#what if they fire me because i wore the wrong shoes

[petricorah]

opening misc asks/requests again (art related or otherwise) 🍄🍄~~~

[ameliathornromance]

Are you the Final Girl?

Slasher!Orc X Reader

Chapter 6

Masterlist <--- Full list of TWS

Malike drove you to a large, lush, green field of grass. It was in the middle of a public park, a few minutes away from the University campus.

You raked the field for your ‘friend’ with an animalistic sense of predator hunting prey.

Finally, you found her, jogging on her own, earbuds in and completely oblivious to your oncoming wrath. She wore a leggings, a long sleeve gym fleece and headband to catch any sweat that may have built up on her brow.

Once Malike had parked the car, you practically threw the car door off its hinges and sprinted after Sydney.

When you’d caught up to her, you gave her a hard tap on the shoulder. Sydney jumped, slowed down her run and eventually turned to face you and pulled out an ear bud. “Hey, how was-”

“Have you been the one who’s been sending me those messages?!” You questioned her.

Sydney stared at you, her eyes widening. When she said nothing and only continued to stare at you, you jabbed an accusatory finger at her, “so you have been sending me those messages you malicious-”

“Why on earth would you think that?!” Sydney shouted back at you. “I’d never do something like that to you! Where’d you-” But she stopped as she looked behind you and saw Malike standing a few feet away next to his car.

“Oh, it’s because of him.” She wrinkled her nose at you, like she was looking at something digusting stuck to the bottom of her shoe. “He told you that? Why would you believe him-”

“This has nothing to do with Malike!” You snapped at her. Holding out your hand, you demanded, “give me your phone.”

Sydney flinched, like you had just threatened to hit her. “I don’t need to give you-”

“If there’s nothing to hide, then it shouldn’t be a problem.” You interrupted.

A part of you wanted to be wrong. But who else was there to place the blame? Other than the person standing before you.

“You do realise he’s just trying to win you on his side right?” Sydney pulled out her phone, unlocked it and smacked it into your hand, the flesh of your palm stinging.

“He couldn’t handle being rejected by you and now he’s doing anything he can to have you to himself.”

“Shut up.” You told her. You found her instagram and tapped into it. Almost instantly, you found that she had several alternative accounts, all a jumble of random numbers and letters. After clicking through a number of them, you found it, the account that had been bullying you. And low and behold, the first chat at the top of the DMs, was none other than your own and inside it, detailed all the nasty messages that had been sent.

You threw the phone at Sydney, “what the hell is wrong with you?!” you shouted at her. “What do you get out of this?!”

She flinched, but still caught her phone in her hands. “You’re fucking annoying, (Y/N)!” Sydney shouted back at you. “You never shut the hell up about what happened with Malike, even when we all tried to put it behind us, you still had that sad-ass expression! Like you were some kind of wounded puppy!” Sydney crossed her arms and snarled, “so high and fucking mighty. You know you’re not all what you think, you know? Someone had to put you in your place.”

You stared at Sydney, stunned. You wanted to say something back, to defend yourself… but nothing came to mind. Well, what could you say?

All the fire had gone out of you, “never speak to me again.” You hissed at her. She deserved much harsher words, you knew that.

But with the combination of the days funeral, the reveal of Sydney’s betrayal, it all felt like too much. You had burned out.

“Gladly.” Sydney sneered.

As you began to walk away, she called after you, “oh and by the way, y’know Jack and the night you two went out?! He actually did it to mess with you, he thought it would be funny to ask you out then ditch you, seeing as how you were so hung up over that Orc, he thought you needed to be knocked down a peg too!”

You forced yourself to keep walking to the edge of the field, where Malike was leaning against his car door, watching you with hands in his pockets.

But as you got closer and closer to the car, heat rose in your face and your eyes burned as they threatened to overspill with tears.

You didn’t want to let Sydney see what was going on, so you steeled yourself as you stopped in front of Malike. “Let’s go.” You sniffled.

*

Once the pair of you were a safe distance away from the field and Malike had parked the car at the University accommodation.

“So, it was Sydney then, huh?” Malike asked. An air of finality echoed in his voice as if he had expected it all along. No doubt he had probably heard the whole argument the two of you had at the field.

At his words, you couldn’t contain your tears anymore. Clasping your hands to your face, you let out wracked sobs as Malike sat there with you.

“Is there no one I can trust anymore?” You asked, running your arm under your nose. “Why is all of this happening to me? Is God out there to get me?”

“Hey, hey,” Malike placed a hand on your shoulder. “No one’s out to get you. Shit like this just happens sometimes.”

“But she said that Jack stood me up!” You wiped your cheeks, “why would he ever do something like that? I don’t think I was that pushy about what happened with you.” You searched your memory, hoping against hope that there was no truth to what Sydney had said.

“Why would you believe her, hm?” Malike asked, softly. He tucked your hair behind your ear as he continued, “she lied to your face about what she was doing to you, why believe her about Jack?”

You sniffled again as Malike dug around his jacket pocket, pulled out a tissue and handed it to you.

“I… I guess you’re right.” You dotted your nose with the tissue. Malike had a point. Jack even said himself that he couldn’t come and meet you because he was… indisposed at the time.

“I’ll ask him about it tomorrow.” You decided. The only way to get answers, was straight from the horses mouth.

“She was just trying to hurt you because she was cornered like a rat. And what do cornered rats do?” Malike asked you.

“Bite.” You answered.

It was so strange to be around Malike like this again. It felt as though the pair of you had never spent time away from each other. You had no idea that it would be like this when the pair of you met each other again.

“I’m sorry you overheard what Jennifer said at the park.” You told him. “Really, I am.”

Malike gave another sad smile, but said nothing. “It’s all in the past now.” He said, with a shrug. “I doubt you want to go back to class. Let me walk you back to your room.”

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[mamayan]

★彡CRINGE☆彡

Shit I think the KNY Hashira do or have done— this is for fun only, don’t come for me if these doesn’t perfectly align with you~

tw: none!

Water Hashira! Giyuu Tomioka

He talks to himself, like long inner monologues spoken only to like, a wall. It doesn’t make sense half the time. He’s working it out.

Laundry sniffer, he isn’t sure it’s clean until he smells it, and even then he’s confused because is it clean? He’ll rewash clothes because they might smell clean but he can’t remember if he wore it or not.

Tries to pet dogs that absolutely will bite him.

Sound Hashira! Tengen Uzui

Will lose his jewelry and act like someone hid it on purpose from him. Acts similar to a 19 year old who lost their vape at someone’s house.

He’s stained multiple tatami mats/futons with his nail polish because he didn’t let them dry before messing around.

Makes scary faces at children to scare them and then laughs afterward.

Fire Hashira! Kyojuro Rengoku

He will repeat aloud the thing you whisper to him so loudly it defeats the purpose of whispering in his ear.

Will shed everywhere and not clean up after himself. The equivalent of smacking the hair on the shower wall after washing but it’s his whole house. Sorry Senjuro—

Believes tickling is fun and everyone loves it, even when the person being tickled is on the verge of passing out/pissing their pants.

Execute children without trial—

Stone Hashira! Gyomei Himejima

Forgets your height, asks for things that are impossible to get because he put it up way the hell up there.

His head pats are more painful than they are cute, it’s like he’s hammering your skull into your neck.

Will get ink stains on his robes/desk/etc. because he never puts away his stationary properly.

Wind Hashira! Sanemi Shinazugawa

Will threaten you within an inch of your life for one small accident (papercut) but will become enraged if you level him with the same treatment after he’s nearly killed himself with training.

Will mother hen you in the weirdest ways, like wiping your face with his spit to get the dirt off.

Won’t tell you something is wrong with your appearance in public, but will stare you down to give you the hint something is. He thinks it’s a universal sign. No one knows what the hell it means except him and maybe Genya.

Snake Hashira! Obanai Iguro

He comes up with some of the most clever and insidious jokes but tells them at the wrong time. Way too late or too early for anyone to catch it and then it’s not funny anymore.

Will let Kaburamaru shed wherever and will leave the skin. Unless it’s Mitsuri standing right there, he will not be cleaning it up. Has scared multiple Kakushi who thought they stepped on Kaburamaru and killed him.

Doesn’t take his shoes off when entering homes, etc. even if there’s no tatami mats. He only shows respect to Ubuyashiki and Mitsuri’s estates.

Mist Hashira! Muichiro Tokito

He bathes as needed, which in his opinion, doesn’t need to be all that often. Teenage boys are gross no matter how pretty they look. Natural body odor isn’t all that bad though, so he gets away with it.

He will hear you speak words and interpret them entirely however he wants. He will confuse himself because he swore he heard you tell him to go take a nap. You didn’t—

Will send the food back at a restaurant if even the tiniest thing is wrong.

Love Hashira! Mitsuri Kanroji

She will create full and detailed stories in her mind of people around her, and confuse herself because she can’t remember if she thought it for them or if they did it. Me too girl—

Cuteness is justice mentality: The cuter she finds you, the less wrong you can do in her eyes. Obanai

Like Kyojuro, sheds everywhere, 100% the hair on the shower wall sort of girl. She does clean up after herself much better than Kyojuro.

Poison Hashira! Shinobu Kocho my wife

She does no wrong.

Petty as hell and will absolutely make your stay at her estate miserable if you piss her off. You won’t know what you did, but you’ll find your food and living conditions plummet.

Can’t sleep if her pillow doesn’t smell like her, no sleep overs for this girl unless she brings her own bedding.

If she finds out you have a pet peeve, she will lay into it with passion and grit. Tengen loses his shit when he hears people sucking their teeth… Shinobu is happy to recondition him. It’s her way of showing she cares♡!

[pedrostylez]

Before Mi Luz

pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader

summary: reader and Javier are coworkers that typically hate each other, but find each other helpful in relieving that stress

rating: 18+ (no minors please)

word count:4.6k

warnings etc: smut, dirty talk, unprotected p in v sex, pet names… NO USE OF Y/N.

A/N: This is the prologue to my first writing “Mi Luz” with Javi and reader. There's some context and then a dirty ending…if I have misspelled anything or whatever please tell me omg

You were carrying your box of personal items, ready for your job to start. Did you know any Spanish? No. Did you know anyone that you were working with? No. But…they had recruited you for your organization and for your ability to remember things, and that alone gave you some confidence that you didn’t originally have.

Your first day would have gone off without any issues if you hadn’t bumped into the first person you saw as soon as you entered the building. It was the damn heels you thought you had to wear, but after today you would make the argument that you were more efficient without them. No one was hurt, but you were startled, and as you went to apologize a gruff voice said “watch it.”, which you would come to find out later was Peña. You scoffed, and continued on to your office that you had been shown the previous day. That must have been the only time you would see him…right? The embassy was big, and for all you knew, you would never see him again. 

You had never yelled at anyone before-not like this. Sure, maybe at your younger sister when she stole something from your room, or at your dad when he had drank too much and hurt your mom, but you really truly weren’t like this. You were infuriated beyond measure, to the point of almost crying. And you knew plenty of people who cried when they were angry, but you weren’t one of them. You stood your ground, said your piece, and it would end there-someone would be declared a winner. Even when they tried to stoop low and make you hurt, say things that normal people wouldn’t say, you never lost your cool. 

But fighting with Peña was different. He was in your space, fucking around with your files when you had gone on lunch, and now you were screaming at each other. He was stooping lower than anyone else you had ever met, grinding every gear and just getting under your skin. Couldn’t he leave well enough alone?

Peña didn’t know how it started at all-he had come in here to ask you a question and you were missing. He waited 10 minutes exactly, until 1 pm when lunch ended for administrative staff, and when you didn’t return he started rifling through what he assumed would give him answers. Of course, it didn’t, and so he started opening more boxes. 

He didn’t hear you come in, because unlike the other girls in the office you wore either flats or tennis shoes. He teased you about it, seeing as it was not considered protocol, but you didn’t like it when he spoke to you and he didn’t necessarily get why. 

And now you were screaming at him and he was matching your energy. He needed intel and you weren’t here, what was he supposed to do? Let them get away?

You were arguing that he could have fucking called you, or had gone to the cafeteria where you had your lunch. But how the hell was he supposed to know that? Was he supposed to crawl around on his knees and wander around and beg you to help? 

He could see the fire behind your eyes, almost as if you were blacking out this argument, and it only fueled him more. You wanted to be angry? He could be just as angry. 

And when Murphy came in to break it up, Peña was pushed out of the room and heard muffled sobs. Man, had he really been that aggressive? But you started it! He could hear Murphy cooing at you to calm you down, telling you that Peña was wrong to speak to you that way. He was asking you what Peña had asked you-for the exact same intel. The way that you blindly gave it to Murphy so that only a few minutes later that blonde-headed asshole came out into the hallway to shake his head at Peña and shove the file in his chest, made Peña wonder what your deal was. 

Today was rough on multiple levels. Everything was out of place,  Peña and Murphy needed way more intel than you could provide, and to top it all off they had caught one of Escobar's closest henchmen.

Your hair was starting to frizz. The door to the embassy and into the office and therefore into your basement back room had been opened so many times that the humidity felt like it was drowning you. You picked your shirt off your chest, trying to create some airflow as you exited the bathroom directly across from the archives.

Bumping into Peña was always a hassle, just like the first time. Today it had been happening over and over because of how much information he needed, but in general, you avoided him. Murphy was nicer, smoother with talking to women since he actually had a wife, but blunt enough that he didn't waste time.  Peña on the other hand...

You could see why the girls in the office liked him-his jaw, the puppy dog eyes he used when he wanted something...but that was all he had. And he didn’t use the puppy dog eyes on you. Speaking to him wasn't typically pleasant, and you came to find out by listening to the men in the office that he really only paid for sex. It would explain why when he was talking to women in the office he relied on his eyes and talked lowly rather than with any charisma. You were thankful that he didn’t find it worth his time to try his hand at seducing you.

When he bumped into you again as you exited the bathroom, you had to hold your tongue. Was it really that difficult to see where he was going? "We got 'em." He said breathlessly, a small smirk coming to his lips as he looked at you shaking your shirt for some sort of cool air.

"Oh, that's great." You were sure you sounded monotone, but after the length of this day you didn't really care to be polite.

"It's uh...it's because of your archives of previous intel." He stated, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "Why is it so damn hot in here?"

"People keep opening the door and letting out my cold basement air." You grumbled. It sounded like  Peña was trying to thank you for helping, but you weren't going to assume that. If he wanted to thank you, then he would, but since he hadn’t ever before, you doubted it.

 Peña's lips ticked up in the corner again. "Murphy sent me to invite you out for drinks with the rest of the office since it was because of you." He breathed, placing his hands on his hips.

You glanced at his shirt that seemed to have no buttons working, practically open to his navel with sweat covering his throat and collarbones. Eyes shooting back up to his face seeing his smirk deepening, you thought that maybe this was why others in the office swooned-that damn smirk.

"I appreciate it, but I am not sure I am going to go." You sighed, moving away from him and going back to the archives room where the air was still damp but cooler. He followed you, tilting his head as he held open the door. "Either come in or don't  Peña, stop holding open the door."

"You really want me to disappoint Murphy? And his wife?" Peña saw you eye him, and it was the first time he ever caught you. Maybe your walls were starting to come down after the year and a half you had worked with him and Murphy, and maybe he could get you to open up like Murphy got you to. In a way he was jealous that Murphy and his wife had such a good relationship with you-but he didn’t try too hard either. 

"I'm not sure that is all that new  Peña." You smirked, picking up files that had been used today and placing them back on their appropriate shelf.

 Peña scoffed at your dig at him. You were starting to make jokes at his expense, which he assumed was a good sign. He knew how tidy you kept this room, knowing every piece of information down to the letter and where it belonged. Most of the time Murphy would ask you a question regarding a member of the cartel and you could rattle off the answer before providing the file as proof. It was like you were their own personal library that they could press a button and the answers would appear.

He realized now that it was why you had gotten so upset with him and had a screaming match with him all those months ago. He never apologized to you, and just let Murphy do the talking.

But you were always sharp-tongued with  Peña. Murphy joked that you preferred blondes over brunettes, but  Peña saw the way you looked at him just now, and noted that it probably wasn’t the first time. It was like you wanted to know more, but wasn't willing to because of how much you hated him. Maybe you wanted to keep your job secure and not risk a hate fuck-others in the office weren't too worried about their job. He never had to work hard to get someone to fuck him. And if in the case that no one wanted to, he would go find "intel" of his own and pay for it, which typically meant he had to talk to you the next day to update you on a file or add information to one.

He could see your jaw ticking every time he came in the next day, smelling slightly of another girl's perfume as you noted down the information he gathered. Always silent, staring at his chin or his neck instead of his eyes. He didn't know how to win you over, but upsetting you was sometimes just as good.

He sighed, closing the door behind him as he walked away. He wasn't really keen on going to this celebration either. It was unusually hot today, and it wasn't like they caught Escobar himself. Sure, it was someone close to him, but he didn't want to celebrate too soon. The only way he was planning on going was if you were, if not to just annoy you and watch how you were when you relaxed.

He heard stories from the girls that would gather around a desk at lunchtime to chat about their weekend, and he knew that you could have a good time. He had just yet to see it. And he wanted to-desperately.

A deep sigh left your lips as you shut the archives door behind you, locking it and sliding the key into your purse. Somehow you had become the key holder, and you didn't mind it. You stayed later, and didn't trust one of the other workers to not mess up the organization system you had carefully crafted for the embassy.

Trudging up the stairs and breaking a sweat as a wave of heat hit your face, you glanced over to the pit-where all the officers desks were-and saw most of the lights off. Only one remained, cigarette in the air almost to it's end.  Peña's eyes shot up to yours, seeing that you were watching him. "Heading to the bar?"

You scoffed, shaking your head and walking towards the front door. "No, I am going to go home and take a cold shower."

"Wait-"  Peña put out the cigarette and quickly stood up, grabbing his jacket that had his keys in it. "I'll walk you out."

"You don't need to do that, I am typically here alone when leave anyways." Him asking to walk you out stopped you in your tracks. You couldn't tell if he had ulterior motives or if he was just being polite. Why was he all of a sudden being nice to you?

"I'm heading home too." He laughed, walking up to your side and pausing with you. "It's not as sweet of a victory until Escobar goes down."

You nodded, motioning to the door and beginning your trek to your car. It wasn't a long walk, but it was likely to be hot and you would need to take a few breaks. You didn't get the front parking spot typically, seeing as you worked in archives and weren't leaving during the day like the agents were. It made you thankful that you made the switch to sneakers early on, and didn’t have sores on the back of your feet like some of the ladies. 

 Peña walked beside you, slowing his stride enough to see which direction you were headed. His car was parked up front, now next to empty spots but typically next to Murphy's. "Where is your car?"

He followed your point, seeing that you were going to walk around 10 minutes uphill before you would reach your car. "I don't get VIP parking Peña." You laughed-he had never heard you laugh. He watched you start to walk away, giving the smallest of waves and he knew that something in the air was different tonight. He wanted to hear you laugh again. 

"Let me drive you over there then." He blurted, stomping out his cigarette and placing his sunglasses on his face. He wanted you to say yes, and he felt like he could persuade you easily. 

His offer surprised you, making you turn around and look at him. "What? No, it's fine." The sun was at the wrong angle and you had to shade your eyes, seeing his pink shirt had slight sweat marks on the collar. 

He smirked, pointing his thumb at his Jeep. "I have air conditioning, and that way you don’t have to sweat the whole way over."

He knew he had you willing when you stood stock still and tilted your head, looking at his car. It was a tempting offer…

And you didn’t say anything besides walk carefully over to the passenger side of his car. He was still shocked, having to move quickly to unlock it so that you didn’t change your mind last minute. He slid into his seat, immediately starting the engine and blasting the air to get it 

moving. 

You both sat in his car for a couple minutes, staring at his radio as he changed the channel until he found something he liked while the air began to cool down and you could feel yourself start to relax. The air felt nice, and his car was much quicker than yours at making the air cool. “Is your car new?”

He glanced at you, leaning back in his seat. “It’s a couple years old, but yeah I bought it new.” He took in how you leaned back, the air making your shirt move in its gusts against your chest, and how your hands weren’t clutching your bag so tight. “Do you make that walk every day?”

You nodded, laughing lightly again. “I already told you-I’m just archives Peña, I don’t get special treatment like you and Steve.” 

Not only did you laugh but he heard how you called Murphy by his first name and it irritated him. Had he really not gotten to know you that much? “You can call me by my first name too, you know.”

You scoffed, shifting in your seat and crossing your arms. “I don’t know you well enough Peña, to be calling you anything besides that.”

He forgot why he was irritated, because how you crossed your arms made your chest look…amazing. He knew he was staring too long, but in a way he wanted you to know that he found you attractive, especially since you and him didn’t seem to get along. Maybe you would be sweeter on him if you knew he found you physically attractive. 

“Eyes up here asshole.” You snapped, rolling your eyes and sitting back straight. “Are you going to drive me to my car or what?”

Well…that didn’t work. “Yeah I’ll drive you over.” He mumbled, wondering how he could get under your skin without starting a screaming match. “You just…that shirt is really nice.” He rolled his eyes at himself-that was lame as hell. 

But he got to hear you laugh again, and while he didn’t understand you, he liked hearing you happy. It made him feel like jell-o on the inside, and it was an ego boost to have you smiling because of him after so long of you not. “I think you were just looking at my tits, Peña.”

That made him choke and cough a little. “You have a mouth on you?” He let out an exasperated laugh, pulling up to your lonesome car and parking beside it so you could get out and slide into your drivers seat. 

“I’m surprised you thought I didn’t.” 

“I wouldn’t mind seeing more of what it could do.”

That was bold. You had never heard him be so bluntly flirty, seeing as any time you over heard him trying to pick up one of the office workers it was much more “want to go to the bathroom with me?” which didn’t sound like an appealing come on. You blinked at him, both of you exchanging looks for what felt like minutes. 

He knew he fucked up. Somehow he let the thought slip out of his mouth and now he was holding his breath for your reaction. He meant to say something stupid to see you laugh again, but instead came out this vulgar come on that wasn’t untrue, but not what he intended. “Um-I’m sorry I didn’t…it just slipped out.”

You glanced back down to his neck, watching his pulse pick up speed and how even with the cold air in his car it was still slick with sweat. He was nervous, and for some reason that was endearing to you. “I can do a few things…with my mouth.”

His eyes widened glancing to your eyes and then your lips and then your chest. Was he asleep at his desk? Did he fall asleep on the drive home? Was he drunk? “Yeah? Like what?” God he was pushing the limits right now. 

And suddenly you reach out and grabbed the back of his head and licked up his neck from his collarbone to his jaw. And the obscene sound that left his mouth spurred you on to do it again but end with biting his ear. 

 Peña was losing his mind. There was no way this was real. He reached out and grabbed the back of your head, pulling on your hair to detach you from his ear. You hissed, pushing back on his hand. “You want this? Here?”

You suddenly knew why the girls swooned for him. When he was in the moment with you, the breathlessness of his words, the timber of his voice made you buzz in his seat. With the cool air still blowing, the sun setting behind the building you both worked in, you nodded your head. “I could use a destress. Is that okay?”

He had to stop himself from exploding on the spot. You wanted to fuck him? Use him as your toy to unwind from the stressfulness of the job? He was on board for that. He pulled away from you, removing his hand from your head, killing the engine and getting out of the car quickly.  He walked around to the passenger side, opening your door and almost pulling you out too hard. “Get in the back seat.”

You felt yourself get wet, hopping into the back seat with his hand on your ass as he followed you in. The idea of fucking Peña had crossed your mind a few times, but you weren’t going to act on them until today when he said those words to you. No one had to know, right?

You flipped around as he grabbed your legs to slot himself between your thighs, pressing his erection to your center and pulling your skirt up. He leaned down to your neck and gave it the same treatment you gave his, biting your jaw at the end. “Fuck, I’ve been wanting you.” He groaned, palming the part of your ass that hung over his seat, kissing at your collar bone like his life depended on it. “What do you want baby? This is your chance to unwind, remember?”

You sighed, eye going skyward as he spoke to you. This is what you wanted after all. He was annoying as hell in the office but right now you needed him. You grabbed his hair and pulling him up to be eye level with you. “Sit up, Peña.”

He scrambled off of you, sitting up and guiding your hips to his and pulling you down so you could feel the friction of his jeans against your center. His hands reached forward to your chest, palming you and untucking your shirt from your skirt. “Fuck-”

The speed at which you unbuttoned his jeans and pulled his cock out was impressive. And what was more impressive was how quickly you sunk down on to him, pulling your panties to the side and letting him fill you to the hilt. He groaned, shocked at how quickly you sat on him, holding still and reaching around to your back to keep you steady. 

His mouth was open, sweat was dripping down his hairline as the back of your shirt was becoming see through with the heat. When he got out of the car and demanding you go to the back he had turned off the engine, and now it was like you were in a sauna. But somehow it made it better, because as you started to move Peña’s eyes closed in bliss. 

You leaned your head back, wrapping your arms around the front seats as leverage as you moved up and down on him.  Peña didn’t know if he wanted to lean back and watch you do the work or if he wanted to lean forward and lick your nipples, pull your hair, maybe thumb your clit. “You’re beautiful like this cariño.”

You moaned, opening your eyes to see him in awe of your body still covered. “We can only do this once, Peña.”

He grabbed your hip, halting your movements as he began to thrust upward and do the work. “Javier is just fine darlin’.” He pistoned into you, suddenly angry at how you wanted to keep this casual. Were you not absolutely infatuated like he was? The minute you let him touch you was like a reset in his brain-there was no way anyone else would fill his needs like you could. And the way you sat on his cock? And how he fit so snugly inside you? He refused to believe you didn’t feel it too. “We can see about this being only once baby-I think you’ll be too cock hungry, huh? Would you want to ride me again?”

You bit your lip and closed your eyes again, knuckles going white as your fingers sunk farther in to the seats. A light whimper escaped you, making Peña’s thrusts falter slightly, but he regained his rhythm and grabbed one of your arms to place your fingers on your clit. The way he spoke to you made you want to say yes, please but you held back. 

“I want you to cum on my cock and show me how much you’re enjoying this like I am. Don’t even fucking lie to me-play with your clit. Show me.” He felt out of control, almost in a completely different body with the way you fit so perfectly around him.

All the breath had left you when he spoke. This was his game. This is what kept women coming back. And there was no way you would be able to resist. 

He saw how much you liked his words, smirking and feeling accomplished. So this is what he needed to do to get you to be nice to him-fuck you into oblivion. “That’s it baby girl, you look so good like this, taking my cock. Does it feel good?” He watched you nod, throwing your head back again as your fingers slowed down. “Don’t stop, I want to feel you. Don’t wait for me honey-that’s so nice of you. This is for you. I want to see it.”

It didn’t take much longer for you to lose yourself, unable to control your moans as you began to release on him. The way you clenched around him was not what he expected, the flutter and the strong squeeze made him release too. He leaned forwarded groaning as he continued, burying his head into your chest. 

He slowed down, hot breath tickling your abdomen and fingers still clutching his front seats. His arms were wrapped around you, palms of his hands searing into your back and sides as he leaned slightly back. He wanted to tell you to come back to his place, that you could take a shower together and maybe you could show him more of your tricks with your mouth. But something sunk in him when he looked up to your eyes and how you were slowly coming out of a horny stupor. “Just sit here for a second, its ok.”

You felt panic rushing to your brain as you lifted yourself off of him quickly, making him hiss and hold on to your hips tighter. “Peña. I-shit, I shouldn’t have-”

“Don’t regret this, I needed this as much as you.” He said softly, desperately. He wanted to convince you to do it again. 

You looked at him and then looked out the windows of his Jeep. No one was around, and it was dark, the only light from the emergency lights surrounding the parking lot. “We can’t do this again, I really need this job-”

“No one will know, hermosa.” He was trying so hard to not be hurt by what you said, but he understood that you and he weren’t friends before this. That you had a job that you were proud of and didn’t want to risk any of it. “If you get back in the office and everyone gives you a hard time then we don’t have to do this again if you don’t want to but-” He faltered, chasing your eye line and finally grabbing your chin to force you to look at him. 

You let go of his front seat and sat up straight, hand resting on his arm that was holding your face in place. “I want to.” 

It was like cold water being poured over him when you admitted you would want to still fuck him. “I want you as much as I can have you.” Fuck he felt pathetic, completely at the mercy of you.

“One week and if no one thinks we…if I’m not completely humiliated then maybe we can-”

“You can take your stress out on me any day of the week.” It tumbled out of him, leaning forward to brush his lips against yours for a second. Any part of you he could have he would take. 

You chuckled, sliding off his lap and opening his back door. You stood up, fixing your skirt and turning around to see his cock still out going soft, completely overwhelmed. “I’ll see you next week, Javier.”

He watched you get into your car and start the engine, still not willing to move until he watched you pull away from the parking lot. He fixed his pants, stepped out the same side of the vehicle as you had, and shut the door gently. You called him by his first name and that alone felt like an improvement. Javier didn’t know what had just happened, but he knew that he couldn’t wait for the end of next week when he got to pull you close again, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to resist.

[simplyholl]

The Sex Tape

Summary: President Loki makes a sex tape with you, but uses it to threaten you.

Pairing: President Loki x F Reader

Warnings: Smut. Minors DNI. 18+ ONLY. Rough Sex. Coercion. 

W/C: 1.1K

See my Masterlist here

Your panties were soaked the moment President Loki called you into his office. The door creaked shut behind you. He sits behind the large desk. “Took you long enough. I hate waiting.” You press your back firmly to the door. “I’m so sorry, Mr. President. I came as soon as you called.”

He stands placing a slender finger under his chin. “That wasn’t soon enough was it?” Chills cover your body. As much as you would hate to admit it, you love it when he’s like this. All riled up, almost menacing. He walks over to you running his large hand up your skirt. He quickly swipes between your folds.

He smiles approvingly. “No panties. Good girl. It seems you can follow orders after all.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket, walking over to the side of the room. “We are going to film this as a reminder. If you ever stray from me, disappoint me, or betray me I will have this recording sent to your closest friends and family. Let them see what a slut you are for your President. You will never work in this town again, if it’s not for me. Do you understand?”

The contents of your stomach feel like they are going to come back up. You have always been loyal to him. But he is so mercurial. You could wear the wrong shoes tomorrow, and he could post it. If you don’t agree, he would fire you and make your life hell. “Yes Mr President, I understand.” He sets his phone up on the tripod used for recording his messages to the country.

He stalks over to you, roughly grabbing the back of your neck. His other hand holds your shoulder. He shoves you on your knees. The old carpet scratches against your legs. You keep your eyes on the ground. You know he thrives off his control over you. “You may look upon your master.”

You slowly lift your head up, taking in how tall he is. He towers over your slumped frame in the floor. He gestures to his dress pants. “It’s not going to suck itself, pet” you reach for the button quickly unfastening and bringing the zipper down. He never takes his pants off. You’re sure it’s because he doesn’t want to appear vulnerable.

He never wore underwear, and everyone could always spot the huge bulge poorly contained by his pants. His erection springs free. You slither your tongue around the head of his cock slowly taking him inside your mouth. You hollow your cheeks and begin to suck. Loki thrusts powerfully, shoving his full length between your tight lips.

You gag, tears forming in your eyes from the brutal intrusion. “You’re a pathetic excuse for a whore. You can’t even pleasure me correctly. I’ll show you how.” He places one hand on the back of your head, the other cups your cheek. You can’t do anything but try not to choke as he uses you. You place a hand on his thigh in an attempt to steady yourself. He looks down disgusted at your offending appendage. He roughly grabs it throwing it off him.

“I didn’t say you could put your filthy hands on me. Be still, and swallow. You better not choke. You’ll regret it if you do.” He quickens his pace before going still, his hot cum shooting down your throat. You swallow it all, your tears staining your cheeks.

He’s always rough with you, but never like this. Probably putting a show on for the camera. He grabs your hair at the base of your neck, roughly jerking you to your feet. You bite your tongue to keep from shouting. You didn’t want to be punished when he was acting like such a brute.

He rips open your blouse, buttons clinking to the floor. He pulls the cups of your bra down exposing your breasts. He lowers his head to the curve of your neck. His teeth lock down on the sensitive area. You yelp, digging your fingernails into the palm of your hand to keep from touching him. His long tongue licks from your jaw to under your eye lapping up the salty tears.

“I do love seeing you cry, pet. It suits you.” You sniffle wiping the fallen tears off your other cheek. Loki spins you around slinging you against his desk. You wince when your body comes in contact with the all the contents in his work space. The cool surface makes your nipples harden. He turns your head to face the camera. “Just making sure everyone can see your face clearly.” he explains.

He swings his arm, his hand hits your ass. You moan feeling yourself grow wetter. He smirks behind you, bringing his hand down again and again, hitting harder each time. You squirm, your moans growing louder. “That’s it, let every one know how much my toy loves it when I play with her.”

He plunges between your slick folds holding your head down against his desk. He drives into you setting a brutal pace. He doesn’t give you time to adjust to him before ramming back inside you. He reaches around you, circling your clit as your body jerks with each thrust.

He only slows down for a brief moment when someone pounds on the door. “President Laufeyson, open up. It’s urgent.” He ignores them, spreading your legs further apart. “Mr. President, please. It is of the upmost importance.” Loki pulls your ass flush against him spilling inside you.

He pulls out, stuffing himself back into his pants. He collects his phone from the tripod ending the recording. He walks to the door before you have a chance to adjust yourself. You keep your back turned to them swiftly tucking your breasts back in your bra. You awkwardly pull on your tattered blouse in an attempt to cover up.

You feel his warm cum seeping down your legs. You start walking toward the men trying to discover what was so important. “I have bad news, you were accidentally live streaming the whole time you were erm… intimate with Miss Y/L/N. We have started damage control, but we need to release a statement immediately.”

Your heart races. You wouldn’t be able to go in public for a long time. He had angled your face directly in front of the camera. Everyone will recognize you. You shove your way past the secret service agent when you hear President Loki say “It was no accident, David. I knew I was live streaming the whole time. Nothing like a scandal to get the people talking. You know what they say, there’s no such thing as bad press.”

Your heart sinks. He had done it on purpose. You lock eyes with him feeling embarrassed and betrayed. He smirks at you, shrugging his shoulders. “What did you expect?”

Tags

@fictive-sl0th @lokisgoodgirl @lokidbadguy @ozymdias @cindylynn @potter-puff007 @cakesandtom @eleniblue @marygoddessofmischief @coldnique @mochie85 @goblingirlsarah

[ameliawarnerr]

Hi, hope you're doing well. I wanted to suggest a one-shot where the mc had a bad day and starts crying and Jake cuddles her and comforts her.

Here you go. I hope you like it <3

(Requests for Duskwood one shots open!)

-

“Well, what do you want me to do now?” MC asked hopelessly. She felt tied and blindfolded with a million voices tormenting her in her head and not one of them would guide her to a path out of this situation.

Mike looked at her with the same helplessness. Mike was her assistance and right now, both of them were in trouble brought upon by MC's past negligence towards her job during Hannah's investigation.

At last, Mike sighed, “Right now, I think you should go home, okay? You are stressed and-”

“Going home wouldn't change the situation, Mike. We need to answer them.” MC cried out, browsing through the one month old documents she had spread around her desk. “Let's go over it again. May 4, a blond man came in to collect his revised documents. Now, I don't know if I was in the office that day. But he has the documents.”

Mike decided to entertain another round of revision on their end. “Yes, meaning you were present because no one but you could've have given him the documents.”

MC let out a sharp breath. “No one had come in for revision of documents since January. How could I have given him the wrong documents? I mean, there were no other documents I could've gotten confused with.”

Both of them were silent for another five minutes. Mike leaned on MC's desk. “See, this is getting no where. Look,” he straightened, “we'll just apologise, okay? If you feel your job is in trouble, I'll take it upon me. They can't fire me because that's partially your decision.”

Mike had proposed this idea when they had started this discussion and MC didn't fancy it any more than the first time. She didn't like putting blame on someone else. But she was lost. And that was unlike her. It was MC, she always had a way, a solution. That's why she founded Hannah without ever knowing her personally. That's why the group trusted her so much. She couldn't believe she was failing now.

“It's okay.” Mike said on seeing her doubtful frown. “I really don't mind. You should go home now. Rest. I'll take care of the rest.”

MC swallowed her abashment like a solid rock and thanked him with an apologetic smile.

-----

MC kicked off her shoes and stalked into her apartment that she shared with her boyfriend. The apartment was perfect for the two with a cute open kitchen, spacious living room, two bedrooms (one of which they turned into Jake's computer room) and an alluring balcony.

Usually, MC would greet Jake straight away in his computer room but right now she didn't have strength for anything but falling down on the couch. She felt like the biggest failure, tasting the beginning of her downfall.

She adjusted the pillow and stared outside a window at the grey sky. She hadn't bothered turning on the lights. Her head turned instinctly towards Jake's computer room, yellow light escaping from under the door.

Though she couldn't see him, she could feel his presence, feel how she was drawn to him. At last, she picked up her phone and texted him. Apparently she didn't feel good about seeking comfort either now.

MC: I'm home. I'm dying.

Jake was out of his room in an instant. “MC?” He called out in the dark living room, face towards the kitchen.

MC raised her leg from the couch. “Here.”

It hasn't been even a month of them living together but they were quite comfortable in their little apartment. All the time they were yet to spend with each other filled their minds with endless possibilities.

MC sat up as Jake approached her. Her eyes were already adjusted to the dark and she saw most of him in it. His black hair were hard to spot but his flawless skin wasn't. He wore a black tshirt which made MC stare at his arms longer than she intended.

When he was near enough, she began, “Your girlfriend is a failure and she might lose her job so now wouldn't be a bad time to tell her that you can steal money from ban—” Her eyes started to water with the words leaving her mouth.

Jake didn't let her finish her self-degrading speech. He put his hands around her- one around her shoulders and other one on her waist. He hoisted her up and sat on the couch with MC on his lap.

“Oh,” she let out. MC was yet to get used Jake's touch. She hadn't thought his love language would be physical touch which has turned out to be one of the best surprises about him.

MC pulled her head away from his shoulder to look at his face. Jake was already staring into her eyes with concern and softness.

“Three things.” He said seriously.

MC smiled, curious all at once. She was yet to witness this side of him.

“One, you are anything but a failure. The things you did to save Hannah aren't like the crosswords normal people solve in newspapers. It requires skills and training. You did it without training. That's how wonderful your mind is.” He spoke with conviction.

MC's smile widened. She loved how he picked out the heart of her doubt and threw it away.

“Do you understand?” He asked when MC didn't say anything. “I need you to believe it like I do.”

MC nodded, placing her palms on his shoulders. “Yes. I do.”

“Good.” He said. “Secondly, there is no shame in deciding to do something else. If you think you are going to lose your job then perhaps, the job isn't for you. Perhaps, you'll thrive in some other field.”

MC nodded, truly considering what he said. He could be right. “And third?”

“Third,” Jake said, “Yes.”

“What?” MC looked at him, confused.

“Yes, I can steal money from banks.” He said it with a straight face that made MC laugh.

Jake smiled softly seeing her laugh. He hadn't liked the way she looked wan and tired when he entered the living room.

“Now, do you want to tell me what happened or do you want to eat something first?” Jake asked.

“Both.” MC said. Jake didn't directly solve her problem but he gave her the strength to solve it herself. She wasn't going to let Mike lie and if they fired her, she'd move on. “But first,” MC said as she leaned down to kiss him.

A tenderness wafted between them. The slow pace of the kiss was like another reassurance for MC. She wrapped her hands around his neck. Jake titled his neck, drawing her body closer to him with his hands.

Slowly, they ended the kiss. But neither of them let go. They held each other quietly, feeling each other's warmth and increasing heart rate. MC's face buried in his neck as Jake caressed her hair and back with his hands. Slowly, they pulled away. Jake scanned her face for a final time before carrying her to the kitchen island as she sat down, venting about her bad day and he cooked her delicious food, listening to her.

“Do you want me to hack into this blond man's phone?”

MC laughed. “No, I'm gonna solve this one without any hacker intervention.”

But she knew she couldn't live a happy life without this hacker's intervention.

[tex-treasure-chamber]

During the Blitzkrieg

Pairing: Santana Sangreal x Alexander Anderson

Words: ~1,761

Summary: a little teasing on Santana's end just after F. Anderson & co. rescue Sir Integra before the show's events pick back up again

Sir Integra shrunk back in equal parts fear and self preservation as she looked up into the shadowy, smiling face of Father Alexander Anderson, his eyes unseen behind the round, reflective glasses he wore, shining like sharp curved edges of scythes. Despite the fact he had saved her, looking at him felt like looking at two glowing warning signs- make a single wrong move and she was sure he'd strike. Even the nazi vampires, armed as they were with their assault rifles, remained frozen in horror-struck recognition at the mere sight of him.

She half-listened to him as he defended his actions to the protests coming of the fabled Section XIII, his words of only wanting to preserve Hellsing to "inevitably destroy it" because "it was for Iscariot alone to destroy" feeling like a trillion little needles embedding into her skin and while she normally wouldn't care, the bombings had left her feeling just… a tad shaken but it only took a second for her cool, unbothered mask to slip back onto her face. She'd spent years facing men bigger, older, and sometimes more politically powerful than herself, always coming out as the winner in the games and wars they waged with her and Maxwell would be no different- Father Anderson was just his crazed Knight on the board. If he wanted to protect her, so be it- it only served her in the long run.

As he babbled on, Sir Integra paid notice in just how many iscariot priests were in attendance- there wasn't a doubt in her mind that she'd survive this ordeal and when she did, this knowledge would come in quite handy. It was while she was scanning the crowd when she spotted a familiar face emerge undetected from the shadows upon one of the roofs adjacent to the one where the army of iscariot priests stood.

She smirked.

"What do you have to be smirkin' about?" Father Anderson demanded sharply, cutting himself off from his own monologuing to glare down at her like she were a bug that was just a wee bit too close to his shoes for him not to stomp on.

Sir Integra smirked a bit more. "It's just so nice to see an old mate." She replied calmly.

Father Anderson sneered. "I'm not your bloody mate, you Protes-"

"Nosiree y'ain't, but I am! C'mon 'n' catch me, tall blond and handsome! Yeeeeehaaaw!" A sweet southern voice called out from behind him, way up high.

Father Anderson whirled around at the all too familiar, haunting voice and before he could think better of it he held his arms out just in time for Santana to fall into his arms princess bridal style and wrap hers around his neck.

"Muchísimas gracias, Handsome," Santana cooed with a dimpled grin on her tanned face. Before he could say or do anything, she swiftly leaned in and nuzzled his scarred cheek with her nose before jumping out of his arms to do a cartwheel and land just beside Sir Integra with a big smile for such a small person.

Pregnant silence enveloped the attentive crowd and standing in the middle of it was Father Anderson, statue still, his lips twitching in a stuttering hesitation between what looked to be a grimace and a grin, blushing from his neck to the roots of hair.

"Right," Father Anderson said and that was all he apparently had to say before he promptly turned to his team. "Okay you lot; now answer me this! Who are we?"

Finally, someone from the iscariot organization blurted, "Wait, wasn't that a vampire?"

Another one fired back indignantly, "Si! That is!"

One made a grab at their sword. "Don't worry! I'll destroy her for defiling you with her vile touch, Father Anderson!"

"NO!" Father Anderson bellowed, glaring at his crew with an almost wicked stare, "She's mine! I'll take care of that one, alright?" He pointed a large gloved finger at the crowd, "Don't any of yous try to fight her!"

Santana leaned over to Sir Integra, eyes upturned, her lips stretched into a fangless grin. "Did you hear that? He said I'm his!" She drawled loudly, loud enough for Father Anderson and his squadron as well as even the nazi vampires to hear if Father Anderson's flinch was anything to go by, "That he was going to take care of little ol' me!"

Sir Integra scoffed softly. "He meant you're his target to kill, Santana." She deadpanned but there was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes nonetheless.

Santana shook her head, hand grabbing her cross like clutching at pearls, too busy having fun with this game to quit just yet.

"What an honor." She sighed wistfully with a small dimpled smirk, "Alucard will be sooooooo jealous when he hears about it. When do you think he'll be back?"

Sir Integra sighed. "Who knows…"

"You traitor! How could you take their side? You should be fighting alongside us! Your own kind!" Cried a voice from behind them.

Santana turned to narrow her eyes at the group of nazi vampires and in a second, she released one of her favorite guns from its holster and aimed it at the forehead of the leader of the group, the one who had spoken. From his vantage point, Father Anderson could read the inscription on the barrel:

Matthew 5:9

Instantly, the verse came to Father Anderson's mind: 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.' He would have laughed at the beautiful, poetic irony of it but held his tongue as he saw the unadulterated look of rage on her normally sweet face and tried not to think about how much he liked it.

"I and I alone choose who I'm loyal to," Santana hissed, her voice cutting through the air like a sudden all-encompassing frost, "and I ain't never nor will I ever side with delusional, racist trash like y'all. Have fun rotting in Hell." She then squeezed the trigger and in a flash, the soldier's head exploded and he turned into nothing more than white ash as the holy bullet ripped through him and sliced through the person behind him, too.

After that, the battle began. Sir Integra ducked away into the safety of the car with gritted teeth as she watched Father Anderson call out to his reinforcements with a series of back and forth chanting and like a wave, they descended on the Nazis in flashes of swords and other deadly weapons. After the members of section XIII came into the fray, Santana switched from offense to defense, hopping along at inhuman speeds to redirect and reflect otherwise fatal gunfire from the enemy and all the while, she laughed and yeehawd like a drunken cowboy much to Sir Integra's amusement. Sir Integra, watching her protect not just herself but the members of the organization that wanted to destroy her own, couldn't help but smile- Santana had told her long ago that she would protect humans in her own way and now, here she was, doing just that.

Father Anderson didn't pay her or Santana much attention, his focus understandably elsewhere altogether as he sliced and stabbed his way through vampire after vampire but when he happened to see Santana catch a bullet meant for one of his comrades between two fingers and viciously fling it back like a dart at the vampire that had shot it, slicing clean through the abomination's neck, he couldn't help but make a mental note of it before refocusing his attention on the next body to dismember. As much as Iscariot taught him about these killings being nothing short of a sacred, holy act of righteous purging, a serious act of divine intervention, he couldn't help but… well. Have f u n.

Santana moved like a gymnast and dancer all in one as she dodged, weaved, cartwheeled, and shot in deadly precision, her crème shirt blooming more and more with blood that was probably hers but mainly the enemy's. She didn't flinch as she felt a bullet rip through her upper arm and turned around on a dime to thrust her hand, suddenly adorned with thick, sharp claws, straight into the chest of a Nazi soldier and rip his bloody heart out of his chest. She didn't look at it; she simply threw it to the ground and stomped on it with the heel of her steel toed cowboy boot before moving on to the next enemy, her normally heavy lidded eyes wide and searching, her lips parted in a sadistic, gleefully serrated smile. Her hand, slick with blood, remained as a claw as she scanned the crowd to find yet another beating heart to rip out, her other hand outstretched and holding one of her precious revolvers to continue to defend the humans she could.

At some point, she morphed her clawed hand back to normal and wiped her hands with a handkerchief. Not five minutes later she ran out of bullets and couldn't be bothered to reload nor did she particularly feel like pulling out her other gun, at least not yet. Inspired by the swords and spears she saw many of the members of Section XIII using, she secured her gun in its holster and from the inside of her trench coat she retrieved a long, solid black baseball bat made of polypropylene- a material strong enough to withstand the force she used to bash in heads and also allow her to grip it snugly in her small hands. On its side was the word "FINIS" in big, bold letters and it didn't take long before she began bashing in kneecaps and skulls.

"Hey batter, batter, swING!" Santana exclaimed giddily before swinging hard and slamming it against the back of the head of a distracted soldier. His helmet gave way like tissue paper under the extreme force and his skull exploded on impact, scattering brain matter everywhere as what little remained of his head flopped pitifully where it still connected ever so slightly to his now exposed spinal column. As he dropped to the floor, Santana whirled around and slammed the front of her bat into another soldier's stomach with a satisfying crunch before quickly pulling it back in to deliver an uppercut blow while he was bent over in pain. The man's baby vampire teeth shattered and crumbled like chalk in an instant, along with his jaw. Santana watched his eyes bulge out of their sockets with detached interest before slamming the bat into the side of his face, crushing whatever remained.

Well. One more down, who knows how many more to go. Maybe she'd aim lower next time, just around the neck, to try and hit a home run- it would make a funny sight, and probably scare a few of their enemies to boot. Santana glanced around with a crooked, fanged smile- now then...

Who else wanted to play?

[napakmahal]

I’ll miss you until I close my eyes.

Ok so this is not an x reader fic but it is very angsty. This is my snack before I deliver my next full x reader. (Also this may or may not be my apology for being gone for so long) Also if I got the Japanese word for mother wrong please tell me.

Tadashi didn’t get an open casket funeral. Well, he could have but both the hospital and the funeral home strongly advised against it considering the state he was in. Aunt Cass also agreed, she didn’t want his friends and family to see him like that. She wanted to put a big portrait of him smiling to hang above the casket so that’s how people would remember him. She also knew that’s what he would have wanted.

At any talk of the funeral, Hiro shut down. He didn’t want to hear it. Like he didn’t want to fully commit to making a slideshow full of memories he had with his brother complete with his birthdate and his death date . And just like how he tried to avoid giving a speech but he did it because “please, out of all the people that he’d want to hear from it would be you. Let him hear you one last time.”

Hiro didn’t believe that Tadashi could hear him. He was dead and the bones and cartilage in his ears probably shattered before he died due to the fire. But the idea sounded nice so he wrote one.

When the time came for Hiro to give his speech in front of family members and family friends he hadn’t seen in years he suddenly didn’t want to. The podium was scarily close to the light gray casket covered with flower arrangements made from Tadashi’s birth-flower. The moment he saw how close it was, he physically backed up. Hiro slipped through the crowd of people with a wrinkled piece of binder paper with writing and tear stains on it. He tried to hand it to his aunt who was talking to a friend of the boys’ mom expressing how upset she was to hear her friend's son had passed so young.

“Hiro, what?” Aunt Cass had leaned down to his height.

Hiro looked down at his shoes and shook his head left and right. “Can you deliver it for me?”

“What? No, Hiro please let-”

Still shaking his head, Hiro responded “No, I don’t wanna go up there. I don’t wanna see him.”

Aunt Cass felt her heart crack inside her chest. The casket wasn’t even open so he technically couldn’t see him. But being near not just his older brother, but his older brother's casket was too much.

Before she could respond, Hiro took off towards the bathroom and sat down on the dirty floor. His black tie swinging back and forth. The crinkled speech still clutched in his palm. Hiro had rewritten the speech over six times. Tadashi did always say it was important to be good at writing essays, not just science and math.

He didn’t know how long he’d been sitting there but it was long enough for someone to start banging on the door shouting “hurry please!”

More and more people started coming. He recognized most of them but couldn’t remember all their faces. At least every other person would stop him and say “you look just like your dad.” Aunt Cass had said that too but Hiro didn’t agree but maybe that’s because he’d never seen a picture of his dad as a teenager. Tadashi looked like his mommy, and acted like her too. Up until his untimely death, Tadashi wore a gold anklet with the word Hahaoya on it. Momma's boy from his birth to his death.

Hiro also saw Tadashi’s friends pull up to the funeral but he ducked through the crowd and pretended not to see them. They saw him though but nobody chased after him. Hiro had still been clinging to his decision that he didn’t want to stand anywhere near Tadashi’s casket until he saw an older woman he remembered. She always sent gifts and provided 90 percent of all the old photos of his parents. Tadashi called her auntie, but Hiro didn’t know if she was actually his aunt or if she was just a family friend. He never asked.

She was hunched in her seat with her hands hugging her body. Hiro walked up to her and greeted her with a hoarse voice.

“Auntie?” He gently placed her hand on her shoulder.

The old woman looked back. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and there were tear stains everywhere on her face and shirt. “Aye! Hiro, aya, how are you?”

Hiro didn’t respond and just shrugged instead. He didn’t feel like crying in front of her or anyone for that matter.

“I know, I know. But it’s good you’re here, you know? He needs you.”

Hiro had heard that multiple times that day and it was taking all the respect he had to not roll his eyes. But that’s when she said:

“Be with you one more time before he sees your mommy and daddy.”

Hiro doesn’t know why that simple sympathy filled sentence had propelled him to want to suddenly share his speech. Maybe it was because it hit that he’d be the only one left out of his immediate family or maybe because he truly didn't want to have to live with the fact he didn’t speak at his own brother's funeral. Either way, he was filled with a new found motivation.

Aunt Cass had delivered a beautiful speech on how honored she felt to have had something to do with the way Tadashi was brought up and how beautifully he blossomed. That though it may have not been in the cards she’ll think of and love him for the rest of her days.

Wasabi gave a speech on behalf of the friend group about how Tadashi will have an everlasting impact on their lives and what an unforgettable friend and wonderful experience he was. Honey was originally supposed to deliver it but she couldn't stop crying for long enough to form sentences. Fred’s eyes were glued to the floor while GoGo had tried not to cry in front of people but ended up having to excuse herself to use the bathroom as a long awaited sob started growing in her throat.

Then it was Hiro’s turn. It was like there was ominous horror movie music emitting from the closed casket. For a while the world moved in slow motion. Hiro could hear his footsteps as if they were being amplified with a speaker as he walked down the aisle and closer to the podium. The world sounded like it was underwater, his ears felt a caked muffling sound. The only thing that stopped it was looking up. Before Hiro had actually stepped onto the podium he looked up and saw his brother. Smiling with his brown eyes glistening in the camera and his cheeks red with laughter. That was how he was supposed to remember him but he couldn’t. He remembered Tadashi’s face of panic and confliction as begged him to stay. But seeing his brother's beautiful face smiling was a nice comfort. That was the first time he started to understand “the ones that love us never really leave us.”

Hiro got up on the podium and froze for a moment. A beat where he needed to remind himself to breathe. “Uhm- Hi. I’m Hiro, I’m Tadashi’s brother. Our parents died when I was three and I didn’t understand. One ng-night they tucked me in, and the oth-other they didn’t . That was all I knew. But T-tadashi—my brother—said uhm, that if I ever wanted to be with them all I would have to do is shut my eyes. And suddenly they would be there for me. I-I don’t know if that’s tru-rue but I tried. When it didn’t work I thought maybe they just didn’t want to be there for me. But it didn’t matter because he was there for me. Tadashi taught me to tie my laces l-like a big boy—ha— and taught me how to ride a big boy bike with no training wheels. On my first day of high school he left his friends so we could sit together. And he bailed me out of trouble constantly. I see him every-everywhere. I see him in his side of our room, I see him in the trinkets we built together, and every time I see someone with as much of love for the San Fransokyo Ninjas as you I laugh but nothing comes out. I can’t laugh without you. I miss you, and I’ll miss you until I close my eyes.”

[scribeforchrist-blog]

He’s Enough

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

=========================

+ 2 Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

=========================

VERSE OF THE DAY 

========================

+ Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

=========================

SUBJECT: He’s Enough

=========================

** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

GOD IS ENOUGH

I AM CONTENT 

I AM STRONG 

I AM NOT WORRIED 

********************************

THOUGHTS:

=======================

 Sometimes, when we eat, it's not enough; when we sleep, it's not enough; when we make our weekly, monthly, or bi-weekly check, it's not enough; we are never satisfied. We always wanting more, looking for more, but when is enough, enough? When are we filled and say, " I'm content? 

    Before I met Christ, I was never content. I was never happy; I was always looking for more, and nothing wasn’t enough. And as I allowed God to fill me, I realized that what I thought wasn’t enough was, what I thought I wanted I didn’t need it , and what I truly needed was God, and I needed his love to complete me through and through, what do you have that’s enough?

  Is there enough food in the cabinets? Is there enough money in your account? God wants us to be filled with him and allow him to be enough. Can you do that? Can His love, grace, and mercy be enough for you? If we let him, he can be plenty. He can give plenty. 

    He fed the Israelites and gave them water, also ensured they wouldn’t need any new shoes because they never wore out. He made sure their clothes never tore because he is a provider and he is always good enough. God always ensures we have what we need, and he asking us , and telling us he's enough. Do you believe that he’s enough?

  Exodus 14:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out daily and gather enough for that day. In this way, I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

    See, he rained down bread from heaven for them, and each day, they were able to eat, and they were able to be full and be content, but like all humans, it wasn’t enough. Numbers 11:1 One day, the Israelites started complaining about their troubles. The Lord heard them and became so angry that he destroyed the outer edges of their camp with fire.

    They complained about what God was doing, and they made him angry. He destroyed the outer edge of the campfire because they felt what he was doing wasn't enough. They even went as far as to say this in Verse 5: In Egypt, we could eat all the fish we wanted, and there were cucumbers, melons, all kinds of onions, and garlic. 6 But we're starving out here, and the only food we have is this manna.”

     They didn’t care what he was doing. It was never enough, and this is what’s happening today. We complain about what he isn’t doing and what he has given us isn’t what we want or need, but when will we get to the place where we see that what we have with God and what he gives us is more than enough we will feel completely FULL because then we are accepting him as being ENOUGH.

   Philippians 4:12: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want

   That’s why Paul says to be content with what you have ,to be content with what's happening in your life because when God provides, he provides according to his riches and glory; if we go based on our wants and our needs, we will get it and still complain that’s why we must ask God what do you want from me? What do you want me to do? Are you okay with me having this or that? Sure, he wants us to ask, but we need to make sure what we are asking is what he wants of us.

  So let me say this: There’s nothing wrong with wanting more in life, and it’s nothing wrong with saying I need this or that but what we don’t want to do is not be okay or content with where God has us at , because some of us are in a season in our life of growth. Right now, God is trying to show us where we need to be and what we need to do. Many of us don’t want that because it requires change; it requires giving more of ourselves to God and letting go of our idea of more. 

   ****Today, God is asking if I am enough; if you are content where I have you, can you walk in this season that I have placed you in? To walk in this season, we must learn to rely on him, be okay with what he wants of us, hear him, and truly listen to what he’s saying. To grow, we must learn to be watered; to be watered, we must sit still.

   Being content shows growth; it shows that you're relying on God through it all, and that’s how you can do this through his strength. God loves us so much and wants us to trust him through our ups and downs. Every day isn’t a great day, and every day won’t be a horrible day, but every day with Jesus will be complete because we are doing it with him! Learn to be content with your season. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

========================

PRAYER

========================

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for everything. Lord, we ask you to teach us how to be content. Lord, give us more of you and help us to accept how you are watering our lives; lord, we need you more than ever. Lord, help us to produce more of the fruits of the spirit, and help us to rest on you and nothing else. Lord, we need you to help us grow in you daily. Lord, we thank you for mercy and grace; in Jesus' Name, amen. 

========================

REFERENCES 

========================

+ Philippians 4:10 rejoiced greatly in the Lord that you finally renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

 

+ Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

 

+ Philippians 4:13 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

========================

FURTHER READINGS 

=========================

Proverbs 21

Daniel 3 

Malachi 4

Matthew 26

=========================

[1ickoris]

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

[Chapter 21-22 of the Manhwa]

"We repeatedly sent Lee Sia and Camilla back in time to give them time to recognize each other. We wanted them to get a taste of the world they would be living in and familiarize themselves with it."

“…”

Lee Sia.

It was clearly her name, but now it sounds unfamiliar.

"But does it normally take this long to recognize each other?"

"I didn't think it would take this long either, but I don't have that much control over it…”

Donna let out a long sigh.

"Fortunately, Camilla, who was here, was able to recognize Lee Sia from the other world at the last minute, and was able to end the long struggle."

Did she recognize her at the end?

“Ah-!”

She had a flashback.

The day she made eye contact with Camilla, who was decapitated.

She herself was in an accident that day. No, she died.

The chandelier fell— wait.

“Then that ghost…”

A ghost who looked exactly like her, hanging by the chandelier.

“…that was the real Lee Sia.”

"If you mean the last time you saw the soul you saw that day, then yes."

As if guessing what Camilla was thinking, Donna nodded and continued.

"If we had missed that timing, you two would still be living a life of repetition. That moment when you recognized each other perfectly! There was a perfect opening between the worlds, and we were finally able to bring you two back to your rightful places."

Watching Donna's face light up with pride as if she had just accomplished something extraordinary made her reach for her shoes with renewed vigor.

"Is that something to be proud of?"

Just because she’s back doesn't mean that what she’s been through will go away!

“This is just… haa!”

She sighed as she watched Donna flinch, shielding her face with her arms.

“Because you’re small…”

Donna is petite for a woman. If she were bigger, she'd be able to hit her!

"You're not happy that I'm small?"

Hearing Camilla's monologue, Donna rubbed her hands together and smiled.

At that moment, her body blurred.

“What?”

After a while, another person appeared in front of Camilla.

Little Donna was gone, and a tall, burly man stood before her.

He wore his long mauve hair in a tight bun and wore glasses, and he bowed his head with a wry smile.

"Formal greetings. I'm Dorman."

“Doorman?”

“No, Dorman…”

“…”

“This is who I really am.”

“You’re Donna?”

“Yes.”

“…But you’re actually a man?”

"For beings like me, gender doesn't matter, but it does if you ask me."

"Why did you change into a woman?"

"We thought a woman would be a better fit than a man to follow Camilla more closely.

“…Didn’t you assist me in bathing?”

"I'll say it again, gender doesn't really matter to beings like me—“

“Shut it.”

“Okay.”

She couldn't help but laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all.

Donna— no, Dorman interrupted her.

"Anyway, I got fired for putting the soul in the wrong body, and I lost a lot of my powers, so now I can't even see them anymore."

His expression grew grim.

"Is it possible that I'm seeing ghosts because my soul has been switched?"

“No. Originally, that’s your prowess.”

“Man.”

She was going to vent about that, too.

Dorman breathed a small sigh of relief as Camilla resumed her mouthful with a wistful look.

"If you two make it through life with the life span you've been given, I'll be reinstated to my old job, so please take care…”

Dorman's voice faded away as the atmosphere became more somber.

He thinks he’ll be reinstated.

"After all, you're the reason we went through all that crap, the reason we kept dying.”

"Well, technically, yes, but—“

“Call them.”

“Pardon?”

“Call your boss.”

“Wh-Why so suddenly…?”

"It's the way things are supposed to be, when the employees screw up, the boss takes responsibility!"

Doesn’t he know basic common sense?

“W-Well, we’ve been trying to be responsible—“

"What responsibility? What effort? What did you do?"

The more he spoke, the more heated she became.

"Sending your souls back to the past every time you die wasn’t the right thing to do. But we wanted you to recognize each other with as little damage to your respective worlds as possible…!”

"That's none of my business."

"Lee— Lee Sia was born with great things: brilliant mind, great acting skills, and beautiful looks! All we could offer her was a little luck.”

“Luck?”

"Everything would go well for you—“

The dramas and movies she chose were all big hits.

Was it because of the luck they gave her? Not because of the information she got from the ghosts?

"And what about Camilla?"

Let’s say Lee Sia in the other world.

And her? The one that’s here now?

She’s looked and looked, but there are no benefits.

“Me.”

“What?”

“I’m sticking around to assist you, aren’t I?”

Dorman smiled and gestured to himself.

“It’s you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re saying my benefit is you?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Should she really kill him?

“Phew.”

When Dorman offered to help, she threw her shoe at him and kicked him out.

Camilla let out a long sigh as she changed out of her wet clothes on her own.

Her breath felt a little hot, as if her body temperature had dropped significantly.

‘So that means he was spying on me.’

Realizing that she had jumped into the lake, Donna immediately rushed to the Academy, or rather, to the Spirit Lake.

She was able to do that because she was watching her.

When school started, she watched her for a while but stopped when she seemed to be doing well. But after the conflict with Jude and his group, she started to monitor her again.

He explained that he saw her jump into the water and thought she was trying to kill herself, so he jumped in to save her.

‘Oh, I’m grateful.’

She’s gnashing her teeth with gratitude.

“Shit.”

She jumped in to save her but she’s not grateful at all.

He jumped in the water and has been taking care of her so far, only because he wants to be reinstated.

If Donna hadn't shown up at the lake in the first place, she would have gotten out of the lake without any problems.

She was so freaked out that her breathing was disrupted.

“Phew.”

It's refreshing to have the mystery of why she’s in this world solved—

“It’s a dirty feeling.”

Maybe because of the dirty feeling, her body is getting droopy.

Camilla glanced at the Divine Beast’s egg, which she had set off to one side, thankful that at least she managed to get it out safely.

"Well, shall we go?"

Camilla took the Divine Beast’s egg.

There's no point in keeping something like that around for long. It will only cause misunderstandings.

Creak!

Camilla left the room immediately, keeping the Divine Beast’s egg tucked away in her pocket.

However…

“Dorman, hold this for me!”

“Yes, sir.”

"Dorman, come back for a snack later."

“I’ll be there for sure.”

…What the? What’s with the atmosphere?

Upon stepping outside, Camilla was stunned by what she saw.

The Duke’s people were talking to him so casually, as if Dorman was his true self, not Donna.

“Oh! Miss Camilla!”

Dorman spotted Camilla and rushed over to her.

“What’s this?”

“Pardon?”

“Why is everyone unaffected?”

“Oh…”

Sensing Camilla's puzzlement, Dorman smiled.

"It's what's left of my abilities."

“Abilities?”

"I can show up out of nowhere and people seem to take my presence in stride. I can confuse people's memories as if we've known each other for years. It's a skill I need to stay close to Camilla, and I'm lucky they didn't take it away from me."

“You’re not going to stick around, are you?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s not like I’ll die if you’re not next to me.”

What was the point of sticking around? Sticking up for her at the end? Crying harder than anyone else when she died?

‘That’s right!’

Was he also crying because he didn't get reinstated that time?

"If you were going to do that, you could have just told me up front."

If he had told Camilla beforehand that this is how things are because of the soul switch, that she needs to behave, and that she's going to die again, would she have died like that every time?

"If you had, I would have lived my life with at least a small hope that if I changed my soul, I would be okay."

"That's not my purview—“

Dorman had his reasons, he says.

"It's a dangerous thing to tell a soul the truth before it's righted. An unstable soul can be easily shattered by the slightest shock."

“So.”

“Pardon?”

"What have you done to help?"

“…Would you like a cup of tea?”

“…”

“C-Clean your room? I’ll do it right away!”

“…”

“The laundry…!”

“Useless.”

“Y-You’re mean…”

Sensing that further conversation was pointless, Camilla started walking.

“Oh?”

As she approached the Duke of Sorpel’s office, Camilla saw the butler, Rube, preparing tea and about to enter.

Rube's hand stopped short of knocking at her entrance.

“Miss Camilla.”

“Is Father inside?”

"Yes, he’s talking to a guest."

“Guest?”

“The Duke of Javillian is here.”

“Oh.”

She headed straight to her room earlier and didn't realize there was a guest.

“Are you alright?”

Butler Rube ran his eyes over Camilla's hair, which was still slightly damp.

He had already been told that she came back drenched, and that she had ordered no one to come into her room.

However, due to the presence of his guest, Duke Javillian, he was unable to report to Duke Sorpel.

[redemptioninterlude]

@moonsmultimusings - rantaro gets a starter !

Oh! Was it time for night? Alice hangs from the edge of the railing at the rooms they've all been sequestered to, her lips humming a far more CHEERY TUNE than this place might suggest to them. There's something terribly wrong about the so-called school with which they are attending. In fact! The idea of murder as an extracurricular seems so wholly outside of what they ought to be doing! Girlhood demands something far more dreamy, but Alice, oh, she craves the adventure that this hints at. Suggests. It's a siren's call that promises something outside of what she's ever known, which itself was a full life... wasn't it? Alice the Explorer! Alice the Curious. Alice, who misses her Wonderland, even now.

And only ONE PERSON really understood this kind of longing. Even if he seems more a gentle thing than reckless, adventuring requires a certain willingness of the heart! And when you recognise that, deeply, it only becomes clearer that they were meant to clash, legs hooking to the railing to hang from its edge, letting herself sway with that same, same tune hummed, until she opened her eyes to blink with a ready smile aimed, and ready to fire, at the boy who stood before her now, nonplussed despite how her frothy blue and white lacy skirts hang in exposure, if not for the shorts that she wore underneath. Letting her legs loosen from their hold and then, fall, palms pressing to the floor to help her spring, right-side up, in gymnasts form.

Blue eyes open, impossibly curious in their wondering as they pin to a rather sleepy looking boy with a sloping curve within his shoulders. As if he has seen and burdened himself with the worries of the world. Well, wasn't that all of them now that they'd been asked to take to the murder and cover up of said murder with their classmates? It wouldn't be alone to overcome SOCIETALLY TAUGHT DISGUST for the act. There'd be so much more! Alice can tell from the way that there's an unspoken loose thread that attaches itself to the monokubs and their promises, her humming a quiet thing, knees bending to examine him beneath the slit-eyed skepticism of her stare.

"You're looking for answers too, aren't you?" what a pleasant little grin comes to fruition! Because what was a new path to carve without a companion? "Want to go looking around with me now that it's after dark? As long as we're careful~ we won't get caught. Besides, won't we COVER MORE GROUND if there's two of us rather than one? And you've such a clever little mind! I'd love to know what you think. Sometimes I can't quite process all of it, nor trust myself. All that madness, you see. It warps from the inside! Like a rot or a poison. But it doesn't dampen the desire to know, all the same!" Standing up, higher, higher! Onto the tips of shiny Oxford shoes. "Shall we?"

- @moonsmultimusings

[mrsfrecklesmarauders]

Sirius had grown accustomed to wait for Rosie to get back from school. It was bloody boring to be without her. Sirius and his brother Reggie had to attend to their personal lessons with their private tutor. They didn't go to school like the rest of the kids. Perhaps if they did, Sirius would not be this bored. Sirius would have friends. Rosie was his only friend.

Sirius would play with Reggie but sometimes Reggie was scared of getting caught. Or he only wanted to talk about Lord of The Rings.

And Sirius was sick of it. Rosie was more fun. She loved fun games and cool pranks.

Sirius climbed to the tree by the gates. From there he could see when Rosie arrived and surprise her.

Sirius finally smirked when he saw Rosie walking to the door. Rosie was always wearing a jumper too big for her. One of her father's. And she wore trousers underneath her uniform skirt. And each time a lock of hair came out of her ponytail, Rosie tied it again, until it was perfect. Rosie was very special and that's what Sirius liked about her.

When Rosie crossed the gate, Sirius jumped in front of her.

"Boo!" he screamed with a mischievous smile.

Rosie was surprised not because Sirius had scared her but because she was crying. So she turned her head away quickly to hide it. But it was too late. Sirius had noticed already.

"Moony..." Sirius swallowed. Moony was the nickname he had for Rosie "Why are you crying?"

Sirius was uncomfortable when girls cried because he didn't know what to do or what to say. But when Cissy cried because of her boyfriend, or because she had gained weight, it was pointless. Rosie was different. She was stronger. She never cried. Or at least Sirius hadn't seen her crying before.

"Nothing important" Rosie sniffed and wiped her tears "I was just scared by your ugly face"

"Oi!" Sirius protested.

Rosie smiled trying to hide away how sad she looked. Rosie started walking to the pool house and Sirius followed.

"Tell me what happened" Sirius insisted "Did someone hurt you? Because if that happened, I am going to find them and I am going to fill their bag with rotten eggs or something"

Rosie chuckled.

"Only that?"

"Maybe put a spicy powder in their trousers"

Rosie giggled.

"Rosie, what did they do to you?"

Rosie sighed and sat on the stairs of the entrance. Sirius sat next to her.

"Gemma was just telling the truth" Rosie shrugged and buried her chin between her knees "She called me ugly"

Sirius suddenly felt an urge to punch that Gemma on the face.

"It's not the truth" Sirius whispered.

Rosie's mouth twisted.

"Come on, Sirius" she said "I am not feminine and pretty like other girls... Like your cousins for example. They are beautiful"

Sirius made a face.

"My cousins?"

Rosie smiled and nodded.

"They are also insane... And so annoying" Sirius rolled his eyes.

Rosie chuckled. But then she was sad again.

They were silent for a while. Sirius was terrible at this. He didn't know how to comfort someone. When Reggie cried, Sirius just patted his back and told him to shut up. But Rosie had comforted Sirius before. Rosie said just the right thing. And she stroked his hair as he laid on her lap. And everything felt better. So Sirius had to do something now.

"Do you want to explore my basement again? The Black Family keeps a lot of treasures"

Wrong thing. Rosie was still sad. She shook her head.

"We can ask your mum to make us some chocolate tart... You love it"

"Not hungry" Rosie murmured.

Sirius sighed.

"Moony... I like the way you are"

That caught Rosie's attention. And she looked at Sirius curiosly. But that made Sirius get really red. He felt his cheeks on fire. And he detested that.

"You are pretty for me. Even if you are not like the rest of the girls or my cousins" he played with his shoes as he said that. Because his whole face was on fire now.

But his words made Rosie smile.

"Don't let silly girls like Gemma get you down. She is stupid and probably really ugly. With a fat nose and greasy hair"

Rosie laughed.

"She is actually pretty. You would probably fancy her if you'd met her"

Sirius blushed profoundly.

"I'm never fancying any girl" Sirius protested "I want to be single and free like my Uncle Alphard"

Rosie looked at him.

"You will change your mind in a few years. When we become teenagers"

Sirius frowned.

"Not even then!" Sirius said "I am always going to get into adventures, solve mysteries and do mischief. With you... But just as friends!" he added quickly as he blushed again.

Rosie laughed.

"Do you feel better?" Sirius asked.

Rosie did something that surprised him. She kissed his cheek. Sirius' eyes opened like plates. And he went red, probably purple.

"Yeah cheers" Rosie said as she stood up "I have to do homework. See you later"

As Rosie walked inside, Sirius touched his cheek in surprise. Then he smiled. Rosie was special. Sirius didn't understand how people at school did not like her. She was incredible. And Sirius was going to be her best friend forever.

********************

Okay, love. I am ready!" Sirius bounced into the room.

Poor Remus. He always was patient enough to wait for Sirius to get ready for any event. Sirius just needed to be impeccable.

Remus was staring at his reflection in the mirror. It looked as if he didn't like what he was seeing. He didn't look happy.

Sirius walked up to him and hugged his boyfriend from the back, looking into the mirror as well. Remus was wearing a big jumper and some elegant trousers. A belt and shoes of the same color. And God, he smelled really great. Remus was so sexy.

"We are going to be late for the Potters"

"Not my fault" Remus spat. He sounded angry or annoyed.

"What's wrong, Moony?"

Remus sighed "I am so ugly... I am nothing compared to you"

Sirius frowned. How can Remus say something like that? Sirius sighed and placed himself in front of Remus. And he touched his chin making him face him.

"I don't like the way you're talking about my boyfriend"

Remus twisted his mouth.

"Is the truth"

"You are beautiful, Moony. You are perfect. I fall in love with you a bit more everytime I see you"

It was so easy to say all these things now. Sirius repeated them all the time. But it didn't mean they weren't true.

"You just want make me feel better" Remus snorted and looked down.

"No... I am completely honest" Sirius said "I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. God, you are so beautiful"

Remus' curls were untidy but perfect. Remus had tiny and almost invisible freckles along his nose. His eyes were the beautiful kind of light brown. His eyelashes were big and danced everytime Remus blinked. God, his lips! They were plumpy and rosy. They were dry. And Sirius had the urge to wet them with his tongue.

"You are beautiful, Sirius" Remus sighed "And you can have anyone you like"

"Good! Because I only want you"

Remus' mood didn't change. Sirius wished he knew what to do to make him feel better.

"What's really going on?"

Remus bit his lower lip.

"I really don't want to go to the party. But I don't want to ruin your night"

"Why don't you want to go?"

Remus closed his eyes.

"I got it again" he whispered "My period"

Remus' eyes filled with tears. So Sirius pulled him in for a hug.

"Is that why you have been rejecting me lately?"

Remus just hugged him tighter in response and he buried his face on Sirius' shoulder.

"I am sorry" Remus cried.

"It's okay"

"I love you so much"

"I love you too" Sirius said.

Then he pulled away retrieving his phone from his pocket.

Remus sniffed and wiped his tears away.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm canceling tonight" Sirius said as he typed. Then he pocketed his phone "We are going to stay and cuddle and kiss all night. Because my Moony needs it"

Remus smiled.

"You don't have to do that... Just go to the party. I am going to be fine"

Sirius shook his head and tutted.

"All I want is to cuddle my Moony, okay?"

Sirius used his baby voice so Remus chuckled.

Sirius grabbed Remus' hand and dragged him to the couch.

"Come with me, Mr. Lupin"

"Now you're making me horny" Remus commented and Sirius chuckled.

They laid on the couch and Sirius wrapped his arms around his boyfriend. And kissed his forehead several times. Remus cuddled into him each time getting closer and closer. Sirius didn't know if he was horny or really in love. But he felt goosebumps all over his body.

"I love you so much, my Pads" Remus whispered, giving soft kisses on Sirius' neck "You know that? I've loved you ever since we were ten. And I flirted with you and you were too oblivious to notice anything"

Sirius smiled.

"You flirted with me?"

Remus laughed against his neck.

"I was pretty obvious! I cannot believe you didn't notice"

Sirius laughed as well.

"And you were like 'Uuh I am never falling in love because I am too cool for that'"

Sirius chuckled.

"And I dreamed about marrying you all the time"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

Sirius smiled. It was so incredible. It felt as if they had always been meant for each other. They were best friends as kids. And they found each other again and they fell in love. And now Sirius felt as if he was born to be with Remus one day.

"I knew you were going to fall in love eventually. But I never thought you would fall in love with me"

"Well you were the only one that made me change my mind. And now I am deeply in love with you... You asshole" Sirius tutted.

Remus giggled.

"You are more than enough, Remus" Sirius added "You are wonderful, and beautiful and perfect. And it's the other way around. It is you who deserve better and could have anyone you want"

"Good" Remus said "Because I only want you"

Sirius smiled.

"I love you" and he closed his eyes, getting suddenly sleepy.

"Love you too"

Remus whispered back. And they quickly fell asleep in each other's arms.

[gareleia]

Had Worse

Chapter: 4/6

Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Word count: 6071

Relationships: Edward Elric & Roy Mustang

Tags: 5+1 Things, Pre-Canon, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, PTSD, Depression, Racism, Parental Roy Mustang, Everyone Needs A Hug

Summary: Where the fuck did the Colonel find this kid?

OR

5 times Edward said 'I've had worse' and traumatized his poor innocent coworkers with his Tragic Backstory and 1 time he wasn't able to (to everyone's relief).

Read on AO3

Roy had always been different.

From his childhood, when he had desperately tried to fit in the shoes he didn't quite understand, overcome the divide he couldn't comprehend in its superficiality (child of a festival, neighborhood grandmas cooed, and it wasn't right, he didn't understand, why was auntie so angry?); all the way to adulthood when he stopped being human entirely.

He could almost feel it, just beneath the skin, something crawling all around his rotten bones, and on his worst days he wanted desperately to cut open his chest and let the filth spill all over the floors. Roy wanted to see his guts fall out, charred and half-eaten by maggots, wanted to rip off his lying face and expose the sad, horrifying truth.

Look at me, he wanted to scream. Look at the thing you let walk among you.

He was a disease, an infection left to fester for too long, a rabid dog no one had the presence of mind to shoot, he was rotting and rotten, the source and the symptom, the negative space in place of a person bleeding miasma and poisoning everything he touched. People walked around him, glanced at the paper-thin human disguise he wore every single day, and no one ever bothered to look underneath, to uncover the monster in shape of a man.

Roy Mustang has been hiding his true self for as long as he could remember. Technically speaking, 'Roy Mustang' wasn't even a person, just a lie crafted for the sole purpose of legalizing a smuggled kid. Except that lie has grown and matured, and now it was spreading pain and misery wherever it went.

She should've left him in a ditch he was found in. Should've let them sell and use and dispose of him like they planned, because even to him the rescue made no difference. He'd gotten a respite, a few good years before stepping right back into hell of his own stupid accord, and this time there was no ending in sight. No salvation, no concerned information brokers with hearts too damn big for their own good.

He'd been given a second chance he'd done absolutely nothing to deserve, a home and a name, a family, a future - and Roy had torn it all apart. Spat in her face, wasted the life she had gifted him and taken countless others with him.

She should've left him to die, he cried drunkenly and his aunt still held him in her arms, safe and warm and closest to heaven than he'd ever have the right to feel again. As if he was a child again, bawling his eyes out about the kids at school calling him a squint.

She should've left him to die. She didn't. But Roy did. He'd left thousands of children to die in a fire of his own making. Children who, by all accounts, were just like him: unwanted by the government and hated for no good reason. Who'd never deserved even a fraction of what had been done to them. Who Roy burned with his own two hands, he was a mass murderer-

Not too long before that Roy used to be as much of an outsider. A poor little orphan with features too obviously eastern for even a half-breed. A xinee, the neighbors sneered, as he tried his best to act as a good amestrian boy. A squint who could never quite blend in with his blond, blue-eyed peers. A twinkie unwelcome even amongst the other immigrants.

It used to sting, though these days he only vaguely remembered, too swept in his new and horrifying defects to examine the old childhood insecurities. The pain of alienation, the loneliness and the burning need to become someone great, to show them all who they used to shun (I just want to belong somewhere, what am I doing wrong?) - it all seemed so shallow now. So simple and inconsequential.

After Ishval came Roy had started to crave that sting. The thought of dying alone and unwanted no longer tormented him at night (that was the war's job now) but instead became weirdly soothing. He didn't deserve comfort, but the freak he was, Roy still found it in the fact that there wasn't a place for him on this earth. No more monsters like him. He was an exception, not the rule.

And even still he tried his best to fit in with the rest of the population. Not because he wanted forgiveness or companionship-

(he wanted them all to take turns in striking him until there was no skin left to tear apart, no blood to spill, no guts that hadn't already fallen out and been crushed under their feet; he wanted the agony that pervaded his every living moment to be given form, written all over his pathetic writhing wreck of a body; he wanted that sweet taste of hell that awaited him if there was ever any justice in the world to mix with bile on his tongue, he wanted-)

Focus. Not because he wanted companionship, but because if he ever wanted to make Fuhrer he needed the people around him to accept him as one of theirs - or at least as the lesser evil. Most of them had already stopped giving him lip, though whether it was out of fear or respect he couldn't tell. Either way, his physical appearance wasn't going to be much of an obstacle.

On the contrary. If all his superiors ever saw was his admittedly quite charming appearance (too pristine, too clean, too perfect - he'd never needed to come close enough for their blood to stain his uniform) then he damn well was going to use their blindness against them. It wasn't hard to smile and wave when Roy had practically spent his entire life doing that. Let them see a fool, a loyal dog, he was but a tool ready to be used until one day when he'd finally sink his teeth into their throats.

(couldn't they feel his hatred? couldn't they see how he wanted to show to each and every one of them what 'Hero of Ishval' really meant? to snap snap snap and roll on the ground laughing as their whole damn institution was reduced to ash, down to the very last soldier? in the end, the only real difference between him and Kimblee was that he didn't get caught)

Roy had his eyes on the prize. He had a reason to move forward. He had a goal and until he completed it he would dig his nails into his flesh, grit his teeth and appear stable. Keep it together for Riza and Maes, his team and the Elrics, his aunt and his sisters. The ending was closer every day, and he could almost feel the pure cathartic satisfaction, a sigh of relief right before the gunshots.

It was the sole reason he woke up today, extra early, to the familiar stench of whiskey, vomit and despair. An impromptu meeting with the higher-ups in the Eastern Command, bright and early and on his fucking day off, no doubt to bitch him out again for something trivial. With General Grumman backing him Roy had nothing to fear from a bunch of paper-pushers drunk on power. They'd just have to wait and see. When he's the Fuhrer he would personally demote every single one of them to latrine duty.

That, and he would initiate the Miniskirt Mandate. And reform the cafeteria so that the food in there would be actually edible - and include some vegetarian options. And order a sign to be put up in the examination hall with a smiling cow and a phrase: "To pass the State Alchemist exam you need to be this tall!" in big bright red letters, except the height mark would be moved every year to be half an inch taller than Fullmetal-

"SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU PIECE OF SHIT, I FUCKING DARE YOU!"

Ah, speak of the devil, Roy thought. Why did he feel the need to take a shortcut near the dorms when he was still an hour early? And was it really necessary for him to put up with the Elric bullshit when he was already hungover and en route to receive a tongue lashing?

It wasn't too late to walk away. Pretend he never heard anything. Let Fullmetal cause a scene and get in trouble just by proximity.

"I'LL SHOW YOU 'LITTLE' YOU FUCKING DICKWAD! COME HERE AND I'LL BITE YOUR FACE OFF!"

Oh, goddammit.

Roy had made it around the corner just in time to prevent a murder.

"Fullmetal!" he barked, and he had a sneaking suspicion that the boy only stopped because he was startled. "Just what I needed this morning, more of your immature antics. Are you bothering people now?"

That might have seemed cruel, but considering how many times Roy had to smooth things over after Edward threw a tantrum at some random minuscule occurence, it was usually a reasonable first assumption.

"The fuck do you want, you shitty bastard?!" the boy snarled. "These fucks deserve it, you didn't hear what he said!"

He then pointed his finger at one of the three men, the childish gesture clashing with pure murderous rage on his face. The soldier in question, young, thin, tall and with possibly the ugliest bloody mustache Roy had ever seen, backed away warily.

"Master Sergeant Bauer, sir!" he introduced himself to Mustang with a proper salute. "Caught an intruder on the base, requesting permission to make an arrest!"

"Permission denied," Roy shook his head with a tired sigh. "This is my direct subordinate, the Fullmetal Alchemist, Major Elric."

Bauer eeked, looking suitably intimidated. Not that Roy could honestly blame the poor sod for mistaking a thirteen year old out of uniform for a civilian. Although as far as he'd known the Eastern Command staff had learned not to try and stop the kid months ago.

Fullmetal himself was strangely silent, glaring at the man and the two of his friends behind him. Neither of them looked familiar. The one on the right was a young ginger man with ridiculously big ears that were probably going to win him an unflattering nickname soon enough. The left one seemed to be twice as old as the first two, and, by the look of his face, only half as intelligent. Though that might have just been the calvity talking.

Since when had ugliness became a requirement to join the military?

"Master Sergeant Klein, Colonel, sir!" the ginger squeaked at Roy's raised eyebrow.

"Second Lieutenant Dressler, Colonel, sir!" the baldy followed with a lisp.

"I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the sight of Major Elric, Master Sergeants, Second Lieutenant. I trust there won't be any more incidents?"

"No, sir!" all three of them chorused, sounding vaguely like chastised children.

"Good. You must be new to Eastern Command." he said casually.

The silence stretched. Roy knew he didn't outright ask the question, but surely the implication was obvious? Did he need to talk to them like to a five year old? Or worse, Fullmetal? They didn't seem that scared of him, so what else could make them freeze besides stupidity?

Almost a full minute passed with Moustache silently glaring at the ginger. Finally, Ears seemed to have realized that their fate was resting upon his bony shoulders and so he elbowed Baldy on the side.

The state of this country. Roy could feel himself losing brain cells just by breathing the same air as the three idiots. Which made his already pounding head that much worse.

"Yes, sir! All three of us, sir!" managed Lieutenant Waldo (and how did that man make Lieutenant with that level of brain activity?). "Assigned to Colonel Seuss' unit starting today!"

Huh. Poor guys.

"Oh, I see. You're from Applesweet's crew. You best be on your way then, Colonel Seuss doesn't endorse tardiness."

Or degeneracy. He'd bet a thousand on the baldy folding first and requesting a reassignment within the month. If he survived, that is.

"Sir, yes, sir!" the trio saluted again, remarkably in sync.

"You're dismissed."

Were he in a better mood, Roy would've wished them a good day. As it was, he was hungover, mildly irritated and in pain, so they could die in a fire for all he cared.

(children screaming - flesh burning - smells like meat - don't vomit - weak - don't let them see)

"So." Roy turned to Edward, who had been remarkably, wor suspiciously quiet during the exchange. "I have to clean up after you yet again, Fullmetal. Even on my day off."

He expected a snide remark. Something about him being lazy or smug or a million other percieved slights that the brat regularly threw at his face - which, to be fair, was still better than the kid realizing what was actually wrong with Roy (everything) and running for the hills. What he got instead was a sullen, tired glare that spoke more of defeat than real anger.

"Do you expect a fucking gold star for that shit? Nobody asked you to step in."

This was wrong on so many levels. Edward Elric didn't do defeat. He did the impossible with a maniacal laughter and ran exclusively on spite. For fuck's sake, that boy had tried to walk off a bullet wound once!

"Well a 'thank you' would certainly be a start. I did just spare you a court martial by preventing actual bloodshed from occurring."

And that was another thing. Edward was impulsive, aggressive and loud, but he wasn't outright violent unless someone's life depended on it. He never jumped on people who offended him unless Alphonse was there to catch him. The kid must've thought he hid it well, but he wasn't quite as brash and careless as he let on.

Except that when Roy had stumbled upon the scene the boy sounded genuinely furious. What did these men do to incur such wrath? Alphonse wasn't there for them to insult, so was all this ruckus just because of a comment on his height?

"What, you think you helped anyone?" Edward snorted. "These fucks are just gonna corner me later and then I'll kick their teeth in. Now you've just given them more ammo. Thank for that, by the way."

"Fullmetal," Roy stared at him incredulously, he couldn't believe they were having this conversation. "Are you being bullied?"

Was that what he just interrupted? How did he miss something like that?

"No!" Elric hissed, flushing rapidly. "No. I know what bulling is like and that ain't it. I'm used to this bullshit, those losers just really had crossed a line this time."

"Used to what?" Dear fuck did he let grown men beat him up behind Roy's back?

"You know," Edward coughed and shifted awkwardly. "People being assholes. Why do you care anyway, get off my dick!"

Roy suppressed a grimace. He knew that Elrics were orphans and really didn't have anyone to help them clear up their vocabulary, but Alphonse seemed to have managed it just fine. Why couldn't Edward string two words together without cursing?

"The well-being of my subordinates is my utmost priority, Fullmetal. If your safety is being threatened, I need to know."

If Fullmetal's safety was being threatened, Roy would grind the threat in question into fucking dust and then set it on fire. While mocking the kid's every move, obviously, because he didn't want him to get any ideas.

"Oh, for..!" Edward rolled his eyes with a groan. "I'm not being threatened. It's fine, I'm fine. Nobody ever tries this crap with Al around, so I don't even have to deal with it much nowadays."

"Nobody tries what?" it was like pulling nails with him. "How long has this been going on?"

Whatever 'this' is.

"Just... general bullshit. These three dicks are a new development, but the rest of it had always been like that? It was never this bad in Resembool since everyone knew mom, me and Al just got side glances sometimes. Cities are worse because we're not a part of the community anymore. Had guys in the market try to upcharge me more than once, though they usually shit themselves when Al comes along and asks if there's a problem. It's hilarious."

He looked uncomfortable. Roy was uncomfortable too, partially because he was not the right person to comfort a kid and partially because he still couldn't understand.

"I thought people in cities were in favor of the military?"

"That's not the-" Fullmetal smacked his face with his flesh hand. "Do I really need to spell it out for you? Here."

He rolled up his left sleeve and took off his glove. Then gestured at him to do the same. As the boy put their forearms near each other, Roy's heart skipped a beat.

They were so close. Too close. Almost touching. Except Roy couldn't touch him, shouldn't touch him, because he would spread his disease, break the kid, (they're all screaming-)

"See the difference?"

He forced himself back into the moment.

Edward's arm was so painfully small compared to his that Roy felt himself choke a little, both in amusement and in an unexplained, unwelcome grief (he's too young, what has he done?). Strong and solid, with prominent muscles and blond hair so light he wouldn't have seen it if he wasn't looking closely. Noticeably darker than Roy's own.

"Oh."

"Yeah." Fullmetal shrugged and started covering himself back up. "I'm not exactly your typical white amestrian kid, and you should know how this country treats outsiders."

He did. God fucking dammit.

"Fullmetal, that's racism. What did those soldiers say to you? We can file a complaint."

"I'm not fucking tattling on them, Mustang, I'm not a kid. It was the usual spiel - calling me a wok and half-breed, telling me to go back to 'my country'. I really don't care about that type of shit, but then Pervstache called my mom a magi whore and I was about to punch him senseless when you swooped in and fucked it up. Here, happy? I told you everything. I was justified."

Roy wasn't happy. Roy was the farthest from happy he'd been since he started hiding his gun before drinking. What the fuck?

"Why-" he steeled himself, even if his heart felt like it was trying to break out of his chest and leave, he had to know. "Why 'magi'? That's a slur for ishvalans."

(please please please don't be- he couldn't take it if- please no)

"I don't know. Because of the skin tone? Mom was amestrian and our shitty bastard of a father wasn't ishvalan either. Not that any of those people actually care. Although his last name did end in 'heim', so who the fuck knows. Maybe he was mixed."

(thank you thank you thank you oh god thank you god fuck-)

"I'm sorry."

Roy wasn't actually suffocating, it was all in his head. Just a passing thought, just a nuisance. He wasn't dying yet, because Riza would kill him and Maes threatened to do a full on speech on his funeral. With photos.

"It's... fine." Edward was looking at him funny, did Roy let something show on his face? "Really, it's nothing - well, besides the mom comment. But I've had worse."

"How much worse?"

"Oh, what's with the-"

"Fullmetal." He said in perfectly measured tone, with a perfectly stable expression, doing his fucking best to project the calm he didn't feel. "What exactly did you mean by saying you've had worse."

Getting Edward to open up was like walking on a rope above a canyon full of razor-sharp rocks and bloodthirsty chimeras. While it was raining acid. Tread just a little too heavily, push just a little too far and too fast, and you'd end up falling to your painful and gruesome death.

Except Roy had no patience for mind games today. Not while he was hungover and on a time crunch and working through a full-blown panic attack.

(don't let it show, don't lose control, they are watching-)

Perhaps the child was also not in the mood for making undue trouble, because he was surprisingly cooperative.

"Ever got your hair sun-bleached after a summer outside without covering your head? I'm already blond, so by September my hair gets very light. And Al wasn't much better. Had a military veteran freak out on us once when we were studying in Dublith. Combined with the tan, poor sod must've thought we were ishvalan. It's kinda funny in retrospect, but at the time we were scared shitless, because it turned out he had a gun."

"What?" It wasn't funny. It wasn't funny at all. "What happened next?" he couldn't breathe

(a shot rang out they screamed)

"Ah, not much, honestly. The MPs arrived on the scene and heard him yelling about 'gutting them desert pigs' and 'killing all 'em heimies' and next thing we knew we were thrown on the ground and now the police were pointing guns at us too."

"What the fuck?!" They did what?!

"Yeah. Dragged us both into a cell and kicked up a stink about us being ishvalan terrorists. Looking back, I think they realized early on that they fucked up, but couldn't admit it since the guy in charge had already reported it to the military."

Holy shit, now Roy remembered that incident.

"You were those kids?! You made it into papers, Fullmetal. Forces were on high alert from Rush Valley to Laurelvale. Amestris Today ridiculed military police for months afterwards." More like decimated. Painfully.

"Well they deserved it. They're useless at best and fuck shit up at worst. Stupid soldier rejects. What do we even have them for anyway? Don't answer that, I don't want your smartass comments."

"Can it be, Fullmetal? You, implying my ass is smart?"

"Pity you only use it to shit, Bastard. Then again, that's all that you use your head for, too."

Finally, they were back in the familiar territory.

Of all people in his team he and Edward had the worst relationship. They were tentatively tolerant of each other at best and downright antagonistic at worst. Roy had tried, really, to find some common ground, but the kid adamantly refused any kind of peace offerings.

Somehow, Havoc got both of the Elrics to trust him from the get-go. Whether it was through a particularly good first impression or through some kind of sorcery Roy hadn't had a faintest, but the best advice Jean could offer was: "Just don't be an asshole, Chief, these kids are awesome."

Then Fuery soon managed to befriend the feral one, and naturally the nice one followed suit. That wasn't surprising, because Kain was closest to them in age and had experience helping out in animal shelters. He knew his way around strays. Sadly, the knowledge was mostly instinctive and his advice basically boiled down to: "Just have a heart, Colonel."

Falman, after the time they found him sitting in the office with bloodied hands and a thousand yard stare, started treating both Fullmetal and his brother with utmost respect that bordered on reverential fear. He declined to comment.

Even Breda, his sole ally in being distrusted by the pair, had somehow established a truce with them as of two months ago. And though his advice of: "Just feed them. Like, a lot. Now." was sound in theory, on practice Edward just refused anything Roy offered.

It seemed like every one of his men had had a weird bonding experience with one or both of them. Except for Riza. But Riza didn't count because everyone respected her, even the Elrics.

Roy was outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned and outmaneuvered.

But he wasn't dead yet, so that was something.

"Anyway, they tried to scare us into confessing to at least being illegal immigrants, so they could give something to their higher-ups, but Teacher had caught wind of it by then and came looking for us. That part really was funny, because I know for a fact that at least two officers fainted. And one cried like a bitch. We didn't even get in trouble."

Of course not. Why would they? They didn't do anything wrong. If it happened now (but what if Roy had been that veteran? what if he killed them? what if-) Roy would've gone ballistic. Two children being arrested and treated like enemies of the state because of one visibly unstable man's ravings? He'd have torn them apart, piece by pathetic piece, for touching his kids.

"That's horrible." Roy managed. "If it's any consolation, they got into a lot of trouble for this."

"I don't really care." Edward shrugged. "What's done is done, and we haven't had any trouble with them since."

"And you're not going to. If anyone gives you trouble like that you tell me and I'll deal with it, got it?" he stressed.

Because apparently that was the one issue he somehow overlooked. So many things to shun Elric for - his age, demeanor, freakishly high intelligence, atrocious fashion sense - and people picked his skin color. Why was Roy trying to save this country again?

(children burning people crying oh god why make it stop I can't take anymore)

Right.

"Why?" Edward glared at him, half in suspicion and half... confused? "What's in it for you?"

"Do I need to have an ulterior motive for protecting my subordinates?"

"Don't bullshit me, Colonel God Complex." the boy scowled. "You have an ulterior motive for everything."

"My ulterior motive here is to make sure you're safe and not being bullied by some third-rate Marvin award nominees."

"Oh, so sending me on missions where I get shot at is fine, but schoolyard taunts are where you draw the line?"

"Those aren't schoolyard taunts, Fullmetal, it's a serious issue that many men face on a daily basis!" Roy was starting to lose his temper. "And I never send you on missions where an altercation is expected, but you still manage to attract trouble! I swear I could tie you up and hide you in an empty room and you would still somehow get into a fight!"

And give Roy a heart attack.

"Oh, so now it's my fault that people keep trying to hurt me?! You're saying I deserve it?!"

"No! Were you even listening?! I just said-"

"LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU BASTARD!"

It was at that point that Roy had realized what he was doing. He had just locked himself into a screaming much with a bratty, insecure traumatized thirteen year old. Thankfully, at least, the courtyard was completely empty, free of any potential onlookers.

Still, he was the adult in this situation. He had to keep his cool.

"Fullmetal. Edward. Look at me."

Before he registered how bad of an idea it was, Roy's hands were already on the kid's shoulders, holding him in place.

"Let go." Edward hissed, but didn't follow the demand with a threat or an escape attempt, instead choosing to look down at his boots with his hands crossed.

"Edward." Roy insisted. "Come on, look at me. Please."

He actually considered squatting down so their faces would be on the same level, but thought better of it. Mostly because he had a feeling that Fullmetal would see that as a grave insult and not an attempt to establish trust.

"What the fuck are you doing?!"

"Listen to me, Ed" it was the first time Roy had ever used the nickname and he could see the boy's apprehension lessen a bit, probably against his will.

Now think, he told himself. What could he possibly be afraid of now?

Because that was what Roy saw when he looked at Elric. It was in his too-bright eyes, too tight fists, too straight back. In the slight shaking, in the loud voice.

Fear, masked by anger and bad jokes. But fear of what?

(fear of Roy?)

"I'm not trying to hurt you, alright? I'm not laughing at you, or gathering dirt on you, or playing a prank. I'm not trying to manipulate you somehow or get you to owe me something."

"Fuck you." the kid was breathing heavily, his face pinched.

"Ed, I'm just trying to help-"

"I don't want your damn help!" his voice cracked.

Fuck, was Fullmetal actually going to cry on him?

"You're just-" he sounded so young and vulnerable, and every word felt like a knife lodging itself into Roy's chest. "You're just an asshole!"

"I'm sorry, I'm trying not to be-"

"Well don't!"

What?

"You can't just...!" Ed spluttered and swallowed loudly. "You can't just- not be an asshole! It's not allowed!"

What?

"Fullmetal," now he just felt incredibly dumb. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Shut up!" the child turned away again, hugging himself. "Just go away!"

"No, I don't think I will."

Now he really did squat down in spite of his poor, long-suffering knees. Roy could deal with the pain later, in the moment he had more pressing problems.

Like the kid in his arms who was full-on sobbing now, albeit silently. For him it was probably a much-needed breakdown that had been slowly creeping on for months, if not longer. For Roy, however, it was a nerve-wracking experience, if simply because he had never had a child seeking comfort from him of all people.

What the fuck was he supposed to do? Stay still? Hug him? Try to calm him down? Distract him? Wait it out and pretend it never happened?

He wished Maes was there. Maes always knew how to deal with emotions, meanwhile Roy's usual solution was to push them down for as long as he could manage and then drink himself halfway into a coma when that stopped working. Which was not an option this time.

(What would Hughes do?)

Roy had never asked for this. He had just wanted to attend one meeting and then go home to try and sleep off his hangover. He didn't want to be in this situation, with a crying Elric in front of him and no one competent to give proper instructions.

(But deep inside something steered. Something he couldn't quite ignore.)

He hesitantly took his hands off Edward's shoulders and wrapped them around his small form, pulling him closer. The little alchemist stilled for a few seconds during which Roy stopped breathing entirely. He considered letting him go but in the next moment the boy launched himself into his chest with the force that almost knocked them both over.

And then the floodgates opened.

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" Ed chanted, curling into his coat and getting snot all over it.

Roy didn't have a clue about how to respond to that, so he simply hugged him tighter.

"Why can't you be easy?! Why can't anything ever be easy?!"

"I'm sorry, Ed." he murmured, rubbing circles into his back in what he hoped was a soothing manner. "I'm so fucking sorry."

They stayed like this for a while. Roy didn't know what he was apologizing for. For not seeing his distress sooner, perhaps. For not being the mentor and father figure the boy clearly needed in his life. For the impossible, unfair amount of suffering both Edward and Alphonse had been through.

Roy had never been jealous of Maes and Gracia. He'd never wanted kids, never wanted the lifelong responsibility, and that was without taking his main goal into account. But it felt inexplicably right to hold this brave, fierce, precious child in his arms and oh. Oh. He got it now.

"You-you always go away. E-everyone always d-does. No m-matter how hard we t-try, you all d-die or leave, or..!"

Roy wanted to cry too. He wanted-

He wanted Ed to feel safe around him. He needed the kid to trust him, to let him in, because he was Roy's now and Roy Mustang was a greedy bastard. He wouldn't, couldn't let him go now, because they were both his. He fucking claimed them. End of story.

"I swear on everything that is holy, Ed, I'm not going to die before you're ready. And I'm definitely not leaving you behind. Trust me, if I ever even think about it, Hawkeye will shoot me."

"I'll never be ready." Came a muffled response. "No more dying."

"No more dying." Roy smiled wryly into the crown of golden hair. "I guess we'll just need to figure out immortality now, huh? You better share that Philosopher's Stone when you find it."

Elric awkwardly squirmed out of the embrace and and started rubbing his eyes furiously, trying to erase the evidence of what he must have perceived as weakness. Roy had to suppress a bizarre impulse to cup those reddened cheeks and wipe the tear tracks with his thumbs.

(what the fuck was wrong with him today?)

"But this never happened and I still hate you, g-got it?!" Edward's voice almost didn't waver, carrying on with his normal bratty attitude, but for the first time since they met Roy had noticed that brittle undertone.

All this time that boy hadn't been a feral and possibly rabid cat after all. Just a particularly loud hedgehog. With venom on his quills, sure, but still soft and squishy on the inside.

"Sure, Fullmetal." Roy smiled. "Nothing happened at all. But we're still filing a complaint against those three soldiers, don't think I forgot about them."

"Urgh. This again? Why are you so hellbent on tattling? Do you like additional paperwork? Oh. Oh, shit, you're a masochist, aren't you? That's why you let Lieutenant Hawkeye boss you around, you old pervert!"

"Excuse me?! I'm not old, Fullmetal, I'm twenty six!" For three more weeks at least. "And I'm not a pervert - where did you even hear that word? Nevermind, I don't want to know. Why are you so against reporting them? Don't you want them to get in trouble?"

"Because they won't, you stupid bastard. It never works, so why bother?"

"Oh, but this time it will." he smirked. "I know their commanding officer personally and let me tell you, Colonel Seuss won't be pleased to hear about their questionable hobbies."

"What, is he a hardass or something?"

"Dear old Abigail is a miserable shrew, but luckily for you she only hates one thing more than she hates men, and that is men who act like douchebags."

"So, you."

Roy didn't even need to say anything. He only had to raise an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm sorry, I can't turn it off!" Fullmetal blurted out, cheeks aflame.

Truly, he was a delight to work with.

"To be completely fair, you weren't wrong, I'll give you this one. You see, I used to think that her habit of spitting venom in my face every time we talked was her unique way of flirting."

That got him a snort.

"Tell me you didn't."

"Yes, well, we cleared up that particular misunderstanding pretty quickly." Roy grimaced, but Ed started giggling, so he continued. "I'm honestly surprised she didn't actually shove those flowers up my ass, but it was an extremely close call. Word of advice, kid: don't piss of women who can transmute air into poison."

The giggling stopped and the boy gave an exaggerated shudder.

"More like, don't piss off women in general."

"Yes." he echoed with a grin of his own. "Women are scary."

Roy felt... lighter than he had in years. For the first time in months his mind has stopped screaming at him every goddamn second. He could almost, if he squinted really hard and tilted his head just so, make out a ghost of a will to live.

Not that it fixed anything. He was still a monster, calamity given human form, and he deserved to rot in the deepest, hottest pit of hell.

But as he walked down the path to the Command building with a laughing Fullmetal in tow, that part of him that Roy thought had long since died, that he did everything in his power to forget ever since the Elrics barged into his miserable life, finally reared up it's terrifying head.

A thought came in. A stupid, dangerous, absurd, tempting thought. If he ever reached out for that small hand. Would he be allowed to hold it?

It looked like the eternal damnation was going to have to wait a decade or two. After all...

"No more dying."

...he still had a pair of hedgehogs to raise.

[ddwardiswriting]

Chapter 8: Apologies 

A knock sounded at the door, “For gods’ sake daughter, pick simpler outfits if they give you such trouble.”

“Yes father!” I called, “I’m sorry, father!”

I lifted my head. And I looked down at where Amy lay on the bed, her uniform a little more rumpled than it should have been. I pulled myself from atop her and stood up, smoothing my dress as I did. 

“Wow,” Amy whispered as I checked my hair in the mirror. “How is it possible? I've fallen in love at first sight with somebody I’ve known for three years. “

“I don’t know. But I appreciate the second chance.”

I turned to look back at Amy. I got an eyeful of her black lace panties. This was due to the ridiculous short skirt the maid outfit included. That and the crinoline that gave it bounce. I watched as she struggled to escape the enormous bed with difficulty. Her naked thighs rubbed together as she shuffled to the edge of the bed. Her naked legs set my cheeks on fire, and I felt something wonderful stirring from within my own panties. God, she looked good. 

I shook my head to clear it.

“I’d better go before my father becomes irate.” I said as Amy made it off the bed and began fixing her uniform.

“Stay safe then, Ren. I will make your bed and join the family shortly.” 

I stopped. That felt wrong. I couldn’t imagine a relationship working if she had to labor like that on my behalf. I considered what to do. I didn’t have time to address the issue with Amy now. I would have to remember to bring it up later. 

I mulled my situation over as I walked. I’d utterly failed at being the best friend. And I’d failed by acting in Lynn’s best interest. So now what? I needed to repair the damage I’d done, or there was no way that Lynn would listen to me. And then she’d marry Wulfric, and I didn’t want to think beyond that point. 

I found Lynn in the grand hall with the three suitors who weren’t vile abusive monsters. It sounded as though Leon and Vincent were trying to comfort Lynn. The men had not changed, I noticed. Typical. Lynn now wore a pastel blue butterfly sleeve A-line dress; with the same shoes she’d worn earlier. Fiona had changed to an A-line dress as well. The dress was a Mardi Gras purple with modern cap sleeves. Fiona also wore a pair of fire engine red stilettos. This dress also had a plunging neckline and I tried not to stare again. 

I failed.  

"Remember Lynn," Leon was saying as I approached, "Wulfric isn't the ambassador. He doesn't have the authority to declare war on Ys. Only King Hardrada or the Hyperborean Ambassador can do that. And the ambassador isn't a complete villain like- that is, he- never mind."

"We know who and what you meant," I said.

Manfred appeared beside us with a tray of appetizers and drinks. I grabbed a glass of red wine and some sort of soft cheese on a cracker. 

Vincent nodded to me, "Yes we do know who he meant. But more important than that, Leon is right. Wulfric can't declare war himself. He would have to make the ambassador declare war.  And then Agartha would take any hostile actions against Ys as an attack on Agartha herself."

I saw a chance to show my contrition. I could apologize and hopefully heal the rift I’d created. "Which is all well and good," I said, "But I still screwed that up. And I’m sorry, because Wulfric is going to make our lives miserable because of my mistake."

Manfred turned to look at me in surprise, "Lady Karen, did you apologize?"

I sighed and smiled, then nodded to Manfred, "I'm turning over a new leaf. And actually, let me take a moment to apologize to you."

"Whatever for?" Manfred asked.

"Everything," I answered, "My general treatment of you. Too many things, large and small, for me to name them all. I expect I'll be doing a lot of apologizing in the future. But I am sorry."

"Well, thank you Lady Karen. An apology is, of course, unnecessary. But I accept it in the spirit in which you gave it."

"And please, not Lady Karen. Call me Lady Ren." I said.

Manfred cocked his head in surprise, then nodded. 

"You're right though," Leon said, "This will complicate relations with Hyperborea. Even if they don't do something extreme, like declare war. The Hyperboreans can strike back at us in a myriad of petty ways. I am glad you apologized, Ren, that was a serious misstep."

"Indeed," Fiona said.

Vincent nodded, "Yes, Agartha will support Ys. But we don't look forward to conflict with Hyperborea. And you've brought that possibility much closer to becoming a reality."

I flinched under their gazes, "I know. I apologize. I hadn't meant to do it, but it's still my fault. I couldn't restrain myself."

Leon put a hand on my shoulder, "I'll be honest. I am obligated to reprimand you, but I should be thanking you."

I blinked twice, "What? I'm missing something here."

"I was about two seconds away from fracturing his jaw," Leon admitted. "The way he spoke to Lynn was unacceptable."

Lynn blushed, "Thank you Leon. That is very flattering. Or it would be, if all this wasn't causing a diplomatic nightmare."

She stepped forward and gave Leon a gentle kiss on the cheek. I watched as Leon blushed like a sunburn victim. 

Fiona nodded. "Diplomatic nightmare or not, this is at least allowing us to become familiar with each other. One of us four will likely become your betrothed. Now only one of us three. And at least this way you have a chance to get to know us better."

"I'm afraid that is now unnecessary," Lynn said. "I will be sending a messenger to Prince Wulfric. It will be to inform him that I accept his proposal and will marry him if he will still have me."

Fiona shook her head, "That seems ill advised. He will take his fury out on you for his damaged ego."

"It doesn't matter. I don't matter. What matters is Ys."

Leon took a slow step forward, "Ys does matter. But you also matter."

"No. I don't. I never have. But I can do something here that does matter.” She turned to Leon, “I'm sorry to have to disappoint Your Grace. But I have decided my path."

Vincent shook his head, "Assuming that would work. And I want to be clear, I doubt that it will.  But assuming it would work, we have no idea where Prince Wulfric went when he stormed off."

Lynn nodded, "I am confident that the Hyperborean embassy will be able to send him a message. Ren, can I ask you a favor.” 

I nodded, “Anything.”

“Will you deliver my acceptance to the Hyperborean Ambassador?” 

“Anything by that.” I said, flinching back.

“Ren, you wanted to apologize?" Lynn met my eyes and stared without blinking. 

I slumped, I could see what was coming, "Yes. I did. And I do."

"You can do so to the Hyperborean ambassador when you deliver my message."

“Fine. Break my arm, why don’t you. I'll do this for you."

Fiona spoke, "Wait. That could be dangerous. She was the one who insulted the prince. They might not take kindly to Lady Ren's presence in the embassy."

"Lynn has asked me to do this. I'll do this." I said. 

"Indeed," Fiona said. "And I respect your loyalty. I shall accompany you."

Leon held a hand out to stop Fiona, "You can't. Neither of you can. It’s too dangerous."

"Leon, your grace," Fiona answered, "We are the only ones who can. Your rank would escalate things, even if you went to apologize. Vincent can't apologize on behalf of Ys, as he is Agarthan. Ren and I are high enough rank for the apology to be meaningful. But we are of low enough rank that our apology will not weaken the position of Ys as a whole. And I can protect Lady Ren, if the situation turns ugly."

Leon stiffened, "I could protect her. And an apology from me would carry more weight."

"Indeed, an apology from you would carry more weight. And an apology from you would weaken our diplomatic position with Hyperborea. And, to frank your grace, you are a skilled naval commander, but I am an experienced hand to hand combatant.”

“I am competent in combat on land,” Leon said. And then, with a flourish, he produced a palm sized derringer pistol from up his sleeve. He spun the derringer, and it disappeared back into his sleeve.

Fiona nodded, “Practical. I approve. But you have a single shot before you must reload by hand Whereas I am a monster hunter par excellence. Lady Ren will be safe in my care."

I felt myself blushing, “Thank you. I’ll leave myself in your care then. Um. That is, I’ll trust you. Now I suppose it’s my turn to ask that Lynn and I have some privacy for a quick chat.”

“Is this going to become a thing now?” Vincent asked as Lynn and I headed for the same pillar as last time. 

“Alright, what now?” Lynn asked. 

“We need to talk about this.” I said.

“Talk about what? You agreed to deliver the message and apologize. That’s all we can do at the moment.”

“Not that this. Us this. Here this.” I paused and enunciated: “We are in another world.”

“I know that,” Lynn said.

“I don’t think you do. This is the full Narnia here. All Isekai, all the time. And we’ve been going with it like we are these people.”

“What else are we to do?” Lynn asked, “We have no way home. No idea how we got here. Neither of us has much of a life to go back to, even if we wanted to do so. Your family is dead. And I have no contact with what’s left of mine. What else can we do, but play our roles?”

“Our roles? You’re the heroine. I’m the rival. The bloody rival! I’m your best friend, and I’m the god damned rival! You play your role, and you get happily ever after. I play my role, and I get exiled and disinherited! And even leaving that aside, I still can’t do it. My role is to ruin your life! And I refuse to do that!” I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I spoke. 

“You are doing that!” Lynn said, her voice rising to a yell.

“No, I’m not!” I yelled back, “I’m trying to save you from your own martyr complex!”

I caught myself and lowered my voice to a whisper, “We had lives.”

Lynn turned away. I kept talking.

“I was going to be a fashion designer,” I said. I was properly crying now. “You were going to be a nurse. Now we will never be those things.”

“And so, we have to do the right thing here!” Lynn said 

“No, you don’t understand,” I said as tears streamed down my face, “I’ve lost everything from my old life. I’ve lost everything, but you. I don’t want to lose you as well.”

Lynn stopped, and turned to stare at me, “Ren. Don’t. I can’t. I don’t deserve your loyalty. I don’t deserve you.”

“Yes, you do.” I was still crying, and it was threatening to become an ugly cry. “You’ve had my back since you kicked Jimmy Finegold into the mud for making me cry in first grade. You told me when Lindsay Acres was planning to go full Carrie with the cow’s blood on me. You stopped that creep at The Wednesday Bar from putting that stuff in my drink. You’ve held my hair at the end of so many bar crawls. You were there with a shoulder for me to cry on when my dad died. You have been my friend for as long as I’ve had friends. How many times have you been my only friend? Because I’ve never known how to do the friend thing. And you’ve never minded that. And if saving you means that you hate me, then that’s a price I’m willing to pay. Because you are worth more to me than my own happiness!”

Lynn leaned against the pillar and slid to the floor, her dress bunching as she went. She was crying now as well. And so, we sat there, crying. I don’t know how long we sat there. But, at some point, I heard a tapping on the stone pillar. I looked up. Fiona was standing beside the pillar. She tapped the pillar with the golden cylinder that held her dagger. 

“Am I interrupting? Or have you finished?” She asked in a gentle voice.

“I don’t know.” I said, wiping my eyes with a handkerchief. 

Lynn pulled herself up, “I’m done. I’ve been done for years. I don’t think I’ve ever begun in the first place.”

And, with that, Lynn walked away.

“Do you need assistance getting back to your room?” Fiona asked.

“I can get my lady back to her room.” I heard Amy’s voice, and I repressed another sob. “Come on my lady, let’s get you back to your room.”

“This is going to be a thing now, isn’t it?” I managed between sobs.

“I will be here for you if it is,” Amy whispered.

“I tried that with Lynn,” I answered, hiccupping, “And look where I am.”

* * * 

I stayed out of the way until dinner. Lynn and I both remained polite. But I felt awkward. I didn’t hate her. I wasn’t angry at her. And I don’t think she was angry at me either. I was confident she felt hurt. But what to say to each other? The suitors had left by the time dinner rolled around. My father and my uncle, the baron, were likewise not in attendance. Aunt Theresa indicated that they were working on something important. Something secret. And so dinner consisted of the ladies. That meant myself and Lynn, Catherine and Katarina, and finally Aunt Theresa and my mother. 

“Ladies, I need your attention. We had a scandal today. I don’t need to repeat it, we all know what happened.”

I simmered in shame as she spoke.

“But ladies, I don’t want to see anything else in the broadsheets tomorrow. I want to see nothing beyond gossip about shoes and necklines. We can’t escape the damage we’ve done here. But we can avoid causing more.”

“Where’s father?” Catherine asked, “Is he pulling damage control on Ren’s shenanigans?”

“The baron and your father are working on logistics related to Lynn’s suitors.”

“Logistics?” Katarina said, “She only has four suitors. Maybe only three now.”

“Indeed,” Aunt Theresa said. “Karen, I understand you not wanting Prince Wulfric to become Lynn’s husband. But there were subtler ways to handle that.”

“I got mad. He was treating Lynn worse than dirt. I didn’t plan to slap him.” I said. “But Katarina’s right. Why would four suitors need special planning?”

"The family only approved four suitors from those who sent notice, you mean," My mother said.

Theresa nodded, "We aren't marrying our eldest daughter to just anyone. She won't be the wife of some lesser Lord of Tech-Duinn with no holdings after all."

“Well, it's not like she doesn’t have time, you know.” Catherine said, “She’s only twenty-one, that's the earliest you can start courting. She can take her time in courting.”

“Like you two have?” my mother said, acid on her tongue, “You two haven’t courted in serious fashion since you became of age.”

“Karen isn’t courting either.” Katarina objected.

Mother nodded, “And she should be courting. We could arrange something like that to keep you busy so you can stop worrying about your cousin?”

“I’ll think about it mother,” I paused, “You can put the word out if you like. I can always turn down those who send their interest if I change my mind.”

“Don’t play at this like you play with men’s hearts, Karen.” My mother said and frowned. “This is not a frivolous game. It is a very serious game.”

“I treat all my games as serious matters, mother.”

“Then control your temper going forward. Serious and also serene.”

I cringed, “Of course mother.”

* * * 

After dinner, as I was walking back to my bedchamber, Katarina managed to corner me.

"Don't fuck up Lynn's engagement. I don't want to have to court. I prefer flirting to courting. I don't want to be a wife. Not yet. I haven't lived yet."

“I wasn’t trying to fuck it up, big sister. I lost my temper.”

“Oh, come on. You manipulate everyone. Boys dance at your pleasure. And you want me to believe that this time, you lost your temper. I don’t want to be under the magnifying glass like Lynn. If Lynn stops courting, then all eyes will turn to Catherine and myself.”

“I understand why you don’t believe me. But my goal here is to help Lynn get married to somebody who will keep her safe and make her happy.”

“You hate her.” Katarina said.

“She’s family.” I answered.

“That’s it?”

“Even if it is, isn’t it enough?”

“Either way. Don’t scare away the other suitors.”

“I’ll be good.”

Katarina shook her head, “You’re never good, little sister.”

- - -

By DD Ward and Margaret Lovelace

ddwardiswriting.blogspot.com

[countrymusiclover]

6. Job Revenge

Part 7

Texas Romance

@tyrionsprincess30

Georgie stepped inside the store I'm working at. He asked confused leaning his elbows on the counter. "What ya doin' here?" I tucked my hair behind my ear. "It's my job. What about you?"

Georgie shrugs his shoulders just as the backdoor opened to see my boss come out. "Memaw said she'd get me a job because Missy's baseball coach owns this place and-" I cut in finishing his sentence. "They're dating."

My boss chimed in making me freeze in place making Georgie confused because he takes my hand in his. "So you're the Cooper boy?" Georgie shakes his hand. "Yes sir, Georgie." My boss hired him and now we work together at the store. I basically just stocked things because I didn't feel comfortable with the cash register yet. Georgie was good at selling things to people and he told me about how he worked in a tire shop for a little while.

Weeks later our boss Dale came over to Georgie as I finished eating some fries from our lunch break. Georgie took a fry from my bag and I poked him jokingly. "Hey that's mine". Dale smiles at us, thankfully we weren't that couple that couldn't work with the person we're dating.

He called out to us causing me to shove the rest of the fries in my mouth and throw the bag in the trash - we weren't allowed to eat or drink in the store. Georgie chuckled noticing two fries sticking out of my mouth making me look like a walrus. "Hey Georgie y/n, I was thinking of taking your memaw away for the weekend."

Georgie joked. "Ok you have my blessing. Oh and a one second-" He faces me clapping his hands together and making the sound of a walrus. I did it with him but I caught the fries when they fell out of my mouth and ate them quickly seeing our boss. I laughed with Georgie before rubbing my neck nervously. "Um sorry sir"

Dale grinned not fazed. "I was wondering if you and y/n could watch the store while I'm gone."

I gasped looking at Georgie who asks happy. "You're saying we're the managers?"

Dale looks to me directly knowing I'll take this a little more seriously than him. "No I'm saying that I want you to look after the store will I'm gone."

Georgie smirked at me as I crossed my arms over my chest. Dale questioned. "Do you think you can handle it?"

I nod my head with Georgie's reply. "I will make you proud...can I fire people?"

Dale said. "No."

Georgie asked again. "Can me and y/n get payed more?"

I put a hand over my face playfully shaking my head and trying to stop him from annoying our boss. "No."

Georgie sighed looking to our boss than to me and I actually agreed with what he asked. "Can I at least change the music we play here?"

Dale pouted my way. "What's wrong with the music we play here?"

I trailed off playing with my fingers. "Well...it's um...nothing" Georgie says it clearly out in the open. "It's grandpa music."

Dale didn't really understand why. "How is it grandpa music?"

I tried to ease in the reasoning. "Do you listen to it, sir?" He shakes his head yes.

Georgie continues. "Do you have grandchildren?" Dale said. "yeah."

Georgie tilts his head to the side a bit. "You see where we're going with this" Dale looks at us shocked but nods his head okay.

Later that day we were left in charge in of the store. I wore a light green shirt with blue jeans and tennis shoes with my hair going everywhere. I closed the cash register as Georgie reveals his tape. I smirked leaning my back against the counter. "Really it's called the 'No Grampa Mix'?" Georgie nods putting it in the player as people started coming in.

Georgie hands me the money from the guy customer and I put it in the register. "There you go. I hope you had a good shopping experience with us." The customer said. "I did".

Georgie wraps an arm over my shoulder saying to get a laugh from our customer. "I'd say I'd tell the managers but they already know, cause it's us."

Next I was giving a woman a tennis racket when Georgie came over hearing good news. " I'll take it" I grinned. "Thanks ma'am" Georgie jokes throwing a arm in the air. "It's been a pleasure to serve you".

I ended up back at the cash register watching Georgie whose helping someone testing weights. "You may wanna slow down we don't have a license to sell guns in here." The old guy smiled "Just kidding it's Texas we got'em in the back".

Georgie came over to me to my shocked face I gasped covering my mouth with my hands. "Um Georgie..." He sees the cash register is opened and all the money is all gone. We've been robbed - we're so fired. He runs a hand through his hair going to the back after flipping the open sign to closed.

I packed back and forth running my hands through my hair as he sits in Dale's chair with a hand on his forehead embarrassed. "Georgie we can't call. Dale will know right away." He states. "Y/n he'll find out anyway. Plus they might be able to help us find the person who took the money and get it back."

I stood in front of the table as he calls the police. "I'd like to report a robbery....wait before me and my partner tell you are names is there anyway the manager doesn't find out....because he left us in charge and we really screwed up." Georgie looks to me, running a hand down his face as I bite my nails. "At least 400 dollars...well I know it's a lot, that's why I said I screwed up."

Georgie drove us to his house and I barged into his room clasping on his bed, screaming into his pillow and gripping the covers. "We are left in charge one time and we lose all the money!"

Georgie gets up on his dresser and I lift my head up to see him open a air vent on the wall. He pulls out an envelope with a picture of a red car. I sat up pulling my legs to my chest as he tossed it to me and I catch it. He closes the vent back sighing in disappointment after getting down to sit on his bed.

He lays his head on my right shoulder mumbling. "It's all the money I'm saying for the car..."

I pulled out the money counting it. "I'm sorry but it's the right thing." He nods his head closing his eyes not ready for tomorrow's talk.

I woke up next to a sleeping Georgie sighing when I sat up seeing the money on his dresser. I got up changing out of his old shirts to put on my work shirt and shoes. Georgie wakes up and does the same before we head to his car. Dale was back early and I got concerned about that. He questioned and I could hear his annoyed voice. "So how'd it go yesterday?" Georgie looks to me with sad eyes "it was great until...it wasn't"

Dale asked confused. "What happened y/n?" Georgie takes the floor explaining. "I was helping a customer and y/n was in the back stocking up and I guess i forgot to close the register...cause when y/n and I came over all the money was gone."

Dale gets close to my face as I can barely look him in the eye. "Are you kidding me! Did you call the police?"

I looked up at him stuttering. "We started too but - we didn't want them to get involved.." Georgie jumped in revealing his money to Dale "I was gonna make it right, here take it."

I bite my lip hearing the words I knew would come. "You're fired. Both of you" I took a step backwards towards the door looking at the ground in disappointment as Georgie walked out with me.

We went over to his memaw's house and she saw my red face from crying. She takes me in her arms as Georgie helps me sit down on the couch with them. She lets me cry for a good few minutes to look at Georgie who has a disappointing glance. "Y/n honey, it's ok. Tell me what happened." I croaked wiping away my tears "Dale - he - he fired - us!"

Memaw asked Georgie who runs a hand through my hair trying to calm me down, not very good at seeing me upset. "Wait he fired you and y/n?" Georgie spoke. "yeah."

She asked again suprised. "After you gave him the money back?" I slowly nodded my head and she got up to yell at him on the phone. "What's wrong with you...you know you can be mad at me all you want but don't take it out on my grandson and his girlfriend. Y/n is a good girl and Georgie is learning with her....and he paid you the money back!"

Georgie got an idea looking at me with a smirk and I sat up curious. "I've got an idea" I asked seeing his memaw come back in the room. "What is this plan of yours?"

Memaw sits down beside us. "We're gonna need a dozen eggs" memaw got up and pull out some from the fridge with a smirk. The three of us sat in her car with a carton of a dozen eggs. Memaw glanced back to me in the backseat. "You ready for this?" Georgie reveals the eggs as I get out of the car first "let's go".

Georgie opens the container as memaw gets ready and I stood taking one from him. "Why thank you." She threw the egg and said "this ain't my first egging. Come on y/n"

I tossed it lightly and she said. "It's pretty good". Georgie threw one telling us "it ain't mine either. Don't worry y/n memaw won't let us get in trouble."

I threw two more but they threw more. Memaw threw the last one cursing. "Here's for firing my grandson and his girlfriend, jackass!"

The next morning Dale called us inside. He forgave us and handed us each back a wad of cash. Georgie says and I face palm myself ."Cause y/n and I were the ones who egged your store last night."

I growled lightly "Georgie why!"

Dale aims a finger at me and him asking. "That was you?"

I clarified putting my hands together "Sir, lisen. I only threw 2 eggs and it wasn't my idea. His memaw was there too"

Dale sighs trying to not get mad. "Well uh - it's okay. I forgive you."

I take a breath of relief. "Thank you."

Georgie and I got home before dinner and I sat on the end where memaw usually would. Mrs. Cooper finished the prayer with. "Thank you for Georgie and y/n getting there jobs back". I started eating my food hearing Mr. Cooper say. "Yeah, that was nice of Dale"

Georgie reveals and I tried to not choke on my drink. "I know he even forgave y/n and me for egging his store."

Missy announced looking to me then Georgie. "You took y/n on her first egging without me?"

His mother snapped. "Georgie Cooper....and Y/n L/n. I'm going to call your parents!"

I begged her with puppy dog eyes. "Mrs. Cooper please. I was just mad that he didn't forgive us after we gave him money...I'll do anything I beg of you." She sighed replying. "Fine. I won't tell because you're a good girl y/n."

I mouthed to Georgie who looked down to his food talking to his mom. 'You get on my nerves sometimes' "Dale forgave me and so we're good". That was the end of that conversation.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[earlgreydream]

time for us.

| loki x reader | angst | fluff |

anon requested. loki has been working a lot lately and hasn’t really had anytime for the reader and he completely forgets about their anniversary and she doesn’t tell him for a couple of days but then he snaps at her and they have a huge argument

a/n: this doesn’t have any spoilers for the show— just mention that Loki works for the TVA (which isn’t canon at the time of me writing this)

You loathed Loki’s new job, working for the Time Variance Authority.

Ever since Loki began at the TVA, they’d managed to occupy nearly all of his time and energy, leaving little to none left for you. Your relationship was strong, but only a few weeks of work had put a strain on the two of you.

He’d become more short tempered, and easily agitated. You tried to be patient, but little things seemed to antagonize you, and soon every small thing was becoming huge.

Above all, you hated to fight with Loki. You bottled up your frustration, shoving them down inside of you and keeping them hidden and locked away. Your limited time with Loki was precious, and you didn’t want to poison it with your annoyance. However, it was doing damage that you hadn’t yet comprehended, building a pressurized weapon that was bound to explode.

It took weeks, but the explosion came.

.

Loki had been so caught up in work that he missed your anniversary. It had escaped his mind entirely, passing like any other day. He was distracted by variants running wild, and the need to please his new boss. He felt responsible for things that were going wrong, and he had put your relationship on the backburner.

You’d been certain he’d take you out during the night, or at least do something to acknowledge the anniversary of your love, but you’d been dead wrong. You waited at home as hours passed, and when his normal arrival time had long passed, the pain in your chest grew until your entire body was throbbing with hurt.

You took your makeup off, along with the pretty dress you wore-- the green one that your husband adored.

Loki had stayed late at work, taking overtime and showing up just before ten. You were so hurt you could hardly speak, but Loki’s mind was too muddled with work to even notice. You were already in bed when he returned home, and he’d kissed your forehead and gone to sleep with less than five words leaving his lips.

You laid awake in bed that night, staring at the wall. You should have told Loki you were angry, said something then and at least gotten it in the open. But you shoved it down with everything else— every other hurt and grievance and annoyance that poisoned you.

.

“Can you set that down, please?” You asked, four days later. You tried to keep your tone even, but you were impatient. The bite in your words was all you could do to keep from tearing the file from his delicate hands.

Loki was in the kitchen, his face buried in a variant case file. He was supposed to be helping you make dinner, but you were dismissed and cast aside once again as his work outshined you.

“I’m working, Y/N! It’s important. Don’t you want me to get paid so you can have your pretty things?” Loki snapped, shocking you.

“No!” You screamed, slamming the cabinet door shut.

He stared at you, turquoise eyes wide in shock at your outburst. He dropped the file on the counter, a harsh glare adorning his stunning face.

“No, Loki! I don’t fucking care about the pretty things. I don’t even know that I care about YOU!” The words were coming out before you could stop them.

“You don’t care about me?! All I ever do is for you!” Loki met your anger, matching your energy and only fueling the fire of rage that was building in your stomach.

“You’re such a selfish liar! You don’t give a fuck about me, Loki! You’re in a relationship with your bullshit job, you don’t give a damn about me! All of your time and your energy... and fuck, even your kindness goes to the stupid fucking TVA!! There’s nothing left for me, and I don’t want your scraps!” You shoved him back when he took a step toward you.

“I’m selfish? You’re needy and dramatic! You’re a spoiled brat, acting out when not every ounce of my attention is being given to you. What, you’re mad that I didn’t help you make this salad? Grow up, Y/N!” Loki’s hateful words poured out, tasting like acid in his mouth.

“No! I’m mad that you forgot our anniversary and that you haven’t seen how much you’ve hurt me!” Tears burned as they streamed down your face, blurring your vision that was bleeding at the edges.

Loki’s lips parted, and realization suddenly crossed his features. He took a step back, recognizing his anger had spiraled out of control, and that your anger was justified.

“I didn’t mean it… I do care about you, I just want you to care about me.” Your voice broke, and shaky hands went to your mouth, stifling a sob. Guilt swelled in Loki’s chest as he saw you fall apart, unable to bear the weight of your anger.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I don’t know how I’ve forgotten. Please, my love, forgive me,” Loki’s tone softened, and he knelt down to his knees before you.

He didn’t care about the messy floors ruining his perfect suit, nothing mattered to him then except for you.

“I shouldn’t have gotten so angry, I just miss you,” you were weeping, unable to hold the sobs at bay.

“It’s okay, scream and cry if you need to, but know I love you more than anything and I am terribly, terribly sorry.”

Loki gently pulled you forward, closing his arms around you. His forehead rested against your stomach, and you laid your hands on top of his head.

“I know. I know,” you stammered in shaky breaths. Your fingers trembled as you dragged them through his hair, overwhelmed with every emotion that washed over you all at once.

.

You got home from work, a couple of days after your fight. You had both apologized, easing the tension over. Loki hadn’t stopped apologizing, even when you promised him it was okay. It had been better since-- you weren’t keeping secrets or harboring anger, and you felt exceedingly better in the aftermath of your fight.

You walked into your master suite, considering a hot bath or a shower after your day. You were lost in your thoughts as you kicked your shoes off, before turning to the bed. A dress was laid out on the end of the bed, glittery heels and jewelry in a box beside it. Loki wasn’t home, but a note was attached, telling you to get dressed and he’d meet you.

You smiled, lifting the black cocktail dress. You changed, fixing your hair and makeup in the mirror. Your day at work had been long, and you didn’t know what Loki had in store for you, but you were excited.

The lock clicked open on the door, signaling the arrival of your husband. You stepped into the foyer to greet him, met with Loki in an all-black suit. A grin spread across his expression as he noticed you, making warmth bloom in your chest.

“You look-” you both started at the same time.

You smiled and tilted your head, letting him speak.

“You look beautiful,” Loki spoke softly before giving you a kiss.

“Thank you. You look sharp. What’s the occasion, what are we doing?”

“I’m so sorry I missed our anniversary. I thought we could celebrate us tonight.”

You broke into a grin, nodding excitedly.

“Yes. Yes, let’s do it.”

“Of course. Let me set my things down,” he kissed your cheek and stepped into your master, cleaning up and dropping his bag.

.

You were driven to a fancy restaurant, one hand in Loki’s as the other smoothed over the wheel of his black sports car. He dropped the keys with a valet, and you were escorted to a table in the back of the place.

“Wine, Mrs. Laufeyson?”

“Please,” you nodded, and the waiter poured you a glass of sparkling pink moscato.

“I’ve gotten us a suite at the resort in the city. I have a bag packed for you in the car, I thought we could enjoy a weekend away. You deserve it,” Loki brought your hand to his lips, kissing your knuckles.

“You’re spoiling me,” you giggled, sipping your wine.

“As I should be.”

Elaborate French dishes were brought out on gorgeous plates, looking like something from a food blog. It tasted divine, and Loki told you some history about the dish from some time he was living or traveling in Paris. You listened to his animated stories, thinking about how you were so in love with him. 

“Why’re you staring at me like that?” Loki laughed softly, spooning sorbet into your mouth.

“Because I love you. And you’re charming and cute when you get excited,” you confessed with a grin. 

“I love you too. I’m sorry about everything,” he apologized. 

“It’s okay. We’re past it. Time moves forward for us.”

Loki nodded, leaning forward and smearing a kiss over your temple before retrieving your car from the valet.

“To the hotel?” he asked, sliding his hands over your hips and kissing your neck as you waited.

“Okay,” you giggled, squirming in his arms. 

He squeezed your bum, making you gasp before opening the door for you, helping you into the passenger seat. 

When you arrived at the hotel, there was a bouquet of roses on the table, and candles burning around. He kissed the back of your head, setting your bag down for you.

“Let me make this up to you,” his voice was deep as he unzipped your dress.

“Please,” you smiled, turning in his arms and pulling him into a heated kiss.