#you may call me a fool but I only just got my ears pierced recently

[nyxfaei]

CATEGORY 2 LUFFA DISASTER THEY ARE NOT SAFE WITH PIERCINGS

[leviiattacks]

Two Faced | Chapter Four

↳ levi ackerman, the very person who was about to kindly behead you by a surprising turn of events manages to become your loving husband? you would be elated if this was true love, but it's all thanks to a mysterious magic spell that your life is spared. for now at least.

pairing :: duke!levi x duchess!reader genre :: royal au, angst, fluff, slice of life etc word count :: 3k author note ::  you should also check out my ao3 and wattpad my username is LEVIATTACKS on both platforms. ao3 usually gets to see my updates first, feel free to leave any comments you have i appreciate all feedback ^___^ → next part is here!!

"Refer to me with that name once more and I'll see to it that your neck is snapped in two. Fucking Brat." His voice curls into a low hiss.

He rises from the bed making you jolt, if he's moving towards his dagger everything will be over in a matter of seconds. The tension between the two of you is foggy and uncertain.

Your line of vision is cloudy, bleary tears seize it. You should have tried harder whilst researching, found a way to make Lev stay, it hits you like a sack of bricks - you didn't try hard enough, was that the issue, was that the mistake you made this time? Mind full of harsh expletives you continue to curse yourself. Of course he left, of course he fucking did. Your life was one large cyclical narrative of earning the love of others and ultimately losing it along the way some how.

The world conditioned you to become independent, to not rely on others for affection, earn what you must on your own. Making your own way through life is all you know yet here you are. On the verge of tears because this damn fool won't remember you. Happiness is a privilege.

Staring into the distance you don't see the way your husband's glare thins out, neither do you notice how he leans forward invading your personal space.

"Care to explain how we got into this situation?" Breath fanning across your face exactly the same way it had months ago you gulp and realise he's staring at your lacy nightgown in sheer distaste. Oh no, He's got the wrong idea completely.

You jerk your head up to explain and only then is the close proximity between the two of you evident, you nearly knock your head against his as if you're inebriated. "No, no. We've never done that. I promise we haven't. I wouldn't take advantage of you." You're sputtering and are all over the place trying to hold some sort of ground in this conversation.

"I see that you saw no issue with taking advantage of me in other ways. You scheming money hungry roach."

You want to clear your name and tell him you really haven't touched any of his money. None of it at all to the point it's shameful to admit, especially considering the fact that everyone else sees you as Duchess Ackerman.

"I have not spent any of your money I swe-".

A deafening bang resounds through the room - in his fit of rage he kicks one of the solid oak drawers at the side of your bed to the floor.

A squeaky gasp falls out of your mouth and you flinch away as you cover your chest defensively. Your arms aren't the best armour but they work for now. If he's to stab you your worst fear is him piercing through your heart. What you fear most is him ripping the vital organ out of the confines of your chest. If he laughs hysterically and watches it bleed out you'll never forgive him. Your worries and doubts are internally eating away at you as you witness the darkness seeping into the corners of his vision.

It's quiet and dark and with him as well as a heavy silence looming over you, the pressure on your shoulders is quite literally immense.

He takes a hold of your chin and obnoxiously squishes your rosy cheeks together, dark tundra eyes never falter from yours, that is until they abruptly sink south and he catches drift of the way your night gown has ridden up. Thighs on full display you want to pull the edges of the material down but are too afraid to move under his deathly stare.

"Do you know how long I was stuck inside of my own body? Having to act like a fool on the daily."

"What?" You shakily reply through parted lips.

He was able to see everything he did under the spell? This changes the dynamic significantly. Cheeks flaring up in embarrassment you recall how you ate up all the sweet nothings he whispered into your ears, the scarlet blush creeps to the back of your ears when you think back to how you fervently kissed him goodbye whenever he was sent to venture outside the walls. The sanguine tint only intensifies when you think about the night where you accidentally let his bare hands venture a little too far.

"Naive little thing," he grunts. "You will never be my wife." He scowls sniffing at you in pure repulsion.

Whiskey, cigarette fumes and strong sweat infused cologne revoltingly is what you're reminded of when you hear those words leave his mouth. The stench isn't present but nevertheless you feel your throat constrict, never expecting to see any sort of parallel form between Levi and that man. The one time you stood your ground against Father it led to you being dragged away from the palace grounds, beat until you were unresponsive and left for dead. He left you there with the intention of extermination, his final words as he bid you goodbye that night had been - "You will never be my daughter."

You have no words left to offer, you're tongue tied. Expressionless whilst he gauges your reaction, the both of you don't register how Levi's grip on your cheeks loosens, that is until the look in his hooded eyes changes. They're inky now smoldering with resentment, he lets go of the hold he has on your face completely.

The separation between your face and his palm is stony.

All you want at that moment is for Lev to come back and wake you up from all of this. You've had enough of this sick and twisted nightmare where he doesn't look at you the way he normally does. The way he manhandles you irks you and lights a dangerous fire in your stomach.

Blinking your tears away you finally speak after your long silence "I know that My Lord." taking what may be one of your final breaths you announce the unthinkable "Feel free to finish what you were unable to last time."

"No begging?" he chastises you pulling you by the back of your ear.

"Would you spare me if I did?" The close ended question you respond with leaves him stiff.

Snatching your forearm you note that even when he's not under the constraint of the spell physical touch is consistently one of his ways of getting a point across. He jerks your tired form forward. "Who do you work for?"

Blood running cold you know he won't kill you now. He thinks you've come here with a purpose, a motive, a reason. Hell, all you did was ask to be loved, to experience something before the candle which was your life burnt out.

"No one. You said you were conscious in your mind whilst it all happened, correct?"

He nods albeit begrudgingly.

"Then you must have seen how I tried."

His right eyebrow cocks upwards ever so slightly. "Tried?"

Now it's your turn to be frustrated. "Tried to keep my distance, tried to ignore your advances, tried to refuse your gifts, tried to maintain a level of respect so the both of us would have some dignity remaining if you were to return some day. When I realised you would not stop with your persistence I accepted." You fumed - the fretful irritation you feel only increases by the second.

"Cut the crap." He snarls at you.

You want to snarl back with just as much impatience but you bite your tongue.

Maybe it's because it's late at night, maybe it's because you're fatigued or maybe it's because you already felt feverish and emotional - Honestly, any other reason apart from your husband turning his back on you and announcing you're a mongrel. Feeling light headed you clutch at your scalp harshly trying to control yourself, even Levi's firm hand which until recently held your left arm recoils away.

Falling to your knees you feel the way the floor grates against your bare legs. Your urge to pass out is nearly met but then you hear him.

"Honey???" The concern in his voice which had made you fall in love with him now repulses you.

Fists balling at your knees you silently sob, pitifully shaking your head.

This can't be your reality.

It can't be.

You won't let it be.

That night you find out nightmares can happen in real life.

Levi Ackerman being a prime example.

After the bitter encounter you leave the room and order Lev to not come after you, you need your own space and as much as you want him to return to his sweet, loving self it's pathetic to seek any comfort in him. That tyrant is bound to make another appearance soon enough and mock you for falling into his trap again, but really can you blame the man? Is this his fault or your own?

Whoever is at fault there will still come a time where the Levi you love won't come back and call you his Love. You'll have to get used to that bleak desolate reality. Assuming he doesn't kill you before you have to.

Day has now broken and the brisk morning air bites at you, scantily clad in your nightgown, It's abnormal, you think to yourself. The position you're in is one you imagined countless times but you never really thought you'd end up this way. You're about to drift off to sleep right there in the middle of the Estate's field of hydrangeas, too tired to actually care anymore when you hear a rustle from one of the surrounding bushes.

"Duchess?" Your head turns when you hear Mikasa's soft voice emerge from the hedges, she steps through them and you both stare at each other. Mouth open, gaping in shock she takes in your appearance. You can only imagine how you look right now. Dark eye bags, you aren't wearing your usual noble attire not to mention Levi has accidentally left a bruise on one of your arms. It's faint because it is accidental (you hope) it does not go unnoticed by Mikasa.

Her gaze hardens and she approaches your disheveled form kneeling in front of you.

"What happened?" She whispers, the panic is evident in her voice and you awkwardly chuckle in response.

"I had a horrible nightmare. That's all, honest."

"And it's Y/N need I remind you again?" Mikasa is big on respect and sure, it is cute but you want to remind her it really is okay to call you by your first name. After all you would consider her a friend, you hope she sees you the same way.

Giving you a look of disbelief she takes the hint that you don't want to talk about it but much to your delight she does take the advice regarding your name. She sounds hesitant but that's how she usually is, she'll get used to it in no time at all.

"Well...Y/N, Breakfast has been prepared." You can see the way she eyes your unkempt hair and shivering form. "Would you like to eat with me and Sasha?" this is her way of comforting you.

Your lips quirk up into a smile for the first time in a while.

"I would love that."

Twenty minutes and a change of clothes later you've all relocated to your tea room, Sasha doesn't ask questions about your hair or odd choice of clothing earlier this morning. The shadows Levi's fingers left on your arm are now carefully hidden by the sleeves of your baby blue dress. "Oh! Viscount Kirstein me and Y/N saw him yesterday. He's just like the rumours." Sasha exclaims as she stuffs her face with a croissant.

Mikasa takes a short sip from her tea cup. "And the rumours would be?"

You pick a cinnamon roll from the center of the table."Undeniably handsome. I mean he's not my type though."

Sasha looks momentarily confused. "He was drop dead gorgeous what do you mean?"

You laugh a bit at the disbelief on her face, Mikasa chooses to not intervene - she's obviously yet to come to her own conclusions about him.

"Yeah but you said it yourself he fucks anything in a skirt." Sasha, is wide eyed at first and chokes on part of her buttered croissant, you have never been so vulgar before. You guess the argument has left you more likely to voice your reckless thoughts. Snorting you try to keep your laugh in, the ghost of a smile makes its way to Mikasa's face and eventually she too dissolves into a puddle of laughter. The three of you laughing together genuinely eases the recent burden on your soul.

Just as you're about to crack another joke the door to your tea room rumbles.

BANG!  You seem to always be cut off when you're here because Eren Jaeger has burst inside perhaps for the seventh time this month. It's the same routine as usual, he's panting and catching his breathe before he speaks. You're in no mood to hear what he has to say.

"If the Duke has sent you please leave."

Mikasa gives him a "You better not ask any questions and take the damn hint" kind of look but bless Eren for he is completely and utterly clueless.

"It's urgent."

"Still rejecting." You hotly reply.

Mikasa icily interjects "Eren, would you stop being so bothersome?"

He looks between you and Mikasa helplessly. "The Duke says he expects your refusal but I can't return empty handed, I'll be given a punishment and it'll be worse than being made to clean the stables." He gives you a pleading look and he's so much younger than you, it makes you feel like he's your responsibility. Eren has a charming way of making himself feel like everyone else's annoying younger brother. You accept that he can't suffer because of your selfish denial.

Sighing deeply you take a final bite of your roll, if you're going to die you may as well do so on a full stomach. Before you depart you awkwardly get to your feet dusting your dress to buy some time as you bid Mikasa and Sasha goodbye.

You're now following Eren through the halls of the estate. Deep down inside, you know you aren't fearful. He won't kill you, not yet at least, he thinks you're a useful source of information relating to his external enemies, he would be stupid to overlook that detail. You'll exploit it for now, your key is survival, it always has and always will be that way.

Bumping into Eren's back you apologize for being absent minded, you swear the walk to Levi's office has always been much longer. He spares you a worried glance and looks as if he's about to offer you words of support but he stops himself before he opens the heavy door to Duke Ackerman's office. Perhaps he doesn't find it appropriate. Good, you think to yourself. You don't wish to hear motivation from anyone right now, it's nothing personal, it's that nothing can possibly be of motivation right now.

The door opens ever so slowly, your brain races making everything move at a sedated pace. Then you find yourself jolting upright in surprise. You soon realise expecting Levi to be the only person there was naive on your part. Eyes tensely land on the blonde in one of the cushioned caramel chairs. It's the Commander of the Empire's entire battalion — Erwin Smith.

Levi has ratted you out for sure, you spare a glance towards him and see the way he's trying to hide his feelings of amusement. You want to lunge over his desk and wipe that smug smirk off his face. The playful lilt in his usual unreadable expression is driving you mad. Next to Erwin is respected and high ranking Squad Leader Hange Zoe, you're quite well accustomed with them you've exchanged your fair share of words together and Hange has never failed to bring a smile to your face. The amusing air around them lights up any room they're in... Apart from this one that is.

Eren closes the door behind you and you're silent not really knowing what to do.

"Take a seat my beloved." Levi drawls. This isn't Lev you know that much, he's always enthusiastically jumping to his feet when he greets you.

Awkwardly sitting in the chair next to your husband you shake Hange's hand first then move to shake Erwin's. His warm palms envelope yours and he places a hand on your left shoulder. It's not at all similar to the way Levi held you earlier in the morning, the feeling is genuine. He has no ill intentions, all he seems to want to do is open a conversation.

"Y/N, we may not have much time but." He stops, unsure if it's for dramatics but you still intently listen.

The sea that is his blue eyes draws you in, you've only ever seen him from afar. If honesty and gentleness were a person it would be him no doubt about it.

He pats your shoulder and you snap out of your day dream. "Y/N. Thank you for your sacrifice and commitment to this Empire." His warm yet serious smile which follows simply confuses you, in fact this entire situation is doing that.

Jaw slacking you're dazed and bewildered, your thoughts are diverting in all sorts of direction now.

Whatever does he mean by sacrifice?

[anthrat]

Frayed Stitches

Kakuzu/Reader

The tears just wouldn’t stop. No matter how hard you tried, how much you forced yourself to push those feelings of anger, sadness and hatred down they wouldn’t leave. They kept rising up, they were a constant threat to your image. You couldn’t let Kakuzu see you like this. You already knew what he’d say.

2243 words

A/N: I actually wrote this instead of writing my linguistics essay so here's to hoping it's actually good hehe :)

A little over a year had passed since you’d joined the Akatsuki, you could scarcely remember what your life had been like before. You’d never achieved much. Running from village to village as a paid assassin, willing to do anyone’s dirty work for as long as they had the money. You had no loyalties, no friends, no comrades, nothing. Your situation wasn’t an especially uncommon one either. On your travels, you’d met hundreds like yourself. Internal strife meant there was always work for people like you, people who thrived off discontent.

Your admission into the Akatsuki had been a reluctant one. Pain himself had scouted you out, requesting you join. You’d initially declined, however, Pain had insisted, coercing you to bet your freedom on a fight. Win and remain free, lose and become tied to an organisation you didn’t care about. Needless to say, you lost the fight. Even now you still didn’t care about the goal of the organisation, heck, you barely knew what it was. You simply did what was asked of you, not wanting to make a fuss. Running away was futile, so you just had to make do with the circumstances.

On your arrival, you’d been introduced to the other members in what you could only describe as the most uncomfortable situation you’d ever been in. Nobody seemed especially enthusiastic to be there, and nobody seemed to care about you joining. The only person who had even attempted to make you feel welcome had been Kisame, he’d given you a toothy grin as he introduced himself, remarking that he looked forward to working alongside you. It was here you were given an insight into the aims of the Akatsuki, at least you think you had been. You’d struggled to focus on what Pain was saying, distracted by the eyes of each member boring into your skull. This was also the moment you were partnered with Kakuzu, or in other words, the moment you were forced into Hell. You’d remembered how the older man had barely batted an eyelid when you were told you’d be partnered together, the way he’d muttered something about how he would be better by himself, his cold eyes piercing your body as he’d threatened to kill you if you got in his way. You had initially dismissed your partner's morbid comment, assuming it was simply a tough-guy act to make himself appear strong in front of the other members. However, before leaving to embark on your first official mission one of the other members had gently placed his hand on your shoulder, giving you a toothy grin before whispering something you’d never forget into your ear.

“You're the fifth to be partnered with Kakuzu. Don’t die.”

Your partnership with Kakuzu had been one which could be easily described in one word. Hell. From not caring whatsoever if you were caught in his crossfire, to forcing you to walk for days on end with absolutely no breaks the man was a tyrant, a monster. You found yourself unable to ever completely relax, your body was in a constant state of emergency knowing full well if you let your guard down for even a second that would give Kakuzu the opportunity to strike. Thinking back on those Hellish times you wondered what had kept you going. Death would have been the easy way out, yet you’d persevered and for what? You’d found yourself growing attached to the grumpy old fuck, you hated to admit it but it was true. Recently you’d found your mind drifting when you were around Kakuzu, you no longer felt like he was an immediate threat. You’d been able to learn his attack patterns and formulate battle strategies which benefited you both. You’d been talking with each other more too, although Kakuzu’s answers were always abrupt and uninviting he was at least finally responding. On the rare occasion, Kakuzu himself had even tried to spark a conversation, although it usually revolved around money. Not long ago you’d even cooked together, well… Maybe it was a stretch to call it cooking. It was more like you’d forced him to cut the mushrooms you’d gathered for lunch after he’d spent roughly ten minutes complaining that you were doing it wrong. Watching his skill with the knife had made you wonder why he always refused to cook meals, he was clearly much better than you were. Given his age and experience you always felt like he’d probably find your cooking skills lacklustre, yet he never once complained about your sub-par skills. This had led you to believe the stoic and grumpy ninja had a slight soft side, or maybe he just really didn’t care.

You raked your hands through your hair, trying to steady your own breathing. Why were you thinking about Kakuzu at a time like this? The man who had brought you so much pain and suffering, and yet was the only person you could trust. He was the only person who hadn’t abandoned you. Placing your hands over your mouth you tried to stifle your cries as you doubled over, cowering into your knees. Your whole body convulsed from the pressure of the wrangled sobs which were trying desperately to escape from your body. You wanted nothing more than to just scream, to let your tears flow freely, to remove the constraints you’d placed on your emotions. Yet you couldn’t. Not here, not now. Kakuzu would hear you, he’d see you. You already knew what he’d say. You’d spent so long carefully constructing an image of yourself, an image which portrayed only strength and aggression. One of independence. One which implied you were able to find joy in your solitude, that you were proud of the person you’d become. Yet here you were, crying on the floor of your rented room like a little bitch. If Kakuzu saw you now he’d know it was all a lie, he’d see you for what you really were. A terrified young shinobi who was in way over their head. An incompetent fool who’d been forced to abandon everything. An idiot who couldn’t even take their fate into their own hands. You tried yet again to steady your breathing, squeezing your eyes shut as you scrunched up your face, balling your hands into tight fists and pushing them roughly against your eyes.

“Breathe normally you pathetic fucking bitch” you muttered to yourself, forcing your legs to move out from beneath you. Forcing yourself to stand. You were going to go and have a shower and clean yourself up. After that you’d forget about this tiny little slip-up, you’d completely wipe it from your memory dismissing it as nothing but a silly dream.

“What are you doing?”

You froze. Shit. How had you not heard him return? This is why you couldn’t let your guard down, you’d let yourself grow comfortable and for what? For Kakuzu to stumble upon you at your absolute worst. Maybe you could salvage the situation, he could only see your back after all. Straightening your back, you let out a long fake yawn, stretching your hands up to the ceiling, then dropping them to your sides as you began taking slow steps in the opposite direction to where Kakuzu was stood, your eyes desperate scanning the bare walls for something, anything, you could use as an excuse to not turn around and face him.

“I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.” You winced, even to you your voice sounded impossibly thick. Unless Kakuzu was actually brain-dead you didn’t have the slightest chance of escaping him unscathed. Spotting your bag in the corner of the room you marched towards it and squatted in front of it, opening it up slowly you rummaged around mindlessly. Acting had never been your strong suit but you hoped this was at least mildly convincing. The silence between the two of you was almost deafening, had you not been able to feel his steel-like gaze piercing through you you may have assumed he’d already left. You breathed a sigh of relief as you heard Kakuzu’s feet move, although that relief was quickly displaced with immediate dread as you realised he was walking towards you. Ducking your head you tried to make your bag rummaging more convincing, although at this point you knew it was pointless.

“What are you looking for?” You felt a shiver run down your spine as the older Shinobi spoke, his deep gravelly voice always put you on edge, no matter what he was saying. You hummed loudly “Nothing in particular. Do you want something?” you inwardly cringed as your voice cracked, you could already feel the pressure building up in your throat. Your body wanted nothing more than to completely break down but that wasn’t an option right now. You tried to control your breathing, praying that he would leave.

“We have a mission. We’re leaving early tomorrow morning”

“Right. Is that all?” you snapped, instantly regretting your tone as you felt a strong hand grip your shoulder.

“Look at me when you speak to me” Kakuzu growled. You felt tears prick your eyes. God not now, please not now. Forcing a laugh you tried to swat his hand away which only caused him to tighten his grip. “Pathetic really, I come all this way to tell you we have a mission and this is the thanks I get. I could have easily just left you here all by yourself-” You’d had enough, gripping his hand with your own you tore it from your shoulder. Turning to face the surprised Shinobi with tears streaming down your face. “Just shut up! Shut up! Leave me the fuck alone!” you screamed as your arms flailed wildly in a series of punches and slaps, each one directed at Kakuzu’s chest. You felt his skin harden beneath your fists, you didn’t care if you weren’t hurting him. You just wanted him gone. Your breath rasped as you repeatedly flung yourself at him. He just stood there, completely still, his face unreadable beneath his mask. Yelling in frustration you turned away from him, picking up your bag and tossing it across the room. “Just fuck off!”

“Me or the bag?” He retorted, Taking a step towards you. You attempted to throw another punch at him, this time however he swiftly caught it. His large hand enveloped your fist as he pushed it harshly down to your side, his eyes meeting your own. There was something different about his gaze, it was still his usual stone-cold glare yet there was something… Almost like guilt? Or maybe it was sadness glimmering within its depths. You tried to disentangle your fists from his grip to no avail. “Kakuzu please, leave me alone” you begged, your voice barely a whisper. He sighed heavily, his feet shifting slightly as he pulled you into a rough and uncomfortable hug. His arms wrapped stiffly around you for a few seconds before he quickly withdrew them and pushed you away. You were in a state of complete shock, your entire body seemed to be malfunctioning. Had you took the time to look up at Kakuzu you might have noticed the delicate shade of pink decorating his face. “I’m sorry. I’ll leave you be” He muttered. Before you could even compute what had happened, never mind think of an adequate response he had already left the room. Leaving you completely alone once again.

You shook your head roughly, it must have been a dream, right? Had Kakuzu, the man devoid of any and all emotion, really just given you a hug? You laughed, you couldn’t help yourself. Maybe you’d finally turned insane. The hug had been possibly the absolute worst you’d ever received in your life, yet somehow you felt lighter. His body had been warm. So warm. So muscular. You pinched yourself, what on earth were you thinking? Had several years lacking in human touch really made you this desperate? Smiling to yourself you wandered aimlessly towards your bed, heavily flopping down on it to stare at the ceiling. You lay like that for a good while, your head spinning with thoughts of Kakuzu. You didn’t know what to make of this advancement, had he hugged you out of pity or was it something else? With your thoughts still racing you slowly drifted off into a deep slumber that lasted until dawn. You weren’t awoken by the entrance of a mysterious masked man who gently placed a duvet over your body. You didn’t see the soft smile which adorned his face as he did this, you didn’t notice the extreme care he took in order to not wake you as he tucked you into bed. You didn’t hear him as he gently whispered goodnight before he left. The next morning you’d wake up, completely unaware of just how much Kakuzu cared about you. Unknowing of the suffering you caused him. To openly reveal his admiration for you would be to reopen old wounds. After all, if you ever found out just how much he cared it would ruin the image he’d spent years constructing.

[sharperthewriter]

Chapter 6 of Possible-y Utah

Chapter 6 - Pool Party II She rolled up the belted overalls and her white croptop in a ball with the sneakers on top and put them on the sofa.

"You got anything to drink, Monique?" Kim asked.

"Some soda, juice, or milk, Kim. Mom's got it all laid out." Monique said, pointing to the refreshments.

Kim got herself a diet soda and headed on outside to soak up the sun's rays. She closed her eyes and laid down face first on the pool chair.

(25 minutes later)

After getting a good slight tan, Ron came up to her seat.

"Hey, KP! You're missing out on the fun!" he exclaimed.

As it turned out, he added goggles, an inner tube, and flippers to his feet.

"Ron..." Kim groaned, "...Monique's pool is big, but we aren't at the beach this summer yet!"

"I wanna soak it all in!" he replied, "Even Rufus is getting in on the act!"

Rufus giggled and put on his small goggles over his beady eyes.

"Rufus?! Is he going to go off the diving board in the deep end?" she questioned. Kim pointed to the deep half of Monique's pool that was at least 12 feet deep. That area had a diving board and slide.

"You bet your Nacos that he is, KP!" Ron grinned.

"That's so him!" Kim chuckled.

"So what do you think is going to happen in our senior year?" Ron then questioned.

"You know what? It is a really big question!" Kim exclaimed. "Considering that we're going to get a lot of our starters back on the football team for the upcoming season, we could make it all the way to State."

"Aww...man!" Ron complained, "My arms are sooo tired from last season!"

It was a longstanding tradition at Middleton High since the 1960s that the Mad Dog mascot must perform pushups on all the points the Mad Dog football team has scored through the course of a game.

"Ron, you need to do this for the team!" Kim insisted, "We need that edge after our Mad Dog football team got eliminated in the second round of the playoffs."

Ron took a deep breath and said, "The pushups are one tradition of the Mad Dog that I wish that can do without...but since you are my BFGF, I am going to do them in your honor!"

"Thank you, Ron, for the support!" Kim replied with a smile before turning her entire body around. "Oh and also, can you rub the sunscreen on my back? I don't want to get a really nasty sunburn!"

"Much obliged, KP!" Ron said in grabbing the sunscreen from the bag. He took out the sunscreen, squirted it a few times, and began to rub his girlfriend's back.

A familiar snarky voice came upon Monique's backyard.

"Out of my way, everyone! The Queen B is here!"

"Oh no..." she muttered, "Not now...please not now"

Bonnie then opened up the gate to the backyard, and she was in a two-piece bathing suit that accentated her figure. However, she wasn't the only one with her.

Another girl also came through the gate. She had blonde hair, light green eyes that were covered by her oversized sunglasses, and, like Bonnie, was in a bikini. The thing that attracted people most was the jewelry with solid gold hoop earrings, four bangles, five rings. She also had her nose and both ears pierced.

"What do you want this time, Rockwaller? You're blocking my sun!" Kim snarked at the brunette.

"Just the usual, Possible! Annoying you and Stoppable like always!" Bonnie replied with a smirk, standing right in front of the sun.

"You know that you haven't been invited to the party!" Kim snarled.

"Yeah!" Ron agreed, "Party crasher!" Rufus gave a raspberry at her.

Monique turned around and saw the three arguing.

"Uh, excuse me, Bonnie, but may I remind you that you and...whomever your friend is...need to leave!" the fashionista insisted.

"But we only just got here, Monique!" Bonnie cackled. "And actually, we did receive two invites from Hope, whom emailed me the copies!"

Kim glared at Hope.

"Sorry, Kim, but Bonnie has been my friend. I just cannot say no to anything she asks me..." Hope whimpered.

"Whatever." Kim sighed at Hope before turning her attention to Bonnie. "Just don't act like a fool for at least a couple hours, Rockwaller. This is Tamara's last party before she leaves for college! And who is your new friend here?"

Bonnie snickered and loudly announced to everyone!

"Girls...and the loser Mad Dog mascot..." she decreed while Ron seethed at her.

"I present to you the newest prospective member of the Mad Dog cheer squad! Rebecca Starlet! She just recently moved from the rich upper crust of Upperton and her family owns the Starlet Oil Company which is worth about $7 billion!"

"Seven billion?!" Ron exclaimed as his jaw dropped.

"That's correct, Stoppable!" Bonnie snarked, "She's like the heiress to the comapny!"

"So that explains all the bling she has on her..." Kim muttered. "Country CB, I would guess?"

"Yep, Possible!" Bonnie replied, still grinning at the glimmer of gold all over Rebecca's body. "She only shops the finest stores and not any peasant dumps like Club Banana!"

"Only sore losers would even wear those fashions that would be dumped into the local Smarty-Mart..." Rebecca snarked before looking at Tara, "...and for those rats that only work minimum wage at the local Cow N' Chow!"

Monique gasped at what Bonnie and Rebecca said about both her and Tara. She clenched her fists, ready to punch them!.

"You take that back, girl, before I am going to pound both your faces in!"

Kim and Jessica held her back before any punches could be thrown.

"We can't fight her now, Monique! Not in public! Not now!"

Monique relented before unclenching her fists. "Someday...karma will shove you right in the face..." she muttered.

Rufus also growled at Rebecca.

"Seems like Rufus doesn't like you on first impressiosn!

"Monique, you never cease to amaze me!" Bonnie chuckled.

"Why thank you, Bonnie, for introducing me to the rest of your squad!" Rebecca replied as she removed her sunglasses. "I hope to contribute to next year's team as we root-root for the Mad Dogs! Oh, and we're going on shopping trips to the World's Richest Mall!"

Kim gasped. "Only the uber-rich visit that place!"

"That's correct...um...what's your name again?" Rebecca asked.

"The name's Kim Possible. Perhaps you have heard my name in the news?" Kim asked, huffing.

"Oh yeah, the stupid crop-top cargo-pants wearing weirdo fighting other weirdoes!" Rebecca taunted.

"I guess you got all that info from Bonnie..." Kim muttered.

"From only the very best!" Rebecca replied before looking at her Club CB watch. "Oh, goodness, look at time! We should be at the salon for our 2pm mani-pedi!"

"Yeah, the both of us would stay and love to annoy you two losers, but we got an appointment to keep!" Bonnie snarked. "Kthanksbye!"

And with that, both Bonnie and Rebecca left Monique's backyard to go to the limousine.

"Ooooo! The nerve of Bonnie to insult me and my friends like that!" Kim shrieked, "And that super-rich so-called 'friend' of hers? I only wish if all that jewelry on her turned to rust!"

"KP! Just chillax! Don't let Bonnie and her rich girl-friend get to you!" Ron replied, "You got me and Monique to hang out all summer long! Plus, we won't have Barkin to push us around for the next two and a half months!"

Kim's frustrations with her rivalry with the Queen subsided...for now.

"Thanks, Ron. I really need to get my temper with Bon in check in time for the new school year." the redhead admitted.

"That's the spirit, girl!" Monique exclaimed.

"I know you can do it, Kim. Just clear the mind off of Bonnie and be in control!" Ron replied.

"Okay, sounds good to me!" Kim said as she sat back down on the pool chair.

"Relax and soak in the summer!" Ron said with a happy sigh, "It is going to be peaceful and quiet!"

[sxfterhearts]

20. [9:40 am]

28A… 29A… Ah, 30A! You thought to yourself as your eyes glanced over the seat numbers slightly above your line of sight, your feet finally coming to a stop beside your reserved seat.

Much to your dismay, it was a window seat, facing in the opposite direction of the train’s movements. It was also one of the few face-to-face seats on the entire KTX train, with a table between the two pairs of seats which were facing each other.

You groaned internally. As much as you liked having a proper surface for writing or doodling in your journal, you didn’t like sharing. You much preferred having your own privacy while glancing out the windows, watching the greenery and the countryside pass by in a colourful blur, with soft tunes to accompany you on your journey. It’s fine, you reminded yourself, trying to stay positive, it’s only two hours, no big deal…

You hauled your backpack over your head and into the overhead compartment with practiced movements. Pulling out your travel necessities, which included your fully-charged phone, a pair of wireless earphones, a large, ice-cold Americano and your trusty journal, you settled into your seat for the rest of the morning. A part of you wished that the seat in front of you wouldn’t be occupied, while another part of you contemplated whether it was better to just try and fall asleep for the remainder of the train ride to Gangneung.

You quickly dismissed the latter thought, as the scenery throughout the train ride was too good to miss. You could deal with a couple of awkward silences and accidental glances with the unlucky stranger who reserved the seat opposite yours. Besides, it was your first time visiting your parents in two months – you weren’t going to let anything sour your mood.

The last-minute trip to Gangneung, your hometown, was planned just two days ago, as you were graciously granted two days of paid leave by your manager. After finally submitting the last tax return for your clients, your manager had treated the entire team to a congratulatory dinner and gave everyone a few days of leave to make up for the never-ending client meetings and late nights spent slaving away at the office desk during the tax busy season. You were overwhelmed with joy once your manager announced the news, pulling her usually stoic self into a tight embrace under the yellow glow of  the pojangmacha, a tent bar selling alcohol and street food, due to the heightened levels of alcohol within your system.

Giggling to yourself at the memory, you reached out for your phone and typed a message to your mother to inform her that you were about to depart Seoul. It was a message that she read and replied immediately with her usual “Be careful, dear, and have a safe journey.”, which you missed dearly during the busy season. On off-periods, you would make the effort to visit your parents once a fortnight. You moved to Seoul for university a few years back and found a job in the bustling city, leaving your parents and the family’s bicycle store behind in the coastal neighbourhood. Sometime in your early twenties, your father experienced a mild health scare and had to close the store during his month-long recovery. This made you realise that as the years went by, your parents were not getting any younger. With that in mind, you tried to clear your hectic schedule to spend as much time with your parents as possible.

“This is the 10:01am number 811 KTX train bound for Gangneung. The train will be departing shortly.”

The familiar female voice flooded the carriages of the train and distracted you from your thoughts. The seat in front of you was still unoccupied. You held on to the tiny glimmer of hope that it would remain that way for the rest of the journey, despite knowing very well that the summer holidays were approaching, turning Gangneung into an ideal weekend getaway for tourists and locals alike. The prospect of spending the next few days basking in the summer sunshine, helping out at the bicycle store and frolicking in the sea excited you to no end. After long hours cooped up in the office, you were looking forward to spending your break in the great outdoors.

“28… 29… 30, 31! Here it is, Mark, 31A and 31B. Dibs the window seat!” A cheerful voice spoke in English, pulling you out of your delightful daydream. Before you could turn your head to face its owner, a bright streak of reflected rainbow dancing across the table caught your eye.

“Okay, Bella,” A deep chuckle originated from the man standing beside your seat. “Wait a sec, pass me your bag, honey.”

Your eyes traced the source of the deep timbre notes of the American-sounding voice. What you found was a man, dressed in an oversized white shirt and black ripped jeans, who was placing the girl’s pink Barbie bag into the overhead compartment. Even though he was wearing a cap, you could make out his cherubic features and the gentle smile he directed towards the girl.

The thought that he was a bit too young to have a daughter crossed your mind for a split second, but you quickly shook it off to return the little girl’s excited smile with a polite wave. She was wearing a cute pink dress and looked to be about six or seven years old. The pair got comfortable in their seats, just as the announcement informed the passengers the doors were closing.

The man sitting diagonally opposite of you took off his cap to reveal a head of blonde hair. He met your gaze, and you watched as a surprised look flashed across his face. As the two of you exchanged polite greetings, you couldn’t shake off the thought that you had seen him somewhere before.

A phone chirped, signalling an incoming call. It was a call for him. He answered it, and you looked out the window to give him some privacy and not seem too nosy. You wracked your brain for answers. Did he work at the café I frequented? Or was it the Chinese restaurant that I ordered takeaways from? No… You mused silently. Maybe he’s the cashier at the convenience store near the apartment… But that doesn’t seem right either. Wait, is he-?

“Bell, your Mummy wants to speak to you.”

“Yes, Mummy! Mark said…”

You drowned out the rest of the conversation to refocus your thinking. You sneaked another glance at the man in question, only to find half of his face covered by his laptop screen as he tapped away furiously. It seems like it’s him… You adjusted your position several times to get a better look at his face without seeming too suspicious. Blonde hair and shiny helix piercing, it must be him.

The person you were referring to was someone you’ve only ever seen from afar. There was usually a safe distance between you two on your morning subway ride to the office, with him leaning casually against a pole and you standing steadily in the middle of the crowd. The closest you’ve been to him was when you were running late, and you happened to share the elevator with a blonde-haired man from the eighth floor of your apartment. He always had the top button of his crisp button-up undone, a tie hanging haphazardly over one shoulder and his headphones sitting snugly atop his blonde head, while munching on a piece of burnt toast. You had never encountered this strange gentleman until mid-May, so you assumed that he had recently moved into the floor below you. The two of you never exchanged words either, as he was always busy shoving down his breakfast, but you would always bow politely to each other. Unbeknownst to him, you were intrigued. Not many office workers were brave enough to sport such a striking hair colour, and you had to admit, it suited him perfectly.

You just never expected him to have a child.

“Mark!” The girl, Bella, whined while grabbing his hand. Your ears were still getting accustomed to hearing English after so long. The last time you were surrounded by native speakers was during your six-month-long secondment to the New York branch of your company. “Do my hair, pretty please! I want two braids.”

The man, Mark, sighed in fake annoyance, playfully poking her cheeks. “Yes, Your Highness. Hand over your other hair tie.” A part of you wasn’t used to how the girl didn’t address him with honorifics, but you busied yourself with your phone, pretending that you weren’t eavesdropping on their conversation.

“I thought you took them for me when we left your house.” She huffed, clearly unsatisfied.

“Nope, I only have one with me.”

Your fingers reached for the simple, black hair tie around your wrist. “Here, you can borrow mine.” Smiling, you handed it over to Bella, who accepted it with a grateful smile.

Mark leaned down to whisper in her ear, unable to hide the surprised smile on his face. “Thank the pretty eonnie in Korean.”

“Thank you, eonnie!” Bella chirped, so excited that she was practically bouncing in her seat.

“You’re most welcome.” You said in perfect English, intrigued at Mark’s earlier interaction with the girl.

He proceeded to divide her hair into two even halves, combing her dark locks with long, thin fingers. Expertly, Mark separated the first half into three parts and began to braid. He stuck out his tongue cutely in concentration, trying his best to not mess up.

“Don’t move so much, Bell.” He scolded lightly when the girl pulled out her colouring book and painted the sky a light shade of blue with large strokes of her coloured pencil.

“You’re pretty good at this. Mark, right?” You commented.

“Yeah, guess it comes with practice. I’m Mark, by the way. We never got to introduce each other properly. Your name is…?”

“Y/N.”

“Ah yes, Y/N. It suits you well. Always so prim and proper in your blazer and kitten heels. I must seem like a fool to you, with my tie undone and all.”

You laughed at his self-deprecating humour. This man is funny, and he can braid hair. His wife sure is a lucky woman, you thought. “No, not at all. Where do you work?”

Light conversation regarding your respective careers ensued. You found out that he was also working at a company close to yours, which explained the frequent encounters on the train. He moved in about a month ago from another side of the city because of his new job. When the conversation about work dwindled, you shifted the topic to the girl.

“How old is she?”

Mark secured the first braid with your hair tie, smiling to himself, satisfied. “Bella, how old are you?”

“I’m six, Mark! How could you forget?” The girl sat up from her position to shoot daggers with her eyes at him.

“I’m sorry, kiddo. Come, turn to the other side so I can finish this up.” He moved her to sit facing the window instead and starting on the second braid. “She’s six,” Mark turned to you and answered with a sheepish expression. Before you started to wonder what kind of father would forget his daughter’s age, he continued, “Bella doesn’t visit very often.”

Your eyebrows quirked upwards in response. Does that mean he was… divorced?

Mark saw your confused expression and hastened to add, “She’s my niece.” You let out a breath that you didn’t even realise you were holding. “My sister and her family came over from LA to visit me.”

It all made sense to you now. “Right…”

“Her parents wanted some alone time so I’m taking her to Gangneung for a day trip cos she wants to visit Jumunjin beach and take some pictures.” He paused, and went on to mouth, “She loves BTS.”

“The bus stop near the beach? The one on their album cover?” You wondered, knowing exactly which photo spot he was referring to. “It’s about a bit of a drive from my parent’s bicycle shop. I took a couple of days off to visit them.”

“You’ve seen the bus stop? That’s so cool!” Bella’s ears perked up.

“Sit still, honey.” Mark reminded sternly as he got closer to the end of the braid.

You nodded eagerly. “Yup! They’ve got a map of a BTS bus route with their album names as the bus stops.”

“Don’t encourage her, Y/N…” Mark groaned as he tied the second braid. He inspected his handiwork and seemed very proud of himself.

“Well, I have a suggestion,” You started carefully. “How about this? I can be your local tour guide for Gangneung today. I can show you the best photo spots, the most popular places to get your daily coffee fix and even get you a discount for bike rentals so you can cycle around the beach and the lake!”

The two of them nodded eagerly at your proposition.

//

It was a long, eventful day. The three of you had visited a hanok café, took way too many pictures at the Jumunjin bus stop and breakwater where they filmed Goblin, dipped your toes in Gyeongpo Beach and cycled around Gyeongpo lake. Your parents had immediately taken a liking to your new friend Mark and his cute niece, even insisting on packing them a container full of kimbap and banana milk for their journey back to Seoul.

“Thank you so, so much for today, Y/N.” Mark whispered as the three of you sat at the train station, waiting for their train. Bella had already dozed off with her head on Mark’s lap. It was an adorable sight. “We both had a lot of fun.”

“Not a problem at all. I enjoyed showing you around and visiting touristy places. I got to see my hometown in a different light.” You faced him, giving him a sincere smile.

He returned you with an equally bright smile that showed off his cute, pointy canines. “Let me take you out for dinner or something. You know, to make it up to you.” Mark’s ears began to heat up and were painted in a faint tinge of red. “Let’s exchange numbers.”

“Sure!” You replied. Was he asking me out on a date? You wondered. “I’ve been craving sticky barbecue ribs since I left the States.”

“I know a good place. How about next Saturday night?”

“I’m free.”

“Great, it’s a date.”

[siverwrites]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Cabanela (Ghost Trick), Pigeon Man (Ghost Trick) Additional Tags: Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Final Fantasy VI AU, FFVI GT AU Series: Part 9 of Final Fantasy VI/Ghost Trick Summary: Cidgeon returns to Vector to another unpleasant surprise. Regardless of plots this boy is going to be the death of him one of these days.

“Here we are, old girl,” Cidgeon muttered with a pat given to Lovey-Dove as he fumbled with the door in the deepening darkness. Not as dark as Thamasa would be at this hour, no, not with the Vector’s lights scattered about, yet enough to prove the growing lateness. Tomorrow would be another long day in an entirely different way from all the traveling; for now he only looked forward to a bed.

Inside, he lit the lamps and set aside his bag to sort through in the morning while Lovey-Dove fluttered off to the adjoining room. He didn’t have long to linger before an alarmed coo sent him hurrying after her.

She perched on the armchair by the fireplace. Cidgeon’s eyes locked on the figure across the floor in front of the hearth, partially curled in on himself.

“Cabanela.” Cidgeon swiftly crouched next to him. Breath seemed steady. Cidgeon reached out to check his pulse and flinched back, startled at the chill in Cabanela’s skin. Prepared this time, he tried again and found his pulse satisfactory as well, but the man was freezing.

“What have you gotten yourself into this time, boy?” Cidgeon muttered. An ember still smouldered in the hearth—a fire had been burning recently. He prodded it back to life. Cabanela stirred though showed no other signs of awakening. Still, that was a good sign and Cidgeon rose to his feet to frown down at him.

Then he went to Cabanela’s room—pristine and seemingly untouched. So, it didn’t look like he’d made it that far at all today. He pulled away the blanket and pillow from the bed and hauled both back out. This was not how this evening was meant to go. His own bed still called and he didn’t count on seeing Cabanela until sometime tomorrow and that maybe, just maybe, he’d be found asleep in his own bed like a vaguely normal person, ha. No, he knew that evening was a lost cause as he nudged the pillow under Cabanela’s head and threw the blanket over him. He brushed a hand over Cabanela’s face. Even in front of the now-crackling fire his skin still felt icy.

Sighing, he sagged into the armchair. So much for bed; better to keep an eye on things. Lovey-Dove gave a soft coo and took her place back on his head. Nothing to do but settle in, listen to the fire and wait.

Cidgeon snapped awake to the sound of whistling. Kettle, ears supplied and the rest of the evening’s events caught up. The fire was still going, or going again, and the floor was bare and—

“Mooornin’, Prof!”

And Cabanela himself filled his vision, offering a saucer and steaming teacup.

“Decided to stop taking up the floor, did you?” Cidgeon said as he took the tea and eyed him critically. He looked all right.

Cabanela swirled back to the fire and Cidgeon realized there was another cup on the mantle which Cabanela took and cupped close. “You’re back a little earlier than expected,” he said.

“We made good time. Luckily for you,” Cidgeon added pointedly and maybe it wouldn’t have made any difference, but he wasn’t about to let Cabanela slide away this easily. “What happened last night?”

“Sorry I wasn’t up to welcome you baaack. A liiittle nap came on sooner than expected.”

“Nap, right. After coming in from an icebox?”

Cabanela took a sip of tea. “We attempted another infusion.”

Cidgeon jerked. Tea sloshed over onto the saucer. He scowled up at Cabanela. “He was supposed to be done with that. You were supposed to be done.”

“Heeey now.” Cabanela raised a placating hand. “I’m still the only success. The doc wanted to see if more could be dooone. Besides I’m not about to say no to anything that might help here.”

“Yeah? So now what? What’s this new ‘help’ of yours?”

Cabanela gave a loose shrug. “Nothin’. It failed.”

Cidgeon eyed him worriedly. He looked fine, but he also knew many of Asbolus’s other subjects hadn’t fared so well in the past. “Failed? Why?”

Cabanela gave a short laugh. “You think he said anything to me? Not a cluuue I’m afraid. I was out like a light and next thing I kneeew, there was ice everywhere and a few fried machines. He said my magic went out of control, made sure I wasn’t doin’ anything new and sent me on my way. I came back to warm up and there you were!”

Cidgeon ignored the shiny smile. “And what about side-effects? You were freezing last night. How are you feeling?”

“I feel fiiine.” Cabanela danced a few sparks around his fingers. “Magic’s fine. A bit chilled still,” he conceded. “But warmin’ up.”

Cidgeon sighed. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing, boy. Putting yourself into Asbolus’s hands like this; what good will it do you when he goes too far?”

“Who am I to disobey His Majesty’s will?”

Cidgeon snorted.

Cabanela’s expression darkened. “I will get my place back and that means fulfilling my duties.”

“And if they get you killed or worse? What then?”

“I shouldn’t be in this position at all, a ‘near-traitor’ like myself.” Cabanela set his cup aside and spread his arms in a careless display. “But I’m their Magic ‘Knight’. Their ooone and only. The doc may not give twooo whits about me and the Emperor certainly isn’t happy with me. I’m quite certain Beauty would just as soon see me in a prison cell at beeest, but I’m all they’ve got. Not a test subject nor a tool any of ‘em are willin’ to toss aside and that’s to my advantage.”

“Yet.”

“I’d be a fool to pass this up.”

“You’re a fool now,” Cidgeon grumbled. “This ambition of yours had better be worth it.”

Cabanela’s gaze pierced. Back straight, and shoulders set. Even the softness in his voice didn’t cover the fierceness underlying it. “Not a doubt about it.”

No, there wasn’t, was there? Not from that day Cabanela returned, frantic and furious and pleading with him to return to Thamasa to look after a certain princess while he swore he would do everything and anything to rescue a king. He always had been one to hold to his word.

Cidgeon sighed. “Watch your back. You failed Asbolus. He doesn’t take kindly to failures.” What would he try next?

“Of course. But enough about meee. I have to go soon. How did things go?”

And the question in his eyes was clear: how is she?

“Well enough. I’ll be putting my reports together today. Nothing of concern to you.”

Something in Cabanela relaxed and he flashed a smile. “Glaaad to hear it. I should be back for dinner.”

“Then get on with you. Their perfect knight can hardly be late, can he?” And if his tone leaned toward sour, Cabanela gave no notice.

“Now you’re gettin’ it.”

And then he was gone, out the door in a swirl of white. Cidgeon glowered and absently patted Lovey-Dove earning a reassuring coo in return. The worst, well, there were several problems here, but Cabanela wasn’t exactly wrong. They could have simply taken him prisoner, locked him in Asbolus’s labs for the goddesses only knew what else, but he was still useful. Mutual use it seemed—a precarious balance, yet if anyone could walk that fine line it was him.

Cabanela himself had simply traded one Majesty for another and once more Cidgeon found himself wondering at this desert king who fostered such loyalty and devotion. Love. Of course it wouldn’t be right to leave any poor soul in their clutches regardless, but he wondered how long this balance could last. He could only hope Cabanela would tip it in their favour sooner than later.

[phantomphangphucker]

Phango - Not So Strangers In The Night

(Swagger Bishie + Identity Reveal + Ghost King)

Dash wants many things but there’s two he’s sure he just can’t have, Danny meanwhile, doesn’t think ‘can’t’ is an actual word.

Dash sighs mentally, eyeballing Danny out of the corner of his eye. There had always just been something about how lithe the guy’s body was, the way his clothing would occasionally cling or hang off him giving away the skinnier body underneath. Personally, he would never wear oversized clothing himself, but it was more than a little attractive on people with petite frames.

Watching Danny stretch his arms over his head and yawn in a way that was almost cat-like. He doesn’t know when Danny’d gotten his teeth done like that, the fangs, but they added an even more slender and sharp edge to his face. Moving his gaze up the other teens' jawline to mentally trace out a sharp line all the way past the tapered ears. Everything about Danny’s face was sharp, defined...and incredibly attractive.

Glancing back to Danny’s arms just before he lowers them, the oversized sweater just thin enough and just heavy enough to give away the ever so slight hint of defined muscles underneath. Dash has no clue how that happened and he was honestly a bit hurt and dismayed when he noticed Danny bulking up. How could he not notice? It was so very obvious every time he grabbed around the now practically rock hard biceps to drag the kid off for his daily beating. Or when he snuck a peek down Danny’s shirt, as he always did, when pinning him up against some locker. He knows attacking Danny is pretty stupid, but Dash knows he’s not a smart guy. And really? A jock with a loser? A freak? Never. He’d be a social pariah. So he gets his hands on his secret little crush the only way he knows how. With rough hands and a strong dose of aggression. He does relish the closeness too though with that strange muscle Danny’s built, he does wonder why Danny never truly fights back. He honestly wouldn’t mind getting rough up by the lithe teen. That was half the reason he loved football after all, and working out. The bruises, the cuts, the sore muscles. Pain was a pleasure and carried a feeling of power. Knowing just what your body could do and take. And he’ll admit to testing Danny’s limits sometimes. Seeing just how much pain he could take, which honestly just left him feeling very impressed...and attracted.

But back to why Danny’s muscle growth had bugged him. In the beginning, it did anyway. See Danny had always been skinny, there was a daintiness to him, yet lithe. It’s not like Danny never had muscle, no, it had just been muscle potential hidden away. And wondering just what he could do if that potential developed was a bit exhilarating. Just like getting a new teammate on the field. But his fellow jocks were all rather brutish in their muscle and psyche, which Dash firmly did not have an interest in. And sure, maybe he had gone a little blind, thinking that the only real options were skinny, beefy, or fat.

So imagine his hidden horror with that mindset, when Danny -with the perfect femboy bod, with all the sharpness needed to have a somewhat pixie look- seemed to be transitioning into the beefy category? Over time that worry was quelled, Danny’s muscle was so different. He never seen such a lean tight kind of musculature, Danny even seemed to become more sharp; sharper jaw, the ears, even his eyes had a sharpness. It was, dare he say, exotic. Which if anything, only added to the femboy pixie look. Which okay, sue him, he liked cutesy shit; definitely explained his taste in men. Not that anyone actually knew that. Dash Baxter, number one football star and the example of masculinity, being interested in anything ‘cute’? Never. He had an image he had to keep.

That was one thing he was insanely jealous of Danny over. Danny’s freaky family made it so that it didn’t damn matter what he did or how he acted. Nothing was unexpected behaviour from a Fenton. And he was already a social pariah. Danny could literally transform into a dog or some shit and no one would really be all that surprised. He might get a few new insults hurled at him but that’s it. But Dash? The slight wrong move and goodbye scholarships or dealing with a furious father. ‘Cause don’t let it fool you, regardless of what the colleague heads said publicly, they absolutely did discriminate. Especially in sports. And bi in football? Bi and hocked up with a cute little thing who was a social outcast of the lowest most mocked kind? Surely his life and future would explode right in front of his face.

And of course there was the issue of if Danny would even be interested. Because finally owning up only to get rejected? By said lowest of the low twink? That would beyond worse. So yeah, the risk wasn’t worth it. And he wasn’t quite dull enough to not realise that Danny probably did not like him, the ‘bullying’ and all that. So even if Danny did swing that way, well, Dash’s chances were pretty well nothing.

Making a damn point to jeer mockingly and with a level of intimidation at the weirdo trio as he passes them on his way to class, firmly making a point to not react to picking up on Danny clearly not being fearful and even smirking slightly. It honestly pleased him immensely that Danny didn’t seem to actually fear him. Again, it was something like hidden strength. That was one thing that had always separated Danny from the other skinny kids, he wasn’t fearful. He was bold and loud. Even if that only really showed if you looked for it or caught him on more of his more mirth filled days. Simply put, Danny had never been pathetic. Never been weak. Even back when he was physically very much weak -Dash had to give him fitness training for peats sake- he had never been mentally weak.

Sitting at the back of the class next to Kwan, sneaking glances at Danny here and there. This was something he liked to do in the less important and boring classes, recently anyway. Sure he had always admired Danny with glances here and there but another one of Danny’s changes was just too intriguing not to watch.

Danny often slept in classes, that was boring and honestly made him worry some which is why he went easier on the guy on the days he seemed to be napping more often than not, but when he didn’t and it was one of these more useless classes? He’d go between looked over the other students and scanning the town through the window next to him. The sharpness to his eyes was most noticeable then and there was something about the way he looked over the rest of their classmates. It reminded Dash of how people talked about how gods and angels would gaze upon humans. Like they were impossibly and unimaginably above them yet fond and even protective. It really added to that pixie aesthetic Danny had, made him seem just that more ethereal. ‘Ethereal’ that’s a new one, maybe he got more out of Lancer’s crappy poetry babble than he thought. That thought makes him wonder if Danny would like fancy words and that poetry stuff. All the fae in his moms' romance novels -which yes he did secretly read- seemed to love that kind of stuff.  And sure, he’s pretty sure Danny’s human, ethereal aspects aside, but a guy can imagine can’t he? Dash quickly brings his attention back to the teacher as Danny’s watchful yet distant gaze travels to him. At least he isn’t a blusher, Dash is more than a little thankful for that.

Dash is laying on his bed, quickly turning his head to the side as an explosion sounds. Promptly springing up and sticking his head out the window at spotting Phantom zip by, “WOOOO! Go get him Phantom!”, he can’t help but beam as Phantom glances back and sends him a little wave with a cocky smile.

Dash sighs and flops back against his bed, his crush on Phantom was another dirty little secret. Sure he may pass himself off as ‘his biggest fan’ and he certainly wasn’t nearly as bad -or delusional if he’s blunt- as Paulina, but he definitely was a part of the Phantom Crush Club in spirit. Since of course no one knew about this crush either. Queer thing aside, Phantom was a ghost. Which yes, was part of the attraction so sue him, again the whole ethereal thing. Man that word’s becoming a personal favourite.

Phantom’s glow combined with the white of his hair and skin, that definitely qualified as ethereal. The powers were whatever really, cool and probably really fun but not where Dash’s attraction is based. And really, if anything made Dash’s type clear it was his two crushes. Both of them had the lithe pixie feel to them. Sharp in all the right places and brimming with hidden strength. Though Phantom’s might be much more literal. But honestly, Dash preferred Danny’s less showy nature. Phantom demanded attention, the skin-tight jumpsuit definitely did not help reduce that, and he was loud in a way that could border on obnoxious. Danny was a sleek black cat with piercing knowing eyes, Phantom was a mighty dragon always coiled for a fight.

Blinking at the ceiling, “I’m getting all fancy, man I really need to sleep”. Turning over in his bed only for his hand to brush against the corner of a book, “hurgh?”, pulling it out towards his face and squinting. Staring at the little scrap paper used as a bookmark, “probably a bad idea”, but flicking the book open anyway; a bit curious where he left off.

“I wondered if my head and heart would ever reconcile, or whether I'd just cursed myself to relive this moment for the rest of my years, half assured I'd made the only choice available to me, half always whispering if only, the whole of me filled with bitter regret“ ~ An Enchantment Of Ravens

Dash blinks and grumbles, “you didn’t have to call me out like that”. Deciding to flip around to a random page.

“Are you in love with me?" I blurted out.

A terrible silence followed. Rook didn't turn around.

"Please say something."

He rounded on me. "Is that so terrible? You say it as though it's the most awful thing you can imagine. It isn't as though I've done it on purpose. Somehow I've even grown fond of your - your irritating questions, and your short legs, and your accidental attempts to kill me."

I recoiled. "That's the worst declaration of love I've ever heard!” ~ An Enchantment Of Ravens

Dash chuckles but sighs, “fate hates me”. Deciding to try once more, flipping closer to the beginning.

“My cheeks warmed, and a wistful pang plucked a sweet, sad chord in my stomach. It was simple, really. He didn’t want me to forget him once he’d gone” ~ An Enchantment Of Ravens

Dash blinks, he did always rather like seeing the slight busies he left on Danny. Which now that he thinks about it, they didn’t seem to form anymore or stay for long. Which, okay yes, bugged him, not like he knew why really. Guess it was kind of obvious now. Maybe Danny would See those bruises and remember him. Was that stupid? Likely. Snapping the book shut and sticking it more securely under the mattress, before making a point to force himself to settle down to sleep.

He finds himself waking up way too early for a school day, turning his head to look at the little football-shaped clock, it’s red light glare at him reading ‘3:42’. If non-ghostly objects could be malicious, he’s sure every alarm clock would be. The early morning leading to him thinking back on his current book, the story of a fae royal and human falling in love. Forbidden love that would cost the fae his reputation. Sounded a little familiar huh?

Twenty minutes later and his mind’s still on that damn book, so he throws the blankets off and decides to get dressed. Thankfully sneaking out was relatively easy in his house, normally everyone was so loud that quiet noises went completely unnoticed. So just walking out the front door was a perfectly fine thing to do.

Five minutes later finds him wandering the sidewalks of Amity. If he’s being totally honest, even if Danny wasn’t some social peasant or whatever, he still wouldn’t go for it; even if he was a girl. Why? Hitting on girls like Paulina was easy, expected even. There was no risk. Even if girls like we rejected him, that’s what they were expected to do most of the time. But someone he was actually interested in? That was risky. The thought of trying to take it was thrilling, attractive, fun. Actually trying? Nope.

Kicking a rock down the gravel as he enters the park, eventually bumping into to something or someone. Snapping his head up and cursing his luck -or maybe he should be thanking it?- at seeing it was Danny he ran into...literally. Watching as Danny steadies himself quickly, his hood fällig down in the process. Dash has to make a damn point to not stare and change his face to a scowl when the moonlight practically glows of Danny’s pale skin. Why did he have to be so, um, right, ethereal? “Watch it loser”.

Danny squints at him, then throws Dash through a loop by responding with, “no one wanders around at four am for good reasons”.

Dash blinks a bit at those watchful blue-eyes, losing a bit of the fake bite that Danny hopefully passes off as tiredness, “then why are you here?”.

“Why would I tell you why?”, with that Danny turns back to look over the rest of the park from the little bridge thingy they’re on.

Dash scoffs, “whatever Fentwerp”, joining in looking over the park. The two settle into silence, though it doesn’t take long for Dash to glance at Danny’s back; the dark grey hoodie was arguably in horrible condition but it just looked like a style choice on Danny. Everything probably looked good on him. Flicking his eyes away to avoid Danny possibly noticing, because really, there was no one else here so any staring from him would be rather obvious. That gets him thinking though, when had he ever been just one on one with Danny? With neither of their friends around or teachers? Never. It had never happened. Dash didn’t do lonely, he also didn’t do silence for that matter, and Danny’s friends were practically attached to him. Honestly, he’s pretty sure both of them are crushing on Danny; Valerie definitely still had a thing for him, everyone knew the goth did and the techno-geek had a thing for everyone. And yet none of them were going for him...why? They didn’t really have anything to lose and Valerie already had once. Right, even Paulina had dated him; even if she claimed it was to piss off the goth. Maybe there was just something about Danny that made him easy to crush on but impossible to love? Maybe it had something to do with how he was, what was that word? How could he have forgotten it already?....oh right, ethereal. Or maybe it was because he was ethereal. It was pretty obvious people are, um, put-off? -That sounds right- by things that seem inhuman. What with all the horror movies about such people, and that was a pretty common theme with human/non-human romances. Personally, he didn’t get it. Sharp, predatory, the thrum of potential power or danger, the otherworldliness -he’s pretty sure he’s read it described with that word once- he liked that.

Flicking his eyes back to Danny watching as he opens his mouth to sigh almost soundlessly, fangs dragging across his lips. Yeah, shit like that is going to be the death of Dash. With the silence officially be too much for the jock, Dash mutters, “four am is a stupid time”.

Danny snorts, “perfect for you then”, before pushing off the railing and eyeballing Dash. Smirking slightly, “you still keep a collection of teddy bears?”.

“Oh screw y-”, Dash cuts himself off, there’s not really anyone here to play pretend for. “Yeah, so what I like cute shit, what’s it to ya Fenton”. Including cute shit like you, being left unsaid.

Dash doesn’t miss how Danny’s eyes seem to glint while Danny tilts his head at him before those eyes glance around a little. Dash isn’t sure what he sees or is looking for, while Danny hums before speaking, “so often you aren’t quite what you seem, huh Dash?”. Then walking a bit to stand side to side with Dash, hands in his pockets, “you allow those around you to dictate who you are. Stop that, it’s stupid. You’ll never find what you want or who you fit with that way”.

Dash turns and watches Danny walk off. In some way it almost feels like Danny was never actually here.  Looking back tot the bridge and touch where Danny’s hand had been to find it cold. Was he tired enough to actually be imagining Danny being, well, Danny? He’s not sure he’d even be able to imagine the sharpness of Danny’s eyes. Sighing a bit and not sure if he wished the maybe Danny had stuck around or not. Before deciding to walk some more, the air smelled nice at least and no one was around to give a damn how he acted.

Turning and walking off the bridge only to nearly shriek from some blonde-haired guy just suddenly being there. He doesn’t look friendly and the scar over his face doesn’t help that, yet Dash finds himself frozen in spot. He knew he could move, kinda wants to, but something just feels like he shouldn’t. Maybe it was the piercing blue eyes, how even with the strong moonlight he had no shadow, or the cruel-looking smile that somehow felt kind.

Swallowing a bit thickly as the man approaches, the clicking of his purple walking stick being the only sound. The stranger looks up at him slightly, “restless soul, looking for something in another land. The kind heroes and villains dance upon. You think you know your path best, and yet, are just a vagabond too fearful of quicksand to walk from the desert dunes to find an oasis of blues and greens. You are parched dry from your ways, yet refuse to chase waters deeper than you know”.

Dash blinks, catching the moonlight glint off the strange gear cog collar pins, “what?”.

The man chuckles, “you hold tears of the potential of judgment. A soul of man, whose fading light will one day be at its end. Seeking to paint your existences canvas with the lord of graves. One who you’ll grant find in time, one way or another. Painted soot or painted snow. Regardless. Would you not rather run your hands through the textures while you can enjoy it and endeavour it while having a pulse to half match under your skin?”.

Dash’s brain is pretty well mud right now, “who are you?”.

He shrugs, “I’m a tale of time, that history has lost. I see, I guide, I exist. And you, you are a bird that thinks it’s a boar”.

One thing Dash can always do is pick up on insults, and that was an insult, even if he has no clue what that was supposed to mean, “I’m not a meathead”.

The stranger holds up a finger and smiles, his eyes have an oldness to them that is honestly unpleasant, “precisely. You fear not the dark nor the monster with in, you fear the light and things far weaker than you. The boar charges and fights the bull, the bird lives alongside it. You feign your charges, act the boar, even as your flyer eyes see that the target is something to walk with, not against. You do this so others think you are a boar, why would you want to? boars die foolish. Be glad your bull is more of a lording cat, one that won’t strike you down”.

Dash blinks and steps back a little bit, “er, whatever you weird old man”. To make a point, Dash walls forward and around the stranger, but not too close because seriously, what the fuck?

The stranger doesn’t move but follows Dash with his eyes, speaking again just as Dash walks past, “you may find your lithe cat will enjoy your feathers quite fine. And one more thing”, Dash glances back and the stranger winks with a grin, “it’s not time that’s stupid, it’s what you do with that time”.

To say Dash is confused, as he walks the gravel path feeling slightly paranoid, would be an understatement. Lancer’s weird poetry crap made more sense than that. But the weirdos' last words sounding so much like Danny’s is giving him a weird gut feeling that the guy was somehow talking about Danny. Officially deciding he needs to back to sleep, he must be having awake fever dreams or something.

Dash walks through the school doors, firmly glad he got more sleep. Part of him wants to confirm seeing Danny wasn’t some weird fever dream, the other part is a bit distracted when, in his taking in of Danny’s lithe form, he notices the small gear cog charm hanging off his chain belt. It looked exactly the same as the weird guys' pins, has Dash just walked into some strange fantasy story or something?

Looking away and storming through the halls like he owns them, which he does, when Danny looks to him. Catching Danny’s eyes seemingly becoming sharper for a second and his hand brushing the charm on his belt. Why did he feel like Danny noticing where he was staring was somehow...what was that word? Some that started with a ‘c’?whatever, it was somehow a strong play.

Danny just suddenly appearing and stepping out of a bathroom stall, that Dash is sure was empty, during lunch rather confirms his thoughts. Looking Danny over through the mirror, his head was titled and he quickly locks gazed with Dash through the mirror. This was that sharp edge really showing through, and god damn if that wasn’t stupidly attractive. Snapping at him, “what you being creepy for, you freaky weirdo”.

Danny scoffs and rolls his eyes, “it seemed rather timely”.

Dash blinks a bit at Danny almost jarringly quickly snapping his gaze back to Dash’s face in the mirror. The first thought to worm into his head is that this seemed like a cat stalking after a bird. Then basically getting dropped kicked in the brain by Deja Vu. Muttering at the mirror, “what is it with that bird shit”.

“What, someone give you a weird birds and the bees talk?”, Danny snickers, “thought you were too old for that”.

Dash squints at the mirror, was that what that guy was going off about? Honestly anything seems possible. Looking Danny over, if there was one thing everyone knew it was how used to strange he was. How part of it he was, because of his family. But Dash knows there’s more to it than that, that he was something different and strange all on his own. He’s also sure that’s not just his interest in the ethereal boy talking. Deciding to go out on a limb, not like anyone would judge him for using a Fenton to figure out some weird shit, “maybe? Who knows what’s up with weirdos”, turning around and looking more directly at Danny, who’s looking at him with critical sharp eyes, “some guy going off about drinking ‘oasis’ of blue and green. That my cat will like my feathers”.

Danny smirks knowingly and moves to wash his hands in the sink, “sounds like a riddle if I’ve ever heard one. Maybe think of who you associate with blue and who with green”, chuckling and shaking his head a little, locking eyes with Dash in the mirror again, “and who you think of as a ‘cat’. Otherwise, sounds like someone’s telling you to stop holding yourself back and chase after what you want”. Danny walks out leaving Dash just kind of staring at the sink.

Dash spends the rest of the day casting glances at Danny a fair bit more often than he usually does. Pretty well sure the boy knew what the strange guy meant but was just letting Dash figure it out himself. He finds he can respect that a bit, even if he’s definitely annoyed. The fact that Danny is seemingly brushing up against him in the hallways doesn’t help, or maybe it does. Because fine, yes he likes it. The fantasy of Danny being forward towards him in an attracted way won’t stop circling in his head. But it isn’t until the second to last class that something clicks. Watching Danny suddenly stiffening, like he often did before running off to the bathroom mysteriously, Dash could have sworn Danny’s face twisted in anger and eyes flashed green for a second as he stands and speed walks out of the classroom. Leaving Dash blinking and getting slapped by Deja Vu again. ‘Blue and green’, blinking more at that making other things click in place. Everything about Danny was lithe, he’d even described him as cat-like. Was weird dude telling him to get with Danny? The hell? How did weird guy even know that?

He guesses that’s one way for the universe or whatever to say something’s fate or some bullshit. But real life doesn’t work like that...right? Well okay, ghosts are real so there is some make-believe that’s real. But then Dash, Hell no one, would ever describe Danny as a bull. A bull that’s a cat, that doesn’t even make sense. Shaking his head as class ends.

Walking out thinking of soot and snow, and didn’t that guy also say something about heroes? Soot was black right? Googling away to find that yes it was, as he makes it to his next class. Of course snow was white. So black and white. Well shit, that was Danny and Phantom’s hair colours; and Phantom was a hero. Danny had organised that rescue mission, so could he be labelled ‘hero’ too. Not really, it was a one-time thing after all.

Groaning and hitting his head into the desk only for the teacher to snap at him about paying attention. Mentally shoving all this crap away, basically mentally screaming at it to sort itself out.

Seeing Danny after last class across the hall and walking towards Danny with a glare, because he absolutely needs to take out his romantically frustrated aggression and, if he’s honest, mentally frustrated aggression -because thoughts of that weirdo just will not leave him alone- on someone.

Dash grabs him and slams him into the lockers, speaking without a whole lot of power behind his worlds, because he’s more than a little preoccupied and Danny’s eyes glittering with mirth and knowing does not help, “you know, I kinda feel like making you eat locker, weirdo”.  

Danny speaks with a smirk, “weirdly cute you mean”. Dash sputters and promptly drops Danny, turning on his heel and speed walking off. Though he does throw a glance over his shoulder back at Danny, who looks more smug than anything he’s ever seen before; making Dash blush furiously and then feeling annoyed at blushing.

Dash decides that night that if his head’s just gonna be stuck in a pit of ‘just ask him, you know you want to’ and weird mutterings about painting with the lord of graves -whatever the heck that means- then he might as well finish his book. Well, his mom’s book but still. It seems suiting enough.

He flat-out drops the book when he gets to the point where Gadfly -an ageless fae who can see the future and all the twists and turns it might or might not take- functionally admits to setting up Isobel with Rook. The mortal with the inhuman prince, who -as Dash finishes the book with a fair amount of shock- comes to stand as the King of all fae. The lord of fae. The lord of graves? Was Danny some kind of ethereal prince? King? Or something? And heck! Gadfly was even blonde too! The Hell? And didn’t weird guy go off about Dash painting or something? Isobel’s a painter. Officially finding this a little too weird, Dash closes the book and tucks it away. Looking out the window and deciding that another -not really early enough to be morning but too early to be night- walk might get him more answers.

Somehow, Dash thinks as he watches Danny fiddling with a dandelion puff from afar on the same bridge as before, this isn’t surprising. Shaking himself off and making a point to shove down all the weird stupid feelings, before walking over with his hands in his pockets. “So you’re out here again”

Danny speaks without looking to him, “so are you”.

Dash scoffs and looks at his shoes a little, something tells him Danny wouldn’t be out wandering the night because of a book and some weird guy. The boy would probably handle it without being fazed much at all, “what? do you just wander around in the dead of night for fun?”.

Danny chuckles and side-eyes him, “maybe I do, maybe I don’t. Under the moonlight seems like a great place to be, don’t it?”.

Dash leans against the bridge railing, “it is ethereal I guess”.

Danny laughs and it’s a bit loud, “ethereal, that’s a big word for you. Now I wonder what could make you learn a word like that. Something so applicable to the strange and otherworldly”.

Dash bites his lip slightly at that, feeling incredibly called out, though ha! ‘Otherworldly’ was a word used for it. For people like Danny. Dash scoffs, “whatever, it’s got it’s uses”.

They stand in silence, both looking in opposite directions for a while. Until Dash blushes slightly at Danny humming, recognising the tune as Strangers In The Night.

Now Dash isn’t that much of an idiot, he’s not smart but he’s not dumb. He can recognise a blatant call out when he sees one. Danny knew. And...wasn’t being a dick about it, much. Wasn’t brushing him off. Dash isn’t sure if he’s confused by that or not.

Turning his head slightly to look at where the strange man had been last night before blurting out, “you’re mean”.

Danny laughs loudly at that and looks at Dash, who firmly avoids turning his head further to meet the gaze, “oh yes, says the bully. But you know what they say, ‘he only hits you ‘cause he likes you’”.

Dash jerks a bit and gapes, maybe he underestimated the boldness of Danny. While Danny sighs after a while of furthered silence, “it’s a darker night out hmmm? The darkness always holds something, a secretiveness to it. Where you can watch without being seen or act without being watched. In every story it crawls with monsters, things of depravity. Things people think are wrong, shouldn’t see the light of day. But those things are free in a sense that those who secluded themselves to daylight can never be. Monsters and those who hide, yet even they need to be brought into the sun sometimes. Wouldn’t you say?”.

Dash’s brain had stalled on the monster comment. That weird guy had gone off about monsters too. The whole him not fearing monsters or something? Danny was clearly weird, different. Didn’t people get called monsters in all those mutant movies over being different? And Phantom, well, the Fenton’s literally shouted that he was a monster. This was turning into some beauty and the beast shit. That makes him practically pitch forwards and face-plant into the ground.

Danny catches him and mutters, “geez, are you so repressed that the idea of not being so makes you want to eat the ground you walk upon?”.

Dash just blinks at him as he stands in front of him, because the whole thing with beauty and the beast was the beast transformed. Could look two different ways. And Danny’s eyes were green. Phantoms eyes were green. Danny raises his eyebrows at Dash sputtering at him, “that’s, it’s not, that ain’t”, Dash blinks, this explained a lot and Phantom was so bold, he took what he wanted, yet here he? -They? However it works- was seemingly waiting for Dash to make some kind of decisions thingy. Muttering, “have my cake and eat it too”.

Danny scrunches his face up and laughs, “I never imagined Dash would genuinely confuse me-”, getting cut off by Dash just saying screw it and kissing him, hard.

Dash pulling back but promptly hugging the weird ethereal creature, “I am so many levels of confused”. Danny just chuckles and pats his back, “yet maybe less in some way. Though you know, you really should ask first”.

Dash jerks and basically holds Danny by the shoulders away from him, Dash wasn’t that dumb of a guy but he was definitely a little stupid.

Danny rolls his eyes but smirks, batting off Dash hands before grabbing his shirt collar and kissing back, “you’re an idiot”.

Dash mutters, “you’re a weirdo”, as Danny backs off. After a bit of silence Dash looks at his feet and sticks his hands in his pockets, “so, uh, now what?”.

Danny shrugs and goes back to leaning on the railing, “I dunno, you work through your confusion I guess”, glancing at Dash, “just know that I am never a confused person anymore”.

Dash looks out across the park, well that was as blunt as anything. Why though? “I’ve literally beat the crap out of you for years. And,”, Dash worries his lip a little, blushing slightly from the unusual coldness on them, a coldness from Danny, “and you could have fought back anytime”.

Danny gives him a knowing look before smirking a little, “so you figured that out too huh?”.

Dash doesn’t give him a chance to say anything more, “as of two seconds or whatever ago. My head is mud”, Dash barely cuts himself off from saying ‘congrats’ or ‘thanks’. Who the Hell says that to some who just kissed them?

Danny screws up his face and it honestly looks like something out of a bad movie where the characters make some great discovery. When he chuckles and shakes his head, “so that’s what you meant by the cake thing”, squinting at Dash a little, “now you know I have to ask this, but knowing isn’t why you did that, is it?”.

Dash doesn’t know whether to nod or shake his head because both would be a lie, “I just figured out my two, um, interests, were smashed into one. Excuse me for not being myself, or whatever, enough and pleased, to have some self-control”.

Danny smiles at that, shoving Dash’s shoulder lightly, “lucky you I guess. Who’d you like more?”.

Dash sputters, Danny was a little much, always was, but that’s part of what he liked about him. The fearlessness, the hard sharpness, and he was cutting Dash the Hell up, “you”, Dash keeps talking as Danny raises his eyebrows, “Danny”, continuing when Danny raises his brows further, “Fenton. The weird lithe kid with sharp edges and the whole pixie thing going on”. Dash looks around some, ignoring the slight smirk on Danny’s face.  

Danny bumping shoulders with him, “oh fancy words Dash. You know I love words with meanings, that I love to give out nicknames. Maybe you should be Teddy Bear”. Dash blushes more than a bit furiously at that which just makes Danny laugh, “oh yes, that will do wonderfully”. Danny sighing after a while of Dash blushing and staring defiantly into the distance, “not that we have to be public about... whatever this is”.

Dash looks back to him at that, nodding slightly, “that is...why I never would have tried normally. Weird dude threw me through a loop”, smiling a little and shoving Danny lightly, “I think I’m glad he did though”.

Danny nods, “if there’s anyone who can understand secrets Dash, especially for safety’s sake, it’s me”, gesturing around, “night seems to suit us. It’s always been something of mine. There’s not really anything wrong with hiding in the night, if you care to join me in that anyway”.

Dash gapes a little, that felt like a stupid question. Why would he question if Dash wanted this to be a ‘thing’. Dash should be the one worried about that, “yes. That is- why would you even ask that?”.

Danny chuckles and gives him a smile that’s got a sadness to it, which Dash is officially having none of and feeling more like his rather brazen self, just kisses him again before he can respond. Dash then saying, “it doesn’t matter”.

Danny chuckles and shakes his head a little, “you sure watch me a lot huh. Like what you see?”, Dash forced down his blush this time while Danny smirks and glances around with that searching look before looking back to him, “care to see how I own my night?”.

Dash just nods a little before going slightly slack-jawed at the near blinding ring of light and Danny suddenly being Phantom and just floating around to be away from the bridge slightly, holding a hand out to Dash, “well? I could rip off superman and say I promise not to drop you or you can stop holding yourself back”.

Dash barely wastes a second before grabbing Danny’s hand and letting him pull him up off the ground. Dash asking the only other question he really has or that’s still bugging him as Danny wraps his arms around him and just...goes up, “so weird guy also said something about king of graves?”.

Danny laughs and shakes his head a little, “that cheeky bastard”, before looking down at Dash’s face, “Ghost King, Dash. Something beyond what any ghost or mortal could be”.

Dash again feels slapped by Deja Vu, he’s never going to be able to look at that damn book the same again, “you know, I was reading a book where...”.

Dash winds up explaining his ‘girly’ book interests as they fly around, oddly unfazed and comfortable with the whole fly thing. While Danny simply exists as the strange ethereal being he is, face glowing brightly against the night sky; leaving Dash feeling like he just caught a star in a wishing bottle and think that maybe poetry might be a good idea.

End.

[carlisle980]

👀

Manchester, 1972

It would rain on commencement day. She checks her hair in the mirror one last time. She’s fixed it twice since arriving. Thankfully they’ve moved the ceremony indoors. She smooths her collar, rolls her shoulders. Practises her smile as the words of her speech run through her head. She mouths them, pacing, the click-click-click of her high heels echoing off the walls, setting a cadence for her to follow.

She is nervous. It isn’t that she lacks confidence in her ability to deliver the speech, exactly, it’s …

Her musings are interrupted by a knock at the door. “There she is … the woman of the hour!”

She turns to see Reginald Crawley stood in the doorway in coat and tie.

“Reggie! Oh wow, hi! I hadn’t expected you to turn up today. I didn’t know as Daddy could spare you.”

“We only had two patients on for this afternoon and both of them rang to cancel. And even if they hadn’t, your mum would have persuaded him to close early. It’s not every day his only daughter delivers the Head Girl’s speech at Lady Barn House.”

“About that …” she mutters, studying the floorboards.

“What is it? Not nervous, are you? You’ve performed a thousand times.”

She responds with a withering look. Meets his eyes. Sees him grinning, and grins back. Shrugging her shoulders, she tells him, “Yes, but speaking is rather a different animal from playing piano. That, and I still feel like a bit of an interloper, I suppose.”

“Because you’re leaving a year early and these aren’t the lot you started with.”

She opens her mouth to reply, then closes it promptly. He’s done it again, she realises. He’s said precisely what she’s thinking. Again, because it’s been happening rather frequently of late. It’s true that they spend a lot of time with each other, she managing the clerical things at her father’s surgery and he assisting with as many procedures as his training permits. She works the maximum hours allotted a secondary student, determined to put by as much money as she can for her university tuition fees. But her brother works just as much as the both of them, and if he’s got any inkling as to her mental state he seems completely oblivious.

Of course, there could be an explanation for Ed’s aloof manner of late. He’s recently been spending the little free time he’s got in the company of a young lady called Alice Tamworth. Alley. She was two years ahead of Isobel at Lady Barn House. She’s taking a degree in literature at U of M. Isobel likes Alley. Rather a lot, in fact. But she’s turned Eddie’s brains to mush. Which is why Isobel has resolved that love is not for her. The path she’s chosen demands excellence, and the pressure on her will always be greater by virtue of her having been born female. She can’t afford to give her studies — or her work — less than her absolute best.

Why, then, is it suddenly so difficult to ignore the piercing blue of Reginald’s eyes? And why does it feel as though his ability to discern tiny details about her is rooted in something deeper than just friendship?

“Earth calling Isobel,” Reginald teases.

“Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was miles away.”

He grins. Was he always so handsome?

“Penny for them.” He pulls out a chair for her and indicates she should sit before taking a seat of his own.

She smiles softly, feeling her cheeks pink. “I doubt they’re worth that much.”

“Ha’penny, then.” He smiles again. Her heart pounds in her chest. He’s gorgeous. How had she missed it all this time?

“Have you noticed a change in Ed lately?” she manages. If he’s so skilled at reading her, she shouldn’t have to elaborate.

“You mean the way his brains leave the building whenever Alley’s around?” He shakes his head. “Wanker.”

“Exactly, and I hope you tell him that! Lad’s twenty; he can do what he wants, but—”

Reginald scowls. “No, he bloody well can’t! Not as much as your dad relies on him; never mind the fair fortune he and your mum are spending on his education. Oh I’m bally well brassed off with him; don’t you worry … missing clinic hours, failing to submit assessments. He’s had the world handed to him on a silver platter and he’s blowing it spectacularly. But haven’t you got bigger fish to fry?”

She grins. “Well then … tell us how you really feel!” He studies his shoes and she notices the way his ears redden. She likes that about him. Come to that she can’t think of anything she doesn’t like about him. Shaking off that realisation, she continues, “It’s everything you said … and I suppose it also makes me think that if love does that to a person, it’s an experience I’ll have to forgo.” He scoffs and she rebuffs him. “You can’t sit here and tell me I’m wrong, Reggie! Both you and my brother got onto the premed course by virtue of your marks alone. I, on the other hand, was made to provide twice the number of character references and go ten rounds with the department chair over whether my science A-levels will count seeing as I finished them a year ago. And all of that despite having higher UKCAT scores than the both of you!” She pauses for breath, her expression moving through agitation to resignation. Ruefully she adds, “It’s a risk I can’t afford.”

He rises from his chair and walks towards the door. It’s only moments until she’s due at the podium. “Look, I’ll go. I came to say good on you and break a leg and walk out there with your head held high because you’ve earned this …”

Getting to her feet, she moves to the doorway. “Reg, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so ratty. Thank you for coming to see me.” She squeezes his bicep, smiling softly.

“I’m not going to argue with you. We haven’t any of us chosen an easy path: you, me, or Ed. And there’s no doubt you’ve had a harder go than us. You’ll always have an uphill climb. I just think it’s a mistake to write off love because of it.” The earnestness in his eyes catches her on the back foot.

“That’s as may be,” she demurs, eyes cast towards the floor. “All the same I can’t see why you should trouble yourself with what I think. I mean I know I’m like a little sister to you, but—”

“No, Isobel. That’s not how I see you at all.” Their eyes meet. He takes a small step closer to her. The world stops turning as she watches his eyes flit from her own eyes to her lips. He touches her shoulder, his hand moving up to cradle her cheek.

Surely he isn’t … He can’t … He is! He’s going to kiss me! “Reggie,” she whispers, almost too faintly to hear, “I don’t know how … I’ve never—”

“I know,” he murmurs. “It’s alright.” He leans in. She can feel his breath on her face.

I should close my eyes, she thinks. Aren’t you supposed to close your eyes? He stops just short of her mouth. Giving her time to pull away. Oh! he’s warm. And he’s handsome. And I don’t want to close my eyes. I should touch him. Shouldn’t I touch him? She’s never been in such close proximity to a man before. To be sure, she’s danced with Daddy and Ed at weddings and hospital functions, but they don’t count. She reaches up with uncertainty and fumbles, her hands finding purchase in the lapels of his jacket.

In the next moment his lips touch hers and apprehension vanishes. He is so gentle, brushing the backs of his fingers across her face. She has no idea what she’s doing, how to make this enjoyable for him, but as the first kiss melds into the second she opens her mouth under his, and then so does he. She makes a sound that surprises her, moaning into his mouth when he deepens the kiss and she doesn’t want this shouldn’t want this oh sod it all this is incredible but what the hell does it mean? Oh shut up, for the love of God would you just shut up and enjoy something like a normal person for once you fool?

“Oh!” she gasps loudly when the tip of his tongue slips just past her teeth. Alright, I was wrong; this isn’t unpleasant at all and his mouth is so sweet and I don’t want to stop and—

He pulls back. She gasps again, missing the softness of his lips. “Are you alright?” he pants. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” She frowns, inching closer to him again, aiming to put her hands on his shoulders. He stops her, taking her hands in his own.

She has never thought of herself as small. In fact, she has scarcely ever given any thought whatsoever to her stature. Wit is the standard by which she has measured herself against others. Intellect. But now she notices two things: firstly, that her hands are tiny, held inside of Reginald’s. And secondly, she doesn’t want him to let go. Ever.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he whispers, looking down at their hands. Her left thumb has begun tracing tiny circles over the blue veins on the underside of his wrist. He should stop her. He doesn’t.

“Why not?” she counters. “It was … nice. Wonderful, actually. I suppose the first time was going to happen sooner or later, and there’s no one I’d—” She stops herself suddenly, realising what she’d been about to say. There’s no one I’d rather have done this with. She scolds herself. But you just finished saying that love is for fools, not for women fighting like hell against men for the right to practise medicine. Not for you. Her cheeks flush bright red and she presses a hand to her mouth.

Yet he still holds the other. He waits for her eyes to meet his.

“There’s a longer conversation to be had,” he says gently, astutely. “But now you’ve got to go. Look, it doesn’t have to mean anything, Isobel, if you don’t want it to—”

“Yeah, but you do! You never do anything unless you mean it.” She pauses briefly, pacing back and forth. “Right, I can’t talk now. But we need to do …”

“So ring me up when you’re ready. Best of luck out there, you’ll smash it. I’m going to go find your dad and mum.” He drops her hand and starts to walk away.

She catches his wrist. “Wait,” she implores him, sounding less steady than she means to do. “Reggie, I …” She leans in and presses her lips to his, deepening the kiss when a soundless ‘Oh!’ escapes his lips. “I don’t know, alright?” she whispers when they break apart. He nods. “But I’ll ring you.”

He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. “You’ve done it, Izzy,” he says, giving her fingers a squeeze before leaving go of her hand. “Congratulations.” As he walks away she touches her lips. They still tingle from his kisses.

[jahaanofmenaphos]

Art by the awesome @tommieglenn!

Of Gods and Men Summary:

When the gods returned to Gielinor, their minds were only on one thing: the Stone of Jas, a powerful elder artefact in the hands of Sliske, a devious Mahjarrat who stole it for his own ends and entertainment. He claims to want to incite another god wars, but are his ulterior motives more sinister than that? And can the World Guardian, Jahaan, escape from under Sliske’s shadow?

Read the full work here:

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TUMBLR CHAPTER INDEX

QUEST 11: SLISKE’S ENDGAME

QUEST SUMMARY:

The eclipse is nigh. The end of Sliske’s games draws near. All the gods gather for one final race for the Stone, taking them through a shadowy labyrinth of the devious Mahjarrat’s design. Not only does Jahaan have to survive the trials Sliske sets out for them, but he has to compete against every major deity in Gielinor. Then, and only then, will he have a shot at ending Sliske’s madness once and for all…

CHAPTER 4 - MORAL MAZE

Jahaan had been traipsing through the maze for quite some time now without running into anyone. After his spat with Saradomin and Zamorak, he was glad for the solitude. He knew at some point he’d run into the dragonkin - just his luck, after all. From Sliske’s announcements, they’d been making quite the mess. Recently Jahaan had stumbled over the debris of a broken statue, no doubt their doing.

Jahaan had no idea how long he’d spent in the maze, but it had to have been a couple of hours by now. His waterskin was empty, and the measly amount of food he’d packed had long since been scoffed. The thing about being stuck in a labyrinth was the lack of visual progression. Sure, he’d reached the glowing orb thing first, but beyond that, it was a free-for-all. Yes, he’d solved a whole bunch of puzzle doors and trap rooms by now, but they didn’t show any signs of lessening. Who’s to say Zaros wasn’t one locked door away from the Stone, or Saradomin hadn’t run himself in circles and was back at the start? Of course, the frustration was exactly what Sliske was hoping to elicit in the competitors. Seeing them squabble and break would surely be amusing for him...

Eventually Jahaan stumbled upon Zaros and company, the deity greeting, “Well met, World Guardian.”

“Hello Zaros,” Jahaan cordially replied. “How are you finding the game so far?”

“It is an unnecessary formality,” Zaros replied, betraying no emotion. “Sliske loves to caper and play the fool, but his time now is almost at an end.”

“You expect to win the game?”

“It is not a question of winning or losing,” Zaros stated. “I have never seen the need, or felt the desire, to participate in mortal entertainments and this is no different. I have made sufficient effort to ensure that whatever the outcome, things will transpire according to my design.”

Jahaan narrowed his eyes, warily. There was something subtly threatening about Zaros’ tone, something insidiously ominous, but Jahaan didn’t want to delve too much into it now, lest he accidentally make another enemy here.

But if I get the Stone, how would that fit into Zaros’ plan? Jahaan couldn’t help but muse to himself.

Such a thought only spurred Jahaan on, not wanting to waste any more time with idle chit-chat. He admired Zaros, but not enough to relinquish the Stone to the deity, should he claim it.

But before he left, he desired a small word with Azzanadra, who looked a lot more sullen and morose than usual. The Mahjarrat seemed to be staring off into space.

“Azzanadra?” Jahaan called.

The Mahjarrat looked up, shaking the cobwebs from his mind. “Apologies, World Guardian. My mind was elsewhere.”

“That’s okay,” Jahaan was slightly worried about Azzanadra’s tone but thought better than to question it. Mahjarrat hated talking about their feelings at the best of times, but in front of their god? Not a chance. But Jahaan had been hoping to run into Azzanadra, so he pushed his concerns aside for a moment and said, “When I met with Wahisietel, he said another Ritual was on the horizon. Did one actually happen?”

Azzanadra nodded, gravely. “A Ritual was conducted, but Sliske did not attend. It does not seem to have affected him, though. Not yet, anyway.”

“Why do you think that is?” Jahaan asked, having ideas of his own but hoping for some clarity.

Clearing his throat, Azzanadra’s eyes darted to Zaros and Char, refusing to meet Jahaan’s own. “Apologies, Jahaan. We can discuss this after the Stone has been claimed.”

Azzanadra strode off down the corridor, Jahaan numbly watching him go. He looked to Zaros in hopes of an explanation, but only received a courteous, “I must continue. Perhaps we will meet at the end, World Guardian.”

Strisath and Sithaph had separated from Kerapac at the start of the labyrinth, not caring for the more reserved strategy of the Dactyl dragonkin. No, the Necrosyrtes didn’t have the patience to follow Kerapac’s lead, instead taking to barrelling through the labyrinth like an unhinged tornado. Unsurprisingly, they hadn’t gotten far in the labyrinth, save for the few mask-based riddle doors they got through by pushing every button until the door yielded. They shrugged off the static shocks they endured like they were pinpricks.

Wings didn’t help them, though they insisted on repeatedly trying to fly over the walls, the forcefield stopping them every time.

Unfortunately for Armadyl, he just so happened to run into these dragonkin.

Armadyl’s breath caught in his throat as soon as he saw the dragonkin storm around the corner, halting his avianse and trying to subtly move in front of them to protect them.

Gulping, he whispered to his entourage, “Stay back. Don’t provoke them.”

As soon as Strisath and Sithaph locked eyes with Armadyl, they stalked over, a hoarse gargle from a forgotten flame dying in their throats.

“Why so scared, little budgie?” Strisath taunted, hungry eyes raking up the avianse god’s tall frame.

“I have no quarrel with you,” Armadyl tried to sound confident, but his tone was wavering.

“Nor we with you,” Sithaph’s tone was taunting and cruel. “Why would we fight the ‘Great Armadyl, holder of the Siphon’?”

“‘Great Armadyl, Beheader of Bandos’,” Strisath joined in with a cackle, skulking around to block one of Armadyl’s exits.

“‘Great Armadyl, Stone Coveter’,” Sithaph hissed, a strangled rasp of a sound.

Trying to quell his shaking, Armadyl let out a long breath and began, “Look, I am not interested in the Stone. Not personally. I want to lock it away, far away from any gods. I'm here to end this. And I could help all of you! I may be powerless here, but away from this game - I would free you. I would try to free you!”

Sithaph tilted his head to one side, licking his lips with a forked tongue. “You would do that for us? You would set us free? We wouldn't feel this... rage, this strength in pain? It would be gone?”

Sighing with relief, Armadyl excitedly continued, “Yes, all of it! I would dedicate myself to returning you to your noble roots, I-”

He was cut off by having to duck a fireball that was aimed too close to his head. Smoke huffed from Strisath’s nostrils as he grunted, “Foolish pigeon, it would be easier to rip out your stupidity than rip out the Stone's curse.”

Sithaph barred his fearsome set of teeth. “You stand here, with the gift of the elder gods removed from you, and claim to save us? Arrogant bird. The fury of the dragonkin cannot be quelled! Not by you, and not by any of the other pathetic creatures that call themselves gods…”

With that, they both let out an ear-piercing scream in tandem and bolted down the next corridor.

Armadyl watched them go, thankfully with a pride more singed than his feathers.

Once again, a vexing puzzle door blocked Zaros and his entourage from progressing in the maze. The puzzle blocking the door in question was a mechanism of sorts, one comprised of a dial that could only be solved by deciphering the rune symbols surrounding it. There were dozens of potential combinations, but Zaros had soon figured out the correlation between the composite runes in an incorrect colour and the number of twists required on the dial. A good twenty minutes at a previous gateway had led to that discovery and, to their relief, Sliske had been consistent in his solutions.

When they walked through, who was there to greet them at the other side, but Zamorak and his entourage.

The thick tension between the two groups was suffocating, a choking silence of calculations and false bravado.

Of all of them, Azzanadra was the first one to break the silence. “Well… this takes me back.”

“Be silent, worm,” Lord Daquarius warned. “You are in the presence of a god!”

Licking his lips, Azzanadra cracked a challenging sneer. “Do you have any idea who we are?”

“Relics of the past who should have stayed buried,” Lord Daquarius spat back, clutching onto the hilt of his sword.

“Better a relic than an usurper!” Char boldly retorted.

“Enough, all of you,” Zamorak groaned, exasperatedly. “Zaros, Azzanadra… it’s been a minute.”

Azzanadra replied, “We seem to be running into each other a lot these days,” he squinted at Moia. “I do not recognise the company you are keeping. What is she supposed to be?”

Zamorak introduced, “This is Moia. Lucien's daughter.”

Azzanadra’s face turned a sickening shade of disgust. “Lucien's… daughter? How? But… her face. What is wrong with her face?”

“I am half-human,” Moia announced, lifting her chin in dignified defiance.

“Half?” Azzanadra choked. “But that is not possible… my lord, did you know of this abomination?”

“Yes,” Zaros confirmed. “But she is not important. The secret of her creation died with Lucien.”

“Thankfully!”

“But I could be the future of our race!” an insulted Moia protested.

“Our race?” Azzanadra spluttered through the indignity. “Better to not have a future than this… this 'hybrid'!”

“Zamorak told me you were a self righteous fool,” Moia growled, baring her teeth. “I see now how right he was!”

Shaking his head, Azzanadra asked, “Zamorak, how can you stand to be around this 'thing'?”

Zamorak simply replied, “Moia is a loyal follower. She is also perfectly capable of speaking for herself.”

Still, Azzanadra persisted, “My lord, we cannot let this abomination roam free. It is an insult to the Mahjarrat. We must kill it!”

“We must do nothing of the sort,” Zaros firmly disuaged. “Moia is here as Zamorak's agent, and Zamorak and I have come to an understanding, as you should remember.”

“Oh, really? And here I was hoping for the big showdown…”

Zaros audibly sighed. “Hello Sliske.”

“By all means, don’t let me disturb you,” Sliske continued, his honeyed voice dripping through everyone’s last nerve like acid. “I really am sorry to have missed that shindig on Freneskae. You two finally kiss and make up, hm?”

Zamorak’s grin turned malicious. “Sliske! You know, I really wish you had made it to the Ritual,” he flashed a devilish sneer at Azzanadra. “It would have been fun to see some of your closest companions finally prove they were sick of you.”

At this, Azzanadra started to storm forward, but Zaros held an arm out to stop him.

“Come on Zaros, let them get it out of their system. After all, I’ve stripped you all of your powers. Even Azzy’s feeling the effects. It would be fun to see a little fist-fight between him and Zammy.”

“Be quiet, Sliske,” Zaros warned, coldly.

Naturally, it was a warning Sliske did not heed. “Then Zamorak, maybe you could take Zaros on personally? After all, you’ve already spent an eternity without your god powers. You KNOW how to fight. You could easily take him.”

Zamorak had had enough. “Shut the FUCK UP Sliske!”

Sliske tutted. “Oh, Zammy, you're still such a bore. Go on, then. Go back to your disappointingly non-violent squabbling.”

“It is time to leave,” Zaros announced.

“Actually, I wanted to speak to you alone, Zaros,” Zamorak’s tone was measured, his anger dissipated.

Char boldly interjected, “Whatever you want to say, you can say it in front of all of us, usurper.”

Hushing her, Zaros assured, “Do not fear, my child. Zamorak and I have come to an understanding. I wish to hear him out. Please…”

He motioned for Zamorak to follow him to the far end of the corridor, though both deities knew they were being watched like hawks by the beedy eyes of their respective entourages.

“Your followers are very protective over you,” Zamorak commented, looking over his shoulder at the glare Char was shooting him. He waved in return.

“They are,” Zaros simply replied.

“Of course, while we’re both here, stripped of our powers…” Zamorak trailed off, an unreadable glint in his eyes.

“Yes?”

“This would be the perfect time to complete the rebellion.”

“By killing me?”

“Yes. I don’t think they could save you in time.”

Calmly, Zaros inquired, “And will you do so?”

After a long pause, Zamorak let out a deep, pent up sigh, and said, “It’s very, very tempting... but no.”

“And why not?” Zaros’ stoism did not waver.

“Because the rebellion’s thousands of years in the past. Because you helped save the Mahjarrat. Because we share a mother? But also because perhaps... I finally realise that I haven’t got shit to prove to you anymore. When you were gone, I conquered worlds. I brought death to whole races and redemption to others. Thousands of years ago I wanted to prove I could be a better leader than you. I’ve since proven that a hundred fucking times over.”

Though it couldn’t be seen behind his mask, Zaros’ lips danced with the faintest glimmer of a warm smile, one he hadn’t achieved in a milenia. “Good. It was always my hope for you that you would fulfil your potential. I simply did not anticipate it coming in the form it did.”

Zamorak felt like smiling too, but he restrained himself. “Yes, I recall you spoke of my potential when you made me your Legatus Maximus, back when I first became a general of your armies and swore to do your bidding.”

Zamorak relaxed his tensed up stance, his face washing over with a tranquility he hadn’t felt since stepping inside Sliske’s labyrinth. “It’s strange… we have not spoken like this in so long, my lord. I feel… 'loyal'...” his eyes grew wide. “Wait…”

Zaros brought a single finger to the lips of his mask, signalling quiet. “Sliske must not know. I will not take advantage of you.”

Zamorak knew this feeling - he felt it many times before, even right before he stabbed Zaros with the Staff of Armadyl. It was the insidious, smoky feeling of having his mind infiltrated, a power Zaros held and administered so easily. The ‘curse’ that Zaros spoke of, doomed to enforce loyalty in the beings he commanded over, never knowing if it was genuine or not.

What the fuck? Was his divinity… somehow not stripped...

However, instead of anger at this unwelcomed familiarity, he only felt serenity. He knew not to ask questions, and he knew why not to ask, because he knew the answers; these questions and answers belonged to Zaros - they were not his own. “Then... this feeling of calm...?

“It is not real,” Zaros confirmed. “Your rage will return. Your rage at me, in particular. But I urge you, Zamorak, for the sake of the warlord who once showed so much promise, and the righteous divinity you have become, do not let it master you. Now, I must depart.”

“Goodbye my lor-...” Zamorak shook his head, clearing his mind. “Goodbye, Zaros.”

DISCLAIMER:

As Of Gods and Men is a reimagining, retelling and reworking of the Sixth Age, a LOT of dialogue/characters/plotlines/etc. are pulled right from the game itself, and this belongs to Jagex.

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[barnestruck]

The Divinity of Notre Dame (I)

(gif credits to owner)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader (Medieval!AU)

Summary: Bucky has left the front of the 100 Years’ War to serve as the Captain of the Guard at Norte Dame under Judge Alexander Pierce. He arrives at the time of the annual Festival of Fools where he encounters Y/N, a free-spirited g*ps*. He’s instantly allured by her, but so is Pierce.

Word Count: 2.9k (yeah, a lil longer than my last two)

Warnings: Use of the term “g*ps*”, Womanizer!Bucky, Pierce is a perv, Bucky’s also got moments where he thinks about war :(, Stevie boy is publicly humiliated :(, basically, everything before Bucky and Y/N formally meet.

*UPDATE* it has recently been brought to my attention that the word “g*ps*” is used as a slur, and that the people of the descent prefer to be referred to as Roma/Romani. i’m really sorry for not doing my research and just going off of the content of the movie/musical to help me with my writing.

A/N: This is more based on the Hunchback musical than the movie. Took a lot of this from both the movie and musical tho. Should I put up a part 2? (Might put it up anyway)

-

France, 1482 The gallops of his horse were the only things keeping Bucky focused on the trek to his destination. His thoughts were consumed by his memories of war. The sound of painful yells echoed in his ears, the stench of bloodied corpses lingered in his subconscious and the sight of the unmarked graves of his comrades were burned into his brain. Those senses didn’t seem to diminish in the slightest as he made his journey from the front to Norte Dame, regardless of how hard he tried to be rid of them. After four years at the front, it made sense as to why those kinds of things weren’t easily forgotten about. As soon as word was sent that he was needed in the city to serve as the Captain of the Guard he promised himself to do anything to keep the new job. There was no way he would risk sending himself back into the barracks. He never wanted to go back. He didn’t think he’d make it out alive if he did.

The voice of his lieutenant briefly drew him away from his thoughts. “Hey Buck, we should stop by a tavern or something for a bite. You know so we can be in good shape for when we meet Judge Pierce.”

Bucky only allowed himself to wallow in his memories when he was alone. With others, he kept up the facade of a womanizing soldier. “You sure you want a bite of food from the tavern? Or would you prefer a taste of the madam that runs it?”

Sam reacted in a flustered fashion to Bucky’s remark. He wasn’t exactly as experienced as Bucky when it came to those things. Bucky sensed his discomfort. “Don’t worry my friend, as long as you follow my lead, you’ll be able to get any woman to fall to her knees for you.”

- Notre Dame greeted Bucky with brightly colored banners, savory aromas of freshly cooked food and the jingling of tambourines being played alongside drums and woodwinds. He wasn’t aware of this, but he would soon realize his arrival happened to fall on the date of the annual Festival of Fools. A day of celebration for the gypsies of Notre Dame, a day where they didn’t have to be afraid of embracing their culture. At least, that’s what they thought. Little did the gypsies know, the infamous Judge Pierce had planned on eliminating the people he saw as threats. He did not take a liking to their expressiveness; all he saw when he looked at them were unholy creatures built for sin and unholiness. 

Pierce’s prejudice towards the gypsies began when his lively brother Jehan had left the church to be with a g*ps* called Sarah. Pierce had seen Jehan’s happiness when he was with her, when they danced together. And he envied it. As the adorned archdeacon, he was prohibited from indulging himself in the pleasures of the flesh. He lusted after what Jehan had with Sarah. He desired to feel wanted, something he had never experienced being an orphaned child that was forced to grow up too quickly and care for his younger brother. His hatred was fueled further when Jehan had contacted Pierce for the first time in several years only to tell him that he was dying of disease. In Jehan’s last moments, he pleaded Pierce to take his son he had had with Sarah, the woman he loved that passed only weeks before him. Pierce was the only family his child had left. Had it been any other person, Pierce would’ve turned a blind eye to a g*ps*’s suffering. But it was his brother, the only person he ever really loved. So he had no choice but to take in the child. He never planned on telling the child about its g*ps* origins, he wanted to get it to think like him. Pierce believed the child would one day be of use to him.

He kept the boy, Steve, locked away in the bell tower where he might one day fulfill his perceived purpose. - Bucky had decided to indulge Sam in what he wanted, lots and lots of food. Walking into the nearest tavern Bucky set his eyes on the woman behind the bar. Turning on his charm, he introduced himself to the madam, “Captain James Barnes at your service.” 

She turned to him with her brow raised. “You’re a customer at my joint, I think I should be the one serving you.”

He gave her a wink at that. “Oh, darlin’, I could think of multiple ways I’d love for you to serve me.” A group of girls giggled at his quippy remark.

“You know, I asked you if we could stop here for some food, not for you to force me to watch you defile every woman in this bar,” intervened Sam. Bucky chuckled and ordered two stews and a couple of beers. 

One of the girls who had laughed at his earlier comment introduced herself as Dot and took the seat next to him. She asked, “What brings you here soldier?”

He gave her a playful pout. “What gave me away?”

Dot playfully scoffed. “You mean other than your uniform?”

Bucky lifted his hands in feigned surrender. “You got me. I’m new to Paris, just came back from the front.”

“What’s your story?”

A few of Dot’s friends came to join her and Bucky as he spoke. “Four years at the front really give a man a zest. I’m looking for a little rest and recreation if you know what I mean.”

Dot giggled at him again. “You seem like one of those handsome fellows to whom all the girls take a liking.”

“Why thank you,” he said with the most charming smirk he would muster. Suddenly, the sound of quickly shuffling feet pulled his attention away from the girls at his side. 

“Come back here!” He heard a man say. The man was dressed in clean, formal attire. A noble. He was calling out to a smaller man, rough around the edges with a look of fear in his eyes. Bucky knew that look. He took the smaller man by the collar. “What seems to be going on here?” asked Bucky. The nobleman pointed an accusing finger at the peasant boy, “That g*ps* picked my pocket!”

Bucky tightened his grip on the boy’s tunic, “Is that true?” The young man shook his head frantically. “No! God, no!” Bucky ordered Sam to search him. Sam shrugged and said, “Nothing.”

“They work in pairs,” a booming voice said from behind Bucky. He turned to face the archdeacon himself. Bucky saluted him in a flustered manner. He wasn’t prepared to meet his liege just yet. “My lord.”

Pierce gave Bucky an admiring look. “Ah, Captain, welcome to the Cathedral Guard.”

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve you, my Lord.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You may start with arresting this g*ps* scum.”

A confused look washed over Bucky’s face. “On what charge if you don’t mind me asking Sire?”

The Judge’s untroubled glance turned annoyed. “Suspicion. If it were up to me, he wouldn’t be allowed on the streets at all. He would be hunted for sport like the g*ps* dog he is.”

An uncomfortable feeling settled in Bucky’s stomach at that. This didn’t feel right to him, arresting someone without a legitimate charge. Then again, Bucky couldn’t lose this job; he couldn’t on his first day. “Alright then. Sam, take him away.” Sam did as he was told and dragged the boy out of the tavern.

Pierce faced Bucky, a contented look on his face. “Thank you for that, Captain. Your early arrival is most auspicious. The pestilence of these gypsies grows more dangerous every day. You and I have a task we share. We are responsible for stopping those g*ps* rats and their proliferation.”

With each word the archdeacon spoke, Bucky felt himself grow more and more uneasy. He prayed for anything to get him out of that situation. Thankfully, his prayers were answered swiftly as the penetrating voices of the congregation outside made its way into the tavern.

“Come one, come all! Hurry, hurry–here's your chance See the mystery and romance!”

Bucky removed himself from his position next to Judge Pierce to see what all the commotion was about. The people young and old, rich and poor, littered the town square. They all happened to concentrate in front of a stage surrounded by a blue curtain with a glowing moon on it. Bucky wasn’t about to push his way through the crowd. The idea of loud yells surrounding him reminded him too much of the trenches he used to reside in. He stayed back and watched from behind the crowd. The congregation continued to chant.

“Come one, come all! See the finest girl in France Make an entrance to entrance!”

A man adorned with cloths of different colors and patterns, he assumed was king of the gypsies, stood in front of the curtain and started bunching it in his hands.

“Dance La Esmeralda... Dance!”

With his declaration, the curtain fell to reveal the most beautiful woman Bucky had ever laid his eyes on. She wore fiery red fabrics that accentuated all the right curves of her. She held a tambourine in one of her hands and she knocked it against her hip to the beat of the music she danced to. Bucky felt as if he was under a spell compelling him to get closer to her. With every swing of her hips, he stepped nearer to the stage at which she stood. The woman dared to peek over her shoulder to look at the crowd. Her Y/E/C eyes met Bucky’s sparkling ones as she began to sing.

“Hey, soldier boy I see how you stare”

Bucky looked around and saw everyone, regardless of gender, looking at the g*ps* girl with awe. There was something about her, whether it was the way she looked, sounded, or moved that hypnotized everyone in that whole damn city. Throughout her performance, she continued to steal glances at Bucky. Bucky didn’t sense Pierce’s presence until he made it known.

“Look at that disgusting display,” the archdeacon spat.

With adoration glazing over his eyes, Bucky replied, “Yes sir.”

The girl kept dancing, this time with loose red silk cloths in her hands. The fluidity of their movements with her made her appear as an angel from Bucky’s dreams. But not an ordinary angel decked in white; no. One dripping in passion and power, he loved that about her. He loved how all she had to do was look at people a certain way and they were wrapped around her finger. It was her effect on him.

She jumped off the stage and began dancing with the gypsies in the crowd. The girl made her way through, all the way to Bucky and the archdeacon. She flicked her wrists, commanding the silk in her hands to wrap themselves around Bucky, tying him to her. She shot him a teasing look and he was putty in her hands. She did the same thing to Judge Pierce, teasing him with her eyes. She maintained the look of a seductress for the theatrics of her performance. The g*ps* pushed Pierce further when she left one of the silks tied around his neck. Bucky saw the conflicted look in Pierce’s eyes. He wanted to be disgusted but he couldn’t help his knees from buckling. The sight disturbed Bucky.

La Esmeralda made her way back to the stage and ended her performance with an extravagant bow. The crowd roared for her, evoking a beaming smile to radiate from her face. The man who pulled the curtain away from the stage earlier returned to shout:

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the piece de resistance! Make a face that's horrible and frightening, For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools!”

Dozens of men began lining up to grace the stage. Each one taking on faces as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing. The enchanting g*ps* girl spotted a small man who was shying away from the crowd. Bucky watched as she approached the man with a smile. God, how he wished he was the one she was smiling at. The girl pulled the small man on the stage where he revealed his face. The man looked sickly, to put it lightly. His body looked as if it were made of sticks, his skin appeared as if it were tightly bound cloths clinging to its stick foundation. The bags under his eyes were so deeply sunken into his face it seemed he had never slept a year in his life. He looked too disproportioned with the extreme sagging of his face to his feeble body he didn’t look human. The crowd gasped when they got a look at him.

“My God, he's hideous!” “Is that a mask?” ‘It's his face!” “He's the devil!” “Impossible!”

The king of the gypsies settled the crowd by proclaiming, “We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and we've found him, eh? Steven—the Bellringer of Notre Dame!” The audience proceeded to erupt into yells of celebration, crowning the boy as the King of Fools. However, the festivities didn’t last for long.

“You think he’s ugly now? Watch this!” a commoner yelled as he threw a tomato to the boy—Steven’s—face. Steven placed his hand on his face wipe the residue of the fruit off, a shocked look on his face. Had the people not just adorned him as their king? Why were they doing this?

The townspeople continued to torture the boy, tying him down to the stage, restricting him from escaping. They threw more miscellaneous items at him, shouting horrible things.

“Why don’t you put some more meat on your bones, bell boy?” “Bon appétit, your majesty!”

Bucky couldn’t stand it. This wasn’t what he left the front for. He was called to Paris to serve as the pillar of justice, not stand idly by as a citizen was deprived that. He turned to the archdeacon.

“Permission to stop this cruelty, your Grace.”

Judge Pierce didn’t even blink as his cold response came out. “Not just yet, Captain. A lesson needs to be learned.”

Bucky was frozen. He couldn’t bear watching helplessly as someone faced injustice. But he didn’t have a choice. Bucky was too afraid of being sent back to war. He hated that about himself. He despised his cowardness when he was supposed to be the beacon of strength and courage.

“STOP!” A pained cry cut through Bucky’s thoughts like a hot knife. It was the g*ps* girl, no longer in her seductress attire but instead wearing simple commoner clothing. Bucky had still thought she was beautiful.

She made her way to the stage where Steven was tied down. Bucky noticed the pained look in her eyes when the feeble man flinched at her touch. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “I’m not here to hurt you.” The woman untied the sash around her hips and used it to clean Steven’s face. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” she said softly. 

Her actions made Bucky subconsciously fall harder for her more than he already had. When he wasn’t strong enough to stand up in the face of injustice, she was.

The archdeacon was fuming beside Bucky. “You, g*ps* girl,” he yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at her. “Get down from there at once.”

“Yes your honor,” she called back. “Just as soon as I free this poor boy.”

Judge Pierce looked as if there were flames behind his eyes. “I forbid it.”

The g*ps* ignored his threatening comment and pulled a knife from under her skirt, cutting the bellringer’s restraints and setting him free.

“How dare you defy me?” Judge Pierce shouted.

The girl stood on the platform with her shoulders pulled back, calling out proudly:

“You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak of justice, and yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help!”

The archdeacon had had enough. “SILENCE!”

But the woman was not having any of it. “JUSTICE!” She yelled, twice as louder.

The crowd was taken aback by her forwardness. Never before had they seen anybody stand up to Judge Pierce, let alone a woman. While the townspeople felt shock, all Bucky felt was pride.

“Captain Barnes,” Pierce began. “Arrest her.”

Bucky shamefully followed orders like a beaten down dog. On his command, the guards providing ‘security’ for the festival began closing in on the platform where the g*ps* stood. She pretended to put on a brave front but Bucky could see through it. He saw the panic behind her eyes. The king of gypsies appeared grabbed her wrist and whispered something in her ear, causing the fear in her eyes to intensify. The g*ps* king pulled something out of one of his pockets, smashing it on the stage, summoning a cloud of smoke to conceal the gypsies’ escape.

Bucky heard Pierce’s sharp intake of breath beside him. “Witchcraft…” The crowd erupted in panicked yells and tried to get their hands on the bellringer. Pierce’s voice diminished the chances of their attempts.

“That’s enough! We must show kindness to this...creature. As our Savior did when he healed the lepers. Time to go home! The show is over,” his shouts echoed among the townspeople. A gloomy atmosphere settled among the city that afternoon, the sun shielding itself behind the clouds.

As the archdeacon left towards the Notre Dame Cathedral with the bellringer in tow, all Bucky could think about was the g*ps* girl and when he’d be able to see her again. - Please leave your thoughts in the comments! I’d appreciate any type of feedback!

Part II

[thesilverdragoon]

Animal

“The Ninth Vare.

Twas a place many would make pilgrimage to during the warmer months of the year, along with others just like it.”

“What were they?”

“Monuments erected by the Holy See throughout Coerthas, to inspire the zealous masses, and to instill the authority of their might, and the church. Time, like with all those who stand within it and before it, has ravaged these monuments, these towers rather, utterly.”

“And that’s all that’s left now? A lonely cairn out in the middle of the highlands?”

“That’s right. But, it was one place that we could always meet. Especially during harder days such as these. I remember...”

__________

The sky had grown dark in a rather short span of time. A blizzard had swept through the western Coerthan highlands that night. Much like all the other nights within the past several years.

The black dragon’s wings pushed against the winds, unshaken by them. Why would they be? They were wings that of a mighty beast, one born and raised there all his life. He knew them, and they knew him.

Down below, mist covered most of the already-snow-ridden-land, making it more eerie than it already was whenever dusk fell. Even up above, Lev could hardly see anything under him, or even in front of him. But he knew the mountains well enough. He knew where he was going.

He didn’t need sight for that.

After a while, the collapsed stone monument came into view, the dim flames of candlelight billowing at the foot of the plaque that remained slotted in the wall at the foot of the steps. Magic likely kept them from going out. The winds were calmer around the Ninth Vare itself. One could easily stand or kneel there, undisturbed, as they prayed.

Lev slowed and lowered himself to the earth, landing with a heavy, but somehow still gentle thump in the deep snow. Immediately a trail that had been made up the hill caught his attention. It was fresh. Someone had just come up here.

His gaze followed the path all the way up to the stone steps, a lone figure standing there, coat fluttering in the wind.

“Well bugger me,” He snorted, leaning down, his wings twitching and becoming shorter and shorter before becoming a part of his back once again. The claws and the teeth receded into something more ‘normal’, the scales faded back into skin.

The scent, as musty and sweaty as it was, hit him like a truck. What were the odds? At long last… Though, he had come purely on a feeling anyway.

When he reached the foot of the steps, he paused, curious to whether or not he should even wait for a reaction. In the end though, he smiled gently and made his way up on the opposite side until he stood before the stone plaque bearing the crests of the four High Houses of Ishgard.

“How long has it been now? Ten, twenty, thirty years, maybe more?” Lev began, that familiar lilt of humor still in his voice. “I’m afraid I’m starting to lose count. And I can see why dragons do the same. Time is nothing but a moment to them.”

Vesevont kept his jaw steeled and his eyes firmly on the crest in front of them, the firelight from the offering candles melted in piles alongside the stone monument flicking off of its rough surface.

Neither of them spoke for a time, until Lev turned his head to glance at his once dear friend.

“You’ve grown old.” He said.

Vesevont’s nostrils flared briefly as he furrowed his brows. His eyes looked sunken in, and so did his cheeks, for that matter. And there were wrinkles and many scars, here and there.

But his eyes were the same. Still alight. Still blazing. Still piercing as they had been.

“You haven’t changed your hair in thirty years.” Lev grinned.

“Thirty years and those are the words you decided to first speak to me since you abandoned us that night?” Ves answered harshly, turning his head now to look back at the other man.

Lev still held his youth. He looked as though he hadn’t aged a single day.

“I admit...I didn’t put as much thought into it as I should have.” Despite the rough tone of voice he was being met with, Lev still held a smile. “Where have you been all this time?” He knew the answer, but he asked regardless.

“Around.” Ves said quickly, looking down at the floor. “Here and there, for years now.” He kept a stiff frown on his face, eyes downcast. “Somehow, I never ran into you. Not once.”

“Somehow. Things can play out strangely like that, I’ve found. You certainly seem as though you’d accomplished much while I was away.”

The knight sighed heavily and looked over his shoulder, back into the dark mist and the blizzard blowing right over this place, right over them.

Lev too looked towards it, brows furrowing a little. He eyed Ves again shortly after. “I had run into some companions of yours when I made my way to the south in search of you. I had hoped they would have been able to help me locate you, but alas. I did receive a few clues in terms of more...recent events, that ultimately led me back to here-”

Ves immediately went rigid. His whole body about as still as a statue.

“I don’t know who you mean.” “There’s no use in denying it now old man. I’ve heard you’ve been plenty busy ever since making your way south. I heard the whole story. Missing son, traveling down so far south as Limsa Lominsa, meeting several new friends there, finding a place to live, getting a job- you really HAVE been busy, haven’t you?” It was only then that Ves dared to look Lev in the eyes. He was confused. What was he getting at? “...And so I have been,” He spoke slowly, cautiously, a wary expression to accompany it all.

“And so have I heard the tale of the knight that occasionally lives within Anyx Trine amongst fellow dragons. With his companion hatchling, I believe. Or, something like that.”

Just how much DID Lev know? Ves wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure if it was even a good thing.

“Why did you come find me then? You want something. I can hear it in your voice. If you’re going to say something then just say it.”

“You haven’t changed a bit have you, you old aldgoat? At least, in your stubbornness.” Lev shook his head almost in disbelief. He beckoned for the knight to follow him as he sat down at the top of the steps, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, gazing outwards.

Ves did the same, slower, but, eventually settled into a similar position.

After a few more moments, Lev spoke again. “At first I sought you out only because I longed to be reunited with someone I called friend. A very dear friend, mind. Not that that has changed, of course. And, in hearing of your adventures and travels here and there throughout the years, moreso the recent ones...I find myself a bit...troubled I suppose.” “Troubled?”  Ves asked, ears lowering slightly. “How so?”

“Well,” Lev pursed his lips, looking down at his boots briefly. “Namely the part about how you’d grown into somewhat of an arse.”

That much threw Ves off entirely. Even physically. He blinked a few extra times, unsure if he had heard that correctly. “What?-”

Lev frowned now, “I believe you know what I’m referring to.”

He did. Ves knew. At that he stood up, shaking his head. “I knew this was a mistake. Coming out here.” “Did you now? And how did you know to come out here? I can’t imagine someone had told you where I was going. Even I wasn’t very sure myself earlier in the day. Hadn’t discussed it with anyone.” Lev got up and followed after him. Ves was dodging him. “Where are you running off to now you old codger? Out into the snow? You’ll freeze to death-” “Sometimes I wonder if that’s better than listening to whatever drivel it is the lot of you have to offer.” Ves hissed, brushing past him and down the steps. Lev went after him, surprised at the strength of the reaction. “Wait-” He reached out for the old man’s shoulder but was met with a hand slapping his own away.

“Don’t, touch me.” “Vesevont!” Lev exclaimed, more in shock than actual anger. “What’s happened to you?” He’d always known the man to be rigid with many things, but this felt entirely different. This felt hostile, like a caged animal hissing and biting at anyone who dared to come near. “Tell me.”

“I don’t believe it’s any of your business.”

“I do believe that is it.” “Oh!” Ves paused at the foot of the steps, laughing almost, and looking over his shoulder at Lev. “And how do you figure that? I’m quite curious as to how you even CAME to that conclusion in the first place. Perhaps your brain really has frozen into something so hard as a rock.”

Lev’s mouth fell agape slightly. His ears pinned back, “Do you even hear yourself talking? The words dribbling out of that hole in your head you call a mouth? I’m almost convinced your ears are so packed with shite you can’t hear yourself or even think straight.”

“Did THEY send you?” “What???” “You know damn well WHAT and damn well WHO. Is that what they want? To deliver some more words about how I’m just a foolish old man without any IDEA about anything?” Ves snorted like an enraged bull, holding his head about as high.

Lev stood there, still unsure that this was even real to begin with. It felt wrong.

“...Vesevont something’s happened to you. You’ve changed, and I want to know why. Don’t I even deserve THAT much?”

“I’d wager not. One doesn’t just leave without a word for thirty years normally and then expect to come back as though everything’s fine.”

Now he was getting angry. “Let us forget the past for one moment and look at what’s going on now you stubborn fool-” “No, let us not.” Ves dramatically turned around and began walking through the trail in the snow he had made prior to coming there.

Lev chased after him, once again reaching out for him and pulling him back roughly, and hard enough to spin him around to face him. “This isn’t the Vesevont I know. Where has he gone? Please, tell me so that I may FIND him.” He kept a firm grip on the knight’s upper arms to keep him in place, and so that he couldn’t move away.

“You want to know where he’s gone?” Ves sneered uncharacteristically. “He’s died. He perished years ago, Lev. I suppose he’s out there somewhere buried under the ice. Maybe you’ll find a frozen corpse or something if you’re lucky. You can bury him too someplace nice if you’d like.”

Lev’s lip twitched and he shook his head, frowning about as hard as Ves was now. “No- no, that isn’t so. There I am, down in the south, hearing stories of how you’ve said horrible things about people who offered you hands in kindness, right to their faces even. Spat on everything they’ve offered you, in their own homes, against their family- Vesevont-” He almost shook the old man a few times. “Vesevont please, tell me why!” “You look as though time has not laid a single finger upon you. I should fully expect then that it has not laid a finger on your brain as well.”

Lev’s fingers dug in. “Ves-” “Then you met with them. You walked into that...that, house,” Ves continued, the word ‘house’ uttered with such disdain, as though he barely considered it so. “You saw those THINGS that lived there. The beasts from the Void-” “I saw them, yes. And they, me. Vesevont you’ve made a horrible mistake, they-” “-are MONSTERS, LEV. WHAT PART OF THAT DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY DO NOT, AS WELL. Harboring these MONSTROSITIES and believing their lies- believing they’re FAMILY even- who DOES THAT?? LEV?? WHO?!” “We aren’t all meant to walk the same path Ves-” “No, no certainly not, but I CANNOT abide by those who so WILLINGLY CHOOSE to walk alongside EVIL. Now let me GO-” Ves pulled hard and broke free from the other man’s grasp, turning again to walk down the hill and through the snow, despite the fact he could not see where he was going.

He didn’t care.

He’d been doing that his entire life as it was.

Lev stood in his place, shaking his head and bringing a hand up to the side of his face. This couldn’t be happening. “And were dragons not once depicted as such evil beings?!” He called out. The old knight wasn’t stopping. Lev ran after him, trying to get in front of him, but Ves angrily marched on, refusing to listen.

“Were they nothing more than devils, hellbent on destroying us and our home?! You’ve seen so for yourself that that was not true Vesevont!!��

“I don’t need to spend more than a few moments in that house to know they’re tricking those two IDIOTS into an unpleasant demise-” “Vesevont you don’t KNOW THAT-” “No, no certainly not. I certainly don’t. It’s how I’ve lived for so long after all.” “What does that have to do with anything?!-” They continued down the hill with their back and forth, like two bickering hags.

“It’s funny you should suddenly care so much about this- It isn’t as though I was insulting YOU, but you seem to be taking it as such. Why IS THAT, I wonder?” Ves snapped at Lev again, finally pausing to confront him.

“Because you’re being completely and utterly ridiculous is why! You’ve never been this harsh before...not in this way! And you won’t tell me why that is! I KNOW you know why- who else would?! Have you grown so bitter that this is all you’ve been reduced to? A nasty, ungrateful-”

“Don’t you-”

“-vindictive-”

“LEV-”

“-pathetic excuse for a WORM-” There came a sudden roar as Ves launched himself right at the man, who thankfully was able to catch him by the wrists just in time. Though, it was a bit of a struggle to hang onto him.

They struggled briefly, the prior refusing to calm down. “VESEVONT STOP THIS-”

“YOU’VE COME ALL THIS WAY- AFTER THIRTY YEARS-” Ves screamed as pulled and pushed against him but nothing was working. He couldn’t fight, he couldn’t run. He couldn’t move. “TO TELL ME YOU KNOW BETTER? TRAITOR-” “I LEFT BECAUSE I SAW WHERE ALL THIS WOULD LEAD- I DIDN’T WANT ANY OF IT! AND I WANTED SO BADLY FOR YOU TO COME WITH ME! BUT I KNEW YOU NEVER WOULD!”

Ves raised a leg and kicked Lev in the stomach hard enough to get him to let go, back away immediately after and almost falling himself. He maintained his balance however.

Lev let out a hacking cough as he went down on his knee and looked up, sharp teeth bared and teal eyes almost shining brightly. Scales began to form on his neck, and his nails sharpened slightly, but he maintained enough control.

“Look at you- are you going to call ME the monster? You with- with teeth and claws and- whatever the hell ELSE? We were meant to rise ABOVE THIS Lev, not fall SLAVES to our every whim and want like ANIMALS!”

Maybe it was the tone, or maybe it was the words, Lev wasn’t entirely sure himself. But he felt hurt. Like something deep inside had been cut by a sharpened knife.

He panted for several seconds, swallowing the lump forming in his throat. His eyes were stinging and he couldn’t believe how bad he felt now. He’d heard words like that before.

Just...just not from-

“Then...” He started, sounding shaky, “...then perhaps that truly is all we are, as they say here in our home. Nothing more than slaves to our natures. Our course set out for us from birth, carved into the cold stone and eternal.”

Lev barely managed to hold his head up to look at the old knight.

“You had once denied such a belief. You were once a testament to a different kind of truth. That we could all change if we so truly desired in our hearts.

And I believed you.”

The man paused, his breath hitching as the icy winds blew over them both. Consuming any and all warmth, making everything throb and ache.

“…I thought better of you, old friend.

...But I guess to you, we really are all animals, aren’t we?”

Vesevont glared at him, with something unholy burning in his eyes, something not born of magic. But something born of time and a troubled life.

The knight turned his back on the heretic, walking away without stopping, without looking back, into the fog. Into the great big nothing.

Lev sat there in the snow for what felt like an eternity. The ice burned against him but he found himself unable to move. Instead, he squeezed his eyes tight and kept his head down, shoulders quivering.

The emotions would pass, soon enough. He’d grown used to it.

Sooner or later, they would go away, and he could carry on.

For a while.

__________

“...We are...hungry...” “Not now...not now...”

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Return of Macavity; Supernatural x sister reader

*Author’s note*

Okay guys now this idea was buzzing around my mind for several weeks after seeing all the nice comments from pt. 1 “The chain” so I decided to make a pt.2 to this and eventually just maybe either during Thanksgiving break or once I am done with school this semester, I will write up a third and final part with Alt. endings as to what happens.

Now there is the typical SPN warning of swearing, violence, fight scenes, guns (I EXPRESS THIS ESP. AFTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW THAT I AM POSTING THIS) but there is fluffyness in this as I have offically caught up since 2 wks. before the s.14 premiere of SPN. Okay so now that that’s out of the way I leave you guys to enjoy pt.2 :) 

____________________________________________________________

I was running through the darkness.  I ran and ran as fast I could but I couldn’t get away.  I also kept hearing his dark and sinister laughter echoing through the darkness.  Suddenly I tripped on something and when I looked down I found roots starting to coil around my ankles.  I tried to free myself with my magic but nothing was working.  It was then I felt a foot collide with my chest and there standing over me was the demon Macavity.

His laughter and dark face glared down at me, his piercing yellow eyes sent shivers down my spine as I felt him press his foot harder against me.  I tried to scream but nothing came out……

I was screaming Bloody Mary as I tossed and turned in my bed when I felt someone shaking me gently. My eyes shot open and there stood the newest member of our little family and recently turned boyfriend Jack Kline.

“It’s okay (y/n), it’s okay, you’re okay”. I panted before looking down sadly still panting. He brought me close to his chest, my ear resting right over his heart. His gentle heartbeats calming my nerves as I tried to match my breathing with the beats of his heart.  It was then my brothers and Cas came barging in shortly after my brothers with their guns out and Cas with an angel blade in hand.

But once they saw that I was just having a nightmare and Jack was trying to soothe me, they lowered their weapons and knew right away what my dream was about.

“Him again?” asked Dean not even in a question format.  I let out a frightened whimper answering him.

It had been 2 years since that day I came back from Hell under Macavity’s imprisonment.  For those that don’t know, I was taken after a case gone wrong and for nine months I was tortured and forced to become his ultimate weapon.  For nine months I was brainwashed, whipped, scarred, and manipulated into hating my brothers until I unleashed my inner powers.

Nine months after my torment, he thought I was ready to finally to carry out my mission; to terminate and take vengeance on my brothers.  But as always, they saved the day and finally set my mind free from my brainwashed state and with lots and lots and I mean lots of TLC, angel therapy from Cas I was semi-back to normal.  But even now, 2 years later today, I still get PTSD that he’s still watching me and I can hear him telling me that he is disappointed in me telling me that I failed him.

He tells me that he’s planning on finding me and taking me back to where I belonged and this time he was going to make sure I stayed his perfect weapon, right after he killed everyone I loved and forced me to watch.

I felt the bed dip beside me and I took notice that Sammy now sat beside Jack.  I was then transferred to my brother’s arms who wrapped his arms around me tightly rubbing my arm softly as he rested his chin on top of my head.

“He’s gone (y/n), he can’t find you here. You’re safe here. You’re with your family. It’s okay sweetie, it’s okay”.  I sniffled and buried myself into his chest.  His hand soothing rubbed my arm up and down comfortingly as I kept whimpering fearfully.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Jack staring right back at me.  He leaned forward and gently touched my nose with his before leaning his forehead against mine.  I took in his strength and felt my fear slowly slip away.

“I would like to be with (y/n) alone for a moment, if that is alright” Cas stated.

“Do what you gotta do Cas, help our little sis in any way you can. Come on Sammy, we gotta look into how we can kill this Macavity bastard”. I felt Sam kiss the top of my head before he left my side leaving Jack and I still on the bed.  As my brothers left, Cas turned and looked to Jack telling him that he needed to leave.  I felt Jack grip my hand tightly but I placed my other hand on top of his and we spoke through our telepathic bond.

‘Please Jack, I don’t want you to hear what I’m going to say’.

‘I’ll be right outside. I won’t be far, as soon as Castiel’s done I’ll come right back, I promise bunny’. He kissed me softly before wiping away a stray tear and soon he left my room shutting the door behind him, leaving Cas and I alone in my room. He slowly approached my bed and sat down at the foot of it and he said.

“What happened this time?” I shook my head and said something that I have been dying to get off my chest.

“Six months. Six months this is happened to me every night Cass and it’s not getting any better!” I choked out.

“Don’t worry (y/n), we’re starting a trail right now on how to finally end this. He won’t ever get you back”.

“Who are you guys fooling? You know as well as I do that nothing not even Lucifer has been able to kill him!” I snapped.  I turned away from the angel and I continued, “Oh Cas, while I’m grateful he’s made me unlock my true strength, I—” I began to trail off as more tears began to stream down my face and my voice began to crack as I cried out, “I wish—I wish he had just killed me!” I brought my face into my hands as I wept hysterically.

I soon felt Cas’ arms wrap around me as he brought me close to his chest.  He gently kissed my forehead and I even felt his wings wrap around me as I kept crying until I had cried myself to sleep.

*3rd Person POV*

Shortly after (y/n) had fallen asleep, Jack came right back into the room to see his father holding his girlfriend.  Castiel looked to Jack and Jack nodded softly.  He then slowly got up trying not to wake (y/n) up and transfer her into Jack’s arms.  

Jack slowly leaned up against the headrest of the bed while holding his girlfriend in his arms. He noticed the tearstains on her cheeks, the dark hollowed bags under her eyes and the still stress-like features that plastered across her sleeping face.

Even though he had been told briefly of what Macavity had done to her by both her brothers and Castiel and sometimes by (y/n) herself, he still didn’t know the trauma that still came with what happened to her.  But he vowed to himself that if this Macavity ever came back for her, he’d kill him for hurting the woman that he loves and make sure that he never hurts another person again.

He summoned out his wings and they curled up around (y/n) protectively.  His pure white with hidden bluish tint wings wrapped around her almost as if shielding her from the darkness of the world and hoping that he himself was her guiding light in her dark torment.

Castiel walked towards the war room of the Bunker where Sam and Dean were doing some research on Macavity’s weakness.  When the brothers noticed Cas’ return, Dean said.

“How is she?”

“Not good. She wishes that he had just killed her instead of turning her into his weapon. For the past six months it’s gotten worse, I fear that he may be coming for her”.

“Like Hell we’re going to allow that!” Dean snarled.

“I just wish there was something, anything I don’t care whether in Lore or the Book of the Damned that could help us find a way to finally kill him” stated Sam.

“Well right now we need to focus on one thing. What can we do to help (n/n)? She hasn’t been at her top game and she can’t keep going on like this, she’s only getting worse” said Dean.  The three men began to ponder on what they could do to help the youngest of their team (well minus Jack but anyways).

“Maybe a change of scenery would do her good”. Suggested Castiel.

“But what if Macavity is tracking her down? We can’t really ward off a beach” said Dean.

“I might know somewhere that’s safe and we’ll be able to protect her”. Suggested Sam.  Dean and Cas looked at him and Dean immediately knew who and where his brother was suggesting.

“Make the call”. Sam then picked up his phone and called the number that he wanted.  He waited for two rings when the phone was picked up and he said.

“Hey Jody, it’s Sam. Listen we need to ask you a favor…..”

*My POV*

The next thing I knew I woke up to see white feathers wrapped around me.  I recognized who it was by the bluish tint hidden within the wings, that and I could feel his body under mine.  I looked up to see Jack looking down at me and he said.

“Good morning”. He said with a soft smile.

“Morning” I croaked out.

“How are you feeling?” he asked as he tilted my chin up to look him in the eye.

“A bit better, did you not sleep at all last night?”

“No. I wanted to watch over you in case you had another nightmare. In case he—he hurt you again”.  I smiled at him lovingly and I said to him.

“Jack, have I ever told you, you are an angel?”

“Well I am half angel” he said like it was a blunt fact.  I chuckled softly and said as I cupped his face.

“I mean that you are literally the sweetest guy I have ever met”.

“Oh”. I smiled and leaned up and kissed his lips with mine before I got out of his wings and took his hand and led us to the kitchen to have some breakfast.

Once we got to the kitchen, I saw Dean with his cup of coffee and Sam at his computer.

“Hey, look who finally decided to wake up” Dean teased.  I sent him a bitch face and that’s when Sam said.

“Oh that’s good you’re up. Pack your bags (y/n), we’re going out of state”.

“What do we got a case already?”

“Nope, even better. Now go quickly vámonos chica!” Dean said in a hurry as he separated me from Jack and pushed me out of the kitchen.

“Geez hold on a sec! Can I at least have some breakfast first?”

“Ugh fine! Eat up then pack your bags!” I then took some of my brother Dean’s famous scrambled eggs and toast and ate up my breakfast.  

Once I got done, Sammy took care of the dishes and I went up to get dressed as well as to pack up my bags.

“How much clothes will I need?”

“About a week’s worth” said Sam.  As I put in some clothes as well as my bras and underwear, I then asked.

“Is there any chance I could ask where we’re going exactly?”

“Sorry sweetie, that’s a surprise” he said. I groaned and finished packing up my bags and once that was all done he picked up my bag and we both headed out to the car.

Mine, Dean’s and Sam’s bags went into Baby’s trunk and I got in my usual spot right behind Sammy with Jack in the middle and Cas behind Dean.  Dean then turned on Baby’s ignition and her purrs soon started up and we drove out of the Bunker to Chuck knows where.

As we drove on, Dean looked at me through the rearview mirror and he said.

“Hey baby girl, I know you haven’t been sleeping well on your own, why don’t you catch a few z’s it’s gonna be awhile before we reach our destination”. I looked at him and squirmed in my seat hesitantly.  I wanted to tell him that I feared to go to sleep because I knew that Macavity would show himself and taunt me as he does every time I close my eyes.  It was then I felt a hand at my knee and I turned to see Jack.

“I’ll protect you while you sleep” he said as he looked deeply into my eyes.  I smiled softly at him and he whispered softly, “Come here,” he brought me close to his chest and I nuzzled myself into him as I felt his hand rub up and down my arm.

“Now you listen kid, I better see those hands through this mirror, any lower and I’m pulling this car over and you’re walking the rest of the way, understood?” Dean said overprotectively.

“I would never take advantage of (y/n) while she sleeps” Jack stated.

“Dean leave him alone and eyes on the road and not in the backseat, besides how many times has dad told you that line every time you had a girl in here”. I snapped which made Sam try to suppress a laugh to which Dean looked at him with a bitch face telling him to shut up.

I then turned my attention back to Jack and I cuddled close to him and his arms went further around me bringing me even closer to him.  He pressed a light kiss to my forehead and rested his head on top of mine, he even softly hummed me one of my favorite 80’s songs “Take on Me” by Ah-ha which sent me off to sleep almost instantly.

I found myself in a dark forest once more all alone. Sam, Dean, Cas and even Jack were nowhere to be found.  I looked around paranoid when I heard his laugh again.  That haunting, maniacal, deep laugh that always sent shivers down my spine.

Suddenly I found myself pinned by my throat and there standing before me in all his crazed infamy was the mad demon psychic Macavity. His wildly, madden reddish-brown hair hung around his face much like a lion’s mane, his hypnotizing yellow cat-like eyes that can make anyone fall under his spell whether they be man, woman, monster, angel, demon, whomever.  

Even with these traits, his face still appears to be the most handsomest man any woman would love to bed.

No one can resist the hypnotic trance of Macavity.  The true Napoleon of Hell.

“Oh my precious little Winchester,” I gripped onto his hand that held my throat trying to free myself before I blacked out. “You think you can escape from me? I know where your brothers and those angels are taking you. And I’m coming for you my sweet. I promise, this time when I fix you, you won’t ever turn back”.

“Please…..just kill me” I begged.

“Oh my dear you would wish that wouldn’t you? But you are just too good to kill, that’s why I turned you into my weapon. You could’ve taken your revenge, finally ended the endless hell that your brothers have put you through, yet you failed me. Your humanity just had to pop out all because of a song. Well this time that won’t happen again”.  Suddenly I felt his hand go right through my chest and that’s when I felt myself jolt up awake.

I let out a gasp and gripped tightly onto a soft, fabric blue jacket and that’s when I saw Jack still beside me and he said.

“You were trembling in your sleep, I thought it best to wake you up before anything else happened to you”. I leaned up against him and hugged him as tight as I could.

“Hey (y/n), good to see you’re up. Come on we just got here, everyone’s waiting to see yah” Dean said as he peeked in through the window.  Jack opened up his door and got out first before holding out his hand for me to take.

I took his hand and he gently pulled me out and I was soon staring at a very familiar house with some very familiar female faces that I had not seen in forever.

Welcome to Jody Mill’s hunting home for Wayward Sisters.

Jody, Patience, Claire, Alex, and Donna.  The founding members and probably the five most badass chicks besides myself that go into the Hunting business.  They all greeted me with cheers or simple waves and I was truly surprised.

“What? How did—you guys did this?” I asked turning towards my brothers.

“We felt like you could use some time off away from the Bunker, but we knew you still needed to be protected just in case so—we called Jody up and she’s allowed us to stay for the week” said Sam with a smile.  I looked at my big brother and trudged up to him and hugged him as tight as I could.

“I love you yah big moose”. He chuckled and rocked me slightly before I turned towards Dean and hugged him as well.  He proceeded to lift me up and give me a small kiss on my head.  I then did the same for Cas and Jack knowing that they were also involved before I raced up to the girls.

“Come here sweetheart” Jody said as she hugged me motherly.  Ever since the first few cases we’ve helped her with, Jody has become the mother I never really had (I’d really rather not talk about my birth mother just know there were a lot of booze and drugs) I’ve looked up to her for womanly problems and she was always there to lend me a hand when it came to girl stuff.

As we separated I was suddenly picked up and twirled around by Sheriff Donna.  Ever since that case with the weight losses monster scam, she’s basically kinda loved me and my brothers then once she found out the truth about monsters, she really became like the fun aunt that you just want to hang out with for me.  She’s definitely a hugger but you learn to get pass her hyperness because when thing get serious, you never want to be on her bad side.

I then moved to the girls who were around my age or slightly older or younger than me.  First I set my eyes on Alex; The once kidnapped girl and forced to become a sort of “Vampire trafficker” for a nest.  But the moment my brothers, Jody and I came to save her, she did the right thing and ever since then she’s been trying to clean herself up and she’s done a pretty good job at that.

Sure there were some ups and downs like one of her victims coming back to kill her and everyone else she loved but we put a stop to those dicks and I even got to comfort her of her broken heart since her supposed boyfriend only went out with her because he was told to ever since he was turned.

“Hey Alex, how you been?”

“School still sucks but at least I’ll be graduating soon”. I smiled at her and we both hugged each other.  It was then my eyes soon set on Claire.

Ahh yes, Claire Novak. The daughter of Castiel’s vessel Jimmy Novak.  But ever since that day when Cas was booted out of Jimmy, that turned everything around for her.  This girl has been through so much crap that I’m surprised she didn’t end up either killing herself or going mad and be put in a mental institution.

Sure she’s got a mouth on her and can be a real bitch sometimes but when push comes to shove, she won’t hesitate to kill anyone who threatens her family.  I stood before her and I said.

“Hello bitch”.

“Hey whore” she said to me. I smirked at her and we both clapped out hands together before bringing each other for a brief hug.  “So demon messing with you head huh? Been there before”.

“Claire!” Jody hissed. I waved it off telling her it was fine and I said to her.

“Yep, same psycho bastard that made me become Hela basically”.

“Gotta admit though, that does come in handy”. I nodded in agreement.  I then turned to the newest member of the Wayward sisters, Patience Moseley.

Patience is actually the granddaughter of Missouri Moseley, a psychic that once helped out my brothers over 10 years ago before I met them and long story short we ended up saving her from a wraith that was killing psychics.  Apparently her dad kicked her out because of her visions so Jody gave her a place in her home and adopted her as another daughter.

After the whole Dreamwalker incident with Kaia (Chuck rest her soul) I ended up on a random highway alone and that’s when I was found fortunately by Donna whom I explained everything to and I sent the call to Jody.  We all met up and rescued my brothers from the bad place, and from that moment forward, the Wayward Sisters were born. I hugged her and I said.

“So you getting your powers down at all since I last saw you?”

“Visions come up every now and then, thankfully they come up at the right time during hunts. I’ve been able to prevent more deaths from happening each time”.

“Alright way to go Raven Baxter” I teased her with the nickname.

“Okay what do you say we get you all set up into your rooms and I’ve got some steak and potatoes just cooking in the kitchen”. Jody said as she picked up my suitcase.

“Oh yeah Jody I love you right now!” my brother Dean proclaimed as he hugged her. Jody smiled and patted his back and we all soon gathered inside Jody’s place.

I was sharing a room with Claire and as I unpacked my stuff she was currently laying on her bed and she said.

“So that new guy that’s around you guys, he the one you banging?” I choked on air and I looked at her in shock and said.

“Claire what the hell!? No!”

“Hey I’m just askin. He’s been following you like some sappy puppy and he’s not bad looking, kind reminds me of a young Leo DiCaprio”.

“Yeah I guess he kinda does. But it’s too soon for all that, we’ve barely reached our 1 year anniversary”. I said.  Once I finished unpacking my stuff in Claire’s room, we both went back downstairs to see everyone sitting at the table ready to eat.  I sat between my brothers and for the first time I ate a proper dinner meal.

I happily ate the steak and mashed potatoes along with a couple of Hawaiian rolls and some green beans.  Once dinner was done, Sammy and I helped out with Jody cleaning the table up and putting any leftovers in the fridge.

It was then Patience, Alex and Claire took me outside for a little teenage girl quality time.  We were outside listening to some loud music and dancing around like we just didn’t care.  It then progressed into a dance off battle between me and Patience vs. Alex and Claire.

Alex had just gotten done with her epic routine and who would’ve thought that girl could dance so good, guess she got a secret spot on the dance team at her school or something. Now it was my turn.

The Black eyed Peas “Let’s get it started” soon came on the stereo and I just let go and let the music take control over me.  From all those years watching Youtube videos of hip-hop dancers or even watching the BEP music videos watching some of their moves I danced along to the song.

As I ended my dance with my hands crossed over my chest and tilted my chin upwards very quickly taunting both the girls telling them that while they had skills, they didn’t have my skills.  It was then I heard an applause behind me and I could hear Dean cheering and whistling.

I smiled at them and bowed as the grownups plus Jack applauded at me.  But that’s when the trouble truly started.

(A/N: TRUST ME WHEN I SAY YOU’RE GONNA WANNA HEAR THIS. This will give you an idea of Macavity’s laugh)

Suddenly the stereo went berserk and let out a loud screeching sound and suddenly the entire place as well as any house nearby went completely black.

“What the hell was that?” asked Jody.

“Maybe blew out a fuse, stereos tend to do that”. Suggested Dean.

“No it can’t be, that stereo was recently bought last week”.  Suddenly a sinister laugh echoed through the darkness.  A laugh that I knew all too well.

Sparks from the electrical wires sparked and the stereo made the crashing sounds from the speakers once more and I exclaimed.

“He’s here!”

“Who?” asked Claire.

“Macavity! He’s found me!” I said fearfully.  I held my head in my hands and started feeling my chest become too tight as I could barely breathe properly.  I soon felt Sammy’s arms wrap around me and he said.

“Don’t worry, we won’t let him get you”.

“Alright everyone arm yourselves and get ready” stated Dean.  

The entire backyard was now pitch black, no lights were seen for miles.  Everyone circled around me protectively and I could hear either guns being cocked or knives being taken out of their sheaths. Macavity’s haunting laugh soon echoed through the night once more but he still wasn’t making himself known.

I whimpered fearfully as I tried to wake myself up thinking this was all a dream but I knew I was kidding myself.  I felt Sam stroke down my hair trying to calm me down as the circle of hunters and angels got tighter and tighter as they waited for Macavity to show himself.

Suddenly in a flash of light, Macavity appeared on the roof of Jody’s house laughing manically. He held his hands outward and I knew immediately what he was doing because I could feel his magic affecting me too.

He had everyone of us paralyzed with our arms outward almost like we were begging for forgiveness before being smite down by God.  He soon levitated down towards the ground and some of us were even forced down onto the ground in submission.

His wicked smile spread across his face as his laugh pierced the night sky before suddenly disappearing from our sights.  Once he was gone, we were all suddenly free from his power and panting softly.

“What the hell did he just do to us?” demanded Dean.

“His hypnotic paralyzing spell. With just an outspread of his hand, he can force an entire stadium of people to keep their eyes on him and become his temporary puppets while he completes a task” I explained.

“Guys….Jody’s missing!” proclaimed Donna.  It was then we finally began to notice that Donna was right.  Jody was nowhere to be seen.

“Jody?”

“Jody!?” We all cried out.

“He took her” I stated shakily.  Everyone turned to me and I said, “He told me he’d take everyone I held most dear, he probably had his goons take Jody while he had the rest of us under his spell”.

“Well we can’t wait around forever. Jack take the girls inside, Sammy you me, Cas and Donna are gonna scope out the area for either Jody or this Macavity bastard”. Said Dean.

“Oh hell no! Jody is out there missing I am not gonna stay here and hide like some helpless mouse!” exclaimed Claire in an extremely pissed off tone.

“Claire, Macavity is not like any other monster you’ve faced. He could easily end you or torture you like he’s done to (y/n). I won’t let you be affected by him too” Cas said protectively.  Claire looked at the angel and swore that she saw bits of her father looking back at her.

“Besides Claire, (y/n) is gonna need every bit of protection she can get. If you won’t do this for us, then do it for her”. Claire then turned towards me and I looked at her and she groaned and said.

“Just please bring her back safe and alive”. My brothers nodded and soon Jack, me and the girls all got inside the barn right next door to Jody’s place.

We warded off the entire barn with every signa we could think of that would hopeful ward off Macavity but I knew deep down he’d find a way. He’s been able to make both Crowley and Lucifer his bitches if he wanted to.  I was sitting on top of a pile of hay when I felt Jack sitting himself right beside me.

“He won’t get you now”.

“He’ll find a way. He always finds a way. So long as I’m still connected to him as his weapon”. I lowered my head into my arms and could hear his voice in my head taunting me. Soon I felt two hands cup my face and I was soon looking deeply into Jack’s eyes.  His eyes soon phased to gold and my mind was put at ease no longer feeling fear or anxiety.

Just warmth and peacefulness.

I smiled softly and thanked him and he smiled back like a puppy and leaned forward and kissed my nose.  Soon my brothers, Donna and Cas came back into the barn and Alex said.

“Did you find her?”

“No, trails cold. There’s not even a single footprint to even track”.  Soon Macavity’s laugh was once again heard through the darkness and I heard Dean growl.

“God I’m really starting to get annoyed with that laugh of his!”

“No shit” I heard Claire say.  Suddenly a knock was heard.  We all looked towards the door and a voice called out.

“Guys it’s me, Jody. Let me in!” My brothers cautiously walked up to the door, Sam held his gun in place while Dean slowly unbolted the door and soon standing there on the other side was Jody.  “Thanks guys”.

“Jody what happened?” asked Sam.

“Well when Macavity had you all under whatever it was that he did….I was suddenly grabbed by these cat-like demons and taken away deep into the woods. Luckily I managed to beat the hell out of them and make my escape”. She explained.

The girls soon all came up to Jody hugging and crying happily for her safe return.

But something didn’t sit right with me.

My body became tense and I started getting fidgety and only one person in existence made me this shaky. Jack turned to me and said.

“(Y/n), what’s wrong? It’s just Jody. She’s alright”. I suddenly sat up and summoned a battle axe in my hand and Dean said.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa take it easy baby girl it’s Jody! Remember?”

“Everyone get away from him!” Donna looked at Jody concerned and that’s when Alex said.

“(Y/n) it really is Jody”.

“Yeah, I can even sense that this is Jody’s aurora” Patience said.  I charged and forced all the girls to back away from ‘Jody’ and charged again to make sure Donna was clear out of the way.

“(Y/n) what’s wrong?” asked Cas.  My whole body was shaking with both fear and rage as I finally worked up the courage to jump onto Jody’s back and I roared out.

“I’LL SHOW YOU!!!” The two of us then were spinning around and around and around until suddenly a flash of light came through the barn and I held the disguised skin of Jody Mills and everyone was screaming out one name.

“MACAVITY!!!”  I rushed towards my brothers who both kept me behind them as they withdrew their guns and fired as many shots as they could. But of course for any demon, these bullets did absolutely nothing to Macavity.  He merely smirked at my brothers and lifted his hand to blood bend out a whip.

He then whipped Alex and Claire across their faces sending them down just for the hell of it and not once taking his eyes off my brothers.

“The famous Dean and Sam Winchester. I’ve heard so much about you from my prized weapon. Especially you Sam. The one who let her go and brought her to me”.

“You shut your damn mouth you sick son of a bitch! What I did—what happened was an accident and I’ve learned from that. But what you’ve done to our sister…..you deserve so much worse than Hell”. Sammy growled venomously.  Macavity smirked and merely said with a shrug.

“Pity, I find Hell to be quite a paradise”. He then pushed my brothers away leaving me completely defenseless.  He suddenly appeared right in front of me gripping my throat tightly and he said right in my face. “I told you I would find you. You can’t hide from me my prized weapon”. I was now flung over his shoulder and I was thrashing wildly like an animal.

I screamed, kicked, scratched whatever I could I even tried to summon a weapon but thanks to him, he was forcing my powers to go dormant so I couldn’t fight against him.

I felt a grip at my hand and I soon saw Castiel gripping onto my wrist tightly trying to pull me free from Macavity’s grip.  Soon I ended up like a rope as I was being pulled between Angel and Demon. I gripped onto Cas’s sleeve as tight as I could and tried to pull myself towards him but Macavity had a strong and powerful grip on my ankles.

Suddenly I was caught and held bridal style by none other than Jack.  He carried me away and raced off holding me as close and tight as he could as he fled from Macavity.

Cas stood between us and Macavity and he sneered at the sorcerer Demon.

“You. Will not. Go anywhere near her again!” Macavity chuckled darkly and said just before sending a strong punch across Castiel’s face.

“And just who is powerful enough to stop me?” With his angel grace boiling inside him and his protective nature for the Winchesters shined through, Cas’s wings soon came out and his eyes sparked blue and he said.

“Me”. He then punched Macavity hard across his face, which ended up literally dislocating his jaw.

He looked at Castiel in shock before he snapped his jaw back into place with a loud crack which made all of us cringe and he said.

“Finally, a real challenge”. Cas revealed his angel blade and Macavity summoned out an angel blade as well that he had acquired after torturing and killing an angel himself.

The two deities proceeded to circle each other staring each other down waiting for the other to make the first move.

Jack brought my head close to his chest so that I wouldn’t have to look at what was about to unfold as I felt his wings wrap protectively around me, shielding me from what was to happen.

*3rd Person POV*

Both Castiel and Macavity stared each other down, both glowing with pure and raw power and finally they charged at each other leaping in the air like a true demon and angel fight.

Macavity made the first strike right into Castiel’s shoulder with the angel blade which made Cas groan in pain but he quickly made a strike right for Macavity’s face, giving him a nice long scar from his eye down to his chin.  Both deities landed on the ground and as Cas gripped his shoulder in pain, Macavity chanted a spell and suddenly turned into a large snake.

He wrapped himself around Castiel squeezing his neck tightly trying to choke the angel but Cas managed to stab him with his angel blade making Macavity coil back and writhe in pain on the floor.  Cas gripped his angel blade tight as Macavity soon began to shapeshift back into his normal form.

He then charged right at the demon and that was when Macavity picked Castiel up and not like a simple choke-grip but like a wrestling move pick up holding the angel vertical for a good moment before literally tossing him across the other side of the room.

Everyone called out Cas’s name in shock or horror wondering if their angel friend was alright. As Castiel slowly pushed himself back onto his feet, he was sudden scratched across the face by cat-like claws across his face before suddenly going under some hypnotic trance.

Macavity was now trying to get inside Castiel’s mind much like he had done to (y/n) all those years ago through months of torture.  He wanted to put Castiel under his spell so that he could have a second hand weapon to handle the hunters while he would retrieve his long lost weapon.

But strong willed, Castiel managed to break Macavity’s spell which surprised him since no one had been able to resist his magic.  The two of them went a couple of rounds with nothing but raw and powerful punches at each other but it was then Macavity went to stab Castiel with the angel blade.

Just before the blade went deep enough to kill Castiel, suddenly a powerful force stopped Macavity midway through his attack as well as sending Castiel away from Macavity’s grip towards the other side of the barn.  Some of the girls came around Cas and soon Macavity’s eyes turned towards Jack.

His eyes glowing as he was using his power to now crush every bone in Macavity’s body.  His rage growing at the fact that this demon not only tried to kill his father, but he was now staring down the very same demon who had for years tormented and tortured his beloved (y/n).

“So it is true—the Nephilim spawn of Lucifer himself” Macavity mocked.

“You hurt my family. My friends. My. Love!” He tightened his hand which made Macavity crumble down to the ground in pain. He smirked at Jack and started to slowly rise up which shocked Jack because so far no one has been able to withstand his powers.

He then pushed Jack back using his own powers against him but even then Macavity was starting to feel weak. Which was a good sign for the hunters.

Dean leaped into action and stabbed Macavity in the back with the demon knife and he sneered in the demon’s ear.

“That was for my sister”. Macavity punched Dean right in the face sending him down to the ground. Donna, Alex and Patience soon got in and fired a couple rounds into Macavity with their shotguns.  Once they ran out as he began to back away injured and barely able to boost up his magic, Claire then came out with silver tiger claws that she herself fashioned and gave a few good deep scratches into Macavity’s side and thigh.

He then began to retreat as fast as he could.  Dean and Sam both immediately race after the demon as he was now on the top level of the barn reaching for some hidden cable wires.  He connected them together which created a powerful electrical light which ended up shocking everyone in the barn.

When they all came around after having the shock of their life, they were surprised to see that Macavity was gone.

*My POV*

“(Y/n), (y/n) come on baby wake up”. I opened my eyes to see Jack standing over me and my brother Sam holding a flashlight onto both of them.

“Sam? Jack?”

“Oh thank god you’re still with us (y/n)”. Jack said as he held me close. I embraced him back and I turned towards Sam.

“Is—is he…..”

“He got away. There’s no sign of him at all, it’s like he was never here”. I sighed solemnly and I said.

“Well that’s Macavity for you, whenever crime strikes again, Macavity’s not there”. I then looked ahead to see Claire and Dean sitting on either side of Castiel.  I raced over towards them and knelt down in front of Cas and saw the damage Macavity had done to him, all because of me.

“(Y/n), this wasn’t your fault”. I heard Cas say.  He groaned in pain and continued as Jack came over and healed his wounds, “None of this was your fault, I couldn’t stand by and watch as he took you again and tortured you as he once did. Along with your brothers, you mean too much to me and if anything happened to you—” I stopped him by embracing him.

I felt him embrace me back and I helped Jack heal Cass up and once our beloved angel was fully healed from his injuries I turned to face my brothers.  I walked up to them and they pulled me close to them and I held onto them with all my might.

“I thought he’d—”

“Shhh, don’t speak. We’re here, alive and still kickin ass” Dean said. They both kissed the top of my head and we stayed there for a moment before I finally said.

“But what about Jody? She’s missing because of me”.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find her. And we won’t stop looking until we do” said Sam.

“Perhaps I can help with that”. We all turned around and through a flickering lamp Lucifer suddenly appeared.

“What the hell?” Dean muttered as everyone drew out their weapons and Dean continued, “You got no right being here!”

“Whoa, whoa take it easy Dean-o, I come in peace baring a gift”. He then snapped his finger and soon spearing right beside him was Jody.

The real Jody.

“Jody?” gasped Claire. Jody turned towards us and nodded at us. Soon all the girls ran up to her and they embraced her and she hugged them back all of them crying in happiness. I turned towards Satin himself and I said.

“Why would you do this?”

“Sweetie-pie those minions of his are completely spineless, they roll over and show their bellies at the first sight of someone higher up than they are, you of all people would know that”. I glared at him giving him my best demon-interrogation stank eye before he continued, “Alright, alright enough with the stare already. Dad it even sends shivers up my spine and I’m supposed to be Big bad daddy of Hell. That Macavity bastard has gone too far already, not only has he refused to share magic which rightfully belongs to me, he’s messed with my favorite toys. Only I get to mess with you Winchesters, I’ve been messing with you way before he ever came into the picture. So I tell you what; if I can help you find a way to end that feline bastard once and for all, would you let me take first cracks at him”.

“First of all how do we know we can even trust you?” Cass stated defensively.

“You don’t, but like I said you all have been searching what—2 years on how to kill him and have come up with nada? That’s because he rarely makes attacks on humans physically, this is the first time in over 5 millennia’s he’s ever physically attacked human beings on Earth. So, do we have a deal?” I looked at my brothers, Cass and Jack.

I knew this was crazy, we’ve teamed up with Lucifer before and it always ends with him stabbing us in the back but now—this seems promising even more so than with the Darkness. I could tell Lucifer hated Macavity just as much as I did so I spoke up.

“Deal“.

[higgins5]

Tag game

Oof, this is so so late, but I am doing it! And thank you to the lovely @foxsoulcourt for tagging me!

LAST

drink: Water, we are being healthy children here 

phone call: My District Manager at work to discuss my transfer

text message: One of my best friends about his terrible life choices (jk but really binge watching a show for 14 hours straight? Boy get to sleep!)

song you listened to: I’m Over You by Bryan James (it may or may not have been on loop for a while)

time you cried: Last Thursday 

EVER

dated someone twice: Haha, yep. Didn’t work out, but we’re still friends

kissed someone and regretted it: Not yet!

been cheated on: Unfortunately

lost someone special: I think we all have, but such is life

gotten drunk and thrown up: Oh god no

fave colors? Sea green, storm gray, oh I can’t believe i almost forgot! Really any deep blue or purple, like how the night sky gets just before it’s almost black

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE I?

made new friends: Multiple, and i am so greatly for all of the lovely people who have graced my life

fallen out of love: Not so much people. But things I believed I loved turned a little false, yes

laughed until you cried: Gosh, all the time. It’s awful, I call it my seal laugh because I’m laughing so hard I can’t breathe and i’m just doubled over hitting a table or my leg to express my joy because that’s all I can do

found out someone was talking about you: Just two weeks ago! And honestly I hate that. Like if you’re gonna talk bad about me just do it to my face. I’ll find out one way or another, might as well be from you

met someone who changed you: Some good people, some not so good people. But I believe it was all for a reason

found out who your friends are: Yes

kissed someone on your Facebook friends list: Hmm... Well, I do not actually have a Facebook so I guess that would be a no

GENERAL

how many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: I guess I can clarify about FB here. My parents were always freaked out about the internet so never let me get one, and being a good child I never did- plus I was just not interested, so I just... never got around to it in adulthood. AND like whenever I needed to talk to a friend through FB I just used my parents page cause that was their solution, so there was no real need. But like, from the friends I had on my mom’s page yes, I know all of them irl

do you have any pets: SEVERAL AND I LOVE ALL OF MY FURRY CHILDREN! I have an 11yo poodle/terrier mix (mom was a poodle, dad was the terrier next door. Truly a scandal) named Bear and i love my grumpy old man to death; a 2yo boxer/husky mix we rescued that was originally supposed to be a lab which was a total lie named Nutmeg, but it’s okay I love my babe even if i can take her on a 3mi run and she’s still ready to run 3 more; an 8yo wonderfully affectionate and beautiful tabby cat named Willow; a 6 year old (oh my god, she’s 6, it feels like yesterday she was a satellite dish in a collar that meowed) purring machine tabby cat named Sage; and two beautiful girls. Lagertha and Gwenievere are two very playful and loving one year old dumbo eared rats

do you want to change your name: Eh, not really. I’ve had it for this long, might as well keep it

what did you do for your last birthday: Oh that was so fun. I went to the Melting pot (this fancy fondue place, so good) With a couple of friends and had a really great time, even though someone got me crayons as a gag gift (I.... hate, crayons with a PASSION, but she’s known me for like 10 years so of course I accepted.... hesitantly)

what time did you wake up today: Like 7:30? but i didn’t actually leave my bed until 9ish because don’t be fooled, I am not a morning person. I just run because I’m an idiot

what were you doing last night at midnight: Sleeping

what is something you can’t wait for: Figure out where life is taking me and then be a bomb ass bitch at it

what are you listening to right now: X&Y by Coldplay

have you ever talked to a person named Tom: I have, and he is a lovely person. Go talk to a Tom everybody, nice people

something that gets on your nerves: Horrible people. Like just those people that are horrible for no absolute reason. Like grow up, get a life, why do you have to make other people just because you’re unhappy. there are many people you could see for help and I have a number you can call if you need a recommendation 

most visited website: Probably a tie between Tumblr, Youtube, and Spotify

hair color: Well, naturally I am blonde but rn it’s a reddish auburn color (but hey, people ask me all the time if it’s my natural color so who knows maybe i was destined for this shade)

long or short hair: ish? It’s growing from a pixie (that I might go back to soon) so its like... not quite shoulder length yet but give it another month and we might be there

what do you like about yourself: You know what, i’m gonna give myself some love and say everything. Lol, but as a serious answer probably my personality/nature. I have a very big heart but am also incredibly sarcastic so it is a delicate balance 

want any piercings: SO many. I’m saving up to get my nose done soon (nostril) and later I’ll get my daith, helix, third piercing in my lobe, tragus, and maybe rook

blood type: Some kinda O? Honestly for someone who donates blood as much as I do, I should really know (but important blood donation note, if you wish to make sure not to do it too frequently! Healthy people = healthy blood = healthy donation receivers!)

nicknames: Gosh, too many to type. Apparently I’m just nick namey. But uhhh, the most common: Ash, Ashbash, Higgins, Higgy, Higgs, Figgins, Chief 

relationship status: Single

zodiac sign: I’m one of the twin fish babes, Pisces all the way

pronouns: She/Her

fave tv show: Don’t watch as much tv as I used to but Supernatural is always a good go to (recently I’ve been watching a lot of HGTv and doctor Phil and Hallmark with my mom though, if that’s anything)

tattoos: None (yet)

right or left handed: right handed, I’m basically useless with my left (unless an instrument is involved)

ever had surgery: Nope, and hopefully we keep that trend goin!

piercings: two ear piercings 

sports: Uh... in High School I was pretty active and track and I was a competitive shooter (air rifles- but I’m from Texas so). Nothing in college at the moment, I might try out for the track team just cause i miss bein a part of stuff

vacation: I am broke, I can only dream (but I do really wanna travel, so gotta save up!)

trainers: my totally stylish suede brown vans are my go to, but Adidas for running

eating: Currently? Nothing, but I did have some steamed broccoli and carrots&rice, and grilled chicken for dinner

drinking: Orange Juice

I’m about to watch: Absolutely nothing

waiting for: Didn’t I already answer this? it’s so much pressure. Uh... change?

want: To be successful in whatever I 

get married: Eventually

career: Haven’t gotten there yet, but everyday is one step closer

hugs or kisses: Depends on who and when

lips or eyes: Eyes. First thing I notice

shorter or taller: At 5′3 I don’t think I can even pretend to say i’m tall

older or younger: I probably fall more on the younger spectrum

nice arms or stomach: Yes

hookup or relationships: I am a committed relationship kinda person all the way. Never really understood the whole hookup thing but to each their own

troublemaker or hesitant: A hesitant troublemaker is probably more me. I say I try to stay out of trouble, but it just kinda finds me

HAVE I EVER?

kissed a stranger: No

drunk hard liquor: Yes

lost glasses: Ugh, all the time, worst is when I lose my contacts AND glasses

turned someone down: Yes

sex on the first date: Not my style

broken someone’s heart: Yes

had your heart broken: In love and life

been arrested: Nope, and i’d like to keep it that way!

cried when someone died: Yes

fallen for a friend: Yes

DO I BELIEVE IN?

yourself: Well someone has to, so might as well be me!

miracles: I do. And if they aren’t true, at least the belief of their existence helps make their outcome possible

love at first sight: In some fairytale world maybe, but for me, nah

kiss on the first date: Possibly

angels: Yes. Of what way and form I think that’s for you to decide

OTHER

best friend’s name: I have a couple because there is too much life to only need one person in it! Lexi+Brittany+Mauricio+Imaya from all the way back to middle school and Ronan (a recent addition)

And even if we don’t talk every day of our lives I know they’ll always be there for me when I need them. Good or bad. And they know I would do the same. That’s all that really matters in the end. They’re my little chosen family

(oh that got a bit sappy, okay moving on)

eye color: Light blue? Blue? I dunno, people say it’s pretty so I go with it

fave movie: Don’t really have one...

favorite actor: Yeah... same with movies, don’t have one of those either

extrovert or introvert: I like to call myself an introverted extrovert

favorite flower: white peonies 

favorite hello kitty character? I wasn’t aware there were characters aside from hello kitty....

oof this is a long post, but very fun to do! Hopefully y’all haven’t done this yet but if so well I’m gonna tag you anyways @i-h8-u-no-u-dont @pansexualpandion @rvmengf @egglorru @it-has-the-gay-fanfiction and really @ anyone who wants to do this! I’d love to see your versions!!

[boys-and-girls-fandoms-blog]

Toxic Lips - Ethan Dolan

first imagine. high key happy.

request?: nope

description: Ethan was never the type of guy to make an appearance at night clubs. In fact, he would rather stay home and do his damned homework. But when Grayson gets him out of his comfort zone and he meets (Y/N), Ethan discovers a side of his he has never seen.

warnings: swears and a little bit of insecure Ethan

“What part of ‘no, I don’t want to hang out with you and your dummy friends’ do you not understand?” Ethan asks, rather furious.

This is Grayson’s eleventh attempt this week and he still fails to persuade his twin brother to go with him to the recently opened nightclub. For some reason, unknown to Grayson yet, Ethan gives thumbs down to hanging out in dim places, with sonorous music and young females who may be more than friendly with him. It is true that this is not a safe and sound second nature, but what concerns Grayson the most is to never push away his own brother. His only friend in tough situations. Rolling his eyes and raising his hoodie’s sleeves, the boy opens Ethan’s wardrobe and begins to search for some articles of clothing that fit perfectly with what is he going to do.

“I don’t know and I don’t want to know what you are doing, but I’m kindly asking you to stop.” Ethan says, a lot calmer than before. But his twin brother’s insensitivity makes him lose his temper once again. “Grayson, fucking stop already!” He shouts, not really caring if his neighbors will call the police.

“You are unnerved. And wrathful. And more or less stressed with all your fucking homework, if you ask me. You need to detach yourself. You can drink or you can dance or you can lead a girl to her hotel room or maybe all three of them...” Grayson smirks.

“I refuse to take advantage of a woman’s body just for my non-existent pleasure that you consider somehow relevant. We may be twins, but you and I are on different edges.”

“So you see me nothing but a vintage playboy who places his interests first and would sooner use a female’s body rather than buying her a drink and taking her out on a date?” The moment Ethan moves his head to produce a nod, Grayson’s full lips wide into a sincere smile. “Then you, brother, will accompany me tonight so I can prove you wrong.”

More than half of the people of this enclosed section of the building who smells like alcohol are on the dance floor, sweating and moving chaotically, without feeling the rise and fall of  the tune coming from the loudspeaker. Ethan’s uneasiness is not only instantaneous but also piercing; he can sense his heart beats in his throat and his palms starting to sweat as he looks at the people who applaud. The shirt with exotic print chosen by Grayson doesn’t help too much, considering it is one number smaller, so it is perfectly molded on his body, making his suffocate. 

“Grayson, I think I need some air.” Ethan whispers, but he is more than lucky that Grayson is exactly near him so he can hear his cries of help.

“We just got in, Ethan. At least try to get used to the atmosphere. Maybe you will feel less anxious.”

“Easier to say than to do.” Ethan whispers again, but this time Grayson is too preoccupied with what is around him. 

The palm of his twin brother’s withdraws his upper back, seeing how his body fades in the crowd to reach his friends. Becoming aware of the fact that he is left alone in a place that is completely unfamiliar by himself, the air stops in Ethan’s throat. feeling as if he is on fire and having no clue about what he should do. Moving his head hectically from the left to the right, the boy notices the bar that seems somewhat free. He positions his hands inside his jeans’ pockets and walks like a flash to the white counter, leaning against it.

“Hi! I know it will sound quite bizarre seeing where we are at but can you bring me a cold water bottle, please?” He asks the bartender, who can’t help but give the boy a weird look, followed by a raised eyebrow.

Nodding, he goes in the back to get the order, leaving him alone. Or so he thinks...

“So, ordering a water bottle in a place where people shower in martini is a brave choice. Which makes me think that you are either a driver who knows very well they suck at driving and hope you will not get drunk or, just like me, a guy who is not okay with these environments and came here forced.”

More than astonished by the true words the person next to him spoke, Ethan turns his head to the left to meet a girl. A girl. It may well be -- and it actually is -- the first time a person of the opposite sex chooses to engage in a conversation with Ethan. The girls he knows choose to talk to boys whose IQ is smaller than the size of their hands or who prefer to flex their muscles. Qualities that Ethan doesn’t acquire.

“It may be both. I’m a terrible driver, a terrible drinker and my brother who nearly placed a collar around my neck to take me here.” Ethan is trying to chuckle, but everything that comes out is a forced laugh. A forced laugh considered adorable by the girl.

“Oh, a brother. The plot thickens.” She smiles. “If you would much rather not be here, why didn’t you tell your brother so?”

“You don’t know my brother. Nobody in his whole life turned him down.”

“There is a beginning for everything, isn’t there?”

“What about you? You told me you are in the same situation. Who took you here?”

“Do you see that guy?” She asks, pointing to a boy with a beanie and a pair of headphones on his head. Ethan nods. “He is my step-brother. We can’t stand each other. He is a DJ here and was supposed to play an hour ago, but he is plastered. Which means I am here alone.”

“You are not alone.” Ethan smiles. “You just found an equally alone guy who would keep company to such a beautiful alone girl.”

The counteractions of the two teenagers are in civil disobedience. If Ethan has wide eyes and a clenched jaw because he considers he made a fool of himself, the girl’s cheeks are pink as she bites her bottom lip because no boy ever told her that.

Perhaps hours have passed since these two teenagers are talking. Perhaps Ethan should have been looking for Grayson a long time ago in order to go home but the conversation with her makes him feel as they have known each other for a lifetime and have talked for seconds.

“Yo, we need to go.” A voice behind a girl speaks.

Ethan recognizes the face of her step-brother who has his arms around two of his friends, both of them trying to place him on both of his legs. Ethan can’t feel anything but repulsion.

“In a minute.” The girl speaks, making the three boys to leave.

“You have been an amazing company. And I really loved spending my time with you. Perhaps is your lack of confidence that is getting to me, perhaps is the good looks. But it doesn’t matter. I just hope we will meet each other soon.”

And without any warning, her hands grasp the boy’s thick neck, titling his head. Her lips are placed over his in a sweet kiss and Ethan is taken by surprise. When the boys kisses her back, he feels goosebumps and butterflies in his stomach. Any alcohol he would ever consume can’t make him feel as intoxicated as her lips do. Her hands work their way around his body, feeling each crevasse, each line along his perfect physique. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. With one last peck, the girl nearly runs towards the exit.

“Wait!” Ethan catches her hand right before she leaves the place. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Y/N.” She mouths, then smiles and leaves the boy craving more.

Craving her.

Her and her toxic lips.

A/N: I am sincerely sorry for any grammar mistake. English is not my first language. Please tell me what you thought about this. I would love to hear your feedback and your ideas!

[slbp-holiday-exchange-blog]

Little Princess (Nobunaga x MC) SLBP Gift Exchange.

For @yoosungshoodie

Summary: To save Rose from the fires and ashes of Honnoji. Nobunaga drove his blade into the flesh of abdomen , ripping her skin fathersdemning her to a quick and sudden death. What Lord of Fools didn’t know, someone was inside of her.

_____

“I’m not coming home for New Years, mom!” her fingers wrapped around her carbon black smartphone, exasperated with her mother’s condescending voice. Something annoying was about to come out of her mouth and Rose braced for the impact of her scathing words.

Sighing she walked around around her Tokyo Apartment to where her 12 month old daughter sat on her Pom Pom Purin mat engrossed by kids show on NHK.

“Your family has not seen you in a while! We’d like to see Erika!” blasted through the speaker.

“No you mean you want to show off Erika then discuss for hours that she didn’t come from my body!” she sat down on the sofa in front of the tv.

*Squeal*

Erika’s steel grey eyes glittered hearing her mama’s voice so close, she turned herself around, mouth opened in a smile of pure joy, holding her tiny palms out, hoping to be picked up. Bouncing up and down she pouted while Rose balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder. “Pom Pooooooom.” she cried happily turned her head slightly cuddling into her mom’s warm body, she closed her tiny eyes finding comfort as she snuggled closer.

“Mama.” she cooed.

“I’m here sweetie.” Her baby’s features were so different from her own.

“Is that Erika?!” her mother’s blood boiling tone evaporated in a snap. High pitched and cheery you’d swear her mother was now running through a sunny field on the back of a unicorn. “Let me speak to her!”

“She isn’t going to….”

“Hi shweetie how are you? How are you?” ignoring her her mother launched into a high pitched babble of nonsensical baby talk. Rose never understood why having an adopted baby was a stigma.

When she first saw Erika she melted. Who j sang to her and told her stories. The baby just settle her head on her shoulder, thumb in mouth she listened to tales of princesses and emperors. Rose couldn’t wait till she was older to read books to her and they both could get lost in adventures once again. Erika was hers nobody could K that and nobody would take her away from her mama bear.

“There’s so many needy kids in this country. They need love too. Like her.” her eyes glistened for a minute. A show called With Father came on while her mother talked to her daughter. Usually it was for fathers and their babies to do exercises together and suddenly her lingering sadness grew bigger and bigger, the anxiety spreading to her entire body.

Erika had no father to raise her, to play with her, to protect her. Rose wasn’t exactly lucky in love. If she were single it may have been easier but a lot of men who expressed interest in her didn’t want women who j had a child. Changing the channel then closing her eyes the scent of baby powder and fabric softener comforted her. “You’re more important than them all. I’ll protect you like a father too” she whispered.

“This country is under threat, look what North Korea did to our country last week and you insist on sitting there and doing nothing?”

A crisp, determined voice fueled by anger entered their living room from the television. She changed it to a political channel it seems.

4 eyes shot open that word bringing her back from her little world. “Dada!” her cheeks puffed out in joy, eyes sparkling. Squirming out of her grasp Rose put her down. She crawled to the TV and sat in front of it.

“Dada! Dada!”

The phone slipped from Rose’s grasp with her mother still babbling. Grey eyes and dark red hair swept back into a modern style, perfectly fitting black suit hugged his body giving her a good idea of what his body must be like underneath but it also gave him every ounce of power and respect he deserved. He spoke with determination and courage. The passion in his voice for his country drew her in. She felt like he was speaking to her, like she was one of these citizens he needed to protect, she would let him protect her if needed.

Him and Erika shared the same features even when she pouted when she didn’t want her milk, resembled the angry face of this man.

Erika was too young to know if someone was her father. Someone who never held her given the time she was brought in. Did this man abandon her? Did he have her out of wedlock and knowing it would ruin his political career give her up? The adoption agency told her they had no record of her parents. Confusion infiltrated Rose. This wasn’t normal what was the connection?

“Saborou Oda” she murmured

“Dada!” her daughter squealed again.

_____

“According to a recent study done by Waseda it was confirmed that the wife of the warlord Oda Nobunaga was indeed pregnant upon her death.”

Saborou’s fists clenched at the words. Guilt attacked him in this cold amphitheatre raising his pores and angering him even further. He nearly smashed his fist into the chair in front of him. Usually he enjoyed sitting in on conferences about his country. It was a way to see the perspective of what he’d done from an outsider’s point of view.

“ I killed them.” he whispered hoarsely. “I promised her divine rule. I promised her a better world but I’m the one who lives on now to see my failures.” He put the arm he just hit the chair with over his eyes. “And the baby…why? Why did that little one chose me as their father? Why did it choose a time when I was hated and betrayed?”

Maybe they had seen his anguish from heaven and told the gods they wanted to go to him to make him happy. “I promised them the world but they got ashes and death.”

His wife he wanted to save if only he had known. “Was the baby a boy or a girl?” As cruel as it was to have a baby in that time, he couldn’t bear to love them. A son he’d have to raise to be the head of the clan, to murder, to plot to prepare him to be betrayed like he was. A daughter would be a bargaining chip to bring in alliances. Neither he could love properly back then but now, could he?

The former lord thought he could see himself with a daughter. Her face squealing in delight as he tickled her,teased her and kissed her cheeks warmed the Lord’s heart. He read somewhere that daughters were more attached to their than sons. He pouted thinking of having a son that would give his mother more attention than him.

Sighing to himself he listened to the speaker while going over his speech for a later event.

—–

Erika sat playing with her toys as her mother chatted away with Sakurako at their old workplace. Rose was hesitant to bring up what happened with Erika and the politician.

“She’s so cute.” her friend beamed looking at the little girl, quietly focused on her work. “How’s motherhood?”

“Tough but I can handle it.” she smiled at her daughter. “I can do anything for her.”

“Don’t you want to raise her with someone?”

“Not this again.” She sighed. “I’m fine on my own. I don’t need a man to help me.”

A hollow emptiness crawled within her. “I do not depend on a guy. I can take care of myself financially but it would be nice to have company.” She felt as if she lied to her friend but what could she do?

“Ah!” a sharp pain burned her skin from the birthmark on her abdomen. It started off slight before eclipsing into a searing pain that burnt her vision and sent the world reeling, her head spin as she struggled to gain a grip on the table.

“What’s happening?!”

“Rose!” she heard her friend scream the pains anchored her body to the ground where she collapsed. She felt like one hundred arrows pierced her skin giving away to the feeling of flames eating her from the inside.

“Erika…she..can’t see me like this.” She breathed holding her pained flesh. “Hold on dear hold on.”  Sakurako rushed to get ice.

Erika stopped her playing to look at her. Curiosity bubbled in her grey eyes. It was as if the baby could tell something was wrong to her mom but she didn’t know what.

Sakurako came back with ice and flustered as she was began compressing the birthmark. She felt her strength weakening as she sat there on the floor, the world turning black by the minute.

She swore she heard Erika cry out for her father again like that day.

———–

The politician entered the small establishment because he liked their sweets and melon soda the best. It was one habit that did not leave him since those days of the past.

He entered for sweets instead he saw a commotion. One woman frantically applied medical care to another who seemed to have fainted.

“Tch you’re doing it wrong.” he grimaced about to go help. “Dada.” a little voice greeted him. He looked down to see a pillow cheeked cherub at his feet. Some unknown force nearly knocked him over. She raised her hands to be picked up but he staggered back.

“You…”

The baby had his eyes and his hair, and when she saw he wasn’t going to pick her up, her face scrunched into a sulk in the exact same manner. Deep in his heart he knew her.

“Please help.” he heard someone cry to him. Turning to the other women, he realised who the fainted one was. He recognised the scar that was hurting her. “Move out of the way wench!” he shouted to a stunned Sakurako. Grasping his wife’s head, he moved her into a position that was better for her. Trailing softly his fingertips he traced her scar from left to right with featherlight touches.

“Don’t you dare die before me.” Flames surrounded her, arrows protruding from her back. In a haze like dream, she looked down to see a blade in her body. “What are you doing?!” she screamed no words coming from her mouth, the heat licking at her skin. Her pain was terrible, heat, arrows, blades, how was she still alive?

“No..” she cried. The things sticking out of her back secured her death, the little one inside of her had no chance of surviving if she, the mother was fading from this world. “Hanae…” he whispered. White robe bearing a similar wound as he shifted her body in the most comfortable way possible against him. She couldn’t feel his bodily warmth but god could she feel the blood.

Gazing up she met sad, gunmetal eyes and dark red hair.

Instantly Rose’s eyes flew open, the pain instantly disappeared. She breathed in ragged breaths sucking air in and out. Looking into his grey eyes, she saw Erika waddle up next to the man grasping his expensive looking black suit.

“Erika..” she gasped weakly to get her to move away from the fabric but the man wrapped his arm around the baby, pulling her close and kissed her pillow like cheeks. “Your mom is ok now.” From over Erika’s little head he glanced at her.

Rose knew him. Why had she not recognized him before? Why was everything clicking now? Why did she have to be with Sakurako now when all she wanted to do was throw herself in his arms and never let him go.

“My..lord.”

“Hanae.” he responded. “Is it still that?” reaching up to stroke her cheek.

“It’s Rose now, milord.”

“Suits you.” he whispered “Pretty but thorny and stubborn! How dare you hide yourself from me for so long, my foolish little flower. I thought if I could make a fool of myself on

T.V somehow you’d find me. Took you long enough.” he grumbled.

“I’m sorry.”

“How dare you keep my baby a secret?”

“ I didn’t know…if I had known I wouldn’t have gone into the temple.”

“Foolish girl.” grabbing her head, he held it against him for a while before pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “Foolish, foolish girl.” he whispered.

“Who is her father?” he demanded. Nobunaga needed to know the fool who was lucky enough to get the reborn soul of his child. It killed him to know another man gave his wife their child.

“She’s adopted.”

He didn’t know what was worse what he thought about another man or cowards giving up his little princess. It didn’t matter how, fixing Erika’s hair. “How dare you dress her in rags?!”

“Those are from Ribbon Hakka and Ma Mere excuse you!”

“She deserves Burberry and D&G!”

“That’s going too far!”

“Nothing is too far for my princess. Isn’t that right?” he cooed pressing his cheek against the baby who babbled happily.

“Dada!” she responded.

“You will come with me. You have centuries of making up to do! As for me.” he trailed off. “I killed her. I need to make it up to her. I will be the best father she will ever have!”

“You’re a politician! Having a child out of nowhere will cause a scandal!”

“It doesn’t matter.” gently he held out his hand to her get up. Taking Erika into his arms.

“We’re a family again.”

[wokeuptired]

night 5 of natasha’s 8 nights of chanukah | read the other nights here

left coast

celeste robbins is all about compartmentalizing. there’s life in los angeles, and there’s life in portland. there’s good music, and there’s bad music. there’s the past, and there’s the future.  

and then there’s harry styles.

a story about the five stages of grief, getting lost upstate, and becoming brave.  

1. denial

“Are you ready?” Sylvia asks, her hand light on my shoulder. I’m not ready, but I nod anyway. She takes my hand, and together we turn away from Grams’ grave. I’ve already read the inscription so many times that I’m sure I’ll never forget it.  

Lucinda Evelyn Robbins

May 21 1937 - May 24 2016

Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Friend

She does not go gentle.

“At least it’s not raining today,” Sylvia says, squeezing my hand. I nod, but I wish it were raining. I wish it were raining buckets on top of our heads, drenching us and making our clothes stick to our bodies. I wish it were rainwater dripping down my cheeks, not tears. I wish we weren’t leaving here to go home to a house full of tupperware containers and covered mirrors and sad people. But mostly, I wish Grams weren’t dead.

I hate people competing in their sadness. I’m sadder than you; she taught me piano when I was 12. I’m sadder than you; I’ve been her neighbor for 30 years. But none of them can say, I’m the saddest of all. She raised me. She taught me right from wrong, up from down, now from then. She taught me how to be.

Sylvia drives, and I sit in the passenger’s seat, folding my hands in my lap and trying not to pick at my nails. A month ago, Grams and I got manicures together. I hated it, having strangers touch my hands, but Grams smiled widely and complimented all the women on their hairstyles and their skill at painting tiny flowers on our nails. My flowers are chipping away, and I know I should wipe them off with acetone, but the loss of them will sting more than the smell.

“Paul Cohen was there,” Sylvia says as she guides the car out of the cemetery and back toward the highway. I hate how close the cemetery is to the freeway, which is a graveyard in and of itself, but this is where Grams wanted to be. This is where our parents are, so this is where she wanted to be, too. “Did you see him?”

“Yeah,” I say, though I’m not sure who Paul Cohen is. The guy who fixed Grams’ car once for cheap when it broke? The old man from synagogue that always had a crush on her?  

“Hmm,” Sylvia says. We come to a stop in the left line, the only noise in the car the click click of the turn signal. I reach for the button to turn on the radio, but Sylvia puts her hand out to stop me. “We need to talk about what’s going to happen next.”

“Yeah, sure,” I say. What’s going to happen next: We’re going to go home and sit on the floor for a week. At least, according to Grams’ book, no one will be able to talk to me unless I talk to them first.

Grams ordered us the book on Amazon a few weeks ago, when things started to get really bad: The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning. I didn’t read it, but Sylvia did. She’s the one who called the Rabbi and the head of the synagogue Sisterhood and dealt with all the funeral arrangements.

“We’re going to have to sell the house,” Sylvia says, staring straight ahead, “since neither of us live here. And most of Grams’ stuff, too. We’ll meet with the lawyers next week to go over Grams’ will, and they’ll give us a list of everything we need to find so that it can be distributed. Then we can sell everything else, or you can hire somebody to do it, it doesn’t really matter.”

“You want to sell everything?” It takes me a second to process what Sylvia is saying, and when I do, it scares me. Grams’ house is the only home I’ve ever known.

Sylvia sighs. “I don’t want to, but we have to. We can’t afford it if we’re not living here, and I don’t want to move here. I’ve got a life in Seattle, Cel, and you’ve got a life at school. We have to sell it.”

The light changes and we turn left, onto the freeway. I stare out the window as cars speed past us for a minute, and then traffic grinds to a halt. Sylvia curses under her breath and tightens her grip on the steering wheel.

“I hate this damn city,” she groans. “So fucking crowded.”

I want to scream at her. I love this city, even with its traffic and superficiality and insane number of designer dogs. This is the city that raised me, the city that took my parents and my grandma from me, and this, I know, is the city where I’ll die someday.

“Anyhow,” Sylvia continues, “I have to get back to Seattle next week, but I’ll make all the arrangements before I go, and I’ll make a list of everything for you so you know what you have to do. I might be able to come down for some weekends, but you’ll have to do most of the cleaning and stuff yourself. Can you handle that?”

“Of course,” I scoff. “I’m not a child anymore, Sylvie.”

“Sure had me fooled,” she says.

We don’t say anything for the rest of the ride. When we pull up at Grams’ house, it’s clear we’re not the first ones there. I unbuckle my seatbelt and take a deep breath before I get out of the car. Inside, two dozen people are waiting for us, to hug us and look at us like we’re broken dolls, and all I’ll be able to do is stand there and take it.

“Please try to be nice,” Sylvia hisses at me as we go up the front walk.

The door opens before us, and thus begins the loneliest summer of my life.   

Spin Cycle isn’t crowded, which is unsurprising for a Monday morning in August, so I go right up to the counter and tap my nails on the glass top. Beneath it, I see all of the special edition records propped up on stands. Every week, somebody opens up the case and dusts them, but they never sell, because they’re too expensive to be played. And who wants a record they can’t play?

“Yes?” Kali looks up at me, momentarily annoyed, until she sees that it’s me, and then she breaks out into a smile. “Celeste,” she says, tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear, revealing half a dozen piercings. “What’re you doing here?”

I try to grin back, though I know my smile’s not as true as it could be. “Do you have the new Ghost of Hamlet’s Father record on vinyl?” I ask her. “I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.”

“Of course,” Kali says, and then she hops over the counter like only a girl who’s nearly 6 feet tall can, and she hugs me.

Kali is my best friend in Los Angeles, not because we’ve known each other forever, but mostly because we haven’t. People who’ve known me forever know too much about me. They know about me before, before my parents died and Grams took us in, and they pity me. I hate being pitied.

“How’s Grams?” Kali asks, taking me by the shoulders and looking at me. “Is she doing any better?”

“Oh, um.” I bite my lip. “She passed last week.”

“Oh.” Kali’s face falls. “I’m so sorry, Celeste. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t…” I don’t know how to tell her that I didn’t want her to pity me. I didn’t want her to look at me the way she’s looking at me right now, like I’m a piece of glass she needs to handle with care. “You’re busy, so…”

“You know I’m always here for you, Cel,” Kali says. She squeezes my shoulders and lets me go. “Lemme find that record for you.”

“Thanks, Kali,” I say. I follow her across the store, towards the “recently released” vinyls.  Kali knows full well that I could find the record myself; I did work here for a year, after all. But I don’t feel guilty about distracting her for a few minutes, since the store is empty. “How’s business these days?”

Kali laughs. “Oh, it’s going. It’s mostly retirees and hipsters keeping my doors open and a roof over my head. Which is not to say that all my customers smell, or anything.”

“Tell me about it,” I say. “I live in Portland, remember?”

“How could I forget? Lost my best employee to that city.” She laughs again and begins digging through a bin of records. After a minute, she straightens up, one in her hand. “Ah! Here it is. You need anything else while you’re here, Cel?”

“Nope, that’ll do.” I follow her back up front and fork over my credit card to pay for it. She hands it back to me and pushes the record across the counter, but before she can wish me a good day, I tell her why I’m really here. “Actually, I do need something else.”

“Oh yeah?”  Kali pulls a box of CDs from under the counter and begins sorting them into piles. “I had a feeling. What can I help you with, my dear?”

I turn to the pile of tapes next to the register, the two for a dollar bin, and pick through them. I’m not looking for anything in particular, but I need something to distract me from feeling uncomfortable while I talk. “I got Grams’ car. She left it to me in her will, so I’m going to take it up to Portland with me. And I need somebody to drive with me. Because I don’t want to go alone. It’s a long drive, and I don’t want to deal with that many hours alone in the car.”  

“Oh, Cel,” Kali says, and I can hear the pity in her voice. “I’m flattered that you thought of me, but I really can’t leave the store--”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant!” I say quickly, shaking my head. “I was just hoping you might know somebody who has some time, or whatever. It’s fine if you don’t, I just thought I should ask since--”

“I know somebody.”

“What?” I put down the tape that I’m holding and turn to face Kali, the end of my sentence still lingering in my mind: since I’m here.  

“I know somebody who needs something to do,” she says. She’s still sorting used CDs, splitting them into piles. The left one, I know, is for CDs in perfect condition, and the right is for ones that might not be resellable.

“Something to do?” I repeat. “I can’t pay anybody, Cor. This isn’t like, an odd job. I just need the company.”

Kali nods. “I know that. And this somebody, he needs company too.”

“Well, okay, great,” I say. “How well do you know him? Is he gonna murder me as soon as we hit the Grapevine and dump my body out of the car to rot with all the cows?”

Kali cringes. “I don’t know him that well, but my boyfriend can vouch for him--”

“You have a boyfriend now?” I ask, surprised. Kali and I don’t talk often when I’m not in town, but we text pretty regularly, and for a while we wrote each other letters. That was Kali’s idea, but I went along with it, no matter how cheesy I thought it was, because she’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had.

“Yeah,” Kali says, blushing. “He works at Columbia Records. And he’s known this guy for a few years, so I’m sure he won’t murder you--”

“Well, great then,” I say. I didn’t realize until now how eager I was to find someone to drive with me. Grams’ car reminds me too much of her. I can’t drive it that far alone. “That checks off my first box. ‘Won’t murder me.’ Check. Who is he?”

Kali bites her lip. “You’re not going to like it.”

“What are you talking about? I like everyone.”

“No, you don’t. And you especially don’t like this guy.”

“How do you know? Do I know him?”

“You know of him.”

“God, Cor, just tell me.”

“Harry Styles.”

“Harry Styles? From that boyband?” I try not to groan, mostly because I don’t want to hear her say, “I told you so.”

“They’ve been expanding musically over the past few years, you know--”

“Jesus Christ, Cor.”

“Well, keep it in mind as a last resort, okay?”

“Sure,” I say, picking up my record and heading for the door. “I’ll call you if I get desperate, okay?”