#with stupid questions and answers that weren’t in the lesson

[transbutchblues]

i just lost a point on my philosophy test because i said φιλία means friendship and the teacher wanted us to say it meant reception/hospitality ?? that’s ζένια wtf. yes they’re linked because strangers/xenoi need to be considered and welcomed as friends/philioi but still. am i wrong or is she just weird

[fingertipsmp3]

Nothing funnier to me than when someone tries to start a fight with me and I absolutely refuse to bite. Like we’re not fucking doing this lmao. Simmer down or scream at someone else

[dilemmaontwolegs]

The Perfect Life || CL16 {3}

Summary: Charles is beginning to see the cracks in your facade and it only leads to more questions than answers in his quest to get to know you. Warnings: angst, swearing, sarcasm, abusive parents, flashback to Jules WC: 2.1k

One || Two || Three || Four

Ten Years Ago The nurses greeted you by name as you walked into the ICU ward with a book in your hands and your school backpack slung over one shoulder. For the last six months you had visited your friend twice a week and learned the names of all the staff while you sat at his side. 

“I have the new, unreleased, Jack Reacher,” you said as you took your seat between the bed and the window. The only other sounds in the room were the quiet whoosh of the ventilator and the rhythmic beat of the heart monitor. “Father knows the Editor at Bantam Press.”

You dumped your bag on the floor and opened the novel. The action thriller wasn’t something you would choose yourself but Jules had liked the series so you read it aloud. The neurologists seemed to think it could help him and the psychiatrists seemed to think it could help you.

“Moving a guy as big as Keever wasn’t easy,” you began the story. Time slipped away as you turned each page and you were so engrossed in the words that you didn’t notice your phone vibrating in your bag. You were late to your piano lesson, but more importantly someone else was arriving for his weekly visit.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Charles snapped as he breezed into the room and crossed his arms. 

“Same as you, visiting,” you murmured as you packed your bag up, leaving the novel on the table that had a vase of fresh flowers. You touched Jules’ hand with a silent farewell and kept your eyes low as you made your escape. 

You were almost to the door when an arm blocked your way. “Don’t come back again,” Charles growled. 

Your fists clenched at your sides as you dared to lift your head and meet his glare. “He is my friend too.”

Charles rolled his eyes. “You’re just a stupid little girl. He avoids you because he finds you annoying.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I know he wouldn’t want you here.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat and nodded because he was probably right. That was the last time you visited Jules, and the first time you truly hated Charles. 

“That was harsh,” Lorenzo stated as you passed by on your way out of the room. 

Charles waited for the door to close before he asked his eldest brother, “Were they friends?”

Lorenzo chewed his lip and shrugged. “They weren’t friends,” he admitted and Charles turned his back with a scoff as he made his way to Jules, missing the quiet confession tacked on to the end, “They were closer than that.” 

You had been so furious when you left the hospital that you smashed your fist into a wall in the car park where your driver was waiting. 

“Phew, that’s quite the punch you pack, little lady,” a stranger had chuckled between the drags he took on his cigarette. “With a bit of training you could do some serious damage.”

You looked at the blood running over your knuckles but you were numb to the pain. “I like damage,” you commented quietly. “Do you know any trainers?”

Present Day Charles drove along the scenic coastal road towards Saint Tropez rather than the faster highways. He lowered the windows and donned a pair of sunglasses as the breeze whipped his dark hair back. Everything about his ostentatious image screamed old money until he smiled and it was too carefree. Old money didn’t show such emotion, your mother said it was uncouth to feel anything except superiority. Those weren’t her exact words but it was the gist of the conversation.

“You frown too much,” he commented as he handed you his phone. 

“I hardly have anything to smile about.”

“For starters, we escaped that - whatever that was, because it certainly wasn’t charitable. And now you are in control of the music. I think that is enough for a little smile.”

You tossed his phone back on his lap and turned your attention back to the waves breaking against the rocks. “I don’t listen to music.”

“Everyone listens to music.” 

He fiddled with the stereo and the slow melodic beginning to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata filled the car. Each note sent echoes of pain shooting through your fingertips and you closed your hands as they began to shake. Your knuckles throbbed with the memory of sitting before your mother and reciting the classical greats you had been made to learn. You were constantly showcased to her friends, placed on a pedestal to flaunt skills that had no real purpose other than to illustrate the other families' mediocrities.

Until you made a mistake. 

You flinched as the allegretto movement began and your hands snapped close to your chest as you felt the piano lid come slamming down on them again. It was like falling in a dream and startling as you woke up. Charles was watching carefully as you found yourself back in the leather seat and not the velvet bench.

“Turn it off.”

He hit a button on his steering wheel and silence descended in the small space. “Want to talk about it?”

“No.” 

Charles thankfully let it go and concentrated on driving to Monaco. You didn’t even bother to argue with him when he passed around the outskirts of Nice without stopping, you had found a small distraction by making shapes out of the clouds. It was only when he slowed to drive through the signature winding street that passed the casino that you looked down at your chiffon gown and frowned. “I am overdressed, even for this place.”

“You can wear something of mine.”

“No thanks,” you said, quickly shutting down the offer with a shake of your head. You grabbed your phone from your clutch and sent a quick message to Arthur. “I have some spare clothes at your brother’s place, we can just pick them up.”

Charles’ brow lifted. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to stay in this dress all afternoon?”

“No, why do you have clothes at Arthur’s?”

“For when I stay there, obviously. Do you think I stay in a hotel here?” You rolled your eyes. “No, wait, you probably thought ‘Daddy bought me a penthouse’.”

He had the good sense to look guilty but it also confirmed your suspicion. 

You knew the small city almost as well as Nice and found your bearings as he made his way to Arthur’s apartment complex. It wasn’t far from Charles’ but you had never been there, Arthur had just pointed it out on one of the many outings into the city. 

“You have a key too?” Charles asked as you unlocked Arthur’s door instead of knocking.

“You’re starting to sound a little jealous now.” The door swung open and Arthur waved as you shot past the sofa he was relaxing on and ducked into his bedroom to change into a pair of leggings and one of his old Prema shirts.

“Who’s jealous?” he asked as you flopped down beside him and used his thighs as a pillow. 

You draped a hand over your forehead and sighed dramatically. “Your brother is madly in love with me, but he can’t get over how close we are, Tur. There may be a duel at dawn, ready your pistols and kiss your mother in case it is the last time.”

“You really need a nap don’t you,” Arthur teased. His fingers carefully plucked the bobby pins from your hair and Charles watched on silently as the haunted look that had been in your eyes the entire ride faded away. “Dare I ask why you are here? You didn’t kidnap her did you?”

“I’d probably be floating facedown in the riviera if I tried that,” Charles replied with an indignant snort. “She voluntarily got into my car.”

“Ah, that’s progress, I suppose.”

“It was the lesser of two evils,” you corrected as you closed your eyes. The late night was beginning to catch up with you and a yawn cracked your jaw before a soft blanket fell over you. “Mm, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” 

Your brain hadn’t realised Arthur’s hands were still busy and the voice came from the blanket box where Charles had stood. Rather than question the goodwill, it was easier to pretend he hadn’t been nice because it was starting to really confuse you. 

“Did your genius brother tell you his plan?” you asked as you shifted around until you were comfy and looked up at your best friend. 

“He may have mentioned it on the drive home last night,” Arthur said. “Honestly, it was all he talked about.”

“Was not.”

“Was too.” Arthur turned his attention back to you. “Are you actually considering it?”

You barked a laugh that was a big enough ‘no’ but followed it up with, “Absolutely not. It wouldn’t even work anyway.”

“Why not?” Charles asked, taking a seat in the armchair opposite.

“No offence, but what do you bring to the table? Outside of F1 your name doesn’t mean anything.”

Growing up in Monaco where one in three people were millionaires, Charles wasn’t blind to reality, he knew first hand how elitist the ‘old money’ families were. “So why marry Jules?” 

You heard the pain that one question held and sighed as you sat up, woefully abandoning the idea of sleep. Charles didn’t like how the question made him sound petulant, or that he was somehow a better choice than Jules was - he didn’t think that at all, he just couldn’t understand why the plan wouldn’t work.

“It wasn’t about Jules. You forget that while he raced under the French flag the Bianchi’s came from Milan. The Italian market is one Father wants to break into.” You got up and went to the kitchen, pouring yourself a glass of Prosecco from the fridge. It was a little flat after being open a few days and you swirled the drink around, watching the bubbles rise to the surface. “Father’s five year plan was for Jules to win a championship with Ferrari, cementing the name back into Italian households, and then train his new son-in-law to join the family business.” 

The silence was heavy but Charles eventually recovered from staring out the window deep in thought. “Did Jules know this?”

“He knew enough.”

“What does that even mean?”

“He knew he was important enough to blackmail my father, kind of ballsy if you ask me, but it worked. Jules threatened to quit racing if he revoked the funding for your driving academy.” You drank down the Prosecco in a few unladylike gulps before refilling it as the bitterness in your belly grew. “Must have been nice to have someone fight all your battles.”

“I’m trying to help you now, but you’re being stubborn,” Charles said as he crossed the room and took the bottle away. “I don’t understand why.”

“You don’t understand? Maybe it’s because you treated me like shit for years and I can’t trust you.”

“I thought Jules didn’t like you, I figured it had to be for a good reason.”

“No, you figured you could judge me without even trying to get to know me. That’s pretty fucking shitty, but you know what? I’ve come to expect it from everyone. The only person that’s ever treated me like a fucking human being is sitting right there.”

Charles followed the angry point of your finger to his brother and sighed. “I can’t change the past, okay, but I am trying to make up for it now. Please, just let me help you, it’s the least I can do - for you and for Jules. It’s just a job.”

You crossed your arms and tipped your chin back to look him in the eyes. “What makes you think I would even protect you? I could let you get mobbed and point them in the right direction.”

Charles smiled and you realised you were no longer impervious to the fact he was quite handsome but it was his words that shocked you more. “Because I believe you’re better than that.”

“That might be your biggest mistake.”

Charles held his hand out. “We will have to test it and see. Deal?”

You looked at Arthur and so much hope filled his face it was impossible to stomach the idea of watching it fall away. So, you shook Charles’ hand and swore you heard Jules’ laugh in the seagulls' cries. Yeah, he would probably be laughing, he always laughed when you made a mistake. 

“There’s no use crying, lapinette, might as well laugh and learn,” Jules would say.

You only wondered just how bad this latest lesson in the school of hard-knocks would be.

Part Four.

[carmenberzattosgf]

the long awaited spanking fic

Content warnings: dom/sub dynamics, heavy spanking

I cannot get the brain rot for this out of my head. I was going to write a full fic for it first that includeded subspace but imma just do a spanking blurb for now to free myself from the thoughts… so basically stay tuned for this to be expanded

You did the thing that pisses off Carmy the most. You talked back to him during service in front of everyone. It was over something stupid, really, but your stubbornness got the best of you. As soon as the words left your mouth, you regretted them. The look on Carmen’s face was enough to shut you up for the rest of the night.

The car ride home is silent, dead silent. Carmy hasn’t said a word to you at all, and you don’t dare try and talk to him. You’re well aware you screwed up. You just aren’t sure what he’s going to do with you.

Carmy remains wordless as he parks the car in front of his apartment and heads to his door. You follow quickly behind him, watching as he digs in his pocket for his keys. Once he gets the door open, he walks straight to the couch to sit down, expecting you to close the door and lock up for him.

As soon as Carmy hears the lock click, he speaks in a firm, unwavering tone from where he sits on the couch. “Take off your clothes.”

His tone sends chills down your spine. He’s really fucking pissed. You walk towards him, standing right in front of the couch. “Carm, I’m—“ you begin to apologize, but Carmen doesn’t let you finish talking.

“I’m not going to repeat myself. Take them off. Now.”

“Y-yes, sir.” You remove your clothes as fast as you possibly can, not wanting to make him wait. You watch as Carmy sits up straight on the couch, slightly parting his knees.

“Bend over my lap,” he commands. Your legs move quickly as you bend over on his lap with your eyes facing the ground. His left hand hooks around your waist to steady you. His right hand rests right above your ass, lightly soothing the skin. “You were bad today. Talked back to me in front of everyone.”

“I’m sorry, Carmy. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s fucking obvious you weren’t thinking. How can I expect those people to listen to me when my own girlfriend won’t do what I ask of her? You know better than that. I’ve taught you better.”

“It’ll never happen again. I promise.”

“Oh, I’ll make sure of that. You’re going to learn your lesson. I’m giving you fifteen spanks.”

“Fifteen?” you audibly gasp at the number. He has never punished you with so many spanks. The max before had always been less than ten.

“And you’re going to count every single one of them. If you mess up, I’ll add another one. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir. I understand.” Not even wasting a second, Carmy’s hand strikes your ass. He’s not starting off easy. “Shit! O-one.” The next two spanks come one after another, hitting at different spots. Your body jolts in his grasp from the impact of each hit. “Two. Three.”

Carmy doesn’t give you time to think in between the strikes of his hand. Each one comes down harder than the one before it. The only sounds in the room are your strangled whines and the sound of his hand against your ass. You manage to count pretty well at first, but it gets harder as the heat between your legs increases.

“Are you getting wet right now?” He says before spanking you once more.

“t-ten.” It’s all you can say. Stringing together a sentence seems impossible.

“Are you already so stupid you can’t count and answer my question?” Carmy’s hand grips your raw skin as he spreads your legs to see for himself. He scoffs when he sees the wetness pooling between your legs, starting to make a wet spot on his pants. “You’re fucking dripping. You’re a desperate little thing, aren’t you? Even my hands spanking you turns you on.”

He hits your ass twice in quick succession in the exact same spot. You cry out from the impact. Your skin is throbbing. “Eleven— Carm, please.” You beg, not quite sure what you’re asking.

“That was twelve. I guess you can’t even count right anymore. Now, I’m going up to sixteen.”

You tremble in his lap, holding onto his legs with a death grip. At this point, he’s lightened up on the force behind his hand. Carmy also directs some of the strikes on your upper thigh to give your ass a break. It’s completely raw from the spankings, red and pulsing with heat. You’re barely holding on when he delivers the last strike.

“S-s-sixteen—“ you gasp. Tears run down your cheeks as Carmy rubs the skin of your upper back.

“You did good, baby. You took that so well. Such a good girl. You just needed a little punishment to remind you who you listen to, didn’t you?”

“Yes, sir. I’m so s-sorry Carm. I didn’t mean to make you so mad,” you speak through sobs. “I-I shouldn’t have done that I’m so sorry—“

“Shhh—baby. Calm down. I’m not mad at you anymore. You made a mistake and got punished for it. It’s all okay now. You don’t have to apologize again. I know you didn’t mean to upset me. Let me help you sit up, yeah? Need to see your face.”

With Carmy’s help, you sit up in his lap to face him. His hands cup your face, wiping the tears away with this thumbs. You get emotional in times like this, especially when Carmy looks at you with such adoration like he is right now. “I love you, Carm.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. Can I take care of you now? I wanna make it all feel better.”

“Please. P-please. Need it,” you beg, feeling the his hard cock underneath you.

“I’ve gotcha. I’ll take care of you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah im sorry for leaving this here but i gotta have room to expand on this idea later. Hehehe so expect a more full length one shot with all of this once again and more soon!!

[haikyu-mp4]

I’d say it’s destiny

word count; 1605 – f!reader, implied age gap

Osamu and Atsumu weren’t completely identical, as some might know. Most notably, they decided to dye their hair differently in high school and it made the contrast of their eye colours stand out more.

However, one scenario it always worked for was substitute teachers. Osamu really didn’t mind stepping in for Atsumu today, because it meant he owed him later, but he totally forgot he was stepping in at all when he saw you.

Fresh out of university and first-time substitute teacher.

And you were crazy good-looking.

So when you were taking attendance and asked for Miya Atsumu, it went something like this…

“Here!”

“Hello, Miya,” you said, just like you did with all the other students because some teacher you once had said it made the pupils feel seen. Perhaps they weren’t considering high school students though.

“Call me Osamu,” he said with that trademark smirk he borrowed from his twin as if he was acting his part despite saying the complete opposite.

“…Atsumu?” you read off the paper, with no intention of using his given name but still curious about the name change. Suna already had his phone out in his lap, camera peeping just over the edge of his desk to film this.

“No, that’s my stupid brother.”

“So why are you… here then?”

Osamu slowly deflated, not looking as confident as he did a few seconds ago. Right, he’s not actually in this class. “I’d say it’s destiny?”

You blinked for a moment. This was not what you expected on your first day, and you weren’t quite sure what to do. Do you send him to the principal’s office? At least he’s getting an extra lesson, his apparent twin is the one who missed his. “Come to my desk after class, Miya,” you said strictly before moving on to the rest of the list, not missing the way some brunette kid snorted in the corner as Osamu agreed like you asked him out for dinner.

“You wanted to see me?” Osamu said, a cocky smirk back on his face and bag slung over his shoulder. You frowned, trying your best not to find it funny.

“Not like that, but you know it’s not okay to attend in someone else’s place?” you started, still not decided on how to lecture him properly. Fortunately, you had the number of another teacher that gave you some help.

He sat down on the chair on the other side of your desk. “I’m sorry my brother gave you trouble. What did you say your name was?” he asked, earning another squinted glare from you.

You ignored the comment and question, sighing and looking at the post-it note stuck to your schedule, scribbled with a name. “I was told I should talk to Kita Shinsuke about this, so unless you have something better to say, I think we should move along to find him and your brother.”

Osamu felt like the colour might have drained from his face, thinking of facing both his idiot brother’s complaints and Kita’s cold lecture at the same time. “Oh, uhh…”

You gave him a small smile, standing up already. “They should all be in the gym, right? Please show me the way there, I still get lost.”

Osamu would be damned if you kept smiling at him like that, making him stand right up with a sigh and hold the door open for you before leading you there. “Right this way, my lady.” At least he got to ask you about your favourite foods and other basic stuff that you didn’t mind answering on the way there.

Once again, he opened the door for you when you got to the gym, eyes quickly scanning around to see Suna already showing Atsumu the video. “Kita Shinsuke?” you asked loudly, looking around until you made eye contact with someone who seemed to respond to that name. The grey-haired boy came over, calmly asking you how he could help you while Osamu avoided eye contact but still didn’t want to leave your side. “I’m sorry for disturbing you, but another teacher told me you’re familiar with the problem. I had this Miya in my class while it should have been the other one,” you informed him, almost letting their given names slip off your tongue. Osamu was tuned into your voice, but it was difficult to ignore the agitating voice of his brother, which he heard in the background.

Kita nodded with a confirming sound, dark in his throat as he glared to the side at Osamu. “My apologies, I will make sure they receive the proper consequences,” he said and bowed to you.

Osamu looked at you with a sheepish smile. “Thank you for following me here, I’ll see you around?” he asked, using his possibly last moment alive to look at you one more time with every ounce of charm he had left.

You huffed a small laugh, nodding and turning around to find your way back. “Sure, have fun at practice, Miya.”

Kita and Atsumu were both angry, but who cares?

Osamu Miya was in love.

You saw Osamu around a couple more times while substituting for other teachers, even stepping in for the volleyball coach once. Now that, was something.

“What’d ya think, coach?” Osamu asked you, quite frankly looking like a puppy after spiking and turning to you. You sighed, once again trying to act indifferent and ignore him while also treating him like any other student.

“That was great!” you said with some enthusiasm, also leaning a bit to the side to look at his twin. “And a great set as well!” So now you had two flustered Miya twins.

“Let’s try the soul swap, ‘Samu!” Atsumu roared with newfound vigour, and you could see Kita about to protest.

“Here we go, I should film this,” Suna snickered from somewhere beside you, and you couldn’t help but agree.

After a year, you were offered a permanent position at another school in the prefecture, meaning you didn’t really see any students from Inarizaki again. You had almost forgotten them by the time you walked past a sign that said Onigiri Miya after going to an interview for a higher position in another school.

You tilted your head, squinting at the sign as you tried to remember where you heard that before, and then you looked down and through the window. Jaw slack, you were looking at a much more grown version of your biggest fan, Miya Osamu.

Walking in, you were overwhelmed with the delicious smell, your chest filling with air as you took in a long breath. Then you walked over to the short line, standing behind a rather burly man, meaning Osamu probably hadn’t seen you yet. You got a bit nervous, almost wondering if he would actually remember you or not.

Finally, the line moved along and you were face to face with a mouth-watering man. Mouth-watering food! He was even taller than in high school, shoulders broader and body a bit beefier from choosing this line of work but probably still maintaining some workouts.

You had to shake your head a bit when you realised you were just staring, plastering on a smile and then realising he was staring too, looking pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it was inappropriate to suddenly be interested in him, but while an awkward age difference stopped you from looking at him like this before, he was now an adult and you suddenly saw him in a new light.

“Hi!” he said cheerfully before huffing when he accidentally knocked over a cup of pens, scrambling to pick them all up again and shuffle them back into the cup. He glanced up at you with that familiar sheepish smile. “What can I get you today, teach?” he asked, applying the nickname to further emphasise that he remembered you.

You could feel your ears turning red as you pursed your lips, and you were about as beautiful as he remembered. “I’d like two tuna mayo onigiris, please,” you requested, pulling your card out to pay while he was watching your every move. He was glad he already had a lot of food prepared at this time of day so he wouldn’t have to leave this station to make them for you.

“I thought you liked salmon, want to try one on the house?” he asked, somehow remembering your conversations back in high school. You were shocked for a moment before nodding.

“If you insist.”

He smirked, and it was so familiar yet the feeling it gave you was so new and exciting. “I sure do,” he confirmed and then put one on a plate to hand it over. No one had come in after you yet, luckily. “I haven’t seen ya in a long time, do ya live close by?” he asked hopefully, trying to sound nonchalant.

“I’m out on a job interview actually,” you said, taking a bite of the onigiri and sighing with appreciation at how delicious it was. Truly made with love. “So who knows, maybe I’ll be around here more.”

“Then you’re more than welcome to stop by again.”

You smiled at him, and it was warmer than the ones he had received from you before. “I’d love that. It’s a bit far from where I live, though.” Your voice drifted off, unsure if you were oversharing because you were nervous.

“Oh? How did ya end up applying for a job here, then?” he asked, moving around to grab some fresh onigiri in a box for you and taking an extra breath to calm his heartbeat.

“I’d say it’s destiny.”

masterlist

[mlm-ficcollection]

Jasper Hale X Male! Reader (part. 2)

(I'm only a little bit ashamed that I forgot to post the second chapter on here. Anyways, enjoy!)

(Part. 1)

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

The newborn lay in bed, glaring up at the unassuming and undeserving roof, and wondering how someone had just managed to come out for him. 

After the incident, (y/n) stormed off into his room to cool off a bit (before he murdered Edward. Which he would be justified in doing thank you very much). 

Coming out was, or had been, important to him. It was supposed to be a heartfelt moment of acceptance and love, a chance at something he'd never gotten before. And he knew that the others weren't blind to that fact either. He'd seen the look in Carlisle's eyes. The doctor certainly wasn't stupid. He knew he had his suspicions. 

But this was not how coming out was supposed to go. He wished he had a rock or something just so he could chuck it at something (someone). 

A soft knock came from the door, interrupting his seething. (Y/n) growled in frustration, turning over in the bed and facing away from the door. 

"Fuck off Edward! Apology not accepted, go fuck yourself." 

A small pause came from the other side of the door, sounding vaguely like someone stifling their laughter.

"... Well, what if it's not Edward?"

(Y/n)'s eyes shot open and he sat up with a start, recognizing the southern drawl on the other side of the door as definitely not Edwards. He slowly laid down again,

"Come in Jasper."

The door opened and closed, and the man approached the bed. (Y/n) did not avert his gaze from the roof. He felt no need to. The sheets of the bed shifted a bit as Jasper laid down next to him, staring at the roof as well.

For some reason, it didn't feel awkward. It just felt... safe, and calm. 

"What're we lookin' at?"

Jasper asked, blinking at the empty grey roof. The newborn hadn’t the heart to tell him he was just glaring at the roof and imagining chucking rocks at his brother.

"It's new to me, this whole vampire sight. I can literally see the tiny insects on the roof." (Y/n) answered, not technically lying.

"... I'm not sure I like it. I lived in blissful ignorance of how I was surrounded by bugs before."

Jasper let out a huff of a laugh, and then they fell into a comfortable silence once more. There was tension brewing under the surface though, as if Jasper was waiting to say something that he didn’t quite know how to phrase. That wouldn’t surprise him. The man wasn’t exactly a star at navigating social interactions, mostly opting to stand back and observe. 

Brooding, (y/n) had called it once, to which Jasper had responded with the most unamused of looks, making him throw his head back in laughter. 

"You know it's okay right? To be gay, I mean."

Jasper stated, breaking the silence, but not the gaze on the roof. The poor roof had been subject to their scrutinising gazes for quite a while now.

(Y/n) didn't know how to respond. He couldn’t exactly argue. He knew it was technically not wrong - but some part of him still believed it was. His whole life he had been told he was wrong, a sin, a disgrace. 

"... Is it?"

He mumbled, more so to himself than as an actual question. Life lessons were not always so easily unlearned. Then again, he had been taught vampires weren’t real too, and that had been unlearned pretty quickly.

Jasper frowned. (Y/n) wondered if he had upset him, as the silence between them stretched on.

"... I'm gay too, y'know. Sorta. I don’t really know all the… Words. Labels. Alice, uh, tried explainin’ but it ain’t sticking." He motioned noncommittally with his hand,

“I like women and men.”

Bi, (y/n) thought to himself, while also reeling from the weight of the words Jasper had just spoken. (Made sense though, that he had a hard time with the labels. From what he knew, Jasper was from a time you were either gay or not. Preferably not.)

…

Bi. Jasper was Bi. Jasper liked men and women.

“Wasn’ easy to come to that conclusion. Confederate Texas wasn’t the most open a’ places, believe it or not.” (y/n) snorted. Jasper smirked at the reaction, but continued. “I had to… Unlearn a lot of stuff, I’m sure you can imagine. Alice helped a lot. Anyway, it’s not wrong.”

They fell back into silence again after that. They tended to do that. Neither of them minded it.

(Y/n) couldn’t just… Unlearn everything on the spot. 

But with time he’d get there. 

“Thank you, Jasper.”

He responded eventually, looking over at the blond. He nodded at him.

“It means a lot.”

And Jasper simply nodded in response, returning the newborn's gaze before averting his eyes, back at the roof.

They both laid there, watching the roof. Or maybe just thinking. It didn’t matter.

Eventually, Jasper stood up to leave, nodding goodbye to the newborn once in the doorway. The newborn held up its hand, tipping a pretend cowboy hat at him, eyes twinkling mischievously. Jasper rolled his eyes. The fond smirk on his face was still there when he closed the door.

…

Jasper was bi. A tingle of hope spread through (y/n)s body, shooting through him like adrenaline.

————

Time passed, and… Nothing happened. 

A couple of longing looks, a couple of too many lingering touches at training, but still, nothing. Let it be known that neither of the two men had a reputation for being fantastic at communication. It was likely that neither of the men wanted to assume the other one liked them back for fear of being wrong, of accidentally pushing the other away, of ruining what they had. 

It was disgustingly adorable and horrendously frustrating to watch.

“I don’t get it.”

Alice declared, standing by one of their very large windows and peering out. In the woods, Jasper and (y/n) were training once more. Jasper brushed a hand against the newborn's shoulder, and Alice had to turn away from the window to stop herself from throwing a rock at them. 

“How can they be this oblivious! I don't understand!”

“They are both afraid of making a mistake,” Edward stated from his place on the couch, distantly gazing into the trees. He seemed to be listening to them, more so than watching them. “Each wallowing in their own personal pit of self-doubt.”

“Yes, but it’s so obvious!”

Alice dramatically gestured with her hands - and it was obvious that this was killing her, not being able to just… Tell them that they were both wrong, that the feelings were requited. To not be able to help them. 

“We have to let them take their time.”

Alice spun around, and there was Carlisle, coming down the stairs slowly. His gaze was set on the two men in the woods as well, before he looked over at Alice, his eyes gentle, and kind, and understanding.

“They have to realise it on their own. We can’t force their hands on this.”

He was right, of course. And Alice, if anyone, knew they’d get there eventually.

But holy shit could they take their time.

[blackbat05]

Persistence

Gryffindor! Carlos x Reader (House of Choice)

A/N: That Wimbledon Champion’s dinner video was so cute and a great inspiration. I might have also shown my crack side towards the end but I hope you enjoy😁 Funfact I wrote this in a day lmao.

“Good one! Let’s do five more and we’ll stop. It’s getting dark.” Ainsley yells from afar.

“Gotcha Cap!”

You take a deep breath and get your bat into position. Ainsley releases the bludger at top speed but you’re confident that this will be a walk in the park.

30 metres… 20 metres… 10 metres…

“Ah!!!”

You had to dodge from the aggressive ball at the very last second, bludger almost taking your ear off.

“Y/N! You ok?”

You quickly recover back onto your broom, wondering what the heck was that. “I’m good Cap!” You scan for the source of noise and lo and behold, you find the Gryffindor Beater taking a leisure stroll onto the field with a dozen of girls from every single house trailing behind him.

Just end me.

Ainsley gives a furtive glance as you land on the ground gracefully, putting your broom aside to confront the person at everyone’s attention.

“Alcaraz!” You raise both your arms in exasperation, tone high. “I would appreciate it if you would quit trying to disrupt my training?”

He should have been scared. Most guys on the other Qudditch teams would have shit in their pants. But not Carlos, the guy was simply one of a kind.

“Hello to you, amor.”

“Quit it.” You growled. Most girls would have fallen for his charms but not you. It’s guys like these that would stomp on your heart the moment they’re done toying with you.

Unfazed by the crowds, he takes a step forward to you and you can’t help but to notice the color of chocolate swimming in his eyes. Carlos smirks.

You don’t know what he has up his sleeve this time. Surely it can be worst than supergluing your butt to the handle of your broom. Your body freezes in anticipation as he opens his mouth to say whatever ridiculous things he has in his darned head of his.

“Go to the Yule Ball with me.”

Yeap. Definitely stupid things.

***

“You said no? Girl you are out of your god damn mind.” Ainsley widens his stride to keep up with you as you head to the dorm. “He is down bad for you!”

“I am probably just one of his conquests.” You waved it off dismissively. “Hey, Ains…” You looked at your captain who resembles a bobble head.

“No. I have a date.”

“Bullshit.”

“I do.”

“No you don’t.”

Ainsley gives you a look and you realize your best friend is speaking the truth. The two of you stare at each other in silence.

“He’s not going to give up is he?”

“I’m afraid not.”

***

You wondered if your friend was finally listening to the Divination classes. Ainsley was right. Carlos popped up everywhere you went. The dungeons before potion lessons, the Great Hall and even after your consult with Professor McGonagall who for the first time seemed throughly amused by the young Qudditch prodigy’s efforts.

“Please?”

“Don’t make me hex you Alcaraz. Why not go out with Simmons? She’s way more in your league than I am.”

He doesn’t answer your question and continues to persistently follow you to every possible place in school for the rest of the day.

***

You sit by the fireplace, completing the last bit of your assignment. Stomach growling, you look at the clock and realized you have yet to grab anything to eat.

Perhaps the kitchen would have something. You make your way down quietly to not get spotted by any Professors or the caretaker.

Tickling the pineapple, you head to the kitchen that was still bustling in the evening. Apart from the elves, you weren’t alone.

“I’ve tried everything! But she doesn’t believe me. What do I do?” Carlos groans and you duck behind a pot of pans, eavesdropping into their conversation.

“Perhaps some food sir? Miss Y/N always likes strawberries with whipped cream.” The elf suggested.

“Yeah, maybe I’ll take those. Thank you.” Carlos glumly accepts the bag of strawberries from another elf running around the kitchen.

“She helped me. When I was a nobody. She didn’t care how many cups I won, that I was the star player on the team.” Carlos sadly recounts to the elf who has climbed onto the counter to pat him on the shoulder.

You knew exactly what he was referring to. When you were in third year, you happened to run into Carlos being heckled by some older Slytherins who were saying incredibly nasty things about his background. You didn’t hesitate to hex all four of them good and willingly took the punishment for Carlos so that he could continue with his tryouts.

He remembered?

“She’s so sweet and courageous and brave.” He continues to confess his inner thoughts. “I wanted to get to know her better. Before I was sucked up in all of this.” He refers to the fame that came along with his exceptional athletic abilities. “But she thinks I’m lying. I really like her, you know.”

You breath hitches and you step out carefully behind him.

“You could have just told me that instead of following me around like a lost puppy.”

Carlos whips his head around. “I… uh… how long were you here?” He asks.

“Long enough.” You reply and sit beside him, thanking the elf for the strawberries. “I have to apologize for my attitude. I was just trying to protect myself and with all that you had going on… I didn’t think you would be interested in me.” You wring your hands nervously, not looking at him.

The realization hits Carlos slowly but surely and a mischievous thought floods his mind. Dipping his finger in the bowl of whip cream that the elf bought, he taps your shoulder and smears your nose with the cream the moment you tilt your head up.

You gasp, pretending to be offended. “And just when I thought we were clearing things up!” You swipe your own whip cream and attack him on his nose, leaving the both of you in a fit of giggles.

Carlos wipes the tears from his eyes and takes a deep breath to calm down.

“So… will you go to the ball with me?” The man in front of you is almost hopeful.

“Yes! I’ll go with you.”

***

Carlos adjusts his tie for the hundredth time this evening, waiting for you anxiously outside the dorm. The door opens and a group of giggling girls dressed to the nines take appreciative glances at him. Not that he noticed. He was too anxious, he couldn’t wait to see you-

“Sorry! I took too long did I?”

He does a double take, engraving your visuals in his memory. “You look beautiful.”

The ball was extravagant. The Great Hall had been transformed beyond recognition as students entered. Music from the live band was playing and most were already on the dance floor while a few stayed behind at the tables mingling with each other.

Carlos extends his hand for you to hold. “Shall we?”

You take his hand as he leads you onto the dance floor. Despite being a professional on the field, you couldn’t say the same on the dance floor.

Sensing your nerves, Carlos does a little shimmy of his hips, earning a small smile from you. He holds you by the waist and takes the lead, moving across the dance floor.

As you glide along with him, Carlos leans down, checking in on you.

“You alright?”

You lean in to him, wrapping both your arms around his waist before giving him a kiss under the chandelier. You couldn’t have been more sure and so was he.

This couldn’t have been more perfect.

***

Bonus Cut:

“Ah! Young love. Professor, you owe me ten galleons!” Professor McGonagall calls the suave Professor Juan Carlos over who hands her the money.

Never bet against Minnie.

[writing-blog-iguess]

Online Matchup 4

Summery: Y/N makes a trip back home last minute, ruining Jason's plan for a breakfast date, but that won't stop him from coming up with a different plan.

Warning: swearing, talk of surgery, Jason's being a sweetheart, fluff

A/n: this is becoming one of my comfort fics to write, and I can't be mad about it. I'm glad you guys are enjoying it. Feedbacks always welcome

Words: 3097

Ao3

Series master list

——

October 8

Jason (6:40am) Good morning How are you this beautiful morning?

Y/N Why in the everloving fuck are you awake at six in the morning?

Jason Aren’t you a potty mouth in the early mornings Someone should teach you a lesson

Y/N It’s to early for anything right now

Jason’s May I remind you, that you’re awake this early too

Y/N My sister decided it was the perfect time to call me Apparently it couldn’t wait until I was awake enough to call her back And now I can’t sleep

Jason Everything okay?

Y/N Define okay?

Jason It’s your dad isn’t it?

Y/N Yeah I don’t know, I don’t want to talk about it

Jason Fair enough

Y/N Now answer my question

Jason Demanding Wanted to know how you were doing after last night

Y/N Better now that I’ve slept I wish I could sleep longer tho Though my eyes hurt and it feels like I have a hangover

Jason Consequences of crying before bed

Y/N Make it go away

Jason Wanna meet for breakfast? Y/N?

Y/N (8:35am) Oh, sorry I fell asleep

Jason Uh huh It has nothing to do with the fact that I asked if you wanted to go for breakfast

Y/n Mm don’t know what you’re talking about And isn’t there a rule where a guy has to wait a least three days Before you ask the girl out again

Jason Apparently My brother advised me the same thing But since I could care less what he thinks about my relationship I have decided to ignore him and take the plunge and ask you anyways Besides he barely listens to his own advice So to each their own I guess

Y/N Why do I get the feeling that you ignore your brother a lot

Jason Couldn’t tell you So, breakfast?

Y/N Uh, wish I could But I have a train to catch 

Jason Where’s it going?

Y/N Metropolis 

Jason You're going home? Why so sudden?

Y/n The call with my sister? Apparently my dad is having surgery and my mom wants everyone there until he’s done Don’t know why I have to go, by the time I’m there it’ll probably be over

Jason Yikes What’s the surgery for?

Y/N Dunno, something to do with something? I’m not sure, I was half asleep when she called And she used that to her advantage and got me to agree to go home today

Jason Don’t you have class tomorrow?

Y/N Not until the afternoon

Jason Work?

Y/n Not until Tuesday 

Jason Huh

Y/n Yup tbh I rather spend my Sunday with you then go home But it’s family and I can’t say no to my sister

Jason I get that family’s first But I would choose you over my family

Y/n … You can’t just say that!

Jason But flustering you is becoming my favourite past time

Y/n Get a new one!

Jason Nah, don’t think I will Okay, so no breakfast How about I drop you off at the station?

Y/N Tempting But if you do, then I’ll miss the train Because I wanna kiss your stupid face And besides, I’m almost there

Jason My face isn’t stupid … You wanna kiss me? Colour me flattered

Y/n I rescind my statement 

Jason Can’t do that, it’s in writing Hold on, when you said you were sleeping You were actually packing, weren’t you?

Y/N Guilty I’m sorry I’ve spent thirty minutes debating on whether or not to ditch my family for you

Jason But in the end you’re ditching me Feels like your running from something I see how it is

Y/N I’m sorry D: I’m not running away or anything 

Jason It’s okay, really I’m not mad or anything Okay, maybe a little disappointed But he’s your dad and you don’t know when’s the next time you see him So it’s okay, don’t feel bad I’ll wait around until your back And I know your not, I just took the joke too far and I’m sorry

Y/n I’m still sorry

Jason Can I call you?

Y/N Uhhhhhhh Give me a minute 

Jason Take as much time as you need I can wait

Y/n Sweet of you But I needed to find a seat first And then my headphones

Jason So You’re good now?

Y/n Yup

It didn’t take more than a second before your phone rang after you sent the message.

“I thought you wanted to call?” you answered, moving your phone so Jason could see your face. He shrugged, shooting you a smile.

“Wanted to see your pretty face is all,” he said, and you could feel your face heat up at the compliment. Averting your eyes, you sink in your seat, trying to hide your face in your sweater. “Awe, is this what you look like when you get flustered? There’s no way I can't stop flustering you now. If this is what your reaction is going to be every time I do.”

“I’m hanging up now,” you mumbled into your sweater, and wondered if he heard that. Judging by the smile he gave you, he did.

“Nah, I don’t think so. You called my face pretty and you wanted to kiss it,” he said. That made you come out of your sweater and glared at him.

“I think I said stupid face,” you corrected, “you have a stupid face.”

“That you want to kiss,” Jason pointed out with a smile. You stuck out your tongue at him, making him laugh. “How’s the train ride?”

You shrugged, shifting in your seat trying to get comfortable. “A train ride I guess. We just left the station and it’ll be two hours until we get to Metropolis? My butts gonna hurt once I get there.”

“Gotta walk around once in a while,” Jason reminded, “did you bring anything for the ride?”

“Yeah, homework I still need to finish, my sketchbook and some books I’ve been meaning to read.”

“Sounds like a party,” Jason joked. You huffed out a laugh.

“Oh yeah, real life of the party over here.” 

Before either of you could continue, you faintly heard a door slamming open and closing before hearing a faint call of Jason! You promised me breakfast! From what you could make out, it was a female voice and you pushed down the bout of jealousy that came from nowhere. You didn’t have the right to be jealous. Jason wasn’t yours, he was his own person and you two weren’t seeing each other officially. He was free to do what he pleased. Still, you couldn’t lie and say that it didn’t hurt.

You watched as Jason scowled, and turned towards the voice. “Yeah, give me a minute I’m on the phone.”

You schooled your features and raised an eyebrow as he turned back to his phone. “You already had breakfast plans, yet you still tried to make them with me? Wow Jason, didn’t know you had that in you.”

“Okay, first of all, I’m not a two timing bitch,” he clarified and you blanched at the statement. Damn, and you thought you hid it well. “And like I said before, I’d ditch my family for you any day of the week without question.”

“Aw Jason, you’d ditch your own sister! I see how it is,” the female voice said. Jason made a face as a blond haired girl came into frame, hanging off of Jason’s shoulders. Her nose pressed into his cheek and she smiled. “Tell me how you really feel, Jason.”

“Okay, I will,” he said, shoving her off, “you’re an annoying little shit.” She laughed and turned towards the phone. She was pretty, you had to admit.

“Oh, Tim’s right. You are cute,” she said, and you pulled your sweater over your mouth, trying to keep a laugh in as Jason looked offended.

“Steph!” he yelled, shoving her face out of frame. “Go away.”

“No, you promised me breakfast last night, and I demand pancakes,” she said, coming back in, shoving Jason out of frame as she did so. She turned to you and smiled. “Hello, I’m Jason’s sister Stephanie. You must be Y/N, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard virtually nothing about you.”

“And I’m trying to keep it that way,” he grunted, pushing her away. The two fought until finally they settled with Stephanie leaning on his shoulder. “How’d you even know their name?”

“Tim,” she answered. You raised your eyebrow in question. “He gets bored when he has nothing to do. And he decided to snoop around Jason’s life.”

“Well I’ll try not to be offended,” you said, though you furrowed your brows in concern. “Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so,” Stephanie hummed, “not unless you have something to hide.”

“Do you have something to hide?” Jason pressed, a teasing smile dancing on his lips. You puffed out your cheeks and looked away.

“Oooh you do,” Stephanie sang, “tell us before we find out from Tim.”

“Tim needs to mind his own fucking business,” you muttered to yourself, causing Jason to laugh. “And no, I have nothing to hide. Lived a pretty boring life.”

“Don’t know, you tried killing your sister once,” Jason mused. 

“I didn’t try on purpose! I pushed her off the deck into the lake,” you corrected, “and my dad got to her before anything could happen. Man, he was pissed. I feared for my life that day. I’ve never known fear until I saw the look he gave me.” You shuddered at the memory.

“How old were you?” Stephanie asked, worry laced in her words. You shrugged, staring at the corner of your phone, avoiding their gaze.

“Ten I think? Could be younger, I don’t know. Thought it would be funny, and it was until it wasn’t.”

“Did he hurt you?” Jason asked, you shook your head and moved your gaze to him.

“No. But the way he looked, he wanted to. If we were alone he probably would have. I booked it into the car and hid there until we went home. Then I hid in my room for the rest of the day.”

“Yikes. Why was he so mad? Bruce wouldn’t have been if we did something like that.”

“That’s because we knew how to take care of ourselves and we knew how to swim,” Jason pointed out.

“And he probably doesn’t have favourites,” you chimed in. You hummed in thought, ignoring the worried looks the two siblings were giving you. “But he doesn’t strike me as picking a favourite among his kids, unless he’s really good at hiding it. But no parent is that good at hiding that.”

“Have experience, do you?” Jason asked, you only hummed not wanting to elaborate. You aren’t sure how, but what was supposed to be a lighthearted conversation turned sour. You scrunched up your nose as a thought occurred to you. If it was this easy to talk to both Jason and Stephanie, you were afraid how the rest of his family would be. “Whatcha thinking about?”

“What you guys are having for breakfast,” you said instead of you voicing your thoughts.

“Ooh yes. I did come here for breakfast,” Stephanie said, as if she had forgotten the reason for being here. She turned to him and poked his cheek. “Make me pancakes with bacon and ham and eggs and everything.”

“How can you eat so much and not gain anything,” Jason grumbled as he moved off the couch and towards the kitchen. Stephanie shifted slightly so she was more centered to the camera.

“I work out,” she simply said with a shrug. Jason grumbled something, and since he was too far away you couldn’t hear what he said. “So, how’d you meet Jason anyways? Tim won’t say and Jason doesn’t want to talk about you when asked.”

“That’s because you pester me so much that I don’t want to talk about them,” Jason called, “and you don’t have to answer anything you want too, Y/N. Don’t let Stephanie bully you into answering questions.”

“It’s okay, Jason, I don’t mind. I know what it’s like to have siblings,” you said with a smile. “We met online. Started talking a few weeks back and haven’t stopped since.”

“Ah, you guys are still new,” Stephanie mused, “that means you can still back out before you guys get too serious.” You laughed at the same time Jason yelled hey! “Kidding, I’m kidding. I haven’t seen Jason happy in awhile. Please stick around, he’s more bearable when he’s happy.”

You watched as Jason stalked towards her, and plucked the phone from her. “If all you came here for was to make fun of me, you can go home without your food.”

“Noooo, Jason I’m sorry,” you heard Stephanie whine. And you couldn't be sure, but you saw Stephanie grovel a little bit on the floor. Although Stephanie couldn’t see Jason’s expression, you could and smiled at the little smile he shot you.

“Then go take a shower, you stink,” he said, and she was quick to race to the bathroom. “Your clothes are still here from last time!” he called and set the phone down so watch him as he prepared breakfast. “Sorry about her. I completely forgot she was coming over today.”

“No worries,” you dismissed, watching in awe as Jason cut up some vegetables with ease. “She was fun to talk to.”

“Prefer her over me, huh?”

“Nope. I like you more,” you said. “Where’d you learn how to cook?”

“Alfred taught me when I was young, and I kept going afterwards. Found it helped me when things got too stressed,” he explained. “Stress cooking is a lot healthier than other ways to deal.”

“I get that,” you mused, “I stress clean.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he grunted. He stopped for a moment and looked towards you; eyes narrowed. “Did you have breakfast this morning?” You bit the top of your lip and avoided looking at him. “Y/N,” Jason said in warning.

“It was too early to eat!” you cracked, “I had a coffee and that was it.” Jason shook his head, going back to his food.

“I hope you eat something soon.”

“I packed some snacks. But they’re nothing compared to what you’re making for breakfast.”

 “Well next time actually eat something or else I’ll just have to come over and cook for you.”

“That a threat?”

“No, more like a promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” you said with a smile. 

“Stop flirting and cook me my food!” Stephanie yelled after the quickest shower you have ever seen someone take. 

“So fucking demanding,” Jason grunted as you laughed.

“I should let you go so you can focus on the food instead of getting distracted,” you mused.

“But you’re the only kind of distraction I’d like,” he said, and you heard Stephanie gag. Laughing, you shook your head, trying to keep from blushing. “Okay maybe you’re right. Or otherwise, I’m going to throw Steph out the window.”

“Ha! I would like to see you try!”

Jason rolled his eyes and flicked them towards you. “Let me know when you’re there?”

“I can do that.”

---

Y/N (11:30 am) Ugh, I hate train rides

Jason Could have flown

Y/N Yeah but train tickets are cheaper

Jason True Made it in one piece?

Y/N Yup Now I’m making my way to the hospital

Jason Someone picking you up?

Y/n Nah, I’m taking the bus Need the extra time before I get there

Jason I get that 

Y/n How was breakfast?

Jason Good Though it would be better if it was you

Y/n Stoooooooopppppppp

Jason Never I’m sorry about Steph, we can be a handful sometimes

Y/n No worries, I like her Is the rest of your family that energetic?

Jason Some yeah, the rest are just tamed

Y/n Sounds fun

Jason Oh yeah, the best

Y/n I can hear the sincerity from here 

Jason Almost to the hospital?

Y/n Yeah I gotta go

Jason Tell me how it goes

Y/N (2:40 pm) I shouldn’t have come Why did I say yes?

Jason Because you were sleep deprived and you can’t say no to your sister Also because your dads in the hospital 

Y/n Right He’s fine by they way, now he’s just recovering Doctors say they did what they could and he’ll be out of here in a couple of days

Jason Figured out what the surgery was about?

Y/N Nope and at this point I’m too afraid to ask

Jason Wow Why do you have regrets?

Y/n I don’t know how or why But somehow my sister figured out I was seeing someone Or at least talking to someone and kept pestering me until I told them I’ve been bamboozled 

Jason Guess I’m not your dirty little secret anymore huh

Y/n Guess it wasn’t meant to be Oh well can’t be helped

Jason So now that your dads fine, you coming home?

Y/n No Somehow I have been convinced to stay the night and take the morning train in the morning Which sucks, I already bought my ticket for tonight 

Jason That’s rough buddy

Y/n Can’t be helped I guess Now I get to play 20 questions 

Jason But at least you get to spend time with your family

Y/n True

Jason you know, if you want I can drive up there and take the train with you

Y/N That is very sweet of you and very tempting But you have work and I don’t want to inconvenience you

Jason You’re not an inconvenience If anything, you’d be doing me a favour I have the day off tomorrow and I’ve been meaning to do something I’m not very good at doing nothing

Y/N What about your bike?

Jason When I said drive, I meant the loosely I’d take the train or fly Or I can drive us back I have a car too, you know

Y/N Where would you stay?

Jason I have a friend living there that I’ve been meaning to visit Plus we can go for breakfast tomorrow before making the trip back

Y/N Very tempting But ultimately I’m not going to tell you what to do It’d be your choice

Jason See you in the morning then

[minkkumaz]

WHAT'S THE ANSWER FOR ME + YOU?

although woonhak was deemed the golden boy of your school, he lacked in academics. when he goes to the pretty girl (whom also has a tad bit of a crush on him) in the library for math help, how'd he know you'd be this cute?

PAIRING kim woonhak x fem!reader WC 1.1k TAGS adults dni. so much fluff it hurts. mutual pining. OMI NOTE my sweet boy omg i love writing for him. tbh i wrote this as a distraction for the other woonhak fic i started oops. not proofread sorry for mistakes hehe

november was cloudy, as if the sun was too shy to peek over the soft blankets that covered the sky. despite the dreariness, his spirit was always there. kim woonhak was the golden boy of your academy. the school’s star athlete, good at winning over hearts and games.

though he had far from perfect grades, he was good at getting away with an f every now and then. however this wasn’t the most ideal.

sometimes you sat inside of the library, taking in the smell of new books. you had no practical reason to be there, but the quiet environment was good enough for you. you weren’t used to the popularity scene like he was. and though everything in your heart was telling you to talk to him, you just couldn’t.

that specific day, you settled on the floor with your back against the hard books. notebooks, pencils, and a laptop was sprawled out everywhere, but not so much that people couldn’t walk past you. you had an immense headache from cramming in an assignment last minute. because of this, you hardly noticed the body that was towering over you, until he spoke.

“hey! your name is y/n, right?” his voice was alluring like honey dripping down your throat, and a striped cardigan draped over his messily buttoned shirt and slightly loose tie. 

but in that moment you froze. admiring him for so long wasn’t considered as practice for actually talking to him.

“hi, yes! um, am i in your way?” you hurry to scoot away but he hesitantly places a hand on your shoulder to stop you.

“no not at all!” he tells you anxiously. in his mind he was thinking you were much prettier in person.

“then what’s up?” you felt small in comparison to his large figure. 

“the counselor sent me over to you actually! she said i’d find you here.” he explained, “i need someone to tutor me.”

“you need a tutor?” you questioned with a confused expression on your face.

“yeah.. they’re going to pull me out of basketball if i don’t get my math grade up. and a little birdie told me you were one of the best.” he grinned at you happily and held his hand out for you to get up.

“oh! well i think i have some time right now. i just finished my assignment so you’re in luck.” you quickly grab your things and shove them into your bag before taking his hand.

the touch of his hand on yours made the both of you blush, swiftly pulling away after you were on your feet. you followed behind him to one of the nearest tables, setting your things down beside you before taking a seat.

“so ahm, what specifically were you needing help with?” you ask, pulling out your math notebook and flipping through the chapters.

“literally everything! like how do you even add exponents with different bases?” he whined next to you, letting his head fall onto the desk. 

“no i totally get how that can be tricky!” you laugh, “here i’ll write down an example.”

conversation throughout the rest of the study session flowed smoothly. despite it being your first proper interaction, he knew how to make you smile. 

a stupid joke here and then, sometimes a wink, or his hand grazing slightly against yours. what were you even saying?

meeting up became more frequent between the two of you. it came to the point where you met every tuesday and thursday for the remainder of the month. he wasn’t difficult to teach, but there were time’s he’d zone out in the middle of your mini lesson.

you wondered what went on in his mind, but every part of you wanted to hope you were the one he thought about.

“woon! are you even listening to me?” you frown, snapping your fingers infront of the boy.

“yes yes, i’m sorry i’m just a little sidetracked today.” he sighs, scribbling nothings onto his paper.

“we have our math exam next week and you’ve been doing so much better than when we met for the first time. you can’t be lacking on me now!” you pout at him. it was maybe your eighth time studying in the library together.

“you’re just so pretty, it’s distracting.” he says quietly, not exactly loud enough for you to hear.

“what?” you tilt your head a little.

“nothing! it’s nothing i promise.” he leans his head back, groaning, “there’s just this problem i’m really having trouble figuring out.” “what kind of problem, i’m sure we can find a solution to it.” your interest was piqued. why would he get so worked up over a math problem?

“i don’t think i’m ready to ask you yet, i want to try to figure it out on my own first.” he sighs into his hands, barely getting a glimpse of you through the cracks of his fingers.

“you want to figure it out on your own? when’d you get so independent without me?” you fake a sad expression.

“okay okay, i’ll write it down for you then. but close your eyes!” he gives in, ripping off a sticky note from the pad you took out earlier.

covering your eyes, your other senses seem to heighten. you can hear the rough writing of his pencil against the note he stole from your pile of supplies. he hesitates in between what you can only assume are numbers, before you feel him press the paper against your forehead.

“open your eyes now.” 

your vision is covered slightly from the note, so you can hardly see him fidgeting with his hands. when you peel it off to read, you’re met with a very mysterious question.

‘what’s the answer for me + you?’

“huh? what does this mean woonhak..?” you squint, re - reading the same words over and over again.

“um..” he laughs nervously, “i just don’t want us to be just friends yknow? i really really like you.”

“woon i–”

“i don’t know i just think i’d be a little heartbroken if i had to see you smile so prettily everyday and not be able to call you my.. girlfriend.” he rambled, “but you don’t have to say anything yet! don’t even worry or anything i know this is kinda sudden and we’ve only been hanging out for so long but–”

you interrupt him with a gentle kiss against his lips. he smiles against yours, placing his hands perfectly against your flush cheeks to pull you closer.

“i really like you too, woonhak.” you let your head fall heavy into his hands after finally pulling away, staring at him blissfully.

“i guess i have my answer then, right?”

© 2023 minkkumaz, all rights reserved support your writers by reblogging + giving feedback! it is greatly encouraged and appreciated. thank you! → why feedback + reblogging is so important. ~ (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡ if you'd like, donate to minkkumaz !

[awhoreintheory]

Done with no redemption

Lance heard him before he saw Keith, not because he was loud or anything, but because Lance was expecting him. His footsteps have always been annoyingly light like a ninja. Lance tensed, a sour frown taking over his previously good mood. 

“Lance, I—” Lance rolled his eyes, turning around with the fakest smile in his arsenal. 

“You what, Keith?” Lance asked pleasantly, cocking his head to the side. Keith paused for another moment, his eyes awkwardly averted to the ground as he fidgeted. 

“I ran away from you.” Keith sighed, hands dropping and finally looking Lance in the eyes. Lance felt it wasn’t adequately remorseful enough. 

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and, yeah. You were right.” 

“You were right.” That single sentence seemed to just echo in Lance’s brain. Because— because his Keith didn’t just come out and admit something like that. Ever. You had to fight him tooth and nail for a half confession. (And Lance had evidence. He had to throw down with Keith just to get an answer to Lance’s real life, actual, love confession. Stubborn prick.) To say Lance was too shocked to speak would be an understatement. The shock gave way to an odd mix of amusement and seething hot anger.

“I was just running because I was afraid to face my feelings— actually, no. I was afraid of you.” Keith gnawed on his lip, thinking his words through. (Good, he’s learned his damn lesson about that.) “Because I tell you things I can’t even tell myself. Around you? My… walls are about as effective as paper is to fire.”

“Is that so?” Lance hummed, turning around and going back to folding his laundry. “Glad you’ve had some time for self discovery in the past 11 months that you’ve ghosted the team.” —and me, went unsaid, but the message was just as clear as though he had. 

“I’m proud— really! Congratulations, dude!” Lance's grin only got bigger, throwing one of Keith’s t-shirts at him. He caught it and unfolded it with a hurt expression. 

“Lance, please—” Keith’s eyebrows creased, like they always do when he’s hurt or confused. 

“Don’t “Lance, please” me, Kogane. It’s not like you ever listened to a single please from me. In fact, I don’t even think it ever even made you pause.” Lance calmly stated, wrapping up doing his laundry and storing it in Red. On the trip back to Earth with minimal supplies, Lance barely had any supplies— no moisturizer or anything! But he was making do in these trifling times.  

Keith was silent for a long moment as Lance continued cleaning up his Lion, throwing trash away and clearing out things he didn’t need as though Keith weren’t there in the first place. 

“...Is this not fixable?” It was a quiet, feeble question. 

“It was.” Was Lance’s simple response. It ignited a hope in Keith, but left him feeling uneasy. 

“..Was?” 

Lance straightened up, standing chest to chest with Keith, leaning in as though he were whispering a secret. “”I just don’t want to be stuck here for eternity with Lance.”” 

“From— from the game show? Seriously?” Keith asked incredulously, eyebrows now furrowing in anger and confusion. 

“Hmmm…” Lance tapped his finger to his chin contemplating. “Yep! From the game show. You and the team made it quite clear how you felt about me, ya’know?” 

Lance spun on his heel, plopping down and grabbing his armor to polish. “So, on that note; I need you to be civil until I leave the team.” 

“Leave the team?” 

“Yes, that’s what I just said.” 

“You can’t just— you can’t just leave, Lance! What about Voltron? What about us?” Keith’s temper was steadily rising, stomping towards Lance before he stopped and recollected himself. 

“One, yes, I can. Why would I stay somewhere I’m clearly not welcomed or appreciated? I’m going home after this shit-show. Two, there's six paladins, Keith. Simple math, even I can do it. Since, ya’know, I’m too stupid and should just leave something that complex to Pidge. Shiro can take Black back, you never wanted the position anyway, right?” Lance’s sugary sweet words were practically dripping in anger, Lance’s grin starting to annoy Keith. He knew just how hard he was hitting, and if he was honest? Lance was amused. 

“Of course we want you here! And— and, um…” Keith’s shoulders slumped, he was too flustered! He couldn’t think of an argument, yeah. He just didn’t see this coming— Lance was just confused! Keith reached for Lance’s wrist, brows furrowed and eyes oddly wet. 

“You can’t leave us, please. We need you.” 

“Well I don’t.” Lance yanked his wrist back with a disgusted turn of the lips. 

“Now get out of my lion.”

[beckyylynchh]

it'll be okay (ronda rousey x fem!reader)

pairing: ronda rousey x female!reader.

genre: angst with a twist of fluff.

warnings: ronda being annoying just a bit, the reader being sad, things like that yk.

note: this is an old fic that i wrote, so i edited it a bit.

NOT MY GIF!

“stop what you are doing, ronda!” i yelled at her. ronda then stopped and turned around, facing me.

she walked back to where i stood. “what are you going to do about it?” she challenged me.

“just please stop. you’re clearly doing the wrong thing” i said.

“how do you know what's wrong and right, huh? because the last time i checked you weren’t a wrestler, you were the one doing everyone's makeup and hair. you know absolutely nothing about this business” she replied.

“i know enough and i know the person i’m looking at right now isn't a real wrestler if she goes out there and does what the hell she wants to” i said, raising my voice with each word coming out of my mouth.

“i am a real wrestler” ronda responded, sounding hurt while hearing the truth.

“not if you interrupt others' show. that’s not a wrestler. that’s just a selfish bitch!” i mumbled, looking at ronda's angry face.

there were people looking confused at us as normally we were the perfect couple. “you’re embarrassing me, y/n” ronda whispered in my ear.

“you already embarrassed me” i whispered right back. ronda then took a good grip on my arm and dragged me into her locker room.

just as she had locked the door, she asked, “what do you mean about that?”

“about what?” i asked, already knowing the answer to her question.

“about me embarrassing you? you haven’t told me about it” she answered. i just stayed silent, looking down.

“y/n?” ronda said softly, coming closer to me. i looked up at her. ronda’s eyes softened when she saw tears starting to come in my eyes.

“what is it, love?” she asked as she took me in her safe arms.

“these people on the internet text me everyday, saying awful things about me, because we’re together. it’s so freaking annoying and i can’t take it anymore” i answered as more tears came out of my eyes.

ronda kissed my hair, taking me even closer to her warm body. “i'm sorry y/n. i have been so focused on wrestling, that i didn’t even notice you being so sad. i’m so sorry. i will do anything to help you do better again and i will personally write these stupid people a message, saying that if they don’t stop texting you, i will find them and with honor, teach them a very good lesson” ronda told me, taking my head in her hands.

“forgive me, please” she begged. i put my hand on her shoulder.

“you don’t need to say sorry. you’re just angry at some people. sadly you take it out on the wrong people. that’s the risk being here at wwe and you shouldn’t even think about saying sorry, alright?!” i responded.

ronda just smiled softly at me and kissed my lips. “you’re the absolute best. i love you so deeply” she said.

“don’t get too flirty, rousey” i replied, pecking her lips once again.

“but i love you too”

[jungle321jungle]

False Dawn: One

For his entire life, Janus Ekans had done whatever he could to prove himself and rise in the ranks of his father’s court, but it was all worthless in the end. Now, the only path to survival is to rely on his father’s killer, Duke Logan Ackroyd, even if it means discarding his pride and blood ties. It might not be freedom, but at least it won't be his head rolling on the floor next.

~~~~

False Dawn:

Idiom: A situation that looks like it is beginning to improve when, in reality, it is not.

Read on Ao3 - All Chapters - Masterlists

One

Janus had learned at an early age how to keep his face even despite what was happening around him. It didn’t matter whether he was excited, upset, or scared. An Ekans faced those emotions every day, and if he ever wanted even the slimmest of chances of being accepted as a legitimate child- controlling his facial expressions was a requirement. So his mother had drilled poise and etiquette into him the hard way, yet here and now, every word she had ever spoken seemed meaningless. Here and now, it didn’t matter that he had learned to dance; it didn’t matter that he could hold his own when talking to the nobility; his swordsmanship and equestrian lessons were also null and void. Because here and now, it didn’t matter that his face didn't change as he watched what was going on around him because everything he had done was to impress his father- to impress the king—the king, who was currently shy of a head. 

The screams that echoed throughout the ballroom were on deaf ears as Janus’ eyes were trained on his father’s killer. The man was calm as he wiped the blood from his blade as if he was doing its daily maintenance as opposed to just having beheaded a monarch. And silently- wrongly - Janus couldn’t help but wonder why he bothered to do so when it was clear the rest of the royal family was next to die. Or was this man too important to dirty his blade with Janus’ impure blood? The knight stopped his actions and dropped to a knee as the Head of the Empire stepped towards him. Janus had thought so when he had seen the Emperor before at the start of the ball- but here and now, the ruler seemed even more like a child. He was likely just barely sixteen, his brown eyes slightly sunken in and partially hidden behind his hair, which was just long enough to fall into his eyes. He was shorter in stature, and truthfully, it looked like a strong breeze would be enough to knock him over. Even so, no one could be The Emperor of Angoro without having a nearly impossible amount of mana. 

“Do as you see fit with the rest,” The Emperor told the knight. 

The knight hadn’t dared to raise his head, “Yes, Your Maj-”

“Why!?” Janus heard one of his older sisters- the Second Princess- shout. “What did we do to you?”

The Emperor blinked at her once as if he couldn’t tell if she was stupid or not, and quite frankly, Janus wished she wasn’t as stupid as well… she usually was. The Emperor’s eyes shined with a slight tint of purple before he appeared to decide she wasn’t worth a drop of his mana. “I need to get back,” he told his knight instead. As he began to walk away, some of his troops fell in step behind him. 

“Why? Why? Why!?” his sister shouted again and again. No one stopped her, not even the enemy knight who stood before her. No one did a thing until the Emperor had left the room. Then, the knight in charge stood, fixated his eyes on her, and moved closer, causing her to falter before the Queen put a hand over her mouth. 

The knight adjusted his glasses as his eyes looked over them all, and then he spoke, “None of you want to answer her question?”

Janus wasn’t aware the tension could get any higher, but then the man brandished his sword. 

“I see no point in answering. If she weren’t such a narcissist, she would have paid attention to the world around her,” Janus said with his mask of calm as he tried not to focus on the thought of that sword running him through. But he needed to try because something in him- perhaps all his experience in reading people- screamed that in this situation, silence was the wrong answer. 

The knight’s attention and sword went to Janus, a shadow of amusement on his face as his right eyebrow twitched. “Oh? But it would be quite cruel for her to die without knowing what her crime is, wouldn’t it?”

“Ignorance is a crime of its own.”

The knight paused before he looked Janus up and down, “A prince with no crown? …A Child of the Harem then?”

“Correct.”

“Interesting,” he concluded, sheathing the weapon, and Janus forced himself not to give a large breath of relief like he wanted. The knight then focused on the Second Princess- or rather, her crown. “Your King was the one who cursed the Empire and caused the deaths of thousands. I think the amount of blood that shall be shed is inconsequential in comparison.”

The Second Princess pushed away the Queen’s hand, “Father would never! You-” she was stopped again by her mother, but this time their eyes locked, and an understanding moved between them. 

The knight looked as if he was trying to hide his disgust, “Lock them up and prepare them for transport. Executions will occur back in the capital before all the people they’ve hurt. As for the nobility, I've already given your orders for them.”

The knights around them resoundingly said, “Yes, Your Grace!” And just like that, Janus found himself being shuffled along with the rest of the royal family, and he could only hope that the lingering inquisitive gaze he felt boded well for his future. 

Upon having his wrists bound, he and the rest of his family were shoved into a relatively small cell for the number of them in the castle’s dungeon. It was certainly strange being on this side of the bars down here, but he supposed anything was better than the alternative. If they were to be transported back to the Empire’s capital, he had time to try and negotiate something for himself. It may all be for naught, but at least- unlike his father- he wouldn’t go down without a fight. 

“You're insane.” 

The sound of his mother’s voice drew his attention back to his family amongst him. She was across the cell from him, with a few family members between them. She didn't speak again, just watching him with eyes full of fear, worry, tears, and surprise. He waited a moment and then another, but when no words left her lips, he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes so he wouldn’t need to see her face as he responded. “The silence was heavy enough to kill on its own accord… so I broke it.”

He heard his family quietly chitter amongst themselves as they commented on his behavior. It was probably the most attention they had ever spent on him, and it didn’t feel nearly as good as he had imagined. 

It was early morning when they were pulled from their cell and outside to greet the rising sun and the three prison wagons waiting underneath it. Janus had anticipated that they all would've been split into each by numbers, but he was surprised to find that they were being sorted. Into one wagon went The Queen and her children, in another, the Queens of the Harem, and in the last, Janus and the other illegitimate children. He couldn’t help the spike of hope that struck his chest at the chance that they might be punished based on their status. But any hope quickly fizzled out as he realized the range in his siblings amongst him. More were guilty of horrible things than those who were innocent. So, if the wagon were indeed to divide who lived and died, currently, it seemed the harem would be the only cart to survive. And yet, some in there deserved death just the same. 

The convoy traveled through the morning and only stopped once at midday, during which each prisoner was led one by one to relieve themselves under supervision. They were each given a small slice of stale bread, and the trip continued. So Janus would be lying if he said he wasn’t ecstatic to leave the wagon when they stopped for the night. His bottom and back ached from sitting on the hardwood all day, so even if it were just a short walk to use the bathroom, he’d take it. On the way back to the wagon, another knight jogged up, “The Duke requested this one,” she told one holding Janus’ rope. And to Janus’ surprise, he didn’t hesitate to hand it over.��

Janus’ heart was thundering in his chest. But the knight said nothing to him as he pulled him along after her towards where the main army had made camp some hundred or so feet away. Eyes wandered to them as they made their way through the camp, but none said anything as they made way for them to pass. That was until they reached the Duke in question. 

His father’s killer was sitting amongst his men, seemingly having a casual conversation with them as he sipped stew from a bowl. It was a bit of a strange sight, truthfully. Usually, those of higher status had tents to themselves full of all their luxuries of home, and yet this man was indistinguishable from the rest. Upon their approach, he stood and outstretched a hand, and the rope attached to Janus was set in it. The Duke said nothing as he led Janus away from the rest, simply sipping his dinner as he went, but ultimately, he came to a stop and leaned back against a tree facing Janus. 

“You didn’t flinch as your father’s body was liberated from its head, and you also spoke out against your own blood without hesitation,” he started. “And from what I recall, this is often your behavior. You clean up the messes of others, be it with words or with blood… Tell me, what do you gain from that?”

“Rapport,” Janus answered easily. “Rapport with a man who refused to acknowledge me. And as you can see, it was all for naught.”

The Duke hummed another sip from his bowl, “You're quite good with your words. Truly a silver tongue.”

“Am I to take that as a compliment?”

“That is up to your discretion.”

“Then I thank you for the compliment.”

“I hadn’t expected you to beg for your life, but I didn’t expect you’d be this bold either.”

“Why beg? It’s clear whatever I have done so far is enough. And if I am truly to die regardless, then I will say what I please beforehand.”

“Your magic,” the Duke said, changing the subject. “Demonstrate for me.”

Janus couldn’t help but be taken aback by the statement, and it was the first thing that pierced his unaffected mask. But he was quick to repair it. “My deepest apologies; these ropes drain my measly mana.”

The Duke nodded as he stood off the tree and led Janus back through the camp to the prison wagons, where the guarding knights stiffened as they approached. “Remove his bonds,” the Duke ordered. The knights were confused, but they were quick to free Janus’ wrists anyway. 

“Recover your measly mana ,” The Duke mocked. “I’ll ask for another demonstration tomorrow.”

~~~~

It was a test. Janus knew that well. Evidently, the Duke knew exactly what Janus’ skillset was- and yet he had more or less left Janus to his own devices. Sure, he was still behind the wagon’s bars and surrounded by knights, but that meant nothing. The mana he had regained by the time they were moving in the morning was more than enough for him to transform and escape. He could simply morph into a bird and take flight to a place where he’d never be seen again. That is, if he could avoid the archers. He could become a fly. He couldn’t get far or fly long, but he could lose them- but for how long? He could wait until they took him out of the wagon again, and become a horse and start sprinting- but the knights had their own horses. He could wait and then become a bear and maul them all on his way out, but there were too many to take them down. And even if he did get away, then what? The Empire had already taken over the Kingdom. And all nobility was being watched. It wouldn't take long for the commoners to realize that a person amongst them had a different level and different kind of education than they did. He would need to be constantly moving, constantly changing faces to survive- and he wasn't sure how long that would last. This was a test. 

A test to see if Janus would take the bait off of its silver spoon, or if he would place his life in the hands of another. Especially when there was no proof that the Duke would allow him to live. Maybe he had sparked enough interest to save his life, but if he had, he’d still have to deal with a target on his back for the rest of his life. To keep himself breathing, he would need to let go of all ego and pride and do whatever he was asked forever- he’d have to go back to the way he was before his father spared him that first glance. Back to craving- needing that attention so badly that it hurt without it. This form of survival was one he had already led, and perhaps he could do it again now that he had learned from his mistakes... Or maybe it would end just the same. But, of course, this was all dependent on what the Duke intended to do with him. Because, quite frankly, it was far more likely that the man was the type to play with his prey before slitting its throat. 

Removing his bonds was a test—a test for the Duke to see Janus’s character. And yet, even though he knew himself best, Janus wasn’t sure what the correct answer was. 

His mind had been racing, running through possibilities to the point it exhausted him, yet Janus stayed put. He ignored his siblings' questioning as they also begged him to remove their bonds. While Janus still wasn't sure about running, he knew that freeing others—even the small children—would only end badly for everyone involved. 

After dinner of the same stale bread, Janus found himself being marched through the knight’s camp once more. The Duke was once again eating with his men, but upon noticing Janus, he rose and led Janus away from the rest. 

“Show me,” he said simply once they were alone. 

Janus’ eyes skimmed the area behind him as the knights, who were at a slight distance, faced the other direction. It seemed they had been ordered to leave them be. 

“Well?”

Janus took a deep breath as he felt the mana pulse within his veins as he focused on his transformation. He focused on his appearance. He needed to be an inch taller, his eyes a hair smaller, and their color to match that piercing blue. He focused on each of his features as he felt his body grow and shift until he looked the Duke in the eye. The Duke didn’t appear surprised as he looked at his own face; instead, he gave a pleased hum as he scanned Janus up and down before he made a small circle around Janus. “It's quite good,” he concluded, standing before Janus once again as he touched his finger to his lips in thought.

Janus mirrored the action as he focused his mana on his vocal cords. “I’m good at what I do.”

There was a glimmer of amusement in that eye, “You can mimic my voice as well?”

“What do you think, Your Grace? Do my parlor tricks, please?”

“They do. But I wouldn’t call them parlor tricks. You can turn into beasts as well, can't you? Show me.”

Janus couldn't hide his slight frown, and glancing behind him again, he unbuttoned his shirt.

“What are you doing?”

Janus removed his shirt as he answered, “Beasts are far larger than we are. I would prefer not to rip my only clothes.”

“Fine, something smaller then.”

Janus was more than thankful for that. He dropped his shirt to the ground anyway, though, and began to morph his limbs and digits to fit what was needed. He forced himself not to make any sounds of pain as his face rearranged itself; he needed to impress. When he had finished, he took a step out of his now discarded pants and gave a stretch. 

“A cat,” The Duke nodded as he examined Janus. “Do you intend to maul me with your puny claws?”

“I considered it,” Janus replied.

“You can still speak?”

“In certain conditions.” 

The man paused as he circled Janus once more before reaching out a hand that was now as large as Janus’ face to ruffle the fur on Janus’ head, much to his dismay. Janus pulled back against the contact and gave a cat hiss, but the Duke didn’t seem to mind. “How long does it last?”

“Depends. The further away from my initial form, the harder it is to maintain and the more mana it takes. I also need to maintain a certain level of focus. That’s why I stick to parlor tricks.”

“It's impressive nonetheless. Such magic is nearly unheard of.”

“My mother was of Osteria’s House Altier before she was sent to be my Father’s.”

“Osteria’s lineage magic was indeed top class... Can your mother do the same?”

Janus couldn't help but think that an average person in this situation would feel fear at the thought of potentially putting their mother in harm’s way. Still, rather than that, Janus wondered if he was rendering himself obsolete. “She can, but her mana levels are lower than average,” he lied. Thankfully, the Duke seemed to believe him. 

“You’ll be enough. When we reach the capital, I will need to speak with His Majesty to confirm some things, but I’ll make you a deal once we arrive—one that keeps you alive—and maybe someone else if you behave.”

Janus returned to his clothes and began morphing into his human form. When he had, he pulled himself to his feet and put his shirt back on, asking, “What do you want me to do?”

“For now, all you need to do is keep this conversation and your abilities between us. You’ll need all your mana conserved for when we arrive.”

With that, the Duke made it clear that there was nothing more to be said as he began to lead the way back they had come because he knew Janus would follow. They walked in silence for a while, but just before they came into earshot of the knights watching the prisoners, Janus spoke, “I know nothing of the curse’s workings. Only that the war with Osteria served to-”

“I believe you,” The Duke interrupted. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not useful to me. I’ll see you soon enough, Prince Ekans.”

~~~~

All Chapters

[myocsfanfictions]

Safe Heaven - TWD Season 3

The Walking Dead Fanfiction

They had to leave the farm, and this time, they had to be on the road for seven months. Sarah and Nicki can not help but wonder and pray to find a new place. A place where they and their new family could start a life, maybe in peace, maybe forever. Does a safe heaven really exist in a world like the one they are facing?

MASTERLIST

《 Previous - Next 》

Chapter 3

SARAH

“And where’d ya go from here?” Daryl’s question made Sarah look at him in frustration. Rick had sent Daryl, Sarah, Maggie, and Glenn to look for more supplies while he went to find more gas.

They had been on the road for five months. Sarah had thought that time would make it easier, but it didn’t. They were all tired, scared, and disappointed that they couldn’t find a place to stay.

The best place they had found was a house in the middle of nowhere. They managed to sleep two nights there before a herd of walkers passed nearby. The house was large enough to fit all of them, but the doors weren’t strong enough. They could never have held back that many walkers, so they had to leave and get back on the road.

Lori’s baby was growing, and after five months, she was starting to show. Sarah was very worried about her, like everyone else. The woman was holding it together, and Sarah was impressed by her strength. The thought of pregnancy was already daunting with all the help of modern medicine, but in this situation, Sarah was terrified for her. She felt deeply for her, especially seeing how Rick had distanced himself from her. Their relationship was on the brink after Shane. And for that same reason, even Lori's relationship with her son was strained.

Sarah and the others did everything they could to support the Grimes, trying to make them feel less alone. But the weight of their situation was heavy on the group.

"I don't like this game, Daryl," she complained as he approached her with his crossbow in hand.

"Not a game," he answered, shaking his head, "I got ya here, ya got me back. That's the deal."

Sarah glared at him with a little smile, "I don't remember a deal."

Daryl and Sarah often went on supply runs together. That time allowed them to get to know each other better. Daryl was no longer harsh; he spoke softly and gently. And Sarah liked those moments when they were alone, talking and smiling. Each conversation seemed to draw them closer, and she felt more at ease with him than ever before. Daryl was teaching her so many things, and with him by her side, her fear of the walkers felt less overwhelming. He had become protective of everyone, and that included her.

However, Daryl was frustrated by Sarah’s poor sense of direction and wanted to help her improve. But Sarah didn’t enjoy those lessons. No matter how many times he tried to help her, she just couldn’t get it right, and that made her feel stupid.

"Ya need ta learn," he spoke softly, looking at her. "Where is the meeting point with Glenn and Maggie?"

Sarah looked at the deserted street, the remnants of that town in ruins, swallowed by silence. Broken windows and peeling paint created an unsettling atmosphere while rusted cars sat abandoned, their metal bodies slowly succumbing to rust.

Daryl turned to her, his expression serious. “It’s not just about following the road. You have to--"

"Pay attention to your surroundings,” Sarah repeated, repeating the words he had already told her many times. "I did," she assured him, looking up at him. "But..."

She stood there. She had been walking in the streets for two hours, but everything felt foreign and confusing. On the right side, she noticed an old diner, and the sign was now on the ground. She had not noticed it before. So, probably, they had to turn left, but there was a park overrun with tall grass and wildflowers. Sarah was not sure they had walked near a park, either. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach; she had no idea how to find her way back to their camp.

“I… I don’t know...” she admitted, feeling frustration and embarrassment washed over her.

Daryl sighed, sensing her struggle. “Okay, let’s take it slow. We've got time."

"I'm completely hopeless," she complained, her voice laced with self-doubt. "And you know it."

“Ya need ta learn, Sarah,” Daryl replied, searching her gaze. “What if ya got lost

"I'm always with someone," she answered, trying to lighten the mood, but Daryl shook his head, his expression serious.

“Ain't an answer.”

"You'll find me," she insisted, her tone soft.

“Ya can’t count on that,” he replied, his brow furrowed, but his gaze softened as he took in her confidence.

“Yeah, I can,” she said with a little nod. If there was something she was sure of, it was that Daryl Dixon would have always helped her. She knew she could trust him. But she noticed the worry in his eyes. Daryl was trying to help her for her safety. That made her want to give it a try again. She didn't want him to worry about her.

As she looked around, something caught her eye—a weathered sign for an old gas station partially hidden by overgrown weeds. “Wait… I remember that sign!” she exclaimed, her heart racing. "We passed it earlier. I noticed it when we separated from Glenn." She looked up at Daryl, who was observing the direction she had been pointing at. Sarah was waiting for his response with hope, and she giggled happily when she saw him smirk.

"Is it right?" she asked, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Is it?" Daryl finally nodded.

"We came from there, yeah." Her smile beamed, but it quickly faded when he added, "How do we get there?" Her puzzled expression must have amused him, as he snorted and shook his head.

"Relax," he said, his tone reassuring. "Ya did yer job for today." He then turned to walk away. Sarah watched him with wide eyes.

"You're so mean," she teased, quickening her pace to catch up to him.

She followed him through the empty streets. They met some walkers on the way, but they were very few and Daryl was quick to put them down silently with his arrows. It felt strange. Sarah was still worried about the walkers, how could she not be? They roamed every street. They appeared out of no where, alone, or in herds. But now she did not felt like panicking when she saw one or two walking far from them. She was wary, and would never take her eyes from their frame, but once she would have run the other way. It was a strange feeling. And she shared it with her sister.

“I see them slow,” Nicki had told her one night, as they were taking watch. “Have they always been that slow?”

Sarah looked at her sister. On Nicki’s face had appeared a frown, but Sarah could relate. “I know what you mean,” she answered putting a log in the fire in front of them. “They seemed so fast once.”

They stood silent for a moment. “Is it a good thing? Or bad?” Nicolette asked.

That was a good question. Nicki had always been inquisitive and smart. And it was very difficult to keep things hidden from her. She had understood many things about Shane even before Sarah had the chance to observe him. And she was sure that her sister knew how Sarah hated for her to grow up in that world.

“For now if it keeps you alive, I’m good with anything.”

Being on the road was difficult and tiring. The winter was almost over, and Sarah could not wait for it. Sleeping on the ground with the cold was almost impossibile, they all had to sleep next to each other because they could not make a fire too big, since the walkers were attracted by the light. It was easier when they found a place, but it didn’t happened all the time. They caught cold, and sometimes fever, but likely they had found some medicines. They had to find food and clothes and they had to run from the walkers since they couldn’t use too much ammo. It was better to have some available all the time. They could not risk to be out of it.

With all of that, thinking that her sister was getting used to have walkers around was almost a comforting thought.

“They ain’t back yet.” Daryl said as they arrived to the meeting point.

Sarah looked around, hoping to see Glenn and Maggie walk towards them. “You think they are alright?”

Daryl was chewing the inside of his cheek, looking at the ground, probably trying to find some traces, to make sure nothing had happened. “I think they are.” He said.

Sarah nodded, taking a breath. It was always difficult to split up from each other. It was so easy to loose people. She still remembered the farm where they had lost Dale, Andrea, Shane, Patricia and Jimmy in two days. Or the quarry, where they had lost so many people in few minutes. Now they were so few. And that made her even more anxious.

“Hey,” Daryl’s voice took her attention, “Ya said ya were lookin’ for gears for yer stuff.” He said gesturing towards a shop a few meters from them. She smiled when she saw the sign.

“A toy store,” she said, with shining eyes. There were many things that she could use.

“Ya wanna take a look?” He asked looking at her. She had been trying to find more things for her traps and make shift weapons. Especially since they had to leave many of her inventions a few days back since they had almost been overran. She only had the things she had stuffed in her bag, but she was almost over. She really needed new stuff, but she didn’t want to put Daryl in more danger. “We have ta wait anyway.” He said, probably seeing her uncertainty. She looked at him, he seemed relaxed as he observed her waiting for her answer.

“Alright,” she said, finally, “But if at any moment you think we have to ran away we will.”

Daryl nodded with a little smile, “As you wish, ma’am.”

They walked towards the shop. Sarah was no more surprised to see how much dust there was on the shelves, or the darkness that had enveloped the shops, or some shelves being broken. It had became a normal sight, now.

“I can’t see, anything,” Daryl said as he tried to spot walkers inside, then he turned to her, “Use yer magic.”

Sarah smiled as she took the bag from her shoulders. She put it down, opening it to take what she was looking for. The makeshift lure was a battered plastic bottle, once vibrant with a colorful label, now faded and stained from days of exposure. Inside, it contained a mix of small metal washers and gravel, creating a cacophony of clinks and clatters with every shake. Sarah then got up, as Daryl walked towards the door to open it for her. They both had their knives in hand when Sarah made a step inside, shaking the bottle in her hand. Then she stopped to hear if there was something. Then she did it again for a couple of times and finally they heard a growl. Daryl and Sarah shared a look, before the girl took a led bracelet from her pockets, cracked it to make it glow and put it around the bottle. The growl was closer, so Sarah throw the bottle on the other side of the shop from where she and Daryl were. The bottle rolled on the ground making noise. It was easy to make the walker follow the noises since everything was so quiet.

From one of the corridors appeared a walker. It was a woman. Sarah wondered if she had died there, or if she had entered once she turned. The walker followed the noise and the light around the bottle took its attention, so that she and Daryl went completely unnoticed.

Daryl looked at her for a moment, before aiming his crossbow at the walker, shooting it in the head. As the arrow hit the walker, it fall limp on the ground. Sarah turned to Daryl with a satisfied look, seeing him eyeing her.

“Ya’re smart, girl,” he said, stepping toward the walker to retrieve the arrow and the bottle.

Sarah felt a blush creep up her cheeks at his compliment, but she shrugged it off. “It’s not difficult to outsmart brainless creatures.” Their eyes met when he handed her the items back.

“Ya should give yerself more credit,” he replied, their fingers brushing briefly. For a moment, their gaze lingered before Daryl stepped back, adjusting the crossbow on his shoulder and looking anywhere but at her.

“So,” he said, clearing his throat, “What do ya need?”

What’s happening? she asked herself, not for the first time.

“Umm… yes,” she answered, turning slightly, hoping he hadn’t noticed her blush. “Marbles, springs, jump ropes—Lego too, if you find any.”

“A’right,” he said, nodding. “I’ll take this alley.” Sarah smiled, feeling a warmth spread inside her. “Call me if ya need.”

“Will do,” she replied, trying to ignore the racing of her heart.

Every time she was with Daryl, her heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest. It was strange how just a glance or a brush of their hands could make her cheeks flush. I

It was strange, and each time he was near, she found herself studying him, captivated by the way he moved and the lines of his face.

As he walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting within her toward him, and the realization made her pulse race.

It had been a good idea to scavenge in that shop. Sarah had found many useful items for her makeshift traps—marbles for creating sound bait, a whistle, and several spring toys she could modify for her purposes. Daryl had discovered jump ropes, tape, and a handful of LED sticks.

“Check it out,” Daryl said, a hint of pride in his voice as he showed her a plastic bag filled with colorful Lego pieces.

“Thank you so much!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she tucked it into her backpack.

He shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “The lady asked.”

“Such a gentleman,” she teased, unable to hide her own smile. They stood in a comfortable silence for a moment, and again her cheeks blushed again. But then, fortunately, Daryl’s gaze shifted behind her.

Sarah turned to see Glenn and Maggie approaching, relief flooding her. “There they are!” she said, letting out a happy sigh.

“Ya got everythin’?” Daryl asked from behind her. When she nodded, he stepped past her. "A'right, let's go then."

As they moved to join their friends, Sarah felt a warmth spread through her, something unfamiliar and exhilarating. What was that all about? She had never felt this way with Glenn, despite the time they had spent together. These feelings were not entirely foreign, though. She remembered blushing and feeling awkward around her ex-boyfriend Peter when their friendship began to shift toward something more.

But this is not possible, she thought to herself as she observed Daryl walking ahead. She could not have developed feelings for Daryl Dixon.

She shook her head slightly, trying to dismiss the flutter in her chest. This was Daryl. He was her friend, had protected her many times, and had become a person she really relied on.

It was not possible. I don't have a crush on Daryl, she said to herself.

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

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[specialagentlokitty]

Mr Evershed x Student!reader - things that help

If you'd like please could you write a Mr. Evershed x ADHD student reader. R was doing their work quietly but using a fidget in their non dominant hand, writing with their dominant one. But a teacher, could be a substitute doesn't like it so they take the fidget toy away. R gets mad and tells them to give it back, that it helps them focus but teacher refuses and sends them to the head teacher Mr. Evershed and he gets mad and advocates for R since R advocating for themselves didn't work. And R gets an apology and their fidget back. Happy ending. - Anon💜

Flicking through the pages of the workbook in front of you, you messed with the fidget cube in your hand as you focused on the writing in front of you.

It was a pretty straightforward task, just read through the paragraph and answer the questions on the back of the page.

Shrugging, you wrote for the first answer and began to read through the questions.

“Put the toy away.”

You looked up from your book and furrowed your brows a little in confusion.

“I’m sorry miss, I need it. It helps me focus when I work.”

“And I don’t want toys in my classroom.” She snapped.

A few other students looked up front their work, curious about how the scene was going to play out.

She reached out and grabbed the cube from your hand and you immediately stood up, trying to grab it back but she put it in her pocket.

“Oi that’s stealing!” Someone yelled.

“Give it back!”

She walked back a few steps and you stood on your chair.

“Get down and do your work you’ll get it back at the end of the lesson.” She snapped.

You narrowed your eyes a little.

“Give it back now!”

“Keep arguing I’ll send you to the head teacher.”

“I don’t care! I need that! It helps me, it lets me focus on my work! I’ve got ADHD!”

“If you can focus with this you can focus without it.” She replied.

She gestured for you to get down and you jumped down from your chair, picking up your workbook you looked at her and threw it across the classroom.

“Right! Go! Mr Evershed office!” She yelled.

You growled a little, picking up your bag you barged past her and slammed the door shut as lout of you possibly could.

Storming down the hallways, you stopped and looked up at the receptionist who turned around from where she was looking at whatever meeting was going on.

“Is he in?” You huffed.

“He’s in a meeting love, just have a seat, I’ll let him know your here.”

Nodding, you sat down, pulling some paper from your bag you made paper airplanes, tossing them over to Loraine who smiled and made a little line of them on her desk.

When you ran out of paper, you leant back and sprawled across all of the chairs.

“You’ll fall laying like that love, sit up, come on.” Loraine chuckled.

“Why? No one else needs to sit down.”

“Because if they do they can’t cause you’re in the way.”

You rolled your eyes and carried on staring up at the ceiling, messing with one of the keychains on the keys in your blazer pocket.

You weren’t sure how long you were laid there waiting, but you were getting pretty bored and you wanted to go.

“(Y/N) that’s not how we sit in chairs.”

You turned your head and sat up as you watched the head teacher come out, showing the people he was in a meeting with out the reception doors before turning back to you.

He gestured for you to come with him, so you did, and you started to wonder about his office.

“I got the email.” He said.

“Gonna tell me off? Because if you are in just gonna go.”

“Woah, okay, calm down alright? Take a seat, let’s talk about this.”

“Why? What’s the point! Not like anyone in this stupid school listens…” you grumbled.

Mr Evershed sighed and stood up, walking around he sat on the edge of his desk.

“Well that’s what I’m here for (Y/N), to listen. So talk to me yeah? We can figure this out.”

You carried on pacing.

“Right, where’s your cube, is it in your bag?”

He knew the cube helped you, it offered you a distraction and gave you something else to focus on.

“No the bitch took it!” You snapped.

“Woah, okay.”

Mr Evershed got up and walked over to you, planting his hands on your shoulders to get you to stop pacing and you turned your attention to him.

He could see you were frustrated, annoyed.

“Right, you need to calm down. Come on, sit down.”

He led you over to one of the chairs and sat you down on it, and he went back to sitting on the edge of his desk.

You explained the situation to him, letting him hear your side of events and how everything had gone down.

“Did you tell her what it’s for?” He asked.

“I tried! She won’t listen! No one ever listens in this stupid school!”

You stood up again, knocking over the chair and you grabbed your bag going to walk out.

You nearly reached the door but he stopped you, holding his hand out so you couldn’t walk through the door.

“I’m listening, alright? I’m listening to you, I just need you to calm down, come on. Can you do that for me?” He asked.

You free drew a sharp breath, and slowly nodded your head, taking a few steps back as you set your bag in the floor.

“That’s great, perfect. Just take a few minutes and we’ll sort it, right?”

You nodded your head again and took a few deep breaths in order to calm your temper, and after a few minutes you look at him.

“Calm?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good, pick up the chair.”

You picked up the chair and he handed you his bag and held the door open for you and you stepped out, standing in the hallway.

“Where we going sir?” You asked.

“To get you that cube back, come on, let’s go.”

He started to walk down the hallway and you jogged after him, trying catch up to him and you matched his stride as he walked towards the classroom you had been kicked out off.

He placed a hand on your shoulder.

“Wait here.”

You nodded and he walked into the classroom, pulling the teacher outside and she crossed her arms as she looked at you.

“It’s not the end of the class yet.”

You stepped forward but he held a hand up, telling you to stop so you did.

“Taking items of a student? We’re a school not a prison! Give it back now.”

The substitute teacher scoffed and shook her head.

“Are we really going to do this? Give the cube back.”

“Why? It’s a distraction! Maybe if they weren’t playing with stupid toys they would be able to focus.”

Mr Evershed shook his head.

“They have ADHD! It’s something they need in order to help them focus, I’ve seen it work, so has every other teacher in this school so you’re going to give the cube back.”

The woman scoffed and dug through her pockets and slammed the cube into his hand and he passed it back to you, giving you a small smile.

Then he turned back to the teacher.

“This is not the kind of approach to teaching we’ll tolerate here at Ackley bridge college. Every student deserves a chance, deserves to have whatever helps them focus. Whether it’s a fidget cube, a fidget spinner, a time out card. All students deserve a fighting chance.”

“It’s a distraction!”

“It’s a clutch! It’s a clutch, something to help ground them when they’re having a tough day or they’re just finding it hard to focus.”

You stood behind Mr Evershed, messing with the fidget cube as you bounced up and down on the balls of your feet.

“They threw a book!”

“And they’ll be adequately punished for it but the next time you treat any of my students like that I’ll make sure this is the last damn teaching job you have.” He warned.

The teacher slowly nodded her head.

“Now, apologise to them.”

“I’m sorry.”

She gave you a fake smile and you gave one back.

“And I’m sorry that book missed your head.”

Mr Evershed placed a hand on your head and pushed you away a little bit.

“Now go back in there and give those students some respect.”

He made sure the teacher left and he turned his attention back to you.

“Seriously?”

“What? I mean it.”

He shook his head and walked over, placing a hand on your shoulder as he gestured for you to start walking so you did.

He took you back to his office and you sat down.

“You will be having detention for you behaviour you understand that right?” He asked.

“Of course.”

He smiled and nodded his head, telling you to wait the rest of the lesson in his office before you could go to your next lesson.

It was quiet, and you stared up at the ceiling.

“Sir?”

“(Y/N)?”

You turned your attention to him.

“Thank you… for listening…”

He smiled.

“It’s what we’re here for.” He smiled

[whump-me]

Whumptober Day 28: "You'll have to go through me."

This is a standalone story in my original Mind Games universe, a modern-day sci-fi/fantasy thriller setting about ordinary humans with superhuman abilities and the people who want to use or destroy them. Full description in my Whumptober masterpost, which is linked in my pinned post.

This story contains: minor whump, parent death, brothers, protectiveness, emotional whump, implied future lab whump

Words: 1800

---

The two brothers lay under the bed together, jammed as far back against the wall as they could go. Danny knew hiding under the bed was a stupid idea. They had learned that in school last year—if someone breaks into your house, never hide under the bed, because that’s the first place they’ll look. His mom had written a letter to the school after that assembly had given him nightmares for a week. But the lesson had stuck.

Never hide under the bed.

But when the strange men had come to the door and their parents had ordered them—pale-faced and tight-voiced—to go upstairs and hide, Tyler had gone under his bed first thing. Tyler was only in kindergarten. He hadn’t had that assembly yet.

What was Danny supposed to do, leave his brother alone? And he hadn’t been able to coax him out. Mom and Dad said hide, Tyler had insisted, his face paler than his parents had been. So here Danny was, in the worst hiding place in the house, trying to angle his body so he was between his younger brother and the door.

Dust flew up his nose. He held his breath to suppress a sneeze. Didn’t Tyler ever clean under here?

“It’s quiet,” Tyler whispered.

He was right. There weren’t any noises from downstairs anymore. There had been yelling at first, when his parents had ordered the strangers out of their house. The strangers hadn’t yelled. Their voices had stayed perfectly soft and even, which seemed worse to Danny somehow, although he couldn’t figure out why. Then there had been a series of crashes, like everything in the living room had gone flying through the air at once and landed hard.

Then there had been two bangs.

The men would have heard Tyler’s screams all the way from downstairs if Danny hadn’t clapped a hand over his mouth. Danny had wanted to scream, too, but he hadn’t let himself. Just like he wouldn’t let himself think about what those bangs had been, even though he knew. He’d heard that sound on TV. He knew what it meant.

Gunshots.

“Why’s it so quiet?” Tyler continued. “Does it mean we can come out now?”

Danny shushed him. “It means it’ll be easier for them to hear us if we make noise, dummy. Keep your mouth shut.”

“Why aren’t Mom and Dad yelling anymore? Do you think the men left?”

No, Danny didn’t think the men had left. He thought his parents were dead. But if he thought too hard about that, he would start screaming and never stop.

“Shut up,” he hissed.

Tyler’s lower lip wobbled.

Danny found Tyler’s hand in the dark. He squeezed it. “It’s going to be okay,” he promised. “I’ll protect you. But you have to be quiet, all right?”

Then a faint noise broke the silence. Footsteps on the stairs, coming closer.

Danny tensed. He squeezed Tyler’s hand harder.

The footsteps were too soft. Like the men were trying to be quiet. They knew someone was up here, then. They knew someone was listening.

“Who are they?” Tyler whispered. “What do they want?”

The door creaked open.

Danny clapped his hand over Tyler’s mouth again. He was afraid Tyler would make a noise of protest, or try to squirm away. But fear or common sense kept Tyler quiet and frozen in place.

Danny knew the answer to Tyler’s question, or at least part of it. His parents had told him last year, when they had decided he was old enough to know. His mom had powers, like something out of a comic book. She could move objects with her mind. She had shown him, lifting the TV remote off the coffee table and sailing into her open hand while he watched with his mouth agape.

His dad didn’t have powers. But both his dad’s parents had. His Grandma Johnson, who he’d never met, could read minds, and Grandpa Johnson, who was in a nursing home now, could heal wounds with a touch. That meant Danny’s dad probably had the gene that made it possible to develop a power like theirs, even though he had never gotten one. Danny wasn’t entirely sure what genes were or how they worked. He had just thought it was unlucky that his dad hadn’t gotten a power like his parents.

The important part, his dad had told him, was that this all meant he and Tyler probably had the gene, too. It might never activate in them, he had said. It would be luckier if it didn’t. Danny hadn’t seen why not getting a power would be lucky, until his parents had told him the rest. How there were people out there who want to control people like them, and use them for what they could do. Especially kids young enough to be taught to work for them.

Danny used to dream about being a superhero. He would go to sleep imagining he would wake up with laser eyes, or maybe the ability to fly. But not after that conversation. Now he hoped he never got a power of his own.

More than that, he hoped Tyler never did.

He had thought not having powers meant they would be safe.

The footsteps paused. Gleaming black boots stopped beside the bed. Danny held his breath. He could still hear Tyler’s breathing, rough and terrified and much too loud.

There’s nobody under here, Danny thought as hard as he could. There’s nobody here.

Maybe his frantic thoughts would have had some effect if he’d had a power of his own, like telepathy or mind control. But he didn’t.

The legs in front of the bed crouched down. Thick, meaty hands came into view next. Fat fingers quested under the bed. Then a face appeared, square and ugly with hard gray eyes.

The man locked eyes with Danny. He smiled. The smile didn’t reach his cold eyes.

“There you are,” he said.

Danny tried to block Tyler’s vision. But it was too late. When Danny looked over his shoulder at his brother, Tyler’s eyes were locked on the man.

Tyler screamed.

Danny clutched Tyler’s hand as hard as he could. “It’s okay,” he said over and over. “It’s okay. I won’t let them hurt you.”

Then those meaty hands grabbed Danny by the ankle and pulled. “It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay…” he said frantically, until his last shreds of bravery evaporated and his words turned into pleas. “Don’t hurt me, please, don’t… don’t hurt my brother…”

The man dragged him feet-first out from under the bed. Danny tried to let go of Tyler’s hand. But Tyler wouldn’t let go. He slid inexorably across the dusty carpet toward the man who had hold of Danny.

“Let go,” Danny urged his brother. “Let go—run—”

The urgent command in his voice must have broken through Tyler’s fear. Tyler let go of his hand and scrambled sideways toward the foot of the bed. He made a low, keening noise in his throat as he crawled out from under the bed and toward the door.

The man holding Danny’s ankle let go, muttering a word Danny definitely wasn’t allowed to say. He reached the door in two long strides. He stood with his legs wide, blocking the only exit.

He hauled Tyler up by one arm. With the other, he pulled something from his pocket.

“No!” Danny’s fearful pleas dissolved into a yell of pure outrage. “No, don’t—let him go—”

The man jabbed a syringe into the flailing Tyler’s neck.

Tyler's frantic movements slowed, then stopped. His eyelids drooped. His head sagged to his chin. Then he was suddenly, horribly still.

The man dropped him to the floor like an overfull backpack. Only the faint rise and fall of Tyler’s chest let Danny know his brother was still alive.

The man turned toward Danny again.

Danny scrambled to his feet. Maybe he could run if he was quick enough. But he looked down at Tyler’s still form and knew he couldn’t.

He planted himself between the man and his brother, his hands balled into tiny fists. His heartbeat thundered his ears.

“Protective,” the man grunted. “Cute.”

He pulled another syringe from his pocket.

Danny didn’t see the man’s arm move. He only felt the sharp bite of the needle in his neck, like a bee sting. Then a long, slow fall into nothingness.

* * *

Danny woke in a room that looked like a hospital. The walls were white, the sheets crisp and clean-smelling. A machine next to his bed beeped softly and rhythmically. The room smelled like medicine and bleach.

A man in a white coat sat in a chair by the foot of his bed. He had a folder open on his lap and was paging through the sheets inside one by one, with occasional soft grunts of concentration.

Danny tried to sit up. Something pressed on his chest, like a giant hand holding him down. He tried to move his arms to push the pressure away, but they wouldn’t move either.

He lifted his head up as high as he could to see. His chest and legs were strapped down. His wrists and ankles were attached to the bed with… were those handcuffs?

Danny gave a faint, involuntary whimper of fear.

Then a sudden realization, which brought a deeper fear with it, froze the sound in his throat.

There was only one bed.

Tyler wasn’t here.

He strained against the straps, rattling the handcuffs against the sides of the metal bed. “Tyler?” His voice was weak. “Tyler! Where are you?”

The man looked up. He smiled at Danny.

Like the man who had brought him here, the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Hello, Danny,” he said. “We’re so glad to have you with us.”

“Where’s my brother?” Danny demanded. “Where is he?”

“He’s with us now, just like you,” the doctor said. “You don’t need to worry about him anymore. We’re taking good care of him, I promise.”

“I want to see him.” If this man had strapped his little brother to a hospital bed, if he had handcuffed him, Danny would… he would punch him. Right in the nose.

“Focus on yourself,” the doctor urged. “You’re here so we can make you stronger. Strong like a superhero. A real one. Do you like that idea?”

“Strong like a superhero,” he repeated. The gene his parents said he had, the one that could give him powers. These men could make it activate. Was that why they had taken him?

He used to dream of being a superhero, and saving the innocent. Little old ladies. Cats up trees. Now there was only one person he wanted to save.

Tyler.

If he was stronger, if he had a power of his own, maybe he could rescue his brother.

No. He would rescue his brother. No matter how long it took.

He nodded. “I want to be a superhero,” he said. “Make me strong.”

---

Tagged: @cakeinthevoid @gala1981

Ask to be added or removed from my Whumptober 2023 taglist.

[thegreatobsesso]

Word find tag (smile, cry, laugh)

Thanks for the tag, @winterandwords​; oof, these are doozies. 😅🤩

smile

Simon POV

“Keys, of course.” Grace held her own up from where it dangled around her neck; the blue stone flashed in the daylight. “What else?” 

Flora still looked unconvinced. “How many are you planning to make?” 

This was the best part. 

Arguably, also the worst part. 

“About five thousand?” he ventured, pressing on through the sound of Ken nearly choking. “Enough for everyone at all six schools to start using them all at once. Imagine: suppression, nationwide, simply stops working, with no explanation. If that doesn’t make a statement, I don’t know what does.” He allowed himself a smile. “No one gets hurt. There’s no war. All that happens is, the world sees we’re not going away. That magic’s insuppressible.” 

Behind him, Callie lashed her magic across the piano from left to right, sending an escalating cacophony of notes tearing through the room before jamming her pinkie finger into the thing’s rightmost key in joyous punctuation.

cry

Callie POV

The magic shifted almost imperceptibly, its taste changed; physical magic like hers, like Peter’s, but frightening in its precision, the way it clung to her muscles and left her brain free to cry in protest as Riley pulled her gently from the bed. 

No, she tried to say. No, no, no. She felt feverish; the robe clung to her clammy skin but whether it was from the bath or her fear, she couldn’t say. Riley took one of Callie’s hands in her own and held it out, away from their bodies; she took Callie’s other hand and placed it on her shoulder, smiling when it stuck there. 

“My mother made me take ballroom dancing lessons when I was a kid. Amazing,” she hummed thoughtfully, low in her throat, “how all that muscle memory sticks with you. Have you ever done it? Nod yes or no.” 

The bonds around her head and neck loosened a fraction but she didn’t use the temporary freedom, refused to give Riley the satisfaction until- 

“I asked you a question,” Riley said softly, her voice laced with a different kind of magic. “Answer me.” 

The answer was no and to her chagrin, her head moved side-to-side to indicate it. Riley smiled - just a hint, a subtle pleasure at a tiny victory. 

Acid rose in her throat and she closed her eyes. Even if she had to feel it, she didn’t have to look. Riley’s hand, soft on her waist; her own feet moving over the tile. Riley led, and she followed. 

laugh

Simon POV

“It isn’t like nothing happened,” he said calmly. “Everything that’s happened is always there, it colors every moment I spend with her, Rich. And so does everything that’s happened since then. I know this sounds trite, but it’s complicated.” 

“Are you fucking her?” 

“What?” 

“You heard me, are you fucking her?” 

“No, I’m not,” he said flatly, amazed at how quickly his brother’s tone changed back - mean and simple again. “And you know what? If I was it’d be none of your business.” 

“I’m just tryin’ to understand how you could be so stupid, bro.” 

“I don’t have to be fucking somebody to show compassion!” 

Rich made a noise on the other end of the line – somewhere between a cough and a laugh, a hard sound that signaled the impending shutdown of the whole conversation.

They weren’t going to fix anything this round. Maybe next time. Maybe not. 

Tagging @harps-for-days, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @diphthongsfordays and @cilly-the-writer with the new words fire, water, air, and user’s choice of any word that’s got to do with nature, earth, trees, dirt, or whatever’s in your WIP for the last element :D