#PERCY MY BELOVED TERRIFYING BOY

[petrichorparacosm]

The new show must have stirred my inner 12-year-old, because here I am, a full grown woman posting Percy Jackson AU Ideas. Time is a flat circle and all that.

Let’s call this AU the PJO Patrons AU. Basically, the idea is that, when Zeus decreed that the gods couldn’t directly interfere in the lives of their mortal children but COULD still interfere somewhat in the lives of OTHER demigods, a version of the Olympians who were slightly better parents might decide that the best way to make sure someone was looking out for their spawn would be to trade, so to speak.

By ‘trade’ I mean that any Olympian demigod would be automatically taken under the patronage of whichever other Olympian their parent had made a deal with.

The big three (due to the “no kids” rule), Hera, Hestia and Artemis obviously have no need for such a bargain, but the others? Oh boy. Prepare for chaos.

Athena & Hermes

Listen. Athena and Hermes were the two gods who would most often appear randomly to help demigods that weren’t theirs, so it makes sense for the unclaimed to be under their conjunctive supervision. Also, please picture Athena giving Luke extra attention (as far as she gives ANYONE attention) and vice versa for Hermes and Annabeth, out of guilt. And then the fallout of Luke’s betrayal being twice as impactful…

(… not to mention, trickster + strategist yields some scary competent demigods…)

Aphrodite & Ares

This is more of a stepparent situation. Ares making Chiron make Drew Tanaka and Co. run an obstacle course while Aphrodite keeps blessing her lover’s children with pretty clothes that they absolutely do not want and mourning Silena with Clarisse.

Dionysus & Demeter

They have overlapping domains, don’t have bad blood, and can be characterized as caring but inconsistent parents, albeit for very different reasons. Castor and Pollux are kind of getting spoiled here, since they DO get to see their father around.

Aunty Artemis

As previously stated, Artemis has no demigod children and takes care of her hunters personally. Mythologically and canonically-to-the-Riordanverse, Apollo is one of the more caring Olympian’s when it comes to his kids, and takes pride in endowing them with whatever skills they take to under his domain. Since he can’t, who better than his beloved twin to show up once in a blue moon and give his children some pointers?

Hephaestus & Hera

We all know Hera is big on family. Hephaestus is sort of the “ugly red headed stepchild” of the Olympians, but he IS also one of Hera’s only children. She would TOTALLY accept his kids under her domain. Also, it would add some neat layers to the Juno- Leo situation…

Yeah Zeus is salty about this and means that Hephaestus kids are even more terrifying to tick off.

On the note of big three kids, Thalia would obviously end up with Artemis as a hunter, as would Bianca. Percy and Nico would technically be under Athena’s patronage while unclaimed, then be patronless once claimed (just can’t win, huh boys?) but honestly I could see various gods seeing one of them and going “oh, mine now” down the road.

For Nico, maybe Persephone, out of love for Hades and sympathy for her stepson? I could also see Eros claiming patronage that Nico would refuse to awknowledge.

For Percy, maybe Hermes, as a favor to Annabeth and commemoration to Luke?

BONUS: a demigod (such as Meg) can be claimed by a non- default patron (such as Apollo) and also this system of patronage makes Zeus’ non- interference decree super backfire bc this level of involvement is NOT what he wanted.

#pjo #pjo patrons au #Poseidon #Zeus #hades #Aphrodite #ares #Athena #Hermes #dionysus #Demeter #Hera #Hestia #hephaistos #Artemis #Apollo #castor #Pollux #Chiron #drew tanaka #anabeth chase #luke castellan #percy jackson #leo valdez #nico di angelo #bianca di angelo #thalia grace #Hephaestus #clarisse la rue #silena beauregard

[euphoniouspandemonium]

OC/Writing art asks, for whatever your most recent work is!

Starry Night, The Scream, Persistence of Memory, Wheatfield with Crows, Creation of Adam, and creative!

Hello !! Thank you so much for the ask !! I'm gonna cheat and answer these for Cotton Mendings, which is not my most recent WIP but has the best answers for these questions.

Starry Night: are there any scenes in this work that take place at nighttime? Is this significant, or just the passing of time?

Many, many of them!!!!!!!! And it is definitely thematically significant. Most major important scenes from the beginning to the midpoint happen during the evening/night, and then the major scenes from the midpoint until a little bit before the climax happen during the day. And then it goes back to night again. That sort of represents the emotional states that the main character(s) experience throughout the story and their relationships. Another thing is that light (mostly sunlight but artificial light as well) is emphasised in scenes where Oscar (protagonist) and Percy (love interest + my most beloved baby boy I would do anything for him) are together in the same space (which is why important midpoint-to-climax scenes happen during the day).

The Scream: are there any moments in this work that you think could scare a reader? Are there any moments where the characters themselves are profoundly scared?

I don't really think there are any that would scare a reader, but there are definitely scenes where the characters are absolutely terrified. Two of those scenes are murders and one of them is a character nearly dying. Heh.

Persistence of Memory: are there any moments in this work where a character's memory plays a strong role? Either an individual memory, or simply a character's ability to recall the past.

Yes !! There are. Many of those moments. A lot of Oscar's actions happen because of him thinking about events in his past (for example, getting into a relationship with his (rich) former friend (Salvatore) whom he initially rejected, piercing his own ear and wearing a pear earring that a girl he had a fling with gave him (slut behaviour on Oscar's part. 10/10 would do the same)). Oscar's memories of his brother (Charlie) (deceased) + another character's memories of Charlie are also very important and cause like 50% of the plot. Another thing is that Oscar and Percy meet once very briefly near the beginning of Cotton Mendings before becoming friends a lot later and Percy doesn't really remember much about that (because alcohol and emotional trauma 👍). ALSO there's a chapter entirely composed of Oscar's journal entries several years before the start of the story.

Wheatfield with Crows: are there any scenes in this work that involve birds? Do the birds play a definitive role, or are they simply part of the setting?

There are scenes with birds in them but they're just part of the setting!! They don't matter to me. That Is A Joke I love birds I would die for birds. But like they don't have much of a role in the story. Wings and feathers on the other hand... well let's just say I went off the rails with the Icarus symbolism.

Creation of Adam: choose one character that is not present at the beginning of this work. How did you introduce them into the story?

Percy !! Aka the loveliest little guy who is everything to me and makes me sob violently. This is on some levels a cheat because *technically* in the literal first scene Oscar's staring at a portrait of him, but I don't count that as his real introduction and the portrait scene plays part in his Real introduction, so!! The first scene he is physically present in and meets Oscar is a Great Gatsby ass party because *every* fictional work set in the 1920s needs one of those. AND. Oh dear god I am not normal about this scene. Him and Oscar talk a little bit and they're both quite out of place (Percy is not at all dressed appropriately for the occasion cause he's hashtag quirky and Oscar feels overwhelmed and is having a category 5 Autism Event (sensory overload)) but they like books and poetry and and Percy gives him a little pink flower and then later on they stare at each other really intensely and . Oscar in the narrative compares him to Saint Sebastian because that's a normal thing to do and the next morning he eats the flower. He's such a little freak. AND JUST. AAAA. Oscar has a very romanticised idea of Percy at that point and he feels incredibly sad because he thinks he will never actually get to know him and they'll never see each other again and he realises the portrait of Percy doesn't say anything about Percy at all, it's just a misperception, a ragingly alive young man presented as soft and pretty and angelic and devoid of life, but Oscar isn't really aware that, in seeing that misperception, he is constructing *another* misperception of Percy as a martyr and something inherently unknowable and nebulous. I want to eat glass. Anyways. Sooooo normal about them.

Creative!: free space! share something you've been dying to share about your writing! Could be an OC that never gets the limelight, a moment you were proud of, or anything else you'd like to share.

Uhm. Well, I'm planning on writing a novella called Carpe Vinum Motion Picture! (though I'm not sure about the title but I'm rolling with it for now). It's set a couple of years after the events of Cotton Mendings and it's literally just Oscar running away to France and being depraved and recklessly indulgent and a bitch to everyone around him. In Cotton Mendings he's definitely a little freak but he's relatively stable (?) and also, like, very kind and gentle, BUT we do see the slutty bitchy sad boy side of him in some scenes, especially early on (for example Percy's introduction scene). And I wanted to explore it further because I love making myself want to throw rocks at that man. I love him sooooo much <3

#this is so long! ohwell #as you can see normal about cotton mendings and have developed the symbolism and characters a normal amount. #answers to ask games

[littlemisskittentoes]

Get To Know Your Fanfic Writer!

first and foremost, massive thank you to @affectionatelyrs for the tag. it made me smile lots 💖

When Did You Post Your First Fanfic?

I’m still such a baby to posting fanfic. I have a long history of starting something, and leaving it to die unfinished.

My maiden voyage of actually finish something and posting was less than a month ago! Only this past September.

First Characters You Wrote For?

Unfinished and unposted? Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.

First ones other people actually got to witness? FirstPrince, my beloveds.

Main Characters You’re Currently Writing For?

FirstPrince, my beloveds.

I’m also hoping to dive a bit more into June and Nora!

Characters You Haven’t Written About Before, But Plan to Soon?

Nora and Alex’s friendship. I think their connection is so sweet and special. I just haven’t dove too far into it yet.

Platonic Pairings You Currently Write For?

Honestly, I haven’t written too much of the platonic connections within the Super Six into my fics yet. But, I cannot help but give Pez some screen time.

I so completely adore Pez and Henry’s friendship. That being said, I’m also so in love with Pez’s character that I am terrified of writing him and doing any sort of disservice to the enigma that is Percy Okonjo. So, I still find myself straying away from really diving into including Pez. One of these days…

Romantic Pairings You Currently Write For?

FirstPrince, my beloveds. And also, as of tonight, Nora and June!

Your Top 3 AO3 Tags?

1. Hurt/Comfort

2. Fluff

3. ‘No beta’ related tags… 😬

Current Platform Where You Post Your Works?

AO3, baby!

A Snippet From a Current WIP?

A snippet from an assassination attempt WIP, that will still not be posted for quite some time—

“Forever” moved from being feeling, something Alex could feel waltzing in the air around Henry, to something hiding in the corners of their brownstone. It whispered in the steam rising from their mugs– early gray for Henry, coffee with only sugar and cinnamon for Alex. In the way the mug was always hot and waiting for him on the counter when Alex finally dragged himself out of their bed and down the stairs, long minutes after Henry had convinced himself to stir.

(Henry admitted once that the cinnamon was a stolen strategy: one selfishly burrowed away into his memory after tracing the words along the fact sheet that had fallen into his lap the weekend all those years ago. Almost like his own personal four-leaf clover.)

Now, “forever” peeked out from the chain hanging above their sink, swaying softly in the breeze, when they eased the window open in the spring. The key and ring clinking together like piano keys; the melody so far away from the dependence they used to cling to in order to ground themselves.

(Alex whispered to Henry one night, bodies still damp beneath a light sheet. It had been when the touch of their skin against one another was still new. The butterflies still fluttered in quiet nervousness. Both of them were still in awe that they were allowed this now.

Alex’s eyes stayed closed, and the chain along his neck rose and fell quickly with his still-racing heart. He whispered into Henry’s neck that it was funny– how he never took this key off, but he had never felt further from the boy he had been in Texas. Henry had held him closer, let the warmth of his skin pour into Alex’s while the gravity of deciding to go to law school, to relax his grip on the idea of a life he had picked for himself, had run himself ragged trying to hold on to, sunk in.)

“Forever” inked itself into the ring along their left hands, and the phone numbers of florists and highlighted tasting appointments dotted along their shared calendar by the door.

Happy wasn’t novel or exhilaratingly new anymore. It was comfortable and safe now, like the sound of waves lapping at the dock of the lake house, or the echo of solitary footsteps around the marble halls of the V&A.

Perhaps that's why the red of Alex’s blood along his crisp button down, blooming like the freshly steeped agua de jamaica Henry had sipped nervously his first time meeting Alex’s tías, confused Henry at first. He had to hear the pop echo along the street, chased away by shrill screams of people around them. He had to watch Alex watch the spot creep out. He had to watch Alex press his shaking hand, glinting with that damn ring, against his chest. He had to watch Alex’s knees give out and race towards the concrete of the sidewalk before he understood.

no pressure tagging these lovely, lovely writers @inexplicablymine @hypnostheory @happiness-of-the-pursuit

#red white and royal blue #rwrb #fanfic #rwrb fanfic #firstprince #get to know me #kittentoes facts

[mavkasilas]

What does death take away from you?

Something that I want to write about for a long time. It’s a kinda sad and serious story, about what will happen between Oliver and Percy during the battle at Hogwarts.

For example: Percy and Oliver reunited with each other when the war ended and the fact of Fred's death.

I might not write in that deep, but I wish I can express the scenes to you guys.

Also, I will split this story into 2 part.

"I'm ok. I'm fine."

Watching the person you love saying that they are fine while you know they are not, is the cruellest thing you wish you didn't hear from them.

"How come you are fine? You are on the edge, my dear."

Oliver whispers.

In front of him is a terrified Percy.

The war just ended, no one will be fine and complete. Everything has been ripped into pieces by the war: the buildings, the bodies, the memories and the hopes.

No one is fine, no one.

Even though the sun shines through the dark cloud and pours on them, no one ever actually felt warm. With the body piles lying around the place, it almost drives Percy insane.

It feels like a deja vu. 

Somehow, Percy feels like he has seen these scenes before, he swears. Flashbacks hit him like a train wreck, he looks at his hands which are covered in blood, not him but Fred’s.

Percy finally recalled it.

The reason he feels familiar is that he has seen it from the Ministry, the Ministry that Voldermort took over. Turns out they were a prophecy to him, to warn the idiocy of him. How come he never learn the lessons from it? The day he became one of the slaughter just to avoid getting killed by the death eaters, he should have known it.

"Should I be ok? Should I be fine? I shouldn’t be breathing while Freddie is lying over there! He shouldn’t be there! I should be the one lying over there, I should be the one lying over there……"

Percy's voice is trembling. He sounds so lost and hopeless.

He tries so much to hide his fear but clearly, he didn't do it very well.

He didn’t fear losing his life. 

He will give up his life without any hesitation if someone told him there’s a way he can bring back Freddie from the underworld. The only thing he is afraid of is facing his family. How should he tell his family that he was the one watching Freddie dies in front of him, and he fails to protect his brother?

Oliver was just a few steps from him, he could have just run to him, held his hand and find some console from him.

But he couldn't move, even a tiny step.

His legs are numb, his body is cold, his hands are sore and his chest is in unbearable pain. Every inch of the muscles on his body is yelling for pain. He is broking into pieces and he can’t stop himself.

"Percy....."

Oliver wishes he can immediately run towards Percy. But there are piles of bodies between them. Death surrounded everyone, even the survivors could not escape from it too.

It has a different name, we call it 'survivor guilt'. It is worse than death, a terrible sibling that death has.

One step…

Two steps…

Four steps…

Five steps.

It took five steps for Oliver to walk to Percy, but he feels like it took him forever to walk to him.

"Oliver..."

"I'm here."

"Oliver..."

"I'm here."

As soon as Oliver kneels beside Percy, he immediately holds his hands. They are so small and skinny, compared to his.

“How should I tell mom, especially Georgie that I lost Freddie? They were right, I shouldn’t come back, I only make things worse than before. He should have escaped from the explosion but I distracted him. He… he was so young, Ollie, he was so young… My Freddie… he’s… gone.”

Percy buries his face into Oliver’s arms. They are so warm, like the blanket of his that Molly knitted for him. But no matter how hard he tries to warm himself, still feels like surrounded by the Winter.

Maybe, he was dead too, with Fred in that explosion. Part of him has died when his beloved brother’s dead body falls onto him.

“No no no, don’t say that, Perce.”

Oliver gently shushes the boy.

He puts his hand on Percy’s head, patting it like how his ma usually pats him when he had nightmares. He hopes this will comfort Percy, although he knows this action doesn’t help too much.

This probably will sound very selfish and cold blood, but Oliver was gladful when he found out Percy was still safe and sound.

“Why are you still standing beside me? Ollie. I’m not worthy, just a dumb, arrogant and ignorant man. You should have chosen someone wiser than me, probably Harry.”

“Yes, you should have chosen Harry. He was right and I was wrong, terribly wrong and coward.”

As soon as Percy starts coughing, the sudden pain in his chest sends him to the ground. The pain didn’t stop his murmurs, even though his lungs feel on fire. Slowly, his visions are blurry and he can barely move.

This caught Oliver off guard.

He doesn’t know what’s going on with Percy, he seems fine, with no big scars and bleeding wounds on his body. But then again, everything seemed wrong. His clothes were ripped and bloody, and Oliver feels something wet on his hands. Not tears, not sweats but liquid with a familiar sweet rusty smell.

Blood, the smell of blood. There are plenty of them coming out of Percy's mouth and eyes.

A scream echoes through the yard. 

Percy is clearly in pain, his body twitches like a bunch of untied rope. His hands keep covering his chest, which gives Oliver a hint to the guess. Something is hurting Percy, maybe...... it was a curse. Oliver recalls back the conversation he and Percy had about a few minutes ago.

What did he say? 

Oh come on, think! Think! You piece of dumbshit, Oliver. Your friend is dying in front of you, you got to save him!

The voices screaming inside Oliver’s head make his stomach churn.

He's the only thing now you can save before everything is late. If not, he will never know what's going on inside of your head. The reason for you to join this battle is not only for Hogwarts, right? Percy is also one of the reasons, isn't it?

His mind keeps screaming at him to act faster, but he needs to calm down before reaching him, to make sure nothing else happens, to save him.

"....He should have escaped from the explosion, but I distracted him."

That's it! The explosion might be the reason why Percy is in so much hurt. 

With the thoughts, Oliver forceful but also gently remove Percy's hands from his chest. He's right, there's blood slowly soaking through his shirt.

"Hey, hey! Percy, stay with me. Don't you ever dare to close your eyes, open them! Fuck it...."

His voice breaks when he sees Percy trying to blink.

Oliver wants to cry, to scream, the more he puts pressure on his chest to stop the blood from coming out, the more they bleed. He needs to find Hermoine or Madam Pomfrey, they shall know which type of curse Percy has been hitting on, and they shall pull him away from joining the death.

"Please don't die. Please don't die! You're the last thing I have left..."

He feels a warm hand holding his arm. Percy is looking at him with such an expression, that Oliver doesn't know what it means. The panic slowly crawls onto his feet and starts consuming his sanity. He has seen too many dead in one day, but Percy's shouldn't be one of them.

"Ollie....."

Percy mumbles under his breath, Oliver tries to hear what he said, he shakes his shoulder to get him to speak but it's useless. The blood has filled up his throat and lungs, just like a drowning person, Percy is slowly suffocated by his blood.

Does he feel scared? Probably yes.

Facing death on your own is not an easy thing, especially when someone is still by your side, trying to help you escape from it. Sounds and colour started to fade away from Percy's eyes.

His limbs are cold and numb, is this how Freddie feels? Percy wonders.

"No... no, come on, please. Wake up!"

"What's going on here?! Oliver! "

Hermoine runs towards them.

Finally, a saviour that Oliver has been searching for. 

She glides towards them and kneels beside Percy. The amount of blood coming out from Percy's chest scared the shit out of her. Although she tries to be calm and determined, but her hands have betray her.

There is no way Weasleys will lose another child today, not on her watch. Granger, you must be calm, she told herself.

"How did this happen?"

"I don't know, I think he might be hit with a curse. Maybe an explosion curse? He was with...'

"He was with who?"

"He was with Fred."

Hermoine chokes on Oliver's answer. She changes a glance with Oliver, without any communication he understands her meaning. The Weasleys have found out about Fred's death.

"No, maybe it's not the curse. If he was hit by an explosion curse, he should be dead now. Take off his clothes, I need a better look."

Oliver is glad that he was found by Hermoine, or else he definitely will have a meltdown. He wipes the tears from his eyes and starts ripping off Percy's clothes. As soon as his bare chest was exposed to the air, both of them gasp a little.

Hermoine was right.

It was not a curse, it was something else worse than a curse. A piece of gravel stuck on Percy's chest. The gravel is as sharp as the knife, as thin as the ice, it's hard to get it out from the chest. It might contain some very tiny curse power on it, that’s why Percy couldn’t stop bleeding and in so much pain.

The wound is so deep that if Oliver tried harder, he could cut Percy's heart right there. It looks almost impossible, but he has done impossible things before.

"What are you going to do?"

"To save him! Obviously!"

With an Accio, a dagger flies to them from nowhere. Who the hell would bring a dagger to a curse fight? Probably those murderers, those cold blood death eaters. They love to play dirty, nothing surprise.

Oliver slowly starts cutting at Percy's skin, trying to reach the stone while Hermoine assistances him. She looks at Oliver with an unbelievable look. Seems like the war between them and Voldemort really changes a person a lot.

She doesn't know whether it's a good thing or not. To fully grow up in such situations, you need a huge amount of traumatising experience. The scar on her upper arm is the best example.

"Come on Percy, don't you dare to leave me behind... wake up..."

Oliver murmurs while concentrating to get the gravel out from Percy's chest. They were almost there, the wound is wide enough for them to take out the gravel but Oliver's hand is too big to handle that frangible gravel.

"Let me help you."

Hermoine let go of Percy's arms and slowly stuck her fingers into his chest. It's incredible to feel the warmth of Percy's blood, she can feel his heart thumping weakly. This is her first time sticking her fingers into someone's chest.

Everything feels so..... awkward and incredible.

Blood splashes on her face as soon as she pulls out the gravel successfully from Percy's chest.

Her eyes immediately fill with tears when she sees two large holes where the stones used to be. Oliver looks like crying too, but then again, he doesn't show it. He breathes a sigh of relief as he saw Hermoinen successfully remove the gravel from Percy's chest.

"Thank Merlin."

Hermoine whispers while staring into the hole she made.

It wasn't the first time Oliver has performed a healing spell, but it was the first time he performs it on someone he loves who is nearly dying in front of him.

"You love him, don't you?"

"What are you talking about?"

Oliver looks at Hermoine as he puts down his wand on the ground. His voice is a bit shaken by Hermoine's words. Does he look obvious? He thought that he hide it very well.

"Eyes won't lie, Oliver. I always know."

Hermoine gently taps on Oliver's shoulder when she stands up. 

Back in the day, she used to question the relationship between Percy and Oliver. It is weird for Oliver to be Percy's one and only best friend. Their personalities are so different, Percy is solemn most of the time and Oliver is a playful person.

But now, she understands.

Whatever Oliver has done, he did it for love.

“Take him to the Great Hall, Madam Pomfrey is there treating every wounder. His family is there too. They should be reunited, at this point.”

It’s time for her to go to reach out to Harry and Ron. She turns to see Oliver again before she leaves them.

“Do you ever plan to tell him?”

“Percy, tell him how you feel about him.”

Oliver remains silent. He moves his eyes away, clearly, he is avoiding the question. He dare to kill in the war but he didn’t dare to confess his feeling to someone he loves.

“I think you should.”

He knows what Hermoine means. Keeps running away from it then one day he will receive tons of regret for being a coward.

Percy, who just escape from death now is sleeping safe and sound on Oliver’s lap. He looks more vulnerable and small after losing tons of blood. His lips are dry and his face is pale. Oliver takes off his jacket and covers it with Percy.

As the dark clouds swallow the bright from the sun, Hermoine leaves them alone.

-’What does death takes away from you?’ Part 1 end-

#percy weasley #percy weasley and oliver wood #percy x oliver #percy weasley x oliver wood #Percy #Harry Potter #harry potter fandom #harry potter fanfiction #fred weasley #oliver wood

[inc0rrectmyths]

some jercy for you (slight angst?)

"Hey, Jason."

"Yeah, Percy?"

The black-haired boy lifted his head from his boyfriend's chest and looked into his eyes. "If I die before I hit 20, I don't want a fancy funeral. Just burn a few lillies with my shroud."

Jason blinked, confused. "Okay? What led to this?" He asked, grinning slightly in a bemused manner. Percy shrugged. "Dunno. Just felt like I had to say it."

Just had to say it.

The battle came before anyone expected it to. Giants had found the Doors of Death in Tatarus and had managed to slip inside. A large majority of them, in fact. They all came trooping to Camp Half Blood, and the battle between demigods and giants was fierce, and terrifying. They managed to kill the giants, but at a severe cost.

Percy was hurt badly. Several of his ribs were broken, there was internal bleeding, and he had a bad concussion. Everyone was panicking, trying to find help, when Will Solace elbowed his way through the crowd and took his battered body in. "Still breathing. There's barely any, but there's still breath, and a pulse." He announced loudly, much to the relief of the camp.

Percy was resting in his cabin after the Apollo kids had worked their magic, when he heard a knock at his door. He barely had time to open his mouth before Jason all but ran in, tears streaming down his face. He shut the door behind him, and rushed to Percy's side. "You scared me! I thought you were dead.." He sobbed. Percy paled at seeing his beloved Jason in such dissarray. "Jason..." Was all he could choke out before the blonde eclipsed him in a hug. "Don't ever run off into the battle like that again. Never. I don't know what I would have done if you had actually died. Promise me that you won't do that again, Percy Jackson."

Despite himself, Percy smiled. "I promise, Jason Grace."

[vaxxy-the-raven]

I AM SCREAMING

Just finished the second and third episodes of TLOVM and HOLY FUCKING SHIT

Spoilers for all 3 episodes under the cut:

———

Episode One

"The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 1" S01E01 of The Legend Of Vox Machina

Not me crying over the twins again, holy balls.

From Vex's sass and charm to her having headaches when in the proximity of a Dragon and almost crying while explaining that her and Vax's mother had died to a Dragon???

And not Vax's sexy/pretty-boy rougish bravado being crushed by the death of those children, one even dying in his actual fucking arms???

Keyleth freezing up and panicking during the whole fight, but trying her best and saving them in the end???

Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III being Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III - But animated???

Grog, being simultaneously adorable and also terrifying???

Pike trying her best to keep the group in the right, but still being the fierce little monster we all absolutely utterly adore wholeheartedly???

Scanlan being the chaotic sexual prick we all know and love with reckless abandon???

TRINKET???

David Tennant as General Krieg, owning my ass with his voice alone??? #ProudToBeScottish🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

JUST

THAT WAS AWESOME AND HEARTBREAKING AND GLORIOUS HOLY FUCK

Tho Vax holding that child as they died had me in tears, someone go hug my boy rn. 😭😭😭😭😭

I can tell this is only going to get better and better!

AHH

TLOVM S01E01 Ranking -

10/10!

—

Episode 2

"The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 2" S01E02 of The Legend Of Vox Machina

XBJHQYWYAHA

I can't word

IT WAS SO GOOD YOU GUYS

I never thought I'd find myself saying something like this... But I'm actually kinda jealous of that toothpick, that lock and those olives. 🤭

Vax and the toothpick scene has low-key become my sexuality~

Also how adorable was Grog when begging Scanlan for a sandwich??? Love him.

Also THE GUARDS WITH TRINKET OMG THEY HAVE MY HEART RN 🥺

THEN THE REVEAL AT THE END WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, THAT FIGHT TOO

Kinda sad the kill was given to Grog in this, originally Vax had killed Brimscythe, but it was still a pretty awesome takedown from the Big Guy.

Also Vax and Keyleth out here being so fucking adorable around eachother?? Vex having none of it at all??

And lest we forget -

GILMORE MY BELOVED

The voice is something I'll have to adjust to over time, as beautiful as it is.

It's just not how Gilmore sounds in my head, at all.

But I think it's a great choice.

Also Vax and Gil being the absolute worst with Pike being the tired mom trying to supervise them ahshduhagsg

AND THAT TUSK LOVE EASTER EGG 👀

But the scene I'm most hype for from this episode?

SYLAS MOTHER FUCKING BRIARWOOD AND THAT FUCKING TREE 😳🤭😍❤️

Also Delilah, the queen that she is, calmly sipping tea while her husband turns into a murderhobo outside??? 👑❤️

Definitely a great episode!

Though not my favourite, that I can confidently say.

But I'm definitely excited for more Briarwoods content~

TLOVM S01E02 Ranking -

09/10

—

EPISODE THREE

"The Feast of Realms" S01E03 of The Legend Of Vox Machina

Hahshaha whahGgahab

IT WAS EVERYTHING

From Percy's nightmare, to the keep giving me major abandoned Caed Nua vibes, to Vax and Grog being the biggest dumbasses with major "brotherly rival" vibes, to THE FUCKING DOOR, to Fancy Machina...

This was no Crimson Diplomacy, my beloved, but I'm actually really fucking glad that that's the case?

Both episodes are epic for their own reasons.

That look on Percy's face when he first spots the Briarwoods'? I've seen faces like that in anime before and it always cracks me up.

My poor little bastard.

But the scenes that really stole the show this episode had to be when Vax is caught by the Briarwoods.

THE WAY SYLAS FELT VAX UP BEFORE BITING HIM??!!

SIR??!!!

AND DELILAH JUST SITTING THERE, WATCHING FROM THE BED, LOOKING SO SMUG???!!!

im deceased

TLOVM S01E03 Ranking -

25/10 (if you know, you know (; )

#the legend of vox machina #tlovm #lovm #tlovm spoilers #lovm spoilers #vox machina #the briarwoods #vax'ilmore #vax'leth #syvax #briarvax #lynias shut up challenge

[weasleydream]

Family reunion - Part 3 (Last part)

Here we are for the last part of this mini-serie! I hope you enjoyed it and don’t forget to tell me what you thought about it, I really would like to know. Enjoy!

Masterlist

Part 1 - Part 2 

Later that day, while Fred, George and I were eating dinner, I told them what happened at the Ministry. I told them everything, except the fact that Percy was afraid they would hate him forever. I felt like I didn’t have the right to do so, and I could just hope that one day, he would have the courage to face his beloved family.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The two following weeks had been busy, to say the least. 

George was almost constantly angry because of Percy’s reaction. I knew he would have been, I knew him quite well. The Ministry’s commands of Shield Hats were increasing, and made it impossible for the boys to keep up, I had to help them although George was not okay with it. Being aware that I didn’t like Verity’s proximity with him, he had begun to be more distant with her, which obviously didn’t please the helper. In short, our private and professional lives were full of tension. 

However, George had never been sweeter with me than now. He always tried to keep his anger away from me. He was so protective, and when we cuddled together, his hands eventually found a new home: they both rested on my belly like a loving protection for our baby. 

We were currently in each other’s embrace. The moon was shining in the sky, but I couldn’t find sleep. It was like this since the day we found out I was pregnant, one week ago. Too many preoccupations were in my mind, too many questions were obsessing me. 

Would I be a good mother? My only model was Mrs Weasley. Of course she was awesome, but was I really able to be as gentle, caring and perfect as her? And the war… We didn’t even know if we would have a future. I was afraid - no, I was terrified. What if something happened to George? He would do anything to keep us safe, but that was the point: he would do anything, even if it had to kill him. Without him by my side… Of course, I would have Fred: he would be broken, devastated, but he would still be here for us. If only nothing happened to him. 

Merlin, Y/N, stop this right now! They are both here with you, alive and okay. Stop this!

But I couldn’t. The dark in our room was an invitation for the dark thoughts. It was like when you’re a child: you’re not afraid of the dark but of what’s inside. I was in the same situation. What was scaring me was the vicious fears creeping where I couldn’t see them. I curled up in a small ball, my head resting on George’s torso, and his slow and regular heartbeat acted like a beautiful lullaby. 

“Fireworks, really?”

I had just told the twins about my idea. I wanted to announce my pregnancy in a special way, and considering their talent, I had thought fireworks could be fun. George smiled sweetly while holding my hand. Fred, however, seemed like he couldn’t believe it. 

“Yes, it could be fun! Plus, I thought you loved fireworks?” I added in a teasing tone.

“Of course I love fireworks! It’s just… Well, usually, you’re not the one to propose such extravagant things.”

“I know, but we’re going to announce the arrival of George Weasley’s baby! We have to do something extravagant.”

“I’m in!” Fred was, indeed, very excited to organize a firework at the Burrow.

“Whatever you want, babe.” George agreed. 

It was going to be fun. 

The friday before Easter, Bill arrived from France. He had let Fleur with her family. 

“I know mum doesn’t really like her and I didn’t want to ruin her family reunion.” he explained. 

The flat was small and, even if Charlie, Ron and Ginny weren’t here yet, we were starting to run out of room. Fred shared his room with Bill and they would be joined by Charlie. George didn’t want me or Ginny to sleep on the couch: he decided to sleep in the living-room with Ron while Ginny and I would stay in the room. When Charlie, Ron and Ginny arrived the following day, the flat was full. It remembered me of the Burrow at Christmas. 

It was the first time in more than two years that Charlie was in England and he had plenty of fascinating stories about dragons. We spent all the saturday afternoon listening to him, watching him with big eyes, gasping when he told us about a particularly dangerous Hungarian Horntail, Ginny and I cooing when he described the three dragon births he had the chance to see. 

By this time, the fireworks were ready. Fred had decided to develop them alone so that it would be a surprise. No one knew about the baby: obviously, the Weasley were suspicious, they knew something was going to happen but we did a pretty good job ensuring everyone this reunion was perfectly innocent. 

Easter was the following day. Everyone woke up way too early for me. Once Ginny in the kitchen, I was alone in the bedroom, still under the soft blankets. George came to see what was taking me so long. When he saw me half-asleep, he couldn’t resist the temptation and cuddled with me, which caused Fred and Ron to mock us the entire morning. 

We had decided to take the Knight Bus in order to go to Ottery St. Catchpole. When we finally stepped out of this hell-with-wheels, relieved and wanting to throw up (it was my case), we headed towards the Burrow. The walk was nice, the sun was already high in the sky and the trees showed the most beautiful colours. Soon, the fantastic house could be seen, and Charlie seemed a bit emotional. We stopped outside, in front of the door, positive that Mr and Mrs Weasley were up but not aware of our presence. I grabbed George’s hand as I was starting to feel stressed. He hold mine tight, sending me a sweet smile as Fred knocked at the door. 

To say that Mrs Weasley was shocked was an understatement: in fact, she looked like she didn’t know if she would scream or faint. Fortunately, she choose the first option. Her shouts of joy along with her tears were heartwarming. She practically jumped into Charlie’s arms, sobbing and constantly repeating how much she was glad to see him. Charlie, with the biggest grin I had never seen on his face, was hugging his mother and stroking her hair, telling her he would stay in England during all the holidays. Knowing her son wouldn’t vanish soon, Mrs Weasley finally moved to Bill, then to Ginny, to Ron, to Fred and finished with George and I. Mr Weasley arrived soon after we all entered the house and seemed quite shocked, like his wife. Like her, he pulled Charlie into a strong embrace, though shorter, and welcomed everyone. 

“Who do I have to thank for this beautiful surprise?” Mrs Weasley’s voice was still emotional.

“I think the one you can kill with your hugs is Y/N, mum.” Ron responded. “Even if we had to drag her and George out of bed.” He added, much to Fred’s amusement. 

Mrs Weasley practically ran to me and engulfed me in one of her famous hugs. I could feel her tears on my skin, and she apologized about a hundred times before I could stop her. 

“You don’t have to apologize, Mrs Weasley, it’s a pleasure to see you that happy.”

Everyone was gathered in the living-room, chatting happily. Charlie was telling his father the story about the Hungarian Horntail he had told us before, and Ron and Ginny were also listening to him. Fred and George were showing Bill some new product they kept in their old room. The only one silent was Mrs Weasley, and, when I saw a single tear on her cheek while she was rushing to the kitchen, I knew it wasn't a tear of joy. I joined her and found her sobbing. I sat next to her and silently passed my arm around her shoulders. I knew what was bothering her. 

“I’m sorry.” My voice was quiet. 

I didn’t want to tell her why Percy wasn’t here. She would probably run to London, begging him to talk to her and ensuring him they didn’t hate him. However, I didn’t want her to think her son hated her either. I decided to tell her the truth. 

“Mrs Weasley, I… I went to see Percy at the Ministry.”

Her reaction was immediate. She squealed and looked up to me with teary eyes. 

“He doesn’t hate you” I spoke softly. “He’s afraid, Mrs Weasley, afraid that his father would hate him. He’s sorry.” I added, even if he hadn’t told it explicitly. 

She nodded, sighed, and started to prepare the lunch for everyone. I helped her and, after a while cooking silently, George’s worried voice echoed in the house. 

“Y/N, where are you?” 

“In the kitchen” I replied, not without hearing Ron chuckling to Fred’s answer (“Your boy wants to cuddle, kiddo!”)

George went to check on me and sent me a questioning look. I shook slightly my head, and he understood I would tell him later. He joined Fred in the living-room without telling a word. 

“Why did you do that, Y/N?” 

Mrs Weasley’s voice was calm. She was obviously curious, because she stopped what she was doing, waiting for my answer. I suddenly found myself very uncomfortable, because we wanted to wait for the night to fall to announce my pregnancy with the fireworks. We thought it would be better. I avoided her eyes and responded quickly.

“I just thought you would be happy.”

She seemed suspicious but didn’t tell anything. We finished while chatting about a lot of things and everyone reunited around the table. The lunch was a typical Weasley lunch: loud, full of laughters and absolutely delicious. The good old habits were slowly re-emerging: Mrs Weasley was complaining about Bill and Charlie’s hair length and Mr Weasley was babbling with Ron about some muggle objects. Ginny was laughing at Fred while he was trying to turn a chicken wing into something more entertaining. George was holding my hand under the table, just like he used to when we were younger. 

“It was a wonderful idea, baby.” He murmured into my ear. “Look how they’re all so happy, and we didn’t even tell them the good new yet.” 

The afternoon was honestly one of the best I had in months. After eating, we installed ourselves in the living-room. I sat on George’s lap while Ginny was complaining about the Slug Club. Then Ron proposed to play Wizard’s chess, and a true tournament was organized. It reminded me a bit of Percy, because playing chess was something I did with him during the holidays. Ron was the undisputed winner. During the following hour, each one went about their occupation. 

George and I went into the twins’ old room and cuddled in my boyfriend’s bed. He immediately put his hands on my belly and sighed in satisfaction. He had been unable to do that since Bill’s arrival and it was pleasant to feel his hands again. But George seemed to have missed our baby more than I thought: he slowly lied me in the bed and kneeled next to me. He slowly pulled up my shirt. He kissed lovingly my belly, murmuring some sweet things to the baby. 

“I love you so much, little one.” His voice was low, his eyes full of pure love. “I love you both so much. I can’t wait to finally meet you.” 

My eyes were filling with tears in front of this beautiful scene. He seemed so happy, at this moment, so genuinely happy that my heart seemed to be ready to explode. He slowly came back in the bed and kissed me. Moments that emotional were rare, and I knew George wasn’t really comfortable with opening up like this. That’s why he started to tickle me, my giggles getting louder and louder as he continued. I was almost crying when we stopped, a soft knock on the door being heard. It opened and Fred’s face was on the opening. 

“The night is falling, lovebirds.”

We followed him downstairs. Everyone was gathered in the living-room, but soon Fred was nowhere to see. Outside, the sky was turning bright red as the moon started to show itself. A loud noise disturbed the peaceful silence and everyone hurried outside, almost as if they were waiting for something like that to happen. 

The sky stayed empty for a few seconds. It was as if the purpose of the noise was to make everyone go outside. Then the real show started.

At first, the space in front of the family was coloured in blue and pink with plenty of pretty little explosions. It looked like flowers. When these first fireworks disappeared, others were thrown and wrote a sentence in the air. 

George and Y/N have a surprise for you!

All eyes turned towards us. George sent his family a bright smile and his grip on my hand tightened. When other fireworks exploded, no sentence was needed and everyone understood perfectly. It was a pretty good representation of George and I. The firework-George was behind the firework-me and both had in their hands a baby. Below this pretty portrait of our future family was written:

We're going to be parents!

While it was fading, a big orange W, the inimitable signature of the twins, appeared in the sky with written in yellow:

See you soon baby Weasley!

And the sky was empty. The silence was almost deafening as I was waiting for the reactions of the Weasley, and most particularly for Mrs Weasley's one. I was also tearing up because what Fred just offered us, it was… It was perfect. He showed up, a huge grin on his lips. The other Weasley were still silent, probably trying to process what they just saw. Ginny was the first one to squeal happily as she threw herself in my arms. 

“I’m gonna be an aunt!”

From this point, everything became a blur where I could just distinguish the congratulations. George never released his grip on my hand. However, despite everyone’s kind words, I couldn’t stop to look anxiously at Mrs Weasley who was still silent. Tears were rolling on her cheeks and when she made a first hesitant step, everyone stopped and watched her. Then she ran towards George and I and took us into a bear hug, our heads colliding in the process. She was sobbing and muttering something that seemed like “I’m too young to be a grandmother” but when she looked at us, her eyes showed her happiness and her pride. 

“I’m genuinely happy that you have decided to start a family. I still think you are too young but… I know you’re made for each other. Congratulations!” 

Her voice was still a bit trembling. We all went back to the living-room because it was starting to get cold outside. Mrs Weasley looked like she wanted to talk to us alone, but we had something to do before that. I spotted Fred and jumped into his embrace, sobbing like Mrs Weasley a few minutes ago. 

“Fred, it was… It was… It was perfect! Thank you so much! Thank you Freddie!”

He laughed and ruffled my hair. 

“Anytime kiddo. I can’t wait to see the little one.” 

When I finally agreed to let him go, George took my place and pulled his twin into a hug. 

“You don’t know how much it means to me what you did, mate… Thank you.”

“I know George, I know… You’re gonna be a great father.” Responded Fred while patting his brother’s shoulder. 

“And you a great godfather.” Replied George with an emotional voice.

“Godfather?” Fred looked like he couldn’t believe it, but a sparkle in his eyes showed how much he was touched. 

“Of course you silly, I would have asked Hagrid but he’s too far right now.”

“Hagrid? You’re disappointing me brother, I was sure you would have chosen McGonagall.”

  As laughter erupted in the living room, Mrs Weasley took my hand and led me into the kitchen. We were now alone, and she sat next to me. 

“Are you mad?” My voice was trembling. 

“No dear, I’m not mad.” She answered sweetly. “But I’m worried.”

“Me too.” I confessed. Seeing her interrogative look, I explained to her my insomnias. “I always think about this war. What if George is killed? What if I’m killed? Who- who would take care of our baby if we weren’t here anymore? What kind of life can I offer to my child with all this darkness in our world?”

Mrs Weasley listened to all my questions, all my uncertainties, all my worries without saying anything. She was just holding my hand, allowing me to know she would always be there. When I was finished and waiting for her answer, I was half-sobbing. Her answer was short and her voice was sweet.

“Everything will be okay, dear, because George and you have a family who’s gonna protect you at all costs. I promise you that you will be able to raise your baby with George. You hear me? I promise.”

I nodded slowly. But I had other worried, way more normal for a pregnant woman. I felt like I could confess these things to Mrs Weasley, after all, she had always done the job my mother should have been able to do with me. She had answered all my questions, she had helped me. 

“Does it hurt?” 

I felt quite ashamed to ask such a thing, but I wanted to know. 

“Giving birth? Yes darling, it hurts like hell. But when you have your baby against you… All the pain vanishes. It’s the beginning of a wonderful story.” Her eyes were a bit teary because of the memories. 

“What if I’m not a good mother?” As I expressed my worst fear, Mrs Weasley took firmly my hand and put her other one on my cheek. 

“The fact that you’re already worrying shows that you’re gonna be a wonderful mother, Y/N.”

With that, we headed back to the living-room, where George was telling how we found out about my pregnancy. He was already at the pillow part, but Mrs Weasley wanted to hear all the story. 

“Y/N hadn’t thrown enough pillows at Fred’s face and he found it suspicious.” Ginny summed up the story. 

Her mother seemed confused. As everyone laughed at her furrowed eyebrows, George went to me and kissed me.

#harry potter #harry potter imagine #harry potter imagines #george weasley #george weasley x reader #george x reader #george weasley x you #george weasley x y/n #fred weasley

[llendrinall]

Omg if an adult Draco woke up in 5 year old Draco's body and he wanted to make his father's life a living hell. Id read that, please please tell us the stuff he'd get up to. (as well as the stuff you would get up to at school, please)

It would be a nightmare for all involved. Draco, who had fought so much, suffered so much in order to atone not only for his mistakes but those of his family… and he finds himself back! All progress lost! He had broken his back, literally (it was a really dumb idea and Harry was very angry with him) to get Granger to warm up to him. Longbottom had forgiven him! (And Draco doesn’t even know what exactly he did to merit that). Harry had…

Harry had kissed him the weekend before.

And now he is back in his five-year-old body. Not even eleven, when he could see Harry and make a difference. No, he is five, and Draco cries and rages so much that he develops a fever and is incoherent for a week.

Afterwards… Well, you know how parents pride themselves in their children’s achievements? How parents want their children to be better than them? Lucius has found there is a limit to it. Having his son be more eloquent and advanced than any other child his age is great. Having his five-year-old son tell him with impeccable grammar that he, Lucius, will bring the ruin of their house is not great at all. Draco looks at him with a cherubic face and eyes that are burning grey, accusing him of crimes that even Narcissa doesn’t know about. Crimes that Lucius had barely begun to plan.

It is terrifying.

It is well known that what muggles call “demonic possessions” are nothing more than a wizard having a little too much fun with an imperius. But when Draco grabs Lucius’ wand, goes down to their hidden vault and, and, and opens it! He- he just casts the spell! Draco is five and he is doing magic that many adults struggle with! Oh, then Lucius wants to believe there might be something else.

(Out of all the forbidden things in their vault Draco went straight to the diary the Dark Lord had entrusted Lucius. Straight to it. And he destroyed it that very same night.)

“You failed.” Draco says, hot and angry. He is so pale and soft and full of fire. “You failed at everything and I had to take your place. I was given an impossible task as punishment to you, threatened not only with my death but the whole family, because of you!”

“Tenses, darling.” Says Narcissa softly. Narcissa is blind to the monster they have in the house. She doesn’t see it. She is convinced that there is nothing wrong with Draco, that he is just a very powerful seer who is a bit confused with timelines and verb tenses.

Draco is not a seer. Lucius is sure of that because if he were, then he would know that Lucius is thinking of… cleaning up the line. Narcissa is still young and she can give him another son or Lucius can remarry.

He is not a seer, but one day over breakfast Draco looks up and says “It won’t work. Whatever you are plotting, it won’t work. I can’t recall a single plan of yours that worked longer than a month. Kicking Dumbledore from Hogwarts, bribing the Ministry, bringing back the Dark Lord. It never works.”

So Lucius packs up his things and leaves the country quietly.

Narcissa is… shocked, which means she is furious, betrayed, and briefly terrified that she might lose her income and secure position. But once she is reassured that she still holds the house and the fortune she takes a big breath, internally swears that next time she comes across Lucius she will castrate hex him, and steps up into the role of Lady of the House.

She also listens to Draco. She insists that what Draco says has happened is yet to come, but she listens.

Draco wants to get Harry at once, but it is not so easy to find a seemingly normal muggle family in the sea of actually normal muggle families living an hour away from London. In the meantime, Narcissa visits Flourish and Blotts every day for a week until she finally gets there at the same time than the Weasleys. Then it’s a question of dropping a handkerchief and waiting for the bespectacled Weasley to fetch it for her and then, well, he is so eloquent and polite that Narcissa insists on buying young, Percival, was it? She shall buy him a quill. Any quill he wants. Don’t look at the price and just pick whatever quill you like best, young man. You must have a proper quill to write your letters.  

Molly Weasley would rather drag herself through shards of glass than accept a gift from a Malfoy; but one look at Percy tells her that if she takes this from him, if she takes his once chance of having something New and Fancy and Just For Him, he will hate her forever. So Molly relents (as Narcissa knew she would because mothers are predictable). Two weeks later Draco has a play date with Ronald.

“I think you should play Quidditch, Draco, dear.” She says, because horrendous as Lucius’ attitude was, she does recognize that Draco can be a bit off-putting. There isn’t that much talking with Quidditch and Draco is clever enough to let the young Weasley win two out of three times.

It takes thirteen months to find Harry and by then Narcissa has got a foot in both the Weasley’s and Longbottom’s houses. The latter was an excruciating effort and is still a very much work in progress. Narcissa had to let that bulldog of Augusta Lonbottom seer her crying and even now they are one wrong word away of losing all progress, but the children are talking and that was the goal.

She is weighting the pros of buying a house near the Dursleys and just moving there versus the advantage of frequently inviting the Weasley kids to the manor, when she sees the anxious look in her son’s face, a look of urgency and desperation and…

“Draco,” she cries, softly and sadly. Beautiful Draco, six years and two months and with a face like a silver coin. “Draco, dear, do you love this boy? I don’t mean like you love Mummy. Do you…”

“I know what you mean, Mother.” Draco says, serious, he is always so serious. She supposes he has to be to contain the fire burning inside. “I am not a child, I have told you. And I love him with all my heart.”

Oh.

“Then, you shouldn’t meet so soon.” Narcissa says firmly, although inside her heart is aching and she doesn’t know why. “Children who grow together tend to see each other as siblings. Why, your Great Aunt Marthia grew up with Gaius Mulciber, her fiancée, and their marriage was very difficult. I think he tried to poison her in order to marry his lover, or the other way around. I can’t remember. In any case, it is better to wait.”

But Draco doesn’t care. He doesn’t want to wait. He doesn’t want Harry to spend a single day more than necessary in that house where he was miserable and unloved. Whatever it takes, he says. Whatever it takes, even if the price is not loving Draco. Let’s rescue him now.

Narcissa explains that waiting would be much better. There are other things they have to keep in mind, like the return of the Dark Lord and the fact that Harry is linked to him. It can’t be that bad, the muggle house. Just bad enough that Harry will jump easily and eagerly to the wizarding world once it’s presented to him, so he will be all the more willing to sacrifice his…

“oh”, Narcissa says, very softly, not even an exclamation mark or a capital.

“oh”, she repeats.

Internally, she thinks “that bastard”. Dumbledore, of course. It is well known that Dumbledore wants Voldemort’s destruction at whatever cost.

“Draco you have to get yourself invited to the Longbottom’s house.” Narcissa says. Something in her tone finally cuts Draco’s unending cries that they have to get Harry, he will do it himself even if he is just one meter and ten centimeters tall.

Draco is a charming b-. Draco is charming, boy, child or adult trapped in a kid’s body. He gets an invitation and a layout of the Longbottom’s house. Narcissa then dons a pair of sensible country boots that she doesn’t mind getting dirty with mud and barely sleeps for the next ten days. Her skin suffers from it greatly, mind you.

By day three she has successfully stolen the rat Scabbers from the Burrow. She was going to switch it with a real pet rat, but it escapes and she can’t go chasing it. Then she begins a ten-days terror program on the Longbottoms. Footprints on the flowerbeds, upsetting the warding charms on the doors, definite signs of tampering in the chimney… Augusta Longbototm is many things, but she is certainly not a fool and by day four she is at the Ministry demanding help form the Auror office. It takes five freaking days for them to send a couple or aurors down. Narcissa is incensed on her behalf.

She waits until Dumbledore sends Moody down to the house. Moody casts extra protection charms and lays some traps and that night Narcissa pushes a stunned Pettigrew into what seems the nastiest of all of the traps. The one Dumbledore told Moody not to use but he still prepared the moment he left. In goes Pettigrew, stunned and wounded because Narcissa is under a lot of stress and she might have tortured him a bit.

Narcissa and Draco are there to greet Sirius, their BELOVED cousin (all capitals so no one dares says otherwise) when he is released from Azkaban. She has him shaved, washed and all set in a nice London house before Dumbledore can even begin to say “unfit for taking care of an underage boy”. At six years and four months Harry leaves the Dursleys and moves with his godfather.  

 And then it’s all nice for a while until Pettigrew escapes Azkaban, meets Lucius in the continent and together bring Voldemort back. There is a war. People grow more and more afraid of Draco and he has more attempts on his life than Harry ever had. Narcissa kills Bellatrix and doesn’t even think about it.

And, one day, a young handsome gentleman with shiny black hair arrives accompanied by a sullen lanky young man with streaks of pink in his hair. Draco labels the lanky young man as the ugliest adult he has even seen. The handsome young gentleman introduces himself as Harry Potter and asks if perhaps Draco remembers him?

The burning fire inside Draco disappears. There is only hot air and ash.

The ugly lanky young man is adult Draco, of course, governed by an eight-year-old who has completely destroyed his hair.  Harry, his Harry, is just amused at Draco’s indignation that they allowed this to happen. Apparently Child Draco was a handful to deal with.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to find you,” handsome gentleman Harry says, and he is so warm and beautiful that Draco wants to cry. He doesn’t even care about how ugly is adult body is because once he is back in it Harry grabs his hands and doesn’t let go until they are back home.

#asks #harry potter #time travelling #Anonymous #verse: deaged #textpost

[karenhikari]

River. Solangelo fanfiction

Summary: 

It didn't matter. After all, Will knew that Nico was head-over-heels in love with the great, Greek hero impersonation, Percy Jackson. Not that Will could blame him. ―*―*― He would be gone in a few days, Nico decided. In fact, if it weren't because Will Solace had forbidden him to leave the infirmary, he wouldn't even be there at the time. He was glad that Will Solace had found someone as bright as him, someone as kind and as generous. He was genuinely glad that his not-quite-friend had someone like Monique to lean into. They deserved each other, Nico repeated to himself, despite the way that thought punched the air out of Nico's lungs. He couldn't hold it against them. He couldn't hate Monique for being perfect for Will Solace, just like he could not be bitter towards Annabeth for being perfect for Percy. ―*―*― Or the one in which they are both enamoured with each other but are both too dense  to realize it.

You can also find it in AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/20569433

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So... this is a long overdue little thing, but here goes nothing. For the last five years I have gifted my sister, Laura, a story for her birthday. I usually write it in Spanish, save for one year when I decided to write her a Jaylos fanfic called "A Vouch Sealed With Blood". However, on that particular year, when I asked how she had found the story her answer was "It's good... but it isn't Solangelo." Therefore, I decided to come back to Solangelo and write a song-fic. The song I used for this story is called "River" by Emeli Sandé, please feel free to check it out, it's a lovely song.

Also, to make this possible I had the help of two beautiful people, who were nice enough to agree to beta-read this even though I asked them to do so like two days before my sister's birthday and they had to work against the clock for me to have it on time. So, please give it up for my two wonderful beta-readers, FrostedDragonHeart and Rosycat. Please feel free to check their accounts out and send them love.

Now, without further ado... I really hope you enjoy it!

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River

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If you're looking for a big adventure, And gold is all that's on your mind… If all you want's someone to take your picture… Then I won't waste your time.

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Of the number of skills that Will Solace could sincerely claim he had, the one that was perhaps the most useless was how accurately he could point out when someone was in love. That was to say, he was a demigod that had been unfortunately cursed with being a zero to the left when it came to sword-fighting or archery, yet he could identify clear as a bell the most subtle of glances a restrained lover sent in the direction of their object of desire. He had never dared to say it aloud, but he internally suspected that maybe —and it was indeed an inquisitive 'maybe'— he was better at reading the inaudible language of silent love than the children of Aphrodite.

He supposed that this was an ability he had acquired through his years as the Head Doctor of the Infirmary of Camp Half-Blood. After all, despite his —admitted— worthlessness at fighting, he was a devoted physician. At the battlefield, he was out of place, too clumsy to hold a sword properly, too easily startled to maintain his concentration and aim an arrow through the screams of pain of comrades and enemies alike, too sympathetic with his peers to carry through his planned attack, even if it were only during a Capture the Flag game.

He was not a natural-born fighter and, in all honesty, he would rather not be. He was a healer, and he was immensely proud of that title. Even as a child, he'd always been inclined to help and to alleviate the pain of others.

He was the diligent boy who kindly offered to tutor his classmates if he noticed they were falling behind. He was the kind-hearted soul who would stop to pet a stray dog on the street, leaving nearly in tears to see such gentle animals be deprived of love. He was the empathetic person who captured both spiders and bees when he found them inside his home or cabin so that he could run outside to free them. He was not a fighter, and he valued honesty far too much to allow such a statement to bother him.

It was true, however, that healers did not often receive the glory and the notoriety that their warrior counterparts did. Everyone, for example, had heard the songs about the valiant deeds of Achilles, the way his rage had been far more disastrous for Troy than any other weapon wielded by men, how his wrath penetrated more than just Troy's walls, but the hearts of the Trojans as well. Everyone remembered Heracles, with his broad shoulders and irrepressible muscles, capable of smothering massive lions with his bare hands.

The same could not be said of Asclepius or of Podalirius, who were more than just powerful demigods. These were healing gods, long forgotten in order to make room in the memory of humanity for the courageous demigod warriors.

On the other hand, Will Solace had never yearned for fame of for glory, especially not if such qualities would come at the cost of his peace of mind and sleepless nights after stabbing a fellow camper during training. He would rather work from anonymity, silently bandaging wounds and stopping hemorrhages. If nothing else, it was an honorable job, and he performed it with the most honest of dispositions.

It couldn't be any other way, for healing a person was a very intimate thing to do. Often times, the physical ailments of a person were but a symptom of an emotional one, and neither of them could be treated whilst neglecting the other. Furthermore, Will considered himself honored. Undoubtedly, a strong camaraderie was born from training together and fighting side-by-side, but there was a different, more intimate type of trust born between a physician and their patient.

He was, after all, the recipient of his patient's pain, of the raw, agonizing truth that they were —for all of their golden, divine ichor, for all of their supernatural powers—, humans at the end of the day. He was the one the skilled descendants of Achilles and Heracles allowed themselves to be the most vulnerable with, the one in front of who the steadfast warriors dissolved into bleeding, terrified children. And, behind the closed doors of the infirmary and the hurriedly pulled over curtains that divided the small cubicles that served as rooms for the hospitalized patients, he was also the one who could ease their pained cries and restore the tranquility to their eyes.

He was thankful for that, honored that his peers trusted him enough to let their guards down and be honest with him.

That was how he supposed he had learned to read the souls of his patients. How he had learned the dozens of meanings hunched over shoulders held, how he had learned to identify the rage barely concealed under indifference, how he had learned that a gritted 'It doesn't hurt' meant his patient was, in fact, in excruciating anguish but wanted his distress to be treated with extreme discretion. Will supposed that, afterwards, once he had become a fluent speaker of the subtle art of body language, he had also taken an impromptu curse of the silent dialect of love.

It was all in the longing glances, in the affectionate smiles that the smitten person attempted —rather unsuccessfully, might Will add— to pass as nonchalant grins. It was all in the way they leaned closer to their beloved one or perked up when they heard a special name being mentioned, even if it was in a passing. That's how Will Solace knew. He had been trained to identify the slightest signs a person was in pain; it was much more satisfactory to be able to tell when they were in love.

And that was how Will Solace, son of Apollo, Head Doctor of the Camp Half-Blood Infirmary knew, without the shadow of a doubt, that Nico di Angelo was in love with Percy Jackson.

It was barely there at first, concealed under the nonchalant demeanor of the son of Hades. It was in the uninterested way Nico attempted to sport when he asked what Percy had been up to during the time he hadn't been at the camp. Which, granted, was the majority of the time. It was in how Nico would noticeably bite the insides of his cheeks when Will answered.

The son of Apollo supposed that Nico perceived him as harmless. After all, his professional honor forbade him of sharing whatever his patients told him. In all fairness, Nico hadn't admitted to anything, and while that did not make his feelings any less real, it could mean that Will was seeing too much in the simplicity of a friend asking about a comrade that he hadn't seen in a long time.

On the other hand, if that were the case and Nico was in fact only inquiring about Percy as a friend, then why didn't he walk up to the son of Poseidon himself and asked him personally? Will had seen Nico whenever Percy tried to approach him at dinner or before a Capture the Flag game. Percy, being his bubbly, easy-going self as he attempted to start a conversation while Nico's frame immediately tensed, eyes averted as he came up with an excuse to leave as soon as possible.

When he listed all the little things that had guided Will to his conclusion, like right now, it seemed rather obvious. However, with how seldom Nico even appeared at the Camp and with how he only ever spoke in monosyllables, Will considered it was, in fact, a big achievement.

He supposed it didn't matter. He was but the physician that looked after Nico whenever he stayed at the Camp. That wasn't anything special—he was the Head Doctor of the Infirmary, tending to wounded demigods was, quite literally, his job. Perhaps the only thing worth noting was that he was especially worried about Nico when compared to his other patients because Nico would often disappear from the Camp for literal months. Even on his rare visits, it took Will a great deal of coaxing to get Nico to agree to a quick check-up.

The only other thing that marked these situations as special in any way was the fact that Will was always the one in charge of said check-ups. Nico most likely hadn't given it a second thought, and he probably assumed that all the other members of the Apollo cabin were too disgusted by him to want to have him as their patient and that Will, being the captain of his cabin and the Head of the Infirmary, despite not wanting to be stuck with him either, had found himself unable to wash his hands of the unwanted son of Hades, unlike the rest of his siblings.

With a begrudging pang in his chest, Will could see why Nico would think something like that. It wasn't that the camp actively rejected Nico because of his parentage. Personally, Will was inclined to think that the real, underlying reason for Nico's repulse towards his divine parent was his own feelings regarding Hades and his godly heritage.

In truth, Nico was the first one who tried to negate and ignore who his father was, and so long as Nico himself did not accept who he was, it would be hard for the people around him to do so. It would be harder still for Nico to realize that the other demigods were not rejecting him and that, instead, he was the one projecting the aversion he felt towards his own heritage and embodying it in his peers.

So no, the reason Will was always the one checking in on Nico did not mean that all of the other demigods of Apollo's cabin disliked him and Will was unfortunate enough to be stuck with him. Far from that, even if such a thing had been the case —which, again, it wasn't—, Will knew for a fact that his brothers and sisters were true professionals, who would not, under any circumstances, allow their personal opinion of a patient to come in between their performance as physicians and a person who was in need of help.

However, at the core, the reason Will was always the one at the infirmary when Nico appeared at the camp was because Will had personally requested to be responsible for Nico's health records. That was it. No secret animosity or aversion, no convoluted schemes akin to Young Adult plots. Just Will allowing himself to be incredibly unprofessional and trying to use his position as Head of the Infirmary to give him the chance to get to know Nico better.

It didn't matter. Not really. After all, Will knew that Nico was head-over-heels in love with the great, Greek hero impersonation, Percy Jackson. Not that Will could blame him. Especially not since, to Nico, he was nothing other than an annoying nurse who would not stop bickering and chastising him because he did not eat enough.

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See, maybe I'm too quiet for you, You've probably never noticed me, But if you're too big to follow rivers, How you ever gonna find the sea?

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At some point after the defeat of the Giants, Will Solace had started dating a freckled red-haired girl from Hephaestus' cabin. Now, that was an extremely ridiculous and uncalled for statement for Nico di Angelo to make. After all, what was it to him if Will Solace dated a pretty daughter of Hephaestus or not? In fact, if things had gone his way, he wouldn't even have been at the camp enough for him to connect the dots and realize that Monique —sweet, curly-haired Monique— spent so much time in the infirmary that she might have as well been a daughter of Apollo herself.

Again, he should have probably ignored it all together. It was none of his business, after all. Monique was a bubbly, talkative girl, and she always had a cheerful smile curled at the corners of her lips. She was, by definition, the kind of girl someone like Will Solace —kind-hearted, soft-spoken, polite Will Solace— would fall for. It made sense, to the last one of Monique's freckles.

What did not make sense, not at all, was how uneasy this whole affair made Nico feel. Will Solace and him were not even friends, they barely knew each other enough to be called acquaintances. If Will hadn't been the Head of the Infirmary, Nico doubted that the son of Apollo would have even known what his name was. And, again, if Will Solace hadn't been the Head of the Infirmary, Nico doubted that he would have spoken to the son of Apollo enough to even consider him an acquaintance at all.

Thinking about it was simply ridiculous. If Will weren't such a massive pain in the ass and had forced Nico to stay bedridden at the infirmary, then he wouldn't even know that Will Solace was dating Monique in the first place. It was none of his business. None at all.

The fact that he had noticed Monique's singsong voice and radiant smile boiled down to how often the daughter of Hephaestus was at the infirmary. And that didn't make her special, either. The infirmary was packed with demigods that were not descendants of Apollo but who urged to help and to aide in this difficult time. There were still dozens of wounded demigods, both Greek and Roman, laying in the beds, stretchers and inflatable mattresses at the infirmary.

When even that had been insufficient, the children of Apollo had evacuated their own cabin and started to spend the nights at spare beds in their friends' cabins. They had even used Hera's and Artemis' cabins. After all, these were goddesses consecrated to family and protection. Surely, they would not become furious at the prospect of their empty cabins serving as shelter for the exhausted healers of the camp.

It didn't make much of a difference, either. Said healers had so many things to do, so much work slowly piling around them, that they barely slept at all. The older ones had to keep watch, both at the infirmary and at their own cabin, now that injured demigods were staying there too. Often times, they fell asleep on their chairs, if they did not do so standing. They also needed to be available for emergencies, and despite the well-meaning volunteers ready to cut bandages and make the inventory, there was only so much the children of Apollo could allow untrained volunteers to do when it came to taking care of their patients.

Monique was one of those volunteers, although it was obvious from her comfortable demeanor and calm stance that, despite not being a daughter of Apollo, she knew her way around the infirmary. She would come during the day and help as much as she could, changing bandages and handing out trays of food. And she tried, she tried so hard and so genuinely to make the injured demigods smile or at least forget for a moment the suffering that engulfed both camps with her funny stories and cheeky jokes.

When night rolled around, Nico saw Will Solace walk her to the porch of the infirmary, where she would insist that he needed to rest and that she could stay the night in his place. Without fail, Will Solace declined the offer, too responsible and too selfless to care or even acknowledge his strained smile and exhausted gaze. And Monique, sweet, loving Monique, knew him far too well to argue. She knew it would be useless. Instead, she smiled tiredly at her boyfriend and kissed his lips for just a moment before she pulled back and whispered a soft 'Try to get some rest, babe'. And, managing to look ashamed for making a promise that he knew he wouldn't even try to keep, Will answered with a murmured 'Sure, darlin''.

Personally, Nico thought it was stupid. Not Will Solace and Monique, with their tender gazes and soft-spoked promises. No, that was sweet, even he could see that. That was genuine, and it showed that they shared a level of trust that he could only ever dream he'd share with someone one day. No, Monique and Will Solace, despite the uneasy feeling that seeing them together gave Nico, were nothing if not sweetly and happily in love. They were perfect for each other, all aureus smiles and warm welcomes. He was happy for Will Solace, his not-quite-friend-just-barely-an-acquaintance, he was.

No, what was stupid was overworking their medical staff, pushing them to a point where even Will Solace's laugh was barely above a whisper. Forcing them to go without proper food or much-needed sleep for weeks. What was outrageous was putting the responsibility of the life and death of their comrades in the hands of literal children, the very children that had just watched their friends and siblings perish only days prior.

Nico knew that was simply the way their world worked. He had risked his own life to end the war, too. He had spent months searching for Percy, barely sleeping when exhaustion took over and eating just enough to keep himself going. He had no moral quality to question the sacrifices the other campers were making to get through the outcome of the war. He knew.

He wasn't questioning the Apollo cabin, or even Will's generosity, but he was willing to question the world they lived in. Heavens above, he was going to question the taunting gods that forced people like Will Solace and Monique to undergo weeks of sleepless, fretful nights and lives of gut-wrenching anxiety, waiting to hear the news, praying to those very gods that their loved ones returned home safely. He was going to question the divine laws that made them live like this —barely living at all, and instead simply surviving— until the day he died.

He was not special, Nico knew. He'd only held a sword fast in his hands and he'd teleported a big-ass statue across the world. That was all. He was no hero. He was but a pawn in the gods' immortal hands. The real heroes worked behind the scenes, bandaging wounds and summoning tired smiles from dried lips. The real heroes were selfless, kind, brave people like Will Solace and Monique.

And these heroes, these warriors that were worth so much more outside of the battlefield deserved happiness. They deserved each other. They deserved their cheesy songs at the campfire and their gentle touches at the infirmary porch. They deserved each other.

He would be gone in a few days, Nico decided. In fact, if it weren't because Will Solace had forbidden him to leave the infirmary, he wouldn't even be there at the time, using a bed that so many others needed —and deserved— more than he did. He was glad that Will Solace had found someone as bright as him, someone as kind and as generous. He was genuinely glad that his not-quite-friend had someone like Monique to lean into.

They deserved each other, Nico repeated to himself, despite the way that thought punched the air out of Nico's lungs. He couldn't hold it against them. He couldn't hate Monique for being perfect for Will Solace, just like he could not be bitter towards Annabeth for being perfect for Percy.

They deserved each other. They deserved to be happy, Nico told himself over and over again, until the words stopped being units and instead became an unrecognizable mush. They deserved each other and he would be gone as soon as Will Solace discharged him. If he had any luck, this time no war would arise and he would not come back to the camp in a very, very long time.

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So follow me, I'll be your river, river, I'll do the running for you. Follow me, I'll be your river, river, I'll move the mountains for you. Follow me, I'll be your river, river, I'm here to keep you floating. Follow me, I'll be your river, river… River, river…

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Of course, the gods had yet to leave a contact number for Nico to ask how he wanted his life to go. He had not left the camp to not come back in a very, very long time. In fact, he hadn't even left the camp in the first place until several months after the war, and it wasn't even Will Solace's fault. Oh no—it had been Jason's, and Piper's, and Annabeth's, and Percy's. War was over at last, they said, and he finally had a chance to feel at home at the camp.

It was… strange, if he did say so himself. It wasn't that he felt out of place at camp, not in the way that he had before, at least. It was… different. For instance, he didn't feel as if he had to constantly bite his tongue in order to not say something that would incriminate him in some way, he didn't feel the need to keep everyone at arm's length because otherwise they would find out who he really was and they would hate him for it.

To say that it was freeing was and understatement. Ever since Cupid had forced Nico make that loathed confession in front of Jason, things regarding his sexuality had become a little easier to accept. It might have been slightly masochistic on his part, but he was thankful to Cupid, even if just a silent, tiny, little bit.

It wasn't that before Cupid he'd clung on to the hope that one day he would wake up and be normal and not be gay. No, he knew there was no changing what he was at the core. He couldn't stop being gay the same way he couldn't stop being a demigod. If he hadn't become straight in the sixty years he'd spent in the Lotus Hotel, he wouldn't become one in the months since Percy and Annabeth had started dating.

What had changed, however, was the way people perceived his homosexuality as a whole. Sometimes, when nightmares plagued his sleep and when closing his eyes in the solitude of his cabin was more torture than relief, Nico remembered the way he'd heard people talk about homosexuality back when he was a child, back in Venice, when his mother and his own ignorance had still been there to shield him from the cruel comments. Granted, he had been too young to fully comprehend what the spiteful glances towards a not-masculine-enough young man meant, too young to understand what the shushed whispers about this or what fag meant. But he knew it was bad, and that was enough.

He hadn't made sense of any of that until much later, when Bianca wasn't there to hold his hand anymore, when he could feel the callous breath of Death tickling down his spine. And he'd been ashamed. He'd been terrified. He'd tortured himself, day and night and day again incessantly. He'd martyrized himself with Bianca's death, with his parentage, with guilt, with the knowledge —or the perceived knowledge, at least— that there was no one left in the world who cared about him. His sexuality had only been a bullet-point in a very, very long list of his disappointments and regrets.

Truthfully, the reason being gay had made him so unbearably anxious wasn't his sexuality per se—rather, it was the reaction he received to that statement from the people around him. What made him so utterly terrified of admitting, even to himself in the silence of his empty cabin, that he was not what society expected him to be was the possibility that he would be treated with the same scorn with which he'd heard the adults speak of men who only seemed gay and twisted and perverted.

What he feared was not the biting end of the truth, no. What he was, to this very day, absolutely petrified of was the dead threats he'd receive from simply being who he was, the hateful glares, the disgust in the eyes of people who claimed bullshit along the lines of I am not a homophobe, but…

Yes, Jason could insist that things had changed all he wanted. He could point the fact that homosexuality was not considered a crime anymore—at least in the United States and in Italy, Nico had quietly pointed out. Jason could scream at the top of his lungs that same-sex marriage had been legalized, that homoparental adoption was allowed. Yes, Nico knew that they were Greek and Roman, and that homosexuality had been perceived differently by the ancient cultures that served as the foundations of the demigod world. Yes, Jason could apologize —genuinely, from the bottom of his heart— of the unfairness of the fact that they had to celebrate these simple statements as won battles when these were things that straight people took for granted.

Yes, Nico knew Jason meant well, and he was thankful for having the son of Jupiter on his corner. However, Jason's unwavering support and positive outlook on life were not enough to cancel out the fact that there were still people who had the closed-up, downright hostile mentalities that Nico remembered from when he as a child. And it wasn't that the hateful words and cruel sneers had stopped burning, but at some point, Nico had decided that it was simply not worth it.

After all, he had been granted a second shot at life, he had survived World War II, he had fought and won alongside his fellow demigods during both the Titan and the Giant War. He was thankful he was even alive to start with, what did it matter what an ignorant, stuck-up bigot thought of who he had a relationship with? Not that he was even in a relationship at the moment, but still.

So he'd stopped hiding. At least that was how Jason had decided to word it. Personally, Nico wanted to say that he had never been hiding at all, but the lie tasted bitter on his lips. The truth was that he had decided to stop fear to rule his every move. He'd decided he wanted to live a full life, not just the scraps of breathing and having a pulse and only being alive. No, he wanted to live, to really live, down to the last intake of breath from his alveolus.

To an extent, he supposed Jason was right. Not that he would give the son of Jupiter the satisfaction of hearing that confession from his lips. Hell no. However, at one-forty-seven in the morning, alone in his cabin, who was there to hear his thoughts and tell Jason? No one, that was who, and therefore, Nico allowed himself to be honest.

That was why he'd decided to stay at the camp, after all. The camp, that was so full of life and so hectic and so rambunctious and so everything. The camp, that had ever-so slowly started to resemble a home, a safe haven for him to land.

It was slow at first, how he began to feel more at ease around the campers, how they welcomed him, not only as a fellow demigod, but as a hero. Nico knew that he was no such thing; however, who was he to take the much-needed sense of security that came from knowing you had someone watching over you from the other demigods? The gods knew —though they could never admit it— that the campers had suffered enough already. If the idea —deceiving, exaggerated, hardly true at all— that Nico was a hero, dutifully staying at the camp to protect them, gave the weary demigods any sense of comfort, Nico would not be the one to snatch it away from their hands.

It might have also helped that he smiled more. He laughed more. Hell, he was there more, out of his cabin, sitting at Percy's table with Annabeth and Jason during dinner. He was out in the volleyball courts, helping the children of Aphrodite defeat Hypnos' cabin during an amicable match.

He was there, teaching Italian and Latin, serving as a bridge that connected Camp Half-Blood with Camp Jupiter. He was there, training the younger demigods at sword-fighting and making it a point to tell them that no matter how out of place they felt, no matter how weird and utterly terrifying it was to find out that one of your parents was a god, it would eventually start making sense. Eventually, it would start feeling right again.

So, Nico di Angelo never got around to leave the camp for a very, very long time. Instead, Nico di Angelo stayed —wholeheartedly, contently, willingly— at the camp. And for the first time in literal years, Nico di Angelo felt alive—utterly, breathtakingly, impossibly alive.

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If all you want are answers to your questions, and you can't seem to find no love for free… If you're looking for the right direction… Then, darling, look for me.

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Against anything and everything that Will Solace would have anticipated, Nico di Angelo did not flee from the camp, not even after Will had officially discharged him. That was a first. In fact, there were a lot of 'firsts' going on after the war against the Giants. Will suspected it had something —everything— to do with Nico's newfound life purpose.

Will had always known that Nico was, at heart, a good person. Perhaps he had a dark sense of humor, perhaps he was sarcastic and blunt, but that did not —could not— negate the courage he had shown as he fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the very same people who he thought hated him. If Nico had been spiteful or vindictive, if he had been cruel and heartless, if he had been the monster Nico claimed the other demigods accused him of being due to his parentage, he would have spared himself the trouble and not lifted a finger to help them during the war. Will wasn't even talking about the Giant War anymore, but about the Titan one.

Will had seen Nico enter the battlefield then. He had doubted Nico had noticed him, or that he even cared enough to remember his name. After all, Will was just another blond, blue-eyed demigod, not unlike a couple dozen of Apollo or Hermes' children. On the other hand, there was only one demigod who had the ability to make the earth under their feet crack and disintegrate, only one demigod who could open the very soil they were standing on and summon the bony specters of the underground to crawl out of the depths of the Underworld, and Will remembered him fairy well.

Sometimes, Will still had nightmares of the Battle of Manhattan. Sometimes he could still hear the roaring clash of swords, the swift whistle of arrows as they flew across the sky—close, so close, that he feared he might get hit by one despite not having been the original target. Sometimes, he wished they would hit him, if only it would make the noise and the hurt and the guilt stop.

Sometimes he woke up still caught up in dreams that were not dreams as much as they were memories, praying to unhearing gods that they blessed him with some kind of fighting skill. Even if just for this one battle, even if just to fight alongside his brothers and sisters this one time instead of being so unbelievingly clumsy with a sword and so completely useless at the battlefield.

The one thing he knew how to do was healing, but he could not heal the injured campers fast enough. He could not stop the hemorrhages at the rate at which Kronos' army stabbed the young demigods. He could not keep the promise he inevitably made to each of his patients, that It's alright, it's alright, you're gonna be okay, that left his lips in a soothing hurry but that dissolved into nothing as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

On those nights, he clung to Nico, even if the son of Hades was certainly unaware of it. He clung to the memory of Nico, emerging from the depths of the earth, of his unwavering determination as he marched towards Kronos' army. He clung to the certainty with which Nico had faced battle, to the lifeline his zombie warriors had offered to the weary demigods. Kronos' monsters could try all they wanted to defeat the zombies, but they could not kill what was already dead.

There was no telling how many lives Nico had saved that day just by being there. Will was certain that Nico had saved his. Michael had disappeared a few hours prior, and although Will still held on to the withering hope that his brother was alive, chances were that he would, at the very least, be injured when they found him. The Apollo Cabin needed a leader then, then. They had no time to waste waiting for Michael to return. Will was next in line, and although he'd always known he would eventually become the leader of his cabin, he'd always thought that they'd have more time to prepare themselves. After all, Michael was only seventeen, it would still be a while before he had to leave for college.

Will had not expected to become the Head of the Apollo Cabin like this. Not with a war thundering around him, not with Michael missing, possibly dead, not with his hands covered in blood that he could not even tell anymore whether if it was his patients' or his own. Never, never had he thought, even for the fraction of a second, that he would become Head of the Apollo Cabin without the chance to say goodbye to his brother, without the possibility of calling him if he had a question. No one had prepared him for the dozens of lost, terrified eyes of his siblings that looked up at him with a glimpse of hope under their desperate expectancy, as if Will weren't just as lost and terrified himself.

That was when Nico had appeared in the battlefield. And he'd brought a wave of new-found faith to Will. He couldn't give up, he couldn't let his sorrow gnaw at this chest, not yet. The other demigods were still fighting, Nico di Angelo still thought they were worth saving, his brothers and sisters trusted him. Will simply couldn't curl into himself and let his own sobs drown the thundering crash of war around him, no matter how much he wanted to. The battle was not yet over, they hadn't lost yet.

Unbeknownst to Nico, he was the strongest, definite reason that made Will pull himself together, even if it was only for the sake of his siblings. Nico had lost his older sister fairly recently as well, Nico was only twelve-year-old, he was even younger than Will himself. Yet he was still fighting —desperately, wholeheartedly, fiercely— for a camp that he didn't even consider his home. As long as Nico was on his feet, fighting, Will would not give up, he refused to give up.

The thing with Nico was that he was stubborn. He never took a 'no' for an answer and he had decidedly been born to prove the people around him wrong when they said that he couldn't or that he shouldn't do something. And that meant that Will had to be stubborn too and ignore the exhaustion and the pain washing over him in order to keep going. So that's what Will Solace did through the Battle of Manhattan, and through many days and years after that—he kept going.

He took a deep breath and did his best to be the leader his brothers and sisters deserved, and he carried on. He clung to the memory of Nico di Angelo, to the determination glimmering in his eyes, and he drew inspiration from it. He kept going.

In all honesty, Will had always known Nico di Angelo was a good person, but it was still a wonderful surprise to see more people recognizing it. It was absolutely wonderful to see Nico accepting and growing more comfortable with the notion that he was a hero. It was utterly relieving to see Nico stay at the camp instead of fleeing right after Will's discharge, so breathtakingly relieving to see him happy and at ease during the campfire songs.

Everything that came afterwards —Nico signing up as a Latin and Italian teacher, him realizing that he was exceptionally good at training the young demigods at sword-fighting, him volunteering at the infirmary, him offering to help out in the rescue missions to bring new demigods to the camp— was simply a welcomed surprise. Will had heard a few demigods comment, in a passing, and without the faintest trace of ill-intentions, that they had never thought Nico would enjoy being a teacher or helping out with the younger campers.

In all honesty, Will could understand where they were coming from, and he had to admit that he hadn't exactly imagined Nico reassuring a young demigod who found a certain fighting technique hard to learn. Not until he'd seen the gentle way in which Nico squatted down and spoke to Will's younger siblings while training them. However, it seemed fitting. It was so perfect and so right that Will had to stop and ask himself how come he had never thought of it. Nico took to teaching and coaching the same way he took to fighting—it was instinctive, natural. It was in his very essence.

So no, Will was not at all surprised to see Nico fall into the missing pieces of the camp. He wasn't surprised to see Nico growing more comfortable at the volleyball courts and the dining pavilion. He wasn't puzzled to find Nico cutting bandages or folding the clean sheets of the infirmary's beds. No, this felt right. This felt like what Nico had been meant to be doing all along.

If anything, Will was proud that he got to see Nico unabashedly being himself. If anything, he was thankful that the gods allowed him to be there to see it happening.

―*―*―

See, I can make the load much lighter, I just need you to confide in me, But if you're too proud to follow rivers, How you ever gonna find the sea?

―*―*―

It was during one of the rescue missions Nico so eagerly volunteered to that it happened. It was a couple of months after the one year mark of Gaea's defeat, and though the festivities were officially over, the lingering feeling in the air was still surreal. It felt like an eternity had passed, yet Nico —and he was sure the same could be said for the rest of the demigods that had fought in the war— could remember the battle as if it were only a few days that separated him from the actual event and not a complete year. It was surreal and unbelievable and it had him feeling all sorts of mixed emotions, but, above it all, he was relieved.

Life had been good during that year. Life was good. He had his friends and the young demigods he trained, who genuinely looked up to him. He had his sisters, Hazel and Reyna, who he had adopted as such. Or she had adopted him as a younger brother, it was not very clear, but it wasn't as if it mattered, either. He had a job that he was passionate about, he had the camps and Hades and Persephone, who lovingly awaited for him and Hazel in the Underworld for when they managed to run away from their responsibilities and visit their parents.

Definitely, life was good. Better than he could have imagined it would ever be.

It was with that in mind that Nico volunteered to an impromptu rescue mission. Elijah, a satyr that was currently in Pennsylvania had called, saying he'd found a girl who he was certain was a demigod and that he requested help to bring her to the camp. This was a common occurrence, nothing out of the ordinary. It was autumn and the camp was emptier than usual, but that was normal too.

Usually, the contingency plan for these situations included the satyr contacting with either Chiron or one of the praetors of New Rome, whichever camp director was closer to where the newfound demigod was at the moment, to inform them of their findings. Afterwards, Chiron or the praetor would call for a meeting with the heads of the cabins or the centurions of the cohorts, whatever the case may be, and share the need for a rescue mission, explaining the particularities of each situation.

Then they ran a quick check to determine if there was already a demigod party in a mission near the area were the help was needed, available to aid the satyr and the new demigod. If that was the case, they discussed the possibilities of morphing both missions into one; if that wasn't possible or if there weren't any demigods already in the general direction, they opened the case for a completely new mission and called someone else in.

There was a pre-established list of demigods who genuinely enjoyed this kind of rescue missions and would happily leave the camp for a few days for the sake of bringing a new demigod home. This was because, although assisting in a rescue was part of the moral code and most demigods had participated in at least one of those missions, not everyone would willingly chose to do so.

Nico could understand why, to an extent. Not everyone wanted to deal with the pain and confusion of a child who was seeing their world shatter to tiny pieces in front of their eyes. Not everyone wanted to try to explain to a new member of their dysfunctional family how this whole demigod business worked, especially not when most of the older and supposedly more experienced demigods were still trying to make sense of it all.

Nico understood that, and he honestly could not blame the ones who openly admitted that rescue missions were not their thing. It was better to stay out of it rather than have someone be forced to participate in them and then screw a child's first impression of the demigod world. Nico could understand why someone would prefer to stay out of these situations; however, that was not what he did.

Rescue missions always hit too close home for him. They always made him remember Bianca and the attack of the manticore and the sinking feeling of utter loss. Perhaps it was the fact that he was masochistic in nature, perhaps it was his way of giving back to the camp, but he had long ago decided that he could handle rescue missions. Yes, they were painful, but they were also a way of dealing with that pain. It gave that heartache a purpose, it made the grief make sense, be worth something.

Nico could vividly remember what being lost and confused and seeing your world shatter right in front of your eyes felt like. And he didn't want that for the new demigods. He didn't want that for anyone. His pain was enough, therefore, if through it he could spare the new campers of the unbearable confusion and agony, he would. Time and time again.

That was how Nico had ended up in the emergency contact list for when a satyr called asking for back-up. It helped that shadowtraveling came incredibly in handy when the satyr and the new demigod were in a different state and needed quick assistance. It also helped that Nico was good with children. Not that he personally thought that, but the Heads of the Cabins had decided that he was, and so he had proudly taken the title and worked with it accordingly. Furthermore, Nico was a year-round camper and thus he was almost always available when the request for a surprise mission came in. That was an especially important detail to take into account then, when the camp was nearly empty due to the season.

This time, Chiron had contacted Nico immediately and he had soon accepted the mission. Now, although the lucky number of missions was three, there were not enough campers available for a mission at the moment. Chiron assured that it didn't matter because, once they caught up with Elijah in Pennsylvania, they would have a three-person party. Nico didn't particularly care. All that symbolism seemed stilted to him.

Besides, the fewer people he shadowtraveled, the better. It wasn't that he couldn't shadowtravel a group of three fighters, a satyr and a new, confused demigod a couple of states over, he could. In fact, he had done it, more than once. However, he was not beyond admitting that the more people he teleported, the bigger the toll it took on him. Also, considering that Will, his medical practitioner, still arched an inquisitive eyebrow in his direction whenever Nico wielded the shadows, he wasn't looking forward to it either.

On the other hand, they did not have many options, so Chiron immediately appointed Nico. And, again, due to their personnel shortage, he assigned Will as the second demigod for the mission. It was ironic, and so Nico told Will as they prepared to leave the camp, that they were put together in a mission that included shadowtraveling in the job description. Unfortunately, Will did not find it as comical or amusing as Nico did, which only made Nico laugh harder.

Either way, there was no time to waste, and the two demigods quickly collected their pre-packed emergency mission backpacks. It was a fairly easy premise—travel to Pennsylvania, meet up with Elijah and the girl, Leticia, in a rapid but comforting manner, explain to her what was going on, and then go straight back to camp. Easy peasy.

Of course, that was not what happened, because as soon as Nico and Will arrived at Pennsylvania, they both felt a dreary realization settle in their stomachs. Firstly, they couldn't contact Elijah, not via the monster-safe phones Leo had designed after miraculously coming back from the dead, not via Iris message, not even via asking the teachers of the high school Elijah had been assigned to keep an eye on. Nico was about to consider panicking as a viable course of action when he suddenly felt a strong concentration of Underworld-y powers pull at him.

"Fuck," he managed, mind racing as he started making sense of everything. "It's a hellhound."

He did not have to add anything else before Will also put two and two together and they exited the high school in a blur of demigod anxiety. Nico took the lead because, much like monsters could smell demigods, Nico could feel the presence of hellhounds. Well, not exactly. He could feel the way hellhounds manipulated the shadows, he could feel the way a mass of shadows stopped following his orders and slowly retreated to serve the will of a hellhound.

He had discovered he could do that a few months after Gaea's defeat, while he was playing fetch with Mrs. O'Leary, who accidentally shadowtraveled herself from the volleyball courts to the forest in an excited attempt to catch the ball faster. Nico suspected that hellhounds could also feel him wield the shadows, because ever since then Nico had started shadowtraveling the ball into another place of the camp and Mrs. O'Leary was always ecstatic to shadowtravel herself away to find it. However, this was not friendly, lovable Mrs. O'Leary, and that was clear as hell when Nico turned a street corner and found a dog the size of a school-bus growling furiously at a trembling satyr.

It took Nico exactly a second to take in the scene—the way Elijah was trying not to apply weight on his left leg, the way his hands shook as he held a small dagger —absolutely useless against a hellhound—, the way he was still screaming at the top of his lungs that everything would be okay and that he would get them out of there safely to the cowering girl behind him. It took Nico only a quarter of a second more to come up with a plan to get Elijah and the girl to camp.

Of course, it took Will only half a second to come up with his own plan, which absolutely screwed over Nico's. Before Nico could so much as inhale to tell Will how they would handle the situation, Will was racing straight forwards to the hellhound, screaming bloody murder and wielding no weapon. Freaking idiot.

"For fuck's sake," was all Nico managed to think before he, too, was following the dumbest battle strategy he had ever witnessed and began running towards the adversary. Fortunately for him, he had his Stygian Iron sword unsheathed before he stupidly entered battle.

The one thing Will's plan succeeded in was distracting the hellhound's attention from Elijah and Leticia. Which was hardly a success, because the beast then proceeded to focus his attention on the newly appeared demigods, who were making its job so much easier by idiotically approaching him. The monster growled, feral and guttural, flexing its legs in preparation to leap forward.

Will was a moron, and though they had already established that, the thought came back to Nico's head, useless, but true nonetheless. Hell, if they survived, Nico would personally embroider a gigantic banner, complete with sequins and glitter —he knew Will loathed them— and hang it at the infirmary's door—Beware, Will Solace is a moron.

The problem was that Will had not spent enough time around dogs to accurately read their body language. Specifically, he hadn't spent enough time around hellhounds to calculate the strength of their legs. Nico had, and he knew for a fact that a dog the size of their current enemy would only need one leap and a growl to catch up with Will. And then it would be game over.

In an unthinking panic, Nico did the one thing he could come up with—he teleported himself right in front of Will just as the hound jumped into the air. He appeared so suddenly in front of the son of Apollo that he almost tripped on him and, despite everything, Nico still had the audacity to feel smug about it. At least he did for the fraction of a second, before an intense pain shot from his left shoulder, where the hound had managed to bite him.

Truthfully, Nico had already been expecting the attack, and as soon as he felt the monster's fangs digging to his skin, he wielded the shadows to gather around the hellhound and teleported it all the way straight to China. As soon as he saw the beast disappear in a dark blur, he let go of the grasp he had around the handle of his sword. The weapon fell to the ground with a metallic creak.

Had this been any other monster, shadowtraveling it out of the battlefield wouldn't have worked, as Nico would have to teleport himself away along with the beast. However, hellhounds could shadowtravel on their own accord. Therefore, all Nico had had to do was mess up a bit with the shadows under the hellhound's command and instruct them to send the monster back to Tartarus.

It was also because of the beast's ability to shadowtravel that Nico was not dead—had he tried to teleport anything as big as that hound with nothing more than his own powers, Nico was positive that, at the very least, he would have passed out. As things were, he was only dizzy and he could feel a headache throbbing in the back of his head.

Will leaned down to pick Nico's sword and gently put it back in the sheath at the son of Hades' waist. Only then did Nico realize that Will was talking to him. With a groan, he made an effort to focus.

"… and you just appeared out of nowhere! What do you think you're doing, young man!" Will fussed, his words not a question as much as they were a reprimand.

"First of all, I am way older than you. Second of all, I was saving your fucking life!" Nico muttered through gritted teeth as he tried to raise his arms to massage his temples. It was when he tried to move his left arm that he remembered the hellhound's bite. Bloody perfect.

Truthfully, the wound in his shoulder wasn't all that terrible. He should be thankful he still had an arm to start with. It was, of course, no coincidence, because a hellhound could have swallowed him whole, but he had had the sense to make the shadows engulf both Will and him, making it hard for the beast to know where to aim his attack.

"By getting yourself killed?" Will inquired, although he was already kneeling on the floor, his first-aid kit out of his backpack as he sent nervous glances to Nico's bleeding injury.

"Well, did you have a better idea? Running towards a hellhound with no weapon?" Nico shot back, although he numbly let Will start tapping at his shoulder with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. Nico hissed in pain but did not pull away. Certainly, he did not trust the son of Apollo to work out a strategy or to follow a plan, but outside of the battlefield, he trusted him with his life. The son of Apollo had the decency to look ashamed.

"I panicked!" he muttered. "But even then, this was too dangerous!"

"Perks of the job!" Nico hissed, feeling the alcohol biting into the abused skin. "All we do is dangerous."

It was in that moment that Elijah caught up with them, firmly holding Leticia's hand in his.

"You made it just in time!" he breathed heavily, still not completely believing his luck. "Guys, this is Leticia. Letty, these are Nico and Will, they will get us to the camp I was telling you about."

Usually, at this point of the mission, Will would suggest that they took a bus back to New York rather than shadowtraveling back, arguing that Nico had already used his powers too much. Personally, the son of Hades suspected it had more to do with how much Will loathed shadowtraveling than with Will's medical concern. Using the shadows as a teletransportation method was probably harder on Will due to him being a son of the sun god.

However, on this particular occasion, Nico had to hand it to Will—he was exhausted and nearly out of Underworld powers. On the other hand, though, sitting in a bus station with a bleeding shoulder, a wounded satyr, a mouthy physician and a girl that looked about to start crying was even less appealing.

"A pleasure to meet you," Nico offered, gently offering his right hand to Leticia.

"Don't you dare!" Will threatened in a hiss when he saw realization and mischievousness climb into Nico's features. "Nico, I am warning you not to do this!" It was terribly unfortunate for him that Nico was terrible at following instructions—soon, he was gripping Will with his left hand, his right one still around Leticia's.

"Too late, sunshine," he announced tiredly. And then, it all went black. Literally. Both because of the shadows he had summoned and because the shot of pain that coursed from his left shoulder and through the rest of his body made him see dark spots that immediately consumed his vision.

―*―*―

The first thing Nico noticed when he came back to his senses was the numbing sensation that engulfed him. He groaned and tried to raise his hand to massage his temples. When a new pang of pain seared through his left side, Nico's eyes blinked open.

"Oh fuck," he muttered, taking in the bright infirmary light as his blurry mind tried to remember what had happened.

"Yeah, something like that," said a stern voice next to him. Slowly, Nico turned to his right side to find none other than Will Solace sitting in a white plastic chair next to the bed Nico was laying in. "What have I told you about burning yourself out like that?"

"What have I told you about not following a battle strategy?" Nico shot back, although there was no malice in his voice.

Slowly, the son of Hades felt his muscles relax at the knowledge that they had made it back to camp relatively safely, he squirmed in the mattress, trying to get himself into a comfortable sitting position. That was when he noticed the tight bandages on his left arm and the sling that immobilized his injured limb. He let out an annoyed huff and Will rose to his feet, gently pulling the pillow Nico had been laying in upright so that it was leaning on the bed's headboard and Nico could use it as support. Will also decided to take a seat on the mattress too in order to reprimand Nico from a closer distance.

"How long was I out?" the son of Hades asked.

"Little over twelve hours?" Will shrugged, pointing to the clock Kayla had insisted on hanging right next to the medicine cabinets. It proudly announced it was twelve-past-two in the morning. "I had to coax Leticia out of the infirmary a few hours ago because she wanted to be here when you woke up."

"Did she now?" Nico inquired, unable to fully hide the grin that started creeping to his face. It didn't matter, Will knew him well enough to see it regardless.

"She did," Will confirmed. "In fact, if I didn't know you better I would have thought that the whole letting-a-hellhound-bite-me business was just you playing hero to win over Leticia's admiration."

"Oh yeah? And how do you know that's not the case?" the son of Hades teased.

"Just a hunch," Will smiled gently before his expression clouded over. "Nico, you could have died today."

"Isn't that how every day in a demigod life goes like?" Nico sighed, attempting to shrug before a new flash of pain made him stay put. "Besides, it's not like you leave me with a lot of options here, sunshine."

"I was just—"

"Trying to help, I know," Nico cut him off. "But that thing could have swallowed you whole and you decided to run straight to it without so much as a dagger to defend yourself with!"

"I mean, yes, but…"

"Oh no, don't you dare! I'll do the scolding this time," he continued. "You got me all patched up and everything, thank you, but still no. You shouldn't be running into the battlefield with no weapons, Will!"

"I… I know," the son of Apollo sighed heavily, turning to look at his hands. Suddenly, the infirmary seemed considerably less bright and much less warm. "I shouldn't even be in the battlefield to start with, I know I'm useless with a—"

"Will Solace, if you know what is good for you, you will stop that bullshit right this second," Nico immediately interrupted, his right arm moving on its own accord to take the son of Apollo's fidgety hands into his.

"Nico, you know it's true, I—"

"Yes, you shouldn't be in the battlefield," Nico conceded, ignoring the hitch in Will's breath at his words. "You shouldn't be there because you are worth so much more outside of it. And you cannot save anyone's life if you get yourself eaten by a hellhound."

"I know," Will swallowed hard. "It's just that… sometimes I wish I could actually fight instead of being a burden to my teammates."

"First of all, you're not a burden," Nico said firmly. "And second, this is all bullshit. Anyone can learn how to wield a sword and land a few blows. Anyone, Will. But you cannot teach commitment to a person, you cannot teach selflessness or generosity. Only a few fools would have charged a hellhound while weaponless, yes. And even fewer would have done it because they knew that was the right thing to do."

"We were sent to a rescue mission, Nico, that was the whole point!" Will uttered softly. Slowly, ever-so slowly, he raised his eyes to meet the son of Hades' gaze.

"Yeah, it was. It's still not less worth noticing," Nico insisted. "I may have been playing hero, Will, but you weren't. You were being a hero," he smiled gently. "An idiotic, completely clueless one, but a brave, courageous hero nonetheless."

"Do you… do you really believe that?" Will managed in an undertone.

"When have I ever lied to you, sunshine?" Nico whispered, his eyes locked to Will's and close, oh-so close that he could feel the warmth Will's body radiated.

Nico was so lost in the coy smile Will offered him as an answer that he didn't even realize he had started leaning closer to the son of Apollo. Before he could fully comprehend what was going on his lips were on Will's, a butterfly-like caress in case Will decided that he didn't want to continue. Instead, Will tilted his head slightly, turning to give Nico better access before he gently returned the kiss.

For a wonderful, blissful amount of thirty seconds, it was perfect. Nico's right hand moved to caress Will's cheek, and the son of Apollo leaned into him, allowing his twitchy hands to come to rest on Nico's thighs. Then the magic spell broke and Nico hurriedly pulled back. He tried to ignore the way Will trailed after him, his eyes still closed in naïve felicity.

"Oh fuck. Oh fuck," Nico managed hoarsely.

"Fuck? That's the one word you know how to say today?" Will inquired, breathing heavily. His cheeks were tainted a soft pink in a betraying blush, and he was nearly glowing. Not just beaming in the metaphorical sense of the word, no. He was positively, literally glowing.

"Oh, Will, I'm so sorry…" the son of Hades whispered. "This isn't… I shouldn't have… Oh, gods, I am so sorry…"

"Sorry? Nico, what…? Oh… I see…" Will managed, having had apparently connected the dots. His face fell and the brightness in his demeanor evaporated. "Oh… I see. This is about Percy, isn't it?"

"What does Percy have to do with any of this?" Nico gestured around wildly.

"Well, you tell me. What about Percy?" the son of Apollo insisted.

"He's madly in love with Annabeth and he's not here, so I don't see your point, sunshine!"

"Yes, that's the problem, isn't it, Nico? He's madly in love with Annabeth and you're in love with him and—"

"What are you even talking about?" Nico cut him off.

"You are in love with Percy," Will insisted, a firm, yet faltering accusation.

"Yes," Nico admitted, suddenly deciding that he was tired of beating around the bush. In a rush, he added. "I was in love with Percy over two years ago."

"Nico, what—"

"Two years, Will! Two years he's only been my friend, so, honestly, I don't see why you're bringing him up now!"

"Then why… why did you pull back?" Will inquired, scowling as he tried to make sense of the son of Hades' actions.

Nico groaned. "I pulled back because of you and Monique!" he nearly bellowed.

"Because of me and…? Nico, she broke up with me a little after the war."

"I know," Nico sighed, making a long emphasis on his second word. "But you are still trying to win her back!"

"What's that even supposed to mean?" Will accused.

"It means that she's always in the infirmary, volunteering to help—"

"She was a volunteer here long before we even started dating!" Will argued, although Nico continued speaking through the interruption.

"And you're always by her side, talking and smiling and you make such a lovely couple it's nauseating, some Young Adult novel couple you are and—"

"You're an idiot," Will said in an undertone, half annoyed and half surprised.

"Oh, I'm an idiot now?" Nico counterattacked. "Well, excuse me for falling in love with you while you are clearly enamored by Monique and the way she plays the flute and her bouncy curls. It's not like I chose who to fall in love with, you know? Next time I talk to Cupid, that bloody bastard, I will tell him—"

"I'm not in love with her!" Will finally hollered, successfully stopping Nico's rant.

"You… what?"

"You bloody idiot, I am in love with you!" Wil insisted impatiently.

"But… but she spends all of her free time in here!" Nico muttered out.

"As do you!" Will accused before deciding that one of them should better have an ounce of prudence and taking in a deep breath. "She comes here because she likes volunteering. She also comes because she's trying to get Austin to notice her. He's absolutely clueless and she's forbidden me to even give him a hint."

"So… does that… Does that mean that Monique and you…?" Nico managed, hating himself for how hopeful he sounded.

"No chance of us getting back together, no," Will replied softly, taking Nico's uninjured hand into his. "We are good friends, but when we were in a relationship, we were both kind of… looking for someone else."

"Oh gods…" Nico whispered in disbelief. He couldn't help it—he started laughing. At first it was only soft giggles that he could try to swallow down, but soon enough his tittering fit evolved into an unashamed laughter. Still trying to regain his composure, he leaned into Will's shoulder. "We are both idiots."

"Both?" the son of Apollo had the audacity to question. As all answer, Nico raised a questioning eyebrow, his head still supported on Will, although he tilted his face so the other demigod could appreciate his unamused gesture. "Alright then, alright." And just like that, Will was laughing too, unrestricted and ridiculous and perfect. Only when the laughter in their chests had finally died down did Nico sit uptight once again, his dark eyes nervously scanning Will's features.

"Then, does this mean… Does it mean that you and I can…?" he made a silly movement with his right hand, gesturing to him and to Will and to the whole infirmary. "Does it mean that we can?"

"Oh gods, yes. Yes, we can," Will let out a shaky breath, positively beaming again as he smiled back at Nico.

"Good. Oh, good, because I've been waiting for so long that I don't know if—"

And just like that Will's lips were on his again, soft and gentle and impatient. His hands came up to cup Nico's face, a soothing caress. They would worry about the semantics later, they would figure out what they were and where they were standing in the morning. Right then, it didn't matter. All that mattered were Nico's fingers slowly combing through Will's hair and the way Nico leaned into his touch and the way Will's heart was threatening to jump out of his chest.

―*―*―

Wherever you are standing, I will be by your side. Through the good, through the bad, I'll never be hard to find.

―*―*―

So, here we are. I really hope you enjoyed it. It is always lovely to write with these two dorks and I had really missed doing so. Also, it is very refreshing to have a Nico who is openly gay and sure of himself. And, on the other hand, I have the headcanon that Will is bisexual and that is something that I rarely get to see reflected in fanfiction.

Well, I think that would be all for now. Please, please, pelease, if you liked this be sure to let me know in the comments. Also, check the song out, it's a beautiful thing and drop by FrostedDragonHeart and Rosycat's accounts to thank them because they are honestly life-savers.

Thank you all and read you soon!

#Percy Jackson Fanfiction #Heroes of Olympus Fanfiction #Solagelo Fanfiction #Nico di Angelo #Will Solace #Percy Jackson #Annabeth Chase #OC #Will SolacexOC #Will Solace x Nico di Angelo #Romance #Drama #Idiots in love

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What are your favourite HP characters and why? I'm just curious

i love this ask

i could make a list of my top 20 and scarcely scratch the surface, ofc. i’ll spare you that, but here’s a scattershot list off the top of my head. i’ll do seven bc it’s the most magically powerful number

hermione granger. look, there’s a reason everyone’s obsessed with her. hermione was a unicorn among the female characters i was raised on, allowed to be intermittently angry, anxious, and selfish without ever being condemned for such, in a way that other girls in media were not. every one of her traits (positive and negative, from her brilliance to her insecurity) explains another in a way that makes her, to me, the most real-feeling person in the entire series.

harry potter. i didn’t realize as a kid how much of a masterclass in close-3rd perspective harry was! harry never tells us anything about himself. in fact, being demure about his own importance is a cornerstone of his character. yet we still get such a fully formed portrait of a kind, hotheaded, and fiercely loving boy who suffers too many of the world’s injustices and, instead of being soured by them, grows up to be a good person.

dolores umbridge. one of the best villains ever written and that’s that. rowling has a talent for writing people who luxuriate in their own power in distinctly horrible ways. compare the evils of umbridge, snape, lucius malfoy, and cornelius fudge, for instance: all in the same wheelhouse, but all unique, and all uniquely awful. umbridge stands above the pack, though. the way she wants the little inequalities in the status quo to subsume the world speaks truth to power in a really potent way. so many people aren’t willing to go out into the open and declare their hatred, but they will thrive in and exploit a broken system. that’s umbridge.

minerva mcgonagall. “have a biscuit, Potter.” “i should have made my meaning plainer: he has achieved high marks in all Defence Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher.” the woman, the myth, the legend, minerva motherfucking mcgonagall.

sirius black. it’s hard to tell whether i really do love sirius that much or whether i just feel this way because harry loved him that much, but man, thinking about the time the trio snuck out to see him in hogsmeade, or the times harry met him in the fireplace, or that glimmering possibility at the end of Azkaban when harry thought he was going to be allowed to live with Sirius after his exoneration, i get this deep sensation of relief and yearning and happiness. JKR perfectly captures that rare feeling of a grownup seeing you, for the first time in your life, exactly how you want to be seen: treating you as mature and grown-up yourself, sharing your interests and values, treating you like a person. sirius is honestly a gift: the perfect surrogate father character as well as something flawed and complex of his own. a tragic figure of shakespearean proportions. the monologue he delivers at the end of Azkaban is just like... all-time-great true identity twist. no, okay, i clearly do just love sirius that much

the weasleys. this is fully cheating, but i can’t pick a single weasley!! i’ve already written about how much i love percy weasley, so there’s that. i adore ron, and considered just picking ron, but we never get ron without the full context of his family, and i think that’s what i love the most: how they’re all just so important to harry, so good to harry. the feeling of having all these siblings, all these warm, healthy, functional relationships. the moment molly hugs harry and he thinks about how he has no memory of ever being hugged like this, as if by a mother. how arthur is so appalled by the dursleys’ behavior that he won’t let harry go to the Burrow until they’ve given him a proper goodbye. fred and george older-brothering harry, bequeathing troublemaking materials to him & helping break him out of his house in Chamber of Secrets. ginny growing out of her shell and becoming the hot jock love of my life. every weasley!!

draco malfoy. i don’t know what people are talking about when they say draco’s redemption arc is incomplete. it’s untraditional—no, he’s not a prince zuko type—but he undergoes a total metamorphosis. the sneering, snobbish child from the first few books transforms utterly into a terrified teenager forced to confront the nightmare reality of what his own beloved family has helped bring into the world. and all of this is clearly textual! draco’s confrontation with dumbledore at the end of HBP and the realization that he cannot and never will be a murderer is just an absolute dynamite scene, and the moment he refuses to identify harry in malfoy manor in DH is, in my opinion, fully redemptive. anything more would have been out of character.actually, DH makes a pretty strong argument that tiny moments of bravery or compassion or even hesitance, like draco’s and wormtail’s, are crucial to the survival of goodness in the same way as whole lives of outspoken courage and decency.

sorry for taking ages to reply to this.... just....... too many opinions...... the perpetual problem here on batmansymbol dot tumblr dot com

#hp #hp meta #essay #personal #Anonymous #reply

[conundrumestate]

Silent in trial, but boy oh boy, do I have a lot to say now | Chapter 2 | Luna | Trial | RE: A lot, ATTN: Everyone, especially Arséne&Knockout

After having attempted to clean Maestro’s face up a bit, only for said conductor to back away from her, she returned to her seat with a heavy sigh. If the debate wouldn’t have moved so fast, she would’ve told him that she was only looking out for him, because clearly he didn’t place much importance on his own well-being.

For the rest of the trial, Luna stayed quiet. It’s not like as if she didn’t have anything to say - it’s just that whenever she wanted to pipe up, someone else sniped that opportunity from her. Thus, she kept her silence, simply following along the trial’s procedures.

However, to say that this was the only reason to stop her from participating would be a lie.

Ever since the trial started, Luna was convinced of who the killer was. Unless some kind of super twist happened, she didn’t think that she could be wrong in her assumption - and lo and behold, she was right.

Knockout did it.

However, Luna’s gaze was not set on their resident killer - no, she was staring at Maestro, who claimed to have committed an attempted murder at Twelve. She couldn’t believe what she was just hearing - and did he really think that was better to know than him having sex with someone? Sheesh, he was so prude...

There were also Arséne harsh words, which struck something in her, but she didn’t pipe up until Twelve was done with his reply.

“Pretty funny how you think that you won’t get dragged into the court yourself, Arséne.”

Oh yikes, that was a dynamic re-entry to the scene, alright.

Luna’s eyes were trained at their resident detective, her expression absolutely serious and composed as she continued:”Don’t get me wrong, I’m also pissed at Maestro, but at the same time, I know that he did it to save us, because he knows what’s it like to be poisoned. The effects might’ve been different, but one thing stayed the same - we all knew that we were slowly dying and that’s fucking terrifying. You didn’t get through it, so of course you wouldn’t be able to relate. And knowing now that Twelve was apparently not affected by the poison, for some reason... You can’t really blame him for being suspicious, can you? Because I know that I am, though that could be just Theo messing with us, so the distrust between us grows even stronger. Maestro might be an absolute idiot at times, but he’s got a good heart nonetheless.”

For a moment, she glanced towards the conductor, before her eyes went back to Arséne.

“Or what, do you want to tell me you would’ve been absolutely fine to let at least one of us die from poisoning? If not even all seven people? Because if that’s the case, then you’ve already committed a crime yourself; denial of assistance.”

“Of course, our only means to get the antidote was for one person to die, but you know which other choice was available to us from the very start? Assaulting Theo.”

Oh wow, okay, Luna! It’s not like as if your resident captor was sitting only a few metres away from you, but go off!

“Like, right now, what’s there to stop us from attacking him? It’s not like as if he could defend himself against 13 people all at once. But we all already know why no one dared to do it yet - because we’re all too scared for our own safety. Not like anyone can fault us for that kinda selfishness, but that doesn’t change the fact that we made our choice in that regard as well.”

“Even leaving that aside, I would sure hope that none of you forgot what we did to Cain. Sure, we might not have known for sure what would happen if the culprit got found out, but don’t tell me that y’all didn’t at least entertain the idea of ‘an eye for an eye’. I know that I was expecting for an execution to take place, which is... why I couldn’t bring myself to vote for him. Because...”

Luna trailed off for a moment, before she looked at everyone.

“What goddamn right do we have to decide who gets to live and who gets to die?”

Those were some heavy words that she was dropping, but Luna was not holding back one inch anymore. She wanted for all of them to know that none of them were innocent. No, even she wasn’t, because she failed to assault Theo before the first murder occured.

“And don’t tell me we didn’t have a choice but to execute the murderer. Because we do. We could let them live. We could drag them out after this mess and then try them in the eyes of the law, but we didn’t. So even though Theo is still mainly responsible for all of this shit going down, we got blood on our hands, too. Don’t any of you ever forget that.”

Usually, Luna wasn’t one to be this... well, harsh, but she just couldn’t believe that some of them truly thought that they were absolutely innocent. Because none of them were, as cruel as it might sound. As much as she herself didn’t want for that to be the case, but she was done running away from such things.

Luna looked back to Arséne.

“I hope your own sense of justice doesn’t blind you from any of that, Arséne. Otherwise, you’re just naive if you think that you won’t get into trouble yourself once we get out.”

She liked Arséne, she truly did, but that didn’t mean that they were on the same page on every topic. And it seemed as if they differed in that regard. Luna could only hope that this wouldn’t destroy their friendship, but she also didn’t want to back down on her own opinion.

At last, her eyes finally wandered to Knockout, a complicated expression adorning her young face.

“... I can’t say that I can ever forgive you for taking Percy away from me. I know that you were under the influence of the poison. I know that you wouldn’t have hurt him if it weren’t for that fucking paranoia - but you still killed him. And... And I hate people who take my beloved ones away from me. I know that’s cruel of me, but... I’m just me. Still I... I can’t.”

“I can’t bring myself to vote for you. Just because I hate your guts right now doesn’t mean I want to see you dead. I... I want for true justice to take place and that can be only achieved in a real court. Not this twisted, sorry excuse of a mess we got here. You deserve better than that... Percy deserved better than this. He wouldn’t want for you to die. He was a kind soul. I know that.”

Her voice began to crack and tears were stinging her eyes, but she forced them back. No, she shed enough tears - at least, she would hold them in until Knockout would get probably--

(Don’t think about that.)

“... Knockout, do you want me to relay any messages to your family? Or anyone you were close to? I promise you that I’ll deliver them. It’s the least I can do if... if everyone will vote for you. And... would you mind telling us your name? So I know who... who might have to go soon one way or another.”

#conundrum estate #trial 2 #chapter 2 #luna #submission

[vaxxy-the-raven]

I'm never gonna properly write for it, but I keep imagining this AU where Percy is an ex-gang member of Vecna's gang.

Maybe Percy killed someone important to Vecna or he stole money, idk, but he's on the run and shit comes back to bite him in the ass.

(This has been inspired by the song "You Can Run" by Adam Jones, btw, as I've had it on repeat for 2 days now)

So uh, here, I guess. Feel free to take this and make into something more solid -

Percy comes from a wealthy family that went into debt. To try and help his parents, Percy looks for work and finds himself being recruited into a gang ran by an intimidating man known only as Vecna.

Vecna's right hand woman, Delilah Briarwood, and her husband, Sylas Briarwood, take a quick likening to Percy and introduce him to their adoptive daughter, Anna.

Anna and Percy make fast friends, until one day Percy catches Anna betraying the gang's plans to another gang.

Percy confronts her alone, thinking he can handle it, but a fight breaks out and Anna gets shot in the abdomen.

Percy panics, trying to stop the bleeding, but Delilah walks in and all hell breaks out.

Percy has to run and he does, running faster than he ever has before in all his life.

He moves to a different city, laying low and doing odd jobs to keep himself afloat.

One day he runs into Keyleth, a young florist struggling to make ends meet, being harassed by some idiot. He defends her, quite publicly too, and is spotted by one of Vecna's many members.

And thus, Percy accidentally gets Keyleth targeted by Vecna's gang.

Cue Vax'ildan, Keyleth's boyfriend and also a former gang member (who also left on bad terms with his old boss) turned tattoo artist, chasing Percy down thinking he's put a hit out on Keyleth.

When he realises Percy's situation, tho, he feels like helping the poor bastard out. He knows what this is like.

Through this, Percy meets Vax's sister and an esteemed defence attorney, Vex'ahlia.

Soon, the men after Keyleth disappear mysteriously and things calm down for Percy.

Percy falls hard for Vex, fast, while she and Vax help him change his identity and disappear from Vecna's gaze.

Percy becomes a mechanic, becomes friends with the twins and Keyleth as well as his fellow mechanics, Grog, Tary and Pike, even with Pike's husband Scanlan.

Life gets really good;

Percy & Vex start dating, Vax & Keyleth get engaged and Taryon gets a boyfriend.

But then Percy slips up somehow, takes the wrong driver's license while out one day running errands and one of Vecna's spies see it, call it in.

Percy is followed home.

Then, during the night, Percy and Vex wake up to several armed intruders who don't seem to like Percy very much.

"Percy... Friends of yours?"

"Friends isn't the word I'd use."

Then Vecna swaggers in, grinning, baseball bat in hand.

Percy feels his world crashing down around him as he and Vex are manhandled out of bed to be tied up by Vecna's men.

"Percival, long time no see, it's been a while."

"I was hoping it'd stay that way, personally."

"Ahah, oh, dear Percival, quite the funnyman as always."

Then the baseball bat just narrowly misses Percy's face, crashing into the bed behind him instead, Vex screams.

"Don't mistake this as a social call, my friend, this is but business. No, you know exactly what I'm here for."

Vecna steps near Vex.

"Leave Vex out of this! It's me you want, not her!"

"Ah, but such a pretty thing, just like her brother... Would be a shame if anything happened to either of them, no? The boy just got engaged, didn't he?"

"Leave my brother out of this, you bastard!"

Vex's demand met only by laughter, her anger outweighing her fear.

Percy, shaking, terrified for his girlfriend and her twin, for all of their friends-

"What do you want?! I'll do whatever it is, just leave my family out of it!"

"Ah, ever the smart man, Perce! You took something of mine, however, so I must take something of yours... Insurance, to make sure you cooperate, you could say..."

"We don't have much in the way of money or valuables-"

"Ah, but I'm not after things of material value, Percy. No. I want you to have some... Motivation! You know... To do as I say, when I say?"

"Please, leave Vex out of this, I'm begging you!"

Percy, scared for his love, scared of what Vax would do if she got hurt because of him-

"Ah, but she's not it either, as I already have my insurance, Percival - Though, a matching set would fetch a far prettier price should you fail to live up to expectations, my boy."

"No! Leave Vax alone!"

"He killed my men, it's only fair I take him as punishment."

Percy hadn't know what Vax had done back then to save his sorry ass, but he feels sick knowing Vax did what he did because of him.

And hearing the devastation in Vex's voice is the final nail in Percy's coffin here, knowing Vax's life is in danger now.

"Alright! Alright! Whatever it is, I'll do it! Just please, don't hurt Vax! Or anyone else!"

Vecna laughs.

"A little late for that, your good friend put up quite the fight and my men may of had a little fun beating him down."

"You bastard! I'll kill you!"

"Oh, Vex'ahlia darling, I'd like to see you try, my girl."

"You fucking asshole!"

Percy, staring in horror at Vex as she hollers and shouts at Vecna, threatening the man.

Vex, furious and shaking, thrashing around to escape.

Vecna just keeps laughing.

"Maybe I'll keep the boy as my personal punching bag, or I could sell him to the highest bidder? What do you think?"

"I think you're making the biggest mistake of your life!"

"Or perhaps I can hand him to the Briarwoods, what do you think, Percy? Maybe that would take their minds off of you murdering their sweet Anna. Sylas has been wanting a pet to play with and Delilah could use another lab rat"

And Percy goes pale.

"She didn't make it?"

"What else is it did you think I meant by you taking something from me? The girl was smart and promising, Perce, the loss is felt."

"I didn't want to kill her, I swear! But she was up to something! I needed to know what it was!"

"Are you suggesting that a long standing and much trusted family member was planning on betraying her family and her gang? Oh, Percival..."

And Vecna shakes his head, tutting and sighing.

"I thought you were smarter than that."

"I'm telling the truth!"

Percy can't look at Vex right now, can't think of what she must be feeling right now.

Everything he's worked for, ruined in minutes.

"Well, in any case, you still owe me a favour... Unless you'd rather we just get this over with and I have Sylas execute the brother instead?"

"No!!"

And Percy balks.

"No! No! Leave him alone! I'll do whatever it is you want!"

"Good, because I really do like that boy, he has fire in him."

"Just... What is it? What must I do to make this go away?"

"I have a friend, a fellow by the name of Orthax, and he's been crossed by some folks... He needs them taken care of."

"You want me to become an assassin for you?"

Percy feels sick.

Vex is gaping in horror.

"It's just 8 people, Percy, and then this is all over."

"You can promise that?"

"I can guarantee it, my friend, and I never break promises."

"Who are they?"

"In due time, in due time... Now, we're going to untie you before we go, please don't do anything... Rash. I'd hate to have to kill you or your beloved, or her brother at that."

Percy and Vex tense, but stay quiet and let themselves be untied, staying still.

"Good, excellent. I'll leave the list on your dresser along with your new gun... Orthax made it just for you, be appreciative."

"Do I have a time limit?"

"Let's say... You have two weeks, then I'll give away the brother to either my best people or to the highest bidder - Depends on how I'm feeling on the day, you understand?"

"It'll be done before then, I can assure you that."

"So they all say, Percival."

And with that, Vecna and his men start to leave, but then Vecna pauses at the doorway.

"Oh, and, Percy? Don't trying running away again - I mean, I don't mind it, run all you like... But just remember, you can't hide. I'll always find you."

"Trust me, I'm aware."

"Good... Have a good night."

And with that, the couple are left kneeling on their bedroom floor, crying and shaking.

Percy stands first, heading for the list and weapon.

Vex stands next, sitting on their bed, fuming silently.

Then Percy gags and drops the list before running out.

"Perce?"

She gets up, swallowing.

Who did Percy have to murder just so Vax wouldn't be killed or whatever? How bad was it?

Who was to be killed in change for Vax's very life?

She bends down and picks the sheet of paper up, turning it over and reading the names;

Frederickstein de Rolo

Johanna de Klossowski

Julius de Rolo

Vesper de Rolo

Oliver de Rolo

Whitney de Rolo

Ludwig de Rolo

Cassandra de Rolo

#critical role #modern vox machina #critical role au #ex-gang au #dark au #percy de rolo #vecna #the briarwoods #anna ripley #the de rolo family #orthax #keyleth #vax'ildan #vaxleth #vex'ahlia #perc'ahlia #grog strongjaw #taryon darrington #pike trickfoot #scanlan shorthalt #pikelan #long post #story ideas #short story #drabble #critical role fanfic #bonnie talks

[monggu-eomma]

Hi I was wondering if you can expand on the Hogwarts au! Like what are the exo's boys boggarts and favorite and least favorite subjects in Hogwarts along with favorite teacher. Love your belong can't wait for more au's!

Of course! Thank you for asking. ^_^ Like with my Percy Jackson AU, BTS is a part of this AU, but I haven’t interwoven them in this post, because I am still developing their backgrounds and stories. 

Minseok

Hogwarts house and blood status: Hufflepuff and Muggleborn

Fave subjects: Minseok is kind of a jack of all trades. He likes all of his classes, but his particular favorites are Herbology and Quidditch. He likes how calming Herbology is and just like many of the other boys, he loves playing sports. Both subjects are good at helping him cope with his anxiety. 

Least fave subject: Despite being good at most subjects, Minseok isn’t the biggest fan of Divination. He thinks it’s a bunch of superstitious hogwash.  

Fave teacher: Minseok really admires his Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout. He loves how devoted and passionate she is about the subject and not to mention she is the Head of Hufflepuff. 

Luhan

Hogwarts house and blood status: Slytherin and Pureblood

Fave subjects: Luhan’s favorite subjects are Divination and Quidditch. He never expected to be good at Divination, but after the first day of class he found that he has a real knack for it. He also loves sports, hence the love for Quidditch. 

Least fave subject: Luhan doesn’t like Arithemacy for the plain and simple fact that the professor for that class assigns too much homework. If the teacher assigned less homework, Luhan would have enjoyed the class more. 

Fave teacher: Oddly enough, Luhan really admires Hagrid. Even if Luhan isn’t totally invested in Care of Magical Creatures, he enjoys watching how passionate Hagrid gets when he teaches the class. 

Yifan

Hogwarts house and blood status: Slytherin and Half-blood

Fave subjects: Yifan is fascinated by many of the courses offered at Hogwarts, but his favorites are Astronomy and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Yifan is especially a big fan of Defense Against the Dark Arts, because he wants to be an Auror. 

Least fave subject: Interestingly enough, for a Slytherin Yifan is not that great at Potions. As a result, Yifan’s least favorite class is Potions. 

Fave teacher: Although Professor Mad-Eyed Moody is known for being pretty odd, Yifan really admires him and wants to be as great as an Auror as he is. 

Junmyeon

Hogwarts house and blood status: Ravenclaw and Pureblood

Fave subjects: Junmyeon likes to challenge himself in his course work and that is why Studies of Ancient Runes is his favorite class. He also really like Charms because of all the useful day-to-day spells that are taught. 

Least fave subject: As hard as he tries, Junmyeon just can’t do well in Herbology. He wants to keep his plants alive, but unfortunately most of them end up dead. 

Fave teacher: Junmyeon feels a lot of loyalty for his house so his favorite teacher would be Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw and professor for Charms. 

Yixing

Hogwarts house and blood status: Hufflepuff and Muggleborn

Fave subjects: Since Yixing is Muggleborn, he is really curious about the things that set witches and wizards apart from muggles, besides the spell-casting. His love for nature also the reason why his favorite classes are Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. 

Least fave subject: Due to the fact that Yixing is very interested in learning about all aspects of the wizarding world, it would come to no surprise that he doesn’t care about Muggle Studies. 

Fave teacher: Yixing absolutely adores Madame Pomfrey. He is an awe at her skill as a healer and one of the careers he is considering to pursue is Healer, just like her.

Baekhyun

Hogwarts house and blood status: Ravenclaw and Pureblood

Fave subjects: Although he won’t admit it, Baekhyun is smart. He tries to pretend that he’s not a nerd, but he has a hard time hiding the fact that his favorite classes are Astronomy and Arithemacy since he never skips those classes and enjoys doing the homework. 

Least fave subject: Baekhyun doesn’t really like Care of Magical Creatures. It’s not that he doesn’t like animals, but there are a significant amount of magical creatures that terrify him.  

Fave teacher: Because Baekhyun is such a hoe for Arithemacy, his favorite teacher would have to be Professor Vector, who assigns a lot of Arithemacy homework for her students. 

Jongdae

Hogwarts house and blood status: Hufflepuff and Half-blood 

Fave subjects: Jongdae really likes classes that are hands-on and he also enjoys classes that teach him spells that help cause a little harmless mischief. As such Jongdae’s favorite classes are Transfiguration and Apparition. 

Least fave subject: Jongdae isn’t really into Astronomy and has a real hard time with the class. One of his biggest issues with it is that it’s at nighttime and he often catches himself falling asleep during class. 

Fave teacher: Jongdae’s favorite teacher is Professor Binns, the only teacher at Hogwarts who is a ghost. He finds it hilarious that Professor Binns struggles to remember students’ names. 

Chanyeol

Hogwarts house and blood status: Slytherin and Half-blood 

Fave subjects: Chanyeol also likes classes that are hands-on and as such his favorite subjects are Potions and Transfiguration, although his Potions teacher is not quite fond of him because of his use of “creativity” while brewing potions. 

Least fave subject: Because Chanyeol likes classes that are hands-on, it would make sense that he isn’t a really big fan of History of Magic since it requires him to just sit there and listen, or read. 

Fave teacher: Interestingly enough, Chanyeol really admires Professor McGonagall. Although she is strict, Chanyeol admires her great command of magic. 

Kyungsoo

Hogwarts house and blood status: Slytherin and Muggleborn

Fave subjects: Since Kyungsoo is a Muggleborn, he likes to learn as much as he can about the wizarding world. As such his favorite subject is History of Magic. Kyungsoo also really likes Defense Against the Dark Arts and has found that his pretty good at it. 

Least fave subject: Kyungsoo is not a really big fan of playing Quidditch, because of his petrifying fear of heights, but he doesn’t mind watching the games when Slytherin is playing. 

Fave teacher: Kyungsoo’s favorite teacher is Professor Slughorn. He admires Slughorn’s knowledge of Potions and he was really happy when Slughorn became the Head of Slytherin. 

Tao

Hogwarts house and blood status: Gryffindor and Pureblood

Fave subjects: Interestingly, Tao is fascinated and curious. Being born and raised in a very Pureblood household, he doesn’t know much about muggles. Combined with his love for sports, Tao’s favorite subjects are Muggle Studies and Quidditch. 

Least fave subject: Coming from a Pureblood family, Tao finds History of Magic to be a boring subject. He’d rather be out on the Quidditch pitch than in History of Magic. 

Fave teacher: Tao’s favorite teacher is Professor Burbage. He really enjoyed the way she taught the Muggle Studies class. 

Jongin

Hogwarts house and blood status: Gryffindor and Muggleborn

Fave subjects: Being the sports enthusiast that he is, Jongin was so relieved when he came to Hogwarts and found out that they had a sports team. Jongin absolutely loves Quidditch and he really enjoys Defense Against the Dark Arts. 

Least fave subject: Study of Ancient Runes absolutely bores Jongin. He wants nothing to do with it.

Fave teacher: Jongin really admires Professor Lupin and was inspired by him to want to become a professor. 

Sehun

Hogwarts house and blood status: Gryffindor and Pureblood 

Fave subjects: Also Sehun has this tough exterior, he has a soft spot for animals and as such his favorite class is Care of Magical Creatures. He also loves Quidditch since it keeps him active and doesn’t leave him with pent up energy. 

Least fave subject: Sehun isn’t really a big fan of Arithemacy. He thinks that the professor assigns too much homework and would rather spend his time doing other things. 

Fave teacher: Sehun’s favorite teacher is Professor Hooch, the teacher for flying lessons. He admires her command of magic and her flying skills. 

I put the boggarts for each member under read more, because I touch up on some dark and potentially triggering ideas (such as death and mental illness) when it comes to their boggarts.

Minseok: Since Minseok has Generalize Anxiety disorder, his boggart manifests itself in the form of clocks ticking. From the outside it may seem harmless, but it’s a major trigger for Minseok. 

Luhan: Luhan’s boggart takes on the form of being stuck in quicksand. The reason for this is that Luhan is terrified of being stuck in places and he is claustrophobic. 

Yifan: Yifan’s boggart manifests itself as his mother being murdered by the use of the killing curse. This terrifies him, because his mother is a muggle and he knows that there are people out there that would kill her, because she is married to a wizard. 

Junmyeon: Junmyeon’s boggart takes on the form of his parents telling him that he isn’t good enough. Junmyeon wants so badly to impress his parents and his parents putting him down terrifies him. 

Yixing: Yixing’s boggart is the death of his beloved Bowtruckles that he takes care of at Hogwarts’ greenhouse. The boggart takes on the form of his Bowtruckles being burned to death. 

Baekhyun: Baekhyun’s boggart is the Acromantula, a monstrous eight-eyed spider that is capable of human speech. 

Jongdae: Jongdae’s boggart takes on the form of his close friends talking badly about him behind his back. Jongdae’s friends mean a lot to him and he would be so heart-broken if his friends talked about him behind his back. 

Chanyeol: Chanyeol has a fear of adults yelling at him and his boggart manifests itself as Professor Snape yelling at him and belittling him. 

Kyungsoo: As mentioned earlier, Kyungsoo is terrified of heights. His boggart takes on the form of the ground disappearing from beneath him.

Tao: It comes to no surprise that Tao’s boggart is a swarm of bees. He is absolutely terrified of bugs and although he knows it’s not real, he runs out of class when he sees them. 

Jongin: Because Jongin loves doing magic and being a wizard, he is afraid that one day he won’t be able to do magic anymore. Jongin’s boggart takes on the form of a howler from the Ministry of Magic saying that he is expelled from Hogwarts and that his wand is being confiscated. 

Sehun: Although Sehun doesn’t like to speak about it, he has a lot of parental issues and that is apparent with his boggart. Sehun’s boggart takes on the form of his parents fighting and being left behind by his parents. 

#exo question #exo questions #exo scenario #exo scenarios #exowriternet #exo #exo au #hp au #chanyeol #xiumin #luhan #kris #tao #lay #baekhyun #chen #kyungsoo #suho #kai #sehun #chanyeol question #xiumin question #luhan question #kris question #tao question #lay question #baekhyun question #chen question #kyungsoo question #suho question

[storiesbyaya]

Story Of A Hero- 1

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The first day of high school was undoubtedly terrifying for your average teenager, but it was even moreso for the not-at-all-average William Kray.  For the last seven years of his life, he had endured the constant gazes from students and teachers alike, but could never tell if they were of sympathy or of hatred. One thing was for certain; it was painful to be stared at so constantly, avoided and scrutinized as if you bore the plague.  Seven years had passed since the incident, but everyone still remembered it. Seven years since he lost his parents, but the Kray name was still sullied like a bloodied dress, even after all this time.

He wished he did not carry it. He wished he was allowed to take his adoptive parents' last name. Hell, he sometimes wished he had been born into a different family, even if it meant poverty. He wished for a lot of things, yet was not foolish enough to rely on such wishes. 'Wishes only get you so far', his sister had always told him.

This new school year brought with it a new layout he needed to learn, as well as an entirely new set of classmates. With hard work, perseverance, and the isolation that came with the Kray name, William breezed through his middle school years at the top of all of his classes. This allowed him entry to the private Cassfield High, where one of his dads worked as a teacher. He had Bayesh to speak to at the very least, so William was not entirely alone. As he stepped into his new school, hidden in the crowd of others walking in, he pondered upon whether or not it was pathetic that his only friend here was his father, or if he should consider it a step up that he, at the very least, knew someone. William’s bright white hair easily set him apart, and even the great crowd of new students could not hide him for very long. However, William stubbornly ignored their glares and walked to his locker with a determined and almost defiant step. He ignored them in class, and between classes. The looks only took a pause at lunch, when William retreated to his father’s classroom to eat.

"Bad day, kid?" Bayesh asked when he walked in, noticing the steeled expression he wore. "Same as always," he replied softly, and pulled up a chair from one of the desks to sit with his dad. Bayesh frowned at him, and reached over to ruffle his hair. "Don't let your first classes get you down. This school is big," he said. "I'm not holding my breath over it. I can't change peoples' minds," William replied, and began to eat his lunch, while green eyes looked on at him with a sorrowful sympathy.

Bayesh wished there was something he could do; it pained him to see his son go through the same isolation that he had when he’d been that age. He had spoken to Kero about it, but had been told not to interfere, to let William try and make friends on his own, because otherwise he wouldn't develop properly and blah-blah-blah... As if there was anything normal about his situation...And so William’s day continued as it had been, and each day after that for an entire month. But if there was one thing to know about Bayesh Adrichem, it was that no one told him what to do. He had always been vehemently rebellious to the point that even manipulative magics couldn’t control him, and when he was dead-set on something, nothing could stand in his way. Kero hadn’t suffered through school the way Bayesh had, hadn’t dealt with the stares and disdain. He had been a pretty popular guy, so he couldn’t understand. But Bayesh loved him, and respected his imput as a parent for an entire month before he finally decided that enough was enough, and that he had to intervene, incapable of seeing his beloved son so alone and gloomy. Kero would have been impressed that he had lasted this long.

On that day, William went to his father’s classroom for lunch as usual, only to find that there was someone else sitting there, cheerfully discussing something with his father. When the boy noticed William, he turned to him and gave a brilliant smile, one that utterly confused the poor thing, He was being smiled at rather than glared? And by someone who wasn't his dad?  ... Speaking of which, his dad was looking at him with that mischievous glint in his eye that William knew all too well. That explained that. He reluctantly took a seat, eyeing the ginger haired boy next to him with both confusion and kindness. Because as strange as this was, William was polite and he didn’t intend on changing that ever, no matter what... Especially not when faced with a kind smile. "Percival, this is my son, William. I believe you two are in the same science class?" Bayesh said once they were both settled. The boy nodded cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to William’s stare. "Will, Percy has been having a hard time with science, and you're very gifted in that class. I think that, if you helped him, it might help you, as well," Bayesh added, directed at his son this time. Before William could protest, Percy piped up. "Yeah! We could be friends! Mister Adrichem tells me you like The Last Astronut too," he said, excited at the idea. William's eyes widened. He wanted to be friends with William? "I love The Last Astronut!" he exclaimed in reply. Wow, something in common!  "Aw yeah, high five!" Percy said and William couldn't help but be swept up in the other's enthusiasm, high fiving him. Bayesh sat back with a proud grin, letting the two discuss their mutual love for the weird comic book series featuring a squirrel in space. Their discussion moved on to video games they enjoyed and their favorite heroes; both real and not. And though the bell rang and cut their conversation short, Percy suggested that William play "Toplook" with him, and they agreed to meet up after school and play it together, with Bayesh's permission.

Though he was still ignored in his classes, William no longer felt the heavy atmosphere. He was too preoccupied with being excited to go play video games with someone. Yes, Kero and his big sister Katherine sometimes played with him, but this was big. This was a potential friend and the look in Bayesh’s eye told him there was a little more to this whole thing than just a need for a science tutor and a mutual interest in video games and space squirrels. It would be good for him to talk to someone he wasn’t related to about things, and that way he wouldn’t feel like he was annoying them. Ugh, he couldn’t help how excited he felt. He always wanted his classes to end, but this time there was an entirely different reason for it. He just... Had to not act weird, not act like he’d never had human company before. And not be pushy, and- He stopped himself before he could scare himself, and instead waited impatiently for the final bell.  

Percy had a sister named Lillian, or Lily for short. She looked nearly identical to her brother, but her orange hair was longer and decorated with pretty flowers. Percy only briefly introduced her to William as they began walking home together, but Lily didn't really seem to mind; She was happy to butt into their conversation every so often, but seemed to do so with grace instead of the boisterous excitement her twin showed. It felt like a whirlwind between the both of them, and though it was a little hard to keep up without being swept away, William was still very pleased to have such lively people around him. They were brilliant and exciting each in their own way. He had to pinch himself a few times to be sure that this was actually something that was happening... 

But even the joy they brought him could not erase the years of fear his name had brought, nor how little he had actually spoken to people in the past. He didn’t know how to talk to people, he was always worried he would say something wrong, and that these two amazing twins would be offended by his very existence and send him packing. But they never did. In fact, as they walked into the Wright family’s house, Percy greeted his mother in a way that both startled and flattered William. "Mom, this is Will, the kid I was talking to you about," Percy said, gesturing over to him. Lily held her arms out, as if she was presenting him like a game show prize. William chuckled at her, until he clued in that.. Wait, Percy had spoken to his mom about him? What had he said? His face dropped in worry, but Lily snorted and nudged him before his thoughts could spiral into all the horrible things about him that could have been said. "Oi. I see that face, dove.  D'ya think we're gonna hate ya over something somebody else did? We ain't petty like them other morons," she said with a small grin, "Nah. Percy just thinks you're really cool because a' how smart you are." "So that means that even you guys know about the thing?" William asked, hesitant. Of course everyone knew, but with the way that they had been treating him, he’d wondered if by some miracle they were oblivious to it. "Rumors and stuff, the usual. We know your parents were some awful people who did awful things, no offense,” Percy began. “None taken, they were awful,” William shrugged. “But we also know Mr. Adrichem’s been raising you since you were little... So if you’re going to take after anyone, it’s going to be him. And seeing as how he’s one of our favorite teachers, that’s not really too bad!” "In that case, worst you're gonna do is bug me 'bout my grammar," Lily added, and the twins looked to each other and nodded. They then looked over to their mom, who was giggling, but nodded. "So.…Yeah, maybe we shouldn't like… show him our writing skills..?." "Toplook skills?" "Yeah. Much better idea," Percy nodded to his sister, and they dragged him into the living room to play, one arm tugged by either sibling. William sighed. He felt like a great weight had been left at the door along with his shoes and backpack. Unfortunately for the twins, their new friend was incredible at Toplook, and he handed them their metaphorical asses even when they tag teamed against him. They were all good sports about it, laughing and having a great time... And while William was reluctant to go, he, for once, found himself actually excited to go to school the next day and made sure to give Bayesh the squishiest of hugs he could manage when returning home. Bayesh fondly watched his son. “What did you do?” Kero asked accusingly. Bayesh turned to him and grinned. “I... gave him a little push in the right direction, that’s all. He made the friends all on his own, he just needed a little help finding the needle in the haystack. After all, we were introduced by a mutual friend, weren’t we? There’s no harm in that.”

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#original story #SOAH #story of a hero #p1