#*puts amir in my purse*

[nectar-cellar]

"why do you play the sims so much?"

me:

#so many sims in my bin LMFAO #why is he literally smirking & waggling his eyebrows in his thumbnail pic... i hate him #*puts amir in my purse*

[agentgumsh0e]

im just kinda throwing this prompt out there but it would be cool if you could write something where the reader has a friendly competition going on with cypher in the battlefield. i just think witty banter between cypher and someone else would be funny :D

battlefield banter (cypher x reader)

summary: cypher and you have a friendly competition during a practice match

word count: 760+

warnings: none

it was just a regular day out on the battlefield. 

well, an artificial one, anyways, seeing as it was a practice match with the other agents of protocol. and because it was a practice match, you and cypher could get away with more antics than you could on a real mission since neither of you were actually in danger.

and because of that, you got comms like this.

“hottie coming from CT!” cypher said into his earpiece, which he made an adjustment to so he could choose to solely speak to you or the whole team. right now, it was the former.

as you exited CT, you chuckled, oblivious. “aww, thanks!”

“not you! brim!”

you paused for a moment, thinking about his words before sighing in response. you walked up behind brimstone, who was also coming from CT, and successfully took him out of the round. 

brim does have a dumpy, you thought in agreement.

cypher gave a playful laugh at your annoyance, one that he usually lets out when he forgets about his worries for just a second. “another point for me.”

this was a game you often liked to play with cypher: who could fluster/distract the other more. of course, this game was not appropriate in actual matches, but here you could get away with all sorts of things with only a slap on the wrist from brim.

so far, the odds were not looking in your favor. against cypher, they never were. the only time you managed to catch him off-guard during this match was by destroying his cam yourself when he kept giving you false callouts. 

“my poor camera!” he had said, but he had distracted you enough with the callouts to count it as a point for him. 

you knew that cypher just didn't get flustered, but that didn't stop you from trying to sneak up on him while he was in position, looking down at something in his hand.

you took slow, silent steps as you neared him. he was still seemingly preoccupied. then, you were close enough to his ear to whisper: “knock knock, amir.”

“ah, who could it be? couldn't have been the person i saw creeping up on me on my camera.” cypher said, turning his head slightly towards you as he put his hand, and his view of his camera, down. 

your face soured as you looked at him exasperatedly. “seriously?”

he laughed again, the eyes of his mask reflecting this action. suddenly, the laughter stopped, and his arm flew out to push you behind him, shielding you with his body. he withdrew his arm to fire his gun. his proximity made you warm and dizzy, your heart pumping a little faster. 

“you should have been looking more closely. jett wasn't too far behind you, you know. did you really want to get me back that bad?” he tsked as he reloaded his gun and turned around to face you. he could tell by your flushed face that he had succeeded in flustering you, and therefore got a point.

as your heart rate settled down, you pursed your lips in embarrassment. “...yes.” 

-

in the ending rounds of the match, cypher decided to play another trick on you. there was really no reason to continue since he was already so far in the lead, but he always liked to push your buttons limits.

“my rose, you really must step up your game if you plan to beat me. the net’s closing in on you~” cypher said, the last part said with a sing-songy voice.

he has a great singing voice, you mused, but you internally swatted away the thought.

“cypher, i swear to god i'm going to kill you!” you said in a hushed voice, just above a whisper.

cypher had messed with your mic, changing it so the whole team could hear your reply. and unfortunately for you, ‘just above a whisper’ was plenty loud in their earpieces.

“(y/n)! focus!” sage said in response, and you whispered an apology. 

making sure that you were speaking to only cypher now, you said, “i hate you.” 

he hummed nonchalantly, accompanied with what you could only assume was a smug smile and a careless shrug. he internally gave himself a point on his mental scoreboard.

“you love me.” he said, stating it like it was irrefutable information. which it was, but now was not the time to admit that.

if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he continued, “it's written with the red on your face right now. don't try to hide it, i see it. haha, you're so obvious, it's cute.”

there was no winning with cypher, was there?

#valorant x reader #cypher x reader #valorant cypher x reader #cypher #valorant cypher #valorant #valorant headcanons #valorant scenarios #cypher valorant #cypher valorant x reader #valorant imagines

[theasstour]

𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 | 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 𝟐𝟎.𝟐𝐤 𝐍𝐁: 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭

A/N: Thank you so incredibly much to each one of you angels who voted for ST in the 1D Craft Awards 🥺 You continue to take my breath away with all your kindness, support and love 🐚🌊✨ ENJOYYY CHAPTER 7! x

Saturday, 25 July

The phone vibrated against the wooden table, jolting Y/N out of her focus. She blinked a few times, looking over at Fatima who turned the timer off and looked at Y/N with expectant eyes. Y/N shook her head and Fatima’s face visibly fell.

“What you mean?”

“I didn’t finish, did I?” Y/N groaned, running her hands over her face, hiding it from view for a few seconds before she sat back in her chair and looked at her laptop in front of her. The two were sitting at Olive’s Café on Island Square, seated on lime green chairs outside, the morning sun beating down on them as each of them tried to do work; Fatima looking through the curriculum she was going to teach this coming year, and Y/N doing her UCAT work. Fatima was a teacher for fourth graders, so she knew how to make things easy to understand, how to pull things apart and study properly. When Fatima had suggested that the two of them take a day together to just study, Y/N had jumped at the opportunity. Now, they had met to do exactly this a few days in a row and Y/N was really starting to feel the effects.

The thought of the UCAT exam coming closer and closer made her want to hurl. September 10th didn’t seem that far away anymore, something that absolutely terrified Y/N. Not only did she need to be out of St Ives by then, leaving her entire life and friends here behind, but she didn’t know where she’d even be. Would she even have enough money? Would she still be in Cornwall? Would she have crawled with her tail between her legs back to Winchester, asking for forgiveness for leaving them all behind?

Fatima pursed her lips, tapping her pen against the top of Y/N’s laptop. “Is it ‘cause you’re stressing too much?”

“Probs.”

“It’s hard not to when it’s important to you.”

Y/N sighed heavily, nodding her head in agreement. “This practice exam… well, it was hard.”

“They usually are, the practice exams,” Fatima explained. “Not necessarily so to scare you, more so that you’ll be aware that this will be hard, but the actual exam isn’t that bad. They never are.”

Y/N gave Fatima a little smile. “Taken the UCAT before?”

“Obvs, I’m the smartest bitch in all of the UK, if not Europe.”

Y/N laughed, quickly sighing again as she looked down at her laptop again. This was the first practice exam she had ever taken; Fatima had timed her to see if she’d make it in the estimated time it took to complete the UCAT, but Y/N hadn’t managed to. She supposed she still had a lot of time to study and prepare herself, but it still made her feel like all her studying had been for absolutely nothing. One failure, even if it didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, always seemed like the most important thing in the world. How had the world not shifted? How was not everyone around her crying like she felt she should be doing?

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Y/N. I promise you’ll be fine.”

She nodded, knowing deep down that Fatima was right. The universe would balance itself out eventually, everything would be alright in the end even if her current world was crumbling right before her eyes. Maybe she was just being dramatic, maybe it wasn’t that deep and she had just not been focused enough, but Y/N felt like giving up now.

“When I feel like I’m failing at life,” Fatima started, sitting up a bit straighter in her seat. “I pick up a pillow and I just scream into it.”

Y/N blinked.

Fatima grinned.

“You just scream? How?”

“Just like you’d normally scream,” Fatima chuckled, demonstrating by pretending to pick up a pillow, burying her face in it, and silently screaming. “And after that, I feel better.”

“Like a proper scream?”

“Like you’re being chased down the street by a man in a clown costume holding an axe.”

Y/N smiled, shaking her head some. “I’ll do that when I get back to the Inn. Immediately.”

Fatima laughed just as someone came up beside them, asking the man sitting beside them if the chair opposite him was taken. When the tiny, short-haired blonde sat down beside them, she beamed from ear to ear. There was something about Ellie’s presence that just made everything better. She was so round, so small, so joyous all the time that it felt wrong to be in a sulky mood when she was around.

“I heard you’re studying,” Ellie said, perching her yellow sunglasses on the top of her head. “And by the looks of it-“ Ellie mimicked what Fatima had just done with the scream. “-It’s not going so well.”

“Y/N’s studying for that dentist test and she tried one of them practice exams, didn’t go so well.”

“Aww.” Ellie pouted. “I’ll buy you a cupcake to cheer you up. I always eat tons when I’m sad, especially sweets. Especially, especially cupcakes.”

“Thanks for the offer, but-“

“-Ima, you want a cupcake as well?” Ellie put her purse down on her chair as she got up, holding onto her card. “Or a new iced latte?”

Fatima brought a hand to her chin, pretending to think about it, making exaggerated thinking noises till Ellie blurted a “today!” that made Fatima chuckle and say, “Both please, babe.”

Ellie smiled. “Girls, you know what I think we should do after this?” She waited for a few seconds for either of them to say something, but when they didn’t Ellie went on. “Go to the beach! You can’t be sad when you’re at the beach! We’ll sunbathe, have a bit of a swim, and then go for a Cheeky V at the pub after.”

Fatima smiled a little, looking at Y/N to see if she’d be into that.

Though all Y/N wanted to do was go back to the Inn and scream into her pillow, she smiled up at Ellie. “Yeah, why not? Have a bit of a girls day.”

“Oh, my gosh, that’s exactly what it is as well,” Ellie gasped, grinning from ear to ear. “BRB, ladies, I’m getting us something sweet.” Ellie was off into Olive’s Café greeting an acquaintance loudly before she went over to talk to them. Fatima only shook her head some, turning back to the book in front of her.

“You’ll figure it out, Y/N.”

“The UCAT?” she asked, looking at her laptop again, feeling her stomach drop at the sight of the practice exam again.

“Everything,” Fatima answered with so much conviction that for a moment, Y/N almost believed her.

“Alright, crew,” Dax called as they pulled into the farm, its lush and green landscape opening up around them. “Just warning you now, I’m gonna absolutely crush you tonight. I go for the title of champion even if it means I’m gonna have to lose some friends.”

“Sad, that,” Fatima sighed. “Seeing as you’ve never won before, what makes you think you’re gonna win this year?”

Amir turned to look at them from where he sat shotgun. “Dax, you may try to win, but we all know the former singer and frontman of Astronaut Lions will go home champion tonight.”

“You are a terrible singer, Amir. Dunno why we let you even sing,” Jo groaned.

“’Cause I’ve got a silky-smooth, delicious, fantastic-“

“-Shut up, mate!” Ellie groaned, making Jo laugh and give her a high five.

Harry stopped his van, killing the engine before Dax got up and opened the door for everything in the backseats. Y/N made sure no one could see her bum as she descended from the car, keeping her hands by her buttocks to keep her pleated lilac skirt from showing too much of her skin. She put her purse on her shoulder, letting it hang over her white crop cardigan. Music could be heard from the large barn, some awful singing streamed out from the open entrance as people walked out, laughing and carrying empty plates. The farm was just as beautiful as Y/N remembered it, now smelling of delicious barbeque and sounding of hens, chatter, and the occasional failed high-note. The karaoke night seemed to be under full way, the courtyard brimming with people, the same went for the inside of the barn it seemed.

Y/N, Fatima and Ellie fell into step beside one another as they walked over to the gate, Harry opening it for the rest, gesturing for them to walk in before him. When Y/N reached him last he gave her a little smile, eyes falling to the gravel under his feet.

“Harry!” Grace yelled, running from the grill where Uncle Tim, Jessa, and lolo stood looking at the food. “Harry, Harry, Harry!”

“There she is!” Harry bent down as Grace came running, wrapping his arms around her and spinning her around, her feet dangling in the air.

“Alright, Mr Flores?” Dax asked as he walked up to the grill, putting a hand on lolo’s shoulder. Lolo grinned up at Dax, saying something that Y/N didn’t catch as Amir let out a loud groan hitting his chest with both hands.

“Let’s go! Gonna belt Material Girl in approximately five minutes, everyone come watch to have your life changed!” Amir ran into the barn, shouting something as he met a few familiar faces inside.

“After a few pints he’ll try Gentleman,” Fatima sighed. “Someone should cover Gracie’s ears then.”

“That SL song?” Jo asked. “Nah, he better do Wiley Flow, or else I’m gonna have to challenge him to a rap battle.”

“Amir’s got no chance of keeping up with any of Stormzy’s songs,” Ellie pointed out matter-of-factly, scrunching up her nose. “Anyway,” Ellie stopped Jo before they started talking. “We’re doing Sugababes, yeah? About You Now?”

“Obvs!” Fatima exclaimed, offended that Ellie might’ve thought otherwise. “And Y/N’s joining us.”

“Oh!” Y/N raised her eyebrows, chuckling a little as Fatima wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It’s been a while since I’ve heard a Sugababes song.”

“They’re immense, aren’t they?” Ellie grinned. “I used to listen to Push The Button on repeat when I was like 12.”

“Was more of a Too Lost in You type of girl,” Y/N said, making Fatima gasp and Ellie bring a hand up to her chest.

“We’re doing Too Lost in You!” Ellie clapped her hands frantically. “Oh, my life! Legendary!”

“Of course,” Fatima smiled. “You wanna sing, yeah?”

“Let me down three ciders and I’ll be good to go.”

Jo laughed, gesturing for Y/N to follow them over to the main house where the four of them helped themselves to something to drink. Y/N glanced out of the kitchen window at the Styles-Flores family where they stood by the grill, sipping her cider. Grace sat on Harry’s shoulders, hands in his hair as she giggled at something. Harry had both his hands wrapped around his little sister’s ankles, holding her in place. Jessa was grinning at the two while Uncle Tim stood talking by the grill, asking lolo if what he was doing was alright, not having grilled this specific type of Filipino dish before. Dax stood chatting to one of Harry’s aunts, if it was Rachel or Abby, Y/N could not for the life of herself remember, but she noticed Harry’s aunt’s kids running around the grill, shouting at one another and laughing.

Y/N had never experienced a dynamic like this before. This family was so welcome, so big, so loving, and it made her happy to just watch them and know that, for a split second in time, she had been part of it. Maybe not a real part of it because this was not her family after all, but she had been touched by their warmth and been their guest for a time being. She would forever be grateful for that. Love tasted like Jessa’s lumpia, radiated like lolo’s approving smile, smelled like Grace’s hair after she had been out plucking wildflowers, and felt like Harry’s arms wrapped around her. Nothing would ever be quite like this.

“Let’s go to the barn,” Ellie said.

“I’ll just go say hi to Jessa,” Y/N announced, giving them all a smile before she walked outside and over to the grill where everyone was standing.

“Y/N!” Jessa exclaimed, opening her arms for her. Y/N grinned, walking over and doing the mano po on both Jessa and lolo. “How have you been? Don’t feel like I’ve seen you in ages.” Jessa swatted Harry’s arm, making him flinch away. “He’s keeping you all to himself, isn’t he?”

“I’ve been busy, nanay!” Harry said, furrowing his brows at his step-mum.

“Karaoke is huge in the Philippines,” Jessa explained, as she linked her arm with Y/N’s bringing her over to the grill where lolo and Tim were standing. “It is an understatement to say that Filipinos love karaoke, I daresay. Almost every Filipino home has a karaoke machine, Harry’s dad bought ours when we first moved here, but we put it out in the barn ‘cause we don’t really use it unless there’s a karaoke night, like tonight.”

“How nice, this is a tradition then? Each summer?”

“Yeah, we have a karaoke barbeque night every summer, everyone’s invited!” Jessa beamed. “It’s a fantastic way to just relax, forget about everything for a little while, belt your heart out to some of your favourite songs.”

Y/N smiled, eyes landing on the grill.

“Alright, Y/N?” Tim asked, smiling at her. “We made some tempeh for you, some Filipino barbeque sauce on it that’s out of this world. Not surprised, though, when Jessa made it.”

“Oh!” Jessa waved her hand as if to dismiss the compliment, but squeezed his shoulder. “I’m excited to see what you think. It was either tempeh or baos, thought you might like this a bit more.”

Y/N took a plate and a fork and watched as Tim put some food on her plate, thanking him once it was done. She picked up the tempeh and blew on it before she took a bite out of it, chewing it thoroughly and smiling at Jessa after swallowing.

“That’s brilliant.”

“Ahh! You think?” Jessa grinned, looking from Tim and back to Y/N, then at lolo. “Amá, Y/N liked the tempeh we made.”

Lolo smiled at Y/N and looked at her plate, nodding slowly. “You have to come and make some food with us once. You are part of the family now; we can show you our secret recipes.”

Y/N chuckled some before swallowing her bite of tempeh. “Wouldn’t say I’m part of the family, but thank you-“

“-Nonsense!” Jessa exclaimed, shaking her head furiously. “You are here, you’re making Harry happy, and since you’ve come to St Ives, the world’s been a brighter place. You’re where you need to be.”

For some reason, Y/N couldn’t quite believe what Jessa was saying. She knew it was coming from a good place, that she meant that it was nice to have Y/N there, but her family was in Winchester, she couldn’t possibly come into a new one and then ruin that one as well. This family she was visiting in St Ives would do just fine without her when she left in August. No one would miss her once she had been gone for a week, that was just a fact. Y/N was so bloody lost, she did not know what to do once her and Harry “broke up”, but she knew she would not disappoint and make any of the people around her sad, she refused.

Instead, Y/N smiled as she took the last bite of the tempeh, chewing and swallowing before she said. “Harry said something about an end of summer party.”

“Yes! I wanted to talk to you about that! Because, on the topic of food,” Jessa smiled back. “If you could give me some of your favourite vegetarian dishes, I’d love to make them for you! It would be amazing for many others to try something new as well.”

“I’d be more than happy to help out,” Y/N said, looking over at Grace as she sat on Dax’s back, the blonde man running around in circles as Harry ran after them, growling and acting like a disformed monster of sorts. She smiled a little at the sight, he looked absolutely ridiculous. How was he still cute? “I’ll bring the veggie food and I’ll show you how to make those, and then you show me how to make some Filipino dishes as well.”

Jessa placed a hand over her heart, beaming at Y/N. “You are an absolute treasure, me lover.”

Y/N smiled, eating some more of the tempeh. “When should I come and help out?”

“Are you free Tuesday?”

“Yeah, I don’t have any plans as of now.”

“Great! Harry will drive you here then. It’ll just be me, amá, Gracie, and Harry, and now you.” Jessa put her hand on Y/N’s arm, squeezing her lovingly before she turned to answer a question Tim asked her about the food he was currently grilling.

Y/N looked in the direction of Harry, Dax and Grace again, now walking towards the house. Jessa must have noticed Y/N staring in their direction because she linked her arm through Y/N’s and the two walked in the direction of the house as well.

“There’s more food inside,” she explained, grinning from ear to ear. “We do grill a lot, but Tim’s not really the best with the grill and he always insists on grilling at these gatherings, I don’t really have the heart to tell him no.” Jessa led Y/N into the dining room where she remembered all the food had been served at Grace’s birthday party. Again, casserole upon casserole stood spread over the dining table, covering it completely. Most of the dishes were all dug into, some almost completely wiped from the casseroles.

“Here,” Jessa said as she led Y/N over to the table. “I made your lumpia, there’s a few other vegetarian options as well.”

The fact that Jessa thought of this, thought of Y/N’s preference and made life a little easier for her, was so greatly appreciated that it nearly brought tears to Y/N’s eyes.

“This is biko,” Jessa explained, pointing to a casserole filled with banana leaves, a brown dish resting in it. “It’s a rice cake made from malagkit, or sticky rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar. Like other rice cakes, it is referred to as kakanin, taken from the word kanin which means rice, and is often eaten as a dessert or meryenda, meaning a mid-afternoon snack.”

“It looks lovely,” Y/N said, reaching for the spoon to get herself a slice before it was all eaten up. “Know we’re probably not set for dessert just yet, but I might just need some.”

Jessa laughed, smiling as Y/N took a bite of the biko. “What do you reckon, darling?”

“Heavenly, Jessa.”

Jessa clapped her hands together in delight, grinning from ear to ear as Y/N went in for another bite. “You have to try the buko pie next.”

“Which one’s that?”

Jessa pointed to a golden pie, not waiting for any sort of reply before cutting Y/N a small piece, placing it on Y/N’s plate. “It’s a sweet and rich pie made from young coconut meat.”

“Oh?”

“Buko pies are mostly sold in southern parts of Luzon in the Philippines. There’s this specific store down there called Collette’s that serves the best buko pie. I will never be able to replicate it, but I will try my hardest, every time I make a buko pie,” Jessa smiled. “We need to take you to Luzon, Y/N, you’d love it. Once we’ve saved up and all that.”

“This is the best buko pie I’ve ever tasted at least,” Y/N said, and Jessa laughed again looking out through the window only to sigh deeply.

“I need to go out there, it seems Tim is struggling and amá cannot be asked to help him out.” Jessa sprinted out, shouting something at Tim that Y/N didn’t catch but by the look on all the relatives standing around and Tim’s face, it couldn’t have been good. Y/N smiled a little, eating the rest of her pie before she realised she heard music. This wasn’t the type streaming out from the barn, this was coming from inside the house. And it was coming from the piano.

Y/N walked into the kitchen and placed her now empty plate on the kitchen counter before walking over to the dining room again, walking over to the doorway leading into the living room. With Grace on his lap, Harry was sitting by the piano, playing a tune Y/N had never heard before. It was both hopeful and very sad, unlike anything Y/N had ever heard before. There was no note sheet in front of him as he played, his eyes were only on the keys in front of him. Grace sometimes leaned forward and pressed a key she wasn’t supposed to, looking up at Harry while she giggled before leaning into him again, listening to the rest of the song.

“Can you play that other one?” Grace asked as Harry continued to play.

“What other one? There are quite a few, Gracie.”

“She means the one about me,” Dax grinned, standing beside the piano with his arms crossed, a massive grin on his face. “Go on, Hazza. Play that one inspired by Sexy Back.”

“Watch your mouth,” Harry hissed through gritted teeth, making his best friend laugh.

“Noooo!” Grace laughed. “The one you wrote after you, me and Y/N went to St Austell. The one about that trip.”

“Ahh, haven’t heard that one before,” Dax said, walking over to sit on the sofa beside the piano, watching the two siblings as they settled in again. Grace pressed one of the keys, looking up at Harry who smiled down at her and shook his head. He took her hand, bringing her finger over to the correct starting note, pressing it down for a long while so she’d get the feel of it. Then, he brought her to the next one, slowly playing the melody out before Grace motioned for Harry to take over for her.

What Harry produced just pressing a couple of keys at just the right moment was so breath-taking that Y/N almost felt dizzy. There was something to this melody that words weren’t ready to properly convey yet, something that was too powerful for a simple human brain to comprehend. Y/N understood why Harry wrote songs now. This melody captured that day perfectly. Her heart knew that melody. It had played that melody itself that day; it had been there with Harry while he came up with it as well.

She was thrown back to walking along St Austell, spending the day in the sunshine with two people that she had come to care so incredibly much for. Thrown back to standing side by side with Harry, talking about music, walking along the market, eating ice cream, laughing till her sides hurt. A lump suddenly appeared in her throat.

“What the fuc-“

“-Dax,” Harry said, stopping immediately. “No.”

“I’ve heard that word before, Harry,” Grace said.

“What, when?!”

“Harry, that was insane,” Dax said, grinning as he stood up from the sofa again. Before Y/N could be noticed, she stepped away from the doorway and walked outside again, feeling every inch of her chest hurting.

“Y/N!” Jo called. “Come in here!” They stood by the grill with a plate filled with food, waving her over so the two of them could walk in together.

She grinned over at Jo as she made her way over, them walking in the direction of the barn together. She waved at people she recognised – Florence from Bessie’s knitting club and Dax’s mum, was one of them. The inside of the barn was decorated with plenty of fairylights, giving the old interior a yellowish and homely glow resembling candlelight. There were small tables and chairs all around so people could sit down to eat, drink, and chat, while a huge screen was positioned by the furthest wall, two microphones attached to what looked to be a high quality karaoke machine of sorts. Jo showed the way and they sat down with the rest, it didn’t take long for Harry, Dax, and Grace to join them. Y/N got out of her chair and tapped Grace on the shoulder.

“Haven’t gotten a hug yet,” Y/N said and Grace jumped off the ground, throwing her arms around Y/N’s neck. She laughed, hugging the little girl to her for a few heavenly seconds before she stepped away. “You look nice today.”

“Nanay told me not to spill anything on it,” Grace said as she gestured at her pink, sparkly dress. “I told her I can’t promise that.”

Y/N chuckled. “You’re doing well so far, I’d say.”

“Thank you!” Grace beamed. “Anyway, Harry’s drinking that drink that makes his breath smell awful.”

“Gracie,” Harry warned from where he now sat beside Ellie, but the little girl did not appear to want to hear what he had to say.

“How can you kiss someone with bad breath, Y/N?” Grace asked and Y/N’s heart dropped at little as she thought about kissing Harry again. How they weren’t going to kiss again. How she wanted to kiss him, but not because they were fake dating. It took everything in Y/N not to look in Harry’s direction, because, judging by his little utterance of his sister’s name before, she knew he must’ve heard this as well.

“You don’t care if they’ve got bad breath if you really want to kiss them,” Y/N answered, giving Grace a smile.

Grace grimaced. “I would never kiss someone if their breath stank.”

“Don’t talk about kissing, you’re seven,” Harry said, sipping his pint.

Y/N raised her eyebrows at Grace and Grace did the same back. At Grace’s instructions, Y/N sat down in her seat so Grace could sit in her lap. Grace watched the people singing intently, sometimes singing along and nodding her head along to the music like she couldn’t help it. It was impossible not to smile at the sight of it, Y/N simply cared for this little creature so much it was hard for her to fully comprehend it. Grace, though young and Harry’s little sister, was the closest thing Y/N had ever come to a sister. They didn’t have a deep connection through thoughtful conversation, but they just understood and went along. There was an emotional and meaningful connection that, though not talked about, had appeared because they enjoyed and appreciated each other’s company.

Grace ran over to a nearby table to get herself some water, leaving Y/N sitting in the chair alone, her lap feeling oddly cold. On the other side of the table, Amir was talking loudly over the karaoke battle that had just begun.

“When I go back up to London for work in two weeks’ time, I feel like I’m just gonna make a right fool of myself, yeah? Normally takes a week for me to turn my weird off after I’ve been home.”

“Gonna be weird when you and Jo are off again,” Ellie said. “Why do you two have to work in London? Why can’t you just stay in St Ives?”

“Bit liberating to leave this place for another one every once in a while, not gonna lie,” Jo admitted, sipping their beer.

“Makes you realise all you’ve missed,” Fatima nodded. “Was the same when I came home for uni breaks, now I’m just really happy I ended up here. Might be underpaid as a teacher, but-“ Fatima shrugged her shoulders. “-I love living and working here, it’s home, after all.”

Y/N hated that she had never experienced that feeling; of coming back to something you had missed. Of coming home.

“Bum that,” Dax said. “I want my mates home at all times! I don’t care you’ve got a job!”

Y/N chuckled, the conversation around them commencing as she looked down at the table, picking at a stain on the table. Grace came back just then, but she didn’t get to sit down before Dax said her name.

“Wanna go up and sing your heart out?”

Grace squealed and took Harry’s hand. Harry downed the rest of his beer and stood up, walking with Grace, Dax, and Amir up to the karaoke machine. Y/N rested her chin in her hand, smiling as she watched the four of them discuss what song to do. It had to be an easy one that Grace already knew, it might be hard to find the correct one. They took some time to decide, but suddenly, the drums to a song Y/N recognised from Harry’s favourite’s playlist started playing. She remembered how Grace really loved that playlist.

“Uptown girl,” Grace sang into the microphone as she perched on Harry’s hip, sharing microphone’s with him. “She’s been living in her uptown world.”

Dax and Amir joined in as well, singing along with Grace who was still unsure of the lyrics but tried to read them as best she could on the screen in front of them. Harry moved them to the music, Dax throwing an arm around Amir’s shoulders as they started singing their hearts out. It was simply impossible not to smile as you watched the four of them, dancing and singing along to Billy Joel’s song.

“God,” Fatima sighed as she scooched her chair closer to Y/N’s. “I wish someone looked at me the way Harry looks at you.”

Y/N halted a little at Fatima’s words, looking in her direction as Amir, Dax, and Grace sang “And now she’s looking for her downtown man, that’s what I am”.

“Pardon?”

Fatima grinned. “Oh, you know-“ She placed her chin in her head, looking off into the distance with exaggerated doe eyes, a dreamy look on her face. For a split second, Y/N’s heart seemed to lurch out of her chest. Harry… Harry looked at her like that? He glanced at her? Surely, Fatima was not being serious and she had simply caught Harry smiling at Grace when she sat in Y/N’s lap.

Y/N laughed. “You’re taking the mick, that’s not how he looks at me.”

“Wouldn’t know, would you? Always happens when you’re not looking.”

“Harry,” Grace said, not even bothering to hold the microphone away as she spoke to him in the middle of the song. “You need to sing, the song’s for Y/N, remember?”

Y/N glanced beyond Fatima and at the group in front of the screen, a rush of adrenaline streaming through her veins. Laughter could be heard throughout the room at Grace’s words, many turning in Y/N’s direction to look at her, all with smiles and curious looks on their faces. At once, Y/N’s face seemed to be too hot for its own good. She bit her bottom lip, continued to watch the gang, ignoring the heat in her cheeks.

Harry seemed to take a deep breath before he started singing with Amir and Dax, both of them doing a miserable job of doing the song any sort of justice. Neither were impressive singers, but Y/N knew Harry was.

“Uptown girl, you know I can’t afford to buy her pearls,” Harry sang, voice so effortlessly breath-taking that Y/N felt like she was doing a pretty good job of imitating the dreamy look Fatima had demonstrated earlier. “But maybe someday when my ship comes in, she’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been, and then I’ll win.”

Grace joined in then, wrapping her arm around Harry’s shoulder and leaning her head against his. They all continued to sing along to the song, Y/N not paying any sort of attention to the conversation between Fatima, Ellie, and Jo. She watched as the four of them cheered once they were done singing, bowing to the small applause they got before returning to the table.

“I need to go tell nanay!” Grace shouted, running off outside to Jessa and the rest of the family.

Y/N smiled at Harry as he came back, getting a tight-lipped smile back before he picked up his, Dax’s, Amir’s and Jo’s empty beer cans, walking over to get them all a new round. Grace came back with Halo Halo, placing herself on Y/N’s lap as the two ate, talking non-stop. The little one disappeared after a little while, Y/N suspected it was because it was getting rather late. As the night went on, Y/N realised that the only two that would be able to stand by the end of the night were her and Fatima. The others got very drunk, talking loudly about everything insignificant and nothing they would remember in the morning. Harry kept looking at the watch on his wrist, clearly making sure that they got back to his at a good hour so he could report at 3am. When Harry’s speech got a bit more slurred and his eyes a wee hooded, Y/N started looking out for him. Using the time on her phone, she kept an eye out, making sure that Harry returned to his cottage before then so he could sleep off most of his intoxication.

Talking amongst themselves as the rest chatted loudly, Fatima and Y/N agreed that Fatima would be the one to drive everyone home. It would be easier to drop Harry off last as this was his van, and Fatima didn’t live too far away from the lighthouse, the two then decided Y/N would sleep at her place that night, it would be nice just being the two of them. She loved how closed she was getting to Fatima and Ellie. There hadn’t really been a time before when she had made proper good friends, but everyone around that table were currently climbing very fast and very high up on her list of favourite people in the entire world. She genuinely appreciated Fatima’s help with the UCAT reading earlier that week, it had really helped her along, even though the result hadn’t been the best. That was Y/N’s fault though, not Fatima’s teaching skills.

At one point, Dax got all of them up from the table, bringing them over to the screen, telling them over and over again how they needed to do this. Y/N was unsure if they really did, but she didn’t bother telling a very drunk Dax that as he handed out microphones, telling people to share. Y/N scooted up next to Ellie, watching Harry as he put an arm around Jo’s shoulder, patting them as the two of them along with Amir watched Dax search for the song.

“We need to know what song we’re gonna embarrass ourselves to,” Amir exclaimed as Dax was taking his time typing.

“I’m not about to do a Union J song, mate,” Ellie said.

“Alright, I liked one of their songs ten years ago, Ellie!” Dax looked over his shoulder at her, a deep furrow to his brow. “Carry You is a belter!”

“It’s not.”

“Jo, back me up here,” Dax said, turning back to write something into the laptop standing there.

“Dax… don’t make us sing Union J or The Wanted or JLS or anything like that, we don’t need that,” Jo sighed.

“The fact you’re embarrassed about our boyband period in 2013 hurts.” Dax glared at Jo.

“Right, then, what’s the song we’re singing?” Harry shot in, nodding at the laptop again. “We’re just standing here lookin’ stupid now.”

“Looking stupid?” Amir tutted, shaking his head. “Couldn’t be me, mate. Model material, this is. Look like I’m straight off the runway.” He gestured at his body and Fatima feigned throwing up, making the five drunks howl with laughter.

“Ultraviolet, Stiff Dylans.”

Y/N gasped at Dax’s words, bringing her hand up to her chest as the others around just looked at her, afraid something had happened. She grinned at Dax. “That used to be my favourite song!”

This seemed to be shocking news to absolutely everyone.

“What?” Y/N raised her eyebrows. “Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging was revolutionary.”

“Too right,” Harry said. “But… were you…” He blinked a few times. “Were you even allowed to watch it? Not a film I reckon would’ve been allowed in your house.”

Y/N shrugged her shoulders. “What can I say, I used to be a rebel.”

“Yes, Y/N!” Dax grinned, giving Y/N a high five. “Now, bum God Save the Queen, this is Britain’s national anthem! Someone record this, history in the making!”

The familiar music started up and Y/N was taken back to a time when she had a massive crush on Aaron Taylor-Johnson, hiding her obsession with this film from her parents, and listening to this song on repeat. The whole gang started singing, Amir doing a horrible job of keeping up with everyone else, but it was fun to watch him get annoyed with himself for not getting it right. Involuntarily, Y/N’s eyes fell on Harry. He was singing his heart out, sounding better than everyone else, but in his drunken state he seemed to have forgotten some of the lyrics. However, everyone knew the song and it felt very good to be with people she adored, singing a song all of them knew and loved, together. She felt part of something bigger than herself in that moment.

Maybe that was why she did it. Because, looking back, Y/N did not quite know what came over her in that moment, but she loved herself for it. As the song started nearing the end, Y/N took the microphone out of Ellie’s hands and started singing at the top of her lungs, taking absolutely everyone by surprise but she did not care. Ellie started laughing and the rest joined in again towards the end, matching Y/N’s volume.

As she turned around after the song, grinning from ear to ear as she glanced at her friends, basking in their applause and cheers, she caught Harry’s eye. That crooked smile of his was on his face along with a look she wasn’t sure she had ever really seen before, maybe only once. Amusement tangled up with adoration, forming a sort of emotion that had yet to be given a word; someone on the cusp of surrendering themselves completely to the overpowering concept of love, yet still holding back in fear of the unrequited. As soon as their eyes met, Harry looked away, scratching at the back of his neck as he walked back over to their table, everyone following suit.

The time came for them all to leave and Harry gave Y/N the car keys, claiming that he was not fit to drive, though she had not needed him to tell her that. Y/N gave them over to Fatima and all of them made their way over to the van. The night sky was black, brimming with glinting stars and the moon hanging big and yellow over Cornwall, wishing them all a good night. Y/N walked over to Jessa and thanked her for her hospitality, asking her where lolo and Grace were. She explained they’d gone to bed a long time ago, lolo had probably read Grace a bedtime story and fallen asleep himself, he sometimes did that when he stayed the night at the farm.

Y/N ran over to the van, opening the passenger door to see Amir sitting there, a bag in front of him in case he should throw up on the way home. He gave Y/N a peace sign before she closed the door and opened the door into the backseats.

“There you are,” Jo said through a yawn. “Let’s go, Ima.”

“Y/N!” Harry called from further back in the van, making Dax groan and mumble a “shut up, mate” that Harry did not hear. “Y/N! My flower! Come back here, I saved us the whole back backseat!”

Y/N glanced in Fatima’s direction, only to see her friend raise her eyebrows at her, nodding her head. “He made a big fuss.”

“Y/N, come here, I want to tell you something,” Harry said, words slurring a bit. Y/N stepped into the van properly, closing the door behind her before she walked back to Harry, sitting down in the seat right beside him by the window, even though there were three seats in the far back of the car. The car jolted a little as Fatima started driving, steering the car up the gravel round and towards the centre of St Ives.

“What’d you wanna say?” Y/N asked Harry in a hushed voice, hoping he’d mimic her.

“I… I wanted to say something that’s been on my mind for a while now,” he said, whispering back to her, his face mere centimetres from her own. She felt hot all over, adoring their close proximity but also remembering the rule they had made some days ago. As they drove by the white fluorescent streetlights, Harry’s face lit up for a few seconds, making him appear almost angelic. “I’ve been thinking about it.”

“Okay.”

“It’s got to do with you.”

“Figured as much.”

Harry giggled, looking down at his hands where they rested between his legs, sliding his thumb along his other. “You’re very smart.”

“Thank you.”

“Smartest person I know.”

She couldn’t help but smile at the compliment. “I doubt that.”

He pursed his lips as he thought. “You do that a lot.”

“What?”

“Doubt yourself.” He stared back at her, moving a little closer so their sides were flush against one another. “I think you’re great. I’ve never doubted you.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds, neither knowing what to say as the world around them seemed to disappear completely. For a single moment, it looked like he was going to tilt his head to the side, almost as if he were getting ready to study her like he had done at Porthgwidden. He stopped himself, staring back at his hands.

“I don’t have any cucumber left,” Harry mumbled, this made Y/N giggle a little. “This ain’t gonna end well for me tonight if I don’t get that cucumber.”

Y/N giggled some more, bringing her hand to her mouth as Harry looked at her again, his crooked smile appearing on his face, dimple showing.

“What?”

“Doesn’t sound like you’re talking about a cucumber when you say it like that,” she said.

“What then?”

“Well… what’s kind of shaped like a cucumber?”

Harry furrowed his brows, thinking hard.

“You have it, I don’t.”

“A cock?” Harry mouthed, looking absolutely gobsmacked that Y/N would suggest such a thing, which made Y/N laugh again.

“Yeah, dildo or summat.”

“Y/N Bernadette Angelica McKay,” Harry gasped, shaking his head as his eyes fell on the road through the window beyond Y/N. “Saucy git.”

“You started it.”

“Well, you made it sexual.” Harry crossed his arms, pretending to roll his eyes to make Y/N laugh, which worked effortlessly. “Wouldn’t mind a dildo, not gonna lie.”

“Harry!”

“What?! It’s the truth!”

Y/N laughed again, watching as Ellie and Jo jumped out of the car once Fatima stopped it, waving at everyone before they started walking in the same direction. Fatima started the car over again just as Jo stumbled and almost face planted, making everyone in the van – including the two outside – crack up. Y/N settled into her own seat, looking down at her thighs as they drove off again, giggling a little to herself as she replayed Jo’s near-death experience in her head.

“I…” Harry started, and when she glanced up at him, he was smiling that very small smile back at her. It was barely there, making his dimples show ever so slightly, and it made every single butterfly in Y/N’s tummy flutter their wings madly. “I love the sound of your laughter.”

Y/N felt her heart skip a beat.

“It makes me happy.”

She knew that if she continued to look at Harry and he continued to look at her, she would just start feeling more for him. Though she knew it was inevitable, she would fall in love with him sooner or later, she wanted to slow the process out so that she didn’t end up spending too much time with him while she loved him.

“When you said you watched Angus, Thongs earlier, it kinda shocked me a bit,” Harry admitted, talking as if it was all part of his stream of consciousness. “Not that I think you’re innocent or anything like that, you don’t seem innocent- and when I say it like that it sounds weird.”

Y/N bit her lips together, trying not to laugh.

“From what I’ve heard your parents were very strict so…” Harry shrugged his shoulder, looking away from her again. He tilted his head a little to the side as he caught eye of Amir in the front. “Amir! Oi! If you throw up in my van I’m gonna murder you!”

“Shut up, Haz,” Dax groaned. “Y/N, why the fuck is your boyfriend so loud when he’s plastered? Bloody hell.”

“I’m not loud, I’m passionate.”

“About Amir not throwing up in your car?” Dax rolled his eyes. “Brilliant.”

Fatima stopped the car, shouting at Dax to get out and help Amir home. Dax slowly walked around the car and took Amir’s arm over their shoulder, the two walking off as Amir started singing a song that had been sung right before they left the farm. Fatima sat there and watched the two walk up the street, making sure they got inside Amir’s place where Dax would kip before she started driving towards the lighthouse.

The three were quiet for the last part of the drive, Harry seemingly about to doze off all of a sudden, humming Ultraviolet under his breath as they started driving up the gravel path to the lighthouse. Y/N just barely saw the light of the lighthouse before it disappeared, but did not pay any more notice to it as Harry leaned over her, glancing out the window as if to see his house. Once Fatima stopped the car, Harry reached for the seat buckle, fumbling for it in the dark before he finally got free.

“Help me inside?” he asked Y/N, making her lose her words a bit at first in surprise, but she quickly loosened her own seatbelt as Fatima turned around, about to jump out of the van as well.

“Just gonna help him get to bed, it’ll take five minutes,” Y/N told Fatima as Harry slid the backdoor open, getting out of the car.

“Ten if can force a cuddle out of her,” Harry said, chuckling a little to himself as he watched Y/N get out of the car and close the door behind her. She only raised her eyebrows at him, holding her hand out for his keys, which he gave her eagerly. She wanted nothing more than to cuddle him for ten minutes, she’d take cuddles for one minute if that’s all she got, but she knew he was only saying it in front of Fatima to make her believe them even more. He took his time walking to the front door, as if to drag the time out, while Y/N walked on inside, turning the lights on for him. It took some time for him to get his shoes off and while he did that, Y/N looked through his fridge, not seeing any cucumbers but a few tomatoes could maybe do as post-party food.

Harry put his rucksack with his camera down by the sofa, strolling over to the bathroom to do whatever he needed to do. Y/N put the tomato on the counter, making Harry a glass of water like he had made her last time and putting that along with the tomato on the dining table. Once he walked out of the bathroom, he rubbed at his eyes, giving Y/N a smile as their eyes met.

“Are you staying?”

“No, I… I’m going home with Fatima.”

Harry nodded. “You two…?”

Y/N chuckled some, feeling her cheeks get a little hot as she shook her head. “No, we’re friends. I’m kipping at hers.”

“Okay, good.” Harry nodded, biting the corner of his upper lip as he said, “I don’t like it when you’re alone.”

“Why not?”

“Because of what you said about your dad, that he was a bad man and all that.”

Y/N felt a sort of panic rise in her chest and she looked out the still open door, seeing Fatima sit by the stone fence circling the lighthouse, watching its lights. Harry yawned, lying down in his bed and glancing over at Y/N, his eyes trailing down her body. She felt herself blushing, both because Harry was staring at her like that and she did not want to talk about her dad, especially not while Harry was drunk.

“Can you stay?” His voice was soft, speaking with a meaning that went beyond the cottage and tonight.

“I’m going with Fatima.”

“I want you to stay, flower.”

She wanted to lay down next to him, slide her hand through his hair and watch as he closed his eyes, smiling ever so slightly and humming in total and utter contentment. Fall asleep next to him, feel his breath on her skin again, know that he was there to protect her if anything were to happen. She suddenly remembered how safe she had felt waking up here, how she had never slept as good as she did that single night she spent at Harry’s cottage. Never again would she feel like that, Y/N realised. Once she left St Ives in a couple of weeks, all the safeness and the sense of belonging would be ripped away from her. It would surely be like someone ripping off her arm.

Harry sat up in his bed as if he sensed a shift in the air around them, looking up at Y/N with slight worry but also a sort of desperation, silently asking her to please consider his offer. God, in that very second, it was very hard to resist him. Because when he looked at her like that, so attentive, so devoted to everything she did, she simply wanted to do nothing but lay down next to him and do what he asked. But she couldn’t, and with each passing second where they just looked at one another, the tension between them grew and she felt goosebumps up her back. She cleared her throat some.

“You wanted to tell me something earlier, was that it?” Y/N asked, wanting to get them talking about something else.

“What?”

“In the van, when I entered it, you said you had something to say, what did you have to say?”

“Oh,” Harry said as if suddenly remembering. He glanced away suddenly, scratching at the back of his neck. “No, it was… I wanted to tell you that… I know we haven’t spent much time together since the whole… since Terraland… last Saturday- so like, a week ago…”

She nodded, encouraging him to keep going.

“I’m sorry for that. I don’t… The last thing I’d ever do is hurt your feelings or make you uncomfortable.”

“I know, Harry.”

“I just…” He watched her, taking in every single one of her movements as if he would forget what she looked like when she left. “You and me, you know… we were sitting there together and… you were so pretty when we sat there at Porthgwidden, I couldn’t… I had to kiss you. Spur of the moment kind thing, I suppose.”

Y/N did not want to look at him, did not want to hear him say anything else. Had all the nice things he had said at the beach also been just “spur of the moment” then? So nothing was real? Not that she had thought it was, but that kind of just underlined it, didn’t it? She didn’t know what to think anymore, everything was so blurry, nothing seemed to really make sense. Everything was for the fake relationship, it always was.

“Y/N!” Fatima called from outside, Y/N glanced at her. “Say goodbye so we can leave!”

When she glanced back at Harry, Harry seemed to get a little desperate, not wanting her to leave just yet. But Y/N couldn’t stay.

“Y/N,” Harry said, maybe realising that what he’d said might’ve been a bit much. “I-I didn’t mean it like that.”

She gave him a smile. “We’ll talk soon, yeah?”

Harry just nodded, and she walked out the door and toward Fatima who was smiling at her. With one last glance over her shoulder, she saw Harry in the window over his dining table, looking out after Y/N and Fatima as they walked along the gravel path toward town. His hand was resting by the tomato she had laid there for him, hoping that it could somehow be a good second to his usual cucumber tradition after nights out. Y/N crossed her arms over her chest as a slight cold breeze blew past them and Fatima audibly shivered.

“Yeah, would you look at that,” Fatima said as Y/N glanced her way. “Left me out in the wind, you did. Now I’m freezing.”

Y/N laughed, nudging Fatima’s shoulder with her own. The two friends went on back to Fatima’s place, acting as two old friends would.

Monday, 3 August

This was the first time Y/N had ever witnessed rain in St Ives since she arrived in June. It was not pouring down as one would assume after a long drought, a slight pitter-patter fell onto the grass around her as she walked along the gravel path, falling onto the hood of the yellow rain coat she was wearing. The sky was a dull grey, not something one should be worrying about, but there were a few darker clouds hovering somewhere in the horizon and she was sure that with this high of a temperature and the promise of pouring rain later on, lightning would occur as well.

Once she reached the lightkeeper residence, she knocked three times, waited a minute for Harry to open, then peeked her head in when he didn’t. Harry was sat by the dining table, looking through an instruction manual in front of him, frowning down at the pages as if he was reading a language he did not understand. At the sound of the door opening, he looked in Y/N’s direction, giving her a little smile.

“Saw you approach just now,” he said before looking down at the manual before him again.

“So you didn’t bother opening the door for me?” she asked, smiling over at him, but Harry did not answer. This was what she had been afraid of.

Ever since the karaoke and barbeque night at the farm, Harry had not met her gaze. Whenever she had come over to study, he wouldn’t spend too long in the cottage with her and he would rarely make her tea as he usually did. There was something not subtly cold, but different. He still welcomed her to sit in his windowsill and would still talk to her, but he wouldn’t look at her, wouldn’t stay around for long enough so they could talk properly. Y/N had tried, even suggested they go down to the Bakery to buy a pasty and walk around St Ives, go to the Candy Shoppe, or to the pub to have a few pints, but Harry had turned down all her offers, told her they could do it another time. He never really gave an explanation for why he didn’t want to hang out and Y/N was afraid of asking for one. But they had to talk. She didn’t want to go on like this, especially when Harry had come to mean so much to her.

“What’re you up to, then?” She took her coat and boots off, walking over to where Harry was seated by the dining table.

“I’m about to change the bulbs before it starts getting dark out and the lamp’s turned on,” he explained, furrowing his brows as he ran his finger over the page, concentrating on reading a specific line. Y/N stayed silent as not to disturb anything. He got up from the chair, sipping the last of his tea before he shoved the manual down in the back pocket of his denim shorts. He slipped his red knitted jumper over his Elton John tee shirt, the same one he had given to Y/N to wear after Dax’s birthday party when she slept over for the first time.

“Can I help?” she asked, giving him a smile she hoped he’d lay his eyes on her to see.

And he did, lips parting a little as if he was surprised by the suggestion. This puzzled Y/N as she had always expressed her willingness to help him, no matter what.

“Go on, then.” Harry nodded. “Just needed a cuppa before I started, it’s well past 6 after all.”

“You’re going to bed soon?”

“Yeah, and the lamp gets turned on in about an hour.”

Y/N smiled as he walked past her. “You’ve been procrastinating all day, have you?”

“Not all day.”

She laughed and she thought she saw the flicker of a smile on Harry’s lips at the sound.

“I’ve done other things as well, but I need this done now and quickly.”

Y/N nodded, putting her rain boots back on as Harry got his trainers on, the two then jogging in the direction of the lighthouse as not to get soaked in the rain that was starting to fall harder around them. Harry held the door open for her, then locked it once they were both inside. They started their ascent, Harry leading them past his little office floor, past the bedroom like room, up and up and up, till they finally reached the bell room. Even though Y/N was wearing a short white sundress with her green oversized boxy high-neck jumper along with her mid-calf black rain boots, she walked up the ladder leading to the bell room. She remembered how she had been reluctant to walk up wearing a dress that first time, but now she didn’t really care. Harry needed to change the bulbs and she said she was going to help.

Along the way, Harry had brought a toolbox with him, placing it up on the floor of the bell room before he walked up the ladder, letting Y/N go on up after him. For some reason it shocked Y/N when she came up to see that the lamp – the only thing inside the bell room – was not moving. She had imagined that the light in lighthouses moved around, and though Harry had explained what offshore and shore-based lighthouses were, the pattern of a lighthouse and the like, he hadn’t really explained how the lamp worked.

“It doesn’t rotate,” she said, walking up to the relatively small lamp in the middle of the room.

Harry was rummaging through his toolbox, stopping momentarily as he glanced over his shoulder at Y/N, unsure what she was referring to first, then let his eyes fall to the lens. “It flashes.”

Y/N furrowed her brows, walking around the lens to get a good look at it, studying the ridges and different colours of it, blank and red. “flashes?”

Harry pulled a screwdriver out of the toolbox and started working on the screws around the lamp. “It’s to identify it when it’s dark out, sailors can’t make out the white lighthouse when it’s night-time.”

“Makes sense.”

“Most lighthouses, especially shore-based ones like Clodgy, rhythmically flash or eclipse their lights to provide an identification signal. The particular pattern of flashes or eclipses is known as the character of the light, and the interval at which it repeats itself is called the period.” Harry tipped the plastic lens to reveal the five lightbulbs under it; Y/N was surprised to see it wasn’t made of glass. She supposed it was more convenient. “Essentially, a lighthouse may display a single flash, regularly repeated at perhaps 5-, 10-, or 15- seconds intervals. This is known as a flashing light. Clodgy is one of them.”

“What are these then?” Y/N asked, pointing to the red streaks.

“Basically, if someone is on sea and they are driving in the direction of sharp rocks or land, they’ll see a red light flashing instead of a normal, yellow one.”

“Danger, danger.”

Harry reached into his pocket, pulling out a box and putting it on the little space underneath the lamp.

“How many bulbs are there?” Y/N asked, looking at the different ones all attached to a round object in the middle of the lens.

“Five, they usually don’t have to be changed out. You gotta do so every 15-25 years, depending. This little thing-“ Harry pointed to the small bulb between them. “Lights up 15 miles using these lenses. It’s incredible.”

Y/N looked up at Harry, seeing a tiny and amused smile on his face as he talked. This was the most she had heard him talk in over a week; it made her heart do a silly fluttery thing.

“When one of these five bulbs go out, the apparatus knows that the bulb no longer works and it will rotate and-“ Harry placed his finger on the side of the bulb, rotating it to the right so that the apparatus turned, clicking as another bulb fit into place at the top. “-Click to a new bowl, it’s on automation and all that. So, we rarely change the bulbs.”

She bit her bottom lip as she watched him, not able to help herself. It was just so endearing to watch him like this, so amazing to hear him talking so unfiltered to her again. Right then, talking about bulbs and apparatuses and what not, he was so engulfed, so eager to tell her everything, that he did not care how he sounded. He was comfortable. She could tell.

He must’ve noticed how he rambled off, because he cleared his throat and stood up straight again, running a hand through his hair as a slight pink colour appeared in his cheeks. He quickly started to change the first bulb, putting a new on in its stead. Y/N just watched him, finding the sound of Harry working, the slight clicks, the quiet patter of the rain against the windows surrounding them, very relaxing. He seemed to be relaxed as well, so she thought this might be the best time as any.

Inhaling slowly, she leaned her hands on either side of the slight counter the lamp was standing on. She looked over it at Harry, his bottom lip between his teeth as he put the second bulb in its new place.

“Harry, we…” she started, swallowing thickly. “We need to talk about… things.”

Harry sighed. “Yes. Yes, we do.”

Knowing he felt the same way about that made it easier to breathe for a reason. At least she wasn’t going into this the same way she had been going into the Emilia situation after Dax’s birthday.

He started on the third bulb as he started talking, beating Y/N to it. “I, uhm… I want to tell you about my dad.”

This came as a shock to Y/N who was left raising her eyebrows at him for a second or two before saying, “Yeah, alright.”

He glanced up at her over the lightbulb. “You didn’t see it coming?”

“We’ll talk about your dad first,” Y/N gave him a reassuring smile. “We have time. We’ll always have time.”

“But that’s the thing…” Harry trailed off, switching out the fourth bulb, not meeting her eyes. “We don’t. If there’s one thing we won’t always have, it’s time. There won’t ever be enough time spent with your loved ones, there just won’t. No matter how much time you spend or how much time you spent with someone, you’ll always want more time. Always. What you got is never enough.”

The rain outside fell a little harder against the windows of the bell room, the wind a little harsher.

“Two years ago, my dad went on a fishing trip. He usually did this, took a few of his mates and then set off out wherever. They were never gone for more than a day tops, they always returned at night with tons of fish and I remember how Jessa would be so delighted and then invite our whole family over for barbecues and the like.” He paused as he started on the fifth and last bulb. “One day, September 4th to be exact, he didn’t return. Jessa and I sat up for hours waiting for signs of him. She started calling the spouses of the others on the boat, no one else had returned either.”

Y/N absolutely hated that she knew where this was going but she hadn’t told Harry that yet.

“Dax ended up sleeping at the lightkeeper house with me for a month and some after that, just didn’t want me to be alone, you know? He’s sound like that.” Once he was done putting the bulb in place, he reached for the lens and put it back where it belonged. “I think most of my mates and the people in my family’s life tried to keep our minds off it, ‘cause the more days went by, the more likely it was that… you know… he was dead.”

Harry sighed, reaching for the screwdriver, taking a little pause in talking as he screwed everything back into place. Y/N took a few steps back, watching him do his job and make himself ready to talk again.

“The boat was found October 14th, no one and nothing was in it.” Harry still wouldn’t look at her, put the screwdriver back in the toolbox and kept his back to her for a few seconds before turning around again. The bell room was starting to get relatively dark; she supposed the light would turn on soon, and she could barely make out the slight glassy expression in Harry’s eyes.

“I went absolutely mad. There are big chunks of time that I don’t even remember from that time, my brain has just… erased it from my memory, it was the darkest period of my life. They didn’t find any of the passengers’ bodies, there were three of them as well. It had been a turbulent and stormy night, so a sea storm took them out, drowned them all. But I… I…” Harry inhaled hugely, breathing shakily. “I didn’t… I still kinda don’t want… want to believe it. My dad is laying somewhere, far away from me, far away from Jessa, Gracie, from… from home…” He looked down at the ground, blinking rapidly. “It doesn’t fucking feel real. It’s not supposed to happen. This… He was a good sailor; he didn’t drown at sea.”

Y/N felt something starting to sting behind her eyes, she bit her bottom lip to stop it from wobbling. The storm outside seemed to pick up, sounding rougher than a minute before.

“I took over after him because I thought… I thought that, if no one else could, I could help him find the way home. I could shine that light; I’d take care of the lighthouse till he came back home. I’d show him the way, I’d light up the path for him, and he’d come home to me again. Where he belonged, where he should’ve been all along.” He took a deep breath, slowly looking up again, eyes falling to the lamp in the middle of the room. “It was a way for me to ignore the fact that he was truly dead. He wouldn’t come back. I didn’t really… I didn’t realise how… I didn’t realise how true it was that my dad, my constant, was gone, until Emilia left as well.”

Y/N furrowed her brows, a sort of rage filling her again. She had never been this angry before. There was something burning inside her, a sort of desire to protect Harry from everything evil in the world. No one deserved to hurt, but Harry least of everyone.

“I met Emilia at one of Astronaut Lions’ gigs the year before. I remember standing at the bar and she came up to me, asked me if I was Amos’ son – that’s my dad’s name, by the way - to which I said yes, and she told me her dad used to lend my dad and his mates his fishing boat sometimes. My dad and hers knew each other. So, we got talking, and, I want to say it’s ‘cause our dads knew each other, we got pretty close, pretty fast.”

Talking about Emilia brought Y/N’s gagging reflex into full force, but she composed herself.

“When my dad died, she was around, but not as often as Dax, Amir, Jo, Fatima, Ellie, or my family. She visited and stuff, kept me occupied, but the gang spent a lot of time at my place, occasionally rotating. It was nice, I didn’t want to be alone. I love being alone, but I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts then.”

Harry leaned against the window, eyes falling to the floor. Y/N continued to stand where she had, watching Harry carefully.

“We had been together for a year and some then. We hadn’t really fought much, I don’t really like confrontation, it makes me very uncomfortable, so I usually just let her say what she wanted to say if she was annoyed with me and didn’t bother arguing. Fatima kept telling me how unfair it was on her and our relationship, and also on myself, that I never really stood up for myself when we fought. It’s, like… I wanted it to work out so much that I wanted to ignore the things that didn’t. I didn’t want to do something that might cause us to break up.” He sighed heavily. “We were good for each other, we did have some good times, and she was my first ever proper girlfriend that broke my heart, but… but these last few weeks I’ve come to realise that she never really wanted what was best for me the way all my mates did.”

Y/N wanted to walk over to him and hug him. She wanted to console him; tell him she was there if he needed anything.

“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about that part of my life, you know? I’m aware that breaking up with someone ‘cause they’re bad for your mental health is valid, but what she did really affected me. It made the grieving process worse. I had never really felt truly alone till then.” He furrowed his brows some. “I didn’t have dad; I didn’t have Emilia… I knew I had my mates, but… Emilia and dad meant so much to me, losing them both in such a short period of time… broke me.”

Y/N swallowed a lump in her throat, hoping he couldn’t hear how sad his story made her. “Harry, you don’t have to elaborate if it’s hard for you.”

“No, you deserve to know. Emilia’s back, you’re my… my supposed girlfriend and you… I want you to know.”

Y/N nodded, clutching at the hem of her jumper.

“I know it was a naff move on my part when I went with her to get her that cup, I know I should have understood why you were rightfully upset right away, I know I shouldn’t have been too friendly when she came to Terraland…” Trailing off, he balled his hands into fists at his sides. “The reason why I’ve been so reluctant to push her out of my life is… I know it’s fucking mental; I know I sound right mad, yeah? But… I figured that if she could return, then maybe… then maybe dad…” Harry didn’t finish, but he didn’t have to.

Y/N shook her head as the only thing in the bell room that was audible was the sound of the rain and wind outside, sounding eerie and strong against the top of the lighthouse. “It’s not mental. It’s a very valid and normal reaction to grief, clinging onto the last shred you have of someone, hoping that one day they might come back to you.”

Harry looked at her feet, not ready to meet her eyes yet.

“My dad and I have never been close. I used to love being around him when I was little, I remember associating him with goodness and warmth. He would play with me and make me laugh, do things that my mum hated him for.”

“Like?”

“Throw me in the air, let me jump from a bunk bed and onto the mattress on the floor below, that sort of thing.” Y/N almost smiled at the memory. She hadn’t thought about that in ages. “However, as I grew up, my dad just got colder. He was still nice to me, was still protective and a dad, but he wasn’t the same.”

Y/N could tell by the slight breath Harry inhaled that he wanted to ask what changed but stopped himself. She was grateful he did. She could not go that far just yet.

“But… though it’s not the same as you, I respected my dad’s wishes to stay in Winchester and do as my mum; become a stay-at-home mum who didn’t need education or anything like that. He wanted me to marry well and learn how to be a mum; learn how to be safe at home and mostly indoors at all times.” She furrowed her brows some. “I believed him when he told me I wouldn’t be fit to become a dentist.” She paused for a moment. “You know when you’re scared, and you believe every word your parents say to you ‘cause you don’t know what else to do? They’re older, wiser, got more experience, so of course they know better than you, they know the best thing to do in any given situation.”

Harry nodded slightly.

“Before… Before I came to St Ives, I hadn’t really parted from my family at all. It wasn’t really like I had a choice. They were just always there, and I was expected to be there, too. I was terrified when I left; not only didn’t my parents know I was leaving, but I had just disappointed them in every way possible anyway, so I… I couldn’t stay there.” Her eyes fell on the lamp that yet hadn’t turned on.

Harry cleared his throat, eyes still on the lens in the middle of the room. “Your parents don’t know you’re here?”

“They do now.”

“You told them?”

Y/N felt her heart pick up its speed, she swallowed thickly, continuing to avoid Harry’s eyes. “What I’m trying to get at is that I haven’t, and probably won’t, tell them about the UCAT, or the fact that I’m trying to become a dentist. Part of me wishes that I did, but I know the reaction I’m gonna get… And the other part of me… That part is longing for that loving and warm father to return, the one that helped me fly when I was little.” She leaned against the window. “It’s not the same as you by any means, but it’s-“

“-It’s just as valid, Y/N.”

She shook her head some, looking out at the tall waves below. “You ever get the feeling that, no matter what, you won’t really be good enough, and you settle down with that thought? It’s not this hopeless feeling, but rather you’re just… content with that. You’re average so you’ll get average back.”

“You’re not average.”

She looked over at him, and for what seemed like the first time that day, their eyes met.

“Did your parents make you feel that horrible about yourself?”

Y/N crossed her arms. “In what way?”

“That you were average? Not destined for good things? That you didn’t deserve proper happiness?”

“I was satisfied with life in Winchester.”

“Satisfaction and happiness are two vastly different things.”

It seemed like he wanted to take a step forward but stopped himself, taking a deep breath before settling against the window again. Y/N pushed slightly away from the wall, standing closer to the light.

“It’s like the whole thing with me and Emilia again, innit? There were times when I was happy with her, but I think that’s more to do with the fact that I knew she was there. I could always rely on her. But bottom line is that being with her didn’t bring me instant and constant happiness like-“ He stopped himself, as if remembering there were things he wasn’t supposed to say. “She didn’t make me happy like she should’ve. I was satisfied.”

“Isn’t being at peace good? If someone or something brings you peace, isn’t that good?”

Harry shrugged his shoulders some. “There are different kinds, though. Your life and the people in it should be able to make you feel something, you know? Not being excited to see someone or to be somewhere or to do something, it does nothing. You don’t grow if you’re satisfied ‘cause you’re not moving, you’re not evolving.”

“Being happy isn’t a constant, though. You can’t always be happy, sometimes you’re just… not.”

“How boring would life be if you felt the same way, did the same things, saw the same people every single day? How boring would it be without change?”

Y/N felt herself smiling. “You’re a lighthouse keeper, you do the same things every single day.”

“I don’t, though,” he said. “I might be stuck here in St Ives most of the time, but I never do the same thing every single day. And besides…” He trailed off, biting his bottom lip some. “Besides life’s been anything but ordinary lately.”

Y/N glanced at her arms in front of her. “I… I hated change.”

“You don’t anymore?”

“To a degree,” she said. “I’m happy with the decision I made to leave my old life behind, but now… now I don’t really know what to do. I’m going to apply for University, but what if I’m too old? I’m 25, way older than everyone else there will be, and I… I dunno. I feel like I have to figure myself out all over again now that I don’t have my parents around me anymore, it’s like I don’t know who I am. Once this summer is over and I leave St Ives – ‘cause St Ives, you, and everyone here, are genuinely what’s keeping me together right now – I… I dunno how I’m going to survive. Will I have myself when I don’t even know who I am? Is it too late for me to get a fresh start? Who- Who will be there to help guide me in the right direction if I have no one in my life?”

There was no trace of hesitation as Harry said, voice deep and low, “You’ll always have someone.”

“Will I? I feel lost, Harry.” She blinked a few times, hoping to prevent possible tears from falling. “I’m so lost. Where do I even go from here? I don’t and can’t go back to how life used to be, where do I go?”

“Don’t go.”

She glanced up at him, the lamp beside them suddenly coming to life with a massive blink. Though the suddenness of the light had scared her, Harry’s words had been what got her heart racing. The light blinked in the direction of the sea, the other side from where they stood so Y/N couldn’t see it directly, only the dark back that was facing the mainland. However, she could not care less for the light as Harry stared back at her, right into her eyes, for the first time in what seemed like forever. She felt herself relax at the sight of him, but his words still reverberated through her head, making it spin slightly.

“What?”

“Don’t go,” he repeated, stepping away from the window. “Stay.”

Her arms fell to her sides. “You… You want me to stay in St Ives?”

It took a few seconds, as if he was building up the courage to say something he thought was obvious, but, seemingly, not so obvious to Y/N. “Yes.”

“But I…” She trailed off, blinking a few times as if she were trying to regain composure. “You’ve never said.”

“’Cause I’ve always been afraid of your reaction.”

“My… my reaction?”

“If it would scare you.”

“Why would that scare me?”

“’Cause someone telling you they care for you more than… more than they care for anyone else, and you not feeling the same way… I don’t want to scare you.”

Y/N was sure she had not heard him right. And if she had, she must have misinterpreted his statement, because surely he had not just said what she thought he said. The light blinked its usual pattern, lighting up the darkening bell room as the two just stood staring at one another.

“I thought you only felt like that for Emilia.”

Harry frowned, shaking his head as if what he’d just heard was absurd. “Emilia?”

“Well, then… then that you used to feel like that for her, that you two used to be close. I’ve been jealous of that, after all.”

“You’ve been jealous?” Harry’s eyes were wide, intently staring at Y/N as she continued to explain. “How do you mean?”

“Dunno…” Y/N said, knowing that she probably sounded like an absolute plonker. “You’ve always seemed pretty caught up on her. That you still have feelings for her.”

He studied her, mouth falling shut as he let his eyes scan her face, saying a soft, “I don’t.”

“But- But why do you blush when she’s around, then?”

At the mention of him blushing, a red colour appeared in his cheeks and he glanced away for a few seconds, running his hands through his hair. Y/N could not help a small smile on her lips, biting at the corner of her mouth to stop herself from doing so.

“I get flustered, don’t I? It’s not like I can help it,” Harry explained, gesturing at his face as he took a few steps forward. “She’s my ex, it’s weird being around her.”

“You act so shy, though. Isn’t that how you are around people you’re nervous in front of?”

“I acted like that with you as well, did you notice?”

Y/N felt a breath hitch in her throat, something about Harry admitting this made her entire body hot. Part of her did not believe this could be true, it was just too good, while the other urged her to keep going, see what happened next. She shook her head slightly. “I-I dunno.”

“I was so bloody nervous,” Harry said, chuckling a little to himself. “It was genuinely hard for me to form sentences ‘cause I didn’t want to make a right twit of myself, yeah? I just… I wanted to impress you so bad, but it was so hard.”

She pressed her lips together, heart hammering hard, hands feeling clammy with anticipation.

“I’m not nervous around you anymore, though.”

“You’re not?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I feel safe with you now. I don’t care that I make a fool of myself ‘cause you won’t mind.”

She smiled a little. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He gestured around him with a soft jerk of his chin. “You’re a light room.”

Y/N wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but stopped herself when their eyes met again. She wanted to walk to him, to be near him.

“It’s like…” Harry started, pausing for a few seconds before he went on. “It’s weird being around someone you thought meant a lot to you and you realise they didn’t. But with you… that’s…” He glanced at the ground again, tugging at the hem of his red jumper. “It’s different.”

She continued to just look at him, afraid that if she said anything he would stop.

“It’s… it’s like I… like-“ He cleared his throat, suddenly blushing uncontrollably, and it was as if he knew how ridiculous he must look because he let out a small laugh. “You were the prettiest woman I’d ever seen and I wanted to impress you, I didn’t want to embarrass myself and have you not want to be around me anymore.”

His eyes fell to her feet, moving up over her bare legs, landing on her tummy as he continued to find the words lost somewhere within him. He took a deep breath.

“I’m not good with words, so explaining how much you mean to me is hard, but I know that I… that you…” He drifted off again, meeting her eyes. “You were the person I wanted to be in the arms of at Terraland, when I was all shaken up ‘cause of that ride, not Emilia, no one else but you. And you’re the only person I want to be in the arms of right now, tomorrow, and probably every single day after that. I like it when you hold me, when you’re around. That’s all I know.” His eyes fell to her lips for a second, meeting her eyes as if he remembered that was forbidden territory. She had said as much. “I like it when we touch, everything seems at once much simpler but also so much more important and grander because of you.”

Biting her bottom lip, Y/N walked closer to Harry, and at the sight, he took two more steps closer as well, meeting right beside the lamp that was still occasionally lighting up the bell tower and the entire coast along with it. Standing right there in front of one another, something that could only resemble magic passed between them and circled around them, drawing them closer to one another. They were meant to be close, meant to be right here, with one another. It was wrong to be anywhere else than with Harry. She didn’t feel as lost when he was here; there was a sense of reason, of purpose, when they were together that was so great to the point of invention, there was no other way of explaining it. This, what was between then, was beyond anything. Limitless, unfathomable, immeasurable; infinite.

“I want to touch you,” Y/N said, her voice almost a whisper as she, once again, glanced at his lips.

“Touch me. Please.”

Slowly and gentler than she had ever been before, she placed her hand to his cheek, thumb stroking over the slight stubble before she slid the tips of her fingers to the back of his jaw and then forth again. He closed his eyes, leaning into her.

“Please, touch me,” he repeated, the breath of his pleading words falling against her hot wrist. “Never stop.”

She studied his face, loving the calming effect she had on him because it matched the one he had on her. Though he made her heart race and had her overthinking everything, he calmed her down and made her feel at peace. Exhilarated her and confused her; overwhelmed her and elated her. He made her feel everything all at once, and Y/N thought at last, wasn't that what love really was? When you felt like the feelings inside your body transcended everything, made you see everything around you in a new light? When it changed your world for the better?

Y/N’s hand slid down Harry’s cheek and his neck, and at the change, he opened his eyes to look at her again. She took another step forward, leading him toward her as her eyes fell to his lips, meeting his eyes as they hovered dangerously close to one another. The light blinked on and Y/N pressed her lips against Harry’s. They melted into each other instantly. Harry placed one of his hands to her neck and the other one to her hip, bringing her closer. She breathed against him, the rest of the world around them disappearing completely as they drew out the kiss.

His tongue traced her bottom lip, making a shiver run up her spine. Gently, she slipped her tongue into his mouth, making sure she did not overwhelm him, that it was okay. He instantly complied, stroking his against hers, swirling his around hers sensually, lighting Y/N on fire. She moaned into him, gripping at the hair at the back of his neck as their mouths opened wider, welcoming more of the other to enter and entrance them completely. She ran her other hand over his chest, wrapping it around him, while Harry’s slid down along her back, stopping just before he reached her bum, squeezing her a little as if he wasn’t mentally ready to go down there just yet tonight. The bell room continued to illuminate up, shining its guiding light out across the ocean, helping sailors home and to their final destinations. However, neither Y/N nor Harry could even remember where they really were as they continued to kiss one another. She felt his moan on her tongue, a slight whimper that he had not been able to hold back as they deepened the kiss. They instantly got more frantic; desperate, harder. She pushed against him more forcefully, wanting to taste and feel all of him.

For an instant, and what felt like for the first time since they had known each other, Harry took control. He pressed her against the bar with the lamp, keeping one hand on her neck, thumb at her chin, and the other on her waist. She gasped at the suddenness, her entire body aflame as Harry kissed along her jaw, tilting her head as to get better access. She could not help the contented sigh that left her lips, pushing him even closer to her, wrapping her left leg around his right one as to ensure he did not step away from her.

He whispered her name against her neck, leaving wet kisses along the skin that was exposed and that he could reach without removing the high neck of her jumper. He kissed the tip of her jaw, sucking lightly, and she could not hold back her whimper. It seemed to have had an effect on him that she herself had not anticipated, yet absolutely adored. Between them, pressed against her tummy, she could feel him. It seemed to have startled him as well, maybe not having anticipated it to happen that quickly, but he kissed along her neck again, seemingly not really caring anymore. He wanted her to know just how much power she held over him. He came back to her face, lips hovering above hers. They panted against one another, not letting each other go as the rain outside picked up, thunder rumbling in the distance, and the light that Y/N was pressed up again kept lighting up the ocean ahead.

“I, uhm…” Harry stared down, swallowing thickly. “I’m sorry ‘bout… that.”

Y/N smiled, shaking her head slightly. “Don’t apologise for that.” She brought her leg further up, twining it more around him to bring him closer. As if it was instinctual, Harry reached for her thigh, helping her bring it up to his waist. She let out another sigh, loving how he drew closer to her in the process of yanking her leg up higher. Their eyes met again, and she leaned her forehead against his.

“I thought we agreed on a ‘no kissing rule’,” Harry mumbled, lips brushing against hers as he spoke. “I thought you didn’t want to kiss me.”

“I want to kiss you; I just don’t want it to be part of our fake relationship.”

“This has nothing to do with that.” He moved to kiss her again and spoke against her lips. “I need to ask you, though, before anything more happens.”

She watched him, the sight of him slightly blurry but she did not care.

“There’s… There’s a bed… downstairs if you'd be interested in… you know…”

She smiled.

“In what?”

Harry smiled, giggling a little as he leaned his forehead against hers again. “I don’t want there to be mixed signals, so I’m just… I’m just gonna fucking say it.”

“Say it.”

He gripped her knee tighter. “Do you want to have sex with me? ‘Cause I… I mean, it’s not the sexiest way to go about it, just asking like that, but I… it’s very obvious that I would like- very much like to… you know, if you’d like. I don’t want to-“

She chuckled and Harry stopped talking, smiling at her. “I think asking is very sexy. Mixed signals aren’t sexy.”

“You’re right.”

She leaned in, pressing a light kiss to his lips.

“Flower,” he mumbled, voice rasping ever so slightly, making heat instantly pool between her thighs. “Would you let me make you feel good?”

“Do you think you can?”

Harry met her eyes, a crooked smile coming to his lips. “I’ve had no complaints before.”

“No complaints from Emilia?”

A slight furrow appeared between his brows before it lifted, his smile came back and it got wider. “You really were jealous of her.”

“She got to be close to you.”

“Well,” Harry said, eyes fluttering to her lips. “You’re close to me now. You’re closer to me than anyone’s ever been before.”

Y/N squeezed him closer, biting her lip before she said, “Yes.”

“You… you want to go downstairs?”

“Yes.”

Harry’s smile grew so wide it was hard for him to fight just how giddy he was getting at her words. He stepped away from her, taking her hand in his. They left the blinking bell room, climbing down the ladder, Harry securing the hatch before he turned to face Y/N again. Once they were in the near darkness of that room, they kissed again, desperate to feel one another again. This happened almost on every single floor – pressing each other up against a wall, needy to feel, to taste, to be close – as they could simply not help themselves.

Once they reached the floor, Y/N instantly recognised the door and where they were headed. On her first trip to the lighthouse, she had seen a bed in that room, the door had been half open, but Harry had closed it on their way down. Now, Harry opened it for her, letting her inside. It was tiny. A twin bed stood at the far end, its white sheets made neatly over it, while the desk – which stood perched right under a small window that was being attacked by harsh rain - was filled with photographs of Harry’s family. Him, Amos, Jessa, and Grace. There was a dresser with a vase on top, a bouquet of dead flowers in it that it seemed Harry had forgotten completely about.

Harry closed the door behind them. “This used to be my dad’s room. When it was stormy, he’d stay in here. The door sometimes opens on its own, logically I know it’s just a draught, but…” He shrugged his shoulders and Y/N knew what he meant.

Instead of focusing on that – because they could talk about this in the morning – Y/N said, “Kiss me.”

Harry wasted no time. He marched over to her, pressing his lips hard against hers as he started walking her backwards toward the bed. He let her lay down first, taking her rain boots off before she wiggled up to the top, watching as Harry crawled his way up to her, hovering his lips over hers as to tempt her. She tried to lean up to kiss him since he was taking too long, but he moved further away.

“Twat.”

He chuckled, grinning down at her. “How long do you think you can stand not kissing me?”

She brought her hand up to his neck, bringing him down towards her lips. They kissed again – finally. She felt Harry smile against her lips.

“Needy.”

“You were taking too long.”

“You just can’t get enough of me, can you?”

She wanted to roll her eyes at him, but he was correct. She wrapped her legs around him, bringing his core down onto hers. Harry groaned into her; his erecting cock pressed against her heat. He melted into her instantly, burying his hands in her hair.

“Neither can you,” she whispered back, making Harry let out a breathy chuckle.

“I also just want to make it clear,” he said against her lips. “If anything I do is not working, doesn’t do anything for you, doesn’t feel good, or if you want to try something new, a new position or anything like that, tell me, yeah?”

She smiled, nodding her head as they kept kissing. “Yeah. Same goes for you.”

“Do you have a favourite position?”

Y/N froze a little, thinking to herself and blushing when Harry looked down at her.

“What?” he asked.

“I’ve… only ever really done two.”

“Two… positions?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s fine, did you enjoy them?”

“Yeah, I did. Sex was never really been about enjoyment as much as it was about closeness.”

Harry furrowed his brows. “You should enjoy sex, Y/N.”

“I know, I know. I just… I used to set fire to myself to keep others warm. I realised that was not what I should be doing, which is why I ended up in St Ives. With you. Here.”

Harry leaned down again, pressing a lingering and deep kiss to her lips. “You will enjoy yourself and feel real fucking good tonight, yeah? We’ll find something that works for both of us.”

She smiled. “Time will tell.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I’ll feel real fucking good.”

Harry halted a little as he heard that word slip from her lips. He had never heard it before. She felt the effect it had on him against her. “I’ll show you, flower.”

He reached down to the hem of her jumper and the two got it off her, throwing it to the floor before they started kissing again. She wrapped her legs around him again, resting her heels at the top of his bum, urging him closer to her. Slowly and deliberately, Harry grinded against her, revealing them both of a small fraction of pleasure, increasing the anticipation that was building in the air around them. Hard against her most delicate spot. She felt a desperate need to reach for him, to feel him right there, as ready for her as she was for him, but she liked this much better. Feeling him moan against her, the slow waves of his hips as he stroked his growing erection against the heat between her legs that was aching. His promise lingered in the back of her head, making her nipples perk at the thought. You will enjoy yourself and feel real fucking good tonight.

Harry’s hand slipped down the front of her white summer dress, lingering over her breast where he felt her already hard nipple. He squeezed her breast, bringing what he could of the nipple between his index and middle finger, squeezing lightly as he started kissing down her jaw. An uncontrollable moan left her mouth as he kissed her neck, chest, between her covered breasts. She felt hot all over as he kissed his way down, leaving no spot untouched by his swollen lips. He reached her thighs, kissing up her right one, leaving wet spots that got cold in the crisp air of the lightkeeper room.

“Turn over,” he said, sitting up on his knees to make the process easier for her.

She did as he told her to without hesitation. Again, he leaned over her, nose nuzzling her hair as he kissed her exposed shoulder. Each one of the kisses he trailed down her shoulder place, and back felt like a declaration of love; felt like a promise of forever, of safe keeping. Right in that moment, she realised she had never felt more appreciated or more turned on. She felt so seen, so important, as Harry kept kissing her back, sucking on her skin, humming moans of absolute delight into her that made goosebumps appear all over her. He reached for the zipper of her dress, kissing her shoulder before he whispered, “Okay if I undress you?”

“Please.”

Harry unzipped her dress, leaving a lingering kiss to her shoulder as he shoved both the straps off her shoulders. She took them off, letting the dress hang loosely over her breasts. Just because she felt like it, she lifted her arse off the bed, pressing it against Harry’s hard-on. It took him off guard and he gasped a little into her ear, but quickly took a grip around her waist. He pressed down hard on her, parting her bumcheeks as his protruding cock could now be seen, and felt, outside his denim shorts.

“Fuck,” he breathed as he grinded against her. His hands slipped down further, hovering over her centre, laying a slight pressure on her over her dress and knickers that was exactly what Y/N needed right then.

“Harry,” she whimpered, feeling him moan at her utterance.

“Dreamed about you saying my name like that,” he mumbled, kissing her shoulder again. “Sound even fucking better than I could’ve imagined.”

He placed more pressure on her, making her gasp and throw her head back slightly, leaning it against Harry’s beside her. They grinded against one another, absolutely lost in this seductive dance that they would have no problem doing forever. Panting a little, Harry kissed her shoulder again, knowing that they could not go on like that, no matter how much they wanted, because he would surely not be able to handle much of it before finishing. The heat between Y/N’s legs was excruciating, she could barely take it as Harry pulled her dress completely off her, exposing her naked back to him.

“On your knees.”

She did as he demanded, getting on her knees in the bed as Harry positioned himself right behind her. He ran his hands over her wet knickers, wanting to properly feel all of her now that he finally had her there. It sent a lightening up her spine, making her moan as he reached her bud, flicking it slowly. He kissed the outside of her knickers before he ran his tongue over her, the hot wetness of him on her made her gasp, sweet torture that she both welcomed and hated. Hooking his fingers under the hem of her knickers, he slid them over her bum and down her legs, and. Again, she felt cold as her wet skin was exposed to the chill room they were in, Harry’s ragged breaths didn’t exactly make it better. She whimpered slightly as she felt his breath go from cold to hot, she could feel the heat of his body radiating against her cunt and bum. With help of her hands, she raised, looking over her shoulder at him to see him there, only his eyes visible as he hovered in front of her.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Y/N,” he whispered, planting a kiss to her bum before he went back to the place she had just been. “I’ll make you come, flower.”

“Actions speak louder than words,” she said, panting slightly in anticipation.

Harry smiled at her, she thought she saw a slight wink before he hovered back over her centre. She was about to tell him to just get on with it when she felt his tongue, hot and wet and hard, between her folds. She gasped again, closing her eyes at the impact. He licked up between her folds first, making sure to taste every last bit of her as he had thought about this for so long. He started off with a light pressure on her clit, licking around it, sometimes over it, driving Y/N absolutely insane. He slowly built up the pressure, making sure he did not overwhelm her, staying focused on the clit the entire time. He wrapped his lips around it, sucking lightly, something that made Y/N throw her head back, letting go of a loud moan that had Harry humming into her.

“Yes,” she gasped, fists buried in the white sheets under her.

He let go of her bud, licking up around the clit again, then over it, flicking it quickly while tipping his head to the side. She bit her bottom lip, looking over her shoulder at Harry as he continued to eat her out, eyes closed as if he was eating the feast of his life. Once again, he wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking lightly at first and building his pressure. Whimpering and panting, Y/N kept looking at Harry, the sight of him behind her like that, doing everything in his power to make her feel good – and succeeding – was so bloody hot.

When she had made her way up here today in the rain, she had never in her wildest dream this was where she would end up. On all fours, Harry seated behind her, eating her out. She had thrown away any hope of him even feeling a smudge of what she felt for him, but tonight, up in the light room, everything changed. Everything they said, and how they opened up to one another. She felt quite literally euphoric; static with adoration and completely engrossed in everything he did.

Harry moved up, slipping his tongue inside her hole, hands sliding down her thighs as he penetrated her. She swallowed thickly, biting at her bottom lip before she met his eyes.

“Doesn’t do anything.”

“Hm?” He moved up, eyes wide as he licked around his lips. “My tongue in you?”

“Yeah. Feels like you’re mushing mash into me.”

Harry laughed, resting his forehead against her bum as he shook, she chuckled as well.

“Don’t hold back,” he said.

“Sorry.”

“No, I’m glad you told me, flower.”

“Also,” she said as he started licking her again, she gasped slightly. “Can we switch? I want to watch you properly.”

Harry blinked slowly, smiling at her as he emerged. “Gladly.”

She turned around, placing herself on her back, Harry stopped to take her in, eyes gliding over her naked body in front of him. He cupped her face in his hands, kissing her deeply as he ran his hands over her tits, squeezing them just hard enough before he lowered them and himself. He positioned himself exactly where he’d been, spreading her legs wider for him.

He sucked on her clit again, this time pushing a finger into her. She instantly moaned loudly, burying her hands in his hair. Harry wrapped an arm around her thigh, holding her in place as he continued to lick at her clit, curving his finger ever so slightly as to make her feel the best she possibly could. She squirmed under him, her orgasm coming on much faster in this position than the last, streaming down her legs, her torso, towards the centre between her thighs where Harry was sucking at her most sensitive spot, pounding his finger into her. She tugged at his hair as she could feel it coming on closer.

“Harry,” she moaned and at once he reached up outside her thigh, cupping her breast in his large hand.

He ran a thumb over her nipples as he flicked at her clit, finger still buried inside her, watching as she started moving and panting and whimpering more and more. He moved his finger faster and sucked her bud, which was exactly what Y/N needed, she cried out, moving her hips with Harry’s fingers. He squeezed her breast, and she met his eyes, seeing his dark green eyes under his long lashes, drinking in the sight of her. He suddenly hit a spot that had fires erupt in her lower tummy. Y/N gasped and let out another loud moan, whimpering under Harry as he licked and fucked her through her orgasm. She did not take her eyes off him and he did not look away from her, ordering her to keep watching till she was completely down from her euphoria.

Y/N was sprawled out panting, smiling as Harry came up to hover above her. She took a grip of his neck, kissing him deeply. He tasted of her.

“I’ll go get a condom in the cottage,” he mumbled. “I-If that’s alright with you, of course. We don’t have-“

“-I want to.”

“Alright. Brilliant.” He stumbled as he got up from the bed in a hurry. “I’ll-I’ll be right back, yeah? Don’t move! I’ll-“ He looked over his shoulder as he stood in the open doorway, a huge sigh leaving his lips as his eyes wandered over her naked body. He shook his head slightly, letting out a chuckle of disbelief. “Fuckin’ hell,” he mumbled before running down the stairs and out of the lighthouse.

It did not take long for him to come back, condom in hand and panting as if he’d been sprinting back and forth. He closed the door again, placing the condom on the corner of the desk beside the bed, crawling back over her again.

“Been away from this for too long,” he mumbled, running a hand over her curves. “And your tits are bloody fantastic, by the way.”

She laughed at him, swatting his shoulder as he reached for the hem of his jumper and tee shirt, bringing both over the top of his head and throwing them to the floor.

“I’d been looking forward to doing that,” Y/N said.

“What, undress me?”

“Yes.”

His eyes seemed to darken a bit. “Take off the rest.”

And she did. Keeping eye contact, she reached for the front of his denim shorts, undoing the button and unzipping him. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the slight pressure and caress of her fingers against his anticipating and hard prick seemed to do more to him than she thought it would. She hooked her finger around the band of his shorts and boxers, wiggling them down his hips till they were far enough down for him to do the rest. One hand supporting his weight, he used the other one to help her take his clothes off, but her eyes fell to his cock immediately.

It wasn’t like she had thought of it before. Yes, she might’ve had some dreams and daydreams involving Harry and her doing some very filthy things, but she hadn’t really let herself think about his prick. But there it was, and she felt absolutely giddy with anticipation now. She wanted to have proper sex with him; she wanted it so, so bad.

Harry reached for the condom, tearing it open and putting it on, hand sliding down his shaft and to the pubic hair at the very bottom. Seeing the slight trail from his navel and down to it made her mouth water.

“You alright?” Harry asked, that crooked smile on his lips making Y/N’s cheeks heat up. She was already flustered all over, she did not need him looking at her like that. He knew she had been looking and now he was taking the piss. As usual.

“How do you want me?” he asked, voice husky.

She bit her bottom lip, cocking her head to the side. “I dunno.”

He groaned, hovering closer to her lips. She felt him against her sensitive spot, making her gasp. “What can I have?”

She tugged at the hair at the nape of his neck. “I want to be on top.”

That crooked smile came forth again, his dimples deepening. “Yes, ma’am.”

Taking a grip of her waist, he rolled around, making her lay on top of him. His head was on the pillow, right where hers had just been, so Y/N sat up. She took a grip of him, making Harry’s lips part at the impact. He gripped her thighs that were straddling either side of his hips, squeezing her lightly as encouragement. She sat up, bringing him to her, sliding him over the wetness he had caused. He let out a shaky breath, looking to be just as nervous as Y/N felt. She slid down onto him slowly, Harry’s eyes fluttered shut.

“Fuck,” he hissed, and Y/N gasped again.

“Harry,” she said, a little breathless already. “I’ve… I’ve never been on top before.”

He smiled. “That’s fine, here-“ He placed his hands on her hips, urging her to move. She followed his lead, biting her bottom lip hard as her clit rubbed against his pelvic area. “That’s it.”

She continued to grind against him, moving her hips as he was instructing her. Placing her hands on his chest for support, she started moving a little hard, with a little more purpose, Harry’s hands on her thighs a grounding and intense pressure.

“Keep doing that,” he encouraged, letting a moan slip from between his swollen lips. She rolled her hips, loving the filthy sounds they made as the rain kept on crashing against the window. They continued to look into each other’s eyes, not daring to look away as if it would bring them back to reality. Because this was too good to be true. Never before in her life had Y/N felt like this. She felt powerful as she rode Harry, felt a sort of strength in her that had never been present before. It had never been like this with Dominic; it had never been this intense. He hadn’t demanded she order him around, hadn’t been willing or suggested to try new things, hadn’t really done it like this. Harry looked at her as if the world revolved around her alone. As if the centre of the solar system was right here, and he was watching the sun about to eclipse, watching one of the most beautiful and magnificent moments in time. He gripped into her with feverish hands, coming with suggestions every once in a while, always letting her know just how good she was making him feel.

“That’s right,” he moaned as she moved her hips in circles. “Right there. Don’t stop.”

That might just have been the sexiest thing she had ever heard along with his moans. She continued doing exactly what she was doing, feeling her entire body heating up as she could sense her second orgasm that evening. Thinking about it, she wasn’t sure she had ever come twice in one night before. Maybe it was Harry, maybe it was the moment, maybe it was the fact that her and Harry were finally letting their guard down, admitting that there was something else between them besides their fake relationship. People who fake dated each other did not kiss like that, they did not have sex, they did not look at each other like it was all they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. No, this was more than what they had let on. Way more.

Harry sat up, making Y/N fall against his chest as he bent his knees ever so slightly. He placed one hand on her bum and the other on the mattress behind him as to help him move more swiftly. With each stroke over him, Harry thrusted back into her, rubbing at her bud each time and making everything around her seem much more colourful.

“Like that do you?” Harry asked, mouth parted as he panted into her wet lips.

She nodded her head, taking a grip of his shoulders to better move her hips. They moved together, looking into each other’s eyes as the rest of the world disappeared completely around them. The rain, the thunder, the buzzing of the light from upstairs turning on and turning off, it was all tuned out. Harry leaned down, placing one of his hands on her left breast to kneed it seductively. He kissed from her collarbone and down to her breast, sucking and nibbling lightly on her skin as he made his way to her nipple. Sucking it lightly, he looked up at Y/N who was squeezing his shoulders, telling him to keep going. Electricity shot from her tits and down her spine, heating up the fire that was building in her core. He closed his eyes as he sucked and kissed her tits, humming into her and making her moan time and time again. It felt so fucking good. Though she moved a little awkwardly, though they made some sounds together that made both of them laugh and heat up, though they were still trying to figure out what the other liked, this was still the best either had ever had.

As he was closing in on his finish, Harry wrapped both arms around her, bringing her closer to him. They kissed, desperate pleads and whimpers left each of their mouths as everything started setting on fire. Harry moved his hips with her, she tried to continue to move hers along with him, her hips shaking a little with the effort. Harry’s lips parted completely all of a sudden, a furrow appearing between his brows, and she felt it. He twitched against her and she continued to grind her hips, moving him through his orgasm. Looking deep into her eyes, he seemed to completely melt away when she kissed his bottom lip, sighing against him as she herself started getting closer to her second orgasm as well.

“I’ll help you,” Harry said. “I’ll use my hand, if you want?”

“Yes, please.”

He removed his cock from inside her, meeting her eyes as his thumb circled her clit again. Y/N gasped, gripping both sides of Harry’s neck. His lips parted at the pressure, grinning up at her. He brought his other hand forward, slipping his index and ring finger into her while his other thumb continued to flick at her clit. At once she moaned, looking into his eyes as this brought her closer to her climax, fast. She moved with his hand, moaning louder and louder as the fire inside her tummy intensified, feeling even greater than the time before. Harry curled his finger just as he leaned down, sucking on her nipple again, looking up at her through hooded eyes.

Everything exploded and she threw her head back, unable to stop herself. The sound of Harry pounding into her at a fast speed, wet and filthy, echoed through the room with her exclamation of euphoria. Harry continued till she was completely done, watching her as she closed her eyes, breathing heavily above him. Gently, he removed his fingers from inside her, bringing them up to his mouth to lick them clean just as she opened her eyes again.

Y/N felt at peace. Her heart was still thundering away inside her chest, her soul was still intermingled with Harry’s, and they would not let go of one another. They didn’t need that lamp, they didn’t need a lighthouse, they could light up everything on their own. She was sure that at some point tonight, while their bodies grinded together and worked toward climax, they had lit up like the sun. What was going on between them, the cellular reaction, the emotional connection, the physical attraction, it all equated to something. It had to. What this was, was greater than either of them individually. This would forever be marked on their souls. Meeting Harry, spending this summer with him, it had shaped her into a brand-new person. That was, Y/N reminded herself, what love was all about after all. Change for the better.

Harry got a cloth not long after, helping clean Y/N up before they both slipped under the duvet in the lightkeeper room, squished together as the bed was way smaller than what they were used to. Harry ran his hand from Y/N’s cheek and up to her shoulder, his eyes following his hand’s movement.

“I fucking worship you, Y/N,” Harry mumbled, the rain still pouring outside. He caressed his fingers gently over her jawline.

She moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him. They both closed their eyes and Y/N felt sleep coming closer. She felt so incredibly content, cuddled up to Harry and with the storm raging outside. A couple a seconds away from falling asleep, Harry started whispering against her forehead.

“Play fair with my heart, yeah?” It seemed like he thought she was asleep. That it was safe to say this. “’Cause I’m gonna fall in love with you. You don’t have to love me back, but I’m telling you now, ‘cause it’s inevitable, at one point, I’ll love you. Madly, truly, completely. Just… please… break my heart gently.”

Before she was able to form any sort of reply, she fell asleep.

A/N: If you wonder what the melody Harry wrote for that day spent in St Austell with Y/N and Gracie sounds like, I imagine it goes something like this 🥰

NEXT UPDATE: Sunday, 25 October, 9PM GMT!

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[puckdaniels]

Knew You’d Show Up

Tagging → Quinn Fabray, Noah Puckerman, Kiran Basanti, Sara Puckerman, Abril Briscoe

Time Frame → Late Saturday Night; September 5, 2020

Location → Miami, FL; Uncle Jami’s restaurant

General Notes → At Uncle Jami’s wedding reception, Puck and Quinn see each other for the first time in years… Things are different. [Pinterest ScMoodboard] [Song: Hate the Club by Kehlani]

Tired of going out, scared I’ll run into you

Damn, you know I hate the club But I came 'cause I knew you'd show up Maybe if I drank enough I'll make my way over to ya

Miami wasn't too bad of a place to get married, she supposed.

With the sun setting and the windows on the wall of the restaurant that faced the ocean all retracted to let in the warm, beachy breeze, Sara Puckerman would even say that it was nice. She still preferred Cabo, though. However, she’d never let herself say it out loud tonight because this wasn’t her wedding. It was her Uncle Jami’s.

So she put up with Miami traffic and the rest of Miami for him and his new bride, Evangeline.

“They look good,” her brother said unnecessarily because duh. Noah could be annoying at best, but redundantly annoying at his worst, so she just rolled her eyes and nodded all the same. “Can’t believe it took them ten years.”

“Hashtag: relationship goals.”

“Hashtag: follow me around for a decade so I know it’s real.”

“Hashtag: might as well make it official before we die,” Sara managed to snort out before they both devolved into giggles and got shushed (and poked) by their teïta. Oh yeah, Evangeline’s daughter was giving her little speech about her mother or whatever. But the couple really did look good; her uncle smiling his mischievous grin, looking every bit a famous music mogul in his expensive silk and gold chains in the setting Miami sun, his pretty wife on his arm in a flowing seafoam green gown and her hair draped with pearls like a mermaid who’d caught him with her song. They were made for this place - the city, the newly acquired restaurant that Sara surely would be contracted in filling with the most exquisite artwork from the galleries she worked with.

Her brother might complain that there were too many people at the wedding, but Sara and Evangeline had worked tirelessly to get it down to 300 guests, what with all of Jami’s contacts and celebrity friends made over the years. Of course, only 100 or so guests were invited to stay for the reception; company bigwigs and blood relatives. The most important concern Sara had about the guest list was whether or not they dressed in theme and when exactly Jami and Evangeline would realize that their niece made the theme Miami in the 80s without consulting them. Still, Chris Evans looked great in a vice jacket.

“Speech time,” Noah said and Sara sighed, but straightened so her shoulder pads wouldn’t droop as she made her way to the band stage and took the mic from Evangeline’s daughter with a hug.

“Hi everyone! I’m Sara, Jami’s favorite niece.” Sara smiled, a small thrill going through her like it always did when she spoke in public nowadays, not because she loved the spotlight, but because she overcame the shyness of it she had so long ago. “What can I say about Jamil Levi that hasn’t already been said - or isn’t being currently said?” She chuckled when she noticed the laugh she got out of her uncle. “Honestly, this wedding was such a long time coming, I thought this speech about my uncle would be delivered at his funeral, but here we are. Turns out he did right by my Auntie ‘Vangeline. Finally.” She had to take the mic away from her mouth to avoid cackling into it as the rest of the room echoed her “Finally!” The rest of the speech wasn’t too fancy, just a few stories about her and her brother being around her uncle and her finally aunt and seeing their romance and experiencing the fun of it with them.

“Honestly, you guys are legendary and I love you. And I’m very proud of myself for making it through this speech without crying… So anyway, here’s ‘Wonderwall,’” Sara said, signalling for Noel Gallagher to start his little song where he was waiting behind her on the stage with his guitar and walking off to hug her still laughing uncle. Then she pushed him towards his Evangeline so they could get their first dance on.

After a few minutes of feeling emotional, she decided to intercept a waiter with a tray of champagne and serve a few of the guests herself, thanking them for coming with a wide grin. She carried the mostly empty tray to her table and set it down to kiss Solo’s cheek before turning to beam at Quinn Fabray and her date. “Hey lovely! I’m so glad to see you!” She rushed in for a hug and cheek pecks giddily. “I missed you!”

There were very few people Quinn that would brave the sweltering Florida humidity for. Jami, luckily, was one of them. It was worth the trip, if only to see her mentor actually follow through with the nuptials with his frankly, fantastic intended. It'd been long enough, so long that at times if it hadn't been for the occasional piece in a magazine or celeb gossip site referring to Evangeline as Jami's 'longtime companion', Quinn would've figured they'd already tied the knot. It was sweet, having that kind of connection and Quinn was happy to be part of the day, watching them exchange vows with the rest of Jami and Evangeline's family, friends, and some famous faces because of course.

So she smiled along at Sara's speech, funny and heartfelt as it was. Her smile grew fonder when Kiran's arm curled around the back of her chair, his fingers brushing her shoulder in one of his sweet and subtle gestures. They watched as Noel took to the stage for the happy couple's first dance and Quinn chuckled at Kiran's nod of approval.

"Takes a hell of a guy to get Noel Gallagher's head outta his ass to play a gig," he mused and Quinn agreed with a hum. She'd only reached for her glass of champagne when Sara appeared, bringing her special brand of bubbly and a tight hug that Quinn returned. "Missed you too," she told her. "Feels like it's been forever. You look amazing."

With a giggle, Sara pulled back and shimmied her shoulder pads.

"And you - you look so good and, most importantly, on theme," she returned, a satisfied catlike grin on her face. With a tilt of her head that sent the waves of her bob swinging, she gave a wink to Quinn's date. "It's always so great to see you, too, Kiran. Thank you for coming to the last gallery showing! At least half of the dynamic could be there," she added, blinking innocently but deliberately to Quinn. "Not that I'm bitter that this is my first time seeing you in over a month or anything. In Florida of all places."

"Yeah, I have no idea how the hell you managed to get Jami to greenlight such a theme but I'll chalk it up to the power of Puckerman persuasion." Quinn definitely wasn't complaining, loving any chance to toss on something fun for such a happy occasion, and she knew as soon as she saw the colors and vibe it had Sara's artistic flair all over it. She didn't miss the dig about the long gap since their last meeting (it was hard not to, Sara's hint was as unsubtle as her shoulder pads), and Quinn shook her head while Kiran laughed.

"I'm just here as a designated purse holder," he quipped, lifting the clutch that'd been sitting in his lap since the pair had sat down. "But it's good to see you again. "

Quinn rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Please. I got the rundown since he wouldn't stop talking about your pieces. Feels like I was there too instead of being stuck in Atlanta." The Florida of it all made her smile, because despite the state, it was still a lovely setting. "Florida might not be so bad today, at least. I see that's your handiwork. But I should be around the city more in the next few weeks, so we'll make a plan."

"Well, you know I'm always all about the aesthetic no matter where we go, so I figured palms and neon will at least look good on the blogs." Sara started to tip back her glass of champagne, but paused when she caught a glimpse of someone over Quinn's shoulder. "And where are you two going?"

What answered her was a roll of eyes and the sound of flip-flops that had long ago been switched from her own borrowed pumps as her roommate flip-flopped around the couple Sara was speaking to and took a seat in the unoccupied chair beside them. Abril Briscoe didn't look too happy and neither did the almost 15-month old in her arms. "I'm sitting in my seat."

That made Sara's frown almost comical at that point as she looked between Abril, the empty seat next to her still and then Quinn and Kiran.

"Auntie Vange's seating chart sucks," she mumbled to herself before straightening and having a seat herself. "Quinn, Kiran, this is my roommate, Abril, and her little one, Ezekiel. Abril, this is Quinn and Kiran. Kiran owns that restaurant we went to for Amir's birthday and Quinn works on music stuff with Uncle Jami. It's more important than that, but I wouldn't be able to tell you."

Sara watched as her roommate's eyes went wide with recognition almost immediately, her back straightening as her face went suspiciously blank. "Quinn Fabray? Oh."

The pause in their conversation and the arrival of a new someone, toting another allowed Quinn to reach for her glass, taking a minute sip of the champagne as Sara made the introductions. Kiran offered a smile to Sara's roommate and a wave to the toddler in her arms while Quinn laughed at the broad overview of intros.

"That's the general gist, I guess." She nodded in greeting at the other woman, her smile turning curious at the reaction that followed, the shift in posture and expression. "Quinn Fabray, yes. I'm sorry, do we know each other?"

Quinn's gaze briefly shifted to Sara, but returned, polite but searching. Vaguely she wondered if Sara had ever mentioned having a roommate, and couldn't recall an earlier reference though the woman seemed to know who she was, and that was interesting.

Sara watched as more realization crossed Abril's face with a wince. "Oh, well, I guess you don't know who I am. That's fine. Okay." Then Abril turned to her expectantly.

"Oh, so I guess I don't really talk about my roomie that much," Sara said, mostly just so that there were words in the air taking up space and time until she could figure out how to spin this in the most gentle way. "It hasn't been that long; maybe 5 or so months, but I love being an auntie!"

Abril didn't look entertained as she shifted her baby in her lap and Sara didn't even glance at Quinn to see what she looked like. "Where's your brother, Sara?"

Quinn considered her reaction, further puzzled by the woman and her tone that edged on bothered. She looked at Sara just as Abril did, her confusion evident at the words offered that were in no way an explanation. In fact, it only seemed to add to the vibe, confusing and slightly awkward and Quinn felt Kiran shift beside her, his hand absently rubbing her shoulder while he reached for his drink and her gaze narrowed slightly at Sara's words. "I'm sorry, what? Auntie?"

Kiran had only lifted the glass to his lips when he glanced over, noting Quinn's question and the way Sara hadn't bothered to acknowledge Quinn after her comment. "Oh is this your son?" Kiran asked politely, smiling at Abril and the baby in her arms. "He's adorable."

When Abril turned back to Kiran to introduce Ezekiel properly, Sara felt a bit of relief from the heavy gazes, but she still knew better than to look at Quinn. Beautiful Quinn. Smart Quinn. Soon to shish-kabob her Quinn. Instead, she turned in her seat and stretched up to see if she could catch Noah. And there he was, her brother in his stupid Miami print shirt and gold chain dancing with their mother. She tried to set him on fire with her eyes as best as she could until he finally met her gaze and made his way over, confusion on his face as he pushed through the crowd. Abril was explaining that Easy was 15 months when Puck finally reached the table and frowned at the strained atmosphere. "Sara, what did you do?"

"Nothing! Why is - Why would I have done something? I'm just... sitting. Not drinking enough."

Rolling his eyes, he turned to nod at Quinn, then the man he recognized as Quinn's boyfriend Kiran, then finally smiled at Abril and the little boy in her lap who lit up at the sight of him and called out, "Honey!" Puck maneuvered around the table until he could pull his son out of Abril's lap and kiss his face all over. "Habibi! You having fun with Mommy and Auntie? Making new friends?" He turned back just in time to catch Sara dropping her face into her hand. "What am I missing?"

There were a few reactions she could sift through but so far, annoyed was winning out. It grew the longer Sara pointedly avoided her, and she grit her teeth. Watching Kiran make polite talk eased it a little, appreciative of his cool head in most situations which she supposed must come in handy working in a high stress environment like a kitchen. This felt like a damn setup. Her face was neutral, with a decidedly frosty expression in hazel eyes. The woman she now knew as Sara's roommate was clearly more. To Sara and apparently Puck. Who managed to breeze through, festive for the occasion, and she barely acknowledged his greeting though Kiran managed a hello. Her focus was on the child, who looked very much like his father. He was indeed adorable, and she could admit that despite her irritation.

"It would seem that I'm the one who missed something," Quinn replied, her tone even and deceptively light. "Guess I'm further out the loop than I'd realized. You have a son."

Despite Quinn's possession of the notion, Puck still found himself really confused at the way she spoke. "Yeah, well... we haven't spoken in a minute, so..."

He noticed Abril shifting awkwardly in her seat and sat down next to her, letting Easy stand on his lap and press moist (always moist) hands against his cheeks while humming, "Hnn-nee, hnn-nee." The mother of his child had a tight expression on her face, one he knew they would be addressing as soon as they got away from this table. "Weird seating arrangement, huh? Hey Solo."

"That's what I'm saying!" Sara burst out, ignoring how their step-uncle-slash-Noah's fucking ex boyfriend quickly looked away as if her wasn't paying attention and turning instead to Quinn, wonderful, beautiful, sizzling under the surface Quinn. "I really wanted to avoid all this awkwardness. This just sort of happened. I should've looked at the seating chart."

Puck didn't quite understand Sara's apologetic tone towards Quinn; despite them being broken up for longer than they'd been together, his sister had maintained a friendship with the woman and was careful not to flaunt it in his face. Unlike the rest of his family - oh, maybe that's why Abril was upset. He stood suddenly and tightened his grip on the boy. "Hey, Briscoe, let's talk a little. Excuse us, please."

Quinn wasn't entirely certain Sara hadn't been responsible for the seating arrangements, considering how involved she'd been with planning. And now she was saddled with surprises and forced small talk. She conceded Puck's point with a small tilt of her head, and fully ignored Sara's thin explanation about awkwardness. Awkward, she expected. There would always be a little bit in interactions with Puck's family. She could manage that, considering she was hardly around them much, at least in such great numbers. She hadn't even noticed Solo had also been seated there. Ambushed, however, was a different matter. A surprise in toddler form, looking like a perfect mix of her ex and the woman who apparently knew enough about her to be bothered. Quinn watched as Puck stood and excused himself, and turned to Kiran.

"Think we could both use a refill. Do you mind?" He nodded, and she knew he was grateful for an escape, giving her shoulder a squeeze before getting up and heading to the bar. With the table a little less crowded, Quinn turned her focus to Sara, irritation evident in her eyes. "Seriously?"

"Oh, don't look at me like that." Sara could understand that this was a lot of information to process for Quinn, but she was sure there was a way she could leave this conversation without blame. "How was I supposed to know my aunt was going to put every person Noah ever fucked at the same table as the cousins?"

"The fact that you think the seating arrangement is the problem let's me know you're full of it," Quinn replied tersely. She shook her head. "You seem to have left out a ton of important information in those sporadic phone calls."

"Well, ehh." Maybe now was not the time or place to argue about the seating arrangement, Sara conceded. She tapped acrylics together to give her fingers something to do and then looked imploringly to Quinn. "Okay, you have to understand how not fair this is for me, right? My brother hasn't spoken to you in years - you haven't spoken to me about my brother in years - so by the time I realized you didn't know he had a baby, it was kinda weird to bring the baby up. Right?" Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. "But you didn't even recognize Abril - did you unfollow me on Instagram?"

Quinn cut her a sharp look, but it was a fair point; the subject of Puck hadn't been brought up for a long time. That particular chapter of her life had closed and her relationship with Sara had operated independent of what no longer existed between Quinn and the elder Puckerman.

"Right, so the choices were say nothing or wedding ambush? Makes sense." She scoffed and wished Kiran would return with her drink. She was in dire need of something heavy on the whiskey or gin. Sara's question made her brow furrow; She'd unfollowed Puck a long time ago, feeling as if a clean slate would be better in the long run, but not Sara.

"No," she replied with a shake of her head. "But I turned off notifs ages ago and haven't really kept up with social media in some time." Saying it aloud made her sound like just the type of 'too busy for you' celebs she hated, but she had been preoccupied with a seemingly non-stop schedule, it was possible that the error was also on her, as well. Quinn sighed. Still annoyed, but slightly less, she turned to Sara. "How long has she been living with you?"

"Just since the beginning of the year when Abril's lease was up. It was Puck's idea. We collectively decided to buy a brownstone." She gave a dismissive wave of her hand at that and got back to what she wanted to talk about: her. "No ambush, sis. At the most, I thought you'd see them across the room and just come to the natural conclusion." With an impressive shrug of her big shoulders, Sara tipped the rest of her champagne back. "But you forgive me for this and I'll forgive you for being too famous for me, yeah?"

"I see." Quinn gave a short nod. The 'natural conclusion' seemed like a shitty way to avoid responsibility, but pointing that out felt like an argument she wasn't trying to have on someone else's wedding day, when there was alcohol to drink and exes to pointedly avoid. "You're not off the hook, not by a mile," Quinn warned, though there was no real bite behind it. That would come later when they weren't caught up in the atmosphere of love, and at least not in the presence of a handful of Grammy award winners. "But I'll consider this a truce."

"We'll chat in New York," Sara promised, more relieved than anything that nothing got loud. Though she was sure any incident would soon be overshadowed by the inevitable celebrity nonsense, but still she hated when Quinn was annoyed with her. She opened her mouth to say as much, but then was stopped at the return of Abril and her little boy to their seat. "Hi, Easy! Auntie missed you."

"I'm sure Auntie did," Abril said, shaking her head at Sara and turning to Quinn. "I'm so sorry about... that. There was some confusion, but I think Puck cleared it up for me pretty good. It's nice to meet you, Quinn, especially since you understand what it's like to be around these people."

Sara rolled her eyes and glanced behind herself to see where Puck had gone off too. Surprisingly, he and Kiran were standing at the bar, talking over glasses of something amber. She narrowed her eyes at that - typical men.

"I'm sure," was all she managed to get out before Abril returned, son in tow. Quinn offered a polite smile to the woman and her apologetic words. It seemed she'd been a victim of the weird circumstances as well and Quinn wasn't about to hold that against her. Her smile shifted to genuine laughter at 'these people', knowing exactly how Puck's family could be in any given situation. "No need to apologize, it's totally fine. They're practically a twenty-four hour telenovela." Her gaze fell briefly to the little boy. "You have a beautiful son. I'm sure Teïta has been very busy spoiling the hell out of him."

She'd only seen the older woman briefly but was sure there'd be an ambush in her future later on, especially with Kiran in tow. Kiran, who, as she followed Sara's gaze was apparently chatting up Puck at the bar. Quinn could only imagine that conversation but opted against it.

"Oh, thank you." Abril pressed a kiss to her baby's sugar brown curls, obviously grateful that the earlier tension was gone. She smiled a bit at the mention of Teïta. "I mean, yala, like, I'm surprised she isn't already over here scooping him up. She was in the hotel room last night with just snacks on snacks on snacks. He thought it was Christmas and tried to leave with her when she left to go back to her room. Noah had to bring him to her room this morning, too."

Quinn laughed, knowing few kids could resist a food haul and tempting grandparents. "That's adorable. And pretty relatable. That snack rush is a good one." Her gaze drifted back to the bar, noting the drink beside Kiran's hand that was clearly meant for her she shook her head. "I know he's forgotten all about my cocktail," she muttered, shaking her head as Kiran and Puck continued their conversation. She turned back to Sara and Abril and flashed them a quick smile. "If you ladies will excuse me, I need to go rescue my damn drink from that social butterfly."

Quinn got up and made her way to the bar, catching the tail end of conversation about...movies. Which seemed anticlimactic and no real excuse for why her drink wasn't in hand. "Almost thought you were behind the bar making it yourself," she told her boyfriend. She smiled when he did and accepted the highball glass he passed to her, taking a long sip and savoring the smooth bite of the whiskey sour.

"Sorry, we kinda ran into Chris Evans and that sparked a whole action movie debate." Kiran shook his head. "Plus some prime people-watching happening at the bar. Puck's good for the running commentary."

Quinn regarded Puck, and gave a brief nod. "I'm sure."

"Well, you know most of these people, right? I'm sure you already know what we're saying, Fabray," Puck said, nodding back to his ex. He took a sip of his drink and regarded the pair over it, hazel eyes deliberate in the way they swept over Quinn and her dress before dragging up the long form of Kiran in his suit. They looked good together. "Kiran, I know my uncle was interested in your opinion on the venue since he bought it. I don't think he even named it yet, but he wouldn't shut up about the kitchen when he gave us the tour yesterday."

She could, considering it was a weird mix of faces in the crowd. Quinn hadn't done much mingling since small talk with celeb types felt like work and this was strictly a non-work trip, so she could settle for petty snipes. "I've probably said worse, so yes."

Mentions of a kitchen and Quinn knew Kiran would be interested, face brightening and he glanced around.

"It's a beautiful place. If the kitchen's anything like the view, I'm sure he won't have a hard time finding a head chef to run the place. I know plenty of people looking to be poached if he's interested." Quinn shook her head. "Ruthless. Jami likes hijacking talented people, so he'll probably consider it."

She fished out the cherry in her drink, chewing on the sweet maraschino before speaking again.

"How's work?" she asked Puck, figuring his job was a safe topic and also, she was curious about where it had taken him.

Tucking away the idea of chef poaching to present to his uncle later, Puck gestured for the bartender to bring them all a new round of drinks. He arched a brow at Quinn's rather diplomatic question, but answered, "I'm with the New York Aquarium now. The team there is amazing - Abril's actually our director - and we're pretty excited about this year's exhibits. You should tell Frannie about it. I bet her kids would love it. I remember Vinni freaking out about the octopuses, but I'm sure she's over it by now."

That was surprising, learning he worked with Abril, though Quinn's expression remained unchanged. "That's great for you," she offered, the compliment simple but sincere, lips eventually lifting in a brief smile at the mention of her sister and niece. "Octopuses had a good run, but she's pretty deep into a mermaid obsession. I'm sure it won't take much convincing that the aquarium's got a few merfolk to get her excited about it. I'll let Fran know." Frannie would surely appreciate the gesture, getting the kids out and also seeing Puck. Though Quinn wondered how she'd take the news of Puck's baby-shaped surprise. "The twins have never been to an aquarium, far as I know. It'll be a good first experience for them."

"Oh God, mermaids," Puck snorted, remembering a whole debacle about the same subject when Abril first got the director position. "You guys might need to bring Vinni to Coney Island for that one, but I'm sure the twins will have a blast. Ever since Easy started walking, he acts like every visit is the first time. It's cute." He accepted his new drink with a brief quirk of lips to the bartender. "So what's new with you guys? Another restaurant? Another Grammy? Or is that just same shit, different day, hmm?"

Perhaps it was the newness of it all (and of course the surprise pelting of information), but hearing Puck mention his son (his son) was so surreal. Quinn knew a wedding definitely wasn't the time to process all of that, but the ease in which he casually referenced a moment with his son (his son, Jesus would that ever stop sounding so...next dimension), it was intriguing. And a little endearing. There was a flavor of the Puck she'd known, tucked beneath the palm-printed dress shirt. Something in the way he sipped his drink, what he ordered, and the way he could casually keep up a conversation without really revealing much at all. That, she could recall, despite the passage of time and the wildly different places they found themselves in. Quinn smiled at Kiran when he plucked her empty glass from her hands and replaced it with the new round that Puck had ordered, letting the small lift of lips linger when she turned to Puck.

"They're great at that age," she replied politely. "Everything's just fun and new and you're a bit jealous of their energy level. Vinni still kicks my ass with every auntie outing." She sipped her whiskey. "No more awards just yet but I'm good and busy. Can't complain at all."

Kiran nodded. "'Bout the same. New restaurant's opening in Atlanta in a few months. I'll be glad when it is, my hair can't take this stress." He patted the side of his stylish cut and Quinn smiled, gently rapping her knuckles upside his head.

"You're fine, stop fishing for compliments." She glanced at Puck. "Sara mentioned you bought a brownstone? Major level adulting happening."

At the mention of energy levels, Puck looked beyond the couple just in time to catch the sight of Ezekiel spilling something across the table causing Abril's face to twist in the way it did before curses in multiple languages started to fly. Snorting softly through his nose at both his son's antics and the humbleness of the pair beside him, he couldn't help but watch and admire their dynamic. Quinn gave nothing away as always, but he knew her enough still to see that she and this guy... Kiran - they were happy. One of those couples that made you imagine the intimacy between them, maybe not the kind Puck's mind automatically jumped to, but he could picture them laughing together on the cab ride back to their hotel, Quinn resting her head on his shoulder, Kiran knowing to twine their fingers together without asking. It was nice and it didn't hurt to see as much as Puck always thought it would.

"God, that fucking brownstone," Puck said when his mind finally caught up with the conversation. "For whatever reason, it's in my name, but that's all Sara and Abril." He took a sip of his drink, rolling the bourbon on his tongue at the thought of the check Sara had tried to give him then decided to give to Abril as 'our dad's gift to his grandson' when Puck rejected it. Sure enough, the Brooklyn brownstone they put a down payment on was in the seven-figure range, but there were enough people paying on the mortgage that by the time Easy was old enough to own property, it would be paid off.

"I got this deal, right? With the housing association? I'm the super for the block. So basically I haven't known peace for the last six months." As if he summoned it, he had to move to the side a bit so that someone long and dressed in something slinky could rub a hand against his bicep on her way to calling down the bartender, but he just rolled his eyes. "Just had a flashback; you wouldn't believe how many times this one mother of four 'loses' the battery to her fire alarm."

Quinn had noticed the subtle shift in Puck's gaze, and figured he was no doubt keeping watch of the happenings at the table. Which was interesting, seeing him in parent mode. Interesting, and still pretty damn surreal. She chalked it up to time, passing as it did. The only explanation she could think of that would've brought them to this point, Puck with a kid and a brownstone in tow...and apparently the complaints of a few floors worth of whiny tenants. The idea of Puck--he of the short patience--being anyone's super only added to the familiarity of that general chaotic weirdness of his life that Quinn was glad to see he maintained. She'd called them 'Wandering Jew' tales back in the day, and remembering that little tidbit was enough to make her smile, grin growing when Kiran laughed at Puck talking about the attention his position in the building afforded him.

"That's not surprising at all," she replied. "Those housewives always appreciate a pretty face who's handy with a step ladder. Sure you're very popular with all the Fabletics crowd."

"Fabletics..." At that, the man gave an over-dramatic shudder. "So much Lululemon and early afternoon red wine." With another shudder, Puck shook his head a last time, then tossed back the rest of his drink. As much as he, surprisingly, didn't mind catching up with Quinn and Kiran, he could sense a tantrum coming along - whether from Abril or Easy, he wasn't sure, but he knew he needed to intercept. "Well, it's good to see you guys here. I'm glad y'all are doing well and, Kiran, you gotta tell me more about Atlanta when we get back to the table, but let me go get habibi before he wanna be startin' somethin', y'know?"

He nodded at the couple and maneuvered around them to head back to the table just in time to scoop up the little boy who had just scrunched up his face. "None of that. Let's go step on the beach, huh? I know you're tired of everyone."

Ezekiel just whined and placed his face in his father's neck. Glancing over all the curls, Puck met his sister's eyes in a significant enough way to get her sighing. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about his ex... or his other ex... or his other ex, but they were all sitting at the table through duck and dessert, so it was now or never.

"Abril knows about you and Solo, right?" Sara asked as soon as they stepped out of the restaurant and onto the stone path towards the water. "Yeah, she knows about everything. I'm sure she just didn't expect to have him sitting across from her. Or Quinn sitting next to her."

"Why are you talking to me like I arranged the seating? Because I. Did. Not. I'm just as... flabbergasted as everyone else. It's like an episode of Maury or something," she huffed, halting as the stones petered off so her heels wouldn't sink in the sand. Puck was kind enough to stop with her, letting Easy slide down his body to hang off his leg. "Are you okay?"

At first, the question felt weird because people didn't usually ask him, but eventually he nodded. "I'm fine. It's... I'm fine. I expected to see her, but I didn't expect to be fine about it. Y'know?"

"I know," Sara looked at him softly for a moment and then gestured back to the party. "Go back in. I'll sit out here with Ease for a little while you mingle. We could both use a break."

"You sure?" At her nod, he bent and picked up his now wiggling little boy, then passed him to his aunt. Then he walked back into the party.

"Seems like duty calls," Kiran remarked as the pair watched Puck walk back towards their table to mercifully relieve Abril from what Quinn could see was the beginnings of a kiddie meltdown. That in itself was...surprising, and she gave a small hum at her boyfriend's casual observation. For her part, she drained her glass and debated another. She hated drinking too much around a work crowd but figured since it was a wedding (and she'd had enough surprises to make shit awkward), another wouldn't hurt. She ordered a whiskey sour, lips lifting in a small smile when Kiran's hand reached past her to tip the bartender. She caught his fingers in her grasp afterwards, linking them sweetly and turning her face to meet his, glad when he took the hint and leaned in for a brief kiss that was exactly right in the moment. They moved out of the way for the rest of the party goers, lingering on the edges of where tables met the dancefloor that many seemed to be taking advantage of and Kiran gave her hand a small squeeze.

"Just know if we're forced into some kinda line dance, that's our cue to exit" he told her, waiting for the laugh that would follow and sure enough, the rasp of it was enough to make him smile. "I don't know if the cupid shuffle is a valid reason to duck out, but it's a very strong case."

Running away just yet didn't seem like an option. Even if the seating arrangements were...less than ideal. Still, their brief interaction with Puck at the bar proved civil was possible. Hell, Quinn would even call it pleasant. Perhaps that was the liquor talking because she was still stuck on surreal with the son reveal, and figured that wasn't changing anytime soon. Still, it was manageable. Especially with Kiran. "We can take a lap around the party, head back when it's time for you to pretend like you aren't judging the food."

#fabrayonthetrax #puckdaniels #quick rp #1x1 rp #glee rp #quinn fabray rp #noah puckerman rp #para

[whileiamdying]

Holding Out for A Hero

Asghar Farhadi gives more moral complexity in his latest Oscar contender.

By Kristian Lin January 5, 2022

Amir Jadidi is "A Hero" whose life comes undone.

In the wake of Iran’s phony election of 2009 that re-installed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president, the country cracked down on its filmmakers, so Abbas Kiarostami died in France, Mohammad Rasoulof spent a year in prison, Jafar Panahi is still forbidden to travel outside Iran, and Asghar Farhadi — who won the only two Oscars in his country’s history — went to Spain to make Everybody Knows. Since then, Farhadi has felt safe enough to return to Iran to make his follow-up movie, A Hero, which opens at Grand Berry Theater and looks to be a leading contender for foreign film awards this year. I don’t think it’s the best Iranian movie of 2021 (that would be Rasoulof’s There Is No Evil, which I cited in my top 10 list), but it does give you more of the same moral sagas growing out of everyday life that has distinguished Farhadi on the world stage.

The main character is Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a calligrapher in the city of Shiraz who is incarcerated for failing to repay a loan from a former friend named Bahram (Mohsen Tananbandeh). During a two-day furlough from prison, Rahim’s girlfriend (Sahar Goldust) finds a woman’s purse containing gold coins. He decides to return the money to its rightful owner (Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy), a timid woman whose husband has been stealing from her. The local press, encouraged by the prison officials, proclaims Rahim as a hero. That turns out to be the worst thing that could happen to him, because this is a Farhadi film.

Also because this is a Farhadi film, the movie contains about a dozen plot twists that take you by surprise without ever feeling arbitrary. The toxic element in this story is social media, as Facebook and YouTube users take to vilifying Bahram for refusing to forgive Rahim’s debt, and Bahram curses out the reporters and the prison administrators for casting him as the villain of the story. The prison officials, for their part, are seeking good publicity for themselves and point to Rahim’s good deed as evidence that their facility is rehabilitating its inmates. They rope in a private charity that offers to raise money to give Rahim a job. Rahim himself only returns the gold upon reckoning that it’s not enough to repay Bahram, and while his girlfriend does let him publicly take credit for finding the purse, he can’t resist ginning up his story for the press. That tendency comes back to bite him when questions arise about his story’s veracity and he turns from hero to liar in the public’s eyes. His family is reduced to seeking out the owner of the gold coins to vouch for him, knowing full well that it might put her in danger. If this were funnier, it might be a Preston Sturges comedy.

As it is, I’m not sure this is on the same level as Farhadi’s A Separation and The Salesman, although those films may have benefited by introducing us to this great filmmaker. Social media is a much different place in Iran, where you can be thrown in prison for posting the wrong thing (and oh boy, do you not want to be in an Iranian prison). Yet despite that, this movie shows us Iranian users subject to the same gullibility and mob mentality as ours. It’s all too easy to imagine a situation like Rahim’s here in America, as he and Bahram are caught in a spiral created by their own personal flaws and the spotlight that catches them. This gives A Hero its staying power and cements Farhadi’s status as a filmmaker whose work is not to be missed.

A Hero Starring Amir Jadidi and Mohsen Tananbandeh. Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi. Rated PG-13.

#Iran #Cinema #Asghar Farhadi #A Hero

[ayearofpike]

The Lost Mind

Pocket Books, 1995 213 pages, 16 chapters + epilogue ISBN 0-671-87269-9 LOC: PS3566.I486 L6 1995 OCLC: 32826282 Released August 1, 1995 (per B&N)

A girl is dead in the woods. Unfortunately, the person who finds her is no help, because not only does she not know where she is or how to find help, but she also doesn’t know anything about herself. All she knows, instinctively, is that she shouldn’t let on where she was or that she found the body first, at least not until she can learn some more about what happened and how they both ended up where they did.

I was really looking forward to this reread, and I’m disappointed that it sort of falls flat. Pike does that thing where he perfectly captures the tone I want — the sinister anxiety of not knowing, the ultimate unreliable narrator who doesn’t even know her family, let alone what happened to have her wake up next to a murdered girl — but in the end doesn’t give enough details to satisfy the plot resolution. And honestly, I’m kind of torn about it. Part of what makes entertainment “good” for me is how much I am trusted to put together the pieces and figure things out over the course of the story. But it shouldn’t be on me to CREATE a major piece that fits into the hole in the puzzle. 

It seems a little bit like a wasted opportunity, to be honest. This book is not only shorter than a lot of what he’s written so far, but I could swear that the type size is larger too. There was room to put in some of the things that I thought were missing, but I guess he just didn’t think of them as needing to be included. But I’m ripping this story down before I’ve actually recapped anything, and I need to do that to get there. (On the upside, they’ve gotten rid of the die-cut covers that shred on your bookshelf.)

We start, as mentioned in the woods. Our main character awakes as though from the dead, unusually cold and covered in blood, though she’s not seriously cut anywhere. The blood, it seems comes from the blonde girl lying nearby, who has been stabbed multiple times in the chest. And the knife that probably did it is within arm’s reach. As our protagonist racks her brain trying to think of where she was or what she did the night before, she comes to an unsettling realization: she can’t remember anything. And by “anything,” we mean

where she is

who she is

where she lives

where she comes from

NOTHING.

All she’s sure of is that she didn’t kill this girl, but that if she tries to report anything she’s the immediate and only suspect. And going to jail is worse than having no memory or personality. (Except she does, as we’ll see, which ... we’ll get there.) So she pockets the knife and blunders her way out of the woods, where she finds a car. The key is in her pocket, and there’s a clean sweat suit in the trunk. But she’s not ready to admit culpability in the blonde’s killing — she just wants to stay clear. She rinses off as much blood as she can in a pond before changing and climbing into the car, where she finds a purse with her ID. Apparently she’s Jennifer Hobbs from Carlsrue, Oregon, but none of this rings a bell or turns on any lights. All she can do is drive, toward the hint of lights in the distance that she thinks may be her town.

You might be thinking there’s a first suspicious plot question here. Why wouldn’t she drive AWAY from the town if she didn’t know anybody or anything, rather than putting herself at risk of implication in the death? I didn’t actually have a problem with this. Obviously it was a huge shock to wake up with no memories, and it makes sense to me that she wants to try to find them again, maybe through immersion in where she’s from.

So Jen calls home and talks to her mom, who wants to know if she’s with Crystal. She assuages her mom’s worries, sort of, but doesn’t go straight home because she doesn’t want to be questioned about her change of clothes. Instead, she gets a snack at Denny’s, where they ask why she’s out so late without Crystal, then finds a trash bin behind a store to dump off her bloody clothes. By the time she gets home, her mom is asleep, but she doesn’t know which room is hers and accidentally wakes her little brother, who insists they share a donut and talk about stuff that Jen doesn’t remember or understand. 

Jen quickly falls asleep after this and dreams of a fortune teller near a wide river, who she torments with a sharp knife after smoking a powerful drug that dissociates her from her body. She is woken by her mom at the door, who asks if she’ll drive her little brother to school. Another slip: Mom refers to the kid by his name, but apparently Jen’s always only called him by a nickname, Gator, after his propensity to bite as a toddler. She gets him to guide her to school by letting him sit on her lap and steer, which is another weird thing for him, but hey, nine-year-old gets to drive so he’s not arguing too much.

The first person she encounters at her school is her boyfriend, a football meathead who immediately asks her for three hundred dollars. Obviously she doesn’t know why or remember agreeing to help with this, but she says that she might have an easier time finding the money if he walks her to all her classes. Only halfway through the day she has to bail because she’s learning more about Crystal, i.e. that she’s not in school and her teachers think it’s weird that Jen doesn’t know why. So she goes home and finds last year’s yearbook, and learns what we already suspect: Crystal is the dead body in the woods.

This realization hits Jen like a ton of bricks. She’s crying and she’s not totally sure why, seeing as she doesn’t remember anything. When she eventually calms down and reaches for her phone, she sees that she has messages on her answering machine. Three are from Crystal’s mom, growing increasingly frantic. The fourth is Amir, who wants to talk about last night. Finally, someone who was there and can help her figure out what happened! Amir is worried that Crystal might have run away, for obvious reasons. When Jen doesn’t get it, he says it’s because Crystal found out about their affair. So now not only was she the last person to see Crystal, and the one person in the world who’s closer to her than anyone else, and she woke up next to her body and a knife, but now Jen has a motive.

She calls the police and anonymously reports the body in the woods, then hides the knife in a nearby park. Denny’s calls and wonders why she’s not at work, and then her boyfriend calls and wants to pick up his money. She puts them both off, because she knows that the police are going to be around eventually, probably sooner than later. When they show up, she realizes that telling the truth (that she doesn’t remember last night at all) isn’t going to help her stay out of jail. So she makes up a whole bunch of details that probably create a story with more holes than if she were just to say hey, we went to Crystal’s boyfriend’s house and got so drunk that I woke up at like 2 without any memory of what happened. The detective is all over her on the inconsistencies and lapses in her memory (what is Jen’s boyfriend’s last name?), and ultimately she asks him to leave. Which he does, with the warning that he’ll be back with a warrant.

Her little brother asks why she’s having trouble remembering things. She says that this has to be a secret between them, and then she goes to read her diary and try to put some pieces together. She doesn’t really like the person she’s reading about, but she does learn that her boyfriend is in major gambling debt and that Amir has only been around for two months but that he wouldn’t let Crystal introduce him to Jen for some reason. Before she can get much farther, her boyfriend shows up asking for the money. Obviously Jen has been preoccupied and doesn’t have it handy, and while she’s scrounging it up her boyfriend takes off his clothes and stretches out on her bed, thinking of either a consolatory (sorry your friend is dead) or celebratory (I can pay off my bookies) screw. As Jen no longer has the baggage of actually knowing this person that she’s apparently been dating for two years, she can send him packing without remorse.

Amir shows up almost as soon as the now-ex is gone, in tears because a) his girlfriend is dead and b) the cops came and grilled him on suspicion of her murder. He thinks he’s being unfairly targeted as a brown Muslim, which ... yeah, probably, but also he was her boyfriend and one of the last people to see her alive. But Amir’s story to the police exposes the holes in Jen’s made-up facts even worse. Plus, he told the cops how he was planning to break up with Crystal for Jen. It pretty much totally screws her, but weirdly at that moment her dream comes back to her, and she asks Amir about Egypt and drugs. He says that hashish was common, but that he never did it because of what it did to his sisters, how it put them in a vulnerable position to be murdered. 

When he’s gone, Jen falls asleep again and dreams of Egypt, of an ancient graveyard dominated by a statue of three warring demons, and of the same mystic refusing to give her information about the truth of the soul, but she gets her knife out and torments her more. Again she wakes up to her mom, who is sitting on the bed this time. Her mom wants her to get a lawyer, but Jen doesn’t want to, for ... reasons. Instead, she goes to see Crystal’s parents, to sit in her room and try to understand their relationship. Crystal’s diary is sitting on the desk, and there’s a recent entry about a dream she had. About an ancient graveyard and an old witch and a sharp knife.

Next she goes to Amir’s apartment. He’s out, but she talks to the landlady, who laments the loud arguments that Amir and Crystal were having near the end and how he seemed sick but insisted on watching movies in her living room the night Crystal was killed. She lets Jen into his apartment, where sure enough she finds a hash pipe. Only there’s no way he could have done it, because he has an airtight alibi of actually being somewhere else.

Jen gets home to find the police in her house. They give her a hard time about not being there, and produce a warrant to take her clothes and her shoes from the previous night, as well as searching her room and her car. It’s not looking good for not going to jail for murder; the detective tells her that he’ll be back in the morning, probably with a warrant for her arrest. She does take a minute to enlist Gator to sneak out and steal Crystal’s diary out of her room, which he does because he hopes it’ll help her prove she didn’t kill Crystal. Comparing and cross-referencing the diaries, Jen learns that yes, Crystal and Amir were fighting but that no, she never actually slept with him. Why would Amir lie about this? What does he know?

There’s only one way Jen can think to figure this out: dream some more. In the dream, the mystic tells her about how the human soul is too grand to be born into one body. It takes three, but the three parts are never incarnated in the same place, because terrible things can happen if they all come together. The three-demon statue is symbolic of this: an explosion of uncontrollable evil. However, dream-Jen is not deterred by this. If anything, she wants to make it happen even more, to the point where she’s willing to kill the witch to stop her enforcing her considerable will and magic on her son to stop him going. 

Apparently dreaming works, because Jen wakes up knowing what to do. She starts by writing a suicide note. There’s a police officer guarding her house, but she knocks him out by mixing him up a fresh thermos of coffee with a couple sleeping pills mixed in. She pockets the rest, takes the officer’s gun, and heads over to Amir’s place, where she forces him into her car at gunpoint. They drive out to a certain spot in the woods, where she makes him lie facedown on the ground while she swallows the rest of the sleeping pills. Then she ties him up and marches him to the spot where they found Crystal’s body and makes him explain.

Amir confesses that he smokes hashish to try to reach his soul, which is part of why he came to Oregon to seek out the other parts of it. He’d flipped on Crystal, going from amazing love to deepest hate (which is a sides-of-the-heart discussion that Pike’s brought up before, maybe from Hinduism) and thought maybe Jen would be his correct answer. Only when they all came into his apartment that night, the demon door opened and everyone’s souls left their bodies. Amir managed to gain control, not just of himself but of Jen’s body. He forced her to drive Crystal to the woods and murder her, all while he sat in his landlady’s living room. And then he brought his soul back to his body, but Jen’s was totally gone.

And here’s the big hole that I’m left trying to fill myself. If Jen’s soul departed when it was forced out of her body, what the hell is in there now? Like, SOMETHING is giving her emotions and desires and needs to act upon. SOMETHING is motivating her to stay out of jail, to protect her friend and her family, to try to teach her degenerate ex-boyfriend a lesson. What is it? Is it the physical memories of having spent time with these people, manifesting in her mind as a placeholder? Is it just a blank slate from nowhere? Is it part of Crystal’s soul that flew out or broke off when Jen was stabbing her to death, too traumatized to remember anything? There’s no answer, and it’s unsatisfactory. Like, if her soul is just gone, then what is driving her to keep saving her own life?

Also, without actually knowing that this was something that could work, Jen sure did take a massive risk overdosing on sleeping pills before switching bodies with Amir. She says she’s going to kill him with ultimate suffering, so he can feel a fraction of the fear that Crystal had, and she pulls out a syringe and stabs it into his neck, saying she’s about to put a bubble in his vein. This is the act that finally frightens him out of his body and forces him into hers, where he then gloats about winning and leaves her to die in Amir’s body, tied up in the woods.

What he doesn’t know is what kills him. Jen planted the knife just underground, by where she tied Amir’s body, and it’s not hard for her to dig it up and cut herself free. She is amazed to find Jen’s body in the car, a long way to make it on thirty phenobarbitol pills. She drives it home, puts the body in bed, waits for it to stop breathing, and then walks back to Amir’s apartment, sad but relieved.

The epilogue is Crystal and Jen’s joint funeral. Jen’s mom shows Amir the suicide note, which insists that she didn’t kill Crystal but that this is her only way out, and Amir suggests she should believe the note. Then he goes to find Gator, who is confused when Amir calls him by that name but then joyfully realizes that Jen perhaps didn’t die after all, that maybe she just needed to remember in a different way.

And that’s The Lost Mind! Better than a lot of stuff from this era, but still with some holes (and at least one is a monster). I don’t mind figuring some stuff out for myself, and I don’t mind an author keeping me in the dark until the appropriate moment. But eventually, they better turn on the lights, because it’s not my job to write the story, and ultimately that’s what happened here. I love the idea, and I love the tone. But who is Jennifer Hobbs? We don’t ever actually learn this, and the whole story suffers as a result.

[yahwehisking]

This #time of #year think about #giving to #widows and #orphans in #Pakistan, who would literally have a chance to experience the biggest #blessing, things we mat tke for granted they have might not ever seen. #givingseason My friend amirs group of believers in Jarnawalla Pakistan. His account information is listed in pictures to give People of God rise up and realize you give because HE first gave, not only as love first since he freely gave because of love without a contract or check, but a act of faith we give knowing we are the ambassadors for heaven and Christ, and as we give he keeps putting more in our heart, mind, and purse to give like we never have (at Kenosha) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5jm3kaAgLA/?igshid=cyvd5m6wmwjh

#time #year #giving #widows #orphans #pakistan #blessing #givingseason

[zombierunfiction]

Season 2 Side Mission 3: Whack-A-Mole

A few days later, Charlotte was mending some of Sam and her own clothes in the mess hall with Jody sitting across from her.  Since Charlotte was rubbish at knitting, she found sewing was a better talent.  So when ever possible the two of them would sew up any clothes that were falling apart.  Mostly torn knees, split seems and sometimes the occational snapped button.  Currenly Jody was darning some socks while Charlotte was mending Sam's red hoodie that had gotten a rip in the armpit, which seemed to happen a bit.  

"So how are things going for you two?  You and Sam I mean?"  Jody asked.

"Things are good.  Better than at the beginning."  Charlotte said softly.

"Yeah I heard about your ex being in New Canton."  Jody said as Charlotte nodded.

"Amir was very accepting of it.  I think he knew we weren't meant for each other." Charlotte said.

Jody nods as she closed off another sock.  "So how is he in the sack?"

Charlotte stabbed her finger making her squeak and put her finger in her mouth.  Jody started to laugh hard making the red head glare at her.  "Snut mup"  Charlotte said muffled.

"What was that?" Jody asked inbetween giggles.

Charlotte took her finger out seeing the finger wasn't bleeding.  "I said shut up."

"Oh come on Char... I told you how it was with Simon."  Jody said off handedly.

"That was your choice and besides it's very private."  Charlotte said as she continued to sew up the hoodie.

Jody smiled slightly.  "Is he atleast good?  I've always thought he would be awkward and rather shy."

Charlotte blushes slightly thinking about the night before.  Sam had come back from a late night chewing out by Janine who kept laying into him about cleaning up the coms shack and the proper protocal of how to handle a run.  He had come into her room in a foul mood and was rather agressive last night, not that she minded of course.  "Sam knows what he is doing."

Jody smirks.  "Good to know."

Charlotte shook her head looking down at the hoodie focusing on mending it.  The door to the mess hall opened letting Simon in.  "Ah look at two of our best runners doing domestic things.  Next we will see you two cooking up our meals."

Charlotte and Jody gave Simon a pursed look before Charlotte spoke up.  "Simon I like you.  Don't make me break your leg."  

Simon held up his hands in defence.  "Hey no need for violence Charlotte just making a joke."

"Now that reminds me we need to talk about your jokes Simon."  Charlotte said.

"Well that will have to wait until later.  Sam sent me here to get you.  According to him, he has an important mission that can't wait."  Simon said as Charlotte nods putting the needle into the hoodie.  

"If I don't get back before your finished just put this stuff on my bed."  Charlotte said as Jody nodded and moved onto a pair of pants.

Charlotte got up rubbing the back of her head.  She decided to let her short hair be free for a bit since it kept her neck warm to not pull it back.  She put on her headset and grabbed a pack when Sam came over the headset.

"Ugh, great.  Just great. Runner Three, Runner Five, you're going to need to report to the armory before you head out today."  Sam said as Charlotte grins

"Ooh, giving us toys, Sam?  What's the occasion?"  Charlotte asked as Simon and her ran to the armory.

Sam sighed heavily.  "Well, according to the eastern cameras, another whole block of flats came down last night, along one of our best routes into the city.  You know, the one that leads to that big fancy shopping center?  Only the things is, the collapse didn't so much take out the zoms in the area as it did-"

"Put a seething mass of half-buried, extra-irritable undead smack in the middle of our favorite path?" Simon said as Charlotte put in the combination for the armory then stepped inside with simon.

"Yeah, that.  And since the hospital's not exactly a safe place for you runners these days, that crazy three-level pharmacy they put in there is one of our best sources of med kit. We lost that, it's back to tearing up the bed sheets for bandages again, and... well, Doctor Myers said something about leeches, but I think she was joking."  Sam said before he stopped.   "I hope she was joking."  He whispered.

Charlotte smirked shutting the door.  "Don't worry I don't think she meant it for real.  Besides I don't think leeches are that easy to find in Great Britian."

"Anyway, now that we've got weapons to spare, we're sending you over to pick off as many of them as you can.  You'll want something lightweight, probably.  Baseball bat, hockey stick, that sort of thing."  Sam said as Simon picked up a wooden bat giving a few swings.

"Ah, perfect timing.  I was just worrying that my swing with the old baseball bat was getting a bit rusty."  Simon said.

"Yeah, should have known you'd be excited."  Sam sighed heavily.

Charlotte picked up a duel sharpened axe then tested the weight.  "Relax Sam.  If you have to do a mission you might as well enjoy it as much as you can."  She put the axe into her pack as they walk out of the armory.

"Besides I've got to get Charlotte here started on an official Abel Kill Count sooner and later, right?  And I've got a high score to beat!"  Simon said happily.

"Oh no, not that again!"  Sam sighed heavily.  "If this is anything like that time with you and Four in that playground, I swear I'm going to -"  He took a slow breath.  "You know what?  Just... get to the gates."  He said as Charlotte and Simon left the armory, making sure to lock it back up.  They ran towards the gate as it raised up letting them out.

"Any word on what happened to the buildings this time, Sam.  Last I remember, there were still people camping out that way off and on."  Simon asked as the wind blew around them rather roughily.

"Cameras didn't catch it.  Janine thinks it might have been a gas leak, which..."  Sam stopped sighing heavily.  "Oh, here's the thing I don't understand.  Who turns the oven on during the zombie apocalypse?  I mean seriously, what's going through their heads?  'Oh no, I've been bitten.  Best idea is to cook up a frozen pizza, that'll take the edge off  Probably not even going to want it by the time it's ready if it hasn't got brains on it.'"  Sam mocked before there was a long pause.

Simon groaned softly.  "I really wish you hadn't mentioned pizza.  You probably don't know this, Charlotte, but there used to be this great little place on the outskirts of the city.  Made a killer slice back in the day.  Bet that's all rubble, too."

"Oh... did they do the kind with the pineapple?"  Sam asked softly.

Simon groaned deeply.  "Ugh, you wouldn't be a pineapple pizza type, would you?"

"Hey.  Pineapple on pizza is not that bad."  Charlotte contested.

Simon shook his head as they continued to run.  "We're getting, uh, close yet, Sam?"

"Yep, yeah, just keep following that road you're on into town.  You'll be coming up to that abandoned nursery school soon.  Ugh, yeah, maybe better if you don't pay so much attention to that."  Sam said.  "There's a dentist's office on the corner.  Watch for that instead.  Take a right there, and you should be able to see the zoms off in the distance.  Ugh, that's disgusting.  You might want to brace yourselves."

Charlotte and Simon followed Sam's plan before getting to the clearing making them both stop suddenly.  The building that normally sat near the road had completely collapsed with dozens of zombie's now either shambling or crawling around.  The rubble covered nearly a full block area.  There was blood smeared on the road and the rubble, while body parts were smashed underneath them.

"Wow..."  Simon breathed.  

"Yeah."  Charlotte said scanning the grounds.  

"That is a lot of..."  Simon continues.

"Yeah."  Charlotte answers again.

"Is it just me, or does the ground look like it's moving?"  Simon asks.

"Crawlers is my guess."  Charlotte said.

"This is worse than we thought.  It's rubble all the way up the block.  The building must have knocked down a couple of others on the way down.  Looks like there's at least twenty-five, twenty-six, maybe thirty half-buried zoms, right on your route.  You get a pack chasing you on a cloudy day, it'd be like a minefield down there!"  Sam said seriously.

"One grab at the ankle and... well that's why we are here."  Charlotte said as she took out her axe.  "Looks like most of them are crawlers with only a few shamblers."

"Remember, if you can reach them, they can reach you, so try not to get in too close, right?  Let's play it safe on this."  Sam said.

"Hey, you know when it rains, and all the worms come out of the ground and wriggle around on the pavement?"  Simon said with a laugh.  "It kind of looks a bit like that."

"Great."  Sam sighed.

"Or like if someone had a handful of caterpillars and sort of-"  Charlotte started making a squishing noise.  "sort of mashed them up a bit."

"Yeah alright both of you!  We get it!  There's a lot of horribly mangled zombies.  You're going to make me queasy."  Sam complained starting to sound a bit sick.

"Nah, you're fine right?  Now you are right on the caterpillars, or is it more like, uh, sausages with arms and teeth that someone dropped on the pavement on the way home from the shops, and then maybe stepped on-"  Simon continued.

"You know what?  You're really close now, probably best to just to cut the chatter all-together until you're on the final approach.  Don't want anything to surprise us because we're uh, wretching in horror.  Yeah, yeah, you two just run."  Sam said sounding rather green as Charlotte and Simon headed for the zombies.

Soon they were near them as Simon brandishes his bat while Charlotte rested her axe on her shoulder.  "Hey, Charlotte?  Did you go in for arcade games much before all this?"  Simon asked.

"When I was little yeah.  Not much as an adult why?"  Charlotte questioned.

"Now, best way to think about this is like a game of whack-a-mole.  Remember that?"  Simon questioned seeing Charlotte nod.  "Little funny things come up out of the ground and BAM!"  Simon said as he swung his bat taking out the head of a zombie.  

Charlotte started to swing her axe taking out a zom as well.  "Down comes the hammer then?  Except instead of waiting for the moles to come to us, we go to the moles."  She said as she swung again cutting the side of the head off with that swing.

"Exactly.  Any we don't catch on the first pass, we can get on the way back.  But you miss the first time, you only get half the points."  Simon said with a laugh.

"No, no, that's not true."  Sam starts.  "You don't get any points!"  He snapped.

"Oh come on Sam,  we're just having a little bit of fun out here."  Charlotte said softly.

Simon grinned swinging his bat taking out a crawlers head.  "Buried zoms get you two, unless you miss. Five for crawlers, and ten for shamblers, and uh, oh!  Thirteen, if you get a head shot.  Twenty-five and a power-up for springters, but I wouldn't recommend that until you've leveled up."  Simon grunts as he swings but misses the zombie.  "Damn!  That's a one pointer."

Charlotte ran around a tree and cut a zombie's throat hard.  "So that would be Twenty-eight points already!"  She said with a grin.

"Oh, you're kidding me, right?  Five, no one is keeping track of how many zombie points you get."  Sam said.

Charlotte smirks.  "Uh huh.  So how amyn kills did Runner Ten have before he went gray?"  She asked finding it was easier to talk about Chris now.

"Four hundred and eighty-seven."  Sam answered fast before he paused.  

"Thought so."  Charlotte said swinging her axe taking out another crawler.

"Oh, come on!  That's not the same thing!  That was just impressive."  Sam countered.

Simon ran over and swung his bat hard taking out another zombie.  "Two points!  Come on Char.  Just take a run at it!  Now, swing!"  Simon said as Charlotte ran towards one and swung her axe taking one's head clean off.  "Nice shot!  You're catching up."

"I'm seeing some movement about two blocks ahead of you.  Looks like there's at least four crawlers.  Have any arcade game tips for Runner Five you want to share, Three?"  Sam asked almost sarcasticly.

"Dibs on taking them out!"  Simon shouted running towards them.

"Yeah, right, yeah.  Thanks.  That's a surprise."  Sam said almost boredly.  "Runner five, don't worry about trying to hit any of them  Just keep running steady.  I think if you pass the crawlers at the pace you're going, that should be enough to distract them and make them head in your direction."

"While I sneak up the back and get twenty points!"  Simon said.

"Don't think I will let you beat me Simon."  Charlotte called as she continued to run holding her axe ready.

"Yeah, anyway, keep a close eye on them.  They may not have working legs-"  Sam starts before Charlotte jumps in.

"-or legs at all-"

"-but most of them can still jump at you."  Sam continued.  "That's good, though.  They're not great at landing, and it gives Three time to get in close for the kill.  Yep, okay, you'r coming up on the first one now."  Charlotte looked over seeing the first crawler heading right for her.  "Keep running... keep running..."

"Burst of speed... now!"  Simon shouts as he brings the bat down hard and smashes the zombie hard.  "Yes!  got it!  We keep going on like this, I'm going to hit a triple digit score one of these days."

"Wait, wait a minute, if a crawler's worth five points, doesn't Runner Five deserve two and a half of those?"  Sam asked as Charlotte smirked.

"Yeah Simon, I mean, I did help you."  Charlotte reenforced with a grin.

"But-"  Simon started before sighing heavily.  "Yes, fine!  Two and a half points each for me and Char.  Speaking of which, Char, kick it up a gear!"  charlotte dodged a zom on her tail and continued to run.  

After over an hour of smashing zombies along the path, Sam spoke up again.  "How's it looking?"

"Oh, nearly forty points now."  Simon said.

"I'm at thirty-four right now."  Charlotte said with a smirk.

"With the zombies?  Obviously, I did mean with the zombies."  Sam sighed heavily.

"Only forty points?"  Maxine suddenly butts in making Sam gasp.  "Simon, there's no way we're beating Janine and Runner Seven this month with that score."

"Uh, how long have you been standing there?"  Sam asked.

"Oh, Charlotte and I've almost got all of them now.  Supply route's open for business, as long as you don't mind the uh, smell."  Simon said confidently.

"Oh please.  Uh, feel free not to describe the smell."  Sam sighed heavily.

"Got any more action in the area you want us to deal with?"  Charlotte asked looking around.

"Yeah, Char and I are on a roll now, and if we can make it to fifty points, I reckon we can get our hands on one of those big prizes."  Simon continued with a grin.

Maxine laughed softly.  "I hear whoever wins the kill pool this month gets a bottle of whiskey.  Oh, that could come in handy."

"For medical reasons."  Charlotte suggests.

"Yeah, those too."  Maxine said as Sam suddenly seemed to snap.

"No, no, everyone stop it!  Three, Five, I do not want you going out and finding more zombies!  Look, look you're engaging with hostiles in the field without back up!  This is serious! This is life and death.  It's no time for jokes and messing around!"  Sam stopped then sighed heavily.  "Oh my God, I've turned into Janine."

Charlotte busted out laughing as Simon grinned.  "always thought your voice would get higher when that finally happened."

Sam groaned deeply.  "Bring it home, guys, yeah?  There's some movement about five kilometers west of you.  I'd rather we avoid it."

Charlotte and Simon began running back as Simon smirked.  "Yeah, roger that.  forty points isn't bad for a day's work, anyway right Char?"

"Thirty-six."  Sam said suddenly.

"What?"

Charlotte smirked.  "You missed four of them on your first try."

Simon gave her a look as Sam chuckled.  "Anyway, good work, both of you.  I'm sure Doctor Myers here would agree with me that having our access to crucial medical supplies and toothpaste restored matters more than some weird bet about who can kill the most zombies."

"Uh, so if you're the new Janine, does that mean you'll be posing for us in a bikini, too, now?"  Simon asked.

Sam was quiet for a moment.  "Just run on home."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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Season 1 Beginning

Season 2 Beginning

#zombie #zombies run #zombie run #ZombieRun #zombiesrun #run #runner 5 #runner five #runner5 #runnerfive #fanfiction #fan fiction

[blahblahblippyblah]

Magnus Chase and a Plotless Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 11: Magnus gets stuck

Summary:

Magnus finally manages to fully transfigure during his animagus lessons, unfortunately he can't seem to transfigure back

http://archiveofourown.org/works/11429727/chapters/26113638 

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

Magnus starred up at Alex. She was frowning down at him her face concentrating on finding a solution to the problem at hand. She ran her hands through her hair as she tilted her head looking at him. Her hand was over her mouth he stifle her laughing. Magnus huffed. He too thought hard about what to do. Why did he always end up in weird situations like this? He raised his back paw and scratched an itch behind his ear. Oh ya did he forget to mention he was currently stuck as a wolf. That part is a little important.

He had finally managed to transform during his animagus lesson one night during the winter holiday. When his body contorted into the form of a large wolf Magnus felt upset. He hated wolves. He really didn’t want to be one. He was even more upset when he tried to turn back and found he couldn’t. He concentrated with all his might but he couldn’t turn back into a human. He felt stuck, which he was. He snorted exasperated. Stupid wolf transforming.

“Here stay still I’ll try something.” Alex said raising her wand. Magnus closed his eyes. Alex had a habit of always accidentally burning his eyes. He head her mutter some incantation. When she was done he opened his right eye slowly. Nope there was still a giant wet nose at the end of his muzzle, and his body was still fur covered. A small growl escape his muzzle. He stood up and paced in a circle. His tail knocked over a chair behind him. Alex couldn’t hold back her laughing anymore and she sat on a desk laughing like a child. Magnus tried to give her evil wolf eyes, but he didn’t know how well it worked.

“I honestly have no idea what to do.” She admitted once she calmed down a bit.

A lightbulb went off in Magnus’s head. He opened his mouth, I mean muzzle, to say something but all that came out was a bark. This made Alex fall back onto the desk laughing so hard she had to clutch her side. Magnus waited a few seconds for her to stop being a jerk. When she looked up he got up and crossed the classroom. He pawed at the door. Alec got up and followed him to the door.

“Good idea. We should go see if anyone knows a solution. Plus you can show up your new look” she teased.

Alex opened the door and her and Magnus headed down the corridor. When they got to the stairs Alex said.

“Let’s go see Blitz and Hearth. Blitz may know of some charms that can help. Or maybe even Hearth might know something. If anyone has read about obscure transfiguration counter curses it’s probably him.”

They started to head up to the fourth floor. When they got to Blitz’s door Alex knocked. Magnus heard some shuffling from inside. After a few minutes Blitz answered the door pulling a sweater on over his t-shirt. Unfortunately he had forgotten to put on pants. His Green boxers with tiny Christmas trees made him look ridiculous. He ran his hands through his hair fixing it. He looked slightly confused to see Alex and a giant wolf at his door.

“Alex, Hi. What are you doing here so late? Also why is there a wolf here?” He asked in a slightly higher voice than usual.

“The wolf is Magnus. It’s kind of a long story, but we need your help. Can we come in? I mean if were not interrupting anything?” she said gesturing to his Christmassy boxers. Blitz blushed slightly and nodded at them.

“You’re not interrupting anything just give me a second to�� uh.. straighten up” Blitz said quickly and slipped back behind the door closing it.

Magnus heard some more shuffling behind the door and the sounds of a second person running into Blitz bedroom from the living room. Blitz came back fast not wearing an appropriate pair of pjama pants. He let them in. As they were walking in Hearth came out of the bedroom pulling a black jumper over his head. Thankfully he was wearing pants. Magnus felt a little embarrassed having obviously interrupted something. Alex on the other hand had no shame she smiled and plunked down on the couch putting her feet up on Blitz’s coffee table. Hearth stood in the bedroom doorway and Blitz ran to his desk for his wand. Hearth signed to Alex.

“Where did the wolf come from?”

Alex started giggling and signed “It’s Magnus. He managed to transfigure, but he’s stuck. We can’t get him back to normal.”

Hearth nodded and ducked back into the bedroom to grab his own wand. Magnus paced the living room. He turned and accidently knocked an empty cup of tea off the coffee table. It shattered causing him to jump back in surprise. Blitz walked over and waved his wand. The mug fixed itself and flew back onto the coffee table.

“Magnus it’s probably best you sit still.” Blitz said.

Alex was laughing again. Hearth was back in the room now with a pile of old looking books. He sat down on the ground beside Magnus and began flipping through a particularly worn one. The front read ‘The Terrible Tragedies Of Transfiguration And What You Can Do’.

Blitz walked over and knelt in front of Magnus he reached out his hand and ran his fingers through the fur on the top of Magnus’s head. It surprisingly felt good to be pet.

“Well at least you’re a beautiful wolf. I mean look at your coat. I’ve never seen a blonde wolf before.” Blitz said.

Magnus gave him an irritated huff.

“I have 2 ideas. Hold still” Blitz said raising his wand over Magnus. The first spell BLitz tried did nothing. The second spell sent a feeling like ice was dripping down his back but nothing happened. Blitz frowned stood up. He walked over behind his desk and pulled some books out himself. He sat down on the couch beside Alex and began flipping thought them too. Magnus gave up and laid down on Blitz’s carpet. Hearth ran his fingers through Magnus’s fur behind his neck. He then signed with an evil smile.

“Blitz is right, you are soft”

Magnus rolled his eyes and rested his head on his front paws. Hearth continued petting his head as he flipped through books. Hearth scratched behind his ear, and he had to resist the urge to thump his leg. No wonder dogs loved to be pet, it was amazing.

After what seemed like hours hearth raised both his hands and clapped for attention. He raised the book he was looking through and placed it on the table. Alex and Blitz leaned forward to read the page Hearth had pointed out. Magnus tried to read the page but he couldn’t see well with his wolf head from this angle.

“Could work” Alex said after she finished reading.

“Maybe. Have either of you done a spell like that before?” Blitz asked. Alex and Hearth both shook their head.

“I could try though. I mean what do we have to lose” Alex suggested.

“Probably not a good idea. Magnus could get stuck like that permanently if we mess it up. We should go see Sam. If anyone can do it it’s her” Hearth signed.

Magnus barked in agreement. He definitely didn’t want to be stuck like this forever.

“Fine let’s go then” Alex said standing up from the couch.

The four of them headed up to the 11th floor. They climbed the spiral griffon flanked staircase which sprang up when Alex said the password ‘Mistletoe’. Hearth banged the brass knocker to Sam’s office. Magnus really hoped she was in her office and not out doing gods knows what. Thankfully the door creaked open and Amir’s head popped out.

“Hey guys. What’s up? Uh what’s with the wolf?” Amir said slightly startled at the last bit.

“We kind of need Sam. Magnus is stuck as a wolf.” Alex said as if that was a completely normal thing to have happen late in the evening.

“Uh ok. Come in” Amir said letting them in.

They entered as Sam came down the stairs from their living loft into her office. Her hand was protectively over her now protruding belly, her beautiful hair fell down her back not in its usual headscarf. She greeted them and stared curiously at Magnus the wolf.

“Magnus is stuck as a wolf” Alex explained before she could open her mouth.

“Um, how?” Sam asked.

“Alex was trying to teach him to be an animagus. Turns out he’s only good at one way transformations” Blitz explained.

Sam frowned. Hearth pulled out the book and placed it on Sam’s desk in front of her.

“We think we found a solution, but need your help to cast it” Hearth signed.

Sam bent down and read the page. She looked up and nodded.

“Ya ok. I’ve done this once before a long time ago.” She said picking up her wand.

She walked over to Magnus and raised it over him. She tapped it over his head 5 times and then waved it above him. Magnus felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice over him. As it happened he slowly turned back into himself sitting on the floor. Alex held her hand out and helped him up.

“Thanks Sam’ he said.

“No problem” Sam said. “Also nice coat. You look good as a wolf”

Magnus pursed his lips at her and stuck out his tongue.

They left Sam’s office and headed back to their respective offices. Blitz and Hearth got off at the fourth floor together and Alex followed Magnus down to the first floor.

“Besides that incident you did awesome” Alex said to Magnus. “I mean learning to become an animagus in a couple months is super impressive. Just keep practicing now, and you’ll get it down”

“Thanks” Magnus replied

Alex punched his arm.

“Come on don’t look so glum” Alex encouraged. “I know you hate the whole wolf thing, but if I have learned anything it’s to embrace who you are”

Magnus pondered that. If anyone knew anything about learned to be who you were it was Alex. Someone who had to accept a different them every day yet still be the same old Alex. He nodded at Alex.

“I guess your right”

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right” Alex said.

Magnus smiled and Alex’s evil smile.

“I’ll remember that than” He said.

“Anyway I’m going to head to my office. See you tomorrow?” Alex asked.

“Ya see you tomorrow” Magnus replied.

“Oh and by the way next time your transfigure you have to let me pet you. It’s not fair both Blitz and Hearth got to pet your soft fur and I didn’t” Alex joked with a smile. Magnus couldn’t help but smile back.

“No problem. I kind of like the head pats.” Magnus joked

Alex gave a little laugh and then waved and headed down to her end of the floor.

#magnus chase #magnus chase and the gods of asgard #alex fierro #fierrochase #alex/magnus #blitzstone #blitzen #Hearthstone #hearthstone/blitzen #harry potter crossover

[bytrinaarmstrong-blog]

Secure the Bag: Part.1

I am so excited to finally share Secure the Bag: Part 1 with you guys.

Here is a lil’ taste. I hope you enjoy. 😊

Chapter 1

“After tonight, my world will change forever!” My sister shouts from the sunroof of the stretch Hummer limo. She had get this bright ass barbie pink color as if a stretch Hummer isn’t big and obnoxious enough.

She's a little intoxicated, maybe a lot, and she feels the need to announce to the entire Vegas strip that this is her last night of singledom.

I'm happy for her. Although, I think she's rushing, at least the man she's marrying has a secure career.

In my opinion, she is too young. She's only twenty-five; her brain just stopped developing like three months ago. She's still learning and developing who she is as a person. But hey, what do I know? I'm not marrying some young, rich, tall basketball star.

I can’t even be mad at her decision to secure the bag. I just fear that she'll lose herself inside of her new husband and their marriage.

As far as I know, she wants to be a lawyer. Or at least she wanted to. Now, she's giving it all up to be one of those wives at the games. Not saying it won’t be fun. I'm sure it's plenty of fun to cheer from the sidelines, but how fulfilling can it be?

I can’t sit in the background and watch my husband live his dreams. Watching him do what he loves would push me even harder. But for my sister, I'm sure being a kept woman is her dream. I'm just glad that her dreams came true.

“Turn that shit up! That is my motherfuckin’ song!” My sister, Riley, shouts from the sunroof. The Pepto limo is thumping the hottest new song, "Jiggle Lil’ Booty" by Lil’ Trappah. I can’t lie, the beat is perfect to twerk too. I can hardly contain myself. I just wish I knew what this Lil’ Trappah person was saying. Only the words from the chorus are clear, and even those are questionable.

“Lil’ booties need love too! I’m talking ‘bout them butt cheeks not the baby shoes!” Everyone in the limo shouts clear as day.

These girls must have supersonic hearing or a lyric translator app. For the life of me, I don’t get how they understand these mushmouth ass lyrics. I guess it doesn't help that I'm a bit older than everyone in the limo.

I'm thirty years old, I'm in Vegas for the first time, and I'm going to make the best of it. I pinch the edge of my white bodycon dress, pulling it down the dress-hiking thighs my mama blessed with me with. I raise my hands through the sunroof, stand on the seat and look around in awe of the strip. There are lights everywhere: flashing, flickering, and glowing.

I know this night belongs to my sister, but she got hers. It's time to get mine, my money that is. I'm going to leave Vegas at least a thousand dollars richer. I don’t need the man to get the bag. I can't wait forever for these fools, and I don’t plan on it. I rather have my own shit anyway.

“Remi! You’re hogging the sunroof!” Riley pushes me to the side.

“Move! We both can’t be up here.” I groan as she continues to squeeze her big busted self through the sunroof.

“There’s enough space!” She lightly pushes me as a smile creeps onto my face.

“Did you have fun last night?”

“Last night was lit! Thank you for planning my bridal shower. I know this has been pretty stressful. I didn’t know weddings were so much work.”

“Girl, you’ve never watched a wedding show?”

“No. I don’t watch those boring things like someone I know.”

“I watch it for aesthetic purposes. I like to see the decorations and the color schemes they pick.” “It’s okay, sis. I know you take mental notes.”

“For what?”

“Your future wedding.”

“Please!" I suck my teeth.

"That’s the furthest thing from my mind right now. My mind is on my money and money is on my mind.” Riley waves her hand.

“Whatever you say.”

“Do you know where we’re going tonight?”

“Nia wants to surprise me.”

“Nia is going to surprise you with an oily stripper at the door.”

“She better not.” I raise my glass. “Well, here’s to another lit night.”

“May all our dreams come true.” Our champagne flutes clink in unison before we empty them. We sink back into the limo with the rest of the girls, anticipating the fun to come.

∞∞∞

The limo pulls up in front of one of the hottest clubs in Vegas. The music is right and full of bass. Even the people in line are dancing. I would dance too if I were standing in a line wrapped around the strip. Just the thought of standing in that line with heels irritates me.

The limo driver opens the door and holds out his hand to assist us out of the stretch Pink Panther mobile.

“Hope you ladies have a blast tonight.” The smooth-voiced limo driver smiles. He tips his hat, revealing the ponytailed locs underneath.

“Thank you!” We all say in unison.

“What’s your name again?” I ask.

He removes his driving gloves to shake my hand. “Amir Good.”

He has long, thick fingers with short, clean nails. His full beard fades at his sideburns connecting to a natural hairline that could pass for a shape up. He looks into my eyes as if he is familiar with them.

“Thank you for getting us here safely, Mr. Good.”

“No, problem—” “Remi, Remi Jones.” I reach for my purse to give him a tip.

He politely pushes my hand away. “Have a great evening, Ms. Jones.”

“Remi, come on!” Nia yells back toward the limo. Nia reserved our tables in advance, allowing us to skip the line altogether. It’s crazy how so many people can give a look of disdain all at once.

“I’ve been standing here for over an hour!” One woman shouts at security. She looks upset, and I know her feet feel even worse in those stilettos.

“I don’t make the rules, ma’am. Please wait in line as the club is almost at full capacity. Next time you should reserve your table like these lovely ladies.” The tall bouncer smiles as he let us in. “Have a good evening, ladies.”

Between the limo driver and the bouncer, I don’t know if going inside is the right choice. It seems like all the fine men are outside the club.

“Remi trying to get chose!” Whitney yells loud enough for the bouncer to hear.

“See, I was going to buy you a drink, but you play too much.”

“I’m just playing!” Whitney hooks her arm into mine, and we all find our way to our table.

More pink, yay! The love affair my sister has with this color is sickening. At least the shade of pink Nia chose is cute; soft powder pink balloons with rose gold accents.

“I love it!” Riley screams. She is going into pink overload. She grabs the bottle of Rose´ out of the ice bucket and puts it in the smoky club air.

“Here is to the rest of my life! May it be on and poppin’!” Riley pops the cork to the champagne, making it glide across the ceiling. We all jump from the loud pop of the cork but not far enough to not grab a champagne flute from the table. Riley fills our glasses, and we make another toast to a fun night. We waste no time downing our drinks and heading toward the dance floor.

“Hold up! All the sexy ladies in the house get on the dance floor right now! All di bad gals dem!” The DJ sounds off the reggae horns.

Before I know it, my body is moving to the beat. My hips roll like waves on the ocean water. I arch my back and rest my hands on my knees. I look back at it, only to see a smiling man towering behind me. His smile lights up the dark dance floor.

He leans into my ear. “Mind if I join you?”

“Looks like you already have.” I wind my hips as he stands behind me, watching and breathing down my neck. “Are you going to dance or just stand there?”

He strokes his goatee. “I think I’ll just watch.”

“Then why ask me to dance?”

“So, I wouldn’t seem like a creep while I stare.”

“That’s not weird. Nope, not all.”

“Let me buy you a drink.”

“Dance with me first.” There's no point in letting my song go to waste. I pull in Mr. Tall and Handsome, making him trail behind me. I rock my hips from side to side with the beat, leaving him no choice but to follow my rhythm.

“What’s your name?”

“Remi.”

“Like the rapper?”

“Like the rapper, like the hair, like the drink. I can keep going.”

“I like that. Come on, let’s go back to my table.” He takes my hand and leads me through the crowd on the dance floor. While holding his hand, my eyes land on the pinky ring that dons his finger. A cluster of diamonds sparkle under the flashing lights that make our brown skin look blue. My eyes almost pop out of my head as they travel from his large hand to the Presidential Rolex on his wrist.

This man has to be at least six foot seven, and his pockets seem to be just as long. Jackpot!

There is nothing like a fine man with commas in his bank account. Money can’t buy love, but as my mother always tells me, romance without finance is a nuisance. Mr. Baller takes us to his table which is already full of bottles.

“What would you like to drink?”

“I want to try some of that Ace of Spades.”

He nods his head and pours the champagne into a flute. “Great choice,” he says as our glasses clink. "What’s your name?”

“I’m surprised you don’t already know who I am.”

“Should I know?”

“It depends on what you’re into, I guess.”

“So, are you going to tell me or are you going to keep playing this guessing game? I mean, I can be like Nev from Catfish and do an image search.”

He puts his fist over his mouth and lets out a loud chuckle. “You got jokes; I like that.” He sips some champagne before setting his glass on the table. “I’m Trey Drayton.”

“Are you a basketball player?”

“I play for Utah.”

I turn my nose. “Utah? Ugh!”

“I know. As you can see, I’m trying to make the best of it.”

“You come to Vegas often?”

“I’m here for my boy's wedding this weekend.”

“He’s marrying my sister.”

“Wow, it’s a small world. I’ve known Khai since our AAU days. Your sister is in good hands.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

Trey's eyes scan over my dress. “I also think you’re beautiful.”

I blush as I flip my locs over my shoulder. “Thank you.”

“So, what are you doing later tonight?”

“I’ll be with the bridal party since the wedding is tomorrow.”

“You should chill with me. Let me get to know you outside of the club; somewhere quiet.”

“Somewhere private?”

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?” I knock back the rest of my champagne. It's been a year since I had any physical contact. Just the thought of it has my blood rushing, or maybe it's that third glass of champagne. Either way, my body is ready. Trey places his hand on my thigh, lightly brushing his lips past my ear. I damn near melt from the slightest touch. I can feel him inhaling my perfume, creating heat between my thighs. What are you doing, Remi?

I don’t know what I'm doing or why I'm so comfortable with Trey being so close. Trey's lips are soft, and so are his gigantic hands. I pull away and look into his slanted eyes; filled with the type of lust that fans my fire.

“I don’t even know you.”

“So, get to know me. I’m a basketball player. I’m from D.C., and I love beautiful, brown women like yourself.”

“I’m from Maryland.”

“See! We have that DMV connection.” He flashes his bright smile.

“You seem a bit comfortable,” I say while looking at his hand on my thigh.

"That’s how you make me feel. Are you comfortable?”

“Yes, thanks for asking.”

“So, do you want to go back to my suite?”

“It’s just that easy for you?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question, love.”

“As much as I would like to, I don’t think I’m about that life.”

“Take my number.” He pulls out his phone just before reciting his number out loud. “Call me.”

I hit the call button, connecting us in an instant. “It’s R-e-m-i.”

“Okay, Remi with an I. I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedd—” A waterfall of ice and liquor pours down Trey’s face. I look up to see a young, tall woman with anger painted all over her face.

“You’ll see her where? I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear what you were saying. Now, what did you say, Trey?!” Her voice elevates to a pitch my brain can’t compute.

“Baby, I can explain!”

“Baby?” She has to be at least six foot five, two hundred pounds of defined muscle. She's almost a foot taller than me, and she has a wingspan made for dunking.

“Yes, baby! Is there a problem, bitch?” She spews as her eyes pop out of her head.

“Bitch?”

“You seemed confused. Let me knock some sense into that empty brain of yours.”

“This is a major misunderstanding.” I stand up from my seat, adjust my dress, and hope and pray she takes her misplaced anger out on her man.

“The only misunderstanding is you throwing your pussy at my man. You’re just the type. Groupie ass bitch! Fucking thots stay plotting,” she yells loud enough to cause a scene.

The last thing I need is my sister flying across the room on the night of her bachelorette party.

“Trey?” I call. He shrugs his shoulders. I look back at her, hoping to calm her down, some way, somehow. “I honestly didn’t know he had a girlfriend.”

Girlfriend? I’m his wife; Dawn Drayton!” She waves her left hand, showing off her ring. I feel a bit dizzy from the drinks, and the air from her hands creates a light breeze on my face.

My eyes cut to Trey in disbelief. “You ain’t shit.” I tip the ice bucket on the table into his lap before dashing off as fast as possible. Hoping to find Riley and the rest of the bridal party, I run back to the dance floor.

“I am not done with you!” Dawn is right behind me. I'm not trying to fight in a Las Vegas nightclub with what looks like to be Wilt Chamberlain’s daughter. I pull out my phone and call the limo driver while heading toward the entrance.

"Touchdown Limos, Amir speaking."

“Come back to the club, please. Emergency pick-up.”

“On my way.” I end the call and pick up the pace toward the door. I already know that I have no dog in this fight. I'm not a punk, but homegirl’s reach is long enough to punch me through the crowd. Plus, my white dress is too cute to stain with blood.

The closer I get to the door, the closer she seems to get to me. Trey’s mute ass isn’t too far behind. A part of me wants to turn around and throw my shoe at his forehead, but I know that will only get the Mrs. more upset.

“Remi, wait!” I hear Trey shout. Trifling Trey is trying to get me killed. Thankfully, my phone vibrates, notifying me that my limo is out front. The bouncer at the door notices me speed walking and gives me a look of concern.

“Is everything okay, sweetheart?”

“Can you hold those Amazonian people behind me while I get in the car?”

“No problem.” The security guard tilts his head, relaying a message through his walkie-talkie. I rush out the exit to see the driver standing with the door open. I damn near dive into the back seat.

I look out the window to see security blocking Dawn and Trey from the exit. There are camera lights flashing and bystanders recording everything with their cell phones. The last thing I need is to be on the gossip blogs for being chased out of the club.

“It’s just you?” The driver asks.

I look back to see Dawn’s fist connect with Trey’s jaw. Ouch! “Yes, please go.” I have to get away from all of the camera flashes. Even though the windows are tinted, I duck down in my seat as far as I can. The limo pulls off with no destination in sight.

Read the rest here

#Secure the Bag #Las Vegas #Chapter 1

[xoleahbeanxo]

Halloween Short #22

Gruesome

Part Two:

The Survivor

They were zombies; fucking zombies.

Hussan could hardly believe what he saw. A military vehicle pulled up to the town center and dumped a load of zombies onto the unsuspecting people. Panic ensued immediately.

He made hasty retreat for his home leaving the desperate screams behind him. It was cowardice, he knew, but he had to get back to his wife and kids before anything happened to them.

The alleyway, he ducked down, let out near his house. None of the flesh-eaters managed to find it before he made it through. It would have been a death trap, otherwise.

A zombie grabbed at him from the shadows. He managed to plant a firm palm into its chest to shove it away. It teetered and fell hard against the wall, giving him time to escape.

Hussan hit the short staircase, leading to his front door. He ran up them, taking them two at a time. The door was locked, thankfully. That meant none of the things got inside yet, though he could see four of them shambling towards him.

He knocked. “Marti, open the door, it’s me.”

“Hussan?”  His wife said from inside.

It was followed by a heavy click of the door lock and it slid opened. Hussan hurried inside. Marti, his wife was already locking the door again.

“I heard the screaming, what’s going on out there, husband?”

“Zombies.”

“Zombies?” Marti repeated.

Hearing it said out loud sounded crazy, but it was the truth, no matter how much he wanted it to be a lie. There were zombies terrorizing the town’s people.

Marti looked at him as if he were raving mad, until he took the wooden box from the top shelf in the closet. He unlocked it and pulled a pistol from the velvet cradle. After a quick check, he pushed it into her hands.

“Take this and use it only when you have too.”

Marti could see desperation in his face and gave him a stern nod.

A bottle of tequila rested on the bookshelf. He took it and unscrewed the cap. Marti knew full-well what he was doing and tore the hem of her shirt off, handing it to him. Hussan worked it into the bottle, sloshing it around so it could soak up some of the alcohol. He set it on the coffee table, hoping he wouldn’t need it.

“I need you all to stay in this room, until I can get ahold of someone. Please.”

Just then, something pounded against the door. Thank god, he’d replaced it with a much sturdier door, recently. The hammering made Marti and the kids jump as they ran to the back wall behind the couch. Hussan kept eyeing the Molotov.

“I’ll be right back; I’m getting the axe from the pantry.” Hussan said.

Marti tried to urge her husband not to go, but he was already out of the room.

That’s when she heard the window in the kitchen shatter and started to fear for the worst.

Clever fuckers, Hussan let his axe speak his frustration. He brought it down hard on the back of the thing’s neck. It swiveled to look at him with its hollow, white eyes before he gave it another whack, sending its head tumbling across the floor.

With a mighty shove, he pushed the body back through the window and pulled the shutters closed, latching them.

Never a dull moment, he heard the front door crumple caused his heart to skip a beat. He sprinted back to his family.

One of the zombies was going after the kids and against his better judgment; he trusted his wife to do what was necessary when the time came. He was more concerned about the two other zombies struggling to get through the front door. There was only one way to deal with them.

He flicked his lighter with one hand, took the bottle in the other and lit it up. Both of the zombies were oblivious to the incoming firestorm rolling in. He chucked the bottle hard and watched as it exploded in a fiery burst.

Secretly, he wanted to watch the bastards melt into a puddles but the sound of a gunshot stole his gaze. Marti, his wife, love of his life, had the gun angled up and the bullet tore through the zombies chin, sending its decayed gray matter splattering the wall behind it. It took one shaky step and crumpled to the floor.

Marti was close to falling apart. Fear was getting the best of her but there was no time for that. Hussan took her hand and pulled her to look at him.

“Come on, grab your purse, we have to get out of here. Kids, put your shoes on.”

His orders were succinct.

While they were doing what he told them too, he took the jar from the top of the bookshelf and pulled a large wad of money from it. Everything else would definitely be destroyed in the fire that was growing larger the longer they lingered.

“Hey, Amir, it’s Hussan. I’m in trouble and I need evacuated.” He spoke into his phone as he led his family to the back door.

“No, the town is compromised.”

“Yes, I’ll meet you there. Just hurry and bring a vehicle big enough for my family, please.”

There were no goodbyes; his contact was already on his way. It would take five minute walk to the meeting point, by the bridge. If his pickup wasn’t already there, it wouldn’t be much long after that.

The thought of leaving all his friends behind, made him sad but saving his family was his most important priority right now.

Hussan ordered his family to stay low, quiet, and to not to look back. It was the only way they’d be able to slip out unnoticed. They did as he said.

When they reached the bridge, the ride wasn’t there yet but that gave Hussan a moment to notice another military vehicle pass by, on its way another nearby village. His heart sank, knowing that it was carrying another load of death for the poor town’s folks.

#Horror #Hallloween #Drabble #Leendenwrites

[bacon-lettuce-tomato-blog1]

Seed Folks

In the Paul Fleischman's children's book, Seedfolks, the idea of diversity and multiculturalism is introduced to younger audiences. Fleischman does this by introducing characters from different races and ages. Some of these characters also have other distinguishing factors such as pregnancy or being crippled. All these characters are linked together by a small community garden where everyone is invited to plant their own plants and help each other out,  putting the “unity” in community. Amir is a great representation of multiculturalism because, he is always trying to meet new people in the community.

Paul Fleischman depicts Amir as an Indian man who comes from Delhi. Amir compares the cities in India to cities in America, as both countries have large cities with an abundance of people. It is later revealed that Amir runs a fabric store in Cleveland. According to Fleischman, Amir is trying  to “ … avoid contact, to treat all as foes …”(58) This quote shows Amir to be a quiet person that doesn't want much interaction.

Amir sees the garden as an opportunity to meet his neighbors. Once he joins the garden, Amir starts to grow out of his shell once his eggplants showed a coloration that the other participants have not seen before. He seemed happy to explain the strange color and talk to the other members of the community. Amir makes friends with the person that borders his plot and is taught about her polish culture. He then made friends with Royce, who made everyone feel uneasy. That was until Royce, Amir, and one other man stopped a thief, all the characters seem to respect Royce even more and treat him like one of the other plot owners.

Fleischman’s representation of Amir is very remenaciant of someone who just moved somewhere new. By showing the evolution of Amir before and after joining the garden. At first he kept to himself but, in contrast, he then openly learns about the another foreign culture. Fleischman also did his research when choosing between the Amir’s occupation and vegetable that he plants. Working in a fabric store is a nod to indian culture. Having fancy fabrics is very important in indian culture. Fabrics “. . .has a significant presence in the [Indian] economy as well as in the international textile economy”, according to Dr.P. Chellasamy and N. Sumathi in their paper entitled Indian Textile Industry. Eggplants (Amir’s choice of vegetable) is very common in indian dishes. India is the second largest producer of eggplant in the world next to China, as stated on specialtyproduce.com. He is also asked how to cook his eggplants by members of the garden.

Amir’s main conflict is trying to be a part of the community. Before the garden he was afraid of everyone and treated them like enemies unless they were deemed friendly. He overcame this by trying to be more accepting of others by engaging in conversation with others, getting to know more about people and their background, and being curious and accepting other cultures in into his life. He did this in five stages.

The first thing he did to become apart of the community is planting a variant of eggplant that many of the other gardeners have not seen. “Very many people came over to ask about them [eggplants] and talked to me.”(59) This quote shows how many people are intrigued by the plant and how Amir is able to connect to the other gardeners through this.

His second stage was getting to know Royce better. Before helping catch a robber, Royce left the participants in the garden feel “ … relieved when he left the garden.”(61). By seeing what Royce can do and not stereotyping him,  Amir was able to see Royce past his gangbanger look on the outside, by witnessing his act of courage while stopping the thief. Eventually, the members of the garden found out that Royce has sisters that he has to take care of. Through Royce’s actions, Amir was able to connect with him more, as well as the other gardeners.

Amir’s third stage was learning a heritage through conversation. Instead of keeping to himself, Amir engaged in a conversation with a person where her garden border his. Through this conversation Amir learned a lot about the lady’s polish culture. Amir has always heard about the the hard working polish men and women but, even admits that “ … I’d never know one - until the garden.” This shows how he didn’t expect to to learn anything about the Poles but he is very accepting of the fact that he is able to learn.

His fourth way that he became part of the community was by accepting other cultures ways of celebration. Amir was confused once he saw Mexican men bring food and instruments into the garden. “Perhaps it was one of their birthdays, or perhaps no reason was needed for the party.”(63) This shows how Amir thought that there was supposed to be a reason for  the food and instruments but, he later found out that this celebration didn’t really have any reason behind it. It was just a party to just relax, have fun, and connect with each other.

His final step was confronting a woman who called him out in his own store. According to the text, this woman called Amir “ … a dirty foreigner.”(64), despite both of them being foreigners. The woman apologizes to Amir, as they have became friends through the garden, and constantly saying, “ ‘Back then, I didn’t know it was you . . .’ ” (64) This shows how the garden itself was able to bring people together, even if they had a feud at a previous time.

Amir as a character seems to be pretty realistic. Amir can be related to the Daryl Davis story, where Davis was able to befriend members of the Ku Klux Klan by engaging in conversations and respecting what each party had to say. In Amir’s version of the story, he was able to befriend his “enemies” by getting to know them more through conversations. He was once a shy person who didn't want to talk to anyone. Once he started working on the garden, and started to make contact with other people, who he once saw as villainous, that's when him and his community became acquainted with one another. A lot of people today don't try to engage in a conversation with strangers unless if they have seen them around a common place of interest.

Is Seedfolks a good book to teach children about diversity and multiculturalism? Yes, it is. If you look at the book as a whole, you will be able to see the good that the book is able to teach. It shows how many different people from different cultures unite. It also shows how people will help each other out. Lastly, it shows how to be accepting of people who are different from yourself.  

The characters in Seedfolks show unification, even though they are from different cultures. “A man with a knife had taken her purse. Three men from the garden ran after him.”(60) These two quotes show how, when presented the opportunity, the members of the garden will come together to solve a problem. The problem in this case being a thief. They put aside their differences and together they helped a person in need. “When people all the time complain about carrying water, he [Sam] start contest.”(38) This quote shows how Sam is trying to get the community to work together to overcome a problem that they all experience. “Someone bring three old pots to scoop water out of cans”, “I quick go to score. Buy three funnels to make easier filling containers.”(39)  These quotes show how people are expanding on the contest winners product. This shows members of the community uniting to overcome a roadblock to benefit the rest of the community.  

Members of the garden are willing to help each other out, despite their different backgrounds.  “And it’s up to us to save them.”(10)  This quote is in regards of Wendell seeing Kim’s beans die. The characters Ana and Wendell work together in saving Kim’s lima beans. Ana spots the dying beans from an apartment building near the beginnings of the garden. Ana later informs Wendell about the dying beans. At this point, Wendell saves one of Kim’s beans and see Kim for the first time. Wendell backs away, as he didn’t want to scare Kim. We can later see that Kim fixes all her beans so they mirror Wendell’s saved bean. Later on in the book, Royce is introduced into the book. Royce, although he does not have a chapter, always helps the members in the garden.

”In return, he watered for people who are sick and and fixed fences and made other repairs. He might weed your garden or use the bricks from the building that was torn down up the block to make you a brick path between your rows.”(62)

Royce was willing to help out the gardeners without asking for much. This is one of the reasons that Royce became trusted and accepted within the garden community.

Seedfolks introduces a few characters who are different from the rest of the cast. Instead of their race, other features are brought out with these characters. Fleischman introduces a pregnant teen and a disabled man. When introducing Maricela, the pregnant 16 year old, Fleischman puts us in her shoes to feel what she is feeling in the chapter. “My body was part of nature.”(56)  By accept her pregnancy by realizing that it’s all just a part of nature allows the reader to relate even more to Maricela because everyone is a part of nature. Nora’s chapter introduces us to Mr. Myles, an elderly man bound to his wheelchair. Mr. Myles was intrigued by the garden and with the help of Nora, they started at their own plot. Introducing Mr. Myles shows the young readers that elderly people are able to enjoy the same things as middle-aged adults, teenagers, and children, regardless of disability.

Despite the book trying to teach diversity, it fails when you focus more on specific characters. This is when you see stereotypes show up, unintentionally. For example, Fleischman introduces Tío Juan and Sae Young, two foreigners who can’t speak, or can only speak broken english. Tío Juan has probably resorted to using pantomime (as stated on page 50) because of his inability to communicate with most people. Sae Young speaks very broken and basic english. The best example of this is, “When people all the time complain about water, he start contest.”(38) Another stereotype that shows up is with Royce. It is stated that “. . . people would have crossed the street  if they’d see him coming . . .”(62) It is implied that Royce, being African-American, has a threatening exterior. “ … The blacks on one side, the whites on another, the Central Americans and Asians toward the back. The garden was a copy of the neighborhood.”(26) This quote supports David Brooks’s People Like Us, which states that people are “making strenuous efforts to group themselves with people who are basically like themselves.” The members of the garden are unintentionally segregating themselves, despite the garden representing unity.

In conclusion, Seedfolks, by Paul Fleischman, is a great book to show to kids to teach them about diversity and multiculturalism. The book shows people, regardless of diversity can work together to reach a combined goal. It also shows how people will assist one another if. Finally, the book teaches young kids to accept people who are different from them. Although there are flaws within each character, the book, as a whole, is beneficial to young readers.

[blahblahblippyblah]

Magnus Chase and a Plotless Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 6: Halloween

full story: http://archiveofourown.org/works/11429727/chapters/25832337

Magnus and his buds dress up for Halloween. some Fierrochase fluff. some of Blitzstone fluff.

"Magnus you are going to love Halloween at Hogwarts. It's literally the best night of the year." Alex told Magnus excitedly at the breakfast table. Magnus had just finished telling her about how he had never really celebrated Halloween. Since his mom died Magnus had been a little too preoccupied trying to find his next meal or safe place to sleep instead of dressing up as his favourite fictional character. Which was Frodo thank you very much.

Alex was practically bouncing out of her chair with excitement telling Magnus about the Halloween feast the school held. And how after the student went to be they all went to the village to actually celebrate.

"So do you guys dress up?" Magnus asked. He had always wanted to dress up at Halloween. The last time he got to wear a costume was when he was 10 and got to be Spider-Man. He was looking forward to have an excuse to geek out.

Blitz who was sitting two seats over from Magnus beside hearth gave a glowing smile. Obviously excited they had reached the topic of costumes.

"Well of course. It wouldn't be Halloween without costumes.” blitz beamed. "Also speaking of costumes I think us four should all collaborate you know do a group costume. I can make them. And the students will get a kick out of them"

Alex almost broke Magnus’s ear drums when she made a high pitch squealing sound of excitement. "Oh my Gods Blitz that's a great idea! What should we be?!"

Hearth waved for attention and signed "I don't do Halloween. Count me out"

Blitz's face knotted and his eyebrows knit together. He pursed his lips and turned towards Hearth.

"What do you mean you don't 'do' Halloween? Halloween is amazing." Blitz started telling off Hearth "Also we need you. I was thinking Star Wars. I mean even slot of wizards know Star Wars since Alex had that movie muggle night for the students last year. Magnus you grew up around muggles right? You've seen it?"

"Duh of course. I love star wars." Magnus said.

Hearth pursed his lips and signed." I didn't see it. I wasn't at the movie night. Plus parents didn't let me see muggle movies."

"Don't worry about it bud. I'll find a way to watch it with you before Halloween" Blitz signed. Hearth smiled at that but still kept his expression of loathing at having to participate in a group costume.

Blitz turned back to Alex and they began planning out the costumes for the four of them

* Blitz was an amazing costume designer. In less than a week he had made 4 amazing costumes. Blitz must have stayed up late to create them because he had worn dark shadows under his eyes all week. Magnus also guessed Hearth had helped out because the guy also looked like he hadn’t slept a wink too. Still Magnus was grateful for Blitz’s hard work.

The day before Halloween they all met at Blitz’s office to come see their costumes. He had made himself a perfect costume that made him look like a more impressively fashionable Han Solo. To Hearths displeasure Blitz had made him a sort of Chewbacca costume. To be honest the costume wasn’t that bad. It consisted of a pair of brown trousers and a very furry brown sweater. He had also made Chewies iconic bandolier for Hearth to sling across his chest. Magnus guessed Blitz had held back for Hearths sake since he knew how reluctant the guy was to dress up.

“Why do I have to be the furry guy?” Hearth complained in signs when Blitz made him try it on.

“Because you’re the tallest. Also Chewbacca doesn’t talk so you have that going for you” Blitz said not giving Hearth the opportunity to weasel his way out of the plan.

Hearth flipped Blitz a rude gesture when Blitz turned his back to hand out the costumes for Magnus and Alex.

“So the plan is for Alex to be Leia and Magnus to be Luke Skywalker” Blitz said handing them their costumes. The costume looked like Blitz had stolen them right from the production.

“And what if I’m not a girl tomorrow” Alex said

“Already thought of that” Blitz replied. “You’ll just switch with Magnus”

Alex smiled wide.

“Hey!” Magnus protested.

Alex sniggered and punched Magnus on the arm. “I think you would look great in a dress” Alex teased.

Magnus just scrunched up his face and stuck his tongue out at them both.

Hearth had given up completely on the conversation and had fallen face first in Blitz's couch refusing to look up at them.

* Thanks fully for Magnus’s reputation Alec was a girl on Halloween. At first when he heard knocking on his office door he was scared it would be Alex demanding to trade costumes, but instead he opened the door to a beautiful looking Alex. She was wearing the long white robes of Leia and had made her hair grow out into long locks which she tied up on either side of her head. Her facial features were still Alex, with entrancing and very distracting two toned eyes and perfectly sculpted features. Magnus caught himself staring again and quickly shook his head to focus.

“Hey Alex. Almost done, just have to brush my teeth. Give me a sec” Magnus said letting Alex in his sitting room. Alex walked over to the couch and crashed down putting her feet up on his coffee table. Magnus went to brush his teeth. When he came back he found Hearth and Blitz had also let themselves in. They were also all dressed and ready. They all stood in a circle and took in their costumes.

“We all look great!” Blitz exclaimed. “My best costumes so far if I do say so myself”.

Hearth rolled his eyes and led the way down to breakfast.

*

When the four of them entered the Great Hall a lot of student called out complementing them on their costumes. Even Hearth couldn’t help but smile when students exclaimed they had the coolest professors ever.

At the staff table Sam and Amir sat eating breakfast with Mallory and Halfborn.

Sam simply wore her regular robes but donned a pumpkin orange head scarf today in honor of Halloween. Amir however was dressed like a pirate. He waved as they sat down and started complimenting Blitz on his work.

Mallory and Halfborn had also decide to go for a group costume/or couple costume. Magnus still hadn’t figured out exactly what they were to each other. He guessed they were somewhere between being romantic partners and mortal enemies. Sometime both at once. For Halloween they had dressed up as Kahl Droggo and Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. Halfborn had no problem pulling off his costume. The guy was pretty much already a dothraki minus the horse. Mallory however had charmed her hair blonde for the occasion. It still kept its giant frizzy mess and her braid looked like a rabid raven had teared it apart. Still the effect was pretty, frightening yet beautiful. T.J came in a while later dressed in a Night Watchers cloak with a giant fake sword at his side. He looked slightly uncomfortable but smiled as two older students from the Gryffindor table wolf whistled him. He joined Mallory and Halfborn at the table to complete their group.

*

The Halloween feast was amazing. Magnus thought by the end he was going to end up in a sugar coma. The hall was filled with glowing pumpkins instead of floating candle and every inch of table was filled with the widest variety of sweets Magnus had ever seen. The school choir provided entertainment during desert singing some classic Halloween songs. Then Halfborn entertained everyone with a dramatically scary story. Magical visual depictions curtesy of Blitz and T.J.

Around 11 o clock the students were all sent to bed. Magnus and everyone else got ready to head down to the village for a little celebrating of their own since tomorrow was a Saturday. Mallory and Halfborn said they would stay behind to patrol the corridors together, so Sam and Amir had no excuse to ditch out on the fun this time. Magnus also suspected they wanted and excuse to ditch the group to sneak off somewhere alone, but he didn’t say anything.

They all ordered rounds and began telling scary stories around a large wooden table in the back of the bar. Amir won at having the most horrifying stories. Magnus was pretty sure he would have nightmares about killer cow men tonight. The night quickly turned into the best time Magnus had ever had. He spent a good hour learning how to play darts from T.J and Amir. Sam sat and criticized his technique playfully as T.J. kept trying to show him how to hit the board and not the wall behind it. At the table Hearth and Blitz sat very close to each other conversing. This time around Hearth was refusing to drink anything stronger than Butterbeer, but unfortunately for him Blitz seemed to be in a good mood as he was now starting on his 4th mug of mead. He talked rapidly his singing become very exaggerated with ever sip. Eventually Hearth cut Blitz off from drinking when Blitz spilled his mug over covering his costume in dark red stain. Alex was again in deep conversation with the bar maid. When Magnus’s arm got tired from throwing darts he went over to Alex. When he approached the bar maid waved bye to Alex and went to the back room. Magnus cleared his throat feeling bad he had scared off Alex’s friend.

“Umm sorry, I didn’t meant to interrupt.” He said.

“Don’t worry about it. Shelly was getting on my nerves anyway. She can’t catch a hint. I can only turn her down for diner so many times before I have to hex her” Alex went on taking a sip from her mug.

Magnus smiled and nodded not knowing how to respond. He felt awkward hearing Alex talk about someone hitting on her.

“Anyway enough about my sad love life. Tell me about yours. Have a girlfriend? Boyfriend?”Alex prodded with an evil smile on her face. Magnus shook his head and snorted.

“Ya right. I’ve never even had a kiss unless you count some girl in grade school. Which I don’t” Magnus went on.

“Oh really? A soft cinnamon bun Hufflepuff like you has never had any action? Well I guess that explains why you’re so lame” Alex teased.

“Ha ha very funny. For your information Hufflepuffs are the best lovers. We have natural charm” Magnus teased back. After 2 months spending time with Alex he felt much more comfortable joking around with her. Joking with Alex was easy once you got over the fear she might decapitate or hex you at any moment if your annoyed her.

Alex raised one eyebrow and looked over Magnus’s shoulder. “It would appear quite the opposite actually” She said pointing over at the corner where Hearth and Blitz sat. Magnus turned around to see what she was talking about.

Blitz now obviously very much past his limit had taken Hearths hand and was clumsily trying to show him how to tie a tie on himself. Unfortunately for Hearth Blitz couldn’t seem to remember how to tie a tie. Hearth didn’t seem to mind he took his hands back smiling and trying to retie Blitz’s tie back on trying to save the short guy some dignity. He was practically laughing when Blitz leaned forward trying to take the tie off and accidentally nudging Hearth in the chest with his forehead.

“I don’t know if I would call that natural charm” Alex joked. “More like failed attempts at flirting. Man I wish those two would just get it over with”

Magnus raised his eyebrow at Alex. “Blitz and Hearth? Really?” He said skeptically.

“Oh come on Magnus even you can’t be as oblivious as they are?” Alex sighed in fake exasperation.

“I don’t know Alex. I mean Blitz and Hearth are the best of friends but I don’t see that that means there’s anything else going on” Alex rolled her eyes. “Am I the only one who isn’t blind? They are so obviously into each other. Plus I caught Hearth coming out of Blitz’s office last Sunday morning when I went to invite Blitz down to breakfast”

“That doesn’t; mean anything. Hearth could have just gotten up earlier to see Blitz, or accidentally fallen asleep on his couch” Magnus protested. It’s not that Magnus was against the possibility of Blitz and Hearth being a thing, just that he didn’t want to assume anything until he knew for sure himself.

Alex rolled her eyes again. “In his pj’s? I seriously doubt it” Alex said.

Magnus rolled his eyes back at her but didn’t fight her on it.

Sam came over to them with a Butterbeer in hand and sat down beside Alex. She smiled at them.

“I’m so glad I came out. I really needed this.” Sam said stirring around the straw in her Butterbeer.

“You work too hard Sam” Alex said accusingly wagging her finger at her.

Sam rolled her eyes and ignored Alex.

“Magnus I got your owl about your dragon keeper friend bringing in a baby dragon for your upper year classes to see. I think that’s a great plan but I’m going to have to send you some safety forms to fill out first” Sam said in her usual serious business voice.

Magnus nodded. Alex dramatically slammed her head against the bar.

“Sam take a break. No work talk.” Alex groaned.

Sam pouted her lips and gave Alex a look.

“So Sam how are you and Amir?” Magnus asked trying to change the subject.

“Um were good” Sam said a little too coldly. She turned her head and Magnus could say he saw her blush.

“What’s wrong? Spit it out.” Alex prodded.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Sam said defensively.

“Ya but something is up. Come on you can tell us. I’m your sister. Plus Magnus and everyone here is pretty much family. You can’t hide whatever it is forever” Alex said.

Sam looked over at the both of them she was definitely blushing now.

“Well I know it’s kind of early to tell everyone, but I’m so excited. Me and Amir are having a baby” Sam said her eyes wide and face in a contagious smile.

Alex squealed again and ran forward to hug Sam. Magnus smiled and awkwardly hugged Sam too. At that moment everyone else had decided to come up to the bar. They had obviously heard what Sam just said because Halfborn slapped Amir on the back so hard the guy almost fell down. Mallory and T.J. also took their turns hugging and congratulating Sam. Even Hearth hugged Sam which was a rare sight to behold since the guy wasn’t very physical.

Blitz in his tipsy state ordered a round for everyone except Sam, Hearth and Amir. They all toasted to baby Al-abas Faladan. Eventually Hearth signed that he was going to walk Blitz back to the castle before he got himself into too much trouble. Magnus and Alex offered to walk back with them. Magnus helped Hearth carry Blitz most of the way back to the castle as halfway back Blitz seemed unable to walk straight anymore. Alex teased that she would never let him forget the embarrassing moment when he fell over into a bush and couldn't get out. But blitz probably wouldn’t remember that.

When they got to the staircases Alex departed and Magnus helped Hearth carry Blitz up to the 4th floor. Once they managed to get into Blitz’s office Magnus and Hearth dumped Blitz onto his bed. Magnus pulled off Blitz shoes while Hearth wen to grab the blanket from the couch to drape over Blitz. Hearth insisted on staying to keep an eye on Blitz so Magnus headed back to his office.

*

Magnus slept in late the next morning and woke up with a huge headache. Round 11 o’clock he managed to roll out of bed and slogged down to the hall for food. There he ran into T.J who was poking at his eggs half-heartedly, one hand holding up his head. Magnus grabbed a pot of coffee and some toast and decided to bring some up to Blitz.

Magnus knocked on Blitz’s office door and to his surprise Hearth in sweat pant pajamas answered. He waved for Magnus to come in ignoring Magnus’s confused look. Blitz was sitting on the couch head in his hands. The guy looked like death. He was clammy and had bags under his eyes. He groaned at the sound of the door closing. Magnus walked over and handed him some toast. Blitz took it and chewed on it slowly. Hearth poured a cup of coffee and shoved it in Blitz’s hand. Blitz immediately started draining the luke warm coffee like it was the elixir of life. After he finished his third cup he said.

“I am never drinking again?” he signed so that Hearth could hear as well.

Hearth rolled his eyes and signed “You said that last time” and then turned to pour him a fourth cup.

“Well at least you didn’t do anything embarrassing last night. The worst was that you bought everyone rounds and then fell into a bush" Magnus said and signed trying to make Blitz feel better.

“That would explain the twigs in my hair” Blitz mumbled into his coffee cup.

“What?” Hearth signed “Stop mumbling”

Blitz put his cup down and signed “Not important, never mind”

Hearth stood up and started filling a kettle at the sink and went to put it on the fire. He then went through Blitz’s drawers and pulled out some tea and a mug. He turned to Magnus and signed “Do you want tea?”

Magnus nodded then turned to the grumpy looking Blitz on the couch when Hearth turned his back to look for sugar. He raised his eyebrows at Blitz and quietly said.

“So are you two…is there something I’m missing?” he practically whispered the last part. He knew Hearth couldn’t hear him but still. Blitz looked a little like he had been caught stealing the last cookie from the cookie jar. He opened his mouth to responded but no sound came out. He then closed his mouth and sat in thought for a minute. He looked a little uncomfortable all of a sudden.

“Hey ummm I didn’t mean to be nosy. Just something Alex said last night. Plus you guys have been like super close lately. Like way more than usual.” Magnus said whispering again. Looking up to check that Hearth’s back was still turned. Magnus felt ok interrogating Blitz. Blitz was usually confident and didn’t keep many secrets. However he felt that if his new found suspicion was wrong Hearth was way more likely to be very upset that Magnus suggested what he was suggesting.

Blitz also glanced over at Hearth then back to Magnus. Hearth was now watching their conversation. Magnus couldn’t read his expression since Hearth had his usual unreadable guarded face on. But he still shifted his weight from foot to foot looking slightly restless, probably uncomfortable.

“Uummmm, well ...ya we’ve been kind of … I don’t really know the word … ummm together I guess would be the word. But don’t say anything kid. Hearth and I aren’t really comfortable enough to tell anyone yet” Blitz stammered out. He kept glancing at Hearth to see if he was going to interject, but Hearth didn’t really do anything except start to look awkward.

Magnus just nodded. “Hey man no problem. I’m actually happy to hear that. You two are adorable. As for keeping it to yourselves it might be a little hard. Blitz you kind of blew your cover last night. Alex now totally ships you.”

Hearth blushed so dark Magnus could see his face changing colour from across the room. Blitz just looked down at his now empty mug of coffee looking horrified. Hearth brought over the two mugs of tea and placed one down in front of Magnus. He took his and warmed his hands. Hearth went and sat down in the armchair by the fire still blushing slightly.

“At least it was just our friends” Hearth signed to Magnus and Blitz “Not students. Everyone last night are practically family. well they are really the only family I do have”

Blitz just groaned and signed. “I am never drinking again. I didn’t do anything too embarrassing with you did I?”

Hearth just shook his head. “Nah, you just get a little touchy when you’re drinking”

Magnus snorted and grinned at Blitz. He patted him on the back.

“Just little touchy. Plus Me and Alex both thought it was cute” Magnus joked.

Blitz just sighed, but Hearth flipped Magnus a very rude gesture.

“Speaking of last night” said Blitz obviously trying to change the subject. “Did I remember this right? Are Sam and Amir having a baby?” Hearth nodded vigorously obviously in an ‘excited’ Hearth manner.

Blitz grinned and Magnus smiled as they started talking about how happy they all were for Sam and Amir. Apparently according to Blitz they had been trying to a long time to have a baby. He then started going into a long explanation about an outfit he was going to make for the new baby for Sam and Amir.

Magnus stayed talking with Hearth and Blitz until around dinner. Just a typical happy Saturday. A Saturday he was so grateful to have.

#blitzstone #fierrochase #magnus chase #alex fierro #blitzen #Hearthstone #magnus chase and the gods of asgard #halfborn gunderson #mallory keen #samirah al abbas #thomas jefferson jr

[blahblahblippyblah]

Magnus Chase and a Plotless Hogwarts Fanfiction

Chapter 5: Some Blitzstone Hogwarts Fanfiction

full story: http://archiveofourown.org/works/11429727/chapters/25766073

(lots of spelling mistakes. too lazy to correct them, Sorry)

Blitz's was sitting in his office when he heard someone knocking in the door. He was so engrossed in his sketch that he didn’t look up. Instead he just said "Come in" under his breath.

After a few seconds he heard the knocking again. Blitz looked up to see Hearth peering through the half open door. Blitz dropped his pencil.

"Hearth. Awesome come here I want to show you something" Blitz said as he signed. Hearth came into the office and started walking over behind the desk to see what Blitz wanted to show him. "I thought you had class this period?" said Hearth who had noticed the lack of students leaving Blitz’s classroom. "Oh I let the go early. It’s the first day so I didn’t want to push them too hard" Blitz signed. He was too focused on putting away his sketches he didn’t notice Hearth roll his eyes and signed “Professor push over”

He got up from his sketches and grabbed Hearth by the hand and excitedly dragged him over to the giant wardrobe at the back of his office. Blitz office was filled with fabric and sketches. He had trunks full of other fashion items. It might be very packed but everything was in order. Even his buttons were organized by style, colour, and size in one of the trunks. Blitz was so excited he didn’t even notice Hearth blush deeply when Blitz grabbed his hand. Blitz opened the wardrobe and pulled something off the hook on the door.

"It’s a new scarf. Yours is too Christmassy for the fall. Plus this one I enchanted. Here try it on" Blitz said reaching up and pulling off Hearths candy cane scarf to put on the new one. Hearth focused very hard to not blush or pull back when Blitz’s arms went around his neck to wrap the scarf perfectly. Blitz leaned back and stroked the front of the scarf on Hearths chest to straighten it out. He took a step back and examined the effect the sky blue scarf had on Hearth. Blitz had spent all summer stitching an eagle to the edge of the scarf. He had found a way to turn bronze sheets into soft delicate thread. The bronze eagle stood out in the sunlight streaking through the window. "So the two best things about this scarf are that I enchanted it to always be warm. Like it has been sitting by the fire. I know you get cold easily so I thought you could use it" signed Blitz as Hearth started stroking the scarf around his neck. Blitz couldn’t read his expression which made him nervous so he kept talking and signing. "The eagle is embroidered with actual bronze threads and it flaps its wings in the wind. Adds a little imagination and whimsy don’t you think?"

Hearth looked down at the stitching or the eagle and touched it gently with his fingers. His face was still straight and unreadable like it usually was. Hearth looked over at the candy cane striped scarf Blitz had put down on the desk. Blitz frowned. "You don’t like it. I’m so stupid." Blitz started saying when Hearth looked up. Hearth waved his hands to cut blitz off. “I love it. Can’t accept it. Too beautiful.” Hearth signed rapidly Blitz stared at hearth for a few moments. Then shook his head. “But I want you to have it” Blitz signed. Hearth began to shake his head vigorously looking down his shoes. Without looking up he signed. “Can’t give you anything back” Blitz put both his hands on hearths shoulders. Since he was significantly shorter it forced Hearth to look up at him. “Hearth I made it for you. I want you to have it. It’s a gift you don’t owe me anything. Also if you don’t take the scarf I will come up there and strangle you with it” Blitz said slowly but firmly. Hearth pursed his lips and averted his eyes. Blitz let go of him. Hearth started stroking his new scarf again. Blitz went over to the desk and picked up the candy cane striped scarf and examined it. Hearth had worn it so much since Blitz first gave it to him 2 years ago when they started teaching that the knit was starting to unravel on one end. It also now had a small burn hole. Hearth watched as Blitz ran his hands over his candy cane scarf. “You have completely wore this to death.” Blitz said rolling his eyes. Hearth reached forward and yanked the scarf out of Blitz’s hands. “It’s my favourite” Hearth signed. Blitz rolled his eyes. “Well I can fix it for you. But you have to promise to wear the blue one until then” Blitz said a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Hearth gave him a false annoyed look but then handed over the scarf. Blitz went to wrap it around a mannequin. He would get to work on it tonight before bed. Blitz pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time. “Ready for dinner?” he signed to Hearth. Hearth nodded and they both existed the office.

*

At dinner Blitz couldn’t help but feel full of himself. Magnus, Alex, T.J, Mallory Sam, Amir and even Ale complimented Hearths new scarf. Every time someone said anything about it to Hearth he would just point to Blitz and sign “Blitz made it. He’s a genius”

*

Every time Blitz saw Hearth that week he was always wearing the scarf. It made Blitz smile like an idiot. Something about knowing Hearth treasured the scarf Blitz had spent so long making just for him made him feel warm inside.

*

Both Blitz and Hearth were completely oblivious to the gossiping of their students. When Hearth started wearing the new scarf all the students knew immediately where it had come from. Only Blitzen would have the skill to make a scarf like that. Every time Blitz and Hearth would walk with each other down the halls, or sit down together at meals everyday students would hide their spying trying to confirm their suspicions and gossip.

*

Blitz was up late Saturday night reading in his arm chair when he heard knocking at his office door. Blitz thought it was odd or someone to be calling so late at night so he got up to answer the door. There standing in his socks, black muggle sweatpants and baggy t-shirt with his cloak around his shoulders was Hearth. “Hi” he signed. “Hey” Blitz said back. “What are you doing here its 2 in the morning” Blitz started to sign as he talked. Hearth moved his head back and forth looking uncomfortable. “Wondering if you had finished fixing my scarf?” hearth signed lightly. The ASL equivalent of whispering. “Hearth its 2 am. Why do you need to all of a sudden?” Blitz signed. Hearth paused for a long time his hands suspended like he was debating how to answer. Then he signed. “Can’t sleep. Wanted my scarf because it helps sometimes” Hearth signed looking embarrassed. Blitz blinked a couple of times as his brain processed what hearth had signed. Then he waved his hand and stepped out of the doorway inviting Hearth inside. Hearth strode over to the arm chair in the corner of the office and pulled a book off the shelf to read. Pretty much Hearth’s usual spot for hanging out with Blitzen. Blitzen went to take up a spot on the small love seat. He opened his book he was halfway through. They sat like that for quite a bit. They didn’t talk but they had grown so use to being in each other’s company. The only difference this time was that the light shining through the window was from a crescent moon. Blitz enjoyed having Hearth around. Hearth didn’t say much but his presence was always comforting. Blitz was happy to know Hearth felt the same way. It honoured Blitz to know that when Hearth was feeling scared or lonely that the person he wanted to be near was him. Blitz finished his book and put it down on the coffee table. He looked over to see Hearth fast asleep snoring slightly. The book had fallen out of his hands and laid in his lap. Blitz stood up and picked up the quilt that was folded on the couch. He waved it open and gently laid it over Hearth. He grabbed the book and put it down on the coffee table making sure to leave it where Hearth had left off. He quietly turned off the lamp, although it didn’t matter how quiet he was since Hearth couldn’t hear. And then walked over to his bedroom. He crawled into bed and quickly fell asleep.

*

Blitz was awoken to a loud piercing sounds. Startled he practically feel out of bed. His heart was beating out of his chest. He ran out to the sitting room only to discover Hearth measuring out coffee grinds into a press. Hearth looked up as Blitz ran into the room. His hair was dishevelled from sleeping in the chair, but he looked happy and well rested. On the fire a kettle whistled like a banshee having come to a boil. Blitz must have still looked like he had been awoken by an air raid siren because Hearth signed. “Are you ok?” Blitz face relaxed as he took in what was happening. He wasn’t being attacked and that it was just Hearth making coffee. “Your kettle” Blitz said as he signed “I think it’s done” Hearth looked over and noticed the steam pouring from the lid of the kettle spluttering into the fire. Hearth ran over to the fire and removed the kettle. He walked it over to the press and poured in the boiling water. When he put it down he signed. “Sorry, forgot kettles whistled. Didn’t know it was so loud” “It’s ok” Blitz said sitting down on the couch and running his hands through his hair to try and fix it slightly. Hearth finished making the coffee and slowly walked over balancing the mugs so they didn’t spill on Blitzes white carpet. Hearth passed Blitz a black coffee, just how he always drank it, while hearth stirred his 3 creams 3 sugars cup of diabetes. Halfway through his coffee Hearth put his mug down and turned so that Blitz could see his hands. “Thanks for letting me stay last night.” Hearth signed. “No problem bud. Your always welcome here you know” Blitz said making sure not to mumble since his hands were busy being warmed by his mug. The corner of Hearth’s mouth twitched up which Blitz knew was Hearth smiling. Blitz finished his coffee and then put his mug down as well. He turned back to Hearth. “May I ask what was wrong? Why you wanted to stay last night” Blitz asked signing as he did so. Hearths corner mouth smile disappeared and he resumed his unusual head facing downward to avoid eye contact position. Blitz waited for a few seconds before putting his hand on Hearth’s shoulder. Hearth looked up. His eyes were tinged green and he looked like he was trying to hold back tears. Blitz gave him a few seconds before signing. “It’s ok bud. I’m here for you” Hearth nodded and raised his hands slowly. “My father sent me an owl last night. My mother is dead” Hearth signed. He didn’t seem to upset at this fact. His facial expression didn’t’ waver. But he shifted uncomfortably. “My father said it was my fault. Said some things. I couldn’t sleep after. Brought back memories.” Hearth turned his head away from Blitz so that Blitz couldn’t see a tear fall down his face. Unfortunately for Hearth Blitz was too observant. Blitz put his arm around Hearth’s shoulders and rubbed his knee hoping to comfort his friend. Hearth breathed in deep trying to hid a sob and then wiped his face on his robe sleeve. He then reached into his pocket and handed Blitz a folded crumbled piece of paper. It looked as if Hearth had balled it into his fist before shoving it into his pocket. Blitz uncrumpled the letter and read it.

Hearthstone,

It is my duty to inform you that because of your actions you have caused the death of another family member .I am writing to inform you of the passing of your mother Greta. Although I am sure you couldn’t care less about your family. Your mother passed away early last week when she was hit by a muggle vehicle on her way home from the country club. She was so distraught from the terrible things her friends had informed her about your activities during tea she did not see the vehicles coming. It has taken me some time to figure out where you were to send this letter. I was even more disheartened when my staff informed me that you had taken up a job as a simple public servant to the disgraceful institution that is Hogwarts. When I thought you could not embarrass the family more you seem to find new ways to disgrace the name Alderman. If your abnormality and slack of intelligence couldn’t be worse you have found yourself in the service of a muggle born teaching the mud blood offspring of muggles, ancient runes of all things.

For your transgressions against me and my family with both your ineptitude and fault in causing the death of my son and wife I promise you I will get my revenge. Such actions shall not go unpunished.

From the desk of Mr. A Alderman

Blitz felt his hands shaking as he read the letter. His face flashed red with anger. He wanted to say something rude about Hearth’s father but no words were strong enough. Hearth had assumed a curled position with his head practically burring in his lap with his hands over his face. Blitz threw the letter down on the table and rubbed Hearths back. After a few seconds Hearth couldn’t hide his sobs anymore and Blitz felt him shudder with tears under his hands. Blitz reached over and hugged Hearth tightly rocking him back and forth trying to comfort him. Blitzen knew about Hearth’s brother. One night while they were hanging out together Hearth had told Blitz with trembling hands about how a Lethifold had killed his brother. Hearth and his brother had been sleeping when the creature entered their room and ate him. Hearth being deaf had not heard his brothers cries and was too late in realizing what was happening and altering his parents. Ever since Hearths parents had hated him more than usual. The Alderman’s were a wealthy noble pure blood family. The fact that their eldest son was deaf was a disgrace. When Hearth’s brother had died they blamed him. They told him it should have been him that should have died. They made Hearth work to repay a wergild. He wasn’t allowed to leave their house he had to pay to eat and sleep and spend all his waking hours working off his debt to pay his parents back for the death of his brother. When Blitz had first heard the story he was disgusted and angry. Hearth was the kindest person Blitz had ever met and his best friend. It broke his heart to know what hearth went through until he decided to run away. They stayed like that for so long Blitz lost track of time. Eventually Hearth got a grip on himself. He took one last deep breath and wiped his face on his sleeve and raised his head. He weakly signed “Sorry” “Hey none of that. Don’t apologize” Blitz said reaching out to grab hearth hands to stop him from signing. This admittedly was very rude and he knew Hearth hated being silenced, but he couldn’t let Hearth put himself down further.

“Hearth I don’t know what to say except that you’re safe here. We are your family. And were not going to let anything happen to you.” Blitz said Hearth shook his head and pulled his hands back to talk. “You don’t know my father. He’s powerful. And now he knows where I am. I need to leave. Keep you guys safe” Blitz’s eyebrows scrunched together with confusion and irritation. “Hearth that is the stupidest thing you have ever said. And let me remind you once said my orange tie went well with my purple robes. I’m not letting you go anywhere.” Blitz started saying. Hearth cut him off by singing rapidly and shaking his head. Blitz reached up against and wrestled his hands still. Hearth now looked slightly angry. He tried to fight off Blitz but Blitz was much stronger. “Hearth, please listen to me. I promise you that nothing will ever happen to you. I will personally make sure your father will never lay a hand on you. Also you can’t leave. I wouldn’t, scratch that, I can’t live without you. You’re my best friend. You’re pretty much the only person who get me and I can trust 100%. Without you … I don’t’ know… I couldn’t do it. I love you bud.” Blitz started rambling desperately. Hearth stopped struggling let his hands falls down. He leaned forwards and his head fell onto Blitzs shoulder. Blitz put his arms around Hearths shoulders patting his back. He then rested his chin on the top of Hearths head. The familiar sent of cedar and wood smoke met his nose. Blitz didn’t know why he did it but he turned his head and kissed hearth on the top of the head. He immediately regretted his actions. He wasn’t thinking, it just seemed like the thing to do. But now as hearth raised his head to look at Blitz. He wished he had a time turner. Kissing your best friend on the top of the head might not be something friends do. Blitz started cursing to himself in his head. ‘Idiot idiot idtiot’. Blitz had always held a place in his Hearth for the tall deaf wizard since they met. There was something about his grey eyes and sarcastic nature that he was drawn to. He knew Hearth was tough and didn’t really take anything from anyone. Yet as Blitz got to know him he also got to see the very rarely seen vulnerable Hearth. The Hearth that made Blitz want to roll him in blankets and hug him to sleep. Blitz trusted hearth more than anyone and Hearth trusted Blitz back. The only person Blitz had trusted and loved this much before was his father, who was now gone. They did almost everything together. Blitz would have been crazy to not fall for the guy. Yet he always pushed these felling and thought back to the bottom of his thoughts. He didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize their friend ship. Yet in his moment of distraction he slipped and like an idiot forgot that hearth and him weren’t like that. They were just friend. And friends definitely didn’t kiss each other on the heads, especially when the other one is in such a vulnerable sate. “Did you just kiss me?” hearth signed very carefully and slowly so that Blitz completely understood. ‘YOU STUPID IDIOT BLITZEN! NOW YIUVE DONE IT.’ Blitz heard the voice in his head yelling at him. Blitz started at Hearth like a deer in the headlights. Scared to move or answer. Hearth titled his head pushing the answer out of Blitz. Blitz simply nodded. Then started babbling and signing clumsily. “I’m Sorry. I didn’t mean to I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to make…mmmph” Blitz was cut off as Hearth quietly leaned forward and just as clumsily as Blitz signs pressed his lips up against Blitz’s lips his eyes squeezed tightly shut. Blitzes eyes were wide with shock. He tensed up and sat still like a statue. The kiss was brief and when hearth pulled away and saw blitz’s still shocked expression he signed something so quickly that blitz didn’t catch it and jumped up. He started quickly running for the door. Blitz came to his senses and reached out to stop hearth. He managed to grab the guys candy cane striped scarf and pull him back. Blitz stood and forced hearth to turn. Hearth refused to meet his eyes. Something the elf often did when he didn’t want to talk. Probably a defence from years of being verbally abused. But blitz wasn’t mad at Hearth, he was more confused. He leaned forward and made hearth meet his eyes. Hearth slowly raised his head and stated signing “Sorry” over and over again. “Why are you sorry?” Blitz signed. “I should be the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It wasn’t appropriate” Heath shook his head. “No, I wanted you to. I shouldn’t have been so forward. I should have asked. I wasn’t thinking. You probably hate me now. My father is right I’m a freak, not normal. Normal respectable wizards don’t … they don’t.. They don’t fall for their friends like that” “Hearth I could never hate you. Don’t say that. Please” Blitz stammered trying his best to sign what he was saying with trembling hands. “Listen Hearth I really like you. And I know this isn’t the place but better now than never I need to tell you that well. I really like you, not like friends.” Hearths eyes were unreadable. His expression stayed blank like usual. Then Hearth did something Blitz wasn’t expecting. “I like you too. I want to be more than friends. I have for a long time” Hearth signed. They stood still together for a while too scared to move as if the air between them would explode. Eventually blitz reached his hand out and gently held Hearths hand. “Can I kiss you again? I would hate for you to only have your first kiss as pathetic as the one you gave me” Blitz said trying to force a smile and some humor into his words. It must have worked because Hearth smiled lightly and nodded his head. Blitz stepped closer and grabbed hearths scarf to pull down his face. He pressed his lips up against Hearths more forcefully than Hearth had but at the same time he kept it gentle and tender. He put both his hands on Hearth hips and pulled him closer trying to push his feelings into Hearth through the kiss. Blitz felt heath slump slightly as he pushed harder into the kiss. Hearth hands went up and around Blitz’s neck. Hearth lips moved under Blitz. They were moist and obviously unexperienced. Blitz lingered the kiss for a few seconds more then pulled back and pecked hearth at the corner of his mouth before pulling away completely. Blitz kept his hands on hearth hips and looked up at him. Hearth blinked a few times like a newborn owl blinking at the sun. Blitz smiled up at him still trying to comprehend what had just passed between them. “Do you want to go down to breakfast?” Blitz asked letting his hands fall off of Hearth to sign as he spoke. Hearth nodded and blitz reached out to take his hands. They walked out of blitz office hand in hand. Once they got to the hallway the let their hands spate but stayed walking close to each other conversing in ASL.

The whole time during breakfast Blitz thought about the letter Hearth had received from his father. Blitz didn’t know what he was going to do about Hearth’s father but one thing was sure. No one was going to lay a hand on his Hearth.

#blitzstone #blitzen #Hearthstone #hearthstone/blitzen #magnus chase #alex fierro #harry potter crossover #magnus chase and the gods of asgard