#this is who we're fighting for these kids who grew up under the sound of bombs

[astraystayyh]

"Listen guys, there is no sound of planes (Israel military drones), there is a truce now guys and when I heard about it i was so happy. But it's a temporary truce, only for four days. I pray that during those four days things will get solved and it becomes a forever truce. I swear life is beautiful without the sound of those planes, i'm really happy guys, i swear I'm so happy."

i had to share this here because i can't imagine how Palestinians must feel. to know that there is nowhere to hide, nowhere is safe. not hospitals, nor schools, nor refugee camps, nor mosques, nor churches, nor ambulances, nowhere. every building, every street is a bombing target. the feeling of dread knowing that the killings will resume after four days and yet they hold on to the silver linings.

[rei-ismyname]

EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN #3 FTA

After a pretty disappointing week of X-Men comics it's a delight to read and analyse Eve Ewing's Exceptional X-Men. The repeated issues I have with the other titles are just not present here and after three consistent bangers Ewing and co have my trust.

Emma is right

We pick up exactly where issue #2 left off, and this opening scene of all the main characters makes me realise how tightly the execution is. We know where each of them is at and (at least broadly what they want) - we're getting to know the kids organically. Where the other two books feel like action figures isolated from each other for no good reason, Kate Pryde's need to get away from the X-Men was established before the title even began. She just wants a normal life, to date girls and process her trauma. Emma Frost showing up to answer the call she refused throws her off immediately and they briefly scrap. The kids aren't just saying nothing because they didn't get a script today (hi Jubilee) - they're frozen by Emma. It's a small thing, but it's purposeful and flows elegantly.

Priti, Kate's housemate/friend from school, breaks up the fight for the most relatable reason - she doesn't want to lose the security deposit. Perhaps a sign that Kate doesn't fit into the 'norma'l world as much as she wants...or Emma just really knows how to push her buttons. I think Emma is hurting too, though she hides it under her usual scene-stealing exterior. I can't wait for more of their dynamic. Yeah, they'll almost certainly figure out a working relationship but their pain isn't being dismissed either. I feel like the pair are a successful version of what Gail Simone is doing with Rogue.

They stop fighting and have a little tea party, then Axo asks the question I'd been dreading the answer to - 'do you trust Emma or not?' Kate grew up being terrified of Emma with good reason and never let her forget why she did not trust her. Emma spent decades earning that trust and proving herself a hero, leader and teacher - but the First Krakoan Age had them grow closer than ever before. They worked well together and became friends, they were a force for good on Krakoa (mostly.) It's a shame that this is a metric, but two thumbs up for not rolling any of that back. These feel like the members of the resistance who were there for each other in Fall of X. Kate herself is regressing a little, but it's believable as a trauma response.

Kate doesn't want to train young mutants and Emma does. Prito even has a space they can use and the kids are keen! Everyone is happy then, right? Well, I think that's going to be the core tension for a while. Everyone except Kate wants this, but I think Kate needs this.

This 'getting to know you' circle does a lot of work in centering the young mutants, reminding us they're here to stay while showing us who they are and the beginning of their social dynamic. I haven't been a teen for a long time but their voices sound authentic, even to the point of highlighting that Bronze/Trista is a bit younger than the other two.

Agreed, do not read the comments.

They want to be doing this! One of the most challenging parts of being a teen is navigating peer groups. Solidarity in experiencing the same kind of otherness plus scary body changes is healthy, and it's lovely to chalk up a W despite the fact that 'people hate us.'

This issue also asks the question Rogue did in Uncanny #1, but as organic dialectic. It introduces the tension between self defense and being a superhero when you have powers - the difference between Emma and Kate externalised. Kate is excited despite herself until Emma shows up with costumes, and I think she's right to push back or at least be wary. But is this about her or the kids? It's not the most admirable contradiction but it's very human. They're both right that the old ways were flawed and they need to try something new.

Is she talking about Colossus? MF is not that gentle. Their costumes look amazing.

Unsurprisingly, Emma and Kate are a great team. There's tension underneath there, but they wouldn't be doing this if their friendship didn't run deep. New kids in relaunches past have often had their powers explained by Cerebro or a nosy telepath. Learning about it from their mouths as they're starting to use them in a controlled environment achieves the wiki entry, shows them learning to use them, and importantly gives us more of their personality.

Emma conjures up some Brood-like baddies and everyone freaks out but some growth is evident. It's Axo that figures out they're not real. Kate is not impressed. I doubt they'll throw down, but her sending the kids away feels like an extreme reaction. Good, she's got shit to say and hurts that need to be spoken. The kids don't leave, but we're left with all this tension in the air to be resolved next issue.

I LOVE that the three kids cuddle/huddle in the background.

Who better to break the ice (sorry) than Bobby Drake? Having him just fly in the window and cooling down the tension (sorry again) could feel random and silly but it works. These two have a lot of history and it makes sense that he'd seek her out. Kate has been turning her back on anyone X-related - will she freeze Bobby out too? The kids are awed by him and it's half the Marauders back together, so I don't think he'll get the cold shoulder.

I feel very confident in calling Exceptional X-Men the best X-Men book in From The Ashes. It's got an honesty and sincerity to it while remixing the hits of first arcs and adding plenty of new. The art style is colourful and emotive which adds so much to a book taking people's feelings seriously. If you pick up nothing else, this is the one.

[kitkatopinions]

Okay, so linking my last post here where I talk about how the rwby writers will often announce how we're supposed to feel and what we're supposed to think, but not actually establish it well in the rest of the story, let's talk about how that affects the character of Tai and the different interpretations of his character.

I recently saw a post asking how people like Tai and can praise him as a father when we're told he essentially abandoned his children, and... It's for this reason. What we're told in one or two announced statements (Tai essentially abandoned his children) has absolutely no baring on the rest of the story. It doesn't impact his relationship with his kids, it doesn't seem to impact the relationships his kids have with others for the most part, it doesn't even really impact the relationship Yang and Ruby have with each other, or the relationship he or his kids seem to have with Qrow.

The very first thing we hear about Tai I think is Ruby commenting on how he wouldn't approve of the co-ed sleeping arrangements at Beacon, which while an old fashioned trope, implies that Tai is a parent that worries about the girls. Then Ruby announces that Yang is 'acting like Dad' when Yang is prodding her to make friends, implying that Tai is a dad who cares about his kids' social lives and tries to encourage them (and also implies that this isn't how Yang usually sounds.) Tai takes Ruby to visit her mother's grave, implying that he's the kind of dad who a. drives his kids around places and b. encourages Ruby's connection to her mother and gives her space to grieve. When we see Tai after the fall of Beacon, he is worried out of his mind about Ruby and so relieved that she's safe. He brings tea to her room and flips out when she leaves. I always read the tense moment between Tai and Qrow at the end of V3 to be Tai knowing Qrow's about to tell her things that Tai doesn't want her to know because he's trying to protect and take care of her. Her note is addressed to him, not Yang. Tai's the one who took care of Yang when she was suffering and (however misguided I think the writers were in some of how they handled it) encouraged her to get back on her feet. Ruby and Yang have zero problems with Tai, no acknowledged or imo even hinted at resentment towards him or trouble trusting him, or even in Yang's case struggling to have open conversations with him. Ruby and Yang's relationship with Tai is a relationship of a loving father who cares about his kids and kids that rely on him when they're in need. This does not reflect the idea of a man who shut down for years and forced Yang to raise Ruby on her own and sacrifice her childhood while he was essentially an absentee father. There's even implications that Qrow has been around enough while the girls grew up that they (specifically Ruby) feel safe around him and are able to have deep conversations (as someone with multiple aunts and uncles, even the one I saw the most wasn't someone I would talk to with the ease and familiarity and trust the girls show to Qrow in the first five seasons.)

Yang and Ruby's relationship with each other doesn't feel mother-daughter/she raised me at all. The only times we actually see Yang try to parent Ruby is in the first couple of episodes (after she gets done ditching Ruby for random friends we never see again) when she is still more the 'getting in fist fights and teasing' normal everyday older sibling archetype and is notably ACTING LIKE TAI in Ruby's eyes. The only thing that suggests 'abandoned by parent' is Yang's imo badly done abandonment issues (badly done because they only ever seem to matter with Blake,) and even then her abandonment issues would imo be unchanged with Tai being a supportive father because she still would have been abandoned by Raven and lost her mother! So even that doesn't feel like it has anything to do with Tai.

Because of the characterization of Tai, the girls, and even Qrow, for the first four volumes, I was completely under the impression that when Yang says 'Dad sort of... Shut down,' she meant temporarily, for a matter of a couple of months at the most, and that she definitely did not raise Ruby. Then when I watched Yang in volume five, I was like "wow what a weird thing to randomly insert that doesn't track at all with the behavior of this family, I guess I have to come up with a headcanon involving Tai shutting down and 'leaving Yang to raise Ruby' while still balancing what's clearly the case." And I came up with the headcanon that when Summer died, Tai shut down for around six to eight months, but Qrow stepped in almost immediately after the incident with Yang and Ruby running away and Qrow was like a disaster parent but still loving and tried his best (with Yang in the role of telling him 'this is what Daddy does' 'Ruby doesn't like that food' 'we go to bed at eight' to help him get by.) Then Tai started getting better and he and Qrow co-parented for a bit before Qrow decided his semblance was too dangerous and started his habit of going on trips and coming back for a week or two at a time, while Tai stepped up again, but still relied on Yang perhaps a bit more than he should. In my head, they were a flawed family unit, but one where Tai recovered from his understandable grief quickly to try to get back to his family and had Qrow there as someone loving but messy. It still didn't completely click with Yang's insistence that she raised Ruby (added onto by Ruby announcing the same in V9 before Yang proceeded to completely ignore all the obvious signs of Ruby's mental breakdown, get angry when said breakdown was revealed to her, and was all grins and hugs five minutes after Ruby attempted suicide,) but it was the best I could do.

Because "Tai was an absentee parent and Yang raised Ruby on her own" just doesn't fit with the rest of what we've seen! It makes it feel like both Yang and Ruby have a warped and wrong idea of their childhood.

So then we get fans getting angry that people like Tai, being totally confused about why people made 'Father's Day' posts about Tai, wanting explanations, and it's like.... It's because the rwby writers did not care to actually make 'Tai was an absentee parent who abandoned his young child to raise a toddler on her own' part of the story at all and just essentially announced it without giving it any emotional weight or impact while completely ignoring what they actually did write into their story, which is a flawed but loving father.

'Tai was a single parent for years with frequent help from Qrow' is so much more applicable to the actual characterizations and storybeats and actions we get in canon than 'Yang raised Ruby by herself when Tai abandoned them.' It's just that the second one randomly got announced to us, just like 'Penny's first choice is asking Jaune to kill her' was announced to us even though it contradicted the rest of the story. It's just bad writing, bro. A lot of us just try to block out the moments where it's announced to us how we're supposed to feel if it directly contradicts what's actually been included in the story.

[calypso707]

Chapter five : Where nothing stays buried.

Jill pressed her earpiece to activate it so she could communicate Piers and Merah: "We have a survivor with us," she said, "It's Professor Wright's nephew, Ricky Tozawa"

"Where is the professor?" asked Merah, concerned.

"He was injured in a fight, he's in the health center, we're going to get him. How is it on your side?" asked Chris in turn.

"We're clearing out all the bio-weapons we come across, but there are no survivors in sight," Piers replied.

Chris turned to Ricky and handed him his earpiece: "Here, give us an update on everything that's happened here since you arrived"

And so Ricky began his story. He explained that the first person to be infected was a senior student, at first, they didn't know the source of the infection and Mother Gracia's men had managed to subdue her and chain her up in a room away from the other students. Mother Gracia asked Professor Doug to come personally to find out how the infection had started. Then cases of infection continued to appear, just as mysteriously, one by one. Mother Gracia was determined to keep that quiet and did not inform any student of the seriousness of the situation, she wanted to keep everything under control, even to the point of destroying all evidence of contamination. She did not wanted the reputation of the school to suffer. An event like this happening in one of the most prestigious Christian school in the world? She wanted to protect what she had built at the expense of the survival of the students and teachers.

So, how did it all started? Even before the first zombies appeared, complaints had been made about the harassment and violence suffered by some students, but Mother Gracia never intervened. She simply hushed up each case. Nanan Yoshihara, a third-year student, began to be harassed and intimidated by her classmates. After being physically abused, her friend Bindi Bergara begged Mother Gracia to act and bring in the authorities, but she did not. So, the two girls decided to flee the academy but they were chased by the academy forces. Following an altercation between Nanan and an officer, she fell down the cliff and lost her life, smashing her skull against a rock.

"I still don't know how Bindi got the virus but she used it to bring Nanan back to life. Bindi is controlling her, she must be stopped at all costs."

"Fucking hell..." added Piers.

"We have to find the person who gave her the virus," said Jill, her eyes fixed to the corpses that littered the courtyard as they made their way to the health centre. That person took advantage of the girl's accident to sow chaos in the academy. And everything had gone wrong because of Mother Gracia's selfishness in wanting to protect her "sanctuary" at all costs. The result? She and many others died.

They finally succeed to the entrance without too much trouble and in the same way as they had done earlier, they entered discreetly. A few of the infected were wandering around, and they killed them without too much difficulty. Except for Jill, they used to be kids and now, it was hard for her to pull the trigger but she had no choice. One thing bothered her, though, about these zombies, they seemed faster than the ones she had faced in Raccoon City.

"All clear," said Chris, "What floor is your uncle on?"

"Third floor," Ricky replied.

As Jill ventured down the hallway, leading the way to the stairs. She stopped slowly as she heard a creaking sound that grew louder and louder and saw streams of dust falling before her eyes. Shit.

"Jill, look out!" Chris shouted.

Part of the ceiling collapsed and she barely avoided being crushed. There, in the cloud of dust and debris, she saw a huge creature, part of its face was still human. Its skin was a pale yellow-green, its limbs long and stubby, its fingers sharp. Its entire body had mutated into some kind of tentacles bulbous pores. Jill barely had time to draw her weapon before the monster swung at her, sending her tumbling through the window. She fell to the ground a few feet away, completely stunned, her arms and face flayed.

"Jill!"

Chris's voice and the machine gun fire seemed to be muffled in her ears. Her whole body ached terribly, and she struggled to sit up, one hand pressed against her stomach. She looked at her hand, slightly covered in blood. Just breathing was painful. She looked up at the window she had just passed through, she saw the flashes of multiple gunshots lighting up the hallway. Chris and Ricky were fighting the creature. As she barely managed to get to her feet after retrieving her weapon, she saw zombies coming at her from all directions.

"Shit, shit, shit.."

She ran as fast as she could towards the nearest building, this one, unlike the others, seemed condemned. She managed to break down the door and took refuge inside, barricading it with whatever she could find. She leaned forward with her hands on her thighs and tried to catch her breath, she could hear the zombies banging on the door. She pressed the button on her earpiece, "Chris, can you hear me?"

But nothing, she could only hear a crackle, nothing else. The headset must have been damaged when she fell. The situation was becoming increasingly uncontrollable and dangerous, she had been separated from the others and was most likely surrounded. Jill could feel the panic growing inside her, gradually taking over. She tried to control her breathing, with difficulty, as her heart seemed to race in her chest. The incident in Raccoon City was happening again. The presence of Chris helped her stay calm, to make her fears go away, but now she had to find him in this huge place, blindly and with no way to contact him. She tilted her head back to rest it against the door, which had stopped vibrating under the banging. The dilapidated ceiling filtered the moon's rays, bringing a little light around her.

As her heartbeat slowed and she was able to breathe more calmly, she decided to find a way out. A few classrooms were clustered in this building, but it had not been used for years. As she wandered around looking for a way out, a foul smell took hold of her and she had to cover her nose to hold back a whiff, turning on her flashlight to examine the place. There on the floor, only inches from her by the emergency exit, were charred remains. It fit perfectly with Ricky's story, they were most likely the first infected students that Mother Gracia had ordered burned, to destroy the evidence.

"What the hell have I gotten myself into..."

[archiveoftara]

Magic is not real pt 3

Tag : @superpositvecloudshipper @hufflepuff1619

Last chapter of the series. I hope you enjoy it!!

Part 2 Part 1

BANG

George smashed the glass window. Y/n rushed to him.

"Jesus George are you ok? What were you thinking? Oh my god...You're bleeding. What am I gonna do?" Y/n panicked.

George was shaken. His eyes were dark, heavily breathing, sweat dripping all over his face. Y/n silently gathered up the first aid kit and tended his wounds. "George, are you listening?"

"Hmm...I'm going to bed." Said George, walking towards his room.

She gave a confused look to George but didn't press the matter further. She went to the living room, silently waiting for the rest of the party to return. Lockwood asked her to stay the night. He planned to drop her home the next morning.

Y/n could barely stay awake when she heard the familiar click of the front door open. She jumped off the sofa, went straight to the door. She found both Lockwood and Lucy soaked from head to toe. She noticed Lucy was silently fuming. Before she could ask anything, Lucy excused herself to her room.

"What happened to you both?" Y/n glared at the fellow agent.

"Just a little mishap. Nothing serious." Lockwood awkwardly smiled.

Y/n grew more suspicious. "Freshen up. I'm making tea."

Y/N's POV

What is wrong with these kids? One smashed his hand against a window, the other two came home drenched when it's not even raining outside.

They don't even tell me anything....Is it because I'm a stranger?... I thought we were friends. Did I mess up again? Shit, y/n you always mess things up.

I placed the tea on the table and took a seat.

It's not their fault, anyways. I don't even have talent. I'm holding them back. I'm just a pathetic loser. I don't have any talent to help them. The voices in my head grew louder until someone called my name.

I looked at Lockwood who was sipping tea beside me.

"Mr. Lockwood, you have a lot of explaining to do." I demanded

Lockwood sighed and told me everything that happened tonight.

"You jumped into the Thames? Mr. Lockwood, are you out of your mind? No wonder Luce is mad at you" I said while fixing my glasses.

"We're alive. That's all that matters."

Now, it's my time to fume.

"You and your antics." I said, pushing my glasses further on my nose.

"Y/n can we do this tomorrow? I'm really tired." Lockwood said.

I have no choice but to drop the conversation. I was about to leave when Lockwood held my hand. I raised an eyebrow at him.

He pulled me into a hug.

"We'll talk about this tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I promise." He mumbled.

"Hmm." I replied.

He kissed my forehead and took me to his room.

"You can sleep here tonight. I'll sleep on the couch."

"But-"

"I insist." He pleads to me.

I gave in. I was too tired to fight anymore. I jumped under the covers and went into a deep slumber.

..............................................

The next morning, y/n found herself in the kitchen talking about the previous events that occurred last night to Lockwood.

"I think something is wrong with George."

"Y/n we're all on edge lately. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. He will be fine." Lockwood casually said.

"Mr. Lockwood, are you even listening to yourself? I saw with my own eyes. He was trembling. It's like he saw a visitor. I am sure he needs our help."

Lockwood didn't understand and didn't pay much attention. Y/n didn't say anything further. She will find it out by herself. She won't bother the agents.

On the way back home, she had already started to think about a plan.

I can't just sit here and watch. I have to do something and I'll do it. It's time to show my nosy side to Mr. Lockwood.

A week later Y/n finds a certain gentleman entering the Arifs but he wasn't alone. George came with a woman, older than him (this kinda sounds weird) with a messy bun. They took a seat in the corner. George placed an order and Y/n took this opportunity to meet the party.

"So here's your tea and donuts, Georgie"

"Y/n? What a pleasant surprise!"

"Mate, I work here for a living."

"Yeah..um Pamela meet Y/n, Y/n meet Pamela Joplin. She's helping us with the case." George said, awkwardly. She gave a smirk to the poor fellow.

"Oh that's wonderful. Pleasure to meet you ma'am." Y/n smiled.

"Nice to meet you dear." Pamela smiled back.

"I'm gonna get back to work. Call me up if you need anything." With that Y/n gets back to the counter but she keeps her gaze on them.

After finishing up, she went outside to take a quick breath. She looked at her watch and realised she still had an hour before the curfew so she took a different route to her home, killing some time. Suddenly her eyes fell on a couple in the corner of the street. It's George and Pamela she thought to herself.

As you can tell, how nosy Y/n can be. She followed them and found herself standing in front of none other than, the Kensal Green Cemetery. She saw them going inside.

"What are they doing here?"

How stupid of her. She didn't even realise where she was standing right now. It's a bloody cemetery and it's past the curfew. She rummages through her bag for a salt bomb. Shit. Why do I always forget to bring salt bombs?

She feels a cold presence behind her, before she gets ghost touched by a visitor she runs as fast as she could. She stumbled upon a stone which causes her ring to fall off but she doesn't get the time to pick it up. She hastily makes her way inside the building.

Meanwhile, in 35 Portland Row, a much calmer Lucy was scribbling on the thinking cloth while Lockwood was making some tea.

"I'm sorry, Lucy. Whatever I did last night, it was immature of me and-"

Lucy looked at him with concern in her eyes.

"Look" she pointed at the thinking cloth.

They see several drawings of spirals scattered all over the thinking cloth. They looked at each other in shock.

"Shit, shit, shit." Lockwood hissed. "It's all my fault."

"What?"

"Y/n warned me about George. She said something's wrong with him but I.."

"It's the mirror. It was all in front of us but we never paid attention." Lucy spoke.

Lockwood nodded.

"Y/n was right. Lucy prepare the bags. They're in danger."

Y/n finds Pamela pulling a knife on George's throat. "You're gonna do exactly what I say"

"STOP"

They both look at the girl. "Look! Your little friend is here." Pamela's voice filled with malice.

"Y/n run. It's not safe here."

"I'm not leaving you. You're my friend. You're not an oddball, you're the best among us." Y/n cried.

"Very moving. Cut the drama. I need one of you to sit here and look at the mirror. If any of you act smart, I'll kill both of you." Pamela hissed.

"Take me." Y/n yelled.

"No. Are you crazy? You'll die. If anything happens to you, I won't be able to show my face to Lockwood." George tried to convince Y/n but it was futile.

"I don't have talent anyway. It won't matter much if I die. Save yourself, Georgie." She gives a weak smile to George and takes a seat in front of the mirror.

Pamela tied her hands. Y/n glares at her.

"You won't get away with this."

Joplin gave a tight slap across the poor girl's face which led her glasses to fall on the ground.

"Kids these days are so disrespectful."

"You're no better." Y/n gave a grin. She gained a punch on her stomach. She groan in pain. She planned to buy some time, it didn't matter how many punches she had to get She knew her Anthony will come to save her. Hurry up, Anthony.

Lockwood and Lucy made their way to the cemetery. Lucy was the first to enter while Lockwood looked around to find any silhouette of the concerned boy. Instead, he finds a shiny metal, reflecting under the moonlight.

"Lucy."

"Yes, Lockwood I looked everywhere. I didn't find anything-"

"She's here. This is her ring. Let's go." Lockwood pulls his rapier.

Y/n tried her best to stay awake. She tried her best to distract Joplin but her luck was running out. She was groaning in pain, she had a bloody nose. Joplin grew impatient and waited no more. She pulled the cloth off and revealed the mirror. Y/n quickly looked away.

"Look"

"I said look, you foolish girl." Pamela pulled her face towards the mirror.

Y/n glanced at the mirror, she saw horrible things. She let out a terrifying scream and passed out.

"Y/n. George"

Lucy helped George while Lockwood went straight to the unconscious girl.

"Y/n wake up. Please wake up" Lockwood pleads.

"Useless. I'll look at it myself" said Pamela, snatching the mirror.

"Beautiful. It's beautiful. So beautiful "Pamela insanely screamed and died.

Lucy breaks the mirror, setting the trapped souls free.

Two weeks later

The agents of Lockwood and Co were sitting in a hospital room, waiting for their friend to wake up from the coma.

Two weeks ago, the agents solved a crucial case at the price of almost losing their friend. Lockwood didn't leave her side no matter how many times his friends told him to get some rest, he was adamant. He blamed himself. He was shattered to see her in this depressing room, pipes stuck all over her face. It was a horrifying look.

Doctors didn't give them much assurance, said to be prepared. Lockwood, who wasn't much of a believer, prayed for the first time in his life.

Take my life instead but please save her. Please, dear lord.

"Guys" George called the agents.

"Am I insane or did her finger just move?"

That gained Lockwood 's attention. He looks carefully at her hands. Her finger moved slightly, her eyes started to flutter.

Lucy excitedly went to call the doctor. Lockwood couldn't believe his eyes until.

"Anthony?" Called Y/n, faintly.

Lockwood bursted into tears. He held her hand and let go of all his pain. The guilt ate him up alive, he thanked the heavens. He thanked his parents.

Y/n was finally discharged from the hospital. The agent insisted her to stay with him, he didn't want to keep her away from his sight and also to protect her. He can't go through the same pain again.

Y/n was in dilemma at first but then she decided to spend the morning at her place and the night at Portland Row. After the incident, she got even more scared of the dark, the night. She didn't want to be alone but she didn't need to. She finally has a family.

At the library of Portland Row, Y/n was reading a book. It was middle of the night, she found herself struggling to sleep. Whenever she close her eyes she gets nightmares. Lockwood noticed the dark circles appearing under her eyes.

Lockwood peeked inside the room and found the girl cuddled up on the couch, a book in her hand. He smiled to himself and let himself in. He was holding a cup of tea, chamomile, her favourite.

Y/n looked up and gave him a warm smile. "Can't sleep?" Lockwood asked.

"Nah" she looked down, feeling ashamed.

"You can tell me what's bothering you. Don't be afraid."

Y/n sighed. She took a moment before spilling her feelings. "Anthony, I'm so scared. Whenever I close my eyes, I see that..that horrifying mirror..."

"What did you see that night?" Lockwood carefully asked.

"I saw...I saw my parents. Their death. I couldn't do anything Anthony. I'm such a pathetic girl. I tried to call for help but it was too late. If I just..if I knew how to fight I would have saved them.. it's all my fault, Anthony." Y/n was shaking in tears,it was getting hard to breath, she gasped for air till Lockwood pulled her into his arms. He held her like a Baby.

"No..Please don't say that. You're the most brave person I've ever met. I can't imagine my life without you. It's all my fault. I should've listened to you. I'm so sorry, please forgive me." Lockwood teared up.

"Do you know what made me fall for you?"

"No." Y/n pouts.

"Your simplicity, your compassion draws me to you. I love you y/n." Lockwood gives feather light kisses all over her face.

"I love you too Anthony." She kissed him back. The kiss was gentle, soft, filled with warmth and passion.

Suddenly Lockwood pulled away and said "I got something for you."

Y/n furrowed "what?"

Lockwood pulls a ring and puts it on her ring finger. Y/n gasped and looks at him with tears in her eyes.

"I thought I lost it forever. Thank you Anthony." She gingerly touched her ring, one of the most valuable thing in the world. Y/n's mother's ring.

"you called me Anthony!"

Y/n gave a bashful grin "maybe the time is right"

Lockwood pulled her into another kiss. Y/n finally found a family and Lockwood found his love.

[rcksmith]

Rules — Kaz Brekker

Requests: “Your works is incredibly good, masterpiece. Can you please smut with Kaz Brekker and prompts 34, 37, 47? Using your rules, they are wonderful. I will really wait))”

“could u do #39 with kaz???ignore if ur not comfortable with this!!”

“Hello, just binge read your kaz brekker smuts and they are amazing! Was wondering if you could do something with smut prompts 34,84,&72?”

Smut prompts:

34. “You’d better watch your fucking mouth.”

37. “I’m so sick of your voice. Why don’t you come over here and put your mouth to better use?”

“39. “You keep acting like a little brat and I’ll take you over my knee right here, I don’t care how many people are watching.”

47. “You look so good on your knees like that.”

72. “Fuck you.” 1. “I’m up for it if you are.”

84. “Let me show you what happens to little brats who don’t follow the rules.”

Couple: Kaz Brekker/ Fem!Reader

Warnings: swearing, NSFW,explicit heavy smut, dirty talk, dom!Kaz.

Word count: 2k.

A/N: All smut requests for Kaz must follow these rules.

Thank you so much for the requests and for all affection 💖 I decided to compile these requests, since they were the same central plot. I added all the elements that were asked for individually, and made sure that all ideas were respected and written down. I hope you like it and good reading.

English is not my first language, so I so sorry if have a mistake.

Requests are closed. Love you❤️

— — — —

There were two types of people in the world. The dangerous ones, with whom shouldn't play or challenge, people who are able to see and set your soul on fire with a single look, who exude power and domination with the way they walk. And there were people who loved to play with danger, with fire. People who felt the adrenaline pump in their veins and loved the feeling of being messing with something forbidden. Overcoming limits, challenging people on power.

Kaz Brekker was the first type of person. And you were second.

He was intimidating, dark and dangerous. An aura of mystery adored him like an underworld selvedge, and his caustic and intense gaze could very well be bought from what Lucifer cast around the world after The Fall. It was amazing how he hadn't left a trail of rubble where that gaze passed. People feared him, obeyed him, responded to his orders with astonishing precision. Everyone, but not you.

The surest comparison to define you would be to buy Jesper. Both with social personality, adrenaline addiction and seduction in their eyes. But you were a little more than that. More impulsive, more reckless, and more provocative. While Jesper knew all too well when to step back and keep your mouth shut, you refused to bow to Dirty Hands. Not because it was proud, but because it was fun, thought-provoking. Addictive. Every cell in your body felt extremely alive when you are under Kaz Brekker's dominant, angry, and dangerous gaze. He giving you a clear warning that you were swimming in turbulent water, but you were just plunging deeper into his waves.

You wanted to push him to the edge, the exasperation, to see what was really underneath that cold face and serious. Kaz could very well be the boss of the famous gang you were part of, but his rank wasn't enough to stop you. Never would be.

"Frankly, I just don't care." You told Jesper and Nina in one night, downing a shot of vodka.

"What?!" She looked at you dumbfounded. "Kaz is your boss and you argued with him about his plan!"

Nina looked alarmed, but all you felt was adrenaline and pleasure.

“Because it was a nonsense plan and…”

“What nonsense plan?”

And there was Kaz. With his height and his black underworld clothes, with his Lucifer gaze and mouth made for sin. You wanted him to sin. But you wanted l him sin with you.

Jesper and Nina soon stuttered trying to make up an excuse, but you weren't given to lies.

“Yours, in this morning.” Jesper looked like he wanted to stick his head in the dirt after your comment.

Then, once again, that fervent gaze was upon you, and every pulse in your body frantically pumped blood through your veins.

“Don't think I didn't notice your inability to follow rules, Y/n.” It was a warning.

“Oh I don't have a problem following rules “You rested your chin in your palm, with your elbow on the table, and held his fervent gaze, “,but only when they make sense. So that's the only way I can be very obedient, Sir.”

You heard Nina gasp, but your eyes didn't leave Kaz's. There was much more to that look than met the world could see. There was war for control, battles and ferocity. Kaz Brekker wanted to break you in half in that eye contact, but you wouldn't budge because a look. If he wanted you on your knees, you would be very happy to do it, but it would have to be the right way.

Kaz leaned toward you, closer enough for no one else to hear what he was going to say but far enough away that his mouth wouldn't touch your ear.

"You keep acting like a little brat and I'll take you over my knee right here, I don't care how many people are watching."

After that, the sexual tension between the two of you was suffocating, so thick it could have been cut with a knife. But nobody did anything to placate it, and you two just let it get bigger. Bigger and bigger. Until it's too late.

And in one night, it was too late.

"I won't do this just because you want to!" You crossed your arms over your chest.

Kaz wanted you to kidnap one of a mobster's kids to act as security when making a deal, but you wasn't going to kidnap anyone.

“You work for me.”

“No, I work with you.” It was a lie, but you didn't budge. “Don't think I'm here for lack of choice, Brekker. You need me as a vital member of this team and don't forget we're on an equal footing.”

His blue eyes turned almost black. Kaz Brekker rose from his office desk.

“Do you really think you're going to tell me how to act? Think you're gonna boss me around? Well, I don't think so.” His speech was slow and hot and dangerous, like that of a hunter prowling his prey and contemplating how pathetic you attempts to fight were.

“I don't give a damn what you think.” Your whole body was throbbing with life in that moment, as if fireworks had exploded in your chest. “But I won't do what you're ordering.”

"Fuck you." His voice was a growl.

A spot between your legs vibrated, and you gripped the taunt tightly. "I'm up for it if you are."

That seemed to be the pinnacle. The air crackled, the world shuddered, and Kaz's eyes roared with the flames of hell. He walked towards your with three long, purposeful strides, grabbed your chin in his gloved hand and brought you close to his mouth like you were just a rag doll.

Your breath burned in lungs, your unrestrained heart grew stronger and your entire body shivered. A low moan caught in your throat, but you could feel the warm, pulsing liquid stain your panties.

"You’d better watch your fucking mouth." Kaz's voice was husky, strong and gruff, like a boss. Your boss.

Pleasure invaded your body like waves of electricity, stealing your breath and making your blood burn in veins like scalding lava. Your whole body vibrated, screamed, begged. You wanted to disobey and be dominated. You wanted to fight and be defeated. You wanted to play rebellious and be demoted to a good girl.

And your desires must have been very explicit and pleading in your eyes, because Kaz let his lips curve into a cocky, smug smile. The smile of someone who knows he has power.

"You are such a hypocrite." He brought his body close to your. "Saying you're not easily obedient, likes others to think you're provocative and rebellious, but you're just a needy kid wanting my attention."

You moaned this time. A broken and delivered sound that gave away your entire game.

"I'm not one of the men you can challenge and get along with."

"I didn't think you was." You tried to rescue the last spark of provocation, your last fire of insolence.

“And yet you test me. Because you know what I can do with you.”

His husky words hit your skin, and Kaz pulled your chin more closer, until your lips were able to swallow his words. “Because you know I can break you.”

The moan came loud this time, desperate and needy. Kaz hadn't even touched you properly and you already felt ready to combust.

“Y-yes.” But if you were desperate, Kaz was burning with dangerous fury.

“I'm so sick of your voice. Why don’t you come over here and put your mouth to better use?”

Then his hand slipped from your jaw and stuck to the silky hairs on the back of your neck, closing his fingers there and bringing you with him to the armchair Kaz had been sitting in seconds ago.

They weren't sweet, affectionate, or kind touches, but that wasn't what you were looking for. You wanted roughness, fury, raw and strength. You wanted something wild, wanted had marks on your body the other day to tell a story. You weren't a woman who settled for the basics and wanted someone able to show you what a real fuck was. You wanted to be broken. And Kaz Brekker could give you that.

He sat down in the leather armchair and pulled you to the floor, settling you on your knees on the floor between his long, masculine legs. The awareness of what was to come filled your mouth with water, with desire, with lust, and you found yourself already leaning your mouth closer and... Kaz pulled your hair back, not hard, but firmly, keeping you away from his dick. For a while.

“Are you so eager to get my dick yet?” His free hand, now ungloved, glided to your face, running his thumb across your cheek in a firm, possessive touch. “Of course you are. Greedy slut."

Then came a slap. It wasn't aggressive, but you could feel the heat on your cheek. Your panties have never been so wet as they are now.

“S-Sir f-fuck.”

It was a plea, a whimper or a moan, you didn't know anymore. All you could feel was your pussy throbbing, mouth salivating and the overwhelming desire to put his cock in your mouth. It all hit you so hard that you wanted to cry with the wait.

Kaz lowered his mouth to your, slamming their lips together in a rough, brutal, dictating kiss. He invaded with his tongue and conquered everything you had, rubbing the hot flesh of your tongue in an erotic, maddening dance.

"Let me show you what happens to little brats who don't follow the rules." It was his sentence after back away his lips from your.

Unbuttoning his black pants with one hand and pulling the waistband down along with the boxers, he released the throbbing cock that sprang out with glory and grandeur. Thick, streaked with veins and with a pink head swollen and leaking with pre-cum. Everything about Kaz Brekker was delicious. Your moan at the sight was an opportunity that wasn't passed up. Kaz pulled your head by the back of your neck toward his dick, sinking into the velvety, warm, wet cavity of your mouth.

You accepted it readily, almost in desperation, tasting its taste with his tongue and sucking on his head like your favorite lollipop. Kaz moaned loudly, letting his head fall back and loosening his grip on your hair. Your eyes lifted to him, and the sight made you clench your thighs to ease the arousal.

His broad chest covered by the black button-down shirt rose and fell faster, his smooth white neck was exposed, and his firm jaw was clenched with fury. Brekker looked like the god of the underworld. And you loved it.

Your mouth suck to his cock better, increasing the back and forth movements and leaving a trail of hot sage. One hand rested on Kaz's thigh while the other aided the movements, spreading all the saliva down the length of his cock.

“You look so good on your knees like that.” His voice was more of a growl, and his grip on your hair went back to being firm.

You brought your eyes up to his once more, batting your lashes gracefully as you let out a few broken moans, sliding your tongue across every inch of his warm skin you could reach. Kaz gritted his teeth with your puppy dog ​​eyes. Losing all control and letting out a loud growl mixed with an aggressive curse, he thrust your head at him, sinking his entire dick into your hot mouth and hitting the glans at the beginning of your throat.

You gasped and he moaned loudly, increasing the back and forth and building with the movements of his own hips, fucking your mouth like it was the most delicious thing in the world.

"Fucking hell, what a velvet mouth!" He locked his teeth into his lower lip, using his free hand to slide his thumb across your cheek and give you a reward in the form of a small caress. "That's right, good girl."

You moaned, squinting your eyes and relaxing your throat. His compliment has done wonders for your feminine ego and your vanity, you've sunk your mouth down to touch the tip of your nose to his pelvis, and the grip on your hair has become rough as Kaz moaned loudly in a session of swearing and gasping.

He held you in that position, his whole body shaking with pleasure and despair, blood pumping like boiling lava through his saturated veins. With one last moan mixed with growl, he cum in your throat. In hot, strong jets, making sure you take every last drop. He tasted like salt, man and lust. And it was a miracle you didn't cum right away. The best liquid you've ever had.

Kaz released your hair with a hot gasp, and the hand on your cheek gently pulled you back. His dick came out of your mouth with a 'pop', saliva and tears mingled in your chin, your lips swollen and as red as roses at their apex.

You've never been so fucking delicious as you are now.

Brekker pulled you into his lap, settling you on his thigh and locking their mouths in a kiss permeated with lust and desire. You whimpered, body sensitive, pussy throbbing and throbbing. Your hands went to his hair as Brekker pulled the hem of your skirt up.

"Now, you're going to keep showing me how much you regret being insolent."

You smiled with teasing and malice. The night was just beginning.

[sunnylighter]

ASK GAME

Luh-Loyd's cousin was the Fuchsia Ninja!

His favorite (only) cousin was the Fuchsia Ninja!

And he wasn't the only one!

So much made much more sense now.

But then, because his cousin could never do what he would expect, instead of explaining anything, or even giving Lloyd a, 'Nice job!' in congratulations for solving that mystery, Morro instead turned his head into the forest.

"LLOYD GOT IT FIRST!" he bellowed. "PAY UP, LOSERS!"

There were a pair of loud groans, and Lloyd wheeled around to see two more figures suddenly step out of hiding places, somehow completely hidden despite the identical vivid pink gis they wore.

"Aw man," groaned a voice Luh-Loyd recognized as his world's Karlof's out of one of the gis as he walked over to hand Morro money. "I was sure it would be Zane who find out. He is smart one, yes."

"My money was on Nya," grumbled the other in what was unmistakably Tox's voice. She turned and glared at Lloyd from beneath her mask, clearly blaming him for her loss even as she handed it over to Morro. "Thanks a lot, kid."

Lloyd could only stare back at her in bewilderment. "Tox?" he asked. "Uh, is that really you under there?"

Morro groaned at the question. "Oh, come on, Shrimp, don't go doubting yourself now."

Lloyd grew flustered. "Uh, yeah, but… last I checked, Tox wasn't as, uh, barrel-chested as Karlof was, nor are you for that matter," he said, gesturing at the three pink ninja who all seemed to have the same body type despite Lloyd knowing full well that they didn't. Karlof was definitely a big guy, but Tox was always tall and slim, and Morro was more svelte than him as well.

Understanding his confusion, Morro threw back his head and laughed. "Body armor and some padding," he explained, knocking his fist against his own 'barrel chest' and drawing a muffled thump from it. "Our little tricks won't work if people can tell us apart."

Tox nodded, pulling off her own mask, which looked odd over her differently proportioned body. "And I've got the most armor out of all of them to match," she explained.

"Wouldn't that make it harder to move?" asked Lloyd in concern.

"Some, but I'm used to it," Tox admitted. Then she smirked and summoned a small poison cloud around her hands. "Besides, I can more than make up for it. A few whiffs breathable toxins to slow opponents down, and suddenly they're having a hard time moving too."

"And I don't need armor," said Karlof cheerfully, pulling off his mask and turning himself metal. "I have it already."

Morro rolled his eyes at his friends' antics. "Lucky for us we're all about the same height," he said. "Or at least close enough people don't really notice. That'd be way more of a pain to cover up."

Lloyd grimaced at the thought of having to fight crime in heels. "How did you even get here?" he asked instead.

Morro snickered. "I never left after coming over with Wu. Then your friends saw my 'grand entrance' onto the ferry getting here."

"The rest of us stowed away on Garmadon's Shark Mech along with you guys," said Tox with a grimace.

"Wait? What? But we were right there!" asked Lloyd in surprise.

"Was a tight fit," Karlof agreed, rubbing his back. "Lucky for us Lord Garmadon was planning his ominous music playlist on the trip over, so none of you heard us when Griffin stepped on Paleman's toe."

Oh gosh there was so much build-up to this reveal.

It started as a joke between me and my Beta reader, Kay Hau, while late in writing The Grass is Always Greener and I already knew I wanted to write more in a series. I mentioned as a crack-fic idea that, "Hey, what if Movie Morro was the Fuchsia Ninja, that would be funny." But she was like, "No, actually, that sounds like a good idea. What if Movie Morro WAS the Fuchsia Ninja? What would that be like?" And then I actually started thing about it, and the more I did, the more I liked the idea.

I'd really wanted a bad guy from the show world to be a good guy in the movie world. Morro fit the bill best because he had the most opportunity due to the lack of Green Ninja prophecy and the inevitable drama that would come from it when evil Show Morro showed up would be great. Plus the drama that came from M!Morro and Sensei Wu interacting. Also, giving Luh-Loyd a little more support from a cool older cousin was appealing to me.

So, Morro as the Fuchsia Ninja, how would that work? How would he convince people his element was 'Surprise' instead of just Wind?

Well, what's another thing that would make him different from S!Morro? Oh, I know, him having actual friends! Him leading his own team! There's a bunch of Elemental Masters to pick from. Who should be on it?

Well, I was watching the Hunted season at the time, so that answered that question easy. The Resistance. All the EMs aside from Skylor in the Resistance could be his friend group. They've shown themselves they're friends with the Ninja. They all have cool powers and mostly distinct enough personalities that I could work off of, but not distinct enough that I couldn't build off them to make them their own characters in the movieverse.

Then the idea of all of them being the Fuchsia Ninja and how they would do that came from talking with my Beta Reader and watching Gaijin Goombah's 'Which Ninja' on youtube. Gaijin Goombah often talks about real ninja techniques in his videos and a lot of the Fuchsia Squad's moves came from them. I thought it'd be cool if that team of ninja operated more like traditional ninja rather than more mech fights. Especially with the use of the technique of them all dressing the same to trick people into thinking they can teleport and adding to the 'Surprise'. Only one of them can be seen at a time, and they can use Neuro's powers to coordinate.

Okay, so I know who the Fuchia Ninja is and what they do, and how. If that's the case, WHY do the Ninja Force not know all this? And when do they find out?

I think it was Kay Hau who suggested it wait for the Tournament of Elements. That way the Fuchsia Ninja could take part in the tournament showing off how 'Surprising' they could be and be fresh in people's minds when S!Morro makes his grand entrance.

As for why, welp, the funniest thing I could think of is they made a bet. Wouldn't it be funny if instead of congratulating Luh-Loyd on figuring it out (because I've always wanted Luh-Loyd to be the one to work it out first, since he's closest to Morro) he instead looks at the others and goes, "Pay up."

And that's how I worked up to this scene. I'd seriously been looking forward to it since The Grass is Always Greener, and it was very fun sprinkling in hints where I could and so satisfying to finally get it in writing.

[3pirouette]

Fic: There's a Chance We'll Get By

Title: There’s a Chance We’ll Get By By: TriplePirouette/3Pirouette Spoilers: AU for CA: TFA Disclaimer: They're not mine. Word Count: 4643 Distribution: AO3 Anyone else please ask first :)

Story Summary: Steve and Peggy try to find a way to live while they’re on the run from the American government.

A/N: For Steggy Week 2k22 Day 1: “Inspired by.” This story is inspired by the Bon Jovi song “Born To Be My Baby.” While the vibe of the song isn’t exactly 40’s Steggy, the lyrics just hit me right in the feels and this is what you get. The idea of her being born to be his and him being made to be hers just GETS me. I wanted to address it more, but the story is just the vibe of the song. Lyrics added for reference as this is the section that sparked the story.

This is finished, there is no larger plot or story in my head. Just them on the run. Enjoy.

~*~

Light a candle, blow the world away Table for two on a TV tray It ain't fancy, baby that's OK Our time, our way

So hold me close better hang on tight Buckle up, baby, it's a bumpy ride We're two kids hitching down the road of life Our world, our fight

If we stand side by side (all night) There's a chance we'll get by (and it's alright) And I'll know that you'll be live In my heart till the day that I die

'Cause you were born to be my baby And baby, I was made to be your man We got something to believe in Even if we don't know where we stand Only God would know the reasons But I bet he must have had a plan

'Cause you were born to be my baby And baby, I was made to be your man

-Born to be my Baby, Bon Jovi

~*~ 1947

Peggy turned at the sound of the closing door, dishcloth still in her hand. “Oh, I know that look,” she sighed, moving towards Steve as he leaned back against the door, hands rubbing over his face. “What happened?”

“I think…” He sighed, letting his hands rest on her shoulders as his eyes said what he didn’t need to, “I’m sorry, Peggy.”

She lifted her hand to his cheek, letting her thumb rub over the beard he’d grown. “Nothing to be sorry for, my darling.” She stepped back, slinging the towel on her shoulder. “How much time do we have?”

He rubbed his hand over his chin, shaking his head. “I don’t know, I just know…” Steve didn’t finish, but instead started moving quickly, gathering the little they had in a pile on the couch until her hand stopped him. “Go bags or do we have time to pack?” she asked, eyes serious but tone soft.

His hand twisted in hers until he laced their fingers. He took a deep breath and sat next to his little pile. “The jack… it slipped. It was on the other side of the car. If I hadn’t…” Steve’s voice grew thick. “I had to grab it or it would have crushed him the way he was under there.”

“Mr. Marcone?”

He nodded. “If I’d been on the other side of the car, I just could have grabbed it and slipped the jack back under. But…” He squeezed her hand tight. “The way he looked at me. He was grateful, he was proud, and then… then he saw right through the beard and the fake Boston accent and…”

Peggy kneeled and hugged him tight. “And what, Steve?”

There were tears in his eyes he refused to cry. “He said he’d give us a head start before he turned us in.”

She held him tight for a moment, then pulled back. “Best get packing then. Dinner was just sandwiches, anyway. We can eat in the car.”

~*~ 1945

Steve’s head popped off the pillow the second he heard his tent rustle. He couldn’t see who it was in the dark, but as soon as he heard the voice, he knew something was desperately wrong.

“Get up.” Howard Stark wasn’t one to hang around the front lines during the day, never mind the middle of the night.

Steve sat up, reaching in the dark and pulling on his pants. “What’s wrong?” He moved to turn on the little lamp, but Howard’s hand batted his away.

His voice was harried and rushed in the dark, barely loud enough for even Steve to hear. “You’ve got to go. Get dressed and grab only the necessities.”

“Mission?” Steve whispered back, tying his boots and grabbing his knapsack.

“I’m afraid not,” Howard replied, stepping closer. “You’re not coming back. Take anything you can’t get along the way. Anything irreplaceable.”

~*~ 1947

Steve tossed the last bag in the back of the car and shut the trunk tight as the sun started to set behind them. With a jog he nearly jumped into the driver’s side as Peggy settled the bags at her feet. His hands fisted in his lap, the keys dangling from his fingers. Peggy turned her head and watched him. It was the first moment he’d been still since he came home and told her they’d need to leave. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, turning the keys over in his hands. “You deserve a lot more than this life.”

She put her hand over his, stilling the fidgeting. Her nails that had once been always manicured red so nicely now were bare and short, as inconspicuous as she could make them. He rubbed his thumb over a nail, still morning the little things in moments like this. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, my love.”

His head whipped to hers, eyes sad and welling with tears. “Peg…”

She smiled, and he could almost see exactly when she pushed her own fear and anxiety away to help him feel better. “Maybe I’ll be a blonde this time, yeah?” She laughed, even though it was flat a mirthless as she reached up to caress his cheek. “I was getting a tad tired of the beard, anyway.”

He let his forehead rest on hers. “Where to this time?”

“South,” Peggy whispered, pressing her lips to his. “I wasn’t looking forward to Christmas in Vermont. Too much snow.”

~*~ 1945

“What do you mean?” Steve asked, following Howard through the brush behind their camp.

“I mean what I said,” he replied, flailing his arms against the tree limbs. “I mean that Phillips and I uncovered a Hydra mole, but it’s too late.”

Steve stopped the man and turned him. In the moonlight Steve could finally see the fine sheen of sweat on him, the way his chest heaved and the way his eyes were wild like he’d never seen before. “Howard,” he pleaded, still feeling unbalanced from the way he’d been woken, “I need you to stop and explain it to me. You’re just giving me bits and pieces.”

Howard took a slow, deep breath and set his hands on his hips, looking away then finally looking back at Steve. “If our intel is right, at this very minute there’s an attempt being made on Senator Brandt’s life, and no matter if he lives or dies, they’re going to be blaming you.”

Steve reared back. “Me?” He shook his head, unbelieving, “But if we know this, why aren’t we trying to stop this?”

“You’re a patsy,” Howard nearly yelled, surprising himself. He stepped forward, dropping his voice. “You’re a patsy. You’re gonna take the fall. Hydra’s infiltrated somewhere up in the Senate, the House, hell, even generals! The list of things they’re going to try to pin on you, the things they’re gonna say- well, they’re calling you a traitor, Steve. They’re saying—”

“But it’s not true. You know—”

Howard pulled him along, getting them moving again. “It’s not about what is true or what isn’t true, Steve.” He huffed. “We got wise a few weeks ago, when an order came across Phillip’s desk to get you to Alamogordo. They want you off the playing field and in a lab somewhere, and it looks like they’ll do anything to make that happen.”

“Why?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, but that doesn’t really matter at the moment, does it?” He huffed, leading Steve farther away from camp, “Especially not if MPs come knocking at your tent in the morning.”

~*~ 1947

The motel bed was scratchy, but they’d driven nearly 36 hours and neither could stomach trying to nap in the passenger seat again.

“I can feel you thinking,” Peggy muttered against his chest, wrapped around him under the thin blanket.

“We’ll have to find you peroxide,” he mumbled, ticking the list off against her shoulder, “I’ll need a razor and a shave, and then we both gotta find new jobs.” He sighed. “How far south do you want to go?”

“I’ve heard good things about Florida.”

“I was thinking maybe we should go all the way to Mexico.”

She turned her head and rested it on his chest to look up at him. “Mexico?”

“It’s too risky here.” He sighed heavily, sitting up and running his hand through his hair. “There’s less chance of people feeling a patriotic duty to turn us in in another country, I think.”

“Maybe we were wrong about sentiments having cooled.” She leaned back, tossing the blanket off her. “Might as well go all the way to Argentina, then,” she countered, rolling on her side.

He chuckled mirthlessly, reaching down to run his hand through her hair. “We start going where the Nazis are hiding, it won’t help our case.”

She nuzzled into his touch. “At least we managed to establish communication again, even if Howard said there’s nothing new to report.”

“Better than nothing, I suppose.” He slipped back down into the bed, pulling her close. His voice was thick when he spoke again. “I was really starting to like that little town. I thought…” his voice trailed off, and he let what was unsaid remain unsaid. He hadn’t voiced thoughts like that in over a year, and didn’t know if he ever would want to again. “Sometimes… sometimes I wonder how bad it would be if we just turned ourselves in, you know? This can’t…” He huffed, snuggling into her embrace. “This can’t be worth it.”

“It’s a bumpy ride, darling.” Peggy agreed, pressing a kiss to his chest, “But I promise you, it’s better than whatever Hydra has planned. Better than whatever those men want to do with you.”

He shuffled a little, looking down at her eyes that held such surety, such belief, and melted just a little. “Why do you stay with me, Peg? Why do you put yourself through this?”

She pushed forcefully, rolling him onto his back and straddling him. “Must we go over this every time we have to move, darling?”

Peggy leaned her elbows on his chest, pinning him down, even though he could have lifter her off him easily. His maudlin seemed to disappear just for a moment. “We may not know where we stand in all this all of the time, but I will never want to be anywhere that isn’t with you, Steve Rogers.” She smiled. “There’s no getting around it, it’s me and you for the long haul, soldier.”

~*~ 1945

It wasn’t much of a clearing, and the small group huddled behind the Jeep to stay hidden in the small outcrop just off the dirt road out of camp. They all turned sharply at the sound of them approaching, but Howard pushed forward despite the way Peggy drew her gun.

She set it back in her holster and waited for Steve to step into the small circle they’d made around the map in the back of the Jeep. “I’d ask if you were followed but—”

Phillips interrupted, sour. “You want to nit-pick at his spy skills or do you want to get this moving, Carter.”

She looked away, only slightly chastised. “Yes, sir.”

Steve set his hands on his hips, looking at Phillips, Bucky, and Peggy. “What’s the play.”

“You and Carter are leaving,” Phillips started, harsh.

“Now.” Bucky’s tone left no room for argument.

“Where to?” He asked, looking into the trunk of the civilian jeep to see very little in the way of supplies.

“Spain,” Stark supplied, handing Peggy an envelope. “I’ll have my man meet you at that hotel in three days with more supplies and better cover identities.”

“From there, it’s up to you,” Bucky added, shaking his head. “You can’t tell us where, and you can’t be in touch.”

“How will we know…” Steve started, but Phillips shook his head.

“You’re about to be the number one enemy of the Allied Nations, son,” he sighed, folding up the map. “It won’t be safe for a while.”

“And when it is, we’ll find you.” Bucky stepped around Phillips.

Steve frowned. “You knew about this?”

“Only since this morning,” he whispered. “Dugan, too. We’re gonna fill the other Commandos in as soon as you’re gone.”

“This turned south far faster than any of us could have imagined,” Peggy added. “But I’ll tell you all I can once we’re moving.”

Steve stood, looking at them all, slack jawed in the French forest. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.

“I’ve got your back,” Bucky promised, taking his hand tight. “Till the end of the line, ok?”

“Yeah,” Steve mumbled. “Till the end of the line,” he parroted back, still stunned.

Phillips stepped in, turning Steve towards the passenger side. “Carter’s going with you. You two will be able to better slip around as a married couple than trying to march outta here with Barnes or Dugan.”

“She’s a better shot, too,” Bucky added, smiling to try to lighten the mood. “And a lot nicer to look at, and much better at whatever else you two do on those long walks you take behind the mess after dinner.”

Bucky’s levity didn’t change how he felt about the girl he was falling in love with stepping into the front line of danger with him. “I- I can’t ask you—” Steve stuttered out, looking over at where she was getting into the driver’s seat, noticing for the first time she’d shed her army green for civilian clothes.

“You’re not asking, I’m insisting.” She took a deep breath and turned the key, the truck roaring to life.

“Her idea,” Barnes whispered to Phillips’ dismay.

Phillips turned the man away from his friend, stripped the bag off his shoulder and pushed him into the car before tossing his bag in the back and pushing up the tailgate. He stepped around to Peggy’s side, stern. “You two need to move. Take turns, drive as far as you can tonight. Stay away from patrols, use whatever tricks Carter has up her sleeve, but you do not get caught, do you hear me?”

“Yes, sir,” they both replied.

With only the barest glance to make sure Barnes wasn’t hanging on the window any longer, Peggy shifted the car in gear and moved them onto the road and into the darkness, farther and farther away from their friends.

Steve could feel his heart pounding in his chest, he didn’t know what to say as they moved through the trees both too fast and too slow for his liking.

“Are you alright?” Peggy asked after a few quiet minutes.

The words tumbled from his lips in almost a laugh. “No. No, I don’t think I am.”

“Good,” She chuckled, reaching out and squeezing his forearm quickly before putting her hand back on the wheel to maneuver through the overgrown dirt road, “then we’re on the same page.”

Another long moment went by before Steve sat taller, his heart still pounding in his chest. “Peg, we should go back, swap you for Bucky—”

“Aside from the fact that this is the only sound tactical solution,” she replied crisply, “namely sending you with a spy who actually knows how to hide, get lost and stay lost,” she took a deep breath and looked over at him quickly, letting the mask of surety fall just for a moment, “If you think I’m letting the man I love run for his life in the middle of the night without me, then you don’t know me at all.”

He nearly laughed, but couldn’t quite tell if he also wanted to cry. “I don’t want you in danger, Peg.”

“And I’d like for you not to be on the most wanted list, but it seems we’re not getting our wishes today.”

The atmosphere became tense and she slowed the car, putting it in park on the dark, dirt road.

“Steve, look at me.” She couldn’t see much when he turned, but knowing his attention was on her meant enough. “Nothing about this is good. Not who gets to go with you, not who gets left behind to figure it out, not crossing our fingers and hoping we know who we can trust. Nothing.” She reached out, taking his hand in hers. “I trust you with my life. Do you trust me with yours?”

“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate.

“Then trust me that we’ve talked it through. Phillips, Howard, Barnes and I went through every scenario we could think of, and what it boils down to is you need to move and you need to hide until this is all over.”

“I won’t lie. I’m mad as hell you never told me.” He could see her frown, and knew from experience that her face meant it hadn’t been her decision. “You promised you’d tell me everything?”

She squeezed his hand. “As soon as we’re safer than we are now.”

He squeezed back and then let her go. “Then drive.”

~*~ 1949

Steve pulled out the little folding table and set it in the living room. The apartment wasn’t spacious, but it wasn’t the worst place they’d ever lived. He slid two of the boxes around it, setting up makeshift stools.

The apartment was unfurnished, and they had strikingly little to their names, but they’d made do with far less. He pulled out a linen napkin and laid it over the table, then set up the single pillar candle and put the small box next to it.

He nearly jumped when he heard her key in the lock. He stood tall next to his little surprise as she slipped in the door. “How was it?”

Peggy tossed her bag on the floor by the door, leaning back against it. “Well, I’ve learned my Spanish needs work,” she sighed, stepping in and smiling when she saw the little set up. “But no luck, I’m afraid. You?”

He took her in his arms, kissing her gently. “There’s a garage down the street, the owner will be there tomorrow.”

“You did like working on cars,” she leaned up, getting another gentle kiss before leaning back in his embrace. “They won’t expect we’ve traveled to another country just to get the same waitress and mechanic jobs, I’m sure of that.”

Steve scrunched up his nose, picking at her platinum hair. “I’m don’t think I’m used to this yet.”

Peggy giggled, tickling at his moustache. “Well, just for the record I think this is a horrid choice, but needs must.”

“You don’t like it?” He leaned down, nuzzling her cheek with his whiskers and bare cheek, laughing as she pulled away from the sensation. “No?”

“Goodness, no!” She slipped out of his embrace and laughed at him. “Let’s put moustache at the bottom of the list, shall we?”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him, gently kissing her cheek. “Noted.” With a side step, he pulled her over to the box. “Have a seat, dinner will be right out, madame.”

She shook her head at him, grabbing a match and lighting the candle as he disappeared around the wall into the small kitchen. The tiny apartment had little in the way of lighting, and the sun was setting, casting them in greys. “Now there’s an idea. My French is much better than my Spanish- why didn’t we just go to Canada?”

“You hate the cold?” he countered, carrying out two plates. He set them down with a flourish, then smiled shyly. “It’s not much. Or that fancy. We uh, we only packed two plates but…”

She reached up and slid her hand down his arm, squeezing his fingers before dropping it. “It’s perfect.”

“Happy Birthday, Peggy,” he whispered, bending to kiss the crown of her head.

Her eyes welled up. “Thank you, darling.”

He looked taken aback as he sat. “You thought I forgot?”

She swallowed down the tears and looked over the plate of rice, beans and chicken and the other of a simple white cake. “Well, I’ve just… I’ve had so many different names and birthdays over the last two years I hardly… I hardly thought about it today, you know?”

He took her hand in his across the table. “I pray every night that we don’t have to celebrate another birthday like this,” he leaned in, his voice quiet and insistent, “and I hate that this is where we are, but…” a smile broke through, “I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.”

Her smile was just a little sadder. “I’d like to say that by next year…”

“Doesn’t matter.” His words were definitive. Unyielding. He softened his tone and kissed her hand. “Doesn’t matter if we are or aren’t. As long as I’m with you.” He pulled the small box over. “I got it the day before we left. I was planning on this for today, anyway.”

Peggy pulled her hand back and opened the small box. “Steve…” she breathed out, pulling the small, delicate silver band from the tissue.

He took it from her and took her left hand in his. “I wanted to make it official. Between us, that is.” He stumbled over his words a little, a bright tinge coming to his cheeks. “We’ve been pretending for so long I don’t know that it much matters, and nothing would change the fact that I love you, but…” He held the ring over her finger. “Marry me, Peg?”

“Yes, Steve,” she sighed, smiling bright as he slipped the ring on her finger. “In as many lives and as many identities as we ever live, yes.”

~*~ 1945

Peggy slipped into town while he stayed with the Jeep on the outskirts, hoping to keep his face hidden. She returned with a can of black shoe polish, a bag of pastries, and the morning paper that declared him a traitor an hour later. “This will cover up the blonde for now,” she said as she’d helped him comb it through his hair, “But we’ll need better for you.”

Three months in Spain helped her hone her Spanish, which was decimated when they were found out and they’d spent two very frustrating and confusing weeks in Portugal before they jumped on a boat and headed to Africa.

Blending in wasn’t exactly easy in Algeria, and there were far too many American and English expatriates in Egypt for them to feel comfortable.

For nearly a year they managed a small existence on the Greek coast. They both stumbled with the language at first, but Steve picked up quicky and Peggy became passable in a few months. He managed to find a job in a shipyard, explaining away his absence in the army by faking poor eyesight. His strength was needed, and they paid him well enough for it. Being outside all day turned his skin a nice olive tone, and a scruffy beard and shaggy hair, along with some coke bottle glasses, kept him relatively unrecognizable.

They talked about getting married for real instead of just saying they were for a cover.

They talked about how they could build a life when they were still being looked for even though his likeness was popping up in news reports less and less frequently.

They’d nearly been lulled into a sense of security, until Barnes woke them out of a dead sleep in the middle of the night banging on the door, shoved them into an unmarked van and then on to a cargo ship that landed them in Greenland.

Peggy never got comfortable after that.

~*~ 1947

Peggy moaned in displeasure as Steve rolled into her. It was a hot, sticky night and she was already nearly naked. With him pressed up against her there would be no way she could sleep.

His hand, instead of roaming someplace she expected, or holding her tight, slipped up and pressed her lips together. “I heard something on the roof,” he whispered, barely loud enough to get all the syllables out. “Two, maybe three.”

She nodded against him. They’d figured out long ago that their friends, their allies, were not stealthy when they came to extract them. They’d knock loudly, call their names out, announce themselves anyway they could. Their enemies were the only ones that ever tried to be stealthy.

She took a slow, deep breath and placed her hand on his. Guns were under the night tables, loaded and ready to pull and fire in under a second. Go Bags were at the foot of the bed, as were her clothes.

She didn’t really want to fight in her panties and slip, but she would. It would take her three steps to get to the chair that held her dress with her shoes beneath it. Two steps back to get her Go Bag. Steve always had the keys to the car on his nightstand, so they could be out the door or the window in under a minute.

From there, ten feet to the car, and they were home free.

If the car started.

If there were only two or three of them and there weren’t reinforcements downstairs.

If this were her mission, she’d bring at least ten men, especially after they’d made it out against four agents in Alberta ten months ago. Yes, she suspected three on the roof, two at each of the two windows, two on the front door and two near the car. It was what she would do.

“Window, car, three,” he whispered, and she nodded again.

She squeezed his hand once, twice, and on the third time, they both shot up from the bed as silently as they could, Steve standing tall and grabbing the keys and his gun, pressing his back against the window to cover it as Peggy dove to the chair where her dress and shoes were. Once she was dressed, she moved to shoulder the Go Bags, gun at the ready as he put on his pants and threw his arms through a shirt, not bothering to button it as he slipped on his shoes.

They both took in a deep breath, ready to make their next move, as their bedroom door burst open. Peggy nearly jumped through the window, tucking and rolling away as Steve laid down cover fire. She landed hard but moved right to the little outcropping of trash cans and scanned as Steve burst through the window, a flurry of yelling in Spanish and English following him. She fell into step beside him and ran for their car, stopping to turn and fire at the man on the roof before aiming at the men that had advanced to the trash cans as Steve cursed at the car, the engine sputtering.

It finally roared into life and she ducked into it as he sped off, the bullets shattering the glass of a taillight and their back window as they roared off into the night.

Peggy’s breath shuddered as she settled into the passenger seat. “We’ll have to switch cars,” she said, her voice not as strong as she’d hoped.

“Next town over,” Steve relied, reaching out his hand for hers and twining their fingers tight. “Let’s just get some space between us.”

Peggy slid over across the bench seat and laid her head against his shoulder, sighing. “I was just starting to like Mexico.”

He let his hand slip from hers to rub her thigh, keeping her as close as he could while he drove down the dark back roads. “We’ll find somewhere else to like, I promise.”

“Not going to ask me why I’m still here?”

He chuckled mirthlessly. “No. Not yet, anyway. Still full of adrenaline.”

“Ahh,” she sighed, settling in against him, “me too. Heart’s still pounding.”

“You should try to get some sleep,” he pressed a quick kiss to her temple. “It’s at least a half hour to get to anyplace we can borrow a car from.”

She rolled her eyes at the well-worn argument. “Please just say steal. We’re stealing a car, Steve.”

“Borrow has a better ring to it.”

“You’re in charge of getting it back, then.” She let her eyes flutter closed, even though she didn’t think she could sleep. “Drive tonight, plan tomorrow?”

She felt him nod. “Once we’re at least another country away. Guatemala, at least.”

“Think we can get there tonight?” She yawned against him.

“Just sleep, Peg,” He whispered, rubbing her leg soothingly as he kept his eyes on the road. “Just sleep.”

“I should go through the bags,” she muttered without opening her eyes. “Make sure we have everything we need.”

“I don’t need anything else but you by my side.” He smiled down at her, knowing she was falling into a heavy sleep as the wind through the windows cooled her skin and the sound of the tires on the road lulled her away. “I’ve got you. I’ve got everything I need.”

[haileygarciasunshine]

Remain the Same

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Written: April 12th, 2021

Posted: April 12th, 2021

Warning: None.

Word Count: 2,262

Summary: You couldn't remember why you and Bucky harbored hate for one another. With a little push from Sam, the tension reaches an all-time high. Will things evolve or remain the same?

Bucky Barnes Masterlist

Gif made by me

Opening the door of your apartment, you let out a surprised gasp as you gazed between the Two men standing in front of you. Your mind began whirling with assumed ideas as to why they were there. Raising an eyebrow at them, you groaned already figuring what they needed.

"There's no way I'm working with him." You spat, allowing him and Bucky entrance into your apartment.

Standing in your living room, you crossed your arms along your chest as you glared at Bucky.

"He's in therapy now-" Sam started.

Scoffing, you rolled your eyes. "And that suddenly makes him a saint?" Your face contorted as anger began bubbling to the surface.

"Look, you know we wouldn't be here unless we desperately needed your help." Sam sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"Oh," You huffed, nodding your head in understanding. "So I was your last resort. Cool, Cool, Cool."

Sam let out a groan as he opened his eyes again, sending you a pointed glare. "You know that's not what I meant."

"Right." You drew out your word not fully believing him. "So why are you and Cyborg here?"

Bucky let out a quiet growl at your dig at him.

Shaking your head you scoffed as you rolled your eyes at him.

"Would you Two stop," Sam spoke, holding his hands out taking a few steps so that he was standing in between you. He sent Bucky a glare before turning to face you allowing him to give you the same expression.

"This is bigger than...Then whatever you Two are always fighting about." He spoke, his voice turning stern. "Look, we're here because we need to find Zemo."

Your jaw fell slightly, as you furrowed your eyebrows together. Your mind racing a million miles a minute, as you attempted to justify their need to find him.

"I'm sorry...Am I missing something?" You questioned allowing your arms to drop from their defensive position. "You're looking for the guy that we fought...The guy that triggered Bucky and-"

"I know how this sounds," Sam spoke his voice softer than when he last spoke. "But there's a bigger threat now."

Dropping your gaze to the floor, you let out a defeated sigh. Nodding your head, you returned your gaze to Sam's face. "Alright...I'm in."

Bucky let out a groan as his shoulders dropped.

Frowning at his reaction, you furrowed your eyebrows together. A ping of sadness washed over you.

--

Once you had located Zemo, the three of you had made your way to his destination.

The ride there was filled with bickering coming from Sam and Bucky. Sitting in the backseat, you had become unusually quiet.

"What's going on in that mind of yours, Y/N?" Sam questioned, sending you a quick glance in the rearview mirror.

"Huh? Oh, uh, nothing." You spoke, cringing at your uneasiness.

"If you say so." Sam hummed.

Sighing, you turned to gaze out of the window, your mind became cloudy with the memory of Zemo triggering Bucky years ago. Shifting in your seat, you were overwhelmed with a sense of uneasiness.

As your attention was cast out of the window, you were unaware of the concern glance Bucky sent your way. Returning his attention back to the front, Sam caught his attention. Sam raised his eyebrows at him in question before sending him a smirk, making sure to let him know he was caught in the act.

"Alright, kids." Sam's sudden voice caused you to jump. "We're almost at the motel for the night."

---

When Sam pulled into the motel parking lot, you were the first out of the car. Letting out a quiet groan, you stretched your arms above your head.

Sam was the first to grab his bag before he made his way to the lobby. Reaching for yours, your hand brushed against Buckys. Inhaling a sharp breath you quickly yanked your hand away as if you had been scorched by something hot.

Without saying a word, you were fast to turn on your heel rushing towards the lobby. As Sam came out, he had a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Here's your shared room. They only had rooms with one bed available."

Your eyes widened at him. "Wait-"

"I've been with Bucky long enough, I'm not sharing a bed with him too," Sam spoke. He made a subtle glance at Bucky sending him a quick wink before returning his attention back to you.

"Whatever." You grumbled, snatching the key from Sam's hand as you made your way towards the room.

--

Tossing your bag down, you gathered your pajamas, before rushing into the bathroom in an attempt to avoid any small talk with Bucky.

Once you were changed into your nighttime clothes, you fidgeted with your bag before making yourself comfortable on the bed as Bucky glided into the bathroom.

Sighing, you fell back on the side you had claimed. Your mind clouded with thoughts of feelings. The moment Sam had stated you were going to share a bed with Bucky, your breath had hitched in your throat while your hands became clammy. Butterflies fluttering in your stomach brought you back down from your thoughts.

Crawling into bed, you pulled the blanket up under your chin as you were laying comfortably on your side. Closing your eyes, you hoped it would save you from any possible arguments or conversations.

However, when you heard the bathroom door open, the butterflies in your stomach returned. As Bucky climbed in, you attempted to ignore the fluttering feeling. Shivering slightly, you tried to wrap the blankets tighter around your form.

Without uttering a word, Bucky tossed around in bed before he mirrored your position. The heat that radiated off of him, was enough to alert you of his close proximity, the heaviness washing over you.

Reaching behind you, your hand gently grasped Bucky's wrist making sure to give him a light tug as you wrapped his arm around your waist. You heard his breath hitch before he was pressed firmly behind you. His chest was snug against your back, while his leg softly nudged its way between yours.

Nuzzling your pillow, you couldn't help but let out a content sigh. The butterflies became harder to ignore as you were wrapped in his arms. Bucky's free arm moved some of your hair away from your neck exposing it before splaying beneath your pillows allowing you to rest your head upon it.

His breath hit the back of your neck before his nose gently traced the back of your neck. The hair on the back of your neck stood at attention while your senses were in overdrive. Your back arched slightly as a quiet moan slipped past your lips. Bucky's arm tightened around your waist in the process. He gently pressed his lips to the back of your neck while being cautious as to not cross a line.

Turning your upper half in his arms, you laced your hand in his hair tugging him down towards you. His lips brushed yours before finally taking your lips between his.

Bolting upright, your chest was rising and falling at a rapid pace, while a thin sheet of sweat covered your skin. A ball of sweat rolled down your chest.

Bucky was quick to join you. "Are you okay?" His raspy voice laced with concern, as he studied your features.

You hummed in response, as your eyes were trained on the crown molding of the room.

Bucky's warm fingers gently grasped your chin, angeling your head to face him. "Are you sure?"

Gazing at him, you mapped the features that were etched along his face. His ocean eyes pouring into yours.

"I..." The words lost in your mouth. With his metal hand resting on the bed, his chest was angled towards yours. The close proximity almost allowing them to touch. Your breath hitching as the realization dawned on you, as you were taken by surprise that Bucky was concerned.

Without a word, Bucky laid on his back gazing at you as made himself comfortable before opening his arms in a welcoming manner.

Furrowing your eyebrows together in confusion, your jaw fell slack. "A-Are you sure?" You whispered, your eyes widening at his actions.

Rolling his eyes, Bucky sent you a toothy smile. "Just... Come here, before I change my mind." His eyes carried a playful glint in them.

Placing your ear upon his chest, you wrapped your arms around his waist. One of Buckys hands landed in your hair beginning to scratch your scalp. The other, landed behind your knee gently pulling it over his hips wrapping you in each other.

His warmth calming you almost immediately. Your eyelids grew heavy as you allowed sleep to overwhelm you just as Bucky pressed a gentle kiss upon the crown of your head.

---

Once you were back on the road in search of Zemo, things had seemed to change between you and Bucky. The arguments between you had changed to flirtatious remarks.

When you arrived at the prison that held Zemo, you felt your heart fall into the pit of your stomach.

Standing next to Sam you frowned slightly. Before you knew it, Sam and Redwing were checking the perimeter leaving you and Bucky alone.

"Bucky.." You whispered as your eyebrows furrowed together.

"Hey, what is it?" He questioned his features dancing with concern as he stood before you.

"I...Be careful..."

Smirking, he raised an eyebrow at you.

"Who else is going to annoy me if you're back to being-"

Chuckling, he rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine." Tucking a piece of hair behind your ear, he leaned forward placing a chaste kiss on your cheek. "Besides, I had a pretty girl to come back to."

Heat rose in your cheeks, as butterflies erupted in your stomach.

---

When Zemo joined your small group, Bucky had returned to his previous persona before that night.

Sighing, you couldn't bring yourself to rebuttal anything he shot at you. It had been insult after insult. In his mind, he was protecting you, he felt the more he pushed you away the safer you would be.

As you were getting dolled up for the mission, you noticed the subtle glances Bucky sent your way. On the one time you caught him, he was quick to avert his gaze while clenching his jaw.

"Don't you look beautiful," Zemo spoke from behind you.

Whirling on your heel, you scrunched up your face as you gazed at him. "Thanks."

As Zemo was ready to respond, his mouth opened but Bucky's voice came out.

"I think Sam wanted to talk to you," Bucky spoke, standing beside him. Clearing his throat as a rosy color danced along his cheeks.

Nodding your head, you went to find him.

Turning to face Zemo, Bucky let out a growl. "Leave her alone."

Zemo tutted, as he sent him a toothy grin. "Has the Winter Soldier gone soft?"

Grabbing him by the front collar of his shirt, Bucky yanked him forward as rage danced in his eyes. "I'm not the Winter Soldier anymore."

"But-"

"And as for Y/N," Bucky glanced around in an attempt to make sure you hadn't heard the altercation between them. "She's mine."

Grinning in a taunting manner at Bucky, Zemo chuckled softly. "You have a funny way of showing it."

---

"Winter Soldier," Zemo spoke as he stood before Bucky at the bar. A hand was placed on his shoulder. "Attack."

Your breath hitched in your throat as you and Sam stood watching Bucky. Sadness washed over you, as you saw a flash of pain wash over Bucky's features. As you watched Bucky go through the motions you frowned.

After the mission was successful, you hadn't missed the concern oozing off of Bucky. You hadn't looked at him since the beginning of it. You couldn't help but feel as if your heart broke.

"I..I need some air." You spoke breaking away from the group without waiting for any response.

The bitter evening air whirled around you. Crossing your arms along your chest you made your way towards the nearest ally allowing yourself to lean against the wall. Closing your eyes, you let your head rest against the bricks.

"You shouldn't be out here alone."

Without opening your eyes, you knew Bucky was standing before you.

"I'm not alone, you're here."

A silence fell between you. Frowning, you opened your eyes as you gazed into his ocean eyes.

"I.." His voice trailed off as sorrow washed over his features.

"Was it all a joke to you?" Your voice breaking at the end. Your composure was quickly crumbling as tears welled in your eyes.

"No. No, it wasn't-"

"So what?" You questioned feeling yourself becoming defensive. "You want to give me a glimpse behind the walls again before you shut me out without a second thought?"

Bucky flinched at your words, as they came out much more harsh than you intended. "No-"

Scoffing you rolled your eyes. Tears began to cascade down your cheeks. Kicking off the wall, you didn't want to partake in the conversation anymore. As you began walking away from Bucky, you felt his calloused hand wrap around your wrist preventing you from retreating from him. Whirling you around, you collided with his firm chest.

Releasing your wrist, he placed his hands along your jaw before placing his lips upon yours. His lips were softer than you expected while a salty flavor invaded your mouth.

Pulling away, he rested his forehead against yours as your breath mingled together. "You're not going anywhere."

Join my Taglist Here

Request a Part Two (Be sure to mention the title) Here

Send me a Request Here

Tagilst:

A line through your name means I couldn't tag you.

@Jjjhgsio @pietro-avengers @lovelokiqueen @redsakura101 @lia-m01 @catsandra-chan @lazyloki @juliannatryon @comfortzonequeen @malfoy-wife15 @gloryekaterina @gracielou0518 @whynotmissamerica @you-sunshine @fredweazleyswh0re @conny_c2 @prettysbliss @doll-skin-n-teeth @famoustelevisionartbiscuit @gbaabyyyy @undisputedmorgs @cynaide-mustard @droopingdatura @lottsofroses @livanjelica @realgaytrash @incansas @sushi-sushi101 @its-yasbxtch @popsycles @justsomerandompersonintheworld @luciferedits @nicangel13 @kyliesalvatore @deepcollectionmagazine @missryerye @evaroseparkson @chaotic-neutral-logic-sass @wonderwoman292 @theuselesspowerpuff @beth-winchester21 @empath-bunny @bucky-j-barnes @little-miss-naill @fan-girl-in-denial @ilovemollyweasley @sarcasticallywitty15 @purpleprincess14 @quxxnxfhxll @donttellanyoneireadfanfiction @lieswithoutfairytales @sarahh-wigginss @wonderful-writer @pandaxnienke

[terubakudan]

This may be an old article from 3 years ago, but these cultural aspects/observations still apply even today. And though this is strictly a Chinese perspective, a lot of these everyday life bits are observed in Overseas Chinese communities in countries such as The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. as well as countries heavily influenced by Chinese culture like Taiwan, Japan, and Korea.

I've always liked learning about other cultures and making comparisons between how things are done East vs West. Which probably stems from growing up with two cultures and Mom raising me on American movies xD

So the irony is if you asked me how many Chinese, Taiwanese, or Hong Kong actors I know, chances are I know as much as you do xD Like Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, and that's about it. But if you asked me about Western (specifically American and British) actors, then I have a useless brain dump of movie trivia and who was with who in what movie xD

Hmmm, both Taiwan and the Philippines are two distinct cultures but both look up to a certain country and are fascinated by that. In Taiwan's case, Japan and the US for the Philippines. In both cases, this is due to being under the rule of those countries in their history. Taiwan being under Japan for 50 years, and the Philippines being under Spain for 300+ years, followed by periods of American and Japanese rule. To put it simply though:

Taiwan is "mini-Japan with a very Chinese culture".

The Philippines is "former colony of Spain with lots of American influences".

But unlike the author, I've never set foot in any Western country, so my understandings are strictly what I've observed in media, which while it can be accurate, doesn't compare to actually experiencing the culture.

Some further elaboration on most points:

#1 We quite literally use chopsticks for everything. We use it to pick rice, viands, vegetables, fruit, smaller desserts, almost all the food you can think of.

But where do you put your chopsticks when you're not using them? Just put them on top of your bowl or flat on your plate. But do not ever stick them vertically. It's taboo, since it looks like incense sticks, which we use to pray for those who have passed, like our ancestors or during funerary services.

#3 The majority of Asia is obsessed with fair/white skin. In my time at the Philippines, I grew up watching all these Dove Whitening commercials and my classmates often commented on how fair my skin was, how they envied it etc. In Taiwan, girls often say they don't want to 變黑 (biàn hēi) 'become dark'. Japan and Korea too are not innocent of this either (if their beauty/skin products weren't a dead giveaway).

People here at Taiwan often mistake me for being from Hong Kong or Japan (as long as I don't speak Mandarin with my heavy accent xD). A Taiwanese classmate of mine joked that she often gets mistaken for being from Southeast Asia due to having a darker complexion. And while I laughed it off with her at that time, looking back, I now realize she was lowkey being racist. xD

And believe me Filipinas have mentioned literally being told 'your skin is so dark' here in Taiwan, or being given backhanded compliments like 'you're pretty despite having dark skin' and...*facepalms*

My point is, beauty is not exclusive to skin color. People who still think that are assholes.

#5 Not to say we don't have salt and pepper, but yes soy sauce and vinegar are the classic condiments you see on the table, be it at home or at a restaurant.

And if I may add, Taiwanese love their pepper. xD If you ever get to eat at a night market or a smaller "Mom n' Pop-style" restaurant here, some dishes/soups tend to add quite an excessive amount of pepper. Not like anthills, but quite liberally and way more than average. Enough that you see traces of pepper at the bottom of the food paper bag or swirling in your soup. xD

#6 I know this all too well from personal experience. In my years of studying at Taiwan, I always had roommates. 3 in my first school (I graduated high school in the Philippines pre K-12 so I had to make up 2 years of Senior High), followed by 2 in college, with the exception of 1 in freshman year.

My college did offer single person dorms but at around 9000 NTD ($324) per month compared to around 6000 NTD ($216) per semester. Because I wanted to save, the choice was obvious for me xD. But ah, this doesn't mean I don't value personal space, in fact I love having the room to myself, and since both my roomies would go home to their families every weekend, weekends were bliss for me xD

And you don't have to be friends with your roommates (that's an added bonus however), you just have to get along with them. I was quite lucky to have really great roommates all throughout my schooling years.

#9 In the Philippines, we do. Owing mostly to American influences and maybe being predominantly Catholic? xD

#10 *sigh* Chinese parents and parents from similar Asian cultures tend to put too much emphasis on grades, so much that kids could get sent to cram school as early as elementary. This is because what school you get into could literally affect your future job opportunities, and while that's not exclusive to any particular country/culture, I feel it's especially pronounced here in Asia. I'm really lucky my own parents weren't that strict about it. However, if your parents don't point the mistakes out to you, chances are you'll do it yourself, if you're an Asian kid like me anyway. xD It just becomes a habit.

#11 My family is an exception to this. xD We do say 'I love you' directly, but complete with the 'ah eat well ok?', 'don't scrimp on food', 'sleep well' and similar indirect words/actions of affection. We were doing 'Conceal, Don't Feel' before it became popular. xD

#13 I'm kind of confused about this but this has sort have changed over the years in which eye-contact is now more encouraged. But don't stare, especially at elders and authority figures. Sometimes it's just shyness though. xD And I've observed this with my own Taiwanese friend, especially when I'm complaining or ranting to her about something. xD I'm a person who likes to express my opinions strongly, which tends to scare/alienate some of the locals here, as doing so is kind of frowned upon. Thankfully, she does listen and offers her take on things.

#14 Ah this. xD In the Philippines, this is a common greeting known as beso-beso, and I freaked out too when an auntie did that to me. xD Needless to say, Mom lectured me later on what that was. ^^"

#16 Along with #3 another crazy beauty standard. In my view, people always look better with a little meat on them and when they're not horribly thin. Asia still has a loonng way to go with accepting different types of bodies if you ask me. This combined with modern beauty standards has made the pressure for women especially to 'look beautiful' higher than ever.

I know many people love them but please, starving yourself or glorifying eating disorders is never OK just to get this kind of 'ideal' body. I'm not part of the Kpop fandom, but even I think when idols get bullied just for gaining the least bit of weight among other insensitive comments, that's really going too far.

#17 'If you want to make friends, go eat.' <- I couldn't agree more. In the Philippines we have a greeting: 'Kumain ka na ba?' (Have you eaten?) . Similarly in Taiwan, we have 吃飯了沒? (chī fàn le méi), both of these can mean that in the literal sense but are often used as greetings instead. By then which invitation to having lunch/dinner together may or may not follow. Food really is a way for us to socialize and to catch up with what's going on in each other's lives. Not to say we don't have regular outings like going out to the mall, going shopping, etc. but eating together is a huge part of our culture, be it with family or friends.

And while I'm at it, some memes that are way too accurate good to pass up xD

Parents, uncles, aunties alike will fight over the bill xD

Alternatively:

You just space out until your name is called xD

My parents are guilty of the last one. Logic how? xD

#18 True. xD I like giving compliments out to people but I have a hard time accepting them myself, though I've learnt how to accept them much more now than before. We're kind of raised to constantly downplay ourselves so we often say things like 'ah no no' or 'I'm really not that good'. The downside of this of course is that it can come off as somewhat fake. xD

Again from personal experience, that same classmate who made the lowkey racist remark, she was good, she was on the debate team, was a honor student, knew how to mingle with people, but she downplayed herself way too much, while praising me but I honestly thought that she never really meant it from how she treated me. She wanted to keep me around her yet make backhanded compliments at me and she didn't want me socializing with my other classmate who is now my friend. *sigh* It was only after discussing this with one of my roomies did I realize how this 'excessive downplaying' might come off to people like me who more or less grew up with a more 'Westernized' mindset. I'm not saying brag about your achievements but don't be overly humble about them either, which can also be a turn off.

#20 We do tend to be a lot more realistic on how we view things, neither entirely optimistic nor pessimistic. We try to think of things practically and often analyze things on pure logic. A downside of this however, is that Chinese people can be overly practical. Taiwanese for instance don't like to 'find inconveniences' and generally keep to themselves, meaning, they won't help you in your hour of need even when they do have the capabilities. Sounds really harsh I know, but in my 6 years of living in Taiwan, while this doesn't apply to all the people, a lot of them really do only find/talk to you when they need something.

So for some people saying Taiwanese are 'friendly', that's BS xD If you ask me, Filipinos are infinitely more friendly, and again while not all, generally make more of an effort to help you when you need it. I really felt more of a real sense of community during my years growing up in the Philippines compared to Taiwan.

#21 Children do tend to stay with their parents well into college and adulthood, since Chinese families are indeed very family-oriented, in a lot of cases, grandparents often live under the same roof as us as well! And it really does save a lot of money. I see there's a real stigma in the US when it comes to "living with your parents", but that's starting to change especially because of Covid and having more and more people move back in with their parents.

Housing unfortunately is pretty much hella expensive no matter where you go, and Taiwan is no exception. Steep housing prices and the very high cost of raising a child (schooling + buxiban fees, etc.) contribute to a very low birth rate and thus an aging population like Japan. It's not uncommon to see both parents working in Taiwan.

#23 I'm an overthinker myself, but I totally agree with the author that the best is to strike a good balance between these two. Which I guess is why I love drawing or any other related creative attempts, it helps me be more spontaneous or well, creative! I like to remain intellectually or artistically inspired.

#24 Is French high school really like that? xD My friend did watch SKAM France and more or less got a culture shock from what was depicted on the show. I can confirm however that most high schools both in the Philippines and Taiwan require students to wear a uniform, only in college is everybody free to wear casual/civilian clothes.

#26 Ah this is part of our Asian gift-giving etiquette xD We always open gifts later after the event/meeting and in private. Never open them in front of the person who gave it to you or in front of others. This is to prevent any 'shame/embarrassment' that may result both to yourself and to the gift giver. I know this may come off as something weird since some people may want a more honest response or immediate feedback when it comes to gift-giving, but that's just how it is in our culture. You're always free to ask us though (in private) if we liked the gift or not ^^"

#28 I want to say the same goes to drinking, partying, and drugs however xD Those are things which are still frowned upon in our culture. And to be honest, whenever I see those in movies, it does kind of turn me off xD It doesn't mean that we're "uncool" or "boring", we just think that there are much better or healthier ways of "having fun".

#31 Is this true in France?! Man I would kind of prefer that instead of people being on their phones all the time xD This kind of goes with #20 in that Chinese are overly practical or logical, and don't read fiction as much as nonfiction. My Taiwanese friend is an exception though, she's a bibliophile who loves the feel of paper books compared to e-books, and it's a trait of her that I like a lot. Both the Philippines and Taiwan however have a huge fanbase when it comes to manga and anime though.

I'm all for reading outside of "designated reading" at schools especially. Reading fiction improves your vocabulary too, and can be quite fun! It helps you imagine and really invest in a world/story, and if you ask me something that I feel Westerners are better at, they're more in touch with their emotions and creativity, and are thus much more able to write compelling or original stories. Believe me, I've seen a fair amount of Chinese movies that rip off Western movie plotlines xD

#33 Nothing much to add on here..except that since I'm a "weird" person, Mom often jokes that she got the wrong baby from the hospital. xD

#35 True. While I agree with the care and concern that your fellow community can give you, the downside of this is we tend to only hang out with our own people, e.g Chinese with Chinese, Taiwanese with Taiwanese, etc. I've seen too that it's especially hard to make friends in Japan and Korea as a foreigner. Not only is there the language barrier, but the differences in culture too. In a way, Asians can be pretty close-minded on getting to know other cultures or actually making friends with people from other countries. I know this all too well being half-Taiwanese/half-Filipino, being neither "Filipino" enough nor "Taiwanese" enough. xD It's more of people here being too used to what they're comfortable with.

#36 Oh this is something I feel that Chinese students and other students from similar cultures should really improve on. xD How will people respect you if you don't speak your mind?

I felt bad especially for my Spanish teacher in college, granted it was an introductory course (Spanish I and II) but the amount of times that our teacher had to prompt a student to recite/speak even with clear hints already made her (and me too) extremely frustrated. The thing is, these are college students, I personally feel they don't have any reason to be so shy of speaking and technically by not doing so they're slowing the pace of the class too much and a lot of time is wasted.

Unfortunately you can't always be very vocal with your thoughts and opinions in most Asian cultures. I would say strive for that, but at the same time, play your cards well, especially if you're in a workplace setting.

If you made it to the end, thank you for reading and here's a cookie! 🍪 I'm not perfect and there's bound to be something I missed so please let me know if you spotted anything wrong. Feedback/questions are very much welcome and please feel free to share about your country/culture's differences or similarities!

[sebstanseabass]

Afterglow (A Bucky Barnes AU fan fiction) - Chapter 19

Afterglow chapters

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The atmosphere changed in a snap. Everyone had felt it, except Peter.

Peter's early arrival had you all floored, especially you and Bucky. Oblivious to Peter, you were both dumbfounded, like deer caught in headlights. But this wasn't the best time to process what was going to happen next. You had to think off your feet. Yoy had to show Peter that there was no more than surprise in your faces.

Peter was finally here. That's what matters right now.

The instrumentals of Hungry Eyes kept playing in the background. Bucky's microphone created a feedback sound once he let it rest on his sides, making you all wince. Peter ditched his bags (which magically doubled), and strode towards you, engulfing you in a hug. Although he reeked of damp, mossy grass, and wood, you hugged him back.

"I got in early! How great is that?" He greeted you with enthusiasm laced in his voice. "Oh god, I've missed you, y/n!" He said into your ear.

The rest of the group, laid back on their comfortable seats, watched the whole thing unfold in front of their very eyes. You’d definitely pay to see Nat's look on her face right now.

"Yeah, you did!" you patted his back before pulling away, giving him the best smile you could do. "I've missed you, too. Welcome back, Parker. It's been quite a damn week without you."

Bucky was solid as a rock before Peter moved towards his spot (Bucky gave me a quick glance and a wry smile which you then returned; afterwards, you bit your lip looking at the exchange between the two) and hugged him tight as they exchanged their formalities. "It's nice to have you back, Peter."

"It is nice to be back." Peter replied, pulling away. "Whew, that one week went by real slow, huh? Feels like ages!"

"Yeah." Bucky glanced at you one more time. This time, it was longer. "No kidding."

"Alright everyone, it's nice to see you all together."

The group mumbled agreeably.

"Sam," Peter acknowledged, doing his signature finger gun pointed towards him, "I don't even know why you're here but I will as soon as I take a quick shower right upstairs and get these bags sorted out."

"You might want to take a long one there, buddy." Sam breathed out, fanning the air. "You smell like a caveman."

"Sam." You scolded, shaking your head.

"Yes, babydoll?" He jeered, which you and Bucky didn't like.

Most especially Bucky.

And Peter as well.

You gave Sam a look, hidden from Peter's view, of course, careful not to raise any kind of suspicion. But boy, was Sam giving you and Bucky a hard time. The group knew why he called you that, of course. But not Peter.

"Babydoll?" Peter repeated, a confused expression crossing his face as he turned towards you. "Why is he calling you that ridiculous nickname?"

Peter had always hated when men called you, as he put it, "ridiculous" nickname. You knew if he could punch them all, he would but because of Steve's number one rule (no fighting in the bar), he couldn't. It all started ever since you worked in the bar. You weren’t getting much attention when you were a waitress but you guess, when men see a woman behind the counter making their drinks, apparently, they think you’re easy, and naive, and would fall for their "charm" by calling you nicknames. One minute you’re "darling", the next you’re "doll" or "baby" or, the worst of them all, "mon chéri."

God, did men really think women would be turned on by a French nickname with a horrendous French accent? Perhaps, the idiots do.

You suddenly wondered if Peter felt the same.

"He's just kidding." You mumbled, taking him away from the group. "You know how Sam is."

You started to lead him further towards the door where his bags were.

"I know how he is, y/n." He grew more agitated now, triggered by what Sam had called you. "I've known him longer than you. Okay, what on earth is going on here?" Peter turned around once more, facing them all. His hands were all over the place. Exaggerated gestures that furthered his confused state. "What happened in that one week I was gone? Jeez."

"Hey." You made Peter focus his attention back towards you by grabbing him by the shoulders. By this time, the instrumentals on the karaoke machine were gone. "We get that you're really confused right now and you're tired so why don't you go and take a shower. The night is still young, Parker. I promise we'll tell you everything the second you come back here."

Of course, not everything.

The dead air whistled around, which you hated. He glanced at the group, who was waiting for a response. Their eyes were all on you and Peter. He finally let out a sigh, his shoulders slumped. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, it's just been kind of a long drive."

With that, Peter scurried towards the apartment to set down his bags and take a shower. He left a trace of awkwardness in the air once he left.

"Is it just me," Nat started as you walked towards the booth, "or did he grow taller? Did he go to, like, a magic place or something?" Everyone looked at her with knitted brows. "Jesus, I'm just lightening up the mood." She said, hands raised up.

You strode towards Sam, a rush of heat climbing its way towards your face. "Seriously? You had to call me that?"

Sam chuckled nervously, eyes flickering between you and his best friend. "I-it was just a joke! I didn't know he'd take it seriously. And helloooo," he said in a singsong voice, dragging the o, "I'm drunk."

"Being drunk isn't an excuse. It should never be." Bucky said, leaning against the booth. He stood with much authority which you found enticing. But you digressed. "You still shouldn't have said it."

"And besides," you chimed in, "Parker hates it when people give me nicknames."

"Alright. I am sorry." He said. His eyes examined you and Bucky. "But how do you think he's going to react when he finds out his favorite person in the world is calling his best friend babydoll in bed?"

You were dumbstruck. Like it was some kind of question in a trivia game you didn't know the answer to. You couldn't think straight hearing the fries grinding in Nat's teeth, probably enjoying the drama unfolding in front of her eyes, Steve's fingers tapping on the wooden table and Nick's fast breathing.

You took a deep breath, and tried hard to ignore all these annoying sounds.

Sam was right. If Peter's reaction to the nickname was already bad, what more if he knew about the truth between you and Bucky? How could he possibly react to it?

"Look." You said, approaching Bucky, and grabbing his pinky with yours. For comfort. "We're still not ready to tell him but we will."

"Yes, soon." Bucky agreed.

"We're just finding the right time."

The truth was, you weren't any close to finding the "the right time." You had been racking our brains since last night on when to tell him. After setting on the when, then you’d move to the next phase of the plan which was how. Now that Peter had come back, you knew you needed to think and act fast before he found out about you and Bucky from other people.

"In the meantime," you said, grabbing your phone and finding Marco's name on my contact list, "let's just enjoy this party as it is. Steve threw this party for a reason and we are going to enjoy it. With or without Peter. No blabbing or hinting — yes I'm talking about you, Sam — about me and Bucky. No nicknames, no references. Nothing."

"You're asking all of us to keep your dirty little secret?" Nick asked. "While we're all drunk?"

"You and Sam are." Bucky chimed in, grabbing their beer bottles. "Steve and Nat aren't so I'm keeping a close eye on you two." He turned towards you, faces close in proximity, and gave you the bottles to stow away. "No more drinks for those two idiots."

Youbnodded and took the beers away from Sam and Nick which earned yoy a couple glares. Nick pouted afterwards like a baby, eyeing the beer bottles in your hand. "No, Nick. I'm cutting you off."

"Take his, not mine!" Nick whined, tilting his head towards Sam. "I didn't blab. This idiot did."

"I don't like your tone, man." Sam argued, mimicking Nick's state.

"One more drink and you'll blab. And please stop acting like kids." you sighed, walking towards the counter, stowing the beer bottles in their cases. Ypunlooked on your phone once again, called Marco and ordered three large pizza boxes — pepperoni, meat, and cheese pizza. All of Peter's favorites.

By the time the phone call ended, Bucky approached you with soft, doe-like eyes. The group resumed singing, Sam and Nick once again hogging the machine, clearly not taking your advice. Sam kept yelling at him to "cut the check!"

"How're you feeling, doll?" He asked, going under the pass through.

"Well, it's now a surprise party." You heaved a sigh, turning around to find a drink with much more of a kick to get you through the night. Your eyes found an unopened bottle of vodka in one of the cabinets. You didn't hesitate to grab it, along with a dry vermouth and some olives.

Bucky's eyes were on you the whole time, watching you making yourself a mean martini. Ypundidn't care if Steve saw you just now. Right now, you needed this. Just one glass to calm your nerves.

Younstirred the liquid with the olives in a stick before downing the whole thing in one gulp.

"As hot as that was," Bucky said, referring to how you drank the martini and how younmade it, "that's your last drink for the night. I'm not letting you get drunk for the wrong reasons. Once was enough."

You set down the glass on the counter with a thud. You lifted your hazel eyes to meet his blue ones. "You're paying for this, by the way."

He chuckled. "I know. I'll take care of it."

You looked cautiously at the door, dreading Peter. Knowing he won't probably be here for another hour, you approached Bucky, discreetly grabbing his hand. It took you a moment to put your thoughts into words.

"James, if we tell Peter, we need to be... sure. Of this. Of us." youbwatched your fingers brush against him on the wooden table.

"We've talked about this, y/n. I am." He reassured, walking closer this time. "It's a big risk but it's one I'm willing to take."

The idea of you jumping into this together, jumping into it with caution gave you a big relief. But right now, it wasn't just an idea anymore. It was real.

It was real in the way he snaked his arm around your waist, in the way he pulled you into a soft, deep kiss, and in the way his lips lingered on your lips. You pulled away, your bodies still close. At that moment, it was just the two of you. Never mind the loud karaoke machine, or the faint noises of the traffic outside, or Sam's out of tune rhythm.

It was just the two of you. In your own little afterglow.

"You're a big risk I'm willing to take." He whispered the words so slow that they swirled around you, pulling you even closer.

"And you're mine too." you smiled.

Several minutes have passed since your little conversation. Nat had teased you and Bucky of being whipped for each other. Of course Sam joined, and then Nick who chanted a little song he made, which, for the life of you, you couldn't even remember. The rest didn’t understand a word he was singing other than the words "Bucky" and "y/n."

Steve, on the other hand, had been silently drinking his beer and eating the whole time. You once gave him an are-you-okay look and he just nodded in response, giving you that classic tight-lipped smile of his.

Bucky was seated beside you, your thighs grazing each other in the little booth. Even accidental touches brought you comfort.

And isn't that just the best damn thing?

Peter had come in after the little performance Nick just gave, thankful that he didn't walk right in the middle of it. Behind him was a staff of Marco's who delivered the pizza boxes. Everyone hurrah'd. You grabbed your wallet from your back pocket but Steve stopped you, handing some bills to the guy.

"Steve, I could've gotten it." You said after the pizza guy left.

He shook his head, setting down his beer on the table. "It's your party, kid. I'm not letting you pay a single cent."

Nat scoffed. "She made herself a drink just earlier. You should charge her for that."

"Woah, y/n drank? That's new." Peter chimed in, squeezing himself in the booth, sitting at the edge. Between you were Sam and Nick. "What else did I miss?"

And so, you told him everything — well, not everything. Only from when Steve fired you (him lying about how why he even came up with it which Peter bought), to Bucky convincing you to take the project collaboration with Sam, to finally agreeing to it, to the whole meeting that happened just three days prior, and to how you’ll proceed from there. Youndidn't know if Nat and Steve wanted to reveal their little thing to Peter so you kept your mouth shut. Not wanting to do to them what you didn't want done to you and Bucky.

"My god," Peter commented, "that really was a long week! I'm quite disappointed I missed all of that!"

Oh, Parker. If only you knew the whole truth.

In return, he gave the gist of the whole corporate retreat. He finally told you where he and the rest of his team went but it was some place you couldn't even pronounce. Some cabin by the lake far away from Manhattan. He didn't bore you too much with the details. All you knew was that they went fishing, hiking and camping in the wild while team building. Along with the stories were photos of him and the place they were staying.

You frowned thinking it would've been fun if he were with friends. Like you guys.

The whole time, Bucky held your hand under the table or rubbed your thighs discreetly so as to not draw much attention.

Nat was an exception. That redhead saw everything, smirking once in a while. You gave her a discreet look from time to time.

Peter congratulated you, toasting his pizza with yours. Thankfully, he didn't need to drink tonight ("No drinks for me tonight or for the next few days").

"Wow, you really came out there like a new man!" you chuckled. He laughed right back but for just a mere moment. His expression changed while taking a bite of his pizza. You began to be nervous as to why this kept happening. Younneeded to go to the toilet.

Getting out of the booth was a chore. Nat, Steve and Bucky had to get up before you could even stand up. Youndidn't get why you didn't just stick the little tables together to make a long one.

You were in the toilet for a little while, leaking everything that youndrank tonight. Your head felt a bit dizzy but younmanaged to stand up afterwards. The voices of your friends were inaudible against the wooden walls. Except Nick's booming laugh.

Once you opened the door, you were greeted by Steve who was standing still, waiting for the toilet to become unoccupied.

"Sorry." you apologized. "Was I too long?"

"No." He replied shortly. You tried to walk past him but he caught your arm. Younlooked at his hand, confused. "Are you sure about this Bucky guy?"

"What?"

"This whole thing with Bucky. You can't actually be serious about this."

Taken aback, you wiggled out of his grasp, successfully yanking your arm out. "And who are you to tell me that?"

"You just met this guy." He answered. You still felt his grip on your arm by his stern tone.

"Weren't you the one who kicked me out of this very bar just for me to go to the roof to meet with this guy that I just met?"

"I thought you would've ended whatever thing you had going with him."

You scoffed. "You're not my father, Steve. I know you have this weird father or brother thing you have with me but I'm an adult. I can take care of my damn self."

"What about that night you were insanely drunk?"

"That... that was a one-time thing. A mistake is what it is!" younhissed. "Everyone makes mistakes."

"Y/n, listen — "

"No." you cut him off. "You listen. Just because you and Nat haven't figured out whatever the hell is going on with you two, doesn't mean you can shit on my relationship. Before you comment on my dating life, I suggest you fix yours first. I'm happy. Bucky's happy. We're both happy. Please mind your own business."

Before you could even go back to the group, Steve called your name. Youngroaned, turning around. "What now?"

He sighed. "You're really going at great lengths for Bucky. Keeping secrets from Parker and all that. Is it really worth it?"

You stood there. Silent. Trying to find your voice.

"Well, I'm about to find out." You replied, turning around, hopefully for the last time. "Later, Steve."

You went back to the group and continued to chat with them. Steve got back after a few moments. His streak of silence was broken when Nat revealed something none of you had ever known before.

"Did you guys know that Steve was a journalist before he became a bar owner?" Nat said, looking at Steve.

You raised your eyebrows, the pizza caught in mid-air. A curiosity sparke, pleased with the new information you had just acquired.

"Steve Rogers? A journalist?" Peter scoffed unbelievably, leaning back against the seat. "No way. No, I don't buy it."

"Me neither." Nick butted in. "He doesn't look like the type. Nuh-uh."

"It's true!" Nat argued. "Tell them, Steve. Come on!"

Steve forced a chuckle, avoiding all your waiting gazes. "Yeah, it's true. I was. I used to work for the New York magazine."

"Why'd you stop?" Bucky's voice surprised you. It was the first time you’ve actually heard him talk to Steve first, except that time when you first introduced them.

Steve's eyes met Bucky's. A strange atmosphere picked up. You couldn't quite point out why. "I was sticking my nose up where it didn't belong." He replied. "I got fired because of that. Boss said I was too... intuitive."

"Isn't that what journalists should be exactly?" You asked.

"Too much of something is bad too, I guess." He shrugged, retreating back his eyes.

"Huh." You said, observing Steve. Eyes stolid. Bearing no emotions at all. "Well, look who's good at keeping secrets. Steve Rogers."

He hummed. "We all got secrets."

And then Nick revealed a ridiculous secret ("I hate the bank! I don't have a bank account!") that lightened up the mood.

The night went on after that, Steve avoiding any questions you had about this past life of his. Nick had the most ridiculous questions followed by Peter. But the night had to end as well. Thankfully, it ended sober.

Leaving Steve, Nat and Nick behind, Bucky, you and Peter headed up the stairs, the elevator ride filled with deafening silence. One you very much loathed. Between Bucky and you was Peter. It was killing you not to touch Bucky.

Bucky left, merely dropping you off in your apartment. He told you he'd come by tomorrow morning to get his stuff that was still in Peter's room.

It killed you not being able to kiss Bucky good night, watching his back getting smaller and disappearing behind the elevator. Peter closed the door after that.

"Boy, I'm tired." You yawned, stretching your arms up. "I'm gonna go ahead. It's nice to have you back, Parker."

Before you could even go to your room and have a nice sleep, Peter called for your name. You lazily replied.

"Yeah?"

"Why'd you do it, y/n?"

Confused, you turned around, meeting his gaze. "What?"

"The project with Sam." He said, walking towards you. His footsteps were heavy in each step. As heavy as his voice was becoming. "Bucky convinced you. Why'd you say yes?"

Trepidation filled your body. A kind of weakness you loathed. But you tried hard to stand on your ground, masking your anxiousness.

The noises outside the apartment, out on the streets mirrored the voices in your head.

"It was a big business opportunity." you found your voice. "A collaboration. And I didn't have much choice knowing that I was going to get fired."

But it seemed like Peter chose not to listen. "For years, I have been trying to get you to work with me. Years, y/n. Years." He sighed in exasperation. His eyes were bloodshot, tears badly wanting to escape. "Why couldn't you have said yes to me?"

His last words were so strong and sharp like a knife piercing right through your flesh, leaving you to bleed out in the open. You opened your mouth to speak, to say something, to say that you were sorry but unfortunately, no words came out. Peter breathed, releasing his strong gaze. "Good night, y/n."

He left you standing there in the middle of the room, realizing now that it would be harder to tell him about you and Bucky. Once you finally had the energy to carry your weight towards your room, you treaded towards it slowly and opened the door, only to be met by a soft knock on your window.

You nearly jumped at the sight outside the window.

"Jesus, Bucky!" you hissed, immediately closing the door behind. You opened the window and let him inside, closing it afterwards. "How did you get there?"

He was panting, trying to catch his breath. "Fire escape."

"It's freezing cold outside." you scolded, grabbing him your blanket and wrapping it around his huge figure.

"I know." he replied. "Maybe you can warm me up." A cheeky smile started to play on his lips as he approached you.

You giggled. "Bucky, not now."

"I'm sorry, doll. I just couldn't leave without a good night kiss."

My heart melted at his words. You placed your hand on his jaw and pecked his lips. He pulled you in closer. You smiled in the kiss.

"Neither can I."

You kissed a little bit more, a bit more passion this time, the window framing you perfectly in the nighttime.

You pulled away, feeling a bit guilty about Peter in his room.

"We need to talk, James." You said, breaking what was a lovely atmosphere. You’ve already had two confrontations today. What was another one?

You sat on the bed and patted the space beside you. Bucky frowned, sitting beside you. "What's wrong?"

"Peter's kind of upset with me accepting your offer to work with Sam." you went straight to the point. "He's been trying to get me to work with him in his company he works at ever since he got the job but I've always declined. And now, I think he's mad or even jealous that I said yes to you. God, you should've seen him, Buck. His eyes were so wide, and red. I've never seen him like that. It didn't look like Peter at all."

It took him quite a while before he spoke. "Do you regret taking up the offer?"

"What, heavens no!" You answered. "Bucky, this has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. You're one of them too, of course." You said, seeing his doe-like eyes once more. "I'm just getting a bit more scared now. What if there is no right time for us to tell him? What then?"

He clasped your hands with his large ones, making you stop your trembling. You didn't even notice your hands shaking until now. "There will be a right time, y/n. Right now, we just have to keep this our little secret for a while until we can tell him."

"What happens when he doesn't approve of this?" You started to ramble on once more. "Of us? What happens then?"

"Sweetheart, you don't know what's going to happen but we'll make it work."

You didn't respond. You just kept staring at your joined hands.

"I promise." He added.

You finally nodded, releasing a breath you didn't know you were holding. "Okay."

"Now, if it's okay with you." He moved a little bit closer, kissing your cheek. "I can spend the night here." Another on the other. "With you." then on your lips.

"Peter's in the other room." you whispered in the kiss, amazed at how the mood changed so quickly.

"That's why I'm gonna need you to be quiet, babydoll."

[chokemewanda]

Part Four - Seeing Clearly

Masterlist

Perfect Life Masterlist

Warnings: swearing, violence, blood, canon compliant deaths

Things aren’t always perfect. But Bucky knows how to change that.

You were browsing through the store, trying to find something original for the kids for Halloween dress up. You were unimpressed with most of the options and wondered why you hadn't bothered making the outfits from scratch.

It was much too late now for you to do that and so you back to searching for outfits, lingering by the front window and watching the street.

You waved at Vision who waved back jauntily and continued on his way. He looked good like that, his corduroys suited him. It was better than what he used to wear.

You went back to browsing for outfits, not paying any attention to your surroundings. It wasn't until you got home and we're lamenting to Bucky about the lack of variety in kid's clothes.

"We'll find something. We've got another week." He assured you and you nodded, letting him pull you into his lap. You sat sideways across his knees, arms around his shoulders and his around your waist. "Do anything else interesting today?"

"No. Just outfit shopping. I saw Vision which was nice. He didn't have time for a chat but he's looking a lot healthier than when I saw him last." You told Bucky who froze up under your touch. You didn't pay him much mind. "I haven't seen him since- well since before."

You frowned as your thoughts grew cloudy and you tried to remember. "Before?" Bucky asked gently.

"Before what? Before we got married maybe? Before we had the kids?" You asked yourself, more than him. You got more confused as you attempted to remember when you had last seen Vision. "Maybe from before I met you? No, that doesn't sound right. From work? Except I don't work. Why don't I work?"

"You do work, baby. You're a housewife. You think it's not a full-time job to manage the house and the kids?" He asked and it was bothering you that he wasn't understanding your struggle. You couldn't remember anything beyond the last week or so.

"Bucky, what're our kid's names? Have we got boys or girls? How many have we got?" You asked, looking up at him. "I can't remember."

"Sure you can doll, that's why you were out today. Getting Halloween outfits." You had been getting outfits, that much was true but you don't even know who you had been buying for. You couldn't even bring their faces to mind.

"Halloween is just another over-commercialized holiday. Natasha said so." You frowned again and looked down at your hands before looking back to Bucky. "Who's Natasha?"

"I don't know." You felt off at his reply like he was hiding something from you. The name as ringing in your head, echoing loudly as if some part of you was screaming.

"I feel kind of faint." You told him, taking short shallow breaths. "I should take deep breaths, right?"

"Everything is okay. Close your eyes and go to sleep." You tried to argue but knew it would be no use. Bucky was right. His hand up and down your back slowly and you relaxed against him.

Bucky would keep you safe, he had promised as much when he married you. So you trusted him and slipped off into sleep.

You had nightmares. Awful dark dreams that turned your stomach and left you freezing. You were standing on a cliff edge, purple dawn breaking in front of you. When you looked down there was a body, a red-haired woman with a pool of blood spreading around her. A hand held you back from diving off the rock. The woman was important.

The purple turned into butterflies and Bucky was waiting for you with a smile, dancing around the kitchen to slow music and laughing in your ear. You were safe.

///

"She is fighting," Wanda told Bucky, red fingers twitching. They stood over your sleeping body as Wanda attempted to take your memories again. "She wants to remember."

"You can feel her grief. You know this is better for her." Bucky sighed. He felt a twinge of guilt at the exhausted look in her eyes but he knew this was how it had to be. "If she remembers anything at all then that's it. You lose Vision and you lose the kids."

"I can't keep doing this to her. She misses her so much, she'd always going to be minutes away from remembering." Wanda groaned as your grimace slipped into a gentle smile. "If you jeopardize this for me I will put you both out of my way."

"I want this as much as you do." He reminded her softly. "I've got as much to lose."

"She isn't dead." Wanda hissed. "She exists outside this world and you will get to see her live life after all this."

"Not after what I've done."

Part Three - Part Five

[acciocriativity]

You and Me II || Harry Potter

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Slytherin/Reader

Summary: After years at Hogwarts, your life would really begin and nothing could be better than to start this new phase with your official birthday party, but the next day does not turn out quite as expected.

Warnings: For those who haven't read the first part yet, Tom Riddle is not Voldemort in this fic. The first wizard war was against another wizard but its consequences are still valid! Just pure fluff and an implied bit of smut.

Word Count: 3,0k

A/N: This is obviously the part two of You and Me, but it’s not necessarily related, so you can just read this one as a one shot but the first part gives you a lot of context for this, ok? ok then. (Happy really early Birthday Katie! I'd like to post this on your bday but I was too anxious for this. Hope you like it!)

Part I

04/27/1997

"You're really not well, how can a person be in this state when their birthday is so close? I've tried to understand and still can't", the brunette's bored voice made itself present in the room for the 4th time in the day and as I prepared my answer, she held up her hand and delivered her own hypothesis first. "You can't be sad that we're finishing seventh year, I swear for Merlin's sake, if that's the case, I'll...", the words slipped slowly from her mouth, as did the calmness remaining in her.  

"Even though anything you have to say sounds like a lot of fun, it's not the case. I really want to start my own life, have my own job and all that. I'm just thinking a lot lately, too many things have happened, we've all changed so much", I didn't bother to look at her, still focused on the ceiling painted like a blue summer sky and she didn't mind asking permission to lie next to me on the bed. 

"We had to grow up eventually, although some took too long, in fact, I can point out for sure that half the boys still act like kids", we both laughed until our bellies ached.

"Well, good for us then because Draco and Blaise are not on that list and don't even dare look at me like that, you know he's changed a lot", I heard her amused giggles and already imagined what was coming. 

"I wasn't even going to say anything this time, it's really impressive how you just stick up for him, I hope it's the same with me", I frowned and looked at her as if she was out of her mind, and there were chances she really was. "Since when do you need protection from someone?". 

"I never said I needed it, but it's nice to know I have it", she shrugged without looking me in the eye and I decided it would be better to change the subject, because nothing good ever comes out of a Pansy, who is unseasy in any sense. 

"So, about your...," she started. "Pansy, what do you…”, I said at the same time, but I just smiled and waited in silence for what she had to say. 

"I was going to ask about your parents, you're going to have to live with them in a month, so how are you feeling about that?", she just glanced at me. 

"That's been going through my mind, I have no idea what it's going to be like but it's going to be better than anything that's happened in the past, that's enough for now", I sighed. 

"You know you can come to my house, right? You can hide there", I agreed with a smile and we continued in a comfortable silence. 

04/29/1997

7:30 A.M.

 On the morning of my birthday, I woke up in the best possible way. The warmth emanating from Draco's body and the thick blanket kept me unfazed by the freezing wind coming in through the window. I didn't want to move and I didn't need to. 

I sighed satisfied with the position I was in, curled up under the blanket hugging the blond's bare torso, with no responsibility or obligation other than to enjoy my day. 

"Morning, love", his arms pressed me tighter against him, I could feel his calm breathing and somehow, I felt calmer too.

I left a few kisses on his bare skin and the goosebumps they caused on him made me break out into a little smile. "Good morning, love", I whispered leaning back against him.  

"Come here, let me give you a proper happy birthday", he gave my hair a quick pat and lifted my chin to look at him. 

 As soon as I crawled closer to him, his arms entwined around my waist and pulled me even closer. 

"Happy birthday my love", he left several little kisses on my face and neck before moving to my lips, but our moment was interrupted by a noise on the window.

 A gray owl incessantly beat its beak on the window pane, we looked at each other, neither of us wanted to get up, but it would be too cruel to leave the poor thing waiting there. 

"It's my birthday, I have the right to ask you to go", I gave a brief kiss on his lips before letting him go to the war field. 

 I stayed warm while he opened the window further so that the owl could get through, as well as the icy wind. 

He rushed back to my side in time to see me tear the seal off the letter I received. 

"It's from my parents, they are really working hard this year. I have to admit that", I told him as I scanned the paper. 

"At least they realized what a great daughter they have, she's a little mean but still great", I was too busy reading the letter to notice his cunning and more icy than usual hands pass around me.  

 I jumped out of bed as I felt the shock of our skin contact and he had the audacity to laugh, I had to control myself too much not to grab my wand. 

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are dead now", I climbed into bed with my pillow, ready to fight. 

20:00 P.M.

 A few hours later, I was getting ready for the party in the Slytherin common room, everyone was invited since after this stressful year, a party would be nice and I couldn't physically kick anyone out. 

I was barely concentrating in my makeup, Nala was running back and forth between my feet wanting attention and I couldn't give it to her or for the next few hours, no matter how much it broke my heart. 

"For Merlin's sake... Nala! Sit!", it saddened me to see that she obeyed but still wanted to come running to me, that deserved a good reward.

 I fed her one of her favorite cookies and petted her shiny fur before going back in front of the mirror. I checked several times to make sure I was ready. 

"See you later my love, mma will be back soon", I waved to her and went downstairs before I gave in. 

 There were already a lot of people when I arrived, the new song by The Weird Sisters was so loud that Pansy didn't hear me, even though I called out 2 times as she passed by on the other side of the room. 

As I made my way through, many friends stopped to congratulate me and also to chat a bit, by the time I realized what I was supposed to do, more than 10 minutes had passed. 

"Have you guys seen Pansy? I was looking for her", I said before turning my own glass of buttered beer over and leaving it in Tom's hand. "See you guys later", my eyes were glued on the blond guy standing in the corner and in less than a second, I was walking towards him. 

"What the hell am I supposed to do with that?!", I heard his indignant voice but ignored it along with all the other people, who tried to talk to me on my way to him. 

"You know, the delay is only elegant because it doesn't last more than 5 minutes", he was smiling even though he hated tardiness. 

"Maybe for most people, a queen is never late love, the others were too early. Especially when it's her birthday", I stopped in front of him. "You haven't given me my present yet, I'm waiting", I pointed to my own lips.  

 He chuckled and looked at me for a few seconds before he said  something, even with the lights flashing I could still see the twinkle in his eyes, which still reflected mine equally. 

"Are you asking this as a gift around too?", his smile widened as did mine, he took a step closer. 

"Does that mean you're not going to give it to me? I had high expectations for this one in particular", something in his gaze changed, I could clearly tell but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. 

"That particular one can wait, right now, I have my main gift", he took his hands off his back and in them was a green velvet median box with silver details. 

 I was almost breathless just admiring the package once it was in my hands. To top it off, a green silk bow and I had the impression that he had made it himself. 

When I opened it, my jaw dropped. A silver necklace with an emerald heart carefully displayed in the box. 

"Draco, you really didn't have to give me something expensive", he didn't answer me, instead took the necklace and helped me put it on. 

"It seemed like an appropriate gift, now that we will no longer be living by Slytherin rules, it’s a nice way to say goodbye", I didn't think twice before I kissed him. 

"I love you, I'll never get tired of saying that", I whispered between kisses. "You won't forget that, right?", I sighed as he brushed his lips across the skin of my neck. 

"I have no reason to forget love, I...", we were interrupted by a forced cough behind me. 

"Why don't you two just go into a room? No one has to see this scene", Blaise's unmistakable voice sounded and I felt my boyfriend giggle, not moving out of position. 

"You can go after your girlfriend instead of getting in our way, wouldn't that be a brilliant idea?", I didn't see what happened, but a nice answer wouldn't be."So where were we honey?", he raised his eyes to meet mine. 

"We better save that for the end of the party love, wasn't that your idea?", I pulled away from him and took his hand. "You have a whole party to enjoy." 

"I already regret that decision, thanks for reminding me", he mumbled that and a few other things I couldn't hear. 

07/01/1997

7:00 A.M.

"I still can't believe this is our last breakfast at Hogwarts", Astoria commented amidst the silence that had formed at our table. 

"I still can't believe it's really over, it seems like any minute now I'm going to wake up and be back in third year", Pansy added. 

"Well, I hope you'll make better decisions if you go back there tonight. No one forgot the hair Pan", my remark made everyone laugh for the first time in the day, a bit of pride grew inside me. 

"Just because Hogwarts is over doesn't mean we're going to split up. None of you have any right to be this down today", Theo said and I was forced to smile as was everyone else. 

"I was glad to be rid of you, at no point I was sad," Blaise muttered but we could all hear him and we all laughed once again. 

8:00 A.M. 

"What are you thinking?" he was with his eyes closed leaning against the train window, but I knew he wasn't asleep. 

"How familiar everything here is, the worn leather of the seat, the smell of candy in the hallway and of trees coming in through the window. Other things will be familiar 7 years from now, it's just weird to think about it," he continued in the same position but held out his hand to me. 

"That's true but I feel better knowing that we will continue to be each other's constant," I intertwined our fingers and we continued like that until we arrived.  

11:00 A.M. 

"It's time for the gifts, we prefer to give you personally. I believe you will like it", my mother said as soon as we sat down on the couch in our living room. 

 I smiled not knowing how to respond, since I usually got the same thing every year, money or more paint, and I was pretty sure they didn't choose in person. 

"Go ahead, open it. We decided to give two separate presents this year, the pink wrapping is mine and the purple one is your father's", the two boxes were right next to me on the couch, so why was I hesitating so much to pick them up? 

 A lot was going on in my head, they have changed a lot in the last year but why? I could be dreaming of the ideal day, but no dream was as vivid as this one.

I took a deep breath and opened the pink first, I expected to find anything but my stuffed bunny, he was washed and clean, different from how I remembered, but still the same. 

"I thought I lost or tore it a long time ago", I managed to say as I hugged him like one who finds an old friend, but he was beyond that. 

"He was really in a rough state, but I was able to fix him. It was in one of the boxes in the basement, remember how you got it?", I agreed again, a wave of memories washed over me. 

My parents had just arrived home from a business trip, it was the first time I had been alone at home without them. 

"Mommy, Daddy!", I ran down the stairs as fast as my little legs would allow and threw myself into my father's arms, not caring about his wet coat, which soon became even wetter. "You promi-promised that you would be back soon”. 

"Oh my love, something unexpected has happened. We were never going to leave you alone for so long," her hands wiped away my tears and took me in her lap. "So, for you never have to be alone again, we brought a little friend, he will always keep you company when we have to leave." 

That wasn't enough to calm me down but it made me curious enough to stop crying, I didn't have any friends before that. 

 I hurried to open the other package but there was only an empty picture frame with no photo inside. 

Before I could open my mouth to ask for an explanation, shapes began to appear from the black background. 

I recognized the picture, me still a baby in my mother's arms and my father behind her, hugging us both but as soon as I blinked, it was gone. 

Another picture formed in its place, I was older, about two or three years old, this one I had never seen. I was on my mother's lap holding a drawing that I had made and possibly looked terrible. 

More pictures appeared and disappeared but I didn't wait to see them all at that moment. 

"I loved these gifts...thank you Mom and Dad," I made a great effort to hold back the tears as I hugged them both. "They are the best presents I have ever gotten." 

23:00 P.M. 

"What are you two doing out there at this time of night?! Draco, have you been drinking now?", Narcisa gave us another stern look before opening the door and shoving us inside. 

 We walked in almost tripping over the living room rug, laughing at each other, to the point where tears formed in our eyes.  

"Shhhhhh, my dad must be working... uhhhhhh, he's not going to like this, u-um," his hand covered my mouth. 

I pushed his hand away from my face. “Me?Shut up? You're practically screaming you idiot!".

 "You two, I don't want another peep out of you. Come up quietly. Your father doesn't like to be interrupted," she whispered, but it was enough for us to agree without hesitation. 

"Yes, Captain, I mean, ma'am," he pulled me up the stairs before her patience ran out. 

07/02/1997

14:00 P.M. 

"What do you mean, you don't remember what happened?", the blond was clearly trying hard not to laugh and I sighed, still under the blanket. 

"I don't remember Draco, did your mother really not hate me? I can't believe we came here...", even though no one was watching me, I started to blush, or was it just the fever? There's no way to be sure now. 

"That could never happen, she made sure to request your favorite tea. Now get out of there before it gets cold", he tried to pull on my blanket but I used all the rest of my strength not to let him.  

"Noooo, out there that's too cold. Come here, it's too cold for you too", I took one of my hands from the comfortable warmth to pull him to me. "You didn't have to get up so early to get this", I whispered but soon after started coughing. 

"There must be a potion to help you, I'll just get it and then...", he was ready to get up from the bed but I didn't let go of his arm. 

"I just want you, please stay here? The elf will bring it anyway", before he could protest, I covered him with the blanket. "You're not well either, let's just lay down for now". 

 He opened his mouth to deny it again but all that came out was a sneeze, after this he just gave up and lied down too. We were both screwed but at least we were together, right? I tried to think positive.

[ @x-dratie-x @fa-me]

Harry Potter Masterlist

[xneens]

love me, hate me - part one

Warnings: swearing, angst if you squint, mild violence

Word count: 3.7k

Summary: Who knew Ransom would get so worked up about a few stolen beers?

Or: In which he's a sucker for you but those were his favorite beers.

He didn't know why he put up with your shit. If you had been anyone else, you'd be working at a dead end job that barely covered your bills instead of walking around the mansion in your brand new Lois Vuitton purse, Jimmy Choo heels that screamed for him to fuck you, and a tight dress he wanted to tear off.

You even had the balls to call him Hugh, a name he specifically reserved for the help. When he informed you, you had rolled your pretty powdered eyes, sneering at him for being an inconsiderate asshole before asking why he wasn't calling himself Hugh due to the massive help sign that was disguised as his cashmere sweater.

Ransom didn't know if he wanted to hurt you or make you his. He preferred the latter but with the way you were pushing him, he wouldn't be surprised with himself if you somehow found yourself in the backseat of his car, tied up and awaiting for him to fuck you senseless. If you had been anyone else, he would ruin your life without hesitation.

He tried to hate you, he really did and usually, it wouldn't be hard for him to hate someone. Most of the time it barely took him a glance for him to decide to loathe the person. But as he tried harder to hate you, forget you, and ignore you, the more you wiggled your way into his every thought. Even then he couldn't hate you. It made part of him want to ditch family gatherings where he knew you would show, being Meg's best friend, and another part of him was exhilarated.

You on the other hand dreaded being dragged into another Thrombey's family gathering where it all ended in arguments and racists comments. The only people you were able to stomach were Harlan, his adorable nurse, Martha, and of course, your best friend Meg. Whenever the conversation began to look like a shouting match, the two of you would sneak away to get high with the maid, Fran.

Ransom was an asshole, a hot, smoldering asshole with enough snarky remarks that would make any sane person hang themselves. You knew he wasn't a fan of yours, which was only good news for you; you hated him, too. The expression "there's a little bit of good in everyone." applied to everyone except him, not that you weren't surprised. Truth to be told, you wouldn't put it past him to kill a family member if they pissed him off enough.

With the number of jabs you made at his expense, you were shocked he hadn't ruined your life yet. Maybe you had a death wish dangling over you, or maybe you just liked pushing him but you made it your little mission to ruin his evening since yours would be the second he stepped in the room.

Meg nudged you with her elbow, leaving a sore spot on your ribs. You gave her a dirty glare, looking up from your Instagram feed. She motioned to the large mansion ahead, the car slowing. "Okay, the plan is to get drunk, but not enough for my drunk relatives to notice and once they're having one of their dumb-ass debates, we sneak off to Fran's room and smoke a few. That sound good?"

Stretching, you nodded, tucking your phone away. "Yeah, that's fine. Remind me how I ended up spending Thanksgiving break with you, again? What did I ever do to deserve such a punishment?"

"You crushed your parent's wishes on becoming a lawyer, instead became an Instagram model, and the holidays with them are too long for you to hear how their daughter could've convicted criminals instead of posting bikini pics," Meg replied, grinning at your sarcastic pout. She stopped the car right beside her mom's. "Come on, it won't be that bad."

"That's what you said last time. Do you not remember how that little reunion ended?" you asked, opening the car door and getting out. The little gravel on the cemented driveway crunched under your new heels, making you grimace.

Meg shut her door, grabbing her purse. She waited at her side of the car and you both walked up to the door. "Actually, I don't. I'm surprised you can especially with all the weed you smoked."

Rolling your eyes, your mind wandered to the man who had killed your buzz. "Your asshole of a cousin ruined my buzz just by opening his mouth. He could be so much hotter if he never utters a single word ever again."

"Please stop talking about Ransom, it's making my lunch come back up." Meg whined, her feet trudging up the steps. Your heels clicked on the wooden porch. "Which reminds me, he kept asking if you were going to be here. Be careful, he might have a little trap to humiliate you in front of my family. If that happens, just knee him in the balls, and we can go to Cabo or something."

You made a face, cringing just thinking of Ransom asking about you, let alone imagining some kind of plan to embarrass you. "Ugh, what a dick. It's time like this that I regret not going back to my crazy family for holidays."

"You'll be fine. Hopefully. Let's go see Harlan." she opened the door, taking off the lush coat draped over her shoulders before placing it on the spacious coat closet by the entrance. She held her hand out for yours and you slid it off handing it over for her to hang up.

Martha greeted you before you could take another step, the Latina smiling at both of you. "I'm so glad both of you are here. The rest came in before you and they've been bickering since."

You both gave her knowing smiles, the loud discussion so heated you could hear it from all the way across the house. Meg sighed, snaking an arm around yours and Martha, pulling you towards Fran's quarters. "Looks like Harlan will have to wait. I'm not going in there sober."

Martha shook her head, slipping her arm out from Meg's grasp. "Sorry, I don't drink and I have to serve them before they get any rowdier. Between the three of us, I'd rather not see another fist brawl this holiday."

You let out a dry chuckle, fixing the hem of your dress. What were you thinking wearing such a tight dress to a party where Richard Drysdale would mentally undress you with his beady eyes. "We'll come with you, now won't we, Meg?"

She groaned, getting pulled by you, her feet dragging on the hard floor. "We're spending Christmas at your parents' house. You can suffer the family drama because I've had it up to here with mine."

"Oh, you big baby." you teased, following Martha to the living room with Meg in tow. You'd think with all the drama she endured from her crazy mother she'd be able to handle a little more from her crazy relatives. "Wanna mess with that racist, whiney troll?"

Meg's lips lifted into a smile. "That's why you're my best friend."

Martha took a turn towards the kitchen instead of the living room, leaving you and Meg to enter the roomful of crazies alone. Some heads turned but not enough to stop the little debate happening.

Jacob sat at the uncomfortable seat in the corner of the room, watching and tapping the screen in front of him, his eyes never tearing from the device. Linda and Donna sat side by side while their husbands had a screaming match with the other. Joni stood by the fireplace, sipping her wine, and occasionally input some random Pinterest inspirational shit. Your eyes landed on the man you thought would take his sweet time arriving.

Hugh Ransom Drysdale sat at his self-proclaimed seat, eating his Biscoff butter cookies, a smirk evident on his face as he watched you walk into the room. He tried to ignore the way his heart raced, blaming it on the cookies and his seven-month dry spell.

You broke free from Meg's arm, pouring yourself a flute full of champagne, swallowing every last drop before making your way to the plush couch, sitting beside your best friend. Your perfume whiffed in the air as you passed Ransom, making him sit up in his chair. You sat close enough for him to reach over and touch you, but he didn't.

Linda gave you the warmest smile she could muster, interrupting the men's argument to greet you. "Hello, darling. Glad you could make it. At least now there's someone in the room with half a brain."

Walt sneered at his sister before giving you a half-hearted smile. "Hey, kid. Your dad still adamant you become a lawyer?"

"Yup," you answered, pulling out your phone, seeing a bunch of notifications from said person. "Why else do you think I let Meg kidnap me, Walt? No offense, but Thanksgiving at the Thrombey's doesn't classify as peaceful or relaxing."

Ransom guffawed, earning glares from his family members. He smirked at you, biting off a piece from his cookies. "Finally, someone who speaks the truth. No wonder she's his favorite."

That subject launched another debate: deciding who was Harlan's favorite. It was no doubt, Martha was but you did come at a close second. Ransom knew, and he didn't want to miss an opportunity to watch his relatives fight. He was a dick that way. He glanced at you, seeing your phone light up as you whispered a secret to Meg. You ignored the phone call, turning over the phone.

While the rest of the family argued, you left Meg's side, getting up from the uncomfortable couch, and walked out of the room. Ransom watched you, licking his lips at the sight of sashaying, hips swaying, and heels clicking. The crotch of his pants grew uncomfortably tight.

Meg watched him watch you with narrowed eyes, suspicious by her cousin's behavior. He may be 33 but he still acted like a teen, and with her best friend pushing him, there was no telling what he'd do. "If you do anything stupid or remotely offensive to her, I'll make sure to send her your head for her next birthday. Maybe she'll have it taxidermied, and hang it up."

Ransom smirked, tossing the last of his cookie in his mouth, chewing as he looked down at his cousin. "That'll only give me a view of a lifetime. My, this college you go to doesn't seem to teach manners does it? Charming as ever, Meg."

She scowled at him, getting up in the middle of the argument. She couldn't stop whatever he was planning if she didn't know what he had in mind but she wasn't going to ruin this holiday for her best friend. Meg followed you to the kitchen, seeing you take a shot glass from Martha. "Drinking already?"

"Don't judge me. Lemme wallow in the warmth and love of the alcohol that your family isn't capable of," you replied, drinking the clear liquid, grimacing as it burned your throat. Martha handed you the chaser, her timid personality making her put a comforting hand on your shoulder. "Thanks, Martha."

Meg took the bottle of vodka, pouring herself a shot before offering it to Martha who had shaken her head. "You sure?"

She nodded, placing the bottle back in its place. "Yeah, I don't need to be drunk when serving those people. It seems like it's even worse out there than before."

"Thank Ransom. That bastard decided to start another fight just by opening his mouth," you said, sipping on a glass of water. Sniffing the room, you smelt the Thanksgiving dinner Martha had to cook by herself. You knew she had to make a special meal for Ransom since he wouldn't dare put the traditional food in his mouth. Too bad, it'd shut him up. "Why is he here, anyway? Isn't he usually the last one to get here?"

"Usually, but he came with Linda and Richard. Don't worry, you're not the only confused." Martha answered. The oven timer beeped and she opened it, taking out the pumpkin pie. She held it out. "What do you guys think?"

"Looks delicious," Meg replied, looking around the room. The sun was setting and soon you would have to face Ransom again, for dinner. "Do you need any help, Martha? We could help you set up the table or something."

"No, it's fine. I have everything taken care of," she said, nearly dropping the big turkey. Meg helped her, carrying it to the counter. Martha smiled sheepishly. "I guess I could use some help. Meg, do you mind stirring the gravy? And [Y/N], would you please place some knives at the table?"

Both you and Meg nodded, helping the poor nurse. Harlan must've let Fran have the day off or else she'd be all over this. Meg grabbed a plastic ladle from the drawers while you took a handful of knives, leaving the kitchen and walking to the dining room. The long table had been filled with plates, glasses, and napkins, the only thing missing was silverwares. Harlan would have to give Martha a raise.

You had just placed the first knife down when Ransom came in the room, leaning against the arch, arms crossed as he took you in. Watching you, he realized he might have a knife kink, only when it comes to you. You raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to make some kind of remark.

When he didn't, you sighed, tossing a knife onto a clothed napkin. "Yes, you pretentious asshole?"

He chuckled, pushing himself off the wood and walking towards you. "Hello to you, too. Why exactly are you doing that? Shouldn't that Mary girl be taking care of everything?"

Oh, the urge to stab a knife in his face--it was almost too much to resist. "It's Martha and unlike you, I'm nice enough to offer help rather than be a lazy prick who no one loves. Karma's gonna bite you in the ass one day, baby."

Ransom snorts, walking up next to you, so close you could feel the heat coming off of him. "You know, my dear cousin mentioned something about some prank she thinks I'm going to pull on you. Do you know what's going on in that stoned brain of hers?"

"Ransom?" you asked, making your way around the large table, placing knives where they belonged. Gritting your teeth into a smile, you turned to him. "I mean this in the best way possible: fuck off."

He would never dare admit it, to himself even, but that hurt him a little. Not enough to break his smug exterior. "Aw, I like you, too, sweetheart. Hurts when you don't admit you do, too. Want some help on the other silverware?"

Your jaw dropped, the knife slipping through your fingers and Ransom caught it quickly. He placed the knife on the empty, designated napkin. "You're fucking with me."

"No, but I sure would like to fuck you." he grinned, the hidden objective twinkling in his eyes. You rolled your eyes, returning back to the kitchen with Ransom following. "Can't a guy help out around here?"

Ransom grabbed your hand before you could push the kitchen door open. He gently led you to the dark, almost hidden hallway beside the dining room. You snatched your hand back, your elbow grazing the wall behind you. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Spending time with my favorite person," Ransom answered, the smirk gone as he backed you to the wall behind you, leaving you no room to escape. Not that you wanted to. His eyes dropped to your lips, only to darken when yours flashed to his. "Why're you so special? Why do you keep invading my thoughts, my dreams, huh? What're you doing to me?"

That made you smile, amused he couldn't stop thinking about your body. You drag your manicured finger down his blue sweater, earning a shaky breath from him. "Glad to know you have wet dreams about me, Hugh. Hmm, what do you get off to, anyway? Degradation? BDSM? Or are you vanilla in bed? With the way you act, it makes me wonder if you even have a dick."

He growled, slamming you into the wall so hard your head made a loud thud. You'd be lying if you said it didn't turn you on a bit. You did like it rough. "Your a guest here, act with respect, [Y/N]. Close that mouth before you say something you'll regret."

"Wouldn't you like it if I used my mouth for something useful?" you breathed, hands resting on his shoulders, pulling him closer to you. His eyes drifted to your lips, tongue darting out to moisten his own. "Yeah, you would."

"What that mouth do, sweetheart?"

You heard the oven timer ding and you smiled, moving your lips to his ear. "Eat."

—

His thigh brushed against yours, a hand "accidentally" landing on your bare thigh, his fingers wrapping around the leg. You flashed him a hard smile before moving your thigh away, almost kicking his wife across the table. You scooted closer to Ransom, hoping to avoid his father's uncomfortable advances. If it wasn't for Linda, you would've stabbed the knife you were holding in his hand.

Apparently, you scooted a bit too close to Ransom for him to raise an eyebrow at you, the hint of a soft grin appearing. You glared at him. "Don't."

Ransom chuckled softly, moving closer, close enough for your shoulders to touch. "Now who likes my company?"

"I do like your company... said no one ever." you snapped, keeping enough distance from Richard's wandering hands. If you could, you would've rip his fingers off, but the Thrombey's were too powerful. Ransom threw you a glance, looking between you and the gap between your chairs. You grit your teeth. "What?"

"I didn't say anything."

You pushed away from the table, frustrated with everything about your situation. Tossing your napkin on your plate, you stood up, catching everyone's eye. "Excuse me."

Meg was in the middle of eating her share of the turkey, looking up with a piece of the skin hanging from her mouth. If you hadn't felt so uncomfortable, you would've laughed. She sat up, tilting her head in question as she covered her mouth. You shook you head, assuring her you'd be fine.

Ransom's eyes followed you as you walked by Harlan, giving him a gentle peck on the cheek and a hug before walking out of the dining room. He didn't think he'd ever be jealous of his grandfather. He waited a few seconds before following you, Meg's narrowed eyes watching him as he walked with purpose—he just didn't know what that was yet.

He heard your door slam before he could take a step up the stairs, leaving him confused on what to do. Ransom knew you would reject his company, not that he would blame you. Yet, he felt a little pang in his chest that he ignored, blaming it on the salty turkey. He'd have to go to the doctor soon, check out what was going on with his heart. It might be something serious like palpitations.

Sighing, he went to the kitchen, grabbing a beer and dragged his feet back to his room, trying to forget about the effect you had on him.

It didn't work.

—

Crawling out of bed, you tiptoed down the hall, careful not make a sound as you made your way downstairs. The stairs were loud and you cringed, hoping everyone was deep asleep. Meg had passed out after smoking Fran's stash, plopping down on her bed in your shared bedroom. She reeked of weed and that hadn't help you sleep at all.

You snuck into the kitchen, the soft counter lights bright in the dark room. Walking over to the fridge, you pulled it open, seeing Ransom's alleged "best" beer right at the front. Rolling your eyes, you grab one, popping the cap off. You took a sip, agreeing with the asshole; it was great beer.

Unfortunately, he chose that right moment to have a midnight snack. The kitchen door opened and Ransom was greeted by the sight of you drinking his beer in your tight tank top and booty shorts. It was enough for him to lose it.

Angrily, he walked up to you, snatching the beer from your hand, some of it dripping on the floor. He held it up in front of you with a sneer on his face. "What the hell do you think you're doing with my beer?"

You flinched when he threw it across the room, the shards sprinkling out on the floor. If his yelling hadn't woken up anyone, that certainly would've. Rolling your eyes, you sighed, crossing your arms. "Don't you mean Harlan's beer? It's not like you bought that beer from your own pocket since you don't do shit."

"Oh, I don't do shit? Unlike you I don't depend on horny men and lesbians for likes in order to keep a roof over my head." he spits, pushing you back against the counter.

"No, you just take money from mommy and daddy." you fired back, amused by his anger. You decided then you had a death wish. Or maybe it was just hot seeing Ransom so riled up. Either way, you weren't complaining.

Ransom growled, hands gripping your waist so tightly you were sure it would leave bruises. "Shut up."

Smirking, you lean towards him, lips hovering his. "Make me."

Before he could kiss you, you shoved him away, took another beer from the fridge and walked away without giving him a second look. Ransom stared after you, gripping the kitchen counter.

This wasn't over.

part two

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

COSMIC - S3:E4; Chapter Four, The Sauna Test - [Pt. 2]

A Will Byers x Reader Series

𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘌𝘭, 𝘔𝘢𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠/𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯, 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘺𝘯𝘹.

📝: lmaooooooo this just gets gayer and gayer 💀💀

||𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

"Do you copy? This is a code red."

The rising sun makes its way through the blinds in Max's bedroom, its gentle yellow rays split into several thin beams and casting out over the three sleeping bodies splayed over one another on the floor. El's body still curled into Y/n's arm, her hair a mess. Y/n was splayed out on her stomach, crooked, as her head had edged its way onto Max's pillow and her legs fell over El's. All the while, a sleeping Max had resorted to using the back of Y/n's shoulder as a pillow.

And they were snug as can be, tucked away in sleep, drool threatening to drip from their parted mouths as Lucas's desperate voice rings out from Max's super com.

"I repeat, this is a code red."

The device seems to grow louder with every word, slowly but surely pulling the girls from sleep.

"Max. Do you copy?" Max lifts her head from Y/n's shoulder, scooching back onto her pillow, and begins palming the ground under her bed. "This is a code red."

Her hand finally finds the comms and she senses El lazily rise up onto her elbow. She presses the button and seethes into the microphone.

"Shut. Up."

She slams the antenna down and shuts off the device, throwing it back under the bed. Y/n hums into the pillow, eyes still closed.

"Mm... what's red?" She asks through clenched teeth, still much too tired to even move her jaw.

"Nothing," Max yawns.

She turns over in bed, nestling back into the rainbow sheets and finding herself nearly nose to nose with Y/n as El rubs the sleep from her eyes, finally joined them. El just settles her head back into her pillow, her tangled hair still falling over her face and blocking out the sun. She let out a soft yawn, letting sleep return to her as she snuggled back into Y/n's arm happy and warm.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Lucas stares at his super com in light shock as he looked between his friends perched on either side of him on the basement couch.

"She turned it off."

Simultaneously, Will, Lucas, and Mike's eyes all jump to the phone hanging on the wall.

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

The blaring ring of Max's telephone is the next thing to wake them, and Y/n groans. Max shoots up in anger, her long red hair falling over her glaring face.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." She seethes, pulling herself up to her feet.

"Tell him we're not home," Y/n mumbles, still fighting a losing battle with sleep and a foggy mind.

Max stomps across the floor, strategically maneuvering around her friends, and rips the phone off its receiver.

"I'm sleeping. Go away,"

"Max, this is Will—" her hand caught mid-air, the boy's words barely registering to her in time. Reluctantly, she brings the phone back up to her ear. "I need you to stay on the line, and please just listen."

When Will doesn't hear the click of the dial tone, he breathes a sigh of relief. His eyes dart over his shoulder at his waiting friends trying to feed him the words but he ignores them, turning away.

Max frowns into the phone at what he says next, his voice going pleading.

"Is Y/n there?" There's a pause, and Max frowns down at the phone when she thinks she hears light shushing. "And El? Are you guys all together?"

Okay, now she was bugging out a little.

"Why?" She asks, an edge gradually returning to her voice out of concern.

She glances over her shoulder at her two best friends; Y/n had finally opened her eyes and was trying to make sense of her surroundings as she squinted through the sunlight and El was flowing up at her, worried.

"Just, stay together, okay? Something bad happened, is happening, whatever. We don't really know, but we can't take any chances."

"Okay, what are you talking about? What's going on?" She presses.

"Just meet us at Mike's house, and I'll explain. We all will. Just get over here, quickly."

"What?"

"Hurry!"

And then the line went dead.

Max held the phone in her hand, her stare drifting off as Will's words echoed in her mind.

"What'd he say?" El asked.

"Yeah," Y/n yawned, finally pulling herself into a sitting position, her face puffy from sleep. "is everything okay?"

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

"Try Dustin again," Mike says, turning to Lucas.

"He's not answering," Lucas says.

"So, try him again,"

Lucas bites back a sigh and returns to his comms with a sigh. Will picks the phone back up, shooting Mike a knowing look.

"I'll try their house,"

Lucas shoots him a thankful look before returning to his mindless search.

"Dustin, do you copy? I repeat... this. is. a. code red."

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

Dustin watches from the very same ledge as Lynx Transportation hauls a cart full of shipments from Kauffman Shoes and Imperial Panda. But his mind was still spinning, trying to formulate possible answers as to just what he was dealing with as he scouts for their routine.

His eyes had caught on the third armed officer who approached the keypad holding a small plastic card, and Dustin made a mental note.

"That keycard opens the door, but unfortunately the Russian with this keycard has a massive gun,"

Sure enough, the metal doors swung open and the cart is pushed inside. Apart from his cautious glare on the armed guard standing watch, his eyes try to catch whatever lays beyond the threshold.

It looked to Dustin to be a storage room no bigger than his living room, stacked with similar boxes.

"Whatever's in this room, whatever's in those boxes, they really don't want anybody finding it," Dustin concludes as he paces the back room of Scoops Ahoy.

Robin and Steve sit opposite one another in thought.

"But there's gotta be a way in," Robin mutters.

"Well, you know..." Steve stops twirling his hat, quickly reshaping the top with a quick puff of air before dropping it on the table and leaning in with a serious tone. "I could just take him out,"

"Take. Who. Out?" Robin blinked.

"The Russian guard," he answers obviously.

Robin leans back in her seat, nodding sarcastically at him through wide eyes and Steve scoffs.

"What? I sneak up behind him, I knock him out, and I take his keycard. It's easy,"

"Did you not... hear the part about the massive gun?" Dustin asks with crossed arms.

"Yes," Steve snarks, surprised. "Dustin, I did. And that's why I would be... sneaking."

"Ahh," Dustin nods. "Well, please, tell me this, and be honest, have you ever actually..." Dustin gives an all too casual shrug, knowing exactly what button he was pushing. "won a fight?"

"OH-kay, that was one time—"

"—Twice. Jonathan. Year prior?"

"Uh, listen. That doesn't count,"

"Why wouldn't it? Because it looks like he beat the shit out of you."

Robin finds herself laughing, lazily rolling her eyes across the shop as the two continue to bicker.

"It was—"

Her grin slowly falls when her eyes catch something in the corner.

"—You got a fat lip, crooked nose, swollen eye, a lot of blood,"

"...things all added up, yeah they sound bad but..."

As the thought grew into an idea, the grin returned to Robin. "That just might work,"

She was out of the backroom, hand diving into the tip jar faster than they could blink. They scrambled to the window in a baffled frenzy.

"Robin,"

She didn't answer, and when she made a break for the exit, Steve and Dustin tumbled out from the back room.

"Hey, Robin! Hey, what— what are you doing?"

"I need cash," she explains, backing out of the store.

"Well, half of that's mine," he pouts. "Where're you going?"

"To find a way into that room, a safe way. And, in the meantime, sling ice cream, behave, and don't get beat up," she says with an excited smirk. "I'll be back in a jiff!"

With a quick two-finger salute, she had disappeared into the crowd leaving her privately self-proclaimed Dingus Duo at home base.

Steve sighs, looking to Dustin only to find him licking the scooper.

"Oh, dude," he scolds, yanking it out of his hands and returning it to his sling with a twirl. "Come on, man, not my scooper,"

⊹ ⊹ ⊹

The trip to Mike's house had indeed been a quick one. When Max had relayed the message, a grave face became all of them. El and Y/n looked at each other and knew; their fears were being realized. And Max knew there was no more denying it, no matter how much she wanted to. No matter how much she needed to.

"I didn't think it was anything at first," Will says.

He was before his friends - most of them anyway - all of them seated around the coffee table in Mike's basement. He hadn't realized how much he had missed Y/n until he had seen her, nor her him. And neither had left each other's side since they gathered. She was sat beside him on a low footstool, El to her right on the upholstered chair, and him on her left; perched on the arm of the couch to the far right of Mike and Lucas.

Concern was etched on her features, as it was on all of them as they listened intently.

"I mean, I think I just didn't want to believe it." He sighs, locking eyes with Y/n knowingly. "The day I first felt it was at Day of the Dead,"

《•••》

And not unlike only months short of a year prior, when he felt himself ensnared in the terror and icy grip of the monster that lurked in shadows only he could see, Will Byers could feel his skin tightening painfully as goosebumps gripped his neck. It was a chill he hoped he'd never feel again, a chill that had nearly destroyed him and his family and friends. And Y/n. The passionate, fiery, hatred for the girl was the only thing about this icy monster that burned brighter than the horrifying memories it left with him.

"Will?"

Startled, his head is ripped to her direction, arm already slipping away from his neck as she stares at him in worry. She recognized the look in his eyes all too well, and immediately she knew something was amiss.

"Will, what is it?"

《•••》

"The power went out that night, too," Mike says in realization, and Will nods.

"And then I felt it again at the field near the Nelson farm the next day."

《•••》

Will stopped suddenly when the world plunged away from underneath his feet and the dark feeling returned. All the while, Y/n's voice faded into the distance as he gripped his goosebump-covered neck, looking fearfully out onto the horizon.

"Think they'll carry me if I fake a leg injury?" She chuckles, her voice far away and fleeting from him.

Despite the steady burst of hot air carried through the breeze and the sun beating down on his skin, he felt a total absence of warmth. And like almost like a phantom limb, all he can feel is panic and something dark, and desperate... Something angry.

"Will?"

《•••》

"Then again, yesterday outside Castle Byers,"

《•••》

As Will mingled with the dirt beneath him, the storm pounding against his back soaking him to the bone, he feels it again.

The same feeling he had felt the night before Dustin's return, the day of, and now...

Well, there was no denying it. No more running. This was real, and it wasn't something so easily shaken.

A great change was upon him and his friends, a change none of them were prepared for.

Shakily, he pulls himself to his feet, not entirely sure if the voice calling his name was real.

"Will?"

With a faraway look in his eyes, Will turns to his awaiting friends as his stomach plummets beneath the earth.

《•••》

"What does it feel like?" Max asks from her spot across the coffee table.

"It's almost like..." everyone watches patiently as Will draws on a thoughtful face, for once it seems, struggling for the right words. "You know when you drop on a rollercoaster?"

Y/n, Max, and Mike all nod.

"Mm-hmm,"

"Yeah,"

"Sure,"

"No," El says, still listening intently.

"It's like... everything inside your body is just sinking all at once, but this is worse," Will says, a faraway look in his eyes that Y/n knows all too well. "Your body... it goes cold. And you can't... breath."

Will's eyes jump down his wringing hands when he feels Y/n entwining her left with his right, interlacing their fingers and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. He feels his shoulders slack at her warm touch and he sends her a thankful look before continuing, feeling just a little braver.

"I've left it before," he says through a wavering voice. "whenever he was close."

《•••》

He fearfully crept towards the front door. He came to a stop when he heard the dreadful sound of wood creaking and he watched in horror as the front door slowly swung open to reveal a reddish-purple sky, and the violent winds were carrying leaves and other debris with it. Something strange was growing around the outside of the house and he felt the familiar sensation returning.

He felt his blood run cold and his skin shriveled up, goosebumps breaking out all over. His breathing picked up and he could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he watched frozen in terror.

《•••》

"Whenever who was close?" Mas asked, fearing the answer she already knew.

Will tried to remind himself he was in the presence of his love and his friends but fear still gripped his lungs and threatened to steal his voice. Finally, with a trembling breath, he spoke the truth none of them wanted to hear, changing the rest of their summer - and possibly the rest of their lives - forever.

"The Mind Flayer."

《•••》

"Go away!"

It got closer. It was swooping in like a vulture but Will didn't give in.

"Go away! Go away!" Tears were streaming down his face, and the monster got closer.

《•••》

Y/n's eyelids fall closed at the mention of the monster that brought so much harm and grief to her and the lives of her loved ones as the truth hits her completely. Just the sight of his convulsing body and his weeping mother that day out on the field when the Mind Flayer got him was traumatic enough. Her eyes flicker back open, back onto the equally horrified looks of her friends and her grip on her boyfriend's hand tightens.

"I closed the gate," El reasons.

"I know, but," for a moment, WI loses his voice again and he clings to Y/n's touch like a lifeline bringing him back. He fears the words he is about to speak, not only for his sake but for everyones. For Y/n's. But the fear was too great to keep quiet. If it was even a real possibility, it had to be stopped. As soon as possible. "What if he never left?"

Shakily, he looks around the room with horror hidden within his hazel irises until they land on Y/n, full of grief. His voice was soaked with apology, unable to contain his worry.

"What if we locked him out here with us?"

Y/n's head turns to meet El's eyes, the two share an equally concerned and knowing gaze from beside one another. Her stomach was twisting into knots, the horrible, sickly feeling of dread that had been building for the past two nights was finally realized.

||𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||

"This is him," I say, throwing a spare piece of paper on the D&D table before us all. The six of us all stood together, finally surrounding the D&D table for all the wrong reasons but there's no time to think about that now. I grab the charcoal in hand and began frantically scribbling an all too familiar shape in charcoal. "All of him,"

"But that day on the field," I explain. "part of him attached itself to me,"

I fight the intrusive memory trying to overwhelm me, bringing back the phantom chill that has always lingered since that day.

《•••》

He stood frozen, now trapped in the swirling fog. Several black tendrils spawned from the mass and invaded Will and he could feel the evil presence as it possessed his body and settled in his very soul.

《•••》

I yank my hand across the page, pulling up my dirtied palm to show my friends before nodding to my left.

"Y/n got him out of me,"

《•••》

"I think it's an earthquake!" Mike cries.

A light breeze picks up in the tunnel from where they're headed, carrying with it a warm toasty wave of heat that answered their question.

"No, not an earthquake!" Dustin's eyes went wide from behind his goggles as he looked to the others excitedly. "It's Y/n!"

•••

The Henderson child had managed to pull herself from unconsciousness, and she now stood across the bed. Her arms were stretched out before her and a blazing fire resided in her eyes, a grunt pulled from deep within her throat. Three bloody lines where his nails had caught her ran diagonally down her vein-covered face. Each vein protruded from her skin as blood poured from her nose and ears.

Like a broken dam, all that raw power trapped inside her burst free. Y/n was a supernova, a sight to behold as everything inside her exploded all around her.

•••

Will's mouth opens in another scream and a billowing cloud of inky black smoke escapes. It twists and unravels out from between his lips like a pitch-black tornado.

《•••》

"and El closes the gate,"

I flip the page back over and my eyes trail across my friends' faces thoughtfully, the last of the pieces falling into place as I explain.

"The part that was still in me, what if it's still in our world?"

《•••》

It grows larger and larger, circling over the boy and looms over the entire room as it had the last few days. Will's body goes limp, falling back onto the mattress as the dark mass zips across the room and through the front door breaking it open.

Nancy quickly recovers her footing and chases it out of the door to assure it's leaving for good. Sure enough, when she reaches the porch she spots the black dust circle the trees before disappearing into the sky.

《•••》

I plant my charcoal-dusted hand on the paper, leaving behind a faint trace of black.

"In Hawkins," I conclude.

"I don't understand," Max began. "The Demodogs died when El closed the gate. If the brain dies, the body dies,"

Y/n shook her head gravely from beside me, standing up a little straighter after leaning against the table.

"But the brain didn't die," she sighed heavily in realization. "Not all of it. So the part that was in control, lost. And so did the army, but, enough must have survived... And now after all this time..." She trailed off.

Mike nodded from beside me.

"Exactly," he said. "We can't take any chances. We need to assume the worst... The Mind Flayer is back."

I feel Y/n shift uncomfortably from beside me, her eyes drilling holes into the paper as she chews on her lip and I feel a tug in my chest. But the others were still looking towards me, waiting, and so was she so I continued.

"And if he is," I begin, hesitant to tear my eyes away from her. "He'll want to attach himself to someone again. A new me,"

Once again my eyes meet with all my friends as the very air around grows thicker, and Lucas finally concludes what we all fear.

"A new host,"

I nod and the room falls quiet again at the challenge laid before us.

It was difficult enough facing an enemy as powerful and ruthless as the Mind Flayer, but I think it helped our chances considerably he attached himself to me; someone who already had some insight on his territory, the Upside Down. Not only that, but I was indescribably lucky enough to have the people I have in my life who fought for me. The chief, Bob, my friends. Jonathan and my mom, and of course Y/n.

But his next victim could be anybody, and that's what makes him even more dangerous.

Finally, Y/n broke the silence - the second time she had spoke since the news had been broken. If I thought she was terrified before, I was dead wrong. I saw pure dread growing in her eyes as they trailed from El's and up to mine, widened and shining. It was with a plunging stomach I knew she had our first clue.

"Oh, no,"

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Shop Palestine: Support artisans and craftworkers in Palestine

Hadeel: A UK alternative to the resource above!

Trans Housing Coalition Fund

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Tag List:

@dickkwad @iblesstherainsdown-in-africa @miscellaneoustoasts @happyandlonely-blog   @peeperparkour @ba-responds ​ @bibliophilesquared @blogforhoes @witch-of-all-things-soft @shawkneecaps @whothefuckstolemykeds @daughter-of-the-stars11 ​ @stranger-things4 @kpopanimegirl ​ @nightbu-g @lozzybowe @gizmofishersupremacy @spiderbitch69420

❥ Let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist! ❥

[calunasteria]

please, xanny. | sanzu haruchiyo

"𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚."

- wherein sanzu haruchiyo falls in love. that's all. (i'm bad at summarising my stories, i'm sorry ><)

current word count: 3.1k

tw (throughout the series): mentions of drug use and abuse, manipulation (gaslighting) and toxic relationships, mentions of blood, death, and murder, rape (attempt), use of deadly weapons, slight nsfw (??) - kindly tell me if i missed one. thank you.

date started: 07/29/21 (wattpad) | 07/31/21 (tumblr)

date ended: -

01 ! please,xanny.

-

what was it? was it the alcohol? was it the food they ate earlier? maybe it was spoiled, or worse, maybe it has drugs? probably no.

 maybe she's just overthinking things.

maybe she's just imagining all of this.

to say that she's inloveㅡ no, cross that out, to say that he's inlove is dangerous.

but how is it that the sanzu haruchiyo, bonten's number 2, is making her feel numerous things?

he reeked of instability, insanity.

yet his touch was as soft as the cotton, gentle like the wind, it was comforting.

say....

have you ever known what it felt like to drive on highways, with gnawing trepidation?

to taste betrayal and fondness while running on an endless tunnel of vague roads?

to be loved by none other than sanzu haruchiyo?

-

"welcome everyone, to our company's afterparty, please enjoy yourselves for tonight!" honey dripping voice echoed throughout the wide spaced room that is decorated with some dimmed and flashing lights, shimmering crystals plastered on the wall, extravagant leather couches, and large, black speakers booming with music. her soft, delicate hands then set the microphone down, as her wavy jet black hair bounced and swayed as she walked down the stairs with elegance.

"nakashima-san, the director wants to talk to you, he said to head towards the VIP area, over there." a small voice beside the stairs managed to squeak out, catching the girl's attention and turning her head to the direction he pointed at.

"did he told you the reason why he wanted to talk to me?" she asked, voice filled with a hint of irritation and tiredness - the complete opposite of how she sounded earlier on the stage. the boy shook his head, then uttered 'excuse me' before dashing away from his superior.

the girl then just sighed and walked towards the bar counter, which is the complete opposite of the direction she was told to go.

"one grey goose martini and a plain cranberry juice, please. thank you." she ordered as she sat down.

"wow, you're actually gonna drink tonight, kasumi? are your shits finally getting to you, girl?" the lady beside her stated with amusement as she popped out of nowhere, a glass of whiskey found in her hand, still laughing and smiling drunkenly.

"yes, kaoru. where the fuck were you? you were supposed to be the one to speak up front earlier to welcome the guests, not me, because i was the one who arranged this. and now boss said he wanted to talk to me about something." kasumi vented to her friend while her friend's grin just got wider, further infuriating her.

"whY THE HELL ARE YOU SMILING KAORU I-"

"calm the fuck down, kasumi, don't let boss get into your nerves, okay? its just me, so inhale, exhale. nice! see, just go drink your shits and talk to boss later. maybe hand in your resignation slip, you know?" kaoru laughed while wiggling her eyebrows and hugging kasumi.

the two talked to each other for a while before kasumi bid her goodbye and stood up to head to the direction she was supposed to go to earlier.

her heels clacked on the expensive marbled flooring while her black silk dress hugged her curvaceous body, gently flowing while walking.

upon reaching her destination, there she saw her boss with at least 4 women whispering and flirting with him, one on his lap and 3 beside him, along side with his other friends and acquaintances. they both shared a glance momentarily as kasumi forcefully smiled to her boss.

"ah yes, everyone, excuse me for i have something to finish up with my personal assistant." her boss announced to all the people around him, making kasumi uncomfortable and embarrassed, by all the stares she accumulated and daggers she got from the women who was flirting earlier with her boss.

"let's go, darling." sentence uttered by her boss before they left the place with him grabbing her wrist, and oh heavenly archons how irritated kasumi was because of her boss' actions and words.

she was practically being dragged away the from the event area, their shoes resonating throughout the empty hallways that are connected to the parking lot when she asked him, "excuse me sir, but where are we going? i thought you said you wanted to talk to me?"

"hmmm, yes. that's right, don't worry, kasumi-chan, we're just going to talk while where on a late night drive, and it'll definitely enlighten you. now get in the car." he ordered with flirty yet stern voice but kasumi did not budge at all - she just stared in disbelief to her boss, anger bubbling up within her.

"kasumi, we both know that i don't like repeating myself, now do what i said, please."

"i'm sorry but i don't think i'll go with you since we can talk here. so just say what you need to say so i can get on with my life, thank you." she declared cheekily.

"i said get in the car, why are yo-" he blurted out with annoyance but was cut off when kasumi said, "seems to me like you don't have anything to say, well i have one, i'm resigning, kitamura-san, i'll hand the file tomorrow, so if you have any requests, tell them to your next assistant." then proceeds to walk away that made her boss snap.

rushing towards her with malice and anger, with his system being controlled by the alcohol he consumed earlier, he grabbed kasumi's hair making her stumble and lose her balance, while the towering man held her waist with his left arm and his right arm held her face forcefully, and whispered to her from behind, "that's what i hate about you, you're so fucking stubborn, you and your smart ass mouth, i hate it so fucking much makes me want to shove my dick down your throat to make you obey me, and cry you bitch."

kasumi had chills run down her spine when she heard her boss mutter those words to her, and when she felt him grinding on her from behind ㅡ the last string of patience she had snapped in half, all she can see was red.

she used all her strength to stomp on the man's foot making him clutch down because of pain inflicted by her stiletto, releasing his hands that grasped her smaller frame. her hands then moved swiftly with anger to slap the man before her, knees being lifted up to kick his crotch making him to finally crumple down on the floor, silently mumbling profanities under his breath containing hatred.

"the next time you pull that stunt with me, or with other girls, i'll make sure you won't have something called dick after that." she threatened, voice laced with venom as she tried to wipe the ruffles that ruined her expensive, dusk colored dress.

"don't think you'll get away with this, bitch." the man croaked out while standing up, eyes filled with animosity, but then falling on his knees once again when a sharp, solid whipping sound tore through his thighs, vermillion colored blood gushing out of the gaping hole that was shot, followed by his shrill, agonized wail.

"seems like you grew stronger these past few years, kasumi-chan." a familiar voice grinned, few meters away from her.

"haruchiyo." she whispered under her breath, astounded.

***

"kasumi? are you listening?" a soft feminine voice spoke out, breaking the deep trance the raven coloured hair girl was in - chasmic ebony eyes stared at the person next to her, embarrassment creeping up in her system, realizing that she hasn't paid any attention to the words and sentences that her friend was telling her.

"i'm sorry, kaoru. what were you saying again?" she apologized, tuning her attention towards her half eaten sandwich that she was munching earlier.

"i was asking you if you know that boy over there, 5 o'clock," kasumi whipped her head towards the direction her friend gave her, eyes landing on a somewhat familiar person - he had a medium length hair dyed with bleach blonde, eyes glimmering like precious blue zircon gem, long and beautiful eyelashes that highlighted his daring eyes and a noticeable black mask covering half of his face. he looked so serene among the vast crowd  filled with bustling people.

"sanzu?" she asked turning her head to her friend who's eyes sparked with curiosity and underlying suspicions.

"how'd you know him?" the petite girl squinted her eyes to her friend, making kasumi roll her ebony orbs. "i just happen to know his name. after all, he's in a gang, right? toman, i think."

"i wasn't aware that you know about gangs, kasumi-chan. perhaps you like their leader, huh." her friend teased earning another eye roll from her brunette friend. "i'm just kidding. its just that i haven't saw him without his mask. some people say he has nasty scar on both side of his mouth, and i don't know if its legit, but given the fact that he wears that mask, its probably true." kaoru shrugged and stood up to head to their class.

sanzu haruchiyo. he was definitely mysterious, kasumi mused, as she walked. he was quiet and he had a calm demeanor when he talks. they weren't close but they shared a small talk in the past, and usually its just about school, like each of their classes borrowing and returning some school supplies and other little things. she never even heard him speak more than 7 words. well, it wasn't a big deal, since she thinks that he's just an another person on this world who has probably their own shits to deal with. he was insignificant to her as she was to him. or so she thought.

their room was filled with silent mumblings, a heavenly boring stupor that kasumi tried to fight, heavily lidded eyes blinking slowly in the hopes of trying to understand their lesson - she was tired and sleepy and it was not long until their class ended, her mind being awakened once again like a newborn baby, because she's going home.

their house reeked of alcohol and despair, of cigarettes and sorrow - it was a hopeless sight. everything was a mess. kasumi then heard a faint coughing on their kitchen and there she saw her ill mother who's trying to wash the dishes with her frail arms, her thin and small frame found her daughter who rushed to her side to help her do the chores but then just told her to sit down and rest.

"mama, you're not supposed to be doing that. you're the one here who needs to rest, i can handle that. besides, where's papa?"

"he's out, i think. but don't worry, kasumi i'm almost finished. we can then eat dinner afterwards so you can talk to me about what happened today with you? you don't have work tonight, right sweetheart?" her mother's voice was definitely her haven, it was warm and sweet. "yes, sure." the girl replied, already at ease but then her phone chimed loudly, signaling that someone texted her - it was her co-worker that texted her he can't attend his shift, and was asking kasumi to be the one to replace him for the mean time.

what are the fucking odds.

her mother noticed the younger's change of emotion and asked, "who was it, sweetheart?" and it pained kasumi to leave her mother alone again but she needs to work. she needs the money. "i need to go, i actually have work since im covering for my co-worker's shift. i'll be right back, so make sure you eat your dinner. i love you." she kissed her mother on her forehead before she left.

***

"thank you, come again!" the girl chimed in, weariness evident in her voice. it was 2:30am and god knows how tired she was. this was supposed to be her day off but the universe just straight up said no.

"nakashima-san, i'm so sorry, you can now go, i'll take it from here on. please take this on your way home as a compensation for what you did to me. thank you! take care on your way home." her co-worker apologized, shyly smiling and blush evident on his cheeks as he handed her a plastic bag filled with some foods and snacks.

kasumi uttered her thanks, with a small smile as she went to change her clothes to go home already as all she wants to do right now was sleep and rest.

upon reaching the store's parking area for bicycles, she noticed that one its tires was flat. she sighed loudly, venting out her exasperation and frustration.

"well, guess i'll walk then. fuckkkkkk. this isn't my day huh." she groaned, muttering some profanities before going on her way home.

it was a chilly night, the breeze was crisp and wintry, with her trembling breath rising up forming a ghostly smoke, vanishing into thin air as she exhales. her whole body was quivering because her cardigan was too thin for this type of weather. kasumi hugged herself in hopes of warming herself up. the skies were tainted with midnight blue perfectly combined with the pitch black heavens decorated with gleaming constellations and stars, along with the dimly hanged moon.

her way home usually takes around 30-40 minutes with her bike, and around an hour and a half if one decides to walk. it was a peaceful and cold night not until she passed this one dark alleyway where there were 2 men laughing their asses off, and another one drinking away his life. kasumi paid no attention to the men and just picked up her walking pace to quickly get out of the picture when her left arm was sharply snatched by one of the men in the dark alleyway.

"hey pretty, wanna have fun with us?" the man grinned like a maniac, his yellow teeth visible and his breath smelled like rum and hostility combined together. the other men laughed like crazy while the last one ogled at kasumi's body.

"no, let me go you ugly bastards." kasumi snapped, snatching her hand away from the man, before turning away to run. she wasn't dumb to not pick up what in fuck was happening back there, so she tried to regain her composure by trying to find her phone to dial the number of her friend who's probably still awake by now to call for help when her hair was maliciously dragged backwards making her lose her balance only to fall on the ground and be dragged away. the plastic bag she was carrying along with her phone was now nowhere to be found.

only her hoarse cry for help was audible, she was too slow, too tired, too exhausted for all of the things happening to her - but her body was flailing so hard, trying to release herself from the man's tight grasp on her hair and it felt like its going to be ripped off her head anytime soon when they stopped on the same alleyway the men were previously drinking. "bitch thought she can get away with us, well let me tell you something sweetheart, we don't take no as an answer. plus you were wearing that thin-ass blouse,  you're trying to seduce us after all so let's have fun shall we?" the bald headed man smirked while he held kasumi down on the ground.

she was terrified, frustrated, and she's doing her best to try and fight them all away. she was able to slap and kick the two of them, desperation was highly evident as she frantically scramble to her feet but that was as far as she can go for she was violently punched and slapped before she fell down with her vision getting hazy, tears streaming down her face non-stop as she lost all her energy to fight. everything was becoming blurry and she was now just hoping for everything to just end.

she was so lost in her train of thought that she didn't even realize that the men who were trying to break and ruin her were now out cold, laying on the freezing ground while a man towered over them.

"stand up." was all kasumi heard when she snap back to reality and saw a figure standing before her, wearing an all black outfit - black jacket, black jeans, and a black mask. his straight bleach colored hair was neatly tied up in a ponytail too.

"stand up." sanzu repeated as kasumi tried to stand up, still shaken by what happened to her and the picture of the scene before her. kasumi then felt something drape over her shoulder when sanzu came near her, his mint and delicate masculine scent filling her senses.

"follow me." was all the boy said before he exited the alleyway leaving her all alone with his jacket that he gave her. following his footsteps, while tightly clutching his jacket, she saw a shiny, and expensive looking car few meters out the alleyway with sanzu standing near it, and as she got closer to him, she heard him say, "get in."

not wanting and not having enough energy to fight nor say anything, kasumi just silently obliged to what he said. after getting inside the vehicle, sanzu followed afterwards, turning on the car and driving to god knows where - kasumi was drained, and she couldn't care less what would happen anymore although she wanted to say and atleast utter her gratitude towards the boy beside her, but her voice just seems to be gone. the car ride with him was silent, but it wasn't awkward. it wasn't uncomfortable. it wasn't scary either, rather, it was surprisingly comforting.

moments later, kasumi saw a familiar house outside her window when sanzu pulled up and opened the door for her, handing her some of the things she brought earlier - her bag and her phone.

he didn't talk, he didn't say anything before heading out and going inside his car once again, and driving away.

kasumi was dumbfounded.

she have so many questions whirling over her head like, how did he know my place? why did he do that?

she entered their house with her head aching - cross that out, with her whole body aching, everything that happened to her this day had taken  a toll on her. she was definitely traumatized and shaken by what happened. with her literally dragging her body towards her room desperate to rest and lay down on the soft and smooth mattress.

and even though she was almost raped, and potentially murdered, the one thing that stuck in her head was sanzu. sanzu haruchiyo.

and she swore to find him tomorrow before she fell into a deep slumber.