#this was before the whole 'healthy spar to settle fights' thing

[forestshadow-wolf]

When soap and ghost first entered their relationship it was rocky to say the least

And by the least I mean there was one point where they'd gotten into a fight. Soap ended up on top and was just pummeling ghost's mask. Punch after punch after punch. His knees pinned ghost's arms to his sides, and just went ham.

Ghost got free by swinging a leg up and around soap's torso and cranking him off in an impressive show of strength and flexibility. Soap struggled out from underneath him, and they were back at it again. Both snarling at eachother.

By the time Price and Gaz and a load of other soldiers managed to pry them apart neither of them even remembered what had started the fight, just that if made anger burn hot in their bellies.

Price forced them to medical after that (obviously). Soap came out with a broken nose, 3 broken bones in his hand, bruised ribs, and a shit ton of other bruises.

Ghost came out with a broken nose, minor lacerations around his eyes and on the bridge of his nose (from the mask), a black eye, 2 broken ribs, and bruised knuckles.

Price had half a mind to diacharge the right then and there. Instead he put them on lav duty together for three months, no mussions, and under the condition that if the did that again he'll make them wish he'd discharged them

[junietuesday]

somehow just saw this reblog and. yeah ok. youve unleashed the rambling <3 like wheres that meme of revalink shippers being incapable of shutting up. what can i say revalink drives me crazy 24-7 💚💙

“they’re in love + they have a healthy relationship” -> revali through his own…loquaciousness encourages link to be more open and expressive and stand up for himself. link just genuinely loves revali, not based solely on revali’s accomplishments, which, all revali’s effort has been to be seen as worthy. revali and link are both people who have their self-worth pinned on their martial prowess, but not only are they both equals in that regard and Know how skilled the other is, at the same time theyve seen far beyond just their fighting ability, both the best and the worst of each other, meaning that there isnt that pressure that they both experience from the rest of world, they can just Be with each other without pressure or pretense. they make each other better <3

“they’re in love + they have a tumultuous relationship” -> i probably dont even need to get into this but i will anyway. revali might be in love w link yes but he has to grapple w the idea that link is also a very real representation of fate, the idea that no matter how hard revali works and how much blood and sweat and tears he pours into making himself matter, fate will always supercede it, link was always going to be the main hero bc he was destined to be so - and revali has a hard time separating link from fate until he realizes that link is not as well-served by this situation as revali thinks. link meanwhile has had his only interactions w revali be revali insulting him for several minutes uninterrupted before flying off in a huff, so like, even if he already was attracted to revali by then he’d also be torn bc of revali’s very obvious outward resentment toward him. the same differences that make them so well-suited to each other also serve as barriers to their relationship

“they’re in love + they’re freakishly obsessed with each other” -> this is more on revali’s end of things but come on. literally everything revali says is talking abt link, revali can pretend to himself that this obsession w link is out of hatred but we all know the truth. (if you subscribe to the paraglider theory) he went out of his way to get the paraglider for link, going through all the effort to design and craft and reinforce this thing against damage. hes literally doing everything in his power to get link’s attention, declaring himself link’s rival just to be link’s Something, despite link pretty much just being normal abt it and being here to do his job. revali is insane and i love him <3

“they’re ‘good friends’” -> i mean all of the things ive already written above still apply even if you read their relationship as platonic but also. can you imagine if when theyre teetering on the edge of the “homoerotic” and “rivalry” of their homoerotic rivalry, or when theyve become friends but not yet romantic, and with revali’s codependent tendencies and link’s opening up to very very few people, people see them spending so much time together, and go like “wow im glad those two are finally settling their differences, its good to see that theyve stopped hating each other’s guts and become friends. friends who keep pinning each other to walls in the middle of sparring even tho they fight w a sword and bow. friends :)”

“they fucking hate each other + they have a healthy relationship” -> yeah they may fucking hate each other but the whole end of their canon arc is like, they have a grudging respect for each other, they know where they stand w each other, its more a healthy rivalry than real hostility. they may get annoyed w each other but theyre on the same team in the end and their personal irritation doesnt get in the way of defeating the calamity. like they get on each other’s nerves but they can put it aside bc more than that initial resentment is the understanding that they have just as much in common as different and that those original things that drove a wall between them (fate, lack of acknowledgement, etc.) have now been resolved

“they fucking hate each other + they have a tumultuous relationship” -> this is literally their canon dynamic. revali deals w his resentment at link being the hero by deriding him to lift himself up in comparison, by bragging nonstop that hes way better and that link is the worst. and link doesnt respond to this at all, maybe bc he doesnt want to escalate it further or maybe bc not giving revali attention whatsoever is his only way of biting back, but either way revali does take it as a further snub and hates link even more for not even acknowledging his words or skill or Anything. and so that divide grows deeper and deeper as revali lashes out and link closes himself off further. theyre just two hurting teens w the weight of the world on their shoulders never taught how to deal w their conflicts and emotions…!

“they fucking hate each other + they’re freakishly obsessed with each other” -> ok again this is more from revali’s end of things but come on. as i said he literally talks abt nothing but how much he hates link, his diary is full of “i HATE that stupid knight why wont he notice me”, and. revali’s flap??? just try and tell me that wasnt scripted. no way he didnt write up the whole speech beforehand so he could Perfectly get across the message of how eloquent and talented and amazing he was. you can only revali’s gale up to his landing from a very specific point, so he must have scoped it out beforehand and been waiting there for link to show up so he could make his dramatic entrance. revali is the Definition of freakishly obsessed and i adore him <3

ANYWAYS…

[ladyofpomegranates]

Leave her Johnny

For @ourflagmeansparty day 3 prompt: sea shanties (Leave Her Johnny)

Team Black @ladyofpomegranates

Oh the work was hard and the voyage long

Leave her Johnny leave her

Oh the sea was high and the gales was strong

Leave her Johnny leave her

“Do you have to go?” Edward asks he watches Izzy pack his meager belongings. Izzy never had liked collecting physical things, he lived sparsely like the heroes in those Greek poems Bonnet was fond of.

“Yes, Edward. We talked about this, it’s time.”

“But why? Is it pay? I’ll pay you more. Is it the crew? Is someone giving you shit? I’ll throw them overboard.”

“No you won’t,” Izzy says with a slight smile. “We both know that’s not who you are anymore.”

“Maybe not, but I could scare them a bit. Make them regret fucking with you. C’mon Iz, just tell me what I need to do so you’ll stay. You have to stay.”

You have to stay. The phrase hangs in the air between them like a man sentenced to death, like sails during a becalming, terrible and desperate.

“I feel like I’ve spent my whole life aboard a pirate ship. Sometimes I think I only dreamed my life before sailing and Hornigold, that I was born aboard The Ranger in the dark.”

“I’ve had that nightmare too Iz, but we made it out. We survived him, you and I. We made it out together.”

How many times have I saved his life? Izzy wonders. How many lives have I taken? So much blood on both our hands. So many sins we can’t wash away.

“It wasn’t all bad though, was it Iz?”

A collage of memories passes by: Ed patching him up after a fight, Izzy and Ed talking shit about the crew over a bottle of bourbon, sparring for fun in their youth, Izzy adjusting the straps on Ed’s knee brace.

“No,” he hears himself say quietly, so soft it’s almost a whisper. “No, we had good times as well. I’ll never forget those as long as I live. But I’m an old fucking bastard now Edward, I’m tired. And you don’t need me.”

“I’ve always needed you, you’re my best friend.”

Is that true? It was once, is it still?

Izzy decides it doesn’t matter whether it’s true, it’s enough just to hear him say it.

One last memory to take with me I go.

He puts away his longing and desire to stay, he’ll take those with him as he tries to build a new life.

“No tears, you fucking twat. You know I hate crying.”

“I’ll miss you too Izzy” Edward says as he pulls him into a hug. Izzy feels hot tears come to his eyes during the embrace. He tells himself it’s just dust in his eyes.

“Where will you go?”

“Might try to settle in the republic for a bit, open my own bar, give Jacqueline some healthy competition for a change.”

“I’ll stop by in a few months, save me a seat you beautiful bastard.”

“A corner spot where you can smoke in peace Edward. I’ll take care of you.”

But now we’re through and we’ll go on shore

Leave her Johnny, Leave her

[codename-adler]

Death of Heroes

Because not even Neil can outrun the ephemerality of men.

Renee is the first one to go. 

Nearing sixty but never reaching it, she is outlived by Abby and Wymack. At least Stephanie Walker is waiting for her at the gates of Heaven, but for the rest of her Foxes, the loss is heavy.

It’s cancer. Leukemia.

It started with the bruises from her sparring matches with Andrew not healing very well. Then not at all. After decades of maintaining these monthly meetings, of keeping her body healthy, Renee finally has to give it up. She knows something is wrong, and she knows that these sessions won’t be of any help, now.

Then the extreme fatigue starts. Still, Renee doesn’t do a thing about it. Or at least, she lets life go its own course. She looses weight, which she already doesn’t have much of. But then the nosebleeds begin, and it’s no use telling Allison to stop worrying. The diagnosis is unsurprising, yet still shattering. And it’s not a good prognosis either, but it’s still not bad enough for the doctor to give up the Five-Year survival plan.

Renee has to speak up. Ally, I don’t want to do this. She has to put her foot down. Allison, my love, it’ll be okay. I won’t get better, you and I both know that. But it can be okay. It can still be good.

Renee doesn’t get treatment. Renee doesn’t tell anybody, except Andrew. Because Andrew knows, somehow, that she made a terrible, irreversible choice. Because Andrew only deals in truths. Because Andrew is Andrew, and just as he needed her all those years ago, she needs him now.

A little more than six months pass, with less and less outings from Renee and more and more excuses from Allison, and Renee gets sick. Really sick. It starts like a regular cold. Then it looks more like the flu. And suddenly it’s pneumonia, and respiratory difficulties, and lung failure. She’s in that hospital bed, wearing that gown, breathing in that mask. Renee finally nods to Allison, giving her consent.

Ally makes the call.

Only Andrew and Dan make it in time.

Renee Walker goes out like a light.

The Foxes, who had once upon a time been used to murders, life-threatening schemes and acts of extreme violence, had never really known Death itself. The simple, yet inevitable fate of human lives. Of going quietly into the night. It’s all so quiet. So anticlimactic. It’s so quiet, too quiet, too heavy with silence. This time, there is no one to blame, no one to punish, no one to take responsibility.

It’s just life. It’s just death.

Wymack and Abby can’t believe that one of their Foxes, on of their kids, left before them. Renee’s Korean roots made her look barely a day over forty, which made it all so much worse. Renee’s death takes a toll on every single one of them. Because it’s Renee, the best of them. Because all her papers are in orders, her will to date, her wishes known; just as when she was alive, she leaves no chaos behind her.

There is nothing and no one to be mad at, except life.

In the cemetery where Stephanie Walker is buried, Andrew buys a large lot of land. (Large enough to one day welcome all the Foxes) The tomb is moved over there, and Renee’s name is added. A tree is planted above her scattered ashes. It’s very small, very fragile, but with the years, it grows strong.

For the first time, the Foxes realize that, despite going through Hell and back in their youth, they are not immortal. There is nothing to be done about that, but it hurts. It hurts to lose their angel this way, so soon, so suddenly. It hurts to lose, period. It feels like a failure, like giving up. They lost her. They lost.

But somehow, they gained something else they might never know about. Renee might have been the only religious one among them, but that didn’t stop her from becoming their Guardian Angel. Because somehow, from then on, the Foxes were spared.

Let me show you.

Just as Bee had a few years before Renee, Abby, then Wymack, simply die in their sleep, no fight, no agony. None of them have to see another Fox go before them. They don’t have to go through that indescribable ordeal ever again. They are spared the pain.

Then decades pass, enough for the remaining Foxes to grow very old, and live very long. Not infinitely, but long enough.

Matt is the next one to go.

Matt has worked hard all his life, both mentally and physically. It comes to no surprise, then, that arthritis chose to invade his body. For the first few years living with the diagnosis, natural medicine and osteopathy are enough to keep the pain at bay. It doesn’t stop Matt from doing anything. He babysits his 9 grandchildren with Dan every week; he goes on roadtrips with Dan every summer; he goes on a light jog with Dan every day.

It’s just that one day, it’s not enough anymore. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the pain becomes too much for Matt to do his day-to-day activities. And really, the pain, he could take; it was an old friend, a familiar feeling, almost like a sixth sense.

It was the mental toll of it all that he couldn’t take. To have to say no to seeing his grandchildren. No to driving around endlessly and aimlessly for hours. No to waking up in sync with Dan every morning, and no to their routine, and no, and no, and just- not living.

For the first time in a long time, Matt doesn’t want to do this anymore.

But he does, still. He smiles, and he lies, and he tries to will away the pain.

It all comes down to one afternoon, when he takes his painful walk of the day around the neighborhood. There are three little kids playing Exy in their driveway, when suddenly a ball escapes their racquets and rolls down in the street. The smallest kid runs after it, runs and runs and runs, without looking. Kind of like Neil, Matt thinks to himself before his body acts of his own. The kid doesn’t see the car, and the car doesn’t see the kid. Matt sees both.

The BMW is going way over the limit, its sleek black sides reflecting the sun too brightly. Despite his pain, despite his age, despite his now slow reflexes, Matt leaps. He screams at the kid to stop and turn around, to let the ball roll away, but to no avail. 

Matt pushes the kid away in time for the car to hit him instead, and only him.

The rest becomes a blur, but the final verdict is as such: broken hip, shattered leg, probably won’t walk ever again, even with surgery. The doctors and surgeons warn Matt that with his age, his pre-existing condition, and his drug history, surgery might kill him. But Matt refuses to be bedridden for the rest of his already miserable life. Dan knows that. She knows that he has to try. Knows that he might not pull through. She also knows that Matt wants to go, has wanted to for a while now. 

She calls Neil. She calls Allison. From there, all the Foxes are bound to get the news. Matt promises to wait until their arrival before going into surgery. In the meantime, the nurses start a morphine line, after warning the couple very strongly about the side effects and the risks. But Matt is in pain, terrible pain, and it’s a compromise to wait for his Foxes. It takes about a week for all of them to come to his bedside, with Nicky being last, coming all the way from Germany. Neil and Allison barely leave his room; Dan doesn’t at all. The others take turns, leaving as much space for Matt’s kids and grandkids as their hearts can allow.

The open spot for Matt’s surgery is on a Friday.

Matt Boyd does not make it to Friday. 

The morphine is too heavy on his heart. It was a possible outcome, not as alarming as the upcoming surgery, but... Matt had secretely wished to go ever since and- maybe, up there in Heaven, someone heard him... 

Dan and Matt had had a mutual understanding, that it was okay, but it doesn’t make it any more easy to let go. 

Two months into Matt’s departure, Allison moves in with Dan. She walks her through every stage of grief. She grieves all over again herself, too. But they make it.

Same goes for Andrew with Neil. Neil doesn’t know loss like this. Death like this.

And yet. And yet. Deep, deep down, Neil is scared. That after all his years of running, and fighting, and lying, he won’t get that peaceful ending Matt was granted.

But Neil lives.

And Nicky leaves.

A few months after Matt, he and Erik simply stay in the States. They say it’s because they want to be close, because they don’t want to miss anything, because they don’t want to risk a Fox leaving without a chance at saying goodbye. Because Nicky misses his Aaron and his Andrew.

Which are all valid and true motives. It’s just not the whole truth.

Nicky has dementia. Alzheimer’s, to be precise. Diagnosed about a year ago. It’s not bad yet, but- It’s the endless back-and-forth between the house and “der Supermarkt” because Nicky forgot what he drove there for in the first place. It’s forgetting words in all the languages Nicky speaks. It’s freaking out at all the Germans speaking German, because Nicky sometimes believe he is still living in America. It’s not finding the Columbia house and panicking when Nicky can’t get a hold of Andrew or Aaron.

It’s hard, it’s heartbreaking, it’s terrifying, but it’s manageable.

Once Nicky and Erik settle back down in North Carolina, they both wonder how long it’ll take before the twins figure it out, because there is no way Nicky is telling them, but he also knows nothing can get past his twins.

And he’s right. Between Aaron’s acute knowledge of Medicine and Andrew’s reknown lie-detector skills, it takes about 14 days for them to take Nicky hostage and demand the truth. 

As the year comes to an end, Nicky’s dementia doesn’t seem to progress that much. He seems to escape the worst. He doesn’t forget anyone. He doesn’t become aggressive, doesn’t go missing, doesn’t lose any function of his body. Without looking too closely, Nicky is simply getting old. 

The twin girls he and Erik adopted get to move back in for a little while, having lived in the U.S. all their lives and seeing their parents fly to Germany after their retirement. They know, too, and try to make the most of it. They are lucky. They are so lucky. Nicky is a miracle patient.

In the end, though, it’s Nicky’s body rather than his mind that gives out. Once you reach a certain point in time living with the disease, but without the general complications of it, eventually the brain has trouble managing all the organs of the body. So instead of forgetting to eat, or forgetting names and faces, sometimes your brain doesn’t remember how to make your heart beat. Or how to make make your lungs breathe.

Nicky Hemmick stops breathing in the middle of the night, after having wished his twin daughters goodnight, texted his other set of twins goodnight, and kissed his husband goodnight. Nicky had thought, then, that it was indeed, a good night.

Just as he had remembered his Foxes until the end, he was remembered by them as the big-hearted lover that Heaven had just gained as its new angel.

Too soon after him, though, it’s Allison’s turn. 

It’s not that she’d simply been waiting around for the day she could be reunited with Renee. She just didn’t understand why her Foxes kept leaving, and why she was still stuck here without her other half. 

She didn’t just wait, though. She helps Dan out with the grandkids, and sometimes the grown-up kids too. She volunteers a lot. She gives back to the Columbia community, and all around the world. She travels to places she’s never been, places that remind her of Renee, but are void of painful memories. She empties their bucket list, and much more. The last thing Allison has yet to do, the only thing left to do, is mending her relationship with her parents. Or parent. Singular. In spite of everything, including the death of her husband, Francesca Reynolds was still standing strong at the head of the Reynolds empire. 100 years old was nothing when you lived in spite. 

In a twisted way, Allison believed that maybe her mother was the last piece she needed to mend before she was allowed to go. That despite being gone for years, Renee was still there somewhere, looking out for her and making sure she didn’t have any regrets. 

So Allison accomplished the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the impossible. For the first time in decades, she flew back to the Reynolds estate and spoke to her mother. In person. 

It was not the emotional reunion Renee might have hoped for, but it was a reunion still. That was more than enough for Allison. They didn’t talk about the big things. The important things. But they talked. They talked. And they scheduled another talk. 

Back home with Dan, Allison embraced her friend and let the tears fall. She was grateful for her friend, but both of them knew that these were not the arms Allison wished to be held in. She went to rest a bit before dinner, and she tried to imagine how it would feel like to have Renee hold her again.

For someone as loud, as present and as strong as she was, Allison Walker slipped quietly from time. 

When Dan found her, she could only smile tearfully. She played with her hair one last time as she called her Foxes.

Allison left Dan in charge of her finances, and so she took over her charity duties and went above and beyond to honor her friend’s memory. Her sister.

Dan thought she would be next. She wished, she hoped, she prayed to be next.

She wasn’t.

Kevin was.

He might have been the biggest and hardest loss to weather. It wasn’t a feeling that could be explained. As painful as it had been to lose Renee, and Matt, and Nicky, and Allison, losing Kevin was... the great and terrible 10, as they’d say.

Kevin should have died way sooner. His liver should have given out because of all the alcohol it had endured in Kevin’s youth. His heart should have given out because of all the stress it had faced for most of Kevin’s life. All the bad things that could happen with old age should have happened to Kevin, but they didn’t. They didn’t. 

Death came knocking one day, and politely asked him if he would please follow them, and Kevin simply took it as a sign that his time was up.

That day, Kevin had felt a numbing pain in his chest all morning long. Used to little injuries here and there, he hadn’t thought anything of it. And he certainly wasn’t about to worry his doctor of a husband... 

However, as the sun reached it’s highest in the sky, Kevin couldn’t really hide his pain any longer. He had lain down on their couch for a bit, but he couldn’t seem to get back up. It was too exhausting. So he called for Aaron, as loud as he could in the state he was. 

As Aaron stumbled into the living room, Kevin tried to use his softest voice to inform his husband of the situation. Aaron immediately called an ambulance, and when the vehicle took them both away, he reached for his phone again to make, once again, a terrible call to their Foxes. But through his oxygen mask, Kevin reached out to grap his wrist and whispered, with difficulty, just Neil... just Andrew...

Because here’s the thing: Kevin loved his Foxes, and his Foxes loved him back. Immensely. 

He loved them so much he had married one, with another one of them as best man (Neil), another as his husband’s (Andrew), and yet another one as their celebrant (Renee). 

They loved him so much that it was only short of worship by a hair or two. And Kevin knew that. He loved Dan like a sister. And by extension, he loved Erik like a brother, too. And he loved all the Foxes’ children and grandchildren like his own, despite never being a parent himself. 

But Neil and Andrew... There were no words for what they were to him. He knew that he wouldn’t have to talk them through it. He knew they would be the only ones strong enough and close enough to hold Aaron up in case it all turned to shit the moment he passed the hospital doors. 

And being the History nerd he had always been, Kevin had written letters, a long time ago. To his Foxes. Most of them had left before him, and so he could never give them their letters, but Dan, and Erik for Nicky, could still have those letters. Kevin poured everything into these letters. It had taken him years, ever since Renee’s departure. He wrote, and threw away, and started again, until he got it right. Nine letters, for his nine Foxes. Andrew knew about it. He’d give Nicky’s and the upperclassmen’s to Dan and Erik, and they’d understand. Kevin didn’t want them to be there, at the very end of it all. He just wanted Aaron. And Neil. And Andrew.

Those three had letters waiting for them, too. Andrew would hand them over a month later. But he would never open his.

Andrew and Neil arrived just before 1 PM. Kevin was hooked on all sorts of IVs and still had the oxygen mask on. His heart monitor was beeping very, very slowly, erratically. He was still Kevin Day in all his gloriousness, but he was much more Kevin, their beloved Kevin.

On one side of the hospital bed, Aaron never let go of Kevin’s hand. On the other side, Kevin removed the mask and weakly motioned for Neil to take the other hand. But Neil was stunned. Frozen. So Andrew came up behind him, and held Kevin’s hand. 

It would be the first, and the last time.

Just as Neil finally sprung into action and went to put a hand on Kevin’s shoulder, feeling his wiry muscles and his fragile bones underneath the hospital gown, Kevin closed his eyes. 

The heart monitor began flatlining.

Neil looked at the monitor, then to Kevin. He looked at Andrew, then back at Kevin, and then at Aaron. His eyes couldn’t stay focused on one thing. He was still hoping. He was still refusing.

Aaron lowered his head. Kissed Kevin’s hand.

Andrew held on tighter to Kevin’s other hand. Gripped the back of Neil’s neck.

Kevin took Death’s hand, which felt a lot like Aaron’s, and Andrew’s, and Renee’s, and walked away.

Aaron unplugged the monitor. And called it.

Time of death: 13:01.

It took exaclty one month, day for day, for Aaron to leave as well. They called it the Broken Heart Syndrome. On the surface, Aaron had held it together. But Andrew knew. He saw. That he was losing him as well. 

Some could say that, by handing over Kevin’s letter, Andrew killed his brother. But those who would say that didn’t even begin to understand the complexity of the bond between twin brothers. Especially not the Minyards. 

Because what Andrew really did, with that letter, was gifting Aaron with relief.

Peace. Quiet. 

Love. 

Aaron could exhale, now. He would see Kevin soon, now.

And so in the same room, in the same bed as his husband’s, Aaron Minyard forced Death’s hand and demanded to see Kevin again.

And then there were three.

Dan lived for so long that she started to fear outliving her children. She felt old, so old. In her head and in her heart. She did not believe in a God, but she often found herself praying to someone, anyone. She did not believe in angels and demons, but she often wondered how long they would keep her from Death.

So she waited. For the days to go and the nights to pass. She barely ate anymore. She barely moved. She was only feeling okay when she slept outside, in her chair in the backyard, the sun shinning on her beautiful face. She could sleep for hours there, surrounded by her lively garden. The wind swayed her skirts, the trees whispered in her ears. It was okay.

And at the same time, it wasn’t. 

She was tired. She was lonely. Even Erik, a couple of years ago, had gone to rejoin his husband. Neil visited her at least once a week, but he still had Andrew. He couldn’t understand, nor could he stay away from him for too long. He would miss him too much.

Every year she celebrated another birthday, and every year she blew her candles wishing they were her last.

And at last, her wish came true.

Dan was expecting one of her kids to come by in the afternoon. The Carolina sun was shinning quite hard on her, so she had placed her chair in way that let the sunlight hit the back of her head, turned away completely from her house. Her daughter knew exactly where to find her when she arrived, and so she didn’t wait for a response to her presence before making her way down into the garden. She had called her mother multiple times, and had assumed she was sleeping when she hadn’t answered.

Dan was not sleeping.

Dan Wilds had left this world, the sunlight pouring down on her like the radiant goddess that she was.

Being one of the last Foxes, it took a day before Neil and Andrew got the news of her death. They don’t get involved in the funeral preparations, but they show up. And that’s enough. 

People don’t really bother them anymore, so they can bid farewell to their Captain in relative peace. They come by Dan’s house aftwerwards, too, and help her kids out with everything. Yes, even Andrew. 

Dan’s death makes them reflect the most.

About the Foxes. About each of their departures. How they all lived a good and long life. How they all died a good and quiet death. 

They think about how they were always the ones nearing death, always fighting to stay alive. About how they died a million deaths before the age of 18.

They think about how they are the last ones standing, even after everything. 

They survived. They lived. 

(They loved)

Neil and Andrew should not have gotten this far. They should not have lived this long. They shouldn’t have. But somehow, somewhere above, someone has watched over them and made sure that they didn’t get the ending they should’ve had, but the ending they deserved.

Neil and Andrew don’t really want to die. They don’t really want to live on either. But they take every day that they are given, to be with each other, to mend their hearts still, to breathe. 

They take every breath they can.

They wonder who will leave first. Who will have to say goodbye and stay behind, who will have to wait. 

It’s a fear neither of them had ever thought they’d have. Not like that.

And it’s only a matter of time before they get their answer. They are, after all, getting very old. It is both a blessing and a curse.

After decades of partnership, Neil and Andrew still go to bed the same way they did when they were eighteen. Both facing each other, their hands joined in the middle, their nose a breath apart.

After decades of peace, Neil and Andrew still wake from sleep at the slightest abnormality.

Which is why the minute Neil Josten gives out his last breath, Andrew awakes.

Neil’s hand in his is still warm and his skin is still soft. His hair, although completely white for quite some years now, still have that bronze glow to them. They’re still curly, and soft to the touch. Andrew passes a hand through them before resting it on the back of Neil’s neck. 

He looks at Neil like it’s the first time, tries to memorize every detail of his beautiful face. He rubs circle in his skin, and takes in everything that was, that is Neil. His husband. His junkie. His rabbit. His pipedream. His lover. His love.

Andrew doesn’t move from their bed. 

When he has finally spoken everything that he feels to Neil, from the safety of his mind, Andrew moves closer to him so their foreheads touch and noses align. He takes Neil’s lifeless hand again, and kisses it. He sets their hands back down, between the two of them, and looks at Neil one last time.

And slowly, Andrew Minyard closes his eyes, forever.

[fire-lady-ilah]

What if Ozai actually loved his family?

This could extend to Iroh and Lu Ten and Azulon, but what I mean by this is that he truly loves Ursa (as this is highly debated in canon), Zuko, and Azula. The no strings attached love that children deserve. Buckle up because this is gonna get long and need a cut.

Aang might not win in this universe.

It would start with Zuko’s birth. He has no spark but Ozai has never held something so small that had his eyes. His wife lays exhausted on her bed. Zuko does not almost die that night. He was lucky to be born, yes, but it is said with love rather than scorn.

Two years later, Azula is born and he finds himself loving her just as much as her brother, even if she has a spark he doesn’t. Ursa is severely weakened after the birth and he decides not to try for more children— he loves the ones he has and he wouldn’t want to lose his wife.

Outside the Fire Nation, his brother burns down swathes Earth Kingdom. This Ozai isn’t a good person, he proposes ruthless plans in the war room, just as he would in canon, he laughs as his brother dreams of the day he burns Ba Sing Se.

The only difference is that he loves his family. His son almost dies and he saves him. He thanks the spirits that he was a strong swimmer and makes the point to train his son in swimming for the rest of their time on Ember Island. The current is dangerous, and it is even more dangerous for a weak swimmer.

Azula is a prodigy in firebending. Zuko is not. He makes a point to show them the same amount of love (because he does love them both). He reinforces Ursa’s teaching of empathy, not counteracting it like he might’ve in another universe. Azula begins to tell her brother all her tricks, things that come so naturally to her that her brother doesn’t realize.

He is nowhere near a prodigy like her, but he’s only a few sets behind her at any given time, and he’s leagues better than he would be at the same point in canon. Ursa sits with him and they watch their children fondly— they have a bond no one could break now, able to share thoughts without words. One day, they will be an unbeatable team. Now they’re just children, practicing together, playing together.

The turtleducks in the pond hound both children when they walk by, knowing only soft hands and small pieces of bread.

Azula is a firebending prodigy, but Ozai watches his son carefully. He sees the light touch of his feet, the quick reflexes when he almost knocks a vase off a shelf, the way he watched with wide eyes as they happened upon two guards sparring while not on duty.

Ozai calls for the best swordsmaster he can, housing Master Piandao of Shu Jing in the palace. Piandao’s assignment is to teach two children, after all. It wouldn’t do to send both his children away for so long. (He would miss them, as would Ursa.)

Azula is a prodigy firebender, Zuko is a prodigy swordsman. He picks up any style Piandao tries to teach him with ease, eventually settling on the dual dao as his favourite. Azula picks twin daggers.

Their weapons are two halves of the same whole, just as Zuko and Azula are. Zuko tells his sister all his tricks, all the things about sword fighting that come naturally to him that she doesn’t realize.

The Seige of Ba Sing Se beings. The family write letters to Iroh and Lu Ten often. Iroh sends a doll for Azula and a dagger for Zuko.

(“It’s okay, Lala. Obviously he couldn’t find any twin daggers there. It wouldn’t be right for you to wield just one dagger.”)

The doll doesn’t burn, though it lays in a chest, collecting dust. Zuko’s dagger is used to open each subsequent letter, though it has little other use. He has his dao for fighting, and Azula has a collection of far better daggers that she would let him use if he asked.

(Mai tells Azula (who is a bit softer around the edges than she could’ve been, though her teeth remain sharp) of her slight crush on her brother. She just pushes them together like any other child would and laughs at their blushing cheeks.)

Ozai and Ursa watch their children, hand in hand as they walk together. Neither of them have a reason to be disappointed in their children or in each other.

Lu Ten dies. Azula’s voice is cold as she proclaims that her uncle should have burnt Ba Sing Se to the ground.

This time, everyone recognizes the words for what they are. Ursa holds her daughter and soothes her as Zuko collapses into his father’s arms.

(A doll is pulled from a dusty chest and held to a girl’s chest.)

Ozai kneels before his father and says he would make a better Fire Lord than his brother. He may love his family, but he still wants power and his words are logical.

This time, his punishment sounds like a punishment and not a boon.

(“Grandfather ordered dad to kill you.”

“Dad wouldn’t do that.”

“I know.”

The siblings spend the night huddled into the same bed anyway.)

Morning comes and Fire Lord Azulon is found dead in his bed. Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa are taking breakfast with their children when they find out. They are the picture of calm.

They are a family and they love each other. Ozai would not let Azulon break them apart, even if it meant committing parricide with his wife’s aid.

Prince Ozai becomes Fire Lord Ozai. Princess Ursa becomes Fire Lady Ursa. Prince Zuko becomes Crown Prince Zuko and Princess Azula is his closest confidant as she always is. Everyone knows the Fire Lord’s Chief Advisor is nearly as powerful as the Fire Lord themselves anyway.

The war in the Earth Kingdom continues. General Iroh returns as a changed man, yet finds solace in the fact that half of his family is healthy and whole.

Two years pass with Zuko as the Crown Prince. He is known as a formidable firebender (though still weaker than his sister. He was the first person she showed her new, blue flame to) and a master swordsman. He cannot lie to save his life, but he has a charisma that he clearly got from his father. His father looks at him and sees the greatest Fire Lord the Fire Nation will ever have, even if he still has a lot to learn. This is his son.

Two years pass with Azula as his best friend (as if the nine years before hadn’t been the exact same). She is known as a master firebender, though few know of her skill with a blade. Lies fall through her lips as easily as any other word. Her father looks at her and see’s the actress her mother once was (still is) and pride surges in his chest. This is his daughter.

Iroh brings Zuko into a war meeting. Zuko speaks up against a plan he finds despicable. He is more confident now, his words more eloquent, but he has the same conviction and tendency to speak without considering the consequences of his actions.

The Fire Lord hears not disrespect in his son’s words, but the voice of his people. Ozai is not an idiot, and loving his son is all it takes for him to listen a little deeper. He knew of his people’s growing discontent with the war, but he didn’t care until their words find their way through his son’s lips.

Ozai forbids the plan. His brother (for he was once the Dragon of the West, for he still is and Ozai should do well to remember as such) suggests a plan that would cost less lives and only a little more time. It is an acceptable exchange.

Zuko walks out of the war room, his head held high. His face remains unblemished.

His mother scolds him and punished him, for he was still disrespectful and the general would’ve been within his right to challenge him to an Agni Kai.

(“I could beat him.”

“Of course you could, I taught you. But mom’s right, it’s a stupid risk to take, Zuzu.”)

The forty-first finds themselves passing a letter between them that speaks of a prince speaking up to save them from a general. Loyalty to the royal family is cemented in this one group of soldiers, barely more than recruits.

Azula finds herself thankful for Piandao’s calligraphy lessons. The small glass vials, prepared with her mother’s careful tutelage remain hidden in her room.

Part of being the Fire Lord’s Chief Advisor is keeping him safe from his own stupidity.

Ozai takes the time to teach his son to hold his tongue. It is a lesson taught not with pain and fire, but that was a mode of teaching he would’ve never considered. He loves his son.

Years pass and the siblings flourish. Zuko begins to officially court Mai and deals with his sister’s incessant teasing. He knows he has her to thank for their relationship anyway.

He could’ve done without his father’s attempts to give him the Talk though. He sat in horrified silence for nearly ten minutes of pure awkwardness on both sides before he managed to squeak out that his mother already gave him that conversation.

Both father and son are quick to flee from each other.

Zuko is fifteen and Azula is thirteen as they begin their journey in learning lightning. Azula does not pick it up nearly as quickly as most firebending and finds it a thrilling challenge. Zuko finds himself pulled away by his uncle and taught to redirect lightning.

Why Iroh ever thought he wouldn’t share it with his sister, he didn’t know.

Zuko is sixteen when he manages his first bolt of lightning, his sister having almost perfected the art.

Zuko is sixteen when news comes from Commander Zhao that the Avatar has been spotted in the viscosity of Kyoshi Island, wearing the tattoos of an airbending monk.

Zuko is sixteen, face unblemished, head full of hair pulled carefully back into a top knot when he approaches the Fire Lord and Lady (his father, his mother) and requests to hunt down the Avatar.

His sister is only a half step behind him, for what is the future Fire Lord without his Chief Advisor?

(What is the Fire Lord without his heirs? Ozai thinks. What is a father without his children?)

Part: [2] [3] [4]

[bluebirdssmile]

A Strange Situation

Chapter 4

A/N I am so sorry that it's taken me so long to update this story! I have been working full time and I've been exhausted! I hope you enjoy this chapter though😁

Three weeks passed, Y/N had fully settled into life at the sanctum, now memorising every relic in the building, she loved it there, quickly becoming close with Wong, seeing him as a confidant that she could trust.

Stephen had kept himself distant, only really interacting with her when it came to her health, but she had now practically recovered so there's not much more than a hello in the hallway or polite chatter at the dinner table, Stark had kept to his word, paying her as if she hadn't even stopped working but it was finally time to go back and she was elated to step in her office again

"Morning!" She chirped as she entered the kitchen, 7am sharp, Wong turned to face her from the stove where he was frying some egg's "Ahh, good morning Y/N" he responds cheerily before taking his spatula and placing his egg on a plate along with some toast "There's toast on the table if you want it, I'd offer you coffee too, but the old man beat you to it" He gestured towards Stephen who was reading the morning paper, sipping from his favourite mug, white with a fox on the side.

Stephen rolled his eyes and closed the paper "well this old man kicked your arse in last nights sparring session" he chuckled, winking at Y/N "So be careful what you say or would you like to admit you were beat by an old guy?" He raises his eyebrow at Wong, awaiting his answer.

Wong rolled his eyes and took a seat at the table across from Stephen "Well, I had to go easy on you, didn't want you to break a hip" He grinned taking a slice of toast and dipping it into his egg yolk

Y/N chuckled playful as she joined them at the table, a bottle of water in hand and taking a sip "Oh give over, you're both old compared to me" she winks playful with a kind of "Check mate" look in her eye, Stephen leans towards her threateningly "You might be the youngest here, but you couldn't take either of us in a fight" he cocked his head, daring her to challenge him, she pursed her lips and then licked them, contemplating his words "Oh Stephen, if you want me to pin you down so bad, just ask nicely" She winks playfully, grabbing a slice of toast and standing back up.

"Now, behave, don't murder eachother while I'm gone" Wong and Stephen both share a look before turning their attention back to her "Gone?" Wong asks, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion "Err yeah, back to work, it's been three weeks and I'm bored, Stark said I can come back, as long as my Doctor thinks I'm well enough" She quickly moves towards Stephen "oh, right, I forgot, can you sign this paperwork to say I'm fit to work please?" Reaching into her satchel she pulls out some documents and hands them to Stephen "I know you're not officially my Doctor but, you have been kind of taking care of me" She gives him a crooked grin as he looks over the papers "Hmm, you really should see your normal physician" he says, not looking up from the paper "But, you are healthy and you're not coughing anymore so, I should think it's okay, but please, don't over do it Y/N" he gives the last instruction while looking directly at her.

Y/N nods her agreement and takes the paper back once he's signed it, stuffing it back into her bag "Alright boy's, see you later, oh, Wong would you mind looking after the boys for me? I don't want to take them on my first day back" Wong grins, looking at Hank and Chief who are napping by the fire "Sure, you know I love them, they'll be fine with me"

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

Y/N spent the whole morning reorganizing her desk after the temp had completely moved everything, unsure of where to find anything, she decided the best way would be to remove everything from the drawers and shelves, clean them and put things back neatly, when she was finally done it was lunch time.

She left her office in search of Tony and found him, doing his usual, annoying Pepper, Y/N grinned at them as she cleared her throat "It's lunch time, what's your order?" She smiled as Peter popped his head from the corner and ran to her "You're back! We've missed you, Mr Stark kept getting confused, you know because he doesn't understand schedules and the temp, she was sweet but she kept confusing herself and it was stressing everyone out, we're just so used to your organisation, and oh, did you do something different to your hair? Where's Hank? And Chief? Oh and I'm so sorry about your house, but I heard your rooming with Dr Strange and that's so cool! You know I've heard that his home is just full of so many random things and-" Y/N held up her hand chuckling "Peter, Peter, breathe" She grinned while taking him into a hug "I'll answer any questions you have but first, lunch, what am I getting you?" She smiled playfully, Peter was her favourite of the avengers, his energy like that of a Labrador, he hand a heart of gold and enough energy to run the entirety of New York for the next few years, if only there was a way to harness his hyperactivity, into electricity.

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

After lunch, she sat and talked with Peter, Tony and Pepper about the last three weeks with Stephen and Wong, about how they were always bickering but how entertaining it was, she talked about her search for a new house coming up empty but knowing she'd find somewhere if she kept looking, but mostly she talked about Stephen, about how nice he'd been and how he'd taken care of her, not everyone noticed how she glowed when his name left her lips, but Pepper did.

Pepper saw how her eyes lit up when she recalled the first day there, how he had made her feel welcome by giving her access to the library and using magic to translate many of the books she had taken an interest in, and how, over the past few weeks he has ordered numerous books that she could read just for pleasure, just so she could relax before bed, like she did before her home burnt down with all of her books in it.

Yes, Pepper noticed the slight red tint to her cheeks at the thought of him, but she said nothing because it was obvious that Y/N wasn't even aware of these things yet. Pepper smiled at Tony before she spoke "You know, I'm so happy that you're back, maybe we should have a party to celebrate?" Tony's eyes widened at the thought "Party? Oh you know we're having a party!" He grinned, now speaking to Friday "Friday, please inform the Avengers that there's a party at my place tonight, in honour of Y/N being back" he looked over at Y/N and grinned "Technically, you're my assistant, so it's your job to plan and organise this but, I think I can handle it.

He looks at Peter who stands up excited "Yes Mr Stark, I'll help, what do you need me to do?" Tony kisses Pepper on the cheek and Gestures for Peter to follow, Pepper rolls her eyes, watching them both leave "Boys" She sighs while shaking her head.

Hoping that with a little Dutch courage and the right atmosphere, her friend would finally realise that she, had feelings for her new housemate, and god's, it was about time she found herself someone.

[saundraswriting]

Cosmogyral

I decided to participate in a writing challenge for a great author, Georgie at @bonkywobble. This is the first of two prompts for this challenge. I hope you enjoy it! 

SUMMARY: Cosmogyral: (Adj.) Whirling around the universe. Bucky stops whirling about the universe once the reader enters his life. 

This is being posted on my writing blog instead of my main blog @saundrasays. Please check out my other works if you wish. 

Masterlist // Ao3

Recovery was hard. Shuri and everyone in Wakanda did what they could for him. They were able to somehow fix his brainwaves into being triggerless, but he still had so much trauma to work through that some days he could barely move. There were days that the weight of the world bent his back, his hands were stained red. His time in Wakanda helped him learn how to be human again, caring for the goats and interacting with people, he even relearned his strength. He was able to train and spar and not kill and that did great things for his mental health. He was stable, but not happy. He wasn’t sure what would make him happy anymore.

“Hey, Buck.” A deep voice came through the sparring room. Bucky looked over from where he was working at a punching bag. His eye brightened significantly seeing you and Steve come through the door.

“Y/N! Hey. Good to see you too, Steve.” Bucky smiled, walking over to them. Steve shot Bucky a knowing grin at the enthusiasm but said nothing.

“We came to move you out of basic training, dingbat.” You were rocking back and forth from toe to heel, excitement palatable. “You based all your checks and Shuri and the others gave the recommendation for a return to New York.” You were grinning from ear to ear. You and Bucky had grown close over the events with Zemo and the almost Civil War.

You were one of the few that successfully drove attention from the in-fighting to the bigger problems, also pointed out that the Accords as they were written were terrible. Your involvement led to a peaceful reconciliation and explanation instead of a practical disbandment of the Avengers, much to yours and everyone’s pleasure. You worked closely with everyone to get their opinions and strived to find solutions, one of those was a location change. You suggested a move to somewhere out of sight, fit for training and bonding. No one was against you and as such you were along for the ride to collect one of the remaining members.

“Wait, what? I can go home?” Bucky froze, mouth slightly open and eyes wide. Then slowly, like a sunrise a grin crossed his face. His eyes scrunched up and he had dimples on his cheeks. The shoulders that seemed to be weighed down by something relaxed and eased, making him seem younger.

“Yep! We are gonna help ya pack and then get you home. Well sort of. We don’t live in the city proper anymore. But I think you will like this better, anyways.” You put your hand to the side of your mouth to whisper. “It was my idea.” You winked and turned quickly on your heel. “Hurry the hell up, oldies. We got shit to do and places to be.” You trotted out of the room hollering for Shuri, even though you knew exactly where she was.

“You heard her. Let’s get a move on. She waits for no man, let alone to 100 year old super soldiers.” Steve clapped Bucky on the back. Bucky huffed and nodded. The two of them cleaned up Bucky’s small mess and then slowly made their way to his small house to pack his meager belongings. They knew you would find them eventually. You had friends in Wakanda too.

A few hours later, Bucky’s last two years of his life were packed in discreet plain cardboard boxes the fit easily into the back of the Quinjet. Bucky had already said his goodbyes and was anxiously waiting in a sit behind Steve. You were at least on the ramp, loitering in your goodbyes, you were laughing and waving as the door closed. You settled down for take off and noticed Bucky’s look.

“You do know that not having a lot of thigs isn’t a bad thing, right? That just means you weren’t meant to settle down there. The next place I hope for you is a forever place and if not, I’ll help you find it. We have all the time you need. You aren’t alone anymore.” You said. You were trying to comfort Bucky, but knew you fell short.

“I guess that is true. I was too busy learning to heal and get healthy to be worried about stuff. I can get things now. I can have stuff.” Bucky said. He grabbed your hand and squeezed.

“Yep. You get to be a person now, isn’t that great. Decisions are all around you.” You said. You squeezed his hand back. “I know I just said that but to make the move easier and a bigger surprise, I did choose some of the things for your room, which if you don’t like we can change.” You let go of Bucky’s hand before settling down in your chair.

“This is your captain speaking. We have reached cruising altitude. I would like to thank you for flying Stark Air and Have a wonderful day.” Steve said from the cockpit.

You sighed and rubbed the bridge of your nose. “Great. Thanks, Steve. I have so much shit to do. I have three godamn reports to file and a STRIKE team to brief for Fury. I’ll be in the tech room if you need me.” With that you headed off to a small room to the side, where you began briefing the team you’d mentioned and reviewing the reports you needed to file.

“Bucky, you can sit up here. I don’t bite.” Steve said. He and you had worn civilian clothes, Steve was relaxed in his seat, letting the auto pilot have control. “I hope you liked your surprise. I hope you like your surprise. She worked very hard on it. She’s sweet on you.”

“Nah. She’s sweet on everyone. I am sure I will like it. She gets me pretty well. When I first woke up here, after Shuri cleared me of triggers, she was one of the first people I met. She happened to be walking through the lab and somehow knew that I was uncomfortable with the prodding even though I didn’t know. Then in a snap, she was everywhere. Not maliciously, just comfortingly on the edge of my radar, especially at the beginning. It’s no wonder, why I love her the way I do. She means a lot to me. Right now, I am okay with it being sweetness and softness and warmth. If one day it becomes thick and heavy and hot then I am okay with that too.” Bucky said. He couldn’t look Steve in the eye, only able to focus on his fingers, rubbing his human fingers against his cybernetic ones.

“Well then. I think I am embarrassed, and I was the one who mentioned it.” Steve could feel the heat on his cheeks. He laughed softly. “I am happy for you Bucky. I really am.”

The two of them chatted for most of the ride, finally you joined in after getting your work done. All too soon though, the jet alerted everyone to the start of the descent, forcing you all to return to your seats. Upon arrival, the boxes were left to be delivered later by a shield team. You and Steve had explained the upstate compound to him while packing in Wakanda, the solution to many problems, a training ground for new Avenger candidates and such. Your trio headed straight to Bucky’s room, the anticipation making you tremble.

“This is my room, but you look more excited.” Bucky pointed out. The two of you had been walking next to each other from the hangar but every few feet somehow, you’d shifted to the right or left, orbiting each other. Steve could barely stomach the nauseating aura the two of you put off. You couldn’t stop smiling and your kept clapping every few steps laughing in excitement.

“My love language is acts of service for a reason, buckaroo. I like doing things for the resident dumbass.” You grinned, reaching for Bucky’s hand, that was already reaching for yours. Steve silently gagged from behind the two of you.

The three of you reached the room, but Steve kept going. This wasn’t something he wanted to intrude upon. He had seen and heard enough with all your questions you had for him. You and Bucky stopped in front of his door. There was a biometric scanner next to the door but also a regular lock. You pulled a single key on a goat keychain and handed it over, your fingers trembling. Bucky grabbed on, his fingers brushing yours. You didn’t let go just yet.

“Welcome home, Sargent James Buchanan Barnes.” You took a deep breath and let go of the keys.

“Thank you. I promise, there is no need to be nervous. You did this for me, out of the goodness of your heart, I will love it.” ‘I already love you.’ He thought, he swallowed the words down though. He unlocked the door, ignoring his own nerves and pushed the door open.

His room had several big windows with a window seat, overlooking the acres and acres of land. There were shelves along one wall, several filled with books already, and movies. There were several plants hanging near the window seat. The walls were a muted blue/gray color and the sheets were chocolate color with what looked like a dozen pillows. The ceiling however was covered in a projection it looked like. It was too real to be painted but too artificial to be real. It was soothing and inviting and had just the right things to make him feel welcomed into his new home.

“The ceiling is something Shuri helped with. It is a projection from tech in the top of your walls. You can change it to project and sky from anywhere. Just ask SKYNET.” Bucky looked at you in awe. You had worked so hard to make him a place to call his own. “There are some books, movies, video games. The computer and tablet and phone are loaded to go with logins and apps and payment methods, I wrote down all that in a notebook in the desk too. I have a re-education guide for pop culture there too, same one I used for Steve except yours is more cause documentaries and I know you’d enjoy it more. I stocked the kitchenette with stuff already, nothing super perishable but snack foods and such.” You were rambling to cover your nerves; you both knew it. The more you spoke the more embarrassed you got. The more you talked the more Bucky felt his whole world shift, his entire existence tightened, to you and only you.

Recovery was hard, especially had been hard on him. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be doing or where he was going. He was just floating, purposeless until you.

“Do you like it?” Bucky realized he had been staring not at the room but at you while you were talking. He could see the love and care you put into the room, not just the room but into your wordless confession.  

“Yeah, I love you.” Bucky grabbed your hand, pulling you into a tight hug.

[jinmukangwrites]

Bruised (1/?)

For @batboycentral <3

Whumptober day 10

Internal Bleeding

Ao3

Warnings: blood, nosebleeds, illness

-o-o-o-o-

The first time he noticed it, he didn't actually notice  it. Like, bruises were common in Tim's line of work. Sometimes, he'd wake up in the morning with enough purple splotches to almost look like he was trying out Cheetah cosplay.  Not  remembering where a bruise came from was just as frequent. When you went out close to every night to fight common street crime you're going to get hit very often. So often, that really, it would be impossible to remember where you've gotten every single bruise, cut, and ache. 

Tim waking up this morning to see his legs had large, dark bruises polka-dotting his pale skin was nothing out of the ordinary. 

He just looked at them, shrugged and wondered if he got that bruise sparring with Kon or if it was from stumbling on one of his lands last night while swinging roof to roof. 

Then he continued with the rest of his day, not even thinking about them. They were just bruises, what was the point of wasting brain power thinking about them? 

The second time he noticed it, he still didn't actually connect the dots. The only difference this time was that there were bruises on his arms as well. 

"That looks painful," Bart pointed out, literally and figuratively as Tim made himself breakfast that morning. He had to practically dance out of the way from having the bruise on the outside of his bicep poked. 

"It's just a bruise," Tim said, retreating from the Tower's kitchen counter with a bowl of cereal clutched in his hands. "People get them all the time."

Bart hummed and followed Tim to the table with a spark in his eyes that Tim didn't like. He'd have dodging practice early today, he guessed. 

Bart sat down next to Tim, kicking his legs under the table. "I don't get bruises like that. It's big"

"Because you're superhuman with a heightened healing factor," Tim deadpanned before stuffing his mouth full of captain crunch. 

"Oh yeah, I forget that sometimes."

“How do you just forget you have superpowers?!”

The third time he noticed it was when he actually began to wonder about it. For the past three days, he'd been  covered  in bruises. On his sides, limbs, even a persistent one on his cheek. And yes, he was used to being covered in bruises, but the bruises were starting to look strange, covered with little red dots that gave him the impression of acne hanging out right below the layers of his skin on his legs and arms. And it felt like he was getting bruised for  every  little thing. Cassie playfully punched his arm a little while earlier and he soon found himself scowling in the mirror, poking the dark stain of skin. Cassie punched hard, sure, but she knew her strength. Even when she was roughhousing, she knew how to make it so no one got hurt. 

And then, there was the fact that he woke up this time with bruises once again, but he hadn't gone out the night before. He stayed in to hack into the mainframes of various potentially corrupt companies of Jump City and their neighboring city of San Francisco that they occasionally patrol from time to time. He didn't do  anything  last night to warrant bruises. 

The third time he noticed it, he was more careful with it, because Tim  wasn't  dumb. He wasn't oblivious to his own body. His spleen was missing for crying out loud! That could change things about his health and how he pursued both his everyday life and his  night life. Common illnesses could be deadly. His body just didn't function the way it used to. 

But now, it wasn't just the bruises. It was also the new episodes of lightheadedness and weakness that he just… couldn't explain. He slept. Not a full 8 or even 7 hours of sleep every night but he still  slept  . He ate food. Good food, especially for dinner. Meats, vegetables, the whole shebang. It was impressive, actually, how well everyone at the Teen Titan's Tower ate, especially for being a bunch of, well, teenagers .

He shouldn't be that tired. Standing up shouldn't be a chore like it was beginning to become. 

And the others were noticing as well, which only served to worry Tim more about his own health. 

"Woah, you good?" Kon asked, grabbing Tim by the shoulders as he stumbled up from the couch and almost fell immediately backwards. 

Tim slapped his hands off, even though normally he always welcomed the company of Kon, but he was close to panicking. Something was wrong, and he was afraid to figure out what. "I'm fine," he replied, trying to keep a fearful snap out of his voice. Judging by the way Kon scowled, Tim wasn't to be believed. "I'm just… tired."

"Tired"?" Bart asked, zipping up from the couch and ending up right in front of Tim in the blink of an eye. Bart was scowling, looking up at Tim with narrowed eyes. "Tim Drake? Tired? I don't believe it."

"No, Tim's always tired," Cassie put in, her voice carefully level to the point Tim almost winced. "Tim admitting to being tired? Feels almost like sacrilege."

Bart nodded, like that was what he was thinking the entire time and Tim had to swallow down a deep sigh. He sniffed and stepped away from the others, folding his arms across his chest. "I think I'm just coming down with something." Oh no, Kon's frowning. Tim quickly continued, sniffing again.  Maybe. It's not a big deal. I'm just a little more tired than usual-" Tim sniffs once more as something wet begins to slide down the inside of his nostrils. Great. A runny nose? He reached the back of his hand up to his nose and wiped. "And feeling a little weak. But that's it. Just…"

All three of them were staring at him oddly now. He frowned.

"What?"

"Tim…" Cassie started, "your nose is bleeding."

"What?!"

Tim looked down at the hand he had used to wipe under his nose, and to his shock he saw a thin streak of red trailing down over his thumb joint, parallel to his pointer finger. Right next to one of his strange bruises.

He reached up to his nose, wiping once more. His eyes widened when his hand came away with more blood. He sniffed again, only this time he brought his hand back up to his nose and kept it there. "I'm gonna...  um…" 

"Go," Kon said, "we'll talk after."

Tim nodded, knowing there was no way his friends would let him off the hook now that he admitted to not feeling the greatest. He quickly rushed past them—sniffing and sorely hoping no blood would drop down onto his shirt and stain it—and eventually found himself inside one of the many bathrooms built into the Tower. Using his free hand, he grabbed a tissue and painstakingly folded it up a few times. He leaned over the sink as he finally let the hand cupping his nose fall away, and instantaneously a few drops fell into the sinks porcelain. He swiftly pressed the tissue over his nose and turned on the water to wash his now blood streaked hand. The water ran crimson to pink and back to clear. He turned off the water and carefully closed the toilet seat lid to sit down on the shaggy purple cover. He kept the napkin pressed tightly over his nose and leaned back against the wall, breathing through his mouth and fighting the dizzy feeling settling in his brain and on his chest. 

He could taste blood in his mouth. He hoped it was because the blood was dripping the wrong way down into his throat and not because of alternate reasons. He could see the dots. He didn't want to connect them. Not yet. He just had to wait for his bleeding nose to stop. Then he could start sorting out the symptoms. 

Unconsciously, he brought his free hand to his side, under his armpit and above his stomach, then ran his fingers over the scar placed there under his cotton tee-shirt. 

Please don't be related. Please oh  please don't be related. 

He exhaled, swallowing blood, and dragged his hand away to pull out his phone. He ignored the Google app and instead began to distract himself by checking the notifications on every other app he owned. Tumblr, Discord, Instagram, all of them. Every so often, he'd pull the napkin away from his nose just to immediately put it back when blood attempted to drip down. Eventually, he ran out of apps to laze through and opened his Email, however he immediately gained a headache when he saw most of them belonged to Wayne Enterprises. 

After quickly changing the napkin for a new one once his fingertips began to feel wet, he opened the Play Store and downloaded the first mindless game he could tap on. 

He was in the middle of figuring out where the sevens could go in his solitaire game when a knock on the door caught his attention. He lowered his phone and turned towards the door. "Yeah?" He yelled, his voice nasally thanks to the tissue still squeezing his nostrils shut. 

"You good?" 

Kon's voice. He sounded concerned. 

"Um, yeah?"

A beat of silence. Then a clearing of a throat. "You're still bleeding?" 

Tim almost hummed, but that would shoot gore out of his nose. So he clicked his tongue instead. "Yeah. A- a little."

More silence. "Do… do noses usually bleed this long?" 

And not for the first time does Tim regret making friends with mostly superheroes who are, in fact, super. With their indestructible skin, healing factors, and amazing feats of strength, it was sometimes hard for them to comprehend how plain old humans with no abilities acted in certain situations. What plain old humans with no abilities needed to keep physically healthy. He loved his friends, no doubt about it, but questions like  do noses bleed for this long  gets his head spinning with the realization that this was his life.

Tim tucked his phone away in his pocket. "Um, depends. Really." 

He should open the door. Talk to Kon face to face. He sounded genuinely hung up on Tim's health. Talking directly with each other should help calm Kon down at least. He put his hand on the counter next to him and used it to lift himself up. 

Once his butt left the toilet seat, he knew he had just made a mistake. The world swirled and his head suddenly began to pound. He wasn't sure if he blinked, or even blacked out, but he did know that one moment he was halfway to sitting and the next he was on the ground with his legs crumbled beneath him, blinking cobwebs from his dizzied brain as the door suddenly slammed open. 

And that was another thing about being a part of both a team and a friend group of supers. They sometimes underestimated how much a plain old human with no abilities could take. Though this time, Tim was pretty sure the worry on Connors face was for good reason. Those poor door hinges though… they’d need replacing...

There was a warm, copper tasting liquid dripping down over his lips and off his chin. During the confusion, his hand holding the napkin had ended up limp by his side, his body having forgotten to hold it over his nose while he blanked out and fell. At the back of his far away head, he knew that the amount of blood dripping from his nose, especially considering how long he's sat here with his fingers pinching it shut, was way more than what should be normal. 

It took a tremendous amount of energy to lift his eyes up to Kon, who at this point had ended up in front of Tim, kneeling with hands lifted and eyes wide. 

"Are you okay?" Kon was asking. His voice teetered the line of hysterics. 

Tim brought his hand up to his face and tried to wipe away the blood to open his mouth, but all he did was smear the liquid over his hands and face. His heart pounded as he leveled his gaze into Kon's eyes. He thought of the bruises, and rash like dots on his arms and legs. He thought of his spleen, of the lack of it. He thought about his compromised immune system. He thought about the dizzy spells. The weakness. He thought about how his nose should have stopped bleeding by now. 

"I think… I think I need a hospital.

-o-o-o-o-

End of chapter one. More will update after whumptober is finished. Please do not ask to be put on a tag list.

[deoovat]

More knuxadow headcanons please, those were great and made me smile so thank you, but more now because they deserve more spotlight. Never enough for those boys!

aww I’m so happy they made you smile! ♡ ♡ 

I agree they do deserve more spotlight. ALLOFIT But okok here’s some more >:} 

-> Knuckles is very prone to very horrific night terrors which is why he actually doesn’t sleep all too much. They abuse his shattered and blurry memories of his past and blends them with his worst fears. So tired of waking up in a panic and terrified state he taught himself how to work and fight through his fatigue so much that his body is now used to working without much rest. It’s not healthy but the energy from the Master Emerald helps keep him alert and strong. It wasn’t until he slept with Shadow, them being nestled together that Knuckles truly got a good night of sleep without his dreams turning into something violent.

-> Knuckles can go for days even weeks without a blink of rest and usually, Shadow can tell. Shadow makes it his responsibility to make sure the first thing Knuckles does when he sees him after a long period of time is sleep. 

->When Knuckles does finally sleep, it sometimes lasts for a day or two. Shadow doesn’t mind this too much. It actually makes him feel very good that Knuckles trusts him so much that he can nudge away those nightmares just by being there with him; and if he does have them, being there to talk it out with the echidna is all the more rewarding. 

-> Knuckles gets a much more normal sleeping pattern once he starts dating Shadow and it improves his moods quite a bit actually. 

-> Shadow is not one to do things based on pure curiosity alone, but being with Knuckles has changed that for him. Knuckles is someone he finds himself constantly curious about, even after they’ve settled down into their relationship for a while. It’s a curiosity that he thinks can never be rid of. 

-> Knuckles really enjoys going to the markets on the surface and taking Shadow with him if he can. Not the normal kind where there’s currency exchange. Since he doesn’t have any physical money of his own he often bargains with his own supply of bizarre fruit and vegetables that only grow on his island in exchange for things like, seeds, crazy fruit he’s never seen before, bowls and etc. His island soil is great for growing plants and food so seeing what he can bring back to plant on the island is fun for him. Shadow finds it amusing to see Knuckles bargaining with other people sometimes heatedly when the echidna thinks he’s being duped. 

-> If Shadow wants to take Knuckles on a date, all he has to do is take him to a marketplace. And if he wants to get the echidna a gift, all he has to do is go there himself.

-> Since he loves growing things Shadow gifted Knuckles with bamboo seeds once, which challenged Knuckles green thumb. It took a while for him to figure out how much attention these seeds needed to grow successfully but when he figured it out, he was ecstatic with his victory. Though... since everything on the island tends to grow at an exponential rate well... you can guess what had happened. On the bright side, due to it growing so fast and being so much of it, Knuckles was able to build a bamboo hut for himself and his boyfriend. 

-> Shadow has a little corner in there where Knuckles stacks books he picks up from his ventures to the marketplace for his boyfriend... Shadow doesn’t have the heart to tell him that 60% of them are in languages he can’t read.  

-> Knuckles hands are badly scarred from fighting with his fists all his life. He didn’t always have the gloves that he wears now. The echidna isn’t ashamed of his hands but when Shadow first saw them without the gloves, he couldn’t help but be a little nervous. Shadow, of course, has nothing but respect for the echidna and traced every scar littered across his hands, with somewhat of an impressed grin on his face. Knuckles was relieved. 

-> After getting together and dating these two actually don’t argue much if at all. Shadow has his own reserved nature to him that compliments Knuckles reserved nature just as well. They know what buttons not to push, what buttons to push, and often agree with each other on a lot of different topics. Especially Sonic. They do have silly spats every now and again, however, more of a playful argument than an actual one. 

-> When it comes to the M.E however and Knuckles' undying loyalty to it, that’s a whole different story. Those arguments are heated, with a capital H. 

-> Once coming out to their friends that they are dating Shadow is absolutely shameless. Not as in he likes embarrassing Knuckles at every chance he gets but more on the lines of, he is not secretive about his affection for the echidna like at all. Shadow has popped up in the middle or end of a battle that doesn’t concern him, numerous times without a hello, how are you, none of that. Just grab Knuckles and then Chaos Control them right out, leaving the rest of Sonic team stupefied. Knuckles finds this stupid and hilariously annoying. 

-> Knuckles now can sense when his brat of a boyfriend is coming. So now before the hedgehog even gets a word out his mouth after phasing into physicality, Knuckles will grab his arm and throw him before he can even think about it. 

-> Shadow likes Knuckles teeth. He doesn’t know how someone with a diet of vegetables and fruit has such sharp teeth but he isn’t complaining. It’s one of the reasons why he finds Knuckles grins so dangerously attractive. 

-> Knuckles will never say it out loud because he’d probably die of embarrassment, but he thinks Shadow is really fuckin handsome and it’s sometimes literally painful for Knuckles to look at him. Like seriously, why are his eyes so pretty. The fuck- 

-> Knuckles loves the rainy seasons while Shadow prefers the hotter seasons. For... reasons. Totally not to gawk at his boyfriend underneath the hot sun.

-> Knuckles can handcraft weapons and instruments out of wood and clay and has crafted his own Drone Flute that he sometimes plays for the animals on his island or when his mind is too erratic to focus on meditation. Never for anyone else though... until Shadow came along. Shadow finds himself the most allured and taken aback by his boyfriend when he’s in these states of rest and stillness. The sound of the instrument along with his boyfriends' strangely calm presence in these moments can lull even him to a state of restfulness. 

-> Their favorite activity to do together, besides sparring, is swimming and mountain climbing. Knuckles knows his island from front to back but it doesn’t take away the fun of ‘getting lost’ in it every now and again. Getting to do these things off the island though, makes Knuckles even more thrilled. 

-> Knuckles can read ancient languages including his own along with Babloynian but he struggles reading the modern alphabet. While he has no problem speaking it, reading and writing is a whole different ball game. However, he is a fast learner and can recognize the words of things if they’re ones he’s seen before or has been explained to him. He hides these facts however because he doesn’t want to be dismissed as stupid. Shadow however catches on. He never tells Knuckles though. He feels it should be something the echidna tells him on his own terms. So instead, Shadow chooses just to be helpful in his own way. Reading things aloud when it’s handed to Knuckles and disguising it as him being nosy. Or having a food stall owner list off the Vegetarian options aloud instead of having Knuckles try to read it.  

ok it’s getting too long, I had to scroll more than twice to read it all, so WEGON STOP HERE (۶* ‘ꆚ’)۶”

[mydrug-is-dragonage]

Veda Adaar, After the Exalted Council

The first few weeks, Thom had hardly left my side, bringing me meals, preparing my baths, redressing my bandages. He moved slowly, sure of each action, careful to read my reactions. We often sat in silence. Spring rain falling, washing Skyhold clean, he and I made our way down the steps, back to his old barn. The horses still around, Master Dennet returned to his wife and daughter, now grown. Thom helped me up the stairs, we laid on hay and listened to the sound of rain on the roof. We didn’t have words. I reached over and put a hand on his.

“Veda,” he started. I shook my head. “Not yet?”

“No,” I said, “what do we even start with?”

“It’s only been two weeks. Every wound is still fresh.” A small exhaled laugh escaped me. “I didn’t mean just physically.” I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. My eyes welled and tears began to fall down my face. “You have survived a hundred things meant to kill you. You will survive this too.” I moved towards him, he put his arm around me and I nestled into his chest.

“Imagine if they saw the mighty inquisitor now,” I laughed. I snorted away the dripping from my tears. “They’d be so pleased to see how far I’d fallen.”

He shushed me. “Anyone who sees you and doesn’t have their heart broken for you is no one worth knowing. You and the Inquisition have more than proved your worth.”

“Oh yeah, me, the great one-armed mage-warrior who can barely carry a staff in battle and the Inquisition, four agents and their maimed leader.”

“You’re hurt. You’re hurting. You aren’t lesser just because you’ve lost a hand.” I sighed, blinked my eyes. “You were able to forgive me for crimes I didn’t even commit against you, but  you can’t forgive yourself for things that happened to you.” I started to open my mouth. “No, Veda. Sit in the grief. Don’t wallow like a pig in shit. Sit in it. Feel the pain. There will be life after this, just as there was life before.” He put his arm back out, and I turned towards him and cried in his chest.

We didn’t discuss when he’d leave. I knew he’d get going again, inevitable continuance of life. The day he packed his things to go, I leaned against the wall in the barn, arms crossed. My fingers rubbed the bandages, perhaps the last ones he’d prepare for me. “Do you know where you’re going first?” I asked.

“Cullen’s invited me down to his home for the Templars. Going to see what good I can do there.”

“You could do good, here,” I said.

“I could,” he said, he stopped packing and looked towards the wall, then to me, “but I think you need some time.”

“Time?”

“You have to learn how to be Veda, again.”

I snorted, “I’ve been Veda this whole time.”

“No, you haven’t been Veda since Haven. I remember her, the girl you were. Barely 18, green, flirting with me while I helped the recruits fight bandits. You were so sure of yourself, the way children always are.”

“I didn’t flirt,” I said, “and I wasn’t a child. I’d been in different companies on and off for three years at that point.”

“You were experienced, but you were a child. You still are, in some ways, Veda. You were meant to be the Inquisitor, but you shouldn’t have had to be.”

“It wasn’t all bad,” I said. “I made some wonderful friendships. I became a household name. I became so much.”

“And you never got to figure out who you were. You had some time, those few years, you and Bull fighting demons and settling petty disputes. You started to get a feel for who you were. I remember the first time I came back, me, you, Cassandra. Divine Victoria returning for a visit. Bull pouring drinks, Varric dealing a hand for Wicked Grace, Sera drunk and happy hanging on Dagna. I saw you being yourself for a moment. No longer the Inquisitor or the mercenary or a child. Just being Veda, a young woman surrounded by her friends. The teenager you should have been all those years ago. But something always called you away, the mask returned. You give Orlesians a run for their money.”

The sound of Bull’s name caused me to swallow. Skyhold felt emptier. The masses had left, but they weren’t what made our home hollow. I reached up, felt the groove in my horn. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know I shouldn’t have mentioned him.” His voice was sharper, his body stiffened.

“You don’t have to be angry for me.”

“I do, until you’re ready to be angry.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be angry,” I said. “I want to be, some times. I want to scream and curse his name. I want him to suffer. Sometimes I start to pray that he doesn’t return to the Maker’s side.”

“But you never do.” “But I never do.”

“One day you will,” he said. “It won’t have made your love any less real. It won’t have made what you had any less important. But one day you’ll finally be angry. Then, some time after that, the anger, too, will pass.”

“You sound so certain.”

“I have practice mourning.” I walked up to him. He turned towards me and we embraced.

“Thank you, Thom.”

“Always a pleasure, my lady Inquisitor.”

Skyhold felt emptier then. The few of us who remained settled into routines. Lace and I in the war room, Dagna fiddling with her contraptions. Visitors stopped by, Skyhold remained a pilgrimage of sorts. Lace learned how to read me, when I could greet people, when I needed to be left alone. Lace, the kind woman, had become my greatest ally. We sat comfortably in silence. She was one of the few people unafraid to still make me laugh. She told me stories of growing up near Redcliffe, the way winters made spring worth the wait.

Six weeks had gone by. The world had resumed, Thom had been gone for a fortnight. I found it harder to go up and down the many stairs of Skyhold. When sitting in Dorian’s nook, I found myself exhausted, inclined to sleep instead of read. At first, I cursed my arm. Being functionally decommissioned had rendered me lazy. But it’d only been six weeks, it hadn’t been long enough for me to lose years of strength overnight. Lace woke me up early, and we went for a walk along the battlements. The sun began to rise over the mountain tops. “I’m still not used to how beautiful it is here,” she said.

I smiled and looked down at her, “I hope I never get used to it.”

“Do you think we’ll move on, eventually?”

“I think Skyhold will be ours. A headquarters, I guess.”

“Good,” she said, “I’ve really settled into Divine Victoria’s quarters.” We laughed, and the nausea came upon me. I tried to compose myself, hoping it’d pass, but I felt the churning rising from my stomach and I ran to the edge. When I finished being sick, Lace turned to me. “You okay, V? Is it something you ate?”

I wiped my mouth and put a hand out for her waterskin. “I don’t think so. I’ve felt so awful the last couple weeks. Exhausted, now this.” I rinsed my mouth, then drank from the bag.

Lace pursed her lips and looked towards the sky. “What?” I asked.

“Well, V, Veda, Inquisitor.”

“Lace, what?”

“Have you considered,” she started.

“Considered what?” I asked, the curtness of my voice surprising me.

“You may, in fact, be with child?”

“What? No, that couldn’t be,” I said, shaking the thought from my mind.

“You’re tired, you’re sick. Unless the birds are especially lively you have had sex.”

“Not since,” I started and let myself trail off. “Lace, a healer. Discreet. Someone Leliana would trust.”

“Understood.”

It was a long week. The nausea came and went, my breasts began to swell. I closed my eyes to it. When Lace and I attempted to spar, the easiest maneuvers left me tired. I sat in the grand hall, near the fireplace. People came and went, carrying food or supplies, maps or documents. Lace approached me. “The healer is here, V.”

“Let’s go to my room. More privacy,” I said. She nodded.

In my bedroom, I lay on the bed. Lace sat towards my feet. The healer looked up at me and smiled. “I’m going to touch your stomach, is that alright?” I nodded and she ran her hands along my belly.

The time passed slowly, I felt myself breathless and she moved her hands, the magic permeating my body. She moved her fingers precisely, lingering in certain spots. After a few moments, she pulled her hands away and stepped back. “Congratulations,” she said.

I swallowed. “Congratulations?”

“You’re expecting. The baby feels healthy.” She smiled. I looked towards Lace, my eyes wet. I felt my lip quiver.

“Let’s give the Inquisitor a moment. Can you wait downstairs?”

“Of course,” she said. She gave me a soft bow and walked down the stairs. I waited to hear the first door close, then the second.

I sat up, my right arm holding up my body. I pulled my legs into myself and put my head on my knees. “V,” Lace said.

“That bastard.”

“Huh?”

“That bastard!” I screamed. I stood up and paced around. I crossed my arms. “How could he do this? What was he thinking?”

“V…”

“No, Lace. No. We were together for three years and we never had any sort of incident. We were together for three years. We had sex for three years, Lace. We had sex all the fucking time and not once did we have a problem. Not even a scare. Not even once was I afraid I’d get pregnant, afraid I’d carry his child. Not once was it even a concern,” I yelled.

“V…”

“Lace,” I turned towards her. I put my arms by my side, the muscles in my neck tensing.

“It could have been an accident. Everyone slips up,” she said.

“Not. Bull. Not even once,” I yelled again. I started pacing again, then I walked to the balcony. I saw the sky, the birds flying about, the arm had begun to warm, but kept the crispness of the mountains. I looked over the edge and screamed.

“Veda, we have guests,” she said.

“Well, Lace, you better go keep them distracted then.” She took her cue and left the room. I walked over to my bed, the stack of colorful pillows I’d slept on for years. I grabbed one and started ripping at the seams. Its age betrayed it, it tore apart like it barely existed all. I walked to my wardrobe, my robes and armor and the occasional gown. I started pulling everything out, tossing it about, and then pulled the wardrobe over with it. I continued, breaking apart my desk, knocking it over. I kept going, until I cried and hit the window with my fist.

The shattered glass woke me up from the destructive trance. The sounds of cracks and bursting, the shards of light littering the floor. I looked at my hand, full of glass and bleeding. I sat on the floor and cried. Too young for this, too old for this, too alone for this, surrounded by too many people for this. With the sound of the shattering, Lace ran back in. “Oh sweet Maker, V. What are you doing?”

I looked up at her, crying, “I don’t know!” She leaned over me, embracing me.

After a moment, she looked down at me, “I’m going to get the healer, and maybe some water. Gonna need to get all that glass out. A broom too.” I sat on the floor, surrounded by colored glass. The breeze blew in the window, tickling the hair on my neck.

The healer walked in and put a hand on her chest. She walked over to me and extended a hand. “Let’s get you up,” she said. She walked towards me and put her arm around my right forearm. I used her as a balance and found my way to my feet. She used her sleeve to dust off my backside, clearing the debris off me. I sat on the sofa, one of only a few things not overturned in my room.

Lace brought a bowl of water and the healer unpacked her supplies. She took her time, moving each piece of glass out of my hand. She used water to cleanse it, a poultice to soothe it, spiritual allies to heal it properly. As she wrapped my hand in a bandage, she kept her gaze down. “I’m sorry,” she said.

I kept my eyes out the window, staring at the peaks just out of reach. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“No, I do,” she said. “I knew about you and your lover. Your partnership has reached fame of its own. I presumed, due to his passing, this would be a welcome surprise. I hadn’t considered the grief you may be enduring.”

“His passing,” I said, my tone even and calm.

“Yes, his unfortunate loss is known amongst some circles.”

I formed a weak smile. “No one has ever said, ‘he passed,” before. Everyone always refers to it as the betrayal.”

“That doesn’t change its roots. It’s loss, regardless,” she said. She tied the bandage to secure it, and placed her hands on her lap. “It’s still early. I’d say seven or eight weeks, if forced to put a number on it.”

“Seven or eight weeks?” I asked, the words cracking as they left my thoat.

“Yes, my lady. You’ve still got some time to go before the little one arrives. I’d be happy to assist, as necessary, although I’m admittedly not well-versed in Qunari gestation. Do they,” she started, but stopped herself.

“Do they what?”

“Um… well…”

From near the window, Lace perked her head up. “She wants to know if they come out with horns.” For the first time in weeks, I laughed. I let out a laugh deep from my belly. Lace joins me, and before we know it the healer and us are all bent over with such casual glee. My hand drifted to my belly, and my eyes watered again. This time, I swallowed and looked at Lace. With those piercing green eyes I could hear her saying You’re going to be okay.

[denerims-archive]

otp tag

Tagged by @solasan​ and @mcousland​ + definitely someone else who knows the activity page is garbage.

Tagging: whoever wants to! i’m kinda late with this and i think everyone’s been tagged but if you haven’t do this and say i tagged you!

DISAGREEMENTS.

who is more likely to raise their voice?

Naomi. I can’t see Nate ever raising his voice at her out of anger. Maybe out of worry but never anger.

who threatens to leave but never actually does?

Naomi. Better to leave than get left.

who actually keeps their word and leaves?

God, neither of them. I can see maybe Naomi telling Nate she needs to go drive around and cool down but none of them would just outright leave. Naomi might be stubborn about her feelings but she knows that Nate is someone important to her.

who trashes the house?

During an argument? Yikes neither of them. Especially Nate. He’s very conscious of how he positions himself in an argument cause he’s So Big and a vampire compared to Naomi who is very short and human. Day to day? Naomi lmao. She just leaves a trail of mess in the morning.

do either of them get physical?

God no! Naomi has to convince him to spar with her and that usually ends with Nate catching her in his arms and kissing her until she’s out of breath from laughing and has to tap out.

how often do they argue/disagree?

Not often early on but the more feelings get involved the more they have disagreements with things like how much Naomi puts herself in danger. Naomi also pushes Nate away a little out of fear when they start getting so close. Whenever Nate mentions Rebecca/tries to mend their relationship whatever his intentions it always results in a fight and a silent treatment from Naomi. Nate also gets super pissed when she doesn’t tell him things which is a hard habit to break for her.

who is the first to apologize?

Naomi usually. She’s the one who usually gets the angriest/has the most vitriol when she’s angry so once she cools down she feels absolutely awful. Apologizing with Nate is always so easy with him too and he apologizes in return and is so soft in discussing the issue after everything has simmered down. 

SEX.

who is on top? who is on bottom?

Uh...Nate is usually the more dominant person but obviously very gentle and servicing in it. He’s the person who gently directs Naomi, slows her down, makes her enjoy it which is So Much. That’s when they have time of course. When Naomi wants a quickie she’s normally the one in charge but that’s pretty rare because Nate can’t seem to grasp the quickie concept. Naomi really likes to be on top and Nate really likes to watch her ride him soooooooo...

any kinks?

Dirty talk!! Specifically Nate! His is...A+. Nothing degrading because he’d never do that for Naomi even if she wanted and honestly I don’t think it’s very healthy for Naomi to get into that since she has History with some of those words and indulging in them would be not good for her. But Nate loves sweet nothings, praising her, asking her if she likes what he’s doing/likes doing what she’s doing/etc. Naomi has also unlocked Nate’s kink of his hands being tied during sex either to each other or to the bed frame. They also really love uhhh when Nate comes inside her and all of the dirty talk that comes with that. Naomi likes to be spanked occasionally - never choked or hit beyond that - and Nate’s not really into it but he indulges her because he loves her. Nipple play, lingerie, blindfolds, etc. UH Nate is a major tease so denial/teasing too which Naomi is happy to return.

who has the strangest desires?

Naomi probably lmao! She’s more kinky than Nate is.

who’s dominant in bed?

Nate normally but they switch it up sometimes. 

is head ever in the equation?

Absolutely! Nate is the best at oral in UB and I said what I said. Naomi also really enjoys it because Nate is so loud and moany when she does it. Also he holds her hair back which is sweet.

if so, who is better at performing it?

I gotta give it to Nate.

ever had sex in public?

Nooooo. Most “public” is fooling around in various Warehouse rooms. They’ve definitely had sex like...in a private area where Nate’s pulled her but nah.

who moans the most?

Natey! Naomi takes a bit of work to get going but when she does she’s very enthusiastic but on average it’s Nate.

who leaves the most marks?

Naomi would be if they didn’t heal in like minutes which makes her very sad. Nate only leaves marks on her thighs.

who is the more experienced of the two?

I’m not sure about Nate’s entire experience but Naomi’s got a lot of experience so it’s most likely going to be her.

do they ‘fuck’ or ‘make love’?

MAKE LOVE BABY! But it’s not slow and tender all the time, they’re super passionate and needy when they smash so it’s just up in the air. But the two of them always come from a place of love when having sex sniff. Esp Nate. Naomi sometimes is like I need to not think for a bit/destress.

how long do they usually last?

I feel like Nate’s got some Stamina! Naomi’s usually the one that has to tap out but they can go pretty long like 45min? Obviously on and off not just...straight penetration the whole time.

rough or soft?

Soft! Like I said, they’re very passionate and needy and very desperate to be close to each other but they never really get rough. The roughest I can see them getting is Nate getting a bit enthusiastic esp after being apart or not getting time alone for awhile and going pretty hard? But nothing rough beyond that.

is protection used?

Yes. Naomi’s on the pill but she forgets sometimes...more than she should it just kinda slips her mind. They use condoms but not enough and honestly with Naomi begging him to come inside her every other day it’s a wonder they haven’t had an accident.

does it ever get boring?

Nah! I don’t think so. Maybe it becomes a bit quicker and more routine - they know what gets each other off - when they get married and become parents and get busy but they mix it up once in awhile when they can!

where is the strangest place they’d have sex?

Back of Naomi’s car (they’re eventually successful) and the Warehouse library I guess?

FAMILY.

do they plan on having children / do they have children?

Yes absolutely! Naomi thought it wasn’t ever really in the cards for her but she met Nate and was like Oh I’m GOING to have his babies. Nate has always really wanted kids and he can’t imagine having them with anyone but Naomi anymore.

if so, how many children do they want/have?

They have four! Alice is the first and the two of them are so incredibly excited. Holden is born about three years after Alice - the two of them kind of wanted to settle into parenting before they added another kid to the pile lmao. Their third - Watson - is a surprise! A pleasant surprise but a surprise nonetheless. Naomi’s pregnant with him about a year after Holden is born and then two years after Holden their little baby Josephine is born!

AFFECTION.

who likes to cuddle?

Naomi!! She loves to cuddle him all the time especially when they’re reading/she’s doing work on her laptop/etc. She’s so comfortable and relaxed when they cuddle it’s very sweet. She feels super safe with him.

who gets naughty in the most inappropriate of places?

NATE. He’s the worst and so smooth about it and just looks at Naomi’s exasperation with the warmest, sweetest smile of bemusement. 

who struggles to keep their hands to themself?

Nate! Not just in naughty~ terms but just in general he’s so touchy. It takes a bit for Naomi to get used to it but she really loves it because she’s so starved for it. It just makes her AHEM blush when it’s in front of other people which she hates! (the blushing pls Nate give her another kiss in front of everyone)

how long can they cuddle until one becomes uncomfortable?

God, forever. As long as Naomi can play on her phone/read a book and Nate can read too. They loooove cuddling it’s disgusting. Sometimes they gotta shift though if Nate’s arm goes asleep or smth.

what is their favourite non-sexual activity?

Reading together! Cooking together! Nate loves binge-watching shows with Naomi because he gets so invested and he loves Naomi’s shows she introduces him too. They binge a ton of shows for date nights. They also love to go on walks together and possibly even some hikes. 

where is their favourite place to cuddle?

Bed! Or anywhere really in Naomi’s place. They’re alone and they can just be themselves and are all safe and warm. Nate and Naomi really love having a place of their own esp Naomi.

SLEEPING.

who snores?

Nate softly snores sometimes! 

if both do, who snores the loudest?

Naomi probably only snores when she’s drunk and it’s LOUD.

do they share a bed or sleep separately?

They eventually share a bed (BED SHARING WHEN). Naomi is an insomniac but she sleeps really well with Nate. They help soothe away each other’s nightmares and hold each other. 

if they sleep together, do they cozy up together or lay far apart?

Cozy together at first but as their relationship progresses they lay what’s comfortable to them but the thing is they always have to be touching even a little bit. They’ll lay back to back and Nate will have his hand behind him on her hip or smth like that. 

what do they wear to bed?

Well, we know Nate loves some silky matching pajamas!! (Naomi loves them too) Naomi typically sleeps in sleep shorts and a t-shirt or just a t-shirt and underwear. Naomi won’t sleep in Nate’s t-shirt but she’ll grab them if she’s getting up to go start tea in the morning.

are either of them insomniacs?

Naomi is! She used to take pills for it back when she was first getting over her mental health issues but she stopped taking them because she didn’t like the way they made her feel. Nate just doesn’t sleep as much as normal humans do.

can sleeping pills be found by the bedside?

I’m not sure if Naomi would ever go back on them tbh. 

do they wrap their limbs around each other or just lay side by side?

Nate wants to hold Naomi ALL the time so he’s like a little octopus. She gets in bed and he’s pulling her close. Like I said, later they lay side by side in a way that’s comfy for each other but they always have to be touching. Sometimes, one of them will wake up and reach out just to make sure the other’s still there. 

who wakes up with bed hair?

NATEY! It’s very cute and Naomi idly smooths it over, runs her fingers through it and then messes it up again when they’re waking up and still in bed. One time, Rebecca came to drop something off for Naomi early one morning and Nate came out with bed hair in his pajamas from her bedroom since he didn’t know she was there and that was the most awkward experience of Naomi’s life.

who wakes up first?

Naomi during the weekdays/days she has to work and Nate on the days neither of them have to work! Whoever’s up puts the kettle on and gets the mail/newspaper, waters the plants, etc.

who prepares breakfast in bed for the other?

Nate!! It’s his Thing and he definitely did it the first time they slept together. Naomi teased him about it but kissed him and told him that she loved it and it was very sweet of him. She’s never had someone make her breakfast in bed before so Nate tries to do it as often as he can.

what is their favourite sleeping position?

Nate on his back with Naomi curled into his side is their default! Spooning is also a thing and they flip-flop who spoons who. Sometimes they shift during the night and it changes. When Naomi cuts her hair in Book 3 it makes it 10x easier since Nate isn’t choking on her hair lmao.

do they set an alarm each night?

Yep! Naomi sets one on her phone. Naomi pats him and tells him to turn it off sometimes and honestly that makes sure she gets up because Nate spends like ten minutes trying to turn the alarm off. 

who has nightmares?

Both. Naomi’s are more often but Nate’s are more intense and really bad on the rare occasion they happen.

can a television be found in their bedroom?

Nope. I think for Nate that would be a hard no. Naomi reads when she goes to bed instead of watching TV because it helps her fall asleep so I can’t see her really wanting one either.

who has ridiculous dreams?

Nate seems like he’d have weird dreams and loves telling them to Naomi over breakfast. I feel like they love jokingly analyzing each other’s dreams too even if they don’t actually believe in that stuff. Naomi looks up those dream meaning sites on her phone and very seriously tells Nate is prognosis is not good.

who sprawls out and takes up most of the bed?

Nate. Even not sprawled out he takes up so much of their bed dgdskjgg. Luckily, Naomi’s pretty compact so it doesn’t affect her much. His legs will tangle up with hers though while he sleeps or he splays them out.

who makes the bed?

Nate! Naomi just lets him do it because she’s learned whenever she protests him doing stuff for her he insists he loves her and just wants to make things easier on her. Naomi rolls her eyes, Nate gives her a kiss and continues doing what he’s doing. It’s just best not to argue.

what time is bed time?

They get into bed EARLY if they can cause they’re Old People (™), Naomi usually doesn’t fall asleep for hours and sits there reading/working on her laptop/etc. Nate will usually fall asleep first and Naomi follows after at around 11/12.

any routines/rituals before bed?

I guess reading together before bed counts? Nate always kisses Naomi’s forehead or cheek before he goes to bed and tells her he loves her. It’s to the point where smth happens where Nate doesn’t get to kiss her before bed and Naomi’s like….:( wait smth’s not right.

who’s the grumpiest when they wake up?

NAOMI. Nate is a sunshiney morning person and she loves him but that’s the one time she wants to strangle him.

WORK.

who is the busiest?

It depends what’s going on! So much of their work depends on other factors that are out of their control but Naomi is busy most of the time. Nate has more free time than she does and that’s why he likes to help out around her apartment/their house more to carry his share of the load!

who rakes in the highest income?

I assume...Nate might make more since Naomi is new to the Agency?

are any of them unemployed?

Nope!

who takes the most sick days?

Sick days? Water those? Naomi is such a workaholic she’s that dickhead who comes into work sick and gets everyone else sick. Nate has to force her to stay in bed when she’s sick and has even called the station to let them know she’s not coming in (Douglas can hear Naomi telling him to give her the phone in the background before he hands up dlkgjsdkg)

what are their jobs?

Naomi is an Agency Liason and Detective. Nate is an Agent of the Agency!

who sucks up to their boss?

Naomi has 0 patience for sucking up anymore. She used to when she was younger but she’s disillusioned with the Captain and Adam and her don’t get along/disagree on a lot of stuff. She really needs to respect you for her to suck up to you.

who is more likely to turn up late to work?

Neither of them really? Maybe Naomi is slightly more likely to. Naomi loves to try and get Nate to stay in bed just a little bit longer and sometimes those efforts lead to  the two of them forgetting they actually have jobs to go to.

who stresses the most?

Both! They both hide it really well too but they’ve both caught onto the signs of them being stressed. Naomi starts smoking a lot and Nate can smell it on her. Nate is a bit more reserved than he normally is and has little tics that Naomi catches on.

do they enjoy or despise their careers/occupations?

Naomi likes it because it challenges her but I don’t think she likes a lot of the bureaucracy and paperwork of either being a detective or agent. She also likes the idea of following in her father’s footsteps and that’s why she joined the force. She originally was going to be a social worker but kinda went the easier path after her bad years. It made her feel connected to her father which she really needed. I think Nate really likes his job! Naomi’s distrust of the Agency might cause a little friction. 

are they financially stable?

Naomi isn’t at first just because she’s denied her mother’s financial help for a long time but they eventually are very financially stable together. They’re both good at planning and money...besides Nate’s expensive tastes.

HOME.

who does the washing?

Naomi! She usually just throws a load in when she’s done with a shower or heading to work. Nate folds and puts them away though!

who takes out the trash?

Naomi! She usually takes it on her way out. 

who does the ironing?

Nate! He’s very good at it and can do some mean pleats. Naomi hates ironing things so he’s happy to do it.

who does the cooking?

Nate! Like I said he’s a great cook and loves to cook for Naomi. It’s mostly him but they love to cook together. Naomi will occasionally try and make dinner for the two of them but rarely.

who is more likely to burn the house down just trying?

Naomi! She’d forget about it or smth. 

who is messier?

Naomi! She leaves shit everywhere and never has time/patience/motivation to clean up. It admittedly drives Nate a little nuts.

who leaves the toilet roll empty?

Neither. 

who leaves their dirty clothes on the floor?

Naomi! Specifically in the bathroom because she comes home and just wants to shower some days especially being out on patrol with Bravo. Just shucks off her clothes and goes. They both pick them up when they have a second or remember.

who forgets to flush the toilet?

Uh…..neither lmao. 

who loses the car keys when it comes time to go somewhere?

NAOMI. She gets very pissy too and it’s usually somewhere that’s obvious and Nate’s like “...honey?”. 

who answers the telephone?

Naomi! She doesn’t have a landline and Nate can’t use his cellphone so she even answers his phone for him. 

who mows the lawn?

Nate! He loves doing like...Stereotypical Husband/Dad stuff. (Note: he is very bad at repairing things, that’s Naomi’s job)

who does the vacuuming?

It depends on who has time! Usually Nate.

who does the groceries?

Naomi! They like doing it together though especially when they have a special recipe they’re cooking up that night. 

who takes the longest to shower?

Nate. Naomi takes pretty quick showers. Naomi tends to sneak into his showers and makes him take a loooot longer.

who spends the most time in the bathroom?

Both of them take a long time tbh. About the same time normally. Naomi maybe takes a little longer if she’s putting special effort into her hair/makeup for the day.

MISCELLANEOUS.

is money a problem?

Early on for Naomi maybe a little (not terribly so) but later on when they’re together no their combined salaries make them pretty stable.

how many cars do they own?

Just one originally - Naomi’s shitty little baby car. They trade it in eventually for just a regular nice car and when Naomi gets pregnant they buy a second car that’s a Suburban to cram all their kids in.

what’s their song?

Tiny Dancer by Elton John (don’t ask I hear it and I think of them), Beautiful by Bazzi, Love You Like That by Dagny, Without Fear by Dermot Kennedy

do they live in the city or in the country?

Small town, I guess!

do they own their home or do they rent?

Naomi rents an apartment and I think the Agency owns the Warehouse? When the two of them get married, Nate buys a house in Wayhaven for them to fix up! It’s very cute and has a big yard.

do they enjoy their surroundings?

Naomi....hates Wayhaven to say the least. Gossip hound neighbors, uncooperative mayor, bad memories, her stupid ex...she just wants to move anywhere but she’s so attached to this town. Nate really loves Wayhaven and weirdly helps Naomi see the beauty in her town again? 

what do they do when they’re away from each other?

God, miss each other so much. Naomi less so, she’s used to being pretty independent but ofc she still misses him. She can at least get shit done. Nate is the worst because he’s mooning over her on a mission and the rest of UB complains about it. Makes one of the others call Naomi on his cell every night so they can Facetime. Naomi flashes him her tits. Nate is okay with this one piece of technology. Though one time Naomi does try to get freaky and Nate very loudly goes “HEY ADAM’S HERE! SAY HI TO ADAM!” Adam: :| 

where did they first meet?

Abandoned warehouse in Book 1, babey! She shoots her future husband’s best friend in the shoulder. It takes awhile for those two to like each other obviously.

who spends the most money when out shopping?

NATE. Bougie king. Naomi teases him about it too but she also gets the benefit of his obnoxious thread count sheets, giant bath and him smelling faintly of expensive cologne and body wash all the time. So, Naomi quit complaining.

who’s more likely to flash their assets?

Dkgjsg Naomi does this all the time because it’s too entertaining not to. If it’s when other people are around she’s sending him Signals or doing stuff like that Nate gets all flustered and leans his chin on his hand and tries to cover up the little smirk he has. Raises his eyebrows at her and gets That Look.

any mental issues?

Well, Nate clearly has some kind of PTSD due to his fear of storms/other very obvious factors. Naomi has pretty severe depression and honestly probably a little touch of BPD. She also has some anxiety (not as bad as the depression) but enough that she bites her nails down and has to paint them/get fake ones so she doesn’t ruin her teeth.

who finds it amusing when the other trips over?

Nate usually just catches Naomi and has a little smile that she jokingly glares at him for. Naomi tries...so hard not to laugh but Nate is...so not graceful some times. Like a baby giraffe. He legs too long for he gotdam bodee.

who’s terrified of bugs?

Naomi! DISGOSTHANG.

who kills the spiders around the house?

Nate! But he usually gets a cup and a piece of paper and takes it outside. Naomi usually loves that he’s gentle but also will die if he comes close with that thing. He’s always like, “See, it just wants to go back outside.” And Naomi’s got the most unamused face while she’s standing on the couch sdgsjkg.

do they have any fears for their future?

Uh...yeah definitely. Besides the normal ya know, being kidnapped/murdered for her blood, Naomi is...terrified that Nate will come to his senses and leave her. She has horrible fears of abandonment and not being worthy. She’s just...always waiting for the shoe to drop. Nate is also terrified for her safety but also worried a lot for her mental state the more he learns about her past. He loves her and supports her and wants to stay with her for...eternity if she lets that happen. Of course, that’s also a fear that Naomi might not want to live forever and see all her family and friends die. That it might exacerbate her already lonely, heartbroken, abandoned nature. That he’ll doom her to a life she doesn’t want just because she loves him. Ha ha...anyways.

their favourite place?

They of course both love the Warehouse but they love Naomi’s apartment because it’s just them and they get some privacy. Just a detective and her vampire...playin house.

who’s more likely to surprise the other with a fancy dinner?

Nate! He cooks for Naomi so much! She offhandedly told him once that she doesn’t usually have time to cook with how busy she is (also...the Depression) so he’s always surprising her when she comes home. It’s very special when he buys all the ingredients and they cook together because Naomi likes to cook it’s just such an effort! Good date nights for them is cooking a new recipe tbh.

who pays the bills?

Nate tries to pay them all but Naomi splits them.

who’s the tallest?

Natey! He teases Naomi about it sometimes. They’ve got a foot height difference.

who’s more likely to just randomly hop into the shower with the other?

Naomi! She loves sneaking into the shower with Nate not even just for some naughty times but she loves bathing with Nate. He’ll wash her hair for her and she’ll do the same for him. It’s about….the caregiving.

who wanders around in their underwear?

Naomi! But I’m fixated on Nate getting comfortable at her place enough to wander around in his boxers. 

who sings the loudest when singing along to the radio?

Naomi!!!!! Nate just sits there and stares at her and lets her sing to him because he’s a big puppy who’s in love.

what do they tease each other about?

Nate’s teasing is so gentle and has no real weight to it. Like teasing Naomi about being such a workaholic and trying to get her to bed. Naomi calls Nate really goofy as hell pet names that are purposefully cringey but shh Nate secretly likes any pet name Naomi calls him. They typically are just pretty flirty teasing esp poking each other when they’re trying to focus on smth or they’ll be reading in the library and Naomi will catch his eyes and wiggle her eyebrows. Nate’ll counter back with something like “You know I can’t concentrate with you looking at me like that.” Naomi also gets a little flirty and competitive when it comes to games or any kind of challenge which makes Nate SWEAT.

who is more likely to cringe at the other’s fashion sense at times?

Well, we all know Nate is the best dressed member of Bravo and Naomi is usually pretty well-dressed if somewhat minimalistic and plain. I don’t think either of them really would unless Naomi was in a slump and clearly like...not practicing self care and Nate noticed. Nate just doesn’t seem like a Judgy person unless it’s a symptom of smth else.

who crushed first?

Natey! Naomi was close behind though it didn’t really hit her for a while.

any alcohol or substance related problems?

Naomi used to rely a lot on alcohol in her teenage years/college days so she’s pretty aware of that dependence and doesn’t really get drunk very much. She also smokes - though she tries to hide it like she’s a teenager still living in her mother’s house lmao. I can’t see Nate having any kind of those problems esp with vampire metabolism.

who is more likely to stumble home, drunk, at 3am?

Naomi! When she does drink it’s usually a night out with Tina and Nate is very sweet about. Makes her drink a glass of water and take an aspirin (much to her displeasure) before getting her in bed.

who swears the most?

Naomi, obviously lmao. Usually when she’s exasperated. It’s normally when she’s Tired of Shit and not an angry thing really? I don’t see her cursing when she fights with someone either.

[zovioliswritings]

"Hopeless, worthless, and useless...." Leo x fem reader

(HI! so this is my first fan fiction in like...years lmao. So let me know what you guys think! Also, in this Y/N has an extreme fear of confrontation due to family history, having gone behind Leo's back to train with Splinter. What will happen when she is forced to do the one thing she fears the most?)

Y/N panted heavily, hunched over with her hands on her knees. Trying to catch her breath as Master Splinter watched with a small smile.

"You are doing much better my child." He relaxed from his fighting stance and made his way over to the young woman. Resting a gentle paw on her shoulder. "Though you need to learn not to waste so much of your energy so quickly."

She let out a small groan as she straightened her posture. "How am I supposed to do that? You're so much faster than me. I have to act quickly."

This earned a small chuckle from him, letting his paw fall back to his side. "That may be true, but you could benefit from being more defensive. Something you and Raphael have in common. You should train with him, you two could help benefit one another."

With a shake of her head, she let out a defeated sigh. "As much as I'd love to do that, I can't. That would just raise the chances of Leo finding out. You know he doesn't want me to fight, Sensei."

The rat sighed, shaking his head. Knowing exactly how his eldest son would react if he found Y/N sparring with his red clad brother. "Then maybe it is time we have a talk with Leonardo. This over-protectiveness of his has become overbearing."

Y/N shook her head frantically, her heart dropping as anxiety instantly filled her soul. "N-no Sensei, you promised me you wouldn't say anything. I-its fine, I know Leo means well. He just doesn't want me to be hurt."

"This goes beyond just you getting hurt Y/N, he refuses for you to learn how to properly protect yourself." Splinters eyes narrowed, irritated with his son's decisions. "I've kept my promise in hopes you would eventually tell him, but it has been 6 months. It is only a matter of time before he finds out."

"I-I know..." Y/N whispered, twiddling with her thumbs. Unable to look up at the mutant rat. Her anxiety of eating away at her, making her wish a hole would appear under her feet and swallow her whole.

Master Splinter let out a sigh, forcing his shoulders to relax. His voice soft, but stern. "I know your fear of confronting this subject is hard on you miss Y/L/N, but this can not drag on much further. I'm giving you two days to tell my son."

Y/N's eyes widened as she snapped her gaze up to him. Her heart pounding in her chest as her lungs suddenly founding it difficult to breathe. "T...T-two....two days? M-m-master splinter I-I can't p-p-"

He rested his paw on her shoulder once again," You can and you will Y/N. It is not healthy for him to keep you from doing things and you going behind his back to do them anyway. It has to come to an end. Within these two days you will tell Leonardo.....or I will."

Y/N's breathing picked up, fighting to keep herself from having an anxiety attack. Her heart nearly stopped and leaped out of her chest when a familiar voice appeared behind the two.

"Tell me what Sensei?"

His voice, it sounded concerned. Y/N could feel his eyes on her back, but she couldn't move to face him. She was frozen, her hands trembling terribly. Her thoughts running a thousand miles a minute, completely shutting out the world around her. That is until someone gently grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to turn towards them. Her anxiety crept up from her chest to her throat, squeezing around her vocal cords. Keeping her from being able to make any kind of sound. It was like things were in slow motion. Leo was there, right in front of her. His turtle form towering over her. He looked so concerned and confused. He glanced from Master Splinter and then back to her.

His lips were moving, but she still couldn't hear anything. Only her thoughts. 'He's going to find out....he's going to be so angry with me...he's going to hate me for going behind his back....w-what...what do I do...'

Tears started to blur her vision, with the last bit of control she had, she ripped herself away from Leo and ran. Running faster than she ever had before. She was out of the lair and deep within the sewers before anyone could even say something. By the time she got to the surface her breathes were coming out labored, barely able to keep herself up right as she leaned against a building. Trying to desperately catch her breath while looking around, trying to figure out where she was. Tears streaming down her face when she spotted her apartment building across the street. Within a minute she was in her apartment, slamming the door behind her. Quickly locking it before going to every window and locking them.

When she was done, she finally collapsed onto her couch. Her lungs gasping for air as her body screamed in pain. Having been pushed past it's limits and then some. She buried her face into a pillow, struggling to calm herself down. Her cries coming out in broken sobs and pants. Everything hurt, both physically and mentally. It didn't take to long before she fell unconscious due to exhaustion and over exertion. Leaving her mind a slave to itself.  

~

By the time Y/N woke up the next day, it was already 2:30 in the afternoon. She could barely move, her body still completely worn by last nights events. She laid there on the couch for a few hours before her stomach forced her to get up and feed it. Though nothing sounded good. Even though she was hungry, she had lost all appetite to eat anything. After a while, she just forced herself to eat a bowel of cereal before returning to the couch. Turning on the TV, using it more for background noise than actually watching it as she was pulled back into her thoughts.

She stayed there the rest of the day. Hiding under her blanket whenever she heard Casey or April at the front door Ignoring them no matter what they said, even putting a book shelf against the door when Casey threatened to bust down the door.

As the sun started to go down, her anxiety started to settle in again. She knew Leo would be coming over. It was only just a matter of when. Her window was all she had to keep him out, and that wouldn't stand a chance against him if he really wanted to get in. Y/N knew this wouldn't last long, tomorrow Leo would know. Whether she liked it or not. But if she could hold out on the confrontation until tomorrow, then she damn sure was going to waste every minute she could.

The second the sun was no longer visible in the sky, there was a tapping on her window.  This caused her heart rate to spike as she buried herself deeper into her blankets. Snuggling further into the couch. Trying to make herself as small as possible. She could faintly hear her name being called out.

'It's him....he's here...' Anxiety swelled into her stomach once more as she tried to ignore his constant tapping. After a while it suddenly stopped and it was quiet for about ten minutes. Hesitantly, she untangled herself from her blanket and slowly lifted herself off her couch. Tip toeing to her room and over to the window. Peaking outside, looking for any sign of her beloved turtle. After about five minutes, she let out a sigh of relief. Relaxing as she unlocked her window and opened it. Taking in a breath of fresh air. Crossing her arms as she leaned against the window seal and closed her eyes. Letting the night breeze calm her down further.

"...Y/N..."

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of her name, jumping back when she found Leo standing right in front of her. His face having been just inches from hers. Her breath picked up as she backed further into the room. Watching as he entered the room. His movements slow and gentle.

"Y/N wait...it's okay, I just want to know what's wrong." He spoke so softly, taking a step towards her.

She shook her head and took another step back. Looking down as she felt her back meet one of the walls in her room. Her heart racing.

Leo frowned as he watched her, taking careful steps towards her. He hated seeing her like this, and he didn't understand why. Why was she acting so afraid of him? "Y/N its okay, please down be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know what's wrong.." He stopped once he was right in front of her, his body towering over her. Placing a gentle hand on her arm, frowning even more when she flinched under his touch. "Y/n please....its okay love...You can tell me, I'm not gonna be upset."

"B-but you are..." She choked out with a sob, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Y-You're g-g-gonna b-be so mad a-and hate m-me." She buried her face into her hands as she sobbed. Crying even harder when Leo pulled her into his arms.

"Love no, I could never ever be mad at you. Let alone hate you." He gently picked her up and carried her over to the bed. Sitting down and setting her on his lap as he comforted her. Gently rubbing her back as she cried into his plastron. Slowly getting her to calm down.

She sniffled as she stared at his neck, lightly tracing random shapes on his plastron. Unable to look him in the eye.

"Y/N....could you please tell me what this is all about.." He felt her tense up in his arms once again. "Its okay Y/N...I'm not going to be mad.." He gently kissed the apex of her head.

They both sat in silence for a few minutes before Y/N worked up the courage to speak. "I...I-I..." Leo didn't say anything, he just rubbed her back. Encouraging her to continue. "I went behind your back....a-and have been training with Master Splinter..."

Leo's eyes widened, most defiantly having not expected that. "What?"

Y/N whimpered and buried herself further into the turtle. "I-I k-know you said you d-didn't want me to start any serious training b-b-but..." Her voice closed off as tears started to well up in her eyes once again.

"But what love..?" He cooed softly in her ear. No trace of anger or betrayal was found in his voice. It gave her to courage to continue.

"B-but I c-couldn't just be satisfied with the basic training you taught me. It was all just simple techniques to be able to slip away and run...and...it wasn't enough." Y/N pulled away just enough to look up at him. "Yeah, those techniques worked whenever we were in a pinch but...having to leave you guys behind to fight the fight...." Her gaze dropped back down to his plastron, letting everything that she felt out. "Hopeless, worthless, and useless...the list can go on and on with how it made me feel. To know that I couldn't do anything more and that that's all you thought I would ever be capable of doing."

Leo's heart dropped as he looked down at her. How could he have done this, he had only meant to protect her from harm. But here he was, hurting her so much that she feared to tell him about something so small. He pulled her closer into his arms, nuzzling his face into her hair. "I'm so sorry, Y/N. I'm so, so sorry.  You are capable of so much more than that. I never meant to make you feel that way." He gently kissed the top of her head once more. "I just....was afraid that once your started to learn how to fight, then it meant you were now really apart of everything that I want to protect you from."

"But I'm already apart of it Leo," She said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "The moment I meet you guys, I became apart of your life. Whether I know how to fight or not."

He sighed softly, "I know....I just... "

Y/N nuzzled his cheek, "I know...."

They sat in silence for a while, just holding one another. Both lost in their own thoughts,

"If you'd like..." Leo said, breaking the silence.

"Hm?" She replied, pulling away enough to look up at him. Finally being able to meet his gaze without fear.

"I can help and train with you....I know how tough Master Splinter can be." He gave a gentle smile, resting his forehead on hers.

A smile pulled at her lips. "I'd really like that...and Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you..."

His smile grew, " I love you too."

[stcrmscngs]

@luck-crowned​ asked:   For FFXIV Vel: Coral Fragments, Aventurine Calling, Diamond Kiss, Amazonite Comfort, and Topaz Tears

headcanon meme - accepting!!

CORAL FRAGMENTS: How well does your muse deal with stress? Do they do anything in particular to help them deal with it, and if so what do they do?

Vel doesn’t. Deal with stress in a very....docile manner. When he’s stressed, he leaves a situation entirely, usually without a word, and goes off to pick some sort of a fight. The adrenaline and pain settle him more than most things have the ability to. While stress will always spark the need to hit something or be hit within him, Velkyn has also picked up exactly one (1) non-violent alternative in the practice of botany. Whether it’s a plant-day or a fight-day, however, is nearly impossible for anyone but himself to determine.

AVENTURINE CALLING: Do they believe in luck? If so, would they consider themselves lucky or unlucky?

Velkyn believes in karma more than he believes in luck, but he does believe in luck to an extent. He doesn’t think you can change your luck with prayer or objects or anything like that, he believes that, for everyone, sometimes it’s shitty and sometimes it’s good and that, while karma makes up a big part of that, there are always outlying circumstances. Bad shit happens to people who don’t deserve it. People who deserve death get away with whatever they want. He likes to balance that scale when he gets chances to. Consider it a hobby. 

As for his own situation, he’s more or less convinced that there isn’t enough bad for all the karma he’s accumulated and the only reason he hasn’t died yet is because that’d be too easy on him, so even if he could be considered ‘lucky’, he figures he’s actually just so unlucky that dying would be too easy on him.

DIAMOND KISS: What kind of clothing and accessories do they prefer to wear? Are there are any particular reasons outside of general comfort that they like wearing these?

Vel spent a lot of time in Thanalan for the majority of the past several years and simply runs warm on top of that, so he’s taken to wearing light, non-restrictive clothing. His shirts are usually worn open and he dislikes sleeves unless they’re necessary. He’s also not particularly fond of heavy armor or fabrics in general, as being weighed down could easily mean death for him. He’s strong, but it’s his speed that makes him uncommonly deadly. 

As for accessories, he doesn’t really care much for them. He’ll wear a simple pair of earrings or a necklace if it suits him, but he isn’t particularly attached to any of them. The exception to this rule is if he’s ever gifted something of that nature. A piece of jewelry or a hairpin of some sort. He isn’t used to receiving gifts, let alone any of that nature and so, he gets startlingly sentimental over them. Less because he particularly cares for baubles and more because it’s physical proof that someone cares for him. (though he considers that a terrible idea, really)

AMAZONITE COMFORT: What sorts of things bring your muse comfort in trying times? Are there any habits they have when things get difficult to help cope?

In terms of comfort, warm meals or drinks go far. Mostly, however, when it gets difficult to cope, Vel will withdraw or push his feelings down in favor of being the strong one. The one who doesn’t bend under the crushing weight. He’s not inclined to let anyone else carry his weight, no matter what he feels, and that’s far from healthy for him, but, hey, that’s Velkyn. 

Then there’s that age-old Vel way of dealing with problems, which is to punch something really hard until either it breaks or he breaks. 

TOPAZ TEARS: Do they have any sort of outlet they use as a means to cope (e.g. writing, drawing, playing music, etc.)? How’d they get into it if they do?

If the whole violence thing counts, then, well. He was more or less raised on it. When he was a part of the company of assassins he grew up in, coping was done by sparring one another or by other painful or grueling ways of training. Any weakness was drowned in blood before it could give rise to doubt. There was one other boy he would seek out and fight more often than any other, at the time, and he made for the best sparring partner Velkyn has ever had, even to this day. It’s a shame he left Vel for dead in desert and that no one else since compares.

As for his green thumb, that arose much more recently, out of little more than simple curiosity. He helped someone gather something in passing once and decided that dealing with plants is much better than dealing with most people. Gathering is a physical task that he can use to help drown out everything else and, for once, he manages to feel calm. He’s not destroying anything, he’s not a weapon or a shield, he’s just existing among the plants and nothing else really matters at that moment.

[beachbabywrites]

Dynamic Duo // A Kara Danvers imagine

Valentine’s Request 18/?

REQUEST: Kara Danvers + Enemies to Lovers + candy heart

A/N: So I’ve come to realize I cannot write enemies to lovers fics for Kara, it’s just impossible ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ so I twisted it around a bit. In this fic, the media is doing everything in their power to pit Supergirl and Phoenix (Aka the reader bc I cannot come up with imaginary superhero names for the life of me) against each other even though the two have never publicly associated or worked together. Unbeknownst to the public, Supergirl and Phoenix are in a happy and healthy relationship. This takes place somewhere in the season one/early season two timeline

"Supergirl declares, 'National City only needs ONE HERO!"

"The REAL reason you'll never see Supergirl and Phoenix working together."

"Supergirl threatens to reveal Phoenix's true identity; Phoenix says "stand down!"

"Source says Phoenix will destroy National City before going to Supergirl's aid."

Of course, the headlines were the first thing you saw this morning, they were hard to miss with street vendors yelling at passing crowds trying to sell a copy of the latest gossip magazine. You scoffed, trying not to laugh in the man's face as he pushed the paper towards you. You could tell him then and there just how wrong those sources were but he wouldn't believe you. Why would he? You're no one special to National City. You're just (Y/N) (Y/L/N). So instead of initiating an argument on the sidewalk you went on to work and prayed you made it to your desk before your boss showed up.

You were staring at the clock, counting down the minutes till your lunch break. 15... 14... You answered an email about scheduling your bosses next meeting with the CEO, then answered a personal email regarding dinner plans.

12... Someone's phone rang, you began putting your things in your purse so you could sneak out early. You could hear the car horns outside in the lunch hour rush. You looked up as your coworker approached your desk and handed you a file. She apologized for laying it on you right before lunch, but it was due by 5 tonight. Inside was the research for yet another gossip segment on Supergirl and Phoenix's feud.

9... You agreed happily when your coworker asked if you wanted to grab lunch with her before she left to pick her kids up from school.

Much like every other devastating event that happened in National City, this one happened without warning.

When the first crash was heard, you dropped to your knees on the carpeted floor like everyone had been instructed to do in the past. Glass shattered, you could hear the screeching of breaks and mangled metal. The people on your floor screamed as the windows imploded, sending glass flying across the floor. Two more explosions quickly followed the first one, each one shaking the building more violently than the last.

You stood up slowly after some time had passed after the last blast, looking around the floor at your coworkers. All were fine, nothing too serious, maybe a couple cuts that would need stitches. You placed a hand on the shoulder of the woman who was trying to call her children at school.

"Phone lines are down." Someone hollered across the room and slammed the landline down. "Was it a gas line?"

"Surely not that strong!" Another voice answered.

The power went out and another round of screams pierced the air.

"Go! To the stairwell, come on." You urged them along. You rushed to the window to see what was going on outside when shouts of 'Supergirl!' caught your attention.

"Kara!" You whispered out loud, amazement and terror-striking your heart as she flew through the sky straight towards the pillar of smoke rising just a few blocks away.

"Come on!" Someone shouted behind you so you turned and made your way down the stairs.

You followed the crowd away from the shaky buildings and chaos, helping those who needed it but listening closely to the battle that was happening behind you.

You heard the first cry as you were helping a child find her mother. Kara was in distress but you couldn't just leave these people. You knew she could handle her self, besides you had a bigger responsibility at the time. You couldn't help the small part of you wondered what if?

Within a matter of minutes, dozens of buildings were evacuated, barricades set up to prevent any civilians from running into the mess. Smoke still darkened the sky and burned at your nose. It sounded like the worst of the fight was over, you could hear Kara yelling over the noise, but you couldn't hear a second voice.

Oh great, you sighed to yourself. She's monologuing.

You helped the volunteers passing out shock blankets to those who were injured or just scared, EMTs were rushing around the area. Someone mentioned the museum was in the same area Supergirl and the unnamed villain were fighting. The crowd wondered if there was something in there worth the fight. A man claimed it was Phoenix.

"I saw her with my own eyes, Supergirl tackled her out of the air as the building exploded!"

Everyone saw something different, no one could agree on who it was that Supergirl had encountered. With every yell from Kara's mouth, you became more anxious. More theories began to spread across the street, cops and reporters whispering Kryptonite and 'alien', despite your racing heart and clenched jaw you reminded yourself just how strong she had proven herself to be in the past.

Kara had taken on prisoners from Fort Rozz, she stopped a falling plane, Live Wire and the Red Tornado, the latter was designed specifically to upgrade its fighting skills based on its spars with Supergirl, to use her strongest moves and patterns against her, and these were only in the first couple of months of taking on the hero role. Kara was called super for a reason.

You could hear Alex and her team mobilizing and preparing to rush in as Kara landed the final blows. Your phone buzzed in your pocket, the screen lit up with Alex's name and number and a text asking where you were.

"I'm safe. Is Kara?" The little bubbles on the screen told you Alex was typing and erasing, typing and erasing for what felt like ten minutes before she finally sent back "Kara is safe." But at this point, Kara didn't sound safe.

A menacing voice was taunting her, telling her if she stayed down, if she gave up he would spare the block of her choice. The longer you sat on the stairs to the bank with the unaware crowd the more your muscles ached with an electric need to step in and help, every nerve running up your spine tingling. When you heard a cop whisper to his partner in a broken and panicked voice 'she's losing' you couldn't stay still any longer.

You hopped up, the metallic blanket falling to the steps as you turned and raced the opposite direction, away from Supergirl and the fight.

The dust didn't have time to settle before the alien that had Kara trapped on the ground was turning on you, giving the blonde a chance to jump to her feet.

"Just how many of your kind are on this planet Kara Zor-El?" The alien asked the laughter in his voice was infuriating as you realized just how worn out Kara looked. She stared at you wide-eyed, taking in the red and yellow you were wearing, a hint of pride in her slight smile. "Two Kryptonian heads will be more than enough to atone for the crimes your people have committed against my home."

"I'm not Kryptonian. I will not allow you to commit the same crimes you allege against the Kryptonians to my own people." You countered, hands already burning.

"Phoenix!" Kara shouted, "distract him!" You sent her a glance as she dashed away but did as she asked.

This alien was highly skilled at hand to hand, their punches fast and aiming at all of your weakest points. Face, throat, face, stomach, stomach, face, throat. You were beginning to notice a pattern to his moves and as you stepped to the side in anticipation of his next move, ready to make your own, he took you by surprise with a right hook to the face. You stumbled back before regaining your balance,  a coppery taste on your tongue.

You could see Kara picking up something from the farthest edge of the street, he was preparing to turn his back on you to attack her once again, so you ran at the invader. When your bodies collided the impact knocked both of you back. The force of it knocked the breath out of your body. You forced yourself up, staggering slightly as you put distance between you and the seven foot alien on the ground.

Supergirl was behind him as he stood. He snarled at you in a foreign language before lurching forward. Supergirl grabbed him by the shoulder, pushed him so he was now facing her. She landed punches in quick succession; One, two, three, his fist made loud contact with her face.  Kara glanced over her shoulder and you knew she had a plan. Your heel connected with the aliens back, he fell to his knees.

"Move!" Kara bellowed and before you had much time to do anything, a second blast rang throughout the area, throwing you onto your back once again. As you sat up, dizzied and sore, you noticed the DEO agents rushing in, guns raised and shouting orders at the criminal.

Supergirl rushed up to you, arms extended to help you up.

"I'm okay." You assured her for the third time before she finally quit asking and stepped back. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm not the one who was just electrocuted." You rolled your eyes but smiled at her. "Wow, we really are a dynamic duo! We should do this more often... Besides the whole- Yeah." Kara stammered out, cheeks bright pink and eyes bright from the thrill of the fight.

You threw your arms around her and whispered, "you scared me Supergirl." Kara quickly wrapped her arms around you tightly. Exhaustion flooded your body and senses. "I've never seen you in action like that." You told her. "You're kinda hot Supergirl."

"Oh, oh geez." Kara laughed nervously and shook her head. "Noo... I'm a- I'm a mess."

You pressed your lips to her's quick, forgetting where and who you were for a moment. You could have stayed there with her like that for hours if it weren't for the sounds of shutters clicking and reporters shouting. Kara jumped back from you, eyes wide as she scanned the crowd, only relaxing when she saw Jimmy was front and center with his camera.

"Our secret is out." She whispered. A moment of panic fell over the two of you as reality set in. "We'll be okay." She decided, not quite sure if she was assuring you or herself.

"You know, someone said I was the one attacking the city." You told her as she watched her sister's team drag the alien away in Kryptonite handcuffs.

"That's funny because, on my way over, I heard that I was the one blowing an entrance into the side of the museum to lure you out of hiding for a final smackdown." Kara jumped back, playfully lifting her fists in a mock spar.

"It worked, I guess." You answered throwing a hand up to block a punch.

The next morning on the way to work the headlines read very differently than they had just the day before, a picture of Supergirl and Phoenix hugging was splashed across the front of each magazine and newspaper.

"SUPER-TRUCE? A timeline of the SvP feud"

"Supergirl retiring? Source says 'She's ready to settle down!"

"The 'dynamic duo' we didn't know we were waiting for"

Your eyes lingered on the last title, the picture of Supergirl's hand resting on Phoenix's back. As you picked up the magazine, you recognized the logo across the top and laughed.

"How much for the CATCO, sir?" You asked reaching for your purse.

[loraneldin]

Part 2 of Eight Pack

Part 1

They stop hugging before anyone comes looking for them. Bucky asks if they need to tell the team what happened, and when both Steve and Tony affirm, he decides to give the explanation directly to the team.

He is supposed to talk to people. It is healthy, he has been told.

The talk goes over… better than expected. Bucky starts with an apology. He doesn’t want them to think he turned into a power-crazed alpha. But then he has to explain what he was thinking.

“With the way you guys interact every day, the stuff you do in sparring seems—” Bucky struggles to find the word.

“Awesome?” Clint suggests.

“Unnecessary?” Natasha says without real conviction.

Thor says, “…Hardly discernible from a real fight?”

Bucky swallows. Thor doesn’t look like he is poking fun or thinking Bucky is being ridiculous.

“On Asgard, warriors that fight together share an almost familial bond,” Thor adds. “On the training grounds we might clash, but there is always respite after to strengthen those bonds.”

“That sounds an awful lot like a pack.” Bruce’s voice is calm which makes his words not less jarring, at least to Bucky. And from the looks of it for Steve too. Natasha is harder to read than the rest of them when she wants to be, but right now she is visibly frowning.

Thor just shrugs. “If that is what Midgard calls it.”

“No one is talking about being a pack,” Steve says.

Tony throws up an eyebrow at that, taking another look around the gathered team. “We could probably do with some bonding time though. Any suggestions?”

“Movie night?” Sam supplies.

Everyone shrugs or seems to consider.

“Game night?” Bruce asks.

“Mario Kart.”

“No, Clint.”

“You really don’t want to play Monopoly with me,” Tony throws in.

Everyone is suddenly discussing what they definitely will not play, and Bucky can’t follow any single argument. At least they have opinions on this.

Tony claps his hands. “Okay, six pm tomorrow. Everyone can bring one game. Whoever loses the first one, chooses the food.”

-

Sam takes Steve and Bucky shopping for games in the afternoon, pointing them towards classics like Pictionary. But of course, they get distracted by the amount of selections. Bucky actually buys a Star Wars Monopoly and Sam tries really hard to not read something into that. This is until Steve shows up with Twister. He sighs and picks up Scrabble, thinking they might as well make it a trifecta of group conflict.

It doesn’t end as terribly as he thinks, though. Board game night is fun. Chaotic, but fun.

They start with a round of Trivial pursuit that Thor loses very clearly, although Steve and Bucky don’t do too well either. Nat wins and gets slightly enraged commentaries from Tony which satisfy her immensely. Which Sam figures is Tony’s whole point.

As Thor gets to choose the food, they order from the barbecue place with giant portions. No one is too miffed about it as they have a varied menu and everyone finds something.

The chaos starts when they get to Taboo after that. They just split the groups straight down the table, which turns out to be a bad idea. Everyone has done one round of explaining, and before Tony there is a thick stack of correctly guessed cards. Steve is holding the five their team got in one hand.

Clint and Natasha are just eerily good at the game, either one of them saying a word or two and emoting with their eyes before the right term falls with certainty from the other one’s lips. Tony talks a mile a minute, never using a single taboo word, and Bruce may be a little slower but he is inventive, and the other three just shout out whatever comes into their heads until the next card goes onto the stack.

Steve, Bucky, and Thor on the other hand… have a harder time.

So after the first round The Great Discussion starts.

“If we do this, it has to be fair.”

“We could do a draft…”

“It’s just Taboo. You’re a sore loser.”

“Tony and Natasha can join our side then?”

“No way.”

Most noticeably to Sam, Tony and Bucky are not arguing like the rest. Bucky follows what is going on with rapt attention, and Tony is watching Bucky. Finally, they make eye contact.

Tony says, “Do you want a hug?” and although he doesn’t say it loudly, all talk stops.

Bucky smiles at him. “It’s not bad. I know they’re not actually fighting. This is kind of fun.”

“That’s good but not what I asked. Maybe I can be more clear. Could I get a hug?”

A surprised smile grows on Bucky’s face and he nods. Sam has never noticed the way that Bucky’s smile never went the whole way before. Only now, where it creates crinkles around his eyes, the difference is apparent.

Tony ends up in Bucky’s lap, and Sam finds himself unable to not ask, “Is this part of game night now?”

“Why, do you need a hug too?” Steve asks, and Sam is not sure if he is earnest or poking fun at him.

Sam figures it is worth taking the chance. “I would like one.”

Thor stands up, and for a moment, Sam is afraid he wants to sit down on his lap too. It must be readable on his face by the dirty laugh coming from Steve. But instead, Thor pulls him up into a bear hug. It is nicer than Sam remembers a simple hug to be. Thor’s arms somewhat shield him from everything else going on in the room for a minute, but after Thor lets him go again, it’s apparent that the rest haven’t been missing the opportunity.

“Maybe Twister wasn’t such a weird idea after all,” Sam murmurs, and Steve exaggeratedly waggles his eyebrows from where he has both Clint and Bruce in his lap.

It is relaxing. If someone would have described the scene to Sam, he’d have asked in what world a group of grown-ups from all three designations could hold each other where hugging was just that: hugging. And as much as Sam would say that his teammates were absolutely attractive, right now it doesn’t matter. Apparently, they have more group cohesion than they gave themselves credit for.

“Either we get this scene over to the couch and make a proper group snuggle out of it, or we go back to games night.” Tony says with a laugh from where he is still perched on Bucky’s lap.

Steve answers, “I think we can manage a little bit of both.”

And so they end up playing different games with two or more of them cuddled together, playing as one team, for Scrabble or Pictionary or even Poker at the end of the night. All the relaxing also means lots of pheromones released into the air. It’s mostly dominated by pleased omega, they being the largest group in the room. 

Sam sure has no complaints. Although he himself probably smells of a wild mix of omegas, betas, and even another alpha from where he ended up in close contact with Bucky during the unavoidable round of Twister.

Seeing them all like this and being in the middle of it settles something inside Sam he didn’t know was agitated. The mention of pack made part of the team highly uncomfortable, understandably. And this is sure far away from social convention, but everyone is comfortable. They probably should worry less about what they look like from the outside or what name a stranger would give this situation, but instead, concentrate on what they need and, from what Sam is seeing, breaking down these invisible barriers is something they have needed for some time.

As things wind down, Natasha plops down on the couch next to Sam. “You think we will regret this tomorrow?”

“Introducing Thor to Poker?” Sam asks back. He knows that is not what she is asking, but he also knows that she isn’t actually asking.

“We won’t be going back to the way it was before. It’s not something you try to downplay the next morning and act as if it never happened after.”

Sam hasn’t expected that anyone would want that. “But you liked it?”

“I sure did,” she leans her head on her hand, studying Sam as if he is giving her plenty of new information. “But if we aren’t going back, where are we going?”

Part 3

[chillahead-bridge]

Reunions

Post-canon fic of season 3, length of 4,121 words, contains every spoiler imaginable. Also on AO3 and part of an eventual larger series.

Summary: Months after beginning the establishment of New Trollmarket, the gyre station is finally complete. And Jim isn't the only one who's antsy to see their missing family members returned.

Blinky, no matter how many centuries pass, will always eagerly await a reunion with his bonded partner.

Watching the gyre start up, Blinky puts a hand on Jim’s back. His young charge is practically vibrating; eyes fixed on the machine as it winds up, and- shoots off down the tunnel, blindingly fast and gone in less time than the blink of six eyes.

Blinky is pleased. Not only is the gyre station hopefully now finished, and its tunnel to Arcadia complete, but it didn’t explode even a little during this half of its test run.

The trolls spectating its final stage of installation give a short round of applause and cheer, then moving on to continue their night. It’s just Blinky and Jim within a few moments, with their resident Trollhunter staring down the tunnel intently. As though just by watching, he can make the gyre return faster.

“It works, right? They’ll be here soon?” Jim asks, eyes still not moving from the wide mouth of the gyre station’s tunnel. He’s sinking slowly, almost certainly subconsciously, into a crouch on the balls of his feet; ready to spring forwards at any time, but also ready to watch and wait for his prey however long it takes.

Well, if long-distance friends Jim hasn’t seen in months can be counted as ‘prey’.

“With any luck, yes,” Blinky replies, moving his hand up to pat Jim’s head between his horns. With majority of the passing gawkers uninterested now that the potential explosion has passed, it’s a private enough moment to express the affection. “But it’s like humans say, James. A watched pot never boils. It will be at least another few hours before we’re certain the gyre is completely safe; I’d suggest you find something to occupy your time with until then.”

Jim makes a frustrated huff at that, a quiet growl in his throat. Blinky puts one of his lower arms around Jim’s shoulders, while still petting the top of his head; a bit more than is entirely comfortable to do in public, but Jim very much seems to need it.

“I could’ve gone with them,” Jim says, half to himself, “then I’d…”

“You might have seen Claire and Tobias sooner, yes, but you also might have blown up in a spectacular failure of engineering,” Blinky reminds him. Jim is clearly annoyed by that information, but is still leaning into Blinky’s hands; some of the tenseness in his shoulders easing for the contact. Blinky counts that as an improvement. “Trollmarket needs its Trollhunter hale and healthy, Jim. You might be strong enough to best Gunmar himself, but a gyre crash will wound even you. Best to leave it to the professionals; who are much more heavily armored than you, if I may add.”

Gyre station engineers are of the rarer sorts of trolls. Both big and heavily armored enough to survive the unfortunate crash of a gyre, but also well-learned and educated enough to put the whole thing together. Blinky may have the skill to drive a gyre, but he certainly doesn’t have what it takes to build one.

“I have armor, too,” Jim mutters stubbornly. Blinky smiles, affectionately patting the young troll-boy’s coarse hair.

“Indeed you do,” Blinky agrees. He gives Jim a tight two-armed squeeze, then stepping away; knocking his staff against the stone ground as he walks. “Come, then. Let’s put it to good use on the training grounds why don’t we? I’m sure you will find any number of willing opponents to blow off some steam with.”

Blinky waits a few seconds, flicking an ear backwards to listen for Jim’s following steps. After a few beats, a rather forlorn sigh is heard and Jim does indeed come trailing after him, if reluctantly.

Their Trollhunter does make for a mopey sight, dressed in loose pants and a baggy shirt; the loneliest body language possible as he pads along barefoot. Claire’s presence on and off the past months has been a big part of what kept Jim’s negative moods from being permanent. But with her family needing to see her, and higher education apply for, and her humanity dictating she seeks out her own kind for company… Claire can’t be Jim’s girlfriend constantly. The fiery young sorceress in-training has her own life to live, and sometimes the diverging paths of bonded partners can be a difficult hurdle.

Toby’s absence does nothing to help the state Jim works himself into; quicker to the rise of a conflict and pushed to uncharacteristic snaps, dogging Blinky’s heels even when Blinky has no use for a twitchy warrior in his library, or simply running himself ragged with a hundred different mundane activities in one night. All to keep his mind off the missing persons from his side.

Truly, as Blinky long suspected, the three of them are better kept as a trio. Separations are so very hard for younglings, even when they’re necessary. And for Jim, grappling with troll and human instincts both, it’s been doubly lonely.

Blinky sympathizes greatly. The hulking shadow that should be following his has been gone for months, and while they’ve gone years being apart… Blinky misses Arrrgh more with each rise and set of the moon. He misses the deep bass of Arrrgh’s voice, the unusual and unique perspectives he has of situations, the quiet comfort of them in their cave together, away from the world with only each other for company…

Yes, Blinky understands Jim’s pining loneliness quite well. And as he’s learned over his centuries of life, the only way to cope with it is to keep one’s self busy.

Hence, having his adopted son suit up and spar for the remaining time before their family arrives.

A perk of being Trollmarket’s leader is that when Blinky asks for a spar partner to present themselves, his request is fulfilled promptly. Jim himself holds appeal, given his reputation and prowess, but he is not even an adolescent by troll standards and that sometimes is enough to earn him subtle dismissal.

Thankfully tonight he receives no such slight, and Blinky is pleased to see five volunteers. Two nearly thrice Jim’s size, one of equal stature and svelte musculature, and the latter two in between. A good array of opponents for Jim to further hone his skills against, and more importantly to distract himself with.

Blinky settles himself on the side of the training grounds, sitting on a spectator bench; watching the first spar begin. While Jim says the incantation of his amulet, wrapping himself in the blue glow of it, Blinky takes in the training grounds as a whole.

It’s not as grand or impressive as the ones of Old Trollmarket, but it’s functional and frequented nonetheless. The lost history of the old training grounds will sting for a long few decades yet, but here they are already in the process of building a new Hero’s Forge. A place for future legacies to be born.

As such is why many newcomers to the market gather here, staking their place among their peers and proving their strengths. With the news of Gunmar and Morgana’s defeat travelling through troll communities across the globe, Blinky has been unsurprised to find many making the journey to join the one who can claim hand in that defeat. Trolls are predictable in their attraction to power and reputation, and the collective Blinky is responsible for can boast quite a lot of both.

Add in that the Trollhunter has a permanent residence among them, and the draw is more than tempting. Even if when they arrive… some trolls are not quite so accepting of a hunter than is not fully troll or human.

It has been a hard transition for Jim, with some weeks when Claire is away in the human world leaving him near despondent. With his body’s changes to adjust to, and the peace after a brutal war only just beginning to sink in… Jim has rougher moments than he would ever admit.

Peacetimes after war, as Blinky came to know hundreds of years ago, are not so easily accepted as one would like. Especially when you’re grieving, and in Jim’s case, as young as a troll child.

Jim grieves for his humanity, for the life he gave up, and for the trolls and humans he couldn’t save. He is only just beginning to age by troll standards, but by human… he is old enough to fight and die for his country, and fight he has for the world he gave everything to.

It’s still a heavy weight, the responsibilities and lives Jim has shouldered. Blinky will admit that he himself feels a tad weighed down these days, carrying the leadership of Trollmarket both old and new with all the gravity it deserves.

Between the two of them, coping with every burden they’ve chosen to take on, the presences of their family are a sorely missed feeling.

How glad Blinky is that the tunnel and gyre station are finally complete. He’ll be even gladder once Claire and Tobias return to Jim, and finally calm their Trollhunter. Of course, not that Blinky won’t be extremely happy to have Arrrgh back as well… but Blinky is capable of self-control in Arrrgh’s absence. Jim meanwhile is as unnerved and squirrely as possible.

Younglings, honestly. As endearing as he may be, Blinky does find his patience tried at times by his adopted son.

Not at the moment, though. As Jim is practically yowling with gleeful triumph as he bests one of his opponents- defeating one of the much larger trolls using nimble tricks and sneak attacks. His armor shines in the overhead lights as his broad falchion whirls; the flat of the blade smacking his opponent in his nose at just the right moment, and sending the troll toppling backwards.

Jim dissolves his sword as he flips away, using his bipedal and quadrupedal forms of maneuvering to his advantage; just as the sveltely shaped troll takes up the fight, his crescent blade similar to that of Nomura’s twin ones. Though this is a full-blooded troll, and not one of the Changelings that flit in and out of Trollmarket’s territory.

Blinky claps his upper arm’s hands, calling out, “Good show, young master Jim! Now give us an encore!”

“Working on it!” Jim yelps, scrambling on all fours out of the path of a blade that burns bright green.

“I wouldn’t be so certain of victory, Trollhunter whelp,” taunts his grey skinned opponent, and ah yes, this is one of the newcomers Blinky remembers welcoming a few weeks ago. Taka, Blinky thinks. A gentile fellow until he’s decided to stroke his ego.

Jim is in the process of cutting him down to size again, though, so Blinky chooses not to speak out against the mild insult. It’s nothing Jim hasn’t been called before, and Blinky has gotten practiced at swallowing the defensive growl that bubbles in his throat each time.

Blinky shouldn’t show too much favoritism towards the Trollhunter, given his position as Trollmarket’s elder leader (though he’s not that old yet), but he can’t help the reflex to defend someone he claims as his own. And it’s heartening to know that if someone badmouths his leadership choices within Jim’s hearing, the troll-boy tends to firmly remind them that disrespecting their elders is a real buttsnack thing to do.

Blinky smiles to himself, watching as Taka winds up with Daylight’s edge pressed to his throat. Jim’s smug grin is a welcome sight to see, rather than the pensive curling frown it’s been since Claire’s departure.

A tap on his shoulder, and Blinky turns his six eyes from Jim’s victory to the troll behind him. For a moment, the large size of said troll brings a soft pang to Blinky’s chest.

Soon, Blinky reminds himself.

“Blinkus,” greets the larger troll respectfully. His expression, however, is deeply annoyed. “There’s been another… disagreement over rations.”

Blinky sighs. “Socks or Glug this time?”

“Both, actually. Which is the problem. Not everyone wanted smoothies.”

And once again, Blinky finds his honored position as Trollmarket’s leader being called upon to settle a squabble. He really does understand now why Vendel had been so grumpy all the time.

“Right, then,” Blinky says, and stands from his bench. “Lead the way. Perhaps this time we’ll get matters solved before someone loses a digit or four.”

Blinky gives a brief wave to Jim, who is well and truly occupied by taking on his medium sized opponents both at once. The troll-boy distracts himself for a moment to wave cheerfully- seeming miles better than he’d been earlier, moping in front of the gyre station- and then dives back into the fight with his twin daggers drawn.

Blinky smiles warmly, and then turns to meander to wherever the largest crowd of trolls has gathered. Where there’s a crowd, there’s a fight. It makes tracking the conflict down easier for Blinky and Jim both.

The resolution of the fight turns into the resolution of another, and then a consultation with a different pair of trolls, and then an advisory about a cave’s structural plans, and then a brief assist in locating someone’s errant hatchling (always check the pantry first), and so on and so on and before Blinky knows it-

“Blinky!” someone yells down at him, and Blinky looks up from his work to see a certain youngling racing past. Jim’s fangs are on full display as he bares them in an overjoyed grin, which Blinky nearly misses entirely at Jim’s speed. “They’re here, the gyre is here! C’mon c’mon c’mon-”

And Jim is gone before Blinky hears the rest, as the troll-boy vaults over a food cart and several trolls and drops to all fours; continuing his sprint for the gyre station on the western side of Trollmarket.

Blinky feels a swell of emotion in his chest, and barely contains his own joy. A quick exchange of eye contact with the troll he’d been speaking to, and Blinky is waved off with an exasperated smile.

“Go, follow after the boy,” shoos the elder troll lady he’d been speaking with, and her nearly blind old eyes crinkle as she laughs at him. “Both of your pining is sickening, I can’t stand looking at it any longer.”

“Thank you, but excuse you, Dar,” Blinky snaps without heat. “I distinctly remember you being the same way the last time Tumelt visited her family up east.”

Dar’s many bead and skull accessories clack as she waves him off sharply. “Ach, your memory is failing you already, Blinkus. I’m sure such a thing never happened. Now get on with it! Arrrgh will be waiting.”

Blinky rolls all six of his eyes at her teasing, but does as told.

There’s no hope of him catching up to Jim’s progression- his son is as speedy as any of the troll ilk Nomura hails from- but Blinky does his best to keep up a steady jog until he’s reached his destination. No one bothers him as he goes, no one calling out for assistance with any little problem they’ve created for themselves. Blinky suspects they’re being respectful enough to give him time to reunite with his bonded partner, and for that he is grateful.

After all, with the way his heart is swelling and pulling him back to the one he’s shared it with- Blinky very much doubts he’d stop for anyone at this point, leaderly responsibilities or no.

Getting through the crowds closer to the gyre is aggravating, but all the irritation at being slowed down vanishes once Blinky breaks through and lays his eyes on the individuals clustered around the station.

For a moment, their surroundings are of little consequence to Blinky, and the only thing he can look at is the familiar green-grey hide of Arrrgh.

Arrrgh, who catches Blinky’s scent, and whips his head towards him with a grin so wide it must hurt.

“Blinky!” he bellows, and comes charging forwards. Blinky is forced to drop his staff in order to wrap his four arms around the neck of his partner, but the dull clatter of its fall barely reaches his ears.

The thick bristle of Arrrgh’s neck is an achingly familiar sensation against Blinky’s cheek, and he has missed it more than he thought he had, finally feeling it again now. Arrrgh’s chest is filled with sound as he gives a rumble of a purr, so happy that his words have deserted him and all he can do is hold Blinky tightly.

Blinky accepts the crushing hug happily. He has missed every aspect of Arrrgh, from the part of his scent that reminds him of rocks from deep beneath the earth, to the enormous hugs he gives when overexcited.

Blinky then lets out a startled laugh as Arrrgh lifts him off the ground, bringing him to level and looking Blinky right in the eye. Blinky feels himself smiling as wide as Arrrgh is, and that smile becomes something softer as they put their foreheads together; knocking horns and taking a slow inhale of each other’s scents.

Arrrgh smells like Arcadia, like Toby, like cats and tunnels different from the ones in the new Trollmarket territory, and he smells like Arrrgh. Like the troll Blinky isn’t ever sure how he managed to be without for any period of time.

Every time they have to separate, for whatever reason or for however long, the act of coming back together never ceases to jerk on every single one of Blinky’s heartstrings.

“…missed you,” Arrrgh sighs, words barely making it through his purring.

“And I you, old friend,” Blinky replies without missing a beat, his own quiet purr working its way up his throat. For as long as they can, they stay like that; re-familiarizing themselves with one another and beginning the process of mingling their scents together again. Blinky stopped being able to smell Arrrgh on himself not two months after leaving; it’d been a low night indeed, having discovered that.

But Arrrgh is here now, even if just temporarily, and that erases everything else.

Reluctantly, Blinky remembers his position in society and the dictation of public manners. Arrrgh makes a disappointed noise at the gentle tap for him to put Blinky down, but does as asked. He remains in contact though, even after setting Blinky on his feet. Blinky doesn’t mind in the least that Arrrgh is pressed in close to his shoulder and back; if anything, the looming presence is a great relief to have once again at his side.

Arrrgh picks up Blinky’s staff, offering it to him with a smile that’s always made Blinky’s ears perk in embarrassed happiness. Arrrgh is stronger than nearly every troll in Trollmarket- perhaps even across the whole continent. And of all the other trolls, including those that might equal him in strength, Arrrgh chose Blinky. Blinky, who is capable in a fight, yes, but nowhere near level with some more brutish trolls.

Blinky remembers their friendship started rocky, due to their former divide in allegiances. How far away do those first nights seem now - Blinky coming face to face with the revered, feared traitor champion of the Gum-Gum army, who’d been chained up and wide eyed as he met Blinky’s gaze.

Never had Blinky thought that someone so strong and infamous could be scared of him.            

Blinky’s only regret of their budding friendship back then… has to be that it took him weeks to get over his own suspicions, and just accept Arrrgh’s efforts to change as the sincere attempts they were.

He is so very glad that he did.

Blinky takes his staff from his partner, saying, “Thank you, Arrrgh.”

Arrrgh leans his head down sideways, sneaking another knock of their horns in before straitening up and acting appropriately. After all, they need to set an example for a certain troll-boy, who is clearly in need of one.

Jim has all but wrapped himself around Claire and Toby- Toby perhaps especially, as they haven’t seen each other in person in months. As much as it warms Blinky’s heart to see the trio reunited, it really doesn’t do to have the fearsome and noble Trollhunter letting his instincts get the better of him in public. With strength and size on both his humans, Jim has easily scooped them in close to himself and is very near cuddling right then and there.

Blinky sighs to himself, seeing Jim attempt to knock horns with Toby and realize right after that it isn’t possible. Embarrassment and something like shame flicker across his features, and Jim quickly buries that under a happy grin. Toby just rubs his head, visibly complaining to Jim about bonking his skull.

Arrrgh is laughing about the whole awkward show, and while Blinky does love having the vibrations of that deep laugh at his back once more, they really should go rescue Jim from himself.

“Don’t make fun of the boy,” Blinky chides lightly, tugging on a tuft of Arrrgh’s fur, “he’s practically a hatchling like this.” A few short months of adapting to an entirely different way of life has not been nearly long enough for Jim, and this is yet another example of that. A struggling transition for everyone involved.

But Blinky always did want children, anyway, so it’s not a struggle he’ll ever complain about.

“Jim’s happy,” Arrrgh laughs. “Wingman, Claire, you- us. Very happy.”

Blinky’s mouth turns up in a fond smile, and lets Arrrgh put a huge arm around him. “Yes, that we are, Arrrgh. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“Could’ve,” Arrrgh says, and well, Blinky certainly would have chosen different words, and have used twice as many as Arrrgh did, but…

The succinct and straight forward way Arrrgh addresses their happiness is all that’s really needed to be said.

“No, I could not,” Blinky refutes mildly, to which Arrrgh snorts disbelievingly. Blinky simply reaches up to pat the side of Arrrgh’s face, and then steps forwards to get them moving. “Come along, I’m sure Tobias is quite eager to see the market and Jim may very well start nuzzling at this rate.”

Arrrgh laughs loud enough to draw the attention of the trio, and at their approach Jim seems to remember how to reign himself in and release his partners. The way Jim holds himself apart from the two humans right after… it speaks volumes of his discomfort with himself. Blinky knows sooner than later he’ll have to finally force Jim to sit down and listen, and give his adopted youngling an overdue talk about the differences between troll romance and human romance.

But, as trollish as he is now, Jim is still part human teenager. And everyone knows teenagers are deathly allergic to speaking about feelings.

(Not literally, thank goodness, but Blinky did have a momentary fit of panic after hearing that phrase from Jim’s mother.)

“Miss Claire, master Tobias,” Blinky greets, opening his three free arms to them. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Blinky!” they both shout, and transfer their hugs from Jim to Blinky. He catches them both easily, and laughs as Jim practically launches himself at Arrrgh. While the two of them begin wrestling, happy growls and playful snarls starting up immediately, Blinky opts to give a more human friendly welcome.

“Jim and I have missed you fiercely,” Blinky tells Claire and Toby, hugging them close. “Well. Perhaps Jim more than I.”

“Yeah, he kiiinda almost flattened me,” Toby says, but the exasperation is as fond as any Blinky has ever heard.

“Get used to him clinging to you now, because that’s going to happen a lot,” Claire warns with a smile as fond as Toby’s tone.

“Eh… I can deal with that. I missed him, too.”

Blinky pats both of their backs; satisfied that even if Jim’s behaviors get a little out of his control sometimes, his partners will still accept him wholeheartedly. Now if he could ever get the three of them to hold still and let him help them put the actual name to the changes in their relationships… but that’s for later. For now, the time is for their reunion and all the joyous things that come with it.

And as though summoned by that thought, Arrrgh and Jim crash into them all; the two of them wrapping everyone else up in a big hug. Blinky finds himself squished in with Claire and Toby, a little short of breath, but nonetheless laughing along with the rest of his family.

Things have changed greatly in recent months, but at the same time stayed very much the same. Even with their life paths taking them different directions, they still intertwine enough that their connection never breaks.

Blinky more than happy to have his family back together, and for as long as it lasts, he will cherish every moment they have.