#to the point that i forgot i hadn't fully explained it because it felt like a given

[greywolfheirs]

Kabumisu Drabble/Shortfic

Kabru frowned down at the text in front of him. He glanced between it and the circle he’d made in the floor to check he’d inscribed all the symbols correctly. Satisfied, he nodded to himself. Now to say the words.

Kabru and Marcille had gotten along decently well during their time together with Laios’s new appointment of king. In fact, “decently” might be an understatement. They were cautious at first, but she had quickly become the first person he ran to when visitors came to Laios with ridiculous requests and Laios jumped to even more ridiculous solutions without consulting his advisor. Kabru needed to complain and she was a very sympathetic ear.

It was only Marcille who could convince Kabru to take up magic in his free time. He’d learned a few convenient spells from her and she eventually gave him the book he now held in his hand. He was trying to cast the spell he’d seen during their days in the dungeon, one that heated the floor so that Senshi could cook food.

As Kabru mouthed the words, practicing the pronunciation, his roommate and the reason for this particular spell walked in. Mithrun, after citing a new desire to return to the island, was also a constant companion in Kabru’s life. He’d been developing some desires again, and chasing any whims that came with them–hence his stay on the island. Still, it wasn’t as if the lost desires were coming back anytime soon, so Kabru was dedicated to ensuring his friend was properly taken care of.

Hence the spell for convenience cooking. It was a tempting alternative to late-night treks to the kitchen when lack of desire for food combined with Kabru's busy schedule meant they both hadn't eaten all day.

Mithrun smiled and nodded as he made his way to his room, and Kabru waved in response. Clearing his throat, he sat up straighter to recite the spell.

“Destruere,” Kabru began, “igne pavi–wha-mph!”

Kabru, missing the thud of Mithrun’s footsteps back into the living quarters, was very suddenly interrupted by his roommate’s whole body thrown into his arms and–immediately after–his lips covering Kabru’s. In that moment, Kabru will admit that all logic, training, and thought left his mind. Mithrun’s lips were surprisingly soft, his frame light enough that even fully covering Kabru felt like a comfortable weight in his lap, and Kabru forgot any reason to not close his eyes and kiss back.

Except Mithrun pulled back before he could.

“That spell would have caused an explosion large enough to kill you,” he said, pulling himself from Kabru’s arms with a speed that almost hurt. Almost.

Because Kabru realized it hadn’t been Mithrun’s sudden feelings for his roommate bubbling over into spontaneous action. Just as Kabru had done many times, Mithrun had simply known that the only way to quickly stop a magic user from casting a spell was to make their mouth stop moving entirely. It hadn’t been personal when Mithrun moved away because none of it had been personal.

Kabru felt his face go hot and tried to hide it by looking back down at the spellbook. The top of the page read: “Small fire spell.” Curse Marcille and her love of explosive magic.

“Oh!” Kabru said, still looking down at the book and scratching the back of his neck. “I must have picked the wrong spell.”

“What were you trying to cast?” Mithrun asked, suddenly dropping next to Kabru’s side and peeking over his shoulder at the book.

“Um, Macille often used a spell that would heat the floor so that Senshi could cook with it,” Kabru explained, face now red from embarrassment at the explanation. “I thought it was this one.”

Mithrun hummed and leaned in to read the words on the page. “It is a similar spell, but the words you want are here.” He pointed to a spot further down the page. Marcille had marked it with abbreviated words in common that Kabru hadn’t recognized as anything but gibberish. “It modifies it so that you get the heat and none of the explosion.”

“That…makes sense,” Kabru said with a chuckle. “Thanks, Mithrun.”

“Of course,” the elf said, and Kabru looked up in time to see one of his small, rare smiles. It did nothing for the redness on Kabru’s face. “Would you like help casting this time?”

“Sure,” Kabru said, returning the smile. He placed his hands back on the floor. This time, Mithrun said the words, and Kabru repeated them. The symbols on the floor glowed and when Kabru lifted his hands, he felt warmth radiating from the circle. No explosions seemed imminent.

“It worked!” Kabru exclaimed, clapping Mithrun on the shoulder.

Mithrun smiled again and leaned towards the circle. “I didn’t realize how cold I was until now.”

Kabru whipped his head around. “I told you to wear warm clothing today.”

“I did, but it got too warm in the castle and forgot to put my coat back on.”

Kabru used his hand still on the elf's shoulder to shake him a little. “How many times do I have to tell you to put on proper clothing for the weather!”

“I’m sorry,” Mithrun said, looking away. “I know how frustrating it is taking care of me.”

“What? No, I–” Kabru sighed. “I'm not mad, I just worry. I know you’re a big bad Canary–Former Canary” Kabru corrected when Mithrun opened his mouth to interrupt, “but I still don't want you to get hurt.”

Mithrun nodded. Kabru saw him thinking about what to say next, so he waited it out. He nearly choked when Mithrun suddenly announced, “I have a desire to kiss you.”

“I–what?”

“It felt…nice, and I want to do it again,” Mithrun explained, the clinical nature of his tone sending Kabru reeling.

Because this was Mithrun. Intimidating in battle, utterly helpless at everyday life, and utterly endearing because of it. Kabru would be lying if he said he didn’t think about kissing Mithrun often. But he’d long resigned himself to shoving those thoughts to the back of his head. While he adored the elf in a way he hadn’t felt for many people, he knew the chances of Mithrun returning that affection were less than nil.

“I thought you’d lost the desire for kissing a long time ago,” Kabru said. The elf had a wife before his desires were taken away, and therefore any new romantic desires were unable to return. Right? Surely–surely–Mithrun had kissed his wife. So how could he have this new desire for kissing?

Mithrun shook his head. “I don’t have a desire for kissing, I have a desire to kiss you.”

And fuck if that wasn’t the worst thing for Kabru to hear in that moment. It made him think dangerous thoughts–thoughts that inspired hope that he’d extinguished months ago. And it made him do stupid things.

Stupid things like reaching up to tuck Mithrun's hair behind his ear and saying, “Then I suppose you should kiss me.”

Mithrun’s expression was unreadable–a first in a while for Kabru–but he leaned in until their lips barely brushed against each other. Kabru bridged the rest of the gap, pressing forward in a chaste but firm kiss. He didn’t want to push too far, but he wanted to make sure it was enjoyable. For Mithrun, he told himself, because Mithrun’s desires should be enjoyed.

That thought got shoved to the side immediately when Mithrun made a small noise of delight at the contact. He kissed back, deepening it and putting his hands on Kabru’s chest to steady himself. Kabru felt his logic fly out the window for the second time that evening. He slid his hand further back to cradle Mithrun's head, running his fingers through the silken strands of hair he’d felt many times but never like this. He used his new grip as an anchor as he pressed forward impossibly more, sliding his tongue along the elf’s bottom lip. The delighted noise came again and Kabru had never cursed a need to breathe more. He reluctantly pulled away–enough to gauge Mithrun’s reaction.

“Was that alright?” he whispered, surprised by how utterly wrecked his voice sounded.

Mithrun opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the sound of voices outside their front door. Both men stood as, without knocking, Laios burst in, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

“Kabru! Marcille told me she was teaching you magic, so we can be magic practice buddies!”

Laios’s excitement was occasionally adorable, but never in his entire life–not even in their first meeting–had Kabru ever wanted to kill him more.

[romanestuffsposts]

Hi there love! 💜

Here comes the fic about Christmas, it’s not the bigger one nor the best one but I hope you still like it ❤️

Enjoy!! <33

(Yes I’m a bit late but 🤫)

****

Warnings : fluff, opening present, Christmas mornings, pet names, comfort, reassurance, kisses

Parings : daddies!Stucky ; Daddy!Bucky x Papa!Steve x Little!Reader

Summary : it’s Christmas’s morning! ❄️🎄

****

It's morning Christmas and you couldn't be happier, the night before you couldn't fall asleep for the life of you. Your Daddies thought they were going crazy, you wanted to stay up and to see Santa so you could thank him and ask him how he was doing to grow his beard because you want to have longer hair, you wanted to know his tricks.

It's first morning in a long time that you were up before your Daddies. You usually are a heavy sleeper and they often have hard times waking you up but today it's otherwise.

 You tippy toes to their bedroom and climb in bed with them, you stay perfectly still until you can't take it anymore and jump in the soft mattress.

Your Daddy groans, his eyes still closed. You giggle as you keep jumping, that until a hand wrap around your ankle and make you fall.

You fall in between your Daddies "you're the worst sometimes" your Daddy jokes while wrapping his huge arms around you. You keep laughing while your Papa, who's the cause of your fall, comes closer to you.

You jokingly groan and turn your head away "smell baddddd"

Offended, he puts his hand on his heart and gasps "keep acting like this and you won't open any presents today" he teases pointing at you.

You pull your tongue at him and wiggle your way out of your Daddy's arms. You hadn't forgot what your goal was for this morning;

Wake up ✅

Explaining your dream to Bucksie ✅

Waking up your daddies ✅

Opening present ❌

It's finally the time..

You run downstairs and smile when you see all the presents under the tree.

You quickly drop on your knees in front of it and excitingly wait for your Daddies.

It's not until ten minutes later that you see them walking down the stairs. They thought they would have time to take a coffee to fully wake up but apparently now is not the time.

Once their butts are on the couch of the living room, near the tree, they look over at you and nod "let's see what Santa brought you’’

You squeal and turn around to grab the first gift. Your face got redder and redder the more you open gifts, you notice it was things you couldn't stop looking at through the windows of the stores and now they're in your hands. That's crazy!

You suddenly went all shy after opening the last gift, you're not used to have all the intention on you- except when your home with your daddies- but today felt different.

"what's wrong, princess ?" Your papa frowns when he notices your head low. He's concerned that you don't like one of your gift or are disappointed for any valid reasons.

come mere, wavy re pals me space between them. It took you a moment to get up and climbing on the couch but your Daddies are patient men- sometimes- and gently wait.

"You don't like one of your gifts ?" Your Daddy asks, caressing your hair.

You shake your head because that's not the case, you absolutely love all of the gifts you just received. ‘’Then what's going on ?"

had all gifts I wanted" you mumble, looking down. Your Daddies frown, not understanding

"well if you had the gifts you wanted why are you so sad ?"

because he not here to say tank you"

your Daddies's gaze sotten after ine sweet words that just came out of your throat, your Papa leans down to kiss your head "that's really sweet of you to think of that baby." Yes it absolutely is. Don't feel sad about it, we can write him a letter where you can thank him in and say all the things you want to tell him, how does that sounds ?" Your Daddy adds.

You look up at him "we can ?"

He chuckles and nods his head "of course we can" he learns down and kisses your nose "and we will

Your smile comes back again and you nod your head "otay!"

You jump off of the couch and run upstairs to go grab your pens and papers to write the most perfect letter you can

"Well, that went better than I thought it would" your Daddy sighs.

Your Papa chuckles and pats his thigh "there's still next year"

[but-ter-flie-ge]

Finally. My reread of Crooked Kingdom actually did happen.

I was way more excited for the second book of the duology. So my prediction consisted of me rushing through SOC and then starting CK a bit less as if the apocalypse is going to break out if I don't finish it within a few days.

Jokes on me: I got so excited about different scenes that I still flew through it. So my brain is jumbled and my life is falling apart but I guess I did finish it, no?

For my first read of the second book in the duology, I actually understood the hype a bit more. It granted us the last two background stories of the characters and had a whole lot more banter. Which is one of the strongest elements of the books. However, I feel like CK manages the riddles and hidden plans of Kaz way better. It feels more deliberate than just being based on pure luck. Not everything of course and it probably still is 80% luck but it is covered up more thoroughly.

There were just so many details I simply forgot and was shocked to learn about once more. Even things I hadn't fully understood the last time I read it.

The writing style is a bit more poetic in my point of view. I could be wrong but that's what it felt like and I think it gives the text an emotional smoothness in-between the edges that come with the fighting and the comedy.

Still the pacing is awry sometimes.

The point of view changes get so frustrating in some parts which I didn't feel too much in the first book.

If you shoot someone and the next page is a lengthy description of what the surroundings look like, I won't read that. Or I will read it but my brain will zone out of this universe. For others this may work but not for me.

What I need to add to this though is that when there is a brawl at the end of the one character it is almost certain the next one will experience something that reaches the same level of stress which makes the scenes afterward easier to flip through.

I did not like the Pekka Rollins ending in the church.

Kaz hasn't struck him or really confronted him through the whole length of two books. Now in all of this chaos, attention shifting every few seconds and nerves on edge for other reasons he decides to finally do what we waited for.

I understand that there probably wasn't enough space or time to write an extra plot point for this so I will just watch the show whenever I'm craving Kaz's vengeance.

One of my favourite chapters in the whole series got to be chapter 14 of CK.

It is also the only chapter that plays outside of Ketterdam and it almost feels like a bittersweet nightmare. Or a dream? It's so hard to decide how to feel, being torn from "Oh his mother lives!" To "Holy fuck his mother lives..." To "I can't do this- she painted him..." While everything plays in this unfamiliar setting dipped in the afternoon sun. Wylan is not just retelling what happened but we are actually there while it happens. It helps to stir my pot of emotions.

This song was running on repeat when I was reading this:

The time has come. Whilst we're at iconic scenes I have the physical urge to throw in the "Who the hell is Jordie" - Jesper Fahey.

My friends are probably already wailing over the fact that I'm once again explaining my issues when it comes to Kaz Brekker. I'm sorry, my dears. I love you all very much.

Book one he redeemed himself and even in book two at the end I felt lighter, the anger issues not going complete berserk when thinking about him.

A huge part why I didn't like him is caused by his anger towards Jesper. I established that in my first review as well but in CK this burning rage of and therefore for him just flames higher.

I understand why and how and what and when and blablabla but I still don't think it's acceptable. And I think the fandom handles it wrongly. Maybe this is because there are a lot of young readers in the community. (Even though the SOC duology has very morally grey characters and it shouldn't be young adult-- that's a discussion for another day.)

I know I'm chronically online for this but children listen: Kaz can't just stomp his bestie in the ground because he has PTSD. Why do you think Inej left before the same fate could happen to her? It's so painfully obvious it makes me convulse. Jesper already has doubts about himself and his right to be loved, have friends, be trusted. And that just worsens in the presence of Kaz and his jabs here and there. You also have to keep in mind that Kaz actively fed into Jespers addiction which were the cause of him accidentally betraying the crows. Additionally: who gave Kaz the right to speak for Inej? She is the one who got hurt and she's the one who will settle it. Which she did. (Brilliant scene by the way.)

The way Kaz reacts just strengthened my belief from the first book: he never trusted Jesper and he just lets out his pain at someone who was foolish enough to stay with him.

Now I know I've been antagonizing him a lot but it's my opinion on the fandoms matter not on the overall of his character because I feel like in the books it's perfectly clear that this is a fight where he's in the wrong.

Shockingly, my very one-sided view on Kaz changed. Otherwise I would've not enjoyed the book as much as I did. I hold the moments when Nina and Wylan say that he accepted them very close. Or him giving Wylan the heritage he deserves even if it was just to taunt Van Eck into madness I have the (most likely false) inkling it's not only that. Probably just another scheme to use Wylan later on but we don't think about that. When he tells Inej that Jesper is missed I felt like the Pekka Rollins incident was finally wearing off just as the memories.

And of course there's Inej whom he gifts her her ship and brought her back to her parents. We all love to see her happy and even if he earned the simp-stamp during this, it is still a scene that makes me tear up.

Talking about more scenes I like: the fights between Inej and Dunyasha are awesome. I find Dunyasha super interesting as well as the way Inej views her.

Her character design is fun and her belief system so twisted and messed up. I don't know it just was a "fresh wind" of insanity outside of the common crowd we already knew.

And Inej grew through her. Inej's character growth has always been kind of shoved in your face with very obvious metaphors but I learned to absolutely love and appreciate it this way. It leaves you with very impressive scenes that are bound to her with connections and further consequences.

Speaking of character growth: Matthias. We finally got his final big bear form. It's funny how he transformed from being this irrational crazy murder husband of Nina to kind of the innocent-not-so-innocent-simping-lovely-idiotic-diplomat of the group.

We all know how his story takes it's end though. And once again I find myself wondering if the pace is just too fast or the pov change destroys this particular moment. But I couldn't really engage in it. I found it sad but not in a way that really stuck and made me mourn his character which I find a bit unfair. Because he deserves to be mourned. No pun intended.

I'm surprised that I don't think it was unnecessary or something that was just done to hurt the reader. Or Nina for that matter. Maybe it is but that's not how it seems to me.

I think he deserves better, obviously. I think he could've survived and the book would've been just as good, maybe even better.

But he dies and I feel like it just shows how luck does run out sometimes. And all it took was a younger version of Matthias plagued by hatred and a clouded mind shakingly holding onto a pistol. Matthias did change, wanted to help and free his family from the ice but cruelly he wasn't given the chance.

Scenes I'm unsure about would also be the pure comedy gold of Jesper mistaking Kuwei for Wylan.

When I first read that I was so on edge. Why wasn't "Wylan" saying anything? Why's he randomely sitting there not playing? Why on god's green earth is he grinning? (Also side note: how the hell could Jesper say their first kiss would be a great thing as a distraction?)

Anyways oblivious Jesper kisses Kuwei and in turn this dude is just glowing with pride.

It is memeworthy and I'm happy it's not a messed up love triangle or any of those sorts.

Still the voices bro, the freaking voices! "How could this be used for a meme moment?"

I can live with it though. It's okay. The show gave us what we didn't have and I'm ready for further angst if the spin off does come out.

Conclusively I'd like to say that the books grew on me through the fandom, the show and maturing as a person. It's quite the funny journey. I'm going to reread my first two reviews now and see what bs my younger self created. Chances are high that I just repeated myself but that's okay. I'll just ride with that. Have a good day.

[hxrricvnes]

HEARING CASSANDRA REPEAT HER WORDS MADE HER CRINGE. not because the other woman needed clarification, but because hearing it out loud sounded crazy. what kind of people was she raised by?! the moment cassandra's hand made contact with her, she felt a cold fave of shock run through her. it was like she froze for a split second. only because the comforting feeling, coming from HER, was so foreign at this point she almost forgot what it felt like. ONCE AGAIN, it was her own fault, but still. despite the split second, her e n t i r e body relaxed once more and she actually grabbed cassie's hand with her own. not moving it, just holding it. she didn't know how long she'd be able to have this, but she needed it. her words only helped calm ryann's racing heart. she wanted to admit to everything, and she almost did but the moment she opened her mouth to speak, she thought about what she had to do to get her brother back. to keep him safe. how she hadn't even meant to do it... her powers had almost had a mind of their own. all she remembered was NEEDING to keep luca safe. he was her's to protect. and while she knew she would do it again if it meant keeping him safe, she felt like a monster now. and THAT was something she didn't know how to admit. to anyone. "together." she repeated after a small pause. looking up again, to meet her graze, ryann saw something in cassandra's eye that she couldn't fully explain. at least not in that moment. but she KNEW, she just knew she could explain it all with judgement. and while she wasn't ready to admit what she did, she could explain the rest. "they never wanted either of us." she spoke softly, though the pain and anger could easily be heard in her voice. "they kept us for the power. they– someone wants to– they offered us up for someone to take our powers. that's why they tried to take luca." she explained finally.

Cassie felt her breath hitch as she listened to Ryann’s words, the weight of what her ex was sharing sinking in. She could see the pain etched into Ryann’s expression, the tension in her body. It made Cassie’s heart ache for her, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together, yet leaving so many gaps. “They sent someone after Luca?” Cassie repeated softly, her brows knitting together in concern. She leaned in just slightly, her voice low and filled with quiet compassion. “Ryann, that’s… that’s awful. I had no idea…” She let her gaze settle on Ryann’s hand, tracing the scars Cassie had once been so curious about, a fresh wave of understanding washing over her. Suddenly, things made so much more sense; the leaving, the distance, the walls Ryann had built. Cassie’s hand twitched, hesitating, before reaching out and gently placing her hand on the other's thigh. “You don’t have to explain everything all at once,” she said softly, offering Ryann a gentle smile. “I can’t even imagine what you and Luca went through, but I’m here now. And whatever happened, you’re safe. He’s safe. We’re safe.” Cassie paused for a beat, her voice growing even softer. “I know it’s hard, but you don’t have to carry this alone anymore.” She let the words hang in the air, not wanting to push too much but hoping Ryann knew she had a lifeline, someone who cared enough to listen without judgment. Cassie smiled again, this time a little wider, as she glanced at the blanket beneath them. “Maybe, when you’re ready, you can tell me more? But if not tonight, that’s okay. Let’s just… enjoy being here. Together.”

[curetapwater]

@ Sky, what was childhood like in the Land of Darkness?

"Heh, uh... Well, it's a lot smaller than over in the Land of Light. Or, at least my village is. Everything's really close together, everyone knows each other. You almost never see the sun, which isn't a problem when you burn easy like me.

Uh. My family's nice. I'm not sure how much they ever really got me, though. My brothers and I liked to play outside when I was real little, until we almost got eaten when we found ourselves near the woods, hehe. We weren't allowed to go too far away from the farm after that happened. My brothers decided this meant they'd play card games indoors, while I decided it meant I'd have to sneak around to play where I wasn't supposed to anyway.

My parents were never crazy about me doing stuff like that, sneaking out or just getting into trouble. Especially my mom. I think it's because I'm the only girl in the family but I think she kinda had... I don't know. Expectations? That I wasn't interested in. Like, she'd try to get me to wear dresses or put my hair in pigtails. I still don't think she really understands me, honestly. But she still supports me, so I can't really complain.

No, the hardest part of growing up on the Isle of Isolation was school. I've given up thinking there's anything I can do to change it, at this point I think kids just have some shitty impulses they need to take out on whoever looks like an easy target. And I guess the funny-looking quiet kid who cries every naptime was that target. And things got worse when we all started getting older, and I got sicker of the way they were treating me and started fighting back. And getting kicked out of schools for fighting back. And you can imagine how few schools were close to us, so it became this whole thing of heading further and further out from home everyday so I could go to school somewhere I hadn't been expelled from yet.

I, uh... kinda spiraled a bit from all that. Feeling misunderstood, I mean. It got me in a lot of trouble. Dated someone I shouldn't have. Broke some laws. Almost fell off a roof once but that's a story for another time. But. All things considered, I think I would've turned out worse had it not been for my music. My parents even let me use an old shed to play my guitar without bothering anyone else in the house. If I wasn't playing in there, then I was playing...

You know about Boris, okay? Do I have to talk about him?"

(Sky, they asked about you childhood.)

"And I answered."

(But not in full.)

She stares at the ground and tries to ignore the words coming out of her own mouth.

"Okay. Okay. His dad owned a music shop in the middle of town. My family had been going there for years, so when I was old enough my dad took me there to get my first instrument, a recorder.

But while he was busy, I felt... drawn towards the back, where they kept the rock CDs. I don't know what it was. I mean, I was a little kid so I was probably just curious, but. There was something else about it. Anyway, I was looking at the CDs and I accidentally broke one of the jewel cases. And... he came to clean up since he worked there. And of course I was crying because when I was real little I cried all the time. But he said it was okay. He said "you break it, you bought it" was store policy, that the CD was mine now. Then he asked if I wanted to test it out to see if it still worked.

It did work. Holy shit, did it work. That was the first time I'd ever heard the sound of an electric guitar, and I was in love from then on. He offered me guitar lessons. I accepted. You know the rest.

He left for the Band of Darkness the very next year, but he'd come back about every month, and when he did we spent as much time together as we could. Rock gave me an outlet, I think. When the world kicked me down I turned to rock because it was the only thing that really understood. He'd convinced me that he was the only one who understood. Whenever he came back from the war it felt like he'd done it just for me, that he cared about me so much that he could only be away from me for a month at a time. He seemed just as powerful as the music we made, and I wanted that. I wanted to be someone who could mow down an army, who stood up for herself and others. I wanted to stop being the one who got pushed around. I think that's why I was so set on joining the Band of Darkness.

So. There's a lot of baggage, I guess. But now that I'm not sure if I'll ever be allowed back home, I can't help missing it. Mom's cooking. Dad's flute playing. Sharing a cramped room with four other coffins in it. Even stuff like. I don't know, gas lamps? They don't use those in the Land of Light. But anyway. I think I should've taken a better look at home before I left. Since, you know. I think if I tried to go back to that then the Band of Darkness would be waiting there to take me out for treason."

[robinofgothamcity]

♡ scenario: connor losing his mind when you're hurt and charging into the fight recklessly.

♡ pairing: connor kent ( superboy ) x fem! reader

♡ note: not checked for grammar or spelling mistakes / i'm sorry but i'm living for these angst to fluff moments rn especially bc i rewatched reign of the superman and forgot how much i loved connor in it.

Connor watched as you were completely slumped on the side of the building, no longer clear headed and struggling to stay awake. what was supposed to be a clean and easy mission turned out to be more than what the league expected.

he had requested for back up and while they were already trying to fight off the thugs that were attacking Connor, he could still see that you were fighting to stay alive and he had no idea if you were even going to come out of this fight alive.

"what the fuck?" Connor whispered, seeing you now slumped on the ground. he turned to the person who attacked you, eyes fully red with no intention of holding back. Clark could sense his song was a second away from committing murder as he saw Connor charge into the heart of the battle with no game plan, just murder.

"SUPERBOY NO!"

+

you waved shyly to the group of league members as you hid behind Wonder Woman. you were new to the scene of sidekicks and had no idea how to even introduce yourself without sounding like a complete idiot.

"woah new girl!" you heard a male voice say as you stood in your place petrified. you had no idea who it was as Diana had yet to individually introduce you to everyone, "i call dibs!" you heard the same voice say.

Diana turned to you before grabbing the boy who was charging towards you by the head and tossed him back to Superman, "she's not up for 'dibs' Superboy. she's my newest apprentice and you will treat her as such," she threatened.

you giggled behind her as a few of the sidekicks introduced themselves. you knew them as the Young Justice team and although you weren't formally with the team, you figured Diana was training you to become apart of them in the future.

"( your hero name ), this is Superboy," Wonder Woman said, "he associated to the Super family," she explained as he pushed up his dark circled glasses and flicked his hair back, "pleasure is all mine," he muttered, shaking your hand.

you returned a tiny smile before she continued to introduce you to Robin and Impulse. you noticed how Superboy kept his eyes on you. you had no idea if it was because he liked you or he disliked you but every time you turned to look at him, he was already staring at you.

after introductions and the cliche 'your real identity is sacred' conversation ended, Diana felt it was for your own good to get used to your new 'teammates'. she wanted you to make sure you weren't uncomfortable around any of the YJ team even if that included Superboy.

"so, what do you like to do for fun?" Wonder Girl asked, sitting down next to you and handing you a bowl of popcorn. you shrugged, "uh, not much. I like to watch tv and read for the most part. no one really invites me to do things with them," you admitted, scratching the back of your head.

she laughed, putting her arm around you, "well that ends today! we should all do something fun! how about we go to the county fair? doesn't that sound fun?" she asked. you shrugged, not really opposed to the idea, "I call all the rides with ( your hero name )!" Jinny replied.

you smiled, following her and Wonder Girl out the door as Robin, Impulse, and Superboy followed behind you. Robin looked at him, "you like her don't you?" he asked, already calculating the minute Connor had fallen in love with you.

"well she's apart of the team, i'd like to hope we'd all like her," he replied as Robin shook his head, "no, you get what i mean by that," Robin pressed as he could see Connor's face fall with realization. he didn't reply but he could tell what he was tell Connor's real answer through his face.

as they arrived to the fair, they all booked it to the first food stand they saw. Robin offering to pay for everyone being Bruce Wayne's son had its benefits. you ordered a simple coffee as you didn't want Robin to spend too much on everyone.

"what ride should we all get on first?" Jinny asked excitedly. you pointed to the tallest ride, it was one of those high rides that sat two people at the top and had them spinning around, "oh I can't do that. it's way too scary," both Keli and Jinny said.

Superboy smiled at you, "I'm down if you are," he said as he grabbed two tickets from the worker, "cool," you replied as the two of you walked to the line, sweat already building up from nervousness.

once they sat the two of you and made sure you were both buckled in, you stared at Superboy nervously as the ride started up and pulled you up before immediately starting to spin. you stared at Superboy, screaming for you life. you unintentionally grabbed his arms, not realizing you were holding onto him as you continued to yell.

Superboy chuckled, finding your reaction cute.

+

after the months passed and you finally grew closer to everyone on the team, you were particularly close with Jinny and Superboy. you and Jinny shared a lot of common interests as she showed you how to shoot a gun and Superboy...well, everyone could tell the two of you were just seconds away from actually dating.

you walked into the YJ lair, sipping on hot chocolates with Jinny as the weather was turning cold. she was cracking some cringe dad jokes, trying to make you laugh as you tried to contain from choking on the hot chocolate.

"hey, where we yall at?" Keli asked. you turned to Jinny before giggling, "just doing a few errands we had to run before I had patrol with Superboy," you said, not really clarifying on what you both were actually doing.

although everyone could see how much you liked Connor, Connor himself thought you had a thing with Jinny. he knew she was particularly close with you and felt as though he was practically competing with her for your attention.

"do you have my phone?" you asked Jinny as she dug into her pocket and handed it to you. you grabbed your phone before quickly snatching her hat and putting it on, "yee-haw," you giggled into the mirror as Jinny started chasing you down the halls.

as you turned a corner, you bumped into Superboy and fell flat on your ass, "oh, I'm sorry Superboy, I didn't see you there," you groaned as Jinny grabbed her had and put it back on her, "you've yee'd your last haw," she said, making you laugh harshly.

Superboy's eye couldn't help but twitch as he gave you his hand, "ready for patrol?" he asked sternly. you looked to Jinny who crept away from the angry Kryptonian and left you to deal with him, "yeah, let me just freshen up again and I'll meet you outside," you murmured, going into the bathroom.

you quickly used the bathroom before checking if you had everything. you opened the door and walked into the lair's common area. Connor had yet to drop the angry attitude and everyone was eerily silent as you walked in. he grabbed you by the arm and practically rushed you out the door.

"weird," Jinny told Robin as he shrugged, "what isn't weird about him," he replied making everyone laugh.

patrol started extremely awkward. you hadn't felt this weird since you first started on the team and you had no idea what was wrong with Superboy since he wasn't telling you.

the two of you walked on top of roof, scanning the empty roads before you turned to look at him, "what's up? you seem bothered," you asked him as you both sat on the ledge, "seriously? you seem annoyed at me or something so at the very least you can try and tell me what's wrong," you pressured again.

he looked at you with eyes of determination before grabbing you by the collar of the shirt and pulling you into a very heated kiss. you were taken back by surprise but let him continue to kiss you. a part of yelled at Connor pulled you close but another part of him was still screaming at him that you still could've liked Jinny.

"I had to do that before Jinny officially took you away from me," your eyes fluttered in confusion, "uh, what do you mean by 'take you away from me'?" you asked, not knowing what he was talking about.

Connor sighed in frustration, "I see the way you're around Jinny and figured that she likes you and vice versa," he finally admitted as he stood up, not wanting to hear your response. you quickly stood up and grabbed him by the wrist, "hey wait," you said.

he stared at you, "I'm really not in the mood to get rejected ( your hero name )," he ran his fingers through his hair annoyed. you shook your head, "I don't like Jinny nor does she like me. we're just really close friends Superboy," you whispered, bringing him into another kiss.

this time, he was the one taken back but he melted into the kiss, all his negative emotions washing away as you continued to kiss him. he wrapped his arms around your waist as you him in closer by the neck. Connor was definitely not expecting this tonight.

"so does this mean that we're like....together together?" you asked playfully shy. Connor let out a laugh before lacing your hands together, "clearly. I can't let Jinny steal you away from me," he jokingly replied.

+

Connor ran to the three different henchmen as his strength was to the point of killing, not caring if he died in the process. he was recklessly dodging bullets, knowing they wouldn't do anything to him. he grabbed the first man and threw him against a wall as it collapsed around him. Connor only hoping that it did enough damage to unalive him.

the second one he managed to choke him out enough to the point where he passed out but that wasn't enough for him. you were on the brink of death and if he had to see you die, he was going to make sure the men who possibly killed you got what they deserved.

"SUPERBOY!" he heard his father scream again. Connor paid no attention to him as he grabbed the third henchman and slammed him to the ground, throwing punches left and right, "listen to me," Clark screamed at him.

he could see the tears coming down Connor's face as anger, fear, and sadness clouded his mind, "this is not you! pull out of it!" he yelled, shaking Connor's shoulder, "you're about to kill this man. I get that you're angry but you don't get anything out of hurting him. all you get it consequences and your girlfriend needs you right now more than ever!" he continued.

Connor finally shook himself out of his trance as he heard his dad telling him to go to you. Connor nodded and ran to you, seeing you unconscious and hardly breathing, "I'm taking her to the hospital," he yelled to Batman before hauling your body into his arms and flying towards the nearest hospital.

once he finally reached the emergency doors, he shoved everyone out of his way and to the front desk, "she needs help...NOW!" he yelled to the poor receptionist. the girl jumped up from fear but nodded and screamed for a bed and a few doctors.

the doctor asked Connor to place you on the bed before the doctor told him that he could follow them inside. a part of Connor wanted to straight up move the doctor to follow you into the OR but he knew that he'd get into more trouble with his dad and the MPD if he hurt anyone else.

for what felt like hours, he was waiting inside of the room they had told him you'd be in once you got out of surgery. he had already gotten the lecture from his dad about the consequences he would've gotten if he actually managed to kill the three men earlier.

"she's going to make it," the doctor told Connor as he walked into the room while they adjusted you to the bed. Connor nodded, "she'll be out of duty for months. she sustained a lot of injuries to her body that'll take weeks to recover and she got a nasty concussion so you'll need to play doctor for the next few weeks to make sure she's okay," he explained.

Connor nodded as the doctor told him that you should be waking up within the next few hours. Connor adjusted himself on the seat and got comfortable as he had no intentions of leaving your side until you were awake and ready to leave the hospital.

you woke up a few hours later, your body killing you from all over as you saw balloons all around the room. you knew you had landed in the hospital but you had no idea how long you were asleep or in a coma even. you turned to see Connor passed out next to you, his body slumped awkwardly.

"Kon, Kon wake up!" you whispered, shaking him softly. Connor jumped up in a fright as he immediately realized you were awake, "how do you feel? are you okay? do you need anything?" he immediately asked as you couldn't help but laugh at his frantic attitude.

"Connor, I'm okay, I promise," you whispered as you brought him in for a kiss, "my body just hurts and i'm still kinda tired," you murmured as Connor nodded. you managed to wiggle yourself enough to make space for him, "babe, it looks like you haven't slept in days."

"I had to make sure you were okay so i haven't exactly slept in a while," he admitted sheepishly. you shook your head, "you're too much sometimes," you giggled as you put your head on his shoulder, "but you love me regardless," he replied.

this was the first time the L word had came up in the relationship, "yeah, I guess I do but now you need to sleep," you said as you closed your eyes and felt Connor pull you closer to him, "I love you too by the way," you whispered, giving him another kiss on his partially exposed chest.

[rcksmith]

Spring breeze — Spencer Reid

Sumarry: Spencer never thought about falling in love with someone, but he certainly didn't expect that he would fall in love with Gideon's daughter. — season 3 —

Part.2 Part.3 Part.4

A/N: I am marathoning Criminal Minds again and I can not express how much I loved the interaction of Gideon and Spencer!! So this idea came as an epiphany, and I love the conception of love at first sight. Maybe this becomes a serie...

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

Requests are open. Love you ❤️

Couple:Spencer Reid/Gideon's daughter!reader.

Warnings: nothing, just very fluff.

— — — — —

Something was different. Maybe it was the way the sun's rays cascaded down in an atypical way, maybe it was the breeze that carried a more lyrical intonation on its back, or maybe it was just the Earth that was adorned by an ethereal veil. Spencer didn't know how to point out what was really different, but he felt in his soul that something in the hemisphere had changed.

At first, when he took the subway to work, Spencer thought it was just an ephemeral sensation, just like those seconds when you feel the breath of the breeze more cold. But it didn't. The sensation accompanied him to work, to the plane, to the case, it stuck to him like a tattoo and Reid found himself looking around for answers that did not exist physically.

He considered all the theories that were possible to explain that destabilization in his subtly balanced world. But he found none.

“Are you feeling anything different today?” That's what he asked Morgan.

Derek shrugged, finishing packing up at the police station so they could go back to Quantico.

“No.” Then he looked Reid whit his obsidian eyes “Is something bothering you? Is the Genie feeling any peturbation in the Force? ”

Spencer chuckled through his nose at the Star Wars joke, but just shook his head in a 'No'. And the conversation died there. How could he explain something that even he didn't understand?

Trying to ignore the way his heart was beating fast, for no reason, in anticipation of something Spencer himself was unaware of, he wondered how long he was going to have that sensation. The feeling of euphoria, the taste of something, there was something exciting in the air, almost angelic.

But how long was that going to accompany him? One day? One week? Whole life? For the first time, Spencer didn't have the answer. And that was disconcerting.

When BAU's glass doors opened for agents to settle on their desks and Hotch and Gideon go to their respective offeces, a wave of icy breeze from the DC air reverberated through the enclosure. Spencer can see that Morgan shrugged in the wind, Emily looke for a coat in the black suitcase, but his own body didn't seem to be hit by the same breeze. For Reid, it had been a caustic, lyrical, almost spring, wave that carried the promise of something extraordinary on back. Almost divine.

In that split second, in a time as short as a blink, the feeling that his life would never be the same made him losing his breath. Spencer does not know what attracted his gaze to the BAU door, nor what made his whole body turn in that direction, like a magnet, like a wanderer in the desert who finds his Oasis. But he had been attracted, and as soon as a female hand pushed through the glass door and her figure came into view, Spencer understood the extraordinary thing that him heart was beating for in anticipation.

You.

It was as if the universe had been preparing him all day for that moment. As if the body itself tried to prepare it. Because if Spencer hadn't fell those feelings of euphoria all day, he would have drowned in his own reactions to seeing you.

In a burst, like a violin string popping, Reid understood what was different about the hemisphere, because why the air was ethereal, because why the night felt like poetry, and why the moon whispered swears of love. In that moment, Spencer understood the mysteries of the world, unraveled the riddles of life, drank from the wisdom of The Oracle of ancient Greece. In an instant, watching you enter, Spencer understood the reason for his life.

In an instant.

The world shuddered in slow motion, capturing all your movements, all your graceful gait, all your glory. An elegant black dress with thin straps modeled your body in an arcane, almost divine way, your legs were supported on black high heels, making your walk seem like a glide of honey.

You were not beautiful. You are gorgeous. You shone. Sparkled.

And, like an atrocious wave that broke over Reid and pulled him into the sea, that whole feeling that stuck with him all day came to accompany the female figure. Following in your footsteps like the tail of a long dress.

Spencer was sure that his life would never be the same.

They hadn't even sat at their tables when you showed up. Like the muse that came out of an action movie. And when you got close enough to attract the attention of Emily and Morgan, whose Derek opened his mouth when he noticed the female figure that was the personification of Female Fatal, Spencer felt himself letting out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. He knew that anyone with eyes and a little common sense would notice how overwhelmingly beautiful you were, so when Morgan turned his body fully towards you, Reid was not surprised.

“Hi." Your voice, to Reid, had a floral intonation “Do you guys know where I can find Jason?”

When his eyes met yours, Spencer felt his breath being stolen from him once again. Usually, girls like you didn't look twice at guys like him, Spencer knew that. Girls like you liked men like Morgan. Athletes, strong, Alpha Male. And because of that, it was an explosion in Reid's system when you took a few seconds longer in that eye contact and a delightful smile appeared on yours lips. As if you appreciate what you were seeing.

That was a shock. Was it true or was he misinterpreting the signs? Was him mind playing tricks on him, like the flickering shadows of furniture under the darkness and the flame of a candle? Spencer would not be able to say a word without stuttering at that moment even that him life depended on it. In fact, he was already starting to feel cheeks heating up. So he thanked any deities that might exist when Morgan and Emily responded to you and broke the eye contact between the two of you.

“Jason Gideon?” Morgan frowned slightly.

“He's in the office but...” But Emily couldn't finish the sentence before Gideon's voice came out over everyone's:

“Y/n?” It was in a tone that no one there had ever heard in Gideon. A sweet, loving intonation... paternal.

None of the three agents present there had time to express their thoughts in facial expressions before you said:

“Dad!”

Then the whole world took a turn and seemed to be terrified, making them feel as if they had been thrown out of the tenth-floor window. This time, Reid's eyes widened at the two friends, who also had puzzled expressions. Everyone knew that Gideon had a past, probably with divorces and children, a life he had left behind, but no one expected...that.

Perhaps Gideon's vision of a family was something that was only in the imagination, never something tangible. Until that moment. Until the most beautiful girl Reid had ever seen was the daughter of one of the men he respected most. Until him heart soared at alarming levels for him boss's daughter. Spencer had been in trouble before when it came to matters of the heart, but the trouble gained a position in the top 3.

“What are you doing here?” A rare smile appeared on Gideon's face, his brow slightly furrowed.

“We were going to dinner today, remember? In that new Japanese restaurant.” Your tone of voice was not resentful or hurt by the situation that was explicit there.

The life of a BAU agent take many things, some with a more atrocious force than others, and one of them was the availability of hours. commitments that count on presence.

“I totally forgot, I'm sorry.” Gideon's voice was always calm and controlled, he managed to speak from the most tender emotions to the most heinous crimes with a peaceful intonation. But to perceive traces of parental love was new. “The case was very complicated, my cell phone died and...”

“It's okay, Dad.” You smiled, making a casual gesture with your hand “I thought this happened, but I thinking it best to come here to see if everything was okay instead of waiting until tomorrow.”

Your smile, despite being the simple one, was the brightest for Spencer.

Gideon still had a fatherly look and a chaste and grateful smile when he turned to the other agents who were still puzzled.

“Y/n, these are agents Derek Morgan, Emily Prentiss and Dr. Spencer Reid.” Jason introduced them to you “Guys, this is my daughter, Y/n.”

“Is a pleasure.” You smiled genuinely at them.

“I had no idea that you had a daughter!” Emily gave a low, slightly bewildered laugh that also made you laugh.

“Everybody says that.” You looked at your father again, having fun.

“I'm just going to go over some reports with Hotcher before I leave.” Gideon kept a chaste smile. “Why don't you wait here and then let's go get something to eat?”

“Of course, no problem, Dad.” You agreed, adjusting the thin shoulder bag that was on your shoulder.

As Jason went up to Hotcher's office, you turned to the agents again, with a gentle smile on your face.

“My dad said great things about you.” Emily smiled at your statement.

"I'm still chocked ." She laughed, and Morgan added:

“ I really need to know...” he looked around, in a playful suspense “Is Gideon really that serious outside the FBI?”

You laughed “Oh no! Definitely not.”

So you reached for your phone in the litlle bag, hunting for a photo on it and showing it to the three agents. It was a recent photograph where you and Gideon had their faces painted in easy ink. You had a skeleton mouth made with white and black paint, and Jason had a pink glitter butterfly covering his left cheek. You two were laughing in the photo.

Morgan was the one who let out a loud, dripping laugh, with a few tears accumulating in the corners of his eyes.

“How is this possible?” Morgan was trying to catch the air.

“It was at the last Halloween, he and I bet that whoever lost in the snooker that day would have to paint a butterfly on their face.” You laughed.

“And did he lose?” Spencer found a voice for it, his mind failing to process the image of Gideon losing any game.

“I have my suspicions that he let me win” You joked “But I enjoyed the victory just the same.”

The conversation was light after that, Spencer refrained from much of the dialogue, a little fearful that you could hear him heart beating loudly whenever you smile in his direction. As the minutes passed, Derek and Emily had to go back to their duties and finish their reports, while you were sitting in one of the chairs at an empty table.

It was one of those moments when Reid tried to focus on the files in front of him to exorcise what was going on around him. Paperwork had always brought the lull needed to make Spencer meditate. It was almost like relaxation. But in moments like this, when something in the environment around him pulled his attention so much, he stayed on the same page for long minutes.

That must be why he didn't hear the wheels on your chair approach, and he didn't even notice that you were so close until you said:

“Are you really a doctor?” Your voice was low, soft, as if you didn't want to disturb the other agents who were working.

Spencer turned his head towards you, only to find the modern personification of what would be the Athena de Troia. You were close, not close enough to touch, but close enough that he could smell your perfume. You smelled like the night, the excitement of nights and the brightness of the stars. And if Spencer looked deeper into yours eyes, he would sure they contained shine moonlight.

He swallowed, the mania for blinking compulsively returning a little.

“A-ahm yes. Not really a doctor, but m-my 3 Phd’s make me a doctor.”

He might be mistaken, but the smile that spread across your face was not just friendly, it wasn't curious, it was… delighted. As if the roles were reversed and he was the most fascinating thing in that room, not you.

The glow that was adorned in yours eyes had something lyrical, ethereal, wonderful. As if the brightness of all the galaxies were inhabiting your irises, moving in your orbit. At that moment, Spencer was deeply grateful to have eidetic memory, because 10 years from now he could still remember how you looked like a muse over there. DC night came in through the big glass windows, and if Reid had to describe that moment with the five senses, he would say that the world had turned the light down to a rose tone, the smell was heaven and your smile promised to contain wonders of the world.

Holy Mother of God, you are so, so beautiful!

“My dad said there was a genius on the team.” You said, your attention on him is always tender, adoreble. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

Your perfume invaded him sense of smell once again, and he felt his heart beat faster once more. Spencer would have told you all the secrets in the world if you asked. He would have told all own secrets.

“No way.” He sat back in his chair to look at you better, oblivious to the exchange of looks that Emily and Morgan gave.

You rested your arms on Spencer's table, the chair next to his.

“You never thought of being like... the wizard Doctor Strange?” You hoped that Spencer knew Marvel “Before he was a magician, of course. But why didn't you want to be a surgeon or something?” You laughed “There is a phrase him says: I have a photographic memory and this is what made me ..."

“ ‘Get my diploma and doctorate at the same time’ " Spencer completed you, laughing softly “I know the HQs. Did you know that the Doctor Strange character was created during the Silver Age of American comics to bring a different type of character and mystical themes to Marvel Comics? It him has an intellectual coefficient close to 177 points and I have… ”

The more he rambled, the more a stunning smile spread across your face. As if you were enchanted with him. And you were. Everyone was noticing the way Spencer seemed to have you curled up on his finger, your eyes sparkling and a silly smile twinkling on your face, paying attention to every word he said. It was an overwhelmingly lovely sight to behold.

But just as everything had a time, an hourglass, your time had reached the last grain of sand.

“All right, Y/n.” Gideon went down the stairs, cutting the end of Reid's sentence “Ready?”

You stood up, agreeing with your father and smoothing the dress. When you put your hands on the chair, ready to take it back to place, you turned to Spencer once again:

“I'm going to bring my dad to BAU tomorrow, do you think me and you can meting and you give me the answer to the question tomorrow?” Your smile was able to light up the whole of Washington.

“S-sure!” Spencer's voice went up more high notes than he would like to admit.

And, even when you left, even when Morgan and Emily jokes him about it, and even when he finally lay down on his own bed, you were still the only thing that occupied Spencer's mind.

[microraptorreactor]

Bathed in Blood and Shame time! This one is. A lot. I had to wait for V2's ark to finish because I uh. Kinda forgot that my thoughts on this work 100% contain spoilers for chapter 20. Now that it's out I can retrospective this allllll I want!

Context for this: it went through so many diffrent versions that were all compleatly diffrent from eachother. The very begining (V2 sulking in Lust) and middle section (V2 traveling across Lust and building the arm up until the encounter with V1) were the only consistant sectons. The scrapped versions were:

V4V work were their romance gets very weird and kind of bloody. These robots are not normal. Scrapped because I am bad at writing romance.

V2 gets adopted. I've mentioned this one a couple times before, would have given Gabriel a speaking role for once. Scrapped because I felt like the concept was a little too 'out-there'.

Alternate universe where V2 gets isakied into a crossover where it must work together with other fictional robots from other properties to return to its home universe. This is not a joke. Would have also featured Murderbot, 13 Black Winter (Robots of Gotham, PotaTOS (portal), The Lotus (Warframe), Brau (Pluto), Trouble Dog (Embers of War), and about half a dozen other robots.

Because I didn't know what I wanted it to be I feel like Bathed in Blood is kind of a hot mess.

Okay so this line unintentionally aged really well with the rest of the story. I'm going to pretend that V2 not mentioning its name was an intentional detail and not because I hadn't decided what it would be yet.

Classic V1, stealing people's arms. Also classic V2, for being just a little too trusting of other machines playing nice.

Fun fact: Kernel mode came about specifically because of this scene! When I started this one-shot, the multichapter Ultrakill work I had planned took place during canon and was about a chatacter who would become Baeri/Sleet (at the time it acted more like 732 then the deranged little pilot we know and love). An important part of that was that the machines couldn't fully remember what made them turn against humans, except that it took the form of a message over the feed. Kernel mode was my way to explain that! Here's the original explanation of Kernel time from that work:

Pretty close to what's given in Handle With Care, but some of the words are different and Baeri/Sleet is the one in Kernel, not V2. It's also pretty weird to read Baeri being helpless and processing that feeling without threatening people. Like wow, I can't believe I wrote this character to be emotionally stable at one point.

I forgot I formatted Earthmover text like this. The New Requiem red herring was mostly unintentional, but really funny. Apologies to Requiem for framing it for mass murder, I guess XD

These two paragraphs spawned a 50,000+ word novella. They were really just an excuse for the angst at the end, but man did they define this series. Of course, there's a couple details that don't line up anymore, but I'll probably just throw in a sentence or two mentioning Koda once Handle With Care is over. Maybe rewrite that last paragraph.

So sometimes I bounce ideas for this work off my brother (he's sometimes in the comments of Handle With Care, or you've read OmoShot and know him from a different fandom entirely) and he suggested that Kaine should have taught both V units the coin trick. A solid idea tbh.

Shrike's Weirdass Murder Shit weapons cooler, plus Kaine giving Koda the shotgun, was also my brother's idea. Kaine is his favorite character, lol.

This work is just the normal V2 characterization slowly sloughing off to reveal a sad wet cat. This is the first failbot moment that helped decide V2's characterization. One of the few paragraphs that didn't get fully rewritten whenever I changed directions for this oneshot.

I miscounted the Knuckleblaster's fingers here. It only has three fingers, not four. I just think that's funny.

My apologies for dragging out the awful terrible scene that everyone is dreading, but there's quite a bit to analyze here! First off, both V2 and V1 were originally built on New Requiem! V2 was always about a decade younger then V1, though. Now neither are from Requiem. In fact, they weren't even made ion the same continent anymore (V1 is American, V2 is from somewhere in Europe)

Wils threatening V2 with maintenance was something I tried to keep in Handle With Care that just fell flat. Along with the implied concept that no one else on New Requiem liked V2, and it only stuck around because the Earthmover liked it. I can handwave that one since its a hallucination and all that, though.

Oh boy is she threatening V2! I used to dislike this dialogue because I thought that V2 sounded too child-like. Then I realized that its story would hit so much harder if it was actually a child. So yeah yet another sentence where I realized I accidently did something smart, lol.

Hey little buddy, I think hell might've been lying to you about the whole V1 loving you unconditionally thing. Just maybe.

Birdcatt's live author reactions to their own works looks fun I'm gonna steal that. Live author reaction ahead.

[willowbleedsonpaper]

Winter In The Shade XIII

Part XIII

Sirius Black x Ravenclaw Reader

W.C. : 2622

Requested by @pogueslandia : It is Sirius’ fifth year at Hogwarts, the same year he ran away from home and to the Potter’s. Soon, he discovers the unfamiliar sight of his brother Regulus smiling and looking truly happy, next to him a Ravenclaw girl who immediately captures his interest. What will happen when the Black family gets involved in their sons lives and the ones they hold close to their hearts?

Warnings: None (Let me know if there's any, though)

Want to know when I post the next part? Add yourself to my taglist!

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

“Sending someone to wake me up it’s not what a best friend would do, Black.” you muttered, running your hands through your hair as you brushed it away from your face with your fingers.

“Is your roommate still alive?” he asked with a knowing smile, standing straight from his previous position leaning on the wall outside your common room.

That day you hadn’t woken up with the soft sunlight over your face, your skin warm to the touch as you stretched the sleep out of your body, you didn’t wake up to the distant chatter of the rest of the Ravenclaws at the common room or to the smell of your roommates perfumes after they had showered. No. You woke up to the harsh grasp of Anne, one of your roommates, shaking you awake like some natural event was happening and you all had to run out of the castle. Did natural disasters even dare to touch Hogwarts? You didn’t have the time to ask, the urgence in her voice when she told you some Slytherin boy was looking for you outside enough to make your own worry wash away with a groan, turning your back and diving deeper in your bed.

“He said it was important.”

“I’m sure.” you mumbled, your face buried in your pillow as you lifted your head, muttering under your breath as you got out of bed like a grumpy child.

“She’s breathing.” you assured him, a glare permanent in your face as you started to walk beside him “To what do I owe the pleasure of rising this early in the morning?” you asked bitterly.

“You’re the worst.” he said with a hint of humor, making you turn to him in both shock and a deeper glare.

“Excuse you?” you said.

“I play Quidditch, today is the game.” he reminded you, the vague memory of those words being told to you before coming back to you “You asked me to come and look for you just before it began.”

“You’re playing this early?” you asked, looking outside the windows in the corridor to see the sun was barely out in the sky “You’re not playing, Reg. That’s called torture, someone like you should know that.” you said, nudging his side with your arm.

He stayed silent, turning to you before he quickly glanced away. “What do you mean?” he asked.

You looked at him, taking his change of humor in before you answered “You and your habit of making me wake up early.” you explained, but there was no humor behind your words anymore. “Are you sure you feel alright?”

He took a deep breath, one you barely noticed before he nodded firmly. “Of course.” he answered “You’re right, it’s too early. I’m not fully awake yet.” he said, patting his cheeks gently with the pads of his fingers, making you shake your head and laugh. “I thought we could have breakfast together, before the game.”

“I-” you said, linking your arm with his “would absolutely love that.”

Regulus led the both of you to the mostly empty Great Hall, breakfast being served to the few early birds like Regulus that chose to raise with the sun. You would never understand but you had, literally , asked for it.

You seated on your usual spot, your eyelids still a little heavy while you saw Regulus moved gracefully.

“Your tea.” he said, handing you a cup with careful movements.

“How thoughtful.” you answered, taking the cup from his hands as you took a slow sip “But I think if you want me to survive this day I might need something a little stronger.”

He rolled his eyes and said nothing, as he switched his cup with yours with a swift movement across the table.

You looked down in shock at your new cup, the dark liquid reflecting your image and showing exactly how you felt “Since when do you drink coffee?” you asked in a whispered scream.

He glanced at you with little expression on his face “I took a liking to it during the winter break.” he explained.

“Winter break?” you questioned “Did your mother take a liking to it too or what? You’ve never even looked in its direction, not even when I tried to force it on you.” you said, spitting the words. Your arms laid crossed over your chest, your glare set on your face as you saw him shrug.

“It’s because you tried to force it on me that I didn’t try it.” he said back, both of you entering in a small fight over his new liking to the warm beverage, your body language becoming more prominent as you both started to lean on the table, hands pointing everywhere while trying to keep your voices hushed.

“They look like an old couple.” James said from the other end of the Great Hall, taking a bite of his breakfast as he glanced at the silence of Sirius.

“Stop.” Remus warned him, snapping his fingers in front of Sirius “They’ll feel you staring and it’ll be worse for her.”

“Maybe he should feel my stare.” Sirius snapped, lowering his gaze and taking his emotions out on his own breakfast, a fork his weapon of choice.

You hadn't even seen Sirius when you got to the Great Hall but he had heard your laugh the moment you turned right on the door, holding onto his brother’s arm like nothing had happened. Did you forget all that he said? Were you that great of an actress? The smile that inevitably appeared on his face at any sign of you was completely washed away when you two sat down and started talking like you always had.

He wanted that.

“You should talk to her.” Remus offered but James cut him short.

“I don’t get what the big issue is! So your brother is her best friend, why should that stop you from dating her?”

“You forgot the part where Regulus is a Slytherin with the mind and ideas of Sirius’ parents that hates him for being him.” Remus said, all three pairs of eyes on him with an unnatural silence “Don’t look at me like that, you know I’m right.”

“Didn’t have to be so harsh about it.” Peter murmured in his side while Sirius just stared blankly with hopelessness in his eyes.

“Point is,” James added, slinging his arm over Sirius’ shoulders and giving Remus a glare “He already hates you, why not give him one more reason?”

Sirius groaned, moving out of James' hold “Because she doesn’t want him to hate her.”

“She might have to pick.” James added, a bright smile on his lips. “And we all know who would win, right?” he asked, looking for Remus and Peter’s support but only finding his subtle shaking of heads, making all confidence in James fade.

“Yeah, Prongs.” Sirius said, pointing his hand in your direction as he let it fall with a thud on the table, the act of defeatment “The one in the old couple wins. Look at them! Everyone already thinks that they are secretly dating. I stand no chance.”

The three Marauders stared at their friend in disbelief. A side of Sirius Black they never expected to see coming to shine from the dark, making its way into the world for everyone to see it. Sirius Black, the boy who had all the ladies running after him, the one who had no trouble using his skills to have everyone down on their knees and that knew he was worth it of it all and more, that same Sirius Black that now hid his head in between his arms for a Ravenclaw girl who had the heart and wit to befriend his brother and become the shadow of one another.

Sirius Black cared for the girl enough to put his own desires aside and let her be happy, to keep his friendship. The only person she had left in the school. That wasn’t true anymore, but he knew it was the truth for his brother. A brother that deep down he still cared about, he knew that the girl sitting in front of him was his entire world and he didn’t have the heart to hurt two people he cared about for his own happiness. As selfish as Sirius Black was, this time he didn’t want to be. He just hoped he had the strength to keep that promise to himself.

*******

The air up on the bleachers was cold against your cheeks. The day had gotten a little cloudy and you could smell in the air a storm coming in the school direction. You just hoped it wouldn’t start as you watched the game. Moving through all of your housemates you found a seat in the front, a seat for someone who went there all by themselves, someone like you. You went for the sole purpose of watching Regulus play, something you two didn’t share in liking but he was still passionate about, you loved seeing the smile on his face while he flew on his broom.

The students divided themselves without even realizing it, covering the deep blue colors of the Ravenclaw house you could find the team they supported for the day. Dark red banners flew in the air while others jumped with green pieces of clothing. Of course, you didn’t stay behind. Covering the blue of your robes there was a green scarf around your neck. Regulus had wrapped it around your neck just before you went your separate ways, you wished him luck and watched him go to the changing rooms.

But now you didn’t feel sure about it. Wishing you could divide your body and paint one side with the colors of Gryffindor while the other flashed the usual greens.

It wasn’t every day that the two houses played against one another, the natural rivalry making the game all the more interesting for those who enjoyed the competition. They might not be the best teams or the greatest players, but they were the houses of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. The tension in the air was stronger than the one of the upcoming storm.

Your attention was captured from inside your head the moment the wind swept your hair out of your face, green and silver flying in the air as each player took their position. They waved proudly, the cheers loud and full of excitement.

Then the Gryffindor team make their appearance. The crowd burst with energy as the team flew around, waving to all the people in the bleachers. It wasn’t unknown how popular they were. Marlene Mckinnon was in their team, one of the prettiest girls in the school, a true Gryffindor and quidditch player. Then you could count on the charisma of James Potter, captain and star. And then there was Sirius, you were certain most people who usually didn’t show up to quidditch games were there only for Sirius.

But then inevitable happened. Sirius flew just above from where you stood, looking down at you with a smile. He moved through the air in a subtle way, glancing in different directions but inevitably ending on you. He flashed you his brightest smile, pointing to his neck as he shook his head.

You looked down, seeing the Slytherin scarf around your neck and feeling a blush come up to your cheeks.

His smile returned to his face, winking in your direction before he dissapeared in the distance. The game began minutes after.

Of course he would make a big entrance in your life after being missing for days. Only he would do that.

Your bubble burst when the cheers to your right began increasing in volume, seeing Gryffindor had scored. You restrained yourself to slow claps, James bumping fists with Marlene as they went back to their positions. The game was getting more interesting by the minute.

The last few minutes had you on the edge of your seat. The scores were even, the Slytherins played sharper and the Gryffindors rougher. Regulus had been after the snitch with no luck, almost fighting the Gryffindor seeker every time each of them caught a glimpse of it. Your eyes were focused on the black haired boy, his eyes snapping to all directions at the slightest sound and then he was gone. You tried to follow him but he was too fast, your neck too sore from trying to keep up, finally losing him in the crowd of players. Still you found your new focus.

Sirius flew through the middle of the field, following close to James as he kept the Slytherin team away from him, the Quaffle secured under his arm. They worked in sync, James flying higher and faster. He wasted no time once he got his shot, throwing the Quaffle with a swift swing of his arm.

Just then the game ended but the cheers grew as every single person joined in. All the players looked down, you following as your eyes widened in surprise. You shot up in your place, throwing your hands in the air. Regulus held the snitch in his hand.

Confusion filled the place as everyone wondered who had won. The game ended with Gryffindor having more points but Regulus caught the golden snitch.

You lowered your arms, looking at Regulus as he met your gaze. He shrugged, going to the ground where all the players were shouting their arguments to the teachers.

A couple of minutes in silence followed as everyone observed the crowd down in the pitch, the frustration clear in their faces. They were throwing their hands in the air, pointing at each other and shouting, the echo of their voices reaching the high part of the bleachers.

“Gryffindor wins!” yelled the student that had been commenting on the entire game. The crowd burst into loud cheers once more, some running down to the pitch while others hugged right there. The energy was too heavy and you couldn’t help but join in, letting out a shout as you jumped in your place.

You ran down to the ground, body clashing against many students going in the opposite direction. And then you met his eyes, far away in the distance, Sirius stood tall over many of the students that were congratulating the team but his gaze remained on you, a smile mirrored in both your faces as you started to walk in his direction, unknowing of Regulus watching you from the side.

He stared at your smile, one he had never seen in your face, and followed the direction of your eyes. It was a sea of people, all of them sharing the smile on your lips but not one sharing the feeling.

Just before you got away from him he reached for you, tapping your shoulder as he followed your step.

“Reg!” you gasped, turning to the side before you pointed at him. “I-I could’ve sworn I saw you over there.” you said, pointing in the direction you were headed.

“I’m right here.” he told you “You look far too happy for someone whose best friend just lost a game because of bad timing.”

You laughed, smiling smugly at him “And I’m the bad loser.”

“It was bad timing and you know it.” he said, about to add something else when he closed the gap from his mouth, seeing your eyes lost in the distance, glancing between him and whatever had captured your attention.

You shook your head and turned fully to him, taking his arm and dragging him with you “If only you were faster.” you mocked, returning to the conversation like nothing had happened.

“If only.” he whispered, letting himself follow your step as he took one last glance over his shoulder.

Gryffindor.

TAGS

Skittles

@iwritesiriusly / @trinimalfoyyy / @megaprincesscakes / @lunalovegoodsgirlfriend / @pogueslandia / @zaidlyn / @aconfusedslytherin / @animprxperworld / @aconfusedslytherin / @the-lonely-poet-loves-to-weep / @mirclealignr / @angelsandsorcery / @badass-yn / @naisnape

Winter in the Shade

@plethoraofpuppies / @dracoissohot / @funravenclaw2002 / @lilyevanswhore / @edithsvoice / @falconxbarnes / @blackst0nes7077 / @gabitanaka47 / @padsfirewhisky / @lazzwhile / @crazy-beautiful / @blackenergy / @ninawhatfandom / @justchecking-mayheadback / @simpforslytherins / @letmeinplease22 / @auggie2000 / @sarcasm-n-insomnia /

Marauders

@destourtereaux / @ktyflwr / @nehireerdogan / @medalloway-blog / @waxsealed-letters / @j-cat / @aleksanderwh0r3 / @lostrandomfangirl

Sirius Black

@funravenclaw2002 / @blackst0nes7077 / @lilylikethefl0wer / @just-wordsandthoughts / @bhavanaa /

[sugar-sweet-tea]

Tall man gets love

Description : Mori was always with Honey. But what happens when they split up for a bit, thankfully Mori will always have his family to help him.

Or in other words, Ouran High School Host Club is perfect for agere stuff and there’s not enough of it on here.

This was my first OHSHC fic and it took me a while to get the courage to write thing but I’m pretty impressed with it. This was very inspired by DannyFANtom and Mcschnuggles who have awesome fics, I really recommend checking them out.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30654551

Mori was walking the halls looking as if he was in some kind of trance. He looked lost, and confused. As if his mind was off somewhere else. He couldn't find Honey and that made him a little... nervous.

They were always together.

He could feel his mind start to get... fuzzier. It was slowly getting harder to focus on stuff. He tried to remember where he was and where his cousin was but, nothing came to his mind.

So there he was, roaming the hallways after school hours looking for Honey. He vaguely remembers him having to get something from class but he should've been back by now.

That's when his eyes landed on it.

Music room 3.

He gasped. He knew this room! Mori quickly walked towards the music room, taking shaky steps. He was having a hard time focusing on anything. Especially walking.

He felt his mind begging him to be small. It's been a little while which he knew wasn't good.

He tried to regress at least once a week but missed the last few weeks.

The only person who knew was his cousin, Honey. He watched him when he felt small and always took care of him. Kind of like a caregiver...

Mori slowly opened the door trying to be as quiet as possible.

Thankfully all the guests had gone.

Unfortunately, the other hosts where there.

Mori attempted to enter as quietly as possible, not wanting to cause attention to himself, sadly, this never worked.

"Hey, Mori-Senpai!" Haruhi called to him, smiling at him with a little wave. The other hosts smiled and greeted him as well. He smiled a small sad smile at her.

His mouth quivered a bit.

His day had been so stressful so far and he hadn't seen Honey in a long time.

So it's not a surprise that he couldn't keep the tears that fell down his face. His lip quivered as more came.

Seeing all his friends so happy to see him made him want to slip even more.

As hard as he tried, he couldn't help it.

The usually quiet man sat down and put his face in his hands as he cried. The other hosts looked confused and went over to him.

This was concerning since they’ve never seen him like this. So... sad. It was very out of character since usually they would be lucky to get any reaction out of him. He was a man of few words.

"Mori-Senpai. What's wrong?"

"Why are you crying?"

"Where's Honey-Senpai?"

All these questions were beginning to get too much for him.

Mori removed his hands from his face and put them to cover his ears. He tried to block out the noise. His eyes shut tight.

Without him knowing, he felt a gentle hand pressed against his shoulder. Mori gently opened his eyes to see Tamaki placing a hand on his shoulder.

Tamaki was looking down on him, smiling a comforting and reassuring smile to him.

Mori felt himself get calmer. He could feel the tears slowing down as he sniffled. He rubbed his eyes and that's when another hand passed him a tissue.

Looking up again he saw Kyoya with the same type of comforting and reassuring smile that Tamaki had.

Mori wiped his nose and his eyes. He stopped crying. They could tell he was trying to go back to his neutral expressionless face but was struggling a significant amount.

“Senpai? Are you any better?” Haruhi asked him calmly. He gently nodded.

“Why were you so upset before?” Hikaru asked him.

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like that before.” Kaoru said, nodding in agreement.

Mori only sniffled and wiped his nose a bit.

Even if the other didn’t notice of it right away. Haruhi definitely did. The way he was acting and his expression. As if he was thinking about something else, his mind far away. She doesn’t know why but... he looked so... innocent in her eyes. Almost like a child...

No one was expecting what happened next...

Mori felt so safe at this moment with his family surrounding him that he clung into the closest person.

This, of course, was Tamaki.

He couldn’t help it when he wrapped his arms around the blond and tried to hide his face in his chest. At this point he had fully slipped.

And Tamaki, being the great friend that he is, didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around him in a loving embrace and whisper soft things into his ear to calm him down.

All the other hosts looked a little confused, but Tamaki made it seem like an every day thing. Comforting him as if he’s done it a thousand times.

Being in the arms of the blonde, it didn’t take him long to calm down. His was no longer freaking out, but even so, he didn’t want to leave his friends embrace.

Out of embarrassment or fear of freaking out again, he wasn’t sure.

That is until another certain blonde came through the door.

Honey looked very worried and concerned.

“Takashi!” He yelled running over to him. Immediately he wrapped his arms around his neck. Mori gently broke off from Tamaki and wrapped his arms around his cousin.

“Mitsukuni...” He mumbled into his hair.

“Is that the reason he got to upset earlier? Because he wasn’t with Honey-Senpai?” Hikaru asked them.

“Yes, I had to go back to my class really fast so I could get one of my books I forgot and I told Takashi to wait for me by the window. He must’ve slipped and forgot about it, so he got scared. I’m just glad he found you guys. Thanks for watching and taking good care of him Tama-Chan!” Honey thanked them smiling gleefully.

Instead of smiling back, the others were rightfully confused.

“Why do you mean Mori-Senpai slipped?”

“Yeah and he’s been away from you before Honey-Senpai, why did it make him so sad now?” The twins asked one after the other.

Tamaki was surprisingly quiet and Kyoya was just waiting for an explanation. He was quite intrigued.

However, before anyone could say anything, Haruhi was the only one to notice what was actually going on.

“Mori-Senpai, how old are you?” She asked gently and softly. She lowered and softened it as if she was talking to a child, which she had a feeling that she was.

Honey gasped then smiled, in all honesty he wasn’t very surprised that Haruhi was the one to figure it out first.

Mori put up three fingers, before switching to two.

Kyoya’s eyes went wide.

He understood now.

“How long have you been?...” He asked, like Haruhi he had softened his voice. He sounded calming and concerned. He really was the mom of the group.

“For a few months now. I help him and watch over him so he doesn’t get hurt.” Honey explained.

“Would you guys please just tell us what you’re talking about? It makes no sense!” Tamaki exclaimed trying not to be too loud since he was right beside Mori.

“Is it ok if I tell them?” Honey asked. Once receiving a head nod from his cousin, he started his explanation.

Mori figured they’d want an explanation anyways, why not just tell them everything.

After all, they were a family.

No.

Wait.

They were his family.

“Takashi is a little.” Honey told them. Mori nodded.

The twins looked confused for a sec before figuring out what he meant.

“A little what?” Tamaki asked.

Everyone started laughing.

Even though it wasn’t that funny, they all thought it was.

“No, Senpai, what he means is that he regresses. To deal with stress.” Haruhi explained to him.

Ohhhhhhh.

It took Tamaki a few seconds before the realization hit him like a truck.

“Ohhhh. Awwww.” He couldn’t help but coo. He vaguely remembered them talking about that and he always thought it was absolutely adorable, and has even considered trying it once or twice but reprimanded himself because it was ‘too childish’. He’d spent so much time trying to convince himself that he shouldn’t, he kinda forgot about it all together.

“Why didn’t he tell us in the first place?” Kaoru asked.

“Probably because he was afraid. Which is understandable, this stuff can be very personal to some people.” Kyoya explained to him who nodded.

“Well now that we do know, if you ever need someone to watch you, we’ll always be available.” Tamaki offered, smiling at the little.

Not used to getting so much attention, Moi started blushing a bit. He didn’t know why he was so nervous to tell his friends, no, his family something like this.

He must’ve been pretty silly if he thought that they would mock him or judge him for this.

“Thank you! I know he doesn’t really express it often, but I know he’s very happy to have you guys as friends and that are willing to help him.” Honey told them. And in all honesty, he was happy too. Happy that his friends were so open and accepting for them.

“Well we’re a family, families help each other. Now, how about we get some snacks, I bet everyone’s a little hungry.” Tamaki suggested. They others all agreed and started making their way towards the food.

Mori and Honey walked hand in hand. Like they should be.

“I’m sorry I left you alone when you were small. I promise it won’t happen again.” Honey apologized. He felt a little guilty about it.

“Iss ok.” Mori said softly. It wasn’t like his usual voice. This one definitely made him sound like a child.

They smiled at each other before joining the others.

Mori was glad he told them.

And now, he felt closer to them than ever before.

[mercy-burning]

Say You’ll Remember Me (Songbird Chapter 1)

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader Summary: After performing at open mic night at a bar downtown, Reader meets someone that could change everything for her. Rating: 18+ Warnings: Smut (oral sex - male and female receiving, fingering, male masturbation, cockwarming, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, creampie), Language Word Count: 7.1k

SERIES MASTERLIST SERIES PLAYLIST (new songs added with the release of each chapter)

***

Love never came easy to me. Truth be told, a lot of things never came easy to me, and I was okay with that, but love was probably the one thing I wish I could just let myself feel with no problem.

For as long as I could remember, I've wanted to be in love with someone as much as I'd seen my parents love each other. My older sister got a boyfriend when she was 17 and I was 11, and they've been together ever since. They're married with two children now, and just as in love now as they'd been when they met.

I've never seen anyone love the way I've seen my family love, but for some reason I was never able to give as much as them. I mean, I felt love obviously, but it was never that all-consuming, life-changing love that was supposed to make your head spin and your soul ache.

Maybe I just never found the right person, but every relationship I've ever been in ended because of my inability to give out as much love as I was given. And that's not to say that I didn't care about the people I've dated, they were all really great people in fact... But I could never fully be in it, you know? Some people give their all to another person, would do anything and everything for them if it meant they got to spend the rest of their lives together, but I never felt that. Sure, I could have settled in any of my relationships, but if I was going to actually spend my time building a life with another person, I was going to really feel like I needed it to survive. Or, like I deserved it, if I was going to go that far.

For the past few years I've pretty much given up on relationships. I've been on a few dates, had a few hookups here and there, but at this point I was almost certain that love wouldn't find me any time soon.

However, the one thing that filled that love-shaped void in my soul was music. Words, melodies, stories... It all made me feel the way I was convinced love was supposed to make you feel. Even if I never wrote songs about my (positive) experiences with love, I loved love songs, and most music in general. That was the one thing I was sure of. Music was the one and only love I knew I could count on. It kept me safe, it ensured that I wasn't alone, and it hugged me in a way where I've never felt more at home.

Which would explain why I was here on a Friday night, singing in front of an entire crowded bar. Performing and sharing my music with people was the best way I knew how to outwardly show... well, anything about myself, really. I didn't go to open mic nights often, but when I did it felt better than anything in the world.

Tonight was... different, though. Not in a bad way, of course, but there was something in the air that made me feel like something great was going to happen.

It was the same feeling I got whenever I knew I was about to get laid.

Now, say what you want about it, about me, but even if I sucked at finding love I sure knew how to have one-night stands. I loved sex. It was another way I was able to get that happy rush of feelings while being with another person without actually having to be in love with them. Truly, sex was the perfect outlet for me, and my music was a great tool that helped me get it. Not that I needed help—if I wanted sex bad enough I could easily look for it—but the fact that I could play several instruments and sing well definitely made things easier.

And tonight I wanted it bad.

I hadn't realized it until I tried to figure out what song to sing for open mic night, and in turn came to the conclusion that I hadn't had sex with another human being in about a month. Which wasn't a bad thing by any means, but it didn't change the fact that I wanted someone else to help me out in chasing that high this time.

So I opted to go with a cover of a song I knew would do the job no matter what. I brought my electric guitar with me and mirrored the Wildest Dreams performance that Taylor Swift did from the GRAMMY Museum. The song itself was sexy and sweet, but with the electric guitar and the electric guitar only, it made for less sweet and more sexy. I'd always loved that performance from the second I saw it, so as soon as I was able, I bought an electric guitar and taught myself to play it. It was a hit every time I performed it.

I was wearing a maroon, long sleeved turtle-neck crop top that exposed my belly-button ring (which was sparkling silver and caught the light in the bar beautifully, if I were to say so myself), a pair of tight jeans, and black glittery heels that I only ever pulled out when I was feeling brave. My hair was half-up and half-down, leaving a good amount of my face exposed which donned silver eyeliner, sheer lip gloss, and my eyebrow ring. Paired all together with my black and white guitar and shiny nail polish that matched the deep maroon of my shirt, I felt hot as hell. Better than I'd felt in a while if I was being honest.

It felt even better when I was performing. I was confident in my abilities as a musician, to which I considered myself fortunate. If only I could have been that confident in other departments, I feel like I would have been dead-set for life.

But tonight I didn't want to think about that.

I played the song just as well as I had every other time. Probably even better, if only for the fact that I was working to get myself a lay. But whatever the scenario, I was feeling good and that's all I'd ever wanted to accomplish.

I saw him immediately after I sang the last note and the final chord of my guitar faded out into the applause.

He's just... where my eyes decided to wander, I guess. I don't know exactly what it was, but I was thankful for it, even though I almost forgot to breathe with the way he looked back at me. I couldn't tell what color his eyes were because of how far away he was, but I'd have bet on my life that they were some shade of brown. He bit his lip rather nervously when he noticed me staring at him, unable to tear my eyes way, but nevertheless he kept his gaze trained on me. It was so strong I could have sworn they burned holes into my soul.

Or, more likely, my libido.

Either way, I knew it then, when I packed up my guitar and walked through the crowd to find him, that I wasn't going home alone for the first night in weeks.

That was a good feeling.

So good, in fact, that I allowed myself to be a little more vulnerable than normal. It wasn't anything huge, but it also wasn't like me at all.

While generally, guys are more notorious to be the ones kicking out the women after a one-night stand, I always found it the opposite. I hated waking up in the morning and having to kick some dude out of my apartment. They always put up some sort of fight when it came time to leave, and I didn't get why. All the women I've hooked up with were easier to communicate with on that front, so I didn't mind as much, but still made it a point to be the one coming and going no matter who I slept with.

There was something different about this guy, though. Again, my sex drive was probably getting the better of me, so it maybe wasn't the best idea to let him come to my apartment, but I truly believe that a part of me wanted this man to see where I lived. I... don't know what it was, or why it happened, but it felt exciting. It felt new. It sparked some newfound adventure in me that I didn't really know I craved until I had it.

That being said, I could almost tell immediately within minutes of talking to him that he was going to be a hard one to get to leave. But the thing is...

I didn't mind that.

Something deep inside me wanted to feel what it was like to wrap this man around my finger, to have him so invested in me that he didn't want to leave me, and it was a weird feeling. I didn't know what to do with it, exactly, other than test the waters and see what was going to come of it.

He was about to tell me his name. That's when I started to realize it was a bad idea, and I was already in a vulnerable position. So I held my hand out to his face, pressing my pointer finger to his lips and seductively licking my own.

"No names. Is that okay?"

Something in those brown eyes (I was right) practically begged me to let him say his name, and a part of me wanted to know what it was just so I could scream it. But I knew that if I knew his name, I was ultimately going to be in trouble.

Like I said, there was something different about him. I didn't know what it was, and I didn't want to know because if I did, then I was going to be even deeper in uncharted territory. Besides, if anything the mystery of having no names would make this even sexier. Right?

Reluctantly he nodded, and I slid my finger down his lips and under his chin, then over his throat. I saw the goosebumps form on his skin as I went lower, lightly over the navy blue sweater he was wearing and stopping at his lower stomach. I grabbed one of his belt loops and pulled him close to me, smiling softly as his eyes never stopped searching mine.

"You ready to show me a good time, Pretty Boy?"

He exhaled at the nickname , but I couldn't tell if it was from nerves or what... Either way, he said, "Yes," and I twisted his belt loop tighter with a wink.

***

She was the most captivating woman I think I'd ever seen.

She commanded every room she was in, made everyone pay attention to her, and even if she couldn't sing or play the guitar the effect would have been the same. Granted, I only ever saw her in the bar. So, technically only one room.

But it was about to be two.

I didn't even want to be in the bar, and I was going to leave since Derek, Emily, and Penelope ditched me for their own endeavors, but at the very last second a voice in the speakers cut through the radio-generated music announced that someone would be performing, officially kicking off open mic night.

It wasn't that that stopped me. But it was her name.

Y/N.

I had to wonder if, when she said, 'No names," she remembered or even knew that I'd already known it. Or maybe she just didn't want to know my name. Whatever that meant, it didn't deter me in any way from trying to take up any space or time that she had. After she locked eyes with me on stage, I sent out so many signals, hoping to whatever higher power was up there, if any, that she would come to me. I just... needed to know her. To see her up close.

Truthfully I don't know what made me think I had the right amount of confidence or skill to do anything other than babble incoherently or just stare in her presence, but thankfully she didn't have much of a knack for talking.

When she finally stood in front of me, I didn't know where to look. I knew ultimately that I should look at her face, but damn it if I couldn't help but look at all of her, my stomach naturally doing flips when I caught sight of her belly-button ring, and... Her hands... Good God, I couldn't stop staring at her hands. I realized once she was closer that that's mainly what I looked at while she was on stage. The way her fingers worked the guitar, making it look like it was the easiest thing in the world, it was enough to send me into a tailspin.

Truthfully I don't think there was one single flaw about her. Naturally all human beings have flaws, but as far as I could tell, from this first meeting, this woman was nothing but an angel sent from Heaven, specifically to destroy me.

My favorite part about her, though, was by far her voice. I didn't listen to much mainstream music, but if it sounded anything like that, then I wanted to hear all of it.

Forget angel... She was a siren.

Yeah. That was the perfect way to describe her.

And when she touched me...

I'm pretty sure I blacked out.

I say pretty sure, because I distinctly remember telling her, "Yes," when she'd asked me indirectly to leave with her, but everything else only came in one-second flashes. A moment where I was in her car, and more clearly a moment when she pulled me out of it and shoved me against the door after she closed it, running her glorious hands through my hair and attacking my neck with harsh, sloppy, butterfly-inducing kisses.

But I made myself remember when we were actually in the apartment, because there was no way I was going to let myself forget that moment.

So I was completely well-aware of everything around me when she unlocked the door, pulled me inside, and shoved me against another door for a second time that night. This time she kissed my lips, and I all but melted into her. Her tongue didn't waste any time slipping into my mouth, but I didn't waste any time trying to fight it. I would have given her anything she wanted, she didn't even have to ask for it.

That being said, she broke away from me, looked me dead in the eye, and asked, "Can I take your pants off?"

I nodded eagerly, choking out a breathy, "God, yes," as best as I could.

That seemed to be what she was looking for, because she all but groaned as she squatted on the floor and worked at my belt. I didn't know what to do with myself, my hands seeming to wander aimlessly before settling behind me on the door. Once she got my pants down, she looked up at me through those silver-painted eyelids and leaned forward, pressing a hot, wet kiss to my dick through my underwear.

Any other time in this sort of situation, I most likely would have felt embarrassed by whimpering the way I did, but seeing the primal lust widen her eyes as I did it completely erased any doubt I ever had. By the time she pulled my boxers down and licked a large, slow line up the underside of my dick, those doubts were completely wiped off the board, no evidence of them ever having been there.

I wanted to look at her more than anything, to memorize the way she looked wrapped around me, but my eyes wouldn't stay open. Everything I was feeling, every sensation that ran through my veins, every hot lick of her tongue as it swirled around my tip, every small stroke of her hand when she took a break to whisper filthy things to me... It all rendered me completely unable to think straight.

At one point I was almost at the breaking point, and she knew it, too, because she pulled away from me completely and stood straight, running one of her hands along the inside of my thigh as she went up. I opened my eyes to meet her, her mouth slick with a smear of her lip gloss and her saliva. She looked like she was on the brink of tears, but none of them had fallen. But the gleam in her eye, that's what stood out to me. She was so utterly consumed with burning desire that I would have done anything to satiate every need she had.

She waited a beat, studying my face and the way my lips were no doubt still smeared with her lip gloss. And then she grabbed one of my hands and brought it to cup her crotch, tilting her head to the side and practically sighing at the touch.

"Aren't you going to return the favor, Pretty Boy?"

My first instinct was to tell her I needed a second to breathe. But somehow I knew I wouldn't be breathing well regardless of what happened. I stumbled out of my shoes and pants as quickly as I could, using my hand to lightly rub along the seam of her jeans. As soon as I was free of constraints, I made a point to turn us around so she was the one with her back against the door. I helped her pull her pants off, and once they were, along with her heels, I draped one of her legs around my shoulder so the process would be easier for the both of us.

I've only ever gone down on a woman a few times, so it was safe to say I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to satisfy her. But even if I hadn't had much practice, I knew I was a good listener. I practically read people for a living, and I knew how to read behavior and body language. So I knew that that would be my strong suit here.

That being said, I did have some idea of where to start. So I looked up at her while I brought my tongue out to her panties, lightly dragging the tip of it along the seam that met the corner of  her thigh. On my way to the other side I pressed the lightest of kisses to where her clit would be through the fabric, and then repeated the process a few times, feeling her squirm beneath me. Once I could tell she was getting close to frustrated, I made it a point to drag my tongue upwards in a long swipe until I reached her clit. I kissed it again before using one of my fingers to come up and slide under the fabric, though not pushing it entirely aside.

She sighed out as my finger ran along the very tops of her lips. When I pushed it in just the slightest, gathering her wetness as my tongue still gently worked at her clit through her panties, I took the moment to look up at her.

If she wasn't already the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, and in that moment she was even more perfect, her lip bit and her eyes on the verge of fluttering closed, I could only imagine what she would look like when I was inside of her.

I almost collapsed thinking about it, but went back to my task quickly, knowing that if I stopped thinking for once in my life then I wouldn't have to imagine it, and I could experience it instead.

So I finally pulled her panties aside and used the tip of my tongue again to taste her, just as lightly as I'd done it before. Only rather than fabric I was met with the smooth, slick taste of her pussy. I think I could actually hear her tremble under me as I flicked my tongue over her clit a few times, though everything I was feeling in that moment was so strong that it was more likely that I was losing every ability to think straight.

As time progressed I deepened my every movement, bringing my tongue deeper and harder through her gradually until the point where I was practically eating her out like a man starved. You could argue that I was starved for her in every sense of the word, but that moment wasn't about me. I was focused solely on making her feel good, paying attention to how tightly she gripped my hair when I briefly sucked on her clit, or the way she bucked her hips forward whenever I pushed my tongue inside of her as far as I could will it.

She seemed to like it best, though, when my fingers pumped slowly in and out of her in tandem with each swirl of my tongue around her clit. I took my time, savoring every second I could as my eyes stayed shut. I could barely keep them open.

When I finally did look up her, that seemed to finally be the thing that pushed her over the edge. Well, started to, anyway.

"Wait," she breathed, and for a second I thought maybe I'd done something wrong. I pulled away from her and raised an eyebrow, and all she did was look down at me, her eyes just as lust blown as they'd been before, if not even more. "I want you to edge me, can you do that? Just... keep bringing me there, but don't give me what I want. Not until I tell you to."

"Anything," I told her truthfully, keeping my eyes locked with hers as I brought my tongue to her once more. She shuddered under my touch as I worked at her clit again, quickly flicking over it as my fingers came up to hold her hips. It wasn't long before I brought her to the edge for the second time that night, and this time when I pulled away, I leaned my head into her thigh, pressing soft kisses to the inside. She was so focused on watching my face that she must not have noticed my fingers coming to slide into her again. She fluttered her eyes closed and leaned her head against the door with a soft thud as I fingered her, quickly picking up the pace as my tongue came out to lick at her thigh before I bit into it softly.

"Fuck, you're so fucking good with your hands," she managed to say through a moan.

I laughed a little, glancing over at her hands briefly and just letting the words fly from my mouth. "You're one to talk. The way you played that guitar? The way you touch me? Good God..."

She hummed hungrily, opening her eyes and pulling me up by my hair to pull me away from her. Her leg dropped from my shoulder and I stood up to meet her, towering over her by a good four to five inches.

For a moment we just stood there and stared at each other, both pants-less and desperate for each other but unwilling to do anything about it.

Until she pulled at my hair, craning my head to the side so she had access to my neck before running one of her hands down the side of my face, neck, and finding purchase gripping my shoulder. Her nails lightly scratched at my skin, sending a mess of goosebumps down my whole body, right before she took the other one and grabbed my bare ass.

"Baby, I've barely even touched you, yet."

I don't know what it was that made me so bold, but I smirked as both of her hands squeezed, causing her fingernails to leave indents into the skin on my right shoulder and my left ass cheek. "Touch me, then."

She was more than happy to oblige. Within seconds, both of her hands were slipping up my sweater and roaming my back and stomach as she leaned up and kissed me again. I met her lips happily, allowing her all the access she wanted to my tongue. At this point I was growing restless, wanting more than anything in the world to have her push me onto the bed, or the couch, or even the floor, and do to me whatever she saw fit.

My desperation must have broke the surface somehow, manifested in a way I hadn't noticed, because she laughed against my mouth, pushing me away and ripping off her shirt in one fluid motion. Which left her in only a grey bra that matched her panties.

"Take off your shirt," she said.

I didn't hesitate, doing as I was told and tossing it on the floor with our other clothes.

"Go sit on the couch."

I went there as quickly as I could, only feeling slightly embarrassed being the only one completely naked. But almost as soon as I sat down on her couch—truthfully one of the most comfortable ones I'd ever been on—she'd come up behind me and started massaging my scalp. I closed my eyes at the way it almost lolled me to sleep. If she did that any longer, I'm sure I would have.

Eventually, though, she slid her fingers down my neck and over my shoulders, resting them finally on my bare chest and drawing circles. She brought her lips down to my right ear and grazed it with her teeth before whispering, "Touch yourself for me? Go slow."

I didn't have to be told twice. As I'd quickly learned, I was pretty sure this woman could have done anything she wanted to me and I wouldn't have rejected her.

My hand firmly gripped my dick and went slow, just like she'd asked. With every long, meaningful stroke, she mirrored it with a swipe of her tongue along my neck. Her hands remained at my chest, reaching down to circle my nipples in very light, goosebump-inducing motions.

"Faster," she told me, and I listened. Each stroke of my hand was met with even faster, sloppier kisses along my neck and jawline, and I could have sworn I felt her fingernails digging themselves harshly into my chest.

"Faster."

By this point I was occasionally bucking my hips forward to meet my hand, and Y/N laughed lowly against my jaw, mumbling against it. "You wanna cum, Pretty Boy?"

"Not... Not yet," I stuttered truthfully.

"Aww," she cooed, tilting my head to the side and giving me a kiss on the mouth. It was probably the sweetest kiss we shared that night. "You want to cum inside me, don't you?"

She kissed me again immediately after she said it, and I moaned into her mouth, my hand working faster. If she didn't stop me, I was going to be done for, and I knew I wouldn't be able to go again. Not for a few hours at least. And I didn't know how long she'd want me to stay, or what we would even do while we waited.

Thankfully she seemed to take some semblance of pity on me, because she brought her hands away from my body, pulling back completely and telling me to stop.

I removed my hand and practically sighed in relief. I waited for further instruction, a sound, a touch, anything... But I almost had the wind knocked out of me when she appeared in front of me, having taken off her bra and underwear. What I found shouldn't have surprised me, but somehow it did. This woman was just full of surprises.

She had nipple piercings that matched the silver color of her eyebrow ring, not sparkly like the belly-button ring, but it was the cherry on top to what I'd already found practically perfect in every way.

As she sauntered to me, I couldn't decide where to look. Much like before. So I started from the bottom and worked my way up, eventually meeting her eyes when she straddled me on the couch and took my face in her hands.

"You clean?"

"Yes," I stated clearly, not wanting any signals to get crossed. I even nodded to accentuate my point.

"Good. Me, too. And I happen to be on birth control, so..." She leaned into my ear again and ground her hips into mine, the hot wetness of her pussy slightly grazing my dick. I almost fainted right there. "You can cum inside me all you want..."

She bit down on my shoulder then, and I groaned, bringing my hands to rest at her hips.

Then she pulled back and looked me in the eye again, grabbing my dick and lifting her hips to hover above it. She sunk down completely and quickly, letting me adjust to the feeling for all of two seconds before she gripped my chin in her right hand and smiled, batting her eyelashes. "But only when I tell you. You can't cum without my permission, got it?"

I breathed out a weak, "Yes," and then she got up and sank right back down, setting a quick and steady pace right away.

Both of her hands gripped my shoulders while mine stayed planted firmly around her waist, and if they were too tight she didn't say. In fact, by the look on her face I judged she probably enjoyed how tightly I was gripping her. So I decided to test it out. And sure enough, every time I let up my grip on her waist she would clench around me and move a little faster, making my grip tighten, and then she hummed, digging her nails into my shoulders.

Every high moan and whimper she let out as she rode me was just as melodic and beautiful as her voice when she sang. Added to the way she moved and the way she worked her hands, she was a rhythm all her own, constantly creating some sort of song, some piece of art that begged to be heard, to be felt in the deepest part of any soul that would embrace it...

I wanted it to last forever. I wanted to drown in her song forever.

Maybe that was a little dramatic. I mean, I only just met this woman under two hours ago at least (I wasn't sure how much time had passed truthfully), didn't know a single thing about her other than her first name, her musical ability, and her body. And all she knew about me was... well, my body.

Regardless, I was determined to make this last as long as I could, so I let go of her hips and brought my fingers to comb lightly through her hair, bringing her head up from the crook of my neck to meet mine, our foreheads touched together.

As if she knew what I was thinking, she slowed her hips, and then pressed her lips to mine gently. I'm pretty sure I felt my heart melt.

"What's wrong? Not gonna last much longer?"

I couldn't tell if it was a taunt or a genuine question. Either way, I shook my head and cradled her face. "I don't think so... But I want this to last."

"Hmm," she contemplated, but not for long, because seconds later she stopped moving her hips altogether and stayed sitting on my dick. She leaned back a little, bringing her hands to rest on her thighs as she took me in. "Well, then I guess I'll have to get creative."

I genuinely had no clue what she was about to do, but when she moved one of her hands to her breast and pinched at her nipple, I didn't care one way or the other. I was curious, sure, but ultimately I knew I would welcome whatever she did.

"I noticed you've been eyeing my piercings all night," she said sweetly, continuing to play with her nipples. She bit her lip softly before grinding down onto me and making me suck in a breath. "But I have to say, these two are my favorites... Aren't they pretty?"

"Fuck, they're beautiful," I breathed, splaying my hands over her stomach. "You're beautiful..."

"Aww,” she drawled. “Thanks."

Then she promptly removed her hands from herself, grabbed my wrists, and brought them to her breasts. My hands instinctively squeezed, feeling the contrast of soft skin and cold metal in my palms. I licked my lips before flicking my eyes up to meet hers. "Can I?"

"You can do whatever you want, baby," she purred, grinding her hips once more. A groan ripped from my throat before I leaned forward and brought her right nipple into my mouth, immediately swirling my tongue around the metal of her piercing. I think she might have groaned also, but I was so caught up in the way she grinded onto me and the feel of her skin on my tongue that I couldn't tell you for sure.

I kissed across her chest until I reached her other nipple, and gave it the same careful attention. Meanwhile I suddenly felt her hand slip down between our bodies so she could touch her clit. I brought my head up and peppered kisses up her neck.

"Let me help," I whispered against her skin, bringing one of my hands to replace hers.

She grabbed my wrist before I could get there. "No, keep doing what you're doing. Please..."

And that was that. I moved my mouth back down her neck, down the slope of her breast, and went back to flicking and swirling my tongue over her nipples. Eventually I took one and just slightly tugged at it with my teeth, causing her to buck her hips forward and send a shockwave of energy through me. At that point I was pretty sure I was almost feral with need, not caring how long it took anymore.

So right after she brought herself to orgasm, the movements on her clit slowing to a stop, I shifted our weight and pinned her to the couch so that her back was arched off the armrest. With an amused laugh, she wrapped her legs around my waist as I held one of my hands to the back of her head, the other on her waist, and pushed into her with one, long, fluid thrust forward.

I didn't waste any time with adjustments. I didn't care that my knee was only slightly hurting at the angle it was placed in. The only thing I cared about right then was fucking this woman so good she'd have to remember me. Which wasn't like me at all, but I didn't care.

So that's what I did. My hips set a ruthless, quick pace that had her sliding back until she was almost off the couch, the only thing keeping her anchored being my arm cradling her neck and head and her legs wrapping around my waist. Her heels dug brutally into my lower back, and if I had to guess, they were probably going to leave bruises. Not to mention her hands were clawing desperately at my shoulders to hold on, grabbing any skin she could as I pounded her into the arm of the couch.

I tried to keep my head up, but I was falling into oblivion. And I think she knew it, too, because she used her hands to keep me upwards, even doing so much as looking down between our bodies as best as she could to see me drilling my hips forward. The sight seemed to send her into a tailspin, because she bit her lip and groaned out.

"Fuuuuck, baby, just like that, don't stop, don't stopdon'tstopdon'tst—"

She came hard and fast, trying her best to keep her eyes open, right before looking up at my face. She clenched around me, and I knew I was done for. Any second now and I would finish. Just before it happened, she slid her hands up my neck, brushed the hair from my face, and brought me down to kiss her.

I moaned in her mouth as I came, keeping my hips pressed flush to hers and holding myself deep inside her. She moaned right back, swiping her tongue against mine as she squeezed her whole body around me and pulled me impossibly closer to her. In that moment, I didn't feel like it was just an orgasm... Which might sound cheesy and kind of stupid in retrospect, but it really felt that way. Right then, with her whole body holding mine and daring itself not to let go, it felt like every sense I had was stripped away and all that was left of me was her. As good as it felt to cum, it felt even better just being wrapped up in her in every capacity.

And that was why—even after we were finished and exhausted—we stayed just like that, wrapped up together on the couch with our lips moving lazily together until I felt myself start to drift off.

At that point, she'd somehow managed to pull me off of her and lean me back into the position I'd been in before, and my eyes struggled to stay open.

"I'm gonna go clean up," I thought I heard her say, and I wondered how she had the energy and stamina to stand up and walk around. But then again, I was so exhausted that I wasn't sure if anything that happened after we came down from our highs was even a coherent experience.

That being said, I managed to mutter an "Okay," while she disappeared and I tried to catch my breath. It only took about a minute before I realized that I was alone, and that she'd left to clean up the mess that I made. That seemed to snap me out of it, though not by much; I was still a little light-headed when I got up from the couch and started to collect my clothes from the floor.

I almost had my pants all the way on when I heard her voice from behind me.

"You don't have to leave... if you don't want."

I turned to face her, noticing that she was wearing a large nightshirt and probably nothing else. Even after she'd just gotten obliterated on the couch she still managed to look like the most angelic thing I'd ever seen. Or maybe I hadn't actually done as well as I thought, and she was the one who'd obliterated me... Either way, I felt bad for staying, especially knowing that she didn't even want to know my name.

So I shrugged, stifling a yawn. "No, it's fine, I... I should go. I don't want to intrude or anything, I—"

"Oh, please," she scoffed, walking up to me and placing a soft hand on my forearm. "As far as intrusion goes, I think we're way past apologies, don't you think?"

I smiled at that, admittedly leaning into her touch as her hand drifted up and to my cheek. "Okay. But only if you let me sleep on the couch."

"Don't be silly. You just fucked me on said couch, it's okay if you sleep in my bed with me."

I only shook my head, placing my hand on top of hers. "You didn't even want to know my name, which tells me that you probably aren't the type of woman to let men sleep in your bed with you after sex. Which is fine, don't get me wrong, but... I don't want to make you uncomfortable. And, I... I feel bad enough, I didn't help you clean up, I should have—"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," she said, removing her hand from my cheek and placing it on my bare chest instead. "That right there is why I don't mind if you sleep in my bed. Plus, it's late, you don't have a ride, and I can tell you're sleepy because you've been nodding off as we've been standing here. You can barely stand straight."

I didn't know what to say. Probably because she was right and I was nodding off right now.

She spoke again. "At least stay and rest for a few hours before you leave. And if it'll convince you to stay... You can have the couch."

I smiled lazily, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be gone before you wake up."

"Well... In that case, can... Can I kiss you one more time?"

"You can do anything you want to me," I told her truthfully, and not even a second passed before she pressed her lips to mine.

Despite everything we'd just done and the fact that I was almost asleep, it was the hottest kiss we shared that night. I was sure of it. It was lazy and wet, and so filled with the aftermath of all that we'd experienced together that I almost fell to my knees, and not because I was tired. Her tongue grazed mine in the most purposeful way I'd ever felt in a kiss my entire life. The way she held me to her, her hands weaved in my hair and mine pressed firmly to the small of her back, had me tingling from head to toe.

To this day, it's still the best kiss I've ever had.

I swore to myself I would never forget that kiss, and I never have. I couldn't have, even if I tried.

When she pulled away, I almost chased her, but I let her go, opening my eyes to stare deeply into hers. She didn't move for the longest time before clearing her throat and taking a small step back.

"Goodnight," she whispered softly. She looked almost as dazed as I felt.

"Goodnight," I whispered back as she turned around and padded into the darkness.

***

As I stood at her kitchen counter four hours later, a pen in hand and hovering over the back of a receipt she'd had crumpled on it, I tried to think of what to write, even though I knew it probably didn't matter to her one way or another if I said anything at all...

At the very least I wanted her to know just how much that night meant to me, even if she didn't feel the same way. Even if she didn't want to remember my name, I needed her to at least remember my face, remember what we did... Remember me...

I recalled the song she sang. And then I wrote it down.

I had the best night, thank you. Say you'll remember me... —S.

***

"Nothing lasts forever But this is gonna take me down."

—Taylor Swift, Wildest Dreams

***

TAGLIST:

@bluesunrise02 @meowiemari @teenwolfgirl90

[quietmyfearswith]

you belong ; thor odinson x fem!reader

status — completed oneshot

warnings — misogyny, sweet!thor, few mean names, no swear words i think

word count — 1,401 words

a/n —  fulfilling this request of @profoundtyrantharmony​; hope you like it. i tried to do something more fluffy. this is my first time writing for thor so let me guys know what you think!

masterlist

It was another day on the job. It was her dream job, but recently it hasn’t been feeling that way.

Y/N had persevered through years of medical school and practice to get her to become one of the doctors of the Avengers. Though granted, she hasn't really been able to treat someone or something along those lines, but she was still looking forward to doing so.

“Hey Y/N, can you get these files sorted out for me?” Richard placed a stack of folders on her desk, effectively disrupting her from her daydream about getting to save or cure someone. Shifting her eyes from the stack in front of her to the piercing green eyes, she could only bring herself to meekly nod, “I’ll get right to it.” 

Standing up from her seat, she grabbed all the files and began to walk away to stack up all the files before casting one glance to him when she noticed Richard — along with the other male doctors — were walking away for their lunch break. “Thanks for the invite,” She sarcastically waved to herself as she began to get to work. Her CV had been so impressive that she was recruited to work for/with the Avengers. What she didn’t expect was that misogyny was still rampant since she was the only female doctor there and yet she hadn't been given the opportunity to practice what she studied for.

Tony had been chewing off Thor’s ears for about a few months now because the demigod constantly forgot about having to head down to the medical wing in order to have his profile filled out with his medical records taken. And with having downtime since he just came back from a mission, the God of Thunder was now on his way to do so. 

Upon entering one of the offices, Thor looked around when he noticed the lack of staff in there. “Hello? Is there anyone here?” He inquired and heard a noise coming from his left and smiled upon seeing a beautiful lady. “Hi Mr. Thor, how can I help you?” Y/N brushed off the imaginary dust on her as she felt nervous being around a hero for the first time.

“Just Thor is fine,” He reassured her, “I’m here to have my profile completed; Stark mentioned something about having to need some health information to be taken down?” Knowing what he meant, Y/N nodded, “Oh yeah, I know that. But the other doctors are out for lunch so.”

As she trailed off, Thor pointed to the white lab coat she was wearing, “You’re a doctor, are you not?” Looking down as well, she nodded once again as she felt excited in being able to do what she trained for. “Well we’ll do those tests here,” She led him to the examination room and he followed quietly; as if he was trying to understand why she had hints of nervousness earlier but seemed giddy.

“Please remove your shoes and other objects that may affect your weight,” She requested gently before opening up the hero’s uncompleted profile on the tablet. Once he did so she pointed to the weighing scale and asked for him to stand there. As she looked at what his weight was, she wrote it down. “Okay now your height; please stand next to that portion of the wall,” She pointed to where there was an electronic measurement. Nodding, Thor tried to make conversation, “I don’t think I have seen you here before, Lady?”

“Y/N,” She offered her name as she waited for the tool to finalize the god’s height, “That’s because I’m new here. However, despite being a registered and certified doctor, I’m more of a filing person for them.” She ranted out to which she frowned and apologized, “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have ranted out my frustrations to you.” 

When she told him he could step away from the machine he assured her, “You don’t have to apologize for anything; But I am curious, why are you not practicing what you have studied for?” Y/N was hesitant to recount the horrid experiences she’s had so far. As she ushered him to take a seat to check his reflexes and blood pressure, Thor further coaxed her, “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Lady Y/N. I am merely just interested about your well-being in your workplace.” 

As she was wrapping the sleeve of the blood pressure machine on his muscular arm, she didn’t meet his worried eyes as she turned on the machine, “It’s just, I’m the only girl in here. And they all seem to pick on me for it. They don’t allow me to treat agents or heroes; just make me do filing work. Taking your medical profile is probably the closest to medical field work I’ll ever be.”

After taking note of his blood pressure, Thor grabbed her hand and had a gentle look graced his features, “I apologize in behalf of those feeble-minded imbeciles,” Y/N had to hold back a laugh with how her colleagues was referred to, “I can bring this incident to Stark and have informed about the discriminations you have underwent.”

Rapidly shaking her head, she voiced out his objection to his idea, “No please, don’t tell anyone. That’s something I don’t need — drama, or them thinking that I had to go on about and complain to someone about what’s happening. I’m fine, really.” She sighed and though the demigod wasn’t fully convinced he let her explain further, “I’ll get by just fine. I’ll rise through the ranks and I’ll do so without making a big fuss over everything.”

The smile she offered him was full of determination and he could not prevent himself from returning the same. Lifting up the hand that he held up to his lips, he placed a gentle kiss on it, and detaching his lips he muttered, “I am in awe of your steadfastness.”

Hearing a compliment that didn’t highlight her physical appearance made her heart beat fast in appreciation, “That’s flattering coming from you, Thor.” From there the two talked more as they went about filling in the Avenger’s profile.

The mission went well, most of the agents and Avengers who went on it left with a few scrapes and scratches. As they were heading to the medical bay, Thor entered and searched for the pair of eyes he frequently looked into since he spent more time with the female doctor. “Thor! You’re back!” She beamed at him happily. “I am; Though I have a bit of bruises I need to be tended to, I was hoping you can look after them.”

Her eyes widened at his request but she found herself nodding and guiding him to one of the medical chairs they have. Richard however wasn’t pleased upon overhearing their conversation, “I’m sorry but Y/N still have some files to look over.”

Thor was clearly displeased with this, straightened up his posture and towered over him, “I know things that are different on this realm and on mine, but I do know that no woman should be treated as badly as you all have treated Y/N. She studied and worked hard; she more than deserves to be where she is right now.”

Richard gulped down nervously as all that he could do was nod and turn around to attend to one of the agent’s injuries. Y/N pulled on Thor’s arm, dragging him to where he should sit down so she can treat his bruises. As she was pouring on some ointment on his burns, she thanked him, “Thank you for standing up for me, Thor.”

“It was nothing, Y/N, I just couldn’t stand someone talking down on a fine lady like yourself,” Shrugging her shoulders the female doctor was quick to counter, “I don’t think I’m as fine as you think.”

After cleaning him up, Thor held her back and tried charming her, “Well there’s only one way for me to find that out don’t you think?” Y/N tilted her head in confusion with what he meant and the demigod found it adorable and chuckled as he clarified, “Why don’t we go spend some time together? The one you Midgardians call a date?”

Eyes widening at his proposal Y/N froze up a bit before replying, “I would love to, Thor.” Pecking his cheek before returning back the medical supplies she used, “Pick me up at 8pm tomorrow?”

[glamrockmonarch]

Girls? - AU from Original Timeline

Summary: what if B!Reader and Brian had been parents to twin girls instead? They would have been a different kind of trouble...

Warnings: none. It's kinda fluffy.

A/N: this is kind of something I got obsessed with after talking to bae-beh @leah-halliwell92 so this will serve us all as a backstory of sorts for her wonderful ask that you may find here.

B!Reader watched the screen in search for something that made sense. Although she was full of joy at the presumed sight of her babies, she still found no shapes on the screen when her doctor started the ultrasound.

Brian was more patient for these sorts of things; he sat quietly next to his wife and tried to soak everything in as if this was an experience too odd to run through, a chance handed over to him by the universe or God or whatever force moved the planets and created him, his wife, and his daughters. He was only slightly nervous, knowing since the previous appointment how much they would find out today. The babies' genders. Brian knew their chances of having twins were rare, a mere 3.35 percent proved enough, and there he sat with his hand on hers.

B!Reader had different but similar emotions about the pregnancy.

Brian did not expect he would ever become a dad again after his 40th birthday, and yet his eyes fell onto his young wife's belly. A baby bump that brought her brightness and joy in the last couple of weeks; through morning sickness that lasted all afternoon and came back at anytime in response to the minimal scent of something strange. She would laugh and sing around the house. He would find her dancing in the kitchen, humming an old song while breakfast cooked on the stove. Brian hated mornings but her liveliness helped him get out of bed every day, even if it was just to catch a glimpse of her curious eyes as she examined her middle section on the mirror to check the progress and growth of the little ones as her hands felt around the flesh under her belly button.

While B!Reader struggled to see what the doctor was so kind and patient to explain about the shapes and shadows on the screen, to Brian it was clear as day. In the time when he became a father for the first time he was just as confused as his wife was now, still he managed then to see in the poor image of that time his baby boy, nowadays a fully grown man. He marveled again at technology as the images seemed so much clearer than they had been when his youngest daughter was born.

His soft grip on her hand tightened, he recognised something, a simple comment from the doctor made him see it. Or rather... not see it.

"It's girls, congratulations!" She smiled at both of them.

Brian smiled with his lips pushed together in a tight line while B!Reader stared at the screen in amazement, she turned her head to Brian and saw his expression, she let out a laugh and tugged at his hand.

"We're having girls!" She whispered excitedly to which her husband replied by nodding.

It was surreal, he wanted to cry. He cried! And when the doctor let B!Reader clean up her stomach she wrapped her arms around him and they remained like that for a minute.

"I love you...so much..." she whispered against his shoulder.

Brian squeezed her tight between his arms, enough to keep her close and pressed against his body but not too much so he wouldn't harm his baby girls.

The girls. Brian spent long afternoons thinking about the new babies while B!Reader worked on her next book. He knew how much work it would be with one baby, he could imagine how difficult it would be with two. He had to admit, the outfits they came up with for girls were far more interesting than the little numbers out there for boys.

Brian kept writing things down in a notebook, making lists, going back and forth as he tried to imagine everything possible. He put money aside for the babies, for the nursery and their stuff. A fund. The girls would need money for school and who was to say he would still be there when they reached college. So he opened two accounts to put money aside for school. He had little bracelets made for the little ones as soon as he and B!Reader chose their names. Each bracelet read their full name, and Brian got B!Reader a necklace with a little golden plate reading the girls initials, he got himself one too, but kept them all locked and hidden until the girls were born.

Brian worried a lot about the most practical stuff, about the babies' wellbeing, about bringing them to a safe environment. He put a machine to warm up and sterilise bottles in the nursery, got blankets and pillows and stuffed animals to fill in the empty spaces in the brand new cribs. When B!Reader decided she wasn't going to be able to breast feed two babies he made sure the cupboards were filled with formula so they wouldn't have to worry much about that. He put the best of the best in baby monitors in the nursery, painted the room himself with the most useful help of his son and daughters.

By the time B!Reader was six months along she was already starting to panic. Two babies were on the way and Brian had just announced another Queen + Adam Lambert tour the upcoming year... she was thrilled - don't get it twisted -, but she had never been a mother before. She didn't get to experience this journey with one child, and all of a sudden she looked down and instead of her feet she saw a big round mass protruding under her jumper with two growing babies inside. And she was going to be left alone with them?

She was excited and nervous. Being a mum felt strangely natural, she knew she was a mother the moment her pregnancy test came out positive. She felt love for her baby that very second.

She was lost for words when Brian pointed at her and his eyes went wide with a smile drawn all over his features. "You're showing!"

Oh, the pride... she hadn't stopped touching her stomach since that day, and neither had Brian. Every chance he had, he would rest his hand on it, thumb caressing lovingly. He was tender too, careful. He didn't dare get rough with her, but it didn't matter because they were two fools in love. For almost a full year B!Reader forgot everything about their age gap, all that mattered was how much they loved each other and the family they were about to become.

It was late December when the contractions hit. B!Reader was sitting with Brian in the living room, both watching one of those cheesy Christmas specials. While B!Reader was dozing off as usual, Brian rubbed her swollen belly absentmindedly. B!Reader was ready to pop, had been for a couple of weeks at that point, but the doctor decided to program her for a c-section on the 27th, right in the middle of week 38. The girls were just ready at week 37, so thankfully contractions started a week early and before the holidays were upon them, Brian drove his wife to the hospital and a few hours later they had babies Harper Farrokh and Charlotte Harris safely sleeping in mummy's arms.

Brian was crying the moment his older children arrived to see the twins. He held Harper Farrokh in his arms, the smallest baby he had ever held. The two girls were smaller than average babies, due to the fact that they had been sharing resources in the womb. Still, Charlotte turned out to be bigger, she was born second but weighed almost 300 grams more than her sister, and was merely a single centimetre taller than Harper.

"Are these my new baby sisters?" Louisa whispered as she went to take a look at Harper Farrokh over Brian's shoulders.

It did not matter how difficult things had been between Brian's children and his young wife before, the sight of the two little girls wrapped in those pink hospital blankets made everyone ease off. Brian was happy, the happiest he had been in years. His grown children could tell; and B!Reader had always been respectful towards them and their mother, so why fight or argue or cause trouble when there really was no harm done?

The girls were daddy's girls, both of them. Everyone would have guessed that with Harper being smaller Charlotte would be the leader, but it turned out that she was also quite stubborn. Like her dad she did what was asked of her but always was quite independent. The girls were identical on looks but their personalities could not be any more different.

Of course, Brian was outnumbered at home but he loved his girls. All of them - including Bellamy.

Let me know if you like this AU from the Original Timeline and/or if you have questions or concepts or ideas about it!

[glitchedbones-blog]

Not Human - Part Three

Loki x Original Female Character

Warnings: Body horror

Part One - Part Two

Loki and Alice do a little bonding and Loki learns more about what she is before he is shipped off back home. 

    The beep and hiss of the door opening signaled another shift change, one Loki was deeply glad for. His brother has spent the better part of the last three hours trying to have a meaningful heart to heart. Loki was more than done with Thor. He had spent the last half hour with his face buried in his hands, thinking of more and more creative ways to murder his brother.

    “Ah, Alice! Alice?” Loki’s head shot up at the worried tone Thor’s voice took.

    Alice looked exhausted, skin pallid and eyes sunken. It reminded Loki of when he first met her, but something was off. Loki watched the tight smile Alice gave Thor, eyes narrowing.

    She waved him off with a soft chuckle. “I’m fine. Just a little tired is all. Now scoot, I can get some relaxing done while keeping an eye on this guy.” She gestured with her thumb over to Loki.

    Thor frowned brow arching just slightly. “If you say so, but you must let us know if this guarding is getting to you. We can always bring Bruce back in.”

    Alice shook her head, Bruce had asked to be taken off, Loki’s staring had bordered on obsessive and Hulk had started to take issue with it. To keep incidences down Alice and Thor took up Bruce’s shifts, splitting them evenly.

    She dropped her bag down and gave him a dismissive wave. “Really, I’m fine. Go.” She glanced at the ground. “Honestly, I probably will feel better here versus anywhere else in the compound.” She muttered.

    Thor stepped past her giving her shoulder a firm squeeze and casting her a knowing smile. “Seems we are the only two.” He gave Loki a grin over his shoulder. “Alright brother, I will see you next time. I will try to bring books for you!” Loki watched Thor leave and waiting for the door to hiss shut and the alarm to beep. He turned his attention to Alice and frowned.

    “You are a terrible liar.”

    She shrugged, not even bothering to argue and took her place against the glass of his cage, blanket tucked under her. “You aren’t wrong, but why do you say so?”

    Loki stood, stretching out like a cat before walking over to her. He was fidgeting with his left hand, a nervous tick that started to fascinate Alice more and more. “I have seen you tired.” He fanned his hands out. “It is how we met.” With that he took his own place, sitting across from Alice. He dropped his elbow to his knee and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. “This. This is much deeper than exhaustion. You look...” Loki paused, watching the emotions play across her face, his eyes widened slightly when he pinned down what he saw. “You look sad, almost...Heartbroken.”

    Alice gaped at him, moth opening and closing as she tried to come up with some sort of protest. Instead, she just sighed and sunk into herself. “I guess I am. A little. And the reason is really stupid, so don’t ask.”

    “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” Loki said, giving her a smirk.

    Alice huffed out a half-hearted laugh. “Ass.”

    Loki gave an overdramatic sigh. “I am deeply hurt.” He caught her eye and leaned forward, hand pressing against his chest. “I am willing to listen,” he rolled his eyes, “even if I did just spend three hours avoiding a heart to heart with my brother.”

    Alice gave him a mirthless smile. “They finished. The Tesseract thing.” She drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, ducking her head down.

    Loki stilled, eyes going wide in shock. “When?”

    “This morning, after Thor started. I don’t think he knows yet.” She muttered into her knees. She took a deep breath and looked up, wearing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “But hey, you get to home in a couple of days.”

    Loki wet his lips and let out a huff of breath. He carded his hand through his hair and took a deep breath, looking down at his lap. “I see.” He glanced back up, brows lifting. “This is why you are upset? Because of...”

    “You leaving. “ Alice finished, blushing slightly. She bit her lip and sniffed. “I told you it was stupid. Here I am, actually sad that the jerk who opened a portal in the sky and nearly got Tony killed is leaving. How stupid is that?” She glared at him. “Don’t answer that.”

    “If it is any consolation I am not keen on returning myself. I will not be welcomed with open arms. I have fallen out of favor with my...father. Not that he held me in that high of regard, to begin with.” Loki said, bitterness lacing his voice.

    Alice moved, tucking her legs back under her and leaning forward, eyebrows scrunched together. “What will happen to you?”

    Loki glanced around his current cage before looking back at her. “Either I remain in another cage or execution. Maybe exile, but I doubt that is an option.”

    The horror in Alice’s face was a surprise to Loki. “Your own father would...kill you?”

    “Adopted.” Loki snipped.

    Her jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed. “But, you weren’t even...” She wrinkled her nose. “Or at least, I have a theory that you weren’t, ah in complete control. That stupid scepter, I think had some influence. Not as much as Clint, but still.”

    “And if I wasn’t under control?” Loki asked, leveling her with a dark look. “It is a nice theory, but it is just that. A theory.”

    Alice huffed. “Do you have any regret for what you did?” Alice asked point blank.

    Loki reeled back, eyeing her. “My plans had a different outcome than what occurred. From before I let go and fell into that void. I did not want my brother exiled, I did not want any of this to really happen,” he waved his hand out. “But it did. I do not regret, but my plans were not so much my own anymore.”

    Alice sat up fully, folding her hands in her lap. “Theory holds true. Look, I wish things had gone way different for you. I do. I know what it’s like getting the short end of the shit stick, I mean, look at me.” She put both hands out, palm up. “Oh, one hand you got the bad end.” She folded her left hand away. “But, on the other hand, on a more selfish note, I got to run into you.” She folded her right hand shut and dropped the hand to her lap.

    “You are glad to have met me?” Loki asked, incredulously, staring at the hand on her lap. “As your friend Stark has pointed out, I have killed a great many people, and yet meeting me makes it, what? Better?” He looked back up at her, lips pressed into a thin line.

    “No? Yes. Look, I’m not like the others when it comes to this hero stuff. Anyone with eyes can see that. You aren’t the only one who has killed people here.” She snapped, crossing her arms. Her eyes widened slightly and she stiffened, before staring straight down.

    Loki leaned forward. “You?”

    Alice flinched and tightened her jaw. “Yes. I don’t like to think about it. Talk about it, but, we all have a little blood on our hands. In your case, a lot.” Her narrowed gaze flicked up to him.

    Loki pressed his hand against the glass and dropped his voice to a whisper. “Who?”

    Alice deflated, curling her arms around her torso and letting out a long, shaky breath. “My family.” She looked up at him, eyes glassy. “When all this happened I lost control, completely. We killed them all. Either directly, or by infecting them.” Her voice broke and she let out a small sob. “I never lied when I said I was a monster.”

    Loki knew that level of self-loathing. Was intimately familiar with viewing yourself as nothing more than a nightmare. A monster from children’s stories. His fingers curled against the glass, fist pressing hard against the smooth surface as he poured what magic he could to break through. He hadn't’ had anyone there for him when he had found out his true parentage and he was ill-equipped to offer comfort, but he was damned well going to try. He owed to her. And himself.

    He glared over at the camera in the corner of his cage, willing whoever was on the other end this one reprieve. Allow the cage to open.

    Thor has been quiet since leaving the cage room, a fact Tony was glad for. The big man was nice, but it was hard to get work done when you have an overzealous god bouncing around like a puppy.

    “Tony?” Tony glanced up from his work, hiding his groan. “I think Alice may not be alright. She seemed off today.”

    Tony’s mouth twisted and he gave Thor a look. “She seemed fine to me. Tired maybe.” He went back to his laptop. An email came in, confirming more details about the Tesseract. Tony shook his head, amazed he forgot. “Oh, Tesseract is done, you guys are going home.”

    Thor gave a small nod and thin-lipped smile. “I am guessing Alice knew?” Tony nodded. “That would explain why she seemed down.”

    Tony stopped typing and pushed himself away from the laptop to fully face Thor, confusion etched across his face. “Why would Alice be sad about either of you leaving?” His voice was measured.

    Thor laughed, giving his knee a smack. “Surely you jest? She has gotten deep under my brother’s skin and I think he has gotten under hers. Have you not seen it?” Thor’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

    “Alice wouldn’t...care about...” Tony snapped his mouth shut at Thor’s thoroughly disbelieving look. “Your brother is not exactly on the top of the list of good people she has interacted with.”

    Thor nodded in concession, rolling his shoulders in a half shrug. “True, Loki has been just the worst lately, but he is not the monster he thinks he is. Or the one we think he is.” Thor said matter-of-factly, clasping his hands behind his head.

    “Excuse me, are we talking about the same guy? The one who tried to take over the world? That guy?” Tony wrinkled his nose, mouth slightly agape.

    “Yes,” Thor said slowly.

    “And you think Alice what- has a crush on him?” Tony’s tone was harsh.

    Thor leaned forward, leaning his hands on his knees. “I think Alice is in far deeper than a simple crush, Tony.”

    Tony pressed his lips together and muttered a rushed excuse me. He rushed over to a bank of monitors. “JARVIS, bring up the cage audio and video.” The audio cut in just as her broken confession drifted out of the speakers. Tony felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over him.

    He knew a bit of her history when he first met her she had been silent on what happened, but over time opened up to both him and Pepper. She had lost her family, but she never elaborated, refusing even when he pushed. She wouldn’t even give him her last name. So he gave up, stopped pushing. She didn’t want to share.  

    And now he knew why.

    He could feel Loki staring at him from the monitor. It was strange seeing such a desperate expression on someone who was usually so controlled. Tony’s fingers danced over the keyboard, giving Loki one minute. One minute to do what he was going to do before the cage resealed. If he wasn’t in it, Loki will find himself dealing with whatever magic the Ancient One weaved into the outer room.

    Tony hit the mic. “You have a minute out of that cage. Don’t make me regret this, reindeer games.” He confirmed the command and hoped he made the right choice.

    The cage door slid open, a small klaxon staring the moment the sequence started. Loki was on his feet and out the door as fast as he could. Alice was stunned to find him on the wrong side of the glass and was even more shocked when he gathered her in his arms and pulled her back into the cage. The door shut with a whoosh of air and the klaxon fell silent. Loki gave the camera a small nod before giving his full attention to Alice.

    He sat her on the cot, she was still, rapidly blinking in stunned confusion. Loki sank down in front of her, reaching out to press his fingertips against the tears still trailing down her cheek. “Alice...” She shook her head, face crumbling before crashing into him. She buried her face into his throat as his arms snaked around her shoulders. The odd position put a strain on his back, on impulse Loki pulled her down into his lap, getting a small yelp of surprise in return.

    The sat curled against each other for ages before Alice pealed herself away and rubbed her eyes with the edge of her hood. She looked up at him, frowning. “How am I in here?”

    Loki nodded up at the cameras. “Whoever was watching realized there is little comfort to be offered when there is a glass wall in the way.”

    “Oh.” Alice looked down and realized she was curled in his lap. She tried to move, get up and put some distance between them, but was stilled by his hand around her right wrist. She froze, staring as he ran a thumb over the curve of scales and along the small seam between her fingers. “You can...Uh, I’m ok now.”

    Loki simply shook his head. “No.” His other hand found her cheek and he pushed away the scarf, careful not to snag the fabric on the small teeth hidden underneath. The eye stared out at him, glowing slightly in the harsh light.

    “Loki?” Alice asked carefully, sitting stock still.

    “Shhh. I am trying out this being comforting thing and I have no idea what I am doing.” He gave her a tight smile.

    Alice snorted, her cheeks going pink. “You’re doing fine.”

    Loki gave a small, contented sigh, fingers ghosting further along her cheek. “Good. Us monsters have to keep together, we are all we have..”

    Alice rolled her eyes at that and gave his chest a small poke. “I still don’t see it. Why you think of yourself as a monster.”

    Loki grimaced. “Just know it is true.” He let his hand fall from her face and looked away. “I wonder if my brother can convince Odin to not kill me, or maybe mother can. At least there could be a small chance that yo-” He trailed off, not even allowing himself to give voice to his thoughts.

    Alice's eyes brightened and she pushed herself back, giving her arm room to move. “I have an idea!” The arm split open once more. This close Loki could hear every pop of bones and slide of tooth as each long fang slipped out of the muscle. Alice grabbed one of the longer fangs and pulled. Hard.

    The tooth ripped out, leaving a small hole that quickly started filling with blackish red blood. Her arm snapped shut with a small squelch and she grinned at him. She grabbed his hand and pressed the tooth into his palm before folding his fingers over, careful not to squeeze.

    “So, as weird as that was, I have a reason,” Alice explained, wincing at his vaguely nauseated expression. “It’s like an otherworld horror version of the lock of hair shit people did back in Victorian ages. Kind of a hey, now you can’t forget me cause you have my arm tooth.” She blushed and gave him a sheepish smile.

    Loki brought the tooth up, turning the curved fang in his fingers. It reminded him of a snakes fang, delicate and deadly. He closed his hand around it and smiled. “Thank you. Is this you implying you want a lock of my hair?”

    Alice shook her head. “Horrible body parts only. Anyway, I doubt I’ll uh...have trouble remembering you.”

    Quickly, Loki leaned forward, pressing a small kiss on her cheek. Alice went deep red and swallowed hard. “Thanks.”

    Loki rested his hand on her neck and sighed. “If only there was more time...”

    Alice furrowed her brows and leaned forward. “What?” She cleared her throat. “What would happen if there was more time?”

    Loki pulled back and gave her a wry smile. “Find a way to Asgard. To me. And I will find a way myself.”

    He licked his lip, shifting forward just a fraction. He froze and pulled away, before pulling her off him and up on the cot. Alice was left gaping at him.

    She snapped her jaw shut and stood shakily, putting the wrap and hood back in the proper place. “Oh, we will find you.” She stressed the we. “Even if we have to twist reality itself.”

    The klaxon sounded and the door opened. Alice ducked under, pausing to look back at Loki. He was grinning at her, the hand with the tooth pressed against his heart.

    “I look forward to it.”

    She pointed at his hand. “Don’t lose that.” She turned, hiding her face in the hood and slipping out of the cage room.

    Tony was waiting on the other side, arms crossed. Scowling. Alice simply stepped around him, head down, hoping to hold herself together long enough.

    Alice wasn’t about to admit what seeing Loki in that muzzle and those cuffs were doing to her. Instead, she turned to Tony and tried to school her expression into something disapproving.

    “Is the muzzle really necessary?”

    “Yes.” Clint snapped. He was still, understandably sore about being under Loki’s control.

    Thor gave her an apologetic smile and turned his attention to Loki. “Ready, brother?” Loki simply stared at him, eye defiant as his fingers curling around the other end of the Tesseract device.

    Loki locked eyes with Alice, giving her a final nod before the brothers vanished in a wash of blinding light.

    Alice flinched and Tony gave her shoulder a small pat. “Come on, kid, let’s get you home.”

    She nodded, trying to ignore the tears pricking at her eyes. “Hey, Tony?”

    “Yeah?”

    Alice steeled herself for a fight. “The injections need to stop. They aren’t helping.”

    Tony looked alarmed, glancing to the place Loki stood and back to her. He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”

    She squared her shoulders and gave a firm nod. “Yes. What will happen will happen and I am this. There is no cure. So I need to learn to finally deal with it.”

    “Alright, though...” Alice narrowed her eyes at him and he gave her a mischievous grin. “What are your feelings on nanomachines?”

[onrainynights]

So I'm about to tell y'all a tale, buckle up. Everything here is 100% true, except names are changed or shortened because duh. Also warning there is slightly nsfw content, nothing explicit and only mentioned but still warrants a warning.

So, I'm 17, almost 18. I'm a high school senior. The story starts almost two years ago, in the fall of 2018. I was a sophomore. One of my best friends, V, was in our school's show choir for the first time, and had made friends with a new guy one year our senior who was also in slow choir. I knew before I met him that he was gay, because V told me. This guy can be called E. One day, he sits at our lunch table and I'm not really paying attention to his conversation with V, I'm just eating my lunch. But then I look up and my first thought when I see him is "eyebrows" because he has really thick eyebrows and then "wow he's actually really cute." He was the first person I was attracted to in over 2 years. I proceed to ask V all about him while admiring him from afar for several months. At this point its nothing more than attraction because I've never really had a conversation with him. Then, in the spring, I volunteered at the show choir competition my school hosted. I ended up talking to him (yay), and he hugs me within minutes of meeting me. One of the first things I ever say to him is "I like your eyebrows." Things are slightly awkward, because I'm an awkward person, and so is he, but it's pleasant. Unfortunately I don't get to spend too much time with him because we both had things we needed to do and there was A LOT of drama that night not involving either of us.

After that point we would talk occasionally but never really got to know each other, UNTIL fall of my junior year and his senior year. By this point I had a crush, but it wasn't more than that and I didn't feel we knew each other well enough to warrant me telling him my feelings. We were both in the fall musical. At auditions, we were friendly. Except he asked me about J, a guy one year younger than me, who was also just as gay as both me and E. The way he asked me "Who is that?" I knew, immediately, that he was attracted to J. He sounded exactly like I did when I first asked V about E after seeing him for the first time.

Regardless, E and me talked a lot more during rehearsals, though we usually kept our conversations light in topic. We flowed well, and he was just as physically affectionate as I was. After a few weeks, I see him cuddling with J during rehearsal, and a friend informs me they started dating. I asked them both questions about how it started—a Snapchat story, go figure. At first I was jealous, but I saw how happy E seemed, and that was all that mattered. But I didn't really know J, like at all other than his name, so I started spending as much time as I could with the both of them. They were a cute couple, I have to admit, but they always did PDA because of J's homophobic family. They only ever saw each other at school.

The first time I talked to J without E there, we bonded. I don't remember over what. The next time, we were alone because I pulled him aside after he made a dirty joke that I honestly couldn't tell if he meant (he did. It was hilarious, and I told him up-front that I wanted to be friends with him. He enthusiastically agreed.) The time after that, it was because I decided he should know about my feelings for E. I didn't want him to potentially find out later on and think I was trying to steal his boyfriend. He was amazingly mature. He said he felt bad for taking E from me when I had liked him longer, but I assured him that E didn't belong to me by any means and besides, J made E happy and that was all I cared about. I think I was already in love with E by this point but I didn't know it yet. J and I joked about my feelings for E whenever we were alone. We got along really well and it was a great time.

One time I cuddled with them, and it was nice, and when E had to get up J and I kept cuddling and talked about how much we both just wanted E to be happy. It was really nice.

And then, closer to the opening night of the show when the set was being built and there were more places to be out of sight, something strange happened. Now, earlier when I said PDA I meant they made out in front of others frequently, and the first time they did anything sexual with each other was in a well-known security camera blind spot in the upstairs math hall after all the teachers had gone home. I know that because J and E (mostly J) liked to tell me about their sex life. In fact, I knew more about their relationship than most people probably did.

So we were backstage one day, when E wasn't needed on-stage much despite playing a main character. There were two prop chairs between the three of us. J sat on E's lap on the chair that had a higher back and I sat as close to them as I could in an office chair. They weren't kissing or anything, just talking.

It was innocent, at first. But then J started working E up, if you know what I mean. It wasn't really uncomfortable for me, because J somehow made me feel ~included~ in their activities. He would whisper something lewd to E, who would blush or say something back, and then would tell me about how affected E was, how hard he was. At some point I think E mentioned not wanting to come in his pants, but I'm not sure. I kinda forced myself not to look into this event after it happened, so the details are a bit fuzzy. Eventually, E made J stop because he had to go on stage soon and didn't want to have a boner while pretending to be straight. J and I talked afterwards, but I don't remember what about, and it was never mentioned between us again. I'm fairly sure that J was a bit of an exhibitionist, and that E wasn't really one but wasn't opposed to what J was doing, either.

Honestly, in hindsight, I'm not sure what to think about this, because I was always so certain they both viewed me 100% platonically, but then they included me in their "sexytimes" without hesitation. In fact, at one point a plan was in place for me to room with them on an overnight trip so that they could do the do without making their roommate uncomfortable. They were both fully aware that I was probably the only person who didn't mind their PDA, and that sentiment may seem incongruous for a love triangle such as this, but I never questioned it. I loved E selflessly, and so it made me happy to see him happy, no matter what—or who—was doing so. Also, I think perhaps I was crushing on J at some point, but I'm not sure. These screenshots are of me explaining the event to a very close friend a few days ago after the shock wore off that I hadn't told her about it as soon as it happened.

At some point, a mutual good friend of mine and E's, who we'll call A, hosted a party for the cast of our musical. I'm not sure if this was before or after the casual exhibitionism incident, but I'm inclined to think it was before.

This party did not involve alcohol of any kind because theatre kids don't need any to make a party unique, wild, and totally unforgettable. It was small, with maybe 20 people at its peak. E and I were there and J was not, because his family thoroughly sucked ass. Anyway, at that party E told me he was in love with J, and wanted to marry him some day. I, obviously, thought that was kinda crazy to say after knowing each other for two months, but I held my tongue because E smiled so widely when he said it. Later that same night, everyone was sitting around a fire, playing a game somewhat similar to truth or dare. Due to a lack of seating, E ended up sitting on my lap for most of the game, which lasted over an hour, my hands around his waist. It was very nice, and when he got up he laughed and said he forgot he was sitting on my lap. He forgot little things like that a lot. I always found it endearing.

Then the show performed and then it was over, and I didn't get to talk to E again until a few months later, and I never talked to J again. Unlike most teens, I do not talk to people online /through text unless I already know them super super well. I hate getting to know people over text. By the time I see E again, because he's the student assistant in my choir class that semester, he and J have broken up. It was messy, and E is hurt. They're on-again-off-again for several months, but I can never forgive J for hurting E, not when he had talked about only wanting E to be happy. Despite that, I wish I could have spent more time with J. He was a good person, but he and E had a toxic relationship after the honeymoon stage, I think because J simply was not ready to be in a serious relationship. (A agrees with me fully on this.)

So E talks with me and a mutual "friend" (we're all friendly but I wouldn't consider this person a friend. Funnily enough, he also had a crush on E at some point, and we bonded over this. Funny how that happens.) about his relationship, and the things he says raise some red flags about J (including J doing something E didn't like during sex and then not stopping when E asked him to. I was very very angry at this but tried not to show it). It became clear to me that their relationship was toxic, but I didn't feel like I could do anything about it. In hindsight, I should have known their relationship was doomed a lot sooner.

Specifically, there was one point during the musical that J had to resolve things with his ex, who was a friend of mine (who I didn't know was queer and wasn't supposed to until E accidentally let it slip.) While J and his ex talked, I cuddled with E and reassured him that everything would be ok. He was convinced that J would cheat on him or get back with his ex. This lack of trust should have been a sign for me, but I didn't realize it until much, much later. I was focused on comforting E at the time and J couldn't have been farther from my mind.

Then, after E and J got back together again for the last time, covid happened, and school closed. I haven't spoken to E since, and no one knows what's going on with J. The only thing anyone knows is that they're not together anymore, and from what I can tell, they're not in contact at all and aren't going to get together again. E graduated, J is at a different school, and despite everything, I miss both of them.

Every day, I pass by a photo of E and A in the hallway of my school, and my heart swells, and I feel like crying. A graduated too, and she's moving thousands of miles away at the end of October for college. E is still living in our town, going to community college, but I never get to see him.

Our school is doing a fall play instead of a musical this year, and E and A are coming to visit and see a rehearsal before A moves away. It could be one of the last times, if not the last time, I get to see either of them. I'm going to tell E about my feelings, because for the first time since I realized my feelings for him were not skin-deep, he's single and not recovering from a nasty breakup. I'm not expecting him to return my feelings, but I'm expecting surprise. I've been very careful up to this point to keep my feelings from him—I thought it would be selfish to tell him when he wasn't emotionally available. A loves the idea—apparently she thinks someone confessing feelings for her after years would be sweet—but I know that if someone did that to me I might not be so happy. I would be shocked and surprised first, and then my reaction after that would depend on the person.

Also, to complicate all of this, I'm trans and he has expressed confusion about that before (poor guy is uneducated in that department, but not bigoted and certainly better than some gay men can be, but I still have no clue if my trans status would deter him from having feelings for me)

My feelings for this guy are deeper than anything I've ever felt before. I really love him, and I know that I'll regret it forever if I never tell him. His visit feels like it's as close to the right time as I'm gonna get, and it might be my last chance on top of that. I don't need him to return my feelings, but I need to know that I did everything I could to take my chances.

TL;DR: I'm a gay idiot but I'm finally gonna tell him how I feel

[aryareyes]

The moment our eyes met...

Chapter 2

Wattpad link : https://my.w.tt/VXt651wY86

JUVIA'S POV :

The cool air brushed my hair and sent chills on my spin as I watched my hometown through the car window. Further I go further I felt the same familiar warm feeling inside me as the first time.

- " Juvia? " I turned to face Jellal at his call.

- " Are you okay? " he asked concerned. I gave him a reassuring smile in response. As he seemed unconvinced I added  " Jellal, I'm fine. Really ". He smiled softly and turned to face the road.

- " Good we'll be there in five minutes, I'm not sure if there's everything you need there, let me know if you need something..." he stated.

- " All I need is a long bath and Coffee! " I retorted.

- " So you're too a coffee addict huh ?"  He grinned.  " Don't know what you girls find in coffee..." he trailed.

- " Dude! No coffee no life! Besides girls are not the only coffee addict...Don't be a sexist." I defended myself.

- " Ok.Ok. Maybe you're right but still it's more girls who are coffee lovers than guys..." 

- " Well you guys are smokers so we're even."

- " Hey! I don't smoke...I actually hate it!" He exclaimed offended.

- " I said guys not Jellal Fernandez" I chuckled and I rolled my eyes.  " However, we have a point in common..." I stated.

- " You hate smokers too ? " he asked.

- " Of course, I hate the fact they kill their selves so dumb fully! " I said back.

- " Agreed...and here we go." He was parking his car in front of the flat.

- " I'll carry your stuff your Majesty, you may go inside...here's the key..." he joked handing me the key.

- " Thank you my knight of shining armor." I countered him back. He laughed before pushing me inside the building. I stopped laughing by the by time, I arrived in front of Gajeel's flat which was in fifth floor, second door at left.

I opened the door and entered the apartment. It's little different from two years ago, it's more furnitures and decorations. Yet, it's simple and minimalist but cozy. I liked it. Weird, Gajeel is not too keen on decoration or house management. It's probably the girls doing. (AN : photo on media)

I didn't find him in the living room so I went to his room and he wasn't either. I frowned but then remembered what Jellal said earlier.  Gajeel couldn't come to get me because he had an impediment. I sighed, I was so excited to see him here. I shook my head to chase unnecessary thoughts. If Gajeel couldn't be here then it was really important. That doesn't mean he'll get away with this so easily, I'm gonna piss him off with this once he's back.

I then opened the curtains and the balcony door to let the morning sun light enter. Perfect. I stepped out on the balcony with my fireflies bottle in my hands and took a look at outside. It was nothing new, a town with small buildings and shops but not a lot. It wasn't crowded, it's calm and peaceful. Just like I like it. I saw a long river running in the middle of the town a took a mental note visit it.

I then hanged the fireflies bottle near the hanging flower pots on the balcony and went inside.  I entered the a room which I assumed mine because it looked unused. The other two are filled with things. One's Gajeel and the other seem more like a common room.

I looked at the untouched room which only had a bed, a dresser, a table with its chair and a small sofa with its stool. It looked like a hotel room to me, I added my room decoration in my mental notes. Though the fact that with my stuffs, it won't be so empty. That's when I looked around me. Where is Jellal ? It's been almost fifteen minutes I'm here and he won't take that much to bring my luggage here. through the lift for God's sake. Maybe he completely forgot? I went to the living room to see but no he's here. Where the hell is he ?

I need a bath and coffee to clear my head, I thought as I went in the bathroom taking a new towel in visitor's room, thank god, Gajeel thought about leaving a towel for visitors. I can take one of Gajeel's t-shirts until Jellal comes back with my things.

I closed my eyes as I felt the water on my skin, I sighed in content and made my self comfortable. Water always makes me feel at ease. I feel free, pur and natural in the contact of the water on my skin. I always have loved it since childhood. That maybe a reason why I like swimming and fortunately I'm good at it.

After a long hot bath, I wrapped the towel around my body and got out of the bathroom to find a t-shirt in my brother's room. That's when I regretted to not bringing it before, at the time I so wanted a bath and now the room is in the opposite side. I have to cross the hall to get there. I sighed and prayed Jellal shouldn't be here before entering the living room.

I was mid way in the hall when I felt the fresh air on my skin, with the rays of the sun light. I smiled in delight as I felt shivers on my body. I then frowned, before going in the bathroom I closed the window so how...

I turned to see a strong silhouette leaning against the edge of the balcony. I could see his biceps,his toned muscles and his sculpted abs forming a perfect V shape through his white t-shirt. He had a chiseled jawline and then all I saw is a back of the black mess of hair.

Shit. Was I really ogling on Gajeel? Beurk! I mentally slapped my myself and shook my head. I then remembered that Gajeel is just in front of me, I haven't see him for two years and now he's here. I squealed in my mind and approached him slowly and silently.

I stopped behind him before slapping his butt playfully. He jumped in surprise startled and I laughed out loud.

- " OMG! Your—Your reaction!" I laughed harder.

- " Why...are you so sur—surprised Metalhead ? Who...else will slap your... butt if it's not me ? Hmm... maybe you expected it to be your girlfriend..." I choked my own words as I was laughing throwing my head back. I had tears on my eyes and and my stomach was paining. So I stopped laughing with so much difficulty and narrowed my eyes at my brother's face as he was now turned to face me with his arms crossed against his chest.

Oh no. My expression turned into horror in a second, if I before was red from laughing now it's redder from embarrassment. I opened my eyes and mouth wide and blinked. And then shouted in shock.

- " Who—who—-ar—are you?! " I stuttered blushing and trying to pull the curtain to me as I suddenly become aware of my lack of clothing. I just had a thin white towel on my body for God's sake!

- " Who are you ? And what the hell are you doing in my house ? " I raised my voice as the stranger kept staring at me. Damn it. He's hot. He's such a handsome face—-Shut it Juvia! He's a fucking stranger! And you were drooling over him a minute ago and slapped his sexy butt.——Shut the fucking mouth of yours conscience! I was only saying the truth...——Shut it.

- " Excuse me, who are you ? " he raised an eyebrow.

- " I'm—-Wait, I don't even know you why should I tell details about me and for God's sake, you're in my house! Get out of here! " I retorted.

- " Geez...So you can slap a stranger's butt but can't say your name..." he smirked. It caught me off guard.

- " I—I—-I confused you with someone else—-" I said heat rushing to my face as the embarrassment took over me. "...Sorry...I swear I was confused that my brother's butt was flat and all but then I saw the black hair and..." mumbled as I bobbed my head down ashamed, my cheeks burning in embarrassment.

- " So you think mine is well shaped..." he murmured with a smirk. I ignored him.

- " However that doesn't explain your presence here." I looked up at him frowning in anger.

- " It's our place so of course I'll be here! What I don't understand is who the hell are you?! " he retorted for the first time raising his voice.

Idiot. How dare he come in my house and raise his voice against me ?

- " How dare——"

- " Raindrop?! " That idiot and me turned to see Gajeel on the door.

- " Metalhead! " We exclaimed in unison and started at each other shocked then back at Gajeel.

- " Shit. I missed you troublemaker! " my brother exclaimed as he walked to my spot rapidly.

- " Fuck you! " I hissed at him. The stranger idiot laughed as Gajeel stopped a feet away from me and blinked, once he processed what I said, he gave me a death glare. But a second later his glare was directed to the stranger idiot as he was laughing.

- " What the hell are you doing here stripper!" It was my turn to laugh at the nickname and as if to prove Gajeel's says that idiot hadn't have his t-shirt.

I found my eyes wondering on his amazing torso and looking his cross chain curiously before getting back to my sense. The stripper idiot was now glaring at my brother and me. I bite my lip to bit laugh and I felt my cheeks puffed as I was controlling my laugher.

- " Who the hell is she?! " he asked irritated.

- " She's—" Gajeel started But I cut him off.

- " Oh! Mister, calm you ass down! Don't talk to me like this! "

- " Oh! Madam, Cut it off Ok?!" He retorted. I was about to reply when I looked at a dumbfounded Gajeel between us and then at him to see that he was doing the same as me.

I stared at Gajeel again then at him and couldn't control myself. I burst out laughing, along with him. Each time we tried to stop, just a look at each other's face is enough to double our laugher over.

After few minutes, I was leaning against the wall to support my weight and holding my stomach in pain. He was sitting in front me on the floor, now with his t-shirt on, seeming to be in the same state as me.

- " Man...I don't remember laughing this much in my life! " he exclaimed. I chuckled and nodded giving him a thumbs up as I was so tired to talk.

- " Ok. You know what I'm not even gonna ask why the hell are you two puffing like dauphins!" Gajeel said from the living room, I didn't saw him going there between my laughers.

- " That's a great idea Gajeel! " I approved wiping my tears.

- " Whatever. Raindrop this is Stripper prick, Stripper this is Raindrop" He gestured a hand between us lazily from the sofa.

- " What a great way of introducing people..." I said sarcastic. The other guy sneered and stood in front of me.

- " I'm Gray. Gray Fullbuster." He gave a hand with a handsome grin. My lips curved in a slow smile as I took his hand.

- " Juvia Lockser, pleased to meet you." I shook his hand giving him a sincere smile.

- " That's not what it seemed to be half an hour ago but guess, pleased to meet you too." He half-grinned. I chuckled.

- " So you're Gajeel's friend huh? "

- " Yeah...and you're flat butt's sister right?" He teased.

- " It'll hurt his ego if hear this..." I said in a small voice chuckling. He sneered.

- " Bless you. You're alive for all those years being Metalhead's sister." He mocked.

-" What did you say Ice prick ?!" Gajeel shouted from the kitchen.

- " Gajeel?" I called him sweetly.

- " Yeah?"

- " I need a coffee! Please!" I cried. I can imagine him rolling his eyes and sighing from here.

- " it's actually not that bad." I said to Gray. He chuckled before murmuring :

- " A free advice : next time don't slap any guy's butt." I blushed bright red and remembered I had only a only towel to protect my dignity.

- "Cover your eyes! Don't peek! " I warned him before moving myself from behind the curtain and sprinting to my room. I heard him laugh even after I closed the door. I leaned my back against it and I tapped my forehead in shame, with a small smile on my lips.