#tried to make him look angry but conflicted? Been staring at this so long idk anymore

[velichorus-k]

Betrayed

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

It’s beneficial for others, but usually ends up hurting you

A/N: this was an old blurb originally posted back in the summer of 2022. kinda forgot I never reuploaded it... I remember writing this in a frenzy after being in a fight an ex friend. or well, idk if you would call it a fight when it was just them shamelessly and blindly not comprehending why their words and opinions hurt me........ ANYWAYS! good thing that person isn't a part of my life anymore. that relationship really was a great reminder of the important lesson that not everyone deserves your kindness or to be your friend.

warnings: Spencer Reid x reader, hurt/comfort, hyper empathy, meltdown, the aftermath of dealing with some stupid people

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“Hey,” you heard, causing you to peek open your eyes and see Spencer hovering over you. 

Letting out a small hum in response, you attempted to offer him a small smile. Kneeling down next to your vertical position on the couch, he gently rested his chin on your arm.

“How long have you been laying here?”

“I don’t know,” you whispered, staring firmly at the corner of the ceiling. 

You felt one of his fingers hook around your cold ones, “did something happen?”

“No,” you automatically replied, then tried again, “or well, maybe? I don’t know… I’m fine, really, it was nothing.”

“I think your body disagrees with you there… you’re shaking.”

“Yeah, I know, and my pulse is all funky and my circulation is weird,” lifting up your left hand to check, “see, it looks like I have blue nail polish on. I’m okay, my head is fine, my body’s just not on the same page about how I should react, that’s all, I’m just waiting it out.”

“Are you sure that your body is the one that’s not reacting logically?”

“Yeah.”

“What happened?”

“It was nothing, just had a conversation with someone who has polar opposite views on some things, and they sometimes hurt me… not intentionally, of course, and I don’t try to make them change their mind, we’re all different and that’s beautiful, but I just tried to make them understand that what they said hurt me and they just couldn’t see it. And I think because I understand them, and where they were coming from, I don’t feel like I can be mad at them. They’re my friend, just because they have opinions that hurt me doesn’t mean I can make them out to be the bad guy.”

“So, you make yourself the bad guy just to what, potentially save a friendship? Avoid conflict?”

Squeezing your eyes shut, you sighed, “urgh, hyper empathy sucks. I wish I could just be mad and that’s it, but no, I have to understand, empathise, and then I feel bad for them and feel like I can’t just be angry with them. It complicates everything,” zoning out for a moment, you revealed, “you know, a lot of bad things have happened to me in my life, a lot of bad people have hurt me, but my first instinct is never to be angry, it takes me years to just be plain mad at them. I have to fight tooth and nail to discard the compassion and simply be angry.”

“Being hyper empathetic is like a superpower. It’s beneficial for others, but usually ends up hurting you yourself instead,” he grabbed a hold of your hand, trying his best to transfer you some of his warmth, “and you just take it because that’s what you’re used to.”

Peeking over at him, you took a deep breath and let his words sink in.

© 2022 thyme-in-a-bubble 

[airenyah]

was akk really protecting kan?

ok so i was rewatching ep 2 of the eclipse earlier and you know that whole scene where they argue with the teacher and where kan then gets into a fight with akk about taking the teacher's side? idk but something about akk's behaviour/reaction during that fight with kan struck me as weird

from what we've seen from him he's not the kind of person to shy away from conflict. he has no problems getting into arguments and protecting the things he stands for (see the school rules for example)

but when kan is yelling at him he's just so quiet? he doesn't say a word and that's very odd for someone who's never shutting up (pretty much the only person so far we've seen able to make him shut up is ayan when he's flirting with akk lol)

kan yells "What the heck did you do? Why did you take the teacher’s side instead of Wat’s? Do you want the best student title?"

and akk just. doesn't respond?? at all?? he just stares at kan, looking almost a little... sad, i suppose??

it's wat who tries to calm kan down, standing up against kan for akk who's just not defending himself at all.

then akk says "I’m sorry. I just didn’t want things to go too far." and again, he's not really specifying anything, he's not going into any details, still not really defending himself against kan's anger.

it's wat who then comes up with a reason as to why akk has sided with the teacher while akk just stands there. all he has to do is to nod when kan asks if what wat said is true. and even then he can't even look kan in the eye when kan asks whether it's true. like, wat is explaining things to kan, then kan looks at akk and akk looks down, avoiding kan's eyes. then kan asks "is that true?" and akk nods, still with his face down before he finally looks back at kan. and that just seems kinda weird for someone who's usually very determined and confident when fighting for the things he thinks are right. and it just makes me wonder... is akk hiding something?

why couldn't akk defend himself? why did wat need to speak for akk? if what wat said was true, then why didn't akk say so himself? (this is so odd that even kan wonders about that: "Why didn’t tell me earlier?")

i was wondering about all this and what i'm thinking now is that maybe akk wasn't protecting wat, but rather ayan? in that case it would make sense why he'd keep quiet when kan yells at him. bc how can he admit to his friends that he's protecting the one person he's been fighting against this whole time when he can barely even admit to himself that he's started to care about said person?

plus, akk was already trying to protect ayan earlier in the classroom. there's a moment after ayan has stood up and started arguing with the teacher where akk tells ayan to stop it and tries to pull him back down onto the seat. but ayan isn't listening and argues with the teacher even more until she's pissed. in that moment the argument is very much between ayan and the teacher while wat has nearly been forgotten and it's only when the teacher is furious at ayan, yelling at ayan that akk gets involved.

and then also later in the fight with kan the drama also makes a point of showing us akk's reaction when wat says that ayan was pretty cool. what's the point of suddenly mentioning ayan specifically in that scene and when ayan wasn't even involved in it at all? bc the fight with kan is about kan and akk and wat and their friendship. kan was angry bc he felt like akk was betraying their friend. ayan has no part in it at all. so what's the purpose of name-dropping ayan when the scene wasn't even about him? or was it?

(oh and another thing... as i've said in the beginning, the only person who was able to make akk shut up so far was ayan. funny how akk was shutting up in this scene lol)

so yeah long story short, i'm wondering if wat has got it right that akk took indeed the teacher's side to protect someone someone, but that in reality that someone wasn't wat but rather ayan

[hpimaginesandblurbs]

Can you write a smut with Tom riddle where the reader and him are dating, and he’s obviously used to being in charge but one night something happens (you can decide that part) and suddenly the reader wants to be in charge but Tom doesn’t want that so she ties him up and teases her till he’s begging her to let him cum or something like the idk.

I absolutely love ur writing, it’s absolutely incredible I could never write anything as good as you!😊

pairing: tom riddle x reader

warning(s): 18+, dom/sub roles (ish), begging, magical ties, oral (make receiving), mentions of oral (female receiving) 

word count: 2.0k

a/n: and we’re back to our regularly scheduled smut. i have a ton of requests so be patient - i will get to it! thank you all for the love and support so far! 

You and your boyfriend, Tom, were strolling through the halls of Hogwarts on your Prefect rounds, enjoying the complete silence of the massive castle. It was rare the halls were this quiet, but late at night tended to be the perfect time to stumble upon echoing walls and corridors where you could hear a pin drop. 

Suddenly, Tom stopped in his tracks and stuck out a hand to stop you as well. “Do you hear that?” He asked in a hush whispering, pointing somewhere off to the left of where both of you stood. 

Following his direction, you turned your head to the left and saw that it was a typically abandoned corridor but you did hear the faint rustle of clothing and distant female giggling. You rolled your eyes and began walking in that direction, already knowing you’d have to break up two young people just wanting to have a bit of fun. It wasn’t that you wanted to spoil their good time, but it was an unspoken rule that if a Prefect caught you, they had no other choice unless they themselves wanted to end up in trouble. 

As you approached, wands drawn in order to cast a lumos charm, Tom put his body in front of you, taking charge. 

“I can handle it,” you whispered, a pout brought to your face. 

He didn’t even stop his movement, just kept walking even as he shot you a smirk. You rolled your eyes in frustration. He did this every time. You were perfectly capable of breaking up two horny teenagers and sending them off to bed, but he always had to be the one in charge. You were growing quite sick of it.

He got there before you and handled the situation with a dominant grace that only he seemed to possess, and he sent the two fifth years scattering on the way back to their respective common rooms. Without even another look in your boyfriends direction, you went stalking the other way and were determinately headed back to the Slytherin common room. 

“Get back here,” he said with a warning in his voice, following you nonetheless. 

“No. I’m going to bed,” you said rather loudly, not faltering in your steps. 

“Oh for the love of Merlin, what’s wrong?” He asked, his long legs giving him the ability to catch up with you. 

“You,” was your bitter reply. 

“Me? What have I done?” He asked incredulously. 

“Yes, you, Tom,” you said, finally halting in your steps and swinging around to face him. “You always have to be the one in charge. I could have easily handled that, like I said, but no. You just had to go and- and-,” you explained, waving your hands animatedly, but you trailed off once you realized this entire conversation was pointless. He wasn’t just going to change his incessant behavior no matter what you said. Besides, the smirk on his face as he looked down at you just proved it was a losing battle. 

“Darling, I hate to burst your bubble but you’ll never be in charge while I’m around. You don’t have to be,” he explained, attempting to be gentle through his cocky demeanor but his words only sent you into another flurry. 

“You want a bet? That I can’t be in charge?” You asked heatedly, your mind already slipping straight into the gutter. 

He paused for a moment, then finally sighed and raised an eyebrow. “Fine,” he agreed, “but you only get one chance so don’t mess it up for yourself.” 

~~~

The moment the two of you entered Tom’s private room, your lips were on each other and you took the initiative to slowly back him up into the bed until he had no choice but to sit with you standing before him. His grip on your waist was tight, but you had other plans for his hands anyways. 

The entire walk down to the dungeons, you had been plotting. You needed to prove to him that you could be in charge. Sure, it was nice that you had a boyfriend willing to take charge in all situations and you never had to worry about a thing, but you still felt the incessant need to prove yourself. 

“Take your clothes off and lie on the bed,” you told him when you pulled away from the kiss, attempting to emulate the demeanor he always gave off in situations like this. 

You heard him chuckle to himself, still under the impression that you couldn’t pull this off, but he did as you asked anyways. Finally, he was laying naked on the bed, completely relaxed against the pillows and looking at you expectantly. 

“Do you worst, Y/N,” he jested, his hand moving to trail down to his half erect cock but you stopped him in his tracks. 

“Did I say you could do that?” You asked, holding his wrist in your grip. His eyes darted up to yours and he looked shocked for a moment, but that look in his eyes went away in a flash as the signature smirk came back. 

He put his hand back down on the duvet and you climbed into the bed with him, straddling his legs. When he had been busy undressing, you undressed yourself down to your bra and panties. Little did he know what you had hidden underneath was a matching set. 

“Keep your hands right there. You’re gonna be a good boy for me tonight, right?” You cooed, trailing kisses from his neck down to his abdomen as you spoke. 

“The best,” he shot back with a sarcastic wink and it only made you chuckle to yourself because he truly had no idea what was coming. 

You continued your trail of kisses until you were firmly planted between his legs and your mouth was inches away from his cock. He was fully erect now and could feel your breath against his, making his cock twitch with anticipation. 

“Beg,” you demanded, refusing to touch him until he did at least the bare minimum, only placing kisses on his pelvis and thighs. 

“Please, Y/N. I’d love to cum down your throat right now,” he said lowly, but you could tell the begging was noncommittal. That would change. 

You easily complied, wanting him to think he had the upper hand, and immediately brought him into your mouth. You loved sucking his cock. He was warm and heavy on your tongue, and the noises he made always made you dripping wet. He wasn’t disappointing tonight. 

He released a low groan the second he felt his tip hit the back of your throat and he bucked his hips up, but you pushed the back down with force. You continued your ministrations, just waiting for him to lose himself. When you took him all the way down your throat, he lost it. 

His hands tangled in your hair as he tried to hold you down on him, cutting off your air supply, but you were prepared for this. He loved face fucking you and you knew if you had his mouth on his he just wouldn’t be able to resist. You reached for your wand that was strategically placed beside his leg on the bed and cast a silent spell. Immediately, his hands were removed from your hair and magically tied to the bed frame, locked into place. 

“What the fuck, Y/N?” He asked, seething. 

When you pulled off of his, you could see it in his eyes how angry he was. He didn’t think you had this in you. But how could he be so naive when you had learned from him? The best? 

“Where did I tell you to keep your hands?” You asked him, using one hand to lightly stroke his cock as you spoke. 

“The bed. Fuck. Let me out,” he demanded, struggling against his confines. 

“I don’t think I will,” you answered, suppressing a laugh. “After all, I am in charge.” 

You didn’t even give him a chance to reply, taking him in your mouth again and keeping your hands on his hips to hold them down. He didn’t have much leverage from this angle, so you knew it would be no problem. 

You dragged moan after moan from him, bringing him right to the edge and back down quite a few times until he was a sweating, writhing mess below you. You knew he was frustrated beyond belief, he had done this to you too many times to count. How did he like the taste of his own medicine? 

You weren’t even sure how long it had been going on for, but your jaw was beginning to ache and you were praying to Circe he cracked soon. That non committed begging from earlier was about to be real genuine soon if you had anything to say about it. 

You pulled off of him once more and your eyes snapped to his face. His hair was stuck to his forehead and neck, his chest was rapidly expanding and contracting, trying his best to get his breathing back under control, and there was a fury in his eyes so unmatched that you knew you’d be paying for this later. 

“Tell me what you want, Tom. Beg for it. Be a good boy for me, yeah?” You instructed, your hands massaging small circles into his tense thighs, willing him to relax into it. 

You could see the conflict in his face. He didn’t want to concede to you, wanting to prove his own point that you couldn’t, or shouldn’t have to be, in charge around him. But you knew how badly he wanted to cum. He cock was flushed such a dark shade of red that you were sure it had to hurt by now. He was aching for it, aching for you to get him there and let him cum in your mouth. 

“Fucking hell. Please, Y/N, let me fucking cum. Please,” he said breathlessly, his whole body limp against the bed as he stared up at you imploringly. 

A rush of power shot through, knowing you deny him so easily in the moment - leave him tied up and begging and wanting and aching. If you kept this up for much longer you know you’d end up on some sort of power trip. You knew he was letting you have this, letting you have his submission, but it still felt so damn good. 

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” You asked with a gleeful grin before immediately getting back to work, your sights set on getting him the release he had begged for. 

“Fuck. Please don’t be cruel. Let me cum Y/N,” he continued to babble when he felt the warmth of your mouth again, his mind lost to the pleasure his body was feeling. 

That only made you work harder, wanting to show him a shred of mercy for the night he had endured. After all, he was a good boy for you throughout most of it. 

His entire body tenses again right before he exploded into your mouth was a loud groan. His body trembled as warm ropes of cum shot down your throat and onto your tonugue. You suckled greedily from the head, getting every last drop out, until he was squirming against the sheets. When you finally came up, he was still breathing heavily and his head was thrown back against the pillows. 

You crawled up the bed to lay beside him, looking over his body in appreciation. He was glistening from sweat and completely still now other than his breathing. 

“Are you going to let me out now?” He asked bitterly, attempting to move his hands from the ties as he looked over at you. 

“Oh c’mon. You know that was fun. And besides, I think I’d like to sit on your face next,” you said with a giggle, watching his face fall into another shocked expression. You would forever remember this night as a lesson well taught.

[cardansriddle]

Eric Coulter- Impatient

Summary: You and Eric have something going on between you that is left unlabeled, all because of his commitment issues. This leads to some arguments and an angry make out session. Idk the story is better than the summary.

A/N: I don’t know if people still are into Divergent, so if you are, here’s an Eric one shot for you because he is underrated and let’s admit, so much hotter than Four. 

Warnings: Making out? angst, choking.

Somehow Jay had managed to drag me into a bar full of sweaty dancing bodies, convinced me to wear a short black dress that hugged my body just at the right places and apparently planned on me getting batshit drunk, considering the amount of shots he was ordering. "Can we get twelve tequila shots?" He asked the bartender cheekily, who nodded and started preparing our drinks.

"Jay, I'm gonna be on the floor after those shots," I groaned. I had no shame in hiding the fact that I was a lightweight, everyone has seen it. I quickly scanned the room with my eyes in hopes of seeing a certain leader and once I could not locate him, I turned around and watched as the bartender put our drinks in front of us on the table. Without waiting for Jay, I licked the salt of the brim of the glass before downing the shot and biting into the lemon.

"Then darling, you better hope it's clean." He smirked without a care in the world.

I groaned and I could already feel the buzz of alcohol hitting my head.

"Hey, you're Bella right?" Someone tapped on my right shoulder. I twisted my body so I was facing the unfamiliar face. I nodded in order to confirm his question and he smiled before holding out his hand.

"I'm Zack." He introduced himself and I shook his hand politely. He then leaned in really close, invading my personal space as he whispered with a low voice. "I have seen you fight. Really impressive moves you've got there."

With furrowed eyebrows, I muttered out a 'thanks' watching as he chuckled before he leaned in once again as if I missed his point. "Maybe you'll show me more of those moves?"

Before I could reply and decline his obvious offer, I felt a presence at my back. "Leave." A familiar deep voice commanded from behind me, and I resisted the urge to smile widely at the sound of it. Despite not admitting it, I've been craving to see Eric again, he was a wicked potion that seeped into every pore and cell of my being, something so potent that even the tiniest drop left me aching for him.

Zayn or Zack, I forgot what his name was fumbled around before he left hurriedly, not in the mood to face the wrath of Eric Coulter. No one was that brave. I waited till he came to stand in front of me, eyes holding fury as he looked down at me.

"Hi, Eric." I greeted him nonchalantly, putting on a smile that I was sure looked more like a grimace.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked, body tense as he stepped closer to me.

"Well, I'm not an initiate anymore, I can go to clubs," I replied with a shrug, watching as his anger grew. His fists clenched as he put one of his hands on the bar and the other on the back of the stool I was sitting in, trapping me there.

"No. You can't. Have you seen how all the men are looking at you in that little black dress?" Eric growled, his breath fanning my face as he spoke. His face was way too close to mine, yet I did not mind. Instead, I craved it, I needed the space between us to simply disappear.

However, I was a stubborn woman, so instead, I put my hands on his chest and roughly pushed him away, and stood up. His eyes travelled over me unashamedly, from head to toe before they settled on my eyes again.

"Fuck's sake, Eric!" I exclaimed. "Can't go to a club, can't wear a dress, can't do this, can't do that. Are you my dad?!"

"Keep this act up and I'll fucking spank you like I am."

My whole body stilled as I felt a familiar throb in my lower abdomen at his words. His chest was suddenly too close to mine, and my breasts grazed his chest with every heavy inhale that I took.

"Fuck you, you're a fucking asshole." I spit out.

"Watch your tongue, Bella." He hissed, leaning towards me as if to intimidate me.

"I'm sorry am I spitting venom again? Hopefully, it doesn't stain that pretty blonde hair of yours." I said before stomping away and out of the club. My partying mood was ruined, and despite the tequila shots that I took, I felt myself sobering up after my interaction with Eric. He made my blood boil, yet my heart still yearned for him.

I might not have tried any drugs, but there was no doubt in my mind that Eric was the closest I've ever come to an addictive substance.

I've gotten whiplash from his hot and cold behaviour. There were times I would not see or hear from him for days, then the next minute he was turning up at wherever I was, acting like I was his property.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm and spun me around. The unexpected action took me off guard, causing me to slam against a hard chest that I already knew belonged to Eric. We stood in a deserted corridor, panting as our eyes locked.

"Don't you dare ever walk away from me." He hissed. He clenched his jaw, and I knew he was furious.

"Then stop treating me like I don't fucking exist! I don't know whatever issues you have, but if you want me, then you better overcome them or at least let me help you! But do not treat me as if you own me when you do not even look at me half of the time! I am not your property, Coulter." I growled, feeling my anger rise as seconds passed. My words must've triggered something in him, as he slammed me against the nearest wall while his hand grabbed my throat, choking me.

He had me pinned against the wall, his eyes were dark with rage as he focused on strangling me. I knew my expression was deadly, I was looking right into his eyes and I was not scared at all. He was holding my neck so tight that I could already feel bruises forming there, yet I did not let my numb expression falter for a second, despite the pain. Any other person would be struggling to fight him off by now, or at least try to.

Instead, I decided to surprise him by sliding up my hands up his arm, until they rested on top of his hands around my neck. I smiled before whispering my next word.

"Harder."

I knew I caught him off guard since I felt his hands loosen around my neck as his eyes widened, so I used his moment of distraction to my advantage, quickly sliding my leg around the back of his knee before bringing him down on the ground, straddling him and pinning his hands down. I knew if he wanted, he could easily overpower me and get free of my hold. He was no doubt stronger than me, yet there was something very intimate about our position. It was as if he was submitting to me by staying underneath me, his hands pinned above his head as he looked at me with a look I could not decipher.

He then closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. "You're mine."

"Not if you are not mine," I replied, watching the conflict in his eyes as he continued staring at me with that same goddamn look. "it can't be one-sided. If I am yours then you are mine."

"You're a weakness. My weakness." His eyes flickered to my lips before meeting my gaze. "And I can't have any weak spots."

"Then you have to let me go." My heart clenched painfully at the notion of never being with him. He inhaled deeply at my words but shook his head.

"Shut the fuck up." He said and it seemed as if something clicked in his brain, his eyes cleared as he freed his hands from my hold before bringing them to my face. his lips crushed against mine, cool and dripping with bitterness-- a flavour I had missed. It was just as I remembered it, still raw and passionate and full of greed. I kissed him back immediately, my body treating him like a drug that I have been craving yet could never get enough of. His hand gripped my thigh harshly, our lips moulding together as we got lost in each other.

I finally mustered up enough strength to pull away from the kiss, ignoring the way my body begged for me to kiss him again. "Make up your damn mind Eric. I'm getting impatient." I told him with heavy breaths, pulling away from him completely and standing up. I looked at him one last time, knowing my eyes held pain and agony at being separated from him after reuniting with him, and I walked away, hoping he would stand up and chase after me, tell me that he was mine as long as I was his, yet he did not, and I did not even bother wiping the tears that streamed down my face as I walked away from him, my heart hurting with every step that I took.

[wesimpforxiao]

Say My Name and I’ll Be There:  5.1

Author’s Note:  How’s everyone liking the story so far?  Kinda getting into my head about how stiff the writing is.  Maybe it just feels stiff to me, idk.  Anyways, here’s an early chapter!

"So, why are your eyes different colors?"  Childe caught you alone while you gathered firewood a few yards away from the camp.  The sun had long set, leaving you to rely on a lantern and the dim light of the distant fire.  He was limping from your sparring session earlier.

You had beat him.

And man, did it feel good.

"We crossed paths with a merchant that was traveling from Fontaine.  He said they're 'contacts.'  Basically little objects a person can put across their pupils and change their color," you repeated the rehearsed words a little too perfectly for Childe to believe.

"Oh?  I've never heard of that invention before," he tested.

"I guess it's new?  Like the kamera devices they recently developed? Aether has one of those."  You watched as he kept his hands idle at his sides.

"Interesting.  And Aether was the one who told you to say this to me?"  He blocked your path to the fire by placing a hand against the tree that stood behind you.  What a terrible liar you make, ojou-chan.  His friendly smile never left his lips, but it never reached his eyes.  They were cold and demeaning as they examined yours.

"I-I," you stumbled over your words.  "Why are you acting so weird, Childe?" You tried to laugh him off and attempted to duck under his arm.  What to say, what to say! Oh, maybe this'll work?  "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're acting like a schoolboy crushing on one of his friends."

It might have been a wrong move.

He pinned your shoulders to the tree and made sure no one had their eyes on the two of you.  "On the contrary, you began acting strangely the minute I found you today."  Something in his gaze faltered as he replayed your words in his head. Perhaps I am acting like a schoolboy. But I can't help it if I'm infatuated with my target.  His eyes fell to the shimmering necklace resting against your collarbone, and he gently touched it.  "This is new."

"Don't touch that," you slapped his hand away.

"I don't recall you wearing such a genuine cor lapis charm before.  Where'd you get this from?"

"It was my Granny's."

Childe scrunched his nose at the answer, a brief look of internal conflict passing over his face like a cloud.  'Was?' The woman passed? I made sure she wouldn't get hurt by my men.  So then how did she--  He wanted to ask until the realization struck him.  They went to Quince Village after my leaving.  She saw the Fatui there--

You were too enraged to notice him visually fight himself and approached the campsite with an armful of branches.  You made a point to sit next to Xiao and glared at the Harbinger as he returned.

He maintained eye contact with you, even after sitting across the fire from you and the yaksha.  Your pupils seemed to glow from his perspective.  The fire licked the air in between you until all he could make out was the anger in your eyes.  She knows.  He mentally kicked himself, but only partially because of the possible complications this could pose for Signora and her grand plan.  If you were this angry, there was a chance you had told the yaksha.  And if the yaksha saw the Fatui, or at least heard of what you thought happened, then there's a chance he told Mr. Zhongli.  While he could not break the contract with the Tsaritsa, he'd find a way around the stated rules.  He made a fool of Childe once; he could do it again.

Childe didn't care in the slightest about fighting the entire group--though he was a bit afraid of facing the yaksha despite his urge to fight every living thing on Teyvat.  The only thing that mattered to him was you.  And if you were angry enough to fight, vision or not, he'd have to take you by force.  You may hold a special place in his heart, but his feelings for you meant nothing compared to his loyalty for the Tsaritsa.

One chance, the harbinger strengthened his resolve. I'll give her one chance to prove herself.  If she fails, I won't hesitate to take that which will secure Snezhnaya's future.

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

Several days passed by without incident--

--Is what I'd like to say, but unfortunately, that didn't hold true for you.

Childe and his unrelenting pleas for battles continued to reach your ears day in and day out.  He was the one that was attached to your hip, not Xiao.  You had only realized today that Childe was around you more often than the yaksha ever since he greeted you with a jumpscare at Luhua Pool.  To make matters worse, Xiao neglected to make a move towards him.

She can handle herself, he thought after witnessing the stunts you pulled on Childe.  Xiao recognized that the movements you were using as his own; perhaps there was an upside to you unconsciously peeking in on his memories.  He put himself on standby when he came to the realization.  But make no mistake, he would and will protect you if things got out of hand with the harbinger.  He just figured he'd take a step back and quietly observe his weak points, just like the old days.  The days in which Childe did not pose a serious threat to the group; when all that was between you and the harbinger was harmless bickering.

It would seem like those old days were still fresh to an outsider, but as the days passed by, you were growing increasingly frustrated with Childe's behavior.  After all, how could he continue to play the part of an oblivious comrade, when it was clear as day that the tensions within the group were growing?  How could he even call you a comrade with a straight face? How was it that he felt no remorse for his actions toward Granny when he looked you in the eye?

How was it that he could be so carefree?

Maybe part of you envied him for it.  Your inner grumblings did you no favor in the present moment though; the team had stepped into the western side of Dragonspine.  Your four coats made almost no difference against the sheer cold, and your body shivered uncontrollably even though warmer weather was only a hundred yards behind you.

Everyone except Xiao and Aether wore warm clothes, and it looked like the poor outlander regretted his decision to forego the garments.  Xiao appeared to be unbothered and more energetic than usual.  Childe looked like he was right at home with the weather, his shirt still sloppily unbuttoned to reveal his toned body underneath.  Bennet walked alongside you and was replacing Zhongli for the time being.

Snowflakes lazily floated their way down to earth, but they did nothing to grab your attention when the wind continued to howl against the team's direction.  You caught Xiao letting snow collect in his hand with an almost childlike wonder, but he glared at you when he found you staring.

"I want to find some dragon teeth for a sword and since you haven't been here before I thought it'd be a good idea to show you around," Aether called out to you over his shoulder, his arms crossing over his bare stomach for an ounce of warmth.

"You're insane!"

Aether's laugh mixed with the clattering of his teeth.  "You only live once, right?"  You removed two of your coats and threw them over his head.  "T-t-thanks."

You rolled your eyes despite the fact that you were smiling at him, only for your gaze to lock with Xiao's look of disapproval.  'Mortals are fragile,' you interpreted his frown and giggled.  

"Here we go!" Bennet lit the firepit with his flaming sword and knelt down in front of it.  Everyone joined him;  Aether was especially close to the flames.

"It's kind of annoying to find fire every five minutes," you shivered violently.  "And you practically go up here for fun?"  

"It gets easier the more we do it," Paimon giggled with a nervous smile.  "Besides, we get to mine starsilver and find cool dragon stuff that we can sell--"

"Don't lump me in with you," Aether piped up without moving away from the fire.

The distant sound of a conversation was carried over by a bone-chilling breeze.  "Huh?  Should we go check it out?"  Paimon stared in the direction the vague voices were coming from.

"U-uh-huh," nodded Aether.

The group stumbled over a hill only to find the body cavity of Durin.  While it threw you off, the sight around the remains was what chilled you to the bone.  Of course there's Fatui here, you scoffed.

"I see a tooth over there too,"  Aether whined.

"What's everyone looking at me for?"  Childe let out a nervous chuckle and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.  "These aren't my guys."

"We know," Paimon cooed.

"That's why we want you to go talk to them and let us pass," Aether held the smuggest expression you've ever seen him pull off.

"Uh...I'm not under any jurisdiction to--"

"Do it," you ordered with cold eyes.  When he locked eyes with you, you stood on your tip-toes and spoke in his ear.  "Prove your loyalty to the group."

"My loyalty, ojou-chan," his eyes narrowed significantly, "lies with Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa."

"Uh-oh," Paimon poofed out of existence.

"Uh, guys?  Those Fatui agents are approaching us reeeaal fast," Bennett warned.  

The two of you broke eye contact to find that he was right.  One electro and two geo skirmishers were walking towards the group.  Poofing would be a more accurate description.  Childe gave you a final look before he hopped over a log to greet them.

"Greetings!"  He didn't smile, and the skirmishers stopped in their tracks.

"Master Childe?  We didn't realize you'd be joining us on the mountain."  The three of them knelt out of respect.

"It's a surprise visit, really.  I came to check on your progress--"  The group made their way around the Fatui and Aether yanked the large tooth out of the ground while Childe chattered away with his subordinates.

[constellationmelody]

Beauty and the Guard AU

An AU on Beauty and the beast but there’s no beast unless you want to count belos as one but he’s not the focus character Hunter just refuses to take off his mask the whole time.  

Takes place when luz is trying to save Eda from petrification, Luz strikes a deal with Belos, Giving the portal but manages to destroy it. She’s instead taken captive and warned by Belos that if she escapes, He’ll send an army to capture not just Eda but everyone she ever met and befriended. 

- Has to stay in the Castle as to answer Belos’ questions about the human realm and any other information gathering.

- Hunter is assigned as her chaperone but not all the time. Not when he’s on missions. Steve fills in. 

- Luz agrees with Hunter to not ask about his mask. She says that she doesn’t have a desire to get to get to know him and Considering how the majority of citizens are under the monster category, she understands that he doesn’t want anyone to look. Hunter is not sure if he’s relieve that she will keep her promise not to look under his mask or feel insulted that she basically called him ugly. 

(Long post)

- When not 'helping’ Belos information gathering, She puts to work as a cleaning lady, Luz is furious about it. She can’t believe she has to clean more there than she does at home in a dusty castle. The other cleaning witches can do their job well with magic, meanwhile it’s all manual labor. Not to mention she shares quarters with them and they snore.

- Tries to convince Hunter to let her go out even if its around the castle grounds, of course, He says no and shuts down her attempts.

- While doing her cleaning duties, Luz wanders around the castle to look around any valuable information on Belos for any way to help eda/or whatever without the Golden Guard following her. She finds the forbidden library and is amazed by the goldmine of BI’s forbidden knowledge! She only gets to look through some books before she gets caught by Hunter which he angrily yells at her about being in a place where she’s not supposed to be in. Drags her out and locks the library.

- She tries to run away but often gets stopped by Hunter, the threat of going to the dungeon doesn’t scare her (”I escaped there like twice”). He relents and allows her to go on these ‘adventures’ when he’s not in a mission, He finds it to be fun but would not admit it.

- Luz manages to get the freedom to go back to school but is secretly spied on by Hunter, though he sometimes get caught by the monsters or students roaming around. Hunter picks her up after school. (weak sauce, idk what to put here to make it more interesting)

- When he’s not chaperoning her in the outside world, Hunter gets envious how much fun Steve is having with Luz when they go on an adventure. Detailing their bounty adventures, using the snails to shop and buy things. He can’t really do much about it but when he does go, Steve gets sad; Luz promises him that she’ll get him souvenirs.

- Somehow finds out that Hunter is a magicless witch and Luz shows him that she can do magic through glyphs. Hunter is amazed and they start geeking out about it until he stops himself since it’s a forbidden knowledge.

-  Luz had succeed running away from the castle but its to the beach to stare at the boiling waters. She tells Hunter that the castle life was suffocating her and needed to go out. Hunter stayed with her until they were ready to go back. 

- Hunter secretly takes her to the forbidden library to cheer her up so she can learn more and the boiling isles history. Hunter is happy to have someone with the same interests as him to talk to about wild magic. Gets more comfortable around her and talk in secret more about it. During their time together get bond over varies subjects, the library becoming their sanctuary when its not in use, which is most of the time. They share about each other’s realms constellations, history, what kind of magic is around, creatures and about the titan. Luz scolds him for this, referring back when he got angry at her for being curious when he basically did the same thing in secret.

- After some time getting comfortable and know each other through mutual interest and deep talks. Hunter gets bothered that since she doesn’t know his name, She has no choice but to call him by his title. When they are coming back from doing errands, He tells her his name and she’s allowed to call him by it when they are together/in private. His heart fluttered when he hears her say his name.

- Luz starts to grow feelings for him despite not knowing what he looks like. She had opportunities to see what he looks at the times when he’s asleep during their time in the library or when his mask gets knocked off during a temp job but kept her promise to not look at his face which leads to uncomfortable situation where she accidentally gropes him when she was looking for him to give him his mask back, luckily never below the belt. What she finds is his built felt normal. No hidden spikes, slime or what-have-you to suggests that he’s in the monster/demon category. Hunter obviously flustered. 

- (Following the plot of Hunting palisman w/ some changes to the plot cause obviously Eda)  At school Luz can’t find the palisman that suits her and is upset about it. Hunter, although he still hesitant about his feelings towards wild magic, tries to comfort her. (convo from the Hunting palisman) Luz  talks about What happened at the school, and questions Hunter about how he manages to know what he wanted for his future and How he came to the emperor’s coven, to help her get some guidance from him. He tells her about himself and lack of future and Although she isn’t sure about hers, at least she gets to choose. Luz feels sad for him and hugs him. Hunter melts in her embrace. 

- Just as he’s about to fall asleep in her arms, Rascal pops out of his hiding place and gives Hunter a heart attack. Rascal chooses Hunter to be his palisman. Obviously Luz feels a bit disappointed that hunter got his palisman when he doesn’t want it, the look of uncertainty he has with the palisman makes her determine to get him used to it. She can always be a teacher since she has experience with Owlbert.

- With his new staff that he’s still unsure of, Hunter decides to take Luz out somewhere out of the ordinary routine after school, somewhere special (think like events like the wailing stars but something else) but that turned romantic. At some point he slightly lifts his mask to kiss Luz’s hand. She’s obviously swooned. May have peeked and sees that he has loose strand of medium blond hair sticking out and that his Lips felt like normal. Starts to think he looks like more like human(or witch?) like some of her classmates.

- They become even more friendlier as it becomes a usual thing for them to be seen together in the castle when Luz is or isn’t working, even the coven members are noticing this, especially Kikimora. Coven leaders are just shocked that someone liked him enough to be his a friend. 

- Kikimora start planting seeds of doubts in Luz’s mind about whether Hunter really is being her friend or just fulling his duties as he was told by Belos. What if their talks where his manipulative ways to get her to tell him about her and other information gathering. Was he really talking to her as she clean because he’s really saw her as a friend or just keeping guard to make sure she doesn’t run away. Kiki does this to mess whatever good thing Hunter has since she can’t kill him.  Luz tries her best to ignore her, rationalizing that that’s quite an investment for Hunter to go through to manipulate her.

- Somewhere a long the line, Luz finds out the truth about day of unity and the truth of Kikimora’s words of Hunter’s actions that she assumed was just lies that Kiki told her. She’s hurt to think the guy she grown to love had any knowledge about it and betrayed her. “I though you were a good guy [mentions all the stuff they do together and such] I guess You’re not my friend, you’re just the golden guard.” It kills him when she said that.

- alternatively he finds out that she has the key to the partially fixed portal door. Is conflicted on whether to break their bond for belos or not especially after learning that she’s homesick and wants to see her mom again. Fought with Kikimora over it with lead to Luz finding out their fight and gets heartbroken that Hunter has it, assumes the worst that kikimora was right.  Again, “I though you were a good guy I guess I was wrong. You’re not my friend, you’re just the golden guard.” His feels his heart breaks. 

- Luz gets rescued by Eda, Lilith, king, hooty, her friends. Hunter doesn’t try to stop her but apologizes to her for everything and for what it’s worth, he’s happy to got to know her and that he loved her, whether she feels the same or not. Luz obviously shocked but couldn’t give a response because the gang were fleeing.

- Back in the owl house, Luz is a mess because of the mixed feelings she has for hunter. In one hand, she knew him as this cold person who was very dedicated to his job while the other as an intelligent, funny, (other more things) and is confused on which hunter is the one she grown to love. ( Feels devastated about it because she thinks that he faked his feelings for her to get knowledge on the key or whatever although hunter didn’t really know she had it.)

- Lilith is dumfounded that Luz has feelings for him because she known him to be a brat. Luz argues that He is but much more than that. As she explains why, she gets hits with the epiphany that she does indeed had fallen in love with him. Eda laughs, “Not sure If I approve catching feelings for your nanny, I thought you were being tortured or something but I see now what you have been really doing.” wagging her eyebrows. Luz: “They have me clean the castle from top to bottom! By hand!” “I don’t approve then.” Luz shares her knowledge of wild magic with the group that she learn from the castle’s library.

- Weeks later, Luz tries to sleep but hears small knocking on the window, She opens it and sees Rascal with the key with him and a note from Hunter apologizing again for what happened. Belos doesn’t know about the key. She sends a note back, telling him to meet her. 

- idk how they makeup. (Working on it) Luz walks up to Hunter and asks if she could take off his mask which he agrees to. Luz takes his mask off and smiles, “well look at that, Magenta eyes. You aren’t ugly as I thought to you were!” hunter frowns, “But you’re handsome as I imagined,” leans up and kisses him first. Hunter tosses the mask away for good and hugs her close to kiss her better. Luz pulls back,  “and... I love you too.” Hunter isn’t sure what his new future holds but knows for sure that Luz is a part of it. 

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

( Had an idea in an alternative story plot around the part where they went out to a ‘date’. They confessed their love and started to kiss lol imagine them having to use a blindfold to keep her eyes closed. But it was a bit too sensual? Or Sensuous? It just didn’t fit in the flow of the storyline. Why did this became a dabble? )

Hunter, for the first time, gets self conscious about his looks. He tries not look into mirrors, though hard when his mask reflects the face he tries hard to avoid looking at when putting it on, He doesn’t really thought much about his looks, except for the scar that’s plastered over his cheek. The ugly scar that he rather forget he has.

As Hunter looks down at Luz’s face, blindfolded to prevent her from accidently opening her eyes during their ‘make out session’, He’s starting to believe that Luz lied about being magicless. He can’t help but feel enchanted over how beautiful she looked by the way the moonlight cast a heavenly glow over her cute features. He can only imagine how her eyes would look like if she didn’t have the blindfold on. “I wish I can stare into your eyes,”

“Why can’t we?”

“You know why”

“Right, I’m not allowed to look under the mask.” she pouted.

“And... well,” Luz attentively waits for him to continue, “I may not look... pretty as you think I imagine. If that makes any sense.” He sheepishly confessed

As Luz wraps her arms around his shoulders, Hunter feels her hands feeling up up his neck, tenderly cradling his face. Hunter fails to resist the blush spreading across his cheeks and the warm pleasant feeling in his chest

“I have other senses to “see” you,” She says sliding her fingers along his jawline, “Strong jaw, ... No scales, or slime... just soft skin” 

She found one patch on the left of his face in particular that caught her interest but before she could take her time to feel it, Hunter quickly shook her hand away from it. Sensing its something he feels uncomfortable with, she decides to leave it alone. 

She continues, “I can hear your voice; sound hot,” He suddenly felt shy at the comment. He was always self-conscious as he has been told that it was annoying. He felt relieved that it wasn’t the case for her.  “Heh, Thanks”

“I can smell you, " She nuzzles against his neck and scrunches up her nose, “... you need a shower.” Hunter frowns, that was certainly killed the mood a little. She pulls back, “But I like that you smell like pine forest sometimes,” weak save.

 “And,” she hums as grazes her thumb over his lips, licking her own. Hunter subconsciously sucks in his breathe, feeling himself getting hotter by the second.

“I can taste you.” finishing off her sentence by pressing her lips against his; briefly misses his lips by kissing the corner of his mouth before correcting herself. 

Hunter smirks in amusement. 

Alright, He admits that was pretty smooth of her to end it the way she did, even though she fumbled at the end. 

He feels a bit confident on that fateful day where he feels brave enough to show her his face, He just hope it lives up to her expectations despite her reassurance to the contrary. 

Luz, on the other hand, is glad that he’s feels like a normal person underneath the mask, she can’t help but feel a bit disappointed that hunter possess no fangs. 

[rexeipts]

Monday morning rewatch thoughts:

I am in my feels, very angry at this episode.

Annie had little to no story so skipping her this time around.

Ruby & Stan:

- Stanimal trying to get the girls to strike was great, and I want to see him (not Beth) run the strip club so bad. I hope that is the storyline they take us down.

- Ruby and Stan once again are king and queen of communication. These two are such an excellent example of healthy and happy marriage.

- Ruby biting a lime at Stan’s replacement gave me life in the montage

Beth & Dean:

That’s who Beth gets paired with this week. Dean. Not Rio. Because that’s how mad I am at her.

- Dean on the bike ride scene was once again far too long and wasted precious screen time. I forced myself not to fast forward through that scene. And you know what I noticed? Dean literally compares being sexually assaulted in prison to being someone’s wife on a honeymoon and being forced to have a baby put inside you. Because that is how Dean sees his fucking wife and marriage. Literal other convicts sexually assaulting someone in prison is like them thinking you’re their wife on a honey moon. Let that fucking sink in. And no, I don’t think that was intentional characterization by the writers. That is just existing as a metaphor these writers chose to use while trying to continue a Dean redemption arc.

- Dean leaving the hot tub when the other guys were shitting on Beth for being a buzz kill was an attempt at showing “growth”. But it’s not. It’s fucking table stakes. See above mention of non consensual sex being like a wife.

- How Beth does not realize this is another of dean’s idiotic schemes and poor money decisions is beyond me.

- I am relieved only in that Beth looked upset after getting Rio arrested this time. Good. Be upset. You had a choice. I’m so mad at Beth right now. I’m honestly starting to think she deserves Dean.

- Beth, honestly you think Rio would hurt your kids? Then why turn him in? You’re so scared of him then why risk it? Choosing him would have meant protecting your kids if you look at it factually, he threatened your family if you turned him in. Like she’s just dumb at this point? The writers have characterized her as dumb. Did she conveniently forget season 1 when he got out? I mean for real? Do these writers even watch previous seasons?

- Beth being with Dean literally undermines all feminism about the show. I have said that before and will say it again. Dean is a cancer on this show’s fun. Pun intended.

- Beth uses her sweet housewife voice on Nick. Literally everyone but Rio. And she literally flirts with Nick. You’re literally married Beth. Divorce Dean before you flirt with yet another person.

Rio & Nick:

- Baby Rio looked like Rio I thought. Him drawing a boxer was heart breaking. Because he literally wanted that his entire life. The last flashback scene made it seem like he wanted it for money. Nick tells him he doesn’t need boxing because they have a way to get money now, but Rio literally wanted boxing from childhood. And Nick ripped that away from him. Nick gave him no choice. Not because he wanted him to learn a lesson, because he wanted to use him. Rio is Nick’s designated fall guy.

- Rio = good egg, Nick bad, better be fucking FORESHADOWING FOR RIO GETTING SOMETHING NICE FINALLY THIS SEASON. At least the writers told us that pretty openly.

- The champ champ champ now all makes sense

- Who is Rio’s coach and can we please have a cheesy storyline where the coach is the only one to ever be on his side

- What is he having them print for? The girls point it out like why does he need all of that?

- Him telling Beth he does need her? No he doesn’t. That was actually a very sweet line. The way he looked at her, he’s in love with her guys. Like his face said yes I need you because I can’t seem to give you up. He doesn’t need her for money. It’s unfortunate they chose to dirty it up with him threatening her family.

- Rio grows from the ashes. He is the designated fall guy who rises from the ashes to be untouchable. Hence Phoenix I guess. Sure.

- I actually like Nick being in the show. First because I’m mad at Beth. But mostly because he is the only character introducing a new dynamic. He is the only thing that’s not repetitive. The only fresh storyline. And he’s already making her talk about Rio. But also, would it fucking kill either of them to say the man’s damn name? But also I like the actor and think he’s pleasant to look at on screen, sue me.

- Oh look, Nick, another man telling Beth Rio is too dangerous for her when she LITERALLY SHOT HIM. Do you all REALIZE SHE IS NOT A DELICATE FUCKING LAMB.

- I am no longer convinced that Rio had a plan all this time, not after rewatching the car scene. It seems like Rio was ready to kill her, mostly because he doesn’t know another choice, and Nick pointed out the obvious. Unless Rio is playing Nick. But truth be told, Rio threatening her family was ooc. And I’m holding on to the fact that he said family, aka Dean Annie Ruby who he has threatened before, and she took it to mean kids. I’m also holding on to the fact that Rio puts on masks. He puts on cold gang banger mask, he tries to manipulate and find new ways to incentivize beth. If you look at it that way, as him trying to get her to choose him rather than a plot of trying to get her to turn him in, it’s heartbreaking. He is so desperate to get her to pick him he literally pulled out his final option. His only remaining incentive that he hasn’t tried on her. EDIT: UNLESS Rio is playing Nick too. Because now? SS trusts Beth. And Nick trusts Rio. Nick thinks Rio and Beth aren’t on the same side. That Beth turned Rio in and Rio’s murderous over it. And Rio can use Beth to take Nick down without Nick seeing them coming. I hope they’re going for that. Because that would be genius. And would really be Rio 100 steps ahead, and would make the whole episode make sense in terms of his characterization.

- The arrest scene was heart breaking. The complete betrayal in his eyes was so sad. As others have stated, choosing to slam him on a table, while yes it is realistic to how he would likely be treated in the real world, was not necessary. He wasn’t resisting and was literally just standing there. Idk why the writers feel the need to be “realistic” in some moments and not in others. Poor choice. But what I did appreciate was him staring at Beth. Like she was forced to face him this time. With his face shoved against a table while she stands there being cuffed gently. She did that. She didn’t see him arrested on tv. She didn’t run away after shooting him. She had to stand there in his gaze looking at the betrayal on his face. Good. I’m sorry but she deserved it. She needs to face the damn consequences of her actions. Sorry I’m upset with her RN.

- At this point I believe Rio is in love with Beth. And it seems the writers are actually pushing metaphors and moments that make us sympathize with Rio and see Nick as the bad guy. I do think Beth will eventually get there/realize her feelings for Rio later this season but it might be too little too late. Time will tell.

Promo/Thoughts going forward:

- I like Phoebe and don’t mind her being around

- Rio and Beth on a bench again is good news to me. On the same bench.

- Idk if it’s a time jump but Rio comes in with a fresh hair cut, new wardrobe, and a tan looking like he just had a hot girl summer and is feeling great, over his ex, and is ready to fuck shit up.

- I want to see Rio remind Beth that she betrayed him personally. I want her to have to face that. It’s not just she betrayed him professionally. I want to see him reject her, I want to see her flirt or bat her lashes at him and him to be like nope sorry. Just for a minute though like just one episode lol. And only because I think it will make her realize her feelings for him.

- Beth and Rio v Nick please. Just give us something fucking new.

- These writers had an amazing path they could have gone down of the housewife partnering with a gang banger. It would have been fun, plenty of comedic gold available, and plenty of options for conflict between them and with external forces. And instead they chose this. I feel sometimes like this show would have been way better if it wasn’t on NBC. This story, this chemistry, belonged with writers who would realize its potential. That’s what I find disappointing.

[fandom-strumpet]

Hello you amazing human! Me having an unhealthy obsession with Kai Parker (and TV sociopaths in general) I am requesting like a Romeo and Juliet inspired story? It can be like the 1996 version of R and J and make it like modern? Idk I think you are talented and I love you and I want you to adopt me.

Here is a modern version of the 1996 Romeo and Juliet movie in the vampire diaries world. Story takes place in Mystic Falls.

Word Count: 11,032 OMG

The characters I have used/ re-written are:

Kai Parker in place of Romeo Montague from the Gemini Coven, Reader Cadell in place of Juliet Capulet from the Oasis Coven, Kai Parker's friends: Sampson, Gregory, Benvolio, Mercutio and Balthasar, The Cadell boys: Abra, Petruchio, Tybalt, The Father/ Priest, Reader Cadell’s nanny, Parents to Reader, Parents to Kai, Rosaline, The governor’s son aka Dave, Police Captain, news anchors

* * * * * * * * * * * *  Scene: Local gas station* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Kai Parker’s friends pull up to the gas station hooting and hollering. The ill tempered red head name Gregory shouts, 

“Those dogs called Cadells really piss me off! Any dog from that Oasis coven will make me angry enough to take a stand!” 

Sampson exclaims in response to his friend, “This quarrel is between our leaders...”

The red head interrupts “...and us their men! 

“I would be a tyrant, fighting the men and being merciful to the women by cutting off their heads!”

Gregory is mock outraged, “The heads of the women?”

Sampson turns up the car radio and the boys start to dance but stop abruptly at the sight of a black car. 

Sampson says, “Here comes the Oasis coven boys.”

Abra and Petruchio Cadell stare coldly. Sampson gulps nervously as Gregory nudges him mockingly.

“Fight back and take a stand, will ya?”

Sampson tries to hide his panic and responds, “Let them start the fight.”

The gas station door slams closed, BANG. The Parker boys jump at the sound, their attention drawn back to the Cadells who are laughing at the sight of the terrified group. Sampson brazenly flips them off out of embarrassment. Abra’s eyes look back in the mirror to see Sampson’s finger. Abra whips the car around full speed to block the Parker boys from escaping. He jumps out of the car and yanks Sampson out of his car. 

“You dare flip me off? Huh?”

“Yeah I gave the bird.” Sampson sneers.

“You dare to?!” Abra roars, gun drawn.

“You think the police will be on our side if I say yes?” Sampson turns to Gregory.

“Nope.” Gregory grimaces.

Sampson turns back to Abra stuttering, “Well I- I did give the bird. But I didn’t give it to you.”

“You want a fight?” Gregory asked.

“No I don’t want a fight,” Abra fake smiles.

Sampson turns to Gregory, “If you do fight, I will be by your side.”

Abra laughs, “Ha! Only you two? You can’t do better?”

“Uh...”

Just then, Benvolio comes back from the bathroom, and shocked by the scene pulls his gun out.

“Here comes our back up!”

“You fools!” Benvolio shrieks, “You don’t know what you’re doing! Let us keep the peace.”

“I hate peace.” Tybalt spits. He fires his gun at a child on accident, smacking the child’s toy gun to pieces. 

Benvolio panics and accidentally shoots a bullet near Tybalt’s head. Gregory shoots and nicks Abra’s arm when he attempts to move it away from his face with his magic. A gas tank explodes after a magically moved bullet hits it. A news van screeches around the corner going live with the gun fight and explosion. Tybalt corners Benvolio, placing a gun to his head.

“Look upon your death, Benvolio.”

Suddenly a burning light blinds Tybalt and the Police Captain yells through a megaphone. Police cars have surrounded the scene.

“Enemies! Place your weapons on the ground now! Stop using your magic!”

Tybalt looks to the police and stands down. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * At the police station * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Police Captain sits down at his desk, across from the leaders of the Gemini and Oasis covens. 

“This is the third time your covens have disrupted the peace of Mystic Falls in a brawl.”

Cadell’s lawyer tries to intervene, “Captain I can-”

The captain slams his fist down. “If you ever disrupt the peace again, I will personally see you both go to prison.”

* * * * * The Parkers are on an awkward ride back to their mansion * * * * *

Kai’s mother sighs and looks out the window. “Oh where is Malachai? Have you seen him yet today?” She turns to her husband. “I’m just glad he wasn’t at the fight today.”

Benvolio feels guilty and answers, “He’s been at the lake side. I saw him walking there this morning.”

Kai’s father scoffs, “He walks too much around there, crying like a child.”

“All he does is hide away in his room, penning himself up and shutting out the light to make it dark as night.”

The driver leans back, “Ma’am, I’ve just received word. He’s at the pier.”

Kai is eating a bag of pork rinds, looking out at the sunset. “Love is a smoke that leads to disappointed sighing. I will never be able to get her, the beautiful Rosaline. Niece of my enemy. Unflawed love would make me feel powerful and alive. But when one does not return the love, the love only creates sadness. Love is madness. Love is bitter tasting but keeps us preserved and alive with its sweetness.”

Back in the car the family continues to chat.

“It’s not healthy for Kai to shut himself away with this depressing behavior. He needs a friends counsel to get him over whatever troubles him.” Kai’s father urges Benvolio. 

“Let me out, I’ll talk to him and see if he will tell me what is wrong.”

Kai’s father gives an encouraging smile that disappears as soon as the door is closed. “Let’s go home.” He sighs.

* * * * * * * * * * On the beach * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Good morning cousin,” Benvolio tries to act casual.

“Is it really only morning?” Kai asks seriously.

“It’s a new day.” He tries to act cheery.

“Sad hours seem long...” Kai turns to Benvolio. “Was that my father that just drove off?”

“Yes Kai but...” Kai shakes his head and starts to walk off, Benvolio walking swiftly after him. “What sadness makes your hours long?”

“Not having the love of her. With her the hours seem short.”

“You have gentle love in your view, but in others it is a sign of tyranny!” He exclaims.

“Whose view matters on my love...” Kai pauses when he sees a TV, playing back the news report of the fight from last night. “You had a fight?”

“I -”

Kai interrupts, “Don’t give me an excuse. I’ve heard them all. It’s much easier to hate someone than to love them. You are wasting so much time on someone who does not care about you.” He storms off in a rage, going up to the sidewalk heading toward a night club. “Why do you love to fight and love to hate, creating conflict out of nothing? My heart is swept away by love but it weighs on me that I am bound to it. It is agony my cousin.” He screams at a bouncer and uses his magic to flick him aside into trash cans. “There is no love like the one I feel,” he dark chuckles, “What cousin? Not going to laugh?”

Benvolio says nervously eyeing the crumpled bouncer, “No...I’d rather cry.”

Kai smiles mischievously, “Good bye, cousin.” And he takes off running down the sidewalk.

Benvolio sighs and starts to pursue. Finally arriving home, Kai gets to a car and a man hurriedly gives him the keys. 

Benvolio cuts him off panting, “Tell me... who is it...that you love?”

“My sad heart is in love with a woman.”

“I knew it was a woman,” he rolls his eyes, 

“She’s a beautiful lady.” Kai pulls down his shirt to reveal a small tattoo that says ‘Rosaline’.

“Rosaline?!” Benvolio is surprised but impressed. “She is quite beautiful.”

“She does not love me back, her heart is well guarded.”

“Hmm.. You know what? Forget about her!”

“How can I forget about her?”

“Look at all the other ladies,” he motions toward the girls on the sidewalk. 

Kai laughs dismissively. “Good bye. You can’t teach me how to forget.”

Benvolio hurries and jumps into the passenger seat of the moving car. The boys head to a bar.

“She would be in just as much trouble as I would be anyway, being a Cadell and a Parker.” He continues, “I think I could keep the peace between our families though.” 

The bartender smiles. “It’s honorable of you to try, it’s too bad your families are fighting.

* * * * * * * * * * At the Cadell Mansion * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Cadell leader of the coven, your father, is set down at a meeting with the governor’s son, Dave. 

“So what do you say to my proposition?” Dave asks.

Cadell looks at the picture frame of his wife and daughter. “My daughter is still young and innocent. Give her 2 more years and then she will be a perfect wife.”

Dave is persistent. “Sir, girls younger than her are happy mothers.”

“Hmm,” Cadell eyes him hard, “And younger girls married too soon are blemished. She is my pride and joy. If you can woo her and get her consent then you have mine as well.” He comes around the desk to give Dave a fatherly pat on the shoulder. “I will hold a large feast tonight, join us and meet y/n.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Back at the bar * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Benvolio and Kai have started playing pool. 

“Bring another lady into your sights and heart, then you will forget about her.” Benvolio hits a shot and Kai stops it with his hand, throwing it to hit other balls. “Are you insane?” Benvolio asks in mock outrage. 

“Insanely in love, yes.” Kai mocks back, stepping toward the bar.

An entertainment show is on the TV above, the female news anchor excitedly announcing. “Tonight the rich Cadell is hosting a great feast-” 

“A grand costumed event!” Her partner interrupts. 

The partner starts to read off some of the important guests who will be there. Rosaline’s name is on the list and Benvolio turns to Kai, wiggling his eyebrows. 

“Looks like Rosaline will be there.” Kai grimaces as Benvolio continues. “Let’s go to the feast, it’s perfect. We can sneak in disguised and find you another woman who is even more beautiful than Rosaline.”

“More beautiful than her? Ha! There has never been a more beautiful woman since the dawn of time.”

Their attention is drawn back to the anchor. “If you’re not a Parker, come and drink some wine at the feast!”

Kai pauses to think. “Fine. I’ll go, but only to prove that no one can be more beautiful than Rosaline.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the Cadell mansion * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Y/N!!! Y/N!!!!” Your nanny yells. 

She rushes around the house trying to find you. You roll your eyes and sink down further into the bubble bath, ignoring her calls. Lady Cadell is trying to ready herself for the feast, going maniacal at the nanny screaming. She yells your name. 

“God’s sake nanny, where is my daughter? Tell her to come to me.”

“I’ve been calling for her ma’am but I still can’t find her.”

“Mother, nanny? You called?” You said coolly, feigning innocence as you stood there in your bathrobe. 

The nanny exclaims in shock, “Oh! Get dressed y/n!

“Just leave her alone. We will speak in private, you can stay as I need your advice.” Your mother looks casually into the mirror, examining her costume and continuing. “You know, y/n darling...I was about your age when I was married.” She turns quickly, unable to hide her excitement anymore. “The governor’s son wants to make you his wife! Isn’t that exciting?”

The nanny tries to take her side. “He is a charming young man, miss.”

“Oh the most charming and handsome!” Your mother giggles, her drinks obviously kicking in. 

“What-” you are too stunned as she speaks again.

She grabs your arm, “He’s coming to the feast tonight! To see you! He is a rich man, fall in love with him. You will become his and all that is his will become yours!”

The nanny asks you cautiously, “What do you think of his love?”

You choose your words carefully, not wanting to put your mother in a foul mood. “I’ll try to like him and see if there is anything likeable, but ultimately I will only marry him if you approve and give me the strength.”

A maid comes in. “Lady Cadell, the guests have started to arrive.”

She gasps in excitement. “Hurry y/n, get ready!”

The nurse leans in to whisper, “And don’t forget to enjoy yourself.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Down by the pier * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kai Parker and a couple friends are sitting down at the pier, watching the bright lights of the Cadell mansion from across the lake. They hear a roar of a sports engine pull up and turn back to see who it is. Getting out of the car stands Mercutio, Kai’s best friend, dressed in drag. The boys practically fall over laughing as Mercutio pretends to be posing for paparazzi. 

“Now applaud!” He yells and whips out the party invites from his mini skirt.

“Holy shit dude, you did it!” Benvolio and friends jump up to grab them.

“I dunno.” Kai stands and continues to look out at the lake.

“Oh come on man! You have to go and dance.” He grabs Kai and starts to waltz. 

Kai laughs and shoves him away, “You can dance but I can’t, my heart is too sad.”

“Aw, poor heart broken child.” He mocks.

Kai looks at the stars. “Is love soft, or rough harsh and rude?”

Mercutio jumps on his back. “If love is rough with you, then be rough with it. Beat it down.”

“Your love is crushing me cousin.” Kai laughs, starting to fall down. 

Benvolio honks the horn impatiently. “Come on! We’re wasting daylight!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the feast * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The boys pull up hooting and hollering. Waltzing inside, it is obvious that Benvolio and another friend have already started drinking. Kai walks in calmly, looking at the dance floor. Mercutio dances with a woman and passes her off to Kai.

“Come on, every guy should have the chance to dance.”

A Cadell boy drunkenly strides up to Kai who is dressed as a knight. He puts an arm around him, not recognizing him to be a Parker. 

The Cadell yells out, “Musicians! Play us a song!” 

Kai felt as if his heart would burst out of his chest at any moment. He quickly ducks out of the boys grip, abandoning the lady and tries to find an area away from the crowd. As he is walking he spots an angel. A literal costumed angel in the form of you. You are wandering through the crowd aimlessly when you spot him. Kai stares back at you, his plump lips forming a smile. His brown hair falling to the side, frames his perfect face. In that moment you knew he was the one. A yell disrupts your focus and you turn to see the nanny calling you. 

“Y/N!”

You look back for the mystery boy but he has vanished. The nanny starts to drag you toward Lady Cadell and Dave, the governor’s son. 

He extends his hand, “Will you dance with me?”

Knowing you can’t decline, you place your hand in his. 

Your mother trills, “Oh such a fine young man.”

Kai didn’t know how it had happened but in one moment he had lost sight of you. Rushing through the crowd to find the angel again, he accidentally bumps into a Lucifer. Little did he know, the man dressed as Lucifer was Tybalt. 

Tybalt then turned to Abra. “How dare Malachai come to a Cadell event. He mocks us with his mischief and antics. I will not consider it a sin to kill him in order to protect our coven’s dignity.”

He starts to storm off when your father Cadell stops him with a strong arm. “Where are you going off to?”

“It’s Kai Parker, he’s here.”

“Calm yourself, Tybalt. Don’t ruin this night, be peaceful in this house. Tolerate him for tonight and don’t waste your time on him. He’s not worth it, save it for another night.”

“I won’t tolerate him!”

Cadell rages, “You will! You will behave and stay out of any fights!” He shoves Tybalt. “You are making a scene.”

An older couple looks on shocked and Cadell tries to regain his composure. Comforting the couple he turns.

“Don’t worry, cheer up and have some drinks.” 

They smile heartily and walk away. Turning back to Tybalt, he harshly whispers. “I am the leader of this coven and you will obey me. Now go away.” 

Kai spots you on the dance floor once again, but this time you are with a man. He whispers, “I have never known what love truly means until I have spotted this angel. I take back and disown the idea of love I had for Rosaline.”

Even dancing with Dave you were still distracted by looking for the handsome mystery boy. Then you spot him again, your eyes connecting. You quickly look back to Dave, not wanting to seem too distracted but within a moment you were back to staring at the boy over his shoulder. The lights black out, colorful spotlights turn on as confetti and balloons rain down. You had stopped dancing. You let out a gasp as a hand suddenly yanks you behind a curtain. There stands Kai, he pulls you close to his body so your chests are almost touching. 

“Your hand is so clearly holy, if I offend you by touching it with my rough unholy hand, then let me make it better with a kiss.” Kai woos.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You holding my hand is a sign of devotion. Placing our hands together is a palmer’s kiss.” 

“Might I suggest we do with our lips what we do with our hands?” Kai kisses your lips sweetly. “Now my sins are gone.”

“Oh but now your sins are on my lips and the only thing that can make it better is another kiss.”

Kai kisses you once again. “There, now all is right.”

“You are very clever in coming up with reasons to steal kisses from me.”

Suddenly the nanny interrupts. “Y/n, your mother wants a word with you.”

You head toward your mother, and wave a hand, signaling Kai not to follow but he trails anyway. Kai watches the nanny and you head up the staircase instead of leaving like the guests. At the top is a furious Lady Cadell standing with Dave. Your eyes dart nervously to Kai as your mother starts to harshly whisper in your ear. She pullls you away from the stairs and that is when it dawns on him.

“She is a Cadell?” he whispers under his breath. 

You stop to look back at Kai and the nanny whispers in your ear. “HIs name is Malachai Parker from the Gemini coven.”

You feel a coldness fill your chest, disappointment and reality crashing down. Mercution runs up and claps a hand on Kai’s shoulder. 

“The party is starting to break up, we need to leave now so we don’t draw the attention of the Cadells.”

“It’s what I thought, yet I’m still dissatisfied.”

Mercutio ushers him out to the waiting car while Kai looks back over his shoulder longingly. As Mercutio starts to drive the boys away, noisily singing, he spots you in the window. 

You see Kai and whisper, “My true love is born from the coven that I’m born to hate. I fell in love too soon and now it is too late to hate him. It is such a large degree of love, that I must love my enemy.” 

You close the window and lean your head against the glass, unable to take your eyes off Kai’s disappearing form. Down below in the doorway stands Tybalt, also unable to take his eyes off the enemy.

“I will obey my uncle tonight. Malachai’s intrusion may seem sweet but it is bitter and will come back to poison us in the end.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * Out at the car * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

There is a traffic jam from all the cars trying to leave. Kai sighs and whispers beside his noise raucous of friends. “How can I leave here when my heart stays behind? I have to go back.”

Kai leaps out of the slow moving car and Benvolio yells.

“Kai! Where are you going?”

Kai is running back along the road, using the cars and bushes as a way to shield himself from the guards’ view. He stealthily climbs vines and leaps onto the other side of the stone wall bordering the property. Mercutio pulls the car around in front of the gates that are swinging shut. 

Benvolio points out, “I think he ran that way. Call his name!”

“I’ll do you one better,” Mercutio laughs. Jumping out of the car he dances in front of the gate swaggering like a flirtatious drunk lady. “Oh Kai!” He calls in a falcetto voice, “It’s me Rosaline! Come to my plump lips, my bright eyes and my long legs and quivering thighs!”

The boys cheer Mercutio on. Kai smiles at his calling. 

“He makes fun of love scars that are non existent.”

The boys are now laughing hysterically at Mercutio swooning around like a love sick fool. The fun is cut short when a security guard yells and a spotlight comes to life, pinning Mercutio in its beam. 

“Alright boys, let’s go.” He quickly hops into the car and they speed off. 

Outside the rear wing of the house, Kai creeps near the pool, taking cover when a bright light comes on.

“But wait, what light shines through that window?”

Almost in response, the balcony doors open and you step out still in your angel robe. You start to walk near the pool, unaware of Kai hiding in the shadows.

He whispers, “Y/n is the sun, rising in the East and killing the jealous moon. She is far more beautiful than any others.”

You sit on the pool ledge, legs dangling in the still water.

“It is her! My love!”

You sigh. Looking longingly to the stars you ask, “Oh Malachai, my Kai. Where are you? Deny your father and rebuke your name, or if you will not, my love, I swear I will no longer be a Cadell.”

Kai whispers, “Should I say something or remain silent?”

Starting to pace you continue, “It’s only your last name that is my enemy, but you, yourself are not a Parker. But what is a Parker? It is not a body part of a man. Why can’t you have some other name! What is a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So if Kai, if not called called Kai Parker, would be just as perfect. Kai, lose your name. Trade in your name, which has nothing to do with you, and take all of me in exchange.”

“I will take all of you in exchange at your word!” Kai steps out of the shadows and calls wildly. “Proclaim your love for me, and you can call me whatever you want!”

You scream and topple backwards, Kai tries to balance you out by grabbing your hand but is instead plunged into the pool with you. A security guard moves toward the pool area and you wave him away. assuring that everything is fine.

“Kai, why did you hide in the darkness and listen to my private thoughts?”

He puts his hands up in a calming gesture. “My own name is so hateful to me, if it were written on a piece of paper I would rip it up.”

“I have not heard you speak over a hundred words, but I recognize your voice and have memorized it’s sound. Should I not call you Malachai? And a Parker?”

“Neither my love, if you don’t like the names.”

“How did you get over the walls? If any men of my coven find you here, they will kill you.”

“The darkness of night will hide me, besides let them kill me. I would rather due than live without your love.” Kai leans forward, you kiss long and greedily until you push Kai away.

“I’m glad it’s night so you can’t see how embarrassed I am that you over heard me gushing about you. Part of me feels I should pretend I am not interested, as that is how proper ladies would act. But it is too late for that, do you love me?”

Kai starts to speak but you silence him and continue. “I know you will say yes and I believe you. Swear to me so you can’t be proven false my sweet Kai. Say it faithfully. If you think I’m too quickly won over then I will frown and see you no more, no matter what ends of the earth you may go to win me back. Honestly... I favor you too much, you may not believe me but I’ll prove myself to be more true and loyal than any other woman.” 

“My love, y/n, I swear by the moon, that lights the night so beautifully.’

“No, don’t swear by the moon for it constantly changes.”

“What should I swear by?”

“Do not swear at all. But if you dare to, swear by yourself. You are my idol and I will believe you.” You touch his cheek with your palm and Kai moves his lips close to yours.

“If my hearts dear love-”

Confused, you break away. “Do not swear then. I take joy in you, but not in a rash, sudden contract. We need to slow down, we don’t have to rush into anything. We should take our time and see where this love goes.”

Another light turns on and the nanny begins to call. “Y/N!” You rush up the pool stairs.

“Will you leave me so unsatisfied?” Kai tries to keep up.

You scoff and give a shocked expression, “What more satisfaction do you want tonight?”

“I would be satisfied if you promised me your love so we could exchange vows and be married.”

You run joyously into Kai’s arms. “I will gladly exchange vows with you and promise my love!” You kiss fiercely and passionately before being interrupted by the nanny’s yell again.

“Y/N!!”

“Good night dear Kai. If you really intend to marry me, send word tomorrow. I will come to you, tell me what time and place. I will leave all my fortunes behind and follow you all over the world.”

“Y/N!”

“I’m coming!” You holler. “A thousand times goodnight.” You kiss again and finally run inside. You reappear at the top of the balcony. “Kai! What time should I come to you tomorrow?”

“By 9 o’clock!”

“I will be there! Good night sweet Kai until tomorrow. Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

“Sleep well my lovely y/n.” Kai blows kisses to you and heads back toward the wall to take his leave. 

* * * * * * Morning time in a greenery * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A priest is giving an herbology lesson to some young boys. 

“Plants, herbs and stones are a beautiful thing.” He makes a small cut in the bulb of a purple flower. “In this flower, lies a poison while also having the power of a medicine.” He carefully puts the sap in a beaker. “It smells lovely, but if tasted, can stop the heart. Our lesson is done.” 

Turning to put the beaker away in the fridge, he pulls out a jar of candy. Looking at them sternly, the boys take their candy and scram. The Father starts to watch the TV but his thoughts are interrupted by Kai knocking on the door frame. 

“Good morning Father.”

“Good morning! Why do you come so early in the morning to see me?” The priest studies Kai for a minute. “It is very early for you to be getting out of bed, and if I guess right it means that you never went to bed last night!”

Kai follows the priest as he starts to walk through the empty church. “It’s true, I never slept because I was enjoying the sweet night.”

“God have mercy on you! Were you with Rosaline?”

“With Rosaline? Father no. That name is out of my mind and long forgotten.” 

The priest starts to lay out preparations for communion. “Good my son, so where have you been?”

Out of old habit, Kai starts to help him. “I was feasting at my enemies house. So suddenly I was wounded by love and now both of ours only cure can come from you. I gave no hatred, and your power will benefit my enemy.”

“Speak clearly. Tell me what you mean. I do not know how to help you if you speak in riddles.”

“I am in love with the leader Cadell’s daughter. I love her and she loves me. We’ve promised our love to each other but we need you to make it official. I’ll tell you more later about where and when we met, how we fell in love. But I’m begging you to marry us today.”

The priest stands there a moment, thunderstruck. Two of the young boys enter in robes and he dismisses them. They get the message and bolt. He turns back to Kai, still stunned.

“Holy Saint Francis! This is such a sudden change. Have you given up on Rosaline so quickly? The one you claimed you loved? Young men love with their eyes and not their hearts. How many tears did you waste crying over Rosaline? I can still freshly remember you crying to me about your heart’s woe. You’ve changed so suddenly.”

“You’ve always scolded me for loving Rosaline.”

“I did not scold you for loving her, but for obsessing over her.”

“Don’t scold me over y/n now, we truly love each other. Rosaline did not love me.”

“Rosaline knew you loved her but didn’t really know what it meant.” The priest sits down in a chair and looks off into the distance where the childrens choir are assembling. The priest is moved by the childrens singing and he turns back to a waiting Kai. 

“Come with me, I will help you with your secret wedding. If we’re lucky it may turn the hatred between your covens into love.”

“Then let’s go, I’m in a rush.”

The Father stands and looks down on Kai, “We need to be smart about this and take it slowly. We don’t want any slip-ups.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the beach * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Benvolio and Mercutio are arguing. 

Mercutio snaps, “What do yo umean Kai didn’t come home last night?”

“I spoke to my uncle’s maid, she said Kai never came home.”

“He’s so obsessed with Rosaline, he’s gone insane.” Benvolio paces the sidewalk, “Tybalt sent a message to Kai’s father’s house.”

Mercutio interrupts, “I bet it’s a challenge.”

Benvolio stops pacing. “Do you think Kai will take up the challenge?”

“Anyone can write a letter demanding a challenge. But it takes a true witch to demand a fight with a siphoner like Malachai.”

“Kai is daring enough to challenge Tybalt.”

Kai’s car pulls up beside the lake’s parking lot. Benvolio heads toward him.

“Here comes Kai! Here comes Kai!” 

Mercutio saunters up the beach with mock chalance. “Bonjour Kai,” he speaks with an accent, “You gave us quite the slip last night, no?”

“Good morning to you too. What slip did I give you?” Kai feigns innocence.

“WHAT SLIP? You gave us the slip last night, are you mad?”

Kai grins smugly. “Oh my apologies, Mercutio. I had a great time, thanks for asking. It was very important business, I didn’t have time to say a proper goodbye.”

“Oh I’m sure you were kept quite busy last night.” He jokes and Benvolio hoots, jumping on Kai’s back.

“Oh shut up.” Kai shoves him off into the sand. “I’ll fight you.”

Mercutio flicks sand at him and starts to run down the beach. Kai laughs and starts to chase. Kai gains on Mercutio and dives into the sea, following him. 

“See, isn’t this better than groaning over love?” Mercutio splashes and Kai tries to dunk him underwater. “You’re much happier now!” He walks onto the beach, “Come on Kai.”

Kai tackles him onto the wet sand and Mercutio suddenly becomes serious. “How happy you are now, is who you naturally are.”

A shadow falls over the boys and there stands the nanny in a bright red ‘disguise’. 

“God, you are a beautiful woman.” Mercutio remarks, bemused at the sight.

The nanny ignores him and speaks to Kai, “I need to speak privately with you.” 

Kai gets up and starts to follow the woman up to a black car waiting in the parking lot. Mercutio looks questioningly to Benvolio who shrugs. “Maybe he’s going for dinner?” Mercutio yells at Kai, “Come home for dinner!.”

Before stepping into the car he yells back, “I will be there soon!”

“Goodbye old dragon lady!” He jests, blowing her a kiss.

* * * * * * * * * * * * In the car * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The nanny leaned in uncomfortably close to Kai and whispered harshly, “If you lead y/n on, treat her poorly or break her heart like a delicate tea cup then you will suffer an ill fate.” 

She leans back to her seat and there is a silence. Kai chooses his next words carefully. “Ask y/n to come to confession today. The Father will hear her out, absolve her sins and we will be married.”

* * * * * * * * * * The Cadell mansion * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

You are waiting excitedly in your room, looking for the nanny’s arrival. The black car pulls into the driveway and out steps the nanny. 

“Here she comes!” 

You bolt from from your room to meet the nanny at the staircase going to the rear of the house. You burst into the kitchen following her where she proceeds to start looking in the fridge. 

“What did he say?” You ask again impatiently, “Nanny! What did he say!”

Stepping away from the fridge the nanny sets food down on the counter. “Let me rest a minute, I am tired and hungry.”

You continue to plead, walking to her. “Please tell me! Is it good news or bad?”

“My God, why such a hurry? Can’t you stay here and talk for a while? I am out of breath.”

You cannot stand the suspense anymore. “How are you out of breath? Tell me! Is it good news or bad? Just tell me that much!”

The nanny sits and take a big bite of her sandwich, talking between chews. “You’ve made a simple choice of a man. You don’t know how to pick one. He is a very handsome and attractive young man but he doesn’t have the best manners and composure. However, he has a gentle spirit and nature. Have you had something to eat yet?”

“I already know those things about him, tell me more! What does he say about our marriage?”

“Oh dear, I feel a headache coming on, and my back aches...”

This is a game you know well. You climb onto the back of the recliner, setting down so you can massage her,

“Ooooo yes! Get right there!”

You then coo sweetly, “Oh sweet nanny, what does my love say?”

“He is an honest man, kind, handsome and virtuous. Where is your mother?”

You crack. “Where is my mother? That’s your reply?! My love says like an honest gentleman, ‘Where is your mother?!’”

The nanny pouts, “Calm yourself y/n!”

You explode in frustration. “How can you tell me to be calm? WHAT DID KAI SAY?”

The nanny goes quiet for a moment. “Do you have time to go to confession today?”

“I do.”

“Then go to the priest, Kai awaits there to be a husband and make you his wife!”

With a scream of joy, you hug the nanny.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the church * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The priest shakes his head. “Such extreme emotions about this kind of pleasure often ends in disaster. Even the taste of too much honey can become sickly because it is so sweet.” He looks to Kai. “So love carefully and long may your love live.”

You push through the oaken double doors to the church. The priest cues up the choir and beckons for you to come to the altar.

“Good afternoon Father.”

Before the priest can reply, you and Kai kiss passionately. He wait just a moment then delicately interrupts you.

“Come, come and we will make this quick. Because, if you don’t mind, I’m not leaving you two alone until you’re married.”

You and Kai exchange vows and rings. The priest follows the two of you out, throwing hand fulls of rice. Your driver takes a perfect picture as the bride and groom kiss. He holds the car door open and you reluctantly get in. As the car drives away, Kai runs along side it until he watches the big car speed away. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the beach * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mercutio stands knee deep in the water fishing. Benvolio shelters himself from the heat under a life guard tower.

“Come on Mercutio, let’s go. It’s too hot!”

Mercutio ignores him and continues fishing with his gun. Benvolio looks around nervously hoping they don’t draw the attention of the Cadells.

“The Cadells are out, and if they see us, we won’t get away without a fight.”

“You are like one of those men who enter a bar and put their gun down on the table saying, ‘I pray I never have to use you’ but by the time he orders his second drink, he pulls the gun on the bartender for no reason at all.”

Benvolio doesn’t find him funny and turns away when a black Sedan rolling up stops him cold. “Oh great, here come the Cadells.”

“Well, well, I don’t care,” Mercutio drawls.

The car slides to a stop only feet away from where Benvolio stands. Tybalt, Abra and another Cadell emerge from the vehicle and step toward the Parkers menacingly.

“Good day gentleman, can I have a word with one of you.”

The rest of the Parker boys stand nervously at Tybalt’s words. Mercutio responds wittily, “You want just one word with one of us? Put it together with something else. Make it a word and a blow.”

“You’ll find me ready enough to do that sir, if you give me a reason.” 

Tybalt’s hand moves to rest on his gun handle. Mercutio stops jesting upon spotting the firearm.

Breathily he asks, “Could you not find a reason without me giving you one?” 

The Parker boys start to snicker again and Tybalt snaps. “Mercutio you hang out with Malachai.”

Mercutio’s anger grows. “Hang out? What do you think we are, a bunch of musicians? If I am a musician, then this is my fiddlestick,” he motions to his gun, “And I’ll use it to make you dance.”

Benvolio tries to mediate, “We’re talking in a public place. Either go someplace private, or it talk it over rationally or just go away. Out here everyone can see us.” 

Mercutio retorts, “People’s eyes were made to see things, so let them watch. I’m not moving to please anybody.”

Just then, Kai arrives in his car, heart full of happy news.

Tybalt walks away from Mercutio, “Nevermind you. Here is the man I am looking for.” He calls out to the approaching Kai, “Malachai, there’s only one thing I can call you. You are a villain!” Pulling his jacket aside, Tybalt reveals his gun to Kai.

“Tybalt, I have a reason to love you, let me put aside the hatred and forgive your remark. I am not a villain. So good bye. Clearly you do not know who I am.”

Kai turns and walks back to his car, surprising everybody. Tybalt is confused and outraged, hurling himself back into his Sedan. He kicks the car in a U-turn, slamming into Kai’s car. Kai locks the car as Tybalt gets out to beat down on it. He smashes the passenger window and hauls Kai out.

“Boy, your words can’t excuse the harm you’ve done to me!” Tybalt punches Kai across the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Turn and draw your gun!” He yells.

Kai shakily lifts himself from the ground, feeling his busted lip. Speaking through his bloody teeth, Kai answers. “I never hurt you. And so, good Cadell - which name I care for more than you can understand,” Kai cautiously pulls out his gun, “be satisfied.” He throws the gun to Tybalt’s feet.

The Parker boys can’t believe their eyes as Kai starts to walk down the beach. An angered Mercutio steps forward.

“This calm submission in dishonorable and vile!”

Tybalt grows angrier, handing Abra his weapon and sprinting down the beach after Kai. In a bone cracking collision, Tybalt tackles him to the ground near an abandoned life guard house. The boys run to catch up while Kai still refuses to fight and runs up the stairs. Tybalt trips him and he careens into the old wooden railing, smashing it to pieces. Tybalt kicks savagely at him, willing him to fight back. Mercutio runs after him, picking up a piece of wood from the broken railing and hitting him across the head making him fall down. 

“Tybalt, you ratcatcher!” Will you go and fight me?”

“What do you want from me?” Tybalt swings a lump of wood and Mercutio dodges. 

“Why, King of Cats, I want to take one of your nine lives. I’ll take one and depending how you treat me after that, I might beat the other eight out of you too.”

Tybalt swings his wood again and Mercutio blocks, throwing the stick away. Tybalt, now empty handed, charges and slams him against a window shattering the glass. Mercutio is back on his feet lightning fast. He raises a rock, ready to smash in his head when Kai rushes between them.

“Stop this fight Mercutio!”

Seizing his opportunity, Tybalt lunges up and aims to slash Kai with a piece of broken glass. Instead, he misses and slashes Mercutio across the stomach. He screams out in pain, grabbing his side. Everyone goes quiet. Abra tugs at a stunned Tybalt.

“Let’s go Tybalt!”

The pair bolts for their car and Benvolio goes to Mercutio.

“Are you hurt?”

Mercutio covers his wound and laughs, “Yes but it is just a scratch.”

Kai helps him get down the stairs. “Have courage, the cut can’t be that bad.”

“It’s not as deep as a well or as wide as a door, but it’s enough to do the job.” Mercutio jokes, “If you ask for me tomorrow, you’ll find me a very grave man. Goddammit! I can’t believe that rat could scratch me to death!” He says through crazed laughter.

He now turns his attention from the cheering boys to Kai who is struggling to support his weight.

“Why the hell did you come between us? He struck me under your arm.”

“I thought it was the right thing to do.” Kai starts to panic.

Mercutio pushes himself away screaming, “May a plague fall upon both your covens! They’ve turned me into food for the worms. I’m done for. Curse your families!” 

He collapses to the ground and Kai kneels, cradling his best friends dead body. Thunder booms and it starts to sprinkle, turning into a heavy rain. 

Benvolio whispers, “Mercutio is dead.”

Kai cries out, “Oh sweet y/n! Your beauty has made me weak, you have softened my bravery when before I was hard as steel.”

The sound of Tybalt’s car peeling off brings back cold reality. Kai’s sadness turns to uncontrollable rage. He runs to his car, in an effort to head him off. The rain is now blinding but Kai stops for nothing. Pedestrians scream and cars screech to a stop. He rounds a corner and slams into Tybalt’s car, veering out of control. Tybalt scrambles from his car and Kai runs toward him. Tybalt draws his gun but Kai continues to march on.

“Go on! Kill me so I can join him!” 

Tybalt nervously starts to walk backward.

“Either kill me or I will kill you!”

He shakes his head in panic, Kai flicks his wrist sending Tybalt’s gun into the air.

“Why did you come between us?”

Kai remains silent. Police cars screech to a halt, surrounding the area. The gun lands back in Kai’s hand and he fires three shots.

“Put down the weapon!” A police officer calls through a megaphone. 

Tybalt’s body collapses to the road. A cop fires, grazing Kai’s arm and he screams. 

“Oh! I have awful luck!”

A strong gust of wind and rain blinds the police. Balthasar drives up and starts screaming.

“Don’t just stand there! Come on!”

Kai quickly slides into the passenger seat, holding his wounded arm and crying. 

Lady Cadell pulls up to the scene and runs to crouch over the body. “Tybalt! Oh my sweet nephew. My family’s blood is spilled on the streets.” 

The Captain parts through the police line. “Where are the men who started the fight?”

A hand cuffed Benvolio is pushed forward. “Captain, I can tell you everything about the fight. Tybalt killed your relative Mercutio and then young Kai killed him.”

Lady Cadell begins to scream again. “Tybalt was my nephew! Oh my nephew is dead! Captain, you are honorable, take revenge by killing someone from the Parker family.”

The Captain ignores her and turns to Benvolio. “Benvolio, who started this fight?”

“Tybalt started the fight before he was killed by Kai. Kai spoke to him reasonably and didn’t want to start a fight but rather make a truce. Tybalt refused and was deaf to peace!”

Lady Cadell interjects savagely, “He’s lying! I want justice, Kai killed Tybalt so Kai must be killed!”

The Captain, losing his patience turns to the woman. “Kai killed him after Tybalt killed Mercutio.”

Malachai’s father, Sir Parker l arrives and begins to plead with the Captain as well. “Please Captain, don’t make Malachai pay the price. He was Mercutio’s friend. His death has been avenged by Tybalt’s. It is even.” 

The Captain eyes him coldly. “And for the crime of murder, Malachai is exiled from Mystic Falls. You have involved me in your rivalry. My nephew Mercutio is dead because of your bloody feud.”

“But Captain-” Parker starts to plead. 

The Captain silences him, “I will not listen to your excuses and your begging will not change my mind.” He turns to address his officers. “Tell Malachai to leave the city immediately or else if he is found he will be killed.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Your bedroom* * * * * * * * * * * *

“I wish the sun would hurry up and set already so night can come immediately. Because when the night comes and everyone goes to sleep, then my Kai will come to me, leap into my arms and no one will know. Gentle night, give me my Kai and when I die, turn him into the stars and make a constellation in his image. His face will make the heavens so beautiful that the whole world will fall in love with him. I belong to Kai now, this day has been so long, waiting for him.”

A car pulls up into the driveway and you rush down excited to meet the nanny. Your knees buckle and you fall to the ground at her news. 

“Oh god! Did Kai kill Tybalt?”

“He did, he did! This is a most cursed day!”

“He’s like a snake disguised as a flower. Was there ever such an evil book with such a beautiful cover? I can’t believe such evil lurked inside someone so beautiful!”

“There is no trust, faith or honesty in men. All of them lie, cheat and are wicked. Shame on Malachai!”

“How dare you wish shame upon him! He was not born to be shameful. He deserves only honor, I was an idiot to be angry at him.”

“How can you say such good things about the man who killed your cousin?”

“Am I supposed to speak badly about my own husband? Oh my husband! How could I speak bad of him when we’ve only been married 3 hours? Kai why did you kill my cousin? Probably because my cousin would have killed my husband. It is comforting to know my husband is alive, but I am crying still because he has been banished. This is worst than the murder of 10,000 Tybalts. No words can express my pain. Nanny, where are my father and mother?”

The nanny gets down to comfort you. “They are mourning the death of Tybalt. Go to your room, I’ll send Kai to comfort you. I know where he is.”

You look up through tears. “Please hurry and find him. Tell him to come and say his final good bye.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the church * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The priest leads the nanny into a bedroom. Kai lays on the bed, shirtless and bandaged.

“Nanny!”

The woman rushed to his side.

“Tell me about y/n. Where is she? Is she okay? What does my hidden wife say about our ruined love?”

“She doesn’t say anything. She just cries and cries. She falls down but when she tries to get up, she just calls your name and collapses again in tears.”

Kai has started to cry uncontrollably, “She calls out my name as if I were a bullet murdering her, just like her cousin.”

The priest shakes Kai, “I thought you were smarter and more rational than this! Your y/n is alive, you should be happy. Tybalt wanted to kill you, but you killed him. Be happy that you’re alive. You have been banished, not sentenced to death. Be happy about that. Your life is full of blessings.”

Kai has calmed down and the priest helps him get changed into a new white shirt. 

“Go. Go to your wife and comfort her. Get out of here before daybreak. Good night.” 

The priest ushers Kai out of the church and gives him one last handshake good bye. Kai and the nanny sprint towards the car.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the mansion* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Dave stands by your father holding flowers awkwardly. Your mother comes down the staircase solemnly.

“She refuses to come out of her room.”

Dave replies calmly, “It’s understandable. These times of pain are bad for romance. Good night ma’am, give your daughter my regards.”

“I will. And I’ll find out what she thinks about marriage tomorrow morning but tonight she is shut up with sadness.” The three leave down the hallway.

* * * * * * * * * * In your room* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

You are softly crying into your pillow when you feel a hand gently touch your face. Your eyes dart up to see Kai standing above you. There’s a still moment of disbelief. Leaning down, Kai kisses away the tears that fall from your wide y/e/c eyes. Your lips find his and he gently sinks back into the bed with you.

* * * * * * * * * * Back in the living room* * * * * * * * * * 

Your father sits reclined in an armchair. Dave and your mother sit opposite him. He whips himself in a drunken frenzy of excited thoughts.

“My sir, I’ll make a desperate argument for my daughter’s love. I think she’ll do whatever I say- no - I think she’ll do that and more. I have no doubt about it. Wait- what day is today?”

Dave answers, “Monday, sir.”

“I will talk to her tomorrow about marrying you on Thursday. Does that sound good to you?”

Dave tries to catch up, stunned at the suddenness. Your father eyes him.

“Sir- I wish Thursday was tomorrow. It sounds wonderful.”

Your father raises his glass to toast and they stand. “Well go home. Thursday it is then.” He turns to your mother, “Go see y/n to prepare her. Tell her to get ready for her wedding on Thursday.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * Your room* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Morning time comes, shining light upon yours and Kai’s bodies tangles together. You lie blissfully asleep. Balthasar’s car quietly pulls into a side road near the estate. Sitting up suddenly, Kai wakes up remembering where he is. Sitting on the side of the bed he starts to get dressed. You silently wake up and climb onto his back, kissing him gently on the neck.

“You’re leaving already? The day has just begun.”

Kai turns and softly strokes your cheek. “If I want to live I must leave now, if I stay then I will die.” 

You sigh in resignation. “You’re right, you have to go. Now leave before it gets any lighter!” 

You frantically help Kai get dressed. You both freeze when there is an urgent knock on the door.

“Y/n!”

“Nanny!” 

“Your mother is coming to your room!”

You hurriedly usher Kai out to the balcony. 

“Good bye my love, one last kiss and I will leave.”

You caress his face and whisper. “Do you think we will meet again?”

“I have no doubt.” Kai smiles up at you and heads down the wall. 

You turn at your mother’s voice at the door. “Good morning y/n! Are you awake?” Your mother walks in right after you hastily flop back into bed. She crosses over to the window, opening the curtains to let light in. 

“You have a caring father. He has arranged a day of joy to end your sadness. A day you did not expect and that I did not look for.”

You try to play along. “What day is that?”

Your mother takes a deep breath in. “You will be married to the handsome and charming governor’s son! You will go to the church and there become his wife.”

You are too stunned, “By Saint Peter he will not make me his wife!”

A look of fear crosses your mother’s face. “Here comes your father, tell him that yourself.”

Cadell with a whiskey glass in hand, barges calmly into your room. “Have you told her what we have decided?”

“Yes, but she refuses to and says thank you. I wish the foolish girl was dead and married to her grave.”

Your father becomes dangerously calm. “How could she refuse? She should be grateful and proud of the match we’ve made. She’s not worthy of the gentleman.”

“I am not proud of what you have decided for me. I am thankful that you tried. I can’t be proud of something I hate, but I can be thankful it was done out of love.”

He thinks for a moment, then throws his glass across the room, shattering it against the wall. “You are a spoiled little girl and not really showing me any pride or thanks. You are going to get married to the governor’s son on Thursday. I will drag you there if I have to.”

You try to move into the hallway but he grabs your shoulders, shaking you. 

“Please listen to me...” you beg.

“NO! You will not speak back to me.” 

Your father throws you to the ground and you sob. His hand slaps you across the face. 

“Are you insane?!” Your mother retorts and he responds by backhanding her face.

“You disgust me y/n. My worthless daughter!”

The nanny gets between you and your father. “God bless her! You are wrong to berate her like that!”

Your father now furious, shoves the nanny aside and grabs your face up. “I’ll tell you what- you WILL get married at that church on Thursday or you will never show your face to me again. I will disown you and you can die on the streets, I swear to god!” He storms away down the stairs while you lay huddled on the floor. 

“Mother, please don’t disown me! Delay this marriage as long as you can or I will kill myself!”

She looks at her lip in the mirror and speaks softly. “Don’t talk to me because I will not say a word. Do whatever you want, I don’t care anymore.” Your mother turns and leaves.

You beg your nanny, “Please nanny! Tell me how I can stop this!”

The nanny doesn’t respond and sits in a heavy silence, moving towards you. 

“Please give me words of comfort!”

“Listen to me, I think it would be a good idea for you to marry this man. Malachai has been banished and can’t return unless he is undercover. I think you could be happy with the governor’s son, you are no use to Kai anyway.”

You stay still. “Do you honestly mean this?”

“I do.”

You decide to play along, despite the pain of faking. “You’ve comforted me a lot nanny. Tell me mother I am going to the priest to confess and be forgiven for angering my father.”

“Alright, I will. That’s a good idea.”

* * * * * * * * * * At the church* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The priest stands at the front of the church with Dave talking about what will happen on Thursday. 

“Her father wants us to rush and be married very soon.”

Just then you walk into the church, not expecting to see them there.

“Look! There is the woman who is my wife!”

“That might be the case sir, after I’m married.” You respond icily, one hand hidden resting on a pistol.

“That ‘might be’ will be on Thursday.”

“What must be will be.” You walk down the isle coolly.

The priest states, “That is a certain truth.”

“Did you come here to confess?” Dave inquires.

“If I answered that question, I’d be confessing to you, Dave.”

You and the Father turn to leave and Dave starts to excuse himself. “Y/n, I will marry you early on Thursday morning. Until then, good bye.”

You give him a stone cold glare as he leans forward and kisses your cheek.

“Keep this kiss, and goodbye for now..”

As soon as Dave left, you stormed into the backroom, the priest following your lead. “Y/n, I already know about your sad situation.”

“Tell me how I can prevent it, Father.”

“I’ve heard you must marry a man on Thursday and that nothing can delay it.”

“If you’re so smart but can’t help me, then you will call my solution smart and I’ll solve it by myself.” 

You pull the gun out and point it at your head. Horrified, the priest moves to stop you but you panic and point the gun at him.

“Hold on, y/n!” He holds out a soothing hand. “I have an idea. But we must act boldly because the situation is so desperate. If you’re so desperate you would kill yourself instead of marrying Dave, then you must be desperate enough to try something similar to death to solve this problem. Come with me to the greenhouse.

You obey, eager and desperate to try anything on the face of the earth to be with your love.

The priest holds up a little vial with a blue liquid in it. “When you are in bed, drink this. The sleep inducing drug will run through your veins and stop your pulse. Your body will turn cold, you’ll stop breathing and you become so pale, your family and Dave will think you are dead. You will stay like this for 42 hours and then you’ll wake up like you’ve only been sleeping. They will take you to the family vault. I will tell Kai about the plan and he will come to you and take you far away.” The priest cautiously hands you the vial.

* * * * * * * * * * * * Later that night* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

At a trailer park out of town a mail truck pulls up to a bland looking trailer. The mail man knocks loudly at the door with the letters from the priest. Kai is too busy with his headphones to hear the knocking. The mail man shrugs and slips a ‘WE CALLED’ note under the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * The Cadell mansion* * * * * * * * * * * * 

It is the night before the wedding and you stand in front of a mirror. Two od the maids hold up your wedding dress, fussing over which shoes match the best. Disinterested you point to a pair and satisfied, the maids leave.

“Nanny will you please leave me alone tonight?”

“Why?” The nanny asks as you guide her to the door.

“I have to say a lot of prayers so the heavens will bless me. You know I am troubled and full of sin.”

The nanny leaves, shutting the door. Confident that you are alone, you rush to the bedside table and pull out the glass vial. 

You whisper, “What if this mixture doesn’t work? Will I be forced to marry Dave?”

You cautiously begin to unscrew the tiny black lid. Suddenly there is a knock on the door. You palm the vial and turn to see your mother walk in. 

“Do you need my help?”

“No, we’ve already figured out what I’m wearing tomorrow. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be alone now.”

You slip into bed and your mother sensing your unease nods. “Good night then.”

“Good night!” Your words surprise her and she smiles, closing the door. “There’s a slight cold fear running through me. I have to go through with this.” 

You bring the vial to your lips and toss your head back. You have a sudden violent convulsion and then collapse backward, face painted with fear.

It is morning time, the sun light shines down on an ambulance and police cars in front of the house.

One of the medics speaks over the radio. “Drugs?”

The second medic responds, “Yes, a deadly amount. She overdosed.”

The family numbly enter the house again, wedding decorations mocking their pain. The priest enters your bedroom, kneeling by your side and quickly checks your pupils. He pockets the vial and looks toward the undertaker.

“She is ready to go to the church.”

The man dressed in black nods. “We will take her to the Cadell vault.”

Balthasar, hearing the news of your death, rushes away to tell Kai.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At the trailer park* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Kai is sitting at his table, writing in his notebook, still not paying attention to the ‘WE CALLED’ card. Balthasar’s car speeds to a stop in front of the trailer and an excited Kai rushes out. 

“What is it Balthasar?”

Balthasar is too stunned to speak.

“Did you bring me the letters from the priest? How is y/n?”

Balthasar does not know how to word what he has come to tell Kai, and looks away. “She’s not well, she lies dead in the Cadell vault.”

For a long moment, Kai is still and when he speaks, his voice is chillingly calm. “Is it really true?”

Balthasar nods. Kai turns and stares out into the distant wasteland.

“Then I hate the stars!” he moves to the car. “I have to see her tonight.”

Balthasar tries to hold him back, “Just wait-”

“Leave me alone!” Kai roars, pushing him against the car.

“You look pale and wild as if you’re going to hurt yourself.”

“Well, you’re wrong. Leave me alone. Do you have a letter from the priest?”

“No I don’t.”

Kai shakes his head and smiles, “Nevermind. I’ll go see her tonight.” Kai hops into the passenger seat and Balthasar reluctantly gets behind the wheel. The car roars out of the park and Kai silently whispers, “I am coming to be with you tonight, y/n.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * At the church* * * * * * * * * * * * 

The priest speaks into a phone, concerned. “Did Malachai get my letter?”

The mailman responds, “No. He didn’t answer the door.”

The priest hangs up the phone and looks at the time. “I need to get to the vault, y/n will be waking up withing an hour.” 

* * * * * * * * * * * * At the cemetary* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Balthasar’s car pulls into the cemetary’s driveway and Kai hops out.

“Give me your flashlight.” Opening the trunk he pulls out a crowbar.

“Kai just listen to me.”

Kai turns around a punches him hard causing him to fall down, blood spilling from his nose. “Go and stay away from me or I will tear you apart!”

Balthasar rises slowly, both boys are trying not to cry.

“My plan is wild and savage, more fierce than a starving tiger.”

“I will go and leave you alone.”

Kai smiles and the boys hug. “Go live and be happy, good bye my friend.”

They part ways and Kai goes to the mausoleum, starting to pry the door open.

“You horrible mouth of death. You’ve taken the most precious girl on earth away from me. I will tear your jaw open.” 

Kai grunts and with a final heave, the door scrapes open. All is silent inside, flickering candle light the hallway.

“Despite my hatred for you beast, I’ve come to give you another body.”

Roaming the hallway he finds your coffin, collapsing to his knees he cries out. “Oh! How often are men happy before they die!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * Outside the mausoleum* * * * * * * * * * * * 

The priest thumps the steering wheel in frustration as he slowly pulls into the graveyard. “I am afraid something terrible is going to happen.” The priest shakes his head in horror seeing the vault’s door broken open.

* * * * * * * * * * * * Inside the mausoleum* * * * * * * * * * * * 

Kai pushes aside the lid and kneels by your figure. Moonlight streams in, lighting your beautiful face as you sleep.

“Oh my beautiful wife! Death has sucked the life out of you but it did not take away your beauty.” Unconscious tears fall from his eyes as he continues, “Ah y/n, why are you so beautiful? Should I believe death has fallen in love with you and he keeps you away from me? I hate that death, so I will stay with you and never leave this vault! Let me kiss you one last time!”

Kai kisses your lips one last time. Your hand twitches but he doesn’t notice. He pulls out a vial of poison he stole and drinks it quickly. He convulses and falls, his head resting on your body. Kai fights for breath and you wake up, becoming aware of Kai. 

“Kai? Is that you?” You sit up and cradle his head in your lap.

His clear wide eyes stare back up at you but he is unable to move, save for his weak breaths. You find the vial in his hand and start to cry.

“He drank it all and left none for me. I will kiss his lips, maybe there is some poison still on them to make me die with him.” You delicately kiss Kai on the lips. In a broken hearted whisper, “his lips are still warm.”

Desperately you both cling to each other. With all his might, Kai whispers, “Thus, with a kiss I will die.” 

His breathing stops, there is only silence from him as you sob, hugging his lifeless form.

“Malachai, oh my sweet Kai.” You look to the gun in his jacket.

* * * * * * * * * * * * Outside* * * * * * * * * * * * 

The priest hurries to the entrance of the vault when a gunshot rings out.

“God have mercy! Y/n? Malachai?”

His breath escapes him, coming upon the tragic scene. There, under the statue of Saint Peter, lie Kai and y/n. United again in death. 

THE END!

[hockeyforthefirsttime]

Try Again- Vince Dunn Chapter 3

AN: yes the not so long awaited finally of try again, I might write an epilogue but idk yet. don’t know completely how i feel about it, but hey it is what it is. 

Word count: 1500 ish

TW: Hangover mildy angst 

Previous parts: Prologue  Chapter 1  Chapter 2  

Vince wakes up and his head is killing him, but not so much when he looks to his nightstand for his phone. Cause there is two painkillers and a tall glass of water. His phone is even plugged in. It’s definitely not his heart clenching around old feelings. He swears to himself. Then last night begins to dawn on him. How he had gotten absolutely smashed, how you had taken him home, how you had made sure he was okay. He also remembers begging you to sleep in the same bed. And as he turns around to your side of the bed he sees the covers just shoved to the side, but the sheets are cold. Of course you wouldn’t stay. 

The soft groan that escapes his lips along with a “fuck”, is only heard by him. Silence has never been quite as deafening to him as it is right now. Vince gets up, and pulls on a pair of sweatpants he finds on the floor and stares at the pills and glass. As a wave of pain washes through his head, he quickly washes down the pills with the glass of water. He sighs and opens the door to his room. 

He walks the familiar path to his kitchen, but once he reaches the living room he halts for a minute. On his huge ass couch, you’re lying asleep, with your old blanket covering you all the way up to your shoulders. Vince wants so badly to walk over and carry you back to bed, if only to see you where you belong, in his arms, for just a second. 

However, he doesn’t do any of that. He walks over to his kitchen and starts making a fresh can of coffee for himself. He brings out a pot to boil water for a cup of tea for you. He digs into his cupboard, and just as he thought, in the back on the lowest shelf, there is an old-ish pack of your favourite tea. He hopes you can’t taste the difference. He learned a long time ago that you don’t make tea in the microwave, and he hasn’t forgotten. When he pours the boiling water into the cup with the tea bag in it, it’s almost like it summons you. Because he can hear you shuffling around underneath your blanket. It doesn’t take long before you’re sitting on the other side of the kitchen island sipping your tea. Vince is still fumbling around his own kitchen, trying to make toast. 

He takes you in, in stolen glances. All smudged make- up and wrinkled clothes, and that’s the moment he remembers why he even decided to get drunk in the first place. You had been on a date. His first reaction is to ignore it. Pretend that nothing has happened. But he knows, deep inside that he needs to show you he has changed.

Before he can get a word out, you’re looking at your phone, clearly tapping away on a message. You’ve got that cute frown you get when you’re worried or don’t understand something. 

“That him?” 

Really, it slips out before he can conceal anything. Not the disappointment and not the jealousy. 

“Hmm? Oh yeah it’s Carter. Do you mind if I make a quick call?” 

You confirm as you get up with your cup of tea in one hand and your phone in the other. 

“Sure, the bedroom is open if you want some privacy or something.” 

He says and the sentence itself is friendly enough, but he is tense as he says it and aggressively buttering his toast. 

-----

You find the contact in your phone before entering the bedroom, and once you’ve closed the door, Carter has greeted you with a soft “hey.”

“Hey, I didn’t wake you did I?” 

You ask, not wanting to ruin his day more than you’re about to.

“No, my roommate is asleep though, so I don’t want to wake him up.” 

Carter says, and if you weren’t so conflicted, you would have smiled regardless if he could see you or not. 

“You got home alright last night?” 

He seems to take the hint through your silence. 

“Yeah, I’m sorry about how it ended, it wasn’t fair to you.” 

No matter how hard you try to stand still you can’t seem to find any sense of calm. And it doesn’t help that the room is filled with memories. 

“No, but I figured, once he walked through the door that I had already lost.”

Carter says, sounding a little bit deflated. 

“Yeah, nothing happened, not that it matters all that much, but I would rather have you know the truth. I also don’t want to string you along for something I don’t even know the outcome of.” 

You say as you stop by the night stand on the other side of the bed. The one that used to be yours. 

“Yeah, I appreciate that tho, honestly. Thanks for the call.” 

In the drawer of the night stand, is a picture frame flipped to face down. 

“Yeah, no worries, see you on campus?” 

You flip the picture frame as you wait for the response, and almost gasp out loud. 

“Yeah, for sure. I hope things work out for you.” 

“Thanks, see you.” 

And then you abruptly end the call. You’re staring at a photo of yourself and Vince from  the early days of your relationship. It was taken around Christmas and it’s just the silhouette of the two of you staring at a Christmas tree you had set up in the apartment. Vince’s mom had taken it. At the time all of you looked at it and smiled. Now you felt like someone had punched you through your gut. 

“You want some breakfast?” 

You hear Vince call from the kitchen. As a million thoughts race through your brain, you put down the picture frame and head in his direction.  

“I think we need to talk, Vince.”

He stops dead in his tracks, not knowing what to do. He has been sitting by the kitchen table eating his toast and looking at his phone, but the frown on his forehead deepens. 

“That doesn’t sound good.” 

To be honest you had been expecting this reaction, who wouldn’t react like this after hearing those words. But he puts down his phone and nods for you to take a seat opposite of him. 

“I’m just gonna ask right away,” 

You sigh as you sit down. 

“Why did you get drunk last night? Please don’t lie to me.”

Vince visibly cringes as you ask, and you know he doesn’t want to.. to what exactly? Repeat past mistakes?

“‘Cause I saw you with Carter, with someone else.” 

And you swear, your heart skips a beat or two. 

“You were the one who said friends, Vince.”

“I know! And I meant it, at least when I said it, but then we went shopping for your books, and texting and I just couldn’t stop it.” 

The confession falls from his lips, and it looks like he regrets the words immediately, his shoulders tense and he looks down at his fiddling hands. You have seen Vince many states, angry, happy, drunk and worried. But you had never seen him like this, never seen him display sadness. 

“Can I ask you something, Y/N?” 

 You nod for him to continue. 

“Why did you go on a date with him?” 

“I have tried to find someone new Vince, but I can’t. Cause even after two years, I’m still broken over us.” 

Finally he looks up from the table and meets your eyes, and you see the hope in his clear, green ones.

“Then let’s mend us. I promise I have changed and I can tell you have too. Please let us try again.” 

You wish so badly that it could be that easy, but then again, why can’t it be?

“I don’t know Vince, we ended things horribly and it happened for a reason.” 

“It was a stupid reason, I’m better now, I promise. I have thought it over and over again and I know what I did wrong. I promise I’ll treat you better.”

It hurts a little knowing that he thinks it’s all on him that you ended.

“You know Vince, I made mistakes too, and I don’t want you to carry the entire weight of this relationship on your shoulders.” 

You say, wanting him to know that a relationship isn’t a one way street. 

“So we both know what we did wrong, isn’t that a good thing?”

He has a fair point, you’ll have to admit. 

“Okay, but let’s keep talking like this, okay?” 

“Wait, so you.. we can try again? ‘Cause I don’t want to force you into anything.” 

Vince asks hopefully, and a fond smile makes its way across your lips. You nod in confirmation. In that moment Vince is on his feet and on your side of the table in seconds. He reaches a hand out to you, and you take it instantly, letting him pull you to your feet. 

“Can I kiss you?” 

He whispers with his forehead resting against yours. 

“Yes.” 

In an instant he is kissing you passionately, slowly. Re- familiarising himself with you. The curve of your neck and cheeks, how your hair feels in between his fingers. How you feel pressed up against him and how your hands clench around his waist as you break the kiss to just hug him. 

------

Taglist: 

@miranda0102  @c-hartwriteshockey 

[somerandomstrayemo]

This is my story off of wattpad that I had just decided to put here, do not repost, if I see this story anywhere else I will ask you to take it down, thank you :)

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Prompt: Virgil lends their sweater to Remus. When Remus is home, he realizes he still has Virgil's sweater and finds Virgil's iPod. Out of curiosity, Remus looks through Virgil's music and finds a playlist titled with Remus's name..

Virgil sat comfortably on the couch, casually scrolling through Instagram (yes, FINALLY, something other than Tumblr-). He hadn't had much to do that day since Patton was out getting things for a movie night, Roman was writing the script for a new video, and Logan was out with Patton, probably just out and about to resupply on crofters since he was running low on them.

It was mid February, and due to the climate in Florida it was still quite cold to say the least. Though Virgil didn't mind the freezing temperature due to the fact he almost always wore his black and purple sweater, he seemed almost unfazed by the somewhat cold atmosphere.

Around the evening is when the anxious trait heard light shuffling behind him and he quickly spun around from his position on the couch, only to spot a  seemingly freezing Remus that previously planned on pouncing on him. "Remus? What are you doing here?" Virgil asked, as it wasn't very common for the dark sides to just come along particularly unannounced like that. "Oh the heater part thing in the air conditioner broke over on the dark side and Janus won't let me use his heat coil thingy, so I thought it'd be warmer here, and surprise surprise, it's FUCKING not~" Remus seemed to be speaking in an utterly annoyed an sarcastic tone. Virgil rolled his eyes and tucked away his ear buds, propping his arms up on the back of the couch. "Huh, that sucks now doesn't it" The emo said, still completely unfazed by the situation.

Remus looked Virgil up and down in complete shock. He wasn't shivering, and was acting as though everything was fine. The intrusive side then scoffed and crossed his arms, developing a somewhat snarky attitude towards the smaller side. "How the hell are you so okay with this, it's fucking freezing here! Are you immune or something?!" Remus wasn't very pleased. Virgil made it look so simple and easy to just ignore the cold, it was almost like the emo was taunting him. "Relax Remus, I just have a really thick sweater on. Here, if it makes you feel any better, would you like to borrow it?" Virgil tried to be kind to Remus, as he hated conflict between sides and wasn't one to want to get involved. In fact, Virgil did this willingly, he'd do anything just to see Remus smile just once. It was just a little temperature, how bad could it possibly be?

Remus stared at the emo like he was being taunted once more, but then eased up a bit, seeing there was no signs of mockery in his soft expression. Remus simply gave in, un-crossing his arms and giving a small nod, watching as Virgil then took off his sweater and handed it over.

Remus seemed so happy as he quickly grabbed the sweater and put it on. Though Remus was enjoying himself, this was a decision that Virgil very quickly regret as a cold draft of air hit him like a bus. God it was freezing, yet he plastered a smile on his face as not to let Remus worry. "Thanks emo, this thing really is warm!" Remus said in an almost happy tone. It was rare that Virgil ever saw Remus happy like this since he was mostly intrusive, so like any other side would, he took it all in while he still could. "You're welcome dude, I didn't want you dying from hypothermia, you looked like an angry ice cube." The emo smirked, using his little remark to distract himself from the cold atmosphere. Remus laughed, something Virgil just loved to see, thank god his pale foundation was covering his slightly red face. Though Remus could clearly see how satisfied Virgil was by the decision, and leaned forward, placing and gentle kiss on the freezing emo's face, causing the anxious trait to tense up. "I have to go now Virge, and seriously, thanks for the sweater, I promise I'll give it back" Remus stated happily as he then quickly sunk out. Who's to say he probably snuck out while Janus was distracted, he didn't even give Virgil a chance to speak before he left.

After about a week had past, Virgil had ended up borrowing one of Patton's sweaters, as morality had plenty, so yeah it wasn't his usual style, but at least he was fairly warm. After all, only a few hours after Remus left the week before was when the light sides soon discovered that their air conditioning had broke as well. Back with the dark sides however, Janus had been trying to get Remus to confess on where he had gotten that sweater all week, but as time went on, he had eventually given up. Around this time, Remus was in his room playing around with his mace, he honestly had no intention on giving Virgil his sweater back, as he loved it like his own, but he knew the sad truth was that he had to give it up sooner or later.

As the intrusive side swung hos mace one last time, A small object fell out of the pocket of Virgil's sweater. Remus stopped all he was doing and set his mace aside, picking up the object only to discover it was a dark purple iPod with Virgil's name on it. Being curious, Remus conjured some headphones and plugged them into it, starting to look through his playlists he had saved:

"P!ATD? Of course he would"

"Huh, I..guess.. Billie Eilish makes sense..?"

"ugh, and I think Lofi music would be for his panic attacks, I still wouldn't listen to that"

"AVIVA, again, of course he would."

"MCR, yep, That's Virgil alright, it's sad he only has like 2 songs in this playlist"

Remus went on and on over the playlists, until he came across one that caught his eye, 'reminds me of Remus'. No way the anxious trait really had a playlist dedicated to him, right? Remus clicked the playlist and immediately saw a song that captured his main personality, the one that he used around Virgil:

'Green' by cavetown

Remus had closed the iPod immediately and sighed, he realized the only reason Virgil gave up his sweater was because he cared for Remus, and you know what, that wasn't what Remus had thought at all, he simply thought the emo pitied him, nothing more. Turns out the emo really did like him back after all.

Remus acted quickly, playing a recording of him messing around in his room and locked the door so he could sneak out unnoticed. Once he'd done that he quickly sunk out, hoping Virgil was in his room, and to his relief, he was. Virgil was laying peacefully in his bed, curled up under his blankets, and the room completely silent apart from his very light snoring which Remus had found adorable. Virgil slept in often as he barely got any sleep once the sun set. The intrusive aspect guessed that he fell asleep around 4am today, and he only needed an hour of sleep, but it seemed as though he decided to sleep in the one day Remus decided to confront him.

Instead of waking the emo, Remus had decided to be very quiet and get in bed next to him. If Virgil truly loved Remus, then surely he wouldn't mind.

It had only been a few hours before Virgil woke up, a strong and warm embrace wrapped around his small figure. It had only took him a moment to realize he wasn't alone, quickly turning to look up at who had broken into his room; "Remus.." The younger gently whispered, causing Remus to flutter his eyes open and smile to the small anxious trait in his arms.

Virgil had to admit, he was loving every second of this, he simply looked up at Remus, frozen in silence. He had so many questions; why was he here? How long had he been there? And most importantly, did he even want to be this close to someone like himself. As Virgil's mind trailed off, he felt a pair of lips capture his as he felt his waist was being strattled. The emo didn't resist nor comply, he simply screwed his eyes shut, a few small tears falling from them. Oh how he dreamed of this, how he wanted nothing but to be loved like this.. He'd been longing for someone to love him back...

The kiss lingered for a moment before being broken, Remus placing a hand against the emo's cheek. It was firm, yet so gentle and loving. The intrusive side then used his thumb to wipe away any tears Virgil had, and gave a comforting smile "why didn't you tell me sooner Virgil" he asked kindly, a tone that Virgil rarely ever got to hear. "I was scared.. You'd reject me.." He spoke with pure honesty, and slight guilt for not telling sooner, after all he was the embodiment of fear and anxiety. Though nevertheless, who could stay upset at a face like Virgil's?

Remus chuckled as he sat up, scooping up the smaller trait and placing him in his lap and peppering his face with kisses. "it's okay now love, you don't need to hide it from me anymore, I've got you" Remus sighed out, reassuring Virgil that he had absolutely nothing to be afraid of. A beautiful moment of silence quickly followed those words, and Virgil almost immediately fell asleep in Remus's arms after that. He hadn't felt this loved and relaxed in god knows how long since he was always careful and on edge. It was a wonderful feeling, so great that it put him to sleep. Remus simply chuckled once more, laying his new lover back down as he took his place beside the younger trait, wrapping his arms around Virgil as he then too, drifted off to sleep.

Words: 1694

Sanity: 100%, this was beautiful

My sleep schedule: it's 1am and I have school, so idk, you tell me- :/

[lupinlongbottom]

Jacaranda pt. 2

Draco Malfoy x Slytherin!Reader

Summary: The next two years at Hogwarts were to be the best in (Y/N)’s life; A happy relationship, friends she could almost call her siblings and subjects she was passionate about. But, Draco Malfoy had other plans for the two, a true test of their faith and trust. 

Prompt: Your Draco Malfoy imagine was sooo good! I thought it was so well written and such a nice relationship! It got me thinking about what do you think would happen to them during their 6/7th year? Like I'd assume even though they'd be on opposite sides of the war, she would understand why Draco does what he does... - Anon

Word Count: 5.1k

Warnings: a bit of swearing, mention of blood

A/N: I just felt like their story needed more, you know? idk. felt inspired and wanted to write for Draco again! I really enjoy writing conflict. Wild.

Part 1

__

The train was solemn, quiet, almost. Normally, (Y/N) found herself enjoying the laughter of the students around her, finding solace in the few friends she had acquired over the years. This year, however, (Y/N) sat next to Draco, quietly holding his hand as the train barreled towards Hogwarts. He hadn’t been the same since his father was thrown in to Azkaban, for good reason, (Y/N) thought. Draco idolized his father, tried to prove himself worthy to the man any chance he could.

The past summer was the first she had spent without Draco, without the laughter and sunshine he brought into her already bleak life. She found her afternoons lackluster, trying to read her textbooks underneath the glow of the blue tree, trying to bring herself to think of anything but him. Though they had confessed their truest feelings, the entirety of their relationship was thrown to the back burner as Draco claimed he had ‘more important things’ to attend to that summer.

(Y/N) knew she shouldn’t take it seriously, that losing his father was taking a toll on him. He neglected to send back owls, only finding it in himself to respond curtly, in short sentences when he did. Once, she received a letter with only two words; ‘trust me’. (Y/N) tried, tried terribly hard to believe him, to trust that Draco was alright. Even when the Malfoy’s were invited to the (L/N) Estate for lunch, Narcissa was the only one to show. To say that she was angry would be the smallest of understatements.

Still, she persisted to be a good friend, to comfort him in any way she knew how. She didn’t need to yell at Draco, as badly as she knew he deserved to hear her vile words, the one’s she had crafted over the summer, she held her tongue, quietly listening to the chatter around her.

“When do you suppose we’ll arrive to Hogwarts?” Pansy Parkinson asked, seated directly across the table from the couple, her eyes digging directly into (Y/N)’s profile.

“Roughly the same time as always, Parkinson,” Draco spat, his fingers tapping rapidly against the tabletop. Almost frantic. “Hogwarts,” he laughed. “What a pathetic excuse for a school.” 

“Draco,” (Y/N) mumbled, squeezing his hand for just a moment. She noted the way his features softened, briefly, his eyes looking warmer for the second he relaxed. “Are you alright?”

“Never been better, (Y/N),” Draco said, uninterested. “Just can’t wait to get back to classes, to learning about stupid spells and stupid plants—”

“Draco,” (Y/N) said, repeating his name.

“What?” He spat, turning directly towards (Y/N), now facing her head on. He stared at her for a minute, his brows furrowed tightly together. “What is it?”

“N-nothing,” (Y/N) said, pulling her hand away, her face hardened. “I think-I think I’ll leave you be,” she stood up. “Slughorn invited me to his carriage earlier, I’m going to take him up on his offer, I think,” (Y/N) said, turning her back to Draco. “I’ll…” she paused, her eyes flicking over the darkened boy, wondering where the light in him went. “I’ll see you.”

__

(Y/N) didn’t see much of Draco, practically at all. After confronting him about Potter’s broken and bloodied nose, Draco practically avoided (Y/N) every chance he got for a week after the fact, dodging her in the halls, once jumping over the couch in their common room to get past her. She had no idea where he was off to, where his mind was at. (Y/N) was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Despite her morals getting the better of her, (Y/N) decided the only way to confront Draco was to follow him. He hadn’t been showing up to classes, even when he did, his mind was elsewhere, face bleak and empty. She found, that he clung to Crabbe and Goyle more than normal, having them follow him like bodyguards, unlike his usual gaggle of lackeys. It wasn’t until she followed him to the seventh floor, past the ghastly tapestry that she knew where he was going.

The Room of Requirement. (Y/N) was aware of the room, having trained in Dumbledore’s Army for much time in her last year, hiding from the scrutiny and force of Dolores Umbridge. What on earth could Draco have a need for that the room could provide? A place to reflect? To mourn? 

She took a deep breath, pacing in front of the bare wall. Three times, she reminded herself. Three times she needed to walk past the wall, to really have the room understand what she required. After her third circle, a door grew, appearing from the marbling of the walls. Hesitantly, she opened it, finding herself surrounded by various objects, ranging in size and shape. A loud clatter could be heard farther in the room.

“Draco?” (Y/N) asked, walking towards the noise. Funneling past bookshelves, layers of dust coating a few. The rustling stopped, leaving (Y/N) hopelessly lost, until, however, she found the tip of a wand pressing against the flesh of her cheek.

“(Y/N)?” Draco said, relaxing his arm, his hand hovering in front of her face.

“Will you put your wand away?” (Y/N) said, pushing the stick away from her, down to Draco’s side. “Godric, sometimes you just get so trigger-happy.”

“How did you find me?” Draco asked again, his fist curling tightly around the base of his wand. “You should be in Potions class right now, surely you didn’t—”

“Skip?” (Y/N) laughed. “That’s a laugh, coming from you.”

“Why did you, then? Follow me?”

“Because I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Draco,” (Y/N) said plainly, shrugging her shoulders lightly. “I’ve figured the only way to get you to talk to me is to find out where you’ve been going. I also figured that of all the teachers to be lax about me skipping would be Slughorn, considering…”

“Considering the stupid involvement you have in his ‘Slug Club’?” Draco spat, only mildly annoyed. 

“Hey, it’s a stupid club but it’s my stupid club,” (Y/N) retorted, crossing her arms. “He’s dull, but I find it comforting to be wanted somewhere for once, Draco,” she clicked. “Somewhere where I can be noted for my accomplishments. Not that you’d care enough about it.”

“(Y/N), did you really come here just to yell at me?” Draco asked, putting his wand in the back pocket of his trousers, now completely at ease with her presence. His eyes flicked around to the various objects beside (Y/N), never directly looking at her.  “I’m not in the mood to fight, quite exhausted, really.”

“You look it,” (Y/N) said, noting the dark circles under Draco’s eyes. “You look like you haven’t slept in weeks,” her hand rose to his jaw, thumb tracing underneath the growing bags hanging under his eyes, puffy and irritated.

“Always the detective,” Draco said, pushing her hand away gently. “Of course I haven’t been sleeping, my father was thrown into Azkaban. The Malfoy’s are the laughing stock of The Prophet, the butt of everyone’s jokes,” he spat, running a hand through his unruly hair, (Y/N) noted how it wasn’t styled like it normally was. “I’ve been… busy, taking over the position as the head of the Malfoy family.”

“Draco, you don’t mean—”      

“Are you really all that surprised?” Draco asked, staring (Y/N) directly in her eyes. “Since my father was caught, the Dark Lord needed someone to take his place—to finish the task that he was supposed to fulfill, to have me prove my place—”

“Your arm,” (Y/N) said, holding her hand out. “Show me. Now, Draco.”

“Do you really need proof?” He chided, cocking his head to the side. “Do you really need to hurt yourself over it?” 

“Yes,” she said, offering her hand again, preparing herself to forcibly pull his jumper off of him. “I need to see it, Draco. I don’t believe you, I don’t believe that you’d actually—”  

It was then, in the filtering light from the lamp above that (Y/N) saw it, the mark. Draco had ripped his sleeve upward, shining the black branding at (Y/N), the snake wriggling ever so slightly. She looked up at Draco’s face, noting the pain etched into his features. Fear, loathing, disappointment.

“Go on,” Draco said, thrusting his forearm closer to (Y/N). “Get a better look! Take it all in, (Y/N)! Is this the proof you wanted? Is this what you really wanted to see? Does it make you feel better?”

“Of course it doesn’t!” (Y/N) screamed, throwing her hands into fists, tightly holding them to her sides. “In no universe could this make me feel better, Draco! Godric, here I thought you’d be strong enough to ignore him, wise enough to get out of this mess before it swallowed you whole!”

“You think too highly of me.”

“I do because I love you, Draco!” (Y/N) spat, punching his chest, pushing him back a few steps. “Damnit,” she stumbled, rising her hand again, ready to strike. “You… you git!” 

Draco grabbed her wrist, stopping the incoming blow. “Love?” he clicked, throwing her hand to the side. “Please. You could never really love me, love the things that I’ve had to do.”

“You’re shitting me,” (Y/N) said, feeling the tears stinging in her eyes, threatening to fall. “You’ve got to be shitting me, Draco. What? Are we going to ignore everything that happened to us? Our entire lives? The last year?”

“I can,” Draco clicked, his face stony. “You should too. Forget about me, run off with your pathetic do-good friends, it’ll pay off in the long-run, maybe you’ll be safe.”

“So that’s what this is? You’re trying to push me away,” (Y/N) said, taking a few steps back, her shoe hitting the foot of a chair. “You’re pathetic, Draco Malfoy.”

“I’m doing it because I care about you—”

“If you really cared, you’d stop,” (Y/N) said plainly. “I know that you’ve—you’ve got to do this,” she shook her head, almost unwillingly. “I know that’s what he wants you to think.”

“You could join,” Draco said, pulling on her jumper sleeve, hanging onto the threads with every ounce of will he could. “But,” his arm went slack. “I know that’s not—not what’s best for you. I’m trying, (Y/N),” his voice grew smaller. “I’m just trying to save my family. I have to do this, to ensure that he won’t lay a finger on anyone I care about, you included.”

“I doubt I’m at the top of his list,” (Y/N) scoffed, pulling her arm away.

“Really?” Draco laughed pitifully. “You don’t think so? (Y/N) (L/N), daughter and Heiress of the esteemed (L/N) family, famously standing to the side of the war, blending into the grey of the matter, taking neither side,” he held up his fingers, counting off. “Friends with Harry Potter, the number one enemy to the Dark Lord,” he pushed the pad of his finger back, making a point. “Girlfriend of Draco Malfoy, the son of his most recent oversight!” 

“‘Girlfriend’? So now we’re using that word?” (Y/N) said, her tone growing sour. “Funny, people don’t usually treat their girlfriends this way, do they?”

“What else do you want me to do, (Y/N)?” Draco laughed again, the sound almost painful. “I’ve been trying everything, anything, to get you to stop following me,” he sighed, pausing for a moment. “You don’t believe in him, the Dark Lord.”

“Of course I don’t, I never have—”    

“Then leave,” Draco said simply. “Leave before it gets real, (Y/N). Forget about me, ignore the things I have to do. Run, far away from all of this.”

“You really think that, don’t you?” (Y/N) shook her head, fighting the tears. “You want me to believe that you’re the monster, right? Right?!” Her words echoed against the various objects surrounding them, somehow floating in the air. Draco stood silent. “Fine then. Be happy. You’re the monster you’ve always feared.”

(Y/N) turned around, afraid she might cry, sob openly in front of the person she least wanted the pleasure of seeing it. A few quick skips and almost tripping over a large black cabinet, (Y/N) exited into the empty corridor. She knew that Draco had no choice, knew deep down that he was doing what he thought was right. She just wished that she was a part of that plan.

She didn’t speak to Draco for the rest of the year, unless it was purely in an academic setting. As badly as (Y/N) wanted to curse him into oblivion, she knew that this fight, the war that was directly under their noses, was the rift that inevitably was to tear them apart. She threw herself into her studies, gaining high marks in each of her classes, learning each and every curse and hex she could muster. If there was to be a war, a big one at that, she had to prepare herself.

(Y/N) had heard of the cursed locket, the poisoned mead. Harry tried to convince his peers, his friends, that Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater and her intended on killing Dumbledore. (Y/N) didn’t need much convincing, but she hardly gave Harry the satisfaction of being right. She never shared Draco’s secret, his mark, intending to take it to her grave. A last bit of thanks she owed the boy. The last bit she would owe him, ever.

When she heard of what Harry had done to Draco, (Y/N) couldn’t even bring herself to cry, to feel remorse. She knew it was terrible, what had happened, she knew she should’ve visited him in the Hospital Wing, hold his hand. But, she also knew it was against everything Draco wanted. He didn’t deserve the pleasure of seeing her, being comforted by her. After everything he said, what he said he wanted from her, she couldn’t bring herself to bother caring.

“There might be a fight,” Harry spoke honestly, pulling (Y/N) out of her mental tangent. “Death Eaters, in the school,” he swallowed thickly. “We need all the man-power we can get, if need be.”

“We’ve got your back, Harry,” Neville said, proudly. “Dumbledore’s Army, forever.”

“We can help,” Luna agreed, nodding her head.

(Y/N) sat for a moment, feeling a sense of pride well in her chest. The group of stragglers stared at the Slytherin, eyes flicking over her profile. She knew she had to answer, knew she finally had to pick a side. No longer will she be pushed to the sidelines, ignoring this impending war, much like her cowardice parents did once before. She finally stepped out of both ponds, picking a side.

“I’m in,” (Y/N) said, face hardened. “You can count on me.”

She stood with Harry.

__

Her seventh year was nothing like she had ever imagined it to be. The war was looming around them, Voldemort had taken over the Ministry, appointing Severus Snape to be Headmaster of the school. (Y/N) had deliberated on wether or not to even return to the wizarding school, if at all. Many of her classmates had made similar choices.

The atmosphere in the Slytherin House was a dark one, the majority of the house overjoyed with how the school was being run, how the war was turning out. Many of the students had Death Eater family members, or just supported Voldemort in the war anyway, leaving little worrying in the dungeons.

(Y/N) had never felt more alone. Her closest friends hadn’t shown up to school for that year, not sharing any insight on to their whereabouts or plans. She knew, however, that it was imperative that they kept the casualties to a minimum, knew that their lack of sharing was their way of keeping her and their other friends safe. Regardless, (Y/N) felt the people she had grown closest to were farther away than ever.

She had, however, toyed with the notion of talking to Draco. He, much to everyone’s surprise, showed up for the following school year. Many thought that he’d go and fully join Voldemort and his goons, but, nonetheless, there he sat, staring at the fireplace in the common room. He looked broken, eyes empty. Maybe she should entertain the idea some more.

“(Y/N),” he called from the couch, eyes not leaving the fireplace. He had caught her before she rose to her dormitory. Guess the time was now.

“Yes?” (Y/N) replied, turning to the blonde. She made sure to keep her voice level, composure even. “What do you want?”

“We should… talk,” Draco said, tapping his fingers rhythmically onto the arm of the dark green couch. “I haven’t—we haven’t spoken…”

“Funny,” (Y/N) spat. “I wonder why that is,” she began to turn back, only to hear a deep sigh come from Draco. “Alright, fine,” she moved over to the couch, standing squarely in front of the boy, crossing her arms. “Talk.”

“Wouldn’t you rather take a seat?”

“No.”

“Alright.”

Draco stared at his shoes, all black and polished. He didn’t quite know what to say, or how to say it. How could he? Surely he had broken her heart, if any of the pain was as mutual for their split in the last year was nearly as close to his. The large clock that hung in the center of the wall, off to the right of the fireplace ticked slowly, menacingly at the two.

“Well?” (Y/N) tapped her foot, the sound almost akin to a soft slap. “What is it?”

“I’m sorry,” Draco said, fearing it was all he could say. “Sorry for everything—”

“Are you?” She cut him off, leaning towards the blonde. “Are you really all that sorry? You don’t seem sorry, you seem sorry for the guilt you’ve caused for yourself.”

“I heard… about your parents—”

“Yeah? I’m sure you have, seen them at a few meetings, have you?” (Y/N) chuckled airily, loosening her arms for just a moment. “They’ve finally picked a side, good on them, right? I’m sure the Dark Lord is pleased to have the elusive and cowardice (L/N)’s on his side finally, yeah? Another pure-blooded family to add to the army?”

“(Y/N)…”

“No,” (Y/N) said, holding a finger. “You wanted to talk, so I’m going to talk,” she spat, making a point. “If you think for even a second that I’m going to follow suit with my parents, you’d be dead wrong.”

“Of course I don’t think you’re going to join,” Draco scoffed, finally growing annoyed. “You’d think your years of trailing behind Potter and his Gryffindor goons would’ve given me any other reason to believe that?”

“You still aren’t getting it, are you?” (Y/N) clicked, her arms now comfortably resting at her sides. “This isn’t about Potter anymore, Draco! This is a matter of war,” she let out a sigh, feeling the dark pit in her stomach burble.

“Yeah? Seems to me it’s still pretty much about Potter, isn’t it?”

“Merlin’s beard, will you stop talking about Potter for once?” (Y/N) said, finally releasing the words she’d pent up for years, always hidden on the back burner. “People are dying, Draco. Innocent people, with families and children. People are dying because of Voldemort’s sick and twisted narrative on what society should be, what our world should look like. But yeah, go off about Potter again.”

“Godric, (Y/N), you infuriate the shit out of me sometimes,” Draco said, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think that I’m more than capable to understand what he’s doing?”

“You’re more than capable,” (Y/N) said, nodding lightly. “I just don’t understand why you’re still fighting on the wrong side—”    

“Here we go with the ‘wrong side’ nonsense,” Draco rose to his feet, squarely standing in front of (Y/N). “Do you know why I even bothered to show up to school this year? Why I’m not out there with him?”  

“It’s compulsory, mandatory for students to show up this year, if not—”

“It’s because I have a better chance of staying alive in these walls than out there,” Draco raised a finger, pointing to the outside world beyond the windows. “Even with my father now out of Azkaban, our family is still vying for his approval, still under scrutiny of what my father did.”

“Bully for you,” (Y/N) said cooly. “I’m sure your involvement with Dumbledore’s assassination sufficed enough, yeah?”

“You know about that?” Draco asked, pausing for a moment, taking a step back.  

“I’m not a fucking idiot, Draco,” (Y/N) laughed, picking at her nails for just a moment, trying to ignore how badly she wanted to slap him. “Harry had his suspicions all last year. My parents just couldn’t stop talking about it after their first real meeting. They never really cared for Dumbledore, they were just dying to share the news when I got back that summer.”

“I’m not the one who—”

“Do you think that it even matters? To me, anyway?”

“I guess not.”

“Say all you want about Hogwarts and how ‘poorly’ it was run before, but if you try to look me in the eyes and tell me that this Hogwarts, the one where we’re forced to use the fucking Cruciatus curse on anyone, try to tell me that this Hogwarts is what’s right in the world?” (Y/N) spat, barely taking another breath between her words. “I’m one of the lucky few, the Carrows don’t pay much attention to me unless I speak up—”

“Which you do—”

“Of course I do!” (Y/N) finally shouted. “I’m not going to stand around and watch children, literal children, get hexed and cursed and beaten because they won’t follow their ruling! Haven’t you noticed that I’m sporting this look of late?” She ran her finger to her cheek, a swollen and violently red bump met her touch. “Got that one for standing up for Neville, for doing what he’s doing.”

“Longbottom? Serves you right, anyone deserves to be beaten for standing up for that numpty,” Draco clicked, crossing his arms, receding back to the cushions of the couch. “Him, Weasley and Lovegood have been vandalizing the walls with their rubbish, speaking out too often, getting in the way of the Carrows.”

“Don’t you reckon I’m helping them?” 

“It’s crossed my mind,” Draco admitted. “Yes.”

“Then why do you sound surprised? Why are you ever shocked with my choices? You’ve known that I’ve made these choices in the past, yet every time I go against what you’d want me to do, you look like the world has ended,” (Y/N) said, her voice cooling down. “We’ve had similar starts in life, yeah, but where we are now,” she pointed a finger between the two, pushing it back and forth. “Is a direct correlation of character, Draco Malfoy. A testament to our true nature.”

“Funny,” Draco clicked his tongue. “You never thought that this life,” he pulled up his sleeve, the Dark Mark shining brighting against his pale skin. “That these choices defined me all those years ago, what changed? Was it this mark? Or was it the brainwashing of the others around you?”  

“Shove off, Malfoy,” (Y/N) groaned, throwing a hand to her hair. “Of course it was the mark! In years past it was easy to throw your name-calling and bullying under the rug, I hoped you would grow out of it…” She paused for a moment, hearing the loud clicks of the seconds passing by. “I still think you can,” (Y/N) said, a bit lower than before. “And I think you know that, too.”

“Doubtful.”

“There’s conflict in you,” (Y/N) said, lowering her hand. “You would’ve gone through with killing Dumbledore yourself if there wasn’t. I urge you to be better, trust yourself, not the words of the people around you. Listen to what Draco really has to say.”

(Y/N) exited the room, the weight of her words weighing heavily on Draco’s shoulders.

__

The air was somber, thick with sorrow and relief. The war had ended. Voldemort was dead. Friends and family were dead. The celebration in the Great Hall was of a temperate energy. While most were elated for the war to finally be over, many were still in mourning of the ones they had lost.

(Y/N), now covered in soot and blood, made her way through the hall. Her parents had fled the scene, not wanting to take part in the battle, on either side, truly showing their nature as the greyest of cowards. She nodded at friends she had passed, many scowled at her uniform, still wearing the green of Slytherin house, but it did not matter. What did matter, was the trio of blondes, all seated together, looking as if they didn’t belong.

“Draco,” (Y/N) sighed, finally making eye contact with the boy.

“(Y/N),” his blue-grey eyes lit up with a spark, jolting from the spot between his parents. He pulled her into a high embrace, unsure of what else to do. They could feel the eyes of the Malfoy’s on their backs, but didn’t care. (Y/N)’s arms wrapped tightly around his neck, leaning up to hold him closer. Draco felt himself melt into the touch, his head falling into the crook of her neck. They didn’t speak, but merely swayed for a moment, the world around them unmoving.

“Hi,” (Y/N) said, pulling her head away, eyes flicking between Draco’s.

“Hi,” Draco repeated, chuckled airily as he fought a grin.

“You’re alive,” she mumbled into his chest, taking in the sickly smell of sweat and dirt.

“I know.”

“I’ve been thinking,” (Y/N) said, loosening her arms just a bit, but still not disconnecting from Draco.

“A dangerous pastime,” Draco said, finally succumbing to his grin. He couldn’t help it. “What’ve you been thinking about?”

“All of this,” (Y/N) said, honestly. “Us.”

“Us?” Draco said, his brows furrowing closer together. “What about us?” 

“Knocking on death’s door really puts life into perspective, you know?” (Y/N) said, glancing back up at the boy. “Makes you realize what you really want in life, while you still can.”

“And that’s what you really want?” Draco asked, almost hesitating. “You want me? Us?” (Y/N) nodded, the trace of a smile pulling at her lips. “I thought you were still mad at me, bloody hell, I know I would be.”

“I am,” (Y/N) nodded again. “Still mad at you, I mean. I don’t think I’ll ever be over it,” she laughed, the sound ringing into Draco’s ears. As beautiful as a bell. “But, you’ve changed. You still have conflict, I feel it in you, Draco. But you’ve chosen the right side, finally. Much more to work on, but that can be arranged,” (Y/N) smiled. “But, people do crazy things, think crazy things when…”

“When what?” Draco poked, knowing full well what (Y/N) was to say next. “Tell me, (Y/N), people do crazy things when what?”

“Shove it, Malfoy,” she said, pushing his face playfully away, her own shining as red as tomatoes. “You know full well what I was going to say.”

“You’re right,” Draco hummed, rocking back and forth on his toes, unsure of what to do. “I do.”

“Glad to see that you’re not as dim as I thought—”

“I love you.”

The words were quick, meaningful. Draco had never said them aloud, never fully to her. Only in his dreams did he imagine the moment would come where he could share his feelings with the one he desperately wanted to. Even in their fifth year, when their feelings collided, he never, truly, said those pesky three words. (Y/N) was always the one to say them, always two steps ahead.

“You—what?” (Y/N) babbled, stunned by the sudden confession.

“I love you,” Draco repeated, his words more determined. He ran his hand to her cheek, holding it gently. “Honestly, (Y/N), you should get your ears checked out, perhaps they were injured in midst the battle?”

“Funny,” (Y/N) clicked, leaning into his touch. “I just never thought that you’d actually—wow,” she shook her head slightly. “I never imagined that—”

“Would you shut up for a moment so I can kiss you?” Draco said, placing his thumb over her lips, successfully silencing the girl. (Y/N) nodded lightly, feeling her cheeks grow hot.

He pulled her in fiercely, his hand pushing itself behind her head, pulling her lips to his quickly. This is what they’d been fighting for all along, it was clear to both Draco and (Y/N). How plain it was, now that they had each other in their arms. The kiss was soft, full of their respect, their love for one another.

They had felt it, the eyes of the hall on them. Perhaps that’s what caused the two to pull away so soon, but even with the eyes of the world on the couple, they knew that it would be harder to separate them now than ever. 

“I suppose…” (Y/N) said, interlacing her fingers with Draco’s. “I suppose you should get back to your parents.”

“You’re right,” Draco hummed, his eyes still glued to the girl before him. “We should get back to them.”

“We?” 

“It’d be nice to reunite them with the little (L/N) girl, wouldn’t it? The one they’d been on my back about marrying anyway?” He grinned, watching (Y/N)’s smile creep up her face. “I’m sure they saw what just happened anyway, mum’d be on my back if I didn’t pull you over there anyway.”

“I suppose you’re right,” (Y/N) said, squeezing his hand. “Let’s go, then.”

The two walked hand in hand, not a care in the world for anyone but each other. They sat near Draco’s parents, smiling like idiots, watching the sunshine crawl over Narcissa’s face, the realization of happiness emitted in her son’s appearance. Lucius sat stiffly, unassuming to the whole affair, but proudly listened to (Y/N)’s quiet words of affection she had for his son.

Draco and (Y/N) continued to hold their hands, the feeling of warmth between their fingers radiated into their very hearts. Neither of the two were going to let go anytime soon, for they were not ignorant enough to let it happen again.

__

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[fantasticfemmefatale]

dolly’s- chapter two

BUCKY BARNES X READER

SUMMARY: you and bucky make up woohoo

WARNINGS: reference to the reader’s abuse (not that bad tho) there might be like one bad word idk

The next morning was rough. You were at Dolly’s at 6 am, scrubbing the scratched coffee pot as if you were attempting to scrub everything about the day before from your memory. You could still hear Colonel Phillips’ gruff voice in your memory, see your father’s journal in his hand, feel the fear that replaced the rage you’d been harboring when he explained his knowledge of your “abilities,” as he delicately put it. He’d lectured you like you were a toddler, describing how you could be key to winning the war, how you could help some guy named Erskine finish some serum of some sort if you’d let him experiment on you. Your blood ran cold at that, as memories came rushing back full of bloodied syringes containing odd-colored, swirling substances, hard, unforgiving treadmills, and your father’s harsh face glaring down at you, voice full of malice as he spat, “You were meant to be the perfect human! Not some housewife!” 

Phillips noticed the change in your demeanor and stopped speaking. It would be hard not to notice, not when you were staring past him, eyes wide and empty, skin pale and ghostly. Your eyes snapped back to focus on him shortly, and you paused for a second before asking, “How’d my father die?”

Phillips froze at that. It wasn’t the question itself that gave him pause, it was the way you asked it. There was no emotion in your voice or gaze when you asked, just cold resolve. A need to know, simply for the sake of knowing.

“Kidnapped and tortured by Hydra, Hitler’s science division. When he refused to disclose your location, they shot him.”

You nodded. Some part of you deep inside that you’d tried to kill long ago wanted to feel bad, wanted to say he died for your sake, and yet you keep on hating him. What kind of daughter does that make you? But one act of kindness couldn’t even begin to heal the scars he’d dug into your skin, literally and metaphorically.

You told Phillips to give you a time and place, and you’d be there.

Bucky breezed into Dolly’s just past 7, like always, with Steve not far behind. You handed Steve the coffee you’d brewed for him, a steaming red mug with two spoonfuls of sugar and three spoonfuls of milk, the way he liked it. Crossing your arms and leaning them over the white ceramic countertop to look at Bucky, you asked, “Whaddya want, Barnes?” Your lips were pulled into a small frown, and one eyebrow was cocked as you gave him a challenging glare.

“Not even a hello, doll?” the subject of your anger challenged, smiling brightly as he leaned towards you. You sighed and straightened, turning around to grab a rag and clean the same mug you’d cleaned twelve times already, just to look busy.

“You couldn’t even spare me a call last night, plus you stood up me and Steve! So I apologize if I’m not in the best mood, James!” You yelled. “Which girl did you blow us off for this time? Carlotta? Rita? Delores?”

Bucky looked genuinely sad, and you almost felt bad for what you’d said. “I swear I didn’t mean to this time, Becca was sick and I stayed home to take care of her. And I was gonna call, but she needed her rest, and I didn’t want to risk waking her up.”

Oh god.

“Sorry,” you muttered.

Bucky merely shrugged, and told you what he wanted to drink. As you made it, you could hear the jingle of the bell atop the door, signaling Steve’s exit as he murmured a soft, “See ya later, Y/N.” You slid Bucky’s mug across the counter and he grabbed it, staring down it for a second.

“What’s a guy gotta do to take you out, doll?”

Bucky’s words froze you, like ice, crawling up your body until you couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

But the anger, the flames that were still burning inside you melted the ice away as you replied, “Maybe start with not standing me up.”

He chuckled, but then met your eyes as he said, “I’m serious, doll. I wanna take you out on a date, just you and me.”

You shook your head, muttering, “No you don’t. You want a girl that you can go on one date with and then forget about, Barnes. And I’ve got no intentions of letting any guy do that to me.”

Bucky scoffed at that. “Doll, I-”

“Stop it,” you barked sharply.

“What?”

“Don’t call me doll like there’s really something between us, Buck, not when you’re running around with every girl in Brooklyn! You know, I waited for years for the right moment to tell you I liked you, but it never came! You wanna know why? Because you-” you pointed a finger to his chest accusingly “ -couldn’t care less about a girl’s feelings! You just act like they never existed, like you never cared.” You angrily swiped an arm across your nose, and sniffed, trying to hold onto what little composure you had left. “And I would’ve rather stayed friends instead of risking it all for one date, but lately it’s like you don't even want to be friends with me.”

Bucky let you yell at him, and took it. He didn’t try to defend himself, or tell you how whatever you were feeling was your own fault, something you’d always admired him for doing. Really, why couldn’t every guy have that same amount of respect when a girl spoke? The conflicting feelings you felt towards Bucky confused you. Your heart was tearing itself in two, both wanting to run to Bucky, hug him, and agree to go out with him and wanting to ignore him for the rest of your lives.

Eventually Bucky spoke. “I’m sorry.”

You looked up, preparing to yell at him more when he held his hand up to stop you. “You had your turn, now it’s mine.”

You pursed your lips, and he continued. “You’re right about those other girls. If I’m honest, I never liked any of them. Really, I just hoped one of them would be good enough that I could get over you, but none of them were. And believe me, I’m sorry I stopped hanging out with you and Steve. Seeing you just hurt, knowing you’d never like me back. I just wasn't used to feeling this way around a girl.”

You met his eyes and tilted your head to the right slightly in a silent question, but then the meaning behind his words dawned on you. After all, he was James Barnes. Practically every girl in New York threw themselves at his feet. He’d never had to deal with rejection. Before you could stop it, a laugh bubbled up from your throat, and Bucky’s head that was hanging dejectedly shot up. “What?”

“It’s just funny,” you choked out in between laughs. “You’ve never been rejected by a girl, have you?”

Bucky glared playfully, but his stern gaze was offset by the bright, lopsided grin gracing his face. “C’mon, doll, don’t be the first.”

“Fine,” you said, feigning residual anger. “One date.”

Bucky leaned over to kiss your cheek, then practically bolted out the diner, grinning like a maniac. “I’ll be at your apartment at 6 tomorrow!” He called over his shoulder as the door slammed shut.

You smiled, pressing a hand lightly to where you could still feel Bucky’s lips. It was the first time you’d been kissed by a boy, if you were honest. Most men wanted a perfect housewife who’d cook, clean, and look after the children, but you wanted more than that from life. You wanted a partner who saw you as an equal, someone who’d share your dreams of adventure and glory. You wanted to be free, free from a world where you were seen as second-rate simply because you were a girl, free from the scars of your father’s experimentation, and free from the SSR, who currently wanted to do just what your father had done to you.

Sacrifices were necessary, and helping Dr. Erskine with his Super Soldier serum could be your only way of moving up in the world. If it got you out of a dead-end job running a diner, you were willing to endure whatever was thrown at you. Hopefully, Erskine would be a bit nicer than your late father was.

The black phone mounted on the back wall of the diner rang, and you ran to it in less than a second, simply a blur and rush of wind to anyone unlucky enough to spot you. Wrapping a hand around it, you took a deep breath, screwing your eyes shut, and praying it wasn’t Colonel Phillips again.

It was.

The second you lifted the phone to your ear, his loud voice resounded through the speaker, informing you that Erskine would be working with the SSR in a base in New Jersey, and that they’d need you there in a week.

You felt the beginnings of a stress headache pull at your head as you hung up, letting your head hit the cool wall and stay there, until the clock by the door chimed brightly, cheerfully informing you that it was opening time. God, it was only 7:30?

~~~

The rest of the day went without a hitch, until an angry woman demanded that you switch her seat with two patrons that were regulars at your diner. When you refused to move her seat, she left in a huff, dragging her two whining children behind her. 

“Sorry, Bonnie,” you said, turning to the pair that had just been yelled at. “You too, Ralph. Anything I can do for you?”

“How about dancing with us tonight?” Bonnie questioned. Her eyes shone with mischief as she spoke. Bonnie was one of those girls who could make a story about what she ate for breakfast sound like an odyssey, and make the room shake when she spoke. You couldn’t help but love her.

“You know I’m busy, Bonnie.”

Ralph murmured something, but Bonnie spoke over him, saying, “Busy with Bucky? I saw him and Steve today, and all Bucky would talk about was you! Did ya finally tell him how you feel?”

“More or less,” you muttered, as the remaining girls in the diner turned to stare at you, no doubt wondering why Bucky wanted you, but you paid them no attention. You had nothing to prove to those sycophants.

Bonnie stood up and scooped you up in a hug that gave you a mouthful of her dark curls, before whispering in your ear, “I’ve got somewhere to be with my man, so I can’t stay.” She smiled devilishly, before grabbing Ralph’s wrist and pulling him off to who-knows-where. 

You glanced towards the beat-up clock, and seeing that there were only two more people eating, you decided to let yourself close up early, to give yourself time to think. Bonnie always seemed to make her way into your mind at times like these. Even when the world tried to hold her back because of her gender, she loved herself with a fierce passion you could only hope to achieve someday. It was infectious, really, the way she carried herself, and the laughter that always seemed to precede her wherever she went. You tried your best to be like her, but you’d always been a bit more solemn than her, and more of a dreamer at the same time. She was content with the way her life was, refusing to let herself make expectations for the future that might not be achieved. Although you didn’t understand her, you loved her all the same.

~~~

The next day was Saturday, so you didn’t have to work. Instead, you spent the morning in your apartment with Bonnie, dancing like idiots to Bing Crosby on the radio and trying to pick an outfit for your date with Bucky. Eventually Ralph came knocking on your door, wondering where Bonnie was. Bonnie tried to stifle a laugh as Ralph grumbled, “She didn’t even tell me she was leaving to go someplace!” 

“Well, at least I know he misses me when I’m gone,” Bonnie giggled as she left, but not before telling you exactly which outfit to wear to get Bucky’s attention.

When Bucky showed up at your apartment, just a few minutes early, you were wearing a cherry-red dress with a skirt that stopped just above your knees, with white socks and black shoes, and lipstick that matched your dress. Bucky wore brown pants, with a white button-down tucked in, and the sleeves rolled up just past his elbows. His hair was slicked back in that way you always made fun of him for, but secretly adored. The cherry on top, however, was the bouquet of your favorite flowers he held out to you. You were unable to move, utterly captivated  by the man in front of you. Everything about him was perfect. The comfortable silence lingered until he said, “Are you gonna keep me waiting, doll?”

“With that attitude, Barnes, I just might,” you replied with a smirk. You took the flowers from him with one hand, and the other grabbed his arm to pull him inside while you gently placed the flowers in a small vase you had on the table, throwing away the sunflowers that had previously resided there.

“What’d they ever do to you?” Bucky asked, smiling. Both of you had dopey, lovesick grins on your faces that felt like they’d never fade.

“They took the spot that was obviously for whenever you decided to bring me flowers,” you responded with a sly glance his way.

~~~

An hour later, you two were running around the fair like madmen, stopping every few minutes so you could buy more and more sugary treats. By now, you were trying to hold cotton candy, ice cream, a slice of apple pie, and a hot dog all at once. 

“Need help, doll?” Bucky asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“No!” you exclaimed between heaving breaths as you tried to run while keeping your food from falling.

He shrugged, feigning indifference, but you could clearly tell that he was getting a kick out of watching you struggle.

A few minutes later, you conceded. “Bucky! Stop being a waste of space and help me with this!”

He scoffed, but you knew he’d help you no matter what you said. Bucky was loyal to a fault.

The rest of the night felt like a montage of happy moments from a sappy movie you’d go see with Steve or Bonnie, but you weren’t complaining. You were dashing around on a sugar high, dragging Bucky with you everywhere you went. He almost told you to slow down at one point, but couldn’t bring himself to when he saw how happy you looked. 

He hadn’t seen you smile so much in years.

You felt like a schoolgirl on the playground, running around from stall to stall, then to the ferris wheel. The second you two were in the air, Bucky’s blood ran cold when he realized how bad of an idea taking you on it was.

You were practically vibrating in your seat because of how much sugar you had. Or maybe you were vibrating. He’d never seen you do it before, but he figured if you just moved back and forth fast enough, you could probably do it. 

Eventually, you stopped, then yawned, and he knew what was coming next. Before he could even offer his jacket to you, you’d gotten up from your seat, moved to his, snuggled up underneath his arm, and fallen asleep.

Do you ever slow down? He found himself wondering.

When the ride came to a close, he picked you up bridal style and carried you back to your apartment, gently shaking you to wake you up when you arrived. Groggily, you swatted his hand away.

“Y/N? Doll, can you get your key for me?” Mumbling under your breath, you pulled your apartment key out of your skirt pocket and handed it to him. You turned your head, ready to fall asleep against his chest, when he set you down to unlock the door. You wanted to be mad, but just didn’t have the energy.

He gently took your hand and led you inside, turning the lights on as he did. Then he stopped, seemingly unsure of what to do now. 

You hesitated, switching your weight from one foot to another.

Eventually, you worked up the guts to ask, “Do you want to stay the night?” 

Bucky paused, then nodded, taking his jacket off and setting it on the counter. He’d stayed the night at your apartment before, but it was always as friends, and Steve was usually there too.

“I’m tired,” you muttered. 

Bucky laughed, and responded, “I can tell, doll.”

You tried to ignore the feeling that blossomed in your chest when he called you doll, then realized that you didn’t have to anymore. You debated telling him what you thought of the nickname, then realized he probably knew. Bucky knew you better than you knew yourself.

You gasped, and your eyes grew as wide as saucers as you realized that you hadn’t told him about Colonel Phillips. 

“What?” Bucky asked. “Do I look that bad?”

You shook your head, and then said, “I have something to tell you.”

@kanemithehufflepuff

[neverdoingmuch]

I just really love Two Person Love Triangles and Identity Porn. So, maybe a You've Got Mail AU? Or a superhero AU when one of them falls for both the masked hero and the secret identity?

because i love both of these aus i’ve written both!! but they’re pretty long bc i wouldn’t be me if i didn’t plot out an entire fic so the superhero au is here. 

as for the you’ve got mail au, i went off and watched the movie for the first time and i am delighted by your taste anon,,, the au works so well!! 

(okay for some reason tumblr won’t let me indent my bullets so idk how to fix that so big rip)

so we have lan & sons books, a company that prides itself on providing cheap books for everyone to read. think less evil corporation and more we wanted to provide easily accessible books for all people and ended up getting really rich off it

mr lan dadman was meant to be in charge but he ran off and lqr stepped up until lxc was old enough to take over and now lqr just kinda assists lxc when he needs help and does some other work

lqr is definitely the old guy who had a letter thing with this one woman who was enchanting but instead he was chatting to cssr and she was shameless 

anyway lwj works as *random high up job that joe fox has* and his best work friend (and real friend) is jin zixuan

jin zixuan is the heir to some coffee franchise and the two families have a deal which is why you have the cafe inside the bookstores

we gonna give lwj some friends

as for wwx, his mother owned a bookstore, the burial mounds (why did she name it that?? idk she probably told bssr that she wanted to call it that as a joke and bssr tried to call her bluff so she ended up having to call it that a la suibian)

anyway he grew up with his mother and grandmother and they left the store to him (idk what happened to them?? maybe they just retired and are now travelling the world while wwx gets to have the bookstore)

now for the actual plot!!

lwj and wwx met on omegle an instant messaging site and now exchange emails. wwx goes by yiling patriarch and lwj goes by hanguang-jun bc we want that flavour

so they’ve been emailing for years and they never share any personal information - wwx knows that hgj has a pet rabbit but not hgj’s name or his job

as for the significant others?? idk let’s pretend they don’t exist. 

wwx’s best friend nhs, who writes a column for so-and-so, always just comes over to his place and now he’s semi moved in and wwx isnt really sure why he’s here but he is. 

lwj just vibes bc i can’t see him putting up with a patricia unless his uncle�� forced him to. even then he’d probably just be ~mysteriously~ gone while she’s home

maybe he has a really annoying pa who thinks its his job to come over and like make him breakfast. it’s su she,, it has to be

so wwx goes into work one morning and wen ning is waiting outside as he always is, ready for him to open and then like ten minutes later wen qing comes in and lastly granny wen comes in

why do they work together?? idk?? granny wen and bssr were close and so the wens and wwx kinda grew up as siblings? yeah i like that let’s go with that

so when cssr decided to go travelling wwx gets left with her store and he kinda knows how to run it but also he doesn’t have enough staff so he ends up hiring the wens (except granny who’s mostly there just to hang out with her family)

bonus: a-yuan always come to the shop after school and wwx gets to recreate the childhood he had with his mother with a-yuan. when the store closes wwx and a-yuan just twirl and twirl until they get too dizzy to stand up and then they lay on the floor and discuss their favourite book they’ve read this week. it’s very sweet

okay so the next day lwj gets to babysit his cousin/uncle/nephew/idk-how-they’re-related-person lan jingyi who is like eight or something?

they go out and hang at a festival and lwj does not buy him a goldfish bc i was very stressed by the way they treated the goldfish in the movie but he does get him balloons and a stuffed toy and plays all the games with him

eventually they’re walking back and see that the small bookstore near the new lan bookstore is hosting a story time so they go inside 

lwj walks in and he’s immediately taken by the atmosphere of the store bc that place was absolutely beautiful and then he hears this voice and follows it around to the back of the store to see the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen in his life sitting on a kinda too small chair with a princess hat? cone? thing on top of his head

he’d planned to stay for like one story and then take jingyi home but he ends up staying for the entire book and it’s definitely not because the guy reading the book smiled at him once or twice

after the story time ends, lwj is reluctant to leave so he ends up letting jingyi pick a bunch of books and looks at a few fancy first edition books with wen qing

and maybe his mother used to love collecting books - the old ones with the yellowed pages and beautiful pictures - and that’s why lwj helps out with his family business,, bc he wants everyone to be able to have books like that (never mind that all their books are like mass produced and lack any sentimentality & the staff dont actually care about the books)

anyway he sees wwx help jingyi pick out books and lets him borrow his handkerchief when he sneezes and lwj’s like oh nooo he’s good with kids too so now he has to talk to him 

so he goes up to buy the books and wwx’s telling jingyi about how much he likes daisies and lwj just blurts out “can i ask what your name is?” and wwx blinks but then smiles and is like i’m wei wuxian, but you can call me wei ying, and i own this store. what about you? and lwj is like wangji, you can call me wangji

wen qing takes one look at lwj and the way he’s staring at wwx and goes you’re going to come back aren’t you and lwj is trying so hard not to just run away so he just ignores her but then she mentions something about lan books and he’s Panicking and jingyi almost says that he’s a lan and lwj just kinda guides him over to a table and then goes back to flirt talk with wwx

anyway wwx ends up going on this big tangent about books and what they mean to people and the whole when you read a book as a child it becomes a part of your identity and who you’re going to become the way nothing else does (and lwj remembers his mother and her books) and then he apologises for going on and lwj is mentally going marry me, but he ends up calling wwx and his mother shameless

but it’s okay!! wwx & cssr are proud of it!

and then yada yada lwj buys the kinda expensive books and ends up awkwardly shepherding jingyi out of the store 

cut to the next day when the lan book store opens properly and lwj ends up telling lqr about how he met wwx and lqr is like >:/ the son of that shameless woman,, how terrible,, it’s okay he won’t be a problem for long bc they’ll be driven out of business. which isn’t the response lwj wanted but lxc seems supportive enough if a bit concerned about how it would work with them as business enemies 

business is already bad for wwx and it’s barely been a week since the lan store opened and he’s pretty bummed out but hopeful that maybe it’s a fluke

then nhs invites him to some fancy dinner with him bc wei-xiong they’re all so boring and smart and have opinions, please don’t make me have opinions so wwx gets dragged along

he ends up talking to lwj at the bar bc how could he not talk to the man who’s standing in front of all that fancy alcohol and getting some fruit juice. (he’d get water but lwj has had to put up with su she all evening so he needs something stronger)

anyway they chat and it’s pleasant but then after wwx gets approached by someone who’s like wow im surprised you’re talking to lan wangji and wwx is like lan?!

cue their passive aggressive argument around the food table complete with caviar and a turkey knife. 

now bc it’s lan wangji,, instead of making scathing comebacks he just makes like factual and to-the-point statements that end up being really bitchy (or does he intend them to be that way? it’s a mix of both of them tbh but in this case he’s definitely being bitchy on purpose) and wwx is spluttering bc that boy does not stand up well against hot and mad people

nhs ends up coming over and defusing the situation but wwx makes a point of stealing the rest of the caviar off lwj’s plate before leaving 

lwj ends up ducking out early as well to avoid su she and emails wwx that night at like 9:45 bc the guilt of being so rude kept him up late and yllz is like oh no that’s so sad ): but impressive! i wish i could zing people,, my brain just turns off the second i need to make a comeback

creative liberties,, wwx is good at teasing but not being genuinely mean? lets go with that

anyway now we get the delightful montage of wwx hiding behind cheese displays and lwj walking out of coffee stores with a newspaper covering his face as they try to avoid each other

when wwx gets in the wrong line at the supermarket lwj comes over and kinda glares the checkout woman into submission and gets her to let wwx use his card which wwx is really conflicted about bc why would he help me?? and once again angry lwj = hot lwj

a few weeks later wwx ends up asking hgj for help bc business isn’t getting any better but refuses to give any details and i refuse to have lwj watch the godfather so lwj just straight up messages him and is like tear that bitch apart

and so wwx decides to tear that bitch apart and asks nhs for help. nhs, fan of the arts and small businesses and local culture, is 100% down for it and writes a scathing article about lan books and how they’re destroying all the aforementioned things nhs cares about

it ends up getting a lot of traction and people show up to protest and wwx even goes on television

lwj ends up seeing the news coverage on the matter while he’s at the gym with jzx

jzx is 100% the guy who goes to the gym just to apathetically walk on the treadmill while lwj jogs

he sees the interview with wwx and lwj is like he’s not this nice in real life and jzx is like you met him?? and lwj is like mn. then jzx is like i bet he’s not as hot and lwj is completely silent but his ears are bright red and that’s how jzx knows that wwx is just that hot

also?? lwj goes on tv and says like three words and he’s kinda annoyed how the news decided to spin that but he also said like three words so what did he expect?

but, despite all the publicity, sales don’t get any better so wwx is like fine can we meet in person and lwj is like sure

he brings jzx along bc he doesn’t know the way there, it’s not because he’s nervous and kind of in love with yllz, it’s because he doesn’t know how to get to the cafe. (it’s two blocks from his apartment)

anyway jzx is like oof man it’s seems like yllz is wwx but he is that hot so not all is lost and lwj is like yikes no not happening im not going in but he also feels bad about standing wwx up so he ends up going in and sitting down in front of wwx

and lwj is like wei wuxian, all this publicity will do nothing to save your business and wwx is like lan wangji who do you think you are (or however that scene goes) but instead of lwj being asked to leave wwx decides he’s not gonna chicken out first so they end up spending like two hours having the most aggressive cup of coffee and chat he’s ever had

lwj is exhausted but he also refuses to give up

but then wwx spits something about how lwj is some cold, heartless suit who doesn’t actually care about or appreciate books so how can he possibly dare to think that he’s better than wwx and that hurts bc lwj had thought that he’d been doing exactly that so he leaves

anyway the next morning wwx is moping around the bookstore bc he didn’t get stood up, he swears. am i not cute enough he moans to wen qing and she’s like your hgj doesn’t know what you look like. but what about my personality? is that cute enough? and wen qing eventually manages to grit out that yes it is cute enough

wen ning comes in and is like are you okay? you got stood up? that’s good! your date might have been the rooftop killer xue yang! he got caught last night! and wwx is like i wish, i just got stood up like a chump

so they ignore each other for a few weeks bc wwx is very hurt and lwj doesn’t know what he’s going to say but wwx ends up caving and emails hgj about how guilty he feels and how even though wwx probably means nothing to lwj, he’s worried that maybe he did hurt lwj and also please hgj i still want to talk to you

now hgj never says a lot, he’s always really succinct and direct but this time he takes the time to write a proper apology. it’s not an explanation bc he doesn’t want to give this up, even if the yllz he thinks he loves is the wwx that he hates, but it is an apology

the next day wwx goes to lunch with granny wen and finally dares to ask her whether it would be okay to shut the store down. he doesn’t want, of course he doesn’t want to, but he doesn’t think he can afford to keep it open. granny just tells him that it’s okay and that if the time has come, the time has come

we don’t have to worry about wwx breaking up with anyone, so he just goes home and asks nhs if he can have some space and nhs quickly packs his stuff and goes home. as he stands in the doorway with his last box of stuff he tells wwx that he’s sorry and wishes he could help more and wwx sends him this tremulous smile but manages to hold it together until nhs leaves and then he cries and cries 

the next day he goes back to work and tries to stay bubbly and cheery even as he sees all of his shelves slowly being emptied and people who haven’t stepped foot in his store in six months are telling him what a shame it is and how they wish it didnt have to come to this and wwx is internally screaming

he manages to stave off any actual screaming but when he closes up that day he ends up going to the children’s section of lan bookstore and just as he had thought, none of the staff care about the books, none of them know any books and he ends up recommending a series to some young mother

lwj, who’d spotted wwx and come over to see if whether he was here to pick a fight, comes to the awful realisation that maybe wwx is right about his store lacking heart

he goes home that night and su she tags along even though lwj just wants space and the elevator breaks. he’s sitting there on the ground listening to his neighbour talk about reconnecting with family and the elevator button pressing dude talks about getting engaged and su she is just there whining about his job and the inconvenience and lwj goes fuck this. when the elevator starts working again he grabs his rabbit and goes back down to the ground floor, ignores su she’s shouts, and goes back to his childhood home

wwx gets stuck closing his store down. he looks around at the shelves and tables he’d grown up with and sees his childhood and a-yuan’s and countless moments he’s had with people he’s loved and realises he’s going to lose it all forever. he grabs the bell, the last thing he has left of the store and closes up for the very last time

in the meantime, lwj is living the high life. he hangs out with his bunny, gets to read pride and prejudice for fun and actually manages to get all the way through it and then his brother comes to visit

apparently he’d broken up with jgy bc he was gold digger-esque and had decided to run off with someone richer and lwj is like oh thats so sad ): anyway nmj is right there and he fills your heart with joy and lxc is like have you ever had someone like that? and lwj immediately thinks of wwx and is like fuck

his first order of business is to buy wwx’s shop bc it broke my heart that she didn’t get it back in the og movie and he starts filling it with books again. he buys ten copies of his mother’s favourite books and places them on the shelf by the door and then he sees a book that reminds him of jingyi so gets some of them and he sees a book covered in daisies and thinks of wwx. and slowly, slowly he’s building up his own library, his own store, and this time every single book means something and for once lwj looks out across the floor with pride and satisfaction

his second order of business is to apologise to wwx for being a dick. he buys some daisies and goes to his place and comes in and cooks soup for wwx. lwj apologises and tells him it wasn’t personal and wwx is like that’s not true, it was personal to me and it’s personal to a lot of people and lwj understands that now. he remembers the way he’d filled wwx’s store and left his own touch and bared his heart through each of those books and he understands. he doesn’t actually say this and just tells wwx that he wants to be friends 

lwj considers coming clean about being hgj but he knows now that he definitely loves wwx and knows that wwx currently hates him but damn is it hard not to say anything when wwx is telling him how much he loves hgj

anyway he’s like organise a meeting again with hgj 

i’d say it’s ooc for lwj not to come clean but this is the man who pined for x decades and just didnt tell wwx that his son was alive so like not ooc at all

so lwj decides he’s going to woo wwx as best as he can and organises to meet up with yllz and then goes and meets with wwx and they end up going to hang out and for some strange reason, even though wwx keeps getting stood up, he doesn’t seem to care too much. he keeps agreeing to meet hgj and when he doesn’t show is more than happy to spend the rest of his day with lwj

and slowly, they start to get closer. wwx takes a sip of lwj’s coffee and lwj buys him daisies. wwx brings him an interesting book and lwj tells him about his mother. they chat freely about hgj and lwj is happy for the first time in a long time

eventually lwj organises the final meeting. wwx is really confused about the place he picked but he’s hopeful that maybe this time hgj will show. after wwx and lwj’s farmers market date ends, lwj ends up asking wwx if he could love lwj and wwx is like you put me in such an uncomfortable situation. ie stammering and blushing and eventually going oh no ill be late and running off

anyway a couple hours later wwx finds himself standing outside his old bookstore and he refuses to look at it bc he doesn’t want to see what it’s become but then, through the open door of the store, a bunny hops out and over to wwx

lwj comes running out after it calling out its name (bichen?? flopsy?? rabbit?? one of them) and wwx looks up and is like oh,, it’s you, i’d hoped it was you and he’s all teary and lwj has a handkerchief that he’d embroidered himself (with gentians of course) and he’s like dont cry yllz and then they kiss and it’s beautiful

bonus: lwj takes wwx inside the store and shows him everything and explains the meaning behind every book that they’ve picked and then wwx does cry for real bc there is definitely an entire two walls dedicated just to wwx

do they open the store as a bookstore again and work together? does wwx end up writing books?? idk up to you. i like the idea that they open the store for story time and sell children’s books but lwj still works with lan & sons to get some heart in their stores and wwx works on his own books in his spare time

[tinypnut]

[taps fingers together] Would it be weird if I requested something along the lines of the reader having a rough time loving herself? And Crosshair actually catches onto the real meaning of her degrading jokes? She's defensive and dismisses it, but when he presses she breaks down and yells about how it doesn't matter and that she doesn't need his comfort?? But she doesn't mean it. Idk it just,, came to me when I started the request. :') Hope this isn't too much.

Doubts

Crosshair x reader

@kriffingunlucky

(I hope you like it, it’s angsty as kriff and I made a few tweaks cause I just couldn’t stand a salty ending (Had some time between zoom calls to write this))

Words: 1,252

TW: Extreme self-deprecating, mentions of suicide

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You pathetic piece of bantha fodder, you can’t do anything right. You're gonna get everyone killed, you think you’re so smart? Do you think that you can achieve anything? Your ‘progress’ is gonna crash and burn like everything you do. Do you really think that they appreciate you? No one has ever appreciated you! They don’t accept you, you're such a kriffing fool. You’re a failure.

You had been with the bad batch for a while now, they were like a family to you, the family you’d always dreamed of but nothing could ever stop those thoughts. They were never-ending and sometimes you wished you could just end it all. They pounded on your head, you always needed some form of a distraction to not become consumed by your thoughts. Many times you have been caught making self-deprecating jokes during missions or even just hanging around the Havoc Marauder.  ‘Maybe if that droid shot first for once it would have hit me’ or ‘why does my holopad die faster than I ever would have’ even ‘How do people get confused by me? I’m pretty bland’ and ‘my body is a temple, but it’s one where they let banthas shit all over it’ These jokes, sometimes you don’t even remember saying them, they just happen. The Batch all brush it off with their own humor treating it as an ordinary thing. But not Crosshair, something about how you said your jokes, they didn’t sound right, they didn’t feel right. But you couldn’t tell anyone how you felt, they wouldn’t understand, well they might but not in the way you wished or hoped that they would, and Crosshair...Crosshair would push you away, he would see you weak and pathetic. You didn’t want that to happen, not again. So you kept it to yourself, just as you always had. 

Hunter, Wrecker, and Tech left the Havoc Marauder to go scout the area leaving you with Crosshair, on the ship, alone, together. You sat in the cockpit checking the systems and running diagnostics just in case a quick getaway was needed and Crosshair sat towards the back of the ship watching you as he cleaned his rifle. His eyes studied your form, the focus you had on your current task, but also your eyes. He shifted the toothpick in his mouth as he stared. You could feel his piercing gaze as you worked.

“Staring is rude you know” you glanced back at him before returning to your work. He set his rifle down and stood to walk over to you.

“And what if I’m simply admiring your beauty?” He questioned as he stood behind you resting his hands on the head of the seat. You couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ha! Yeah, me? Beautiful?” you paid no mind to the fact that he was looming over you.

“Yes,” he turned the chair around and stared at you. Your face began to redden.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Cross…” You try to avoid the conversation he’s pressing.

“I’m pretty sure you do (Y/N).” He pressed and you looked away. You stand and push past him and hold yourself. “What the Kriff has gotten into you (Y/N)?” he continued.

“It doesn’t matter Cross...It’s nothing.” Your gaze fell to the floor.

“It matters to me…” He rests a hand on your arm and you pull away once more. He bit down on his toothpick now slightly becoming peeved with your actions. Not too long ago you began distancing yourself from him, you barely spoke to him and there was barely any physical contact as well. “whatever’s bothering you just spit it out already! Sweet Maker, All you say now are these self-deprecating jokes, you don’t hold actual conversations anymore, what happened to us.” You bit your lip and lowered your head. You didn’t want him angry with you…

Maybe it’s for the best, I knew this wouldn’t last….

“I don’t need you to comfort me alright! I don’t need your pity or concern! My personal opinions on myself don’t matter to you! They shouldn’t matter to you….” Crosshair remained silent, he cast a glare and snapped his toothpick in half. He was heartbroken, but also furious, how could you say such things...

“If that’s how you want it” he growled before walking past you. He grabbed his rifle and as his brothers walked up the ramp they watched him push past them to leave the ship. They looked between his retreating form and you. Tech made his way over.

“(Y/N)? Are you okay? What happened?” he asked hesitantly. You pulled away from him as well and wiped your face.

“I’m fine Tech…” You walked away back to your bunk. Tech didn’t believe you but when he looked back to Wrecker and Hunter he simply shrugged. 

A bit of time had passed since the conflict occurred between you and Crosshair, neither of you had said a word to each other and the tension building in the ship began to feel suffocating. Hunter was getting to the point that he was about to drop you and Crosshair off on a hospitable planet to sort out your problems. So that’s just what he did, or well close to it. The Havoc Marauder landed on Felucia and the brothers began gathering their weapons. Crosshair grabbed his rifle and made his way to leave but not before Hunter grabbed his shoulder.

“Oh no you don’t” He gently pushed him back onto the ship and crossed his arms before pointing a finger at both you and Crosshair. “You two are going to sort out whatever the kriff is going on between you two even if it kills you” And that’s all he said before leaving with Wrecker and Tech. A silence fell on the ship as neither of you dared to speak or to move. You could feel his gaze on you once more and you let out a shaky breath before lifting your head to meet his gaze.

“I-I…” You lowered your gaze again. “I’m sorry…” your voice was soft, meek almost. Crosshair arched a brow and crossed his arms. “I can’t help it Cross….the things I say….” You shook your head “It’s to cope...I can’t stop thinking, it won’t ever end, sometimes it’s rambling in my head, other times it’s screaming at myself…. I try to be strong, I put up a wall but it just won’t work.” Crosshair’s gaze had softened and he approached you slowly. 

“(Y/N)”

“I hate myself Crosshair, I’m not attractive or pretty, I barely passed training, I was overlooked and ignored...what purpose do I even have, how can you even care about me?” You bit back your tears and tried to keep your voice level. Crosshair pulled your hands off your arms and held them with his gloved ones. 

“I can’t understand that you believe all that…” Crosshair sighed and you looked up to protest but he cut you off “Don’t you ever kriffing believe that shit. Cause it’s not true, what happened during your training is in the past, forget it. Your purpose, well that’s right here, on the Marauder, with us, with me…” He rested his forehead against yours “and you're the most beautiful person in the galaxy, you’re all mine and I’m all yours” He cracked a small smile.

“Do you mean that?” you question.

“Every word Cyar’ika” and you believed him, Crosshair was there, he was holding you, and he loved you.

[baby-impalas]

who you are

pairing: richie tozier x reader

warnings: angst, swearing, sexual references, crying (should that be a warning? idk but i’m putting it here just in case), self-loathing, unedited

word count: 2160

sorry this ending is kinda shitty I didn’t really know how to end it :(

normally, you loved any opportunity to spend time with your boyfriend. he was your safe place, the one person you could be 100% yourself around. although he was hyper-active and constantly making sexual jokes, he accepted you for who you were — even loved you for it. and you loved him for who he was completely.

but sometimes he pissed you off.

like last week — you had all been hanging out at bill’s house, not really doing anything in particular. conversation steered in the direction of school, then people at your school.

eddie brought up how a girl named jess garcia was said to have given the star quarterback a bj under the bleachers after practice. bill said he heard she’d gotten an std from him.

to which richie said, “that’s what she gets for being a slut.”

you’d gotten used to richie’s off-color humor over the years, but this crossed the line from joking into just being an asshole. you’d scolded him for it immediately, telling him how it was a shitty thing to say. 

“it’s not like she’s gonna know what i said,” richie said, shrugging his shoulders. 

“that’s not the point. it’s the principle of the thing.” 

“what thing?” 

“respecting women.” 

“are you joking? i respect women. i respect you, don’t i?” 

“and not being a dick.” 

at that point the room had grown quiet save for your arguing. ben and bev’s separate conversation in the corner had ceased as the tension grew thicker and your voices grew tighter. 

richie’s eyes tightened, then, and he gave you a sarcastic smile. 

“you think i’m a dick?” 

“rich-” 

“no, say it. i want to hear you say that because i made one joke you didn’t like, you now think i’m a dick and you can never look at me the same.” 

until then you’d forgotten about everyone else. they were all staring between the two of you, none of them daring to intervene. 

you dragged richie outside, not wanting to make anyone anymore uncomfortable than they already were. he stomped up the stairs behind you, being the drama queen you knew he was. 

“what the fuck?” you said once you’d gotten on bill’s porch. 

“answer my question,” richie said. his voice was stiff, almost cold. goosebumps erupted on your arms, which you crossed over your chest. 

“what question?” 

“do i respect you?” 

honestly, he really did respect you. he never spoke over you, never pushed you into doing anything you didn’t wanna do. he’d even stood up for you and bev once right to henry bowers’ face. 

henry had said you two had come over during the weekend and given him a bj together. 

“we all know it’s your dad you’re talking about,” richie had said. “you’re not fooling anyone.” 

he got a black eye. you’d tended to it for him, holding ice to his face. when you asked why he’d done it, he said it made his blood boil to hear bowers talk so crudely about you two, said it killed him inside. 

which was why you were having such a hard time processing this argument. 

“yes, richie. you respect me a lot,” you said, leaning back against the wall of the house. 

“so what’s the problem?” 

you raised your eyebrows, to which richie gestured with his hands in a “what?” motion. he was starting to get real angry, you could tell by the growing blush on his cheeks and his locked jaw. his eyes were staring daggers at you and it made your blood run cold - you weren’t used to him looking at you like that, like you annoyed him. 

suddenly you felt uncomfortable in your own skin. 

“the problem is that you made a lewd comment about a girl’s sex life, which you have no business judging, for the sole purpose of-” 

“being a dick?” he finished for you in a haughty voice, a smug smirk playing at his lips. though there was a fault in his snarky demeanor; an air of sorrow behind his cocky appearance.

it went silent for a minute. richie sighed, pressing his back against the porch lining. the air around you settled down, both of you processing your anger. 

“what the hell’s wrong with you?” you asked, your voice tired. you were past yelling, and just wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with your boyfriend. 

richie looked up at you, his hands in his pants pockets. he almost looked apologetic. his shoulders were sagging and his face had a shadow of guilt that was barely noticeable. you ached to hold him. to run your hands through his hair and tell him that everything would be okay, that you would get through this.

but you were still angry.

you could barely see from where you were standing, but richie’s eyes were filling with tears, a couple spilling over that he paid no attention to. and your restraint snapped. you walked over to richie, and took his hands in your own.

“rich,” you said in a calming voice. he wouldn’t look at you. “talk to me.”

his foot scuffed against the ground. you waited patiently for him to speak, and noticed his face begin to soften.

though instead of opening up, he dropped your hands.

“just leave me alone,” he said.

richie glared at you harder than he had all night, then walked off the porch to his truck, leaving you dumbfounded and heartbroken.

you didn’t realize how long you’d been standing out there by yourself until mike came out to check on you.

he asked if you were alright. you turned to him and shook your head, then said, “i think something’s wrong,” and began to cry. mike held you, resting his chin on your head and stroking your back, easing your sobs.

only then in the heat of his arms did you realize how cold it actually was outside. every part of your body was frozen, your hands, your legs, your nose, your feet,

your heart.

+

the more you thought about it, the more you realized how stupid of an argument it was. it was just a stupid joke. did you really wanna lose richie over some stupid joke?

yet at the same time, did you wanna date someone who didn’t share the same morals as you? but everyone has their differences, right? this felt like a pretty important difference.

your head was a mess.

you didn’t see richie for a week. you had no idea where you two stood. you didn’t even try to contact him, wanting to give him his space, though that was the last thing you wanted. he’d pissed you off big time, but you couldn’t get past the feeling there was something under the surface, something else that had made richie act the way he had; an internal conflict he was struggling with. you longed to talk it out with him, help him any way you could.

so, you nearly burst with relief when you got a call from him one friday night a week later.

“hey,” he said.

he sounded tired.

“hi,” you said.

a pause.

“so, i think we should stay friends, for everyone else’s sake—“ richie said.

“what?”

another pause.

“you wanna break up?” you said.

“you don’t?”

“richie can you come over?”

another pause.

“sure.” then he hung up.

fuck. richie wanted to break up?

to the best of your ability, you tried to not think about it while sitting in your kitchen waiting for him to arrive. he did, nearly twenty minutes later.

he looked like shit.

his curly hair was flaccid on his head, and there were purple bags under his eyes. he was wearing a hoodie, for fuck’s sake. richie tozier. in a hoodie. it had to be his father’s.

“richie,” you said, barely holding in a shocked gasp. if this were any other day, you’d tell him that he looked like shit, he’d say ‘you should see the other guy,’ then he’d let you play with his hair while he told you what was wrong. this wasn’t any other day, though.

“hey,” he said with an awkward little wave and a half smile that was gone as quickly as it appeared.

you opened the door all the way and he stepped in, shifting around like he didn’t belong. it was odd and not at all typical richie behavior. he was a king at treating every place he walked into like his own home. he never felt an inability to be himself, that was one of the things you admired about him.

you figured you could either drag out the awkward conversation so it took half an hour to the answers you wanted, or you could get right to the point.

“why would you think i wanna break up?”

“we had a fight,” richie said after a moment with a shrug, his eyes trained on the floor.

“we’ve had fights before. why would this one be any different?”

he thought for a moment, shrugged again.

“i don’t know.”

“please look at me.”

richie paused. finally he met your eyes. you weren’t sure if he’d been crying before, but there were definitely tears in his eyes now.

“rich,” you walked towards him and tried taking his hand in yours, but your boyfriend flinched away. you weren’t gonna give up, though. you wrapped an arm around his waist and cupped his face in your hand, wiping away the tear that rolled down his cheek with your thumb. “talk to me, baby. i’m not mad anymore, okay? i wanna help. even if that just means listening.”

richie looked at you, scanning your face for you didn’t know what.

“why aren’t you mad?” he said in a voice barely above a whisper.

“what?”

“why aren’t you mad at me anymore? i was an asshole. i made a nasty comment that i shouldn’t have been forgiven for. why do you keep forgiving me? stop forgiving me. you shouldn’t forgive me,” his voice dropped low on the last line.

“why do you think that?” you brushed a rogue strand of hair behind his ear.

richie locked eyes with you, his broken soul brimming on his irises.

“you deserve better,” his voice was cracking at this point as he tried not to cry. you’d never seen him so vulnerable. he’d opened up to you before, sure, but now his pain was right on the surface. “you deserve someone who’s not a dick. someone who doesn’t have to follow every stupid fucking impulse that arises in them. i mean i can’t keep my mouth shut to save a life. half the time i don’t even know what i’m saying! it’s just every thought that pops into my head rolling off my lips at a thousand miles an hour. i’m... explosive. i’ll end up saying something that will really hurt you... and i don’t ever wanna hurt you.”

richie put a hand on your face, stroking his thumb along your jaw.  his eyes were red with tears by now, and it nearly killed you inside to hear him speak so low of himself when he was practically the light of your life. 

“hey,” you spoke gently. “i know you, rich. i know who you are. when I told you I loved you for the first time, and every time after that, I knew who you were. I love you for every flawed and wonderful element that makes up richie tozier.” 

his gaze held restricted adoration; as if he wanted to love you but something was holding him back. and suddenly it hit you. 

“you knew that comment about jess would get under my skin,” you said, carefully watching richie’s face for any reaction. his lip twitched just barely. “you said everything to make me mad so I would break up with you, didn’t you?” 

he didn’t speak, but his face was shadowed with guilt. 

“it’s up to me to decide who and what I deserve. and I know I deserve you, rich. wanna know why? because you’re caring and thoughtful and you want me to be happy. I truly, truly couldn’t ask for anyone better,” richie was crying harder than ever now, though he wasn’t making any noise - just watched you speak and let the tears spill from his lids. “as long as you still want me, we’re staying together. and if you ever have any doubts I will always be here for you. always.” 

it was silent as you wiped richie’s tears, standing on your tippy-toes to kiss his cheeks. he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you into him. he was holding onto you for dear life, like you’d run away if he let go. 

you two would be okay. 

it was an unbelievably selfless act to give up someone you loved so deeply because you believed they would find happiness outside of yourself. you truly did love him to the ends of the earth. 

if you have any requests feel free to send them in :) also I promise I will improve as I write more!