#I could probably just hang the blanket on the clothesline in the shower and the weight of it... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rocketink · 3 years

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LOST AND FOUND

In which you lose your stuff all the time but your first-floor neighbour somehow always has it for you. Or, in a soulmate world, your soulmate finds everything you loses and reverse.

pairing: minghao x gender neutral reader

genre: fluff, crack + neighbor & soulmate! Au

wc: 2.2k+

warnings: none I think (this type of soulamte thingy is kinda crazy tho). Btw this is my first au so I’m sorry fpr any mistakes!! + English is not my first language so apologies :)

notes: I migh turn this into a series since I’ve thought about some details here and there as I wrote this au?? What do you think??

The situation inside your apartment has turned unbearable, and you know should have moved with Joshua when you had the chance. He wasn't the closest of your friends, but you're sure it would have been more comfortable with him rather than third-wheeling your roommates.

Now, you don't hate Mingyu and your best friend, you just think they are disgustingly cute. You feel very happy since you've seen them pining after each other for a while now (all the furtive glances they sent to each other when they thought nobody was looking was like being inside a rom-com movie and it was hilarious at first. It eventually became too much to handle). You've never seen two more oblivious people inside a room, it was exasperating. Things began to turn serious when they discovered they were each other's soulmates and they've been seriously dating ever since.

It's great, really, but why do you have to see each of their displays of affection? Or, should we say, why doesn't the time to find your soulmate finally get to you?

Because you know, deep down inside you, that the problem is not that they have a soulmate. The problem is that you don't find it.

"Good morning, love." Mingyu greets your friend with his deep morning voice, and gives them a kiss on their temple. "Good morning, Y/n." He gives you a tiny hug and you growl.

"It's too early for being cute don't you think?" You ask joking-not-so-joking.

"Feeling grumpy at eight in the morning? Woah, breaking your own record." You laugh at what your friend says and they laugh too. You don't mind being like this, just why does it have to get so awkward sometimes?

"Guys another disgrace has happened." You announce solemnly. "I have lost my jacket"

"Again?" Mingyu judges.

"But didn't you wash it yesterday? It must be hanged with the rest of the clothes."

"I checked when I woke up because it's cold and it wasn't there."

"It was pretty windy last night, maybe it fell?" Your friend suggests and they grin. "Maybe Minghao will bring it back to you later?"

Ah, here we have the other reason why you want to move to a lost town somewhere in Australia: Xu Minghao, your first-floor neighbor, the one that has an apartment to envy because of his small, well-decorated courtyard. You don't envy that, though, because your clothesline is right on top of his courtyard, and sometimes he has to bring you all the clothing items that fall into his yard. You don't know how all that ends up there, you've tried everything: from securing your clothes with more pins to tying it to the clothesline. But none of that ever works, and he always goes all up to the third floor -where you live- to give it back to you with a smile and a 'see you soon'. How does he know it's your clothes? You made sure to tell him the first time this happened.

Just like your friend predicted, that afternoon Xu Minghao knocked at your door.

"Hello." He greets with a friendly smile and your heart melts.

He's too adorable to handle.

"Hi, Minghao. Don't bother I think I know why you're here." You joke at your own clumsiness and he laughs with you too.

"You must have been cold without it." He seems worried and you shake your head.

"Don't worry, two layers of blankets made up for it."

He puts his hands into his pockets and smiles shyly and you feel your heart bursting off. When he leaves, you notice your jacket smells like him.

Ah, how you wished Minghao was your soulmate.

Things get more complicated when the finals approach. You can barely stand even after drinking your daily coffee and you spend day after day coming and going from home to the library. You are so focused and stressed that you barely pay attention to anything else, and you've lost from pens to your entire case. All of them safely brought back home by Minghao. You do not know how or when you threw your case through the window for it to end up at Minghao's yard, but he always brings some hot chocolate and a small talk with him, so you do not complain.

After all, you don't even remember how you wake up every morning by the end of the day. You end up thinking you need to control yourself a little more during finals.

One day it gets out of hand. You've probably had the worst of the days. You woke up late because you didn't hear the alarm clock, your roommates being all lovey-dovey already got you on your nerves, your exam was harder than you expected and you had a bad feeling about your answers. Then, when you finally got home, late and tired, your keys were nowhere to be found. You could feel your eyes getting watery and you knocked at the door. Nobody answers, your friend and Mingyu are celebrating their anniversary and you don't want to bother them even if all you want is a hot shower and watching a romantic without friends to cuddle. You immediately think of Minghao, would it be too much if you asked him to spend some time with you? You answer to yourself that yes, it would be too much, there's no need to bother anyone else. So what do you do now?

"Y/n?" Somebody asks behind you.

"Minghao?" And there you have it, just the one you were thinking of.

"Hi, uhm, are you okay?" You want to cry to that question, but you manage to hold back your tears.

"I'm fine I just- I must have lost my keys because I can't find them and there's no one home and I just want to sleep." You explain briefly.

"Are these your keys?" He holds something in his left hand that looks like your keyring -a framed pink paper with your name on it and a little olaf your sister once bought you-

"How did you find it?"

"I didn't, it appeared in my yard". He is as confused as you are.

"But... I remember I put it inside the pocket of my bag." You explain. "When I arrived it was opened so I just supposed they fell out. And there's no way they fell into your yard because they are always inside my bag, I never threw them... Why would anyone throw a keyring through my window? I-" You try to explain without taking a breath so that Minghao doesn't think you're a weirdo, but now you can't fight back your tears and Minghao looks worried.

"It's okay Y/n, don't worry, I understand. Well, I don't, but I know you didn't do it. Hold on let's get inside I'll make you some hot chocolate and we can watch a movie, okay?"

You nod without thinking, just wanting to be lulled into some peace. He makes you some hot choco as promised and makes some small talk while choosing a movie to watch.

"So where are your roommates?" He asks.

"Celebrating their anniversary."

"Wait, are they dating?"

"Didn't you know?"

"No? I'm so shocked what the hell." You laugh at his astonished face. "But are they...?"

"Soulmates? Yes, they are."

"Woah, lucky."

"I know right." You don't want this topic to surface but you can't help but ask. "Have you met your soulmate?"

"I haven't." After a few seconds, he adds, "have you?"

"No, not a single clue of who they are. I don't have a timer or a tattoo, or see them in my dreams... I'm getting tired of waiting. Overall watching the two lovebirds every day of my life."

"It is the same thing for me. I'd love to meet them or just to know how they are. I know I'm young and all that but I'm just very curious and almost all my friends have met them while I still don’t know how to find them. I feel left out."

You nod, relating to that feeling.

"By the way, if it gets tiring, why don't you just move out?"

"I don't know where to move to be honest. I don't know if I want to go through the 'look for a new apartment' process again, it's too tiring. Besides, I still have fun with them, they're not to blame for my loneliness."

Minghao laughs and looks away.

"Just so you know, I'm moving out next month. I found another apartment for a better price and I'm going to leave the one I have now. If it gets too unbearable, you can just take my place." And you are too focused on yourself to notice the sad look on his face.

Because Minghao and your little encounters made your whole living in a student's apartment life better, and you don't want him to go away. But you are just a neighbor in Minghao's life, so who are you to tell him that?

Minghao moves the following month just as promised, and you can't remove the moping face you wear.

"Why are you so sad Y/n? I've seen the new neighbor, he is as hot as Minghao." Your friend winks and you roll your eyes.

"I don't care. If he doesn't pick up my stuff then I don't want him."

"I've heard he is all the time arguing with their other roommate. Maybe they leave sooner than expected and Minghao comes back!"

"Don't be mean, Gyu!" You nag and he shrugs.

Somebody's knocking at the door distracts you from your conversation and both of your friends turn to look at you.

"Why do I always have to get the door? There's no Minghao now, I don't want it."

"Maybe is your new blue prince"

"Shut up, Mingyu."

But when you open the door to a frowning Minghao, your heart backflips.

"What are you doing here Hao? Is everything okay?"

"I am a little concerned." He shows you a small necklace you recognize immediately. "What was this doing in my house?"

"I lost it last week at university! I didn't know where it went." You try to answer.

"To my room?"

"Look, I also don't know what was my necklace doing in your house in which I've never stepped a foot in because is like five kilometers away ... Oh my god Hao did you walk here?"

"I took the bus." He looks down and then right at you. "The last time I saw you you were wearing it. I've been thinking for a week how did this get there since I haven't seen you in a month, I never took it and I know for sure you are not a stalker who would leave their necklace inside my room when nobody’s looking."

"Have you reached any conclusion?"

"Absolutely none. Then I talked to Jun and he said some of the romantic trash he usually thinks of, but this made me think."

"What did he say?" You don't know what direction this conversation is taking.

"He's a soulmate expert you know? He told me that maybe it’s because destiny wants us to meet again and I thought that couldn't be because oh god, what have I done to deserve you? Then I decided to make a little experiment and I'm really nervous because if this doesn't work out I might have lost the most important thing to me. Do you mind checking your room?"

You feel everything inside you revolving because of every single one of his words, but still, you do as he requests. You check your room, ignoring the question marks over your roommate's heads, and find nothing different. Except for a new notebook on top of your nightstand you hadn't noticed. It's a sketchbook, and all of the drawings on the inside are signed with Minghao's name.

"Is this yours?" He sighs in relief when he recognizes the sketchbook.

"This is a part of my life, you know?"

"Then how did you lose this?"

"I told June to leave it somewhere I didn't know so that I couldn't even look for it. I wasn't sure if it was going to work."

"I can't believe the universe does works like this."

"Me neither, but I'm glad it did."

"So, you said this friend of yours is an expert in soulmates?" You don't want to ask it directly, but you want to know if he's implying that you two are soulmates.

"Yes, I used the s word." You both laugh.

"Does this mean that you and I... You know."

"Jun told me this type of soulmate is rare, but it has happened under easier circumstances. All I know is that I keep finding you every time and I don't know if I ever want to stop finding you."

"OH COME ON JUST KISS ALREADY." You hear Mingyu shouting from the kitchen. "Babe, now I know how Y/n felt with us."

You want to laugh at Mingyu and tell him 'Ha, suffer you loser', but Minghao has other plans.

When he kisses you everything just seems simple and suddenly everything is fine, and you don't want to stop doing it. It's warm, it feels as if you had lost and found the most important thing in your life.

"Hold on then why did I never find anything yours?"

"Y/n, you break the kiss just to ask this?" You blush and he sighs. "I'm a very organized person, unlike others, so I barely lose things, happy now?"

"No. Does this mean that if I get lost in a crowd would you magically find me? You know, since I got lost."

"I don't know Y/n, and I don't want to find out. Now come here, I want to cuddle."

"Oh, yes. Finally."

#seventeen #minghao #seventeen imagines #minghao imagines #seventeen fluff #the8 imagines #minghao fluff #seventeen x reader #minghao x reader #seventeen au #minghao au #seventeen scenarios #minghao scenarios #seventeen fanfic #minghao fanfic #seventeen oneshot #minghao oneshot #seventeen drabble #minghao drabble

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sabreean · 3 years

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One word for you...

Where I have not gone plastic-free:

Bread box: There are no plastic-free, airtight bread boxes that I’ve been able to find and I *must have* airtight. I make my own bread in a bread machine just because I like to, and the first few loaves I made here on the humid island grew mold within three days because my old bread box was not airtight. Bread bags are more eco-friendly but aren’t airtight, and will hold the humidity. I could find no silicon boxes and also could not find silicone containers/bags that I could be sure would be big enough to hold a loaf of bread and still close completely. I’m considering a giant silicone bag I found online, for marinating meat, so if I get that I can see if a loaf will fit inside. But I haven’t pulled the trigger on that yet, buying something just to marinate meat doesn’t fall neatly into the “I really need it now�� category. So I purchased a BPA-free plastic, airtight box and it seems to be working very well. It’s so airtight that I was able to store bananas in it as well and there has been no sign of fruit flies.

Suncare: I spent two days working on the porch. I was under a roof in shade the entire time but I sunburn if I stand next to a toaster, so at the end of the second day I looked like Roy Neary in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. As in the right half of my face was bright red. I wasn’t wearing sunscreen because it breaks me out. All of it. Every single sunscreen ever. They all break out my face, neck and chest within 20 minutes of application. So I did some research and learned about mineral sunscreens versus chemical sunscreens and after reading a lot of recommendations and reviews, I ordered Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen. Yes the tube is plastic, but there’s probably no avoiding that. The sport cream is 45 SPF, waterproof for up to 80 minutes, vegan, free of all the chemicals that turn my face into a Marscape, biodegradable and - get this - reef safe. That’s a “gee how nice” for most people but now that I’m swimming around coral reefs, shit got real. They also make a spray-on but it’s not legal to ship aerosol cans to Hawaii, something about them exploding under pressure blah-bibby-blah. Pretty bummed about that. For those wondering, until now I’ve worn a sun visor whenever I’m outdoors but it didn’t occur to me to wear it on a covered porch. I’m sure it didn’t occur to Roy on a dark deserted highway in the middle of an Indiana night, either. LATER UPDATE: Native makes a mineral sunscreen and I thought it wasn't water resistant, but it turns out that it is, although I should not have had to dig so deep into their website to find this out. Better than getting anal probed, all things considered. The Alba sunscreen is very thick and hard to squeeze out of the tube, and you can feel it on your skin at first but you forget pretty quickly. It is completely unscented. You have to make sure to rub it in well if you don’t want to look a little weird. It showers off clean and easy and after a few days with it, not a single blemish! Our pharmacy sells some water resistant mineral sunscreens. I didn’t price them the last time I was there to compare with online ordering and they are probably reef-safe because as of January 1 of this year, suncreeens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii to protect the reefs. But my next purchase will be Little Hands because it is made right here in Hawaii. I have been a big believer in ‘buy local’ for many years and they are plastic-free.

Groceries: Groceries haven’t changed. I’ve been using cloth shopping and produce bags for many years, they just bloody well work better. I do buy some foods in plastic, often there just isn’t any alternative. This was true even on the mainland. The main change is that now I walk to the store more often than not. I was able to walk to almost everything I needed when I lived in Austin’s SoCo in the early aughts and I loved it, I am so so happy to be able to do that again. Knowing I’m just a pleasant stroll away also means that I only buy what I need in the immediate future. There are a few exceptions for items that sell out very soon after the weekly supply barge comes, and don’t always get restocked even then. I drive when I have to buy heavy or awkward to carry things, like a case of soda. I’ve found conflicts with grocery choices because of a weird contradiction: non-hippie products in cardboard/paper packaging versus hippie products in plastic. I first noticed this when I went to buy sugar the other day - do I get the organic non bleached sugar in the plastic bag, or the nonorganic bleached sugar in the plastic bag? It wasn’t much of a conflict in any real world sense, just something that grabbed my attention. (I went with the plastic by the way, for the organic foodstuff that was going to go into my body).

Probably the clothesline, I have no idea what the hell that thing is made of, most likely nylon. We don’t use it for everything because it’s too humid here to dry everything in a reasonable amount of time. But we use it for some things - especially towels and swim wear - and I’m glad that we have it and it saves money on electricity. Our electricity generation here on the island is likely solar but still, no need to be greedy about it. Lots of people here have clotheslines, they are a common sight I am glad to see.

Bandages: I use Wellys. Patch bamboo bandages sound great, but I am clumsy AF and so I need bandages that are going to stay on through wet and dry and everything else. Wellys are flexible fabric, latex-free bandages made in the USA, in reusable tins that you can buy refills for if you don’t want a new tin, and that create a seal around all four edges. They are a certified B Corp so even with a bit of plastic, the company is still in line with my ethics.

Makeup: I use mostly mineral makeup, because it lasts longer (no organic ingredients to breed bacteria) and many mineral brands offer smaller quantities that are more sensible for people who don’t wear it everyday, or at least don’t wear the same colors every day. On the mainland I went weeks without wearing makeup and here I’ll probably go for months, it’s just such a casual place. I might wear some when we go across to Maui for a long weekend. But there are a lot of all natural and plastic-free makeup options out there these days, I am glad to see. If I need to replace anything I will shop with them but it’s just stupid and wasteful to toss everything out and buy new. One thing I won’t compromise on is mascara, I use Thrive because it really does what it claims, and it is still a company that aligns with my ethics. Many zero-waste brands sell cake mascara and that’s a complete nope for me. I tried cake mascara in high school, when I was going through my Audrey Hepburn/Sophia Loren makeup phase and I really didn’t like it. I also tried cake eyeliner and must confess that this elder goth never ever got the hang of liquid eyeliner, Icarus winged better than I can. I gave up a long time ago, pencil me in baby. Also, I wear lipstick, the paint-on stuff that stays on through food, drink, sex and a nuclear blast. IMO, lip balms are a waste of money and do not count as ‘makeup’, unless you’re only intention is to prevent chapped lips and with a small amount of color that lasts few minutes at a time.

Hair brush: I need a new hair brush that is designed for my long fine mane because my hair is getting a lot of punishment here, between wind and swimming and so more frequent washing and lots of pulling and tugging into braids. I bounced back and forth between Ibiza (boar bristles, wood handle) and Mason Pearson (boar bristles, plastic handle), for about half an hour. I finally decided to bite the big one and invest in the Mason Pearson. It is universally reputed as the best hair brush to be had on planet Earth. The was company founded in London by a Yorkshireman named Mason Pearson (bet you didn’t see that coming) in 1885. The boar bristles are either shed bristles collected from the wild in India and China or sourced from the meat industry as they are a by-product of processing farmed boar; you may ask so I will answer and yes, I do eat boar. Mason Pearson is still owned and run by the Pearson family and the Pearson women have always played integral roles in the company. Indeed Mary Pearson was the CEO for the 20 years following the death of her husband, founder Mason, and one of their daughters ran the top floor of the factory on Old Ford Road in London for 50 years. You can purchase a brush with a handcrafted made-to-order wood handle but while I am willing to make the investment in a Mason Pearson brush, I just can’t bring myself to be so self-indulgent as to even send a price inquiry for the wood model. This is where my best friend reminds me of the lengths I went to and the price I paid to obtain a bottle of the finest Irish whiskey in the world to demonstrate that yes, I can be that self-indulgent without much convincing. I just can’t bring myself to do it with a hair brush. I purchased from Pasteur Pharmacy in NYC because they made their bones, if you will, in their early years in the 60s by catering to humans with dogs.

Bed blanket: I just couldn’t bring myself to buy a bamboo blanket/bedspread that costs in the $275 neighborhood when the dogs will be spending at least as much time on it as we will spend under it. So we went with half cotton/half bamboo for a much more reasonable price. The temps here are warm by the thermometer but the air is heavy with humidity (100% yesterday and that doesn’t necessarily mean rain), so when the fans blow it around it can be pretty damn chilly. And the dogs steal the covers.

Clothing: if I need new clothing I will consider bamboo but it’s damned expensive. I was shopping for a second bathing suit recently because I’m at the beach often enough that I need a suit to wear while the other one is drying or waiting to be laundered free of all the salt and sand that didn’t wind up in my ass or under my tits. I always thought that sand-in-uncomfortable-places was a joke, I was very wrong. I spent two hours searching for bamboo or other plant-based sustainable fabric or recycled fabric and found nothing under a hundred bucks. Nothing. Not even a thong bikini (I already have sand up my ass, I don’t need material there as well). I’m not lounging instagrammatically on Waikiki, I’m swimming in 5+ foot surf every weekend at least, so I am not willing to pay that much for a suit intended for plenty of use and punishment. I got a bikini because it will be easier to discreetly rinse most of the sand away before going back up the beach, if you know what I mean and I think you do.

#hippie #eco friendly #zero waste

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sweetdollfromhell · 5 years

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Chilling Tales of Riverdale

Chapter 3 of a old fanfic but stil alive that is a mix of Riverdale, CAOS and Archie horror. Located in season 2 and will have differences with the canon for both shows. I hope you like it.

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Sabrina joyfully led Jughead and Betty through the forest with a familiarity that showed her knowledge of the area. From time to time, Jughead's eye clung to one of his famous fetishes or an inscription carved in a tree but they did not seem to be placed in a sufficiently coherent way to serve as an indication. The cat trotted near them without the slightest fear.

-Your cat, did you find it here or did you already have it? Betty asked as she looked at the animal.

-Oh, Salem? I've had it since I was a little girl. He's... my best friend," said the girl.

-Is he that old? Asked surprise Betty. -It doesn't look like you're seeing it.

The cat slowed down to walk at the same speed as Betty and began to purr.

-He buried us all, believe me.

Suddenly, she stopped and turned towards the other two:

-Dear guests, mi casa! Proudly presenting Sabrina.

In front of them stood a family tent. Close to it, a kind of clothesline, a space for a campfire and a cooler half buried in the ground. If we forget the terrifying grey grays, we would have thought that a family or a group of friends were doing a normal wilderness camping.

-Come on, we'll be more comfortable inside. I mean, it smells a bit like it's closing because I have to let the tent close with the temperature going down but it's clean and pleasant otherwise! The girl continued as she unzipped the tent.

-You live in the woods and you just helped us. I think we can handle it," says Jughead.

He had lived in a drive-in for weeks before he found himself squatting in school, he wasn't going to be so picky for that little.

The tent was indeed clean if not a little cluttered. A sleeping bag and some blankets were lying in a corner. Several bags were resting, some leaving objects that had escaped from them. In another, a kind of tablecloth had been installed with several objects on top: books, a small cauldron, several small knives, jars and dried plants. This last element caught Betty's eye. What was it for him? If it was done in Jughead's eyes, he also had questions.

Meanwhile, in the meantime. Sabrina pulled out some clothes and put them together in a semblance of pillows and opened the sleeping bag to spread it along.

-You should be comfortable like this. So, you suspect that my reserves are limited but I can offer you water, tea and a few cans of soft drink. For something more consistent, I have dry meat, preserves, some wild vegetables, apples, walnut bars, rice, soup, dehydrated stuff and good chip packages, chocolates and candies taken from vending machines.

-Uh... the tea sounds good, says Betty.

-For the food that suits you, Jughead continued despite Betty's look.

-Okay, I'll be back," Sabrina said enthusiastically before going outside.

Betty turned to Jughead.

-We can't leave her here! We have to take him to Riverdale!

-Betty, I think she's here by choice. I agree that it's not ideal, but she probably has her reasons. You're not going to convince her to follow you easily. And maybe it's for the best. She's hiding something...," said Jughead, continuing to observe the objects in the background. - Her story about her decorations is shady and she was too comfortable with her attack. It's not his first time.

-I know, but I think it may not be motivated by bad intentions. You and Polly were also homeless. And neither of you trusted anyone to ask for help for a reason. All I see is a girl our age living in the woods when the temperature keeps dropping, a killer is free and desperate enough to stay there anyway. In addition, she has helped us by putting her life on the line and she shares her resources, which are probably few in number.

Before Jughead could reply, the cat entered the tent closely followed by his mistress. She placed a metal plate between them before placing a teapot on it and holding cups out to them.

-Fortunately, there are only two of you, otherwise I would have run out of cups.

-You were quick," said surprised Jughead.

-Well, when you're stuck in the woods, you learn to make a fast and big fire without hurting yourself. I also have a great hot plate," Sabrina says proudly.

She deposited a plate filled with several apples, chips, bars, sweets and carrots.

-Thank you, that's very kind of you," Betty continued.

-Oh, it's nothing. I am very happy to have company other than Salem's.

The cat, as if to show his anger at his mistress' commentary, climbed onto Betty's lap and lay there.

-You're not allergic, are you?

-No, I even had a cat when I was younger, Betty said as she stroked the animal, which immediately began to purr.

-Better yet, he's very social!

-Are these wild carrots? Asked Jughead.

-Yes, not hemlock, I reassure you," said amused Sabrina. -These two plants are very similar, it's true, but a few key differences can save you from ending up like Socrates or the idiot from On the Road. One, there is a beautiful crown of leaves under the flowers like thorns in wild carrots. Two, its flowers are white or pink pale except in its center or grows a single red flower sometimes almost black. And finally, three, the smell is very different. The hemlock one can't even pass for a carrot from far away.

She laughs when she sees the surprised looks of the other two.

-I like the woods and it's not my first-time camping in the wild. I knew what I was doing when I moved here," she continued, taking one of the carrots to prove her point.

-Have you been a jeannette? Asked Betty.

-Oh, God, no. My family is just... very natural. I come from a long line of midwives, apothecaries, healers and snake oil sellers. This is no longer necessary nowadays, but old knowledge can sometimes be useful. We know how to feed, heal and protect ourselves. Nature is full of gifts for anyone who knows how to see them. Hence my material there, she continued, pointing to the tablecloth and its contents.

-My guides, knives and other instruments to prepare my food, remedies and traps. I have to be self-sufficient if you want to know.

- Oh, is that why? Asked Betty.

-Uh... yeah. What do you think it was?

-Just curious, cut them off, Jughead. -Where do the chocolate bars come from?

-Oh, that, promise me you won't be angry. There's some kind of camping grounds a few miles from here. It's empty and the lock leaves something to be desired. The electricity is out but the water is not. I do my laundry and take a shower there.

-But it must be freezing! Says Betty.

-It's not so bad and I told you, I'm pretty much cold resistant. I usually warm up afterwards with a fire in the appropriate locations. But I need to save my parts for the washer and dryer, but there was this vending machine who catch my eyes . I may or may not have hit it until it gives me its content. But the glass is intact!

-So, you too have discovered the weaknesses that made them drop their loot," said Jughead amused.

-Do I have to guess that you know them too? Sabrina asked, reassured.

-I may have some experience in this," said the young man.

Betty was surprised that Jughead seemed willing to let such information slip into a similar situation. Happy... she believed.

-Besides, if you ever want to use your phone, I'll take you to camp. I think he has a connection because it was written on one of the signs.

-Good idea, I look forward to seeing what you say to your mother, Bet.

-The truth. Just tell him I was in a car rather than a motorcycle, don't talk about the Ghoulies and just say we couldn't find a network," says Betty.

-Ghoulies? What is it? What is it? Sabrina asked.

-The gang members, Betty explained. -The boys who were chasing us were part of it.

-Are you serious? Ghoulies is their gang name? It sounds like the name of a brand a cheap of Halloween costumes for kids! mocked Sabrina. -I mean, I'm sure they're dangerous, but they could have forced themselves for the name! Why, are they after you?

-Why do you live in the woods? Jughead replied.

-Good repartee, conciliated Sabrina.

Betty decided to come back to the charge.

-I don't know if you know, but there's a serial killer on the loose.

-Maybe I heard it between branches without any pun intended, Sabrina confirmed. -But the details are unclear: what is his type and what does his hunting table look like?

She could have asked them if they wanted more tea than her tone would not have seemed more disturbed by the question.

-He... he calls himself the Black Hood, Betty began. -He wounded three people and killed one. He claims he's getting rid of sinners.

Betty kept the calls to herself.

-I sees. A maniac with a twisted and personal sense of morality, the oldest scourge in the world. But his average is not very high, unless the survivors were particularly gifted and lucky people. Or maybe only some are important, and the rest is a diversion, Sabrina continued to think aloud. -All in all, it's nice to know. I will be careful," she smiled.

-There's a serial killer on the loose and you're going to be careful? Betty asked, repeating her words as if to convince herself of what she was hearing.

-What are my other options?

-Coming to town, Betty replied. -You'll be safer.

Sabrina looks at her like she's crazy before answering:

-No. I'll be screwed if I go into town! You might as well draw a giant target on my back!

-I...

-Your serial killer probably hangs out more in town than in the middle of the woods! All that's going to happen is that people are going to ask questions and it's going to come back to me!

-You don't have to...

-A what? I have some money, but there's no one who'll rent to a minor! I don't have a phone and if I have to find a job, who will want to hire me without references? I'm going to be noticed and then they're going to send me back...

She could not even finish her sentence; the terror being displayed on her features.

-I can't go back, I can't!

The cat had risen from Betty's knees to climb on Sabrina's knees and Sabrina squeezed the animal, which rather than trying to free itself, allowed itself to do so without resistance. Betty looked horrified at the girl. She didn't want to cause such a panic.

-I'm sorry, calm down! Look, I'm sure we can find something...

-Would your parents be comfortable letting a girl and her cat you've known for less than an hour sleep on their couch? Mockingly asked for this one. -I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I don't have any other options. And between having to go in there or taking the 0.01% chance that a serial killer will attack me, I take the killer without hesitation and with full knowledge of the facts.

-Is it that bad? Asked Betty.

Sabrina nodded, her face haunted.

Betty watched Sabrina disconcerted, not knowing what to say. Jughead, for his part, fights what his heart and head told him. And for a rare time, his mind was not the winner.

-I live alone," he said. -I'm supposed to live with a host family, but I managed to move back to my father's caravan. It's small but there's heating, hot water and even internet. You can sleep in the room and I'll take the couch.

-Are you serious? Asked the two girls in heart.

-Yes," said Jughead, already regretting. -I'll get you a padlock for the room, but I reserve the right to kick you out if you stick carrion to the walls.

Sabrina looked with an expression of shock that turned into joy.

-Thank you! Thank you so much. And don't worry, I intend to pay back this kindness. I can give you a small rent with whoever I have left and pay the rest in the kitchen, cleaning, laundry, home remedy for hangovers, make your choice!

-Just try to respect my privacy and keep the place clean! Says Jughead wondering how quickly he would regret his words.

-Promise! But I insist on participating in one way or another! Can Salem come?

-Can you have him do his business outside like a dog?

Sabrina nodded.

-He is welcome.

-And if it's ever too hard, I'm sure I can probably convince my mother to let me take a cat. Especially a nice one like that, Betty said as she stroked the animal.

-Oh don't let him fool you, he can be a little brat when he wants, Sabrina mocked. -I'll give you back your kindness too, Betty," she says so seriously this time.

-You don't need to do that, Betty assured me.

-But of course, it is. Goodness must be rewarded in a world like ours, so let us encourage it!

-Speaking of which, I may have another condition," says Jughead.

-Make me an offer," said Sabrina.

Betty suddenly had a thrill. Her expression had changed, the more a panicky kid in her place, she felt like she was seeing something else that was totally different. Cold and in control.

-You're running away from what? I don't want details, just to know if I should expect the police to knock on my door," says Jughead.

Sabrina observed him for a long time without speaking before finally speaking.

-I have serious family problems. And if you're afraid that I'll attract unwanted people, know that I'm waiting for a sign from another branch of my family tree. I'll go with her if everything goes well or I'll manage otherwise. If you want more, then you'll have to open up for me. An equivalent exchange.

The choice of words troubled Betty and she knew that her boyfriend would pull a tooth out alive before delivering personal information to a stranger. Well done.

-All right. I don't know if there's room for everything," said Jughead looking at the contents of the tent.

-I can bury some of it and come back for it later.

-Or we could ask Veronica or Archie if they could put them in their garages, Betty continued.

-I would like to thank them if that is the case. You too, Betty.

-So, I think the issue is settled. Do you think you can pack a bag right now and be ready to go tonight? If it works for you too, Jug, of course!

-It's all right," said Jughead.

-I don't know, I'd like to leave nothing to be abandoned. I have traps and other things that it would be a bad idea to leave it like that," Sabrina continued uncomfortably.

-Take us to the camp so we can call and see if you can do it, otherwise we'll come back tomorrow to get the rest, Betty suggested.

Sabrina nodded and pointed in one direction:

-Walk this way, the network should eventually appear. No need to go to the camp for that. I'm starting to tidy up my things. I can give you a compass or Salem if you're afraid of getting lost.

- I don't think the cat is an animal that can guide people, at best they eat the bodies of lost people," said Jughead.

-Oh, he's brilliant and he listens to me occasionally," Sabrina reassured Sabrina. -Show them Salem how great you are.

Salem advanced towards them and to Jughead's surprise began to walk in front of them but at a slow pace as if they were to follow him.

-He's really trained," Jughead continued surprised. -Did you know it was possible?

-No, I've always been told that cats understand but don't listen. Note, it may be a particular breed. I don't know of any cat that would be more than ten years old and still look like that either.

Betty looked at her phone and smiled:

-I have a signal! I'll be able to call Archie and my mother after!

-Perfect. Bet, would you mind if I went all the way to see this camp she's talking about? continued the young man.

-Uh... no, but why?

-I'd just like to know why she didn't move there. A summer camp seems a better alternative than in the middle of the forest.

-Okay, I'll follow you," Betty said, dialing the number and then taking her hand.

The camp looked like it had just come out of a horror movie and Jughead could have considered this a credible reason to abandon it if Sabrina had not surrounded his own decoration camp that would have been in their place in American Horror Story. Another detail was the heavy padlock that blocked the main entrance. She said she had forced him but not that she had replaced him afterwards. It was a lot of work for a little bit. Unless she climbed the fence? As feasible but ironed with equipment? Especially since the content could be damaged if she simply throws it over the fence, assuming she has the strength to do so.

In the background, he could hear Betty's conversation. Archie was not difficult to convince to come and get them and their new acquaintance. The conversation with her mother was of a completely different nature. Jughead could hear the sound of the Coopers' tone rising to a hysterical level. It seems he would probably have to go up to Betty's window if he wanted to see her again this year.

-Are you all right? He asked, although he suspected the answer.

-It's all right," said Betty, trying to calm down. -Did you find anything?

-Only more questions.

-If you've changed your mind....

-No, it's okay. It's okay. I'm not going to pretend that I'm excited about having a roommate, but that's the best solution right now.

-I wonder what she's running from," says Betty. - I don't think she was exaggerating. She seems really scared.

-Neither do I. I doubt a little more about the part about a family member coming to pick her up. Maybe she just said that, so I could leave her alone.

(Or maybe she hopes he'll come and get her) thought Jughead, remembering his own mother. If that were true, he was going to wish her that it would work.

-Going back to see if she was finished, he decided, no longer wanting to think about Gladys Jones.

When they returned, Sabrina had unpacked the tent and gathered her possessions into three bags. She had also changed, now wearing jeans, army boots, a pink sweater but had kept her hoodie.

-I buried part of it in a camouflaged hatch. I'll bring the rest with me unless it's too big. In that case, maybe I can leave one here.

-Do you have a cage for the cat? Asked Betty.

-No need. It may be on my lap or I would put it in a bag with an opening for air, it is used to it, Sabrina proudly said.

-Is it a cat or a stuffed animal? Asked Jughead as he looked at the cat.

-Sometimes I wonder, recognized Sabrina as the cat was coming back to her.

-Do you want us to help? Asked Betty.

-I... yeah, if you don't mind.

Sabrina handed Betty her broom and one of her bags to Jughead, keeping the backpack and a large wheeled suitcase.

- Which road? Sabrina asked.

-669, Betty replied.

Without hesitation Sabrina walked in the direction of it as the two followed.

Once out of the woods, Jughead took his bike and dragged it towards them, hoping he could take it back to town. Fortunately, their wait was not too long just fifteen minutes before Archie's old car appeared.

-Hello Bet, Jug," Archie began.

- Hey Archie, thanks again for helping us out! Says Betty happy to see a familiar face.

-Hey, Arch. You think I can tie it up after your car? Asked Jughead as he showed his bike.

-I suppose, said Archie hesitant.

He didn't like any sign of the Serpent with his friend, even as simple as his means of transport. He went out despite the help to load the bike.

-Hello, you must be Sabrina? Says Archie smiling at the newcomer.

Sabrina nodded and approached Archie cautiously.

-Hello, who are you?

-Archie Andrew, to serve you, replied the amused one, reaching out to him.

Sabrina took it and squeezed it.

-Nice to meet you, Archie.

-And you? Archie asked.

-Me what?

-Your last name?

- Betty and Jugheand didn't give me their last names, Sabrina replied

-It's Cooper for me and Jones for Jughead, says Betty.

She seemed hesitant before saying:

-Spellman. My name is Sabrina Spellman.

-Like the singer? Archie asked.

-I don't think we're related but we write it the same ways. And this is Salem," continued the white hair girl, holding the cat.

-Oh yes, your cat! You don't have a cage, Archie remarked.

-He will be quiet, I swear, Sabrina promised.

-His cat is obedient enough, Betty said to reassure him.

-And he will lie on the floor at the first sign of a siren, Sabrina promised. -He's used to it.

-In this case, Archie gave in.

Archie opened the trunk but rather than handing it over, Sabrina placed it herself, taking the sports bag from Jughead's hands and placing it too. She went to take the broom from Betty's hands when she asked her the question:

-Are you sure it will fits?

-But of course, you just have to place it in the right angle, smiled Sabrina.

To Betty's surprise, she actually managed to get her in without any difficulty.

-I sits in which seat? She asked.

-The boys could sit in the front and we both in the back. Is that okay with you?

Sabrina nodded and sat down with the animal lying on her lap next to her bag, which she put between Betty and her.

-So, how long were you in the woods? Asked Betty.

-Maybe a two weeks. I didn't really count, Sabrina admitted.

-You know there's... Archie started.

-A serial killer? Yes. Betty and Jughead told me. He's not as scary as the werewolf on the highways yet, but still.

-From what? Asked Jughead.

-The werewolf on the highways, I know, the name sucks, but at least he has an excuse for not choosing him. There was a serial killer in the sixties in the area. He picks up women on the highway always in the same order near the highways of cities in the region, including Riverdale. Everything was good, from the kid to the old lady, from the pastor's wife to the prostitute. Raped, tortured and eventually killed. They never caught him, but the consensus is that he was probably a truck driver. And he must be dead because guys like him don't stop like that. With any luck, he suffered.

-I've never heard that story," says Jughead surprised.

-Oh, despite his violence, he didn't make too many waves at the time. People believed in isolated incidents and cities communicated with each other far too late. But if you google it, you should find something. People think he had at least 29 victims, although some think he has more than 47, but even then, it's hard to be sure. Strangely enough, the Riverdale reaper is more celebrated than him when he only killed one family.

-Only?" asked Jughead, raising an eyebrow.

Sabrina laughed nervously.

-I'm sorry to be so morbid. Let's talk about lighter stuff. Do you like pastries? I could do you a little something to thank you! What you want: cupcake, muffin, French toast, pie...

-My friend Veronica loves to cook," says Betty. -Personally, I only know the basics.

- I'm sure you have other equally useful talents," says Sabrina.

-Betty is an excellent mechanic," says Jughead.

-Wow, that's impressive! Sabrina continued. - I can't do it without help.

-Not as much as it looks! And I think that impressive question, you're pretty much yourself. Surviving alone in the woods must have been hard. Not to mention the Ghoulies.

-This is my natural environment. I was pretty good, I was just feeling a little lonely. And the Ghoulies didn't have a chance on my field. I wouldn't be so confident in the city.

-But you're not alone in town, Betty continued.

-I suppose... Sabrina said hesitantly.

Betty tried to make her keep talking.

- Do you work out?

-Kind of like everyone else at school. My best friend was a cheerleader, so I tried to please her, but it wasn't for me. She ended up dropping out anyway for more social activities as well. I like the arts, for example! I have done singing, dancing, piano and theatre. I also started a social club with her.

-Archie is a musician and a singer too, says Betty.

-Oh, yeah? Says Sabrina suddenly interested. ¸

-He even wrote songs," said Jughead.

-I would like to have a career in music, recognized Archie.

-That's cool! Are you also musicians?

-No, I prefer to write and the same for Betty," Jughead continued.

-Veronica sings for example, Betty continued.

-Is she your best friend? Sabrina asked with candor.

-Yes, but on a par with Kevin.

Betty's heart will then be remembering their fight. She understood his anger, but she never wanted him hurt. Kevin could have a boyfriend or twelve that he changed every week, she didn't care, all she wanted was for him to be safe.

-Veronica tried to calm him down, clumsily tried Archie

Betty forced herself to smile and nodded.

-He needs time, I understand. Besides, I probably won't be able to see many people with my mother.

-Is she angry? Sabrina asked for an anxious expression on her face.

-Yes, but it's all right, don't worry. In fact, we have arrived!

Jughead got out of the car with Archie taking Sabrina's luggage out of the trunk.

-Are you going to be all right to carry everything? Archie asked.

-Of course. You, go bring Betty back before her mother sends the Sheriff after us.

-Good point.

The two friends greeted each other, and Betty took her head out of the window to share a kiss with Jughead. The car then left the mobile home park. Jughead picked up the sports bag and swept it up while Sabrina put her backpack back and dragged her suitcase. The cat followed them as he trotted.

-Come on, I'll show you which one.

-Thank you again. I know you don't really want to get in my way, but you do it out of generosity. I'm not going to make you regret it.

-If you don't want to make me regret it, stop talking about it.

-Okidoki.

As they advanced towards the caravan, Jughead recognized several silhouettes waiting for him in front of the entrance. Sabrina, seeing her expression changing, asked a question:

-Are you going to introduce me to them or should I get my broom back?

#chilling riverdale #riverdale #chilling adventure of sabrina #chilling tales of sabrina #archie horror #archie andrews #betty cooper #jughead jones #veronica lodge #sabrina spellman #salem saberhagen #bughead #varchie

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imaginetonyandbucky · 6 years

Text

Toward Safe Harbors (Part 4/5)

Harley leads Tony back to his place. They’ll be alone, as his mother brought his sister to her job at the tailor shop in town and Harley’s father walked away from the family years ago. Harley shrugs when Tony tells him that it isn’t his smartest plan - bringing a stranger back to his home, alone.

“We don’t have much worth stealing and if you’re going to kill me then you’re going to kill me. Though I’m warning you, I have my slingshot.”

“Still kid - not smart,” Tony sighs.

Though Harley isn’t wrong about there not being much worth stealing. Their home is four walls of stacked rocks, built to last, but cracks can be seen through the mortar. The straw roof should’ve been replaced years ago. They have an old wood shed, where Tony is welcome to bunk the night according to Harley, but it’s much, much emptier of wood than it should be this close to winter.

Harley offers up a few horse blankets and Tony doesn’t ask whose bed they came from, because there’s no horse in sight or stable to keep one. Tony even gets to eat. He eats one of the last fish they had, which Harley was meant to replenish today at the river, baked using the small fire still going in the hearth.

The entire time, Harley talks and asks a million questions and Tony tries not to confirm anything about himself so that Harley can have plausible deniability.

“So why are you running away from the king? Don’t you get, like, showered in gold and food and stuff?”

“Okay, kid. Where’s your axe?” Tony deflects as he sucks the last bit of flaky flesh from the bones.

“Are you going to kill me with it? That sounds painful.”

Tony sighs. “I haven’t decided yet. But first I’m going to chop some wood and then see how I feel. So - where’s the axe?”

(Watch out for the break!)

Tony’s body hurts. He needs rest and probably to see a doctor. He’s willing to admit that, at least inside his own head. Still, he can’t eat Harley’s food and take his blankets and put him at risk by aiding Tony’s treason while leaving Harley nothing in return, so he and Harley hunt down the axe.

The axe is duller than Hammer’s sense of humor, such that Tony’s surprised that Harley bothers to brag about all the wood he’s chopped with it. No one is going to believe him, and Tony points that out right away. He instructs Harley on finding a whetstone, and when that fails to turn one up, eventually they manage to find a rock that will work well enough.

Tony shows Harley how to sharpen the axe, with the proper safety procedures and everything. Pepper would be so proud.

Then Tony chops wood, having Harley drag logs to him and then cart away the splintered logs to stack in the shed. It’s not enough, not by a long shot, but they’ll be warmer for a few more days this winter at least.

Tony had meant to show Harley how to set traps for fish and snares for rabbits, but Harley’s already two steps ahead in that regard. Tony helps construct a few more to have extras on hand, but then moves onto instructing Harley the best dirt to water ratio to fill in the holes between the rocks in the wall so that it won’t crumble and fall out again.

Harley soaks it all in like a sponge and spits back out questions and commentary, such that Tony wishes he could drag Harley into one of his workshops and see what his mind could create with more resources. Miniature catapults that have mud hit the high spots on the wall, out of Harley’s reach, are only the beginning.

Tony ducks back into the shed when Harley’s mother and sister are due to arrive back, and he promptly falls asleep on the blankets.

Harley shakes Tony awake the next day, after his mother and sister have left again for the shop.

Tony groans and gives himself an extra moment to let his body tell him how angry it is at life before he levers himself to his feet. He shakes out the blanket before starting to fold it.

“You could stay, you know. If you want,” Harley offers with a shrug as he looks away.

Tony hides a smile and doesn’t pause. “Impressed with my chopping skills? You’ll learn.”

“It helped. So we won’t be as cold this winter,” Harley says as he wraps his arms around himself and pouts up at Tony.

“That means you need to get chopping,” Tony replies as he hands the square of blanket back over to Harley. Maybe he should remind Harley that if Tony is seen here, it would mean Harley’s entire family gets sentenced with aiding a traitor. This house will be warmer than jail, at least.

Tony decides not to bother reminding Harley of the trivialities. “Stay smart, kid,” he tells Harley, his voice warmer than he meant it to be. He ruffles Harley’s hair to dispel the emotion, and then takes off into the woods.

Harley had offered up enough information about the lay of the land for Tony to get a good feel for what direction to take. He decides not to try his luck by going through the rapids again, and he would’ve had to use the forest to sneak over the border into Bucky’s kingdom anyway. More woods, really, is his new plan. He hopes his ranger skills are better than what Rhodey says they are.

First, though, Tony risks heading to town though he avoids the more well-traveled roads.

Tripping over branches and getting snagged on bushes gets old fast, and Tony breathes out a sigh of relief when the town finally comes into view. He walks through the quiet back streets and snags a shirt drying on a clothesline. Tony slips it on over his current shirt and breathes a sigh of relief at the additional layer, adding warmth and a thin shield against his growing baby bump. Also now it’s no longer obvious that he’s wearing swim gear.

He continues farther into town, wondering if the tailor shop he passes is the one that Harley’s mother and sister work in. He spots the food stalls ahead, though, and continues forward.

The busier streets also contain guards, he discovers, and he ducks around a corner. Most of the guards are wearing the red and silver insignia of the crown, working for King Alpha Justin, but a few of those that patrol the streets are clothed in his own red and gold.

Stark guards, here? Why?

Tony considers leaving the town immediately, but then his stomach rumbles. He couldn’t bear eating more of Harley’s food, and at least here there look to be stalls doing well for themselves. The owners don’t look dirty and malnourished, at least.

Tony turns back onto the street, adopting the same tired stroll as most of the other shoppers. A few people brush past him with baskets half-full, racing to complete the morning errands, and Tony hangs back behind them. A few apples fall into his pocket while a woman haggles over the price of the half-bushel, and then a small section of cheese from the stall down the way, but Tony bypasses the bread as a guard hovers nearby, eyeing the wares.

Pockets heavy, Tony dodges past one last group of guards - who are eyeing a few omegas clustered in a doorway, rather than the crowd - before he lets his shoulders relax. He turns the corner, picking up his stride when he’s out of direct sight, when he hears a shout.

“Thief! Thief!”

Tony doesn’t tense, doesn’t turn, just keeps walking and heads for another corner and mentally plans his route out of the town.

A shove from the side has Tony stumbling and he whirls, ready to spring, but the man only runs past him and takes the corner Tony had planned on. Tony is already turning in the opposite direction, rejoicing for the perfect distraction, and then a kid darts by yelling “I got him!”

The kid turns the corner after the thief, and then a woman shouting, “Peter, no!”

Tony doesn’t see any guards yet - what are they doing? - and the kid was small - what is he thinking? - and Tony ends up cursing and racing around the corner to find the kid standing over the man laid out on the ground, smug as can be.

“Got you,” Peter brags, but then the man kicks out and Peter drops to the ground, hard.

They wrestle, Peter clinging on even as Tony hears Peter’s head slam against the ground with a crack. Tony rushes up and takes over, yanking the kid out of the way of an elbow to the face and tossing him to safer territory. Tony blocks a kick to his ribs and then twists away from a punch - and okay, now the man has a knife in his hand and the kid looks like he’s coming back for another round.

“Stay back!” Tony yells as he dodges another blow, the thief’s swings getting more and more wild. When the thief darts a glance at Peter and then takes a step toward him, Tony picks up his pace and then finally manages to connect an uppercut to the chin that knocks the man out.

“Kid. Seriously. What were you thinking?” Tony pants as he kicks the knife away and checks that the man isn’t playing dead (or actually dead, on that note).

“I had him,” the kid defends. “I mean, I did for a moment, there at the beginning. You saw that right? I had him - he was out on the ground and everything!”

“Yeah, sure, good job. Next time leave it for the guards. Or learn a few more moves,” Tony finishes with a sigh, seeing the stubborn jut of Peter’s chin.

Then Peter does a double-take, his eyes going wide. “O-Omega Stark?”

Tony tenses, a denial at his lips when the kid steamrolls right over it. “Oh wow! Seriously? What an honor to meet you in person, I mean, I saw your designs on the irrigation system over in Manhytten and they were amazing. You’re amazing, I mean, I mean, your stuff is amazing. Not just stuff, you know, they’re these great things and -”

“I got it, kid. Thanks,” Tony says, feeling flattered despite himself. “But, uh, given current circumstances, do you mind keeping this run-in quiet?” Though Tony doesn’t think that might be possible with this one.

“Of course!” Peter agrees, nodding so hard that Tony worries about his neck.

Then, “Peter!” the woman calls from the end of the street, and there are a group of guards behind her. Unfortunately, the guards are in Stark red and gold and recognize Tony immediately.

Tony flees down the street with calls of “Stop! Omega Stark, stop!” behind him.

Tony keeps running. He twists and turns at every opportunity, dodging people and carts and debris as he goes. Eventually the clanking footfalls and yells of his name fade from hearing, but Tony presses on until he’s finally back at the perimeter and throwing himself back into the forest.

Tony settles into a light jog, as fast as he can go while making sure he doesn’t trip over branches or break his ankle in a rabbit hole. Rhodey has told him enough stories about tracking - animals and people - for Tony to keep an eye out for rocky ground or water so he can hide his trail, but speed is his best ally.

How long will it take to muster a search party, one with someone experienced in tracking? How long until the news spreads, confirmation that he is alive and a traitor to the crown? Tony passes a hand over his stomach. Not obvious enough for the guards to have noticed, he thinks, or at least for any of the guards who care about the truth. Going into town had been a stupid risk.

Later that afternoon, though, Tony forgets all his regret about going into town as he bites into the hunk of cheese he had stolen. His stomach gurgles at the change, and Tony barely stops himself from wolfing down the entire bit. He’d go back and shower the cheese-maker in gold, if he could, and name them the best cheese-maker in the kingdom.

Afternoon turns into evening, and Tony pushes on. He walks through as many of the last few sun patches remaining, but eventually the coolness turns into cold. He begins to shiver, and Tony picks up a jog again despite the protest in his muscles to help warm them.

He hasn’t heard a tracking party, but would he? Tony darts a glance behind him, but sees nothing but trees and shadows.

No fire tonight, he knows, though the knowledge saddens him. No need to help his hunters find him, even if Tony had the energy to start a fire, even if Tony would really, really like to be warm. Instead, when Tony stops for the night he burrows down into the half-rotten roots of a dead tree still standing and shovels dirt over himself.

In the morning, he forces himself to get moving again. Eating the remaining cheese helps, except now he doesn’t have anything to look forward to. The apples still bouncing around in his pockets had never been his favorite fruit.

His stomach grumbles as he walks. His body aches with the treatment it’s received recently. His fingers are numb, still too cold, but Tony rests them on his stomach. His child, his child, his child. They had better be a sweet, easy-going baby after what is turning out to be a terrible pregnancy.

A child who never cries, shares all their toys, doesn’t talk back. Tony smiles at the image. The chances of his child being anything like that are slim, and even worse because of who their father is. He doesn’t even want a child like that, not really. He’d start with a child who is alive and happy, and hopefully one who doesn’t contract a hundred health issues because Tony can’t plan an escape properly.

He walks. Later he hears wolves - or maybe trained dogs - howling, and then he jogs. He sees no one, but he focuses more on the ground in front of him than behind. When he sees a stream, he walks in it until his feet are past numb with cold and he falls more than he moves forward.

Tony doesn’t sleep well that night.

In the morning, he presses on.

He eats his last apple.

He presses on.

Another night, another morning.

Tony presses on.

He hasn’t heard any barking. Has he lost them?

He presses on.

Maybe a fire is worth it. If he could be warm, if he could eat - he could stage a trap. He could confront them, if they found him. He could outmaneuver a couple of guards, right?

Tony considers this idea. Dying from exposure is better than execution, but still not high up on things he’d like to do. He keeps his eyes peeled for anything that looks like a good spot - lots of dead branches still trapped in trees, uneven ground, rock formations.

He pauses in a sun patch with the excuse to give himself extra time to scan his surroundings as he soaks in the tiny bit of warmth. Nothing he sees suits, though he’s been lowering his standards all afternoon. Tony breathes out a sigh, then another breath onto his fingers red and swollen with cold.

Something - instinct or paranoia - pings down his spine. Tony rotates in a circle, evaluating the scenery from the ground to the tops of the trees. A hawk caws from above, circling high. Nothing. The forest chirps and trills and rustles as before.

Tony grabs a hefty branch, still scanning.

And the hawk circles. It’s above Tony, and continues to circle.

Tony bites back a curse and looks around anew, adrenaline pumping into his system and giving him another breath of energy. A trained hawk, most likely, with its owner sure to follow.

There was a grove of trees, tightly packed, that he’d passed not too long ago. Tony spins to run back and then stops when a woman stands in his path.

She’s dressed in greens and browns, face and hair streaked with mud. There’s a dagger on her belt, not yet drawn.

Tony raises his branch anyway. She’s just out of swinging range, she’d gotten that close to him.

“Omega Stark,” she says. Her voice is almost a purr, pitched low. “I am Natasha. I am here with Alpha Prince James.”

“Sure you are,” Tony replies, keeping his eyes on Natasha. His heart skips at Bucky’s name, but he only clenches the branch in his hands tighter. “And what does that matter?” Natasha might be telling the truth - please let her be telling the truth - but might not. It could also be a trap, set by Hammer to see if Tony would reveal the alpha father.

Natasha raises her eyebrows, showing surprise. It doesn’t look genuine to Tony, too practiced in faking his own reactions in court.

“You aren’t headed for his kingdom, to see him?” she asks. She steps into swinging range.

“You assume that I’m headed in a specific direction,” Tony deflects, his body loose and ready to move.

Natasha cocks her head and stares at him, her gaze piercing. Something is off, and not just with Natasha’s facial expression. He doesn’t know what it is, his brain feels like it’s running in circles and maybe if he wasn’t hungry and cold and - that’s it. He doesn’t know.

Natasha doesn’t have a scent under the dirt and mud that she’s rubbed on herself. She’s not an alpha, beta, or omega; she’s a null. A rare designation that leaves them without social status and so funnels nulls into becoming spies, assassins, or thieves. Without a scent, they’re nearly impossible to track and, when trained properly, rarely ever seen. But the question remains: who is Natasha working for?

“Sam! Over here,” Natasha calls out.

Tony steps back until he can see the new man approaching and Natasha without turning his back on either one.

“Redwing found him first. You definitely don’t get to claim this one!” Sam calls back. He holds out his arm, and the hawk dives down into the trees and pulls up to land on the wrist bracer.

Tony’s gaze flicks back and forth between them, and then it focuses on two men running through the trees, catching up to Sam and then bypassing him on their way to Tony. The one in front draws Tony’s attention, though, and his grip on his weapon loosens.

Bucky. Even dressed in drab grays, browns, and greens with his face streaked with mud, Tony recognizes him. For the first time since that breakfast with Hammer so long ago, Tony’s heart lifts.

Tony steps toward him, but then Natasha inserts herself in his path. Tony growls, caught off guard and unable to suppress it. She ignores Tony and holds up a hand to Bucky, who skids to a stop in front of her. Steve, Tony recognizes, is just behind Bucky.

“What?” Bucky snaps, his gaze still locked on Tony.

Tony clenches his branch tighter so that he no longer can feel his fingers trembling. The relief is overpowering, and Tony wants to collapse in Bucky’s arms and forget everything.

“We can’t be found here with your scent all over him. Wait until we cross the border,” Natasha explains.

“Get out of my way,” Bucky orders, his bright blue eyes flashing. Steve puts a restraining hand on Bucky’s shoulder that Bucky promptly shoves off.

Bucky’s gaze finally lifts from Tony to glare at Natasha and with the loss of Bucky’s hypnotizing stare, Tony feels thoughts filter back into his head. “She has a point,” he acknowledges, resigning himself.

Bucky looks back to Tony, and his gaze sets Tony alight. “I don’t care,” Bucky growls. “You’re mine.” Then Bucky pushes Natasha aside and sweeps Tony into his arms.

Tony drops his branch to be able to wrap his arms around Bucky in return. Warmth, he purrs. Bucky and warmth. Bucky squeezes Tony even tighter. If Tony could simply crawl into Bucky’s body and remain there, he would do it and be happy.

Probably a weird thought to have, but Tony’s in a weird place. Bucky came for him. Bucky looked for him, trespassing to do so. Bucky came to find him. A stupid plan. If Bucky or any of them had been caught, it would’ve had terrible consequences. It’s no less stupid of a plan than his and Bucky’s entire affair, and yet still Tony hadn’t dared to hope that Bucky would come.

“Tony…there were rumors. About you being, um, with child?” Bucky asks softly.

Tony hesitates and then nods, burying his face in Bucky’s chest.

Bucky tightens his hold on Tony and Tony almost sobs in relief.

“It’ll be okay. I got you, doll,” Bucky whispers in his ear. “I got you.”

#winteriron #tony x bucky #tony stark #bucky barnes #alpha/beta/omega dynamics #alpha bucky #omega tony #mpreg #prompts #hddnone

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