#with my heart in my throat even though it'll probably be fine (but what if it ISN'T???!)

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

We got each other (and that's a lot)

Written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles, day 18

Prompt: Hurt/Comfort

Rated: M

CW: Violent imagery; aftermath of injury

Tags: Steve got vecna'd (he's okay, though); Angst; Trauma; Fluff

Notes: Continued from day 3. They'll be fine, they just need to kiss some and get a lot of therapy, probably.

Wanna see these soft, broken boys sleeping? Check out the heartwrenching art by @house-of-the-moving-image

Eddie drifts.

Inky blackness surrounds him like cotton, every sound, every thought muffled. His neck and fingers and arms still hurt, but it's the dull kind that comes with exhaustion, the tingle of adrenaline finally rushing from his body. Some distant part of him is still stirring, demanding that they stay alert … but the darkness is warm and soft and alluring as it pulls him under. 

Something cold touches his hand. 

Eddie flinches awake, heart kickstarting in his chest, fear zapping into his limbs like an electric current.

He fell asleep, he realizes, and the terror of it claws its way up his throat like a slimy, rotten tangle of vines. He fell asleep and when he opens his eyes it'll be to find Steve floating under the ceiling again, to find Steve's mangled corpse on the bed, eyes sucked from their sockets, face twisted in an eternal, grotesque scream, it's too late and he fell asleep, he fucking fell asleep while- 

Steve is awake. 

Steve is awake and he's looking at him and he's alive and his hand is lying on top of Eddie’s. It's cold and there's a needle in it from the IV cord and he's ghastly pale against the sheets, but he's smiling softly and he's alive, he's alive and Eddie wants to scream, to cry, to kiss him and never stop, to hold him and never let go-

"Hey," Steve whispers. 

"Hey," Eddie croaks. "You look like shit, man."

"Aw," says Steve, and the corners of his mouth twitch and Eddie thought he'd never see his smile again and shitshitshit don't cry, Munson, don't cry. "Thought I was pulling it off real well." 

He jerks his head in the general direction of the cast on his right leg, the one on his left arm. Eddie thinks he'll hear the sound of the bones breaking in his nightmares for the rest of his life.

"Typical," is what he says. "Half dead and still worried about your looks." 

Steve hums a not-quite-laugh. His fingers caress the back of Eddie’s hand. 

"Is he …?" 

"Dead," Eddie blurts. "For real this time. It's over." 

"The kids?" Steve's fingers twitch.

"Fine," Eddie says, watches how Steve's entire form sags with relief. "Buckley and Wheeler, too. And everyone else. It's over." 

"I- good." Steve screws his eyes shut, gulps. Draws a shuddering breath. "That's good." 

Eddie watches how his shoulders start shaking. Following a sudden impulse, he flips his hand and tangles his hand with Steve's, careful not to upset the needle. Steve blinks down at their entwined fingers. 

Eddie forces himself to smile and rambles on before either of them can question the gesture. 

"El was so fucking metal, you should've seen her. Like, the way she obliterated that douchebag? Remind me to never get on that girl's bad side! Seriously, man, I don't think any of us would be here if she hadn't-" 

"Well, I don't think I would be here …" says Steve. "... if it hadn't been for you." 

Eddie’s words barrel to a stop. Steve’s fingers tighten against his, trace the callouses on his hands. Steve’s smile is small and soft, but his eyes are serious, trained stubbornly on the ugly pattern of his hospital gown. 

"I thought you hated Bon Jovi." 

Eddie huffs. "Fuck, yeah, I do. Forcing me to besmirch my Sweetheart's strings with that mainstream shit? You owe me big time, man. Better start thinking of ways to pay me back."

"Yeah?" Steve raises their tangled hands lightly. "How's this for a start?" 

And then, before Eddie can even wonder what he's about to do, he ducks his head and presses a kiss to his knuckles. His lips are soft and warm. 

Eddie blinks. Waits for the world to stop spinning. 

"For … a start?" he repeats dumbly. 

Steve's eyebrow quirks. 

"Dude, I'd like to do so much more, but I'm glad I managed to lift your hand, to be honest. We should also first talk about stuff, I guess." 

"Oh," Eddie says intelligently. "You mean … like that thing you wanted to tell me?" 

"Yeah, like tha- … that thing." Steve needs to interrupt himself for a huge yawn halfway through. Since one of his arms is in a cast and the other hand is refusing to let go of Eddie’s, it ends up open-mouthed and adorable. "Probably'll have to sleep some more b'fore that, though …"

"Sure thing," Eddie is out of his chair and fussing with the pillow before he realizes what he's doing. Steve's eyes are already drooping as he helps him settle down. "I'll … I'll be outside, tell the others you're-" 

"Eddie?" Steve's grip around his wrist is light as a feather, but he still stops like he's been tethered in place. When he turns, there's fear swimming in those pretty eyes. "Stay? I don't … I'd rather not be alone." 

Eddie is back in his chair before Steve can finish the sentence. 

"Can you…" Steve's eyes are slipping shut again and his words are slurred, so that Eddie must lean closer to catch them. "D’you think you can sing? So I can find my way back, if- … Your voice is like light."

Eddie doesn’t know what to say to that, doesn’t know if there's anything he could possibly say to that. So he says nothing. Just swallows around the lump in his throat and takes Steve's hand and starts singing softly. 

By the time Steve's breath evens out and his fingers go limp, Eddie’s other hand has found its way into his hair. 

Eddie keeps singing for a long while.

For as long as he's here, Steve will always have someone to guide him back.

Part 3

All my holiday drabbles

#steddie #steve harrington x eddie munson #steve x eddie #steddie brainrot #steddie fanfic #fanfiction writer #fanfiction #fanfic #my writing #steddie holiday drabbles #hype's holiday drabbles

[shrikeseams]

.

#extremely spun-up right now about IRL stuff #(nothing major. and also only the consequences of my own procrastination. but still pretty minor consequences) #but i'm full of anxious energy and no ability to focus #and what extra sucks is that i know tomorrow i will probs have NO energy (and also no focus) #and yet I can still do very little about it #except fill out some forms and wait for thursday #with my heart in my throat even though it'll probably be fine (but what if it ISN'T???!)

[dixons-sunshine]

👉👈 Because your my fav writer for Dad Daryl 👉👈 Just wondering if you’d consider him stepping up as a parental figure for his niece (Merle’s kid) after he “died” and when he actually died 👉👈

I'm Right Here | Uncle!Daryl Dixon x Niece!Reader (platonic/familial)

*GIF isn't mine.*

Summary: With Merle gone, you were the only family Daryl had left. He had unofficially stepped up as your dad, and in those eight months with your actual father "dead", Daryl was a better dad than Merle ever was. And he proved it in more ways than one, even before Merle went missing.

Genre: Fluff, some light angst.

Era: The Quarry, The Prison (season three).

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of blood and death, fear of abandonment.

Word count: 2.4k

A/n: I've been bouncing back and forth between fics and finally managed to finish this. Next up is I Never Lived For The Applause, and then some more young!Daryl. Anyhow, I hope you like this!

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

“Hey, kiddo. Ya alrigh'?”

“I'm fine. The walkers didn't get me,” you tried to reassure him. “You didn't find my dad?”

You looked up at the sound of your uncle's voice, meeting his intense gaze. You gave him a small, unconvincing smile that he could see through instantly.

Daryl sat down on the log next to you, placing his crossbow down on the ground. He stared ahead at the ashes of the prior night's fire, an unreadable expression on his face. “Nah. Wasn't nothin' to find 'cept his hand. He had to cut it off.”

You winced, absentmindedly grabbing your own hand at the mere thought of the pain that it must've caused your father. Despite your strained relationship with the man for obvious reasons, he didn't deserve that fate—to lose his hand because some people couldn't find another way to deal with his temper.

“Oh,” you mumbled, feeling your heart break. Despite everything, Merle was your father and you loved him. At least he had stuck around. The same couldn't be said for your mother, who had dropped you on Merle's doorstep the moment you were born.

“Yeah,” Daryl responded, instantly picking up on your downtrodden mood but not knowing how to bring you comfort in a moment like that. He'd just essentially told you, his thirteen year old niece that was so wise beyond her years due to the shit Merle had gotten into, that your father was most likely dead. It tore him apart to have to bestow that news on you, but it was necessary. What could he do, lie to you? That was out of the question.

You blinked the tears away that had started to well up in your eyes, trying to put on a brave face for your uncle. “Looks like it's just us now, huh, uncle Daryl? The two remaining Dixons.”

Daryl gave you a tight-lipped smile and ruffled your hair, chuckling quietly at the sound of protest you let out. “Looks like it. We're gon' give the world hell, ya and I. Jus' like the old times.”

You smiled up at him. Even though your father was gone, you still had your uncle, and that made you feel better about everything.

“We are. The world ain't ready for us.”

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

“It won't work.”

“S'gotta.”

“It'll stir things up,” Rick told Daryl, adamant with his decision.

“Look, the Governor's probably on the way to the prison righ' now. Merle knows how he thinks, and we could use the muscle,” Daryl replied defiantly, glancing between his companions on the road.

“Do you really want him sleeping in the same cellblock as Carol, Beth or Y/n?” Glenn questioned, unwilling to let Merle, a known hothead and former drug user, near the people he's come to care about.

“He ain't a rapist,” Daryl responded, frowning at Glenn's accusation. “And he sure as hell wouldn't touch his own daughter like tha'. Merle may be sick in some ways, but he ain't like tha'.”

“Yeah, okay, but his buddy is.”

“They ain't buddies no more. Not after last nigh'.”

Rick chipped in to the conversation, turning the archer's attention back to him. “There's no way Merle's gonna live there without putting everyone at each other's throats.”

“What, so ya'd cut Merle loose and bring the last samurai home with us?” Daryl asked, motioning over to Michonne who was waiting for them by the car.

“She's not coming back with us.”

“She's not in a state to be on her own,” Maggie denied, giving Rick a pointed look.

Glenn nodded in agreement to his girlfriend's statement. “She did bring you guys to us.”

“And then ditched us,” Rick stated in a bored tone, eyeing Michonne warily.

“At least let my dad stitch her up?” Maggie asked.

“It's too unpredictable,” Rick denied vehemently, shaking his head.

Daryl nodded in agreement. “He's righ', we dun' know who she is. But Merle... Merle's blood.”

“No. Merle is your blood. My blood, my family is standing right here and waiting for us back at the prison,” Glenn countered, crossing his arms over his chest.

“And you're part of that family,” Rick told Daryl, looking at him expectantly. “He's not. He's not.”

Daryl stayed quiet for a few moments, pondering over his decisions. Thoughts of leaving with Merle, going off and fending for themselves like the old days flashed through his mind, but then he thought of you. You, his sweet, kind, low-key badass, now fourteen year old niece who he'd gone to great lengths to protect over the past eight months. The girl who he'd been taking care of since his brother "died", the girl who had unknowingly started to feel like his own daughter, though he would never tell Merle that. And at that moment, he knew he couldn't just leave. He wouldn't.

“Man, wha' do y'all expect me to tell my niece?” Daryl began, effectively silencing everyone. “Tha' I found her father after all this time and he's alive, but he couldn't come back to her 'cause y'all said so? How's tha' gon' fly with her? Ya'd really deprive the girl a chance at gettin' her father back 'cause of wha' might happen?”

That seemed to really make everyone reconsider. Even Glenn didn't have a counter argument now. Everything was silent for a good thirty seconds while Rick weighed his options, exchanging wordless exchanges with Maggie and Glenn. It was clear that nobody wanted it, but the group couldn't deny Daryl's argument. They cared about you, and it would be unfair for them to deny you the chance of getting your father back.

Rick turned and whistled, signalling Merle over. When he stood in front of him, Rick gripped him by his shirt, getting into his face.

“You're coming with us, but this isn't an invitation for you to be a jackass with everyone back at the prison. The only reason you're even coming back is because of your daughter. If it wasn't for her, you'd be gone.”

Merle's eyes widened the slightest bit with surprise, but it soon morphed back into his usual careless look. “Well, would ya look at tha'. My lil' girl still lives. M'surprised, quite honestly. Didn't think she was built fer this world. Kinda expected her to have kicked the bucket by now.”

“Man, shut up!” Daryl's voice boomed unexpectedly, shutting his brother up. “Dun' make me regret convincin' them to bring ya back. And if ya even say one degradin' thing to yer daughter, I will personally gut ya and feed ya to the walkers. Tha' kid's been through 'nough.”

Unbeknownst to either brother, Rick, Glenn and Maggie had walked ahead to get everything settled into the car, leaving the two brothers to their feud. It was a good idea, too. That was a family matter.

“Wha', ya actually care 'bout her now? Didn't see ya stickin' 'round to play pretend with her back before the world went to shit, and now yer tryna tell me how to parent my own child? Nah, lil' bro. Tha' ain't how it works.”

Daryl scoffed and shoved past him, walking over to the car. He didn't miss the unmistakable sound of Merle's laughter, rolling his eyes at it. He pressed forward and slipped into the passenger's seat, not missing the way everyone tensed up when Merle got into the car.

He just hoped that he hadn't made the wrong decision by bringing Merle back.

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

You and Carl were rushing over to the gates when you saw the familiar vehicle enter the courtyard. The car was noticeably more crowded, and with one glance through the window, you were relieved to see your uncle. You had been so worried that something might have happened to him, but there he was, relatively unscathed.

Daryl was barely out of the car when you practically launched yourself into his arms. He stumbled a bit but regained his footing, hugging you tightly to him. He didn't miss the unmistakable sound of your sniffles.

“Hey, kiddo, s'alrigh'. M'okay,” he reassured you in whispered tones, rubbing his hand up and down your back in comfort.

“I was so scared. I couldn't stop fearing the worst,” you choked out, trying to will the sobs away. You buried your face into your uncle's shirt, dampening it slightly with your tears, but he didn't seem to mind.

“M'righ' here. I ain't goin' nowhere, I promise,” he assured you. “No more tears, alrigh'? Ain't no more need fer 'em.”

“Well, ain't this jus' sweet.”

A familiar raspy voice met your ears. You tensed up, pulling away from the hug and turning around, facing the man you had thought to be dead for eight months—your father, Merle Dixon.

“Wha', no hugs fer yer old man, girl?” Merle asked, a grin on his face as he extended his arms in a silent invitation for a hug. “Yer not gon' greet the man who helped with givin' ya life?”

Subconsciously, you took a step back. Daryl stepped in front of you, shielding you with his body. He gave Merle a warning glare before turning to you.

“Why dun' ya go help Hershel with tha' lady we brought back? I know he's been teachin' ya some medical things. It'd do ya good to learn how to do stitches.” You nodded, understanding his underlying message and sped off, leaving him alone with Merle. Daryl turned to face him, a glare on his face. “Man, back the hell off. She ain't gotta give ya anythin' if she dun' want to.”

“Because I was with the enemy?”

“'Cause yer a simple minded piece of shit who never even bothered to play dolls with her, much less give her hugs! Ya wanna know somethin'? When tha' lady dropped her off on our doorstep, who do ya think took care of her when yer ass was too high or drunk to? To answer yer question from earlier, I did stick 'round. I changed her diapers. I bathed her, fed her, stayed up with her at nigh' when ya wouldn't. I took care of her. Ya were jus' too fuckin' out of it most of the time to realise it! Hell, did ya think those things happened magically?”

“Now listen here, bro—” Merle started, but Daryl didn't light up.

“And when she got older, who the hell do ya think took her to school? Picked her up, encouraged her to do the spelling bee, went to parent teacher conferences? Do ya think the fuckin' tooth fairy did tha'? Say wha' ya want, bro, but she dun' owe ya shit. Ya may not have been like dad, but ya weren't a good father, either.”

Merle stayed silent for a moment, the weight of his brother's final statement weighing heavily on his shoulders. “Then why the hell did ya convince 'em to bring me back?”

“'Cause despite everythin', tha' girl still loves ya. And she deserves to have her father 'round,” Daryl responded simply before turning around and stalking off, leaving Merle alone and dumbfounded.

Merle Dixon wasn't right about most things, but one thing he knew for certain he was right about was that you probably didn't care whether he was dead or not. If what Daryl was saying was true, you didn't need him. You had a perfectly good father figure in your life already. Daryl had been a better father to you than your actual father was.

And for some unknown reason, that crushed Merle's heart.

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

“You found him like that?”

Daryl's heart shattered at the broken sound of your voice. It was the second time that he had needed to tell you that Merle was dead, but this time, it was real. Your father's lifeless corpse layed motionless six feet in the ground in the designated graveyard, Daryl having dragged him there and buried him.

Daryl nodded. “Found him as a walker. He had tried to kill the governor but failed. Son of a bitch got to him first.”

“I should've stopped him. I should've known that something was wrong,” you said, a sob threatening to escape your body. “Before he left, he told me that he was proud of me. That he loved me. I should've known that there was a reason to it. He never told me that before. I should've—”

A choked up sob finally fell past your lips. Daryl instinctively pulled you into his arms, offering to be the pillar of strength for you as you crumbled. Despite everything, Merle was still your father. You still had a handful of good memories with the man—when he wasn't drunk or high, Merle was an okay father. But just okay.

It took a while, but you finally managed to calm down. Instinctively, Daryl pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head, running his hand soothingly over your back.

“S'alrigh', kiddo,” he whispered soothingly.

You didn't know what made you say what you said next. Maybe it was the fact that you weren't thinking straight. Maybe it was because you were desperately looking for a pillar of support, you didn't know. But before you could stop it, the words slipped past your lips—

“Please don't leave me. I can't lose you too, Dad.”

A moment of silence passed. Unbeknownst to you, a small smile spread over Daryl's face. He pulled you closer to him.

“Ya still got me. M'here and I ain't goin' nowhere, kid. Yer stuck with me.”

Merle Dixon wasn't always a good man. He wasn't always a good father either. But in the midst of a cruel world, before and after the dead started walking, Merle managed to give Daryl a sweet gift—you, his daughter. Because despite biological relations, you were now truly his.

#krys writes .ೃ࿐ #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon x female reader #twd daryl #daryl x reader #norman reedus #norman reedus x reader #merle dixon #the walking dead

[stxrvel]

i don't wanna live forever (4)

summary: with the winter soldier in action, you couldn't believe who the person behind the mask was

pairing: bucky barnes x avenger!f!reader

words: 5k

warnings: descriptions of weapons, wounds and blood. i'm not that good narrating action scenes but i tried my best! a russian word poorly translated i'm sorry if it's wrong :(, also English is not my first language so sorry for any mistakes!

note: so we are finally here. the secret's out. i'm just figuring by now that this fic is probably gonna take longer than i expected, but i hope it'll turn out as we all want it! thank u as always for all the support and see u next time! if you guys ever have any questions or request feel free to dm me!

part 1 ; part 2 ; part 3 ; part 5

Another two weeks went by and the wound was practically healed. It was uncomfortable to touch, and you could feel a little pressure inside from the contact with the vibranium. But other than that, you were able to live a normal life.

Fury had informed you in a phone call that you would be on your way back to Washington that day. The agents had no news about the soldier, neither about the places you had visited, nor about the purchase of vibranium in the vicinity of Siberia. With the strong possibility of an assassin on your trail, you were back to square one.

Steve had returned three days earlier, having gone on a mission with Natasha Romanoff, and Fury had left the Helicarrier the day after Steve left, assuring you that he would arrange for you to return to the mainland once the doctors had cleared you.

Of course, you hadn't reckoned on the fact that on your arrival at your apartment, just across from Steve's, everything would be a mess.

Your friend hasn't answered your phone calls, despite your insistence for about twenty minutes, nor has he answered your constant knocking on his apartment door. His inability to reach you puzzled you. The last message you received from him was that he would be waiting for your message to pick you up, which never happened, even though you called him for an hour.

Worried, especially when Nicholas didn't answer your calls either, you found yourself on your way to the Triskelion looking for answers when the burner phone you always carried in your jacket or one of your pockets rang as you were about to walk out of the building.

“Hill,” you answered immediately, relieved that someone was finally trying to get in touch with you.

“Act natural. I want you to leave the building and go to the black van on the left corner. Get in the passenger seat.”

You obeyed, the strange absence of Steve and Fury making more sense in the light of the events of the last few weeks. It had to be him.

You quickly spotted Hill's van and walked towards it, shielding your eyes from the sun with one hand, not bothering to look elsewhere. You got into the car in silence, Hill started the engine and drove down the avenue in silence.

“What's going on?” you asked after several minutes of tense silence.

You noticed Maria's disgruntled face, something that is not usually very clear unless the situation they are in is insurmountable.

“Is it him?” you spoke again at her silence, a layer of cold sweat settling on your hands as you saw her pursing her lips.

“Yes,” Maria nodded, never taking her eyes off the rearview mirror. “He's here.”

“Where's Steve?” your voice almost came out on a thread, fearing the answer was worse than imagined possible. You knew this was coming, but so soon? You felt nauseous at the thought of meeting him once again.

“He escaped with Romanoff,” Maria took a turn, accelerating the car's speed. “They're fine.”

“And Fury?”

“The soldier tried to kill him. Twice.”

You let out a choked exclamation, covering your mouth with both your hands in surprise.

“He's alive,” Hill tried to calm you, when you felt like your heart was going to jump out of your throat. You tried to feel the relief her words brought, but the choking sensation kept growing as the seconds passed. “Steve and Natasha don't know, though. We have to let them think Fury is dead, only then can we get some leverage.”

“God, all this happened in two days?”

“And whatever else is coming. We don't know where he's at or who he's moving near,” Maria shook her head, realizing just barely that you'd left a bit of the suburbs behind. “Fury wants you here.”

A sort of abandoned dam gaped through the trees. Hill pulled the car to the left, hiding it between long logs and bushes.

“What's this supposed to be?”

“You can call it another secret section of SHIELD... or Fury's,” Maria closed the trunk of the car, where she'd been rummaging through something as you climbed down, handing you a bulletproof vest that you didn't hesitate a second to adjust around your torso. “How's the wound?”

“It only hurts to the touch. But I can move fine.”

“Who knew the Supersoldier's weakness would be vibranium.”

Maria opened an unlocked metal fence, mentally wondering if this was really such a safe place to have no security of any kind. A long hallway stretched out in front of you, which felt eternal under the yellow lights, until you turned at the bottom right and there he was. Nicholas Fury.

“What the fuck happened to you?”

“Whatever you did to the soldier, I already made it worse,” Fury coughed, the slight movement of his body causing him to grimace in poorly disguised pain. “Now he's looking to kill us all.”

“And what did you do?”

“Alexander Pierce,” was all he answered, sharing a look with Hill that you didn't know how to decipher.

“The... secretary?”

“Remember Peggy's theory that we could never prove?”

Fury spoke again, your attention completely directed at him. Of course you remembered that. And of course you remembered the way you had flatly denied that possibility out of fear of what that would mean for your friends' legacy. To Steve's legacy. To Bucky's legacy.

There was no need to elaborate, with one look from the Director you knew exactly what he meant.

“Alexander Pierce tried to kill you?”

“It's him, Y/N. The Winter Soldier was the one who killed Howard and Maria Stark in order to get the serum to HYDRA, to create more supersoldiers.”

“We're infiltrated by double agents, that's why it was always so hard to uncover them,” Maria continued, her words barely echoing in your head, never breaking your gaze from Fury.

Eyes crystallizing, you never felt so helpless as you remembered that you had it in your hands to avenge their deaths and didn't. And now he was here, seeking to claim more innocent lives for the benefit of a nefarious organization. No, no, that wasn't going to happen.

“Let me go.”

“No.”

“Fury.”

“No.”

“Nicholas.”

“No, Y/N. You just barely recovered from that vibranium wound, and you want to risk being face to face with that monster again?”

“I wasn't ready at the moment, but I am now. Nicholas, please. I can't sit idly by when Howard's killer is out there,” you frowned at him, your anguished, desperate voice nothing more a reflection of everything you felt in your chest. But Fury was shaking his head once again, ready to give way to no excuses.

“I can't risk you like this again,” Fury barely murmured, your ears catching the words clearly.

“But I won't be alone. Steve and Natasha are there.”

“And they're hiding, too,” Fury assured, clasping his hands over his abdomen.

You frowned, your back slumping against the back of the chair. Hill's sympathetic look on the other side of Fury's gurney angered you. How could they think the best decision was to leave you behind? You weren't the one lying prostrate on a gurney with a bunch of broken bones.

“They're closer to the lion's den than I am right now.”

“But them the soldier doesn't know yet,” Fury pointed at you accusingly, rearranging himself on the bed with a grimace.

You looked at Fury, his one eye daring you to contradict him. It was probably true, you weren't going to deny it. But that didn't give them too much of an advantage, if it was true that many SHIELD agents really were part of HYDRA. Natasha and Steve wouldn't be able to do much if, in addition to the soldier, a hundred double agents showed up to stop them. Maybe even the three of them wouldn't be enough, but you weren't willing to stand by and do nothing. Not when you had the opportunity so close. Fury might not see it the same way, but you couldn't demand it of him when he hadn't gone through what you had gone through so many years before. He didn't see the blank stare of a young Tony, regretting and chastising himself for what had happened, for something completely out of his control.

Fury wasn't going to accede to your wishes, that much was certain. But the good thing was that as a protected subject of SHIELD, you had your own wild cards within the agency, like bypassing the Director's orders when you saw fit, as in the case of anything deemed an emergency.

“Well, try to stop me.”

You stood up, turned around and started walking in the direction of the exit, the expansive hallway welcoming you once again.

“Y/N,” Fury exclaimed, his body leaning forward as if he had truly believed he could follow you with so many wounds on his body. “Hill.”

As Maria approached you, you raised your hand, her feet stopping almost instantly.

“No,” you looked at her and then looked back at Fury.

“Fuck, Agent Carter really has no idea what she did giving you those powers.”

“You know damn well I can take good care of myself, just as well as she can. I'm not going to let him get away this time.”

“That's what worries me. You're so consumed by this idea of revenge that you'd sacrifice anything.”

“And you wouldn't?”

Fury frowned, the words he intended to counterattack with dying in his throat.

“If you'd had to go through the death of one of your best friends, knowing it had been a murder that would never be investigated as such and go unpunished. When after spending years and years trying to seek justice, life brings you home empty-handed. Do you have any idea how that feels, Nicholas? Maybe I'd be willing to sacrifice anything to punish the killer of Tony's parents, yes, but I swear I'm not leaving this world if I don't take him with me.”

The man on the gurney sighed, sharing a look with Hill to which she responded by lifting her shoulders. The defeated sigh Fury let out was enough of an answer you needed, but he added:

“Let me tell you something first.”

-

You were trying to follow the black car that was moving at high speed across the bridge. You had no way of communicating with Steve because he clearly didn't have his burner phone with him and neither did Natasha, as Hill had tried to contact her before meeting you with no result.

You had identified four people in the car, one of them being Natasha's reddish hair, before an armored van completely blocked your view. Steve must've been with her in the car, but you had no idea who the other two people accompanying them were.

That is, until you saw him.

The Winter Soldier, getting out of the armored van and moving to jump into the black car where Steve and Natasha were, the panic that ran through your body forcing you to press the accelerator to the maximum.

Despite the armored van blocking your path, you could tell from the left as the soldier smashed the back door glass, your blood freezing for a minute until you recognized Jasper Sitwell flying out through the window, courtesy of the tug the soldier gave him until he landed in the opposite lane of the bridge.

The sound of gunfire alerted you, moving to try to pass the van once again, when you heard a car brake followed by the screech of metal against the ground. The van suddenly sped up, clearing a path for you now that it didn't seem focused on blocking your way, and you caught up to its pace by the time it slammed into the trunk of the car Steve was in. The pickup took the car over the front, with the soldier gaining momentum to get on the roof of the car and not resting until he was able to wrench off the steering wheel and turn back to get into the armored truck.

You kept pace with the van, trying to catch up with the black car, when a second hit on the trunk caused them to lose control of the car. You slammed on the brakes when, before your heart could leap out of your mouth, you saw three people roll against the road using one of the car doors. You didn't have time to react when the soldier threw a grenade in the direction of your companions, Steve pushing Natasha and the impact pushing him so hard that he ended up flying under the bridge.

You opened the car door, getting out as quickly as possible and impacting Natasha in the process. Neither of you had time to say anything as the hail of bullets began.

“Run,” you exclaimed over the noise, pointing to the opposite lane of the bridge. “I'll cover you.”

You pulled out the dual pistols you packed in your belt, using your car as a shield as you fired in the direction of the soldier and his henchmen, hoping Natasha hadn't wasted a single minute. However, with the grenade launcher at hand, it was hard for you to get far. The moment Natasha jumped off the bridge, you didn't waste a second running in the direction Steve had fallen when the shell hit him, the sound of the bullets barely grazing you, the soldier in your peripheral vision walking in your direction.

You found Natasha the moment you hit the ground, the serum helping you keep your balance and she wasted no time in grabbing your arm to pull you into the shade.

“He's a fucking lunatic,” Natasha pointed at his shadow over the bridge at you, moving in stealth for both of you to shoot when his gaze was on a bus that had overturned.

If you hit him, there was no time to know, running straight for cover behind the bus. When the sound of bullets returned, a mutual nod between Natasha and you was enough for both of you to aim directly at the soldier, firing repeatedly.

“Run,” Natasha exclaimed, her pistols steady in her hands.

You wasted no time, instantly moving in the direction of the sidewalk, firing sporadically backwards to get Natasha to your side.

“How did you get here?” the overloaded, muffled voice of Natasha startled you, finding her crouching next to a car activating the voice engine of a holopad.

“All SHIELD cars have a tracker,” you barely replied, trying to keep your breathing in check, glancing over your shoulder in the direction they had left the soldier.

Natasha made an affirmative sound, leaving the holopad with a voice recording right at the bottom of a car tire.

“This will give us enough time to take him by surprise. Come on,” she moved to the other side of the sidewalk, moving between the altered bodies of civilians to camouflage herself before finding cover behind one of the cars, her feline gaze fixed on the approaching soldier. “If Steve finds out you're here, he's going to fall on his ass.”

“I've been in worse battles.”

“Girl, you have no idea what we've seen.”

You frowned at her, the mystery behind her words leaving much to be desired. Before the soldier got any closer, when he was distracted falling into Natasha's trap, she signaled you with two fingers to move to the right, down the path they had taken to get there, and you knew she was expecting she couldn't hold him off for long and needed you for support.

When the bomb behind the car exploded, Natasha jumped over the car and took the soldier by surprise falling on his shoulders, both struggling hard until he threw her against a car ready to shoot her, when Natasha threw a small shock device at him that neutralized his arm and gave him enough time to gesture a run in your direction.

Natasha took the lead, alerting the civilians and trying to get as far away from the soldier as she could, when one of his bullets hit her and you cursed between your teeth. You watched him move to the right, looking to shoot Natasha from behind and didn't think twice before you took momentum and jumped on him, crossing your legs around his torso and using your right arm to cut off his breath.

He dropped his weapon, the thud attracting the redhead's attention. You barely managed to make a running gesture with your hands as the soldier slammed into your side until your legs gave way from his grip and, grabbing you from torso height, flipped you over until you crashed your back against the hood of the car you two had been struggling over.

When you saw him pull one of his knives out of his pants, you arched up quickly, jumping out of the car and taking a defensive position in front of him, who had remained kneeling in front of the place you had occupied.

Just at that moment you noticed that part of his mask had fallen off, finding yourself face to face with blue eyes that almost made you lose your balance.

God, those eyes felt so familiar. If it wasn't because you knew he had died you would believe it was him, because you would recognize those eyes anywhere in the world.

The soldier stood up, getting out of the car and approaching you as if you were his prey.

“Zhivoy,” he muttered, moving the knife between his fingers and cocking his head to the side without taking his eyes off you. You recognized the Russian instantly, barely having a second to process it when the fight started.

You heard a curse behind you followed by quickened footsteps that you quickly recognized as Steve's, and that was enough of a distraction for the soldier to pounce on you.

You narrowly dodged his first attack, managing the speed to your advantage, ready to block it when he lunged a second time. His blade grazed your forearm, but the pain was nothing and you didn't let it distract you from attacking him, sending a strong kick into his torso after you neutralized one of his arms.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Why don't you have your fucking burner phone?” overly concerned for your friend's well-being, you could barely process what he had told you, trying to pull more bullets from your belt to load one of your pistols, finding the cartridge completely empty. You both stared at the soldier, Steve ready to leap into action the moment he stood up.

“You shouldn't be here,” was what Steve said, before lunging at the soldier the moment that one put his feet on the ground.

You seized the moment to go to Natasha, pulling out of your pockets a spray painkiller that you knew you would need to apply to Natasha's shoulder.

“You really are prepared for anything.”

Around the chaos, you managed as best you could to move Natasha as far out of range of the mess as possible, and turned just barely to see the soldier throw Steve's shield at him, who dodged it just barely without stopping running. When you saw the knife in the soldier's hands, a scream almost left your throat.

Steve and the soldier began a hand to hand fight that you could barely follow, looking in every direction for anything that might help your friend. But with nothing but your own strength to defend him, you moved in his direction as the soldier lifted him by the neck and threw him.

About to fall with the fist of his metal arm, you pushed him to the side causing him to lose his balance, helping Steve to his feet before resuming the hand to hand.

The soldier passed his furious glare over you before heading straight for Steve, the same blond pushing you aside and meeting the soldier fist to fist.

You stepped in between the two once again as the soldier pulled out a blade and you intercepted his arm midway, hitting the weak spots necessary for his hand to open and release the blade. His blue eyes met yours for a second, before he furiously grabbed both of your hands by the wrists, which held his right hand, with his metal hand, to raise them above your head and send you to the ground with a kick to your entire torso. He didn't walk away without first exclaiming again, “Zhivoy.”

Steve snarled, once again taking possession of his shield and closing in on the soldier before he could approach you once more. Retrieving the blade from somewhere on his belt, you heard them struggling against each other, but only one thought kept running through your head, racing your heart in a panic.

His eyes are so like Bucky's.

But that couldn't be possible. Bucky's fall was not to survive, how could he have survived? Worse, how could he have survived to become that?

How could Bucky be the one responsible that you had been looking for for so many years?

Hating to allow senseless emotions to take over your rational side, you rose once more raising your legs and landing on your feet, just for the moment when Steve slammed his shield into the forearm of his metal arm and turned to grab the soldier on his back, pushing him with his own back so that he fell off the other side of the road.

But your breath caught in your throat as you heard his voice, barely a whimper before Steve sent him flying across. The blond turned to look at you in concern, for the sound you had let out almost sounded like a groan of pain, when your horrified gaze met his among the masses of air.

For a moment, it seemed like everything around you stopped.

Steve frowned and in a split second turned his head away, tears making their way into your eyes without you being able to take a moment to fully process what you were seeing. Everything sounded a little slower, Steve's defensiveness soon faltering as he understood why you had sent him that look.

The soldier's mask on the ground, his head turned in your direction, that face you never thought you'd see again.

“Bucky?” Steve was the one who spoke, in stupefaction, and the soldier's face contracted in anger.

“Who the hell is Bucky?”

With tears rolling down your cheeks and Steve's frozen stance, neither of you reacted when the soldier raised the gun in your direction, you for a split second regaining your consciousness and moving towards your friend when the sound of metal and a man appeared behind the soldier, large metal wings standing out behind the man who had just pushed the soldier out of the way.

You froze midway through holding Steve's arm, your hand sliding down his pants barely catching his attention.

The frightened look on the soldier's face, on Bucky's face, which he returned to them as he stood up, didn't stop you this time from reacting as he raised his gun at Steve once more, pulling your friend behind you, leaving your back exposed until you heard an explosion and noticed the pale Natasha a few steps behind, the missile launcher in her hands. You wanted to thank her, but you were too overwhelmed to think too much about it, to process fast enough what was happening. You had barely noticed that Steve had put the shield right behind you, holding you tightly against his chest.

When the explosion dissipated, the soldier was gone.

The sound of sirens and cars too far away, as Steve released his grip and looked in every direction he could to see if he could see him again. But the cars surrounded them with ease, Steve's clear eyes falling on yours, his expression a replica of yours, stupefaction and sadness reigning in them.

-

You didn't quite remember the journey or what had happened to make you end up back at the abandoned dam in front of Fury, Natasha finally having her shoulder tended to. They must've been talking for a while, because you felt their gazes on you, as heavy as the overwhelming pain that had fallen on your shoulders.

It couldn't be hard now. No. You couldn't back out after all these years… You really couldn't…

You couldn't even look Fury in the face.

When you felt a squeeze on your shoulder, even though you knew it was Steve, you couldn't find the strength to lift your head to look at him.

The conversation had moved to a nearby table and you were almost surprised to see Fury sitting there as if he didn't have some broken ribs, but you tried to pay attention because you couldn't risk failing at this plan.

“What's that?” the man standing to the side of Steve, who had introduced him to you as Sam a couple of minutes earlier, turned to Fury, who was showing the programming cards you were to use on the mission.

“Once the helicarriers reach nine hundred meters altitude, they will triangulate with the Project satellites and be weapons,” Maria explained to them, flipping her computer to show the plan visualization.

“Intercept those transporters and replace their targets with ours,” Fury complemented, the images becoming clearer on the blue screen.

“One or two won't be enough,” Maria spoke again, her eyes sweeping over those of everyone around. “We must intercept all three of them, because if one of those ships keeps running, a lot of people will die.”

Steve's hand found your shoulder again, apparently noticing how hard you were trying to stay present in the conversation, moving your intertwined hands on your lap tirelessly. Your head kept coming back to that moment in the road, his frightened look enlarging the hole in your chest, the uncertainty of not knowing what had happened to him after that, where he was at that moment, if he was even okay.

But at the same time the rejection, the sadness, the heaviness? How could you stand there and blame him when he didn't even seem to remember who he was? You had spent years looking for that culprit, looking to bring peace to the memory of Tony's parents, and now that you knew who he was, why didn't you feel calmer? Why did the pit in your stomach feel deeper and deeper? Why was your heart pounding with fear because you didn't know where he was?

“Look, I didn't know about Barnes,” Fury's words made you raise your head, his sorrowful gaze directed at your friend and momentarily passing over you. Steve's hand on your shoulder tensed slightly, leaning forward a little, his attitude more hostile than you remembered in the few minutes you'd left the conversation.

“Even if you had known, would you have told us? Or would you have compartmentalized too?” Steve's hard expression gave way to no claim, his hand firm on your shoulder. “SHIELD, HYDRA… it will all go away.”

-

The green views from the dam's high trail were pretty enough that you could distract your mind for a moment, the weight of Steve's presence at your side keeping you anchored to reality.

“Y/N,” Steve was the first to speak after spending several seconds in silence, his arms resting on the railing with his hands clasped together. “There was something I heard about and I… I don't know how to process it, but I think you have the answer.”

Your body didn't bother to react to his words, barely shaking your head in a subtle nod prompting him to speak.

“With Natasha we used a flash drive that led us to the coordinates of some… old SHIELD facility. There, at the time, Zola was alive,” Steve paused, your brow barely furrowing as the information caught your attention. “Well, his brain was alive because of technology. Everything was a machine. But the point is, he said something, that HYDRA makes a lot of things look like accidents when they're not, and he showed us a picture of Howard and Maria's accident.”

You half-opened your lips, taking a deep breath, too emotionally drained to care too much about what you knew he was going to ask.

“Maybe I wouldn't have made the connection if I hadn't stayed in that room to listen to you and Fury, but those mystery accidents you said were connected to the Winter Soldier, was theirs one of those?”

You felt his gaze on your profile as a lone tear ran down your cheek. There was nothing more you could say to him, at that point it was more than fair for you to give him a concrete answer.

“That's why you stayed after Howard's funeral, besides Peggy. She told me you had spent a lot of time investigating something you couldn't tell Tony. That's why you're running away from him everytime.”

Surely it was because you felt guilty, but more tears ran down your cheeks as Steve beside you only sighed.

“Why didn't you just… tell me?”

“I don't know, I didn't… I didn't want you to carry that around. You'd barely been back, knowing about his death had to be too much already, and I couldn't add to the fact that it hadn't been an accident. You have no idea how long I've been carrying this weight on my shoulders trying to find the culprit… and now… now this…”

“I wouldn't have minded sharing that with you,” Steve frowned. “It would've helped either way.”

“I'm sorry," you whispered in the middle of a sob, his deep breath sounding close as he wrapped his arms around your shoulders. “I'm so sorry, Steve.”

“It's okay, it's okay,” his soothing, comforting voice sent you spiraling, not understanding how he could put it all aside and accept your apology without further explanation. His hand running up and down your back caused emotions to explode inside you, your body breaking into a sob that Steve was already expecting, his arms holding you tightly as you cried your soul out.

You didn't deserve someone like him in your life. You seemed to be doing him more harm than good.

-

tag: @rubyxx16

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes #bucky x you #bucky fluff #james bucky barnes #bucky x reader #bucky fic #bucky barnes angst #bucky #james bucky buchanan barnes #winter soldier #the winter soldier #steve rogers #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes fanfiction #captain america

[cactusnymph]

I'd love to see hand holding #33 with Shadowheart/Lae'zel, where Shad is out of magic and Lae'zel is bandaging Shad's hand?

"Tsk'va, hold still!", Lae'zel snarls while Shadowheart does her best to bring as much distance between the two of them as possible while Lae'zel for some godforsaken reason tries bandaging her hand. This is ridiculous. This is absolutely not who they are. They fight, they insult each other, exchange threats and jabs until someone else has enough of their bickering and tells them to shut up or forcefully separates them to different sides in the camp.

And gods, Lae'zel is bad at this.

Her clawed fingers are rough and calloused and her movements jerky as she cleans the gushing wound on Shadowheart's hand with the expression of someone who's thinking about where to cut a deer carcass to grill it later.

This is a person who is a trained killing machine and knows nothing of healing and stitching things back up. And yet.

And yet here Lae'zel is, her face scrunched up in frustration, her eyes sharp as she stares down at the wound that simply won't stop bleeding.

"Why are you even doing this", Shadowheart asks, her voice as flippant as possible. She feels a little dizzy from blood loss already and whenever she has no magic left she feels terrible drained and heavy. "Don't your people just kill children when they're not good enough at holding a sword?"

Lae'zel stares at her with obvious disdain before she spits on the ground next to Shadowheart. Then she goes back to her bloody work.

"My Queen has betrayed me and all I have learned since I was a hatchling has been a lie. You make people whole again every day. No one here is disposable. I have learned this from my travels. Now shut up and let me work."

Shadowheart is stunned into silence. No witty jab comes to her as she watches Lae'zel clumsily work her way through bandaging the wound. It looks absolutely atrocious and Shadowheart is sure that it'll bleed through quickly, but there's a lump in her throat that prevents her from speaking.

Lae'zel holds up Shadowheart's bandaged hand to look at it from every angle. She curses quietly in a language Shadowheart doesn't understand and looks terribly displeased with the results of her labor.

Shadowheart can't unsee the fact that Lae'zel is still holding onto her hand even though the bandage is done, no matter how badly. She swallows and looks away from Lae'zel's stupid face.

"I can show you", she finally says, intent on making her voice sound as impassive as possible. Lae'zel narrows her eyes at her.

"Show me what", she asks.

Shadowheart thinks that she must be mad, but aren't they the same, in a way? Both having lived a lie for so long, now trying to unlearn all of it?

She clears her throat and points at the bandage.

"How to make a decent bandage. How to patch people up. If you don't think that would be a waste of your precious time."

Lae'zel glares at her, but she doesn't immediately refuse and after what feels like a lifetime she finally lets go of Shadowheart's hand. This is probably a bad idea. A very bad idea. But Lae'zel has surprised her more than once during those past few weeks after the revelations at the Creche and Shadowheart... Shadowheart might be a little impressed with how hard Lae'zel works to change. Maybe she wants to keep up. She doesn't want to be left behind, doesn't want to lose against someone like Lae'zel.

She can basically hear Wyll's voice saying that this is not a competition but Shadowheart has to pretend that it is to stay sane when she looks at Lae'zel and feels her skin go up in flames and her heart stumble. This is the only way for her to chase Lae'zel and make it make sense to herself.

"Fine. You will show me the ways of this. Patchwork", Lae'zel commands, turning her nose up. Her wrong use of the word patchwork makes Shadowheart snort out a laugh and she giggles into the hand covered in an already bled through bandage.

"What?", Lae'zel hisses.

"You can just call it medicine, you know. Or first aid."

Lae'zel rolls her eyes.

"It doesn't matter. I will come to you later. Now you sleep."

And without another word she gets up and stalks away, leaving Shadowheart behind.

feel free to send me more of these<3

#ppl love the bandaging and i have to say.... i agree :D:D #shae'zel #laeheart #shadowzel #shadowheart #lae'zel #bg3 #bg3 fic #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #mi writes

[chartreuseian]

WIP Wednesday Friday Saturday

Tagged by the one and only @sarcasticsciencefictionwriter (thank you lovely!!)

Just the bit of nonsense I've been working on this morning (including my 'fill this gap later' notes). I was listening to 'Someone To You' by BANNERS yesterday and the idea came to me! It's for the 'She Had Him At Hello' universe, though it'll probably end up in the companion series I'm about to start called 'An Acquired Taste' once the kinks get straighened out.

--

Panting, Helen clutched her coat more tightly around herself as she weaved between the other patrons who were rather lazily making their way through the station. It took every ounce of her self-control not to elbow them all out of the way, particularly as the enormous clock hanging in the centre of the station ticked ever closer to 9am.

She’s been a fool. A fool of the highest order, to be precise. She’d spent the better part of the night tossing and turning, trying desperately to figure out why a peculiar sense of panic was clawing at her chest. Everything was fine. Or it would be.

They’d lost their tail, she was sure of that, and at 9am Nikola would board the train with his new identify and hop his way across the country before boarding a plane and disappearing… Well, she’d didn’t know exactly where, which was a rather crucial part of the plan. It was the only way they could be sure she would be a liability, though she certainly had her suspicions about where he’d chosen to hide out.

Everything would be fine, she’d told herself. It was all planned.

And yet the entire night she’d been unable to sleep.

The realisation had hit her at approximately 7:28am when she’d been packing her own belongings. Her room was paid for two more days, but once Nikola was clear there was no reason to hang around.

It was when she’d found it, tucked in amongst her undergarments (she almost wished she’d been shocked by the audacity of it, but at 97 years old very little seemed to be able to achieve that effect these days). There was no note though there could be no doubt about where – or who – it had come from.

The timber was light, and when she placed it in the palm of her hand it felt so insubstantial that if she closed her eyes, it reminded her of the way he used to stroke at the centre of her hand when he thought she was asleep in bed. Closing her fingers around the small carved pigeon, a bubble of fierce longing had erupted inside her and all at once Helen could see her mistake.

The rest of her packing had been frantic, throwing items into her case with abandon (while the parting gift was tucked carefully into her pocket) as she began to compose a letter to James in her head.

Because Nikola was right.

She could take a year off. Or two. Or however damn long she wanted. She had an eternity and her work would still be there later. It was all ticking along nicely and she’d put a lot of time into making sure that, no matter what happened to her, the Network would continue to grow, to thrive even. And with James at the helm… Well, they’d be perfectly fine without her.

The race across the city had been terrifying, and even though she’d paid the driver handsomely enough to encourage him to push the car to its limits, there was little either of them could do about the rush of traffic that had them stopping every few blocks.

By the time she’d tumbled out of the door before the station, there had been barely two minutes to go and her heart had jumped into her throat.

Because Nikola was right.

The crowd around her seemed to sense her panic, giving her a wide berth as she hurled herself towards the entrance to the platform, her traveling case swinging wildly as she careened around any every obstacle that came into her path.

(CUTS HERSELF OFF, MISSES THE TRAIN BUT SEES HIM? IS HE IN A DISGUISE??)

She raised a hand above her head, ready to cry out, to do something (anything) to get his attention, and yet watching him now, she found the words dying on her lips.

Because Nikola was right, but that didn’t mean she could run away with him.

No matter how much she might have wanted to.

Tears stinging at the corners of her eyes, she let her travel case fall to the ground, standing perfectly still as she watched his profile as he perused the newspaper. He looked sad, and more than a little bored, but Helen found a weak little chuckle of laughter on her lips as his brow furrowed, obviously taking issue with something he’d read.

She couldn’t run away with him, as tempting at the entire idea might be.

So instead she stood still, watching, waiting as the whistle of the train sounded and, with a lurch, pulled slowly but surely out of the station. Helen stayed where she was, stayed watching until the train was nothing but a speech in the distance and the crowds around her thinned, leaving her almost entirely alone on the platform.

Then, and only then, did she turn away.

It was time to get back to work.

--

I'm not sure who has/hasn't been tagged yet, so if I'm double dipping sorry!! @tinknevertalks @theleotorrio @writerxwren @ladyelysandra

#thank you :) #fanfic #writing #sanctuary #helen magnus #nikola tesla

[stardustintheabyss]

Soulmated To Sunshine Eyes

Haikyuu soulmate!au

Bokuto x fem!reader

Warnings: swearing, lil angsty

Sum: One of your childhood best friends, Tetsuro Kuroo, begs you to be Nekomas team manager just in time for the summer training camp, you agreed not knowing who you'd find there

When you turn 17 a tattoo representing your soul mate appears. When they are near(2 mile radius)it tingles but both people have to have them first. It stops when you kiss.

A/n: this has been sitting in my wips for a year and I promised myself I'd get this done in time for my loves birthday and I finished with an hour and a half to spare (shout out to pressurized procrastination). Anyways happy birthday to my favorite beefy owl 😚

"Y/nnnnn! C'mon it'll be fun! You come to all the games anyway and you're good at hyping up the team, even Kenma, and giving advice. And I've seen the statistics notebook you keep. Please, please, please!" Tetsuro begged.

You laughed and rolled your eyes at your best friend.  For a few weeks now, well more so since Kenma joined, he'd been trying to get you to be the Nekoma volleyball manager. And honestly he was starting to make a good argument. "If I say yes will you quit bugging me?" You joked as you lightly punched his shoulder.

"Yes ma'am!" He smiled.

"Fine then. You're lucky I love you and Kens." You laughed.

"Oh. By the way we have a week long training camp in a week." He grinned.

"What." That little shit, he KNOWS your 17th birthday is in a couple weeks. The same week as the training camp apparently. Maybe this was his way of trying to cheer you up... You let out a sigh.

He shoved some papers into your hands, hyena laughing before running for his life, "Here's the permission slip! Bye!"

"Tetsuro, I swear I'm gonna kick your ass next time I see you!" You yelled a half empty threat after him. After letting out a sigh you realized at least you'd be with your two best friends when you got your soul mate tattoo. You'd been watching Tetsuro and Kenma play for years. You let out a small smile, you really did love volleyball even though you weren't really good enough to be on a team but played well enough to practice with Tetsu when Kenma refused. Which was more often than not. So maybe being apart of the team as a manager would be fun.

And that was how you got where you are now, in one of the gyms at Shinzen high school. You were a little nervous about being the manager but the team made you feel welcome. Even Coach Nekomata seemed to like you. Probably because you didn't have a problem putting the boys in their place when they needed it. You weren't what he was expecting. This training camp gave you the chance to find your footing before a real game. And you were having a blast. It was the second to last day and you'd found a nice rhythm. You were writing down some stats and advice on the game the team just won when you heard a boisterous voice from the court next to yours. "Oh yeah! Nice one Akaashi!" You looked to see the Fukurodani captian praising his setter. If you remembered correctly his name was Bokuto Kotaro and he was one of the top 5 aces in the country. Who were you kidding, of course you remembered, you were borderline obsessed with picking out talented players and learning as much as you could about them. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and seemed like an amazing person in general. The kind of person people gravitate towards. And to be honest he wasn't bad looking either. "He's a great player isn't he?" Tetsuro said. You nearly jumped out of your skin.

You smacked his chest, your cheeks warm from getting caught staring. "God Tetsu clear your throat or something. You almost gave me a heart attack." Scowling at him you grabbed his water bottle and took a drink. "Yeah, he's pretty powerful but he also has a great setter to back him up and can read his moods too."

"Mmhm." He leaned in closer, taking in your reddened face. His eyes twinkled with knowing and mischief. "You think he's hot don't ya."

"What? No! Shut up!" You screeched, a little too loud. Loud enough to have number 4 look your way and give you a bright smile,  his eyes crinkled almost shut. You blushed, how could you not smile back at the sweet owl, so you returned an embarrassed small one. You turned glaring at your best friend as you shoved your notebook into Tetsuro's hands. Back at normal volume, more flustered than mad, "Fuck off Tetsu. What you need to work on is written in there. I need to go refill water bottles."

"Hey, later come by gym 3. Lev, I and a few other guys are having a 3 vs 3." He chuckled.

"Maybe, maybe not." You grumbled.

"Please Y/n, we could use your eyes." Tetsuro teased.

"Fine. But only cause I'm an awesome manager and you're hopeless without me." You mocked back before leaving to do your managerial duties.

"You know you shouldn't tease Y/n like that Tetsuro. Not with her 17th birthday tomorrow." Kenma said quietly as he came up next to him.

"Why? She knows I'm just kidding around." Kuroo told his boyfriend.

"Because she can still kick your ass if she feels like it." Kenma smirked before taking a drink of water.

"True but nah, she loves me too much." Kuroo couldn't wait for the little surprise he had for you later in gym 3....only a little afraid of what you might do to him. He was planning on asking you anyway but this development made things...interesting.

Bokuto had seen you around the training camp all week. Usually you were with Kuroo and Kenma. But this was the first time he'd heard you speak. He wondered what you were shouting at Kuroo about. He looked over giving you his biggest smile hoping it might brighten your mood, if just a little. In return you gave a soft but pretty one before shoving a notebook into Kuroo's hands and briskly walking away. "Hey, hey 'Kaashi, do you know who that is?" He nodded in your direction, you were gathering water bottles.

"The Nekoma manager I assume." Akaashi said disinterested.

Bokuto's cheeks rosied, "I know that! I meant do you know her name?"

"Huh uh." Akaashi smirked catching the color in Bokuto's face. "But earlier Kuroo mentioned he'd try and get their manager to come to the 3 vs 3. Something about 'she has a good eye', I don't know. So maybe you'll meet her tonight." That small smile you gave Bokuto lit up his eyes more than usual. It didn't take long for Akaashi to surmise that his best friend had a crush.

Your duties were done for the day and you decided to go run some laps around the track before heading to gym 3. You thought it might help to get rid of some nervous energy you had about tomorrow. In a few short hours you would have your soulmate tattoo. You didn't know why you were anxious about it, it's not like it mattered. It was bullshit, it wouldn't change anything. You shook your head changing your clothes. It was still pretty warm out so you'd changed into just a sports bra and leggings. Putting your ear buds in you cranked your favorite playlist and started running.

You didn't know how long you ran for but the sky was darker now and your leg muscles were twitching. You also weren't as anxious about tomorrow. Smiling you headed to gym 3 to go watch the game, wondering who the other 4 players were. Your mouth dropped open when you saw who Lev and Tetsuro were playing with. Two from Karasuno and two from Fukurodani. One of which was the ace you had been caught staring at. Briefly you wondered if Kenma would forgive you or help you murder Tetsu.

They were on their second set and you didn't want to interrupt anyone's momentum. You stayed in the doorway silently watching until there was a break in the play. "Oya?!" You shouted to get your best friends attention.

"Oya oya! Y/n, you made it! Bout time!" Kuroo yelled back before walking towards you. Everyone's head swiveled in your direction.

"Oya oya oya!" Bokuto added almost reflexively with a smile to yours and Kuroo's greeting followed by what looked like a scolding from his team mate.

You chuckled quietly to yourself before addressing Testu. "Yeah, I was just running some laps." Your eyes narrowed at him, letting him know he was in for it later for not specifying who he was practicing with.

"Nervous about tomorrow are we?" Tetsuro quietly asked you, for no one else to hear. He handed you a water, concern in his eyes. He may be a goofball and push your buttons but he's always been there when you needed him. Who knew the rooster-haired boy was such a mother hen at heart.

Blowing out a breath, "I'm fine Tets, thank you though." You gulped some water down as Tetsuro ushered you towards the other players. Not quite believing your words.

"Guys, this is Y/n L/n, the new Nekoma manager." Kuroo introduced you, slinging an arm around your shoulder.

Karasuno's number 10 walked over to you holding his hand out, " Hi! I'm Sho—."

You interrupted him, eyes sparkling and grabbed his hand to shake. Your volleyball geekiness was about to show. "You're Hinata Shoyo , Karasuno's Trojan whirlwind middle blocker!" Pointing, you named off the others, " Karasuno's Tsukishima Kei, the poker-faced perceptive bean pole middle blocker. Fukurodani's Akaashi Keiji, the analytical and supportive setter vice captian." You bit the inside of your cheek trying to not sound fangirly. "And last but not least, Fukurodani's Bokuto Kotaro, the powerful owl ace captian. Also one of Japans top 5 aces." Your eyes flicked over to Bokuto and lingered. A small shy smile forming on your lips and nervous laugh leaving your mouth. "Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a know it all. I just kinda have a knack for picking out talented and skilled players...and kind of obsessing. Oh and you all can just call me Y/n by the way."

"And boom. That's why Y/n is the best manager ever. Give her 10 minutes of a game and she'll pick out the specialties of a skilled players on any team!" Tetsuro praised.

"And she's nice when she helps me, she's patient unlike Yaku." Lev added.

"Oh, shut up Tetsuro." You blushed. "And you're welcome Lev. I just noticed you get less frustrated and play better when supported that way is all."

"Thanks Y/n! Well I am a pretty awesome player, right 'Kaashi?" Bokuto puffed his chest out. A faint red tint to his cheeks only Kuroo and Akaashi noticed.

Akaashi rolled his eyes, "Shut up Bo. No one likes someone who's full of themselves."

You could have sworn you saw Bokuto's hair deflate along with his happy attitude. You didn't like seeing him down. Before you could think you squeezed his arm comfortingly. "Hey, there is nothing wrong with being confident and believing in yourself." You gave him a wink, "Besides you're too sweet a guy to be an asshole about it."

Bokuto instantly perked up at your words. "You're so kind Y/n! Thanks, Akaashi means well but can be a little  blunt sometimes." Bokuto lifted you up into a hug, your feet leaving the floor.

"Y–you're welcome." Your face felt like it was on fire and sparks were shooting across where your bare skin met his. Gingerly you hugged him back as he twirled you both in a circle. He was so much bigger than you, you felt tiny in his muscle defined arms but oddly enough safe.

When Bokuto set you down Akaashi looked like he was about to scold him again. "Bo...we talked about boundaries."

Bokuto had an embarrassed red tint to his ears but still had his wide infections smile. "Sorry."

"It's okay." You patted Bokuto's chest and smiled up at him and Akaashi, "I get hugs like that from the guys all the time, especially Lev."

Suddenly Hinata was next to you jumping up and down.

"Ahh! You gave me a nickname! The Trojan Whirlwind, so cool! That's that sneaky greek horse right? That's way better than just 'decoy'! You're amazing Y/n!" Hinata exclaimed, wonder twinkled in his eyes.

"I don't know...you really think so?" Excitedly you started to geek out more, talking fast. "Actually I know Karasuno's starting line up. You guys have a pretty talented team! And you guys pick up some tricks from other teams too I noticed. You truly are crows, omnivorous. Kagayama has wicked pinpoint accurate sets, Sawamura's great recives, Nishin—."

"As enlightening as this conversation is we have a game to finish and I don't want to be here any longer than I have to." Tsukishima scoffed adjusting his glasses.

"You don't need to be so rude Tsukishima. Ignore him, he's just salty because he didn't get a cool nickname." Hinata assured you.

You laughed, "No worries. He's right though, I came to watch a game." You glanced at the score board."Hmm. Cats vs Owls and Cats are winning? Here I thought Tetsu's team would be at a disadvantage."

Akaashi stated jabbing his thumb at Hinata and Bokuto, "Why, I've got the shorty and this big baby."

"Because they have to deal with his annoying ass." You snickered and you swore you heard Tsukishima snort as you poked Tetsu in the side. Everyone failed holding in their chuckles.

"Rude, Y/n, rude." Tetsu said as he poked you back.

"You two seem awfully close, are you together?" Hinata questioned, his head tilted to the side.

Lev, Tetsuro and you erupted into a fit a laughter. Between wheezes of catching your breath you answered. "Ew, no. I've know Tets since we were kids, he's like the brother I never wanted. Kenma too infact,  except I actually like him. And besides Tetsuro and Kenma are soulmates, poor Kenma right?"

"Well we did kiss that one time." Kuroo fired back, bringing a finger to his cheek.

Everyone but Tsukishima had 'Huh? Excuse me?!' looks on their faces. It was hilarious.

Laughing rolling your eyes, "We were 13 and it was spin the bottle. You weren't the only one I kissed that night, you're not special. In fact it made my skin crawl."

"That hurts Y/n. But I still love you." Kuroo pouted, crushing you in a hug.

"Disgusting." You smiled up at him while pushing his head away,  "Yeah, yeah love you too idiot. Now get back to your game."

"Aye aye miss manager!" Kuroo called.

"Don't call me that you rooster haired hyena!" You snarked right back while smacking a loose volleyball towards his head, narrowly missing.

"Okay, I see the brother/sister relationship now." Hinata giggled.

You sat on a bench nearby to watch. It was a pretty close game, your leg was bouncing with excitement. You always got this antsy watching a good game. You were taking a drink of your water sideways still trying to watch the game. Maybe if you hadn't been you would've been able to dodge one of Bokuto's crazy strong cut shot spikes after it landed a point. Next thing you know you were on the ground, right side of your face stinging. You let out a low groan sitting up, rubbing your aching cheek.

"Oh my god Y/n! I'm so sorry, are you okay?" The ace asked helping you up.

"Wow! That was a strong kill! It knocked me over even after it hit the floor!" You gushed, stars in your eyes.

Bokuto's face flushed and his golden eyes met yours. How had you not noticed how pretty they were, like the last brilliant rays of sunshine before the sun sets. They flickered with...you don't know what exactly. Like he was trying to remember something maybe? But it was gone as soon as it came. His hand still remaining on your arm. "But are you okay? You're not hurt?"

Shaking your head and giving him a warm smile, "Yeah, I'm fine owl boy. It wouldn't be the first time I took a ball to the face." Your eyes widend, realizing how that sounded. "V-volleyball, it wouldn't be the first time I was hit by a rogue volleyball!" Hopefully your injured cheek was covering up your embarrassment.

Kuroo smirked slapping Bokuto on the back, "Don't worry Bokuto, Y/n's a tough girl. Oh and that's our point, it was out."

You frowned at Tetsuro. "No it wasn't. It was in, barely. Really it was an amazing shot."

"This is favoritism." Tetsu whined.

"No, it's what happened." You pointedly glared at him, ignoring his implications. At least he didn't say anything about the embarrassing words you just said. "Ask Tsukishima then." Everybody turned to the blonde. Tsukishima shrugged, "She's got a good eye, I'll give her that."

You stuck your tongue out at Kuroo. "See. Now go get the point back."

The game continued for another 15 minutes before the Cats won. It was a close game. The long day had hit you as you leaned against Kuroo after helping clean up. You yawned, "Mmm. Good thing you won, otherwise I was gonna up your training regimen."

Kuroo laughed softly, ruffling your hair. "Oh ye of little faith."

Rubbing your tired eyes, "I have all the faith in you, you jerk." You waved to the other players, "Night guys. It was nice officially meeting you." Saying to no one in particular but subconsciously in your sleepy state your gaze landed on Bokuto. "Good luck in your games tomorrow, unless you play Nekoma of course." You were met with a chorus of goodnights and a couple thank yous from Hinata and Akaashi. Only you, Tetsuro, Akaashi and Bokuto remained.

"You able to make it to your room Y/n? You're practically asleep on your feet." Bokuto asked.

"Hm. Oh. Yeah, it'll just take me awhile. I'm slow when I'm sleepy." You replied as you shuffled towards the door, your eyes half closed. You couldn't wait to flop into bed.

Kuroo kneeled down in front of you. "C'mon and climb up. I don't feel like taking forever walking you back."

You snorted as you wrapped your arms around Kuroo's shoulders for a piggy back ride. "Thanks Tets." You murmured as you layed your head down and your eyes fluttered shut. Not fully awake you drifted between slumber and reality.

"She must be exhausted if she's being this openly nice to me." Kuroo chuckled lightly.

"Hey, can 'Kaashi and me walk with you?" Bokuto asked hopeful.

"Sure, I don't see why not." Kuroo said giving Akaashi a

questioning look. The fun loving ace seemed to have a thing for the insightful Nekoma manager. Akaashi being so intuitive of his best friends emotions gave Kuroo a small nod. This gave Kuroo an idea because you definitely had a crush on the owl captain. Hopefully you wouldn't kill him later if you remembered. "But be warned. When Y/n is super tired like this, she is a lot more loose with the truth." Kuroo talked as he started walking in the direction of the guest lodging.

"What do ya mean?" Bokuto's brows pinched together in confusion following.

"Hm, watch this. Hey, Y/n what'd think of Hinata?" Kuroo grinned.

"Mm, baby sunshine. To pure for this world, protect at all costs." You mumbled.

"Tsukishima?" Kuroo questioned.

"Fucking tsundere if I ever saw one but cool, I guess." They quietly snickered at your reply.

"How 'bout Akaashi?" Kuroo fired.

"Straightforward and calm. Kindhearted." You answered snuggling into Kuroo's back.

"And how do ya feel about Bokuto?" Kuroo questioned lastly. Suddenly butterflies found a home in Bokuto's stomach waiting for your answer.

"He's sweet and funny," you let out a contented sigh, "handsome too." Okay, Kuroo was glad you didn't say anything too embarrassing. Honestly he wouldn't have been surprised if you'd said 'beef cake' instead of handsome.

The otherwise outgoing male was quiet. You really thought that about him? Someone as smart and beautiful as you? A wide dopey smile made its way onto his face along with a dark blush. "Agaashi, Agaashi! Did you hear what she said! She thinks I'm sweet and funny and handsome!" Bokuto whispered excitedly, not wanting to disturb you.

"Yeah, Yeah I heard her Bo." Akaashi gave his friend a small smile before turning to Kuroo. "Isn't she gonna murder you for this?"

"Maybe....probably. If having Bokuto and Y/n realize they like each other is something that will make her happy in the long run, especially after tomorrow it'll be worth it." Kuroo looked up at the night sky, he knew you were secretly dreading tomorrow and how you really felt about the whole soulmate thing. No matter how hard you tried to hide it from him & Kenma.

"What's tomorrow?" Akaashi wondered.

Bokuto was still in a daze over what you said and something was nagging in the back of his mind. He'd only really met you today so why did you seem so familiar? Unconsciously his fingers drummed against his thigh, where his tattoo was. Lost in thought he didn't hear Kuroo's answer and lagged behind the two males. "It's her 17th birthday."

"You lost me, isn't that typically a good thing?" Akaashi noted.

"How do I word this? Well ya know how not everyone's lucky enough to find their soulmate? Y/n's parents are one of those couples. Don't get me wrong they absolutely love eachother and I think that's why Y/n thinks the tattoos don't really matter. If her parents can find love and happiness together it's like it's proof there isn't just one person in the universe just for you. And she probably thinks she's one of those people who won't be able to find their soulmate. She never said any of this to me directly but I've guessed as much and she once said 'the world is a vast place to find the one person you're meant to be with'." Kuroo looked over his shoulder at you, his eyes soft. "So if I can nudge her in the right direction to help her get what her parents have, to make her happy, I'll do it. I owe her that much."

"I see. It's poetic in a way. I mean you really can't help who you fall for, soulmate tattoo or not. You just might fall more for the one you were destined to be with. And what do you mean by 'you owe her'?" Akaashi shrugged, he could understand where you were coming from. He'd had his tattoo for almost half a year and never felt anything. He also knew Bokuto had never felt that tingle of a nearby soulmate and he had had his for almost 3 times that long. And he also knew it saddened Bokuto when he was asked about it, that's why he kept it covered most of the time. He thought as he fingered the tiny tattoo on the inside of his left elbow. A coffee mug and an open manga book.

"Oh that's a funny story actually. I wasn't as outgoing as a kid, barely talked to anyone. So one day this girl and boy come over to me, Y/n and Kenma. And she said 'I've seen you all by yourself every day and you shouldn't be sad and lonely...so we're all friends now kay?', just like that. Honestly she was so bright I couldn't have said no even if I wanted to. I don't think she would have let me either. Even at six she was a force to be reckoned with." Kuroo laughed softly. "So because of Y/n I was fortunate to have my soulmate so early on in my life and fall for him before I even got my tattoo."

Akaashi looked to Bokuto, "Yeah, I'd do the same thing for that goofy bastard."

Kuroo gave Akaashi a devilish grin, "So, you in for trying to get these two love birds together?"

Akaashi smirked back, "Bo's got a big heart but sometimes has trouble expressing it the way he wants to. I'm in."

They had made it to where the boys and girls rooms split off. "Night guys. See ya tomorrow." With a wry grin, "Y/n say goodnight to Akaashi and Bokuto."

"Mm 'night Akaashi." Your arms tightened around Kuroo's shoulders and you murmured still in your vulnerable half asleep state, "Goodnight Kotaro."

Both Kuroo and Akaashi's gaze darted to Bokuto. He was looking at you with such softness in his eyes that they might have thought he was already half in love with you. It was like Akaashi and Kuroo weren't even there. "Goodnight Y/n." Brushing a stray hair from your face he whispered with a gentle tone Akaashi had never heard from his captian. Yep he was definitely smitten.

"Night Kuroo, Y/n." Akaashi grabbed Bokuto's shirt tugging him in the direction of the boys rooms. "Come on you love sick owl."

"I-. Uh." Bokuto stuttered before saying goodnight to the Nekoma captian. As Bokuto was being dragged away Kuroo heard him say, "Hey wait! I'm not love sick!....am I?"

Kuroo laughed at Bokuto's words. If anyone knew if Bokuto was love sick, it'd be Akaashi. A few minutes later you were at your door for your room. Tetsuro carefully set you down making sure you wouldn't fall on your face. "Hey, Y/n we're at your room."

"Hmm. Thanks Tets. Ya know you're not completely annoying. I'm glad you and Kens have each other." You told him with your hand on the doorknob.

"Only cause of you." He bit his lip, he had one more question to ask while you were still painfully truthful. He wanted to make sure his and Akaashi's plans could work. "Can I ask ya something?"

"Mmhmm." You hummed crossing your arms and resting against the door.

"You like Bokuto, right?" Tetsu asked you.

A sad smile splayed on your lips. "Yeah but it doesn't matter. He seems like the 'wait for your soulmate' type so it's pointless hoping he could like me back." You opened the door.

"Y/n..." Kuroo heard the hurt in your voice.

"Goodnight Tetsuro." You whispered shutting the door before he could see the tears brimming in your eyes.

Kuroo blew out a breath. Fuck, he was an idiot for not realizing how deep the soulmate wound really went. But you were an idiot too. "You're really oblivious sometimes Y/n." He whispered to the closed door.

You didn't know if it was from being drained or because of tomorrow or some combo of both. But the moment you shut the door the tears that had been resting on your eyelashes fell down your cheeks. While you changed into pj's and washed your face they never stopped. You fell asleep with the glistening trails running onto the pillow and your heart aching for someone you knew you couldn't have.

The next morning you awoke to your whole back and part of your arms tingling. 'The fuck. Really my whole fucking back?' You didn't give to much thought that it was telling you your soulmate was near. You were in the middle of a huge city for fucks sake. You were more pissed at how big it was. You sighed, twisting your head you looked over your shoulder trying to get some idea of what it looked like. All you were able to see was black, grey and white feathers. Their tips reaching just past your shoulders and onto your arms. There's no way you'd be able to cover the whole thing in this heat. 'Oh well'. As you were getting dressed after taking a quick shower you received a couple texts in your group chat with the boys.

Kens 🐱❤🥺: happy birthday y/n, do you want your yearly bd hugs consecutively or throughout the day?

Tets 🐓❤😝: mornin birthday girl! Remind me again why you let kenma's presents be hugs and not mine?

You smiled before replying. They really just knew what to say to cheer you up.

Y/n 💜: thanks guys 😘 throughout the day pls 🥺and because unforced hugs from kenma are ✨special✨ yours not so much.

Tets 🐓❤😝: this is F A V O R I T I S M  😑

Y/n 💜: wbk but yes❤

Y/n 💜: the only good thing about this shit bd is that it means 17 KENMA HUGS! 🥺

Kens 🐱❤🥺: that's it. Omw rn for your first bd hug.

Tets 🐓❤😝: am I a joke to you?

Y/n 💜: okee kens 🥰. Bro you want the truth or nah?

Tets 🐓❤😝: I—. Babe you see this?

Kens🐱❤🥺: Jared, 19. ➖👅➖

Tets 🐓❤😝: I hate you both

Y/n 💜: no you don't

Kens🐱❤🥺: no you don't

Tets 🐓❤😝: your right 😔 see you two at breakfast 💛💜

Y/n 💜: 🖤💛

Kens 🐱❤🥺: 🖤💜

Five minutes later a knock sounded on your door. "Mornin Kenma!" You said brightly opening the door to one of your besties.

"Mornin." He mumbled wrapping his arms around you.

You didn't realize how bad you needed this. Your hands tightly clenched his shirt. After letting go you whispered, "Thanks Kens, I needed that."

Kenma pulled you in for another hug. "This one doesn't count. You still have 16 left."

You hugged the dual haired boy back, soaking up the extra special hug. A laugh escaping your lips, "You're the best."

Walking to the dining area you looped your arm through Kenma's. Of course he was playing a game but you didn't mind, you liked watching. You and Kenma had a different kind of friendship, you both didn't care about the long stretches of silence between the two of you. You just enjoyed eachothers company. That's why it surprised you when Kenma spoke. "So Tetsuro said you were at the gym last night with him and the others?"

Your hand brushed against your cheek where you were hit. The memory of Bokuto's hand on your arm and his golden gaze...flushed you answered, "Yeah. It was a good game."

Kenma's eyes flicked to yours before going back to his game. "You know Y/n, it's okay to like him. There's nothing wrong with feeling that way."

Goddammit. Between Kenma's perceptiveness and Tetsu's well intentioned blabbering mouth, nothing got past the setter when it came to you. "I—." You blew out a frustrated breath. "I know. I know. It's just... so fucking hard. My mind and my heart say two different things." You came to a stop at the doorway to the dining room. Your eyes easily found a white and grey haired boy laughing at something between bites. Without you knowing it a small grin spread across your lips and your heart beat a little faster.

Kenma noticed your smile and where you were looking. You looked happy, a light in your face he hadn’t seen since you all were innocent children in the ways of understanding what a soulmate was. "Maybe you should let your heart win this time."

"Maybe." You grabbed Kenma's hand and led him to the Nekoma table where everyone was sitting. Taking a seat next to Lev you asked, "Hey, where's Tets at?" They all had a look of mischief on their faces. "Wha—?" A pair of hands covered your eyes for a few seconds and then were gone. Sitting in front of you was a fancy cupcake with a single candle lit.

"Happy Birthday Y/n." Tetsuro hugged you from behind.

"Happy Birthday to the best manager!" The team shouted. Earning a few looks from the other teams.

"You guys didn't have to do anything for me..." Your heart warmed at their thoughtfulness.

"Nonsense, we're lucky to have you! You've done so much for us, this is the least we could do!" Tora gave you a thumbs up.

"How could we not do something for you, you take care of us." Lev nudge your shoulder gently.

"Yeah, you make my life easier by dealing with Lev." Yaku announced.

"Hey!" Lev yelled, insulted.

"Thanks guys. I'm only the best manager because I've got the best team to back it up." A wide happy smile split your face.

"Blow out your candle and make a wish." Tetsu suggested.

You closed your eyes making your wish as you blew out the candle. You dared to wish for something you wouldn't have if not for the conversation you just had with Kenma. You wished maybe, just maybe for a chance at love.

"What'da wish for?" Lev asked.

"For you guys to win all your practice games!" Bringing a finger to your lips, "But really I can't tell, or it won't come true." You gave him a wink.

A pair of flapping arms caught your attention. Of course they were attached to a certain owl boy. Once Bokuto realized he got your attention he gave you a big smile and waved. You let out a small giggle and gave a bright smile. You lifted your hand and returned the wave, your fingers wiggling in the air. Bokuto turned to say something to Akaashi, his face pink. But you didn't notice. Kuroo had playfully tugged on a piece of your hair.

"Oya?" Tetsu smirked at you.

"Oh hush." You said slyly but the smile on your face and blush on your cheeks lingered. "Go eat your breakfast, you have a lot of games to win today and need your strength."

Tetsuro stuck his tongue out. "Yes, miss manager."

You were so happy you'd almost forgotten the constant tingle on your back.

It was the end of the day and Nekomas last game was almost over. The other teams coach had called a time out to try and break Nekoma's momentum. All day you had been rolling your shoulders uselessly, trying to get rid of the ghost like feeling of someone's fingers dancing across the skin of your back. It was really starting to fucking irritate you.

"You okay Y/n? You've been doing that all day." Kenma had observed.

Tetsu came over and wrapped his arms around his soulmate, resting his chin on the crown of Kenma's head. God they were disgustingly cute sometimes. "Whatssup?"

You gave them a sour face. "My soulmate tattoo. It hasn't stopped prickling since I got the damn thing. Not to mention it's on my whole fuckin back and part of my arms." You pulled your sleeve up a little to reveal the tips of feathers. Kuroo was practically radiating excitement. You knew exactly what he was going to say.

"That's great! It means your soulmate is probably at this camp! RIGHT NOW!" Tets almost shouted.

You rolled your eyes. "I'm not that lucky. We're in the middle of a huge city. You know how many people live in a 2 mile radius of here?" Your eyes trailed to the other game you'd been keeping watch on. Or rather player. "...Besides, my hearts kinda already stuck on someone." You admitted out loud. Bokuto seemed more exuberant and carefree today. Even after getting blocked a couple times he was still glowing. Your lips twitched at the untroubled ace. His aura infectious. You were pulled out of your daydream when Tetsuro pulled at the back of your shirt, trying to look at your tattoo. You slapped his hand away. "What do you think your doing?!" You hissed.

He blinked at you innocently. "I just wanted to see."

"Tetsuro, if Y/n doesn't want to show us that's her business." Kenma scolded.

"It's not that, just not right now. You guys are in the middle of a  game...and Coach would kill me." Laughing at Tets getting reprimanded by Kenma.

"I don't know, could give us an edge and distract the other team." Tetsu joked.

You chuckled, "Yeah and probably incapacitate Tora, embarrass Lev to the point where he'd be useless, Yaku would yell at anyone who dared to look, and Inuoka would probably try and cover me up without looking."

Tetsuro tried holding in his cackling and Kenma had a rare wide grin on his face. "Okay, okay. You're right. Only we two are immune to your beauty and charm."

You snorted. "Whatever. Now go win this game and make my wish come true or else." You said as you pushed them towards the rest of the team.

The first thing Akaashi woke up to this morning was Bokuto screeching about how his tattoo was tingling. At first Akaashi wondered, today was your 17th birthday...maybe? No they were in a big city. Bokuto's soulmate probably just happened to be nearby today. But then he couldn't stop talking about how you waved and smiled at him at breakfast. So maybe his attitude wasn't due just to his tattoo. He was in the best mood Akaashi had ever seen. Even failed plays didn't bring him down. Akaashi really didn't put it all together until he saw his best friend rub at his thigh, right over his tattoo. "Bo, your leg good?"

"Yeah! It's great. It's just hasn't stopped prickling." Bokuto beamed. "My soulmate must live by the high school or something 'Kaashi!"

'Was this himbo so far gone in his daze last night he didn't hear Kuroo say your birthday was today? And didn't he see the whole Nekoma team wish you a happy birthday at breakfast?' Akaashi thought to himself. "Or something." Akaashi muttered. His eyes gleamed with knowing. He made it his mission to get you two oblivious fools to realize what exactly you were to eachother by the end of today.

After the last game all the coaches surprised everyone with a barbecue for everybodies hard work. You were waiting by the grill with Tetsu and Kenma, waiting for the food to be done. You were starving and the aroma of meat was only making your hunger worsen.

"Hey, here comes your man!" Tetsuro whispered in your ear while playfully nudging you.

Your stomach growled loudly as you swatted at Kuroo. "Food now. Man later."

"You're right. Priorities." Kuroo chuckled holding up his hands. "But that doesn't seem to be stopping Bokuto and Akaashi from coming over here."

You glanced at the Fukurodani duo. Hunger forgotten.  "Holy fuck." You whispered. Bokuto Kotaro was not wearing his long knee sleeves. Your face flushed, "No wonder he wears those things. He'd be too powerful otherwise, no one would pay attention to the ball." Your eyes snagging on the rather large tattoo on his left thigh. A  cats face, half normal with a y/c eye and half skeletal. And nestled behind the skeleton side was...your favorite flower? It was just a coincidence, lots of people have the same favorite flower and your eye color. Maybe you were biased but you thought it was pretty.

Tetsuro snapped you out of your thoughts with a snort. "Simp much? And is that drool from the bbq...or the cake headed this way."

"Oh, that was a mistake." Kenma commented while playing his game. "It's going to be mildly inconvenient to replace you but you will be missed."

Casually you answered back, "Shuddup. Takes one to know one. I seem to recall certain screenshots that would look great posted on Twitter."

At that moment the Fukurodani pair made it to where you were. "Hey hey hey! What would look great posted on Twitter?" Bokuto asked with a smile.

You smirked at Tetsu, opening your mouth, "Tets caught being—." Tetsuro smacked a hand over your mouth.

"Nothing!" Changing the subject, "Y/n was just about to show us her tattoo. Right?" You licked his hand. "Gross. You don't know where my hand has been, you know how many microbes could be on there!" He yelled wiping it off.

You shrugged, grinning. "I have an excellent immune system." Clearing your throat, "Hey Akaashi," Your cheeks rosied under Bokuto's golden gaze. "H-hey Bokuto."

"Your soulmate tattoo? Cool, usually I keep mine covered but I felt like letting loose today after practice." He smiled lifting his leg. Akaashi groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. How was his best friend this dense?

You crossed your arms to keep the urge to trace it with your fingertips in check. "Er, yeah. I don't even really know what it is. It's on my back and part of my arms. All I know is it has feathers. Yours is gorgeous and interesting though."

"Why don't you have Kuroo take a picture of it so you can see it?" Bokuto suggested.

"That is a great idea Bokuto!" Rubbing his hands together, "C'mere Y/n, let me see that tattoo."

You rolled your eyes. "If I didn't know any better I'd think you were a perv, Tets. I know I'm pretty but think of Kenma."

"Kenma is nothing more to me than a soulmate! I swear!" Kuroo joked.

"Back at ya babe." Kenma replied not looking away from his games. He had long become immune to yours and Kuroo's antics.

"You guys are strange but I'm used to weirdos." Akaashi smirked.

You poked your tongue out at Akaashi, "You say that like its a bad thing." You conceded. "Alright alright. I'll show you after we eat." You were curious about what was on your back.

"Y/nnnnnn. Why must you torture me?" Kuroo complained.

"I ain't ever seen two agreeable best friends, one of em always gotta be a whiney little bitch." You said to Tetsuro.

"So you admit I'm your bestie! Wait- I'm not whiney!" Kuroo exclaimed.

You cackled, "So you admit you're a little bitch?" Your eyes wandering, catching on a small girl holding an empty plate trembling in the middle of a bunch of boys. "I gotta do something, I'll be right back guys." You made your way over to the tiny girl.

"Oi!" Kuroo yelled after you.

"I mean she's not wrong." Akaashi snickered.

"Kenma, Y/n and Akaashi are being mean." Kuroo pouted.

"Show me the lie and I'll defend you." Kenma teased his soulmate.

"I hate it here." Kuroo crossed his arms.

Akaashi nudged him, talking lowly. "While Y/n's gone and Bo's distracted by the food. I found something out." Akaashi had a small impish grin, "I'm 99% sure Bokuto and Y/n are soulmates."

Kuroo's eyes widend. "No fuckin way! How?"

"Well Bo woke up this morning yelling about his tattoo tingling. It's the first time. And then during the last game I noticed he kept massaging his leg. I thought maybe he strained it but I asked and he said it hadn't stopped prickling all day. He thinks his soulmate must live by the high school. The himbo didn't hear it was her birthday today apparently." Akaashi explained.

Kuroo's mouth gaped open. "I think your right. Y/n said hers has been bugging her all day. But she also thinks it's someone out in the city." Kuroo looked to you then to Bokuto. "Holy fucking shit."

You pushed your way through the guys surrounding the girl, "Excuse me boys! Can't you see your frightening the poor thing?" You shooed them away. You knew they were just trying to be friendly but sometimes they didn't know how intimidating they can be. You gave a big smile to the blonde girl in front of you. "Hey, you're one of Karasuno's managers right? I'm Nekomas, my names Y/n. Are you okay? I know the guys can seem scary but most of em are just big softies." You punch one of your hands with the other, "And if they aren't you just have to seem scarier."

She returned a small smile. "H-hi. Yeah, I j-just joined. My names Y-yachi. Hinata mentioned you. He said you were nice. And t-that you gave him a nickname?"

"Really? I actually just joined a couple weeks ago but I've been watching my friends play forever." You blushed slightly at Hinata's compliment. "Er, yeah. I'm kinda a volleyball nerd and it seemed to fit him." You laughed.

"What did you mean by 'seem scarier'?" Yachi timidly asked.

"In my case I just use my scary face to keep Kuroo in line and mess with him...well and for jerks. Watch." You turned to face Tetsuro with dead eyes and your face emotionless except for the creepy grin plastered on. In a sing-song voice, "Kuroo Tetsuro!"

You only use his full name when he's in trouble trouble. Stepping behind Kenma for protection, "I didn't even do anything!"

"I know." You winked and softend your smile to a friendly one. Turning back to Yachi, "See, just pretend to be even more badass then you actually are. Give me your best scary face."

"I'm not badass, not like you..." Yachi murmured.

You snorted. "I don't know, taking on a rowdy buncha boys from Karasuno? Seems pretty badass to me."

Yachi gave you a small smile. "Ok." You could see the gears turning in her mind. Then she gave you her best scary-badass face.

"Perfect! No one will mess with you with that face!" You said excitedly. "It actually kinda reminds me of the look your setter gives Hinata if he messes up."

Yachi giggled. "Kageyama's angry face is the scariest thing I've seen."

"Ready to put your new skill to the test?" You raised an eyebrow.

With a determined nod she walked to the nearest grill and cleared her throat. "Excuse me."

A couple boys turned, "Hey, cu....tie." Their faces paled slightly and their words trailed off. As they stepped aside leaving their spots at the grill open, "Ah, nevermind." 

You chuckled lightly as Yachi turned around with a plate full of meat and veggies. Giving her a thumbs up as she walked back to you. "See I knew you could do it!"

"Thanks Y/n!" Yachi smiled.

"No prob-." Right then your stomach growled ferociously. Embarrassed you replied, "-lem. Um I better go and get some food before those heathens eat it all and my stomach decides to eat itself. Bye, Yachi!"

"See ya Y/n!" Yachi waved goodbye.

Making your way back to your little group your mouth watered. God you were starving and there was a juicy looking piece of meat in front of Tetsuro. Probably his but you have just as quick reflexes as him. With your chopsticks you grabbed it quickly while he was talking to Kenma. A second later another pair barely missing said BBQ. "Haha, too slow Tets!" You teased bringing the BBQ closer to your mouth. Except it wasn't Tetsuro.

"Damn Y/n, you're quick!" Bokuto laughed.

"Oh. Sorry, I assumed that was Tetsu's food. Here you take it." Your cheeks rosied as you set the food on his plate.

"No, it was his. I was just going to steal it. BBQ meats my favorite." Bokuto grinned, his eyes crinkling. "Do you want to share? I haven't seen you eat anything yet."

"Sure, us food pilferers gotta stick together!" You nudged his side playfully.

"Kenma, Akaashi!" Kuroo whispered fiercely. "You seein this shit?!"

"Wow." Kenmas eyes widened slightly.

"Whoa, Bo is sharing BBQ meat. That's big." Akaashi commented while turning to hand a cup of water to a choking Kageyama, completely unfazed.

"Y/n sharing food at all is...unnatural. You wouldn't want to get between her and her food, especially when she's hungry." Kuroo's eyes looked distant as he shivered remembering the one time he made such a mistake. "It's not pretty, trust me."

You turned to the three boys swallowing the mouthful you had. "My shit talkin radar is going off. You talkin smack, Tets?"

Tetsuro smirked, "No, just observing that you're actually sharing food with someone."

You puffed your cheeks out in embarrassment. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I share...sometimes."

"Random stray animals don't count." Kuroo laughed.

"They do too! They're just so cute and I want to give them all the love they deserve." You pouted.

"So does that make Bokuto a stray that needs all the love?" Akaashi teased.

"And that you think he's cute?" Kuroo questioned.

Bokuto's ears perked at the sound of his name and heard Akaashi and Kuroo's questions. It took everything in him to keep his face neutral and not look like he was eager waiting for what you would say.

He did not do a good a job as he thought he was doing.

Your mouth gaped open as your cheeks flushed. You glanced at Bokuto. His face was as flushed as yours felt and it looked like he wanted to take a step closer to you, he was leaning so close. Maybe you should take a chance. Besides the obvious dislike of today in general, you felt an air of hope also. Taking a sharp inhale through your nose you said quietly, "Well, you'd have to be a blind idiot to not think he's attractive. And I'm not blind nor an idiot so." You shrugged your shoulders while shoving a bite of food into your mouth. Akaashi and Kuroo had shocked expressions on their faces. They were not expecting you to admit it. Kenma had a small smile that said he was proud of you. Bokuto was practically glowing. You cleared your throat, changing subject. "So, we're done eating now yeah? I promised to show you my soulmate tattoo and I'm a woman of my word." You handed Tetsuro your phone. "Bokuto had the idea you take a picture so I can see the whole thing." In a small voice you asked, "Can you, please?"

That fear in your voice snapped Kuroo out of his shock. "Y/n, I know I've been giving you shit about it but really you don't have to." Tetsu spoke quietly pulling you into a gentle hug.

Kenma sensed your discomfort and wormed his way into your and Tetsu's hug, giving you your last birthday hug. "He's right. Don't force yourself if you don't want to."

You shook your head, squeezing tight your two best friends. "No, I want to. Curious even but...I know it's stupid but I'm scared."

"That's okay. We're here for you." Tets whispered.

"No matter what." Kenma replied.

"I love you guys, thanks." You nodded letting go. A wry smile gracing your lips. "How fitting my 17th birthday hug be right before the big reveal." You clapped your hands together, getting back to business. "Ight, let's see what this big badass bitch looks like." With that you twirled on your heel and pulled your shirt just over your head, leaving your arms in; your back facing the group of 4 boys. You did have some modesty being as you were surrounded by 150+ people.

"Oh damn! You weren't kidding Y/n. It really does take up your whole back." Kuroo said shocked as he took in the tattoo smiling.

You rolled your eyes. "Well not all of us can have cute little dainty ones like you and Kens." Testu had a little gaming controller on his inner bicep and Kens had the chemical formula for love on his ribcage. Lucky bastards.

You heard Kenmas quiet voice. "Y/n, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised." You heard the click of your phone taking the picture.

"It's actually quite lovely too." Akaashi complimented as his theory was confirmed.

"Wow." You heard Bokuto murmur and before you could turn around you felt a finger delicately trace your back. You inhaled sharply as that sensation overrode the tingling of your tattoo. Was Tetsu being a creep? Or..? An awkward cough pulled you out of your thoughts and the finger gliding across your skin disappeared. Slipping your shirt back on you turned around. To be face to face with Bokuto. Was he the one touching you like that?! Your face turned a violent shade of red and your brain was glitching. Bokuto was staring at you intensely, his eyes zeroing in on yours.

Kuroo nudged your shoulder a wild grin on his face. "Here ya go Y/n." He sang song.

Breaking eye contact from Bokuto and looking at your phone you gasped. You were met with the same golden sunset eyes you'd recognize anywhere. The very same ones you were just staring into. Only it wasn't  Bokuto's face looking back at you. This time it was a grey, black and white owl with its wings spread in flight against a night sky filled with stars. And a handful of the stars were made into a constellation of a volleyball. No. No way was it possible. You looked up into the bright metallic eyes you had fell hard for. "You...?"

One of Bokuto's warm hands cupped your cheek tilting your head up. Leaning down he whispered, "I knew I remembered those eyes from somewhere."

His lips were on yours and stealing the breath from you. Eyes fluttering shut, your tattoo had finally stopped tingling and the knot in your heart loosened. Bokuto fucking Kotaro, the boy your heart had already started to fall for, was your soulmate. Suddenly you were lifted off the ground. Instinctively your legs wound their way around his waist and your arms twined around his shoulders, one hand in his hair. Bokuto lightly bit your lip making you gasp and open your mouth. His tongue darting inside to meet yours. A supernova of explosions were crackling in your veins. If he hadn't been holding you you would have fell due to the fact your legs becoming jelly. Your lungs were beginning to strain from lack of oxygen but you didn't care. You didn't need air when your nerves were buzzing alive from the contact with Bokuto. You didn't know how long you two had been kissing but Bokuto pulled away just enough. Both of you were breathing hard. "I promised myself that would be the first thing I did when I found my soulmate. When I found you."

A breathy laugh left you. "I'm gonna have to add kissing to the list of skills you have, Bokuto."

"Oh?" He smiled fondly at you. "Ya know Y/n you can call me Kotaro. Like last night."

Your brow furrowed. "I didn't—" Hazy memories of last night after the game came to you in flashes. You did use his given name. But more embarrassing is what you'd said about him in your frustratingly truthful state. A vulnerability only a few knew about. You were going to kill him. Or at least make him think so. "Hey Kotaro could you set me down for a sec please."

"Sure thing, baby owl." Kotaro set you down gently and kissed your cheek.

You blushed at the pet name and the soft kiss. Turning to the others you started to count silently on your fingers.

"What are you doing?" Akaashi questioned confusedly. He thought you would have been overjoyed at the fact you and Bo were soulmates.

"Oh I'm counting the ingredients  I need to buy for apple pie for Kenma. Kens how many pies do you think you'll need to get over Tets' death?" You smiled sunnily at Tetsuro.

"Hmmm. I think five would be good." Kenma replied.

"I am worth way more than 5! Wait, what?" Tetsuro panicked. "I promise Y/n I had the purest of intentions!"

You took a step towards Kuroo and he took one back. "Oh?"  You started chasing after Tetsu and he only made it a few feet before you tackled him.

"Y/n please don't kill me! Akaashi and I realized you and Bokuto liked eachother and we thought this would get the ball rolling, honest!" To say Kuroo was shocked when you hugged him would be an understatement. You weren't killing him?

Unwinding your arms from his neck you pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thanks Tets, for making me join the team" you mumbled, "and for helping with Ko."

Kuroo grinned. "HEY BABE! DID YA HEAR Y/N THANKING ME?! Y/N. THANKING. ME."

You rolled your eyes still smiling and pushed Tetsuro away. "And moments ruined." Once you made your way back to the group you snuggled yourself up against Kotaro's side and he wrapped his arm around you. Looking towards Akaashi you thanked him also. " Thank you for nudging us together so if you ever have a sweet tooth for a baked good, I'm your girl."

Kotaro kissed the top of your head. "My sweet girl."

"Oh you don't have to do that. I'm just happy Bo is happy, that's good enough for me." Keiji chuckled.

"Trust me Akaashi, you'll definitely want to take her up on her offer. Her apple pies are delicious and she makes mine and Tetsu's birthday cake every year too." Kenma added while still playing his game. You blushed at his compliment.

"Alright then, I will." Akaashi nodded.

"What about me?" Kotaro squeezed you & had a little bit of a pout.

You reached up on your toes and pulled him down to kiss his forehead. "For you, owl boy, I'll make a whole bakeries worth." You pecked him on the lips.

"Ew. Is this what me and Kenma are like?" Tetsu's face was all screwed up in disgust. "There is no way we are that bad. Right Kitten?" He declared as he was hugging Kenma from behind with his chin resting on Kenma's head. You've noticed that's his favorite way to be lovey.

"You are." Kens replied.

"Sorry bro but the love of your life is right." You giggled.

"I honestly don't know how I put up with you two. I deserve a medal." Tets said bewildered.

"Sure bestie. Sure you do." You ruffled his already messy hair.

"Don't patronize me." He pointed a finger at you.

You batted your eyelashes. "Me? Never."

Kuroo looked at Bokuto. "Y/n is your problem now. Good luck bro."

Incredulously you yelled. "HEY I'M NOT—"

Kotaro squeezed you tighter with one arm & with the other gently tilted your chin up, making you look at him. You could feel your heart go all soft looking into those golden eyes. "You're not a problem. Your my soulmate. I can't wait to get to know you and fall even more in love with you." He leaned in closer giving you another one of those earth shattering kisses.

This boy. This boy made your heart flutter, your stomach swirl... and your brain dumb. Thats why when he regretfully pulled away the only thing that came out of your stupid mouth was a whispered "Oh."

"Damn Bo way to make literally the whole camp feel single." Kuroo laughed. "Akaashi did you know that he was such a Casanova?"

Keiji nodded while eating a slice of watermelon & swallowed before answering. "I knew he was a romantic but not this intense."

A few hours later everyone was waiting to get on their busses to go home. You waved goodbye to the new friends you had made. However you and Kotaro were holding on to one another. You'd only just found eachother and now you had to say goodbye. You bit your lip. "I don't want to go yet." A few hours together had turned you into a mess.

"Hey, baby owl," His thumb traced your cheek, "its okay. We don't live that far from eachother. We'll see eachother all the time and talk on the phone yeah?"

You leaned into his warm touch. "You're right." You turned to kiss his palm. His cheeks flushed. He was also a mess. "So call me when you get home, to let me you got there okay, alright?"

At first his lips brushed yours then he deepened the kiss. Just as your lungs were about to scream he pulled away but just barely. Whispering "Looking forward to it."

That night you talked until the brightest of stars dimmed and the sun rose. Turning the sky a swath of pink, orange and a color that was quickly becoming your favorite. A color that reminded you of your soulmates sunshine eyes.

#haikyuu #haikyuu!! #bokuto kotaro #bokuto x reader #bokuto x fem!reader #soulmate au #a dash of kuroken #hes so sweet and for what 🥺 #i love a beefy owl himbo and his name is Kotaro #it is his day & his day only #happy birthday bby #my tiny blog

[glamoureddreamer]

Halloween Nightmares

Spooky month (Kevin x Streber)

Warnings: ptsd, anxiety, bad dreams- this takes place after episode tender treats (please let me know if I’ve missed anything)

Thank you everyone! I hope you all have a fantastic day and a great night!

Kevin sighs happily cuddling his boyfriend. His face was pressed up against his messy bed head. He could smell his boyfriends deep scent, it put him at ease.

Kevin was fully aware Streber was in a deep sleep, the poor boy probably needed it. The last few months had started hard and only slowly got better, things still weren't close to where they had been but Kevin loves him with all of his heart and would always be there for him.

Kevin places a kiss on top of Streber's head pulling away so he could gently peck his lips. Kevin gets out of bed being very careful to not wake Streber up.

Even though it had been months after the incident he still needed to recover.

Kevin slowly makes his way into the kitchen and makes himself some coffee, while making Streber some hot coco.

~~~

Streber's eyes snap open, he woke up in a cold sweat. He was cold, he could already tell today wasn't going to be a happy one.

He had a nightmare that Kevin was the one who had gone through what he had. He sighs and grabs his fluffy hair tugging on it lightly.  He turns his head to where Kevin always laid- but he wasn't there.

Panic hits Streber like a bus, he sighs shakily as he tries to calm himself. 

"It's okay, he's probably just in the bathroom or something." He whispers to himself over and over again. He shakily gets out of their shared bed and leaves their bedroom. He felt sick as his mind flashes over some of the scenes. 

Streber starts to panic and runs down the hall. He runs into the bathroom, not there. He runs into the kitchen, he felt a panic attack coming on but he pushed it down needing to find Kevin.

He stops and freezes once his eyes land on Kevin. Kevin looked fine other than his constant tired look that never seemed to go away no matter how much he slept.

Streber's breaths catch in his throat, tears filling his eyes.

"Streber?" He doesn't answer, Streber just sits on the floor against the cabinets. The panic attack was now in full motion. 

"Streber." Kevin sits next to his boyfriend and gently touches his hand, Streber jumps but doesn't pull away.

Kevin gently pulls him into a hug, giving him enough time to pull away if he didn't want to be touched. Streber shakes and sobs into Kevin's chest, he clutches his shirt with his good hand.

"I-..Kev-Kevin-" he chokes out, Kevin shushes him gently and rubs his back with one hand. With his other he gently runs his fingers through his hair.

"It's okay, Streber I'm right here. Take as much time as you need to calm down." 

Kevin whispers sweet nothings into the younger males ear as he slowly starts to calm down.

"...I'm sorry.." Streber whispers against Kevin's chest.

"No sweetheart don't be, I know that it's hard. I don't blame you." Kevin pulls Streber's head away from his chest and kisses his lips gently. Then pecking all over his face to try and cheer him up.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Streber hesitates.

"You don't have to sweetheart." Streber shakes his head.

"No I should- it'll help if I get it off my chest." Kevin rubs his back gently as Streber finds the strength to say what happened.

"I dreamed about what happened again..." he pauses, he wished that covering his eyes like a child would make the nightmares go away but it only made them worse.

"...but Instead of me getting hurt.... It was..it was you." He whimpers the last part, he clings onto Kevin again like his life depended on it.

"Sweetheart- hey it's okay." Kevin says sweetly.

"Streber baby, it's okay come back to me." 

"Streber... it's okay sweetheart I'm right here, nothing happened to me okay? Nothing will happen to us ever again okay? I'm not going to let it."

Streber slowly calms down once again with Kevin's help. The small boy looks up with tears in his eyes.

"You promise?"

"Of course I promise." Kevin leans in and kisses the rest of Streber's tears away.

They sit there for awhile until Streber is ready to get up and semi- face the world. Kevin of course helps him up. 

"How about this, I call off work today and we just relax today? How does that sound."

"Really nice." Streber softly smiles, Kevin smiles back.

"Great. Do you want to go start a movie while I heat up our drinks? And get some snacks?"

Streber looks down a bit pink holding onto Kevin's arm.

"No, I don't really want to leave you." He shakes his head. Kevin smiles and kisses the top of his head.

"That's okay sweetheart, want to help me then?" Streber nods with a small smile.

Kevin chuckles warmly, "Your so cute."

Streber proceed to have a great rest of the day  with his boyfriend.

#spooky month tender treats #spooky month kevin #spooky month #spooky month streber #sr pelo #spooky month 5 #kevin x streber #sr pelo spooky month #spooky month Kevin x streber #spooky month sr pelo #tender treats #kevin spooky month

[crinkled-emotions]

Ooh I’d love a 14 sick prompt for rooster

I assume you're referring to the whumpril post, Day 14? Please let me know if I have the wrong prompt though!! 😂

14. False Smile || Holding Back Tears || "I said I'm fine"

You really pulled on my heart strings there, ouchhhh!

I nearly put this in the Fixin' to Break verse, then I decided I was in the mood for some Hangster. Y'know, like a pro lmao.

-

Jake knew there was something going on with his boyfriend. Bradley was a big personality even when he wasn't playing some outdated song on the piano in the middle of a busy bar, but recently he'd been keeping to himself.

It was very unlike him.

-

"Hey, babe, you wanna go for a drive?"

Rooster glanced up from his phone when his boyfriend put a hand on his back, pressing a kiss into his hair. He managed a thin smile, standing.

"Lemme just go to the bathroom, be back in a sec."

He ducked into the downstairs bathroom, leaning against the door when it was closed to catch his brain from spiralling. For a moment he closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling of Jake's hand on his back, the kiss to his temple. Little things like that made him wonder if he was doing the right thing, if Jake would still want to be with him when he told him what he was thinking.

He flushed the toilet, then ran the tap for a moment. Finally, he gathered his thoughts and headed out the bathroom door. Rooster found Hangman rifling through the backseat of his truck, searching for something.

"What are you looking for?" Rooster asked, pressing a kiss to the back of his neck. Jake turned in his arms, slipping his own around Rooster's waist.

"My sanity, but I found the picnic blanket. It's the little things, right?"

Rooster snorted, surprised at the way tears pricked at his eyes. He cleared his throat, gesturing to the truck.

"Where were you thinking of going?"

"I was thinking we could go to that look out, by the time we get there it'll be sunset."

Bradley nodded.

"Sounds good."

Jake frowned, finally clicking on to the look in his partner's eyes.

"Hey. Are you okay? Do you want to talk about anything?"

Bradley gently pulled himself out of his embrace. As much as he didn't want to, if he leaned into Jake it would all come out and he needed to think about how he wanted to say it first.

"I'm fine," he replied softly. Bradley spun on his heel, getting into the passenger seat of the truck. He watched Jake pinch the bridge of his nose and knew he was irritated, potentially even about to snap. When he got into the truck he gestured to the aux cord and Bradley dutifully passed it over. The familiar tones of Garth Brooks, Jake's favourite artist, blared over the speakers and Jake backed out of the driveway.

-

As Jake drove, he looked over to Bradley and his stomach sank further than it already had. His boyfriend was leaning against the door, one leg pulled up to the seat but the other flat on the floor. It didn't look comfortable, knew his back was already fucked and it probably wasn't helping. Jake reached over, putting a hand gently on his thigh.

"Put your leg down, Roos, you know that hurts later," he reminded him. To his surprise he got a glare in response, yet the leg went down and Jake watched the pinch of pain ease ever so slightly on his boyfriend's face. When he didn't get a glare for keeping his hand on Bradley's thigh, Jake left it there. He'd been driving one-handed since he got his license, it was something he could practically do in his sleep (and never would, because driving tired made him nervous). Rooster sighed, leaning against the window again.

"I changed my mind; can we go home? I think I'm getting sick," he murmured. Jake glanced over at him, frowning.

"And I think that's bullshit," he said. Bradley looked to him in alarm.

"Excuse me?"

"I said I think that's bullshit. I think you're avoiding being honest with me."

"Fuck you, pull the truck over. I'll walk home."

"And what good would that achieve? Huh? Congratulations, you avoided it for another day, but what about tomorrow? The problem doesn't just fucking disappear because you refuse to acknowledge it, dammit Bradley."

"Like you don't avoid tough conversations," Bradley rolled his eyes. Jake sighed, pulling over on the side of the road. He locked the doors before Rooster could get out, taking off his seatbelt to face him properly.

"Talk to me," he said softly. He was aware it almost sounded like begging, but he didn't know what else to do. Bradley had been hiding from him for weeks, he didn't know if he could take much more.

"Bradley. I love you, okay? I love you, I want to hear what's on your mind."

"Even if it could break us up?"

"Uh, yeah, I think I'd better hear that."

"Look; let's just get to the lookout, okay? We can talk there."

-

For the thirty minutes it took for them to get to the lookout, they drove in silence. Rooster's face was pinched tightly in discomfort, while Hangman focused on the road and not the way his stomach kept flipping uncomfortably. They pulled into the car park and instead of getting out like they usually did, they sat uncomfortably in silence.

"I'm fine," Rooster whispered. Jake huffed.

"Yeah, sure you are."

"I said I'm fine, why are you pushing it?"

"Because you're not! We're not!"

"I- I don't know how to say it, because every time I think it through in my head I sound like I don't want us."

"Roos. Baby, I know you want us. I want you. But I need you to be honest, because I can't handle secrets. Bradley I don't know if I can do secrets."

Rooster swallowed.

"Just... look forward, okay? Don't look at me."

Hangman did as asked, but in his peripheral vision he could see Rooster's hands shaking as he put them on the dash.

"I want to quit the Navy. Completely and totally. I know that's how we met, and I'm grateful for that, but-"

Jake got out of the truck, and Bradley squeezed his eyes shut. He felt his door open, then arms wrapped around his shoulders.

"Darlin', if that's what you want? Who the hell am I to stop you?"

"I just thought you'd take it like I didn't want you."

"Fuckin'- Bradley, dammit, no. I'd never! Well; I might have eight years ago, but I like to think I've grown up since then. I'm sorry I ever gave you that impression; I just want you to be happy."

For the first time in a while, Rooster smiled a genuine smile into Jake's shoulder. He could feel his fingers tangling in his curls, gently brushing through them as he hushed him.

"Dammit, Bradley, you scared the shit out of me."

"Sorry," Rooster mumbled into the crook of his neck. He felt Hangman snort.

"I love you," Rooster whispered. Hangman rolled his eyes, but held on just a little longer.

"I love you too."

-

#Top Gun: Maverick #Top Gun Maverick #TGM #Bradley Rooster Bradshaw #Bradley Bradshaw #Rooster #Callsign: Rooster #Jake Hangman Seresin #Jake Seresin #Hangman #Callsign: Hangman #Hangster

[echantedtoon]

Charlastor Week Day 5

Day 5 (3-5): Date

What does one get for someone they like? And then what would you do if she had something you already got her? Yeah. Teddy bears were something she had a lot of and honestly she deserved better than that. So really what could he give her? Something that couldn't be found in hell. Something that wasn't easy to get. Something rare.

Flowers!

Ladies loved flowers. They're colorful, alive, and smell nice. A great change up from the usual gloom n doom around here. The only plants that grew down there were the venus fly traps that grew in Mr. Baxter's labotory, and those weren't as lovely or enjoyable as flowers. Of course, the surface world was forbidden to demons so he had to pull some strings. And waited for a couple days before finally being able to get what he needed. And they were better than he could imagine. Honestly they were more smelling and brightly colored than the pictures he's seen or the rose perfume Angel insists on wearing, but his crush was a girl. So she should like these, right?

His footsteps and heartbeats were the only things that rung in his head right now as he stepped closer towards the room she resided in. A million thoughts and worst case scenarios played through his head at light speed. What if she didn't like them? What if they were too brightly colored? An eye sore. Maybe she wouldn't like the smell. Many demons didn't like the things that reminded them of life on the surface, he didn't know if she would be the same. She did visit a giant rose garden with him not too long ago.....SH*T! What if he got the wrong kind of flowers?! He didn't even ask if she had a pollen allergy. He heard about this but never witnessed it. Too late now though. Each step brought them closer and closer to the room and every step felt like his legs were wobbly and it was getting hard to breath. His nose felt like it was full of this sickening sweet smell and his lungs were burning with the sensation. Too soon he found himself in front of the forbidden door.

Hand raising shakily to hover above the door. The burning hot sensation in the back of his throat getting worse by the second. Weakly he moved his hand to make the slightest tapping sound against the wood-

"Just a minute," a voice called making him jump, "I'll be right there!"

The sweet voice set the blazing feeling further as it pooled up his spine and into the back of his throat. Hopefully his voice wouldn't sound too static-y.

Too soon the door opened and the princess stepped out, happy and then confused to the sight of beautiful brightly colored flowers inches away from her face. Thank goodness he had so many years of practice keeping such a calm composure and smile on his red features, he held them out to her and she silently but confusedly accepted them from him. Well, now was the moment. Just be your usually self old boy! Chin up!

"You're probably wondering why I've come here at your doorstep with such a meaningful gift!" She blinked back up to him with those wide doe eyes of hers. How perfect. "You see my dear. Not many catch my eye and not more so my heart that barely beats! So rather than ignore the pesky thing, I've decided the best course of action was deal with the problem and court you myself! Aren't you a lucky one!"

She stared there flabbergasted. Probably not sure what to say about the whole situation besides to blink and stare still holding the flowers.

And so he made his move. "How about you and me take a trip to a picture show first thing tomorrow? I have heard many things about this Bate's Motel they're showing. Perhaps it'll help with ideas for our own fine establishment. Whaddya say?"

In her still blank state she could only mutter out, "....ok??"

"SPLENDID!! Now off to bed you. And be up and ready with the clock strikes! We have big things ahead of us now! Big, big, big!!"

Without another word, he spun on his heel and walked away down the hall, leaving a very confused princess indeed.

#hazbin hotel charlie #hazbin hotel alastor #hazbin hotel #charlastorweek2020 #charlastor #charlastorweek #charlie x alastor #alastor x charlie #hazbin alastor #hazbin charlie

[mischievous-serpent]

Safety From a Whirlwind of Dark Thoughts and Pain (Loki X Tony)

Summary: After Loki is banished from Asgard because of his crimes against Midgard, he finds himself alone and living on the streets. When a downpour threatens to take him out, one of his past enemies takes him in.

Warnings: Mentions small injuries, slight swearing

Word Count: 1,887

Note: This one-shot is also available on Wattpad under the username WaningMoon_125.

***Third person POV***

Loki groans as he attempts to pull himself up off of the dirt covered ground. Rain has been pouring down for the past couple of hours, turning most of the dirt to mud. Loki sighs in exasperation as he once again fails to raise himself off of the wet ground. 

He thinks back to the moment before he was banished from Asgard. A growl escapes his throat as he remembers the feeling of pain that coursed through his body when Odin stripped him of his magic. Now he is suffering a much harsher punishment than he deserves. So what if he killed a few helpless mortals? Their lifespans are so short that they probably would have died within the next few years anyway. He saved them from having to suffer through slow agonizing deaths while watching their bodies deteriorate. If anything, they should be thanking him. 

After a few more desperate tries, Loki finally manages to wrestle his body into a sitting position. By now, his tunic and trousers are completely soaked with rain water. He doesn't even have any warm clothes to protect him against the harsh winds because Odin had his outfits made of fine Asgardian leather stripped from him along with his sedir. He supposes he should be grateful that Odin at least let him keep his glamour spell up. Although, Norns be damned if he thanks that man for anything!

A loud boom suddenly fills the air somewhere in the distance, and Loki jolts in surprise, sending a new wave of pain coursing through his body. He can't believe how bad his luck is. First, he has to suffer through the pouring rain, and now he might also have to deal with lightening? He's at the point where he just wants to sink into the ground and disappear.

Once he looks up, though, Loki becomes aware of the fact that lightening isn't flashing across the sky. Brows furrowed in confusion, he glances around him to try to locate the source of the resounding boom. His questions are answered a few moments later when a pair of metal boots land near his feet. Fighting hard to keep his tired eyes open, Loki lifts his head until his eyes meet the gaze of a man he had hoped to never see again.

"Hiya, Reindeer Games. Funny seeing around here. I could have sworn that my fellow Avengers and I sent your ass back to Asgard," Stark greets with a forced smile. 

"You did, but I missed you too much to remain away any longer," Loki sarcastically remarks. 

"I'm honored," Stark mocking puts his hand over his heart. "So, here's the thing. I was out testing my new technology when I thought I saw a soggy god, but it turns out it's just you."

"Yeah, I'm only a powerful sorcerer, the god of mischief, and the person who almost ruled your entire realm," Loki growls, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You're not so dangerous now though, are you?" Tony asks with confidence.

"What could possibly have caused you to arrive at that conclusion?" Loki questions in annoyance.

"Well, if you were dangerous, you wouldn't be sitting in a puddle of rainwater in a cold alleyway," Tony points out. Actually, now that he sees Loki up close, he realizes how weary he really looks. Dark bags line the bottom of his eyes, cuts and bruises litter his arms, hands, and face, his hair is completely tangled with knots, and he's covered from head to toe in muddy water.

"Take a picture, Stark. It'll last longer," Loki remarks, bringing Tony out of his thoughts. 

"Um, no, I was just thinking about how terrible you look," Tony bluntly states. After thinking for a few seconds, he sighs and steps toward Loki. 

"Stay back, you insolent mortal!" Loki shouts in indignation. "You're even more stupid than I thought if you believe that I'll go down without a fight  just because I'm injured." 

"Hey, easy," Tony cautions. "I'm not looking to fight you. I just want to help you stand up."

"I don't need help doing a simple task such as standing up," Loki claims as he tries to lift himself to his feet. He manages to take two steps before collapsing back onto the ground. 

Tony grimaces at Loki's poor attempt at proving he's not as weak as a mere mortal. "Please just let me help you, Loki," Tony begs.

"Why? So you can turn me into S.H.I.E.L.D?" Loki questions in disgust.

"No, of course not!" Tony immediately exclaims before correcting himself. "Well, maybe, but I'd at least let you take a shower before turning you in."

Loki sits completely still as he weighs his options. He could either stay out in the freezing rain as a disgusting homeless man, or he could go with Stark, clean himself up, and then once he looks more respectable, he can escape before S.H.I.E.L.D arrives to take him in. He'll probably regret his decision later, but how much worse can his life actually get at this point? Heaving a large sigh, he murmurs, "Fine."

"Good choice, Reindeer Games," Tony happily exclaims. "Usually I would just use my suit to fly us back to my tower, but I'm pretty sure the flight would aggregate your wounds," he continues while hoisting Loki to his feet. Slinging Loki's arm around his shoulders, they begin the long walk to Stark Tower. Loki desperately wants to call Stark out on his ignorance, but even he knows that he would never be able to make it on his own, so he remains quiet as he allows Stark to lead him toward the place where he was so badly beaten a couple months prior. 

By the time they finally reach the tower, Loki looks even worse than Tony thought possible. It seems as if he could collapse at any given moment. "Okay, so that door leads to the bathroom," Tony explains, leading him into one of the many extravagant rooms in the tower. "There should already be towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo, and conditioner inside the bathroom." Walking over to the dresser, Tony pulls out a pair of boxers, grey sweatpants, and a plain green T-shirt. "These should fit you, but if they don't, let me know, and I'll get you a different outfit," he kindly tells Loki.

Loki nods his appreciation before closing and locking the bathroom door. He turns around, half suspecting there to be a dirty bathtub and a hole in the floor for him to use as a toilet. Instead, he's met with the sight of a beautiful bathtub, a very tidy shower, a regular toilet, and a sink with a huge mirror. Looking at himself in the mirror, he realizes that he needs a shower more desperately than he originally thought. 

He looks back and forth between the shower and bathtub before deciding that a bath sounds more appealing. He starts the faucet and turns the water up as hot as it can go. Stripping out of his wet and muddy clothes, Loki slowly steps into the tub, letting the almost scolding water ease his aching muscles.

He looks at the rim of the bathtub and spots the bottles of shampoo and condition Stark was talking about. The scent of coconuts drifts through the air as soon as the cap to the shampoo is removed. The delightful feeling of the shampoo being rubbed into his scalp and dislodging all of the dirt is a sensation he's greatly missed. Once the shampoo is completely rinsed out of his hair, he copies his previous actions with the conditioner. 

Only after his hair is once again smooth and without dirt does Loki move on to his body. He scrubs his skin until all of the dirt and grime is off, being extremely careful to clean around his wounds. After he's satisfied with his work, he steps out of the bathtub and wraps his lower body in one of the fluffy white towels Stark provided him with. 

He quickly dries himself off and tries on the clothes that Stark left for him. They surprisingly fit, and although he would never admit it out loud, they're a lot more comfortable than the clothes he used to wear on Asgard. Loki figures that this is the perfect time to disappear. He could sneak out of the bathroom and use an elevator to get out of the tower without being noticed. He might have drastically changed within the past year or so, but his mischievous nature has remained the same, so instead of sneaking out of the tower, he finds himself heading toward where Stark is waiting for him.

"Hey, they fit!" Tony exclaims once he spots Loki.

"They do indeed," Loki replies with a stiff nod. 

"Cool. Alright, you can just sit down while I get the medical supplies ready," Tony instructs, indicating toward the bed. 

"What? No. While I appreciate your assistance, I really should be going now," Loki declines.

"If you won't stay to benefit yourself, at least let me take care of your wounds so you don't drip blood all over my clean floors," Tony suggests. 

"Alright, Stark. I'll entertain this notion," Loki agrees, sitting down on the bed.

"I'm going to go crazy if you keep calling me Stark. It makes me sound so old. I'm still young and spry," Tony comments. "Just call me Tony."

"If that's what you wish," Loki utters. "Can we get on with this now?" he questions, motioning toward himself.

"Oh, yes, of course." Tony pulls out a first aid kit before kneeling down next to Loki. The irony of the situation is not  lost to either of them, but they both choose to ignore it for now. "This might sting just a bit," Tony warns, pouring rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball.

"I've lived through worse pain than this," Loki assures him. Tony just hums in acknowledgement as he begins to clean Loki's cuts. The only visible sign that Loki is in any pain is his tightly clenched jaw. 

Tony then proceeds to wrap the bigger wounds in gauze. Luckily, Loki doesn't  require any stitches. "All done!" Tony announces as he finishes bandaging the last of Loki's injuries. "You can stay here and rest for a little bit if you want," he suggests to Loki. When all Loki does is raise his eyebrows in a questioning manner, Tony adds, "If I call S.H.I.E.L.D on you, it won't be until tomorrow."

"Why?" Loki asks, confusion showing on his face.

"Despite what most people think of me, I'm not heartless. Plus, I'd rather have at least one bottle of alcohol before I have to deal with Fury," Tony only partially jokes. 

He starts to exist the room when a quiet voice stops him. "I really am grateful to you for helping me... Tony," Loki murmurs.

"If that's a fancy way of saying thank you, then you're very welcome," Tony replies with a smile. 

As soon as Tony's out of sight, Loki crawls underneath the covers. This is the first time in a long time that he isn't falling asleep on the hard ground. He still doesn't believe himself to completely safe considering the fact that he's lying in his enemies bed, but somewhere in his mind, there's the distant feeling of peace.

#loki odinson #loki imagine #god of mischief #mcu loki #loki laufeyson #loki x tony #marvel #the avengers #fanfiction

[aladaylessecondblog]

Faal Hah Wuld, Chapter 13

TW: Blood drinking, our boy Voryn--er, I mean, Torovan, is thirsty

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

*nothing is written on the page, but there are several things drawn with a shaky hand. Lines drawn toward but not quite reaching an empty central point, a dim lit cave entrance with a ruined wooden door, and a faceless figure bleeding from a gaping chest wound where part of a lung can be seen--but no heart*

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

It had been an accident. Just a slip of his hand when he was taking the bottle from Snow's saddlebag, but despite what was responsible the fact still stood: Torovan was out of blood. He'd refused to stoop to drinking it off the floor--but his need was clear, his hunger evident.

"Take my blood. We've stopped for the night anyway." Sadrith said. It was strange, she knew better than to chance it--but still, she was deadly curious. What did being fed from feel like?

Curiosity killed the cat...but satisfaction brought him back.

"I told you, I don't want your blood." Torovan practically snarled the words, but from the slight shake of his hands Sadrith could tell he was tempted. "Suppose I take too much?"

"I trust you."

Torovan fixed her with a somber look.

"You shouldn't." He paused, and looked over his shoulder, as if at something far away. "You truly shouldn't."

"It's either this or I try to go out and get a rabbit or a deer. That could take time we don't have. I'd rather not come back to find you've drained my horses dry."

She could see that he was struggling to give her another denial. Despite the self-control that had marked him since they'd left Winterhold...maybe he didn't trust himself not to drain her entirely?

Still, Sadrith persisted. She saw no reason why someone with so large a stick up his ass would have trouble controlling himself.

"Take mine," she insisted, "I've already eaten, I'm comfortable, and it'll probably put me right to sleep. You know healing spells, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

The huff she waited for didn't come. When she looked in his direction she saw his lips pressed tightly together. He shut his eye and took a deep, shaky breath.

"Fine." There was a pause where he seemed to struggle with what to say before finally going with, "You should lay down...as you'll become dizzy. Get comfortable. And...loosen your tunic's collar."

Sadrith moved a little closer to the fire. She'd already taken off her armor in preparation to sleep, so loosened her collar as Torovan asked--and waited. He knelt beside her and then leaned down, bracing himself with one arm. She looked to one side--

"Are you sure?" Torovan asked, his lips inches away from her neck.

"I'm sure."

Could you even stop if I said no now?

It was like a pair of tiny daggers in her neck, that bite, and as the blood began to flow Sadrith heard Torovan growl. The pain faded swiftly into a strange numbness, and an almost thrilling feeling of her blood racing through another's veins.

His hand came up, almost cradling her head--his tongue working furiously, throat gulping as quickly as he could get it into his mouth. Feasting, guzzling, like he hadn't seen blood in weeks.

Though Sadrith's heart was racing, her mind was still--not in the way the sword made it, but a beautiful silence. There was no typhoon of thoughts to sort through, no sea of endless fog to fight.

Only a simple subtle command, barely a thought and more of an instinct.

yield your blood

The numbness spread...soothing, calming.

And then--a bewildering flash of images before her eyes. Images, connected to feelings, connected to--

Darkness, with a leaping patch of red-hot light, and a feeling of terrible loneliness.

Mechanical pulsing, stone walls ribbed with white. Blood. Pain.

Purple skies, desperate breathing. Joy, pure JOY

Then, pain. Sadrith struggled to bring her hand to her chest unknowingly. A cramp ran through her chest, tightening, spasming--then searing agony, like it was being clawed open--!

Cold air on her neck, the sound of cursing in her ears. Then, trembling--Torovan's heavy breathing, and the warm glow of a healing spell. After a minute or two Sadrith's vision started to clear.

"Wh't happened?" she mumbled.

He didn't answer.

"Torovan..."

Sadrith sat up, expecting her head to be swimming, her vision still blurry as she got up. Perhaps some dizziness.

But she felt none of that. Her vision was entirely clear, and she saw Torovan, hunched over with one red-grey hand clamped over his mouth as he stared at the ground.

"Are you ill? Did my blood make you sick?"

"We." he forced out, "Are NOT. Doing that. AGAIN."

She was still confused, and kept watching him. "I don't understand. Tell me what happened?"

There was now no lingering pain. A thin veil of trust, a surety that he was worrying over nothing. He feared he would kill her, he didn't, no pain or symptom remained, so her mind was wandering. The only doubts now in her mind were of what she'd seen when he was feeding on her. Was that normal, when one was being bitten by a vampire? Had HE seen something?

She decided not to ask. Supposing he hadn't, this might make her look strange.

"I nearly KILLED you, that's what!" Torovan barked at her. "I told you--warned you--"

"You didn't. I'm FINE," she waved dismissively, "It's just blood, you...you healed me up right."

"You were clutching your chest and groaning about your heart, I don't call that FINE!" He looked back at her, fixing her with a hard glare, a look that made her shrink back. "Why must you be so dismissive of danger? Are you STUPID?"

"I killed the World-Eater, I'm not scared of being sucked dry." Sadrith lay back on the bedroll, and reached up to touch over the place he'd bitten her. "I didn't expect you to take so much, but..."

"I should have remembered your...dragon blood. It...it was..." His hands shook for a moment. "I'm glad the vampire problem is largely taken care of. If they knew what you tasted like--"

Torovan immediately shut his mouth after saying it.

"How about we change the subject?" she asked. "Sort of. Are you sated?"

"Yes. Perfectly so. That's the problem."

Torovan would say no more on the issue, and instead changed the conversation to replenishing their supplies. Sadrith suggested a stop in Riverwood, and he agreed.

#dagoth ur #vampire voryn dagoth #voryn dagoth #separate voryn dagoth & dagoth ur #dragonborn #skyrim #tes #tesblr #fanfiction #elder scrolls

[inevitablemoment]

Frightober Day 12 - Single Parents

Word Count: 739

Warnings: Ear infection, doctor's office, hospital, past spousal death, past parental death

Fandom: The Frighteners

Pairings: Frank Bannister x Lucy Lynskey

This features Courtney Bannister, who first appears in my Teacher AU, but this is set in the 'verse that I originally created her for. I plan on posting it sometime next year, but enjoy this little sneak peek.

————————

Frank was sitting up on the exam table with Courtney in his lap as he read aloud from the abridged version of Little Women that she had checked out from the library at school yesterday. It wasn't unlike most kids to be nervous before a visit with the doctor, so she had been feeling extra clingy since he picked her up yesterday. She had joined him in his bed last night, as she usually did when she was sick or had a bad dream, and he had taken the day off from work to stay with her.

He stopped reading when he heard the door opening, and a woman in a lab coat walked in.

She was... pretty, he found himself thinking. Her raven hair was set in natural ringlet curls, with eyes that reminded him of spring and porcelain skin that looked soft to the touch.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Alcott," she greeted. "I'm filling in for Dr. Jensen today-- his wife is having a baby."

Frank nodded; with Fairwater being a small town, he had heard through the grapevine that Dr. Jensen and his wife were expecting. Courtney almost tensed up at this stranger's presence, but allowed herself to relax.

Frank held out his hand. "I'm Frank Bannister-- this is Courtney."

"Hi, Courtney," Dr. Alcott greeted.

Courtney looked up from where she had been staring at her book. "Hi."

"How old are you, Courtney?" Dr. Alcott asked.

"Six and a half," Courtney answered.

"Oh, when's your birthday?" Dr. Alcott inquired with a smile.

"January twenty-fifth," she chirped.

"Wow-- that's soon!" Dr. Alcott exclaimed. "Now, what seems to be the problem, Courtney?"

"My ear hurts," Courtney said, holding a hand to her left ear.

"When did your ear start hurting?" Dr. Alcott asked.

"At school, yesterday," Courtney said. "We went upstairs to the library before pick-up so Mrs. Vale could read us a story. I thought there was something in my ear, so I asked if I could get a tissue. But I couldn't get it out, and it started hurting. I told my teacher when she came back to take us home, and she felt my forehead. She walked with me to the nurse's office, and she called Daddy to pick me up early. And this morning, I felt like my ear exploded."

"There's still some fluid build-up, but there wasn't any blood, and she can still hear fine out of her left ear," Frank explained. "But her fever this morning was the same as it was when the school nurse took it."

"Well, lucky for you, I'm here to help fix that," Dr. Alcott said. "Now, first, I just wanna listen to your heart..."

She took her stethoscope from around her neck, putting the plugs in her ears and placing the bell against Courtney's chest. Frank looked at the doctor's hands.

No wedding ring.

Wait... why did he notice that?

"Does she usually get ear infections?" Dr. Alcott asked.

"No," Frank answered. "The last one she had was when she was eight months old."

Dr. Alcott continued to examine Courtney.

"And from what I read in her file... I understand that her mother is deceased?"

Frank's chest spasmed and his throat began to close up. "Yes. When she was eighteen months old."

"I'm... I'm sorry... even though I know that you've probably heard that a million times," Dr. Alcott said, her face solemn as if she had known Debra. "I lost my father when I was twelve, so... I understand that sometimes, it feels like it'll never get easier."

"Some days are better than others," Frank confessed.

"Same with me."

"You look like Snow White," Courtney suddenly spoke up.

"Oh, you really think so?" Dr. Alcott asked. "Well, I do love Snow White, but you know who my favorite princess is? Belle."

"I love Belle!" Courtney exclaimed. "She likes to read, like me. But I also love Ariel 'cause she has red hair like me and my mommy did."

Dr. Alcott gave a sad, empathetic smile directed at both Courtney and Frank. "Well, I bet your mommy was as beautiful as you are."

To Frank's relief, the exam continued without any further mention of Debra.

"I've called in the prescription for her-- you can pick it up at CVS," she told them.

"Thank you, Doctor..." he looked at the name embroidered on her lab coat. "Lucy Alcott."

"Anything for a patient, Frank Bannister," she smiled at him.

#You Matter To Me 'verse #OC: Courtney Bannister #Frightober 2023 #frightober2023 #The Frighteners #You Matter To Me #To Be Happy Again #Lunnister #Single Dad Frank AU #Frank x Lucy #Frank Bannister x Lucy Lynskey #OTP: Alters Your Perception #Frank Bannister #Lucy Lynskey #Courtney Bannister #Michael J. Fox #Trini Alvarado #My Writing #TW Ear Infection #TW Doctor's Appointment #TW Doctor's Office #TW Hospital #TW Past Spousal Death #TW Past Parent Death

[izzy-b-hands]

Marmalade jar pyramids, Buttons' birthday and birthday slop, forgiveness in particular forms, and some kisses.

This ain't perfect, but it feels good to get some words down again.

---

"My goodness," Stede chuckled, following Ed into the galley. "You really went through the marmalade! I'll have us pick up more wherever we stop next."

Ed smiled. "Can you blame me? Reminded me of you, tastes amazing-"

"Hands down one of the best things in life," Stede agreed. "The empty jars though..."

They'd been assembled into what could only be described as several small pyramids of empty jars. Roach gave him a look as he squeezed past them to retrieve a tin from a nearby shelf. "He wanted to save them, reuse them."

"That's very economical," Stede nodded.

Roach didn't blink, and the lightbulb clicked.

"Ah!" Stede smiled sheepishly. "I'll make sure we move them below deck until we decide their next use. Give you back your space."

He cleared his throat awkwardly, and Roach finally shook his head and smirked.

"Thank you. Now if you don't mind, while you do that, I'm going to start the birthday slop."

"Slop?" Stede and Ed asked in one voice.

"Buttons told me the recipe and it's not," Roach cut himself off hesitantly. "I mean it sounds not terrible. And it is his birthday, and your rule does state birthday pirate chooses the meal for that day."

"It'll be an adventure," Stede said, still pondering the grim implication of slop. "Good luck?"

Roach rolled his eyes and laughed, leaving them to the piles of jars.

--

The easiest method was to carefully put them into sacks, then haul those below deck. Cushioned by other boxes and bags and whatnot, they seemed least likely to break there even in rough weather.

"Thank you for helping," Ed said awkwardly as they set the last few sacks down. "Should have done this myself ages ago. Poor Roach."

"You were a bit busy," Stede reminded him.

"Yeah, trying to kill Lucius and marooning part of our crew," Ed winced. "I don't think that's a useable excuse for not tidying these up."

"Well," Stede sighed. "Lucius is fine, and there's still some forgiving to be done-"

"They certainly don't have to," Ed interrupted. "I probably wouldn't, were it me. Well, the Kraken wouldn't for sure. Blackbeard might depend on the day."

"And what about Ed?" Stede asked softly. "What would Ed do?"

"Ed," Ed replied slowly. "Would be pissed at first."

"Reasonable," Stede agreed, to prompt him for more.

"But ultimately, if he got a genuine apology and maybe one free stab or slap or something to make it even," Ed continued. "Then it's water under the bridge. Probably never gonna forget it happened of course, and some things just aren't forgivable depending on the person, so it really doesn't matter what Ed, what I, would do-"

He paused as Stede wrapped him in a hug, and slumped down to hug him back and rest his head on his shoulder. "It's no excuse, but I really am sorry. But you can't make them forgive me, and they don't have to. If they want me gone, I get it."

At that, Stede broke the hug gently. "Well, with respect to my crew, this is still my ship. And I want you here. If they don't want to be your friend over this that's perfectly fine and more than understandable, but they at least have to be civil during any work done together."

Ed studied him. "In another life, you would have been a good bosun, I think. Probably had your own ship ages ago."

Stede beamed. "Thank you. That's lovely to hear, Ed."

His heart was in his throat as he kissed him, but it was as lovely as it had been on the beach.

"You really still want me here," Ed smiled as they broke apart. "I don't know what to say to that."

"You've got plenty of time to think about it," Stede smiled back, taking his hand. "Because you aren't going anywhere, unless you'd want to, of course. But I very much want you here, Ed."

Ed nodded, and looked up the stairs to the main deck nervously, chewing at his lip. "I could stay down here for a bit, maybe. Categorize all the...well, I don't actually know what's all down here, so all the better to go through it and organise."

Stede shook his head. "You don't have to hide from them. What good would it do anyway? Eventually you'd need to come up to our room."

"Our room?"

"Of course," Stede said. "If you really want to wait until they're off to bed, I won't stop you. But I will go up with you now, if you'd like. And I bet it'll be okay."

"I could do that," Ed said. "Can you let them know the free stab is on the table, if they'd like? If it would help, at all."

"With all my love, Ed, I don't know if stabbing is always the solution," Stede said with a squeeze of his hand.

"You would say that," Ed smirked. "You like fire better."

Stede blushed. "You set one ship on fire..."

"You liked it!" Ed teased, his free hand on Stede's hip to pull him closer. "It was cute. Kind of hot, actually, after the initial shock wore off for me."

"Well, it is fire," Stede said straight-faced. But only for a moment before he broke into giggles.

Ed joined him. "That was fucking terrible!"

"It was," Stede laughed. "But I got you to laugh."

Ed leaned against him gently as they went up the stairs, just barely enough room there to be side by side. Still smiling, he managed to walk with him past the rest of the crew without turning around and walking elsewhere for the first time in a while.

--

"So," Roach sighed. "This is birthday slop, to celebrate our dear Buttons' birthday!"

A cheer went up, and Buttons smiled

"How old?" Izzy asked. "Though I don't think candles can go in this stew."

Buttons laughed. "I've long since forgotten that. Younger than a tiger shark but probably older than most fish."

"So like fifty or something?" Olu offered.

Buttons shrugged. "Seems right enough."

"There's about fifty different ingredients in this, so it fits," Roach added. "Dig in."

The first few bites around the table were tentative, observing the various colours in the viscous slop.

"It's good," Jim broke the silence. "I don't understand how. But it's really fucking good. What the fuck."

Buttons smiled proudly. "My own recipe, thank you. Cooked for a queen for a summer, and she loved this."

"Before or after the pirating career?" Frenchie asked. "Had to be before, right?"

Buttons nodded. "But I'd go to sea for the ingredients, then come back for a spell. Make enough to last while I'd go back for more ingredients so she didn't behead anyone in the meantime."

"This is all she ate?" Ed puzzled. "Ever?"

"Odd woman," Buttons confirmed. "Loved the taste of the sea but was absolutely terrified of it. Wonderful dancer though."

A second bout of silence fell.

"You're a fucking enigma, you know that?" Izzy asked.

Buttons only nodded, dipping some hardtack into his food.

"Maybe Mr. Buttons could tell us some more of his stories and we take a break from our latest book," Stede suggested.

"Be happy to, if anyone's really interested," Buttons said. "But only if I get to hear from this one in exchange."

He pointed to Ed with his remaining chunk of hardtack. "Always wanted to see if anyone could beat my most outlandish tales. I bet you could."

Ed looked panicked, and Stede snuck a hand below the table to pat his thigh reassuringly.

"I wouldn't be opposed to that," Lucius said, nodding to Ed. "After all, we only got to hear a bit of what you'd done before. Anything else we've heard came from Pete, so he could help with any forgotten details, and vice versa."

Pete gave him a look, and Lucius sent one right back, a silent argument going on for a moment.

Pete frowned and sighed. "I guess that might be okay. So long as we sit a good distance away from our storyteller, and nowhere that anyone could 'fall' overboard."

Ed nodded. "That's a fair request."

"I should fucking think so," Pete muttered.

"We still have to work together," Lucius grumbled. "I have been nearly killed several times now, and honestly, I'm kind of just getting used to it. So if I can get over it, so can you!"

Stede had to squeeze Ed's thigh hard to keep him from getting up and running out.

The first to speak was Olu. "This is probably not the time for this conversation but, that said."

He looked down the table to Ed. "I can forgive it. Pirating is pirating, and breakups hurt like a motherfucker. Still fucked up, what you did, and so if you ever do that shit again, no fuckin' promises. I will do whatever I have to, to stay on this fucking ship. Even if that means throwing you off of it. Clear?"

Ed nodded.

"Is that a general consensus?" Olu asked.

Nods from around the table, except for Izzy who looked as panicked as Ed.

"I'm still fucking pissed," Pete said. "You almost killed my boyfriend!"

"I really am sorry, and that's never going to be enough, I know it," Ed's voice cracked. "I was gonna have Stede announce it, but I'm offering a revenge stab if anyone wants it. Just keep it to my left side, is all I ask."

"Seriously?" Pete asked. "Like...we can just stab you?"

"If it'll help make things any better at all," Ed replied.

"I...am conflicted on that, a little," Pete said. "Can I keep that option open for now and maybe take you up on it later?"

Ed nodded. "Absolutely. Just let me know before you stab me, you know. If it's at random-"

"No, that wouldn't, no, god not like that," Pete stumbled over his tongue.

Finally, for the first time since everyone had made it back to the Revenge, the tension deflated.

Stede sighed in relief. "Alright then. I am so proud right now. Talking it through, as a crew, and you've all done it so well."

"We did, didn't we?" Pete asked. "Not bad."

"Not bad at all," Buttons agreed. "Would anyone like to hear about the time I spent as a wandering medic around the nearby ports?"

"Yeah," Ed smiled. " What haven't you done out here, man?"

"That I'll take with me someday to the brine below," Buttons said. "But as I was saying, I went round for some time as a medic for hire, and as you may have noticed they're often needed among pirates, with the violence and all..."

#text post #ofmd fic #i literally just had one scene of this i was gonna write and post and then the rest happened #plus ill always take a chance to add random buttons lore in fic #hes been everywhere hes done everything and none of it sounds real but knowing him it probably actually is #plus i love the idea that he would always be a hit with royalty or anyone fancy ass and rich #could kill them in a heartbeat but ends up casually befriending them and maybe stealing from them too cuz i mean cmon #i would in that situation

[emeto-secret-agent]

A and B are quite close, so when B doesn't text them all day, A starts to get worried. Why don't they answer? Are they mad at them? Did they do something wrong? Are they in danger? What if something bad happened?

Finally, after waiting for so long for B's chat icon to pop up, A makes the call. They are silently praying that B picks it up and it just turns out they stayed up all night and simply overslept. After what feels like an eternity, B finally picks it up.

A is instantly relived and for a moment everything's fine. Until B says something over the phone. Their voice is thick and shaking and A can immediately feel, something is off. B is usually way more energetic than this, but now they can feel the exhaustion over their voice.

'Is everything alright?'

'No' B admits after a little silence and a hard swallow. 'I'm not feeling too good...'

They don't even try to hide it, they know there's no use. If they feel ill, A always goes into protective mode and takes care of them all the time, and right now they feel really sick, and they really want A next to them.

'Are you sick? Does something hurt?'

'My tummy'

A lets out a small sigh. It's okay, it's okay. They hoped that B would be fine, but at least this explains their silence all day. The poor thing probably hadn't even had the energy to get out of the bed. And they can deal with a little tummy ache.

'Did you get sick?'

A is now packing their things up, luckily B doesn't live far away so they'll be there in a few minutes. In the meantime, B shakes their head, even though no one can see them.

'Can't get it up. Been nauseous all day but it's not coming out...'

'It's okay, I'll be there in a minute. Where are you?'

'Bathroom' B looks down to the toilet bowl, that they have been hugging for the past few hours. The water is still clean, only some spit drips in it occasionally. Gosh, they're so nauseous.

'Alright, I'm leaving right now'

'Don't' B chokes, swallowing thickly. 'Don't put the phone down. Please'

'I won't' A answers after a moment of silence and their heart shrinks.

The ride is quiet, with only sounds of gagging and spitting disturbing it. A tries to comfort B through the call but they are not there so it's no use.

'Okay, I'm in front of the house'

'Doors open'

B closes their eyes for a little and swallows again and again. Their stomach is in their throat, the climbing bile burns but the sick burp brings up nothing. At this point, they're prying for every known god to help them throw up just to feel a little bit better. Maybe when A 's finally there, it'll be better.

Then the front door opens and steps echo through the flat. They can hear A take off their shoes and put down the bag they bought in the kitchen, before making their way into the bathroom.

B suddenly gags and their stomach turns. Oh. Maybe this is it. The nausea is climbing in their throat and their stomach shrinks, getting ready to expel everything from it. B's now clinging to the bowl with both hands, face deep in and looking at the water below them.

They gag again and some spit falls from between their lips. They try to spit it out, but as they breathe in, another burp disturbs them and they feel something creeping up in their throat.

As A steps in, a big gush of vomit splatters in the toilet. B looks up, tears in their eyes, but before they can say something they heave again and another gush of vomit ends in the blow and spatters a bit on the seat too. A quickly kneels next to B and starts rubbing their back.

'I thought you haven't vomited yet' A cracks a smile, trying to ease the mood a bit.

B's still coughing and trying to get out the disgusting taste from their mouth. Their stomach's still upset and gurgling, but at least A's now here with them. Yeah, that's good. A small smile appears in the corner of their mouth.

'I just had to take a look at you to start puking'

A is speechless and B chuckles at their weak joke before they start gagging again. A continues to rub their back while their jaw's still dropped to the floor.

#emeto #emeto prompt #emetophilia #stomach flu #imagine #emeto imagine

[hannahhasnofriends]

two people one bed | dream

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summary: famous bed sharing trope!

pairing: dream x reader

warnings: swearing, fluff :)

word count: 1.7k

a/n: this fic was weird to write bc i normally write that the character calls him clay but with the setting it didn't seem right lmao – also psa, i have very little knowledge about constellations but i thought it was cute so i left it in lol

many members from the dsmp decided to take a road trip together (yes they clowned on dream the whole time)

it was a week long trip and it was finally the last day! you'd went cross country, stopping at a few different airbnbs along the way

and at this point, you were kind of over it😐don't get me wrong, it'd been an amazing trip, but you'd had little to no alone time in a week and you were just relieved to be going home after this

until you saw the last house, where someone had to share a bed.... and you and dream had just happened to pull out the two shortest straws…

‘Damn it.’ You mentally rolled your eyes, of course you’d end up the one to share a bed on the last day. You’d been driving all day and considering it was only one night, you had no mental energy to argue over sharing. Dream didn’t even seem phased at the fact, honestly you almost felt bad about how annoyed you were with everyone with how nice he’d been about it all. But he was always like this, he was always kind to you.

That was until you rolled over for the hundredth time that night. The space between the pillow wall you'd built and the edge of the bed was seeming to get smaller and smaller as the night went on. Even though the air was thick in the room, your feet were cold from Dream hogging the blanket and the bed would shake every few minutes from his constant movement. You could tell he was awake even though he was staying silent, and you tried your hardest not to let out an annoyed huff.

Finally, he shifted to peer over the pillow wall. In the dark you could still make out his green eyes and fluffy hair.

"You awake?" He whispered. You groaned internally, literally why does this man want to have a conversation now?

"No."

"Oh come on now, you can't say that and be asleep. I cant't sleep. We should do something." He shifted again so his forearms were leaning against the wall, basically destroying it.

"We are doing something. It's called trying to sleep so we can wake up at a good hour and go home." You sighed, screwing your eyes shut.

"It's only like 1 in the morning, we have plenty of time to sleep. Come on.. please, it'll be fun." Whatever, fine, maybe he'll actually calm the fuck down after this.

"Fine. What the hell can we even do right now." You opened your eyes up again, staring at the ceiling.

"We can go for a drive?" You can hear the smile in his voice. This man's love for driving was absurd.

"Uh how about no? We've literally been in the car all day and I'd rather not go back until we have to." You finally turned to face him, he wore a lopsided grin and a crooked pajama shirt. Cute.

"Fine, fine. How about we just go for a walk, yeah?" You grumbled, swinging your legs over the edge of the bed and grabbing the hoodie you left on the floor. No way in hell were you changing for this, it was bad enough you were even indulging in it.

“Alright,” He grinned in your direction, slipping a pair of shoes on. “We can walk to that clearing with the little pond we saw on our way here, it's not far."

"That's fine but can we please not be out forever? I'm serious about getting sleep." You recalled the place he was talking about, it was pretty over there. Plus, you were pretty sure you could see the stars tonight.

Dream hummed, "Yeah, yeah grumpy. Let's go and be quiet, I don't want to wake anyone."

"Didn't seem to mind waking me up." You rolled your eyes, the audacity.

"Not my fault you got stuck sharing with me." He elbowed your side lightly.

You decided to keep quiet after that, slipping out of the airbnb. It wasn't cold, but there was enough chill to make goosebumps rise on your skin.

The walk there was silent, both of you just taking in the scenery. Your mind was replaying all your favorite moments from the past week, sure you were tired and ready to sleep in your own bed, but you were grateful for the people around you and how happy you'd been the past 6 days. Dream had invited you to come along almost last minute compared to everyone else. He had messaged you one night and told you he was paying for everything and would be happy if you came, and who could say no to that?

"What? What is it?" Dream had his eyes on you as you came to a stop, reaching your destination. "What's with the smile, I thought you were grumpy."

"Shut up. I'm just thinking about the past week. I had a really good time, I'm really glad I came, thank you for inviting me." You rolled your eyes, but the smile stayed put.

Dream hummed, "Me too. Honestly I thought you were gonna say no when I asked you." He chuckled as his arm raised to the back of neck, scratching slightly.

"Really? What makes you say that?" Your nose scrunched slightly, you guys had always had a good relationship, you always enjoyed hanging out with him.

"I don't know! I guess I thought you wouldn't want to spend that much time with me." He was smiling, but you could tell he was being serious.

You frowned, "I'd never say no to something like this. I know I'm 'grumpy' or whatever but I seriously like spending time with you, all of you."

"Thanks, I like spending time with you too." He turned to face you, but you tilted your head up, getting a good look at the stars. Your heart softened at his words, he really was a good man.

There was a moment of silence before you spoke up again, "Do you know any constellations?"

"Uh, I can find Leo probably." His head tilted up to match yours and you snorted.

"Of course you can." You smiled and shook your head, typical Leos.

"Oh, there it is, here look." His finger pointed up at the sky, your eyes following where it led.

"There?" You asked, raising your own finger. Dream shifted behind you, close enough to feel his breath on your neck. He hooked his hand on yours and moved your finger up slightly, "Here." He murmured. His skin was soft against yours, you felt his heartbeat on your back and you could smell his aroma.

Neither of you moved, you could feel him turn his head to look at you. Your cheeks heated and you slowly lowered both your hands. You tilted your head to meet his eyes, your noses were barely touching. The beating in your chest grew faster and your mind whirled as you saw him lean in, just so slightly.

You pulled away and turned around quickly, "We should get back." You cleared your throat. Your palms were still sweating, but for a second your thoughts went blank.

"Um, yeah sure." He shoved his hands in his pockets and started his way back to the airbnb. You stood there for a moment before following after him.

What the actual fuck just happened. You were going to kiss him? Or was he going to kiss you? None of that even matters since you'd just rejected him. You cursed yourself as you kept trudging on.

This whole thing was a hot mess, it wasn't like you didn't like him, it was just you'd never thought about it before. Sure, you'd flirt with him in call or make dumb suggestive jokes, but you'd always assure yourself there was nothing underlying there. They were just jokes.

But now you couldn't stop thinking about it, his soft skin against yours, his heartbeat, the way his eyes looked so intensely into your own. Your brain kept repeating it over and over again, it made you sick.

By the time you reached the airbnb again, you began to hate how you yearned to be touched by him again. That, ok fine, you did want him to kiss you but you chickened out. He didn't help by holding the door open for you when sneaking back inside. You mumbled a thanks, not daring to look at him. You could still feel him behind you as you tiptoed back to your room, which you just conveniently forgot you had to share.

You got situated as fast as you could, climbing back into the bed, holding your breath as you went. You waited to feel the dip in the bed signally him coming to lay next to you. When it didn't come, you peeked at his side, he stood there gathering a pillow and his phone before turning to leave. Your heartbeat sped up again.

"Clay," You sat up before you could stop yourself. "Wait, can- can you stay. Please." Your voice wobbled, but the moments back at the clearing kept playing again and you couldn't just sit there anymore.

He turned around shifting his feet, "Yeah, yeah sure." His eyes seemed to soften at the expression on your face.

Your hand swiped at the pillow wall, this time completely dismantling it and you lied back down. You felt the weight shift as he settled next to you, your breath was still shaky. He lied down facing you, eyes searching your face.

"Hi." You whisper, nerves come rushing back now that he's here again.

"Hi." He chuckles and smiles softly. His eyes are still searching your face, he looks uncertain.

"I– Well I–"

"Listen, don't worry about it. I was dumb I don't even know what I was thinking. We can just forget it." He interrupts you, his eyes darting down and cheeks flushing.

"That's not what I was gonna say." You faltered. He stares quizzically, silently asking you to continue. "Well I-I first wanted to apologize, I was a dick back there. And um.."

The words taper off, lost. You feel his gaze bore into your face, he tentatively raised his arm from inside the covers, hooking your chin with a finger.

"It's ok." He whispers affirmatively. The consequences are instant, your nerves slow and you can only focus on how close he is. His eyes find yours, and he no longer seems uncertain. "Can I kiss you?"

You can only nod, so sure of your decision.

And he does.

#dreamwastaken x reader #dream team #dreamwastaken smut #dreamwastaken #dreamnotfound #dream x reader #dream fluff #dream smut #dream smp #dsmp fluff #dream imagine #dream x y/n #dream x you #dreamwastaken fluff