#there’s a tiny chance they’re following me���.if it’s true then I wanna tell I’m sorry pls don’t take this seriously

[keferon]

*clasps your shoulders gently and looks you straight in the eye*

Keferon. Please read Ninth by Kyn on AO3. I think you would love it very much. It has a large chapter count, but don't be intimidated, it's very easy to get into. It is currently unfinished, but is being updated regularly.

You are the seventh person that recommended this fic to me so ahahahaha yeah

I’m doing great Help I hate some parts of it but I love the other parts I’m spinning in the blender

…..I made the moodboard….

[hexfloog]

04/29/22 (1 of 2)

Conan walked home alone most days, lately.

Ayumi thought it was strange.  Genta and Mitsuhiko avoided him, but they wouldn't tell her why.  They whispered to each other when they thought he wasn't listening and scrambled away whenever he came near.  He seemed not to mind, but Ayumi knew he did.  He had to, because even Haibara wouldn’t let him confide in her anymore.

One rainy afternoon, she tagged after him before he could walk off alone, again.  "Conan-kun!" she called.  

He paused, umbrella resting over his shoulder, and waited for her to catch up.  

"You shouldn't walk home alone.”  

"You know why I do."

"I'm sorry.  I promise I've scolded them for it!  I don't understand why they're acting so secretive.  They won't tell me either."

Conan smirked, and resumed walking.  "Boys will be boys," he mused.  "Don’t worry, I don’t hold it against them.  I keep secrets, too.”

Ayumi smiled, but only just.  She thought he might be joking, but something told her that laughing, even in jest, would be inappropriate.

“Hey, wanna see what I’ve been up to?"

Without waiting for an answer, he suddenly sprinted ahead, splashing down the rainy cobble with purpose.  It took her a moment, but Ayumi soon chased after him, never more than a few steps behind.

“Conan-kun, where are you going?” she cried, pulling her hood tighter over her head as she ran.

“Just follow my lead!”

He turned off the main road the next chance he got and led her down the types of alleys which were guarded by stores she would never recognize from behind.  They ran for what seemed like ages, twisting and turning through streets which seemed to loop back onto themselves and cross at impossible junctures.  Even their surroundings seemed like they were starting to repeat, and by the time they slowed down, Ayumi didn’t know where they were anymore.  

Eventually, Conan turned off the street into an even tinier alley, a mere afterthought in some dark neighborhood.  They were in a shadowed place, removed from greater Beika and its watchful populace. 

“What’s this?” she eked.

The alley was just wide enough for the two of them, flanked on both sides by high walls and broken by a single utility pole which stretched high past the tops of the neighboring buildings.  At the opposite end, after a long procession of air conditioning units, the mouth of the alley opened up to a larger street, beyond which Ayumi could faintly see the tops of skyscrapers.  

As she followed Conan deeper into the alley, she became cognizant of the unusual silence of this place.  Even at home, “silence” never entailed true silence - but here, she couldn’t even detect the buzzing of the utility pole, or the familiar hum of the air conditioning units, or the whoosh of passing cars.  There was simply nothing.  

What would Conan be doing in a place like this?

“Here!” Conan announced, as if to answer her.  They had stopped partway down the alley, near the utility pole and an A/C unit which seemed to have been positioned backwards.

Ayumi blinked.  At the base of the pole, tucked neatly behind the shell, was a small dry spot on the concrete, occupied by a dog bowl and some dirty towels.  

“Conan?”

“You’ll see,” he breathed, lowering himself onto all fours.  “Do you remember John, Ayumi?”

“Of course!” she beamed.

“His new owners had another dog, and they had puppies.  But they couldn’t keep them, so instead they gave them away to someone who promised to love them.”

She had a feeling she knew what was coming next, and secretly wished he had nothing else to say.

“They didn’t,” he continued, peering around the soundless A/C box.  “And… I figured out that… at least one of them… lives here now…” 

He gave it a slight pull.  As soon as it had moved, there was a tiny yip from inside. 

Ayumi’s heart fluttered.  From the window where the fan would have been, a tiny, shaggy puppy emerged… a miniature version of John with sleepier eyes and a mangier coat.  A curious yawn squeaked out of its little maw as it stumbled onto the towels spread out on the concrete, staring up at the two humans who had come to visit.  She had to clap her hands over her mouth to stop herself from squealing back.

Slowly, Conan reached out for it, careful not to make any sudden moves.  It recoiled some as he approached, scooting back into the water bowl, but it was clear that it just didn't have the energy to resist much and gave up quickly.  It barely flinched when he finally made contact, and so was easily scooped up by the chest.

"We're not going to just leave it here, are we?" Ayumi blurted out, louder than she intended.

"Of course not," Conan reassured her, checking its body for obvious injuries.  "How about we take it to a shelter?" he proposed.

The suggestion seemed to lift her spirits, and she nodded eagerly.  “Is there only one?”

“I don’t know,” he confessed.  “I thought I saw more than one before.  Maybe they’re just hiding…”  He got back to his feet and inspected the shell more thoroughly.  “Guess not…”

He turned back to Ayumi, cradling the poor creature.  A smirk crossed his lips.  “Wanna name it?”

She beamed.  “Lulu!” she cried, almost immediately.

“Lulu?”

“My mommy told me it means ‘Pearl.’  She was hiding in that box like a pearl in an oyster!”

Conan chuckled.  Cute.

“Do you hear that, Lulu?” he cooed.  “You’re precious.”

[aellynera]

The Best Years of Your Life (Reeves x Reader)

THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE

(hey hey, this is my other submission for @wasicskosgirl and her 800 follower celebration! and yes, you read that right - it’s REEVES. i had a lot of fun writing it and i hope you enjoy reading it! CONGRATS Amanda!!)

Word Count: um like 6200ish oops it was supposed to be a blurb

Summary: They say the best years of your life happen in high school, but what do they know?

Warnings: Some language. Female reader implied but no pronouns/description. Teenage angst. Adult wistfulness. Mostly fluffy tho. No promises about proofreading. Frog murder. 

with the prompt - “Like what you see?”

It all started back in high school. Sometimes you wonder how often people say that, and if it’s really true or they’re just falsely remembering how things happened because high school is supposed to be the best four years of your life.

But in this case, it’s true. Because high school is when you met Reeves.

Sophomore Year. High School. A Friday. 

It was the third day of sophomore year, fourth period on a Friday morning, your last before the lunch break. Biology class was maybe the one you were least looking forward to, not exclusively because of the required frog dissection, but pretty damn close. Gross. And you never understood why the school year didn’t just start on a Monday, but you were new here in San Diego. Maybe they just did things differently.

It was bad enough being the new kid. It was worse when you walked into class halfway through the lecture, even if it wasn’t your fault. The timing of the move was weird, and you’d spent most of the first two days, and this morning, doing placement tests and talking to your counselor. 

And now you were being called out in front of the entire class.

“Ah, there you are,” your teacher announced as you walked in the door. “Everyone, this is our new student, please make them feel welcome. You can sit over there.”

Your eyes followed as she motioned to the empty seat at the lab table in the back of the room. Suddenly you weren’t sure if your face felt hot because of embarrassment or because of the boy in the other chair.

Dark, curly hair cut close on the sides but longer on the top. Deep brown eyes framed by long, long lashes. Full, plush lips curling up into his cheek on one side. A nose that, okay, maybe might be a bit oversized but for some reason worked on his handsome face and--

Well, shit. Definitely not the embarrassment.

You shuffled your way to your seat and slid into it with your head down. A few students watched you curiously but soon turned their attention back to the lesson. You tried your best to focus on what was going on, to not look to your left at the distraction next to you.

You weren’t very successful.

By now you thought you’d sneaked enough covert glances to know that we was wearing a leather jacket, had a small diamond stud earring in his left ear, a bunch of silver-studded brown suede wrap bracelets around both wrists, a silver ring on his right index finger, and oddly precise handwriting as he took notes. In between relevant facts the teacher was sharing, he was doodling tiny music notes in the margins of his notebook.

And he totally caught you looking.

“Like what you see?” he leaned over and whispered.

Your mouth felt drier than the Sahara but also somehow so moist you were afraid you might have actually drooled on yourself. You should have opened your mouth to respond but your brain refused to make the connection. Probably for the best.

At least, at first. When it finally caught up to you, the only response your brain could provide was, “Maybe?”

Now would be the perfect time for the floor to swallow you whole.

He just winked at you and his attention went back to the doodles around his notes.

You shifted your gaze back to your own notebook, but you don’t know if anything else of importance was said, and don’t remember writing anything down. The bell ringing sharply pulled you back to reality and you hastily shoved your books in your backpack, ready to escape.

Just as you were about to leave, a voice called out. “Hey, sorry about earlier. If I freaked you out or anything.”

You looked up. He was smiling at you, a little shyly. You bit your lip, your brain and mouth still refusing to connect.

He stuck his hand out. “I’m Reeves. You’re new here?”

“Um…” you smacked yourself internally. This was ridiculous, you weren’t really shy, you knew how to have a conversation, he was just introducing himself. You were going to have a serious conversation with your brain later about proper communication techniques.

It felt like hours had passed, but you finally pulled yourself together enough to respond. “Yeah. My- my dad got transferred for work, we moved here like a week ago. He literally dragged the family across the country. I’m originally from New York City.”

His eyes lit up. “Oh, cool! I always wanted to go to New York City!”

You found yourself smiling back.

“Do you...wanna sit with me at lunch?” he asked, tilting his head to the side. “Maybe you could tell me a little about the city? And...about you, since we’re gonna have to commit heinous acts of violence on an amphibian together? I’d like to know who’s wielding a scalpel next to me.”

The giggle that escaped your throat could not be contained. This boy - Reeves - was adorable. “Oh. Okay, yeah. I’d really like that.”

The Present.

Poor Lenny the Frog never stood a chance. Then again, neither did you.

To be fair, Lenny was already dead when you and Reeves got your hands on him. Well, when you got your hands on him, because for the full first half of that specific class period, Reeves refused to touch him and nearly turned as green as Lenny once was. That’s when he insisted on naming your cadaver, because somehow giving it a name made it easier to deal with.

You were pretty sure Reeves was nuts.

By the middle of sophomore year, you were dead too, but not for the same reasons.

By the middle of sophomore year, you weren’t sure how you were still alive, because every time he looked over at you and gave you a sly smile during class, gave you that look, you felt your heart go taut and you forgot how to breathe and certainly, rightfully, should have been dead.

Your friend Alexis stuck her head into your bathroom. “Hey, we’re just waiting on Vanessa, and then we’re good to go. Drinks first? The show doesn’t start until 8 so we have time.”

You glanced up from your makeup and nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Alexis grinned. “Aaaaaah I’m so glad you agreed to go out tonight! It’s gonna be so much fun!”

“Oh, it’s gonna be something,” you muttered, going back to your eyeliner.

Alexis had been the first one to see the concert announcement about a week ago. A benefit show at one of the clubs down in Greenwich Village, some punk revival thing (for charity) with a bunch of different singers and musicians. Not normally your scene, but Alexis scanned through the names and suddenly remembered you’d known Reeves in high school. You said yes, he was in your class, and you’d been lab partners once. Vanessa squealed in excitement and Alexis announced you were going to the show. There was never any actual agreement.

Because of course Reeves was going to be there. And of course, you had to be too.

Junior Year. The Parking Lot. A Tuesday.

“I’m just saying, it was a ridiculous foul, and it should never have been called,” Reeves groused as you walked out of the gym.

“We also should have made like twenty more of our own foul shots,” you pointed out.

The Lake Howell Silverhawks had fallen to their arch-rivals in a somewhat glorious fashion. You didn’t even like basketball that much. But that didn’t really matter. The games were just an excuse to go out for burgers before and hang out with your friends during.

It was definitely an excuse to hang out with Reeves.

Junior year, you were both disappointed to find you didn’t have any classes together, but you still almost always ate lunch together. He’d come over to your house to study during the week and sometimes just to chill out on the weekends. Over the past year, he’d shown you all around the city and taken you to his favorite places. You told him all about New York, how you missed it and one day you’d go back, and all the famous sites and which ones were tourist traps that he was only allowed to visit the very first time and then never again.

You spent so much time together, even your mother liked to tease you about why he wasn’t your boyfriend.

It took a while for you to find the words to tell her it was because he was someone else’s.

As much as you liked to pretend she didn’t change anything, Randie Rustenberg changed everything. It was gradual, like a creeping vine of ivy, and she slowly took him over. There was no malice; it was just one of those things that happened. Reeves spent less time with you, his best friend, and more time with Randie, his girlfriend.

The girlfriend you desperately wished was you, because ever since that first biology class you’d had the biggest, stupidest crush on him.

Eventually you had a boyfriend of your own. Theo was a nice guy, he really was. Polite, friendly, had a good sense of humor, liked your family. And your family loved him. Your mother was so happy that you had a boyfriend, she seemed to forget to ask how Reeves was and if you’d seen him lately.

Of course you saw him. You saw him every day, in the cafeteria, at his locker, passing by in the halls. Sometimes you could find him playing the grand piano on the stage in the empty auditorium. Yes, if your mother bothered to ask, you saw Reeves all the time. Now it was just always with her.

Except this week. It was a break of sorts, no classes, just some sports and other school activities. Randie was on some trip with her parents for some kind of church function, and Theo was fishing with his dad on some lake up north. He’d told you where, but you honestly couldn’t be bothered to recall. So when a bunch of your friends and a bunch of his friends all said everyone was going to the basketball game, there was no debate.

As if there was any way you’d say no.

Sometime during the game, your friends wandered off to the snack bar and never ventured back. His friends started a game of hacky-sack under the bleachers. And you found yourself pretending to understand all the finer points about hoops strategy, cheering and yelling along with Reeves and having a great time, just like you used to.

“Where’d you park?” he asked as you left the gym and headed out into the sea of cars. You vaguely pointed in the direction of yours and he grinned. “Oh, good, I’m that way too. Come on, I’ll walk you.”

The faint glow emitted by the lampposts in the parking lot bounced off his curls and his eyes, when you could catch a glimpse, were bright beneath them.

As if there was any way you’d say no.

The walk wasn’t very far, but it felt like it was over in a second. You hadn’t said anything on the way, just soaked in the comfort of walking next to him as he kept commenting on the game.

He was waving his hands everywhere, looking at them as he talked as if his hand motions would make things make any more sense to you, in the middle of saying something about your center and how they needed to get better about blocking out when you finally spoke.

“Oh, shit.”

Reeves looked up at you. “What, you don’t agree?”

You dropped your bag on the ground and rolled your eyes. “No, my car is locked and I left my keys inside.” You pointed to the passenger seat. Your keys stared back at you derisively.

You both stared back at them for a moment, then he grinned. “Hang on, I got you.” He held up one finger and trotted off to his car, coming back a minute later with something in his hand. “This should take care of it.”

You took a step back. “Reeves? Um. Okay, why do you have a coat hanger in your car.”

He rolled his eyes back at you. “For emergencies, duh.” He quickly twisted the hanger into a hook shape and went to your passenger side window.

“And why do you know how to break into a car with said coat hanger?”

“Like I told you,” his tongue poked out between his teeth as he worked, “for emergencies. You think I haven’t locked my own keys in my car once or six times?”

“Did Randie teach you how to do this?” The words were out of your mouth before you could think. She probably had. She might have been churchy when required, but she was also responsible for about half of Reeves’s stints in detention (the other half just being him making the wrong joke at the wrong time and pissing a teacher off.)

Thank god he didn’t seem to hear you as he kept working at the lock. Finally you heard a *click* and he pumped a fist into the air with a little “yessss!”

And then you’re not really sure what happened. You bent down to pick up your bag and then you were standing up and Reeves’s face was literally about three inches away from yours and for the eight thousandth time since you’d know him, you forgot how to breathe.

Neither of you said anything for what felt like days. You just stared at each other under the dim halo of the parking lot lights.

“Here you go.” He took your hand and dropped your keys into it.

“Thanks,” you whispered.

“Like what you see?” the corners of his mouth quirked up, just the slightest little bit.

“...Maybe.”

And the staring recommenced. Were you two getting closer? Physically closer, you meant, of course you were close, you’d always been close. Well, at one time you were really close but then Randie Restenberg happened and it wasn’t fair that she got to know what those lips felt like and did he always smell this good or--

“Yo, Reeves!” A pickup truck full of guys skidded to a stop behind your car and one of his friends - Jake? Jack? you barely remembered your own name right now - stuck his head out the window. “Fight to the death ping pong tourney at Matt’s house! You in?”

Reeves bit his lip and closed his eyes for a second before he pulled back with a soft “I’m sorry” before turning to his friends. “Um, yeah, sure. Sounds brutal. I’ll meet you there.” 

The pickup sped off, tires screeching out of the parking lot. Reeves turned back to you, but you’d already gotten into your now unlocked car and started the engine.

You rolled down the window a fraction and gave him a weak smile. “Hey, um. Thanks for saving my butt. Now go kick theirs at ping pong, yeah?” Your face felt so hot, and for once you were grateful for the dim lights in the lot.

“You could, um, come along if- if you want.”

“Nah, I’m...I’m tired, I’m just gonna...um, head home. But I’ll see you tomorrow maybe?”

Reeves looked like he was about to say something else, but he didn’t. He just stepped onto the curb in front of your car, smiled, and raised his hand in a little wave as he watched you drive off.

The Present.

A series of shrieks and the slamming of the door told you Vanessa had finally arrived. It sounded like they were jumping up and down on the tile just inside your front door, which was ridiculous since you’d all just seen each other the day before. But typical.

You smoothed a pinkie under your eye, checked your makeup one final time, and went into the living room.

“Oh, you look hot,” Vanessa gushed. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and plopped down on your couch. “Who are you trying to impress tonight?”

“Reeves, of course,” Alexis laughed, leaning on the kitchen counter. She sorted anything she might need from her big purse into a little evening bag as she talked. “You know we go to all his shows. And you know they went to high school together.”

You snorted. “That was a long time ago. I’m not even sure he’d remember me.”

Vanessa waggled her eyebrows. “You’re probably right, No offense, honey, but no one was that hot back in high school.”

He was, your brain supplied. Very helpful. You smiled wanly.

Vanessa continued. “But you were friends, right? You’ve never really talked about it. God, it must be so cool now to think that you were friends with Reeves back when he was an awkward high school teenager.”

“Reeves was never awkward,” you laugh. “It was kind of unfair.”

“But you totally had a crush on him,” Alexis offered.

Had? What do you mean, had? Oh my god, shut up, brain.

A pillow flew in your direction and you ducked as Vanessa giggled and Alexis rolled her eyes. “Come on, tell us something about him,” Vanessa goaded. “Wait. Was he, like, your prom date? That’s your secret! You totally went to prom with Reeves and you never told us!”

Senior Year. Prom. A Saturday.

The night was not supposed to go this way.

It was supposed to be limousines and corsages and dinner with dates and friends. It was supposed to be endless pictures while your mother told you how gorgeous you looked and how handsome he was and your father gave a thinly-veiled shovel talk about how he knew what happens on prom night and what would really happen if that actually happened. It was supposed to be punch and cookies and balloons. It was supposed to be dancing closer than the chaperones were comfortable with and kissing with tongue when they weren’t looking.

It was supposed to be the best night of your life. It was supposed to be fun.

Nowhere in your weeks of dreaming of this night did it involve sitting on a bench in the girls’ locker room, knees pulled up to your chest, while the party carried on in the gym just beyond.

It definitely didn’t involve crying.

The bass beats of the deejay and the harmony of laughter temporarily got louder as the locker room door opened, and then faded back into a muted thumping as the door closed again a second later. You could hear footsteps headed in your direction but before you could unfold yourself and wipe your tears away, a familiar voice called out.

“Hey, there you are!”

Being able to find the words to describe how he looked in his tux, his curls slightly tamed by some gel, the blue rose (of course it would be an off color, why would he pick something standard?) pinned to his lapel, his lopsided grin… Finding the words was nearly impossible.

Of course he would show up now. Because your night wasn’t already crappy enough and half the reason you were sitting there weeping instead of out there dancing was standing right in front of you.

You realized that wasn’t fair. It was probably more like, twenty-five percent of the reason, and it wasn’t his fault. But that didn’t make it any better.

“Why are you in the girls’ locker room, Reeves?” you sniffled.

He furrowed his eyebrows and his nose scrunched up in concern as he took in your mascara-streaked cheeks and puffy red eyes. “One of your friends said you came in here like half an hour ago and nobody’s seen you since. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“Clearly not.” He sat down next to you. “Wanna talk about it?”

A deep, shaky sign left your chest. You didn’t really want to talk about how, earlier in the evening, you’d excused yourself to use the restroom and come back to the gym to find Theo dancing with...you didn’t remember her name, nor did you care. You didn’t mind that he was dancing with another girl, in theory, but it was another matter entirely when his hands were on her ass and she was sucking a deep purple mark into his neck. And he was laughing. 

A short, vicious argument ensued in the coat room after you’d cut in and dragged him off by the elbow. And it turned out that he’d been seeing whats-her-name for months, somehow, behind your back while pretending that everything was perfect with you. When he was supposedly visiting his grandparents? He was with her. When he had to work an extra shift? He was with her. When he got off the phone with you, saying he needed to get to bed early? He was calling her.

Prom wasn’t supposed to involve a very public break-up.

And things didn’t get any better when, deciding you needed something to drink, you went back into the gym and immediately saw Reeves and Randie, dancing cheek to cheek, arms snugly wrapped around each other as a soft, romantic song wafted through the air. Because of course he was with her. She was his girlfriend and Reeves wasn’t a detestable cheating asshole.

There was always another her.

You couldn’t handle it.

So you took off to somewhere almost guaranteed to be empty. You figured the locker room wasn’t really the kind of place kids would want to make out, and you were right. It was blessedly empty. Until now.

But you couldn’t tell him the second part, so you just went with the first. His eyes got wide as you blubbered through the sordid details of Theo being a complete and utter twat. Another quivery sob half-burst from you and Reeves got up. He grabbed a few paper towels from the dispenser and handed them to you as he sat back down.

“Thanks,” you hiccuped.

“I never liked him,” Reeves announced.

You found yourself choking on a huff of air. “What? Yes you did! Everybody loved him. That’s what makes it extra shitty.”

“Did you?”

“What?”

Reeves cocked his head and looked at you with an expression you couldn’t quite place. “Did you love him?”

Your mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. Why did you always seem to forget how to make words when Reeves asked you questions?

“What?”

He shrugged. “Everyone else loved him. Did you?”

You used every last ounce of willpower you had to not jump up on that bench and shout that of course you didn’t love Theo, you idiot, because I love you.

That would not make this night any easier.

The next thing you knew, Reeves put an arm around your shoulders and pulled you into his chest, hugging you soundly. He rested his cheek on the top of your head. “Doesn’t matter. You’re better off without him.”

You dabbed at your eyes. Nope, still couldn’t make words.

Minutes, hours, days. You had no idea how long you stayed like that, pressed to him and feeling him breathe beneath you. You no longer had any idea how long it had even been since everything crashed around you and he’d come to try and help you pick up the pieces. You just listened to his heartbeat, strong and steady, as the muffled music and joyful shouts of classmates went on past the closed door.

Finally he spoke again. “Hey, you wanna get one of those complimentary pictures?”

“What?” Oh, great. You were finally able to answer his question but you could still only come up with that one word? Stupid brain.

“Well, I…” he sat up straight and, after the briefest look into your eyes, he glanced away. Was he blushing? You weren’t sure. “I always kind of...I kind of thought we’d have a prom picture together. I mean, I just figured, y’know, we’d go with a bunch of friends, but I always hoped I’d get a picture with my best friend.”

The sniffles were back in an instant. Damn him. “Reeves, I...you really want to get a picture now? I look horrible, I can’t get a picture taken like this!”

He took the paper towel from your hand and gently dabbed at your cheeks. “You couldn’t look horrible if you tried. Come on, it’ll be fun. And just think how excited your mom will be when she gets a copy of it.”

Despite your best efforts, you had to laugh. “Okay.”

You headed to the photo area after you washed your face, Reeves helped you wipe off the stray streaks of mascara, and you reapplied just a bit of makeup to make yourself feel better. You were never sure what Reeves said to the photographer before the shots, but he seemed quite happy to take multiples. Reeves stayed pressed against your back with his arms down around your waist, hands clasped together in front of you, for each and every one.

At some point between the second and third shot, he leaned just a little closer into you and you suddenly felt his breath against your ear. “Like what you see?”

For maybe the first time that entire night, your face broke into a genuine smile. “Maybe.”

For a few minutes, your night was absolutely perfect.

The Present.

It was the greatest date that never was.

“No, Reeves was not my prom date,” you told your friends with a shake of your head.

You left out most of the other details, partly because you didn’t want to answer eight hundred questions from Vanessa and partly because, well, you just wanted those moments for yourself.

After the pictures, Reeves had asked if you would like to dance. Until then you didn’t realize it was possible for eyebrows to shoot that far up a person’s forehead, but yours were up for the challenge. You’d mumbled something about if Randie would mind, because you were sure she absolutely would, but he brushed it off. Randie had gone off with her friends when he came to find you, and he really wanted to dance with you, just one dance with his frog murder accomplice. And he said that with a straight face and a twinkle in his eye and there was no way you could refuse.

As if there was any way you’d say no.

One dance turned into two, and then several, until the girlfriend in question finally did show back up and Reeves was pulled away, leaving you with a soft smile and a mouthed “sorry”.

Definitely the greatest never-date.

After prom, life returned to what vaguely resembled normal. Your love life sucked and Reeves still had a girlfriend that wasn’t you, and you didn’t see him much. To be fair, the end of senior year and graduation did creep up pretty fast so there wasn’t a lot of time anyway. Graduation was there before you knew it; he cheered for you and you cheered for him as you each walked across the stage. You made brief appearances at each others’ graduation parties and talked a bit and then, once again before you knew what happened next, it was time to leave for college.

You went back to New York. Reeves stayed on the west coast.

And over the years, like so many other people before you and after you, you just fell out of touch.

“And anyway,” you asserted, “we were just kind of friends. Yeah, like I told Alexis before, we were lab partners sophomore year, and we hung out sometimes, but that was it. Really.”

Alexis snorted and Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “Mmmhmm.”

You threw the pillow back at her. “Mmmhmm.”

“All right, you two,” Alexis chided. “Come on, let’s get going.”

Somehow, you managed to get down to Greenwich Village without further interrogation and minimal shenanigans.

The Present. One Hour Later. Another Saturday Night.

The bar inside the club was pretty packed. Granted, it was a Saturday night down in The Village, so it wasn’t too uncommon, but you were honestly surprised that this many people showed up for a punk retrospective.

There were a few other relatively big-name acts you recognized on the bill, and a fair number of people were wearing t-shirts with Reeves’s most recent album cover on the front. There were even a few that had shirts with his face on it, which was frankly kind of weird.

“Looks like you’re not his only number one fan,” Vanessa smirked.

“I just enjoy his music,” you said off-handedly as you tried to flag down a bartender. “But anyway, tonight isn’t even about him. We’re just here to support charity, right?”

Alexis pretended to agree with you. “Right.”

You glared at both of them before turning your attention back to the bar. Yes, you came to every one of his shows in the area. When you had time. When you could take the night off. When you could rearrange your schedule and switch shifts at the last minute and promise favors to be able to attend them. When you maybe once or twice just called out sick because nothing else worked. So what.

They were really starting to get on your nerves. 

The bartender finally noticed you and took your order, and you looked around the club again while you waited.

Lots of people, ranging from just-allowed-to-buy-booze to mid-sixties businessmen. A few folks that looked to currently be in their golden years but were clearly once punks in their prime. Many people in black and chains and mohawks and neon hair and piercings, to the point where you honestly couldn’t tell who was a performer and who was a patron.

The one person you were looking for was the one that you couldn’t pick out of the crowd.

“He’s gotta be here somewhere!” Vanessa’s voice shouted from somewhere behind your shoulder.

“Vanessa, you’re getting a little weird about this,” you called back as you grabbed your drink and turned around.

“Like what you see?”

Eyes wide and mouth slightly hanging open, you almost dropped your full glass.

Vaguely, nearby, you heard the sound of glass shattering and shot a glance to your left. Alexis really had dropped her drink, and Vanessa was clutching onto her arm for dear life. She was holding her glass at a slightly odd angle and the contents were dripping onto one of her shoes.

The crowd silently pulsed backwards as one, clearing out around the four of you for a respectable distance. Several people watched curiously; surprisingly, they just stood back and stared instead of trying to get involved.

Reason Number One why you really couldn’t blame them: Reeves stood there, right in front of you. Literally less than two feet away, looking right at you. His mouth pulled up into his familiar lopsided grin, his hair still dark but shot through with strands of silver, curly on the top and shorter on the sides. His nose with the little dent, perfect on his face under those dark, luminous brown eyes and...holy shit, was he wearing eyeliner? He was wearing eyeliner.

Reason Number Two why you really couldn’t blame them: Leather pants. Under his old, faded t-shirt and black leather jacket (you were used to seeing him in brown, but you had to admit the black looked good) he was wearing leather pants.

Reason Number Three why you really couldn’t blame them: Quite simply, Reeves was standing in the middle of a bar in New York City and he was talking to you.

You blinked once, then twice. You may have blinked more times but all you could think about was the fact that, after all these years, your brain still couldn’t make words when Reeves asked you a question.

That same old question.

Suddenly you were grinning back, completely ignoring your friends and their dumbfounded squawking and sputtering next to you. You were smiling because even though your brain couldn’t make full sentences of words, it could pull one particular word out of the void and let it come out past your lips.

“Maybe.”

Reeves grinned fully now, his eyes lighting up and the crinkles at the corners deepening.

Someone - maybe Vanessa, maybe a total stranger, you couldn’t be sure - might have swooned from the sidelines.

“Always told you I wanted to come to New York,” he said.

“Always told you I’d go back.”

And the next thing you knew, the next thing that made any sense anywhere in your mind, was that Reeves had stepped forward, wrapped his arms around you, and placed the softest, sweetest, most heart-achingly gentle kiss on your lips.

You pulled away in a daze, felt the heat rising in your cheeks, as you heard a muffled choking sound halfway behind you. Definitely Vanessa.

Alexis and Vanessa’s eyes, already bugging out of their faces, nearly fell out of their sockets when Reeves turned to address them.

“Hey, ladies. I’ll come talk to you after the show, but for now, I just need to borrow your friend for a few minutes, okay?”

There were somehow still more bizarre, mostly inhuman noises that came out of your friends and even later, when they’d deny ever acting like that in front of a famous rock star (and rolled their eyes at you when you corrected them that he was a musician, not a rock star), it wouldn’t matter because you weren’t paying a single bit of attention to them them anyway.

You only had eyes for one person.

He took your hand and pulled you past the bar, into a little room in the back; the office, presumably. The second you were both inside, he wrapped his arms around your waist and looked you in the eyes. He just stared for a few minutes, or maybe hours, you weren’t sure.

It really didn’t matter.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do that?” he whispered.

“Third day of school, fourth period biology class, sophomore year?”

Reeves smiled softly. “The second you walked in that door.”

“Why didn’t you?” you tilted your head to look at him. Okay, to gaze into his eyes. You tilted your head to gaze into his eyes and your subconscious hoped to any gods that would listen that you did not have actual hearts or stars in your pupils.

Not that it really mattered.

His arms never left you but he gave a little shrug. “Never seemed to be the right time. And then I had a girlfriend.”

“Yeah,” you laughed. “And I ended up with that lame excuse for a boyfriend. But do you know how long I’ve wanted you to do that?”

“When you couldn’t stop staring at me when you sat down at the lab table next to me?”

“Hmmm, maybe. But definitely when you told the teacher we had to have a funeral for Lenny.”

“Hey, Lenny was a fuckin’ hero,” Reeves batted his eyes at you innocently. “He performed a brave and great service to his country.”

“I am oddly happy you’re still an idiot,” you giggled.

“I’m ecstatic that you kept coming to all my shows in the city.”

You pulled back slightly and looked at the ceiling. “You noticed?”

Reeves gave you that look. That look he always gave you, when you were teenagers, when you said something either completely ridiculous or completely profound. That look he gave you when he thought you might not be looking, even though you were always looking. That look that said he always had your back and you were his best friend. That look that you thought you’d be lucky to see one more time but probably never would.

That look.

“Of course I noticed. I thought about having security make you stay back, but that’s just...no. You always looked happy, and I don’t know...I just didn’t want to intrude, I guess? Just always wondered why you never stuck around after the shows, never stayed to talk to me, never came knocking on the dressing room door.”

You thought about that for a minute. You really did try, but you couldn’t come up with a decent answer. You were happy. Just seeing him was enough, you told yourself. Just hearing him sing was enough, just being in the same room with him, just being near. Just like it was back in high school.

Only it wasn’t high school anymore, and now that he’d finally, finally - after years of would’ve and should’ve and maybes - kissed you, you knew enough wasn’t going to be, well, enough.

So that’s what you told him.

And Reeves pulled you close, leaned in closer, and kissed you again.

You pulled apart, breathless again, and rested your foreheads together.

After minutes, or maybe days, or maybe hours, and definitely years - it didn’t really matter - Reeves was there. You were there. And for once, you were really there together.

“Like what you see?”

“...definitely.”

The Future. Any Day. Every Day.

You always thought, and your friends always said, that the best years of your life happened in high school. And to a certain extent, that was true and you believed in that notion for a very long time.

But ever since that night, that one glorious night in a Manhattan bar, you realized you were wrong.

The best years of your life were still happening.

~end~

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[deareddie]

eddie week day 7 - "are you happy?" + family

established buddie, 1.7k words

AO3 Link

It starts with a whispered conversation.

Of thoughts and insecurities, spread out onto the dark ceiling above them as they hold each other close.

Eddie asks a simple question.

“Are you happy?” A pause. Buck turns his head to look at him like it’s the most ridiculous question he’s ever heard. “This life we’re living together, is it enough?”

Buck smiles softly. “Eds, you could show me a million different versions of my life, and I’d pick this one every time.”

Eddie raises an eyebrow. “Even if you could be, like, a billionaire with a private jet or something?”

A laugh. Then, “No amount of money could fill up the space in my heart that’s reserved for you.”

Eddie waits for a moment; pretends that comment didn’t make his chest swell with adoration. “God, that’s cheesy.”

Another laugh. “But true.” He looks Eddie in the eye, and the love in that familiar gaze is so loud that Eddie has no choice but to believe him. He takes Eddie’s hand and laces their fingers together. “This life we have is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“Everything?”

“Well, not quite yet.” He squeezes the hand in his. “I’d also like marriage, and more kids, and all of that. But for now, it’s enough."

“You want that? With me?”

Buck nods, full of certainty. “Home in the suburbs with a white picket fence and a cat, every stereotype you can think of, I want the lot.”

Eddie laughs. “Maybe not the cat. I’m more of a dog person, myself.”

Buck grins. “We’ll see about that.” Then after a moment; “But- you want all of that too? With me?”

“Yes,” Eddie says, and he’s never been more sure of anything in his life. “All of it."

“We’ll just have to make that happen, then.”

-

So Eddie comes up with a plan. Enlists Christopher’s help to pick out the ring, and once he’s got it, comes up with the perfect way to ask.

But as usual, things don’t go as expected.

“This place is so nice,” Buck comments as they make their way to the table, and Eddie has to agree. That’s why he picked it, after all. “You know you don’t have to woo me anymore, Eddie. You’ve got me for life.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t still do nice things for you.”

Buck settles into the chair Eddie pulls out for him and smiles. “Well, I won’t say no to that.”

They make their way through dinner as their usual selves, joking and laughing, but through it all, Eddie is full of nerves.

Not over what Buck’s answer will be -he’s been pretty certain of that for a while. But over making this moment perfect. After everything, Eddie owes it -both to Buck, and to himself, to get this one thing right.

He slides a hand into his pocket and works up the courage to begin. “Buck, I wanted to ask you something-”

And the world chooses this moment to mess with him.

A woman appears at their table. “Hi, I don’t know if you remember me, but I was in a car accident a few months ago, and you two…”

Just like that, Eddie’s courage is snapped.

They have a short, polite conversation, and when the woman makes her way back to her own table, Buck turns to him with a smile. “What was it you wanted to ask?”

Eddie slides his hand out of his pocket. Swallows. 

“Uh, wanna share some dessert?”

-

He doesn’t give up that easily, though. 

He decides to take it from a different angle instead. 

The entire car ride there, Buck is restless. “Why won’t you tell me where we’re going?”

Eddie shakes his head. “It’s a surprise. Ever heard of those?”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“Yes you do.”

Buck grins. “Yeah, I do.”

And when Eddie pulls to a stop at the beach, near the edge of the water where the setting sun is reflecting its golden light off of the waves, Buck’s face lights up. 

“Oh, Eddie.”

“I thought we’d have a picnic on the sand. Sound good?”

Buck leans over in his seat to kiss him soundly, and Eddie takes that as a yes (and hopes it’s not the only yes he’ll be getting tonight.)

So he grabs his things from the back of the truck and gets everything set up. They settle onto the blanket, cool sand underneath, away from the eyes and interruptions of strangers, and Eddie feels himself settle too. With that particular type of certainty that he always feels when Buck’s bright eyes catch his.

He’s so caught up in the moment, he doesn’t notice the sky start to cloud over.

“So,” Buck starts. “What’s the occasion?

“Well, I-”

The sky chooses that moment to let out a loud crack of thunder. They both startle, looking up towards the black clouds, as rain starts to pour down on their faces.

Buck lets out a startled laugh. They scramble to pick up the food and blankets, and Buck grabs his hand as they run back to the truck seeking shelter.

Right before they climb in, Buck pulls him in and kisses him again. Right under the sky, and the eyes of the universe, that both seem desperate to ruin Eddie’s plan.

“We’ll just have to try again,” he says. 

And yeah, Eddie supposes they will.

-

Eddie walks in the door after a 12-hour shift, and decides that tonight will be the night.

He and Buck had planned a quiet night in, just the two of them, no menacing clouds or eyes of the public. The two of them, at home, where they belong. It feels right.

That is, until Buck appears from around the corner, red-eyed, pale skinned, and looking downright miserable. 

Eddie sweeps his eyes over him with concern, and when they eventually meet Buck’s, all he says is, “I think I’m sick.”

Eddie drops his duffel on the floor and toes off his shoes, reaching out to press a gentle hand to Buck’s forehead. Definitely feverish.

So he takes Buck’s arm and steers him towards the bedroom, settling him under the covers as Buck looks at him with sad eyes. 

“I’m sorry,” he says. “We were supposed to have a nice night together.”

Eddie shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter.” He brushes the hair off of Buck’s forehead, smiling softly. “We’ll have plenty more chances to do that.”

He repeats the reassurance to himself, too.

-

In the end, it isn’t planned. 

No fancy dinners or romantic gestures; no candlelight or grand lead up to a declaration of love. No, it happens at 7 o’clock on a Friday evening, when they’re half out the door to a barbecue at Bobby and Athena’s. 

He’s getting Christopher ready at the door when he remembers something. “Hey, Buck, I left my jacket in the bedroom, would you mind grabbing it?”

Buck nods and sets off down the hall, and Eddie turns back towards Christopher. 

“Have you asked him yet?” Chris whispers, eyes following Buck as he disappears around the corner. 

Eddie shakes his head. “Not yet. I’m getting to it.”

“You’re taking too long,” Chris complains. “I helped you pick out the ring ages ago.”

“I just need to find the right moment, buddy. I want it to be perfect.”

Christopher just rolls his eyes. “Perfect is overrated.”

Eddie laughs and pats him on the shoulder. Stands, glancing down the hallway and wondering what’s taking Buck so long. 

When he follows in his footsteps and stops in the doorway, his question is answered. 

Buck is standing there, in the middle of the room, with wide eyes and a small velvet box in his hand. He looks up at Eddie.

“This fell out of your pocket.”

Eddie swallows. “Oh.”

They stand there like that, frozen in place, until Eddie takes a step forward with a sigh. “I wanted-” He gestures at the ring box. “I wanted it to be perfect.”

Buck smiles, still looking like he’s in disbelief. “Eddie, when has anything about us ever been perfect?”

And it’s true, but still- “I had a whole speech planned and everything. We were gonna have a nice dinner, I was gonna lead up to it-”

“I don’t need a speech, Eddie.”

“No, I know, but-” He deflates, shrugging. “I wanted to give you one anyway.”

Buck looks at him for a moment, smiling, then places the tiny box in Eddie’s hand. “Then do it.”

“What?”

“Give me the speech.”

“Oh.” Eddie nods, swallowing, then takes a deep breath. He knows what the outcome of this will be, has since they whispered assurances to each other in the dark that night, but his heart still feels like it’s about to beat out of his chest. Maybe it’s just trying to speak for him, in case his brain can’t get the words right.

He gets down on one knee. Buck can’t seem to stop grinning. “Buck, I-”

“Yes.”

“Buck.” 

Buck laughs. “Sorry, sorry. You want to do a speech. Go ahead.”

Eddie shakes his head fondly. “I had everything planned out so perfectly, you know,” he says. “But the world kept getting in the way.

“And it was so frustrating, but I was determined to do it, and get it right.” He pauses, looking into those eyes of Buck’s and seeing a future within them. “And I think that sums up our relationship pretty well. No matter what, through everything, we never give up. Even when it feels like the entire universe is fighting against us, we don’t admit defeat. We fight right back. We choose to stick with each other. To have each other’s backs. We always have.” 

Buck nods, eyes shining with tears. 

“So I want to keep choosing you. I want to choose you to be my husband, choose you as the father of my future children, choose you as the person I want to grow old and grey with, to always have by my side. Because I love you, so much, and I’ll never ever stop.” He smiles then, taking in Buck’s watery smile and loving eyes, before asking the final question.

“So, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” Buck breathes out. Drops to his knees to be level with Eddie and grabs his face, kissing all over. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.” 

“Oh, thank god,” Eddie says, and Buck laughs, grinning at him with overwhelming adoration. 

“Better start building that fence, then.” 

Eddie laughs. “I guess so.”

He slips the ring onto Buck’s finger, and it feels like the start of forever.

[wherethingscomebackx]

Top 25 Larry fics of 2019

It’s that time again!

You may be familiar with these lists:

Top 25 Larry fics of 2016

Top 25 Larry fics of 2017

Top 25 Larry fics of 2018

As always, I read a lot of fic and the majority of it is Larry. I like making lists and I like Larry so I thought I’d do some minimal research of the top 25 larry fics published/completed in 2019 in order of least to most kudos (with links). All of these fics are top notch so you should all check them out! 

25.) Foolishy Laying Our Hearts on the Table by @runaway-train-works (11k)

“You think Harry wants that?”

“Dunno. Maybe. Wanna make him happy.” Harry takes advantage of the red light he’s pulled up to turn and look properly at Louis’ face. He’s not even looking in Harry’s direction though, focused instead on something out of his side window, head drooped, mindlessly playing with the string of his hoodie between his fingers, lost in his own world somewhere. For some reason, it makes Harry’s spine straighten.

“Because he’s your best mate?” Harry questions carefully.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

He couldn’t have heard him right. “What?”

Louis releases a deep breath, still not turning around. Harry wonders who he thinks he’s talking to right now. “He’s so pretty. Want to kiss him all day long. And buy him a big house and give him presents and marry him.”

Or

The one where Harry is in love with his best friend Louis but doesn't think he stands a chance until some wisdom teeth and a rather unusual confession might just change his mind.

24.) Tainted Saints And Velvet Vices by @toomanydreamers (126k)

A self-fulfilling Hogwarts AU in which Louis is new to seventh year and Harry is the resident devil-may-care Slytherin set to make his entire experience a living misery. Due to less than favourable circumstances they're forced to forge an unwilling, tentative relationship for their own survival. Repressed emotions, decidedly unromantic ballroom dancing, Triwizard Tournament tasks, creative jinxes and twilight flying above the Forbidden Forest ensue.

23.) all we can do is keep breathing by @avocadolouie (310k)

“Harry, I-I’m so sorry…” Louis stutters out, trying to keep his voice level and even, to portray a depiction of strength, but with the way Harry is looking at him, staring at him like he has a personal passage way straight to Louis’ soul, it’s so hard, nearly impossible.

That simple opening phrase, that short introductory acknowledgement that is often rushed out so easily, painlessly, at a safe distance. Giving a doctor the ability to portray empathy without true emotion, without feeling the full brunt and sheer force of the underlying pain itself.

But Louis feels it, he feels the crushing agony laced behind the phrase, he feels the weight of the painful words slipping from his lips, the cause and effect that the three-word expression holds. The distantly empty “I’m so sorry” that doctors throw out in self-preservation, isn’t at all empty for him. Louis recognizes it, he understands it, he feels it.

--

a fated story of two broken and battered boys who barely survived the unimaginable and how the love of one little brave girl defies all the odds and somehow puts them back together.

22.) Raise a Glass to the Four of Us by @2tiedships2 (25k)

Louis stared at his luggage.

Well. Apparently not his luggage, because the clothing he was looking at currently was a: worth more than everything he currently possessed, b: not his size at all, and c: more suited for a fancy ass lawyer than a holiday in NYC with his best mates.

“Ooh, nice loafers,” Niall said as he pulled one out of the suitcase. “I love the rainbows.”

“Okay,” Liam began. “What do you want to do first? Eat, shop for new clothes, or spend hours on the phone with the airline?”

Louis continued to stare at the luggage.

21.) You Have to Retreat to Advance by @2tiedships2 (18k)

“What am I going to do, Perrie? I can’t go on this retreat by myself. My boss literally said he wants to meet my omega.” Harry paused. “Okay, not literally but he definitely expects me to be bringing him.”

“Don’t people go on these things by themselves?” Perrie asked.

Harry shrugged. “Of course but that’s not the point.”

“What’s the point?”

“My boss is expecting to meet my omega! I don’t have an omega!”

“Is this a paying gig?” Perrie asked.

“You mean paying an omega to spend the weekend with me? I’m sure the resort has nice amenities. Does that count?”

“I take that as a no,” Perrie said with an eye roll. “It’s okay, Louis might be willing to do it for free.”

“Who’s Louis?”

Or the one where Harry is expected to bring his longterm omega to the company's mountain retreat. Since he hadn't told anyone that they'd broken up months ago, he now has to find someone willing to play the part.

20.) A Darker Shade of Love by LittleSpoonStyles94 (750k)

Louis is a 30 year old multi-billionaire with a very dark past. He is violent and is a sadist with a taste for pain. Harry Styles is a 19 year old student who sets out to London after being kicked out by his homophobic father to follow his dreams. He wants to go to the best University to study but he needs a lot of money so he starts to work as a part time stripper at a gay club to support his studies and his life. The club he works at, Garland's, is part owned by Louis Tomlinson. When they meet, its life changing for the both of them.

19.) You Still Make Sense to Me by @amories (37k)

Harry, Louis, and their family navigate life together through the years.

18.) Like Water Over Fire (Like Water On Fire) by @mcssymon (119k)

“I’m sorry your highness, I think I misheard you, did you really say that you are hoping to meet your husband?” Oh god, Louis panicked. Was Prince Harry gay? Was he even allowed to be gay? Surely he wouldn’t be allowed to have a selection from a group of men, right?

Prince Harry looked partly like he wanted to laugh, but also very, very nervous about what he had just admitted, “Yes, sir, you heard correctly”

Or Prince Harry has 46 men and 13 weeks to find the husband of his dreams, Louis has a limited amount to time to live out a royal fantasy. They might just be exactly what the other needs.

17.) waiting for the tides to meet by @nauticalleeds (59k)

Louis lets out a deep breath, thinking about Harry’s soulmate. Thinking about how Harry’s soulmate is probably as beautiful as Harry, some person that Louis cannot compare to, and how the universe has chosen them to be Harry’s. Fuck the universe. “Fuck you,” he calls out to the universe. He’s aware of how crazy he sounds.

Maybe he is crazy, with how he’s falling for Harry. And fuck that, too.

Soulmate AU. Everyone is born with heterochromia — one eye is their own eye colour, while the other is the colour of their soulmate's. It's only when they meet their soulmate for the first time that their own eyes match properly. After a hazy night at a frat party, Louis wakes up to blue eyes and the shocking realization that he had met his soulmate, without any sober recollection. Seven years pass where Louis comes to terms with the fact that he'll never know who his soulmate is. Then one fated summer, a beautiful green-eyed photographer arrives at Louis' workplace, with promises of endless laughter and a familiar feeling in Louis' heart.

Featuring a lovely cup of OT5, a road trip down the coast, and a scene where Harry eats a whole head of lettuce. Don't ask why.

16.) Call Answered by @vondrostes (249k)

The day after his 27th birthday, Harry Styles attempts suicide. Louis is flown to his bedside to unravel the mystery of why he did it after a flash drive is found with a note attached, addressed to Louis. On it are a collection of 78 songs, all written for different dates from their past.

15.) Counterbalance by @louandhazaf (44k)

Harry Styles loves two things: teaching ballet and racing motorcycles. Those two worlds collide when his greatest rival on the track, Louis “Tommo” Tomlinson brings his tiny siblings to Harry’s class.

14.) Everywhere and Nowhere by @2tiedships2 (16k)

Niall took a seat and said, "Apparently Louis' downstairs neighbor is a fan of giving Louis creepy gifts. Maybe I should go introduce myself and tell him that Louis actually prefers food."

"What has he given you?" Liam asked.

Louis shrugged as it were no big deal. "There was a rabbit's foot keychain on the door a little after he left from introducing himself and there was a small teddy bear sitting by my door tonight. Obviously I can't prove it's from him, but they seem to have his scent. I could be wrong though."

"Wow," Liam said, looking deep in thought. "That's old school."

"What's old school?" Niall asked. "Giving creepy gifts?"

"I've never known an alpha to do it, to be honest, but he's courting you."

Louis couldn't contain his look of disbelief directed at Liam. "He's courting me. Like some sort of romantic shit they'd do in the 1800s or something?"

13.) Swallow The Knife by whoknows (76k)

“You came,” Louis says, still breathless, clinging to Harry, uncaring that his sweat is getting all over Harry’s presumably clean dad shirt, or that he’s making Harry hold up all of his weight.

“Of course I came,” Harry says. He shifts, one arm curled underneath Louis’ arse, the other spreading wide in the middle of Louis’ back. “If I ignored you every time you pissed me off we would have stopped being friends a long time ago.”

Louis already knows that, of course. It doesn’t do anything to stop the pleased squirm in his belly every time Harry proves it, though. They fight like nobody’s business, both of them too stubborn to pull their punches when they’re arguing, and it used to get them in trouble, but they always make up.

Adrenaline makes Louis loose-lipped, and they both know it. He tightens his arms around Harry’s neck, buries his face in his hair. “I missed you,” he confesses, quiet. “Doesn’t feel the same up there by myself.”

12.) and oh, all of your saturdays could end up in woe by ihavetoomuchfreetime (70k)

a fic in which louis' in a long-term relationship with an abusive asshole, niall, zayn and liam are so far but not really, and harry is that all too friendly guy who works in sainsbury's.

11.) thinking about the t-shirt you slept in by @absoloutenonsense (52k)

Harry's alpha fraternity donates to a local thrift shop (because of Liam's latent crush on a cute beta in his lecture). Louis' financial situation (and confusing omega instincts) lead him to make some interesting fashion purchases. Lots of pizza, feelings, and not-really-lying.

10.) Consequences by @allwaswell16 (78k)

Two years ago Harry let his powerful family come between him and the love of his life, something he deeply regrets. Louis has tried to move on from their devastating break up. Sometimes, he even thinks he has. It only takes one moment to freeze them back in time.

An amnesia au

9.) Strawberries & Cigarettes by @dimpled-halo (76k)

Harry looks up and immediately freezes. Next to Ms. Archie stands the boy from just the other day. The boy with the leather jacket and chipped black nails, that might or might not be sketched in the very book Harry has just placed on the table in front of him. The leather jacket is missing today, probably because they aren’t allowed as part of their required uniform attire, but Harry can still see the fading black nail polish on his nails, and eyeliner around his eyes. Harry’s mouth goes a little dry. This boy is so intriguing to him.

“Ye-yes, Ms. Archie?” Harry tries to play it cool, but he’s almost positive that his cheeks are burning red, and he’s relieved neither of them can tell how fast his heart is beating in his chest.

The boy seems to also recognize Harry, because his lips curve into a knowing smirk.

“Harry is at the top of his class. He’s your best bet at getting familiar with things around here.” She explains.

Louis nods, his smirk still very prominent on his face. “Thank you Ms. Archie. I’ll be sure to take advantage of young Harold here.”

*

Summary: Two stories, eleven years, and the two boys that never stopped loving each other.

8.) Pain makes people change by Deidei (113k)

An organization called Canis Lupus existed solely for changing humans imprisoned in their wolf form back to their human form. Some people after experiencing some traumatic event can only ‘’protect’’ themselves from the pain by forgetting everything. To do that, to feel safe, they shift into their wolf form.

Which they'll be stuck in forever should no one intervene.

Louis Tomlison went through a traumatic experience at the age of twelve in which he lost his mother, to make the pain go away he shifted into a wolf and fled. He survived in the wild as a wolf for five years until Canis Lupis caught him... Though he wasn't alone, he had a pup at his side.

7.) Pretty Please (With Sugar On Top) by @angelichl (113k)

Harry is a sugar baby omega who cons rich alphas for a living. Louis is a rich alpha with too much self-control.

6.) Enemies with benefits by ssii8 (267k)

Where Harry is captain of basketball team and Louis is captain of football team and they hate each other. But somehow this doesn't stop them from having sex.

And everything is perfect until they start to feel something more.

5.) Ready To Fall by whoknows (21k)

“Ninety and rising,” Nick says triumphantly, as though making Harry’s heartbeat pick up by thrusting an obscenely attractive person in front of his face is any kind of success. “Louis Tomlinson has just walked into our control room and suddenly our dear Harry Styles has lost all ability to speak. Could this be some kind of strange coincidence?”

“I hate you,” Harry hisses, forcing his eyes back into Nick’s direction, uncaring that the mic must have picked it up. “I thought we agreed that you were going to play fair.”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Nick denies, except he’s holding up a picture of Louis’ face now, sharp cheekbones prominent, soft lashes nearly sweeping against his cheeks as he looks down, and his fucking mouth –

“A hundred and two!” Nick crows, all but clapping his hands together in glee. “The highest it’s ever been!”

“To be fair, I did bend over the desk on purpose,” Louis’ voice comes crackling in the headphones. Harry practically breaks his neck whipping his head around at the sound of it, gaping at him through the glass panel. “You can’t really blame him for getting a little excited about that, can you?”

4.) Close to Nowhere by @angelichl (34k)

“I will kill you in your sleep,” Louis threatened as he quickly stepped out of his jeans.

“I don’t think that would work very well baby, seeing as you talk to dead people all the time.”

“I’ll kill you in your sleep and ignore your ghost. And don’t call me that.”

Louis and Harry are psychics who kind of hate each other. They go to Tennessee to investigate a haunting.

3.) Play Pretend, Find a Friend? by @angelichl (40k)

They had to pull back for air. Louis surveyed the guy’s face, in awe of his blown pupils and sharp jawline, the way their shared spit glistened on his lips.

“Hi,” he breathed. He blinked, and came back to himself a little bit, blushing at his own boldness. “Sorry. Is this okay?”

The stranger removed his right hand from the curve of Louis’ waist in order to cup his jaw, tilting it up to the angle he desired. He pressed their lips together, murmuring, “Definitely.” And then he kissed harder.

When Louis sees his ex-boyfriend kissing a random girl at a party, he acts out of blind jealousy. He kisses the first guy he can find. It turns into a thing.

INSPIRED BY CLOUDS.

2.) Let Me Feel Your Heartbeat by @angelichl (34k)

Harry is 98% sure Louis hates him. So he feels like his bewilderment is justified when the omega offers to help him through his rut.

1.) All My Colours by IceQueenRia (267k)

Green… yellow… red. Red! RED!!!

Some people were born Dominant and others submissive. Sixteen year old Louis Tomlinson was a submissive and was proud to be so… until he was forced to his knees for the first time. The man before him was every subs nightmare, an abusive Dom, the kind who didn’t believe in the colour ‘red’ unless it was in the form of blood.

There were others, but Louis was the ‘favourite’ and he was the one the Dom liked to ‘play with’ the most. In fact, when the rescue team arrived, Louis was the one currently providing ‘service’ to the Dom.

Or

Louis, Zayn and Niall are abused subs. Liam Payne is their devoted new Guidance Counsellor who just wants to make Niall smile and hear Zayn speak. As for Louis, he knows his guidance won’t be enough to help the boy heal. No, Louis Tomlinson needs something very special and very specific. He needs Harry Styles.

[cellsshapedlikestars]

jonsa prompt: adventures in dorne ☀️

hi anon! Thanks for the prompt! ❤️❤️

(once again this turned out longer than the ‘drabble’ it’s supposed to be but oh well)

xx

Dorne is not going to plan.

Sure, they'd spent weeks and weeks talking excitedly about it, their post-grad trip to the southern coast: the sun, the sand, the ocean. It had all sounded delightful to her Northern ears.

But the reality is that she's spent nearly every moment on the beach under an umbrella, having learned a painful lesson in just the first few hours that her complexion was not meant to handle this much sun. How she had managed to burn in the time it took for them to unload their bags from the rental car into the rental house, she has no idea - it had to have been fifteen minutes, tops, and yet there she was with reddened cheeks, nose, and shoulders. In her audacity, she had slapped some sunscreen on and they'd gone to the beach and she'd learned the hard way that you need to reapply sunscreen, especially after going into the water.

So now her nose is peeling and every bit of exposed skin is tender and red and she's miserable under this umbrella. Next to her, Jeyne is so hungover she can barely move, and Beth managed to twist her ankle on the way back from the bar last night. They're a sad bunch.

All in all, Dorne is not turning out the way she wanted it to.

“I need a drink,” she tells Jeyne, who groans in response and turns over onto her stomach. Out near the ocean, Beth is limping around on her bad ankle, but at least it looks like she's flirting with some cute Dornish boy.

Good, maybe one of us will have some fun on this trip, Sansa thinks bitterly. Back in Winterfell, they'd giggled over finding some cute Dornish boys to show them around the town. It had been a lovely, stupid dream.

She heads up towards the line of bars at the edge of the beach, giant hat on her head to provide at least a little shelter (she had just reapplied her sunscreen, but she's not taking any chances. She'd spent all night researching sun poisoning and she is not going to risk it).

On her way, she eyes up the resort down the beach. She and Jeyne and Beth had decided to go as cheap as they could – the plane tickets were crazy expensive this time of year and the tiny little rental house they'd managed to snag was criminally overpriced. But she knew staying at The Black Dragon would have been much more expensive (she had researched it, though, sighing wistfully at the state of the art spa and the luxurious suites. The Targaryens ran the finest hotels, though she'd only ever been in one once, with Joffrey last year. The hotel had been wonderful, Joffrey not so much).

Instead of going to a beautiful beachside resort bar with free drinks included in some package, she instead heads to a much less fancy one open to the public.

The bar is crowded with people just like her – the recently graduated, ready to celebrate their last bits of freedom before succumbing to finding a job and becoming an Adult. She has to push her way through the throng of people, wincing as her burnt arms and shoulders scrape against bodies. The air is thick and hot under the canopy, despite the open sides. When she manages to push her way to the front, she can see three bartenders all busy but she can't manage to get close enough to flag one down.

Some girl pushes forward and knocks Sansa back and she hisses in pain as her burned shoulder strikes a solid mass behind her.

“Whoa,” a voice says and hands come up to brace her arms as she regains her balance – a kind gesture, but one that is causing her even more pain and she pulls away from the grip with a grimace. “Sorry,” the voice says and when she turns, she finds some guy standing and staring at her shoulder. When she looks down, she can see the white imprints of his hands slowly fading back to red. “Looks painful,” he nods at her arm and she rolls her eyes at how obvious that is.

“Turns out, I'm not exactly made for the sun,” she says and he lets out a small laugh and that's when she really gets a good look at him.

Well, she thinks, perhaps this trip wasn't going to be a total loss.

“Need a drink?” he asks and nods at the bar. In their short time talking, she has somehow managed to get pushed even further away from the bar and she nods. “What do you want?”

“Honestly? Just water,” she decides. She had been coming for a real drink, but now that she's in this mass of bodies, all she can think is how dehydrated she must be. “I was also gonna get one for my friend.”

He nods and then moves and she watches in confusion as he slides behind the bar and leans down and grabs two water bottles from out of nowhere. She opens her mouth to protest – sure the lines are long but stealing isn't the option – when she sees one of the bartenders give him a nod and her savior nods back before coming back over to her.

“Impressive,” she says over the din of the crowd and if she leans a little closer than necessary for him to hear, well, he doesn't seem to mind.

“I know the owner,” he shrugs but she thinks he looks proud of himself. “Wanna get out of here?”

She can't decide if this is a cheesy pickup line or not but she doesn't really care because she does want to get out of here. She follows him out and back onto the beach.

“Jon,” he holds out his hand and she maneuvers the water bottle she's holding into the crook of her arm, wipes the condensation off her hand onto her wrap, and takes his hand.

“Sansa.”

Gods, what did all those romance stories she used to read talk about? Sparks flying at the first touch? An immediate connection? Nonsense, she would have told anyone just thirty seconds prior.

“You're far from home,” he says and now that they're out of the crowd, she can hear the slight Northern accent in his own voice, though it's much less pronounced than her own.

“Winterfell,” she explains and he nods. “You?”

“I used to live in White Harbor with my mom when I was a kid,” he explains. “Moved around a lot after that.”

“And now you live here?”

He shrugs noncommittally. “Mostly just working here for the summer,” he says, but doesn't elaborate.

“And when it's not the summer?”

She's not sure why she's prying. It's rude and she and Jeyne and Beth had been talking about finding summer flings. Flings do not need a background. In fact, she's pretty sure the whole point of a fling is to not know that much about the other person, to not get involved.

“Move around a lot,” he says again. “For work.”

“You're a spy,” she jokes and that makes him break out into a smile and oh, he looks very nice when he smiles.

“You caught me,” he laughs.

“Not a very good one if I was able to figure it out.”

She expects him to make some sort of joke about killing her now that she knows his secret, but just as he's opening his mouth to say something, a boy with nearly white blonde hair sidles up next to Jon and, without acknowledging Jon's presence, gives her a once over.

“Well hello,” he drawls with a blinding smile that might have been charming if it weren't for the fact that she was clearly talking to Jon. “Who might you be?”

“None of your business,” she snaps (her mother would probably be appalled at her manners but really, how rude is it to interrupt a conversation to hit on her?)

The blonde doesn't seem shaken at all, he just grins.

“I'm Aegon,” he extends a hand that she does not take. His clothes are expensive and well tailored and she wants to cry at the fact that he's in those shoes in the sand. They'll be ruined forever and he doesn't seem to care. He's clearly some rich asshole from the resort.

“I'm not interested.”

Instead of being put off, he laughs and then turns to look at Jon with a raised eyebrow.

“But you're interested in this guy?” he points at Jon with a shit eating grin as Jon glares back. “I didn't mention my last name, it's Aegon Targaryen.”

Honestly, if it hadn't been for Joffrey, if she was still the girl she was in high school, she might have swooned at that. Might have thought he was some prince just because he had money and a name. As it is, she's had just about enough of lazy, arrogant heirs.

Instead of responding to him, she turns back to Jon and says “sorry, people with money seem to think they can get away with anything. You were about to say something?”

If Aegon Targaryen is insulted that she's ignoring him, he doesn't show it. In fact, he looks downright gleeful, which is actually more worrying.

“Fine,” Aegon interrupts again, sighing wistfully, like his fun is ruined. “I'll go. But before I do-” he turns to Jon and claps him on the shoulder, “dad's looking for you.”

For a moment she is frozen to the spot as Jon groans.

Dad?

They are not brothers, she thinks, looking between them for any resemblance – Aegon is all pale hair and pale skin and pale eyes and expensive clothing and Jon is dark hair and tanned skin and jeans and a t-shirt.

When Jon doesn't argue, she realizes it must be true and when she looks a bit harder, she thinks maybe the nose is the same, but that's all she can really see.

“Sorry to interrupt your flirting,” Aegon grins, “but there's some issue and dad wants you to sort it out.”

“You sure he asked for me and you're not just trying to get out of doing it yourself?”

Sansa has known these men for all of five minutes but she can already sense this is a common argument from the easy smile on Aegon's face and the exhausted tone of Jon's voice.

“East wing,” the blonde says, giving Jon, then her, one last smile before he walks off.

“Sorry,” Jon mutters and throws a look over his shoulder, down the beach, and when she follows his gaze, she finds herself looking straight at The Black Dragon.

“It's ok,” she tries not to let her disappointment (and, honestly, surprised confusion) show in her voice. “I should get this to my friend and make sure she's still alive,” she indicates the water bottles in her hand and when she looks out onto the beach, she can see Beth is back at their blanket and chatting to a Jeyne who has her head buried in her arms.

“Maybe I could see you later?” The words rush out of him and she thinks he wasn't really planning to say them and her heart gives a wild leap in her chest.

Her mind is screaming at her to stay away if he's a Targaryen. Look how terrible Joffrey had been; the Targaryens are an even older name, even wealthier. Old, old money.

“Even though I insulted your brother?” she manages to get out.

“Half brother,” he shrugs. “Plus, he deserves it.” She can't think of a single thing to say and she watches him shove his hands into his pockets and she realizes she never answered his question.

“Later?”

“If you want,” he's quick to add, like he can tell his half brother has thrown her for a loop. “I could take you to dinner? Somewhere maybe that isn't...” he gestures back towards the resort. “Unless that's where you want to go?”

“No, somewhere else is fine,” she finds herself agreeing without really realizing the words are coming out of her. And then suddenly she's handing over her phone and he's giving her his and she's putting her number into it and she tries to calm her racing heart.

He hands her back her phone with a smile that isn't nearly as smooth and charming as Aegon's had been, but is somehow much more endearing.

“I'll call you,” he promises before taking off in the direction of The Black Dragon.

A fling, that's all this needs to be. If he's anything like Joffrey, she can be rid of him easily, no harm, no foul. And even if he's not a monster like Joffrey but was still an entitled rich kid, that doesn't mean she can't have some fun with him. Just a nice, casual, summer fling.

As he's walking away, he turns to look back over his shoulder and he gives her another smile that crinkles up the corners of his eyes and she takes a deep breath to calm herself.

Just a summer fling, she tells herself. Definitely just a summer fling.

[adarafaelbarba]

Could you write a story that the reader is a fire fighter at 51, and dating Jay or Antonio. 51 responds to a fire where the bad guy that Intelligence is trying to get and the reader gets held hostage by the bad guy in the burning building, you decided the ending.

Pairing: Antonio Dawson x Reader

Fandom: Chicago PD/Chicago Fire

Requested: Yes

Request: «Could you write a story that the reader is a fire fighter at 51, and dating Jay or Antonio. 51 responds to a fire where the bad guy that Intelligence is trying to get and the reader gets held hostage by the bad guy in the burning building, you decided the ending.» -Anon

A/N: So sorry this is late! Hope you like it though ❤️  -Karen

«Lieutenant? The house, it—We should call in Intelligence», you said, looking over at Severide. «Why?» he asked, turning to you. «Toni—Detective Dawson may have mentioned someone they’re looking for, living at that block with their family, it might be their house», you commented. Usually the more private person, not many people at 51 knew about you and Antonio, save for Boden, in case something happened to you, and Gabby, because well, she’s his sister. «where did you get this info?» he asked, ignoring your slip-up. «I overheard him talking to Gabby the other day», you lied. «Okay, I’ll call them in», Kelly said, shrugging.

At the scene, you grabbed the necessary equipments before following Gallo and Kidd in, as instructed by Severide and Casey.

«Fire department, call out!» You shouted as you all moved in. «Kidd, over there!» you added, hearing wailing coming from close to where your co-worker was walking.

«Fire department! call out!» she shouted, making her way towards the cries for help. «It’s okay, I got you! I’m gonna get them out of here! Gallo! Wanna lend a hand?» Stella said. «You got it!» the younger fire fighter responded, running over to her.

«Severide? I’m gonna need an extra set of eyes in here, Gallo and Kidd are coming in with four people, but there might be more people in here», you said into the walkie-talkie. «I’m coming in!» Kelly responded.

You were about to reply when something hit you over the back of your head, knocking you out.

~~~

You could hardly move, or see for that matter when you came to. «Wh—what happened?» you asked aloud to no one in particular, thinking you were alone. «Shut up!» a stranger screamed, making your ears ring. I’ve got a concussion, great, you thought to yourself, feeling a shooting pain in your head.

«what do you want from me?» you asked, looking at the stranger, nothing about him looked to be familiar. So the reasoning for why you were being held captive must be for the sole purpose that you were alone in the house.

«Why the fuck is the police here?! Did you fucking call them?!» he screamed, pacing back and forth. Without a mask, he would pass out sooner or later from the smoke inhalation. But you might be dead before that, seeing as he had a fully automatic ak-47 in his hands.

«Why would we call the police to the scene of a fire, sir?» you asked, trying your best to ignore the painful ringing in your ear.

He was about to say something when Boden sounded over the walkie-talkie. «(Y/L/N)! State your location!» he said, sounding worried.

«Sir. I’m gonna have to answer my chief, or he’ll send everyone in», you reasoned, feeling the rope around your wrists, digging into your soft skin. «But I can’t do that if I’m tied up, unless you want to help me out», you added, looking at your captor.

«You’ll only run off if I let you loose!» he spat, aiming the gun at you. He wasn’t going to make it easy.

«I’m not, you got a gun, I’ve got nothing. But if you don’t let me answer my chief, none of us will survive. And I recon you want to live, seeing as your wife and children are safe», you reasoned.

«(Y/L/N)! Call out! Where are you?!» Boden asked again, sounding more panicked.

«How about this, you don’t have to untie me, just reach over and press the button on my walkie-talkie, I’ll do the talking, you don’t have to say anything.» He seemed to think about it, until he reached over.

«But you don’t tell them anything about me! Just tell them to dismiss the police. Tell them you saw no one else here, you just passed out. Once the police is gone, only then I’ll let you go. Got it?» he asked, tilting your head up to look at him.

«Got it», you responded. Pressing the button like you had instructed him, you started speaking, «I’m okay sir, just got a bit winded. I haven’t found anyone else in here, police won’t be needed», you said, just like instructed.

«(Y/L/N), Severide is coming in to help you get out, where are you?» Boden asked, you could sense in his tone he knew something was up.

«I’m okay sir, really, I’ll be out shortly», you responded. No chance in hell were you going to let your lieutenant get killed for saving you. Looking up at your captor, you waited until he had let go of the call button. «Are you going to let me go now?»

«How do I know the police is gone?» he said, sounding panicked, but tried his best to hide it behind a mean tone.

«How do you suggest I ask my chief if they’re gone without sounding suspicious huh?» he had to think about that before he grabbed you by the back of your neck and yanked you up to a standing position.

«We’ll just have to look won’t we?» he was getting braver. That couldn’t be a good sign. Dragging you over to the nearest window.

Looking out the window you could barely make out the people out there. They seemed to see you perfectly clear however as Boden came back on the walkie-talkie, «(Y/L/N), talk to me!» You knew he was stressing. If something went wrong he wouldn’t only have Antonio on his ass, but he would also lose you, one of the firefighters he basically saw as his own child. You’d been really close since you’d started working at 51.

«Tell them I’m good. Their service won’t be needed today», you said briefly. At this point your captor was getting winded, but tried his best to stay put as he pressed the weapon into you. «Sir, if we don’t get out now, none of us will live. Is that how you want your children to remember you?» You were running out of options.

«Shut up, shut up, shut up!» he screamed, pushing your upper body out of the window, holding you by the hem of your uniform jacket. Taking in as much air as you could you assessed the height that you would fall if he let go of you. I could survive it if he let go, you thought, hoping he actually would let go. But he might shoot if I try to make him drop me, your inner thoughts said, making you groan.

«(Y/L/N)!!!» Stella shouted, looking like she was ready to run over and try catching you if you decided to drop.

«I’m okay!» you called out, trying to defuse the situation. Looking up you caught a glimpse of Antonio who was looking rather pale where he stood, watching it all. «CPD, pack up!» you called out, «For the love of God man just let me go!» you added, feeling all the blood rush to your head, maybe you wouldn’t survive the fall if he let go. You might not be able to turn in time.

Your call was finally heard when you felt his grip loosen followed by the sound of someone falling to the ground behind you. Feeling about ready to pass out yourself you let gravity work its charm as you started falling out the window.

«(Y/N)!!!» Antonio shouted as you fell towards the ground, head first. «Baby!» You couldn’t remember landing, all you remembered was everything turning black.

~~~

When you came to it, there were a blinding light glowering over you. «Hmm. Whe—where am I?» you asked, placing a hand on your throbbing forehead. «Baby?! Oh thank God!» Antonio said, his voice sounding too high pitched at this time.

«Ow, my head», you groaned, both hands massaging your temples now. «I’m so sorry cariño, I’m just so happy you’re awake», he murmured, caressing your cheek. «What happened Tonio?» you asked, looking at your boyfriend.

«The guy passed out from too much smoke inhalation and let go of you, so you fell out of the window—», he started.

«By some miracle you survived, but you’ll be on bed rest for a long time though, so I wouldn’t be too keen on returning to duty any time soon», Dr. Halstead commented, walking into the room. «How long are we talking Will?» you asked, looking at him. «6 months, maybe more. We’ll have to see», he said, gaining a groan in return.

«Hermosa. You should consider yourself extremely lucky to have survived», Antonio said, rubbing your hand, which was in his hand. «I know baby, and I am. I just … Firefighting is my passion. What if I can’t ever go back?» tears were threatening to spill at this point as you looked at your boyfriend. «You’ll be back and kicking ass soon enough mi amor, but for now you need to rest and get better. And I’ll be here for you every step of the way.»

~~~

True to Dr. Hastead’s words, you were allowed back to the firehouse 6 months later. Antonio had insisted on bringing you to work for your first day, and you were not one to complain. Even with him being over you every day for the six months, having taken a lot of time off work to help you, you never got enough of the man.

«There she is!» Cruz called out, being the first to spot you. «(Y/N)! Oh my God! Finally!» Stella and Sylvie cheered, running over to hug you.

«It’s been far too long!» Sylvie added with a chuckle. «I’m so happy to be back you have no idea!» you exclaimed, hugging everyone who approached you.

After all the greetings you turned to say goodbye to your boyfriend when you found him on one knee, holding out a tiny, squared box, draped in red velvet. «Tonio?» you gasped, a hand flying up to cover your mouth.

«You’re the best thing to happen to me cariño. I can’t imagine being with anyone else. You’re great with Eva and Diego, my family absolutely adores you. I love you like crazy. So will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?» Tears were streaming down your cheeks and his as he looked at you in anticipation. «Y—yes! Yes I’ll marry you Tonio!» you exclaimed, stooping down to kiss him, your arms going around his neck instinctively. «I love you mi amor», he murmured into the kiss, raising you both to your feet. «I love you too baby», your responded, pulling away from the kiss to let him slip the gorgeous ring onto your finger, «forever?» «Forever.»

[yeontanismypresident]

Say Hello | myj

a/n: hello, this is a continuation, and the final part, of say goodbye! you can read the first part here. let me know if i should make more yoonji pieces! xx

pairing: min yoonji x female reader

genre: fluff, angst, e2l!au

warnings: cursing, panic attacks, crying, feelings of self-doubt, 

word count: 1.5k

Yoonji watches helplessly as you pack some clothes for the night. Her mouth opens and closes as she wills herself to speak, to stop you from leaving her, but no words escape her. She can feel herself panicking, her breathing picking up. When you stop at the door, she stands up, desperately wanting ㅡ needing you to stay. Still, no words leave her, and she hates herself for it. Why can’t she just speak up for once?

As soon as you walk out of the apartment, she falls onto her knees, heartbreaking sobs wracking through her tiny form. Yoonji curls into a small ball, arms squeezing her legs to her chest, and her eyes clenched shut with tears gliding down her rosy cheeks. So caught up in her self-deprecating thoughts it feels like days have passed by, when in reality it's only been two hours.

"Yoonji?" a male's voice calls out through your her apartment, "Are you here?" the footsteps are getting closer, and the pinkette makes herself impossibly smaller. 

A choked noise sounds from the door. Slightly glancing up, Yoonji can see it's her twin brother, Yoongi. He sighs, crouching down beside her, his voice soft, "Oh, Yoonji..."

"Why are you here?" she croaks out, sniffling obnoxiously loud. Reaching up, she wipes the snot from her nose with the sleeve of her sweater.

He hums, sad eyes watching as his twin tries to pull herself together, "Y/n called me, said i needed to come over and check on you." 

"She said that?" Yoonji asks nochantaly, or well, she tries to, but her voice is bordering on desperate. "What else did she say?" 

Yoongi sighs, helping her sit up before taking a seat next to her, "Told me you broke up with her, that you didn't want her anymore. She thinks you don't love her, and that she's not enough for you-"

"That's not true!" Yoonji cuts him off, voice loud, "I do love her! I love her more than I love lamb skewers! And she is more than enough!" The tears that have once stopped falling are now rushing down her cheeks even faster. "Why would she think that?" 

Yoongi raises an eyebrow, "Hm, maybe because the love of her life told her she wanted to break up and never tried to stop her from leaving?" 

Yoonji knows her brother means well, but hearing those words still cause her heart to squeeze painfully in her chest, and her body to sag. She knows it's her fault this mess is happening, knows she's the one that pushed you away. 

"I wanted to stop her," Yoonji says with a soft, broken voice, "I wanted to say something ㅡ Anything to make her realize I didn't want her to leave, but I froze up. I panicked. And now? Now I've lost the best thing that's ever happened to me." 

She chuckles humorously, "I'm a pathetic piece of shit." Why does she always fuck things up? All you’ve done is be understanding and loving, yet she constantly pushes you away. This time, what seems like forever.

"Yoonji, you're not a piece of shit. Bad at feelings? Yeah, definitely, but that's part of being a Min," her twin sighs, bringing her into an awkward hug. He wasn't lying when he said the Min's are awkward and bad at feelings. 

She lets her head fall to rest on his shoulder, "What am I supposed to do now?" The words she spoke were quiet, full of so much raw emotion, they made Yoongi's chest tighten. 

"Now, we figure out a way to get her back," he holds Yoonji tighter, head coming to rest on top of hers. 

She scoffs, rolling her eyes in annoyance, "Yeah, right. Like she'd take me back." Why would you take her back when she's the one who broke up with you? She's the one who broke your heart, why would you want to be with her again?

"Yoonji," Yoongi starts, voice full of determination, "She called me crying and begged me to come check on you. I'm pretty sure she still loves you and would want nothing more than to have you back." 

She flinches when she hears you've been crying. She hates the thought of you breaking down and sobbing. Hates the thought of you being completely broken ㅡ broken all because of her. 

Licking her lips, she brings her glossy eyes to stare up at her brother, "So, what's the plan? How am I winning back my girl?" 

"Well," Yoongi grins, eyes twinkling with mirth.

“You got this, Yoonji, you got this. Just, don’t fuck it up and you’ll be good,” Yoonji says to herself, inhaling deeply to calm her nerves. Looking at the door in front of her, she swallows, scared of what’s about to happen.

Yoongi clears his throat from behind her, “It’s gonna be fine, just knock so I can leave.” She was happy he was there supporting her, really she was, but why did he have a fucking guitar? 

“Don’t fuck it up,” she mutters one last night before raising her hand and knocking on the door. Yoonji’s heart picks up its pace, beating erratically in her chest, as she hears quiet talking on the other side. 

Yoongi sighs, shifting to rest most of his weight on his left foot, “So, like, when do you think they’re gonna stop arguing and answer the door? Cause I got a hot date with my bed, and I don’t wanna miss it.” Yoonji rolls her eyes, and as she’s about to reply, the door is ripped open.

“Hello?” 

The Min twins glance up and see Kim Jisoo standing in front of them. Yoonji sucks in a deep breath, slightly shrinking in on herself at the fierce glare on the petite girl. 

“Can I help you?” Jisoo asks, raising an eyebrow, eyes switching back and forth between the two before her gaze rests on Yoongi. Her eyebrows furrow in confusion, “Why the fuck do you have a guitar?” 

Yoongi sheepishly smiles at her, a hand nervously rubbing the back of his neck, “Oh, y’know, just setting the mood!” Yoonji facepalms at her brother’s words. God, why is he always so embarrassing?

“Jisoo-ssi, is Y/n here?” the pinkette's voice is quiet, afraid of pissing off your best friend. 

Jisoo sniffs and crosses her arms, “Maybe. Why do you want to know? What are you even doing here? I thought you didn’t love her anymore? Hm?”

“I do love her!” Yoonji says exasperated, “I love her so much, and I regret not stopping her so fucking much. She’s my world, the light of my life, and I just need her back.” Her voice cracks in between her words, eyes become glossy once more.

Your best friend sighs and relaxes her stance. Glancing behind her shoulder, she can see the way you're holding yourself for comfort as your eyes well up with tears. “Fine, but only because I’ve never seen you this emotional, and it’s kinda freaking me out.” 

“Thank you, Jisoo-ssi,” your ex says gratefully, walking inside with Yoongi following close behind. When her gaze rises from staring at the ground, she catches your eyes. She can see the way tears are silently falling down your cheeks. “Oh, baby…” 

With those words, you finally crack, and a sob escapes your trembling lips, “Yoonji…” Before anyone can say anything else, a soft melody starts playing throughout the room. Yoongi freezes as everyone’s eyes are trained on him. 

“...What?”

Yoonji groans and her head falls forward, “...What the fuck are you doing, Yoongi?” The younger Min grabs the bridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb.

“I told you guys already,” Yoongi defends himself, an offended expression on his face, “I’m setting the mood!”

A giggle leaves your mouth, and before you know it, you’re laughing hard and clutching your stomach.

Yoonji moves closer to you, heart racing when you don’t move away, “Baby, I’m so sorry for everything. I know that doesn’t make up for what I put you through, and I know I have so much to do to make up for it, but I’m hoping you’ll give me another chance…” 

She knows that was the lamest apology, but she’s hoping you get what she’s trying to say. Thankfully, you do, but Jisoo doesn’t.

“Are you serious?” she scoffs, “That was the shittiest fucking apology I’ve ever heard!” Jisoo rolls her eyes and looks over at you, “Please tell me you’re not going to forgive her that easily?”

Your ex can feel her heart fall, hands becoming clammy with nerves. Seeing her start to have a panic attack, you bring her into your embrace, voice soothing and quiet, “Hey, Yoonji, baby, calm down. It’s okay. Don’t listen to her. I know what you’re trying to say, don’t worry. Take a deep breath for me. That’s it, baby.”

“I love you, you have to know that. I’m so sorry, Y/n,” Yoonji sobs in your arms, her own rushing to bring you even closer to her. Her head rests on your shoulder, lips grazing your soft skin. 

Rubbing her back, you reassure her once again, “I know, baby. I love you too, and we’ll be okay. We definitely have some things to talk about, but we can work through it.”

“I love you so much,” she whispers, love shining through her gaze as she looks up at you.

You giggle, placing a chaste kiss on her pouty lips, murmuring, “I love you too, Min Yoonji.”

[finalfrontierpioneer]

2020 Fic Recs

Okay, I did a fic rec list last year for 2019, and nobody asked for this, but you know what, I’m gonna do another one. Really the only thing I wanna look back on about 2020 is the fic- bc damn there were some good ones!

Same as last year, these are fics that were completed in 2020. (So no in-progress fics here)

So here goes, 20 fic recs for 2020, in no particular order! And full disclosure, these are all totally different ratings/pairings/whatever.

I tried to tag all the authors who had tumblrs, but i probably missed some, and some of them aren’t actually working but hey! the username is there!

Some stucky bc of course

Sharpened Claws by tragicama (Explicit)

Steve Rogers has a unique talent of getting himself into danger. As one of New York City’s best homicide detectives, it isn’t easy to ignore the constant call of trouble and gore. At least, that’s what he tries to tell his overprotective and brooding boyfriend, Bucky Barnes, even if he knows it might be a lie.

Bucky is dangerous, gorgeous. . .and a werewolf. As the Alpha of New York City, he is easily considered the most powerful being in the world. But when Bucky begins to lose his control over his shift, he slowly becomes aware of a bond that sends him reeling, and one he’d never thought possible.

But everything is not as it seems. After a homicide case unleashes a sequence of events that neither Steve nor Bucky are prepared for, they soon find themselves entangled with a danger that threatens to rip them apart. With the help of Steve’s partner and best friend, Sam, Bucky and Steve navigate a dark web of pack politics, masquerade balls, and a crash course in what it means to be a pack, even as a greater danger looms. And one that might succeed in ripping them apart.

These Happy Gilded Years by crinklefries @spacerenegades, nalonzoo (Teen)

Steve Rogers, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and mostly happy disposition, had lived twenty-three years in the world with very little to distress or vex him.

( Steve is wealthy and and charming, with good humor and good temper, doted upon by his mother and the highest of New York Society, with no one to ever criticize or say the word no to him. Well, other than Bucky. But he doesn't count.

He is also warm and friendly and has a talent for matchmaking. Or so he thinks. Actually, he's kind of terrible at it.

Importantly, Steve will definitely never fall in love or marry, himself. He tells everyone this, repeatedly. Well anyway, we'll see about that. )

Jane Austen's Emma, but a little gayer, set in 1890s Gilded Era New York City

Demon Seed by SucculentHyena (Mature)

[Transcript 00:11:48]

MS: You were with him the most throughout the course of events, both before and after. Your account could shed light on something we may have missed.

JB: What difference will that make?

MS: It could make all the difference. Captain Rogers’ case is unprecedented, he’s the most intact victim we’ve ever recovered-

JB: [laughing] You call that intact?

A Noble Steed by alby_mangroves @albymangroves or @artgroves, leveragehunters (Teen)

"You say the Warhorse showed up last night," Sam said in tones of profound doubt.

"Yeah," Steve replied.

"The Warhorse. The Warhorse of legend. Daelland's Warhorse."

"The same as the one on the back of the transit card, yes."

"And he appeared in your living room?"

Steve eyed the Warhorse, very large and very black and giving him a dubious look out of his strange grey eyes. "He's standing in it right now."

"Uh huh," Sam said.

"Hey, I'm not any happier about it than you are."

* * *

Steve's mom had left Daelland long before he was born, following her heart to New York, but she'd raised him on stories of its famous Warhorse. Before she died, he'd promised he'd go back and learn the country she'd come from.

That was why he was in Daelland. Not so Daelland's legendary Warhorse could appear in his living room. But planned or not that's what had happened—now Steve had to figure out what to do about it.

a hat, a horse (a Hyundai), and the will to ride by elkane @elkane, synonym4life @synonym-for-life (Explicit)

After Steve and Bucky rescue their pals from the Raft prison, they decide to dig deeper into Zemo’s involvement in the UN headquarters’ bombing which sends them on a backpacking trip across select European countries. Steve and Bucky believe this is a story about their mission. Scott Lang and Sam Wilson, who join them halfway through, believe it’s a story about their Eurotrip (and they’re probably right). This writer, however, has been waiting to tell you that the fic’s true mission is Steve and Bucky missioning towards missionary.

Follow them on their journey across Europe in tiny cars, packed subway trains and even on skis as they tumble down the Swiss Alps (in a fun way this time!), all the while reigniting untold feelings of the past through inappropriate sexual encounters and terrible communication skills.

someday at christmas (there’ll be no wars) by stevebuckiest @stevebuckyinc (not rated)

A mission on Christmas. Not even on Christmas, technically. A mission after Christmas which means he and Steve and the Howlies will be trekking through the tundra towards possible death on what used to be Bucky’s favorite day of the year. Jesus Christ.

(alternatively: bucky and steve try to make the best of a shitty situation)

the cabin by natalie_nebula (Explicit)

It felt like he… It felt like they were always so close. Everything seemed like it was under control. He remembers hearing Wanda’s voice, seeing a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. He remembers yelling something back at her, telling her to stop, to not come any closer. He remembers a bright flash, then a boom, and ringing in his ears. He remembers a black blur, and hands on his back, around his waist, then—darkness…

After the explosion in Lagos, Steve wakes up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, and all he knows is that Bucky's the one who brought him there. While Sam, Nat, and the other Avengers try to figure out what happened to their friend, Steve takes the time away to heal—both his relationship with Bucky, and with himself. My cozy, romantic, and introspective Civil War rewrite.

Every Feeling by Nestri (Explicit)

Steve completely surprises Bucky with a visit, scent thick with heat. The Alpha keeps his hands to himself until Steve makes it clear he doesn't want him to.

Halbarry!

A Speedster and a Space Cop get into a Car by ChocolateTeapots @chocolateteapotsvis (Teen)

Hal and Barry embark on their most perilous mission yet: picking Wally up from the airport.

For Halbarry Week, Day 3: First Times “And you just called me Barry, genius”

Crosswind by Cinderstrato (Explicit)

Hal had collected plenty of regrets over the years. What was the weight of one more?

Just A Mark by the_butler @the-butler-fanstuff (Mature)

“What a nerd.”

Barry had been haunted by these words all his life, seeing as they were his soulmate’s mark. It came out during puberty, just like everyone else’s, but by then he was already well on the way to being a ‘nerd’ so to speak. He wasn’t just some guy claiming to be nerd because he was into Dungeons and Dragons or anime, oh no. He was a bona fide science nerd- went to interstate science fairs and competitions even.

—————(Originally a one-shot, now continued)——————

Barry Allen was working at the forensics lab of Central City PD when it waltzes the new transfer from Coast City, Detective Hal Jordan, not just into the lab but also into his life. There’s the matter of them being soulmates- but Barry is unconvinced. Science tells him there’s a likely chance that they’re just platonic soulmates, so Hal suggests an experiment of sorts: they go on three dates, and then decide whether or not they’re just platonic, or something more.

Tired by ceelolights @ceeloilights (Gen)

Hal comes home to Barry still working late into the night.

Last but most certainly not least, Jeronica:

The long way round to heaven by Bearfacedcheek (Mature)

“This could screw everything up. Jesus why couldn’t you just, fucking not?”

“I did just fucking not Jughead,” she retorts hotly. “I’ve been not for months. No one was ever supposed to know, least of all you. So, don’t blame me for what you saw when you invaded a private moment.”

“Oh, my bad Veronica,” sarcasm, his most comfortable armour, wraps itself around his words. “Did my near-death experience compromised your privacy? I’m sorry that my spirit took an astral fucking walk out of my almost corpse and y-”

“Don’t,” she gasps. Her hand flies to her mouth and it trembles visibly as she draws it away. “Don’t say that. Jesus Jughead we almost lost you.”

sadder, badder, cooler by thefudge @thefudge (Teen)

AU. Just who is Veronica's mysterious new husband? (based on season 5 spoilers)

all i’ll ever need is you by whatacoolkid @whatacoolkid (Teen)

jughead and veronica but make it ✨christmas✨

destined to be forgotten by bothromeoandjuliet @kindnessinpain2000 (Teen)

There are plenty of broken things in Riverdale - broken families, broken trust, broken hearts - but in the middle stands the two most broken things of all, Veronica Lodge and Forsythe 'Jughead' Jones.

(Jughead and Veronica learn about the Barchie kiss - this is the aftermath)

I Really (Don’t) Know What I Want by Bella_Dahlia @bella-dahlia (Mature)

There were many potential disasters to befall an average weirdo high school student; when one had an active imagination and a love for John Hughes films, as Jughead Jones did, you sort of assumed you had foresaw the possibilities. Plus, after solving a sordid murder and joining a gang, he really thought he gone through his fair share of teenaged trauma.

Having to fake a relationship to save his best friend from dedicating his life to a mafia and getting punched repeatedly in the process definitely had not crossed his mind before now.

——————————————

Or, Jughead and Veronica don’t really know what they’ve gotten themselves into.

all the lovers with no time for me by Krewlak (Mature)

jeroncia goes to stonewall. that's it. that's the fic.

call it what you want to by an_expensive_imagination (Teen)

“First things first,” Veronica says, reaching up to slide the ever-present gray beanie off his head, “no beanies in college.”

And here’s a one off random spideypool:

Shooting For Your Heart by X_Gon_Give_It (Teen)

“In my defense, I didn’t expect you to get hurt.”

“And I didn’t expect to be run out of town, yet here we are.”

He went suddenly stiff, “Wait...you were run out of town?”

“As if you didn’t know,” Peter grumbled, but when he looked up he did a double-take at Wade's confused expression. “Almighty, you really don’t know, do you?” he snapped the drawer shut, “Well, after that little fiasco by Two-Stone Canyon, a little rumor spread that me and you were in cahoots. The rumor got some ground and it turned the whole town against me. I was run out before I could defend my case. Why'dya think I was out there the other night to begin with?”

<><><><><><>

When Peter Parker, a deputy known as Webslinger, gets accused of working with the West's deadliest outlaw he finds himself on the run from the people he once trusted. In an effort to prove his innocence, he finds himself captured by the very outlaw tarnishing his name.

[justalittletomato]

The Little Shadow ( Dad! Maul drabble)

A/N I am so happy many of you are enjoying these little works! I will really need to make a masterlist so they can be easily found, at the moment all my drabbles are under the tag #cloudsdrabbles just FYI

*reader is only mentioned a few time,this is mostly dad!Maul and his little 5 year old

Synopsis: 4 years after the fall of the Republic, Maul and his small family have been able to hide themselves away with Maul running the syndicate from behind the scenes. Unfortunately even Maul can't excuse himself from all meetings, this time a small passenger would like to follow along and he won’t take no for an answer. 

The Little Shadow 

The fortress was hidden away deep in the caves of some planet, there were things that had to be accounted for, that the sun was warm and away from the Empire’s control. This was where Maul, Y/N and Cress called home. The terrain was dangerous of course, no one should venture out alone and certainly Cress was not allowed outside not without either parent. Currently Maul grumbled over an away mission in the hanger, he had people for a reason to avoid leaving and dealing with incompetent idiots and conferences with other syndicates. These meetings were not too frequent but each one was much too long for his liking.  A small thump from the corner of the hanger alerted him of someone else’s presence, a small someone,  Maul merely looked up slightly from the data pad he mulled over.

“I know you’re there Cress. “ another thump and shuffle, the small five year old boy scrambled from his hiding place and hid behind another column of stone. The older Zabrak merely sighed,  “You’re supposed to be with your mother this afternoon. “

The boy poked his head out, the familiar arrangement of facial markings stared back, unlike his father Cress’s markings were more circular and soft in comparison to his. His son’s small face was pouting, “Mama is just gonna make me practice with a staff again.”

“You know very well you need to learn,,” Maul reminded him, “ And it’s going to.”  

The child huffed, his small face puffing up and readying for his moment.

“I wanna go with you.“ Cress moved away from his hiding spot.

He was no longer the tiny tomato y/n had affectionately dubbed at his birth. He stood as tall as he could, well as much as one could at 3 feet tall. His tiny chest puffed out and his little paring knife in hand, “I can go, I’ve been practicing”

He was impressed by his little one always trying to follow him. His little shadow.  Maul crouched down to his son’s level giving him a rare smile reserved only for him and Y/N, “You have great form today, I can tell you practiced, but not today, my little one.” he patted the boys head mindful of the budding horns  he inherited.

Cress quickly deflated his shoulders dropping and his tiny knife tucked away back into his pocket., “But you’re leaving tomorrow for a while! “ He grabbed onto his father's robe, the tiny face buried into the cloth refusing to peek out.

“ I’ll only be gone for a rotation.” Maul explained slightly taken back by Cress’s reaction, “Just one rotation then I’ll be back”  This wasn’t the first time he had left.

Cress shook his head, adamant on staying by his father “ I’ll go too! Me and mama will go too!” The small boy was beginning to throw a fit pulling and tugging at his father’s robes, hot tears starting to spill from his eyes and onto the black  cloth.

“ Cress!”  Maul raised his voice, a rare occasion, but one with an immediate reaction.  Cress immediately lets go backing away a step, his tiny face tear stained and his small hands struggling to wipe them away best he could. Immediately Maul cursed himself, despite all he did Cress still reacted in that manner, it made him uneasy and often unwilling to be the one to raise his voice, he left that to y/n.  Maul lowered it back to a whisper, “ I’m sorry little one.” Cress relaxed slightly and waited, Maul held out his hands , “I promise I won’t do that again,” his tiny son took a moment and nodded stepping forward  and putting his tiny hands in Maul’s.  His father gave them a small squeeze in thanks. His little one sniffled slightly, still unable to fully settle down some stray tears falling down his face. Maul let go of his hands and quickly went to wiping them away, determined to erase the child’s sadness “ Why do you want to go?” It’s safer here.”  

Should anything happen to Cress, well the galaxy would suffer with him.

Cress looked down and then up again, he saw this as his chance to hug his father tightly his little face buried in Maul’s shoulder. His reply muffled but Maul heard it , ”Someone's taking people with sabers away. They take them away and they don’t come back. “  

To say Maul was angry would be an understatement he was livid, already plotting to destroy the fool who had breathed the word to his child.  He carefully peeled himself away from Cress, making sure to not let this seething rage reflect in his face, “Cress who said this to you?”

Tell me so that I may show them just why they can never take someone like me away, he thought.

His son hiccuped through a fresh set of tears, Maul stroked his back and shushed him best he could, giving the child a tiny kiss to the forehead to soothe him.

“I dunno, I was hiding in the vents. I heard them say it and mama got really upset.I told her too.”

Ah yes, if that was the case Y/N had likely already dealt with the issue, probably making sure to silence who ever had said that with a stroke of one of her many knives, it was likely that who ever it was would never be found.

“Well that means your mama  probably made sure such lies weren’t spread didn’t she?”

Cress’s eyes brightened with hope, “ They’re just lies?”

“ Of course, little one do you think anyone could fight me and take me away?”  His little one had seen him fight others with his saber the boy had been in awe and patiently awaited the day he would learn. No one else could do that those guards hadn’t stood a chance, so Cress shook his head and whispered a hopeful, “No.”  

“So should we worry?” Maul again tried to calm him.  

The little one shook his head again, his small frown finally beginning to melt away,  “ So can I go with you then?” Maul chuckled, of course the his child would try to use this new information to his advantage, this was his son.

“And miss out on your lessons?”

Cress pouted , “ I could practice on the ship.”

Maul gave his little one one last little kiss to the forehead, “ No,” he said simply.

Cress gave a last little huff in defeat, Maul sighed, “If it helps I am going to miss you every moment I’m gone.”

His son smiled, “I’ll miss you more!”  

While Maul wished his own lie was true it was further from that, the threat of the Inquisitors was becoming more truth than underworld rumors. With this shadow of darkness looming his life, Y/N’s, and his son’s were under threat, the very notion sending Maul into a rage when the first report had been brought to him.

 An Inquisitor in search of two crimson Zabraks. 

Cress would have to learn to wield the force, Y/N would fight him on this, she had before when the Republic fell, but Maul couldn’t ignore this, Cress had to be safe no matter the consequence. His son would be safe, damn everyone and everything else.

[onelovewonderwoman]

tater tots and chocolate shop (a.k.a. chen’s convenience store) || eddie brock x reader

listen listen... i know i’ve been gone for a long time and i legit have no excuse but i hope you guys enjoy this unedited excuse of a fic. thinking of doing a smut for this or something smut like for venom/eddie for my other smut blog tho. but we all know we can’t trust me when i say i’m releasing shit anymore smh

tags : @santa-feigh @i-just-wanna-run-hell @munalisax @spiduhgirl @hell-on-cheese-wheels @geeksareunique @violentlybarnes @imissyoualittlemoreeveryday @the-quackson-claxon @curly-haired-holland @courtneychicken @marvel_themed @heycreehere​ @min-amani​ @simonsbluee​ @delicately-important-trash​

words : 4133

warnings : not anything really, just that venom eats someone per usual if ya know what i’m saying... that came off sexual, as sexual as i am, that wasn’t what i meant, he really does just eat a guy sksksksk, also let’s just pretend that chen is single although i’m not sure

“this is venom in eddie’s head”

“this is eddie in his head”

masterlist

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

Eddie really didn’t expect anything new today - Which is something eerily weird for a man housing a deadly symbiote in his own body. Really, he never actually knew what to expect, but never anything out of ordinary; that is, his ordinary. Then again, he had gotten into the swing of things. Having scored a new job as a journalist, three months prior, spent his days at work, although that meant out and about the city of San Francisco. Then, he’d drop by Chen’s convenience store every couple of days to pick up the symbiote’s, Venom, favourite snacks (and now forcefully his too); tater tots and chocolate. For whatever reason, it made an impression on the creature, so Eddie rolled with it. 

The new thing Eddie didn’t expect, though, was the woman behind the counter. Usually, he would walk in and see Ms. Chen behind these counter, greet her as usual, sometimes even getting an earful from her about how “tense he looked” and how he should start meditating (although, that is why he loved the woman - she felt sort of like a concerning mother figure to him), pick up what he needed then pay and leave. Simple. 

Except this time, there was no Ms. Chen behind the counter. 

No, this was a young woman. Eddie thought she couldn’t be over twenty-two. Sure, the college textbooks in front of her behind the counter made it more likely, but she looked like she was practically still what anyone fairly older would call a girl in place of a woman albeit she was. 

Her head was down when he saw her through the glass doors of the store, holding a pink highlighter in her hand as she read through the open book in front of her, highlighting things ever so often. An earbud dangled from her left ear, the wire of the abandoned earbud bunching up at her front when she brought her arms around her to lean against the counter. 

She looked smart. It didn’t help Eddie that she was beautiful either. Sure, he sees beautiful women everywhere he goes every day in the city, but truth be told, the man became somewhat of a shut in since his break up with his ex-fiancé, Anne followed by the recent presence of Venom. 

Although this time, Eddie figured he wouldn’t be just passing her by like he does other women every day. No, she was new. Obviously, Chen wouldn’t just have her there for the day and leave it at that. Ms. Chen has been there every day since the damn store came to be. She was an employee now - One Eddie was probably going to have to see more often than he’d like to admit. 

Sighing, he opened the door and walked in, bell ringing as he did so. It did a good job at catching the girl’s attention, as her head shot up when it rang. 

He seemed to be the first customer in a while. Although he wouldn’t be surprised; it was fairly late into the night and Ms. Chen did recently expand the hours from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. - It was practically only ten minutes until closing. 

The girl gave Eddie a soft smile, welcoming, that he returned briefly, before she turned back to her textbook when she noticed the ease Eddie had walking through the store. It was easy to tell he was a regular. 

When he reached only the first shelf from the counter, he was unable to help himself and spoke indirectly, “So, you’re new?”

“Huh?” The girl looked over before seeing him turn his head to give her a slight smile and nod towards her, as if signalling to her, “Yes, I’m talking to you”.

Yanking her earbud out almost frantically, she stammered, feeling herself flush slightly in his gaze, “Oh yeah. Yeah, I’m… I’m new.” 

Eddie hummed. 

She continued before he had the chance to reply, “I’m assuming you’re a regular here? You know Ms. Chen?”

“Yeah,” Eddie chuckled and shook his head, thinking of the older woman, “Yeah, she’s a…”

“Character?”

The both of them let out small laughs of their own together before Eddie found himself turning back to the shelf and the girl back to her textbook, albeit both reluctantly. 

Once again, in true Eddie Brock fashion, Eddie found himself unable to stop and spoke once more, “So, not that I’m exactly complaining, but why exactly isn’t Chen here. I don’t think the woman’s ever missed a fuckin’ day.” 

She breathed a laugh before turning back to him with something bright in her eyes that Eddie felt he hadn’t seen in a long time, something refreshing, “I’m pretty sure she wanted to set aside a little time for who I think is the future Mr. Chen.”

“Wow,” Eddie feigned disappointment, “There goes my shot.”

A bright smile grew on the girl’s face, making Eddie’s heart start beating just a little bit faster as she went along, “There it goes.”

A small smile - a true, genuine small smile - found its way to Eddie’s face. She was cute, really cute. 

“Who is she and why does she make your heart beat fast?”

“Jesus,” Eddie jumped unnoticeably at Venom’s voice in his head, muttering to himself, “Shut up, you parasite.”

The girl’s eyebrows furrowed in both confusion and offense having heard his muttered words. “Excuse me?”

“Parasite!” Venom spoke in his head with anger. 

Eddie’s eyes widened before he took a few steps closer to the counter. “No! No. Not you.”

“O-” She looked him up and down for a split second with a frown; who was he talking to if not you, the only person in the store with him. “Okay.”

They stayed in silence for a few seconds, feeling the awkward tension get heavier with each passing by. Although, when Eddie saw the girl shift back into her leaning over the counter position from before to get back to her textbook, he pulled her away from it once more. 

“Look, I’m sorry,” Eddie spoke sincerely to the young woman, looking from her to somewhere in the store ever so often, “I guess I have this… thing where I… talk to myself. Sometimes I don’t even realize I do it. Could I just- I mean, do you think I could get your name?”

Her frown upturned into a soft smile once more. “Y/N.” 

She then proceeded to add, “I work three days a week here.”

Eddie’s gaze on her felt like the heat from one of those lights on a movie set, and it made her feel flush under it, “I mean, that’s just if you wanted to know. I’m gonna be here pretty often, so I don’t know-”

“Hey, Y/N, Y/N.” He cut her off with an endeared look on his face. “Don’t shit yourself, it’s good to know.”

“Okay,” Y/N laughed nervously as she watched Eddie move across the store once again to reach the desired shelf, “Good- Good to know. Tha-Thanks.”

Once he’d found his desired purchases, dollars over dollars of tater tots and chocolate for his “little buddy”, he took them up to the counter that Y/N sat behind. 

She spoke as she grabbed each product and scanned, eyes looking up from her actions to Eddie, “Hey, I never got your name.”

He chuckled nervously and spoke almost regretfully to the floor, “Yeah, it’s, ah, it’s Eddie.” He lifted his head to, although he didn’t intend to and it just ended up happening, gauge Y/N’s reaction - As if it would set off a bomb, especially after everything with the Life Foundation. 

“No way,” 

And there it goes. 

“I thought I’d recognized you from somewhere; you’re Eddie Brock, right?” Here comes the part Eddie was waiting for, the backlash of having dismantled the Life Foundation - people claiming what the foundation was accused of doing, what Carlton Drake was accused of doing, wasn’t actually real despite the photo evidence he’d provided. Although, when Eddie closed his eyes for a brief second to both calm himself and Venom, the symbiote probably feeling the way his nerves spiked and heart pumped faster, he opened then fairly quickly when he heard Y/N’s excited voice with what could even possibly be admiration, “You exposed the Life Foundation, right? That’s- That’s insane. It was crazy what they were doing, I still can’t believe it. I mean, I kinda can ‘cause I never exactly had a good feeling about that guy. Yeah, he was nice on camera and stuff, but it felt like he was a little too nice, if you know what I mean.”

She paused when she noticed Eddie was staring at her like she grew another head and looked to him nervously. “What?”

“Nothing.” Eddie pushes back a disbelieved laugh, staring at the girl with that same disbelief, except with something lighter that felt like a tiny spark of hope for him, which made him feel like he was getting way too far ahead of himself. “It’s just that, since it’s happened, not a lot of people have good things to say about it.”

Y/N shrugged before she grabbed a plastic bag and began placing the items into it, eyes on that now as opposed to on Eddie. “I think what you did was great. People are probably just still in their little bubbles trying to avoid any type of bad thing. It was only the poor being used during the human trials, so it’s none of their concern as far as it goes - Just like everything else. I read your papers now, they’re amazing.”

“Thanks.” Eddie smiled, practically mesmerized with this girl for reasons unfathomable to even him. 

After he handed her cash, she leaned over and handed him his bag. Taking it, he felt his fingers brush against hers, feeling adrenaline rush through his body at the mere contact…

Which alerted the symbiote. 

Knowing, Eddie turned away from Y/N, moving his head down as his eyes flashed an ominous grey, trying his damn hardest to keep Venom at bay. 

Beginning to walk out, he shouted, “Thanks, Y/N. See you.”

Y/N’s smile faltered at his sudden leave, only replying with a sigh after the bell chimed again and Eddie was no longer in the store, “No problem, Eddie.”

Outside, an argument was taking place inside Eddie Brock’s head with his symbiote. 

“She makes you heart beat fast like Annie.”

Shaking his head whilst he walked, Eddie thought to Venom, “No, she doesn’t.”

“Yes, she does.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“Yes, she does.”

“No, she doesn’t!” Eddie practically shouted in the middle of the street, stopping his movement to see that he’d gained weird looks from others on the street with his outburst. Shaking his head once more, he went onto walking home again. 

“Look, I just met her-”

“We.”

“We! We just met her, and it doesn’t mean anything. She was pretty, and new, thought I was cool, and I haven’t gotten any for months now. We just got excited. That’s all. We’ll see her every once and a while, and that’s it. She’s a good girl, wouldn’t be surprised if she had a boyfriend.”

“We can eat him.”

“No-” Eddie cut himself off when he realized he spoke aloud again, frustrated with the symbiote’s quote on quote “solution”

Huffing he continued to speak with the symbiote, turning the corner and getting closer to his apartment building. 

“No, we cannot eat him. We don’t eat people, at least not good ones, and you know, there are a lot-”

“A lot of good people. Yes, yes, I know.”

“Exactly. So get over it. I will.”

———————————————

“So, Mondays and Wednesdays.” Eddie walked into Chen’s convenience store that Wednesday to be greeted with what he thought was possibly the most beautiful smile from Y/N. “You wanna let me in on what the third day of the week you work on?”

Y/N laughed, taking her earbud out and giving her full attention to Eddie, almost looking at his shyly and bit her lip, driving him insane in a way he didn’t expect from you. “I don’t know… Maybe you’ll have to figure that out for yourself, Ed.”

“Oh, it’s Ed now,” Eddie challenged with a smirk, walking past her to the first shelf. 

Her eyes followed, taking in his broad frame. “Mhm.” She nodded confidently. 

“Mhm,” Eddie mimicked her with a chuckle before nodding towards her textbooks. “What are you studying?”

“Uh,” Y/N looked down at her textbook, like she had forgotten what the textbooks were even for, eyes fluttering before she looked back up at the man. “Mostly English stuff.” Y/N shrugged and placed her elbow onto the counter, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. “I’m an English major - It’s my third year.”

Eddie gestured towards her, his front still facing the shelf and his side to her, his head still turned looking at her. “Any idea…”

Y/N snorted, voice straining as she told him, “Nope.”

Eddie turned away with a laugh when he saw her smile lazily at him. 

She sighed, “But,” Eddie’s attention turned back to her, “I am hoping to figure it out by the end. Granted I have this year and the next to figure it out, but here’s to hoping, right?”

“Yeah.” Eddie gave a weak smile. “Here’s to hoping.”

Y/N hummed then deciding to leave Eddie be, turning back to her textbook and putting an earbud into her left ear, as she always does. 

“Pussy.”

Eddie huffed, speaking underneath his breath, “Alright, you know what?”

Forgetting what he’d come to the store for, Eddie found himself marching up to the counter and planting himself in front of it, right where Y/N was seated behind. 

Obviously hearing his movement, Y/N looked up with her eyebrows furrowed and a confused smile on her lips. “Is everything alright, Eddie?”

“Let me take you to dinner,” Eddie said abruptly as to not chicken out, attempting to smile through all the nerves he was feeling in that moment, “Let me- Let me take you out on a date, sweetheart.”

Panic shot through his chest right through his heart when he saw Y/N’s confused smile falter into a frown and her face grow solemn. 

“I’m really flattered, Eddie.”

“Please, no but. Please, no but.”

“But,”

“And there it is.”

“I’m already seeing someone. I-” Y/N paused and looked at him almost regretfully, biting her lip with her eyes filled with sadness. “I’m really sorry, Eddie. You’re really cool and stuff, but-”

“No.” Eddie shook his head before giving a weak fake smile as he chuckled, attempting to not make it sound as bitter as he felt so he wouldn’t make the girl feel bad. “Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault. I should’ve asked-”

“No, it’s okay, really.” Y/N shook her head and attempted a smile to show him it was fine, really. 

“Maybe,” Eddie paused, looking around then back to Y/N, “Maybe I should go. I’ll just go. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you, okay?”

“Yeah,” Y/N eyebrows furrowed in concern before she called out as he began to walk away, “Didn’t you need to get some stuff?”

“Uh, no.” Eddie looked back briefly, then tucked his hands into his pockets before he opened the door with his shoulder and heard the bell chime as always. “Not today.”

As Y/N watched him walk away from the store through the glass, she couldn’t help the words that came out of her mouth despite a mother now walking in with her small child, “Fuck,”

——————————————————

Despite saying everything was fine, Eddie found himself not going back to the store for the next week, too, and as stupid as it sounds, scared to face Y/N after what had happened. He felt stupid; after everything, she was too good to be true - Way too good to be true. 

Although, ten days later, he found himself on his way to the convenience store on a Saturday night, half past eleven. 

Taking a deep breath before entered, he pulled the door opened and heard the damn bell again, catching, none other than, Y/N’s attention. Although, this time - This time, she saw him of course, but she didn’t take out the earbud always in her left ear, didn’t take her focus off her textbook and highlighter in hand to shoot Eddie the biggest, most beautiful smile. She didn’t give him any type of greeting. 

At first sight, Eddie would think that obviously she’s pissed. He probably made her feel bad about it, despite how he said it’s okay. Completely contradicted himself and made her feel like an ass.

As he got closer to the girl, though, he heard a sniffle she tried hard to cover. 

It sent a rush of rage through his body, and he had to try his hardest to fight against Venom’s want to make an appearance. 

“Stop it, you’ll scare her.”

“I will scare whoever did this to her. I’ll bite their head off-”

“No. Biting. Heads off. Right now, we’re focusing on her… We might be the ones who did this to her.”

Eddie then felt a flush of shame before Venom spoke to him once more. 

“You.”

“You? What do you mean you?”

“You did this to her. I had nothing to do with it.”

Eddie rolled his eyes subtly at the symbiote. 

“So now it’s just me, huh?”

The symbiote didn’t reply, and that when Eddie decided to walk closer to the counter and the upset girl behind. 

He spoke up, “Y/N?”

Eddie heard Y/N suck in a breath before shooting her head up to face him, quickly wiping away any tears that may be running down her beautiful face, and shooting him a weak smile in attempts to cover up she’d been crying. “Hey, Eddie,” She gave a forced chuckle, “Guess you figured out what the third day of the week I work is.”

Eddie stared at her, concern littered all over his face with a mix of anger, his eyebrows furrowed. “What’s going on, sweetheart?”

Her nose was running and she looked drained, her eyes faintly red rimmed from crying. 

“Nothing, Ed, I’m-” Y/N let out a shaky sigh. “I’m fine. It’s stupid, anyway.”

“Hey,” Eddie spoke softly to the girl, leaning himself as close as he could with the counter separating them, “I won’t think it’s stupid.”

Y/N shrugged before she let out a sad laugh, “It’s just the guy I was seeing.”

Eddie hummed, already knowing where this was going. Nonetheless, he let her continue. 

She crossed her arms in front of her, placing them onto the counter and leaning forward. Closer to Eddie. 

“I thought we made it clear we weren’t gonna see other people,” Y/N smiled sadly, her voice soft and light, weak, “But I guess it wasn’t clear to him. I, uh, I caught him with some girl, and I know it’s stupid ‘cause we’ve only been together a few months, but it just hurts-”

Eddie shook his head and stopped her, “It’s not stupid, Y/N. I promise you it’s not. That guy’s an asshole - Doesn’t even know what he’s missin’”

“Let’s bite his head off.”

Although Eddie chose to ignore him this time, he couldn’t help but consider the idea. 

Y/N gave a weak laugh, “Thanks, Eddie.”

“Any day.”

Y/N shook her head and looked at him regretfully, “Listen, Eddie, about the other day - I’m sorry. I really like you too, I just felt like an ass about it and wrong ‘cause I was already seeing somebody. I mean, but now I don’t feel so bad about it anymore, I guess. If you’d still want to, I’d like to take you out on a date to make up for, well, all that and the past ten days.”

“Got nothing to make up for, Y/N.” Eddie smiled softly at her as he reached over to grab her hand on the counter. “But yeah, I’d really like that.”

If Eddie Brock was a fourteen year old girl, he’d he felt his insides melt and butterflies in his stomach as you gave him the sweetest smile, but Venom would never let it go. 

The sweet moment was all too quickly interrupted. 

In came a hulking building of a man, angry and red faced. Red faced not cause he was angry, but ‘cause he was pretty fucking ugly if the three of them (mind Venom) do say so themselves.

The gun in his hand made it clear what his intentions were, and sent a jolt of protectiveness through Eddie’s body over Y/N and her safety.

The man’s voice was aggressive as he directed Y/N to put all the money in the bag, gun still at his side. She did what he said, obviously, her hands shaking unlike how Ms. Chen was usually more collected because she was unfortunately too used to it. Although, Eddie hadn’t moved when he told him to. 

“Move,” The man boomed, then expressed almost nonchalantly, “I can shoot her if you want, if that’ll make you fucking move.”

The man then proceeded to direct the gun towards Y/N’s head, making her breath hitch and stop her actions of shovelling the cash into the bag to stare at Eddie with eyes filled with frightened tears to mouth, “Move.”

This time, when all he could see was red, Eddie didn’t stop Venom. 

Surely, Eddie form became Venom’s; black covering Eddie body as they shifted. Venom stood huge and towering over everyone and everything. Tongue slid across sharp, menacing teeth as he smiled ominously at the man who now dropped his gun and looked like he was shitting bricks.

There was no speech this time like with the one guy who would continuously harass and rob Ms. Chen. No, this time, he simply grabbed onto the struggling man’s shirt, lifted him with ease to dangle him in the air before simply using him as his next meal. 

Y/N stood watching frozen, scared to make any type of movement, even breath, as to catch the attention of the terrifying creature in front of her that used to be Eddie. 

It didn’t seem to work for her though, because the creature’s head snapped around to her, making her let out a shriek and duck underneath the counter, not knowing what else to do other than cry and expect potential death coming her way. 

Although, that didn’t seem to happen. She heard the creature… talking; like he was arguing with himself. 

“No!” It said, “I want to meet her!”

She heard a final growl before she heard something else, something… slimy, then footsteps coming around the counter to where she hid underneath. Her whole body tensed as she awaited the huge creature, terrified. 

Before she knew it, she faced with not huge, inky black feet (?), but Eddie’s shoes. He crouched down for face her huddled form, arms wrapped around the legs that were right against her chest. 

“Hey,” Eddie said softly, bringing a hand to her arm and pretending he didn’t feel her flinch, “I’m sorry for scaring you. It’s okay. You can come up now.”

Y/N looked at him in disbelief before she spoke fearfully, “No, fuck you, it’s waiting for me.”

Eddie chuckled, genuinely, as his head fell to his chest for a brief second before he looked back up, into her beautiful, [eye colour] eyes. “Sweetheart, I promise, he’s not waiting for you. At least, not to eat you.”

“Okay.” Y/N nodded before exclaiming, “So then it’s to just kill me! He’s probably just full, that’s why. Ate a whole man.”

“Alright.” Eddie placed a hand on either side of Y/N’s face and directed her focus solely onto him. “I promise I’ll explain everything, okay? Just know you’re safe with me. You’re safe, you don’t have to worry.”

Y/N’s mouth opened and closed as she debated in her head, Eddie frightful of what decision she may come to. 

“Okay.”

“Yeah?” Eddie smiled. 

She rolled her eyes weakly in distress. “Yeah. Just- Just help me up now.”

Releasing her face, Eddie grabbed her hands and pulled her up with him, although the movement made lose her footing and bump herself into his chest. His arm wrapped itself her waist and there wasn’t anymore space between them, faces barely centimetres apart.

“Hey,” Y/N smiled cheekily at him, her arms wrapping around his torso. 

“Hey,” Was all Eddie said back impatiently before his hand reached up to cup her face and guide her lips onto his.

Here’s to hoping. Oh, and those damn tater tots and chocolate that gave him a reason to be there in the first place.

[hitsuackerman]

What in the World? (Akaashi Keiji x Reader) pt.13

a/n: hohoho the drama ensues :’)

Akaashi’s lineup: @alluring-akaashi @oikawalmart-hq @extrasugafree @bbykiyoomi @apricotjihyo @awings @simpformiya @sayakaaaaaa @colorseeingchick @demursv1ogs​ @chrisrue15 @beanst0ck  @parttime-simp​ @something-that-idk (i have no idea why i can’t tag some of you :( huhu )

links: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11, part 12, part 14

Was it actually them?

Blinking a dozen times, they were still standing in front of the room.

The same blonde hair with sharp red eyes. Messy dark green hair with matching soft green eyes. Both of them stared at you with utter disbelief.

If this were any reunion, it would have been amazing and bring a sense of relief. So why did seeing familiar faces cause your chest to tighten? The first instinct was to look at Akaashi but with clenched fists and a tightened jaw, it was something you couldn’t do. For the first time in a while, you activated your quirk and relaxed yourself.

Noticing how your mouth was agape, Akaashi looked at your fist. Seeing how one was faintly glowing, he couldn’t help but recall all the descriptions you had told him. Spiky blonde hair with an angry look plastered on his face, there was no doubt that was Bakugo from your world. The one with softer features and tiny bits of freckles was Deku. Breathing in a little deeper, he found strength to look away and focus on the two exchange students.

‘Shit…’ Those were the words that ran through your mind. Trying to think of possibilities as to how and why they found themselves in this world was beyond you. Startled at the sudden poke from Akaashi, you accepted the small piece of paper on his hand.

Everything will be okay.

Meeting Akaashi’s gaze, you pocketed the note and exhaled. Your quirk was not working but his small note was enough to clear your thoughts for a while. If anything, all you wanted to do was to run into his arms and feel his warmth but for now you deemed it best if the two boys did not know about the pretty setter.

When the bell rang for the free period, you stood up and stopped Akaashi from following you. With each step you took towards them, your heart beat increased.

“Deku? Bakugo?” Your voice cracked but it couldn’t be helped.

Standing from their seats, Deku was quick to turn and hug you. Hugs from Deku were no surprise but the hesitation on your part made him let go and hold onto your shoulders. Bakugo eyed you from head to toe before scanning the classroom. Each person all looked like extras to him.

“Is there any place here where we can talk in private?” Deku asked.

“The rooftop is a good option.” You had to answer. Gesturing them to follow, you could feel Akaashi’s stare as you three left the room.

The walk was silent and quick but when the sunshine hit the group you braced yourself.

“D’you have any fucking idea what’s happening?” Bakugo asked as he leaned on the wall and placed his hands in his pocket. Red colored orbs waiting for your choice of words.

“Fill me in.”

“As of the moment, your body is in a coma. Everything about you is stable but your brain activity is showing constant activity.” Deku explained. “You’ve been locked in the clinic for two months now, (n/n).”

Two months? Did time move faster here? Remembering how you felt before finding yourself in this dimension, you deduced that you had fainted and ended up being a vegetable. The concern now was what were you supposed to say or react to the news? Anything you say could be used against you and Akaashi.

Akaashi. Your heart was aching at the thought of what might happen next.

“How did you guys get here?”

“All Might helped us.” Bakugo cut off Deku. “How long have you been in this hellhole?”

“It’s not that much of a hellhole, in all honesty. Everyone here doesn’t have a quirk and crime isn’t all that bad.” You wanted to shrug but that would only make things worse. “How’s everyone?”

“Everyone’s doing well but Todoroki isn’t...”

“Half and half keeps insisting that you’ve been communicating with him through your quirk.” He stood up straight and took a few steps towards Deku and you. “Why’d you stop?”

“I never felt a response.” It was a lie but held some weight. No matter how many times you tried to flicker your quirk, the response never came. To the point where you simply gave up. Or was it because you began to favor living here?

“How many months have you been here?” Bakugo spoke slowly which was new for you.

“7 months, turning 8. Time probably moves faster here.” For a moment, all three of you were silent. If it weren’t for the bell, you were almost certain that Bakugo would have noticed how you were less enthusiastic about their arrival. Though, the walk back to the classroom was a bit stressful, you made sure to avoid the third year classrooms. Ultimately failing when you were now heading down the stairs.

“(y/n)-chan!”

Of course it just had to be him.

“Bokuto-san?” You put on a fake smile. One that made him stop in his tracks and squint his eyes. “Are you having free period?”

“Yeah! Who are these two?” He pointed to the two people accompanying you.

“They’re my friends from Musutafu. They’re exchange students and I took them for a small tour.”

“WHAAA!” Bokuto extended a hand, to which both of them accepted. “I’m Bokuto, 3rd year. Captain of the volleyball team! (y/n)-chan’s our manager and she’s been doing a pretty good job! Come watch us play later if you have time!”

“Manager?” Bakugo repeated.

“Yeah! She helps in our prepping our matches and makes Aka-”

“Bokuto-san.” You butted in. “We still have classes but I’ll try to let them watch you later, okay?”

Taken back a bit, Bokuto laughed and apologized. Letting all of you walk back to your rooms, he couldn’t help but scratch his salt and pepper hair. This was the first time you ever cut him off mid sentence. He also didn’t leave out the fact that you didn’t tell them about being a manager. Turning back and heading to the cafeteria, he made a mental note to ask Akaashi if everything was okay.

By the time you three were now seated in your respective seats, you couldn’t help but shut your eyes and let out a long exhale. Grabbing your textbook, your thoughts took over. Absentmindedly, you crumpled the paper and flattened it, only to repeat the process over and over again. Feeling Akaashi poke your arm, you took the note and read it.

What happened?

Taking your pen, you scribbled a response and kept your eyes glued on your two friends. Making sure that they wouldn’t see the small exchange you two were having.

I don’t know yet. But, I’m scared.

Will you go to practice?

I can’t. I don’t want them to know about you.

If circumstances were different, that would’ve hurt. Of course, It still did. However, he knew why. The one thing he feared about you being from another dimension was coming true. Remembering their quirks, he knew he held no chances and that gave him such a heavy weight in his chest.

For the past 6 months of dating, the thought lingered but he always brushed it off knowing the chances were low. More so when even you couldn’t provide an explanation if he asked about the worst coming true. Jaw stiffening, he scribbled a response.

Where are they staying?

I don’t know. Probably near my house if the patterns are similar.

Do you think you can sneak into my room later?

I will. I planned on doing it anyway :)

All Akaashi wanted to do was to drag you out of the room and wrap you in his arms but even he knew that would only cause things to go downhill faster. Inserting the paper into his notebook, he met your stolen glance and gave a reassuring smile. One that was enough to show he too was scared.

The hours dragged and finally the final bell rang. Once all your stuff was inside your bag, you lifted your head only to be met with Bakugo and Deku. The silence between you three made Akaashi’s mouth dry. Not wanting to stare any longer, he took his sports bag.

“See you tomorrow, (l/n)-san.” Giving you a bow, to the others as well, he left the room and fished his phone out.

“Do you guys wanna eat?” You asked as the three of you headed out the room. Heading the opposite direction Akaashi went. It felt weird. You were supposed to be going to the gym and help out Yukie and Kaori. Yet here you were, walking with two of your friends. Friends whom you wished never came. “There’s a nice cafe here where we can talk.”

“Why are you so calm?” Bakugo spat out and stopped walking.

“How else am I supposed to act? If you think that I just straight up waved the white flag and stopped looking for ways to go home, then you’re dead wrong.”

“Then why do I get the feeling that you’re too comfortable…” His brow was raised and glanced at Deku to back him up.

“I’m sorry, (n/n).” He scratched his nape. “Kacchan has a point. For the past two months, your brain activity made no sense but seeing how things are, it’s all coming together now. Sero was right. If you really wanted to go home, you wouldn’t have stopped trying to communicate with us or even just Todoroki.”

“So…” Your eyes were wide open. “You’re saying you can bring me back to our world?”

“Are you implying you don’t want to be dragged out of here?” Bakugo retorted. “It’s goddamn obvious that you’ve created bonds in this place. That was the biggest mistake you could ever make.”

“Kacchan…” Deku tried to calm the boiling anger his childhood friend was showing. “Having to live here for 7 months and avoid communication is impossible. But the thing is, we need you. The sports festival is coming up and-”

“There’s a plan to rid Shigaraki once and for all.” Bakugo inserted.

“What?” As if things couldn’t get any worse.

“You heard me. If your quirk weren’t useful, I wouldn’t give a fuck but knowing with your help and strength, things might turn out for the better.” He took a step forward. “You wanted to be a hero, right?”

“Of course I do.” You held on to his gaze despite the increasing weight on your chest.

“Bullshit.”

“Think what you will, Bakugo.” You snapped back. Both boys staring at your clenched fists. Small beacons of light shining through. Despite your trembling shoulders, your quirk managed to control the overwhelming emotion of wanting to cry. “Just give me the day and I’ll…”

Behind Bakugo and Deku, you saw Akaashi, Bokuto,and Konoha enter the hallway. All three of them stared at you.

“Just…” Holding onto Akaashi’s stare, he nodded and assured you with a small fist bump to the air. Even from this distance, you could make out how his beautiful eyes drooped with sadness. “Just give me time to…”

Realizing that your focus was somewhere else, both boys turned and stared at their new quirkless classmate. The same person who said his farewell only moments ago. When Bakugo’s gaze shifted to you, he knew it right away.

“You fucked up, (y/n).” He walked past you and made sure to bump your shoulder. “Let’s go, Deku. Someone here needs to get her priorities straight.”

Once he was sure Bakugo was out of earshot, Deku held your shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze.

“The most number of days we can stay here is 5.” He explained. “With the machines over in our world and my quirk to sustain it, it’s the longest I can muster. But, I just wanted you to be aware that your parents signed a paper.”

“For what?” You broke away from your boyfriend’s gaze and focused on Deku.

“No matter what the outcome will be, you will be forcefully brought back to life.”

“What if I don’t want to go back?”

“You, yourself, know you don’t belong here (y/n). Everyone is awaiting your return. Todoroki hasn’t left your side ever since you fainted. Momo’s heart is breaking at the situation. You don’t have much of a choice.”

“Go to Bakugo, Deku.” You adjusted the strap of your bag and began to walk away from your friend. “I gotta do something.”

Seeing as how you were making your way towards him, Akaashi was quick to move.

“Bokuto-san. I don’t think I’ll be joining practice today.”

“Is everything okay, Akaashi?”

“Sadly, it’s not.”

- - - - -

a/n: soo... important announcement :) i usually upload every monday and my drafts have caught up with the present :( my schedule was just super duper hectic this week that i wasnt able to prepare chapters in advance :( so the next update might happen two weeks from now :( hopefully, i can fit in writing in my sched T.T im sorry if yall are gonna have to wait a little longer for this one :(

but yeah~ Akaashi’s lineup is still very much open for those of you who want to be a part of this rollercoaster!

see you in a week or two! :*

[yandere-ac]

How about Zell or Beau?

Yandere Zell X Reader X Yandere Beau

Family

Journal entry: 689, 11 June 2020

It’s now day 1460 since we last saw our dear mayor. The others are saying that they aren’t coming back. That we should all move on. But I still have hope, I know them. They would never leave me! We’re beat buds! But it’s getting harder and harder everyday to keep hope up. I will never give up hope, I’ll keep hoping. For their sake

Zell sighed as he closed his journal. This is how life has been for him, every day for the past four years. The only thing he looked forward to in the morning was the possibility of maybe, just maybe, his mayor and close friend would return. But he can’t keep fooling himself, no matter how hard he tried. He knew the chances of you returning were next to nothing. He was worried that something could have happened to you, but even if something did happen, by now it’s too late to do anything about it. Most of the other villagers had already accepted this fact, but not Zell. No, never Zell. He couldn’t accept the fact that he would most likely never see you again. So he tried to trick himself into believing that there was still a chance he would get to see you again, by now, that thought was the only thing that kept him sane. But no matter, there was the tiny part of his mind that kept saying that he would never see you ever again. But boy was he wrong.

It was another day in the village, the sky was filling to the brim with dark clouds. All of a sudden the rain that was filling the clouds started to pour down hard. Now, this wasn’t your usual rain, no. This was much more violent. The rain was pouring down like the streams going down a waterfall, and anyone who was still outside had to get in quickly. One of those people was Zell. As he slammed his door behind him he stood in silence for a couple of seconds, letting the water drip onto the floor. This was his favourite shirt, and now, just like his mood, it was ruined. He threw off his shirt as it landed on the floor it gave off a lout splat. That was the shirt you gave him. It was the last thing he had from you. And now it was ruined, GONE...just like you...

It all crashed down on him in that moment, the realisation that he would never see you, that you could be hurt or worse, left the island without even caring about what he had to say. He felt his eyes sting, knowing that feeling all to well. He tried to fan his eyes but when that failed it only made his eyes well up more. Before he could calm himself he collapsed down into the ground. Hot tears rolling down his face. He did nothing to stop them, he just laid there. Letting his dreadful thoughts take over him. He cried and cried and screamed and cried. And when he couldn’t cry anymore, he laid on the ground, letting his breath return to normal. And then he stood up, went to the kitchen to make some tea, and when that was done, he went to go watch some tv.

Flipping through the channels he found nothing to watch, or at least anything he liked. That was until he saw what appeared to be some sort of interview of K.K. Slider. “This oughta do it” he said, eyes still red from crying. The interview was about some sort of visit that K.K. Had recently done.

“So tell me Mr. Slider, is it true that you hosted a private concert on the island (I/N) completely free of charge?” (I/N)? Zell has heard about that island. It was the island were Tom Nook lived with his two kids. Or well, what he could only assume was his kids, they looked very alike. But other than that he didn’t know anything else about the island.

“Ayup, sure did Francis” K.K. told the interviewer.

“Well, could we ask you why mr. Slider?” The interviewer, Francis asked.

“They seemed cool, and I had a deal with Mr. Nook. Heh, 'deal'. It sounds so formal and almost like I had a gun held to my head, but I can assure you. It was really fun. (I/N) is a really nice island, I actually stayed there for a while before I went back home” K.K. said. As he told his story, a bunch of pictures came up on the screen. They were seemingly taken by K.K himself, and yeah Zell had to admit, the island certainly looked nice. There were beaches and fruit trees and the folks looked really nice an- OH MY GOD!!!

Zell quickly stood up, the tea he was previously holding falling down to the ground, smashing into thousands of pieces. But Zell didn’t care, his eyes were glued to the tv screen. There, right on the screen, were a photo of K.K. and a human. A human that he would recognise any were. A human that he had spent years of his life with. A human that he had spent FOUR YEARS yearning after. It was you. You were alive! And you looked so different! Your hair looked different and you were wearing different clothes. But even then, Zell could still recognise you. You were holding your arm around K.K.’a shoulder and smiling to the camera. Zell didn’t know why but this made him feel...something. Anger? Sadness? Irritation? Whatever it was. He didn’t like it. But that didn’t matter right now, what mattered was you were alive and out there, which meant he could find you! (I/N) was it? Well, maybe it was time for him to buy an island getaway package. After all of this, he needed a vacation...

Another day, another opportunity. Beau was sitting under a tree, eating a donut and thinking about life in general. That’s when he heard a voice call out to him. “Beau! Over here!” He turned his head to where the voice came from, smiling as he knew exactly who it was. And there you were, running towards him with a big smile on your face. As you reached him you sat down besides him, taking a few seconds to catch your breath. “What’s up saltlick?” He asked, giving you a smile. “Hi Beau, I wanted to ask you if you’d like to have a picnic with me, Timmy and Tommy later? We’re gonna eat lots of cake” as you told him this his eyes lit up with joy. “Would I? Of course I wanna join you! When is it?” He exclaimed putting his hoofs together and giving you a raid, happy nod. You laughed a little at this, classic Beau. So quick to fall asleep whenever but lightning fast as soon as you mention food. “Well, we were thinking it would be around 2 pm when the boys have their break, think you could make it?” You asked him, Beau only responded to this with more rapid nodding.

The two of you talked a little longer until it was time for Isabelles morning announcement. You walked near one of the speakers by the plaza to hear a bit better. “Good morning everyone! Isabelle here with your morning announcement. Today we have a new neighbour joining us, so make sure to give them a warm welcome from all of (I/N). That’s it for today, have fun”

Oh? “We’re getting a new resident? Did you about this Y/N?” Beau asked you, looking very confused. “No, I wasn’t informed about this at all” you answered heading into the resident service.

As you entered, the sound of a bell pinging slightly came from the door. This made a certain Tanookis ears perk up as he quickly turned to the door with a smile. “Oh, Y/N. Come in, come in!” He said, as you sat down he could see how curiosity was gracing your features, like a small child following their guardian to ask them what they’re doing. “Hmm? Is something wrong?” He tilted his head and you could see Isabelle walk towards the both of you. “Hello Y/N! How are you doing today?” She asked with a large smile. This made you chuckle slightly, she was so adorable sometimes. “I’m doing alright but uhh...is there a new resident moving here today?” You asked, wondering about this new islander. “Oh yes! He asked to move in here in as soon as possible, I think he said it was very urgent and that he would pay to get a spot on this specific island. I of course told him that there’s no need for payment. But yes, he’ll be arriving here shortly, in a few hours I think” Tom answered you, pulling up some papers out of a drawer. “His name was...Zell! His name was Zell and he’s a deer” this made your heart stop...Z...Zell? “Mr. Nook-“ “Please Y/N, there’s no need for such formalities” “Oh, right. Tom, could I perhaps see a picture of...Zell?” You asked him, Tom nodded and handed you the file. As soon as the file was in your grasp you started to frantically flip through the notes, looking for something that would indeed affirm your hopes.

“Sorry that I held up your picnic boys” you told the two small tanookies standing besides you. You and a bunch of other residents where waiting for Zell to arrive. You was the first one to sit down and wait. But over time Timmy, Tommy and Beau has joined you. And slowly, the entire island was sitting there in anticipation. “It’s alright Y/N ...ʸ/ᴺ. We would have had to cancel it anyways, we wanna welcome our new resident after all ...ᵃˡˡ” You smiles at the two boys, always so selfless. Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a plane flying close by. It was Wilbur! You stood up as the plane landed by the dock. You felt like you were about to explode out of both nervousness and excitement, if it hadn’t been for all the people here, you would have run into the airport. After a few minutes, you saw a figure come out of the airport. And just like you, he stood frozen there. It was him. It was Zell.

Without a word, you started sprinting towards him. And so did he. The two of you met in the middle and you crashed into a big hug. Tears started to pour out of your eyes. You were shaking out of pure joy. Zell embraced you so hard. Feeling like if he let you go, you would disappear once again. A lot of residents looked confused as they saw the scene before them. Even Beau could be seen with a slightly...irritation in his eyes. But after a while, you and Zell exited out of the hug. But you were still holding each other’s arms. You let out a shaky breath as you gave him a smile, only to be met with eyes filled with tears and despair. “Why did you leave me”

A single grade that made your heart split in two, he thought you had left him. “Zell, no I-I didn’t want to leave. It was purely against my will! Trust me! There wasn’t a day when I didn’t think about you, i searched everywhere but...” you couldn’t finish the sentence, voice cracking and even more tears poring out. Zell only responded by hugging you again. “Please don’t leave again...” “I won’t”

While the two of you were embracing each other. There was an antelope watching you, much to his dismay. How dare this deer come out of nowhere and just ruin his evening plans with y ou. You were gonna have a picnic with Timmy and Tommy, it would almost feel like you were a family, but no, this random deer just HAD to move in. It made him sick to his stomach. But he had to put on a fake persona, he didn’t want you to find out about his true emotions. Y/N walked up to the others, holding Zells hand, and started introducing him to everyone. So it seems you two had a background, way before Beau met you. That made him and but he knew you liked him more. But as Y/N was explaining the situation Zell came up and hugged her from behind very tenderly. This made Beaus blood boil to the point were he could barely keep it inside of him. He’d have to have a talk with this deer later.

It was nighttime now, you and Zell had been with each other the whole day, but now it was time to sleep. You said goodbye to each other and as Zell went into his home, he’d have a lot of things to unpack. But as he closed his door and turned on the lights he saw that Beau, the antelope from earlier were sitting by his boxes of furnitures. “Hello, Zell was it? I need to speak with you” Zell looked cautiously at the Antelope. Carefully planning his next move, like a feline ready to attack. “Who are you, how did you get in here?” Zell squinted slightly, still glaring at the person in front of him. “Beau, but that doesn’t matter. I wanted to tell you to stay away from Y/N. I don’t care if you used to be friends or something, but they’re mine now. So back off” Beau said, pressing the word friends as if the thought of that disgusted him. This made Zell chuckle, much to Beaus dismay. “Hey! Quit laughing! I’m serious!” He said getting more and more annoyed by the second. “Ahaha...listen pronk...you don’t know how long I’ve been without Y/N, how long I’ve yearned for them. And if you think I will EVER give them up just because of some empty threats from someone like you? Then you’ve got another thing coming. You don’t seem to understand how far I’m willing to go for Y/N. So unless you want to become a corpse, then I suggest getting the fuck out of my house”

This made Beau tense up a little bit. He hadn’t expected for Zell to bite back. He usually didn’t resort to threats when it came to keeping you for himself. But when he did, most people would stay away. He’d never actually had to hurt someone to keep you, but maybe this would be the first time. “Bad choice saltlick...” he got into a fighting stance, preparing to start butting his newfound rival. Zell also got down to prepare himself but then it struck him. “Are you close to Y/N?” He asked, slowly but carefully standing up straight. This caught Beau off guard, what? Why would he care? “Yes...we’re very close...how come?” And just like Zell, Beau rose up into his normal posture. “Hmm, then they would be very sad if you died...i have an idea” Zell said coming closer to Beau. ”Stay back!” Beau quickly felt like the tankes had turned. He came in with the confidence that he would convince Zell, but now he actually started to get scared. “Oh calm down you baby, I’m not gonna hurt you...as long as you comply, got that?” Zell demanded, Beau only only frantically in response. “Good...good. Now, let me ask you this Beau. When you see others talking to Y/N, don’t you feel a burning sensation in your chest? Don’t you feel like you want to get rid of them? Like you want to-“

“Lock Y/N up and keep them forever...yes...practically everyday...” Zell grinned at the Antelopes Quick response, he knew that hungry craving stare anywhere. Beau was lovesick, just like he was. But for the first time in Zells life, two lovesick people had fallen for the same person. And while sure, they could battle over who gets to keep you, Zell could use this- could use Beau, to his advantage. “Well, how about we help each other out. We both want the same thing don’t we? So instead of unnecessary violence, how about we put our brains and brawn together to get what we both want” Zell prompted, now walking around the room, looking at his boxesz. “Y/N?” “Bingo! That’s right, Y/N...”

Drip...drip...drip...

God...damn it...there was a persistent dripping noice coming from somewhere in your room. It had woken you up, much to your dismay. You tried to get up only to hear the sound of chains ring through the room. What? What was this. You starter to move more only to hear the chain noice even more vividly. Now you were starting to get scared. You were tied to a bed. Now you were full on thrashing and your heart was beating so fast. After a few moments the dark room filled with bright light, light that made you close your eyes before they got used to the light. Seeing who stood in the hallway made you oh so relieved. It was Zell and Beau, but the relive only lasted for a few seconds until you realized where you were. You were in Beaus basement. You had been there a few times, at least enough times to know that everything remained the same except for the bed you were chained to. It was a king sized bed, with you tied up in the middle. “Zell? Beau? What’s going on?” You asked, voice shaking slightly. Zell only responded to this by chuckling deeply, you could see Beau tense up behind him, ears going back out of...fear? “Why, my dear Y/N. You see last night our friend Beau snuck into my house in hopes of scaring me off of you. That of course didn’t happen” hearing this you let out a audible gasp, he did what. As you looked over at Beau he shrunk down onto his own skin, looking like a cat with its tail between its legs. “No, instead we were gonna fight to the death to see who would have you. But then, I got a better idea. Instead of this relentless fighting, why don’t we just share you!” As Zell said this, something crazy lit up in his eyes, you didn’t like it. “And that’s what we did! I’ve moved into Beaus place and now both me and Beau can keep you to ourselves! Isn’t it great Y/N?!” Zell was quickly approaching you, grabbing a hold of your face, forcing you to look at him. “Don’t you get it Y/N? This way I’ll never have to worry about you leaving me again! I’ve waited for so long to finally feel your touch again, and I’m not gonna let some other 8 residents take up all your attention!” As he said this he laid down on your right side, curling up around your body. Beau was still standing in the doorway, he looked very uncomfortable.

“...why...why me?” You asked, tears now pouring out. “Because we love you, dear Y/N” Zell answered giving you a light peck on the cheek. He looked over to Beau and smirked. “Beau? Are you coming?” Beau flinched a little when Zell said his name. But after a few seconds, he complied and laid down on your left side. You could see Zell move his hand to touch the arm that Beau had wrapped around you.

Zell wasn’t gonna lie, Beau was a cute antelope, very sweet and charming. But the cutest about him was how he thought he had any power in this situation. He found it adorable when he quivered in his presence, poor guy was probably terrified of him. But that’s good. After all, fear is the easiest way of controlling someone. He’d keep him around for a little while, for as long as he could. But make no mistake, if Beau did anything to step out of line, he wouldn’t hesitate to end his life. Meanwhile, you laid in between them, just the other day you were happier than ever to see Zell but now? Now you were terrified of this deer. What had happened to him? This wasn’t the deer you loved.

The deer you loved was dead.

This husk of him, laying next to you was the only thing that remained.

[fanfics-for-fun]

Bend to Live | BTS | Chapter Two

Genre: Bending AU, BTS AU

Rating: 18+

Pairings: fire bender!jungkook x water bender!reader, none bender! Yoongi x fire bender!Jimin, none bender!OC x air bender!Namjoon

Warnings: Graphic description of open wound. Read with consciousness.

Word count: ~5.2k

Summary: You were one of the mightiest water benders. In one of your fights, you caught the attention of a mighty fire bender. And with that, your journey around the world began.

A/N: I hope you’re enyoing the second chapter of ‘Bend to Live’. If you want to be added to the taglist, send me an ask.

Jeongguk secretly watched you, while you were asleep. His mind wandering from how beautiful yet frightening you were and everything in between. His mind just wandered from point to point without realizing what he was actually thinking about.

He didn’t realize that he was staring at you until Yoongi punched him against his arm.

“Ouch! What was that for?” he asked his friend, rubbing over his arm.

“You’re staring at her like you’re undressing her with your eyes. Stop it. It’s really creepy,” Yoongi explained and Jeongguk turned a deep shade of red.

“I’m … not doing that,” Jeongguk mumbled, trying hard to avoid looking at you again.

“You are, Koo. Since when are you so easily pulled into a woman like her?” Yoongi asked. Jeongguk just shrugged and looked over at you, peacefully sleeping and looking like sleeping beauty to him.

“I don’t have a crush on her, if you wanna hint that,” Jeongguk stated and Yoongi brought his hands up in defence.

“Never said you have one. It’s just obvious that you’re interested in her and if it is just for deep friendship,” Yoongi said. “By the way, Taehyung sends me. He wants to train with you.” Jeongguk nodded, stood up and left the tent.

Louise smirked against Namjoon’s skin since she heard everything Yoongi and Jeongguk talked about, thinking that neither Louise nor you would hear anything at all. Automatically, Louise worked on a plan how to get you and Jeongguk onto a date. She really needed to talk with Namjoon about her plan. Maybe he’ll help her and that would be a good chance of getting closer to him. Louise was proud of herself while thinking about it. Two steps ticked of her to-do-list in one go.

Outside, Taehyung and Jeongguk got themselves ready for training, greeting each other in fire nation behaviour and then attacking each other instantly. Because of their fight, you woke up. You grumbled loudly as you cuddled deeper into the sheets. The smell of burned wood and the forest fogging your mind lightly.

A loud burst caused that you were sitting straight up in your borrowed bed. Jimin, who sat next to the campfire and made sure that it wouldn’t go out, was so startled by your actions that he flinched in his seat and looked at you.

“What is happening?” you asked him as you stood up to make your way out of the tent.

“Tae and Kook have a training fight outside. You don’t have to worry,” he said and you sat down next to him.

“Oh… okay,” you mumbled tiredly and rubbed your eyes.

“It’s already afternoon,” Jimin told you and you jumped up.

“Shit, I have to feed her,” you mumbled, packed your stuff and hurried out of the tent. You looked around in search for Louise who stood next to Lynn and helped Namjoon loading boxes on Lynn’s back. You rubbed your eyes tiredly.

“Oh, you’re awake! I wanted to wake you up soon anyway. We can’t let the polar bear dog starve,” Louise said as she spotted you. You made your way over to them and yawned.

“Thank you, Louise,” you mumbled and hugged her tightly.

“Hey! Y/N! You’re awake!” Taehyung shouted as he spotted you. He walked towards you and nearly couldn’t dodge one of Jeongguk’s attacks.

“Bloody hell, Tae! We aren’t finished yet!” Jeongguk shouted as he came after him.

“Cool down, Kook. I just wanted to make sure that everything’s alright and she slept well,” Tae said and ruffled his hair with a blow of the air. You chuckled and hid your mouth behind your hand.

“Hurry up then,” Jeongguk mumbled. He hated it when Taehyung stopped training, especially when it’s about something so simple and not really important, at least for the training. To Jeongguk personally, you needed to sleep well. It was in his bed after all.

“I slept amazing, Taehyung. Thanks for asking. Namjoon, Louise and I are heading off now. Have to feed the polar bear dog,” you said.

“But you should indeed cool down. It is polite to ask that,” you said directed at Jeongguk and got onto the back of Lynn with Louise’s help. Jeongguk just huffed.

“Should I help you cool down?” you asked and bent some snow above him.

“Thank you, I can do this myself. And I would prefer of staying warm,” he said, melting the snow and turning it into vapour by breathing fire at it. You giggled.

“Taehyung, as soon as you finished your fire bending training, please go to the gates and watch the water collide with the wall. I’ll meet you there, okay?” you said. Taehyung nodded, gave you thumbs up and went back to training with Jeongguk. Namjoon shortly after brought Lynn up into the air and together, you flew to the cave where the polar bear dog with her four pups lived. With a good distance to the cave, Namjoon landed Lynn, you grabbed one of the boxes and jumped off of her back. Looking around, you couldn’t spot the animal so you approached the cave and saw her laying inside with her pups.

“Hey, beauty,” you whispered. The polar bear dog lifted her head and looked at you.

“I have food,” you said as you opened the box. You walked towards her but stopped in your tracks because the animal growled deeply at you. You immediately backed off and realized that you were to close to her pups. You laid the meat down and went back to Lynn.

“Is everything okay?” Namjoon asked. You just nodded and took another box.

“She’s feeding her pups, so she’s a little more aggressive,” you explained quickly and made your way back to the cave. The polar bear dog stood in the entrance eating the meat. You laid more next to it, sat down in front of her and watched her.

“You must be so lonely and hungry,” you mumbled. The polar bear dog just kept on eating peacefully.

“You need a name… how about… Clara? Now, that’s a terrible name for you,” you said aloud and brushed a few strands of hair out of your face. Thinking heavily about a name, you scrunched your nose a little.

“Ireyon?” you mumbled to yourself and the animal lifted her head at this.

“You like this name? Okay, then I’ll call you Ireyon from now on,” you said and smiled at her. Ireyon finished eating and laid down in front of you. You started petting her softly and smiled. It felt like there was a friendship building between the animal and you. You loved it. You were always impressed by polar bear dogs and now being nearly friends with one felt like a dream come true.

After a while, you stood up.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’m coming back tomorrow, I promise,” you said, petted her shortly and made your way back to Namjoon, Louise and Lynn.

“What I’m saying is that I slept unquestionably well and that I don’t mind sleeping like this again with you,” you overheard Namjoon say and you smiled brightly. One month and they’re in a relationship, you thought to yourself and climbed onto Lynn.

“Can we go back?” Namjoon asked you. You nodded and enjoyed the cool breeze that ruffled through your hair as Namjoon flew back to the campsite.

“Thanks for the fly, Namjoon,” you said as you jumped off of the bison.

“You’re welcome,” he responded and unpacked Lynn.

“Hey, Y/N. Tae is already on the wall. He asked me if I could tell you that,” Jeongguk said as you looked around. You turned to look at him and smiled. His heart skipped a tiny bit and his ears turned slightly red. Why did this look so cute to him?

“Thanks, Jeongguk. I’m heading there then. Can you help Louise bring the meat in our apartment?” you asked and Jeongguk just nodded, still captivated by your smile and not fully realizing what you asked him.

“Thanks, see you,” you said, waved everyone and headed towards the wall. Jeongguk stared at you while you’re leaving and a small smile crept on his lips.

“Jeongguk! Could you at least please help me carry something? She’s already out of sight!” Louise shouted and threw Jeongguk out of his thoughts.

“Huh? Why?” he asked dumbfounded. Louise let out a loud laugh.

“Y/N asked you to help me carry the meat into her apartment. You said yes to that,” she explained.

“Did I?” Jeongguk mumbled to himself but helped Louise nonetheless.

“I know her smile is beautiful but make sure to pay more attention next time,” Louise said and headed towards your apartment. Jeongguk could feel his face heat up and he followed Louise like some kicked puppy. This was extraordinarily embarrassing, even for him.

“Taehyung! There you are!” you shouted as soon as you finally spotted him on the wall. He turned around and smiled at you.

“Hey, I already wondered where you were. You took longer than I thought,” Taehyung responded.

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,” you said and looked down onto the water. It was silent for a few minutes and you noticed Taehyung’s confused stare at you.

“What did you learn about the origins of water bending, yesterday?” you asked and crossed your hands behind your back.

“The first water benders watched the push and pull dynamics of the moon and copied that,” he told you. You nodded and bent a bucket full of water in front of you.

“Do it then,” you said and looked expectantly at him.

“Right now? Don’t I need some more input for that?”

“You have enough input for that. Do it.” You looked at him, seeing him swallowing thickly. He got himself into the right position and tried to copy the movements, failing miserably.

“You think too much. Just copy the movements,” you said, lifting your hands and mimicking to pull the water out of the bucket which ended in you bending the water out of it. You dropped the water back into the bucket and looked at Taehyung. Taehyung tried it, too and the water moved a little upwards.

“Keep doing it until the water is completely out of the bucket,” you instructed and sat down, watching him peacefully. Taehyung did as you told him and repeated his movements over and over again. At some point, he found the right position of his feet and his hands and he managed to fully bend the water out of the bucket.

“Good job,” you said, standing up. He bent the water back into the bucket and looked proudly at you. You smiled at him and let your gaze drift over the water.

“Let’s wrap it up for today. You worked on this for over two hours. It’s enough,” you said and turned around.

“Wait, that’s it?” Taehyung asked confused.

“Yes, or do you want homework?” you responded confused. His eager gaze and fast nodding made you giggle.

“Take the bucket with you and keep training that move. I want you to be capable of bending that water instantly. If you feel comfortable enough, try moving it in the air,” you told him. He nodded and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Sifu Y/N,” he said and stood straight again. You felt your face heat up and a shy smile appeared on your face.

“See you tomorrow,” you mumbled and started your walk to your apartment.

Louise unlocked your shared apartment, letting Jeongguk go in first. He looked around and wondered which of the doors would lead into your room.

“Follow me,” Louise said and went into the kitchen. Jeongguk did as told and put the boxes of meat into the fridge with the others Louise was carrying.

“Do you want to drink something?” Louise asked, opening a drawer and getting a glass out.

“No, thanks. I should be going back anyways,” he said, leaning against the counter.

“C’mon, lover boy. I’m sure you want to see her room and to know more about her. Since I’m Y/N’s best friend you have the best source for information about her right in front of you,” Louise said and poured herself some juice.

“I’m not invading her personal space like that! That’s remarkably rude,” Jeongguk responded. Louise turned around, smiling.

“You’re a gentleman… I see. But it’s nice that you didn’t deny your crush on her,” she said and sipped on her juice. Jeongguk’s complete face heated up and he swallowed thickly.

“Maybe… I have a tiny crush on her,” he mumbled and scratched the back of his neck.

“I knew it! Should I set up a blind date for you two?” Louise asked and was utterly excited.

“Thank you, but I’ll do this myself… if I ever dare to do that,” he answered, mumbling the last sentence more to himself.

“You know, I’m more than willing to help. It would be nice if Y/N would be met with love instead of fear,” Louise said. Jeongguk looked confused at her causing Louise to sigh.

“You know she is a powerful bender. There's a really sad story. I’m sure she’ll tell it someday to you and your friends,” Louise explained.

“Thank you,” Jeongguk said and grabbed the glass Louise was holding out to him. He sipped at it while thinking about what happened to you. Why were people terrified of you? Did you hurt someone? Where they just afraid of your powers?

Jeongguk was completely lost in his thoughts and didn’t realize the waving hand in front of his face until Louise poked him into his side. Jeongguk jumped a little and looked confused at her.

“What?” he asked dumbfounded.

“Namjoon wants you to come back. I think he has something to discuss with you,” Louise explained. Jeongguk emptied his glass quickly.

“Thank you for the drink,” he said and hurried out of the apartment. Louise looked after him and smiled slightly.

“This will be good,” she mumbled to herself and started cleaning up a little.

Meanwhile, Jeongguk hurried back to the camp-site and into the tent. Everyone except for Taehyung was already there and sat around the fire.

“What’s the problem?” Jeongguk asked a little bit out of breath. He sat down next to Yoongi and looked around.

“Taehyung’s parents are looking for Taehyung,” Namjoon said.

“Well, they’re doing this since we left. So where’s the problem?” Jin asked.

“They’re here. In this city,” Namjoon answered. Jimin gasped a little and grabbed Yoongi’s hand tightly.

“Are you sure?” Everyone felt into a little panicked chatter.

“Guys, please listen to me,” Namjoon interrupted and used his bending to let his voice be louder. “I saw them when I was going to get some groceries. I don’t think they saw me but we have to leave tomorrow to keep Taehyung save. I already informed Louise about it. She’ll tell Y/N and they’ll be here as the sun rises. We have to leave as soon as they’re here,” Namjoon explained.

“Tae and Y/N are still outside training?” Jeongguk asked. Everyone nodded.

“We have to get them. It could be dangerous if Taehyung went back alone,” he said.

“Jeongguk, I’m sure he can defend himself,” Namjoon said.

“No, he can’t. His parents are remarkably manipulating and you know that Tae has a sweet spot for them. If they’re saying the right thing, he’ll come with them and then, they’ll lock him away,” Jin hissed and crossed his arms. Jeongguk was already on his feet.

“We’re splitting up. I’ll search on the wall. Everyone else scans the city for Taehyung. We have to find him before his parents do,” he said and walked out of the tent. The other five followed him quickly and together, they searched the city, hoping that they find Taehyung before his parents do.

As you entered the apartment, Louise stood lightly upset in the hallway. You raised an eyebrow since it seemed like she wanted to say something. Even after a few seconds passed, Louise still couldn’t get it out, causing you to sigh.

“Oh, spirits. Spit it out already, Louise. Why are you so uncomfortable?” you snapped. Louise was fidgeting in her place.

“We need to find Taehyung. His parents are here. I don’t know why it is a problem but Namjoon said it is urgent,” Louise said quickly. You opened the door again and stepped out. Louise quickly followed behind you and together, you walked to the wall where Taehyung and you had his training.

“We did his training here.” You looked around and headed into the direction of the campsite. You looked around constantly, carefully looking for Taehyung and stopping at some shops to ask if he passed through here recently.

Louise and you walked through the streets for half an hour now and you still hadn’t found him. You just knew that you were on the right track because an elder lady just confirmed that he passed through here a few minutes ago.

“I don’t understand. He has to be here somewhere. The woman said that he got stopped by an elder woman and man who looked like they were from the earth kingdom. Why is he nowhere?” Louise said quietly to you and you agreed. He had to be somewhere here.

“Mom, Dad, please go back home. I guarantee you I’m okay,” you suddenly heard Taehyung say. You rushed instantly into that direction.

“You can’t know that Taehyung. You’re a weak Avatar. We’re just trying to protect you,” you heard a woman say. You finally arrived in a small alley where two adults cornered Taehyung.

“Mom, I’m sure you want the best for me but I can take care of myself. I’m in the middle of my water bending training,” he said and you could see the pain in his eyes from the statement his mother made before. ‘He seriously believes that he is weak,’ you thought to yourself. You cleared your throat and the two adults turned around, surprised that someone found them in this alley.

“I’m sorry to interrupt but Taehyungs’ friends are searching for him and I promised them I’ll bring him back safe,” you said politely. The man’s face contorted into an ugly angry expression. You just tilted your head at that.

“I don’t care. Taehyung is coming back home with us so he stays away from all of this. It is not good for him. He is way too weak for that,” the man hissed.

“Taehyung’s not weak. In fact, he managed to take me down which is a wonder itself,” you responded, raising your chin.

“As I said I don’t fucking bother. He is coming with us,” Taehyung’s father said aggressively.

“I’m sorry but I can’t let that happen,” you said and shifted your feet lightly. Taehyung noticed this and swallowed thickly.

“Y/N… you don’t have to do this,” he mumbled.

“Your parents are a vulnerable spot for you, Taehyung. If you can’t stand up against them, I will,” you said and crossed your hands behind your back. A wicked smile appeared on both faces of Taehyungs’ parents.

“You can’t win this. We’re two powerful earth bender. And this city is built on rocks. We’re taking Taehyung with us and there is nothing you can do against it,” the woman said and you sighed.

“And I’m the most powerful water bender at the North Pole and I’m a descendent of master Katara, the wife of Avatar Aang. It would surprise me if you could take me down,” you responded.

“I’ll teach you a lesson, brat,” the man said and attacked you.

Meanwhile, Louise rushed back to your apartment and packed your essentials. Namjoon helped her with it. He found the two of you and as he saw that you confronted Taehyungs’ parents, he decided to help Louise pack everything for the flight.

“I genuinely hope that Y/N can beat Taehyungs’ parents and the flight is even possible,” Louise said while packing hurriedly.

“Don’t worry. She doesn’t have to beat them. She just has to have them under control until Jeongguk arrives. Together, they’ll be able to grab Taehyung and run while they’re keeping his parents under control,” Namjoon explained.

“I’m still scared that she’ll be injured again. If she’s heavily injured she can’t heal properly and if Jeongguk gets injured too, she can’t heal him or even worse… what is if Taehyung gets injured and that causes the Avatar state to break through and he destroys the city?!” Louise asked herself panic-fuelled. Namjoon silently listened to her ramble and shouldered the packed bag.

“Nothing’s gonna happen. C’mon, we need to go,” he said and reached out for her hand. Louise took it quickly and together, they hurried out of the apartment and into the direction of the campsite. They had to cross the street where you were still fighting the parents of Taehyung. They were really good and you had a lot of trouble dodging and parrying their attacks.

“Give up! You can’t beat us!” Taehyung’s father roared. You shot some water into his face and froze it. With a slap against it, the man broke it quickly. You swallowed thickly and looked at Taehyung. He stood still on the side and watched. He had a mental fight with himself. Should he help you or defend his parents who gave him everything he ever had? And you couldn’t blame him for that. A stone slit through your clothes, leaving a bleeding scratch on your skin. You hissed in pain and looked angry at Taehyung’s mother.

“Oh? Did I hurt you?” she said mockingly loving. You threw some ice daggers in her direction.

“I didn’t want to hurt you because you’re Taehyungs’ parents but you crossed a line and I don’t care anymore,” you hissed and threw ice dagger after ice dagger in their direction. They managed to parry most of them but some left scratches on them, too.

“Y/N! It’s enough!” you suddenly heard Jeongguk shout. You turned around to look at him, bending an ice wall behind you for protection.

“What the hell are you doing here? I nearly had them,” you hissed.

“If you hurt them badly, Taehyung would be enraged and he would shift into the Avatar state. I’m here to prevent anything like that. We take him and then, we hurry to the campsite so we can get out of here,” he explained and kept a close eye on Taehyungs’ parents who shoot stone after stone at your ice wall. You let out an annoyed huff.

“Fine,” you said and shot the ice wall into the direction of Taehyungs’ parents. You used this as a distraction, grabbed Taehyung and started running to the campsite. Jeongguk followed right behind you with Taehyungs’ parents right behind him. You breathed heavily and bent some walls in their way so the gap would grow bigger.

And then, something happened which had to happen. You couldn’t parry an attack of the woman and she shot an earth dagger right through your thigh. You screamed in pain and fell onto the ground. Taehyung and Jeongguk stopped in their tracks and turned to look at you. Jeongguk’s face turned pale as he saw the big dagger in your thigh. Taehyung bent a tent around you three, while you curled on the ground.

“Shit shit shit, this shouldn’t have happened,” Jeongguk mumbled to himself and kneeled next to you. You cried silently and managed to roll on your back.

“Jeongguk, what should we do? She can’t run anymore!” Taehyung said and tried to not let the tent break under the force of the attacks of his parents.

“We have to remove the dagger,” Jeongguk said.

“N-no!” you managed to scream through your sobs. Jeongguk bit his lip and lifted you quickly. You cried out in pain because of the sudden movement.

“It’s not long until we’re at the campsite. As soon as we’re in the air, we’ll take care of your wound. Taehyung, make sure that nothing’s happening to neither me nor Y/N. Am I understood?” he hissed. Taehyung nodded quickly.

“At three you try to distract your parents to allow us to escape. One, two, three!” Jeongguk said. Taehyung bent the walls as a distraction and Jeongguk started running. You cried out in pain again and tears streamed down your face. It hurt like hell and you just hoped the wound wouldn’t get infected. Taehyung followed shortly behind you and made sure you and Jeongguk were safe. You cried the whole way to the campsite. As soon as the others saw the three of you, they helped you onto Lynn and Namjoon gave her the order to fly as everyone was on her back. Jeongguk watched Taehyungs’ angry parents on the ground and was relieved as they didn’t try to follow them.

“What the fuck happened!?” Louise shouted, kneeling next to you and watching your curled up figure.

“My mother injured her. It’s her dagger,” Taehyung mumbled and scooted away. He wasn’t able to look at the wound but to be fair, it looked sickening.

“We have to remove the clothing,” Louise instructed and looked for a knife. Jeongguk kneeled next to you, grabbed the clothing of your trousers and tore it apart. He removed the whole fabric underneath your hips like this.

“Or like that,” Louise mumbled to yourself. She inspected the wound and swallowed thickly. Because of the uneven surface of the dagger, the meat around it was torn to shreds.

“We have to remove the dagger. If it infects the wound it’ll get really ugly,” Louise said.

“Y/N said we shouldn’t do that,” Jeongguk responded and lifted your leg a little. Some blood dribbled onto Lynn’s saddle and he wiped it away quickly. Your sobs grew even louder at the movement of your leg.

“Y/N? Can you heal?” Louise asked and laid her hands on your cheeks. You looked at her and nodded.

“I-I can try, b-but I do-don’t know if it is st-strong e-enough,” you said between broken sobs.

“Hoseok? Remove the stone, carefully. We don’t want to damage more than already is,” Louise instructed. “This will hurt a lot. Are you ready?” You nodded and took a deep breath. You grabbed Jeongguk’s hand tightly. Hoseok scooted closer, raised your leg and carefully bent the rock out of you. You screamed out in pain, squeezed Jeongguk’s hand and threw your head back. As the dagger was removed, you were dizzy because of the pain. More tears spilt out of your eyes and you felt how a gush of blood shot out of the wound. Somehow, you managed to bend some water into the wound and used your healing powers to properly stop the bleeding. Everyone watched carefully, ready to step in if you would lose consciousness. You collapsed as soon as your powers gave in.

“It’s okay. We’ll handle the rest from here. You did amazing,” Louise said and grabbed the first-aid kit. You smiled at her and shortly after, you lost your consciousness. Jeongguk kept on holding your hand while Louise treated your wound. He looked at your face, thoughts racing through his head about how incredible you are because you stood through this.

“And she is unconscious because of me again,” Taehyung mumbled to himself.

“It’s not your fault, Tae. Your mother did this, not you. Because of her, she is injured,” Yoongi said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Yoongi’s right, Tae,” Jimin said and smiled softly at his best friend.

“But if I didn’t run away from my parents, this wouldn’t have happened,” Taehyung said, causing Yoongi and Jimin sigh synchronously.

“Maybe I should go back home as they said. Maybe I am weak,” he continued.

“Quit the bullshit, Taehyung. You’re one of the most powerful benders I’ve ever met and it’s like Y/N said. Your bending itself doesn’t define strength,” Jeongguk snapped and looked angry at Taehyung.

“Yes, she got injured and yes, it’s your mother's fault and yes, it was a really ugly sight. But you saved her Taehyung. Without you I would have been incapable of carrying her to the campsite and without you, we both would be dead. So quit blaming yourself of the bad things that happened and look at the good things. We all will be injured again because we stick together and sometimes, you won’t be near to help us with our injuries but this is a risk everyone here is willing to take, Taehyung. We’re not here because we think you’re weak. Were here because together, you’re even stronger so please stop blaming yourself about things you can’t control,” Jeongguk said angrily and took a deep breath afterwards. Taehyung slowly started smiling brightly.

“Thank you, Kookie. I didn’t know that you would ever say something like this,” Taehyung said.

“Don’t call me Kookie and don’t pretend like I’m a stone without feelings. I may not show them often but I have them,” Jeongguk grumbled and helped Louise laying you down properly. Taehyung rolled his eyes at that.

“Smartass,” he mumbled.

“So… where are we going? We can’t go back and Y/N needs treatment after she wakes up,” Louise asked.

“We’re going to the southern air temple,” Namjoon stated.

“That’s a long flight, Namjoon. It’ll take a few days. Do you think this is a good idea?” Jin questioned.

“Yes. It is the air temple where Taehyhungs’ parents have absolutely no excess to and it is very far away from the North Pole,” Namjoon answered and climbed onto the saddle.

“On top of that, it has great spiritual energy which would help her recovering faster,” he added and got comfortable.

“You’re siriously going to sleep now?” Jeongguk asked.

“Of course. Lynn knows the way and I don’t have anything else to do. Y/N’s in a stable condition and there is nothing to worry about while we’re in the air. Wake me up as soon as you’re getting tired and I’ll watch Y/N for you, Jeongguk,” Namjoon responded and covered himself with a blanket.

“Okay,” Jeongguk said. The others got comfortable, too and Jimin happily curled up on Yoongi’s side. He laid an arm around Jimin’s waist and pressed a kiss on his forehead. Jimin giggled happily and pressed himself into Yoongi. Jeongguk watched it fondly and turned to look at you. You were still unconscious. He grabbed a blanket and tugged you in.

“You’re being really sweet,” Louise said and smiled.

“I’m just making sure she isn’t freezing,” Jeongguk said and slowly rubbed his thumb over the back of your hand. He was really afraid of losing you as you had the stone dagger in your thigh. Now, you looked like nothing of the things happening in the last two hours occurred.

“I know. And she’ll appreciate that,” Louise said. Jeongguk looked around. Everyone - except for Yoongi and Jimin - were already asleep. But the two young men didn’t recognize anything around them since they were in their pink world.

“Louise?” Jeongguk suddenly said, looking serious at her.

“Yes?” she responded and tilted her head a little.

“Maybe I do have a huge crush on Y/N,” he said and Louise giggled.

“I know but I won’t tell anyone. Tell me if it turns into more than a crush and I’ll help you wherever you want me to,” Louise said and got comfortable, too. Jeongguk nodded and watched your peaceful state while Lynn made sure they arrived as soon as possible at the southern air temple.

Taglist: @neinyasficrecs​ @deolly​

[hunter-the-sad-skeleton]

So Helluva Boss Episode five dropped and I decided to write. May continue this, who knows. Enjoy!(Reblog if ya enjoyed reading this! :D)

“The Harvest Moon Festival,” Skip read from his phone. “Is a festival that takes place in the circle of Wrath every year to celebrate the harvest with Prince Stolas cursing the locals with the glow of the true Harvest Moon.” Skip hummed.

“It’s a lot more than that, hon!” Millie grinned. “I can’t wait to introduce ya to my folks! They’re gonna love ya!....Maybe!...We’ll see!” Millie smiled.

Skip grimaced, pulling his legs to his chest, tail thumping against his seat anxiously. “Dad, do I have to go…?” Skip asked Blitzø anxiously.

“Now, Skip, this’ll be a fun experience for ya! You need to get out more anyway! Maybe you’ll make some new friends here!” Blitzø smiled.

Skip sighed. “Maybe even someone more than a friend~!” Blitzø winked.

“DAD!!!” Skip squeaked, discomfort evident.

“Kidding, kidding!” He chuckled.

Millie grinned excitedly as a sign came into view. “Rough and tumbleweed ranch.”. Skip chuckled to himself at the pun.

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. I mean, if they made a pun like that, maybe he’d get along well with them.

...It took him all of five minutes to not feel comfortable around them. He didn’t voice this fact, that would be rude, but the mention of “An Imp is only worth a dime if he can tear the head off a beast” made him feel uncomfortable.

“Guys, come on, lighten up!” Millie smiled shakily.

“I-I can go…” Skip said shakily.

“Wait!” Millie called, grabbing him by the shoulder.

“Ma, pa, meet Skip! He’s Blitzø’s adopted son!” Millie introduced.

“H-How d’ya do…?” Skip asked shakily.

“Hm. Doesn’t carry himself well.” Joe shrugged.

Skip internally cringed and curled into himself, internally screaming at himself to just run off, run away and never come back.

“I suppose y’all should meet our newest help.” Joe said. Skip tilted his head in confusion. “STRIKER!” He called, Skip jumping at the sudden volume increase.

Skip heard the sound of thundering hooves and...flames…? He immediately perked up, knowing what it was right off the bat. What he DIDN’T know, however, was the absolute SIZE of the beast.

He could only see up to around his belly without looking up. Then came a voice, Silky as high quality curtains and smooth as freshly melted butter.

“Howdy~!” He greeted.

Skip’s jaw hung loose as he took everything in.

“Is your, uh, friend okay?” Lyn asked.

“Hold on, I can check.” Millie said. “Skip? You alright, hon?” Millie asked.

The rider’s gaze drifted down to Skip. Skip now wished he could spin off into space, never to be seen again. He began nervously messing with his tail.

“Skip, huh? Nice name.” Striker smiled.

Skip processed everything for a moment, eventually snapping out of it. Oh Lucifer be merciful, he started accidentally infodumping about Hell Horses that he learned around when he was six-ish, since he took to teaching himself.

It took him about thirty minutes before he realized he was infodumping and he stopped, face heating up in embarrassment.

“Sorry, that was weird.” Skip coughed.

“Huh, never knew someone liked Hell Horses that much.” Striker chuckled.

Skip wringed his tail nervously. He internally screamed at himself. He’d embarrassed himself again, in front of everyone.

“I-I’ll go, uh...do...something away from here…” Skip trailed off, turning around.

“Shame, I was gonna see if ya wanted to pet him maybe.” Striker shrugged.

Skip’s heart skipped a beat. He’d embarrassed himself in front of everyone else, and yet he was being offered pets for a Hell Horse? “I-If you’re okay with it, s-sure!” Skip squeaked. Striker chuckled, gesturing for Skip to come closer.

Skip slowly walked over, freezing when he looked at him. “I...don’t think he likes me.” Skip gulped nervously.

“It’s fine, don’t worry.” Striker smiled.

“He looks like he wants to kill me.” Skip added.

“That means he likes ya!” Striker beamed. “He thinks you’re worth killing and hiding!” Striker joked.

Skip’s heart stopped. “Um...Good Horsey…?” Skip said, gently patting the tall animal.

Striker laughed. “That he is, Tiny!”

Skip slowly smiled. “He’s really soft…”

Skip’s tail slowly started swishing back and forth in happiness. “How did ya know all that about Hell Horses, Tiny?” Striker asked.

Skip froze, collecting himself quickly. “I had a, uh, Hell Horse G-I had a Hell Horse phase.” Skip corrected swiftly, smiling and hoping that Striker didn’t notice the slip-up.

Either he didn’t notice, or he did but just didn’t care. “Ah.” He nodded.

“Y’all should consider entering the pain games! It could be fun!” Lyn suggested. Skip perked up at the mention of games.

As they began to describe them, Skip lost interest and wandered off elsewhere.

(With Skip)

Skip wandered through the open fields, drifting off and spacing out and getting lost in his thoughts.

He thought over the events that had happened so far. He’d asked his dad if he could stay behind, but he ultimately got forced to go.

He embarrassed himself in front of everyone on multiple occasions.

But he met a Hell Horse, so that was good. He also met Striker. That was also good.

When Skip thought of Striker, he felt...Happy. He felt warm, fuzzy, happy, at peace, calm, almost in-he stopped himself. No. He wouldn’t let his dad be right. He refused. Even if Skip wanted to know what hugs from him felt like-no. Skip threw the thought away.

He wouldn’t.

He COULDN’T.

Love had hurt him so many times in the past, why would now be any different?

He eventually found a clearing and sat down, letting his thoughts settle.

He couldn’t let his dad be right...But why? Why was this such a bad thing?

Why did he let one bad experience dictate his view of such a widely celebrated thing?

Why did he find himself hating himself for allowing such good feelings into his heart?

Why did he not want this to be true? Why did he renounce such feelings? Why did he never want to be in a relationship ever again?

Why did he find himself so in lo-Why did he find himself so attached to Striker?

Why did he want to spend more time with Striker? Why did he want to know more about him?

Was it the Hell Horse? The thrill of finding someone else with his same interests? The potential for a new start?

The chance to find a Millie to his Moxxie? The chance to, Lucifer forbid, finally fall for someone in such a way that he would bare his soul to another party?

The fact that, despite having just met him, Skip would enjoy spending more time with Striker?

He had been so spaced out that he didn’t hear hoofsteps coming his way. “Got ‘nough room for one more?” Striker asked.

Skip nodded, still slightly spaced out.

Striker climbed down from his mount, sitting next to Skip. “Ya know, I didn’t find ya weird back there.” He sighed.

Skip snapped out of it as he realized who had sat next to him and his face heated up.

“Y’alright, Tiny?” Striker asked, half smiling at the smaller imp.

“Fi-ye-yeah, fine!” Skip chuckled shyly, wringing his tail again. “Um, uh….sorry for, uh, running away back there…” Skip apologized.

Striker scoffed, shrugging it off. “Your dad said ya have anxiety, so I don’t hold it against ya.” Striker shrugged.

Skip shuffled his feet nervously. “Still sorry, I, uh, unloaded a lot…” Skip stammered. As Skip spiralled, Striker rolled his eyes, giving the smaller imp a quick peck on the cheek, shutting him up immediately.

“Stop apologizing so dang much.” Striker smirked.

Skip’s face was now a bright crimson red and his brain was now basically tv static. Was this...what it was supposed to feel like?

Striker chuckled, leaning back. “You’re a great guy to be around, ya know?” He complimented.

Skip was now pure crimson and trying to hide in his hoodie. Lucifer, please come riding in a flying chariot pulled by flying pigs wearing togas made from clouds and take him away from this night-no, he couldn’t call it a nightmare. He...Enjoyed it.

“Thank you…~” Skip mumbled.

Striker put an arm across Skip’s shoulders. “Ain’t nothing, Tiny.” He smirked.

Skip stumbled for words, still caught off guard by the sign of affection from the farmhand. It was too good to be true. It HAD TO BE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

His dad COULDN’T be right.

“Got anything ya wanna tell me, Tiny?” Striker asked, almost as if he could read Skip’s mind.

Skip stammered, struggling to find words to say. Skip’s heart froze as he was pulled closer to Striker. “I’m all ears, Pumpkin~” He hummed softly.

Skip struggled to find words, but was shut up as he was given another quick peck on the cheek. “You’re so easy to read, Tiny~!” Striker hummed.

“I...You...Uh….” Skip stammered.

“Sure ya don’t have anything to tell me, Tiny~?” Striker repeated.

“I….I just don’t wanna get hurt again.” Skip said nervously, breaking eye contact.

Striker hummed, tilting Skip’s chin up and making eye contact. “Come now, Tiny~! Would I ever hurtcha~?” Striker asked innocently.

Skip’s mouth flapped open and shut multiple times. He couldn’t think of any words. “I…” Skip trailed off.

Striker pulled the tiny imp into his lap, putting his head on top of Skip’s. Skip’s tail swished happily. “Called it.” Striker smiled.

“Huh?” Skip asked.

Striker smirked, rubbing Skip’s horns, earning a contented sigh from the smaller Imp. “You’re in love, huh?” Striker hummed.

“N-No!” Skip protested.

“Then why’s your face so red, Tiny~?” He hummed, sending chills down Skip’s spine.

“I...Um…” Skip stuttered.

Striker rubbed Skip on the back. “It’s okay to love people after a bad experience, ya know.”

Skip shook his head. “No. That’d mean Dad was right.” Skip objected.

Striker chuckled, Skip internally swooning at the sweet-as-honey sound. “Is that all that’s holdin’ ya back, Tiny~?”

Skip struggled to find words to say. He didn’t have to. Skip was stunned into silence as he was pulled into a kiss.

He was shocked at first, but relaxed after a few seconds.

Eventually, the two separated. “Like I said; easy~” Striker hummed. He eventually stood up, Skip following suit. “Come on, your dad’s probably worried sick.” Striker said.

Skip gulped nervously. “I-I….Don’t know how to get back...I kinda spaced out…” Skip winced.

Striker quirked an eyebrow, grabbing Skip by the sides and lifting him up.

“Huh?!” Skip squeaked in confusion.

“I’m takin’ ya with me.” Striker said, hopping on Bombproof with Skip.

“Just stay calm and you’ll be fine.” Striker instructed. Skip nodded. “Also, hold on.” Striker said.

“Wait, what-” Skip started, getting interrupted as Bombproof burst into a run, Skip barely holding on.

(With Blitzø and the others.)

“Has anyone seen Skip come back yet? I’m kinda worried about him.” Blitzø paced nervously.

“Don’t worry about it, Boss, I’m sure Skip is fine!” Millie assured.

The group’s attention was grabbed by thundering hoofsteps approaching them.

Striker came thundering into view riding Bombproof, Skip holding on tightly.

“Ya know how to halt a Hell Horse, Tiny?” Striker asked.

“Y-Yeah, kinda, but-” Skip started.

“Great! Time to test that knowledge!” Striker said, hopping off, leaving Skip in control.

Skip shrieked, quickly taking the reigns, struggling to stay on the Hell Horse, bouncing up and down at the speed he was going at.

“S-Slow down! Please!” Skip stammered.

“YOU’VE GOT THIS HONEY, JUST LIKE YOUR DADDY TAUGHT YA!!” Blitzø called happily.

“DAD!” Skip called, face heating up in embarrassment.

Skip eventually stopped Bombproof, falling off and landing on the ground. “I’ve never seen someone stop him like that. Nice job.” Striker winked.

Skip smiled shakily. Blitzø rushed over, picking up Skip in a hug and spinning around happily. “Ya did it! I’m so proud of you!” Blitzø grinned widely.

“Dad…?” Skip asked.

“Yeah?” Blitzø asked, smiling widely.

“How do you feel about me having a small crush on someone?”

“I’m sorry.” Blitzø started.

“WHAT?!?”

[dayas]

1,3,20 and 25 for the writing ask, I wanna know it all!

First off, I wanna say thank you for giving me this ask because now I have something to think about instead of just being in a sad cloud ❤️ it’s nice to have a little break 💞

1. Tell us about your current project(s)  – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it.

Not to expose myself but I have like 5 WIPS 😂

War Of Hearts (jiara reincarnation au), a not so secret combination Dimya fic (flower shop + mob au), an angsty gotham/the batman (fc wise djdjsjsn) BatCat one shot (selina meeting bruce after he left in a slightly unexpected way), and I’m trying to draft/spin ideas for a POTC Klonnie au (calypso and davy jones’ story). With WOH, I’m filling in the second chapter which is taking FOREVER (sorry y’all), but I’m actually super excited for it to drop! With the work entirely, I definitely love all the little hints and breadcrumbs. It’s gonna start coming together more in the second chapter and I’m super pumped to see what y’all think! I’m on Chapter 1 of the Dimya Fic and searching for my inspiration but I know how it’s gonna go and that makes me happy. I love the combo aspect of the fic and how it’s a mashup, plus there’s some not so subtle underlying themes that I think are cool to explore! With BatCat, I wrote some yesterday! It’s a songfic and I love that about it, but also just the angst and flashbacks included, I think it’ll be really cool! And for the Klonnie fic, I haven’t even started 😭 Someone was basically like ‘write this!’ so I was like ‘okay!’ but I don’t know them that well yet writing wise so I need to explore 😂 tbh it’s just a concept that I really, really love and I have some ideas for the melody that goes along with it. Unsure if it’ll be a multi chap or a realllyyy long one shot once it drops but I’m thrilled either way! The technical “fifth” wip is for everybody who asked me when Kie would find out JJ is Sarah’s bf’s friend so watch out for that 👀 y’all ask, I answer 😂

3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway)

GOD! THIS! Okay okay okay I’ve ALWAYS wanted to write a Jiara break up scene but there’s SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT LIKE THE SET UP AND THEN BUILDING INTO AN EXPLOSION SO here’s a no context, cliche, dramatic af breakup scene for jiara thank you for giving me the freedom to write this 😂

“We need to talk.”

That alone stops what she’s doing. JJ and Kiara don’t usually ‘talk’. They can have serious conversations, but they tend to reserve getting deep for when they’re either really really high, or the issue around them has to be resolved. They’re not in high school anymore, but old habits die hard. Still, she shakes off the pause, drying another dish as she says,

“About?”

“... stuff.”

“Stuff. Real eloquent there, JJ.”

His eyes are practically heating the soapy water up themselves. The kitchen at the Chateau isn’t exactly prime real estate as far as cleanliness goes, but since they’re around here more often than not, Kie decided to make an effort to spruce it up a little bit and dragged JJ into it.

Something’s wrong. He’s fiddling with his rings underneath the water at a faster pace than normal, leaning heavily against the lip of the sink.

“Dude, are you okay?”

Her voice is soft as she dries her hands off, coming up to him and slipping her arms around his chest, cheek pressed into his back. He tenses underneath her, shrugging her off and backing away.

“JJ,” Kiara’s voice is concerned now, “What’s going on?”

“Weneedtobreakup.”

His sentence is a blur that knocks into her, rattling around her brain as it spins like a top. As all tops do, the spinning eventually stops, leaving her with the capacity to space out the miniature word flood that left his mouth a few seconds ago.

We need to break up.

“What?” Kie says, panic creeping into her system, “Why?” She begins to think of what could have gone wrong, what could have prompted this.

“It’s not you, it’s — ”

“If you try to feed me one of your bullshit lines that worked on the ghosts of hookups past, don’t.”

He has the decency to shut up then and there, turning instead to lean back against the cabinets, hands gripping the edge of another counter.

“Is this about what my cousin said?”

A few weeks ago, they’d been invited to a formal family gathering on her mother’s side. Some crazy expensive week in Hawaii. Well, Kiara had been invited, and she brought JJ for two reasons. One, he’s her best friend which legally obligated him to help her out in a spot. Two, they were getting pretty serious (or so she thought), and she couldn’t hide in the OBX forever, so why not kill two birds with one stone? At an extremely over the top event, one of Kie’s drunk cousins approached JJ and started spewing some nonsense. Kiara intervened, of course, but later, she remembers, another one approached. Completely sober. She hadn’t been paying attention to that conversation, occasionally glancing over to make sure JJ wasn’t floundering. He’d been restless the entire night and a few days afterwards. But when they’d come back home, all was well. Or, again, so she’d thought.

She should’ve just chucked the damn stone at herself.

He grimaces, and it’s to her horror that she realizes it’s true.

“What the fuck did she say?”

Her voice is low and dangerous, a tiny sliver of a hint as to what’s hiding behind her eyes.

“Doesn’t matter,” JJ shrugs, eyes everywhere but her.

“Of course it fucking matters, JJ! What did she say?”

“Nothing!”

“That’s a lie.”

“I already told you it doesn’t matter.”

“If it doesn’t matter then just tell me!”

“Fine!”

They are two powder kegs on the verge of an explosion. Kiara lit the spark, jumping the gun to shouting. He followed, and and now they’re at a precipice.

“You really wanna know what she said? Fine. She said that I’ll never be good enough for you, and you know what? She’s right.”

They tilt on the edge, still caught in the middle, unsure of where to fall.

“No. She’s not.” How can he even say that, let alone believe it? Kie isn’t always a fan of the cheesy, but it’s a cold hard fact that the man standing before her is one of the best things in her life.

“She is, Kie. You know she is. You’re not a Kook, but your family... they can give you so much more than I can. Opportunities and shit, the chance to get out of here. What do I have going for me?”

“Everything! You know I don’t want any of that bullshit or the baggage that comes with it — I want you.”

“I’m not gonna be enough. One day you’re gonna look up and realize that you want out of this place. Or I’m gonna look up and realize I turned into my dad.”

A bitter laugh leaves him, slicing them both to ribbons in the process.

“You’re not him, J. You’re not your dad and you never will be your dad.”

“You don’t know that! I don’t know that!”

They step closer at the same time, spark relit on the fuse to destroy them.

“JJ — ”

“No, Kiara. We can’t keep doing this. I’m stuck, and I’m not dragging you down with me.”

“You’re not dragging me down if I want to be here!”

Four more feet and they are two steps away from each other. They’re both tired, oh so tired, yet neither one is willing to give up the fight for their cause. The frustration builds, coiling tightly around them as JJ steps forward and shouts,

“I’m gonna ruin your life!”

“Then ruin it!”

Kie’s scream is passionate, every emotion inside of her escaping in those three words as she steps up to meet him.

“Ruin my life, JJ Maybank. Because I’d rather be in ashes with you than anywhere with anyone else.”

He takes one look at her and the pause between them could stop a train. Then, his head ducks down and his lips crash against hers. She reciprocates, sinking both hands into his hair. He picks her up and she wraps her arms around his waist as he sets her against the counter. Dishes crash onto the floor but neither of them are even remotely half assed to care. His lips attach to her neck and she exhales sharply.

“Stay,” Kiara whispers. And she wishes he did. If she would have been controlling their story, they would have taken this to Big John’s room and the breakup talks would cease. But she put everything in his hands, as he’s making the decision here. So when she tells him to ruin her life, she watches him grapple with himself. For a second, she sees his head tilt ever so slightly forward. He reels himself back in a second later, and the fire in his eyes burns out.

“I’m sorry,” JJ whispers, shaking his head and backing away from her.

“JJ,” Kiara calls after him, “JJ!” She’s immobilized, feet stuck to the floor.

This isn’t happening. This is not happening.

Something inside her breaks and she runs, tearing through the house. He’s already on his bike as she gets to the front porch, and curse him, he looks back. He puts the helmet in his hands on (she bought him that for his birthday — “You’re not getting fucked up on my watch. Put the damn helmet on.”) and drives away.

Kiara doesn’t know what happens next. When her faculties return her knees are scraped up, blood trickling down. She’s still on the porch and her face is wet, cheeks marred by liquid pooling in her eyes. Someone is crying, loudly, like their heart was ripped from their chest. No, she thinks, like someone else’s heart was ripped from their chest, someone the person crying loved. Because if her own heart was ripped out, she would not be able to feel. What Kiara wouldn’t give to not feel a goddamn thing right now.

She calls Sarah. Her friend comes and picks her up, and they go to her place. Kie can’t bear to be in the Chateau or her own room. Sarah’s is devoid of memories, for the most part. She explains what happened through her tears as her friend holds her, gently carding her fingers through her hair comfortingly. They light up, and then get a little tipsy and Kiara doesn’t know if it’s better or for worse. But it’s something. She’s reminded of after the Phantom went down, that night on the beach when she discovered the freedom to be. In this moment, Kiara’s free to be something. Anything. Whatever she wants. But the one thing she wants removed himself from her life, so she settles for being a mess instead. Sarah settles in with her when they’re all worn out, falling asleep quickly. Kiara’s vaguely aware that the person next to her is not who she wants it to be, that this is wrong in the sense that someone else should be here. She’s too cold, unraveled.

“Stay,” she whispers, but this time to herself. If she can stay for tonight, she can stay for tomorrow, and the day after that until she eventually finds her way back to who she is without him in her life. She’s not the same Kiara as she was this morning. She’ll be a different Kiara when she wakes up tomorrow. The Kiara she is wraps her arms around herself to keep whatever’s left from pouring out. She will do what he refused to. When the morning comes, she will face the world. While the moon is out, she is free to dream.

She dreams one last dream of him.

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

Okay LOOK 😂 there’s so much I wanna say on this but it would be so spoiler-y BUT for War Of Hearts, do some scanning! There’s a lot to unpack there, some obvious, some not! It becomes more evident in the chapters to come. I wish I could say more and I totally would if all of it was published 😭😭😭 OOO but I do enjoy referencing my works in other works (literally did that in the mini scene above lmao) so there’s a good chance that I riff off of previous concepts or something else across the stories/one shots that I write! There’s so many references I throw in too. For example, the ‘I hope you care to be recalled to life’ part in It Wasn’t Special Til I Met you is from A Tale Of Two Cities. I definitely love exploring concepts in my work, which I guess is why it kind of reads as flowery when I dig into it 😂

25. What part of writing is the most fun?

To me, I really love when I’m able to come up with good dialogue or a good scene and I’m like ‘OOO YES THIS IS IT!” It’s super fun to explore the underlying themes and symbolism in pieces; I totally love and live for weaving stuff together like Blues Clues 😂 I also adore dropping references to various works or songs because people will catch them and be like ‘wait is that xyz?’ and I’m like ‘yeah! yes it is! you get it!’ And that’s just a wonderful feeling 😊🥰

That’s all for me! Thanks for asking!