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angelstate · 1 year

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Why do you hide?

Peter parker x fem!reader

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Happy Ending! :)

Warnings: explicit trauma, low self-esteem, panic attack.

summary: being introverted usually made you end up alone in most things, people nowadays didn't put effort into relationships to actually stick around and get to know who you are. Everyone except Peter parker.

words: 2.9k!

this is my first ever post here so i'm sorry if is not really good. i hope you enjoy it!

it was normal by now, people ignoring your existence in the hallways, bumping into you and never stopping to say sorry. Still, it couldn't be described as bullying, nobody directly picked on you, called you names or made awful comments about how you looked. they just made no effort in pretending they weren't annoyed by your existence in the busy hallways.

even though you were an introverted, not even once in your life you acted as hostile as all the other kids were. what kind of people had been raising them that saying sorry was a punishment and not a common manner? It was ridiculous at some points.

For example, why wouldn't Jessica Williams say sorry when she accidentally hit you with her backpack the last Monday? you could never forgive yourself if you were the one to hit somebody on accident and didn't acknowledge the incident and apologies.

for children it's ok if they are embarrassed to say sorry or admit their mistakes since they are still learning manners but for a 16 year old girl to not be able to say sorry was worrying.

of course not all people in highschool were this dense and unfriendly but the once that were actually nice already had a lot of friends and it felt disrespectful to just go in the friend circle and demand to be accepted and befriended. it even felt selfish to want friends at all, even fake ones.

you parents always reminded you that most people present themselves with a fake persona so you should never trust them until they really star behaving in a realistic way and if people around you didn't felt inclined to acknowledge your existence that screamed a lot of who you are as a person.

and thanks to your situation at school it felt real your parents words. nobody was interested in the slightest about who you are so there was no point in trying to be friends with anybody.

then, Peter Parker came around and all the progress you had done into accepting that nobody wanted you around went to waste in a matter or days.

finally, after manifesting to the universe for someone to enter in your life and be able to understand your pain and why you were the way you are, peter showed up. with his super intelligence, dorky star wars t-shirts, pretty face, and awkward but charming personalty to crumble everything you knew about people because he was so nice.

actually, not just nice. he was warm like a ray of sunshine in spring, so calming and cozy that you feel like melting everytime he talks, every word he says just feels like one good secret that only the both of us knows or a promise that will last for eternity, there is no in between when it comes to peter parker.

everything about him was perfect but....you weren't.

you didn't have super intelligence, didn't like you apparrence even though you always made the effort to look good, and definitely weren't charming like him.

you are soft-spoken, introverted, shy and more simple in the way you expressed yourself.

you have to many layers, a thousand walls that try to protect the real you from getting hurt again by fake people who just wanted the benefits of being your friend, and it's ok. you need that safety but at the same time you only end up further isolating yourself and losing opportunities to grow because you prefer the comfort of being alone over the possibility of being a better version of yourself in a community.

_____________________

it had become a routine, stand in front of your locker and looking for what you needed for the next class and peter parker appearing next to you, ready to try and engage in some sort of conversation that you were always unprepared for.

"you know the movie Titanic?" he asked.

" yeah, i like that movie"

"i was reading the other day that almost all the love story is made up" he tilted his head to get a better look at your face.

you frowned.

"oh, that's...sad. i always thought it was a real love story of one of the survivors of the Titanic" you sighed.

"me too! whoever wrote that story is a genius." he laughed a little and took the books you pulled out of your locker from your hands

you closed the locker softly and turned your body to face peter completely, taking your books from him and smiling.

"it's a pretty good love story but i don't think is my favorite" you admitted.

Titanic is a good movie and the love story is great but not the type you prefer. 'Me Before You' that is the type of love story that absolutely captures your heart. it didn't have the happy ending you prayed for the entire movie and absolutely crushed your heart that Sam didn't changed his mind but it also added a cruel human aspect that made your heart feel warm.

"Titanic is great!" Peter argued

"i agree but there are better movies out there" you argued back

"like which one?" He questioned

"Me before You is great" you responded

"i haven't watched it" peter frowned and crossed his arms.

"you should, it's amazing." you smiled once again and began walking towards your next class, peter followed you immediately since it was one of the classes you shared. Algebra.

"we could watch it together, i mean if you want to watch it with me, you don't have to i just wanted to know if you'd like to watch it with me" he stuttered and panicked slightly.

"i would love to, we could watch it tomorrow"

"yeah, that would be great" peter answered quickly.

you already knew where peter lived, this was going to be good, right?

_____________________

yeah....it was too god to be true.

those were the words that kept repeating in your mind and were the same words your mom said when she reacted to the news of you finally beginning to be friends with someone that was actually a good person.

"it's too good to be true, kid" your mother spoke without even looking at you, too busy preparing herself something to eat. the smell of alcohol still lingering in her skin and hair. you doubt a shower wold be able to get rid of it, it was her signature smell after all, even if she didn't want to admit it.

"peter is my friend, mom." you explained with desperation in your voice, wanting your mother feel happy for you once in her life. it was so hard to prove her that your social life wasn't all tragic but also good and promising thanks to peter.

"you sure? I don't want to come to me crying if he turns out to be like Sarah"

...

you froze in your spot, your mom was aware of how much you have avoided the topic of Sarah. How she created a new world of pain just for you to suffer when she pretend to be your friend because how much of a people pleaser you are. that's why she didn't felt the need to question your motives when you beg to go to a different high school.

nobody in your family knew the things Sarah manipulated you into doing, of course your mom was aware Sarah was a trouble maker, that was what she was so known for, what she didn't know is the trouble she forced on you.

smoking was bad, drinking too but that didn't compare to all the 'rituals' and 'tests' she made you do to prove loyalty to her. To prove that if she ever got caught doing something bad you would have her back and lie her wait out of the situation.

it would be an understatement to say that you were naive, the second your mother knew about the things sarah did to you she didn't hesitate to call you all names existing for stupid and that memory never went away.

finally after almost 2 minutes of silence you spoke again, voice trembling and out of breath.

"he isn't like Sarah, he is like me"

"that's worse."

that's worse? i am worse?

"how is that worse? I'm a good kid"

you mom laughed hard, and for the first time looked at you. it was evident in her eyes how she wasn't taking you seriously in the slightest, it was so clear she didn't gave a fuck about this that it was painful to watch her enjoy your pain so much. she was so joyed about mocking you and the one optimistic thought you had in months that she couldn't contain her excitement in shutting it down immediately

"a good kid? if anything your a pain in my ass. If that kid is as stupid as you are then god helps his family because i certainly need gods help when dealing with your dumbass"

how cruel of her to speak like that about you, the kid how always kept quiet, that did everything she was asked for even if it wasn't convenient for you to do so. the one that made sure she passed out in her bed instead of the floor every time she drank too much.

she was mean and bitter about your existence when she should be joyed about your upbringing. the worst mother.

"you don't have to be so mean" you whimpered, the knot that began to form in your throat made it hard to breath and the tears that were leaving your eyes so softly began to feel overwhelming, just like your sweater and pants. It felt like you were overflowing with so much emotions of distress that your body was trying to escape from itself.

without waiting for her answer you went to your room and locked the door, everything felt so suffocating. Your clothes all of a sudden felt tight and uncomfortable, but your hands began shaking too much to be able to take any piece of clothing off and the open window didn't seem to let enter any air inside the room.

This was a nightmare in real life.

The panic attack was ripping you apart and all you could do was to sit in the hard wood floor and sob uncontrollably and feel the way your heart seem to be going even faster every passing second.

but someone saw you and got worried about you.

_____________________

a few days later

how could you face him? how even dare you face him after everything that happened with your mom? Obviously peter didn't know what happened but the incident was in your mind and it had infested every corner of it. it was impossible to ignore the fresh memory or get out of the state of shame you were on.

After laying awake all this nights you came to the 'realization' that whatever you had going on with Peter wouldn't work.

He isn't like you and you made a mistake saying he was to your mom. He is so much more, so much better that saying that you were like him felt like one of the worsts sins you ever committed.

Once again, how dare you come close to a good person just because you were lonely? you didn't want to go close ever again or face him in any kind of way, not even with pictures.

so you did what any coward would do, you began hiding.

at first it was easy, just keep every book you need in your backpack so you never need to go to your locker. But then your back started to hurt, a lot.

So you created another plan, hide in the bathroom and wait till its almost time for your classes run to your locker and arrive late to class, at least the ones you didn't have with Peter.

In those you had to get more creative, you started to use a big scarf that covered almost half of your face and using big hoodies to hide the rest of your face, since it was winter the outfit was according and almost all the other girls were doing the same things.

it didn't hide you completely but that was the best you could do to at least hide a little bit. it felt pathetic most of the time but the shame kept you from stopping.

peter wasn't an idiot though. he noticed, first when you didn't showed up at his house to watch the movie and later on that night when he watched you have a panic attack in your room when we went to check up on you as Spiderman.

he knew something must have happened and was planning on speaking with you about it the next day but you didn't went to school for days and when you finally appeared you didn't give any opportunity for peter to talk to you

it was like you had turned into a ghost, peter rarely saw you in the hallways and you always seem to arrive to your shared classes with everybody else to hide your silhouette from him.

but one day you didn't hide good enough...

_____________________

you were in the library almost nobody came here in lunch so it was the perfect hiding place, you were reading one of the harry potter books that the librarian had in her desk and kindly let you borrow.

being a fan of the books you directly began to read in one after sitting in one of the tables that were hide by bookshelf's it was so peaceful, too peaceful to be exact and you didn't realize until it was too late.

until peter parker was already standing in front of you, at the other side of the table looking at you with mixed emotions and a blank expression.

"here have you been?" he questioned you the moment you looked at him. his tone was harsh but also full of pain

"here." you answered softly, it was barely a whisper but peter heard you loud and clear.

"i don't mean today, i'm talking about this week. where have you been?" he questioned you again this time in a softer tone.

"at school, i've been busy with stuff" you broke eye contact and looked at the table in shame.

"but you haven't gone to you locker at any point"

"i have"

"when."

"after the bell rings" you admitted.

"why? i mean you'd end up being late to class if you do that"

"i know"

"what happened? did i made you mad or something? if i did i'm sorry i swear it wan't my intention and i'd like to make up for it." he spoke i desperation, the same way you did to your mother and that made your heart clench in pain.

"you didn't do anything wrong, peter" you sighed and covered you face with your hands in stress

"then why do you hide?

shame. you wanted to scream but something inside of you just wouldn't let you speak, it was everything too embarrassing, the fight with your mom, your obvious attempts into avoiding peter, getting caught by him and being confronted about it.

taking a deep breath, you uncovered your face and looked at peter with your best 'sorry' face and just explained your thoughts to him the best you could.

"i just...i don't think you and me are compatible. you're a genius and a just amazing in general and i'm well me. your out of my league in so many way that i can't understand why do you even talk to me half of the time. i don't know even half the things you do and even when i do know some of them, you have much more knowledge about it so you have no logical reason to be close with some one so stupid like me"

"that not true"

" it is, peter. and it's not even abut you being intelligent. it's about me not being it; not being any good to you or anyone in general. i am dumb, stupid, idiotic and foolish. i am empty. not even my interest are interesting enough and the worst thing is that can't never find it in me to just try and be more likeable "

"you are likeable, i like you. that's why i'm always talking to you and around you every chance i have"

you looked at him wide eyed and watch as he processed what he said. his expression filled with panic and before he could even explain himself you were already speaking

"do you mean it?"

"what..well i mean, you know i...uhm i guess what i'm trying to say is that....yeah i mean it but you don't have to feel the same i mean i totally get why you would not want to be with me is just... let's pretend this never happened"

"i like you too" you spoke softly and felt your face blush profusely. this felt like a dream, peter parker could not be in love with you. is too good to be true. everything with him felt too good to be true.

"you do?" peter said with a hopeful tone, his eyes are shinning with adoration and relief from not being rejected by the girl he loved so deeply

"i do"

he basically rushed to your side, picked you up and kissed you with passion and love that it took everything in you to separate yourself when you ran out of breath.

peter parker loved you, there was no point in hide yourself anymore. and if he was too good to be true then it was meant to mae you just as great being by his side.

"i love you" you both whispered at the same time.

#peter parker x reader #peter parker fic #peter parker #spiderman #peter parker x fem!reader #peter parker fluff #tom holland #tom holland spiderman

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coldshare · 10 months

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A word To build a scenario around... Steam

thank you for the prompt, anon! ♡ here it is (with some gratuitous references to contagion... you know me)

a character who's the type to prioritize self care over everything... who lives luxuriously, the type to resort to everything from expensive spa days to unwind, the type who's familiar with every natural remedy in the book, because really, even the slightest ailment is a perfect excuse to take it easy and even pamper themselves a little bit

the same character who feels themselves coming down with a terrible, incredibly contagious cold. but for whatever reason - maybe their boss urges them to come in (it's just a small cold, after all, and so much work still needs to get done), or maybe because they're just so confident in their home remedies to do the trick - they head to work anyways.

their desk becomes a mini pharmacy for the day - soft lotion tissues, three different tins of tea specifically meant to relieve cold and flu symptoms, herbal cough drops, a few cooling salves for their red, irritated nose, hot packs for their sinuses, a humidifier for the congestion. after all... if they're going to have to work with this cold, why not make their time here as comfortable as possible?

but still, despite every remedy, their cold turns out to be annoyingly persistent - they're just so congested they can hardly breathe through their nose, plagued with a tickle (not severe enough to catalyze a sneeze, in most cases, but present enough to be very distracting) in their nose which won't leave them alone no matter what. even worse, every sneeze is irritatingly unproductive; it does nothing to relieve the tickle - in fact, it almost seems to make it worse...

they make it to halfway through the afternoon where they decide they can't stand it anymore - they're not feeling too terrible, but this is certainly annoying, and that's enough of a reason for them to put an end to it once and for good. breathing in steam can be therapeutic, and even better, it's supposed to relieve congestion, right?

after a few moments consideration, they swipe the small vial of lavender essential oil off their desk. they've never been fond of this particular vial compared to the other essential oils they own - it always leaves them sniffly and teary eyed - but perhaps that would be a welcome side effect, just this once.

from there, they head into the break room and boil some water using the coffee machine (so what if they end up sneezing a few times, all over the coffee machine, misting the company countertops? it's not like they can control when they sneeze... with this cold, every sneeze just sneaks up on them; it's not their fault that they're not always able to cover.) they pour the boiling water out into a large bowl, drop a few drops of the lavender essential oil inside, and take a seat at one of the tables in the break room, which - aside from them - is thankfully empty.

the first breath of hot, fragrant steam does wonders for their congestion, which they can feel start to loosen for the first time, making their nose run. they haven't brought any tissues with them... perhaps that was an oversight, but the steam is just so relieving, they can't just stop now...!

the next few breaths, they can really start to smell the lavender, and... oh, the tickle in their nose sharpens with such intensity it takes them off guard.

"heh... hEhh... HIH-! hheh-Hhehh... heh... hehH..."

god, their nose tickles so badly; it's practically begging for relief. they lean their head down, taking another deep breath in through their nose.

"hehH... hehh-HEH-!" fuck, so close, just a little more... "hheh... HehhH.... hh-heh-Hehh-HEHh-!! HEHH'IIHHSHIEEEW!"

it's as if that first sneeze completely opens up the floodgates, snapping them forward - only for them to inhale a huge breath of hot steam. they wipe their nose on one palm, but even the slightest pressure against their nose seems to increase the tickle tenfold. everything smells like so strongly of lavender, it's - HEHh-! making them - heh-HEHh - h-have to -

"HEHH'ISSSHHIEw! hHAH'IITSHuUH! heh... heh-hEhh-HEHh-hHEH'TCHIIIEEEW! hH... hHIh! hahh-HAh-AHH.... AHH'IIIITTSCHHUueE!"

every sneeze absolutely drenches the table beneath them. they lift their hands to halfheartedly shield the first couple of sneezes, but with the number of particles that escape through their fingertips regardless, does it really even matter? it's not like anyone else is in the break room, after all. they turn their head aside to keep from spraying the table (even if all that accomplishes is spread their cold in the other direction.)

besides... don't they deserve to sneeze after having not been able to sneeze all morning, aside from the few terribly unsatisfying sneezes they'd had to put up with? isn't it only right that they get relief from this annoying cold as soon as possible? they need to get all the viruses out of their system to get rid of this cold... each messy, spraying sneeze sets them closer on the path to recovery. the tickle in their nose is really just there to help them sneeze out their cold as soon as possible, so why not coax it even further, make this process a little faster? really, they're doing their body a favor as they breathe in more steam, as they give in to the tickle in their nose, as they sneeze and sneeze and sneeze...

(maybe that's what they think, but they've left the air so utterly saturated with their cold viruses that it's no wonder that half the office comes down with the same miserable, messy cold in the weeks following, leading to more than a few dirty looks... after all, they brought their cold to work, and they hadn't exactly been subtle about it)

#snzblr #snz kink #contagion #contagion kink #snz scenario #snz prompt #sneeze scenario #snzfucker #sneeze kink #snzario #the research i did to write this sneeze post (what a sentence) says #apparently it is possible for essential oils to make you sneeze if you're allergic to the scent #i also spent like 15 minutes researching humidifiers (usually it's harmful to drop essential oils into the water tank) and diffusers #(neither of which i have ever used but i just wanted to write a character with this archetype ahaha)#before settling on this method which i can only hope is logically sound #also i think this is my longest post thus far? totally got carried away

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mirage-aera · 4 months

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I have a birthday related request since it's my birthday tomorrow: basically Copia has been crushing on the reader (fem) for a while now and he decides to surprise her with flowers and a confession on her birthday. Maybe it follows with some fluff/cuddles :)?

Heyyy happy late birthday lovely!! I’m sorry that I'm late, I’ve been busy but hope you had a great day nonetheless. Here’s my (late) present for you!

•°. *࿐ Birthday girl

Copia x fem!reader

Synopsis: Copia decides instead of a practical gift. A confession longer overdue and some flowers would be the perfect birthday gift for you.

Word count: 1.400

Masterlist

Warning: might be a bit ooc!

Today is your special day, it’s the day you were brought into the world. What better way than to celebrate it with Copia and the ghouls? The ghouls have been bouncing off of the walls the night before. They’re excited to make your special day the best you’ve ever experienced. They’ve decided to cover the walls and ceiling with garlands, flags, confetti, and balloons. You name it, they have it. The ghoulettes have been working on baking sweets for the small party they’re throwing for you.

“Damn it, Swiss! Stop throwing those garlands at me! I can’t hang them up.” Sodo grumbles, annoyed with Swiss’ antics. Swiss snickers as he stops throwing stuff at the fire ghoul. Rain is busy scattering confetti around while the two quintessence ghouls are bickering about the placement of the flags and letting balloons fly around the room. The ghoulettes are baking the goods, very slowly. They’re throwing flour and eggs at each other and across the kitchen. They are super enthusiastic, that’s for sure.

Copia could only look on with both horror and amusement at the antics of his ghouls and ghoulettes. He would do the decorating himself, but the ghouls were very adamant about doing it themselves. While he insisted that the sisters of sin do the baking, but the ghoulettes were very confident that they could get the job done. As he watches the chaos unfold, he comes to realize he is sorely mistaken. Sure, he loves his ghouls and ghoulettes, but they can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

As he sees that no real progress is being made he decides that stepping in might be the better decision. “Alright! Let’s get serious now, everything needs to be done and perfected tonight. Step it up a notch, let’s go!” The ghouls stare at him and cock their heads before actually hanging up the decorations. The ghoulettes clean up the mess they have made and continue baking. After a couple of hours, everything is perfect to Copia’s standards. He smiles at the surprise he set up for you. He really hopes that you’ll like it, but considering what his ghouls have told him it seems like the feelings are mutual. Everything is set up, he prepared a little confession speech for you. All that is left is to wait for your birthday and snip some flowers from the garden.

He sends all of his ghouls to bed, to make sure they don’t mess with the decorations. After he gives everything one more look, adjusting a few things. He heads to bed himself after he checks on his rats, nerves wracking for what’s coming tomorrow.

Morning comes and the ghouls and ghoulettes are already up, excited to party. Copia heads to the garden to snip a few of your favorite flowers to make a giant bouquet for you. After all, you only deserve the best. He arrays all of the different flowers until he’s satisfied with all of the different colors meshing with each other. He sees Mountain walking into the garden. Copia shows the bouquet to him, “hey Mountain!” Mountain turns to him and waves. Copia continues, “do you think she’ll like this bouquet?” He asks. Mountain looks at it, inspecting it, and nods, “it looks fine. I’m sure she’ll like it.” He says smiling. This boosts Copia’s confidence. “Great! Is she up yet?” He asks him. Mountain shrugs, “I haven’t seen her yet. She’s usually up around this time. You can come by her room.” Copia nods before heading back inside. He places the flowers in the kitchen as he heads to the hallways he sees you standing in the middle of the common room, staring at the decorations. He smiles at the awestruck expression you are donning. “Happy birthday!” He says with enthusiasm. You turn to him startled, not expecting him to be there. He walks up to you, “do you like it?” He asks, motioning to the decorations. You smile brightly at him, “like it? I love it!” You chuckle lightly, “I did not expect to wake up to this, I assume you and the ghouls did this?” He nods chuckling, “yeah. They were very excited to do this for you.”

He remembers the flowers waiting on the kitchen counter waiting for you. He holds a finger up, “ah! Before I forget I have another surprise for you. Give me one moment.” He quickly makes his way to the kitchen and grabs the bouquet. He touches it up, holds it behind his back, and walks back to you. You stare at him curiously, noticing he has his hands behind his back. He stops in front of you and holds the flowers in front of you. He flushes lightly, feeling nervous for your reaction. “I hope you like them. You only deserve the best.” You take the bouquet from him and look at the various flowers he picked. You smile at him, “it’s beautiful Copia. I’ll cherish these for how long they last.” He smiles at your words.”You’re welcome.” He was about to tell you of his feelings for you, but of course, the other ghouls and ghoulettes come stumbling in. “Happy birthday sister (Y/n)!!” They shout in unison. Copia mentally facepalms. His goddamn ghouls. You give him an apologetic look. He shakes his before letting out a small chuckle, “go spend some time with them. My piece can wait.” He says, while he’s actually thinking ‘no it can’t’ but the ghouls have been very excited to party with you.

As the morning changes into the evening with a few drinks are passed around. The sweets have been devoured. Gifts are exchanged and a few ghouls are already drunk, some are a bit tipsy. You, on the other hand, are still sober. You aren’t as big on drinking as the other ghouls. Copia also hasn’t gotten drunk. He prefers to watch over his ghouls and make sure they don’t get into trouble. As the moon rises higher in the sky, one by one the ghouls retreat to their respective rooms. A couple of minutes later, it’s only you and Copia left. He speaks up, “I have one last surprise for you, before your birthday ends.” He says nervously. You let out a small giggle, “another one? You’re spoiling me at this point.” Copia laughs and waves it off, “it’s your birthday. You deserve to be spoiled.” He says. Suddenly he can’t remember what he was supposed to tell you. ‘Ah fuck it. Let’s wing it.’ He thinks to himself. He looks you in the eyes and takes a deep breath, “for a while now, I’ve liked you more than a friend. You would make me the happiest man if I’m allowed to call you mine. If the feelings are mutual of course. Would you like to follow my journey as Papa together?” He looks at you with a hopeful look. You stare at him with wide eyes before regathering your bearings. “I would love to Copia.” You say softly. He breaks out into a wide grin pulling you into a tight hug. He’s so happy he could let out tears of joy. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.” You chuckle before yawning. It’s getting late after all. He notices as well, “let’s get you to bed.” He carries you to your room and sets you down on your bed. He tucks you and makes his way to leave the room before you wrap your hand around his wrist. “Copia. Stay, please.” You look at him with tired eyes. He smiles softly, “anything for you.”

He climbs into bed next to you and wraps his arms around you. You curl into his chest as he holds you tighter. He makes patterns on your back with his hands as you slowly doze off with a content smile on your face. He looks down to look at you, smiling when he sees your expression. “Good night. Sleep well my little birdie. I’ll see you in the morning.” He says softly to not wake you up. He drifts off to sleep as his hands cease to make patterns. What he doesn’t realize is that you were still awake when he said that. A wider smile creeps up onto your face. Soon you follow his example, exhaustion taking over your form. A new couple sleeps under the moon as the new day rises.

#ghost #ghost band #ghost band x reader #nameless ghouls #nameless ghouls x reader #the band ghost #ghost bc #ghost bc x reader #the band ghost x reader #copia #papa copia #copia x reader #papa copia x reader #papa emeritus iv #papa emeritus iv x reader

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symptoms-syndrome · 1 year

Text

I really wish there were more comparative (?) examples of symptoms like dissociation, amnesia, lack of focus etc specifically because there's a misunderstanding that many of these symptoms are by their own merit seen as proof of a disorder, despite many of them being, to a lesser degree, part of many people's Normal Healthy Experience. It would be far more validating, personally, to see examples of normal levels of dissociation/forgetfulness/etc to compare to disordered levels than it is just to be told "well, normal people don't [x]" when they very much do, just not to the degree I do.

For example, it's normal to not remember every minute of a car ride, what exactly you had for lunch a week ago, or the name of someone you met for the first time recently. It's even normal, to a degree, to not remember chunks of childhood. It isn't normal to not remember your home address or your birthday or your mother's name. Similarly, it's relatively normal to daydream or "drift off" in a boring class or meeting, to a degree, but it isn't healthy to do it so often or so intensely that you can't focus at all on real life.

Not to mention, very rarely are symptoms indicators of one mental illness each. Being unable to focus can be a symptom of ADHD, dissociation, depression, or just being tired, dehydrated, or uninterested. People have talked about how mental illnesses are more than just a single symptom, but it's important to remember the inverse as well, symptoms are not in and of themselves mental illness.

I do understand why people make posts about [symptom] not being something "normal" or "healthy" people do, we all need to validate ourselves and our experiences, especially when they're dismissed, but I do worry about the expectation that this kind of thinking presents. It's incredibly unfair both to ourselves and our support systems. For ourselves, it sets up unrealistic expectations. "I will be healed and healthy when I can focus on any task," "I will be recovered when I remember every part of my life," and "I will be done with recovery when I no longer think about my trauma" are all things I've thought or said in therapy, and none of them are true or fair. It sets up this idea that I will be healthy, happy, healed, recovered, etc when I am perfect, but if I will never attain that perfection, that's setting me up to believe I will never recover. For others, it sets the idea that if someone is "healed," "healthy," or "neurotypical," that they CAN achieve these unrealistic expectations. If I am to believe that a person in my support system does not have a mental illness (because they've told me, or because they simply have not disclosed to me,) I might expect them to remember everything, always be able to focus on tasks, or never be in a depressed, irritable, or down.

#actuallydid #dissociative identity disorder #actuallyadhd #adhd #braving my way into the tags again #this is the post I talked about posting a few days ago

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duskandcobalt · 6 months

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Echoes in the Hallway - III

May I present to you, the third and final part* of Echoes in the Hallway 💕 If you missed the first two parts, you can find them linked in my Masterlist.

Thank you to everyone who has read this and provided so much encouragement and support - as a new writer, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

*I lied, I do have one last little chapter planned but it's more of a bonus chapter and will be able to be read separately from this series.

As always, please let me know what you think!

ENJOY XX

Read on AO3

7.6k words - a little bit of angst, a little bit of smut (you know the drill) (18+)

Azriel’s hands form fists at his sides as he fights the urge to reach for Elain’s trembling fingers and pull her back so he can slot her safely behind his body. He can’t see her face. She’s frozen in place, looking up at their High Lord, but he can sense her confusion, her sadness and anger. He can feel it all radiating from her small frame.

There have been very few times in his life where he struggled to keep up his defenses - that cold, impenetrable guise of indifference - but this was one of them.

He’d let himself get distracted.

He had been so absorbed in their blissful bubble, that he hadn’t been paying attention. The world could have been collapsing around them and he wouldn’t have noticed - not when all he cared about was the taste of her on his tongue and the sounds he was drawing from her body.

He should’ve known that Rhys was there. He should’ve picked up the scent, heard his footsteps. He shouldn’t have sent his shadows away when they tried to get his attention ten minutes ago.

He had failed. He could’ve kept this from happening. He could’ve protected her from this.

Two months of carefully sneaking her away so that they could have a moment to themselves and this is the worst possible way this could’ve gone. Two months of resisting having her completely and of course, of course, Rhysand had caught them together after they’d very clearly just spent hours in bed together.

His High Lord wouldn’t know that it had been for the first time.

In Rhys’ eyes, this would be all he needed to confirm that his suspicions were right. That Azriel had only been lusting after Elain. That all he wanted from her was sex. Even if that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Rhysand is still staring Azriel down, pure fury in his eyes, when the female in between them turns to face him.

Her beautiful features are pained, eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Those perfect lips that had been moaning his name against his skin just moments ago, are now parted in shock.

“What does he mean?” Elain whispers. “Azriel? Tell me it isn’t true.”

Azriel is silent as her eyes flicker over his face. He can practically see the wheels in her head turn as she reads everything he’s left unsaid.

“That’s why you walked away that night.” She says it so quietly, almost like she’s saying it just to herself.

Her eyes widen slightly and he sees the flame spark behind her eyes, sadness and anger coming together to create fire. “You would’ve done it, you would’ve kissed me. You wouldn’t have pulled back… you said it was a mistake but you only stopped because he called you away?”

Azriel.

Just like that night, Rhys’ dark, authoritative voice is in his head. He’s pulling rank again, warning him - ordering him - not to speak.

Azriel can’t let this happen again, not when they’d made so much progress. He wouldn’t keep the truth from her this time.

“Yes.”

Elain’s shoulders sag. She releases a long breath and turns back to face Rhysand before Azriel can explain himself any further.

“You had no right, you had absolutely no right to do that.” She tells Rhysand.

…

“What’s going on?” Elain barely hears Cassian’s voice over the roaring in her ears. She only just registers that the Commander of Rhysand’s armies is now standing at the top of the stairs and surveying the scene in front of him, one of his arms bracketing Nesta’s waist to keep her behind him.

Elain pictures launching herself at Rhysand. Imagines crossing the little distance between them and banging on his leather clad chest until her fists bleed. She contemplates screaming and yelling until her throat is raw. She pictures shouting every single obscenity she’s never dared to say out loud, at him.

Her blood pulses through her veins, so hot and angry, that she feels like she may combust.

Everything that she thought she knew had just been pulled out from under her with that single sentence from Rhysand coupled with the simple, one word confirmation from the male that she’d just given everything to.

Azriel hadn’t just left that night because he was concerned that she had a mate. He had walked away because he’d been told to leave.

He’d been ordered to stay away from her completely by one of his oldest friends. Someone that he considered a brother. Someone that she had come to consider a brother because that was the level of trust that she had in Rhysand.

Elain doesn’t allow herself to launch at him, she doesn’t even let herself scream at him. She cannot stand to look at Rhys for another second. She tucks away her anger and turns from between the two males to walk swiftly down the hallway towards the stairs where Cassian and Nesta are still standing, both already dressed for the day in their training leathers.

Cassian is shocked as he watches her pass, his mouth agape as he glances between her and his brothers, no doubt trying to decide if he’ll need to interfere in a brewing altercation.

Her sister, however, doesn’t look nearly as surprised. Nesta’s eyes turn from angry to sad as she shifts her attention from Rhysand to Elain.

“Come.” She says quietly, gently taking Elain’s hand in hers and guiding her down the stairs without a word to anyone else.

Elain waits until she’s in the safety of her room before she collapses on the floor, shoulders heaving as she lets all the emotion flood out of her. Tears are streaming down her face when she feels Nesta’s lean, strong arms wrap around her, covering her body with her own. Her sister’s hands run over her as she murmurs into Elain’s hair.

She can’t hear anything Nesta says over the ringing in her ears but it’s a welcome comfort at least, to be in the reassuring embrace of the only person alive that has known Elain for every single day of her life.

…

Elain doesn’t know how long she’s been asleep for but she’s in bed when to the sound of her bedroom door opening and the gentle rustle of sheets as Nesta sits up next to her.

Cassian’s familiar scent drifts through the room and Elain keeps her eyes shut as she feels the mattress sink under his weight when he takes a seat at the very foot of her bed.

“Rhys went home.” He informs Nesta, keeping his voice low so as to not wake Elain. “He told Azriel to meet him in his office in a few hours.”

“How’s Az?” Nesta asks.

“I don’t know.” Cassian sighs. “He wouldn’t talk to me, not even after Rhys left. He’s probably flying around to blow off some steam… he’ll be there, though. To see Rhys. He gave his word.”

“This is ridiculous.” Nesta huffs. “Will your brother ever stop interfering in everyone else’s life? How is it any business of his who Azriel or Elain choose to spend their time with?”

Cassian doesn’t take the bait. Elain can tell from his voice that he’s dealt with enough confrontation for one morning.

“How’s she doing?”

“She hasn’t said anything, either.” Nesta sighs. “She’s exhausted. I don’t think she got much sleep, if any, last night.”

Elain’s cheeks heat and Cassian snorts.

“I can’t wrap my head around it. I mean… Az and Elain? ” He pauses, most likely waiting for Nesta to agree, to tell him that she didn’t see this coming either, but Nesta doesn’t say anything. “You knew?”

Elain tries her best to keep her breathing even as she awaits the answer.

“Yes.” Nesta admits. “I saw them in the garden one afternoon. Elain was watching Nyx. I thought I’d go spend the day with them since you were away but then Azriel was there and they were… I could just tell there was something between them. I left, neither of them knew I had been there.”

Elain thanks the gods above that she’s facing away from them because she cannot keep the surprise from her face. If she’s thinking of the same day, it would mean that Nesta had known about them for almost an entire month.

“You never told me.”

“It wasn’t my secret to tell.”

“But I’m your mate.”

“She’s my sister.”

Elain can’t see Nesta’s face but she can picture the exact scathing look she’d be giving Cassian. She knows she’s right when Cassian doesn’t argue the point any further.

“I’ll leave you to it, I have to go to the River House.” The bed shifts as he stands. Elain hears him lean over and kiss Nesta before he makes his way to the door. “Rhys has put me in charge of finding somewhere else for Lucien to be before Azriel shows up this evening. Her scent is all over him and probably will be for days. If Lucien sees him…”

“You think he’d do something?” Elain can hear the concern in Nesta’s voice.

“She’s his mate - he’d react on instinct. Even then, he still wouldn’t stand a chance against Az. He’d be dead before he could land a single punch.”

Cassian leaves, shutting the door behind him and a shudder runs through Elain at the thought of the two males physically fighting. She didn’t want it to come to that. She had no desire to be the reason one of them ended up injured, if not worse.

“I know you just heard all of that.” Nesta swats Elain’s back.

Elain turns, finally opening her eyes only to see Nesta looking down at her with raised eyebrows. “You knew?”

“When I told you that I knew you came here last night because of him, I didn’t mean Lucien.” Nesta gives her a pointed look. “You may be the Seer of the family, Elain, but I know you. I’ve seen the way you look at Azriel when you think no one’s watching.”

“I really care about him, Nes.” Tears prick at the corner of Elain’s eyes. She presses a hand to her pounding heart. “I… I can’t explain it but I know in my soul that he’s it for me.”

“Tell me.” Nesta turns her body to face Elain and takes her hand. “Tell me everything.”

So Elain does.

She tells Nesta about Solstice and how she felt in the months that followed. Tears are flowing freely as she tells her sister exactly how her feelings for Azriel had developed over the years but especially over the past couple of months. Elain fills Nesta in on almost every single detail that led up to last night, stopping at her decision to make her way to Azriel’s room.

“So last night was the first time you two had sex? Really?” Nesta’s lips turn up into a cunning grin. “I’m impressed you held out for that long.”

She knows this is Nesta’s attempt at lightening the mood and it works. Heat rises to Elain’s cheeks as she nods.

“How was it?” Nesta’s icy blue eyes shimmer with amusement.

“How do you think?” She covers her face with her hands, suddenly shy.

Nesta’s hands wrap around her wrists, prying them off so she can see Elain’s face.

“If the wingspan thing is actually true, I’m surprised you can even walk today.” Nesta erupts in laughter and Elain can’t help but join in. A memory from the night before of Azriel asking if she could take more makes her face and chest flush bright red.

The two sisters double over as they laugh, clutching each other’s hands, and Elain is thankful for the distraction as all the stress of the past few hours dissolves for just a moment.

…

Azriel storms out of Rhys’ office towards the balcony, blatantly ignoring his High Lady as she tries to stop him. He’ll apologise to her later for his abruptness but for now all he can do is launch himself into the sky, flying higher and higher, until the clouds completely block the city below.

One week.

From tomorrow morning, Rhys was sending Azriel away for an entire week on some bullshit mission to the continent.

Rhysand hadn’t even given Azriel an opportunity to explain himself. He had simply fixed him with a glare that had become all too familiar, not even bothering to stand when Azriel walked into the room before he proceeded to give him strict instructions on what information he expected the Spymaster to seek.

It was a task that was so obviously beneath him, something that normally would have been assigned to one of the spies in Azriel’s network. It couldn’t have been clearer that it was a poorly disguised excuse to put distance between him and Elain as a punishment for going against his High Lord’s orders.

The only ounce of sympathy had come from Feyre who had looked at Azriel with such sad eyes from where she had stood next to Rhys. Still, she hadn’t said anything to contradict her Mate’s orders even if it was clear from her expression that she disagreed with his approach.

“I care about her, Rhys.” Azriel had told his brother a minute before he walked out. “Whether you believe me or not, I care for Elain. Keeping us apart isn’t going to change that.”

And then, though he shouldn’t have, he had turned to Feyre just before he stepped onto the balcony. “Did he tell you what he said to me on Solstice? Did my brother tell you that he told me to go to a pleasure house? As if that’s all I wanted from Elain? As if that’s all your sister is good for?”

He couldn’t get the way Feyre’s face had fallen out of his head. His emotions had gotten the best of him but he had to say something. He had to let her know. Rhys had gotten away with too much for too long and it was a low blow, but it was a last second attempt to get Feyre on his side.

Azriel would take his High Lord’s order. He’d go on this ridiculous mission, he’d bring back whatever pointless information he’d been asked for. He’d stay away for a week that he knew would all but kill him. He’d do it all, but he needed to take care of something else first.

Rhysand hadn’t given him any direct orders as to where he could or could not be tonight and that was all Azriel needed before making his decision.

…

Azriel takes a deep breath as he stands outside Elain’s door.

He’d spent most of the day flying around to delay the inevitable before he finally returned to the House of Wind just as the sun began to set, stopping in his chambers only to bathe quickly before he made his way downstairs to her floor.

He raises his hand to knock and is surprised to hear the musical sound of feminine laughter through the door just as his fist makes contact with the wooden surface.

When he cracks open the door and peers inside, Elain is seated at her vanity and Nesta stands behind her, brushing her younger sister’s hair. They both turn to face him, their laughter dying down at the sight of him even though Nesta has a suspiciously amused look on her face and the remnants of a blush stain Elain’s cheeks.

“Sorry to interrupt.” He opens the door fully and takes one single step into her room. “Can we talk?”

Elain remains frozen in place as she stares at him but Nesta leans over and sets the brush down on the vanity. She bends at the waist, whispers something in Elain’s ear and stands back up after a dip of Elain’s chin.

She gives Elain’s shoulder a squeeze and then approaches Azriel.

Nesta peers up at him, her amused expression turning into something more serious as she pokes his chest with a single finger. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Shadowsinger.”

She doesn’t wait for him to reply before she slips out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Azriel walks over to Elain, picks up the brush that Nesta had been using and gestures for Elain to turn back towards the mirror.

He turns the brush in his hands as he assesses her.

She’s also freshly bathed. Her hair is still damp, a few shades darker than usual, though the golden highlights that run through it are just starting to show through as the strands begin to dry. She’d changed out of her silky blue slip and into a much more demure cotton nightgown.

Azriel gently drags the brush through her hair from root to tip, just to have something to do with his hands.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers finally, swallowing down the rush of emotions that threaten to consume him when he meets her eyes in the reflection of the mirror. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“You lied to me.” He hates the way her chin wobbles as she looks at him.

“I’m sorry.” He repeats. “I wish I had done things differently.”

“Did you mean any of it?” Elain asks. “Everything that you said about him being better for me… did you actually mean it or were you just covering for Rhys?”

Azriel continues brushing her hair, focusing his attention on combing out any tangles as he gathers his thoughts.

“I meant it all, Elain.” He says earnestly. “The only thing I didn’t tell you is that I wouldn’t have walked away on Solstice if Rhys hadn’t called me away. But everything else is true. There’s so much tension between the courts and our involvement could have insurmountable impacts because of your mating bond.”

Azriel sees her sit up straighter at that, ready to argue with him once again. He places a gentle hand on her bare shoulder. His thumb strokes over her soft skin, silently asking her to let him continue. “I was willing to overlook it. I told Rhys that I would fight for you. That I would win… he didn’t like that very much. He thinks it’s just lust. He thinks I’m just trying to seduce you.”

Elain’s jaw drops and she laughs.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Azriel sets the brush down as she turns on the bench to face him. “The way he caught us this morning wouldn’t have helped.”

He can’t help the way his eyes fall to her neck. To the already fading splotches of purple in the shape of his lips that decorate her skin.

“Cassian said you went to meet with him this afternoon?” Elain’s fingers come up to graze over the spot where his eyes linger.

Azriel nods, forcing his attention back up to her face. “He didn’t say anything about us. He just… he’s sending me away for a week.”

“And you’re going?”

“It was an order… I don’t have a choice.” He sighs.

“So that’s it, then?” Elain stands up, her arms at her sides. “You’ve just come to say goodbye?”

“It’s just a week.” Azriel attempts a small smile.

“What if it isn’t just a week?” Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears as she looks up at him.

He sees the unspoken plea in the depths of them, begging him to do anything but leave. But he has to go, he has to let Rhys win just this once. He has to play his cards right if he wants even a chance at making this work without having to keep it a secret.

Azriel takes her face in his hands, presses his lips to her forehead. “I’m sorry.”

It’s all he can say before he makes his way towards the door. His fingers are just about to twist the doorknob when Elain speaks.

“Stay.” Her voice makes her sound so small. “Don’t go.”

Azriel almost turns to look at her but he can’t do it. Can’t bear to see the yearning and disappointment that he knows will be written on her face. So he turns the handle, walks out of the room, and leaves her standing alone once again.

…

He gets all the way to his room, all the way to his bed, when he glances at his bedside table and sees the objects laying there. The items that he’s looked at every night as he attempted to find sleep for the past two years.

It’s the sight of the headache powder that makes him realise what a colossal idiot he’s been.

It’s the thoughtfulness behind that gift that has his feet moving on their own accord, carrying him back down the stairs and straight into her bed chambers without so much as a knock on her door.

Elain’s head whips to face him from where she’d been leaning over her bedside, just about to blow out the candle on her nightstand. Her eyes are wide with shock and there are tears staining her face as she sits up on her knees and silently watches as he approaches her.

Azriel’s chest heaves as he slowly walks towards her bed, maintaining eye contact with her all the while. He relies on his eyes to convey everything he can’t say out loud.

That he’s sorry. Sorry that it has to be like this. Sorry that he’d left her like that again.

He lets her see how much he wants her, how much he wants this. Even if he’s leaving tomorrow. Even if this ended up being the last time.

She was worth it. She would always be worth it.

Not a single word is exchanged as Elain reaches up for him, grasping his face between her hands and pulling him down towards the bed. Her lips part for him as his body settles easily over hers.

Azriel kisses her with everything he has while Elain’s fingers fumble with the soft fabric of his shirt, dragging it up and over his head with some assistance from him until she can get her hands on his bare skin.

Her touch is searing against his body, her movements frantic as she tries to rid him of his pants.

“Slow.” Azriel takes her shaking hand in his, brings it to his lips and kisses her palm. “We have time.”

Elain looks at him and he holds her gaze until her breathing calms and she nods. Only then, does he kiss her again.

He takes his time dragging her nightgown up her body, his lips brushing every inch of perfect skin that’s revealed to him as he pushes it up, up, up until his mouth is on her breast and she’s tugging her dress off the rest of the way.

Her hands entwine themselves in his hair, holding him close to her as his tongue swirls and flicks over her peaked nipples. He moves down, his lips never leaving her skin, taking her with him until her back is flat against the mattress and her thighs are slung over his shoulders.

Azriel groans against her core when his tongue slides along her sex only to find that she’s already so wet for him. Her arousal covers his lips, his chin, his nose, as he settles between her legs and works her with his tongue and teeth until her thighs are clamping around his head, holding him in place as her first orgasm wracks through her body.

Her legs have yet to cease trembling before she’s guiding him back up to her and covering his mouth with hers. She places a small hand on his chest, pushes him down onto his back and kneels beside him. Azriel doesn’t have a chance to utter even a single word before she has his pants off and her tongue slides up the entire length of him.

He reaches down, gathering the curtain of her hair in one hand so that he can see her. So that he can watch in awe as those beautiful pink lips wrap around him, her cheeks hollowing, her tongue swirling and licking as she takes as much of him as she can. Her fingers wrap around the base to compensate for what doesn’t fit.

He feels his cock throb against her cheek and he lightly tugs on her hair. Elain takes his cue, pulling off of him and ever so delicately wiping her mouth. Her swollen lips turn up in an innocent smile that sends every nerve in his body into overdrive with the undeniable need to be inside her. His hands land on her waist, supporting her as she places a knee on either side of his hips, straddling him. She takes him in her hand and lines him up at her entrance before sinking down just enough to envelop the head of his cock.

Azriel curses at the feel of her sex, so warm and wet and impeccably tight, around him as she takes him further and further until he’s seated deep inside her. He grips her hips, fingers digging into her soft skin as he guides her back and forth, helping her rock against him until she’s found a rhythm.

He can’t take his eyes off of her. He delights in the way her lips part with pleasure, the way the candlelight catches the thin layer of sweat on her skin and makes her glow. She’s so unbelievably beautiful that he cannot believe how lucky he is, how utterly blessed he is, to bear witness to her on top of him. To watch as she derives her pleasure from him.

Elain rides him slow and steady, her breasts rising and falling in time with her hips as she sinks down on him over and over again, her walls clenching around him each and every time. Azriel doesn’t know how much longer he can possibly hold it together.

He wraps an arm around her waist, holding her in place as he shifts them both up so his back is against the headboard and her chest is against his. Her nipples slide against his skin each time he thrusts up into her. His arm stays wrapped firmly around her waist while his other hand threads through the hair at the nape of her neck, gently craning her head back until her eyes are on his.

He holds her there, his eyes locked on hers, as he picks up his pace and angles his hips slightly to hit the spot that has her falling apart with a sharp cry of his name just a minute later. Azriel follows, letting himself go with a whisper of her name as he comes inside her. Elain buries her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder and he feels the cool dampness of her tears against his heated skin.

She makes no move to lift off of him, only melts further into his body as he pulls her tighter against him. Azriel holds Elain close as she cries in his arms, his eyes squeezing shut against the feeling of his heart shattering in his chest.

…

I’m always thinking of you.

Elain studies the small scrap of paper with the carefully written message that Nuala had quietly slipped into her hand while they prepared dinner together ten days ago.

The note is creased, the paper worn thin from the amount of times she’s unfolded it to read the words over and over again. Those five words are all that keeps her tethered to the earth these days but if she keeps this up, the ink will fade and she’ll have nothing left.

Just as she had feared, what was supposed to be a week apart had somehow turned into almost four.

Twenty-five days have passed since she had woken up to an empty bed, her hands blindly reaching out only to find her sheets cold where his warm body should have been.

Twenty-five days and other than this singular note in her hands, Elain had not seen or heard from Azriel.

She had also hardly seen their High Lord despite living under the same roof.

It was evident that Rhysand was doing everything in his power to avoid her. He made excuses to have his meals at different times, he had mysterious meetings that would come up the second Elain stepped foot into the room. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think it was guilt that made it impossible for him to look into her eyes.

Even Feyre had been tiptoeing around her, carefully avoiding bringing up any topic that could possibly lead back to Azriel. Elain knew her sister felt terrible about the situation, that her regret over her Mate’s actions and orders meant that she couldn’t be around Elain for more than five minutes unless they had Nyx in between them as a barrier.

Elain decided that she’d finally had enough when she woke up this morning with fire in her veins. It’s what had her reading that note one last time, folding it neatly and sliding it back into the top of her dress, before she stormed upstairs and let herself into Rhysand’s office.

He’s in the middle of a meeting with Cassian when she barges in, both their heads turning quickly at her interruption.

Rhysand looks at her as if he’d been expecting this to happen eventually. Cassian watches on in silence.

“Call him back, Rhys.” Elain spits out, not bothering with any niceties.

“Elain…” Rhys starts, taking a deep breath.

“Call. Him. Back.” Elain enunciates each word. “I want him back here within the next two days or I swear on the Mother, I will find my way to Autumn Court and cause a scene like you wouldn’t believe.”

Cassian swears under his breath at her threat, obviously taken aback by her unexpected tenacity. Rhys remains looking at her with that infuriating, unwaveringly calm expression that’s so similar to Azriel’s, plastered on his face.

“I want a meeting with you and Feyre as soon as he’s back. Cassian, you can come too.” Elain’s voice is strong even though she feels like she’s about to crumble into dust on the inside. “Invite Nesta. Invite the whole godsdamn circle. I want this done formally since you think this is such a big deal.”

“He’s coming back tonight.” Rhys says finally, brushing something Elain can’t see from his sleeve. “You both are so very dramatic for being the two quietest people in this house.”

Elain ignores that remark. “He’s coming back? Tonight?” And then because she doesn’t trust Rhys quite like she did before, she turns to Cassian for confirmation. “Really?”

“Really.” Cassian nods, an inkling of a smile on his lips.

The ache in her chest eases just enough for her to take her first proper breath in what feels like weeks.

Tonight. He’d be back tonight and then they could finally put this all to rest.

Hope ignites like a flame low in her stomach as she leaves Rhysand’s office but Elain squashes it, shoves it down until it’s nothing but a tiny, burning ember because hope was a dangerous thing for her to have.

…

Elain does her best to calm her racing heart as she stands in Rhys’ office, her arms crossed over her chest as if to keep her heart within her body, as she waits for Azriel to arrive so that this meeting can commence.

Feyre is perched on the corner of the desk where Rhys sits, mindlessly flipping through whatever papers are in front of him. Nesta and Cassian are squished together on a loveseat off to the side, his large, siphoned hand heavy on her knee as if to hold her in place. Most likely in case Rhys says one wrong thing and she lets her emotions get the best of her. Something that wasn’t completely out of the question given the way she was currently staring at him with daggers for eyes.

Other than a few initial greetings, no one has said a word. The tension in the air is palpable and Elain feels like every inch of her skin is on fire. It’s a sensation that only gets worse when the doors leading to Rhys’ office open and Azriel finally enters the room.

His eyes find hers immediately, softening as they travel up and down her body, devouring her with his eyes just as she’s doing to him.

The sight of him knocks the air out of her, like it usually does. He’s beautiful, dressed in well tailored gray slacks and a simple white shirt. There isn’t a single weapon on him other than Truth-Teller strapped to the belt slung around his hips.

After going so long without seeing him, it’s only practice from months of pretending that they were nothing more than acquaintances that allows her to drag her gaze from his without launching herself into his arms and showing everyone in this room just how much she wanted him.

Azriel walks further into the room but carefully maintains the excruciating distance between them, as if standing too close to her would have Rhys sending him back to wherever he just came from.

“Okay.” Rhysand breaks the silence, standing up and walking around to the front of his desk. He leans against it, his arms cross at the same time one ankle crosses over the other. “Let’s hear it.”

“I won’t stay away from her any longer.” Azriel’s words collide with Elain’s when she speaks at the same time.

“I want you to tell me why you called him away on Solstice.”

Rhys’ eyes flicker between them and the way he sighs, as if he had a million other things he’d rather be doing, makes Elain see red.

“I called him away that night because it would have been incredibly stupid for him to kiss you.” He chooses to respond to Elain. “Both of you seemed to have forgotten that your mate was in the same house.”

“My mate,” Elain repeats his words through clenched teeth, “has nothing to do with this.”

Rhys’ eyes light as he stands up a bit straighter, fully engaging in the conversation.

“Your mate has everything to do with this.” His voice is firm. “I will not risk the safety of my Court, of my people, because my Spymaster decided to seduce you.”

“Seduce me?!” Elain’s eyebrows raise. To hear it from Azriel was one thing, but hearing it confirmed from Rhysand hurt in a way she hadn’t expected. “As if I’m so naive that I could be swayed because of what…? Sex? Do you truly think so little of me?”

“That’s not it, Elain.” Rhys replies, patiently.

“So what is it, then? You think he isn’t capable of pursuing anything except sex? That he couldn’t possibly be interested in me for anything else? That he isn’t capable of actual feelings? Of wanting more for himself?” Elain pauses, “He’s one of your oldest friends and yet you have no idea what he wants.”

“You have no clue what you’re talking about.” Rhys shakes his head, his voice darkening. “I have known him for centuries. You have known him for a few years.”

“Watch your tone.” Azriel’s warning sends a shiver up Elain’s spine but Rhysand only turns to the Shadowsinger with a smirk on his lips.

“What do you have to say, brother?”

“I have fought you on very few things in my life, Rhys.” Azriel takes a step forward and Elain catches Cassian sitting up straight out of the corner of her eye. “I’ve obeyed your orders even when I’ve disagreed with them, but I have to put my foot down on this. I will not stay away from her any longer.”

“What do you want me to do, Azriel?” Rhys laughs. “I may as well set Prythian on fire myself because that’s where this is all headed if Beron or Eris gets word of this. They’ll take any excuse to act and you know it.”

“I will not be used as a pawn in your political game.” Elain interrupts before Azriel has a chance to reply. “You have ruled this court for almost your entire life. You have won wars. You have kept your people safe for centuries. There has to be another way. I am begging you to find another way. This is my life, Rhys. I won’t let you interfere with what I want and Azriel is what I want.”

“You haven’t even tried with Lucien!” Rhys raises his voice and Feyre’s hand lands on his arm as she glares at him, silently telling him to calm down.

“I have no desire to try with Lucien.” Elain maintains her composure. “I am glad that the mating bond worked out for you. I’m glad it worked for Nesta and Cassian but my sisters had time to fall in love before they even knew about the bond. They had a choice. I deserve one, too.”

“I can’t allow this.” He shakes his head. “I cannot risk everything because the two of you are incapable of keeping your hands off each other.”

“Rhys.” Feyre breaks her silence, sighing. “We’ve discussed this.”

Elain watches as Rhys and her sister exchange words in a conversation only they can hear.

“Let me show you.” Elain’s patience slips and the words are out before she can think about what she’s just offered. “You think this isn’t serious, you think it’s just lust… let me show you that it isn’t.”

“Elain.” Azriel turns to her, his eyes wide. “Don’t.”

It’s an invasion of their privacy. She knows it and she hates it but it’s a necessary evil. She’d give up the moments that were supposed to be just between them, she’d let Rhys see them if it meant they could have a future. “It’s the only way, Azriel. I don’t know how else to make him believe it. To make him believe us.”

“Rhys, this is unnecessary.” Azriel pleads with his brother.

Even Feyre speaks up, quietly whispering to her Mate to rethink this. But Elain can tell that his interest is piqued. This could be their only opportunity.

“I’ll show you.” Nesta stands, pushing Cassian’s hand off her lap. “I saw them one day. I’ll show you.”

Rhys, Feyre, and Azriel all turn towards her - disbelief clear on all their expressions.

“No.” Elain remains firm, turning to her sister and giving her a soft smile. She appreciates the effort but she knows it won’t be enough. “He needs to see it from my perspective.”

She faces Rhys once more and repeats herself. “Let me show you.”

Rhys closes his eyes for half a second but nods once.

Elain opens the gates to her mind when Rhys asks for access and then she begins to pull memories, letting him see and feel everything just as she had.

She starts at the very beginning - let’s him experience that initial flutter of interest that she’d felt the very first time she met Azriel. She lets him see the glimpses of all the quiet conversations they had, lets him feel the relief that had flooded her body when she saw him walk into the tent in Hybern’s camp. She summons memories of the way he’d been the only source of light in her life during her darkest days, the moment he’d been the one person to see her for what she was when even her Mate had failed.

She shows him the memory of Solstice and the aftermath that followed, the countless nights that she spent crying herself to sleep as she tried to figure out what had gone wrong.

Elain brings Rhys into what was possibly the most emotionally vulnerable moment of her life - that first night in the hallway where she’d confronted Azriel and laid her whole heart out in front of him. She made sure that Rhys saw that she’d been the one to instigate the conversation, made certain that he heard how Azriel had tried to do what he had once thought was right.

She pulls memories of the way Azriel looked at her, the softness and reverence in his eyes and voice as they exchanged whispered words in closets and garden sheds. She shows him the way he relaxes around her - the way he laughs, the way he smiles, the gentleness with which he touches her.

Elain shows him that very last night - the affection in Azriel’s eyes as he watched her in the early hours of the morning before she’d fallen asleep. She lets him see the way he’d wiped the never ending tears from her eyes and held her close, whispering promises that he’d always find his way back to her.

She lets Rhys view and feel it all. Each intimate moment that couldn’t be written off as just simple physical attraction. She lets him into every moment that should’ve been just between her and Azriel, allows him to feel that light between them that neither of them had ever been able to explain.

It’s so emotionally exhausting to go through it all that her knees practically give out when she finally retreats from her mind. It’s only Nesta’s arm around her waist that keeps her standing.

Elain can’t keep her hands from trembling as she looks up at Rhys. She doesn’t dare look over at Azriel.

She can’t get a read of Rhysand’s face as he stands in front of his desk. There isn’t even a hint in his expression that she’s just shared some of her most cherished and vulnerable moments with him.

It feels like hours before he moves even a muscle but her breath hitches when she sees the slightest tick of his jaw.

“You love her.” He pivots to Azriel. It’s a statement, not a question. But he still looks at his Spymaster for confirmation.

Nesta’s grip tightens around Elain’s waist. She still can’t bring herself to look at him so she keeps her eyes on Rhys, only breaking to look once at Feyre, who’s tear lined gaze shifts from Elain to Azriel as she too, awaits his answer.

“I’ve been in love with her for ages.” His voice is barely a whisper but his words are assured. Elain can’t help the whimper of relief that escapes her as she gives in and looks over to him only to see that his hazel eyes are already on her.

“Gods.” Rhys mutters under his breath. “This is to stay within this house. Not a single person outside of the Inner Circle can know about this. Certainly not her Mate. Not until we figure out how to handle this.”

Rhys gives Azriel a long pointed look before returning his attention to Elain.

She fights the urge to make a comment about how they’d done a damn good job of keeping things a secret from him these past few months but she holds her tongue lest he change his mind.

“You’ll still be expected to appear next to Lucien in public. Whether you agree with me or not, this is a serious matter that will backfire if it isn’t handled correctly.”

“Okay.” Elain nods quickly, her fingertips begin to itch with anticipation.

“Okay.” Rhys says, begrudgingly.

“Really?” Elain can’t keep the hope out of her voice, nor can she stop the tears of relief that pool in her eyes.

“Yes.” The words are barely out of his mouth before she turns and crosses the room, practically sprinting towards Azriel.

…

Azriel catches her easily, his arms winding tight around her waist as he lifts her off the ground. Her dress is a whirlwind of colour around them as he spins her once.

He can hardly believe it. It doesn’t feel real to hold her like this in front of everyone after months of only having her in secret. She’d sacrificed so much for this, given up parts of herself to fight for this. For them. He didn’t know how he’d ever convey how much what she had just done meant to him. He didn’t know if he’d ever fully forgive Rhys for letting it go that far but he pushed that thought to the back of his mind, in favor of focusing on the beautiful female currently in his arms.

“I love you.” Azriel murmurs, staring deep into her eyes as he says the words directly to her for the very first time. He leans into her touch when she places both of her hands on either side of his face and looks down from where he’s still holding her off the floor and against his body. “I love you, Elain.”

“I love you.” She cries, dipping her head down to bring her lips to his.

Azriel sets her down, his arms stay safely around her as he kisses her back. It’s soft and slow and entirely too intimate given their surroundings. But for once in his life, he doesn’t care. He pays no mind to Rhysand taking a seat at his desk, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. He hardly sees Feyre standing next to him with a bright smile on her face and tears in her eyes.

It’s a relief to have her like this. It’s a weight off his shoulder to no longer have to hide, at least not within these walls. He was well practiced in keeping secrets, but it had killed him to bring into this. To have her hide a whole part of her life from her sisters. To have her live in the shadows with him when she was such a bright light on her own.

Azriel knows there’s more to be done. That they still aren’t in the clear. That they may never be in the clear. He knows that there’s more at risk, that so many things could go wrong. But the risk was worth it for the reward of knowing that Elain was his.

#elriel #elriel fic #elriel fanfic #pro elriel #elain x azriel #elain acheron #azriel x elain #acotar fanfiction #ao3 fanfic #ao3 writer #my writing #elriel smut #elriel angst

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cat-mentality · 4 months

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Not, like, to passar o pano to everything like a fool or to sound too delusional but like.................... the Federation coming up on the last moments to save the day makes sense.

Okay, hear me out.

The whole point of the Federation is to make the Islanders happy, to make sure they enjoy the Island and shut the fuck up about anything else that may be going one.

They have them the eggs. So that they could go around and play house and to make the Island feel like a home so that they didn't try to leave.

They made them fragile, so that they could be used as bait, as they could subtly keep people in line by making it clear that they could take the eggs away as easily as they gave them. I like to think the nightmares are actually real, but that the Federation just decided to act and restore the egg's life and make everything feel like a bad dream (Since we KNOW they can bring the kids back, as seen with Flippa, and also mess up with people's memories).

But even so the Islanders start to hate them. They hate the Federation and they rebel against them, they are neither enjoying the Island or playing nice like the Federation wants them to and that is not acceptable something has to be done.

They try, but they fucking fail every single time, in fact they basically make it worse.

And then the eggs run away and the Islanders go missing.

Of course the Federation will jump ship to save the kids the moment they discover where they may be.

What better way to make the Islanders happy? They were out of control when the kids are missing and blaming the Federation the one time they are actually innocent, the only way to fix it would be to push themselves into the savior role and bring them back

Present the kids with a smile and a subtle "Look at us. Look at us doing what you failed to. You tried to bring them back and you failed, you almost lost them, but we brought them back, we rescued and took care of them, we gave them a extra life, aren't we nice? Aren't we great?", putting themselves as the saviors, as the heroes, as more powerful than the Islanders, as able to take care of them better than they can take care of themselves. (Breaking serious analysis to say: Mother knows best vibes. Literally the Federation is fucking Gothel)

Everything is perfect now! The kids are back, there are new kids for them to love, the Island is as good as new again!

No one has to pay attention to those who are still missing. They are gone! Don't you see, we went to the Island and we didn't find them, they are gone (how fucking tragic that those missing are the loose lines, the worker who they know they can't trust, the experiments who knew too much, the infected islander, the man who couldn't keep himself out of their bussiness), what a tragedy. But focus on the children! They are so weak and fragile now, they need all your attention, you wouldn't want them to be sad would you?

And now this.

Now there is this entity wrecking havoc, putting the children at risk, destroying everything when things are still trying to be fixed.

And the Islanders can't do a fucking thing against him.

But the Federation can. They know they can. But they wait, they wait until the last seconds, they let them try, they let them plot, they let them die.

And when they are desperate, when they are begging for their help, when they have no other choice, that's the moment the Federation comes.

They come and they fix the issue easily.

The heroes, yet again, taking a away the danger, saving the children. Another message "You can't do this without us. You are weak, helpless, what would you do without us? Don't you see? You need us."

Of course the Federation will come and save the day over and over again, they want to make sure the Islanders feel they depend on them.

#i like the idea of a all powerful organization #it's my personal taste i know others don't enjoy this type of narrative so i get the criticism #but i don't particularly mind this narrative and wanted to share my opinion #i do enjoy it actually #qsmp liveblog #qsmp #qsmp analysis

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agent-grey-fics · 2 years

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Being a Gallagher-Milkovich | Mickey & Ian dads x reader

Summary: @beth-gallagher22 requested a cute reader x dads fic. Y/n is Mickey’s and Ian’s adoptive daughter, the oldest of their three kids. She sneaks out one night to go to a party after she's been told not to go by her dads. Her dads find out and go get her. Can Mickey keep his cool when he finds his kid drunk, hooking up with some guy? Wordcount 2400 Warnings: non AN: struggled a bit with the ending but I hope you liked it! xoxo Lexi Mickey = Dad Ian = Papa

No. You were expecting the answer but somehow you still hoped that your dads had said yes, they had a notorious partying-past themselves so you thought that you might have a small chance. You gave your dad the biggest puppy eyes you had in one last effort to get what you wanted. 'No y/n you heard papa you're not going to Eliza's tonight, end of discussion.' You groaned and threw your arms frustrated in the air. 'You just don't understand how important this party is, I'll be the only one who won't be there. They'll think I'm a loser.' Mickey snorted. 'You're a Gallagher-Milkovich you'll never be a loser, doll.' You stormed past them and stomped up the stairs. 'She'll understand one day.' Ian mumbled to Mickey when he wrapped his arms around him from behind while they were standing in the kitchen. 'Yeah, but she'll hate us for quite some time because we want to keep her safe, that's not fair.' Ian chuckled as he saw the frustration on his husband's face. 'As you said, she's a Gallagher-Milkovich, she'll be fine.'

The bedroom door slammed close behind you and you threw yourself on the bed as you left out a frustrating groan. They just didn't get it. Literally, everyone was going even Gemma Garrety from the fucking Northside. You were going, no matter what your dads were saying. You got up from your bed and went through your closet, searching for the perfect dress. Last month papa had given you shopping money for the upcoming summer. Instead of buying a couple of outfits you just went for a beautiful, black dress that showed way too much skin but it was perfect for a heated summer at the Southside of town. You took the dress off the hanger and laid it out on your bed. It was perfect for the party. You grabbed your makeup bag from your bedside table and set up an improvised makeup station, laying everything you needed out in front of you on your desk. Brett Greendale was going to be there so you wanted to look absolutely fire. After you had curled your hair in soft waves you pinned it back so you could start on your makeup. You went for a subtle eye look but went for dark, red lips. When you were done with your makeup you put your bathrobe on and got in your bed so you could pretend you were sleeping as your dads would come to check on you when they went to bed themselves at eleven. So you just waited.

As you predicted your dad popped his head in something after eleven. He lingered in the doorway for a minute or two, looking at his sweet angel with a loving smile on his lips. He and Ian were so happy when they got the news from the adoption agency that they were approved and were eligible to adopt. They got a call in the middle of the night, that they needed to rush to the hospital to be present during your birth and before they knew it they were holding you in their arms, you were sweet as a pea and making them a family of three. That was already sixteen years ago, time had flown by. Mickey stepped back into the hallway, closing your bedroom door behind him. That was your queue. You sat straight up in your bed listening to the sound of their bedroom door falling into the lock. It took them normally ten minutes to fall asleep so you waited patiently. When it was a quarter past eleven there wasn't a sound to hear and you walked over to your window on your tippy-toes. You had done this before, it wasn't your first rodeo. Your room was on the first floor but you could make the jump easily without hurting yourself if you took off your heels. So you did, you threw your shoes, bag and keys out first and followed in a swift movement after landing on your feet in the grass. You slipt your heels on and started walking in the direction of Eliza's place, this night was going to be epic.

A couple of hours had passed and you couldn't remember if this was your sixth or seventh drink, who cared anyway. You had spent the night dancing with some friends in Eliza's living room before Brett had swooped in, stealing you from your girls. The two had chatted for some time in the kitchen, he had made some stupid joke and you pretended that he was the funniest guy on the planet. He wasn't, he was far from being funny but you thought that pretending would play in your luck so you laughed. After some time he pulled you in by your waist so there was no room left between the two of you. He gave you a boyish grin before he leaned in and places a kiss on your lips. They were softer than you had imagined. You grabbed the hem of his shirt with one hand and steadied yourself by placing the other on his waist. You didn't care about anyone else in the room, they could watch all they want. After a minute or two, he leaned back and you almost started frowning when he did but then you realised what he was doing. Your heart was pounding in your chest as he grabbed your hand, dragging you along the stairs. You could hear some of his friends cheering on him as the two of you reached the top, disappearing into one of the empty bedrooms. You didn't have much time to think as he started to tuck on his own shirt, taking it off and throwing it on the ground. You kicked off your heels and stood awkwardly in front of him, not a hundred percent sure about your next move. You might be a Gallagher-Milkovich but this was actually the first time you went this far with a guy. Okay, you had given a blowie once or twice but that was it. You promised yourself that you would only go all the way with a guy you truly liked and you did. Brett could be an asshole sometimes but he could also be sweet and treated you like a princess. He was the right one. He softly ran his arms from your shoulders to your hands and gave them a soft squeeze. 'You sure about this?' All you could do was nod in agreement. 'You need to say it.' It was probably the alcohol in you that was speaking but you really wanted to do this. You placed your hands around his neck and pulled him closer to you. 'Are you going to fuck me or what?' That was enough for him. Whit one firm push he had you laying on your back on the bed and a giggle left your mouth. He crawled towards you and placed one knee on either side of your body, hovering above your face. 'Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?' You shook your head whiles biting on your bottom lip. 'Damn, y/n you look really pretty tonight and that dress, fiew.' He whistled. 'Smoking hot.'

The only thing that you didn't know was while you and Brett were getting cosy upstairs your dad was about to march into the party. He was furious. 'Hun, please think this through. Okay, she disobeyed our request but do you really need to pull her out tonight? You can yell at her in the morning. She will feel so embarrassed if you do this.' Ian did his best to calm Mickey down but it was a lost cost. Mickey was going to get you, even if he had to throw you over his shoulder. 'Ian, you can stay in the car or you can walk in whit me, making sure that I don't beat up a fucking kid okay?' He grabbed the steering wheel, his knuckles turning withe as he did. 'Yeah yeah, let's go then.' The two of them walked up the front door and as they entered everyone looked at them in confusion. Mickey's eyes went over every person in the room but he didn't see you anywhere so he turned to your best friend instead. 'Eliza, where is she?' She didn't say a word only pointed towards the stairs with her finger, almost shaking. She knew you were in big trouble. Mickey only needed a second to understand what she meant and raced towards the stair, going up two steps at a time. Ian followed, but he first apologized to Eliza for barging in and causing a scene.

Before Brett could take off your dress the door swung wide open. 'What the fuck dude?' Brett asked as he turned his face towards the door. 'Get your shittie little hands off my daughter you piece of shit.' Brett didn't even get the time to stumble out of bed, no. Your dad pulled him towards him by his ankles and then threw him against the wall. 'Dad, no stop!' You screamed as you saw the scene in front of you. 'Dad stop, you are hurting him. Let go of him!' Your dad's eyes were spitting fire. 'Mickey, let go of the fucking kid. Y/n, get your stuff and go wait in the car. Now!' Your papa walked over to your dad and yanked him off of Brett before he could hurt him. 'If I ever see you near my daughter again, you're a dead man. 'Ye- yes.' 'Yes who?' 'Yes Mr. Milkovich' Your cheeks were burning red as you stormed down the stairs, you couldn't leave the house as quick as possible. What were they thinking? You're a Gallagher-Milkovich, no one will think you're a loser. Bull shit. Whose parents came to drag their kids home from parties? Let alone out of a room right before they were going to get laid? Assholes. You were the mega loser now. President of losertown. Ian succeded in dragging Mickey downstairs with him, leaving the poor boy in the bedroom. 'You're a dead man walking Greendale.' Mickey yelled over his shoulder as he went with a hand through his black hair. 'Get your ass in the fucking car!' Ian yelled at his husband while he stopped in front of Eliza. 'Honey, I am so sorry for all of this but you know Mickey, y/n is his world and he would do everything for her. I'm so so sorry. Just come over by our place tomorrow okay? I'll make it up to you by making your favourite, homemade pizzas.' He placed a hand on her shoulder while he spoke. 'All good Mr. G, just don't be too harsh on her, please? I begged her to come.' Ian chuckled softly. 'I'll see what I can do.'

The drive home was a silent one. It was a bit scary because you knew that your dad could lash out any second. You did your best to keep your thoughts straight and coherent but the alcohol in your system made it difficult for you to think clearly. 'Dad?' He didn't respond and your papa threw you a soft smile as he turned his head towards you. 'Let's talk when we get home sweety.' You shifted uncomfortably in your seat at those words. You were going to get grounded until you were thirty, you could feel it. 'Okay.'

There you were, sitting whit tears in your eyes at the kitchen table while your two dads were sitting opposite of you. 'Y/n, we told you no so why did you go?' It was your papa who was speaking while your dead was looking angry at you, arms crossed over his chest. 'I-I was the only one who wasn't going.' A tear slipt down your face as you tried to reason your decision. 'This is bullshit y/n, your papa told you not to go and you went anyway and for what? Some boy?' Your dad snapped at you as he slammed his hand on the table. It made your papa give him an angry look. 'I'm sorry dad, I know that I've been stupid.' You wiped away your tears with the back of your hands. 'He's not just some boy, I-I really like him and he's into me and it was a perfect night until you barged in.' Your dad grabbed his head with both his hands, softly pulling at his hair as he heard your words. Mickey made a vow in his head he was going to hurt any guy that would come close to you. 'Doll, you are sixteen. You have all the time in the world to find a guy that loves you. There is no need to rush it with the first Southsider you see.' You shook your head in disbelief, it wasn't like that you really liked the guy maybe even loved him. 'I love him, dad. It was stupid of me to sneak out after you told me I know but I had to see him.' Tears started welling up in your eyes again, troubling your view. 'Honey, you know how we do things around here. Mutual respect and no secrets. You broke both rules, how do you think we feel now?' It was your papa who said those words and this was worse than them being mad. They were disappointed in you. 'I'm a disappointment, I know.' Your dead reached over the table holding out his hand for you to grab. 'You are not a disappointment y/n. Yes we are disappointed right now but that doesn't mean that you're a disappointment sweetie. You are a great kid and we love you very much.' You slipped your hand in his and he gave you a soft squeeze. Mickey promised himself that he would be better than his father and father-in-law. From the first moment he saw you he promised to keep you safe and make you feel loved and wanted. He was overprotective from the first day, Ian had to step in hundreds of times to make sure that he didn't punch anyone in the face that looked longer than five seconds at you. You were is god damn world. 'No more secrets.' Your dad mumbled as he stroked your hands with his thumbs.

'No more secrets dad.'

#Lip Gallagher #ian gallagher #mickey milkovich #Ian and Mickey x reader #Ian and Mickey dads #lip gallagher x reader #ian gallagher x reader #Mickey Milkovich x reader #Shameless US #Shameless fic #fiona gallagher #carl gallagher #debbie gallagher

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igncrxntripley · 1 year

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Hi I'm a huge fan of your work and I wanted to know if you could do a one shot with JD doing a surprise party for secret weapon especially since my birthday is exactly a week from me asking for this (26 if March if anyone was curious)

happy birthday

a/n: HAPPY FREAKING BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! i wanted to make this as fluffy as possible i'm so sorry i made u wait 😭

mentions: @babybatlover @ripleyswhore

The Judgement Day may have been a rowdy group of partiers, but they also enjoyed being able to have more lowkey celebrations with one another for special occasions. Given that it was Y/N’s first birthday with them though, they wanted to do something special and something that would once again solidify her place in their family.

The group split themselves up so they could make sure that everything was set up at home while Y/N stayed as far away as possible. Dominik volunteered himself to take her out for the day to do all of her favorite things; he took her to get her nails done, they went shopping, and they got to see a movie. Y/N was under the impression that the others were working and they would all do something later that night or the next day; little did she know, they were at home turning the house into a birthday extravaganza.

Finn had been assigned the task of buying and wrapping Y/N’s presents. He was really good at having conversations with Y/N about her favorite things and paying attention when she would talk about wanting something. So he took note and made sure to get those items, and then he set up station in the living room with bags of presents and a bunch of wrapping paper. Oddly enough, everything was wrapped extremely well and he even added different bows and ribbons. He’d gotten enough practice during the holidays to get good at it, and his partners didn’t even argue about him taking that piece.

Rhea was in charge of decorating. She knew the boys meant well, but she couldn’t trust them with a bunch of balloons and streamers because it was all going to be an unorganized mess. It needed to be perfect, so that’s why she knew it was better to do it herself. Not only that, but she wanted to stay as far away from baking anything as possible. Damian wanted to decorate but Rhea stood her ground; she did let him help pick out decorations.

Speaking of baking, that was Damian’s job. He was adamant that he could do it because he saw a video online for a cake recipe Y/N had been wanting to try lately. It looked easy in the beginning, but Damian was quickly getting frustrated. He had flour on his face and he wore an apron so he didn’t make a mess all over himself, but those efforts quickly proved to be a waste because he was still covered in flour and powdered sugar.

— —

Dominik had sent a warning text that he would be home with Y/N in thirty minutes. Finn had set up the gifts in the living room in a nice little pile and had moved to helping Damian finish decorating the cake. “Jesus, lad. Could you write any sloppier?” He was trying to fix Damian’s god-awful handwriting on the cake, but it was proving to be a lot more difficult. Rhea was giggling to herself as she licked the spoons and watched, making Damian look up at her as he counted out the candles. “Yeah? You think this is funny?” He asked her.

Rhea shrugged and put the spoons down once she finished. “I think you two are just overthinking this.” She teased. “It’s a cake, not a Picasso.” Finn rolled his eyes and licked his fingers from any frosting once he finished. “We get that but it needs to be perfect. And we let the person with the shakiest hands do the writing on the cake.” Damian nudged his arm and wiped off the flour from his face. “All that matters is it's done, and she’s going to be home any minute.”

Dominik, who was in the car with Y/N, had spent the day with her and loved every second of it. He held her hand over the center console, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. “I hope you had a good time for your birthday, princess.” Y/N was having an amazing time with him, but she missed the other three more than anything. “I really did, but I wish they could’ve spent the day with us.” Y/N said softly. Dominik nodded, even though he knew in the back of his mind that there was a surprise waiting for her at home. “I know, baby. But they’ll be back later and we can still do something.” He said. He was just proud that he hadn’t let the surprise slip at all that day, and as far as he knew Y/N didn’t suspect anything. “It’s not their fault they had to work.”

Y/n nodded. “I know. I just wanted to be with all of you for the whole day.” She shrugged, but looked over at Dominik with a small smile. “You did a good job at keeping me company, though.” Y/n playfully pinched his cheek making Dom smirk.

— —

“Christ, Priest! Just wear the party hat!” Rhea said, practically tackling Damian to the couch as she tried putting a party hat on his head. He was the one who always had issues wearing silly things, but convincing from his partners usually got him to do it. “Do you see how small it is?” He said, moving his head away from Rhea. “I do see, but you just need to wear it for a few minutes! Do it for Y/N?” That was all Damian needed to hear, and he sighed before surrendering to Rhea.

Finn put his own hat on and adjusted the band around his head. “See? It’s not that bad.” He teased, smirking at Damian who glared at him. “You two hurry up, Dominik is pulling in any minute.”

It was only about five more minutes after that where Dominik had texted to warn everyone he was coming inside with Y/N. The lights inside were off and Damian, Rhea, and Finn stood in the living room in their party attire. Y/N walked hand in hand with Dominik to the front door, who had her shopping bags in the other hand. He opened the door and let her go inside first, but was surprised when she heard the voices of their other three partners.

“Surprise!” They all exclaimed, Y/N looking at them in shock but still laughed at the party hats they chose to wear. “Happy birthday, babygirl!” Rhea said as she clapped, all of them chuckling at the shocked looks on Y/N’s face. “W-what…I thought you were all working!” She turned to Dominik and pointed at his chest. “Did you know about this?”

Dominik laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m a good secret keeper.” He teased, kissing her temple. Rhea was the first to walk over to Y/N, putting her hands on her girl’s hips and pulling her closer. “We wanted to surprise you.” She gave Y/N a kiss, pulling her into a tight hug. “Well you definitely surprised me.” Y/N hugged Rhea just as tight and smiled into her chest. “This is crazy…you guys didn’t have to.”

Rhea let her go and she immediately went to Finn next. “You deserve it, baby. Really.” He said, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a kiss. “We don’t mess around when it comes to birthdays.” Y/N chuckled as Finn let her go, laughing as Damian came up behind her and picked her up. “He’s right. And I didn’t slave over a hot oven baking a cake for no reason.” He teased, letting Y/N wrap her body around him as they shared their own kiss.

Y/N looked around at her partners, smiling at every one of them and giggling when Dominik gave her a party. “You’re all ridiculous.” She said softly. “But this is amazing…you didn’t have to.” Damian smiled at her. “But we wanted to. And you’re family now, so get used to it.”

Rhea nodded and stood with Dominik, keeping her arms around him as she giggled. “The second part of the surprise comes later tonight.” She mumbled, making Y/N blush and hide in Damian’s chest. “Fucking tease.” Y/N couldn’t help but think about just how lucky she was. She’d never had someone celebrate her like this, but now she had four people who did. It was so much more than she could have ever wanted for herself.

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if-mirrormine · 6 months

Text

mm cast interview

characters: grayson donohue, kennedy rose, alex colwell, kelsey montgomery, nora, callie, demetri renfied

words: 1969

**unedited//you guys ever watch kitchen nightmares?**

Hello and welcome to the very long-awaited character interview! I'm your host, Alli, and I have with me today the cast of Mirror Mine!

Kelsey: They know what's going on; let's speed this up a bit, shall we?

(Grayson nudges her and she rolls her eyes but holds her tongue.)

I suppose we should just jump into it! I'll start with Kelsey, since she seems to have volunteered herself. First question; what made you become a detective?

Kelsey: (shrug) Why does anyone? To help those unable to help themselves. To bring justice to those who need it most.

How noble of you! And what were your impressions of the other cast members?

Kelsey: (she tilts her head to the side and hums) Gray was still a rookie when I first met him; I thought he was a total idiot that couldn't tell his arse from his elbow. But he's since grown on me and (eye roll) is actually quite competent and good at his job.

Grayson: (grinning) Thanks, Kels.

Kelsey: Yeah, whatever. Nora, I adore; she made me feel warm and welcome immediately. And she makes the best ratatouille I've ever tasted. I don't interact a lot with Callie, but they seem alright. Alex is way too happy-go-lucky for my liking but to each their own. And I like Kennedy; she seems to be the only one with her head screwed on straight.

And what about Demetri?

Kelsey: (deadpan) I said all I have to say.

Well... alright then! My next question is for Nora; how did it feel to raise two children on your own? Is there anything you would've changed?

Nora: It wasn't easy... those first couple of years were especially difficult. It was like suddenly not having any legs to stand on, I lost my balance a couple of times. But I'm so proud of who they grew up to be and I wouldn't have changed anything. Well, (dark chuckle) except maybe having my husband around.

(Demetri shifts in his seat, his eyes on the floor.)

Is there a specific memory that you'd consider to be your favourite?

Nora: Oh, there are just so many... (pause) I think if I had to choose, it would be Callie's first Christmas. Demetri and I had decided to keep the celebration small instead of inviting our family over, so it was just the four of us. MC was so excited to help Cal unwrap their presents that they didn't even care about their own. We spent the day in our pyjamas, let the kids watch cartoons and play with their new toys... it was the perfect day.

Demetri, would you say that's your favourite memory too?

Demetri: Like Nora said, there are too many to choose from but... that was a really good one.

But it's not your favourite. (He shakes his head.) And if you had to choose?

Demetri: The day I married Nora.

(Nora looks away to the floor and chews on the inside of her cheek.)

Let's move on, shall we? Alex! What is it about Grayson that makes u tease him so much?

Alex: (grinning) He just makes it so easy. He's a walking treasure trove of material.

(Grayson crosses his arms over his chest and grumbles quietly to himself.)

Alex: See what I mean?

Why did you choose paediatric surgery?

Alex: Well, I like children and I like helping people; so, when I realised I could do both, it was an easy choice to make.

But surely that must make things worse when things go wrong?

Alex: (serious) Of course; it's always really difficult to lose a patient but I understand that sometimes there's simply nothing that can done, even if you've done everything in your power to make it not so. A lot of doctors struggle with blaming themselves when things go wrong and I used to too, but I've learned that I can't let myself get swept up in my grief or my next patient might suffer too.

I like that; I think that makes you a great doctor. Now on a lighter note: what made you like MC in high school?

Alex: (with a surprised laugh) Oh, I... don't actually know. I just remember thinking that I needed to talk to them and get to know them, you know? And after our first date, I just wanted more and more.

And how did it feel when you broke up the first time?

Alex: Oof, not great. I was an idiot to let them believe I didn't care for them as much I did - as much as I still do - and that's one of my biggest regrets. I was so relieved when they agreed to get back together; I'd felt like I'd been drowning without them but as soon as they were by my side, I could breathe again.

That's so romantic! I think my next few questions will be for Grayson!

Grayson: (with a nervous smile) I'm ready.

What was the hardest thing for you when MC disappeared?

Callie: (scoff) Jeez, Alli; don't hold back.

(Nora shushes Callie.)

Grayson: (after clearing his throat) You mean besides losing my best friend? I guess losing MC meant losing myself in a way. For so long I'd seen us as me and MC that when it was suddenly just me, I didn't really know how to act anymore. I don't think I'll ever be the same person I was ten years ago.

(Kelsey reaches out to rub his back and he gives her a tight-lipped smile.)

That must've been tough. We've talked quite a bit about the past and favourite memories; do you have one of the MC?

Grayson: My fourteenth birthday. I was supposed to spend it with my dad, but he had to work so MC did everything they could to cheer me up. I think about that day a lot whenever I need a smile.

And how did you realise that you were in love with them?

(He blinks in surprise but quickly regains his composure, his face red.)

Grayson: I guess when I started to look forward to seeing them every day. I'd wake up thinking about them, wondering what we'd do and talk about, and even if the day was objectively bad, I'd say it was good because I got to spend it with them.

I'll go easy on you for this last one: what's it like being a detective? Do you enjoy it as much as you think you would've enjoyed business?

Grayson: It's definitely... interesting. It's a lot more paperwork than I ever thought it would be, which is less than fun.

(Kelsey stifles a laugh and he cracks a smile at her reaction.)

Grayson: (cont.) But overall, I enjoy it; it's a lot different than business, that's for sure. As for whether I'd have enjoyed business more if I stayed... I'll never know for sure, but something tells me I made the right choice.

So mysterious... Let's pivot over to Kennedy!

Kennedy: (imitating Grayson) I'm ready.

(The cast laughs and Grayson does his best to hide a smile behind a look of annoyance.)

What made you choose teaching as a profession?

Kennedy: I always loved learning new things, no matter the subject so going to school every day was really exciting for me, unlike every other child alive, I'm sure. But one of the things that made it so great were the teachers who dedicated their lives to imparting their wisdom and knowledge. I wanted to have that same kind of impact.

And what do you like most about teaching?

Kennedy: Probably seeing that impact in action. (Smiling) So many students come in and out of my classroom and I love knowing that I had a hand, or even just a pinky finger, in getting them where they want to be in life.

On the subject of students... do you have a favourite?

Kennedy: (with a stifled laugh) What kind of teacher would I be if I answered that question?

So that's a 'yes'?

(She makes a gesture of sealing her lips.)

Okay, how about my next question; what do you look for in a partner?

(She thinks for a moment before nodding decisively)

Kennedy: All the usual things; patience, kindness, a sense of humour... someone who I can spend the whole day with without having to say a word in order to be comfortable or show my love for them. Someone I can trust wholeheartedly to catch me when I fall, to lead me when I can't see.

Do you think you've met such a person yet?

Kennedy: (with a wistful smile) Possibly.

Alright, don't tell me... I've got some questions for Callie.

Callie: Hit me.

What's your favourite thing on the menu at the restaurant?

Callie: That mom makes? I'd kill a man for her calzone. But if we're talking about my personally curated dessert menu; I simply can't choose, they're all perfect. (Beat) With that being said, I always recommend the beignets to anyone who'll listen.

Good to know... did you always want to be a pastry chef?

Callie: (shrug) Guess so. I did get forklift certified a couple years back but there's just something about baking that kept pulling me back.

Alex: I think the something you're looking for is that baked goods are delicious.

Callie: (nodding) That'll do it.

My next question is a bit of a hard hitter... what is one thing you've always wanted to say to MC but never did?

Callie: My favourite colour is sage green.

(Nora nudges them, giving them a meaning look and they roll their eyes before crossing their arms over their chest and looking at the floor.)

Callie: Fine, I guess... I don't want to you to hate me. I know I wasn't the best sibling to you, especially those few years before you disappeared, I wasn't very nice, but I didn't mean it. (They take a deep breath.) For a while I was jealous of you... you had more friends than I ever did, you were better at a lot of things than me, you knew dad a lot longer than me... I thought it was unfair, but it was even more unfair for me to take it out on you even though it wasn't your fault. Then you disappeared and I was just so angry at myself for wasting so much of our time together resenting you -

(They're cut off by a choked sob and Nora quickly wraps her arms around them.)

Callie: (crying) I'm sorry, MC; please don't hate me.

They don't hate you, Cal; I can promise you that. (Beat) To wrap everything up, my last few questions are for Demetri.

Demetri: This should be fun... let's hear it then.

First question: what is wrong with you?

(He snorts, hiding his laughter behind a fist.)

Demetri: How much time do you have?

Evidently, not enough... next question: why did you leave your family ten years ago?

Demetri: (with a sad smile) You know I can't answer that.

I had to ask. I suppose I'll settle for the next best thing: do you regret leaving?

Demetri: Yes, it was the worst decision I've ever had to make.

Knowing how everything turned out, would you do it again if given the choice?

(Nora watches him with tears in her eyes and he turns his head to look at her and Callie, an unreadable look on his face.)

Demetri: Yes. (He looks away and Nora squeezes her eyes shut causing tears to slip down her face.) There's nothing I'd change either.

Well; this has all been very... enlightening. Thank you so much for joining me today and thank you to everyone who sent in questions. Couldn't have done it without you! And now, as they say in the biz; it's Christmas, let's go home!

#hello good people of tumblr #i finally finished this #i hope its good????#idk new imposter system just dropped #mm: grayson #mm: kennedy #mm: alex #mm: nora #mm: callie #mm: kelsey #mm: demetri #mirror mine

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foundry-fabrications · 6 months

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Happy Halloween everyone! It is with immense pleasure and excitement that I present to you a labor of love, the long awaited rework of Flesh & Bone! Originally, I had intended to release this shortly after the absolutely stellar remake of Dead Space, but that obviously wasn't going to happen. So as to not repeat my last mistake with big projects and arbitrary deadlines, I took things nice and slow, took my time to give this work the true love and attention it deserved. Anything for my beloved Dead Space.

And I couldn't be more pleased with the result! Well, I can always be happier. There's always something I wish I could have added or done differently, but I won't dwell on that. "Don't let perfect be the enemy of done". But it makes me so happy to see it in its full gorey glory after all this time. But that enough preamble, let's get into the changes from the original!

Being the result of a 3-week mad rush to release on time for Halloween, the original brew has a LOT of problems. I forgot a lot of details and made a lot of mistakes just by the nature of not having enough time to do it justice. Having had, what, 2 years, between now and then has given me a lot of time to hone my skills as a creator and figure out exactly what I wanted to do for the eventual rework.

The first and most obvious thing is the aesthetics. Flesh and Bone was the first time I ever tried to make a Homebrewery theme from scratch, so I had a LOT to learn in a very short timeframe. I got it most of the way there for what I wanted to do, but it still had a lot of issues, namely a lack of integrated stat blocks. Formatting was also just awful. I just couldn't get them to work quite right, and they always looked super off, so I elected for images instead. Since then, I've made my Xenomorph supplement which used that initial test as a starting point, and I was able to fix a lot of the issues I ran into. I also want to change the overall look of the theme itself. When I designed it, I was going for a design mix based on the Dead Space wiki and the holographic UI from the games themselves. The result was...not the most legible. I've taken a new approach with the rework, made everything MUCH more readable, and borrowed heavily from the aesthetics of the 2023 remake.

As for the contents themselves, turns out there were a bunch of really cool necromorph variants that I just completely forgot about like the Twitchers, those reanimator swarms from DS3, and the Ubermorph. With that last one in particular, I reworked the old Hunter into the Regenerator with Hunter and Ubermorph variants, like I have with the Slasher, Spitter, and now Twitcher. In general, most of the necromorph forms were in dire need of reworks up in one way or another, especially their descriptions. I pulled almost all of that text directly from the Dead Space wiki, and it showed real bad. Again, 3 weeks, all panic. All the descriptions have been rewritten to be more in line with my other writing.

I also removed that section at the beginning about the Markers. I originally included it to give context for the rest of the brew, and I just really wanted to talk about the Markers, but the more I looked at it that section honestly added very little to the rest of the brew that couldn't be done in other areas. And let's be real, the Markers are SO IMPORTANT to the Dead Space universe that they really need their own dedicated brew. So, I pulled that section out, and it will go in said dedicated brew another time.

And the final change is I actually included some form of boss necromorph this time! I hadn't planned to, but I started thinking more and more about it, and I was also asked by one of my lovely patrons about it, so I gave in and made stats for really the only Dead Space boss worth talking about: The Hive Mind. I actually had fun writing it, working out its abilities from both the original and the remake, as well as taking some creative liberties and giving it some fun new abilities as a result of it being a Nexus necromorph.

So that's everything! I hope this gruesome creation of mine brings you as much joy and terror as it has to me. Stay safe, stay spooky, don't forget to love each other, and m̵̧̈́ͅa̴̜͑̍ḳ̵̍ë̷͍͇́ ̶̖̾̏u̸̪̅͜s̷͙̟̓ ̷̬̩̒w̸͇͘h̶̠̳͆̽o̶̻̺͂̀l̴̛͍̦e̸̡̡͗. See you next time.

Enjoy my work? Consider leaving me a Tip or supporting me on Patreon! Patrons gain access to high quality PDFs for all of my content, weekly updates, early access, and more!

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heliads · 2 years

Text

Discoveries at the Dance

Based on this request: "It was the night of the Prawn, Y/n & Addison were there but depressed as Zed & Wyatt can’t make it. Addison noticed that their dates had arrived they went to Zed & Wyatt. An earthquake happened so everyone followed it and found the moonstone. Y/n’s necklace (the moonstone one Wyatt gave her) started to glow, Addison suggested to put it on the moonstone & when she did she transformed into a Werewolf"

masterlist

It is the night of the school dance, and what should be one of the happiest evenings in your memory thus far is instead being spent trying to hold back tears. You’re only mostly successful. Across the room, your best friend Addison is experiencing similar levels of joy. Both of you have been looking forward to this night for about as long as you’ve been alive, but here you are– two girls, absolutely miserable. Clearly high school isn’t the place for high expectations, but you had rather hoped to at least enjoy yourself a little bit.

As if running through similar thoughts in her own joyless head, Addison gives a weak little laugh. “Well, don’t we look like we’re having a good time? We might as well get ourselves together, this night can’t get any worse.”

“Are you sure about that?” You ask balefully. “I’m pretty sure we can keep digging. Rock bottom isn’t real to me yet.”

Addison snorts in spite of herself. “Oh, come on. We’ve both been dreaming about going to the Prawn since we were kids and first heard about it. We have our perfect outfits and everything. Surely we can at least have a little bit of fun tonight, right?”

You look at her doubtfully. “We could, if it weren’t for the fact that we’re missing something even more important than a dream outfit. You know, maybe that our dates are all physically barred from entering?”

Addison grimaces. “I was trying to avoid thinking about that, but yeah, that does make for a bit of a downer.”

You laugh bitterly. “At least we look good. We have to show up eventually, right? Let’s swallow our pride and just be there. We can’t push this off any longer.”

“Are you sure about that?” Addison asks, looking wistfully at a framed photo of her and Zed on her desk.

“Positive,” you say grimly, “Now let’s go. The Prawn waits for no man. Nor monster, apparently.”

That’s the problem with the dance, after all. Everything about it is perfect– the decorations, the lights, the excited laughter of students billowing out from the propped open doors. The only thing you’re missing is the fact that the boy you love is not allowed to step foot on the premises due to the fact that he’s not entirely human.

See, you knew there would be problems when you first started falling for Wyatt Lykensen. Of course there would be problems. After all, look what happened when Addison started dating Zed. Despite the fact that she was a star cheerleader and he was single-handedly turning Seabrook football around, everyone in town had opinions on it, and most all of them were bad. Factor in the fact that at least zombies weren’t unfamiliar to the people of Seabrook due to the fact that they’d been present for years, and it’s obvious that the Zed situation was the best case scenario in a sea of really bad alternatives.

Wyatt, on the other hand? Wyatt, who’s one of the werewolves, who will never know a reception into this town with open arms? He has none of Zed’s stellar reputation in the high school, which means that his entrance into the ranks of Seabrook students would only be received even worse. The werewolves may, admittedly, have not had the purest of intentions when they first showed up, but they want to be here now. Wyatt has convinced you of that a thousand times over.

You’re not the one who needs convincing, though. All of Zed’s hard work championing the cause of monster equality, everything the werewolves have done to try to make a place for themselves in the town, and it’s all come to nothing. The Prawn is humans only, something that you and Addison are deeply infuriated over tonight. There’s nothing you can do now, though– you already tried your hardest to avert this crisis and it still happened.

So, as much as you would love to be able to have your moment with your boyfriend, it’s not going to be happening tonight. You, Addison, and Bree are going in a group of friends out of solidarity for all that you’ll be missing. Addison is wishing Zed was there right now, you know for a fact that Bree wants Bonzo there to dance with her, and you’re looking out of every window in the hopes that you’ll somehow see Wyatt showing up to be there for you.

Needless to say, none of you are all that pleased with the way the school dance is turning out. Still, you’re going to show up out of responsibility. The three of you arrive at Seabrook High with low expectations, and even the twinkling lights and dashing pastel decorations can’t win you over. The dance could be taking place in the most detailed mansion and you’d still be thinking about the one person you want there more than anything.

The music is good, though, and you’re almost able to distract yourself from thoughts of wishing your boyfriend was there by dancing with Addison and Bree. All of a sudden, Addison taps your shoulder, her entire face rewritten with shock.

“Am I dreaming, or does the Prawn suddenly have a few new arrivals?”

You follow her line of sight to see a group of people racing towards the doors to the school. Your heart leaps when you realize that it’s a group of monsters, Wyatt at the front. They’re all dressed to the nines, and stroll right past the chaperones trying to keep them out like the angry yells were nothing more than flies. It might be the most wonderful sight of your entire life.

You run up to him, unable to stop yourself from spending a single second not by his side now that you have him for real.

“You came!” You say, delight spiraling through the syllables.

“Of course I did,” Wyatt replies, “did you really think I could ever leave my girl without a date?”

You laugh. “Not if you had a say in it. Although, not that I’m sad to see you, but I swear you didn’t have any say in this at all.”

Wyatt gives an easy shrug. “I’d like to see them stand in my way. Change doesn’t happen through silent compliance, you know. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe is right, and I know this is right.”

You beam at him. “I’m just glad that you’re here.”

Wyatt smiles back at you. “I’m glad to be here too. Trust me.”

He pauses a moment, then taps the necklace hanging in the hollow of your throat. “Although I am glad to see that you wore that even without knowing I’d be there.”

You follow his line of sight and understand what he means. Wyatt gave you a moonstone necklace identical to his about a week ago. You’ve treasured it ever since. When you found out that Wyatt wouldn’t be able to come to the school dance, it only made sense to bring some part of him there in his stead. In your opinion, the moonstone necklace did perfectly. It’s good to know that Wyatt agrees.

“I just wanted to feel like I wouldn’t be alone here,” you whisper.

Wyatt takes your hand. “Of course you’re not alone.”

He starts to guide you towards the groups of dancers in the center of the room, but the two of you have only begun moving when he stumbles. Wyatt is excellent at keeping up the charade of perfect health in front of most people, but you see straight through it and realize that he’s not nearly as infallible as he usually claims to be.

Eyes alight with worry, you reach for his hand. “What’s wrong? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Wyatt grins weakly. “I don’t think that’s the best compliment you’ve ever paid me, but I’ll take it as a sign that you care about me.”

Your eyes narrow. “Wyatt. An explanation would be nice.”

Wyatt sighs. “Alright, alright. We still can’t find the moonstone and it’s wearing on all of us. Look at Wynter, she can barely stand. We’re here as a show of strength, but we’ve got almost nothing left.”

You must look horrified, because he squeezes your hand and tries to stand up straighter. “Look, it’s alright. There’s nothing we can do about it anymore, and I’d rather have this night with you be worth something than spend the next few hours wondering about some mystery we can no longer solve.”

You pull him close under the guise of starting a new slow dance. “Just stay with me, Wyatt.”

It’s a promise neither of you can expect, but Wyatt agrees with it anyway. “Always.”

He starts to say something else, but his words are cut off by a loud cracking sound issuing from the ground nearby. It seems almost like thunder, but there are no storm clouds in sight. Instead, what you find is a massive divide splitting the ground nearby in half.

Addison finds you in the chaos, Zed right behind her. “It’s an earthquake,” she says, “Look, the ground is completely hollowed away underneath.”

Your brow furrows. “It looks almost like a tunnel.”

Wyatt nods slowly, eyes wide. “Yeah, and it’s glowing. Like a moonstone.”

Willa pushes her way through the crowds to reach your party, Wynter right behind her. “You guys are seeing this too, right? There’s no way the moonstone isn’t down there.”

Bree claps a hand over her mouth. “What are we going to do?”

You extend a hand towards the fissure in the ground. “Find the moonstone, obviously. We have to move fast, though. I don’t know how much time you guys have left.”

As if to prove your point, Wynter doubles over in a fit of coughs that leave her shaking and spent.

Wyatt nods grimly. “Let’s move.”

Thus your group descends into the earth in search of a mystical power source none of you truly know will be there. The only thing you can do at this point is hope that it will be here, or this trip with the werewolves might be their last.

In the end, though, you don’t have to fear. Zed manages to clear away some heavy rubble and you stumble upon a partially collapsed room, moonstone intact in the center. Wyatt and the other werewolves race towards it, and you swear you can practically see them come to life again as their moonstones are recharged. Wyatt turns back to you, triumphant, but as you watch his smile drops in an instant.

He holds up a trembling hand to point at the necklace he gave you. “Y/N, your moonstone. It’s glowing.”

It makes no sense, but you look anyway and he’s right. The small shard of stone at your throat is a bright pearlescent shade, and sends refractions of light dancing over your skin.

“That makes no sense,” you try to argue, “it should only glow if I was–”

Your words are swallowed up abruptly by the shock of your realization. Wyatt finishes the thought for you anyway, although it’s kind of pointless. Everyone in that room is thinking the exact same thing.

“If you were a werewolf,” he concludes.

You shake your head slowly. “No, that’s impossible. I would know if I were a werewolf.”

Willa shrugs. “I mean, your town didn’t even know about werewolves until we showed up. Surely it’s not that impossible to assume that you wouldn’t figure it out until now.”

Wyatt shoots his sister a look, muttering something about a poor bedside manner under his breath, then extends a hand to you. “We can test this. Come here, see if you can charge the necklace.”

You may not trust whatever is going on with your necklace and the moonstone, but you do trust Wyatt, so you take his hand and allow him to lead you over. You press your necklace to the moonstone just as he did. The second you do, you feel this rush of something wash over you. It feels like power. It feels like coming home.

Wyatt whistles under his breath. “I think that means you’re a werewolf.”

Addison nods. “Your eyes are glowing just like Wyatt’s. It’s true.”

You let out a shaky laugh. “Well, this really wasn’t the way I was expecting tonight to end.”

Wyatt’s eyes fill with concern. “But you’re not unhappy about it, right?”

This time, your voice is more sure. “No, I’m not. This is a good thing, Wyatt. A very good thing.”

And why would it not be good? This means you have a pack, an entirely new family to stand behind you when you need it most. You have your boyfriend, you have a fascinating future opening up in front of you. No, you could not be more happy.

disney tag list: @rogueanschel, @lovesanimals0000, @thatfangirl42, @amortensie

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