#i would say for space that i can easily and happily turn into garden space is abooouuuutttt

[katboykirby]

mc: i come to thee requesting aid for a terrible problem that hath just occurred. without you i may perish

satan: you need me to kill someone for you? of course. what are we thinking? immediate and painful or more of a death trap situat-

mc: there's a kitty stuck in a tree and i can't reach it :(

satan: GUIDE ME TO THE POOR BEAUTY AT ONCE

Satan would 100% be ready to kill for you at a moment's notice. Remember in the "Blue Spring Paradise" Pop Quiz event story, when MC asked if they were going to beat the shit out of Levi's bullies? Satan was the first one to stand up and agree with you. He was IMMEDIATELY ready to kill and maim the moment the suggestion came out of your mouth.

So you'll probably have to help him turn on the brakes first before you can explain yourself properly. He gets fired up over you very quickly, so you'll need to help him focus on the actual reason you need him before he goes off in a killing frenzy in your name.

As soon as he's calm and you explain that there's a cat stuck in one of the trees out in the garden, Satan goes into a whole new, different kind of frenzy - he's overtaken by the need to save and protect that precious, innocent ball of fluff!

He'll drop everything he's doing, no matter how important. He'll grab you and pull you with him as he runs from his room and dashes as fast as he can for the door, moving at speeds that a mere human could never hope to achieve. You're already outside in the garden of the House of Lamentation before you know it, and Satan has both hands on your shoulders as he asks you "Where is it? Show me where it's suck, which tree did you see it in?" and you point out the exact spot you had seen it, leading the way so Satan could come to the kitty's rescue.

Lucifer could hear the racket, and he came looking for you to make sure that his brothers weren't getting you into any trouble. He follows the sound of your voice shouting something, and he heads outside to check the garden, standing on the porch and staring at the sight in front of him with mild bewilderment.

You are standing at the foot of one of many trees, looking up at something in the branches and shouting instructions. Lucifer follows your line of sight and heaves a weary, exhausted sigh when he sees Satan climbing up toward something near the top of the tree.

"What in the Devildom are the two of you doing out here?" Lucifer asks, coming to stand beside you and craning his neck up to watch Satan crawling along a branch. "What nonsense is it this time?"

You explain that you're trying to help a cat, pointing out the tiny fuzzball that Satan was slowly inching closer and closer to. Lucifer just shakes his head, rubbing at the space between his eyes like he was staving off a headache.

"Really. You know, you both could have come to me first" he tells you. "I'd have sorted this out for you easily, without Satan making a fool of himself"

You were glad that Satan was too high up to be able to hear what his older brother was saying. You took a step back to make some room, and you watched as Lucifer muttered a few words and cast a spell. There was a glowing blue light, and then -

Suddenly, Satan was standing back in front of you with both feet firmly on the ground. He had a few leaves stuck to his clothes and there was a twig caught in his hair, but otherwise he appeared to be fine. Thankfully, he had the kitten safely in his arms. He looked a little surprised to be back on the ground all of a sudden, but quickly got over it when the kitten mewled happily and batted at his sweater with its little paws.

"Look, I got him" Satan beamed at you, holding up the little kitty for you to see. "He's safe and sound, thanks to us"

"Thanks to me, you mean" Lucifer exhaled, crossing his arms. "If you had fallen out of that tree and cracked your skull open, it would have been your own fault. Just come to me next time instead of doing something so foolish"

Satan was either ignoring Lucifer, or his joy at saving the kitten was so great that he didn't even notice his brother was talking to him. He was too busy petting the baby in his arms, babbling to you about how you were its hero and what he wanted to name it. He was flushed and breathing a little heavier than normal after scaling the height of that tree, but he couldn't stop grinning.

"Just make sure you clean yourself up before coming back inside" Lucifer sighed. "And we aren't keeping that cat"

#obey me #obey me nightbringer #obey me satan #omswd #satan #obey me lucifer #lucifer #obey me mc #obey me reader #x reader #reader insert

[doctornolonger]

Listen, Learn, Read On

Helen Fayle’s sequel to “Nine Queens”, inspired by Paul Magrs’ comment that he liked the story but “wanted to see the wake!” This introduces Taliesin, whose appearance was based on Eric Stoltz, and sets up Fayle’s Book of Taliesin cycle.

You didn’t really think Alien Bodies was the end, did you?

A wake is the strangest phenomenon: it’s one of the few times where people who cannot stand to be in the same room with each other for five minutes at a time will happily swap stories in a corner, before circulating to another conversation and verbally ripping apart whomsoever they were just talking to. Where family and friends can meet for the first time in years, only to realise that they have nothing to say to one another. And never really did.

And of course, there’s always an elderly relative walking around the room holding onto an equally decrepit family tortoise, complaining to all and sundry that it’s just done something unmentionable down the front of his trousers: Just don’t ask him for a canapé.

This one, despite the attendees and the nature of the deceased, is no different. Thankfully, no one has invited the relatives this time.

This time. If truth be told, Sarah has no real idea when or where she is: Iris had made the arrangements, and as usual the result is – bizarre – to say the least. “Neutral territory” she’d called it. A pocket universe tucked away in a corner of the vortex, where timelines and space can mingle without fear for the consequences.

It looks as if the décor was created by a drug-crazed hybrid of Escher and Mandlebrot. And the surreal fractal pulsing of the surroundings is making her feel a bit ill. Unless it's the mushroom vol-au-vont.

“It’s all rather over the top, don’t you think?” The voice is quiet, full of conspiratorial amusement.

Sarah turns to look at the speaker – a young man, long red hair falling with only a slight curl to his shoulders; green eyes, and an oh-so-easy on the eyes smile framed by a neatly trimmed beard. Despite her mood, she finds herself responding to the smile with one of her own.

“I’m sorry?”

He reaches out and takes her arm, steering her to a quieter area. “It’s a bit over the top, don’t you think?” he repeats.

“Oh, I don’t know. Some of him would have rather enjoyed it,” she replies.

He finds a small garden area, with two wicker chairs nestled in the centre of a manicured, postage stamp lawn. Sitting easily in one, he flicks his long black coat out of his way with a practised elegance, and gestures to Sarah to sit.

“Please. You look like someone who needs to talk.”

She eyes him suspiciously, but she takes the seat. “To a stranger?” She leans forward, making quite sure he knows she’s not someone to be pushed around.

Those light green eyes look deeper into hers for a brief moment. “Am I?”

She rests her chin on her hand. “You tell me. Who are you?”

“That,” he says quietly, “is a good question. Call me Taliesin, if you need to call me anything. Names can have peculiar qualities, don’t you think?”

“They do?” She is starting to feel a little confused, and it isn’t wholly due to the wine.

Another quiet, fleeting smile. “So they say. Personally, I think you can tell a lot from a person by the names they choose.”

“Did you choose ‘Taliesin’?” Sarah asks, sensing an opening.

“You could say… it chose me. It’s certainly fitting, so I see no reason to change it.”

Sarah is starting to feel like Alice caught face to face with the White Rabbit. She narrows her eyes, brushes a strand of silver-shot hair back off her face. “Why are you here?” There is, as ever, a refuge of sorts in questions.

“Another good question. Maybe it’s one I can’t answer.” It’s obvious he knows that place of safety as well. He sips at his glass of wine, his eyes fixed on her face.

She snorts. “That’s ridiculous. I mean, it’s a wake, everyone’s here for the same reason –”

“Are they?” He asks abruptly, leaning towards her. “How do you know?”

Confused, she stares at him. “I don’t understand…”

“Yes you do.” He points back towards the main throng. “Friends, enemies, acquaintances, politicians… they’re all here for different reasons. Some to gloat, some to mourn, some just because they think it's the thing to do. You were a journalist – are you telling me you couldn’t get a hundred stories from the beings in there, if you wanted to?”

“That was a lifetime ago. And how do you know what I was?”

“I know a lot of things.” He leaned back in the chair, relaxed again. “I’ve been many things.”

“A friend of his?” Sarah hazards a guess. He shakes his head.

“I never met the man.”

“But you’re here,” Sarah points out. “So why?”

Those eyes hold her again. “Do you know who Taliesin was on your world, Sarah?”

“A mythical bard. Pulled from a river, he was called Gwion until he was reborn from the goddess Ceridwen as Taliesin…” A thought stirrs, a flutter of hope. But no, it is impossible.

“Suppose,” he says, leaning forwards again, and taking her hand, “suppose someone was granted a second chance. Suppose, just for a moment, that that someone was granted one short time to be somewhere – that this was a price that had to be paid.”

Sarah opens her mouth to speak, but he reaches out and touches a finger lightly to her lips, briefly.

“Ssshhh. Let me finish. Just suppose that he was granted one gift. But that if he said anything directly, or allowed someone to say something that related to what had gone before, the spell would be broken, and like Orpheus, his one chance would fade away. What do you think he would ask for?”

Her eyes are fixed on his, widening suddenly. Before she can speak, he presses a finger again to her lips.

“Sshhh, don't break the spell!”

She almost laughs, he looks and sounds so earnest. "You're crazy – and talking in riddles!” she hisses. “It’s impossible.”

“Riddles are what I’m best at. And you’re right. That would be impossible. A rebirth is not a renewal, after all. Maybe I’m not what you think I am.” The smile widens to a grin, but the eyes are serious, and slightly worried. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

“Which one?” she shoots back. “You are a question, in yourself, aren’t you? What are you?”

“I’ve been so many things… where do you want me to start? ‘I have been in many shapes, Before I attained a congenial form…’ ” He declaims softly. She glares at him.

“Are you mocking me?”

His voice is still so soft. “Never that, Sarah-Jane.” He gestures, and she sees a doorway shimmer in the riotous maelstrom of colour surrounding them. “I could start at the beginning, but I suppose, in a way, that’s what I’m offering.”

“You’ve lost me.”

“I do hope not.” His smile is mischievous, for a moment. “Here, where Iris has elected to hold a wake, in this place where so many possibilities meet, at a celebration of an ending, I’m offering you a new beginning.”

Irresistibly, his hand pulls her from her seat, towards him. Standing this close, she notices vaguely that he isn’t that tall – although he still has about five inches on her slight frame. He looks down at her, and lays his free hand – the one not still holding hers, on her cheek.

“It’s a choice, Sarah. One step, to a new start, a new life. If you want it. One threshold to cross.”

She looks away, her heart fluttering, her mind racing, still unsure of exactly what he’s offering. “I’m too old to start again,” she says, stalling for time.

“That’s easily remedied. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”

She bites her lip, and raises her head, her eyes seeking his again. “How do I know you are who I think you are?”

“Maybe it’s a question of faith.” He squeezes her hand gently. “All you have to do is not look back, remember?”

“You’re mixing your mythologies,” She snaps back, shivering, even though there is no draft… She stares at the pale doorway. Such a fragile thing…

“The universe is defined by our choices. Someone you once knew made a poor choice once, abandoned something he loved dearly. And because of pride, or fear, or simple arrogance, never rectified that mistake.” His voice took on a deeper, compelling tone. “Choices, Sarah – and faith. Will you make a choice?”

He is standing behind her now, not touching her. Without turning, she says softly:

“The question you asked me – would – someone – ask to come back to correct a choice?”

“He might” is the barely audible reply. “He might.”

“Then,” she says, “why not?”

And in another time, another place, a woman in a rose coloured gown licks a finger and turns a page in a book she carries.

And smiles.

#for archiving purposes #only #no copyright infringement intended #helen fayle #the book of taliesin #alien bodies #the relic #archival

[moonlight-at-dawn]

Anyone here got any experience or beloved resources on growing vegetables and maybe berries? I think I’ve got the basics but there could always be little tips or things that get forgotten in the bigger picture that I missed, so I always like to ask people directly if they’ve got experience, if there’s anything that I should be on the lookout for :D

Details:

-When it comes to construction of it, I’m definitely enlisting my husband, but I’d *like* to be able to manage it primarily on my own after that. Noting that I’m disabled with chronic pain but exactly what can and can’t move can vary greatly because of the nature of my pain. I already know that gardening is kind of a physical pursuit, so if there are tips on gear to reduce impact, I think that may be what I can best ask for :D

-When I say “construction” I mean that I definitely intend to make raised beds. The ground is too heavily packed and there’s lots of rocks cause we’re kinda in the side of a mountain. My understanding is they should be 12 inches deep for best use.

-I think zucchini would be a great start since those things are supposed to grow like crazy and they’re fucking delicious and versatile as fuck so hell yeah zucchini

-We have rabbits, blackbirds, sterlings jays, robins, hummingbirds, mourning doves, neighborhood outdoor cats, and there’s one raven i’ve started seeing just the past 2 months or so. Who do I watch out for!? Is the rabbit a non-issue with raised beds? Are there flowers I could/should plant among the vegetables to prevent these guys from mucking about with them? I have no idea what kind of insect pests I have to worry about with vegetables. I know we have a fuckload of boxelder bugs

-Sub-alpine, US pacific northwest. My backyard only gets truly direct sunlight from about 7am to 11am. After that the sun is in front of the house, and comes in at more of an angle. It’s fully shaded after about 4pm. (Going by about this time of year’s standards). The sun might be one of my greatest concerns, but I think the light will be good enough, if I build further back in the yard instead of closer to the house. That will allow the light to last on it longer before the house fully blocks the sun from the yard.

-Ordering seeds? !! I assume the answer will be a pretty emphatic “yes” but I think it’s still worth it to ask- Should I order seeds even as a beginner? Perhaps especially as one?

-I know we’re already getting late into the year am I too late for something like zucchini though??? Okay, this one I actually just have to look up, I just realized I forgot to research planting and growth times, I was busy looking at garden construction foremost. But I’m gonna leave this here ‘cause this... this is where I’m at with it I guess XDDD

-How big of a garden should I start with!? I was kinda thinking maybe a 4′x2′? Is that gonna turn out to be *huge* or would that be good? Hmmm....

-Garden beds!! Favored construction materials? Concrete blocks? Wood? Untreated wood, right? Might be more maintenance but is way better for soil health, right? If I’m gonna eat this food, I’d like not to put weird wood preserving chemicals into it, rightright??

#misha rambles #gardening #i would definitely love to expand the garden to have things like kitchen herbs and some other stuff too #when i say 'berries' i assume blue- and straw- because those're what i know grows in this climate #uhh with the wood i did glance at a thing that said 'untreated is better for edibles' so i assume that my train of thought on that is accur #ate but i'm just making a loose guess not a particularly well educated one #i think my lot is a quarter acre which would make my yard about half that? #i'm guessing idk i'm not looking at things and i could be off #i would say for space that i can easily and happily turn into garden space is abooouuuutttt #15' x 5'? #actually if i reappropriate the slanted back #since i'm already planning on building *raised planters* i can make use of the slant #then i could get even more space #OH YEAH #i've seen someone in my neighborhood grows pumpkin and corn!!! #........maybe i should get over myself and my anxiety and walk down there and be like #'HI I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIKE YOUR VEGETABLES CAN YOU TEACH ME' #lmao #...oh and i definitely missed several of the types of birds that hang out in our yard #cause there's more lol #i think one of them is called 'red tipped' or 'red winged' something #it's black with red spots on its wings #and at least one red tailed hawk calls the neighborhood part of its hunting territory #and there's little songbirds that i don't know the names of but like 3 different varieties of those i think #hopefully i'm not just mixing up the boys and girls and juvies tho lol

[whiskeynwriting]

Insatiable - Chapter Three: Let Me Show You

Oberyn Martell x OFC Reader “Savia”

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Word count: 6.5k

Warnings: 18+ (minors DNI) slight Somnophilia, oral (f receiving), more bathtub sex, vaginal sex, slight exhibitionism, nipple play, mentions of sexism.

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Summary: Your affections become known, revealing the overt sexism within the palace. Oberyn defends you while admiring your display of dominance and retaliation. Your status is then decided.

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A/N: Look, the land of Dorne might belong to the Martell family, but this is YOUR world and we’re just living in it. This was hot but got so much softer than I had imagined.

- Myn lykyng: “the one I delight in, the one who gives me pleasure”. Pronounced the same as “mine liking”.

- Inamorata: “a person’s female lover”.

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A soft bristling sensation moving over your skin wakes you as Oberyn stuffs his face between your thighs. His strong hands gently hold your legs as he disturbs your slumber, languidly licking through your folds while his facial hair rubs lightly against your smooth skin.

“Oberyn!” you gasp out, immediately grabbing fistfuls of his hair.

He hums happily at your reaction, smirking against your sex while he continues to mouth at you. You had been laying on your side until he rolled you to your back, silently slithering his way between your legs.

“You sound so beautiful when you say my name,” he exhales heavily, his hot breath hitting your tender folds as he moves to plant heated kisses over your clit. “Say it again.”

“Oberyn,” you gracefully sigh, closing your eyes and smiling as you relax into his touch.

The prince had insisted you sleep in his bed after you’d finished your sinful acts from the previous night. You’d argued that Ambrose would likely grow worried and begin looking for you if he didn’t find you in your chambers at sunrise, and that your servant Milena may become curious, too. Oberyn responded quite simply, reassuring you that he’d take care of all that. And you believed him, whether it be because you were tipsy, tired, or simply tempted by the prince’s charm, you believed him. He followed up on his promise before you’d laid down for the night, calling in a servant of his and requesting that he inform Ambrose and Milena of your whereabouts for the night.

Oberyn continues lapping at your sex, licking, and sucking on your folds like his sole purpose in life is to pleasure you with his mouth. The prince brings you to orgasm quickly and easily, savoring every sweet drop that seeps from your sodden core. Once he’s done licking you clean, he lifts himself, moving up your body so he can cradle your face in his hand. You smile up at him, his mouth and jaw glistening with your slick as he rests above you. His tongue peaks out, licking up the leftover juices from his lips.

“How did you sleep, pretty girl?”

You hum contentedly as the early morning breeze sweeps past you. The prince’s chambers are illuminated in the soft glow of the early morning, allowing the surrounding space to feel entirely ethereal. The wind ushers in a pleasant aroma, likely from the flowers in the water gardens just below the balcony.

“Very well,” you reply, reaching up to run a finger over the scruff that lines his jaw. “And you?”

“Very well, indeed.” He smirks, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on your lips.

A knock echoes through the chamber as a fist pounds against the large, wooden doors at the front of the room. Oberyn turns, looking over his shoulder and groaning. He rolls off you, planting his feet on the ground and walking over to a chaise lounge nearby. A servant had placed a freshly cleaned robe on it for the prince, and he grabs it in hand while strolling toward the entrance. Oberyn wraps the thin garment around his waist, allowing for his beautiful frame to be fully displayed. The golden hue encompassing the room highlights his beautiful body in the most breathtaking ways. The curves of his slim muscles are prominent due to the cast of shadows and light dancing across his skin. You see them flex with each movement he makes, with each step toward the room’s entrance as he walks along the marbled floor.

The prince opens the door on the right, addressing whoever is on the other side. He sighs loudly, seemingly aggravated by the information he’s just received. He then nods, quickly waving away the person who decided to disturb him. Once he’s closed the door, he walks back over to the bed, setting his hands on the covers and leaning over to look down at you.

“It seems our presence is being requested.” He says, lifting a hand to push a strand of hair from your face.

“How soon?”

“Doran would like to meet in about an hour.” He says, continuing to explain, “Milena should be serving your breakfast soon, as well.”

You release a long breath while staring up at the prince, watching his lips curl while his brown eyes look down at your sleepy smile. The moment is so calming and comfortable that it urges you to stay, to not ever leave the prince’s presence again. But alas, you have expectations to meet and obligations to fulfill.

Oberyn walks you back to your room once you’re both properly dressed, leading you through the halls and staircases that divide your spaces. While you converse about the possible topics that are to be discussed later in the day, you cross the man who will choose them himself. Lord Doran stops as he sees you, and at first, you don’t even realize he’s there. What makes you aware of the Lord’s company is Oberyn’s gaze as it leaves yours to look ahead at his brother.

“Doran,” he smiles, his jovial, baritone voice echoing down the hall. You continue to approach the nobleman, soon standing in front of one another. “Good morning.”

The Lord of Dorne doesn’t respond to his brother, but instead turns to look at you. You greet him as well, but he continues to remain silent. His eyes wander down your body, acknowledging your attire.

“Rather formal for a morning brunch, aren’t we?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at you.

You blush, lowering your eyes away from his as you suppress your giggle.

“Typical.” He grumbles, causing you to snap your head up, immediately staring at him.

Your expression is now much different than it was seconds before, as you are equal parts confused and offended. “I beg your pardon, my Lord?”

“I had assumed a woman of your stature would not fall victim to the sexual allure most women encounter when visiting Dorne.” He responds, his lips tight as he holds his stern expression. “A woman worthy of respect is one who keeps her legs closed.”

Your eyes widen as your jaw drops. You’re truly shocked at Lord Doran’s comments; you’ve never been so outwardly shamed for your sexual desires before. Oberyn tuts next to you, chuckling to himself before sighing out.

“Doran, are you truly going to shame her for this? Where are your manners? A Lord should have more respect for his guests.” He speaks, his right hand moving around your back to rest over your right hip, holding you next to him.

You decide to speak before Doran gets the chance to respond, your anger only increasing with each passing second. “Is my status less impressive to you now that you know I pleasure myself?” you inquire boldly, “Am I less intelligent or charming due to my intimate actions, my Lord?”

“You’d be wise to hold your tongue.” Lord Doran spits back, fury boiling up within him, as well.

“I’d be wiser to rethink my stay in Dorne.” You retort, viciously glaring at the older man.

With that, you strut off, leaving the prince’s grasp and moving swiftly past his brother. You’re close enough to your room that you’ll be able to navigate the halls yourself, and even if you weren’t, you wouldn’t have cared. Your heart pounds in your chest at the audacity of Lord Doran and his misogynistic views. You had agreed to stay in Dorne for the entirety of the Martell family’s request, but are adamantly rethinking the arrangement as you storm back to your chambers.

When you shove the doors to your room open, you’re met with a beautifully pleasant sight. Your suite is encased in a light cloud of steam, laced with a floral scent as it floats through the air. A breakfast tray has been placed on your desk, and three dresses have been laid out on your bed for you to pick from. Before you can step further inside, you see Milena stroll out of your bathroom.

“Oh!” she says, a bit shocked. She smiles at you, sighing out and speaking your name, “Good morning! I’ve prepared a bath for you, as well as a meal for you to break your fast before meeting with the Martell family.”

“Thank you very much.” You return, giving her a kind and sincere smile.

She nods, moving to walk past you and out of the room. Milena closes the doors behind her, allowing you to prepare for the day in private. You walk over to your desk, picking up the silver tray and bringing it with you into your bathroom. Once you set it on a small ottoman next to your bath, you undress, making sure to tie your hair up so you don’t get it wet.

“Hmm…” you sigh, closing your eyes as you melt into the hot water.

You moved the tray to the floor in order to access it better and choose to retrieve your food once you’ve settled into your bath. Your mouth waters at the meal displayed once you remove the tray’s covering. A bowl of vanilla yogurt sits in the center, surrounded by smaller bowls of fresh fruit, berries, and granola. There’s also three pieces of toast with multiple variations of jam sitting off to its side. A small cup of orange juice sits on the top left of the tray, next to a tall glass of water. The prepared dish is almost too pretty to eat… almost. But just as you’re about to enjoy the tasty meal set out before you, someone knocks at the door.

“Come in!” you shout, hearing the door open soon after your instruction. “I’m in my washroom.” You assume the sudden company is either Milena or Ambrose, likely coming in to tend to you.

“I’m eating and bathing, but I’ll be ready in time. I promise.” You call out to them, whoever they are, hoping they’ll allow you to relax in peace.

“Hm… I don’t know,”

You turn around at the unexpected voice, now staring up at the prince of Dorne as he stands near the edge of your bath.

“We might not be exactly on time.” He grins, his voice low as he runs a hand along the lips of his robe. His fingers play with the delicate fabric that lays across his chest as he looks over at you, cocking his head to the side.

“What are you doing here?” you ask, staring up at him with a curious smirk.

“I wanted to speak with you before meeting with my brother.” He replies, his tone sincere as his alluring expression begins to fade.

He traces the edge of your tub, outlining the round shape until he steps over to you, now standing directly above you. Oberyn kneels down, gently grabbing your chin as you look up at him.

“I’m sorry for what he said to you.”

You smile at his gratuitous apology before replying. “Thank you, but it wasn’t your fault. I appreciated your words.”

You find yourself wanting to reassure him, to let him know that he’s not the one you’re angry with. After all, you did rip yourself away from his grasp as you stormed off, and the sudden action could have been misinterpreted.

“I don’t want you to be concerned with Doran.” He continues, releasing a short breath as he stares at you in awe.

The vision of you sitting below him, your naked body laid out beneath the thin veil of bubbles as the light shines through your window, is ethereal. Your beauty is captivating, and he wants you to know it, to know that and more. Prince Oberyn is not only enthralled in your physical appearance, but also truly mesmerized by your educated and intricate mind.

“I’m quite interested in you, little one.” He murmurs. “I truly hope you’ll reconsider your departure.”

“I will,” you promise, lifting a hand from beneath the water and laying it over his own as he continues to hold your face. “Don’t worry. Now, come relax with me.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He smirks, rising to undress.

Within seconds, the prince has joined you in your bath. You straddle his lap while he rests on the submerged bench, mirroring your position from the night before. You pet at his chest, admiring the golden skin beneath your slender fingers. Oberyn’s large hands roam your back, caressing you softly as you sit immersed in the warm water, loving the way your supple body feels as it rests against his. The prince reaches toward your tray, moving to feed you berries and toast while you silently admire each other, basking in the quite calm that surrounds you.

“Hm…” you moan lightly, sliding your hands up and wrapping your fingers behind his neck. “Your presence calms me, my prince.”

“Good,” he purrs, leaning forward to kiss along your shoulder. “I’m glad I’ve continued to earn your affections.”

“I’m pleasantly surprised by your fondness of me.” You smile, liking the slight scratch of his stubble along your shoulder and collar bone.

He hums, smiling against your shoulder before sitting back and looking up at you. “We seem to have quite the nexus, don’t we?”

You’re delighted to hear the prince voice his opinion, as it directly reflects your own. The interactions between the two of you feel so natural, so effortless. Whatever this is, it extends beyond physical attraction. You’re quite taken by each other, completely entranced with the other’s aura, basking in their presence whenever they draw near.

Once you had exhausted your bodies and fulfilled any and all of your physical desires, you’d continued to stay up into the early morning hours. Oberyn spoke with you about his interests and passions, and inquired about your own, as well. Your conversations were honest, comfortable, and increased the fondness between you as you laid out on his bed. He’d traced the outline of your body with his tender fingers, admiring the curves and dips along your natural frame. Your own eyes roamed the prince’s body as well, taking time to feel the muscles that adorned his toned figure, which aided him in fighting with such strength and stamina. The more informed you became about the other’s body and mind, the more natural your connection felt.

Oberyn moves forward, wrapping one arm around your waist and moving the other up your back. His hand holds the back of your head, intertwining his fingers between your long strands as he kisses you. Soft moans float through the air as his strong muscles hold you firmly against him. You continue to move your mouths against one another, your eager tongues diving in to taste the other’s breath. Suddenly, your name is called out. From its tone and intensity, you can tell its Ambrose and that he’s already let himself in.

“She is busy.” Oberyn states bluntly, his accent lacing his tone as the prince’s baritone voice echoes through your private suite.

You smile as he returns his lips to yours, absolutely loving Oberyn’s unwavering attention and utter lack of shame. If anything, the situation only seems to spur him on. He bucks his hips up against you, his growing length rubbing between your aching folds. You shift in unison, silently giving into the other’s needs. You lift yourself up as he shifts, positioning himself beneath you before you slide down onto him.

Ambrose’s footsteps shuffle along the floor as he approaches your bathroom. You’re trying to get the words out, trying to tell him that you’re fine and that you’ll see him downstairs at brunch, but Oberyn demands your attention, each and every ounce of it. Your soreness makes you even more sensitive to his thick erection due to the passionate acts that unfolded well into the early morning. Regardless, your abused pussy willingly takes him, feeling the sting of your folds stretching once more as he dives deeper inside. His hands force you down, now grabbing hold of your hips and squeezing tightly.

“Oh…” you whine out, throwing your head back.

One of Oberyn’s hands rises to your lower back, allowing you to rest against him as he supports you. He then leans in, licking a long stripe up the valley between your breasts as he begins to move inside you.

“Are you – oh shit!” Ambrose’s innocent inquiry quickly turns into a startled shout as he steps into the open doorway.

Again, you urge yourself to speak to him, to say something, anything, but you’re unable to. Your vision is entirely clouded with arousal as the prince focuses on you, continuing to roll his body against yours regardless of the knight’s presence.

“Do you need something?” Oberyn asks lowly, glancing up at Ambrose from beneath his brow as his face rests upon your chest.

“I, um… I…” Ambrose stutters, slightly turning away from the scene before him.

“Ambrose.” You finally gasp out, your back still facing him as Oberyn fucks up into you. “I’m fine. Please, go away. I’m fine.”

Your walls flutter around Oberyn’s cock, causing him to roll his eyes back and groan against your soft breasts. Ambrose stutters once more before turning to hurry out of the room, leaving your chambers entirely.

Oberyn continues thrusting up into you, gracefully rolling his hips as you move against each other. His pace is different than before; instead of hurried and forceful, it’s now passionate and rhythmic. The prince takes his time with you, relishing in the intimate connection your bodies are creating, despite the stringent schedule put forth by his brother.

The bubbly water sloshes around your bodies, the small waves growing as your hips continue to move in harmony. Oberyn’s grunts and groans, your soft whimpers and moans, create a beautifully enticing melody as the sounds intermingle through the air.

“You are stunning…” Oberyn sighs, lifting his head to stare at your breasts.

His large hand cups your left breast, massaging the plump flesh before stroking his thumb over your hardened nipple. You whine loudly at the contact, causing his enticed expression to glance up at you.

“You like that, sweet girl?” he coos happily, “Tell me what you like.”

“I like that,” you sigh out, bringing your head back down so your eyes can meet. He stares up at you in earnest with those big brown eyes as he tugs at your nipple. “But I’d like your mouth more.”

He smirks, eagerly complying as he leans down, wrapping his lips around your nipple without breaking eye contact. He sucks slightly, pressing his tongue over the pointed peak and licking fervently. You watch him, eventually moving to arch your back against his mouth and cradle his head as he worships your chest. Oberyn switches between them, sucking and licking on your breasts and the surrounding flesh, nipping at the sensitive skin along the side of your tits, sucking love bites over your curves, all while massaging the two of them in his large, strong hands. Your walls flutter around him as he continues to thrust up into you, gently rocking you up and down, dragging his thick cock along your slick walls.

“Oberyn,” you moan out, “My prince… myn lykyng,”

He smiles against your chest at the nickname, rutting his hips against yours a bit harsher as you speak. “I’m not going to last much longer if you keep speaking to me like that.” He grunts out, wrapping both arms around you as he begins to fully give in.

“It’s hard enough when your beautiful body is against mine.” He continues, his deeps moans echoing off the surrounding walls.

“Release yourself, Viper.” You coo, leaning in to whisper, “Grant me the sensation I so desperately wish to receive.”

He throws his head back as he groans, sliding his hands down just enough to grab fistfuls of your ass. Though you aren’t exactly sure why, it’s clear to see how much Oberyn loves your mention of his infamous epithet. But Oberyn knows why, he knows exactly why. He gained the nickname of the Red Viper due to his mastery of poisons and deadly combat skills. Oberyn prides himself in those anecdotes, absolutely reveling in his vast knowledge and swift battle strategy. When you call him Viper, it not only reminds him of the reasons behind his title, but of his strength and masculinity… his dominance. Oberyn is likely the most confident man you had ever met, and he needn’t further encouraging; but that’s exactly what the name did to him.

Oberyn’s thrusts falter, jutting harshly against your hips as he releases himself inside you. You hold each other as you sit flush against him, beaming brightly at feeling his liquid warmth fill you once more. He leans forward, his face continuing to rest against your chest, buried between your breasts as he cums. His moans vibrate through your body, causing you to shudder above him.

He then releases a sigh, long and forceful before looking up into your eyes. “Inamorata,” he expresses, the term causing your heart flutter. Once the word has left his lips, he is hesitant. He means it wholeheartedly; he’s never been as captivated with a woman as he is with you, especially within the short time you’ve known each other. However, he’s nervous, ever so slightly, to see your reaction to the phrase of affection.

You lean down to kiss him, causing him to reach up and cup your face, bringing you to his lips. He kisses you passionately, sitting a bit straighter as you mirror him, allowing his soft length to slide out of you. You then rest on his lap; your lips never parting as you savor the feel of the other’s mouth on your own.

Oberyn finishes feeding you your breakfast while you discuss your interests, taking up entirely too much time as you continue to stay immersed in the heavenly bubble your combined worlds create. It’s truly as if nothing else matters; that if you’re with the other, there isn’t anything of more importance. What a peculiar thing, to be so suddenly infatuated with another human being.

“Ah, Prince Oberyn. Frequenting the brothels again, are we?”

The prince strolls in, leisurely sliding into his chair. He folds his left foot up to sit on his right knee as he leans back. Oberyn releases a long breath, shrugging and then smirking before choosing to respond.

“Yes, well, my appetite guides my constant search for something to satisfy me.” his eyes then lock with yours as you glance at him from across the table. “Or someone.”

You smirk at his suggestive remark, raising your eyebrows a bit as his own lips curl. He gracefully picks up his goblet of wine, pressing it to his plump lips as he sips the fermented juice.

Of course, Oberyn wasn’t vising the brothels, he was visiting you. Oberyn had stayed by your side as you prepared yourself for the day, only leaving to ready his own appearance once you left to greet his brother and sister-in-law. Due to this, he was quite late.

“So,” Oberyn continues, “What did I miss?”

Doran’s meeting is lengthy and uneventful, and your dislike for the man is only increasing with each word that comes out of his mouth. The Lord rambles on about last night’s events, including the Tyrell’s opinions of you and how many of his guests wished they’d had more time to speak with you. He lays out a meticulous schedule of your remaining time in Dorne, and you find it quite overzealous considering it had only been one day.

As the hours pass, you’re served a light brunch before your main dish is presented around noon. You do your best to remain focused, but the headache throbbing in your forehead is quite distracting, along with the sliver is skin peaking out from beneath the prince’s yellow robes.

“Our most coveted market is housing a celebration at the end of the week.” He informs the table, then turning to you he says, “Would you be interested in having a seat within it? The people of Dorne are positively fascinated by you.”

You’re curious as to why Lord Doran’s attitude toward you has changed so abruptly. Maybe Oberyn talked some sense into his brother… or maybe he’s putting on a show to be polite. Either way, you won’t let this small-minded man deter your confidence.

“Of course.” You return, smiling brightly. “I’d be happy to show Dorne a woman who’s worthy of respect.”

Oberyn does his best to shove away the grin spreading across his lips. The man at the head of the table stares back at you, his expression darkening at your smart remark. He eventually scowls, picking at his fingers to keep from curling them into fists. Your smirk is evident as you continue to hold eye contact, tilting your head to the side and raising your eyebrows a bit.

“Well,” Prince Oberyn interjects, “Is there anything else? Your meeting has taken up quite a bit of time, and I do have other matters to attend to.”

“Yes.” is all Lord Doran can manage to spit out.

His eyes are still set on you as he speaks to his brother, but at his word, you decide to leave. You stand, nodding to Lady Mellario as you walk out of the room. Ambrose, who had been standing behind you near the entryway, follows you out into the hall.

“What was that about?”

“Doran found out that Oberyn and I had sex. He’s not a fan.” You state bluntly, acknowledging that there isn’t really anything more to hide from Ambrose. He might as well have seen your bare ass.

“Did he find out the way I found out?”

“No,” you stifle a laugh, shaking your head.

“Good.” He retorts, mumbling to himself, “Anything is better than the way I found out.”

Ambrose leaves you with a warm hug and a promise of returning to spend time with you later in the day. Your mind wanders as you walk down the hall, intent on relaxing in your chambers. Though you’d love to explore the water gardens, you aren’t sure if today is the day to do it. You still have a slight headache from the wine you’d indulged in, and an ache to your muscles from the prince’s fervent passion.

Ah yes, the prince… Though you’re aware his agenda is none of your business, you can’t help but ponder what he could be wrapped up in. You’d never been close to a royal, so you honestly can’t even begin to imagine the details of his current schedule. And so, with this in mind, you decide to focus on yourself. While walking back to your room, you ponder all the ways you could enjoy the beautiful day. You could bask in the sunlight while laid out on your balcony, you could read through your collection of books, maybe even work on some of your newest sketches.

Upon entrance, you find your room to be beautifully breezy as the warm wind sweeps past your frame. The sun is now high, shining its bright beams onto the sparkling stone beneath your feet. You take in the breathtaking view your balcony provides, making sure to appreciate the splendor of Dorne in its entirety. Without even stepping past the doorframe, you’re able to see glorious trees and flowering patches just below the open space. You think back to the landscapes you often sketched when home and ponder the idea of transferring this foreign land’s spirit onto a pad of paper; capturing a piece of Dorne, a beautiful moment that you’d always be able to keep with you. Your love for Dorne continues to grow with each passing second, and you’re suddenly quite thankful that you decided to stay. Honestly, you knew you never would have left in the first place.

The time passes quickly as your creative mind works, your small hands fervently drawing and shading your multitude of sketches. Once you had decided on drawing, there was no going back. The intention of creating a portrait has always been fascinating to you. You’d become obsessed with the recreation of one’s image when you were a young child, becoming inspired by your very own family portraits. Your current work of art is being created through use of charcoal and is meant to be the image of your mother. She’d passed away when you were young, and by now, you’re starting to lose memories of her image. The charcoal allows you to take advantage of shading and highlights, something that, when done right, can truly transform a simple sketch into a mesmerizing masterpiece. Maybe one day you could draw Dorne’s royal palace, and possibly even its gardens.

A soft knock disturbs your concentration, stealing your attention from the paper below and over to the entryway at the front of the room. You’re quite curious as to who it could be. Dinner is still a few hours away, Ambrose is currently tending to his duties, and you’d already met with Lord Doran. You stand, wiping off your charcoal-covered hands on a nearby cloth, and make your way over to the door.

“Oh, hello.” You state, “Can I help you?”

“Yes.” the man replies, holding out a notecard for you. “Prince Oberyn is requesting your presence.”

The servant bows, then quickly turns to leave before you can even reply. You raise an eyebrow as he scurries down the hall, choosing to then glance down at the small letter. It’s encased in an envelope, and when you open it, it reads:

I have met a woman whose mind is bright,

With a smile more heavenly than the moon at night.

A woman whose wit is anything but tame,

With extraordinary beauty, which puts the gods to shame.

A woman I’d very much like to court,

With personal intrigue, of my own accord.

I truly hope she’ll let me adore her,

Out past the gates, in the gardens of water.

Come join me, little one.

You’re instantly smitten by the romantic poem, blushing to yourself as you grin down at the note. Is the prince of Dorne truly asking to begin an intimate relationship with you? You then spin around, closing the doors behind you and padding lightly over to your balcony, peaking past the curtains to see what’s waiting for you in the gardens below. The lawn is rather large and quite exquisite. It expands in many directions and is detailed with stone walkways leading to gorgeous fountains and intimate seating areas. Due to vast range of both flora and fauna, as well as your inexperience with the palace grounds, you’re unable to spot the prince from above. Your meeting with him will have to be a surprise.

While walking downstairs and over to the ballroom, you wonder how you’ll be able to manage finding the prince; maybe you’ll just have to explore a bit. You continue walking forward and over to the ballroom’s large columns, leading you to the entrance of Dorne’s infamous water gardens. To your relief, you see the prince standing a few feet away from the entrance. He stands near a large fountain, tall and broad in his yellow robe adorned with those golden, symbolic suns. Oberyn fiddles with the ring on his left thumb before his eyes wander up, eventually landing on you. He smirks, shifting his weight before holding a hand out to you. and without hesitation, you move forward to take it.

Without a word, the prince pulls you in close. His other hand moves to your cheek, angling your face so he can mold his against yours so perfectly. You reach up, grasping his wrist as he kisses you beneath the shady palms surrounding the fountain.

“Come with me.” He mutters, his eyes still closed as he speaks against your lips. You smile against him, nodding gently.

The prince then turns, taking your hand in his as he leads you down the closest paved walkway. Your eyes wander, admiring the astonishing view that surrounds you. Meticulously cut edges line the pathway, along with flourishing flower beds and smaller potted plants. Many large palm trees surround the beautiful land, with smaller shrubs encircling their thick trunks. You pass a few smaller fountains as Oberyn continues forward, the flowing water sparkling as it splashes down onto the pools below. The prince leads you to a clearing that displays a lengthy, in-ground pool. Across the shimmering water sits a tall canopy covering a seated area, consisting of a single table and two metal chairs. Many items sit upon the table, however, due to the distance, you aren’t quite able to make them out.

“What is this?” you ask softly, lightly squeezing Oberyn’s hand.

He turns to look at you over his shoulder, pulling you next to him and letting his hand fall to your lower back. “Let me show you.”

Oberyn guides you over to the table, pulling a chair out for you as you sit. You’re thankful for the large, beige canopy that hangs overhead as it shields you from the sun’s relentless rays. Each piece of furniture is black and made of thick metal, but the cushions provided make the seating quite comfortable. Stained glass adorns the chairs and table before you, colored in warm tones of yellow and orange, reflecting onto the ground below.

The prince stands behind you, both of his large hands brushing over your bare shoulders as he moves your hair to flow down your back. He then leans down, placing a light kiss beneath your ear before whispering, “I have some gifts for you, sweet thing.”

You hum at this, his words sending shivers down your spine. Oberyn’s soft lips continue kissing along your neck, a soft rumble rolling through his chest. He then stands, offering a hand as he gestures toward the table.

“Please,” he says, continuing to stand behind you. His warm hands rest on your shoulders, lightly roaming over your soft skin as he waits for you to discover the meaning of the items sat before you. You release an excited breath, now looking down at the various objects. Directly in front of you sit two books: Dornish Antiquity, and The Faith of the Seven. You lift a hand to rest on the book’s covers, feeling the thick leather beneath your soft fingertips. Before you can ask, the prince speaks.

“They’re my favorites.” He tells you, “I wanted you to have them.”

Your heart thumps in your chest, squeezing tightly at the affectionate act. Your cheeks rise as you smile, biting your lip while continuing to examine your gifts.

“And this?” you ask, holding up a large key placed between the tomes.

“The key to our library. I’d love to introduce you to our collection.” He explains, smiling down at you.

“Oberyn,” you whisper, nearly speechless at his thoughtful offer. “Thank you.” You look behind you, angling your head up to stare lovingly at the beautiful man above you.

“There’s more.”

Oberyn moves from behind you, stepping in front of your chair and leaning against the edge of the table. He then looks over his shoulder, jerking his head to the side. A servant quickly appears, walking out from under an archway further down the path. He holds a flat box with a smaller, squarer one sitting atop it. Oberyn takes the boxes, thanking the man and then turning back to you. He looks down at the packages, sighing lightly before his eyes meet yours. He smiles kindly, extending his arms out and presenting the gifts to you. The firm thump of your pulse beats within you, pumping adrenaline through your veins as you accept the gifts held before you. The prince of Dorne truly has you smitten; you’re blown away by his considerate nature and affectionate gestures.

You look down at the boxes, choosing to open the smaller one first. Once you pick it up, it’s easy to open the lid to reveal what’s inside. A long, winding ring is revealed, sitting atop a plush piece of fabric. You reach in, picking it up to examine it further. The ring twists and turns to form a snake, its body detailed with small scales that lead to a set of red eyes. You look over at Oberyn, your jaw dropping slightly as you silently ask for an explanation.

He looks to you sincerely, speaking your name softly. “I have been intent on meeting you for some time now; the rumors of your proficiency intrigued me beyond reason. And now that I’ve met you…”

The prince of Dorne glances down, swallowing before he continues. His eyes meet yours once more as he expresses, “I’ve never met a woman so breathtaking, so knowledgeable and cunning.”

You smile up at him as he speaks, appreciating every ounce of affection he’s willing to give. You’ve never been pursued by a man like this before, and you’re praying to the gods his intentions are pure.

“My affections are yours, if you’ll have them.”

“Yes, Oberyn.” You reply, standing and placing your hands on his chest. “I’d love to explore our connection further.”

He smiles wholeheartedly at your response, his deep, brown eyes staring lovingly into yours. Oberyn then leans in, wrapping his strong arms around you and pulling you in close. You expect him to kiss you, but he doesn’t. Oberyn holds you against him, allowing you to rest your head on his strong chest.

The prince is overtly known for his intense passion and sexual desires, but this… this is showing you so much more. This intimate outing, along with his thoughtful gifts and gentle hold, display his intentions quite clearly. Of course, Oberyn is attracted to you, but his actions show you he wants more. He craves companionship, emotional connection… a bond dissimilar to that of any other, all of which you are willing to give.

Oberyn pulls back a bit, reaching down to pick up the curved ring. You glance down as he does so, lowering your hand for him. You hold your hand out for him as he slides the ring over your finger. It fits on your middle finger effortlessly, perfectly encircling the slender digit.

He then leans down, kissing you softly before informing you, “You still have one gift left.”

Detailed Chapter Summary

While leaving Oberyn’s room, you’re seen by his eldest brother, his judgement becoming evident. And you find his overt sexism disgusting, doing nothing to hold your tongue. 

Oberyn apologizes on behalf of his brother, hoping that you’ll continue your stay. And you do. 

The prince then invites you to a meal in the water gardens, sending you a love poem as your invitation. There, he makes his intentions known - he’d like to court you. And you accept. He then presents you three gifts - two of his favorite books, a key to the palace library, and the last being an elegantly erotic surprise. 

Chapter Four: Let Me Have You

Insatiable Taglist: @pascalslittlebrat​

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[solalunar-eclipse]

A Gift To Remember

Summary: Shadow receives a gift for his birthday that causes a series of very interesting (and often cute) events.

Word count: about 7500 words

Author’s Note: I didn’t realize today was Shadow’s birthday! At the moment I’m more than a little confused because the release dates for SA2 say everything from the 18th to the 23rd, but this seems to be the one, so here this is!

Also, to that one anon whose question about this fic I never quite managed to answer- sorry about that and I do hope you’re still here to read this!

...

The main room of Team Dark’s home was, on a normal day, at least somewhat clean- which was in and of itself surprising, considering the fact that three teenagers lived there. (It was, of course, slightly less surprising when it was noted that one of these teenagers was a giant robot, one was already a businesswoman, and one had grown up in an incredibly clean environment.)

At the moment, however, said room was currently rather less clean, instead covered in various colorful signs, streamers, balloons, and other such decorations. After all, today was a very special day.

When Shadow and Rouge had discovered they shared a birthday (or creation day for Shadow, technically), they both became infinitely more determined to celebrate it for the other’s sake. This had actually, interestingly enough, also ended up making them enjoy their own festivities more than they had in quite some time.

Omega, meanwhile, had officially decided that this was his favorite day of the year.

Over the past few days, Rouge had already received a few presents from various people she knew in the line of clothes, makeup, or jewelry- but as much as she loved gems, her favorites so far were definitely the ones Omega and Shadow had gotten for her: a laser cutter that could slice through anything and a pair of (stylish) infrared goggles, respectively.

Shadow had just opened his present from Omega, which happened to be a sword that looked very cool...but was also longer than his actual body. This wasn’t actually as big of a problem for him as might be expected, as he’d gotten used to handling weapons several times his size during the alien invasion a little while back. 

He had, however, been told rather quickly by Rouge to put it away ‘before you slice the wall in half, this place does cost money, you know!’.

Next, Rouge placed her present in his hands, but at first all Shadow could do was just stare at it. This was likely because the gift wasn’t actually wrapped, but instead consisted of a box made of wood slats and filled, oddly enough, with paper shavings. There were quite a few ribbons on it, though, in an attempt to make up for the lack of other decorations.

“I couldn’t wrap it, or else the present wouldn’t have worked.” she explained, sitting back down to watch him open it.

After prying off the top and shifting aside some of the paper pieces, the hedgehog froze.

Inside, there sat a single white chao egg.

Carefully lifting the egg out of the box, Shadow held it gingerly, as though he were afraid it might try to bite him if he wasn’t gentle enough.

“Rouge…” he began nervously. “Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate this, but...are you sure I’m the best person to be taking care of a chao?”

“Of course, hon!” she said. “You’ve taken care of them before, haven’t you?”

“Yes, but…” Shadow protested, “...are you sure I’ll be able to do as well at home? The garden is their natural habitat…”

Omega folded his arms. “YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE LIFEFORM. OF COURSE YOU CAN RAISE A CHAO.”

“That’s right!” Rouge added. “The chao are always happy when you take care of them- this time isn’t going to be any different.”

“…I suppose so.” Shadow conceded, taking a deep breath. He began to rock the egg slowly from side to side. “Here we go-”

A crack appeared across the pristine white surface. The split spread rapidly while Shadow sat and watched, making sure not to move the egg about much. Chao had to hatch their eggs on their own- it was the way they first began to strengthen themselves. 

Rouge laughed. “See? You know exactly what you’re doing!”

Shadow studiously ignored her and continued to focus on the egg. Then, suddenly, a chirp came from inside and the whole top half came flying off.

The hybrid looked at his newborn chao...and his heart (though he’d never admit it) immediately melted. Soft, big eyes gazed up at him, an overjoyed smile on the creature’s face. It cooed happily upon seeing him give a small smile back, and he reached out and began to gently pat its head.

The chao broke into an even wider smile as its eyes closed blissfully, the little sphere above its head popping into a heart. Shadow continued to pet it, offering gentle words of praise, and might have continued like that for the next ten minutes had a camera noise from Omega not made him look up in alarm.

“ADDING IMAGE TO FILE: SHADOW BEING SOFT.” he declared, while Rouge looked on with a giant grin.

“You will do nothing of the sort-” Shadow growled, jumping to his feet, before a soft whimper from his chao stopped him. Its eyes were watery, wide and distressed, and the hybrid immediately scooped it up in his arms, holding it close. It relaxed quickly, snuggling into his chest fluff, and he shot Omega one last semi-serious glower before turning his attention back to the newborn.

Omega promptly took another picture.

…

Later that day, at the party that all of their friends had thrown for them, the chao and Shadow were nearly inseparable. It tended to rest in his lap when he was sitting or rode in between his ears whenever he stood up to get something. Eventually, though, the excitement of a new environment overwhelmed its initial nervousness, which unfortunately led to Shadow returning from the dining room with his hands full of plates of food to discover his chao crawling along the precarious edge of a bookshelf.

Suddenly, the chao’s footing slipped, and Shadow froze, unable to move or do anything- but then Sonic of all people noticed and was already there, leaping up and catching the chao before resting it snugly in his arms. “Looks like someone’s already progressed to the giving-their-owner-a-heart-attack stage, hm?” he asked, smirking at the little creature.

“Thank you.” Shadow said as his chao was returned to him, trying very hard to ignore the way his hands and Sonic’s brushed in the process.

(He’d been nursing a bit of a crush on the hero for a while now, but had decided to ignore it until it wore off. Sonic had admirers from all across the globe vying for his attention- it was absurd to think that anything could happen between them.)

…

Over the coming weeks, all three members of Team Dark made sure to rework their schedules so that someone was always home to watch over the chao- no more climbing on bookcases for the little one now. Shadow did most of the caretaking, feeding, training, cleaning, and providing Chaos Drives (mostly green) to the chao. Rouge did, however, occasionally claim she could ‘handle the extra work’ to give him some spare time and Omega even took it upon himself to watch it every so often.

Sometimes, Shadow and his chao would even cook together in the kitchen (a hobby he’d discovered he enjoyed after finding out that Rouge tended to eat takeout all the time- “You can’t live off that day in and day out- you’re not me, Rouge!”). The sight of a tiny pale blue creature determinedly lifting a bag of flour and flying it across the room was awfully cute- especially after Shadow bought it a tiny apron in what he unconvincingly claimed was an accidental purchase. 

Shadow never made accidental purchases.

As much as the hybrid took care of it, though, the chao also seemed to be helping him. He smiled more, glowered less, and generally seemed more tolerant of mistakes than he had been in the past. Nowadays, errors that would once have caused him to go off on a rant or huff about were now met with a calmer ‘it’s okay’ or an offer for help fixing it.

He often laid a hand on it in his sleep or curled around it protectively, and could easily be seen patting its head, carrying it around, or even- when he thought he was alone- nuzzling it gently. The amount of time and care he put into making sure that his chao was happy would have been astonishing to anyone who hadn’t already seen how much he cared about his friends.

It was no surprise then that, before long, Rouge and Omega woke up one morning to find the chao inside a cocoon (and also a very stressed-out Shadow).

The hedgehog promptly called in sick for the entire week- an incredible occurrence for him. He’d originally sworn that since he couldn’t get ill, he’d give his sick days to others when they needed it, but now that was all out the window. He wanted nothing more than to stay home and essentially sit and stare at the cocoon until it hatched.

While the two other members of Team Dark managed to convince him to eat, sleep, and do chores on regular intervals, whenever Shadow had a spare moment he’d stay in his room, watching and waiting. Their friends got so worried that Rouge and Omega had used everything in their power to coax him out of the house twice over those five days, but he refused to do any more. Even then his outings had to come with the promise that they’d both stay home, check it every five minutes, and call him the absolute moment something happened.

On the sixth day of waiting, the cocoon began to hatch while Shadow was attempting to discreetly read out loud to the chao from one of his favorite books. The moment he saw the split, he dropped the novel, jumped up, and shouted louder than he had in months- “Rouge! Omega! It’s HAPPENING!”

He hovered so closely around the cocoon that Omega had to physically pull him back as Rouge reminded him to give the chao more space. Within moments, the split had widened enough for a single black paw to poke out, feeling around carefully for some sort of purchase to pull itself the rest of the way outside. Soon enough, it had succeeded, earning- impressively enough- widened eyes from Omega and a gasp from both Shadow and Rouge.

Frowning light blue eyes were set in an equally grumpy (albeit adorable) face, with two little black ears and three tiny quills on the chao’s head. The ears and quills both had red stripes, as did the arms, legs, and even its tail. A red crescent shape sat on its chest, and two tiny purple bat wings flapped slowly behind it.

In short, it looked a lot like a tiny Shadow.

The hedgehog in question reached out carefully and began to pet his chao, offering some quiet words of praise, but before long it flew up and settled in its favorite spot in between his ears. When Shadow turned around to face his friends, they were met with the sight of a little glowering creature settled on top of his head…which really did look far too similar to the hybrid himself when he was irritated. 

Rouge covered a smile with both of her hands. “Shadow...hon…”

He frowned at her, only serving to make the resemblance more obvious. “What?”

“It looks exactly like you!”

“Not really- it has blue eyes and...bat wings…” He looked up at her suddenly. “Rouge...how much time have you been spending with Spark again?”

“Oh, just a little- wait, Spark?” she said quickly, redirecting his attention.

Shadow flushed a bright green at that. “I might’ve already picked out a name...does it sound alright?” he asked, studiously looking anywhere but at his friends.

The chao chirped at the name and snuggled a little further into the fur on his head, seemingly pleased with the title. 

He began to smile at that. “You like that name, do you?” he asked teasingly.

“It sure looks like it! I think it’s a lovely name, hon.” Rouge added.

The chao cooed, cementing its name with all of the team (whether Omega would admit it or not).

Now, if anything, Shadow and his chao were even more close than before. Rouge even bought it a tiny leather jacket to match his style, which was quickly deemed by everyone (especially their friends, to whom she’d sent about fifty photos) the most adorable thing ever. 

...

One day, Shadow came home from lunch out with Silver and Blaze only to discover a quite unexpected scene- though he really should have seen it coming, considering what he’d noticed after his chao had hatched. Rouge was kneeling next to the sofa, scratching Spark behind the ears and saying in what could only be described as a baby voice, “Who’s your favorite momma? Me, that’s right. That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Uh….” he interrupted, feeling more than a little uncertain as to how to respond to this. He was torn between “I didn’t know you had a baby voice” and “I’m glad to see you and Spark getting along” and wasn’t entirely sure which one to go with here.

The bat, on the other hand, jumped a good three feet in the air at the sound before glaring at Shadow furiously. “Don’t startle me like that!” she shouted, more than a little tense...and also a bit worried?

The hybrid didn’t react, instead saying “It’s nice to see you spending time with Spark too, Rouge.” with a smile. 

She relaxed a little at that, and Shadow sighed. “Rouge, I wouldn’t make fun of you- I do the same kind of thing, don’t I?”

“You’re right, you’re right.” the bat admitted. “I just had to! It looks like me- it even has my wings! How could I not?”

Shadow moved to sit down on the sofa at that, reaching out to pat the chao as well. Rouge smiled at him gratefully, and then they both looked down at the cute creature in between them, who was promptly staring up at both with a confused look on its face. After a moment, though, it seemed to realize that everything was alright and nuzzled both Mobians before curling up on the couch happily.

…

Another time, the entire team was out grocery shopping at their favorite store when Spark’s eye was caught by the soft, warm cinnamon buns sitting behind a glass case. After a minute or two of desperate pulling at the seams- to no avail- it flew over to Shadow and began to poke at his shoulder until he turned to look at it.

“Yes? What is it?” he asked, giving the chao a little scratch under the chin.

The chao pointed excitedly at the sweet treats, but its expression melted into one of dismay upon hearing him say “No, Spark, that’s not very good for you- and it’s too big for you to finish all by yourself, too.”

It mimed a clock insistently- they didn’t go to the store that often, after all- its frown deepening all the while. Shadow felt a little uncertain- he enjoyed giving the chao treats, but was now really the best time to feed it so much sugar? It could end up flying all over the place, and he really didn’t feel like getting banned from yet another grocery store. (The last one had been because Omega got a little too excited while messing around with the shopping cart and had melted it and twisted it into a knot...somehow. They were rapidly escorted out after that.)

Suddenly, though, the chao shuffled forward, took one of his fingers in between its tiny paws, and stared up at him with the softest, most pleading look it could possibly manage, its eyes wide and mouth quivering. “No...no, come on…” Shadow protested weakly, but already his resistance was melting away. It practically seemed to be saying haven’t I been good all week? Can’t I please just have this one treat? and the hybrid was in no condition to fight back.

Within moments, Spark was holding a cinnamon roll and dug into it with glee, only pausing once to nuzzle Shadow happily and offer him a quick bite as thanks. He accepted the gesture of appreciation easily (even though now his face had sugar on it after the chao’s affectionate thank-you) and was more than happy to see his chao smiling broadly with the treat in its hands.

…

The chao was, of course, still a great help to Shadow as well. One night in particular, it woke up to the sounds of quiet whimpering and began to look around, startled. For a moment, it turned to its caretaker for help- and then discovered that he was the one in trouble.

Shadow was curled up on his side, his brow creased in distress and his whole body shaking terribly. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut and occasionally the most terribly saddening sounds would escape his mouth. Once or twice, a tear escaped and trickled down his face.

Spark crawled up to his face gently, licking away the tear and nuzzling his cheek. Shadow shuddered briefly, but seemed to relax almost infinitesimally when the dark chao pressed itself against his chest for a moment. Eventually, the creature managed to get him to roll onto his back, at which point it crawled onto his chest, hoping that this would help him begin to relax.

It really did work- within moments, the small, warm weight on his chest made Shadow’s breathing even out and his shivers ease as the nightmare that was plaguing him began to fade.

Spark curled up, pleased with itself, and fell back asleep not long after.

…

There was just one problem amongst all this newly-discovered happiness that came with the chao. Ever since it had evolved out of its cocoon, Omega seemed as though he were hardly willing to interact with it.

Rouge or Shadow would hand it over to him, only to get it back less than a minute later. He spent the least amount of time with it out of the three, but when he was asked if he didn’t like the chao, he never said as much. 

Omega didn’t tend to lie...but then why wouldn’t he do anything with it?

Once or twice, they’d caught him merely staring at Spark as the little creature sat on the couch, his optics clicking but otherwise utterly silent. The two Mobians hardly knew what to make of it- he’d never acted like this before.

They finally had the opportunity to discover why he was behaving strangely several days later, though, entirely due to an accident on Shadow’s part. Rouge and Omega had been answering a distress call regarding some rogue G.U.N. robots and needed to call in the hybrid to help. He’d driven his motorbike directly to the scene and leapt straight into battle…

...and hadn’t noticed Spark peeking out of the bag he’d left on his bike.

The chao- while fast, to be sure- was in no way prepared for a full-on battle. While at first it had hoped to help its little family, flying about uncertainly in hopes of doing something, it quickly discovered that the only thing it could really do was to hide behind an upended concrete slab and hope it wasn’t noticed.

That, unfortunately, didn’t quite work out.

It didn’t take long before one of the rogue drones spotted a fourth heat signature aside from the three it was fighting and began to stalk towards it, charging its laser cannon in the process. Shadow, confused at first, felt his stomach drop in horror upon seeing his tiny chao shaking in fear as the machine advanced on its hiding spot. He hadn’t thought to bring a Chaos Emerald, believing this would be an easy battle- and Rouge was busy in the air.

The laser cannon on the drone was almost fully charged, and Shadow fired up his skates in a futile attempt to somehow reach Spark before-

A white hot blast lit up the area.

Shadow couldn’t have stopped the strangled cry that came from his mouth if he had wanted to. The smoke began to clear, and he almost couldn’t look…

Something stirred within the haze, and as it cleared away, Shadow felt his whole body sag with relief upon seeing Omega shifting to an upright position from where he’d shielded the chao with the back of his chassis, blocking the full force of the laser. He let out a sigh as he caught a glimpse of Spark held safely in Omega’s hand as the other one retracted to reveal a flamethrower.

“MY TURN.”

Within moments, the drone was just so much melted slag on the floor and the battle’s tide was turned. Shadow and Rouge dispatched the other robots and then rushed to Omega, who had held onto the chao this entire time.

“Omega...thank you.” Shadow said, taking Spark from his friend and holding it tightly.

“IT WAS- zzzt- NOTHING.” Omega said, a sudden staticky buzz splitting his sentence in two.

“Omega?” Rouge asked, her eyes narrowing. “What happened to you?”

“NOTHING.” he said hurriedly, his voice still glitching. “WAIT- DON’T YOU D-DARE-”

The three had already begun looking to see what had happened...but then froze when they saw the damage his back panel had taken while shielding Spark from the blast. A giant, smoking hole of warped and fused metal was burned into his chassis, revealing a bunch of melted and sparking wiring that definitely needed urgent attention.

“Omega…” Shadow looked horrified.

Rouge frowned, confused. “Why would you do this to yourself? I know how much you hate having to go get repairs.”

The robot let out a burst of static that sounded almost like a resigned sigh. Turning around, he muttered, “IT’S LI-LITERALLY YOU. AND ROUGE. BUT TINY. THAT APPEARS TO HAVE… STRANGE EFFECTS- zzzt- ON MY BEHAVIOR.”

“Do you...not like those effects?” Rouge asked, now clearly shifting into ‘I’m figuring things out’ mode. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding it so often?”

“I AM A ROBOT OF MASS DESTRUCTION. I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE FOR TINY CREATURES SUCH AS THIS ONE. I SHOULD NOT FEEL ANY ‘WORRY’ ABOUT IT- AND YET-” Omega cut off there with a frustrated crackle.

Shadow still didn’t understand. “You’ve always been a robot of mass destruction, but you never thought it was weird to worry about us before.”

“THAT WAS DIFFERENT!” Omega insisted. “YOU BOTH ARE POWERFUL. IT IS NATURAL THAT RESPECT AND CONSEQUENTLY OTHER THINGS SHOULD COME FROM THAT. BUT THIS-! IT HAS NO DESTRUCTIVE QUALITIES! BUT STILL I...YOU KNOW...”

“It’s official, Omega.” Rouge said at that, a smirk growing on her face. “You’re becoming more and more like us...organics are always weak for cute things.”

“IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT I SHOULD COME TO THIS.” he grumbled.

“It’s not so bad, really.” Shadow said, placing a hand on his arm.

“And that’s coming from the guy who never used to admit he cares about people!” Rouge insisted. “Omega, you know you don’t have to be embarrassed about that kind of thing here- you’d never make fun of Shadow for not being tough all the time, would you?”

“I GUESS NOT…” he said, still seeming irritated.

At this point, Spark flew up to sit in Omega’s hand, looking up at the robot with its little frowning face, before reaching out and patting a single finger solemnly with its paw.

“OH NO.”

“Oh yes.” Rouge answered, grinning. “Let’s get you to Tails now though, okay? Then once you’re fixed up you can come home and pet the chao.”

Omega turned his head away and refused to dignify that with a response.

(He did, however, pet the chao when he got home. Nobody teased him about it, for which- while he’d never say it- he was rather grateful.)

…

It was inevitable, eventually, that Team Dark’s schedule wouldn’t be perfect and that they’d all have to be out and busy at some point. This, of course, meant that Spark would have to be dropped off at the chao daycare. 

Shadow had managed to force himself to reconcile with that fact, but the chao wasn’t nearly as good at that sort of thing.

On the day of, it was sobbing desperately, clinging to Shadow’s jacket with a tight grip as though it’d been handed a horrible punishment instead of a day spent at the warm, welcoming building in front of it. “It’s going to be alright. You’ll be okay, it’s just for a day. See, the Mobians who run it are very nice- won’t you look?” the hybrid whispered in a soothing voice, gently rubbing Spark’s head.

Omega stepped forward. “DON’T YOU...WANT TO SHOW HOW BRAVE YOU CAN BE?” he said awkwardly. Talking to the chao was still taking some getting used to for him, but he was definitely trying his best.

Rouge smiled warmly at that. “Of course! We’ll all be so proud of you, don’t you know that?”

“We can make a cake especially for you when you get home too, alright?” Shadow said, and that was the final thing the chao needed to hear. Wiping its eyes with a final few sniffles, it flew over to the little walkway towards the entrance and stood up tall, its body shaking slightly with leftover stress and its attempts not to cry.

“We love you!” Rouge called, blowing it a quick kiss.

“See you soon.” Shadow said gently, waving with a smile.

“YOU’LL BE THE BEST ONE THERE.” Omega added, shuffling in place a little.

The chao whimpered briefly, but then turned away and bounded into the daycare before it could lose its nerve. 

Throughout the morning, it remained relatively antisocial- a bit like the hedgehog whose appearance it had taken- during the music and karate lessons. The other chao all babbled and played together, being mostly neutral and hero-types, and the few dark chao that were there wanted to cause an awful lot more trouble than Spark was in the mood for.

One thing that it noticed very clearly, though, was the extraordinarily frustrating presence of a royal blue hero and speed-type chao.

This chao didn’t seem to think even once (let alone twice) about anything it did. It banged on the drums until Spark’s ears were sore during music class and then somehow managed to smack it in the face during karate lessons twice, and all the while it chatted away with about five other chao all around it.

Needless to say, by midday, when it was playtime, Spark had just about had enough.

When the blue chao rushed directly through the little sand city that it had been carefully building, swiping everything away with a single dash, Spark growled, picked up the plastic shovel it had been playing with, and threw it so hard it whacked the other creature in the arm.

Snarling, it began to stomp off when it felt a hand on its shoulder. The blue chao darted away and began hurriedly to try and rebuild the city, occasionally glancing up at Spark with an apologetic expression in its eyes.

It...looked awfully sad, actually.

Suddenly, the dark chao remembered how it had quickly stopped banging on the drums when the teacher had told it to, and how it had looked rather guilty when it had smacked Spark in the face, and how excited it was when talking with the other chao…

Maybe it was just a little clumsy sometimes.

Spark sighed a little. The other meant well, it decided, as its anger began to fade. It appreciated the apology...but now the sculptures were gone and it couldn’t get them back. Then, though, its gaze fell upon a pair of toy cars sitting nearby. 

Pulling the blue chao over to a strip of flat, packed earth nearby, it gave one car to its surprised companion and then set its own down at a line that could work quite well as the start of a race.

Soon enough, the other creature worked out the idea and began to cheer with delight, and before long they were racing cars like they’d been friends since the start. Eventually, they even switched to running races themselves, over and over again until they were all worn out and collapsed on the cool grass in a heap. Before long, though, they were up and at it again, only this time they started with a building game, and then had a little fun with the musical instruments, and soon enough Spark couldn’t help but wonder how they had ever fought in the first place.

Eventually, they decided that their next activity would be a race to the top of the jungle gym they noticed nearby. Spark was determined not to lose as it scrambled up the bars. It pulled itself paw over paw up the structure, getting closer and closer to the top, until-

Suddenly, a bar that it had been sure existed in front of it only a moment ago was now clearly just a little too far away, and the mistake caused it to reel forward, desperately clinging to the slippery bar it sat on. It twisted head over heels until it slid and fell all the way back to the ground, the wind slammed forcefully out of its little lungs.

Spark gasped soundlessly, trying and failing to pull air back into itself. After several agonizing seconds, it finally caught its breath- and then nearly got it knocked back out again by the impact of its new friend.

Regaining focus, the dark chao realized with a start that its friend was practically wailing into its chest, the soft blue creature shaking with desperate, panicked sobs. It looked up quickly, its eyes swollen and teary, and then reached out with its paws and hurriedly patted Spark’s body down, as though to reassure itself that the dark chao was still there. 

The creature in question sat up and pulled its friend into a tight hug, feeling nothing less than awful as the blue chao sniffled and whimpered worriedly in its arms. Eventually, it managed to calm down enough to amble over to a small nest made of blankets especially for tired chao and lay down there next to Spark. The two chao curled up together, nuzzling gently as the shaky breaths of the blue one finally evened out.

Spark felt the little ball over its head pop into a heart shape, and noticed briefly that its friend had done the same. They remained curled up like that for the last half-hour or so of their time in the daycare, alternately simply cuddling or talking about their respective owners.

Spark hoped they’d get to spend more time with this friend of theirs soon.

…

Shadow pulled up to the daycare on his motorcycle at closing time, doing his best to smooth out his frazzled quills. It wouldn’t be very good to let his chao know that he’d been nearly as worried about it as it had felt itself. 

He sighed, making his way towards the entrance of the building- and instantly felt the last wisps of his composure vanish upon seeing Sonic standing just inside. Before he could panic and flee the area at top speed, his legs (which didn’t seem to have received the message just yet) carried him through the door and inside.

Almost immediately, the blue hedgehog turned to face him with a bright smile. “Oh! Hey, Shadow!” Sonic said happily. “I didn’t know you brought your chao here, too! I’ve gotta say hi to the little guy again sometime!”

“This is my first time bringing it here. If it’s alright with that…I suppose you may.” the hybrid said, trying his best to sound coherent and cool (but actually just seeming stiff and awkward).

They talked for a little while as they waited for their chao to come out, chatting about their lives and friends. More than once, Shadow had to pinch himself in order to stay focused. His mind kept threatening to wander off into dreamland when he was around the hero, ready to admire his many great qualities (and wonderful appearance) at the drop of a hat.

Eventually, though, he became a bit worried by the fact that chao after chao were wandering out through the playroom door, being collected, and leaving…but neither Spark nor Sonic’s chao had even showed up. Soon enough, the two decided to walk into the room and find their tiny charges themselves.

“Uh, hi, mixter!” Sonic greeted the leopard who ran the daycare. “Didja see my lil’ buddy somewhere around here?”

“Oh, hello Sonic!” they said brightly- clearly the hero had been to this place quite a few times before. “Yes, your chao is over there in that nest there, sorry. I just hated to disturb those two…”

Shadow frowned. Those two?

His question was promptly answered when Sonic whisked aside the blanket covering the nest, only for both of them to stare at the sight inside.

Two purring chao, one clearly Sonic’s and the other obviously Shadow’s, were snuggled up together with big hearts floating over their heads. Even the hybrid’s dark chao, notorious for its ever-present frown, looked completely at peace with a small smile on its face.

He tried his best not to freak out.

“Erm…” Shadow began eloquently.

“Uh…” Sonic replied.

The two chao perked up at this, looking happily at their owners before nuzzling gently together in a manner that made Shadow’s stomach leap into his throat and then crash straight through the floor. In a further twist (both in events and in the striped hedgehog’s internal organs), Sonic’s chao then leapt happily into his arms, leaving Shadow to stare at the tiny version of his crush cuddling into his chest fur.

He sincerely hoped there was a convenient couch nearby for him to sit down on.

“Blu- come on-” Sonic began, looking oddly panicked for some reason, but then Spark sprang eagerly onto his shoulder and the hero rapidly fell silent as the dark chao nudged his cheek.

The two hedgehogs stared at each other for a long time. Shadow tried to move or do something other than just stand there, but it was awfully difficult when the hero was looking at him with those wide, soft green eyes….

“Er…Sonic?” Shadow finally choked out, in an odd, strained sort of tone.

“Yeah?”

“I think I’d like my chao back now.”

“Yeah.”

They each handed over their respective creatures, though Shadow felt rather reluctant to let such a tiny version of Sonic out of his arms. And for a moment he could almost have sworn that the hero held Spark a little longer than necessary, too…

…

Once he got home, the hybrid collapsed onto the couch and covered his eyes briefly with a hand. Spark, who had at first rushed into the kitchen (not having forgotten the promise of cake), came back and began to tug on his arm briefly before realizing that maybe Shadow wasn’t quite up to doing much of anything at the moment.

Rouge and Omega walked in just a moment later, their work having ended a little after Shadow’s. Upon seeing him slumped on the furniture, though, their greetings were cut short and instead replaced by worried questions.

Shadow sighed. “Spark...just spent a bunch of time cuddling with Sonic’s chao. And he noticed.”

“And that’s a good thing, hon.” Rouge shot back, having resisted a facepalm the moment she realized what all this was about.

“It is not!” the hedgehog cried out, before realizing that Spark was more than a little stressed by his tone of voice. “I’m not mad at you, don’t worry, it’s just...I already make enough of a fool of myself around him on my own. He’ll figure it out soon enough if we keep this up.”

“SO LET HIM.” Omega said. “EITHER HE STARTS DATING YOU OR HE’S AN IDIOT.”

Shadow blushed furiously. “It doesn’t work like that!”

“EXCEPT WHEN IT DOES.”

“Why don’t you tell him, hon?” Rouge asked. “I mean…” and here she developed a devious smile, “...didn’t his chao technically also act all affectionate with yours?”

The hybrid’s ears were bright green by now. “He’s nice to everyone, Rouge.”

At this point, Spark- who had left temporarily to get a pencil and paper- held up a drawing it had made of the scene at the jungle gym earlier. Shadow, of course, immediately began fussing over his chao, checking for any bruises or scrapes, but the bat in particular saw something entirely different.

“Kinda...reminds me of what happened on Space Colony ARK.” she mused. 

Shadow’s head shot up at that. “What?”

Rouge smirked, but it was bittersweet this time. “Your fall...it really hurt him too, y’know? He didn’t go out in public for a long time after that.”

“He...he never mentioned that to me…”

“He wouldn’t have!” she said. “Sonic isn’t the type to ‘bother’ others with his feelings.” Rouge explained, doing air quotes at one point.

“HE ALSO STARES AT YOU WHEN YOU ARE NOT LOOKING.”

“He what?!” By now Shadow had been reduced to just looking back and forth between his two friends. 

Spark flew in front of Shadow’s face and began to mime something. First pointing at Shadow, then a heart, then talking, then a hedgehog with all its quills pointed down…

“No! I can’t just tell him!”

“We’re hanging out with his team next week at the park- you should do it then.” Rouge replied, ignoring the last thing he’d just said.

“Did you not hear me, I can’t-”

“YOU WILL NEED SOMETHING NICE TO WEAR.” Omega said loudly over the rest of his sentence.

Spark cheered approvingly.

“So...you three have just decided for me whether or not I’m going to confess to Sonic.” Shadow sighed, beginning to resign himself to the fact.

“Absolutely, hon!” Rouge said brightly, slipping an arm around his shoulders.

He glowered at all three of them, but it lacked any real malice. “Alright, I’ll play along...for now.” he grumbled.

“EXCELLENT. LET THE PLANNING COMMENCE.”

…

One week later, Shadow was standing in the middle of a patch of grass, feeling like his knees were about to buckle as sweat trickled through his quills. He was no longer resigned to telling Sonic about his feelings and was in fact considering jumping into the nearby lake and hiding there for the duration of the hangout. His stomach- along with whatever scraps of resolve he may have had- were currently all the way back at their house.

On top of all that, he was frankly surprised he didn’t just spontaneously burst into flames when the other three Mobians showed up, Sonic in the lead.

“Hey guys!” he said excitedly. “Long time no see!”

Rouge snickered a bit at his catchphrase (it was one of many) but Shadow just felt his ears burn. He was just so cute and cheesy and already the hybrid’s mind was devolving into a mushy mess.

“Rouge, Omega.” he greeted them each, but he seemed to pause for a second on the last name. “...Shadow.”

The hedgehog in question thankfully managed a reply, and then the fun began in earnest. Knuckles and Shadow competed in several arm-wrestling matches with narration from Tails (“...aaaand Knuckles looks like he’s in the lead!”) and commentary from Omega (“YOU’RE LUCKY I DON’T ARM-WRESTLE OR ELSE BOTH OF YOUR ARMS WOULD BE BROKEN.”). Rouge and Sonic were busy pranking other innocent people, though once in a while the latter would look over at the competition, distracted.

Eventually, Tails and Omega got bored- which of course meant Knuckles and Shadow had to play the role of caretaker (“No, you can’t blow up trees. No, not even for ‘science’.”) for a little while.

At one point, though, Rouge got bored with the pranks and had dragged the echidna off to a park bench and was now flirting with him enough to turn his face as red as his spines. Tails had promised to behave- which now meant that he was halfheartedly attempting to convince Omega not to modify his cannon to launch ducks from the nearby pond- leaving Sonic and Shadow to themselves. Blu and Spark had been playing in the grass all this time (since both of them had brought their chao without really realizing that the other would do the same), and Shadow had very definitely not been thinking about how lucky his chao was that emotions were easy for it.

He remembered the talk his friends had given him before this outing then and wondered if maybe, just maybe, it could be that easy. Before he could stop himself, he’d already spoken.

“...Sonic?”

“Yeah?” the hero asked, turning to face Shadow.

“I...wanted to talk to you about something.” he said, regretting everything already because look how stupid he was about to seem...yet Shadow Robotnik the Hedgehog had never been one to do things by halves.

“Oh, really?” Sonic said, and now he almost looked relieved, for some reason. “I, uh, was actually hoping to do the same. That’s cool, what is it?”

“No, no, you go first.” Shadow urged him, hoping that he’d take the offer.

Unfortunately, today was not his lucky day. “No, man, you asked first! Go ahead, what was it?”

“Really- it’s fine.”

“No, you had something you wanted to say!” Sonic insisted.

“It’s okay, I swear-”

“Well, I guess-”

“I mean, if you want-”

“Okay-”

“You see-”

“I like you!”

Both hedgehogs shouted the words at the exact same time, before freezing and staring at each other.

“Wait…” Shadow began.

Sonic’s eyes were wide. “You like me back?!?” he gasped, hands flying up to his mouth.

“...yes.” he admitted, looking off to the side in embarrassment. Then it hit him. “Wait. You like me back?”

“Of course! How could I not?” Sonic asked incredulously. “You’re smart, funny, nice-” He’d begun listing off attributes while counting on his fingers, but cut himself off upon noticing Shadow’s confusion.

“Yes, but you’re a hero. The world’s hero.” Shadow began to frown, staring at the grass. “Why would you settle for someone like-”

“No.” Sonic growled, and the hybrid looked up suddenly to see his face twisted in anger. “Don’t ever say that.”

“But everyone thinks it…” Shadow protested weakly.

“Yeah, well, ‘everyone’ isn’t part of my love life.” Sonic assumed a slightly less aggressive stance, placing a hand on his hip. “Whoever’s been telling you that can either leave you alone or get their face introduced to my sneakers.”

Shadow blushed. “Nobody needed to. I just assumed...but perhaps I shouldn’t have.” he added quickly, seeing the hero begin to glower again. 

“That’s right!” he said, zipping over to stand directly in front of Shadow. “No assumptions here- talk to me from now on if something’s worryin’ you, ‘kay?”

Then, he seemed to notice the sudden stiffness in the hybrid’s posture, as well as the green flush slowly creeping up his ears. Sonic leaned forward with a smirk, resting his forearm on Shadow’s shoulder. “Thinkin’ about something?”

Shadow gulped.

For once, he decided that he could do what he wanted. So, he slowly reached up a hand and touched the peach fur on Sonic’s arm gently, like it was the most delicate thing in the world. 

Rather more quickly, Sonic turned a shade of bright red to rival Omega’s paint job.

“So, uh…” he began, his voice shaky. “Erm...do ya feel like sitting under that tree? Together?”

Shadow agreed, and the two walked over to the shady patch, sitting down and resting against each other. Soon enough, though, Sonic turned to face Shadow, a little nervous. “Do we, like, need to talk about this? Figure out...what to do about…us?” He started turning pink again.

“Maybe later. We have a lot of time, after all.” Shadow said, trying to contain the soaring feeling inside when Sonic said ‘us’- until he realized that he didn’t have to any longer.

“What’re you smiling about?”

“You. And me. Together.” Shadow said simply, making Sonic laugh and snuggle up against him, resting his head on a black-furred shoulder.

“Wow. That’s, uh….that’s new. I really like it though.”

Then, the hero looked up at him. “I really like you, too.”

At this point, a loud whistle could be heard from Rouge, who was standing not too far off and had likely heard a lot of what they’d said. Sonic just giggled, while Shadow shot her a death glare. She just winked and mouthed I’ll keep them occupied, at which point the hybrid tried not to show how very much he appreciated that and failed miserably.

And Sonic was purring now. Which of course meant that every single brain cell in Shadow’s head was promptly dead for the next five minutes.

After he’d recovered from that, Shadow wrapped his arms tightly around his...boyfriend? Maybe? He thought for a moment. “Hey, Sonic?”

“Yeah?”

“How do you feel about being my-” Shadow paused briefly to cough, trying to get the words out- “-boyfriend?”

“I think I like that a lot.”

Shadow smiled warmly, feeling the beginnings of a purr rise up in his own chest.

“I like that a lot, too. Almost as much as I like you.”

#shadow the hedgehog #rouge the bat #e 123 omega #sonic the hedgehog #happy birthday shadow and rouge!! #these two are the best #i swear i panicked when i realized that their birthday was today and not the 21st haha #me: has never actually fully raised a chao in-game #also me: *throws in made-up chao facts like i know what i'm talking about* #also all names for shadow's chao are valid this is just the one that i personally picked #hopefully everyone enjoyed being blasted by 7500 words of fluff :) #(and hurt/comfort of course) #i liked writing the part where it was like #blu and spark: *speedrun enemies to friends* #sonic and shadow: *PANIC* #just checking: is the term 'mixter' alright for a lengthened version of 'mx.'? i've seen it before but don't know for sure #this is my second attempt writing proper sonadow hopefully it was alright #:D #as always suggestions for how to improve my writing are more than appreciated! #sol's fanfiction

[missymurphy1985]

The Writer (part eight)

Warning - angst / kidnapping / character death

Taglist @queenshelby @margoo0 @being-worthy @peakyscillian @peakyciills @janelongxox @elenavampire21 @noctvrnalmoth @ysmmsy @cloudofdisney @lauren-raines-x @namelesslosers @misscarolineshelby @screemqueen @cilleveryone @peaky-cillian @misselsbells06 @datewithgianni @heidimoreton @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch

"Y/n.... Y/n wake up..." A woman's voice dragged you from the darkness. You were in bed. Thomas's bed. A tight grip on your hand and something gentle stroking your face.

"A shot..."

"Yes. But you're fine."

"I got shot?"

"No y/n, the shock made you pass out."

"Tommy?"

"I'm here. I'm fine."

Your eyes opened to find it was his hand holding yours, and his other one stroking your face. You smiled at him and his smile in return made your heart jump.

"What happened? Is Charlie safe?"

"He's in his room with Finn playing with his train set.

"Thank god... Lucille..."

"Dead. She didn't know I was right behind her with a pistol at her neck," Polly smirked. The relief flooded through you. Pulling yourself up slowly, with Tommy's help, he sat next to you on the bed, wrapping an arm around your shoulder.

"Gave me quite a fright. I didn't see Polly either, I just heard the shot and you go down - " he held you tighter as you relaxed into his embrace.

"I thought you'd been shot... I was so scared!" The door to the room opened and little Charlie ran in, standing at the foot of the bed. The boy was the image of his mother, but with Tommy's piercing blue eyes.

"Charlie, I'd like you to meet someone very special," Tommy patted the space in front of him and the boy climbed up, sitting in front of you. You held out a hand and he took it gently.

"Charlie, my name is y/n. I'm so happy you're home and safe!"

"Daddy saved me," the three year old gave you a big grin making you smile.

"Yes he did. Can I come and see your train set Charlie? I used to love trains when I was little?"

"Yes!!" He pulled your arm to drag you out of bed and you dutifully complied, allowing the little boy to lead you to his room. Thomas chuckled watching you, warning Charlie to be careful with you as you were still delicate.

You sat playing trains with Charlie for most of the morning - making small villages with his toys.

You could see his eyes growing sleepy, and right on cue Tommy appeared with a cup of warm milk, scooping his drowsy son into his arms. Charlie drank the milk and settled on his Dad's shoulder, happily being rocked to sleep. Your heart melted watching them - the love Tommy had for this small boy so clear in his eyes as he held him close. Small kisses to the top of his head, humming an old Romani song you recognised from long ago when Polly would sing it to Finn as a baby. Within minutes, Charlie was asleep, and Tommy placed him gently in his bed with another kiss to his head. He kneeled next to him, stroking his face and whispering words you couldn't quite make out. You slowly tiptoed out of the room to give them a moment together, and headed down the stairs where Polly was fixing some lunch.

"Polly, where's Frances?" You asked.

"She.. she was in the house y/n, but we'd got there too late. She was already dead when we arrived, her heart gave out from the stress of it all. She wasn't involved. We put the husband through his own personal hell before we took his eyes, he told us she'd been forced to collect Charlie and take him to the hall. Her family had been threatened with torture if she hasn't. Poor woman had no choice."

"Oh Frances... Tommy must be devastated..."

"He's experienced more loss in his life than anyone should have, love. Which is why I have to say this... If you don't feel the same as he feels for you, you need to walk away now y/n. He can't handle another heartbreak, it'll kill him."

"Polly, the things I feel for that man can't be put into words.. he makes me feel alive. Like I'm walking on air when he's with me. I feel so free, and happy. Like I can take the world on as long as he's by my side. It feels comfortable, like being at home."

"Very similar to how he described you, actually," she smiled and gave you a hug. "About time you joined the family, although I was sure it would be John, not Thomas!"

"No, he only had eyes for Martha and I only had eyes for Jack. Until.."

"Everyone is allowed to move on Y/n. Jack wouldn't want you to be unhappy forever, would he?" You shook your head, swallowing back the tears. As much as you were falling in love with Tommy, there would always be a place in your heart for Jack.

The rest of the day was spent playing with Charlie. Tommy was reluctant at first, he didn't know what to do and was thinking about paperwork he needed to complete, but the way you and Charlie looked at him through puppy dog eyes had him beat. Charlie loved the new attention from his father, showing him all of his toys. You ended up in the garden that evening, taking a walk around the grounds and letting him explore.

"Thank you." Tommy smiled, his arm over your shoulder.

"For what?"

"For this. For showing me there's more to life than paperwork."

"Charlie just needs you. Not the toys or the fancy clothes, he needs his Dad."

"I guess I didn't know how - Grace always took care of this side of it. Then Frances.."

"I know - listen, my flatmate is looking for work. She's amazing with children. Why don't I talk to her, see if she'll come help with Charlie while you're working?"

"Can she be trusted?"

"She's marrying my brother, and I've known her since we were babies."

"Then yes." You smiled and turned to Charlie who was fascinated with the flowers.

"What do you think Charlie, can we run faster than Daddy?" You laughed, hoisting the boy onto your back and pointing to a tree the other side of the garden. Tommy smirked at you, taking his jacket off.

"Not a chance!" He laughed.

"Daddy old - too slow!" Charlie giggled behind you.

"Sounds like a challenge to me, boy," Tommy smirked before setting off in a sprint. You quickly ran as fast as you could, Charlie's laughter spurring you on.

"We win!!!" Charlie laughed as you easily reached the tree first, even with Tommy's cheating head start.

"It would appear your Dad is too old for this!" Tommy laughed, laying down to catch his breath. Charlie's hands reached for him, and you placed him on top of Tommy's chest. He quickly nuzzled into him, his eyes growing heavy. You watched the two of them for a few minutes, your heart felt like it would explode.

"Come on little man, let's get you to bed eh?" Tommy sat up gently, lifting his son into his arms. The three of you headed back to Arrow House.

Once Charlie was in bed asleep, he joined you in the sitting room. You already had the whiskey and two glasses ready.

"I hope you don't mind, I wasn't planning on going home?" You smiled, pouring two glasses.

"I thought you said you already were home?"

"You listening into my conversations Thomas?"

"Did you mean what you said?"

"Every word. Want me to show you exactly how much I meant it?"

He sat next to you on the sofa and shook his head.

"I'm going to show you how much I meant it when I told Polly the same thing. Brace yourself, y/n. You're in for a very long evening."

#tommy x fem!reader #tommy shelby x smut #tommy shelby x reader #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby x smut #thomas shelby x you

[emilycollins00]

I saw your requests were open so I 🥺👉🏼👈🏼 I’m not sure if you do Guy but if you do, maybe a scenario where the reader is dancing under the rain and having fun but Guy is worried for their health and is trying to coax them back in but the reader manages to pull Guy with them and start dancing together. I personally think Guy wouldn’t understand the concept or the appeal of dancing under the rain until he sees you and is dancing with you and just goes “oh” yknow 😔✊🏼 if you don’t do Guy or aren’t comfortable enough yet you could replace him with Juza/Tasuku

THIS REQUEST WAS EVERYTHING. I've wanted to write Guy for a while so this was absolutely wholesome to do, thank you Ever!

Hope you all enjoy it 💕

One soulful moment it's all it takes (Guy x Reader)

People say monotony kills the heart. Ironically, monotony is what also keeps the heart working.

It wasn’t that Guy enjoyed it per se, it's just that it was proven things got done quicker when you set up a system. It was more productive. More efficient. Waking up early every morning to practice karate was good to improve his health. Making and drinking tea also helped. Going fishing or taking care of Tsukioka’s garden had also become part of what he got used to when he started living in Mankai among other activities.

The only variant he could never seem to grasp was you.

“You should go out more!”

"I believe we are already outside."

"No- I mean, to play around, you know? Enjoy life! Nothing like a good bruise on your leg to remind you that you have a leg."

You always picked on him based on the consistency of his routines, on the rigidness of his answers. And while sometimes Guy had to admit he didn’t quite grasp the full meaning of what you said, he found you captivating, intriguing even.

Everyone around always seemed to have a smile next to you after all, and as you two got closer, Guy found himself wishing he could be half as carefree and adventurous as you.

“Come on!” You made him eat some of the food you had ordered- even though his own plate was more than enough for one person’s fill. “I can’t believe this is not making you smile. If you are not excited when you eat, you are doing something wrong.”

You always loved to try new things, which was why whenever you would suddenly appear at Mankai you would try and drag him all over Veludo. Openminded experiences, you liked to call them. It was also how Guy had gotten used to asking for places others recommended, such as the cat’s café, Veludo main acting street, or this new curry restaurant director and Usui had seemed to enjoy so much lately.

As you finished your meals and paid, you both stepped outside while making light talk. “Ah… that was spicy but delicious! Not Omi’s level though. I’ve only eaten snacks from him but I bet all his food tastes just as good. You guys are lucky.”

“Yes. He is one skilled young man even among other Zahran’s royal court's chefs I know. I have no doubt anyone that would try his cooking would think so as well.”

“Right? Anyway, I didn’t know you could handle spices so well,” you patted his arm happily. Those plates had been no joke, Chikage and Izumi were monsters. “I mean, you finished it all! I believed this was the time I was gonna see you making weird faces."

"Do you want me to?"

"No! I was joking Guy. You always take me too seriously I swear," you laughed as you both left the shopping district.

The winter member nodded, taking a mental note once again. From his early childhood memories he had always been told to be careful about everything, and was made to follow the path everyone told him to. And though there were times when he wanted to step out of the beaten path, he hadn't been much of a rebel- until Citronia left, that is. He would easily put those thoughts aside and go on doing whatever he was supposed to do.

All of a sudden a few drops fell, snapping him back in the present and made him blink surprised at the sky at the unexpected wet contact. He had seen the weathercast that morning over breakfast and it hadn’t said anything about raining.

“We should look for shelter before it becomes heavier.”

“Uh? What are you talking about?”

Guy stopped walking and met your questioning eyes, as if you truly didn’t understand what he had said. People around you both began passing by jogging with jackets, briefcases, or whatever object they might have in hand acting as umbrellas, and for a second he didn’t know how to explain it more clear. “The rain. We will get wet otherwise.”

There was a sound of thunder in the distance, which made people speed up their walking pace. Not you though.

“I know." you shrugged. "Still can’t see the problem.”

As the raindrops started to make their way through you, causing you to get wet, you stepped away from him, welcoming the cool drink from the clouds.

“Y/N? Where are you going?” he called out to you when you started moving around in circles.

The unaware worry tinted in his expression resonated in your mind. In time, you were able to control yourself enough to let out a snort of a laugh. "Nowhere. I'm dancing silly!" you replied, your voice high with joy and arms open up in the sky. "The rain feels good. I love to walk and dance in it. Don’t tell me you’ve never done this."

“But you will get sick.”

“Oh come on, healing rain is real!”

“Is that so.”

“Yeah! It can be physical healing or emotional or whatever you want it to.” You smiled. Your movements were rusty under the slow and endless drizzle, making jumpings and turns here and there. “It washes your sins away.”

Guy kept staring not entirely convinced. As much as he saw you enjoying yourself moving around in the rain, he had seen Tsukioka and a few other members from Mankai get sick just from running under in the rain on their way back home and all in all, he still didn't fully understand the point of what you were doing.

“It doesn’t seem very conclusive.” He looked around, trying to look for any shop that might sell umbrellas. Without any result he turned to you once again, rain getting heavier as you two talked. “If you wish to feel water running under you a shower could work as well, although I admit the space is considerably different if you decided to dance.”

“Oh for the love of-" you ran up to him, grabbing his elbow and forcing him to come out of the somewhat safe roof he had been guarding himself against since you had left him laughing. “Just come here. Now close your eyes and enjoy the music!”

He followed your instructions and stayed in silence for a few seconds, then he opened them. “There’s no music Y/N.”

“Of course there is! Try closing them again and pay attention.”

He followed your suggestion once again.

All was silent as before- All silent save the dripping rain. Then, as the breathful afternoon melted slowly and the cold caress of fresh air lapped up, Guy started to feel the drops around him. And while they were not synchronized, they created a sound worth listening to.

As you had indicated, he tried to let go of his inhibitions, allowing the rain to wash away the thoughts that had been roaming on his mind After a while he opened his eyes slightly, confused at the sudden feeling emerging within him. It was also when he found you still there, not having moved yet, smiling brightly -as the now hidden sun in front of him.

Ah. He didn’t know exactly why or how it had happened, but the connection between you was different from anything he had felt before.

“…I believe I am now listening to the music you spoke of.”

Sometimes one finds joy in the small and simple things. It could be the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food... others, it was the sound of a loved one's voice.

“What do you think Guy?”

He never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and feel the rain, however his eyes trailer over you, before silently stepping back instead. The sudden action made you tilt your head confused. You knew Zahfra wasn't that much of a humid place so it would make sense he might not be as comfortable as it was for other people to stand in the middle of the rain.

“Guy-”

“Y/N-"

You chuckled at how you both said each other names so suddenly. Just like in the movies. “You go first.”

He stared gaze at your figure for a second, before offering his right hand. Rain kept falling under you, no one else in sight. Just you, Guy, and the sound of rain.

“May I have this dance?”

As if it was possible, your eyes lighted up brighter than they had on the whole day, which surprised Guy to an extent. With a beaming smile you nodded, and so he took a step towards you. He wrapped his hands around you and pulled you slightly closer. The thunderbolts made your body shiver while you wrapped your arms around his neck. He could feel your every breath, and with every breath, your own heartbeats pumped faster.

A good lead should be soft yet subtle, stating their intentions by moving themselves, inviting their partners to follow along. Guy was alert, eyes scanning the surroundings ahead of him, watching traffic, other people, but also aware of what was happening right in his arms.

He treated your follow with respect, never forcing any movement. If he led a step or a pattern and you interpreted the movement differently than he had intended, he adapted to you rather than forcing change. He wanted to give you a sense of security, knowing you could fully depend on his lead the way he had learned to dance, however after a few clumsy fails followed by your laugh, he soon discovered it didn't matter how you both danced, just that you did.

“I think you know me better than I know myself.” He broke the silence after a while. You smiled.

“I’m not going to deny that.”

“I wish I could repay you for that, somehow.”

Laughing again you adjusted yourself so you could look up at him. His astonishingly beautiful green orbs finding yours once again, filled with overwhelming love and safety. “You are doing it right now.”

The corner of his eyes softened.

There were many things he had tried to chase away. Things he couldn’t remember, and others he didn’t let himself think about. Right now he was living, and nothing else seemed to matter anymore. He allowed you to take him anywhere you pleased on that made-up dance floor under the rain. You went right, he went right. You sped up, he sped up. Having you there, next to him like this, made him think about just how lucky he had become.

“…You are beautiful,” he whispered, touching your cheek with care, clearing the strands of wet hair that had gotten in the way.

You held on to him tighter.

“You are beautiful too.” You smiled, noses touching. Rain still falling over you both. “Didn't I tell you? That dancing in the rain deserved getting a cold.”

______________________________________________________

Wishing you all a wonderful day! 💕

#a3! act! addict! actors! #a3 act addict actors #a3 actor training game #a3! #a3 #a3! guy #a3 guy #guy x reader

[agustdakasuga]

You Never Walk Alone | Chapter 19

Genre: Werewolf!AU, Poly!AU?, Mate!AU, romance, fluff

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Characters: Student!reader, Omega!Seokjin, Alpha!Yoongi, Beta!Hoseok, Alpha!Namjoon, Omega!Jimin, Beta!Taehyung, Alpha!Jungkook

Summary: You live a quiet life in your late grandfather’s cabin in the woods. You go to school just to graduate and get your diploma, not to make friends or stand out from the crowd. That was until one day, you enter your home to see a pack of wolves that need shelter.

The boys just want to spend quality time with you. What better way to do that than to spend the day at the beach and then going for your first ever dinner date together?

After going to that house with the boys’ mother, you felt a lot better. You felt a lot more reassured and you had more will power to be stronger. The boys could see that too and they were glad that their families were able to make you feel better, even if they didn’t know what upset you in the first place.

“Where’s (y/n)?” Namjoon asked Yoongi. The older nodded over to your figure, who was smiling and listening to the gardener explain things about the flowers. 

“She really loves the garden.” Yoongi chuckled. 

“She’s there every free minute she has.” Taehyung smiled fondly as your smile got bigger when the gardener handed you a light purple rose. You held the flower and turned your head to see the boys all staring at you. 

“Hello.” You gave a shy wave. 

“She’s so cute.” Jimin chuckled as the 6 of them waved back at you. Wait, 6 of them? The boys looked forward to see a fairly large, dark grey wolf pad over to you. You felt something touch the back of your thigh and turned around. Smiling, you bent down and stroked Jungkook’s fur, showering him in light kisses as he basked in the affection. 

“JEON JUNGKOOK!” The 6 older wolves scowled at their sly maknae. 

“Isn’t this pretty, Koo?” You held the rose out to him. He sniffed it curiously, letting out a cute sneeze from the excessive pollen. 

“Oops.” You chuckled, stroking his head. The gardener bowed and returned to work while you sat on the stone bench. Jungkook placed his head on your thigh, wanting all your attention. 

“Why are you acting all puppy, Koo?” You smiled. 

*bark*

Looking up, you jumped slightly to see 6 other wolves staring at you, their tails wagging in anticipation. You blinked in confusion as Taehyung suddenly pushed Jungkook’s head off, each paw resting on your thigh as he stood on his hind legs. He barked happily, his tongue hanging out. 

“Yes, Tae?” You giggled as he licked your cheek. Jungkook huffed in annoyance at how his brother easily pushed him away and took all your attention. 

“Shall we go for a walk at the beach?” You asked. 

“Yeah! We can go for a swim!” Jimin jumped up and down. You giggled and they followed you but they stuck so close that you tripped and almost fell but ended up being draped over Namjoon’s body. 

“You guys are tripping me!” You giggled as you pushed yourself up. Yoongi sat by your side, eyes following your hands, as you dug through your luggage. 

“Umm...” You turned back to look at him and he blinked at you, tilting his head cutely. 

“Can I help you with anything?” You asked. He shook his head. 

“Alright then. Get changed.” You ruffled his hair and grabbed some clothes out, going into the bathroom to change. You closed the door before Yoongi could shift back into his human form since you knew he would be totally bare and you were not ready to see that yet. You changed into your swimsuit, pulling your dress over it. 

“Yoongs? Are you changed? Can I open the door?” You knocked on the bathroom door.

“Yeah, yeah.” You heard his nonchalant voice and opened the door. He pulled his black shirt over his head, running a hand through his messy hair. You grabbed your things and went out with him.

“Let’s go!” You took the two vans that the boys drove here in. When the vans stopped, Namjoon opened the door for you to come out. 

“The beach!” Hoseok screamed and all of them, except Yoongi, ran onto the white sand. Yoongi rolled his eyes at his brothers’ behaviours and held your hand, heading to find a nice spot with you. He laid out the mat and sat down, patting the space beside you. 

“Not gonna swim?” You asked. 

“Hate the water.” He grumbled, looking away. It was obvious, he wasn’t a fan of the beach. 

“Aww, Yoongles. I’ll just keep you company then.” You squished both his cheeks in your hands, cooing at him. He scowled and slapped your hands away with the most annoyed look ever. 

“I told you to stop calling me that.” He scoffed. 

“Okay... Yoongo Boongo.” You snickered. Suddenly, you were being hauled off the sand as Yoongi held you in a bridal position. 

“W-Wait! Where are you going?! What are you doing?! Wait! Yoongi!” You screamed as you saw him head closer to the water. Instinctively, your arms wound themselves around his neck. If he was going to throw you into the water, you were taking him down with you. Your 6 other mates who were supposedly supposed to protect you just watched on. 

“You guys are supposed to protect me!” You pointed at them as they all burst out laughing, falling onto the sand. 

“Are you sorry?” Yoongi raised an eyebrow. You looked away, pursing your lips. Yoongi scared you by doing a fake drop, making you scream in fear once again like before. 

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry!” You shouted, wailing. 

“Give me a kiss.” He gave a smug smile. You rolled your eyes and gave him multiple pecks. Chuckling, Yoongi walked back and set you back down on the mat. You immediately rained slaps on him. 

“So mean!” You grunted. Seeing the other boys all play in the water, you wanted to go swimming too. 

“I’m gonna swim.” You removed your dress. Yoongi’s eyes widened as the sight of your black high waisted two piece. 

“Where are you going?” He grabbed your wrist. 

“Swimming? We’re at the beach, Yoongs!” You chuckled and his hand fell limp. He knew the others were going to have the same thoughts as him. It was confirmed when they stopped wrestling one another and stared at you with wide eyes and slightly opened mouths. 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Taehyung was the first to freak out. Yoongi smirked at his brother’s reaction. 

“Geez, you didn’t have to shout. I’m going swimming. That’s why we’re at the beach right?” You frowned slightly. Taehyung’s eyebrow twitched slightly. You shrugged and tied your hair up, waddling in the water. 

“Jungkook.” Taehyung pointed. 

“What- JUNGKOOK!” You squealed as Jungkook threw you over his shoulder and led you back to where Yoongi sat. 

“Back so soon?” He raised an eyebrow. 

“Sorry, bub. You’re not going to be walking around dressed like that.” Jimin came and sat in front of you, ruffling your hair. Says him, who is dressed in a muscle tank that is now see through because of the water. 

“I just want to swim.” 

“Not in that though. We can’t have other males looking up our beautiful mate.” Namjoon grinned. Hoseok whistled and Taehyung trotted over in his wolf form. He stepped into the space between your crossed legs, pressing his entire wolf body against your front in an attempt to block other people from seeing your skin. You shook your head. 

“Here, jagi. Cheer you up a little.” Jin held out an iced lolli to you. You grinned and received it, enjoying the cold sweet treat. 

*Whine*

Taehyung pawed your thigh for some. You broke some off, letting it rest in your hand as he licked it gently. Namjoon stayed by your side, leaning back on his palms as he watched you interact with Taehyung. 

“Enough sun for the day?” You asked. 

“Yeah. I’d much rather spend time with my mate.” Namjoon smiled back and Taehyung barked in agreement. You chuckled and wiped your hands, subconsciously stroking Taehyung’s fur as you watched Jin, Hoseok, Jungkook and Jimin play frisbee on the beach. 

“I may just take a nap.” You laid down, putting your head in Namjoon’s lap. Taehyung moved and placed his head on your stomach.

With dark clouds starting to roll in, you knew it was time to go home. You could continued your nap there instead. You and the boys packed up and headed home. 

“Actually, (y/n). We would like to take you out tonight for dinner.” Hoseok said. You tilted your head in confusion as you walked up to the house with them. 

“We want to take you out on a date.” Jimin explained further. 

“Oh!” You finally understood. 

“Yeah, we haven’t really gone out on a legit date as lovers, with everything that has been happening. So we all talked and think that you deserve a nice dinner date. I mean, you said we haven’t asked you out officially. (y/n), would you like to go on a date with us?” Namjoon asked on behalf of all the boys, who were now staring at you. 

“You know I was just kidding but sure, I would love to have dinner with you all.” You giggled. 

“But I have to ask my mates first.” You tapped your chin. 

“Oh, I’m sure they will be fine with it. Even if they’re not, it’ll be our little secret then.” Jungkook kissed your cheek, nuzzling his cheek against yours lovingly. You laughed and pushed him away. 

“I’m gonna shower then.” You went to take a nice bath to get rid of all the salt water and sand. Namjoon greeted you when you came out. 

“Strawberries and peaches.” He smiled as he wrapped his arms around you, pressing his forehead against yours. 

“What?” 

“You smell like strawberries and peaches. Mates always smell different to one another. When we knew you were our mate, you smelled like strawberries and peaches, not like a normal human would smell. I don’t know if we smell different to you.” He explained. You shyly leaned in to sniff him. 

“Pinewood? With some vanilla? I thought it was just the cologne you guys use that make you all smell like a nice candle.” You blinked innocently. 

“Of course, only our mate would compare us to scented candles.” He ruffled your hair. 

“Stop teasing me. Not all of us are as smart as you, Joon.” 

“You’re just cute, babe. But I was sent to give you this.” He picked up a box and gave it to you. You released him and opened the box. Inside was another beautiful dress. But it was simpler, a dark blue body con, short tube dress.

“It’s pretty. I love this. Thank you.” You hugged him. This dress was very much more your style, simpler. 

“I’ll let the princess get ready then. Yoongi was telling us how you don’t like heels so we got you these.” He gave you the box, which was a white Doc Marten Chelsea boot. Pecking your cheek again, he left the room. You got dressed, did your make up and wore your shoes. It was simple but you felt like a million bucks, thanks to your boys.

Grabbing what you needed, you left the room and headed down. The boys all melted when they saw you. No matter what you wore, you never failed to take their breath away. 

“Our mate is truly stunning.” Jin held your hands in his. You smiled shyly. Yoongi tilted your chin up to give you a light peck. 

“We should go before we’re late for our reservations.” Jimin checked his phone. Instead of driving, the boys called for two cars to come pick you up. 

“Where are we going?” You asked. 

“You’ll see.” Hoseok lifted your hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. 

“Princes, princess. Your table is this way.” The manager bowed. You felt weird, no one has called your princess yet. That title made you feel different. You kept a straight face as you walked through the dining hall, the other customers all turning their heads to stare at the princes and their mate. 

“They’re staring.” You whispered to Taehyung. 

“Because you’re so beautiful. But they can’t have you because you’re ours. You’re mine.” He leaned into your ear, his hand resting on your lower back. 

“Please let us know when you’re ready to order.” The manager led you all to a private room. There were 4 seats on both sides of the cloth covered table. It was Jungkook, Namjoon, you and Yoongi on one side, the rest on the other.

“This place is expensive.” You thought out loud. 

“Don’t worry, jagi. Just order what you’d like.” Yoongi put an arm over the back of your chair as he browsed through the menu. Honestly, you didn’t know what to order because there were so many foreign words that you didn’t understand. You have never been to such a high class, fancy restaurant before so this was all very new to you. 

“Need help?” Namjoon leaned over. 

“I don’t really know what all this is.” You told the boys, blushing.

“Alright, we’ll order for you then.” Jimin smiled. When the waiter came, the boys all ordered their own preferred kinds of steak. Namjoon ordered for you, you didn’t know what he ordered. 

“How many glasses?” The waiter asked. 

“8, please.” Jungkook said. The waiter bowed and soon returned with 8 wine glasses. You have never had wine before but this was a new experience so you were willing to try it. He poured some and let Yoongi taste some before Yoongi gave a thumbs up. The glasses of wine were passed out to everyone. 

“To, our beautiful mate and our first date.” Hoseok chuckled. 

“Thank you.” You blushed as they all clinked their glasses together before taking a sip. It was good, the sweetness of the wine along with the slight but nice burn down your throat. 

“Like it?” Jin asked. You nodded your head. All of you chatted as the appetisers came. There was some variety in them. 

“Marinated raw tuna. Try it.” Taehyung encouraged.

“It’s good.” You were pleasantly surprised by the taste. It was nice and unlike anything you have ever tried before. The boys all smiled when they saw how much you enjoyed it. 

“Try this.” Namjoon held his fork out to you. You coughed a little before leaning in to eat the food off his fork. Following suit, the other members with different dishes began to hold ther forks out to you, hoping that you would take their offer. You blinked in surprise while Namjoon rolled his eyes with a shake of his head at his pack. 

“Here are the mains.” Waiters came in with your mains. You watched, mesmerised as Yoongi handsomely tasted a new kind of wind and discussed with the manager how it needs to ‘breathe’ before it can be drunk. 

“Are you checking me out?” Yoongi raised an eyebrow. 

“N-No!” You stuttered, looking away. 

“The Miyazaki Wagyu?” The waiter asked. Jin gestured to you and the waiter placed the plate in front of you with a bow. Did they just order you the most expensive steak on the menu? 

“Isn’t this the most expensive?” You hissed. 

“Just enjoy it, babes.” Jungkook chuckled, sipping his wine. You cut into your steak and placed it into your mouth. It was so flavourful, soft and just melted in your mouth. You had to resist the urge to let out happy sounds of contentment at the taste. Yoongi chuckled. 

“Good?” 

“It’s the best steak I’ve ever had.” You nodded. 

“That’s good to hear.” Yoongi patted your head. He sliced a piece of his steak, which was different from you, and placed it on your plate. It was really good too. You were really enjoying the time with them.

-

“Hehe.” You poked Jimin’s cheek.

“Who’s the genius who let her finish the wine?” Jin sighed. You hummed as you hugged Jimin, nuzzling your face into his neck. Jimin wrapped an arm around your waist to hold you steady. You had insisted to sit on his lap because you wanted to ‘squish his cheeks’ and the boys were apparently bullies for ‘trying to separate you from squishing’. 

“I’m happy.” You sang. 

“You are?” Jimin stroked your head. You nodded your head happily, staring into his eyes. 

“Shh... I have to tell you a secret.” You messily placed your hands over his mouth. Jimin chuckled, gently grasping your wrists to pull your hands away from touching his face. 

“What secret?” 

“Shh! I’m trying to tell my secret.” You frowned. He held his hands up in defence. Taehyung, who was sitting next to Jimin, watched on in amusement. 

“Okay, you... cannot tell anyone! Shh, I actually have 7 boyfriends! And! And! That’s not all... You cannot tell them, okay? Promise me. I really, really, like REALLY like them.” You giggled to yourself. 

“We promise not to tell.” Taehyung smiled. 

“Okie, I’m-I’m trusting you. You know, they’re so cool. You wouldn’t believe me but they’re werewolves! Werewolves are real, you know?!” You gasped. 

“Really?!” The boys played along. 

“Uh huh. My 7 boyfriends are werewolves. But... But you can’t tell anyone. I-I don’t want people to know... Because... I don’t want them to leave me. I-I’ve been alone for... uhh... years. And-And now, they’re all I have. I-If they leave me, I’ll be alone again. A-And, I’ll get sad. No one wants to be my friend... except them.” You said sadly. 

“We’ll be your friends.” Jimin told you. 

“Really?” You looked up at them with sparkly eyes. They nodded their heads, a part of them feeling sad by what you just spilt to them. 

“Okay. But I have to ask m-my boyfriends first. I think! They don’t like me having other boys as friends. But they’re nice! So don’t worry. They will say okay.” You giggled. 

“The other day... in the toilet... some girls were saying that I’m supposed to make my mates s-stronger. But... I’m human, so I made them weaker.” 

“They said that?” Taehyung held your hand. 

“Uh huh. I was really sad... after that. Because I-I don’t want to hurt my ma-mates. They’re EVERYTHING to me. I-I even dodges Kookie’s hug because I thought that m-maybe... it’s true that I am not right f-for them.” You unknowingly shed some tears, which Taehyung wiped. 

“So that’s why she was sad.” Jimin said. 

“Poor (y/n).” Taehyung whimpered. 

“But I’m okay now! I love my boyfriends. They’re nice. They also feed me yummy foods!” You continued to laugh, making them smile softly. As the car stopped, Jungkook came to carry you. 

“Wee!” You cheered as Jungkook carried you upstairs. The other boys looked on in amusement. They all adored the drunk version of you. Jungkook went upstairs and got a maid to come in to change you. He washed up as you got changed. You were dressed in Jungkook’s big hoodie and some shorts. Jungkook came out and joined you in bed. 

“I love you.” Jungkook leaned in to give you a kiss but you covered your mouth with your hands. 

“I can’t! I have boyfriends! 7 of them!” You shook your head. 

“I’m sure they won’t mind.” Jungkook gave an amused laugh, trying to give you another kiss but you placed your hands on his chest to stop him. 

“Nooo! I only love them! I’m sorry, mister. If they know, they’ll hurt you! Real bad.” You scolded. Jungkook huffed, clicking his tongue in disbelief. He laid down beside you, making you face him. 

“Koo?” You called. He hummed in reply. 

“I love you.” You giggled shyly. Jungkook lifted his head and you boldly pressed your lips against his. He squeezed your waist as you pulled away to breathe. He moved you close to him until his big body was almost draped over you. Softly, he began to hum to lull you to sleep. 

“Jungkook, hyungs. We need to talk.” Jungkook heard Taehyung. 

~~

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[themurphyzone]

Nova Ch 11

AN: This is gonna be the last of the set-up chapters. The story will start snowballing (see what I did there? Heehee) from the next chapter on.

This chapter includes an art piece I requested from the talented @plutonis​, and I’m so glad I can finally show this off because it contains some very gorgeous colors.

AO3 Link

Ch 11: Spectrum 

Terran Date 2015.4.28

Yesterday, Pinky showed me one of his favorite pieces of media to thank me for the story of Heikro var Silda, even though he cried for fifteen minutes because of the tragic ending. While indeed sad, I’m proud to say I remained steadfast and controlled my emotions upon revisiting the story. And while I told him it wasn’t necessary, he insisted and I acquiesced to his demands.

That’s how Pinky introduced me to The Lion King. Once again, I remained strong even when the emotional distress threatened to override my logical mind. It was...rather difficult, I’ll admit. We watched the sequel afterward, and though I’ve created five different charts that list the plot points in order, I cannot come up with a satisfactory sequence of events that connects both movies into a cohesive narrative.

Moving onto real life matters...Pinky seems to be under the impression that I will be a permanent resident of the lab.

Celestial bodies above, what use is my intelligence if I’m trapped among heathen, dimwitted fools who can’t tell the difference between left and right! I refuse to be a lab rat, made to do the so-called dominant species’ bidding. Snowball and I shall be taking over this planet and progressing their backwards society far beyond their wildest dreams! That’s what we came here for, and I will not be sidetracked again.

As for Pinky...well, his imagination can make up some personalities for his inanimate object friends once I leave. He doesn’t have any shortage of those. The newest addition to the crew is an eraser nub with the moniker of ‘Gummy’.

Signing off for now,

The Brain

o-o-o-o-o

Brain saved the new transmission to an encrypted, password-protected file. None of the scientists were technical experts, so the odds of discovery were miniscule or nonexistent. He only had five audio files in total, a meager amount compared to the hundreds of transmissions he’d made back on New Selene. The pointer hovered over the Delete All button. He didn’t have a reason to keep making transmissions when he was leaving the lab behind in just a few days.

Still, he hesitated.

Maybe he could leave it as a memento for Pinky. But even a basic level of encryption and case-sensitive password would remain far beyond Pinky’s capabilities.

Perhaps it was best to leave the issue for another night.

He logged off the computer and joined Pinky, who’d surrounded himself with Gummy and the rest of his inanimate object friends as he played a board game called Monopoly. Though Brain had looked up the rules and goals of the game during his online session out of curiosity, he didn’t really understand the appeal or mass marketability of such an unbalanced game.

Although, given the number of different versions of Monopoly out there, creating and selling his own version of the game with the title of Brainopoly could prove to be a viable plan.

Pinky was playing as if there were four players and not just a free-for-all against a nickel, button, and eraser. It became disturbingly obvious that Pinky was either overly generous or just woefully terrible at mental math, because he continually doled out the wrong amount of money from the bank or his own meager cash pile.

And Pinky was far better off if Brain cut in now, because there was no chance that anyone else was catching up to Gummy, who owned the most lucrative properties and had the largest amount of money.

He had to stop anthropomorphizing these objects. He was starting to think like Pinky, and that was an extremely distressing thought.

“You’re losing to an eraser,” Brain said. Pinky only had a few fives in currency, and the three properties he owned were all flipped over and mortgaged.

“Yeah, Gummy’s just very good at this game! Narf!” Pinky said as he rolled the dice for Mr. Button. “It’s so nice of him to let us sleep in his Marvin Garden Apartments though. Otherwise we’d be homeless!”

“Nice indeed,” Brain replied. For his peace of mind, he didn’t dare press for more details.

Pinky threw the dice, then moved the bucket token seven spaces, landing on the Luxury Tax space. “That’ll be seventy-five dollars, Mr. Button,” Pinky said as he gathered the money, which only totaled sixty. And Mr. Button’s four properties were all mortgaged. Pinky realized this too. “Oh...you don’t have enough. Poit.”

Any normal player would’ve tossed in the towel right there, but Pinky wasn’t a conventional player by any means. He frowned, scratched his head, then picked up his own pile of fives and tossed them onto the sixty, bringing the amount to seventy-five, with two leftover fives for Mr. Button.

“You can have that, Mr. Button!” Pinky chirped as he dumped the luxury tax money in the middle of the board. “With a little more for the bus!”

Pinky had completely knocked himself out of the game.

This was supposed to be an extremely competitive game for families and seasoned professionals, right? Though the rules of Monopoly appeared confusing and controversial to most players, he was certain that nobody would willingly lose with such a reckless method.  

Well...maybe it was just a fluke. Pinky was only playing against himself, so if he wanted to give up the money to something he was making the decisions for, that was his choice.

Besides, he couldn’t watch this game much longer.

“I’ll be your next opponent,” Brain announced. He’d never played before, but the basics seemed simple enough. And the math involved was basic arithmetic he could do in his sleep. “Reset the board at once, Pinky.”

Pinky’s tail wagged as he gathered up the houses and hotels and tossed them back into the box, then settled down as he skillfully shuffled the Community Chest and Chance cards. From the way he hummed and twirled around, an outsider could easily mistake Brain for a playmate instead of an opponent.

Brain quickly read over the instruction sheet, then divided the game currency into a starting amount for himself, Pinky, and the bank.

“Can I be in charge of the property cards, Brain?” Pinky asked as he organized them by color.

“Yes, but I shall handle all other banker duties,” Brain said. “Listen closely, Pinky. I’ve looked up stories about Monopoly games going on for a long time with no definitive winner, so we’ll stop the game when one of us runs out of money, or if chance has favored you or I enough that we can place a hotel on the board.”

“Chance always has a problem with favoritism,” Pinky said as he moved the horse token to the Go space. Indeed, chance hasn’t always favored members of either of their species, but it could stand to be more merciful during a board game. He hugged the horse token to his chest. “Anyways, Pharfigtwoton is always my choice! What’s yours?”  

Brain didn’t understand how anyone in their right mind would want to play as a wheelbarrow or bucket, and the only pieces that interested him at all were the ones that resembled modes of Terran transportation. In the end, he chose the battleship.

He was tempted to call it the Conquistador Two, but he didn’t want to follow the trend of naming random objects.

“Good one!” Pinky said as he pushed the ship over to the horse token. “A gorgeous ship like this needs a name...so I hereby dub thee Battley McBattleface!”

“We’re calling it the Conquistador Two, and that’s final,” Brain snapped.

“The Conquesodor Two,” Pinky agreed.

They tossed the dice to decide turn order, and Pinky won that battle easily since Brain had the misfortune to roll double ones.

On his first turn, Pinky managed to land on St. Charles Place with a high roll. He happily shelled out the money required to buy the property. “I’m putting a nice dog park here!” he declared, placing the unused dog token in the magenta space above the property. “Now Pharfigtwoton can give rides to all the puppies!”

Brain didn’t know if Monopoly required players to create their own storyline, but it certainly made the game more interesting and baffling at the same time. He rolled the dice, sighing when he could only advance to Reading Railroad.

He hoped it wouldn’t be a trend for Pinky to receive high rolls while he was stuck in the first half of the board.

But he quickly changed his mind once he paid up for Reading Railroad and read through the card information. Just like any real life war or corporate strategy, the key to his victory would lie in controlling the flow of transportation and goods!

Pinky landed on New York on his next turn, rambling about taking all the puppies to New York for a double decker bus tour of the city as he slid a stack of bills to Brain. Brain sighed and tossed an extra twenty bill back at Pinky. He wished Pinky would pay more attention to adding properly than the make-believe puppies.

Brain rolled the dice and moved his battleship to Virginia, claiming the property so Pinky couldn’t control one-fourth of the board this early in the game.

“Brain, can I have a house?” Pinky asked as he drew a Community Chest card. He read through the card and grinned. “Awww, I got second in a beauty pageant! Thank you, everyone! It’s such an honor! Oh, and it says I also won ten dollars.”

“You don’t meet the conditions required for a house, Pinky,” Brain said, giving Pinky a ten. He didn’t care about the fake beauty pageant, just that money was either gained or lost depending on luck of the draw.

“Oh, I’ll keep them off the board,” Pinky promised. “I just want a house for Terry to live in.”

He held up the dog token, who was now apparently called Terry.

“Fine, but don’t mix your ridiculous fantasies with the board,” Brain sighed and tossed a green house at Pinky, which smacked him in the head when he didn’t catch it in time. Pinky laughed it off and coaxed Terry to stand next to the house.

Houses and hotels. His Internet searches on the Clarkes led to tons of websites on the Terran real estate market and hotel industry.

Which reminded Brain that he hadn’t shared his research into the Clarkes with Pinky yet. There hadn’t been enough time during the day, where the incompetent scientists poked and prodded them. And in Brain’s case, tried to figure out where the antennae came from.

Their hypotheses, and he was being exceedingly generous when he described their speculation and conspiracy theories as hypotheses, amounted to claiming a Terran mouse and insect had reproduced together.

“I’ve brushed up on the Clarkes so we can properly impersonate them at the party. According to-scrik!” Brain hissed under his breath when he landed on New York and had to pay Pinky.

“Sixteen please!” Pinky chirped. “All proceeds will go to buying toys and treats for good dogs in need!”

Brain grudgingly gave up the sixteen. Probability was not on his side tonight. “As I was saying before cruel fate reared its ugly head, the man I shall impersonate, Anthony Clarke, is an esteemed real estate and luxury hotel mogul, with a net worth in the billions. His success is rooted in savvy, ruthless business against competitors. It appears that he and Lamont are old college acquaintances, which we can spin to our advantage. And...yes! B&O Railroad!”  

He claimed the B&O Railroad for himself, and Pinky wrinkled his nose. “I wouldn’t ride on the Body Odor Railroad even if you pay me in cheese,” he said.

Brain rolled his eyes. “The temptation for cheese is too powerful for your empty mind and bottomless stomach.”

“You’re right, Brain. It’s too yummy.” Pinky licked his lips. “So does that make me Mrs. Zoey Clarke then? Unless he divorced her already. I haven’t kept up with them in a while.” The butler on the phone had made a similar comment, thoroughly expecting ‘Mr. Clarke’ to divorce his spouse by the end of the week.

“So you’re aware of the Clarkes,” Brain said. He rolled the dice, and chance immediately sentenced him to jail. He had to push his battleship all the way to the jail space.  

But all of this divorcing nonsense was trivial to his goals. Hardly worth a footnote.

The objective was to infiltrate the party, mingle with the guests to throw off suspicion, then steal the military weapon and take over the world, not involve himself in a Terran’s relationship drama.

“Ooh, tough.” Pinky clicked his tongue in sympathy as he bought Waterworks. “But everyone knows who the Clarkes are. Didn’t you see anything about all those divorces when you looked them up?”

“I’m more interested in his business ventures than his messy personal life,” Brain replied. “All this talk about divorce is simply incidental. But now I digress. Escaping jail so I may continue my conquering campaign is of utmost priority.”

“Doubles! Doubles!” Pinky chanted as Brain threw the dice. A two and three faced up, but no doubles. Pinky deflated, but only for a moment. Then he picked up a fifty. “Here, Brain. I’ll bail you out.”

From Brain’s brief skim over the rules, he didn’t recall a single one that allowed players to bail each other out of jail. He wanted to refuse and tell Pinky to focus on winning for himself, but obtaining Pennsylvania Railroad, which he’d missed the first time he’d passed through this section of the board, was just too tempting.  

Brain took the fifty from Pinky, put it in the bank, then moved his battleship out of jail and used his draining resources to buy Pennsylvania Railroad. Only afterward did he realize that he’d been steadily losing money every turn and hadn’t gained anything since the beginning of the game.

Contrast to Pinky, who rolled a twelve and skipped over the last fourth of the board, placing him squarely on the Go space and guaranteeing himself a free two hundred. Then he rolled a low number and bought Mediterranean.

A poor investment, given that it was hardly worth anything. But Pinky didn’t think so.

And he wouldn’t stop cooking up new fantasies either. “Now we can host a beach jubilee for your welcome home from jail party! With hot dogs and beach balls and those big umbrellas and-”

Brain lobbed the dice at Pinky so he’d quiet down and allow Brain to formulate a strategy in peace.

Perhaps a pass around the board without purchasing anything would be necessary. He had to rebuild his financial resources again. The downside was that Pinky could potentially take the spaces for himself, but it was entirely possible that he’d miss some of the open spaces too.

So he did just that, finally lucking out when a Community Chest card sent Pinky to Reading Railroad.

But Pinky was incapable of keeping his mouth shut, and soon he was back on the topic of the infamous Clarke divorces.

“-so I think Zoey is number eleven, and I know they all blend together, so when I confuse them I just remember divorce, beheaded, died, divorce, beheaded, survived!”

Brain stared at Pinky, praying to all the ancient Selenian gods nobody believed in anymore that Snowball didn’t have him take the identity of a murderer.

“Oh wait no, no...that’s King Henry, not Clarke. Must’ve mixed them up, poit. Sorry.”

Brain threw another green house at Pinky, nailing him in the shoulder. Pinky yelped, but once he realized he had another house he immediately thanked Brain because that meant Terry’s friend could move next door.

Since there was little point to dissuading Pinky entirely, Brain focused on his game strategy instead.

It was mostly repetition anyway. Roll dice, move piece, board event, repeat. Perhaps it would be considered tedious and monotonous, but the storylines Pinky improvised were what truly made it fascinating, even though Brain could only follow about half of it since Pinky created plotholes within the fantastical yet mundane place named Monopoly City faster than the speed of light.

According to Pinky, he and his sister co-ran an enormous pet supply shop attached to a humane animal shelter next door to the dog park. Meanwhile, Brain was conductor of a magical train and seeking the mayorship because the corrupt mayor was involved with an evil cigarette corporation who wanted to diabolically sell their products to innocent children.

And while Pinky certainly had a knack for improvisation, the matter at hand was that Brain couldn’t resist buying Boardwalk, but he’d used up a third of his money and Pinky wasn’t landing there to make up for the deficit. But Brain also had Baltic, the least valuable property, and Pinky had Park Place, which Brain desperately needed since neither of them had houses on the board yet.

This wasn’t going to be a fair trade for Pinky, but it was the best chance Brain had to etch out a victory. He was going for it.

“Park for Baltic so we can finally build some residences,” Brain said, sliding the card over to Pinky.

And to his surprise, Pinky jumped at the opportunity. “Sure, Brain! If you’ll trade me Oriental for Marvin Gardens. We’re gonna open a Chinatown district!”

He’d be giving Pinky control of the first quarter of the board, but the allure of the most expensive properties was far too tempting to pass up.

They swapped properties, then paused the game to set up their houses. Brain didn’t have enough money to buy houses for all his properties, so he set two houses on Boardwalk and hoped he could deal a staggering blow to Pinky’s finances. And even this decision was costly, for he only had $180 left.

Pinky set four houses on Baltic and clapped his hands together. “They’re beach houses,” he explained, and didn’t bother putting houses on the rest of his properties even though he could afford it.

Brain kept his mouth shut. Best not to give Pinky ideas. So he rolled the dice and got doubles.

Luxury Tax.

Scrik.

Now he was down to $105. But he’d pass Go on his next turn, so he could obtain an extra two hundred and hopefully skip this portion of the board.

Then he landed on Baltic.

He slowly looked at Pinky, and Brain couldn’t tell if Pinky was being perfectly innocent or just very, very good at pretending to be perfectly innocent. “That’ll be $320 please,” Pinky said.

Including the two hundred from passing Go, he’d only have a grand total of $305.

And according to the conditions he’d set, he’d lost the game through losing all his money.

“Can’t pay it,” Brain sighed. “Congratulations, Pinky. You’ve bested me.”

Pinky giggled and threw his play money in the air in celebration. “Aw, thanks for playing with me! I’ve never played Monopoly with anyone before. Never been able to get the board to Pharfignewton’s stable without the play money flying all over the street. It took me a long time to pick it all up. We should definitely do this again, Brain! Troz!”

But there wouldn’t be a next time. No matter how much he wanted to be victorious in another match against Pinky.

“Yes, we should,” Brain forced out, willing his racing heart to calm down so he wasn’t caught in his lie.

Pinky beamed, and Brain only wished it wasn’t so difficult to explain.

o-o-o-o-o

Terran Date 4.29.2015

Tonight, we shall seek appropriate outfits for the masquerade ball. I have been informed that my jumpsuit is not considered formal attire and that we will need to shop for proper clothing. However, I will be bringing my jumpsuit along since I will not return to the lab, and I require my conquering outfit to carry out our plans.

Pinky knows a place that may contain what we need. He’s spent the last two hours finishing his hat for the Kentucky Derby and has proudly shown off the finished product to me. Though I’ll admit that the result can only be considered a hat if one is generous with their definition.

I have not been able to contact Snowball. I can only assume he’s making the necessary preparations on his end.

Signing off for now,

The Brain

o-o-o-o-o

They stood in front of an enormous building with bright neon letters, impossible to miss even with his direction-challenged companion. Thankfully, it was only a few blocks from the lab. After the scientists strapped him to a machine that tested centrifugal force, he didn’t have the energy to walk much further.

“Welcome to Toyz ‘B’ We, Brain!” Pinky exclaimed, and Brain cringed at the horrendous grammar of that name. “It's the most wonderfulest toy shop ever!”

Wonderfulest wasn’t a word, but Brain was given no time to inform Pinky of that fact before Pinky dragged him to the entrance, where a large, cartoonish statue of a Terran bee stood off to the side, greeting customers with a cheerful wave of her magic wand.

“So that’s the mascot, Becky Bee,...let’s see, those are the shopping carts and the baskets and those machines that give you washable tattoos-”

“Focus on the clothing, Pinky. Not all the extraneous material,” Brain reminded him as they entered the store. Unlike their disastrous mall trip, Brain had brought along a source of money, an ACME credit card one of the scientists had carelessly left at their desk after purchasing a chair online.

They had a right to use the card as ACME employees who never got paid for their hard labor in experiments. And he promised Pinky he’d give it back once they were through purchasing the necessary items, so it didn’t catch on that pesky ‘no stealing’ radar.

Based on Pinky’s descriptions of the store, he expected an interior full of wonder, excitement, and interesting objects designed for enjoyment for young Terrans.

Instead, everything was a sterile white, yellow, or black. Rectangular kits of building blocks of all shapes and sizes sat neatly in a row, their price tags dusty as if they hadn’t been moved or cleaned in some time.

Dozens of bee models hung from the ceiling rafters, all of them sharing the exact same dead stare and pose. The whole setup was rather unnerving, and Brain averted his eyes.

He spotted two workers at the registers. They scrolled through their phones, not noticing Pinky’s cheerful greeting as he skipped past them. A third worker called out in alarm to them, and they suddenly dropped their phones and picked up rags, repetitively wiping their counters in circles in a poor attempt to appear busy.

The only one who acted like they were in a store meant for entertainment was Pinky, who oohed and ahhed and zigzagged all over the place to get a look at all the toys.

“Brain, look at this Barbie convertible! It’s so sparkly!” Pinky exclaimed before darting off to admire the box art on five-hundred piece jigsaw puzzles, then crawled onto the lowest shelf to hug a life-sized chihuahua plushie. “Narf! This one’s a cutie! And I also like the polka-dotted lizard, that green unicorn, and that rainbow koala looks really soft too-”

Brain grabbed Pinky’s tail, yanking him out of the shelf and onto the floor.

“This store’s already eroding whatever’s left of your mind,” Brain said, dragging Pinky away from the stuffed animals.

Pinky propped himself up on his elbows, humming as they passed aisle upon aisle of action figures, balls, and building blocks.

It was strange how they seemed to be the only customers here. Shouldn’t there be more snot-nosed brats running amok or haggard parents corralling them so they didn’t destroy everything with their grubby hands?

Still, perhaps he shouldn’t complain.

It was a relief that he didn’t have to worry about people trampling him underfoot for now.

But the peace didn’t last long, since Pinky suddenly peeled away in a completely different direction, forgetting that Brain was hanging onto his tail. Though he tried to dig his heels in, Pinky was too fast and the floor too slippery for Brain to bring them to a halt.

Then Pinky stopped on his own, and Brain only caught a glimpse of a metallic table leg before he crashed face-first into it, his nose smarting from the impact.

“Sorry, Brain,” Pinky said sheepishly, and there were five upside-down images of him. Brain swatted at the one in the middle, but his hand hit empty air instead. He shook his head to clear his vision, and all but the Pinky on the far left vanished.

Pinky didn’t stay put for long, darting past Brain. He hauled himself up the table leg and onto a light blue tablecloth. “You have to come up and see this, Brain!” Pinky squealed, peering over the edge of the table, his tail wagging beside him. “There’s an entire fence made of Legos here!”

Brain sighed, wondering if it was an exercise in futility to get Pinky to focus on the task at hand. “This is the last time I’ll repeat myself!” Brain shouted as he climbed up to retrieve Pinky. “We’re here for the clothes and-”

Though Brain only took fifteen seconds to ascend, Pinky managed to don a cropped, checkered top that showed off his slender stomach and a very short blue skirt in that short timeframe.

“Well, what do you think?” Pinky giggled and twirled in circles, the skirt flying in a graceful arc around his waist. “I could go square dancin’ in this, pardner! Yee-narf!”

Realizing he’d been staring at Pinky’s exposed stomach rather than making proper eye contact, Brain quickly turned away and pretended to find a row of small toy cars interesting. Next to the toy cars, there was a menagerie of small, plastic animals penned in by a colorful fence.

Part of a garden themed jigsaw puzzle served as a lawn under his feet, the pieces leading up to an enormous pink dollhouse.

Pinky took off the clothes he’d tried on, neatly threading a bent wire through the crop top and skirt and hanging them on a piece of string that served as a makeshift clothesline. There were five different clotheslines, each stocked to the brim with a variety of colorful articles.

Brain thumbed through the selection, though he didn’t feel an attachment to any of these pieces. While these clothes were designed for toys, most of them were still too big for him.

Finding something that would fit would be more difficult than he realized.

There was a large empty space past all the clotheslines, but it seemed it would be filled in soon enough. The display had all the signs of being a work in progress, and Brain couldn’t help but wonder who had the patience to put all this together. Certainly not the bored workers at the registers.

It was a welcome splash of creativity from the rest of the dull store.

“Poit. This is exactly how I imagined my dream home to be,” Pinky said in awe. He walked up to the front door and popped it open, revealing a spacious interior. Brain followed Pinky inside and they explored the first floor together, which contained a kitchen, living room, and a playroom.

“I really like the coloring on those kitchen cabinets, and the fireplace is a great touch! Very retro. And the kiddies will have a grand ol’ time in the playroom,” Pinky said as they climbed the staircase to the second floor and walked through two bedrooms and a bathroom.

“Marble countertops would make the kitchen and bathroom more refined,” Brain argued. Really, did Pinky want any visitors to think uncivilized brutes owned the house? “But the fireplace is a welcome touch.”

Pinky shrugged as they entered the master bedroom. “It’s fine as is. Now if the backyard was bigger with a dolphin-shaped swimming pool, that would be really, really amazing!”

And Brain preferred marble countertops, but since he wouldn’t be getting everything he wanted, neither would Pinky.

Brain sat on the large bed that took up half the room, the fluffy covers soft and welcoming. But they were on a mission, and future world rulers didn’t roll around on beds in an undignified manner, no matter how tempting it was.

Pinky threw open the closet doors, revealing more clothing inside. “Oh, these pajamas are lovely!” he said, pressing a yellow nightgown close to his body.

“Anything that would suit our purposes?” Brain asked. In hindsight, doing some research into what people wore for masquerade balls would’ve been helpful. He didn’t know why it slipped his mind. Perhaps Pinky’s scatterbrained traits were contagious.

“Hmmm, it’s all pajamas and casual wear,” Pinky said, flicking through the different articles. He closed the doors and reopened them, as if the formal wear would magically appear if they were out of sight. “No suits for you or the porpoises, Brain.” And he’d been so hopeful too.

“Maybe we can find something in the aisles,” Pinky said.

A sensible suggestion, for once.

Brain tried not to appear reluctant to leave the bed, but necessity demanded it. As he stood up, the fur on his neck pricked, his ears twitching towards the large window in the bedroom.

An odd sense that he was being watched came over him, and when he turned to look at the window, he saw a Terran’s eye peering into the balcony.

They stared at each other.

Then the eye blinked.

And Brain was suddenly very, very glad Snowball wasn’t here to bear witness, or he’d never hear the end of how he’d leapt onto Pinky’s back in his moment of panic.

Pinky yelped, and so did the Terran outside the window. There were several loud thuds, followed by a frantic apology.

Brain released Pinky, rubbing his face to get rid of the blush as he ran down the staircase and out the front door.

“S-sorry!” a young woman stammered as she bent down to pick up several packages of toys, only to lose her large glasses on the floor in the process. She wore the standard uniform of the store. “I didn’t think anyone would be inside! I thought one of the furniture pieces fell over, that’s all!”

Pinky hopped down from the table, picking up the woman’s glasses and pressing them into her hand. “It’s okay!” he chirped. “You scared us good, but now we can laugh about it! Oh, your name tag says Sharon! What a lovely name! I’m Pinky, that chubby alien up there is Brain, and we’re going to a party this weekend where we’ll raise awareness for the plight of frosted animal crackers!”

“That’s not the event’s objective,” Brain corrected, and he had no choice but to let Pinky come to his own conclusions. Stealing the secret weapon on Lamont property would remain classified information as promised. “And if you call me chubby again, I shall have to hurt you.”

Sharon took her glasses from Pinky with a tentative smile, then let him climb up her arm and onto her shoulder. “Zort! You have very good taste in Polly Pocket dolls!” Pinky said, peering down at the packages in her hands. “Do you collect?”

Sharon blushed. “I, um, have a lot of Beanie Babies at home. I’m not really interested in Polly Pockets, but they’d fit much better in this display than a standard Barbie.” She glanced at Brain. “I’m sorry, could you please move? I’m putting a few things in that area.”

Brain moved out of the way as Sharon carefully opened the packages. Then she placed several small tables and chairs in the empty space next to the clotheslines, bending the dolls’ legs into sitting positions and placing them on the chairs. She worked slowly and diligently, taking great caution to not knock anything over or break the items.

“Did you make all this?” Pinky asked. “It’s amazing!”

“Y-yeah, I did. The display, I mean. Not the toys.” Sharon didn’t look at Pinky as she straightened one of the Lego fences. “Store’s been on the decline, and because there’s not really much to do, I’m trying to create a few displays to generate some interest. The toys in this one were supposed to be thrown away since nobody’s buying them, even on clearance, but it just seemed so wasteful.”

She was resourceful. It was a valuable trait, but she seemed more embarrassed than anything.

“Take pride, Sharon. It’s an excellent use of parts,” Brain advised.

Pinky nodded eagerly. “And you’re saving the toys from the evil furnace! I’m sure they’re very grateful to you when you’re not looking!”

“You...you really like it?” Sharon lifted her glasses and wiped a tear from her eye. “Nobody’s ever really noticed my efforts around here.”

“Well, they should!” Pinky declared. “I’ll tell them so myself!”

Sharon smiled as Pinky hugged her face, then rejoined Brain on the table. “Thanks, but I don’t think you came to this store just to invade a toy home.”

“No, we didn’t,” Brain said, seeing his opportunity and seizing it. “We require formal clothes for a masquerade ball, and unfortunately, we haven’t seen anything of interest yet.”

“There’s plenty of interesting things in here, Brain,” Pinky said. “Like the busybody bees up on the ceiling!”

Apparently they had two very different definitions of interesting.

“Well, I can bring out some items from the back,” Sharon offered. “We had to pull the entire line of formal Zuma Ben accessories last week. Some parents found the outfits a little scandalous for their kids, so now the accessories are just going in the trash. But maybe you’ll find something to wear from the pile. Be right back, guys!” She walked away, her steps growing slightly more confident.

“Real Zuma Ben accessories?” Pinky clasped his hands to his cheek. “I’ve never worn anything like that before!”

“It’s just a name,” Brain said. He didn’t see why Pinky was treating Zuma Ben’s name like a sacred object. “As long as we’re dressed to impress, the name doesn’t matter.”

“I just think they’re pretty,” Pinky replied. “And I like looking at them, even if I can��t buy anything. Still, I’m really happy with the clothes I have now.”

But Pinky had a sizable wardrobe. Those clothes had to come from somewhere.

“So how did you obtain your clothes if you never bought them?” Brain asked.

Pinky smiled. “The scientists. They’ll drop clothes into my cage, which is really nice of them! One time, I put on this pretty sundress they gave me and I started itching really bad. I was jumping around like a tiny monkey and I managed to make them all laugh! I must’ve been quite the sight!”  

Pinky laughed at the memory, but Brain was more disturbed at how the blatant act of humiliation didn’t affect him in the slightest. Then the laugh faltered and restarted at a higher pitch.

No, that initial assessment was wrong. True, Pinky could withstand many things, but not even the most resilient being could tolerate the sound of mockery for long.

Should he say something? Was an ‘I’m sorry’ sufficient? Was there any act of comfort that didn’t involve unnecessary physical contact?

Brain wanted to be decisive, but dozens of scenarios played out in his head, and none of them led to a satisfactory outcome. Tell Pinky to cease his laughter, embrace him, talk about the weather. He didn’t know.

Emotions led to nothing but trouble.

“Quit staring,” Brain snapped when Pinky wouldn’t stop watching him like he wanted something.

Pinky’s ears fell, but Sharon came back before the pang of guilt could fully settle in Brain’s stomach.

“Thanks for waiting, guys,” Sharon said as she dumped the accessory packages onto the table. “See anything you like?”

“All of them!” Pinky declared, happily tossing a three-pack of formal dresses into the air. He tried tearing it open, but the packaging wouldn’t give. Sharon helpfully tore it open for him, and Pinky made a happy, grateful sound before pulling a sparkly purple dress over his body. He twirled around. “So how do I look?”

“Lovely,” Sharon giggled as she pulled out her phone. She set it against the Lego fence, allowing Pinky to see himself in the camera app.

“I’ll put this as a maybe,” Pinky said. “But I have to give all the dresses a chance too!”

He tried four other dresses on in quick succession, and all of them went into the maybe pile.

Meanwhile, Brain searched through his choices of men’s formal wear. He wanted the best possible option for successful infiltration, but he didn’t know much about Terran fashion. His nose wrinkled at a powdered blue suit with far too many ruffles. He was fairly certain that wouldn’t garner respect on any planet, so he pushed the offending pack away from his other options.

The pure white suit would get stained too easily. He needed something darker. That one was out.

“Hey Brain, what about this one?” Pinky asked. He now wore a long sleeved lime green dress, which Brain found extremely tacky and unappealing to the eyes. Not even Pinky could salvage that monstrosity. Yet in Pinky’s hands, there was a black suit with a white shirt underneath. Not extravagant by any means, but since the coloration was similar to his conquering attire, it was the most probable choice by far.

But while Pinky was comfortable with changing in front of others, Brain wasn’t so keen on the idea.

“I require privacy,” Brain said. He took the suit from Pinky and went inside the house, shutting the door behind him and ensuring the shutters were closed.

Then he removed his gloves and jumpsuit, shivering from the cold air as he laid the items over a chair. He put on the new set of pants first, then the white collared shirt, and finally buttoned the jacket over his abdomen.

Well, it was comfortable. And it hid most of his stomach too, which was also a positive. But he needed to see how it looked in the light before making a judgment call, so he rejoined Pinky and Sharon, who were playing with different filters on her phone while Pinky wore a magnificent feathery pink dress.

“Now you really look like a flamingo,” Sharon laughed as Pinky changed the filter to sepia, the image now different shades of tan. Pinky blew a kiss to the camera. “This one’s my favorite so far,” Pinky declared with a graceful curtsey.

And the sleeveless feathery dress did seem to match his personality much better than all the other dresses. Flamboyant and quirky, but inviting and friendly as well. A darker pink feather boa was draped over his shoulders, and purple feathers fanned out from the back of his neck. A light green choker was wrapped around his neck. Then Pinky added a matching headband with a light pink tuft to complete the ensemble.

“That will certainly make an excellent first impression on the partygoers,” Brain said.

Pinky changed the phone filter back to normal with one hand, playing with the feather boa in his other. “Egad, you really think so?” he exclaimed. “Hold on a sec, Brain. Where’s the rest of your outfit?”

“Rest of?” Brain echoed. “This doesn’t require anything else.”

Pinky shook his head and dug a red bow and matching sash out of the clothes pile. “You need a few splashes of color, Brain! Or you’ll just end up a sad wilty wallflower!”

“They’d really match your circles,” Sharon added.

Well, he’d always looked good in red. It was a bold, attention-grabbing color.

Brain draped the sash over his shoulder and fastened the bow around his ear, checking himself over in Sharon’s phone. Then Pinky and Sharon started giggling for some odd reason.

“What?” Brain asked. He was presentable at a formal event now, wasn’t he?

“You’re kinda wearing it wrong,” Sharon admitted.

His ears flattened from embarrassment. Selenians typically wore practical jumpsuits with minimal accessories, and none of their databanks ever mentioned Terran outfits. They must’ve found it unimportant.  

“Don’t worry, Brain. It’s an easy fix! May I?” Pinky exclaimed.

Brain nodded his permission, and Pinky removed the bow from Brain’s ear and carefully fastened it underneath his collar, taking great care to not pull the bow too tightly around his neck.

“So this isn’t a sash. It’s a cummerbund and you wear it around your stomach,” Pinky explained as he demonstrated the proper way to wear it. It was relieving to know Terrans made accessories that would hide the slight bulge, and Brain donned the cummerbund correctly.

The accessories really did match his orbs. For the first time, he was dressed to the nines and it was a glorious feeling indeed.

“Aw, you’re both so spiffy!” Sharon exclaimed. “Mind if I put a photo of this on the Twitter page to boost some interest?”

“We’ll return the favor,” Brain said. She deserved some reward for helping them out anyway.

Sharon turned her phone around, ready to snap the picture when Pinky suddenly darted out of frame. “Hold on! Narf!” he cried, shoving a small blue butterfly-themed mask into Brain’s hands and flipping a pink feathery mask over his face. “It’s a masquerade ball, you know!”

While Brain’s mask only covered the area around his eyes, Pinky’s face was mostly hidden by his birdlike mask, leaving only his bright blue eyes exposed.

“Doesn’t that tickle?” Brain inquired as Pinky stretched his boa out for a picture.

Pinky shrugged. “A little. But I don’t mind!”

“Smile for the camera, you guys!” Sharon grinned.

Brain didn’t smile, but he stood in front of the toy house while Sharon snapped pictures and Pinky struck a different pose with every shot.

Pinky’s laughter rang joyously in Brain’s ears.

He would leave that sound behind in just a few days. But it was a small price to pay for the world.

End AN: Maybe this chapter is a little disjointed, but oh well. Sharon is based off the toy store worker who helps the mice in Brain’s Night Off. 

I tried to do the math for the Monopoly game and even pulled out my Monopoly property cards so I could get the amounts correct, but if anything is inaccurate I am hereby excused from responsibility because I am a writer and not a mathematician. Yes i use that excuse every time but it’s true. 

Brain's outfit comes from the tuxedo he wore in the reboot's Future Brain episode. Pluto designed Pinky's outfit herself (somehow we both were thinking lots of pink feathers for Pinky) and deserves all the credit for it cause it's so beautiful. I chose a butterfly mask for Brain and a flamingo theme for Pinky.

#pinky and the brain #patb fanfiction #patb nova

[isthisthingeven0n]

it’s always been you : i.f

brief summary: ilya has always known that david is a womaniser, and he’s just in the background, a second choice. but when you turn up and capture the pairs attention, will it be the same case? 

word count: 1.6k requested: yes by an anon! i hope you love it  warnings: nope, it’s fluffy and all cuteness up in here

* masterlistin’ / masterlistin’ 2.0

m y  e t s y  s h o p

(everything on my blog is my own writing. if it is shared on another page or website know it hasn’t been approved me unless specified. all rights reserved. - i have to start doing this as I had some shit on my other blog with plagiarism)

DO NOT STEAL MY WORK - IT IS ALL MY OWN WRITING

“No, I’m serious dude, she’d go for you easily.” Ilya laughs into the microphone whilst David shakes his head in disbelief. “She would trust me. You’re so good and smooth-talking with girls and I’m just well,” Ilya trails off as Jason interrupts, mentioning the last time David flirted with a girl.

“I doubt that, Ilya. But if it ever happens, I guess we’ll find out.” David jokes, unaware of how soon that would end up happening.

*

Sitting across from the pair, you were deep in thought as your laptop remained on your lap, oblivious to the glances from David and Ilya.

Natalie beside you rolled her eyes, picking up on the looks. “She’s into you, dude.” Ilya mutters to David, nodding as David simply raises a brow. “It’s obvious, really.” He quickly adds, trying to hide the feeling of his heart sinking as he forces a smile, noticing a genuine one forming on David’s face.

“I don’t know, Ilya.” David remarks as he glances up, seeing you lifting your gaze up at the same time. “She’s just a friend, that’s all.”

Ilya shakes his head, knowing that is far from the truth based on what happened the night before.

“I’m serious, Dave, get off me!” You giggle as David continues to tickle you, your laughter echoing throughout the house as Ilya walks in with the pizza’s David ordered.

As he places the pizza’s on the counter, his smile begins to drop as he finds you in David’s arms, your face flushed as tears fall from your eyes. “You’re not getting outta this that easy.” David laughs.

“I got pizza.” Ilya speaks up, and immediately you fall from the sofa, landing on the rug with a soft thud.

Quickly, rising to your feet you clear your throat. “About time, I’m starving!” You avert your gaze from Ilya as you walk over to the pizza boxes, leaving Ilya oblivious to the fact you’re trying to calm your heart rate.

“What about that guy, he’s kinda cute?” Natalie nudges you as she hands you her phone, catching the attention of both boys as you shuffle in your seat.

Humming to yourself, you pass Natalie her phone back. “He’s not my type,” You say with a shrug. “I prefer brunettes.”

“Of course I had to go bleach my hair.” Ilya mutters under his breath whilst David smirks to Natalie, wondering if his thoughts could be accurate.

“Well, most of the time at least.” You quickly add before moving your laptop from your lap and heading to the bathroom, hiding your hands in the sleeves of your hoodie to stop them from visibly shaking.

Once out of sight and earshot, Natalie groans loudly. “Guys, can you give her a break, seriously.” Natalie points to the pair, Ilya holding his hands up in defence whilst David merely chuckles to himself.

“It’s just a bit of fun, Nat.” David excuses it as he looks down to his phone and answers a phone call. “What’s up, Zane?” David asks, walking out and into his bedroom, the door closing behind him.

Yet, despite it being just Natalie and Ilya, the matter isn’t being that dropped that easily. “Like David said, Nat, just a bit of fun.” Ilya comments half heartedly.

“I don’t think so,” Natalie sings playfully as she nudges herself to the edge of the sofa, resting her hands on her lap. “just, talk to her, yeah?” Natalie adds just before you walk back into the room, running your fingers through your hair as you glance over at David’s absent spot.

“Is it just me or is it freezing in here?” You ask, wrapping your arms around yourself as Natalie shakes her head whilst Ilya remains quiet.

Looking at the absent spot beside Ilya, a light bulb flashes above Natalie’s head. “Why don’t you take David’s spot? He’ll be gone for hours now that Zane’s on the phone.” Natalie suggests to you whilst Ilya’s eyes widen.

Turning around, you smile shyly to Ilya. “Is that okay with you, Ilya? I don’t wanna invade your personal space.” You chuckle.

“Oh no, not at all.” Ilya rambles, moving David’s things aside as he pats the spot beside him. “I’m hot, I mean, I’m warm so hopefully you’ll get hotter, I mean,” Sighing to himself, Ilya stops as he closes his eyes, listening to your quiet laughter as the sofa dips.

“Thanks, Ils.” You mutter as you curl up beside him, resting your head on his shoulder as your eyes start to droop whilst you scroll through your phone.

A few hours pass by, and you’re fast asleep with Ilya on the sofa. It started off with a quick power nap, but when Ilya lifted his arm up and you moved to rest your head on his chest, he was a goner.

“You won’t believe what Zane’s done now-” David cuts himself off as he walks into the living room, Natalie shushing him as she motions to you and Ilya on the sofa.

David pauses, looking down as your face is buried in Ilya’s chest whilst his arms are wrapped around you securely, your legs tangled together.

“Oh,” David smiles at the sight, quickly taking his phone and recording you both.

Moving aside, something changes in David’s thoughts as Natalie follows him into the kitchen. “How cute do they look,” Natalie sighs happily, but David remains silent. “wait, are you okay?”

Resting her hand on David’s arm, Natalie can see a look of sadness in his gaze.

“Yeah,” Snapping out of his thoughts, David forces a smile. “I just, I didn’t think about it until now really,” David mumbles as Natalie quirks a brow. “how, how good they look together that is.” David adds. “And I think I’m being selfish, trying to take that away from him.” David adds. “And I think I’m being selfish, trying to take that away from him.”

“There’s someone out there for you, Dave.” Natalie quietly states. “But I’m proud of you for admitting that, they just have to tell each other now.” Natalie huffs, knowing it’ll be a while before she hears either of you admit how you feel.

“Wanna make a bet?” David smirks and Natalie rolls her eyes. “$100 says Y/n will admit before the end of the week.”

Natalie scoffs before holding her hand out as David shakes it. “We’ll see about that.”

* It was almost the end of the week, and neither you nor Ilya had mentioned what happened the other night.

Sitting in the garden, you were busy reading through a contract that you were emailed by your manager when Ilya wandered out.

“Oh, hey Y/n.” Ilya waves, but you remain quiet for a moment until you look over your contract, seeing the blonde standing before you.

Fumbling with the contract, you rest it by your side and sit upright. “Ilya, hey, sorry I was lost in my own thoughts there.” You admit, tucking your hair behind your ears as you smile up to him.

“That’s alright,” Ilya mutters as he sits down beside you. “I haven’t seen you much this week, guess you’ve been occupied with the sponsorship you’ve been working on?”

You nod in response. “Yeah, I mean I love it and I’m so grateful, but it’s kept me busy and as a result unable to spend time with you.” You pause, realising what you just said aloud. “And everyone that is.” You add, a nervous chortle leaving your lips whilst Ilya is unable to process what you just admitted.

“They’re hopeless.” David sighs as he leans back in from spying on you both. “I didn’t think it would be this difficult.”

Natalie tuts. “It’s Y/n and Ilya, what did you expect? They’re so alike it hurts.” She remarks. “Just give them time, and then I’ll be $100 richer.” Natalie says smugly before turning on her heels, heading back to her room.

“I’m sorry,” You eventually break the silence, turning to face Ilya as your knee brushes against his. “I, I’m not really good at talking about feelings and shit, but I think, no I know I have to say this.”

“Okay, I mean, only if you want to.” Ilya comments, reaching out as he rests his hand on your knee, causing goosebumps to erupt across your skin.

“I like you, Ilya.” You admit, focusing on his eyes as they widen, and then a small laugh leaves his lips, causing your heart to simultaneously break.

“Wait, no I didn’t mean it like that!” He quickly reassures you. “I just, are you sure?”

Slightly stunned, you nod slowly. “Yeah, but if you don’t feel the same that’s totally fine!” You tell him, but Ilya shakes his head, his hand tightening on your knee for a moment.

“No I, I do. I’m just, just surprised.” He half laughs. “I always thought you liked David.” He admits and listens as you laugh lightly.

“Wait seriously?” You ask, slightly dumbfounded as Ilya nods.

“I just thought, I mean, why wouldn’t you?” Ilya questions, looking up to you as your eyes remain locked on his and a smile crosses your lips.

“Ilya, I like you, it’s always been you, you dummy.” You chuckle, shuffling closer as your hand rests on his. “That okay?” You mutter as his face edges towards yours.

His lips brush against yours as he breathes out a yes before kissing you softly.

“And with that, you owe me $100.” David laughs to Natalie who groans before taking out the cash and passing it to David.

“I hope you’re happy.” Natalie comments, looking back at you and Ilya in each other’s embrace.

“Couldn’t be happier.” David mutters as he counts out his cash, glad to have won the bet and have his best friend get the girl.

#oh the fluff #ilya fedorovich #ilya fedorovich imagine #ilya fedorovich imagines #ilya fedorovich fluff #ilya fedorovich angst #ilya fedorovich x reader #ilya fedorovich oneshot #ilya feddy imagine #ilya feddy imagines #ilya feddy oneshot #ilya feddy writing #ilya feddy fluff #ilya feddy angst #ilya feddy #vlog squad #vlog squad imagines #vlog squad imagine #vlog squad fluff #vlog squad angst #vlog squad oneshot #vlog squad x reader #vlog squad writing #vlogsquad imagine #vlogsquad #vlogsquad imagines #vlogsquad x reader #vlogsquad fluff #vlogsquad angst #vlogsquad writing

[jjaeong]

The Heiress, & The Twelve. Act I.

Episode I: For I Am, Who I Think I Am Not.

Series: KPOP Girl Group: 이달의 소녀 (LOONA).

Pairing: OT12 & Mafia Heiress Female Reader.

Summary: Twelve girls are bound by a string of fate, with the priority of keeping a completely clueless girl alive who was unaware of the responsibility that would soon fall upon her shoulders. In which Y/L/N Y/N was the Heiress to a first ranking Mafia Family, and had to live in complete secrecy until the day of her return.

Heels clicked against the marbled tiles, a short haired woman adorned a simple white blouse with a plain black tie and a shining green gemstone pin, fitted dress pants, and a matching pair of boots made her way through the silence of the halls. Soon reaching the large mahogany doors that almost reached the ceiling, the woman didn't hesitate to push the doors open and pause in the middle of the spacious room. She bowed before announcing her arrival to the gray haired man that stood by the tall windows, back facing her as his eyes scanned the garden beyond the glass of his quarters.

"I've arrived, boss." the man inhaled deeply, raising a hand to signal the woman to be at ease and so she straightened back to her height, side-eyeing the machinery that surrounded the king sized bed, and dressers that were once filled with family portraits—now occupied by numerous paraphernalia for various medication. The sharp-eyed woman clenched her jaw, studying the man who kept his back turned to her yet she could almost hear his contemplation out loud.

It's gotten worse.

"Do you need me to call for the doctor, sir? I can ask Vivi to take charge until I've finished the task."

"No, I specifically called you for a reason, Haseul." the man turned his head slightly, just enough to make sure that he could see the young woman through his peripheral vision who was patiently awaiting for orders. His heart clenched as only for a moment, the sight of her reminded him of a younger version of herself, one that he had once found in the streets doing errands for another Family to make sure that she comes home with enough coins to feed a child that could barely even formulate a word—stating that she had found the child the abandoned, wandering the streets alone—to which the young girl then decided to claim as her own sister.

The old man then asked if they wanted to work for him instead, and with Haseul's dim eyes shining brightly at the offer—a wary expression quickly cast on her small, rugged features, stating that they'll be chased by those whom gave her orders. Soon enough, the old man took care of it himself, and the two scrawny children that sat in the dining hall with the boss were shoving their meals down their throats as if their lives depended on it—but the old man didn't mind, lips pulled up into a small smile as he sipped on his wine.

"How is your sister? She's doing well, I hope." Haseul's eyes stayed glued on the back of the boss' head, feeling slightly distressed at how it seemed as if the usual dismissive and busy man had time to even ask for such easily answered questions.

"She is, sir. She's attending classes at this very moment."

"I've been reminiscing the times where she'd barge in the meeting room with the loudest greeting.." the man chuckled to himself, sighing without noticing the pained expression that had now set on Haseul's face as she swallowed thickly.

"She's living well with the other five, but I'll make sure to ask her to drop by sometime.."

"And.. Yves?" Haseul's eyes snapped back to the boss, watching as he finally turned to face her with a distant look in his eyes.

"Sir—"

"I need to know if she's taking care of her." as he moved to take a seat, the old man slightly staggered—making Haseul reflexively take a step towards him but he quickly placed a hand on his desk, regaining his balance with a frustrated look on his face.

"Is she being taken care of?" Haseul could only nod in reply when he looked back at her, she could see the internal struggle that had been building up in his aged features as he slowly lowered himself on his chair. Inhaling deeply as he finally sat in peace, leaned back, staring across the room blankly.

"It won't be long until she comes home," the old man's eyes set on a picture frame that stood tall on his desk where the image of the familiar face of his eldest son, his wife and a baby girl smiling happily back at him, "will I ever be able to meet her? My own granddaughter.."

"Is that why you called for me?" Haseul dared to ask just when the boss started to look solemn, but though the boss was as strict as any boss can be—he was never unkind to those of which he raised as his own.

He did however, looked at Haseul displeasingly as if he's wasn't dying and this was just another day where the old man slightly questions if the girl really did grow up under his supervision.

"No, I have an order only I can give you—and I alone." and so the old man started speaking, pulling out a document from a drawer under his desk and laying it out on the surface for Haseul to read. As she read what had been written on the parchment, she felt her heart drop as she stared down at the contents—her own body practically refusing to listen her boss speak any further, vision blurring while the old man continued to tell her exactly what would be her final order from him. Haseul was numb the second she had left her boss' quarters, stiffly making her way down the hall with nothing but agony and dread washing over her as everything slowly sank in. If it wasn't for Vivi's arms that had quickly caught her once she'd rounded the corner, the short-haired woman would've broke down alone on the empty hall—but there they sat on the ground, Haseul's heartbreaking sobs echoing through the silence, Vivi's hushed whispers and protective arms wrapped around the girl, Haseul could almost feel the emptiness that was once her reality and had been completed because of the boss' compassion return.

"How long do we have until we come for her?" her eyes continued to stare down blankly at the name engraved on the tombstone, tearing her eyes away from the marble to look at the taller, dark haired woman with distinct sharp features—particularly, the slope of her jawline—that stood behind her. With her arms crossed and craned neck as she eyed Haseul with a focused gaze, the leader could only glance at the tombstone before taking a deep breath and tiredly walking past her to start leading them towards the cars.

"A year."

"A year!? What—she'll be our boss when she's barely through her junior year? What's the difference with just going right now!?" Haseul pinched the bridge of her nose as the other woman leaned over to express her dismay, making her stop on her tracks to look at the taller girl pleadingly.

"It's in the paper, Jinsol. You've all read it, please don't make me repeat the order that I've been assigned to do—if you want to press on this further, take it up with Kahei, please." Jinsol eyed the drained girl infront of her, shaking her head before reaching over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder in attempt to console the older girl.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh it's just.. We're defenseless, it doesn't sit right—not having a real boss," Haseul nodded solemnly, failing to meet Jinsol's worried gaze, "it's not fair that he left you with it, even if everyone would catch a bullet for you if you commanded it. Haseul, it's.. Just not right." Jinsol tried her best to empathize with the girl, though lacking the ability of wording it out. However, Haseul felt the sincerity in her tone and just gave her a small smile in reply—already mentally preparing herself for a year of temporary boss until they're finally ready to get you.

"Everything will go as smoothly as it always has, Jinsol. We'll have our boss back before we know it."

"Yo!" you squinted your eyes at the sudden figure blocking you from the view of the sun, the familiar wide smile and crinkled eyes directed at you as she beamed—dare you'd say that though she was blocking the sun from behind her, it was as if she shined even brighter than the source itself.

"Yo.." she let out a hitch-pitched excited squeal before occupying the space next to you on the bleachers, popping open her water bottle as her eyes aimlessly scanned the open field, lingering on the blonde that ran at ease—leading everyone else behind her.

"What 'cha doing?" the girl next to you asked with a melody, leaning over to invade your personal space even further—her nose practically pressing up against your left cheek while you watched the students at the field. Maybe if you were still a freshmen and the older girl smothered you with affection like this as she usually did, you would've been all flustered and stumbling with your words. But it's been years since the school's precious Student Council Vice President—the "Sunshine Goddess" as they've repeatedly called her since she transferred—and "Just-who-even-is-that-girl?" Y/N's dating rumors had died down, the infatuation had subsided and now you were left with the most lovable and affectionate puppy that never missed a day on telling you that she loved you.

Oh what people would give to have Student Council Vice President Kim Jiwoo's love and affection.

"Skipping class." you answered monotonously, hearing a loud gasp coming from Jiwoo who quickly clasped her water bottle shut, rising from her spot to look down at you—completely horrified at your reply. She grabbed you by your hand that was subconsciously picking on the hem of your uniform's coat, making you look back up at her as the girl pouted at you.

"Yah! Ha Y/N, Take your classes more seriously! Do you have any idea what you could be missing in your class right now? What would you do if someone told you to solve calculus or you'll die!?"

"I'll ask if I can call a friend, and I'll see if my Jiwoo-unnie can solve it for me. If she can't—then I guess I'll just die. So much for having an Unnie that's a year level above mine.."

"Y/N!" Jiwoo really did look bothered by your joke, but she looked adorable even in her worried state which made you pull your hands up in surrender.

"I'm not skipping class, we have a substitute teacher for today and he asked us to finish the homework that was given yesterday—I already finished it so I asked if I could leave early and now I'm here."

"Hey! You two! What do you think you're doing up there!?" both your eyes snapped over to a flustered, slightly ragged breathing Kim Jungeun standing by the bottom of the steps, a hands on her hips with her sharp eyes squinted to look at you and Jiwoo through the sunlight. Jiwoo tugged on your hand that she'd been holding onto, shaking it as if to mimic a wave towards the Student Council President who only looked even more irritated than when she squinted her eyes at you two.

"Jungie! Y/N left class early to watch us do PE!"

"And you actually believe her!?" Jungeun shouted from her spot, her volume loud enough for a few of their classmates who were doing laps to glance at the three of you nosily. One student who glanced at you briefly made eye contact with Jiwoo, and you swear the girl was smiling the last time you saw her—but the paling of the students face made you think otherwise. Though when you looked back at Jiwoo, she was smiling warmly at you.

"I said I was sorry, Jungeun-unnie! Will you ever let that go?" you asked the older girl by the bottom of the steps, but she only raised a brow at you before shooting you a disapproving look and letting out a 'tsk', pointing at Jiwoo.

"Enabler! Back in the field, now!"

"But the teacher's not even back yet!"

"If she says twenty laps, then it's twenty! You've only done ten! Maybe if you even tried to stop yourself from being too excited talk to Y/N—you would've already doubled that!" Jungeun pointed at the field behind her, making Jiwoo groan and start mumbling under her breath as she glanced at you before making her way down the bleachers. The blonde president raised her chin as Jiwoo lowered her eyes right back at her, handing her the water bottle before reaching the field and breaking into a full sprint. You watched in awe how she had already reached a few remaining students across the field whom were all tired out of their minds, Jiwoo zoomed past them—eyes practically overflowing with irate.

"You should head home early, I heard it's going to rain heavily today." Jungeun said as she settled on Jiwoo's previous spot next to you, the girl scanning the side of your face—your eyes following Jiwoo around the field. You turned to look at Jungeun just as she popped the bottle open, taking a few mouthfuls of water before screwing it shut to place on the space between the two of you.

"I'm pretty sure that wherever you got that forecast from—is inaccurate," Jungeun reached behind her to pull the band off her ponytail, letting her blonde locks fall loosely on her shoulders as she looked at you with intrigue, "The skies answer to one person, and one person only. And that person's name is Ha Sooyoung."

"Ha Sooyoung? Sooyoung-unnie? Your older sister?" you almost felt offended when Jungeun cackled at the mention of your older sister, until you remembered that the year your sister was just about to graduate—she apparently got close enough with Jungeun and Jiwoo through her final stretch as Student Council President at the time, enough for her to ask the two girls to watch over you as she always had until you could only see each other at home with the older girl being in college.

"She never fails at that, always giving me an umbrella when it actually rains. Ever since we were kids! But today, she didn't give me an umbrella so.. Your forecast is wrong, Unnie."

"That Unnie.. Teaching you all the wrong things in life.." you snorted at the the teasing tone before looking up at the clear blue sky, to which Jungeun did the same.

"But maybe I should, actually. Sooyoung-unnie took a day off from her internship for some reason, maybe we could grab a bite to eat or spend some time together." Jungeun leaned over to bump her shoulder against yours, grinning at you when you gave her a look.

"You're going to be like this with us when we graduate too, aren't you Y/N? You're going to miss our affection~"

"What is this? Unnie! Please not you too!"

"Hey! How dare you two be cute without me!? I'm not taking no for an answer when I come over there and kiss you both!" Jiwoo, who had finally finished running her laps hurriedly ran up the bleachers at the sight of Jungeun's arms wrapped around you as she attempted to land a kiss your cheek. The three of you ended up tangled on the ground, laughing loudly just as the school bell in the background, signalling the dismissal of all classes. Jiwoo and Jungeun headed to the showers as you waited patiently by the entrance of the field, you fiddled with the strap of your backpack that hung on one of your shoulders, eyes stuck on the view of students rustling through the parking lot, watching a few cars start pulling out of the driveway and conversations pass by.

There was one group however, four girls—one of them with striking mint colored hair whom you swore was from the same year level as you, but in another class—stood in the middle of the busy lot, the shortest of the four whom you'd assume was a freshmen, oddly hanging out with a junior and two sophomores, seemed to be in a serious conversation with them. The dark haired girl with the fiercest eyes you've probably laid eyes on in your entire life furrowed her brows at the girl as the mint-haired girl looked just about ready to walk out of the conversation—but the one girl with wavy brown hair seemed to be trying to ease the tension by slowly repeating the same words that the shorter girl had, a wary smile set on her lips as her eyes moved from one girl to another.

And then her eyes landed on you.

You quickly tore your eyes away from the four, acting as if you haven't been watching them the entire time their conversation was slowly getting heated. Just as you were about ready to turn and just wait in front of the shower room, you felt a quick tug on your arm—finding the familiar blinding smile of Jiwoo directed at you as she wrapped her arms around one of your own. But when her eyes seemed to have followed where Jungeun seemed to have went, her smile slowly fell into a thin line which made you look over to Jungeun too, staring at her back as she conversed with the four girls from earlier that you had been caught looking at.

"It's finally time, huh?" Jiwoo mumbled to herself, not noticing that though she practically whispered it—you heard her loud and clear. Whatever it was that Jiwoo was talking about, your inner voice clashed against the feeling in your gut that does not want to know what the older girl meant. Your eyes scanned the four girls that crowded around Jungeun—who's composure looked as collected as ever—when your eyes caught the mint-haired girl's oddly concerned ones and the fury that seemed to radiate from the short-haired girl..

What was going on?

"Who are they?" you asked, the question coming out as a whisper which didn't easily slide by Jiwoo, who's grip slightly loosen around your arm—yet you felt the older girl rest a cheek on your shoulder, squishing them lightly as she eyed the five.

"Good kids, you'll know soon." the way Jiwoo suddenly switched moods made you turn to look at her, the girl just looked up at you from her position just when Jungeun made her way back to you. You and Jiwoo barely even got a reaction from the blonde when she started to head over to her red Tesla on the reserved parking space which was a perk when you were a Student Council President—Jiwoo's parking space as the Student Council Vice President next to hers remained just as empty as the first year she'd been appointed in the position.

Jungeun basically drove for the both of them anyways, and when you suggested to Jiwoo to just rent her spot to profit off of it she refused—stating that she already had someone in mind that could occupy the space. You thought she meant that person to be you, but when you teaser her about it—she had quickly declared that you were never getting a driver's license.

"You'll always have us to drive you around."

It was cute how she said 'us' as if she had a license herself, so you let it slide.

"What did those kids want with you?" Jungeun brought the car to life, glancing at you from the rearview mirror just as you locked your seatbelt on. She quickly followed suit, looking over to Jiwoo who seemed to still struggle with hers no matter how many times a day she had to put it on—but Jungeun wordlessly leaned over to do it herself like always, and gone were Jiwoo's knitted brows of concentration to be replaced by a big beaming smile, ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime.

"We're crashing at yours tonight." you raised a brow at Jungeun's dismissive tone, opening your mouth to ask her what she even meant but Jiwoo turned the music on to squeal loudly when “Colors” by some girl group named “Girl of the Month” boomed through the speakers. The whole ride to your house was just spent with Jiwoo belting out whatever played on the radio, and the combined silence between you and Jungeun—but hers was different, you knew that deep, contemplative look on Jungeun's face only appears every once in a while when you were all hanging out. Usually, the girl wouldn't dare mix her school life with the fun energy she had always seemed to be in whenever it was you three but..

This one felt different.

Even the way Jiwoo suddenly stopped singing when she realized how close you were to the view of your home—hell, even Jiwoo started to fidget on her seat.

"Do you think she remembers me?" Jiwoo looked down at her peach colored backpack in between her matching peach colored chucks, wiggling her feet in a jittery manner until she felt a hand rest on her knee. Jungeun shot her a knowing look, making sure Jiwoo saw her before she faced the road again, nodding firmly.

"I'm sure she does, but that's the last thing on everyone's minds right now."

"Right, yeah—of course! How weird of me." Jiwoo breathed out an awkward laugh before clearing her throat, glancing at your odd look directed towards her before she looked back intently at Jungeun. Jungeun side-eyed the girl, quickly getting flustered by how serious Jiwoo looked.

"I swear to whoever is up there that created this world, if she doesn't get down on one knee with a ring in her hand the moment we step foot in that house when you lock eyes—she's on my hit list."

"Kim Jiwoo! What are you even—"

"She's pretty, you're pretty. She's totally in love with you, you are in love with her even if you act like you're not but it's just because you're a Tsundere and we all love you for that—but I swear, Kim Jungeun I will combust—"

"Who's cars are parked outside my house?" your eyes almost popped out of their sockets at the sight of three expensive looking cars that was parked perfectly aligned just outside your garage. The second Jungeun pulls the car to a halt, you scrambled on your seat to unclasp your seat belt before grabbing your bag and pushing the door open. You could hear Jungeun calling for you in the background as you rushed to get inside your house—but not before eyeing the blue, yellow, and green cars that continued to intimidate you—you needed make sure that Sooyoung was okay. You pushed the front door open, racing over to the staircase and completely managing to miss a tall, dark haired woman by the entrance of the living room who lightly tapped on the fish tank—giggling to herself until she heard your heavy footsteps after the front door were rashly pushed open.

You were just about to walk past your room and barge into Sooyoung's when you collided against a figure that emerged from the open door of your own room, making you fall back on the ground with a thud as you stared at what seemed to be a pair of jean-clad knees. A large, yet soft looking hand was quickly outstretched in front of you, the impact had apparently managed to rattle you into silence helped you in taking the strangers hand with no hesitation for them to pull you up from the ground—eyes finally locking into yours.

"Y/N." was the only word she muttered, blinking at you as if she was nothing but a mere husk of the human she was supposed to be. The girl looked just about your age but you couldn't deny that she was way beyond just a simple girl, though the she looked almost robotic—it didn't stop her from scanning your face before eyeing you from head to toe in your shocked state, her mouth formed into an 'o' shape.

Her eyes were very pretty.

"You're very much prettier than the images Jiwoo-unnie sends us." and with that, the girl with the cat-like eyes' gaze softened as her lips pulled into a full smile. You didn't exactly know how to react at her statement, or even at the softest smile you've ever seen in your life—what is this girl even doing here?

And she just mentioned Jiwoo-unnie—what does she have to do with this?

"Kim Hyunjin! Jiwoo-unnie said the boss is—" a lower toned voice called from behind you, only to stop dead on her tracks with her eyes widened in shock.

"Here." the girl named Kim Hyunjin finished, peeking from behind you to grin at the light haired girl. You were almost certain that you had lost all your sense of comprehension, it was as if suddenly these strangers that stood in your halls that drove the expensive looking cars parked outside—looking exactly like those models in magazine covers that a child would want to grow up as, while those of the same age could only feel their innermost insecurities come crashing down on them at the sight—had completely shattered the peace that had once been in your home.

But if these were even Sooyoung's friends—would you even be shocked at the thought of a pretty girl being friends with other pretty girls?

"B-boss." the girl whom you've finally came to the conclusion that had distinctive European features bowed in greeting, you merely blinked at the sudden title that the girl had given you as an airy laugh was released behind you. Hyunjin's laugh then died down, with the girl that stayed in her position in front of you peeking as if awaiting for a signal of some sort.

"I.. No?"

"..No?" she asked in confusion at your attempt in trying to grasp the situation, her light brown hair swayed as she tilted her head at your words—to which you could only flush at before Hyunjin moved past you, grabbing her friend's shoulders with a teasing smile on her lips as she pulled her back to her height.

"She doesn't know yet," Hyunjin told the girl, an embarrassed look settling on her soft features to which she quickly waved her hands around as if to dismiss whatever that encounter was. Hyunjin giggled to then pat the girl's head, looking back at you with a knowing look on her face, "this is Jeon Heejin, my friend—my soul friend! She looks like a puppy doesn't she? I had the same thought the first time i met her—"

"Stop that!" the duo easily slipped into lighthearted bickering, to which you just stood there, watching as bewildered as ever with Hyunjin shaking her head and Heejin's small fists clenched—attempting to look even the slightest bit intimidating—only to look like an adorable child throwing a tantrum. The two quickly wrapped it up when you heard Sooyoung call you from downstairs, which then reminded you of why you rushed into the house in the first place so you slid past the two—making your way back down on the first floor with the duo following behind you, their bickering continues but now hushed as you almost had a heart attack when rounding the corner to find a tall, dark haired woman whom you'd assume was just about as old as Sooyoung, standing by the entrance of the living room.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" the woman merely spared you a glance, looking over to the two whom both nodded in confirmation. The woman looked back at you, almost in pity before she turned to enter the living room herself, not even saying a word to you.

But really, why are these girls in your house resembling every single campus crushes that every student had once seemed to fall for during their academic years?

"Unnie.. What the hell is going on?" you asked just as Sooyoung finally came into view, standing at the other end of the livingroom by one of the tall windows that she always made a point to keep the blinds drawn—but this time, she had them all shut, peeking through them as if to check the surroundings before locking eyes with you, sharp gaze quickly turning soft and her lips easing into what resembled a frown.

"Y/N—"

"Ha Y/N, please, have a seat." a woman your eyes barely passed by once you entered the room had called for your attention, she sat by one of the singular couches that had were supposed to face the television but instead, were all positioned as if in some kind of meeting room. It looked almost exactly like the position was in one of those films where there was a person of strength sitting on one end of the room, a few unoccupied chairs aligned by both sides to reach a specific chair that was meant to be for the person being questioned.

Your eyes watched Sooyoung take the seat between the sharp-eyed woman whom had a pondering look casted on her features as she started at you and the dark haired girl with the sharp jawline who now looked blank, making you break eye contact with the woman at the end of the room to acknowledge the orange-haired other woman that sat by her other side, looking almost serene as she sipped on her tea.

"Where are Kim Lip and Chuu?"

"Waiting for Gowon's team to arrive." the dark haired girl answered the now humming short-haired girl's question, watching as Hyunjin took the seat by your right, followed by Heejin sitting next to the dark haired girl on your left—eyeing everyone in the room before flashing you a small smile.

"Y/N?" the woman called for you attention yet again, an almost hesitant smile on her lips as she motioned for you to the seat in front of you, a few feet away from entirely facing her.

"Please." you swallowed sharply before settling down on the spot she hand kept insisting for you to occupy. Just before she could begin, approaching footsteps made you look up from the faces that were already present in the room, to feel the blood drain from your head down to your toes at the familiar sight of Kim Jungeun—now seated between Hyunjin and the orange-haired woman, adorning a luxurious looking velvet black suit with a blinding red pin contrasting her black tie. The pin had been intricately designed with nothing but red gemstones and a crescent-like symbol in on it's top with a golden silhouette of what resembled an owl in the middle of it.

"..Jungeun?" your friend turned to look up at you, a hint of apology in her eyes before she looked across from her to find the once blank looking member of the group—the woman with the sharp jawline—staring softly at Jungeun before she turned to look back at what you finally decided to point as..

Their Leader.

"Let's begin."

Hello~

I've decided to start my initial plan for this account on this fic. This was a series that had come to mind when I watched a rerun of Hitman Reborn and thought that yeah, mafia au's are pretty chill but the most I've read for the ones with this group was.. Are there even any? If so, I'd love to read them.

But initially, this had always been a reader included idea—almost shifted into a 2jin one (would probably write about as well when I can) but that would be a different universe compared to this one. And that plot would be fixed along with a handful of different groups but as I've said—I hope I can write it when I can.

This is only act one, probably.. made up of three acts? Twelve episodes each? When I finish the series, I'd probably make one shots of this universe—so many plans with such a short amount of time~

The plot would progress as it goes, minor ideas would make its way into major plots—nothing is of certain, who you would end up with is indefinite, the lore will be laid.. But the uncertainty that comes with this, when it will actually finish or just disappear into the drafts after five episodes or so..

I cannot guarantee even my own attachment to the plot, but it played well in my mind when I thought about it and so here I am. Though Congratulations on stumbling upon this fic, and I apologize if you ever become as immersed as I am with this.

Laters,

JJ.

> ovc: MUPLY (191108)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-42rI4-gkA

#loona #loona imagines #kpop #kpop imagines #heejin #hyunjin #haseul #yeojin #vivi #kim lip #jinsoul #choerry #yves #chuu #gowon #olivia hye #y/n #loona x reader #loona 1/3 #loona odd eye circle #loona yyxy #alternate universe #long reads #series

[justallamaimaginingthings]

Angel {Klaus Hargreeves x Reader}

A/n: I SWEAR this started with the pure intention of fluffiness. My hand slipped, I guess *wink*. Btw, even though this is the original version, I’d be more than happy to change it up a little so it can become gender neutral or about a male reader if anyone’s interested, so don’t hesitate to message me about it. Enjoy 💘💘

Warnings: Slight smut 

Words: 1990ish  II  TUA Masterlist

Walking down the street, Y/n couldn’t help leaning closer to Klaus so that their shoulders were touching as he placed and arm around her waist, enjoying the feeling of finally having her by his side. After a whole year without any sign of her or anyone else, he had almost given up all hope of ever seeing her again, unaware that for the first time life was on his side. And here they were, walking together back to the place Klaus had come to call home.

"So is your cult going to be there?" She asked teasingly making him roll his eyes at her.

"For the last time, it's not that much of a cult really, more of a spiritual community" He defended himself but still he was unable to hold back a chuckle upon seeing the incredulous look she was giving him.

"Allison said it's a cult and I believe her" She insisted

"You'd take Allison's word over mine? I'm hurt, love" He replied, making an exaggerated motion of placing a hand over his heart like he was in physical pain. If there was one word she could use to describe Klaus that was extra. However, she had come to love his quirky, overly dramatic reactions just as much as she loved him and she simply adored teasing him. No matter how much he pretended to be annoyed, Klaus wouldn’t change their little fake fights for the world. Every time he made her laugh he could feel his chest swelling with pride and her smile was all the reward he needed, making his heart skip a bit and his heart flood with affection.

To say she had missed her would be an understatement. There hadn’t been a single day during the last three years that he hadn’t thought about her. Mornings were the worst and everyday he'd find himself instinctively reach for her across the bed only to be met by empty sheets as the weight on his chest returned to crush him. Sometimes he would dream of her, dream of holding her and kissing her senseless or making love to her until dawn before they fell asleep in each other's arms. Those mornings it became even more difficult for him to carry on, sobriety only adding to his struggles, but somehow he managed to pull through and it was worth it.

"What if I find a way to make it up to you later?" She asked in a suggestive tone as she turned around so that she stood right in front of him, right before lacing her hands around his shoulders. Her fingers found his curly locks and gently brushed through them, eliciting a satisfied hum from his lips. He wrapped both arms around her waist, pulling her closer as his grip on her tightened, the thought about what was to follow already having an effect on him.

"I'm really offended, I doubt there's any way to get passed that" He played along but the breathlessness of his tone gave him away. She smirked at him right before checking around for other passengers, but luckily the small street was completely empty and the last rays of sunshine left little to no light to reach the alley. She took a step forward causing him to move backwards until he was leaning against the wall and pulling her with him.

The moment her lips made contact with his jaw, he knew he was done for. She started leaving soft kisses that turned more intense as she made her way down the column of his neck, gently nipping and sucking on the sensitive skin. Klaus tried -and failed- to hold back a moan when she gently bit down on his collarbone and she smirked, loving the way his body seemed to respond even to the lightest touch. Leaning back to look at him, her breath caught in her throat. He looked positively wrecked, face flushed, pupils dilated and lips parted in desire.

"I'll think of something" She whispered and he could feel her lips brush against his, sending a shiver down his spine. The loose shirt he was wearing allowed her fingers to roam around his chest while his hands moved from her waist to the small of her back and ended up gripping her hips so tightly it would leave a bruise. He leaned in for another kiss, channeling all his feelings into it and it was her turn to sigh when he licked her bottom lip as if asking for permission which she happily granted. He tangled his hand in her hair as their tongues fought for dominance. Slowly, her hand made its way down to the front of his pants, palming his straining erection.

"Love, if you keep this up we won’t make it back home" He whispered hoarsely wrapping his hand around her wrist. Truth was it would be far from the first time they'd get it on in a public space and both of them clearly enjoyed the thrill of perhaps getting caught, but that time was different. They had gotten back together two days ago, after spending three years apart. Klaus wanted to show her just how much he'd missed her during that time and a quickie in a dark alley was no way to do that, no matter how bad he wanted her. He didn’t have to say another word; she could tell what he was thinking from the look her was giving her.

Instead of replying, she placed a soft kiss on his lips before taking hold of his hand and lacing their fingers together. "Lead the way, then" She told him, an affectionate smile gracing her features and for yet another time Klaus wondered how he had gotten so lucky. He had to put on an effort not to get carried away once again, before he pushed himself off the wall and continued walking. They made their way towards the mansion, exchanging funny stories from the time they spent away from each other and laughing. By the time they reached their destination, the sun had set and night had fallen.

"Welcome home" Klaus declared as they turned down the last corner. Her eyes blew wide in surprise caused by the awe inspiring sight in front of her. The large garden was filled with all types of lanterns and lamps making it look almost magical, while a crowd of people, the cult's members she assumed, was marching around doing this and that. In the centre of the garden laid a huge white building accompanied by what appeared to be an equally huge pool.

"You live here?" She exclaimed turning to look at Klaus who couldn’t hide his amusement at her shocked reaction. "How??"

"Well, you know… Dicks, drugs, debutantes, my holy trinity" He replied casually making her laugh and playfully hit his arm.

"It’s beautiful" She noted in a more serious tone.

"Yeah" He agreed and if she wasn't so preoccupied by her surroundings, she would have noticed him staring at her with an expression of pure admiration. The way the light hit her face made her features pop out and he could easily lose himself in her sparkling eyes. He was about to say something when a group of his followers who were passing right in front of them suddenly stopped having seemingly frozen on their tracks. They looked at her with a shocked expression before falling on their knees and bowing down. It even took Klaus a moment to realize what was happening while the cult members spoke in one voice.

"But what is the use of trying when all you get is pain? When I wanted sunshine, I got rain and then I saw her face. Now I'm a believer without a trace of doubt in my mind" They chanted and she swore she had heard those words before. Realizing they were all looking at her in complete awe and a little bit of fear she turned to him for explanation.

"Klaus, I didn’t expect to say that in my life but why is your cult reciting Smash Mouth at me?" She asked with visible confusion.

"Yeah, well you see…" He tumbled over his words, avoiding looking at her as if he was embarrassed by what was going on "I may have told them you’re an angel send from heaven" He said in one breath, thankful for the fact that the poor lighting helped cover his blushing face.

"They think I'm a what now?" She repeated, thinking she must have heard something wrong, even though with Klaus nothing was too farfetched.

"An angel" He repeated quietly. She didn't have enough time to react to this revelation because a member of the group hesitantly spoke up.

"Prophet does the arrival of heaven's angel mean the apocalypse is prevented?" A bald man around his 30s asked in a small voice, afraid to interrupt the conversation of what he believed were two god blessed celestial beings.

"What?" Both Y/n and Klaus asked at the same time, almost having forgotten they were in the presence of others.

"Will we be brought eternal peace?"

"Is this the end of all wars?"

"Can you give us some advice from heavens?" 

Questions kept flowing and soon the voices all blended together in an incomprehensible noise. Klaus took her hand and started running towards his room in a futile attempt to escape the increasingly large crowd only for it to chase them down the garden. When they reached the door, he shot her a helpless look and she couldn’t help rolling her eyes at him and the mess he had created.

"I'm sure you all have many questions, but the Prophet needs to medicate before he can bring you the enlightenment you seek" She said in the best authoritative voice she could muster, surprised by the fact that by the time she was done talking the crowd had already started to disperse seemingly having listened to her.

Turning around, she followed Klaus into the room, closing the door behind her so that the two of them could actually get some much needed privacy. She was about to ask him how he managed to control all those people, but didn’t even have a chance to talk because by the moment the door was shut close he had pushed her against the wall and captured her lips in a sweet passionate kiss. His thumb softly caressed her cheekbone and she melted under his touch. The way his lips moved against hers, drinking her in as if she's air and he's drowning, was enough to drive her crazy and a whine of complaint escaped her when he pulled away much too soon for her liking.

"Now, now love, I believe some making up was promised" He said in a husky tone that made her heart skip a bit. There were no words to describe how much he had missed her or how deep his affections ran but frankly he didn’t have to talk. He could just show her and show her he did. The two lovers spent the rest of the night under the sheets, making up for the lost time while the room filled with the sound of moans and muffled whispers. The morning found them curled up in each other's arms, exchanging loving words and soft caresses and for the first time in a long while everything was okay.

#tua #tua klaus #tua x reader #tua x you #tua imagine #the umbrella academy #the umbrella academy imagine #the umbrella academy x reader #klaus hargreeves #klaus hargreeves x reader #klaus hargreeves x you #klaus hargreeves imagine

[sweetestlamb]

The Greatest Show

Summary: Come on, get into it. 

Author's note: I haven’t been inspired to write for this fandom in a while because honestly the writers are doing amazing, everything I think of is pure filth because I am eagerly awaiting their next kiss. But episode 17 broke my brain with their squash the rumor scene, the growling and grunting that So-Bong was so unaffected by. These two need a tent, desperately. Enjoy my royal pervs, here is my offering. 

p.s. picture borrowed from @tomorrowsdrama- thank you for the screenshots of this amazing moment! 

He's doing what he must to survive, that's all. End of sentence. He takes no pleasure in slamming the King into the closest surface and rubbing their body against him like a cat in heat, not in the slightest. Rumors are weeds, you have to rip them out for flowers and crops to flourish. That's all they're doing, weeding the garden of Joseon so it can flourish for their future child. 

That's what he tells himself as they cross paths in the royal hall, the King is flagged by the entire royal court animatedly discussing something of seemingly vast importance if their volume suggests anything. As he takes a step forward, Court Lady Choi seizes their hand halting them in place.

"Your highness you just not approach the King when he is with the Royal court. It is not proper. We just simply bow as they walk by."

But he doesn't care about propriety or appearing decent and well-behaved in front of these corrupt old bags, they are simply larger weeds that need to be disposed of. Smirking at their potential outrage, he grins evilly letting that fuel him even more before pulling up their dress to run over to their Cheoljongie. He looks bored out of his mind so it can also be considered a good deed, he's such a giving wife.

"My King!" Her voice rings out as he calls to his husband, who immediately looks over at them warmth filling those expressive eyes. Without hesitation the King bounds over to them happily, his movement only slightly faster than his usual glide ever the diligent King.

"My Queen, I have missed you."

The members of the backstabbing clan look disgruntled at the King's sudden departure, grumbling and pointing at them as if they have committed the highest crime.

If they think this is inappropriate then they're in for a huge surprise.

Looking down demurely, he thinks of his younger days when he was a junior understudy for the school play his acting prowess would come in handy now.

"Not as much as I have missed you, my love." He whispers the word of affection, reaching up to caress the King's cheeks softly making sure to appear infatuated. He has to force that after all because he doesn't do that naturally, despite what the royal maids claim. They are just confused, So-yong has a soft face that appears adoring at time despite his true emotions. 

With a soft whimper he throws himself into the King's arm, feeling those strong arms encircle her small waist, lightning zips through their veins but he ignores her bodily reaction.

We're just acting, take the memo! He internally berates the other inhabitant of this hormonally charged body.

But when Cheoljong strokes their neck and easily lifts them off their feet, he gasps loudly clinging to him harder for balance and because her knees suddenly feel weak.

"Your majesty, we do not have time for such....improper dalliance. You must not do this in such a public venue." One of the old farts stage whispers sounding positively scandalized and it revs him up even further. As he feels the King starting to retreat he jumps forward, wrapping their body around the King's like a limpet.

Cheoljong's eyes sparks to life the new position placing them eye to eye, panting softly onto each other. The air between them is charged and thick like a bowl of porridge. 

"Your highness, I agree you mustn't do this." Court lady Choi pleads with her, averting her eyes away from the tangled couple. 

He looks over Cheoljong's wide shoulders to see the Royal court affronted and wide eyed and Court Lady Choi with a similar expression, Hong Yeon is trying desperately to smother her smile as she averts her eyes. Sending her a secret wink, he pulls the King's head forward staring hungrily at his lips.

"I cannot resist, seeing him awakens such deep passion inside of me. Just one?"

He looks at her dazed, as if he's forgotten everyone surrounding them.

"Just...one?" He questions, confusion morphing into sudden realization as he watches them slide their tongue across plush lips.

"Oh."

Ignoring the cacophony of voices around them, he closes the miniscule space between them puckering up and kissing the soft skin of the King's cheek. Cheoljong tries blindly to catch her lips when they retract but he places a slim finger on his pursed lips.

Shaking their head lightly, he starts to slide down the King's hard body feeling the tight muscles even through the layers of fabric.

"We must save the rest for later, my heart. Come and visit us soon." He rubs at his stomach fondly, staring up into Cheoljong’s red face, he looks good enough to eat.

Wait what. Who thought that? No, it's the baby talking I'm just hungry, that's enough of a show.

Bowing deeply at the men, he steps around the King who is still frozen in his spot. Gathering himself he turns to the royal court with an innocent smile, "I apologize, I could not control myself. I will take a long walk to reflect on my behavior."

They collectively stare at her with gaped mouths as she walks off regally, shoulders straight as if nothing happened. After a few steps he turns around, calling over their shoulder, "Don't keep me waiting!" And then to add the proverbial cherry on top, he curls their finger before letting out a roar to which everyone jumps looking bewildered, except the King whose eyes could pierce a hole through their face.

He looks like a starved man. Maybe they should make him some more ramyeon?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To say he's flustered is a bit of an understatement considered the problem in his pants. Logically he understands the Queen's actions earlier, she'd merely been doing what they had both agreed to feigning affection to dissolve those erroneous rumors that were circulating the kingdom. But he would be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying this immensely.

His Queen was an enigma he had even up on fully understanding, instead choosing to accept her and all that came with her. And her feelings for him were part of his confusion, she seemed to fluctuate between her emotions without rhyme or reason. He never knew which version of her he would be receiving at any given moment. So having her acting the way he'd only imagined in his dreams was both satisfying and unsettling.

It would be most difficult to go back to their normal, he wanted her in his arms always. Desperately yearned for intimacy that didn't dissipate when the sun peeked over the horizon.

Pushing his work to the side of the table he sighs leaning back into his seat thinking about his Queen.

"Why must she be so confusing?" He groans to myself thinking about their first night together, how passionate she'd been his ears burn remembering the sharp pain of her teeth sinking it. He had bite marks in... interesting places from that heated encounter but her behavior after had been consistent only in it's in inconsistency.

Running away from him, even going as far as hiding. Then just as suddenly she stopped avoiding him and they settled into comfortable nights together. However, they hadn't been intimate since despite his many efforts, he just wanted a kiss those plush pink lips were so tempting and today they'd been so very close. He needed that kiss like he needed air, he didn't care who was around. If she had kissed him he wouldn't have controlled himself, he would have hungrily devoured.

"Your majesty it is getting late, we must leave now if you wish to see the Queen." The head eunuch interrupts his inklings, bowing low in respect.

Is he ready for this? His control feels paper thin at the moment. But he did promise and they have an image to uphold.

Gathering his strength he rises, "Alright, let us take over leave. I shouldn't keep my Queen waiting."

The walk to Daejeon Hall is short but it feels like he's traversing miles, despite his previous concerns he is now eager to see the Queen. Her face is gorgeous at all hours but there's something about her face lit with candlelight, knowing he's the only one who is allowed to see her at such hours.

Accelerating his feet, he almost races to her ignoring cries from the head eunuch in the distance. Every second not spent in her company is a second wasted.

The Queen's Court lady announces his arrival before they all bow walking backwards out of the room before sliding the doors shut.

"You took your sweet time, I told you not to keep me waiting." She glares at him, pouting slightly bringing all his attention to her mouth.

"I apologize my Queen there were pressing matters to deal with." He lies easily no attention of clarifying his meaning, she doesn't need to know that dousing his arousal was the pressing matter at hand.

"Whatever. What's more important than me?" She scoffs looking offended turning away from him.

He lowers down into a crouch, crawling across the room until they are side by side. The Queen gasps at his unexpected closeness, staring at him with wide eyes and open lips.

Grasping at her hands he stares deeply into her gorgeous eyes solemnly with no humor in his voice, "Nothing. You are most important to me, both of you." Reverently he reaches out a hand to palm at her still small belly, impatient to see her round with his seed.

Her face slowly softens as he rubs her stomach and then she places her hand atop his, no longer resistant to these fleeting moments of intimacy.

Instinctively he starts to lean forward, laser focus on her lips as he inches closer to her. When he's close enough to breath into her mouth she snaps from her haze, moving back marginally he almost growls at her he's so frustrated, he's barely able to swallow the sound.

"What are you doing? There's no one to put on a show for."

He peers at her searching her face, her pupils are dilated and he can feel how fast she's breathing each puff landing on his face, her expression near identical to their last night together. But she's stopping him. Even though she clearly desires this too.

He thinks back to her behavior earlier too, she was brazen then comfortable climbing him in front of so many others all in the name of squashing the rumors.

She needs an excuse to do this.

He should feel offended by this epiphany but instead it brings him resolve, she clearly still hasn't fully let him into her heart but she feels something for him she's more than proven that to him. If she needs to draw a line to be with him then so be it for now, he will prove himself to her everyday.

"There are several court maids and servants outside your room, they are pretending they are not listening but they are. Sometimes your imagination can be even more powerful than reality."

She looks towards the door, eying the shadows through the thin covering before turning back to him and nodding in understanding.

"Okay. Let's give them a show."

Without warning she knocks a marble vase to the ground, the loud crash filling the room as it makes contact with the floor.

Then she moans. Loudly. A suggestive gasping moan that goes straight to his chest before zinging lower, tucking at his loins.

She pushes him when he sits silently merely staring at her, "You need to play along too. Come on, get into it."

There's it is again. That damn phrase.

Get into it.

If only she knew how into it he truly was. Grabbing at her ankle and tucking her underneath him, he slams his arms on either side of her head before groaning deeply, "My Queen, please."

Pride explodes in his chest when he sees a deep blush glide across her face. Not unaffected.

"Am I getting into it enough for you now?" He whispers darkly, itching to lower his weight and kiss that delicious look off her face.

Surprisingly she stutters out, "Ye-a-ah. You seem very into it now, nobody can see us though. We don't need to be like this." She motions between their bodies, unable to meet his gaze now. She motions between their bodies, unable to meet his gaze now. She's right but he also knows that he can't miss this chance, he has her right where he wants her and besides squirming distractedly she hasn't shown any desire for him to move away.

"Do you want me to stop?" When she doesn't immediately answer he begins to move backward giving her space but she latches onto his forearm, tight.

"Wait! Maybe we should commit even if they can't see us, it'll help us play our roles better." She reasons and he smiles, razor sharp. She wants this just as badly as he does, he's studied her long enough to read between these lines.

Swiftly he rolls them over so she's on top, pressed together from shoulders to feet her long braid swinging over and brushing against his cheek. Gently wrapping it around his hand he uses it to bring her closer, her breath hitches seductively and he whispers, "Louder. So they can hear you." Without waiting for a reply he tugs at her hair again harder this time and the sound that escapes her lips is orgasmic, a high whining moan that sets his skin on fire. Emboldened and aroused he grabs her neck, speaking into her opened mouth "Do you like that my Queen?" Her eyes are glazed over as she sways as if intoxicated by him.

"Cheoljong, kiss me."

It's too quiet for anyone's ears but his and that makes him even hotter, this wasn't part of the show. This was just for him, just for them.

Always one to seize the moment, he yanks her down to meet his eagerly waiting mouth swallowing the moan that rolls off her tongue. The kiss escalates immediately with both twisting and licking, wet sucking noises soaking the room as they bring apart to gasp for air and crash back together, chaotically and perfectly. When he feels a wondering hand graze his groin he can't resist the urge to thrust up into her touch. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her even closer, although there is no space between them.

When he pulls back, her eyes remain close as she licks her lips as if chasing his taste on them. His cock jumps jealously.

"I want you." He admits, wanting to make it clear if his intentions are not already crystalline to her. He wants no room for misunderstandings tonight.

She stares wordlessly before reaching across his body and then he sees the oil in her hand, he hadn't noticed its presence next to them but he eagerly takes it from her.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Don't go soft on me now, bring back the guy who was pulling my hair. Do you want me to call you Daddy too?"

His breath hitches at the word, he doesn't understand why but hearing her makes something dark coil in his belly. She lifts an eyebrow at his heavy silence, "You're so kinky."

He stares confused again, nothing new to him but he stores the word away for further inspection of its meaning. "Is kin-ky bad?" He asks reaching down to lower his pants and cover himself in the thick oil coating each inch of the hard pole.

She doesn't answer right away, avidly watching him stroke himself to fullness before rubbing at the bulbous deep scarlet head, serving to make him almost painfully turned on. "No, kinky is good. I like kinky." She tugs her skirt up and his eyes bulge when instead of seeing the various layers he should see there is only bare skin.

Had he been seduced? It feels as if he has been but he doesn't care enough to question her or pause this for a second. He would happily be her fool.

Gripping at her hips he rubs against her, groaning when her wetness smears across him obscenely. She grinds down onto him meeting him head on, they are definitely on the same page now.

Unable to wait for even another second, he envelopes her in his arms before sliding into her smoothly her natural moisture and the oil easing the way until he is completely encased. She moans long and wailing as he slides to the hilt, he groans loudly joining her as she scratches roughly down his back even through the sturdy material he can feel the burn. Absently he considers gentling his moves, she is pregnant and more fragile after all. But she must read his face and be vehemently against his plan because suddenly she rises up, slipping off his hardness before slamming back down the loud smacking of skin filling the room.

"It's time for the main event. Don’t stop now.” She challenges him, squeezing around his erection. 

Pushing his reservations to the side, he gets into it full heartedly thrusting hard before capturing her mouth in a harsh kiss, hissing when he feels her teeth tug roughly at his bottom lip, his lioness has returned. He teasingly roars into her mouth and she laughs around his tongue, breaking free only to latch on his neck sucking hard. He hopes it leaves a mark.

Her laughter causes her to tighten around him and he groans at her vice like grip on his cock, he can feel himself nearing the end. Recalling their first night he suddenly grabs her neck, squeezing lightly and when she whines in a broken gasp he tightens his hand and delights as she melts slowly limp in his hold, he supports her weight easily bucking into her tight heat. When he thrusts up a second time he feels her wetness gush around him before he loses himself, his climax tensing his body as he slowly falls apart.

The entire kingdom will surely be in an uproar tomorrow.

He's looking forward to it. That will teach them to spread rumors about their intimate affairs. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the hallway, Hong Yeon brings her hands to her hot cheeks feeling overheated from the King and Queen's boisterous gathering. Every court maid is blushing as they look discretely at the door with every moan and groan that escapes. She hopes this will qualm the rumors in the kingdom, she cannot take this for much longer. Court lady Choi had left to retrieve water after their first moans and had yet to return, she surmised if the Queen were not already with child she would have been impregnated again going by the sounds they were making. It was all too obvious to her, despite the Queen's strange behavior at times, they were desperately in love with each other. She'd never seen two people who were more crafted for the other.

Anyone who thought otherwise was a fool. 

#queen cheorin #mr. queen #squash the rumor. #do it for your kingdom #no touch princess #smutty smut #they just have so much chemistry I can't resist #my offering

[fangirlwriting-stories]

Reflecting Light

Chapter One

Chapter Ten:

The rebellion base was huge.  Remus had not expected anything so massive to be the main force fighting against his former home.  He was a little surprised they weren’t more of a talked about threat.  Maybe The Light just wanted them all to think there weren’t a lot of people against them, when that was clearly the opposite of the case.

Janus was bringing them in to dock, and Virgil was standing up next to him as the rest of the crew was working down on the deck to help with that process.  Remus got another pass this time due to the child sitting on his shoulders to get a better view of what they were approaching.  Virgil and Janus both seemed amused at Remus and Thomas’ awe.

“Your home is amazing!” Thomas called, turning quickly to Virgil and Janus.

“Woah, careful kid, I don’t want to drop you,” Remus called, reaching up to steady him.

“Sorry!” Thomas called down.  “But isn’t it cool?”

“It’s very cool,” Remus agreed with a smile.  “I like the garden.”

There was in fact a huge garden out in front of the base, complete with fruit trees, long lines of crops, and some flowers that seemed to be planted either for tea or for beauty’s sake.  Remus had never seen anything like that in his home growing up.

“Yeah, it can sustain the whole base,” Virgil said.  “This isn’t all, by the way, there’s more garden’s around back.  Just the part up here would hardly sustain everyone in the rebellion and all the towns.  Though Janus and I used the garden more for the climbing trees when we were kids.”

Thomas gasped in excitement.  “Can I climb the trees?”

“As long as someone is there with you,” Janus said with a smile.

“Okay, I pick Remus!”

“Someone who will make sure you’re safe instead of deciding to climb the trees with you,” Janus amended.

“Rude,” Remus said, shooting not at all serious glare at Janus.  “I will have you know this child’s safety is my second highest priority.”

“Which is right after?”

“Having fun.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Thomas giggled and leaned over so he could see Remus’ face.  “I like having fun too.  That’s why you’re my favorite.”

“Hey, I’m wounded,” Janus exclaimed, as Virgil pressed a hand to his chest with a similar spirit involved.

Thomas laughed again.  “Too bad, Remus is my favorite!” he called, sticking his tongue out towards Janus and Virgil.

Virgil turned to Remus, shaking his head.  “We bring you aboard our ship, we house you, feed you, care for you, and you betray us.”

“You should have seen it coming,” Remus said, reaching up to high five Thomas, who gladly did so.  “I have not known any children since I was one myself, but I can say for a fact that they all love me.”

Virgil sighed and shook his head.  “They probably will.  It’s your crazy uncle energy.”

“Crazy uncle Remus!” Thomas called, wrapping his arms around Remus’ head, and coincidentally over his eyes, blocking Remus’ view.

“I’ve gone blind,” Remus said.

“You will never see again!” Thomas proclaimed loudly.

“Well, that’s a real shame,” Janus said casually.  “I guess he can’t supervise your tree climbing then.”

“Okay, wait, he can see again!” Thomas called, and the hands were suddenly gone from Remus’ eyes.  It was good timing too, as the ship was landing at that moment.

They’d landed alongside many other ships, and over to the side, a large set of double doors had opened and out of it walked an older man wearing a sweater vest and a pair of nice pants, along with glasses that were revealed to be a little crooked on his face as he approached.

“Welcome home, everyone!” he called as he boarded the ship.  Everyone down below smiled and waved along with friendly chatter, and Remus immediately got the impression that the man, who could only be Janus and Virgil’s father, was well liked.

He came up towards the top of the deck last, and smiled immediately at Remus and Thomas.

“Janus, Virgil, did you pick up a couple of extra people on this trip?” he asked.  Remus would have greatly disliked that question, and he figured Thomas would have too, if not for the large smile and the easygoing tone it was asked with.

“Uh, kinda, yeah,” Virgil said, rubbing the back of his neck.  “This is Remus, he snuck on as a stowaway and we just kinda… kept him.  And Thomas came from the orphanage last stop, we’re actually gonna have to talk about him.”

Now Thomas seemed uncomfortable, and ducked down behind Remus’ head.

“Hey, it’s okay, kid,” Remus said, reaching up to give Thomas a hand to squeeze.

“Oh yeah, nothing bad, I promise,” Virgil reassured.

“How could I ever think anything bad about someone as adorable as yourself, anyway?  I’m Emile,” Emile said, walking forward and holding out a hand, which Thomas tentatively shook.  “It’s lovely to meet you.  And you as well, Remus.”

“Hey,” Remus said, giving a mini-salute.  “Sorry I snuck onto your son’s ship, but I can’t promise I won’t do it again.”

Emile laughed.  “Honest, I like that,” he said, and Remus winced inwardly.  If he was going to describe himself, he had far too many secrets to count ‘honest’ as one of the words he’d use.  “We’re always happy to welcome new people, whether they’re looking to help, or just need a place to stay.”

“Dad,” Janus said, rolling his eyes.  “You don’t need to give them the slogan.”

“It’s a true slogan,” Emile said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow at Janus.  “I can’t ask everyone who comes here to be comfortable with fighting The Light, some just got away from situations that would leave them very uncomfortable with doing so.”

Remus blinked, taking a minute to try and absorb that idea.  Back at The Light, if he ever admitted to being uncomfortable with anything, he was told to suck it up, smacked, or smacked and told to suck it up.  But he doubted that with what Emile just said that would be his main course of action.  That meant he might not have to fight Roman.  Something in Remus’ chest that had been tense since he’d run from The Light finally started to loosen.

“Yeah, yeah,” Virgil said, crossing his arms and leaning back against the railway over the main deck.  “But anyway, we’re not staying long.  I mean, Thomas and Remus can stay if they want to,” he said, although Remus could already tell he didn’t seem happy about the idea.  “But we only came because we ran out of food.  We have a few more stops to make.”

“Alright,” Emile said, although he didn’t look very happy about that either.  “But you’re staying the night, you hear?”

“Alright,” Virgil said, in the tone of voice he used when he was pretending to be very annoyed.  He turned to Remus and Thomas a second later.  “Do you guys want a tour?”

“Oh!  Oh, yes please!” Thomas called happily.  “I wanna see where you and Janus grew up!”

“Well, unfortunately,” Emile said.  “The two of them have to get the food situation handled for the rest of your trip.  But I can do that while they’re busy.”

“What?  Dad!” Virgil exclaimed.

“You can join when you’re done,” Emile said with an amused smile.

Neither Janus or Virgil looked happy about this development, but they didn’t complain as Remus and Thomas followed Emile down to the deck and off the ship.  Thomas waved to everyone as they went, who all smiled as they waved back.  Thomas had pretty quickly become everyone’s favorite person on board.  The kid lit up the space around him.

“So you saw the garden as you came in,” Emile said as they walked past the garden to the doors.  He pulled them open, and revealed a long hallway with numerous doors and a few people milling about.

“Hey Remus, let me down!” Thomas called.  Remus reached up and picked Thomas up off his shoulders, then set him down on the ground, holding on to his hand so he could be sure Thomas wouldn’t run off to talk to someone and get lost in this giant base they’d never been in before.

Thomas waved at quite a few people as they passed, and everyone once again waved back with a smile.  Emile stepped up to Remus’ other side as they walked.  “Well he seems to make friends easily, doesn’t he?” he asked.

Remus smiled a little himself and nodded.  “It’s very offensive to people like me, who cannot make friends to save their life.”

Emile laughed.  “Oh, I don’t know,” he said with a smile.  “You seem to have won over both of my sons.”

“That was different, I impressed them by sneaking onto their ship.  I intimidated them into friendship.”

“Ah, yes, you’re very intimidating,” Emile said, with an amused look that meant he definitely didn’t believe that in the slightest.  Remus was going to have to change that, but that could happen after they finished their trip.

They made their way down the long hallway as Emile introduced them to a couple of people, and turned right at the end, heading down a second hallway with significantly more people there.  They headed down that way a little as Emile showed them the cafeteria, which was much smaller than the cafeteria from The Light, but there were apparently multiple throughout the base, so that made more sense.  The cafeteria was pretty full at the moment, as it apparently usually was, and quite a few people recognized Emile as they walked through it, waving to him and then introducing themselves to Thomas and Remus.

They headed out the other side of the cafeteria into what Emile said were sleeping quarters.  Most rooms were pretty small due to the sheer number of people that were there, but unlike Remus and Roman’s room as a kid, most were decorated, and quite a few themes spilled out into the hallway, making the whole stretch a mish-mash of colors and decorations of all different kinds, many of which shouldn’t have worked together but somehow did, like the room decorated with flowers and bees right next to the one covered in bats and pumpkins.

They headed down to a couple of empty rooms at the end of the hallway, where Emile said they could have free reign to pick one out, as even if they were going to be following Janus and Virgil on trips they would likely spend a fair amount of time here.  Thomas pulled away from Remus’ hand and ran off to look in several rooms as Remus hung back a bit with Emile.

He turned to look back down the hallway again, taking in this place that he never thought he would see.  His life had changed more than slightly since he’d met Janus and Virgil.  He couldn’t be sure if he’d like it here more than back home.  The idea that no one would hurt him on purpose was… nice, though Remus still wasn’t sure how much he could trust it yet.  And he wasn’t sure how easily he could stomach the idea of fighting against Logan, Patton, and Roman, or even just staying with people who did.

He hadn’t been sure what to think about them in everything that had happened lately.  If what Virgil had said about such treatment being undeserved was true, Remus didn’t want to think about the possibility that without him there, they’d move on to someone else.  What if Roman got hurt because he’d left?  Remus wasn’t sure how he’d live with himself.

“Are you alright?” Emile asked suddenly.

Remus started and turned back to face him.  “Huh?”

“You looked bothered for a second there.  Are you alright?”

Remus swallowed.  “Fine.  I’m just… thinking.”  He turned back to face Thomas, who was still running between rooms, and tried to make a massive decision in a couple seconds.  Unsurprisingly, he didn’t get very far.

“Are you worried about Thomas?” Emile asked.  “I got the impression from Virgil introducing him that he was in trouble.  That’s the tone he always uses when he’s worried about someone.”

Remus winced.  “You should probably ask him and Janus about that.  I’m not so sure I’m… qualified to tell you.”

“Oh?” Emile asked, sounding curious.  “Why do you think that?”

Remus hesitated again and sighed.  “Thomas came from the orphanage at the last stop we made.  Virgil and I found out that the person who runs the place was hurting him, which Virgil said was super not okay.”

“Well I would hope that’s what he’d say,” Emile said, crossing his arms as his look turned more curious.  “But why exactly would you not be qualified to tell me that?”

Ah, he was running up against that giant decision again.  “…How do you feel about Light soldiers?” he blurted out suddenly.

Emile gave a small knowing nod, and Remus was definitely fucked, and not even in the good way.  “I don’t think I could tell you,” he said.  “I haven’t to my knowledge ever met a Light soldier, so I’m not sure what their life and experiences have been like.  If I happened to meet one, I can promise you I would hear them out before I made a decision.”

Remus didn’t say anything to that.  He waited long enough that Thomas stuck his head out of the room he was currently in.  “I like this one!” he called.  “Remus, you can take the one next to it, okay?”

“You got it, kid!” Remus called with a mini-salute.  Thomas nodded like that was acceptable and then disappeared back into the room.  Remus was quiet for another moment.  Finally, he turned to face Emile.

“I don’t know how I can trust you,” he said finally.

“I don’t know why I would ask you to,” Emile replied.  “Although I do have to tell you that if I get any kind of sense that you might hurt my sons, I’m not going to trust you.”

Remus didn’t say anything again.  He wasn’t sure what to say, but he also very much did not like the silence.

“Hypothetically,” he started.  “Let’s say that there was a soldier from The Light who might have gone through something kinda similar to Thomas.”

Emile nodded.  “Alright.”

“And he ran away and ended up on a random ship that completely accidentally was led by the sons of the head of the resistance.  And it really was accidental.  This soldier did not at all intend to make that ship the one he picked.  He just… wanted out.”

“Duly noted.”

“But he didn’t really think there was anything wrong with the way he was treated,” Remus muttered, looking away.  “Not until he came across Thomas and realized that wasn’t okay either.  And then he started questioning everything a little bit.  He was never really sure if The Light as a whole was something he agreed with or not, and by that point he was already very close with two leading members of the resistance anyway, and he’s pretty sure he’s not going to betray any of them.  He’s definitely not going to go back to The Light.  Would this soldier have to worry about getting killed or made a prisoner if he was found out?”

Emile smiled reassuringly.  “No, he wouldn’t,” he said.  “And I sincerely hope this hypothetical soldier can one day come to realize that the way he was treated was not okay.”

Remus wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that, just crossed his arms and looked back towards the room Thomas was still in.

He was about to head towards it when Emile spoke up again.  “Have you thought about telling Janus and Virgil about this?”

Alarm bells immediately went off in Remus’ head.  “What?” he asked, turning back to Emile.  “But— but Virgil was already pissed when he found out what happened with Thomas, if I tell them about my past they’ll hate me!  And I don’t want them to do that!”

To Remus’ surprise, Emile just laughed.  “What makes you so sure they’ll hate you?”

“What— because they—”

Remus,” Emile interrupted, shaking his head.  “I raised them better than that.”

Remus blinked, and looked down slightly as he processed the statement.  “Oh.”  He looked down.  “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Remus thought about that another second.  “Okay,” he said finally.  “I’ll think about it.”

“Hey!”

Both Remus and Emile glanced over to see Thomas in the doorway of the room he’d picked again.  “Are you two gonna come look at my new room or what?”

“Sorry about that, Thomas,” Emile said, as they both started over.  “We were just talking.  So you like this room, huh?”

…

Remus didn’t end up telling Janus or Virgil that night.  They ate dinner and went to some of Virgil and Janus’ favorite places around the base instead.  Janus spent most of his time in the planning room when he was needed there, and in the library when he wasn’t.  Virgil spent his time similarly, although his free time was spent playing or writing music.  Thomas enjoyed that part very much, although Remus was pretty sure Virgil would be playing different songs if Thomas wasn’t around.

Remus hadn’t given a ton of thought to what he liked to do before, as back home he’d spent most of his time either doing something the others liked doing, or breaking the rules for fun when he thought he could get away with it.  He didn’t mind the idea of writing songs with Virgil.  He might try that sometime, as long as Thomas wasn’t around, because he would definitely be scolded if Thomas heard the kind of songs he’d enjoy writing.

They went to bed fairly early since they had to get up the next morning.  Remus stayed in the room next to Thomas like he’d planned, and slept alright considering everything that was on his mind.

Remus got up when Thomas did the next morning, which was far too early for Remus’ liking, but it’s not like he could do much about it when Thomas ran into the room and threw himself on top of his chest.

“I want breakfast!” Thomas called happily.  “Janus said they’re making pancakes!”

“What the hell is a pancake?” Remus wheezed out, moving Thomas off of his chest and onto the bed next to him.

Apparently he had said something truly horrible, because Thomas gasped like Remus had killed a puppy in front of him.  “How do you not know what a pancake is?!  Did Shane never let you have pancakes?”

“Uh, I don’t think that was unique to me,” Remus said, scratching at the hair on the back of his head.

“Shane didn’t let anyone have pancakes?”

Remus laughed a little.  “That wasn’t up to Shane, kid.  The people in charge picked the food we got to eat.”

“Oh my gosh, they’re horrible too!” Thomas exclaimed.  “You have to come eat all of the pancakes now, come on!”  He grabbed Remus’ hand and pulled them both out of the room and back towards the cafeteria before either of them had even changed out of their pajamas.

Luckily they didn’t seem to be alone in that, as most people in the cafeteria were clearly not dressed yet.  Remus found Jackson and Steven near the door of the room, and headed over to them with Thomas waving as they did so.

“Good morning!” Thomas called happily.

“Morning,” Steven said with a smile.

“You guys, you guys,” Thomas said, tugging on Jackson’s hand.  “Remus said he’s never had pancakes!”

Jackson gave him a look.  “What horrible place did you grow up in?”

“Ask your mom,” Remus replied on instinct.

Jackson stuck his tongue out at him.  “Joke’s on you, I have two dads.”

“Dammit.  How am I supposed to defend against the gays?  I can’t fight my own people, Jackson.”

Jackson laughed.  “Exactly.  You’ve trapped yourself.”

“You’ve trapped me.  It’s your own fault for having two dads.”

“Well now I have a whole ship full of parents, I win!” Thomas called, which made the other three adults there burst out laughing.

“You aren’t wrong, kid,” Remus said, ruffling Thomas’ hair.

They reached the front of the line at that point, and they were each handed a plate of three flat fluffy cake-like things.

Thomas thanked the men serving the pancakes and walked over to a nearby table, which happened to be the one that Virgil and Janus were sitting at with Emile.  Remus, Steven, and Jackson joined a second later.

“G’morning,” Remus said.

“Remus has never eaten pancakes!” Thomas announced to the table.  “Everyone watch him as he takes a bite.”

“Oh great, that’ll be fun,” Remus muttered under his breath.  He shoved a bite in his mouth before anyone could reply to or fully process Thomas’ sentence.

“Yep, it’s good, I don’t know how I’ve gone my whole life without eating this, you all truly live a luxurious life,” Remus said through a mouthful of food.

Virgil snorted.  “Dude, don’t talk with your mouth full, you’re disgusting,”

“Thank you,” Remus said, with his mouth still full.

They were supposed to be leaving after breakfast, but Remus thought that maybe they should call it off when he noticed Janus.  He’d known he wasn’t a morning person, but he didn’t normally have a library of books to stay up in all night.

“Uh, you sure you’re not gonna collapse, Jan?” he asked.

Janus moved his exhausted look over to Remus.  Remus was fairly sure he was trying to glare at him, but he was too tired for it to come across properly, and it really just resulted in Remus starting to laugh.

“Don’t worry, I’m flying the ship today,” Virgil said with a smirk.  “He’s gonna nap for another couple hours when we start flying.”

“Hey, that’s just not fair,” Steven said.  “None of the rest of us get to nap.”

“Talk to me after you can organize the cargo properly, Steven,” Virgil said.

Steven stuck his tongue out and Virgil laughed.

They gathered the food and other cargo they’d need for the rest of their trip onto the ship after breakfast, and everyone started preparing to launch as a couple people came out to wish them goodbye.

Thomas had announced very loudly that he wanted to go with Virgil and Janus again, and there was no way Remus was going to stay here without his new family, so they both planned on saying goodbye to Emile before heading back on board.

Virgil and Janus were talking to him as they walked up.

“And make sure you’re back on time this time around,” Emile said.  “I never see you two enough.”

“We’ll be back on time, don’t worry,” Janus said, giving Emile a quick hug before turning back to the ship.  “Now I’m going back to bed.”

“Enjoy you’re beauty sleep, Princess!” Virgil called.

“I will, thanks so much!”

Virgil shook his head after Janus and laughed a little as he headed for the ship too, calling a goodbye with a comment that he should get ready to fly.  Thomas ran off after him before Emile turned to Remus.

“Remus, remember what we talked about, okay?” Emile said, raising an eyebrow.  “Give it some thought?”

Remus sighed.  “Yeah, yeah,” he said, waving his hand dismissively.  “I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

Remus waved too as he headed off to the ship and followed Thomas and Virgil up to the wheel.  They took off not long after, with Remus standing next to Thomas who wanted to lean over the side and wave to Emile as they took off.  It was only when the rebellion base was finally out of sight that they both headed over next to Virgil again.

“Alright,” Virgil said.  “We’ll be in the next town by lunch, probably.  We’ve only got a couple more places to stop at and then we’re going straight back home.  We’ve got some strategizing to do.  I think we’re actually going to make a strike somewhere soon.  You should know the area, Remus, it’s close to where we picked you up.”

Remus stilled.  Okay.  Well that made his decision for him.  “Virgil, I have to tell you guys something.  Can I talk to you and Janus after we make the drop off today?”

Virgil looked curiously at him.  “Sure.  Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine.  Just… stuff.”

Virgil’s look turned much more concerned.  “You’re sure it can wait?  You’re not in trouble, right?”

Remus shook his head.

Thomas tugged slightly on his arm, and Remus looked down.  “Promise?” he whispered, looking like he had much more of an idea what was going on.

Remus nodded.  “Promise,” he said, both to Thomas and to Virgil.

Virgil nodded a little when he looked back up.  “Okay,” he said.  “Yeah, of course we can talk.”

Remus nodded a little and looked out at the horizon.  The sun was behind a cloud at the moment and they were flying past a flock of birds that Remus let his gaze settle on.

He wasn’t going to fight the people he’d grown up with.  If they were striking the area he came from, that meant he could run into Roman.  And he wasn’t going to fight his brother, no matter what he ended up deciding about The Light.

It would be fine.  Emile said that Virgil and Janus wouldn’t hate him.  And they wouldn’t make him fight the people he grew up with.  He had evidence of that at this point.  It was going to be okay.

…

They arrived in the town they were heading for right around the time Virgil said they would.  Thomas was told to stay on the ship that time, as they were behind schedule now and couldn’t risk the delight of a child when met with a market to shop in.

They only had to deliver supplies to a couple shops before heading home, so Virgil, Remus, and Janus each took a couple of boxes and headed for one of the shops before they’d meet back at the ship.

Remus delivered to a nice woman who gave him a free meal, which Remus appreciated but which also reminded him of the conversation he was going to have with Janus and Virgil after lunchtime.  Now he had no excuse to put it off.  Dammit lady, don’t you know it’s rude to give people a free lunch?

…That sounded better in his head.

However, fortunately— unfortunately?  Why did this have to happen today— Remus stumbled across an excuse to put off the conversation the second that he stepped out of the shop.

“Remus!”

Remus froze the second he heard the voice, and then it was followed by a rough hand on his arm and Remus couldn’t breathe.  He was spun around to face someone he hadn’t thought he’d ever see again.

“Remus, what the actual hell?” Roman said, pulling Remus closer by the arm, and Remus didn’t like that at all, thanks.  He looked around the street to find it empty.  Of course it was.  Everyone must have left the moment they saw The Light soldier.

“Let go of me,” he growled, shoving Roman backwards.

“Like hell,” Roman snapped, pulling Remus closer, and before Remus could consider whether this was really a good idea he reached out and shoved Roman off of him, then turned to run.

But Roman must have been either quicker or more determined than he realized, because he’d barely made it a couple steps before Roman grabbed his arm again, and yanked him backwards.

“Hey, you’re not leaving until you answer some fucking questions!”

“Let go of me,” Remus said, not liking the way his voice suddenly sounded weaker, and taking a step backwards towards the wall.  He was trying to find it in him to listen to the voice in his head telling him this was Roman, not Shane, and Roman had never once hurt him.

Roman must have picked up on something, though, because he finally let go of Remus’ arm, though he didn’t move far enough away for Remus’ liking.

“Seriously, Remus, what the hell?  Why did you just vanish suddenly?  Are you seriously traveling with the heads of the rebellion?  Don’t tell me you’ve actually turned traitor.”

“Get away from me,” Remus said, moving along the wall.  “You can’t make me go back.  I can’t do it again.”

Roman’s gaze turned confused.  “Can’t do what again?”

“Look I know you don’t think it’s a big deal,” Remus said, squeezing his eyes shut.  “None of us thought it was a big deal, but it’s not— Virgil said it’s not okay.”

“You are traveling with Virgil?” Roman asked, taking a step closer.  “Remus, seriously, what—”

“Get away from me,” Remus snapped, still backing away, but he didn’t make it more than a couple steps before a different, also familiar arm grabbed him, and this one spun him around and slammed him into a nearby wall.

“You little piece of shit,” Shane hissed in his ear.  “You actually did run away like a cowardly traitor.”

“Shane!” Roman called in the background, sounding shocked.  Remus couldn’t imagine why.  What had he thought would happen?

“And here I thought you couldn’t possibly turn out to be any more worthless than I already thought you were,” Shane growled.  “You had to go and prove me wrong.”

Remus pushed weakly against the wall in front of him, but couldn’t really get anywhere with the way his arms were shaking.

“Oh, you’re not getting away again,” Shane snapped, pulling Remus back just enough to have force when he slammed his head into the wall again.  Remus blinked, suddenly dizzy.

“Go on then, you little pest.  Say it.  Tell me what you are.”

Remus braced himself against the wall again, trying to think past the way his chest was constricting.  “No,” he got out.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Shane growled.  “I’m sure I didn’t hear you properly.  Say it.”

Remus winced and dropped his arms, trying to muster the will to raise them again.  “I— I— I’m—”

The presence at his back was suddenly gone, and by the time Remus spun around Shane was on the ground, a shadow being cast over him by Janus, who lifted up and slammed his foot down on Shane’s head, knocking him out.

“That,” he said.  “Is quite enough.”

Remus turned and leaned against the wall, trying to push himself up.  “Janus—”

Janus turned to face Remus, and his breath caught when he saw the anger on Janus’ face.  He cast half a glance down the street to Roman, then looked back at him, and Remus’ heart fell to his shoes.

“We’re leaving in ten minutes,” Janus said, moving to stand over the guard again.  “Be back on the ship by then.  Virgil, come help me carry this piece of shit.”

Remus looked back towards the end of the street, where Virgil was standing and staring at him, with a face more shocked than angry.  Remus tried to come up with something to say, but after a minute Virgil’s face hardened and he moved forward to help Janus pick up Shane.  They both carried him around the corner and out of sight, and Remus finally managed to push himself off of the wall.

“…Remus?”

Remus turned around, finding Roman looking shocked and a little stricken.  “Remus, what—” he started.

“You—” Remus cut him off.  He breathed in for four seconds and held it, looking back towards the direction Virgil and Janus had taken Shane.  Something in his chest snapped in half.  “You brought him here?”

“What?”

Remus turned back to Roman.  “You were going to bring me back?  With him?”

“Back?  Hang on, Remus—”

Remus spun back around and buried his hands in his hair.  “Holy fuck, Roman,” he choked out.  “Look, I know what things are like back home, but you didn’t even consider what you were doing for a second?”

“Woah, hang on.  You think I—”

“Shut up!” Remus screamed.  People must have heard him, because they started poking their heads back out of houses and around corners.  “Shut up, you—”  He took a deep breath and tried to calm down the thoughts racing through his head.  “They might just kill you if you go home empty handed,” he muttered.

“Remus—”

“Fine, come back to the ship if you want,” Remus said, starting for the edge of the street himself.  “But stay the fuck away from me, do you understand?”

He walked around the corner without looking back.

Chapter Eleven

#sanders sides #remus sanders #roman sanders #pirates #rebellion #angst #abuse #tw abuse #logan sanders #patton sanders #janus sanders #virgil sanders #my fic

[unstable-sapphic-hoe]

The Ultimatum

AN: I cast Nadia Hilker as Artemis, but y’all can use anyone you want. I just kinda took reference from her look as Luna from The 100. Also I know Artemis has green eyes, I just changed it a little. Also in this chapter Diana and Kara are starting to form that Mother/Daughter bond cause they’re gonna need that shit in the future chapters. Also feel free to give suggestions for the story and I’d love to her your feedback. 

1,560+ words (lmao)

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Chapter 3

Masterlist

A few days later and Diana, accompanied by the 3 Kryptonians were in a jet, graciously offered by Bruce, headed to Paris after Diana offered to take them in. Kal and Y/K/N, now named Clarke Calvin Prince and Y/N M/N Prince respectively, according to the fake documents Bruce made for them, were both given window seats and were marveling at the sight with big curious eyes, their faces pressed up against the glass. 

“We’ll be landing in a few minutes so make sure you have all your things” Diana called out from the cockpit.

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 As soon as the jet landed, they were escorted into Diana’s car where they were taken to a nice duplex apartment. Though when Kara hesitated before stepping into the elevator, Diana quickly took action and lead them to the stairs. It wasn’t like they would get tired easily from it. So with that in mind, Kara insisted on carrying what little luggage they had, as well as the box they had filled with things from their pod. While Diana had Kal in her arms, while Y/N was perched on her shoulders as she happily babbled on with Kal whilst playing with Diana’s hair. 

 When they reached Diana’s floor, they were then directed to one of the doors there where they waited on Diana to unlock the door. As soon as they entered, they were engulfed in a welcoming atmosphere that brought comfort to Kara despite being in an unfamiliar environment. Unlike Wayne Manor, which felt dark and gloomy, whereas Diana’s apartment was light and gave her a feeling of a home filled with joy and love.

 She was brought out of her musings by a woman emerging from around a corner. She had curly copper hair that went down her shoulders, playful hazel-brown eyes, slightly tanned skin, and like Diana, she was tall and had a slim, yet muscular physique. She was wearing a white tank top with dark grey sweatpants. Though as soon as her eyes landed on Diana, the playful glint in her eyes disappeared and was replaced with fury.

“Diana” The woman said with a stern glare, crossing her arms together, which made Diana gently place Y/N on her feet and passing a sleeping Kal in Kara’s arms.

“Hello, my love” Diana answered with a sheepish smile on her face as she crossed the space between them to embrace the other woman, only for her to step away.

“Don’t ‘Hello, my love’ me Diana. You disappear for almost a week without telling me. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“I know and I’m sorry, my love” Diana said with a pout. Meanwhile, Kara was watching them amusedly and was occasionally taking in the place that would now be their home. She was interrupted by Diana calling her name and beckoning her over. “Love, this is Kara, the children are Y/N and Kal, Kara’s sister and cousin. They were the ones I told you about. Kara this is my wife, Artemis of Bana-Maghdall” she said. Artemis’s eyes softened as she looked at Kara, though as Kara studied her closer, she noticed that those eyes weren’t filled with pity like she thought, instead they showed understanding, much like J’onn and Diana, which Kara was thankful for. 

Just then they noticed Y/N walking over to them, well, mostly Kara, hiding behind her with her head peeking out. Artemis bent down to her height and smiled invitingly at her.

“Y/N say ‘hi’, her name’s Artemis” Kara whispered over to her. Y/N stepped out from behind Kara and smiled that charming little smile of hers before greeting her. 

“Aren’t you just adorable?” Artemis cooed, and though Y/N couldn’t understand much yet, her smile only widened at the attention she was receiving which made them all chuckle. 

 “Why don’t we show you your rooms” Diana offered with a smile. With a nod from Kara, they lead the 3 Kryptonians to each of their rooms. “You can decorate them any way you want, if you’d like we can make a trip to the store tomorrow”. They lead Kara to her room last.

“Thank you, Diana, Artemis. Goodnight” she said with a small smile and a nod before closing the door.

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 Diana was awoken by sobs sounding from down the hall. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and carefully pushed Artemis’ arm off her, silently praying that she wouldn’t wake up as she got up off the bed. She grabbed a robe and wrapped it around herself before making her way down to where the sobs were coming from, which turned out to be Kara’s room.

She couldn’t really be surprised as she was expecting this. During their stay at the Wayne Manor, she noticed Kara mostly focusing on getting a hold of her powers to distract her. She remembered how often she found her in Bruce’s lab in the middle of the night and in early mornings. 

She walked up to the door and knocked softly before slowly pushing the door open and peeking her head through. She found Kara curled up her bed, one of the pillows clutched in her embrace. She immediately made her way to her and sat by Kara, trying to coax her into sitting up. When she did, she brought her into a hug. In an attempt to bring the girl more comfort, she hummed the song her mother always used to sing to her as a child. 

When Kara’s sobs subsided into hiccups and sniffles she pulled her away from her softly. She laid her down onto the bed and brushed the hair away from her face with a sad smile. She knew that this was just the beginning of a long journey of healing for the poor girl. She vowed that she’d be there every step of the way for her.

“Thank you, Diana” Kara whispered in a broken voice, her voice hoarse from crying.

“Anything for you, little one” Diana whispered back. This only brought on a new wave of tears for Kara as her lips wobbled. Diana panicked, not understanding what she did wrong. She tried shushing the girl and whispering her comforting things. 

“My aunt Astra used to call me that” she confessed.

“Oh sweetheart” 

 “It’s fine. I just miss her so much” she answered.

 “Do you want to tell me about her?” Diana asked, receiving a nod in reply as Kara sat up, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them.

“Her name was Astra Ze. She became head of house when her father, my grandfather, stepped down from the position, and since she was the older twin, the title went to her. She was my mother’s twin, the only way you could tell them apart was by the white streak in aunt Astra’s hair.” Kara said with a sad smile, “She was a high general. I have always admired her. I remember rushing from school to the training grounds each day and watching them train. Eventually, I started bugging her to train me, and I must have eventually wore her down as she started training me on my tenth name day. Oh I remember mother’s exasperation and father’s amusement when I told them she had begun training me” she chuckled, reminiscing. This caused Diana to smile as well, noticing how similar Kara’s aunt was to her aunt Antiope.

 “I used to get so upset whenever she left with her army, so she gave me a spy beacon. It allowed us to send messages to each other, no matter where she was. And when she could, she’d always come when I called for her. And every time she came back home from her travels, she always had something to give me, a souvenir, and she’d tell me all about her trip.” This time Kara’s smile was filled with less sadness and more nostalgia, although the sadness was still lingering.

Diana hummed, “I knew someone like her. Her name was Antiope. Like your aunt Astra, she was a high general.”

“Really?” Kara asked curiously, tilting her head to one side, which Diana noticed she did a lot. It was cute. 

 Diana nodded, a fond, nostalgic smile on her face. “She was my aunt too. She was the one who taught me to fight to. She is one of the reasons I am who I am today. My mother never wanted me to learn how to fight, you see, so she was furious when she found me and Antiope training in one of the gardens that no one visited much” she chuckled.

“But were you people not warrior women?” Kara inquired, both confused and curious.

“They were. But that is a story for another time, sweet one” Diana said. She smiled, tucking Kara into bed. Before she left, she placed a kiss on her forehead after whispering a soft “Goodnight”. She exited the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

She was met in the hallway by Artemis, who had a soft smile on her face. She walked up to her and embraced her, Artemis returning. 

“Is Kara alright, love?” 

“She’s healing.”

“Then we’ll help her, in whatever way she needs us to” Artemis smiled. And there Diana’s heart melted, the woman never ceasing to amaze her as she fell even more in love with her. She gave her a quick kiss before leading her back to their bedroom for the night.

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 Taglist:

@madamevirgo , @black-dragon1998 , @marrymemcgrath 

#wanda maximoff x reader #diana of themyscira #diana prince #artemis of bana mighdall #kara danvers #kal el #clark kent #arrowverse #mcu #marvel #dc #dcu #dceu #supergirl #wonder woman #wanda maximoff #kara zol el

[willow-salix]

FabFiveFeb Alan!

Finally got this bugger edited, so here it is, my offering for Alan week of @gumnut-logic​ FabFiveFeb. Once again I’ve written what my daughter plotted with a few of my own tweaks thrown in.

“Is there really nothing else to do around here?” Alan whispered to Selene, jolting her awake from the sleepy doze she was enjoying stretched out on a sun lounger. “How can you just lay around here all day?”

“Like you don’t do the same every day at home?” she grumbled, stretching out in an effort to wake up. She'd never admit it, but she was getting a bit bored with having nothing to do, hence the impromptu nap time. 

“That’s different, I’ve got things there to do.”

“You mean you have technology?” Selene grinned evilly. “Whereas here it’s-”

“Like I’ve gone back in time to 2015 and the graphics suck, " he groaned. 

“Come on, it’s not that bad, don’t you like the peace and quiet?” Selene’s family home was indeed very quiet, set apart from the other houses on the street, it backed out into a small but flower filled garden that held nothing but the sun loungers they were currently occupying, the picnic table their drinks were on, a slightly rusted BBQ, some yoga mats and a bird bath in the shape of a frog on a lily pad.

Alan looked towards Selene's cool, but rather weird, younger brother who was currently doing some kind of yoga crossed with Tai Chi that seemed to have a little of that 1970’s disco type of dancing thrown in for good measure.

“Adam, help me,” he begged, trying to invoke the bro code. 

“Chill out, little dude, it’s all good," Adam said, his sleepy tone the perfect accompaniment to his snail like movements. 

“Nothing about this is good,” Alan huffed, feeling dismissed and beyond frustrated. He was seriously regretting offering to go with her for a visit under the mistaken belief that time spent away from his brothers with his cool sister-in-law would be awesome. But no, he’d been stuck there for three days and they’d done nothing but talk about boring things that he couldn’t really join in with because he didn’t share the same memories that they did and watch TV in the evenings. The only positive thing was the quality of the food on offer.

“How did you grow up like this and not die of boredom?”

“We made our own fun, we’d read, draw, do arts and crafts, go on days out and-”

“Days out? Where did you go?” Alan jumped on that information like John on a double cheeseburger after a month in space.

Selene thought about it for a moment or two. “The seaside?” she offered. "That was always our favourite place to go and somewhere we always looked forward to, a rare treat really."

“The beach? Yes! Can we go?” he gave her his best pleading puppy eyes and she was, as he well knew, powerless to resist.

“Well…” she dithered, caught between spending time in her family home with her mum as it came up to what would have been her parents 30th wedding anniversary and the need to do more than sit around and mope, especially if that moping meant that her littlest love had a crap time.  “Ad’s, are you up for a road trip to Southend?”

Her brother paused in his Night Fevering to look at her. He seemed to think about it for far longer than was necessary before nodding. 

“I could go for that. Wanna take my car?”

                  ***

“I’m never getting in a car with your brother again,” Alan shuddered, still looking a little stressed out by the whole experience.

“Yet you’ll get in a jet with Scott?”

“Scott goes faster than 25 mph and he knows what road signs are,” Alan explained in the same tone that John adopted whenever he was explaining to her why she actually needed an investment portfolio. 

“Road signs are all part of the conspiracy, man, they just want you to follow blindly and never question where they are sending you.”

“To the beach, they were sending us to the beach,” Alan continued to bitch. Selene couldn’t blame him, two hours in a car with her brother's sitar music, cloud of vape smoke and tendency to lose track of their destination was enough to make anyone a little antsy. Maybe now he'd stop complaining when she took too long to fly them to her flat. 

They left the car park and headed towards the seafront. Thankfully, with it being a weekday and term time, there weren't too many people about. As always the sea was a dirty grey colour, nothing like the clear blue they were used to on the island and Selene could tell that Alan was looking at it with thinly veiled disgust.

Southend had been promoted to a historic seaside town back in 2038 and hadn’t changed since. The lights of the out of date arcades still flashed in welcome, drawing Alan’s attention almost immediately, the little beach huts still offered deck chair rental and the amusement park with its clanking, clunking kiddy rides and its ancient roller-coaster still drew some crowds. 

“See that there?” she pointed out towards the sea. “That’s still the longest pleasure pier in the world.”

“Pleasure Pier? Did you have to make that sound so dirty?” Alan groaned.

“Sorry, but that’s what it’s called, there are different classifications and one that has no purpose but for leisure activities like this one, is known as a pleasure pier.”

“I didn't know that, but it still doesn’t make it any better,” he muttered as she slipped one arm through his and the other through Adam’s to tow them across the road.

The air was filled with a mixture of freshly fried donuts, fish and chips and the unmistakable scent of the sea and Selene was immediately hungry.

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve been here,” she sighed happily, relaxing into the atmosphere of what had once been one of her favourite places in the world. She could vividly remember how exciting it had been to hear the announcement that they were going to the seaside for the day. That meant an afternoon spent playing on the beach, splashing in the sea, eating dinner out of a paper tray with a little wooden fork and, if you were really lucky, a trip around the sealife center and a floaty helium filled balloon to take home with you.

Looking out down the length of the beach she easily conjured up images of childhood days gone by, seeing her father chasing Adam down the beach as he attempted to make a break for freedom or tried to eat a clump of seaweed while her mother screeched at Rufus to run faster and catch him.

Maybe coming here had been a good idea in other ways too, she pondered. Her mother tended to favour being miserable if it was an option, and often when it wasn't, and had been mooching around the house sighing like she was a Victorian ghost haunting the place. She’d gone out to visit friends for the day, leaving them alone and that had been when Alan had seized his chance. And Selene for one was glad he had, he was always good at sensing when she was in need of cheering up and this time had been no exception.

“Can we start at the arcades?” Alan asked, looking more excited than he had in days. Who was she to disappoint him?

“Sure, lead the way!”

        ***

Two hours later and Selene had finally dragged her brothers away from the bleepy, shiny, flashy machines and back into the fresh air. Alan, it transpired, was almost as good on a claw machine as John and she was now lugging along a whole new family of stuffed toys, all slightly moth eaten and smelling a little suspect but cute nonetheless.

“I’m hungry,” Alan announced.

“Good call, little dude.” Adam, surprising Alan no end, had joined in rather enthusiastically at the arcade, being more active and alert than he’d ever seen him before, displaying a competitive streak that rivaled a Tracy's. But, now that the excitement of gaming had died down, he was back to his chilled and slightly lethargic self.

“Fancy some donuts?” Selene suggested.

“Sis…” Adam drawled. 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Selene giggled, shoving the stuffed toys into her brother’s arms as she headed to the donut stalls. “I'll get them, you two meet me on the beach.”

Her arms now free of their burden Selene quickly ordered three dozen of the delectable little morsels, something the English called Dinky Donuts, small little ring donuts, freshly fried and drenched in a sprinkling of sugar. Knowing that they’d need them she bought some drinks too and took her bounty back to the boys, proudly displaying her prize.

“I got them!” she yodeled, but no excited sounds were heard in return. “What’s up?” she asked, nudging Alan as she reached his side.

“What the heck is this?”

“The beach, duh. What else could it be?"

He scuffed a toe into the stones at his feet. “This is not a beach, this is all stones. Where's the sand?”

“It’s a pebble beach, most of the British coast is,” she shrugged.

“It’s wrong.”

“If you say so,” she wasn’t in the mood to argue or defend the virtue of their beaches, she had hot donuts to eat. 

“This is not a beach, there’s no surfers, no sand, no lifeguards, no nothing.”

“This is England, we take things at a more chilled pace,” she soothed, dumping a bag on each of the boys' laps.

She took her own and opened it, inhaling the rich scent. Oooh yeah, that hit the spot. She reached in to pluck one out, studying it from all angles, marveling at it's perfection. She lifted it to her mouth prepared for the taste explosion that was about to assault her mouth in the very best of ways…

“Sel!” A sharp Alan elbow embedded itself in her side, making her drop the donut. She watched in horror as it hit the pebbles and rolled away.

“You had better have a good reason for making me sacrifice a donut,” she warned him.

“Over there!” 

Selene turned, following the direction in which Alan was pointing. 

“What? I don’t see anything?” All she saw was the relatively empty beach, nothing but a few seagulls pecking around hopefully, one coming close enough to snag her lost donut, racing off in triumph with it in its mouth. 

“Them,” he pointed again.

“Them? What about them?” The them in question turned out to be a small group of school age boys, the oldest no more than ten years old. They were all holding a number of balloons from the pier, which were bobbing along above their heads and looked perfectly innocent. “They’re just having a day out, could be an inset day or something at school.”

“No, look what that one's holding,” Alan insisted, nodding towards the oldest looking boy who was carrying a small box with holes in it.

Selene squinted closer. “Is that an animal box?” She was amazed that Alan had even noticed such a thing, she hadn’t looked twice at the boys, just seeing a happy group of friends at the seaside on a rare day off school. Alan always seemed like he was paying little attention to anything, more absorbed in his games or phone, but here was the undeniable proof that he was just as good as his brothers and had inherited their danger seeking sense.

“Looks that way,” Alan agreed. 

“It could be innocent,” Selene argued lamely. “Maybe they are just taking their pet on a day out too?"

“Sure, that’s what it’ll be,” Alan said, rolling his eyes. 

“Honestly, it’s something I’d do,” she retorted, feeling the need to defend herself and her wish to believe that there was good in everyone.

“We’ll keep an eye on them,” Alan decided, finally reaching into his own bag for a donut.

As was usually the case, Selene was easily distracted by talking to her brother and just enjoying the novelty of being in a different place to one she was used to. She’d finally grown accustomed to hearing the sound of the ocean at all times of the day and night after so long in a city where traffic was the only ambient noise. b

But here the sound was different to the island, here the waves lapped gently over the pebbles rather than crashing against rocks and she was surprised that she could tell the difference. 

She’d worried, when Alan had suggested going out, that this little beach from her childhood which stood out so bright and shiny in her memories, would look pale and dull in reality. Life was often that way, your memories and imagination creating a perfect picture that was rarely obtainable in the real world and she didn't want her memories tainted by the truth. Thankfully she had been worried over nothing and was finding it just as charming as she had remembered it to be.

“Not bad are they?” she asked, turning to Alan to see how he was enjoying his donut feast but the space next to her was empty.

“Allie?” she called, looking around like he might suddenly pop out of nowhere. Surely she hadn't ignored him for too long? 

“Alan!” she yelled, trying again. He was a big boy now, an adult in his own right, but she got just as panicked when she lost Scott, which was actually easier if you could believe that. Alan was usually happy to hang near her and chill, Scott was always dashing off to look at something or other and would just vanish into the ether without a second thought. 

“Ad’s, have you seen Alan?”

“Yeah, little dude, cool shirt, strange hair.”

“Thanks for that lovely description. I meant did you see where he went?”

Adam nodded, pointing further down the beach to where the small group of school boys stood, Alan beside them, waving his arms violently, clearly yelling at them though she couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“Shit!” Selene was up in a second, grabbing Adam's arm and towing him along in the process, forcing him to abandon his stuffed animal squad to the mercy of the seagulls as they barreled down the beach after Alan. 

"Al," she panted, finally catching up, "what…doing?" 

In answer the small box that the boy had been carrying was thrust into her hands, a disgruntled rustling noise along with a manic scrabbling, coming from inside. 

"Oi! Give that back!" a boy yelled, his piggy nose turned up to the sky in indignation. "We 'ad ta catch that thing ourselves. Ain't no way you're gonna snatch it."

"You're not getting it back," Alan insisted, his arms folded as he firmly stood his ground. 

Selene passed the box on to Adam who was standing there doing absolutely nothing to help, his attention on the balloons floating above them. Once her hands were free she immediately flanked her little brother, knowing that he wouldn't be doing this without a very good reason. 

"What's going on?" she demanded to know, her hands on her hips. "What are you boys up to?" 

"This idiot won't give us it back," the oldest boy and apparently the mouthpiece of the little hoodlum brigade, continued to yell. Selene had seen boys like him before, usually ones with overly aggressive parents that taught their kids that you got what you wanted in life by being obnoxious, rude and threatening. Well not on her watch and apparently not on Alan's either. 

"You're right , I won't," Alan agreed. "Because that is a living creature that you were about to tie to a bunch of balloons."

"Weren't doin' nothin' of the sort. Yer lyin'." 

"You were what?" Selene hissed, her attention fully engaged now that there was the potential for injury of an animal. "You were going to send an innocent animal into the sky on the end of some balloons?" 

"Nah, we weren't," the little bully boy continued to argue, elbowing one of his friends when they opened their mouth to speak. 

"We ain't doing nothin' wrong, were we lads? Nothin' at all. Just a little experiment for school, jus' like teacher said."

"Experiment? What kind of experiment?" Selene asked, narrowing her eyes in warning. 

"Why should we tell you?" the mouthy one sneered. "You ain't nothin'."

"We were just seeing if he could reach space, like. Teacher said that people would send monkeys up in rockets a hundred years ago," another boy piped up, sounding pleased with himself. "Figured we'd try the same out ta sea like a note in a bottle."

"You are so not doing that!" Selene yelped. 

"Yeah, 'ow you gonna stop us?" 

"You wanna say that to the police?" Alan threatened. 

"Police? Yeah righ', like yer gonna jus' call up the police like they actually care. An' then wot, 'ave em come running on the say so of a nobody? Fer this? I don't think so, mate. They don't give a crap."

"Listen up you little shit," Selene started, rapidly losing patience. "You're not getting that…Whatever that is-" 

"Rat," one of the kids helpfully offered. 

"Rat," Selene continued with a little shudder of horror at the fact that they had gone to all the trouble of capturing a dirty rat off the street just to do something cruel to it. "You're not getting it back and you're not going to hurt it. What's wrong with you all?" 

"He's been to space," Adam suddenly piped up, like he was only just catching up to the conversation but still missing the main point, pointing at Alan helpfully. 

"Space, yeah right," another of the boys, a weedy looking string bean that had previously been hiding near the back of the pack, looking at Alan judgingly. None of the boys looked particularly bothered by their threats or the fact that Selene was practically spitting, she was so angry. 

"Al," she demanded, determined to win the little shits respect. "Show them that clip you took last Saturday, the one on your board."

"We can all board, you ain't nothing special," the mouthpiece sneered, not impressed in the slightest. 

Alan pulled out his phone, fiddled with it for a second then showed them the screen where a video was playing, taken from his vlogging drone as he boogied around outside Five on his astroboard. The dark heavens were clearly visible all around him while the earth spun quietly below, and there, if you looked closely, was John, in the background, sitting on the outside of the gravity ring, clearly doing all the work while Alan filmed for Brandon’s channel. The Alan on screen zoomed in a loop the loop, the drone following, the camera angle changing to show Three securely docked to Five.

“That actually is space!” one kid gasped.

“And that’s...that’s…” another stuttered.

“Thunderbird THREE!” someone screamed in excitement.

“Still think I’m a nobody that the police won’t listen to?” Alan asked casually as he pocketed his phone. "Maybe I should skip the police and go straight to the GDF? What do you think, Sel?" 

"Yep, sounds like a plan to me. They take animal cruelty very seriously, you know."

The ring leader visibly deflated before their eyes, but he valiantly tried to hold on to his ‘couldn’t give a shit’ attitude.

“So you know some people, what’s that got ta do with anythin’? You ain’t the boss here.”

“Knock it off, Wendle, it’s over,” one boy ordered, rolling his eyes.

"Wendle?" Alan mouthed to Selene who shrugged in return. Never had a kid looked less like a Wendle in the entire world. 

“Yeah, I never wanted to do this in the first place,” another joined in. 

The first one to have spoken walked away, followed by another, then the other that had spoken. Others trailing after them until the small group had dispersed as if it had never existed, all of them hurrying off down the beach with calls for getting donuts or having to head home.

Wendle managed to stand his ground for less than a minute before he gave in.

“Keep the stupid rat then!” he yelled, taking off after his friends.

Adam, being Adam, waved goodbye like it was the most normal thing in the world, still holding the rat filled box.

Alan let out the breath he’d been holding, visibly shaking, either from anger or adrenaline. He had never been one for confrontation no matter what form it took or who it involved.

“You did good, babe,” Selene praised, giving him a hug.

“Yeah, good, little dude,” Adam agreed, “here, have this, I insist,” he handed him the box with the rat in it like it was some great prize.

“Erm, thanks,” Alan said, gingerly accepting the box of rat, which rustled as the creature inside shifted around. He held the box for a second, looking completely bemused and a little disgusted, suddenly having a very real feeling of compassion for John when he walked in on Selene and Scott doing something weird. 

“What are we going to do with the rat?” he finally asked Selene, who was the only one there since Adam had wandered off to rescue the stuffed animals they had abandoned, snatching up Alan’s dropped bag of donuts and picking one out to munch on.

“I don’t know,” Selene admitted, “I guess we should take it somewhere to release it. Not around here though, maybe back at Mum’s.”

“I guess,” Alan reluctantly agreed, not liking the idea of sitting in a car with a wild rat in a box. 

Since they had gained another tag along, even if it was in a box, they decided to cut the day short, knowing they couldn't drag the rat around with them all day. It had clearly suffered enough, what with being caught and stuffed in a box and having survived a narrow brush with death. It would be better for them to take it straight home and let it go in the relative safety of the garden before it got even more stressed out. 

"I'll drive," Selene insisted, leaving Alan to hold the rat in the back seats, Adam calling shotgun so he could 'pick the tunes, man'. 

With Selene in the driving seat it was a far shorter, not to mention less frustrating, journey back to Casa de Tempest. 

To Selene's intense relief their mother was still out when they got back. She would have pitched a fit if she'd seen them releasing a rat into her garden, she'd never go out there again. 

Adam wandered off the second they got home, muttering something about a tofu log, leaving them alone to release the beast. 

"You can do the honours," Selene smiled, nodding at the box he still held. "Since you were the one to perform the daring rescue. Seriously, you did good today, sweetheart, but I'm really starting to think that I need to stop taking a Tracy with me whenever I go places, you're all the same, nothing but trouble."

Alan blushed at the praise, as always finding it slightly uncomfortable to be the center of attention in such a way, but still happy to get the validation that he'd done the right thing. With so many big brothers who had all been there and done that before he had a lot to live up to and often felt like he couldn't quite match up to them. 

Taking the box over to the bushes near the fence where Selene had indicated, he opened the flaps and stepped back to give the little guy some room. 

The rat didn't move at first, staying inside the box, obviously scared by its experiences. They stayed quiet, giving it time to make up its mind. Finally they saw the box wobble as the rat made its tentative way out. 

"Shit!" Selene yelped, launching herself off her seat so fast Alan barely saw her move. 

"Sel, what are you…doing," he finished, stunned to see her hit the ground, the rat cradled protectively against her chest. 

"Help me up," she wheezed and he did as she bid, helping her to her feet as her hands were occupied. 

"What's wrong? Why did you catch it?" 

"Allie, look," she carefully opened her hands, just a little. A small, pink nose poked out, followed by a pure white snout, a grey face and perfect pink petal ears. 

"Is that…?"

"A domestic rat, yes. This was either someone's pet or it's come from a store. We can't let him go, he'll never survive in the wild."

"Wow, he's so cute. Can I hold him? He won't bite me will he?" 

"I don't know, he seems tame enough but he's had a fright today so I can't promise anything." She carefully placed the rat in Alan's outstretched hands. 

The rat, far from looking terrified, seemed to be perfectly fine now it was out of the box. It sat down on its haunches and began to wash its face with its little paws, one grey, one white. 

"Aww, he's great," Alan cooed, cupping the rat in one hand so he could stroke it gently with the other. "I've always wanted a pet."

Selene sighed, knowing exactly what was coming next, there was no escaping it, it was going to happen… 

"Can I keep him?" 

    ***

"We gotta move fast," Selene instructed. "I've got the cage and the bedding. Have you got the food?"

"Yep," Alan held up the bag with the food, treats and water bottle they had purchased on their way home. The rat was curled up in his new travel bag, which was hanging from Alan's shoulder. 

"Right, we make a break for it, we go straight to your room, don't look back no matter what happens and avoid John and Scott at all costs. Got it?" 

"Got it," he nodded, grinning happily. 

"They're gonna kill me," she sighed, not that there was much she could do about it. "OK, let's go!" 

They raced up the back stairs from the hangars, straight to the upper floors of the villa where the bedrooms were situated, bypassing the more populated communal areas and managing to avoid any and all Tracys. 

They dived into Alan's room, Selene struggling a little, burdened as she was with a three storey cage. Alan cleared a space on his desk and took the cage from her. 

While Alan set up the cage, filling it with fresh bedding and tasty foods, Selene made herself at home on Alan's bed, the rat happily perched on her chest, enjoying an ear fondle. 

"I didn't know you were back," a voice called from the hallway, accompanied by the sound of footsteps. 

Selene and Alan both jumped, their heads turning guilty towards the door they had neglected to shut where a suspicious looking spaceman stood. 

"Hey, gorgeous husband of mine, I've missed you!" Selene chirped, trying to divert his attention as she quickly grabbed the rat and stuffed it in the pocket of the hoodie she'd stolen from Adam. 

John gave her a look that said he'd seen everything.

"What's that?" 

"What's what?" she answered, trying to look innocent. 

"That tail sticking out of your pocket."

"Tail? What tail?" she poked the tail gently back inside.

"Why does Alan have a cage on his desk that he's trying, unsuccessfully I might add, to hide by standing in front of it?" 

"To put Gordon in?" 

One sleek ginger eyebrow rose and they both knew they were wasting their time. They were well and truly busted. 

Alan held out his hand and Selene passed over the rat, who was none the worse for its impromptu expedition into the depths of her pocket. It sat quietly in his hands, happily nibbling on a piece of cereal bar that had already been occupying his hiding place. 

"Where did that come from?" John's foot tapped out a rhythm as he waited for them to spill the beans, leaning against the door frame, his arms folded. 

"Have I told you how hot you look when you're all grumpy and intense like this?" Selene tried. 

"Where did you get the rat?" he repeated ignoring her blatant attempts at distraction. 

"The beach," Alan admitted, caving immediately under the big bro gaze. 

"The beach?" 

"Yep," Alan looked at Selene for backup, cradling the rat who didn't seem to care about any of the drama he was causing. 

"Some boys had him in a box and they were going to tie it to some balloons and let it go but Alan spotted them and stopped them," she explained. 

John glanced at the rat, who was looking very adorable and fat. 

Ever the master of managing her husband, Selene got to her feet and crossed the room to wrap her arms around John's middle. 

"Alan was great, he sprung into action before I even knew what was going on. He rescued him, and really, isn't that what International Rescue does? Rescue people?" 

"That's not a person, that's a rat," John argued, but she could tell he was weakening. 

"Did I mention that I missed you?" she grinned, standing on tiptoes to place a little kiss on his chin. 

John's sigh of surrender was epic. 

"I'm banning you from ever leaving the house again with any of my brothers. What next, a dolphin with Gordon? 

"No, don't be silly. We couldn't bring a dolphin home in my car."

John rolled his eyes ignoring his wife to face his brother. 

"Does that thing have a name?" 

"Yep," Alan answered, grinning proudly as he moved closer, holding the rat out for inspection. 

"John, meet Fuzz Aldrin."

#alan tracy #selene tempest #adam tempest #John Tracy #fabfivefeb #seaside #day out #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirdsarego #thunderbirds #thunderbirds 2015 #thunderbirds fanfiction