#then you got one less thing to worry about

[keferon]

Two Peas in a Pod: part 2/?

*slips another piece into your mailbox*

_____________________

Jazz was still feeling a little woozy from his donation in the dark hours of the morning. Blaster had breakfast changed from the usual to something that felt more like a treat, probably a reward for his good behaviour, and to help his body recover. Fish heavy in proteins, fat, all that healthy stuff. Something that normally he would have tried to savour, but he wolfed it down from excitement. Too many questions ran through his head, and most he couldn't bring himself to voice.

The mer, the mer would pull through. Blaster told him about how he had saved their life with his blood. Praised him high and low. Because Blaster knew how Jazz felt about seeing blood, about how hard blood tests were for him, and that was only a tiny vial. Not three big bags of it. Jazz hadn't seen how much they had taken – because he had kept his eye closed until they left in a hurry –, and hearing about it made him dizzy for other reasons, but he honestly felt real proud of himself.

It was a new feeling, different from other moments of pride – like when he figured out the lock codes. Yeah, this gave him butterflies and the drive to help more.

Blaster laughed when Jazz offered that the vets could take more if the other mer needed it. His handler didn't think it would be, but he would pass it on to the vet team.

Jazz's morning checks were a little off, expected with having a little less fluids and feeling off-balance, but it was kept short and quick. Blaster told him that if he learned anything more, he'd tell him next time he came by and then hurried back down to the staff area. Blaster was needed elsewhere, understandably as there weren't many mer experts here, though he did leave Jazz his waterproof stereo if he wanted to play some of his favourites.

But, the orca mer was far too busy causing a whirlpool from the laps he was swimming. He was too excited to sit still, and embarrassment be damned he started practising old vocals. He didn't remember much of his mother tongue, and he was pretty sure that his pronunciation was off, that or had one hell of an accent. Echo-speech was even more rusty. And once he had gone over and over what he could recall, Jazz began to really worry. A few sentences and handful or so of words was all he had? Gods, I hope I can at least make a decent first impression. Blaster said they were just like me, so hopefully, that will give me some starting points.

More than he cared to count, Jazz would swim into the shallow waters of the medical bay and hope to see something through that window. But no one ever came close enough for him to hear any news of the mer. He couldn't even see anything on his radar, wherever they had done treatment, it wasn't in the hospital ward. It almost felt like he was being purposely kept in the dark.

And just when Jazz was starting to worry that things had taken a bad turn, a group of staff turned up around four pm. He wasn't able to ask any questions, or rather they refused to answer. Shooing him away as they got to work. Starting with closing the gate to the bay to 'keep him out'. Jazz could easily climb those walls, but that wasn't the point. Even if the gate window was closed, he could pick up that they were setting up the water hammock. But it wasn't until he heard the cautionary beeping of the hoist lift approaching that it dawned on him – the mer was coming. Now.

"Jazz," Blaster called, "… Jazz," he blew the training whistle and finally got his mer's attention. "Stop pacing and get over here."

"But–" Jazz looked back longingly up the wall.

"Jazz," his tone dropped to a firm one, and Jazz begrudgingly swam over to the pier. The human crouched and made sure that they held eye contact before he spoke. "I need you to promise me that you will stay in your enclosure."

He sunk a little, trying to play into his cuteness, but being far too anxious to really pull it off. "What do you mean?"

"Jazz," now warning him. Blaster knew full well that he was more than capable of getting into or out of places he shouldn't, bloody Houdini mermaid, "this is serious. Things are going well, we want to keep it that way. Which means keeping things calm and feeling safe. You're excited, I get it, we all are. But in about an hour, they'll be waking up and – from past experience seen with wild Mers – they will likely freak out. And the last thing we need is you hauling your tail over that wall and making things worse. Understand?"

The beeping was louder how and the hiss of hydraulics caused Jazz to look up. The arm of the lift was visible over the wall. They're here!

"Jazz," Blaster hopelessly called for his attention once more.

Within moments, a massive bundle was carefully raised, the staff calling out and coordinating. Jazz's gaze was fixed on the black and white fluke poking out, it was the only part of them he could see, and his heart began to race. Once they became hidden by the wall again, Jazz moved back to pacing by the gate without even thinking. Listening to people hopping into the water to unstrap the mer and call back n' forth. "Careful, careful! – Watch the head! – Someone give me a hand over here! – We're clear on this side! – Keep the head up!"

Really starting to sound like a broken record, Blaster chirped the whistle and called out to him again. The expression he wore must have been pretty pitiful because the look on Blaster's face dropped. "If I open the view port… will you promise me that you will wait, that you will stay in your enclosure?"

"I promise," he answered hastily, placing his hands on the gate, over the panel that would slide open.

"And that you will wait until everything is in the clear, till the staff come to oversee the integration. There will be no rushing things and no asking staff when we will open the gate."

"I promise," he repeated, trying not to beg.

Satisfied, Blaster pulled out his radio, "Blaster to Control; when the team is out of the Mer enclosure's medical bay, open the view port. Jazz's stress is mounting without a visual."

"Can do," came a quick reply.

Though, opening the panel was not. Several minutes went by, the hoist had cleared out, and much of the staff had returned to their other duties. Only two remained double-checking the mer's breathing and pulse. The moment that the last of them left, Jazz heard the lock disengage, and he retracted his hands as the panel shifted and began to slide open. The window was too small to get more than his hand – maybe up to his elbow if he wanted to push it – through, and sat just at water level– any movement sending water hopping to either side. But it gave him a clear view of the surface area inside.

Oh.

Oh. Jazz stopped breathing. While the mer's body was mostly supported by the fabric of the hammock, cradling them on their side, effectively hiding most of them from Jazz's angle. Propped up on a soft floating platform was the mer's head, face towards the gate. Sharp features and elegantly shaped finials, with flattering lines of their markings complimenting the peaceful expression as they slept. The butterflies from earlier came back stronger than ever, his heart thundering as words fumbled from Jazz's lips, "he's beautiful…"

_____________________

-GLC

Orca Prowl really is just-- too fucking pretty, omg, I'm living through Jazz in this moment like when I first saw your designs of him.

I'm more than happy to continue writing for you, you bring me so much joy. I screamed when I saw how much you liked it. If you have any requests you would like me to add to the story, leave it in the tags or comments ♡ I now plan to continue until the tsunami and a bit afterwards, maybe more, we'll see~

Oh. MY GOD. OKAY ALRIGHT OKAY ALRIGHT OKA

I'M ABOUT TO START PACING IN CIRCLES JUST LIKE JAZZ OVER HERE KDLCNFJFLFB PL E A S E THIS IS SO GOOD. The tension?? You can fucking TASTE it IT'S SO GREAT GLC I LOVE YOU

The way it all starts at night and then you (as a reader) have all this additional time to boil in your anticipation?? So fucking great. Like you can really feel how little power Jazz has over the wholse situation. The plot is moving but he doesn't have any saying in it. Well. Yet heheh

Anyway haha. Im normal and I made some art>:D

[sheppyscribbles]

"Just through here," Beni murmured, holding open a door that Justin was sure hadn't been there a moment ago and beckoning him to enter. Together they stepped out of the hubbub of the Kitajing Night Market into ...

... well. It had to be a tavern. There were booths, tables, stools at the bar, a pass-through window to a kitchen. The aroma of meats and breads and grease wafted through the air. But it was all so very bright and shiny. Silvery metal gleamed from nearly every surface, polished to a lustrous sheen. Even the tables seemed to be lacquered with flecks of some precious stone or another.

"... Beni, this place must cost a fortune ..." Every table had its own salt cellar, for the Eight's sake ... next to a bottle of spices and tiny envelopes of pure sugar! The head table of the Barlovian royal hall was never graced with such excess! Justin was beginning to wish he hadn't mentioned feeling hungry so late at night.

But Beni just laughed and shook his head. "It's some kind of different world, I think. Or maybe a spell of, uh, plenitude? Is that a word in your language? Anyway, whatever it is, it's cheap and they're open late, so let's don't play harps for a cow about it." He smiled to the server. "Booth for two, please!"

The benches of the booth had leathery upholstery, possibly wyvern skin, but the grain was a bit off. They were stuffed with something unusually soft, and Justin kept adjusting how he sat, trying to figure out what it was. He fidgeted with the collar of his surcote as he tried to decipher the menu. The illustrations helped. "If this is another world, will they still accept our money?"

"They did the last time I came here." Beni leaned in, ears flicking softly from side to side. "I can order for you, if you want. Their specialty is ... you like minced meat, right? Like those steam buns Lady Violet served at that banquet after we cleared out the Temple of Ice? It's like that, but instead of a bun, they use little loaves of bread."

Justin felt like Beni's explanation made him understand the food even less, but he had the feeling that asking questions would only make things worse. He allowed Beni to place their order, and within ten minutes the server slid two piping hot plates onto the table in front of them.

"... Beni, what are these little dusty sticks?"

"Remember the papas roots the Runas like to eat? Same thing, but they're fried in oil instead of roasting. They've got seasoning on them, but they're even tastier with the red sauce." He picked up a glass bottle from the table and handed it to Justin.

"Red sauce, hm?" He looked at it dubiously. The sauce was as bright red as fresh blood, or the markings on Beni's muzzle.

"I mean, they call it ke-çap, but instead of fish they use a tame nightshade berry. -- it's not poisonous, though. I checked." Beni's whiskers twitched the way they did when he got sheepish.

In all honesty, Justin had been hoping for a simple dish of leftover porridge, but as he bit into one of the "fry" sticks ... it was crisp. Fluffy. Hot. Quite salty, although not enough to overpower the other spices. He could taste peppercorn, garlic ... was that turmeric? Whoever ran this place must have import connections beyond one's wildest dreams.

He carefully opened the bottle of the red "catch-up" sauce and tried to pour out a small amount. "Careful, it's thick--" One tap on the bottom of the bottle, and half of the sauce splattered onto the plate, drenching the fries. Justin made a strangled cry of alarm.

"So wasteful -- my apologies!"

"Don't worry about it! Spell of plentitudiny, remember?" Beni laughed warmly and dipped a few of his own fries in Justin's little red lake. With no one scolding him, Justin relaxed and ate a few more. The sauce was tangy, a little sweet, a bit savory. It did compliment the fries, in moderation.

The "burger," though ... burg did mean a fortress, and it was certainly big enough for the name. A seared hunk of minced meat as thick as his thumb, resting between two trenchers of bread along with lettuce leaves, pickled vegetables, onion slices, a bit of cheese, and ... "... these folk really love their nightshades, I see ..."

"Mush be a cultshural thing," Beni replied around a mouthful. He gulped. "Maybe it shows how tough they are."

Justin wasn't quite as brave; he figured the red sauce was enough derring-do for one supper, so he set the onion and the red berry aside before hefting the burger in his hands and risking a bite.

It was marvelous. The slight seared crust on the juicy minced meat patty, the crisp buttery toasted bread, the tangy burst of cold brine from the bit of pickled cucumber, the gentle bitterness of the lettuce, the savory taste and creamy mouthfeel of the sharp cheese just on the cusp of melting, all mingled into one glorious morsel, a polyphonic choir singing joyful madrigals in his mouth. He took his time chewing, experiencing each flavor by itself and in play with the others as they rolled back and forth across his tongue.

"Told you it was good." Beni smiled his little fox smile, watching the wonder ripple across Justin's face like waves from a skipped stone.

"To put it very lightly!" Justin laughed softly, a bit of weight coming off his shoulders. "Practically a royal dish. How did you find this place?"

Beni shrugged, tail flicking softly against the bench on his side. "Stumbled on it one night after helping case a local mansion. The door only shows up rarely, but when you said you woke up hungry, I couldn't help checking for it."

Justin gave Beni a wry little smile. "Luck was on our side, then?"

"What can I say?" Beni settled back in his seat and popped another fry into his muzzle. "I lead a charmed life."

how would one of your OCs react to a HUGE burger and delicious seasoned french fries?

[amywritesthings]

care. / a levi period comfort fic

pairing: levi ackerman x f!reader word count: 1.4k summary: You have to skip your gym date with Levi due to bad period cramps. Levi, however, isn't going to let you suffer alone.

note: set in the press four for more options / dating on airplane mode universe tags: modern au, neighbors au, menstruation, cramp pain, period talk, doting new boyfriend levi, fluff, adult language, reader has a chronic pms pain

author note: today is my birthday!! my gift to you is this little P4/DOAP one shot. this is a little self indulgent, so i hope this helps anyone else that experiences bad pains like me! i will be writing one shots all month for my endo awareness event, so feel free to send requests if you would like to see more! credit: dividers by @saradika-graphics

( Read on AO3. )

You know as soon as you wake up what kind of day it’s going to be.

As you stir from slumber, you’re met with the familiar, unforgiving punch to the gut before you take your first deep inhale. The sharp jab is a tell-tale sign that you should have probably hit the pharmacy when you had the time during your lunch break — yesterday.

You know, before things got awful.

“God damn it.”

Periods have always been a sore spot to discuss in your life. The immense pain that follows the next agonizing few days is not a new occurrence, but knowing them intimately never makes them any better. No matter how many times you’ve prepared, weathered, endured — it’s a gamble whether or not you have the energy to eat today, much less do anything productive.

Dragging your phone off of the adjacent nightstand, your heart sinks when you see your most recent notifications:

Alarm set for 7:30 a.m. (Dismiss?)

Remember to pay credit card bill. (Eventually.)

New text from Levi Ackerman.

Shit.

Opening the third notification first, you read his text from five minutes ago.

[LEVI:] Hey. Still going to the gym this morning?

Self hatred floods your system when you realize there’s no way in hell you’re going to be going to the gym today, much less leaving this apartment. It’ll be a miracle if you can drag yourself to the bathroom.

Missing out on seeing Levi today hurts more than you’re willing to admit.

Tapping the reply bubble, you type in response:

[ME:] Sorry, not feeling well. :( Rain check?

It’s weird to confess why, right?

Everything is way too fresh, much too new, between the two of you.

You can’t burden your newest partner with the—

Another notification pops up immediately.

[LEVI:] What’s wrong?

Double shit.

Sighing to yourself, you type back, hesitate, then send.

[ME:] Don’t worry about it, it’s pretty embarrassing. I probably won’t be able to leave the apartment today. I’m rooting you on from down here!

Or up here, technically, if he’s going to be at the gym.

(Dumbass.)

You drop your phone to your mattress, slowly easing yourself out of bed. You check the sheets behind you to make sure you didn’t ruin them — thank god, there’s a singular win for this morning — before waddling to the bathroom.

Grabbing a new pair of underwear and a pad, you sit on the toilet with your head in your hands, taking some time to breathe through the initial cramps.

A few days.

Just a few days and you can—

It’s faint, but you hear it.

Three raps at your front door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Perking your head up, your brows furrow as you finish up, tug your pajama bottoms back on, and wash your hands. Crossing the living room to the front door, you use the peephole to see who’s waiting outside.

For the briefest moment, you forget your cramps altogether.

“Levi?!” you yelp, shocked by his presence.

“Hey,” he states, arms crossed over his chest. He’s wearing his typical white workout tank, displaying his lean arms in the fisheye lens of your doorframe. ���You okay in there?”

“I— yeah, I’m okay!” you lie, higher pitched than usual. “Sorry, I can’t let you in.”

You note how his chin tilts, contemplating your brevity. 

“You come down with some shitty cold or whatever?”

“No, it’s—”

“Stomach bug?”

“No, not at all, it’s just—”

“I can wear a mask if you got something catchable.” He shifts, thumbing back to the hallway behind him like he knows you’re watching. “I have a bunch at my place.”

“Levi, no,” you blurt, getting frustrated. “I have my period!”

The dark-haired man stops.

His brows furrow, contemplating with evident confusion on his face.

“...I’m confused, a period of what? Fucking dysentary or something?” When you’re about to argue, he pointedly glances at the peephole. “Can you at least open the door for a sec?”

Reluctantly you agree to his request, unlocking the door and swinging it open. You feel immense shame standing in front of your new boyfriend looking messy and make-up free.

There hasn’t even been time to at least put on some moisturizer, damn it.

When he finally sees you at your worst (or so you perceive to be your worst) he doesn’t even bat an eye.

The stormy grays just stare into your own, brows rising expectantly.

“What do you need?”

You lean against your doorframe, trying to breathe through another wave of cramps. “What?”

With a tsk, he steps a baited sneaker into the threshold of your apartment. When you don’t push him out, he fully enters your apartment and beelines to your kitchen.

(Right. Same layout, just a couple of floors higher.)

“Get comfy on the couch,” he states like he’s a coach again, devoid of nonsense. “You have any tea lying around?”

“I don’t understand,” you state, only then closing the door to your apartment. “You were about to go to the gym—”

“Yeah, and now I’m not.”

“Levi.”

“Couch,” he counters, plucking the kettle you had sitting dormant on your stovetop to fill it with water. “Or your bed, if that makes you more comfortable.”

You can’t really argue with that, not when your cramps are making you dizzy.

Hell, his insistence on helping is making you even dizzier but in an entirely different way.

When you dated Porco, he never extended help beyond some comforting words and a stray pint of ice cream. Levi looks natural rummaging around your kitchen as if he’s been spending time here for months.

“You really don’t have to babysit me,” you try to reason, though you find yourself slowly shambling towards your couch anyway. “I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, well, my mother used to have a lot of really bad months when I was growing up.” Levi starts the stove, heating up the water. His eyes briefly flicker to you. “My friend, Hange, doesn’t exactly have a walk in the park with this shit, either. They left an arsenal of supplies at my place whenever they come around. Can’t imagine they’ll care if I borrow some of it.”

So Levi has period supplies at his apartment for friends and family?

That…

You’ve never heard of any man who has something like that.

“Supplies like what?”

“Admittedly it’s a bunch of stuff we used to offer people at our gym in case they were having a rough week,” he explains as if this is nothing while he watches the kettle grow hot. 

Then again, periods are supposed to be nothing.

They’re natural and half of the planet go through them monthly, and yet —

“Heating pads, two different sizes. Mint and ginger tea are soothing for cramping. I’ve got a decently fresh stock of those leaves. Not sure if you’re out of sanitary products, but I got some of those in a cabinet, too.”

You stare dumbfounded, your heart skipping a beat.

(As if this man couldn’t be any more attractive.)

When you don’t respond, he turns around to look at you. His eyes soften as they search your face.

“I’d ask how your pain is right now, but I take it it’s high?” You nod. “Alright. Mind if I keep the door unlocked? I’ll run upstairs and grab everything.”

“You don’t have—”

“Don’t,” he cuts you off, but it isn’t firm like before.

Levi walks across the room towards you. As he bends at the hip, his dog tags slip out of his tank top.

Gentle lips press to the crown of your head.

“Let me take care of you, alright? You’re my girl. That’s my responsibility, especially when you’re feeling like shit. I can do push-ups anywhere. Gym’s not a necessity.”

Melting at his reassurance, you can’t help but tease. 

“So I get pampering and a show? Talk about high-class service.”

The lips on your head curve to a smirk before pulling away, his eyes meeting yours. His hand raises to cup the side of your face adoringly. An absentminded thumb strokes your cheek.

“Yeah, well, you know me. High fucking class or whatever.”

When you laugh, the corner of his mouth twitches again. He lifts your chin and leans forward, kissing your lips. You return the gesture, warmth spreading throughout your body.

“I’ll be five minutes,” he whispers against your lips.

“It only takes you five minutes to run up six flights of stairs and back?”

“You can time me if you think I’m lying.”

“Deal.”

[yapperingtinaa]

A box of Gemstones.

Your old Hunter's Watch.

And poor clueless Mephisto.

Three objects placed in the middle of the room, atop a wide red blanket. Three objects with each of its own meaning. And three objects awaiting to be chosen by your innocently curious one-year-old daughter.

"You do realize even if she picks one of these, it doesn't mean it'll eventually determine her future, no?" Sylus mused, eyeing you sitting on the floor across the room from where he sat, his gaze softened at the sight his baby daughter giggling and jumping excitedly in your lap. "Who knows this might end up jinxing us and our daughter became a future Evol Police instead."

"Oh shush you party-pooper." You jested playfully with an eye roll, cooing at your baby daughter sweetly, earning an adorable squeal from the toddler. "There's no harm in indulging in old traditions you know. Even the twins think so too."

As if on cue, both Luke and Kieran whooped in excitement from the living room couch. Both betting which their Mini Boss would choose amongst the three objects on the floor.

"Mini Boss might become a badass hunter like Boss Lady, I bet my life on it she'll pick the Hunter's Watch!"

"Nu-uh! Mini Boss is a baby prodigy! My gut tells me she'd be an awesome engineer by picking good ol' Mephie!"

"And the Gemstones?" Sylus questioned, glancing at the twins with raised eyebrows. "I'm guessing it'll mean she'll succeed my place in Onychinus?"

"Bingo!"

"Right on, Bossman!"

Sylus shook his head with an amused smile, shooting you a look that read 'you believe in this?'

You let out a hearty laugh, shrugging nonchalantly as you gave your baby daughter one last squeezing hug before slowly placing her in front of the three objects.

Despite his neutral expression, Sylus waited with bated breath as his daughter slowly inched forward towards the three objects. His little daughter's eyes shine with an innocent twinkle, her small body crawling forward and for a moment, time still around them.

This tradition, the Zhuazhou ceremony, it shouldn't be this nerve-wracking as Sylus should've expect. But he'd be lying if he wasn't both curious and scared for the future of his precious daughter.

There's no doubt Sylus will support his daughter through whatever she wants for as long as she grows up. Even if one day they might argue on certain value, beliefs and whatnot. But by God, Sylus prayed it would never have to take a turn for the worse where the father and daughter end up against one another.

The thought of that kind of future would filled him with nothing but pure dread.

Multiple surprise gasps pulled Sylus out of his muddle thoughts as he was just in time to see his little daughter pushing the three objects away (whereas a relieved Mephisto flew away in an instant) and crawled towards him.

"Pa! Pa!" His daughter beamed brightly, reaching her chubby arms out to her stunned father. Her giggles echoing through the sudden quiet atmosphere and Sylus instantly picked her up into his arms, his heart swelled with affection when his baby daughter nestled into the warmth of his hold.

Luke and Kieran didn't even have it in themselves to feel disappointed when their Mini Boss didn't pick their chosen items. The heartwarming sight of their fearsome leader becoming such a gentle soul around his daughter made them hold back their tears - It was one of those rare moments where they got to witness their Bossman look so vulnerable, so loving and so.. human.

And it was a moment both of them silently agreed not to ruin, especially for you as the twins watched you quietly tiptoed across the room to sit beside Sylus.

"Looks like our Little Dove can't choose a future without her papa in it." Sylus finally tore his gaze from his daughter at the sound of your voice just as you laid your head on his shoulder. You smiled softly up at the awestruck daze in Sylus's eyes, your finger playfully yet gently poked his cheek. "Now you have one less thing to worry about, my dear."

Sylus blinked in surprise, before letting out a small shaky chuckle. One arm holding his snuggling little daughter while the other arm wrapped around your waist - pulling both you and his daughter closer into his embrace.

"Yeah.. I suppose so." Sylus murmured quietly, a tender smile graced his lips as he pressed a gentle kiss on his little daughter's forehead and then another kiss on your cheek, laughing softly as two of his beloved treasures returned the gesture of the affection tenfold, happy laughter and cheers reverberated in the cozy living room.

Whatever the future may hold, for now, the present moment should be savored more than dwelling on uncertainty.

And at that moment for Sylus, it is what he needed the most.

[loves1ckmoth]

CLINGY

Loser!Ellie x Reader

Warnings ♡: Fem!reader as always, needy/clingy ellie, Ellie cries after losing reader in the mall, reader comforts her, reader talks more than she usually does in my regular fics, she's more dominant as well, reader and ellie almost pounce on eachother, ellie helps reader put on a dress in a changing room, they kiss a couple times, petnames (my girl, els, darling)

Word Count♡: 1193

Clingy. A word Ellie heard all too often from previous partners. You’d never call her that, no, of course not. You liked her never straying from your side. But it got difficult in crowded areas. Especially on days like today.

You wanted to go out to the mall to pick up a few things. First, your favorite lipstick ran out. Then your friend texted you about an event, and then the dress you were going to wear to said event ripped when you tried it on. The nail in the coffin? Your favorite perfume ran out.

So here you were, walking around a crowded mall on a Friday afternoon. You would’ve prepared to wait, but the event was tomorrow and you needed your things now. Ellie said she’d tag along under the guise of wanting new games, but you knew it was because she didn’t want to be alone at the house.

Sadly enough for you both, everyone in their mother had decided to come as well. It must’ve been a big sale day. That only meant you’d have a better selection of things. While you were grabbing a new bottle at your perfume place, Ellie had distracted herself with some cologne. While you grabbed two bottles of your favorite, you saw a sign.

“Buy two get one free.” As if the universe had planned it all out, Ellie wandered back to your side. “Find something you like, darling?” You ask. She shrugs, but you can tell something’s caught her eye. She’s never been one for subtlety.

“Go grab it. The sign says it’ll be for free. But let me smell it first. I don’t want you smelling of something awful.” She beams and dashes off to grab it. When you sniff it, you find the smell more pleasant than most colognes. You agree and take it up the register. She taps her fingers impatiently as the woman behind the counter rings you up.

You lead her out of the store and she looks through the bag. She eyes your perfume. “Did you need two?” She asks softly. You nod in response. “I’d prefer to come back less. These last me a couple of months each. It’ll at least be half a year before we come back. Though… I did see some room sprays. Perhaps I’ll grab one if they’re discounted.”

You two walk in silence as you navigate through the crowd, trying to pinpoint which store you need to stop at is closer. You only notice her hand slipping from yours too late. By the time you’ve escaped the crowds and into the dress store, Ellie is nowhere to be seen. Your heart twinges and you’re sure she must be panicking somewhere by now.

You walk up to the store clerk and speak softly to her. “Hi, would you mind holding onto my bag? I’m here to buy a dress but I’m afraid I’ve lost my partner. I promise I’ll be right back.” The clerk nods and sets the bag behind the counter.

You leave the store and try to peer out into the crowds, your worry only growing when you don’t spot her. You tap an embarrassing amount of shoulders of girls who look like her, only to apologize when they aren’t. When you don’t find her in the crowds, you try stores. When she isn’t there, you finally check the mall bathrooms. There is where you finally find her.

The moment you walk in, you hear sniveling from a stall. You knock gently, prepared for the embarrassment if it turns out to not be her. “Ellie, are you in there?” Your voice gently rings out in the emptiness of the bathroom. A whimper sounds out from inside the stall and it slowly opens.

She sits there, eyes red and puffy and she grabs you tight. You coo softly, holding her back. “There’s my girl. I was looking all over. Stupid me, then. Should’ve checked my phone for you. Silly me, right?” Your voice is calm, and she looks you over. “Didn’t mean to let go. Shouldn’t have cried like this.”

You shake your head and kiss her lips. “You’re fine. We’ll get all this sorted, yeah?” You caress her softly and bring her out of the bathroom. You wash her face and dry her with a few paper towels before bringing her out with you. This time, you squeeze her hand extra tight so you don’t lose her.

By the time you manage to get back to the dress store, your hair is mussed up from brushing shoulders with everyone in the damn place. Ellie tries her best to fix it for you, and you giggle as she sticks her tongue out to concentrate. You nod and move her hands away from your hair, returning to what you set out here for originally.

You get your bag of perfumes back from the clerk, and Ellie checks inside to ensure you have all your belongings. Ellie is subdued slightly from her losing you earlier, but she does her best to help you pick out a new dress. You’d prefer one like the one you ripped, but when you don’t find something similar, you try to find something else you like. Ellie is attentive, doing her best to find something you’ll like.

Ellie prioritizes comfort overall, and as she looks at the dresses in the store, she realizes comfort might be harder to come by. But, she manages to find the perfect one. Appropriate for big and small events, and comfortable. She brings it over to you as you frown at an ugly feather dress covered in patterns that don’t mesh.

“You find anything good, Els?” You ask, slowly turning only for her to shove the dress in your direction and accidentally into your face. You splutter as you’re met with fabric and Ellie frantically apologizes and pulls it back. Once your face is out of the dress, you take it into your hands to study it. You smile up at Ellie. “This is nice. I assume you want me to try it on?”

She nods fervently, then shakes her head, then flushes bright red, leaving her face blotchy. “Pretty please?” The puppy face she has makes you want to tackle her and ravage her right in the middle of the store, but you hold yourself back. You have more self-control than she does.

“Come on, it’s got a zipper. I’ll need help putting it on.” That’s all you have to say to have her scurrying alongside you and shoving you into the dressing room. You slip out of your regular clothes and have her zip up the dress for you. You smooth it all out and look in the mirror. “Is it all good in the back, Els?”

She gulps, her eyes glancing between you and the dress. She nods slowly and twirls you around to get a better feel of the dress. “Perfect.” You smile and take it off again. “Good. We’ll get it, I’ll grab some new lipstick, and we’ll get you some new games. Alright?”

She hums an agreement this time and grips you tight as you leave.

Second post of today 😵‍💫 I managed to get a lot of writing done today ♡ Hope you all like this one!! Likes and reblogs are most appreciated ♡

[megapteraurelia]

“i’m gonna catch you, i promise.”

you couldn’t.

you were going to let go, your body would tumble right into his and you’d both fall down and break your necks, and it would all be your fault. you knew that, he knew that, the entire world knew that and yet.

and yet.

azumane asahi looked at you like he believed without a doubt in the world that his arms, stretched out and patient to engulf your body any second, would catch you and keep you safe. that he would not and could not allow you to hurt yourself, would rather take the pain on himself than allow a hair on your body to get bent in any way you would not have liked it to.

and yet.

“i’m scared.”

it was only two metres. but you could break bones and your neck if the landing was unlucky, you could end up feeling the reverberating shock through your legs for ages after. maybe you would even pinch a nerve and lose all feelings in your feet. in short — anything could happen. 

asahi’s eyes were gentle, the little wiggle in his fingers even more so, and he couldn’t help but send you a crooked smile, a hint of a dimple appearing, “hey. being scared is supposed to be my thing, you can’t just claim that for yourself.”

your heart was fluttering; the nerves travelled through your body to your legs to your toes as they curled in your shoes. the half-broken ladder underneath your feet wobbled, and even though your grip on the handle was deathly strong, the sweat pearls wedged between your skin and the iron made your fingers slip. like a reminder that you couldn’t hold this status quo of being suspended on top of a metal contraption that had no intention of staying steady.

an embarrassing whine left you as you tried to stabilise yourself, “i can’t. i can’t, i can’t. i’m scared.”

asahi had lurched forward at the swaying of the ladder, arms raised so high that his shirt had ridden up, revealing shadowed lines of muscles carved in flesh, a trail of fine dark hair disappearing into the band of his shorts. what would have seared itself into your brain at any other given time was only a side-thought acknowledged in the midst of frozen, panicked limbs and a sprinting pulse.

“okay, hey, look at me. if you fall, i’ll catch you. if you jump, i’ll catch you,” steady, his voice was so steady unlike the trembling in your knees and the gallop of your breathing, “you don’t need to worry about what happens, it’ll always end up with me catching you, okay?”

he looked at you earnestly, head tilted back to look up at you, loose strands following gravity away from his face. where usually there were twitches of underlying nervousness gracing his features, he seemed almost serene now. so self-assured, it was like he was telling you the sky was blue, oranges were orange or that you were madly head over heels for him. a fact, he was giving you a fact.

another plunge of fear in your stomach, but his words cradled you like bubble wrap enclosing a gift, settling you in a cloud of reassurance, asking you to trust him and his reflexes and his strength. brown and tender — you painted his eyes, his dark hair tied back, his strong jaw, the curve of his nose in your mind.

“okay,” you whispered, eyes squeezed shut, fingers peeling off the handle and you faintly heard the metal ladder clatter on the ground from the force of your jump. it wasn’t long of a free fall — really, it was even less than two seconds — but it felt like minutes; your soul seemingly having left your body, stomach queasy as the breath rushed out of your lungs at the impact of your body in a nest made out of two thick branches. 

warmth and a strong body engulfed you; an arm wrapped around your lower back, the other nestled underneath your ass, hoisting you up against him, your feet several inches away from the floor.

“see, i got you.”

his breath cascaded over the neckline of your shirt, hot and heavy, accompanying the vibration of his chest against your upper stomach when he exhaled several gentle questions regarding your wellbeing. ones that you could just answer with non-committed hums, skin heating up at the contact. 

your hands had found his shoulders automatically to steady yourself, the curve of his neck a natural invitation for the gliding of your fingers. the smell of his shampoo was a light, unassuming scent; mild and comforting, the hairband keeping the long strands in place scraping your chin when his head fell forward to rest on your shoulder.

it tickled your skin when he spoke and you faintly noticed a light tremor in his tone, “man, that was scary.”

“w—wait,” you gasped at the admission of his, hands stemmed against his shoulders to look at his face, but his body didn’t yield under your touch so you leaned back as much as you could in the grip that he was not easing up on, tight, so tightly pressed up against this giant, “i thought you had it all in control!”

his ears blushed deeply as he yanked his head back, his face caught in a mix of slight panic and guilt, “i mean, i was gonna try my hardest to catch you, but…it could have…also…gone, well, the other way, you know. who knows what type of things could have interfered—”

realising his mistake when he saw the look on your face, he almost stumbled over his words trying to take them back, “— but i got it!! you can rely on me, i promise! even if a meteor came— okay, maybe not a meteor, but even if that gym’s beam would have fallen down, i would have gotten you! a ladder’s nothing!!”

defeated, asahi allowed his forehead to settle in the crook of your neck, his arms still not letting you go, fastening even, little finger pressed into your hip bone, his thumb caressing the back of your thigh, daring to swipe over the curve of your ass — in reassurance? in worry? because he didn't want to let you go yet? whatever way it was, it had your head spinning and your knee twitching next to his groin. 

his hair felt like a breeze on your skin the way he rubbed his face on you, muttering, repeating, “100% i would have gotten you.”

taglist | @takes1

[the-winter-spider]

The Alchemy | Part Six

NFL! Bucky x reader AU

Word Count: 5k

Warnings: Toxic relationship, mentions of abuse.

A/N: More angsty snd big things happening soooooon 👀 not edited or proof read atm, im laazzyyyyyyy

Masterpost

-----

The envelope sat on the kitchen table, the thick stack of paperwork neatly placed beside John’s untouched cup of coffee. You hadn’t thought anything of it at first, just another bill, another document that John liked to handle. He always told you he was better with that kind of thing, that you had enough on your plate with work.

But when you picked it up, your name was there, your lease agreement except something was different.

Your breath caught in your throat as you read over the bolded lines. Primary Leaseholder: John Walker.

Your stomach twisted.

“John?” you called hesitantly, the paper trembling in your hands. “What is this?”

He looked up from his phone, brow raised. “What’s what?”

You turned the lease toward him, your finger pressing against the printed words. “This, it says you’re the main leaseholder. You weren’t even on the lease before, I didn’t authorize this.”

John sighed, setting his phone down with a slow, deliberate motion. “Baby, what are you talking about?”

“I didn’t sign anything,” you said, your voice shaky but firm. “I would never sign something like this without knowing.”

His eyes darkened just slightly, but his expression remained frustratingly calm. “Yes, you did,” he said smoothly. “See?”

He slid another sheet of paper toward you, his finger tapping at the bottom of the page. Your signature, your signature, was there, clear as day.

Except it wasn’t. It was your name and it was almost completely identical to your signature but you knew it wasn’t yours.

Your throat tightened. “John, I, I don’t remember signing this.”

His chuckle was soft, almost condescending. “Come on, sweetheart. You were probably just distracted. You sign stuff all the time, contracts, media forms, waivers. You probably just forgot.”

You shook your head, an uneasy feeling creeping up your spine. “No. I would’ve remembered this.”

He reached across the table, his fingers brushing against yours as he squeezed your hand gently. “You did sign it. We talked about it, remember? We agreed it was better this way, less stress on you, more stability for us. I handle all this stuff anyway, don’t I?”

Your lips parted, but no words came out.

Did we talk about this?

No. No, you knew you wouldn’t have agreed to this. You’d been careful about keeping the lease in your name, about having that bit of independence, one thing that was yours. This place was yours before John and you even got together. It was yours.

But John looked so sure. So patient, like he was explaining something obvious to you, something you should already understand.

Your pulse pounded in your ears. “I just… I don’t remember.”

He squeezed your hand tighter. “Because you didn’t think twice about it,” he said gently. “You trust me, don’t you?”

You swallowed hard. “I..of course I do.”

His lips curved into that easy, knowing smile. “Then trust me when I say this is for the best. I handle everything else, don’t I? Bills, travel, groceries… You don’t need to stress about this kind of thing.”

You nodded slowly, the edges of your doubt blurring under the weight of his reassurance. He was right, you were always busy, always juggling a million things at once. Maybe you had signed it without thinking. Maybe it had just slipped your mind.

Maybe you were just overreacting. He always said you were.

John lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to your fingers. “I’ve got us, baby,” he murmured, his voice smooth as silk. “You don’t have to worry about anything.”

But as he gathered the papers and tucked them away, your stomach twisted with something cold and heavy.

Something that told you, no matter how much he insisted, you should be worried.

---

The cab ride back to the hotel felt like an out-of-body experience. You sat stiffly in the backseat, your fingers twisting in your lap, your gaze locked onto the city lights blurring past the window. The driver made occasional small talk, asking if you’d had a good night, if the bar was fun, but you barely heard him. You gave quiet, noncommittal responses, nodding at the right moments, but the words barely registered.

Your mind was still back at the bar, still at him.

Still at the way John had tightened his grip on your wrist, squeezing just hard enough to make a silent point before smiling and joking like he hadn’t just bruised you in front of his teammates. Still at the way he’d forced that kiss on you, too rough, too possessive, just to prove something to Bucky.

Bucky.

You squeezed your eyes shut for a second, exhaling shakily.

God, Bucky had seen it, actually seen it, the way he was.

He’d seen the way you flinched, the way John’s hand lingered, the way you had let him do it, because what else could you do? John had made sure of that, that feeling of helplessness, of having nowhere else to go, nowhere else to be if you weren’t by his side.

If you left him…the thought alone made your stomach drop. Your dream job, your apartment. Your entire life all of it was tangled up in him. Because of course he’d added his name to the lease and of course he had pulled strings for this job, ensuring that if you ever even thought about leaving, he’d have the power to rip everything out from under you. Of course you were in a position you told yourself you’d never be in.

The cab slowed as the hotel came into view, and suddenly, the reality of the situation settled over you like a crushing weight, you were in fight or flight mode, just wanting to be in your hotel room and work on some stuff you still had to power through since Johns abruptly showed up.

Bucky was waiting, your stomach twisted sharply when you spotted him outside your hotel room door, leaning against the wall, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his hoodie. He was still in his clothes from the bar, but his sleeves were pushed up now, tension running through his forearms. His gaze lifted the second you stepped into the hallway, something unreadable flashing across his face.

You swallowed hard, your throat tight. “What are you doing here?”

Bucky exhaled through his nose, shifting his weight before meeting your eyes. “Can we talk?”

The words hit you harder than you expected. Because Bucky didn’t ask for things like this. Not usually, not when he had something to say. He just said it. But there was something careful about the way he was looking at you now, something hesitant, like he was giving you an out if you wanted to take it and maybe you should take it.

Because talking to Bucky meant admitting things, things you had spent years avoiding, years stuffing deep down where they couldn’t touch you. If you let Bucky back in, even just a little, you weren’t sure if you’d be able to stop.

You hesitated. “John’s gonna be back soon,” you murmured, barely recognizing your own voice.

Bucky nodded like he already knew, like he had already thought of everything before he even stepped foot in this hallway. “Sam’s still there,” he said quietly. “I told him to text me when he leaves.” His blue eyes held yours, unrelenting but careful. “Just give me a few minutes. Please.”

Your chest ached. You should have told him no. Should have told him that whatever needed to be said didn’t need to be said, not tonight. But when you opened your mouth, the words didn’t come. Instead, you nodded, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Can we do it in your room?”

Bucky’s brows pulled together for a second, but then he nodded. “Yeah, of course.”

The walk down the hall was agonizingly slow, even though it only took a minute. You kept your eyes forward, but your heart was hammering against your ribs, each step another reminder that you weren’t ready for whatever was about to happen.

Because Bucky had always been your weak spot. Bucky had seen you, truly seen you in a way no one else ever had.

And when you finally stopped in front of his door, when he turned to face you, jaw tight, eyes soft, like he was waiting you realized you weren’t sure if you were strong enough to keep hiding.

The silence stretched between you, thick and suffocating. Bucky stood near the window, hands braced on his hips, breathing hard like he was trying to keep himself from exploding. You stood on the other side of the room, your arms wrapped around yourself, staring at the floor, feeling like you were crumbling from the inside out.

Neither of you had said anything since he closed the door behind you. Neither of you knew how to start.

But Bucky had never been one for patience. “Why are you with him?” His voice was sharp, cutting straight through the thick air between you.

You flinched. “Bucky..”

“No,” he snapped, taking a step closer. “No bullshit, no deflecting, no ‘it’s complicated.’ Why are you with him?”

You squeezed your eyes shut, shaking your head. “It’s not that easy.”

“Why not?” He was almost pleading now, his voice raw, desperate. “You don’t love him. Not the way you should, I know you don’t and what he does, that’s not love.”

You exhaled shakily, the weight of his words pressing down on you. “I could lose this job, Bucky,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. “If I lose this job, I don’t have the money, then I can't afford my apartment that might not even be mine anymore and I don’t even know if I got this job on my own, or if John actually made it happen for me. Sometimes he just says things, I don’t..” Your throat closed, the panic rising in your chest. “I don’t know what happens to me if I leave.”

Bucky ran a hand through his hair, his frustration spilling over. “You think I would let them take this job from you?” His voice was sharp, his blue eyes burning. “You think I’d just stand by and let that happen?”

“I don’t expect you to fix this for me, Bucky!” you shot back, your voice rising now. “I can’t explain it to you, I can’t make you understand!”

He took a step closer. “Then tell me this,” he said, his voice lower now, more controlled, but no less intense. “Does he hurt you?”

The question made your stomach drop. “He hasn’t hit me,” you said, too quickly, too defensively. “If that’s what you’re asking.” You forced a hollow laugh. “Not like my dad did to my mom.”

Bucky inhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. Then, his eyes flickered downward, toward your arm.

You followed his gaze, toward the faint outline of bruising near your wrist.

Bucky’s whole body went rigid. “What’s that then?”

You swallowed hard, heart pounding. Quickly, you covered it with your other hand. “He just has a strong hold, that’s all.”

Bucky exhaled harshly, dragging a hand over his face like he was trying to physically push down the rage building inside him. “Why are you making excuses for this?” His voice was hoarse, disbelief and heartbreak tangled together. “You’re putting yourself through the same shit your mom went through, and you don’t have to.”

Your breath hitched. “It’s not the same.”

“The hell it’s not,” he snapped, stepping forward again. “The only difference is your dad had alcohol in his system. Somehow, that makes it worse, Y/N. John doesn’t even have that excuse.”

You shook your head, your whole body trembling. “You don’t get it, Bucky. I don’t have anyone.” Your voice cracked. “My dad’s dead. My mom’s dead. I have nothing. The only person I have is…”

“What about me?”

The words were nearly shouted, bursting out of him like he couldn’t hold them in anymore.

You froze.

Bucky’s chest was rising and falling quickly, his blue eyes blazing. “What about me?” he said again, quieter this time. “You have me.”

Your throat tightened. “Do I?”

His expression faltered, just slightly but you saw it.

“Because you made it pretty damn clear all those years ago that I didn’t have you!” you said, your voice shaking with the weight of everything. “You left me, Bucky. We were leaving my dad, we were leaving that life, this life and you left me too!”

Bucky was staring at you, his chest rising and falling heavily, his lips parted like he wanted to say something, needed to say something. But you had just ripped the air from his lungs, just shattered the ground beneath him, and for a long moment, all he could do was stand there, stunned.

You had never said it out loud before. Not like this, not with that much hurt behind it.

You left me too.

His hands curled into fists at his sides, like he was trying to physically stop himself from reaching for you. His entire body was taut, like a bowstring pulled too tight, ready to snap at any second.

“I never wanted to lose you,” Bucky said, his voice rough, raw. “You think I wanted that? I didn't mean for it to get these far, all these years without seeing you, without knowing you, you think I chose that?”

You let out a sharp, bitter laugh, shaking your head as tears burned your eyes. “That’s exactly what you did, Bucky.”

“I was a kid,” he shot back. “A stupid, scared kid who didn’t know how to handle losing the only person who ever mattered to him.” His voice cracked, and your breath caught in your throat. “I fucked up, Y/N. I fucked up so bad.”

Tears slipped down your cheeks, but you barely noticed. “Yeah,” you whispered. “You did.”

Bucky took a shaky breath, like he was trying to hold himself together, but the cracks were too deep now, too jagged. “I spent years trying to make up for it,” he admitted, his voice desperate. “That’s why I worked so fucking hard. That’s why I pushed myself until I couldn’t breathe, until I had nothing left because I wanted to be something, Y/N. I wanted to be worthy of you, to make up for just abandoning you.”

Your brows furrowed, your lips parting slightly. “Bucky…”

“I love you.”

The words came out in a rush, like he couldn’t stop them even if he wanted to. Your heart slammed against your ribs, and you just stared at him, unable to process what he had just said.

“I love you,” he said again, his voice breaking. “I’ve always loved you. From the moment we were kids, from the moment I realized that nobody, nobody made me feel the way you did.” His hands were shaking now, and his breathing was uneven, and God, God, he looked wrecked. “You were the only thing I ever wanted, and I let you slip through my fingers. I wasn’t fast enough, If I was faster I woulda caught up to you!”

Tears spilled freely down your cheeks now, but you couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn't think.

Bucky took a step closer, his blue eyes searching yours frantically, like he was still trying to memorize every part of you, just in case this was the last time. “That’s why I went to New York,” he confessed. “I went because I thought you’d be there, that was your dream. I thought I’d find you and when I didn’t…” He exhaled shakily, raking a hand through his hair. “It was like you fell off the fucking face of the Earth. I had no way to reach you. I tried, I tried.”

Your lip trembled. “Bucky…”

“I took this contract because yeah, I love football, but you, you were always the goal.” His voice softened just slightly, but the weight of his words pressed down on you like an avalanche. “I thought maybe if I was here, if I was in a position where you could find me… maybe you would.”

You sucked in a sharp breath, the lump in your throat growing bigger.

Bucky let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “And then you sorta did, you showed up and I thought, this is it. This is my second chance.” His eyes burned into yours. “But you’re with him and he doesn't deserve you, he doesn’t love you the way I do, I love you, I love you.”

Before you could even think of what to say, Bucky’s phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the tension like a knife, making you jolt slightly. Bucky clenched his jaw and pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen.

Sam.

Your stomach dropped. You didn’t need to hear what he was going to say. You already knew.

Bucky exhaled sharply and answered. “Yeah?”

On the other end, Sam sighed. “He just left.”

Bucky closed his eyes briefly, his hand tightening around the phone. “Thanks.”

And then he hung up, when his gaze met yours again, you were already shaking your head.

“I can’t do this, Bucky.” Your voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I have to go.”

“No.” His voice was firm, almost desperate. He stepped forward, reaching for you, but hesitated at the last second, his hands hovering near your arms but never touching. “Don’t go back to him.”

You closed your eyes, willing yourself not to cry harder. “It’s not that easy, Bucky.”

“Yes, it is,” he pleaded. “I’m here. I’ll help you. You don’t have to love me back, I swear to God, you don’t. But you were my best friend, and you always will be. Please, Y/N.”

A sob built in your throat, but you swallowed it down. You reached up, wiping the tears from your cheeks.

“I have to go,” you whispered.

Bucky shook his head, his expression shattered. “Don’t, please..”

But you were already moving toward the door, you didn’t look back. You couldn’t.

The second you made it to your room, you slammed the door behind you, bracing yourself against it as your breath came in ragged, uneven gasps. Your hands were shaking, your chest aching, and no matter how many times you wiped your face, the tears wouldn’t stop.

You slid down against the door, curling into yourself as you tried to breathe.

---

Your childhood bedroom was nearly empty, stripped of everything that had once made it yours. The posters had been peeled from the walls, the bookshelves bare, the bed nothing but a frame and a stripped mattress. The pictures of Bucky and you that were once littered across your wall, were gone. The last remnants of your life here had been packed into boxes, stacked neatly by the door, ready to be loaded into the car.

But you weren’t ready.

You stood at your window, arms wrapped tightly around yourself, your heart pounding with a desperate, pleading rhythm. He’s coming. He has to be coming.

“Sweetie, we need to go before your father gets home,” your mom called from the hallway, her voice low, urgent.

“One more minute,” you whispered, more to yourself than to her. “Please, just one more.”

You didn’t move. Your hands trembled as you gripped the window frame, your stomach twisting with hope and dread. Bucky wouldn’t just let you leave. He wouldn’t.

You had spent the entire week waiting for him to say something. You had walked past his locker slower than usual, lingered by his house on your way home, given him every possible opportunity. But he had been silent.

And now, time was up. This was it, and he wasn’t here to say goodbye.

Your mom appeared in the doorway, her eyes soft but filled with urgency. “Baby, we have to go.”

You turned to face her, your breath hitching. “He’s supposed to be here,” you whispered.

Her face fell. “Oh, sweetheart…”

Your chest constricted painfully, and your nails dug into your palms. “Just… one more minute.”

Your mom hesitated, looking toward the front door like she could feel the danger creeping closer. But then she sighed and gave you a small nod. “One more.”

You turned back to the window, the same window Bucky used to climb through when the world felt too heavy, the same one you’d sneak out of when adventure called in the middle of the night. Your gaze drifted to the street below, the one where you’d run barefoot together, where he spun you around under flickering streetlights like the whole world belonged to just the two of you.

Your heart pounded against your ribs, lodged so tightly in your throat it hurt to breathe. The same heart that had always, always belonged to him and now, it was the heart he was breaking.

Nothing.

No sign of him.

No sign of the boy who had promised to be your best friend forever.

Your mom touched your arm gently. “It’s time.”

Your vision blurred as you took a shaky breath. The finality of it all settled in like a weight on your chest.

Bucky wasn’t coming, he actually wasn't coming.

You swallowed the lump in your throat and forced yourself to move, your legs feeling like they belonged to someone else as you walked out of the room, out of the house, and into the car.

And as you drove away, you kept your eyes glued to the side mirror, hoping, praying, to see him come running after you. But he never did.

Bucky had been pacing his room for the past hour, his hands in his hair, his stomach in knots. Go to her. Just go to her.

But he couldn’t.

Every time he reached for his door, he hesitated. Every time he thought about what he would say, his throat closed up. I’m sorry. I was an idiot. I am an idiot, I was being selfish. He should've told you that a little distance for a year never hurt anyone, especially the two of you. He should've told you he would drive down, that he would call and video chat everyday. He should've told you he was happy that your Mom was finally leaving that drunken asshole, he should have told you he was glad you were finally going to be safe. He should've told you he was in love with you.

But what if you didn’t want to hear it? What if it was already too late? The thought paralyzed him, until it hit him.

What the fuck am I doing?

His heart slammed against his ribs as he bolted out of his room, nearly tripping over himself as he ran down the stairs and out the front door. The world around him blurred as he sprinted down the street, his pulse roaring in his ears.

Please still be there. Please, God, let her still be there.

But as he rounded the corner onto your street, his feet stopped.

The driveway was empty, the car was gone. He staggered forward, chest heaving, his breath catching in his throat.

“No, no, no”

His hands found the chain-link fence that bordered your yard, gripping it so tight his knuckles turned white. His eyes darted across the front porch, the darkened windows, the abandoned boxes left on the curb.

You were gone.

A sharp, broken sound tore from his throat as he slid down the fence, his legs giving out beneath him. His fingers curled into the dirt, his head dropping forward as a sob ripped through him.

---

The door slammed against the wall as John stumbled into the hotel room, the sharp scent of whiskey and unfamiliar perfume hitting you before his voice did.

“Baby,” he called, his tone thick with alcohol, slurring just enough to make your stomach churn. “You awake?”

You didn’t move, didn’t answer. Maybe if you stayed still long enough, he’d think you were asleep. Maybe he’d leave you alone for once.

But the floor creaked under his weight as he crossed the room, and then suddenly, he was kneeling at your side of the bed. His breath, warm and sour, fanned across your cheek as he whispered, “Honey, wake up.”

You forced yourself to stir, blinking slowly like you’d just come out of a deep sleep. Your body was stiff, tense, but you softened your expression as you turned to him.

John smiled, his eyes glassy, unfocused, but still locked onto you like you were his entire world and that scared you. His fingers slid through your hair, slow and tender, before trailing down to your cheek, you braced yourself but he cradled your face like you were something fragile. Like he hadn’t spent the night reminding you just how small you really were, it made you want to puke.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice breaking. His forehead pressed against yours, and you could feel the way he was swaying slightly, his balance off. “I didn’t mean to act like that. I don’t know what came over me. I just… I get these strong feelings, you know? You just make me so…” He stopped, exhaling shakily.

You swallowed, nodding slightly, pretending you knew exactly what he meant. Of course it was your fault.

He kissed your hand, pressing his lips to your knuckles like a man making a promise he had no intention of keeping. “I love you,” he whispered desperately, squeezing your fingers. “Please forgive me.”

You hesitated, only for a second. “…Okay,” you whispered, barely audible, but he latched onto it like it was a lifeline.

“Oh, thank God,” he breathed, his shoulders sagging in relief. He stumbled onto the bed beside you, kicking off his shoes clumsily before pulling the blankets over himself. Within minutes, his breathing evened out, deep and heavy in sleep.

You lay there, staring at the ceiling, unmoving and then, when you were sure he was out, when you knew he wouldn’t hear you turned onto your side, curled in on yourself, and let the silent sobs take over.

---

The knock at the door was sharp, cutting through the quiet of Bucky’s hotel room. He hadn’t been able to sleep, his mind was too full, too loud but he hadn’t expected company either.

Dragging a tired hand down his face, he pushed himself off the bed and walked over, unlocking the door before pulling it open.

“Sam?” Bucky frowned. “It’s late, what are you doing here?”

Sam raised an eyebrow, arms crossed over his chest. “Yeah, well, why are you answering?”

Bucky exhaled through his nose, leaning against the doorframe. “I was hoping it would be Y/N.”

Sam gave him a knowing look before tilting his head toward the room. “Can I come in for a second?”

Bucky stepped aside, letting him in. Sam walked in slowly, glancing around before settling against the desk. He hesitated, his usual easygoing demeanor laced with something heavier.

“She’s in deep, Buck,” Sam said finally, his voice quieter than usual. “That relationship… it’s not healthy.”

Bucky’s jaw clenched. He knew that already had felt it, had seen it. Had heard the way John spoke to you, watched the way you tensed under his touch, the way your light dimmed every time he pulled you close.

“I’ve seen that before,” Sam continued, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “My sister’s best friend, she was in something like that. She always said it wasn’t that bad, that he didn’t hit her, that she could handle it.” He paused, his throat bobbing. “She didn’t make it out.”

Bucky winced. “I can’t let that happen to her,” Bucky said, his voice low, like the words were a confession.

Sam watched him carefully, waiting.

Bucky exhaled, his fingers flexing at his sides. “Her dad,” he started, then stopped. “When we were kids… he used to come home drunk, and things would break. I’d hear it from my house, yelling, glass shattering, her mom making excuses the next day.” He swallowed hard, the memories tightening around his throat. “She’d say she was clumsy. That she tripped because Y/N left things on the stairs. But she didn’t, she never did.”

Sam’s expression darkened.

Bucky shook his head. “Sometimes he’d lose it on her too,” he admitted. “She wouldn’t tell me, but I knew. I’d see the look in her eyes, hear it. He threw a god damn bottle at her head, she was 16” His hands curled into fists. “And I didn’t do enough to stop it.”

Sam stepped closer. “That’s not on you, Buck.”

Bucky let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Isn’t it? I was supposed to protect her. Instead, I let her walk right into this.” His voice wavered, something breaking inside him. He looked up at Sam, his eyes shining with something raw. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost her.”

Sam sighed, running a hand over his face. “She’s a smart girl, man. She knows this isn’t healthy. I saw the look on her face at the bar.” He exhaled heavily. “But you can’t force her to walk away. All you can do is be there for her. Make sure she knows she has someone to turn to when she’s ready.”

Bucky shook his head. “I can’t just stand by,” he said, his voice thick. “Not when the only girl I’ve ever loved is hurting.”

Sam stilled, his eyes narrowing slightly before he let out a soft chuckle. “I knew it,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I knew it.”

Bucky smiled lightly, looking away.

Sam smirked. “Does she know?”

Bucky nodded, his jaw tightening. “I just told her, ike an hour ago.”

Sam’s expression softened. “Then you did what you could do,” he said simply. “Now, you just have to be there when she needs you.” He pushed off the desk, stretching. “Get some rest, man. Travel day tomorrow.”

Bucky didn’t answer, just exhaled sharply through his nose as Sam headed toward the door.

Before leaving, Sam glanced back. “Goodnight, Buck.”

Bucky’s shoulders sagged slightly as the door clicked shut. But sleep still wouldn’t come.

[legendofmorons]

Written in the stars (forever on loop) Chapter two - Catch my breath (what else can I do?)

Pairing: eventual Poly! Chain x reader, platonic Wind & reader

Series Rating: T

Summary: Day two with the chain has its challenges. Thankfully, Epona and Wind are there to make things better. Four and Sky have a heart to heart while a late night talk with Warriors leaves you with some questions and thoughts.

Warnings: grief, cursing

Other: If I missed anything, please let me know

Previous masterlist. Next

Breakfast is your saving grace in the morning, especially because you need something to do that isn't focusing on everything that happened yesterday.

You sit by Sky again, though Wind sits on your other side.

Sky looks exhuasted, blinking blearily and having to stifle a yawn every so often. He's got puffy eyes... has he been crying? Maybe it was just a bad day...

No one else speaks to you or sits near you, though. There's a tense atmosphere you could cut with a very dull butter knife.

"So, what do you do back home?" Wind asks before stuffing a bite of his food in his mouth.

You smile politely, "I work, I listen to music, I talk to my friends and family. Nothing exciting. What about you?"

"I like to sail a lot." Wind says.

This isn't a surprise. He gives off pirate gremlin energy anyhow. It's good to know it is from a hobby and not just your own interpretation of what is apparently more than a video game.

You smile a little more real this time. "That's good, it's important to have hobbies. Do you live near the sea?"

"You know about the sea!" Wind declares excitedly.

You laugh a little, "Of course I do."

You can feel the way all the others look at you with strange gazes and furrowing brows or outright glares.

You focus your gaze on Wind, blocking out the others.

Wind looks absolutely delighted, though, his grin wide and bright. "No one else but Wild knows. You do, though!"

"I do." You agree easily.

The young teen is adoreable in the excitement that causes his ears to twitch a little.

Sky smiles too, "He's a fan of the sea."

"Maybe we can visit it." You offer.

Wind cheers, beaming at you. "I hope so!"

Time clears his throat to get everyone's attention. The air goes thick again around you.

You turn your gaze to the oldest, wondering yet again why he has the fierce diety marking on only half his face if he has them at all.

"We're going to keep looking for a town today, we need to get our new friends some supplies since they were caught unawares." Time says.

He hasn't looked at you. Most of them haven't looked at you. Not really.

You feel your face heat up a little. Embarrassment floods your being.

If you had known you were going to end up here, you would have prepared more!

"We should also probably see about finding a river or something soon." Warriors adds firmly.

The others agree with both sentiments.

Wind elbows you playfully, "Don't worry, we all got caught unawares at least once. I started my adventure by hitting things with sticks."

The teen gives a wink at the end, like he's telling you a secret.

You laugh, recalling that sequence in Wind Waker. Immediately, you feel guilty simply for having loved and played the games.

Apparently, the world of Hyrule is real.

Oh.

Right.

This is all so bizarre.

You played through what were probably horrible quests and memories for fun. (You didn't know! If you had known - breathe. You remind yourself to breathe.)

Last night's dreams were weird.

Everything is so different

"Don't overthink." Sky chides lightly although, it sounds like it's something he says on autopilot, his face twisting with an unreadable emotion.

Grief, maybe? But worry, too.

"Okay." You manage.

"Twilight, Wild, Wind, Legend, and Sky, you'll all look for a river. Warriors, Four, Hyrule, and I will take (Y/n) and look for a town." Time says.

No!

You don't want to leave Sky and Wind. They are the least tense!

At least you'll be with Four and Hyrule. They are far less intimidating than Time and Warriors.

"Don't worry," Wind whispers to you as he nudges your side lightly. "They're all big softies."

He gives you a dramatic wink.

You crack a weak smile. "Really??"

"Really." Wind assures.

"Thanks." You say softer.

The teen grins at you. He looks pretty eleated in general.

"Alright, when you are ready, we'll head out." Time says to you. He's finally looking at you, but his face is stony.

You acknowledge his words and work on finishing your food.

After you've eaten and everything has been packed up, the groups split up.

You are flanked by four men as you walk. Warriors and Four on either side of you with Time in the back and Hyrule beside him.

None of them talk except to tell you if you're turning. Their eyes never seem to be on you, but you swear they're watching.

The silence is strange. (Some strange subconscious part of you rails against the tense air around you. This is wrong!)

"So... uhm... what's with the portals?" You ask after a good twenty minutes of walking.

This seems like a solid start point. The silence is too much anyway.

The others seem to share a silent conversation around you. None of them look at you.

Warriors looks at you as he answers. "There is a Sahdow opening them and letting lose monsters of different eras."

You nod. That sounds like some Legend of Zelda stuff right there... You should probably stop thinking of this as a video game world.

Four sighs. "Of course we're all here because we're heroes."

"That makes sense... why am I here?" You ask, feeling as if you're in free fall without a parachute as far as information goes.

There's a beat of silence.

The men exchange glances around you, yet another silent converstion exchanging in seconds.

"We don't know." Time says evenly, a measured tone flowing in his voice. His gaze is still too heavy on you, as if he's daring you to do something.

"Okay." You manage.

Four offers you a slightly strained smile. "We'll figure it out."

His smile is wrong. His eyes are wrong. He dosen’t believe in what he says, does he?

"I hope so."

Hyrule hums once. "Are you a hero where you're from? That might make it make sense if you are."

You laugh a little, startled at the notion. "No. No, my life back home is... boring enough."

Four and Warriors both look spooked by your laugh, looking at you with frowns. The latter looks a little angry, too, with pinched brows.

Okay. Maybe it was rude to laugh?

"Oh." Hyrule says.

"Boring can be good." Warriors offers after a moment, face fixing itself into an overly polite mask.

You smile weakly. "I guess so."

"Are you a royal then?" Hyrule asks.

You laugh again. "No. I'm definitely not."

The silence comes back, heavy and awkward. You don't bother trying to break it again.

There's something wrong in the air. You just can't place it. You have barely interacted with any of them!

At least Hyrule and Four just seem to avoid watching you. Or maybe it just feels that way because Warriors and Time won't stop - even if you don't catch them, you can feel it.

What is it with these heroes and the staring problem?

Yeesh.

Hopefully, when you see Wind again, He can lighten the mood.

-------

The trip to town was awkward, stilted, and almost painful. When you're dropped off at an inn to what for the boys to get the others, you are relieved.

You've gotten a travel pack with a place for your bed roll. You've also been given a few spare clothes, which is nice.

You are apparently to share an inn room with someone tonight.

Hopefully, it's Wind or Sky. They haven't glared at you or made you feel unwanted.

You settle on one of two beds, wondering what you have done to earn their cold shoulders. Did you... over step somehow?

Maybe they know about the video games? They aren't self-aware in the game, hopefully?

Nothing makes sense anyway.

There's a knock at the door before someone calls. "Hey, it's just me! We're roommates!"

Wind.

Thank goodness.

The door opens to reveal a grinning Wind.

"Did you have fun?" You ask.

The teen is practically bouncing. "I did! It was great, oh my goodness! Wild and Sky got tangled up in some roots, and we had to finish a mini dungeon!"

"That sounds... busy?"

"It was fun! We got some rupees, too."

"That's good!" You say a bit more cheerily.

The boy grins.

He asks you about your trip, and you just say it was okay, a little awkward, but not horrible.

Dinner is quick, and every time you try to make conversation with anyone but Wind they look pained by the attempt, and it peeters out.

Even Sky seems a little skittish about you during dinner, although his eyes look puffy again. Maybe he's going through something?

You sigh, deciding to go see Epona. Maybe she'll let you pet her?

Epona is at least less scared of you. She just sniffs your hand curiously.

As soon as she sniffs you, she's pressing her face into your hand insistently, as if asking for attention. Who are you to deny her?

She's sweet, at least.

"Such a good girl you are." You coo to Epona sweetly.

She isn't at fault for the tense atmosphere of the boys.

Petting her mane gently is relaxing in ways you hadn't quite expected. She's all but leaning into it, a few soft snorts here and there but otherwise seemingly content to be near you.

"Aw, I wish I had something to give you, sweetheart."

Epona just leans a little more into your touch.

"I'll just keep an eye out. Maybe we can find an apple or something for you."

You can feel a few others watching you, but you don't turn. It's much nicer here with Epona than with the heavy silence and strained attempts at conversation provided by the boys.

Although Wind is certainly picking up some slack there, he deserves some cookies or something.

"How'd you get to be so sweet, pretty girl?" You muse.

It's a nice break from havin to be around anyone. Epona is so gentle and sweet, at least with you. She's happy to let you pet her man and sctach behind her ears gently.

Animals are amazing.

-------

Sky and Four take to their room, both looking forward to getting away from the painful reminder you are. They know it's not your fault, you seem nice, but still...

Grief is funny sometimes.

The moment the door closes, Sky's carefully polite face is falling into twisting grief.

Four just flops himself onto his bed. His head hurts, pounding like a horribly novice out of step marching band is playing their show inside his skull.

It's too much.

Sky just leans against the door, sinking to the floor with his head leaning back.

"Why couldn't they look different?" Sky asks in a shaking whisper.

The question escapes his mouth on accident.

Four turns over, so he's staring up at the ceiling. "I don't know."

Sky dosen’t turn. Instead, he just closes his eyes.

"It's not their fault." Four says, staring at the ceiling.

"No." Sky agrees. "It's not."

"I feel so bad for them." Four manages.

He does.

Against the grief and the anger and the stupid hope that twirl around his lost love, there's sympathy. Sympathy for the unexpected start of an adventure.

Sympathy for the lost look in their eyes at unfamiliarity scripts of hylian writing.

"Goddess... They looked terrified when they first saw me." Sky whispers into the room.

He uses that expression of terror to ground himself. It sounds bad. He knows it sounds bad.

But your terror is proof that you aren't his beloved sunshine.

His sunshine... never looked at him like that. They were never scared of him. Not when they saw him seal the imprisoned. Not when they saw him fight Demise.

They were never scared.

The expression of terror on your face chafes at his soul, but it helps him remember you aren't anyone else but a stranger in a scary situation.

"I think they're scared of Time." Four says.

Sky laughs weakly. "He is intimidating..."

"It's uncanny... They're identical in looks and personality."

"I know."

"How do you do it? I can barely look at them."

"I - can barely look away." Sky laughs, though it almost sounds like crying.

Four hums once, thoughtful mostly. His entire being, all of his colors, struggle under the grief you've stirred up. His empathize for his soul brothers is endless.

His grief is even more vast.

"Goddess. They'd be ashamed of me." Sky admits, "Dancing around a stranger trying to keep everything under wraps and falling apart as soon as the door shuts."

Four narrows his eyes, pushing up to lean on his elbows. His glare is trained on Sky. "Don't sully thier memory by assigning your shame to them."

"What?" Sky swallows, looking at Four with wide eyes.

The hero of skies looks like a kicked puppy, glassy eyes, and shaking form.

Four dosen’t care. Not now. Not when the memory of their soulmate's memory is being treated so poorly.

"They wouldn't be ashamed of you for doing your best in a hard situation. They wouldn't blame you for having complex feelings. Your own guilt shouldn't be projected onto their memory." Four says, or maybe that's Blue and Vio in control for now. Who can tell?

They all miss you. Every piece of him misses you.

"How could they not be?" Sky asks. "I'm messing everything up!"

"Legend hasn't stopped glaring at them, Time just stares silently, I can barely look at them. Sky, you're being more normal about this than anyone!"

"Wind is doing much better."

"Wind hasn't lost them yet. Of course, he's doing better." Four rolls his eyes, pushing down the envy.

"I know. I... Why does he still have them when no one else does?"

"He's fourteen. There's plenty of time for him to get fucked over like the rest of us." Four snaps.

"I didn't mean- I just miss them."

"I know." Four sighs, closing his eyes. "I know... I think we all do."

Silence falls over the room, heavy but not uncomfortable. It's the silence that falls over loved ones when they've had a hard conversation and need to think but still feel safe together.

Four falls back against the bed, trying to remember the way his lover once held him. Perhaps it's self destructive, but when it helps him cope, he dosen’t care.

He can feel the colors, his head is still pounding.

Blue is restless as ever, a rage at the reminder that you're gone. Anger that Sky could speak of your memory so poorly.

Green and Red are trying to calm it all down. They're trying to focus on the better times they had with thier lover.

Vio... is Vio. He's focusing on the facts again.

Like always.

Four focuses on his breathing, pretending that it's them here counting it instead of him.

Who knew trying to keep himself together would be so hard?

-------

You're outside trying to get some air after having the same dream from last night. The argument and lead up to something horrible in the dream is - draining.

The night air is chilly, but it's a nice relief from the stifling feeling of the bed.

Stars above you make out patterns you shouldn't be able to recognize, but you swear you see a set of stars that's supposed to be a harp. It isn't the harp constellation from your world, though. It's different.

You sit on the steps that lead up to the inn porch, leaning against the banister.

There's some sort of spinning string instrument tune stuck in your head, unplayable as the origin of the second and strange harp constellation.

There's the sound of the door opening and closing behind you. Probably another person in search of some air.

"What... are you doing our here?" Asks a man.

You turn, looking over your shoulder to see Warriors, still in his entire outfit, chain mail, and all.

His gaze is heavy, not as bad as Time's but strange as ever.

You sigh, trying to avoid tensing up at the sight of him. "I needed some air... I guess you do, too."

Warriors sighs, "You could say that."

"Don't let me stop you." You say, turning your head back to facing forwards and gazing out at the small town before you.

A lazy night breeze blows across you, ruffling your hair a little.

Warriors is silent behind you, a large presence. He's unmoving.

You're left wondering if he's still there for a moment.

It seems rude to check, though.

How he can be so still is beyond you, but you suppose that's probably a skill he picked up from the war. (A war you're not meant to know about.)

Warriors moves finally, walking until he's beside you. He stands there, unmoving again as he stares up at the stars.

"You shouldn't be out here without a weapon." He says finally.

You glance up at him. "Why? It's a small town."

"Ambushes can happen anytime anywhere."

"I can't say that's something I've had to worry about much." You admit. Which is true, for all the creeps and killers of your world... none of them are literal monsters.

Besides, you don't have a weapon right now. Why would you need one while traveling with the group?

"Count yourself lucky." Warriors tells you, "You should start worrying about it, though. Our group gets ambushed often."

You take a slow breath, trying to decide if you're supposed to respond or not. What do you even say to that?

He looks at you, face carefully neutral in a way that feels vaugley threatened. "You... aren't a fighter, are you?"

"Not the way you guys seem to be."

"You've never fought a war... have you?" Warriors asks in a soft voice.

He sounds- he sounds like your answer is important to this question. He sounds like you have some huge sway over what happens with this answer.

His face is still carefully blank.

"No. I've never fought in a war." You say slowly, trying to make sense of whatever this is.

Warriors let's out a slow, heavy sigh. "I hope it stays that way."

"Me too." You say.

You mean it, too. How could you not? Who hopes to get pulled into a war? Not you.

Moments pass, and thick silence seems to press in on you.

"I'm sorry." You say finally.

Warriors looks at you, face still unnervingly calm.

What life has he led that he's so good at neutral poker faces?

"Why?" He asks you.

That's a great question. Why are you sorry?

There's so many reasons.

You're sorry you played their games and enjoyed them.

You're sorry that you're here and slowing them down.

You're sorry that you came unprepared, and they had to step up.

You're sorry he's lost so much.

"I'm sorry I've been such a pain." You settle on. "I know I slowed you guys down and that you stepped up yesterday to help make sure I'm set up for whatever it is we've all been dragged into."

Warriors sighs while something heavy flashes through his eyes before it disappears. "You don't need to apologize. We weren't going to kick you aside."

"I guess. I'm still sorry."

"Do you know how many times I've heard these kinds of apologies?" He asks.

You shake your head. "No."

He looks up to the sky again. "Too many times. Too many people have told me they're sorry for things they can't control. That they're sorry for me doing something simple."

"Oh."

"Don't waste time or words on things like that." Warriors tells you with a stern look.

You would imagine it's a look he picked up as a captain.

"Okay." You breathe out softly.

"I mean it, (Y/n)." He says, though he sounds far away. It's like he's actually speaking to someone else.

Someone he lost.

"Okay." You say again softer.

-------

Next

[bwobgames]

They see a slumped, defeated looking Owen and a pensive Simon on one of the tables.

“Now that’s not the mood for a fancy train ride. Cheer up, strange creatures!”

“No can do, for the future only brings ruin. Forked paths. Uncertain fate. Such an herculean feat of Atlas proportions”

“What”

“We’re thinking”

“Are you?”

“They’re bummed out because they have to choose a career for university”

“WHA- WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?”

“Around”

“Is that what’s worrying you? Career prospects?”

“It’s more than that! I took a year off to ~find myself~ but uh. I mostly played videogames and got a cool haircut”

“And now I have to actually do the damn thing, and I still haven’t found out what I want to do!”

“It’s alright Owen, the university life is not for everyone.”

“No no, I know that! But I need to know what is it that I want to do for the rest of my life!”

“That does sound like a Herculean feat of Atlas proportions”

“Well, what is it that you like to do?”

“Uh. Listen to Medieval versions of popular music?”

“…As like. A hobbie”

“Don’t worry, a lot of people don’t end up working as the thing they studied. I was a security guard for a good while!”

“Security! That’s it!”

“A security expert? That’s a noble job”

“I’LL BECOME THE NEXT DOMINION!”

“The guy is nowhere to be found, and people found he sold all the stuff he stole so he must be loaded, right?”

“And! I get to have a cool costume!”

“You think it’s cool…?”

("He thinks it's cool?!")

“Owen that’s how you get in jail. And at least a few broken bones. A person needs to be borderline crazy to believe they can pull off the stuff Dominion did”

“Because he was like no other, truly. Amazing, mysterious, charming…”

“A complete lunatic”

“less than three”

“wh- Did you say the heart emoji out loud?”

“Well, if I can’t be Twominion then what do you think I should be, Mr. B- Oliver Beebo?”

Hmm… Something that Owen would enjoy…

“I think you’d do it well”

“Well, that does sound fun, but uh, isn’t that a bit… low on employment?”

“That is true, but. Does it really matter for your type?”

“My type?”

“Rich people."

"You have connections. Your parents have connections. No matter how low-end a career path might be, you’ll get to do anything because of your family’s name”

“Ollie, you’re not wrong but I don’t think that’s what the kid wants to hear right now…”

“Why not? It means he’s free to do whatever he wants. Look at Nadia”

“Oliver…”

“She’s studying film. In a country with barely any movie productions. Less so known ones aside from some closed circles. On a private University.”

“Yet she’ll be able to do all the movies she wants and be successful because the Margulis name is strong”

“…Excuse you. Are you implying I’m not able to be successful on my own?”

“Ah, you certainly have talent Nadia, I wouldn’t say anything against that”

“But that talent can be found in millions of people. People who might be even more talented. But we’ll never know because they won’t be able to reach the place it has been given to you on talent alone”

“You will. Because you have money. Because you were born with money.”

“…You-“

“SIMON! HAHA WHAT ABOUT YOU SIMON? HUH? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STUDY HAHA”

“C’mon Beeb, only I’m allowed to fight the child”

(“Fight?")

Simon thinks for a second

“…Marine Biology”

“Although mom always gets weird when I say it. I think she might hate fishes”

“Bu- But you are good at cooking yeah? Didn’t you love cooking?”

“I am good at it but… The cooking scene isn’t very nice…”

“And I refuse to cook Lobster! It’s terrible and cruel!”

“Well, what if you become a vet! And specialize in fish! Or become the owner of an aquarium!”

“That just seems like a roundabout way to get to marine biology”

“You could have your own restaurant! Fish free!”

“I think it’s fine."

"If you like it and you think you can make it, then go ahead. Biology is hard though, think about that”

“I’m pretty good at it”

He seems relieved.

While he can’t speak for the others, his blonde roots and white shirt made his eyes look… almost green.

Eugene never got to study what he loved. He’ll make sure Simon does.

<-PREV START NEXT->

[darthwhorecrux]

I tried to write for another character but Shinji LITERALLY stormed into my room, flipped my desk, threw my laptop, broke my phone, spit on me and DEMANDED I write for him again

*

*

*

You'd been stressing and working long hours lately, catching little sleep. Today was another long one, running on only a few hours of rest. It was hardly evening, and you'd surpassed your manic, delirious phase and were now crashing, nodding off, eyes fluttering closed only for you to snap your head back up and force your eyes to remain peeled. Shinji was thoroughly explaining something to you and you could not for the life of you catch a single word he was saying, each one going in one ear and out the other just as quickly. You tried and failed over and over again to focus. Pain stung your tired eyes and your body felt much heavier than usual, nearly impossible to keep upright.

At first, Captain Hirako hadn't noticed, too involved in the work at hand and talking through something with you. It wasn't until he glanced your way again and noticed how lifeless you looked that something wasn't right.

He stopped mid sentence, not that you were conscious enough to notice, "(Y/N)?" He asked, narrowing his eyes skeptically. "Are you feeling alright?"

Hearing your name coming out of his mouth awakened you, at least enough to snap back to attention for the moment. "Hm? Sorry?" You were too tired to even worry about the harsh look he was giving you.

Shinji sighed. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

He stood abruptly from where he sat, approaching you. He got on one knee before you, looking up to you with concern. "Have you been getting enough sleep? Or is something else bothering you?"

"I'm fine, really." You lazily waved a dismissive hand, lying about your unwell state out of habit. "Can you just repeat the last thing you said?"

"I think we should call it a day," he ignored you. "I'll walk you home."

"Captain." You forced yourself to stand, trying to prove that you were of sound mind. You couldn't have yourself getting in trouble. "I don't think that's necessary. The task at hand is more important."

Shinji slowly rose, looking stern. "It is necessary. We can't do quality work if you can hardly stay awake."

He moved away to gather his belongings. You stayed where you were, guilt and worry waking you a little more and adding to your list of pains. It was too late. You were in trouble.

Speaking less formally now and more as his friend, you asked him, "are you mad at me?" You frowned while you waited for him to look at you, shuffling in place nervously.

"Of course I'm not mad," Shinji laughed at your puppy-dog behavior. "Just what kind of a guy do you think I am?"

"I wasn't even listening to you." You hung your head in shame. "I've failed you today."

"Don't be dramatic," he continued. "Taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do - not this 'task at hand' nonsense you're spewing." You noticed that he had gathered your belongings as well while you were hesitating, holding them along with his. "Let's get going."

You followed him out of the office, a dreamy swell of adoration in your chest. "Oh, thank you."

*

*

*

You stood outside of your door with Shinji. The sun had set a little while ago, painting the landscape in the early stages of darkness. You could still see the Captain perfectly clear, turning to face him.

"Thank you again," you told him, voice coming out soft and wispy in your exhausted state.

"Let's meet again tomorrow at noon," he said seriously, reluctantly passing you your belongings. "Sleep in if you can."

"I will do my best." You forced a smile.

Neither of you moved. "Do you need anything?" Shinji asked gently. "Some tea or medicine to help you sleep?"

You were so tired, you doubted you needed anything to get to bed. "Tea would be nice actually." You supposed you were just looking for a chance to spend more time with him, even if it meant having to stay awake a little longer.

You'd always adored Shinji, and that adoration was further highlighted in moments like this, where he was putting you before your Soul Reaper work, encouraging you to take care of yourself and assisting you there.

He smiled, though it came out in that smirky way of his, like he as holding back laughter. Then he opened your door and went inside like he owned the place and was inviting you in. You followed, haphazardly discarding your belongings along the way.

You sat in your small kitchen as Shinji flowed about to make your tea, asking you simple questions here and there to navigate your kitchen. You were nodding off again when he placed the steaming mug before you, sitting across from you with his own cup to enjoy.

You sat in a comfortable silence with him, sipping tea. You were about halfway through your beverage when Shinji was at your side, his hand on your arm prepared to pull you up. You realized then you had been sitting there with your eyes closed, poised to pass out at any moment sitting in your kitchen.

"Let's get you to bed," he chuckled quietly, his voice sounding distant when you were halfway to the dream world. You loved that voice, trusted that voice. Right now it was a beacon of light for you to follow to get to sleep.

He pulled you out of your chair and stayed glued to your side, holding you upright, as the two of you went the short distance to your bedroom. As soon as you caught sight of your bed you went forward, unceremoniously collapsing onto the mattress.

"Do you have pjs?" He asked you, gesturing to your many drawers, though your face was buried in your comforter.

At the sound of pjs, you shot up, stumbling like a drunk over to the drawer that held your comfortable night clothing. You made quick work of pulling it open and grabbing the first thing on top, which happened to be a rather scandalous, frilly, girly nightdress. Without thinking, immediately after you slammed your dresser shut you began dropping your uniform, undressing right then and there to hurriedly get into the cozy material.

"What are you - you maniac!" Shinji quickly spun around and crossed his arms over his chest. Even if you didn't care or notice, he wasn't going to take advantage of you while you were in such a vulnerable state and watch you while you got naked. He didn't turn back to look at you again until he heard the sound you thumping back into bed, your Soul Reaper uniform left messily where you had dropped it from your body.

His jaw dropped when he saw you, splayed out on your stomach, wearing that ridiculously short gown that hardly covered anything. He felt like he was being tested by the universe, catching the slightest glimpse of your panties peaking out beneath your pajamas as you lay with one leg hiked up and the other hanging straight down.

He sighed in frustration, looking away from your ass and to your defeated figure as a whole atop your mattress. He came forward, scooping you up to pull you further up the bed so he could pull the comforter over you and hide your curves from his view. You stirred and turned to help him, flipping over to tuck your knees in, making room to push your legs under the heap of blankets.

When he saw your frontside, he was sure then. He was definitely being tested. Not only did the nightdress hardly cover your backside, but your cleavage was on full display too, the dainty, girlish fabric hardly covering each of your breasts. Shinji had never seen so much of your body with the modest way you wore your uniform. Now, one of your tits was threatening to spill out of the tiny strap holding it up, and Shinji was torn between looking away and trying to help tuck you in. All the while you were oblivious to his mental struggles, scooting in and pulling the comforter up to your chest, where your breasts were still exposed. Feeling perverted, Shinji grabbed it and yanked it up the rest of the way to your chin.

"Shinji?" You asked with your eyes closed.

"Yeah?" He gulped, prepared for the worst. You were about to call him out for being a perv, for staring at your ass and your tits while you were just so sleepy and oblivious.

But then, "you're the only one looking out for me," you mumbled tiredly and affectionately.

The Captain was able to breathe again, smiling at your cute, delirious talk. "Get some rest, okay?"

You went on. "I'll miss you."

"Miss me?" He laughed quietly.

You'd have never spoken this way to him when you were of right mind. He knew he should tell you to stop talking and go to bed before you spewed something you regretted, but he was too curious and admiring how sweet and fragile you looked and sounded while you were drifting off to sleep, wearing your revealing, princess-like nightdress. He was enjoying seeing this other side of you a little too much to be in such a hurry to leave. Maybe he really was perverted, perverted for your heart for sure.

"Yeah. Until I see you again tomorrow," you explained. "I hope I see you in my dreams."

If he was just as delirious, he'd tell you that he'd miss you too, that he missed you every time you were apart. "You really are tired," he said instead, laughing uncomfortably.

You opened your eyes slightly to watch him. "Will you stay until I fall asleep?" You asked hopefully.

He frowned, at war with himself. "I don't think that will take very long."

"Will you?"

It wasn't possible for him to tel you no when you looked at him like that. "I will."

"Thank you. I-" you wanted to say something badly, but the words never came.

"Yeah?" Shinji raised his eyebrows expectantly, in impatient anticipation.

You shook your head to yourself, fending off whatever thought that was trying to escape. "Thank you," you repeated again, shutting your eyes for the final time tonight.

Shinji was right that it didn't take long for you to fall asleep. He waited and listened for the steady, rhythmic sound of your breathing before rising, stopping to take one last look at your sleeping form, to sear this into his memory. As softly as he could, he reached out to push some stray hairs out of your face, yearning to do more, but knowing that he couldn't.

"Sleep tight, lovebug. I hope I see you in my dreams too."

When you woke the next morning, feeling rested at last, the first thing you noticed was that your room smelt pleasantly like Shinji, bringing back memories of the previous night. The last you remembered was sitting at the kitchen table, having tea with him. You wondered what transpired afterwards, how you got to bed, and were surprised that you were so exhausted you couldn't even properly remember.

When you saw what you were wearing underneath the comforter, you cringed at yourself, hoping that he hadn't seen your pjs and if he had, embarrassed that you had looked so slutty in front of the Captain. The sight of yourself mixed with the ghost of his scent in the room made you feel like a pervert. You were already starting to prepare an explanation for yourself, thinking of telling him it was laundry day, but then, how could you even bring this up to him? Maybe it'd be best to ignore it altogether, pretend like it hadn't happened, though you knew you wouldn't ever be able to forget.

And then when you got out of bed and saw the tea cups in the sink, you were thinking of him again. Shinji Hirako had already invaded your mind nearly every moment of every day, and now he had invaded your personal space as well, making it increasingly difficult to stop thinking of him inappropriately. It made your heart ache with desire and longing, his fleeting scent, his tea cup next to yours. He was just here, and you already missed him, already wanted to see him again. It was agony, having to smell his presence in your home when he wasn't here.

You looked at the clock, remembering his words about meeting at noon. It was still morning. That didn't stop you from pulling on your uniform and robes, scarfing down a quick and simple breakfast, wanting to see him more than you wanted to rest. You headed for his office earlier than you were supposed to. You knew he'd be there already, and you were way too excited.

Something needed to be done about this.

[thezombieprostitute]

"I wanna do this with you."

But make it about a couple talking about murder.

Thank you for your patience, Anon! It took me way too long to figure out the right couple for this.

Summary: Someone tries to use you to get leverage over Lloyd.

Warnings: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Violence. Please let me know if I missed any!

A/N: Reader is female. No other physical descriptors used.

Series Masterlist

Lloyd had warned you when you first met that he had enemies. The kind of enemies that might throw a bag over your head and kidnap you. He'd praised you for not being the type to cry and panic. But that was before you'd gotten pregnant. You're no longer worried about just yourself but also baby Liam, due to arrive in less than 8 weeks. You're supposed to be keeping your blood pressure down so as not to risk triggering an early labor.

Easier said than done, given the circumstances.

It was supposed to be a simple walk around the block. Lloyd had security guards on almost every corner to keep you safe and you desperately needed to get out of the house for a bit. Next thing you know, you're reliving your first meeting with Lloyd by getting a bag thrown over your head and getting tossed into a van. And they were not gentle about it.

The tears are flowing but they seem to be helping you keep relatively calm. They don't have you tied up at least, clearly not deeming you to be a threat. For the most part they're right. Lloyd's made sure you've learned some self-defense maneuvers, but they're no help in this. As much as you want to work out details, listen for clues, all of your energy is focused on staying calm.

Your kidnappers finally take you out of the van. You have no idea where they're taking you. All you can focus on is walking without tripping. Liam isn't really helping in this case, he's definitely going to be a heavy baby. They let you go and you hear what sounds like a cell door closing.

"You can take off the bag now," one of your kidnappers says.

You're quick to comply, hating being kept in the dark. Sure enough, you're in, what looks like, a holding cell, bars on three sides with one brick wall. There's a small cot against the wall that you know is going to do nothing for your back but you really do need to sit.

As you do so, a kidnapper talks into a radio, "we've got her secured."

Gathering up your courage you ask, "so what's the plan here? Is there an itinerary? A meal-plan? Any ideas how long I'll be here for?"

"If Hansen complies, you'll be out of here in just a few hours."

Nodding you mentally kick yourself for giving in to the urge to go out. You should've just used the treadmill Lloyd got specifically for you! But no, you just had to go outside for the fresh air. Then again, Lloyd had told you time and time again how secure he made sure the neighborhood was. Does that mean someone betrayed him? Let you be put at risk? You hope Lloyd finds whoever it was and cuts their balls off for putting you and Liam in danger.

"Can I get some water?"

A plastic bottle of water is rolled into your cell. As grateful as you are to not have to walk to get it, it's still a struggle to bend down to pick it up. Your anger rises as you hear a couple of the guards chuckling at your attempts. But you finally get the bottle and catch your breath before you drink.

These assholes might not see it, but you know they're doomed. And soon Lloyd would be breaking down the doors and killing them all. Your soulmate was ruthless. A man who'd kidnapped you and trapped you instead of just asking you out and showing your matching soulmate tattoos. A man who'd figured out all the best ways to get under your skin but also enjoyed letting you do the same to him. A man who'd let himself soften towards you, especially after your pregnancy was discovered, but who still regularly tortured people for information.

You smile softly. Yeah, these guys were all dead. They just didn't know it yet.

Before you've even finished the bottle of water, you hear loud, urgent radio chatter with guns in the background. Rubbing your belly you whisper to your baby, "daddy's here!"

Supposedly there's only one way into this area and all of your guards have their guns aimed at it. You cover your eyes, pretending to be scared but it's because you know what's about to happen. Lloyd's no idiot.

You hear the door open and the bullets go flying, but you also hear the clattering of a flash-bang on the floor. Lloyd told you it's one of the easiest tricks. Shooters always expect someone to be standing when the door opens, so if you crouch, you have a few seconds to do something before they adjust their aim. The flash-bang assures however many people are guarding you, they'll be incapacitated long enough for him to take them out.

"You okay, Pumpkin?" Lloyd's voice is a welcome sound and you uncover your eyes and smile at him as he figures out the door lock.

"So much better now, honey," you confess. "Did you find the asshole traitor?"

"Not yet," he says casually as he finally throws open the door. "But when I do, I'll make sure he gets made an example of."

You throw your arms around his neck and bring him in for a kiss. "I wanna do it with you."

Most people would be thrown off by your want to inflict violence on someone, but Lloyd gives you his cheshire cat grin and growls, "god I love you so much."

"I love you too. Now let's get out of here. Liam is hungry."

"Sure thing, sugar tits."

Series Masterlist

Tagging: @alicedopey; @delicatebarness; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @irishhappiness; @kmc1989; @lokislady82; @ronearoundblindly; @thiquefunlover63

[newkatzkafe2023]

Cartoon eh???

Hehehehehe I wanna see Wukong's meeting a SpongeBob Y/N

I'm insane :')

IM READY!!!!!-SpongeBob Squarepants

(Lmk Wukong) You both would have the most childlike and wholesome relationship, to where everyone is jealous. You both are just big kids together getting into all kinds of shenanigans and giggling fits, you are just Wukong's ball of sunshine and being so cheerful to have around him. However Wukong would grow paranoid because of your less flattering traits to your personality, for example your cluelessness and Naivety that could potentially effect your judgment. Then you being accident prone also doesn't help especially when you ran with a sleep mask on and trip over a old chest, then finally your horrendous driving skills as you drive like a maniac and Wukong would literally see his immortal life flash before his eyes. Though dispite the cons of your relationship Wukong fell in love with you anyway, cause you remained him that with the dark their's the light.

(NR Wukong) He had met you a while ago at your job giving him a krabby patty and didn't mind flirting with a hot freckles lady, and you can be Chaotic and hyperactive as him as well. It's always fun with you and he never knows exactly what your gonna do next and it never gets old with him. Though here's the unfortunate part................OH MY GOD!!!! HE WOULD ALSO THINK YOUR TRYING TO KILL HIM WITH YOUR DRIVING!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!😵😱😰😨☠️ Wukong bike was being fixed by Li so the poor old bastard had to ask you to drive him places, that was the biggest mistake of his immortal life. The second he got in your car his life had flashed before his eyes, I mean you always got to where you need to go but now his fur is white and years of his life was shaved off.

(HIB Wukong) Great an extra child just great, but you would always tell him your just a kid at heart. Wukong would feel his eye twitching because of your everyday antics, especially when you seem to be as clueless and Naive as his son Luier is. However what made him gravitate towards you was how loyal and caring you are, not to mention selfless as you make sacrifices for him and his kids. you would get extremely scared for Wukong and the children, and how you would jump into action with your karate skills defend Luier and Silly Girl. Wukong also blushes and loves hearing you laugh as you teach the children to catch jellyfish, making sure they are safe and loved by you overall your an inqured taste but not a bad one.

(MKR Wukong) Ohhhhhhhhh noooooooo if your SpongeBob then he's your sqiudward, due to how jaded and grumpy personality. Even though you would drive him and everybody around you to the brink of madness, he feels that with you, life isn't so terrible. You know things can be bad, but you never let it get to you and would even try to share your sunshine side view with him at least to make him feel better. Wukong would be baffled by your behavior and personality because you seem to be the type to be positive about everything, and kind no matter who mistreats you not to mention accident prone. This made Wukong very protective of you as you even easier to trick than even the monk With that, but you remained loyal, kind, and respectful to you dear monkey king. Wukong appreciates you for everything you do for him even though he would never admit it.

(Netflix Wukong) To be honest with you, he didn't want you at all at first, but you quickly became something he needed. You were very annoying to him, and Wukong felt your stupidity can make everything worse for him. It's even more embarrassing and irritating when you don't seem to understand him. You would give him whatever support he needs joining him in fights which is when he learned you know something called karate apparently, the finally straw was when he went over his head and you had pulled him away from danger. Boi did Wukong spend hours lashing out and yelling at you as you stood and took it with a worried expression as hugged him. That's when he realized that he eyes were red and he was actually crying, you sticked with him even though he tried to push you away and get rid of you. You offered nothing but kindness and unconditional love, and care and he finally realized he loves you as much as well.

(BMW Wukong) Oh man he would be a god awful influence on you, especially to someone young, impressionable and basically innocent like you. Being with Wukong would tend to get you into alot of trouble, and with that you would try to be his moral compass, because your naive traits Wukong gets away with alot. However he didn't like being told what to do, but over time he didn't disappointing you either as you would give him sad eyes everytime. Wukong is extremely protective of you since your clueless and Naive to people trying to trick you, and with that quick to defend you from the threats and danger. Wukong loves you sure you were goofy as all hell, but he didn't mind having you being his moron.

(Destined one) You are the most selfless and loyal person the Destined one's ever met, and your determination to help him in his endeavors no matter what. You are relatively smart helping thr destined one make battle plans and making sure to make him lunches and dinner to help him in his journey. However being at the same time clueless the Destined one had to pull you out of danger a good few times, since your clueless at times and reckless considering not seeing the danger at times. Dispite that you would do anything for the Destined one and have no problem helping him and he loves you so much for that.

(Lotmk Wukong) Awww your like that little kid couple that people found in a kindergarten schoolyard. Your so happy-go-lucky and cheerful and Wukong immediately opened up to you, and you Quickly became friends. You both love to spend time together and enjoy playing games and catching jellyfish, Wukong does worry about your naive nature and being occasionally accident prone. However he's not a hypocrite because he got the wool pulled over his eyes too, not to mention how innocent and well meaning you are to everyone. With that knowledge of each other your both extremely protective of each other and battling enemies together, since you know karate and fought his enemies. The point is you both have each other's backs sharing the same selflessness, you have for each other and everybody around you.

FEEL FREE TO REBLOG 😄

[weepingtalecowboy]

Oracle of ages is my fav for this one single reason

It is the fact that the enemies are throwing time attacks at you every four attacks (the bosses that is) you deflect them back to reveal their weak spots but the cutest thing happens if you get hit

Look at this lil baby

He is perfect

He is itty bitty

My lil guy… getting hunted down by a boss in the arena while a literal baby who can just weakly crawl away from stuff and looks like it is about to start crying

Like that has to be traumatizing for a baby to experience

So Fanfic prompt : considering that linked universe once again has time travel in it imagine what would happen if legend goes baby mode

Like not even because of dink but because wind messed around with the phantom sword and while the rest of the chain stopped in time legend being incredibly vulnerable to time displacements ends up a baby again

And even funnier if wind and legend are separated from the chain during the event and wind gets to be busy regretting everything that led to his teen parent life with a ungodly fast baby that crawls like it was born to do just that (because it would be so much more horrifying if Legend actually turned into a baby during the time blasts… because that way the trauma will be integrated into him from existence on lol)

the baby has an amount of survival instincts that no baby should reasonably have

No baby should have such a feud with adults and knights especially ( wars got bitten by a tooth less baby legend when they reunited… that baby hates him)

He dodges way to well for a mere infant (you gotta be a god because you are exclusively baby link in active combat)

He is incredibly quite and very much wants to hide all the time

He is terrified of being picked up by anyone (that was not fun for wind )

He screams with actual terror when he actually decides to voice any kind of opinions (that wasn’t fun for wind either but at least later the chain got to suffer and go deaf alongside him )

(not the baby crying of mild inconvenience but the one where they actually sound like they are hurting ,the intense one that makes one panic)

He is a minimalist to the core , literally needs nothing to be content with existing (he got strapped to wars via scarf panicked until he realized that everything isn’t ending still… then didn’t give a sound for several hours,….wars was obviously worried…that ain’t baby behavior)

Like only be given a bottle and he never complains about anything afterwards until he is in literal danger of starving or in pain(that one is messed up but meant that wind didn’t have to panic like crazy )

But that really makes one wonder if he wasn’t exaggerating when he said he had been a hero since he was in diapers

And nobody wants to consider it

That doesn’t sound acceptable everyone paled and was sick by this thought

[birbmotherpigeon]

HERMIT UNIVERSITY socmed

PART 7

Mumbo was doing his best to type and walk at the same time. He had gotten extremely bored when his arms started aching. He was carrying spare parts for Tangos robot to the workshop. His own little Grumbot was already waiting there. He picked up his speed when he entered the building. He was just a few steps away from his corrodior when a big bumbling man turned the corner and they crash into eachother.

Mumbo being a long lean thing fell like a puppet who's strings released on impact. The bigger man didn't seem to keep himself up much better. The bigger man landed on his bum, Mumbo landing face first in his lap.

"Woah there! you okay buddy?" The man asked from above Mumbo, who froze absolutely mortified. Slowly he turned around in the lap of the strange man looking straight up at the *Damn* at the very handsome man.

"Y-yeah I....I okay, Me, buddy is" He managed to get out. He was screaming at himself internally. This was the guy! The shirtless man form the other day. The guy with the cat who moved into Mumbos old dorm. Hadn't he been so mortified he would've wanted to say something to the very handsome young man. Instead he slowly rose to his feet. started to pick up his robotic pieces before he excused himself.

"I'm terribly sorry, I need to go" He said, He didn't even have the time to reflect over the other man's crutches. Nor his extremely confused expression as Mumbo rushed off.

Scar, the mystery handsome man in question, slowly got back on his feet. He saw a metallic mustache laying on the floor as he rose...He picked it up. Looked back one last time before shrugging and continuing his own way.

Gem sighed. She knew her friend was just being dramatic. As she arrives to the workshop so does Tango and Impulse.

"GEMSTONE! what you doing here?" Impulse calls to his roommate as he spots her. She smiles with a shrug.

"Mumbo had a mortifying wet cat moment" She explained and before anyone could say anything more Mumbo was already standing in the doorway to the workshop looking like said wet cat.

"Gem :(" he whined, she had to force down a laugh as to not laugh in her friends face. Tango was not so talented but he got a swift elbow in the side from Impulse.

"I couldn't even say I was okay!!" He whined sitting down with a deep sigh. "Why can't I just be silly with the dorm thing!! why do I have to be socially awkward too" He continued to vent his heart out. He did lose her though

"Excuse me? what? dorm thing?" She repeated, Mumbos face dropped again as he thought about it. He groaned annoyed.

"Yeah I forgot to sign up for a dorm" He explained exasperated

"Well where did you sleep this night?" Gem pressed

"Tango let me crash at their dorm. I'm gonna stay there until there's a vacancy" Mumbo continued his explanation. Gem felt a dread in her stomach

"Ooooh, Mumbo you can't do that they're gonna start doing impromptu dorm checks next week" She said as carefully as she could without freaking Mumbo out even more.

"WHAT" she shouted it hadn't helped. Gem walked up to the tall man. Impulse and Tango followed suit.

"Well yeah they're checking to make sure no one unwanted is at uni" She explained Mumbos shoulders dropped aswell now.

"I guess that makes sense but" He sighed not finishing his thoughts.

"Gem don't tell on us please" Impulse suddenly said, Gem must've had made some face that made him worry. She shaked her head

"Of course not!" She said, she would never rat out her friend.

"Good, and Mumbo we'll just always be ready to hide you until you have your own dorm. Can't be too hard" Tango finished in Impulse stead. Gem was tempted to argue but Mumbo seemed to be genuinely on the werge of tears if she'd say something more.

"Y-yeah!" She let out instead. "a-and if you need to duck out I guess you can always come over to the trout dorm" She added on before thinking properly, she glanced at Impulse who simply nodded. It did seem to help though, Mumbo seemed far less sad.

Previous Part:

Next Part:

[overlordneon]

tell us more abt ran??

RAN? My Zutara steambaby? Dragon of the Southern Water Tribe? Red twin? Sun Warrior? THAT Ran?

GLADLY! I've sortof reworked details of their backstory since I last talked about them anyways. Here's a lengthy ramble about her I guess...

So as you may or may not know already- Ran and Shaw were both raised in the Southern Water Tribe. Katara actually opted to do it alone (she was worried about introducing the two kids to the stresses of FIre Nation poltiics. Zuko respected her choice, hoping to avoid repeating the same relationship as him and his sister.

So neither of the kids knew who their father really was until the day that Ran started firebending. She was pretty sensitive as a kid, basically scared about everything and running to either her mom at anything scary- including her shooting fire out of her fist.

After that Katara finally came clean to them both and told them all about their dad. He would come to the Tribe to visit from then on but Ran wasn't super eager to learn firebending. For the longest time, she would've much rather prefferred to have been a waterbender, having the power to heal people like her brother and mom was something she really wanted. It took a lot of encouragement from her brother before she decided to give it a try. Zuko would try his best to teach her during his visits for a while but they realized that it was going to be better for Ran if they moved to the Fire Nation for her training (it took Katara a lot of convincing to agree to it.) And making it publicly known who his children were.

Being around so many more firebenders was a bit of a culture shock to both Ran and Shaw, where Ran felt a lot less like the freaky firebender of the family. It caused a major flip in her personality. She became much more of a hothead, (a lot like her parents) to counteract her brother's cooler and relaxed temperaments. She took her training a lot more seriously, getting more and more competitive and headstrong as a bender. For better or worse, Zuko saw a lot of Azula in her. When she was around 15 or so, Zuko would be the one to suggest that she should train with the Sun Warriors, feeling it would be the best way to keep her on a good path.

Her time training with the Sun Warriors was not the easiest. With neither her status as the Firelord's daughter or the familiarity of her home in the Southern Tribe she had to work to earn her place there, this included a lot of grunt work, cleaning up after dragons included. And while it was forbidden for any of them to directly interact with the Dragons (or their hatchlings) Ran would essentially do the thing where you feed the dog scraps under the table and leaving him meat treats. I think Shaw would briefly come to train alongside her for a bit there too. I imagine that part where she would finally earn the respect of her Sun Warrior peers would be something like... her confronting some aspiring firebenders that arrived to hunt the young Druk for sport. "You came here to make a name for yourself by killing a dragon but you'll have to settle for losing to one." It would still be some time later in her life before she would earn the official title of "Dragon" and finally return to her family. Around 19 i think? Druk coming along with her as they had bonded pretty strongly.

That's most of the rundown of her lore wise. She's set on bringing Sun Warrior philosophies to modern firebending, treating fire as a form of life rather than a force of destruction or power and in a way it made her feel more connected to her mother and brother too, no longer feeling like she was on opposing ends from from their elements.

And that's what I've got worked through so far. If you'd rather learn something specific feel free to ask more details. Ask me about Shaw next, how he's off breaking the women-as-healers stereotypes and working to implement bloodbending into healing practices (sortof against his mother's wishes). If the next Avatar series doesn't give us at least one male waterbender healer, I'll riot.

Side note but Avatar Wiki giving me better fuel for naming the twins after the dragons. Shaw is blue twin and Ran is red twin.

[1800-fight-me]

Begin Again

Rick Grimes x Female!Reader

Rating: M (Mature- As always- MINORS DO NOT INTERACT)

Warnings: Angst, canon level violence, cursing, yearning

Word count: Almost 4k

Synopsis: You have feelings for Rick that you're convinced are unrequited and it's made you irritable with your group. But what if you were wrong?

Author’s note: This is set sometime after the jail but sometime before Alexandria, but I took liberties with the timeline as well. I hope you enjoy!

P.S. I do not have a taglist! Instead if you would like to be notified when I post new fics follow my side blog @jo-writes-fanfic and turn your post notifications on! Comments and reblogs make my day! Main Masterlist

“I need five minutes away from you and your incessant talkin’,” you grumbled as you sheathed your hatchet and walked away from Eugene. 

Of course it was your luck you got paired with the rambling coward in the group’s efforts to clear out the building for a safe place to sleep for the night. 

“Wait! But I-” 

“Don’t wanna hear it,” you snapped as you walked away. You’d already cleared out your designated area and the others would finish soon, you weren’t leaving Eugene in any danger. You just needed some air. 

It wasn’t his fault you were so irritable. It was your own fault for developing unrequited feelings for the leader of your group and then getting your feelings hurt every time he showed zero interest towards you.

You walked out the back of the abandoned warehouse and sat on the steps right outside the door. You took deep breaths as you looked up at the stars. 

It was ridiculous and embarrassing, you knew that. There were far more important things to worry about, to get worked up over- like surviving each day. Killing walkers and any who threatened your group- that was essential, not your stupid crush. 

And Rick, he had so many responsibilities on him- two children (one of whom is a baby), the safety and wellbeing of the entire group (which had been particularly difficult lately), and constant pressure to make life or death decisions (you had admit, he was pretty good at that). You couldn’t, and shouldn’t expect him to notice you or care about your emotions beyond the others in the group. 

But, God - you wish he would. You wish he wanted to be around you. You wished he trusted your capabilities more. But no, he never wanted you right by his side in dangerous situations. That honor was always given to Daryl, or Glen, or Michonne. People he had more trust in. 

You’d been there since the beginning- since the quarry camp and you’d come a long way in terms of fighting, just like so many others. But it seemed like all Rick saw was the scared young woman he’d first met. 

He always grouped you with others in the group he also didn’t trust as much- like Eugene or Gabriel. It was infuriating. 

You also knew that Rick was a man of few words, but you couldn't help but notice that he had even less to say to you than others he was closer with. Despite the fact that you volunteered to help take care of Judith more than anyone else in the group. 

Your feelings for Rick- of affection, of love, of lust, were turning sour and rotten inside of you and twisting into something closer to jealousy and resentment. 

Getting worked up was pointless, Rick would never look at you the way you look at him you realized as you wiped the tears from your eyes and took deep breaths. 

But maybe a few extra minutes alone wouldn't hurt. 

You leaned against the handrail on the side of the stairs and tried to think about anything but Rick. The gorgeous curls of his grey streaked hair, his beard that looked way too good even when coated in blood, his intense blue eyes, the low timbre of his voice, his protectiveness for those he cares about…

You hadn’t even realized you drifted off to sleep until the sound of growling and snarling woke you. The hatchet was in your hand immediately as you jumped up and took a defensive stance. Four walkers were close, one of which nearly grabbed you, but you side stepped it and buried your hatchet in its forehead. 

Its dead weight pitched forward, it was a man twice your size, and landed on top of you. 

“Shit!” you yelled as your head hit the concrete and your vision went momentarily fuzzy. You held tight to your hatchet and swung it with a groan as another walker launched itself and landed on top of the dead one on top of you. 

You heard a deep voice yell your name. 

“Here!” you gasped out as blood sprayed in your face as the second walker died- its dead weight crushed the air out of your lungs. Two more were reaching for you but they couldn’t quite reach you and you couldn’t quite reach them. 

You heard the disgusting sound of a blade slicing into the brains of the walkers before the bodies of the others were hauled off you. 

“Thanks.” 

You took gasping breaths as you sat up and your eyes met Rick’s blazing blue gaze. 

“Are you alright?” he asked- concern evident in his voice and in the tension of his body as he knelt beside you.

He placed his large hand on your shoulder and you looked up at him in surprise.

“Just peachy,” you replied, “not a bite or a scratch on me, I promise.” 

He hung his head in relief as he let out a deep breath and his fingers tightened slightly on your shoulder. 

“What the hell were you thinkin’ bein’ out here alone?” he hissed through gritted teeth. 

You sighed deeply. 

“I didn’t mean to doze off. You stuck me with Eugene again and I needed some alone time,” you grumbled. 

He let out a huff of what might’ve been a laugh as he placed a finger on your chin and tilted it upwards so you would meet his eyes again. 

“I thought you liked Eugene, you’re always laughin’ at him.” 

You blinked in surprise and your mouth opened slightly. 

“Like him? He’s an idiot… that’s why I laugh,” you said with your eyebrows furrowed. 

“Hm. Well I also pair you with him and Gabriel since you’re one of our best fighters and teachers and I was hopin’ they’d learn somethin’,” he hummed as he turned your face back and forth just to double check that you were unharmed. 

“Wait, what? That’s what you think of me?” you blurted out. 

He raised a brow at you and a small smile played on his lips. 

“Of course, what did ya think?” 

You shrugged and looked down as your face flushed with heat. “Thought you stuck me with ‘em cause you thought I was the same as them.” 

This time he did truly chuckle. 

“Wow. I thought you’d think better of my leadership. It wouldn’t make much sense to put the weakest links together, they’d die. Ya wanna put the strongest with the weakest so they learn to be stronger,” he explained while nodding his head. 

“Oh. Yeah. That does make more sense,” you muttered. 

He smirked at you and you swore your heart skipped a beat. 

“Promise me you won’t go sleepin’ outside on your own again and I’ll give you a break from Eugene,” Rick said fervently. 

“Deal,” you agreed all too quickly which caused a rough chuckle to slip past his lips again. 

“C’mon darlin’, let’s go back inside with the others- you can nap in there where it’s safer,” he encouraged as he stood and offered you his hand. 

Your heart fluttered at the affectionate nickname. You slid your hand into his much larger calloused hand and you had to actively stop your mind from wandering down a path of wondering how those hands would feel on the rest of your body. 

You followed him back into the warehouse and then into the big open room everyone had begun to make camp in. He placed a hand on your back as he led you to sit next to him. 

“You hungry?” he asked as he pulled granola bars out of a backpack and started to pass them out to everybody. 

“Yeah, thanks,” you mumbled and his fingers brushed against yours for far longer than necessary  as you took the snack that would count as everyone’s meal for the night from him. It was better than the group’s dinner last night of absolutely nothing. 

Today’s scavenging was more successful, thank God. Your group still needed to find a more permanent living situation, and this warehouse did not seem like the solution. But you weren’t in the habit of borrowing tomorrow’s worries. No, you were just glad you made it through another day alive and without losing anyone you cared about. 

Maggie handed Judith to Rick and he placed a kiss on her forehead before settling her on his lap. She giggled at you as you made silly faces at her. 

Your name was called in a very nervous voice and you looked over as Eugene approached you. 

“I would be remiss if-” 

“I’m sorry Eugene,” you cut him off. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I was an ass.” 

“While I do appreciate that, I also understand that I have a tendency to over-articulate in a way that can be grating on the nerves at times. So, I do apologize for becoming a pain in your rear end lately,” he said with a nod of his head that shook his ridiculous mullet. 

You let out a soft laugh. “It’s fine, dude. We’re good,” you reassured him. 

He nodded again then went back to his spot near Abraham and Rosita. 

You looked over and realized Rick was watching you with raised brows. 

“What?” you asked. 

“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you be that nice before,” he said in a teasing tone and a playfulness in his light blue eyes. 

You opened your mouth to reply but he said, “To anyone but the kids at least.” 

“I’m plenty nice,” you snapped, “to everyone but you.” 

He laughed and you muttered, “Shut up” as you began to adjust your backpack so you could lay your head on it. 

You quickly turned your body away from him as you laid down so he couldn’t see the smile that adorned your lips. 

You woke the next morning after nearly a full night’s sleep, which was a miracle in the post-apocalyptic world you lived in, to a jacket with a woollen collar laid atop you. You weren’t quite as successful at hiding your smile this time. 

You yawned as you sat up and stretched and the jacket slid to your lap. It was clear you were one of the last to wake as most everyone was quietly moving around as they prepared for the day. 

“You’re up! Finally! Dad said I had to let you sleep, but Judith has been wanting you,” Carl said from across the room. 

You smiled, “I’ll take the little princess.” You reached your hands out and Carl crossed the room and placed Judith in your waiting arms. She giggled at your teasing as you spoke to her in a high voice and tickled her. 

You noticed the granola bar carefully left next to your backpack and your heart warmed before you tore into it and devoured it in a few bites. 

A few minutes later everyone seemed almost packed up and ready to go, you included. You’d gotten good at multitasking- holding and caring for Judith while taking care of other tasks (including sometimes killing walkers) had become a breeze for you. Rick came back inside the building as he holstered his gun and surveyed everyone’s progress. 

“Let’s move out in five. We’ve got a lotta ground to cover today,” he ordered and everyone either nodded or made sounds of agreement. 

He crossed the room as he came towards you and knelt down next to where you sat. He gently held Judith’s hand and the fondness in his gaze as he greeted her made your heart clench. As did the fact that he still had a soft look in his eyes when he looked up from where Judith sat in your arms and said, “Mornin’”. 

“Hey,” you replied with a small smile. “Thanks for letting me sleep in. I feel much less grumpy.” 

“Anythin’ for you, darlin’,” he said with a wink before he stood up and offered you his hand. You allowed him to help you stand and struggled to hide how flustered he made you, especially when he squeezed your hand before letting go. You handed him his jacket back, which he took and promptly put on.

“It’ll also help the overall morale of the group if you’re not snappin’ at everybody,” he teased. 

You scoffed and shoved your shoulder into his as you walked past him, but once again couldn’t stop yourself from smiling. You glared at Maggie when she wiggled her eyebrows at you which only caused her to laugh. 

The day continued on with your group once again hiking under the hot sun in an attempt to find more supplies and better shelter. The routine had become somewhat monotonous, but the constant life threatening situations made it feel a bit less so. 

Today, the group stumbled upon an abandoned superstore. Rick ordered everyone to split up in pairs to explore and scavenge. 

He asked Carl to stay outside with Judith and for Carol to protect them both. 

When he called your name, you expected as usual to be grouped with one of the less combat inclined of your traveling companions but couldn’t stop your expression of surprise as he said, “You’re with me. Alright everyone, be quick and quiet and grab anything that could be potentially useful. Let’s go.” 

The group split into their designated pairs and began to enter the store. Enough scouting had already been done that it seemed abandoned by walkers as well, but still it was always important to be cautious. 

You followed Rick as he made his way to the back of the store to explore your assigned area. Hatchets in hand, you both made your way through the aisles without speaking in order to ensure you didn’t draw any of the dead in case they were hidden out of sight. 

Finally, when everything seemed all clear Rick pulled off his backpack and you helped him to fill it with supplies. 

You quietly searched the shelves and shoved aside anything useless. You tossed a bottle of ibuprofen at Rick- which he caught and dropped in his pack before he turned to search the shelf across from you. 

Your gasp caused him to whip back around towards you with his hatchet raised. 

“Look what I found!” you said excitedly, still cautious enough to keep your voice low. 

Rick sighed deeply as he returned his hatchet to his belt and gave you an annoyed look as he glanced between your face and the unopened bag of mini chocolate donuts. They were most likely still good considering they’re chock full of preservatives. 

You didn’t even know how long it had been since you had chocolate and your mouth was already watering at the thought. 

“What?” you asked. “Y’don’t want any?”

He rolled his eyes and went back to searching for supplies. 

“Fine, suit yourself. I was willin’ to share with you, but I’m not sharin’ with anybody else,” you grumbled as you shoved the donuts into your own backpack. 

You heard him laugh softly and you smirked triumphantly. Your ability to dissuade the grumpiness and bring amusement to one another filled your heart with a light you hadn’t felt in a long time. 

“We should check that back storage room in case there’s extra stuff back there that they never had the chance to put out on the floor,” you whispered after the two of you had cleared several aisles having only found a couple of necessities. 

“Good idea,” he replied and led the way. 

You followed his lead as you kept your hand on your hatchet. 

There didn’t seem to be any walkers in the back, but it was dark. You held a flashlight while Rick ripped open boxes. You looked around the dark room, searching for any kind of movement in the dark as a sinking feeling plagued you.

He looked back at you with a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye as he held up a protein bar. 

“I think you might be a genius, this whole box is full of ‘em,” he said as he gestured to the large cardboard box before him. 

Your eyes widened in a look of horror. His brow furrowed but before he could even open his mouth to ask, you threw a knife at him. 

It flew so close to his head that his curls rustled in the wind it created before it buried itself in the forehead of the walker whose teeth were inches away from Rick’s shoulder. 

A look of shock overtook his expression as he looked between you and the walker, but you weren’t done. You yanked out your hatchet and stalked past him and took out the two walkers who were rounding the corner and heading towards the two of you. 

Rick came up behind you with his hatchet in hand as well, but all seemed to be clear. 

You took heaving breaths to calm the adrenaline that ran through your body. 

You both holstered your weapons, including yanking the knife out of the walker’s forehead and wiping it clean, and Rick's hand encircled your wrist as he pulled you to turn to face him. 

His eyes were still wide with surprise. 

“Thanks.” 

You shrugged. “Don’t mention it.” 

“No, I’m gonna. You just saved my ass,” he said fervently as he stepped closer to you. 

It was like he’d just had this realization that you always supported him, always helped him, always had his back.

“Isn’t that what we do for each other? We’ve got each other's backs. That’s why our group works,” you replied. 

He nodded but continued to look at you with such intensity that it made you take a step backwards and your back bumped into the wall behind you. 

“Do you look at Daryl like this when he saves your ass?” 

He shook his head and in a low gravelly tone said, “No.” 

He looked ready to devour you as he took another step closer. Your breath caught in your throat. 

“Rick?”

“Fuck it,” he muttered under his breath. 

He practically lunged forward, one hand landed on the wall next to your head and the other spanned the side of your face to the back of your neck as he tilted your head up. His body pressed against yours, effectively trapping you between his heat and the wall. 

Before you could even breathe, his lips were on yours. The brush of his beard was harsh against your skin as his lips firmly pressed against yours.

Your hands reached up to grip the curls at the base of his head, threading your fingers through the surprisingly soft hair. He took that as encouragement and deepened the kiss. 

With a groan his lips pried yours open and his tongue pillaged your mouth with an intensity that left you whimpering. The heat of him, the taste of him, the fierceness of him was overwhelming and you kissed him back with all the passion he gave you. 

It could’ve gone on for minutes, or maybe hours, you didn’t know but you never wanted it to end. You were ready to give him everything he wanted and more, but the sound of footsteps behind Rick had him yanking back from you. He whipped around, his gun already raised and cocked as he held a hand behind him to protect you and keep you safe behind his back. 

Your lips still tingled from his affection, and as you peered around his shoulder you huffed in annoyance. 

“S-sorry. I was elected to determine the whereabouts of both of you but as I have observed with my own two eyes, your safety is not currently in question. Therefore, I will take my leave, but you should know should this rendezvous continue on that the whole group is ready to move on out and is waiting on your approval and presence to do so. Yours truly will take leave now and report to the others that the waiting will continue for a little while longer,” Eugene rambled. 

Rick sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he lowered his weapon. He still didn’t move an inch so you continued to be stuck between him and the wall. It honestly wasn’t a bad place to be, you weren’t complaining. 

“Jesus, Eugene, it’s fine, just tell everyone to come help us carry these supplies,” Rick ordered. 

“Yes sir,” Eugene replied quickly and turned around and left just as quickly. 

You laughed quietly and Rick turned back around- still not giving you an inch of space- and placed both hands on the wall on either side of your head and leaned down so his face was incredibly close to yours. 

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he murmured before he kissed you again. This kiss was slow, gentle, and full of warmth. The kind of kiss that might’ve been your first kiss if you weren’t living in a time of death and desperation for survival. 

His lips lingered on yours long enough that you worried others would stumble upon the two of you again. You weren’t keen on having an audience, particularly not Eugene- you’d heard a rumor that he was into voyeurism of his friends which you certainly didn’t want to have anything to do with. 

“Then what took you so long?” you asked in a teasing voice as Rick’s lips finally separated from yours and he took a step back as he ran a hand though his grey streaked curls. 

“Well at first I thought you had a thing for Eugene, not me,” he replied. 

You rolled your eyes. “Thought you were smart,” you muttered. 

He grabbed your shirt and yanked you into his body. “Don’t be a smartass,” he reprimanded, but his lips found yours again in a brief kiss that negated all the harshness in his tone. 

“I worried, I worried about too many things. But yesterday almost losin’ you and today with you saving me… I realized all those worries were ridiculous when none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. I couldn’t even think about losing you, especially not without you knowin’ how I feel about you,” he said with such fervency. 

His confession left you breathless. 

“I- I worried too much too. Worried that you’d never feel the same way I did. Worried that if I ever told you I’d lose you,” you said, your voice so quiet it was practically a whisper. 

All of the reasons you’d both withheld yourselves seemed frivolous now as light filtered through the murky window on the other side of the room and bathed Rick in the brightness of new opportunity and fresh start. A chance for new love despite the horrors of the world. 

So you kissed him once more, this kiss but a brief touch of lips, a taste of something more that was to come, a sweetness only utter devotion could bring. 

All too soon, he stepped back far enough that as many in your group came through the swinging doors it would not appear that anything had changed between the two of you. 

To everyone else, finding the stock of food in the back of that abandoned grocery store was the only life altering thing that had occurred. But when you met Rick’s ocean blue eyes you realized you could drown in the affection you found in his gaze. 

All the former awkwardness and miscommunication between the two of you was completely forgotten as you smiled at him and he smiled back- eyes crinkling- and the whole world felt anew with possibility.