#why is felix name so hard to remember i had to copy paste

[argonavis-hcs]

How They Will Celebrate Your Birthday

Argonavis | GYROAXIA | Fantome Iris | FUURAI | epsilon phi

» a/n: I apologize for being biased but i love these goth uncles so much it hurts. I wish there's more translation on Koharu's background and personality in the future because i feel like he's the most vague out of the other four, hence why often struggles when writing his fanfic... more like i wish i understand japanese lol. Long live to all the argopro translator out there i hope you get the best things in life. That also applies to you, people who like to read my work here <3

» Tags: fem!reader

» TW: none

Guy has money but i must apologize, dear readers, you're going to have to endure tonight's dinner. Prepare for full course dish made out of... love, of course. Nothing but love for his one and only, the Queen of his heart

No worries tho, being Felix's partner AKA the King of Vampire himself makes you his counterpart, the second-in-command of the Vampire realm in which you have his fellow vampires (and our human priest, Daimon) to back you up. They will contribute to prepare you the best birthday dinner (only those who happen to have their schedule empty of course)

Felix being French that he is, romance runs in his blood. He will send you a birthday greeting written beautifully in a classic, yellowed, old paper. It's so dramatic of him that you let out a chuckle when you opened the letter, you also couldn't help but notice that the letter has his scent all over it. Not even the big bouquet of roses in your front door can hide this fragrance of his

His students wondered why he's looks so happy today, why it's because he has many agenda to do with you on your special day of course~

The dinner went great, no stomachache involved. The atmosphere feels like you're inside royal palace with an actual king. For the final Act, Felix bows and ask the lady for a dance, you agreed and the piano starts playing. If you don't really know how to dance, it's ok, he'll lead you and you don't have to think about anything else, simply pay attention to him. Don't be afraid to fall, for he will always catch you no matter what

As much as a busy person he is, he will remember your day because that's just the kind of person he is. He marked the date on his calendar, on his phone, even put a little note on his bathroom mirror so he can see it every time he brush his teeth in the morning

It's probably nothing extravagant, but spending time with you without disturbance is considered as luxury due to how tight his schedule can be

In the afternoon he will pick you up from work with a cake he just bought on the way, walking together to your place while also stopping on some stores to buy more presents despite you saying that his time is more than enough. Also he won't let you carry a single bag. The two of you will take a break on the train station while eating a desert until your train comes

Your birthday celebration is held in the evening at your place. You live by yourself away from your family so you decide to spend your day with Tomoru alone since you miss him so, and your friends understand it so they decide to celebrate tomorrow evening after work

Feeling kinda playful, you smear some cake frosting onto your boyfriends nose when he's not looking. He won't let you off easy y'know? He get his revenge by smearing even more cake frosting on your cheek. This is the thing with Tomoru, when alone with him you feel safe and free to act like a kid again, despite the two of you being literal adults with responsibility.

It ended up being a playful cake fight. Both faces are covered with frosting that Tomoru had to put his glasses away where it safe. You realized it's been so long since you've seen him without it outside fantome iris live, you can't help but stare at his feature. You don't realize you stared for too long until he surprised you with a kiss. It started simple, innocent, and light, till he deepen the kiss each seconds. You can taste the sweetness of his lips on you, and that's when you know that this is the best birthday present you could've ever wished for

Oh God please help this guy. He's panicking like it's the end of the world. What if he make things worse? What if his bad luck transfers itself to you on your day? What if you hate him after this? What if what if what if–

At least for today he wants to accomplish one of the biggest achievement he could ever achieve, that is to put the biggest smile on your face. To be the reason of your happiness for the day

But the reality is, he still can't think of what to do. He asked his band mates/friends for advice and they suggest Jun to just ask you what do you want. He is in doubt but complies either way

Surprisingly, you ask him if he perform a song with piano. His brain circuited, he thought your request will be something difficult or something along the lines of 'surprise me', which will terrify him even more

Despite already being good at piano, he's still in distress on which song he should play, or should he compose a new one instead? Countless hours were spent to perfect his skill that he even sacrificed his gaming time 'cause the thought of you won't leave his head

The day arrive and you were so excited to see him play especially for you, but Jun didn't expect you to sit so close beside him, shoulders touching and all. The notes in his head completely disappeared that all he could think about is how beautiful you look today, your scent cloud his head it's intoxicating him in the best way possible. Oh how he wished he's good with words, to praise such being as you, but he knows he'll only embarrass himself if he opens his mouth. So his music shall declare his admiration on his behalf

You can feel the tears pooling already. The melody of each songs were played perfectly with no flaws. As your eardrums were blessed with his music, you were also in awe with the way his fingers dance on each keys. To think that you long-awaited moment to witness his play are now granted, it was the most beautiful present you ever received

You can't help but lay your head on his shoulder and hug his arm. As you whisper those three words, all the pianist feel is the warmth unfurling from his chest. His world are now filled with every color spectrum, with you at the center

Just like Felix's students, Koharu's students also notice Koharu seems happier and more energetic today. Innocent eyes looking at their teacher, asking what makes him joyful? It's because today he will celebrate the birthday of someone reaaaaallly important to him!

"Is it the person waiting outside??" Asked a little girl while tip-toeing at the window. Some kids really do well in remembering faces who usually visits the nursery, huh? Koharu picked up the little girl and together they took a peek outside... And found you sitting there. Wait, shouldn't you be at work? And shouldn't he be the one picking you up from work instead? This is not what we talked about, y/n!

Work was kind enough to let you off early for some reason. So to save time, you decide to visit the nursery where your boyfriend works. While waiting for him, you get to see him handling children, which is something you've always wanted to see

Some kids even cheered happy birthday to you. Perhaps Koharu told them? Kids in this nursery are so sweet, no wonder Koharu love his job. Koharu just looked at you with that sheepish smile of his

The two of you celebrate on a restaurant you've always wanted to visit. The food place is always crowded that Koharu had to make reservation one week in advance. It was totally worth it, the food were all delicious and you and Koharu got to eat to your heart's content. Careful now, Koharu, you can't eat too much or else your costume won't fit anymore

You think celebrating in this place alone is enough? Absolutely not! You haven't blown any candles yet, and for that you need a cake. So the two of you pick up the cake in Champ de Fleur that happened to be empty. Well, doesn't matter because Koharu intend to do this quick as he's going to take your for an all-night long ride with his motorcycle (I hc he used to ride one when he was young)

"W-What? Of course I 'm not avoiding eating your cake! It's your birthday cake, not mine so... Ugh, fine, but only you feed me yourself!"

You were a bit hesitant to ride with him until morning. But you're also well aware that you have nothing to worry about. You and him are both adults and Koharu can protect you from any danger. So why not take his hand and see the world he has to offer?

After all, unlike the two of us, the night is still young. So hold on to me and let's enjoy the present time as much as we can, shall we?

Our biggest male wife (figuratively and literally) will do everything himself. Everything was made by his hands and the sacrifice of his time and energy

He will close the café early as he's planning to decorate the place a little bit and make sure everything is ready. The cake, check. The whole five different dishes that's made for large group of people, check. Presents, check, hopefully you will like them

If you prefer to bring your friends and his friends along. he's totally ok with it. The more the merrier! But if you just want him then he doesn't mind, he's going to have easier time tidying things up after the celebration

Truly the best cake is the one made by the hands of your loved one. You silently wish your family will also one day taste delicacies made by your partner. As cringey as it sounds, every bite is filled with love. This is the love language of Kusunoki Daimon, the one who never show much expression as he shows it through his act of service, and you're more than willing to bask on this feeling forevermore

One of his gift being a reference to the story of Beauty and The Beast. A single rose that wilts slowly, as long as the beast hasn't found his true love, one petal will fall. One by one until it eventually dies. In contrast to the rose in the story, the rose Daimon gave you will never die. Standing proud and eternal inside the crystal clear glass. For he has found his true love in the shape of you, who was born and fated to be together with him. A token of gratitude for making it through many hardships with him, not leaving his side, and for loving a beast such as him

[stray-kids-react]

02 liner aussie girl joining the group

Masterlist

...

Bang Chan

° Sees you as a little sister, and will baby you nonstop for that reason alone. Expect very long hugs and him trying to beg you for some affection.

° Let Felix take charge in helping you around JYP, watching from afar like a proud father. Even if you aren't much younger than the members, he can't help but become a giddy mess when you literally do anything.

° Since he sees you as a little sister, that also means he is very protective over you. Not even Minho can tease you for too long without Chan becoming a bit tense. He just doesn't want you to ever feel uncomfortable.

° Does many vlives with you, chatting about your life and what parts of Australia you grew up in. Whenever he is introducing you or if you call him during a vlive, he'll call you little sissy.

° Many stays have made edits of Chan babying you or treating you like a literal angel, you both have watched edits like these and neither of you can deny that he doesn't do either of those things.

"My little sissy y/n did great today in our dance practice, isn't that right sissy?" he asked, sitting you on his lap.

"Yeah, Minho Oppa helped me learn quite a bit. But I couldn't have succeeded it without my personal cheerleader Chris." You replied.

Lee Know

° Doesn't make a huge deal out of it, is honestly just really happy to have a new member. He doesn't care that your a girl or a fellow aussie, just sees you as a member.

° If you are ever struggling with Korean he'll do his best to try and help you, even if it is only on small thing such as the way you pronounce words. He admits to finding your struggles pretty adorable.

° Even though he is a huge tease, he'll go easy on you for the first two months. Letting you get settled in and get use to the chaotic behavior of all of them. But after those months pass, he'll start to tease.

° Minho likes to challenge you to dance battles during practice, seeing if you will ever beat him on one. But luckily whenever Snsd comes on you are in your element, showing him the true Gee master.

° Minho has a soft spot fro you due toy your age, he won't tease you too harshly and won't get mad if you don't remember one of his cat's names. All of the members notice his new soft spot for you.

"So I know Soonie, Doongie... And?" you sighed, trying to remember the third cat of Minho's.

"Dori, it's okay. At least you remembered two of them." He reassured, Felix looking at him with shock from across the room.

Changbin

°When he heard that you would be joining the group, he hoped that you wouldn't make fun of him as much as the other members. And if you did, it wouldn't be too harsh.

° Appreciated that you weren't teasing him 24/7, and if you are shorter than him then he would be very smiley and giddy for days. Changbin likes your company and would often want to hang around you.

° Buys you coffee/tea every morning, and only you (occasionally Felix). And when the members ask, he explains that you earned your coffee/tea by not teasing him. Even if they haven't teased him for days.

° You are his favorite member, even if he won't admit it... Everyone knows it. You are his best friend and he doesn't want that relationship to change. Unlike the fan's pov, he sees you only as a best friend.

° Whenever he does a vlive with you, your ship name is all over the chat. Neither of you speak out about it, but both of you don't like each other in that way. And it makes situations awkward when they ship you two.

"I can't believe we're a ship, that is so weird to me." You chuckled, scrolling through Instagram on your phone.

"I know right! I don't get why a girl and a guy can't be friends without people shipping them." He sighed, clearly frustrated.

Hyunjin

° Becomes putty in your hands, he just finds everything about you adorable. It also doesn't help that you are Australian, which he happens to have an interest in.

° He wouldn't describe his feelings towards you as a crush, more as a little sister and der brother relationship. He would feel weird if you ever developed something for him, since he is too close to you to be a couple.

° Very clingy towards you, constantly draping himself across you. Or sitting you on his lap when you are worn out from practice, he often let's you take naps on him. He also treats you to sweets, even when on diets.

° Hyunjin once got frustrated over how JYP was treating you, giving you an extreme diet even though you were already working hard enough. So he'd reassure you that him and Chan would talk with JYP about it.

° Hyunjin can be seen copying your accent, whether it be for fun or just to tease you. He'll copy or pick up on your accent, many fan's hearts melting at his determination to be part of the aussie line.

"I shouldn't be having this cupcake." You sighed, placing the cupcake you've been eyeing for the past few minutes.

"Screw JYP, eat what you want. You are your own person and shouldn't listen to some old man." He defended, passing the cupcake.

Han

° Was the first member you met, even though it was by total accident. You both ran into each other when he was leaving the building and you were entering.

° You dropped the coffee all onto yourself in shock, making him chuckle as he tried to help you clean yourself up. He helped you into JYP, having no clue that you are going to be the new member joining.

° When Chan introduced you to the members the next day, Han was shocked. He was surprised to see a familiar face, but was also pleased knowing you seemed to be quite a sweet and charming person.

° You both are the stars whenever on reality shows together, many seeing you both as a chaotic duo. Doni and Coni once tried to correct you, telling you that women shouldn't be so hyper. Han got pissed.

° Not only did Han correct them on their manners, but also told them that a man shouldn't tell a woman what to do. Many fans and netizens applauded him for protecting his new and sweet Maknae.

"I swear those guys get on my nerves sometimes, don't listen to them." He sighed, patting your head softly.

"It's okay Hannie, I'm glad that I have some older brothers to stand up for me." You reassured, melting his heart.

Felix

° You are nervous to be around Felix, not because he's intimidating or harsh. But because he is so nice and angelic, and you don't want to develop a crush on a member.

° Even if you don't see him in that light at first, it will happen eventually because he has such an addicting energy that surround him. Felix is a sunshine, and it isn't hard to see why everyone loves him.

° Felix wants to make you feel as comfortable as possible, usually being the member picking up pads/tampons for you. He secretly develops a small crush on you, but he knows it would end up bad.

° You both would be worried about it ending bad due to the popularity of the band, Felix's popularity, your new career, and JYP's strict rules. So both of you don't truly progress that side of your relationship.

° It could blossom into something more serious in the future, but for right now it is just a mutual crush that both of you must hide. Your friendship is still very strong nonetheless, and you appreciate that.

"Okay here's a hard question, Back Door or All In?" you asked, as the managers watched you both from behind the camera.

"Neither because you aren't in them." He answered, trying to play it off as playful more so than flirtatious.

Seungmin

° Seungmin is your dorm mate, who always manages to make your nights more calm. He reassures you every night that you are doing great, even if you don't believe him.

° You both wrote down a schedule for dishes, laundry, cooking ect. The only exceptions to it is having a terrible day, birthday, or being sick. Either than that then you must follow the schedule stuck into the fridge.

° You both have derpy photos of each other as your wallpapers, both being taken when both of you just woke up. Seungmin can't help but giggle silently whenever he opens up his phone, looking at your bed head.

° Seungmin helps you out with waking up, letting you get use to the schedule of being an idol. Taking as many pillows to the face as he needs to for you to finally wake up, Once getting feathers in his hair due to it.

° Many think you both knew each other before you became a member, but you both explained that you just understand each other well and clicked when you met. Neither of you grew up together.

"Is today you dish day or mine?" he asked, bottle of soap already in his hand ready to begin cleaning.

"Mine, but I had a terrible day today. JYP critiqued everything about me." You huffed, getting a soft hug from Seungmin.

Jeongin

° Is glad he won't be babied as much since he isn't the maknae anymore, but will miss the benefits of being able to aegyo your way out of responsibilities.

° All of the members call you the babies or the baby line, even if either of you ar taller than some of them. Jeongin is also appreciative that he now has someone to relate to with being a babied quite often.

° He'll still call you noona just to get under your skin, but you honestly don't mind being called noona or unnie. Especially since some stays are younger than you, but you can become playfully annoyed at times.

° Jeongin will warm up to you very fast and treat you like a sister, he'll spoil you with stuffies and share his food with you every meal. Even though mama gets scold him for it, he doesn't care and continues to do it.

° Chan will cover both of your eyes when the members do something sexy, even if you kind of want to see it (mostly to tease them). But you understand why, since both fo you will get flustered by it easily.

"Y/n noona likes to steal my food sometimes." Jeongin admitted to fans, smiling at your playful glare.

"You share your food and insist I eat it Jeongin Oppa." You defend, watching the fans respond to the situation.

[lumosinlove]

PREVIOUSLY ON RELIC KEEL:

We get our first glimpse of Finn, who is still in Saint Clair orphanage. Finn has worked out that Crucio is being given to the orphans because it allows them to see their families again and makes them want to stay at Saint Clair so they can keep receiving it—even if it means reliving memories every day that are not their own. Finn doesn’t want that at all, and he’s been in solitary for the last week because he refuses to eat, realizing that the drug is mixed in with the food.

Luke is struggling with his mother, who seems to be delighted that Luke’s father is gone. She has completely transformed into a woman Luke doesn’t recognize, offering him alcohol, and wanting to get rid of Luke’s father’s things. Luke escapes her words, retreating to his father’s study where he can take Crucio and re-arrange the events in his own mind, making it so his father never got taken away.

Remus and Sirius, at James’ house for a movie night, have an awkward exchange in the kitchen. Remus wants to ask Sirius if he wants to go sailing with him, quickly realizing the unexplainable but seemingly unavoidable crush he’s developed on Sirius, but they get interrupted by Saint.

Saint asks Remus to help him sneak into The Hogwarts History Museum, where Remus is working for the summer, but when Remus refuses, guesses he has to take matters into his own hands.

Saint finds Luke on the grasses with the others, watching a movie. Luke wants his father’s watch, which Saint stole, back, but Saint refuses. Luke can’t believe Saint has never seen many movies, but rudely puts it up to Saint’s “fucked childhood.” They argue, and it just makes Saint quietly angrier. Saint thinks more deeply about it than he lets on, though, reflecting on people’s need to control things—a need that Crucio plays on. Saint leaves, but not after stealing the keys to Luke’s car, deciding he can control things a different way—with ancient gold from an ancient pirate ship, perhaps.

Sirius follows Saint out of the house. He can tell that he’s more on edge than usual, that he has been ever since Logan arrived. Saint won’t tell him what he wants from the museum, though—a treasure map to the Voldemort. Sirius is hurt. He’s angry at himself for liking Remus. Both Sirius and Saint, it seems, have a hard time distinguishing pity and friendship.

Leo and Logan are waiting for Saint so that they can all go to the museum together. Leo asks about Finn and finds out that Logan and Finn are in love, that they’re everything to each other. It stings Leo’s slowly developing feelings for Logan.

Remus and Sirius go to the history museum to try and thwart Saint and find out he’s working with Logan and Leo, and that they’re all after The Voldemort. Saint confesses he’s trying to help Sirius, to Sirius’ surprise. Leo wants to finish his father’s work. Logan wants Finn—but no one seems willing to help him bust Finn out. When they find the drawer where the map should be kept in the museum’s archive room, however, it’s gone, having been taken out on loan by Luke’s father, Victor Deveaux. Victor and Luke loved the tale of the treasure, too. Perhaps it has something to do with Victor being sent to jail.

They go to Luke’s house where Saint climbs through Luke’s bedroom window. Saint studies a sleeping Luke, a strange, unexpected constant—a brooding, rude, beautiful one, that is. And oh, how Saint hates letting things surprise him. Saint wakes Luke, who has taken Crucio, and plans to use his father’s watch as leverage to get Luke to help them find the map.

~

*****cw: mentions of drugs, mentions of use of drugs, mentions of past deaths, mentions of past abuse, mentions of blood*****

~

part vii

Luke’s father was standing over Remus’ shoulder, flickering as the Felix wore off, and it was really fucking with Luke’s head.

“Some fellow treasure hunters,” his father said with one of his soft smiles. “Sounds fun.”

“Sober up,” Remus’ voice filtered in. “What makes you sober up?”

“I’m not drunk.”

Luke watched Remus just shake his head at him. His father’s flickering frame was looking closely at Saint, who was picking up everything in sight.

“We both know what you are,” Remus replied. “Now, come on. Coffee? Anything I can do without waking your mom up.”

“She’s not going to wake up,” Luke rubbed his eyes. “She takes these—sleeping things, I don’t know.”

“Well—“ Remus hesitated. Behind him, Luke’s father flickered out.

“I’m fine,” Luke said. “What’s going on?”

“We’re bargaining, remember?” Saint held up Luke’s father’s watch again. “Tell me about your father, Deveaux.”

Luke blinked. “What?”

“Well, Lupin’s already told us a little. You, him, and your treasure hunting days.”

Luke looked at Remus, who looked half-guilty and half-curious. “You mean—like when we were kids?”

Luke didn’t want to tell them about the time he had spent with his father in here, just the two of them, fantasizing about gold and pirates.

“We were at the museum just now,” Remus began slowly. “Your dad loaned out a map…it’s of the Cradle. Of a, what was it, a trading post?”

The tall, blond boy standing in a corner nodded.

Remus looked back to Luke. “Have you seen it? Here?”

“A map?” Luke scrubbed his hand over his face again. “What fucking time is it?”

“Oh, he’s swearing,” Saint said as he opened another drawer. “He’s back.”

“Fuck—” Luke clamped his mouth shut. He turned away from Saint and fully towards Remus. Sirius and another dark haired boy were standing near the blond one. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Treasure?”

Remus winced. “Like the Voldemort.”

“The—what? He was never serious about that stuff,” Luke replied. “It was just for fun.”

“And yet he takes it upon himself to acquire an ancient document,” Saint piped up from behind him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Luke said again over his shoulder.

“Um—“

Luke looked towards the blond boy, who had taken a hesitant step forward.

“I know what it looks like. My dad had a copy.”

“A true father’s affair,” Saint mumbled.

“What?” Luke asked for what felt like the one hundredth time.

“If we could just look around—” the blond began.

“You come here at ass o’clock in the morning to look around may dad’s study? For a treasure map that your dad has?”

“Used to have,” the blond’s eyes went colder. “His version was lost with him and his boat.”

Luke swallowed, eyes drifting away from the other boy’s blue ones. He looked back to Remus. They used to spend hours playing pirate when they were younger. Remus looked like he was remembering those hours, too.

Luke only had to blink for that golden-edged memory to mingle with the hours Remus had held Luke close in Luke’s bed, letting Luke soak his t-shirt through when they’d taken his dad away.

“Why do you think my dad has it?” Luke said now. “What do you mean loaned?”

“We went looking for it at the museum just now,” Remus explained. “Well—not not we. Saint stole your car—”

Luke looked back at Saint. “I’m aware.”

Saint flashed a smile.

“—and went with Logan,” Remus pointed to the somber looking brunette, “and Leo,” the cold-eyed blond, “to more or less, God, break into the museum archives. If they’re going to find the treasure—which, in my opinion, they’re not—they need—”

“A map,” Luke said, then scoffed out a laugh. “You guys are fucking crazy.”

Remus ran a hand through his hair. “Look, none of this was my idea, but your dad’s name was on the loan card. If it’s here, it's here, and then they’ll take the picture they need and we can all leave. I mean, shit, I have work at seven tomorrow morning, guys.”

Luke let out a long breath. He was tired, from being woken up and from the Felix, and he frankly wanted Saint to stop messing with his father’s things.

He nodded at Remus. “You can look around. And I will. The rest of you, don’t fucking—” he snatched one of his father’s fountain pens out of Saint’s hands. “touch anything.”

Saint just tiled his head defiantly. Luke couldn’t help but hold his gaze for a moment, remembering waking up to those syrupy eyes and feeling—he didn’t know what. Like he was standing on the edge of the Howler cliffs, above a storm-warmed, rough ocean. Saint’s hand had been in his hair, and it had been ever so gentle, unlike the rest of him. His words were tough, and, from what Luke could tell by his own jabs at Saint, so was his skin. He guessed a kid didn’t grow up the way Saint had without at least a little armor—Saint was practically drowning in his own.

As if Luke could talk. Luke looked away and gestured towards Remus. “Let’s get this over with.”

Luke opened drawers and cabinets. He looked through stacks of paper and under dressers. He checked the den, even, just in case, but there was nothing. Everything was orderly—and even more, the police had taken so much. Any paper they could get their hands on. His mom wouldn’t tell him what they were looking for, and neither would the lawyers that occasionally came to the house.

But there was no map.

Luke began to double check, if only at Remus’ insistence, but he was at a loss. There were only so many places—

“What’s your birthday, tweedle?” Saint said suddenly.

“What does that have to do—” Luke began as he turned, but his words died in his throat when he saw Saint.

Luke’s father had had the old map of Hogwarts framed and hanging in his study ever since Luke could remember. He knew its markings as well as he knew the island as it was today. Saint had it tilted to the side, revealing a sliver of sleek steel. A safe.

“I told you not to touch anything,” Luke said breathlessly. He hadn’t known about that safe. He’d stared at that map a thousand times and he hadn’t known. Did his mother know? The lawyers?

“I bet you one of Leo here’s best breakfast sandwiches that the map’s in here,” Saint replied, nodding to the frame. “Little bit of an X marks the spot, don’t you think? Now,” Saint reached for the painting and unhooked it smoothly, setting it on the ground to reveal the neat square metal sunken into the wall with a dial in the center. “Tell me your birthday.”

“Why do you think the combination is my birthday?”

Saint rolled his eyes. “Because you’re his son. Fathers do that. Don’t they?”

Saint asked the last part like he was trying to be sure, but wasn’t.

“January first,” Luke replied.

Saint hummed as he leaned in. “New year, new you, huh?”

Luke just swallowed dryly as he listened to the dial tick. It felt so loud in the room that was now holding its breath. It felt like it lasted forever, but, finally, the safe opened with a gentle click.

“Damn, Saint,” Sirius said softly.

“I know, I’m so good,” Saint said, and made to push the door open when Luke pushed forward and grabbed his hand. Saint’s fingers were warm in his own. Saint raised an eyebrow.

“Like you said,” Luke still felt breathless. “I’m his son. I’m doing this.”

Saint raised his free hand in surrender until Luke let go, and he backed away. Luke faced the safe. He felt the Felix in him all over again, though it was long gone. He felt his father, smelled his cigars. Luke reached for the door, too aware of the four pairs of eyes on him, and pulled it open.

It was relatively empty. There were papers that looked like they had once bound money, but lay ripped and lifeless now. There was a case of expensive cigars.

And there was an envelope with Luke’s name on it.

“There’s a letter,” Luke said faintly, picking it up. “For me.”

He looked up at Remus, and Remus nodded.

“Like the clues he would leave us?” Remus said quietly.

Luke went for the seal—only to have it snatch out of his hands.

He looked up, eyes wide, and found the unfamiliar brunette—Logan, Remus had said—staring back at him, at all of them, with wild green eyes.

“Logan,” Leo said, voice filled with surprise. “What the hell are you—”

But Logan just backed up towards the door. There was a familiar click, and the flame of a lighter appeared in his other hand.

“Hey—” Luke stepped forward, panicked, but Saint’s palm pushed against his chest.

“Don’t,” Saint said softly, for Luke’s ears only.

“That’s mine,” Luke snarled, shoving Saint away.

“Yeah, well I have something I want, too,” Logan snapped, and then looked at Saint. He held the flame closer to the envelope. “You want to know what this says? Then—”

“So do you, Logan,” Saint said. “You need that money. You know you do. The Carrows know it, too.”

“You owe me something first. I want Finn.”

“I don’t owe you,” Saint replied evenly. “I don’t owe anyone. That’s kind of my general idea in life, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Logan faltered, and the flame slipped close enough to the envelope to make smoke trail, but when Luke stepped forward, Logan took another step back. He looked small, framed by the grand desk and leather chairs. Small and scared.

“You left us in there,” he finally whispered, and Luke thought he heard Saint’s breathing stop and hold, like a punch to the gut.

“He was seven years old,” Sirius growled, and Luke didn’t know what they were talking about, was done waiting.

“Do you know the last time I talked to my dad?” Luke said, voice raising. He glanced upstairs, careful of his mother despite her pills, and dropped it to a deadly whisper again. “He’s not allowed calls. Not until the investigation’s over. This could—” Luke hesitated at putting his wildest, most desperate hope into words. “This could prove he’s—”

“Do you think I give a shit about the last time you talked to your daddy?” Logan snarled just as harshly. “When’s the last time I talked to mine? Oh. Right.”

“Please,” Luke heard the word rip out of his throat before he could help it, but Logan wasn’t even looking at him. Logan’s eyes were on Saint.

“Help me get Finn out. The windows are barred now. There are alarms, I’ve seen them.”

“I didn’t use a window,” Saint replied.

“Then show me how you did it.”

“You won’t be able to get in the way I got out.”

“Then do it for me.”

If Luke was begging, so was Logan.

“Fuck, I’ll help you,” Luke shouted. “Just don’t. Please. My father—”

“You don’t know shit about Saint Clair,” Logan snapped, then looked back at Saint. “We both know where he is. Why I haven’t seen him. Saint—”

“All right,” Saint said, voice calm. His brown eyes reminded Luke of stormy seas, ruddy with stirred up sand. “All right, Logan. Just don’t burn the letter.”

“Promise,” Logan said.

Saint laughed, cold and clear. “What has a promise ever meant to either of us? I said I would. Take it or leave it.”

There was a terrifying moment in which Luke worried that the letter would go up in flames anyway. That he would never know what his father had wanted him to have, wanted him to know. He didn’t know Logan, didn’t trust him.

The lighter clicked off and Logan held out the envelope. Luke took it and gave Logan a shove towards the door for good measure.

“Get out,” he said. “Get out of my house.”

“What does the letter say?” Logan replied firmly. “It could be about the map.”

Luke laughed, and it rang a close twin to Saint’s in his own ears. “You should have thought about that before you held it hostage for your orphan friend.”

Logan took a step forward, mouth opening to protest, but Luke was bigger than him, stronger and taller. He met him chest to chest.

“I said get out.”

“Logan,” Saint sighed. “Listen to him.”

Leo stepped forward then, a gentle hand on Logan’s fiery frame. Logan simmered for another moment, but let Leo lead him from the room, lighter still clutched in his fist. Remus followed them with a whispered, I’m sorry that Luke barely heard.

He faintly heard Saint say something to Sirius, who followed Remus.

Saint, the only one left in the room now, looked at Luke steadily. Luke expected some sort of joke, or a snarky remark about the desperation Luke had shown—something he tried to never let slip through. He didn’t care what it was. He just wanted to be alone, to have this room feel like his father’s again. Instead of a crime scene. Instead of a lead, or a pin-point on a map. Just his father’s familiar room.

Instead Saint tossed him something that shone—his keys.

“Let us know, if you want,” Saint said simply, and held the gold watch out. Luke took it with shaking fingers, watching him go.

Then, he looked down at the letter, at his name in his father’s familiar scrawl. He peeled back the seal with a lump forming in his throat.

~

Remus’ steps slowed to a stop when he saw who was waiting for him at the end of his dock in the five-AM light.

Sirius had his flip-flops beside him, his feet dangling over the edge into the water, the Wolfsbane rocking gently in the early morning waves to his left.

“Sirius?” Remus called, more so that the first thing Sirius felt wasn’t the shaking of his footsteps than anything else.

Sirius jerked around, startled either way, and scrambled to stand.

“Hi,” he said. “Or, morning.”

“Morning,” Remus laughed a little, glancing at the boat. “I…is this you taking me up on my offer?”

Sirius ran a hand through his thick black hair. “Ah, well, I’m here to say sorry about last night. Dragging you into it and all. That wasn’t fair of Saint, but he’s…I don’t know what he is right now. I usually do but…not this time, I guess.”

Remus nodded, trying to buy himself time to figure out what to say. He stepped onto his boat and took a rope in hand, just for something to do. To hold onto. Sirius had spoken the words plainly enough. There was nothing about Saint and himself being together, but Remus still sensed some sort of intimacy that wasn’t quite friendship, just as he had at the museum.

“It’s okay,” Remus said. “All’s well that ends well, right?”

Sirius’ smile was a small, relieved one. “I guess so. Still. He was on some sort of mission. He still hasn’t told me anything, so.”

Remus leaned back from stowing his phone and keys securely in a hatch. “He doesn’t seem like the type of person you can really get things out of.”

“That’s true,” Sirius laughed, and it was easier this time. “Anyway, I’ll let you…I just wanted to say.”

Remus wanted to ask again, if Sirius would come with him, but Sirius was already backing away and so Remus just nodded.

“Thanks.”

He turned after he said it, breathing in the ocean air and trying to still himself, to let the familiarity of his boat and sails wash over him. He would find someone. Maybe they weren’t Sirius Black. Maybe they just weren’t here. Maybe he’d fall in love on the water, or in a classroom, or—

“Can I?” Remus heard Sirius say, and turned to look. Sirius had stopped half way down the dock.

Remus raised an eyebrow.

“Take you up on your offer?”

Remus smiled, even if his hope at Sirius’ words paired with the thought of Saint made his heart a little tender.

“Of course you can,” Remus said.

Sirius jogged towards him with a grin of his own, but he paused before he stepped onto the Wolfsbane, looking down. Remus wondered for a moment if it was the gap over the water, but Sirius had said he sailed, too, he’d said—

Remus understood. He unmoored the nose. “Get that rope back there if you finally want to do something other than watch.”

Sirius jumped to unknot the rope with ease, and then stepped onto the waves beside Remus, using one of his feet to push them away from the dock. Remus let them drift a moment, feeling for the wind. It was quiet for now, but he could see rougher waves out past the point.

“Is it just yours?” Sirius asked as he watched Remus with the tiller.

“Yep, birthday present,” Remus patted the side. “My baby.”

Sirius smiled. “It’s a beautiful boat.”

The wind began to pick up as they got farther from the land, pushing towards the open water. Remus’ heart seemed to pick up with it and, glancing at Sirius, who looked contemplative and—well, beautiful—Remus didn’t think it was merely the sea’s doing.

Remus had never thought too much about Sirius Black. Sirius had been there one day, gone the next, and in the run-ins at James’ house once Sirius had started working there, he had been a suddenly handsome face. Grown into himself and strong from his outdoor work. In turn, Remus always became suddenly awkward around the boy who obviously didn’t like Gods. He and James poked fun at each other, he and Luke were downright hostile, and Remus didn’t know where he fit in.

He hoped the water and the Wolfsbane would do some talking for him, and maybe some listening, too.

They didn’t speak as they began to fly. The pontoons skimmed the waves and the wind would have snatched their voices away, but Remus swore he heard Sirius laugh.

Sirius knew how to sail, too. He breathed it all in, just as Remus did, and they worked together, balancing and pulling and leaning out to trace their fingers along the water’s surface. It felt as warm as a bath against the cool air.

Remus didn’t let them go too far out, he had to be back, but he would have. He would have sailed right to the horizon with Sirius without looking back.

As the wind died down, as they turned around, Remus felt something different. Like a wind change between the two of them. They grinned at each other, flushed with it, and as the wind cut down more, as they past the point, Sirius’ turned self-conscious but it didn’t disappear like before.

The boat settled into a glide towards the shore. Remus let his feet dangle in the water.

“So, the treasure,” Remus asked, because Sirius looked hesitant to talk, sitting there soundly on the other side of the boat. “Do you think it’s real?”

“Fuck if I know,” Sirius replied, and Remus laughed. “But if Saint thinks it’s worth it…I’ll try to go along with it.”

Remus nodded, taking that in. Saint. The mention of him slowed his heart back to a glide along with the boat. Remus cleared his throat and Sirius looked back at him from the horizon questioningly.

“What was that thing with—Logan? I mean, you don’t have to tell me but…”

Sirius took a long breath. “Logan has someone, Finn, inside Saint Clair. Finn helped him escape. And I don’t know if it’s guilt that’s making him help to get Finn out, or something more, but…Saint's the one who can help.”

“Because he escaped.”

Sirius nodded. “Right.”

“Is it complicated?” Remus asked. “Like, is he worried he won’t be able to do it twice?”

Sirius shook his head. “It’s not complicated.”

He was silent for a moment, and Remus didn't want to push him. He waited, seeing if Sirius would continue.

“Saint walked right out the front door,” Sirius finally finished, and looked at Remus. “I think he’s worried because it wasn’t a grand escape, even if he tells it that way. Even if he makes it seem like he climbed walls or something. He’s worried because…because it was a fluke. Sometimes there are doors you can’t walk back through.”

Sirius said the last sentence heavily, as if he had a door of his own. Remus guessed that maybe everyone did.

“So, what’s he going to do for Finn and Logan?”

Sirius just shook his head again. “I have no idea. But I’ll help him in any way that I can.” Half a smile raised Sirius’ mouth. “If he lets me.”

~

“No.”

“Tell me,” Sirius demanded. Saint just rolled his eyes and popped a sweet potato fry into his mouth.

“Tell us,” Dorcas cut in from her place beside Marlene.

“Right,” Sirius said. “Sorry.”

“Saint,” Marlene sighed. “If you’re not going to tell us, it’ll make us think you have no plan at all.”

“Who invited the God?” Saint said airily.

“My girlfriend,” Dorcas scuffed the back of his head.

“Not for long she’s not,” Saint replied, and at Dorcas and Marlene’s expressions, waved a hand. “Come on. She’s going to college, Dor, you’re not…don’t tell me you haven’t talked about it.”

“We—” Dorcas began, but flushed and closed her mouth. Sirius glanced at Marlene, whose eyes were firmly down towards her burger.

“Stop trying to change the subject,” Sirius sighed.

“I’m not, I’m just telling everyone what to expect.”

“Saint,” Sirius leaned forward. “How are you going to get Finn out of Saint Clair? You said last time—”

Saint cut in quickly, “I say a lot of things to you that are just for you, Black.”

“Well, I don’t know what to do with what you said,” Sirius replied. “Come on. Please. Is it because you don’t know? Is that why you won’t say anything?”

Saint stayed quiet, looking down at his food. “I know. We’ll just have to see if it works.”

“Saint,” Dorcas leaned forward and Saint turned his palm up for her hand. He knew they were trying to help. “Babe, we just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“You mean you want to make sure it’s not too insane.”

Sirius nodded. “That, too.”

“Can’t you just rest assured that I’m doing this for myself, too?” Saint said. “I’ll get Finn out, Logan will calm the fuck down, and maybe Luke will let us know about the treasure.”

“Who gives a fuck about this treasure?” Dorcas said harshly.

“It probably doesn’t even exist,” Sirius added.

“You want off this island, like you said? Then you give a fuck.”

Sirius began to shake his head. “It’s not—” he said, but Saint pushed on, voice raising.

“We’ll get Finn out, we’ll get Luke’s help, we’ll get the map, we’ll find my mom—”

Saint stopped talking, frozen by the words that had ripped out of him of their own accord.

Sirius, Dorcas, and Marlene’s eyes were wide. Pity. The word seemed to hang in the air.

“The treasure, I meant,” Saint managed. “We’ll find the treasure and…”

“Saint…” Dorcas said, and when he looked at her…Pity. “Do you know where she is?”

Saint was furious with himself for the slip. He was looking for Sirius. He wanted the treasure for Sirius, he didn’t need it for himself. He didn’t need anything, especially not people who left. Not his mom, not Sirius.

“I don’t need help with Saint Clair,” Saint said and pushed his chair back, leaving them staring at each other across the table.

~

Saint hadn’t let any of them come. He didn’t want anyone here to see him tremble and shake at doing the one thing he had always promised himself he would never do. The one thing he didn’t think he could do.

But, thinking about it, the trick wasn’t getting out. Anyone could walk out the door. The nuns needed it that way, for business. For the appearance of normalcy. The real trick was getting inside without being let in. The way to keep secrets, after all, wasn’t keeping everyone out. Walls begged to be breached. The secret was to filter the truth. Let people see half, a quarter, or different parts at different times. The trick was getting in to see the whole picture.

Maybe Saint was half of Saint Clair, keeping his cards close to his chest.

The offices. He needed to get the the offices, and then he needed to get to Finn. In and out—just not through the door this time.

“What’s the plan?” said a voice just behind him, and Saint closed his eyes.

Sirius.

“I told you not to come,” Saint said.

“And I told me yes,” Sirius parroted. They rolled their eyes at each other even as Sirius rested a gentle hand over Saint’s where it was clenched over his own knee. They crouched beside each other, staring at Saint Clair in the darkness. It was two in the morning, maybe a little past it now, and Saint wanted everyone to be asleep.

He looked towards the chimney. It was wide and old fashioned. It would be too hot for them to be using it tonight.

“Jesus Christ,” Sirius sighed, following his gaze.

“The windows are barred. The doors are alarmed. I’ve cleaned that thing, I know it’s big.”

“Yeah, everything looks big to a seven year old,” Sirius countered.

“Guess we’ll find out.”

“And getting out?” Sirius asked.

“Alarms don’t go off if you open the door from the inside. There’s a kitchen door around the back. We’ll use it. We just have to get in.”

Sirius nodded slowly, and then asked, “Your mom?”

Saint pressed his lips together. He needed to get to the office, and then to Finn, and then out.

He started forward towards the drain pipe, just like on Luke’s house, and didn’t look to see if Sirius was following him.

~

Marlene didn’t like seeing that contemplating look at Dorcas’ face. Dorcas was chewing on her lip, eyes staring at the movie playing on Marlene’s laptop, but she was somewhere else entirely. Marlene put her pencil down at wiggled her toes, which were in Dorcas’ lap. Dorcas blinked and looked at her.

“Don’t listen to Saint,” Marlene said. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

But even saying that ate at her. Marlene thought of the acceptance email, of California and Berkeley, buried in her inbox right now. Tell her, said everything inside, but Dorcas already had that look on her face. The worrying, I-want-everything-that’s-good-for-you-regardless-of-what-it-means-for-me-or-us look.

Marlene didn’t want to see that look. She’d seen it the first time her father had banned her from seeing a Salazar girl. They had been fifteen and Dorcas had offered to stop, and Marlene had kissed the idea right out of her mouth, right out of existence.

This was different. She couldn’t kiss college away. She didn’t want to. But she also wanted Dorcas, and California felt far, far away.

Dorcas chewed on her lip some more, then rubbed a soothing thumb over Marlene’s ankle. “We haven’t really talked about it, though.”

“I know,” Marlene said softly. She pushed herself up and set her sketchbook aside before reaching over to close the laptop, cutting the actor off in mid-sentence. “I guess I’m sort of…avoiding it.”

“We are, you mean,” Dorcas offered her a small smile. “I…I know we said we wanted to just have our summer, and I do want that. But I think I would feel better knowing what you think. About, you know…about when you do start hearing back.”

Marlene looked down as she whispered, “I got into Berkeley.”

A short sucked-out sound of silence filtered in between them for a moment. Marlene looked up.

“I should have said,” Marlene sighed. “I know I should have. I just…”

“Sweetheart,” Dorcas sighed, and then Marlene was pressed back onto the bed, Dorcas’ hard kisses bringing a hot blush to her cheeks. “That’s amazing.”

Marlene hummed against Dorcas’ mouth, a sad-happy sound, and wound her fingers into her hair as Dorcas kissed along her jaw. “It can be as amazing as it wants, but it’s really far away. And you like it here, and—”

“I like you,” Dorcas said, and pushed herself onto her forearms so she could look down at Marlene. “Marls, the question about us was never a debate about you following your dreams and going to college, just like you want. The question lies with me. I don’t know how to pull off following you yet, but I’m working on it.”

Marlene looked up at her and felt tears join the heat within, felt her voice wobble. “I’ll miss you. I want you to be safe, and I want you to be with me.”

Dorcas’ kiss was softer this time. “Me too.”

Marlene enjoyed it for a moment, relief bubbling in her chest, until Dorcas began laughing into her mouth.

“Maybe the boys will find that treasure and give me a piece of it.”

Marlene laughed, too. “God, if that’s our best option…”

They wound tighter together, snuggling down into Marlene’s quilt. Dorcas pressed her forehead against Marlene’s.

“Whatever I can do, I’ll do it,” Dorcas said. “I want you, wherever we are.”

Marlene just kissed her again.

~

Sirius was noisier on the climb than Saint would have liked, but they made it to the slanted roof without trouble, standing on its apex to stare down into the soot-dark.

“Is this really going to work?” Sirius whispered.

“It could.”

“Why not climb the fence? Maybe that door is open.”

“Too loud.”

“Why didn’t you let Logan come with us?”

Saint huffed out an annoyed breath. “Because if this goes wrong, what Finn did was for nothing. If this goes really wrong, at least there would still be one of us on the outside who knows what it looks like inside,” Saint stared out at the trees and bit of coast they could see by moonlight from here. “One of us who doesn’t return every night, that is.”

Saint went down the chimney first, one step at a time. The stones and rusted iron rungs provided easy enough footholds, they just had to hope no one was having a midnight cup of tea when they reached the bottom. He looked up once, blinking through the fine grit of ash that seemed to hang in the air, at Sirius’ face, the silver moonlight like a halo around his dark hair.

And Saint kept climbing down. He went slowly, listening hard. If someone was down there, they’d hear him, and then he’d hear them, and he could scramble back up the chimney and out of sight. Once he was down, however, who knew what they would do to keep him that way. He could practically taste the heavy sleep of Crucio, and his stomach rolled against the images it brought back. The many different families—fathers, siblings, and mothers. So many mothers that he didn’t even know which had been his own anymore.

He hated them for it. He hated them for thinking he wanted that.

Saint’s trembling foot slipped on the last hold and he tumbled out, only barely withholding a cry as the log holders scraped heavily across his side.

“Saint,” came Sirius’ harsh whisper from above him, and Saint waved a hand beneath the flue to show he was okay, then pushed himself up from the now ashy floor, gripping his side.

He knew this room too well. He knew it through the over-active eyes of a five year old. He knew it through the only slightly more alert gaze of his seven year old self.

It was smaller than he remembered. Shabbier than it had seemed then, with its hard couches and children’s books, its desk by the window that still held a letter opener that he had eyed a few times, wondering if he could fight his way out like heroes did in the books he read. Now, he willed all to stay quiet as he walked over and picked up the dull knife. He hated the sight of it.

Sirius came after him, more smartly, landing feet first.

“You could have fucking impaled yourself,” Sirius whispered.

“I didn’t, though,” Saint said, and looked at his ribs. The cuts stung, but the bleeding didn’t look too bad, just enough to dot uneven lines across his t-shirt.

Sirius lifted his shirt to see, and passed a careful thumb near the worst of them, his other a familiar weight on the side of Saint’s neck.

“Let’s go,” Saint whispered.

“Wait,” Sirius said, and turned Saint’s gaze gently to meet his own.

“We don’t have all the time in the world,” Saint began, but Sirius just shook his head, silencing him.

“Listen to me,” Sirius whispered. “All right? Just this once. Just listen to me.”

Saint closed his eyes briefly. “We don’t have time to talk.”

That only succeeded in bringing Sirius’ other hand to his cheek. “If something goes wrong, you just run.” Sirius reached down and took the knife, setting it back on the desk. “Don’t think about me. They can’t keep me.”

“They’ll give you to your parents,” Saint warned.

“I don’t care,” Sirius said. “They can’t keep me. They could try to keep you and I won’t let that happen.”

Saint looked up at Sirius. The only person he could ever remember caring. Saint didn’t like that a side effect of being cared about was caring back, didn’t like that risk…but he liked Sirius.

“You’re leaving anyway,” Saint said. “It doesn’t matter where I am.”

“I never said that and you’re wrong.”

“But you will say it.”

Saint turned away, keeping a hand laced with Sirius’ to pull him towards the dorms. He knew the words sounded accusing and regretful, but he only half meant them that way. Sirius deserved to go.

Sirius didn’t respond. It wasn’t the moment, and they needed to listen for other things.

The dorms came up on their left. Boys to one side of the hall, girls to the other. Saint paused, looking in.

You’ll sleep here with the rest of the boys, Sebastian. Be a good boy and make your bed every morning and you’ll get a treat with breakfast. Chocolate milk, how does that sound?

“Was this you?” Sirius whispered, and Saint shrugged.

“I slept all over this place,” Saint breathed to Sirius. “I’d sneak into the other dorms, the attic, the reading room. I was just…” Saint turned away, unable to stand the softly rising and falling chests of the boys within. “I was just trying to find a place where I felt like myself. Maybe it wasn’t the place, though.”

Maybe it was the dreams. Maybe the drug.

“Maybe it’s just me,” Saint said.

Grimmauld was the closest he had ever gotten, the most settled he’d ever felt. He loved the ocean, and his gold draped vanity, and Sirius always beside him. But there was still—something. A misplaced, tweaked something inside of him that was feeling around in the dark for a comfortable position. Saint didn’t even know what he was looking for, but he did know that it was too dark to find it right now. Sirius had been the first gleam of bright, a pin-prick of a star, a friend, a lover, and a safe place. But stars weren’t a moon or a sun. He needed light to see.

“Let’s go,” Saint said. “This way.”

They walked the halls carefully, listening after nearly every step. Saint knew that the nuns slept at the other end of the house, but that they woke to check in on the children. He couldn’t remember when, though. With the Crucio, his young age, and the late hour, the nights had felt the same and endless. He’d shuffled around like a small ghost, trying to escape the unfamiliar dream-faces. They’d only caught him a few times. A slap on the wrist. Solitary.

That’s why he nearly jumped when they heard the first footsteps. He was seven again, haunting this place and being haunted in return. Saint froze, eyes on the bend in the hallway.

“Here,” Sirius whispered, and together they ducked into a room—the offices, Saint realized—and behind the open wooden door. They huddled together, barely daring to breathe as the footsteps got closer.

“Sirius,” Saint breathed, and didn’t realize he was trembling again until Sirius’ arms wrapped around his shoulders.

“Shh,” Sirius hushed him.

The footsteps passed right by them, towards the kitchen, Saint realized, and Sirius pressed Saint against him more tightly, no doubt feeling the dry pants that his breathing had turned into. They would be caught. They would be seen. Saint hid his face in Sirius’ neck.

Don’t be a waste of space, boy. Line up, after number six, come on.

He took up too much space here.

Try that again, Sebastian, and you know what happens.

Saint hated that name. He couldn’t remember who had given him that name. His mother? The nuns? What was a name if it was just a number, too? A way to keep track of him. A way to tell him what he was. Orphan boy. Five. Six. Seven. Abandoned. Good. Bad. Asleep. Awake.

Go to sleep now, there’s a good boy.

The hall was silent again and Saint felt Sirius’ embrace ease, felt his hand running soothingly along his spine.

“I’ve got you,” Sirius said the words so quietly they were barely words at all. “Let’s just go. Let’s get out of here.”

“Finn,” Saint rasped.

Saint looked up and saw the protest in Sirius’ eyes. It was wrong of Logan to make you come here.

“I told him to stay away,” Saint said softly. “I needed to come. I needed to come and get out again.”

Saint needed to get rid of some of this damned dark.

Saint pulled away from Sirius carefully and peaked around the door with a dry swallow before walking over to the cabinets. Records. They weren’t in alphabetical order, though. They were numbered.

Saint fingered his cross, looking towards 1-20.

7.

He traced a finger over a key hole dejectedly, and tried the handle anyway. Locked.

“Saint,” Sirius breathed. “Your mom?”

Saint shook his head, clutching his necklace. “It doesn’t matter.”

“I didn’t know you wanted…”

“I don’t,” Saint snapped. “Let’s get Finn.”

The door to solitary was one that Saint knew well. It was a normal door, and the room beyond was a normal room. It was the memories that made it unbearable to see. Almost every kid Saint had known knew what it meant to be in that room. Alone, the wallpaper flowers withered, the bed turned cold, and the ever-changing family members flickered through your mind without anything to counter it. No reality. There was a glass window with the shade pulled. Saint hesitated for a long moment before lifting it up.

“Finn,” he breathed.

Finn’s red hair was fiery against the white bed spread. He was asleep, and Saint swore he could see Finn’s eyelids flicker from here.

Saint wrapped his fingers carefully around the door. The trick was getting in to see the whole picture.

Everything in Saint Clair felt locked from within. Everything in Saint did, too. It had taken years of wandering around at night for Saint to discover that he could open more doors than he had thought. He was still trying doors eight years alter.

The hinges didn’t so much as squeak, and Saint felt like a ghost again.

“Don’t let this close on me,” Saint whispered to Sirius. His voice shook and just one of his feet just barely breaching the threshold.

Sirius held the frame fast and shook his head, leaning forward to press a steady kiss to Saint’s forehead.

Saint crossed the small room in two slow steps and knelt beside the bed, the motion making the punctures on his torso ache. He pressed a hand to Finn’s cheek and stroked a gentle thumb across the freckles on his skin until Finn stirred.

“Bash,” Finn murmured, eyes barely open.

“Hi, Finn,” Saint said softly and gathered Finn into a sloppy sitting position. “Let’s get you out of here, huh? See if you’re worth all of this fucking trouble.”

“Crucio,” was Finn’s only half-spoken reply. “They make it.”

And then Finn went limp again in Saint’s arms.

~

All Logan could taste was sour guilt, despite the heaven Leo had placed on a plate in front of him not too long ago.

For Saint. For Leo. For the letter and even Luke. For the map. The treasure. The Carrows.

Finn.

His heart ached with the thought of seeing him. Of holding him.

“Why weren’t we allowed to go with him?” Logan asked Leo for what he knew was the tenth time, but he couldn’t help it. “I asked him to help me, not go for me.”

“It’s easier to get one person in and out than two?” Leo said. He was puttering around the small kitchen, had been for the last hour, and the entire house smelled like sugar and cinnamon now, replacing the herbs, lemon, and chicken. He didn’t look at Logan when he said it.

He hadn’t looked at Logan much at all since the night at the museum.

Logan watched him taste a bit of what looked like frosting and wet his lips.

“Are you mad at me?” Logan whispered.

Leo’s restless hands paused. Logan watched his chest rise and fall once.

“I’m not mad,” Leo said finally. The heat of the oven had fluffed out his hair. “I mean, I’m not sure if we reached a dead-end or not…and you could have told me you were going to do that. I said I would help you, didn’t I?”

“I needed Ba—Saint,” Logan replied. “But I also…I should have told you. And I shouldn’t have made Saint go. I just want…he’s my family. Finn is my…”

“I understand why you did it,” Leo cut in softly. “I probably would have done worse if I thought that there was something that could save my dad.”

That just made Logan feel even smaller, sitting at the table. Leo glanced at him, gave him a tight smile, then went to the sink and began scrubbing dishes.

“Hey,” Logan said, then rose and strode over to Leo. “Hey, let me clean up.”

“I just need something to do,” Leo said shortly.

“Me, too.”

They stood, their shoulders pressed together. Logan washed. Leo dried. He slipped cinnamon rolls into the oven and then returned. They kept close to each other at the sink and it felt…so normal. Like a home. Leo felt like a home.

“I never really thanked you properly,” Logan said into the now more comfortable silence. “For letting me stay with you. And—I just want to say, and now with Finn…I understand if you want us to leave. I mean, three’s a crowd.”

“You’re welcome here,” Leo said quickly. Logan watched his throat bob. He was looking away again. “You should do what feels best for you, but you’re both welcome here. Just—”

Leo paused, and Logan found himself suddenly desperate to hear what he had to say. He knew he hadn’t been friendly all the time. He knew he’d been selfish. Leo had been nothing but kind. He was funny and warm, teaching Logan how to weld two pieces of metal, talking about the latest book he was reading while he whisked batter and handed Logan different new recipes he was trying out.

Finn would like Leo, Logan thought, and glanced towards the door. Maybe he was about to find out.

“Never mind,” Leo said, and flashed a smile.

Logan went to protest, but then his phone began buzzing madly on the table and he all but lunged for it.

~

Luke stared down at his father’s handwriting.

Luke, it began. And then there was a name.

Pascal Dumais.

There was no mention of himself. There was nothing. Luke had thought this would make him feel better, make it easier. Only, now, he was frustrated to the point of tears. He couldn’t seem to ease the lump that was lodged in his throat. He clutched the paper in his fingers hard enough to tear, willing something else to appear on it. He thought of Felix.

“Well?” said a voice from his window.

“Oh—” Luke flinched, surprised, then cursed at Saint, who was stretched out on his window sill. “Come on. Are you kidding me?”

Saint’s mouth twitched up in a smile, but it was strained. He was sitting awkwardly, tense rather than his usual languid posture.

“What’s wrong with you?” Luke asked hesitantly, trying to discreetly wipe at his face.

“What isn’t?”

Luke spotted the blood between Saint’s fingers and rose. “You’re hurt.”

“I fell down a chimney.”

“Is that a joke?”

“No.”

Luke blinked. “That’s how you got into Saint Clair? And you climbed to my window?”

Saint pulled himself all the way through the window with a soft groan and Luke walked forward, hands hovering near Saint’s shoulders, unsure if he should help.

“The orphan?” he asked instead, then at Saint’s sharp look, “Finn?”

“Sirius is bringing him to Grimmauld.”

“What’s Grimmauld?”

Saint sat down heavily in Luke’s desk chair, hand still pressed to his side. He had what looked like soot on his hands and face. “A place.” He picked up a book. Jane Eyre. “Didn’t take you for a romantic.”

“You’re bleeding all over my room.”

“Lucky you.”

Luke tucked the note into the pocket of his shorts. “Fuck—come here. Jesus.”

He walked into his bathroom and jammed the light switch up, looking back when Saint didn’t follow him. “Come here.”

Saint rose, still holding the book. “I am coming!” Saint quoted, head tilted in a way that made his neck look long. “Wait for me! Oh, I will come!”

“Very funny,” Luke sighed, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “I wouldn’t have taken you for a reader.”

“Why?” Saint said as he stepped out of the darkness of the bedroom and into the yellow-lighted bathroom. His brown eyes took on the soft yellow, too, and he leaned forward as he pushed himself up onto the counter carefully. “Because I don’t buy my books and,” Saint looked down at the book, flipping through it. “Write all over them like you do?”

“Because you didn’t go to school,” Luke said with a raised eyebrow as he ducked for the first aid kit beneath his sink. It was good to have one near during the lacrosse season—or it used to be.

Saint rolled his eyes. “You Gods and your single paths in life. You’re all stupid.”

“Then why are you here?” Luke asked as he unlatched the kit.

“Because this is the last place anyone would look for me,” Saint replied. “And you’re mean.”

“Mean? Are we in seventh grade?” Luke scoffed as he wet a towel in the sink. “I don’t know if it’s healthy to want to be around people who you think are mean to you."

“I just don’t want to talk about it,” Saint said. “And that’s all Sirius will want to do. And I don’t want to. And we don’t have this shit at Grimmauld.”

“Is that where you live?”

Saint just set the book down and reached behind himself to tug his shirt over his head. Luke tried not to stare at Saint’s smooth, light brown skin. He swallowed, busying himself with the bandages and the wet towel again.

“For all the breaking into places you do, maybe you should invest in some band-aids,” Luke said, and glanced down at the finely woven muscle on Saint’s ribs, at the red edges of the slashes. “If you flinch too much, you’re doing this yourself.”

Saint smiled. “Mean.”

“Fuck off,” Luke said, out of reflex, and then pressed his lips together. Saint laughed and then hissed as Luke pressed the towel to the cut.

They were close like this, Luke leaned in to dab the blood away, and then dot it with disinfectant, all while Saint’s muscles jumped beneath the palm he had steadied low on his belly. He could feel Saint watching him, and remembered waking up to those eyes. Saint’s hand in his hair.

“How did you do it?” Luke said into the small space between them. “Get in and out.”

“The chimney.”

So, he was serious.

“What did the letter say?” Saint asked.

Luke glanced up at him warily, but wiped a hand on his shorts before fishing the letter out of his pocket and handing it over. “Do you know who that is?”

Saint read it quietly, and then met Luke’s eyes. Luke was stuck there, pinned like a tack in a map, marking the place to be.

“Yes,” Saint said, and smiled brightly. “I know exactly who this is.”

[themadlostgirl]

When It’s Cold (5)

*I had different, spicier, plans for this chapter and then the characters took off with the plot and had fluff instead.*

~~~

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!

I had been way louder than I meant to. My body was pleased with the after effects of masturbating but my mind was paying the price. I had been peacefully asleep until another naughty dream of Felix entered my subconscious. It was late so I figured he was asleep and I could get away with being a little loud if I got a tad overwhelmed but I had thrown caution to the wind right at the end when I screamed his name.

Hopefully he hadn’t heard but it did nothing to assuage my worries. I need to get a handle on these hormones. Maybe I would feel more in control if I got something. The store sold condoms. At the very least if it turns out that he does want to have sex one day I can be prepared. I set out early that morning before Felix woke up and grabbed a box of condoms as well as some feminine products. I had forgotten I even got a period until I came to Storybrooke and time started its toll on my body which meant my bloody, crampy, moody friend was back to wreak hell upon me.

Maybe that’s why I had been so horny lately. PMS can be a hell of a hormone tornado.

I got back to the house and was happily walking back to my room to drop off my purchase when I heard music coming from the kitchen. Damn. I didn’t think Felix would be awake yet. I tried to sneak past but he caught me halfway through.

“There you are,” Felix said, “I thought you were still in bed asleep. Where’d you go?”

“Quick run to the store,” I waved the plastic bag in my hand.

“I’m making eggs, do you want any?”

“Oh sure, I’m gonna go drop this stuff off in my room first.”

“Okay.” He shrugged, “Oh wait,” he gestured for me to come back.

“Yes?”

He pulled me in for a quick kiss. “Just wanted to do that.”

“Sap.” I tweaked his nose.

I raced up the stairs and dropped the condoms in the drawer of my bedside table and stuffed my feminine products under the bathroom sink. There. Now come period or play time I was ready!

I went back downstairs and sat down with Felix for breakfast. The snow outside had really piled up. On my trip into town I saw a lot of kids out in their lawns making snowmen. Felix and I have stayed cooped up inside this entire time. Maybe we should go have fun outside too. Our entire lives used to be spent outdoors before we came here after all.

I mentioned as much to Felix and he shrugged saying it sounded like fun. We got dressed in our winter attire and I raced out into the snow. “Felix, help me roll!”

“Roll what?” he asked.

“I’m trying to make a snowman. I’ll get started on the lower section, you get started on the middle.”

“Alright then,” Felix stooped down and started rolling a ball.

I got a pretty big base done and Felix came over with his slightly smaller ball to stack on top of it. Felix started rolling the head while I gathered some rocks and sticks to decorate it with. “Arm here, and here, rocks for eyes and a nice rocky smile and ta-da! Snowman! Isn’t he a handsome devil?”

“He’s a pile of snow and rocks, darling.”

“Well how about this,” I dug my finger into the face of the snowman and dragged it down. “There, now he looks like you.”

“You’re hilarious.” Felix rolled his eyes, “He’s a little too short to be me though.”

“Nope. He’s a perfect copy.”

“Well you know what this means.” Felix started backing up, “If there are two of me that means one of us has got to go.”

“Felix! Don’t you dare!” I yelled, “Don’t kill Felix Junior!

“There can only be one!” Felix ran and tackled the snowman breaking all our hard work in half. “I reign victorious!”

“You are a terror!” I grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him. “I will avenge you Felix Junior!” The snowball hit him right in the head. He stood up and gawked at me.

“You really wanna have this fight, little girl?” He asked as he picked up the discarded head of Snowman Felix. “We’re gonna have this fight!”

“No!” I started running away as Felix raced after me. The severed head of our snowman held high above his own head. I felt the force of it hit me in the back and I went tumbling to the ground.

“Gotcha!” Felix was already forming another snowball.

“Oh no you don’t!” I quickly made another ball and hurled it nailing him in the face. “For Felix Junior!” I started making more snowballs as I got up and started pelting him.

I was laughing my head off as Felix and I dodged around one another throwing snowballs. I got too close once and he grabbed me shoving a clump of snow to my exposed neck! “No! No! Cold! Cold! Cold!”

I dropped to the ground and Felix fell with me. He was hovering over me, that wide smile that only I ever got to see, bright on his cold stung face. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Our battle lay forgotten as we sunk into it. His face was cold but his mouth was hot as he kissed me back.

“Truce?” He asked.

“For now.” I shivered, the cold and wet of the snow starting to get to me.

“Cold?” Felix smirked.

“A tad.”

“Can’t have that, can we?” He stood up and helped pull me to my feet. “Let’s get back to the house where I can keep you warm.”

“I like the sound of that.” I held close to his arm as we made our way back to the mansion. I changed into my comfiest and warmest clothes and heated up some hot chocolate for Felix and I. We sat down in the living room where Felix already had a fire going. A bunch of cushions and blankets littered the ground.

I sat down and cuddled up next to Felix. We sipped our hot chocolate while the fire crackled and music from the record player played softly in the background. Outside the snow fell in delicate flakes. It was a moment of pure bliss.

“Did you ever think we’d be like this?” I asked.

“Like what?”

“Cuddled together like we’re old lovers.” I smiled, “I certainly didn’t when I first met you.”

“A lot has changed since then though, hasn’t it?” He matched my smile and planted a kiss to the crown of my head.

“Yes, a lot has changed.” I sighed, “It almost makes me not want to go back to Neverland. I’m just so happy being here...with you.”

“You don’t want to return to Neverland?” Felix really looked at me now. “But it’s our home.”

“I’m not saying that I never want to go back to Neverland I’m just saying that I am really enjoying this time where it’s just the two of us. No other loud boys getting in the way. No hunting for food or sleeping on the hard ground. No bathing in a pond. It’s comfy here. Safe.”

“The privacy is nice,” He traced his thumb along my cheek, “I like having you all to myself.”

“Home can be anywhere we make it. Why not make it here?”

“Is that what you’d want?” Felix said, “To stay here and grow up? We’d become boring adults. The one thing we hate more than anything.”

“I don’t think either of us could be considered boring, adult or not.” I chuckled. “I don’t like the idea of growing old and dying but if you’re there along with me getting wrinkles and grey hairs then I fear it a little less.”

“That’s a big change. A big commitment. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready. I don’t think anyone is ever ready to grow up. It just sorta happens. It’s the passage of time.”

“Does this mean you’re done looking for a way back to Neverland?”

“We’ve been searching for weeks. We’re going on two months and we have made no progress. Absolutely none. I think it has to do with the fact that we’re happy here. We’re not looking as hard as we should because we have a good thing going already. Tell me, Felix, if we found a way back to Neverland tomorrow, would you want to take it?”

“Would you be coming with me?”

“That’s not fair. You’re asking that cause you know I would come with you regardless. I am asking if you would stay here regardless of if I was here or not.”

“Wherever you go I go. I know that’s not the question but that’s my answer. You want to go back to Neverland we go back to Neverland. You want to stay here and grow up then I’ll be right by your side for that too. We’re in this together now.”

“Felix, I--” my brain tried desperately to catch up to my heart. What was I feeling? Was this love? I don’t remember the last time I felt love. I can’t even be sure that what I’m feeling right now counts but it is the closest to love I know I have ever felt. That didn’t mean I was ready to say it out loud though. “I am so glad that I have you.”

“I’m glad I have you too.” He kissed me slowly.

The rest of our day passed in a warm haze of dreamy sighs and feather soft kisses. We barely moved from our spot in front of the fireplace. Felix got up to heat up some leftovers for dinner and came to sit back down. The night was growing late and I felt myself nodding off. I didn’t want to return to my lonely bed though. I wanted to remain right here.

I rested my head on Felix’s shoulder and shut my eyes.

~~~

Felix hadn’t meant to fall asleep in the living room. But he didn’t have much choice after you fell asleep on him. He hadn’t the heart to wake you up. Not that he would have dared move from that spot in the first place. It was such a stark contrast to the hormonal hours of makeouts you and he had engaged in over the past several days. Today was all soft touches and meaningful words.

He was surprised when you said you wanted to stay in Storybrooke but what was more surprising was that he wanted to stay here with you too. Wherever you went he would follow. If that meant staying here and growing old then he was proud to do it.

He played with your hair as you slept. You had cuddled up right next to him and next thing he knew you were fast asleep. He gently reclined so he was laying down as well. You curled into him even more. Your head resting over his heart like a pillow.

What he wouldn’t give to go to sleep like this every night. Maybe he could. From the way you talked and how easily you fell asleep next to him maybe you wouldn’t mind sharing his bed. He didn’t even think about how else that could be misconstrued. Sex was an afterthought to the peace that was having you next to him. Your face relaxed and soft snores escaped past your lips.

“I adore you.” he whispered to you as you slept. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head and fell into a dreamless sleep with you in his arms.

---

(Previous) (Next)

[iamdunn]

Miraculous Flash Forward Part 12: Exposed

Miraculous Fan-Fic

Written by

AJ Dunn

Adrien sat nervously in front of his mother and aunt. It didn’t help that Marinette who sat next to him with Felix on the other side shared in his anxiety. They had been brought tea but none of them touched it. 

“It is so good to see you, my son,” Emelie said in a gentle but gleeful tone. “I know this must be hard for you with everything you had to endure while I was asleep.” 

“Asleep?” He furrowed his brow. “I mourned you,” he said sharply.

“Don’t blame your mother for what your father did.” Amalie snapped. 

“Did he make you sick too?” He retorted.

“You remember that?” Emelie’s eyes showed her genuine surprise. “No, he didn’t make me sick. After the Yacht accident, I…”

“You mean the yacht accident that killed our sisters?” Felix tossed in. Emilie’s eyes shot to Amelie’s. 

“You told them?” Emelie looked angry.

“They found out at the hospital,” Amelie whispered back. “I told you that.” 

“About the girls?” Emelie asked quietly

“Of course not, we promised.” Amelie’s eyes looked shocked.

“How is it we don’t remember them?” Adrien asked. “I was there that day, how do I not remember?”

“You what?” Amalie laughed. “You were here with me silly, the day they went missing.” Emelie cast an angry grasp.

“Shut up.” Emelie’s voice was just barely audible as she snapped at her sister sitting right next to her. 

“We’re done here, Marinette, Felix?” Adrien stood up. Emelie’s eyes widened into surprise as Marinette and Felix all followed suit. 

“Wait!” She sighed. “I … I’ll tell you everything.” A tear fell from her eye as she looked away, staring out the window into the sun over the garden. “I have lost enough family I can’t lose you too.” Adrien sat back down and as if his movements dedicated theirs, they copied. “Your father didn’t want to go, but I wanted to explore the site of a lost civilization, a temple. While there, we found these jewels and a book. We didn’t understand the book, but there were these beings…” She took a sip of tea.

Adrien could feel his muscles tense as well as Marinette’s who sat right next to him. She was talking about the day they found the miraculous’ and the Kwami’s known as Duusuu and Nooroo. The Peacock and Butterfly miraculous. 

“They told us they were called Kwami’s and that they could give us special powers.” She continued. “Gabriel was scared and didn’t want to mess with them. So we took them home.” She began to fiddle with a ring on her finger when Adrien noticed that she and Amelie were wearing the Graham De Vanily twin rings. She noticed him looking and covered her hand with her other. 

“This was before you boys came, I was pregnant with you,” Amalie admitted. “They were in the English Channel when the storm hit, capsizing the yacht, your mother and father tried to get to them, but….” 

‘They were trapped in their bedroom below deck.” Emelie began to sob into her hands. “I was so distraught that I created two sentimonsters to replace them.” Adrien felt a ping of pain in his heart. She did use the Peacock miraculous. “I tried to sustain them, keep them growing but every year they got bigger, It took more out of me. No one, not even you knew they weren’t your real sisters. So when I had to end them, we had to come up with a plan to explain their disappearance, so we recreated the yacht accident. I created a final sentimonster, I named him oblivion, anyone who had a memory of Anastasia and Annalyse would forget them.” 

“So that is how you ended up in a coma?” Adrien confirmed. “Why did you have to end them?” 

“I didn’t know how to keep going, the miraculous was damaged and I would have died. Gabriel swore he would find a way to fix everything.” Her tears kept coming as Amalie handed her a handkerchief. 

“So, he wanted to bring back the real Anastasia and Annalyse?” Marinette’s voice betrayed her emotions, she was angry and sad at the same time. Adrien knew what she felt as he glanced over at her. 

“He would have succeeded if it hadn’t been for those pesky brats.” Emelie’s truth shone through her anger, she was on his side, she would have helped him destroy Paris just to save the girls. “They destroyed my family.” Adrien’s anger rose up in his chest as he watched Emelie condone Hawk Moth’s actions.

“He terrorized Paris! Everywhere he went, he fed off the negative emotions of others in an attempt to get Ladybug and Cat Noir.” Adrien snapped, he stood up his fists balled at his sides. 

“All of my friends, my family.” Marinette stood up taking his hand in hers. He glanced over at her. She looked up with tear-stained cheeks. 

“All they would have had to do was just give him the miraculous’ just for a minute and then everything would have been put back to how it should have been.” Emelie sounded convinced of her own delusion.

“Have you been visiting him?” Adrien suddenly realized. She nodded.

“He told me everything. And no one had to get hurt.” 

“You’re wrong, there is always a price to pay to keep the balance,” Marinette shouted. Her emotions were too raw and Adrien wasn’t sure he could hear another line from Emelie. Still holding Marinette’s hand he pulled her to the doorway leaving the sunroom. 

“As you can see, you have given my brother and I much to process, we’ll take our leave now,” Felix said as Adrien reached the hall. Turning back to watch Felix fasten the buttons on his blazer then followed them out. Emelie’s sobs could be heard echoing the halls as they made their way to the foyer and left the mansion. Felix’s car was waiting for them as the chauffeur opened the door for them. “To the hotel Please.” He said before he slid in before Marinette. 

“How do I always get stuck between you two?” Marinette asked after a while, maybe to break the awkward silence as she chuckled. 

“Well, I certainly don’t want to cuddle him,” Felix said slyly giving Adrien a wink. 

“If you’re not between us, we’ll end up picking on each other.” Touche Felix deflected. 

“Are you guys okay?” Marinette asked looking between them. “I mean, really okay?” 

“With you here, I think we will be.” Felix teased her.

“It’s a lot to process, but I agree with Felix,” Adrien said. “Nothing could surprise me at this point.”

“What are you going to do now,” Adrien asked stood in front of the hotel. 

“I’m taking the train back to Paris, I’m heading there now,” Felix said. Marinette stiffened at the mention of her home. 

“You haven’t been home in a while, do you want to go?” Adrien asked her. 

“Well, kinda…” She muttered

“Then let’s go, we can go now, no sense staying in London,” Adrien said. 

“Great get in we’ll go together. Saves on having to stay in a hotel for you guys.” Felix said as they all got back into the limo. 

The good thing about the train was that Adrien finally had Marinette in a seat by himself. He sat next to the aisle with her by the window. Felix was in a seat across the aisle. There weren’t very many people on the train. Marinette laid her head on Adrien’s arm and dozed off. He lifted the armrest between them then laid her head on his lap as she kicked her feet up on the seat. The ride was quiet at first until the train began to shake and creek as if under pressure.

“What the hell?” Felix shrieked from his seat. Adrien looked over to find him staring out the window. Dozens of fish swimming by as if fleeing something. An eerie aquatic sound reverberated through the train as it came to a stop under the English channel. Adrien jumped up and ran between the cars to the cabin. The driver has frozen in fear his hand released the dead man switch as he stared into the deep blue nothing. Something was happening but what?”

“Is it an earthquake?” Adrien asked the driver. “What is it what did you see?”

“I saw a … a… woman dressed in a white dress just walking along the seafloor.” the man’s face was bleached with fear. 

“What… that’s impossible,” Felix said from behind Adrien. “Besides that wouldn’t explain the rumbling, the fish… the…” the ground shifted below the train as the water squished violently back and forth. They could hear the sound of the train giving way under the pressure of the water. 

“Marinette!” Felix and Adrien yelled as they ran back to their car. Most of the train was empty as they rushed past the few passengers on their way to the front of the train. They reached their car to find it empty except for Marinette running towards them. 

"The last car is gone!" She screamed. They all turned to head to the front of the train. It shook violently as if something had hit it. The next car was struck. They watched through the wind as it was torn from the rest of the train. The car they were in rolled over several times as Adrien tried to grasp the others. 

They stared in horror as the car stopped moving. Looking out the window all they saw was darkness. Not even so much as a fish. 

Adrien recognized that look in Marinette’s eyes. 

"We have no choice Marinette, we're going to run out of oxygen and…" loud thud hid the train car as several windows began to dislodge from their place. 

Marinette opened her purse that she never went anywhere without. 

"Tikki," She said pulling out a tiny macaron "power up." Tikki flew out of her purse and ate the blue treat.

"I guess the cats out of the bag, your turn Plagg" Adrien said holding up the blue Camembert. 

"I hate transforming" Plagg appeared from Adrien’s shirt pocket. Felix crashed to the floor in shock Looking at the two Kwami’s hovering in the air. 

"Plagg"

"Tikki"

"Claws out!"

"Spots on"

Their transformation came suddenly and in sync. 

"What about him?" Adrien asked staring at his brother.

"Well" Marinette started "we can't have witnesses" 

"I missed being an only child" Adrien teased. Marinette opened her yo-yo and pulled out a miraculous. 

"Felix this is the horse miraculous which grants the power of teleportation you will use it for the greater good and then return it to me! Can I trust you?" 

"My options seem pretty clear!" Felix stood up. "You have my loyalty always Marinette" He took the glasses and a tiny horse Kwami appeared. 

"Kaalki eat this." Marinette held up another blue treat. 

"Please tell me that's not the water one, seahorses are not as glorious and majestic as a noble stead." 

"Just eat it Kaalki. I know you have missed having a holder." Marinette’s smiled melted the kwami’s resolve. Marinette explained the powers and how to use them. Felix transformed. His slick blonde hair grew out long along the back of his head and neck. Fixed high on top like a Mohawk. His closed were replaced by a leathery black suit with a cat of nine tails whip attached to a belt on his back. 

There were flippers on his feet just like Ladybug and Cat Noir as well as fins on his back. Similar to that of a real seahorse.

The train car rolled again then slid down into a crevasse in the channel. It free fell as Ladybug secured her yo-yo string around Felix as Cat held her in one arm and his extended baton in the other. The car bust open upon landing at the bottom. Water began to rush in filling up the car as they all stood on the roof of the upside down car. 

"Cataclysm" Cat Noir called out as they were now completely submerged. The destroyed the door way allowing the three to swim out. 

"What is that?" Felix ask behind the other two. Ladybug and Cat Noir turned around to see what he was looking at. Felix swam deeper into the crevasse. 

"It looks like an ice burg" cat noir said as he caught up.

"More like an ice prison!" Marinette said, swimming up to it, placing her hand on the ice. "Like the ones created by Stormy Weather."

"It can't be!" Adrien said as he saw what Ladybug was looking at. There was two young girls trapped in the ice there hands up on it, frozen in time. 

"Anastasia and Annalyse!" Felix yelled. A beep came from Cat Noir's ring. 

"We can't just leave them here." Marinette sobbed. 

"There are people on that train Marinette, we can come back for them." Adrien said. 

"Is there any way to mark this location." Felix asked. 

"Good idea." Cat stamped his baton onto the ice leaving a tiny paw print locator. 

"We better hurry." Ladybug said. They swam up to the surface first to get their bearings on where they were. All they saw was water. She opened her yo-yo to a new report that the train had arrived damaged, missing several cars and that all but three passengers were safe. 

"We're going to need that teleport." Ladybug said. "But not to the train but right here." She pointed to a spot on her bug map. Felix called on his teleportation power and a bright blue circle appeared in the water. The three swam through, finding themselves on the bank of the Channel at the mouth of the Seine.

Felix & Adrien transformed back as Ladybug returned Kaalki to her yoyo before releasing her transformation. The three of them they laid back exhausted on the bank. 

"What do we do now?" Felix asked. 

"We tell them that we floated here." Adrien said, sitting up. The others looked at him surprised. He pointed to an emergency raft that had washed up beside them. "It’s from the train." 

"Should we call for help?" Marinette asked 

"No phone." Felix said, holding up his waterlogged cell. 

"How far to the next town?" Adrien asked 

"Too far to walk." Marinette answered 

"You should have had me teleport us closer." Felix chastised 

"How would we explain that?" Marinette asked.

"Good question." Both boys spoke in unison. 

"Do you hear something?" Marinette stood up. It was starting to get dark but it was clear that there was a helicopter in the air. The three stood there waving their arms in the air as a helicopter passed over their heads shining a spotlight on the raft.

They were found at last. 

[chocoluckchipz]

The Other You - 18

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Releasing his transformation, Adrien plopped onto his bed face first. This night couldn’t have gone any better and any worse at the same time. How could he be so lucky yet so unfortunate? A pitiful groan escaping his lips, Adrien hid his face in a pillow. “This is a disaster.”

“Which part exactly?” Plagg snorted, flying straight to his stash of Camembert. “The ‘Ladybug is Marinette’ bit or you chickening out on your side of the reveal?”

“Both,” Adrien whined. “I’m a coward. Couldn’t even tell the girl I love my name. And why? Just because she spent years hating me, and, to be honest, I’m not even sure where I stand with her right now. What if she still hates me?”

“She doesn’t hate you.”

“But what if she does but just doesn’t show it around me?”

“You can always tell her the truth and find out,” Plagg snickered, opening a wheel of Camembert.

Adrien shook his head. “Absolutely not. I can’t. Not until I’m certain she likes Adrien enough to consider him a potential boyfriend.”

“She likes you just fine for that.” 

“She tolerates me just fine. I need her to love me.”

Plagg rolled his eyes, sending a slice of gooey cheese into his mouth. “Remind me then who just admitted to being in love with you?”

Adrien flipped on his back, letting out a heavy sigh. “She loves Chat. Not Adrien.”

“You’re the same person.”

“And that’s the issue. Don’t you get it?” Adrien sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. “If Marinette finds out that Chat Noir is also Adrien Agreste before she starts liking Adrien more than she does now, there is a huge chance she'll reject me altogether. And I don't want that. I can't lose her now. I love her.”

Licking his paws, Plagg shrugged, an empty box of Camembert lying by his feet. “I fail to see the issue. You're an ex-supermodel, present-day superhero, CEO of a fashion empire, with the charm and charisma of Casanova. Don’t you know how to seduce a girl? You’ve got looks, money and charm. Use them.”

Adrien glared at the kwami. “I don’t want to seduce her. There’s a difference between love and lust.”

“Yeah. One leads to another. I’m telling you—seduce her. She’ll fall in love with you in the process. Just like my beloved Camembert. It first seduces me with its luscious looks and aroma. But it’s that first bite, that sweet moment when it starts melting in my mouth that I fall in love with it.”

“I’m afraid not everyone is as simple-minded as you, Plagg,” Nooroo joined the conversation. “Adrien’s right. The key here should be an emotional connection, not physical attraction.”

Adrien nodded. “I need to prove my worth to her as a friend and a potential partner. If she can like me enough to see my potential for something more than just a friendship, only then will I have a viable chance in this.”

“Yeah, that’s cool and all,” Plagg grumbled. “But how are you going to make that happen in those ten minutes per day you interact with her as Adrien? It’s not like you can just waltz in instead of ‘Felix’ or Chat to use their time with her. And I don’t think she has more time for Adrien you.”

Adrien stilled. Use some of the time of his other personas? Chat’s slot would be out of the question but it was a different story with ‘Felix’. There was only a week and a half left until Marinette’s runway at the Fashion Week. The work, though, was mostly done. Realistically, even if ‘Felix’ were to never come back, Marinette would be able to finish in time by herself. But if ‘Felix’ were to leave, Adrien would never be so inconsiderate as to leave her without an assistant at the last moment, and even someone as inexperienced as him could be of help. A grin split his lips as Adrien stood up and stretched.  

“That’s a great idea, Plagg. I’m sure ‘Felix’ wouldn’t mind if I replace him from now on.”

“Do I need to remind you that you can’t sew,” Plagg deadpanned in return. “How in the world will you be able to replace ‘Felix’?”

“At this point, Marinette doesn’t really need him,” Adrien replied, heading for the bathroom to start on his bedtime routine. “He’ll go in tomorrow one more time to bid his farewell and do as much work as he can before leaving. The day after, she’ll have to make do with Adrien. This way, she’ll see enough of me to fall in love and you bet your ass I’ll do my best for that to happen.”

“This is a bad idea,” Plagg grumbled.

“Can anything we’ve done so far be classified as a ‘good idea’?” Adrien shrugged. “It still worked. This will work too.”

Plagg scoffed and headed to his bed-basket, mumbling to Nooroo on his way, “See what I have to deal with?”

Nooroo gave him a weak smile. “At least he isn’t trying to harm anyone.”

“Except himself,” Plagg replied and hid in his basket. “Plagg’s out. Wake me up when my wielder gets smarter.” 

***

‘Felix’ was finishing a dress when he sensed Marinette walking down the hallway. His heart flipped, knocking the wind out of his lungs as he jumped off his chair and rushed to open the door for his precious lady. 

Excuse me!

She shouldn’t be carrying such a heavily-looking bag with him around. 

“Good morning, Marinette. You look absolutely radiant today.” ‘Felix’ bowed his head with his usual emotionless expression. Taking the bag out of her hands and putting it away, he offered her a thermos mug filled with fresh coffee he’d picked up on his way. “Your coffee, Mademoiselle. If you’ll allow me a moment, I’ll warm up your pastry.”

“Ours.” Marinette sighed but gave him a tiny smile. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”

“Yes, of course. Ours. Just as you desired. I’ll be right back.”

It took him only five minutes instead of the usual seven to get to the cafeteria, warm up the pastry and come back. A new record. Marinette looked pleased, and that was everything ‘Felix’ needed to pronounce the day a success. 

“How was your evening? I hope you had a good rest?” He asked, placing the plate full of treats on the desk in front of Marinette. 

“I started dating someone very special yesterday,” she answered with the sweetest, dreamiest expression he’d ever seen on her face. 

Even as an exact copy of his cousin who rarely showed his feelings, ‘Felix’ couldn’t withhold a smile from his face. “Oh, my! Congratulations.” 

“Thank you.” Marinette grinned. “And how was your evening? Do anything exciting?”

“Yes,” he responded dryly, his usual detached attitude taking over again. “I exercised my ‘being stupid’ quality.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous, Felix. You’re the farthest person from ‘stupid’ I know. Wait, aren’t you joining me?” She asked as soon as ‘Felix’ picked up his work and started to stitch. “Haven’t we agreed to you bringing me breakfast only if you’re sharing it with me?” 

“I’m sorry for putting a frown on such a lovely face as yours, but I’m not feeling like eating right now.”

In fact, a single croissant stuffed in his mouth and a cup of coffee downed on his way to work was all that ‘Felix’ could manage today as his new goals overwhelmed him with unimaginable force upon transforming. ‘Get as much work done as possible and find out Marinette’s true feelings towards Adrien while he’s at it.’ No food would sit well with him until his mission was fulfilled. 

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. Just a bit queasy. It’ll pass. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Maybe you should take a day off? We’re ahead of schedule, you know.”

He shook his head. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I left such an amazing person as yourself alone at the last moment? I’ll be fine.”

“Is there anything I can do for you then? To make it easier?”

‘Felix’ grabbed at the opportunity without much thought. “Tell me about your friendship with Adrien back in your school days.”

No answer followed for the longest moment. ‘Felix’ spun around in his chair, still stitching the seam, and looked at Marinette. She stared at him with her eyes wide and lips slightly parted. 

 “Was that too rude of me to ask? I heard you weren't on the best terms with him lately. My humblest apologies if I crossed any lines.”

Marinette blinked, still frozen in place. “No. That’s fine. We… we’re good now. Um… Why do you want to know?”

‘Felix’ reached for scissors, continuing his work. “He’s my cousin. I want to know things about him.”

“Then why don’t you ask him ?”

“He’s busy.”

“I’m busy too.”

“But you’re busy in the same room as me, while Adrien is hard to get a hold of these days.”

Marinette seemed to think about it for a moment before taking a sandwich off the plate. “Alright. What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

She wrinkled an eyebrow. “What do you mean by everything?”

“I want to know every experience you shared with my cousin while he was at school with you. What made you two click? Why did you decide he was worthy of your friendship? Was he a good friend to you?”

“Seriously?” Marinette deadpanned. “Felix, be realistic. We were attached at the hip for years. I can’t possibly tell you everything .”

He turned around, his hands never stopping their work. “Then, why don’t you tell me your favourite moments with him? Or the reasons you liked him? You did have a crush on Adrien, didn’t you?”

Her cheeks dusted pink, Marinette looked to the side. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to remember the ‘crush’ part—”

“Why not? It’s in the past now, right?”

She hesitated but still nodded. “Of course. I just told you that I have a new boyfriend and he is not your cousin.” 

‘Felix’s’ lips curled in a smug smile. “Too bad. Adrien’s a catch, wouldn’t you say so? Pretty sure he’ll be making the top of the Paris’ Most Eligible Bachelors list this year with Gabriel’s fortune in his hands now. Add in his model looks and innate charm, and I’m quite shocked he doesn’t have a crowd of fangirls following him everywhere.”

“Maybe he isn’t as great as you think he is,” Marinette huffed and turned away, crossing her arms over her chest. The pink of her cheeks still showed. “Personally, I don’t care about money. And my boyfriend can easily give your Adrien a run for his looks and charm.”

“Oh, really?” 

“Yes. He’s much better looking. Incredibly charming. Has a better character, too.”

“And you know a lot about Adrien’s character?”

“I know enough.”

“Then tell me. I have a few more pieces to finish. I���d love to hear all about your thoughts on my cousin.”

Marinette took a few moments to compose herself before obliging ‘Felix’ with the stories of her teenage adventures with Adrien, Alya, and Nino. The longer she talked, the fonder her eyes grew. She slowly relaxed, forgetting she had work to do as well. A few stories deep into her narrative, ‘Felix’ noticed a warm smile gracing her lips. By the time Marinette finished, she didn’t even bother to hide it.

“You seem to miss those times,” ‘Felix’ noted when Marinette fell quiet.

Marinette let a deep sigh out. “Yeah, sometimes.”

“You do know he’s not against being your friend again, right?”

She shied away just a bit, her eyes focusing on the papers before her. “Yeah, I know that.”

“And what about you?”

Marinette stilled for a fleeting moment before shrugging. "I think I'm slowly warming up to the idea. Not that I'm anywhere near ready to jump back in head-first, but I don’t think it’s impossible anymore.”

‘Felix’ grinned for the first time in his existence, quickly turning away from Marinette with the pretense of needing scissors. “I hope it works out for you two. You’ve been angry with each other long enough.”

“We’ll see,” Marinette responded, getting up and getting ready to work. “Now, let’s finish this line.”

“Already on it.” ‘Felix’ raised the piece he was working on. “One pair of shorts coming up in about two hours.” 

***

Hands clasped together behind his back, Adrien paced the studio in anticipation of Marinette’s arrival. He tried sitting in a chair to calm his heart’s erratic beat only to jump up a moment later to resume his anxious pacing. 

Marinette had told ‘Felix’ yesterday that she was warming up to the idea of renewing a friendship with him. He was on the right track. He couldn’t screw up now whatever it cost. He had to execute this perfectly and for that, he needed to—

“Kid, relax,” Plagg grumbled from his shirt pocket. 

“I can’t,” Adrien whined, tightening and relaxing his fists. “I want to, but I can’t. What if she kicks me out? There’s no real need for me to be here, so that’s a possibility.”

“Then you’ll come up with another stupid idea to make her fall for you. Big deal. Nothing new.”

“You don’t get it. I need this to work—”

“Felix?”

He almost jumped out of his skin at the sound of Marinette’s voice, his eyes darting to her as she came into the room. Breath caught in his chest, Adrien froze. Marinette had always been beautiful, but today she looked gorgeous. Impeccably put together, elegant and sexy, she filled the room with light, warmth and the scent of fresh flowers just by entering. Adrien could swear her face glowed with freshness, her lips curled mischievously into a teasing smile. His heart speeding up, he swallowed.

 “Mood—goom—good mornood—Ugh!” He took in a breath to calm down, his hand automatically reaching to rub the nape of his neck. “I’m sorry. Good morning, Marinette.”

An eyebrow quirking above her beautiful, blue eyes, she cocked her head to the side. “Good morning, Adrien.”

“Busted.” He nervously chuckled. "Not many people can distinguish between Felix and me when we're apart. I’m impressed. What gave me away?”

Marinette shrugged, heading for her desk. “Your clothes have colours other than every shade of grey. You aren't trying to cater to my every possible whim, and I can actually see emotions on your face. Not to mention Felix would’ve considered your hairstyle an unkempt mane.”

Adrien’s hands shot to his hair. “Hey, I groomed today.”

“Don’t worry,” Marinette let out a chuckle. “That’s Felix’s preferences. Not everyone else’s. Your hair looks just fine.”

“Just so you know, I wasn’t really trying to fool you into thinking I was Felix,” Adrien replied, a smug smile on his lips a moment later. “Because if I did try, you’d never know the difference.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “You might look incredibly alike but I’ve never seen more drastically different people.”

Adrien moved closer, leaning on the table. “Really? How so?”

“I’m sure I don’t have to explain the difference to you, Adrien.”

“But I’m curious what you think. Please? I brought you food.” He pointed to a pastry box and a thermos mug of coffee on her desk. “Don’t I deserve a reward for that?”

Marinette barely suppressed a giggle. “You sound just like someone I know. He’ll also do anything for food.”

“And is there something wrong with that?”

“Nope, nothing’s wrong with it. It’s just a little silly to see a grown man getting so childishly excited at the sight of a bowl of steaming stew."

Adrien pouted. “Being a grown man doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate great cuisine.” 

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s kind of endearing. Adorable. You could even say, inspiring.”

He glanced her way skeptically. “Honestly?”

She nodded. “Yup. Now, that aside, would you mind explaining why you are here instead of Felix?”

Adrien straightened up and cleared his throat. “Allow me to introduce to you your new assistant, Mlle Dupain-Cheng. I’m at your service.” 

“What? Where’s Felix?”

“He had to return to London for urgent business, and since a suitable replacement isn’t available right now, I’ll do my best to help you.”

She stared at him for a full half-minute before uttering, “You’re joking, right?”

Adrien shook his head. “Unfortunately, I’m not. Though I must admit I’m not as good as my cousin—in truth, I can’t sew much at all—but I’m more than willing to do anything you entrust me with as long as you show me how to do it. I do manage to run a fashion house without any training, so I’m not a completely lost cause. I’m sure I can be useful to you somehow.”

Marinette blinked a few times before barely suppressing a chuckle. “Adrien, thank you for the offer, but at this point, even without Felix, I’ll be able to finish everything by the deadline myself. I just won’t be early. Better tell me what happened with Felix? I hope he didn’t have to rush off because of something bad?”

Adrien shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I’m not really sure what’s going on over there, but he told me it was nothing to be concerned about.”

“Knowing him, it doesn’t make me feel any better,” Marinette sighed. “I do hope he’ll come for the show, though. He practically single-handedly made half of this collection."

“I’ll pass on the invitation but I can't promise anything. Now, what do you want me to do?”

Marinette quirked an eyebrow. “Um… I think as CEO, you’ve got more important things to do than to help me. Especially since I don’t really need help anymore.”

 “This is kind of a part of my CEO work,” Adrien replied. “I need to learn not only the paperwork but also the process behind the scenes. Men’s department is way too busy and overwhelming. So, I’d rather hang around here and be useful at the same time. If you don’t mind, of course. I can be useful, I swear. There’s not a lot of sewing left from what I can see, so I can take on getting everything ready while you finish up. I’ll have to leave at around five to tend to my official duties, but I’m sure that’ll be plenty of time for me to learn something and help you at the same time.” Adrien tried the best puppy eyes he could muster. “Please?”

Marinette sighed, sitting down in her chair. “Adrien—”

“If I want to succeed in this whole business, I really, really need to do this.” He put his hands together, raising them up in a pleading motion. “Please, Marinette. I promise I’ll do my best. I’ll do everything you tell me. I’ll be your errand boy. I’ll clean and organize. I’ll learn how to sew if you need me to do that. Anything you want.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You’re that desperate?”

Adrien feverishly nodded, pushing the pastry box closer to Marinette. “More than I can express.”

Her eyes glazing over the food offering, Marinette let a moment pass by before sighing. “Alright. Are you good at organizing things?”

Adrien grinned. “Extremely. That's one of the things I excel at.”

“Then give me a few moments to prepare and I'll have a ton of papers for you to organize. You can sign them while you're at it since I was going to bring them to you anyway." 

“Thank you.” Adrien beamed. “I promise you won’t regret this.”

“I hope I won’t,” she whispered, picking up the coffee he’d brought her. She took a sip, taking a double glance at the cup. “That’s good. Where did you get it?”

“I brewed it myself.” He proudly grinned, barely containing his excitement. Marinette liked his coffee! Bonus points for him. “A friend inspired me to explore cooking lately, but since I suck at it badly, I decided to start small. There’s a good coffeemaker in my office. I just had to experiment with different blends until I found the one I liked.”

“Is your secret recipe up for sharing?” 

“I don’t know. It took me a long time to come up with this particular blend.”

“Don’t tell me you want my firstborn for it.” Marinette blurted, pulling the pastry box close and looking inside. “I suspect you didn’t bake those…” Crimson flooding her face, she darted her eyes to Adrien. "Wait—I mean as a sacrifice! You know the saying: ‘you must sacrifice your firstborn child to get something,’ yadda, yadda. Don't get me wrong. My firstborn in the general context, not with you…”

Adrien couldn’t hold back any longer. His heartfelt laughter filled the room. A few moments later, he wiped a tear from his eye, giving Marinette a goofy grin. “Sorry. I didn’t realize how much I missed you tripping over your words.”

Marinette covered her face with her hands. “I’m glad you find my humiliation amusing.”

“Hey, I get excited over food like a kid. You say stuff with double meanings by accident. Big deal. I get it, so don’t worry about it.”

Peeking at him through her fingers, Marinette deeply inhaled before she spoke. “Fine. But this never happened and if anyone finds out, you are dead, Agreste .”

Raising his arms, Adrien grinned. “I’m silence embodied. No one will ever know.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m watching you.”

Adrien chuckled. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

***

Everything ran smoothly for a few days. Marinette was slowly finishing her outfits, mostly making last-minute adjustments as the models were being fitted. Meanwhile, Adrien organized all the paperwork related to the line, managed all the fitting schedules, and delivered all of the outfits to the appropriate places. By Friday, most of the collection was packed and ready to go, with only a few pieces needing some minor alterations before they could be packed as well. 

Regarding his “Make Marinette Fall In Love With Me” plan, Adrien didn’t waste time either. He started off by being as nice, considerate, and useful as possible. He continued bringing Marinette coffee and treats in the morning, just as ‘Felix’ had, so they could share them. The same went for their lunches, with Adrien always being the one reminding Marinette that it was time to eat. Along the way, he may have flirted a bit, careful not to cross any lines, yet at the same time trying his best for Marinette to not misunderstand his intentions. Judging by the pink dusting Marinette’s cheeks and her awkward reactions at his intentionally poorly-veiled attempts, it seemed to be effective. 

She slowly relaxed around him, not only joking back but, dare he say it, bantering with him. By Friday, Adrien could no longer detect any of Marinette’s previous reservations in her attitude toward him. All due to his amazing sense of humour, of course. Adrien wasn’t born with a talent like that for nothing. It was, undoubtedly, his jokes and puns that put the final crack in the wall between them. 

Not much longer and Adrien was sure to slide into the “potential boyfriend material” zone. Perhaps even in time for the After-Show Gala next Wednesday. Which was why he was already coming up with a plan to drive the final nail in the coffin as he walked back to the studio after their lunch on Friday. Marinette detoured to visit the ladies’ room, so the moment Adrien closed the doors behind him he called for Plagg.

“Your chocolate milk.” Adrien set the paper carton on the desk. “Try to finish it before Marinette comes back.”

Plagg popped the carton open and, putting in a straw, took a long sip. “She in love with you yet?”

“I don’t think so. Not yet but we’re definitely on a much better basis than just a week ago. Another week? I'm thinking… the After-Show Gala? I’ll need to come up with something extraordinary to woo her.”

“All you need is to show her the goods,” Plagg scoffed. “I keep telling you—seduce her. Show her what she’s been missing.”

“We’ve talked about this.” Adrien groaned. “No one’s seducing anyone, Plagg. We do this the proper way.”

“And what? My way isn’t proper?” Plagg huffed. “It’s not only proper but fast. She’ll be all over you in an instant.”

“Plagg, no.” 

"Have you seen how effective all those mating dances are? The animal kingdom has it right—go out there and show her the goods.”

“Plagg, we humans prefer to do this a different way. At least I do. So please, stop it.”

“Fine,” Plagg grumbled, returning his attention to his drink. Adrien headed to the window to gather his thoughts. He really should aim for the After-Show Gala to do something remarkable. That would be the perfect opportunity.

“Hey, kid?”

Adrien turned around only for a stream of cold liquid to hit his chest. A brown stain soaking his shirt, he leaned forward just in time to prevent any of the milk from spilling below his waist. However, the damage above it was done already.

“Plagg, what the heck?!”

“Oops! Clumsy me.” Plagg innocently batted his eyes. “Good thing I packed an extra shirt in your bag. Hurry up and change before your girlfriend comes back.”

Adrien glared murder at his kwami, scrambling to his bag. “I’ll feed you nothing but those gross, processed, American cheese strings for a month, you fiend. This wasn’t an accident.”

Plagg huffed in return and flew away. Adrien hurried to check his bag and, thankfully, true to Plagg’s words, a black t-shirt was indeed tucked in the corner. Adrien got to unbuttoning his shirt as fast as he could, praying Marinette wouldn’t be back before he changed. His shirt off, he quickly tugged his undershirt over his head, only to see Marinette staring at him from the door.

Her eyes wide, face crimson, she turned away instantly. 

“I’m so sorry,” Adrien rushed to apologize. “I spilled milk on my shirt and I didn’t think you’d be back yet so I thought I’d change here instead of walking to the washroom with soiled clothes on.”

“Just…” She glanced his way, immediately averting her eyes back to the side. “Just put something on and wipe the floor.”

“Yes, of course!” Adrien hurried to pull the t-shirt Plagg oh so graciously packed for him over his head and smoothed it down. Great! It was one of those sleeveless workout t-shirts Adrien didn’t wear anywhere but at the gym because of how form fitting it was. It left even less to the imagination than his Chat Noir suit. Adrien cursed under his breath and, sending another glare Plagg’s way, zipped the bag. That little shit would pay for this! Adrien would make sure of that!  

  ***

If going to their first lunch Adrien didn’t have many expectations, now he couldn’t help but hope Nino and he would be able to put aside their history and make up. Hanging out with Marinette these last few days, Adrien found himself longing for the past times more than he thought he would. Nino was a huge part of that. He still meant a lot to Adrien. And judging by Nino’s persistence, Adrien meant something to him as well. 

True to his nature, Nino came ten minutes early again. Adrien put his cellphone aside and raised his hand to catch Nino’s attention as soon as he caught a glimpse of him. Nino waved back and joined Adrien at the table. They quickly got over the small talk, placed their orders, and plunged into an awkward silence for a few minutes before Adrien murmured, “So…”

“Yeah,” Nino mumbled back, scratching the back of his head. 

“Last time…”

“Didn’t go that well.”

“It didn’t.”

“I was insensitive,” Nino sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s fine.” Adrien protested. “I wasn’t at my best either.”

“Then what do you say we forget the past and try this friendship thing again?”

Adrien had never seen Nino so eager and so dreading to hear the answer at the same time. He smiled. He really did love his friend. “I’m game if you are.”

“That’s the only reason I’m here.”

Matching smiles on their faces, the two men watched each other for a brief moment before Nino got up and walked to Adrien. Offering his hand to Adrien, Nino tugged him up and wrapped him in a tight hug, patting his back. “I missed you, bro.”

Returning the gesture, Adrien chuckled. “I missed you too.”

Next >

[waspgrave]

now to finally share detective facts about my girls because I Luv Them So Much. And this is long bc it’s both of them but that’s why there’s a readmore here 

Charlotte Logan

REALLY good at combat and tech/science. She’s very charming and friendly and works well with others! 

Nate and her are ♥. And Mason wound up her best friend.

Good relationship with mom. Could be better, but it’s comfortable. Barely remembers her dad but loves him though most of the time it’s very ‘oh, well he died when i was little so i’m not devastated’. She still keeps pictures of him around and loves what little memories she has. 

She looks A LOT like Rebecca they could probably get mistaken as sisters sometimes. She is a carbon copy of Rook in personality, though, and her name is even a homage to his. She also has his eyes (Hazel) 🥺

Had a bit of a wild streak as a teen and got in trouble quite a bit (which has to be surprising to people) much to Rebecca’s dismay since it was very much an acting out sort of deal. She worked through it, thankfully, and wound up doing a lil bit of traveling after college as a little gift since she made it more than clear she wanted Adventure. She found out she hates big cities in the process.

She’s very fun and charming but also a lil closed off when it comes to personal relationships. The past is the past with her - or so she says lmao. She tends to bury personal shit as far down as possible and shakes it off with forced humor and confidence. Any hurt feelings or annoyance tends to get buried with it, too, so she probably comes off as super chill and tough to a lot of people.

She dates a decent amount though tends to ghost on people or it doesn’t work out after a few dates. The thing with Bobby hurt quite a bit but honestly, it’s something she shrugs over now. 

Nate and her are So Good Together, though. He really gets her to open up and usually sees past her attempts at shrugging things off. 

majored in English and minored in anthropology. Fluent in English and Japanese and is TRYING to learn French but it evades her.

big fan of sleeping in, baking (never pretty outcome but always 👌 in flavor), trying (and usually failing bc she’s impatient) new hobbies and listening to weird history podcasts, and reading up on fun mythologies and history. 

Her apartment is super cute and colorful and she takes a lot of pride in how cute she’s managed to style it. It actually contrasts quite a bit with herself since her fashion is pretty casual and full of darker colors.

it’s no surprise that she was super chill with finding out about Unit Bravo. She’s delighted to work with them! Even the Trapper thing is like “oh wow that’s a thing? Lol” while her boyband - but especially Nate - is just 💀

also she punched Murphy and got bitten but honestly she’s such a badass. no wonder mason is her bff 

Esme Wolfe

Her deduction/knowledge and her people skills are both pretty equal. She’s also super genuine and leader-like.

She and Mason are unintentionally in love. Felix is her best friend! 

absolutely Awful relationship with mom but is open to making it work with time. There’s a lot of resentment there with how little she saw her while growing up. Really looks up to her dad and wants to be something that would make him proud thus takes her job and desire to help people very seriously. 

It’s hard to tell who she physically favors more between him and Rebecca but she definitely has his humor and compassion and big expressive puppy eyes.

Super, super creative! She got super into photography as a hobby p early on and has a closet full of paintings and sketchbooks that she’s actually a lil nervous to show anyone. 

She hangs up a few that she’s proud of and Tina even demanded she buy some to hang up at her own house. 

So sweet and friendly it’s ridiculous. She tends to default to helping others before herself which she knows can be a fault 😔 that doesn’t keep her from being stubborn and no-nonsense, though, so she doesn’t hesitate snapping at someone or taking charge. She’s actually quite bossy and very leader-like and i’m proud of her

She had one other relationship that ended poorly before Bobby. And she gave SO MUCH for Bobby, who absolutely decimated her trust and broke her heart in the process so she hasn’t done anything romantically outside of the one time she let Tina try and set her up with someone. Now she just uses work as an excuse which she was pretty chill with, honestly.

The whole thing with Mason is hilarious though because even if she’s pretty shy, she was totally down with a fun FWB situation because ‘hell yeah no stress’, but then they both wound up Yearning. 

She was majoring in psychology back in college, but wound up dropping out after Bobby stole her thesis work in a class they shared. It was between that and dealing with some Big Embarrassing College Trouble because of it so she went back home with the determination she’d do something else. 

Loves just chilling quietly when she can which means a lot of her down time is spent in her apartment, walking, and hanging out at the park to just people-watch and enjoy some stress-free time. Otherwise it’s painting/sketching - she has a whole closet full of  sketchbooks and paintings the world has never seen (except for UB bc Felix DEFINITELY snooped through the closet back when they were all staying there. None of them but him would mention it tho)

her apartment is colorful in a wild ‘nothing really matches’ sort of vibe. All of her furniture is thrifted and she’s a big fan of owning weird shit that makes people stop and stare in confusion because ‘why do you own a display of antique spoons?’. 

she had a panic attack in the Agency  lol. she wasn’t Scared per se - she already knew UB were trustworthy, but her world definitely got turned upside down for a few days. She’s very protective about supernaturals though but especially UB

[ukeealyptus]

crocker corp arg day 14 & 15 recap!!! These are kinda long ones so im gonna put them under a read more :)

DAY 14

((sollux i love u even tho u only talk at 1am for me ily and im glad u liked our tea party  )). He can still read all of the channels in this server but is being polite and only talks in his and usually only answers the questions we ask in his channel, unless they're urgent, funny, or just seem to stick out otherwise. 

 Sollux is still kinda adament about remaining stuck in his position; he fears anything he does ends in death (we get it, you're a doom player). Dirk is still the same. Sollux visits him often because the AGT chamber is a pretty secluded area, and his coworkers are. . . annoying. Dirk proves better company. He can't tell us what Dirk's powers are being used for. 

 Concerning their own god tier powers, Sollux tells Daven't that "if we decide that you would be a good candidate we will be in contact". They know all of our classpects, not just 16. Sollux knows them because he has access to confidential information that only Condy has. 

 He deflected talking about the current AI or Felix by questioning why we love him. ((sucks to suck dude we genuinely like you.)) Apparently there used to be a worker named M who we would have really liked, but he's essentially dead now. Something happened to Mituna- he fucked up and isn't there anymore. Sollux constantly reminds himself that what happened to Mituna could happen to him.

 Sollux gave Felix leniency because he is pretty young maturity and brain development-wise. Felix is a brain copy of a troll, just the same as the current AI. He was really surprised to hear how Felix is doing now, and thinks it's amazing that he can comprehend emotions and love!!! Sollux will contact Felix and ask us to let him talk to other people when he's ready. 

 Sollux doesn't remember the outside world or his past. He knows CC merged human and troll society. He won't look at Jane's file, only knows that she's powerful and important. He won't look at his own file for fear that another IT guy will see him or it'll be a trap.

Although he can't remember much, we can remind him of the things that he loves. Like his lusus, the mind honey, and bees! Bees are soft and he loves them! Bees are an animal! Sollux has a friend who is always talking about animals!!! Tavros went into his office once to try to get information about Tinkerbull, which was blacklisted for him. Sollux is gonna show him bees :) 

Sollux isn't allowed to use his psiioniics unless there's a life-threatening corporate attack. He's not really aware of how caught-up in the timeloop he is, but he doesn't remember having that conversation before. That could be a good thing. Sollux stopped by again last night! Here's the news: 

 Sollux showed Tavros bees and he loved them!!! 

We can now trade mun embarassing videos for discords, so we've gotten tavros's discord! I don't believe he's responded to anyone yet, but it's there. 

Sollux loves bees. He also likes cats!!! We showed him pictures of our cats and he said they were cute and their purring is cute and cuddling is awesome.

 Sollux let us ask about troll biology!!!!! Trolls have naturally sharp nails on hands and feet that are a darkish orange (the same color as the tips of the horns) They also have fangs, with seadwellers having the sharpest. Height isn't correlated to blood color, sollux is just Really Tall, but physical strength is correlated to blood color, though sollux can Lift.  Body temperature is also dictated by blood color- lowbloods are very Warm. 

 Now for society: mutations used to be culled but now they're discriminated. These can include physical deformation, too many/not enough horns/eyes/limbs, and certain blood types (for example candy red or a mutated bronze with psiioniic powers) . These stopped being cullable offenses after integration with human society. 

 Vriska makes fun of Tavros for his stutter. Highbloods give Karkat shit about his blood. Sollux doesn't really know Karkat, just knows that he works in filing. Kankri got demoted for talking too much. 

 The ai's are made of brain scans just so that there's less opportunities for coding era and it's easily reset. It's also a punishment for some trolls, where they are completely rewired, cloned, and made digital. Both Finn and Felix are likely reversed scans of Mituna- this explains why Felix's god tier is a Witch of Life, the reverse of Mituna's Heir of Doom. 

 Wiped memories are kept in the database. They can be retrieved and returned. 

JANITOR KANAYA WITH A BENDY STRAW CANON WE DID IT FOLKS 

 Sollux can send a message to Dirk for us. Tell him that we love him and we're working hard. 

END OF DAY 14

DAY 15

We have a lil more information on seadwellers from yesterday. Apparently CC has two sectors that are completely underwater. Seadwellers use waterproof laptops, which are "like the laptops everyone else uses, but wet." Condy most likely has two offices, one above and one below the water.

lotta new discords today!!!!! We can now talk to Tavros, Nepeta, Vriska, Terezi, Feferi, and Jake. thanks to everyone who subjected themselves to public humiliation for this   

 While most of the characters havent been online yet, Tavros talked to a few of us earlier!!! He's extremely sweet. As far as information goes, there were a few new discoveries.

 Tavros is very kind and trusting, he trusted me enough pretty much right away to tell me about Sollux showing him bees, which he had been told not to share. He even blocked Ardent pretty much automatically when Isi told him to. 

 Sollux refers to Tavros strictly by his ID, even though we know that he knows his name. Tavros says Sollux just does it to be respectful. They are good friends, and Sollux told Tavros about bees!!! 

 Humans are ranked higher than bronzebloods within the CC heirarchy; they hold roughly the same rank as jadebloods. 

 Terezi tends to take the heirarchy pretty seriously, and seems suspicious of how we managed to contact her. She works in paperwork (writing and filling it in), and draws with sharpies in her spare time. She likes the other tealbloods she works with and also likes the janitors, especially Kanaya. 

The tiaras almost absolutely have some type of healing/sustaining power- Tavros's legs were broken, but they magically healed.

 It seems that Dave, Rosaline, and Rose still have yet to return. 

Lastly, daven’t and i are now official invitees of the tour, as a few members of the og16 elected to step down.

 END OF DAY 15

[edhelwen1]

In 2016, I entered (and won in my category) a short story contest. I was pregnant and had a very distubing dream. Here it is, in story format:

The Painting

I blinked, trying to see in the dimmer light inside the – where was I? Oh yes, the restaurant. A multi-faceted crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, drawing my eye. I turned around, looking at the décor, and caught a glimpse of a server drawing a curtain over a painting.

“Oh wow,” I murmured under my breath. I could recognize the swirls in the painting anywhere. “Hey!” I raised my voice slightly. “Is that another painting in Van Gogh’s Starry Night series?” I squinted, trying to see through the dim foyer, while moving towards the painting.

He hurriedly finished drawing the curtain, blocking my view.

Disappointed, I stepped back. Something about the painting was not quite right. Before I could concentrate on what, I heard my name.

“Sophie! You finally made it!”

I spun, stepping into my husband’s arms. “George!” My eyes unexpectedly filled with tears. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Nothing to cry about, darling.” He brushed his fingers under my eyes to wipe away the tears. “We’ve only just been called to our table.”

I smiled shakily up at him. The light refracted through my tears, making his blond hair glow.

We followed the maître-d’ into the dining room. The various aromas tickled my nose, the combination making my stomach churn a bit. The tables were teardrop shaped, tucked into rounded booths that provided privacy to the diners. There was a surprising amount of room inside each section. On the walls were exquisite paintings; Monet, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Da Vinci.

I tugged on George’s arm as we navigated our way through the maze of tables. “Can we look at the art after dinner? You know how much I like Van Gogh.”

“Of course, sweetheart,” he replied.

The maître-d’ stopped at a table with two other couples and pulled out a chair. “Madame?” He gestured for me to sit, and placed George at my side.

“This is different,” I said, smiling at the other guests after sitting in my chair. “Sophie,” I introduced myself. “And my husband George.”

“Daphne and John,” replied the redheaded woman to my right. “We just got married three days ago!”

“Congratulations!” I exclaimed.

“Andrea and Felix,” said the blonde across from me. She had thin, angular features. “How far along are you?”

Startled at the question, I looked down at my slightly protruding belly and gave it a tiny rub. “Just past twelve weeks,” I said. “I’m not used to people noticing. It depends on what shirt I wear.”

“Humans have such an interesting gestation period,” said John.

“I’d rather the nine months than the elephant’s two years!” I said, and we all laughed.

“Do you know the gender?” asked Daphne.

“Oh, no, not yet,” I smiled ruefully. “I don’t get to find that out until sometime around week twenty.”

A waiter appeared between George and Felix. “Something to drink, Madame?” he asked me.

“Just water, please,” I replied. A painting on the wall across from us caught my eye, and I pointed it out to George. “Look at that Monet! It looks so vivid, I could almost jump into the river.”

George laughed. “Such an imagination!” He kissed my hand.

The waiter brought me a glass, and I left it in front of me without taking a sip.

“Not thirsty?” asked Andrea.

“No, not really.” I paused. “Actually, I feel rather full at the moment.” I frowned, confused. “Did I eat before coming here?” I didn’t think I had, but I couldn’t remember.

“You probably just need to visit the ladies room,” interjected George. He ran a soft hand over my belly. “You are pregnant, after all.”

My thoughts cleared. “You’re probably right. Where is the washroom?”

Fortunately, it was within sight of the table, so I would be able to find my way back on my own, as the paths between the booths were as twisted as a maze.

As I sat on the toilet, I examined the painting on the back of the door and considered the other art in the restaurant. “Van Gogh,” I murmured. “I haven’t seen any other Van Gogh here. That’s weird. And the one in the front lobby was one I’ve never seen before.” I thought about the part of the painting that I caught a quick glimpse of. “There was a large full moon, over a meadow.” I shook my head and got up to wash my hands. “I wonder what the name might be.”

I headed back to the table, but didn’t sit down. When George stood up to let me by, I said, “I’m really not hungry yet. Can we look at the paintings now?”

George gave a sigh and smirked at our tablemates. “Whatever you want, darling.” He took me by the hand and we started walking from painting to painting, admiring how realistic the paintings looked.

“These look so perfect!” I exclaimed, astonished. “Surely they can’t all be originals?”

A waiter passing behind us overheard me, and interjected, “Oh yes, Madame. All the art pieces in our restaurant are originals. The ones in the Hu-“

George coughed sharply.

“Museums are just copies,” smoothly continued the waiter.

“Wow!” I stared around, wide-eyed. There were at least fifty paintings within my sight, and I knew there were more beyond that. “Those are some impeccable forgeries in the museums, but I can definitely see how these paintings are more…” I searched for the right word. “Full. Three-dimensional, almost. Are there any other paintings by Van Gogh?”

“Other?” asked the waiter, swallowing hard. “We don’t have any paintings by Van Gogh. The quality of his work wasn’t enough to stand with the masters.”

I stared. “Are we talking about the same painter? The genius who died not knowing the brilliance of his work? I definitely saw a painting by him at the entrance.”

“You must have been mistaken, dear,” laughed George, his hand tightening on mine. “If the waiter says there are no Van Gogh paintings here, he would know.”

“I know what I saw.” My chin jutted out stubbornly, and I tried to let go of my husband’s hand. “I’ve never seen that particular painting, but the style was obviously by Van Gogh. It was of the same feel as his Starry Night series, except in this particular painting, the moon dominated the scene, over a meadow. Don’t you remember, George? You were there too.” When George shook his head, I sighed impatiently. “It was beautiful! I wonder what he named that painting. Moonlight over Meadows, perhaps? Or Moonlight over the Moor? Or ooh!” I wiggled in excitement. “We’re in Ireland! Maybe it’s Moonlight over Faerie!”

A piercing alarm went off.

“What’s going on?” I clapped my hands over my ears, trying to drown out the sound. I looked for the waiter we had been talking to, but he’d disappeared.

Guests were rushing past us, towards the exits, I assumed, since I couldn’t actually see the doors.

“Come on,” ordered George, his mouth tight with worry. He grabbed my elbow and directed me along with the others, not towards the lobby where I’d seen the painting, but towards the back of the restaurant.

Outside the restaurant were several vans. The maître-d’ was directing people into straight lines, waiting for the vans to pull up at the bottom of the stairs.

“What’s going on?” I repeated my question to him when he reached us.

“Fire in the kitchens,” he replied, glancing at my husband. “We’re evacuating you to another location to keep you safe.”

George wrapped a protective arm around my waist. “Thank you,” he said, and the maître-d’ rushed off to the next couple.

“I wonder what happened to the others,” I mused. “I hope they got out alright.”

“I’m sure they did, sweetie,” replied George. He rubbed his hand gently over my belly. “But I don’t really care about them. As long as you’re both safe.”

I smiled. “I was safe the whole time, because I was with you!” My eyes filled with tears again.

“Your hormones are acting up again,” teased George.

“Next group, hop in!” shouted a driver.

George helped me into the van, and settled in beside me. The van wobbled as others got in after us, and then the engine started up.

“George,” I whispered. “I don’t feel so well.” The van lurched forwards, and I clapped a hand to my mouth. “Stop!” I cried. “Stop, I need to get out!”

The driver looked back at me. “What seems to be the problem, Madame?”

“I’m going to throw up all over the back of your seat if you don’t let me out right now,” I said, and my stomach heaved again.

“It’s not much farther…” he began.

“Now!” I screamed.

The van screeched to a halt, and I opened the door on my side of the car. I fell to my knees on the grass beside the road, dry heaving.

The van drove away – good riddance – as I felt hands pulling my hair back from my face. George’s voice filtered through the blood pounding in my ears. Eventually, as my stomach calmed, I was able to make sense of his words. “We don’t have to go to the other restaurant, we can go home and stay in, just the two of us, Sophie and George.”

I froze, my blood turning to ice in my veins, though I didn’t understand why. “And the baby,” I said cautiously. Something was niggling in the back of my brain, trying to make itself known.

George nodded at me, a half smile on his face. “Sophie, George, and the baby.”

I sat down, my legs too weak to hold me on my knees. I looked at George, my thoughts whirling quickly as the thought thrust itself into the forefront of my brain: my husband was French-Canadian; he always pronounced his name with a French accent, Georges. This impersonator Anglicized the name. I, however, never used his French name. On top of that, what was with all the nicknames? That was unlike him. What on earth was going on? He looked like my husband, but wasn’t him. Which brought me to my next question; if he wasn’t my husband, then where was George?

“I think a bit of a walk will help me,” I said calmly. “Help me up?”

George reached for my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Which way would you like to go?” he asked.

“Away from the restaurant!” I laughed, trying to show an outward calm, although my insides were screaming at me to run. “How about towards the forest?” I pointed in a direction that veered away from the road. “We don’t have to go in,” I continued, interpreting the look of apprehension on fake-George’s face, which I took to mean that this was a good direction to go.

We started walking slowly, as I was still a little shaky from the nausea. What had been with that vehicle? I sometimes got motion-sick, but rarely that quickly. I shrugged; the oddest things affected my body now that I was pregnant.

About halfway between our starting point and the forest, a short metal fence blocked our path. It barely reached my knees, so I went to step over it but fake-George yanked me back by the arm.

“We shouldn’t go that way!” he exclaimed, eyeing the fence anxiously.

“There’s no sign saying to keep out,” I tried to reason with him. “What’s wrong with you? We’ve gone places we shouldn’t before!” I attempted to pry my arm from his grip. “Let me go, you’re hurting me!” I could feel a prickly burning sensation on the inside of my wrist.

“No! We shouldn’t cross the barrier!” he pressed. “You can’t cross it.” He didn’t release my hand.

“Why can’t I cross it?” I asked, exasperated. I stopped struggling. It was only making things worse.

“You…you just can’t,” he retorted.

I took a deep breath and stepped closer to him. “Watch me,” I said, and kneed him in the groin. He dropped to the ground, letting me go.

I ran the two steps back to the fence and stepped over it. I kept going a few more paces before looking back at him, writhing on the ground.

I took one glance at the sickly blue-purple tinged creature that had been masquerading as my husband, and had to turn away. Seeing him in his natural form brought my memories back in a rush, and my head started to ache. I was in Ireland, but I was alone. George had died a month ago in an accident. My eyes filled with tears, and I started gasping for breath. No wonder I had been so willing to accept that monster as my husband in the restaurant. I missed him.

“How did you cross the fence?” the creature wheezed. “You shouldn’t have been able to cross the iron barrier!”

I glared at the creature. “You should be incredibly grateful that I could cross, liar! You…you kidnapper!”

He staggered to his feet, and I backed up a couple steps. He was slightly taller than I was, with shiny scales covering his body. They were a sickening, swirling purple and blue colour that had no discernable pattern. He had a tail that curled down to the ground, sharp teeth in a mouth too wide for his face, and four eyes; two on the sides of his hairless head, and two at the front.

“What are you?” I gasped.

“A liar,” he smirked. “A kidnapper.”

I growled at him. “I knew that already. Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything,” he retorted.

“Even though I bested you?” I mocked. “Taken out by a human? A pregnant one, at that!”

His two forward facing eyes flicked down to my belly, and a green tongue came out to lick his lips. I shuddered.

“I can tell you whatever you want in exchange for one thing,” he offered.

“You’ll get nothing from me,” I spat at him. “You owe me for kidnapping me.”

The creature scowled. “Under what pretense? I didn’t kidnap you. You walked into our cavern. I was first in line to take care of the next human who came to us.”

A trickle of memory started to come back to me. I had been exploring the caves north of Belfast with my tour group after lunch. The tour was supposed to help get me out of my cycle of depression. “What did the painting have to do with anything?” I asked. “The Van Gogh. You were deliberately avoiding talking to me about it.”

“We are bound by law to give every human a chance to leave,” he sighed. “If you say the name of the painting, it activates an alarm. That gets you out of the restaurant, and you have the chance to get away. The Van Gogh is not seen by many.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Exactly how many humans have managed to escape?”

“Very few.” The creature grinned cruelly. “Most humans don’t even realize that they’ve been trapped, or they eat something and that keeps them from crossing the barriers.”

I was suddenly very grateful that I had not had any water. “So Van Gogh is a good painter?” I wanted to have the record set straight on that point.

“Van Gogh’s original paintings are so powerful that they have their own magical capabilities. A human that sees one will not be able to get it out of their mind. It will call to them.” He glared. “You shouldn’t have seen it. We get so few pregnant humans in our world.”

I glared right back at him. “And whose idea was it for you to impersonate my recently departed husband?”

“When humans step through our gateway, we can briefly see into their minds and hearts. Your husband featured prominently in your thoughts, so we knew he would be the one most likely to set your mind at ease.” He shuffled his feet. “How did you realize I was not him?”

“Oh ho!” I cried. “It seems you don’t know everything. You’re going to have to die not knowing the answer to that.”

“I will die shortly for allowing you to escape, for the colony must eat,” he said.

“Do you really think I care?” I replied in disgust. “Wait, you were going to eat us? No,” I raised my hand to stop him from answering, and my stomach roiled at the thought. “I don’t want to know.”

I turned and squinted at the sun, deciding which direction I should walk. I placed it behind me and started across the meadow, away from the creature.

“You and your child are marked. Death would have been a kinder fate.” On my wrist where he’d grabbed me was a crescent moon mark that could have been a tattoo.

“Screw you, monster,” I snapped at him over my shoulder. “I hope I never see you again.”

“You won’t,” he said, his voice a mixture of anger and sadness. Moments later I heard his screams and a noise like angry dogs ripping apart an animal.

I didn’t look back; I didn’t dare.

The savage sounds faded behind me as I continued on my way back to human civilization. It wasn’t over, the mark on my wrist was proof of that, but for now I’d won. Everything else I could worry about later.

[kidensdouble88]

Newfound chapter II

A/N: YAYYYY part two is up:) thanks for showing love to my first part, I really didn’t expect much bc I’m a small account! Nevertheless, thankssss!! Part three should be up eventually:)

P.S I realize this is kinda short, but hopefully you like it. This series is going to be super angsty and longish.

Pairing: Eventual Peter Pan x Reader

Warnings: none

Slight Summary of chap.2: Something big about Y/N and Pan’s plans for her have been revealed!

After your body had hit the sand, Peter smirked to himself. This was too easy. (Y/N) was just too weak when she wasn’t at her true potential. And with that at bay, Pan should be able to execute his plan flawlessly.

He picked you up from the sand bridal style, then teleported the two of you to camp within the blink of an eye. As Pan appeared in the middle of camp, he dropped your unconscious body to the ground without a second thought. Felix walked up to him, awaiting orders.

“Felix I want you to take her to the tent you prepa-”

The sound of a sweet, honey-like voice interrupted him. It wasn’t a song with lyrics, but a humming that was coming from another area of the island. Peter and Felix froze in their spots, leaving you on the ground for a tad bit longer.

“She’s acting up again.” Felix murmured.

“I’ll be back.” Pan said, curiosity and mischief shining in his eyes. “Take the girl to the tent.”

And with that, he disappeared to investigate the mysterious and uninvited humming. However, as smoke enveloped him, he was oblivious to the fact that his boot was just barely touching your body on the ground, but that was enough to allow the smoke to take you with him. As your body disappeared, Felix merely shrugged his shoulders. Pan would find out shortly that you were taken with him, but you were no longer Felix’s problem.

Pan, and unintentionally you too, arrived in a large clearing; a circle of no trees, with bushes and blooming flowers everywhere, a rare sight in Neverland. Once the smoke cleared completely, Pan could see that there was a... you standing in the middle of this clearing. Only it wasn’t you. It was a figure: gray, translucent, and made from smoke. But it was the spitting image of you. It strolled around the clearing, flowers appeared as its hand brushed along the tall grass. It was humming a tune that was unfamiliar to both you and Pan, even though you were still too deep in your sleep to hear it.

Pan’s brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at the ghostly figure. His attention was then diverted from the figure to you as you shifted and hummed in your sleep. The singing stopped as you did, and the figure turned to look at you as well.

“Shit...” Pan mumbled. He was sure that with you and this figure of you together, something was bound to happen. Something he didn’t want. He returned his attention to the copy of you, standing a good twenty feet from the real you, which was still sleeping soundly at his feet. The figure was staring at your body on the ground, mouth agape in surprise. The figure looked up to meet Peter’s eyes, smirking. This copy of you was smart. It knew it had Pan confused, and therefore he was nearly powerless to stop it from getting what it wanted, you. Almost 5 seconds after Pan and the figure locked eyes, it disappeared. Just poof. Gone. Peter still felt it’s presence, however, and noticed the wind shift toward you and him. The grass leaned toward you both, and the wind caressed his face, and played with your hair. Then all was still.

Peter turned to your body on the ground, utterly perplexed. He wasn’t sure what had just occurred between him and the figure, and he felt as if it was trying to tell him something with that smirk.

It wouldn’t just leave, (Y/N) was right there, open. He thought to himself, but his thoughts were cut short when you lurched from your position on the ground, taking in giant gulps of air at a time. As you did, your eyes were wide, and changing colors. Fast. The only ones Peter could catch were blue, green, neon yellow, orange, fuchsia, and then finally your eyes set on purple slightly longer than the others. The cycle of colors in your irises repeated for a mere five seconds as you pulled in a breath before returning to their original (Y/E/C). You were breathing hard, and Pan just stared at you, bewildered, but concealing it well. You couldn’t calm down, you were hyperventilating now. Your breath came in short pants as you looked at your hands. Pan knelt beside you, trying to calm you down, but you felt too off from your normal self to just brush this weird situation aside.

He grabbed your arm, but you were shaking too hard for him to be able to do anything useful. He moved his hands to your face, and breathed in and out slowly. You mimicked his breaths, trying to calm down like he was showing you. No words were exchanged between you two, but you knew he was trying to help. You felt warmer than you had before, with his hands on your face. Just then, as you were still trying to match his breaths, you realized how close his face was to yours, your noses only centimeters apart. His breath mixed with yours, and your cheeks reddened. He pulled away, oblivious to how you were blushing fiercely, and stood to his feet while offering you his hand. You grabbed it, and he pulled you up before teleporting the two of you back to camp with a frown etched onto his face at the events that transpired with the figure.

You reappeared in the middle of camp and Pan called a boy named Felix over, but not before dropping your hand, which you oddly felt disappointed at. After introducing the two of you, he left, claiming he had ‘business to attend to’. Felix turned to you, looked you up and down, and raised a brow.

“When did you wake up?” he asked, somewhat sounding as if he didn’t want an answer, so you decided it was best just not to give one. Instead, you fired back a question of your own.

“Where am I? Your leader forgot to tell me... well... anything.”

“Well,” Felix started, “Welcome to Neverland. Thats the name of this island. And you, my dear-” he  paused to–rather harshly–poke you in the chest “-are stuck here."

Your eyes widened, and you became afraid all over again. “Don’t worry, it’s not all bad. Let me show you around.”

Felix explained much about life on Neverland. He introduced you to the lost boys, showed you your tent, gave you some clothes, a cloak, multiple daggers, and was overall very kind. Slightly mysterious and creepy, but kind nonetheless. He told you that training was tomorrow, and that he would wake you up. So without any more delay, you went to your tent. But you didn’t sleep. You couldn’t. How could you? You were torn from your family, knocked out by a cocky boy with weird magic, and woke up to him being somewhat nice to you. You are on an island with savage boys around your age and some younger, and given about 3 daggers to protect yourself with. What would you even have to protect yourself from? Wild bears? This was all so stupid. After many hours, with the hopes of eventual escape, you fell asleep only to have your eyes re-open. The only difference, was that they were purple.

You were you again. You were awake. You were back. You sat up in bed and recalled the past few years.

You were on a savage/thief in the Enchanted Forest. Many had asked for your expertise in killing, so you were technically a mercenary on the side. Just how lucky were you to end up under a curse? Wonderfully lucky. Just exceptionally lucky. You had stayed in Storybrooke for a while, orphaned, as you had no known family. Finally assigned to a pair of parents in a town far away, you were able to escape. Nobody knew how you were able to leave Storybrooke, but you could, and you did. Your new family was great. You loved them, but one day when you woke up something was missing. You felt empty, because unbeknownst to you, a part of you left. Your dormant powers were unused for so long due to the curse, that they decided to separate from you entirely, and resided in Neverland undetected for years, as it was a very magical place. That is until you came, because Pan had kidnapped you. You two weren’t the best of friends, enemies actually. You were the only person that he had ever encountered that could rival him and his powers, and therefore to him you were utterly annoying. Why had he kidnapped you? You didn’t know. Might as well ask the devil himself. So, off to his treehouse you went.

All you could do was wander the forest, as you ultimately had no idea where Pan’s treehouse was. your eyes were still strikingly purple as you cut through leaves and bushed with a tiny dagger. How convenient for Felix to be oblivious to your title, otherwise he would never have given you those daggers. You stopped as your ears perked up; you could hear whispering not far off. You slowed your steps and hid in the shadows of the night, as you followed the whispers that lead to Pan’s treehouse. Who was he talking with? you thought to yourself. The once faint whispers got louder as you arrived. Without making yourself known in any way, you listened as best you could to the conversation.

“You don’t understand, Felix! She’s dangerous!! I don’t care how much you think she’d fit in here. She’s the bloody Maiden!”

“...The what?”

“The Maiden of Many Forms. Otherwise known as just the Maiden. She is incredibly powerful. Her powers are the only ones I’ve ever seen that rival mine.”

‘Damn straight’ you thought, but you kept listening.

“Then what the hell were you thinking telling me to get her a tent? Why not send her to the cages?”

“She doesn’t remember who she is. If anything, she is the bloody opposite of who she was. We need her trust me, but I wasn’t planning on her merging with her powers. I only needed her so I could draw them out. It’s going to be loads harder to steal her magic if she’s remembered who she is.”

That Imp! What’s this about taking my magic? She was slightly outraged, but listened in as the two in treehouse spoke more:

“What’s the plan now?”

“We’d better hope she doesn’t awaken her magic and regain her memories. Matter of fact, you go make sure she’s still in bed, and I’ll get my contacts to check is the curse has been broken in Storybrooke.”

‘As stupid as ever, that one,’ you thought. ‘I only needed the magic of Neverland to regain my memories.’ And with that, you teleported yourself to your tent, hopped in the cot, and pretended to be innocently asleep. If Pan wanted to take her powers, he’d be playing a dangerous game. And what’s the fun of a game if you don’t have a second player? Pan was in for it now.

A/N” YAY finally another part! Sorry I took so long and it’s a little short, I had this unfinished in my drafts for so long, and my break is later than many of yours because I attend a private school. I have tons of projects due soon so I may not have time for another part, but I’ll be working hard (mostly during the night bc why not) to deliver one for you guys; I LOVE this series. I think It’s going to be a long angst-filled ride... buckle up ;)

P.P.S not the best editor, so I Apologize sincerely for any mistakes or typos. please ignore them, hopefully they didn’t ruin the story experience. And i’m praying this story makes sense because I literally had so many jumbled ideas in my head for this chapter/overall outcomes

love you guys<3

[ecofinisher]

Wedding in Japan 2 - Chap 19

Chapter 19

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25131394/chapters/63100003

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13637197/19/Wedding-in-Japan-2

https://www.wattpad.com/938438479-wedding-in-japan-2-chapter-19

The coach had arrived at the coach port near the eleventh arrondissement and half of the passengers were already on the outside looking for their luggage in the baggage compartment and Adrien got out of the bus, then waited for his friends, which were coming down together.

“Where are you going now?” Wayhem asked the blonde stopping behind the crowd, that were to get their suitcases.

“For now I’m going to take my suitcase home and put everything back. Afterward, I might go out for a walk. I’ve got enough from sitting”

“That’s a good plan” Wayhem answered moving on the queue forward. “I need to take a walk too. I’m telling my friend to bring Scarlet home so I can directly take a walk with her and enjoy the warm afternoon,”

“She sure is going to be happy,”

“Yeah, you can come along if you want…...erm…..well you don’t have to, but you can” Wayhem explained a little confused earning a nod from the Frenchwoman.

“If you don’t mind, I’d love to,” Aurore answered watching Wayhem smile at her, followed by the blonde copying his face.

Adrien approached the two, then placed his hands on the shoulder of the two to see them look towards him.

“I’m sorry to bother you two, but I wanted to thank Wayhem for helping me back home. Name me anything, I’ll do for you in return,”

“You don’t have to give me anything Adrien. I just helped you out of trouble,”

“I know, but you can always count on me when you need something. Okay,”

“Sure,” Wayhem answered holding his fist up at the blonde, then the two fist-bumped each other.

“In a few minutes there’s a metro to the center and I will see, if I manage to catch Kagami, before she goes home,” Adrien pointed out earning a nod from the blonde.

“Wouldn’t it be better, if you would directly go home?” Wayhem suggested. “Or wait there until she arrives?”

“Maybe it is” Adrien wondered listening to Wayhem’s opinion. “You’re right, I’m going straight off home”

“Do you need help?” Wayhem asked making Adrien shake his head.

“No it will be fine, don’t worry about me” Adrien assured. “Have a good day you two” Adrien wished running off leaving Wayhem back with Aurore.

“He forgot his cookies I remember” Wayhem mentioned making the woman shrug her shoulders watching the blonde cross the road over the orange traffic light.

 Alya stood inside the metro driving home gazing at the reflection of the passengers on the window, then she sighed and looked around at the passengers, most of them using their smartphone and Alya remembered to take out her smartphone and turn off the flight mode then noticed she received a message from Adrien Agreste.

“I’m back in Paris and I’m heading towards the mansion of my parents. Did anything happened while I was gone, besides what you’ve said the other time?”

Alya began to type down a message to Adrien, then send it back to him.

“Wait before you get in, I’m asking Nino to come with you. Together you can bring Felix into confessing everything. I will inform him as soon as I get home.”

Alya placed her smartphone back, then looked back at the window to see the metro stop at one station, then Alya saw Felix talking with a suggestively dressed woman and he showed the woman an envelope filled with cash bills while he smiled at the person, making Alya frown.

“What are you planning to do, Felix?” Alya mumbled, then the woman took out from her hot pants a small paper and handed it out at Felix, which looked at it and took out his smartphone to take a picture of it. Alya moved at the door, which got closed, then she pressed on the button to unlock the door, but it didn’t and the metro began to tax. Alya took out her smartphone and pressed rapidly on the gray button to take pictures of Felix shaking his hand with the woman and she disappeared in the tunnel afterward she opened the images to see some well-made pictures. Alya took her phone back and kept standing during the ride.

  Kagami was back home eating a peach in the dining room, sitting vice versa to her mother-in-law Emilie, which had finished eating.

“I haven’t noticed anything different about him. He seems the same to me for now” Emilie pointed out. “Has he done anything to you, he has or would never do to you?”

“No, I just have this weird assumption, that he’s different. Maybe I’m just making up things,”

“Maybe you should talk to him about it?”

“I talked. But he wonders, what exactly I find so different about him and I can’t tell it either. I just feel that he is different,”

“Hmmm why don’t you try to analyze, what exactly is making you think that. If you think it’s necessary, talk to Adrien about it. Or just follow your life as you and Adrien planned to and something begins to change, just mention it,”

“Maybe I was too worried about the night Felix disappeared, that Adrien had been gone for the entire night and now I’m a little confused,”

“Go take a bath Kagami, relax a little, let all your worries out. Take your time and do something for yourself,” Emilie suggested watching Kagami get up.

“Maybe it’s a good idea” Kagami mentioned. “See you later,” Kagami said heading towards the exit at the hall to see Gabriel come the stairs down heading to his office, then he glanced at the woman.

“Have you seen Adrien?” Gabriel asked making Kagami shake her head.

“Not yet” Kagami answered. “Maybe he had to stay longer”

“Alright, thanks” Gabriel answered, then watched Kagami walk the stairs up, heading to the bathroom and the fashion designer entered into the office and passed by the window, then stopped as he saw Adrien walking by fast and Gabriel squinted his eyes to see over Adrien’s eyebrow a small red crust from an injury and Gabriel shut his eyes in shock.

“Adrien?” Gabriel asked, then he left his office and opened the door before Adrien could open it.

“Father” Adrien spoke, then Gabriel accompanied Adrien into the house and he shove Adrien by his back into the office and closed the door behind him.

“What happened to you?” Gabriel asked watching Adrien frown.

“Where is Felix?” Adrien began. “Where’s is he?!?” Adrien repeated and Gabriel shushed his son.

“Shhh quiet! What went into you?” Gabriel questioned. “You told me, that Felix got kidnapped. I have nothing to do with his kidnapping nor would I have gained anything with it,”

“I know, but for getting rid of me you sure have. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said something like that,”

“What getting rid of you?” Gabriel asked shocked. “You’re my son. I know I’ve done a lot of mistakes in the past, but I would never want to erase you out of life or harm you. And I’m talking about the now and not the past as I was Hawk Moth,”

“I want to know, where Felix is!” Adrien growled. “He’s been faking my identity around you all. He told me the other day he was doing that because it was his job,”

“Why should he been doing that?” Gabriel asked. “You’re talking nonsense, Adrien. I think we should better bring you to the doctor and make a CT scan or another check-up. I believe that accident you told me about it, might be affecting your head,”

“What attack?” Adrien asked raising his left eyebrow, then behind him, the door opened slowly to show Felix with his hair styled like Adrien enter and wide his eyes in shock as he saw his cousin.

Gabriel noticed Felix, then had the idea to improvise an excuse to his son.

“You’ve forgotten about it, didn't you?” Gabriel began making Adrien shake his head annoyed at his father.

“I’m the real Adrien, Felix has been lying to you all convincing them he was me,” Adrien explained as behind him Felix sneaked closer to him and he takes out his smartphone from his pocket and smashes it on Adrien’s head causing the blonde to yelp and fall on Gabriel’s arms. Gabriel shrieked at Felix’s deed and glanced at the man surprised.

“Wouldn’t just using your fist to do it?” Gabriel asked.

“I believed it wouldn’t knock him out faster” Felix stated. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it better,”

“Alright, as long as he’s well afterward,” Gabriel and lied Adrien down against his desk and Felix saw at the entrance of the plot Nino Lahiffe ringing on the doorbell.

“Uncle, we’ve got a problem” Felix pointed out, making Gabriel groan.

“Quick, try to keep him busy and I’ll hide Adrien somewhere,” Gabriel mentioned. “Don’t worry about me”

“Okay” Felix responded and left the office and Gabriel dragged Adrien under his arms across the room, then stopped in front of a yellow painting of his wife Emilie and held his son up hard against his body trying to hold him tight. He pondered about how he should use the secret buttons hidden on the painting, then he stretched his arms carefully while Adrien was leaned towards the man and slid his fingers all over the triangle pattern to find four loosen forms, then pressed with his finger onto them activating under his feet a secret door, which leads him to the secret lair, which he used to go during the time he was Hawk Moth.

 At the outside, Nino was angry at Felix, which still was pretending to be his best friend instead of acting like his real him.

“You know karma one day will haunt you down one day for all this you’ve been doing to your cousin and the ones he loves. He doesn’t deserve this shit you’re doing to him. Even less his family or Kagami. Like him, that woman suffered a lot in her mother’s hands as he did on his father’s. He was happy, man! He was the happiest dude It almost was a crime” Nino told Felix slowly beginning to have tears in his eyes thinking about his best friend. “How horrifying can you be to ruin his happiness like that?”

“It’s just a job I have to solve. I’m getting paid well for it and Adrien won’t die or anything. I’m just ruining his relationship with Kagami as I was ordered to do,”

“Man you rich jerkasses really would do anything for money, even if you already are rich. You’re just one of those jerks, that has a lot of money, cars, houses, pools, and whatnot, but do you know, what you don’t have?” Nino asked. “Real friends. Tell me at least two friends that are you, friends, because they like you and not because of money, come. Tell me?”

Felix began to think about Nino’s question, then he frowned and turned his back to Nino and walked back leaving Nino back.

“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?!?” Nino asked loud, then watched Felix disappear into the house, then he took out a key cellphone and searched for his girlfriend’s contact and pressed on the green call button.

“Hey babe, I think Adrien’s not here or Felix lied to me and they’ve done anything bad to him,”

“Crap, I’ve seen he hasn’t read my message from before. He must have walked in there without informing anyone about it.”

“Can you try to talk to Kagami and try to convince her, what’s going on?”

“I try. I feel like she doesn’t seem convinced at all,”

“If she doesn’t we both just break into their house and go look for ourselves. With Kagami and Felix there, it might be easier to show her he’s Felix and not Adrien,”

“Good, I will try to call her right now”

“Good see you later” Nino answered and pressed the red icon to finish the call, then pulled the classical phone back and left the plot of the Agreste family.

[juuryoku]

Filling the blanks and erasing letters.

From the outside, you would never guess what this place is. It looks like a house about to be demolished, in the sense that there is some flourishing overgrowth rooting deep within the walls, some of the windows are broken, and the door made a very distinctive and loud creaking sound when it opened.

I was taken to a neat and comfy sofa in a small waiting room by a nurse with spectacular teeth, dressed in her pink and white scrubs, and the brisk pace of youth. My cellphone didn’t get much reception on the way here, so when a message from one of my students came through, I was taken a bit aback by its suddenness. I realized then that it was not only a warm place: its silent nature hid the absolution and calm that I felt. There were no magazines, no books, no screens, and no coffee or snack machines. No source of motion or sound. Just two noticeable signs that I could ever know of: “Waiting room” and “Do not speak loudly or scream in the corridors or rooms.”

Three minutes later, through the same entrance I came in, Young miss plaster-teeth asked me to follow her. I noticed her tag pin above her bosom, but her name was either blurred or illegible.

 - “The... “Residents” must never know our names” She shined towards me with her perfect smile “I gather that’s why you’re staring at my chest with confusion. My name is Tania, Mr. Jones.”

- “Oh. Makes sense... Tania. Affiliation and stuff.”

- “More stuff than afiliation, sir.” She stepped slower to keep my curious gaze from jumping room to room and so I could fixate it on her. “If they know your name, they start asking for your visits more often. If they see you frequently, they start thinking you are their doctor, or their family. They project a lot, sir. Some of them are absolute geniuses in the fields of math, cryptography and literature. Our name tags are... squiggles. Meaningless.”

-“You’re here just to fill a spot.”

- “So are you, Mr. Jones.” Keys loosened from her hip. Plastic. Nothing metallic. “Here we are. Room 99-21. Leo Borland. You have three hours. Here’s your escape kit.″ She stated, handing me a button and with a cute bow and some generic words, she walked away into the many halls of the building.

The door opened without more than a push, and closed silently behind me.

Leo rested sitting on his bed. A small pillow attached to his hand and a lemon on the other. His eyes affixed on paper copies of a symphony. Two desks filled with sketches of the halls and rooms. A metallic shining mirror, embedded in a wall. Unbreakable. I closed the space between us, and in my path, dragged a chair to the bed. Right in front of him. He doesn’t see me. Leo never sees anyone.

A cough.

A rasp of my throat. 

A louder cough. 

- “Hey. Lunchbox.” I sound off.

He looks at me. There we go.

- “Hey asshole. Nice of you to visit me. Six hundred and seventy seven days without a single visit. At least you remember me.”

- “I brought you a birthday gift, Leo.” I said with a pang of shame.

I produce a small package from my sweater. It contains a scarf, knitted by my son, a plastic thermos sent by his mom, sweets and exotic food from his friends around the world, and from me, he gets three marbles. It’s what we played when we were kids. He told me years later it was what drove him into studying physics. Later into learning three-dimensional models of light redistribution. Later into probability and statistics. Later into a laureate thesis from Yale, quoted and recognized by no less than 10 different science magazines. Later into object theft compulsion and obssessive collectible disorders. Later into a heavy depression and dissociation.

Later into paralyzing his sister, 5 years younger than him, because she had erased a page of research results by accident. A blow to the head with a 5-pound metallic drawer.

- “I assume that the news have reached your side of reality, then.”

- “You assume correctly, my dear lunchbox.” I watch as he grasps the marbles with a grin, then stands and opens a great wooden box, on the head of his bed. Many more marbles are there. My head feels too heavy all of a sudden, and all I can do is feel it sink below my shoulders, my chin hitting heavy on my chest. “Your mom was... devastated. Is it really that complex now?”

- “You are seeing me in a bright day, Felix. I have taken my pills, I enjoyed a good shit, and some french singer was on the speakers, not three hours ago. I am tip top, right now. Ten days from now, you will find me with a hole drilled in my head, drooling and with a fixed stare.”

- “So, Is this our last chat?” My voice betrays my sadness, and its trembling announces my tears, even when my gaze is fixed on my shoes.

- “I don’t think so, Jones. You will come back. You will see me. I just won’t be there. My conversation will be... less famous than before.”

It’s a call for mayhem and desperation. Might as well kill the genius. I should end his life right now, before I see his brain snuff our like a candle in a heavy rain.

I compose myself before standing up, and going to the mirror. My eyes are red shot.

- “So something must have happened, right? No one gets a selection of his brain trepanated over nothing.”

- “Ever so brilliant, Felix. Do you also get this snarky when teaching math to your schoolkids?”

- “I can see you are in pain, Leo. Spill.”

An awkward, mismatched blink. He grips the lemon with enough frustration to make it start bleeding. Ah. I see now. Blood limes. The fancy stuff.

- “I developed a new theory, Felix. One that makes sense, finally. it’s a complete mechanical breakthrough of particle positioning. It erases a 95 percent of the uncertainty principle. I could look at the box of the cat, and know, nineteen out of twenty times, if the cat was either alive or dead.”

I sit down. This shit is heavier than an entire mountain. He continued.

- “It requires expensive material, and I started testing it on the outer labs of this very facility, by disassembling a TV, and some of the leisure computers, but it held out. It all held out. I have the entire formulaic knowledge within my brain. I can even write it out for you. I forgot most of my world, just so that this piece of knowledge could be arranged into existence.”

- “That’s why you called me.”

- “Out of all the fucking idiots outside, you would be the only one sane and knowledgeable enough too understand.”

-”So what happened?”

- “The idiot in charge, mainly. Doctor Daniel Montgomery. Fucking idiot. Found the experiment, didn’t understand it, I didn’t explain it, and now thinks I’m too fucking dangerous to exist. Staged a fight between me and one of the guards. A dumb gorilla called Diane, or Sarah, or Donna, or whatever the fucking five-lettered beef bimbo they put on my charge is called. It’s always five letters you know?”

- “Last time it was Erika, yeah.”

- “So yeah. I’m not even going to protest. If you saw the apparatus, it would be understandable. Looks like a bomb without a keyboard. An assortment of wire, circuitry and saliva. It was a probability capacitor. You could feed it events via voice and it would give you an answer. A Nuanced answer. Everything in it’s right place. Every puzzle piece connected. And it stored it to match other future and past events. A full storage of many chances, if you will.”

- “And they saw it and panicked.”

- “And now... I’m next for holehead land.”

My mind raced. I memorized a lot of shit in my life, but a map would be something hard. I’m a slow visual learner. I was already racing through the motions and ideas, concocting plans to get out of here with Doctor in Chaos Mathematics, Leopold Borland Williams.

- “So you started using that dumb gray sack in your skull, right?”

I stopped dry on my calculations.

- “Why did you call me?”

- “Because, you fucking dumb idiot of a half man... The only letters that appeared on the screen of the device, when I turned it on, read “Lunchbox Carried by Happy Thoughts”. Happy now, Mister FELIX Jones?”