#there was an incident where I could’ve had something as a child

[rowanhoney]

Just having one of those regular little panics about the incompetence of the NHS

[audreyscribes]

Ω PJO DEMIGOD HEADCANONS:

⚒ HEPHAESTUS: God of Forges, Fire, Sculpture, Metalworking, Stone Masonry, Carpenter, Metallurgy, Artisan, and Volcanoes 🔥

author's note: I had a sudden idea about writing some headcanons Camp Halfblood demigods being claimed and what it's like for each respective god and cabin, followed by a small blurb afterwards. Thank you for reading and please like and reblog! The order is not in order of the cabin numbers. [PJO DEMIGOD HEADCANONS MASTERLIST]

When you get claimed, there are a bunch of cheers and impromptu fireworks from your half-siblings. You watch some unfortunate individuals near your siblings jump feet in the air with hands flying to their ears, and some people diving for the ground. 

When you get introduced to your new living arrangement, there is a spillover from the Cabin and the Forge & Armoury; where there are just random parts in the Cabin and cots and bedrolls next to the Furnaces. You didn’t know where the living quarters or the forges began and ended. 

There is an initiation at your cabin where you introduce yourself to your cabin mates with your craft. It could’ve been the first craft you ever made, your favourite invention, or make it an entirely new thing. 

You get your own little workspace and for some hint of cohesion, your workspace is assigned a category; based on your craft. If you’re an engineer, you’re put with the other engineers. If you’re an artisan, you’re put with the other artisans. 

You’re constantly surrounded by people sharing their ideas or inputting, even at dinner and during bed times. But careful saying which stuff out loud lest you get a complaint from Chiron when you and your siblings have a debate on the best way to make something.

Because of the furnaces, you are shown how to keep the furnaces running when it's technically bedtime; one the exceptions given to your cabin for curfew.  Because even though they have magical means, you can’t let the furnaces die out or you have to spend three days heating up the kiln all over again. And no, you’re not allowed to use Greek Fire or later, the dragon around Thalia’s tree to heat up the furnaces if they die out. Don’t ask why but all you know is the Ka-Boom incident. You can imagine why.  

A perk with being on duty is that you can stay up later than everyone else and get to sneak in some late night meals; your seniors treated you to stuff from s’mores, roasted potatoes, and other foodstuffs by using the furnaces. Just don’t make too much stuff or you’re going to have a bunch of campers at your cabin asking for goodies.

Work hazards are always around and while there are preventive measures in place, things happen. These range from inventions going haywire, exploding fire, or just normal accidents. Don’t feel bad if they happen, everyone immediately jumps in to help out. You learn how to move fast and think fast. 

Being a Child of Hephaestus and being part of the cabin have their overlaps with the Athena, Apollo, and Hermes cabin.

If you don’t have the power to manipulate fire, as a child of Hephaestus you still have a higher immunity of fire and heat. Paired that up with the engineering, your cabin is also the unofficial fire station. You jumped with the fire alarm went off in the cabin and everyone got up to grab gear to put out the fires at Camp.

There were exploding multicolour lights that were going off in the air. Some were like the regular fireworks you’ve seen, but then there were fireworks that reminded you of that scene in the Lord of the Rings movie: where the fireworks seemed to not only come alive but move like they were. The smoke of gunpowder filled the air and you coughed. Fireworks were still going off as the children of Hephaestus were still cheering.

You then saw a large burky boy step forward and you knew he was one of your half-siblings. He looked very imposing but as he looked at you with a smile, all initial fear disappeared and you saw the warmth behind his smile. He then grinned at you and held out his hand, “I hope you liked the fireworks, we do this all the time when we welcome those into Cabin 9. I’m Charles Beckendorf, Cabin Counselor.”

You took his hand to shake and you instantly could feel the calluses on his hand, and how comforting warm it was. He clapped you on the back as he led you towards your cabin, as the others followed.

[klausysworld]

Okay, so I was thinking, what about Omega Klaus?

He takes suppressants to block his omega scent and his heats but he finds his mate, which is an alpha that is supposedly a friend of the Scooby-Doo Gang.

The Alpha reader knows instantly that Klaus is an Omega, Her Omega.

They know each other and everything, then they date and Klaus forgets to take his suppressants and he gose into heat and builds a nest and his Alpha finds out and Klaus freaks but then his alpha reassures him and fucks him in the nest that Klaus build.

She knows

Being a male omega wolf was a rare occurrence, especially a thousand years ago. To alpha females it was blessing but to the pack as a whole it was usually a disadvantage.

Klaus was ashamed of his omega trait, and when Mikael learnt of it he had a whole other reason to hate Niklaus. Another reason for Klaus to loath himself.

So he made himself appear as dominant as possible. He viewed any sign of submission as weak and pathetic. He forced witches to create a suppression spell on him and was able to gain his alpha scent by replicating his siblings.

His siblings never mentioned their brothers original status, they understood that it was difficult to be known as the almighty hybrid and be an omega. The two didn’t mix in the superhero world.

They all sort of forgot he was an omega until the spell wore off.

Klaus didn’t know that the spell would break away if he met his match. His alpha.

And he wasn’t at all ready.

———————————————————————

Klaus felt the atmosphere shift when he met her eyes, a very hesitant expression on his face when she put her hand out for him to shake.

Both Damon and Stefan were incredibly confused as they watched the two wolves have a stare down before he reluctantly shook her hand. Rebekah sat on her bar stool trying not to laugh as she watched her brother shiver in delight and step closer to the woman.

Stefan awkwardly cleared his throat and tried to get out of the situation while Damon pulled Y/n away and ushered her out of bar. They left Chicago and didn’t speak of the incident again.

………………….………………………………………………………

Rebekah on the other hand was all over the idea. Klaus managed to shut her up infront of Stefan until he ended up knocked out in the back of a truck and the siblings were on their way to Mystic Falls anyway

“Oh my god you that she knows right!? You saw the way she looked at you? She looked like she could’ve eaten you on the spot-“ She exclaimed and Klaus sunk into his seat

“It’s impossible for her to know” he grumbled nervously

“She definitely knew”

“She can’t.”

…………………………………………………………………..……

Klaus felt like a child being watched by his mother when he spotted y/n observing him at the high school prank night.

She had a certain look on her face the whole time, she looked at him in a way that asked: why are you pretending so hard to be something you’re not?

So he avoided her stare as much as he could despite the urge to look over to her.

He found it a little odd that she didn’t stop him from turning Tyler, only watched with a calculated expression.

Though when he turned Stefan’s humanity off he noticed her stand and approach him. Her gaze hard and empty as she helped Elena run away from her boyfriend. And Klaus didn’t dare lay a hand on either of them when he found them halfway down the corridor.

She appeared again at the hospital with Damon, bringing Elena to the car.

And then he got a flow of calls from Rebekah reporting any information she could find on y/n while Klaus was away making hybrids.

———————————————————————

He was worried. He could feel something happening to him and he didn’t know how to stop it.

And it only got harder when she came to his defence against his father. His wolf wanted to collapse to his knees before her.

She brought him back to his home, loving words whispered to him as she cleaned the blood from his chest where Damon had stabbed him and changed him out of his suit which she said made him look handsome which resulted in an embarrassingly dark blush.

And when her lips pressed to his forehead, his entire body went limp. Her hands stroked his stubble and she pulled the blankets to cover him “it’s okay omega, you’re safe now” she told him gently, her words not registering to him until the next day after he had fallen asleep with her arms holding him tight and nuzzled his face into her chest.

By the time he woke up she had gone and left him a note with a glass of blood beside his bed which he learned was hers just by smelling it before moaning as he guzzled it down.

He didn’t know that by drinking her blood the spell had nearly entirely disappeared.

He could feel that need to be taken care of resurfacing. He wanted her so incredibly badly that it consumed his every thought.

By the time all his siblings were awake he was fully stripped of his alpha identity. They could all tell instantly, but none of them commented. Especially not after Rebekah had blabbed on about y/n being Klaus’ alpha. If there were something worse than an alpha male, it were an alpha female.

So they kept any thoughts to themselves as they watched him get deliveries of pillows and blankets, comforters and toppers. A couple times they each peaked to see his nest progression. Esther was most shocked when she went to wake him for the day of the ball and found him curled up with a stuffed wolf that y/n had gifted him despite his embarrassment.

And when the ball came around he felt like a puppy waiting for its person to come find him.

He danced with his face in her neck, his tongue licking at the skin and his fangs urging to dig into her.

She held him like he weighed nothing and lead him through the dance with ease. When she pulled him off to the side she took one look at him before making an ‘ohh’ sound.

He looked at her in question, his eyes flicking from her eyes to her lips

“You’re okay omega” she soothed, stroking his face and neck “this just means your heat is coming up, you had one yet?” She asked softly and he whimpered with a shake of his head. “That’s alright puppy, I’m gonna take such good care of you and your needs. The second you feel it, you get in your nest and I’ll know and I’ll come to you okay? Do you have a nest yet ‘mega?” She explained and question him in a soft, caring manner.

“It’s in my room” he told her shyly, looking up the stairs before grabbing her hand and leading her up. His siblings smiled to themselves seeing the two go into his bedroom.

“Oh puppy it’s gorgeous in here” she praised while looking at the biggest nest she had ever seen. He gently pulled her down into it, bringing her under the blankets and pulling at her dress to get it off so he could feel her skin on his. “Klaus honey, there’s a lot of people downstairs and I don’t think you want them to hear how loud you’re gonna be when I play with you” she warned as he kicked his clothes off and ground against her.

He ended up drinking from her neck while humping against the pillow that was squished between them and pulling her strapless bra away from her body.

“Your gonna be so desperate when your heat hits” she whispered feeling how horny he was just from the pre-heat. “We’re gonna have to move you to my house so we don’t disturb your family” she muttered to herself while stroking his back as he rubbed up against the pillow with muffed moans.

When someone knocked on the door there was no way she could get him to stop with how far gone he was

“Can I help?” She called, lifting the fluffy quilts so she could see Elijah at the doorway who looked redder than a tomato, only able to see the movement of his brothers body and his teeth in her neck.

“I- um- my mothers having a toast downstairs but- it doesn’t matter, goodnight miss y/n” he stuttered before closing the door and hurrying back down the stairs.

And thankfully just in time before Niklaus came in the middle of his nest with a needy cry as he pulled his mouth off of her and watched himself squirt all over her abdomen.

———————————————————————

When his heat came around a few days later he could barely comprehend anything.

He had stumbled down the stairs and out into the street searching for his alpha. Rebekah and Kol were urgently ringing Y/n after trying to chase him and bring him home.

By the time y/n found his sent he was making a nest in the middle of the woods making her eyes soften.

“Niklaus” she called softly making his head snap up “come home with me puppy, we’ll get you a really good nest” she coaxed, luring him to her house and giving him everything he needed to turn her cleared out livingroom into his new den.

The second he was done, he was out of his clothes and tearing hers off.

She pushed him down into the nest, getting on top of him and pinning his thrusting hips to the pillows beneath them “be good omega, lay still” she commanded making him freeze obediently.

………………………………………………………………………….

His back was fully arched, his head thrown back and loud moans filling the hot air as she bounced up and down him with her hands around his throat and nail marks already raked down his chest.

Their sweaty bodies slid against in a night fiery passion. Her panting making his skin even hotter as he held his hands above his head and desperately tried not to scream.

…………………………………………………………………………

He squirmed against the blankets as she stroked his thickening cock relentlessly, relishing in his cries and whined versions of her name.

She noticed his knot forming at the base of his cock as his hips thrust up to meet her hand in a frenzy and a string of incoherent pleas left his swollen lips.

………………………………………………………………………….

She had him on his hands and knees then his stomach as she thrust her strap on against his prostate and encouraged him to jerk his dick.

Smoothing her hands up his back before grabbing his curls and pulling his head back to capture his lips again while he pants into her mouth and whimpers for her to go faster

………………………………………………………………………….

Having his face hidden in his wolf stuffy while she sucks and licks his tip until his thighs are trembling and he can’t stop the tears from slipping down his cheeks nor the hoarse groans that clawed up his throat.

Poor thing can’t string together a sentence as his eyes roll back and he mindlessly begs her for more and more

………………………………………………………………………….

Klaus was on cloud nine.

Had he known being an omega would give him this much pleasure then he wouldn’t have suppressed it.

Nothing would ever compare to the pure ecstasy he felt over the course of his week long heat.

And nothing would relax him the way his aloha cleaned him up and kissed him better.

No words would make him feel better than the ones she praised him with while he struggled to keep his eyes open and she scratched his scalp gently and promised she would never leave him.

And he knew she wouldn’t. He trusted her and he knew that he would never leave her either, ever.

(I know I basically ignored the specifics in the asks…I just wanted to do it this way instead. Sorry if you were expecting something different 😃)

[syeren]

WARDROBE MALFUNCTION.

If Miguel had something to be annoyed of, it had to be you.

The ticking of the clock stroke 2:30 PM for their weekly briefing, to which Miguel stood there impatiently waiting for the rest of his crew to show up. Slowly did they trickle in, in groups of twos and threes, but as his eyes scanned the said groups, you were no where in sight… Again.

“Where are they?” He inquired, head slowly turned to Hobie who was situated beside him. Hobie let out a deep exhale, proceeding to stretch his back momentarily before speaking.

“Beats me,” and with that, Miguel let out a scoff.

“Lyla…“ He pressed a hand over his forehead, rubbing at his temples annoyedly. Surely Lyla would be able to hunt you down, the cameras were set up basically everywhere. That was Miguel’s plan of action until loud footsteps became more audible by the second.

You bursted through the doorway, stumbling over your feet as you clambered back up.

“Am I late?” You asked timidly, scratching your nape gently. Hobie tried to stifle a laugh and coughed into his fist, and rotated his reddened face away as he moved along on the wheeled chair.

Peter, who strolled into the room not too long after you appeared, looked at you while letting Mayday play with the tips of his fingers.

“Just in time,” he responded with a smile following after, and a light sarcastic tone to add. With hesitant steps and eyes circled with fatigue, you found yourself plopping at the nearest table on the verge to pass out. Peter took that as a sign to carefully approach you.

A hushed whisper came close to your ear, “everything alright, kiddo?”

You jolted and blinked your eyes rapidly to rid of the blurriness.

“Yeah, yeah… I’m good,” you said tiredly and rested your chin on your elbow, “why do you ask?”

“The ‘I-haven’t-slept-for-days’ look is getting to you. C’mon, don’t pretend we can’t see those ten-pound bags hanging under your eyes! What’s been going on?” Peter asked and looked at you quizzically, head shaking in contemplation whether or not you’ve managed to eat breakfast as well.

“Been trying to figure out a new design for my suit, can you tell it hasn’t been going so grand?” You joked, emphasizing the trial super suit part. Yes, you’ve decided to take on the task of finally putting more importance on the suit that should’ve been well-made and well-kept. If it weren’t for an unfortunate incident where your suit sliced through in a battle, then perhaps you wouldn’t be sitting there about to nod off in fatigue.

Peter placed a comforting hand on your shoulder which Mayday found exciting, and instantly crawled from his back across to your body. The babbling of the small child evoked a small smile from you and you took her into your arms, cooing and toying with her long locks.

“Hey, you could’ve asked me about the suit! You know I have a couple of my own,” he commented, noting the vast array of designs he created. You merely laughed it off, however.

“Peter, you’re like… Bigger than my own stature, don’t you think?” You replied and chuckled in between your words. The man in question was about to let out the most defensive statement, but to your luck — perhaps — Peter was interrupted by a loud cough.

“M-Miguel! So, when’s this meeting going to start?” Peter instantly perked up at the sight of the gigantic man who stood behind him. Small pellets of sweat started to form slightly over his forehead.

Miguel crossed his arms and scowled, grumbling, “the two of you were talking through it, yeah?”

You gave Miguel an apologetic smile before you turned to Mayday, still giggling within your arms. Peter rotated his body to fully face Miguel.

“Sorry about that, see we—“ He stopped and his eyes widened at the sight before him. A soft smile graced Miguel’s face as his attention was fully on you and Mayday, his eyes narrow… But softened. This was a sight that Peter didn’t think he would see, ever. Miguel slightly shook his head and cleared his throat, his expression back to how it was previously.

“We will resume,” he ordered, taking heavy steps back to the front of the room. Peter was left there dumbfounded and to be quite frank — amused. He took Mayday from your arms as she was reaching over towards him and gave you a knowing smile.

“I think I know how to help your little… Suit problem,” he added and placed Mayday back into her carrier. You cocked your head to the side and raised an eyebrow. Peter was always so helping towards you so you of course didn’t complain, however, this time something felt off.

You leaned back into your chair, curiously looking at Miguel pointing towards a hologram board with lousy penmanship and scribbles indicating what you assume are location points.

“And that would be?” You asked, head still turned towards the board in boredom. Peter only chuckled, and shifted his weight on his forearms that was placed on the table.

“I can ask ole’ Mig over there,” he spoke quietly, nodding his head in Miguel’s direction. “He’s quite the hands-on and organized guy, he would know what to help you with.”

A sarcastic scoff left your mouth at his words, stating, “you really think he would help me out?”

“One hundred percent.”

You smiled at his honesty and bold comment. Miguel wasn’t the type to just help out on a whim, hell, he isn’t the type to even have a conversation normally. You let out a huff and rolled your eyes, turning your attention once again to Peter.

“Can’t wait to be rejected, I guess,” you muttered, and continued to listen to the rest of the meeting.

Though it wasn’t immediately, Peter came up to you a couple hours later, stating that Miguel agreed to help you out. Well, it just took a couple hours of agonizing pestering from the man to finally make Miguel cave in.

“C’mon! What is a superhero without their suit, eh?” Peter’s voice boomed throughout the empty lab he was situated in, along with Miguel and Lyra, who was chuckling away at his seventh time of convincing.

Miguel let out a sigh, irritation threaded between his eyebrows and his patience on the verge of breaking. “For the last time, no.”

The latter crossed his arms and scowled at the six-foot-nine man. “Fine, fine… Hobie can help them out, ooh perhaps Miles… Maybe Jen,” Peter trailed off, curiosity in his eyes as he peered over to Miguel. Lyra let out a deep exhale, obviously tired of seeing her partner in crime in denial.

“Just do it,” Lyra groaned, rolling her eyes widely, “You’re really a stubborn guy, I think we both know what is really going on with you.”

Peter nodded his head gleefully and seemed proud that he wasn’t the only one noticing his… Strange behaviour towards you.

“What do ya say, tough guy?” He smirked and exchanged glances with Lyra, who also was puffing her chest out in pride.

Silence filled the room as the two awaited for Miguel’s response, and his answer left them internally rejoicing of accomplishment.

“Fine.”

----

“— And he happily agreed!” Peter finished his sentence off and you— on the other hand— stood there with a hand on your hip and one eyebrow raised in the air. The both of you were standing in the hallway when Peter stopped you suddenly, him resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

“Funny story,” you replied sarcastically, still not believing that the Miguel O’Hara happily agreed to assist you.

He slumped his shoulders at your response and scowled. “Hey, I went through that work! Can I get some sort of ‘Hey, thanks Peter! You’re the best!’ or something along those lines.”

You chuckled at his grumbling and clasped your hands behind your back, finally relieved about getting the weight off your back.

“Okay, okay… Thanks Peter! You really are the best!” You beamed, giggling away in delight.

Peter gave you a genuine smile and you notice his smile turned into a smirk as his eyes glanced over your head. He placed a hand on your shoulder and chuckled.

“Well, gotta get going… Mayday needs some grub in her system, adios!” He hinted and turned on his heel, quickly scampering away. You watched as his figure left the area until a low voice startled you.

“Hey.”

You turned around to see Miguel standing closely behind you, piercing eyes looking down at your figure.

“Oh, hi,” you wavered and looked up, the size difference clearly obvious.

He rubbed a hand at his nape and exclaimed, “Peter told me you were in need of help for your suit, what is the issue?”

You nodded. “Well, I’ve been trying to get the mechanics right. Everytime I try to shoot a web out, it ends up being caught in my suit or my lenses end up failing on me.”

Miguel hummed in acknowledgment, shifting his weight to one foot. “I am free in around four hours if you would like… I can assist you fully then,” he added.

A wide smile appeared on your face, and you chirped. “I would love that, thank you.”

He simply nodded his head, eyes flickered between you and the slightly torn suit you had on. It was a nasty gash, one that reached from one side of your back to the other, with tinier ones littered around it.

"Seemed like one hell of a battle," he exclaimed and pointed out the open areas around your body. You reached a hand over to the one on your arm, covering it in embarrassment.

"Duty called," you stated and rubbed your arm. "I didn't think it would be this bad though."

Miguel let out a laugh in response, a low and vibrating chuckle emitted from his chest.

“l also blame Lyla," he said awkwardly and the tips of his ears flushed a light pink. You flashed him another smile and crossed your arms.

"Well, I take that your apology is you helping me with my suit," you teased, finding his tensed-up behaviour quite amusing. Miguel looked at you endearingly.

"I do hope that it'll suffice," he added while gazing down at you. "I think the new suit will fit nicely too."

You stared at Miguel in awe. Not for the fact of him helping you out or him being nice, but because he truly wasn't like what everyone was saying. Sure, he acted in a despicable way, but he had intentions for what he knew was to be right. It was a realistic approach— If he truly wanted to help out, he absolutely would with no hesitation. And here he was, giggling next to you. Miguel seemed to notice you staring and he broke off your little daydream.

"Something on my face... Or?" He inquired.

"Nothing," you said calmly, another smile laced on your face. "Nothing at all."

[fushipurro]

Our Hopes in Death

☆ Synopsis: Nanami had many regrets in life, something that haunts him even in death. Nobara, a life taken too soon, is one such regret he wishes he could take back.

☆ Content: major character death, spoilers for shibuya incident, hurt/comfort???, grief/mourning

☆ Notes: not an x reader, but shoutout to my poopynation oomfies for making me suffer with this thought so much that i had to write it (don’t kill me please!!!)

The last thing Nanami saw before his sight turned black was Yuji’s sorrowful expression. He was yet another person ─ a child ─ Nanami failed to keep safe. It’s one of the biggest regrets he’s had in life, one that he knows now followed him to his grave when another of his students is now in front of him.

Nobara Kugisaki.

Last time he saw her, she was safe ─ alive, and in the flesh. A large part of him hopes that the apparition before him is just that, but at his heart, he knows this is the real deal.

“Sensei?” she says with confusion evident in her speech. She puts a hand on her hip, taking in what can only be described as an airport, or a mirage of such. “We’re dead, aren’t we? Why the hell are we in an airport and not some cloud in the sky.”

Nobara was never one to sugarcoat her words, something Nanami always admired about the young teen. He wished he had her confidence, her will, her everything that made her the fighter she was in life when he was her age.

Maybe Haibara would still be alive if he did something different, or the many others that slipped through his hands.

She raises a brow at his silence, but it doesn’t stop her from flopping down in the empty seat next to his own with a heavy, frustrated sigh. “That rat bastard tricked me,” she snarls, closing her eyes with clenched fists. “I would’ve had him if I was faster! Poor Itadori; I’m sure it wasn’t pretty watching me go.”

Yuji.

From her words, Nanami feels the pain of his regret more than ever before, comparable to a time before when he left the world of sorcery behind. From Gojo getting sealed, to watching Nobara and himself be killed before his eyes… that boy’s life is hell on earth.

He hopes Megumi is safe after that mystery savior from Dagon’s domain disappeared with him.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you,” he finally says, pushing off his seat to kneel before her. He looks just like how he did that last time he saw her, alongside Akari, when all three of them were alive. “I should never have left you alone. None of you children should have been in Shibuya today.”

A gentle smile appears on Nobara’s face, though her eyes read a solemn note. “It’s alright, Sensei. Like I told Itadori, I’ve had a pretty good life.”

His eyes fall from her face to his hands ─ hands that could’ve stopped or delayed the inevitable. She’s a child, she shouldn’t have had to die. He should have been more careful, maybe kept her by his side or made sure she got away.

Mahito was too much of a wildcard for anyone their age to have had to go up against.

Junpei, Nobara, countless other innocent lives, and the painful thought that Yuji is likely fighting him at this very moment. He has to believe Yuji will pull through and win, or at the very least hope Sukuna interferes like the first time around. It’s unlikely, but hope is all Nanami has right now.

“Where do we go now?” Nobara asks, standing upright again. “Does this place even have an exit?”

Outside the large glass windows, the roar of a plane can be heard taking off. Perhaps this airport is a purgatory where the options of where to go are of your own choosing, or maybe your tickets are predetermined ─ signed and ready to go whenever you board.

“There should be a directory board around here that might help,” Nanami tells her. What airport or building of this size wouldn’t have something like that? If he can’t find that, then he’ll stick with her until they find someone else.

Her eyes light up with realization, and near child-like wonder. “Ohh, good idea! I wonder if there’s any cafes or vending machines around here, like those cake ones that sing after you order from them!”

In another life, this is all Nanami would have wanted. No battles, no bloodshed, no curses ─ just children and adults, eager to enjoy all the good life has to offer.

If he does get another chance, he hopes his next life is easier even if he feels it to be a selfish thought. Maybe then he could marry the bakery girl or that one close friend from his days in school. Given the choice, he’d gladly become a parent as well, and hopefully to a daughter.

He hopes that with whatever children he may have, that he’s able to give them the best chance at life ─ one that won’t end before they’ve even lived. This time, he’ll be there to protect them, and to assure he lives a life without regret this time around.

“Why don’t we go looking then?” Nanami asks, holding out his hand to Nobara. “I won’t leave you alone, not this time.”

She graciously accepts with that same smile that seems to light up the airport sky. The two of them now walking hand in hand, like a father and his daughter. If this is all he can have in the next life, then he hopes to have this. And should he ever have that daughter he dreams of…

He would name her Nobara.

[stomach-bugg09]

heyyy, could you maybe write a fic with the entire sully family x reader, where she is part of the metkayina clan, and after they get to stay she has to introduce the family to everything (instead of tsireya and aonung). They get closer and she’s a good friend to them.

She is very sweet, loves children and treats tuk like her own (this is a key element hihi)

So one day, after she goes out with tuk to entertain her, they get attacked by someone you can decide (I’m sorry but I need something angsty😭) and reader protects tuk and saves her life.

But, and here comes the “plot twist”, the sully’s misunderstand the situation and think reader did it on purpose or was trying to hurt tuk and they’re all angry and furious at her, not letting her explain.

So she retreats and doesn’t leave her marui pod for days, until someone from the clan clears it up, and they apologise to her… YOU CAN DECIDE THE ENDING, WETHER ITS HAPPY OR SAD!!!!

Thank u in advance and I have to say, I absolutely love your writing, every time I finish one of ur fics I crave moreeeee!!!❤️

summary: [y/n] saves the life of tuk, but at what cost?

a/n: hopefully this turned out good !! i’m kind of bad when it comes to misunderstanding trope because i kind of hate it ( whoopsies ) but i think it turned out okay ?? i’m just glad i finally was able to publish something after a few days. reblogs + feedback are always appreciated !!

tags: @rafeslovergirl@wxnderingthoughts @liyahsocorro @bonnibuckets @hjkshshjkhklhkl @itssiaaax @grierpilots @fleurbeass @nyotamalfoy @23victoria

warnings: mentions of blood, injury, fear, a monster-like creature pursuing tuk and [y/n], jake and neytiri being kind of mean, scars, almost dying, passing out, a lil angst, happyish ending

words: 2.4k

i would do it again

she hadn’t meant for it to go the way that it did. everytime she replayed the scene in her head, tears pricked [y/n]’s eyes. what could’ve happened—what should’ve happened. she continued to thank eywa that both her and tuk made it out alive and safe.

it’d been that morning when the youngest sully bounded up to [y/n] in the middle of her chores. “[y/n]!” she cried, joy evident in her voice.

[y/n] could not help but grin, looking up from the net that she was busy detangling. “good morning, darling tuk!”

the sully family had been in awa’atlu for several months at that point, but [y/n] had been friends with them since they first arrived. [y/n] was a former warrior of the clan, despite how young she was. she was only twenty years old, but after a former event resulting in a very severe injury, [y/n] was quickly deferred to a safer alternative that still allowed her to help her clan.

after the incident, [y/n] found herself working with the children. it was her job to begin teaching them the ways of the water, which included breathing, swimming, and free-diving. when they got to the age of learning to hunt, they were passed along to another teacher.

that was how [y/n] first met the sullys.

after tsireya and ao’nung toured the village with them, the future tsahik introduced them to [y/n]. “she will be helping us teach you our ways.”

and so she did. although her schedule was far too busy to always attend the lessons, [y/n] was there as much as she possibly could, rewarding each and every child on their progress.

[y/n] was also introduced to neytiri and jake sully by tonowari. the ole’eyktan was quick to tell them of her honorable history, especially regarding the injury. [y/n] didn’t miss the way the toruk makto’s sympathetic eyes flickered to the large scar that still burdened her up and down her right leg. but, for the first time in a long time, his careful stare did not cause her insecurity. instead, it made her feel safe, especially as she limped up and down the beach.

it did not take long for the sully family to entrust [y/n]. she was kind, caring, and she was always there to help them. a part of [y/n] drifted to the sully family once neytiri began treating her as if she was one of their own, often inviting her over for dinner.

for the first time in years, ever since the deaths of her parents, [y/n] felt like she had a true family again.

so, given their history, [y/n] was not at all shocked at the arrival of tuk on that sunny morning.

“[y/n]!” she yelled once again, stopping in front of the metkayina girl. “oh my eywa, [y/n],” tuk panted, hands clasping her knees as she caught her breath.

“oh, my!” [y/n] laughed, smiling up from where she sat on the dock. “what is the matter, dear?”

“it is so nice out today!”

[y/n] chuckled at that. “oh, isn’t it?” leave it to tuk to cause a panic only for her to exclaim that the weather was good.

“we should go out,” tuk decided, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she gave [y/n] a look.

[y/n] only raised the muscles above her eyes. “you think so?”

tuk nodded vigorously. “yes, i do! kiri is busy with mother, lo’ak wants nothing to do with me, and neteyam refuses to take me out ever.” once she finished her short rant, she stuck out her bottom lip and widened her eyes. “please, [y/n]?”

“tuk,” [y/n] groaned, covering her eyes with her hands. “that’s unfair. you’re too adorable to refuse!”

tuk grinned pridefully. “i know, isn’t it awesome?”

just like that, the two soon found themselves sharing a ride on an ilu through the reef. [y/n] smiled at the way tuk’s arms flew outwards, allowing her to reach out and feel the tingling sensation as they passed through the thick waters.

the coral was gorgeous that morning thanks to the rays of sunlight that beamed through the surface, lighting up the seafloor. “look,” [y/n] signed to tuk, pointing out a crab that waddled across the ground.

a chuckle left the sully’s lips as indicated by the small trail of bubbles that floated above them. [y/n] grinned at the way tuk raised her hand, waving at the small creature that strolled across the ocean floor.

of course, it could only stay perfect for so long, and unfortunately, the perfection did not last long enough.

[y/n] immediately felt something was wrong when the water turned the slightest bit colder. although the sully girl did not notice, the chills rising on [y/n]’s arms sent her panicking. when her ilu rumbled in dismay beneath them, she knew they needed to turn around.

“it is time to go back,” [y/n] signed quickly, the annoyance being difficult to ignore from behind her. before tuk could sign anything back, the older girl rose her hand and gestured for her to stay quiet.

just as she directed the ilu to turn around, [y/n] noticed how quiet it was. for once in her life, [y/n] could hear nothing. it was just them and the ocean.

the fish were gone, fleeing into their homes. the crab on the ground was quickly sheltered by his hole in the sand. not even the water swayed all that much. a chill settled deep in [y/n]’s bones.

she panicked at the feeling of tuk’s arms wrapping around her waist, the sully’s small face pressed into her back. it was when she felt tuk’s hand hit her that she was prompted to look up from where she observed the quiet reef.

[y/n] nearly choked on the salty water when the sight of large animal. it loomed overtop of them, a shadow cast on top of them from his mere size. it’s flippers were large, but not nearly as large as his teeth were.

although it was only split seconds, it felt like a billion years until either of them made their first move.

when the creature attempted to close the distance between them, [y/n] sent the ilu flying beneath the beast. she swallowed a yelp at the feeling of the water by her ear, his mouth nearly having chomped it off had they not moved so fast.

unfortunately, the monster was as smart as it was quick, and it was soon adjusting. with one last look over her shoulder, [y/n] sent the ilu shooting forward.

tuk’s arms clasped [y/n] desperately, her eyes hidden from reality due to the fear it brought. at that, [y/n] urged the creature they rode on to swim even faster.

as much as the ilu tried, it was nothing compared to the fins that carried the monster behind them. once [y/n] felt it catching up, the only thing she could think to do was unattached her queue from the ilu and grab tuk. as they rolled off the side, [y/n] choked back a scream at the sight of her ilu being swallowed by the beast in one quick gulp.

blood blossomed in the water. tuk stared aimlessly, her cries not going unheard. [y/n] grabbed her face, pressing a hand overtop her mouth. not only could the beast hear, but tuk was losing breath.

“hush, darling,” she signed, eyes attentive to their surroundings. “you must be quiet. it will all be okay, do you understand?” tuk only nodded.

they hid behind a large rock-like structure, and [y/n] carefully peeked out to catch an understanding of where they stood versus the beast. she instantly rolled back around, back pressed against the textured piece of nature. he was close. dangerously so.

and so, [y/n] began to hatch a plan. as she would swim out, tuk would start swimming towards the surface. [y/n] was a trained warrior and swimmer, she could outswim the monster if she used the coral to her advantage. tuk just had to get back to civilization.

just as she turned to tell tuk of her plan, it appeared that it was far too late. she only whimpered once she felt the cold temperatures of the shade once again.

[y/n] grabbed tuk’s hand, praying to eywa that tuk would stay strong and stay smart. at least one of them needed to make it out alive, and it had to be tuk.

with one last squeeze of her hand, [y/n] stood up and locked eyes with the creature. behind her back, her fingers moved gracefully to communicate to tuk.

once she was done, she brought her hands above her head, making herself seem bigger as a small attempt, although it was more of a signal to tuk. with her arms up, tuk launched herself out and up, and the beast launched itself directly at [y/n].

she dodged almost perfectly if it weren’t for the spikes that took over his skin. she hissed as her skin caught one of the thorns, flesh tearing quickly.

[y/n]’s plan was, unfortunately, not at all fool-proof. dread settled in her gut as the beast’s eyes broke away from her and instead watched the distance thanks to the sight of a swimming na’vi.

“no!” she tried to scream, although the words came out extremely muffled because of the quick water.

and so, she let every primal instinct she ever had take over.

[y/n]’d never swam so fast in her life. she let the water take over, let eywa bless her and her senses. for the first time in a couple years, she could not feel the injury of her leg. it was just her and the sea.

her eyes did not leave tuk once, not even when the swam side-by-side with the monster. not even when he nearly ate her. she was far too quick for him.

they were throat-to-throat, and yet, at the last second, [y/n] sped ahead of the beast and launched herself on top of tuk. she cradled the girl as the water seemed to burst in every direction.

and then she blacked out.

when [y/n] awoke, she found herself in the comforts of her own home. the sun blinked through the marui, a feeling that caused [y/n] to smile.

that smile was quickly gone once she remembered exactly what happened before she’d passed out.

when [y/n] shot up, tsireya was quick to attend her side. “[y/n]!” she calmed, voice quiet and gentle. “[y/n], it is okay. you are okay! you are safe.”

[y/n] couldn’t even form full sentences. “tuk.”

“tuk is alive and well. she’s been awake for an hour or so, waiting for you.” tsireya’s smile faded. “but.. the sullys are keeping her from visiting.

[y/n]’s eyes narrowed at the news, confusion clouding her head. “what? why?”

“they think you did it.”

days go by, and [y/n] was quiet. quieter than she has been in years, ever since her injury. ever since her parents death. the guilt was nearly the same, nearly just as heart-wrenching.

they did not trust her. they thought she would hurt tuk. the mere thought of it sent [y/n] spiralling.

the olo’eyktan’s family tried to visit her often, but she was cut off. even when they did somehow make it inside, she was dry, often not even answering them. it was as if she pretended they didn’t exist.

[y/n] didn’t look so good either. she was leaving her own health as the last of her priorities, as if they didn’t matter compared to the fact that they didn’t trust her.

it was only thanks to the trustful word of tsireya that the sullys finally had clear enough minds to come and visit.

it was a quiet night, the only sound heard being the crash of the waves against the shore. [y/n] was busy poking at the food ao’nung delivered just moments before. she couldn’t find an appetite to even attempt eating the food, despite what she promised him.

at the sound of two bodies walking into her pod, she jumped onto her feet. ever since the incident, she was on extremely high alert. even when she slept at night, all she saw were the jaws of that monster… and then the way that the sea exploded around her.

time froze when she saw the guilty faces of jake and neytiri.

“[y/n],” jake’s voice was quiet, broken. almost as bad as she felt. “[y/n], we are so sorry.”

[y/n] only blinked. “why?” she swallowed, putting her food down behind her before taking a step towards the couple. “why in the world should you be sorry? it was only like i risked my life for your daughter and you didn’t even have the kindness to come and talk to me.” she shook her head. “i had to hear it from tsireya that you hated me. you didn’t give me a chance.”

neytiri sniffled, eyes full of guilty tears. “we understand. and that is why we are here.” she attempts to step towards [y/n], but retracts when she feels the younger girl tense. with a quick sigh, she continues. “we were worried. worried about our baby. all we knew is that you washed up together, and tuk was hurt because of something out on the reef. you were the only one with her. and we just… we thought, since you knew the reef so well, there was no way you could have run into such trouble.”

[y/n] paused before shaking her head. “i don’t know what that monster was,” she whispered. “i have never seen such a ghastly thing in my life.”

jake nods. “we know. we know that now, and we should have never doubted you. for that, we are so extremely sorry, and we are so extremely thankful that you kept tuk alive.”

[y/n] paused. after the years she spent grappling for approval from everybody on the island, after gaining it through risking her life, this was the first time that she truly felt fulfillment.

when tears welled up in her eyes, she allowed the parents to hug her. at the warmth of their arms around her trembling body, she whispered, “i would do it again.”

[theidiotwhowritesthings]

The Art of Failing [3]

Werewolf!Joel Miller x F!Reader, Vampire!Din Djarin x F!Reader

Series Warnings: violence and mild gore, mentions of blood and injures, reader is described as active and able to fight, eventual smut, loss of a child, angst to fluff, more warnings to come based on individual chapters

Chapter Warnings: discussion of child loss, discussion of parent loss, discussion of drunk driving and repercussions of that, mentions of blood and injuries, vampires drinking blood, dubcon setting but no smut, vampires play master/pet and it's hella sketchy, drugs and alcohol, reader is drugged

Word Count: 12.8k

Summary: The Division of Mythological Affairs was created to protect and serve the supernatural community while keeping the knowledge of their existence a secret. You hoped to become an Agent of the DMA like your mother before you. Just as your dream begins to fall apart at the seams, you stumble across a missing persons report that could change everything. You are desperate to solve the case, to prove your ability, and you find yourself with unlikely allies⏤ a werewolf running from his pack and a vampire shunned from his coven. The stakes are high, lives are at risk, and success hinges on the three of you learning to work together.

[a/n: i have no good reason for this being a day late other than who i am as a person. also there's a supernatural reference in here b/c i am unclever lol.]

FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT

"life went on but it was never the same again." d.j.

The only sound in the room came from the clock hanging on your living room wall as you sat on your couch and stared blankly ahead. After saving you, Din had climbed in your car with you to ensure you got home and the second you were up in your apartment he disappeared saying he was going to track down ‘Tim Brancato’. You weren’t sure the bounty hunter would’ve told you how he planned to do so, even if you had asked, so you left it alone for now. 

Apparently, the adrenaline was officially wearing off and shock was settling in its place. You could’ve died. You probably would have. The eerie smile Miles gave you told you everything you needed to know and the image of his face wouldn’t leave your mind. He was going to kill you, and he had been excited at the prospect. 

You knew being an Agent was a dangerous lifestyle. Hell, you knew better than most⏤ it was how you lost your mother. Your eyes darted to the picture on the wall of the two of you. Even when people weren’t actively trying to hurt an Agent, the work itself was still a risk. Any case had the chance to go south. That’s what they say happened to her. A simple job where everything went wrong. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Your mother had been a hero with huge solved cases under her belt. She had saved countless lives and put her own at risk just as often, but it had been a patrol that took her from you. She stumbled across a smuggling deal gone wrong, in the dead of night, and then never came home that morning.

So, it didn’t surprise you that putting your nose in something this big made you a target, but you felt shaky all the same. 

The silence of your apartment was interrupted by frantic pounding on your door. You startled, eyes wide, but a voice immediately set you at ease. “Hey, it’s me!” Joel called out, muffled by the door. You stood and hurried to open the door, and the second you did Joel pounced. His hands found your face, cradling it carefully, and his dark eyes were scanning you with concern. At his touch, your face began to burn, and there was no telling if it came from your injuries earlier in the day, embarrassment from the doting, or just the feel of his rough, calloused hands against your cheeks. His hands looked huge at baseline, but having them envelope your face made it that much more prominent in your mind. “You alright, sweetheart?”

“I’m fine, Joel. You didn’t have to rush over.” You replied. After the incident, you had texted him that at some point tonight he should swing by so the three of you could figure out this Tim Brancato issue, but for him to be here already he must have sped over. “Din isn’t even back yet from⏤”

“I shouldn’t have let you go alone.” Joel muttered a string of curses. He only released your face then after evaluating a few more times⏤ as if he’d find an injury that wasn’t there the first time he looked you over. “The second you told me you were goin' there, I should’ve⏤”

“There was no way of knowing.”

“We were suspicious though. That fanged metal head told us.”

“We didn’t know for sure yet though.”

Joel crossed his arms and a crease appeared between his eyes where his brows furrowed in disagreement. “I shouldn’t have let you go alone.” He repeated himself. “If the bloodsucker hadn’t been there…”

“Really. I’m fine, Joel.” You set your hand on his arm. His scorching skin under yours sent your heart into overdrive, and you had the urge to rake your fingers through his arm hair. Nima’s phone call with you flashed in your mind, and, before you could do something stupid, you pulled your hand back. “And hey, no mean nicknames when Din get backs.”

Joel scrunched his features in a pout as he shook his head. “Why not?”

“Because.” You reached around him to shut the door and walked back to your living room. “If we’re gonna work together we should at least try to keep the peace.”

Joel trailed after you with a scoff, “Well, what the hell am I supposed to call him then?”

“His name?” You shrugged. “I know that’s probably wild of me to suggest.”

Joel grumbled under his breath and as you slipped into the kitchen you saw him gravitate to stare at the pictures on your wall again. There were a good bit of places you’ve been and people you loved. Plus, staring at the pictures was probably less rude than plopping down on your couch and watching television. Not that you would have a problem if he did, but you certainly would have too much anxiety if the roles were reversed.

“You hungry?” You called out. The fridge and pantry weren’t overflowing with options. Technically, you were past due to go grocery shopping. “I can order us DoorDash or something.” Joel didn’t respond and you stepped out of the kitchen to try and get his attention. “Joel?”

His gaze snapped from a photo to you, “Huh?”

“Food? I was gonna order something while we wait for Din.”

“Oh. Yeah, I could eat.” He nodded. You picked up your phone and began to ask if he had any preferences when he interrupted. “How long until the vampire gets back?”

Well, vampire was way better than bloodsucker. You’d take it. You paused in thought, “I actually don’t know. A couple hours at least? I’m not sure how long it would take a bounty hunter to find any info on this guy.” You scrolled through your phone. “Do you have any food preferences or things you hate? There’s⏤”

“You wanna go out?”

“Huh?” You nearly dropped your phone in surprise and stared back with wide eyes.

“Out. You wanna go out to eat rather than call in?” Joel asked. “There’s a place near here I like.”

“Oh. Oh, okay. Yeah.” You nodded. Joel nodded his head toward your door indicating he expected you to follow. You snatched up your keys and wallet to hurry after him. 

Joel made the decision to drive and you didn’t have a strong enough preference to argue. It only made sense since he knew where the place was. You climbed into his cab and glanced around. The truck was an older pick up that had seen better years, but it was well kept and clean. As Joel reversed out of the parking spot he noticed your gaze.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” You shook your head. Hanging from the rear view mirror was a homemade bracelet. It consisted of mostly pink and white beads, but there were a few specific beads interrupting the color pattern every three beads. You noticed one shaped like a star, another of a butterfly, and another of a soccer ball. If there were any others they were hidden behind the mirror. You chuckled, “Did Ellie make that?”

Joel’s eyes darted to the bracelet and he stared at it a beat before his eyes snapped back to the road, “No.”

He offered no further clarification and you squirmed in your seat at the sudden tension. You cleared your throat and tried to change the subject, “So what does this place serve?”

Joel seemed eager for the topic change as he spoke up quickly. The place was a simple diner, but Joel swore up and down on their food. A hidden gem of a place apparently. It was about ten minutes from your apartment and located in the parking lot of a strip mall. You had actually seen the place a few times, but had just never paid it any mind. The outside had the classic retro diner look and you chuckled when he led you in and the interior matched the old school diner look. A handful of people were scattered about.

Someone from the kitchen called out a greeting, and Joel raised a hand in return before sitting on a stool at the bar. You took the seat beside him, “You’re a regular, huh?”

“Yeah. Ellie and I come here every other Sunday.” Joel shrugged. “Tradition, I guess you could say. Friend owns the place.”

You hummed in amusement. Austin was a big city and you found it ironic that every other week he had apparently spent in your neck of the woods. You wondered what it would’ve been like to meet Joel before Ellie disappeared. 

“Hey.” A woman spoke up. She stepped out of the swinging kitchen doors and hurried over. Her long hair was a light shade of brown and her face had fallen into concern. “Any news?”

“Not yet.” Joel shook his head. It was clear they were speaking about Ellie and that made sense if him and her spent as much time here as they did. “You haven’t heard anythin' on the street have you, Tess?”

Tess narrowed her eyes at him, “I would’ve called if I had.” She did a double take when she noticed you and tilted her head. “Who’re you?”

You gave her your name with a small smile. “I’m a friend of Joel’s and⏤”

“Joel doesn’t have friends.” Tess responded.

Joel snorted. “Thanks.”

“I’m helping him find Ellie.” You clarified. Tess looked skeptical, as if she was about to mock and/or insult you, so you jumped in. “I work⏤ worked for the DMA.”

“And that’s helpful how?”

“Leave it alone, Tess.” Joel grunted. “You hear of a guy named… what was his name, sweetheart?”

“Tim Brancato.”

Tess’ eyes darted from Joel to you and back again. One of her eyebrows raised in question, and despite her claim that Joel had no friends, she must have known him well as that was all it took for him to understand her. Her hands fell to her hips and Joel scoffed, “Have you heard the name or not?”

“No. I haven’t.” She shook her head. “But I’ll make a call.”

Tess gave you one more glance before heading back to the kitchen. She caught a waitress by the arm and pointed her in your direction before disappearing into the back. The waitress quickly took your orders and brought you your drinks. You leaned your elbows on the counter.

“She seems nice.”

“You don’t gotta lie.”

“No, I mean it!” You shook your head quickly. “Maybe nice wasn’t the right word. She seems like she cares.” The woman reminded you a bit of Nima. Maybe not overall since Nima’s general vibe was ‘bubbly cheerfulness’ and Tess’ was more ‘casual homicide as a hobby’, but they were both protective. “Everybody deserves a friend who will go to war for them.”

Joel paused before giving you a small nod, “Tess and I go way back.”

“Is she a…” You started then paused to see the very human couple sitting only a couple stools down. “You know…” You lifted your hands to act like they were claws and briefly bared your teeth.

Joel’s lips broke out into a brief smile, but you were able to spot a dimple in his cheek, “What’re you doin' with your hands?”

“They’re⏤” You gasped, mock offended. “They’re very clearly claws. Thank you very much.”

Joel’s smile muted again, a moment of wistful, before it fell away. “No. She’s not. She’s human, but she’s involved in our community.” The two of you sat in a comfortable silence between one another. The sounds of the diner filling the air around you. Tess stepped back out and Joel stiffened. “So?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “My contacts don’t know the name.” Joel mumbled a curse and you found yourself praying that Din would find something. “Is there anything else I can do?”

“I don’t think so.” Joel dragged his hand over his jaw.

“Well, you know how to reach me if you need something, and I’ll reach out to you if I hear anything different.” Tess replied. He nodded. Her eyes drifted back to you. “It was nice to meet you.”

“Same.” You blurted quickly, not expecting the comment.

Tess left the space once more and you watched the mysterious woman go. She didn’t work for the DMA obviously which made you curious what her ties were in the community. A part of you wanted to ask Joel more details, but you assumed if he hadn’t offered them then he didn’t want to offer them.

Your food arrived a few minutes later and you ate in silence. It wasn’t awkward, but you found yourself glancing his way occasionally. Joel seemed lost in thought as he ate, and you wished you had more to offer him. You couldn’t help but compare yourself to your mother. If she were on this case she’d probably be much further ahead than you were. 

“My daughter made the bracelet.” Your head perked up at the sudden statement. Joel wasn’t looking your way. He stared ahead, picking at his food. “My other daughter. Before Ellie.”

The words and the tone in which he said it told you everything you needed to know and you felt your heart physically break in your chest. “I’m sorry I asked. You don’t have to⏤”

“Don’t apologize. Had no way of knowin'.” Joel shrugged. “She’ll have been gone for seven years in March.” He took a long sip of his water. “Was an accident. Drunk driver sideswiped us on the road and my truck flipped.” Joel rubbed his hands on his jeans and shrugged. “Should’ve been me but it wasn’t. Driver hit us on my side. Made no sense why I⏤” He stopped and sucked in a sharp breath. “Ellie came into my life 'bout a year ago. The six in between were… not good.”

Your chest ached in empathy for this man. Parents should never have to lose a child. You literally could not even imagine the pain that came with that. And, when you thought about the fact that now Ellie was missing… Gods, it would’ve hurt less to have someone gut punch you.

“What… What was her name?” You asked softly then wished you could take it back. “You don’t have to… to answer.”

Joel shook his head. “Sarah. Her name was Sarah. She had just turned twelve.”

Only twelve? You were at a loss for words. Not that it mattered. There were no words that fit as a response. Nothing a person could say that would touch the magnitude of losing a young child. 

“I lost my mom.” Your mouth decided on what to say before your mind could fully agree and the words came out soft and hesitant. “A little over a year ago. It was an accident too.” You wrung your hands together in your lap and tried to ignore the burning of your eyes as tears threatened to spill. This wasn’t something you had really talked to anyone about openly. Not even Nima. People knew, but you just… hadn’t spent much time admitting it out loud. You swallowed and took a slow, calming breath. “I know it’s not the same, and I’m not trying to compare pain, I just…”

Joel shook his head, “Pain is pain.”

You hesitated for a second before reaching out to set a hand on top of his which was now resting on the counter. You gave a light squeeze, “I’m sorry, Joel. I know platitudes hardly help, but I really am sorry.”

Joel finally turned to look at you and the agony in his eyes could’ve knocked the air from your lungs. He slowly turned his hand over so he could squeeze your hand back. As he tightened his grip he sighed, “I’m sorry.” Joel shook his head. “I’m sorry 'bout your mom.”

You gave him a tight lipped smile in response, but it didn’t resolve the heartbreak in his eyes. The two of you eased back into a comfortable silence and it took a moment before you realized you still had his hand in yours. As you began to pull away, the diner door chimed open. It wasn’t a sound you would’ve paid much mind too, but the other people eating in the diner reacted in surprise. Joel’s hands fell from yours as you both turned around and it was Din, in all his Mandalorian glory, standing in the doorway.

“We need to talk.” Din said.

Joel threw cash onto the counter, enough to cover both meals, and dragged you out before you could complain. He shoved Din out into the parking lot. “Are you outta your damned mind? Out in public wearin' that??”

“I’m not usually in the public, but how else was I supposed to get your attention, dog?”

“We were gonna meet at her place!”

“I don’t want to wait. This needs discussing now.”

Joel hurried to his truck. You began to offer Din the front seat considering he was much larger than you in that bulky armor, but Joel grunted. “He can shove his shiny ass into the back. You’re up front, sweetheart.”

You shot Din an awkward smile and heard a string of muttered Mando’a as everyone climbed into the truck. You turned in your seat to face Din, “How’d you know where to find us?”

“I tracked you.”

“Me?” You pointed to yourself. Din nodded and said nothing further on the matter. A trend with this team, apparently. You sighed, “Okay, did you find Brancato?”

Din nodded, “Somewhat.”

“The fuck does somewhat mean?” Joel barked.

“You said he works undercover.” Din said and you nodded to the statement. “It’s with my kind.” You opened your mouth, but Din shook his head. “Not Mandalorians. Vampires. My leads tell me that there’s a high chance he’ll be at Carnal tonight.”

Joel scoffed, “The vampire club?? Why?”

“He’s working undercover to infiltrate a vampire coven.” Din said dryly. “And you’re asking why he’d be at Carnal?”

Joel swiveled his head around to glare at the man and you held your hands up to stop the fight before it began. “Okay. We can work with that. I didn’t know humans were allowed in Carnal. I thought it was a vampire only club.”

“It is.” Din nodded. “But pets are allowed.”

It took a beat for the words to click and your eyes widened. Joel rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath that you missed. Killing to drink humans was very illegal in the city for many obvious reasons. There were different ways vampires could get their hands on DMA approved blood, sold in packs, but if a vampire wanted a way to drink straight from a source the quickest, and most legal way, was a pet.

“Fine.” Joel snapped. “So you go there tonight⏤”

“I can’t go.”

“What??” Joel turned in his seat again and you leaned forward to lightly push his cheek so he was facing the road once more. “What exactly is your plan then? You want me to fuckin' walk in? Because if that’s what it takes I’ll⏤”

You interrupted his rising anger, “Why not, Din?”

“Mandalorians do not keep pets and we don’t frequent clubs that endorse it the way Carnal does.”

“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing you’re not a real fuckin' Mandalorian anymore.”

“Joel!” You snapped. 

Din was stiff but he didn’t respond to the dig. You turned in your seat and tried to think of a working plan. Joel was nearing your apartment by time you settled on the only one you could think of, “I have to go.” Joel stomped on the breaks of his truck, haphazardly parking in a spot in front of your apartment. “Joel⏤”

“You nearly died once today. That wasn’t enough?!”

“We can’t trust anyone else to go in!” You argued. “I think Nima has a few vampire friends. I can ask one to⏤”

Joel shook his head, “Some random bloodsucker that we don’t know. That’s who you want in that hellhole with you?” You sighed and pushed out of the truck. Joel climbed out after you, Din as well, but it was Joel who stomped after you while the armored man followed along. “Please tell me I don’t have to explain why that’s a terrible idea.”

“Then give me a better one, Joel!” You yelled back. You unlocked your front door, held it open, and then pointed inside like a scolding mother. Joel marched past you with a huff and Din quietly entered as well. You weren’t sure how the vampire could be so quiet while wearing the equivalent of pots and pans. You slammed the door behind you and tossed your keys aside. “So far, this is the only lead we got. Roberts said we need to talk to this guy and time is of the essence. The sooner we find him and get the information we need the sooner we get to the kids.”

Joel ran a hand through his hair and his anger was palpable. You knew it stemmed from frustration, but you could see the slight tremble of his body. Muscles quivering as slivers of yellow stained his dark eyes. He was pacing the floor and you hoped that expenditure of activity would keep him from transforming.

“I’ll go.” 

Your head snapped to Din who had spoken. You shook your head, “Din, you won’t exactly fit in at Carnal with the armor. Like I said, I’ll call Nima and see if she can get me in touch with a vampire⏤”

“No. The dog is right.” Din replied and Joel growled at the name. “This is dangerous. You need someone who will be useful if a fight breaks out.”

“She needs to not go at all!”

“If I go, I need a human.” Din argued. “The undercover agent, if there, will be in the back where…” Din hesitated, shifted foot from foot, before finally blurting the words out when he couldn’t think of anything better. “Where a vampire can play with its pet.”

Joel buried his face in his hands, “Jesus fuckin' Christ.”

“I can remove my armor for this.” Your eyes widened in surprise. His helmet turned to you. “Is there somewhere…”

You pointed to the door behind him that led into a small guest bedroom. Din nodded once before disappearing behind it. You stared at the door in surprise. Even though the Mandalorian coven said he was no longer one of them, it was clear from the short time you knew him that it was still an important aspect of himself.

“Sweetheart,” Joel said and you glanced back at him, the anger had melted into just frustration, “This is a bad idea.”

“It’s our only idea, Joel.” You sighed. “If we had something else, trust me I’d go for it. I’m not exactly looking forward to going into a vampire club.” The stories and rumors you heard about those places made your skin crawl. “But this is for the kids. I can do this.” Joel locked his jaw before giving a curt nod. “And Din will be right there to help if need be.”

Joel muttered something again in response to that. You crossed your arms as something dawned on you, “He’s gonna need clothes for the club.” 

Joel shrugged and motioned to himself, “What am I supposed to do? Give him the shirt off my back?”

You rolled your eyes at his snippy comment and told him to behave while you visited your neighbor. Across the hall from you was a young guy you saw in passing. The two of you weren’t exactly friends, but you were friendly. You’d pick up his mail when he was out of town, and he’d make sure no packages got stolen from your front door. He also happened to be around Din’s size and owned more than just flannel⏤ Joel’s staple wardrobe piece.

Your neighbor didn’t seem super psyched to see you knocking on his door a little past nine at night and looked even less pleased when you asked to borrow clothes. However, when you explained it was a bit of an emergency, leaving out the vampire and werewolf dilemma of it all, he begrudgingly offered you a simple suit.

When you returned to the apartment, you found Joel in the living room with his hands on his hips glaring at someone. You did a double take when you noticed Din. He had come out of the room sans armor and only had on the canvas material suit he wore under it. Din’s head turned to glance your way and you hadn’t expected to see such nervous energy in his features. It didn’t match the hard armor you had known him for. Din was handsome. No doubt. Enough so that you thought it a crime he’d been hiding it behind a helmet all these years. Tan skin, dark eyes, and equally as dark hair. As your eyes bounced between Joel and Din you were noticing a trend. Din looked younger with not a single strand of silver decorating his hair, and the messy hair atop his head was shorter than Joel’s. He also didn’t have nearly as much hair covering his jawline either. Just a bit of scruff. Joel looked bigger compared to Din who seemed on the slimmer side. Though it was hard to consider Din to be slim⏤ Joel was just huge.

“Wow.” You chuckled and pointed toward them. “You guys look a lot alike.” Joel and Din’s features both furrowed into different degrees of a glare as they looked back to one another then to you. “Seriously? You don’t see it?”

“Did you get the clothes or not?” Joel grunted.

You stared at them longer, still in awe. Whether they wanted to admit it or not the similarities couldn’t be denied. There was enough about them different that they stood apart from one another in more than just their physical features. Joel was radiating a gruff, grumpy demeanor that was far from approachable while Din currently leaned more toward a stoic nature. They both said your name and you startled.

“Right. Here, Din.” You held out the clothes. “I think they’ll fit.”

“They’re going to have to.” Din replied and the sound of his voice was so smooth without the helmet altering it. “Thank you.”

You gave him a thumbs up, lost for words, and backpedaled, “I should get ready too, I guess.”

Joel grumbled again about the bad idea, but even he seemed to realize there were very little other options. So, bad idea or not. It’s all you guys had.

It was past ten when you parked your car on the side of the road blocks away from where the entrance to the club would be. Din suggested you park at a distance and walk up to it rather than park close. Most of the time it took to get to this point was convincing Joel to go home and wait for the two of you to wrap this up. He wanted to sit on the street which seemed like an exceptionally poor idea. When you finally managed to convince him, it was only after he gave you his address and made you promise to come to his place after rather than your own. You thought a simple text of ‘I’m still living’ would be enough, you even joked so, but Joel didn’t appreciate it.

“So how long have you worn that helmet? Before tonight, I mean.” You asked curiously. As you walked side by side, a foot of distance separating the two of you, you squirmed and straightened your dress. Austin at night, towards the end of the year, had a slight chill in the air that left goosebumps pebbling up on your exposed skin. 

“I took the creed as a child.” Din replied. Vampires couldn’t have children except under very rare and specific circumstances. So Din, like any other Mandalorian, was adopted into the ranks. It was common with their coven which was one of the aspects that made them so unique to other covens. What confused you was taking the creed as a child.

“I thought taking the creed was synonymous to becoming a vampire? Kids don’t get turned though. Not legally, at least, and you wouldn’t look like…” You motioned to frame. Any child turned would never age and never develop.

Din shook his head, “Taking the creed is a separate action. By taking the creed you secure your place within the Mandalorian coven. The turning ceremony does not occur until one receives their first forge made armor.”

“Ah.” You nodded in understanding. “How long has it been since your ceremony?”

“Four years.”

Your feet came to a stop in surprise and Din glanced over his shoulder at you. His eyebrow was raised in question and he too squirmed in the clothes you had borrowed for him. You expected it was less the cold and more so the fit. The black suit jacket and button up shirt fit well enough, a bit tight around his shoulders, but his suit pants were a size too small based on how he kept readjusting himself. You shook your head, “Four years? You’ve only been a vampire for four years?” Din nodded as if still confused at your confusion. You began to walk again and mumbled, “I just expected you to be centuries old or something.”

Din chuckled, “Sorry to disappoint.”

There was a beat of silence before you spoke again, “Is this your first time without your helmet?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” Din said, voice sharp. You twisted your lips and mumbled an apology. Curiosity tended to get the best of you often, and it was kind of interesting to be able to speak to a Mandalorian. You should have remembered the circumstance though and left it alone.

“No.” You were surprised to hear Din’s response. “I’ve taken it off before. That’s why I am considered an Apostate.”

You assumed that referred to his lack of a Mandalorian title and the disdain the coven leader had spoken about him in. Despite that stripping of the title, you still mentally considered him Mandalorian. Though you knew that kind of statement might not sit right with him. 

“Can I ask…” You hesitated since he had already scolded you for asking questions, but then he had enabled you by answering. “Why did you take it off before?”

“For my son. For Grogu.”

Your lips curled up into a smile. “I see. You know, I actually don’t know much of anything about your son. I never got to actually read the full report. How old is he?”

“He…” Din paused. “He looks to be five.” You narrowed your eyes in thought of the very specific word choice he used. He continued, “As I said before, he has vampiric tendencies, but I don’t actually know his genetic lineage. He was… Our paths crossed when I was hunting a bounty eight months ago.”

A silence settled between the two of you again and you assumed that meant he wasn’t going to delve into the details of said bounty. You gripped the strap of your purse a bit tighter and shrugged, “You know, I don’t think it should count as breaking the creed if you’re taking the helmet off for a good reason. Like for your son.”

“The coven wouldn’t agree with you.” Din replied then after a paused added, “But thank you.”

After a few blocks, Din grasped your wrist and carefully tugged you to a stop.

“We can’t go in yet.” 

“Why not?”

“You smell like a dog.”

You blinked in shock then held a hand to your chest mockingly, “Well, gee golly, Din. You sure know how to sweet talk a woman.”

“It’s your riduur. He’s ruining your scent.”

“That’s the second time someone has commented on ruining my scent.” You grumbled, but the first half of his statement registered in your mind a second late. “Riduur??”

Din nodded, “Your mate.”

“No. I know what a Riduur is.” You shook your head. “I meant, Joel is not mine. He’s not my mate.”

The Mandalorian’s eyes narrowed at you as if he were trying to puzzle out a lie and you raised your eyebrows at him in question. Din cleared his throat, “I was told by the coven that you claimed he was your riduur.” 

“Oh!” You waved your hand. “I did, but that was only because I didn’t want them to kill him.” Din held your gaze and you shrugged. “I knew the bond between Riduur is not one taken lightly and I prayed it’d be enough to get both of us out alive.” Surprise flitted across Din’s features. You shifted nervously in place. “Guess I got lucky. Or⏤ Or Joel did, I should say.”

Din shook his head and you thought the vampire looked impressed. “Not luck. Quick thinking. That was clever.”

“I have my moments.” You chuckled awkwardly⏤ unsure how else to accept the praise from him.

“Still,” Din glanced around, “The point remains. You reek of Joel Miller. May I⏤” He cleared his throat. “May I scent you?”

You mouthed the word in slight confusion. Logically it made sense. Walking into a vampire exclusive bar smelling like a werewolf was probably not ideal. You just weren't sure what that entailed. “Um, sure?” Din stepped closer and you felt your heart do a somersault. Nervous. You were nervous. An apex predator was close enough to easily rip your throat out, not that you thought Din would, but your body was naturally reacting to that. That was all. “What⏤How⏤ Scent.”

Din stared down at you, close enough you had to tilt your head back to maintain eye contact, and you mentally cursed your inability to form a coherent sentence. Din’s lips began to curl up into a smile until he suddenly steeled his features with a small shake of his head. “The quickest way to correct your scent is if I put my lips on you.”

“Put your lips on… Oh.”

Din paused and when you didn’t reply he gave a small nod. He coughed, “So, is that alright?”

“Hmm?” You blurted. He was waiting for permission. “Yes. Sure. Okay.”

“Stay still. I give you my word, I mean you no harm.”

You began to open your mouth to reply when Din ducked down to the crook of your neck. His hot breath fanned against your skin and you felt yourself stiffen in response. You heard him take a deep breath. “Gar klesir jatisyc.” Din mumbled the words close enough that his lips brushed against your skin. A chill went down your spine. He stayed there a moment more and you softly spoke his name. Din seemed to startle and he mumbled again, “Ni ceta.”

His lips warmly pressed to the side of your throat, lingering there, and then he turned your head to do the same to the other. When he pulled back, your face felt like it was burning. Din cradled your left wrist to set a kiss there as well, and you felt the tip of his tongue drag against your skin. You gasped, but Din didn’t seem phased. He did the same to your right wrist. Before he released your wrist, he dragged a finger across the healing cuts on your palm. You had used one of your emergency healing salves rather than just the routine human store bought stuff⏤ both on the burns on your face and your hands. 

“I’m sorry.” Din mumbled. “I didn’t mean for you to get injured. I shouldn’t have…” He lifted his gaze and they fell on your neck. There was no bruise there from his hand but he stared as if there were. “I am sorry.”

“It’s okay, Din.” You shrugged.

He didn’t seem to agree, but he dropped your wrist and took a large step back. “That’s better. Nobody should be able to smell Joel unless they get close, and I don’t plan on letting any other vampire get that close.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat and nodded quickly. “I⏤ I do like that plan.”

Din let out a soft chuckle and motioned toward the sidewalk. Out of the corner of your eyes, you watched him. Stoic would’ve been the perfect word to describe, hell you had thought it not that long ago, but looking at him now you weren’t quite sure it fit. Din was shockingly easy to read. You could see nervousness in his brow, worry in his eyes, tension drawn along his features, and the downward curl of his lips conveyed anxiety. The thought lingered in your mind for a beat until it dawned on you why.

His helmet.

If Din had worn that helmet since he was a child he never had to worry about concealing his emotions. The metal did it for him. Your lips parted to comment on it, ask a question, when Din suddenly reached out toward you.

“We’re close.” He said. “Can I touch you?”

“Sure.” You nodded. Din’s arm wrapped over your shoulder so he could pull you into his side as you walked. Instinctively, you wrapped your own arms around his torso. The permission of touch had kind of been implied when you agreed to this plan together, but you found it cute that he still asked explicitly. “When we’re inside, it’s… it’s okay to touch me how you need to. I heard rumors about these kind of places, and I⏤ I trust you.”

Din furrowed his brow. Again, all his emotions of confusion and surprise drawn on his face. “You do?”

“Yeah. We’re a team, remember?” You chuckled.

“Right.” Din mumbled and focused his attention ahead. 

Being that you were already close, and getting closer with each step, you chose to keep your mouth shut and let Din lead. The alley he took you down was the exact kind you would avoid as a woman at night, but with Din wrapped around you there was little room for fear. At the end of the alley was a set of stairs that led down to a door that seemed would open into a basement. 

Curiosity rose up in you, that same eagerness for knowledge hungry for more, and you watched as Din lifted his thumb to his mouth to bite down at the tip. Black blood welled up there and he smeared it on the silver doorknob. It glowed briefly and Din was able to push it open.

“Cool.” You breathed without even realizing it. Din glanced your way and you realized you had spoken the excitement aloud and the back of your neck burned. 

The hall was nearly pitch black, but Din seemed to have no trouble navigating it. You were led down another set of spiraling stairs this time and as you got deeper into the Earth the sound of a booming bass began to vibrate around the two of you. You took in a slow breath to try and steady your nerves. Din squeezed your shoulders in comfort. It emptied out into a hall basked in red and the two of you were no longer alone. 

Eyes, glowing silver like an animal under the red lights, turned to stare. You could barely hear yourself think with the blasting music and the pounding of your heart in your ears as hungry eyes found you. Din tightened his grip on you again. You glanced up at him and your eyes widened at the silver glow of his own eyes⏤ narrowed into a glare that he aimed at the surrounding vampires. One of the others, a male dressed in a maroon suit that seemed brighter in this hall, stepped in front of the two of you. A low growl rumbled deep in Din’s throat as his teeth clenched together threateningly. 

“Calm down, buddy.” The man chuckled. “I mean your pet no harm.” He dragged his eyes over your body. It wasn’t the first time a creepy man looked at you in a way that made you feel like a meal, but this was the first time it was happening literally. “Just the two of you?” Din gave a curt nod. “And business?”

Din huffed. He turned to face you, pressing his face to the side of yours, and took in a deep breath that made you shudder. Din’s deep, hoarse voice let the next word roll off his tongue, as the hand from the arm wrapped around you found your hair and tugged it just enough to tilt your chin up and reveal your throat. “Pleasure.”

You swallowed, mouth suddenly dry, and the other vampire chuckled. “Go ahead. Enjoy.”

He stepped out of the way allowing you and Din to enter the club. It was one large room with various stages and levels. The entire space was dimly lit and certain areas had thick red curtains closing it off from public view. Directly in front of you was a dance floor. The throngs of people congested like a mob undulated with the best. Beyond it, on a stage, was a long and busy bar.

“You’re safe.” Din whispered the words in your ear, a chill shimmering down your spine, before he led your forwards. 

Din stayed focused on where you stepped and you were eternally grateful for that considering you were too distracted to pay attention yourself. Din curved around the dance floor, understandably so, but it forced the two of you to walk past lines of booths that encircled the space. A few booths looked no different than one you would sit in with Nima, drinking and chatting, but a few starkly different. One booth had a scantily clad woman laid mostly bare on the table as three or four vampires drank from her. A clear reminder that this was not your usual bar. The vampire drinking from the woman’s neck lifted her eyes to meet yours and you couldn’t help but curl tighter into Din’s side.

The bar was obviously the goal location and you were relieved when you finally reached it just because it was less intimidating than the rest of the club. The bartop itself was lit up bright white which made it possibly the most well lit area of the club. Din carefully maneuvered you onto a stool, but he didn’t sit himself. He stayed pressed against your side with one hand leaning on the bar and the other on your waist. It was a dominant stance. Protective. 

“What can I get you?” The vampire working the bar asked. Her eyes were reflecting the glow of the bartop and it gave the dark skinned woman an ethereal look. 

You opened your mouth to order, but Din squeezed your waist firmly. He nodded, “A shimmer.”

The bartender nodded and you raised an eyebrow in question. Din offered no further clarification. Instead, he pressed his lips to your ear. “We need to go to the back”

“Right. The pet zone.” You whispered.

“I suppose that’s one name for it.” No part of Din scared or worried you, but the words still managed to make you blanch in discomfort. You glanced back at the woman laid out on a table top, but Din shook his head. “She’s not a pet. Club owns her.”

You had ten thousand questions to ask, but were too worried to let a single one out. The bartender came back with a tall, slender glass. The liquid inside looked like the night sky. Black with silver glitter swirling inside of it. Din pushed the glass into your hands and paid for it. You lifted the glass to smell it and the aroma wasn’t something you could pinpoint exactly, but it made you think of the hot summer days where your mother would take you down to Barton Springs to cool off. Sunscreen lotion, sweet popsicles, and the carefree laughter shared between the two of you. A dizzying smile crossed your lips.

“Don’t drink it.” Din murmured into your ear as he helped you off the stool. “Just hold it.”

He began to walk you down the length of the bar. The further you pulled the drink from your face the more clear headed you felt. You stared into the swirling silver. “What is this?”

“Shimmer.” He repeated the name. “It’s used on pets. It’ll sweeten your blood.”

“Just smelling it made me feel like my head was in a cloud.” You mumbled. “And it smelled like…”

“Like a memory.” Din nodded. “A happy one.” The two of you reached a back corner where velvet curtains covered a doorway and a gruff man in a clean suit stood guard. “Adjustments make it easier to control a pet. You’ll notice everyone back here is probably on it.”

You had never heard of anything like this before and as Din led you closer to the guard you wondered how legal this stuff was. The guard studied the two of you for a minute, inhaling a deep breath that made you nervous. What if he caught a whiff of Joel on you? The anxiety was short lived though as he pulled the velvet curtain aside. 

The back room was even smaller⏤ cozier. There were booths with privacy curtains and another, smaller, bar in the back. Each booth had a curtain for the option of privacy, but not everyone used them. A young woman drifted over to speak to Din and as he responded your attention was pulled away by a fearful whimper. 

In one of the closest booths, there was a woman, close to your age, sitting on the lap of a vampire who physically looked significantly older than her. Her back was pressed to his chest as his teeth sunk into the crook of her neck. Tears streaked down her face as she whimpered. Her eyes were blown wide in terror as she stared at nothing⏤ just zoned out. You mumbled Din’s name in panic. You were under the impression the official vampire and pet relationship was consensual but this did not look the sort. The glass sitting on the table in front of them looked like yours, but it was nearly empty and rather than silver it had a purple shine to it. 

“She’s okay. I promise. She’s fine.” Din murmured and pulled you away. The woman he had been speaking to was leading you both to an empty booth.

All the booths looked uniform. Circular in shape, a low table in the middle, seats made of dark leather, and a red velvet curtain hanging from the ceiling to be used if needed.

"Keep the curtain closed if you're gonna fuck." The woman leading you said offhandedly. Din sat down and you were caught off guard when he pulled you to straddle his lap. A precarious position due to the short length of your dress. He waved a hand and the woman huffed before drawing the curtains herself. When they closed entirely a glowing sphere of light activated high above the two of you to offer light.

Din quickly readjusted to move you off his lap and he cupped your face to examine your features, “Are you alright?”

“I am. That girl⏤”

“Shiver.”

“What?”

Din took the cup from your hand to set on the table. “Yours is Shimmer. A happy memory. There are… other adjustments based on what they want to do to the blood’s flavoring.” You furrowed your brow in surprise. “Shimmer. Shiver. Simmer. Smolder.” He shrugged. “Those are the ones I can think of. I know there are more.” 

“Each one makes the blood taste different and they…” You thought back to how terrified the woman looked. “They evoke different memories.” He nodded. “So if Simmer is a happy memory…”

“Shiver is a memory of fear.”

You couldn’t imagine someone agreeing to relive a memory of nightmares just because a vampire had a taste for fear in the blood. Then again, up until now, you had never imagined agreeing to be a vampire’s pet. The wording of that thought gave you pause and you glanced away from the glass in your hands to Din’s face. He was watching you with concern and curiosity. You weren’t imagining being his pet. Not really. Not seriously at least. Not that you minded the idea of Din and his lips and teeth and tongue… Well, that wasn’t⏤ You weren’t⏤ It was⏤

“Jate’ika? Are you okay?”

“Just⏤ My brain is just, uh, nevermind.” You set the glass down on the table and pushed it further away from you. Were the fumes still invading your senses? What the hell? You cleared your throat. “Brancato. We gotta find him.”

Din nodded in agreement. “The sooner the better.” He stood up. “Stay here in the booth. I’ll be back.”

“You want to separate? In this vampire club??”

“The room is small. I can get back to you with ease if need be.” Din shook his head. “And I won’t be long. I just want to see if I can find the Agent.”

You twisted your lips but gave a quick nod. Din squeezed your hand and then slipped out of the curtain. You squirmed in your seat and smoothed out your dress nervously. You wished you had your gun. It would do nothing against a vampire, other than mildly annoy or irritate them, but you wanted the comfort of it on you all the same. A few moments passed before the curtains slid open and you were surprised by how quick he had been.

“Din⏤”

Din did not step in.

A different man burst through in a rush, but he was human like you. There was no animalistic glow to his eyes. He wore a navy sports blazer over a tight, gray v-neck with matching khaki dress pants. Around his neck was a leather collar that you’d find at a pet store. The man had a boyish look to him with messy, dirty blond hair and a clean shaven jaw. Freckles were brushed over the bridge of his nose and cheekbones. Oddly though, his gray blue eyes looked genuinely irritated with you.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?” He demanded in a hushed voice. He took a seat by you and set the drink in his hand next to yours. The lighting in this booth made the color hard to distinguish in the black liquid. “Are you out of your godsdamned mind showing up in this place??”

You lifted a hand to point at him with wide eyes, “Tim Brancato.”

“Shh!” He shushed you. “Call me Justin.”

“How do you know⏤”

“Roberts warned me you’d be looking for me, but he didn’t tell me you’d be stupid enough to show up here.” Tim scoffed. 

You were still curious as to how he recognized you so easily, but you had more important questions to ask and for some reason you were struggling to get a single one out. “Sorry. I’m glad we found you though, or⏤ or you found us, I should say.”

Time narrowed his eyes at you for a beat then shook his head, “Who are you here with?”

“My vampire.” You held a hand to your chest. “He’s a Mandalorian.”

“A Mandalorian came in⏤”

“Well, he’s not in armor right now. He’s⏤”

“Then he’s not a Mandalorian.”

“It’s⏤” You tilted your head with a wince, “It’s sort of a long story and we don’t have a lot of time⏤” His hands suddenly grabbed your face and you tensed. “Dude, what the fuck?”

Tim scoffed and let go, “You’re high.”

“No, I’m not.” You shook your head, though your head did feel a bit swimmy, “I didn’t drink the⏤ the shimmer.”

“Are you wearing a plug?” Tim demanded. You opened your mouth then froze⏤ eyes narrowing in confusion. There was a very solid chance that the plug he was asking about was not the kind you now had in mind. The back of your neck burned as you struggled to answer. He shook his head and reached into his coat pocket. “Lean your head back.” Without hesitation, you leaned your head back and as you stared up at the glowing light above you realized that maybe you shouldn’t be following the commands of someone you didn’t actually know. He grabbed the side of your face once more and held a dropper over your nose. Each drop he released into your nostrils felt thick and tacky and as it rolled deeper to coat your sinuses and reach the back of your throat, it gave the sensation of choking. “There.”

You straightened your head and began to cough, “What was⏤”

“They aerosolized an adjustment back here. Not enough to evoke a memory, but enough to impair judgment.” Tim responded. “That won’t get what’s in your system out completely, but it'll let it wear off while keeping you from getting any worse.”

“Oh, thanks.” You rubbed your nose in discomfort. “Putting that stuff in the air seems… questionable.”

Tim scoffed, “Look, some of the folks I see run through here have a healthy, consensual pet relationship, but I also see a lot of blurred lines as well. Just keep your guard up while you’re here, alright?” He shook his head. “Now, Roberts didn’t tell me why you were looking for me.” You nodded in confirmation and he lifted an eyebrow. “So?”

“Oh, uh, right.” You tried to collect your thoughts so you could pull them together. Tim rolled his eyes at you, and you felt a flare of irritation. You scoffed, “Hey, just give me a second here, my brain is filled with vampire fog right now.” Tim shrugged and continued to wait. You huffed, “The kids. The missing kids. All over Austin⏤ We’ve had a huge string of mixed kids disappearing, and the DMA isn’t investigating. Hell, they’re ignoring it! I confronted Roberts and he said he couldn’t help, but to find you because you can.”

Tim nodded his head slowly, humming in thought, then shook his head, “Can’t help.”

“Excuse me!?” You cried. The curtain was snapped open and you jumped in place until your eyes landed on Din. The Mandalorian tensed with a glare leveled at Tim, but you felt yourself relax marginally just having him near. You motioned to the man sitting beside you, “It’s him.” Din nodded, saying nothing further, and you focused back on Tim. “Now, what the hell do you mean you can’t help?”

“Roberts never said he was sending you to me for this.” Tim scoffed. “I’m not interested in helping.” Din stepped forward, arms crossed, and the glare he leveled at the undercover agent was deadly. Tim scoffed, but you did see the stiffening of his spine, “You gonna sick your big, bad vampire on me?”

“No. But I’ll tell your vampire that your name isn’t really Justin.” You threatened.

Tim’s eyes narrowed briefly, but a slow smirk crossed his features, “You wouldn’t do that. It’s a death sentence for me and I can tell you’re not the kind to ruin a man’s life.”

Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong. You wanted to be. For the sake of Ellie and Grogu and every other kid taken from their parents, you wished you could. There was a lump in your throat keeping the words trapped in your chest and Tim saw it clear as day. 

Din hummed, “She’s too good of a person to kill you, but I’m not.” The Mandalorian grabbed Tim by the lapels of his jacket and yanked him off the booth. Tim grabbed the vampire’s hands, but he was no match for Din’s strength. “You’re gonna talk, and you better hope we like what you have to say. Otherwise, it’s not the other vampires you’re gonna have to worry about, human.”

“Just give it up. It’s over now.” Tim hissed. “The kids missing are gone, but it’ll be years before more get taken.”

Din snarled as you stood up with wide eyes, “What does that mean??”

Tim didn’t get a chance to answer. The curtains swung open to reveal two beefy men dressed like the vampire guarding the entrance to this back room. Security. Din didn’t release the agent, but both men froze in surprise. 

“There’s been a noise complaint. What is the meaning of this??” One demanded.

Tim didn’t respond, mouth agape, and Din remained silent as well. His hands tightened in their grip on the man’s lapels. Your eyes darted between them both a second more before rushing forward. You stepped under Din’s arm, forcing him to drop his grip on Tim, and laid your own hands on his chest. With a frown and a shake of your head, you let the nervous energy you felt slip into your tone. “He just came in and wouldn’t leave me alone.” 

Instinctively or not, Din wrapped his arms around you and shifted so his body blocked you from Tim and the two security guards. Tim narrowed his eyes at you, jaw locking, but he wasn’t in the position to deny it. His only other excuse would be he was talking about the DMA. One of the security guards grabbed him by the upper arm, “Who do you belong to?”

“Ranzar Malk.” Tim sighed.

The two guards grunted before dragging Tim away from your booth. Din’s hands tightened around you as he whispered, “Jate’ika, are you alright?”

“No, I’m annoyed.” You mumbled. “That got us nowhere, Din.”

“I think we should leave.”

“Absolutely not.” You shook your head. “We need to find out what he meant.”

“He’s a pet to Ranzar.” Din said firmly and began to tug you out. “We can’t stay.”

You were trying to puzzle out the significance of that. It wasn’t a big enough name that it stood out to you, but you weren’t overly familiar with the vampire circles. You allowed Din to tug you forward, but one of the guards from before slid into your path.

“Ran would like to see you.”

Din cursed then shook his head, “We’re not interested.”

“It wasn’t a request, newcomer.” The guard grunted. 

He turned to lead, and Din pulled you tight into his side then followed. This would give you the opportunity to address Tim again, though it’d be difficult in front of the vampire Tim was serving. Maybe if Din could distract this Ran then you could do something? 

The booth the two of you were led to was much larger than the one you and Din shared. Oval in shape with three small, circular tables in front of it to hold drinks. You spotted multiple vampires lounging in the booth with their humans surrounding them. You tried to avoid making direct eye contact with the ones being actively bitten. The sight of it just seemed to make your skin crawl. At what you would consider the head of the booth sat a heavy set man. He leaned back with one arm resting on the back of the booth. Thick, wavy gray hair went past his shoulders to match the thick beard he sported, and the color also matched the animalistic glimmer to his eyes. Tucked against his side, under the arm outstretched, was a human woman. She wore a tight, pink dress with a draped collar held around her neck with a gold chain. Her blonde hair, so light it looked white under the lights, was stick straight down her back and the freckles across the bridge of her nose were also decorated with glitter she had painted across it. On his other side, kneeling on the ground by the man’s boot like a dog was Tim.

“Oh, you’re a cute thing.” The vampire, Ran you were assuming, cooed at you. “No wonder my pet couldn’t leave you alone.” Ran’s eyes dragged up and down your figure slowly. You leaned against Din just as he tightened his hold on you. “Don’t worry, pretty girl, I mean you no harm. Just wanted to apologize to your master.” Ran’s eyes snapped to Din and his lips stretched out into a grin. “I train my pets to behave better than Justin did tonight. Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to bother your little toy.”

Din gave a tight nod. There was actual anger in the set to Din’s brow, an emotion you didn’t fully understand, and the tension in his frame was obvious. He was holding you so tight that it was beginning to become uncomfortable.

“My name is Ranzar Malk, but you can call me Ran.” He chuckled. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” Din didn’t respond and you squirmed uncomfortably. “What is it? You have a problem with me? I’ve already apologized for my pet’s behavior. Don’t be a dick. We’re all friends here.”

When Din still didn’t respond, you nervously chimed up, “We’re just passing through⏤”

“He wasn’t speaking to you, blood bag.” A woman hissed. Her black hair was tied off into two high pigtails that would look silly on any other person, but the cruel grin on her face somehow made it look terrifying. She pushed to stand and drifted closer as if to grab you, “Hasn’t anybody taught you your place⏤”

“Don’t fucking touch her.” Din snarled and pulled you back so you were hidden behind him.

The woman hissed at him in anger, but Ran waved his hand, “Xi’an! Sit your ass down.” She glared at Din but finally dropped back into her seat roughly yanking a petite brown skinned woman onto her lap to drink from. Ran shook his head, “I know your voice. Why do I know your voice?” Din stayed silent and now kept you behind him, entirely hidden from the man. A low chuckle filled the air, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. No way. Mando?? Is that you??”

“Holy shit.” A different vampire off to the side, a man with a shaved head, pulled his fangs out of a woman’s wrist to chime in. “Nuh uh.”

“It is. That’s fucking Mando.” Ran laughed. “You’re dressed down tonight, friend.”

“I’m not your friend.” Din snapped.

“This is rich.” The man with the shaved head, mouth painted red with blood, chuckled. “Where’d that shiny armor go, metal man?”

“Come on. Sit. I insist.” Ran motioned to the spot beside him. “For old times’ sake.”

Din hesitated and you squeezed his arm once in encouragement. You didn’t know the history here, and you hated that these people that Din clearly did not care for were seeing his face, but neither of you could leave without more information from Tim. Otherwise this was a waste. He’d have taken his helmet off for nothing. Finally, Din stepped forward to sit down in the seat offered to him. He tugged you into the seat on his side away from Ran and Xi’an and closer to the other man. Apparently he was the lesser of the three evils.

“I didn’t think Mandalorians kept pets.” Ran teased. “Thought it was beneath your kind.”

“Well, can’t you see, Ran?” Xi’an lifted her lips from the woman on her lap’s neck. “He’s not a Mandalorian anymore apparently.” Din stiffened again. “Pretty boy seems possessive over the girl. Is that why you gave up the tin can helmet?”

Ran chuckled, “For him to give up that precious creed, her blood has gotta be something special.” He motioned toward you and spoke as if you weren’t even there. “You fucking her too, Mando?”

Xi’an scoffed with a mocking sneer, “Ran, can’t you remember? Mando don’t like pussy.”

“The way I remember it, it’s just your pussy he don’t like, Xi’an.” The man beside you laughed. Xi’an bared her fangs and snarled at him. Ran laughed along with the man who spoke and you hated every second of this. Din was trying to keep his face straight, but the hatred in his eyes was clear and just being here in this group made you uncomfortable for him. 

Ran hummed, his gaze on you again, “You know, after all the jobs I kicked your way, Mando, I feel like you kind of owe me.”

“No.” Din spat the single word out in a dangerous, dark tone. 

“You don’t even know what I was gonna suggest!” Ran chuckled.

“I know enough about you to guess.” Din snarled. Even as someone who didn’t know the vampire, you could read a room enough that his tone made you blanch in disgust. Your eyes darted to Tim who you found was already staring at you. His eyes darted down to his hand then back up to you. A pointed look. You glanced down and he opened his palm just enough for you to see a single stick, small syringe of something dark red. Dead man’s blood? It looked like the vampire sedatives made at the DMA. When you met Tim’s gaze again they darted to Ran.

A terrible, terrible, terrible idea came to mind. You lifted your head up to press your lips to Din's ear and murmured quiet enough that only he’d hear. “Suggest a trade. Me for Tim.” Din didn’t want to turn his head to you, but the grip he suddenly had on your thigh was enough to show his distaste. You sighed. “Trust me?”

“What’s the little lady whispering about?” Ran teased.

Din didn’t immediately answer. You didn’t think vampires could be nauseous, but that was the best way to describe the brief look that crossed Din’s face. Finally, he spoke in a tense tone. “I’ll trade.”

“No shit?” Ran guffawed. “Alright. You want little Alana here?” The girl leaning against Ran offered Din a small wave, a quirk to her lips making it clear she enjoyed her position here to some degree. “She’s a fun one.”

Din shook his head, “Him. I want him.”

“Justin?” Ran asked. Din nodded. “Hell, alright. That’s not usually what I use this one for, but he’s getting punished tonight regardless.” Ran grabbed Tim by the hair and pulled his head back with a glare. “He’ll behave real good for you since I know he doesn’t wanna piss me off more.”

Ran shoved Tim away and he rose to his feet. You stood as well to shimmy past the tables and in passing you felt him discreetly push the vial into your hand. Din stood behind you, his hands on your waist, and Ran shouted a biting comment to the other two vampires before motioning for you and Din to follow along. Din’s fingers dug into your skin as you got closer to some smaller, more private booths, and you had a feeling he was tempted to grab you and run. 

Ran stopped and pointed to a booth to the left, “All yours, Mando.” The large vampire reached out to you with a sickening grin and when you tried to step toward him Din wouldn’t let go. You shot him a glance over your shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take real good care of her. You just enjoy your time with mine, yeah?”

Din finally released you and you took in a shaky breath before stepping closer to Ran. He set a hand on your lower back before ushering you into the booth across from the one he offered Din. The moment you were in, he tugged the curtain closed. With Din out of sight, your anxiety began to rise to new highs. Ran hummed and sat down on the booth with a grunt. He eyed you hungrily, “Mando certainly has good taste. You smell sweet, honey.” Ran gave his thigh a pat and you bit back a wave of disgust. “Come to daddy.”

You set your purse down and crossed the space to him. This was for the kids. This was for Joel and Din. This was for a cause bigger than you. Steeling yourself, you carefully straddled his lap and his bare hands grasped the back of your thighs to drag up and grope your ass. Bile tried to claw up your throat as a wave of nausea overtook you. It took all your power to not gag and flinch at his touch.

“You look so nervous, honey.” Ran cooed. You forced a tight lipped smile then leaned forward to rest your arms on his shoulders. He squeezed your ass again, “Now, that’s better.”

Ran buried his face where your shoulder met your neck and inhaled deeply. A groan slipped from his lips and you felt his tongue drag up your skin to right under your jaw. He leaned in closer and you wrapped your arms around him tighter⏤ adjusting the syringe in your hand accordingly. When you felt a sharp fang nick at your skin, you buried the needle into the flesh at the back of his neck. Ran shoved you back furiously and you only barely caught yourself before falling to the ground.

“You bitch⏤” Ran muttered, but his eyes were already fluttering. His head collapsed back against the booth as his entire body sagged into the seat. 

It was only then that you realized you were panting. There was a tremble in your hands that you tried to shake away as you straightened your posture. Disgusted, you rubbed at your neck desperately trying to rub away his saliva and touch.

Quickly, you grabbed your purse and ducked out of the curtain. Nobody seemed to notice when you took the few steps to slip through the curtains of the booth across from you. You had only barely stepped in when familiar hands grabbed you.

“Told you she’d figure it out.” Tim hummed from where he sat on the booth casually.

Din rubbed your arms and shook his head, “Did he hurt you?” His hand lifted to your neck and his eyes widened when you felt his thumb brush against a tender spot. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine, really.” It felt like you had said that a lot today for a lot of very absurd situations.

“That was a shit idea. I never should’ve let you do that.” Din scoffed.

“To be fair, I knew it was a terrible idea.” You gave him an awkward smile. “But it worked.”

Din sighed and looked like he was prepared to argue with you on that opinion. You stepped past him to sit beside Tim. Din joined you and you were caught off guard when he settled his hand around the back of your neck⏤ cradling it softly. The weight and warmth were oddly a comfort that helped distract from the unwelcome touch you were still trying to forget.

“Alright, talk.” You snapped. “What did you mean by what you said earlier?”

Tim heaved a sigh but crossed his legs and nodded, “This isn’t a new problem. Since the DMA was established, this has been occurring.” You opened your mouth to argue, but he shook his head. “It’s usually every decade or so, but in the past it was done with more precision. Only a few kids were taken and their disappearances separated with enough time to avoid suspicion. Taken from different locations too.”

“Taken for what and by who?!” You demanded.

“How much do you know about the people who established the DMA?”

“It was the Weston family and they worked with the Olympians to create an agency that would benefit the supernatural world.” You replied. “They were the original founders.”

Tim nodded, “That’s the who.”

“The… The Weston family?” You shook your head. “Seriously?” Tim nodded again. There were portraits on the wall painted in the honor of the original members of the DMA in the lobby of the building. That’s the connection Miles Jackson had relation wise. He was the great grandson to one of the Weston members still on the board. Other than him though, you had never seen any of these people in person. “But… But why??”

Tim shrugged, “Humans work with the gods long enough, they start to wonder, ‘Why can’t I be immortal too?’” Your eyes widened at the implication. “It’s a ceremony. You can’t create new energy, only transfer it. They take it from the kids and it buys them a decade.”

“Humans did this??” Din snapped.

You held a hand out and shook your head, “This is… There is no way people just let this happen. You know all this and yet you do nothing?? Roberts knows this!?”

“You’re young. You’re naive.” Tim said with a scoff. “So I’ll forgive you for not understanding. This is bigger than all of us. The Weston family? They aren’t to be trifled with. And if a few kids every decade is the price to pay to appease them then it’s worth it.”

“Not to the parents of the kids they stole!” You snapped.

Tim held your gaze for a long moment, glanced at Din as well, then sighed again. “The reason I know is because I used to be a Captain. This is the kind of information only high ranking officials get let in on. When I first found out, I was disgusted. I wanted to fight it. But a battle against that family isn’t the kind you win.” He shook his head. You felt light headed at the news⏤ dizzy even. The room felt like it was beginning to tilt. “That’s why I gave up my status and took a role in the undercover scene.”

“You ran is what you did.” You pushed the words out forcefully while glaring at him. “You and Roberts both. You’re cowards.”

“You can’t save the world. It’s not meant to be saved. Terrible shit happens all the time and all you can do is protect your own and hope for the best.” Tim said.   

There was a buzzing in your purse that made you pause. You glanced down to pull out your phone. Meanwhile, Din’s hand squeezed your neck lightly as he spoke up. “Where are they?” There was a growl underlying his voice. “Where is my son?”

“I’m not privy to that stuff anymore, but I know they’d need a big, empty space. Someplace abandoned.” Tim shrugged. You read your screen and saw Joel had sent a number of texts asking about what was going on. The words blurred as you tried to read them. You squinted to focus, but the only thing on your screen big enough to be read clearly were the numbers ‘11:55’ in big font on the front of your screen. “Is that Joel? As in Joel Miller?” Your head snapped up in surprise. Tim blinked at you then tilted his head. “You’re working with Joel Miller. Really?”

“So?”

Tim shrugged, “I just didn’t expect that after what happened to your mom.”

The room began to spin and it felt like you were sinking⏤ your limbs felt heavy. You struggled to speak, “What⏤ What are you… I⏤ I…”

“Hey.” Tim leaned forward and titled your head to look into your eyes. You heard Din murmur your name. “Hey. Stay with me. Did Ran make you drink something?” You shook your head, but even Tim was difficult to see now. Your skin felt hot. Hot enough that you wanted to peel it off your muscles and bone⏤ strip yourself into nothingness. “Did he touch you?” 

Din’s hand on the back of your neck, which was once a comfort, made the heat worse. You tried to shake it off, but he didn’t budge. Din spoke, “What’s wrong with her?”

“Get her up. Check her skin.”

You felt Din drag you up and hands brushed against your arms, neck, shoulders, and legs. There was a pinch along your thigh as if someone was picking something off. Din held a little black square in his fingers and you felt woozy while standing. “What is this?”

“He drugged her. She should be fine with it off, but she’s gonna wake up with a nasty headache.” Tim shook his head and stood as well. “You should get her out of here. Fresh air might help.” You watched with unfocused eyes as Din tucked your phone into your purse, wrapped it around you, and then gripped your side to help you stand. Tim chuckled. “You know, Roberts was right. You would’ve made a good Agent.”

That was the exact opposite of what Roberts had told you, and days prior it would’ve made you preen with pride at the statement. However, now it just left you with a gross feeling you couldn’t attribute to the drugs. “I don’t want anything to do with the DMA.”

Tim gave a small shrug and you watched him disappear out the curtain with a mumbled ‘good luck’. 

Din was quick to drag you out and traveling through the club again was a blur of noise and light. It wasn’t until chilly night air filled your lungs that the blurriness began to alleviate marginally, but in its place was a heaviness of your body, mind, and heart. You felt Din scoop you up, but as you stared up at the sky you got lost in the stars.

Mando'a Translations:

Gar klesir jatisyc. [you smell delicious.] Ni ceta. [Sorry.]

For notifs on updates, as I no longer do taglists, please follow @theidiotupdates

Banners by @cafekitsune

[ghost-bxrd]

Hey! I was the anon asking about your thoughts on Bruce being a bad dad (or really just closer to who he is in recent times) and honestly I just wanted your thoughts on it, so thank you!

I also love reading batfam fics where Bruce is a father that loves his kids and believes everyone can be redeemed regardless of whatever crime they may have committed: that’s honestly the Batman I like reading about bc thats what got me into his comics. But it gets complicated when I read fanfiction that uses stuff like UTRH as part of the fic’s lore and then just glosses over Bruce nearly killing his kid to save the Joker, bc that’s very uncomfortable to think about. It’s hard for me to believe that Bruce and Jason are cool when Jason now has the experience of his throat being torn open by his ‘father’ (bc I wouldn’t call someone like that my parent), and our last glimpse of him being his body crumpled to the floor in a pool of blood. Like thinking about how much had to happen between then to ‘now’ in the fic takes me right out of the fic bc that’s just what mentions of times Bruce was a bad father do to me 😭

I prob could’ve worded that more succinctly and shorter but as you may notice I expand a lot on my thoughts lmao. But if you do think up any prompts on Bruce being a complicated father in regard to Jason’s rule over Crime alley, please share!! I’d love to read them and MAYBE write something if the creative juices start flowing

Side note: Good mom Talia is my life blood. Like the struggle of trying to raise her children in such an unforgiving environment where she’s been trapped since SHE was a child OR in a place that, while not actively harming them (in a League where Ra’s isn’t evil), isn’t giving them the opportunity to shine the way she knows they could. Good shit.

Very valid. Everyone’s got their own preferences regarding tropes and world building 💚 and I can totally understand the batarang incident part. Jason should be pissed about it. Rightfully so. On the other hand I refuse to view this part as canon because the Batman I know would never and I steadfastly refuse to write this part as anything other than an accident/misunderstanding in every single fic ever lmaooo

Hehe I’ll try to come up with some complex parent Bruce Wayne prompts soon, so keep an eye on the corresponding tag ✨

And y e s, good mom Talia is awesome. Talia’s life hasn’t been easy but she’s trying to make the best of it and carve out her own little space of happiness for her and her son, and upon realizing that it’s still not enough immediately prioritizes her son’s safety and wellbeing to send him to live with Bruce. Something I imagine would be absolute agony for any loving mother. 🥺

[mikeylikeyou]

✸ ꜰʀᴀɴ ʙᴏᴡ...

𖦹 Just today I finally finished playing the entirety of Fran Bow, a game that I had played way back when I was a kid, yet never fully finished nor comprehended (due to my age.) And oh my god was it amazing. A beautiful 5-chapter point-and-click story about a young girl who witnessed the murder of her mother and father, taken into an asylum, in which she wishes to escape from to find her missing cat, Mr. Midnight and to live with her aunt. Fran Bow is a perfectly written character, her age being a heavy ploy in the stories' quirks and incidents. This game came out in 2015, yet I haven't seen anything like this in recent games. The best thing with this game is the delusions that worsen throughout the series, dragging you along in wondering what could be real or not. It truly is a mystery in of itself. For anyone thinking of playing the game, just know that it is pretty gorey! As Fran Bow's hallucinations are solely gore/death based, the severity of these worsening with the progression of the story as well, so be advised if that's something you do not want to see! !!!SPOILER WARNING!!! 𖦹 Along with the whole mystery aspect, the best thing to me is truly not knowing if Fran ever escaped the asylum to begin with. Since most of the story after she "leaves" seems incredibly fairytale-esc. Which all of this could be testified by the fact that maybe it was real! Since there was plenty of realism to most of the subjects. "Kamalas" seem to be more representations of mental illnesses and disorders, Itward being simply an Imaginary Friend plain and simple. I like both ideals of what could be true or not, Fran being not taken seriously because she's a child, versus her just making things up in her own mind due to her illness. I prefer that there's no real solid answer on if it true or not. Because if they had one of the adults going all "omg Fran you were right you're not crazy" then it would make the ending pretty lame for what it makes you feel. The whole story could very well be just a strong depiction of one’s well being breaking into shambles over time. There are even moments of clarity, like when she returns home, where you think it truly was real, when in entirety she could have been sauntering through her own mind the entire time. Or maybe even she could’ve made it out but imagined things along the way! The book she’s given by the frog in chapter 2 could mean that it was all real, as someone experienced the entire story as she did, but it could be her own drastic interpretation as well. Who knows!!! It makes this game all the more beautiful.

"I still don't know many things, but one thing I do know, between guilt and fear, I chose happiness"

[pandor-uhhh]

Grieving Apologies 2

Tsu'tey x avatar reader

Warnings: illness (nothing serious), crying, reference to death, Neytiri gets mad at Tsu’tey, mentions of blood and near death, use of “y/n”, this kinda long I may have gotten carried away

Description: A visit to Ronal reveals you have the option to leave your mate. But late night memories make it hard for you to choose.

REVISIONS IN PROGRESS!!!:

This series is currently being rewritten to improve its quality and overall plot, please keep that in mind as you read.

Notes: I was not expecting the first part to do so well, thank you so much you guys. I might make this a small series, if so the name might change for each new part. Also, I had someone ask me to tag them in this, so if you want to be added to a tag list just ask or comment it. There will be a new section in my rules for that.

Part 1 | part 2 (you're here) | Part 3 | Part 4

It had been three days since the incident with Tsu’tey, since your public breakdown. You were humiliated after returning back with Tsu’tey, making a bee line for your marui. 

Most of the people who had been witness to it either didn’t say anything or they asked if you were okay. You appreciated the concern, but also just wanted people to forget.

You and Tsu’tey hadn’t talked either, at least not a real conversation. The closest thing you had was when he told you to get on his ikran so you could head back to the village, aside from that you had not said a word to each other. 

Neytiri had caught wind of what had happened, and when you returned she was by your side. You felt like shit, making the whole village bare witness to your issues with your mate, being checked up on by a woman who just lost her son when she should be the one being check up on, and then there was-

“Drink” Neytiri handed you a cup of tea meant to soothe your cough. The morning you and Tsu’tey returned you began feeling under the weather, you had assumed it was just still your mind but then you started coughing.

Neytiri told you everyday to go see Ronal so she could help you, you would always just roll over in bed saying you would the next day.

You finished your tea, but your coughing remained. Neytiri put a hand to your forehead, but felt no abnormal warmth.

“Neytiri, you should go back to your Jake and the kids-” “-don’t” Neytiri cut you off, she almost looked offended. “You are just as much family as they are” she stated, you sighed.

“I don’t think I will be for much-” you were cut off again, this time by the heavy footsteps of Tsu’tey. You looked away from him, your outburst had affected him too, some of the villagers had gone up to him asking what happened, you felt like shit because of it.

Neither of you even look at eachother, Neytiri got up and smacked him on the shoulder, he turned his head calmly to her. 

“Your mate is sick, they need you here! Where have you been?!” She asked the last part through gritted teeth

“Hunting” was all he said before turning to the side of the room his stuff was on, “hunting?” Neytiri questioned, as if she was hearing him wrong. “Your mate is sick, and you are out hunting?!” She was pissed “have you no shame?!”.

Tsu’tey stopped what he was doing after that, he opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but closed it and walked right back out of the marui. 

“You are acting like a child!” Neytiri yelled, she looked at you and pulled you up to your feet. You looked at her, confused “where are we going?” You questioned as she pulled you along.

Neytiri didn’t answer you, and soon you were standing outside the marui Ronal makes medicine in. “No, ‘Tiri, I’m fine-” before you could finished your sentence you were shoved inside.

Ronal looked up, and motioned you to come in. Neytiri was not far behind, you greeted Ronal with a small nod. “Come, sit” was all she said before taking things off shelves, you did as she said. “Neytiri says you are ill” it was more of a statement than a question, “it’s only a cough” you tried to deflect. You could’ve swore you heard the equivalent of a scoff from her, you decided it might be better to just be quiet and let her treat you.

Rushed footsteps could be heard, the source of them being Tsireya who had just run around the corner. She was panting, and looked like she had been in the water recently as her hair was wet, “you’re late” Ronal seethed. Tsireya’s ears went back, “sorry, mother, I lost track of time”

Ronal handed her daughter a strip of cloth “tie up their hair” she said motioning to you, you would’ve protested but that hadn’t ended well last time. Tsireya kneeled behind you and pulled your hair back, Ronal kneeled beside you and started putting some sort of petroleum-jelly-like substance on your chest. Ronal also handed you a small jar “put this on at night and the cough should be gone in three days” she also lit something that looked like incense. Ronal made me stay while she prayed to Eywa for a fast recovery, after that you sat in silence.

“It’s not uncommon for people to feel ill when they feel disconnected from their mates” Tsireya whispered to you, “quite Tsiereya!” Ronal scolded the young girl. “No!” you yelled, to Ronal, part of you was shocked you had the gull to yell at Ronal “I want to hear what she has to say” you added. Tsireya looked to her mother for approval, Ronal sighed but nodded.

Tsireya got up and kneeled in front of you “it is not uncommon for people to say that their mates… change, over time” the girl explained, your brows knitted together. “Change?” You question, “did you not say yourself that your mate's attitude has changed towards you?” she added. You sighed “you heard me?” “Tonowari did” Ronal spoke up, putting things back in their place on the shelf.

Ronal turned to you “he talked to us about it, because those wanting to leave their mates are often worried they cannot, not without dishonoring Eywa” she looked at you with what could only be described as pity “but, you can” Tsireya put a hand to your shoulder “it is more complicated if you have children, but since you have none-” “-enough from you gir!” Ronal snapped “leave!” Tsireya got up to leave. 

“She’s right” both Ronal and her daughter looked at you as you spoke, you looked up at them, eyes full of tears. “Maybe it is best, maybe…” You turn to Neytiri, hoping she would tell you that you and Tsu’tey still had a chance, but she looked at you and nodded. You sighed “...maybe it’s too late for us to try again” you put your head in your hand and cried, Tsireya hugged.

“I’m sorry” she cried “I’m so sorry” Ronal put a hand on her daughters shoulder and gently guided her out, and covered the entrance with the cloth above it. She turned back to you, kneeling in front of you she put a hand to your shoulder. “Take your time, and come see me with Tsu’tey when you’re ready”, Neytiri helped you up and out the door.

The walk home was silent, she guided you to your bed. Making sure you had the gel on your chest still, then she left, you laid there unable to sleep despite the fact it was dark. You cried and closed your eyes, desperate for a reason to stay with the man you had loved since you had come to pandora.

*and past memories came flooding back to you*

After the war you remember running through the hordes of injured na'vi, desperately looking for one in particular. You had tears in your eyes, turning some Na’vi over and finding them dead. You dropped to your knees letting go of your bow “Tsu’tey!” You called out, desperately wanting to hear his voice. You heard a yell, and ran over to that source of the sound. Finding your love with bullet holes littering his body and blood all around him, “no!” You screamed, you pressed the communicator on your neck “Jake, ‘Tiri, someone please help!” You cried. 

“(Y/n), what’s wrong?” Jake had thought you were gone after seeing your ikran go down, you cried “it’s Tsu’tey, he needs help!” You screamed. Jake immediately got on his ikran with Neytiri “we’re on our way, just hold on!”, you nodded and gently placed Tsu’tey’s head in your lap. You pressed on the bullet wounds, trying to stop the bleeding. He coughed up some blood and tried to reach up to you, you took his hand in yours. “Hold on, tiyawn, Jake and ‘Tiri are on their way” you let go of his hand to brush some hair out of his face. 

He began closing his eyes and you shook your head “no, no, no, stay with me!” you sobbed, shaking him lightly. You heard Jake and Neytiri land behind you, you had started doing compressions on his chest.

"please, please don’t take him from me!” You cried, Neytiri pulled you off him so Jake could carry him to his ikran. You sobbed loudly as Neytiri cried with you “please Great Mother, don’t take him, I’ll do anything!” Jake threw you over his shoulder and put you on the Ikran, Neytiri held onto Tsu’tey as you flew back to camp.

Neytiri ran to her mother carrying Tsu’tey “please help him!” She begged, they carried him to the tent. You cried, you had seen so many enter that same tent but few left still living, despite Mo'at's best ability. Jake hugged you, apologizing feeling this was all his fault.

Neytiri came out motioning you to come inside, you ran in and saw Tsu’tey coughing up more blood. Most of his chest was covered with blood, it looked like he had already died and come back as a vengeful corpse. Neytiri grabbed your hand and put them on his chest while she and her mother ran trying to collect what they needed to save this life.

Tsu’tey brought his hand up to hold yours again, trying to say your name. You shook your head “don’t talk, you don’t need to talk” you held his hand tight “fight, ‘Tey, fight for me” you brought his hand up to kiss his knuckles. Mo’at began rubbing a salve on his wounds, and you pulled away so Neytiri could wrap them. Tsu’tey chanted your name out “I’m here, baby, I’m right here” Mo’at began praying over him. Neytiri pulled you back over to Tsu'tey when she was done.

He grabbed onto your wrists acting as if he let you go again you would vanish. You looked in this eyes, which didn’t leave yours. Mo’at finished her prayer, “we have done all we can” she stated “it lies in Eywa’s hands”

Neytiri and Mo’at left to give you space, you rested your head on his chest. Half your face had some of his blood on it, but you didn’t care. All that mattered to you was hearing his heartbeat. The thumping of his heart was a relief every time you heard it, more beautiful than any song or poem. You fell asleep like that, never wanting to leave his side again

*you reopen your eyes*

And saw the man you begged Eywa to save standing with his back turned, tending to the fire. There was some kind of meat cooking above it, and he took some. When you noticed him begin to turn and closed your eyes again, there was a brief silence. Then you heard him sigh, you felt him kiss your shoulder, then rest his forehead on yours. 

You wanted to open your eyes and return his affection, but the moment the thought entered your head he pulled away. After a moment he shook you and your eyes snapped open, he said nothing to you, but there was food. 

By the time you sat up he was gone.

Taglist: @arschbohrer

Thank you for reading ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ

[ren1327]

A Look Back at my Benji Fics 1: Kenji's Family

So the first fanfiction I wrote was called Sweet Survivor. This was right after season one and before we knew when season two was coming out.

I had written it as a gift to my sister, as we both fell in love with one Benjamin Fitzgerald Pincus.

However...all I had was my knowledge from the books and movies. I had no idea where the story would go. So like those Pteranodons...I winged it.

But seriously. It led to my own lore when it came to the campers. If I was going to write my own ending, I had to make some guesses and choices how I saw characters. And I would reuse these characters again and again.

So first: The Kons

(Btw, this was pre-Daniel Kon. And I will collapse as not to cause endless scrolling for passers by)

Kosei Kon

Kosei was what I hoped Daniel could’ve been.

I had created him between Season 1 and 2 of Camp Cretaceous when writing Sweet Survivor and kept him as “Kenji’s Dad” in every one of my fics since.

Kosei was someone who was selfish and needed a reality check. Someone who pushed his son to the side, but would do anything to keep him safe and sound. Who would be able to look at himself and do anything for Kenji’s safety.

Daniel Kon, he is not.

A lot of the background with Kosei was he was in construction and/or finance. I also put in a few fics he and Simon were best friends in their twenties and while Simon got more whimsical, Kosei got more serious. He was also from a traditional family who valued hard work, but not really family ties.

A very "I bust my ass, so you don't have to" mentality that backfires tremendously.

This would change during his second marriage and the Jurassic World incident.

I’ll go into Candy later, but she was the fuse that started the fire under his ass when it came to not only finding his son, but repairing their relationship. Most fics also had him a little awkward with his younger daughter, another OC,  since I had a theory Kenji was only raised by nannies and saw his dad once a day in person or on facetime. So he being around for nightly feedings and the terrible twos and first everythings were something he had yet to experience.

 Another funny quirk is he tries to learn about things he doesn’t understand, like phrases or other sexualities, hence why he’s a little overenthusiastic about Kenji being bisexual because “You’ve trained for this possibility, Kosei!”

A big part of making Kosei was making him terrible at poor communication and posturing instead of comforting his obviously emotionally neglected son. He would find it hard and way too new, but he was always written to, despite being a bit aloof and closed off, ready to finally step up when his son needed him for life advice or just to pass the time.

He’s also not afraid to put his career and reputation on the line when it comes to his children.

Candela "Candy" Kon

Candy was kinda a throw away line from Kenji and never mentioned again.

We didn’t know back then if she was his dad’s girlfriend, his stepmom or just an assistant for Mr. Kon. I went to the stepmom angle cause it almost felt like the scene from “Up” when Russel talked about his dad.

I really really reeeeeeally am tired of the evil stepmother trope.

So I created Candela Kon, Kosei’s wife.  (I will be referring to my OC Kosei Kon rather than Daniel Kon as Kenji’s father.)

I wanted her and Kenji to have an awkward relationship rather than a hostile one. It was more important to me that she was trying, and it just was…awkward. I 100% believe Kenji’s Dad, Daniel or Kosei, would marry without informing Kenji or Candy. And she would ream him out and immediately try to bond with Kenji, cause her husband may be a clueless dolt, but there’s a child now and his feelings are the most important thing right now.

Since Jurassic Park is located on Isla Nublar set in Costa Rica, I wanted her to be an orphan who grew up there and later immigrated to America before returning to work at Jurassic World.

Her being an orphan was never really touched on, but it would help her connect with Kenji, as she knows how it is to want parents and they're not there.

On top of that, she often had the stereotypical health crazes, though toned enough that it was more a pursuit of knowledge to see what was good or beneficial to her family. Hence why she would like Ben so much, as I wrote him not only as food conscious, but also with an interest in herbology for medical purposes. (More about that later.)

Before the series, she and Kosei would meet and start their romance because of a pregnancy that unfortunately didn’t make it to term. Candy would have built a relationship with Kosei, and both agree to stay married as they make each other happy and both love Kenji.

Carmen Kon

Carmen was the daughter of Kosei and Candy, and Kenji’s baby sister. In most stories, she is Candy's rainbow baby.

Most of the time she’s between the ages of yet to be born and 15. At any age, she’s a pretty chill little kid who loves games, her babysitter/nanny Dave and Kenji.

As a kid under 6, she’s obsessed with Kenji and later Ben. Usually getting very excited any time Kenji enters a room, she’s often corralled by Dave, who I love too much not to come back in every fic.

As a teen in Sweater Weather, she is very self-conscious, as she’s being bullied for not being like her brother by other schoolmates. She keeps to her games and loves the mall, but will have bad days where she shuts off her phone and walks around the properties. She bonds with Ben over being bullied and shares her interests in video games and gender studies.

So that's the Kons.

Thank you guys for dealing with my breaks. I am trying to write when I can. Have a good summer.

[fufuheheii]

Small HC of how introvert Y/N finally talks to Albedo

Pairing: AlbedoxIntrovert!Female!Reader

You and Albedo not getting along is an understatement.

You guys barely talk to one another aside from “oh hi” or “oh bye”.

It’s only when Amber or Lumine is around that you two actually start to talk…but not to each other.

No one notices since you two are known for being quiet by nature, but you can’t help but feel that the boy doesn’t want to be friends with you.

For one, everytime you start talking he starts talking, and then both of you stop talking and end up sitting there in silence while your friends stare at you guys wondering what just happened.

Once Klee tried to make you play house with her and Albedo, and made you the wife while Albedo was the husband and Klee was your child.

“Hi husband, how was work?” “It was alright.” “Do you want some dinner?” “No.” “Okay.”

You two divorced five minutes into the roleplay.

Once you tried to talk about alchemy with the alchemist, hoping that at least you could be closer to him through the topics of sciences. But the reply you got was, “your theory has no basis.”

You questioned your intelligence everyday ever since that incident.

Needless to say, your personalities didn’t match despite the similarities.

You notice Albedo tends to gravitate towards outgoing personalities like Amber or Lumine. You aren’t exactly the ‘haha sunshine everywhere!’ type of person so you know he won’t find any interest in you.

And so you guys never talked again. For one year.

It isn’t until one day you tried flying in Dragonspine mountain that everything changed.

Your glider snapped into two, making you land face first into the snow below you. You could’ve sworn you heard the hilichurls laughing.

With no one around you had no choice but to enter the lair of the one person you dread to talk to.

“Hello Albedo,” you greet as you peek into the lab. Albedo looks up from his brewing chemicals. He’s surprised to see you here. Heck, you’re surprised to see yourself here.

“Oh nice to see you again Y/N. Come inside, did you need something?” He greets as he signals you to come in.

You step into the lab and sigh in relief at the welcoming warmness inside.

You take out your broken equipment and show it to him.

“Uh,” you start to say, already getting awkward with him. “My stuff broke while I was finishing a commission here. Is there any chance you can fix it?”

Wow this is the most you’ve said to him in a single sentence in a while now. You watch as Albedo takes your equipment and inspects it. “Yes,” he murmurs to himself. “Let me see what I can do. Please have a seat while I fix this.”

“Okay,” you turn and see three different chairs in three different areas. You are about to ask him where he wants you to sit but his back is already turned to you.

Never mind, you think to yourself as you head to the chair near the fire.

You don’t know why, but it’s always so hard to talk to Albedo. His emotionless expressions make it hard to tell if he’s enjoying himself or not. The only times he does crack a smile is when Paimon starts screaming her head off at Lumine or when Amber talks about her failed attempts at helping people.

Well you can’t judge him, you’re not exactly a talker yourself. You’ve worked as an adventurer alone for two years now and prefer keeping it to yourself. Seeing other people happy is what makes you crack your smile and you feel Albedo is similar in this aspect too.

But despite the similar personalities you guys just hardly talk. Albedo would often look to the side when it’s the two of you, and you start daydreaming out of boredom when there’s nothing to do.

“What happened before you came here?” Albedo suddenly asks out of nowhere, making you jump. “Your equipment seems too new to turn into this state…”

“Oh I was trying to place these devices somewhere high enough where the hilichurls can’t touch them. There was this huge wind from out of nowhere and just blasted me off-“

“I might have to replace the wires for you,” Albedo cuts in, making you frown. “You will have to wait a while.”

He just cut you off with no hesitation.

“Yeah, no worries,” you mutter as you kick a random pebble on the ground. So much for even trying to talk.

Ten minutes go by and you start getting sleepy. Until you hear the alchemist suddenly say, “you’re a quiet one.”

You blink and turn to the boy who is kneeling on the ground, his back facing you. “H-huh?”

“It would've been better if you were noisy like your friends, then you would have gained my interest faster.”

You furrow your eyebrows as you get up. “Excuse me?”

You walk towards him, ready to ask him to clarify what he meant.

“I never noticed you were there because you’re so quiet-“

“Well you’re quiet yourself too!” You exclaim, surprising the alchemist who turns his head immediately. His eyes are wide and startled. “I’m sorry?”

“You know, I tried talking to you before and you totally ignored me!” You exclaim angrily. “You always smile at what others say, but my topics seem to bore you and your small little buttcheeks out of this universe! How dare you say I’m quiet when you never even tried to talk to me at all!”

You pant, your hands ball into fists as Albedo kneels there, stunned at your outburst.

There is a moment of silence before he finally stretches out his hand.

He’s holding a spider. With his bare hands.

“I was catching this spider for dinner,” he says. “I could’ve caught it earlier but it was…really quiet…”

You both stay in your positions as the sound of the harsh winds outside echo in the small cave.

You look at the spider in his hands before looking back at Albedo.

A single sweat roll visibly down his face as he watches your face turn to shock, then to slight disgust, then to realization, and finally into amusement.

“Were you talking to the spider?”

“Yes…”

“Pfft…hahaha!” You horse-laugh, making the alchemist freeze more. “O-oh my gosh I am so sorry, I-I thought you were talking to me!”

You slap your knee and wheeze at how ridiculous the situation is.

As Albedo watches you break down, the corners of his mouth twitches before curving upwards.

He’s never seen you laugh before.

—

“S-sorry I’m late Mr. Albedo!” Sucrose wheezes as she finally reaches the lab. “One of the items was out of stock and I had to head to the nearby village…”

“-and then I jumped!” You use your hands to show the amused alchemist. “But alas I failed. Luckily Lumine was around to help.”

Sucrose walks in and that’s when you both notice her presence. “Welcome back Sucrose,” Albedo greets and you wave to her sheepishly.

“Hi Y/N,” Sucrose smiles as she watched with mischievous glint in her eyes as you pick up your fixed equipment and turn back to Albedo who looks a bit disappointed for some reason.

“Thanks for fixing my things Albedo,” you say before grinning. “I can’t believe it took us a whole year to finally start properly talking.”

“Yes…,” Albedo glances at your equipment. “New or not, you’ll still need to care for the things you use often. If you need help I’m usually available late afternoons.”

You blink. “You mean, I can come any day?”

Albedo nods. “We’ve known each other for a year now, and I would also like to hear more about your adventures outside of Monstadt. If you want you can come by everyday-“

Sucrose chokes on her drink causing you to turn to her in concern. “Oh are you alright?”

“Y-yeah don’t mind me!”

You turn back to Albedo. “I don’t think I can come everyday, but I’ll definitely come by to visit. I definitely want to know more about you too. Let’s make up for that one year of ignoring each other, intentional or not.”

When you leave the lab, Sucrose immediately gets into Albedo’s face with a thousand questions.

“When did you guys get along? How long have you two been talking? What did you guys talk about-,” Sucrose is into full gossip girl mode that Albedo has to calm her down.

“I recall you said your research requires much time,” Albedo starts to lecture. “If you need time pointers I have some suggestions-“

“N-no, I want to solve it on my own!” The girl squeaks before rushing back to her station.

Albedo exhales and turns to his shelf full of sketchbooks. He brushes his hand over them before he finds the new sketchbook he bought. He flips through the empty pages and stops at the first page.

“Hm,” Albedo covers his mouth with his hand. A small tint of red spread across his cheeks.

“Did I really waste a whole year?”

—————————————-

Just realized 90% of my stories are all misunderstandings ahisjdnejdjsb-

Thanks for reading!

[oiladgivememoney99]

SCP Rewrite, The Living Lego

"Aughhhhhhh…” Cory groaned as he laid down in bed, about three days after he encountered The Mother In The Ice. “Can’t believe I’m still sick from that mission… wait, that means I don’t have training today!” Cory celebrated in his head as he prepared for another sick day off of work, until…

“Ah Cory, exactly where I thought you’d be!” Cory heard the familiar voice of the Old Guy put in charge of training him:

“Dr. Patience!?” Cory groaned. “Do I gotta go to training today?”

“Of course, you’ve had three days off already!” The Doctor practically dragged the complaining Private out of bed and into the testing chamber.

“Ugh, why do I even have to be here? What are we gonna turn another guy into soup?” Cory chuckled.

“Actually, that’s something I was going to talk to you about, because of that incident we now have a-”

“Hey, what’s up Doc?” Nikole walked into the testing chamber, immediately spilling part the absolutely abhorrent mix of several alcoholic beverages that was in her flask on the floor. “I’m here as a chaperone cause you two war crimed a guy,”

“You’re here as an observer,” Patience corrected. “And he was a Class D Personnel,”

“Yeah, I haven’t needed a chaperone since I was fourteen!”

“Yeah well, according to management someone else needs to be here, and I’m the only one who could do it,” Nikole shrugged and leaned against the wall. “Look at whatever you’re gonna look at,”

“Well she’s enthusiastic…” Cory pouted. “What are we looking at anyway?”

While Nikole and Cory were talking, Dr. Patience was carrying a tub of Legos™ into the lab which he placed gently onto the floor.

“Oh my God, Legos™!” Cory beamed as the tub of plastic bricks was placed on the floor.

“Not just any-” Dr. Patience was interrupted by Cory instantly shoving the Legos™ together and creating. “Oh God Cory don’t-”

It was too late, he had already made a Germanesque tank… that immediately fired upon Nikole who dashed underneath a table and shot the Tank over and over as Cory screamed.

“Got it,” Nikole huffed.

“She killed my tank…” Cory pouted.

“For good reason, that thing could’ve blown up this whole lab!” Patience ranted.

“Still… what was that anyway?”

“That is SCP-387, a tub of Legos™ that cause whatever’s built by it to come to life!” Dr. Patience explained with a smile as he dumped a bunch of the Legos™ on the table.

“Wow! Imagine what a kid could do with those!” Cory stared at them with starts in his eyes as Nikole chuckled a little. “What?”

“That actually was an experiment back in the day,” Dr. Patience explained. “The Foundation gave the Legos™ to a bunch of a children, they built a bunch of helicopters and tanks that all went around and… did what your tank did!”

Nikole snickered as Cory blankfaced. “…Oh,”

“That’s why I’ve decided to use this anomaly responsibly!” Dr. Patience declared. “Come on out Bricky!”

A little guy, about the size of a child made out of multiple different coloured Legos™ walked out of a separate testing chamber and into the laboratory.

“Oooooo!” Cory cooed at the thing.

“Impressive, isn’t he? He’s my new assistant,” Patience smiled.

“He’s cool… I wanna build one!” Cory grabbed the tub of legos, Patience followed cautiously behind as Nikole sauntered on over to Bricky.

“Hey Lego™ kid,” The ‘Lego™ Kid’ in question looked up curiously at the woman who pulled her flask out of her pocket and handed it to the little guy-

Cory was creating another Bricky while Dr. Patience watched cautiously.

“Are you sure this is a good idea, the last thing you made-”

“It’ll be fiiine, it’s just another Bricky,” Cory waved his hand as he finished creating the head of the Lego™ Man.

He looked just like Bricky, just with a more hunchbacked, derpier appearance. It made an overly drawn out “guhh” sound as it gained sentience.

“Are you sure, he looks-”

“Guhhhhgh”

“He looks great, I’m gonna name you… Benson, yeah that’s a good name,” Cory smiled at the goblinesque Lego™ creature he had unfortunately given life. The unholy creature moved his head over to Bricky and Nikole who were-

“Nikole! Did you… did you get Bricky drunk?!” Dr. Patience stomped over to the Sergeant as Benson continued to grunt and groan like a caveman.

“I didn’t get him drunk, he took my flask!” Nikole argued as the stumbling Lego™ assistant well… stumbled his way towards Benson, flask somehow sitting in his blocky hands.

While the Doctor and the Alcoholic argued. Benson looked at Bricky… and immediately starting punching him repeatedly.

“And other thing- Oh my God Bricky!” Patience yelped as his assistant was beaten by his deformed, poorly named twin. Cory screamed like a girl while Nikole aimed at Benson and

Click She forgot to bring spare ammo. Nikole shrugged just kinda accepting that poor Bricky will die-

BONK

Bricky bashed Benson over the head with the flask, shattering the more deformed Lego™ creature’s head into pieces. Then the rest of him completely disassembled as Bricky raised his hands in celebration and then fell to the floor and conked out.

“BENSON!” Cory yelped as his son died, he ran over to picked up some of the bricks.

“Sorry Blondie, but on the bright side he looked like he was in eternal pain,” Nikole shrugged as he picked up her flask from Bricky’s hand.

“I don’t want to agree with her, but yes, he didn’t seem very happy alive,”

“Awwww… can I build another one?” Cory looked up at the Doctor like a puppy.

“Hah! Not a chance!”

[lunarsaturn88]

Youngest of Us All

Pairing: Clint Barton X Reader Friendship

Imagine being the youngest Avengers and Clint being very protective of you.

Warning: Fluff

@thefandomimagine

Words: 667

You were the youngest Avenger being 15 when you joined. You were lost in the world of heroes, but you had a hero skill all of your own. You had a different kind of magic than Wanda did because of the coloring of your magic. While hers was red yours was blue.

You had just finished a case that was a little rough on you and the team. You had made a mistake during the case and you knew that you weren’t going to live that down. The media always liked to twist things around when it came to the Avengers when they made a mistake to make things worse than what they were. 

You sat alone in your room listening to the news when a report about the Avengers came on. People blasted you on how dangerous you were which brought tears to your eyes. You weren’t dangerous, never was. It was just an accident and no one was hurt from the accident. But they were blaming you for things that you were still learning to control yourself. 

The television turned off causing you to turn around with tear-filled eyes. There stood Clint with a worried expression on his face. 

“They’re right Clint…” You said softly. You had heard the stories from Wanda’s beginning on how hard it was on her when they blamed her for an incident in Nigeria. 

Clint came across the room and wrapped his arms around you. “Now you listen here, kid.” He said softly rubbing your back as you began to sob softly. “It wasn’t your fault for what happened. You’re still learning to control everything. You got it down, this time it was harder because of stress.” 

“You make it sound like it is so easy to do. That it wasn’t my fault… someone could’ve gotten hurt…”

“But they didn’t kid. The captain is calling a meeting with the press to talk about you…”

You froze in his arms worried about what was to be said. Was Steve going to cast you out of the group for one small mistake? Steve didn’t seem like the person to do that, and you were afraid that the person that you thought you knew would cast you out. 

“Everything will be fine.” 

The meeting that you dreaded came before you knew it. You stood next to Clint with a worried gaze in your eyes as you could hear words of can be a murderer among other things. You weren’t even listening to what was going on around you. You hadn’t even noticed that Clint took center stage after Steve had finished talking. 

“You call her a soon-to-be murderer, but you don’t know that it takes time to hone skills like what she has. I’m not blaming her for what happened. She hasn’t killed anyone let alone hurt anyone when she’s fought. This small accident was because of the stress of the mission we were on. You seem to forget that she is a child and you’re treating her like a threat. When she isn’t one.” 

You looked up hearing every single word that Clint was saying. Your heart lept in your chest. No wonder you were close to Clint. He always tried to help where he could and tried to make you feel better. And this standing up to the media about you wasn’t something that you were expecting. You watched Clint move back towards you. 

Clint wrapped his arm around you. “Everything will be fine.” He said lowly keeping his voice down so no one else could hear what he was saying to you. 

“Am I off the team?” You whispered.

Clint shook his head lightly. “No, Rogers won’t allow that to happen. You are a good addition to us.” He said nudging you slightly.

Your lips quirked slightly as you knew that this was going to be your family in the long run and Clint was going to be there no matter what for you. And you were thankful for that. 

[1u11ablues]

MY LITTLE INFERNI (NIKOLAI LANTSOV X OC)

WC: 2.6k

Summary: Nikolai re-reads Dasha's letter to reminisce, but the nichevo'ya in him had other plans.

Warning: No warnings.

CHAPTER 2: HOME

Nikolai,

I’m sure by now you’ve heard of my assignment in Fjerda. I don’t want this to be a winding eulogy of our friendship, but—a king and a witch, surely that warrants at least a couple of them?

I jest.

Nikolai grins, thinking back to the fairy tales he had read when he was a child. Surely there was one of a demon king and his fire-witch that didn't end in a tragedy? 

Your highness, I still look back to the first time I bumped into you . 

How could someone have that much energy within them? You reminded me of a ball of star, constantly writhing, and I never knew when you were about to explode. 

He rolls his eyes. Dasha and her obsession with stars. This isn’t even a good metaphor. He’d described himself more like the sun. Brilliant and strong—as a King, and as Sturmhond. 

You reminded me so much of Stepan—bless his dear self—wild, resourceful, always knowing what to do. Sure, I disagree with several choices you’ve made before, but I admire you for springing into action when it calls for instead of being rooted on the ground. Thank you for pulling me off my feet when I was stuck. May you do the same to Ravka. 

I know everything has its ups and downs, even our friendship. I find that none of it matters now, so I’d hope you’ve forgiven my blunders as I do yours. When I think of you, I only feel warmth, Nikolai. 

He feels the same way. He realised that he never once told her how he cares. Their friendship was built on quiet moments and acts of service, so he didn’t think he needed to say it out loud. 

In the end, I could not work myself up to tell you how much I care about you. It was stupid of me to rely on unspoken moments; to think you can figure out the words I could not say. I think of all the times I wanted to touch you, hold you in ways friends don’t normally do, and I laugh at how puerile it all sounds. As if every girl in the kingdom hasn’t already thought the same.

There was a time where he wanted to do the same thing, perhaps he still does. It’s just—he grew up with her. She had been there for him for so long; he didn’t know if it was simply adoration or something deeper than that.

I will do my best to serve Ravka and its king, so don’t even think of worrying about me—I can already imagine your eyebrows knitting together. I have the honour of Zoya as my mentor (don’t tell her I said this) and remember that time I almost incinerated the forest near that lake? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, so I hope you do the same.

Yours truly,

Dash.

Nikolai had reread the letter Dasha left him a handful of times now, the wrinkled edges proof of it. He had no idea that Zoya had given her the assignment to begin with, and if he had any say in it, he would not have signed her off to wager her life in Fjerda. Or maybe he would. He is a king first—foolish man second. 

“Why was I not informed of this?” he asked Zoya the day he found the letter left on his work desk.

“I didn’t know I had to, moi tsar. Dasha is only there as a dormant agent, if that’s any consolation.”

It’s not. 

Nikolai paced the floors of his chambers, and Zoya studied him, confused. Her mouth opened and closed several times to say something but failed to. Her question lingered in the air. Nikolai rested his hands on his desk and eyed the opened letter again, gaze falling on Dasha’s signature. 

“She’s my oldest friend, Zoya. I hold her very dear to my heart, and it—it’ll kill me if—” he hesitated to say the rest of it. What could he have said, anyway? That it’ll kill him if he lost her? He already did, the moment he chose to push her away. He tells himself that it was the guilt. The morning of the first incident, when he found out that he could’ve killed you while you were asleep, it terrified him more than having that nichevo’ya in him. “If you think you did what you thought was right, then I’ll not press any further.” King first, man second.

“I’m sure of it,Nikolai.She’s our best inferni.”

Nikolai looked her in the eyes, a slight nod to dismiss her. For Ravka, he reminded himself. And every time he did, the ball in the pit of his stomach grew.

“Are you ready, your highness?” Zoya called from outside his bedchambers, pulling him back to the present. Nikolai folded the letter neatly into its envelope and tucked it safely in his nightstand under the books and paper of its first drawer. 

“Come in, Nazyalensky,” Nikolai summoned her, stretching and massaging the knot out from his back. Zoya enters, the chains dangling from her arms, a necessary means to an end. So far,the demon has only ever killed livestock, but he lives in fear of the day it decides to take human lives. This is why precautions had to be taken. 

“Have you thought about what I said?” she asks, while untangling the chains. 

“You’ve said a lot of things, Nazyalensky. I need you to be more specific.” 

Zoya rolls her eyes.As if it’s not the one topic Nikolai had been avoiding since she first brought it up.

“Marriage, Nikolai. Setting up your roots as the ruler of Ravka. Producing an heir—”

“I think you’re getting a little too ahead of yourself,Zoya.”

Zoya fastens the shackles over his left hands,frown apparent in her face.

“Well,” she pulls the chains to his right , “forgive me for thinking of the country and doing my job as the general you appointed.” 

Nikolai flashed her that boyish grin famous for melting the hearts of many. 

“And thank you for that. But I think there’s more pressing matters right now than getting hitched with someone I barely know, don’t you?” Nikolai quips, head tilting as he motioned towards himself. 

“I don’t think anyone wants to be with a monster, even if it comes in pretty packaging.”

Zoya snorted. Nikolai laughs and hopes Zoya will forget about it. He doesn't feel like planning that far ahead when something so dark lives within him. 

“How does it feel?” Zoya asked,taking a seat at the edge of his bed. She eyed him, waiting for an answer. Nikolai’s head tilts, beckoning her to elaborate. “You know,” she continues, straightening the nonexistent wrinkle of his bedspread, hoping it’ll disperse the weight of her upcoming question, “with the creature inside of you, how do you deal with it?”

“Oh,” the corners of his mouth twisted in consideration, his mind trying to fish for the right words to explain it to her. “It’s like having someone else sharing my body with me. Losing time. An unwelcome guest prying and muddling every thought I have.”

“Can it affect your actions?”

“Not when I’m conscious.”

Zoya hummed, a little relieved at his answer. She won’t say it, but it’s not easy to put trust in a king that does not have control of his own mind and body. Nikolai understands her reasons even if she chose not to tell him. If he were her, he wouldn’t be able to trust a possessed king either.

“Any other questions,Nazyalensky?” Nikolai questioned. He could at least try to settle Zoya’s unrest if he can’t be the king she thought he’d be.

“Does it speak to you?”

“Sometimes.”

Zoya’s eyes widened. She hadn’t guessed that Nikolai was that close to the creature. Her theory was that they were two different entities, and one is only up if the other is asleep. She’d heard stories of something happening like that passed down from her seniors, someone who was not in total control of themselves. It sounds terrifying, but it made her look at Nikolai in another light. She respected him,looked up to him as her king, but now—looking at Nikolai so helpless against the one thing the Darkling should’ve taken with him when he dies—it feels foreign to admit that she cared about him.

Nikolai’s eyes droop, his mind straining to stay awake. Zoya takes this as a sign for her to leave.”You’re still Ravka’s king, Nikolai. As long as you do whatever you think is best for the country, I will be fighting next to you. And if you want to find yourself a bride, then I’ll be there to help you.”

“I appreciate the elaborate speech, Zoya, but that won’t top my list anytime soon.” Nikolai states, his words slurring like he’d had a glass too many kvas.

Zoya stood,dusting her hands on her Kefta. “Fine,” she turns to leave, “What about Hiram Schenk’s—”

“Goodnight,Zoya.” 

Zoya presses her lips and lower her head to bid him goodnight. She’ll just have to bring it up to him another time,then.

***

Home.

Nikolai wakes from his slumber to find out that it’s still dark. What time is it? He scans his chambers to find out that he was not in it at all. He’s not even in the palace, in fact, he’s way up in the air because he can feel the wind slapping him in his face. Panic starts setting in when he finds out that he was not in control of his body, and the demon had essentially taken over while he was sleeping, but what had changed? He had never been conscious enough to see himself flying this clearly before. Something must have prompted it to behave this way. Was it running away? Going somewhere?

Home, the creature muttered, and he hadn’t expected a response so clear from it, as if the creature was speaking to him—as if they were two separate entities that did not share a body. Nikolai didn’t understand what it meant by home, and is hesitant to push for more in case it’ll shut him down completely. He wanted to use this change as an opportunity to learn more about it, maybe learn how to rid it off of him. The creature sensed Nikolai’s plans and snarled, spraying the sky with thick slobber. Nikolai knew why it was angry, of course—they share the same body, so he tries to keep himself from making any plans to get rid of the pilot while he’s still the passenger, because if they crash, he would hate waking up in the morning. Or worse, not waking up at all.

***

“Zoya, the king had escaped again.”

Zoya stood,putting down her cup of tea so quickly on her table that the clinking reverberated in her skull. She saunters to her bed and picks up her Kefta ,hastily changing from her night robe so she could join Tamar to go look for Nikolai.

“Where is he headed?” she asks, while they sprint to the carriage Tamar had prepared as soon as she notices the king missing from his bed.

“North,” Tamar replied,her hands on her axe. They entered the carriage with Tolya as their coach and rushed north,eyes scanning the night sky for any black winged figure. Since Nikolai entrusted his secrets to only members of the Triumvirate plus Tamar and Tolya, they had to make do with their limited number of hands.

The outlines of Os Alta were barely fading when they caught sight of Nikolai zipping through the clouds. It almost seems like the creature had a set destination it was flying to, its pace unforgiving . 

“We need to stop it,” Tamar yells, the sound of hoof beating ground and air passing the carriage too loud for both of them to hear perfectly. “He’s heading to Tsibeya. If he continues further, it’ll be harder to lasso him in without having to worry about Druskelle.”

Zoya nodded. It does seem like the creature was heading to the permafrost, maybe even further. She doesn’t want to think about what they’ll have to do if it enters Fjerda, so she pushes herself out of the carriage, using the wind to carry her up to the same eye level as Nikolai. She had had flying practice before, but it’s still too risky to do because there are too many variables to consider when you’re up that high, but she had no other choice. 

The creature felt another presence intruding on it and turned to find Zoya zoning in . It screeched and darted towards Zoya, head-butting, knocking her down. Zoya managed to summon a cushion of air before she fell and used it to levitate. She focused her left hands on it, creating a pulse strong enough to knock the creature down from the sky.

It shrieked before losing consciousness, hurtling to the ground at maximum speed. Zoya softened the fall with her powers, Tamar and Tolya behind her, ready to chain it before it woke up and try to fly away again. They decide not to when they sees Nikolai lying there, his dirt-smeared face looking peaceful,like he was asleep in his own chambers. Zoya whispered a quiet apology when she sees bruises blooming on his skin predominantly on his left torso where her air pulse had hit him.

She nudged his shoulders to wake him as it’ll be easier to bring him home if they didn’t have to carry him. Zoya supposed she could hover him in the air if she wanted to, but she was tired, her body sore from getting hit. 

“Zoya?” Nikolai called, slowly gaining consciousness. Zoya was about to explain what had happened, when he continued, “I was there,Zoya. I saw it.”

***

“When you say you were there,” Zoya starts, asking Nikolai for more explanation. They had begun their journey back to Os Alta before the sun started to rise. Better to reach home while it’s still dark, or else people will start talking. There were already words of the King of Ravka being possessed, so Nikolai and his confidantes tried their best to keep his transformations hush.

Tamar sits next to her, her eyes first on Nikolai, then Zoya. She’s equally confused, just sitting there and hoping her friends will fill her in. 

"I mean I was there. A passenger in my own body. I woke up from sleep and all I could do was sit back and watch." Nikolai explained, jittery , and Zoya raised her eyebrow because it seemed like he was excited about the whole ordeal. She shoots Tamar a look , a silent question , asking her is he losing his mind?

Tamar shrugged, she doesn't mind as long as he comes back in one piece. He'd done crazier things as Sturmhond, so Tamar and Tolya have kind of expected it as one of Nikolai's inborn quirk.

"Nikolai, where was it going? Tamar says you're heading straight to Fjerda with no plans of stopping." Zoya states, her gaze intent on him, wanting him to give her a direct answer.

"Did it say something to you,your highness? Any clue as to how we could get rid of it?" Tamar continued .

Nikolai turns to look outside, watching as the trees pass by like a blur. He had a theory as to why it was headed North, but he’s not so sure about it. For all he knows, the creature plans to surrender him to the Fjerdan monarchy. That doesn’t explain why it was intent on going ‘home’ though. 

“I don’t know where it was going. I only know that it wants to go home, and home is somewhere in Fjerda.”

Chapter 1

AO3

[tutuandscoot]

In the podcast Tessa did with Scott Livingston, Tessa mentioned that one-month summer ballet program she did with the National Ballet in Canada. She went to this program when she was 9 years old, and said that for the first 2 weeks, students are not allowed to contact their families at all; no letters, no phone calls, no nothing. Is this common in ballet programs? The idea of a school not allowing a 9 year old to contact their family for 2 entire weeks seems odd and dangerous. What if the student is harassed and/or abused by someone at the school?

Yes she did say this.

It is and it isn’t.

I did a summer school like this when I was 14 where they took our phones for the whole duration. But the program was I think 10 days long and we got our phones back for about an hour on the Sunday (halfway through) to call our families. There were kids from I think 8/9 to 18 at this summer school. I struggled with that because it was my first time away from home for that long and with no way to call my family (on school camps I still had my phone).

So.. I’ve never heard of it happening the way T said it did. This was also in the 90’s so there wasn’t really cell phones (at least kids didn’t have cell phones) so I guess they would call home with a pay phone or the landline in there dorms/accomodation. It’s very probable this happens at a lot of other schools especially ones that prestigious (royal, vaganova, sab) if you have read Mao’s Last Dancer he talks of similar things regarding contact with family (though that was in china and in the 70’s). I think it would be a lot harder to enforce now with young kids having cell phones, and if anything it might be of more benefit now to restrict that.. more so distraction then the matter of contact with families.

From my personal pov, I would struggle immensely with that lack of contact and I probably wouldn’t have done the program if those were the rules.

And I agree with you that it seems a little dangerous if an incident was to occur. I would have to assume with kids that young there are advisors and people looking out for them, but yes I would definitely be concerned about something happening.. and not to make it seem worse than it is, but in the ballet environment… the risk of being influenced by other students to pick up bad habits (eating issues/over stretching, other unhealthy things) let alone bullying or getting injured.

A lot of things in ballet are quite extreme so it doesn’t surprise me this was the case. For all the concerns with something like that it also would be great for building resilience and thick skin, teach kids to socialise and focus on what they are there to do, gain independence. In the western world that seems like an extreme way (two weeks with no contact for a 9 year old) to teach those things but.. there are positives to it. I certainly don’t think it is ideal for every child and not that she went into detail on it but Tessa being the person she is I think she would’ve thrived in that environment, considering she left home for good just a few years later (I never could’ve done that). If I was a parent I would want absolute certainty that my child was cared for properly and the people looking after them were trust worthy and qualified to deal with incidents. On a broader scale its not uncommon for kids to be away from home on a long term basis, some of my friends moved from Australia to Europe on their own to train when they were 14, I went later, so I think nowadays it depends on the child, back then its just the way it was, you learn to adapt.