#meant to invoke that exciting feeling of being close with your crush for the first time

[eliounora]

testing the waters...

#this was SUPER QUICK and hence pretty simple #meant to invoke that exciting feeling of being close with your crush for the first time #zelink #legend of zelda #my art

[write-orflight]

Trouble: Chapter 2

*Gif not mine*

Pairings: HotchxReader

Prologue  Chapter 1

Rating: M

Words: 3K

Warnings: Basic witch stuff, angst, mentions of child birth, mentions of near death

Request: OPEN/CLOSED

Summary: After Haley’s passing, Aaron Hotchner has lost the light in his eyes. He seems to find it it the most unlikely of places, an occult themed coffee shop ran by a witch.

A.N: Tarot, wicca, and crystal information is very secondhand if you see any inaccuracies, no you don’t. If you are a witch tho and want to help and be nice to me enter my ask box please, I’m annoying my friend too much.

Chapter 2: God, don't let me lose my mind

The deeper into autumn you got the more busy the shop was. 

Halloween was a big money grabber for your shop. People loved to come to the shop around that time because your shop offered such ‘spooky’ feel, as the hipster who came in that morning would say. You hated that. Halloween was one of your favorite holidays simply because the veil between the natural and supernatural was so thin it was the best time for spells and charms but what you didn’t like was people and baby witches asking you about certain spells or how to commune with spirits just so they can do something “extra spooky” for whatever parties they were having for the season. Consultations were such easy money though so you’d never turn them away but your answer was always the same, that Spirits are not toys and that if they are going to invite them it better be serious and for the right intentions otherwise they might not leave. 

Despite it being your favorite season, It didn’t make you less annoyed. 

“If I have to make another Pumpkin flavored whatever and tell a sorority girl not to invoke a demon in her house, I’m going to scream.” Silena says to you as you enter the shop, Artemis in tow. Your sitter had to take an exam so you had to watch her for the first 2 hours of your shift. Artie, knowing the drill by now, tries to crawl up to the bar stool. You watch her for a second, smiling her little legs before taking pity on her and hoisting her up. She immediately pulls a coloring book and crayons out her bag, before working diligently in silence. You kiss her temple before walking behind the counter, tying your apron on. 

“You had another consultation today?” You asked.  

“Pfft, it wasn’t even that. She asked me while ordering her coffee, though I should’ve charged her for that dumbass question.” You look at her pointed, nodding your head towards your child who repeats everything. Silly winces “Sorry, but still. If this is how halloween is going to be, you’re probably going to have to do some balancing spells.” 

You rolled your eyes. “Exactly what I need, more work.” 

“What’s a dumbass?” Artie pipes up from her perch on the stool. 

“Something you are not and shouldn’t repeat unless you want your mom mad at me.” Silly says, reaching across the counter to ruffle her hair. 

The doorbell of the shop rings and the very man who’s occupied your mind these past couple of months steps in. Aaron Hotchner was one of your favorite customers despite not talking very much, he’d make small talk while you made his order which you found yourself doing slower than it would normally take you, just to get a little bit more of his time, he’d leave a tip in the jar and be on his way always leaving you with a small smile that you always immediately returned with a wide one. You tried to stop yourself from getting attached but here you were, an adult woman who had a crush on a customer who probably didn’t think about you when he left the shop. 

You’d never seen him on a weekend though and frankly you didn’t know if you could handle seeing him like this again, he wore dark blue jeans, a black belt and a black t-shirt that fit a little too well over his broad chest you couldn’t help but staring at his arms that you’d never seen on display like this. You knew for a fact(well you hoped at least) he’d have no issue picking you up or pinning you down. 

Now’s not the time, y/n… you think. 

“Hey, you.” You greet, flirtatiously. You’ve been trying not to flirt with him, you really were but sometimes you couldn’t help it. It was your personality. “Didn’t think I’d see you in here. On a weekend, no less.” 

“Yea, decided to stop for coffee before heading to my sister in law’s. Can I have my usual and an Americano for her?” He asks 

“You got it.” You wink before starting to work. Silly gives you a knowing look which you brush off. Hotch takes a seat at the bar a few seats away from your daughter who looks up at him. 

“Hi!” She says excitedly. “I’m Artie.” 

“Hi Artie, I’m Aaron.” He looks around. “Are your parents around?” You look up. You’d forgotten to mention you had a kid to Hotch, which would probably explain his confusion of a random child sitting alone. 

“My mama’s right there, silly.” She laughs. “Mama?” She says you look up automatically from the milk you’re frothing. 

“Yes, bean?” You say. 

“Can I have a brownie?”  

“Well, I don’t know. Did you finish the addition tables I asked you to do?” She shakes her head at you. “Well, how about you do that then we’ll see if it’s brownie time, deal?” She nods, fast while pulling her math homework out of her bag. Hotch watches the interaction confused but with a slight smile. 

“I didn’t know you had a kid.” He says 

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Gus.” You say, calling him by the nickname you affectionately gave him your first meeting. “But yes I do, that’s Artemis.” 

He nods, knowingly. “How old?” 

“Well, I don’t know. How old are you, bean?” You say. 

“I’m six!” She says, holding up 5 fingers, you grab her other hand to extend her other index finger too so the number was actually 6. 

“Really? You’re not 16 yet?” Silly asks, ruffling her hair. “I thought you were driving us home tonight?” 

Artie shakes her head. “Mama says I can’t drive yet.” 

“Between you and me kid, your mama shouldn’t be on the road either.” You swat at her. 

Aaron gives a small chuckle at the display in front of him. But he has to ask the burning question in his head. “Her dad—“ 

“Not in the picture.” You cut off. “Like not even in the same gallery.” 

Hotch nods understandably as you put his drinks in the carrier for him. He looks at you confused when you add a 3rd cup. 

“Hot chocolate.” You say. “For your son. I imagine that’s where you’re going. To pick him up from your sister?”  

“How did you know I had a son?” He asks. 

“Oh, I just used one of my witchy spells to find out information on you.” You say jokingly, but he looks at you with mild horror. “I’m kidding, Spencer told me.” 

He nods. “Thank you, y/n.” 

“No problem, come back to see me?” 

“Always.” He says, offering you a small secret smile before leaving. You can’t help the dreamy look you give his retreating back. 

“Are you coming back to earth anytime soon?” Sil says, shaking her head. “You got it bad, kid.” 

“Pfft, no I don’t.” You say turning to clean up the mess you just made. 

“I don’t understand why you just won’t ask him out.” 

“He’s healing, Sil.” You say, shrugging. “And I don’t want to push him into something he’s obviously not ready for.” 

Not to mention you also didn’t think you were ready for it. 

———————————————

On Halloween day, you get a visit from one of your favorite customers 

“Pennywise!” You say to chipper blonde women who strolled in she was wearing a orange and black dress with little jack-O-lantern earrings that you had gotten her the beginning of month. You move your hair back to show her the Ouija board pointer earrings she had gotten you in return. Penelope Garcia couldn’t just accept a gift without giving one in return. 

“Hey Y/N, how are you this ole hallow’s eve?”

“It’s Halloween and a full moon tonight.” You say excitedly. “It’s like witch Christmas.” 

“I don’t know about that but I am happy for you. Can I have a pumpkin spice latte and since I’m such a good friend an Americano with extra sugar for the good doctor?” She asks. 

“You got it, Pen.” You say before starting her order. “Heading into work now?” 

“Sure am! Hopefully there’s not a gruesome murder so I’ll be able to spend my Halloween having fun.” Penelope says. “You got any plans?” 

“Other than taking Artie Trick or Treating and charging some crystals in the full moon, no.” 

“Come on, no wild parties? no hexing beautiful men into falling in love with you?” Penny asks. You laugh loudly, shaking your head. “Man, maybe the life of a witch was more exciting in my head.” 

“Yea, you did.” You laugh. “I’m basically just a cool rock collector plus love spells, so not my thing.” 

“So there’s such a thing?” 

“Yea there’s love spells. I don’t believe in using them. I think love itself is it’s own powerful being. It shouldn’t be manipulated with, if someone was meant to love me they would.” 

“Speaking of love and love spells…” Silena pipes up from the display case she was loading pastries she just made into. “Penelope, how’s your boss?” You glare over at her. 

“Hotch?” Penny asks looking between the two of you before smirking at you. “Why do you want to know?” 

“I don’t.” You say at the same time as Silena says. “She has a Texas sized crush on him.” 

Garcia practically squeals at that. “Let me set you up please.” 

“No, Penny.” You say, immediately 

“Why not?” Her and Silly say at the same time. 

“Because… I don’t know didn’t his wife just die months ago, it’s hardly appropriate for me to try swoop in.” 

“Ex-wife. They were already long divorced before she died.” Penelope adds 

“Still! It’s not appropriate.” You say. 

“So what? You’re just going to keep making him free coffee until he realizes you're into him?” 

“Yup” you say adding the 3rd cup to Garcia’s carrier. “Give that to Grumpy for me please.” Garcia opens her mouth to say something but you just hold up your hand cutting her off 

“Fine.” She says, grabbing the carrier. “Only because I have to go to work though, this conversation isn’t over.”  

“Yes it is.” You call after her. 

——————————————

You were back in the shop. Artie was tuckered out after a long night of trick or treating and crashing from her sugar high so you decided to charge some of your crystals and do some balancing spells, knowing for a fact a lot of teenagers did stupid shit to upset the balance. 

As you were lighting the candles and incense, you heard a knock at the door. You were long closed so who could possibly need something right now? You look out the window and Aaron is standing there. You’re confused but you let him in anyway. 

“Hey Grumpy, what’re you doing here?” 

“I’m sorry I didn’t know you were closed, I guess I’ve never been here at night. I’ll go. I'm sorry for bothering you.” He says turns to go but you grab his arm to stop him. 

“Gus… it’s almost midnight, no business is open. You’re here because there’s obviously something upsetting you so I’m not just going to let you leave.” You all but push him into barstool. “Now like I said it’s almost midnight so there is something important I need to do so if you’ll sit tight for like 2 minutes, I’ll make us coffee.” 

Hotch obliges, sitting silently watching you as you lit some candles on the altar you kept in the shop. You placed the honey cake you had made earlier in the day on the altar before whispering. 

“Thank you to the patron, Artemis, Great goddess of Moon and Magic. Mistress of deer and owl. Be thou my guide and Inspiration. Teach me Thy mysteries and lead me in thy ways.” You stand and turn back to Hotch who is watching you intensely. “Sorry about that, midnight is her favorite time. Coffee?” You ask, He nods as you move behind the counter. 

“Can I ask what it is you just did?” Hotch ask. 

“That?” He nods. “It’s a full moon so since Artemis is my patron goddess, it’s best to leave a sacrifice to stay in her favor.” You shrug. He looks at you like you're crazy but you're used to that look. “Don’t look at me like that, it’s no different then some catholic practices. In fact, Christians often stole from pagan practices, and only one is just considered ‘taboo’ now.” 

“Is that why you named your child Artemis, because she’s your Patron?” He asks. 

“Actually, Artemis is my Patron because of Artie.” You say, he looks at you as if asking you to continue. “I wasn’t always like this.” You say gesturing to yourself and the shop. “My parents are pastors and for a long time I was this faith devout christian girl. But I got pregnant out of wedlock, my parents disowned me and I was looking for something to turn to. I met Silena and she introduced me to Wicca, and said whoever my Patron was through meditation and study, They’ll reveal themselves to me. So I went months, meditating daily, and still nothing was working. Then I went into labor, and everything was going wrong. I thought, this was my punishment from god for not only getting pregnant without marriage but turning to witchcraft. I had to have an emergency C-section. And when I was on the operating table, I almost died, Artie almost died. I started to see these images of deer and boar running through the forest. And finally when I came back to, and I could hear my baby crying, the first thing I saw when my eyes opened was the full moon out the window.” You sigh, sliding a cup to Hotch before moving from behind the counter to take a seat next to him. “That’s when I realized the goddess had saved me and my child. And while Artemis prefers virgin patronage, and that ship had long sailed past back then. I figured naming my child after her was the next best thing.”  

“That’s a beautiful story, Y/N.” He says, looking at you sincerely.   

“Thank you, and since you’re not running for the hills, why don’t you tell me why you really knocked at my door at midnight.” 

“It’s just…” He starts, clearing his throat. “Tonight was the first ‘major’ holiday without Haley. And I tried to take Jack’s mind off it, make it fun but it was like this looming weight above us. That it wasn’t the same without her and that it never would be. And I was upset and just wanted to take a walk but I guess my feet carried me here.” He shrugged. 

“Well I’m glad you’re here grumpy. And you’re healing you need to give yourself time--” 

“I don’t have time!” He snaps. You flinch back a bit, having never heard his raised voice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just-I don’t have time to heal. I have to be there for Jack.”

“Who’s there for you, Aaron?” You ask. He looks at you confused. You hardly ever call him by his name. It's either grumpy or gus or a combination of the two. Never by his actual name, he hated how much he liked how it sounded coming from your lips. “Do you know what a rock tumbler is?” you ask, he shakes his head confused where you’re going with this. You run behind the counter to retrieve the box you had dug through the very first night you met.

“Well a rock tumbler is a device you put rocks into. Rocks that have eroded, rocks that have trekked the earth, rocks that have been to hell and back. And what you do is you put them in this device with a little bit of water and you wait. Days, weeks, months all the while this device is just spinning, you don’t see what’s happening on the inside but after a while, when the time is right, you get these beautiful lustrous stones.” You say, showing him the box. “Healing is the same way, others don’t see you working. But in the end, they’ll see the result. And you’ll feel the result too. But if you don’t take that step you don’t end up with gems like these. You just end up with an eroded dingy rock.” You look up at Hotch and he’s tearing up slightly. Your heart melts. “Do you want a hug?” you say. 

“You don’t have to--” 

You cut him off. “No one on earth gives hugs because they have to. I want to give you a hug if you want one. So do you want a hug?” 

He nods, fastly. So you stand, he follows suit and allows you to pull him down into a full embrace. Your arms around his neck and shoulders, he envelopes you fully into his torso, arms tight around your waist. You sigh, content. Before shaking yourself out of it. This wasn’t about you. No matter how right it felt. 

After a minute or so you break apart. You look him in the eyes and he’s staring back at you in what feels like admiration. You clear your throat. “Can I give you something?” you ask.

“Is it another crystal?” He asked back. 

“Yes, it is.” You rummage through the box before pulling out the one you needed. “This is Aragonite, it’s good for healing old wounds and building emotional strength. Now I can gift you this but you have to activate it yourself. Even if you don’t believe it, I feel like it’s good words to hear yourself say anyway.” You grab his left hand, sliding the crystal into it. He looks into your eyes. “Now say, I release past wounds and embrace resilience.” 

Hotch sighs. “I release past wounds and embrace resilience.” He then slides the stone in his pocket. Before grabbing your hand again. “Thank you, Y/N” 

“Anytime, Grumpy.” You say.  

Taglist: @megatrexus @roses-and-grasses​ @tittymuncher69​ @liaabsurd​ @ladyravenclaw​ @genevievedarcygrangerreading​ @softbibxtch​ @xxdisappearwithoutatracexx​

#hotch x reader smut #bau x reader #hotchner x reader smut #aaron hotchner x reader smut #aaron hotchner #hotch x reader #aaron hotchner x reader #hotchner x reader #criminal minds

[glumvillain]

GlumReviews #5

Stepping further into the darkness we find our journey landing us on July 18th, 1980. The release of Joy Division’s second and final studio album.  Those not familiar with the band history should be aware that this album was released 2 months after singer Ian Curtis’ death. 

By this time in music history the world had witnessed the folly of mankind as societies collapsed and transformed due to economic or social woes.  This is some of the first popular music that was perhaps the most honest as it could be, it didn’t lie to you, there was no promises of a better tomorrow, your future prospects will be dried up by the time you’re old enough to manifest them.

Curtis’ lyrics pull no punches about the dour and hopeless experiences of the human condition.  The music itself is a sparse backdrop to his narration. Definitely not an album you come strolling into looking for a good time.  Although I read previous reviews saying it was danceable music so what the %^&* do I know.

1. Atrocity Exhibition

The album opens with a tribal-like drum lead, beginning a relentless journey through the tortured mind of Ian Curtis. Random sounds and textures fade in and out, building to add a layer of menace to the overall tone. The lyrics, stark and crushing. “All the dead wood from the jungles and cities on fire/ Can’t replace or relate can’t release or repair.”

2. Isolation

A synth heavy turn-around from the intro song, something a little more cozy, but in contrast of the upbeat sounding song, Curtis goes on to sing “I’m doing the best that I can/ I’m ashamed of the things I’ve been put through, I’m ashamed of the person I am”.  The theme of--yes Isolation is heavily present throughout the album as it feels this entire album was recorded in the vacuum of space.  Sterile and cold.  Almost empty.  As mentioned before Curtis pulls no punches with his lyrical content but the rest of the bands playing feels like an exercise in taming that overwhelming emotion that Ian constantly struggles to keep in.

3.  Passover

As a pretty empathetic person it’s difficult to read his lyrics at times because they are just so brutally raw and negative.  Most people don’t talk this way for fear of alienating people, but the way he sings it, how it’s sung. You just feel the exhaustion of a world beating down on you. The music is simple, but it serves a perfect device for him to convey his message of “This is the crisis I knew had to come/ Destroying the balance I kept”.

4.  Colony

In reading some interviews from Joy Division, when asked to explain the lyrics to his songs, Ian says that it was simply up to anyone’s interpretations what his lyrics meant.  And I can really respect that, because for one it makes it easy for me sound like I may actually know what I’m talking about here.  But really it allows the listener to make something personal to their own experiences, I’d offer mine up but this album is dreary enough.  It really feels as if Ian is just in a completely different band from the rest of his bandmates as some of these compositions don’t really match up with the vocal moods. 

5. Means to an End

Now with the previous song in mind, this is where I feel they all align in ideology or mood.  As previous bands I reviewed, Joy Division seem to have a distinct style that made them stand out from a crowd of hundreds of bands in the same position as them. This is that sound and it embodies everything perfectly. Vamping lyrics, a hopeful hopelessness in the sound but it’s all just the soundtrack to the deteriorating condition of someone whose experienced too much loss to really muster up the energy to keep fighting. 

6. Heart and Soul

“Existence, well what does it matter?/ I exist on the best terms I can”.  And this album is just full of these strikingly dark and beautiful lyrics. The song itself, which was brewed with a punk backbone, but lacking the power of rage, it’s chill mood music and again such simple arrangements carrying Ian’s haunting singing.  A steady groove of vamping lyrics and regretful self-loathing. 

7.  Twenty Four Hours

Another staple sound for goth bands of this era is the chorused bass sound heavily present here and I love it. One of their more energetic songs for Ian to brood over. According to interviews with Joy Division, Curtis’ bandmates wish they would have noticed the signs pointing to his untimely demise sooner.  Furthermore also saying they’d never really paid attention to the lyrics.  Because I mean.....it doesn’t take a scholar to read between the lines of the massive monoliths Ian Curtis was constructing to doom and gloom. And I got all this from wiki so if you wanna read up more about it I suggest starting there and digging through their sources provided.  Invoking a gloomy Jim Morrison, this song is a pretty standard experience with Joy Division by this point in the album but the stylistic changes are welcome to break up any monotony you may be feeling.

8. The Eternal

A very somber song encased in synth pads and dark gothic piano.  Painting the picture of a funeral, of going through the motions of death and loss.  These are probably some of the saddest, depressing songs I’ve ever heard in a row.  Not being said to take away from the album.  If you ever wanted to hear what a normal person sounds like, I think Ian Curtis is that voice, just a young man lost in a gigantic world, suffered from epilepsy and battling depression amid a dissolving marriage. Being hoisted on-stage where he would be victim to his seizures.  Even in wanting to shout his pain to the world, he was made to suffer.

9.  Decades

The album closes with a realization of sound.  A beautiful piece of music as they abandon almost all instruments in favor of cold, lifeless synthesizers.  and they play with Ian’s voice so beautifully in this moment.  Alot of these songs play as if they’re being sung by someone dying on the side of the road.  Watching a world pass them by, counting up all the regrets and eventually having to let go. 

This was not an easy album to review as it took multiple listens to really get it to sink in, perhaps I’m not at the darkest moments of my life, but I empathize deeply with Ian’s thoughts and emotions.  Through the research and listening of this album I do feel a bit of sadness for him, and thankful that such a record exists of such a HUMAN take on the world and music. I find it really hard to rate because of how relentlessly depressing it is at times, does that take away or add to the experience? I guess every listener will react differently and perhaps if you’re one of those people who needs sad music to get through difficult times, this could serve as an important piece of music to you.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I decided that the depressingly real aspect of it only adds to the experience.  While not exciting in terms of a party or dance record, it really does serve as an important document to mental health and the struggles of depression. I’d be hard pressed to say I’d revisit this album again. But I’m glad to have discovered it and really gave it a chance to grow on me. 

#album review #music review #joy division #ian curtis #closer

[crushedbyhyperbole]

Promises - Chapter Two

A/N:  Chapter 2 takes a step back in time to when Bucky and Izzy were kids.  This and the next few chapters will be a belated prologue.  This and the following 2 chapters had me weeping as I wrote them.  I am unrepentant for any emotions invoked lol.  Hope you enjoy.

Warnings:  Emotional hurt, broken hearts, angst.  Grab the tissues folks.

PROMISES MASTERLIST  |  MAIN MASTERLIST  |  MOBILE MASTERLIST

Belated Prologue Part One - The marvellous Three

Bucky Barnes and Stevie Rogers lived on the same street when they were kids.  Six doors down on opposite sides.  Their families had moved in on the same day and, at eight years old, they became inseparable.  Playing out in the street with all the other kids, getting into trouble.  Where you would find one, the other was sure to be nearby.  They were, and still are, best friends.

Izzy Freeman and her family moved in a couple of months later, right next door to the Barnes’ (which was Bucky, his mother Dolores and his grandpa Joe), and she quickly became part of their club.  They called themselves The Marvellous Three and would play imaginary games of good against evil with the other local kids.  Although none were ever as close as the three of them were.

Stevie made the gang so he was the boss.  He had this battered old trashcan lid that he painted with the star spangled banner, and a beat up old wooden toy sword.  Bucky had a plastic toy gun that had once made a ra-ta-ta-ta noise when he pulled the trigger but that hadn’t worked right since a week after he got it, so he made his own noises.  And Izzy, she was the coolest one of the three, she had a catapult that really worked. They would hang out in the field at the end of the street and pelt stones at rusty old beer cans and clouded glass bottles they had lined up in the dirt.

Old memories fondly remembered.

Growing up poor in Brooklyn wasn’t easy at times.  Bucky remembered being fourteen and having to save his pocket money for three months just to go to the Summer Fairground down by Jamaica Bay.  It was only there for a week in the school holidays and his mother had allowed him to go, stating that he’d have to save up himself, do chores around the house, earn his pocket money.  So he had, saving all of his $2 a week.  It wasn’t much but at least he’d be able to go with Stevie and Izzy, and actually go on some rides, maybe buy a hotdog.

Izzy’s dad drove them and said he’d pick them up at 7 o’clock.  They had freedom, a bit of cash and each other, what could go wrong?

Turns out that plenty of things could go wrong, and Bucky found himself in a scuffle with a much older boy who wanted to steal his game tokens.  The sensible thing to do would be to give up the tokens, but Bucky decided to fight.  He’d planned on winning enough tokens to trade in for a cute white dog plushie to give to Izzy, but rather than give in and save himself a beating he’d fought, scrapping in the mud with a boy much bigger and stronger than he was.  That was the thing about Bucky, he was thick-headed and stubborn.

Stevie was scrawny back then, Bucky was short and Izzy was just a girl.  The Marvellous Three against maybe ten older teens was never going to end well.

Bucky scrapped with the kid for what felt like ages, but you know how it is with time and adrenaline, everything slows and you feel like time is treacle; viscous and pensive.  He gave as good as he got, for a smaller kid he was fast and determined.

The other kids held Stevie back to make sure he didn’t intervene but left Izzy because girls don’t fight boys.  Only Izzy wasn’t your average run-of-the-mill girl, she was one of them and therefore different.  She stood apart from them, out of the way, watching as Bucky fought.  Later she’d tell him that she knew he could win so she didn’t step in but when the other boys saw he was getting the upper hand on their friend they joined in the fight.  Totally unfair.

Izzy had a few small pebbles in her pocket and her catapult; she always carried them even when Stevie had out grown his love of that trashcan shield and Bucky’s toy gun was long broken.  The first stone struck one of the boys in the leg – he cried out in confusion, searching for the source.  Izzy had quickly pelted the rest of the stones into the group, dissuading some of them from joining in.  Seeing that she was out of ammo, one of the boys went for her.

Bucky thought he remembered seeing that happen but he couldn’t be sure it was his own memory or one made from them discussing the events afterward.  Either way he was being kicked and punched all over, a pretty bad beating considering they were just kids, and she was about to get a beating herself.

Izzy had a roll of pennies and a bag of boiled sweets which she was prepared to use as ammunition, so she did, loading the cherry-flavoured round and firing at the oncoming boy’s head. There was blood and a busted lip for him, and they’d later learn he’d lost a tooth too.

She burned through the candy and started on the pennies which was dangerous and they all knew it. The coins had been for the arcade machines but there was no chance of them staying to play those after this.

Finally, Stevie was free and the main bulk of the other kids backed away.  The big kid was on the ground and Bucky was standing over him with a bloodied face and bloody knuckles.  They separated and dispersed.  The marvellous Three had won fair and square.

Looking at Izzy then, her skin flushed and a fire in her eyes, Bucky decided that he loved her.  A fourteen year old’s crush turned to something much deeper than a nervous fluttering in the chest; Bucky burned for her. He didn’t know exactly what it all meant but he felt it and knew he’d always be hers.

By the end of that summer, Stevie was going through a phase where he wanted to be called Ste and Bucky was starting a growth spurt that made his bones itch and ache.  He followed suit with Ste, choosing to be called Jimmy because Bucky was too childish and James was too old.  Izzy was still Izzy though she began to change also, in not too subtle ways that both boys noticed more than they let on.

There was one discussion that Bucky remembered where he and Steve had confessed to each other that they had a crush on her.  Bucky understated his feelings and he didn’t know about Steve but they made a pact that they wouldn’t pursue her unless she made a choice for herself – if she did, no hard feelings and if she didn’t then the status quo would remain.

After high school two of the Marvellous Three went to college.  Izzy wanted to be a lawyer and Steve (now over his Ste phase) wanted to be in law enforcement.  Bucky couldn’t help feel that Steve had chosen a law related course to curry favour with Izzy, but she never treated either of them any differently than she always had.  Her and Steve were close but she would always laugh more with Bucky, so they were even in his eyes.

Bucky, who was still in the midst of his Jimmy phase, took an engineering apprenticeship that at the time was just a means to an end – a job that paid and didn’t require a whole bunch of sterling grades or qualifications.  He was a smart kid but lacked the ambition to do better, he was easily distracted and always seemed to find trouble.

At the end of their final college year, Bucky passed his apprenticeship and became officially employed. Steve and Izzy had both finished their final exams so they all went to an end-of-college house party to celebrate.

He would never forget that night because the next day was when everything changed for him.

Izzy looked amazing in her spaghetti-strap summer dress and ballerina pumps.  The hem of the dress moved lightly as she walked, touching her sun-kissed skin a few inches above her knees.  Her slender arms were bared and her graceful was neck exposed by her softly arranged up-do.  To Bucky she’d never been more beautiful.

He remembered the nerves in his gut when he’d seen Steve flirting and then kissing a girl from his criminal law class.  Though they’d both dated girls in college, neither of them had ever thought twice about their ‘Izzy pact’, until Bucky had, right then.  Steve had pretty much gotten over his crush but Bucky, well, Bucky was never getting over Izzy.  Never.

They danced and drank, talked and laughed all night.  Everything about her was effortless, she was perfect, like a doll, and that’s where that pet name began.

She laughed and attacked him with tickling fingers when he first called her that, play fighting on the sofa before settling back in a tangle of limbs and shared laughter. He’d snapped a picture of them together then, her breathless with a mischievous glint in her eyes, him looking like he was drowning in his love for her.  It would be a photo he’d keep forever.

At the end of the night, waiting for their taxi home to their neighbouring houses, emboldened by booze and the warm glow of her skin he’d asked her out on a date.

“Ask me tomorrow.” She’d smiled ruefully and squeezed his hand.

It wasn’t ‘no’ but it wasn’t ‘yes’ either.  He couldn’t deny the lost and empty feeling that wrenched his insides.  Was she telling him that because she thought he was drunk and didn’t mean it?  Or was it because he was drunk and she hoped he’d forget?  Maybe she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

He’d just nodded and tried to distract himself by looking for Steve.  He was just about to text him when a message came through saying ‘Don’t wait up’.  Looked like Steve was getting his end away that night, lucky fucker.

The next day, slightly hung-over, Bucky had knocked on Izzy’s door.  Mrs Freeman answered and invited him in.  There was a buzz about the place, intense excitement charged the air.

Izzy came practically tumbling down the stairs and into his arms where she hugged him tighter than she ever had.  Bucky felt his heart swell, thinking she’d remembered what he’d asked her the night before, and her answer was ‘yes’ after all.

He wound his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck.  Her soft hair caressed his cheek as he inhaled deeply. She smelled amazing, she always smelled amazing, fresh and clean with a delicate musk underlying it all that was the natural scent of her skin.

She pulled back and looked at him with a huge grin.  Bucky grinned back, tucking her hair behind her ear tenderly.  His eyes searching hers in disbelief that this thing he’d hoped for since he was that fourteen-year-old boy with a fat lip and bloodied knuckles, could actually be his.  That she could actually be his.

“I got into Berkeley!” She said gleefully, throwing her arms around him again.

It was a curious feeling. Having your heart ripped out at the same time as pride bloomed in your chest.  Bucky felt like he was dying.  There was no air, he struggled for breath and his eyes prickled.  His gut ached and he felt sick, like really sick, but he had to smile.  And he did, he smiled big, letting the tears that formed in his eyes seem like tears of joy. He told her she’d done great and that he was so happy for her, he wasn’t lying, he wanted her to have all of her dreams come true.  But those dreams would take her away from him, to another state, for years.  Years!

His brain ran the scenarios. Christmas, Easter, summer, that’s when he’d see her.  He could make trips to visit, and he would, spending days driving his motorcycle to California just to spend a few hours with her if he couldn’t afford the flights.  He already knew he wouldn’t be able to afford the flights, it would be just like being a kid and having to save his pocket money up to go the Jamaica Bay Fairground all over again.  Only this time he’d be saving months and months of wages to visit the girl of his dreams in another part of the country.  Two days drive.  That’s how far away she’d be.  Two days with no rest.  His heart broke in half.

Early September.  That was when term started.  Bucky had seven weeks left with her and then she’d be gone. He sat on the front steps of his mom’s place that night, contemplating life without Izzy.  He couldn’t ask her to stay, wouldn’t ask.  He wouldn’t be that selfish.  But he knew he couldn’t stay in this place without her.  Three years, four years?  And Steve, he’d be going away too, Bucky just wasn’t sure where yet.  He felt like his life was falling to pieces in his hands.  He never had much anyway but he always had them.  Not anymore.

The next morning, after a night of soul searching and tears, Bucky enlisted in the Army.

That summer was the most difficult time of his life.  Holding onto such heartache, keeping it locked away so as not to mar the time he had left.  It was an impossible task.

One weeks after enlisting in the Army he told Steve.  He couldn’t bring himself to tell Izzy yet but he had to tell someone.  Steve was his best friend, his first real friend, one of the only two he kept through his whole life growing up.

Steve understood.  He was sad, yes, but supportive.  Maybe a couple of years away, focusing on other things would straighten Bucky out.  They’d see each other whenever they both had leave.  Steve was enrolling in the FBI training program here in New York, with an intensive training secondment down in Quantico, Virginia.  His academic course was three years long, including the twenty weeks he’d spend down in Quantico.  It was certainly better than California.

The following week, Bucky showed up on Izzy’s doorstep.  She’d been texting him to come over but he’d purposefully ignored her.  She said she needed to talk to him about something and he was both excited and full of dread.

She seemed happy when she let him in, and they’d went into the den – there were no boys allowed in her room.  Maybe this would be good news after all.  He was so lost in the scenarios running through his head that he didn’t register her staring at him.

“You got something you want to say?”  She asked, taking him completely by surprise.

His mind immediately went to Steve.  That little rat couldn’t keep his mouth shut.  Bucky’s temper had bubbled.  He flared his nostrils in annoyance.

“I do, actually, doll.” His heart hammered in his chest, the nickname, the news he was about to confess, it all had him dialled up to ten on the stress scale.

Izzy smiled sweetly, a glimmer of something alluring right there in her eyes.

“I enlisted in the army, Izzy.  I leave in two weeks.”

Her face fell, and right then he knew Steve had kept his promise.  Tears welled up in her eyes and her chin gave that cute wobble it did when she was trying to hold back a sob.  She didn’t ask why, she just nodded, hastily swiping away the tears that had just started to spill past her lower lashes.

The way she stood, pulling the sleeves of that horrifically baggy cardigan over her hands, nervously tugging at the weave, broke his heart.  What was he supposed to do?  She was going away, leaving him.  She didn’t even know what it meant or what it would do to him and she never would. He’d keep it to himself to spare her. Their friendship meant more to him than anything else and he decided right then that he would do absolutely anything to keep her in his life, but right now he was all kinds of fucked up.

This army thing was just to straighten him out, like Steve said, it would be something new to take his mind off everything.  He’d stay in touch, keep their friendship alive, and hopefully they’d reconnect on the other side.  He just couldn’t be here, in Brooklyn with all the memories of her and not have her here.

Izzy plucked an envelope from the telephone table and wordlessly handed it to him.  It was opened and addressed to Isabella Freeman from the University of Yale, Connecticut.

“What’s this?”  He asked.  Numbness stealing over him.

“Read it.”  Her voice was thick with emotion, but it wasn’t the happy kind that had lightly bubbled from her lips when he’d first arrived.

“Dear Isabella,” he read aloud.  “As the admissions officer responsible for your area, I would like to offer my personal congratulations on your acceptance to the Yale College class of 2008…”

His voice cracked as he fully understood what this meant.  She wasn’t leaving him, he was leaving her.  She would only be two hours drive away from their home but him… He was going to Missouri.

Bucky’s hands were shaking as he clutched the letter.  His mouth was dry and he worked his throat wordlessly to try to say something, anything. Finally he coughed, clearing his throat.

“This is great news.” He said, offering her the most genuine smile he could.  He was happy that she’d gotten into the best law school in the country, ecstatic that she was able to pursue her dreams, but singularly mortified that he had fucked this up so badly.  “Have you told Steve yet?”

She shook her head solemnly, her eyes swam with tears she just stared at him.

“He’s gonna freak the fuck out!”  Bucky jumped up with a forced smile, deciding that these last two weeks with her were going to be the happiest they’d ever had.  “He might even do ‘the dance’.”

Her hesitant laughter was a balm on the aching emptiness within.  His soul was practically keening its lament. Two weeks.  Fourteen days to enjoy themselves before The Marvellous Three would be broken up and scattered on the winds.

Bucky wanted to lie to Steve and Izzy about his flight time.  He wanted to tell them to meet him at the house at 8am when in reality his flight left LaGuardia airport at 8am, but he couldn’t do it.  It would be the last time for a long time he’d see either of them. The ripping out of what was left of his heart was worth one last look at both of their smiling faces.  The last time in who knew how long that The Marvellous Three would be together.

“Please stay safe.” Izzy said, her lips brushing his ear as she hugged him fiercely.  Drawing back she kissed him on the cheek, the corners of their mouths overlapping, lingering there overlong.  Suddenly she was gone and turning away to hide her tears.  She couldn’t bare to watch him leave so she fled, a sob breaking loose as she hurried away.

“Don’t die, punk.” Steve hugged him forcefully as he reeled from Izzy’s departure.

“You too, jerk.” Bucky patted his back, hard. “I’ll be seeing you.”  He stiffened, swallowing hard.

“See you at the end of the line, Buck.”

“The end of the line…”  He gave Steve a half-hearted salute before taking a deep breath and one last look at his friend.

Continue to chapter three >>>

#bucky barnes x ofc #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes angst #emotional hurt #promises #my writing #friends to lovers #cloudy's writing

[wildsolareclipse]

Shatter the Mirror

Link was greeted with the plain ceiling of his treehouse as he opened his eyes, the sun filtered through the single window that sat some distance away, the glow of dawn lighting up the room. Remembering his duties to the ranch, he hastily rolled out of bed and dressed in his normal Ordonian attire, leaving his green hero’s clothing abandoned in the closet.

Grabbing a satchel, he filled it with a few necessities for his coming adventure before finally deeming himself ready to leave.

When Link opened his front door, the full light of outside made him squint as his eyes adjusted to the change in brightness. After a moment, the hero slid down the ladder of his house, feet hitting the ground in a matter of seconds.

Suddenly, an excited neigh sounded from just behind him. Link smiled and turned to see his beloved steed, Epona, prancing in place, clearly happy see to see him. Still smiling, he walked up to her, swinging himself onto her back.

Link patted her neck, “It’s good to see you too, girl! Now, c’mon, we don’t want to keep Fado waitin’ too long!” Epona immediately set off towards the ranch, already eager to start the day.

The ride through the village wasn’t very eventful, it was still quite quiet at this time of day, save for a few.

As soon as the Ordon Ranch came into sight, Link could see Fado struggling to herd all the stubborn goats into the barn. The hero shook his head and urged Epona closer.

“G’morning, Fado!” Link called as he approached.

Fado spun around, surprised, “Ah, Link, Epona! Thank goodness you’re here! These goats ain’t listenin’ to me today! Do you think you two could help me round ‘em up?”

Link smiled, “That’s what we’re here for! Always glad to help out!”

The rancher sighed in relief, stepping aside for Link as he quickly got to work, the goats obediently letting themselves be herded into the open barn. After making sure that all of the animals were inside, Link dismounted Epona and shut the doors.

“Link, I think that might be a new record for you! You really do have a gift when it comes to ranchin’!” Fado complimented, approaching the pair.

Link smiled bashfully, “Oh, it’s nothin’, besides; I highly doubt that anyone could be a better rancher than you, Fado!”

Fado laughed, “You’re too kind! Well, since you’re here, do you want me to set up the fences for ya?”

“Not today, I think I want to do a bit of explorin’, and I minus well get a head start by leaving now!” He replied, swinging himself back onto Epona.

“Well, alright, thank you for the help!”

“It was my pleasure; I’ll see you later, Fado!” Link waved as he rode out of the ranch.

More of the villagers were roaming about when Link reentered the village, a few calling out greetings which he returned heartily as he passed by.

When Link finally made it out to the road Epona, sensing his eagerness, sped up until they were galloping through the forest. It had been a while since the two had gone on any long rides like this, since the last time, they had run into a pack of bulblins, and Epona ended up getting a small scrape, invoking the wrath of his friend, Ilia.

After chewing him out for a good part of an hour, she essentially banned him from leaving the village with Epona without consulting her first, which was a hassle since Link knew how strict she was about where he went with the chestnut mare.

He knew she meant well, but she could be a bit too much sometimes. Link just wished she would lighten up a bit about it. Epona never exactly appreciated the babying either, save for the copious amounts of treats she received in Ilia’s care.

Link was snapped out of his thoughts by a scream ripping through the calm of the woods. Epona skidded to a stop, surprised. Just ahead was a brown-haired girl surrounded by bulblins, each holding spiked clubs, grinning widely.

Hardly missing a beat, Link leapt off of Epona, quickly reaching behind him to draw out his steel Ordonian sword. As soon as he hit the ground, he dashed forward, straight towards the unsuspecting monsters.

Surprised by the sudden attack, the bulblins were basically defenseless against his blade, and Link made quick work of them, slashing through the monsters with just a few swipes.

Sheathing his sword, Link turned to the cowering girl.

“Oh, thank you, sir! I thought I was done for!” she wept dramatically, throwing a hand over her eyes.

Link raised an eyebrow at her theatrics, before he heard Epona suddenly rear up, whinnying angrily. The hero whipped around, seeing a hooded figure making off with a leather satchel he had left on Epona’s back.

It wasn’t filled with anything too valuable, mostly just some food rations, but the satchel itself had belonged to his father, and he couldn’t just let some thief run off with it. Glancing back at the girl, Link started when he saw that she had disappeared.

“She must’ve been with that thief” The hero grumbled to himself, before turning to Epona, “Can you wait here for a minute, girl?”

The chestnut mare snorted indignantly. Link chuckled, getting the message, “I know you can take care of yourself, no need to get offended.”

With that, he dashed off into the woods after the thief.

Clearly, this thief didn’t have much experience when it came to covering their tracks, considering the fact that they left a very obvious trail of snapped twigs and smashed leaves for Link to follow as he ran.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the many leaves overhead, lighting the way between the trees. By now, Link had wandered far into the woods, the trail being the only thing standing out in the otherwise undisturbed forest.

If he strained his ears, he could hear someone running just ahead, which meant that he was close to the thief. Link probably would have caught up to them by now if he had been able to transform into a wolf, but he hadn’t brought his crystal with him since he figured he would just be riding on Epona.

Suddenly a familiar ragged, brown cloak entered his line of sight, fluttering behind the thief, who was clutching Link’s stolen satchel. With a burst of speed, the hero quickly dashed forward, tackling the thief to the ground, hearing a way-too-young boy cry out as they hit the forest floor.

Reacting quickly, Link, while still keeping a firm grip on the boy, rolled off of him as to not to crush him. By the looks of him, the boy was around twelve years old, with shaggy brown hair and bright blue eyes that were shifting left and right, looking for an escape.

What concerned him, however, was how startlingly thin this boy was. He looked as if he hadn’t had a decent meal in a long time, his cheeks looked sunken and two boney arms stuck out of the cloak.

“Please let me go! I’m sorry I stole your stuff! It’s just my sister and were hungry and desperate, but I won’t do it again I swear! Please, please don’t hurt me!” The boy cried, covering his face with his hands.

Link glanced at his satchel, which laid abandoned a few feet away, before releasing the boy to grab a small loaf of bread he stashed inside. The kid had uncovered his face to watch the older boy, before reeling back in shock as the bread was offered to him.

The hero smiled, “Here.”

The boy looks at the food in awe, before shakily reaching out a hand to snatch the bread away, holding it close to his face and nibbling on it like a squirrel. He was watching Link warily, but otherwise appeared calm.

“Can-can I have some?” A quiet voice whispered nearby, making Link jump.

Peeking from behind a tree was the same girl from earlier, her eyes wide and hopeful. Link simply smiled again, nodding his consent, and the girl shyly shuffled forward. He once again reached into his satchel and pulled out some of his bread, handing it to the girl.

After letting them both devour the offered food, Link cleared his throat, gaining the two children’s attention, “I hate to be so straightforward about this, but am I correct in assuming that you two don’t have a home?”

The two children shared a quick glance, before turning back to him and nodding. Link sighed, his suspicions confirmed. He stood up, much to the sibling’s apparent confusion, and retrieved the satchel from the ground.

“Okay, how about this: Not too far from here is my town, Ordon Village. We could go there and get you two some food, fresh clothes, and a nice place to sleep for the night.” Link offered, before continuing, seeing the children’s distrust, “I know we just met, and you don’t trust me, but I do want to help you.”

The boy bit his lip, thinking, “Well, how do we know that you’re telling the truth? What if you’re just going to take us back to the orphanage? Or worse, turn us in for stealing your stuff.”

“In all honesty, you don’t, you’d just have to take my word for it. I won’t force you to go with me; I just thought I’d offer.” The hero sighed, turning to leave.

“Wait!!” The girl shouted suddenly, making him turn around again, “We’ll go with you!”

“Emily! What are you doing? We just met this man!” The boy angrily whispered, “Even if he did give us some food, that doesn’t mean he’s trustworthy!”

The girl-Emily stood firm, “He didn’t have to give us food, Owen! If he had wanted to apprehend us, I highly doubt he’d have had any trouble with two starving children! He’s offering us a place to stay and food to eat! We’d be idiots if we passed that up!”

The two siblings glared at each other for a minute, before the boy-Owen- finally seemed to relent, sighing in exasperation, “Fine, fine. You win, we’ll go.”

“Alright, well let’s head back to…” Link trailed off, suddenly feeling something strange.

“Uh…mister?” Emily inquired, tugging at his tunic.

He ignored her for the moment, trying to figure out what it was he was detecting. It was very familiar, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. For whatever reason, it reminded him of his lost companion. Well, she wasn’t lost, really; just lost to him.

Then it hit him; this was Twili magic. But why would there be any left in Hyrule after Midna destroyed the Mirror of Twilight?

Link shook his head, he would get to the bottom of this, but he had to take care of the kids first.

“Sorry, just got lost in thought, let’s head back to the path and you guys can go on ahead to Ordon Village.” He said, before starting to head back down the trail Owen had left.

“Are you not coming with us? The boy asked, running up to walk alongside him.

Link smiled, “No, I need to check on something first, but don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you two.”

Owen nodded, seemingly satisfied.

A few minutes later, Link had the kids riding off on Epona, heading to Ordon Village. As they rode out of sight, he trekked back through the woods to where he first felt the Twili magic.

Now alone, Link could focus on the magic, trying to sense the direction of the source. Since he wasn’t able to turn into a wolf at the moment, sensing anything from the Twilight Realm became much more difficult, but he could feel it radiating the strongest from the left, so he jogged off in that direction.

This time around, there wasn’t any visible trail to lead him as he wandered towards what he hoped was the right way. Link could sense the Twili magic a lot easier now, so he assumed that he was getting closer at the very least.

Link estimated it was about noon by the time he found anything other than trees. He stumbled upon a large clearing with what looked to be ancient ruins, an aura of twilight seeming to cover the area like a dense fog. The ruins themselves resembled a small castle, but he couldn’t say for sure what exactly it was before it deteriorated.

The hero cautiously approached the ruins, glancing around for any sign of danger, but all was quiet. Even the birds had long gone silent, which unnerved him. Link stepped through a crumbled archway, scanning the area for anything that could possibly be emitting all this Twili magic.

The first room didn’t have much of anything, it had a few overturned wooden tables with old, yellowed paper strewn across the floor, but there wasn’t anything that looked to be of Twili origin, so he moved on into the next area.

The next few rooms were just about as empty as the first, housing some rotted furniture and tattered banners. However, in the fifth room, there were two wooden doors in the ground, leading to what Link assumed to be a basement or cellar or sorts.

Curious, Link heaved open the heavy doors, light spilling to reveal a small staircase, leading down into the barely illuminated basement. The hero descended the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the small space.

When he reached the bottom, it was fairly dark, but Link could just make out what looked to be a mirror at the other side of the room, the small amount of light in the basement reflecting off of it. He could almost immediately tell that this wasn’t a normal mirror.

In fact, Link could feel the Twili magic pulsing out in waves from the mirror. This was what he had been looking for. Link slowly approached, reaching out a hand, feeling the coolness of the glass underneath his fingertips.

Suddenly, a bright light erupted from the mirror, blinding Link for a moment before it faded, revealing something very familiar. It was a portal; a portal to the Twilight Realm.

‘No. That’s impossible; Midna destroyed the only link to the Twilight Realm after she left him behind.’ Link thought. Yet right in front of him sat proof that that wasn’t true.

A faint feeling of hope sparked in his chest. He could walk through that portal right now, he could see her again. After so long, he could finally see Midna.

‘Light and Shadow can’t mix.’ Her words echoed in his head.

Link looked down; the right thing to do would be to smash the mirror before someone else found it, but…

‘Link…I…see you later.’

Words couldn’t begin to describe how he felt when the Mirror of Twilight shattered that day. It was like his very soul shattered along with it. And now he finally had the chance to reunite with her. He stepped closer to the portal.

Link stopped. He couldn’t do this.

She broke the mirror because it was too dangerous. If the Twilight Realm and Hyrule were to ever collide again, it would mean utter chaos for both worlds. Stepping through this portal would mean he would be joining two worlds that Midna sacrificed everything to keep apart.

In quite a literal sense, she shattered that mirror with her tears. She probably felt the same amount of pain he did, if not more. The decision wasn’t an easy one for her, but in the end, she had to put her people, along with Hyrule’s, first.

Link clenched his fists, biting his lip so hard that it drew blood, but any pain from it was numbed by the throbbing ache in his heart. He was so close to her, just a few steps, in fact, yet he had to let her go. Stepping to the side slightly, he shakily raised his hands to grip to top of the glowing mirror.

He closed his eyes as he pushed it forward, letting gravity do the rest. A shattering sound echoed through the room.

Link didn’t know if that shattering was the sound of the glass, or the sound of his heart.

Keeping his eyes shut, not being able to bear looking at the pieces of glass scattered across the floor, he ascended the basement steps, tears threatening to spill.

‘It was for Midna.’ Link repeated like a mantra, trying not to focus on the broken mirror just behind him.

He opened his eyes again to the happy, sunny day. Why was it so cheery? How could anything possibly be bright after what just occurred? After he lost Midna for the third time?

Sinking to his knees, he let himself sob under the bright blue sky.

He sat there long after his tears had dried up, almost in a daze. It registered in his mind that the sun had set, the remaining light painting the clouds overhead with an orange hue in contrast to the still-blue sky.

Twilight.

Coming to himself more, he stood up off the ground, staring at the sky. Ever since she left, he watched the twilight as it rose and fell every night. Seeing it always made him feel closer to Midna, as if they weren’t worlds apart.

He was the earth and she was the sky, forever close, but never able to meet. To many that might sound like a depressing thought, but feeling that bond, even for a short time, brought a small smile to his face. He had made the right choice regarding the mirror, as much as it pained him to make it.

Link may not ever see her again, but as long as he held her memory close to his heart, he would be alright. He took a deep breath, and made his way out of the ruins, leaving the mirror behind.

When Link finally returned to Ordon Village, he could see the two kids he found earlier playing with Colin and the rest of the village children, each smiling and laughing as they ran around.

“Link!” A voice shouted, footsteps alerting him to someone rapidly approaching.

He barely had time to turn around before Ilia crashed into him, hugging him tightly. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with relief.

Ilia looked up at him, “I was so worried about you! Ever since Epona came back with those two kids and without you I’ve been waiting for you to come back, but you took so long I was scared something had happened to you!”

“Sorry I worried you, Ilia. I just had to deal with something, that’s all.” Link explained.

“Well don’t go disappearing on me again, you hear? And don’t think you’re in the clear about Epona! You took her out without my permission! What if she had gotten hurt again?” She stopped speaking for a moment, and sighed, “But, since you both returned safely, I’ll let it go for now.”

With that, she walked away, presumably to return to her house for the night, the blue sky having given way to a starry night.

Link watched as the children were ushered to bed, including Emily and Owen. He smiled, happy that they could find some joy in the village. Rusl spotted him from a distance, offering him a smile, which he heartily returned.

The day having ended, Link climbed up into his treehouse, taking off his gear and settling into bed.

Before he drifted off, he smiled softly to himself, “Good night, Midna.”

In another world, a Twili princess spoke, “Good night, Link.”

#loz #link #fanfic #angst

[multibear]

the danger of speculations

one part of dan’s video that really stuck out to me was the part about speculating peoples’ sexualities, and the whole “lol wbk” thing. he’s so right. when you speculate things like that, you are either harassing someone who is actually straight or cis or whatever, or you are depriving an lgbtq person of the ability to introspectively explore their own identity before coming out on their own terms, and pressuring them to come out. straight people really don’t understand how damaging this is.

it doesn’t matter if someone is or isn’t gay, if people so much as think they are gay they will be harassed all the same. nobody should be subject to harassment based on sexuality or even assumption of sexuality. i was physically and verbally harassed for the first time when i was 12. a kid i’d known for a few years who i was stand partners with often, who always pushed my sheet music on the floor and poked me with his bow, pushed me to the ground and yelled at me, “nobody likes gay people. nobody likes trans people.” i wasn’t affected personally. i had thick skin and knew he was being ignorant, but i was afraid. i had never told him in particular anything about my identity, but that didn’t matter to him. whatever people said i was, i was.

i remember when i was in middle school and unsure about my gender. i finally seized a moment of courage to tell some my friends about this during science class one day in seventh grade. they weren’t even close friends. they were just there when the moment came. i remember, one of them was the girl who made me realize i’m not straight. she came out as bi in sixth grade and i had no idea what “bisexual” meant. i looked it up and i finally found a word that came close to describing me. after that, an lgbt account popped up in my instagram explore page and i was suddenly learning about different sexualities and gender identities and finding words to describe myself. anyways, i saw these people and decided to admit, “i don’t think i care abut gender. i don’t care about pronouns or anything at all.” except i didn’t. i said, “i’m trans,” and when asked about my pronouns i panicked, thinking that “anything” and “unsure” would make them think i wasn’t real or something, and said, “he and him.”

maybe i could have backtracked. maybe, at a later time, i could have said that i’m “actually kind of unsure and questioning” to that small group i initially “came out” to and the other friends i came out to directly following that moment, riding on the high of feeling satiated and freed from something i was taught to think to myself was a secret i was harboring from others. that didn’t happen. soon, word got around, but it was okay, because i came out, right? it’s okay that everyone knows now, right? this is what i wanted, right? coming out is freeing, right? otherwise, i’m just living a lie, right?

the first time someone i didn’t directly come out to called me by the pronouns and name i used at that time, i was terrified. this was a personal, confusing part of my life that suddenly everyone knew about. it only got worse. that same day, my english teacher asked my if i preferred to be called another name because a friend of mine in one of her earlier classes was talking about how excited she was that her friend [redacted lol] was back in the country. looking back, i was probably very obviously lying, and very obviously fearful when i shook my head and quickly said no. then, a girl sitting nearby harmlessly said, “but you do,” to which i replied, even quicker, “no i don’t.” i doubt my teacher bought it. that wasn’t the first or last time something similar had happened. but it was okay, because i had come out, right? this is what i prefer, right? i realize now, i didn’t get to come out. i was outed. i didn’t feel accepted, i felt exposed.

i crawled back into my closet a little bit. i mentioned questioning if i was a lesbian, because i wanted people to think, “hey, maybe sexuality isn’t the only thing being questioned here.” on a related note, i never was able to formally come out as any sexuality. it was always assumed i was gay ever since people found out about my other questionings. continuing onwards, by high school, people didn’t know what to call me. it was a mixture of different names and pronouns and i gave nobody any answer whatsoever. i was in my closet, and it’s the best thing i ever did. for the first time, i had my personal life personal again, and i could really figure myself out without the pressure of all these people thinking they know who i am. i could confidently say, “i don’t know.” if i didn’t know, then nobody else needed to know.

when i was 15 i started dating a girl. my mom found out. she was looking through my stuff without my permission and found a love letter. she asked me how i felt about her. i told her that she’s my best friend. i knew she was suspicious. she was asking about crushes, she was even asking about my guy friend who i have said is like a brother to me. i was pressured to tell her after five minutes of silence: “she’s my girlfriend.” it wasn’t liberating. it wasn’t freeing. it was enclosing and suffocating. i wasn’t ready at all, but i knew she knew. she said, “break up with her.” she doesn’t want her daughter to date girls.

there was only one time when i had ever felt something truly freeing in regard to my identity. in middle school, when everyone knew about me before i knew they knew, and i was scared all the time that i would be outed to people that could change the way i live my life, i had a fight with my best friend during recess. she felt the need to tell me her mom hates trans people because that’s “not what god intended” and she too thought “it’s not normal.” i was angry and devastated at the same, so i went to rant to my other friend. we were swinging around the bare tether ball poles. it was then i found out, that despite everything happening literally right in front of her (i had literally came out to people right in front of her while i was on the initial rush of telling my friends after telling that small group of three during science class), she was completely oblivious. at that moment, i came out to her, at least with what i thought of myself back then. i felt so naked, yet so comfortable. i was willingly laying all my thoughts and feelings out for her to see, and i felt safe. i didn’t have to be brave or courageous, i just had to be honest. that was the first and only time i ever came out to someone in a calm, comfortable, non adrenaline invoked space. it was one of the only times i came out rather than getting outed. it was the only time coming out ever felt liberating to me. to this day, it doesn’t matter that the first time i came out to her it was with a label that didn’t fit me, i can come out to her again and again. i can tell her whatever nuance i feel because i was never pressured with her. i can always go “wait, never mind” with her because that important, pivotal moment i had with her was in a calm mindset, in a safe environment.

despite everything that has happened, i am lucky. i am so lucky that i was outed to a mostly accepting environment. i am so lucky that i even had one person that could make coming out feel comfortable, yet bare, and so freeing (she had one grievance, though. that i had told her brother in that group of three during science class in seventh grade before i told her. she should know that with her brother, though, i was more exposed than comfortable, unlike how i felt with her). i am lucky that i was able to take a moment to enclose myself for my own introspection, then realize that i’m not what people have thought of me, and then for those people to be okay with it. 

being deprived of the opportunity to introspect and come out on my own accord was absolutely horrible, but it’s even worse for people who don’t get to have the luck i had. so please, please let this show you the effects of speculating someone’s identity. please let this show you that responding to people coming out with “wbk” and “not surprised” is more scary than it is accepting. please let this show you that you don’t have to tell people your identity for them to hate you for it. please let this show you that coming out is something a person nurtures on their own until the time is right, not something that should be pressured or forced. please let this show you that outing someone doesn’t show your support, it only shows your disregard to a person’s trust and level of comfort. everyone deserves to live who they are when they want. making speculations deprives both lgbtq and non-lgbtq people of that.

#dan howell #basically i'm gay #homophobia #transphobia #long post #hghghgghh i did this instead of my homework

[themutantunderground]

Let Your Heart Be Light Ch. 7

John is home on leave from the Marines and Clarice is home on winter break from grad school. While they used to date in high school, Clarice and John haven't been together in a long time... But it’s Christmas time, and it seems like everything and everyone in their small, holiday-obsessed hometown is trying to get them back together. Modern Thunderblink AU!

(The formatting looks weird to me, like it is adding weird symbols! Can anyone else see that?)

AO3 | FF.net

By the time they pulled into Ms. D and Karl’s driveway, Norah and Riley were both asleep. John glanced at the quiet backseat. Riley curled up against James, his jacket tossed over her as a blanket, while Norah slept against the door. It had been a crazy couple of days for both of them, and they were both exhausted.

They weren’t the only ones. Over in the front passenger seat, Clarice was leaned against the window, her forehead pressed against the cool glass, her cheek resting on her arm. She had been struggling to stay awake for the past few minutes, but it looked like she had lost the battle. Her plane had come in that morning, and John doubted she had gotten a nap since Karl, Ms. D, and Norah would have wanted to talk to her. John let her sleep. Hopefully she wouldn't be embarrassed or anything when she woke up. It wasn't like it was the first time she had fallen asleep while John was driving.

"Are we still going to get the tree tomorrow?"

John looked at the mirror again and met James' eyes. "What?"

"The Christmas tree. You told Aunt Evelyn we'd get it tomorrow." Riley shifted against James, and he absently rubbed her shoulder and pulled her closer. For all their bickering and teasing, the two of them were close. They just normally showed their affection through gently tormenting each other.

John nodded. "Right. Yeah, we'll get it tomorrow." Aunt Evelyn would want a fresh tree, so that meant a four hour drive to the nearest Christmas tree farm. It was Saturday, so he could take James and Riley without having to worry about school. They would make a day of it.

James dropped his voice to a whisper. "You should ask Clarice to come, too."

John nearly jerked the wheel, but he stayed cool and instead flicked his eyes over to Clarice, making sure she was asleep. Judging by the smudge of fog against the glass, she was. "They probably already have a tree."

"Ask. Clarice. To go with us. Norah can come, too, so it won't be weird."

John trained his eyes on the road ahead and wondered what kind of twilight zone he had wandered into if his little brother was trying to talk to him about his love life. James used to steer clear of that sort of conversation. Then again, he was eighteen now with his own romance troubles. And he had always liked Clarice. He was probably still having trouble adjusting to the new dynamics, like Riley. You would think after all those years he would've gotten used to it.

James took his silence as reluctance, and he leaned forward, putting a hand on John's seat. "You've gotta ask her."

"I don't have to do anything," John said, reaching back and prying James' hand off the seat.

"Okay, then I'll ask her."

"James. Seriously."

"Fine, but I bet she'd say yes." James leaned back and scooched Riley closer, wrapping his arm around her. "Then you guys can maybe talk instead of doing the whole moony eye thing when you think the other isn't looking. It's annoying."

John glared up into the mirror, but James wasn't looking at him. "There aren't any moon eyes, thank you," he whisper-hissed.

"Yeah, sure," James said, "You should've seen your face when she came down the stairs." Now James turned back toward the mirror, an exaggerated awe-struck look on his face. "You're a mess."

"Wait 'til we get home," John said, pointing at the mirror.

"I am really very scared." James rolled his eyes and carefully lifted Riley's hand, waving it carefully. "Meet my shield."

"That's low."

"I'm into self-preservation these days. Got a lot to live for. Like college."

The rest of the drive was silent, which John was grateful for, though it left him alone with a new dilemma. Ask Clarice or don't ask Clarice. Would she say yes? Did he want her to say yes? Would it be weird if he asked? Damn, this was a lot harder than it used to be. He didn't want things to be awkward between them, but he didn't want to pressure her either.

A few minutes later, he pulled the car into the Fergusons' driveway and put the car in park. He reached over to wake up Clarice, but her head jerked up the moment the truck stopped. "Wha-huh…" She brushed her hair out roughly out of her face with both hands, sitting up straight and nearly getting strangled by the seat belt.

John couldn't help but smile, though he was quick to smother it before she saw. "We're at your house."

"Uh, yeah, see that," Clarice said, closing her eyes for a moment and smudging her face with her palms. "Ugh, how long was I out?"

"Not long."

"Long enough to start snoring," James said, "Got a deviated septum, Clarice?"

"I'm going to deviate your septum with my fist, junior," Clarice grumbled. She always had been such a joy whenever she woke up.

"Such a good example for the kids," James teased.

Clarice gave him a grouchy smile and flipped him off before she unbuckled her seat belt.

In the back seat, he reached over and shook Norah awake, careful not to jostle Riley, who was somehow sleeping through everything. John and Clarice both got out of the truck, and Norah climbed out too, eyes half-lidded with sleep. John picked her up and carried her toward the house, Clarice at his side.

"She's too big to carry," Clarice mumbled, rubbing her eye with the heel of her hand.

"Nah, she's fine," John said, "Sorry about James."

"He's just jealous he doesn't have epic snoring skills," Clarice said.

"Sure, maybe that's it." They walked up to the door, and John's stomach flopped. Okay, decision time. He needed to figure out if he should ask or not, which was crazy, since normally he was a very decisive person. He knew what to do and when to do it.

Clarice destabilized him.

He set Norah down, and the nine-year-old gave him a tired 'thank you' before wandering into the house. Clarice was about to go, time to make up his mind.

"Clarice, wait," he said and then paused, looking from the door to her then back to the truck, where James was undoubtedly watching him.

Clarice turned toward him, her sleepy eyes half-lidded. She looked adorable. "Yeah, big guy?"

"Tree?"

She blinked and scrubbed at her eyes again. "Going to need a little more than that, working on a few hours of sleep and a cat nap here."

"Sorry, just…do you guys have a Christmas tree yet?" he asked, feeling like he was eighteen and tongue-tied again. "We're going tomorrow to get ours, and we could work on lines on the way there, since we got dragged into this play." Good, nice.

Clarice seemed to wake up. "You're going to Petersons?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding a little. The last time they had gone there together, they had been dating. Maybe he shouldn't have asked. "Lorna and Marcos are coming too." Or they would be after he called them. That would make it easier, right, having them around?

Clarice's eyes brightened, and John crushed the slight ache at the idea that she was more excited about seeing their friends than being with him. That wasn't why he was asking anyways. They just… If Karl and Ms. D needed a Christmas tree, then he needed to help Clarice get one.

"I haven't seen them yet," she said, "Sure, I'm game. Want me to bring Norah to keep Riley busy?"

"Yeah, that'd be good. James might bring some friends, I don't know." What was he saying? It was originally just going to be them and their siblings, and now… What was he doing.

"Sounds like a party," Clarice said. She raised an eyebrow an him. "You're not big on parties."

"I'll live," he said, giving her a small smile.

She reached out toward him, her fingers just grazing his arm before she pulled back, shaking her head as if shaking away the need to touch him. "Sure will." She grabbed the door and looked back at him, purple hair sliding over her shoulder, begging to be tucked behind her ear. "What time are you picking us up?"

John laughed. "Oh, I'm chauffeuring?"

"No, you're the Uber," she teased, "Come on, you're the one with the truck."

"I'll be here at 6:30."

"You're killing me, Smalls," she said, invoking the Sandlot quote with a grin. "That's so early."

"I'll blow an airhorn if you're not out here at 6:30," he said, making her groan.

"Fine, Proudstar. See you at the butt crack of dawn."

She headed inside while he went back to the truck, his hands in his pockets. Okay, he needed to call Marcos and get James to ask some of his friends to tag along. It'd be a caravan.

#thunderblink #john proudstar #clarice fong #modern no powers au

[fandom-smut-shots]

Draco - Love Story

Title

Love Story

Pairing

Draco Malfoy x Reader

Fandom

Harry Potter

Summary

Request for MeganChiang

"Could you please write a Draco x anxious! Reader? Many many thanks."

Request for Kyo-Chi

"Could you please do a Draco x childhood friend reader, where she gets sorted into hufflepuff but they are still BFFs, even though she's befriended with the golden Trio without them knowing that Draco and her are BFFs. And Draco having a crush on her since they first met as kids so he gets a bit jealous when she spends a little bit to much time with Harry and Co. Only if you have some time of course. Just ignore this if you're too busy."

Draco had always been there. Since the day you met, the blond was by your side, keeping you company and making you smile. He was your rock, the only person who could bring you out of your shell and make you feel comfortable in your own skin. You'd always been shy and awkward, and when you both started school, your anxiety kicked in. You preferred to hide in the background, whereas your best friend was open and outgoing. Draco helped you to meet new people, and should anyone dare tease your shyness, the blond was ready and willing to defend you by any means necessary.

When you were sorted into Hufflepuff, you worried that your friendship with Draco would come to an end. You knew how strict his father was - being a pureblood Slytherin was everything. Nothing else mattered.

But as you sat on your stool and listened to the Sorting Hat shout out your house, Draco smiled up at you, clapping and cheering because he knew in his heart that you were meant to be a Hufflepuff.

Over the next few years, as puberty came into focus, you began harboring a crush on your childhood friend. You thought it futile and never mentioned it. You knew how Lucius was raising Draco - the boy would be disowned if he fell for someone outside of Slytherin. You were only allowed to be friends as children because you were a pureblood.

Draco was your best friend. He would always be your best friend. But you wanted more than that, and you knew there was no way you'd be able to live watching him fall in love with anyone else.

Unbeknownst to you, Draco was in the same boat. He watched as you befriended Harry and his comrades, and his blood boiled. But this time, it had nothing to do with his petty hatred of the Chosen One. A distinct, unfamiliar twinge stabbed his heart every time he saw you chatting and giggling with the Golden Trio.

Jealousy.

Draco had hoped against hope that you would be sorted into Slytherin with him. He didn't think it was the place for you, but he wanted you to be close to him always. How was he supposed to make a move when you were in another house - a house that he wasn't even allowed to fraternize with unless he wanted to invoke the wrath of his father?

The blond had been crushing on you since you were children. When you started school, he assumed the tingly sensation would fade away, believing it to be a silly childhood crush. But instead it grew stronger, to the point that every time you were around, he was certain you could hear how hard his heart pounded.

The annual visit to Hogsmeade Village was approaching. Everyone had gotten their permission slips signed, and your friends were already partnering up. Harry had already asked Ginny to spend the trip by his side, and Hermione was growing impatient with Ron's lack of asking her.

You sat in the library with your friends. You were meant to be studying, but good luck getting any work done with Ron and Seamus around. Though you were a Hufflepuff, you spent most of your time with Harry and friends. Your housemates were nice, but you didn't have the connection with them that you had with Hermione and Ginny.

Of course, none of that compared to your friendship with Draco. But your new friends were blissfully unaware of that comradery.

"Who are you looking to spend the Hogsmeade trip with, (Y/n)?" Seamus' voice brought you out of your mind palace.

"Hmm?" you replied lamely. "Oh, I don't know. I'll just wander around with whoever's left, I suppose."

"You don't fancy anyone?" Ginny inquired.

A blush dusted your cheeks, but you couldn't possibly tell them the truth. With a half hearted shrug, you answered, "No, not really."

The way Ginny's eyes narrowed told you that she didn't believe you, but neither she nor anyone else pushed the matter.

Hours later, your friends had slowly dispersed, leaving you alone in the library. With a glance to the window, you saw that it was nearly dark. You stuffed your books into your messenger bag and slung it over your shoulder as you rose from your seat.

On your way out of the library, you nearly collided with another student. Glancing up at the taller, you immediately recognized his neatly combed platinum locks.

"Draco!" you beamed. You hadn't been able to spend much time with him as of late.

He smiled softly, your excitement giving him the boost of confidence he needed to carry out the reason he'd come looking for you. "Hey, (Y/n). I have a question for you."

Your head tilted in curiosity as you gazed up at him. "What is it?"

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me? I mean, spend the trip with me, instead of your friends?"

Your eyes widened. "Like... a date?"

His heart hammered against his ribs as he nodded. "Yes. Like a date."

Your smile grew wider. "Draco, I'd love to."

He grinned, pulling you into a hug. You buried your face in his neck, resisting a giggle.

"I should get to my dorm," you murmured, reluctantly pulling back.

He nodded, resting a hand on your cheek before letting it fall. "I'll see you on Saturday."

You nodded eagerly. "Saturday."

The trip finally came, and students gathered outside the castle in a mob of sweaters and scarves. After handing McGonagall your permission form, your (E/) eyes darted around in search of a certain blond.

An arm draped around your shoulders and you nearly jumped before recognizing the scent of sandalwood and apples that could only be Draco.

You turned to look up at him, holding his gloved hand with your own in order to keep his arm in place. He grinned at your approval, tugging you close to him before beginning to walk down the path.

He kept asking where you wanted to go, but you would simply shrug in response. You didn't like asking for things, so you let Draco lead you through the shops.

He eventually sauntered into a small store that sold jewelry and other wearable merchandise. You were unaware of the stormy blue eyes watching your every move, paying attention to which pieces of jewelry you picked up and inspected.

While you were distracted looking at sweaters, Draco made his move. Be shuffled up to the counter, asking that his purchase be placed in a decorative box. With an out-of-character "Thank you," he stuffed the box into his jacket pocket before returning to your side.

"Ready to go?" he asked. "I was thinking we could head to the Three Broomsticks for a couple of butterbeers."

You nodded. "That sounds nice."

He wrapped his arm around you once more and led you out.

Once at the inn, he led you to a table and sat down beside you. He liked keeping his arm around you, and you certainly didn't mind snuggling into his warmth.

After your drinks arrived, Draco turned to look at you. "I got you something."

Your brow furrowed. "You did?"

He nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the box. Chewing your lip, you lifted the lid, peering at the trinket inside.

Lying on a bed of cotton was the silver and (f/gemstone) necklace you'd been eyeing at the store. "How did you-"

"I pay attention," he chuckled. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful," you smiled. You then placed the necklace in his hand and held up your hair. "Put it on me?"

A smile danced on his lips as he clasped the chain around your neck. With a happy hum, you sipped your butterbeer and settled back into his side. His arm secured around you, and there you stayed until it was time to return to Hogwarts.

#draco malfoy #Draco x Reader #Harry Potter #harrypotter #reader insert

[greerbaiting]

Dancing Across the Sea

Notes: Jess continues to write more Bridge fanfics that nobody asked for with no sign of stopping in sight. This is set in an AU where the Transcontinental Hotel disaster never happened. 

Ships: Kate/Etta (we’re calling that ketta, right?) 

Summary: Kate attends a ball, not really expecting to get much out of it. And then she sees a very cute woman across the room. 

Read it on AO3

The ballgown was uncomfortable.

It was too tight across her chest, like the fabric was trying to crush her ribs into sand. It was beautiful, just too tight for comfort. Definitely just a one time wear.

Kate shifts awkwardly on her feet, trying to find something interesting to look at. The Transcontinental Hotel was beautiful, she couldn’t argue with that, but after 30 minutes or so in the place it no longer invoked the same sense of wonder and amazement that it had in the first 30 seconds. Ooo, tall windows. Ooo, high ceilings. Ooo...

Cute woman. 

She was small and slight, with light brown skin and dark curls that fell to just above her shoulders. Her dress was a soft blue and fell beautifully around her. No too tight bodice for her. She was looking around the room in wonder, swaying slightly with the music.

Scrape that. Very cute woman.

A very cute woman that had just looked over at her. Oops.

Kate pushes down the initial panic at having been caught staring and walks over to the woman calmly, giving her her best charming smile. She’s pleased to notice a light flush on the woman’s cheeks when she reaches her.

“Hi there.”

“Um, h-hi,” she responds, flustered.

“Kate.”

“Huh? O-Oh! I’m Etta.”

“That’s a pretty name. Short for anything?”

“Henrietta. I like Etta better though.”

“Mm.” She looked like an Etta. “Care for a dance?” “Yes please!”

Kate laughs and holds her hand out for her to take. Etta takes it eagerly and pulls her out onto the floor as the next song begins. Kate rests her hand gently on Etta’s waist, grinning as the other woman bites her lip. Cute.

She pulls Etta in close to her, swaying gently in time with the music. Etta relaxes after a moment, a smile spreading across her face as they dance. “No date?” Kate asks. It was unlikely, as she had been standing on her own, but how could a woman this beautiful not be taken?

Etta shakes her head. “I’m only here because my mother managed to score an invite through her work.”

“Oh? Where’s she work?” she asks, expecting her to respond with the name of a fancy company on the mainland. A rich girl, out on the Bridge for a quick spot of excitement before returning home to safety again perhaps?

“Here.” Etta tilts her head up to admire the ceiling, smiling. “I grew up here.”

“Here? In the hotel?”

“Mmhm. My mother’s the lead concierge.”

“Oh. Wow.”

She laughs. “Not what you were expecting, right?”

“You’re not the usual guest at these events, that’s for sure.”

“Well how about you then?” Etta nudges her. “Are you the usual guest?”

Oh, far from it honey. “I suppose.”

“Well, I suppose you can’t help being boring,” she says, a teasing grin spreading across her face.

Kate laughs. “Oh, so now I’m boring, am I?”

“Well, maybe not boring…”

“Well, is there a way that I can prove to you how very not-boring I am?”

Etta beams. “I thought you’d never ask.”

The two of them walk along a small ridge next to the sea, waves crashing against the rocks below them. Etta glances back at her every once in a while, her smile as radiant as the sun. She leads Kate to a path that twists down towards the water and a pier where a couple of boats bob.

Kate hesitates, not wanting to have to rescue Etta from her own stupidity. “Haven’t you heard the stories?”

“Hm?”

“The stories. About the Bridge and the monsters.”

“Sure I’ve heard them. Everyone’s heard them.”

“Aren’t you scared?”

She grins up at her. “No. Are you?”

Kate starts down the path after her. “Of course not.”

Etta laughs brightly, picking her way down the path carefully. It took them a few minutes, but before long they reached the small flat pier meant for the boats’ crews to disembark. Etta wasn’t looking at Kate though: instead, her gaze was fixed firmly on the horizon, calmly watching the waves. The sea was a little too turbulent for Kate’s comfort but Etta seemed completely at home. It was like she didn’t even notice the water splashing over the edge of the pier.

Kate watches her silently for a minute before speaking. “Do you still live out here?”

“Not anymore,” she replies, still not looking at her. “I had to go to the mainland for university.”

“What, they can build an amusement park in the middle of the ocean but not a university?”

“That was a terrible idea,” Etta mutters.

“Probably could be fixed with an ocean university. Get rid of all the shitty Bridge ideas.”

“Or breed more of them.”

“So just like any other university, huh?”

She’s rewarded with a laugh from Etta and a quick glance over. “I take it you’re not a scholar?”

“I like research, I just don’t like the mind moulding.”

“Hm, I guess I see your point.”

They settle back into a comfortable silence, broken only by the sound of the ocean and the faint music drifting down from the ballroom.

“Why were you watching me?”

Kate looks over at her. “What?”

“Back in the ballroom, before you asked me to dance. You were watching me. Why?”

“You really wanna know?”

“Yes.”

“I was thinking about how cute you looked,” she says with a small smirk.

Etta flushes. “You were?”

“Mmhm.”

“Oh. Well in that case, I think I owe you a dance invite.”

“I mean, I’m not complaining, but why exactly do you “owe” me this?”

She grins, holding out her hand to Kate. “Because I was thinking the same thing but about how gorgeous you are.”

Kate laughs and takes her hand. “Alright then.”

The music from the ballroom switches over to a slow song, quieting slightly. Kate pulls the other woman close to her and gently rests her forehead against hers. Etta’s smile softens and she wraps her arms around Kate’s neck. They move slowly, careful not to rock the pier too much. Kate can feel her heart beating in her throat, can feel Etta’s hair tickling her cheek and the warmth of her skin against her neck.

It was perfect.

It was like her mind was simultaneously moving too fast and too slow. She was bouncing from feeling to feeling, thought to thought, so quickly. From how nice Etta felt pressed against her - because she did, she felt amazing - to how this would all be coming to an end soon, that she didn’t even know how to reach her, whether she would ever get to see her again after tonight. But she also had time to appreciate every second, every slight flutter of Etta’s lashes, how her smile quirked slightly as she stumbled on an uneven plank but remained upright because of Kate’s arms around her waist. Her wonderful, wonderful waist.

It seemed that Etta was also getting wrapped up in her own thoughts, because before too long they were just standing in one spot, swaying gently together. Kate slowly tilted her head down so that her nose was lightly pressed against her cheek before murmuring quietly, “Can I kiss you?”

She doesn’t get a verbal response. Instead, Etta tilts her chin up and presses their lips together, her eyes closing shut as she does so. Kate does the same, lifting one hand to gently hold onto her cheek as they kissed. Etta moves closer to her as she does so, smiling and accidentally biting down gently on Kate’s lip. She giggles and mumbles a quick sorry before moving back in for the kiss. The sound of her laughter causes Kate’s heart to shoot up into her throat with joy, her eyes scrunching up as she tries to keep in her own laughter but is unable to.

Etta pulls back, laughing. “I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it’s fine.”

All of her willpower flies out the window and her knees go weak as Etta buries her face in her neck. “That was really good,” she mumbles.

“Mm. You wanna do it again?”

Kate can feel the grin against her throat. “Absolutely.”

#the bridge #the bridge podcast #kate burnham #etta perrault #ketta #my writing #otps

[fandom-smut-shots]

Draco - Love Story

Title

Love Story

Pairing

Draco Malfoy x Reader

Fandom

Harry Potter

Summary

Request for MeganChiang

"Could you please write a Draco x anxious! Reader? Many many thanks."

Request for Kyo-Chi

"Could you please do a Draco x childhood friend reader, where she gets sorted into hufflepuff but they are still BFFs, even though she's befriended with the golden Trio without them knowing that Draco and her are BFFs. And Draco having a crush on her since they first met as kids so he gets a bit jealous when she spends a little bit to much time with Harry and Co. Only if you have some time of course. Just ignore this if you're too busy."

Draco had always been there. Since the day you met, the blond was by your side, keeping you company and making you smile. He was your rock, the only person who could bring you out of your shell and make you feel comfortable in your own skin. You'd always been shy and awkward, and when you both started school, your anxiety kicked in. You preferred to hide in the background, whereas your best friend was open and outgoing. Draco helped you to meet new people, and should anyone dare tease your shyness, the blond was ready and willing to defend you by any means necessary.

When you were sorted into Hufflepuff, you worried that your friendship with Draco would come to an end. You knew how strict his father was - being a pureblood Slytherin was everything. Nothing else mattered.

But as you sat on your stool and listened to the Sorting Hat shout out your house, Draco smiled up at you, clapping and cheering because he knew in his heart that you were meant to be a Hufflepuff.

Over the next few years, as puberty came into focus, you began harboring a crush on your childhood friend. You thought it futile and never mentioned it. You knew how Lucius was raising Draco - the boy would be disowned if he fell for someone outside of Slytherin. You were only allowed to be friends as children because you were a pureblood.

Draco was your best friend. He would always be your best friend. But you wanted more than that, and you knew there was no way you'd be able to live watching him fall in love with anyone else.

Unbeknownst to you, Draco was in the same boat. He watched as you befriended Harry and his comrades, and his blood boiled. But this time, it had nothing to do with his petty hatred of the Chosen One. A distinct, unfamiliar twinge stabbed his heart every time he saw you chatting and giggling with the Golden Trio.

Jealousy.

Draco had hoped against hope that you would be sorted into Slytherin with him. He didn't think it was the place for you, but he wanted you to be close to him always. How was he supposed to make a move when you were in another house - a house that he wasn't even allowed to fraternize with unless he wanted to invoke the wrath of his father?

The blond had been crushing on you since you were children. When you started school, he assumed the tingly sensation would fade away, believing it to be a silly childhood crush. But instead it grew stronger, to the point that every time you were around, he was certain you could hear how hard his heart pounded.

The annual visit to Hogsmeade Village was approaching. Everyone had gotten their permission slips signed, and your friends were already partnering up. Harry had already asked Ginny to spend the trip by his side, and Hermione was growing impatient with Ron's lack of asking her.

You sat in the library with your friends. You were meant to be studying, but good luck getting any work done with Ron and Seamus around. Though you were a Hufflepuff, you spent most of your time with Harry and friends. Your housemates were nice, but you didn't have the connection with them that you had with Hermione and Ginny.

Of course, none of that compared to your friendship with Draco. But your new friends were blissfully unaware of that comradery.

"Who are you looking to spend the Hogsmeade trip with, (Y/n)?" Seamus' voice brought you out of your mind palace.

"Hmm?" you replied lamely. "Oh, I don't know. I'll just wander around with whoever's left, I suppose."

"You don't fancy anyone?" Ginny inquired.

A blush dusted your cheeks, but you couldn't possibly tell them the truth. With a half hearted shrug, you answered, "No, not really."

The way Ginny's eyes narrowed told you that she didn't believe you, but neither she nor anyone else pushed the matter.

Hours later, your friends had slowly dispersed, leaving you alone in the library. With a glance to the window, you saw that it was nearly dark. You stuffed your books into your messenger bag and slung it over your shoulder as you rose from your seat.

On your way out of the library, you nearly collided with another student. Glancing up at the taller, you immediately recognized his neatly combed platinum locks.

"Draco!" you beamed. You hadn't been able to spend much time with him as of late.

He smiled softly, your excitement giving him the boost of confidence he needed to carry out the reason he'd come looking for you. "Hey, (Y/n). I have a question for you."

Your head tilted in curiosity as you gazed up at him. "What is it?"

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me? I mean, spend the trip with me, instead of your friends?"

Your eyes widened. "Like... a date?"

His heart hammered against his ribs as he nodded. "Yes. Like a date."

Your smile grew wider. "Draco, I'd love to."

He grinned, pulling you into a hug. You buried your face in his neck, resisting a giggle.

"I should get to my dorm," you murmured, reluctantly pulling back.

He nodded, resting a hand on your cheek before letting it fall. "I'll see you on Saturday."

You nodded eagerly. "Saturday."

The trip finally came, and students gathered outside the castle in a mob of sweaters and scarves. After handing McGonagall your permission form, your (E/) eyes darted around in search of a certain blond.

An arm draped around your shoulders and you nearly jumped before recognizing the scent of sandalwood and apples that could only be Draco.

You turned to look up at him, holding his gloved hand with your own in order to keep his arm in place. He grinned at your approval, tugging you close to him before beginning to walk down the path.

He kept asking where you wanted to go, but you would simply shrug in response. You didn't like asking for things, so you let Draco lead you through the shops.

He eventually sauntered into a small store that sold jewelry and other wearable merchandise. You were unaware of the stormy blue eyes watching your every move, paying attention to which pieces of jewelry you picked up and inspected.

While you were distracted looking at sweaters, Draco made his move. Be shuffled up to the counter, asking that his purchase be placed in a decorative box. With an out-of-character "Thank you," he stuffed the box into his jacket pocket before returning to your side.

"Ready to go?" he asked. "I was thinking we could head to the Three Broomsticks for a couple of butterbeers."

You nodded. "That sounds nice."

He wrapped his arm around you once more and led you out.

Once at the inn, he led you to a table and sat down beside you. He liked keeping his arm around you, and you certainly didn't mind snuggling into his warmth.

After your drinks arrived, Draco turned to look at you. "I got you something."

Your brow furrowed. "You did?"

He nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the box. Chewing your lip, you lifted the lid, peering at the trinket inside.

Lying on a bed of cotton was the silver and (f/gemstone) necklace you'd been eyeing at the store. "How did you-"

"I pay attention," he chuckled. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful," you smiled. You then placed the necklace in his hand and held up your hair. "Put it on me?"

A smile danced on his lips as he clasped the chain around your neck. With a happy hum, you sipped your butterbeer and settled back into his side. His arm secured around you, and there you stayed until it was time to return to Hogwarts.

#draco malfoy #Draco x Reader #Harry Potter #harrypotter #reader insert