transfiguration teacher have become the headmistress of the school, my position has been taken by YN YLN an alumni of the recent school graduation. the position of defense against the dark arts has been filled by Draco Malfoy another alumni of the recent school graduation. the position of Head of Gryphondor house and official class helper and demonstration specialist has now been filled by Hermione Granger another alumni from the recent school graduation year. but before we dive into our beginning of year feast, i have one more surprise. i welcome in now some very special honored guests as well as invite YN and Draco to go open the doors…”

you and Draco go & walk to the doors each of you to each side opening them and watching as ministry, order and family members all started pouring in and filling in the extra seats. both of you were very very very confused… but then you saw them, 2 figures that were smiling and so very familiar… 

YN: “mom, dad…”

you ran straight into the arms of your parents, neither of them lightening up on their embraces of you… they released you to bring you and Draco aside…

Sophie: “have either of you been told anything?”

YN: “no we havent Minerva wouldnt tell us anything… she just said we had to dress formal and that we would never forget this night… whats going on mom…”

Brandon: “Draco i wonder if i might have a word with you alone for a moment…”

Draco placed a kiss to your cheek as he walked off with your dad… this left you with your mother…

YN: “okay mom whats going on?”

Sophie: “we got a letter from Minerva that said she wanted to celebrate a new union tonight… then she told us to stop by the jeweler in diagon alley said she had been told you and Draco had been there, we went there and picked up your rings… does that give you the clue as to what is going on honey…”

thats when it hit you, the people, the decorations, hermione you were sure harry and ron were there too, the seating layout, the carpet coloring, the aisle… you were getting married tonight…

YN: “mom tell me its true… tell me that the biggest day of my life is happening, tell me that i’m about to… OMG my dress is totally the wrong color… wrong style wrong everything… Mom can you come under the cover of the stairs and help me fix my dress please… its totally wrong, had we had fair warning we could have been dressed properly for the occasion…”

Sophie: “now now my dear come on lets get you all ready for this… ill help you just as your father is helping Draco…”

your mother and you went behind the stairs and she started helping you with her powers to design your dress based on what ever you and she had ever discussed… 

meanwhile Brandon and Draco were having a heart to heart…

Brandon: “listen Draco i know your about to marry my little girl and i understand your being nervous you have every right to be, hell i was nervous when i married YN’s mom, don’t worry my boy i’m sure whereever your parents are right now they would be extremely proud deep deep down off the man you have become. now lets change the color of your attire and get you into position…”

Draco: “before i do this i want to say something, i know your opinion of me wasnt very high from the beginning but i also know that without the approval of her Parents YN wouldnt have been as happy as she is today. i thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul for raising such a elegant and talented young woman and allowing me to make her my wife.”

Brandon: “your welcome. now hold still and prepare to be amazed…”

and just like that Draco’s outfit too changed transformed with a flick of Brandon’s wand. both the men walked around and back into the great hall and up the aisle… the doors were then set to close once your mom let out a slight whistle. 

Hermione met your dad and Draco at the alter…

Hermione: “Draco, i know now that my cousin has truly found someone special to call her own for her happiness… im honored to be in the fine presence of my dear uncle once more…”

Brandon: “congratulations Hermione on the new position here at the school… i actually have this favor to ask of you Hermione will you go to the end of the aisle and walk YN up the aisle in my place…”

Hermione nodded her head and popped herself to you… her appearance scared you and your mom…

Hermione: “aunt sophie, ive spoken with your husband and i am instructed to walk my dear cousin down the aisle, you are to join your husband at the end of the aisle.”

Sophie: “i just have one more thing to give YN to hold on to for the ceremony…”

your mom gives you the box containing the magic bound ring… you took it holding it in your hand… your mom kissed you on the cheek and walked back into the great hall whistling as she entered the hall…

the doors closed before you and hermione took your places. 

YN: “for the record, i’m glad your here cuz… i couldnt imagine doing this day without you…”

Hermione: “i couldnt imagine missing this chance to share this day with you…”

YN: “its gonna be exciting to work together…”

Hermione: “we just have to wait for the minister to say a few words first… dont worry we will be able to hear everything…”

~inside the great hall the festivities are just beginning.~

Minerva was settling the crowd, before continuing to speak. 

Minerva: “okay i now invite Cornelius Fudge our Minister of Magic to the podium to begin this wonderous ceremony… and to the happy couple know that the school staff and i are all very very proud of you both for everything your relationship has endured.”

Cornelius comes up to the stage exchanging a brief hug with Minerva and stepped up to the podium before speaking… 

Cornelius: “honored guests, family and friends, students of this magnificent establishment, let us all join together in the celebration of the marriage between Draco Malfoy and YN YLN. this happy couple are alumni’s of the school, now they are ready to be joined in holy matrimony. under the laws which bind us as witches and wizards, we all join together to bind these two in celebration of their love. please rise with me as the bride enters the great hall…”

harmonious music starts playing through the hall and the entryway, there is air caught in your throat, the ground beneath you feels like sinking sand. Hermione basically slows time a bit to help you gather your wits…

Hermione: “girl i know it feels like you cant move or breathe right now but thats just your nerves, everyone gets nervous at one point or another, its apart of life we wouldnt be human if we didnt get nervous. now we will walk you down the aisle to your prince charming and like we have discussed and fantasized about so many times… i’ll not let you make a fool out of your self today…”

you turned and hugged your cousin knowing full well she was right, she knew you were nervous, she knew more about you than you did about yourself. you let go and straightened up a bit.

YN: “thank you cuz for understanding why i hid this from even you… i trusted you but as me and Draco had…”

Hermione: “i get it cuz say no more now lets get out there before everyone thinks something is wrong.”

setting time back on course, setting yourself up for first reaction at the opening of the door, the first thing that caught to your ear was a whisper on the air from Draco..

Draco (in a whisper through the air waves): “come to me babe, we will be celebrating together soon enough. just keep your eyes locked on mine.”

you and Hermione both now in dresses beyond comparison made the crowd awe in wonder at the sight of you guys in your dresses. Draco’s face was one of pure bliss, he looked like he was mentally undressing you.

making your way up the aisle one step at a time, you smiled knowing that in a few short moments you would be saying ‘I Do’ with a man who makes your heart soar… 

you made it all the way up the aisle, your parents met you at the alter and waited for cornielius to start the speal… 

Cornelius: “honored guests of the bride and groom, students and staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. welcome to the wedding of Draco Malfoy and YN YLN now i will ask Brandon the father of the bride to bring the charge and blessing to the couple then we will proceed from there.”

your father approached you and took your hands in his own hugging you before only holding one of your hands in his own as he spoke.

Brandon: “YN, your mother and i are very proud of the young woman you have grown into, we are blessed this day to give you away, but i have a charge for your husband to be… this is a magical charge it is supposed to bring good fortune and joy to your union as a couple but only the husband speaks for both of you as a couple… Draco, will you promise to protect, honor, love, cherish and uphold any and all vows/promises you make to YN from today and forever?”

Draco: “i solemly swear so to do under the laws and bindings of magic.”

Brandon: “then may your union with my daughter be fruitful, blessed and strengthened by the laws that bind us magically.”

your father then put your hand in Draco’s, the touch of his skin made you smile, you were happy and you looked hot to boot. the ceremony continued.

Cornelius: “very good now before we exchange vows and rings does anyone here object to this union?”

no one objected, so the ceremony continued.

Cornelius: “very good Draco, YN could you both join hands and face eachother, Draco we will start with you… start your vows when your ready!”

Draco cleared his throat as he began to speak.

Draco: “several years ago i stepped into the London grand central station and onto platform 9 ¾ for the first time, my heart started pounding the further i got onto the platform. my mind was racing a thousand miles a second, then you walked past me walking your luggage, the 2 people who i now know to be your parents over near the platform entrance. your aura was one i had never seen before, we had not yet met but i could tell you were gonna be someone special to me. For the years to follow I was always attracted to you, I knew you were my one but due to my family’s nature and their expectations I couldn’t act on my feelings for it scared me at the thought of what might happen to you if my dad found out. The day in London where we spent that night cuddled in my London safe house was a nice change we were finally together. But now standing here declaring to everyone that I love you is the best thing I have ever done. I promise this day forward to love, honor, cherish, respect and protect you for all the days to follow and forever.”

it was your tears that brought Draco’s hand temperarely out of your own to wipe away your tears before you started speaking. 

YN: “Draco I love you with all my heart, yes our journey of us is only just beginning it was blooming into what it is now when we first met. The more I knew you the more my heart soared the more it soared the stronger my feelings became. I know that I wouldn’t be standing here today if you weren’t such an amazing guy Draco I commit myself fully to you, you already have my heart, I commit to you my body, my life, my devotion, love, honor, respect and protection. I know one day we will do great things for this school as the people did who taught in our same positions. Today you gain all of me as I gain all of you. I love you always and forever.” 

Cornelius cleared his throat the crowd did the same some people got really teary eyed. 

Cornelius: you both may now exchange the rings reinstating what you have said in your vows.“ 

 Draco held your left hand in his right hand and started to speak. 

Draco: “I Draco, take you YN to be my wife from this day forward forsaking all others for as long as we both shall live.”

 Draco slid the ring on your finger and you got into position with his ring and started to speak. 

YN: “I YN take you Draco to be my husband from this day forth in sickness health protection and blessing forsaking all others as long as we both shall live.” 

Everyone teared up some more for they all knew what came next as Cornelius once more spoke.

 Cornelius: “as minister of magic it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. Draco you may kiss your bride.” 

Draco pulled you close and you both slid into the passionate kiss it was a little salty from your tears but that didn't matter. Once you both pulled back the crowd roared with applause as Cornelius spoke once more. 

Cornelius: “I present to this entire audience of family and friends Mr and Mrs Draco Malfoy!” 

The crowd cheered louder. The party began shortly after with a feast first and then the address from the new couple. The address went something like this. 

Draco: “friends, family, honored guests we are thrilled to have you all here today, when YN and I had discussed our wedding we imagined well not this, but something far more elegant. We both want to thank everyone for putting this together, we especially want to thank Minerva for the surprise, for all that she has done for us, supporting us our relationship fighting for us and our right to be together. She was the first professor to figure out that me and YN were an item. She kept it from everyone on our account and our word. She has been there for us through thick and thin and we just wan to honor her tonight. Without her we would not be the brightest witch and wizard of our generation.”

You immediately jumped in to spread out a few more addresses. 

YN: “I also would like to take this opportunity to thank 3 amazing people without whom we would have given up hope of us a long time ago. Harry, you showed us that courage is all that there is to make us stronger. Well Harry it worked for both of us so thank you. Ron, you showed us that we don't have to be fearful of everything but instead that it's good to face your fears. I can definitely say it worked thank you for all that you are. And lastly my dearest cousin Hermione, girl where do I begin, sure you didn't like Draco at first but once you saw how happy I was you began to like him didn't you, I know that one day you will find and marry your prince charming too, and when that day comes I'll stand by you just as you stood by me. Thank you girl for all you are and continue to be all you can be. Thank you everyone for coming and please enjoy the party. Let's hit the dancefloor and party like Dawn will arrive fast!”

The party went on for a few hours but you and Draco didn't stay for the entire thing instead you both went back to your room and finally gave into the longing passion you both had been longing for for like ever.

[antihero-writings]

The Things We Say Aloud—Pandora Hearts Fic for Phmonth18 Rainsworth Trio Week—Prompt 2: Family (Full Fic)

Fic Title: The Things We Say Aloud

Fic Synopsis: The Rainsworth Trio has a tradition of midnight snowball fights. But what if this is Break’s last?

Notes: This is another fic I wrote last Christmas (for the prompt “Rain”), but I think will work well for Phmonth18. I think it works best for the Rainsworth Trio Prompt 2: Family. You don’t have to have read the previous Christmas fic to understand it, but they are supposed to take place in the same year, and there are a few connections/references between them. (The other one is called “In Plain Sight” and you can read it on this blog, and/or at I_prefer_the_term_antihero ‘s Ao3!)

Out of all the PH fics I’ve written so far, this is honestly probably my favorite. I would deeply appreciate it if you commented to let me know you enjoyed it!

I feel like the Rainsworth Trio–especially Sharon and Break–don’t really talk about Break’s death, even though they know it’s coming. I thought it would be interesting to explore how such a conversation would go, and almost made myself cry writing it!

Also, point of interest, a song that I think works really well for the section of this fic where Break is pondering if it will be his last Christmas is “Into the Open Air” from the Brave soundtrack.

P.S. This is a repost of an old fic!

Fic:

Rain pounded its tune on the roof. It was the kind of rain that swarms the air, making it misty, grey, and cold with the buzzing of a thousand tiny drops.

It wasn’t that he disliked the rain. There will always be something about the rain that’s soothing to people dealing with sorrow. But rain like this; that pounds, and pounds, and doesn’t dissipate, sometimes serves to extend the mistiness inside too. Though it could be a rest, a relief, people like him always pray for the sun to come back. For sunny days and summer light were something people like him, with red eyes, and a past full of sin, knew they didn’t deserve, but couldn’t help seeking all the same.

Xerxes Break walked through the hallway of the Rainsworth manor. He wore his turquoise and gold outfit, half of his white hair falling across his shoulder, the other, shorter side, messily added to the covering the bandages provided—bandages over the place where his left eye should have been, though it rarely bled anymore.

As he passed by one of the rooms, he saw Sharon. She looked so small, but so regal, sitting on the windowsill, with her back to the glass, now frosted with condensation. Her chestnut hair was pulled back with a ribbon, and she was wearing her little pink dress. The little girl was pouting, staring at the ground, her arms folded over her chest in the characteristic expression children wear when they don’t get their way.

He paused, resting his hand on the doorframe.

She lifted her head.

When she met his eyes, he remembered very quickly that was not in his skill set to comfort little girls.

When he glanced back, she was giving him a look that said Well? Aren’t you going to come comfort me?

He knew better than to disobey such a look. He took a deep breath and walked in, hopping up on the windowsill next to her.

Like the rain, it wasn’t that he disliked kids, he just didn’t know how to deal with them. When they cried and threw tantrums…in short, he didn’t know how to deal with emotion (well, strong ones anyways). He couldn’t help hoping that kids like her could stay happy, and innocent forever. Like he had hoped for his young mistress from another time, and seen it go so very wrong, then later heard, through his own interference, that he had made it go far worse. But children would have to get hurt, they would have to grow up, some day. And in turn, they would become the kinds of creatures who hurt, and caused pain, who even killed, and made excuses for it…creatures like himself.

Luckily, he found that Sharon was a much happier, much kinder, much stronger child than most.

When she didn’t speak—(he didn’t dare ask, for fear of making it worse)—he turned to look outside the window.

“Xerx-niisan,” she began at last, “Why is the sky crying?”

He turned back to her, raising an eyebrow. “Huh?”

They weren’t siblings; they weren’t even remotely related. But for some reason, the name fixed itself in her mouth, and nothing he did or said could change that.

She could be a little tyrant sometimes.

At his misunderstanding, she continued to pout, averting her eyes. Then she jerked back to look at him, (he flinched a little), and said in a high pitched voice, “It’s almost Christmas! Why is it raining? It should be snowing!”

“Oh,” he relaxed a little, contemplating his response, “Well…it’s not going to stop raining just because you want it to. Sometimes,” he gave a sardonic smile that was more painful than the frown that seemed fixed on his face, looking away into the rain, as if he would find answers reading the drops, “things…people…that should be happy, just can’t be. And no matter how much you want something…”

He trailed off, and when he turned back, he saw tears welling in her eyes.

Nice going, Xerxes, you barely have to open your mouth to make a little girl cry.

There they were, brimming to the surface: all those emotions he didn’t know what to do with. He could only sit there, waiting for her own brand of rain to start, wanting more than anything to escape, to not have to figure out the right words to fix her.

It was the crying he hated the most. Maybe it was because it reminded him too much of a certain day, long ago, of a certain girl…but the snow did fall that day…

Still, he wasn’t going to tell her that if she just wished hard enough, if she believed in hope, the-general-goodness-of-the-world-and-its-inhabitants, and maybe a little bit of magic, that the snow would fall, that she could change things. Wishes were dangerous things, and he didn’t suggest anyone make them. You never know who, or what, might be listening.

Fortunately, before the tears reached her cheeks, Sharon’s mother, Shelly Rainsworth, appeared at the doorway. She looked almost exactly like an older version of her daughter, the same chestnut hair, the same smile that shined with a light of its own.

Upon seeing the tearful look on her daughter’s face, she marched into the room, put her hands on her hips, and turned to Break.

“Xerxes,” she said his name like he really was Sharon’s brother, “what did you say to her?”

“Why do you assume it was my fault, Shelly-sama?” he muttered, sounding like the child she was calling out.

“Let’s just say you have a habit of stepping on people’s feelings.”

He sighed. “I was only telling her that it won’t start snowing simply because she wants it to.”

“It’s almost Christmas, mother!” Sharon said like she was pleading her case, the tears reappearing in her eyes.

Shelly smiled, shaking her head.

“What am I going to do with you two?” she crouched down in front of Sharon, and paused, contemplating her own question for a moment. “Tell you what, sweetie; I can’t promise it’ll start snowing because you want it to, but I can promise this:” she pushed her daughter’s tears away, “The moment it starts snowing—or, I suppose,” she interrupted herself, “the moment there’s enough snow on the ground, but no later!—we’ll go outside, and have a snowball fight. How does that sound?”

“Really?” Sharon raised her head, the sadness lifting a little.

“Even if I’m busy, or it starts snowing in the middle of the night,” Shelly elaborated, grinning, “No, especially, if it’s in the middle of the night,” she placed a finger on Sharon’s nose, at which the little girl giggled, “I’ll wake you up—or you me—then, while everyone else is asleep, we’ll run around the house in just our pajamas and coats, we’ll wake Xerxes—”

“What?!” Break blurted out.

“Yes, we’ll wake Xerxes,” she repeated smirking, “drag him outside—”

“Do I get a say in this?!”

“Nope,” she grinned mischievously, “Don’t think I’m letting you get out of this one.”

“Tch.” He looked away.

She walked calmly to the couch, picked up one of the pillows, as if she was going to fluff it, brought it over to them, and smacked him with it.

He growled, his red eye starting to blaze, like some caged beast.

She threw the pillow back onto the couch, sighing, saying seriously, “I don’t want you sitting here on this windowsill forever…I know, somewhere inside you, there’s someone…” she pondered it, then smiled, saying simply, “Someone who’s not afraid. You’re stronger than you think. Deep down, I think, these sorts of things that seem childish, like snowball fights, and tea-parties,” she smirked, “fun things, you actually enjoy.”

He looked away, as if knowing he could only disappoint her.

She added softly, placing a finger on his chin, making him look at her,

“We’ll see that smile someday, Xerxes Break.”

He stared at her as she took her fingers away, then he blinked, averting his eyes again. murmuring something about, “Really, Shelly-sama…I’d just ruin—”

“Sharon,” Shelly interrupted his mutterings, turning to her daughter, “Do you think Xerxes should sit here sulking, day in and day out, or do you think he should join our snowball fight?”

“Xerx-niisan should come with us!” she didn’t even take a breath before she answered.

He stared into the little girl’s eyes, so full of hope, no question, no hesitation, just…kindness, endless kindness.

Shelly smiled at her daughter, which turned into devious smirk when she looked at him.

“Checkmate.”

He bit his lip before jumping back down to the ground, muttering incoherently his displeasure, knowing once they were set, he couldn’t change their minds.

They could be tyrants sometimes.

Most people wouldn’t have gone near him, much less want him to be a part of something…well, fun. He knew what people said about him. It didn’t matter, it had been a long time since he had cared what other people thought, plus, he more than welcomed the lack of company. But, the thing is, he knew they were right; he was creepy, and dark, and very, very dangerous. So, he too, often wondered why they had taken him in, why they treated him like something worth saving, worth dragging out of bed for snowball fights, and tea-parties, rather than being sure, like rest of the world was—like he was—that he would just darken everything with any amount of light in it.

That’s what Children of Misfortune were for, right?

A little girl, who should have been more scared of him than anyone, who should’ve wanted him as far away from her and her snowball fights than anyone, could not only go near him, but fail to hesitate as she bounded up to this dark-and-dangerous man, looked into that blood-red eye, and asked him why the sky was crying, gave him flowers, and called him “brother.”

And that was worth more to him than he would ever dare admit aloud.

*****

It was from nightmares about knights, and blood, little girls, dolls, and names that he never mentioned, that Xerxes Break awoke from.

Breath and heartbeat weighed heavily on his chest. Once the memories faded enough for him to remember that, though it may have been real, it was not now, he gritted his teeth together, slamming his fist into the wall behind him. He didn’t care how much pain was pulsating through his hand.

If only it would take his mind off the throbbing in his empty eye socket.

If he had been a weaker man, perhaps he would have screamed, even cried, perhaps he would have whispered something pitifully to the sheets about not wanting to remember again, not wanting nightmares like this one to show their faces in his head. But he had already made a wish, and these nightmares were its descendants. He didn’t have the authority to dream anymore.

All he had was the anger and regret surging through his body, and nowhere for it to go, except make his past a weapon that shattered him just as much as it did his enemies, into glass shards, and cold bones, and bloodstained roles.

Still, there was some part of him that hoped after so many years they would have stopped haunting him. And sure, maybe it wasn’t every night, but they did come. Perhaps that’s why they call them ghosts; There were too many horrors to be reminded of, too many sins to feel guilty for, too little he could do to fix it, and the nightmares were all too eager for the task. One lifetime was not enough for them to let him forget.

They say ‘there’s no rest for the wicked’, and his mind was often cruel enough to remind him.

When he raised his gaze, he saw that the curtain was open just slightly, and something in the sliver of window flickered.

The Mad Hatter sighed, throwing his legs over the side of the bed.

It was awfully cold.

He stepped up to the window, gently pulling back the curtain, just enough so he could see.

He drew in a breath softly, his eye widening at the view:

It was snowing.

There was enough moonlight to see flakes falling upon the grounds—which were cloaked in white by now.

Like that time years ago, for the whole month, the only thing that fell from the clouds was rain, and finally, the sky decided that Christmas Eve was no time to be laying in bed, sleeping, or else dreaming about past follies.

“Well, Shelly-sama, what do you think?” he spoke softly to the merciful sky, “One last snowball fight?” he paused a moment, turning, leaning against the window, as if waiting for an answer to be whispered in his ear.

He stepped over to his wardrobe, throwing a coat over his pajamas, taking up some winter gloves, putting on socks and boots, and, as always, placing Emily on his shoulder (she wouldn’t want to miss this).

Lighting the candelabra on his nightstand, he ventured into the hallway, making his way toward Sharon’s bedroom.

Opening the door as quietly as he could, he walked in, setting the light on her nightstand.

Sharon was sleeping soundly on her curtained bed, her hair splayed all over the sheets, wrinkled in the night’s sleep, and she hugged her pillow.

He resisted the urge to laugh at her un-proper appearance.

Break sat on the side of her bed, by her head, saying quietly,

“Ojousama.”

She stirred in her sleep, muttering something indecipherable.

He gently ran his hand through her hair, saying louder, “Sharon.”

She blinked open fuchsia eyes to see her servant.

“Break,” she muttered his name softly.

Slowly, she sat up, yawning, looking around.

“Break, what’re you…?” she began, fatigue weighing down her words, then shook it away by shaking her head, “What are you doing in my room?! In the middle of the night! How dare you wake me up!”

He knew what was coming next: she grabbed one of the pillows, and he dodged it before she hit him with it. “Do you think you can just come in here as you please?!”

“Really, Ojousama,” he laughed, standing back up, “You think I’d risk injury without good reason?”

She folded her arms over her chest, pouting. He walked over to the window, throwing open the curtain, standing beside it.

“This better not be one of your pranks, Break,” she muttered, walking over to the window.

“Relax. When have I ever been that cruel?”

She glared at him, as if to say I-could-name-a-few-times, then turned to the window, surveying the landscape outside.

Her aggravated expression broke for widened eyes and a smile.

“Break!” she exclaimed, all grievance forgotten, grabbing his hands and spinning him around, “It’s snowing!!” she let go of him, and jumped up on the bed, repeating, “It’s snowing!! It’s snowing!!”

He smirked, folding his arms over his chest; No matter how old she really was, she still looked like that little kid to him.

“What do you say?” he helped her down from the bed, “One last snowball fight?”

“What are you talking about ‘one last’?” she grabbed the pillow and managed to catch him off guard this time. “You better not be talking about that again!”

She didn’t wait for him to respond as she dropped the pillow and ran over to her wardrobe, found a little coat to throw over her nightshirt, boots, and gloves, then handed him a ribbon to tie her hair back.

“Ready?” he tapped her on the shoulder when he had finished tying her hair.

She nodded, beaming.

They weren’t too far from Reim’s room when Break asked her to hold the candelabra, and stepped down the stairs to the front door.

“Where are you going?” she asked, “Reim’s room is this way.”

“This will only take a moment,” he grinned.

She put her hand on her hip, scowling at him as he ran out the front door. Quickly he returned, with the first snowball in his gloved hand.

“Break! Just what are you intending to do with that?!”

“You’ll see!” said Emily.

Sharon sighed, placing her head in her hand.

Reim stayed at the Rainsworth’s often enough that he had his own room (albeit, not a very fancy one). They quietly entered it to see the servant laying on a bed, much neater than either of theirs, facing away from them. His glasses, and some extra paperwork he just couldn’t leave at work, lay dormant on his nightstand.

Break tiptoed up to his friend, gently pulled back the collar of his shirt, and stuffed a snowball down the back of his shirt.

It was a moment before it took effect, but when it did, Reim skyrocketed out of bed, dancing around, until the snow fell onto the floor.

Break could barely contain his laughter.

He rested his hands on his knees panting. When he regained his bearings enough to figure out what had just happened, and saw Break laughing, he shouted,

“XERXES, YOU BASTARD!!”

Reim lunged at Break, at which the older man only needed to step out of the way, to make Reim trip onto the floor.

“Yes, a tired Reim-san, without his glasses, is definitely a match for me,” he remarked, leaning over him,

“A normal Reim-san isn’t exactly a match either!” Emily squeaked.

“Now, now Emily,” Break chided his doll playfully, “we mustn’t rub this sort of thing in people’s faces.”

“I’m gonna kill you,” Reim’s voice was muffled by the floor

Break laughed, “Is that so?”

“All in good fun!” Emily chirped.

“It’s not fun for me!” he retorted, sitting up, “How can your idea of fun be tormenting your best friend!” Reim got up off the floor and sat on his bed.

“Come now, Reim-san, ‘torment’ is a little harsh, don’t you think?”

“I meant what I said! I mean, who in their right mind thinks a good way to wake their friend up is to stuff freezing-cold snow—”

He interrupted himself, looking at each of them with question in his eyes. He repeated the word, “Snow…?”

Sharon and Break grinned at each other.

Break helped his friend up, saying, “And whoever said I was in my right mind? Didn’t you know? All the best people are mad.”

Reim rolled his eyes.

Sharon and Break stepped up to the window to unveil the answer to his question. Reim followed to inspect the view outside.

Then he looked at each of them, shaking his head and smiling. “Really, you two, after all these years…”

He trailed off, going over to his wardrobe to put on the winter clothes he kept there.

They barely had time to blow out the candles before Sharon grabbed both their hands and dragged them out into the moonlit hall.

They were like little kids trying to get a peek at Santa; bumbling down the hall, almost falling over each other, shushing each other, as they made their way through the manor, down the stairs, out the front door, into the cold grounds.

Even with their winter clothing, the cold still crept in. The snow muffled ordinary sounds, falling seamlessly, sparks of scattered moonlight gleaming off the flakes.

“So, we’ll—” Reim was interrupted by Break throwing a snowball at the back of his head.

“Oy! I was talking!” he whirled around.

“What’s there to talk about, Reim-san?” Break tossed another snowball up and down in his hand.

“I was simply—”

This time it was Sharon who threw the snowball at his face.

“Nice shot, Ojousama,” Break mentioned.

“Thank you,” she grinned, “You’re next, Xerx-niisan.”

“Alright, you two are going down,” Reim challenged.

“That’s more like,” Break smirked.

It didn’t make sense that three adults could have so much fun doing something so childish as playing in the snow. But between exploding snow and shouting, their laughter was what radiated like light from the scene. Maybe they forgot they weren’t children, they forgot that they had grown up things to do, responsibilities to attend to, and that the world was really comprised of blood and pain, and worthless names, not innocence and friendship.

The mad tea party, forever trapped in a moment, forgotten by time.

It was a while later when another voice broke through:

“Hey, what are you guys doing?”

They paused, turning to see Oz at one of the balconies.

“Our humblest apologies, Oz-sama!” Reim shouted back, bowing low, “We didn’t intend to be so loud!”

“No worries!” he yawned, “Are you…having a snowball fight?”

“That’s right, Oz-kun,” Break answered, “Would you like to join us?”

“Really?! You’ll let me?!”

“Sure,” he tossed a snowball up and down in his hand again, “but we certainly won’t be going easy on you!”

Oz beamed. “Hang on a sec! Lemme grab Gil and Alice!”

Not long afterwards, they heard the all-too-familiar sounds of Gilbert and Alice shouting, and they their annoyed faces appeared on the balcony.

“Why are you three having a snowball fight at 6:00 in the morning!” Gilbert yelled down to them.

“Oh? You scared you didn’t make the cut?” Break taunted . “Clown! Is this your doing?!” Alice demanded, “I’ll come down there and make you pay for waking me up!”

As Break spoke to them, Reim saw it as an opportunity to get his own revenge, and snuck up behind him. Break, of course, still heard him coming and, once again, tripped him, as he got close.

Break walked around him in a circle, grinning shaking his head, “You’re going to have to try harder than that to beat me.”

Reim gave an expression akin to Gilbert’s evil eye.

Break kicked some snow onto his head as he walked by, just to rub it his face (quite literally).

Oz, Gilbert, and Alice tumbled down the front steps, already laughing and yelling at each other before they even joined the fight.

“Well look who it is,” Break taunted, leaning over them, then Emily continued,

“The dumb bunny, the spoiled brat, and—” he didn’t get to finish, because the two lunged at him.

There weren’t really any teams, or way of keeping score—it was everyone against everyone else, though each of them had their own approach: Gilbert had a more meticulous method; creating a stash of snowballs, and walls to hide behind, (often getting hit in the building process). Oz was would sneak up on people, and took particular pleasure in knocking down, or stealing, Gil’s hard work, while Alice ran around pelting everyone in sight, holding a particular grudge against anyone who landed a hit on her (who were mostly Break and Oz).

Near the end of their fight, as Break snuck up on Sharon, just about to land a hit on her, he found himself falling, and was then somehow on the other side of the yard,

He paused to regain his bearings, and stood back up to his full height, quickly discerning what had happened.

“Is that really fair, Ojousama?” he called across the yard, knowing she had used her Chain.

She chuckled like it was a trivial offense, “Since when have you cared what’s fair Xerx-niisan?”

Well, she got me there.

It was at this moment he felt a rush of cold! against his neck, and tensed, resisting the urge to spill some choice words. He spun around to see that Reim had been waiting behind a nearby tree and, as he addressed his mistress, Reim had managed to get the perfect revenge.

Break pulled back his shirt to make sure the snow fell, scowling at his friend.

“Say it,” Reim folded his arms over his chest.

“What? That you got me?”

Reim’s expression was unmoving.

“I’ll say nothing of the sort, Reim-san,” he flicked his glasses, “After all, you merely copied me. You should be more creative next time.”

Reim’s fingers curled into fists, practically growling at him.

“I didn’t know we could use Chains!” Oz called, running up to them, having noticed Sharon’s expert use of Eques, (but not the following exchange between Break and Reim.)

“Seaweed-head! Release my limiter!” Alice shouted when she heard, “I want to smash the clowny bastard to smithereens!”

“Is that so?” Break called, “You really want to go down that path, Alice-kun?” Break smirked evilly, “My Mad Hatter would destroy you before Gilbert-kun even had the chance.”

“You wanna go, clown!” Alice hollered, and Gilbert had to hold her back to keep her from rushing at him with teeth and claws.

Reim looked worried, and Oz—wearing a similar expression—spoke in hushed tones, “No, Alice! You don’t want to go up against his Mad Hatter!”

“Try me, Manservant!”

“Break! No one wants to see you killing yourself over some stupid fight with some little girl!” Gilbert scolded.

“Oy! Who you callin’ ‘some little girl’?!” Alice snapped at Gilbert.

That seemed to return Reim to his senses,

“That’s right!” Reim scolded, “What did I tell you about being reckless with your powers?!”

“Always so tense, you two,” he walked up to Alice and ruffled her hair, “I’m only teasing.”

Alice broke free, and the fight resumed, though the others were glad to see neither managed to draw blood, and that it quickly returned to the antics of the snowy game.

And for one brief moment, Break forgot about everything else. About the nightmares, the regrets, and the answers he clung to so desperately as a reason to keep himself from falling further. And for one moment, he could see those flickering lights behind dark eyes, and he was happy he could feel the cold biting his skin, he was happy he could see their faces—rosy-cheeked, all smiles and laughs, even if they were yelling at him—for one precious flicker of a moment, he was happy to be alive.

That moment would end. The shadows would crawl back from the corners of his mind, the smiles would become fake again, the world would become a wax museum of happiness. Reasons that were just that, empty reasons; desire had left them behind in an alleyway long ago, for better, darker wishes. The pain would come back, and once again he’d convince himself, I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care about them. About what happens to me. The snow white chaos would return to tears too fast. But in this moment, it was okay. He was okay.

Sharon and Reim ran at him, but instead of getting out of the way, this time he let them bowl him over, the three of them collapsing in the snow.

Shock flitted across their faces, which broke for smiles.

He wanted to say he was sorry. He wanted to tell them over and over I love you both so very much. But he wasn’t the only one who knew that those words falling from Xerxes Break’s lips was all too close to admitting defeat. Because if he admitted he cared, then he wouldn’t be able to let them go when the end came. And he knew it would come all too soon. His lips wouldn’t dare betray him with such miserable words.

So they settled for a smile.

His real smile. Not the smirks and grins he gave away at a moment’s notice. The smile that was barely perceptible, but which, for them, captured within its folds more sunlight than anything else in their world.

Sharon and Reim glanced at each other, then smiled back at him, deciding not to sully the moment with words.

And, as soon as it came, the true smile was replaced with a smirk.

“You two really are gullible,” he put snow in their hair.

They jumped up, shouting his name, trying to rub it out, then quickly ran after him.

He couldn’t tell them the truth. He couldn’t tell them that he was thinking how this might be his last Christmas. He couldn’t tell them how he was wondering if they would still put his stocking on the mantelpiece when he was gone.

He didn’t get a chance to anyways, because it wasn’t long afterwards when beads of citrus and crimson light began tracing the navy sky.

They paused, panting, raising their eyes to look into the sunrise.

For a moment they stared silently at the art the morning made of daybreak, gentle smiles tracing their lips at the beauty.

Then Oz broke in, exclaiming,

“Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“Merry Christmas!” they answered, a little tiredly.

“What do you guys think?” Reim asked, “Ready to go inside?”

“Aww, but we were having so much fun!” Oz protested, trying to mask the fatigue in his voice.

“Easy for you to say, we’re exhausted!”

“To be fair, we were out here much longer than them,” Break panted, realizing just how tired he was. “Perhaps I have gotten old after all. If you youngin’s want to go on—” he flapped a shirt sleeve their direction.

“There he goes again calling himself old!”

Sharon broke in, “Don’t you want to open presents?”

“Presents?!” Oz repeated, like a dog who had seen a squirrel, glancing at Gilbert and Alice, his grin widening.

They began to make their way inside, still laughing and talking about the plays they each had made, and how they would eventually get each other back. As they walked back, instead of joining the conversation, Sharon gently tugged on the corner of Break’s coat, holding him back.

He turned to see that instead of the tired, but joy-full smile that had traced her face moments earlier, she was hanging her head low.

“Ojousama?” he asked worriedly, crouching down beside her, seeing tears begin to grace her cheeks.

The others noticed, and stopped too.

“Xerxes! What did you do?!” Reim demanded.

“Yeah, Break! How dare you make a girl cry on Christmas?!” Oz questioned, running up to her.

He rolled his eyes at them.

“I’m fine, everyone,” Sharon reassured them, giving a somewhat plastered smile, “I’ll just be a moment.”

They all glanced at each other, knowing something was clearly wrong.

“Are you sure?” Gilbert asked.

“Yeah, Sharon-chan, if you need something—”

“Yes. Please, go inside. Break and I will catch up with you.”

They glanced at each other.

“Alright, Sharon-chan. Just let us know if you need anything, okay?” Oz put a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you, Oz-sama,” she smiled.

The others gave similar smiles back to her, then they gave Break a collective you-better-not-make-this-worse look before walking up the stairs into the manor.

“Sharon?” he asked softly.

No matter how many years went by, he still couldn’t handle the sight of a child in tears.

“Xerx-niisan,” he could tell she was fighting back against the tears, “What if… What if this is your last Christmas?”

He gasped; he didn’t expect her to be thinking about the same thing.

“What if…” she continued, breath taut, “What if we never get to have another snowball fight? What if…?”

“Well,” he rubbed his neck, looking away, “you and Reim can still—”

“Don’t act like everything will be the same when you’re gone!” she threw snow into his face.

He fell back onto his elbows, gently brushing it out of his hair. After a moment a laugh bubbled in his throat, and he put his hand on his face.

“What’s so funny?!” she demanded, scowling.

Obviously that was the wrong thing to do.

If only she had chosen someone else to comfort her; someone like Oz, who could read the situation, and chose his words carefully. Or Gilbert, who was sensitive enough to understand. Even Reim would be better, despite his rather unemotional, straightforward nature. But she had chosen him.

“It’s funny…to tell you the truth,” his voice became more serious, “It’s just…I was thinking about the same thing.”

Shock added to the concoction of hurt and yearning in her eyes.

“Y-You were?”

He looked at the ground and nodded ever so slightly.

“How dare you laugh at that?” she balled a fist in the snow, but the strength seemed to leave her.

She shook her head, tears fluttering back to her eyes, “You can’t…Xerx-niisan, you can’t! I…I don’t want to be alone!” she put her arms around him and fell onto him.

His eye was wide, his breath harsh and cold as he looked at the girl in his arms, forgetting for a less than a moment that she was not that little girl in a darkened room, surrounded by coffins.

He shook his head of the memory.

“You won’t be alone, you’ll have Reim, and Sheryl-sama, and—”

She lifted her head to scowl at him, as if to say must-I-repeat-what-I-said and he cleared his throat, changing his method of attack.

“Well, I won’t go down easy, that’s for sure. But, despite how it might seem,” he gently ran his finger along her cheek, giving that sad but true smile, and whispered, “I am not that strong.”

“You think you can talking about you dying all the time and I’ll just—?!” she tried to fight back, to be angry, but her words fell like the snow, and she murmured again, she let her head fall back onto his shoulder, and whispered back, “Xerx-niisan…”

He gently wrapped his own arms around her.

“I want to be there for you…” she murmured, “I don’t want you to do something stupid…You’re always running into fights without a second thought…” she sobbed for a moment before saying, “Maybe we could…maybe we could stop it? I-I could go into the fights with Eques…Oz-sama and Gilbert-sama—”

He pressed a kiss into her hair, and as she lifted her head off his shoulder to look at him with the wide and teary eyes of her younger self. The look in his eyes was enough to say I’m sorry, Sharon.

“It’s just like I told you, Ojousama,” he ran his fingers through her hair, and murmured into her ear, “No matter how much I may want it to, I can’t stop it from raining.”

She lifted her head off his shoulder to look at him.

“No matter how much we might want it to, we can make the snow fall. Our wishes can’t change things. Even if…” his words were blown by the wind into the stars.

She shook her head gently, murmuring that name.

“Just promise me you won’t make any illegal contracts to bring me back,” he laughed a little, which turned into a grimace, and she knew just how serious he was being.

She smiled for the first time since the conversation started. “I promise.”

For a moment they sat there, together, in a sort of limbo, watching as the sunrise turned into a light blue sky—a present sorrow caught between the earlier joy, wondering which emotion of the two would soon come. Moments were so finicky.

“I can’t promise I’ll have another Christmas, but we still have today. Let’s not waste it with talking about depressing things.”

She nodded, smiling.

He gently reached down and picked her up.

“Xerx-niisan!” she protested at first.

He touched her nose with his finger.

After a moment, as he took her inside, she rested her head against him sleepily, murmuring, “Xerx-niisan, I don’t want…I don’t want you to pretend you’re okay for my sake.”

His eye widened and he jerked his head to look at her.

“Don’t give me that look,” she responded, “I know you do it. You think I can’t handle it.”

He took a deep breath, “I’m fine, Ojousama,” he murmured, and smiled, “It’s Christmas, after all.”

She shook her head, “No you’re not!”

Once again he kissed her head gave her his real smile, “No, really, Sharon. I am. At least for today.”

The smile she returned was real too.

And that was worth far more to them than either of them needed to say aloud.