#the rain falling on Till ❤️

[herrlindemann]

Barcelona, Spain, 11.06.2024. © dna_78

[revasserium]

hi! I've been reading your opla!zoro stuff and I wanted to tell you your writing is so gorgeous! it's truly breathtaking, you're really talented ❤️ i've looked through your prompts tag, im not sure how requesting works, but could I ask for "edge of falling" or "the spaces between us" (whichever one you like the most) with zoro and fem!reader? i'm a goner for longing and feelings realization and the prompts give me those vibes, but i'm sure anything you write will be lovely <3

reqs are open!

the edge of falling

opla!zoro; 7,475 words; fluff and angst, hurt/comfort, passing mentions of: cult!, physical violence, & trauma/cult-programming, ex-cult member!reader, strawhat!reader, traumatized!reader, protective!zoro, healing from past trauma, learning to trust etc, angst with a happy ending!, a metric TON of plot

summary: "Lie to me," Time said to Love; Love smiled and said, "I promise, I'll never let you slip away."

a/n: thank u for the request anon!!! i uhm idk what happened with this fic tbh. there's def uh -- longing of SOME kind here??? welp. pls read the tw list! there's some dark-ish content in this. but i promise it ends well u__u

prelude: in which a fox teaches you to speak

Time is the greatest liar, so you are told, over and over and over. For the longest time, you think it’s the only truth you’ll ever know.

But we will live forever…

So long as you do the things you’re told. So long as you make the Fox happy. So long, so long, so long.

There is no way to mark the passage of time in the compound; with no sunlight to guide the way, you are left to other, more primal ways of keeping track — that elusive, silver-fish creature — time — always slipping through your fingers when want to hold on most.

You measure it in wounds, in the time it takes for a fresh wound to seal over, for the scab to break and reveal the soft, tender pink flesh beneath. You measure it in gulps of water, in bites of cold food, in the droplets of artificial rain that they let fall through the ceiling sometimes. You measure it in rewards too, in long baths and hot meals, in the evenings when the Fox would tell you stories in his low, lilting voice instead of leaving you in his seething silences.

And he is ever so good with stories. If you stay still and keep quiet, and let his voice wash over you like a hungry tide across a rain-starved beach, you can feel the words seeping into your bones, ringing out till they feel like nothing but god’s given truth.

As long as you’re good… I promise I’ll make you live forever.

Like this, you learn the weapon of words, the power of speech, how to listen for lies, and how to tell them, and tell them, and tell them.

The Fox is good at lying; you’ll just have to learn to be better.

act i: yet another sad, desperate soul

Roronoa Zoro has never been a man of many words, but it would be remiss to say that he isn’t a man of his word — you see, when he does speak, he speaks with intention. And always, with conviction.

“Hey. No one’s gonna hurt you anymore.”

This, then, is the first lie he tells you.

“Liar.” You spit out the word, drawing back, your body a tangle of livewire nerves, your eyes darting back and forth, an entire life’s worth of fight and flight caught on the hair-pin trigger of his breath as he jolts back slightly and blinks at you.

“Y-you — you can’t know that,” you say, your voice still ragged. But Zoro sees it for the attempt it is — an olive branch, however tentatively extended. And he takes it, wordlessly.

He nods once, reaching out to help you up. The compound crumbles around you, and you unconsciously wrap your arms around yourself, as if to hold yourself together, to keep from shattering into a hundred million tiny little shards of pain and mistrust.

“The fox-guy’s dead! But it looks like this whole island’s gonna blow!” Nami races out of the massive, temple-esque structure just as it starts to collapse from the inside out.

Luffy slingshots passed, cackling as Sanji and Usopp bring up the rear. On the Merry, Robin and Chopper are waiting, and the second Zoro manages to hoist you onto the main deck, the ship careens off into the dark tumult of waves.

You skitter away the minute Zoro’s arm slips from around your waist, and he turns to find you pressing yourself back against the railings, staring at them all with wide eyes, your expression caught halfway between fear and consternation. He takes half a step back, crossing his arms just as Luffy bounds forward with a bright, unassuming smile.

“Don’t worry! You’re safe now!” He makes to slap one of your shoulders but you duck out of the way, chewing on your bottom lip.

Robin clears her throat gently and offers you a smile, “We’re not going to hurt you.”

You narrow your eyes, your gaze darting between them like a trapped animal, but after another beat of stillness (punctuated only by Nami swearing softly to herself as she steers the Merry around a particularly difficult formation of rocks), your entire body seems to soften, and Zoro uncrosses his arms again, resting a hand casually on the hilt of his blades.

“Th-thank you…” you bob your head once, swallowing hard passed chapped lips and a raw throat. Your white linen dress is stained with blood and dirt, a tear at your collar making it slip from your shoulder.

“’S alright now, darlin’ — how bout we run you a nice, hot bath? I could cook you just about anything y’like. Fancy a drink as well? I think a bubbly would be good for a —”

“Lay off, cook.” Zoro cuts Sanji off with a scoff, barring Sanji’s approach with an arm in the gut.

You watch them with dark eyes, your expression curiously blank.

“Will you let me look at your wounds?” Chopper offers.

You jump a little at his voice, piping up from your left side. You glance at Zoro once before looking back at Chopper and nodding.

Sanji tucks his hands into his pockets and watches as Chopper leads you beneath the deck, Zoro following a few steps behind. He lights a cigarette as soon as the trap door clanks shut.

A beat of silence, and then —

“Wow, that island really, really sucked!” Luffy says, turning back to his crew.

Sanji lets out a puff of smoke as Usopp slumps down against the main mast with a groan.

“You can say that again.”

“What happened?” Robin asks.

Sanji sighs, shaking his head, “Trust me, you don’t wanna know.”

Below deck, Chopper dabs at your wounds with expert ease as you sit very still on the kitchen island and Zoro watches from the sofa, arms crossed loosely over his chest.

“These surface wounds aren’t that bad but…” Chopper trails off, his eyes running over the network of old scars that mar your skin, layers and layers of them — down your arms and along your torso.

“It’s fine,” you say, your voice smooth as polished marble, “I’m —” you swallow, “I’m fine.”

And if it weren’t for the hiccup, the slight hitch in your breath, you would’ve been utterly convincing. Your expression is flat, your voice, even more so.

Across the room, Zoro makes disbelieving noise, “If it hurts, just say so. Chopper’ll fix it.”

“I’m… I’m fine,” you say again, tugging at the sleeve of your torn shift, your tone now a bit more honest, your words tired and resigned. Zoro looks to Chopper, who gives a faint nod of acquiescence before Zoro stands up and jerks his head towards the door.

“Cook’s right — you should wash up before dinner.”

You follow him down the hallway, through a small door that leads into a washroom that’s much cleaner than one might expect a ship’s bathroom to be. A large, wooden soaking tub sits in the middle of the room, and a clean change of clothes has already been laid out on a bench next to the bath.

Zoro grunts after he takes a once-over of the room, satisfied that all’s in order, and makes to leave.

You tug at his sleeve, head lowered.

“Can you…” you lick your lips, “can you stay?”

Zoro glances down at your fingers curled into his shirt sleeve before his eyes flick up to find your face. You’re looking at some indiscriminate point over his left shoulder, but your lips are trembling and your jaw is set.

He lets out a long breath, slowly twisting his body towards the room and you.

“Sure.”

He makes a show of turning around to face the door as you slip off your clothes and sink into the steaming bath water. A long exhale and the light slosh of water is all the indication he gets that it’s safe to turn back around.

He leans himself against the door, his swords propped on his shoulder, his head lolled back, his eyes closed.

He listens to the soft sounds of the water, to the faint splashes as you rub the grit and grime from your skin, inch by inch.

“We were only allowed to bathe as a reward for doing a good deed.”

Your voice makes him open his eyes, his gaze focusing in on the shape of you, nearly submerged in the bathtub, your hair slick and sticking to your pale shoulders. Even in this dim lighting, he can see the patterns your scars make against your skin. Water glimmers along the contours of your face as you run your palms along your cheeks, rubbing at them till they’re ruddy with color.

Zoro ticks his tongue against his teeth, “Quit bein’ so rough,” he moves forward without thinking, reaching out a hand to help you with some of the more stubborn pieces of dirt but he pauses, realizing how utterly still you’ve gone.

You stare at him for a long moment before relaxing back into the water and shifting towards the edge of the tub to allow him better access.

He runs a callused thumb along your cheekbones, wiping away the remaining dirt there.

“What was a ‘good deed’?” he asks, letting the tips of his fingers skim the warm water’s surface.

You shrug, “Mostly anything that made Mr. Fox happy… so all of us would —” you take another breath, your hand opening and closing beneath the surface of the still bath water, “we’d spend all our waking hours trying to think of something — anything — that’d please him. No matter how small… no matter how… terrible.”

“This Mr. Fox… what was his deal, anyway?”

You stare down into the dark water, now rapidly cooling from warm to lukewarm.

You take a deep breath, lifting a hand out of the water to distort the image of your ghostly reflection.

“He… was a liar. Except… he could make all his lies sound like the truth.”

“It was uncanny, really,” Sanji says, now at full throttle in the kitchen prepping for dinner service, Usopp lounging on sofa, his feet propped up on the hanging table.

Chopper and Robin both frown.

“What do you mean?” Robin asks.

“It was like… the guy could say anything and make it sound like the truth — even though you knew somewhere inside you that it can’t be real. Like — he could tell you the sky was green and every single part of you would believe him, even though you’re outside and starin’ up at the sky.”

“Yeah! Like he said I’d never be able to beat him and… for a second, I kinda almost believed him!” Luffy offers, munching on a bushel of apples and spitting out the seeds.

Robin’s brows furrow, tapping at her chin with a thin finger.

“It sounds like the Uso-Uso no Mi…”

“Ugh, what a weird, scary power…” Chopper shudders, shaking his head, his tiny hooved hands coming up to cup his cheeks, “I’m sure it’d mess with people’s heads!”

“It sure did. But he also used it to feed false information to the Marines,” Nami says, slipping through the half-opened door to join the rest of the crew on the sofa, “ran a series of taverns that just so happened to be situated in major Marine towns.”

Sanji glances up from a huge, steaming pan of paella, a cigarette caught between his teeth.

“So what was his end goal then? Just to fuck over the Marines?”

Back in the bathroom, you run your fingers along the edge of the tub as if playing an invisible piano.

“Power, domination… I don’t think he had a goal or purpose… I think… he just got off on it…”

Your voice is light, conversational, almost as if you were talking about the weather. But Zoro sees the glazed look in your eyes, the tightness at the edges of your lips.

“You called me a liar,” he says, reaching into the tub and flicking you lightly with a bit of water.

You blink, a smile threatening the corners of your mouth.

“Yeah… guess I did.”

“I wasn’t lying.”

He pulls out his hand and wipes it on a towel, leaning back to stare at you.

You shrug, “Sometimes… people lie to others, and sometimes, people lie to themselves. It’s the ones we tell ourselves that are always the most convincing.”

“I don’t lie. ‘Specially not to myself.”

You let out a tiny laugh, “But I guess… sometimes, if you believe in something hard enough… it’ll just start to be come the truth.”

There’s a note of… something in your voice that Zoro doesn’t like, but he can’t put a name to the feeling so he stays quiet as you continue the laborious work of scrubbing your skin clean, till all the water in the tub’s gone cold.

The rest of the evening passes as most evenings on the Merry do after a big fight — with a lot of food and even more booze. With music and laughter, and new crew member, sitting in the corner, watching mostly and smiling occasionally. No one pushes you, though Sanji does make a valiant effort in getting you to admit to your favorite foods, and Luffy tries two or three times to drag you into the more raucous celebrations (mostly involving way too much meat being roasted on a spike).

No one questions the way Zoro never wanders too far.

No one questions the way your eyes track him around the room, or how, even when Robin and Nami finally get a laugh out of you, you still instinctively searched for Zoro’s figure till you’ve found it in the other corner, a bottle caught between his lips, his eyes half-shut but his gaze caught on you like a fish to a seaman’s hook.

act ii: everything and nothing

A week passes, and then another. And you slowly, but surely, come out of your shell — it’s a strange sort of blossoming, the way you reveal yourself in shards and pieces, jagged and jarring. The shrapnel bits of your personality peaking out amidst the flotsam and jetsam of all your manifold defense mechanisms.

You’re a brilliant liar, but even better at spotting a lie, and it’s a thing that none of the crew had ever really thought about until you’d come along, casually poking holes in their daily deceits.

“Mm! These pancakes are perfect! Just the way I like them!”

“The new dress looks beautiful, Nami.”

“I absolutely did not finish the last bag of popcorn… Luffy did it!”

You clear your throat.

“Okay fine… the pancakes were really good but… but I like them… sweeter.”

“The dress is… well, everything looks gorgeous on you, of course, you know that Nami! But — the color… clashes just a tiny little bit with your… hair.”

“I might’ve uh… taken a few bites out of the popcorn bag… last night… but I was keeping watch and I needed to keep my energy up!”

Robin titters, a sphinx-like smile spreading across her lips.

“Apparently, 60% of people lie at least once every 10 minutes,” she says, casually taking a sip of orange juice as Zoro runs through his daily training regime, seemingly unbothered by the chaos currently taking place on the main deck regarding the “popcorn incident”.

“Dunno why people bother,” Zoro says, working through a set of single-armed burpees.

“I suppose it’s just human nature. We want other people to like us… so we say what we think they might want to hear, instead of what we really think. It’s harmless, mostly,” Robin remarks, leaning back against a white planter box, basking in the shade of the tangerine trees.

“Till it isn’t,” Zoro says, finishing up his workout and pushing himself up for a long stretch. He casts his eyes once more towards where you’re now laughing as Usopp tries to think of some new tall tale to tell.

It only takes you half a second to turn your head, and Zoro wonders at the kind of life you might’ve led to make you so sensitive to another person’s gaze. What must’ve happened to warrant this kind of alertness? But then again, he’d been a hunter long enough to know exactly what being hunted looks like.

He caught a glimpse of it at the compound but — still, his fingers itch toward his swords, his jaw clenches tight enough for Robin to cock her head and raise a brow.

“Yes… until it isn’t…” she echoes, her eyes also trailing towards you.

Zoro holds your gaze for a second before rolling his shoulders and looking away, squinting at the far horizon.

“Oi. Looks like trouble.”

Robin straightens, and a second later, Chopper sounds the alarm from the crow’s nest.

“Marines! Marines!”

There is the shink of swords being drawn, the gentle echo of Robin’s voice as her arms multiply. There’s canon fire and a lot of yelling. But at the end, there’s only bodies and blood and the tattered remains of the Marine’s ship, bobbing in the stained sea below them.

“Should we go after them?” Sanji asks, lighting up a cig, watching as the tiny emergency boat rows off into the distance.

“Nah. We’ll be alright!” Luffy says, wiping a hand across his nose.

Zoro turns towards you, sheathing his swords.

“You alright?”

“I’m fine,” you say, your voice immediately taking on an unctuous sheen that makes Zoro take a step closer.

“You hurt anywhere?” he runs an appraising eye down your form and nods in the knowledge that at least you don’t look hurt.

“No… I —” you chew down on your bottom lip, fingers digging into the bare flesh of your arms. But you back away from him the moment he tries to take a step forward.

“Hey — quit that,” he taps at your wrist with the hilt of his sword, the touch hard but not harsh, forcing you to pull away.

“It’s — I’m — I’m alright,” you say, insistent and mollifying. Zoro runs his thumb against the hilt of his blades and scoffs.

“Liar,” he says, tossing the word casually back at you in a way that makes your breath hitch. Then, he turns, and marches below decks to tend to his own wounds.

A deafening silence rings out around you as you stare down at the ships blood-drenched planks before Robin places a gentle hand on your shoulder.

“C’mon now — lets get your back looked at.”

Below decks, you find Zoro dabbing gingerly at a large slash on his right arm.

“Here, you’ve missed a spot —” you reach out to take the iodine soaked cloth from Zoro’s hand, only to have him jerk away. You flinch back, wide-eyed.

Zoro softens, if only ever so slightly.

“I’m fine,” he says, a harsh edge to his voice as he goes back to trying to twist around himself enough to see the spot he’s missed. You purse your lips, watching him for a second, two seconds, three — before you glance back at the place Robin had been only to realize that she’d gone.

“May… I?” you reach out your hand, palm up, tentative and imploring. But you hold yourself still, waiting for Zoro to make the next move. And he does, eventually, sighing as he turns back around to drop the piece of cloth into your palm.

You reach forward as he turns to his side, offering up his arm as you slowly start to wipe away at the bits of dried blood caking his skin to reveal the raw, red gash, the angry, raised flesh around it. You lean forward, blowing slightly as you daub at the wound, making your way down his bicep till the entire cut’s been coated in iodine.

“There. All done.”

You lean back to toss the cloth into the sink but Zoro stops you. He catches your wrist in his good hand and with a slight tug, has you toppling forward towards his chest.

“Turn around.”

His voice is soft, but firm. And it leaves no room for protests as you stare at him for a long moment before sighing and resigning yourself to your fate. You turn to show him your back.

A disgruntled huff is all you get before you hear the distinct sounds of Zoro rummaging around the first aide kit for a fresh piece of cloth, and the pop of the iodine bottle opening again.

“Who did this?” he asks as he slowly reaches out to tug a thin spike from your skin, small as a needle and just as sharp. You bite back a wince.

“The porcupine guy…” your voice trails off as Zoro grunts.

“Right.”

He tugs out another spike; it tinks against the metal of the sink as he tosses it away. A brief sting, and then the cooling feeling of the iodine cloth.

After a few minutes of working in silence, Zoro sighs.

“Geez, he really got you bad, didn’t he?”

“Not really,” you say, and you feel Zoro’s hands pause.

“No?”

You shake your head, “I’ve… been through much worse… and lived to tell the tale so…”

Zoro doesn’t need to ask to know that you’re talking about your past on the island, inside that windowless compound. He can see it in the scars that mar nearly the entirety of your back, the criss-cross lines of what looks like knife-wounds, the occasional puckered marks that look suspiciously like burns. He steels himself then, and continues to work — plucking out a spike and cleaning out the wound.

“You were right,” he says, when he finally finishes cleaning up your back and you both straighten to face each other. He wipes his hands clean and winces slightly as he flexes his newly bandaged arm.

“Right about what?” your voice is innocent, but the flash in your eyes tells him that you know exactly what he’s talking about.

“That first day — I couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t… make sure that no one ever hurt you again.”

His fingers curl into fists at his sides and you can see the muscle ticking in his jaw as he clenches his teeth.

You reach out, tracing a thumb along his jawline. When you pull back, there’s a small daub of blood on your finger and you wipe it away without breaking his gaze.

“No, you couldn’t but… you tried.”

Zoro scoffs, “Tryin’s not good enough.”

“No,” you jerk up to glare at him, your voice harsh in a way that he’s only ever heard right after they’d rescued you, the edges of your words raw and ragged as a serrated blade, “trying is everything.”

interlude: truth or dare

It gets better after that, and you grow and bloom and grow some more. Zoro does too, though in his own way — he gets stronger, gets faster, hits harder. And though you two never quite agree on anything, he is always by your side, and you’re somehow always by his.

“’M not even a lil drunk —”

“Liar~” you singsong, giggling as Zoro shakes his head, tipping the remains of a bottle of sake back down his throat before wiping at his lips with the back of his hand.

“Mm… ‘s that all I am to you? Just another guy who lies?” Zoro swings lazily on the hammock hung on the main deck, his eyes half-lidded and alight with the dancing firelight.

“Stupid question — drink,” you answer, bringing our own bottle up to your lips.

Zoro laughs, quiet and pleased as he reaches for a new bottle.

“Alright then — truth or dare?” he asks, uncorking the new bottle and reaching out to offer you some. You bat him away, your movements languid and heavy, your back pressed against a heavy wooden barrel, one leg propped up to support your arm, the other stretched out long and lithe in front of you.

“Truth,” you say, your voice easy, your smile even more so.

“Alright then — do you trust me?” Zoro’s voice dips, and your eyes flash up. There’s a sobering light somewhere behind the alcohol soaked haze clouding his gaze and you can tell by the steadiness of his hands that he’s not nearly as drunk as he might seem.

“What do you mean?” you ask, casually evading the question.

Zoro tuts, “’S not an answer.”

“I’m asking for a clarification.”

Zoro shakes his head, taking another soft swig, “Simple question — do you trust me?”

You purse your lips, mulling over the myriad answers you could provide and make it sound like the truth. But that’s not really how the game goes. So instead, you take a deep breath.

“I — I want to,” and it’s the way your voice breaks that makes it honest, the way you can’t hold the truth in by the seams of your careful cadence, no matter how hard you try to smooth out the ragged edges.

“So… that’s a no,” Zoro says, keeping his tone even. You can’t help reaching for him — imploring.

“Not yet but —”

“Why?”

“Why… what?”

“I guess…” Zoro leans back, casting his eyes up at the wild, dark sky, careening above the ship in an ecstatic spread of stars and, long sinuous, moon-silvered clouds, “why d’you want to trust me? Doesn’t seem like something you’d be eager to do after… y’know, everything.”

You lick your lips and stare into the empty bottom of your glass.

“Honestly?” you say, “because you’re kind of a shit liar —”

Zoro lets out a soft, rumbling laugh, but doesn’t deny it.

“But… also because you’re the only person I’ve met who… who treats words so carefully — I mean…” you swallow, leaning forward slightly as Zoro drops his gaze back down to you, “it’s like — my whole life has just been people saying things they don’t really mean, and never meaning what they say, and then trying to figure out what’s really happening — trying to say the right thing, not the thing you mean but the thing you think they’d want to hear —” your breath quickens, “and — and if you don’t or if you’re bad at it, then bad things happen to you and the people you care about —”

“Hey.”

A hand presses down on your shoulder and you gasp, your breath knifing through your chest as you clasp your shaking hands to your sternum.

“Breathe. You’re okay.”

You nod, unable to say anything as Zoro sits in front of you, his hand like an anchor in a summer storm, keeping you tethered.

You breathe and take stock of your limbs — feet, legs, hands, arms. It’s then that you realize Zoro’s crouching in front of you, your drink glass resting by his side.

“Thanks,” you say, nodding as he gives your shoulder a slight squeeze before pulling away. Physical touch has never been one of your strong points, and it seems Zoro’s learned that without you ever having to tell him.

It’s strange — the sudden knowledge that somehow, his understanding of you has been wordless and implicit. Complete, from nearly the day the Straw Hats had picked you up on that island. You’d never had to explain, never had to draw your boundaries.

And yet somehow, he knew. As if he’d always just known.

“Truth or dare?” you ask him, your voice barely a whisper, shifting to make more space for him on the dark deck of the ship’s forecastle. Zoro sits down in front of you, crossing his legs.

“Dare.”

You don’t fight the grin as it lifts the side of your lips.

The quiet pulses between the pair of you like a heartbeat.

“Tell me a secret.”

“Gotta be more specific,” Zoro’s grin lilts to mirror your own.

“Any secret,” you say, “something you… something you wouldn’t otherwise say out loud.”

“Isn’t that what a secret’s supposed to be? Something you don’t say?”

You laugh, tasting the sound like a mouthful of champagne, bubbling up through you and spiraling towards the endless summer’s night.

“Quit stalling!”

“Think I wanna kiss you.”

A gasp slices through the air between you. You feel the weight of it in your throat, the white-hot flicker of his gaze as he glances down at your lips. You wet them without thinking, and as Zoro lean’s in, you can sense the night around you slowly coalescing into something warm, something solid. Like a marble clutched in a child’s palm, or a pearl held on an oyster’s velvet tongue.

“Truth or dare?” he asks.

He stops just short of your lips, his nose almost grazing yours. You can nearly taste the sweet sake on his breath —

“Dare.”

“Close your eyes.”

Your lashes flutter and for a second, an eternity revolves in the space between your heartbeats. Faintly, you register the gentle rocking of the ship as an indolent wave catches her starboard side.

You close your eyes.

For a second, there is space. For a second, there is breath. For a second, there is gravity. And then — all of that disappears. All of it eclipsed by the kiss. And then, the kiss is all there is.

All there was, and ever will be.

There’s a graze of fingers against skin, the bump of legs against legs against thighs against knees — there’s knuckles and noses and hair falling, hair being tugged into closing fists. There’s the clink-clink-clink of earrings, and the clatter-clap-clat of swords and hilts and rough, wooden planks.

There’s the dull thunk and baseline rumble of a glass being knocked over and rolling away.

But all of that is afterthought. All of that is supplement, a postscript, marginalia and footnotes.

Because there, then — there is only the kiss, and nothing but the kiss: a catastrophe of inevitability, smooth as a secret, and whisper-sweet.

When the pair of you pull away, there’s a chaos of wings against your ribcage.

There’s the honeyed, lambent light in Zoro’s eyes as he grins down at you.

“Truth — or dare,” a breathless gasp punctuates your words.

Zoro’s grin only grows as he tips your chin back between his thumb and forefinger.

“Dare.”

It’s only then that you realize his cheeks are wine-flushed, his chest rising and falling nearly as fast as yours. You swallow slow and track his eyes as he watches the pale bob of your throat.

“Kiss me again.”

act iii: fool’s gold

It takes all of three hours for Sanji to get something out of Zoro, and three days before Robin and Nami manage to wheedle something out of you.

“No seriously! Things have been different since that one party we had —” Nami presses her palm to the kitchen table, here eyes wide. Robin sits on the couch, her expression one of mixed amusement and near academic interest.

“Different how?” you reach into the cookie jar and fish out a crumbled corner of what used to be a double chocolate chip cookie.

“Ugh! You know what I mean!” Nami turns to Robin, motioning towards you, “Help me here!”

Robin laughs, tossing up a graceful hand, “I suppose something does seem… changed.”

“Something?” you ask, licking at a smudge of chocolate on your thumb.

“Well…” Robin says, drawing out the syllable and making to examine the nails on her long, thin fingers, “it’s definitely not nothing.”

You allow yourself a smile, “Something’s definitely not nothing.”

Nami lets out a frustrated groan, but she’s smiling too.

It’s been long enough that you’d learned to relax around them, and you’d since also learned that nothing is so sacred as the sanctity of sisterhood. That bonds between friends might be forged in fire and brimstone, but bonds between women are forged in cinder and smoke — in the wreckage of after, when the fighting’s been done and all that’s left is the mending.

“What’s all this giggling about?” Zoro ducks into the half-ajar door, staring at the three of you.

Nami cocks an eyebrow; Robin shrugs.

You, for your part, smile and bat your lashes.

“Oh nothing,” you say.

“Just girl-talk,” offers Nami.

“Nothing to interest a legendary swordsman like yourself,” Robin polishes off.

Zoro’s eyes narrow, his gaze jumping between the three of you before it lands on you and he scoffs.

“Yeah, whatever. We’re docking soon.”

And that’s all he offers before sauntering back out of the room, leaving the door swinging behind him, but not before you catch sight of the redness at the tips of his ears as he hurries away.

You give it a beat of three seconds before pushing to your feet and following after, humming to yourself. Behind you, Nami and Robin share a knowing look.

“Definitely not nothing,” Robin says as she stands to follow you.

The island, if it can even be called that, is nothing more than a rough conglomeration of steep cliffs strapped together by a thin band of land barely wide enough to be categorized as a beach.

“Well! This is something!” Luffy declares, his arms akimbo on his hips as he stares at the island.

“Yeah… it’s uh… something for sure,” Usopp agrees, making a face as he squints at the cluster of rocks that look more like the jagged edges of a broken bottle than any kind of proper land formation.

“We’ll just anchor here for the night… get some good rest, and then...” Sanji’s words trail off, interrupted by a ghostly wail that rises from the gathering of dark cliffs, turning them into an echo chamber until it seems to rumble through the sand beneath them.

“… gold, all gold! — no, not a liar — please!”

A shiver etches itself up your spine and instinctively, you wrap your arms around yourself.

Zoro steps out in front of you, as if to shield you from whatever might come. His thumb presses against the hilt of his swords, his shoulders tense as corded wire.

“Uh… everyone else heard that too, right?” Chopper asks, peaking out from around Robin’s legs.

“Yep. Definitely not just you,” Sanji confirms.

Luffy grins, “Seems like there’s someone else on this island! Maybe they can show us around!”

Time passes by strangely on the island — one minute, the sun is still hanging low on the far horizon, and the next, the sky is the color of a bullet wound, darkness seeping in around the horizon.

“Whoever’s here on the island — they sure aren’t making it — easy —” Sanji grunts as he hoists himself up a slippery piece of rock face, sweat glistening on his forehead as he squints into the looming blackness.

“Luffy? You sure you know where we’re going?” Nami shouts, her voice ringing back in a way that makes everyone wince and cover their ears.

Zoro grabs your elbow a second before you slip, fingers digging into your flesh even as you steady yourself against him.

“Sorry — thanks,” you say, unsure of which one you really mean.

“Yeah! I can smell something — like a campfire! And… cooking!” Luffy’s voice calls back from somewhere in the gathering dark. Everyone shares a glance before bracing themselves and trudging on.

By the time you all catch up to Luffy, no one is certain of what time it is, only that it’s dark. But the kind of darkness that seems to cling to the skin — a darkness so dense it starts to take on shape and weight.

It presses in around you and you feel your breaths shortening in your chest.

Beside you, Zoro reaches out to brace a hand at the small of your back.

“Oh! I see a light ahead! C’mon!” Luffy’s voice rings out from somewhere up ahead, followed by the patter of sandals on stone. The rest of you follow, and then all too suddenly, light flickers to life in what seems to be a huge, subterranean cave deep within the cliffs of the island. It casts stark shadows against the slick, cavernous walls.

You frown, goosebumps rising along your arms and legs.

But before you have time to dwell on the wrongness of something there, Luffy’s voice snags your attention like a thread on an errant splinter.

“Hi! Oh, wow — that looks delicious!”

You turn a corner to find Luffy hunkering down over a blazing campfire and the silhouette of someone sitting opposite him, a sharp spike held out in front of them, turning slowly over the flickering flames.

“Oh… please… come join me — sit and listen to a story — I have so many stories — so many adventures to share!” the figure across the fire seems to quiver with the dancing flames, his voice filling up the whole of the cave, loud and boisterous and eager. But strange and hollow too.

You frown, chewing on the insides of your cheeks.

Ahead of you, Usopp and Chopper both take tentative seats next to Luffy, who had cheerfully plopped down next to the fire.

“Wow, this looks great! Are you here by yourself? I’m here with my crew! Are you a pirate too?” Luffy asks, his endless enthusiasm pouring from him like a spring.

Robin, Nami, and Sanji all hold back, but you take a step forward, and then another. Something compelling you towards the voice, pulling you closer. There’s a desperation, a loneliness with which you’re all too familiar — you inch closer, and then closer, till you’re almost level with Luffy, and you lower yourself to the ground next to him, Zoro dropping down beside you, his knee pressing against your leg in a silent reassurance.

“Come… come closer! It’s a good story — I promise!”

“Truth,” you mutter, just beneath your breath. Beside you, Zoro lets out a puff of breath, though his stance doesn’t loosen.

Behind you, you can hear the distinct sounds of the rest of the crew drawing just a step closer.

“Once upon a time… there was a city on an island where everything, and I mean everything was made of gold!”

The figure across the fire sounds cheered, elated even. Behind you, you feel Nami take half a step closer. Cold seeps into your veins despite the warm, dancing flames, and your fingers dig into the hard packed earth beneath you.

“I found it — I did! With my crew — the best sailors and seamen around! But the king… he was greedy! And he wanted his own men to take the treasures, so he forced me to lead them to the city again —”

“Truth,” you say again, but something in the tone of the figure’s voice makes you frown.

“Except… the city had gone… and there was nothing left… nothing but lies!”

You shudder back, swallowing hard. All around you, the darkness presses in with long, thin tendrils like so many loving fingers. The fire flares up, casting sparks up towards the cave’s ceiling, where stalagmites hang like broken teeth in a petrified monster’s maw.

“Oh… don’t be scared… come back — I won’t hurt you —”

“Liar!” you spit, the word scraping its way out of your throat.

Zoro leaps to his feet just as Luffy does the same. The fire flares again, a second before snuffing itself out, but in that second, you finally catch sight of the figure, hooded in shadow, sitting across from you — it has the shape of a man, tall and broad, but the limbs of a spindle-legged monster. It wears the darkness like a cloak, with beady, red eyes and a too-wide mouth.

“Don’t! Call me a liar! That’s what they called me — that’s what they called when they killed me! KILLED ME FOR TELLING THE TRUTH!”

You scramble back, Zoro nearly lifting you off the ground in his haste to pull you away. Luffy whips back his arm and swings it forward but all it catches is tendrils of shadow.

“Hey! That’s not nice!” he shakes off his fist, frowning as he stares at the bits of wriggling darkness still clinging to his skin.

“Run!” you shout as everyone bolts for the lightless path you all took to get to the heart of the cave.

“NOT A LIAR! NOT A LIAR! I FOUND IT! THE CITY! BELIEVE ME! BELIEVE ME!”

You clap your hands around your ears and race for what you hope is the exit. Behind you, you can hear the distinct sounds of Zoro’s blades whistling through the air*.*

“Damnit! How’dyou fight a shadow? There’s nothin’ to hit!”

“Quit tryna hit it and just run!” Sanji’s voice answers a second before he breezes passed you.

“Why don’t you believe me? Why?!”

“We — I believe you!” you shout, your chest a thundering mess of footfalls and scrambling bodies, and against all instinct, you turn around to face the darkness again, cupping your hands around your mouth, “I believe you! I know — I know you’re telling the truth!”

“What’re you doing?” Zoro asks, leveling himself by your side, his arm pressing against yours. Behind you, the thinnest sliver of light is creeping into the cave from what you assume is the entrance.

Morning. Has it really been that long?

Time is the greatest liar, you remember, suddenly, violently, the thought tearing through you like teeth.

“I — he’s telling the truth,” you say through gritted teeth, even as you take a few steps back. Inside the cave, the figure seems to shrink back from the encroaching light.

“What truth?” Zoro asks, his blade held aloft, his stance wide and ready.

“All of it,” you say, forcing your voice to be gentle, turning your face back towards the darkness, “I know, I can hear it — I know you’re telling the truth — about the island, the city — all of it!”

“Yes… all I wanted was to get back to the city… but… no one believe me… and I died… I died for it!”

“I know, and I’m sorry… no one should be punished for telling the truth —” your voice cracks.

“I tried!”

“I know…” you say as the figure shrinks and shrinks and shrinks and the light behind you grows and grows and grows, until you can feel the warm seeping into the skin of your back.

“And trying is everything,” you say, biting your lip as Zoro wraps an arm around your waist.

“Come with me… I’ll take you to the city — we can go together!”

You shake your head, heat prickling at your eyes as you turn away from the darkness of the cave and towards the light of the oncoming day.

“Liar…” the word falls from you like a rock, or a tear, cast off the cliff that greets you and Zoro as you both stare over the edge. The rest of the crew is nowhere to be found, but Zoro’s arm is still around your waist, and you can feel his warm breath by your cheek.

“Hey — do you trust me?”

You look up; in the dawning, morning light, Zoro, with his sun-kissed skin and dark moss hair appears to be limned in gold.

And maybe it’s the air, or the sea, or simply the angry pieces of this jagged, left-behind island of shadows like broken teeth trying to tear apart the sky, conducting his voice into a cacophony of echoes that sing and scream through the crags and eves of the valley beneath — but the whole island seems to reverberate with the question —

Do you trust me?

You close your eyes and breath. When you open them again, your heartbeat is steady. And when you speak, the rising sun streaks the tips of the saw-toothed peaks in strokes of molten gold. The valleys beneath you conduct your answer into an entire single-syllabled symphony —

Yes.

You feel his arm tighten around your waist, the wind as it tangles soft fingers in your hair. All around you, everything is light, and light, and light.

“Jump!”

You close your eyes, and jump.

-----

footnotes/appendix

uso-uso no mi translates to "lie-lie fruit"; i made it up bc it would be too op to have in the actual animanga i think

the "acts" refer to a classical 3-act structure that most movies/plays/scripts are written in: setup, confrontation, and resolution... with a smattering of other things sprinkled in for ~vibes~

in much of classical japanese and chinese mythology, foxes are associated with trickers and lies, often turning into beautiful women to deceive men, luring them into forests and mountains before taking their lives

the "figure" in the last scene is... can you guess? noland! kudos to anyone who figured it out as they were reading *\ (>o<) /*

did i absolutely take the "do you trust me" line from disney's aladdin??? HELL YEAH i did !!!! tru trust is my kink u__u

[mikoyamisheadcanonblog]

707 (Lucial/Saeyoung Choi) Relationship (1)

❤️Who Wakes up first in the morning: ❤️ He probably does, he doesn’t get a lot of sleep and such always working and having to wake up early and start coding and trying to hack on the computer but with his S/O sharing the bed and such and won’t leave while his S/O sleeps as he watches them sleep and just in bliss that he finally have someone that does love him and he wants to soak up every minute of being around them.

❤️Who’s the first to fall asleep at night:❤️ Probably his S/O he will stay awake and finish the work he needs to do while they lay in the bed next to him while they share small conversations about the day or the RFA member. He will tell his S/O to sleep as he hears them yawn and such and that he is almost done before crawling into bed with them and such if they keep pushing him.

❤️What they playfully tease each other over: ❤️ Anything, everything. He loves to dress as a woman and act as his S/O’s best friend just to see people’s reactions. Or he and his S/O trying to steal Elly together. Or even makes exaggerated stories about his missions and adventures anything to get his S/O to laugh as he enjoys their laughter. His S/O can tease him about his cars and other stuff as he will laugh along with them.

❤️What they do when the other’s having a bad day:❤️ He will do everything in his power to make sure his S/O is having a better day. He will make jokes with them, and steal Elly so they can pet her till they feel better, that is until Jumin comes in and steals her back. Get the RFA involved and throw a small party for them. He will even pay for a trip, and go in one of his cars, an excuse to get out of work and such he wants his S/O happy and telling jokes with them. He will just want his S/O there for him when he is having a bad day, a plan to kidnap Elly and such and just enjoying one another with Honey Buddha Chips and just talking about life and jokes just knowing he has someone with them.

❤️How they say ‘I’m sorry after arguments: ❤️ He will apologize give him some time. He lost his cool, his S/O was put in danger or something and he in the end yelled at them but after a minute he will realize his mistake and such and apologize after he cooled off. It is a simple apology with some of their favorite snacks and drinks. He will accept any apology his S/O gives him of course his favorite snacks and drinks are bonus for him as he wraps his arms around their waist and finds comfort just being with them.

❤️Which one’s more ticklish:❤️  His S/O he will take advantage of it be warned. He does have a few ticklish spot under his arm and inside his elbow. He will start a tickle fight after poking his S/O and seeing them jump.

❤️Their favorite rainy day activities:❤️ Anything and everything his S/O wants to do. If they want to sit inside and play video games. He would do that, if they want to watch movies all day he is fine with that. Going out for a feast and eating he will do that. Watching the Rain fall, he will be fine with anything as long as he is with his S/O he is happy and enjoying their time together. On warm days he likes taking his S/O on a little spin with his cars.

❤️How they surprise each other:❤️ Buying a new outfit he thinks would look good in them, their favorite video game or book that just came out. Or small little treats that he wants to try with them. Heck he will even surprise his S/O with Elly and such and play with her till Jumin comes. Or throw a small surprise party with his S/O. He is harder to surprise and such and a simple gesture as surprises hugs or kisses would leave him more baffled and such.

❤️Their most sickening show of public affection:❤️ He isn’t afraid to display his love for his S/O of course in moderation. Simple hand holding or pet names is enough to get his heart fluttering and sharing secret kisses behind the members back of course isn’t ashamed of it and teasing the RFA who are staring.

[leilakisakabiri]

Hey love! Could you maybe please do a negative ending to Your Losing Me. Like after she says “I don’t even know if i wanna be in this relationship rn” she leaves and ofc Pablo chases her she says that “they will talk in the morning” but they obv don’t and Pablo realizes he messed up HARD. You don’t have to do it no pressure.❤️

You're Losing Me (Gavi) *Alternate Ending*

Summary: You and Gavi's relationship is slowly falling apart - and neither of you know how to save it.

Warnings: Angst. Toxic behavior. 

A/N: Hi anon thanks for the request! I'd love to do a negative ending, even though it's a bit late. Making this more of a drabble.

Read the original fic here before continuing. Masterlist

You gave him a soft smile before you put distance between the two of you, letting the rain mask the sound of you leaving.

The lights from the venue grew dimmer as you continued walking, and you spared one last glance over your shoulder before it disappeared from view, seeing Gavi’s tiny figure rooted in place, watching you leave.

after that day you didn't see Gavi again, and while for the first few days he denied it, insistent that you would call like you promised you would, his hope soon turned to anguish as he realized that day wouldn't come.

There were several days that Gavi had to physically restrain himself from driving to your house just to beg for you back. He lost you, and he knew he had no one to blame but himself.

He would be doing a task as mundane as laundry and his mind would start to wander about all the memories the two of you created in this very room - dancing around the area like a bunch of schoolchildren.

Every time the yearning for you came so did the pang of guilt. He couldn't believe that he had once had you all do himself and treated you so poorly. If only he knew how good he had it.

If someone ever granted him a wish, he decided, without a doubt, that he would go back in time and change the way things ended between you two, to save you both, and make sure that he could be the guy for you.

Once he told his friends they quietly talked amongst themselves, muttering about how it was for the better, or how it was just a matter of time till you got back together.

It was only Pedri who took time to talk to the lone midfielder, pulling him aside during a particularly rough day of practice.

"What's going on? Why are you playing so bad?"

"Today's her birthday."

That was all it took for the sympathetic look on Pedri's face to return, as he offered his friend a hug, "I'm sorry man, I know it's hard, but you just have to keep pushing."

Gavi pulled away, shaking his head, voice cracking, "It's so fucking hard. I-I miss her everyday. I just can't believe that for the rest of her birthdays, I won't get to be there."

Pedri chewed on his lip unsure of what to say, "Maybe you can get her back eventually?"

"No she won't take me back. We're over. For good." Gavi confirmed. He knew that you deserved better, and as much as it killed him, he loved you enough to want the best for you, and as much as he wished and prayed, it didn't change the fact that he knew that it wasn't him.

[hanahaki-disease]

Till I Let You Fall

Hell or High Water - Percy Jackson/DC Crossover

Summary:

“Jason Todd. The second Robin, Tim and Percy’s Robin. Percy’s big brother was alive and had beat the shit out of him the night before in Titans tower.”

❤️✨HE HAS RISEN BABY GIRL‼️✨❤️🤪🦀

**************************************

“Summer’s next week, huh?” Tim said from the door way. Sleep still had its grip on him, it tugged his eyelids down and made his movements a bit more lethargic than usual. But last nights’ patrol had been rough and Percy thinks Tim deserves to be a bit lazy on a Wednesday morning.

Croc had decided to start the night with a bang, crawling out of his lair that was the sewers to terrorize and obtain whatever it was he wanted in the docks. They had yet to figure out what it was, but Percy knows that Tim or Bruce will have that info by the time he gets back from the orientation. Tim also had the misfortune of running into Polka Dot Man right before his patrol ended. The corrosive circles made his cape look like Swiss cheese and he had lost a shoe some how in that battle.

Percy fought really hard to contain his laughter when he came back to the cave like that. Hair sticking up and disheveled, one sock wet from the constant puddles of rain water and cave moisture, his belt in one hand and his other hand holding up his pants. Tim was a mess and Percy had the right as his brother and best friend to laugh at him.

“Actually, summer started on Monday,” Percy reread the itinerary for the orientation before shoving it into his backpack. “But yes, I go back to camp next week.”

Tim nodded his head, scratching at his belly as he did so. “What kinda shenanigans do you think you’ll get up to this time?”

“With my track history in mind,” he said. “Probably another cross country adventure. Higher chances of death this time, I know that for sure.”

“Why’s that?” Percy watched as Tim laid across his bed, across his clothes that Alfred had just finished pressing. “Did you have another prophetic dream or something?”

The younger of the two rolled the other off his clothes before grabbing his pillow and hit Tim with it. Percy chuckled at Tim’s groan when he threw it at his face. “Or something.” Tim did not look amused. “It’s…a vibe that I have, not so much as a dream. I just have this feeling that something is gonna happen this summer, not just camp, but here as well.”

“Like an invasion or takeover?” Percy shook his head. “Oh, one of us gets like, uber sick and we’re out for like a month? No, Bruce gets food poisoning when he goes on that date with Selina on Friday?”

“No, but that would be funny,” Percy leaned against his desk. “It’s more like, something happens to you specifically. Something happens and you get really hurt.”

“That’s not ominous at all,” Tim says.

“I know, which is why I’m leaving you these.” Percy pulls out a small drawstring bag from the desk drawer and tossed to him. It wasn’t any bigger than the palm of his hand and jingled when it landed. Inside was a good little pile of gold coins, roughly the size of a dollar coin and embossed on both sides.

One side had the empire state building on it, beams of light reaching out to the border making the picture seem holier than it was in real life. Circling the Empire state building on both side were Greek characters, probably a phrase of some kind. He could recognize a few letters, one was the popular ‘omega’ and another was ‘delta.’ There was also ‘psi’ but he couldn’t be quiet sure since it was a little different than the current version in the modern Greek alphabet, so Tim deduced that this was written in some kind of older version of the language.

On the other side of the coin was a small Pegasus encircled by a laurel wreath and the same Greek phrase on the edge of the coin. There was maybe, twenty of these coins in the bag. Each one having as different symbol in the laurel and the Empire State building on the other side. “What are these?”

“Gold drachmas,” Percy answered. “Currency of the gods, you can use them to call me when I’m gone.”

“You have a phone, though, can’t I just use that?”

He shook his head. “Have you ever seen me use my phone? If I try to use it, it’s basically a beacon to any and all monsters in Gotham, they’ll know I’m here and come after me. And I kinda don’t want to fight any more than I have to.”

“That’s fair. How does it work?” Tim sat up.

Percy moved to the window. The morning sunlight was bright and warm and so very different than how it usually is, but Tim didn’t mind it when he was inside. Like a cat, he could lay on the ground with a pillow and a blanket and take a nap in it’s warmth. He wouldn’t dare do it outside, though. Summer in Gotham was a humid hell and he didn’t want to be basting in his seat while he got roasted by the sun. At least inside he had the luxury of air conditioning.

Tim watched Percy’s gaze focused on the bottle of water on his nightstand. He watched as it’s contents began to spin in it’s plastic confines, swirling around in a vortex, making the bottle move as it did so. With an outstretched hand, Percy commanded it to burst from the bottle, pieces of plastic launched across the room—and in his hair—as the water floated it’s way to him.

Logically, Tim knows Percy can do this, he’s seen it before when Percy saved a baby bat that fell into the cave lake below. But he’s awestruck each time. Like his brain forgets that Percy has water powers and then remembers it all at once when he does it again. It was quite annoying.

He saw him make the water encircle his arm like a bracelet, a constant stream that so many fashion designers and celebrities alike would have killed to have. Carefully he made bits of the water stream off the main one, turning it into a fine mist that shakily made a rainbow in the sunlight. “Bring one of the drachmas and watch this.”

Sliding off the bed, Tim stood beside Percy as he took the drachma from him. “If, for whatever reason, you need to get a hold of me, this is how you do it. You make a rainbow, grab one of these, and say: O Iris, accept my offering!” He tossed the coin into the rainbow and Tim half expected to hear it clatter against the ground on the other side. But it didn’t. It wasn’t on the floor. It had simply vanished. “Then you ask her to show you who you need to talk to, for example: Show me, Grover Underwood, Camp Half-blood!”

A fuzzy image came into view and Tim audibly gasped at the sight. Grover looked exactly as he remembered him from sixth grade, from the curly hair, wispy beard on his chin and the slightly goat-like eyes. But while it was nice to see him again, Tim couldn’t help but take in the sights of the background.

Looming over the other buildings in the area, was a Colosseum. Old stone, withered by age but still kept up and cared for, it was the largest building Tim could see, with an amphitheater not too far from it either. A semi-circle of stone seats faced an unlit bonfire pit and a wooden stage. Pillars of white marble and lit braziers stood further behind the amphitheater, that was probably the pavilion Percy talked about. Where they eat their meals or have cabin meetings since there’s enough for all of them.

It wasn’t hard to spot the other campers Percy talks about, they all wore the same bright orange shirts he had and some were decked out in armor. Chest plates and shin straps, cauldrons and helmets, leather and shiny bronze that glinted in the sunlight. Each of them had a weapon on them. A sword on their hips, an ax in their hand or a spear. Though he knew they were kids like him, no older than eighteen, they held themselves like soldiers. Trained and dangerous kids who could hold their own for a good while in combat against the Amazonians. They fought like the Amazonians, Tim thought as he watched a group spar on the right side. Sand and dirt got kicked up as they moved, the plumes of their helmets shaved as they ducked, and the clash of blades and shields a constant background noise in Percy and Grover’s conversation.

“Alright, see ya G-man,” Percy swiped his hand though the image, ruining the rainbow and ending the magic video call. “You understand how it works now?”

Tim nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good,” Percy said sending the last bit of water on him towards the sink in his restroom, fist bumping the air when it landed in the porcelain bowl. “If anything happens, anything at all, let me know. I’ll drop everything and come home.”

“Yeah, no, I wont do that,” Tim said and collect the bag of coins. “You’re going to be fifteen at the end of the summer Percy, and you said it yourself that you’re basically a general in this war of yours. I won’t rip you away from that for something you don’t need to worry about. We can handle it here, you just make sure you don’t die when you’re in camp and that you come home for your birthday.”

“No promises,” Percy says and grabbed his stuff, knowing Alfred was going to call for him soon to head to orientation for his new high school. Tim followed him out to the hall, waiting beside Cassandra who paused to waive goodbye to her new little brother, “Oh! And don’t even think about looking for your birthday present in my room. I already gave it to Alfred to keep your grubby hands away from it.”

“Shucks,” Tim placed his hand on his hips and waived Percy goodbye as he left with Alfred.

Tim knows that Percy has magic dreams, he’s been told all about them after his initial introduction into Percy’s second life. Knows that they sometimes leave him shaking with a sheen of sweat, other times he looks haunted. As if the ghost of someone he once knew visited him, leaving him sullen during breakfast the next morning. Sometimes his dreams are pretty useful, a few times he’s woken up with a premonition, a fuzzy kind of gut feeling about a building or a profile on a certain case. Other times, he warns Tim not to go with Bruce on a case, to go another way on patrol, to stop or distract Stephanie from something. It isn’t clear why sometimes, since nothing happens after that, but Tim can just assume that whatever it was he saw didn’t happen.

But this time, Percy didn’t have any concrete feelings or visions. He didn’t have an inkling of where or when, of who was there and who wasn’t. Just a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that kept Tim wary of whats to come later on.

—

Well shit.

So that’s what Percy meant when he said that Tim was going to be getting hurt.

Tim hissed in pain as he tried to reach for the handle of the drawer in the stand besides him. His right leg was in a cast, his shin was fractured and his knee was broken, as was his left wrist. The bruised ribs hurt to breath, move—exist in general, and the many cuts and bruises he got did not make anything any better.

He didn’t know what to expect in the days following Percy’s departure and the feeling of a serious injury towards him. Every day and every patrol he had spent on edge waiting for it to happen. Jumping at every person or movement in the shadow. (he felt bad every time it happened with Cass.) It got to the point that Bruce suggested that Tim takes some time away from Gotham and to head to Jump City to hang with the Titans for a bit.

Bruce.

Bruce Wayne, paranoia extraordinaire. The man who has plans for every little thing that could go wrong, told Tim that he needed some time away from Gotham. Because of Tim’s paranoia.

If Tim could laugh, he would, but his aching ribs prevented him from doing so. It also didn’t help that he was making it worse by trying to get the bag of drachmas he kept in the drawer. Normally he had them on top the stand, ready to grab in an emergency if he needed to reach out to Percy. But for some reason, he decided to tuck them into the drawer yesterday morning.

Why? He doesn’t know, he just did it, and here he was. Biting his lip in pain as he strained his good arm trying to even reach the handle. Either way, Tim has to get to those drachmas. He has to find a way to conjure a rainbow and call Percy from whatever quest he was on. This wasn’t something to put off any longer than it has been already—Jason was alive.

Jason Todd. The second Robin, Tim and Percy’s Robin. Percy’s big brother was alive and had beat the shit out of him the night before in Titans tower.

How did he come back? How long has be been alive and where has he been? So many questions had run through his head after Jason left him with an inch of his life last night. All of them needed answers, ones he doesn’t have and has no way of finding out because he was on bed rest. Which was stupid, he doesn’t need it. He’s fine.

Tim also needed to figure out where Jason was going next. He had gone on about how Batman had let another kid put on his suit, how Tim was just playing pretend in a dead kids uniform. And wow, Tim had déjà vu between the attacks from those insults since Percy had yelled them at him almost three years ago. So it was plausible for Tim to assume that Jason was heading to Gotham. He was probably going to confront Bruce or something.

And while Tim should warn Bruce of whats to come, let him know that his dead son has risen from the dead and is on a war path his way with a bullet that has his name on it. But Tim has found that he could care a little less than he should about Bruce right now. His main priority was to call his best friend to let him know that his brother was alive. After that, then maybe he’ll call Bruce.

His middle finger had just barely hooked onto the handle when the air in front of him shimmered into existence. The edges were colorful, a rainbow made of water vapor and magic, and in the middle there was a girl about his age. She had a healthy tan, much like Percy’s, and the tops of her cheeks were a bit more sun burnt than then rest of her face. Gold curls were pulled back into a ponytail letting Tim see the full intensity of her eyes.

He doesn’t think he’s ever seen some one with gray eyes like hers, storm cloud gray and a piercing stare despite the red in her sclera. Tim knows that his eyes are pretty pale compared to the darker and brighter blues and green of his family, and he has been told that his own owlish, lead-paint stare was unnerving from time to time. But Tim found himself shrinking back into his pillow under hers.

“Who are you?” He said finally before mentally cursing himself that he didn’t have a domino on.

“Are you Tim Drake?” She answered.

“Answer my question first,” Tim hardened his glare, noticing how she didn’t seem fazed at it.

“My name’s Annabeth, I’m a…” Her next words caught in her throat a little. Her gaze fluttering to her surroundings as she collected her thoughts. “I was a friend of Percy.”

Percy was never one to share personal facts about himself to those he doesn’t know or doesn’t trust. He’s seen multiple times the way Percy shuts himself off to the other kids in school, the paparazzi, or anyone he deems unsafe. When they were kids, there was no hesitation for Percy to spill his life’s story to Tim. Somehow knowing that Tim was going to be his best friend at the age of eight on that rooftop years ago. He can imagine he was the same way over there at camp.

So whoever this Annabeth was, how ever she was connected to Percy, Tim could trust her too.

“Is he okay?” Tim tried to sit up.

She gave out a shaky breath and her gray eyes welt up with tears again, he tried to not let the dread in his stomach grow. “Have you, um, have you seen the news recently?” He shook his head. “Mount St Helens erupted a week ago, we were there when it did.” The dread was growing.

“I had left to deal with another monster, and Percy stayed there as a distraction.”

No. No…This can’t—

“Percy…” She wiped a tear away. “Percy blew up the mountain. We can’t find him. We think—we believe he died, no one could survive that. There’s gonna be…” she paused for a moment. “There’s gonna be a shroud burning next Friday, I can let you into the camp if you want to come.”

Tim’s throat was dry when he tried to respond. “I thought I couldn’t go since I’m mortal?”

“A demigod can let a mortal enter with explicit permission,” she nodded her head. “If you decide to come, I can meet you at the farmers road and lead you up. You were the only one who knew about this part of Percy’s life, I think he’d want you to be here to help light the pyre.”

With that, she swiped through the rainbow screen and the magic that held the water up fell into droplets on his bed. All at once, they left a wet mark on his sheets. So then why was he still hearing water hitting the bed? It was quiet, and faint, but there nonetheless. With a hand, Tim lifted it to his cheeks and discovered they were wet.

He was crying. When did he start crying? When had Percy left on a quest, why did he go? Tim wasn’t too far away, he could’ve flown a jet or have Superboy fly him there. Tim could have helped Percy, even if he could’ve seen anything. Tim could have had Kon fly in the rumble and the surrounding area, searching though the rocks with his X-ray vision looking for him and all the other people who had been hurt by the explosion. Tim couldn’t have done anything to stop him.

This—This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Tim was supposed to have called Percy. Wheezing from extortion, grimacing at his aching limbs and strained muscles with a smile on his face as he told Percy the news. He would seen his eyes widen, mouth drop, and maybe shed a few tears at the news. Percy would have said that he was on his way home, that he was going to pack his bag and head straight back to Gotham, but now…now…

Oh my god. Tim covered his mouth, he was going to have to tell the others.

He was going to have to be the one to tell Bruce that he lost another son to an explosion. He was going to have to tell Dick that all the bonding and reconciliation they’ve done these past two years were all for naught.

Tim was going to have to figure out a way to tell the recently revived Jason Todd that his little brother had died before he had come back to their world.

**************************************

Jason back in Gotham now >:) things are-a changing Percy’s reaction is gonna be in the next update, so stick around for that. And the dynamic between Percy and the rest of the batfam is gonna shift, quite a bit in the next arc—brace for that.

Also, this update marks the end of the second arc, I hoped you all liked it ❤️

All titles from this arc came from the song “Descending” by Sleep Token, go check them out, they’re an awesome band. Absolutely love them.

Thank you so much for reading‼️❤️

Previous | Masterlist | Next

[eliteseven]

Help, I'm obsessed with SH and I dreamt about her last night. It was really nice, and I'd like to adapt my dream with Serena because I think that dynamic works for them :)

(It probably fits better in Consonance) **clears throat**

Serena wakes up before SH and realizes that, for once, she’s the little spoon. And although she loves holding SH while sleeping, this new feeling is… strangely pleasant (perhaps the fact that they’re both naked helps).

She knows she should wake SH up, but she’s so comfortable that she just buries herself deeper into the embrace. When was the last time she felt something like this? Pleasure, safety, vulnerability, trust, and of course: love. So many emotions she melts into them, feeling like the luckiest person in the world.

And when she hears the rain tapping against the window, she’s convinced there’s no need to wake her girlfriend up, plans can wait (which is funny, because it’s usually SH who throws plans out the window).

Later, when SH herself wakes up confused (more by the time than by the position), she leans in to wake Serena up until she sees the absolute look of bliss on her face as she sleeps. Naturally, she decides she won’t be the one to disturb that peace, and pulls Serena closer to fall back asleep.

(They end up staying in bed all morning).

🥺💕 not them playing a roundabout game of “better not wake my sleepy girlfriend” over and over again and staying in bed till noon 😭

This is so sweet. Tbh I see Jen equally taking half the big spoon responsibilities. She loves to wind herself around Tav from behind and snooze in the crook of her shoulder 🥰 Tav LIVES for it. Jen’s arms sling around her and sometimes she brushes her lips against Jen’s knuckles or pulls Jen a little tighter around her in her sleep. She doesn’t move other than that- she doesn’t want to jeopardize a perfect moment. (Jen’s soft little snores give her life ok)

Jen is so soft with Serena. Despite the sarcastic front that Shadowheart puts up, Jen is soft. She knows she’s Serena’s home, her comfort, her only family atp. She adores her. I think she lives for those sleepy, rainy mornings where Tav is fast asleep in her arms. She is usually the one who cancels their obligations, despite being the band leader and the go-getter. Nothing is more important than their time alone ❤️

[endlich-allein]

I saw Till yesterday at the LTL fest, I loved every minute of it, even the rain didn't spoil the moment 🤘

I'm happy for you and I'm glad you liked his show ! I know it's been a bit complicated because of the hurricane and the weather. Till and his musicians were disappointed not to be able to perform at this festival, so it was a real stroke of luck that they stayed in Louisville and were offered the chance to replace Falling in Reverse.

I'm so happy and proud of him ! I'm glad he's having fun on this tour, he's really enjoying to be on stage. I'm proud of what he's achieved today, despite yesterday's challenges and obstacles 🙏🏻❤️

[minigirl87]

Perfect Study Buddy with Marc Spector

This little idea popped into my head while I was bored studying. I thought it was sweet and plan on doing a Steven and Jake version. I love Marc, and I just want to love him ❤️

Summary:

Marc brings you a surprise while studying. After the treat, he thinks he should leave you alone as he's not very good at that sort of thing. Very fluffy. Established relationship. Mentions of Steven and Jake. Feel free to leave feedback and reblogs welcome.

Enjoy

Warnings:

None. Except Marc thinking little of himself.

Word Count: 1209

The rain patters off the window as it journeys down the pane of glass. Behind it, the sky is of London is a slate grey. Smoky velvet clouds dancing along the wind as whistles away the sound of the usual traffic you would here.

Sitting up on your bed. You have every pillow and cushion available in the flat positioned behind you. Your study playlist filling the room, you close your eyes, moving your head to the melody. Entranced with the music and the hum of the fish tank.

Thiers’s only one thing missing to make this afternoon perfect. Your Husband’s. You're just about to get up and look for him. When he comes in, he caries two mugs and a brown paper bag in his teeth.

“Marc” you laugh “what you got there?.” Putting your text and notebook down. Marc puts your mug down on your side table. Taking the bag from his mouth.

“Surprise for you baby” he says smiling, his chocolate orbs shining as they crinkle at the corners. Adjusting himself so he’s next to you. You take a sip of your tea, enjoying how it warms your hands and face.

“Just how I like it, sweetheart” you say, putting it down. You turn to look at Marc smiling as wrap your arm around Marc’s bicep. Resting you head on his shoulder.

“Steven told me how to do it” he said quietly as though he would be chastised. You squeeze his bicep and feel it pulse. Still, after all these years, Marc still needs reassurance with domestic situations.

“What’s in the bag, sweetheart” you look softly at him. His coffee wafts up from his side table it’s almost as dark as his curls.

“I told you!, a surprise for our little genius” Marc says with chuckle. Picking up his sweet, smelling mug of coffee.

“Steven will like that, but I’m not sure he’ll be happy getting called little.” You retort with a giggle, sipping your tea again.

Marc almost spits his coffee out, as he laughs that had at your remark. It's good to hear him like this, happy and carefree. You can guarantee that his belly aches laughing that hard. But it’s music to your ears.

“what’s so funny love” You smirk into your mug before putting in down. You turn, looking up at his handsome profile. Chocolate curls falling out of place, you know that he must have been running his hands through his locks. You rest your head on his shoulder.

Marc picks up the brown bag and hands you as your eyes light up.

“Oh Marc! Sweetheart” you practically squeal. As Marc hands you one of your favourite bakery items, “ Thank you” You take a bite, savouring the delicious flavour.

Now you know why he was out so long earlier. You smile at the thought of Marc, in your favour bakery, talking to the little elderly lady who owns it. She is very fond of the three boys.

Finishing your treat, you lick your fingers and have another drink. You rest your head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. Finishing his treat, Marc leans down, kissing the top of his head.

He scrunches up the now useless bag, rolling it in his hands. He kisses your head again and moves to get off the bed.

You pick your books and pen up. Marc hits the bag in the bin the first time. Turning, he picks his empty mug up and is about to leave you.

“Where you going, love?” you asked, reaching out, patting where he had been, still warm where he moved from.

“was going to go watch some t.v, till you're done, baby.” He gathers your mug. “Plus, I can't really do anything” he says with a tinge of sadness in his voice, gesturing to your books.

A wave of sadness washes over you when Marc berates himself like this. He knows Steven and Jake stay while you study, enjoying their presence and any help they give. Marc feels inadequate in this situation, believing he’ll do something wrong, and you’ll end up hating him.

“Marc love, please” you smile brightly at him while holding your hand out to him.

Marc takes your hand, giving it a squeeze. Sitting next to you again, he has the sweetest dopey smile. You place your left hand on his right thigh as you start reading and taking notes. Your busy writing notes, when you feel him.

Marc dreamily gazes at you as he lazily traces patterns on your forearm. A contented moan escaping his lips as you knead his thigh with your thumb.

He runs his fingers down your forearm as you softly shiver under his gentle touch. He’s a gentle soul. Though he doesn’t believe it, because of who he is. But moments like show how vulnerable he can be when he trusts someone.

“I remember when you gave me this” You smile fondly as Marc twists a silver fidget ring with moons and stars on it, on your middle finger, with his thumb.

Coming home from a mission, Marc watched the woman in the plane seat, next to him turning her ring to calm herself. He wasted no time in asking her about one for his wife after she recommended one. Marc was searching Google on where to find one in London before coming home to you.

“I knew it would help you when I saw it, baby.” Marc turns to kiss your cheek, now holding your hand. Comfortable silence. Both lost to your thoughts.

You finish up your studies, closing your books. You squeeze Marc's hand, bringing him back to reality. He smiles warmly at you.

“done now! Love, thank you.” You beam at Marc, eyes sparkling at him.

“For what? Baby.” Marc looks confused, brows together. This time twiddling your wedding band.

He tends to fiddle with your wedding band. He’s not good at taking praise. He thinks he doesn’t deserve it, but you’re starting to change that.

You climb onto his lap, your legs either side of his thighs. Marc places his strong hands under your shirt, skin tingling when his hands meet your waist. His thumbs move in a circular motion on your skin

“For looking after me and keeping me calm” you say against his lips, staring into his sparkling chocolate eyes. Before gently kissing him, stroking both his checks with thumbs. Your hands make their way to lushness of his curls you start kneading his scalp.

His grip on you tightens, pupils blown as a moan escapes his plush lips. He looks at you with nothing but love as he softly says “I love you Y/N, more than you can imagine.”

You tilt his head up by gently pulling his locks that’s curled around your fingers. Your kiss confirming your yet unspoken reply. Marc leans in hungrily, devouring your love, tongues dancing their well-known routine.

“Oh Marc! I love it so much that words wouldn’t start to tell you. As your forehead rest together. Moving down, you snuggle up next to him, your head on his chest.

“I’m glad you stayed, my perfect study buddy” warmth spreading across you both.

“Me too, baby. Me too.” He kisses the top of your head, hugging you closer to him.

melodygatesauthor @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @my-secret-shame @missscarlettangel @missdictatorme @jake-g-lockley @steven-grants-world @romanarose @campingwiththecharmings @writingforcurrentobsessions2 @welcometostayingawake @novanitee @micheleamidalajedi @annautumnsoul @midgardian-witch

[the-illiterate-pirate]

Can we get some Thunder McQueen headcanons? It doesn’t matter what kind!! -❤️

Random McQueen HCs ♡

Nsfw under the cut

Sfw

• McQueen can be found buzzing around the house cleaning. It's something he picked up from Green Dolphin, and helps with stress and anxiety.

• His significant other is also a big help <3 He just loves you so much! McQueen can't stand not having you near him. Mornings you find yourself suffocating in his chest, arms wrapped tight around to make sure you don't leave.

• Speaking of mornings, he can't stand them. Definitely has a dependency on coffee to keep him going, constantly begging for "five more minutes" of sleep (it's never just five minutes)

• At least he looks cute asleep. Like a giant cat. If he falls asleep alone he likes to curl into himself

• Bad habit of staring (mostly at you)

• It's the 'tism

• Also bc he likes to memorize the details of your face <3

• He also does NOT use emojis/emoticons/indicators during texting. Like he's fine with showing emotion irl but he comes off COMPLETELY dead through texting

• Doesn't like having dates outside the house, but he's willing to do whatever you want to make you happiest! Personally, McQueen would rather stay in, cook supper together and watch old tv. Maybe even bake dessert, too! He gets so soft doing domestic things with you.

• Rainy days make him clingy. Well, clingier than usual. He loves to find whenever you are, wrap you and him up in a nice blanket and watch the rain fall. He hates thunder though (ironic)

• Doodles on himself. Usually things he needs to remember, but you can also catch poorly drawn animals and random symbols and shapes like stars and hearts all up and down his arms and the back of his hands. Please kiss them, he'll get so red.

• His hands are pretty rough, and unfortunately lotion doesn't really help. But they're rough in a sort of comforting way. They're big. And he loves to squish your face and add kisses to your forehead and your nose.

• He smells very dusty and his hands always smell like soap

• Don't let his "no thoughts, head empty" face fool you this man can get HORNY

• Likes to cop feels whenever he pleases. I feel like he's an ass man

• When it comes to the actual bedroom, McQueen loves to be on bottom and dommed. His favorite positions are any that involve you using him till your heart's content

• MASOCHIST....

• Also possible mommy/daddy kink

• Has issues when it comes to self worth but turns into an absolute puddle for praise and body worship.

• HIS DICK MAY NOT BE LONG BUT HE'S GOT THE GIRTH, AND WE DO NOT STAND FOR PP SHAMMING IN THIS HOUSE!!!

• OKAY EXCEPT MAYBE HE DOES ENJOY A LITTLE BULLYING...

• Needs that "Don't bully me or I will cum :(" shirt

• Will cry during sex, whether it's soft or rough he's just an emotional guy

• At the end of it he needs an s/o who will treat him real nice. Someone to cuddle and who makes sure he's alright. Treat him as mean as you want just as long as he gets his kiss and a hug afterwards

• Definitely down to try pegging

• And LOVES licking foods like whipped cream or chocolate sauce off of you...

[krishna-sangini]

The Two Worlds

The blue expanse stretches Till the blue horizon Tiny waves dance around In a rhythm unknown The serene blue of the mighty ocean The calming ripples of the playful waves Make the world seem alluring and pretty Like a divine lotus in a muddy marsh

The wind roars like a wounded lion The waves crash like ramming bulls The rain pours like there’s no tomorrow The calm saint is now a fuming rogue Swallowing every single boat in their way, The waves tear through the ocean’s breast The world seems now like a ghastly hell Full of painful cries and shattering wails

The lucid moon lights up the whole world The unhurried clouds float through the night sky The shimmering stars do a slow dance Leaving a celestial trail On the canvas of the sky It’s calm and quiet; serene and sweet The world now rests after a day of din The moon and the stars smile down with their glory And make the earth a paradise like in stories

The wind howls like a wicked ghoul The clouds burst with a chilling boom The moon abandons its adobe in the sky Leaving the earth in a sinister murk It’s unnerving and dark; forbidding and black The world is like after Pandora’s box opened The paradise is torn apart, revealing a perdition The night darkens with the cries for salvation

A smile adorning my chubby face A cry escaping my brittle lips A laugh I let out with an airy wave A scream erupts from my shrivelled self The mask suddenly breaks, and I become one The smile and tears merge; the pretence falls I see myself for the first time in a while She is broken, but now she truly smiles  

-T.P.N

--------------------------

Don't let the two worlds outside make you create two worlds within yourself...❤️

[yukikorogashi]

Birthdays are a rather new celebration for them, but it isn't beyond recognition to at least one of five batchers. Despite the dislike of the cold, Echo offers to Itsuki a case held in left hand, bucket tipped as hidden smile barely pulls at the lips. "Hey, kid... heard it was your birthday. It's not much, but... everyone deserves to celebrate." He knows her village likely has, but he offers the gift regardless. A scarf tucked into metal casing, the soft-knit material a mixture of blues, greens, silver and stray strands of grey. "These days, the galaxy isn't the friendliest place. At the very least, you can keep warmer when you start to travel out there --- space is a lot colder than you think." And within the scarf lay a set of sweet treats bundled together sloppily with a ribbon ( snowflake designs he recalled from their last visit ). "Sorry about the decoration. . . Wrecker had a little too much fun with the process, I'm afraid."

❤️ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ITSUKI!!! (15th March) ❤️

THIS HERE BATCH-A BROS always had a way of pleasantly surprising her, didn't they? After all, they ain't called the BAD BATCH for nothing! At least, that's what Itsuki herself liked to believe... That's right! They were called that because they were the ROOTINEST TOOTINEST BATCH around!

But anyway-- she was digressin'.

"How did'ja--"

It had been quite some time since she'd last seen them, and understandably so when considering all the shenanigans that they would get up to out there. And so, no matter rain or shine (Or blizzard), Itsuki was always OVER THE MOON to see them drop on by her side of the galaxy.

But, with that said... Itsuki was pretty sure that she hadn't even had the chance to cheekily hint to her about her birthday! And so, someway, somehow, they must-a found out aout it all by themselves! Heck, they even came prepared with a PRESENT. And aww shucks, they didn't need to go through all this trouble for little ol' her!

She was already embracing the bro, before even accepting the offered gift. Rather easily minding any lil' corners that of his armour, while she did. Thanking him over, and over, and over again. Her words and tone ever so giddy, almost as if she had truly received the GREATEST GIFT IN THE WHOLE WIDE UNIVERSE! And maybe it was just that, simply getting to be FRIENDS with these sweet boys, who would still take the time to come on by and celebrate her very special day!

"Ain't nothin' y'all gotta apologise fer, bro!" Itsuki was quick to assure, as delighted giggles followed soon after whilst she pulled back to look up at him. Amusedly imagining to the sight of the WRECKER BRO having a great time, decorating this gift for lil' ol' her!

As she would graciously accept the gift then with both hands, Itsuki wouldn't waste much time in carefully fishing the scarf out (So none of them sweet treats wounded up falling out of the case itself). Tossing it across her shoulders (And over her already present neck scarf), and TICKLED PINK over how wonderfully it actually matched with whatever else she already had on!

"And brrrr-- yer right-a 'bout dat, bro." It was a biting (Pretty dang shocking) fact that she admittedly had to come to terms with. That what awaited for her out there-- would be even colder than the most freezing of blizzards right here on KORI! "But oohhh, does this scarf feel real nice! Uhm gonna wear it ALWAYS, 'specially once ah git out thar m'self!"

And hopefully, she will get to go out there alongside them, one of these days!

"... Hey, ya know what would make this all just-a lil' more perfect, bro?" Reaching her hand out to his then, Itsuki's grin grew, "If y'all stuck around fer the celebration! So, why don't-cha call the rest-a yer boys on down? Ah ain't gone let y'all leave till ya git some nice warm food in yer bellies!"

@galaxycrxss ❤️💕

[music-and-mosh-pits]

Wow it’s been awhile! 🥰, I hope you all enjoy ❤️

Reluctance

A garden filled to the brim with flowers who fight to have their beauty remain - their stems twist in anguish and their petals frustratingly wilt and lose pigment.

The bricks that form walls and border demand to keep them here in this botanical prison.

Hasn’t anyone thought of the flowers that would rather grow through concrete? Face the weed killers to prove that their pain will lead to their amazing survival.

The flowers who resent wind for blowing their seed into a pot rather than a wild strawberry bush. Where they can grow as tall as they want, be as free as a snapdragon can be.

But; I am afraid that I am ivy.

I cling to the walls that keep me trapped in the gaze of strangers. I am ignored as I continue to mourn, growing longer to hug the bricks tighter within my grasp.

An expendable weed like thing.

If I released my grip would I fall to the ground? Lay there limp and thirsty for the love roses and sunflowers receive.

Would the gardener spare his hand and lift me up while pointing me to the sun? Share with me the warmth of compassion and endless patience till I turn to a mossy clump.

Did he ever wish to tend to my vines as he would the clovers and wildflowers.

The kindness I would witness, if only a lowly ivy could receive.

The rain is the only compromise for the thousands of tears I wish to shed. I let the morning dew wash over my tired leaves.

The twilight hours of the night trickles through this silent sanctuary. Birds have returned to their nests and the cicadas have begun to perform their nightly duets.

My stems ache to reach whatever lies beyond seclusion, but I only find myself gripping tighter to the crimson.

[andrevanvuuren]

slide slip slip fall stand up get a grip why can’t you Love me like you can like you loved the others they say they cared but never fucken bothered straight straight fall & break pieces slices cuts shattered glass mirrors cry try stand fall fall fall crawl be strong this isn’t wrong if I’m lost so lost without you don’t need anyone I’m no cheat want that heat I won’t make it cant make it footsteps in my brain drops of rain how will I live if I can’t Love ❤️ you hear your words feel the voice run through you ignore me cause I adore you you love adore the ones who ignore you but my chemicals burn totally different for you I don’t run from my own smoking gun I stay till it’s a better sunny day don’t always say how I feel ain’t crazee everyday I love with naked passion desire dropped the pride but you ignore me cause I adore you you love adore the ones who ignore you but my chemicals burn totally different for you I don’t run from my own smoking gun I stay till it’s a better sunny day(11/4/24 chemicals burn-AvV)

[fireflydreamswithadragonflypulse]

It’s been 3 months tomorrow since you asked me to be your girlfriend. It feels like it’s been three years, in the eternity it feels like I’ve known you. I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to you, but I know that I’ll spend the rest of my days trying to, and loving every second. I was not looking forward to a long distance relationship, but with you, it’s more than worth it. It helps that technology allows me to see your gorgeous face anytime I want. I daydream of kissing you. When we wake up. Before you fall completely asleep, just as you’re dozing off. Before grocery shopping. After grocery shopping. In the aisle while grocery shopping. At home putting the groceries away. Every chance I get, I imagine my lips on yours. In every way, in every scenario. When we fall asleep together at night, I dream of you. Your hands all over me. Your mouth following the trail your hands lead. Little nibbles along the way, followed by sweet, calming kisses, before you pull me into your arms. I sleep so good there. When I wake up to your smiling face, it makes my whole day. No matter how little sleep or if a nightmare randomly crept in, waking up to you is all I could ask for and more. You’re my everything, you know that? I never knew that this type of love is what I’ve always deserved, that you are what I’ve always deserved. That’s why it didn’t work with anyone else…my soul knew what it was looking for, and holy fuck, did it find you. You. My her. My girlfriend. My gorgeous future wife. My best friend. My person. My absolute everything. Thank you. Thank you for loving me the way I never knew existed. Thank you for treating me the way I never knew I deserved to be. Thank you for helping me to see that I am worth everything you give. Thank you for showing me that the most meaningful life full of unconditional love and happiness really is written in the stars for me. Thank you for letting me love you in those exact ways. Because my love, you deserve the world, and I plan to give it to you. Tonight, as I listen to the pouring rain, these lyrics come to mind … “I’ve got plans for you, I’ve got such big plans for you,”; “I realize that you’re all I wanna run to,”; and, “I’ll love you till my lungs give out, I ain’t lyin’…I’m all your’n.” I can’t believe it’s been three months, but at the same time, I feel like you’ve been mine far longer than that. I’m so lucky, whether I’ve officially spent 3 months or 37 years calling you mine, I still go to bed a lucky woman and wake up even luckier every day I call you mine again. Happy 3 month anniversary beautiful…here’s to a lifetime more. I love you, endlessly. 🥰👽🐝♾️

I can’t wait to be home soon, my love. ❤️

[endlich-allein]

Day 2 - I didn't do much on this second day of the concert. I went to the Veltins-Arena early and took the opportunity to eat and drink (and, more importantly, to get the Rammstein glasses I'd been missing), as I wasn't in the feueuzone this time, so I took my time. I still managed to get a good seat, opposite Till, behind the feuerzone... it's sometimes useful to have a strong guy around 😆

I thought the atmosphere was excellent, just like the first show, I love Rammstein shows in Germany. There was a lot of movement and everyone was singing their hearts out. I had tears in my eyes during Zeit, I can't really explain why, but it really touched me. And when the rain started to fall during Adieu, it was magical (well for me, because I heard a few grunts around me).

As for the show, no big changes from the day before. Apart from Paul falling backwards like a turtle during Sonne, I must admit I laughed a lot 🤣 The boat trip was calmer, the guys are still just as energetic, and this time the pyros were perfect. Speaking of pyros, I thought I saw new pyros on the song Sehnsucht, had I not seen them before ? Are they really new ? Was the beer ? Anyway, if you have an answer, I'll take it !

Till, always so magnificent, and his voice perfect, he seemed in good mood and in great shape. I still love his interactions with the other members, especially Flake, their hand-in-hand walk, albeit short, was joyful, and the freeze during Du Riechst So Gut, mama mia, Schneider's drumsticks rubbing Flake's crotch before being carelessly thrown into the audience, I hope nobody was hurt 🤣 I also liked seeing him laughing with Paul and Schneider as they got into the elevator at the end of the show 🥰

It's been a good year, with no big surprises or changes. I've really enjoyed making lots of new memories with Rammstein. I can't wait to see what's next ❤️

[dutifullynuttywitch]

New Orleans always looked beautiful at night. Shops, restaurants, bars and dance pools were gleaming with bright colors and lights. But in the middle of an abandoned alley, near the street, where no one else was there, something mysterious happened. Air was filled with magic. The weather changed within seconds. The clear nightsky turned into a thundery scene as rain was falling down the earth and thunderbolts flashed above. But there was something else, something strange and unusual. A mysterious vortex appeared which tossed six strange figures outside. And then... it closed. The six beeings remained.

I really love your descriptions! It sets the scene so well and pulls you in.

Stabby and Stabby Jr!! 🤭🤭 ok and the Astrid - Threep interactions are sooo cute and in character!!

Ok I adore the gang's initial reactions to the strange new world they landed in. The weird self-pulled machines, the strange clothes, traffic lights, cameras... this is sooo good!!! I can see all these strange contraptions through their eyes!!

"Hey!!! Let Astrid go!!!", Mal shouted at the woman. He grabbed Astrid's arm and pulled her protectively closer to him till their bodies pressed eachother's.

Awww Mal, so protective of his girlfriend 🥹🥰 and pissed at the thiefmaster/lady smokes!!! I love how you kept their cannon appearance in your AU, just to confuse our heroes a little more!!

Nik and Alex appeared at the perfect moment!! I love how well they work as partners. Oooh and Astrid using her seduction skills 😍🔥 and I love a jealous Mal 🤭😂😂

Of course Alex would fall for Threep's charms 🥹

Omg Mal stole Nik's wallet. MAL STOLE NIK'S WALLET. I died laughing 😂😂😂😂

"Don't forget to look after yourself too while protecting the world, nighthunter.", Mal mischevously smiled and returned Nik's belonging back to him.

"Hmm... I like you already, thief. You're not bad actually. I'm impressed by your skills... And I like your shiny daggers."

"Thanks, Nik. My daggers are my tiny babies. But you're very skilled too."

Okay. This whole interaction was soooo good 🥹❤️ i knew they'd get along!!

Omg and Imtura-Katherine, Nia-Vera interactions are something I didn't know I needed in my life!!! And Tyril got to meet fae ... and my lovely Cal 🥹❤️

Nik and Mal greeted their own girlfriends at the same time when they appeared. Both got surprised. They stared at eachother open-mouthed for a while before turning their attention back to their partners. Alex and Astrid began to giggle.

"So Nik calls you rook, Alex?"

"Yup, and you're Mal's kit. Am I right, Astrid? Guess our boys have a few things in common just like the two of us.", she continued laughing with Astrid at the boys.

OMG OMG i giggled and melted from the overload of cuteness and just the hilarious similarities!!!!

Ok ok pleeeeeaaaaaase tell me there will be more crossover stories??!!!! This was soooo good!!!!! 😍😍😍😍

✨️ Kit meets Rook ✨️

Female Main Character: Alexis Clarissa Fontaine (Nightbound) & Astrid (Blades of Light and Shadow)

Characters: Nik Ryder, Mal Volari, Tyril Starfury, Imtura, Nia Ellarious, Vera Reimonenq, Katherine, Cal Lowell, Threep, ...

Pairings: F!MC×NikRyder & F!MC×MalVolari

Summary: Astrid accidently opens the wrong portal.

Word Count: 3.2K words

Rating: Teen (Magic, Adventure, Friendship, Fluff)

Warnings: none, just a small fighting scene

-> My complete Masterlist here <-

Taglist: @infactnoimmasitinthemiddle ; @peonierose ; @secretaryunpaid ; @jdstar88 ; @blackcatkita ; @lilyoffandoms ; @liviusofpella ; @mxdanni ; @mariemarieohcontrary ; @tessa-liam ; @choicesficwriterscreations ; @hopelessromantic1352 ; @rosepetals1 ; @stars-are-within-me ; @dutifullynuttywitch ; @thosehallowedhalls ; @artbyalz ; @choicesficwriterscreations

Some parts grammar checked by @lilyoffandoms

Comments via Reblog wholeheartly welcome

Author's note: The tiny story takes place after Nightbound and Blades of Light & Shadow Book 1. Special thanks to @chanceisagoodboy for the inspiration and idea ✨️

New Orleans always looked beautiful at night. Shops, restaurants, bars and dance pools were gleaming with bright colors and lights. But in the middle of an abandoned alley, near the street, where no one else was there, something mysterious happened. Air was filled with magic. The weather changed within seconds. The clear nightsky turned into a thundery scene as rain was falling down the earth and thunderbolts flashed above. But there was something else, something strange and unusual. A mysterious vortex appeared which tossed six strange figures outside. And then... it closed. The six beeings remained.

"Ouch, what an uncomfortable landing!!", a lady in gown commented as she was lying with her companions on the ground. She focused her lavender-colored eyes on her surroundings and wondered where they got.

"Well done, kit. Now care to explain where you transported us, because this doesn't look like Whitetower.", a young man with brown, shoulder-lenght locks and light beard spoke. He discovered his two daggers, Stabby & Stabby Junior lying infront of him as he crashed on the ground, so he quickly picked his loyal weapons up and stashed them back inside.

"A powerful and wise nesper like me doesn't deserve to be lying on the dirty floor and get treated like this.", Threep, the bat-winged cat hissed. As the cat saw how everyone finally stood up from the ground, he fluttered it's wings and landed on Astrid's shoulder. His cat-eyes fixed on her, waiting for an answer.

"I'm so sorry for the hard landing, Threep. I didn't know it would be like this."

"Hmmph."

"Threep, will you please forgive your Astrid?"

"I suppose a snack wouldn't hurt to make it up for you, dear realmwalker.", he meowed and played around with her blonde braids like a playful kitten which made her giggle.

"Sure, Threep. But first we have to figure out where we landed. This world looks so weird.", Astrid's blue eyes scanned the surroundings in the dark with the help of her night-vision abbility.

All around them were humans. No elf and no orc. They were all dressed in a diffrent style which neither Astrid or her friends understood. Not only this, strange machineries drove by in which humans were sitting, but there were no horses which pulled them. They moved on their own. Colorful lights everywhere on the street. Was it magic?

"What strange world is that? Where did you brought us, Astrid?", Tyril asked.

"I don't know, but looks all so new and interesting which got me curious... Let's explore and begin a new adventure!!", she announced with confidence.

"Astrid, I don't know. It could be dangerous. We don't know anything."

"Come on, priestess. Be a little more active and open to the world. We pirates explore new places and find treasures.", Imtura agreed with Astrid.

"Imtura's right! Who knows what shiny treasures and gold we'll find."

"Can't you just NOT think about gold for once, treasure hunter. I have to agree with Nia. It could be dangerous. We don't know anything."

"Three against two, elf boy."

"Excuse meow, I would like to be included with my opinion top. I'm with Nia and Tyril, because I want to go home. My warm food is waiting for me.", the nesper licked it's palm with attitude.

"So it's three against three. We have a tie. Means we'll explore a little and then we'll go back home. Do you all agree with me?"

"Yes Astrid, that's fair! I just hope you know how to open the right portal which leads us back home.", Nia Ellarious, the priestess agreed, along everyone else too.

"Honestly, I'm still learning my powers. I seriously didn't thought this would happen, but I promise that I'll do better. We'll find a way to get back home!!", Astrid, the realwalker ensured her friends.

The group of friends walked through the bustling streets of the unknown place and everytime surprised as they made a new discovery. There were small, shining figures in green and red which signaled the humans when to cross the streets and when to stop. These secured the safety of both, the walking humans and the ones who were sitting in these strange, horse-less machinaries. Was this magic?

"Hey, why are some humans looking at us like this and then laughing? Are they making fun of us? Maybe because we're dressed differently or...?", Nia asked with concern.

"Yeah, it's like they never saw an orc!"

"Or a noble elf like me. I feel that we're beeing watched and I do not like this, my dear friends. I told you before too, that it could be dangerous here.", Tyril agreed with Imtura.

Not far from them, a group of youngsters were enjoying themselves. One even held a small, metallic device which flashed like lightening. Out of curiousity, Mal moved closer to the group to take a closer while remaining hidden in the shadows. It turned out that the group of young people now could see a picture of them in that pose when that mysterous device flashed at them. It's like watching a portrait of them which just got painted by the flashing light.

"How can they still be here standing in front of me and also beeing captured in that small device at the same time?", Mal thought and immediately left, because he didn't wanted to accidently get captured in an item.

He quickly joined his friends in a more quiet place, but shocked as he saw them facing a very familar figure.

"Well, well, well, who do we have here? How interesting! Humans, along with an elf and an orc. These two might fit well into my collection", the mysterious woman in black smirked. Behind her were standing tough, muscular men who looked dangerous.

"Uhh, who are you? What collection?"

"Oh, dear. You don't know me? Everyone knows who I am. Would your elf friend and orc friend be interested to join my secret fighting ring under Club Persephone? Elf versus Orc. That would create a huge audience and a lot of money.", she answered Astrid's questions while pressing her face with her gloved hand as she moved closer towards her.

"Hey!!! Let Astrid go!!!", Mal shouted at the woman. He grabbed Astrid's arm and pulled her protectively closer to him till their bodies pressed eachother's.

"Mal, I'm fine. Don't worry, I can handle.", she showed strenght, but also gratitude towards her caring lover. They glaced at eachother with full affection and love until their attention turned towards their friends and the mysterious woman.

"Oh, so you're a couple? You two remind me of that annoying hunter and his fairy girlfriend. You disgust me."

"Leave us alone, thief master.", Mal warned her which made her even more angry while the friends got surprised.

"Mal, you know that woman?", Imtura asked.

"Thief master??? You dared to call me, a thief?!! I am the Lady Smoke!!! The most powerful woman and most dangerous murder mob boss of New Orleans??!", she unleashed her anger, finally removed her glove, revealing her palm which showed black, poisonous vains. The whole crew shocked at the discovery. While the lady in black moved her hand towards Astrid and Mal, her muscular men grabbed the rest of them.

"Let go!!! Don't hurt my friends.", Nia shouted.

"I'll show you the strenght of an orc, you rats.", the orc hissed.

"Threep, is that woman corrupted or why does she has these black vains?", Tyril asked while fighting one of the goons.

"No, it's something else.", he meowed as he tried to free Nia, the priestess. The nesper began attacking the enemies with his sharp claws.

The whole situation turned into a fighting scene. Mal tried to protect Astrid, she tried to protect him, as they switched back and fourth. Trying to protect eachother.

"Astrid, I'll handle.", he grabbed his two daggers and got into fighting position.

"Mal, I can do it. Let me use my powers."

"But..."

"Ssshhhh, I'll be safe. Don't worry, love."

"But I'll..."

BANG

Before Mal could say more, a bright light appeared out of nowhere which illuminated their whole surrounding. It took everyone a little time to adjust. They shielded their eyes from the light which was so bright. When the light faded, they slowly opened their eyes. There was a mysterious young man in a leather coat facing them, holding a crossbow in his hands. It was the holy light arrow he just shot, which caused the bright light. The arrow landed on the ground near Lady Smoke and her goons as a warning and not to injure them.

"Let them go, Smoke!", he warned her.

"And if I don't?"

"Don't make a fuzz of this, Tonya. Just let them go and everyone will be happy."

"Mind your own business, nighthunter."

"Heyyy!!! Nobody speaks to my partner like this!!", a silvery-black haired woman appeared next to the mysterious man.

Nik smirked as she called him her partner and wrapped his free arm around her waist.

"My rook."

"Oh, so the couple is here together now. Solo suited you better, Nik Ryder", Tonya mocked.

"Shut up, Smoke!! And let these innocent people go."

While Tonya was focused at Nik and his girlfriend, Astrid used her skills to free her friends. Time for the Seduction Skill!! She swayed her hips and leaned closer towards a man who held one of her friends captured. Mal surprised at her sudden move.

"Hello, strong man.", she winked at one of them.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You're very strong and look at your muscles.", she traced a finger on the stranger's arm who suddenly felt attracted towards her. The rest of them wanted that too now.

Mal definitly didn't liked it even though, she used her seduction skills several times and it helped. But this time was diffrent. They were nasty men who could hurt her who were now hungrily staring at her. Mal had to do something.

"Hey Astrid, you haven't seen my muscles yet. Let me use them to smash those bastards.", Mal got jealous. Astrid's eyes were still on the men.

"Oh yes, Mal is right. You guys have muscles, but use it for what??!! To serve an unthankful woman. I definitly would value your hard work and loyalty. All of you.", the braided blonde played with her lashes which made the men loosen their grips.

And with that, Tyril, Imtura, Threep and Nia managed to free themselves and began fighting. Even Astrid now used her combat skill and threw a few punches at the men, while Tyril, Imtura and Mal used their weapons. Threep supported the priestess to defend everyone.

"How dare you treat a legendary and wise nesper like that??", he hissed and used it's cat claws to hurt the enemies.

"Watch out!!!", the silvery haired girl shouted and blasted a flame of  light towards a goon who was about to hit Astrid from behind. The bad guy couldn't harm her now, fell backwards and then fainted.

"Thanks!!", Astrid shouted towards her and continued her battle.

Tonya Reimonenq noticed that her men couldn't win, especially against a strong orc like Imtura. So she demanded her men to retreat, getting back to her Club.

"I'll be back. You haven't heard the last from me, Ryder.", she swore revenge, quickly stepped inside her limousine and commanded her driver to escape.

"Phewww, she and her men are gone.", Nia got relieved when Lady Smoke and her goons were finally gone.

"I knew it!! An unknown world could be dangerous."

"I know, Tyril. You were right, but I'm glad we got rid of them. And these two helped us.", Astrid turned her attention towards the couple in front of them. The two stepped closer towards the group.

"Damn, didn't know you guys would handle it on your own. I'm impressed. At least some people don't need to be protected which makes my work easier. And you did a great job too, rook.", Nik praised everyone.

"Awwww, thanks.", she got delighted, stood on her toes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Then she stepped closer towards the group to introduce herself and Nik. They shook eachothers hands.

"Nice to meet you, Alex. I'm Astrid. These are my friends, Imtura, Nia, Tyril, Mal and Threep."

"Awwww, Threep is soooo cute!!!! Eeeeeeekkk...", she admired the little, winged cat and wanted to cuddle it.

"Pardon me, but I need my personal space. No cuddles when I'm hungry, milady."

"You can talk??!!"

"Of course. I'm a very wise nesper who has to confess my hunger and speaks wise words."

"Awwww, poor kitty. You must be sooo hungry. Let's get you some food, huh? Garrus's bar isn't far away, he'll serve you food and I'll feed you as much as you want.", Alex picked Threep up from the ground and held it like a baby in her arms, gazing sweetfully at him.

This time the nesper didn't complained because he was ready to get treated like he always wanted to.

"What's a bar?", one of the friends asked.

"Uhhh, it's where you drink? You guys never went to a bar? My friend, Garrus serves non-alcoholic drinks too if you want.", Nik informed.

"Ooooh, so it's a tavern. Then let's go!! I could use some refreshment.", Mal immediately agreed.

"Threep, meet Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell, meet Threep.", Alex tried to introduce Threep and her pet with eachother.

"Is that a kricken? But what is it doing here?", Nia asked and petted the pet.

"A kricken? It's a perrikin."

"Oh, I see. In our realm it's called a kricken."

"Oh, so you're from another realm?", Alex asked with curiousity.

Nik, Alex and Astrid's crew were now sitting in Garrus's bar, called The Graveyard Shift along with some more friends. Each of them were getting along with another very well and were having a great time.

"So you're a nighthunter who hunts evil creatures and beeings at night?", Mal was talking with Nik.

"Not only do I hunt. I make sure that both sides of the world, the World of Day and World of Night are save and secure against the evil. So yes, I'm a professional nighthunter. And you are...?"

"A thief. A professional thief.", Mal grinned, raising his arm to show Nik what he was holding.

"Hey, is that... My wallet?!! How the hell did you...??"

"Don't forget to look after yourself too while protecting the world, nighthunter.", Mal mischevously smiled and returned Nik's belonging back to him.

"Hmm... I like you already, thief. You're not bad actually. I'm impressed by your skills... And I like your shiny daggers."

"Thanks, Nik. My daggers are my tiny babies. But you're very skilled too."

Not far away, Katherine and Imtura were laughing together.

"Woah, really?!!! Could you teach me how to throw axes? It could come in handy for me while hunting."

"Now that's what I call a strong woman!! You may not be an orc or strong like me, but you have the spirit. I'll definitly teach you that, Katherine."

"Thanks, new bestie.", Katherine high-fived with Imtura.

Nia Ellarious and Vera Reimonenq enjoyed eachother's presence with having conversations while drinking warm lemon tea together. Both admiring eachother's outfits and figured that they had a few things in common.

"So that dangerous woman we met before was your mother?"

"Yes, but I'm not like her. Don't worry."

"Oh, I'm not afraid of you. I can sense that you're a sweet and pure person. Besides, I also had the similar experience. I looked up to the Light court, but they were not like I expected them to be. I may belong to them as a priestess, but I can still be diffrent and choose the path I want to. The path of harmony.", she explained Vera and both sweetly smiled at eachother with affection.

"Wait, you're her child?? That means she can't be the person I thought she was. She looks exactly like the thiefmaster.", Mal passed by as he overheard Nia and Vera after finishing his conversation with Nik.

"The thiefmaster?", Nia asked him.

"Oh, never mind. Forget it, priestess.", Mal tried to avoid the topic and decided to look for Astrid.

"Is that a fae??", Tyril got shocked as he saw Garrus passing by with a tray of drinks. The fae was too busy with work and serving customers to notice Tyril, the elf. Then Cal answered him.

"Yes, that's Garrus. He's a fae. And the silvery-haired girl you met earlier, she's a half fae. Are you a fae too?"

"A half-fae, how rare and astonishing!! And no, I'm no fae. I may have pointy ears too, but they are longer. I'm an elf. Tyril, House of Starfury."

"Oh, a noble?"

"It's complicated. My sister takes care of House Starfury now. I don't feel like I belong with the rest of the noble elves."

"Hey, I know what you mean. I also feel like I don't belong to my pack anymore. I'm a werewolf, but I'm not like them. An outsider. I'm diffrent, but I feel proud of it. By the way, my name is Cal. Cal Lowell.", he extended his hand forward and Tyril accepted to shake it.

"A pleasure to meet you, Cal."

Later, Mal finally found Astrid in the corner of the room who was talking with the silvery-black haired woman from before.

"Hey, kit."

"Hey, rook."

Nik and Mal greeted their own girlfriends at the same time when they appeared. Both got surprised. They stared at eachother open-mouthed for a while before turning their attention back to their partners. Alex and Astrid began to giggle.

"So Nik calls you rook, Alex?"

"Yup, and you're Mal's kit. Am I right, Astrid? Guess our boys have a few things in common just like the two of us.", she continued laughing with Astrid at the boys.

"Oh Alex, as much as I enjoyed tonight with you and your friends, but it's getting late. We must return, but I will never forget tonight. You're my new friend in this weird, but modern world."

"I will miss you too, Astrid. I hope you will visit us again. Threep is sooo adorable. And next time when you come, you should definitly teach me your seduction skill."

"Oh nooo!!! For god's sake, please don't!!! There are enough people hitting on her already, I don't want her to get started too or get in trouble.", Nik begged the girls who giggled again.

"Awww, Nik. You're my everything. But I could use the seduction skill to convince you whenever we both disagree with eachother."

"Oh, so that's your evil plan? How cruel of you, my rook?", he raised his eyebrow, then chuckled.

Then Astrid spoke, promising to teach Alex the seduction skill if she would teach her some magic. Afterall the flame of light which the nighthunter's girlfriend used against Lady Smoke's goons was impressive and could be useful. Maybe Alex could also convince her friendly stepmother, Lady Thalissa to teach both of them. For example how to open the correct portal.

And with that, it was time for Imtura, Nia, Tyril, Mal, Threep and Astrid to go back to their realm. Back home. This time Astrid opened the right portal. And if not, then they would have landed on their next adventure.