#I’m so sorry for the late reply teddy

[ultralightpoe]

Carried Me With You - Jake Seresin

Authors Note: I am back, but as we all know I will probably disappear in another 3 days. Enjoy.

Word Count: 3,000 (UH HUH, EVEN BABY EVENNNNNN)

Warnings: Sad, a little family angst for y'all.

Description: Hello! The wonderful @fangirlvibez tagged me in this challenge back on September 9th and I saw it when I logged in today so you know I had to do it lovies. Thank you so much @fangirlvibez for tagging me, I am so sorry for the late reply but I hope you like it. And feel free to tag me for any more little challenges or prompts you had because I absolutely loved this one. <3

(Psst..... The song of this imagine is - Carried Me With You)

Enjoy! (pssst, song choice is -Carried Me With You- Listen and read for a top tier experience lovies.)

The Build A Bear employee looks extremely suspicious when Jake brings the empty coat of a bear up to her, a fake smile plastered from ear to ear as he holds it out as if he just ran into the woods to hunt it himself. 

Honestly he was sure he looked like a massive freak, from the 20 minutes he spent looking at all the display bears to choose and up to now where he probably looked like he had been one of Jokers goons in Batman. But he couldn’t help it, he was doing his very best not to breakdown and cry in front of this poor teen. 

She blinks up at him, back to the bear, and then back to him. 

“This is the bear you’ve chosen?” That one question has him debating everything, eyes widening as he pulls it back to himself quickly. 

“No. Yes. I have no clue.” 

“Okay, cool.” The worker, a young girl decked out in the most goth punk outfit he had ever seen, smiles and moves to grab it from him. Her long black acrylic nails snag the poor pelt from his hands and she pulls it to the stuffing machine. “We have multiple hearts that you can choose from for your little buddy here. We have classic, plaid and then a beating heart. Go ahead and take a look.” 

Jake nods, moving to grab one slowly before turning back to her. “You guys have sounds, right?” 

“We do indeed.” She smiles, nodding her head to show him the sound station. “Go ahead and pick or make a sound.”

She turns back to fix one of the spikes on her boots as he does so, rushing over to start recording the sound. The little script he wrote that morning on a sticky note was hard to read but he managed it, making sure to use that southern drawl he knew his baby girl loved before coming back to the stuffing station and handing it to her. 

“Alright, do we want our little buddy to be firm or plush?”

“I think…. How about firm?”

“Sounds great, and let’s go ahead and bless the heart while I’m doing this. First I’m going to have you rub your head so our buddy is smart. Perfect, now lets rub our belly so our buddy always has a good appetite. Awesome. Don’t forget to rub your knees so your furry friend always kneeds you. Jump up and down to get the heart beating and rub it against your heart so they always know how much you love them. And lastly close your eyes, make a wish and give it a kiss.”

Jake follows her word for word, going with the ceremony even though he knows it’s for kids. And when he closes his eyes he wishes ‘Keep my babies safe and happy’ before kissing the heart and handing it to her. She ties the bear up and hands him off, the teddy looking straight into Jake’s eyes as he walks off to find it a cute little outfit. 

By the time he makes it to the register Jake has the bear in a little naval outfit, hat and all, and the worker is grabbing the birth certificate from the printer with narrowed eyes. 

As she rings out the clothes he watches her closely, heart beating against his rib cage each step of the way. She was very goth, from the badass makeup to the spiky hair and spiky collar, not to mention the huge boots. It was like wednesday adams went punk and then got a job as Build A Bear as a joke. 

Then she turned to expose the backpack holding the pink stuffed animal decked out in rainbow and he couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s her name?”

“Cannibal, but when the kids ask Cami.” 

“Cami the Cannibal, I love it.” 

She finishes ringing everything up, raising an eyebrow. “Bugs?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s for my darlin’. You see I call her mom ‘Bubs’ and I call her ‘Bugs’.” Jake explains, whipping out his card as she begins dressing the bear. 

“This is for your daughter? How old is she turning?”

“Oh, it’s not for her birthday. I’m being deployed so this is my….. Something she has of me while I am gone.”

Her face goes slack and she blinks at him before shaking her head. “How old is your daughter?”

“Four.” 

“Then I’m saying this is a birthday bear. You only have to pay how old you’re turning for the bear.”

He thanks her, and before he knows it he is buckling Bugs into the backseat and driving home to see his two girls. 

- 

Bugs sits at the top of your closet for the next 5 weeks, you both break the news to your daughter four weeks out. She begs him not to leave and you let her sleep in your bed to try and soothe her tears. 

She sleeps in your bed every night after that. 

2 weeks out Jake’s mother throws a going away party for him, your daughter cries the entire time. 

Then the time came. 

Jake woke earlier than you, desperate to let you both get a little more sleep as he shuffled into the shared closet and reached up to find the box that held bugs. Dusting the bear off and making sure he looked good before moving to set it in the living room by his deployment bags. 

He kisses both your foreheads before jumping in the shower and getting dressed into his uniform. His throat is tight and his eyes burn but he does his best to keep it together, by the time he is dressed and ready to go he finds both of you sitting in the living room crying softly. 

You are doing your best to stop the tears, and Jake feels something shatter in his chest at the sight before the blur of the four year old is dashing to him. 

“Please don’t go.” She sobs, hands gathering the fabric of his uniform as he swipes the tears from her cheeks. 

“Easy now, Bugs. I’ll be back. It’ll be okay.”

“Please don’t go daddy! Tell them you can’t go!” From the corner of his eyes he sees you shuffling closer with the box, and he nods, reaching a hand out for the bear. 

“Daddy needs you to do something for me, okay bugs?” The tears are falling freely now as she shoves her forehead into his chest. He has to pull her back a bit so she sees the bear. “This? This is my friend Bugs, and Bugs is very very important to me. You wanna know why?”

“Why?”

“Because Bugs promised to take care of you for me. And he is gonna do a great job of it. But I need you to keep Bugs with you so he can do that. Yeah?” 

She shakes her head at first, sobbing loudly as he kisses at her forehead, before her hands reach out to pull the bear to her. 

12 minutes later you are holding her in your arms, crying as Jake gives you both one more kiss and heads out to the truck, waving as he pulls the car out even if he feels his heart shattering in his own chest. 

- 

You keep y/d home for the day, making her mac and cheese for lunch ans trying to play all her favorite movies in an attempt to cheer her up a bit. Nothing seems to work and she sobs all day, not that you were much better. 

By the time you are ready to tuck her in your eyes hurt from the amount of crying you had done and you felt drained and dehydrated. But nonetheless you hold your daughters hand as she shuffles into her room where Bugs now sat on the bed. 

You dress her in one of Jakes soft shirts for pajamas, tucking her into the blanket softly and rubbing her cheek. 

“Daddy always is here to say goodnight too.” She cries and you nod slowly, reaching for the bear. 

“You really think he would forget?” You smile softly, pinching the bear's paw. 

Jake’s southern voice rings out, a little frazzled out but there nonetheless. 

“The sun is setting in the sky.

 Let's light the moon and bring it high.

The shimmering stars sparkle and twinkle.

 I work out my wiggles as stardust I sprinkle.

The tree stands tall as the owl hoots.

 I send all my worries right down through my roots.

A moonlit lake, as I sit on the shore.

 Reflects three things that I am grateful for. 

With my hands on my heart, love is swirling around me.

 So I send it out to my friends and family. 

As I lie down I breathe one, two, three.

And feel the love come back to me.

Goodnight Bugs.”

She curls around the bear, sobbing loudly as you kiss her head. Truly not knowing how to fix this. 

- 

Three months later, you are holding her hand as she leads you through the mall, Bugs wrapped tightly in her other arm. 

She had played the sound so much that it sort of stopped working and instead of the entire poem all the bear truly said now was ‘Goodnight Bugs’. But that would have to do for now. 

You had done so many emergency surgeries on the bear since she refused to leave him behind. The poor thing had barely survived the kindergarten recess debacle before her teacher had to cut in and take the bear from her and the kid who had been wrestling to steal it. 

She had come home that day a blubbering mess until you sewed the arm back on and she kissed it better.

She had taken Bugs to the daddy donut day her school ran, and though she still her her grandpa there that day you were eternally grateful she had that bear. 

But Jake’s birthday was coming up, and you knew it would be rough on her no matter how many facetime calls he managed to sneak in. So you had asked what she wanted to do for his birthday. 

Which leads you here, staring at all the bear options in front of you as she tries to figure out which one she wants.. 

There was a goth girl waiting at the stuffing station, and you couldn’t figure out if she was glaring or trying to recognize you. 

“How about this one, bugs?” You ask, showing her the stitch before she shakes her head and snatches a brown bear. 

“It’s got to look cool mom.” Another milestone that you were positive Jake was devastated about. While he was away it had gone from daddy and mommy to dad and mom. It wasn’t much of a difference but it still made your chest ache every time she called you it. 

Before you know it she has snatched a bear and dashed to the sound station, not bothering to see if you would follow. 

By the time you make it to the stuffing station you are doing your best not to cry, handing the girl the sound and the bear as she smiles. 

“I see we have a bear, is this going to be his buddy?”

“YES!” Your daughter smiles, bouncing on her feet as you move to grab Bugs. 

“How about I hold this so you can create him. Yeah?”

She reluctantly lets go, moving to pick a heart as the girl asks about the pressure. 

“I want him so soft that you can squeeze all the love!” Y/d giggles and you can’t help but smile at that. The worker smiles to, her black lipstick making it all more of a victory. “I like your bear, what’s her name?”

“Cami.” The worker smiles and y/d shakes her head. “No?”

“No, how about….destroyer?”

“Oh, I like the way you think. Okay now touch the heart to your toes so your furry friend is ‘toe’tally awesome. Great job. Touch the heart to your knees so he always ‘knee’ds you. Good good. Now rub the heart between your hands so he always stays warm, don’t forget to rub your ears so he always hears you. And Now your eyes so he always sees you. Now rub your heart so he always has love and jump up and down three times to get that heart beating.” 

Y/d does everything with a huge smile lathered on her face, and the worker has the same excited smile on her own. 

“Now I need you to close you eyes and make a wish before you kiss the heart.”

She does as told, squeezing her eyes shut before saying ‘Make sure my dad is happy.”

And then the workers face falls into one of recognition, her eyes casting to the bear now held in your hand and back to the one she had been stuffing. 

By the time you have an outfit picked out she already has the certificate in her hands, nodding. 

“Bubs. I like it.” 

“Thank you. It’s what my dad and mom call each other.” Your daughter smiles, standing on her tiptoes to look up to the worker. 

“Let me guess, your bugs.”

“I AM!”  And just like that a wide smile is splitting across her cheeks as she slides the bear across the counter to your side. 

“It’s your lucky day. This bear is a part of the lonely hearts foundation. Which means so long as he is adopted into a happy and loving home he comes with no charge. Are you happy, bugs?”

“Yes.”

“Are you healthy, bugs?”

“I eat my broccoli, yeah.” You try not to snort, remembering that you had to bribe her with 6 oreos after a 2 hour dinner table stand off. 

“Then Bubs has found the perfect home.”  You mouth a thank you to the girl as you leave, giving your daughter bugs back so you can carry the box.

- 

Jake Seresin was absolutely miserable the day he got his birthday package. 

He was sweaty from the jets, irritated by his team. But most importantly he was completely lost without his girls. 

It had been four months since he last got to hold them and he was beginning to lose it. Sure, he got to facetime them which was a lot more then some of the other guys but he missed them terribly and he wanted nothing more than to be with them. 

He had gotten an extra thirty minutes of call time on his birthday a week ago, to which you had promised him you sent something out before y/d interrupted with a sassy tone “don’t ruin the surprise for dad, mom.”

He tried not to get upset at the dad part, but he couldn’t help it. He left while his bug called him daddy and stil had the chubbiest baby cheeks in town and now his little darlin’ was growing up and he couldn’t actually see it. 

But you had told him to expect the package and he did, finally a week later it was mail day and he sat on his bunk surrounded by his squad as they tore through letters. He sliced the tape of the box open, lifting the lid to reveal the cutest bear dressed in a texan jersey with glasses that reminded him of BOB. 

A laugh slips from his lips as he reaches to pull the bear to his chest, noting the cotton candy scent before his eyes snag on the letter. 

“Dear Bubs, 

This bear was sent out with a promise to keep. He promised both me and your daughter that he would keep you happy and healthy and bring you home to us. We made him knowing that only the bravest of bears could do this task and we made sure he was stocked up for the flight over. In the box he took your favorite candies. A stack of photos and a really cool beaded bracelet your daughter made at school. He was given a cotton candy scent to help block off the stuffy scent from the box but most importantly, he carries a top secret message that not even I was allowed to listen to. 

We hope Bubs takes care of you until you are allowed back into our arms, until then stay safe and don’t forget we love you.

Love, Your bubs.”:

There is a little monster drawn on the paper in crayon that makes his heart swell as he traces his fingers over the words and drawing before reaching to the bear. 

He lays with it as a pillow, pressing his cheek to the chest as he presses the hand to reveal the sound. 

His daughter's voice fills his ears, in the cheesiest southern accent he had ever heard. “I breathe one two three and feel the love come back to me. Good night daddy.” 

-

The next set of photos you receive in the mail are all photos of Jake and Bubs on journeys, and Y/D’s favorite was the one of the entire squad posing with bubs. Bob and the bear having switched glasses. 

You, of course, begin sending adventures back. One of Bugs and your daughter baking, another of the two on a swing set. 

Jake sends back a photo of Bubs ‘flying’ a plane. 

Over and over you both send the photos back and forth, everything is a little bit better when you carry a piece of each other with them. 

Your daughter asks you at dinner one night, between shoving her chicken in her face and avoiding the broccoli, if you had wanted a bug and bubs bear. 

All you can do is smile, booping her nose as you mumble. “You were my bear last time he was deployed.” 

“What did you send him?”

“A pee stick.” She doesn’t find it as funny as you did, but she makes sure to have bugs kiss your cheek goodnight before dashing to bed.

#jake seresin #jake seresin smut #jake seresin angst #jake seresin fluff #jake seresin fanfiction #jake seresin x reader #jake seresin x you #jake seresin imagine #jake seresin top gun maverick #jake seresin top gun #jake #seresin #hangman #hangman smut #hangman imagine #hangman x reader #jake hangman seresin #hangman angst #hangman seresin #top gun imagine #top gun smut #top gun angst

[btsficsandsuch]

Leaked- Part 3

Final part to this request!

Parts One Two

@hopefulrascalstatesmantoad @prettyxxxplease @moons-v @btsfluffsworld @shycreationdreamland @namjooningera @scuzmunkie

The guys watched in silence as the gurney was loaded up into the ambulance. “Maybe it wasn’t Y/N. Did you get a good look?”, Taehyung asked. Jimin nodded his head, “Yeah I’m pretty sure.” The car returned to silence as the driver pulled out around the accident. “Does anyone still have her number?”, Yoongi inquired. The group collectively shook their heads and the ride continued without another word.

Once back at the house the group continued about their usual post concert routines, but there was a definite sadness in the air. Jin called everyone in to eat the late night snack that he had made which would normally be eaten with jokes and chit chat about various things. However this time everyone ate in silence until Jungkook spoke up. “Hyung do we have any way to find out if Y/N is okay or not?”, he asked of Namjoon.

He shook his head, “Not that I can think of. None of us have her number and there’s not really any other way to contact her.”, he replied. “What if we call her workplace on Monday? I’m sure if it was her in the accident that they would know what hospital she was at?”, Jimin suggested. Jin shook his head, “Even if they do know they can’t just give out information like that to anyone that calls.” “What if we just go to her apartment to see if she’s there?”, Hoseok asked. “We have two meetings in the morning and then we leave for tour in the evening. We’d never have time.”, Yoongi replied. Feeling hopeless they slowly one by one they made their way to their respective bedrooms to try and get some sleep even though they were all filled with worry.

After being gone for six weeks on tour the boys were all ecstatic to be home, to sleep in their own beds, to get some much needed rest. But mostly to check on you. They spent the entire tour worried about how you were doing. “Come on guys. We have to go see if Y/N is home. Let’s go.”, Jungkook said impatiently. “Maybe we could stop and get some flowers or a teddy bear.”, Taehyung added. Namjoon nodded in agreement and off they went to hopefully find you at your apartment.

“Just a minute.”, you shouted after hearing several knocks at your door. You had been home from the hospital for a few weeks but were still getting a hang of using crutches. Luckily the cast should be off of your leg in the next couple weeks and then you can start physical therapy which should make it easier to move around.

You were more than surprised when you opened your door and saw your seven former friends standing there holding various stuffed animals and flowers. “Oh my god Y/N, what happened to you?”, Hoseok asked before wrapping you in a hug. “Oh it’s nothing. I had a little accident. Do you guys want to come in?”, you said. They all nodded their heads and followed you inside setting the gifts on the bench by the entrance.

“How was the tour?”, you asked trying to break the awkward silence. “Oh you know. Exciting but exhausting.”, Namjoon replied. “Can I get you guys anything to drink?”, you asked. But as you were struggling to get up Yoongi pulled you down back next to him on the couch, “Y/N please don’t hurt yourself. We’re fine. We’re more concerned with what happened to you?”

“Umm well it’s a little hazy but from what I can remember I saw your performance where you dedicated that apology song to me. I decided that I wanted to talk it out with you guys and maybe work on becoming friends again so I was walking to the bus stop. When I went to cross the street there was a car and I don’t really know how it happened but basically they couldn’t stop in time and they ran into me. I woke up in the hospital a week later. I had two surgeries on my leg and I had a lot of bruises and scrapes but other than that I’m okay.” There were loud gasps throughout the room followed by hugs. “I’m so sorry Y/N. Is there anything we can do to help?”, Jin asked. “No it’s okay. I’m getting by.”, you said through a smile.

“Well Y/N we’re glad you’re okay. We do really want to apologize for what happened and how we handled things. You were the first person outside of our company that we let get that close. I guess we just panicked and didn’t really think things through. Looking back we should’ve trusted you because you’ve never given us any reason not to. We really regret it and we want to be friends again no matter what it takes. We really miss you.”, Namjoon said. You thought for a minute before taking a deep breath, “I really miss you guys too. It’ll take some time before I feel 100% comfortable again but I do want us to be friends. I think it’s good for all of us.”

Over the next couple weeks they all took care of you in verified ways. Jin and Jimin brought you enough food so that you wouldn’t have to stand for long in your kitchen to cook anything. Even though you kept telling him not to, Yoongi insisted on driving you to all of your doctors appointments so you wouldn’t have to try and get on the bus with your crutches and cast. Hobi and Taehyung came over to keep you company by watching movies or painting. Namjoon came over and cleaned up your apartment for you while Jungkook would come help you do some exercises that were safe while your cast was on. You had to admit it was really nice having them around and things were starting to feel normal again.

You were sitting in the passenger seat of Yoongi’s car after getting your cast taken off. You were a little wobbly but it felt amazing. What your were even more happy about was going to dinner at the boys house. You never got the chance to see it after they officially moved in so you were excited. “Take it slow Y/N.”, Yoongi said while helping you out of the car. With every step you took you could hear him whisper “slowly”. “Yoongi I’m not made of glass.”, you chuckled. “I know I just want to make sure you get in okay.”, he said shyly with a hint of a blush forming on his cheeks. Once in the house you were greeted with the smells of all your favorite dishes. “Everybody we’re here.”, Yoongi shouted. It didn’t take long for six others to come running to the front door to greet you. After giving out hugs, very gently as ordered by Yoongi, you walked off with Taehyung who had you by the hand. He wanted to give you the official tour.

Dinner was filled with lots of jokes and laughter. You had forgotten how much you missed this. Once the dishes were cleared everyone made their way to the living room to watch a movie. You were cuddled under a blanket next to Yoongi who would ask you every ten minutes if you were okay or needed anything. You wanted to be annoyed but you found it so cute how worried he was. Once the movie was over you grabbed your jacket and headed for the door where Jin was already waiting to take you home. Before you left you heard Namjoon call your name. “Y/N I was wondering if you wanted to stop by the studio one day this week. We’d like your opinion on some new music.”, he said. He must’ve sensed your apprehension because he continued, “Only if you want to. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. We just really value your opinion and like knowing what you think from an Army’s point of view.” You thought for a minute before nodding, “Okay yeah I’ll be there. I’d love to represent Army.” You watched Namjoon breakout into a big dimply smile before walking away. You turned back to Jin who was standing there with his own big smile. Taking his hand you made your way carefully to his car.

You were finally comfy in your bed after a long exhausting day. About to drift off to sleep you were woken up when you heard your phone go off. Quickly checking it your heart skipped a beat when you saw the message,

Yoongles: “Hey Y/N, I hope you’re home safely and comfy right now. I’ve been thinking about something for a while and I just can’t wait another minute. I really like you a lot and I was wondering if you’d want to go out to dinner with me next Saturday? Like a date.”

#bts #bts fanfic #bts x reader #bts imagines #bts fluff #yoongi #jin #namjoon #hoseok #jimin #taehyung #jungkook #jhope #v #suga #rm #bts fic

[xuqijie]

< aespa dealing with jealousy 𓏲࣪ ɞ˚

# genre ; fluff

# tags ; jealous!reader, jealous!aeri, jealous!ning, jimin and minjeong being disgustingly sweet, aeri being silly, a little toxic ning kinda

< yoo jimin ๋࣭ # through being cheesy (jealous!reader)

from the moment you started calling her, ‘karina’, she knew she messed up somehow. and when you replied either a few hours late or extremely dry, jimin was fucked.

from the moment you started calling her, ‘karina’, she knew she messed up somehow. and when you replied either a few hours late or extremely dry, jimin was fucked.

she would do anything to stop you from being upset at her and would try to immediately find the cause. was it a bad day? something someone said to you? whatever it was, jimin would try to ask everyone you knew to figure out why you were mad.

and after she finds out you were jealous of jimin and aeri’s close relationship, your girlfriend makes sure that you are aware of how much she adores you.

“i love you y/nnie. doesn’t my y/n know how much i love her?” would constantly refer to you in third person to act cute.

“jimin, please shut up.”

it still makes you embarrassed everytime she calls you ‘my y/nnie’, something about the nickname is so cheesy and so jimin-like.

“aw, is my y/nnie embarrassed?”

extremely annoying in a good way and she really does make you feel like you’re the only one for her. on days that you feel extra insecure in your relationship, jimin does her best to reassure you and make you feel loved.

but after you’re feeling better, she will make fun of you.

“i can’t believe you were jealous of me and aeri, she is definitely not my type.”

“shut up.”

< uchinaga aeri ๋࣭ # acts petty (jealous!aeri)

she gets upset on day when you mention that you hung out with jeno from nct, someone that you met in the sm hallways while going to her practice room.

“what were you doing with him?”

“oh, we went to an arcade, and he got me this teddy bear, isn’t it cute?”

she would definitely glare at the teddy bear on your bed and whenever you two would cuddle, she will throw the bear onto the ground.

“what are you doing?”

“just making space!”

“but jeno gave that to me…”

“i’ll get you a more expensive and cuter one.”

acts like she doesn’t care but will make snarky remarks about any person that comes into a five foot radius of you. hates it when you two go out together and people come up to you, asking for your number while she’s there.

can be really mean when she’s jealous and might ignore you too but always ends up caving in the end because she misses you 🤭

“are you done sulking?”

“i hate you.”

always makes sure that her hands are on you and when she sees someone approaching, aeri will fasten her pace, trying to drag you away. she tries to act nonchalant about it but you secretly like it when she’s jealous.

< kim minjeong ๋࣭ # acts cute (jealous!reader)

it really depends on her mood, whether she feels like teasing you or embarrassing you.

you had drunkenly admitted to her that you were upset when you saw a youtube video about minjeong’s close relationship with karina and your girlfriend decided to never shut up about it. but when you’re actually sad, minjeong will bring out her puppy eyes.

“i’m seriously mad, minjeong.”

“your face is so funny.”

“if you keep on making fun of me, I’m going to sleep in the guest room tonight.”

sure, maybe you were overreacting, but minjeong would never invalidate your feelings on purpose. so, she goes out to buy your favourite food, flowers and everything. once you come out of the guest room, you’re greeted with the sight of a bouquet of flowers and a appetising breakfast, along with a handwritten note by minjeong taped to the takeout box.

‘please don’t be mad anymore! i love you so much y/nnie :< ! you’re the only one for me !’

and even though you’re not jealous anymore, minjeong keeps on acting cute and talking to you in that baby voice of hers.

“y/nnie, minjeongie is sorry!”

the voice is cringey but you can’t help but coo over your cute girlfriend, forgetting what you were even upset about earlier.

< ning yizhou # a brat fr 🫣 (jealous!ning)

if you thought aeri was mean, yi zhou is the biggest brat on earth, and when she’s jealous, you two banter so much that jimin had to put both of you in time out corners.

“he was flirting with you!”

“so people can’t be nice anymore?”

“not when he has his hands all over you!”

so stubborn and would never back down from her claims, even though they might be unreasonable at times. but yi zhou would never admit that to you.

sometimes the fights get out of hand and you two need a cool-down period, but usually, you need to be the one to concede.

except on days when you can’t tolerate her attitude anymore and you simply leave the apartment. yizhou will want to stay at home and be smug when you come back but she misses her girlfriend.

might actually cry when you come back and announce you’re sleeping on the couch, she’s just an emotional baby that can’t help but feel insecure 😞

#aespa x reader #ningning x reader #ning yizhou x reader #uchinaga aeri x reader #giselle x reader #karina x reader #yoo jimin x reader #kim minjeong x reader #winter x reader

[dragonmasterkaylz]

Emotional Support Hufflepuff

“Theodore!!! You must dump that Mudblood, and you must become a Death Eater!!! Do you want to betray us?!! For a Mudblood?!! Have you lost your mind?!! At one point, you didn’t care, and suddenly you do?!! What in Merlin is wrong with you?!! You’re a disgrace to our kind!!! You are no longer my son”.

Theodore woke up in the middle of night and he just groaned before mumbling, “Fuck you Dad…”. He just grabbed a cigarette and lit it before sitting near the window. He sighed as he saw his dorm mate wake up to the sound of his lighter and he sighed. “Another?” “Yeah… pretty much. It never stops, not since I told my Father that I wouldn’t become like him”. Mattheo groaned and asked, “What has she done to you…?!” “Showed me that there’s a right way. And ending up in Azkaban isn’t it”, Theodore told him. “And what if the Dark Lord wins? What then?” “Then I’m fucked”.

Meanwhile, Aurora was up, studying and she yawned when she spotted Jasper trying to steal something again. “Accio”. He came flying towards her and then she caught him before saying, “I’m not in the mood… okay, Jasper?” He squeaked and then settled into her lap, before falling asleep. As she slowly started to fall asleep, she heard her Owl fly in and she sat up before petting her, taking the letter from her. “‘I need you to come into the Slytherin Common Room tonight. I’ll be waiting outside for you’”, she read. “… What now?” She laid Jasper in his bed and then walked out, wand in hand. ‘I swear, if it’s nothing… I’ll definitely hit him’.

She used the Disillusionment Charm to get around, as it was way past curfew, and once she reached the Slytherin Common Room, she revealed herself. “It’s too late for your games, Mattheo. What, exactly, do you want?”, she asked. He sighed and pulled himself off the wall before saying, “Theo hasn’t been himself lately. After telling his Father that he refuses to be a Death Eater… because of you, he’s been tormented with nightmares. He doesn’t sleep anymore. Can you please help him?” Aurora frowned and said, “You’re doing this for yourself, aren’t you?” He just kept quiet before entering the Common Room with her. “Helga, help me…”, she muttered under her breath. “Theo!!!”

He walked down and saw Aurora, in a jumper, but it was obvious that she was just as tired as he was. He pulled his friend to the side and asked, “Why did you bring her here?!” “So, I can get some sleep!” After he was released, Mattheo ran back to his dorm and left Theodore alone with Aurora. “Fucking hell. I’m sorry. He only thinks about himself…”, he told her. “Yeah?! I figured as much!”, she replied before sitting down on one of the sofas. She patted the seat next to her and he sat down. “You could’ve just gone back to sleep…! Why did you come all the way here? It could’ve been a sick prank”. She sighed and then held up her wand, which made him chuckle. “I knew it had something to do with you anyway, since you haven’t been you… lately. And during study sessions, you just seem to fall asleep”, Aurora explained. “So, you did notice…”.

She nodded and then leaned again him, causing him to lay down. Aurora curled up against him and said, “I care about you, Teddy”. He smiled and ran his hands up and down her back before saying, “My Father has kind of disowned me, just for being in love with you”. Aurora sighed and mumbled, “Do you care about my blood? About where I came from?” Theodore shook his head and said, “For a while, I was conflicted… but then I realised that Muggle-Born Witches are just as intelligent, if not more so than Purebloods. But no… I don’t care. I think that’s what pisses him off so much to be honest”. She looked at him and smiled before saying, “I’m glad. Also, I love you”. “Heh… I love you too, Aurora”. Then she leaned in and kissed him very sweetly before snuggling into his chest. He turned a little and held her properly, kissing her head, before they both fell asleep. The two were just as exhausted.

But there were no more nightmares…

And, there was no more stress….

They just had each other, and that’s what mattered.

Extra:

Draco and his gang all watched as Theo slept on the sofa, looking more peaceful than ever before. Aurora was the same way and they all sighed. “I think these two are a bit too tired to go to any class”, Pansy said as she threw a blanket over the two. Draco frowned. “What? Are we covering for them now?” Mattheo just sighed and said, “Yeah, we are. Just leave them be. It is my fault she’s here, but here’s a positive, at least we don’t have to deal with Theo’s sour face. It would have been only a matter of time before he snapped. I apologise Draco, but he needs her”. Pansy nodded as she said, “Also, they look pretty cute together, don’t they?” Draco rolled his eyes and left with the others.

“I think I can get used to her being around”.

“Yeah, me too. Again, they are cute”.

END

#harry potter #theodore nott #theodore nott x oc #draco malfoy #mattheo riddle #pansy parkinson #slytherin #slytherin x hufflepuff

[josephquinnswhore]

Baby Blues

Pairing: Frankie Morales x female reader.

Summary: Frankie comes home late to find you struggling and wants to make it up to you.

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: postpartum depression. completely self indulgent.

It felt irrational, the resentment you felt for Frankie, his freedom to be able to just leave the house whenever he wanted, catch up with his friends and have a night away from the never ending duties you were overwhelmed with.

Realistically 3 hours wasn’t a long time, especially for Frankie, when he met up with the guys he was normally gone a lot longer, you would’ve felt grateful if you weren’t so tired and withdrawn. Unfortunately for Frankie you weren’t in the mood for anything to do with him when he got home. Everything he did annoyed you; the way he closed the door, kicked his boots off and stumbled in the darkness into the table that made a horrible screeching noise across the wooden floor. Your baby had been crying on and off for a few hours, constantly wanting to be held, nursed and rocked, long story short you were fucking exhausted. You needed help, you had rang Frankie a few times and left a voice message which he never replied to, typically.

When he walked behind you to try and slide his arms around your waist you snapped, angry tears falling down your cheeks, rage consuming you faster than a forest fire, your fussy baby wailing at your sudden movement. You groaned in frustration and gave Frankie a stern look through your tears, his face and the room illuminated a light yellow hue from your babies nightlight. You didn’t miss the frown that wrinkles his face as you pull away from him, confused by the tears and rejection.

“Let me take him baby.” In your unreasonable state, you scoff, rolling your eyes as you away gently to rock the baby back to sleep. “Don’t bother Frankie, I got it, like always. I don’t need your help.” You couldn’t ignore the way your heartstrings were stretched out at the way Frankie’s face dropped, a sadness that etched onto his face made you feel a pang of guilt in your chest.

“Is this because I went out? Baby I asked, I made sure before I left that it was okay.” You set your baby down in his bassinet, patting his bum a few times before tuning on his nighttime music, the sweet lullaby caused your own eyelids to droop as you exit the room, shutting the door. “It’s not that you left, frankie! You didn’t pick up the phone, I rang and left messages. I needed you and you just, weren’t there.”

Frankie took two steps forward and stretched his arms around your neck, pulling you into him and his warmth, his fleece flannel was soft on your skin, hot tears wetting the material. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry baby.” His hands are running up and down your back, tracing mindless shapes in hopes to calm you down from your overwhelmed state. “Go to bed baby, I’ll take it from here.” You bit your lip and shake your head no, feeling guilty for snapping at him. “I’m sorry for getting so mad I just-“ frankie presses a soft kiss to your lips, one that lasts barely seconds but lingers afterwards. “Don’t finish that sentence, you don’t deserve to carry this weight alone, go to bed baby.”

“Okay, I love you.” You mumble tiredly, voice croaking from the breakdown you just endured. You tread to bed and the softness of the mattress swallows you, your limbs ache ceasing once your head hits the pillow, pulling the covers over you as the fan gently whirrs in the background, the cool air on your face lulls you to sleep within the minute.

When you wake up, it’s by your own accord, not from a baby screaming, frankie showering or your alarm blaring, you wake up naturally feeling refreshed and body free from pain, your mind clear and spirit refreshed. You stretch for a few seconds, groaning at how good it feels before walking into your sons room, his bassinet was empty, but it was well made and folded semi-neatly. His pacifier and teddy sitting nicely in the corner.

Down the hall, the living room was spotless, it had been mopped, vacuumed and the appliances had been wiped down, there were two baskets on the lounge, one folded neatly of a mix of your own and Frankie’s clothes, the other being of your sons, smelling like fresh lavender.

The kitchen made you gasp, the dishes were washed and packed away, bottles had been washed, sanitised and prepped. Frankie had even made breakfast, well-brunch, considering the time you read on the microwave reads 11:28am.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” You question, voice clear but soft towards him. He smiles as he makes you a plate of your favourite breakfast foods, he’s wearing your baby carrier and your son is propped up with his face against Frankie’s chest. “You deserved it baby, after all you do for us. It was hard..” you sit down across from him at the dining table, waiting for him to continue, “I didn’t realise how hard it was, how much it takes out of you to do all these things. You do them everyday too, you know. I’m sorry I’ve been taking you for granted.” Your son coos in his sleep, the gentle vibration of Frankie’s chest as he speaks comforts the baby.

Your hand reaches over the food to place it on top of Frankie’s, “we have to do this together baby otherwise we won’t make it, it’s too hard for either of us to do alone, can I count on you?” Frankie’s thumb is caressing your hand, dark circles mark his under eyes and his wrinkles more prominent as each minute passes that he’s awake, his hair prodding in every direction from running his hair through it. “I promise you can baby, we’re in this together.” You sigh in relief at Frankie’s confession, glad to see some real progress in him wanting to be more involved in the harder parts of being a parent.

“I love you Frankie. Go get some rest hun, I’ll take him.” Frankie looks at you as he struggles to keep his eyelids from closing, “are you sure?” You huff and roll your eyes playfully, “go before you fall asleep at the table and crush out baby,” you assure, unclipping the carrier from the back and at his waist, cradling your son in your arms, he groans quietly as he readjusts in your arms. Frankie kisses your forehead and heads straight for the lounge, knowing he won’t make it to the bedroom without passing out from exhaustion. You have to give it to him; for his first all nighter he did amazing; it impressed you.

You hoped it would be the first of many. Seeing Frankie be so good at being a dad almost made you want another baby, almost.

#frankie #frankie morales #Francesco morales #frankie morales x reader #dad Frankie morales #post partum depression #triple frontier #pedropascal #pedro pascal

[crazyunsexycool]

The love we gave away.

Chapter 3

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Reader

Word count: 4.9k

Warnings: angst, mentions of character death, bit of soft Ransom, talks of teenage pregnancy

A/N: we find out the truth that the twins have been hiding! I know this has been kind of a slow start but I’m changing it up a bit next chapter and I’m excited for it! I also love writing a soft-ish version of Ransom first because I want to show that he is capable of it but there still is that asshole version that we might see soon!

Series Masterlist

“Who are you texting?” Teddy had poked his head into Abigail’s room to ask her something. Lately every time he looked over she was on her phone.

“Y/N.”

“Again? Don’t you get tired of talking to either of them?” Teddy asked as he walked in and sat down on Abby’s bed.

Abigail rolled her eyes as she finished typing out her message.

“No, because I want to get to know them. Y/N is really nice, you should give her a chance.”

“I already have a mom, thank you very much.”

“You’re so dramatic and for what?” Abby sat up to look at her brother. “Seriously, why are you so angry at them? Why are you angry all the time?”

“You know what? It doesn’t matter. Just don’t come crying to me when they want nothing to do with you. Again. Because that’s what’s going to happen, they’re going to realize they don’t want us around and tell us to leave them alone.”

Teddy got up and walked out, slamming the door in the process. Abby was left dumbfounded.

Their mom, Annie, knocked on her door and opened it only when she heard Abby’s faint ‘come in’.

“What was that about?” Annie sat down next to her daughter, who immediately laid her head on her mother’s lap.

“I don’t know. He’s being an ass.”

“Oh come on now honey, cut your brother some slack. These last few months have been hard for all of us.”

“I know but we just-“ Abby cut herself off before she mentioned you and Ransom. She was going to tell her mom but she wanted to find the right way to say it. Maybe even figure out if both her biological parents were going to stick around.

“Just what?”

“Just moved here. We only have each other and I want to be there for him but he just hates everyone and everything.”

“We’ll figure it out honey.” Annie kisses Abby’s forehead. “We always do.”

You had just gotten off the phone with another stylist to who knows which celebrity about a custom outfit for some red carpet event when Wanda sat down across from you. Before she would even say a word your cell phone dinged and you smiled as you replied.

“Ok, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Wanda asks. Her eyes narrowed in your direction.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you dating someone? From the way you smile at your phone I would think that someone has finally gotten your attention. Maybe that Drysdale guy?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?” She asked again. If there was one thing that Wanda was, it was persistent.

“Fine, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise me this will not leave the office. It’s a very serious matter.”

“Nothing leaves this office. I promise.”

“No one in my life now knows about this. But Ransom and I have known each other since high school. We actually dated from when we were 15 until we graduated.”

“Is that the big secret, you dated a guy? Thought it’d be more interesting like you got pregnant or something.”

You only stare at her and wait for the light bulb to go off.

“Oh my god. You got pregnant when you were a teenager.” She whisper yelled.

“Yup.” You nod before you go into the details of the pregnancy and the subsequent issues. Wanda was glued to her seat, eyes wide and mouth slightly parted from all the gasping and comments she made and questions she asked.

“Wow, Y/N I’m so sorry you went through that. So what does that have to do with the texts and you being so happy?”

“You remember the kids that showed up about two weeks ago?”

“Yeah.” She gasped again as she covered her mouth with her hand. “They're your twins?”

“Yeah. Their mom gave them the letters I had written to them. Then they found a partial address and they found their way here.”

“This is crazy. So what now?”

“I don’t know.” You shrug. “We got together for lunch a week ago. Ransom came all the way from Boston to meet them. Abigail is more open to having a relationship with us. Theodore though, he seems so angry. I don’t know why but I can understand it must be hard for him to come to terms with everything. I’d like to officially meet their parents though and make sure they’re ok if we stay in contact. To have them in my life in any way would just be… wonderful.”

“I’m sure everything will be alright. And if you need anything I’m here for you.”

“Thank you Wanda.” You smile at her.

“Now I’m sorry to burst the bubble but we need you on the main floor.”

“I’ll be right out.” You say as your phone dings again.

Wanda smiles as she watches you type away happily on your phone. You’ve known each other for seven years now with her being your assistant for six of them. Never in her life had she guessed that you had to go through something like that. But you weren’t one to really talk about your past. This new revelation however made her understand why you tended to push people away, even when you were struggling with loneliness. Wanda steps out of your office giving you a few more minutes of privacy as she steps back into the main floor.

“This is a nice surprise. What’s the reason for the visit, Ransom?” Harlan asked as he looked up at his grandson.

Ransom plopped down on a chair across from his grandfather. A drink in his hand from the small bar cart that was in the corner of the office.

“Has your uncle been giving you trouble at the office again?”

Ransom scoffs. “That asshole knows better than to try shit at the office.”

Harlan gives Ransom a disapproving look as he sets down his pen. He sat back, his elbows sitting on the armrests and his fingers interlaced in front of him. Ransom normally came to visit on Sundays so Harlan was curious as to why his grandson was there on Thursday.

“So what’s going on?”

“I wanted to visit you today since I won’t be here Sunday.” Ransom shrugged.

“Oh? Where are you going to be?”

“New York.” Ransom sits up now, this situation with you and the twins had been weighing on him since the first meeting. He couldn’t go to his so-called friends because they weren’t those kinds of friends you could talk to.

“This is the second time you’re going to New York in a month and you don’t even like New York. You’re not going to go partying, are you Ransom?”

“No, I’m actually going to meet someone.”

“A potential new author?” Harlan’s interest piqued. While he was an author at heart and had many best sellers under his belt, he also had the publishing company. He loved finding authors that had as much passion as him and helped them get their stories out there.

“No, I’m meeting Y/N.”

Harlan wasn’t able to hide the surprise on his face. It had been years since he’d heard Ransom speak about you. Only when he got really drunk and the rest of the family wasn’t around would he allow himself to speak of you.

“It’s been years hasn’t it? How did this come about?” Harlan was eager to know more about this meeting. The older man had always been fond of you. He could see the apprehension on Ransom’s face. His mind was busy as he tried to find the right words.

“The twins…”

Harlan was at the edge of his seat now more than ever. You and the twins had brought something out in Ransom he had never seen before. It showed him that the Ransom that knew love when he was a child was still there. That Ransom could be a better man than his father and even himself. But that story had yet to have an ending and Harlan could only hope Ransom would write himself a happy one.

“They found Y/N. She met them and she contacted me.”

“And you’re going to meet them?”

“I already did. About a week ago but I am going back to see them again.”

“You met them already? The first time you went to New York.” Harlan was practically speechless. He thought of those kids, his great grandchildren daily.

“Yeah,” Ransom said with a small smile, one his grandfather hadn’t in a long time. “You’d like them, they seem like great kids. Abigail, she loves your books. I may have promised her a signed copy of your next one.” Ransom sat up more, started speaking more animatedly. “Theodore though, he seems angry. Like he doesn’t want anything to do with us. I can’t blame the kid, I don’t think it'd be easy to find out you're adopted. But they seem to have a really good relationship.”

“And you plan on being in their lives?”

“I don’t know.” Ransom admitted after a while. He didn’t dare look at his grandfather, he’d been at the receiving end of disappointing looks most of his life he didn’t need to see another one.

“I think you want to. You wouldn’t have come here and told me about them if you didn’t.”

“I wouldn’t be a good influence on them.”

“Maybe they’d be a good influence on you. Did you ever think of that? Hopefully they take after their mother in that sense.”

Ransom just narrowed his eyes at Harlan.

“Don’t look at me like that. When you and Y/N were together you were happier. She showed you that you were worth loving and it made you better. What you went through, having to give up your kids, changed you. You were so angry at the world then, still are some times. But you have a chance to answer your own question.”

“What question is that?”

“If you’d be a better father than Richard. Maybe even a better husband, if things worked out with Y/N. Maybe if you gave each other a second chance.” Harlan said hopefully.

Ransom just shook his head and scoffed. You’d never give him a chance, not after the way things ended. Harlan waved his hand dismissively.

“That doesn’t matter now. Meet with them again. Give yourself a chance to realize that you are doing the right thing by getting to know them.” Harlan smiles at his grandson. “If all goes well I’d like to meet them. And I’d like to see Y/N again too.”

“Yeah, I’ll let her know.”

“Now go. I have a book to finish if I want to give my great granddaughter a signed copy.”

Ransom smiled at that. He could already see Abigail’s excited face as she saw his signature on the first page. He gave Harlan a quick goodbye and went home to pack for his long weekend.

The cab you’d taken to meet Ransom, Abigail and Theodore stopped in front of the restaurant everyone had decided on. It was Ransom’s suggestion and although you thought it was too high end for your taste Theodore actually seemed excited about it.

You pay your fare and head in and to the back of the room where the three of them were waiting for you. Abigail was right in the middle of a story about learning how to ice skate when you walked in. It was a balm into the still open wound in your soul. To watch Ransom interact with them, he was listening and putting all of his attention on her. The question popped into your head again. Would this be your life if you hadn’t given them up for adoption?

“Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Hey.” Abigail got up and hugged you, Theodore just gave you a small nod.

You sat down next to Ransom and bumped your shoulders with his.

“It’s about time. Were you caught up with your sewing?”

“Shut up.” You rolled your eyes and turned your attention to the twins. “So how have you been?”

“We’re good.” Theodore answered.

“Have you done anything around the city?”

“Not really, mom has been working extra hours.” Abigail gives you a sad smile.

There’s something about that statement that makes you want to know more about their parents but Theodore catches you off guard by telling you about some new video game he just got. You ask a few questions and you see him come alive with excitement, especially when he’s describing the graphics and the real life locations that inspired the video game.

****

You’ve just finished your appetizers and are talking about how busy you’ll be with work when Abigail and Theodore go quiet. You and Ransom had your backs turned slightly toward the main room so you couldn’t see what they were looking at. Before you can even turn around Abigail speaks up.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” She asks, looking extremely guilty.

You look at Ransom before turning around and looking at another woman approaching the table. She’s obviously a few years older than you. Her hair is black and in a bob, there are a few grays starting to appear. Her eyes are green and bright, a knowing smile on her lips. A rosy tint on her cheeks but underneath that you could see how tired she was.

“I could ask you the same thing.” She raises an eyebrow at Abby.

“I told you this was a bad idea.”

“You didn’t have to come, Teddy.” Abby replies.

“It’s ok, no ones in trouble here.” Annie says before turning her attention to you and Ransom. It makes you feel like you’ve been caught doing something bad. Both of you stand up and you reach out to shake hands with her. “You must be their bio parents. I hope so at least or else I’m going to have to kick someone’s ass. I’m Annie.” She jokes and it puts you at ease.

“I’m Y/N and this is Ransom and yes, we are their biological parents. May I ask, did you not know they would be here today?”

“I didn’t. I thought they’d be out exploring, like they said they would be.”

“So you lied to us?” Ransom finally spoke up as he looked at the twins. “We asked you to invite your parents and you said they were busy.”

“Ransom.”

“You lied?”

Both you and Annie said at the same time.

“Let’s take a moment. I’d like to have a word with you if it’s not too much trouble.” Annie looks at both you and Ransom.

“Yes, we’d love to talk to you. Why don’t we go somewhere more private?”

“The hotel I’m staying at is just a block away. We could go there.”

“Ok.” Annie nods. So the five of you leave the restaurant after Ransom graciously paid the bill.

****

“Order whatever you want.” Ransom tells Theodore and Abigail as he hands them the menu for room service before walking out to the balcony.

You and Annie sat opposite each other on a wrought iron table. Both of you were waiting for Ransom, who sat down beside you.

“So, where to begin?” Annie murmurs. “I had this whole conversation in my head. What I would say if I met you but now everything just seems to have completely erased from my mind.” She chuckles a bit. “I guess I want to start out by saying thank you. For having them and giving me the chance to be a mother. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you.”

“One of the worst experiences in my life, having to give them up. Does it bother you? That they came looking for us?”

“Not at all. To be completely transparent with you, I knew that address was imprinted on the letter. I knew Abigail, being the curious child she is, would see it and want to know more. I’m glad she was actually able to find you and meet you.”

“Would you and your husband be ok with us being in their lives?” Ransom asked cautiously. That was the most important question and honestly he wouldn’t know what to do if she said no.

Annie gave you both a sad smile as you sat there hopeful that she’d say yes. There was no way either of you could go back to your lives knowing that they’re so close.

“I’d be more than ok with that. But there’s a few things you should know. The most important is about my husband. In a few weeks it will be a year since he passed away.” She reveals, a few tears escape her. You grab her hand gently in hopes of giving her some type of comfort. “It was a drunk driver, he blew right through the intersection and hit my husband on the driver's side. He was on his way to pick Theodore up from the skating rink. The weather had been bad and we told him he should stay home but he really wanted to go with his friends. He feels responsible for his dad’s death.”

“That’s why he’s so angry.”

It was more of a statement than a question. Annie nods as she takes a deep breath and you pull your hand back.

“He thinks that if he hadn’t insisted his dad would be alive. But the truth is my husband would have caved and taken him anyway. He couldn’t see those kids sad at all, spoiled them rotten.”

“We’re so sorry about your loss. This last year must have been difficult.”

“Yeah, losing my Danny, telling the kids the truth and then moving here. Away from all of their friends and family. It’s why I’m glad they found you. Although I wish you would have been in their lives sooner but I never got any sort of response from either of you so I was afraid of what could have happened.”

Her statement takes you by surprise. From your understanding it was a closed adoption. There was no way for you to have any type of contact with them. Annie sees the confusion on both your faces and clarifies.

“I had both of your addresses. After they turned one I started writing to both of you once a month and sending pictures of the kids. I wanted both of you to see that Teddy and Abby were being well taken care of and were loved. And maybe you would have wanted to be in their lives in some way, we could have said you were family friends or something. But when I didn’t receive a response to the birthday invitation for their fifth birthday I stopped.”

It felt like a sucker punch to the gut. All of these years when you wondered how they were doing and where they were you could have known. You looked away from Annie and focused on some building in the distance.

“We never received them.” Ransom says, the bitter tone in his voice sent a chill down your spine.

“Maybe the addresses were wrong.”

“They weren’t. You have to know,” you turn back to look at her. “That we didn’t want to give them up. We had no choice, our parents pressured us into putting them up for adoption. Now I am glad that they had you and your husband. You’ve done such a fantastic job with them.” It was your turn to give her a sad smile. “You should be very proud.”

“Thank you. I think this could be good for them. Getting to know you and all, now it’s out in the open. They were so bad at not saying anything it was kind of cute.” She smiles. “They’ve always been thick as thieves, those two.”

“We can see that. Even though Theodore seems like he doesn’t want to meet with us. He’d do anything for his sister.” Ransom adds.

The French doors that connect the balcony to the hotel room swing open. Theodore stands there with a scowl on his face.

“Will you stop talking about us as if we’re not right here?”

“Watch your tone.” Ransom snaps.

“Ransom.”

“Theodore.”

Both you and Annie called out respectively. It seems like Theodore gets his temper from Ransom. They’re both explosive and reactive when they feel like they’re backed up against a corner.

“What? It’s the truth. Why are you making decisions about us without asking us first?” Theodore defended as Abigail walked up behind him. She peeked over his shoulder and looked like she was ready to apologize for his antics.

“He doesn’t mean it.”

“You don’t have to apologize for him, Abigail. He has the right to feel the way he does.” You say softly, catching everyone off guard. Annie sends you a grateful smile. “Your mom was just asking if we were serious about staying in your lives. She’s just protecting you before we talk to you about it.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then we’ll respect your decision.”

Ransom shot you a questioning look.

“We’ll give them what we wished we had, a choice.” You tell him and he looks away before nodding. “We leave it up to you. I would love to be in your life in whatever way you’d like. I don’t expect you to call me mom or anything like that. I just want to get to know you and for you to know that I’ll be here for whatever you need.”

“Me too.” Ransom adds.

“Well I already have parents so I don’t need you in my life.”

“Theodore, what has gotten into you. I’ve raised you better than that.”

“I have a dad, I don’t need another one.” Teddy is on the verge of tears. In an act that surprised everyone, especially you, Ransom reaches out and pulls Theodore into a hug causing him to start crying. “I don’t want to forget him.”

“You won’t kid. I could never fill his shoes and we aren’t trying to replace your parents. We just want to get to know you. We’ll be here for you no matter what.”

No one said anything for a few minutes. Abigail went to hug Annie and then she came to hug you. She had tears in her own eyes as she watched her brother breakdown. Theodore eventually pulls away and moves to give you a hug.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbles into your shoulder.

“It’s ok.” You move your hand up and down his back. “I just ask that you take your time and think about it. When you’re ready we’ll be here. We’ll accept whatever your choice is.”

Theodore pulls back and nods before stepping away from you.

“I think it’s best we get going.” Annie says.

“Yeah, ok. You can get our numbers from the kids. I’d like to stay in contact.”

“We’ll talk soon.”

Abigail hugs you both quickly before following Annie and Theodore out.

“That’s was a fucking rollercoaster.” Ransom says as soon as you’re alone.

“Yeah.”

“I’m getting a drink, do you want one?”

“I don’t drink.” You say as you follow him inside.

“You don’t?”

“No I don’t and you know why.”

Ransom looks over at you sitting on the couch as he pours himself some whiskey. Once he’s done he sits next to you and takes a big sip. You roll your eyes.

“You’re an ass, you know that.”

“I’ve been called worse by less important people.”

“And on that note, how are your parents?” You ask with fake interest.

“Just peachy. The spawn of satan just sold another property to some high and mighty piece of shit. And the spineless weasel is using her money to buy expensive gifts for his mistress.”

“You’re joking?” You look at him with disbelief written all over your face.

“Wish I was.”

“After that whole speech they gave us about being immoral and ruining the good name of the Thrombey family.”

“What can I say thimble? They’re not good at practicing what they preach. How are yours?”

“Alive I guess. I did my best to leave them in the past.” There is a beat of silence. “I bet he still has those letters.”

“Knowing Linda she probably burnt mine.”

“Let’s never be like our parents.” You mutter.

“If they’re the ones that set the bar on parenting we can only go up, thimble.”

“That’s the fucking truth.” You turn your head to look at him. “I’m proud of you by the way.”

It always caught Ransom off guard to hear that anyone was proud of him. In this instance he was unsure why.

“You handled the situation with Theodore better than I thought you would. Little rough start but you got there.”

You smile when you see his cheeks go pink. It was easy to make Ransom blush and it was your favorite thing to do. It reminded you of when you were younger and neither of you had really figured out what you meant to each other. Whenever you complimented him or said anything nice in general he would blush just like he is right now.

“I should get going. Fingers crossed they want to keep seeing us.” You say as you get up. Ransom follows you to the door and says his goodbyes.

“Fingers crossed.” He repeats.

This whole situation reminded Ransom why he didn’t do relationships. It was honestly killing him to have his heart exposed like that. He did his best to hold back and act as if it wasn’t that important but it was. One meeting. That’s all it took for him to be wrapped around their fingers. Waiting to find out what they wanted was going to be excruciating but he’d endure it. For them and for you. He’d do anything for you too.

“So what are you two thinking?” Annie asks as she closes the front door of their house.

Teddy just shrugs his shoulders as he looks anywhere but at her. Abby has her gaze averted and staring at the floor of the living room.

“You can tell me the truth. I promise I won’t feel bad about it.”

“I really like them. They’re nice.” Abby admits. “I’ve been texting with them a lot. Mostly Y/N. About her job, she’s a fashion designer and she gets to dress all of these celebrities.”

“Does she know you want to go into fashion too?” Annie asks as she takes a seat on the couch.

“I couldn’t tell her. I don’t want her to think I’m using her for something, but I guess it’s nice to know where I get it from.”

“You mean you don’t get your sense of fashion from me?”

Abby smiles and shakes her head.

“I’ve been begging you for a while to let me redo your wardrobe and you won’t do it.”

“And I never will because I happen to be a snappy dresser.”

“That’s the problem mom, you should be sleek and stylish not snappy.” Abby informs her.

“I’ll think about it. What about you?”

“I don’t know.” Teddy shrugged his shoulders again.

“How are you feeling after today?”

He just shrugs his shoulders. “I’m gonna go lay down for a while, I feel like I’m getting a headache.”

“Ok sweetheart. We’ll talk later.”

****

In his room Teddy pulls out his phone and dials Ransom’s number before he could change his mind.

“Hey kid. Everything ok?” Ransom asks cautiously.

“Yeah. I mean I don’t know… everything just feels messed up right now.”

“What can I do to help?”

“I don’t know.” Teddy sniffles. “I just feel responsible for them, you know. Like I have to be the man of the house. I don’t want mom to feel bad if I want to hang out with you and Y/N.”

“I don’t think she’ll feel bad, kid. She seemed happy that we got to meet. If it makes you feel better she’s more than welcome to join us any time we get together.”

“Mom is like that. She puts on a brave face and acts like everything’s alright. But when she thinks no one will know I hear her crying.” Teddy sniffles as he opens up to Ransom more. “She already lost dad. I don’t want her to think she’ll lose us too.”

“Never. We would never get in the way of your relationship with your mom. To be honest I wish I had a mom like her, she seems like one of the good ones.” Ransom confesses.

“She is. Can I ask you something?”

“You just did.” Ransom chuckles. “What is it?”

“Did you mean it? Everything you said earlier?”

“Absolutely, without a doubt.”

“Do you…” Theodore hesitates.

“Do I what?”

“Do you regret having us?”

“No.” Ransom says quickly. “Loving your mother, Y/N, and having you is the only good thing I’ve ever done. Never ever doubt that. The choice we made was in hopes of giving you something neither of us had which was a happy and loving family. And before you say anything, yes we loved each other and we love you. But we just couldn’t take care of you the way you deserved.”

“Ok.” Theodore says after a beat of silence. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Alright, call me for whatever you need.”

“Bye Ransom.”

“Bye Theodore.”

Theodore hangs up and places his phone on his bedside table and picks up the picture he has of him in his hockey uniform. His dad proudly stands beside him. He can only hope that his dad is proud of him now and that he’s making the right choice.

Ch. 4

Permanent taglist:

@rebekahdawkins

@cjand10

@nalny5

@Sturchling

@angywritesstuff

@seitmai

@writing-for-marvel

@goldylions

@almosttoopizza

@littleseasiren

@pono-pura-vida

@talesofadragon

@midnightramyeoncravings

@bunnygirlwriter876

@pandaxnieenke

Series taglist:

@superaveng

#the love we gave away series #ransom drysdale x reader #dad!ransom drysdale #dad!ransom drysdale x mom!reader #ransom drysdale series #ransom drysdale x you #ransom drysdale angst #ransom drysdale x y/n

[widowbitessting]

Heyyy I’m so glad you are back to writing but it’s good to took a break cause breaks are good too!!

Anyway I had a question would the trio do something to celebrate baby finishing finals and the semester?

Hey my love! I remember seeing this and wanting to reply almost immediately then...writer's block hit...and life soooo...hi😅 I am so sorry for the literal, 7 month wait to get back to you *insert face plant gif here* (although I swear I replied to this...cos what I've just written is eerily similar but I can't find that reply anywhere...meh oh well!

All the love (I still can't get over you read my stuff!)

They would for sure spoil you rotten. Like, they've had everything planned for literal months. And kept it all quiet - for months! They wait for you to get back to their apartment, exhausted from your last day, and sit in literal darkness - Wanda literally having to be gagged by Carol to keep her excited giggles quiet - and when you manage to turn the lights on, you all but head butt the ceiling when you see and hear your girlfriends in the living room; Wanda finally being able to let out the excited noises she had been made to keep in. You swear your heart almost jumps out of your throat as you let out a very high pitched scream, arms and legs stuck in a desperate tango of fight or flight.

When you finally, finally, regain enough composure (and your ability to see again), your girlfriends are now standing. Wanda holding up a self made sign that the Trio! had individually put their signatures on - and you can safely say, through tight lips as you try to hold a laugh in, that Art is not any of their strong suits. Natasha and Carol are both holding balloons filled with helium in their hands, and their mouths are still open from their shouts of : "Congratulations!"

It takes you a second or two, to come round; heart pounding loudly in your ears as one hand clutches your chest with vice like fingers. When you finally overcome the panic and register the sweet act before you; you let out a small laugh and cover your mouth.

The living room has been switched to an indoor picnic; blanket lay out on floor with cushions adorned with fluffy blankets and a couple of your favourite stuffed toys. On the couch, an assortment of your favourite foods and snacks, as well as sugary drinks - Natasha reminds you it’s a one time treat to drink them so late in the evening, especially considering you hadn’t drank your total amount of water that day - and you can’t help but zero in on the small bundle of presents that sit beside the food.

You tackle them each for individual hugs and kisses, burrowing into them tightly and thanking them over and over.

“It’s just a small thing,” Natasha says as she squishes you tightly against her, “for all the hard word you’ve put in to your school work.”

“You deserve it and more baby.” Carol adds, kissing you cheek.

“I wanted to take you to Italy but these two said it was too much.” Wanda winks, slapping your ass.

You’re whisked away by Wanda to get changed into brand new pyjamas chosen by Carol - satin ones with matching shorts in your favourite colour - “For easy access.” Wanda adds.

You’re then led downstairs and given the option or eating first or opening presents; and let’s just say, the wrapping paper lasts all but five seconds when they allow you to get to them.

Your gifts are perfect.

A giant teddy bear holding a single rose; and around the stem, the diamond necklace that had caught your eye weeks ago. 

A box of your favourite chocolates. 

A brand new journal and pen.

The last box has your face turning crimson. Underneath delicate tissue lies a lingerie set that leaves little to the imagination. 

“A-are these for any particular event…?” You hold up the bra, eyes near bulging from your head when Natasha holds the matching knickers. 

“These are more for…personal use, baby. Just for us to enjoy.” 

Yeah, there was no way you were going to wear knickers with a slit in the middle out in public. 

The rest of the evening is spent enjoying each other and eating all the rubbish food your tummy can muster.

And when you doze off on the floor around 1am, curled around Carol; Wanda and Natasha cover you in a blanket and snuggle down alongside you.

Everything is perfect.

#natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #carol danvers #reader insert #sugar mommies #sugar mommies!asks #natasha x wanda x carol x reader #spiderbites #smu

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

(6) 970 days: mahogany red

Myoui Mina x reader

Part of the series: Palette

Previous chapter: (5) 1005 days: roseate pink

970 days.

It has been a month since the incident at Karina's, and her condition has deteriorated significantly.

What began as occasional vomiting had progressed to frequent nosebleeds and constant fatigue. Her eyes were vacant, and her memories were a jumbled mess. Even the simplest tasks, such as clicking the camera shutter, now required a Herculean effort from her weakened body.

You tried and failed, to talk to her about the pink teddy bear, about her possible soulmate. She would always rebuff your efforts and shake her head in defeat whenever you brought up the topic. Not even the CEO, Irene, could persuade her to take action to prevent further harm. Everyone was worried, but it's challenging to save someone who doesn't want to be saved.

You were growing more and more frustrated as Karina sat slumped at her desk, pretending to edit already finished photos from the JYP shoot.

“Please just tell me!” You yelled in desperation, desperate to help her.

Haerin flinched at the sound of your raised voice.

“Too loud, unnie.” She whispered.

You patted her arm in apology, and said in a softer tone, “I just want to help, Karina.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Karina replied weakly, “I have to get this edited before we leave for JYP later.”

“They. Are. Already. Edited” You said firmly, turning off Karina's monitor and turning her around to face you.

You and Karina were supposed to present the photos to JYP's management team and CEO, Park Jin-young, in person later this afternoon, as Seulgi and Irene were in Japan for another filming. Karina's condition was pretty bad, so you decided to take Haerin along as backup.

Karina stubbornly refused to speak, staring at you in silence.

Finally, you blurted out, "Is it Ryujin?"

You had been worrying about her for a month and couldn't take it anymore.

Karina's face drained of color, confirming your suspicion.

"Is that why you tried to get your tattoo removed on the day we had the ITZY shoot?"

Karina slowly nodded and said softly, "I always knew it was Ryujin. Even before the shoot. Her face was plastered all throughout Korea, I couldn't walk anywhere without seeing her face.”

She put her hands in her face, “Even on social media, she was there. And her being your friend didn't help. Whenever you mentioned her, I would die a little inside."

“I-I’m sorry.” You muttered. “I didn’t know.”

"I know, I'm not blaming you," she said with tears in her eyes. "I'm just trying to tell you my side. All that is bearable, you know? I could just close my eyes and pretend I didn't feel anything. But seeing her in person that day really drove me insane. I felt all these feelings that I couldn't control, and I didn't want that. So I tried to get my tattoo removed."

She glanced at her tattoo. The wound never healed and was still profusely bleeding, as if it were a reminder of what she did.

"It's already too late anyway," she said, her voice low.

You quickly shook your head at this, mind running for a way to solve this situation.

“What if…” you hesitated, “what if I introduced you to her? Just a small gathering, you don’t have to tell her anything.”

Karina quickly shook her head. “I don’t want to burden her.”

“You won’t be!” You quickly interjected. “Ryujin has always been waiting for her soul mate to find her.”

You could tell Karina was hesitant.

“I won’t say anything to her about the connection. I promise,” you begged. “If you choose to fade away, at least fade away comfortably. Having your soul mate near you lessens the symptoms, and I’m sure you want to befriend her at least.”

Karina looked up at you and Haerin, uncertainty in her eyes. You gave her an encouraging nod, and Haerin did the same enthusiastically.

"Fine. Only because I can't stand throwing up at the smell of food," Karina relented stubbornly. "And just... don't tell her anything."

“I swear.” You sighed in relief.

Finally some progress.  Ryujin would most definitely kill you if you knowingly let her soul mate die.

“Love you!” You kissed Karina on the forehead and headed out the door. “Meet us at the front door in twenty.”

Haerin, daring to do the same, cautiously leaned over and kissed Karina’s head too before sprinting away.

“Yah! Kang Haerin!” You heard Karina yell from her office behind you. “What was that?”

“A kiss.” The cat-like girl called back.

“Shouldn’t you be at school today?” Karina called out again.

“I skipped.” Haerin whispered next to you as you two continued to walk away.

“What?” You stopped to look at her. “You told me you had a half day.”

“I lied.” She ran.

.

.

.

.

The drive to JYP was quiet. Karina was fast asleep in the backseat, while you and Haerin traveled in silence, with her gazing out of the window.

Karina was tough, and her unwavering loyalty to her promises was what concerned you. A few months after meeting each other, you and Karina made a vow to live without any boundaries or limitations. You both viewed the soul mate bond as a curse and as a form of incarceration, entwining your destinies with those of others and confining you within set boundaries. However, observing Karina in such pain, you started to question if your initial ideas might be wrong. Maybe giving in to the connection wasn't so bad compared to enduring the symptoms?

Haerin was singing softly to herself, making waves with her hand as she tried to avoid the lampposts as you drove by. The kid had grown on you, and you started to care for her like a little sister. Her stares had toned down a bit, and she had started to share some of her thoughts with you. You enjoyed her talkative side, albeit her thoughts were a bit odd sometimes. You also got into a habit of buying frog or cat-related things for her whenever you went out.

“Can you grab my phone and text Ryujin for me?” You asked the singing girl.

She nodded and looked at you patiently for the next steps.

“Can you tell her that I’ll be going to her company for a meeting, and ask if she can meet up after?”

Haerin typed furiously on your phone before sending the text.

Your phone dinged as you pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car with Haerin.

It was from Ryujin, and honestly, you weren’t surprised by the outcome.

.

.

.

.

The three of you stood in front of the towering building of JYP, waiting for one of the people from the management team to let you in, as a sense of nerves coiled within you.

As you spoke to the security, an excited voice called out your name.

You turned around and were met with Nayeon waving excitedly.

“Long time no see, Nayeon-ssi.” You quickly bowed, with Karina and Haerin following suit.

“There’s no need to be so formal.” Nayeon waved her hand good-naturally, “What are you guys doing here?”

“We have a meeting with your management team and Mr. Park about the photo shoot.”

“I’m also on my way there! I didn’t know you were the one who was going to present.” Nayeon nodded understandingly and motioned to security to let you in. “I’ll take you guys there.”

As Nayeon led you down the luxurious hallways, your eyes couldn't help but wander at the extravagant decor. You were awestruck by the plush velvet carpet underfoot and the golden elevator doors that opened to the 12th floor.

Nayeon chattered away about their upcoming comeback, but your thoughts couldn't help but stray to the thought of seeing Mina again. The burning sensation of your tattoo indicated that you were close to the girl. You quickly wiped your sweaty palms on your skirt and tugged at the collar of your blouse in nervousness.

The anticipation of what was to come was almost too much to bear.

“Don’t worry,” Nayeon reassured you with a warm smile. “Our management team is really nice.”

As she led the way down hallway after hallway, you couldn't help but feel like you were in a maze, with posters of every JYP group adorning the walls at every turn. Your heart pounded louder and louder with each step, and Karina seemed to weaken by the second. Haerin subtly wrapped her arms around the tall girl for support.

Finally, Nayeon stopped in front of a towering set of doors, wishing you good luck before she slipped inside.

You stared at the rich, mahogany red doors as you tried to gather your wits. The dark color made you feel like an outsider in this sophisticated world of glamour and fame. The thought of facing one of the most influential people in the K-pop world was enough to make your legs weaken. But with Karina's weak pat on your shoulder and a nod of encouragement, the three of you pushed open the doors and walked into the large meeting room.

.

.

.

. As you entered the room, your heart rate skyrocketed at the sight of Park Jin-young and the other stern-looking managers seated around a long table placed in front of the stage. 

You quickly scanned the room, and saw that the idols were all seated in the back. Your eyes met Ryujin’s, and she gave you a thumbs up in encouragement. You didn’t have time to locate the Twice members, but your irregular heartbeat indicated that Mina was also in the room.

The presentation began, and you and Karina took turns presenting the photos. Karina's tiredness started to show, and Haerin had to support her for the latter half of the presentation.

However, the management team seemed satisfied with the photos, and even Park Jin-young applauded after seeing the group photos. As the final photos were shown, the three of you bowed, and the management team gave nods of approval as they left the room one by one, with Park Jin-young leading the way.

You felt a wave of relief wash over you as he warmly shook your hand.

As soon as the management team left the room, Karina excused herself, her face pale and covered in cold sweat. The presentation had taken a toll on her, and she was close to throwing up.

You tried to accompany Karina to the bathroom, but she insisted that you had to stay for a while longer out of respect. It wasn’t until Haerin promised you that she would take good care of Karina and notify you if she needed help, that you let the two girls walk unsteadily out the door.

Still filled with worry, you stood by the doors and bowed as the idols left distractedly.

Dahyun and Chaeyoung pulled you in a hug when they arrived in front of you.

“You guys did great!” Dahyun exclaimed.

“Thanks, Dahyunie.” You ruffled her curly hair.

“You have got to teach me photography.” Chaeyoung said, squeezing your cheeks with her warm hands.

Before you could respond, a teasing voice that made your heartbeat go into a frenzy said, “Please teach me how to paint first.”

Mina had arrived, followed closely by the rest of the Twice members. She was dressed in casual jeans and a beige long-sleeved shirt, but still managed to pull it off, taking your breath away. Any willpower left in you completely flew out the window at the sight of her.

“Umm..I..” you stammered, “y-yeah, no problem!”

Chaeyoung snorted at your comment. She had caught on about your crush on Mina, but little did she know it was way more than a crush.

Unsure of what to say next, the two of you stood in awkward silence.

You couldn't help but steal a glance at her, noticing the way her hazel eyes sparkled in the light. Her gaze was on you, making your heart skip a beat.

You quickly looked away and studied the mahogany red doors again as if they were the most interesting thing in the room. The color seemed to be warmer than what you saw earlier before, almost more alive. It was as if Mina's calming presence was affecting everything around her, turning even the color of the doors into something softer and more inviting, making you feel as if you belonged.

Ryujin suddenly whispered loudly behind you. “Ask for her number, you stupid idiot.”

The ITZY girls had also arrived, and were listening in on the dead conversation between the two introverts.

Yeji slapped Ryujin on the arm, scolding her for being rude.

“Oh, um, can I have your number?” You asked awkwardly “So we can arrange a date... I mean, a time for the painting lessons, if that's okay?”

You peeked at Mina again, who was still smiling her gummy smile at you.

“I'd like that.” Mina ran her hands through her wavy hair and extended her hand.

You stared at her in confusion.

Did she want you to shake her hand?

Your phone?" Mina chuckled, amused. She was growing more confident at your reactions, and the idea of getting to know you better intrigued her.

"Right, sorry." You mumbled, feeling like a fool.

The girls around you burst into giggles as Mina typed in her number and handed it back to you.

“You'll text me today?" Mina persisted, her tongue caught between her teeth as she grinned.

"Ye-" you were caught off guard by a panting Haerin bursting through the doors.

Her large eyes were wide in panic as she ran over to you.

"Wha-" You caught sight of her white shirt, stained with droplets of red.

"Karina," was all she said as she grabbed your arm and pulled you out of the room.

You ran down the long hallway, following Haerin to the bathroom, the urgency of the situation palpable.

Karina was lying on the floor, her right sleeve completely soaked with blood, and her nose bleeding profusely, staining her blouse with dark red.

“What happened?” You urgently asked Haerin, as you crouched down and gently shook Karina’s shoulders.

“She was throwing up when she suddenly started to bleed from her nose.” Haerin was sobbing, “And then she just collapsed.”

Just then, Ryujin and Mina burst into the bathroom, followed closely by the rest of the Twice and ITZY members. They gasped in shock at the sight of so much blood, with Ryujin almost turning green.

“Ryu, call an ambulance.” You threw your phone over to her and she immediately started dialing.

“I’m sorry, I tried to wake her.” Haerin was full-on weeping, her voice wavering.

“Shh, it’s okay.” Yeji pulled the shorter girl into a comforting embrace.

You started to pull up Karina's sleeves to work on stopping the bleeding. She was bleeding an alarming amount from her tattoo, with the blood pooling onto the floor in a large puddle. As you finally managed to roll up Karina's drenched sleeve, you drew in a sharp breath in shock.

Her tattoo had somehow managed to get even worse; the numbers had transformed into deep cuts into her veins, reaching all the way to the bone.

A loud ripping sound came from beside you, and you saw Mina had torn off the entire sleeve of her own shirt.

"Use this," she said as she passed you the fabric. "Tie it tightly to stop the bleeding."

You quickly wrapped the soft cloth around Karina's arm, tying it tightly to reduce the blood flow. The flow lessened immediately.

"Thank you," you let out a sigh of relief, turning slightly to look at the woman crouching next to you.

Mina gave you a soft smile and gently wrapped her arm around your shoulder, "She's going to be okay." The warmth of her body and steady breathing brought a sense of calm washing over you.

You would've had a major heart attack at her gesture if you weren't so worried about Karina. You thanked your lucky stars that you chose to wear a buttoned-up shirt today, as it prevented any skin-to-skin contact with Mina.

“Y/N, the ambulance is almost here.” Jihyo called from outside the door, snapping you out of your thoughts.  

You clumsily tried to lift Karina in your arms, but her weight and your shaken hands made you stumble.

“Here. Let me.” Ryujin crouched down and effortlessly scooped up Karina in her arms, as if she weighed nothing.

The group rushed downstairs, footsteps echoing in the empty halls.

With a burst of urgency, Ryujin laid Karina on the ambulance cot and the paramedics quickly took over. As the ambulance drove away, Ryujin stood frozen, feeling a strange sensation course through her body.

An electrifying shock as her skin came briefly into contact with Karina’s. It was a fleeting moment, like a tidal wave upon the shore and retreating back into the depths.

But before she could process the feeling, it was gone.

Ryujin slowly turned around to face you.

And the both of you stood there, motionless.

Droplets of dark mahogany red were scattered across your clothes,

somber and heavy, as if foreshadowing the weight of the truth that was at the tip of your tongue.   

But the look in her eyes already conveyed it all.

She knew.

Previous chapter Next chapter

A rollercoaster of emotions for this one. Promise there will be a bit more fluff for the next chapter!

#mina x reader #twice mina #mina x y/n #twice x reader #new jeans #red velvet #itzy #ryujin #kpop fanfic #kpop imagines #twice fic #gxg #wlw #kpop #original work #kpop fic #aespa #karina #soulmates #slow burn #angst #fluff #twice imagines #mina myoui #myoui mina #haerin #wherethefireliliesgrow

[oreolemur]

Bargain- Dabi Fanfic

“Why’d you call me so late?”, you asked. “I-I have an exam early in the morning”.  Standing by his dorm’s door, you gazed over at the black-haired male, sitting at his desk. “If it’s because you want more money…I don’t have any”. Grinning, Dabi stared at you sinfully. “Lock the door”. Waiting for you to listen, he pulled out a butterfly knife from his pants. “Why am I not hearing a click?”, he gritted. “Do I need to get up and do it myself?”. Gulping, you reached for the doorknob, locking it as told. “S-sorry, I’m not my best when tired”.

Scoffing at your apology, Dabi laughed at you. “You and your fucking excuses”. Seeing him stand up, your heart dropped and pounded in fear. You closed your eyes and tensed up. “Do you know why I mess with you?”, he asked, approaching you slowly. You stepped back until you couldn’t anymore. With your body pressed against the door and Dabi hovering over you, you felt yourself freeze up. “You were always so easy to bitch. Not only mentally, but physically too. You're short, chubby, and it excites me seeing how afraid you get when I’m close to you”. Caressing your face, the male pinched your cheek. He looked down at you, observing how tight your pink tank top was. “Look at me”.

Opening your eyes, you glared up at Dabi. “I called you here…because I want to make a deal”. “A deal?”, you replied. “Yes, a deal”. Walking back over to his desk, he sat down. “ Let me fuck you, and I won’t bully you anymore”. Spinning the knife in his hands, Dabi stared at you. “What?”, you questioned. “What’s it gonna be, hm?”, he smiled. You looked at him confused,“I don’t understand”. “Was my offer not clear enough?”, he asked, standing up. Walking up to you, the man grabbed your face. “Or…are you more of a visual learner?”. He squeezed your cheeks together, parting your lips. Your eyes widen, seeing him lean in to kiss you. “No!”, you shouted. “I don’t want to”.  Letting you go, Dabi clenched his jaw. “Ok…if that’s what you want. Then so be it. Now, get out”. Heading towards the exit, the man uttered something. “Enjoy being my punching bag from now on”, he chuckled.

❤~2 Weeks Later~❤

Ever since that night, you’ve tried your best to avoid Dabi. Whenever you saw him around campus, you immediately went the other way. He had been blowing up your phone with texts and calls. Each message was a threat, making you fear him even more. “What am I going to do?”, you cried.

❤❤❤

Finishing up in the shower, you grabbed your belongings as you headed back to your dorm. On your way there, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were being followed. Whether it was the cold night air making you feel that way, or other students roaming school grounds, something felt off to you. “Maybe, it’s the stress getting to me”, you thought. Picking up the pace, you quickly returned to your dorm safely.

Inside, you placed your toiletries on your desk as you made your way to your bed. “What the hell?”, looking at your phone, it dinged over and over again with texts. With over 30+ messages from Dabi, your heart dropped reading the most recent one. “You still sleep with a teddy bear?”, it read. Glancing over at your stuffed animal, you began to shake. “H-how does he know?”.  Taking a step back, you bumped into something. “How do I know what?”, a voice said from behind. “And why haven’t you been answering me?”. 

Standing over you, Dabi put you in a headlock. “How is my favorite little pig, anyway?”. Placing your hands around his arm, you tried to slip away. “I haven’t seen you around campus lately…nor in class. Have you been avoiding me?”. Adding pressure to your entrapment, he admired how much you squirmed. “I-I…haven’t…been feeling…well”, you lied. Choking you harder, he laughed. “Don’t lie to me”. Taunting you more, the man finally let you go.

As you fell to your knees, Dabi stared at you. He walked over to your desk, taking a seat. “Come here”, he ordered. “Why?”, you asked. Throwing a pencil at you, the bully repeated himself. “Come…here. Now!”. Standing up, he threw another pencil at you. “Crawl to me”. You looked at him confused. “Get down on the floor, and crawl to me”. Hesitating, you slowly obeyed him. “If I have to repeat myself again, I will hurt you”. Nodding, you crawled towards him. “Why are you here?”, you asked. “Because I got sick of waiting for an answer”. Lifting your head up, he squeezed your face. “Aren’t you tired of being my pet? Why don't you try something new?”. 

Trying not to look at him, you averted your eyes somewhere else. “I don’t want to do that with you”, you replied. “Do what?”, Dabi asked. “You know…that thing. I don’t want to do that with you”. Smirking, he questioned you again. “What thing? I don’t know what you mean”.  Glancing at him, you spoke clearly. “I don’t want to have sex with you”. Reaching for his belt, the man unbuckled his pants. “Well then…that’s too bad. Cause I wanna fuck you”. Pulling out his dick, your eyes widen. “Open your mouth”. Trying to get away, he dug his nails into your flesh. “If I repeat myself, I will hurt you”.

Staring at his cock, you leaned in. “Why am I doing this?”, you asked yourself. Parting your lips, you rubbed his tip on your upper lip. His precum smeared on your mouth like lip gloss. You poke out your tongue, giving it long slow licks. “Put it in your mouth already”, Dabi seethed. Sucking in the tip, you eased your way down his shaft. You felt his cock jump. “He’s too big”, you thought, stopping halfway.  Your mouth tightened around him as you began to move your head up and down. 

Dabi sat back with his hands behind his head. “I’ve seen you shove more food in your mouth, so I know you can do better than that”. Trying to go down more, you started to choke. “I can’t go any further than that!”, you complained, taking him out. “It’s already hitting the back of my throat”. Tilting his head, Dabi thought of something. “Is your mouth really that small?”, he asked. Nodding your head, he tells you to open up. “I just want to see something”, he said. Opening your mouth again,  he looked inside. “I see what the problem is”, he smiled. Grabbing your hair, he pushed you down on his dick. “You need a little training”. Keeping your head still, you took hold off his waist in an attempt to get him out. “Can’t breathe can you?”. He laughed at how stupid you looked. “Breathe through your fucking nose, idiot”. Doing what he said, you found it easier to breathe. “Good, now finish”.

10 minutes in, your mouth began to tire. “Mm, you’re starting to drool”, Dabi groaned. He thrusted into your throat, making you hit your nose against his pelvis. “Why is he being so rough?”. You tried your best to keep up with his pace, but his dick kept poking your pharynx, causing you to gag. “My throat’s beginning to sore”, you teared up. Dabi threw his head back as he closed his eyes. “Just a little more”. Pushing you down all the way, he sloppily fucked into you as he came. “Gross”, you whined as he held you still. “Swallow it”, he said. Leaving you with no other choice, you did as told. “God, this is disgusting”. Collecting the rest of his cum with your tongue, you licked him clean. 

Holding you still by the hair, Dabi scoffed as the two of you stared at each other. “Wow…now you really look like a pig”. Releasing you from his grip, you took the chance to scoot away from him. “Are you done?”, you asked, glaring at the floor. “I did what you wanted”. Spinning in your chair, the man laughed. “Done? That wasn’t even half of what I came for”. Getting up and smiling, he walked over to you. “Stand up”.  Shaking your head, you scooted away again as he came closer. “Why are you being so defiant?”, he questioned. “Stand up!”. 

Watching you, Dabi removed his shirt. “Why are you taking that off?”, you asked. Cracking his neck, he sighed. “Because I don’t want to get blood on my favorite shirt”. As he approached you, you made an attempt to run to the door. The two of you struggled against one another as you were pressed between him and the exit. “Just let me go, please”, you begged. “I won’t tell anyone about this. I promise I’ll stay quiet”. Dabi ignored your begging as he was distracted by something else. “Her ass is so plump and soft”, he said to himself. Feeling him reach under your robe, you shut your legs. “Dabi…please”, you croaked. He forced your limbs apart, placing his hands on your bottom. “Fuck”, he groaned. “I should’ve done this sooner”. Slightly humping you, he quickly undid your robe. “Take it off”. 

Giving you some space, he watched. Your attention was on the door as you slipped the clothing off of you. The cold dorm air hits your bare body, forming goosebumps. Sitting on the edge of your bed, Dabi bit his lip. “Turn around”. Keeping your eyes on the floor, you turned. “You know…you’re more appealing than I thought”, he chuckled. Hearing him laugh, you felt helpless. As vulnerable as you were, you accepted your fate. “What else do you want?”. Humming in excitement, Dabi ordered you to the bed. “Is that all?”, you asked, sitting next to him. Brushing the hair out of your face, he leaned into your ear. “You’re so impatient. It’s almost as if you want me inside you”.

He kissed your cheek while grabbing hold of your neck to push you down. Getting on top, he positioned himself between your legs. “This is what I like to see”. Taking hold of your waist, he pulled you close to him. “Do we have a deal now?”, he smirked, rubbing his cock on your cunt. You squirmed around, feeling his heated member touch your sensitive bud. “Give me an answer… or I’ll make one for you”. Putting his tip in, you nodded. “Say it, Y/N”, he gritted, penetrating you more.  “We have a deal”. 

#mha smut #mha dabi #dabi x reader #todoroki touya #dark writing #tw noncon

[tracingpatternswrites]

The Patchwork of Us | Chapter 3

The boys are still not quite seeing eye to eye, but Remus gets some much desired alone time with Teddy and then the three of them visit an indoor playing centre.

Read the whole thing from the beginning on AO3.

Snippet below the cut:

“Did you like my mum?”

The question came out of the blue and Remus froze, looking down at the book he was holding.

“What?” he asked, even though he had heard the question perfectly well, just needing to buy himself some time.

They were at the kitchen table in Sirius’ house; Teddy had just finished his homework and had moved on to drawing. It looked as if his focus was on the dog he was colouring in rather than the question, but Remus had a feeling that the boy was more interested in his answer than he was letting on.

He was suddenly grateful that Sirius wasn’t there. Remus had picked Teddy up at school and walked him home, waiting with him until Sirius got back from whatever it was he was doing. Working, Teddy had said, but when Remus had asked what he did for a job the reply had made little sense and he got the feeling Teddy wasn’t completely sure himself.

“He helps people and sometimes he wears a tie but he hates it,” Teddy had said, and Remus had drawn a blank on what kind of job that could possibly be. Whatever it was it, however, meant he couldn’t pick Teddy up from school and that was why Remus was keeping Teddy company.

Now he was glad that Sirius wasn’t there to hear Teddy’s question, or his reply. He always felt awkward talking about Teddy’s mum when Sirius could hear him. He wasn’t surprised at the question though, he felt as if the boy had been gearing up for it the past few times they’d been hanging out.

“Did you?” Teddy prompted again and Remus exhaled softly, closing his book and setting it down on the table.

“I did,” he replied softly. “I liked her very much.”

“Did you love her?”

Remus hesitated. He didn’t want to lie to Teddy, he had promised himself that he would be as truthful as he possibly could be.

“I’m not sure,” he replied slowly. “We didn’t…we weren’t together for very long.”

“Why not?” Teddy asked, and he wasn’t pretending to draw anymore, his bright eyes firmly on Remus. “Because you wasn’t in love?”

“No, it wasn’t that,” Remus replied carefully, choosing a white lie rather than the complete truth. “Your mum was really funny and sweet and we liked each other very much, but we were better off as mates.”

“Hm,” Teddy said, returning to his drawing.

“Teddy,” Remus started, then he stopped but when Teddy put down his pen he made himself continue. “I’m really sorry about your mum.”

“I know,” Teddy said quietly. “Me too. I miss her a lot sometimes.”

“I understand that,” he murmured, unsure what else he was supposed to say but before he had a chance to figure it out, his phone rang and Sirius’ name was flashing on the display. He was due back any moment, so the fact that he was calling wasn’t a great sign.

“Sirius? Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” the other man’s voice came, and Remus wasn’t sure if he was imagining it or if he sounded stressed. “Listen, sorry, I’m running late, it’s a fucking mess over here. I’ve asked James to come and stay with Teddy until I get back but he’s still about half-an-hour out, can you stay until he gets there?”

Remus glanced at the boy who had gone back to his drawing, and he stood up to walk over to the glass doors leading out to the backyard. He turned his back on Teddy.

“I can stay,” he said into the phone, his voice low. “I mean, until you’re back. I don’t mind.”

The silence stretched, and Remus could all but hear Sirius’ mind working on the other end of the line. No doubt trying to come with an excuse to say no.

“Please,” he said when there was no reply, and he hated the pleading note to his voice almost as much as he hated the fact that Sirius held all the power in this weird relationship. “I’m already here, it makes more sense that I just stay instead of James having to get all the way over here in rush hour.”

“Put Teddy on,” came Sirius’ reply eventually and Remus did, handing the phone over to the boy.

“Sirius,” he said as a way of explanation and Teddy accepted the phone.

“Hi?” Teddy said, and aside from a couple of yesses and some humming, Sirius seemed to do most of the talking before he handed the phone back to Remus. “He wants to speak to you again.”

Remus took the phone and pressed it against his ear, “Yeah?”

“You can stay,” Sirius said, his tone brusque. “I’ll probably be back around half nine, he should be in bed no later than eight. There’s leftovers in the fridge that you can heat. If anything happens – anything – call James, I’ll text you his number.”

“Okay,” Remus nodded, feeling a little flutter in his chest. “Thank you.”

“Yeah,” Sirius bit out. “Don’t fuck it up.”

Remus didn’t have a chance to reply before the line went dead, and he felt a flare of annoyance in his chest as he stared at the quiet phone.

“Arsehole,” he mumbled to himself, making sure it wasn’t loud enough for Teddy to hear before he took a deep breath. 

Continue on AO3.

#wolfstar #sirius black #remus lupin #teddy lupin #read on ao3 #muggle au #enemies to lovers #sirius/remus #my writing #hp fanfic #fanfic

[spencermyangel]

One where Spencer has a son, who has an intellectual disability. (like a below average iq.

CW - Ableism

Morgan turned to look out the meeting room’s door, seeing Spencer hurrying towards them.

“Hey, guy’s he’s here,” Morgan nodded towards Reid, his brows furrowed with confusion though when a small boy with slightly long curly hair and glasses clumsily followed after him. 

“I’m so sorry that I’m late,” Spencer began, shrugging off his messenger bag. He turned and whispered something to the boy, who nodded and sat in one of the comfier chairs in the corner of the room. 

“So, we’re consulting on a case?” Spencer asked, as if the team weren’t going to question who the little boy was. 

They all stared at Spencer wide eyed for a while, until Morgan broke the silence.

“Who’s the kid?” 

Spencer blushed, “um he’s my son,” he replied sheepishly. 

Garcia gasped, “my baby genius has his own baby genius?” 

Hotch and Rossi picked up on how Spencer looked slightly uncomfortable at the phrasing but brushed it off, as the team quickly began asking questions, like his age, and name. Spencer froze up looking overwhelmed, so Hotch held up his hand to silence everyone.

“Reid will tell us what he wants to about his son.”

Spencer gave Hotch a grateful look before speaking “his name’s Caspian, like in Narnia,” Spencer explained, “and he’s seven. He was born when I was 20 and no, his mother is not in his life.” 

Spencer sat down and began reading the file when he heard Garcia’s soft voice, “why didn’t you tell us?” 

Spencer paused for a moment, “I was new to the team, with a baby. I didn’t want anyone to judge me for having a child so young and as I got to know you all it just felt weird to suddenly bring him up.” 

“Then why did you bring him in today?” Rossi questioned. 

Spencer sighed, “I have an amazing nanny who lives with us, but she’s sick today and didn’t want to risk getting Caspian sick and I didn’t feel right making her look after him when she’s sick so I told her to rest today.” 

Morgan glanced over at the child, he really did look like a mini version of Spencer. Caspian pulled out some books from his bag and began to read them. Confusion shot through Morgan, they weren’t the kind of books a seven year old would read, which Morgan expected. But what he didn’t expect was for them to be the kind of books a toddler would read. Morgan turned to Spencer, with a questioning look, before opening his mouth to ask, but he was cut off by a small voice. 

“Dada?” Caspian tugged on Spencer’s shirt sleeve with wide honey eyes looking up at his dad. 

“Yeah Cassie?” Spencer turned to pay attention to his son. The team smiled at the nickname, and how adorable they looked together. 

“What’s this word?” Cassie whispered, pointing to the book. 

Spencer smiled and took the book, reading was something they liked to do together. 

“Today,” Spencer responded, “today was a beautiful day,” he read the line out for his son who nodded. The team exchanged subtle glances, Caspian couldn't read that on his own? 

“Did you start on the work Mary and I gave you for today?” Spencer asked. 

Caspian shuffled his feet sheepishly, “it’s hard,” he whined. 

Spencer let out an adoring laugh, “I know baby, don’t worry I’ll-” he paused, turning to Hotch, “do you mind if I help him for a bit?” 

“Of course not.” 

“Go get your work,” Spencer told Caspian, who quickly ran over to his teddy bear shaped bag and pulled out a piece of paper with math on it. He pulled up a chair beside his dad, placing the sheet on the table. The team were shocked once again at the math questions, they were one’s a seven year old could easily do, and there weren’t many of them. But for the next half hour they discreetly watched as Caspian struggled through the page with Spencer helping him. 

Later, when Garcia had taken Caspian to see her office, Morgan was the one to finally ask what they had all been wondering, but were too embarrassed to ask. 

“What’s wrong with him?” Morgan blurted out, causing Spencer to freeze and glare at him. 

“There is nothing wrong with him,” Spencer coldly replied. 

Morgan sighed, “I didn't mean it like that, I’m sorry. I just meant, the work, the books, it doesn’t seem typical of a seven year old.” 

Spencer looked down and nodded, “I know, um, he has a disability. An intellectual disability. The doctor’s said he has a below average IQ, and most likely always will,” Spencer then got  look of concern in his eyes, “but he really is an amazing kid, and so talented, you should see his sketches.'' The team realized Spencer was scared they wouldn’t accept his son. 

“I’m sure he is,” Rossi gave Spencer a reassuring smile, “and we would all love to get to know him more.” 

Spencer let out a sigh of relief, “I just… worry,” he paused, blinking back tears, “people aren't always nice. Kids pick on him, adults can get frustrated with him. One time Me and Mary, our nanny, took him and his best friend, Briar, to the park. They were trying to play with some kids, the pushed Cassie down and called him retared .” Spencer’s voice broke on the last word, thinking back to all the times he himself had been called that name for his autistic behaviors. He was devastated his son would have to endure the same kind of bullying and treatment, just because he was different.  

“That must be hard,” JJ tried to comfort him, sadness in her eyes, wondering how kids could be so cruel, “but, it seems like he has an amazing support system.”

“Yeah,” Emily agreed, giving Spencer a smile, “and he's about to get an even bigger one.”

Send in asks and requests here

Masterlist

Reblogs, likes and comments are appreciated :)

Series Masterlist

#criminal minds #spencer reid #derek morgan #aaron hotchner #david rossi #spencer reid fanfiction #bau team #emily prentiss #autistic spencer reid #jennifer jereau #criminal minds fanfiction

[stray-kaz]

Butterflies on Fire : a Frank Castle x reader drabble

A/N: This was supposed to be something quite different, but it wrote itself, so you get two kisses for the price of one!

Your day started like any other, but it ended with Frank Castle waiting outside on the steps of the elementary school library you spent 8 to 4 at, a bouquet of wild flowers hanging loosely in his grip. You couldn’t help but smile as you raced to lock the doors. Frank glanced around a little warily as a few late afternoon stragglers walked by, staring at him and then at you.

“Is he your boyfriend, Miss?” one of the brave ones shouted.

You reached Frank and took the flowers, replacing them with your hand in his.

“Bit old for you, ain’t he?”

You saw Frank’s shoulders tense beneath his jacket and felt his fingers tighten around yours. You looked up into his face and saw the defenses in his brown eyes building walls faster than you could think. So, before you could second guess yourself, you hooked the arm holding the flowers around the back of his neck, leaned up on tiptoes, and kissed him. Kissed him hard.

For a split second of surprise, he did nothing. Then he growled, audibly, and used his free hand to grip your jaw, tilting your head to a better angle so he could do what he does best: dominate.

You hadn’t been expecting it, hadn’t been anticipating the fierce scrape of his teeth on your bottom lip or the push of his tongue stroking the tip of yours. Hadn’t expected butterflies exploding in your stomach. They weren’t like your normal, everyday butterflies either. No run-of-the-mill wings here. They were butterflies on fire, fingers locked in his hair, hips shifting of their own accord, a complete betrayal of your sanity.

And when he pulled away to allow you air, to witness the blown out pupils and the pink tinge to your face, he grinned, a wolf’s grin.

“Yeah, well, if I’m an old man, I’m your old man” he said, voice very low in your ear.

You cleared your throat and turned slightly away, suddenly remembering that you had a very young audience. The kids were gaping at the two of you, and you realised what they would be seeing: their librarian, stern with the rules but quick with a smile or book recommendation, and a dark, trouble looking man roughly ten years older. They were too young to really know who Frank Castle was; they might have known him by another name, but not the one his parents gave him.

You suddenly giggled at the absurdity of the situation, tugged at Frank’s hand, and ran.

Later that night, upon leaving the restaurant, with Frank’s hand in the small of your back, your wallet was snatched out of your hand, drawing a surprised scream from your throat. The snatcher was quick, but Frank was faster. He was on the man before he could escape more than six feet, the wallet falling from panicked fingers as Frank’s curled fist impacted several times with his face.

“Frank!” you shouted, fearing an overreaction.

He stopped and looked back at you; sensing hesitation, the thief cracked Frank across the mouth, splitting his bottom lip instantly, and sprinted away.

Frank grunted as you hurried to him and carefully wiped the blood off on his jacket sleeve. He picked up your wallet from the sidewalk and held it out to you. He looked, almost, apologetic.

“Sorry, sweetheart” he mumbled. “Sometimes I forget I don’t have to be...him...all the time.”

Surprising him all over again, you reached up to cradle his jaw between your palms and brought his mouth down to yours. You were gentle, kissing him lightly, nothing like your first kiss earlier in the day, but you could still taste his blood.

“My hero” you teased gently.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed your hand.

“Just don’t tell anyone” he replied. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

“What? Biggest badass on the block?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

You rolled your eyes and squeezed his hand.

“Biggest baddest teddy bear, more like.”

Frank eyed you narrowly.

“I’ll kiss you again if you don’t shut up” he warned.

You grinned.

“Teddy -”

You didn’t even get to finish.

PSA: Frank Castle is a teddy bear with women he cares about, and I will die on that hill.

#frank castle #frank castle x reader #frank castle drabble #marvel #the punisher #liss writes

[smurphyse]

Mr. and Mrs. Teddy Martinez | S.R.

Chapter 8 of Operation: Sand Leopard

Warnings: canon typical stories, child brides, mentions of child abuse, death

Summary: Spencer finally meets his CHUmate. You give something personal to him.

Spencer rolled his neck, hoping beyond hope it would release some of the tension in his shoulders. It didn't, not that he really expected it to, which was probably why it didn't work. 

Alijah's frustration with him yesterday made him nervous. The fact that she felt like she'd been lied to meant it would be that much harder to earn her trust, even if her previous case agent hadn't meant to. 

You were so damned closed off you wouldn't even tell him the original agent's name. He'd learned that not even the unit had seen Alijah in the flesh, that they didn't even know who they were trying to protect, just who they were trying to catch. 

What about this case made you so paranoid? Was it the fact that there was a child involved, or was there something you were keeping from the entire unit?

He just didn't know, and you likely wouldn't tell him. 

Sighing, Spencer knocked on Alijah's cell door. He heard nothing on the other side, probably because nobody had ever knocked before, so he opened it slowly and stepped inside. 

Alijah sat against the concrete wall with her knees held tightly to her chest, but when she saw him she relaxed. 

"You came back," she said in relief, flashing him a small smile. 

"Of course I did," Spencer replied as he made his way to his spot, sliding down to the floor. "I wanted to see you."

Alijah’s chin wobbled, and she adjusted on the little cot. Her eyes were wide and full of hesitance as she quietly said, “I’m very sorry I was angry. I miss Teddy, but he won’t come back.”

Spencer frowned, but before he could say anything she asked, “Do you know where he is?”

He shook his head, “I don’t know, but I can find out.”

Alijah smiled wide, and she brushed away some of the tears in her eyes. “I would really like that.”

“Can you tell me more about him?”

She relaxed into the wall and pulled a book out from under the blankets. It was the second book in the Redwall series; he recognized the name from the inside cover of the old copy you’d given him.

“He taught me to read English, I learned how to speak some of it as well, but I forgot,” she said quietly, holding the book and watching it with a small smile. Her thumbs brushed against the frayed pages, and something settled heavily in his chest. “When he left, they sent me back to Sayeed.”

“When was that?” Spencer asked, cocking his head at her. 

“Two and a half years ago. I was eleven when I met Teddy. He took me from the house I lived in with my husband.”

Spencer tried not to groan at her casual use of that word, husband. He didn’t know enough Kurdish and it wasn’t really his place to tell her that her so called spouse was a sex offender where he came from and a murderer. 

If she’d only been here two months this time, how long had she been here the last? Where did Teddy keep her that made you want to hide her away in a dark room so nobody could lay eyes on this child? 

“Did you like being with Teddy?”

She nodded emphatically, “He wanted to take me to America, to his wife.”

Spencer blinked in surprise. “He wanted to… adopt you?”

“Yes. He said he and his wife wanted a baby, but they couldn’t have one. He said she would like me very much and was excited to meet me.”

Spencer sighed, and he moved closer until he could lean his elbow on the cot and look up at her. She handed him the book, and he took it easily. Opening the front cover of Mossflower, Spencer flipped to the front page and read the first words. 

“Late autumn winds sighed fitfully around the open gatehouse door, rustling brown gold leaves in the fading afternoon.”

“It’s his wife’s favorite book series,” Alijah whispered, full of excitement and faded hope. She waved at a stack of books in the corner of her tiny room. “She sent them so I could read them.”

Spencer swallowed thickly as the realization hit him. Redwall was your favorite book series, as far as he could tell. You refused to tell him the name of the original case agent, Teddy, so private and closed in on yourself… and he wouldn’t expect you to.

How had you known Teddy? Had you served with him, and he rubbed off on you the way the unit had? Were you a friend of his wife? Either way, Teddy wasn’t here anymore to take Alijah home, and after the effort he seemed to go through, there was one real conclusion to come to.

Teddy was dead, and you were right. He lied, but he didn’t mean to.

“Would you like me to teach you English?” he asked quietly, deciding he should put off talking more about Teddy until he got some information from you. 

Alijah perked up, and for the first time she reached out and touched him, clasping her hands over his. “Yes, please! Please teach me!”

“Okay,” Spencer chuckled softly, “Where do you want to start?”

She pointed excitedly to the first lines of the book, and Spencer nodded as he read it aloud in English, “Late autumn winds sighed fitfully around the open gatehouse door, rustling brown gold leaves in the fading afternoon.”

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

Spencer stopped by his CHU before going to speak with you. He was exhausted, wanting a nap since he knew he probably wouldn't sleep that night. 

As he stepped into the hallway, the door to the latrine opened, and on instinct Spencer’s hand went to the gun on his hip. 

A short middle aged man with thick dark hair stopped as he spotted Spencer in the hall, blinking in confusion. He had deep tanned skin and dark eyes, and he broke out in an awkward smile. 

"Doctor Reid, I presume," he said, sticking out his hand. "I'm Agent Garber, Homeland Security."

Spencer relaxed with a sigh, chuckling softly as he took the man's hand and shook it. "Sorry, nobody ever seems to be here but me. You startled me."

Garber nodded as he let go, "I work nights mostly in the tech tent. I hear you getting up as I'm going to bed."

"Oh, I… I hope I'm not too loud," Spencer stammered apologetically, but the man just held his palms up and shook his head. 

"I had another roomie a few years ago, this Army grunt. He stomped through this place like it was on fire and he was determined to snuff it out." The man shrugged and set his hands on his hips, "You're quiet as a mouse comparatively."

They looked at one another awkwardly before Garber decided he'd had enough and pointed at his door, "I'll…leave you to it. Just needed to use the bathroom. Getting old sucks, can't sleep without peeing fifteen times a night."

Spencer didn't know what to say to that, so he just nodded uncomfortably. Garber opened his door and stepped inside, leaving Spencer to go over the encounter in his mind.  

He couldn't have been much older than Spencer, and for some reason the thought that he might be nearing the age of prostate problems irritated him greatly. And…made him need to pee. 

After doing his business, Spencer laid slowly on the cot, covering up with the quilt you'd given him and closed his eyes. His shoulders ached with the tension he was carrying, making him only feel older and angrier at the thought. 

Wanting to think about anything else, he thought about Teddy and Alijah. She missed him, wanted him to come back, if he was dead like Spencer feared… How was he going to tell her that?

The man had taught her to read English from books his wife had sent them so they could bond even across an ocean. What an act of love… to trust your partner enough that without meeting a child you know she's yours? 

It made the first lines of the Redwall book that much more powerful to him. 

Who says that I am dead

Knows nought at all. 

The part of him that still grieved all he'd lost, the possibility of a future with Maeve, found comfort in that. He hoped Teddy's wife was still going to adopt Alijah after all this, and wondered if she'd asked you to come here to bring the girl home. 

The one thing that made all the trauma and pain of working with the BAU better was reuniting victims with their families again. It gave hope and an excitement for the future to him and the team each time they got to bring a child home to their parents. 

Spencer knew he was going to do everything he could so Alijah had that same chance. He was going to bring her home. 

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

You licked the inside of your lip, pushing it out as your exhausted eyes struggled to read the FRAGO in your hand. Your sleeping habits were only getting worse, unable to close your eyes in the darkness. 

Knowing Spencer would surely be outside most nights didn't help. You looked forward to those private moments with him too much. With his stupid puppy dog eyes and the way he always seemed to be a babe lost in the woods… oh, it infuriated you how much you liked the look of him. 

You wondered idly if he'd masturbated after talking with you, then quickly shook away the thought and the image that crossed your mind after. You found yourself licking your lips as the image popped up again, then let out a frustrated noise and rubbed your face to scrub it away. 

This place was changing him, the way it changed you and every other miserable bastard here. He was growing more confident, getting used to the harsh realities of base life, getting more comfortable with being uncomfortable. You just hoped he didn't lose that softness that radiated from deep behind those steel backed hazels. 

A knock on the door made you look up, and in the doorway stood the man himself, flashing you one of his awkward waves and sheepish smiles. 

"What's up?" You asked sternly. No need to let him know you were thinking about him or the way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled like that. 

"I uh, well," he stammered. Spencer pulled his hand up to rub the back of his neck like he did when he was uncomfortable, his cheeks going a bit pink, and it just pissed you off how much you liked it. 

"Spit it out, Doc," you snapped, and his eyes went wide. 

Spencer pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and sat in the chair in front of your desk. He set his elbows on his knees and wrung his hands together. 

"Who's Teddy?" 

Your heart stopped beating in your chest, your jaw tightening automatically at the sound of your husband's name falling from his lips. Spencer just watched as sweat pooled under your arms, and you clicked your teeth and shrugged. 

You closed the file on the FRAGO and set it aside, clasping your hands together protectively on top of it. Taking a deep breath, you shrugged again. 

"The original case agent for the Sayeed case."

"Where is he?" Spencer asked immediately. He had a look in his eye, one you didn't like. You realized it was his interrogation face, focused and intent, and it set your teeth on edge. 

"Captain Theodore Alejandro Martinez died in a plane explosion two and a half years ago."

Spencer grunted and swiped a hand down his face, "Fuck. I didn't want to be right."

You said nothing, simply watched him as you silently coaxed your heart to resume its steady thumping. The lump in your throat was thick and heady, and you prayed tears weren't rimming your eyes as he thought. 

"Alijah wants to know what happened to him," he said, and you nodded. 

"I didn't tell her for a reason. She was very attached to him."

Spencer cocked his head at you and frowned, "You'd rather her think she was abandoned?"

Your face fell, and you leaned forward, your voice hardly above a whisper, "Is that what she thinks happened?"

Spencer leaned forward too, setting his arms on the desk and watching you intently, "She said he was going to adopt her, and one day he just stopped coming to see her."

"He didn't mean to die, Spencer," you said quietly, almost as if you were saying it to yourself. You'd told yourself that over and over again… he didn't mean to leave you, you couldn't be angry at the man for dying, but you were. 

Teddy's death left you reeling, broken and alone when you thought you'd finally gotten the family you wanted. You had so many plans… for him and Alijah and that house in Maryland that now sat empty and covered in dust. He left you alone without a daughter and that too big farmhouse in the country that loomed ominously in the night. 

"I don't think you've ever said my name before," Spencer marveled softly. 

Your gaze snapped to his, defensive and guilty as anything for having a crush on this agent you hardly knew. You were married… married to a dead man you couldn't let go, and that meant there was no way you could let Spencer in. You weren't sure you even wanted to. 

You found yourself pulling your keys from your belt and opening a drawer in the desk. With shaky hands you reached inside and grabbed a few traveler's journal inserts from it. You slid them across the desk and quickly pulled your hands back to cross protectively over your chest. 

"These were his. Luke says you're good with ciphers."

Spencer eyed the journals cautiously, slowly saying, "I am."

"Good," you grunted, "Teddy wrote everything in a code. He used to send these home to his wife when he finished them."

Spencer's brows furrowed, "She doesn't have the code?"

"Just… do what you can with them, Doc." You rubbed your face and sniffled hard, "If he wrote anything of significance down, it's in there. He told Angel everything."

Spencer took one and opened it, and it took everything you had not to dive over the desk and snatch it back. But… you trusted him, and a deep part of you knew Teddy probably would have too. With Spencer's mind and Teddy's experience, maybe you could finally get something out of Alijah worth knowing. 

"It's a symbol cipher, probably one he made up on his own," he mused aloud, flipping through the pages. "He writes with confidence, so he's been using it for a long time. I see some repeat patterns…"

He glanced up at you, "I can't write this down, can I?"

You shook your head, "Nope."

Spencer blew a raspberry with his lips and nodded, "I can figure this out. I'll let you know what I come up with."

"Thanks, Doc."

Spencer stood and gathered the notebooks in his arms. When he walked out the door with them, it felt like he took the last piece of Teddy with him, and suddenly you were the size of a leaf in a forest too big to call you anything but prey. 

He closed the door behind him, and as soon as he was gone you burst into tears.

Notes: Please let me know what you think! Feedback and comments are what fuel the fire for this story! <3

Series Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

CM Forever Tag:

@thedancingcostumeyoungadult @muffin-cup @simplyparker @spencerreidsmommy @hotchandspencearedilfs @gspenc @kbakery @nomajdetective @givemeth @hoshihiime @halloween-is-my-nationality @reidselle @thisiscalmanditsdoctorreid @dreatine @thebloomingeagle @fortheloveofwonderland @theforgottenwinter @parkerreidnorth @reidselle @randomhoex @scargarcia-magshotchner @stitchwrites @pygmygoat-bicyclehelmet @cle13 @aysixdy @elhotchner @directioner5life @elhotchner @loveeee2134 @preciousbabypeter @la-stuffs @stories-you-wont-hear @hotchlover @fortheloveofwonderland @lokiandhisdagger @bellanutellababyyy @dark-night-sky-99 @straightforbuckybutgayfornatasha @maltamurdock @charelletjee @kansas-reid @zephyrmonkey @spencer-reid-wonderland

#Operation: Sand Leopard #spencer reid #smurphyse #smurph writes #criminal minds #spencer reid fanfiction #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid fanfic #cm fandom #mgg #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x you #spencer reid/reader #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid/you #spencer reid/y/n #bamf reader #spencer reid criminal minds #criminal minds fandom #dr spencer reid #criminal minds fic #jj jareau #emily prentiss #luke alvez #ocapp #ocappreciation #smurphs ocs #osl

[bluerosethornrp]

Kanato/Rosey sleeping vampire

@dialovers-translations for the translation

@seaoflove07

@lucidesunderstander

@knivesandsweetsugar

There’s a rustle in the bed next to Rosey, making her jump. Wide awake, she faces the direction of the noise, finding Kanato.

“…Is something the matter? …’That’s my line’? You are being rather cheeky today, don’t you think? I couldn’t seem to fall asleep for some reason, so I tried moving to a different place.” Kanato responds.

Frowning, Rosey asks why Kanato chose her bed, of all places….

“That is up to me to decide, no…? …Say, you think so too, don’t you, Teddy?” Kanato references, rustling himself comfortably into the bed

“…Well, there you have it. I will sleep here tonight. Come on, move to the edge a little. When you’re lying there in the dead center of the bed, there’s nowhere for me and Teddy to sleep, is there?”

With a creeeaaaak, Rosey gets out of the bed

“…Where are you going?” Kanato asks

“I’m going to sleep elsewhere…?” Rosey answers, a bit confused by his confusion.

“Hah…? You’re implying that you’ll move somewhere else if I’m going to sleep in your bed?” Kanato huffs.

Kanto sits up in bed.

“…Wait. Where exactly would you go to sleep this late at night? Are you perhaps thinking of sleeping on the sofa in the living room…? …Or perhaps…You can’t possibly be thinking of staying at one of the other guys’ rooms, are you…?”

Rosey’s eyes widened in surprise.

“…Unforgivable…How could you leave me here and go sleep with some other guy.” Kanato accused.

Rosey shakes her head. “You’re wrong. I would Never sleep with the other boys.”

“Am I wrong? How exactly am I wrong? If it’s a misunderstanding, then lie down next to me right now. At once.” Kanato demands.

Rosey moves back into the bed, not wanting to argue with the violative vampire.

“Good grief…You’re hopeless…To think I was so kind to come all the way to your room…Let me tell you just in case, but I don’t believe a single word of what you just said. Right, Teddy? Will you keep a close eye on her tonight so she doesn’t do anything strange? …Fufu. You’re such a good boy, Teddy. In comparison…You are…” he trails off.

Rosey sighs, not fond of the accusations but too tired to fight about it.

“…Say? Why have you been lying down there this whole time?” Kanato asks.

Rosey explains. “I'm lying down in bed, like you asked.”

“…Yes, I know. You’re lying down in bed. Because I told you to do so…?”

Rosey nods.

“I told you to lie down next to me earlier, didn’t I…? Yet…Why have you decided to lie down next to Teddy instead…?”

Oh my god, Rosey thinks. It’s too late into the night for this. Of course.

“Unforgivable…You dislike the idea of sleeping next to me that much…?” Kanato asks.

“Teddy is already lying between us. I didn’t want to disturb him.” Rosey concedes.

“Because Teddy was already lying down between the two of us…? What exactly is the problem there? You could have simply asked Teddy to move, no?” Kanato offered

Rosey would sigh if it wouldn’t piss the vampire off. Instead, she frowns.

“…To think you couldn’t think of such an easy solution, you truly are a fool. Well then, now that you understand, hurry up and ask Teddy to swap places with you.”

“…,Teddy, can I please sleep next to Kanato?” She asks.

Kanato picks up teddy.

“…I’m sorry, Teddy. But I’m sure you understand, don’t you?”

Teddy replies to Kanato.

“…It seems like Teddy is willing to move to the bedside. Good for you, Rosey-san. Well then, Teddy you go here…”

Kanato places teddy to the bedside.

“…Say, Rosey-san? Are you really not gonna say a single thank-you after Teddy was so kind to move for you?” Kanato asks.

Rosey raises a brow. What could be the problem now? “I'm sorry…?”

“Isn’t that only obvious? …You banished Teddy all the way to the bedside after all…”

Rosey is puzzled. “What should I do?”

“What should you do? …Please think of something yourself. There are plenty of ways to express your gratitude, no? For example, the ribbon on the nightgown you’re wearing…You could tie that around Teddy, no?”

Kanato grabs the tie holding Rosey’s pajama top closed, and pulls it out. Exposing some of Rosey’s chest. Kanato seems to linger on the sight before turning away.

“Of course, there is no way that Teddy would be glad to receive your second-hand ribbon. However, I don’t see anything of worth around in this room, so it can’t be helped.”

Rosey sits up as she watches Kanato tie her ribbon around teddy.

“…I’m sorry, Teddy. It’s all we have right now, so will you bear with it…?” Kanato says.

Teddy agrees.

“…Teddy says he’ll forgive you. Aren’t you glad? Well then, me too…”

Kanato settles himself back into the bed.

“What are you dawdling for? Come on, hurry up and lie down as well.”

He pats the spot next to him on the bed.

“…Right here, okay?”

Rosey lies back down.

"Haah…I think I’ll finally be able to sleep now. Well then, goodnight, Rosey -san.”

Rosey closes her eyes, thrilled that the games were over…

*Creaaak*

“…”

*Creaaak*

“…Shut up…” Kanato bemoans.

Finally he sits part way up, on his elbows.

“Say…You’ve been tossing and turning this whole time, haven’t you? Are you having trouble falling asleep, perhaps…? …I went out of my way to move rooms, yet when you behave that way, I won’t be able to get a wink of sleep either. …I suppose I have no other choice. I shall do you one favor. I’ll go fetch the necessary tools right now, so please wait here for one second, okay?”

————————

Kanato returns to the room, a jar of cookies in hand.

“Here…Take a look at this, Rosey-san.”

“Kanato…what is that?” Rosey asks.

“What do you mean? …Can’t you tell? It’s a jar of cookies. I went and got them from my room for you.”

“Do you want me to like, eat them?”

“…What are you saying? I never spoke a single word about having you eat these, did I? Say, you? They say that humans grow drowsy when counting objects, no?” Kanato explains.

“Well, it’s more about ‘counting sheep’ as the saying goes.” Rosey yawns.

“Eh? …It’s counting sheep? Does it really matter what it is though?”

Kanato sits back on the bed.

“I’ll count the number of cookies right now. I’m sure you’ll become sleepy eventually, right? Well then, here I go. One cookie…”

One is placed on a plate.

“Two cookies.”

Another one.

“Three cookies.”

Kanato reached into the jar.

“Four cookies.”

Another one.

“Five cookies. …How do you feel? A little more sleepy?”

Rosey shakes her head.

“Hmm. Not yet? You are horribly slow-witted, so I suppose it can’t be helped. In that case, I’ll count many more. …Six cookies.”

—————-

“ーー Thirsty-eight cookies…Hm…?”

Kanato puts his hand in the jar, finding it empty.

“I’ve…run out of cookies…I counted all the way to the very end…So why won’t you become sleepy at all?”

Kanato starts to put the cookies back into the jar.

“…Now I feel even more awake myself…Because I did all of this for your sake. I’m already having trouble sleeping tonight…On top of that, when I look at these cookies on top of the tray…I get…very hungry…I doubt I’ll be able to sleep now. How will you make it up to me?” Kanato asks.

Rosey picks up a cookie, mostly as a joke, and offers it to him. “Why don’t you have a cookie then?”

“Hah? ‘Why don’t you have a cookie then’? What are you saying? Are you an actual idiot? These…These stupid cookies…would never satisfy me…!!” Kanato yells.

The final cookie is snatched from Rosey’s grasp and placed back into the jar, setting it aside next to teddy.

“When it comes down to it…You’re to blame for everything. I came here to find some quick rest. Yet…You keep on getting in the way of my sleep…Make sure to take responsibility, okay?”

Rosey frowns, unsure what to do.

“Aah, right. In that case…”

Kanato moves closer, practically nose to nose with Rosey, head tilted as for a kiss.

“Can’t you simply allow me to suck your blood…?”

“E-Eh?!” Rosey exclaims.

“If I fill my belly with plenty of your blood…I’m sure I’ll be able to sleep soundly…That’s what I believe. ーー Eh? What is it, Teddy…? Oh…I see…Teddy is telling me not to do that…But…I’m starving…I understand. I suppose it would be difficult to sleep with a full stomach as well…Today, I’ll only taste you a little bit. What do you say? …That’s fine, right?”

Kanato pins Rosey down, but not without a bit of struggling.

“Well then. Please offer yourself to me. I mean, that’s only fair, right? You’re to blame for all of this after all. Where would you like me to suck? Your neck? Shoulder? Or perhaps…Well, any place works. I’ll taste you from your favorite spot…Well then…” Kanato trails off, looking for an ideal spot.

“H-Hey! I did not give you permission!” Rosey struggles under Kanato’s iron grip.

“Say? What are you playing at? …Are you perhaps resisting me? …Even though you’re at fault…You’re trying to defy me like that…? Do you truly believe you’ll get away with such a selfish act…?”

Kanato slaps Rosey straight across her cheek, causing her to yelp.

“Of course not! Hurry up and submit to me! …I’ve been asking you this whole time, haven’t I!? Hurry…Let me taste you!!”

Kanato licks Rosey against her red cheek, causing some tears to weld up in her eyes.

“…Nn…Nn…Aah…I knew it…Even just licking you is delicious…Nn…Haah…I can’t stop…This isn’t…half bad either…” Kanato moans

Rosey whimpers.

“Fufu…Look at that expression on your face…Does it feel good perhaps…? Then how do you explain those protests from earlier? This is exactly why I keep saying that I can’t trust you at all…Nn…”

Kanato shifts his weight on the bed, his leg between Rosey’s.

“Haah…Where should I lick you next…?”

Worried, Rosey asks “what’re you going to do to me?”

“Fufu…Don’t worry. Rest assured. I’ll give you plenty more…Although this obviously won’t fill my belly…It is plenty…to distract me from the hunger…Nn…I have to do more and more…”

———-

Kanato flops onto his side of Rosey’s bed, a smile spread across his face, contentment in his eyes and blood dripping down his chin.

“Phew…I can finally sleep in peace now.” He sighs, content.

Kanato turns his gaze from the ceiling to Rosey.

“…What is the matter? You seem rather dazed, dare I say? Ah, have you perhaps…finally grown sleepy as well?”

Rosey shakes her head.

“Eh…? You haven’t? Despite saying that, you look rather exhausted. Well, at this point it no longer matters whether you are tired or not. As long as you behave and keep still like that, my sleep will no longer be interrupted by your vexing tossing and turning. I can finally sleep now. Please lie there still, okay? Next to me…”

Too exhausted from blood loss, Rosey nods.

“Rosey-san, goodnight for real this time.”

Hopefully for the final time that evening, Rosey closes her eyes.

It was silent for a moment, before Rosey fell into deep sleep and turned onto her side, which Kanato noticed.

“Nn…Hm…? …!” Kanato mumbled, before goin* to shake Rosey awake.

“…You! Wake up please!”

Kanato continues to rustle her.

“Can you not tell I’m asking you to wake up at once!?”

With a final shake, Rosey returns to consciousness. Reluctantly .

Opening her eyes, she asks. “What’s wrong?” Voice groggy with sleep.

“What do you mean ‘what’s wrong’!? I don’t care if you were asleep…How dare you turn your back to me…Do you dislike sleeping by my side that much?” Kanato accused.

Not this again. Rosey shakes her head.

“…Then come here at once!”

Kanato doesn’t wait for an answer before pulling Rosey into him.

“Say, you won’t go somewhere and leave me behind, right? You’ll stay by my side forever, right? Say, promise me, please? That you won’t leave me…That you will never stray away from my side again…Promise me!”

“Kanato, calm down—“ Rosey tries.

“…How can I stay calm!? …You’re…You’re to blame! Because you tried to get away from me like that…Even though I told you to sleep by my side so many times…Yet…Why can you never just listen to what I say…?”

Fed up, Rosey snarks. “It’s a subconscious thing, Kanato.”

“Don’t lie! It’s obvious you were simply pretending to be asleep, looking for the right opportunity to sneak away! That’s why you turned your back to me…! …Unforgivable”

Rosey sits quietly as tears swell in Kanato’s eyes.

“Teddy…Teddy would never do that. Teddy always stayed right next to me until I open my eyes again…I actually had Teddy move to the side of the bed so you could sleep next to me instead, yet you choose to betray me? All those times you pretended to be obedient, was that all a lie as well? …Answer me!”

“I—-“

“I don’t want to hear your excuses…I can’t sleep like this. It’s all your fault…How will you take responsibility for this?”

Tired, Rosey shrugged.

“…Aah, right. I just had a great idea. I should simply tie us together somehow so you can’t go anywhere while I’m asleep. With something…”

Kanato turns over, looking on the nightstand before landing eyes on teddy.

“Aah…There just so happens to be the perfect thing laying around over here. Say, Teddy. Would you please let me borrow the ribbon she tied around you earlier?”

Teddy agrees.

“Fufu. Thank you, Teddy…”

Kanato flips back over.

“Well then, show me your hand please, Rosey-san. I’ll use this ribbon…To tie our hands tightly together.”

Kanato tries to tie you two together with one hand, without much success.

“…Hmm, it’s hard to tie with just one hand…Please help me as well. Come on, hurry.” Kanato demands.

Rosey attempts to help out, pulling together a loose knot.

“Such a loose knot obviously won’t do the trick. Please tie it a little tighter.”

Rosey and Kanato manage to tie a tight knot together.

“Phew. This should work. Well then, Rosey-san. Let’s lie down together. …Come on, this way.”

The two adjust themselves into a more comfortable position on her bed.

“Fufu…Like this, I will be able to tell right away if you try to escape while I’m asleep…However, you might try and sneakily undo the ribbon, huh? I don’t trust you in the slightest after all…” Kanato says.

“Kanato, I wouldn’t do that….”

“Phew…I guess this is the only solution then…”

Kanato pulls Rosey in close, close enough she can feel the lack of breath in his chest, the cooling feeling of his skin on hers.

“I usually sleep while holding Teddy in my arms…But tonight, I’ll sleep while holding onto you instead. With just the ribbon, you might still find a way to get away after all. However, while I’m embracing you with my other arm, I doubt you’ll be able to go anywhere, huh? You have to move a little closer…Or it tugs onto the hand we tied together earlier and hurts…”

Kanato adjusts a bit further, burying Rosey into his neck.

“…I suppose this is a little better.“

Never been this close to, to be frank, anyone, Rosey blushed.

“That being said…Haah. Unlike Teddy, you don’t feel soft in my arms at all…On top of that, I can hear your annoying heartbeat which seems to thump even louder than usual. ‘Ba-dump, badump’, just like that…It really is noisy.

However, it can’t be helped, so I’ll sleep with you tonight. Even though holding you close like this doesn’t benefit me in any way. If I had to name one thing, you are warm unlike Teddy, so it is a great way to combat the cold…”

Rosey herself adjusts her posture as much as she can being held so close.

“Are you happy? To have me hold you in my arms instead of Teddy. However, please don’t let it get to your head, okay? I don’t mean to imply I would choose you over Teddy in the slightest. It’s simply that someone untrustworthy such as yourself is much more of a handful than my smart, obedient Teddy. Say, Rosey-san? Look my way?”

Kanato moves back, taking Rosey’s chin into his hand and sliding her head up to make eye contact with him.

“Fufu…You’re being awfully docile right now. I suppose you’ve finally become somewhat compliant? In that case…I suppose I have no other choice but to give you a reward. Nn…”

Kanato kisses Rosey, chaise.

“…You understand, don’t you? I have to keep a close eye on you. At all times…So you don’t get a chance at sneaking away from my side…You belong only to me after all. Isn’t that right?”

Rosey nods.

“You actually admit it, huh? In that case…Please kiss me next. Come on, hurry…”

Rosey kisses Kanato, inexperienced. But he seemed to be satisfied, thank god.

“Nn…Haah. Good girl. As long as you behave like that, I’ll dote on you plenty. Can you promise that you belong to me, so you won’t try and leave me…?”

“I promise”

“…I see. In that case, I’ll shower you with plenty more rewards. Are you happy when I kiss you…?”

Rosey nods.

“I see. In that case…Nn…”

Kanato kisses Rosey again, deeper.

“I can finally rest assured a little while you’re glued to me like this. The noisy beating of your heart…Feels almost comforting once you get used to it. Pwaah. …I’ve grown a little sleepy for some reason…”

Rosey agrees,

“Fufu. Don’t you feel the same? Your eyes look a little more drowsy than earlier…Come on, just close your eyes…I’ll continue holding you in my arms like this until you wake up again, okay?”

Rosey closes her eyes, content that Kanato calmed down.

“Goodnight, Rosey-san. May you have a wonderful dream. The two of us will be together, forever and ever…”

ーー THE END ーー

#diabolik lovers oc #diabolik oc #diabolik lovers #rosey core #sakamaki verse #kanato sakamaki #dialovers oc

[awrestlinggirlwholoves80sbands]

Ehy, I hope you're doing well💕Would you be up for writing a slaxl/axl? Like them taking care of their kid😩 I read you we're busy with your exams during this period so don't worry abt time, don't wanna be a bother🤗 also good luck with them!💗

Thank you so much for your request <3, I'm so sorry for being late but I'm working through all my requests.

Axl stared at the papers he was holding for the fifth time in a minute.

Application for adoption.

That was the title and he made sure to read it over and over, then slowly kept going until he read  his signature, then he would start again.  

He couldn’t explain why but he felt mocked by the documents, probably because they contained the story of his life or better say they were the proof of how inadequate he was.

When Slash suggested the idea to start looking into adoption, after years of dating, Axl was enthusiastic until he remembered a small detail : he had no idea what a good father was like. Soon happiness was replaced by worry and the constant fear that he would have shattered Slash’s dreams because the government wouldn’t deemed him fit enough to be a dad.

“Don’t worry about it. The social workers know what they are doing, they would never let us meet London in the first place if they thought you weren't safe.” Slash kept repeating him every time they had the opportunity to meet their hopefully future son.

Now Slash was about to come back with their child for the first time ever. No social services, no monitored visiting, just them and the baby which scared Axl. What if he ended up upsetting the baby? Or if he involuntarily hurt him? What if he turned out just like his step dad?

His train of thought was interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Fuck, was Slash already back with the baby? What was he supposed to do? With his heart beating so fast, Axl slowly opened up the door and he was met by an adorable sight : his boyfriend holding their sleeping baby.

A part of him was relieved to be able to postpone the inevitable moment when he had to make the first mistake in his fatherhood, but he would lie if he didn’t say he was a bit sad to not be able to interact with London yet. But after all he was just one year old, so he was still sleeping often and just starting to talk a little bit more.

“I wanted to wait for him to wake up but social services said that I could take him, after all we have to get used to traveling with him even when he’s asleep.” Slash explained.

The redhead didn’t fail to notice the look of pure love in his eyes as he held London. How to blame him? Their son just looked so damn cute and Slash seemed to be born to be a dad, unlike Axl who seemed so lost.

“Did he wake up?”

“Just for a minute in the car but I calmed him down and told him we were about to meet papa, you should look how happy he was!” Slash said but he earned a scoff by Axl.

“C’mon, you’re lying.”

“Why should I? You gotta understand you have been great with him so far!”

He knew deep down Slash was right and probably he was blowing up everything yet that didn’t ease the worry. Maybe he should just start with small steps like putting the baby in the crib? Okay, maybe that was too forward. Putting it with the help of Slash? Now that was more reasonable.

“Can you… can we put the baby into the crib together?” The singer’s voice was uncharacteristically low and hesitant.

“Sure. The social worker gave me his favorite teddy bear too, you just have to take out from the bag that I dropped to the floor once I got in.” Slash smiled apologetically but Axl didn’t care and took the bear out.

The walk to the nursery felt ten times longer but once they were at the crib, Slash slowly turned towards him with a smile.

“I’m going to hand him to you, okay?”

“No. What if I drop him?” Axl replied.

“Ax, you won’t drop him. Look I’m gonna make my hands at the bottom of the crib, so that I can catch him if you feel uncertain.”

Axl nodded and slowly put down London as gently as he could, feeling a weight being lifted off as the baby didn’t wake up or started crying but just kept peacefully sleeping. It was a sight to look at their little bundle of joy peacefully sleeping and fully knowing it was theirs now, a sign of their love and hopefully they would give him a better life.

“He is so cute.” Axl whispered with admiration.

“Totally. I can’t believe that we are fathers and that he likes to sleep all the time!” Slash added.

“I’d say let’s wait a few years and he will beg us to extend his bedtime.”

“Probably. Why don’t we go to watch a movie in the living room? We have the baby monitor if anything happens.” Slash grabbed Axl’s hand, still sensing the worry radiating off him.

The redhead agreed, after all some relaxing alone time could do nothing but good and prepare him for when London would wake up. The thoughts in his head were getting too crowded anyway so he needed a distraction before he would find himself freaking out and disappoint both his son and his boyfriend.

Slash probably felt pity for him because he didn’t decide to put on his usual horror movies but a cheesy romantic comedy, he even insisted on making popcorn and was cuddlier than usual, not that Axl complained because he loved that.

Two hours later the credits started to roll. London didn’t have any issue besides making some normal baby noises and soon calming himself down back to sleep, however that didn’t stop both of them from looking at each other with worried faces that screamed “should we check on him?” even if he would calm down soon after.

“This is so stupid! The whole movie could have ended five minutes in!” Axl argued as he put the popcorn bowls into the sink.

“Ax, it’s a movie. It’s obvious they need to make everything rather than real life.” Slash shoot back.

“Well it doesn’t justify the fact it’s silly!” A cry from the baby monitor interrupted him. “See? Even the baby is crying because of how stupid that is…”

Axl stopped as soon as the words left his mouth and everything sank in : the baby was crying! Soon he started to slightly panic again because what did happen? Did he just woke up? Was he hurt?

“Oh Lon woke up. I imagined that since it’s around feeding time or so they told me.” The guitarist tried to maintain his composure and walked to the kitchen.

“So what do we do now?”

“I’m gonna prepare his milk and you can stay with him you know, calm him down until the food is ready.”

The singer knew that if he stayed still he would be overwhelmed by his worries, so he decided to walk as fast as he could to the nursery and just face his fears. However when he saw London’s distressed face he felt his heart breaking a little, he didn’t like to see him sad even if it was normal for babies to be sad because they were hungry.

“Hey, it’s okay. Shh, I got you.” Axl tried to keep his tone as gentle as possible as he picked up the baby from the crib.

London clasped to him for comfort but didn’t stop crying so Axl decided to grab his teddy bear, in an attempt to calm him down.

“I know, dada Slash will be here soon… I got your teddy bear though.” He slowly waved it in front of the baby’s face.

“Let’s sit on the armchair, so papa feels less afraid of dropping you to the floor.” He admitted as he sat on the armchair they insisted on having just in case “we need to write music and look at the baby at the same time.”

He seemed interested in his little bear but still quite upset.  Axl wondered what else he could do, and the only thing that came to his mind was what he knew how to do best: he started humming. It was a slow lullaby melody but it caught London’s attention and made him look at his papa, curious about this new side of him.

The singer smiled, he was revieled that he didn’t fuck up and managed to calm down his baby even for just a bit.

"Do you think I could turn that into a song? Imagine, a lullaby rock album... That's a crazy idea." He felt more relaxed by talking to London even if he couldn't answer him, his scary thoughts seemed to slowly disappear in the back of his mind as he kept humming and changing the tune.

"Damn look at you two!" Slash's words snapped him out. The curly man was standing at the door with the bottle of milk in his hand.

"How long were you standing there?"

"Two minutes... I know he's hungry but that was a catchy song!" He joked as he approached the rest.

London’s eyes light up at the sight of his bottle and Axl hands him to Slash, he’s very happy to observe and learn for today and it’s only fair they share their tasks, as it is the best way for them to learn. He’s not empty handed as he “keeps protected” his baby’s teddy bear until he can finally play with it again.

“I promised him that you would play some guitar.” Axl breaks the silence but he’s unable to let out his true feelings.

Slash chuckled and looked at his son, who was too busy eating to notice him.

“You’re already ganging up with your other dad? That’s so sneaky! I know he’s your favorite but…”

“Oh c’mon, I’m not his favorite and you know it!” The redhead replied.

“Do I? Why can’t you be his favorite?”

“You know why, I’m so unprepared for him… I’m not the best with kids.

Slash knew about Axl’s fears and doubts but he had never seen them written so clearly on his face like at that moment, for the majority of their journey he just hid them the best he could. He was aware his childhood was a sensitive subject, yet he wished the other man could see how great he was.

“It didn’t seem like that earlier. Our baby feels safe with you as much as he feels safe with me, even if that’s hard for you to believe.”

Those words hit Axl very deep. He loved kids but how was he supposed to unlearn everything he has been thought in his early years? How could he not make mistakes that would hurt his child in the long run? Why the love he felt didn’t seem enough to solve all those problems?

London’s little noises caught his attention back, apparently he was done and he wanted them to know that he was more than ready to play and be entertained.

“Am I right Lon? You love papa Axl.” Slash pointed at his boyfriend.

“Papa!” He said happily and the singer couldn’t help but feel his heart swelling with joy.

“Yeah, he’s papa and I’m dada.” The curly man said, indicating himself this time.

“Dada!” London repeated all excited.

“He’s a fast learner. We can’t swear around him or he’s gonna learn the worst sh… stuff” Axl corrected him.

When it was clear that London was getting bored, they decided to pick up some of his toys and hang up in his room to look after him. First Slash read with him a book about reptiles and wild animals because he loved them and so London seemed to, then Axl watched and helped him as he discovered the big cube with shapes, numbers and letters that he needed to insert, as well as repeating to him what they were.

Lastly it was time for Slash to honor his promise by playing the guitar, so that the baby could get his private concert and even dance a bit as much as his developing motor skills allowed him to. Axl couldn’t stop thinking how happy he felt looking at Slash holding their son and making him spin happily, they looked like a happy family and he couldn’t ask for more.

“Okay concert over, we have to prepare dinner.” The singer stated.

“Oh, we just need to heat what Duff gave earlier.” Slash said nonchalantly.

“He gave us food?”

“It’s Duff. We might be parents now but he’s always going to be a mama bear.” Axl couldn’t argue with that and laughed.

London seemed very interested in his pasta, ditching completely the fork to eat just with his hands but who were they to judge him, if the kid wanted to eat with his hands they would let him do it, God knows they did far worse while being way older than that. Plus they find it totally adorable.

They turned the TV on MTV to see if there were any crazy news about their fellow rockers ( because when rockers don’t do crazy shit?) or discover any new song but before they could wonder which song could be next, London’s eyes lit up.

“Dada!” He said, pointing at the TV and in fact a photo of Slash was featured on the screen.

“Is this the best or the worst moment possible to have our son watching us on TV?” Slash questioned.

“It depends what the song will be, you better believe I’ll cover his little eyes faster than a lighting during the bed scenes  if “Welcome to the Jungle” pops up” Axl was almost surprised with his paternal instinct coming out like that.

He remembered when his step dad would turn off the TV whenever something he didn’t like showed up but this felt completely different, it wasn’t made out of control but rather protecting his one year old.

Thank God Paradise City’s intro started and they relaxed. London was far too young to catch on if his dada or their friends were high or drunk in that video, and also he was too focused on smiling and dancing the best he was allowed in his big chair.

“Dada! Papa!” He kept repeating whenever Slash or Axl were shown.

“Yes and also those are your uncles : Duff, Izzy and Steven.” Slash pointed them out, even if they probably would have met the baby very soon. London seemed very excited to meet them already.

They stayed for the other two songs, which thankfully weren’t too extreme for London, before he started to show his first signs of tiredness.

“I think it’s bedtime, c’mere” The guitarist picked up his child and Axl quickly followed him to the room, feeling more secure than before.

They already had changed his diaper but it didn’t seem to get any easier, always panicking a bit about if everything was okay or if they put it backwards, at least London seemed entertained by their panic.

Once they put adorable pjs on him, Slash went to put London into his crib but the baby started crying. It was understandable because even if he slept there already, this time it was darker and therefore a bit scarier for him. Slash tried to coax him, soon joined by Axl.

“Do you think I can sing him a lullaby again? Would that work?” Axl was unsure but Slash nodded and gently put London into his arms.

The redhead made sure to use his deep voice in a calming way, not dropping too low to not scare the baby even more, and it seemed to capture his attention because London stopped crying and stared at him. The more he sang the more he felt his heart melting at the sight of their baby finally relaxing. He was so small and he wanted to protect him from all the evil in the world.

Finally London fell asleep and Axl waited a few minutes before putting him down in his crib. Soon he felt two arms hugging him from behind and he turned around to face Slash, sure that his baby was safe and sound.

“You’ve been amazing today.” Slash reassured him and kissed his lips.

“I’m so scared but I want to give my 100% for him, like you will do too.” Axl said and it was his turn now to kiss Slash.

“We are going to make it. We have my mom and Duff who’s already a dad if we ever need help.”

They stayed in silence for a couple of minutes, just taking in everything and realizing they finally made it and the little creature sleeping in the crib was the living proof of that. When they decided it was enough, Slash took Axl’s hand and led him out the room to enjoy their free time before going to bed.

The singer looked one last time at his sleeping son and made a silent promise.

I’m gonna make sure you don’t experience one bit of the hurt I did.

#guns n roses #axl rose #slash #guns n roses fanfic #80srock #80s rock band #fanfiction #slaxl #slaxl with kids #my fanfiction #request

[oumaheroes]

The Missing

Read on AO3 if you prefer

Summary: ‘For a moment, they stood looking at each other in silence. Alisdair felt the stirrings of something in his chest, a sensation of things being out of place and about to fall. ‘Is he not here?’‘

Arthur is missing. With no money and no help from the law, Alisdair searches alone.  

Characters: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales

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

Alisdair awoke to a quick bouncing sensation, his stomach lurching as though he had just stepped off a cliff only to jolt awake with the adrenaline roaring in his chest. He lay still a while, forcing his breathing to slow as the room and reality around him gradually returned.  

He was home, in bed. In the dark with Rhys next to him, his brother’s foot splayed out across to his side and pressing against his knee. Alisdair shucked the blankets up higher to his chin and let out a long sigh through his nose, slowly moving Rhys’ away to not wake him. Hopefully, there were still enough time left for him to fall back asleep.

Just as he began to drift off the bed dipped again, another bounce of movement that disturbed the covers and caused a gasp of cold air to blow down his neck.

Full awake now, Alisdair groaned and pressed his face into the pillow. He didn’t need any light to figure out who it was.

‘Arthur…’

‘I’m sorry.’

Arthur’s voice sounded muffled. Alisdair gingerly flipped himself over to squint through the darkness. Arthur was curled into a ball, face half hidden in the pillow, and perched as far away from him as was possible without falling off the edge. The bed Alisdair shared with Rhys wasn’t that large or wide, so he hadn’t quite managed to sneak his way in as stealthily as he’d presumably been hoping.

Now that Alisdair was turned towards him, Arthur gave up all pretences and shuffled closer, trying to press himself into his chest. Alisdair held out for a few stubborn seconds, not wanting to encourage this behaviour at all, but he was too tired to summon the mental wherewithal needed to push him away immediately. With a sigh, he lifted up an arm and Arthur burrowed in closer, head coming to rest tucked under Alisdair’s chin. He had brought his teddy in with him, a now very ratty handmade gift from their late mother that no one could bear make him part with, and it pressed awkwardly into Alisdair’s stomach, stuck between them both.

‘You’re cold.’

Arthur didn’t reply. Alisdair guessed he’d likely been standing there for a while debating about what to do- at seven years old Arthur certainly wasn’t shy about being disobedient or causing a nuisance, but after five nights of this in a row he must have known that Alisdair wouldn’t be pleased.

Making sure that Arthur was properly tucked in, Alisdair rubbed roughly at his arms and back under the covers in an attempt to quickly warm him. ‘Where are you not supposed to be?’

‘…out of bed.’

‘And where are you?’

‘Here.’

‘And where’s that?’ Arthur didn’t reply and Alisdair patted him in between his shoulder blades to prompt a response.

He got one, reluctantly, ‘Out of bed,’

‘Hmm.’ Satisfied that Arthur was now warm enough Alisdair relaxed his arm, leaving it to curl over Arthur’s waist.

‘Please let me stay here,’ Arthur’s voice was painfully small and scared, so different to how he usually sounded that, despite himself, Alisdair felt his heart clench, ‘I’ll be quiet and won’t move- you won’t wake up again, I promise.’

‘Arthur-‘

‘Please,’ A fist bunched in Alisdair’s pyjama top, tugging his collar against his neck, ‘please, please please don’t make me go back in there on my own. I don’t like it when Patrick’s not there.’

On the other side of the bed, Rhys gave a grunting snore and kicked out.

Alisdair covered Arthur’s hand with his own and pulled it off, gently but firmly. He pressed a finger to his lips for Arthur to keep his voice down and spoke at a low whisper, ‘You can’t keep doing this.’

‘But-‘

‘You are going to stop doing this. I can’t keep waking up in the night for you and it’s not fair on Rhys either. We’ve both got to get up early.’

Arthur said nothing but Alisdair could sense his refusal anyway. He sighed, Arthur’s hair tickling his chin, ‘You’re too big for this sort of thing.’

Arthur mumbled something unintelligible, unwilling to be insulted but just as unwilling to give Alisdair the privilege of being right.

‘Alright,’ after a moment, Alisdair cautiously sat up and flipped the blankets off and away from them. Arthur curled himself in closer, ‘Come on. You’re going. I’ve got to be up in a few hours and I ain’t faffing about with this again.’

The room was freezing. Alisdair moved over Arthur and forced himself to press his bare feet into the wood, skin crawling at the sudden and unwanted change in temperature. He’d have had a fire going all night, if they could have afforded it. The winter nights were bitter and Arthur and Rhys were often ill, from the chill in the air or the seemingly permanent damp that lingered about the place Alisdair didn’t know but surely a warm room at night would help.

It would help getting up in the morning for work, at any rate.

Arthur, accepting that this wasn’t a fight he was going to win, reluctantly sat up and slid down from the bed to join him, pyjama bottoms puddling at the hem; Rhys’ old things and Patrick’s before that.

He hopped from one foot to the other, floorboards squeaking, and Alisdair picked him up with a huff to keep his feet warm, ‘You’re too heavy,’ he whispered in his hair, hefting him to rest better on his hip and pulling the covers up to keep Rhys from waking, ‘I should stop feeding you.’

‘No, I’m not,’ Arthur whispered back, cheek warm on Alisdair’s shoulder, ‘You’re getting lazy.’

In the corridor it was colder, no living thing to breathe warmth into the spaces. Alisdair knew his childhood home all too well, could see even without candlelight every step and door and turn of the halls with his eyes closed. There was a floorboard by the top step that squealed like a pig, right next to one that was soggy and soft- splinters of wood peeling from a deep crack in the centre. A mirror on the landing wall, dulled but still whole, below which lay a chasm where there had once been a mahogany table that had long since been sold for food money. Ghosts of once fine things being all that remained of an easier life.

Arthur stayed quiet as he was carried back to the room that he and Patrick shared but his unease and reluctance was clear. His arms went tight around Alisdair’s neck as soon as they stepped through the door and he lifted his head only when Alisdair approached the bed to set him down.

Moonlight spilled in through the gap in the curtains caused by a missing hoop, giving shape to the darkness and outlining the double bed pushed against the wall that Arthur and Patrick shared.

‘It’s a nice room, this,’ Alisdair motioned for Arthur to get under the covers, ‘Big bed all to yourself. No Rhys snoring in your ear, thicker blankets; a right bloody palace.’

Arthur didn’t smile. Instead, he looked worried, eyes glancing cautiously to the window and flicking to the corners of the room as if searching for something.

Alisdair nudged him to lay down, handing him his tatty stuffed animal, ‘Go on, get in. We’ll both catch something if you don’t hurry up; my feet are freezing.’

‘You could stay in here with me,’ Arthur’s voice was hopeful, ‘Rhys is already asleep.’

‘And where will Patrick go when he comes in?’

‘With Rhys.’

‘That’s not fair on Rhys, is it? To wake him up that early before work. Or for Patrick when Rhys does have to get going.’

‘Patrick wakes me up when he comes in.’

‘You have the time to go back to sleep again before school.’

‘I could stay with you two and Patrick can stay in here alone.’

‘Arthur…’

‘I don’t mind if you wake me up when you get ready for work, I can help.’

‘You can’t help.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because you’re seven, we don’t want you to work.’ Not if they could help it, not yet.

The idea of Arthur having to work so soon turned Alisdair’s stomach. Their father’s debts, found only after he’d died last year, had changed so much in their lives. From Patrick’s unfinished painting apprenticeship that didn’t pay, to taking quick dock work that did. Or Alisdair’s own free evenings and social life transforming into an evening tutoring job; they’d all lost something and it wasn’t fair for any of them. But at least he, Patrick, and Rhys had all experienced a childhood free from any of this mess, with at least five years of schooling under their belt to set them up on a decent foundation in the future. The three of them had sworn that Arthur would have the same, no matter how hard things became.

The looming threat of the workhouse or losing their home seemed only one wrong move away. One late payment to the debtors, one docked wage. If Alisdair lost his accounting job the bulk of their income went with it. Rhys was being trained as an apprentice; without that he’d have nothing.

Arthur lay small and scowling under the covers, arms crossed atop the blankets.

Alisdair sat on the edge of the bed and tried to remember how their mother might have handled this, ‘Where has all this come from, eh? You used to like it when Patrick left you here by yourself.’

Arthur tried to turn over and face the wall but Alisdair caught his shoulder, holding him back, ‘Come on. Talk.’

Arthur turned his face away, his mouth tight.

Awkwardly, Alisdair brushed Arthur’s hair back from his forehead in the way Rhys somehow always did so naturally but still he wouldn’t look at him. ‘Fine,’ Alisdair said, standing, ‘Have it your way.’

‘Wait!’ Arthur sat up and grabbed at the edge of his sleeve, ‘Please don’t go.’

‘Christ Arthur-‘

‘You need to stay.’

‘Why?’

‘You just have to.’

‘Why.’

Arthur went silent again.

‘I’m not playing around with you all night, you either tell me what’s wrong or you can sit with it and sulk; your choice.’

Arthur pulled at the top cover, twisting the fabric in his fists and pulling it taut between them.

‘Right-‘

‘There’s someone outside,’ Arthur’s spoke in a hurried half whisper, words coming out in a rush as if he had been holding them back, ‘I can hear them walking out on the pantry roof.’

‘Someone outside?’ Alisdair snorted, ‘It’s probably just a cat.’

Even in the dim light, he could see Arthur’s cheeks flush an angry red, ‘I saw them, through the gap in the curtains. It was a man.’

‘A chimney sweep then, might be using our roof to cut across.’

‘It’s not.’ Shockingly, Alisdair realised that Arthur looked as though he were about to cry, ‘He was at the window. He’s been coming since Saturday.’

Thrown more by Arthur’s behaviour than any belief in true danger, Alisdair turned to the window over the bed and pulled the curtain aside.

Under the clear starless sky, roofs fanned out like a patchwork quilt, falling with the slope of a hill before rising again to cut off the horizon. Streets snaking between the jumbled brick houses were empty, not even the drunks from the nearby pub to fall amongst the corners. Alisdair pushed the window up to lean out, ignoring Arthur’s hiss not to, and craned his head either side, squinting at the bite of cold air.

‘There’s no one there now,’ he said as he pulled the pane down. There was no lock on it, just a rusted catch that had fused to the pane and left stains on his fingers when he tried to move it. At least the window itself still opened smoothly, that’d be harder to fix.

Arthur silently watched Alisdair’s hands scatter flakes of old paint across the old crocheted blanket, his eyes sad.

Alisdair ran his tongue over his teeth, conflicted.

‘I’m sure you did see someone,’ he began, sitting on the edge of the bed again. The mattress squeaked in protest, a broken whine of old springs, ‘and I’m sure it was frightening-‘

‘I’m not frightened!’ Arthur tried to shift up onto his knees but Alisdair held him down, ‘I just don’t want to be watched or let him steal anything.’

‘Aye, okay.’ Whether Arthur thought him a fool or was simply unaware of how easy he was to read, Alisdair avoided mentioning, ‘But maybe it could have been a dream.’

He held onto Arthur’s shoulder and squeezed it when he opened his mouth to protest, ‘Maybe. When you’re half asleep your mind plays tricks. I’ve had that a lot of times, thinking something’s real in the moment only to realise that it’s something else in the morning. You probably are seeing someone, but it’ll just be a chimney sweep doing his rounds.’

‘It’s not,’ Arthur’s voice was small, ‘I know it’s not.’

Alisdair sighed. It was late.

‘How about this,’ he said, tugging the curtain across as much as it would go and nudging Arthur to lay back down, ‘If you can stay in here all night for the rest of the week, I’ll take you down to the Prom on Sunday after church.’

Arthur hesitated, ‘Can we get an ice-cream?’

‘If you want to freeze your insides as well as your outsides, you can.’

‘Fine,’ Arthur shifted to regard him more seriously, ‘But if I find proof that someone’s out on our roof, you’ll also get me sherbet lemons.’

‘Cocky little shite, aren’t we?’ Arthur smiled and Alisdair felt his shoulders relax, ‘Alright, it’s a promise. And if you can’t stay here for the rest if the week, you’ll have to clear out the slops with Patrick.’

Arthur made a face and Alisdair laughed, ‘Ah, see? Not all fun and games making bets, is it?’

Arthur grumbled something insulting into his pillow and Alisdair stood, ruffling his hair, ‘Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

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

Morning came far too quickly.

Seemingly seconds after his head hit the pillow there was the tap of the Knocker-Upper (1) at the window, a high crack that made Rhys jolt awake next to him in panic as he did every morning.

The house was still cold and dark, but Patrick’s shoes were by the front door and as they stepped outside to a brightening sky, Alisdair allowed himself to take some joy from the day. The crispness in the air cleansed it, taking London’s filth and burying it under the smell of fallen leaves carried from the parks and for a moment, that first breath in and out, it could have been any day. Any year, at any point in his life. Ageless and timeless, the details of his life cloaked in morning and hard to define with missed milestones.

Alisdair was lucky to have his job. His family could still eat. They still had their house and they were all still together. That was enough.

The day passed quickly and all too soon he was waving Rhys goodbye as he stayed an extra few hours at work, leaving only to start his tutoring position in the West End before finally taking himself home.

He found Patrick there when he pushed opened the door, poking the dying fire in the parlour with his boots half on.

‘You still here?’ Alisdair shucked off his coat to hang on the hallway wall.

‘Late finish.’ Patrick rolled his shoulders and bent down to do up his shoes, ‘Thanks for last night, by the way.’

‘What for?’

‘Taking Arthur. It was nice to have the whole bed for myself, he always ends up squashed against me like a bloody mollusc.’

Alisdair stepped into the living room, ‘Taking Arthur?’

‘Yeah,’ Patrick stood, looking confused, ‘With you and Rhys.’

‘We didn’t have him, I put him back in your room.’

‘What?’

For a moment, they stood looking at each other in silence. Alisdair felt the stirrings of something in his chest, a sensation of things being out of place and about to fall.

‘Is he not here?’

Patrick shook his head, eyes darting to the door as if he expected Arthur to walk through, ‘No, I assumed he was still out with Gilbert or Francis or you’d sent him out for something.’

‘Not this damn late!’

‘I don’t know, I’m not usually here am I? Did you see him in the morning?’ Patrick asked, a sharpness to his voice.

‘Of course I didn’t, I thought he was with you. Didn’t you see him in the morning?’

‘Oi, don’t get all accusatory with me. I woke up and the house was empty, I thought he was at school already.’

‘And breakfast?’

‘He usually sorts himself out.’

‘For fuck’s sake Patrick!’

‘What! Why would I think anything different, the bed was empty when I went up and the curtains were open, I assumed he hadn’t even been in there.’

Something froze in Alisdair’s chest at the mention of the curtains, a cold hollow dread that quickly spread through him and make his stomach twist. Before Patrick could say another word, Alisdair grabbed a nearby candle and bolted up the stairs as fast as he could without losing the flame, skidding on the threadbare rug in the landing in his desperation to disprove the quickly growing fear. He could hear Rhys and Patrick downstairs, a growing frantic murmur of voices that Alisdair ignored to push open the door to Patrick’s room.

It was of course empty. A huddle of blankets on the bed, empty fire in the grate.

Without giving his eyes time to adjust to the dim light, Alisdair pulled the curtain aside and tugged the window up with one hand. As on the previous night the roofs were empty, flat concrete expanses or slants of steep grey slate. But on their roof, slumped as if thrown into the gap between the ventilation pipe and the wall of the house next door, was a small, all too familiar, teddy bear.

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

AN:

(1) Knocker-Uppers, or Knocker-Up are just what it says on the tin. They were people who would go around in the early hours of the morning to wake people up at specific times for work, like an old fashioned alarm clock. It's a really interesting job, read more about them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocker-up

OKAY

So, I originally wrote this chapter back in 2013, intending it to be a story two or three chapters long. The first chapter was all written out but then I never posted it and it stayed hidden and lost in my files until I went poking about in them last year. Although not something I’d write now and not something that I’d continue, I’ve been determined to rework it to a point where I could publish this as a gift to past me.

This first chapter has been entirely rewritten from the original (which was the same plot but terribly done) and was originally going to be a story about Arthur being kidnapped and Alisdair desperately trying to find him again.

This was sadly a real thing that happened in Recency and Victorian England (and does, of course, still happen all across the world today). There are reported cases of children being grabbed off streets of London and even from their homes to be sold to wealthy families or, if they were older, used for getting work or begging. Wealthy children were also taken for ransom. In this story Arthur would have been taken for potentially ransom or work, he’s small enough to garner sympathy on the streets and also small enough to stuff up a chimney. Here are some resources I came across when trying to refresh my memory, though please do go digging for more information yourself:

https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2014/12/victorian-children-lost-and-found.html

https://www.jstor.org/stable/41999356

https://about1816.wordpress.com/2018/07/28/child-stealing-in-the-regency/

I’m very happy to finally release this story into the world, it’s been guilty gnawing at me for far too long

Hope that you all enjoy, and thanks for reading!

#APH England #hws england #aph scotland #hws scotland #aph ireland #hws ireland #aph wales #hws wales #aph brit bros #aph uk bros #hws british isles #heroes writes