#to be clear I am not participating at all today just sitting there

[queerhawkeyes]

There's a plea hearing for my child welfare case (I am the education attorney and just observing the neglect petition, my colleague is handling that) today in a really inconvenient courthouse that I have to take a bus to and I feel like shit. my allergies are horrible and my stomach was upset all yesterday and the news about federal funding is making me nauseous.

[prettyinsophie]

Being Ms. Maximoff’s favorite pet…

2k words

college student! reader x college teacher! Wanda

warnings: mommy kink, fingering in a classroom, small use of y/n, squirting, age difference (duh), use of bunny/doll/etc. anddd it’s kinda trash tbh.

I’ve had this WIP for over a year so it was time for me to just finish it💀 buuuut I’m working on two Sevika different ones if y’all were wondering.

“Please don’t forget to go over the next session’s material. Remember we’re getting close to finals, but as for now you’re dismissed, have a good weekend.” Ms. Maximoff says and almost simultaneously everyone stands from their seats and heads out, some saying goodbye and others annoyed at the reminder of the upcoming stress of final exams.

“Hey, y/n. The girls and I are going to call it a day and grab lunch, wanna come?” With a bright smile, Kate offers, and you can feel another pair of eyes glancing at you.

“I’m sorry Kate, I actually have to stay for the next class, but you all have fun!” You reject the offer apologetically and the girl playfully rolls her eyes at you.

“I swear no one can crack you, promise you’ll join us next time.”

“Okay, I promise,” You smile back and watch her gather her things.

“Bye, enjoy yourself I guess.”

“Y-yeah, bye!”

Kate walks out of the room and the door loudly makes a “click” when it closes, bringing silence into the atmosphere. You look at Wanda and immediately gulp when she smirks at you with her head slightly tilted. She stands and walks to your seat, placing her hands on the desk. She leans down while looking down at you.

“Well, what do we have here? Didn’t you just say you have a class to attend, Ms. y/ln?” The woman asks in her low and smooth voice, and all you can do is stare blankly at her with your wide eyes.

“I-” You squeak and clear your throat, “I lied, I wanted to be with you alone, Ms. Maximoff.”

Wanda brings her hand to your face, softly brushing her fingers against your cheek, and laughs sweetly at your response.

“My darling, of course you did. Today you were so good…paying attention to the class and participating, even ignoring whenever Kate tried to talk to you when I was in the middle of the lecture.” She praises and your breath hitches, “That girl, always trying to get you to skip my class like you’re still in high school, but you never let her convince you. No. Because you’re my good girl, aren’t you?”

The way she intensely yet adorably looks at you for the only answer there is to that question makes your knees go weak, and you can feel your face starting to heat up.

“Yes, I am.” You breathe out.

Wanda sits next to you and starts petting your head and running her fingers through your soft hair, making you close your eyes and huff through your nose at the relaxing feeling.

“I can tell when my bunny wants attention, the way you stared at me the whole class like you wanted me to notice your obedient behavior and the little smiles when your answers were right. Good girls deserve a treat, don’t they?”

You hum, almost coming out as a moan and you get closer to her, nearly falling off your chair. Then you feel another hand on your knee and you open your eyes in surprise, but you knew what you were doing when you decided to wear that mini skirt. You simply loved to play dumb and innocent for her.

“My beautiful doll, always looking pretty for me,” She purrs while groping your thigh, traveling higher, “You have absolutely no idea how hard it is to have you in front of me, watching me with those big eyes of yours while biting your pen and not being able to do anything about it.”

Her hand finds its way under your skirt and traces the front of your lace panties, rubbing your clit with her thumb and you gulp down a moan and squirm under her.

“Hm, someone likes it there?”

“M-more...” You gasp, feeling her thumb pressing your sensitive button.

“Ah, ah,” Wanda shakes her head and grabs your jaw with her free hand, making you face her, and you stop breathing for a moment. She’s so close to you that your lips are about to brush. “Is that how you should talk to your mommy, sweetheart?”

Even if you wanted to shake your head, you couldn’t, so there’s no other option but to answer out loud.

“N-no, mommy. ‘M sorry.” You whisper, and your cheeks turn a pinkish color.

Wanda’s stern expression turns into a smirk, and your soft skin gets attacked by unwelcomed goosebumps. That smirk means she already has in mind what she wants to do to you, and your thighs rub together in anticipation of what that would be. The grip on your jaw softens, and the older woman leans in and kisses you. You close your eyes and hum at the familiar feeling of her soft lips on yours. It’s already flustering enough whenever Wanda touches or kisses you, but right now, being in the classroom makes it a hundred times more agitating for you. You love it though.

You tilt your head to the side and slightly open your mouth, giving her the perfect opportunity to slip her tongue past your lips, your thighs glued against each other, looking for something else while Wanda tastes you. The kiss is heated yet delicate, devouring you without having to make it disgustingly messy.

When she breaks the kiss you open your eyes and see her lips mildly smudged in your cherry lipgloss. All you can think is how hot she looks with anything red.

“Now, what is it that you need, baby?” She asks softly with a raspy voice.

“You.” You whimper without hesitating, “I need you, mommy, so bad.”

Wanda smiles and voices an almost inaudible “aww.”

“You have to be quiet, bunny. You understand, right?”

You nod your head desperately and she spreads your legs carefully. Your heartbeat thuds loudly in your ears, and it’s even pronounced against your throat. Her thumb traces your clit again, but this time you shift uncomfortably in the chair at the wetness in your panties, the finger travels down your pussy, the lace feeling sticky and you whine.

“My needy princess, all wet already, and I haven’t even started yet.” She whispers in your ear as she starts slowly massaging your clit, gaining a soft gasp from you.

She applies the right amount of pressure down your sensitive button, giving you just enough attention to keep you satisfied for now. You gulp, your chest beginning to heave as you struggle to keep quiet.

Wanda’s free hand finds your pouty lips, parting them with her thumb, and just as she does that, a small but clear whimper escapes your throat.

“Fine, guess I have to help you keep quiet,”

The redhead groans softly before forcing two fingers into your mouth, causing you to whine uncomfortably at first, which only makes her chuckle cruelly.

“C’mon sweetheart, you suck mommy’s cock just fine, you can handle my fingers.” She purrs with a taunting grin across her face. Her brows raised as if asking you for confirmation.

Your wide eyes look at her and you hum around her fingers, slowly but surely sucking on them with your addictive lips wrapped around Wanda’s long digits.

“That’s a good girl.” She softly encourages you, almost grunting because of your pretty mouth and the warmth of your tongue. Her eyes are fixated on your expression as she thrusts her fingers in and out of your mouth, focusing on the way your brows meet and shape your pretty face with an almost helpless look, fueling her most deprived desires. “Yeah…just like that.” She growls softly, thrusting deeper and harsher, causing you to whimper.

Wanda absolutely goes feral about how you don’t have a gag reflex. And she makes sure to take advantage of it whenever she can.

She tugs at the thin band of your panties, sliding them down until your aching cunt is free from the suffocating lace. A small groan escapes you when you feel a string of arousal connecting your pussy to the soaked material until it breaks from Wanda’s harsh tug. Count yourself lucky she didn’t rip them off.

Wanda gets her fingers out of your mouth with a loud ‘pop’ and guides them to your dripping pussy, gently running them up and down, causing you to bite your lip in avoidance of any moans or whimpers.

“Tell me what you want, bunny.” She orders you gently, her lips hovering yours as she purposefully blows on them while her fingers coat your vulva with your wetness.

With a small gulp and bobbing on your throat, your eyes find hers in a pleading stare. The door isn’t even locked, and anyone could walk in. Your heartbeat tries to warn you relentlessly about it.

And yet, you still find yourself begging. “I want you to fill me up, mommy.”

It’s extremely deranged to be doing this in the place she works and you study at, especially with how you love to address her in the bedroom, but Wanda fucking loves it. She loves how you’re not as innocent as you portray yourself to be, and it’s all hers to see. In fact, you have such a strong effect on her that she’s subtly shifting on the chair, attempting to find friction between her own aching cunt and the thick material of her trousers.

The redhead smiles proudly at your obedience, planting a small but sweet kiss on your nose that has your brain melting, and she doesn’t waste a second before slowly sliding her fingers inside your pussy. Your walls are so warm that even a quiet but notorious whimper from her hits your ears, and you almost mirror it before she clashes your lips together in an almost needy kiss.

All you can think of is her; your hot mess of a teacher beginning to thrust her slender but long digits deeper and deeper as she tries to eat you alive. She’s only a starving animal when it comes to you.

Her fingers fuck you in a merciless rhythm, squelching and smacking filling the empty space, and rushing the blood to your cheeks in embarrassment at the lewd sounds. Your hips grind as well, somehow needing more despite her relentless thrusting, and she drinks your small moans of pleasure. Open mouthed lips capturing yours in a heated and desperate embrace with her free hand wrapped around your neck to both keep you in place and grip it tightly.

Clearly, Wanda couldn’t care less about where you are, at least not anymore. Her frenzied speed never fails to turn you into a puddle, and your thighs tremble once the familiar pressure rumbles down your belly.

“Mommy, I…” You try to tell her about the incoming blissful ending, and another harsh thrust against your spongy wall sends your eyes all the way back in euphoria.

As vocal as you’re being, you still try to keep it down. Your poor lungs are burning from your pathetic breathing, useless in the end because you’re still moaning and listening to their soft echoing.

“Yeah? Gonna cum all over mommy’s fingers, honey?” Wanda taunts you, her voice ragged with pulsing desire for the best sight there is to witness.

The steamy air and filling from her fingers are enough to warm you up. Small beads of sweat roll down your temples, and the heat releases the sweet scent of your perfume for Wanda to take in with her nose buried in the crook of your neck.

“So so close-“

A hurricane crashes down, emptying your head and your walls trap Wanda’s fingers inhumanly- as if trying to snap them from her hand to never miss the delicious stuffing again.

“What an impatient bunny. C’mon, keep being good for me and let go.” She whispers between bites and wet kisses on your neck.

The storm comes down, and you bite your lip so you won’t scream her name, drawing blood out as you squirt all over her fingers and your seat. The older woman can’t help but pant at the small show you’re performing for her, cursing because now this is all she’ll think about whenever she imparts her classes.

The white dots splattered all over Wanda’s face slowly fade away as you catch your breath and regain consciousness. She runs her fingers through your hair, soothing you and leaning in to suck the blood off your poor swollen lip.

“What am I going to do with you? I can’t control myself anymore.” Her question is mostly rhetoric, but it’s like she expects you to answer.

You don’t respond, of course, still empty headed because of her, and instead you just stare at her, completely moonstruck. Wanda sighs in amusement more than anything.

“My sweet, sweet girl…” She coos, her voice like honey.

The emptiness left by the ghost of her fingers causes you to groan under your breath, your thighs never ceasing their shivering. And she brings them to your mouth, the glistening of your creamy white arousal coating your lips as her digits enter your mouth again.

“How I wish I could just lock you up and keep you to myself.” She mutters between gruff sighs, intently watching you suck her fingers clean, “I hate that Kate keeps trying to keep you away from me…but you don’t want her. No. You want me, right?”

Doe wide eyes catch a glimpse of dangerous possessiveness in her emerald ones. You further take her fingers and nod your head, humming around her digits in a pleasing melody.

“One day…you’ll be away and missing, but finally all mine to have.”

[cosmosluckycharms]

Bug like angel

pt2

Girl Afraid

May 12, XXXX

4:45 AM

"Shit," you think to yourself as you realize you're going to be late for school

Yes, your school usually doesn't start till 7 AM, but you have a field trip today, and the bus leaves at 5:30 AM.

"Ms.Rose is gonna kill me if I'm late again! Where did I put my bag? Where are my earbuds?" you whisper to no one in particular

You had a million thoughts running in your head, but one thing was sure, you were so late.

You still had to grab your phone, eat breakfast, put on your clothes, do your hair and makeup on the bus, and run towards the bus and then maybe you can make it in time.

You rush downstairs to get breakfast and realize you don't have to be as quiet because it's empty in the kitchen.

You quickly eat breakfast and finish your morning routine before making it out the door.

It's 5:43 when you make it onto the bus, Ms. Rose was waiting on you and thankfully didn't you much of a hard time.

"Ms.y/n, please be more considerate of others time next time."You sat down next to your "friends"

You don't fully consider them your friends, they're too full of themselves and you all know none of you guys are friends, just close acquaintances.

After finishing the coffee you brought onto the bus ride, doing your hair and makeup, and taking a quick nap while listening to music, you finally made it.

Alchemax.

You were excited for the trip, even asking Dick, Jason, and Bruce if they wanted to tag along as chaperones.

They said no, which you both understood and were also sad about but, whatever, who cares? Anyways- you're at the coolest place!

It's perfect for someone who wants an internship that would look great on your resume.

Why do you want that resume? You don't know. Maybe it's so you can impress your family? You aren't fully sure.

Before you question yourself further, you get off the bus, along with your schoolmates.

You hear them all chatting about whatever, but it's clear to everyone that you are the most excited to go on this trip.

You, who wouldn't shut up about it despite everyone at school and home telling you to. You, who kept bouncing off walls while talking about it. You, who constantly wrote about it in journals.

Nothing could stop your excitement, and that was clear to others.

While you were there, you were practically the only one participating.

The only one wasnt scared to ask questions.

The one that would ask questions for others who wouldn't.

You were sure that this was the best trip of your life! You were so interested in everything!

It wasn't until later in the day after you got home at 7:56 that you saw everyone in the dining room sitting together eating, like usual, without you.

Every time you saw them together your heart broke a little more.

You tried to not make a scene and just walk away quietly, and it worked!

With everyone but Alfred.

"And where have you been, young miss?" He asked in an authoritary tone.

"I've been on a field trip in Alchemax! I just got back! It was soo fun, why?" you asked, knowing what he was going to ask.

"Wouldn't you like to have dinner with the others?" it's clear he just wanted the others to notice you, he knew you've tried so hard to be with them.

"it's alright, Alfred. I grabbed lunch with my friends earlier, I'm still full!" you said enthusiastically. It wasnt a lie, afterwards you all went to your favorite fast food place, batburger. You're sure theres no better fast food place than batburger.

"Oh, that's quite alright then." as soon as he said that you went upstairs to get unready and unpack for the day. you didnt notice Jasons slight dissapointment on his face when you refused and walked away.

It's good that it was a Friday, you could rest tomorrow.

You didn't notice how you accidentally took Project 111 with you. Mustve sneaken in your bag while you went to the bathroom while at Alchemax.

It took you a while to open your bag due to you getting ready for bed, and you screamed when you saw a spider in your bag and crawling onto your hand.

"FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK STOP CRAWLING ON ME LEAVE ME ALONE WHERE DID YOU COME FROM GO AWAY!" the stupid spider kept crawling on you.

It's honestly suprising no one heard you scream. Either that or they didnt care.

You didnt know what to do. You hate spiders.

It took you minute or two of just flailing before actually doing something.

You tried to reach for your nearest hairbrush to hit the spider with, only to accidentally hit yourself anywhere but where the spider was. Thats gonna leave a mark.

The spider, project 111, ended up biting you on the wrist. You ended up killing it with your hairspray.

You started panicking on whether you would die or not, you may have cried a little before realizing you were being a tad bit dramatic.

You realized the spider didn't look like the venomous ones you researched online while trying to find common ground with Damian back when he was new

So you decide to keep this to yourself, a nice little secret.

3:37 AM

You woke up sweating, panicking, hot, cold, tired, wide awake, hungry, full, thirsty, not thirsty.

You didn't know what was happening.

You forced yourself to fall back asleep.

it's around 12 PM when you wake up again.

You hope it was just a weird nightmare.

You realize you woke up late to breakfast, which was usually at 9:30 for you, so on your desk was some cold breakfast Alfred left for you.

While eating it, you thought about what happened.

Was it a dream? Was it a sign? Were you high?

You start walking in circles trying to figure out what it could all mean...it took you a while to realize you were literally upside down on your ceiling.

Oops?

Before you processed it, you panicked.Why are you on the ceiling? Why were you walking on walls? How were you walking on walls?

So many questions. No one to answer them.

After a bit of panicking and running around making a mess, you realize you sort of have powers.

You could stick to walls, that was one.

You could make webs, thats two. You could be a hero, like the others!

At first, you find it so cool!

..then you realized your father doesn't want metas in Gotham...

You decide to keep this to yourself, for now at least.

oml this is so short oops guys i swear im. tryigg my hardest but also im kind of a bad writiter 🙏

anyways the next one of these i make is most likely gonna be emu reader cause shes so silly

anyways

[pablitogavii]

Boundaries

After seeing what happened to Pedri during his latest interview, I came up with a similar idea for Gavi :)

Pablo was doing an interview today with Residency and he was very happy he will get to engage more with his fans and answer some of their questions.

Everyone knows Pablo isn't much of a talker and doesn't like the publicity he quickly gained but this was a way for him to give back to his supporters.

"Welcome Gavi! one of the guys said and he shook his hand smiling and saying he was happy to participate.

"This is Avaline, she will interview you first" he showed to the girl who was smirking at Pablo before giving him a playful wink which already made him more uncomfortable than before.

Pablo was in an official relationship and everyone knew about it. After a few months, you guys decided to become official in order to avoid any gossip and guesses from all over the internet even though keep most of your relationship private.

"Um..o.okay" he said sitting down and the girl immediately moved closer saying they will share one microphone. He knew that you trusted him but he didn't want you to have to watch numerous videos of him sharing a microphone with this girl who was clearly flirting all along.

"Hay otro micrófono?" Pablo asked the guy who smiled quickly catching on and giving him his while girl just clenched her jaw. She wasn't giving up still always trying to touch Pablo while he was answering her questions.

"I think I and all the girls out there wanna know what's your type?" she smirked and Pablo heard the translation to her question playing with his shirt because he was very uncomfortable.

"Bueno. Creo que todos lo saben ahora que han visto a mi novia. Ella tiene un hermoso cabello castaño largo, ojos oscuros y la sonrisa más hermosa." [Well. I think everyone knows that now that they've seen my girlfriend. She has beuitful long brown hair, dark eyes and the most beuitful smile.] Pablo said using this as an opportunity to clearly show the girl he was taken and not interested in her.

"Yes but I'm sure there are other girls you find attractive also?" she said and now Pablo was really nervous shaking his head trying to change the topic but she just wouldn't let him.

"No. Yo... um, no miro a nadie más." [No. I don't look at anyone else] Pablo answered and the girl joked saying that he was just too shy to admit it on camera. She was really making him look bad and he was looking to the side thinking of the way to end this interview politely.

"Puedo tomar un descanso, por favor?" [Can I have a break please?] he looked at the guy not even looking to see what girl had to say about it. When the man nodded, Pablo quickly grabbed his phone and left outside. He called Pedri.

"Oi hermano? Cuando hiciste tu entrevista con Residency, ¿había una chica que te entrevistó?" [When you did your interview with Residency, was there a girl who interviewed you?] Pablo asked

"Si, tío. Y ella me pasó su número después." [Yes, man. And she slipped me her number afterwards.] Pedri said and before Pablo could respond he heard her annoying voice calling for him.

"Pablito! You know I really like shy guys.." she reached to touch my collar but I pulled away quickly shaking my head in disbelief that she would invade my space like that. This was defiantly crossing the boundaries.

"Don't call me that and stop making me uncomfortable. I am a taken man and I really need you to back off!" Pablo said surprised himself how direct he was but he needed to make things clear.

"Oh come on! I know footballers love to have some on the side..I won't tell if you don't??" she was still trying to get closer until Pablo rolled his eyes walking past her shocked face to the menager.

"Vine por mis fans, pero esto es muy poco profesional." [I came because of my fans but this is very unprofessional.] Pablo was mad now and the menager apologized saying the gurl will leave immediately and he will finish his interview with him instead.

After the said interview, Pablo came home and told you the whole story. You were cuddling on the couch listening to his story while munching on some fruits.

"And you really told her not to call you that??" you said with a big smile looking up at him really wishing you could see her face.

"Mhm..only mi amor can call me that" he said kissing your forehead lovingly and you smiled nodding your head.

"You're too sweet Pablito" you said and then he kissed your lips. Just when you were about to forget all about that topic did you get a notification that someone commented on your old photo.

"What did you say her name was Pablito?" you ask seeing the mean comment she left on your picture on Instagram. When Pablo saw that he wanted to immediately react but you asked him to just let it go.

"Let's not give her what she wants amor.." you say taking his phone from his hands as he sighs feeling awful that this was happening to you because of him.

y.n.bebe

Barcelona, Spain

date night outfit💕 tagged: pablogavi

comments:

pablogavi: perfectaa 😍

y.n.bebe: te amo muchisimoo❤️

aurorapaezg: wow hermanita! 😍😍

y.n.bebe: I have the best stylist 😘

pablopaezgfanclub: she's so gorgeous!!

y/npablofans: best couple!!

fcbarcelonawags: most gorgeous of the wags!!

mikkykiemeney: princesa 💛

y.n.bebe: te amo!!

avalineee: hiding her face cause she's ugly lmaoo! everybody knows pablo with her only bc he feels bad like he can do so much better!! check out my page besties ;))

pablogavifanss: attention seeker!!

gavirafamfans: this girl literally harassed pablo during an interview!

gavigavipablo: y/n is gorgeous!!

pablopaezgaviraa: and by better you think you!? pls pablo doesn't like all plastic girls with no charm! his girl is an angel and we all love her!!❤️

Even though Pablo promised you not to reply anything and give the girl any attention, he still posted the story that same night because he couldn't sleep without defending you 😊

pablogavi sotries

For those who don't know, this is my PERFECT girlfriend! 😍

SO many people reposted his story tagging the girl who hated you with quirky comments. It was a clear message since Pablo never writes anything in English. He wanted her to understand every word!

pablitoofans: @avalineee oh no he don't want you HAHAHA

y/npabloship: him defending his girl!! YES pablo!!

gavirafanclub: @avalineee beng mean to this angel is unacceptable but pablo is there to protect her always ❤️❤️❤️

The next morning, when he went to training he was happy that people were writing you love because that's all you deserve.

[spydergaz]

⋆⭒˚.⋆ not a lot, just forever.

🍂📀🍁

word count : 654

cw: fluff, no actual pronouns used, peter is awkward as hell, idk your vibe, but it’s a good one, peter is a cranberries fan.

a/n: i haven’t properly written something in forever :/ but i’m trying i swear lol. i was also listening to Adrianne Lenker while writing this so that may have influenced this a bit.

the leaves crunch under your converses as you walk, your arms swinging loosely by your sides as you wave your hands in the breeze. you’re walking across campus to your next class, a routine you've grown fond of due to the simplicity of it all. you consider yourself a simple person, you enjoy small things like rocks and the sound of the river that flows under the bridge of your campus.

you’re also noticeably quiet, so much so that your teachers have stopped trying to get you to participate in group discussions. you don’t mind though, you’re content being by yourself.

and so is peter. he’s just as quiet as you, he always has headphones on. you can faintly hear his music, you like the fact that he likes the cranberries, you do too. but he tends to sit away from you, he doesn’t hate you, how could he? the way you skip around campus, the way you collect and paint rocks, the way you sit by the river, the way you’re so freely yourself.

his crush on you is something you’re oblivious too, and he’s too scared to even look at you. he’s read so many books on nature related topics that he might turn into a walking weed, he’s replayed a conversation with you in his head so much he could write a script about it. he wants to ask you to get coffee, he’s seen you sip coffee once or twice, maybe he’ll ask you to see a movie?

he knows you like superheroes, he sees the superman pin on your tote bag. but talking to you seems like his kryptonite, like he’ll die if he tries.

but today he’ll try, he’ll try and push past that fear and talk to you.

~

it’s the afternoon, you’re sitting on a bench and quietly sketching the trees in front of you. your foot lightly tapping on the grass to your music that plays softly in your headphones.

he feels like he’s being creepy, holding flowers for a person who doesn’t even know him. but he sighs and walks up to you, cringing at himself as he taps your shoulder.

“hi uhm, i’m not trying to be creepy but-“ he’s cut off by your eyes peering into his, he feels so small when you look at him with those pretty eyes.

“are those flowers?”

“for you.”

“me..?” you smile as he hands them to you, they’re some sunflowers, they’re fake, but the gesture is nice anyways. “the real ones are super expensive and uh-“

you shake your head and look up at him again. “i get it, it’s okay.” he nervously laughs, mindlessly fidgeting with his fingers.

“could i ask your name?” you reply with your name and he smiles, smiles that you trust him enough already for that. “i’m peter parker, i promise i’m a lot more composed usually.”

you laugh at the self deprecating joke.

“i’ve seen you in class.”

“well i don’t tend to turn invisible, i’ve seen you too. which is why i’m giving you flowers.”

you smile, you appreciate how nice he is and how awkward he is too. “i was- am asking you out by the way, if you’re… interested?” you nod, laughing a bit.

“well don’t laugh at me, i’m trying!” his voice is mockingly whiny as he laughs with you. “but you’re like.. okay with going on a date?” you nod again, stifling your laughter for his sake.

“how does a cafe sound?”

“i like the sound of that, I’m always in a mood for coffee.”

“when do you… wanna go?”

“tomorrow? after class?”

“holy shi- uh- yeah that’s okay.” and with that he stands there awkwardly before clearing his throat and nodding, sighing of relief. “yeah i’ll see you tomorrow! uh, i’ve gotta bounce.” you nod in response and wave him goodbye as he runs off, you can practically hear the smile in his voice.

© spydergaz.tumblr please don't claim my work as your own, copy it, or put it on different websites without my consent. Translations are welcome if you do not post them. ˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

[if-mirrormine]

quiet comfort

summary: comforting kennedy when she needs it most.

pairing: kennedy x lev (nb!oc)

word count: 833

this drabble is for @dustoftheancients who participated in the raffle for palestine hosted by the incredibly kind and talented @northern-passage. all gofundme pages are still up and short of their goal, so in case you want to check them out and you have the means to donate, you can!

there's a quiet stillness in the air that borders on uncomfortable but it's not quite tense enough to reach that point yet. kennedy sits across from them, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee. her hair is done up, pulled back from her face and instead of makeup, she wears a somber expression.

lev toys with the handle of their drink as they shift in the booth. the faux leather creeks quietly and kennedy's golden eyes flick over to them at the sound, a tenderness taking over her features that puts them at ease somewhat.

they clear their throat, looking for a way into conversation. "it was a beautiful service," they say and the words are genuine. candles, flowers, ambient music played by a clearly overexperienced and underpayed piano player. in all honesty, it was one of the more pleasant memorial services they'd experienced. if only a little lonely.

kennedy stares down into her coffee, a small furrow between her eyebrows that's turned her somber look pensive. "do you think i should've said something?"

they blink at her in surprise. "did you want to say something?"

she glances at them and sighs. "i don't know," she says before pausing to take a sip. "i feel like it was expected of me."

"we can always go back," they suggest, perhaps a poor attempt at lightening the mood. "as far as i'm aware, cemeteries don't have opening hours."

she cracks a smile and lev counts that as a win. "be serious."

"i am!" she gives them a flat look and they hold their hands up in a sign of concession. "alright; what would you have said? if you'd gone up there?"

she tilts her to the side, chewing on her bottom lip as she thinks. "professor wilkes was more than just a mentor to me; he was a friend. i wouldn't be where i am today if it weren't for his guidance and kinship. he believed in me when no one else did, he pushed me to be the best person i could be and i'll never be able to thank him enough for that."

the tears finally begin to spill over, tears she hadn't been able to shed earlier at the service or even two days ago when she found about his passing in the first place. ut's difficult watching kennedy cry, this woman who has aways been so confident and so strong, because they know there's nothing they can do to take away the pain or the grief.

instead they settle for simple comfort. slipping out of their side of the booth and into hers, opening their arms to her and letting her bury her face in their chest. it's all they can do to hug her back, breathe in the calming scent of her lavender shampoo and wait it out.

they're not sure how long they stay like that. long enough for patrons to come and go, for their drinks to get cold and for their right leg to go numb. eventually, kennedy pulls back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand and giving a small, embarrassed laugh. "sorry," she mutters, her voice thick with emotion.

"don't be," lev replies softly, reaching up to wipe away the tears she missed. "i'm here for anything you need."

leaning into their touch, she hums. "thank you for coming with me today. i don't know if i would've managed without you."

they grin at her as they caress her cheek. "nah, you definitely would've. i'm just the arm candy."

she snorts, pulling her hand away from them to cover her face as she laughs. "arm candy, huh?" she teases, her laughter easing the tension that had been lingering between them. "you know, you might be onto something."

lev chuckles, enjoying the sight of her smile, however brief it might be. "it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it."

the moment of levity does them both good, and they sit in comfortable silence for a bit, the noise of the coffee shop a gentle backdrop to their thoughts. after a few moments, kennedy's expression turns contemplative again.

"it still doesn't feel real," she says, her eyes on their face, analysing every minute detail like she has so many times before. "i keep expecting him to call me about some new journal he's reading."

"it gets easier," they offer. "i can't tell you when exactly but it will eventually."

ehe pouts. "i don't have that kind of patience."

they pull her close, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead and relishing in the feeling of her sinking into their embrace. "none of us do. but i'll be here for you the whole time."

kennedy lets out a soft sigh, her breath warm against their neck. "that means more to me than you'll ever know."

giving her a soft squeeze, they can't hide their smile as they rest their cheek against the top of her head. "i think i have an idea."

[klaprisun]

One Sunny Day

(Stardew Valley)(Haley x Female Farmer)

Chapter 13

The day of the Flower Dance has arrived. I received a letter in my mailbox yesterday informing me of the details.

Tomorrow we're all getting together for the Flower Dance.

If you can find a partner, you might even want to participate in the dance yourself!

There's a little clearing beyond the forest west of town where we hold the dance. Arrive between 9 am and 2 pm if you're interested.

-Mayor Lewis

I don't totally want to go considering I'll have to see Haley. We have not spoken for a couple days again. This time I feel it's deliberate. At least on my end it is. My heart still aches from our last encounter with one another at the Bath by the train station. She hasn't tried to reach out and apologize once. Part of me wonders if she even remembers. I wasn't going to try to find out though.

She will be dancing away with Alex with not a care in the world. Not even a second thought about what happened the other day. Everyone else will have a partner too except for me and I will look stupid standing on the side, watching everyone else have fun.

"I have better things to do today anyway," I mutter under my breath while crumbling up the letter about the Flower Dance, "I will start the day by watering my crops like usual, then I will swing by Pierre's-... oh never mind."

Everything will be closed today. How stupid. It only takes me 30 minutes to water everything and then I'll have nothing to do.

Back in my house, I sulk around for a good hour, refusing to do anything else. I stare over at the dresser I now have in my bedroom, wondering what clothes I would wear if I were to go check it out for a second. IF I were to go.

Getting up out of bed, I pace over to the dresser and proceed to pull open the draws to see what clothes I have to wear. There is nothing even remotely nice enough to wear.

"It's not like I'd be staying anyway. I'll just go, peek around the corner and leave," I start convincing myself.

Next thing you know I am walking down to the clearing the note said the Flower Dance is held. I had just thrown on baggy jeans, and a white flannel with a light pink tank top underneath. I kept the flannel open so the pink tank top is more visible.

I made the mistake to fiddle around in the fields before I left so my knees are covered with dirt and I am kind of dusty.

I've never been this far west before. I got a little lost finding my way but I did eventually make it since I saw ropes with colorful banners leading the way. But just as I said I was going to do, I stood back and observed from a distance.

Sam, Abigail and Sebastian are huddled together. Oddly, Penny is standing around with them. Emily has arrived back in town from her trip. She is prancing around and doing her own thing. Shane is also off on his own, but moping around instead of prancing. Leah and Elliot are chatting away over some punch, and Maru is talking to Harvey while they grab food from the buffet table. The older folks are also kind of just standing around and chatting with one another.

As badly as I wanted to ignore her, I saw Haley sitting by herself in the corner of the clearing in the grass. She seems to be wiping her eyes constantly, and trying to hide away behind her golden locks. She has the most gorgeous white, spring dress on with a crown made of beautiful pink flowers. Alex is nowhere in sight.

My legs seem to have a mind of their own, because I find myself approaching Haley in the shaded corner of the clearing. No one else had my attention, only Haley. I felt everyone's eyes on me as they watched me cut across the grass to get to her.

Haley didn't notice my presence until I was directly looming over her, casting extra shadows over her since I blocked any bit of light that's shining behind me.

She quickly wiped her eyes and nose before she spoke, "What are you doing over here?" she sniffles.

"I came to see what you are doing." I respond blandly.

Haley recognizes the bland tone and proceeds to quiz me more, "if you are just going to be all grumpy, why did you even come?"

"I felt left out. I had nothing else to do today. At least I'm not crying in the corner by myself." I snap back in a monotone voice.

That made her stand up to face me now. Except she doesn't seem that threatening considering her cute little outfit and her height. She brushes off her dress before pointing an accusing finger at me.

"I didn't ask you to come over here and ridicule me. Now go on with whatever you came over here to do and be gone!" she shouts. Our conversation is not in the range of anyone else, despite the shouting.

"Why are you crying, Haley? Where is Alex?" I calmly ask to try to settle things down. I don't try putting a hand on her shoulder or anything yet because I don't think we are quite back to that level.

She broke down crying instead of answering me. She covered her face with her hands and lowered her head. I just awkwardly stand there waiting for her to get to a point that she can speak.

"Haley you are going to wreck your makeup," is the best I can do to try to stop her from crying any longer. It worked though because her wails turned to breathy inhales.

"A-A-Alex l-l-left," she manages to get out.

"What do you mean?"

"He left for Zuzu City this morning to go see someone named Taylor. I heard them on the phone talking today and he just left right after. He left me hanging here with no dance partner. I have been the Flower Queen for 5 years and again this year, but how lame is it that I don't have a partner to dance with," Haley blurts out all at once. She got angrier and angrier as she went on.

"Whoa whoa whoa, Alex just left? On the day of the Flower Dance? Does he know how important that is to you?"

Her eyes sparkle up at me with more tears ready to form.

"Yes."

"So now you don't have a dance partner?" I reiterate.

"Yes."

"Have you asked anyone at all?"

"Ew no. That's not my job," she holds her nails up to her face to admire them. They are manicured with an eye catching, sea blue color.

"Well how are you supposed to get a dance partner if you don't ask around?"

She rolls her eyes at me, "I don't. Everyone else has a dance partner. You'll see. It's the same line up of partners every year. Nothing changes. It's kind of a tradition."

"Fuck tradition," I stick my hand out to her, palm up. I watch the gears work in her head to figure out what I am doing. It finally clicks and her head rapidly moves to look up at me.

"You... want to be my dance partner?" She says hesitantly. I can't tell how she is feeling with this proposition I have made.

I reach out and gently wipe the tear marks of her mascara from her cheeks. "Someone has to be the Queen's knight in shining armor."

Haley started blushing immensely at my remark. All she could do was look up and stutter at me. It was quite the sight to see.

"It is now time for the Flower Dance to begin! Everyone find your dance partners and line up as usual," Mayor Lewis hollers.

I watch as everyone huddles around, while the dancers line up across from their partner. The pairings really surprised me. Emily is with Shane, Sebastian with Abigail, Sam with Penny, Maru with Harvey, and Leah with Elliot.

Haley takes me by the hand and drags me straight to the open spot in the middle. She sticks me where I am supposed to go and prances over to her spot across from me. Since I have taken Alex's place, I am unfortunately the only girl on the guys side.

"I'm not a very good dancer. Warning you now," I tell Haley.

"You'll be fine. Don't worry," she giggles.

Mesmerizing music starts filling the air. I can't help but feel the weight of my worries lift off my shoulders as soon as I hear the song start.

On cue, Haley and the other girls in her row start swinging their dresses side to side to the beat. My row, which is all the guys, start approaching them to the beat. I am kind of behind on all the moves, Haley is amused.

The whole world seems to stop as I get closer to Haley. I can't help admiring how gorgeous she looks in the afternoon sunlight. It starts to feel as if we are the only two in the world.

Haley starts to wave her arms in the air while swaying her hips. I am not even paying attention to what moves I'm supposed to be doing at this point. I am just kind of bopping around... although that is kind of all I'm supposed to be doing anyway.

Haley goes back to swaying her arms in the air, I sense my row is moving closer to the girls, so I approach closer to Haley. We are almost face to face now, just a foot apart.

"You are all dirty," she whispers to me, referencing the dirt on my pants from this morning.

"You have no idea," I give her a wink, causing her cheeks to flare pink. I notice her stumble in the choreography which I doubt she has ever done in the 5 years she has been Flower Queen.

All the guys go to grab their partner's waist gently with one arm, and do some sort of a formal walk in a circle move.

I grab Haley's waist and hold it tightly, giving her a slight squeeze. Our bodies are pressed up to one another. The two of us are so wrapped up in our little circle move, that we don't notice everyone else has stopped.

Mayor Lewis clears his throat off in the distance, "That's it for the Flower Dance festivals folks. Y'all have a great night."

Haley and I immediately backed off from each other severely embarrassed. I look around at the crowd and notice Elliot and Leah fanning themselves as if they're saying 'it got steamy in here'.

Haley smooths out her skirt and gives me a little curtsy. "Thank you, my knight in shining armor, for saving the day."

I return a small bow and take her hand, planting a kiss on the back of it before releasing, "You know where to find me if you ever require rescuing."

I'm so glad I ended up going to the Flower Dance this year.

[lovemyloveallmine]

09.It actually went well ?

Yn walked back and fourth anxiously in her makeup room. "Fuck my life I think am gonna die what if niki thinks am a weirdo ? Omg this is so embarrassing " She said to herself. After few mins her manager entered the room "Yn we need to go on set now niki is already there " he said. "Manager nim is it too late to go home now ?" Yn said with hope in eyes. Her manager just sighed. "Yn its gonna be okay. Just think this as your another shoot. I know you have anxiety but you're gonna be just fine trust me " He said with a small smile. Yn calmed down a little and said " But niki-" "NOTHING will happen. Be professional and think niki as just another person you're working with and you'll be fine". Yn wasn't convinced but still smiled a little " Thankyou ". " yeah yeah let's go now".

They reached the set when niki and his manager were standing. The moment yn saw niki she froze for a min. The manager say it and whispered "get it together yn". Yn came back to her senses and nodded. They both went forward and niki finally saw her. "Oh fuck she has gotten even prettier over these months". His manager nudged him and cleared his throat. Both the managers hugged each other leaving both the idols awkwardly. " Hello niki I am yn's manager and this is yn she will be mentoring with you in this show" said manager lee. Niki bowed and yn bowed back. " Hi, its nice to meet you" niki said with an awkward smile. "Same here" yn said trying to keep her cool. The managers shoot each knowing eyes and smiled nodding their head. Niki's manager cleared his throat and said "Its starting please pay attention they will call you on stage any second". The host of the show introduced the main judges and then the participants group by group. Then after finishing the last group he said " Its the time all of you had been waiting for. To mentor these participants we have two special guests who are the it dancers of 4th gen and are winning everyone's heart. Please welcome New jeans' Yn and enhypen's niki". Everyone cheered as both of them made their way to the stage. "Hello everyone this is niki from enhypen" Niki said bowing. "Hi everyone this is yn from new jeans" yn said bowing. The host clapped and said " For today you guys don't have to do anything, there's your seats you can sit there and judge the participants and let them know where they could improve or express how you felt about there performance". Both the idols thanked him and went to their assigned seats. Throughout the show they both focused on the performances sharing their views and giving advices to the participants.

After the show was over both we sitting together in the makeup room talking about certain things as they are no longer awkward with each other. "Wait how long have you been dancing tho ?" Niki said while sipping his americano. " Since I was 3 " yn said casually. "NO WAY ME TOO" Niki said putting his hand to do hi five. "WAIT FOR REAL ?" Yn said returning the hi five even though she obviously knew this information. "She's so cute trying to act like this is the first time she's hearing it" niki thought to himself smiling a little. Niki thought that maybe he should tell her that he knows yn is an engene. "Yn I wanted to tell you some-" "Lets go now" manager lee said cutting him off

and coming into the room. "We're leaving now ?" Yn said being a little sad. "Yes yn unfortunately because the show is over and you have a photoshoot right now" Manager said. "But niki was going to tell me something-" "I'll tell you later" niki said quickly. "Alright then" yn said. "bye bye niki see you next week" yn waved. Niki waved back "byeee yn !" with a smile.

Previous | Masterlist | Next

AERA'S NOTE :- HI ANGELSS !!!! A written chapter finally !! Hope you like it and comments and reblongs are very appreciated <3

Taglist :- @naijmi @eupherbia @kgneptun @kittyeij @imyourjoy0 @mrowwww @im-yn-suckers @ibsysbsfsunsbs @lillians-world-is-f1 @sunshinessky @hoondiors

[rockingrobin69]

competitive arse

They’re not supposed to participate, only to observe, and perhaps step in to referee if there’s trouble: and yet, again and again Potter makes his way down to the pitch, to give ‘helpful’ tips or just ruffle everyone’s hair a little and say what a good job they’re all doing.

And grin, and nod, and yell ‘go team red’ when blue and yellow are playing, and flaunt his huge arms and thick thighs and that absolutely ridiculous arse Draco doesn’t see in his dreams. Often. And stretch, with the old Gryffindor Seeker top that leaves a fair bit of his belly on display, dark and hairy and driving Draco out of his mind. What? nothing. He’s fine, absolutely fine. He’s agreed to do this.

Under wand-point, yes, but—Merlin’s balls, what is Potter doing now? On all fours on the grass and letting one of the kids ride him like a pony. One of the—it’s Scorpius. It’s Scorpius. Holding on to Potter’s hair like reins and laughing. Draco… hmm? No, he can’t, ah. Think. Anymore.

He’s going to kill Ginny. He’s going to kill her, and Astoria, and then Potter for good measure, and then he’s going to lick that glisten of sweat all the way down his neck and—argh! Not good not good not good. They’re in public and Draco’s bloody son is playing pre-broom Quidditch. Meant to be playing, too busy making heart-eyes at Draco’s forever-crush. Forever-nemesis, he means. Oh, fuck, Potter took his shirt off? When. No, why. No, when, and also, what, and also, oh, no, oh, fuck, he’s coming closer.

What to do? What to do. How to, ah, survive this now, and also what to fucking—

“Malfoy,” two steps down and a thick grin like he’s so pleased about something. He didn’t shave this morning, face full of stubble, and Draco dreams of rash and tickles.

Says: “Potter.” And then, once he’d cleared his throat of this awful, er, thing, “You make the rest of us look bad.”

“Hmm?” Potter is distracted with something on Draco’s lips. What on earth has he got? Jam from breakfast (and Ginny and Astoria holding him at wand-point), mud from the tackle-hug Scorpius gave him, grass in his hair, what, what?

“What,” Draco says without fully intending to. Shaking his head, “I mean. You’re so—all the other parents are just sitting there watching.”

He laughs. The sound is so distracting, Draco almost manages a smile. “Yeah, ‘Mione’s already told me I’m showing off. Can’t help it, though. They didn’t tell me you’re coming today.”

“Yes,” Draco agrees, because Potter is flexing his arms and Draco would quite like to choke in between them, and then, “What? What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” Potter says. Is that winking? Is he winking or having a fit. Draco’s face feels awfully warm and he’s pretty sure he’s losing whatever competition they’re currently on.

Breathes in, out, looks to the sky (blue-blue and unhelpful. Where is lightning when you need to be struck). “Well,” he says when nothing more catastrophic happens, “I suppose I could come every week-end, if, ah. If this is the kind of show I can expect to get.”

When Potter’s grin turns luminescent: “I meant the kids! The way they played was so, ah, they’re so enthusiastic and it’s great to see, ah, stop it, stop, you absolute goon.”

“Yes, you’re only here for the kids,” with a hand in his disastrous hair, disastrously handsome, coming—ah—coming closer, for some incomprehensible reason.

“Stop it,” Draco says, when he truly means—something? Potter’s so close. His chest is bare. It's, ah, stunning. “What, what do you want.”

“Usually we go to the café across the road, after,” Potter smiles from under his thick lashes. Draco, who's milked every last detail regarding the Quidditch Junior League from Astoria for the past three months, knows this to be a definite lie. “Just some of the parents and the kids. You’ll have to come too. Scorp and Albus are just starting to get along, it's be such a shame, to tear them apart.”

It’s a weak excuse and Draco’s weaker. “Of course,” he coughs. “If that’s something you usually do. Who am I to break such a sacred, ah, tradition.”

They both know they’re full of it. On the ground, the actual coach has grown a peculiar set of tentacles, and is carried away by one of the parents who happens to work at St. Mungo’s. The kids are all cheering, and Scorp looks up to the stands and smiles. It’s… a bright sunny day, and Draco was threatened with a bad haircut if he backs out, and besides, he wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else.

(For flufftober day 27. Find the soft AO3 collection here).

[mightyflamethrower]

The president of Houghton University on Monday called for an end to biological males participating in female sports, saying it defies nature and blurs the fundamental distinction between the sexes.

Dr. Wayne D. Lewis Jr., the sixth president of the private university in upstate New York, detailed his defense of women’s collegiate athletics in a statement noting Houghton is a Christian liberal arts college before qualifying his stance as not a religious one.

Rather, it’s a moral position that it’s simply wrong to allow males to take over girls’ and women’s sports, just as other sports organizations have already made clear.

“Biological males’ participation in women’s athletics is wrong,” wrote Lewis, the first African-American president of the university.

“Most Americans and most of the world know it to be wrong. A fringe agenda under the guise of making school and collegiate athletics more inclusive for transgender people has grown to the place of now unfairly displacing gifted and hardworking female athletes, obliterating the historic achievements and records of female athletes of the past, and threatening to dismantle the opportunities and protections for girls and women in sport trailblazing leaders fought so hard to create and protect.”

“Too many leaders, parents, professional athletes, and people of goodwill have been silent as female athletes are humiliated, silenced, and robbed of hard-earned opportunities. That silence is complicit with the fringe agenda that threatens to dismantle girls’ and women’s athletics.”

To conclude his statement, Lewis looked for broader community support.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “I will not sit by silently as a university president whose female student-athletes step weekly onto tracks, courts, and fields to compete but, in some cases, are forced to do so on playing fields we know to be unfair. I hope you will join me.”

Lewis’s statement comes after the All-Atlantic Regional Championships in track and field, where transgender athlete Sadie Schreiner of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) won the women’s 200-meter dash, Fox News notes.

He adds his voice to an issue already dividing a host of sports around the world.

Last month officials of Nassau County, New York, also bucked the liberal establishment of the state after moving to place a ban on men competing as women in the sports facilities the county controls.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman says the ban is intended to protect the integrity of women’s sports, as Breitbart News reported.

“What we are saying here today with our executive order is that if a league or team identifies themselves or advertises themselves to be a girls or women’s league or team, then biological males should not be competing in those leagues,” Blakeman said.

As happy as I am to see this. It is already too little too late. These pretend women athletes have already set new records that will probably never be broken by a real women. Male Victories have been given where females should have earned them. These races can never be re-run.

[vilevenom]

hurt comfort for fem branch please 😭

I hc her as autistic so maybe male poppy reassuring her

Ik u don't really care ABT the genders, but I'm heavy projecting on branch cause I kin him and I am DYING today

Thank you SO SO SO much for writing it if you decide to

HELLO ANON!

I am SO sorry that you sent this ask around a week ago and I'm only able to give you something now. I also hope I'm not posting this too late for you 😕 (This is the first night on my vacation I've managed to dig my laptop out) I wrote this pretty quick, and I didn't give it a good read over to properly edit it, but I hope you like it, and that you're doing okay ❤️❤️❤️ P.S-I'm not well verse in regards to austism, so I'm not super comfy writing it. I used my own experiences with overstimulation and sensory overload to write this

It had been…a day. An overwhelming, awful day. And it wasn't even close to being over yet.

Branch had woken up feeling like today wasn't necessarily going to be a bad day, but she knew it wasn't necessarily going to be a good day, either. Of course, that had been before she'd even gotten out of bed. Once she'd pushed herself up and threw her legs over the side, she'd near instantly knew the day was going to be a struggle. The floor was too cold under her feet, none of her clothes felt like they fit on her body quite right, every light was either too bright or too dark, and none of the food in her bunker was appetizing.

Things only got worse when Poppy showed up to drag her out for the morning music routine. She'd gone, of course. She couldn't let Poppy down. However, stepping outside had proven to be the worst decision she'd made yet. The sun was far too bright, and everyone in the village was so loud. And there were just so many trolls participating in the music number, it made her feel like she was in a teeny, tiny room, instead of out doors.

Thankfully, once the song was done and over with, she managed to sneak away quickly to catch her breath and recenter herself somewhat, before Poppy found her once again. She was invited to breakfast with the Snack Pack, which she felt obligated to accept, despite her negligible appetite. She thought, perhaps, she could get away with picking at a muffin while sitting next to Poppy so the King of Pop could direct and hold conversation without needing much, if any, input from her. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case, as Poppy kept prompting Branch to speak. It was exhausting.

Finally, once breakfast was over Branch thought she was at last free and clear. She bid farewell to the snack pack and tried to sneak away, but Poppy wasn't having any of it. He appeared in front of Branch just as she thought she had made it to safety.

"CUPCAKES! Poppy," Branch wheezed, patting at her chest as her heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest. To say that the surprise had also caused her irritation and irritability to spike was also an understatement. She scowled without thought at the pink troll, a low growl escaping her. "What is it?!"

Poppy looked distraught at Branch's anger, shrinking in on himself a little. "Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to know if you wanted to come with me while I go take care of some errands around the village before lunch with Nova Swift to talk about an upcoming fashion show."|

Branch immediately deflated at Poppy's apology, though she still felt like she might explode if prodded just the wrong way. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap," she sighed, rubbing at her forehead, "You know I would normally love to join you around town, but today I just-" She groaned and waved her hands through the air. "I don't know how to describe it. Today everything just feels like too much. I don't think I can handle any more…anyone."

Poppy blinked, obviously a bit surprised by Branch's response. Which was to be expected, really. What troll didn't like to socialize and make plans for big events? Branch knew, even after all the work she'd put in to being a better troll, she was still very much an odd one out.

"Oh," Poppy hummed, rubbing his hands together for a moment, before giving a little nod. "Okay."

It was Branch's turn to blink in surprise, not having expected Poppy to take her at face value so easily or quickly. "Wait…really? You're okay if I skip out on today?"

Poppy's face melted into a warm smile, offering a quick nod. "Of course, Branch. You've been doing so much around the village lately, you deserve a day to relax."

"Oh, thank you," Branch felt her shoulders slump as her chin fell to her chest. She heard Poppy chuckle and only jumped slightly when she felt his hand land on her shoulder.

"Of course! You know I just want you to be comfortable and happy."

"Thanks, Poppy," Branch hummed, offering Poppy a strained smile.

"Any time. Now, let's get you back to the bunker," Poppy said as he moved behind Branch to gently take her by the shoulders and direct her towards her bunker.

Everything seemed like it was going relatively well after that, and Branch shuffled towards her bunker with Poppy following shortly behind. That was, of course, until a random troll suddenly jumped from the bushes in front of them screaming about an impromptu dance party. Branch bristled as Poppy froze behind her and music erupted from every direction, while trolls hurried into the area to start dancing and singing along to the music.

Branch felt like her head was going to explode, quickly lifting her hands to her ears to try and block out some of the sound. She squeezed her eyes shut, a quiet whimper leaving her even as he breathing began to quicken, along with her heart beat. The world felt like it was closing in around her as she curled in on herself, crouching down and just barely resisting the urge to wrap herself protectively in her hair.

It took a solid minute for Branch to register hands on her shoulders again, let alone the fact that someone was even talking to her. She blinked a few times, feeling like she was clearing her vision of static until she could see Poppy crouched in front of her.

"Poppy?"

"There you are! C'mon, Branch. I'm going to get you out of here," Poppy said over the din of the other trolls in the area partying.

Branch simply nodded, watching in mild confusion as Poppy turned and gestured towards his back. "Up you get, come on," Poppy urged, finally making Branch realize that the King was offering her a piggy back ride. Sluggishly she moved, struggling to get her limbs to cooperate.

Once Branch was settled over Poppy's back with her face buried in bright pink hair, the King began to move quickly through the crowd, easily and effectively dodging around anyone that tried to get him to dance. Somehow, he managed to get away from the spontaneous party and got Branch back to the bunker. He didn't let her down, however, until the two were down the elevator and in Branch's living room. Carefully, he deposited her on her couch, quickly whisking away to fetch a glass of water, pressing it into her slightly shaky hands when he returned to her.

"You okay?"

Branch shook her head, feeling like her voice was stuck in her throat, unable to verbally respond.

"Okay. What would you like to help make you feel better?"

A quiet whine escaped Branch, her shoulders shifting up to her ears, eyes downcast, wishing she could force her voice to work, but nothing was forthcoming. She would love nothing more than to respond to Poppy, who was being so kind and caring, only to receive silence back.

After a beat Poppy snapped his fingers, causing Branch to jump and stare at him with wide eyes. "Oops," he laughed awkwardly, "Sorry. But, uh, how about we stick to yes or no questions? That way you can just nod or shake your head?"

Branch perked up and gave a little nod, a wobbly little smile making its way onto her face.

"Okay, perfect! Would you like a blanket?"

Branch thought for a moment, before giving a short nod. Poppy grinned and was off like a shot, returning not a minute later to carefully drape a thick, cozy blanket around Branch's shoulders. It took her a moment to recognize it was one of her favorites to snuggle up with. Poppy must have noticed one of the times he was over to hang out.

"All right! Now, you've got water already. And it's nice and quiet down here. Would you like company? And by company, I do just mean me," Poppy said with a little grin. Branch let out a near silent laugh, before nodding slightly, thought she frowned after a beat, opening her mouth, only to snap it shut again a moment later with a little look of concern on her face.

Poppy frowned, only to chuckled and move to sit next to Branch on the couch. "Oh, don't worry about the village. I'm sure they'll be fine without me."

Branch let out a breath, humming quietly with a nod, forever grateful that somehow Poppy could read her like an open book. She took a few tentative sips of her water before setting the glass aside, then turned a mild look of trepidation towards Poppy. It lasted for only a moment before she let out a huff of breath, a mild scowl of determination settling itself on her face. Poppy offered a lopsided, confused smile as Branch shifted around on the couch, tossing half of the blanket over Poppy's shoulders, before curling up next to his side.

"Oh," Poppy breathed, a slow grin working its way across his face, before he settled his arm around Branch's shoulders and tugged her more firmly into his side. "Yeah, you know I'm always good for cuddles," he sighed, resting his cheek against Branch's hair, more than pleased to feel her breathing even out where she was pressed against his side.

[girldragongizzard]

Chapter 19: All the little Megnitudes

“I think, maybe, I just don’t understand what is physics anymore,” Kimberly says to Chapman, who is working hir way down the impromptu potluck buffet ahead of her, picking up vegetables and crackers to add to hir plate.

“What do you mean?” Chapman asks.

“Well, as Meg explained,” Kimberly says, apparently too distracted to put anything on her plate as she follows Chapman. “How the big dragon go in the small man then go in the smaller stomach of the monster thing, when the conservation of mass and energy? And for that matter, how the Meg fit in the princess? That’s not physics, is it? And yet there’s the pendant you made. Is it like hypercube shit?”

“No, there are no hypercubes involved,” Chapman says.

“But how?”

Chapman stops and gives her an even appraisal out of the corner of hir eye, and then asks, “How much of your life would you like to dedicate to exploring the explanation to all that?”

Kim, behind Kimberly, says, “Please, you two, don’t hold up the line.”

It’s late. Around 11:00 pm. And we’re all in the coffee shop, which has been converted once again to a meeting place for us, courtesy of Bri and Miriam.

It took a while for everyone to gather food from their fridges, prepare it to some degree, and bring it over. Several of us had wanted pizza, but all the pizza places were closed. And still are. They closed about mid afternoon, when it became clear that there was a huge city wide dragon fight going on, and people needed to figure out relatively safe places to be.

While that was going on, I’d been given access to my second-hand computer in the back, so that I could write up what I remember happening. That way everyone could read it and be informed, and I wouldn’t have to try to explain it with my utterly demolished tablet, or my inadequate personal vocabulary.

Most of my friends read it on their phones while cooking, or while riding on their way back downtown. And when everyone had finally arrived, Rhoda had played it for the rest on her phone using the same text to speech voice I use.

And I also just uploaded it to my blog, as is, along with all of my speculations as to what Säure might have been thinking and feeling as it had all gone down.

Ptarmigan is here, looking extremely worse for wear, but Wentin is not. My draconic best friends are outside, again. And their humans have joined us, as is now usual. Even Gary is here.

It’s actually maybe way too much for me, after today, but at least I’ve eaten a handful of celebratory steaks provided by Nathan. They’re petite sirloins he’d been saving for himself, but insisted that I should have.

And right now, I’m in my old corner, where I used to sit before my dracomorphosis, curled up beside my old favorite chair, which is now occupied by Rhoda.

And I’ve got a bowl of steaming hot Sky Between the Branches tea, and I’m focused on the sensations of letting that steam curl around my tongue and bringing it in to my Jacobson’s organ. It fills my head with visions of the deepest, most rotten woods I’ve ever visited. Which maybe would remind me of Wentin, except that I’ve actually spent more time in the woods with my parents than with it.

So I’m thinking of family.

I think I really do want to figure out how to go down and visit them, respectfully of the other dragons down there in Seattle, and let them and my sister know who I really am.

Everyone else here is talking to each other in small groups about how they survived the day, or participated in my plan, and filling in each other's gaps. Or, they’re speculating about how things are going to play out legally and politically from here.

I did manage to leave the park of ball fields before Säure’s helicopter did, indeed, deliver a fucking car. But I’d watched from a hiding place as they placed it in the middle of the park. It was an outright replacement of the vehicle that Joel, Anurak, and Wentin had destroyed.

There was no Säure to retrieve it, after the helicopter left, and I just turned and flew away myself.

It might still be there right now.

With Säure having called my name, I’m pretty sure everyone in the city knows I was involved in today’s events, but maybe not how.

If Rhoda’s no-bullshit field still extends to me, the fallout might be pretty light, actually. But nobody knows exactly what it’ll prevent.

Before she went to get her own food, Ptarmigan came up to me and put a hand on my back and said, “Whatever you’re thinking. Whatever you are worried about. Do not talk to the police. Ever. Never.”

So, I’m thinking a little bit about that, too. I’m a little baffled that she thought to say that right when I was considering whether or not to answer their questions should they come looking for me. And I really don’t know if I’ll follow her advice. But I feel like I should.

Right now, though, I really don’t feel like talking to anybody.

I want to make sure that my people are OK and safe, which is why I’m even here. But I think I’m actually feeling shaky, not physically but mentally, and maybe I should find some place quiet to be instead.

But I also don’t want to be alone. I need Rhoda near me, and maybe Chapman.

What I should do, at some point, is go out and be with the dragons who are visiting my territory. Astraia, Anurak, and Joel deserve my acknowledgement at the very least, and I should figure out how it is that we dragons can actually socialize with each other.

I know that those three have developed an understanding between each other that I’m not actually a part of, that I don’t get. I’m not even sure how and when it formed. But I appreciate it. It reassures me.

Seeing the partial silhouettes of them, occluded by the reflections in the windows, lounging out on the street corner together under the streetlight, studiously ignoring any passing car together, reminds me of watching children clamber all over Joel in his park. It’s a welcome new normal, even if it isn’t mine.

But, after today, I’m uncertain of just about everything. At least at the moment.

I watched a person die.

Someone I’ve repeatedly visualized killing myself, over and over.

And I’m old enough, I’ve lived amongst humans long enough, that I’ve heard all of the arguments for and against the death of a person like him, whether he was human or not. And my own personal feeling is that it doesn’t matter that he wasn’t a human.

Ultimately, we all die. Even if we’re immortal, it seems. The Artists all love to say they maybe die more often than humans do. And we don’t really know about dragons, but we suspect we’re like the Artists that way. Maybe humans are too, actually. Reincarnation is a thing some of them dream about. I’ve been over that before. But it was going to happen to Säure sooner or later, anyway, and I wasn’t the one to make it happen. 

And now I can’t be. Wentin stole that from me. Or saved me from doing it.

More importantly, I think Wentin saved me from walking into Säure’s trap.

No matter how hard I tried – no matter how impervious to his attacks I seemed to be – no matter how much help I had from my community to face him – I was just so underpowered in the face of his shadow.

All I could really ever do was scream loud enough to distract him, and flee when he came for me.

And I’m not even sure why I was capable of doing even that much.

It makes me feel small and weak. Smaller than a human, at the moment, though I’m pretty sure that’s my C-PTSD exaggerating things.

Despite the physical contact of Rhoda lazily scratching and stroking the top of my skull, I simultaneously feel less and less like I’m able to move while having the intense urge to turn and run up the wall to get away from everything.

Ptarmigan puts down her plate, leaning over in her chair to look closer at me and says, “Hey.”

I don’t think I even twitch to look at her better.

“Hey, Meghan,” she says softly in her deep baritone, and gets up to come over to me.

Rhoda responds by putting her palm flat on my head, in a protective feeling gesture, and frowns, but doesn’t say or do anything else.

“Meghan,” Ptarmigan says again, and the room quiets down as everyone notices this exchange happening. “Meghan. You’re going to have one hell of a nightmare tonight. And it’s probably going to haunt you for a while. But it won’t be Wentin, Meghan. Remember that. It won’t be Wentin. It’ll just be you and your brain. Got it?”

I manage to raise my head under Rhoda’s hand to look Ptarmigan right in the eyes. It would transfix us if she were human, and lock us in a challenge if we were dragons. But she just smiles.

“What do you want, Ptarmigan?” Rhoda asks.

Ptarmigan points at me while looking at her, and says, “Meghan’s in shock. I don’t think it’s bad enough to kill her or make her very sick, though you should watch her for sure, and maybe give her some heat and fluids. But today was ultratraumatic for her, and I’m just reassuring her. Wentin is out of the picture now. At least, for the foreseeable future. It left.”

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at,” Rhoda tells her.

So Ptarmigan stands up and looks down at her with furrowed brows, “Maybe try hearing my words without putting subtext into them. What I want is irrelevant here. I’m helping Meghan. I’m telling you how to help her some more. And now I’m walking away. And that’s all that needs to happen between us. But maybe give Chapman more charity than that.”

And then Ptarmigan turns and walks away, past her chair and food, around and through the others, and out the door into the night.

I turn my head to look more clearly at Rhoda with my left eye, and I see her watching Chapman, who’s visible in my right eye.

After watching Ptarmigan go, Chapman’s resumed talking intensely with Kimberly, and when I pay attention to their words I find out they’re discussing shapeshifting in more detail, with mention of what sounds like definitive plans.

“Mm,” I hear Rhoda vocalize.

“Hey,” Cerce says, having come over with Jill in tow. “We were just looking up how to treat a lizard that’s in shock, and I don’t know if any of it is right for you. But heat really is like one of the biggest things. We can turn up the thermostat, and you really should drink your tea while it’s still warm.”

“Are you doing OK, Meg?” Jill asks.

Rhoda looks down at me and says, “She does feel colder than usual.”

“Yeah, I’ll take care of that thermostat,” Cerce says and turns to go and do that.

“What can I do?” Jill asks, looking at me first, then Rhoda.

“If you can get Chapman to come over here for me, that would be good,” Rhoda says in a low and very controlled voice. “Tell hir what’s up.”

I am just too tired for this, so I put my head back down.

I do notice that everyone else is starting to watch me more closely, glancing my way during their conversations or between bites of food. And Nathan gets up from where he’s at to come over and sit more closely, but he doesn’t say anything.

Then Chapman does come over with Jill behind hir, and kneels down beside my head and holds hir hand out. But sie asks Rhoda, “May I?” 

Rhoda just nods.

Then Chapman asks me, “Meg, can I scan you, please?”

I slowly close my eyes in an affirmative. 

And sie nods and puts hir wrists together, and I feel that shift.

Chapman stands up quickly and turns to the rest of the cafe to ask, “Does anybody have any dry erase markers? I’ll take a sharpie if you don’t, but I need them right now.”

Kim drops her food onto a table to get up and run to the front counter.

I think I fall asleep at that point.

—

Ptarmigan was right, it’s not Wentin.

It turns out that Säure really does still exist, and he’s on the moon with me, chasing me and terrorizing the moon dragons.

Always, at night, in my head, and when I’m awake, too. He’s become an indelible part of my story and I can’t get him out.

He can never catch me in my nightmares, because I’ve been trained too well.

But he doesn’t have to.

Because I have him.

—

When I awaken, I’m in the same spot I last remember being. Because, of course, no one who can fit in the cafe is strong enough to move me.

Rhoda is still in the chair, and Chapman is sitting talking to her. I can sense this even before I open my eyes.

“What do your other tattoos do?” Rhoda is asking, to my left, above me.

To my right and in front of me comes Chapman’s maple syrup voice, at about the height it would be if sie was sitting, “A lot of emergency stuff that rarely comes up.” I hear hir chair scrape briefly against the floor, and feel it through the floor, too. “This one, for instance,” I imagine hir lifting up the side of hir shirt. “If I touch an activator to it, it will give my body the kind of electric shock needed to restart my stalled heart.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“When I’m not having a heart attack? It is.”

“Why did you show that one to me?”

“Trust.”

Rhoda grunts.

“You’re probably right not to trust Artists, Rhoda,” Chapman says. “You weren’t too far wrong, any time you’ve criticized us, or warned Meghan about what we are. At least, the times you did so in front of me. We play at being mortal when we take our physical bodies, but we can’t really understand it. If we have no other memories, we at least always remember what we are. And that informs everything we do.”

“Then why are you convincing me to trust you?” she asks.

“I’m not. I’m putting my trust in you, Rhoda. Like it or not, you’re an anomaly, and a really powerful one,” Chapman explains. “I expect you’ll be as fleeting as any other human, but while you’re here you’ll change everything around you. You already are. And that’s going to draw more attention.”

“I do not like the sound of that. I do not want attention.”

“Right,” Chapman says. “So, I want to teach you how to avoid it. I want to show you what you can do to fend off Artists you don’t want to have anything to do with, starting with myself. And if you do it right, you might not even have to think about it much.”

“Hm,” she grunts.

And then there’s a knock at the door. One made by a large, confident fist, but not urgent.

I lift my head and open my eyes to see that we’re the only three in the cafe with darkened lights. Everyone else has left. 

And through the windows, I can see a huge, dark form of something with wings and horns hunched over just outside the door.

Chapman is glancing that way, too.

But Rhoda lays a hand on the top of my head and says, “Hey, Meghan. How are you feeling?”

“I’ll get the door,” Chapman says. “It’s the Poet.”

“Fenmere?” Rhoda asks.

“Yep,” Chapman confirms.

“The Worm.”

“Yeah. That’s… that’s kind of her thing, she’ll have to explain if you want to know.”

“Not sure I do.”

“I’ll leave it up to you, but we really should talk to her and debrief each other.”

“Fine.”

Chapman gets up to go open the door.

“Bri left me with the key,” Rhoda says to me. “I get to lock up when we’re done here. Which we should be, now that you’re awake.”

I don’t feel like talking yet, so I slow blink at her and let out a low infrasonic rumble. And I look at myself and see dry erase temporary tattoos of weird circuitry all over the back of my torso, between my wings.

I do feel warmer and more energized than before.

I wonder if this is really why Rhoda is even talking to Chapman right now. But, am I that important to her? She really does have her own thing she needs to figure out, too, and it seemed like they were talking about that, mostly.

Whatever. I remember that Chapman and I have time that maybe Rhoda doesn’t have. I know where my priorities lie currently, if Rhoda continues to reject Chapman. And I know Chapman would agree. Sie’s told me as much.

I give a big sigh as I watch the Poet squeeze through the door in what should be an impossible way. She’s way too big for it.

“But I guess we’ve got another guest,” Rhoda says.

And with a voice that sounds to me like an electric sander being applied to an oak desk, but with a distinctly feminine lisp, Fenmere tells Chapman, “Thank you for helping me put that fool to rest, dear Physicist. I owe a debt of gratitude to Meghan and Wentin as well. I’ve been watching that family carve up and devour the county for over a hundred years now, and I can’t bear to see the likes of him in control of what they’ve seized.”

“Well, come all the way on in, Fen, and tell Meghan that yourself,” Chapman says. “She’s right over here.”

Rhoda lets out a big, long sigh.

Fenmere walks kind of like a gorilla, with big, strong, powerful arms on brachiating shoulders, but fat saurian rear legs. Her bat-like wings are set right where a human’s shoulder blades would be, between her arms’ shoulders and her spine. It’s an anatomy that makes absolutely no sense, and would probably be useless for flying, but they are fairly big wings anyway. And we dragons really don’t always make any sort of biological sense.

Her hide looks like a fine moss, and she has belly scales like mine that are the color of bleached wood. Where her skin shows, such as her wings, it looks like algae stretched out over the surface of water. 

Her head looks like an evenly applied morph between that of an alligator and a horse, but with two tusks jutting up in front of her huge nostrils with an impressive underbite. And she has tufts of white, Spanish moss textured hair at the end of her chin and the tip of her tail, and as a big glorious shaggy mullet crowning her head. Two long, thin horns, straighter than mine jut out from the back of her skull.

And she has the ability to talk without opening her mouth any significant amount.

“Meghan,” she says in that voice.

Rhoda and I were told that Artists could be any type of animal, including dragons, but for some reason I’d thought that Fenmere’s cartoon caricature of herself wasn’t an actual self portrait. But, apparently, it is.

Fenmere settles down on her haunches before me, and I lift my head to acknowledge her. Her thighs do That Thing. They’re so round. And she barely fits between the tables of the coffee shop. I suspect she’s bending space somehow, honestly.

I can’t begin to imagine how that’s a power of being the Poet. But I’ve now seen some dragons do some pretty amazingly weird things.

“I’ve been reading your blog,” she says. “I’m a big fan, and as a fellow dragon I’ve found your experiences fascinating.”

I want to ask her so many questions, beginning with how long she’s had this form of a dragon. But I don’t have my tablet anymore, and I don’t have the vocabulary to do so. So, I just slowly bow my head and bring it back up in acknowledgement.

“However, I have to ask,” she tilts her head a little to the side. “I know you can’t explain it now. But maybe please do write about it in your next post. You’ve invented a delightful word but failed to elaborate.” She rests her foreclaws on her knees and leans forward a little, furrowing a brow that’s nearly as expressive as a human’s. “Can you please tell me what a Megnitude is?”

[mithrilhearts]

Prompt: Seaside Lakeside Based on: New Bagginshield mer au!

I have a mer au sitting on the back burner right now, and every now, and again I get the itch to work on it, flesh it out, visit the universe, and this was a perfect opportunity. Consider this a “teaser” or “plot bunny”. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this and per usual, I don’t know how to limit myself to small drabbles for these events. (3200 words)

I’m not sure how many I’ll finish, but I wanted to participate in a few of these Summer Stories prompts with some of my favorite universes!

Bilbo loved this time of year.

The ice had melted, and while the water was still cold against his scales and skin, there was something undeniably relaxing about it. The Long Lake was confining, but not so much that it felt like an uncomfortable cage. Just a tolerable one. It gave him freedom to roam, and rocks to perch on when he wanted to soak up the sun—which is exactly what he was doing at this instant.

Resting on his stomach, his tailfin lingering in the water with gentle sways, he had his head propped with one hand, watching the lake's shoreline and glaring. Often he would sit and watch those coming and going, though there usually wasn't much activity on this side of things, just the occasional platoon of dwarves or men who were passing by, but never for long.

Save for one, that Bilbo didn't really want to think about today.

Feeling something bumping at the end of his tailfin, glancing at the rather clear waters, it was a yellow blob beneath the surface that brought a small curve to his lips. “Hey you,” Bilbo murmured, reaching his hand into the water as the little octopi swirled around it, bumping at his palm and doing what Bilbo would call 'a funny dance' with those little tentacles flailing.

This octopi had been Bilbo's only friend for the many long years he'd been subject to this lake. A faithful ally, even though they never did speak properly. The little gestures, the faint noises the small creature gave off, and just the fact that it lingered around Bilbo more often than not was enough for the mer. He'd made a friend in captivity, in both the act of being captured, and maintained in the actual misery.

Feeling another press of the octopus's head against his palm, Bilbo cast a small glance towards the shore once more. “What am I doing? Just watching, enjoying the sun while I can...” He muttered as a shape began to take form, heading down from the rocks and grassy hills beyond the Long Lake, and it was a shape that Bilbo had seen more times than he could count on his webbed fingers.

It was that one dwarf he had never really wanted to consider, for every other dwarf that Bilbo had encountered thus far had been cold, cruel, and had zero heart within their chest. It was as if they were made of stone.

Narrowing his eyes, glaring so hard as if it might drill holes into the familiar dwarf, Bilbo had to wonder what kept him coming to the water time and time again. He was no fisherman, nor collecting shells, stones, or anything else of the like. In fact, this dwarf had made his appearance many times and had simply sat, or walked along the sand...harmlessly. 

It made him wonder, and often scratch his claws against his head in confusion. If the dwarf wasn't down here for something malicious...then what was the reason? Perhaps the same reason Bilbo often found himself lazing about on the rocks to catch the sun's beautiful spring rays. To relax.

While having studied this particular dwarf from afar, Bilbo could tell you a variety of things about him already aside from the reasoning as to why he was here at all. He was dark haired, with eyes as blue as the sky, and wore these horrid metal capped boots with fur that made his tailfin twitch in discomfort. However, the faint lines to his face weren't from malice, unlike the other dwarves Bilbo had encountered. There was something different there, but perhaps that was his naivety getting the better of him.

One particular detail did cause the mer to lift himself up slightly and his face full of annoyance had dropped to something more neutral. A small discoloration upon the dwarf's cheek grabbed his attention. There was no blood, but Bilbo knew that fresh bruises were often the worst, at least by appearance. It was dark and nasty, like the furthest depths of the ocean that his parents had told him to stay away from—that and the clearings close to shore. Maybe a bit of his heart ached, and curiosity was tugging at him. Was it by accident, or like Bilbo, had someone laid their hands on him?

Sinking from his perch on the warm stone, Bilbo inhaled the cool water of the lake, his gills happy at the relief it brought as he eyeballed his octopi friend who blinked at him. Those little ears atop his head flapping in curiosity as if asking the big question. “I'm not sure, but...I want to get a closer look.”

The little yellow octopi was quickly swirling its way towards Bilbo, making faint bloop sounds barely audible to human ears, but to those semi-pointed earfins, it was clear as day. “Don't worry, I'll be careful. I've made that mistake before…” He urged, giving his friend a fond pat on the head before sinking further beneath the surface, and taking off towards the shoreline.

...

“A disgrace,” Thorin hissed to himself as he marched his way down to the shoreline, a hand idly rubbing the tender spot beneath his eye. Discipline it had been called, but Thorin didn't think of it as much of a lesson as it was a means to drive him away. Not even Frerin's cheerful attempt at some jokes had brought so much as a smirk to Thorin's lips before leaving the mountain.

He had needed some time to cool off from his earlier...mistake. Skipping out on an important meeting with the elves of Mirkwood had seemed like a decent plan at the time. There were advisors and ambassadors galore, why was his presence required? Not to mention, Thror always spearheaded those meetings without much of a word from anyone else. But apparently Thorin's absence had been noticed, and now he felt like he was about to be placed on hot coals from the forges.

Sighing to himself and staring at the water, while it didn't go on forever, there was something inspiring about it. It felt free to be down here, to have the breeze through his hair and beard, and the best part was that only a select few ever knew where to find him. This side of the Long Lake was often ignored for its lack of safety with all the rocks making it hard for the fishermen of Dale. The only time dwarves ever came down here...well, he couldn't even tell you why or if it ever happened. The point was, it was a little hideaway for Thorin, and today, he certainly needed a place to hide, lest he say something he'd regret in front of the eyes of many.

Pacing across the rock and sand, Thorin was grumbling idle nothings to himself, until the urge to hit or throw something became too great. He bent and grabbed one of the smooth round stones by his boots and chucked it as hard as he could. A dissatisfying 'plop' into the water with about as much grace as a newborn ram trying to walk. A scowl formed on his lips, reaching down angrily for another stone as the wise words of his mother began to float to the forefront of his mind.

“Calm yourself, young heart. The pain you feel now will be but a memory tomorrow, but do not take your frustrations out on those who do not deserve your wrath.”

Did that extend to inanimate objects too? Staring down at the smooth rock in his palm, Thorin tried to find a sense of calm. The lapping of the water against the sand and rock had always been soothing. It was at times like these where the dwarf was grateful that there wasn't that overly fishy smell around these parts as he closed his eyes to let it all soak in. Much to his relief, a bit of that anger began to subside in favor of peace. As those blue eyes opened once more, there was something distinctly softer about them. Eyeing the stone and then the water, Thorin was more focused and calculated this time, drawing his arm back, and letting that stone sail with a more angled throw, and as he had wanted, the rock skipped before ultimately disappearing.

It was an easy, and rather cheap, distraction. One that harmed few, not even the inanimate stones or water that were his supposed victims, right now.

The moments passed by, a slow repetition of skipping rocks, staring at the water, and wondering if heading back home was even worth it right now. These little expeditions away from the mountain never lasted too long, lest someone come looking and find his hideaway, but the more Thorin got his aggression out with each stone he tossed, watching the satisfactory skipping, the better he felt.

That didn't mean he was to confront his king anytime soon, or at all. While his heart was typically in the right place, it would do no good to argue with Thror. Not only because Thror was his king, but also his grandfather—his family, and there was nothing more important to Thorin than his family. They may disagree, but they deserved respect all the same.

Giving one more lone stone a toss, watching it skip farther than any of the others, Thorin took that as a good sign. It was time to call it quits on a high note of success, which had eventually spurred a grin to his lips. Being out in the sun and enjoying the breeze had done wonders to help those boiling emotions of his simmer down, and hopefully by the time he returned home, he could assess the situation with a clear head.

Grandfather deserved an apology for his negligence to the important duties of a prince.

Thorin had barely gotten a chance to turn before a 'plop' landed on the dirt and sand next to his boots, drawing his eyes downward. A wet stone of similar shape as one of the few he had thrown before. Smooth edges, and a small divot on one end. It caused his brow to raise in curiosity. Taking the stone in his hand once more, giving it a once over, it was promptly tossed in the same manner as before, and then nothing. Silence, save for the sloshing of lake water.

Perhaps it had been a mere coincidence, or a trick of the mind. Whatever it was, he wasn't about to linger to investigate, that is, until a rock pelted him in the back of the shoulders upon turning once more with a small oof escaping his lips. Whirling around to gaze at the water with a harsh glare, those bubbling feelings of irritation crawling back to the surface, his eyes searched desperately for the culprit. Someone—or something—was out there, and aiming for him.

The water was still, just as it was silent, until there was a quick splash, like a large fish had gotten close to the surface. It drew the dwarf's attention and only catching a glimpse of a flash of gold near some larger boulders embedded into the lake floor.

“Hm,” he mused to himself, watching a few more ripples move along the water's surface from afar. He'd heard rumors of some mythical monster laying in the water, but that's all he had ever chalked them up to be. Rumors. Scary stories to tell your ill-behaved pebbles before bed. False.

It would be silly to start believing in those stories now, but it didn't keep Thorin from investigating all the same. It was as if something were calling him back to the water. A type of gravitational pull that had him crawling across stone until crouched at the water's edge, resting on his hands and knees and leaning over. Thorin stared at what was his reflection to start, until another set of eyes and a formation removed his mirror image from the water's surface. 

He locked his gaze with those hazel eyes that emerged from the water until a rounder nose bumped the tip of his. Starting to lean back, his movements were followed, and the finned creature kept rising out of the water until half exposed.

Thorin, without a single thought in his head, remained seated on his knees, mesmerized and fascinated by those gem-like eyes, and the small glittering of gold that coated the fins that made up this mer's ears. A few moments of staring, no longer nose to nose, Thorin finally rasped out a low, “hello”. A set of clawed hands were suddenly at the sides of his face, tugging him down towards the water quickly, and near viciously.

Panic flooded every ounce of the dwarf as his hands pressed to the ground, scrambling as if he might be able to dig his fingers into the stone to keep him from being pulled into the water. As quickly as his face had been grabbed, his mouth had been claimed, and all of those stories about mythical monsters that dragged you into the water and drowned them were surging to the forefront of his mind. 

Surprisingly, the finned creature did not tug on him much more. In fact, everything about that terrifying grip at his head had softened, feeling more like a gentle caress than an act of murder. Was this how they succeeded in collecting their prey? To give one a false sense of security and comfort before taking them to the depths below? Whatever it was, Thorin's anxieties began to calm, and his fingers didn't claw into the rock beneath him quite so forcefully.

Whatever magic this lake water creature was bewitching him with was taking its hold.

Those once alert blue eyes were far less focused, falling half-lidded as he leaned into that kiss he was given, finding it hard to think about much more than those enchanting hazel eyes. Deep hues of earthy green, surrounded by specks of blue and gold, it would make the mines in the mountain look bland in comparison, wouldn't it? 

Finally, his eyelids completely dropped, and his lips parted at the silent request of an opposing tongue against them. Compliant to the mer's physical wishes, and some bubbling desires of his own, Thorin held very little resistance at this point, exhaling deeply through his nose and trying to somehow manage to fill his already aching lungs with oxygen. The burn in his chest was worth it as the mer’s aggression against his tongue intensified. If felt as if he were being devoured. If this was what it felt like to drown, then Thorin couldn’t say it was painful in the slightest, which was a comforting thought. Not that he favored the outcome, but there was a hint of peace of mind about him at the very least.

A thumb gently rubbed beneath his tender eye, causing his eyes to screw closed a bit tighter at the discomfort, and a sound tore through his chest. It was that sound that seemed to pull the mer from his lips, leaving Thorin chasing with eyes half-glazed, finally meeting those hazels again, though this time they were flooded with concern.

“It hurts?”

Oh, Mahal above, even his voice was enchanting.  It took Thorin a few moments to register that a question had been presented, and the discomfort it was alluding to. “No, it feels...wonderful—” Leaning forward, ready to bump foreheads with the mer, it was the rubbing of a thumb against that facial bruise that had him wincing again. “Ah, that...”

Now the question made sense, and it had nothing to do with a kiss that brought the dwarf discomfort in areas that were far from his face. Willing away what bothered feelings he could, Thorin did refrain from leaning forward any longer, caught in the eyes of concern and curiosity, it was like being viewed in a new light that didn't give him the expectation of simply 'dealing with it'. He had no walls to put up, no princely mask to wear, he was just...Thorin.

“How did you receive it?”

This question drew Thorin back, but not out of those slippery, yet soft, hands that cupped the sides of his face. Clamping his jaw shut, whether wearing a mask or not, it would do no good to start lamenting about his familial woes. He just didn't have to act like it didn't hurt, for once.

Bilbo's observational skills were on high alert, watching how the dwarf's eyes shifted, and how his jaw set firmly, shadowed by facial hair that wasn't nearly as long as the other dwarves he'd been face to face with. Then again, he'd never been face to face with any of them quite like this before. Thinking of them sent shivers up his spine, and not of a comforting variety. “Did someone hurt you?”

“Perhaps,” Thorin muttered low, content for once to keep eye contact broken.

“Intriguing,” humming, Bilbo retracted his hands, letting them rest on stone instead of the warm flesh of the dwarf's cheeks.

“What's intriguing is why you haven't drowned me yet,” another grumble from Thorin, and while he hadn't figured what he said was humorous, it spurred a lighthearted laugh from the mer. Those eyes he'd been addicted to so quickly were full of life and light, unlike anything he'd ever seen before.

“Drown you? Oh, you are a strange dwarf, aren't you!”

“Then...then what was....?” Grazing his fingertips to his lower lip, confusion taking over his features, Thorin shifted awkwardly before hearing another, lower chuckle from the gold-finned creature.

“I stole the words from your tongue, so to speak,” Bilbo teased, finding the dwarf's cheeks growing rosy to be adorable, though he wasn’t quite sure why. Pulling himself to perch on one of the lower stones still barely covered in water, those clawed, and webbed, fingers of his twisted at his lap nervously. “I wanted to speak with you, and now here we are, speaking. I'm not drowning you, and you're not...” His tail shifted uncomfortably at the thought, especially as he noticed just how the dwarf was eyeing his scales.

“I’m not what?”

It was Bilbo’s turn to be silent as his eyes dropped to a few of the wounded spots, his fingers caught with one another and a grim look took over his features. Pursing his lips as his earfins flickered, the idea of exploring this dwarf simply because Bilbo assumed he was ‘different’ was feeling like a mistake.

“Did someone hurt you?”

The question turned around on Bilbo was startling, and his earfins straightened, barely moving as he caught the same concern he had worn when questioning the dwarf’s facial injury out of the corners of his eyes. “Perhaps,” the mer grumbled low, feeling an ache in his chest as his arms curved around part of his tailfin that he pulled towards his chest. As if on cue, a few of the unhealed sore spots where some of those golden scales once were, throbbed in discomfort.

Much like a bruise.

[countrymusiclover]

57 - They Grow Up Too Fast

Part 58

Family is More than Blood

@melvia-ito @vavafaure1994 @kmc1989 @tallrock35

All the Mikaelson / Lane kids are now portrayed by the actors on the sequel cover 😁

Five years ago

Entering the main lodge room of the boarding school I felt the stiffening in my shoulders walking towards the podium in the center of the room. The decision I made today would change the course of this school for the rest of its lives. Stepping up in front of the podium I didn’t take my gaze off of my husband who was standing in the back corner of the room near the window. “Good morning, everyone. I know it’s been quite some time before you all have seen me around here and I will report that I am back to my old self. And I have an announcement that deals with the school’s current system in place.”

“Mom, where exactly are Alina and Jackson?” Hope raised her hand sitting beside Missy on the first row with the Saltzman twins.

Tapping my fingers on the podium I paused. “I was informed that your sister and her husband decided to take young Xavier to New Orleans to clear her head for a while.”

“Is it because of all the villain attacks, mommy?” Henrik asked, swinging his legs back and forth.

Nodding my head slowly, yes I placed my hands down on the podium hoping this speech goes well. “Particularly yes that was one of the reasons she mentioned. But y’all don’t need to worry as we haven’t had any attacks as of recently and I intend to keep it that way.”

“So what’s the new system then?” Missy piped into the group conversation.

“It seems in the best interest of you all that we go back to where all the stress of keeping the world safe from these monsters should fall on the headmaster's shoulders. So I have decided that some of you should spend the next year attending Mystic Falls High and get the experience of being somehat human for a change.” I heard muttering coming from the crowd of young students sitting before me. “Now I know that y’all might have objections to this but I assure you this will only be willing participants.”

Missy rose along with Josie and MG. “We’ll go.”

“Okay anyone else?”

The shut double doors opened and everyone turned their heads seeing the familiar face of Andrea. “I’ll go too when I turn 15 of course.” I parted my mouth open not expecting her to be here considering my brother and Hayley had also left the school for safety and other reasons.

“Then it’s settled these four will be the first run and if they are successful some more of you may join in. If you decide being human isn’t for you this school shall always be here for you.” Klaus vamped up to the podium standing by my side.

Footsteps ran into the room standing in the doorway glaring at my husband and I. “We need to talk now, privately.” Alaric left the room before we vamped into the main office that we heard him walk into.

“What do you want to talk about, Ric. We’re kinda in the middle of something here.” I asked moving to stand a few feet away from him.

He huffed, dropping his shoulders. “What were you thinking about sending some of the kids to Mystic High to pretend to be human? The reason we built this place was to protect them from the judgments of the humans in this town.”

“The monster attacks have put too much pressure on these kids. They need to just be kids again and the only way I see that happening is if they pose as humans.”

Klaus entered the conversation. “It’s been years ago, mate. But Caroline, Elena, Stefan, my wife and even Rebekah did your best to pose as humans when they attended that school. I also remember you pretending to be a human professor at a college when you met your wife from what you told my wife.”

“It’s too dangerous. This is a safe place for them.” Alaric snapped back at us.

Running my hands down my face I groaned. “We wouldn’t be kicking them out forever. They all would still be living here. But this gives them a chance to be somewhat normal and just be kids for once in their lives. Some of us never got that chance, this is what we should give to our children.”

Klaus crossed his arms over his chest. “Alaric, you know my wife has a valid point. These kids are supposed to be better. This is how they'll learn like we did.”

“Ric, please just give me a chance. You look after the ones at Mystic High and I'll look after the ones here.” I gave him a begging look where his eyes finally met mine and he did finally cave under the stare agreeing with me.

Walking up the stairs to the Saltzman girls bedroom I was hoping Lizzie would be there since I needed to talk with her about Alina. She was the only person she would contact, so she's basically my inside woman if you will. Opening the door I peaked my head inside seeing her sitting on the edge of her bed. “Have you heard anything from her recently?”

“Sorry Auntie Rae but I've got nothing. I'm assuming it's because she's busy with her hairy breatheron pack.”

I sighed sitting down on the foot of Josie's bed. “I never thought any of my kids would just stop talking to me or even my twin brother for that matter.”

“We just have to hope that one day the people we love will come back to us once they realize the huge mistake of cutting us out had on their lives.” She piped up and I knew she was referring to Josie still attending Mystic High with the others.

Alaric still had his principal job there so he could keep an eye on the group of kids we had sent over there. “We'll just have to keep up hope for that to happen - Henrik!” Whipping my head around to the door that got busted open I saw my oldest son coming in all frantically.

“Mom, it's Charming and Rapunzel. They're sliding down the staircases again.” He said in a huff, running a hand through his tousled curls that made him resemble so much of his father.

I raised a brow figuring he had more to say otherwise he wouldn't have come in here. “They'll be fine, baby. You and your sisters used to do that all the time when you were younger. So what’s really going on?”

“I know what this is really about.” Lizzie smirked in my direction. “Well aren’t you going to tell her?”

He shakes his head in defense. “No, I don't really want to.”

“She’s your mother. She'll find out eventually, might as well tell her now. Little wolf boy.”

Making a confused expression towards the siphon witch I looked back at my son. “Henrik, sweet boy you can tell me anything, remember. But if you're not comfortable that's fine too.”

“It's about a girl, mom. I want to ask her out. And - and she goes here.” Henrik's face turned red with embarrassment but he had a small smile on his face.

My mouth fell open in shock not expecting that response from him. “Klaus! I think we need to have the talk now.” I called his name knowing he'd hear me wherever he was. We'd have to realize that our younger children were growing up.

[pickalilywrites]

Aruani fic. Armin is nervous about his first date with Annie on Christmas. Asks advice from his friends.

i don't write aruani a lot so thank you for this!!! it was fun!!! happy holidays :)

holidate to-do list

aruani. college au. 2205 words. read on ao3.

Armin's friends are piled up on the couch. Some are even seated on the floor because of the lack of available seats, but they don’t seem to mind. They sit in the dark, attentive as if they’re waiting for a movie to start when in reality they’re awaiting Armin’s upcoming presentation. The nervous marine biology student fidgets nervously in front of them, adjusting his sweater vest and tugging at the sleeves of his button up. In one hand he holds a clicker for his upcoming presentation. 

One of Armin’s friends, Reiner Braun, raises his hand. “Can I ask that we skip over the reproduction cycle of whatever rare aquatic animal you’re going to be covering today?” he asks. “Because I think all these fish are cool and all, but hearing about how they reproduce really makes them seem so much less majestic afterward and I would like to cling onto whatever little wonder I have left for the world.”  

“Weren’t you the one who said you would fuck a mermaid or a fishman?” Ymir asks. She’s sitting on a stool beside the couch, one arm thrown casually over Historia’s shoulder. 

“That’s different,” Reiner says dismissively. 

Armin clears his throat. “So, two things. First thing: this isn’t about fish or any kind of marine life. Second thing: If I were to give a seminar about marine life, I couldn’t possibly leave out reproductive cycles as they’re essential to any organism’s life cycle.”  

“I guess that’s fair,” Reiner sighs.  

“We are gathered here today to discuss a very important issue,” Armin continues before hitting the button on his clicker so that the slides appear on the blank wall behind him. The title slides have falling snowflakes and the words Planning the Perfect First Date in Times New Roman. “I am requesting your input on how to plan my perfect first date with a Miss Annie Leonhardt.”  

The group of friends let out a chorus of oohs and Connie remarks, “Oh, I was wondering why she wasn’t here.”  

“Not me,” Mikasa says. “I just assumed that you intentionally left her out.”  

Mikasa and Annie’s rivalry is a strange one. The two are very similar: intelligent, of few words, and intensely loyal to their friends. Maybe it’s because they’re so similar that they clash so often. If Armin were to pick an incident that instigated the unspoken rivalry between the two girls, he would probably have to cite that time in the freshman year when Eren had given Annie a passing compliment in the gym. The funny thing is, Eren had forgotten what he had said as soon as it left his lips and Annie didn’t care enough to pay attention to him. It’s a bit unclear why Eren complimenting Annie had soured Mikasa’s opinion of the icy blonde so much, but the memory of it had left a lasting bad impression. The two had never been on good terms to begin with, and that incident had permanently doomed any goodwill between them.  

“Why can’t you just ask Annie out normally?” Eren asks, belatedly throwing up his hand. He only ever participates in lectures if Armin’s giving them out in front of friends, much to his professors’ exasperation. Otherwise, Eren’s brain goes on autopilot. The only reason he’s getting passing grades in his courses is because Armin keeps dragging him to study sessions in the library every other day.  

“That is an excellent question, Eren, but I would appreciate it if you guys would save any questions you might have for the end of my presentation,” Armin says, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose with one hand. “You may find that the answers will be presented in my slides, and anything that isn’t covered can be explored in the Q&A session at the end.”  

“I’m confused,” Marco says. “I thought you and Annie were already dating.”  

“You are one of the only person who can tolerate her for extended periods of time,” Mikasa points out, which isn’t … untrue. If there is one thing that differs between Mikasa and Annie, it’s that Mikasa is much more sociable than Annie, who prefers her social circles to only consist of two or three people at most.  

“I thought you two were dating, and I’m pretty much Annie’s best friend,” Mina adds.  

“I know that being best friends with Annie is impressive, but you do know that you’re only competing with Armin for that spot, right?” Reiner asks. Unlike Mikasa, Reiner is on good terms on Annie or at the very least Reiner doesn’t seem to butt heads with Annie as much as Mikasa does.  

“No, we’re just … it’s not official anyway and I wanted to ask her on the perfect holiday date to cement our status as an actual couple,” Armin says. He’s desperate to turn the attention back to his presentation, but it’s difficult with a large group of people with short attention spans.  

“Holi-date!” Connie and Sasha shout in unison before bursting out into laughter.  

“Look, Annie is special to me and I want to show her that I think she’s special in return,” Armin says. He clicks through a bunch of his introductory slides. They might never make it to the end at this rate, so he should just skip to the most important slides. 

Armin skips straight to the slides with a list of Christmas-themed date ideas and stands nervously at the side, his hand bouncing nervously against his thigh. He shifts from side to side and waits for his friends to read the slides.  

“These are just a few examples of what I was thinking,” Armin says after an appropriate amount of time has passed. He fiddles with the clicker in his hands and looks down at the floor in front of him instead of his audience. His oral presentation skills have improved since entering university, but they’ve completely evaporated now and he can only stare at the floor and stammer like a new university student introducing himself at orientation and struggling to think of a fun fact.  

“That’s more than a few. That’s an extensive list. I bet if you printed it out, it’d be a foot or two in length,” Jean says, and Armin winces.  

“I suppose I was a little enthusiastic about putting this list together,” Armin mumbles. He looks desperately at his friends. “Can you please help me decide what I should do with Annie on our first date? Deciding is one thing, but I also have to prepare for it to make sure everything is absolutely perfect.”  

“Armin, it’s a really long list,” Historia says.  

The slide is filled from top to bottom with text in 8 point font. Armin’s friends have to squint to read the activities listed, and Armin curses himself for not printing out a copy of the slides for everyone like he had initially planned. No wonder this is going horribly. 

“How about we all vote for the ones we like and whichever one is the most popular is the one Armin goes with?” Mina suggests.  

It’s not the method that Armin would have went with. He would have preferred that people picked the date activity they thought would be the best and have everyone defend their choice in a structured debate, but Mina’s suggestion would probably save a lot more time and frustration.  

“Does everyone have pens and paper?” Armin asks, although he thinks he already knows the answer. He and his friends may be university students, but they’re also horribly underprepared when it comes to the spontaneous need for writing tools. He sighs and passes out pens and paper to all his friends.  

“In our defense, you told us we didn’t have to bring anything,” Sasha points out, and she’s not wrong. Armin just didn’t expect nearly everyone to come completely empty-handed.  

“Sasha and I brought popcorn,” Connie says, holding out a bowl of popcorn that he and Sasha had prepared in the kitchen before the presentation started. He offers some to Armin, who shakes his head, and Connie moves on to offer it to the rest of their friends.  

After everyone is done writing down their choices on their papers, Armin reads them all and tallies them up. Somehow, he ends up with even more choices for holiday dates than he had started with, but he probably should have expected it. It would have been too easy if things ran smoothly. 

⋆꙳·̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆ 

Armin waits outside of Annie’s apartment complex, shivering in the cold. The outfit Historia had chosen for him is better than any outfit he’s ever put together himself, but it’s not as warm as the puffy winter coats he typically wears. He huffs on his gloved hands and his hot breath against his freezing hands gives him a little bit of warmth.  

Armin had allowed Historia to pick his ensemble today because Jean and Historia had been fighting over what Armin should wear to his first date with Annie. Jean argued that he should be able to pick the outfit as a fashion design major. Historia made the argument that she was consistently the best dressed person in their friend group to which Jean scoffed and said if everyone had as much money as Historia then everyone would be dressed just as nicely. To prevent the squabbling between his friends from growing into a full-blown argument, Armin had quickly suggested that Historia choose his outfit for when he asked out Annie and Jean pick his outfit for the date, and his two friends grudgingly agreed. So far, Armin has found that Historia has great style but doesn’t think very much about the practicality of the outfits she puts together.  

“If you were going to wait outside in the cold, you should have worn a thicker coat,” Annie says, her sudden appearance making Armin jump. She raises an eyebrow as she takes in Armin’s wardrobe. “You look … nice.”  

“Th-thanks,” Armin manages to respond. He’s not sure if he’s stammering because of his nerves or because of the cold. “I probably should have asked to meet in a café or somewhere warmer.”  

“Oh, that’s fine. I don’t really mind the cold,” Annie says. She’s dressed in a knitted sweater and jeans, but she doesn’t seem to be shivering at all. “Did you want to go somewhere?”  

“Ye-es,” Armin says, his voice breaking in the middle, and he coughs to clear his throat. “Actually, first I wanted to ask you out.”  

“Ask me out?” Annie repeats. She purses her lips, head tilted slightly.  

“Well, yes. Because, you know, I like you. A lot. And I want to go out with you,” Armin says. He had told himself he wouldn’t get nervous. After all, he and Annie spend so much time together that they’re practically dating already. Asking her out on an official date shouldn’t be that different, and yet he finds himself speeding through his words as if to get through his embarrassment as quickly as possible. “So I came up with a list of activities we could do together.”  

Annie takes the list of holiday date ideas that Armin had printed out. It’s printed on two sheets of paper, front to back, and in 8 point font with half-inch margins. She has to bring the list closer to her face to read it. It’s impossible to tell what she’s thinking as her blue eyes scan the first page.  

“They’re just … silly Christmas-themed date ideas, but I think it’d be fun if we could do one together,” Armin hears himself ramble. He doesn’t know if it would be better to just shut up or keep talking, but he decides that he’d rather avoid an awkward silence so he continues to talk. “I had a list and I had my friends vote on them. I thought they would all converge on one particular idea or maybe gravitate towards the same ones, but everyone had a different favorite. And then some people thought it would be a great idea to suggest even more date activities, and I couldn’t just ibgnore them after they’d been suggested -”  

“Just one?” Annie asks, looking up from the paper.  

Armin blinks. “What?”  

“I can only pick one?” Annie asks. She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “Why don’t we just do all of them?”  

“All of them?” Armin isn’t sure he’s heard correctly. “You … would you want to do all of them?” 

Annie shrugs and glances down at the list again, flipping a page and then turning it to the back. “Well, I normally wouldn’t do a lot of these, but if it’s with you … I think it could be fun.” 

Armin can feel his heart begin to flutter in his chest. “I … yeah, we could do all of it. I’d … I’d really love that.”  

Annie smiles and raises a hand out for Armin to take. “Well, we’d better get started if we want to finish these anytime soon. You have a lot.”  

Armin sees Annie’s hand extended towards him and he takes a moment to marvel at the sight of it before bounding over happily and taking his girlfriend’s hand, excited to begin checking off their Christmas date list together.  

[enchantinglyjade]

𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤

Chapter Six

Ravenclaw!OC x Slytherin Boys

Masterlist Previous |Next Warnings: Swearing, and a little spice

-

“I heard one of the Slytherin dorms got broken into. Did you see who it was, Jewel?”

Twila glances across the breakfast table at the mentioned girl, head heavy with last nights’ activities. Her heart flutters with excitement, waiting anxiously to see Mattheo again today. But as she looks at Jewel, she can’t help but feel a guilty sensation bubble up in the pit of her stomach. She had told Jewel only a few days ago that her small gestures towards Mattheo meant nothing, but it has surely and quickly grown into something. Would her best friend hate her for hiding a secret like this?

Jewel’s un-amused gaze lifts up from her glass of water to instead peer over at Penelope. “No, some of us don’t participate in house drama. I’m just practicing my spells in case whoever thinks I’m next.” She chuckles.

Penelope groans at her. “But the house drama is the best part! Just last week, one of the Gryffindors tried to use the engorgement charm on- oh shit, Snape’s coming. Disperse.” Just as she says this, the girls quickly grab their food and rise from the Ravenclaw table before returning back to their own. 

Snape trudges past the table, stopping short in front of the last remaining girl who is now surrounded by three empty seats. “Twila.” He slowly enunciates.

She sits up straighter, placing her hands in her lap. “Profes-,” But then the sound of the bell ringing fills the Hall, dismissing everyone from their breakfast. The students are quick to leave their dirtied plates, which the house elves apparate to and clean up with haste.

Snape glances around the now completely empty table before clearing his voice and continuing. “Actually, Twila, I had something I needed to give to you.” She perks up at this, slowly standing from her spot to allow a house elf to swipe her plate, as she watches the man reach into his coat pocket. He directs the paper towards her, which she takes gently, before she glances down to read it; a pass to the restricted section. “I believe it would be beneficial if we were to both research this… subject.” 

Twila gives him a gentle bow of her head. “Thank you, Professor.”

“Now you must understand, this pass will not be used for inappropriate reasons. You are to get the books you need then return to your regular studies. No… ‘dilly dallying’.” He nasalizes, a grimace growing on his lip from the very phrase. “Am I understood?”

“Yes, Professor Snape.” Twila bites back the urge to smile, ideas already growing in her head as to what she might find down there.

“Good. Now, quickly to your next class.”

༺ ☆ ༻

Twila scurries through the halls with her other classmates until finding herself entering her regular Charms class, where she happily seats herself between Ominis and Celia once again. Professor Flitwick provides his students with a short lecture regarding a passage from their assigned reading, but something is different this time.

Twila’s begins to bounce her leg as her nerves begin to fry. This is it. Today must be the day. Then, she finally hears those words she’s been dreading for so long.

“Alright, wands up.”

Just at the small request, she feels all the excitement and courage she had been working up since arriving on the train simply dissipate into thin air. 

The short statured professor makes eye contact with her and clears his throat in an awkward fashion before shuffling his way over. “Miss DeLuna, please come this way.” He says quietly.  She finds herself sweating as all eyes follow her, watching as she gets seated in the back of the class with her notebook.

“Alright, class. Repeat after me.”

Twila is all but humiliated as her classmates periodically glance her way, looking at her in ways she had hoped to never be looked at ever again.

Celia stops Twila on their way out once the lesson is over. “Why did Professor Flitwick put you in the back of the class?” 

Twila snaps herself out of her daze, trying her best not to let her embarrassment show through to her face. “Oh, just transfer student things. I’m working with some of my professors as a sort of precaution, just so they know where to place me in my studies.” Technically not a lie.

Celia nods with an ‘ah’.

However, Twila is quick to bid her friend a goodbye to avoid any further questioning, leading her to a more comfortable class that doesn’t contain someone she knows luckily. But as she sits, she shivers, sensing a pair of eyes on her in particular. She glances up from her runes assignment, coming eye to eye with a boy across the room. He’s tall, even when sitting down, and has dangerously sharp eyes. Never has she felt such an intense and powerful stare. Despite this, he is quiet, adding more to his threatening yet somehow charming demeanor. She recognizes the boy from one of her other N.E.W.T. classes.

Even though she finds herself vulnerable under his gaze, it takes strength to look away. When she does, she nearly forgets where she is. She shakes her head, slowly gaining back control of her conscious mind and goes back to writing on her parchment. What an odd thing that just happened, she thinks. 

The Ravenclaw is last to leave, as usual, unable to help herself as she scribbles down some last remaining thoughts onto her paper before handing it to the professor, who is always excited to see a young student’s enthusiasm over a subject. She gathers her things with an exhausted huff, but is quickly silenced when she makes contact with a body just outside the door.

“Ah, I’m so- rry…” Her voice trails off when she sees just who she is speaking to. Now that he’s standing in front of her, she realizes just how much his mere presence is enough to make her struggle to find words. Something about him is powerful, anyone can see that. He just stares down at her. She clears her throat, hugging her books tightly. “Sorry.” She repeats, her words still quiet.

He looks at her with a bit of curiosity, seeming to study her entire body language. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he could read her mind, but no one their age can do that. Most anyway. “Have we met before?” He asks bluntly, his face nearly unmoving and his eyes yet to blink.

Twila’s eyes widen in shock upon hearing him speak. His voice is soft, monotone, yet sophisticated, but just as danger filled as the rest of him. She takes a moment to once again compose herself before shaking her head. “No, I don’t think we have.”

His ears immediately pick up on her American accent. “...Are you new here?”

“Um, yes. I just transferred here from Ilvermorny.” She answers shyly, hoping that’s where the conversation would end, but of course it does not.

“Oh, I see…” He says, again noting her physical social cues. “And why did you transfer? Does your family reside in the U.K. now?”

She hesitates again, mind racing to find any of the default phrases Snape wrote for her. The lies. “Um, no. I’m only here for my last year before going back home to America.”

However, the boy is barely convinced by this answer, finding it extremely strange actually. “You transferred for just one year?”

Now Twila knows she has dug herself a hole here. That was definitely not a part of the story that Snape told her to say. She nervously shrugs. “I received good grades back in Ilvermorny and one day they reached out to me with the opportunity. Apparently, Hogwarts has more… enriched classes for my skill set.”

For the first time, Twila sees the boy ever so slightly raise an brow of interest at her words. “And what abilities would those be?”

“Well…��� She can feel herself begin to panic. Why does this guy care so much anyway? “Well- Hogwarts is an older school so they have more research packed into their classes. I find myself particularly drawn to Runes and Divination, both subjects not being as popular in the west as they are here.” Her stomach drops with a feeling of disappointment. She had gone off script. Now she has made herself a target twice today, the very thing she was warned not to do.

The boy seems just as confused by her words as she is, narrowing his eyes at her in suspicion. “Runes and Divination.” He repeats, suddenly letting go of his previous emotions to allow his face to fall into its normal glare. “I take it then, you’re interested in the dark arts?”

Her eyes perk up at his last words, a familiar, caught off guard vulnerability in them. “Hmm?” Is all she can manage out.

He continues to stare blankly at her. He has her cornered. “I asked if you’re interested in the dark arts.” He asks plainly.

She blinks away her shocked expression, attempting to compose herself more. She lets out a nervous laugh. How does one answer this? “Um, I find the class interesting at times, I suppose.”

He nods unhurriedly, and Twila can swear she almost sees a hint of a pull at his lips. “Hm, I’ll see you around, Twila.” He states tonelessly. 

Twila’s brows furrow in confusion.  How does he know my name? And it seems as though he understands her confusion as he glances downward. She follows his eyes to one of the notebooks in her arms, large print on the very front cover: ‘Twila DeLuna.’ Oh. “Sorry, I never got your na-,'' But when she looks up, he’s gone.

༺ ☆ ༻

After fourth period, she and Ominis make their way to dinner after a long and silent study session in the library like they always have. Twila insists that she is just very focused on her studies, but after Ominis overhears their Transfiguration teacher pull her to the side instead of allowing her to work on a spell for a second time today, he is all but suspicious.

Ominis and Twila walk to the Great Hall together for dinner, however she is quick to separate from him as they walk in, just in time before Jewel notices and calls her over. Jewel is seated at the far end of the Slytherin table with Celia, and Penelope, with a more than irritated Draco between them, picking at his food while they talk. His mood doesn’t enlighten any further once he sees Twila has now joined the mix as well.

After sifting through most of her food, however, Jewel stands up from the table.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Penelope asks, taken aback by their friend’s sudden abandonment.

“I have to get back to clean my dorm, got a bit messy this weekend. Can’t have Snape see any of that.” She chuckles lightly. “And Draco, do take care of my friends, please.” Draco narrows his eyes at the girl’s evil smile while she exits the Hall. 

Twila notices his jaw clench as he turns back to his food, clearly making an effort not to say what’s really on his mind. But a weird feeling forms inside her. It didn’t take her long to notice how distant he’s been acting around her since she brought him that note and part of her is curious as to why, but she knows better than to tickle him while he’s upset.

Well… maybe she could just a little.

She subtly scoots in closer, shrinking the gap between the two of them since Jewel is no longer there to fill the empty seat. She clears her throat, leaning slightly in, and with a soft voice she says, “So… what crawled up your ass today?”

His eyes narrow further. his head spinning to face her in surprise but it still remains resting in his palm. But he quickly drops his expression to not give her the satisfaction of a reaction and turns back towards his plate. “Nothing ‘crawled up my ass’, Ravenclaw. I just don’t have time to babysit the three most annoying girls I’ve ever met.”

“Don’t forget the prettiest.” Penelope budges in, giggling with Celia.

But Draco rolls his eyes, completely dismissing the two.

Twila smirks, letting out a soft hum at their comments. "Well, I could use someone to show me the way to the prefect meeting tonight, if you don't mind extending your babysitting just a little longer." She says quietly to him.

Draco can’t help but smirk to himself for a moment. Twila and Jewel seem so alike to him, yet so very different; both so bold but in complete opposite ways. Twila is quick and he hates to admit just how smart and witty she actually is. He feels as though he’s always in some fun game of chess with her. She knows how to push him, without actually making him mad. In fact, she’s one of the few that have been able to challenge him.

He bites back his smile, shaking his head as if to play along like he is not amused. “Fine.”

“Shall we then?”

As dinner ceases, the rest of the students begin to hang out around the castle or go up to their dorms to prepare to sleep. Twila follows beside him at a comfortable pace, holding her hands behind her back while she glances around the castle decor. 

Draco finds himself with a few thoughts in his mind, walking forward through the halls while stewing on them for a moment. But he can’t help but ponder something he saw earlier. “So, you know Ominis?” 

Twila’s eyes perk open wider at the unexpected question. He must have seen them walking in the halls together one of these past days. “Yeah, kinda… We have some classes together.”

Draco nods slowly. She wonders if he is just like Jewel; about to tell her how awful of a human he is. “Do you spend a lot of time together?”

Not exactly what she thought he’d say. She shrugs her shoulders in a gentle manner. “We study Transfiguration together sometimes. I’m awful at it.” She laughs off.

He raises a brow at this. Something she isn’t good at, he scoffs at the revelation. “Do you struggle with charms as well?” He mocks.

But to his surprise, she begins to smile, walking forward with a certain level of confidence in her swaying hips. “I think I charmed you just fine.”

He ignores the urge to trip over himself, unable to believe her flirtatious personality. She’s either extremely confident, or extremely oblivious to carry herself in such a way around this school. Either way, he hates just how damn smart and sassy she almost always is, her quick wit being nearly too good for him to keep track of. She surely keeps him on his toes, even when he least expects it. He tightens his jaw, realizing he is letting her get to him, but can’t completely hide his impressed smirk. “Very funny.”

“I like to think so.”

He shakes his head in amusement at her cocky personality. It's both intriguing and absolutely annoying, but he expresses neither. "How many other subjects do you suck at besides transfiguration and charms?"

“I don’t suck at charms!” She laughs out, nudging him on the arm and he laughs with her.

“Oh yeah? Show me something then? Prove to me that you’re not completely incompetent with magic.”

He laughs again, but Twila catches herself suddenly off guard. The words cause her legs to falter in place and her heart to drop. But almost just as quickly, she composes herself, resuming her walking. However, this time, she's a bit slower and her smile isn’t nearly as bright as it was before. “I don’t need to prove anything to you.” She says playfully, but it isn’t the same.

Draco sees her behavioral difference instantly; how her confidence seemed to disappear in a matter of seconds. He feels a rush of guilt, an unusual feeling these days. Why would such a simple little joke make her act so strange?

Before the topic can be explored any further, they see Professor McGonagall waiting at the entrance of a classroom, ready to escort them in. They cease their talking and make their way to a bench together.

Only moments in and Draco finds himself distracted by something from across the room, an eerie feeling fluttering in his stomach, though Twila hardly notices for she too is distracted by the same thing. 

There he is again. That same boy Twila saw earlier.

Draco shifts under his gaze, before turning back to the professor. However, to his surprise, the girl next to him seems almost in a trance, locked in to the boy on the other side of the class. He looks back and forth between the two, that unsettling feeling only growing inside him. “What…?” He asks cautiously, almost like he’s afraid to admit to himself what he’s seeing. 

Twila snaps her head towards the blond, eyes wide in surprise. “Huh? Oh- Nothing…” She chews her lip, going quiet for a moment, but still staring at him in the corner of her eye. “Actually… who is that?” She whispers.

He follows her gaze, feeling a surge of fear as the two boys' eyes meet once more. He quickly looks back, trying to avoid the topic all together. “Why? You have a thing for him?” He tries to laugh and brush it off, but even the thought of that is not a laughing matter.

She shakes her head out of her daze again, seemingly lost every time she's not looking at him. "No- Sorry- I just- He's in two of my N.E.W.T. classes. He spoke to me earlier and it was... odd.... I don't know, something seems familiar about him..." And just like that she is back in a daze, her brows furrowed almost like she herself is also confused as to why she keeps staring at him.

Draco grows more and more concerned by the way she is acting. Why is she speaking about him as if he has some kind of magical hold on her? This interest of hers is dangerous, something that needs to be nipped at the bud. He isn’t usually one to engage in small talk with just anyone, especially not with some random Ravenclaw. Something is odd here. Then again, maybe he’s found out her and Jewel are friends. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence after all. “What did he say?” Again, his voice is cautious, his pace slow and his volume quiet.

Twila only shrugs. “Just things about why I transferred here. Asked if I like Dark Arts class. I don’t remember, it was pretty brief. I didn’t even catch his name.”

Now that he thinks about it, why did Twila transfer to Hogwarts? However, the idea of that man asking her anything about Dark Arts feels more important to him. “His name’s Tom Riddle. He’s Head Boy. Wait, you said he asked you about the dark arts?”

She continues to steal glances at him. “Yeah.”

Draco has half a million thoughts floating in his head right now. Does she really not see his true nature? “And… what did you tell him? Did you answer?”

But before she can even process his last words, her eyes widen. “Wait- Did you say Tom Riddle?”

He nods, growing more and more weary every time she speaks. “Yes, do you know him already…?”

Luckily, she shakes her head. “No, Jewel just always warns me about them. Obviously, she's loosened up with Mattheo considering she always brings me to practice with you guys. She hates any time I talk to him though. But Tom... she won't even speak about him. She always just says to avoid him."

“Is that… all she tells you?”

Draco's tone makes Twila turn to look at him again. Why does everyone act so weird about these two guys? She thinks. “She never says, just that they're evil or something. Whatever that means.”

The way she rolls her eyes lets Draco know she truly knows nothing. The fact that Jewel hasn’t even mentioned a reason to her ‘best friend’ only proves that Jewel is in a lot more danger than he originally thought.

For now,  Ms. McGonagall dismisses the class, causing all of the prefects to stand and exit the classroom. Just as he and Twila stand however, she stops the two of them. “Oh and before I forget, I’ve assigned the both of you to patrol the clocktower tomorrow night." A wide smile appears on her face, before exiting as well.

Draco immediately frowns at this news, watching the professor leave without waiting for any response from the two students. They share a disappointed glance, before a sly smirk finds Twila’s lips. “You and I, huh?”

He rolls his eyes instantly. There had to be some cruel fate that they should be partnered up together to patrol the most boring area of the school for hours. As if he wasn’t already forced to waste his time on so many other things everyday. “Yeah. The dynamic duo we are.” He scoffs out, trudging forward down the hall.

As the two of them walk, Twila suddenly notices a figure leaning against the wall in one of the larger open areas. As she moves, the candles eventually refract just right so she can make out Mattheo’s face. He boredly stands as if he’s waiting for something, then he looks up, making eye contact with the girl. His eyes light up and he tilts his head to motion her over with a smile.

Twila bites down her grin, turning back to Draco. "I'll see you tomorrow, Draco." She smiles softly at him. But before she walks away, she stops and comes back in front of him. "Hey, don't tell Jewel that Ominis and I are friends, okay?" Her voice is at a whisper and her eyes plead with a certain amount of guilt.

The two ‘best friends’ keeping so many secrets from each other. Draco finds this entertaining, but agrees nonetheless, for now anyway. Then, he looks over her shoulder, now also noticing the boy in the corner. He scoffs as he turns back to her. “Yeah, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Her smile returns, giving him thankful eyes, and then she spins on her heels to all but skip to the corner of the room. She bites her lip once more as she approaches the boy, bashful, but excited. "Thought you're supposed to be in detention?" She whispers, stepping close enough to wrap her arms around his neck.

He lets out a pleased chuckle, his hands already finding home at her waist. “I, uh, got out. Don’t ask how, I’m just glad I did.”

She giggles, rolling her eyes at the same time. "I'm glad you did too." She whispers before leaning in to meet his lips.

Mattheo hugs his arms around her, letting his lips move slowly but passionately against hers while he pulls her in closer. The kiss lasts only for a few seconds, but their embrace remains.

"Thank you." Twila starts softly, her eyes glistening up at him. "For baiting McGonagall, not letting me get detention as well. It was very heroic of you." She teases the last part, but the appreciation in her eyes is real.

He laughs quietly. “I can’t let my favorite girl get in trouble, can I?” He says smoothly.

She playfully rolls her eyes at this. "Favorite girl, huh?”

He lets his eyes narrow, still smiling down at her. “Of course.. Are you saying you don’t like being the favorite?”

"Oh, I just despise it." She says dramatically, her sly grin still present on her face.

Mattheo plays along easily, responding with an equal amount of sarcasm and drama. “Oh, it’s just horrible isn’t it?” She giggles happily at the fact that he matched her tone, letting herself fall further into his arms while she laughs. He takes the opportunity to hold her even closer, looking into her eyes as he speaks. “It must be awful for you; being showered with endless amounts of affection.”

“Endless?” She questions with a sly brow raised at his offer.

“I’m afraid so.” He replies with a sigh.

She hums, about to lean back in for his lips, but then the two suddenly hear rhyming coming from the end of the hall. The voice is high pitched and extremely annoying. 

“10 points to Peeve-sies!” It cries, its voice seeming to come out of the walls.

Twila freezes in place, looking up at Mattheo for guidance on what this unfamiliar voice means.

“You gotta be fucking kidding me.” Mattheo groans under his breath, not in any mood to see the colorful jester; the personification of annoying. Mattheo has gotten in trouble because of this clown more times than he’d like to admit. If he sees them, he’ll tell McGonagall, and he’s already getting detention for his detention that he skipped tonight.

In a split of a second, Mattheo grabs Twila’s hand, dashing them out of the hall and through the first door he sees, which so happens to be the girls washroom. He presses his ear to the door, waiting to see if the poltergeist will pop out eventually, but he hears his voice fading away. By the time Twila joins him by the door, Peeves' voice is gone entirely. 

Mattheo pulls away, his mind immediately returning to their last interaction before they were interrupted. He gently leans her against the wall, tilting his head down to kiss her. 

She lets out a surprised gasp, before giggling into the kiss. “Mattheo, you can’t be in here.” She quietly laughs out.

He smiles at the feeling of her giggles against his lips, only pulling her closer. “I don’t care.” He chuckles, capturing her lips again.

She lets out a soft breath, cupping his face with her hands. When she feels his hands drop lower from her waist, she reaches down to gently grasp his collar, pulling him just enough to press harder against her. Her chest heaves against his as they break away for a moment, each having heavy lids as they take the other in. As their eyes meet, their heartbeats speed up in sync. Mattheo’s lips hunger for more, making him lean in to kiss her neck. She smiles, a soft moan escaping her lips as she rakes her fingers through his hair, causing shivers to run up and down his spine, in turn leaving a little nibble onto her shoulder.

Twila’s body rolls into his as her grip tightens and her eyes close from the sensation. He squeezes her even closer. “Mattheo… he’s gonna come back and hear us if we continue.” She breathes out.

The brown haired boy’s face is hot and red, breathing hard as he realizes how quickly they let things escalate. He takes a step back, but never lets go of her, his hands continuing to run up and down her sides. “You do this to me… you make me so…”

She giggles at his lack of words. “So…?”

He shakes his head with a grin. “You just…”

But as he speaks, she feels this odd rush of confidence take over, the rush coming straight from the bottom of her belly. She moves forward so the two are back to pressing against one another. “I…?” She whispers, staring up into his eyes while she lets a lone finger dance across his belt line, which is all Mattheo needs to reach his mouth to her neck again.

However, just before he can touch her, she raises a finger to his lips to stop him. She looks lustfully into his eyes, before pressing a quick grazing kiss upon his lips, keeping her other hand still tickling near his waist.

He groans at her touch, his breath hot on her neck and his heart beating loud enough for Twila to hear. “You’re being a tease,” but he can’t help but chuckle. A sly smirk appears on her face as she completely retracts her hands now, making him groan even more. The smirk on her face only grows Mattheo’s lust for her. He leans his forehead upon hers and whispers onto her lips. “You’re gonna get me in trouble.”

She pulls away with a gasping chuckle. “You’re gonna get me in trouble.” She whispers dramatically. She then reaches out for his hands, pulling him towards the bathroom exit. “Come on, we should go back. Some of us can’t risk detention.” She grins.

He smirks, trying to maintain his composure while following her back out into the hallway. He can hardly stop himself from being excited about the idea of sneaking around with her.

She smiles as the two of them walk through the halls until they come to a set of staircases; the upstairs leading to Ravenclaw, and the down to Slytherin. She stops just before them and turns back to Mattheo. “I had fun.” She whispers with a bright smile, placing her hands on his chest.

He hums, giving her one last quick kiss and then pulling back. “I had fun too… and don’t think I’m finished with you just yet.”

She giggles into his lips. “I’m sure you’re not.” She pulls away, about to walk up the stairs until she stops suddenly. “Can I ask you something…?”

He smirks, watching her as she walks. “Ask away, beautiful.”

She places her elbow on one of the stairs ledges, leaning over it in thought. “...What is your brother like…?” She asks quietly, almost reluctantly.

Her question surprises him, his face filling with pure contempt as he looks at the ground to avoid her eyes. Not a topic he hoped to talk with her about. “Why?” He asks with a voice of sudden monotone.

She shifts, realizing it to be a sensitive topic and immediately regrets bringing it up at all. She mentally curses her curiosity, but now she has to finish what she started. “I think I met him earlier.”

An ice cold chill runs up Mattheo’s spine. It feels like he can’t have one good thing without his brother creeping his way in between it. “You met him?” She nods and his face darkens. Nothing Tom puts his attention towards ends well. He can only hope this was merely an accident, that it meant nothing. “What did he say?”

She shrugs. “He's in two of my classes.  I ran into him, literally. Then, he started asking me things about my transfer from Ilvermorny."

He nods but his thoughts are barely put to ease. Tom rarely does things for no reason. He wouldn’t ask her a question if he didn’t want something out of it. Then again, maybe it could just be a rare case of small talk. “Did he ask you anything else?”

She thinks for a moment, trying to remember their interaction earlier. “He asked if I transferred because I got good grades. I told him I kinda specialize in Runes and Divination and he asked me if I like dark arts class as well. That's pretty much it."

Mattheo freezes as soon as the words ‘dark arts’ leave her lips. He feels his heart drop into his stomach. Why would Tom go around so bluntly asking about dark arts? “What did you tell him?”

She shifts uncomfortably, swallowing down the nervousness in her throat and narrows her eyes in confusion. Odd. “Draco had the same responses.” The fact that even Tom’s own brother is behaving this suspiciously towards him is enough to make her worried.

But now it’s Mattheo’s turn to narrow his eyes. “You talked to Draco about this?” Why has Draco had her attention so much today?

“Yeah.” She nods. “Draco and I are Prefects. We saw Tom in our meeting today, so I asked if Draco knew anything about him and he responded exactly how you just did…” Her voice trails off with insecurity. “Did I say something wrong…?”

Mattheo sighs, leaning against the nearby wall. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just…”

Twila sits silently, observing his behavior as he trails off. Now that she’s seen the two back to back, she notices a striking resemblance. She can hardly believe she didn’t realize the two were related when she first spoke to Tom earlier. “Jewel said I shouldn’t even be in the same room as him… She said the same thing about you and Draco though too… But she never tells me anything about Tom, no one does. Why does everyone act so weird about him…?”

His eyes fill with a despairing sort of gaze at her words, but he tries to focus on the bigger problem at hand. “Listen… I think it’s best if you stayed away from Tom. I’m sorry, it's just really complicated.”

Her face drops with a disappointed look. Why is it so impossible for her to get an answer on this? Nonetheless, her shoulders drop in defeat. “Okay…”

With a softened face, he takes a step forward, reaching out for her hand which she lets him take into his own. He looks into her eyes for a moment. He hated causing her these feelings, even though he knows this is truly for the better. He wants to tell her everything, tell her all the secrets he’s been forced to keep in his entire life. He can only long for that day to come, but each day only makes him feel more hopeless towards it. It’s likely that day may never come, with her or anyone ever again. “I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear. I want to tell you, really. But I can’t. It’s best you don’t talk to him again. I mean it.”

Twila only nods, but her confusion only grows. What could be so bad about Tom? About any of the Riddles? Why would Hogwarts let these students freely wander their halls if they are truly dangerous? She just couldn’t wrap her head around it.

His heart drops at the sight, feeling just a bit distanced to her now as every secret seems to push them apart. “Can I ask you something? And be honest with me.” She raises a brow up at him, silently waiting for what he needs to say. “Do you… still want to hang out with me? Even though you can’t know everything?”

She looks to the ground, contemplating his words with a guilty and sour feeling in her mouth. “Would you still hang out with me if I couldn’t tell you everything about myself?” She asks back, eyes vulnerable with secrets of her own.

Mattheo looks back at her, her words stinging with a sense of familiarity. He’s had to hide for most of his life because he has to, but he never considered the situation to be mutual. “Yes, I still would.” He says, carrying a small amount of hope that she would feel the same.

She smiles at him in a sad kind of way. “Thank you.” She whispers, pressing her forehead against his.

Seeing her sad smile kind of hurts Mattheo. It’s clear that she wants answers, may even need them, and it seems as though she is burdened by her own secrets, but some things just can’t be said. She deserves the truth, but he can’t bring himself to be the one to ruin what they have with his dirty secrets. It feels out of place for him. All he can do at the moment is hold her gently.

She leaves one last kiss on his lips before pulling away. “I should get upstairs.” She whispers. Then she walks up towards the Ravenclaw staircase, raising her leg onto its first platform. “Goodnight.” She quietly calls to him in a sing-songy kind of way.

He chuckles. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” He calls back as he watches her disappear, eyes following her every move.. However, his mind races with all sorts of thoughts. He wants to follow her up there, to ease the pain he saw in her eyes. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t follow her, and he doesn’t tell her everything she needs to know. He simply looks away after she is out of sight with a sigh and returns to his common room.