#but when she’s on a time crunch yeah you get Piles

[the-faultofdaedalus]

lily’s armour workshop is a nightmare in terms of cable management

feat. ai tony

(not pictured: even more fucking battery shelves, soldering station, shelf with bins of various components)

#why use an arc reactor or some other small self-sustaining power source #when you can just have hundreds of batteries stored in a pocket dimention #that you can hot swap at will when one of them dies #oc stuffs #the cables are MOSTLY ok when she has time to set it up #see nice shelves of batteries #but when she’s on a time crunch yeah you get Piles #see: a’s temporary housing situation #lily blanchard stark

[me-and-your-husband]

if you lie down with me || e.w.

summary: there's one thing you and ellie don't have in common: immunity.

warnings: not beta read, swearing, blood, canon typical violence, death by suicide, ellie has concerning ideations, smut, oral, scissoring, multiple orgasms, angst!, crying during sex, arguing, probably more

word count: 6k

a/n: i know, i'm sorry for using this photo 😭 actually i'm sorry i wrote this entire thing

The end never feels like the end, does it? When you wake in the morning, the air is as fresh as the day before and the sun streams through the window at the same angle. You smile fondly at the incessant banging on your door, and at her urging tone when she tells you to get out of bed. “We have patrol,” she says, like she's said a thousand times before. What makes today any different? 

The gravel road feels the same as it crunches under your boots as she leads you to the gate. Her auburn hair shines the same in the light, the same way you've admired since you were fourteen and she had just settled in Jackson. 

You were helping out in the library, arms full of books stacked above your head. You struggled trying to keep them up with one hand and shelve them with the other. She noticed you from the corner, where she sat with a pile of beaten comics and a Walkman. “Need some help?” she asked, standing up from her spot on the ground. She took half the books from your pile and put them wherever you told her. After, when you asked her about the comics she was reading, her face lit up and she knew that you'd be a part of her life until death. Finally, someone was interested in knowing her. 

The friendly faces of the watchmen at the gate were the same as they were yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, a year. They waved at you and wished you good luck as you mounted your horse and rode alongside Ellie onto the trail. The way she shoved her pistol in her back pocket and slung her bow over her shoulders was always the same. The way your horse galloped evenly alongside Shimmer did not deviate from the norm. 

When she spoke up, her words were usual. 

“Look, babe. A hummingbird,” she said with glee, pointing to the frosty trees.

You smiled at her excitement. “Poor thing, it's so cold out.”

“Don't you remember?”

“Of course I remember, El,” you laughed. “How could I forget?”

How could you forget? It was a humid summer afternoon, shortly after Ellie had turned sixteen. You had snuck out of Jackson to explore a creek you had found the day prior on group patrol. You so badly wanted to show Ellie, to share every part of you with her. You didn't know what to call it, but you assumed it was just because you were really good friends. 

The soft rush of the water and the gentle breeze across your skin contrasted to the beating sun plastering your hair to your skin. You and Ellie sat with your backs against a wide oak, watching minnows skip through the water. 

“Do you think animals have feelings? Like us?” Ellie thought out loud. 

You hummed, “I do, but not as complicated as ours.” 

She nodded in agreement before her eyes drifted to the source of a new sound, a gentle humming. She saw the gentle bird sucking nectar from a flower, tapping your shoulder gently and pointing. 

“Look, a hummingbird,” she whispered.

“Woah!” You beamed, “I’ve only seen them in those nature books in the library. That's so cool. Did you know the sound actually comes from its wings?” 

As you watched the hummingbird, she watched you. “It’s really pretty.”

You agreed. She said your name, but looked away from you. 

“Yeah?”

“I think I like girls.”

You let the words settle in the air. 

“I think I do too.”

It was the first indication that something else could happen between you and her, something less platonic than you would've thought. After that, neither of you said anything about it, confident in the fact that something more could exist in the spaces between. 

It was the same confidence you had today as you followed her through the Wyoming woods, putting your trust in her. You took the same path almost every time you went out on patrol, knowing your way around, knowing the landmarks of the area. You knew you were getting close to the danger zone when you saw your favourite tree, the one you and Ellie would lean against by the creek, telling each other secrets into the night, crossing your heart to never tell another soul. Each of you knew that the other’s soul was the only one that mattered, anyways. 

It was just over a year ago that you’d both carved your initials into that tree, reminders of that early morning on patrol bringing a smile to your face. 

You had stopped for a moment to take a short break against the tree, letting your horses get some rest. Ellie leaned up against the tree as you pet Shimmer. The sun shone despite the snow and the brisk weather, illuminating your features gently. She admired the curve of your lips and the shape of your eyes, imagining her fingers tracing your skin under lamplight late at night. You looked up at her when your name tumbled from her lips. 

“Yeah?” You said, continuing to pet Shimmer.

“I like you.”

The air stilled and your hand faltered, breath hitching. But what if she didn’t mean it like that? 

You forced a laugh. “Well, I’d hope so. We’ve been friends for how long?”

“No, I…” she struggled for the right words. “I want to be more than friends. I like you. Like…romantically. And stuff.”

She played with her fingers, shuffling her feet back and forth in the snow, not meeting your gaze. 

“Ellie, look at me. Please,” you whispered. She raised her eyes to yours, but still kept her head low, not bringing it up until your hand cupped her jaw. She moved her hand on top of yours, trapping it there, wondering if it was just a dream. 

She closed her eyes tight when she saw you leaning in, praying that you weren't messing with her. When she finally felt your lips ghosting across hers, she leaned into you. Your touch was fire on her skin, leaving a red blush in its wake. She pressed your mouth to hers hungrily, never wanting this to end. 

“I like you too,” you mumbled against her lips. 

When you finally broke for air, chests heaving, you were both beaming. Ellie nervously reached into her pocket for her pocket knife, flicking it open. She held the blade against the bark of the tree, grabbing our hand and putting it on the hilt, sliding hers over top of it. 

She guided your hand as you carved your initials into the tree, trapping them inside of a heart. It was cliche, but it meant everything to you. 

It was the same tree that, a year later, you and Ellie passed on almost every patrol. The same tree that symbolized your everlasting love for each other. The same tree that stood since the dawn of your and Ellie’s time. 

You rode casually in comfortable silence until you got to the watchtower, negative memories plaguing both you and Ellie. The floorboards still held the echoes of your voices yelling, still soaked in your tears. 

Four months ago, when the rabbits were still brown and the path was clear of snow, you'd come through this watchtower to find two clickers. It caught you both off guard, as Jesse and Dina had just cleared it as safe the day before. 

Ellie, always being the hero, snuck up behind one, taking it out easily, and lunged at the other. The second one, however, pinned her to the ground, and she held it by the neck, its arms clawing hers. 

The sound of your pistol rang out as the body slumped on top of Ellie. She rolled it off and got up from the ground, chest heaving. 

“Well,” she said, brushing dirt from her jeans, “that was pretty close. Thanks.”

When you didn't respond, she turned to see you standing with your pistol still in both hands, brows furrowed as you watched the dead body of the clicker intently. She called your name. 

“What is it?”

You shook your head. 

“Come on, tell me-”

“Every fucking time, Ellie,” you said, shoving your pistol back in your pocket and turning away from her. “Why do you have to run head-first into danger like that every time?”

She didn't say anything, gaze on your back as she watched you turn back around. 

“What would I have done if you had gotten bit?” You said, voice a little watery. “Say something.”

She stumbled over her words, not knowing what to say. “I don't try to, you know, it’s just…” she sighed.

“You know, Ellie, sometimes I think that I value your life more than you do.”

The words hung in the air between you two, both of you knowing that you were right. Knowing that she could've been more, done so much more, saved so many people. But she was stripped of that. So what kind of meaning could she give to her life? What did she really have to live for? Before Joel, she never really had someone she knew would care if she died. Now she had you, and she didn't know how her recklessness would affect you. Now she did. 

“Okay, you're right. I’m too reckless. I’m sorry. I promise I’ll start thinking before I react,” she said, voice softening. 

You huffed, “I just worry about you, El. I don't know what I’d do without you.”

She hugged you tight, letting you nuzzle into her chest. She knew how you felt. Before you, she was hopeless. She didn't see a point in doing anything if her life couldn't be used by someone. What was it all for? Everything she'd struggled through? All she'd suffered? 

Now she knew that she was forced to experience it all so that she could end up with you. And she’d do it a million times over. 

She breathed your name. “I need to tell you something.”

You pulled away from her, “Well that's one way to start a conversation.”

She laughed nervously. “No, it's nothing bad. It's just…it might be hard to swallow.”

She gestured at an old, ratty chair. You sat and watched her intently. 

She took a deep breath, drawing it into her lungs and releasing it. “Do you remember why I got my tattoo?”

“Yeah, to cover up that chemical burn.”

“I lied,” she said. “That's not why I got the tattoo.”

You furrowed your brows in confusion, silently begging her to go on. 

“When I was fourteen, I was bitten. On my arm.”

You sat back in your chair. 

“I waited and waited for my mind to go, for my body to go, for anything to happen, but it never did. So…I’m immune, or whatever,” she said, searching for a reaction. 

Seconds of silence passed. It was shattered with a laugh.

“That's a good one, Ellie. Real funny.”

“It’s true! Ask Joel. Tommy. Maria. They're the only ones who know…”

“And you expect me to believe this?”

“Just trust me. Please. It's all I ask, is for you to trust my word. Why would I lie to you about this?” She pleaded. 

“Why didn't you tell me before?”

“Because Joel thinks it's dangerous for people to know. That's how we met, you know. He was hired to get me to the fireflies…they were going to make a cure,” she said, voice trailing off towards the end. 

“It didn't work, I take it?”

She shook her head. “Joel says they didn't need me.” Joel says. 

“Okay,” you said, making her look up at you. “I believe you. But that doesn't mean I’m fine with you running head-first into infected like that again. Just because you're…immune, doesn't mean you can't be torn apart. Got it?”

“Got it,” she said, crouching in front of you and putting her hands on your thighs. “God, I love you.”

You cleared out the watchtower and made your way back to the path. This part was one of your favourites, winding through the mountains. Your horses trotted casually beside each other. 

“Okay, okay, here's one: What do you say when a chef dies?” 

“Oh god, I don't know?”

“He pasta-way!” She said, giggling before she could even say the answer. 

Her laughter was contagious, sending it bubbling through your chest. “That's so bad that it's good.”

“Come on, just admit that I’m a top-notch comedian. If the world wouldn't have ended, I’d’ve been up there with Dave Chapelle.”

“Who’s Dave Chapelle?”

“I don't actually know. Some old ass comedian Joel told me about.”

You both laughed, smiles painted across your faces. However, the giggles subsided as you felt your horse start to shake slightly. 

“Woah, Shimmer, you okay girl?” Ellie said, patting her side. 

“Beau’s shaking too.”

“Maybe they’ve got…I don't know, a cold or something? Can horses even get colds?” You shrugged. “Maybe we should let them rest for a bit.”

You agreed, dismounting your horse and planting your feet on the ground. The shaking underneath you didn’t stop. You looked at Ellie, who looked at the mountain behind you. She yelled your name as you looked behind you.

A loud, grating noise sounded as you watched the earth of the mountain loosen from its side, rocks and boulders tumbling from it, falling in your direction. 

You hurriedly mounted your horses again, kicking their ribs to get them to go. You rode as fast as you could, attempting to beat the oncoming landslide. You'd never seen one before, only heard stories and read of them in books. You were about three quarters of the way through the mountain range when the land detached from the mountain and began to slide. 

“Go, go, go!” You yelled, Ellie a few feet ahead of you as her horse was younger than Beau. She glanced behind her every few seconds to make sure you were still there. 

The rocks falling created a settlement of dust around you, making it increasingly harder to breathe. You finally saw the green clearing outside of the mountain range. Almost there. 

The grating noise died, and you peered behind you to see the path completely covered in rubble. A few boulders still tumbled from the mountain, or whatever was left of it. 

“Watch out!” Ellie yelled. You looked to your right, seeing a massive boulder rolling down the mountain, coming right for you. 

You acted before you could think, much like Ellie, and propelled yourself forward off your horse as the boulder hit Beau and rolled atop of his body. You landed on the ground near Ellie, propping yourself up on your elbows to gawk at the sight. 

“Oh my god,” you whispered, running to Beau. His body was mangled, bones sticking out of the skin and blood painting the grass. You felt like vomiting. 

Ellie dismounted her horse, still shaking from the adrenaline, and put her hands on your shoulders, attempting to get you standing. 

“Wait,” you said, leaning back down, planting a teary kiss on Beau's muzzle. 

You stood, holding her tight. “Let's never come through here again.”

“Don't think we can, sweetheart,” she said, looking back at the obstruction. “Come on, we've gotta find a new way back home.”

She was about to help you mount Shimmer when you both froze in your tracks. A low, husky groan rung out through the air, scaring Shimmer. She ran into the clearing out of fright. 

“Shit,” Ellie breathed. 

“We’ll find her later. Come on, we have to go. It's either a bloater or a shambler, and I don't really want to stick around to find out.” 

You turned to leave when the ground shook again. You turned around, looking back at the mountain. It wasn't the mountain shaking this time. Spewing through the hole the landslide left like spiders were hundreds—if not thousands—of infected. Clickers, runners, stalkers, bloaters, shamblers. Everything. 

There was no way you were making it out of this unless you legged it now. 

In unison, you and Ellie started sprinting to your last checkpoint— the old cabin. You ran faster than you ever had before, the sounds of hungry infected hot on your heels. You couldn't feel your legs, the burning in your flesh too intense. When the cabin finally came into view, you couldn't even allow yourself a breath of relief. You and Ellie had your guns out, shooting behind you as you ran, picking off as many infected as you could. When you were close enough to the cabin, the idea hit you. You knew that the creaky boards of the cabin wouldn't hold that many infected off. You knew what you had to do. 

“Ellie, cover me!” You yelled as you slung your backpack off your shoulder and grabbed what you'd need. You grabbed an old bottle of whiskey you and Ellie had found at the watchtower and a rag. Stuffing the rag in the bottle, you lit it with your lighter. 

In the ten seconds it took you to do this, the infected crept closer and closer to you. Ellie tried picking off as many as she could, keeping them away from you. Until her magazine ran out. 

You threw the molotov in front of the hoard of infected. It exploded, creating a wall of fire between you and your death. 

Until a single clicker went at you from the side. The light of the fire flickered in your irises and cast an orange glow across your face, and you didn't even hear it creeping up amidst the roar of the flames. You didn't even hear Ellie yell your name. 

It tackled you to the ground before you could even turn your head all the way, talons scratching your arms and legs, sinking into your stomach. Its jaw was inches away from your neck, begging to gnaw on your jugular. In the struggle for your life, you couldn't even tell where you were and weren't hurt, what was bleeding and what wasn't. 

Blood gushed into your hair and eyes as you watched Ellie slice its head clean off with her pocketknife. The same one you'd carved your initials into that old oak with. 

Something inside of you rattled knowing that something could be used so innocently and yet so dangerously. 

Ellie picked you up from the ground and helped you limp into the cabin, reeds of grass tickling your wounds. When you entered, you stood in the centre of the room as she barricaded the entrances. 

“There,” she said, returning to you. You were both coming off adrenaline, suddenly feeling the ache in your bones to an indescribable extent. 

You put your hands on your knees and leaned on them, heaving a little. “Ellie. We were so close.”

She just nodded in understanding. Her eyes survey you from top to bottom. You had a scratch across your cheek, a few minor lacerations across your arms and chest, and a few on your legs. She couldn't see any bites. 

You brought your right arm up to run it shakily through your hair. That's when she saw it, brutal and bloody, painted into your skin like a brand. One that would decide your fate. Except that it had already been decided. 

The sight of the bite on your forearm turned her stomach. She blinked over and over again, hoping that she was seeing wrong. Maybe she was still coming off of adrenaline. “Your arm…” she breathed. 

“What?” You asked, confused. You looked over your left, then your right, and…oh. “Oh.”

The silence was deafening. It wasn't like you'd been badly injured, still with a sliver of possibility for recovery. No, this bite sealed your fate. 

In the next day, you were going to become something Ellie had to detest. Something she had to kill. 

You felt the bile rise in your throat just in time to grab a decayed flower pot. You choked out everything in your stomach and more.

Ellie grabbed her stomach as she felt her body start to shake, that feeling creeping up her spine again. Her breath felt like it was being siphoned out of her. She needed air, but her lungs would not take any in. She hyperventilated as she threw herself back against the wall, legs giving out. 

A sweat broke out across her body, knowing that she's losing you tonight. 

Her mind shoved memories into her vision that she swore to never bring up again. 

“There're a million ways we should've died before today. And a million ways we can die before tomorrow. But we fight…for every second we get to spend with each other. Whether it's two minutes…or two days. We don't give that up.”

She remembers the small, impossible slice of hope in Riley’s eyes, one that she knew was futile. Riley was her first love. She thought they were both going to die. She felt…horrible. You would be her last love, though she knew only you were fated to die. She knew she would die too. 

Your voice calling her name broke her out of her fit. One look at you wiping your face and shaking was enough to make her want to break something, anything. 

“Ellie,” you called. She stood and began pacing, running her hands over her face. “Ellie, stop it.”

“There's gotta be…there has to…we need…” she babbled, still pacing. An idea clicked, “give me your arm.”

You held out your shaking arm to your lover, expecting her to inspect the area. Instead, she took out her pocket knife and pressed the blade into her hand without any hesitation. 

“Ellie! What the fuck?!” You said, trying to stop her hand from bleeding. 

“Give me your arm,” she said firmly, a major contrast from before. When you hesitated, her hard gaze met yours. Her eyes softened when she saw the fear in your eyes. “Please,” she whispered. 

You gave her your arm and let her rub her blood into the bite. 

She took your arm and rubbed the blood into the bite knowing it wouldn’t work. 

It wouldn't work on you. 

She knew that. 

She tried anyway.

As she massaged the blood as deep into the wound as she could get, all she could think about was that she would've been able to save you if they made the cure. Her life would've had meaning, so much meaning. She would've been able to cure you from this. But she was helpless, cursed to watch you suffer. 

“Ellie,” you said, putting your hand atop hers to get her to stop and look at you. She could see in your eyes that you just needed to be close to her in that moment. She needed it too, needed to be impossibly closer as to grip into you forever. 

She buried her head into your neck and you did the same, holding your breath. For if you breathed, time would pass. If time passed, you'd be gone. 

You don't know how long you held each other like that, but it was long enough that your legs nearly collapsed with exhaustion. You were the first to speak. 

“I need you to promise me something,” you whispered. 

Ellie knew what you were going to say before the words left your mouth. 

“No-” she began pulling away from you, but you squeezed her tighter. 

“When it starts to happen…when I can feel it, I’m going to take my gun-”

“Stop it-”

“-and I’m going to go outside. You’ll know it's over-”

“-Stop-”

“-when you hear it. Just promise me you won't look.”

“Stop, please,” she begs, tears brimming in her eyes again. She takes a step back from you and turns around. 

“Promise me.”

The words get caught in her throat. Her lip trembles. “Okay.”

Outside, rain starts to fall softly, tapping against the rotting wood of the cabin. 

She breaks the new silence. “I should've been there. I should've taken my rifle out, anything-”

“El, it's not your fault. Look at me,” you say. She looks at you over her shoulder. You nearly crumble at her red eyes and wet cheeks. “Never blame yourself. You hear me?”

She just squeezes her eyes shut, willing for this to all go away. 

You walk to her, putting your hands on her shoulders and leaning your forehead against her back. You tried not to look at the bite. 

“Ellie.”

“Yeah.”

“Will you give me one last good night?”

The soft pattering of the rain against the wood, trickling off the roof and into the ground. 

“Please?”

She says nothing, instead turning around and gently capturing your lips in a kiss. Your bloodied hands find her wet cheeks, noting that the tears haven't stopped. 

Ellie wanted to give you everything you wanted and more, and she had sworn she would from the moment she met you. If this was the last thing you ever asked from her, she would give it to you. 

But it was so unbelievably hard knowing that this time would be your last. 

She pushed you back against the wall, nearly devouring you. The salty mix of your tears and hers slipped into the kiss, but you didn't care. She moved her hand down to cup you where you wanted her.

You bucked your hips into the friction, already needing her. You began to undo your belt, but Ellie’s hand on your wrist stopped you. 

“Are you sure this is what you want?” She said, voice gravelly. 

“Yes, El,” you said. “I don't know where I’ll be tomorrow, or…what I’ll be,” she let out a shaky breath, “but I know I want to be with you right now.”

She sniffled and nodded, getting on her knees to take your belt off. She threw it to the side, unbuttoning your jeans, sliding them down along with your panties. You opened your legs wider for her.

She ran two fingers through your slit before sinking one into your hole, tongue giving kitten licks to your folds. 

You could tell that she wasn't going to be as vocal as usual. 

You couldn't really blame her. 

You whimpered as she added another finger, pumping them in and out of you, filling the air with obscene sounds. She lapped at your cunt, trying her hardest to give you what you want. 

“Ellie, don't stop,” you moaned, whimpering when she used her other arm to hold your hips down against the wall. “Almost there.”

You could feel the coil tightening inside if you quickly, your climax coming in record time. You thought for a moment that it was because of how sensitive you were in this moment. 

You moaned wantonly and grabbed her hair as you came, her tongue working on your clit and her fingers scissoring you open. 

You expected her to stop, but she kept going. In fact, she added a third finger. 

You heard her moan into your pussy, looking down to find her grinding into the floor, a wet spot forming on her jeans. She was so messy, your juices coating her face, red-rimmed eyes and messy hair, rutting into nothing and moaning into your cunt. 

When the fabric of her jeans caught her clit just right, she took her mouth of your pussy, replacing it with her thumb instead, and leaned her forehead against your stomach. You came with her from the sensitivity, both of your moans filling the air, pleading for more. 

When she laid you down on a thin blanket from her backpack and undressed both of you, you noted the scared look in her eyes. The way she looked at you, drinking you in, knowing this would be your last time together. Some part of you wished that neither of you knew about the bite, that you didn't have to treat this so differently. That you could enjoy it. Enjoy your last moments together.

She threw her leg over yours, kissing you messily, yet softly, as she ground into you, folds slotting against each other. You both moaned each time your clits touched. 

As she grew closer to her climax, she buried her face into your neck. You tried to ignore the feeling of her tears trickling down and pooling at your nape. 

You came together. You moaned, but she cried out, more guttural than you'd ever heard from her. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you—!” she cried into your neck as she came. 

When you slowed down, she held you like that without words. 

“I love you too, Ellie,” you whispered, just loud enough for her to hear over the rain. 

You held each other as the sun set, through the night, and through the rain. 

The golden rays of the sun shone through the cracks in the walls and shudders, dancing across her bare body pressed into your side. Hours ago, her body had stopped shaking and her tears stopped spilling onto your chest, your hands running patterns across her skin lulling her into an exhausted sleep. 

Your eyes had never closed, however. You knew you wanted to be awake to feel it happening, to know when you were losing control over your body. For Ellie’s sake. 

The rain had stopped and the clouds were cleared. Birds sang outside and all the animals went about their day. You thought it strange that the world would continue on without you, that people will age and new ones will be born, that people will die and people will forget about you in time. Your impermanence had never struck you as hard as it did now. 

You felt the twitching in your feet first, unnoticeable at first, but is it crawled up your limbs, you knew it was happening. It happened over three or four hours, and once you felt your neck jerk the first time, you knew. 

Your blood didn't feel like your own anymore, like someone exsanguinated it and replaced it with jelly, slowing you down. Your vision wasn't gone, but you couldn't focus it on anything. It constantly sounded like you were underwater, drowning, gasping for air to no avail. 

Your eyes hardly left the woman in your arms, clinging to you even in sleep. You know she'd curse herself for falling asleep, but you were thankful for it. You were thankful that you could press a tearful kiss to her forehead before gently escaping her grasp, muffling your sobs behind your hand. You threw your shirt and jeans on quietly, dizzy, slipping your shoes on. Your world spun, your lungs burned, your head throbbed. 

You picked up your pistol, watching Ellie stir slightly in her sleep, creamy skin illuminated in the sun, her freckled face creased slightly with worry, even in sleep. You put the gun in your pocket. 

You tried, as silently as you could, to move the barricade from the door. You were thankful that she was a heavy sleeper. 

You were thankful that you didn't have to see the despair in her eyes when you said a forceful goodbye, thankful that you didn't have to convince her to let you go, thankful that your last memory of her was this, thankful that her last memory of you was bliss. 

Through your sobs, you squeezed through the door and shut it behind you, leaning your head against it, willing for this all to be a nightmare. It wasn't, because you started to feel something else take over your will. 

Before you could lose it completely, you forced yourself into a dense brush of greenery, somewhere you hoped she wouldn't look. 

You panted, sweating, trembling, as you took the pistol out of your pocket. It shook with your hand as you held it to your temple, bright eyes taking in all of the world that you could before it was gone. 

You squeezed them tightly, willing yourself to stop shaking. You conjured the image of your lover in your mind, her auburn hair, milky skin, pretty green eyes, and those familiar freckles. How could you ever forget her?

You took a breath in, and breathed out: “I love you.”

Ellie sat up in terror when she heard the sound of a single gunshot ring through the air, seeping in through the cracks of the window and underneath the door. It took her a moment to process what it was, reaching for her pistol next to her discarded clothes. When her fingertips brushed the gun, it settled in. She craned her head to look beside her, half expecting you to still be asleep. 

When she remembered what the sound of the gunshot meant, what you had made her promise, her lungs collapsed and she couldn't take any air in. Tears spilled from her eyes as she heaved, clawing at her chest for any relief. It didn't come. 

She knew it never would.

When Joel got word that you and Ellie still hadn't returned from patrol, he worried that you'd gotten stuck in the landslide. He pleaded with Tommy and Jesse to go out with him to search, knowing he wouldn't be at peace without knowing what happened. 

When the two agreed, they set off on horses to clear all of the checkpoints. It took an extra day to get around the mountain range that was blocked off by rubble. 

When they only had one more checkpoint to clear, Joel got increasingly worried. If you weren't here, where were you?

When the three men got to the cabin, they held their breath as they dismounted their horses. Joel tried pushing the door open, but the barricade stopped him. It took the three of them to open the door, pushing the barricade out of the way. 

The open door shed light on the figure against the back wall covered in a thin blanket, trembling. Joel let out the breath he was holding in when he saw Ellie. She was clutching your backpack to her chest, trying to keep any remaining part of you alive, hers. 

She had hardly noticed Joel pick her up and carry her to his horse, wrapping the blanket tighter around her. She squeezed her eyes shut, not ready to see the world without you in it. 

“Ellie,” Joel’s gruff voice intruded her thoughts, “where is she?”

Ellie’s words failed her. All she could do was point to her forearm, to the bite that only Joel and Tommy knew hid underneath the tattoo. 

She doesn't remember what happened after that. 

It was warmer now, the flowers blossoming and the green coming back to Jackson’s landscape. Ellie sat facing your headstone, wishing you could've seen it. Wishing she could've shown it to you. 

“It’s summer now,” she began. “We started planting these new flowers in your garden…Joel thinks you would've liked them. I think so too. They're really colourful…you know.”

She hesitated.

“Sometimes I wonder if you can hear me. Or if I’m just talking to myself like a crazy person. Joel says it's good for me. I don't know if I believe him.”

She played with her hands, tracing her tattoo. 

“I wish you were still here,” she whispered. Her eyes drifted over all the flowers left by your grave from all the people who loved you. 

Her eyes filled with tears as she watched a pretty red hummingbird land on your grave, searching for pollen in the flowers.

ellie taglist:

@chrry1ovr @milly-louise @dankpunks @starhrtz @pedrobaby @urlocalgingersnap @wrendermedone @kissyslut @felsweb

permanent taglist:

@winters-fairy @idkwhattonamethisblogs

#ellie williams #ellie williams smut #ellie williams angst #ellie williams x reader #ellie williams x reader smut #ellie williams x reader angst #tlou #the last of us #tlou 2 #the last of us 2 #lesbian

[shannon4salacia]

SECRET?

Clarisse La Rue x Aphrodite!reader

Warnings: breakup, smoking, not proofread so…. misspellings? maybe?

“Im sorry you know I had to do it.” i spoke quietly, holding the girls hands in mine, “I really didn’t want to.”

The blonde hephastus girls hair stuck to her tear-soaked face, her eyes watering as she looked in mine, “You promised me that you wouldn’t do it, you said it meant nothing to you!” She yanked herself away from me.

I really didn’t want to hurt her, I actually liked her. The guilt of it was swallowing me up already.. “Im sorry but I need my mother to love me, okay? I understand if you don’t get it because your mom raised you, but it’s hard being a teenage girl with no parental figure okay!” I pressed my hands into my forehead, rubbing my temples.

“Sorry, I just-” She tried to grab me again, her hand brushing over my arm. I pulled away from her touch.

“Im sick of having to figure everything out on my own. I just needed somebody to love me. I still need someone to love me.”

“I can love you!” She tried to hold me by my shoulder and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

I shoved her back harder than I meant to. “Stop it. No you cant.” She stumbled over her heels.

“Get out.” she mumbled.

So I did. I didn’t want her to see me cry, and I didn’t want to see her cry. I actually liked somebody and they liked me, but I had to do it.

The second the chilly air hit my body and I closed the door, I broke out into sobs.

The dirt pathway crunched under my feet, the small rocks pressing into the bottom of my old nike shoes. Tears flowed down my face as i wiped them away harshly with my sweatshirt sleeve.

I walked up the single checker-tiled step to the light grey building, my hands shaking as I opened the light pink door. My siblings crowded around me, smiling and giggling. Silena, my twin sister, stood in-front of me, “Did you do it?”

“Yeah.”

It had been three months since I became, quote on quote, worthy to my mother.

I don’t think it made a huge difference, other than the fact the every time I saw the girl I just felt a massive amount of guilt instead of butterflies.

She seemed happy, she had friends and moved on to somebody else. thank the gods.

The campfire flames whisped around in the centre of the space, warming everybody around it. I sat on the dirt ground in in front of my sister while she braided my hair, talking to her and her friend.

“I just… I think it’s stupid that they can tell what we will miss the most on our plate! How do they know I really like mac n cheese?”

“Silena, what?” I giggled looking up at my sister, “Stop moving your head!”

The curly head spoke up, “Im sorry, but you’d miss macaroni over everything?”

“Oh my gods! Clarisse do you even know her?” I laughed, “One time when we were younger, she refused to eat anything other than macaroni for like 3 weeks straight!”

Silena hit me jokingly on the shoulder, as Clarisse poked at the girl.

“Hey, your hairs done.” I stood up from the ground and dusted the dirt off my pants. Silena smiled at me as I thanked her, “I’ll see you later, I’m gonna go back to the cabin.”

The girls waved and said their goodbyes as I left, but I wasn’t going back to my cabin.

I glanced around me and cut through the woods, trying to avoid anybody and everybody. The leaves crunched quietly under my shoes. The crisp air wrapped around my body, and I missed the fire already.

I found my usual place to sit, a large pile of rocks (close enough to the lake to hear the water, but far enough away for it to be peaceful). My hands gripped around the jagged rocks as I climbed up over a boulder, sitting in a crevice.

I opened up my small bag, pulling out a half-burnt joint and a lighter. I held it behind my hand to hide it from the slight wind and light the end, letting it fully light before holding it to my lips.

The smoke entered my lungs and went out, drifting into the fall air. “Thought I heard somebody up here.”

Clarisse stood there with her hands on her hips, smiling at me lightly. When did she get so pretty?

Her curly hair gleamed under the dull orange light, her eyes shining. “Well don’t just sit and stare. Give me it”

She sat down next to me, our sides touching as she leant over to grab it. I watched her every move, trying to figure out why people thought she was mean. I guess she had her moments, but she was a genuinely sweet girl.

“Clarisse?” i spoke lightly.

She mumbled in response, looking into my eyes. “Don’t tell Silena, please.”

“You know, she was so pissed off when she realized you weren’t at the cabin,” the girl giggled, “and then I convinced her you were just on a walk and she told me to go look for you.”

“So… thats why you’re here?” It was pretty straightforward, I don’t know why I was so confused. “Mhm, and now I know your secret spot.” She poked at my side, smiling at me.

“I guess it’s our secret spot, now.”

The curly head put the joint out on one of the rocks, watching it with such intensity.

She twiddled with it in her fingers while we sat in silence, for minutes that felt like hours. “Here.” She grabbed my hand and placed it on my palm.

She spoke. again, suddenly, “How do you look so perfect?”

“It’s an Aphrodite thing.” I replied as I shuffled around in my bag, placing the joint back into a pocket. “Why?”

“I just… you always look so… pretty. And your hair is like, perfect, and you have a really nice smile and perfect teeth.” She looked down at her hands as if she was embarrassed, which she probably was. She never compliments people, or cares for that matter. “I just don’t know how you do it. Do you feel pretty?”

“Yeah, I do. Clars, do you feel pretty?” I turned lightly to face her. She thought hard about the question

“I don’t know.”

I didn’t know what to say, or if I was even supposed to say anything. “Oh.” I put my arms out, and to my surprise she wrapped hers around me. “you’re so pretty,” i mumbled into her ear. My finger drew designs on her back, her orange shirt dragged around with it. “You’re so, so pretty.”

It was like her entire personality had changed in a split second as she pushed me away. “I got to go.” She stood up and left before I could even say anything.

My eyes were so heavy, and I never made it off that rock that night.

The rock pressed up against my body as I woke up, curled into a ball. My hair was tangled from the wind, my shirt was twisted in weird directions.

The morning dew covered my entire body which made my hair extremely frizzy. My sweatpants were pushed up to my calves, probably from rolling around in my sleep.

I stood up and stretched, yawning before grabbing my bag and rushing back to my cabin. As soon as I walked theough the door, Silena engulfed me in her arms. “Where have you been!”

“Sorry, I fell asleep and I just… it wont happen again.” I mumbled, looking down at my feet. My shoes were covered in dirt.

“It better not, I was so worried. We all were.” The brunette girl looked at me with her arms crossed, a stern motherly look plastered over her face.

“What time is it?”

She looked over at the small clock, “4 a.m.” I walked over to my bed and grabbed a jacket from the end. “I need to talk to Clarisse.”

I started towards the door again and she grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “Uhm, no!”

“That actually wasn’t a question.”

“I- just go.”

I smiled at her happily and left my cabin. After 5 minutes of walking, the Ares cabin cane into view. You cant just waltz through the door at 4 in the morning, so I found the window over her bed. I tapped the glass lightly, standing on my tiptoes.

Clarisse rubbed her eyes as she woke up, glancing over the me. She rolled her eyes at me then sat up, unlocked the window and slid it open. “What up?” she spoke tiredly.

“I know it’s really early, but you kind of just… like… left? She leant on the frame of the window, sitting criss cross on her bed. “Sorry, I never even said goodnight…”

“Yeah.”

Her smile wavered and fell as she spoke nervously, “Do you like anybody?

I rested my face in my hands, my elbows on the frame. “Mhm. Why?”

“I think you know why.”

I brushed her hair out of her face and tucked the curly behind her ears, playing with one of the strands. She cupped my face in her rough hands, smiling at me.

“Do you, like… I dunno.” she asked with a wavering tone in her voice, as if she was uneasy on her next sentence. “Can I… Uhm…”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I uhm… can I kiss you?” I nodded lightly at the girl before she pulled us together, our lips lightly brushing against one another before they locked together. She pulled away for a second before kissing me again, our lips moving in unison. Her fingers traveled through my hair, guiding my head as I leant further my over the window.

“Clars, You okay? Why’d you stop?”

“Give me a fucking second… Im really nervous.” I giggled at the girl before I pulled us back together again.

“Yeah, I can tell.” i spoke jokingly between kisses, before she pulled away from me entirely. “Come inside.”

“What?” I laughed. She wasn’t joking. “Yeah, just hop through the window.” She grabbed my hand and started pulling me in, falling back onto her bed.

She was pressed under me as we laughed, my face burrier in her neck. “Why is it so cold in here?”

She giggled at me, “the windows open.”

“Oh yeah.” I got off the girl and closed the window, sitting across from her.

She tossed a red sweatshirt at me, florida written across it in large letters. “Thanks,” i smiled at her.

I put it on over my shirt, laying down in a ball on her bed. “Hey, Clarisse?”

“Whats up?” She pulled me over to the head of the bed, wrapping her arms around me while we lied there.

“Can we keeps this a secret?”

“Yeah.”

#clarisse la rue #pjo #percy jackson #wlw

[dumbkiri]

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝔾𝕠𝕛𝕠 𝕊𝕒𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕦 『1』

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ: ꜰʟᴏᴡᴇʀꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ

[Name] is a user of blessed energy that comes with many abilities and perks. She's pursued by many men who are interested in her ability to exorcise curses. Too bad, she likes dirt.

ɢᴏᴊᴏ ꜱᴀᴛᴏʀᴜ x ꜰᴇᴍ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

“Shoko, please don’t smoke around my flowers. It’s distasteful.” 

“Yeah, my bad.” 

[Name] focused back on her task which was tending to her beautiful flowers in the school’s garden.  Her eyes observed the red rose bush that was blooming in such a pleasing way. It made her heart flutter in excitement seeing the hard work she put in achieving greatness. 

And this was made with her blessed energy, she was happy for that. Hopefully the experiments to add flower leaves in her tea will help her wounds instead of outright using her blessed energy. It was less consuming and a better idea. 

“Say, [Name], you do realize that your hand is up for marriage. Why are you here pretending that everything is okay while the old geezers discuss your future?” 

[Name] dragged her index fingers on the thorns of the roses with a quiet hum. She pulled back from the bush and sighed, “Why worry about who I’m going to marry, Sho? It’s not up to you or I to decide. Therefore, there is no reason to dwell on it.”

Shoko rolled her eyes and sat down on the bench across from [Name], who was crouched down in the dirt. Her friend was too gentle when it came to her future. Shoko wanted a genuine reaction from [Name], not the usual relaxed responses. 

“And what if you are sent to the Zen’ins? Or married to a really old man who wants you as a breeding machine?  Will you not protest then?” 

[Name] set her pruners down next to a pile of ruined roses. The [e.color] eyed female replied with a light chuckle, “At that point, I think I’ll just jump off a bridge.” 

“That’s really cruel,  [Name]-Sensei.” 

The woman looked away from her rose bushes and standing in the early morning sun was her favorite first year student, Megumi Fushiguro. Granted, he was the only first year student currently. He was dressed in his school uniform, it really seemed to be the only clothing he wore these days. 

“Megumi, please ignore what I said. I was only jesting with an old friend of mine. I wouldn’t jump off a bridge.” 

“I would,” Shoko replied dryly to which [Name] lightly glared at her friend. 

“Anyways,” [Name] picked up the dead roses and stood up to her full height, “whoever my husband will be, will be. I only hope he provides me with the freedom to take care of the garden.” 

Shoko slid to the edge of the bench and rested her elbow on the arm rest. “If he doesn’t provide you a garden, divorce him.”

[Name] laughed and sat down next to her friend and patted the empty seat next to her for Megumi. “If only divorce was that easy, Sho. Also I believe divorce isn’t an option for me either. I can only imagine the mistresses my future husband can have while I’m stuck with his old ass.” 

“Finally, I get a true reaction from you.” Shoko tosses her cigarette in the trash bin as well as the ruined roses in [Name]’s hands. 

“You do make me curious as to who my husband will be.” [Name] stifled a laugh with her clean hands, she looked at Shoko then Megumi. Then she looked back at her luscious garden, “Apparently Satoru is a candidate for my hand. Imagine us being married.” 

Megumi cleared his throat and said, “I would rather you be married to Gojo-sensei than someone cruel.” 

“I second that.” Shoko tilted her head back and looked at the clouds high above them, “you’re too good for the others. But for Satoru, you two are a perfect match.” 

“I hate to disturb the peace, but [Name] you are being called forth to a meeting with the elders.” Principal Yaga stepped in the garden entrance. The contact between his shoes and the smooth pebbled path crunched under his weight. 

[Name] pushed herself off the bench and looked at her best friend and amazing student with a graceful smile on her face. “The next time you guys see me, I’ll have a ring on my finger.” She walked to Principal Yaga and stopped at the entrance. She kept her eyes forward, her hands finding their way into the pockets of her long skirt,  “No matter who I am to marry, please know that I will remain happy. This, I promise to you both.” 

Shoko nor Megumi had time to respond as [Name] teleported herself to the meeting. Her technique was like Gojo’s but she left a puddle of various flower petals in her wake.  

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Everybody could feel her presence when she arrived. It was refreshing, calming and damn near intoxicating. This was the way her blessed energy worked on people in her vicinity. 

The servants immediately ran to her side and were amazed to see how clean she was. They heard many stories of the maiden caring for a garden, yet she remained spotless. Not a single speck of dirt on her or her clothing. 

“Well then, are you to dress me properly?” [Name] asked the servant girls with her soft voice and the four of them nodded their heads leading the way to her changing room. She followed their calculated steps into a room where her furisode kimono awaited her. It was so beautiful and fitting for a woman like herself. 

The background was black, the spiral lines were gold, the flower shapes were a deep red and there were light shades of pink and white in them. “Miss, today is so different from traditions,” One servant spoke as she undressed [Name] from her casual wear. 

“Oh, and why is that?” [Name] asked. 

The second servant spoke up and said quietly, “Because everyone wants your hand, miss. None of them could agree on who should marry you.” 

“It’s not odd to hear the Elders argue amongst themselves, is it?” [Name] questioned and walked up to the other two servants who helped her with putting the kimono on. 

“Well this time, they all agreed for you to choose one of them.” The third servant brushed [Name]’s hair back. 

“But to make it even for all the candidates, you get to choose an item they offered to you. You don’t know who picked out what for you.” The fourth servant girl quietly said. 

This left [Name] to wonder. What kind of things did these old men offer for her hand. As she was lost in thought, the servant worked on doing her makeup and hair. They styled it perfectly and her makeup was too. They observed the calm expression on her face and said, “It’s time to go, miss.” 

[Name] looked in the mirror and was surprised to see how well they did. “Thank you for giving me a heads up on what this meeting is. It’s a choosing ceremony and I have the freedom to pick my husband based on their gifts to me.”

“Of course, miss.” 

They led her to an entrance and the double doors opened up for her. The room was dark with marriage candidates hiding behind shades. There was a table with six gifts presented in the light and she slowly walked up to it with a lump in her throat. 

This was the moment and she was terrified. Although she kept a calm composure. She didn’t want to display weakness in front of the wolves.

“Welcome, [L.Name] [Name]. In front of you are marriage proposals from the families interested in having your hand. Please examine them and choose the gift you appreciate the most.” 

[Name] heard the speaker clearly despite his nasally voice and she walked closer to the table. There was a necklace of gold, a red ribbon, a silver bracelet, a block of smooth wood, a gold coin, and a pile of dirt. 

“A pile of dirt?” [Name] whispered and looked closely at it. The soil looked very well nourished and it all felt too familiar to her. 

“Do you have an answer, [L.Name]?”

[Name] looked away from the dirt and sheepishly said, “Please give me another moment. I’m sure you don’t want to pressure me to make the wrong choice.” She was met with silence and she went back to examining her gifts. 

They were unique as some would say. Yet the pile of dirt was sticking out to her the most. Did this man know she had a love for gardening? If so, this man would be the perfect match for her. [Name] lifted her head up and placed her hands in front of her. 

She said with confidence, “I accept the pile of dirt.” 

The room broke into an outrage as they argued with her choice. “What makes you want the pile of dirt out of the gold necklace?” 

“Or the silver bracelet?” 

“Choose again! The pile of dirt serves no-” 

[Name] backed away from the table in shock to their untamed anger. She was glad to say that the three that spoke up were not chosen. Then from the corner of her eye on the left, she spotted a tall man peering from the shades. 

A giant smile was on his face and he walked up towards her. “Sa…Satoru? You are the one?” [Name] shyly asked, a blush fanning across her face. 

“Yup!” He happily said, popping the ‘p’. He draped an arm around her shoulder and leaned down to her face. His nose brushed against her own, “I knew that the dirt would appeal to you, earth-worm.”

“Please, don’t call me that in front of them,” [Name]’s eyes gazed over to the quiet, but angry elders. Gojo hummed and straightened out his back with an annoyed sigh. “You guys were the ones who decided on a choosing ceremony. Let’s not forget how it works. When a proposal gift is accepted, there is no redo.” 

Gojo began leading [Name] away from the group of men and she looked back at them wearily. Their eyes are full of jealousy and rage. “Satoru, it’s impolite to leave without a goodbye.” 

Gojo tilted his head down to look at her with his dark glasses, “Eh~ They’ll get over it in no time. Now come on, Megumi has a mission soon and I want to surprise him with our announcement.” 

“Sorry, Satoru, but I don’t like the smile on your face. You have an icky plan devised, don’t you?” [Name] asked, her attention never away from him. 

Gojo smiled and nodded his head, “Ahh~ Not even five minutes into our engagement and you know exactly what’s going on in my head.” 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Good morning students,” [Name] greeted the second years and Megumi with a straight face that was very hard to muster. Gojo had told her that to make this believable she needed to portray the correct emotions. 

“[Name]-sensei, what’s wrong?” Megumi asked, concerned that the look on her face was devastating. She didn’t think she could keep up with this rude prank on her students. But the thumbs up she got from Gojo hiding in her rose bush behind them kept her going. 

“You all heard about my…, how do I say this?” [Name] faltered and cleared her throat, “I am engaged now and to whom you might ask? Uh…It’s Naoya Zen’in.” The woman sweatdropped at their expressions of gloom. Especially from Maki. 

“You’re kidding.” 

“That sounds terrible, [Name]-sensei.”

“Mustard leaf.”

“Wait, Gojo-sensei didn’t stop this? He said that he would definitely win your hand. He told me that his gift would catch your eye.” Megumi growled out, he was disturbed by the terrible news. 

Maki looked over at Megumi and asked him, “Did Gojo-sensei tell you what he was going to get for her?” 

Megumi shook his head and looked away from his upperclassmen. He mumbled to the side, “A pile of dirt.” 

“A pile of dirt?!” Maki and Panda shouted at the same time, obviously disturbed by Megumi’s answer. 

“Of course that idiot would choose something so stupid! Why would [Name]-sensei go for a pile of dirt?” Maki pinched the bridge of her nose. 

“Aha! That’s where you all are wrong!” Gojo jumped out of the bushes startling his students with his sudden appearance. He stood tall next to [Name] and side hugged her as he explained. 

“What is the one thing your dear teacher loves the most?” Gojo asked his students and they all looked at him with dead expressions on their faces. 

“Wasting our time.”

“Being annoying.” 

“Talking.” 

Gojo deflated in [Name]’s arms and she chuckled, saying to the teens, “I believe he meant to ask what do I love the most?” 

Panda raised his hand and smiled, “That’s an easy one! You love gardening.” 

“Yeah, you always spend your free time here. Also I forgot to mention, Inumaki and I pruned the orange roses yesterday morning.” Maki said leaning on her left foot with her hand placed on her hip. 

“Thank you,” [Name] said kindly and shook the man in her arms, “Satoru, come on, tell them the best part.” 

Gojo inflated and put his hands on his hips and puffed his chest out, “It turns out, [Name] loves dirt more than a gold necklace and a silver bracelet! She ended up choosing my gift!” 

“Wait, so you’re not married to Naoya?” Maki questioned, her eyebrows raised in question. 

[Name] shook her head with a smile on her face, “I am not. Satoru wanted me to say that to see your reactions to the truth. I am sorry for playing you all like that.” She bowed sincerely while Gojo laughed at his students’ faces. 

“And *click* This will be saved in our photo album.” Gojo took a picture of the four and stuffed his phone back into his pocket. “Anyways, you all may call [Name]...Gojo-sensei!” 

“Yeah, no thanks.”

“I’m fine with calling her [Name]-sensei still.”

“You guys aren’t even married yet.” 

“Fish flakes.”

Gojo pouted and slouched over [Name]’s smaller frame. His arms draped over her shoulders and his chin rested on her head. “You guys are no fun! Liven up a little, she’s married to me instead of an old fart!”

“We’re happy for the both of you,” Megumi admitted, shutting his childish teacher up. The black haired male turned around and walked out of the entrance followed by his upperclassman congratulating them. 

The group disappeared and [Name] sighed tiredly, “That went better than I expected.”

“They’re all so rude, where did they learn that from?” Gojo questioned pulling himself off of her. He sat down on the wooden bench and crossed his legs. His eyes were blindfolded, but he was admiring her rose bushes that grew so perfectly. 

“They kinda have your spunk from your teenage years, don’t you think? They’re more aware of danger than you ever were though.” [Name] commented and looked at the orange rose bush that was tended by her thoughtful students. 

It remained beautiful. 

“Satoru, what if I didn’t pick your gift?” [Name] asked and the soil at the orange rose bush caught her attention. She crouched down and examined the base of the flower bed. Some soil was missing like someone just scooped up a handful. 

“I would have waited for you at the bridge you planned to jump off of and convinced you to stay. Selfish of me, I know.” 

[Name] looked up at Gojo in surprise. He was crouching right next to her as he gave her a sly smile. His hand dug into his pocket and he brought out a pile of dirt. “But I don’t want to lose you too.” Gojo placed the misplaced soil back where it belonged and patted it down softly. 

“You took soil from my garden.” [Name] said. 

“I knew you would have chosen the pile of dirt because it's imbued with your cursed energy. It’s why it felt familiar and why you chose it. Not only am I the strongest, but I am the smartest.” 

[Name] suddenly grabbed his dirty hand and pulled him in for an embrace. She buried her face in his neck as she thanked him, “Satoru, thank you. You saved my life.” 

Gojo hugged her back with his clean hand brushing through her locks of hair, “Anytime, [Name].” 

#x reader #anime imagine #manga imagine #x female reader #gojo satoru #jjk gojo #gojo x reader #satoru gojo #gojo satoru x reader #gojo fluff #gojo x you #satoru x reader

[bubbleebubz]

HIIIIIII

okay so maybe spencer x fem!reader and their at the office and maybe reader wears a new perfume and like he gets hard and goes to the bathroom to ✨jerk off ✨ and reader goes to check on him cuz he’s been in there for so long and like they do it in the bathroom ?

-🌸

HIII THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REQUEST!!!! I hope you like it! (I did reader AND spencer POV if that's ok?)

Delicate delight

15++

~Warning~ smuttttttt😊😊, male masterbation, swearing? Oral sex (male and female receiving) orgasm denial, "good girl", Boner alert ⚠️

READER POV

"Hey Spence, I'm going to be late coming to the office, I'll be there in 20" I say into my phone, rushing out of the shower.

"Ok Y/N, hurry though we have a lot of paper work to do and I don't want to be here all night" He chuckles deeply into his phone.

"Yes ofourse, im the flash!" I say teasingly before hanging up the phone.

I hurriedly put my work suit on, flared black pants with a white button up, and a black sweater.

I I brush my hair and I dont bother doing my full make up routine, just putting on mascara and lipgloss.

I grab my keys and look around my apartment, making sure I didn't forget anything.

MY BAG!

I think to myself, speedily walking to my bedroom, grabbing the bag off of my desk, before looking over at a new perfume I got a while ago, I never bothered using it due to never being home usually.

I open the box and reveal a pretty pink bottle in the shape of a heart, i spray a few squirts on me, the scent being a delicate vanilla, putting the perfume into my bag before leaving to go to the office.

___________________________________________

SPENCER POV

I wait impatiently at my desk, trying to focus on the pile of reports on my desk, groaning in frustration.

Where was Y/N?

He thinks, looking at his watch, as he does so Y/N walks through the door, exactly 20 minutes after she had hung up the phone.

God she looks beautiful- well she always does ofcourse but today something is just different.

"Your make up looks good today Y/N" I say with a soft smile, making her blush. "I only managed to put mascara and lipgloss on, time crunch" she says. "I like it" I say, turning back to the files.

She walks by him, her delightfully delicate scent filling his nose, sending blood straight to his hardening cock.

Oh God not here, I bite my lower lip, keeping myself from letting out any noises. She pulls up a chair infront of his desk.

"Okay, how many files are we looking at here Spence?" She asks.

God her voice. The way she says my name. She has no idea that I'm fucking hard under the table right now.

"I- um, about 32?" I estimate.

Me and Y/N decided to take everyone's report and do them on our day off, everyone was home taking time off but us.

She nods at my answer, leaning over me to grab a pen, giving me a perfect view of her cleavage.

God she was going to be the death of me.

My pants become painfully tight, after just 15 minutes of working in silence, with only little conversation.

"Hey, I'm going to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back" He says smiling.

I shut the family bathroom door, before leaning against it, letting out a shaky breath. My hands go down to my pants, undoing my belt and pants, rubbing my hard cock through the confines, pulling them down including my boxers just enough to get my dick out, I stroke my cock a few times, spitting on my hand, before finally jerking off at a steady pace.

___________________________________________Y/N POV

Spencer has been in the bathroom for about- I look down at my watch- 24 minutes now.

I get out if my seat, wondering to the bathrooms to check to make sure he was alright. I get infront of the door when I hear it.

He was groaning?

I knock, "Spencer are you alright?" I ask worriedly.

I hear a bang. "Y-yeah I'm fine, sorry!" He yells out, his voice wavery.

"Spence I'm coming in" I say, opening to unlocked door, I freeze in my tracks.

Oh.

"Y/N I can explain I swear-" before he can finish his sentence, I walk in, shutting the bathroom door, locking it behind me.

I walk over to him slowly.

"What are you doing?" I ask innocently.

He puts his hard throbing cock back into his pants.

"It's not what it looks like" he says, face as red as a tomato.

"So you weren't jerking off in the family bathroom?" I ask with a slight smile.

"I-" He pauses. "Yes. I was, I'm sorry, your just so.. so perfect, and your perfume did something to me" He explains guiltily.

I smile slightly, a blush appearing on my face.

He walks towards me slowly, causing me to shrink under his gaze.

I look up at him with doe eyes.

"Why didn't you leave Y/N?" He asks, voice deeper than before.

"I-" i begin to say, but get cut off by his lips on mine. He pulls away quickly, making me whine.

"Do you want this Y/N?" He asks, hands on my waist and eyes gazing into my own.

I nod.

"Words, love" He says, making my knees weak.

"Yes sir" I whimper.

In an instant his lips are on mine again, he lifts me up, setting me on the counter, standing between my legs. I can feel his covered erection pushing against my thigh.

___________________________________________

SPENCER POV

Her lipgloss tasted like vanilla, making it all the more harder to stop kissing her, my hips rutting against her clothed cunt causing her to moan in need.

I slowly begin to unbutton her blouse revealing her black lace bra, making me groan. She removes my own button up shirt, and begins to pull my pants down, not needing to unbutton them, due to the fact they never were done back up after she caught me.

I take her bra off, along with her pants, leaving her in her panties.

I get on my knees between her thighs looking up at her hungrily.

I put her legs over my shoulders and kiss her clothed cunt before ripping the thin material off before diving right into her soaking pussy.

I groan against her clit, wrapping my lips around it, savoring her sweet essence. "Taste so good baby, so wet for me" I growl, making her moan louder. I slide a finger into her, slowly fucking her, before adding another one, curling my fingers to get her sweet spot.

"Gonna cum Spence" she sobs out a moan, but before she can release, i pull my mouth and fingers away, causing her to whine in frustration.

___________________________________________Y/N POV

Just as I was about to cum he pulled away, causing a loud whine to fall from my lips.

I feel tears prick behind my eyes from the edging.

I look down, seeing his cock again, not realizing how big it was.

My eyes widen and mouth drops, "c-can I suck it?" I ask, referring to his throbing cock.

He nods.

I get off the counter and get on my knees infront of him, eyes glued to his cock, tip red in need.

He puts my hair in a make shift ponytail, holding it with his hand.

I stroke his cock slowly, looking up at him through my lashes, before licking the precum from the head of his cock, taking his whole tip into my mouth, sucking and licking sloppily, he groans out, making me moan around him, taking him further into my mouth, wanting to hear those hot groans again.

I play with his balls, taking him down my throat, deep throating him and gagging around his cock, spit and precum pooling down my chin.

"Gonna cum baby" He groans out, but before he can, I pull off, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

He groans in frustration, I stick my tongue out teasingly.

He pulls me up, setting me on the counter once again, before lining up his cock with my wet folds, slowly pushing in.

__________________________________________

SPENCERS POV

I enter her soaked pussy, groaning at the feeling of her warm slick walls sucking me in.

She clenches around me, whining at the intrusion.

God she was so tight.

"Gonna be a good girl and take my cock baby?" I groan out, the pet name making her walls flutter around me, causing me to chuckle.

I slowly start to move, shallow gentle thrusts before she eggs me to move faster.

"Fuck Spence" she moans, nails digging into my back as I pound into her, feeling her walls clench around me.

"Gonna cum" she whines out. I reach down and rub her clit, holding her hip with my other hand.

"Do it baby, cum around my cock, want to feel you." I groan out, feeling my own release approaching fast.

She cums around my cock, walls fluttering around me.

"Gonna fill you up baby, going to cum in your sweet little tight pussy" I groan before releasing my load into her, my head falling onto her shoulder, he hands in my hair.

I look up. "You ok?" I ask worriedly.

She nods frantically. "Never better" she smiles out.

#dom!spencer #soft dom!spencer #spencer reid smut #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x reader smut

[wonderswritings]

Could you write a Lexa x f!reader where lexa is possessive of reader but with a happy ending, you can do whatever you like in between. If not don't worry, I just haven't seen/read a Lexa x reader in almost a year

Warnings: Fluff, Ditzy Reader, No use of YN I literally just sat and wrote this, so if it's not exactly what you wanted, I'm sorry. Thanks for requesting!

It’s not the first time. You’ve done this before, leaving without telling anyone only to eventually return, unaware of the worry you’d caused during your absence. But with the arrival of the sky people, tensions were higher than ever. And your leaving caused more worry than usual. 

“Anything?”

Indra slightly shook her head as she looked at Lexa.

“No, Heda. I have sent out a search party.”

“A search party.”

“Yes. No one has seen her since yesterday. They will find her and bring her back.”

Lexa nodded slightly as she stood.

“I will join the search.”

“Heda-”

Lexa shook her head, cutting Indra off.

“No! I will not just sit by while she is missing, not again. I am going.”

Meanwhile, you were sitting on the ground, leaning back against the trunk of a tree, flowers in a pile next to you as you made a flower crown. Humming a soft tune, you didn’t hear the crunching of leaves as footsteps grew closer to you. Only when the sun was blocked did you look up, smiling.

“Hi baby.”

Lexa sighed softly, affectionately calling your name as she moved closer to you.

“What are you doing out here?”

You lifted the flower crown you were working on, smiling up at Lexa.

“I found flowers.”

Lexa smiled slightly, a small laugh escaping her.

“Flowers.”

You nodded, looking back down at the flower crown.

“Yeah. Sit with me.”

It was poised as a question, but it came out more as a statement. Lexa smiled as she sat down next to you, picking up the pile of flowers and laying them on her leg as she looked over at you.

“You worried me.”

“M’sorry.”

You finished the crown, turning and placing it on Lexa’s head, smiling, your head tilted to the side.

“Pretty.”

You picked a few of the flowers from where Lexa placed them, starting to make another flower crown. Lexa watched you, handing you a flower whenever needed.

“You’ll tell me next time-”

You hummed, lifting your gaze towards Lexa.

“You want to explore. Tell me, and I will come with you.”

“Why?”

“Why do I want you to tell me?”

You nodded, taking another flower from Lexa, Lexa watching you with a fond smile.

“Because I worry, about you.”

She picked up a flower, running the stem between her fingers before she reached over, brushing your hair away from your ear, placing the flower behind your ear.

“Pretty.”

She lightly bumped your chin, smiling at you when you looked over at her. “You will tell me next time, yes?”

You nodded, smiling softly. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

Lexa nodded as she leaned back against the tree, watching you, occasionally handing you a flower when needed. 

The sun was starting to go down, both you and Lexa wearing flower crowns, Lexa’s hair redid by you, flowers mixed into it.

“Are you ready to go home?”

You were leaning into Lexa’s side, her arm wrapped around you as you played with the fingers of her right hand.

“If we have to.”

Lexa smiled softly, her fingers tracing along your arm.

“We should. The others will be worried.”

“They know you are out here.”

Lexa laughed softly, nodding.

“Yes, but it’s dangerous out here.”

“Do we have to?”

“We should.”

“Later?”

Lexa smiled, looking down at you.

“We can stay here for a little longer. But not long.”

“Just a little?”

Lexa laughed softly at the pout you gave her, nodding as she ran her thumb along your lower lip, nodding.

“Just a little.”

When Lexa finally managed to get you to leave, she kept a close eye on you as you skipped along, occasionally stopping when something caught your eyes.

“Oh!”

Lexa looked over at you, worried that something had happened when you had stopped, turning and walking back towards her, taking her hand in yours.

“I have something for you.”

“Yeah?

You nodded, reaching into the small satchel you had, pulling things out, Lexa watching with a smile.

“Oh, here it is!”

You lifted a rock, though it was more like a pebble as you handed it to Lexa. It was smoothed, a dark auburn color, in the shape of what could be a heart.

“I love it.”

You smiled, rocking on your heels.

“Really?”

Lexa nodded, leaning forward and kissing your cheek.

“Really.”

“Good.”

You grabbed Lexa’s hand, swinging your hands back and forth gently as you both continued to walk.

Lexa followed you into your shared room in the tower, moving to place the rock on the table, adding it to all the other items you’ve given her, placing it in the middle.

“We should go to the lake tomorrow, for a swim.”

Lexa nodded, looking over at you as you sat on the bed.

“If you want to, we can.”

“Okay.”

Lexa moved towards the bed, sitting next to you, making room for you when you moved to sit on her lap, resting your head just under her chin.

“I love you.”

Lexa smiled, leaning down and softly kissing your forehead.

“I love you too, even if you do like to run off sometimes.”

“I don’t run, I walk.”

Lexa laughed softly, nodding.

“Right, you walk off, I’m sorry.”

Everything Tags: @jedi-dreea  @sammysgirl1997 @scarlett-witchhh @cevans-winchester @rafecameronswhore @jennmurawski13-writes 

The 100 Tags: @3leni  @topazy  @vxidnik  @kloy344 @lexajaye  @dani5216 @kelseyd07 @bxnnywatts @thebookisbtr  @kibumslatina @cryinghotmess @smol-book-nerd @mariaenchanted  @rafecameronswhore  @multi-fandom-lover7667 

Lexa Tags: @kloy344  @wonielover @bamboozledbooks @rafecameronswhore

#anon asks #alice answers #the 100 x reader #lexa x reader #lexa kom trikru x reader #lexa #lexa kom trikru

[bellewintersroe]

Joe Liebgott x Reader.

two times Joe doesn’t want to come to you, and the one time he does… tw - swearing, talks of war and wounds, ptsd, 1940s terms, some descriptions of war and death but nothing too intense. I keep deleting and rewriting parts but I’m just not so happy with the ending, idk :/

The Crossroads, October 1944. “Joe… go see Nurse Y/l/n once you’ve done this.” Winters told him. “Yes, sir.” Yeah right. The last person who he’d be taking a visit to was Y/n, especially like this- all wound up and wounded. He’d report to nurse Smith instead, the other nurse for 2nd battalion to who he didn’t have such an… attachment towards. You see, it wasn’t that Joe disliked her. It wasn’t that at all. In fact it was more the complete opposite- his bond with Y/n was something he’d never experienced before. To get to the point, he was in love with her. But Joe refusing to be seen as anything other than the alpha male meant he sacrificed one vital human emotion when he was around her. Vulnerability. So instead of doing at Winters ordered, he simply stood a couple meters away from the aid station (it was a brick house they’d taken over) and just stared in contemplation. Joe had seen all the nasty side effects wound infections could cause, plus, he didn’t want to be taken off the line- but dammit he was fine. Just as he made the decision to turn back around, a voice called out. Joe stood, his shoulders tense as he stared up at the ‘aid station’. It was just a stolen brick, house which people once lived in. Now, the wounded took over, bleeding to death inside the walls. He felt himself shudder once at the thought and dammit- he was fine he didn’t need to bother you whilst you were hard at work with some scratch. Joe began to turn around, ready to head back in the other direction when he heard your voice calling out. Perfect timing.

“Joe!” She’d spotted him from a mile off, first from out the window, and secondly when she came to the door to retrieve the lost looking boy. “Joe, what’re you doing?” Her voice was gentle, yet somewhat laced with worry. He internally sighed at his inside melting into goo at the sight of her. He watched the way her brows knotted as she reached up, running her fingers over the bandage and grazing the warmth of his skin.

“What happened?” God she was angelic, Liebgott could’ve easily fallen into her arms if it wasn’t for- “oh my god, what did you do?!” Her concern peaked, pulling on his arm to take a better look.

“M’ fine, it’s nothin’. Winters sent me to Nurse Smith.” He muttered, it was a lie, one he felt horrible about as well. As soon as her brows perked and he watched the breath get caught in her throat, he knew he’d been caught out. “Oh. Nurse Smi- Alice left like an hour ago. Winters orders- so I don’t think… I don’t think he’d send you to her.” For the first time she felt jealousy towards her friend. A lingering pang of pain and sadness, one that she didn’t conceal very well and Liebgott could immediately sense he’d hurt her feelings.

“Um… but I’ll go get one of the guys for you, Spina was free last I checked.” Great. In all his stubbornness, he’d somehow wound up and turned this into backfiring on her. “Y/n/n-”

“No. It’s fine, Liebgott. I’m busy anyway…”

December 1944, Bastogne.

Blowing on her hands, Y/n cupped them together, eyes scanning around the town as she pulled her shoulders up, body rigid with the baltic temperatures of Bastogne. Her boots crunched under the snow with each step, and she was careful to walk around the piles of bodies that lingered the side of the streets. She was a mix between on the lines with second battalion and back in the town, taking care of the hundreds of wounded or mentally disturbed soldiers, haunted by the traumas of the battle. Even leaving the make-do infirmary couldn’t get her away from the horrors of war. Somehow, Y/n preferred being on the lines, at least then she was with familiar faces, ones she trusted and knew. She slowed to a halt when a familiar face stood not too far ahead of her. Her breath became caught before she let out a slight laugh, relieved for the first time in days to see somebody she cared so deeply for.

“Joe.” The relief on her voice was evident, his name was light and airy and lingered in the cold air that surrounded them. Joe’s head turned, heart stolen by the voice. The finger that had been batting against his thigh momentarily stopped, the last person he wanted to see here was her- surrounded by death, bombings. He didn’t even register the warmth he felt at the sight of her. The colour of her eyes were a stark contrast to the white of the snow below, yet they were rimmed with dark circles, red and puffy. You see, Liebgott recognised straight away how far she’d wandered, completely alone, standing no taller than an adolescent. If a Kraut caught her out here- well… Liebgott didn’t even want to think of what potentially may happen.

“What’re you doing out here?” He squinted, shaking his head in utter confusion. He felt angry, pissed off that such a fragile thing could be caught in the crossfire out here. He was already riled up, being moved to CP runner which had still yet to ease his stress. Her smile faded, and she momentarily just watched back up to him, feeling as though her relief wasn’t mutual. Liebgott looked tired, pale, just a shell of his previous self. “Well I’m stationed in the town today.” Y/n’s voice quietened noticing the strange way Joe looked at her. Usually she’d be met with smiles, hugs, relieved greetings on his behalf. He’d grin and call her sweetheart or doll- something she selfishly wanted to hear in that moment. “In the town, so what the hell are ya’ doin’ out here?” Usually Joe wouldn’t be this… harsh. Not with anybody, especially not to Y/n. “I just came for a walk.” She recognised how stupid that sounded as soon as she spoke. You don’t just go for a walk in the middle of war. But she wasn’t being silly, she didn’t even realise how far she’d trekked out.

“Well, why’re you out here?” She quickly chimed, preventing Liebgott from inevitably telling her off. He’d been extremely on edge recently, more so than the other men out here.

“Go back to town, Y/n.” Joe sighed, blowing out smoke from his cigarette. She winced at the harshness of his words, looking at the red band on his arm. CP runner. “Winters sent you back here?” She tried again. He finally looked at her, chewing on the inside of his lips.

“Yeah.” He finally responded, glancing around for any danger. “I gotta get this back to battalion.” He half-arsed lifted up a letter. Her eyes followed it, before falling back down to the snow below her. She gasped slightly, feeling something beneath her shoe, quickly recognising it to just be nothing more than a rock. Liebgott watched in concern, hearing a snapping sound from the right of him. It was instantaneous, he grabbed hold of her coat, keeping her behind him with gun held up in the other.

“Relax.” Out walked a guy from D-company. He’d obviously just been taking a shit or something in the woods- but he’d almost wound up shot.

“Dammit.” Liebgott dropped his gun, teeth clenched as the man disappeared back around the corner, towards the time. He could handle the idea of himself being hurt, but not her. It was too risky out here- he was angry at her for even being out here in the first place.

“Go back to the town would ya?” He snapped, voice raised as she stared back to him wide eyes. “Joe-” “No! Just get outta here! What’re you stupid for walking here in the first place?” Her mouth fell agape, breaking all eye contact and feeling her head begin to shake in complete disbelief. “No? Yes? Just leave!” Joe was completely unrecognisable, deep down she knew he was somewhat telling the truth- but he was so mean, the tears pricked way too fast in her eyes.

“We lost 10 guys in the last hour.” As soon as her voice wobbled she gulped the sensation away. “So forgive me for being happy to see you.” His blood ran cold, the minute she turned around Joe held his head in his hands, groaning. What a weird way to tell a girl you love her? Right…

May 1945, Austria.

Joe minded his business as he strolled through the streets of Austria. He’d just finished a gruelling course in preparation to be shipped out to the pacific. Despite the calmness that was here, most men were still on edge about the continuation of the war. Like most things, Joe just grumbled about it a couple times and got on with it. If they wanted him to fight the Japanese, he’d be just as brutal as them, there’s no way Easy would go through all that shit in Europe just to be sent out to the shitty- “Woah!” Joe dramatically spoke, stumbling over something as he completely didn’t watch where he was going. He heard somebody gasp from below him, a light voice, one belonging to a woman.

“Ow.” No other than Y/n sat there, perched on a rock as she looked out to the serene views ahead of her. She grasped at her ankle, wincing at the pain of where the soldier had practically stood on here. When Joe spun around, he felt his breath get caught in his throat seeing who it was.

“Y/n!” He panted out, recognising the tear stains down your cheeks. Oh fuck, he was just a klutz! Now he’d made you cry- potentially not for the first time either. “Shit, I’m sorry sweetheart, did I hurt you bad? Fuck, I’m sorry.” Crouching down, he placed a hand on her shoulder, constantly glancing between her face and ankle. What Joe didn’t realise at first was that her tear stains were old. Her eyes were slightly puffy from crying and he’d interrupted something. “No. It’s okay, you just scared me.” She pulled her leg back with a wince. “No, don’t be silly, here let me see.” Joe let out a sad kinda laugh, she smiled only a little, allowing him to outstretch her leg again. It had been months since the two were close, they’d grown apart in the war, Joe’s lack of ability to show vulnerability had pushed her further and further away until they were no more than old acquaintances. “I’ll be fine, Joe.” She let out a chuckle, amused by her own ability to get caught up in something unlucky. She figured she’d be alone out here, now here Liebgott was trying to massage her ankle.

“Are you sure? You- you don’t look it…” his voice lowered, watching through his eyelashes. She forced another half smile before her head dropped, “it’s okay, Joe.” He sensed she was doing the exact same thing he did to her all those months ago. “Hey, no. C’mere.” Moving around, he perched besides her on the rock, unable to help himself from wrapping an arm around her in comfort.

“You good? Did I hurt your ankle that bad, kid, or have I just interrupted somethin’?” She let out a sad laugh again at his words, wiping under her eyes. “I’m just… I’m just scared for the pacific.” Her chest felt lighter when she spoke those words. With the twig she had in her hand, she continued poking at the mud below, averting Liebgott’s gaze which cascaded over her face. For a moment he was stumped, his heart was beating at a furious speed and oh god- he was fuckin’ nervous. Not the time to be nervous when she was crying in his arms. He opened his mouth to speak, but swallowed them away before letting out a sigh, looking across the beautiful lake ahead of them.

“I don’t wanna do it anymore, y’know. And they’re… brutal over there.” She spoke up once more, fingers writhing together as she finally glanced up to him. When he did look back he felt his heart shatter to meet her glassy eyes.

“I know.” Was all he could manage at first, watching over her face as she waited for his response. “If anything’s good practice it’s being on the front lines though, right?” He attempted as she felt a breath of laughter leave her throat at his comment. Joe’s face turned slightly, visibly cringing at his response.

“Ah, shit Y/n/n, but seriously, we’re all gonna be there together, y’know. You’ve gotta whole company willingly to die before they let anything happen to ya’.” He squeezed her reassuringly to which she sadly laughed again, assuming he was being lighthearted.

“No, I’m serious. Look, kid, I know if it’s between me and you- I’m jumpin’ in front of ya.” He admitted without even thinking, this time it was her gaze on him. “I’d do the same for you.” Joe froze, not expecting the mutual terms of their speech. Something had softened inside of him, that fluttering in his stomach had returned in full force- it never really left, just dulled from the years of war and pushing her away. She felt her breath become heavy, blinking over his handsome face.

“Well, that’s if you’d actually want me around you.” She pathetically attempted to joke, wiping under her eyes to prevent her mascara from running any further. “What?” Joe’s head snapped up, meeting her gaze. “Hey, I always want ya’ around me, don’t be silly.” He spoke again, hand cautiously landing on her knee. “No but… I thought you didn’t like me.” The words caused something inside Joe’s chest to pang and twinge sharply. “Course I like ya.” The words fell more serious than be intended. “I wanna be around you all the time.” Y/n swooned at his words, still painfully head over heels for him all these years later. Her hand slipped into his, feeling his larger fingers squeeze a little around hers. “You didn’t seem like that before…”

“Ah, I was just being a dick.” He shrugged. “Sorry.” He glanced down to his lap momentarily. “I don’t hold it against you. I just- I just thought you never felt the same.” Her jaw tensed, head feeling hot at her sudden admission of feelings. Joe felt the corners of his lips tug teasingly.

“You wanna hang out with me later? Like just us two.” Finally, he saw a smile reach up to her eyes. It was a genuine kind, one that he didn’t think he’d actually seen in a real long time.

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Turning down, she wiped under her eyes once more, past worries seemingly forgotten about. She let out a giggle as he watched her with nothing short than pure delight. “I can’t believe I cried.” “I’ve seen a whole lot worse doll, don’t worry about it…. Haven’t you got enough points to leave anyway?”

“No. It doesn’t work like that for us nurses.”

“Ah crap… suppose you’re stuck with me for another three years then.” “Lucky me.” She teased, sarcastically digging her arm into his side as he nudged her back with a knowing smile. “Lucky me more like.”

“Yeah after finally making a move 3 years later.”

“Maybe I oughta’ have run straight past you, now you’re just getting bold.” He joked. “Or maybe you could’ve done that anyway, without breaking my ankle.”

#joe liebgott x reader #band of brothers imagine #band of brothers x reader #joe liebgott imagines #Liebgott x reader

[rosekeu]

pinky promise : touya todoroki // dabi

a/n: 2.7k words. long story. angst? somewhat fluff? i dont even know lol. touya todoroki x reader / dabi x reader. childhood friends to lovers [sorta].

sypnosis: meeting with a mysterious stranger seems to trigger painful memories of your past.

"Can you tell me about your favorite memory?" Your therapist inquired, her pen clicking incessantly as she awaited the younger girl's response. The [h/c] girl fiddled and toyed with her small fingers in her lap. Her eyes appeared to be empty, with deep, dark eyebags visible on her [s/c] skin. 

“Uh...” she mumbled, never daring to look up at the person in front of her. She nervously twirled a strand of hair around her finger, trying to gather the courage to speak. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, making it difficult for her to find the right ones. She did have a favorite memory, but it was painful to recall. Now that it holds so much pain and meaning. 

The person in front of her patiently waited, their eyes filled with understanding. Sensing her hesitation, they softly spoke, "Take your time. Whenever you're ready, I'm here to listen." 

"I remember... it was snowing." she paused. The person's warm presence provided a comforting atmosphere, allowing her to slowly gather her thoughts. Memories of that snowy day flooded back, the beauty of the snowflakes contrasting with a bright red pile of hair. 

He was a bit older than her, maybe by a year or two. The boy stood on his front lawn, admiring the cold atmosphere. 

She was just a young child, about 6 years old. "Hey!! Do you wanna play with me?" she yelled over to the young boy, not knowing any better as a naive, curious child. He turned to her; her brows furrowed as he hesitated to come up with a reply.

"Sure. What do you want to play?" he said, walking over to her side of the road. The little girl held her face in thought. "What about a snowball fight?" she asked excitedly as she happily hopped like a bunny.

He couldn't help but smile at her. "Yeah, let's do that."

For a while, both children began to throw small snowballs at each other. They laughed as they dodged the snowballs, their happiness growing with each throw. Their cheerful shouts and the sound of snow crunching under their boots filled the cold air. 

They both fell first into the snow, lying next to each other. Both huffed as they tried to catch their breaths. "That was. Amazing!" the girl exclaimed, getting up from the snow and wiping down her attire. The boy nodded in agreement and joined her in brushing off the snow from his clothes.

"You never told me your name," the boy said, looking at the girl with a playful smile. The girl laughed and extended her hand towards him, saying, "I'm Y/N. And you?" 

As he accepted her hand, she noticed small scars that littered his hands and wrists.

'Weird...'

"Touya! Come inside already, it's getting too cold!" A rough voice yelled from the neighboring house. Touya reluctantly tore his gaze away from Y/N and shouted back, "Alright!" He turned to her with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. 

"I have to go." he said, a touch of regret in his voice. Y/N nodded understandingly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for their next escapade. "Don't worry! We'll meet again soon!" She flashed him a warm, comforting smile.

"Wait! Here!" She said extending her hand to give Touya a necklace. a small silver locket when he opened it, surprisingly it was empty. 

What's this for?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face. Y/N grinned mischievously, "Consider it a token of our friendship. Keep it safe until we meet again." Touya nodded, a mixture of excitement and confusion filling his thoughts as he watched Y/N disappear into the distance. 

⇢ ˗ˏˋ 7:30 am  ࿐ྂ

"Please, I need to see my child!" The mother in front of you sobbed. She grasped the tabletop with all her anguish and rage. You sat in your chair, listening intently to what she said. Her kid was presently undergoing surgery, and she wanted to see him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you see him right now because your son is preparing for surgery, but I'll let you know if anything happens." You mentioned this while typing on the computer, which had vast amounts of information about countless people. It was difficult being an intern, having to deal with the patient's family and imparting terrible news to them. That was perhaps the most difficult aspect.

It had been a long morning, as seen by your thick eyebags. Despite the fact that this was a superhuman society, it could not treat every hurt and sickness on the planet. Despite the fact that you desired they could.

“Y/N! This is extremely draining; I've been in and out of the OR all day!" Yuki, your friend, yawned. That made you yawn as well. You met Yuki at the outset of your internship in this hospital; she was always upbeat and caring for you. Making certain you drank enough water, ate properly, and slept well. She sat in the chair beside you, her head resting on the desk.

"You're lucky- I've been here all day doing paperwork and trying to calm down families." You mentioned this while staring at your desktop computer, filling out yet another patient profile. Yuki appeared to be calmed by the clicking of the keyboard and mouse.

"I'd pay to sit for hours here-" Yuki slurred her words. You grinned at her; standing for hours in the operating room may sound tedious, but it was far more thrilling than what you were doing right now. 

“YUKI! Get up! "Please check on the patient in room 208 for me." Dr. Shima, one of the top doctors, spoke firmly. You laughed to yourself as Yuki promptly opened her eyes and wiped the saliva that had been running down the side of her mouth. Dr. Shima had been here for years and was still the hospital's harshest teacher.

"You as well, Y/N." "Please check on the patient in the room... 215." She remarked this while checking her wristwatch. You nodded and rose from your comfy position at the front desk to check on the patient in question. 

"Yes, ma'am" 

⇢ ˗ˏˋ 12:30 pm ࿐ྂ

You'd been rushing back and forth through the hospital corridors, and the vibrating alarm on your phone made you jump as you concentrated on your task. It was already time for lunch. You checked your wristwatch to make sure, and it was definitely your break. 

You entered the lounge and sat in one of the exceedingly uncomfortable seats that surrounded the enormous table. You suddenly recall that you neglected to pack your lunch. What a horrible world we lived in. You grumbled, unsure what to do next, but were startled out of your reverie as Yuki entered the lounge. 

"I'm so hungry, Y/N." She complained as she clutched her tummy with both arms. Yuki walked over to the fridge and grabbed her bento box out to reheat. You cast an envious gaze her way. "I forgot to pack my lunch"

"This is like the tenth time, what has gotten into you." Yuki laughed as the microwave's beeping resonated across the spacious room. You shrugged and moved over to the empty couch. Taking the power nap you deserved was your favorite part of your break. 

“My mind has been all over the place lately.” You said to the blond girl as you laid down, propping your feet on the couch. Yuki walked over to you, taking a spot next to your feet. 

“Here, eat one of my dumplings.” She insisted as she held it up with wooden chopsticks. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” 

“You have to eat–” 

“She’s right, you have to eat Y/N.” The lounge door opened suddenly and Fuyumi walked in holding a bento box. The two-toned haired girl walked over to you and held out the handmade bento box. You squealed as you took it from her hands and stood up to give the younger girl a hug. 

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank youuu.” you said, extending the ‘you’ at the end as you hugged Fuyumi tightly. She smiled and when you released her from your hold and took a seat on the couch. 

“You're welcome. You left your lunch again on the counter this morning.” Fuyumi said, adjusting her glasses. You brought yourself to the table in which you sat earlier and began to eat the delicious bento you made for yourself the night before. 

“You know.. You could always ask me to bring you lunch– I mean I don’t really do anything else at the house.” She said sheepishly. Her offer was way too kind. 

“I can’t make you do that ‘Yumi.” You replied, still stuffing your face with the delicious food. The young girl smiled warmly. 

“If she’s not gonna accept the offer I will.” Yuki admitted sheepishly. I looked at her with a ‘seriously’ look.

“Please, I insist. I love cooking and I certainly know you love my cooking too.” Fuyumi remarked, sitting down next to you on the comfy couch. Yuki laughed at her reply, making you laugh in the process. 

“Don’t make me laugh, this soup is hot!” You exclaimed, mouth full of the extremely hot liquid making Yuki laugh even more.

“Alright, I'm gonna get going. See ya Y/N.” Fuyumi said, as he left the lounge “Think about what I said.” I hummed and waved her goodbye.

As if on cue, Dr, Shima walks into the lounge, the permanent scold glued to her face. She saw us and walked over to us. “Here are your pagers. Get back to work.” She stated as she tossed us the small devices. You and Yuki left the room swiftly. 

⇢ ˗ˏˋ 1:00 am ࿐ྂ

Your pager rang yet again. You had no idea how many patients you had seen today. But you were in the hospital by yourself. Yuki had ended her shift, which had begun earlier. 

'You're needed in Room 222...' The pager beeped. You hurriedly approached the specified room. Calmly opening the door, I was greeted by a tall man with an IV in his vein. Pale of face and the bluest eyes you've ever seen, they almost felt familiar to you. He also had deep purple scars below his eyes and where his ears met his face, all the way to the corner of his mouth. 

“Sir. "What are you in for?" You asked, taking the clipboard from the foot of the bed. “Nothing. I was about to go." He answered with a raspy, hollow voice. 

"Well, you're here for a reason. Sit down." 

“Nope. This was a mistake."

“What do you mean? Lay down and I'll do a quick checkup." You told him. When I looked at him, he was attempting to remove his IV. "What on earth are you doing?"

“I’m ripping this crap off. What else does it look like I’m doing?” He replied sarcastically. 

"Don't do it! You could get a blood infection or an air embolism. Or worse, you could die!" But your words meant little to the unknown man as he successfully took it off. His actions made your jaw drop open. 

“It’s alright, it's not like I haven't been through worse–”

“What?” 

“Nothing.” The man said as he tried to exit the room and you quickly stood in his way, hand on his chest leading back onto the hospital bed. You locked eyes for a second and you felt a weird sensation.

“Sir I need you to lay back down, I need to run a test to see if you're okay” At this point a normal nurse would call a superior but you liked a challenge. “I’m fine, see–” The man walked around the room with no trouble at all. “I’m walking and talking perfectly, no need to worry dollface.”

You cringed at the pet name, but part of you reminded you of old memories. “Those scars on your face say otherwise– I’ll get you some prescribed ointment for them, they look painful.”

“I’ve lived with these all my life so don’t worry sweetheart.” He reassured you as he began his second attempt at leaving the room. You, of course, stopped his path again.

“Sir please, I need you to stay in this room.” You looked at him straight in his blue eyes, looking like a familiar blue flame that you once adored. He cracked a small smile before chuckling to himself. 

“Or what?” He threatened with a cocky smile. 

“I’ll call the officers on you– there's a bunch roaming the hospital all the time, I’ll have you strapped to the bed. You wouldn’t like that right?”

“Sounds kinky.” You scoffed and went to page a superior but suddenly the tiny communication device was slapped out of your hands. 

“Alright slow down, I'll let you do your little check up or whatever. But the only thing I ask is that you keep on the down low. I don’t exactly have insurance or money.”

“It’s okay. It'll be our little secret. I won’t charge you nor keep a record of you. But just to let you know what I'm doing is illegal.” You said to him as you guided him towards the bed. He chuckled and he laid uncomfortably in the hospital bed. You grabbed the stethoscope around your neck and placed it on your ears. 

“Is it okay to slide this under your shirt, it'll be a little cold okay?” You said and he nodded sitting up. You held a frustrated and thoughtful expression, thinking about the consequences that you could face by letting this stranger(although his presence seems all too familiar) be examined by you.

 “It's gonna be okay doll, you gotta take some risks sometimes.” You looked at him, confused how he could read you like a book, you ignored the pet name and kept listening to the beat of his heart.

“I could be fired because of you.” You told him.

“Then you could go out with me.” He said as the cold metal makes contact with the left side of his chest, he flinches a bit. “Y’know– you never told me your name.” You asked, ignoring his previous request.

“Don’t have one. But call me Dabi.” As the cool metal makes contact with his back. “Take a deep breath for me, Dabi.” The name sounds like music to his ears, it had been so long since he heard his name fall from her lips.

Dabi inhales heavenly. “Good news, your lungs sound alright.”

⇢ ˗ˏˋ 3:00 am ࿐ྂ

“All your test results came back, you look okay. You are a little underweight and have low hemoglobin. Nothing serious just gotta eat more foods high in iron and folate. ” You said looking at his folder. All the suspicion quieted down when you named him John Doe on the papers.

“Sounds good to me doc, now I'm leaving.” Dabi said as all the information you had told him went into one ear and left through the other.

“Wait! I did a little research and test on your scars and I'm in the process of making a special ointment for you. This is just the prototype.” You said sheepishly, showing Dabi the small container with a medical label. He hesitantly takes the ointment in his hands, opening it up and smelling it.

“I’ll show you how to use it.” Snatching the container out of his hands. “You have to be gentle, it has a numbing agent and you shouldn’t add too much.” As your soft fingertips spread the cream on his purple under eyes. His eyes looked at you as if they were full of love, that look you have seen before and have been craving for years but you continued to be focused on his scars.

“It won’t heal them but it will make them feel nice.” You said, adding more on his jaw area. He closed his eyes, his facial expression filled with content.

“Done!” You said closing the container. Dabi woke up from his trance-like state.

“Alright. We had a good time dollface.” He said, walking from his bed to leave the room.

“I hope we meet again.” He continued, turning to you at the doorway. 

“Me too. Also, come back in a few days. I need your feedback for the cream, to see if it actually works y’know.” You told him while organizing new medical supplies for the next patient that might come in. You looked over at him and waved, a small smile painted on your face. 

“Unlikely but I guess I’ll try..”

let me know if yall like it... idk this is new for me...

#touya todoroki x reader #touya x reader #touya todoroki #my hero academia #mha #bnha #bnha x reader #mha x reader #dabi x reader #dabi #my hero fanfic #dabi x female reader #dabi x you #touya x you

[miss-tc-nova]

Behind That Smile - Ruggie Bucchi x Reader

I like animal facts. Definitely recommend checking out the vet!yuu tag by blackopals-world.

Premise: Hyenas can bite through bone

Words: 1,537

Warnings: Intrusive thoughts, Halloween event spoilers

~~~~~

               “Ruggie, if you don’t slow down, you’re gonna be sick.”

               Those cloudy-sky eyes manage to tear away from his plate long enough to peer up at me. It’s impressive he doesn’t choke as he swallows all the food in his mouth.

               “Are you kidding? I’m just getting started!” He catches sight of Epel walking by with a plate of meat and he awes. “Oh I haven’t tried that yet! I gotta go get some!”

               In a bolt, he’s out of his chair, already filling another plate. I shake my head with a sigh; however, at my side, the Diasomnian vice-housewarden chuckles.

               “Isn’t his appetite simply astounding?”

               “It’s impressive alright,” I hum. “I just wish he’d slow down before he chokes.”

               “But he still has so much to go through if he hopes to sample everything here,” Lilia says.

               He is right about that. Malleus, Lilia, Grim, and I had set out to help the ghosts enjoy the Halloween party that they missed. We had a beautiful venue, Malleus had the music covered, and we had the rest of Night Raven College on a scavenger hunt for mirror shards to fix our atmospheric lighting. However, one of the most astonishing features of the night were the tables absolutely stacked with food from all over Twisted Wonderland—courtesy of the ghosts themselves.

               And Ruggie is having the time of his life.

               Said hyena returns with various meat piled on his plate, but at the bottom sits a hunk of beef still clinging to the bone. It’s comically large and I honestly thought food like that only existed in cartoons. Yet Ruggie isn’t perturbed in the slightest as he chomps through everything he brought.

               I have a small chat with Lilia while Ruggie eats. It comes to a stop though when the hyena cleans the ridiculously large bone.

               “Finished already?” Lilia asks.

               “Not even.” He holds up the large bone in his hand. “This is the best part.”

               Without hesitation, Ruggie puts the skeletal matter into his mouth and bites.

               The crunching sound that follows shocks me to my core; it echoes in my ears. The sight of the splintered bone infests my brain and intrusive thoughts force me to imagine that as my arm. It’s mind blowing to think that this kid I’ve been hanging out with nearly every day could chomp through something so solid with such little effort.

               “My, that’s quite a bite you’ve got there,” Lilia remarks.

               Ruggie gives him a glance between getting at the marrow of the bone. “Yeah, I get told that often but it’s pretty normal in my family. My grammy used to give them to me when I was little.” He laughs. “She said it kept me quiet when I was annoying her.”

               “I’ll have to make note of that,” Lilia laughs. “I suppose that means there really isn’t much you won’t eat.”

               A shiver flies down my spine as he crunches the bone like candy. “Hey, if it’s edible, it’s worth trying at least once.”

               Throughout the rest of the night, I can’t get the image of Ruggie breaking bones out of my head. Again, the intrusive thoughts don’t help.

               The night ends and Malleus returns everyone safely to Night Raven College. There’s seems to be a lot of relief that Halloween has finally ended, but everyone agrees that it’s time to get some sleep.

               “So you had a hand in this entire mess.”

               My heart skips as Ruggie catches up to me and Grim on our way back to Ramshackle.

               “I guess you could say that.”

               “Heck yeah we did!” Grim climbs my costume to stand on my shoulder. “And we planned the best party ever!”

               “Yeah you did. The food was great.” Immediately, I divert my eyes away from Ruggie’s grin. I’m not sure I can ever look at that smile the same again.

               Though the conversation stays light, I keep my gaze occupied on the way back to my shabby little dorm. I would look at anything—the castle overhead, the rising sun, the rusted gate, the drowsy cat in my arms—as long as it wasn’t Ruggie.

               I tuck the blanket around my magic partner who quickly crashed on our way back. With a soft smile, I place his hat on the nightstand and stroke his head. The feline mumbles something about “awesome dance moves” as he rolls over to continue his dream.

               “Man, I thought he’d be up for hours with how wired he was,” Ruggie says as I close the door behind me.

               I glance down the hall, trying to put on a light-hearted air. “I think he just finally hit that sugar crash.”

               “Hey, are you okay?”

               “Yeah, I’m fine.”

               “Then why won’t you look at me?”

               Embarrassment simmers in my ears. This whole thing is stupid.

               “It’s nothing. I’m just being silly.” Raising my head, I look him in the eye and put on a smile. “I’m fine.” Immediately after those words leave my mouth, I can’t help glancing at his lips and my gaze instantly averts.

               “Yeah right. You’re avoiding me.” Ruggie ducks down, trying to look me in the eyes, but I just can’t. “Aw, c’mon. You mad at me or somethin’?”

               “N-No.” I avoid him again.

               “Then what?”

               The intrusive thoughts themselves aren’t really anything to be ashamed of. “Look, I just…I’m trying to block out the intrusive thoughts, okay?”

               There’s a pause. “What kind of intrusive thoughts?”

               But the contents of those thoughts kind of are.

               “Ruggie…” I groan.

               “Just tell me, will ya. You know I’m not gonna leave you alone ‘til you do.”

               He’s right—I know he won’t. It takes me a few moments filled with deep breaths and expectant stares to finally get the words out.

               “I’m just having a hard time getting the image of you crunching through that bone out of my head, okay? Can we just drop it now?”

               “The bone?” Glancing to him, I can see the gears turning in his head. “You’re not tellin’ me you’re scared of my bite now, are ya?”

               I pinch the bridge of my nose. “It’s less that I’m afraid and more that I can’t stop imaging you biting through things.”

               “You mean like this?”

               My stomach flips when the hyena grabs my arm. In a swift motion, he draws my sleeve back and brings the limb to his mouth, those massive, gleaming teeth resting against my skin. The image of that snapping bone fills my head. I shut my eyes and brace for the core-rattling snapping sound and the inevitable pain to follow.

               Instead I hear a soft chuckle. Warm, gentle lips meet my skin, instantly drawing my gaze back. Embers smolder behind his eyes as he trails soft kisses down to the back of my hand. A last reverent press of his lips meets my knuckles before his fingers intertwine with mine.

               “You gotta know I could never hurt you.” Even his voice is infested with the heat quickly enflaming my own bashfulness. This smooth criminal then leans in, lips brushing against my cheek causing the air to hitch in my chest. “Not even if my life depended on it.”              

               Then, Ruggie retreats, that ever-lovable simper warped into something warm and gentle. Meanwhile, with my skin on fire, I press against the wall in an attempt to keep myself from collapsing. I’m positive his ears—even hidden beneath that marauder’s hat—can hear the pounding in my chest. And if he didn’t hear that, the shuddering exhale from my mouth is probably thoroughly satisfying.

               “What’s wrong, sugar?” he asks, absolutely full of himself right now.

                My free hand presses to my face in a shoddy attempt to calm my nerves. “What a cruel criminal you are to toy with my feelings like this.”

               “All in a days work for a scurvy pirate—stealin’ such precious treasures as hearts, shyehehe.” There’s that smooth tongue. “But who said I was playin’?”

               The grip on my hand tightens and I swear he’s squeezing my heart.

               “Ruggie…?”

               “Didn’t even need to trick-or-treat to get me the best prize.” Some of his mischief returns. “Man, a full feast and I get the cutest kid on campus? I really did make off like a pirate with all the treasure this year.”

               It seems my legs are stable enough to hold their own weight again. “I don’t know about that.”

               “Oh I do. I could just eat you up.” He laughs in the face of my glare. “Too soon?”

               “I’m going to bed now.”

               My announcement doesn’t seem to deter Ruggie from pestering me, chattering about random things. Yet I’m not entirely inclined to send him off. Instead, he sheds his coat and boots and flops onto the bed beside me—his hand finding mine like the greedy man he is. It doesn’t take long after that for the conversation to lull and consciousness to drift.

               Those intrusive thoughts return frequently from then on out. Ruggie always had the potential to seriously hurt me. But every time he smiles, I’m reminded of that pirate in Ramshackle on Halloween night. I remember just how gentle that mouth can be—and how quickly it can sink those fangs into my heart.

#ruggie bucchi #ruggie x reader #twst ruggie #gender neutral reader

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Part Seven: Findings

First Installment: Here.

Last Installment: Here.

Current Installment: You are here!

Author's note: Inspired by the 1950s short story "The Man Who Came Early" by Poul Anderson.

Red Sail Hall, 2 days Later

Gravel began the conversation. Tires crunching over the drive appeared just before his brother’s old green Renault Clio sedan turned onto the drive, headlights low but visible between the plants currently in their roost on the windowsill above the sink. Fucking hell. He poured whiskey into two mugs of tea. The vehicle would likely contain the balance of both his siblings and his children not currently missing or half passed out on the old table.

“Matthew,” He turned away from the window and pressed the steaming mug of tea into his boy’s fingers, handle first. He was slumped over the table, too stubborn to sleep in a bed despite the blanched cast his face and the ever deepening hollows of his eyesockets. He rested on his arm and half on the pile of documentation in front of him. Every sheet of paper had come from what felt like a thousand government departments, a thousand places that didn’t know Alfred existed, or at least not officially. Matching and rematching data, looking for any number, any letter or any word out of place. It was more something to keep him busy than it was useful. He had fought leaving D.C. like a shuttle to Dulles was the same as serving as pallbearer.

Matthew roused with a start.

“Wha—?” He’d been properly asleep. Arthur felt guilty, but shuffled papers out of the way and gestured to the mug.

“I need to tell you something.”

The grogginess disappeared. He pushed his glasses up and sat straight, eyes wide, sparking with hope. “What is it? Alfred?”

“Maybe.” Arthur said. It was, but he didn’t know how it could be. Not yet. “There... there was the suggestion of a slight anamoly.”

Matt stared at him, the flat look that spoke of annoyance he rarely verbalized. “Yeah. He magically disappeared out of his space suit. We knew that.”

“Beyond that.” Arthur shut his eyes. “It was reported to me your brother may have… been a part of a slight breaking of— well it may have involved certain—”

He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. Rhys didn’t knock, he never did. Privacy hadn’t been much of a concept when they were young. He had archival boxes in his arms and they exchanged a look as the other two removed coats and boots. It was awkward when they stood, hesitant. Jack at his sister’s shoulder, Zee’s brow furrowed, doing the calculus of what she would find acceptable. He offered tea, giving himself a way out. He needs the scotch anyway, his mug almost empty. The world had long been spinning with Alfred as the axis, but a glance left, beyond him to Matthew and she let decades collapse and he suddenly had both of them in arm.

He squeezes them. Jack is so tall, warm and bundled into a sweater and unusually solemn. He’s too bloody big to hold properly but Arthur tries anyway, suddenly desperate for the certainty of the physical. But Zee he could still hold, if only barely. It was awkward, how long he held on. He didn’t want to let go. Three children in his sight, two in his arms. Three. That'd been normal once. No longer. Zee hugged him harder than she normally did, usually giving one quick and then slipping away. She knew what was in that box.

When he let go of her, he took up the whiskey decanter and poured and drank two glasses before turning around again. A surgical sheet had been laid on the table, Matthew watching, bewildered as his days work was brushed aside.

“Is that a skull?” Matthew asked, but only looked mildly surprised.

“There is…” Arthur filled his mug for the tenth time in two hours and stood to turn. He jolted, seeing his second son, tall and sharp where his mother had been— His fist went down by his side. “There was some evidence—” He couldn’t quite say it.

Zee took over, laying ribs out as anatomically as was possible on a flat surface.

“He finally let them open up the back garden for a testpit hoping they’d find some old knickknacks and they found two corpses. And one’s him.” Rhys said.

Matthew went pale. Arthur drank. “Ones— what?”

“The chalkies went around back and dug up the old man’s extra meatsack from another dimension.” Jack clarified. Arthur polished off the rest of his whiskey.

“It— it’s dad?” Matthew collapsed into a chair, looking pale. “How is that possible? How the hell do you even know?”

“Well, seeing as our genetic material can’t be tested.” Zee pointed to a slice along the small jaw line. “We removed a tooth, and a bit of the ossified cartilage.” She pointed to the sternum and Arthur put the tip of his tongue at his back molar and shut his eyes, bidding his chest to stop hurting. He couldn’t quite remember losing that tooth, it was probably before Rome had pulled away.

"The radiation confirms the date to about the 9th century but more importantly.... Solar flare radiation is very distinct."

"That doesn't imply— how do you know it's—" Matthew's voice trailed off. Several pairs of eyes aimed at him.

“We ested for oxygen isotopes and radio carbon dating and had a discrepancy between the first century and the 10th I couldn't explain with marine carbon circulation. It's him."

He needed more whiskey.

"How did it die?" He bluntly stated.

“The cut went right through the ribs.” Arthur watched, but did not allow himself recoil as Zee’s hand came down at a violent angle. Her palm and fingers flattened into the approximation of a blade and landed on the table between two pieces of bone, human ribs worn smooth by time. Supposedly his ribs. He forced his hands to stay at his side.

Zee said more, arching her hand over his spine. He couldn't hear her words but he remembered that blow. It had only been a day and change since Washington DC and nearly 5 days since the void of his missing firstborn had opened up wounds that had not existed since before Alfred did annd he wasn’t sure if he had slept more than an hour since. He crossed his arms to hide the tremor. From exhaustion or horror he did not know.

When he shut his eyes, he didn’t see his daughter’s hand but the head of an axe. He would not remember that blow, the bite of steel into his body, slicing his ribs and opening his entire body. Shoulder to the other hip.

Someone cleared their throat.

He had understood just why Magnus had named his axe undvargr. Wound-wolf. Someone cleared their throat again. He snapped back to reality. It had sheered the skull. His fucking skull. It did not have a jaw and the empty eyesockets stared at him, over the landscape of bones.

“What?” He demanded. “What are you looking at? Is it me or not!”

Rhys looked at him, concerned in that hard way of theirs, the one that equally said ‘get a bloody grip’ as much as it did ‘I’m sorry you have to see this.’ Jack was staring, his hand hovering over Zee’s shoulder, as if he was… not afraid but uncertain.

“You don’t have to do this.”

Arthur’s head turned sharply. Matthew was suddenly there, from nowehere. At his sister’s elbow, opposite Rhys. He’d put himself where he always been once upon a time. Between his father and his siblings. Mortar between the bricks.

“Don’t be stupid.” His hand went to his back and he conceded to gravity, falling into a chair. “I’ve dug up the back garden at thousand times since ten-eighty-something. My corpse hasn’t been rotting under the bloody tudor rose for a thousand years. Your brother slid out of reality and whatever that is,” He pointed to the bones. “Slid into it.”

“And that brings me to my original point.” Zee cleared her throat. “The radiation signatures match a solar flare. Not 9th century."

"What does that even mean?"

"Alfred popped off out of our reality and the old man's body popped in."

#my writing || cacoethes scribendi #the dangeld axe to grind: the viking age time travel au #axe

[pocket-lad]

CH 9- Nick Van Owen

Prev

“Oh,” Ian said. “That’s fine.” He thought about how deep and how fast the stream must look from Adelaide’s perspective, especially if she couldn’t swim.

“So, we can just go… I guess,” Adelaide said.

Ian didn’t move from his seat. “Have you ever tried?”

Adelaide looked up at him, confused and a little annoyed. “In what circumstance do you think I’d have the chance to swim? I haven’t found the lake in your walls yet.”

“Ha, point…point taken,” Ian admitted. Sitting next to her like this, Adelaide couldn’t even pretend they were on the same wavelength. They sat the exact same way, side-by-side, but he rose up taller than any building. She forced herself not to back away.

“You want to learn?” Ian asked.

“Not really.”

Ian laughed. “I can just hold you, then.”

Adelaide looked up, searching for his eyes, but they were simply too high. Ian didn’t realize how absurd that suggestion actually was, but it was either that or stay filthy.

“Okay,” she said quietly. Adelaide slowly peeled her jacket off her body, removed her bag from her shoulders, and took her knife off her belt, setting them all in a small pile away from the edge of the stream and stalling for as long as possible.

Ian lowered his hand for her to hop on. She did without hesitation, but that wasn’t the hard part. The hard part happened when his hand lowered toward the surface of the stream.

“Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait,” Adelaide yelled. She could hear the rushing water and felt cold flecks of it spring up onto her skin.

Ian paused, awaiting further instructions. When none came, he said matter-of-factly, “I won’t let you drown.”

“Yeah, but what if a fish tries to eat me?” Adelaide laughed, but behind the joke there was truth. She took a few deep breaths. “...I trust you….On the count of three?”

This was stupid. This was so stupid. She could live with mud. But before she could second guess herself, Ian was counting.

“One…two-” The cold water splashed against her body, forcing her backward against Ian’s hand. The shock was the worst of it, going from mildly warm air to freezing water. The movement of the water was off-putting as well. She knew if Ian wasn’t there, she’d get swept away in the current, never to be seen again.

Adelaide sputtered and splashed, trying to gain her bearings. When she finally stood up, she realized the water was really only up to her waist. She could do this.

She scrubbed at her face and arms as fast and as best she could, washing away the ground in dirt until she couldn’t see it or feel it anymore. She also tried her best to ignore Ian hovering over her. Knowing they were on a time crunch, she called it when she felt mildly clean.

Ian lifted her out of the water and set her shivering form on the ground next to her stuff.

“I distinctly recall saying on the count of THREE!”

 “It wasn’t so bad!”

“It was actually weird and horrible and freezing, thanks. But also… thanks.”

“Of course. Probably one of - one of the weirder things I’ve…done,” he said.

“Alright, don’t look!” Adelaide said as she opened her bag to pull out her spare clothes.

“Okay,” Ian laughed, turning away.

Adelaide did feel a little nervous with Ian’s back turned, but knew she was being completely irrational, so she hurried up and changed into her new clothes. She was still pretty wet and her hair dripped down her back, but the dry clothes helped immensely. She couldn’t say she felt completely clean, but she felt a lot better. “Okay,” she said, calling Ian’s attention.

“Excellent,” he said. Before he hopped to his feet, he cupped some water in his palms and splashed his face. Water sprayed everywhere.

“Watch it!” Adelaide yelled.

“Ah…whoops,” Ian said, but he was obviously amused. He wiped his hands off on his clothes and held one out. When she stepped on, he cupped his hands around her and blew hot breath onto her body, hoping that would suffice as an apology.

Adelaide recoiled. "Ew, stop! Gross!" she exclaimed. Ian's breath smelled like a dying animal and the invasion of her personal space was too much. No matter how much she trusted him, she couldn't stand to be anywhere near a giant's open mouth. Even if the warm air felt kind of nice.

"Suit yourself," Ian shrugged. As he stood up, he set her on his shoulder and they heard Roland call off the break. Just in time. “We are gonna teach you to swim when we get back home, though.”

“We’ll see,” Adelaide muttered. She never had any reason to learn and shouldn’t ever have any reason to learn, but here they were.

They rejoined the group, and instantly Kelly asked to be carried. She looked exhausted, and Adelaide couldn’t blame the poor girl. Not only was Kelly facing threats no adult should face and was probably scared out of her mind, but the humidity and uneven terrain made for a very difficult walk. How was a child supposed to prepare for or deal with any of this?

“I can’t, sweetheart, I’ve got Adelaide,” Ian said.

Oh.

Adelaide felt very guilty all of the sudden. She knew Ian was struggling with their relationship and she didn’t want to be another wedge splitting them further apart. Also, she didn’t want Kelly to resent her (for multiple reasons). Also also, she certainly didn’t want to be a burden to Ian.

Without thinking much about it, Adelaide offered to ride with someone else. “No, it’s fine. I’ll, um, I’ll go with…um…” She was hoping Sarah was nearby. If she could trust anyone else here, it would be her. But with Sarah nowhere to be seen, she went with the only other option in the vicinity. “...Nick!”

Upon hearing his name, Nick turned in their direction, oblivious to the conversation.

“Della, she’ll survive. She has two completely functional feet. She can walk,” Ian said, but the sentence was pointed at Kelly.

“Seriously, I’ll be fine,” Adelaide said in a voice that did not sound fine. In fact, it sounded scared. “Nick, is it okay if I stay with you for a little bit?”

Nick looked dumbfounded. “Um…sure.” He hesitated then reached for Adelaide on Ian’s shoulder.

Adelaide yelped and Ian stepped backward with his hands up. Nick stood there, confused as to what exactly was happening.

“Okay,” Adelaide breathed, shaking. “So, uh, first of all. No grabbing. That’s - that’s not, uh…” She couldn’t finish the sentence, too frazzled. In the blink of an eye, Nick's hand could've yanked her off her perch and carried her off to God knew where. It was a stark reminder to always keep her guard up around Beans. Even 'friendly' ones. It also didn't help that she was still shivering from her time in the stream, unable to retain enough body heat while she was still wet.

“Here,” Ian said, and he held his hand out for Adelaide.

Adelaide began to regret this decision, especially after Nick reached for her. She obviously couldn’t back down, but she proceeded with much more caution, intently watching each of his fingers for any sign of movement. Not that she'd have much time to react. Clearly.

“I don’t bite,” Nick joked.

Adelaide knew he was joking since Eddie made that exact same joke earlier, but he didn’t know how real of a concern it was for her. She forced a nervous laugh. Why did Beans find that so funny?

Slowly, she shuffled onto Nick’s hand. Adelaide reminded herself she’d already been there before, back in the collapsing trailer, so she should be completely fine. Granted, he was holding her captive in a massive fist at the time, but he definitely didn’t hurt her.

“Do not go far,” Ian warned Nick with a pointed finger, then turned to pick up Kelly.

“I’ll. Be. Fine , Ian. I can already see you stressing out,” Adelaide assured him. She paused, then added, “Go talk to her.”

Ian gave her an imperceptible nod, grateful for the chance to talk (semi) privately with his daughter. But before he walked a couple paces ahead, he also made sure to give Adelaide a look that said, behave.

Adelaide rolled her eyes from down in Nick’s hand as she watched him walk away. The sudden realization that she was completely alone with Nick hit her like a truck, and nerves began to worm their way through her spine again. Realistically, Ian was well within earshot, but a million things could go wrong at any moment, and her mind conjured up all of them at once.

Adelaide looked straight up at the underside of Nick’s chin. She gulped, but was able to choke out a repeat of Ian’s request. “Please don’t go far.”

Nick knowingly smirked. “You got it.”

Trying to counteract her pathetic admission of nerves, Adelaide pushed off of Nick’s hand and immediately got to climbing up his olive green T-shirt.

Nick froze in his tracks, eyes wide and tracking her progress, arms hovering uselessly in mid-air.

Once Adelaide reached his shoulder, she gave a little smirk of her own. Giants freaked out when she did that, and though she wasn’t sure why, it made her feel powerful and mischievous. Good. Let them freeze.

Nick shook his head to clear the feeling of tiny people crawling up his body (causing Adelaide to give a quick, annoyed shout.) He expected Adelaide to say something, considering she asked to ride with him. When she didn’t, he was content to walk in amicable silence.

It was true that Adelaide had nothing to say; she didn’t even know where to start, so she just kept her mouth shut. Another reason was that she was focused on working out Nick’s walking pattern. It was still casual, but not as casual as Ian’s. They were similar heights, too, but the gate was just off enough to require concentration.

Eventually, Adelaide got the hang of it (mostly), and that also happened to be the moment Nick reached his maximum threshold of boredom.

“So…how’d you end up here?” he offhandedly asked.

Adelaide jumped, used to the pleasant silence. His voice was much louder than Ian’s. “Like here here, or…?” she clarified.

“Well, looks like we’ve got a lot of time, so,” He gestured vaguely to the space around him, giving Adelaide the floor. She assumed this meant he wanted the full story, which put her fight or flight instincts on high alert. Her first instinct was to tell him off, to let him know it was none of his business, but she had to remind herself that he was just curious. He was just trying to fill the time. So, Adelaide took a deep breath and tried to tell the most bare bones story possible.

“Uhh…I mean, I guess I lived in another state when I was little. Then I got kidnapped and shipped to Texas. I found Ian’s house, I lived there on my own for eight years, then Ian kidnapped me, but then we became friends, I guess, then he dragged me to Jurassic Park the First, and then he tried to get me to stay home from Jurassic Park the Second, but I said if he goes, I go, so. That’s how I got here. You?”

“Woah, woah,” Nick said, gesturing for her to slow down. “You can’t just drop something like that, like it’s nothing, then ask about my boring-ass life.”

“I’d hardly call it boring,” Adelaide interjected, thinking about all the cool shit she’d seen from him so far, and something told her that was just the surface. Whether Nick heard her or not, he kept talking.

“You were kidnapped?” The tone of the question was much more casual than Adelaide expected, as if he were asking how her day was.

Still, Adelaide’s defenses rose. She didn’t know his intentions with this information. “Twice. Why?” Her demeanor grew spikier by the second.

“Just making conversation, s’all,” he shrugged, sending Adelaide into his neck. She pushed off it, body rigid and alert. Then his words sank in. She relaxed a little. She was being ridiculous.

“No, right, sorry, um… just a little protective of information regarding my… kind, y’know?” she admitted.

“Understandable. I wouldn’t tell us either. Especially if-” he indicated the kidnapping.

“Yeah, um, the guy knew about us or specialized in us or whatever. He took us to sell as pets.” Adelaide made sure to emphasize the pause after that part, hopefully making Nick realize why his ‘pet’ comment offended her so much. She couldn’t bear to mention the part about her parents, so she didn’t. “I escaped somewhere en route and went to the nearest human house I could find. Blah, blah, blah, eight years. One day I get stupid or lazy or whatever and drop my guard, so Ian finds me and holds me hostage till I tell him information about myself.”

“And you still trust that guy?” Nick blurted.

Adelaide gazed up ahead at Ian, who was laughing with Kelly, while she thought about her answer. “Yeah, I mean, he let me go. And also he’s done a lot of things to build up that trust over time. Wouldn’t you do the same, if Ian weren’t here with me? If you found me on your own? Beans don’t react logically to people like me.”

“Hmm,” Nick hummed. “You know, if you allied yourself with the right people, we could take down guys like him and whatever organizations they’re working for.”

“And reveal our existence to the whole world? No thanks.” Ever since meeting Ian, Adelaide considered options like that, but at the end of the day, the risks far outweighed the benefits. And if, by some miracle, borrowers were able to rally public support, that still didn’t stop the government from doing what they wanted to do. 

The silence dragged out for a while until Adelaide remembered to be polite. “And what about you? How’d you get here?” she asked.

“Money,” Nick said, but then elaborated. He talked about his background in photography and documentary filmmaking, how he traveled to the craziest places for odd jobs. It really did all come down to money in the end, but there were added benefits - women, awards, saving the Earth. He explained his affiliation with Greenpeace, which was some kind of organization working toward a ‘greener Earth’.

Adelaide listened in awe. She knew her scope of the world was much smaller than humans, but it never ceased to amaze her just how vast it really was. This was a completely different reality than she, and even Ian, experienced.

Their conversation was interrupted by Roland calling for another break. That seemed odd, considering they took one not too long ago, but nobody was complaining.

Nick plopped down on a log and Adelaide clung on for dear life. She started to ask a question, but Nick shushed her. She was going to protest until she realized they were eavesdropping.

“Come with me,” Roland said to some guy. “And you. If he’s alive, we’ll find him. The rest of you keep right on. Ten minutes, you’ll reach the ridge. Wait for us there.”

“Ten minutes, you’ll reach the ridge. Wait for us there,” Adelaide repeated in a bad imitation of Roland’s accent. She and Nick laughed, unable to help themselves. “Why is this guy in charge?”

“He is in charge because he’s an expert in his field - tracking, navigating, and hunting large predators,” Roland said, turning to face them. The smiles dropped from their faces as he approached, gun resting on his shoulder. “If you would like to lead the rest of this expedition, Miss Adelaide, then be my guest.” He stared down at her, waiting for an answer.  Adelaide shot to her feet, eyeing the gun. It was maybe three feet long and looked heavy, and despite the fact that the most dangerous thing in her immediate vicinity was a Bean, the gun scared her infinitely more. They were deafeningly loud, and Adelaide knew that if she were to get shot with one, there wouldn’t be a trace of her left.

“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size,” Nick said, trying to keep antagonization to a minimum but having trouble.

“I have. Many times. And then it got boring.”

Nick changed the subject. “Who’re you looking for, anyway?”

“Dieter Stark. Disappeared maybe fifteen minutes ago.”

“Good,” Adelaide blurted, drawing all eyes to her. (Or at least, Nick tried to look at her, but she was too close to his neck for him to see properly.) She shifted uncomfortably but held her ground.

“I know you may have had your differences, but no man deserves to die here-”

“Yeah, like Eddie,” Adelaide goaded. She didn’t know why she kept bringing the man up. It wasn’t like she was close to him, but the fact that he saved their lives without a second thought deserved respect. But in the end, it wasn’t about him. It was about making a point, making the InGen team feel bad. Adelaide felt a little guilty using his name for her prideful cause. 

“-He is one of my men. He will not be left behind,” Roland finished without blinking.

“Easy for you to say. He didn’t dangle you by your leg.” Adelaide could feel herself digging a deeper and deeper hole. Her brain begged her to stop, but her mouth didn’t seem to care.

Roland crouched down quickly, putting himself closer to eye level. Adelaide jumped, then shifted closer to Nick’s neck, which at least provided the appearance of protection. Roland noticed this but chose not to say anything.

“Get out of my space,” Nick said, and Adelaide could feel him tense up.

Roland ignored him. “You’d be happy to know, Miss Adelaide, that Deiter’s most likely dead. I will give him the courtesy of searching, but I highly suspect he’s gotten himself into more trouble than he could handle.”

With that, Roland stood up and took off. Adelaide let out a deep, long, sigh and wiped the sweat from her forehead. That man was intense.

“You like picking fights or something?” Nick asked.

“Do you?” Adelaide shot back.

“As a matter of fact, I do. You just gotta be able to finish what you start.” Nick stood up, leaving Adelaide with those thoughts. He called out to everyone to keep going, and the group obliged.

What made Adelaide the angriest was that Nick was right. She couldn’t act nervous and scared if she was going to antagonize Beans, and she couldn’t antagonize Beans if she was going to act nervous and scared. It was just so hard to keep her mouth shut sometimes. And on the other hand, Beans had no right to use their height advantage to purposely intimidate her just because she felt like there was something worth standing up for. At least, that’s how she justified it.

Movement caught Adelaide’s eye, and she saw Ian struggle to stand up. His leg must really be killing him, but she knew he would never admit it. She should probably go free him from carrying Kelly.

“Can you take me back to Ian?” she asked.

Nick also saw this and understood. “Yeah, sure thing.”

Ian was just about to lift Kelly up when he saw Nick approach. His heart pounded and his head immediately jumped to everything that could be wrong. When he saw Adelaide sitting calmly on Nick’s shoulders though, he relaxed.

“She’s sick of me already,” Nick said with a smile on his face, and before he could grab Adelaide, Ian’s hands were already there. Nick flinched, mildly uncomfortable with the invasion of his personal space, but Adelaide quickly hopped on Ian’s hands as he pulled them out of the picture.

He put her on his shoulder and nodded a ‘thank you’ at Nick, who returned the nod.

“You know I have to ask. Is everything-” Ian began.

“Yes, everything is okay. He didn’t hurt me, he didn’t call me any names. We had a lovely conversation,” Adelaide rattled off.

“Good.”

They walked silently for a moment as the sun slowly set.

“How’s your leg?” Adelaide asked. She figured she’d given it enough time so that her request to go back to Ian and her worry over his leg wouldn’t be connected. She was wrong. Ian saw right through her.

“Is that why you came back? Because you saw me, um…?”

“No!” Adelaide said a little too quickly. “No, um, Nick is um… I actually hate him now. He hurt me and called me names and we had a terrible conversation.”

“Mhm,” Ian said.

Adelaide changed the subject, but it still wasn’t a comfortable one. “How did it go? With Kelly, I mean?”

At this point, Kelly had already run off to talk to Sarah, so they didn’t have to worry about her hearing the conversation.

“It, uh…it went good. We had a talk, and it was - it was good.”

“Riveting,” Adelaide said sarcastically. Ian just laughed.

They walked on, and Adelaide told Ian about Nick and his adventures and how cool she thought he was. Ian listened patiently, but he knew people like Nick. He kept his opinions to himself, whether good or bad, not wanting to taint Adelaide’s opinions on the world.

It didn’t skip their attention that Roland and his men returned sans Dieter Stark, and after a little more walking, they decided to call it for the night and make camp.

Right. Camp. Sleeping. Sleeping in front of Beans. Falling into a state of unconsciousness with hostile Beans everywhere. It was in that moment that Adelaide decided she wasn’t going to sleep that night.

.

Next

#jurassic park #ian malcolm #g/t #giant/tiny #jurassic park g/t #gt #size difference #nick van owen

[sunboki]

it was so nice of you to still let me request even though it’s technically over 🥹 can i please request angst, prompt number 3, with changbin? i appreciate you a lot, autumn leaf 🧡

pairing — seo changbin x gn. reader

w.c — 0.6k

-> 1k followers event

genre — angst

prompt — “i’m not a lot of people’s favorite person.” ( #3 )

notes — thank you so much jeekies for requesting changbin, i’ve been wanting to write for him so bad and this was the perfect opportunity. i hope you like this concept<3

“I’m not a lot of people’s favorite person, sweetheart.”

Is what Seo Changbin said to you, while you sat on the hood of his old Cadillac, staring up at the stars that seemed to dance above your heads.

He looked beautiful with the galaxy in his eyes, once a dark brown, now sparkling.

Changbin had a reputation. A ‘not interested in anything other than getting out of school’ reputation that earned him quite a few lunch detentions, but of course the hard-head didn’t take any of it to heart. If anything he forgot it the next day just like the piling homework assignments he hadn’t even begun. Perhaps that’s what you liked about him. Seo Changbin, the free spirit of your school. When he was nearby you felt like you were living this life to the fullest extent, unable to get enough of his-everything.

No, he didn’t wear a leather jacket or smoke cigars outside of the cafeteria. Relaying to you he was worried his mom would think he was a delinquent if he wore the jacket, either way, the thick fabric would be annoying with his bulging biceps. You heavily agreed on that point. Regarding cigarettes, the thought wasn’t even considered. Changbin was way too focused on his health to put his body at risk anyway, he told you so.

“How do you know that?” Is what you replied to his statement, turning your head against the billowing wind to admire his side profile, staring at something you’d never be able to identify. Thinking.

“I just do. It’s like an itch. I feel their eyes on me, hear their words. But it doesn't mean much. People say stuff and if I won’t hear it again five years from now it’s nothin’.”

God, that was the mindset you dreamed of having. Careless but intentional. Not yours. Crammed with upcoming exams and high expectations.

“How about you? ‘Got anyone to impress?” Earlier experience with Changbin told you he was entailing about your love life, his strange way with words easily comprehensible to you. However you were used to him asking more.. broad questions, not something as personal as your love life.

“Yeah. I do,” the words even surprised you. In fact, the love interest stood right next to you. How ironic.

“What’s he like? Or she.” A cheeky grin made its way to your face, sticking your tongue in your cheek. Hey, if Changbin was going to speak honestly, why couldn’t you?

You raked your gaze along his frame, leaning back on your palms, “he’s wearing a black t-shirt today. It fits him well and the pants go well with the outfit. He drives a blue Cadillac his dad gave him before going to the States.”

Slowly but surely, the boy’s head turned to fixate on you, biting his lip thoughtfully whilst containing a growing smile.

“He’s personable, and funny not to mention. Some people claim he’s burly but I just think it’s charming. Also-”

This time he met your eyes, adoring the tilt of your head as you referred to him.

“He says he’s not a lot of people’s favorite person, but I disagree since he’s my favorite person.” You kicked your feet, listening to the crunch of gravel beneath Changbin’s shoes as he inches closer to where you sat. Close enough to steal a kiss he eagerly soaked up like it was nothing. A trait only reserved for him.

Then he smiled, a grin you didn’t see often but treasured more because of.

“He seems like a good guy.”

You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, ensuing another, longer kiss.

“He is. I think I love him.”

“I think he loves you back.”

all rights reserved for @sunboki

#stray kids #straykids x reader #stray kids angst #skz angst #stray kids x gender neutral reader #stray kids x y/n #stray kids x reader #stray kids x you #skz x y/n #skz x you #skz x reader #seo changbin #skz changbin #skz seo changbin #changbin x y/n #changbin x you #changbin x reader #seo changbin x reader #seo changbin x you #seo changbin x y/n #changbin angst #seo changbin angst

[valentinehorrors]

Close call

(CW: Toxic relationship, unhealthy relationship, manipulation, light gore talk.)

Fuck

Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck

That was the only word going through Casey Jones' head as he ran through the woods. The only thing coursing through his veins and fueling his running being complete and utter panic.

How did this happen?

He should've stopped the teasing and play flirting. He should've explained that he meant nothing with it. He should've told her they were jokes.

He should've. He should've. He should've.

A thousand thoughts swirling in his skull, lashing him with his own stupidity again and again. Equally as painful as the branches that scratch his skin while he frantically ran to somewhere, anywhere but the barn.

Casey should've stopped when he first learned of Mikey's feelings towards April. Hell, when Mikey almost killed her just because he was a bit too hungry. But the mutant had told him that wouldn't be a good idea and the human trusted him. Of course, the concern at the time was that if Casey did stop then it would be suspicious, especially so sudden and out of nowhere.

He never thought this would happen, and he knew she was as good as dead. He didn't know what to do, he was at a complete loss. Even if he wasn't in the middle of panicking, he had no idea how to fix what was sure to come.

His panic was then interrupted by him falling, despite the sun still lingering in the sky, the tall, dense, trees blocked enough of it's wondering light that he didn't notice the uneven ground leading to a downwards incline. He quickly lost foothold as he tried to step on thin air, tumbling down and getting even more scratches and bruises. The salt on the wound being the pile of rocks he ended up crashing into, digging into his side and back, knocking the air out of his lungs.

The barrage of pain helped bring Casey back to the present moment, opening his eyes to find soft rays of sunlight shining through green leaves. For a split second, he sees red on those leaves, reminded of the crunching and squelching he had caused. The taste of iron returning to his lips and tongue as he felt unwanted tears welling up in his eyes.

His breathing was too fast, he was lightheaded, he had to calm down. Casey shut his eyes tightly, withholding his tears as he counted in his head and took a slow deep breath.

In for four seconds.

Hold for seven seconds.

Out for eight seconds.

Okay, that felt better.

As a familiar shiver ran through his skin, he knew he would be seeing icy, apathetic, blue instead of leafy, living, green upon opening his eyes.

He was right.

"Are you wearing your binder?" The monotone voice didn't reveal any intention from the mutant. He was staring at him, as Mikey tended to do on any normal day.

Though, saying he hadn't expected that question was an understatement. Maybe he hadn't found out yet, the small flicker of hope awaking in his chest.

"Uh, y-yeah, why?" Casey winced as Mikey suddenly grabbed at his side, right where the rocks had dug in.

"You ran almost a full mile, full speed, and then suffered quite the fall. You should avoid wearing it for the next few days." Mikey felt around Casey's side before lifting him up to sit up against a nearby tree. Casey was once again reminded of Mikey's strength as he lifted him effortlessly, his cold hands soothing the human's bruised skin.

Casey shifted against the tree, nodding as he looked over at Mikey, carefully observing the mutant as he sat in front of him. Lowering his mask to his neck to accurately reflect his current unmasked true self.

If Mikey saw him running, he saw what happened. That small glimmer of hope dying as quickly as it appeared. Who was he kidding? Mikey's eyes were almost always on him, he could feel it.

On the surface, Mikey looked calm, any other person would think they were in the clear, after all, he didn't look even remotely upset.

But Casey knew better, he saw the way Mikey held his hands together, saw the way Mikey's shadow unnaturally trembled. He could even see Mikey's eyes subtly change, that blue ever so slightly glowing.

Oh fuck, he was pissed.

Casey gulped down any idea of lying, there was no use, no point, the only thing he could do is beg. "Mike... Babe..." He thought the pet name would help his chances... No that just pissed him off more, Mikey's eyes changing, now holding white cat like slits as the blue glowed brighter. Casey was sweating, more than stressed the fuck out. Though that can apply to more than just the current situation.

"Okay, taking that back. Rewinding. Take two."

Mikey's raised brow ridge was a good sign.

"Kay, so, you know me."

"Intimately."

"Yeah, a lot. So you know, a-and! You know I don't lie to ya so you double know that I don't actually like April, I have no intention on being with her or going out with her or-"

"I know. From your side, you have no feelings for her, none of the romantic kind specifically. However,"

Fuck

"She has just confirmed that that's not the case on her side." Mikey's shadow shook intensely with his anger, stretching towards Casey. Said human's mouth dry with fear.

"Mike. Please, nothing's gonna come from it. She'll back off."

"I must admit it was a joy to see her devastated face at your excuses before you ran away from her. Rest assured, she's aware she has been rejected."

"...But you're still mad."

"Understatement." Mikey's quick biting reply caused Casey to flinch.

"Kay, got it, yeah, um... Why?"

"Because you're mine." Mikey suddenly lurched forward, trapping Casey in a cage of his own arms against the tree. Mikey's finger digging into the bark as inky black shadows slowly crawl up Casey's legs, the piercing cold causing Casey to shiver and shake.

"Y-Yeah, got that, M-Mike... I'm yours." That seemed to help, Mikey's eyes turning back to normal as he pressed his forehead against Casey's, the shadows lowering back to where they belong.

"My dearest dog, you know I'm only like this because of how much you mean to me." Casey could feel the tree shake as Mikey pulled his claws out, cupping Casey's face with dangerous care.

"I know... But Mike-"

"I won't kill her." Mikey says with a disappointment that's clear even for Mikey's usual monotone. Oh, he wants to, badly.

Still, the relief that washes over Casey cannot be overstated. "Thank fuck..." He muttered under his breath, the relief visually calming him down.

The calm doesn't last long as the gentle hold on his cheeks turn to a rough grab as Mikey leans back just to pull Casey's face forward.

"You do not have permission to be relieved." He says coolly, his cold hands more intense than any jagged rock. "I am no fool, she is too valuable to make her disappear."

That's the thing, it's that Mikey could. Casey knew that making something look like an accident would be nothing to the calculating mutant. He wouldn't have to compromise his mask, it'd be as easy as breathing.

"Uh, so...?"

"I need reprieve, release, catharsis." Mikey looked like he wanted to bite off Casey's face, his eyes hungrily going over every inch of his face. Hell, he probably did, regardless of the situation.

He finally let Casey go as he stood up and looked down at him, never losing that predatory look to his eyes.

"Two nights from now, you will help me feed again. But this time, you will go to that campsite and find a girl,"

Oh no.

"With blue eyes."

No fucking way.

"And red hair."

Casey stared at Mikey with wide eyes, wordlessly pleading him to not do this fucked up game he was going to make him play.

Instead of easing up, he doubled down.

"I want you to flirt with her, a bad boy like you, it shouldn't be hard to sweep a girl off her feet. Clearly, it's already worked." Mikey began circling Casey, clear bitterness tinging his words.

Casey didn't need to follow his gaze to know those blue eyes were piercing his very being.

"M-Mike... Come on..." A sudden gush of wind caused Casey to hold his breath, afraid of it being stolen from his lungs. He didn't have to wonder for long as to what caused the disturbance, as he saw the shadow cast by the tree he was sitting against, slowly begin to tilt.

It wasn't the falling tree that disturbed him, it was how quiet it was. The creaking of wood was still heard, as were the birds that flew out of its branches. But the expected thud of it hitting the ground, was lacking. He didn't need to look to know how. He didn't need to know. The only thing that mattered was that Mikey was the one responsible. He had no doubt that Mikey was capable of such a thing.

Yeah, that shut him up.

"I pride myself in how transparent and honest I've been with you, Casey. So I will continue to do so. This won't be a necessity. I am simply quiet upset."

Casey tensed as he felt Mikey's breath against the back of his neck. As he felt the mutant's hands on his shoulders, he willed himself into some semblance of relaxing, at the very least to please him.

"And I know, you will do anything to make sure I'm not upset. After all, that's why you ran, isn't it? Nod."

Casey immediately obeyed Mikey's command. He knows when to fuck around, knows when it's safe to push at Mikey's buttons. He also knows that there are times when it's a better idea to just be the obedient dog Mikey wants him to be.

Be quiet.

Be obedient.

"Such a good boy, almost makes me want to forgive you here and now..." Mikey's hand moved to Casey's head, petting him like the good pet he was.

It wasn't so bad, not really. Mikey was a lot of very bad things, but he was also a lot of... well maybe not good things, but still. It wasn't that bad, especially knowing that Mikey did care for him.

Besides, if Casey wasn't there for him, who knows what the mutant would've done by now.

"...Unfortunately..." Ah, right. Mikey's hand grabbed a fistful of raven hair as he pulled Casey's head back to force eye contact. "My temperament is not as it usually is. You will sweep some poor April look-alike off of her feet, and when I crush her ribs, tear out her eyes and bash in her skull; You. Will. Watch."

Those cruel yet beautiful sapphires stared down at the human. Casey took the following silence as Mikey waiting for a response.

"Yes, Mikey."

The sadistic smile, that stretched the mutant's lips was worth it.

"Good dog." It was even more worth it as he felt said sadistic lips against his. Mikey finally relented Casey's hair as he moved in front of him. "Now, I will fix this little confusion you have caused by running off the way you did. When you get back, just follow my lead. Do take some time to rest, you bruise ridiculously easily."

Mikey paused, looking into Casey's eyes he said one last phrase before leaving.

"I love you." He secured his mask back on before the shadows swallowed him whole and took him away, leaving Casey alone, in the woods.

Well, that wasn't entirely true, even so soon after his departure, he knew Mikey was still watching him from the shadows. Anywhere that shadows dwelled, so did Mikey. It didn't matter where he went, Mikey's eyes were always on him.

The lair. The sewers. The city. The woods.

Shadows were everywhere, thus Mikey was everywhere. There was no escape, no privacy to just himself. He allowed the traitorous tears to fall freely from his eyes, yet he didn't sob. Casey's face was as stone and numb as Mikey's. He couldn't narrow down why his tears decided now to fall, but at this point, he was tired of thinking.

Seeing someone who looked like his best friend get murdered in front of him, on top of manipulating said victim to their doom. Oh yeah, he was going to get fucked up, he could practically hear his own sanity cracking further under Mikey's thumb.

Unfortunately, he can't say he didn't ask for it.

Besides, it's not so bad.

#tmnt #tmnt 2012 #tmnt au #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt mikey #unmasked mikey #yandere mikey #mikey x casey #sadistic mikey #tmnt casey jones #teenage mutant ninja turtles 2012 #tmnt fanfiction #2012 mikey #tmnt mikey 2012 #tmnt michelangelo #tmnt casey 2012 #casey jones #casey

[live-the-fangirl-life]

Halloween 26 for rowaelin!

A Haunting Halloween

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn

“If I die because of your dumb idea, I will haunt you so hard!”

Halloween Dialogue Prompts

Masterlist | Read on Ao3 | Halloween Collection

Warnings: Language, Mentions of Haunted House

1718 words

*******

“Oh, shit!” Aelin hissed as her foot caught on a tree root, jerking forward as the momentum of her body tried pulling her to the ground. But she didn’t fall, not as a pair of strong hands held her shoulders in a firm, steady grip.

When she got her feet back under her, Aelin let her boyfriend guide her along the path. Every few seconds, one of his hands would lift from her shoulders to hold a low-hanging branch out of her way, but each time she felt the absence of his hand, she hesitated, her hands instinctively reaching out ahead of her as she tried to feel her way through the night air.

She was starting to regret letting Rowan blindfold her.

The next time she stumbled was because instead of allowing herself to be nudged to the left, she kept straight and walked right into a tree stump, cursing as she leaned back into Rowan’s chest and shook out her foot. Huffing, she told him, “If I die because of your dumb idea, I’ll haunt you so hard.”

She didn’t have to see him to know he was rolling his eyes at her. “If you’d stop fighting me at every turn, then you wouldn’t be almost dying from tree stumps.” The light squeeze he gave her shoulders negated any true annoyance, but she could tell that the exasperation in his tone was real.

Finally relenting as Rowan’s hands dropped from her shoulders to her waist, Aelin accepted his guidance as they continued walking.

“Why do I have to wear a blindfold?” she asked for the dozenth time. “It’s dark, we’re walking through the woods that you and I both know I’ve never been through, and now my toes are going to be bruised. It isn’t like I’d recognize where we're going, so why do you insist on debilitating me?”

Rowan’s laugh sounded even more exasperated than his words a minute ago. “Aelin—”

“Have I finally made you snap? Are you bringing me out here to murder me?” she joked with an exaggerated gasp. “Slaying me in a spooky forest on Halloween – points for style, but not much originality.” She didn’t give him a second to answer before pleading with him again, “Rowan, come on, you know I hate surprises.”

He snorted and decided not to even touch the murder commentary. “No, you hate surprises that you didn’t plan yourself. You love surprises when you’re the one making everyone else’s hearts stop in their chests.”

She abruptly stilled and Rowan caught himself before he sent them both tumbling. “Are you saying my heart's going to stop? That isn’t much of a defense to my murder accusation.”

“I’m saying,” Rowan retorted, reaching out to grab a branch and hold it up and out of Aelin’s way, “stop arguing with me; you might actually like this surprise.”

“Seeing as I had no input, I’d say that’s doubtful.”

Rowan grumbled something under his breath.

“What was that?” she asked with enough cheek to tell him she knew exactly which choice words he’d muttered.

He waited until he’d led her over a damp pile of leaves before answering, “Just reminding myself of how much I love you.”

She hummed. “Didn’t sound like that to me.”

“Yeah, well,” one of Rowan’s hands flexed on her waist and carefully guided her along the path. “Reminding myself why I shouldn’t let you live out your Halloween murder fantasy is the same thing.”

“Rude.” Aelin scoffed, resting one of her hands on one of his bracketing her waist to squeeze his fingers. His answering squeeze brought an amused smile to her face.

A minute passed in relative silence, broken only by the light crunches of their boots over the forest floor.

“We’re almost there,” Rowan assured as if he could tell she had just been about to ask.

“You still haven’t told me where there is.”

“And you still won’t get me to.”

A breeze whistled through the trees and Aelin was suddenly glad Rowan had insisted on bringing their hats and gloves. It also helped that she had a veritable wall of muscle at her back shielding her from the worst of the chill.

“Can you at least promise me,” she tried again, hoping to get some answer, “that whatever this is will be better than that Halloween party we were invited to?”

“I sure as hell hope so.”

She did too. “Because, you know, if we’d gone to that, I wouldn’t be bundled up in all these layers,” she reached forward and twirled her gloves around, “I would be wearing that queen costume I showed you.”

Rowan’s foot caught on a branch and Aelin held in a laugh. He squeezed her waist again and cleared his throat before asking, his voice rougher than it had been a second ago, “The one with the thigh-high stockings?”

She nodded. “The one with the thigh-high stockings.”

As the seconds stretched out in silence, Aelin grinned.

At some point they walked out of the woods, Aelin felt the damp soil turn into hard asphalt, and the constant feeling of being surrounded by trees disappeared. And then Rowan was leading her up some stairs and she was trying to figure out how one minute she was walking through the woods and the next she was in…a house?

It wasn’t much longer before Rowan pulled her to a stop and then his fingers rose to the back of her head to untie the blindfold. As she blinked, he leaned forward, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Why don’t you take a look and see for yourself.”

It took her a second to get her bearings. They were in a house, one that wasn’t familiar, but even if she knew where they were, the room she was standing in would’ve been unrecognizable.

A large sheet was hung up on one wall bracketed by small strands of lights dangling off the sides. A sofa sat in the middle of the room, but instead of holding a couple of pillows, it was being used as structural support for the blankets that were lofted over the back and pulled taught to create a fort on the floor in front of it. A small projector sat on a side table aimed at the sheet. And, as she slowly walked towards the front of the fort, she saw all the blankets, pillows, and bags of candy and chips laid out.

“What…” she was speechless as she slowly turned towards Rowan who looked beyond pleased with himself. “I don’t…”

Stepping around her, Rowan pressed a button on the projector and suddenly it flickered to life as the sheet now showed the title card to Friday the 13th. The smirk on his face was the definition of smug.

“Seriously – Rowan, are we…?”

“Are we…” he urged her to finish her thought as his smirk grew wider. When she continued to look at him in disbelief, he stepped closer and some of his smugness turned softer. “In the supposedly haunted house on the outskirts of the Orynthian woods?”

Her brows flew up as she nodded along. “I have so many questions…but my first is,” she jerked her chin towards the piles of food, “are there Twizzlers in there?”

Rowan barked out a laugh and shook his head. “Twizzlers? Do you think I don’t know you? It’s stocked with Red Vines, you menace.”

“Of course, I never should have doubted you.” Aelin couldn’t contain her smile if she tried. “So, this…”

“This,” he laughed, “Right. The haunted house? Not haunted. Obviously.”

“Obviously,” she echoed, grinning.

“Just abandoned, and recently put on the market by some family member of the people who used to live here. The listing went to Enda’s firm, and he’s been showing it for a few weeks. Believe it or not, not many people want to live this far into the forest.”

“Shocking.”

“I know.”

Aelin poked his chest before sliding her hands up around his neck. The grin she wore softened at the edges and fell into a fond smile which she hoped conveyed how much she appreciated this whole gesture.

“Anyways,” he went on as his arms twined around her waist to pull her flush against him. “I convinced my dear cousin to me borrow it for the night, so long as I promised to keep it decently clean.”

Realization hit her and had her beaming again. “So you mean—”

“That you won’t get your Halloween murder, but you’re about to spend a night in a ‘haunted’ house.”

“On Halloween.”

“On Halloween.” He confirmed, once again looking downright smug. She had to give it to him, Rowan really outdid himself with this one.

Pulling back to look him better in the eye, she arched a brow. “Okay, but how did you manage this whole setup?”

She stepped out of his embrace and kneeled down in front of the fort to take in the orange blankets and pumpkin pillows. When she glanced back up, Rowan was leaning against the side table, his arms crossed, still overly pleased with catching her off guard.

The tips of his ears flushed red as he said, “I have my ways.”

Aelin wasted no more time, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the fort with her. They situated themselves amongst the blankets, leaning their backs against the sofa. Rowan draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side as she curled her arm over his middle and rested her head on his chest. The movie started up just as she was opening a pack of Red Vines and stretching one up to feed to her boyfriend.

“I won’t underestimate your surprises again,” she promised. “This is perfect. Happy Halloween, Buzzard.”

He laughed, “Happy Halloween, Fireheart.”

Aelin tilted her face up and leaned in to kiss him, but right as she was about to connect her lips with his, a low, drawn-out creaking sound echoed through the dark hallways of the house. She pulled back with a hand on his chest and glanced toward the sound. The creaking sounded again.

“Ooh, nice special effects,” she commended, too focused on listening to realize Rowan’s body had gone stiff next to hers. Finding his gaze, she was confused to see his green eyes widen in alarm.

“That wasn’t me.”

*****

Taglist:

@acourtofsnakes @allthebooksunderthemoon @astra-ad-mare @becarefuloflove @booklover41802 @charlizeed @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @danibutterr @doubt-less @emily-gsh @enormousbooklover @foughtconquered @fromthelibraryofemilyj @hakunamatatazz @i-have-but-one-brain-cell @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato @jorjy-jo @lemonade-coolattas @mariamuses @mayhemories @midsizewitch @rowaelinrambling @morganofthewildfire @nerdperson524 @rowaelinismyotp @rowansfirebringer @sayosdreams @sheharahu @sleeping-and-books @stardelia @story-scribbler @superspiritfestival @elentiyawhitethorn @swankii-art-teacher @tomtenadia @westofmoon @whimsicallyreading @moodymelanist @realbookloverproblems @gracie-rosee @julemmaes @yesdreamblog @the-regal-warrior @rowanaelinn @thestoriesyoutell @autumnbabylon @sunflowermoonshinewrites @maastrash @annejulianneh111 @the-lonelybarricade

#rowaelin #aelin x rowan #rowan x aelin #aelin #Rowan #aelin galythinius #rowan whitethorn #aelin and rowan #rowan and aelin #aelin galathynius x rowan whitethorn #rowaelin oneshot #rowaelin fic #rowaelin fluff #rowaelin fanfiction #throne of glass #tog #halloween fics #halloween prompts #Halloween

[coffeeghoulie]

Mushy May Day 6: Snow day

Prompts arranged by @forlorn-crows <3

(I’m posting this on mobile so please forgive me if the formatting’s screwed up)

Pairing: Swiss & Sunny & Rain & Dew

Rated: Gen

Word count: 1071

Contains: Sunny’s first time seeing snow Up Top

“Swiss!”

Swiss knows the voice, knows it’s familiar, but he’s too asleep to place whose it is.

“Swiss, wake up!” There’s a hand shaking his shoulder, and he jolts awake. It takes him a moment to register where he is and what’s going on. He’s in Sunshine’s room, the ghoulette in question kneeling over him, an alarmed look on her face.

“Wha’s goin’ on, Sunny?” he asks, tongue too heavy in his mouth.

“What the fuck is that? It wasn’t there when we went to bed last night,” She says, her tail thrashing behind her as she points out the window. The courtyard outside of the glass is coated with a thick layer of blinding white snow, and it’s still coming down softly.

Swiss takes a deep breath and shakes off the last of the tenseness from Sunny’s panicked wake up call. “That’s snow. When it gets cold in the winter, water will freeze up in flakes and make everything look like that. It’s really fun to play in.”

She tilts her head, looking out at the courtyard. “You can play in it?”

“Yeah,” Swiss says, stretching. “It’s cold, but it’s really fun. Do you want to go? We’ve got nothing going on this morning.”

“Sounds like fun,” she laughs. Sunny jumps off of her bed, rushing to her closet to get dressed. “You said it’s cold?”

“Yeah, you’ve gotta dress warm. Here,” he says, grabbing a hoodie from her clean laundry that he swore used to be his own and tossing it to her. “Wear another sweater with that, you should be good.”

He gets dressed as well, lacing up his boots from where he left them by her door. Swiss runs warm, and he figures he’ll be okay in his sweatshirt and jeans.

The two of them head out to the main courtyard, and the hallway leads through the ghoul common room. Rain and Dew are curled up together on the couch, Dew in what looks like three sweaters, including one stolen from Mountain.

“Where are you two going?” Rain asks.

“Playing in the snow!” Sunny giggles, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Dew raises an eyebrow at her. “Sunny, how many layers are you wearing right now?”

She takes a second, brows furrowing at her fellow fire ghoul. “Two? Why?”

“Nope.” He shakes his head, shucking Mountain’s sweater from over his head. “Not enough. You are going to freeze, Shiny. Take this,” he says, tossing Mountain’s sweater to her, “I’ll find you one more, and then maybe that’ll be enough.”

She cocks her head even as she throws on the sweater Dew gave her. “Swiss said-”

“Swiss is a furnace,” Dew says, thinking for a moment before adding, “and a dumbass.”

“Hey,” Swiss complains, but Dew cuts him off.

“You’re part fire ghoul, Sunny. I know you’re going to freeze because I did.”

“Oh,” Sunny whispers. Dew rushes off to his room, coming back with three more sweaters, each one probably belonging to a different ghoul. He hands one that smells of cedar to Sunny, another one of Mountain’s, puts one on himself, and gives the third to Rain.

“Okay, are we going outside or what?” Dew says, pulling Rain to his feet.

“You two coming with?” Swiss asks.

“Don’t want to miss out Sunny’s first time playing in the snow,” Rain says, grabbing his boots.

The four of them pile out of the common room to the courtyard. Swiss holds the door open, gesturing grandly to Sunny as she steps out into the snow. She giggles as her breath steams up in clouds around her, watching with rapt attention as the thick flakes of snow drift down and land on her sweater.

The ghouls behind her all watch, half-hidden smiles on their faces, as she runs out into the empty courtyard and whoops. “Come on, guys!” She calls out, and Swiss is the first one to run after her. The snow crunches under his feet as he moves, and he can hear Rain and Dew following close behind him.

No one will be the one to admit they were the first one to throw a snowball, but it quickly descends into a brutal snowball fight. Rain nails Dew square in the chest with a snowball, and Swiss throws one right in between Rain’s shoulder blades, leaving a white mark on his back. Sunny takes a fistful of snow and shoves it down the back of Swiss’s sweater.

Dew’s about to throw a snowball at Sunny when he sees it. Her hands are trembling, flushed bright red. “Guys! We’re done!”

Rain and Swiss freeze, turning to Dew. “You cold, Dewey?” Rain asks, taking a step in his direction.

“I’m actually alright, I think. Sunny, we should go inside, okay?” Dew drops the snow in his hands and walks over to Sunny, putting a gentle hand on her forearm.

Sunny opens her mouth to protest, but as she stops moving, she realizes exactly how deep into her bones the cold goes. “Yeah, let’s go inside.” She says, shoving her hands into the sleeves of the sweaters she’s wearing.

The four of them file back into the abbey, and as they enter the common room, Dew shoves Swiss towards the couch, leading Sunny much more gently. “Get that top layer off, it’s soaked and it’s only going to make you colder. Rain and I’ll get you two something warm to drink and we’ll be right back, okay, Shiny?”

Sunny nods, her teeth chattering as she takes off the first sweater, tossing it on the chair closest to the fire pit. Swiss, having taken off his own outer layer, takes her by the waist and pulls her down onto the couch into his lap. She purrs, curling up into a near ball and burying her face in the crook of his neck. He starts purring in response, tapping into his fire and cranking his body temperature up.

Rain and Dew come back after a few minutes, each carrying two of the nice mugs that Copia saves for special occasions. Three of them are topped with giant marshmallows, and one of Rain’s has one of Mountain’s teabags hanging over the side. They each sit down on either side of the multighoul, and hand Swiss and Sunny a mug.

“Thank you,” Sunny mumbles, taking a long drink from her hot chocolate. “Thank you three for showing me the snow.”

“Any time, Shiny.”

#mushy May #sunshine ghoulette #swiss ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #rain ghoul #my writing