#yes i did cover part of his legs to hide stuff

[nabhx]

Cutely crawls out of a seemingly bottomless pit to post my first finished drawing before the month ends but it's not my fault-

Featuring Nyx from Rebel Fairies and Rogue Wizards because when I said "Nah I don't think Duman ever had actual siblings" I should've mentioned she's like the biggest exception I can't stress it enough. Nyx isn't this young in the fic but those are details that I will not take into account

The day I start showing the same amount of love for my own winx OCs as I do for those of others, it's over for you bitches

[entitled-fangirl]

Two idiots in love (P2)

Joel Miller x anemic!reader

Summary: the three survivors try to find the supplies they left behind. The two lovebirds bond over the reader passing out.

Words: 2,135

Warnings: anemia, cursing, passing out, lots of bickering

Part 1 and Part 3

Masterlist <3

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She woke up long after Joel had gotten up. 

So, she didn't see the way he held her in their sleep. Or the slight smile on his face as he slumbered.

But Ellie did.

Now, the three were packed up, and ready to continue their journey.

They walked along a gravel road, gravel crunching under their feet being the only sound they could hear in the forest. 

"Have you gone this way a lot? No infected?" Ellie asked.

Joel was in a much calmer mood today, his voice soft, but his body still very much tense, his eyes scanning the area constantly, "Not a lot, no."

"What are you looking for?"

"People."

More silence. 

Joel started to notice Y/N taking smaller, slower steps. Her lungs expanded more than his. It was hard to keep up with his long strides, regardless of her illness. Joel was very long-legged, and the two girls were very much not.

But Joel's head turned to see her slowly fall behind. 

He looked forward once more, his steps naturally slowing until she was next to him again.

"Oh.... thank you, Joel."

He turned, "…You doing alright?"

She nodded, "Yeah, I feel okay."

He rests a hand on her shoulder, "Then don't thank me."

More silence.

The silence could be nice, if you made it so. Y/N certainly enjoyed it. It meant she could focus on her breathing and not the constant bickering of the teen and her partner.

Her smuggling partner.

But, as usual, Ellie broke the silence again.

"Are Bill and Frank nice?"

Y/N nodded her head, Joel answering, "Frank is."

"How'd you get that scar on your head?"

Joel let out a sigh, causing Ellie to smile.

"What? Is it something lame? Like you feel down the stairs or something?"

Y/N looked over Joel, "Ellie…"

"I didn't fall down any stairs."

"Okay, so what then?"

"Someone shot at me and missed."

"See, that's cool. You shoot back?"

"Yeah."

"You get him?"

Another sigh comes from Joel, "No, I missed, too. It happens more often than you think."

"'Cause you suck at shooting or, like, in general?"

Y/N stepped in again, "Hey…"

Joel looked over to Ellie with a glare, "…in general."

More silence.

Y/N got a smirk on her face, "Be glad that they both missed."

Ellie immediately moved to walk by Y/N instead, interested in her story, "…what? What do you mean?"

Joel sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, the other hand kept on his gun holster. 

Y/N leaned in towards Ellie, "…why do YOU think, Ellie? You're a smart girl."

Ellie thought for a while before a huge grin appeared on her face. She pointed back and forth between Y/N and Joel, "You mean… you two… and that…?"

Y/N let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. Yeah, we did."

"That's so fucking cool! See, Joel? That's not lame, that's cool as fuck!"

Joel grunted, his voice dropping slightly, "I'm glad me almost fucking killing her is cool to you, kid."

Y/N grabbed Ellie's arm, giving her a small wink.

Ellie noticed the two different guns in Joel's holsters. "With it just being us, I was thinking I should pro-"

"No."

Y/N let out a breath, holding back a laugh. Laughing would slow her down- slow them all down. She was the weak link. She couldn't let things get the best of her. 

More silence.

…

"Cumberland Farms."

The three approached an old convenience store, the building covered in vines and broken cement.

Joel turned around to look at Ellie, "Hang back a minute. I gotta grab some stuff I stashed."

Ellie's head tilted, "Stashed? Why do you have stuff stashed here?"

"You ask a lot of goddamn questions."

"Yes, yes I do."

Joel opened the door, poking his head in to check for people.

"…so…. Are you gonna answer me or what?"

Joel sighs again, "We hide supplies on routes in case we find ourselves short on gear, which I currently am 'cause-"

"-No way!"

Ellie immediately runs in, approaching a mortal combat arcade machine. "You ever play this one? I had a friend who knew everything about this game."

Joel tugged at Y/N, pulling her to one of the tables, pushing on it to ensure it was strong, "Sit. You need to rest."

She huffed, pulling her self up to sit on the table, her legs swinging as she watched the girl.

"…there's this one character named Mileena who takes off her mask and she has monster teeth and then she swallows you whole and barfs out your bones! Oh, man."

The two girls turn their head when Joel kicks at a rack.

Ellie sighs, "You forgot where you put your stuff."

Joel looked up, "No, I'm just zeroing in on it. It's been a couple of years."

"Okay, well… I'm gonna take a look around, see if there's anything good."

"Trust me, it's all been picked over already."

Ellie's feet crunch over the glass on the ground, "Maybe, maybe not."

Joel pushes on one of the aisles against the wall.

Ellie moves further away from the two, "Is there anything bad in here?"

"Just you."

"Getting funnier."

Ellie then goes to the back part of the store, away from Joel and Y/N.

Joel mutters a quiet, "Fuck."

Y/N pushes herself off the table, moving towards him to help.

He looks up, "No. No, you go back. I'm fine."

She sighs, "I don't think you are."

He stands straight, his hands on his hips, "Alright, then, sweet girl, tell me where the fuck we left it?"

"I don't know, Joel. Ju-"

Ellie zones out on their bickering as she starts to get further and further away from them. She pushes on a door, opening it with a loud creak. She kicks at the stuff on the ground, inspecting it with her shoe. Eventually, she finds a trap door. She moves everything off it, opening it slowly.

She hears Joel's voice from the front of the store, "You all right back there?"

She jumps, "Uh, yep!"

She hears the two begin to bicker quietly again, prompting her to continue.

Y/N let out a light sigh, "Listen, Joel. It's been years. The odds that no one has taken our stuff isn't realistic. Let's just forget about it, yeah?"

He shakes his head, not even looking at her, "no. That's not an option."

"Not an option? Joel, everything we're doing now is a fucking option! It's not gonna be here!"

"IT HAS TO BE!"

She steps back from him slightly, an involuntary breath leaving her throat. Her breathing picks up, hurting her lungs. 

His eyes soften at her reaction, his voice dropping again, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I… Fuck."

She puts some distance between them, giving them both room to breathe. "I… what…. What's so important about what you left here, Joel?"

He looks up towards the ceiling, his hands moving back to his hips as he slowed his breathing. His voice became a low whisper, "…it's…. It's for you… your medication…"

Her face became one of surprise, "…what?"

"When… when we left stuff here… I left some of your medication because I knew… fuck, I KNEW something like this would happen and you'd need it."

She was speechless. He came here for her. To get her more medication. "…uh… thank you…"

He nodded, "Don't thank me, honey. Don't thank me yet."

But that moment was quickly interrupted by the sound of an infected's scratchy growl.

The two turned their head towards the noise. 

Ellie.

Joel immediately turned to Y/N, "You're gonna stay here."

She grimaced, but listened anyway.

He pulled out his knife, walking toward where he last saw the girl go. "Ellie…?"

She quickly came through the doorway, "Picked over, my ass."

A breath of relief came from both adults.

…

"Holy shit!"

The two turned to the hill Ellie was looking at, a plane crash's remains laid there, scattered over the land.

"You fly in one of those?"

Joel shrugged, "Few time, sure."

"So lucky."

"Didn't feel like it at the time. Get shoved into a middle seat, pay 12 bucks for a sandwich."

Y/N let out a laugh, Joel turning to her, "What, sweetheart? You find that funny?"

"Fuck yeah, I do."

He felt a smile grow on his face, "Jesus, you're something else."

Ellie jumped back in, "Dude, you got to go up in the sky."

Joel turned back to the crash, "Yeah, well, so did they."

A silence fell over them before Joel grabbed Y/N's wrist, pulling her with him. And they began the grueling walk again.

…

A little while later, Joel puts a hand out in front of both girls, stopping them, "We'll cut across the woods here."

Ellie tilted her head, "Isn't the road easier?"

"Yeah, it's just- There's stuff up there you shouldn't see."

"Well, now I want to."

"I don't want you to."

Ellie began to walk forward, Joel following, "Serious. Ellie."

"You're too honest, man."

Y/N sighed, starting to walk behind them, "Jesus, you two…"

Then she stopped. 

She was losing her vision, "Oh, fuck."

Joel turned immediately, "Hey. Ellie, stop. Sweetheart?"

Y/N brought a hand up to her head, as if it could stop the black clouding her vision.

Joel watched with a worried look in his eye, "You alright?"

She looked up, "I… I don't know…"

She fell to her knees.

"Oh Fuck!" Joel ran to her quickly, squatting down next to her.

Ellie watched the two from afar, not sure how to help.

"Sweetheart. You gotta lay down. C'mon. Lay down."

Y/N let out a groan, not wanting to move in fear of making things worse.

Ellie began to walk towards them, "what's going on? Is she gonna die?"

Joel's voice turned to stone, "SHE'S NOT GONNA FUCKING DIE!"

Ellie stopped walking, deciding to give them privacy.

Joel let out a sigh, his focus entirely on Y/N, "You gotta lay down, Sweetheart."

She sighed, "….help me… please."

Joel didn't need to be asked twice. 

He immediately shrugged off his jacket, getting his plan in motion.

He moved behind her, pushing her torso backwards towards him. He played his jacket on the ground in front of him, right where her back would meet the ground. 

He pulled her hair to the side, letting her head rest on his leg. 

"Alright, honey. How do you feel?"

"I… can't see… anything…"

He sighed, "that's alright. You need to sleep?"

She shook her head, but stopped seeing as it made things worse, "No… I….I'm…. Fine..." She was slowly losing consciousness.

"Shit. Shh…. Just.... Let it happen…."

He held her face with one hand, the other still resting on the gun on his hip in case of an emergency.

…

Half an hour later, her eyes opened to see Joel hadn't moved since she had passed out. One hand still held her jaw, his thumb brushing her skin lightly, but his other had moved to her hair, lightly playing with it. 

She saw Joel give a relieved look before his hands disappeared from her completely. "Oh, thank god. How you feeling, Sweetheart?"

She let out a groan, "achy."

He smiled, "Well, do we need to stop?"

She shook her head, "No. I can do this."

She sat up slowly, letting her body adjust to the feeling. Joel stood up, moving in front of her. He then held out a hand, offering to help her up.

She took it, of course. His other arm snaked around her waist for stability. When he decided she was stable enough, his moved his hands back, letting her adjust the rest of the way herself. 

She leaned forward, whispering in his ear, "…thank you."

He felt a little color come to his cheeks, "Don't thank-"

"Take my fucking gratitude for once, Joel."

He laughed, "Alright. Just this once. You're welcome."

Her head immediately looked around, trying to find Ellie.

She was not too far, her famous shit eating grin on her face. 

Joel knew he wouldn't hear the end of it. "Alright. Get up, Ellie. We go at Y/N's speed, got that?"

Ellie nodded, mumbling under her breath, "Yeah, you do everything her way, don'tcha?"

His head turned, "What the fuck did you just say?"

Her eyes shuffled between the two, "Nothing, sir."

He huffed, beginning to let Y/N take the lead on their walk. 

Ellie caught up with Y/N, "Say… you think you can tell me that story?"

Y/N's eyebrows furrowed, "…what story?"

"The one where you almost shot Joel."

She laughed, "Yeah… yeah, I can do that."

They heard Joel's voice behind them, "Hey. Watch it."

They giggled, continuing their journey with a smile.

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

part 3

[mousy-nona]

I feel like a fic potentially focusing on Lucifer’s depression would be really interesting! That is, like.. Alastor can’t let the hotel be seen with a king (who’s a sniffling whiny bitch). Its sadly more beneficial to have him revered in this particular instance, so he’s determined to “fix” it? Idk how in character that prompt is, but I figured sending it to you wouldn’t hurt!!

TW: heavy stuff halfway through -- depression; angst.

There were some days Lucifer couldn’t get out of bed.

There was nothing particularly wrong with him. Which made it all the more embarrassing, which made it harder to explain, which made it easier to stay in bed and hide from the world, and so on and so forth…

Get up, the Stern Lucifer in his head said, sternly. You have the Assembly today. What’ll the Sins think if you don’t show up?

“Don’ wanna,” he groaned and tossed the covers over his head. The darkness was soothing. He let his eyes slip closed. Just one more minute…

“People are beginning to talk.” 

He bolted upright, his eyes growing so wide he was worried they might actually pop out of his skull.

“Alastor? What the Hell are you doing on my bed?”

Because he was. On the far edge. Sitting with his legs crossed. As casually as if this was the kind of thing regular people did every day: break into the King of Hell’s room and sit on his bed.

(Not that Lucifer hadn’t thought about the demon in his bed before, but usually it was in the damn thing and with a lot less clothes and what the actual Hell was he thinking right now?) 

“People are beginning to talk.”

“You’ve said that already.”

“Yes. Because I don’t think you heard me the first time.” Alastor eyed him, clearly unimpressed by what he saw. It had the odd effect of making Lucifer want to punch the demon in the nose and pull the covers over his head at the same time. “If you don’t get up in the next five minutes, you’ll be late for the meeting.”

“Oh, who cares?” Lucifer sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m there or not. They’ll squabble and Ozzie will flirt and Beezlebub will try to get everyone drunk and Mammon will drive everyone up the wall with new pyramid schemes.” 

Alastor tilted his head almost a full 45 degrees. It was disconcerting, to say the least. Was the man half-owl? A mean gleam shimmered just below the surface, turning his eyes into bloody rubies. “If you hate ruling so much, why not just give up the crown? Let someone better take it.”

“Oh?” Lucifer snorted. “Sounds like you have someone in mind.” 

Alastor sighed, as melodramatic as a soap opera. “Alas, I would – but I doubt the six Sins would listen to lil’ ol’ me.” His accent slipped from transatlantic to all New Orleans, and Lucifer found himself hanging on every word. Southern suited the demon, was just as much Alastor as the color red and his old fashioned suits.

He shook himself out of it, snorting. “Please. Try the humble pie act somewhere else. You’ve never thought of yourself as little even once in your life.” 

“Caught in the act!” The demon sang.

There was a long moment of silence as Lucifer hugged his blankets to himself and Alastor hummed some blues under his breath.

“How do you do it?” Lucifer said suddenly, and blushed, ducking his head back into his knees.

“Do what?” 

If Alastor had looked even the tiniest bit mocking, or teasing, or annoyed, Lucifer would have dove into his blankets and that would have been that. No meeting, no big Assembly, the entirety of Hell could go to…well, Hell, for all he cared. 

But Alastor seemed honestly curious. Not soft, never that, but he was looking at Lucifer as if he actually cared what he had to say. 

“How do you keep going every day?” 

With anyone else, he would have apologized immediately for worrying them. Charlie would have started crying and immediately urging him to go see someone about his problem. Lilith would have listened, but a part of her would have been writing up her list of to-dos for the day. And anyone else – well. 

He didn’t have anyone else. 

That was part of the problem though, wasn’t it? 

But because Alastor was a cold, callous bastard, he didn’t have to apologize. He could just be honest. Already he was starting to feel some of the weight fall off his shoulders, as if carrying the words around had been half the battle. 

Alastor tapped his cane on the ground. “Because I have half a doe in the fridge, plans with Rosie next Tuesday, and in a few months I fully intend to rule Hell.”

The last one caught Lucifer completely by surprise. He half-snorted, half-coughed into the crook of his arm. “Excuse me?” He squeaked. “Should I be alarmed?” 

“Absolutely not, my dear.” When Alastor grinned, there was something remarkably predator about it. “Didn’t you hear me say the Sins would never listen to me? I couldn't do it alone.”

“But then how do you intend…” Lucifer stopped, and his cheeks turned an absolutely brilliant shade of scarlet. “You– you– you don’t mean?”

“Ah, there we go,” Alastor said. “Took you long enough. It’s a good thing you’ve got a pretty face, hmm?”

“I’m married!” 

Alastor leaned forward. For one brief second Lucifer thought he was going to kiss him – but instead, he pat him on the head, as if he was an overgrown toddler. “My dear…one wedding ring does not a marriage make.”

Lucifer scrambled out of bed and tumbled to the floor in his hurry to get away from the complete and utter madman. 

“Ah, good! You’re up!” Alastor snapped to attention, bustling about as he got Lucifer’s outfit prepared for the day with the grace and ease of a seasoned valet. 

Lucifer took the proffered outfit, gaping up at the demon looming above him like – a nightmare? A dream? You could never tell which was which when it came to the Radio Demon. “Were you trying to get me out of bed this entire time?” 

“Wasn’t it obvious?”

“No!” He spluttered, his cheeks once against stained wine-red. “So all that stuff about – wanting to rule Hell was…?” He would absolutely explode if he had to complete the sentence.

“Perhaps if you get up in the next–” Alastor checked his bare wrist, no watch in sight. “Two minutes, I’ll let you know.” 

The man is absolutely bonkers, Lucifer thought, but he did pick himself up off the ground and start getting ready. For some reason, it wasn’t nearly as hard as it had been earlier this morning – not when Alastor was there to confuse, entice, confuse, ridicule him. 

Alastor walked jauntily towards the door, but paused with his hand on the knob. 

“One step at a time,” he said suddenly. 

“Excuse me?” 

Alastor graced him with his patented I have been saddled with an idiot look. “You asked me how I keep going. I take it one step at a time.” 

Then he was gone. Lucifer stared at the outfit he’d left for him -- it was his favorite suit, with gold accents and ruby highlights. When had Alastor bothered to notice?

Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

One step at a time, huh? He could do that.

[guilty-pleasures21]

Yooooooooouuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!! You SUCK!

One more chapter guys!

And then gates to Hell shall open! Mwahahahahaha! 😈

2. It NEEDS to be EVEN sssslllllooooweeeeerrrrrr.

Part 1 - the new recruit

Part 2 - the depression

Part 3 - the gelato

Warnings: none.

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     It was already getting to ten, Miguel noticed, glancing at his watch quickly, but X continued to sit by him, refusing to go home yet. 

     “You aren't gonna go home?” he finally asked her, curious - the latest she'd stay was ten, on weekends. Otherwise she'd be out by nine on the weekdays, so that she could get enough sleep for work the next day. X swivelled back and forth in her chair, biting in her lip nervously. 

     “Um, no …?” She sounded worried, afraid, and his forehead creased with concern at the thought. 

     “¿Qué pasa, arañita? What's wrong?” He turned to face her, his voice so gentle whenever he spoke to her. She clenched her fists, hesitating. 

     “Mmm, I just …” she trailed off, her chest tightening at the very thought of having to go to bed that night. “I just get afraid to go to bed sometimes. That's all.” 

     She shrugged it off like it was no big deal, but it was an extremely big deal. Afraid to go to bed? What did that even mean? Was something bothering her? Or someone? He felt the rage start to bubble inside of him at the thought. “What? Is someone bothering you?” 

     “No!” she replied quickly, her stomach warming up at his agitation - at how quickly he was ready to fight to protect her. “I just … I get nightmare phases, sometimes. Like night terrors? I think? I wake up all panicked and breathless and ugh! It's terrifying!”

     She shuddered at the memory, then turned to him with wide eyes. “Sometimes, I wake up with tears running down my face. It's horrible.” 

     Wow. It did sound horrible. Like some of the nightmares he had, sometimes. But … “Why do you get them? Did something … happen?” 

     She bit her lip, nervous. “Sometimes, it's about the people I miss, of course. But sometimes, it's just paranormal stuff. Those ones are insane. Maybe I should just take a pill.” 

     She sighed and leaned forward, resting her head on the table as she thought about it. Miguel tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking. But the longer he took to think about it, the faster his stomach began to churn. He shook his leg beneath the table. 

     “Do you …” he trailed off uncertainly, his voice a whisper. “You can sleep at my place. If it helps.”  Because he made her feel safe - safe enough to fall into a deep, dreamless slumber, knowing he was right there by her side. He bit his lip, not looking at her as he waited for her response. 

     He was really offering her that? Miguel? Biting down on his luscious lower lip like he was more afraid of her answer than she'd been of falling asleep. She grinned, her insides bubbling in anticipation of whatever would come next. “Yes! Yes.” 

     He glanced over to check her reaction, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the happy smile on her face. He turned away, feeling his own lips curl in response, then he cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. “Do you … want to go now?” 

     “Can I go back and get my clothes first?” she suggested. “And then meet you there?” His lips stretched wider at the excitement in her voice; at how she went from being terrified to go to bed, to thrilled to get under the covers. With him. He nodded, still avoiding her gaze as he tried to hide his smile from her. 

     “Sure,” he agreed, remaining in his seat while she got up to leave. “Hasta pronto, arañita.” (See you soon, little spider.)

     “See you later, Miguel!” She portaled back home and raced to her cupboard, tossing a pair of socks onto her bed before she began rifling through her clothes for her sexiest pyjamas. She normally just wore a long-sleeved top and matching pyjama bottoms, but there had to be something that would catch his attention more than the others. Her hand stopped on her red top, the one that hugged her figure nicely and paired well with the plaid bottoms that sat low on her hips. Plus, he'd be able to see her nipples get hard too, every time he looked at her. She giggled at her own naughtiness, then pulled it out, throwing it onto the bed. She already had a toothbrush there from the last time she'd slept over and she could just portal home in the morning to take a shower. She gathered her meagre belongings, satisfied, then opened up a portal to take her to Miguel's place.

     He'd gone home right after she’d left, scrambling around his house to pick up the laundry he’d left lying around. He’d just managed to shove his last piece of underwear into the drawer when she’d called out to him, having arrived in his living room downstairs. 

     “Miguel?” 

     “¡Escalares arriba, arañita!” (I’m upstairs, little spider.) He shut the drawer and headed back down, his stomach fluttering at the sight of her standing in his living room, looking all too adorable as she gazed up at him, her pillow and clothes clutched to her chest. 

     “Hola, Miguel,” she greeted him softly. He grinned and lowered his head to hide his smile, rubbing the back of his neck shyly. 

     “Hola, arañita,” he responded. Then he looked up at her, eyes wide. “Do you want anything to eat? Or drink?” 

     X smiled as she made her way to the stairs, walking up to his bedroom to set her things down. She flashed him a mischievous smile as he followed after her. “Do you have anything to eat or drink?” 

     He paused, trying to remember the last time he’d gone to get groceries. “Uh, I can order something? If you want.” 

     X let out an amused huff and twisted her head back to glance at him quickly. “Should we go on another late night grocery run?”

     She dumped her stuff on his bed, perfectly comfortable to navigate his large apartment, and his chest warmed at the casual familiarity. It was nice, imagining he shared a bedroom with her - a life. Like … Like they were … “Would that help you feel better?” 

     She smiled up at him, delighted by his question. It was so sweet how he cared about her. He could deny it all he wanted, pretend to act as cold and indifferent as he possibly could, but he’d still invited her over, was still willing to walk the streets at night in his pyjamas just so she’d feel calm enough to fall asleep. She considered his question, enjoying watching him squirm while she reminisced about how much fun she’d had with him the last time. “Hmm, do you have your phone?” 

     He raised an eyebrow, confused. “Why do you want my phone?” 

     “I just want to find a good dessert place,” she told him, shooting him an exasperated look. He started returning downstairs to grab his phone and she followed behind. 

     “You want to go get dessert in our pyjamas?” He really hoped she’d say no: because he knew he definitely wouldn’t - he knew he’d march right back up to his room and throw on his t-shirt and sweatpants if that was what she wanted; if that was what it would take to put that easy smile back on her face again. Because he was in love with her. His stomach roiled at the thought. 

     “No,” she assured him, allowing to relax. “I’ll go get some new clothes. Then we can go out.” He handed her his phone and she started typing on it. Then she paused, looking up at him in question. 

     “Or … is there anywhere you like to go?” she asked him “When you’re feeling kind of stressed out?” He narrowed his eyes in thought. He hadn’t really gone out in a while. Not since after … Not since he’d established the HQ. He glanced over at her, with her dark, almond-shaped eyes, her slender fingers curled around his phone as she waited for his response. ‘You’, he realised suddenly, the knot in his chest disappearing as he gazed at her, ‘I go to you, whenever I feel stressed. And even when I don’t.’ He pulled his gaze away from her, trying to remind himself not to take comfort in her presence. 

     “Uh, no.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I’m fine with whatever you want. Lo que quieras, arañita.” (Whatever you want, little spider.) She smiled at that, and continued tapping away at his phone. Finally, she clicked on something and held his phone up to show him. 

     “How about this one?” It was a gelato place - of course. About a ten minute walk from his place. He remembered having seen it in passing once or twice, but didn’t recall having ever been there before. He shrugged. 

     “Sure.” 

     “Great!” she exclaimed happily, setting his phone back down on the kitchen island. “I’m just gonna go take a shower first. See you in a bit, Miguel!” 

     “Sí, arañita,” he agreed, his own lips twitching at the excited smile on her face. She stepped through the portal to take her home and he went back up to his bedroom, opening his cupboard to pick out his clothes. The red shirt? Maybe not - he already wore red all the time when he was with her, in his suit. He pushed the hanger aside and studied the next option. The black one? It was plain, simple … but it might end up looking too gloomy if he paired it with his dark jeans. He’d come back to it later. The green one? It was more of a moss colour, dark enough not to draw too much attention to himself, but light enough that- He paused, freezing up all of a sudden. He was thinking way too hard about this. Almost like … like it was a date! His stomach flipped at the thought of going out on a date with her, with her pretty eyes and her cute smile and her curvy little body. Then it tightened, his body suddenly feeling like it had been doused with a bucket of ice water. Did she think it was a date? Was that what she’d had in mind when she’d suggested it? Mierda, had he just been asked out on a date without even realising it? He shook the thought away quickly. No, he was overthinking it. She wasn’t the kind of person to play vague games that would mess with his head. And based on what he knew about her - what he’d come to know about her - he didn’t think she was the kind of person to ask someone out on a date first either. She’d never even been on a date, after all, how would she even know where to start? He pulled the green shirt off the hanger, not wanting to think about it anymore, and went to the bathroom to shower. 

     She rifled through her closet for the second time that night, puzzling over what to wear for their outing. Something cute and sweet, something that would bring out that shy smile on his face that he always tried to hide from her whenever he felt it tugging on his lips. A skirt? Would that be too much? After all, it wasn’t like they were going on a date or- She froze, terrified. Did he think it was a date? Did he think she’d been brazen enough to ask him out on a date without even telling him? What if he thought she’d tricked him into it? Tricked him into inviting her over by ‘pretending’ to be afraid to fall asleep so that she could drag him on a date when he didn’t even- No. No. He knew her. He’d taken the time to get to know her. He knew she wouldn’t ever think of doing something like that. She took a few deep breaths, calming herself down. They were just hanging out together - as friends. She liked his friendship, valued the casual intimacy they’d cultivated, the way they’d worked on their relationship slowly and surely. Of course she wanted more though, wanted him to tell her that he liked her, that she was pretty and cute and … and that he was in love with her, just as she was with him. But she wouldn’t push him: he didn’t like being pushed. She’d just take it slow and easy, hopefully wearing him down over time with her gentle affection and careful attention. She could be patient - he was worth it. She grabbed the skirt, not wanting to second guess things anymore, and went to the bathroom to change. 

     He glanced at the fridge, adjusting his hair in his reflection before stopping himself for the hundredth time. It wasn’t a date, he kept having to remind himself. And anyway, she’d already seen him at his absolute worst, after a tough mission or another sleepless night. It didn’t really matter what he looked like. He grabbed his phone, stopping it from floating off the countertop as a portal opened up beside him, letting her through. He sighed internally. She was so f*cking cute! Unfairly so. She’d put on a little mascara and some lip gloss and it was all she really needed, her long lashes even darker than usual, her soft lips even rosier than normal. And her outfit? Mierda, he’d been right: it was just like what she’d worn when Peter had called her to HQ that time he’d been grumbling at Hobie and Pav. That same black skirt paired with the suede ankle boots and a skin-tight green top this time, one that stretched over her chest and hugged her- coño, he was doing it again. He dragged his eyes away from her, embarrassed by the direction his thoughts had been heading in. He cleared his throat. “Should we go now?” 

     Wow. He was so effing hot, in his soft green t-shirt that begged her to wrap her arms around him, and his dark blue jeans that fell over his muscular legs just so, and his wavy hair that curled at the ends now that he’d washed the gel out of it. Sure, he was … frickin’ sexy in his Spiderman suit, the nanobots sitting just on top of his skin, following every curve and line of his muscles. But this? This was boyfriend material: going on dates and holding hands and sweet and nervous first kisses. She sighed. 

     “¿Arañita?”

     “Huh?” She looked up at him, suddenly realising that he’d been asking her something. What had he said? Should they go now? She shook her head quickly, bringing herself back to the present. Then she started making her way over to the door. “Uh, yeah. Yeah! Let’s go!” 

     ¡Ay, mierda! The way she’d been looking at him? Her lips parting as her gaze travelled over his body hungrily, her heart picking up speed in her chest. Dios, she was … He pinched the bridge of his nose, wincing as he tried to gather his thoughts. She was going to be the death of him one day. 

     “Miguel?” He startled, turning around to join her. 

     “Coming!” 

     They'd been walking in silence for some time, the nervous energy pouring off of him in waves, suffocating her as well. She hated it. “So, what do you do in your free time?” 

     She looked up at him expectantly and he winced at how awkward he'd unconsciously made the whole situation. “Uh, I-”

     “And don't say you don't have any free time!” she warned him quickly, knowing exactly what he'd been about to say. “You must have some hobbies - something you like doing outside of … everything.” She continued gazing up at him, her eyes wide and pretty, her lips soft and pillowy. Santo cielo, could he not stop thinking about her lips? For just one second?! He dragged his eyes away from her mouth. 

     “Uh, I … I used to play … video games.” He mumbled the last part, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. She turned her head and leaned closer to him so she could hear him better. 

     “What was that?” 

     He cleared his throat and repeated himself, a little louder this time, “video games. I used to play video games. When I had free time.” 

     Her eyes lit up with delight. “Ooh! What kind?” 

     “Um, shooter ones.” He shuffled his feet, embarrassed. “Strategy and teamwork and stuff like that.” 

     “You played with other people?” She asked, curious. "Did you have a gaming headset and a chair and everything?” His lips quirked at her enthusiasm. 

     “I had a headset, but nothing so fancy, arañita,” he replied. “Just … played with some friends, sometimes.” She nodded thoughtfully, turning her attention back to the sidewalk. 

     “That's nice.” She flashed him a soft smile. “I'm glad.” He returned her smile, his chest warming at her delight that he had a fond memory to look back on.

     “What about you?” he turned the question back on her now. “What do you like to do in your free time?” 

     She pretended to think about it, her eyes flicking to the side as she hummed thoughtfully. “Hmm. Think of ways to tease you.” 

     She grinned up at him mischievously and he rolled his eyes, his lips curled at the ends. She laughed. 

     “I'm just kidding. I like to write,” she revealed. “Stories, music, that kind of stuff.” 

     “What kind of stories?” he asked, curious now. She winced, slightly embarrassed. 

     “Uh, fantasy? Mostly? I like fantasy,” she replied a little too quickly. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. 

    “Mostly fantasy?” he repeated, bumping his arm against hers. “What else do you write, arañita?” He grinned as she squirmed uncomfortably, his stomach bubbling with pleasure at how easily he'd managed to fluster her. 

     “I like romance. Too. Uh, romance is nice.” Her eyes flickered up to his briefly before she lowered her gaze, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. He swallowed, her words running through his mind. Along with everything unsaid that went with it. “Is this the place?” 

     They stopped and he checked the storefront. “Looks like it.” 

     He held the door open as she walked in, her arm brushing against his chest, the sweet strawberry scent of her overwhelming all his senses. Then he followed her over to the display.

     X studied the flavours, trying to decide which one she liked best. Then she looked up at the cashier, fluttering her eyelashes at him innocently. 

     “Could I get the dulce de leche, please?” she asked him sweetly. “A single scoop. Thank you!” The young man nodded early and dug out the creamy substance, adding a little extra and flashing her a smile that was a little too friendly before handing her her cup. She treated him to a sweet smile in return, then turned to Miguel, gazing up at him in question.

     Mierda, it was worse than the way some of the Spiders would look at her in the weekly yoga classes Preethi had started - at least they knew that she was- He paused, repeating the thought. That she was … That she was not the one any of them were ever going to end up with. But this guy?! This guy giving her a playful wink as he handed her her dessert? He actually thought he might have had a chance with her. Even when she was standing right next to him. He frowned and moved to stand in front of X, pulling the server’s attention away from her. 

     “I'll have the Cioccolato all'Arancia,” he requested, pointing it out. It wasn't too sweet, so it would probably be more tolerable for him. “Single scoop.” He followed the server to the cash register and paid for their gelato whilst X went to go find them a seat. She slid his cup over to him when he sat down across from her, then took a bite of gelato and smiled, satisfied with her selection. He shot her an exasperated look. 

     “Are you happy now?” he asked. 

     “Extremely! Do you want to try?” She held her cup out to him and gestured to one side with her spoon. “You should take it from this side though.” She leaned over the table and made her eyes wide, whispering in a dramatic tone.

“I have Herpes. But not the serious kind!” she continued quickly, lowering herself back to her seat. "I just get cold sores around my mouth when the weather changes too quickly or when I get too stressed.” He raised an eyebrow. 

     “It’s fine!” she insisted. “I haven’t touched this side, so you can eat from there.” He took the cup from her and purposely scooped a bite out of the side she’d already touched, bringing it to his lips and eating it. He winced and groaned as he set it back down in front of her, trying so hard to ignore the big red message flashing in his mind: you’d get it anyway when you kissed her, you’d get it anyway when you kissed her, you’d get it anyway when you kissed her. And then, a tiny whisper in the back of his mind: and then when you do so much more to her. 

     “It’s so sickeningly sweet, arañita!” he complained. Her gaze stayed fixed on his mouth, her own lips parted in surprise at his brazenness. She swallowed hard, then looked up at him, trying to gather her thoughts. 

     “Um …” She tilted her head to the side, smiling mischievously. “Like me?” She picked up her cup and took another big bite. Coño, she was cute. Argh, he had to stop thinking that! He frowned and snatched her cup, taking another spoonful out of it. 

     “Hey!” She reached across the table and grabbed his cup, clutching it close to her chest so she could steal a scoop from it. Then she leaned across the table, maintaining eye contact with him as she brought the spoon to her lips. She pressed it down onto her tongue and closed her lips around it, twisting it around to suck the cream off before closing her eyes and letting out a satisfied moan. “Mmm.” 

     She opened her eyes and slammed the cup back down in front of him, fixing him with a challenging look. “Delicioso, Miguel.”

     F**************ck. ¡¿Qué p*tas?! How the f*ck could she do that?! How the f*ck could she look him straight in the eyes while sucking on her spoon like that?! And then the way she’d moaned after? Telling him how delicious it was while adding his name to the end of her sentence like … like she’d been telling him how delicious he tasted. ¡Ay, p*ta madre! He was so. F*cking. Screwed. F*ck! He turned his head, following the sound of the muttered curse to a group of guys sitting at a nearby table, all of them having witnessed the entire exchange themselves. He frowned as he saw them jostle each other and gesture to X, smiling at her hungrily. 

     Had he just …? She grinned, having heard the curse fall from his own lips. “What? What did you just say, Miguel?” 

     He turned back to her, horrified. He hadn’t even realised that he’d said it out loud too! He hunched over the table quickly, avoiding her gaze as he focused all his attention on his gelato. “Nothing! Just … eat your ice cream, arañita.”

     “Okay,” X relented softly, her lips still stretched wide in that delighted smile. Miguel barely noticed as he focused his hearing, picking up the whispered conversation of the group of young men. They kept talking about her, those cabrones - discussing how cute she was and arguing over whether or not she was with him and which one of them might stand the best chance with her. Like she’d ever let herself get pushed around by a group of immature little boys. She was a goddamned superhero, por amor de Dios! And anyway, it wasn’t like any of them would ever be able to take care of her in the way she needed - in the way she deserved. He moved his seat so that he was sitting beside her instead, his thigh pressing against hers, his large form blocking her from the view of those malditos cabrones. 

     “Miguel?” She smiled up at him, confused, then placed a gentle hand on his forearm. “¿Qué pasó, araña?” 

     Mierda, did she have to call him that? While her slender fingers were curled so tenderly around his forearm? He shook his head. “Nada. I just didn’t like the way those guys kept looking at you.” 

     He focused back on his food, trying not to let himself think about how it felt like home, speaking to her in Spanglish like this - how much effort she put into making herself seem like home. Somewhere he could return to, everyday, safe and sound. 

     She furrowed her brows at his statement, trying to sneak a peek over his brawny shoulder. “Which guys?” 

     “It doesn’t matter,” Miguel insisted, moving to block her view. He shoved his spoon back into his dessert, scooping up a bite and swallowing it down grumpily. She pressed her lips together at his actions, trying to suppress her smile. Was he … jealous? 

     “Are they good looking?” she asked, her voice dripping with fake innocence. He finally looked up from his gelato to frown at her, his thick brows set into a harsh line. Then he turned back to his dessert. 

     “No. They’re hideous.” X snickered softly at his brusque tone. 

     “Hmm. That’s too bad,” she lamented. 

     “Why is it too bad?” Miguel turned to her, thoroughly annoyed now by her constant curiosity about these other men who knew absolutely nothing about her, who’d never even talked to her let alone spent hours together with her, learning about her preferences, indulging in her company, looking after her when she was having a bad day. 

     He was starting to get frustrated - really frustrated, if the way he was shaking his leg beneath the table was any indication of how he was feeling right now. She shrugged, pretending not to notice how irritated he was becoming because of her. “Well, it’s always nice to know that a good looking guy thinks you’re pretty. It boosts your confidence.” 

     “You are pretty,” he scowled, unable to keep it in any longer. ‘You don’t need some useless cabron to tell you that’, is what he would have finished with had he not realised that he’d just called her pretty. Out loud. To her face. He tensed up, trying to figure out how to backtrack his statement - because how was he going to bring her back to his apartment and fall asleep next to her now that he’d told her how pretty he thought she was?! 

     Her cheeks burned as her lips curled into a smile and she avoided his gaze, knowing he was probably regretting letting the words slip out of his mouth like that. “Thanks, Miguel.” 

     She glanced up at him quickly, taking in the terrified expression on his face. God, he could be so cute sometimes. She scooped up the last bite of her gelato, then grinned up at him teasingly. “That’s going to last me at least a month.” 

     She swallowed the last bite of her gelato, then rested her elbow on the table, cupping her cheek in her hand as she gazed up at him. “And then I’m just going to have to find some other good looking guy to call me pretty after that.” 

     Santo cielo, how was it always so easy with her? How did she always know just what to say to put him at ease again? His shoulders relaxed as he turned away from her, finishing up his gelato as well. 

     “Estás loca, arañita,” he told her jokingly. She thought he was good looking?

     She straightened, her expression softer now that she’d gotten him to ease up again. “I prefer the term ‘exciting’.” 

     He turned to her, flashing her that one expression that he saved just for her - a mixture of amusement and exasperation that made her heart start fluttering like crazy - then stood up, grabbing her cup to toss it in trash. He turned back around and clenched his fists in anger when he saw the guys at the other table going over to X to try to catch her attention. He marched back to her immediately, placing his hand on her lower back to guide her to the door. “Vamos, arañita.” 

     She didn’t miss the possessive tone of his voice, or the way he stopped to glare back at the guys before they walked out of the shop. So he really had been jealous then! Or, protective, maybe. But she didn’t dare bring it up as they strolled back to his apartment, using the moment instead to just enjoy his company. 

     “Yes!” X exclaimed, jumping onto the sofa and settling down to watch her new favourite television programme - a reality dating show set on the moon. Because it was so easy to just travel back and forth between the Earth and the moon - the freakin’ moon! - in the year 2099. “Miguel! It’s on! We didn’t miss it!” 

     Miguel walked over to her, having changed into his night clothes once they’d come back, and groaned when he saw what she’d put on the television. “Coño, arañita. ¿Esta mierda otra vez?” (This shit again?)

     She grinned, ignoring the irritated twist of his lips, and patted the seat next to her. “¡Sí! It’s so trashy I love it!” 

     He rolled his eyes, but sat down next to her anyway, shooting a look of amusement her way before shaking his head fondly. “Estás loca, arañita.”

     “¡Hola, hermano!” Miguel looked up from his laptop as his little brother strolled into his apartment, walking around like he owned the place. Gabe set two bags down on the table, then flashed Miguel a bright smile, glad to see his brother home for once. “You don’t have any missions today?” 

     “Do you ever knock?” Miguel asked him, his tone sarcastic. 

     “Why would I need to knock? I have the keys.” Gabe began to unpack the bags, pulling out different fruits and vegetables and other groceries. But he stopped suddenly when he noticed something new. “Hey! You’re not wearing your eye protectors anymore! What happened?” Miguel remained silent as he pulled a small bottle out of his pocket and set it down on the kitchen island. Gabe peered at the clear liquid within. 

     “What is this?” he asked, curious. 

     “They constrict my pupils so everything’s not so bright anymore,” Miguel explained nonchalantly. As if it wasn’t a big deal that he could finally walk around the world in the same way he had before. 

     “Did you make this?” Gabe asked, growing ever more curious by the second. Miguel hesitated, considering his response. 

     “No,” he replied finally, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Someone else made them for me.” Gabe leaned against the table, a knowing smile plastered across his face. 

     “Hmm, someone else, eh?” he repeated, trying to catch his brother’s gaze. “Is this the same ‘someone else’ you’ve been thinking about for the past few weeks?” Miguel raised his eyebrows, pretending to be both confused and offended by the question. Gabe rolled his eyes at the exaggerated response. 

     “Come on, hermano, it’s so obvious!” he insisted, unwilling to let the matter go. “There’s clearly someone on your mind! Do I know her? Have we met before?” Miguel glared at him in warning, his gleaming red eyes boring into his brother. 

     “There’s no one on my mind,” he lied, thoughts of her messy curls and her pretty smile and her curvy little body springing to his mind almost immediately. He turned back to his laptop, not wanting his brother to see the guilty look on his face. “And no, you don’t know her. We’re just friends.” Even though she’d told him she loved him. And they’d fallen asleep together, more than once now. And the very thought of her being with anyone else - anyone but him - made him sick to his stomach. 

     “Ah ha! So there is a ‘her’!” Gabe exclaimed victoriously, delighted by the revelation. He began transferring the groceries he’d brought along with him into the fridge and various kitchen cupboards. “When am I going to get to meet her?” 

     “I said she’s just a friend, Gabe,” his older brother repeated, letting out an exaggerated sigh. He really could be so dramatic sometimes. Gabe pulled open one of the cupboards by the fridge, then paused, confused. 

     “What is this?” he asked, pulling out a box of cereal he’d never seen before. Miguel didn’t eat cereal - not since he’d started bulking up anyway. Now, his diet consisted of a strict regimen of carbs and proteins that he prepared every weekend. Miguel’s eyes widened as they landed on the box and he shot out of his seat, grabbing it from Gabe and shoving it back into the cupboard quickly. 

     “It’s nothing!” he replied, his voice a little too loud when he said it. Then frowned. “Why are you even poking around in my stuff anyway?”

Gabe ignored his brother’s grumbling, thinking. If the cereal wasn’t Miguel’s, then that meant that he’d gotten it for ‘someone else’. And if ‘someone else’ was having breakfast at his place, then ‘someone else’ had probably slept over. “I’m gonna go use the bathroom.” 

     Gabe began making his way over to the downstairs bathroom, keeping his pace steady so that Miguel thought nothing of it and returned his attention to his laptop instead. Then he dashed up the stairs, not daring to look back at his brother for fear that he’d catch up to him when he realised what he was up to. 

     “Gabe!” Miguel exclaimed in panic, jumping out of his seat to start chasing after his younger brother. “¡¿Qué haces?!” But he was too late. Gabe stood in the middle of the bathroom, holding up two toothbrushes as he stared at the two towels drying on the rack. 

     “Just a friend?!” Gabe repeated incredulously. “Miguel! She’s slept over! This is serious! How could you not tell me?!” Miguel marched over to him and grabbed the brushes from his hands, shoving them back in the holder before steering his brother out of his bathroom. 

     “What’s she like?” Gabe continued, eager to find out more about this new girl who’d practically moved in with his brother without his knowledge! “Is she cute? Is she nice? I hope she’s, like, the total opposite of you - that would be hilarious.” Miguel gritted his teeth, trying not to think about how so very cute she was and so very sweet and how so completely in love with her was. Because he couldn’t be in love with her. Not when it only tear them - or the entire universe - apart. 

     “Stay out of my bedroom, Gabe,” he huffed, all the anger having left him now. Because it didn’t matter what he told himself, it didn’t matter how many times he repeated it. It still didn’t change the fact that he was in love with her. 

     “Okay! Okay!” Gabe raised his hands in surrender, turning back around to face his brother. His eyes trailed over the crease between his brows, the bags under his eyes, the disappointed twist of his lips. He reached up to pat his brother on the shoulder, trying to reassure him. “We don’t have to talk about it. But if you do, you know that I’m here for you.” 

     Miguel sighed, relaxing a little at the reminder that he’d always have his brother, no matter what happened. He ruffled his hair, causing Gabe to whine in protest about messing up his hairstyle or something. But Miguel just snorted in amusement and made his way back to the kitchen. “What do you want for lunch?”

Tags: @leahnicole1219 @heubstr

[messysketchyobeyme]

Fanning the Flames

Satan/Reader

Summary:

Satan asks you an interesting, yet personal question.

He isn't sure if he wants to know the answer.

A/N:

I am obsessed with the daily chats in Nightbringer, especially Satan's "Surveying Potential Partners" 1-3. It's so cute.

I wanted to write a fic based on them. I hope you enjoy it. :)

(Nightbringer Spoilers)

Word Count: 1,084

---

Satan's wrath was like a raging fire that burned within him, threatening to break out and destroy anything in its path. That fire followed him wherever he went, suffocating him until he could only feel blind rage.

Although Satan could never completely snuff that flame out, there were times when it'd subside to the point where he could breathe a little—those moments mainly happened when you were around. It was strange, but you were one of the only people unafraid of him whenever he flew into another one of his destructive rampages. You were always patient with him but firm, almost as though you had dealt with this sort of stuff before.

Either way, how you treated him filled him with a new emotion he had never felt before. It wasn't wrath nor the neutral sensation of being 'fine' that he had grown accustomed to. It was a feeling that made Satan long to be near you, think about you every day, and wonder when he’d see you again. He blamed it for forcing him to invite you to the House of Lamentation today.

Right now, you sat in the armchair across from him, drinking a hot cup of your favorite drink. A book laid in your lap. The library was quiet enough that Satan could hear the paper crinkle each time you turned a new page. He had a book and drink of his own, but he could hardly focus on them when you were right there. He tapped the cover of his book while he snuck a few glances your way. 

Before Satan could process what he was doing, he piped up, “Hypothetically speaking, if you could date one of us brothers, who would it be?”

You paused mid-page-turn, and Satan realized the gravity of what he had just said. He tried to hide his burning face behind his book, but that proved to be useless. Your laughter made him peek out to see that familiar smug expression plastered across your face.

“Does it have to be one of your brothers?” you asked, placing your mug and book on the side table.

Huh. You had been spending so much of your time at the House of Lamentation that he had assumed that you were romantically interested in at least one of them. Satan supposed that Simeon lived here, too, so you could be coming over to see him. Then again, you did live with Solomon, and your relationship with that sorcerer was a little…odd. 

You laughed again. Satan shook his head. “Please, don’t tease me like this,” he said.

“Sorry, sorry,” you said, covering up your mouth. You stopped laughing, your subsequent sentence coming off a little more serious. “Are you sure you can handle the answer to that question?”

Satan dug his fingers into his knees. “Yes.”

You sat up straight. “Alright, but can I give you a hint, instead? I’m a little shy.”

You didn’t sound particularly shy to him, but Satan knew that a hint was all he could take. He wasn’t sure if he could handle you saying a name out loud, especially if it was anything other than his name spilling out of your lips. 

"That's fine."

"Okay, let's see…" You tapped the bottom of your lips a couple of times. Satan had to look away. "Well, they're cute."

"That's not particularly descriptive."

"I suppose you're right," you said, "Let me think of another one."

Butterflies fluttered around anxiously in his stomach, and his head buzzed with anticipation. There was a real possibility that you didn't see Satan as a potential romantic partner at all. He wouldn't blame you if that were the case. Even Satan had to admit that his temper tantrums were a significant flaw on his part. Still, even the mere idea of you not liking him back made his heart ache terribly.

"Go on," he said, his leg bouncing up and down. He didn't want to rush you, but you were taking so long. 

"My, my, aren't you anxious?" 

"...A little," he admitted.

You smiled apologetically. "Fine, I'll stop teasing you." You moved to sit a little more comfortably. "Uh, the brother I would date is intelligent…"

So, that took away Mammon and maybe Beelzebub.

"...they're pretty outgoing, in my opinion…"

That left him, Asmodeus, and Lucifer.

Satan tensed up. This was so much worse than he thought it would be. So much worse. He was only a few seconds away from calling the whole thing off. 

"...I would say they are sophisticated when they want to be…"

That only left him and Lucifer.

Please, don't let it be Lucifer. Please, don't let it be Lucifer. Please don't let it be Lucifer. 

Satan was about to combust on the spot. The anxiety welled up in his chest, making it more and more difficult to think rationally. Was this how Leviathan felt all of the time?

"...and they're someone I like to spend time with." You looked him directly in the eye. Satan hoped that you didn't notice him jump. "Even when we're not actively doing anything, just being with them is enough to make me happy."

Satan stared at his hands. The fire inside of him burned with a higher intensity than he was used to, but it wasn't of the same wrath he had always felt. His skin was hot and his head tingled, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Quite the opposite.

"I–" Satan realized that he didn't know what to say. "Thank you. I feel quite relieved."

"Does that answer your question?" You smiled like you weren't the one responsible for his dangerously fast heartbeat. 

Satan chose his words carefully. "Yes, it does," he said quietly.

"Good," you replied, picking up your book and flipping to where you had left off, "I'm glad." 

Satan returned to his own book but still struggled to pay attention, now for an entirely different reason. Giddiness blossomed inside him, and it took everything in his power not to outwardly show it. Although it was only hypothetical, the fact that you would choose him to date out of the rest of his brothers made him feel warm and fuzzy. 

It was him, you would choose him. The weight of your words lifted his spirit, and he found solace in the fact that you saw something in him worth pursuing. As he tried to focus on his book, his mind danced with bliss, cherishing the knowledge that you, above all others, had chosen him.

[akwolfgrl]

Part 24 LFT

As soon as the door to their room shut Zoro grabbed Sanji’s face with his hands pushing him against the door kissing him roughly. He tasted like tabboco, alcohol and fish, it shouldn't be so fucking good but he needed more. He drank the moans coming from the smaller man's lips, they were the same height which made kissing perfect. Their hard cocks rubbed together trapped between layers of fabric. There was a bed in the room but that would mean separating from Sanji, removing his lips from the other man's. His hands moved down to that fucking amazing ass and thigh, the hand on Sanji’s thigh glided it up around his waist bringing them closer together.

“Ngh, Zo…ro fuck!” Sanji broke the kiss, gasping from the heated kiss. Head thrown back, knocking back against the wood with a bit more force than meant. A rumble of disapproval greeted the blond’s ears, his cheeks glowing brilliant shades of pink.

“Moving… Bed… now!” Zoro grunted in response moving the other leg to wrap around his waist, his hands on Sanji's ass. Lifting the blond up and stomping over to the bed, dropping him unceremoniously on the covers. Before Zoro could pounce on his such willing prey, Sanji’s still shoe-covered foot was placed a mere inch from Zoro’s nose.

“Clothes off first you brute, we have to wear these tomorrow. I also don't want to see that new shirt of yours torn, you clean up nice mossy. I like how you normally are but you clean up nice,” he whispers baby blues dancing across Zoro’s form. Damn did he know his type of man, no other could compare to the muscle head.

“Fine,” Zoro huffed, backing up to quickly shed his clothes, Sanji took his sweet ass time folding the clothes as he removed them. The bag with the new stuff was placed on the foot of the bed. Zoro took everything out of the bag. “Still wanna?”

“Yes!” Sanji spread his legs wider and his hand wrapped around his cock stroking it. An almost animalistic and possessive growl tore through the room, Sanji almost shrinking back only to stop himself. Zoro wasn’t the only beast in this relationship! … at least that’s what helps him sleep at night.

“Tonight that's mine, no touching,” Zoro slapped Sanji hand away, the blond moaned and shuddered. Zoro bent his head tracing the pretty pale pink nipple with his tongue. Long slender fingers tangled in his spiky hair as he teased Sanji's nipple before sliding on a nipple clamp. Switching over to his other needy nipple, he repeated the process teasing the poor Ero cook beneath him. Zoro trailed kisses down the cook's body, pausing every so often he stopped to nip or suck a mark into his pale skin avoiding where he had done so during a prior sex. He followed the blond’s happy trail down to his cock, already dripping with precum. Zoro slid the cock ring around the base. He sat back to admire his handy work, “you look so pretty like that baby~” Sanji moaned, toes curling as he tried to hide just how much this was affecting him. The cook seemed to get off on praise and compliments in the bedroom but an insult was enough to get him heated and ready for a good fight.

“Oh shit oh fuck Mosshead! Don't leave me waiting, fuck me, use me please, I just fucking need it,” Sanji begged. Zoro groaned at the sound of the needy cook begging him. He looked so good withering on the bed desperate for his touch. Zoro grabbed him by the hips and flipped him over, his plush ass on full display. Zoro couldn't resist the urge to slap that pale flesh. It was soft yet firm, a few more slaps and it was shading into a brilliant bright red under his hands. All the while Sanji moaning, squirmin, grabbing his own cheeks and spreading them wide. Sanji’s twitching puckered rim winking at Zoro, if he didn’t have to prep beforehand, he’d be balls deep in the blond man already. Though thanks to a passing thought and just how inviting the cook’s hole was to take a taste… well he could not resist! Bending down, his warm thick and firm tongue rolled to lick a strip across Sanji’s needy hole.

“Ah! Oh! Fuck! What sort of depraved thing are you doing to me?!” Sanji asked, moaning even though he was trying to fight a bit back. A cool breath sending shivers and goosebumps to cover his pale flesh. “Do it again,” he commanded through gritted teeth, hating having to say that aloud. Admitting that the Mossball was actually turning him on even harder now… oh the embarrassment… Why did it feel so good to be embarrassed like that?

Zoro chuckled and happily dove in to devour Sanji's ass, a meal fit for the future world’s greatest swordsman. He licked and sucked his way into drawing out the withering moaning gasps from the mess of a cook beneath him. Zoro's own neglected cock throbbed desperately for attention. He finally grabbed the lube to open Sanji up. While already loose and wet it didn't hurt to play it safe. He easily slipped in one finger before adding a second one, he scissored his fingers starting to stretch and prepared the blond for what's to come next.

[weridpersonhelp]

Red Phone [8]

Previus - Next?

master list!

warning: slightly scary, first-time horror writer, stalking, confusion, gramma and spell mistakes, screaming, getting up a horrible hour of night, neurodivergent reader, slow burnish? , x reader, children, puppets, curse langue, music, be ready for cringe!

“Peak a boo! Peak a boo! Who’s that hiding their? Peak a boo! Peak a boo! It’s sissy hiding there!” Jimmy laughs manically, it amazed me at how something so simple could entertain babies. But then again when could play with a pop it or infinity cube for hours, so I can’t judge. Jim claps his hands happily together once again.

“Y/n are you a Jim ready?” Mum asks me, I stand and grab jimmy’s car seat with two hands.

“Yep, want me to put him in?” I ask she just nods spraying her cheap perfume, today we were going into town and shopping. I don’t know why we where going shopping here when at home in the big city their where thousands of places to shop. Placing Jimmy in the car I take my seat next to him in the middle buckling both of our seat belts. Jimmy sucked on his pacifier while I scrolled through TikTok, I hear the car side door open and in pop grandma with a nice coat sitting in the front.

“isn’t dad coming?”

“Oh no honey he’s working on some stuff at the house, do you know what we are doing again?” Grandma asks.

“where going to the second hand shops most likely, I’m going to be spending my money on new tea pots and cups for my collection!”

“aah yes, you always had that umm, interesting fascination with my tea cups and pots. Do you want them?” My grandma question confused me a little, why would she give them away to me?

“I mean yes, but what about your collection?”

“Oh, it’s fine I’m cleaning out my house a little I have too much. You’ll be sharing with your cousins as well! But I’ll let you get first pick.” Grandma whispers the last part I chuckle at her words and like that mum enters the car.

“Alright who’s ready to shop! Till we drop!” Mum starts the car, and like that the shopping day started. I’ll spare you the details but we went to over 15 different shops! I didn’t even know they town had that many second-hand shops!

“Y/n! you take Jimmy while me a gran look around some more!” mum says handing me Jim, before disappearing with grandma with out another word. Jimmy was wailing, crying most likely because he was done with today already and wanted to back to grandma’s. And I couldn’t agree more, I felt over stimulated. My legs where saw I felt the music grown louder with each second, and not to mention Jim’s wailing. I was exhausted and ran out of the store as quickly as possible for some fresh air. I hadn’t noticed until now how a I was holding onto my breath, did I even breath in their? It didn’t matter now, the cold air hit me like a ton of bricks, and slightly calmed my down and it seems like something similar with Jimmy as his crying calmed down a little bit. I rock back a forth for him while we waited, that was until I noticed he was pointing at something. I looked in the window, and their it was. Another Welcome home Vhs tape! But what was one doing here of all places?

“woohuei” My brother says, or tries too. I was a little shocked at first how did he remember his name when he only watched it once? The cover was different, with wally outside painting he faces the viewer with his smirk, Barnaby and Julie laugh, frank trying to catch a butterfly that landed on Eddies hat. And of course home a bit further in the back ground that you can just see it.

“Sissy wooheui!!” I nod my head along, we only watch one episode of the show so far, there was still like 5 left? Would it be worth buying the second tape or would I be wasting money that didn’t need to be wasted? My brother points again this time with a bigger smile, dam it. How could I resist such a cute smile? I walk back into the store and grab the tape walking up to the counter quickly as I could.

“Hi, their, how much was this?” “only a dollar love.” The old lady says I pull the dollar from my pocket and hand it to her she smiles and places it in the draw.

“Would you like a bag with that?”

“no thank you, but could you wrap it in newspaper?” the lady does as I have asked with no question, which I was thankful for. What would I tell her anyway? Oh my grandma just acted weird when we first watched it so I don’t want to possibly harm her by letting her know I bought this!

“Thank you for your purchase have a nice day.” “You too ma’am” I say leaving the store and opening up the car, I place the now newspaper wrapped. I put the boy in and sigh giving him his pacifier, I was just so done with today. It was honestly fun, I like shopping and getting good deals as long as it’ not 15 shops next time.

…

Bonus

“You talked about him, do you ever know what happened to the body?” Liane asks Maggie as they approach the car.

“yes, down by the creek. He seems he wanted to go swimming but drowned. Or that’s what the police said,” Maggie explains the two women get in the car. Liane turns to face her kids but they where both past out, dead asleep.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with them honestly!”

“Let them rest. you’re a little too hard on Y/n, she’s still a child!”

“I know, Isaac reminds me. It’s just- ugh how do I explain?” she says pinching the bridge of her noise and sighs.

“She just so different from us? I know it’s not easy for neurodivergent people to make friends, but she only has Safa! And I’ve talked to her parents and she going to collage for a business degree while my baby. she, I’m just scared for her. And last night made me more scared! She could have been hurt! And she answers the phone instead! She so much like John! And I don't want her to resent or hate me just like him!"

“That child of yours is strong. Considering what she has been through, and what you have been through! I’m just happy your both here."

...

who is john?

Tag: @quittingfortgebetter @egg1sblog @ice-cream-writes-stuff @thealreadyunsteadyteddynewpaper @narucore

[hi again so I have something to share. I got an idea but not 100% sure on it again so I'm asking you guys!

the poll is here

I didn't put is here beacuse last time I could not change anything and it was very annoying so here have a good one and yeah

[reds-skull]

BLOOD||HUNGER

[PREV PART] [AO3]

This took a while because I was busy with uh... stuff...

I don't like how short it turned out, even though for my old standards it would be long.

Either way, this chapter is called "Hell Rising". Hope you enjoy!

Page 9 of the “Blooede Starvatfōre-dēde”, parable 3:

Why do you, asked the beast, Not fear me, monster of sharp bones and teeth? The blind man considers, I do not believe in beasts, I do not believe in monsters, I believe in the man’s nature, to be kind, And in his storm, to be utterly merciless, In his moon, to aid the poor, And in his sun, to burn the sinner.

Soap gets dragged to the ground by Ghost, the huge man collapsing. He snarls, “the fuck- let go!”

Ghost doesn’t let up, so he shakes his grip off. Soap looks up, mouth open to snap at the bastard, before he halts.

Ghost tries to hide everything human about him - his skin covered by layers of dark clothing, face shielded with a grotesque skull, but no matter how much he tries, he cannot hide his eyes.

Dark brown, lit by the scarlet red flares, shine up at Soap. 

And he sees in them pure, unadulterated terror. 

Soap’s breath hitches, his gut roils. In an instant, Ghost isn’t this larger-than-death soldier, a monster more than a man, a name to strike a fear greater than God.

Ghost is a man. A man that fears, just like him, that bows to the rule of nature and to the innate dread of the Reaper.

The flare near them dies down, taking with it the light gleaming in Ghost’s eyes. Soap looks down, watching him try to move his left leg, the muscles shaking with exertion. Whatever’s wrong with him, it’s spreading-

“Yer poisoned…” 

Ghost stills, so much so that Soap isn’t sure he’s breathing. “I am.” the man lets out.

Voices come closer to their position, boots crush through stalks of wheat. Torches and flares flash through the plants, casting dancing shadows over the both of them. Soap feels his heart thrumming, and he knows he must choose.

“Ghost.” he levels the man with a determined stare, and he snaps his gaze to Soap’s. “I know ye would rather leave me to die, go scurry away to whatever hell ye crawled out of.” He rises to his feet, “but we both know ye can’t. Now, would you rather die alone…”

Ghost’s head tilts, Soap offering a hand, “...or fight together?”

For a breath, nothing moves, the world plunges into darkness.

In the next, Ghost takes his hand, and rises to his full height, “don’t happen to have something in mind, do you Sergeant?”

Soap flexes his jaw, mentally going through the supplies he has left in his rucksack. Bleach, bottles, screwdriver… oh!

His lips stretch to a maniacal grin, “I do, actually.”

A rustling behind them snaps both of their focuses, “can ye walk?” Soap looks back, Ghost’s leg trembling but holding.

“Well enough for your plan?” Ghost nods to his leg.

Soap sighs, “has to be.”

Ghost nods, “lead the way.”

They drop to a crouch, slowly backing away from the soldier nearest to them. Ghost’s steps aren’t as silent as they usually are, and his steps crunch loudly. The soldier turns around, light pointing at them. They both stop moving. Soap watches his hand move towards his radio.

They get spotted, it’s over. Ghost swiftly pulls out a knife, but with his condition, Soap is not certain he’ll win.

He nabs the knife from Ghost, dashing forward.

“Shit, we got one here-!” the soldier squeaks, before Soap slams into him, landing them on the ground. He hits the radio with the hilt, shattering it. The soldier scrambles for his rifle, and Soap stabs him above his tacvest, but it’s not enough, he’s going to get the gun-

A knife drives into the man’s eye socket, and his limbs fall as if his strings were cut. Soap heaves a breath, and turns to see Ghost looming over him.

Did he just throw that knife from that angle, in complete darkness, and nailed the soldier right in the eye?!

“I had him.” Soap lies through his teeth. He takes the discarded rifle and loops the strap around his shoulder.

Ghost shakily bends down to rip his knife off of the soldier’s skull, “clearly.”

“Awa’ an bile yer heid, ye posh bastard.”

The bastard in question stares at him for a moment, and grunts, “I’ll pretend I understood that.”

Soap pushes off the body, starting for the parked vehicles, “means go fuck yourself, you overconfident arsehole.” he over enunciates.

He thinks he mishears the smile in Ghost’s voice, “much better.”

After maneuvering around several soldiers, the armored trucks left on the road come into view. Ghost’s leg got better as they continued sneaking through the field. Despite how mad he still is at the back stabbing liar, Soap can’t help but feel a smidgen of sympathy for the man. If his arm and leg were to spontaneously stop working, with no predictable pattern, he too would be terrified.

Soap continues to wonder who Ghost really is. The most likely answer is a lone merc, but… the 141 doesn’t go after such small threats.

That is, unless they pose an international threat.

They clearly knew each other… perhaps this isn’t the first time Ghost evaded them.

Soap pulls out the bag of black powder from his pack. It’s really not enough for what he wants to try, but when are the odds ever in his favor?

“Alright.” Soap turns to Ghost, “what I need is a spark plug, as much gas as we could gather, and a distraction.”

The headlights allow for him to see Ghost’s brows furrowing, “what are you going to do?”

Soap smirks, “ah, jus’ gunna blow up their convoy to high hell. Leave ‘em stranded with no lights, and we can run off into the night.”

Ghost seems to mull the plan over, scanning the trucks. He points to one in the back, further from the rest, “I’ll drive this one away. They’ll think we’re escaping with it, and run back to their vehicles…”

“... you want to blow them up.”

Ghost nods.

He exhales. It won’t be a merciful death, that one. But who says they won’t go back to killing civilians once they return to the city?

Maria and Victor flash in his mind, the fearful children left in the rain alone to die, and his heart hardens. No one had mercy for them. Not one soldier considered stopping their maddening march through the city, shooting anything that moves. Never asked whether they’re shooting parents, brothers, grandmothers, daughters, or actual threats.

Not a single one.

Suddenly, Soap doesn’t care what happens to the Hunter’s soldiers anymore.

Soap assesses the forces left by the trucks. About 8 soldiers, one for each truck. Soap has the rifle he took from the body, and a couple of knives he gathered around the city. He knows ghost has a silenced pistol, and an unknown number of knives (which he keeps pulling out of thin air like the worst magic trick in history).

Ghost must’ve noticed the wheels turning in his head, because he says, “I can take the three up front, let them make some noise and draw the others. You’ll get the spark plug and gas while they’re busy with me.”

“And how are ye gonna get back to the truck?”

The fucker just shrugs, “easy to disappear in the dark.”

Soap side eyes him, before rolling his eyes. “I’ll take out the two at the back, I see a fuel tank in the truck bed.” 

“Copy.” Ghost answers, and easily slinks away, like a predator hunting for prey. Soap readies his blade, and stalks closer to his targets.

The blood spilling down his arms doesn’t even register in his mind anymore.

Ghost’s diversion worked, maybe too well. Soap quickly finishes spilling the gas around the first truck in the chain, letting it mix with the rest of the river forming from the punctured tanks of the others.

The spark plug is rigged and ready, all he’ll need to do is throw it at the gas, and it’ll trigger the reaction. The longer they wait, however, the less strong the reaction will be, as the gasoline mixes with the oxygen in the air.

At this moment, Soap really wished they had comms. But, this isn’t a real mission, Ghost isn’t his teammate, and there are no regulations to be found.

Soap backs away, letting the wheat crops hide him again, and he waits. Keeping his head on a swivel, splitting his focus between the ruckus the soldiers are making at the front of the convoy, and the truck at the back.

He chokes on a breath when the lights turn on, the vehicle instantly shifting to drive backwards at neck breaking speed. Soap didn’t see even a hair of Ghost before that moment.

Perhaps his overconfidence isn’t that unwarranted…

Shouting fills his ears, soldiers scrambling for their trucks, not noticing the gas leaks in their hurry. A fatal mistake.

As soon as most of them are in, Soap inhales, draws his arm back…

And throws the spark plug. It hits the road with full force, igniting with a small yellowish-white flame. Instantaneously, it spreads like blood in water, and the fire encompasses the trucks. 

The first explosion is so strong it singes his nose hairs, Soap wildly thinks. He would be admiring the tall flames, if the crackling blaze wasn’t accompanied by anguished screams. He may have no remorse for the Hunter’s soldiers, but he’s not going to take joy in their death.

Ghost’s truck is far ahead, headlights turned off. Soap wonders if he’s just going to leave him here, go back to the city and do whatever ghosts do. Maybe it would be for the best, it’s not like he’s really keen on sticking with the bastard.

Still, a part of Soap doesn’t want to be betrayed again.

That part cheers on when Ghost’s form slowly comes into view, bone white skull almost glowing in the fire’s light.

The man stares at the destruction Soap caused, and returns his gaze.

“Truck’s out of fuel. You saved anything from their’s?”

Soap lifts his eyes to the sky, “...fuck.”

They’ve been walking for so long, the sun has started to rise, the stars fading away to reveal greyish dull skies.

Soap’s eyes are flagging. He hasn’t slept more than a few minutes since the first shot was fired, and while he’s used to going a long while without sleeping, he’s been on high alert the whole time. It’s starting to take a toll on him.

Ghost isn’t faring much better, not that the man is saying anything. His left leg is shaking again, almost tripping on nothing every couple of steps.

He abruptly stops, when he spots a shed not too far from them. Probably made to keep farming equipment, and looks like it’ll be cramped as all hell for men of their size, but it’s the only building for miles and fuck, he’s so tired.

“Ghost.” the masked man grunts. “We should stop to rest.”

Ghost snaps his gaze to his, then to the shed he’s pointing at, “I don’t need to sleep.” he grounds.

“Aye, aye, yer strong and ye don’t need anyone, got it. I’m not going to pick ye up if ye fall, ye big lug.”

Ghost puffs his chest like he’s about to retort, but he deflates, “...fine. I’m taking first watch.”

Soap doesn’t wait for him to follow, starting to walk towards the shed. As he gets closer, he can see just how dilapidated it is - wooden planks rotting off it’s walls, door almost falling off the hinges. He can’t wait to finally lay down.

The inside of the shed doesn’t look much better, with broken tools strewn everywhere, and a dirt floor. Soap takes a tarp off of the wobbly table, and lays it on the ground. At least this way they’re not gonna sleep on actual soil…

Ghost sits down, facing the door. Soap considers the rifle in his hands, before cautiously passing it to Ghost.

If he shoots him in the back at this point, Soap prays hell is real for him.

He lies on the tarp, his spine groaning in relief. Soap turns his back to Ghost, closing his eyes and sighing.

Ants of anxiousness climb his skin, heart refusing to calm. Soap turns around, and presses his back to the wall. He stares at Ghost for a moment. The man has his gaze glued to the door, rifle resting between his thighs. Soap never noticed the markings on the skull mask, white lines dragging down the cheekbones, like tears. 

He doesn’t mean to, but Soap’s eyes close on their own volition, and he drifts off to sleep.

“What have you done…?”

Soap looks down. His hands dripping blood. He lowers them, revealing the body of their target. Dead, neck sliced and breath choked out.

“We were supposed to bring the HVT back alive!”

His fists clench. Leaving him alive would’ve doomed the rest of the world. His screaming CO doesn’t understand, none of them understand.

The corpse rises, loose jaw swinging, blank eyes rotating in darkened sockets to leer at him.

“I’ll be seeing you again, MacTavish… I promise”

Blood drops from his mouth, filling the helo, red rising and rising until all Soap can see is the target’s laughing mouth.

“And when I do… I’ll take away everything you ever knew.”

Something shakes his shoulder, and Soap instantly grabs it, snarling as he opens his eyes. It takes him a few moments of frantically looking around to realize he will not be seeing a dead man speaking to him.

Soap looks down, to the boot he still holds in his hand. Ghost’s boot. He lets it be ripped away.

“Your turn on overwatch, Sergeant.” Ghost flatly says, standing over him. Soap’s gaze lingers on his brown eyes for a moment longer, before he rises to his feet.

He silently takes the rifle propped against the wall, and leans on the table. Ghost slowly sinks to the floor, and lays down to sleep.

He looks away, staring at his reflection in the window.

Soap wonders if that target is laughing at him from hell. Despite killing him, the man still took away everything he knew. His life’s work, his house, his friends.

Himself.

[eriquin]

The Trolley Problem, part 44

Stobin time.

(master post)

Steve thought that the drive to the library would be quiet, because Robin had been quiet and nervous when Carol and the others were around. He wondered if she’d taken the time to think about it and decided that it really was too weird to be friends with him, after all.

“I did try to call this morning,” she said. “You didn’t answer, but I guess you were out hiding El.”

“Oh. Yeah,” he said. “Coming to school was kind of a last minute decision.” 

“So was not riding my bike,” she said. “I looked at it and had, like, flashbacks to riding up to Heather’s house.”

“Sorry,” Steve said. “I didn’t really think about that. I can drive you into school, if you want.” 

Robin snorted. “God, can you imagine? I mean, people are already talking about what happened when you showed up at Heather’s party. They’re going to think we’re dating.”

He made a little noise in the back of his throat like he wasn’t sure if he agreed with her or not. It was something that he probably would’ve cared about in the original 1983, and it even annoyed him when people thought they were dating after Starcourt, but now it felt like there were worse things for people to think. “I used to drive you to school all the time, after... I mean, in the other future.”

“We need a good word for your memories so we don’t keep tripping over how we describe it,” she said. “Like, your old future? Attempt number one? Oh, it was like your dress rehearsal!” She laughed. It was a really good laugh.

“I like that,” he said. “Dress rehearsal. Don’t things always go wrong in those?”

“Yep!” Robin said. “We’ve torn up the script and are improvising now.”

“It was really more like a scrimmage, if you think about it,” Steve said. At Robin’s unimpressed look, he added, “A practice game.”

“I know what a scrimmage is, dingus,” she said. “I used to play soccer.”

Steve laughed. “Right. And then Beth Wildfire broke her leg that one time.”

“Ugh, that was the worst!” Robin said, throwing her hands up and hitting the roof of the car. “Wait, were you there for that?”

“No, you told me after Starcourt. We were dealing with someone with a really gorey injury and you thought it was relevant.” 

She pursed her lips in thought. “God, that does sound like the kind of awkward thing I’d say,” she said. “Okay, now I need to know everything else that happens in the future. And, go!”

Steve laughed. He had no idea where to start, but he answered whatever questions she came up with. It was like slipping back into his old life again. He knew that this Robin wasn’t really the same as his old Robin, but talking to her was still easy. 

“If we can get through all of this, like, survive it all? It’s going to be so weird going to school with you,” she said. “We never did that, did we? Like, if I’m doing my math right, we weren’t friends until after you graduated.”

“That’s true,” he said. “We worked together, though. First at Scoops, and then at Family Video.”

“Oh, Family Video,” she said. “That’s a great idea. I’ve been working at the Hawk, but renting videos would be better. Like, new releases are fine and all, but there’s a ton of old movies I’d love to see.”

He laughed again. “Yeah, you loved to pick old movies for us to watch during our shifts,” he said. “Double VHS tapes about doomed love and stuff. You’d get into such a mood about your love life, and you’d just wallow in it.”

She snorted. “Okay, yeah. That does totally sound like me.” She gave him a measured look as they pulled into a parking spot a block from the library. “Are you really cool about the whole, uh, liking-girls thing?” 

He grinned. “That depends. Are you going to get mad at me if I talk about our mutual love for boobies?”

Robin let out a pained squeal and flapped her hands. “Gah! Yes!” She covered her face with her hands and shook her head. “Don’t say it like that. Ugh. I hate that word.”

“I know! It’s, like, one of your verbal weaknesses.”

“Well, stop it! Or at least tell me one of yours.”

“I don’t have any,” Steve lied. He knew she didn’t believe him from the glare that she shot his way. “But I’m sure you’ll make some up. Come on, let’s go see if we can find anything about this Murray guy.”

He hadn’t been in the library in ages, but Robin walked in like she owned the place. She led the way to the back of the library, where everything was just a little bit dusty, and searched through the shelves for a minute. The pictures were still in her backpack, tucked into a folder, but she pulled them out along with a roll of tape. He kept watch as she crouched down by the lowest shelf and taped the folder to the underside of it.

“Okay, right by the Earth science books,” she said quietly. “Let’s keep walking like we’re still looking for stuff.” 

Steve nodded and continued to trail along behind her. She swung by the languages section and ran her fingers over the books until she found one about Russian.

“Why did you hide it back there instead of over here?” he whispered.

She held her finger up to his face. “Because over by languages is exactly where they would think I would hide it,” she said. “I’m subverting expectations.”

He grinned. “Got it. Thinking ahead, huh?”

“A little bit. All this spy stuff is really wild, you know?” She hefted the Russian language book in her hands and frowned. “Do you think they’ll think it’s suspicious if I start learning Russian now? Like, what if they think that makes me a potential defector instead of someone who’s trying to get the jump on the enemy?” 

“I think you might be overthinking it,” Steve said.

Robin shook her head and put the book back. “No, I’m only thinking about learning Russian because of your stories about a Russian incursion in the future. It’s not something I would do if I didn’t have future knowledge.” She started looking through the other language books, running her fingers over the spines.

He sighed and leaned against the bookcase. “You know, us hanging out isn’t something we’d be doing without future knowledge either.” 

She pouted but didn’t look up. “Maybe,” she said. “You did start talking to me in Mrs. Click’s class, though, so we’ve got plausible deniability there.” 

‘Yeah, that was weird of me, wasn’t it?” He sighed. “Sorry if it made your life harder.” 

“I don’t know about ‘harder,’ per se, but it is making people talk about me. That’s really the weird part.” She hummed and shrugged, giving up on the books. “Do you think it’s weird if people think we’re dating just because we’re hanging out?”

“Eh, there are worse things,” Steve said. “I mean, I ditched my best friends and dated Nancy for a year, and people seemed to accept that. Actually, those were probably related. They thought I was crazy to ditch my popular little clique for a girl, but I was in love, so it all made a weird amount of sense. Nobody ever thought it was about monsters or psychics or stuff.”

“You dated Nancy Wheeler? For a whole year?” Robin wrinkled up her nose again. “How did that work out?”

“Uh, it didn’t,” he said. “Like, we really screwed each other up and she broke my heart. That’s how it worked out.”

“Oh, buddy.”

“Yeah, and she obviously doesn’t remember any of it now, so that’s, like, super weird for me.” He pushed his hair out of his face. “Also, she’s so young now. Like, I know I’m young, too, but it really doesn’t feel like it, you know?”

She shook her head. “Actually, I have no idea. How far in the future are you from? Like, three years? Is it really that big a difference?”

Steve grimaced. “You wouldn’t think so, but it really feels like it. In my head, I’m almost twenty.” He tapped his forehead for emphasis. “Meanwhile, Nancy’s sixteen? Maybe fifteen? That’s closer to what I remember the kids being than my own age. It’s screwing me up.” He blew out a breath and looked around. “And the kids look like actual babies right now. Like, I want to put them in a playpen so they don’t fall down the stairs. It’s so weird.”

Robin started to giggle and shook her head. “That is patently ridiculous, you know that, right?”

“I know! But they’re going on about making traps for the demogorgon and I just can’t...” He sighed and shook his head. “Will is the worst about it, too! I thought he’d be more scared after being chased by the thing, but it’s like he wants to fight it the most.” 

“Oh, I know!” She put her hand on his arm and lowered her voice. “I mean, speaking as someone who has also been chased by the thing, I am extremely scared of seeing it again.” 

“See? That’s a sensible reaction.”

“Yeah, your children might actually be crazy,” she said. “Like, certifiable.”

Steve sighed. “I can’t even stop people from calling them my children when I’m not their babysitter,” he said. “It’s like it’s fate.”

They ended up sitting on the floor near the language books rather than go back out into the rest of the library. It was quiet back there, and they kept their voices low enough to not carry far. No one came by to bother them. Robin picked his brain about what sorts of things were going to happen at the school over the next year. Steve could only remember the dramas related to teammates and their girlfriends, but that was enough for her. She filled him in on the ongoing band kids drama, which was fascinating in its own way. 

“I mean, that’s what I knew as of yesterday,” Robin said. “I was just so excited to get invited to Heather’s party that I didn’t even think about how weird it was, you know? Like, Tammy has been noticing me more lately, but I didn’t put it together that it was because she was jealous of you talking to me. I really should have.”

“And I should’ve left you alone,” Steve said. “I mean, it all makes sense in hindsight, but I was totally forgetting about what my social standing in the school meant. The same thing happened to Nancy when we started dating, the first time around. I get why she was pissed at me for ditching her.” 

She pursed her lips. “Yeah, I get it in theory. She must’ve really liked you.”

“She thought she did, anyway.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I can be, like, super charming when I try.”

She snorted. “Sure you can, champ.” 

“So cruel.” Steve put the back of his hand to his forehead and pretended to be hurt. “I would prove it if flirting with literally any high school girl didn’t feel like cradle robbing right now.” 

She snorted again and tipped her head back, clearly trying not to laugh too hard. “Guess you’re out of luck for a while, huh? Gotta wait until everyone catches up to your mental age?” 

“Guess so.”

“Or start flirting with the boys instead.” She grinned. “Now that would really prove that you’re charming.”

Steve’s brain stuttered to a halt as he considered it. “I... Wouldn’t I have the same problem, though?” he asked. “I guess maybe not. A lot of the high school boys look the same as they’re gonna in three years.”

Robin gaped at him. “I was joking.”

“Oh. Yeah.” He shrugged. “So was I, obviously.” 

“Steve.” She gave him a look that said that she didn’t believe him.

The squeaky wheels of the library cart interrupted them, and a librarian came around the corner. She glared at them. “It’s almost closing time, you know.’

Steve checked his watch. It was close to six. “Crap,” he said as he scrambled to his feet. “It’s probably dark by now. I have to go meet with Wayne.” 

“You should go,” Robin said. She threw all her things into her backpack and pulled it on. “I’ll call my dad to pick me up. He’ll be home by now.”

He hesitated. “Are you sure? I can drive you.”

“I’m sure,” she said. “I don’t need you dropping me off again. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.” She grinned and winked at him. 

“We totally didn’t look anything up about that Murray guy, you know,” he said. They walked to the front of the library together. 

Robin shrugged it off, but she bummed a dime off of him to call home. He recognized her mom’s voice on the phone, and she sounded a little frantic. Robin reassured her that she was all right, and that she just needed a ride home from the library. 

When she hung up, she turned to Steve and said, “So, apparently the cops have been by my house looking for me. I guess I should’ve told my folks about Heather’s party, huh?”

Steve grimaced. “Uh, yeah. Probably,” he said. “Should I wait around and explain things?”

“God no,” she said. “That’ll just mean more questions. Just go do the thing you need to do. I’ll see you at school tomorrow, right?” 

“Right.”

“And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your ‘joke’ from earlier,” she said, shaking her finger at him. ‘We’re going to talk about that later.”

They parted at the door. Steve waited in his car until he saw Robin’s mom pull up. He just needed to know that she was going to get home safe. Once he was sure, he headed out to Hopper’s cabin.

Tagging: @neonfruitbowl

[clickerflight]

Fallen: Part 10 - Phoenix

YOOOO have you read the Dragon's den stuff? It's in my Crestlen list if you're interested (please don't mind any awkwardness or plot holes. You know how old writing is) Anyways, Phoenix and Lynx :3

Masterlist - Part 9

Content - Villain whumpee, hallucinations, a bit of internal angst

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

Wake up, Kolt. He’s coming. He’s coming. Wake up. 

Kolt shot upright in bed, ignoring his sore muscles and aching his head as he slammed his hands over his ears. “Get out of my head!” he said urgently, pleadingly. “Get out!”

Watcher only laughed, the two tones echoing at a nail scratching dissonance before fading away. 

Kolt sat like that for a very long moment, rocking a little, listening to the rush of his own blood and pulse. He slowly relaxed and pulled his hands away from his ears to hear knocking at his door. His heart still raced, but he told himself he was fine. It was just a hallucination, and even though Watcher was unsettling, he wasn’t the worst of the three. 

“Kmm, come in,” Kolt said, clearing his dry throat.

The door opened and Dalley poked his head in, eyes tracing the covers that had been thrown to the floor, the big sweater on Kolt’s boney shoulders slipping down and the sheets tangled in his legs. “Are you alright? I thought I heard shouting.”

Kolt sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “Sorry. It was… a dream. I’m fine.”

He wasn’t fine. He didn’t need anyone knowing about it yet, though. 

Dalley hummed, looking Kolt over one more time. “Would you like some food?”

Kolt didn’t really feel like eating. He had enjoyed the food he’d had for dinner, but there wasn’t as much fun in eating as there used to be. He could only see it all as nutrients. Something to keep him going, something he needed to eat to regain his body mass and to keep from feeling so weak all the time. So, he wasn’t really hungry, but he replied positively anyways. 

Dalley had breakfast ready on the table as Kolt came out of the bathroom. He still felt so shaky. Like he was liable to fall at any moment, and it didn’t help that he couldn’t really see well enough to avoid the warps and wrinkles in the beautiful old rugs and carpets Dalley had around the place. 

Kolt was halfway through the meal when he noticed something was wrong. 

“Dalley?” he asked hesitantly. 

“Mm?” Dalley asked, looking up. 

Kolt leaned forward to see his expression better. The doctor seemed worried, almost. Distracted, certainly. “Is something wrong? You didn’t get my test results back already, did you?”

“Oh, no, no nothing’s wrong, Kolt,” Dalley said quickly. “I’m just thinking is all.”

“I know you, Dalley. I know it has been a while, but if you haven’t moved out of your hole, then you have not changed all that much,” Kolt replied. “You’re only this quiet when you’re worried about something.”

Dalley looked at the door. Kolt only just barely caught the slight movement of his chin as he couldn’t really see which way Dalley was looking as the colors all blended together. 

“Someone’s coming.”

Dalley hissed a little, lifting his cup of tea to try and hide behind it a little bit. “How do you do that?”

“Dalley, who is coming?”

The doctor sighed softly. There was a long moment before he said, “I didn’t want to tell anyone you were here, but Phoenix must have known something.”

“Phoenix is coming? Here?”

“Yes. I couldn’t hide you being here from him.”

Kolt… wanted to hide. He was surprised at himself. He really truly wanted to hide. Not because he thought Phoenix would hurt him or laugh at him, but because he didn’t want the pity, the sympathy, that would come with the visit. He didn’t want platitudes, he didn’t want condolences or reassurance. He wanted to pretend like none of this happened and move on. He wanted to heal, to forget about the box and the jar and leave the hallucinations far in the past. 

He wasn’t going to have that luxury though. Not with the way it was written on his face. Not when the scars showed so plainly that something terrible had happened to him and there was nothing he could do to erase it. 

“Do you have any clothing I could borrow? Something more proper for a visit with him?” Kolt asked, pushing those thoughts aside. Maybe he would have time to brush his hair, maybe even get a proper trim. 

“That’s the smallest item of clothing I have,” Dalley said regretfully. “I might be able to find smaller sweatpants?”

Kolt looked down at the clothing he had been wearing, rumpled with sleep and drowning him in their folds. The pants held on only because they had drawstrings Kolt could pull tight and tie. 

“Maybe there is time to buy some clothing?” Kolt said, the words falling flat even as they came out. 

Dalley opened his mouth to answer, but they were both cut off as the door opened. 

Kolt stiffened, looking up at the shadowy figure. The man was too far away to see, but that didn’t matter. Kolt wouldn’t have been able to make out his features even if he had the vision of a hawk. Phoenix was said to be descended from a family of true shapeshifters, a power lost long ago, but Kolt wasn’t too certain if he believed it. Everything about Phoenix was purposefully misleading and confusing. Well, almost everything. His good mood was always true. 

Kolt was surprised to see more movement behind Phoenix as another figure followed him. The posture was something protective, ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Phoenix didn’t need or want bodyguards. Who was this?

Still, Kolt stood up, facing his ally on semi stable feet. 

“Phoenix. It’s been a long time,” Kolt said, adding a deeper tone to his voice, trying to mimic…. His old self? When did he stop being Kolt? When did he become this pitiful creature? He had worked so hard not to break! Where did these cracks come from? Who…

“Kolt! It is good to see you again, even under the circumstances,” Phoenix said, crossing the room eagerly. His voice was the same as ever, thankfully. 

Kolt was about to speak, to say something friendly in return and laugh this whole thing off, but it was all choked down as Phoenix threw his arms around Kolt, hugging him tight. 

Kolt barely breathed, the hug scaring him more than he could reason. Maybe it was because it felt like a key to unlock every bit of fear and grief he had been steadily trapping and rationalizing before locking it away for as long as he could. 

“I was so worried about you,” Phoenix whispered against Kolt’s ear. “You’re one of my favorite allies, kay? Maybe even a friend you don’t mind the term so much anymore.”

Kolt had forgotten how open Phoenix was. He had forgotten how caring and loving he had been. He’d forgotten this kindness. 

“I don’t,” he found himself saying, carefully wrapping his arms around Phoenix in return. How stupid of him to turn this affection away back in the day. He was worried about being double crossed, perhaps, but Phoenix wasn’t that kind of man. 

Phoenix pulled away, but not too far. His searching eyes came into focus. They were a warm brown color this time. So unlike the pale blue they often were in the past, before this all happened to Kolt. 

“I’ll pay for your surgeries. You’ll be under my care until you’re back on your feet,” Phoenix promised. “You should rest, of course, but I have dearly missed your intellect, my friend. If I had a dollar for every time I had wished you were there to bounce ideas off of, I would be twice as rich as I am today.”

“Kmm, business is going well then?” Kolt asked, a little weakly. 

“It has. We had a hiccup with some companies trying to make some legal version of supersoldiers, but we’ve been dealing with it quite handily. Oh, which reminds me.”

He turned and beckoned to the other figure, who prowled forward. Not in a threatening way. That seemed to just be the way he moved. 

“This is my new partner, Lynx,” Phoenix said. “He was one of those ‘legal supersoldiers’ I mentioned.”

Lynx nodded to Kolt, still not close enough to see clearly. “Phoenix has told me about you,” Lynx said. “It’s good to finally meet you.”

Kolt nodded in return as Phoenix said, “You should sit down, Kolt. You’ve had a hard run of it.”

Kolt could feel an old version of himself trying to say he was strong enough to stand, but this Kolt was tired. He knew now that it was idiotic to deny yourself rest when you needed it. A lesson hard learned in those cages.

So, he sat down and Phoenix and Lynx joined him at the table. 

“Hey, Dalley,” Phoenix said, elbowing the doctor. “Good to see you. Sorry for barging in like this.”

“It’s alright, sir. Can I get you anything?”

“Lynx and I have already eaten. Thanks. Unless you want anything, Lynx.”

Lynx opened his mouth automatically to respond but he hesitated, thinking. “You know what, yeah I’ll take something. Those scones look good.”

“Feel free. I have more jams to choose from in the fridge if you would like. Coffee? Tea?”

“Coffee would be wonderful, yes. Thank you.”

Kolt allowed himself to relax, despite one of the most powerful men in the city sitting at the table with him, despite his underdressed state, despite everything. Why had he ever shied away from Phoenix’s offers of friendship before?  

“Now we just need to sort out who to get involved in your care, Kolt, and find Gale and we’ll be set. He’s still out there looking for you, you know. He went deep undercover and-”

“He’s the one that helped me get out. They have him.”

Silence fell over the small group of four. “He… I thought you escaped on your own? I saw the footage.”

“I wasn’t trapped at that building originally. He was caught trying to free me from…. The lab? I don’t know where I was. I-”

Kolt yelped, leaping out of his chair and backing up against the wall. 

Beater, clear and grinning was coming in through the closed window, coming around the table and approaching Kolt quickly. 

Kolt cleared his throat, trying to calm himself down. It was just a hallucination. 

“I thought I saw a spider, sorry,” Kolt said, stepping deftly around Beater as he threw a punch, vanishing as his fist hit the wall with a low chuckle. “I must still be jumpy. Sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Phoenix said, though concern colored his words. “Come sit down and have some tea. Now, tell me everything you remember about that place and we’ll see about finding Gale.”

Kolt nodded, sitting back down and glancing over his shoulder, his heart still hammering in his chest. It was fine. He was fine. Focus. Calm. Rational. It was all fine. 

So, he focused and recounted details from his time in captivity, including all of the names he remembered hearing, ignoring the way Gambler tapped impatiently at the door. 

Part 11

Fallen taglist: @looptheloup @kira-the-whump-enthusiast @snakebites-and-ink @starsick1979

[jennyandvastraflint]

Xena Reactions S3Ep4. Aka WOAH THAT'S A LOT OF TRAUMA FOR MY POOR GABRIELLE Part 1 😭

Ffs why is Ares here AGAIN

OH who is THIS

Discord?? She kinda 👀 (gosh her outfit)

Ares you are so mfing UGLY I hate your stupid beard

Call him out, Discord 😍

GABRIELLEEEE

Hehe she's doing philosophy

Gosh Xena is silly silly

HER SLAPPING GABRIELLE TO STOP HER

BRITANNIA

CAESAR. FUCK.

Oh that did something to her. Poked that trauma, hu

Damn her listing stuff

"You know her?"

Why is there a dude with only one god again

"And to destroy Caesar" EPIC MUSIC. OHOHOHHH. She's gonna go REVENGE

"Xena doesn't hate Romans. Just Caesar."

Damn, Xena actually telling Gabrielle stuff? 😂

"The gods I know are trouble enough"

Sdbfhhdhdd HE MATERIALISED AROUND THE SWORD

Jesus Ares, fuck YOOOUUU

oh I hate this Ares whispering in her ear. I'd genuinely rather have Joxer here compared to Ares... Like if I had to choose. Preferably I want neither.

Is this Gabrielle's boyfriend of the week 😑

GABRIELLE BELIEVES IN LOVE TO XENA THO

I love Gabrielle teaching sb what Xena taught her

GABRIELLE GENTLY ASKING WHAT'S UP ❤️

I love them talking 😊

They really said Damn we got a ship now, let's put like four episodes on a boat!

How's the view from up there

Ohhh, is she sending morse code

"Yes, sir. They're headed north" ehdhdhd

A chariot again. Damn makes me nostalgic for Callisto

OH A HOT WOMAN

Damn Xena and that woman definitely fucked in the past. They have divorced sapphics energy

I dearly love that you actually see something in these night scenes. As opposed to new shows

GABRIELLE NOOOOOOO!!!!

I love women btw.

"Because your hatred for him won't allow you to be elsewhere" Oh she read her like a scroll of parchment

AHHHHH XENA LIKE "No that's impossible"

Oh shit she's about to murder someone bc her gf isn't here (*cough* Xena and Vastra are so alike-)

oh fuck yea...

And her ex kneeew

"Nooo." ough

Stop manhandling Gabrielle my babygirl

Pls she's so FEISTY😍😊

YUCK. CAESAR

Hi Karlchen.

OH. GABRIELLE IS TRYING TO SELL HERSELF SHORT SO SHE CAN'T BE USED TO BLACKMAIL XENA

Shit r they gonna threaten to crucify Gabrielle

Ohhh, is Xena gonna infiltrate

EW. STRAIGHT AGENDA (I knooow it's just a cover but still)

Eepy Gabrielle

Uh oh. I hate how smart Caesar is...

NOOOOOOOOO THEY PUT GABRIELLE UP

NO. NOPEEEE NOT THE BROKEN LEGS That's so fucked up

Xena's gonna save her

HA. She knew they were gonna bring them there.

Haha, Caesar's dumbstruck face

GABRIELLE CAN YOU MAKE BIGGER HEART EYES AT XENA

"Timing. We've got to work on timing."

HER CATCHING GABRIELLE 😍

She split his spear!!!

AHAHA FUCKING LOSER GOT HURT.

Rip his banner!!!

Oh, now his massive ego is scratched

NOT GABRIELLE APOLOGISING FOR BEING CAPTURED 😭😭😭

Awww, poor thems

Oh fuck they're taking the temple

Their shield formation and Xena just jumps them... 😂

Mmmmm... Not sure I like that. I'm calling the temple is a trap honestly... This went too smoothly

Oh Xena is enjoying this TOO much

And of course Ares is back.......

Ares stop shouting.

"Trust me, Xena!" "Based on what?" YES

Uhhhh why does this have the vibe of sacrificial virgin.....

Is their one god Chaos

Innocent blood? OH FUCK Gabrielle's blood innocence isn't it

NOOOOO, GABRIELLE

Mmmmmmh...

O_O GABRIELLE STABBED HER. SHE JUST KILLED FOR THE FIRST TIME

This is gonna let the god come out

WTFFFFFFF

I hate this guy

GABRIELLE MY POOR GIRL 😭😭😭

SHE'S SCREAMING, SOMEONE GO HUG HER. XENA!!!! YOUR GF IS IN DANGER

Oh she is enjoying that revenge on Xena bit too much

"That's where Gabrielle is" HUAGGHH

SHE HUGS HER. SHE HOLDS HER AWWWW

"No, Gabrielle, you couldn't"

"Accidentally!!!" "No, I stabbed her"

POOR GABRIELLE!!! SHE'S HIDING BEHIND XENA. PROTECTIVE XENA.

"What have you done to her, you BASTARD!?" She's big mad

Oh fuck. They wanna welcome that god and there's a battle about to begin outside

GABRIELLE!!!! FIRE. MY POOR BABY

Xena is so frightened for her gf

She's hovering over flames

Damn what a thin stone wall

HOLD ON GABRIELLE

Xena was scratched :(

BOOB KNIFE!!!

Xena is so sexy honestly

"Great at WHAT?" OH SHE'S THROWING HIM IN AND SAVING HER WIFEY

"I got you, I got you" Aaaaaaah

THEY'RE SO CLOSE. XENA IS SO PROTECTIVE OF HER

Kaboom

OUGH THEY'RE SO

"It hurts inside" OUGH sobbing. Gabrielle got me sobbing

Damn those are some CGI'd ruins

Also they really just abandoned the supposed A plot of the battle. That was SO smart tho. Like, from a story perspective. It was brilliantly executed.

[legolasghosty]

So. About a year ago, the lovely Innytoes created a list of spicy writing prompts. And I, being the dorky ace that I am, decided to take it as a personal challenge to see just how UN-spicy I could do some of said prompts. The actual giving of prompts was kept to a few friends, and it was mostly a silly thing back when I could actually sit down and spin up a one shot in an evening. (A few of said prompts actually made it to ao3 at various points, you can read them here, here, here, and here!)

HOWEVER, I took a couple of the prompts off of the list before I offered it to my friends for prompts. Mostly cause I just had no idea how to make said prompts not sexual. But one of them has continued to haunt me for over a frigging year now! SO, here's some little snippets of how one could de-saucy-ify the prompt, "The lube is what flavor?"

Option 1 -

"Okay so what am I supposed to be getting again?" Alex asked, the phone to his ear as he entered the O'Reillys.

He heard Bobby groan on the other end of the call. "We've been over this at least five times, Lex." Alex could feel his exasperated glare without even seeing him.

"I'm sorry," Alex sighed. "I just know literally nothing about car fluids. Blame the gay in me or whatever."

"You do realize I'm gay too, right?" Bobby pointed out. "But again, you're looking for silicon lubricant. And for the love of God, don't get that Red and Tacky garbage Chad 'recommended'."

"I'm sorry, the lube is what flavor?!" Alex demanded, turning onto the aisle marked 'Fluids'.

"You're not supposed to-whatever-just get the silicon stuff," Bobby said instead of answering. "Valvoline usually works just fine."

Alex glanced around at the overwhelming shelves of bottles and jugs. He drummed out the beat to a song Luke and Julie had shown them the day before on his leg as he narrowed down the options. There, that looked right.

"Okay I found it," he told Bobby. "But you're explaining how car lube can be 'red and tacky' to me later."

"Deal," Bobby responded, sounding relieved.

Option 2 -

"-and the vocal folds need to be kept moist," Julie explained.

Luke nodded, but Julie knew she was losing him. His vocal health notes had dissolved into scribbles and half-finished lyrics. She'd better wrap this up.

"So they're naturally lubricated with a really thin layer of mucus," she continued. "And in order to keep that layer thin and stuff, you have to stay properly hydrated."

She paused to pick up the light blue plastic water bottle from the studio floor. But when she looked back up to whack him with it, the mostly full container seeming like a decent way to make a point, he was already staring at her, eyes full of confusion.

"What?" Julie asked, one hand flying automatically up to her ponytail to see if it had come loose or something.

"The lube is what flavor?" Luke asked, mouth hanging open a bit.

"I-what?" Julie asked again, now feeling almost as confused as her bandmate looked.

"The voice cord lube stuff," Luke responded. "You said it's like mucus. But isn't that just... snot? Your voice is covered in stuff that tastes like snot?!"

Julie tried to hold back. She really did. But she failed. She burst out laughing, dropping Luke's water bottle in a futile attempt to hide it. "Luke, mucus is more than just snot," she tried to explain through her giggles. "But yes, that's what keeps your vocal cords moist."

Luke shook his head. To all the world, he may have looked like a man who'd just been told he was colorblind, that everyone else could see a universe of shades his eyes couldn't comprehend.

But only Julie would know the truth. At least some part of her mini-lecture on vocal health got through.

Option 3 -

"Okay, and then pass me the 205?" Flynn requested, holding out a hand to Reggie, who was sitting on the floor along with most of Flynn's tools.

"Um, the what?" Reggie asked sheepishly, glancing around at the various brushes, screwdrivers, and small tubes surrounding him.

"Oh, the switch lube," Flynn clarified, pointing at a small jar. "It's GPL 205G0, and there's lots of types of keyboard lubricant, so we usually just use the numbers to ID them."

"Oh, right, sure," Reggie responded, passing her the container. "Sorry. Computers aren't really my thing."

"Well that's what you have me for," Flynn pointed out, smirking. "I fix your glitchy keyboard, you keep me from failing math."

Reggie laughed and leaned back against Flynn's bed while she worked. After a minute, she passed him back the jar and started fitting the keys back into place. He entertained himself by inspecting the black lid.

"Wait, so the lube is what flavor?" he asked, looking up at Flynn again. "Da-vinny-key?"

"Divinikey," Flynn corrected easily. "And that's a brand, not a flavor. Please don't eat keyboard lubricant."

"Well I wasn't planning on it..." Reggie said, letting his sentence trail off suggestively.

"Reginald Jacob Peters, you wouldn't dare," Flynn warned, shooting him a glare over her shoulder.

He held her eyes for one moment. Two. Three. Fo-

Reggie burst out laughing, with Flynn only a moment behind.

"I make no promises," Reggie wheezed as he got his breath back.

"I'm not taking you to the hospital when it poisons you," Flynn shot back, her grin betraying her words.

Thank goodness Reggie's keyboard was done already.

Thank you, sorry for wasting your time with my brain worm!

[darkyanderesworld]

Blood and gold 3

Part 1 part 2

T/w: mild gore, blood, death, platonic yandere stuff, abandonment issues

I was supporting Tanigaki as we were walking. His leg was still causing him trouble. Because we were rushing, he couldn't properly cover our tracks, so I was constantly looking around, scared that we might be spotted. I was lost in my thoughts before tuged me to go in a certain direction. "Walk In the Bears' footsteps." He said sternly. I did as I was told, but if we're walking in the same direction of the bear tracks, could we run into a bear? I tried not to think about it too much. "Do you think they'll find us?" I asked in a shaky voice. Tanigaki pulled me into a hug, trying to confort me. "We are going to be fine. Just do what you're told." Then we continued to follow the tracks until we found a half buried dear. "I'm going to set up a trap. You find a good place we can hide and get a good view of the deer." I nodded and walked around, looking for someplace that isn't too close or too far. I eventually found a place that could hide both of us. I couldn't help but think what the trap was going to do, but if this could keep us alive, we need to do it. By now, the sun has fallen, and it has gotten really cold, which left me shivering and alone. I couldn't see much, so when I felt someone touch me, I screamed, but my mouth was covered quickly. "Shhhh, it's me calm down." He kept his hand over my mouth for a few seconds before letting go, then pulling me into his lap while wrapping his cloak around me. "We need to keep warm." He said, holding me tightly against him. It was warm, but I didn't like being held, so I started to squirm. Which didn't make him budge, so I just gave up, and we stayed like this until daybreak. Tanigaki set up a fire near the deer, and it eventually caught the attention of the two men. The soldier who walked up to the fire was the one who had his hands on Huci.

I had no idea what Tanigaki had planned, and I kinda felt bad for the man. But out of nowhere, a bear came out and attacked the man, I was about to scream, but my mouth was covered again. The sight of him being mauled terrified me his blood stained the snow around him red. His screams of pain and for help didn't help either. At least i knew what the other soldier's name was 'ogata.' I'll remember that. Ogata did eventually shoot the bear, and that allowed Tanigaki to find him and shoot him. I covered my eyes so I didn't have to see it. Soon, i felt arms wrap around me and held me tightly. "Everything Is going to be alright. If we didn't kill them, they would've killed us." Tanigaki said softly. It was kinda comforting, but It wouldn't get the image of the blood out of my head. A voice interrupted us, and I quickly grabbed my gun, but Tanigaki stopped me. "Don't move!" However, Tanigaki seemed to know this person. But I didn't listen to their conversation. I didn't care. Though it was nice to be around someone friendly. "Who Is this? Is she your sister?" The man was talking about me, and before I said anything, Tanigaki answered. "Yes, she is my sister. She came to check on me." That answer seemed to satisfy the man, and he talked about us coming with him to talk to lieutenant tsurumi. Tanigaki seemed hesitant about it, and the soldier noticed. "Tanigaki, what's wro-" before he could finish, he was shot in the head. Tanigaki didn't bother to try and cover my cry of fear, probably because we weren't in as much danger. we quickly rushed back to asirpa's village, not staying around too long. When we returned, Huci and osoma were happy to see us. He ran up to me and hugged me tightly.

"(Y/n)! You're back!" He yelled. I honestly wasn't too enthusiastic. What happened earlier had just made me tired. Huci allowed me to sleep in the common room next to Tanigaki, I was too terrified to be alone. I lay next to him with my head in his lap, and he ran his hands through my hair. Though I couldn't get much sleep, the images of the dying men plagued my mind. Tanigaki felt bad for doing this to me, so he tried his best to comfort me. After a few days, sugimoto, asirpa, and shiraishi returned. It was nice to see that they were alright, though they could tell something was off about me. "Is everything alright (y/n)?" asirpa asked, walking up to me. I didn't want to tell them about what happened. "Just tired, I couldn't get much sleep." I said half lying. I wasn't able to sleep much. I then noticed the new man in the room asirpa quickly answered before I could ask. "This is my father's old friend Kiroranke." He gave me a friendly smile. "I assume you're asirpas friend." I nodded as everyone got comfortable. Tanigaki was on my left, and sugimoto was on my right. it was clear to me that sugimoto didn't want Tanigaki close to me, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, holding me close. I didn't pay much attention as they talked about getting to abashiri prison. "Hey, are we taking (y/n) with us, or are we leaving her behind again?" Shiraishi asked, which started to get me worried, I didn't want to be left behind again. "Well, if I'm not going with you guys, I might as well leave. There's no point if I just stay here all the time." What I said seemed to make a few of them tense up, but sugimoto quickly answered. "No, you're coming with us." This had made me happy I'm not being left behind again!

We were going to leave in the morning, so I tried to get some sleep even if it wasn't much. This time, I rested my head on sugimoto's lap. Tanigaki wasn't too happy with this, but he couldn't do much as he didn't want to disturb me. My nightmare was a bit more tolerable compared to the last few nights, so I got more rest. In the morning, we got ready to leave, but Tanigaki wasn't joining us, I walked over to say goodbye. "See you soon!" I said, sounding excited, and he patted my head affectionately before we left for Sapporo. When we got there, most of the group headed over to a gun shop. I stayed outside, not wanting to be around more guns, and asirpa joined me. "Are you alright? Why do you always avoid guns?" She asked me. "I dislike the loud noises, but I can tolerate them if I need to. So I avoid guns." I said honestly, not wanting to lie, asirpa nodded like she understood. I'd assume she would as she typically uses a bow and arrows. Soon enough, the rest of the group joined us. "There is a hotel nearby we are going to rest there for now." Kiroranke said softly. Was he eavesdropping? Though I couldn't accuse him of anything just yet, I needed to wait. When we entered it looked very nice never been in a place like this though I could feel something was off so I held onto sugimoto's jacket for a form of comfort he quickly noticed this and held me close to his. "Is she your daughter?" I sweet lady's voice came from the top of the stairs. Before I could respond, Kiroranke spoke up. "No, I'm her father. That's just her friend." I was confused. Why did he claim me as his daughter. Heck, why was almost everyone acting overprotective? Did I have something they wanted? I was too lost in thought, and everyone noticed it. "(Y/n) are you alright?"

Shiraishi asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face that quickly snapped me back to reality. "Sorry..." I apologized in a small voice, I was very embarrassed. "Is this a common occurrence? She may need to see a doctor." The lady said before she started to lead us to our rooms they rented two rooms with two beds in each. Now, who do I stay with? Before i could say anything, Kiroranke put his hand on my shoulder. "She can stay with me." He said while smiling at me. I couldn't lie it felt nice to be wanted by someone. But sugimoto was clearly not happy and pulled me away. "She'll stay with us." He said while glaring at me. Things were tense for a bit, but Kiroranke just sighed. "Alright then." He sounded disappointed but didn't push it further. There was an awkward silence for a bit, so I just quickly walked off. However, asirpa followed after me. "(Y/n) are you alright?" She asked before I got to the door. "I'm just overwhelmed, that's all." Asirpa didn't seem less worried, but before she could say anything else, Kiroranke joined us. "What's wrong?" He sounded very worried, but I didn't want to be fully honest, I didn't want to push anyone away. Before they could question me further, a large man with a black suit came down the stairs. I froze as I recognized him. He was the one who chased shiraishi. I hid behind Kiroranke in fear he might recognize me. Both he and asirpa noticed this, though when I saw sugimoto walking down the stairs, I relaxed a bit. The man and sugimoto talked about judo before grabbing each other for a few seconds before letting go.

"I like you drinks on me." I was about to walk away until Kiroranke and asirpa pushed to the door. I internally cursed. I didn't want to be around this man. But I eventually followed them to a restaurant, I am a very picky eater, so I thought it was a bad idea. So when rice curry was put in front of me, I looked at it with apprehension. Asirpa joined in but for a different reason. "C'mon, you two, it's good." Sugimoto said, trying to get us to eat. Asirpa was the first to break and took a bite. She then looked defeated. "It's so hinna..." Sugimoto then looked at me, I wasn't going to budge any time soon, but both asirpa and sugimoto gave me a look that said they'll force feed me if necessary. So I took a bite it wasn't the best thing but I tolerated it, this satisfied both sugimoto and asirpa. Eventually alcohol came, and eventually, everyone but me got tipsy, except for me. I always hated alcohol but not for its taste. Though it was entertaining to watch the others have fun and asirpa grabbed the man's forehead mound thingy and tried to pull it off. I desperately wanted to run when they started to talk a dick stuff. It was very uncomfortable for me anyway, and everyone got up to leave. The man mentioned having the hotel owner waiting in his room. I left before he could go into more detail, though I tried to go somewhere away from the hotel. I was picked up by sugimoto before I could get far.

"It's time to go to bed (y/n)." I spoke like I was a baby. It irritated the hell out of me. He only put me down when we were in our room and set me down on the bed. I couldn't get far as he made me lay down next to me. He wasn't too close but enough to know if I moved. And things weren't helped when asirpa lay on my other side, sandwiching me so I couldn't escape. It was going to be a long night.

(A/n): Merry Christmas!

[magicspace114]

New Guardians part 2

Just a warning, this gets a bit violent towards the end.

There was a lot of moisture in the air that morning as you continued to follow the path up the mountainside. The fog layer was ruining your view but you knew there was a beautiful spot to sit just further up. You helped Tillen and Toby climb over the stile and into the next field.

Lovik was buzzing energetically around you all, flying in circles to work off his excess energy without getting too far away. You chuckled at him as he passed.

"How much further? I'm getting hungry," Toby grumbled.

"We're almost there," you smiled, "trust me, you'll love it. It's beautiful up there."

Tillen walked up close to you so she could talk lowly without Toby overhearing, "I still don't like how we had to hide from your family."

"What don't you like about it?"

"How we're isolating ourselves," Tillen let out a low growl, "we're away from the pack, that makes us vulnerable."

"Tillen, you don't even like my pack," you laughed.

"Yes but there was still a sense of structure and protection. We had shelter, food and warmth. Totobyc needs a lot warmer temperatures than your ambient climate."

"This will only be an outing," you said, "I don't intend on putting any of you at risk. Once we've had our picnic, we'll head to a hotel somewhere that'll be a lot warmer." Tillen didn't say anything else but she was still rather nervous for the rest of the walk up.

Eventually, the fog cleared and the sun shone down on the valley below. Toby gawked at the view, not noticing you'd stopped and put your stuff down. You ruffled his hair, opening your bags and cutting the bread up into small pieces for everyone.

"This is amazing," Lovik flew around them all, still a little hopped up on sugar but also the excitement of seeing the views around him. He landed down on the ground next to Tillen as she settled.

"How did you know about this place?" Toby asked, looking back at you.

"I enjoy hiking," you said, "it's good for my mental health, I just get to sit in the present and admire the view."

"So you do this walk regularly?" Lovik asked, "is this common among your species? I'd have thought you'd stick to your cities and towns were it's safer."

"Lots of people do," you nodded, "but even then, it's good to get out and see something new, you know?"

"This smells just like Pola," Toby held up his piece of bread.

"Want peanut butter on it?" You asked. Toby nodded and watched you make up his sandwich for him.

Tillen stuck her beak into one of the bags where you knew you'd put the cooked ham in. She was more focused on that than the bread while Lovik was just excited to be out, mostly looking around and chasing a couple flies that got close.

You helped both of them to make up their sandwiches before making your own. Peace washed over you as you sat eating with your new alien friends. Tillen had relaxed considerably more. The breeze was cool and the sky was clearing up above you.

You tilted your head up, taking a deep breath of fresh air. Only then did you notice a strange, faint shape in the sky. It wouldn't have even registered to you as anything if it weren't for your attention and knowledge that there were aliens around. You squinted up at it before a blue beam shot down on the ground in front of you.

You jumped up, instinctively pulling Toby behind you and Tillen's jacket fell off her as she flared her wings in threat at the three figures that had suddenly appeared.

The one in front was a bulky figure, covered head to toe in navy body armour and a visor over its eyes. A pair of horns shot out of the top of its skull with a white, furry snout sticking out below the visor. It had a long, thin tail with a tuft of hair at the end and it stood on two legs, holding one of those electrifying staffs that Toby had stolen during his prison break.

The two other figures were a mismatch of bright orange or red scaly limbs, two pairs of arms each, carrying assault rifles that really looked a lot like regular earth ones with pretty lights on them and a curly cable attaching it to the suits the aliens wore.

Tillen hissed when she saw them but you weren't as intimidated as you thought you'd be. It was hard to take them seriously. "You gearing up to play laser tag?"

"Laser tag?" The guard in front asked.

"That's what you look like. Does your gun have a little display about how many hits you have?" You snickered.

"We come in peace, human," the guard said, "we've come to reclaim three very dangerous individuals. We don't wish to cause you any trouble."

"You-" you chuckled more, looking back at your companions and seeing they're not laughing with you.

Obviously, the concept of laser tag would be lost on them and you really wished your brother was there to laugh at them with you. You took out your phone to take a picture of them to show your family later.

"James is gonna love this," you chuckled, "he used to play in laser tag competitions all the time. He wasn't any good."

"I apologise, I do not believe our translator is working correctly. Laser tag?" The guard asked. You nodded. "What is that?"

"It's a competition between two teams where we shoot each other with lasers," you said, knowing exactly how you sounded. "Last team standing, wins, or well there's a points system behind it. You do not know true betrayal until you're playing with a boyfriend who ends up on the opposite team."

"Your potential mate shot at you?" Tillen blurted out, forgetting she was trying to be intimidating.

You looked at her and laughed, "well he refused to shoot at me. He'd shoot at my teammates but he'd leave me. But mercy is for those who deserve it and I did not so as soon as he turned away, I shot him in the back."

The other aliens were starting to grow antsy in front of you and you were kind of hoping to make them nervous. You knew you had the reputation. You just needed to get into a good place to avoid being shot. You could feel your own gun where it tucked into your waistband, behind your back. You needed some way to catch them by surprise so you could reach back for it.

"We do not wish to cause trouble," the guard in front said, "we only need to collect these prisoners and we will leave."

You looked at Tillen, Toby and Lovik who were all tense now, readying to either run or fight. You smiled at them before turning back, "prisoners, you say?" You cocked your head to the side.

"Under galactic law 83-C, we must collect all those who escaped imprisonment." The guard said, "in this instance, the persons of Lovik Crashnez, Tillen Elis and Totobyc Maechislovic III."

"Well," you said, stepping in between your alien friends and the guards, "galactic law isn't recognised here. I think you're out of your jurisdiction. If you want to do this the legal way, you have to recognise earth laws, more specifically, this country's laws."

"Oh? What do your laws say against escaped prisoners?" The guard challenged, realising you weren't going to make this easy for them.

"We don't recognise your laws so we don't recognise your prisons or you as wardens of a prison so really, they've escaped being held captive."

"You do not realise how dangerous these individuals are," the guard said.

"Totobyc is a minor," you said, putting your hands to your hips and stepping towards one side of the guard to get a better view of one of the armed guards.

The treeline was too far away and darting there would leave the others out in the open. So instead, you took notice of a large rock you could potentially duck behind. It was small but it was better than no cover.

"So, right now, I see three kidnappers attempting to take members of my pack," you grinned, showing your teeth and hoping they see it as a threat. You were having a bit of fun intimidating them. Despite being half their size, all three were reluctant to approach you.

The guard in front pressed a button on their uniform and you heard a yelp behind you. You turned and all three of your companions were now on the ground, restraints activated and unable to move. Toby whimpered, ducking his head down as if to protect it. Tillen growled and hissed, fighting with her restraints and Lovik's breathing picked up as he was unable to use his wings as they too were pinned down.

Your eyes widened at the panic of all three of them and your blood boiled. You turned back to them now with a death glare. The guard had stepped back, nudging the gun wielding aliens to approach you.

You reached back into the waistband of your trousers and pulled out a gun, shooting one down before ducking for cover behind a rock. You'd managed to drop one in the surprise and the other had flinched at the loud bangs and confusion, allowing you to get to cover without being hit.

"Drop your weapon! Drop your weapon before I kill you!" The second armed guard yelled.

You caught sight of Tillen moving from the ground, hobbling so she'd be able to look at you. Though her face wasn't as expressive as a human's, her eyes showed worry.

The guard was approaching your boulder with weapon poised to shoot. Tillen forced herself to her feet, having to shuffle with her hands and throat forced close with electromagnets.

She jumped up, her wings able to propel her forward but as she lunged, she went out of your field of view, attacking behind the rock. You heard her scream and despite all logical thinking, you jumped out to look at what was happening.

She was on the ground. The first guard armed with the electrified staff was jamming it into her back, pressing the button down and letting her convulse in pain. The other guard with the laser gun was distracted and you were overcome with rage. They caught sight of you for a split second where they shot but you shot more and the bullets dug deep around their armour.

When the second alien went down, the first guard turned to you. "Wait, wait!" But you were too far into your rage. You didn't even think to shoot them, you just wanted to hurt them.

They lifted their staff to hit you but you caught it, not even thinking about the electricity as you jammed the butt of your gun into the visor on the guard's face. You weren't sure what it was made from but you knew you'd cracked the material with the first hit. You hit it a second time and it shattered, the alien yelling as the shattered pieces dug in around their eyes.

They reached blindly at the glowing buttons on their uniform and you had a split second to worry about backup before Tillen got up and slashed their throat. She scanned the buttons on their chest until she found the one she was looking for, pressing it and immediately releasing her hands.

She let out a sigh of relief as she gained her freedom, looking at Lovik and Toby to see they were free too though they weren't moving around yet. She poked around in the guard's pockets, pulling out a small device and putting it in her own pocket.

"We can unlock our restraints later. We need to get out of here and somewhere safe," she stood up now, looking at you then down at the staff you were still holding at the electrified end. It was no longer electrified since the guard wasn't pressing the button but that didn't change the fact that it had been when you first caught it. "How did you do that?"

"Uh, I don't..." you looked down at yourself, noticing the boots you were wearing. You smiled then started to laugh.

"What?"

"They're rubber soles," you laughed. Tillen laughed with you, the pair of you slightly hysteric from the fight you'd just survived.

It's only when you started to calm down that you realised an ache in your shoulder. You ignored it at first, wanting to prioritise Toby and Lovik who were both having flashbacks but Tillen grabbed your shoulder and the pain flared up.

Tillen's eyes widened, "you've been shot." She said, letting go of your shoulder and realising the huge burn mark against your clothes. Your clothes probably offered you some protection but not enough as you became more aware of just how much it hurt to breathe.

Tillen trilled in fear, taking your other arm and sitting you down slowly. She moved around you carefully like you'd suddenly combust but aside from the pain, you felt fine. You'd adjusted your breathing to avoid too much motion and keeping still, you were able to think past the pain.

"Let's get everyone back down to the car," you grimaced. Tillen trilled more, looking at the others.

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[captainlunaxmen]

The Lady and the Lord

Chapter 10

Eddie Munson x fem!reader.

This is a repost since the old blog doesn't work anymore. 🥰

Chapter summary: time to deal with the damages Vecna's done.

Chapter warnings: spoiler season 4, slight mention of rape, Andy, lots of cuteness.

Two days... two days since the Upside Down.

Apparently even if Steve, Nancy and Robin managed to kill Vecna, part of his plan succeded.

Four big gates spreading over the whole town, destroyed almost everything, then they stopped and retreated themselves... but they still did lots of damages around Hawkins.That's why a lot of people are now leaving the city.

Max is... okay... she's in a coma. According to the doctor she died for a whole minute, that's why just part of Vecna's plan succeded. Thankfully the doctors also say she's stable and there are a lot of chances she'll wake up soon. Lucas is with her everyday.

And... Eddie... we had lot of troubles bringing him back through the gate, but we did it.

At the hospital they didn't want to take him in, but I managed to talk to the chief and explained to him almost everything so.. he helped. Basically Eddie is fine. Still recovering, but he should be out soon.

Today we, as in Nancy, Robin, Steve, Dustin and I, are collecting some things to take to the Hawkins High school, to help those who got injured and left homeless by the "earthquake".

"Hey Nance! I found so.e more of your old stuff in the attic" Mrs Wheeler comes out of the house with a bix box in her arms.

Nancy quickly collects it and put it in the car.

"Someone order a pizza?" She then asks, earning confused looks from the rest of us.

"Pizza?" Dustin echoes.

We all turn to hear, before see, a horn blaring of a pizza van... stopping in front of the house.

"Oh my god" I let out a chuckle as we see Mike, Will, El, Jonathan and a guy with very long hair... impressive hair getting out of the vehicle.

Mike rushes to his mother, Nancy to Jonathan, Will and El coming towards me and Dustin.

I immediately pull El in for a hug, holding her close not believing she's actually here.

"Hi" I say.

"Hi" she replies tightening her hug.

"What... happened?" I let go to properly look at her, noticing her buzzed hair.

"Long story" she says.

"Hey you" I go to hug Will as Dustin hugs El.

"Hi, Y/n" He says "Where's Lucas?"

"He's at the hospital" Dustin answers.

"Was he hurt?" El asks.

"No. No, he's.."

"He's okay.. Max on the other hand, she's in a sort of coma. The doctors say she should wake up soon though... hopefully" I explain.

"We can take you see her, if you want" Nancy offers and El is quickly to nod her head yes.

Nancy, Jonathan, Mike, El, Will and Argyle, I think his name is, go to the hospital, then to Hopper's cabin, apparently El needs a place to hide, all while Robin, Steve, Dustin and I go to take the boxes to the high school.

"You got it, buddy?" Steve asks Dustin as we walk through the parking lot.

"I'm fine" he assures him. His leg isn't completely healed yet, but Dustin insisted on helping.

We enter the gym, the whole place is filled with people. Lot of them are volunteers, medics, but just as many, if not more, are now-homeless people, people who lost their close ones..

There a big board, covered in poster of missing people.

"Oh god.." I mutter to myself.

One of the girls responsible there smiles at us as we arrive to leave the boxes on the table in front of her.

"Hi"

"Hi"

"Uh, so these are blankets and sheets. And some... some clothes and... and some kids' toys" Robin explains.

"Wow" the girl, 'Melissa' says her name tag, is surprised "it's already so organized. We appreciate that. Do you want a tax receipt for it?" She then asks.

"Uh...No. I don't think that we need one. Thank you, though" Robin answers. "But is there anything else that we can do to help?"

I'm sent to give water to the people sitting in the gym, so is Dustin while Robin is making sandwiches and Steve is at the clothes section.

As I walk around offering glasses of water I notice a man at the missing posters board, he's taking one off to hang another.

I look a bit more attentively and notice it's for Eddie.

Oh my god, that must be Eddie's uncle. Hadn't anyone told him Eddie's okay?

I walk to Dustin.

"Can you hold these for a moment?" I ask him.

"Sure"

I give him the last three glasses of water and I make my way to the man and take a very deep breath.

"Hi, uh... sorry?" I try to catch his attention, he eventually turns around. "Are you... uh... are you Eddie's uncle?"

"That's me" he dryly replies. "What do you want?"

"I'm... can, uh.. can we talk, please?"

"I can't imagine we got anything to talk about. My nephew is innocent" he firmly says.

I look down with a small smile and notice the poster he took of just a moment before.

The old poster of Eddie is smeared with horns and "satanic" drawings... oh..

"I.. I know that, Mr Munson. Trust me" I tell him, looking up at him again.

"What?" He seems taken aback by that.

"I know Eddie, I know he's innocent. And I know he's not missing, sir. He's at the hospital. He got badly hurt during the... the earthquake, saving me..."

I see him letting out a big sigh of relief, going to sit down.

"You're not making fun of me?" He checks.

"I know the people around here are mean and likes to point their fingers at the first... different person they find.. and you have no reason to trust me, but I'm not lying, sir." I sit with him "Eddie is at the hospital. I don't know why no one warned you earlier"

"What's your name?" He asks.

"I'm Y/n L/n" I answer.

"Oh... I should've known right away... you're the Y/n my nephew always talks about" He chuckles and I feel my cheeks heating up at the thought of Eddie talking about me with his uncle.

"Can't seem to make him shut up about you, you know. God..." he chuckles again, relief written all over his face "for a moment I really thought he was dead... thank you"

"I actually should be the one thanking him, he was a true hero. He is." I chuckle nervously.

"I better go see him.. thank you, for telling me" he stands up shaking my hand, holding it in his. "Hope to see you again, Y/n."

"I hope so too."

As he walks away I call him again "actually... Uh. I know your trailer was one of those seriously damaged by the earthquake and... Eddie's gonna stay at mine for a while.. if you have no place to go, you're more than welcome" I offer.

"You're very kind, Eddie was right about that. But don't worry, I got a place to stay in. Just promise to take care of him?"

"Of course, sir"

"Thank you again" He answers with a sweet smile and walks away again.

I go to Steve to help him folding some shirts and sweaters, and I notice Robin talking and joking with Vickie at the table in front of us.

"Awe look at our baby.." I say.

"I'm so happy for her. She deserves this" Steve says.

"Definitely. Now we're gonna have to find someone for you. You too deserve that" I sweetly tell him as I start to fold some clothes.

"You're just saying that because you want to get rid of me" he jokes.

"Yeah... I mean.. I don't know how Eddie would take it to have you in the way... constantly. You know, a threesome every now and then, fine, but constantly? You're lots of work, Harrington" I laughs.

"Don't tempt me, honey. I still remember some things about that night" he jokes back.

"Oh shut up" I scold him playfully and he laughs.

"So... should I get from it that you and Eddie are a thing now?" He asks with a teasing tone.

"Maybe.." I shyly grin.

"Mhmm... he hurts you, he's dead." He says, suddenly serious.

"Yeah, sure Stevie. Sure" I give him a sceptical look.

"Hey... I can beat him up" He insists.

"I'm not saying anything, Stevie"

"I didn't like your tone, honey" he says.

"I'm messing with you" I nudge him "thank you.."

"For what? Handing you the shirts?" He jokes.

"Yeah that... and also.. for always looking out for me" I quietly say.

"Thank you for trusting me" he wraps one arm around my shoulders kissing my head.

"Now, please... don't say anything about Eddie to Dustin, not yet."

"Why?" Steve asks confused, getting back at folding some sweaters.

"Because he wanted to be the very first to know about me and Eddie so... don't say anything." I ask him with a chuckle.

"Sure" he laughs.

" I have to find the right way to tell him"

"why? He's been your number one fan all this time, he's gonna be enthusiastic" Steve tells me.

"Yeah, I know. I just don't want him to organise a wedding or... hear him say 'I told you'" I explain, mimicking Dustin's voice.

"Right... wait...Do I get to be the best man, right?" He jokes leaning onto me.

"You're gonna be my bridesmaid, Stevie." I tell him with a laugh.

There's a comical pause in which he actually considers it, before he speaks again "deal"

"I need to find a way to tell him without him freaking out too much, you gotta help me, okay?" I let out a nervous chuckle, when he doesn't answer right away I insist "Okay?"

"I don't think he's the one you should be worried about... on this 'boyfriend' matter" he tells me.

"Why?" I look up to him, but his eyes aren't on me, rather behind me.

I turn around curiously looking around the gym.

My eyes land on a very familiar figure... that can't be... Hopper?

"Steve..."

"Yes honey?"

"Tell me you see him too please." I shakily ask "I don't want to run to a complete stranger because I'm having hallucinations"

"Go hug him, honey." Steve gently pushes me forward and I immediately rush to the other side of the gym, making my way through the sea of people on the way.

I see him brightly smile at me as I get closer, he opens his arm as I jump at him wrapping my arms around his neck crying like a baby.

His arms are tightly wrapped around me.

"I'm here, sweetheart. I'm here" he rubs my back, letting me back on the ground gently.

I notice Joyce next to him and I hug her too.

"Hey" she says kissing my head.

I let her go and turns back to Hopper.

"How... what... how?" I ask between sobs.

"Well... someone still owes me some snacks for movie night, right?" He jokes, his eyes wet from tears too.

"Shut up" I tell him, wiping away some tears, even if more falls from my eyes. "Oh my god... El! You already saw El? She's at..."

"I did, we stopped at the cabin and they were all there" He tells me.

"Now she looks just like you. You got the same haircut" I laugh, still wiping away some tears.

"Yeah, it looks better on her though" he laughs too.

Then I feel someone beside me, Steve arrived too.

"Hey" Steve greets Hopper, shaking his hand.

"Hey Cool-Hair, you took care of my daughter?" Hopper asks.

"Always, sir" Steve nods.

"Daughter?" I ask.

"I... I wanted to surprise you last year, before the mind flayer happened, but..I didn't get the chance" Hop says reaching behind him to his pocket.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"I left it at the cabin, thankfully it was still there when I went earlier." He hands me some papers.

"What... what is it?" I ask again, more confused.

"Adoption papers... all you need to do is sign it..." he nervously explain "if you want to, of course. And you're still gonna live in your house, I know how much you care about your independence... but.. yeah we can still be a family."

"I... I... I don't know what... to say" I stutter.

"Well, think about it, whether you sign it or not, you'll have to tell him about you and Eddie" Steve jokes. I glare at him and he turns back around walking back to the clothing section.

"Who's Eddie? And why there's a 'you and Eddie', uh?" Hopper asks.

"Jim..." Joyce warns him, a sweet smile on her face though.

"What? I'm away for a year and she got a boyfriend? I have the right to ask about it!" He defends, making me laugh.

"Yeah ask, not interrogate" Joyce insists.

Hooper just sighs, deeply, eyes softening when he looks back at me.

"What do you say, sweetheart?" He then asks.

I look down at the papers in my hand, more tears spilling out.

"Well, uh... do you.. do you have a pen?" I ask.

Joyce rushes to grab a pen and excitedly hands it to me, so I can sign the papers.

I'm gonna have a dad... oh shit. That's crazy.

I realised, during this last week, that I always got a family. Now.. now It's just official.

After I sign it, I hand the papers back to him, hugging him again, tightly.

"So, now that we're officially a family," he starts as he pulls away, wiping away more tears. "who's Eddie?

"Oh, I think I should get back to help Steve, you know." I start to walk away "he's not that good at folding shirts"

"This isn't over!" He tells me.

"I'm counting on it!" I yell back, with the biggest smile on my face.

I love how Steve completely gave up in complaining and just drives around wherever we want.

It's actually nice of him, I know he secretly likes doing it.

"Thanks again, Stevie" I tell him as he drives me and Dustin to the Hospital.

"Oh no problem, honey. Gotta check if the boyfriend is okay" he casually says.

"I still can't believe you told him before me!" Dustin complains.

"How many times do I have to ask for forgiveness?" I ask, holding back a chuckle.

"I already forgave you. Also, me constantly telling you 'I told you so' is just enough punishment" he replies.

"You're lucky I love you, Dusty" I semi-warn him.

"Well.. he did tell you" Steve chimes in.

"I warn you too, Harrington" I tell him pointing a finger at him.

"What are you gonna do, uh? Spank me?" He laughs.

"Hey! She's taken, dude. Enough of that" Dustin scold Steve.

"Calm down, Dustin. No risk here anymore" Steve reassures him.

"You better." Dustin sends Steve a glare through the rearview mirror, then realises what he says "wait... anymore?"

"Oh god.." I laugh. "Enough with this, alright? Also... we didn't define anything yet. He was too busy bleeding out to talk about... whatever this is"

"What do you mean? It's pretty obvious he wants you to be his girlfriend" Steve says as a matter of fact.

"Still... we haven't talked about it yet." I tell them.

"Ready for another round of 'I told you's, Henderson?" Steve asks.

"Always"

"I don't like you guys teaming up against me" I laugh.

"You do that all the time with him against me!" Steve complains, with a chuckle.

"Yeah.. because that's fun!" I reply as he parks the car.

We get out of the car and make our way in the hospital.

We go to the table and ask one of the nurses for Max's room and Eddie's. After showing us the way he went back to his desk and we got into Max's room first, finding Lucas still there.

"Hey Lucas" I greet him with a hug and then I go to sit beside Max's bed.

She's still unconscious, but she... looks fine. I think.

"Hey yourself" I softly say to her.

"Thanks for coming" Lucas then tells us as he sit beside me.

"How couldn't we?" Dustin replies with a smile.

"Your eye looks better" I notice looking at his face.

"Yeah, it feels better too"

If I ever find Jason in front of me again, I swear he's done. Beating up a fourteen year-old... fuck's sake.

"Jason's lucky I wasn't there.." Steve comments, rightly mad.

"With all respect, Steve, but I think Y/n here would kick his ass better than you" Dustin shrugs and I let out a small chuckle, while Lucas laughs.

"Thank you very much, Henderson" Steve rolls his eyes.

"Aww, Stevie, we know you could've taken him." I sarcastically say.

"You're on thin ice, Honey" he warns me.

I stick my tongue out at him and go back at looking at Max. She's completely still, obviously yeah, but it's still a painful sight.

"Did the doctors say anything else?" I ask Lucas, not once looking away from Max.

"They just say she's actually doing great, that she'll probably wake up soon" he answers.

"That's.. that's good" I slightly smile at him before moving my attention back to Max.

"Hey, guys, why don't you go buy something to eat, uh? Have a walk, Sinclair. We'll stay here" Steve suggests them.

Dustin and Lucas accept and walk out of the room.

"You good?" Steve takes Lucas' place beside me.

"Yeah.. yeah. It's just hard seeing her like this. Even though the doctors are positive she'll wake up soon... it's still hard. All of that to keep her save and..." I take a deep breath.

"I know" he gently grabs one of my hand "I know. When we killed Vecna, we went down to see his body and then... we heard the grandfather clock chiming, in that moment.. in that moment, I swear I felt.. I felt like dying myself. I couldn't believe we failed" he sincerely tells me and I squeeze his hand to reassure him "but thankfully... we didn't.. or not completely at least. But I still can't not think about how we could've prevented it..."

"You couldn't know, Steve, we couldn't know. That was the biggest risk all along. But we did it, uh? Once again we fucking did it." I look at him, giving him a small smile as my eyes start watering "as always"

"We fucking did it" he nods with a smile.

"And she's gonna be fine and everything is going to be okay"

"Oh definitely, if Mayfield doesn't wake up, I'll kill her" he jokes.

"I'll help you." I laugh and Steve does the same.

In that moment Dustin and Lucas come back with some food for us too.

"We stopped by Eddie's room on the way back, he looks good" Dustin says.

"You talked to him?"

"Yeah, he just feels a little tired he says. You should.. see your boyfriend" Dustin teases.

"Ooh so it's official?" Lucas asks with a small grin.

"No. Nothing's official. And you, Dusty, you're lucky we almost lost two of us, otherwise you'd be dead now" I say as stand up walking to the door.

"You're not coming, Steve?" I ask.

"I'll just leave you two some room, I'll come later" he winks and I just roll my eyes before exiting and heading to Eddie's room.

On my way there, in an almost empty hallway, I bump into someone.

"Sorry" I quietly apologise.

"No worries, baby"

You've got to be kidding me.

I look up seeing Andy right on front of me with a disgusting grin on his face.

What the hell is he doing here? Oh.. righ... Jason's been injured too.

I quickly move to the side to walk past him, but he blocks my way, making me roll my eyes.

"What are you doing here, uh? Came here to apologise?" He asks.

"I'm..." I stutter " w-wait... apologies? Why would I apologise?" I ask, rather confused.

"Well, you haven't been very kind last time we saw each other... threatening to use a shotgun against us..." he says it like the most obvious thing in the world.

"You first threatened to rape me, then you threatened my friend... I don't think I should be the one fucking apologising" I tell him, shocked.

"Hey, hey, hey, Where's the sweet girl gone?" He jokes getting closer, making me take a few steps back. "Uh? C'mon, baby. Why don't we get out of here?"

"No.." I move back again, but he follows quickly.

"Oh, why? You got better plans?" He asks.

"Yes" I try to sound firm, but I know my voice breaks a little.

"Like what?"

"Seeing my friends" I answer.

"You're not here to see Munson, are you?"

"Yes... yes I am" I try to walk past him again, but once again he grabs my hips pulling me to him.

I put my hands on his arms to push him away, but he doesn't bulge.

"You look so cute when you struggle. I'm sure I could show you a better time than him." he leans down towards me.

"I said no" I hit him in the crotch with my knee, making him hiss in pain and let me go. "Don't fucking touch me"

I walk away to Eddie's room and once I find it I enter, as fast as I can.

"What a beautiful sight... hey what's wrong?"

Oh... it's so nice to hear his voice again..

I turn around walking to him, sitting on the bed with him. Eddie just looks at me worried and confused.

"Just a dickhead who can't seem to accept 'no' as an answer" I shrug.

"Oh my" he starts, but I cut him off.

"I hit him in the balls. Hopefully he understands this" I tell Eddie and he just bursts out laughing.

"Oh god... I wish I saw that" he says "my brave girl"

"Shut up.." I look down.

"Still so shy, aren't we?" He teases.

"Me? Never" I sarcastically say and he gently grabs my hand in his playing with my fingers. "You okay?" I ask him.

"Now that you're here... so much better" he grins at me.

"You're terrible..." I playfully roll my eyes "but seriously... are you okay?"

"Yeah, yes m'lady. I'm okay. They patched me up good" he softly chuckles.

"That's good" I smile at him and I see his eyes moving between my own and my lips. "You'll kiss me properly" I tell him.

"Oh c'mon!" He complains, but laugh too and I just shake my head "You're being cruel now, you know that?"

"It was the deal" I shrug.

"The deal included, also, anything else" he hints, teasingly.

"It still does" I wink at him.

"Oh christ... be mine" he suddenly says.

"What?" I ask, taken aback by his words.

"Would you be my girlfriend? Like... officially?" He sweetly smiles at me and, I swear, I could just melt for how softly his eyes are looking at me right now. "And before you could answer. Yes, Dustin talked to me, but no it wasn't because of him I'm asking you. Yes, I'm asking you because I like you, a lot" he smiles at me "Aaaand... Yes, I know Hopper's your father now, like officially your father now and I am ready to meet him, whenever he wants"

That makes me laugh, genuinely.

"I would've said yes, even if you weren't ready, my lord"

"I know... but I still wanted you to know." He move my hand to his lips kissing it gently, making me look away.

"You're gonna be the death of me, Munson" I tell him.

"The feeling is mutual, m'lady" he winks and then smiles. "Are you still sure you want me to stay at your place?" He then asks.

"Positive" I nod "why wouldn't I?"

"Well maybe Hopper has something to say about that" he tells me with a shrug.

"He's fine... I guess, he doesn't have much of a choice. I told him I made a promise to your uncle and he couldn't argue that." I reply with a reassuring smile.

"Oh about that... Wayne wants to.. have dinner all together one of these days.. you know" he's slightly nervous again, playing with my fingers and rings "he insists on buying us dinner to.. get to know you better"

"Why so nervous, love?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"It would be the first time I introduce someone to him" he answers with a timid smile looking me in the eyes "it's a big deal"

"Well then, I accept his invitation. But... next time I'll cook" I tell him.

"Oh well you'll have to talk with him about that. I want nothing to do with this" he raises his hand up.

I laugh and move my gaze to his hands as he lowers them back to his lap.

Shit...What if his uncle finds me boring, or he hates me? I'm gonna make a fool of myself, I know.

I never thought I'd be the kind of girl someone would want to introduce to their relatives... it's gonna be a disaster.

"Where's that mind going, m'lady?" Eddie's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Uh?"

"What troubles my lady's mind?" He grabs my hands caressing them.

"Nothing... it's stupid" I shake my head.

"Mmh..." he considers me for a moment "Nah, that can't be. Tell me" he moves his head sideways, a pout on his lips "please?"

"Just... overthinking.." I answer.

"About what?" He sits up straight again.

"Oh nothing... just what if he ends up hating me?" I softly say.

"Yeah.. as if that's even possible" Eddie chuckles, but his eyes are gentle. "He already loves you. I talked so much about you, it's like he already knows you"

I laugh, still embarrassed he actually talked about me to his uncle... it's sweet.

"And trust me... I said all good thing"

"You did?" I ask, shyly meeting his eyes.

"Oh yeah. I started to tell him about you after I brought you home, after out project meeting." He starts, fingers interlocking with mine as he speaks "he asked me why I was so late and I told him I had to take home the most beautiful girl in the world"

"Oh shut it.." I say, feeling my cheeks warming up.

"Then everyday I would tell him what those little shits told me about you... I'd tell him about how sweet you looked that day, how kind you always are with everyone.. and also I'd ask him what could I have done to approach you again, without scaring you"

"You could have never scared me, Eddie." I gently tell him chucking.

"That's one of the many things that attracted me to you. 'How come such a sweet girl isn't afraid of me?' I asked myself, you know... seeing what everyone says about me." He continues "Dustin then told me how little you care about what everyone says, that's when I started to get obsessed" he laughs "always looking your way, hoping you would notice me"

"I always noticed you" I tell him "whenever the professors forced you to sit in the front row I take a look at you. At your vest, trying to see if there are any new patch on it. In the cafeteria, I always hoped you put on one of your 'shows' so I had a good excuse to look at you and not just stare" I let out a small laugh "and obviously, Dustin started to talk more and more about you and about the campaigns you make, your jokes and about how you were the only person in high school to treat them... well.. not like shit." I squeeze his hands "I always noticed you... I just never thought you would notice me"

"Well, we always noticed each other..."

"But none of us had enough courage to speak to the other" I finish for him, with a chuckle.

"Exactly." He nods "Oh well.. now we'll just have to make it up for the lost time, uh?" He winks.

"Of course" I smile.

A knock interrupts us.

"Yes?"

"It's Steve. Can I come in?" Steve asks.

"Does he have to?" Eddie jokes.

"Sure!" I tell Steve.

"Hey, man" he enters and walk to us. "How do you feel?"

"Oh all good." Eddie replies "especially with her right here"

"I told you to stop it" I shyly laugh.

"And I told you... never" he replies smugly.

"Is it official? Like.. you guys..." Steve starts.

"Yes, Steve. Okay?" I say with an exasperated laugh.

"So... I can finally to 'The Speech', yeah?" He asks me, hopeful.

"Oh god.." I hide behind my hand.

"C'mon, Harrington, scare me." Eddie listens carefully.

"Listen, man. We all care about you, that's true. But... if you dare hurt Y/n, I promise you, I personally will hunt you down and you wouldn't want me to find you. You'd regret those bats." Steve tries to sound threatening.

"Don't worry Harrington, if I ever hurt her, I'd gladly let you kick my ass. I'd deserve that" Eddie replies, calmly.

"I don't need you to 'let me' kick your ass, man... I could take you" Steve insists.

"With all due respect... I'm much more scared of the younger Sinclair" Eddie says honestly.

"Told you, Stevie."

"Also... she could easily kick my ass better than you" Eddie adds pointing at me.

"Alright, fuck you guys" Steve just shrugs, defeated.

"Oh c'mon." I laugh "come here" I grab a chair and put it next to the bed so Steve can sit with us.

"You sure you're good?" He checks again.

"Yeah, Harrington. I'm good, surprisingly good." Eddie answers ad he keeps playing with my fingers. "Plus I got a cute girl helping me, right?" He looks at me.

"Anytime" I smile at him.

"That's good, man. You faced the worst of the worst and look at you, still with us. Only a few scratches" Steve tries to cheer him up.

"Yeah, got some big scars.." Eddie replies, quietly. Feigning confidence, but I think there's more than that. Before I could say something he continues "like yours, big boy, uh?"

"Scar-brothers, you should start a band now" I joke, squeezing Eddie's hand, silently reassuring him.

"Cool name. We're gonna drop 'corroded coffin' and make new t-shirts" he chuckles.

"I'll make the logo" I offer.

"Oh then you're gonna be famous for sure" Steve teases.

"Obviously" Eddie agrees.

"I think we should go though. I have a shift at family video today" Steve tells me.

"Oh.. yeah don't worry" I say "give us a minute, okay?"

"Sure" he smiles. "Get well soon, alright? I don't think I could stand Henderson alone for much longer" he jokes.

"Don't worry, I heal quickly" Eddie assures him.

"Good" Steve walks to the door "can I still call her 'honey' or is it forbidden?" He asks then.

"You ask her, not me" Eddie replies.

Good answer, I think.

I just laugh "as always Stevie. Me having a boyfriend doesn't mean you can't be my friend anymore"

"Just checking. Okay, see you at the car, honey" he finally leaves.

I shake my head chuckling.

"He cares a lot about you" he notes.

"Yeah, well... we've been friends for centuries basically" I smile at him again.

"Hey.. uh... thanks for visiting today" he leans his head to the wall behind him.

"No need to thank me, my lord. I'm just glad you're okay" I tell him "you scared the shit out of me" I then admit.

"I'm sorry" he smiles a little. "But I'd do that again if it means you're gonna be fine"

"So would I" I tell him.

"Oh no, no, I'm more expendable, you let me risk my life" he defends.

"Yeah.. sure, as if I'd let you" I laugh confidently.

"I don't need your permission" he chuckles surprised.

"Neither do I" I smirk.

He just laughs, happily, and I do too.

"Should I tell you what you do to me when you get so cocky, or it's too soon?" He wonders with a teasing grin.

"Let it be a surprise" I say getting up. "I better go. I don't want to be the reason Steve's gonna get fired... or I'll never hear the end of it"

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" He asks. "I mean... I get out tomorrow"

"Oh no, you'll never see me again, my lord I say dramatically with a small laugh.

"Then kiss me and say goodbye properly, m'lady" he follows my joke.

"Fair point.. you got me" I laugh, then sweetly smile at him. I lean down to give him a peck on the cheek.

"Can't wait, m'lady" he bows his head a little.

I walk to the door and, before walking out, I blow him a kiss which he gladly catches and theatrically place it on his lips.

"See you tomorrow, love" I tell him and I walk out of the door as I hear him again.

"I fucking love it when you call me that!"

I laugh rolling my eyes and head out to Steve's car.

[icey--stars]

Born For Tragedy: Part 11

Series Index

She was tragedy. Nothing except death, fear and pain followed in her wake. When she was young, she was beaten. Now she’s the one doing the beating as an assassin. A mysterious stranger comes to her, paying an absurd amount of money for her to kill Beron Vanserra, and protect the eldest son until the job is done. She stumbles across a story much similar to her own, and knows what must be done.

a/n: enjoy the much longer than usual chapter :)

WARNINGS: death, blood, mentions of missing body parts… whatever, this actually isn’t that graphic in my opinion. also tw for a panic attack!

PS: i might’ve cried while writing the end bit 😭

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

Calanmai ball… an Autumn Court tradition where she was about to kill their High Lord and instate the eldest son who actually got the last blow. Oh, it was just so interesting.

Eris was already in the clearing when she winnowed in, holding a small orange bundle of clothing under his arm.

“Great,” Valda hummed, startling the heir when she spoke up from behind him. “I’ve got this, go get dressed. You can’t go in this plain clothing.”

Eris scoffed. “I’m aware,” he replied, holding out the dress. “Be aware that my mother will likely want to fawn over you.”

“Well of course she will!” Valda exclaimed. “Her son is finally finding someone worth his time.”

“Do you need anything else?”

“I have shoes, and makeup. Weapons galore- yes, I’m fine,” Valda listed off. “Go get ready.”

“I’ll meet you back here in an hour?”

“Make that two,” Valda ordered. “I’ve got to settle a bunch of bulging daggers.”

Eris rolled his eyes. “Fine, two.” He winnowed away in a brief flash of flames, and she promptly winnowed to the cabin.

She started by trying the dress on without any weapons, just to appraise herself. Lady Merle must’ve been a goddess on Prythian, because this dress fit perfectly, and looked… stunning.

It was a strapless dress that was a variety of different oranges. She didn’t even need the corset she had. No… it was perfect. There was a pattern of autumn colored leaves from the top, floating down the lacey top in varying lengths of “branches.” It was easy to lift up and move in as well. The back ended just below her shoulder blades. She’d have to glamor her back well to hide the lashing marks, but it was… beautiful. Valda normally didn’t wear dresses, as she found them too constricting, especially for her job. But this? Oh… she might just find a way to smuggle this one out of the Autumn Court.

Strapping on the weapons on her legs was easy enough. She wore knee-high black boots under it, and stuffed a dagger in each. A dagger on her left calf, and two on either thigh. She managed to stuff one down her cleavage. A small one, but it was easy enough to grab. She wore specially designed earrings that were small knives in disguise. The gold rings and the silver bracelet did not, however, have any weapons.

When she shifted in the dress, stepping over to the mirror again, there was a small clump on the ground and she moved back. A diadem was there. Bronze in color, and had leaves covering a few braided stretches of the metal. Either that just appeared out of nowhere, or Eris had snuck it into the bundle (or Lady Merle had).

Either way… it would be perfect for what she wanted to use it for. She stuffed another small knife behind one of the leaves and then placed it on her head. It rested easily on her head, and mixed well with the black hair covering her head.

Valda would’ve been scared she’d turned into some fine lady of the Autumn Court if she didn’t know better. The makeup she put on her face contorted it so that she had “higher” cheekbones and a slightly darker complexion. She looked like a brand new fae.

Distantly, she thought that was a good thing. She wasn’t Valda Callahan tonight, at least not partially. She was a different lady. Lady Fairyn was her name. It was a different female trying for the heir’s hand. Not hers. She had to remember that strictly.

When she’d finished, she stuffed one more dagger up the dress to rest up her stomach as a last chance measure, before winnowing back to the clearing.

Eris was already there, and dressed well.

He had a white dress shirt paired with dark, blood red slacks and vest. The vest had light silver buttons, and he had on a similar colored tie. Everything was perfectly tailored to his muscled physique. He wore gold rings on almost every finger, one with a bright red ruby on it. Eris truly looked like the heir of Autumn. Handsome, charming, elegant… not to say he wasn’t normally, but most of the time that charming factor went down the drain in favor of mocking.

Eris had a small smirk played on his face when she finally moved her eyes up to meet his amber ones. Gods, even his hair was slicked back to perfection.

“You look stunning,” he commented.

“And you look like someone just stabbed your cat,” Valda responded.

He choked on his surprise and she smirked at gaining control back over the conversation. “What the hell!?” He burst out.

Valda shrugged. “What? Anyone with a cat would understand that if they were stabbed, you are getting that revenge and going straight to the highest ranking individual for revenge. Dressing nice makes you more intimidating.”

“I don’t have a cat,” He emphasized. “I have dogs.”

“Pah,” Valda dismissed. “I feel like if your dog got stabbed, you would also dress like this, but come out with the red stained a shade darker.”

Eris sighed, rolling his eyes. “Are we still set on midnight?” He asked, changing the topic cleanly.

“Unless Beron isn’t at all showing signs of exhaustion, then yes,” Valda answered.

“How are you even planning on killing him without killing him?” Eris asked.

“Skills,” Valda snickered. “I’ll mist part of him while you plummet into your fire and burn him alive. The main part of my job is covering the scene with darkness.”

“Are you strong enough?”

“Don’t lose faith so easily,” Valda said sternly. “I’ll be fine.” She had to be. She had to be strong enough to escape and survive it.

“The ball will be starting soon, shall we make our entrance?” Eris asked, offering out an elbow toward her. She took it, and surprisingly… it didn’t feel weird, like it usually did any other time she took a male’s arm or hand. She took one final deep breath, locked her darkness deep inside until the moment was right and nodded.

“We shall,” she agreed.

Eris winnowed them both easily, and they were soon standing right outside the Forest House. She spotted other finely dressed ladies standing outside the doors, which were to be opened as soon as the clock rang 5.

“Brother!” Called a male from the side, clasping Eris on his shoulder. It was Kuhn. “When did you find a strong, pretty lady to keep you company?”

Eris rolled his eyes. “Don’t be annoying Kuhn.”

Kuhn looked at Valda and grinned. “Kuhn Vanserra, at your service my lady.”

She smirked and dipped her head, the most she’d be willing to do to show respect today. “Lady Fairyn,” She answered. “And dear Eris didn’t find me, I found him.”

Kuhn laughed. “Good. My brother is useless when it comes to finding beautiful females.”

Eris punched Kuhn in the shoulder. “And where is your lady for tonight Kuhn?”

“She’s coming,” Kuhn answered. “Almost here.”

“She ditched you didn’t she?” Eris asked.

“No!” Kuhn rushed to defend himself. “No, she’s just late.”

“Win some, lose some,” Valda spoke up. “Just pick up some unfortunate date whose male has abandoned them to get drinks.”

“Good idea,” Kuhn agreed. “I like you Fairyn. Stick around a while, maybe Eris will get some pointers on how to be supportive.”

“I practically raised you Kuhn,” Eris retorted. “I know plenty about being supportive. You used to fall off the swing and I didn’t even laugh.”

Kuhn rolled his eyes. “Sure, sure. You were laughing on the inside though.”

A familiar, kind female voice came from behind them. A singsong melody. “Eris dear, am I allowed to meet your lovely companion yet?”

Eris turned and Valda followed, letting her arm slip out of his to pivot and face Lady Merle.

“Mother,” Eris hummed. “Meet Lady Fairyn.”

Valda dipped her head lower than what she did with Kuhn. She took a glance around the area just to assure herself that Beron wasn’t around. He wasn’t, luckily.

Merle rushed forward with a smile, clasping her hands around Valda’s. She held back the flinch. Merle meant no harm, she told herself. “It’s so nice to meet you dear girl!” She exclaimed. She glanced down at my outfit. “Oh… the dress looks perfect on you! Do you like it?”

“I love it,” Valda answered honestly. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to find one so soon to the ball… but you did a wonderful job.”

“I made it,” Merle said with a smile. “I was worried myself, but I was determined.”

Valda smiled wide. “Thank you so much,” she said, squeezing Merle’s hand. “This is beautiful.”

“It looks so good on you too!” Merle agreed. “Eris, don’t you agree?”

She turned to look at her son expectantly.

“Oh yes Mother,” Eris agreed. “She is stunning beyond imagination.”

Merle seemed to take that as a satisfactory compliment, because she turned back to me with a wide smile. “I do hope I’ll be seeing more of you, but I must meet with my husband to open the doors!”

Valda nodded. “Enjoy the ball, Lady Merle.”

“Just Merle to you!” She called behind her as she walked away, toward the doors.

Valda let out a breath. How would it have been to have a mother like that? She wondered. She’d had neither parent, not truly. Her mother had begged for a nice little lamb to obey orders, and she’d earned herself a powerful daughter who refused everything commanded of her. Her father must’ve just hated her.

Eris quickly glanced behind them before leaning down to whisper in Valda’s ear.

“She’ll be safe,” Eris assured. “After tonight, nothing will ever hurt her again.”

“Good,” Valda managed stiffly. “If anyone does manage to hurt her, you come to me.”

Eris took a deep breath and then subtly kicked her ankle to face the doors. Beron was standing there, with Lady Merle against his side, an arm over her hip.

“Welcome,” Beron announced. “To this year’s Calanmai Ball.”

There were no more words shared. The doors opened and couples began to make their way into the Forest House, taking a tight left into the ballroom which she’d been forced to help sweep because of Nova. Eris held onto her arm tighter as the music began.

The ball lasted all night, but Valda knew many couples would leave early, which was good. The guards, she noticed, were dressed in much nicer armor than usual. There was an area with tables and an area for the dancers and the music. A huge room. Valda rarely saw such high ceilings and such open expanses in a room. A few white pillars ran down the sides for extra support to the massive room, but they hardly blocked much from sight.

There were also huge windows on two of the sides, showing the gardens right outside, filled to the brim with brightly colored dogwood trees. Valda scanned the room for anyone to be aware of, but nobody showed any signs of being dangerous, even if probably all of them carried fire magic.

“What do you want to do first?” Eris asked.

“Let’s start with some refreshments,” Valda suggested. “And food.”

“Alcohol?” Eris asked.

“Yes alcohol,” Valda stated. “Are you insane?”

“Just making sure,” Eris chuckled. “Your schemes are quite mysterious.”

“I’d drink more if it was available to servants,” She deadpanned. “I’d drink at least a half bottle of straight vodka if I could.”

Eris raised a brow, having the audacity to look concerned.

“Do you not drink then, general?” Valda asked. “How are you still alive? I assure you, I won’t die from that. Maybe.” She had drank that much before, but it’d been a while.

He rolled his eyes. “I drink. I just didn’t see you as the straight vodka type.”

“Whatever makes me drunk the fastest,” Valda snickered. “Now come on, I want wine.”

Eris led the way over toward the tables, and swiped a glass from a nicely dressed servant holding glasses of wine on a tray. He handed it to her, which she accepted, and watched over the edge of the glass as Eris grabbed one for himself.

“Eris!” A familiar voice called, walking over with a pretty, petite female attached to him. It was Hue. “Eris, when did you find someone to keep you company? Ah, I’m Hue. Do keep that one in check, why don’t you?”

Valda smirked. “Nice to meet you Hue. I plan to try my best.”

“Good!” Hue exclaimed. “My brother needs someone like that.”

Eris rolled his eyes. “Hue, why do you and Kuhn seem to think I’m so utterly useless without a strong lady like Lady Fairyn beside me?”

“Because you are!” Hue said, grinning. “I swear, he just keeps on moping,” he continued, looking at Valda. “Father keeps him busy, but he just mopes around and reads when he’s free. Or finds work! He’s insane!”

Valda held back a snort of laughter. If that was “insane” to Hue, he hadn’t met anyone actually insane. Example? Her. She reads, she mopes, she works and she kills people for a living. “Well, I can’t promise about fixing the reading, as I quite enjoy the activity myself. But we plan on hanging out more after.”

Eris’s bicep bulged a moment after she finished that crafted lie. He’d better not think that it was true, Valda thought. She was leaving after this. Immediately.

“Stop insulting me, Hue,” Eris mused. “I do believe you mope quite a lot as well.”

The lady that was curled under Hue’s arm sent Valda a little amused smirk. Valda rolled her eyes at the brothers' antics in response. The lady raised a hand to cover her mouth as she chuckled.

“Well, enjoy the ball,” Hue concluded. “I would like to invite the beautiful lady at my side to a dance.”

The lady quickly moved to follow Hue. Whether or not they were together was hard to distinguish, but Valda had an odd feeling that they weren’t. She drowned the thoughts of them in another sip of wine.

“Perhaps you’d like to show off your own skill on the dance floor?” Eris prompted.

Valda rolled her eyes with a small smile. “Very well, but I’m finishing this drink first.”

“I wouldn’t dream of taking that away from you,” he joked, smiling.

Valda watched the couples begin to spin to the music as she drank her wine. Beron was sitting on a throne, with Lady Merle at his side. She kept an eye on the guards surrounding them, and the look of Beron. He seemed irritated, to be honest.

Just as she finished her drink, the music changed to another classic ballroom dance. However, this particular one was one of her favorites. An Autumn Court dance with so many twists and turns that Valda tended to feel dizzy, but oh so exhilarated at the end of it.

“Finish your drink Eris,” Valda ordered, setting her glass on a passing tray. Eris gulped down the rest of his wine without another word. “I’m dancing to this one. You’d better be able to keep up.”

“I’ll keep up just fine. I kept up with Nesta Archeron,” Eris said.

“An Archeron sister?” Valda asked. “Interesting. Nesta is the eldest one– Lady Death?”

Eris nodded. “Lady Death in all her glory and protective as fuck mate.”

“Ah,” Valda hummed. “So she did get a mate. Interesting. Who might it be?”

“Cassian, the general,” Eris answered. “They’re both assholes, so perhaps it works out.”

Valda scoffed, grinning. “Are you jealous, Eris?”

“No,” he answered immediately. “Not in the slightest. I’m happy away from that witch.”

“Very well then,” Valda chuckled. “Let’s dance then.”

Eris grinned and followed her onto the dance floor, immediately taking up the proper hand placement. A hand on her lower shoulder, and the other holding her own. She gulped at the feeling of his hand on her skin.

“Shall we?” Eris asked. It almost sounded like a purr coming from his throat. Valda nodded stiffly, and followed smoothly when Eris jumped into the dance, turning and holding onto her.

Valda held back the urge to hold her breath and instead focused on the beat of the music and the movement of her feet. The first opening bit was simple. It always was, as more people joined and began the twisting dance. Valda took a deep breath when she heard the music pick up, and then the true dance began. She looked up to Eris and smirked as he led the way through a series of three tight turns and then threw her out, holding onto her hand before drawing her back.

A step back, a step to the side, another step back- Valda lost herself to the movements she remembered so dearly.

The peak neared, where the female dancers were going to twirl, and then break off for a moment, then rush back forward to begin a tight series of spins from their partner’s hand. Valda met Eris’s amber eyes for a moment giving him the briefest of nods before following in suit with the rest of the dancers and twirling.

She broke off from Eris’s hold, smirked and then came rushing back, leaping a bit, and then let Eris spin her around and around. And just as her head was beginning to get dizzy, the music stopped, and everyone stopped dramatically. Ah, that end was what she loved the most. Such a violent stop to the music made it so much fun.

Valda grinned wildly as she panted for her breath back. Eris smirked, his amber eyes filled with fire. “Well that was fun,” he stated with that smirk.

“Oh shut up,” Valda dismissed, standing back up and running a hand up toward the diadem in her hair to set it straight again.

“You’re an amazing dancer,” Eris mused. “It’s been so rare to find those as talented as you.”

“Well,” Valda said, “I was good at it. Teacher said I was a natural, even despite being a cruel witch.”

“You don’t get to do it very often, do you?” Eris asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you look so happy,” Eris answered, smiling softer now. His entire expression was softer. He stepped forward, and leaned toward the side of her head to whisper into it. “You might be a killer, Valda, but I still see a wild fox looking for peace.”

She stopped breathing. She couldn’t help it with Eris’s breath on her ears, and the words he just whispered so softly into her ear. From so close and her sudden resumed breathing, she caught a whiff of his scent. A bit of cinnamon and spice, in addition to the unmistakable scent of a rainstorm during the night. Oh… the number of times she smelled that scent was innumerable. On rainy nights, she wasn’t required to scout something out, but she could rather watch the darkness of the sky– the darkness which she came from.

“Eris!” A voice boomed from the side of the room. Beron’s throne, in fact. Eris turned immediately to look over. Beron was standing there, and merely lifted a finger and motioned for him to come over, glancing at Valda as well.

Eris gulped noticeably, the only thing she could see, before he was wearing the seemingly impenetrable mask of the heir of the Autumn Court. He stiffly offered an arm out toward her, which she took and schooled her face as they began to tread toward the very High Lord she was supposed to kill tonight.

“Eris, perhaps you’d like to introduce someone to me?” Beron asked.

Eris dipped his head and motioned toward Valda. “This is my guest, Lady Fairyn from Ignatius. A small town near the Winter Court border.”

Beron scoffed. “I know where my own cities are, boy. You’ve finally screwed your head on right and opted to marry. Good.”

“We aren’t-” Eris began.

“I think the Lord of Ignatius would be overjoyed to hear of an arranged marriage offer from his High Lord, offering his eldest son,” Beron said, glaring down with gleaming brown eyes. “Girl, wouldn’t you enjoy marrying my son? It would be good for you and your family, would it not?”

Eris remained silent, but Valda could almost feel the rage rolling off of him in rage. It was filling her chest as well.

Valda swallowed. “Of course, my lord. It would be wonderful for us. My father would be overjoyed if you sent a letter with such a gracious offer.”

Beron nodded. “Disciplined,” he noted aloud. “Perhaps you shall teach my son some of that.”

Valda gave Beron a brief fake smile. “I will try my best, my lord.”

“Good,” Beron stated and then waved. “Then leave me be. I shall draft an offer in the morning.”

Eris immediately went to escape, practically dragging Valda behind him until they were out of view and released her, still walking towards the drinks. Valda sighed and followed after him.

“Survive tonight Eris. I can feel your rage from here,” she said as she watched him down two shots consecutively.

He turned and sighed. “The fact that I brought a lady to a ball and he immediately offered an arranged marriage is pissing me off. I’ve done it before and he’s never done that.”

Valda hummed. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore,” she murmured. “Now, if you’re done with the shots, I believe Beron would be overjoyed to see us dancing again.”

Eris grumbled something under his breath, but began to lift his arms for a dancing position.

“Midnight, Eris. Survive until midnight,” she whispered and then followed him onto the dance floor.

For a set of seemingly endless hours, Eris and Valda danced, drank, watched and scanned the attendees, and sometimes chatted with others. However, Valda tried to desperately avoid asking any personal questions, and avoided any that were asked to her. Like Eris asking which lord she was responsible to kill in Hewn City. Or another question, not from Eris. She didn’t know this “Lady Fairyn Krauss” well enough.

At one point however, after a couple more drinks, Eris wrapped an arm around her shoulders. People had been giving her weird looks for sitting far away from Eris, but as soon as the arm came around her, they looked away.

It was like a lover’s embrace. She tried not to stop breathing even as she strategically leaned into it for show. Please don’t let this end, she begged. I love this. The embrace she’d always asked for, and was never given.

The clock struck midnight. Twelve long, echoing sounds came from a nearby swinging grandfather clock. Beron was still sitting on his throne, but Lady Merle had been indulging with the other ladies in the room for quite some time. A lot of people had left already, either fed up with teasing, or exhausted from dancing so much.

Valda stood, pulling away from the embrace of Eris’s arm, and glanced at him who only briefly dipped his head.

It was time. Time for the death of a High Lord.

Valda flooded the room with darkness. Every crevice of light fell to her rolling mist, until shrieks of fear and despair filled her ears.

A brief flash of fire was all she was waiting for before running toward Beron.

“Who let a Night Court crony in here?!” Beron boomed, but Valda’s darkness muffled the sound.

He was standing, so she yanked a dagger from her boot and ran at him, feeling for that dark power within her.

“Hello there Beron,” Valda purred as she set a knife to his neck. “I’m sure you know who I am. So I’m going to ask you to sit down on your pretty little throne.”

Beron’s hand filled with fire and rushed for her, but she took a half step back, and shielded herself from the heat.

“Very well then,” she chuckled. It would be sensual in other instances, but for now? She hoped he was feeling even just a bit anxious.

She focused her powers on his lower limbs, and…

Beron screamed.

His body crumbled to the floor and Valda dug her blade in harder to his jugular. She drew the darkness from the room inwards, making this one thicker. Perfect for a particular heir to winnow into.

“Hello father,” Eris purred as Valda cleared the darkness within the bubble enough for him to see his father, legless and crumpled up on the floor. Bleeding heavily, might she add.

“Kill her,” Beron ordered.

“No,” Eris stated. “You’ve terrorized this place for long enough. You’ve tortured my brothers for long enough. Tortured me for long enough. You have hit my mother for the last time. So now I get to be High Lord.”

Beron’s power rushed out towards Eris and Valda. She threw up a shield in front of both of them, groaning as she struggled to take the full might of a High Lord’s powers. She wouldn’t last long. The power was already draining dangerously low. If Eris didn’t hurry the fuck up, she was going to fall and die or kill Beron herself.

Eris put a shield of fire around himself, giving Valda a pointed look. She pulled her magic away to shield herself more effectively.

Eris shot his magic forward in a swift, and deadly fashion.

Beron was incinerated within a second. No time for a scream to escape his throat.

Valda collapsed to one knee, lifting her darkness and using the last of her power to shield herself from Eris’s surge in power. He combusted into flames, and she could only groan in pain from the magic she was using. Too much, she thought. Too much, too much, too much-

Her shield collapsed and she braced herself for the fire to burn her, but instead it just rushed toward her and wrapped gently around her arms and body in tendrils that didn’t burn. A wall of fire appeared in front of her. A shield.

Eris’s magic was protecting her, even as she crumbled down to the floor. Her magic had given out under a High Lord’s might, but Eris’s magic did not hurt her. No, in fact, it felt pleasantly warm and almost like she was curled up under his arm again.

But she had to escape, she reminded herself. She could not stay, she could not wait. She had to get out and away.

She stood, on shaky legs, and tried to take a step. Her knee collapsed and she fell to the ground again.

No, she begged. No, no, no, no- please no. Please.

She could not stay. She was going to die-

“Valda,” a voice whispered beside her. She turned on her back and raised that blade, a thin, small sheen of Beron’s blood was on the top as she turned to see Eris standing over her.

“No,” Valda said. “No, I’m leaving-“

“Please wait,” Eris said softly. A tone she’d heard so rarely. A soft, patient tone. Almost a beg, but not quite. “Stay. Stay with me.”

There was still fire surrounding them in a shield, and blocking the outside world.

“I can’t,” she said desperately. “I can’t, I can’t-“

“Shhhh…” Eris hushed and took a hold of her hand. She was startled to see her burn scars there. Fuck. She was so weak that she couldn’t even hold a glamor. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“I can’t stay,” Valda said desperately. 

“Why not?”

“I can’t,” Valda whined. A pitiful excuse for the assassin she was. She couldn’t put the feeling of care, and love and everything into words for Eris to understand. She scarcely understood them herself. She couldn’t distinguish her emotions from each other, not even enough to latch onto the anger that resided inside. 

The only thought that she could make out was that she couldn’t hurt Eris. But why? She couldn’t even answer that.

“Shhh,” Eris cooed, and ran a hand up to her fingers, gently gripping only the tips with his. “Let’s get you somewhere safe. I’ll deal with this. You rest.”

She felt the familiar whirring of winnowing before the fire dissipated. Valda looked around and startled when she felt tears falling from her eyes. Eris had winnowed them to his room, and not just his room, but right onto his bed.

“You’re safe here. Nobody can get through the wards I just put on this room,” Eris said. “You are safe. I want you to rest, okay?”

This was a different Eris than she was used to. A softer Eris. A calmer Eris. A kinder Eris.

“Percy! Jack!” He suddenly called. The two dogs immediately appeared at the door, and then jumped onto the bed, cuddling up near Valda who still looked dazed and disoriented.

“Stay here,” Eris ordered. “I’ll be back soon.”

Then he winnowed away and Valda heaved for her breath back.

Percy licked her face gently, whining. Jack laid across her feet. Valda burrowed her face into her hands and sobbed.

She sobbed for her care, and the fear of how much it will hurt her soon. She told herself not to stay, not to see Eris when he wasn’t bogged down by his father— to care, and yet here she is. Sitting on his bed, cuddling with his dogs after he’d just said the kindest words she’s heard in a long long time.

Valda sobbed until she was dry heaving. Percy never once broke contact with her, sometimes licking up her tears, while other times he was nuzzling into her neck. Jack stayed lower, but noticeably tensed every time a broken sound came out of her.

“I’m sorry Friar,” Valda whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

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