#okay but why do i see theo high-fiving her for that one

[suugarbabe]

[Chapter 8]

Word count: 4.8k

Warnings: mentions of drinking/drunkeness, mentions of blood, kidnapping, torture, use of torture curses

An: so sorry this took so long, I was sick and mentally exhausted from other things and also debating where to end the chapter and where to start the next one; hope its alright :)

Enzo clutched his arm, rubbing the spot you had just harshly hit with your fist, “Okay, ow! You didn’t have to hit me that hard, Angel. T’was just a joke, yeh?” You rolled your eyes, picking up the box in front of you and setting it on the pallet. “You know she wouldn’t have hit you if you weren’t being such a twat,” Pansy spoke without looking up from her clipboard, marking off which weapons from the artillery stock you and Enzo were packing for the next ‘business meeting’ and what was left.

You shot a sickly sweet smile Enzo’s way, “Yeah, Enz, don’t be such a twat.” Enzo scoffed, “I was not being a twat! I simply asked if I could have your room since you and Riddle obviously sleep together. There’s no point in you each having your own room and I know for a fact he gave you a bigger room than mine.” You reared your fist back as if you were going to hit him again, causing Enzo to flinch slightly. You smirked at this, “You’re the most dangerous of the family but you’re afraid of lil ol’ me?”

Enzo shook his head, “Nuh-uh, I know there’s something else deeply hidden within you that we haven’t seen yet. I’m not pushing my chances. And you’re avoiding the question.” You huffed, placing two large rifles in a long wooden box before turning to face him, hands on your hips, “For your information, if Mattheo and I do sleep in the same room, it’s my room. I’ve never in been in his room. So maybe you should go ask him if you can have his room.” Enzo’s face dropped slightly, “Mmm no, I think I’m good. But answer me this,” the smirk that formed on his face gave way that you were going to hate what he was about to say, “Does Riddle make you call him boss during sex?”

A low groan left Enzo’s throat as he clutched his arm once more, “Shit, Pansy! In the same spot, really?” You high fived Pansy, “Serves you right.” You stuck your tongue out at Enzo, who mirrored your action. Pansy opened her mouth to tell you both to stop acting like such siblings when Draco’s voice rang between your ears, Family meeting, dining room, five minutes. You glanced between the two in front of you, “We all heard that right?” Enzo nodded, “You mean the annoying voice of a ferret ringing in my head?” Pansy slapped Enzo in the arm, in the same place of the two previous punches, “Merlin’s beard, can I not have any fun anymore?”

The three of you apparated back into the foyer of the house, making your way into the dining room to see everyone but Mattheo already sat at the table. You took your place to the left of Mattheo’s chair, still glaring and making faces at Enzo sitting across from you. Theo leaned closer to Pansy on his left, “What’s with those two?” Pansy shook her head, “Please don’t ask.” Theo opened his mouth to respond again only to be cut off by Mattheo walking in to the room, his presence alone enough to silence the table.

All eyes focused on Mattheo sat at the head of the table. “Tonight is an important deal for us. The De Luca family has been making deals with us since the beginning, they’re some of our most trusted muggle allies. Theo and Enzo, you two will load the pallets on the truck while Blaise, Draco and I go and meet them at the discussed location.” The boys all nodded at their assignments, not questioning what they were told. “What about us?” You motioned between yourself and Pansy, essentially halting some of the boys midway as they had begun to stand up. Almost as if he anticipated your questioning, Mattheo had a simple answer for you. “You’re not going.”

You huffed, rolling your eyes, “And why the bloody hell not?” Mattheo’s jaw clenched momentarily as others around the table widened their eyes. No one spoke to Mattheo that way, not when it came to business deals. Taking a deep breath to center himself before turning to you, his eyes a dark onyx as he spoke, “You’re not ready.” You narrowed your eyes at him, clearly not satisfied with his answer. Mattheo mirrored you, not stepping down from his decision, “I understand this may be frustrating, but I’m not willing to risk a repeat of the last time. You’re just not ready yet.”

It was your jaw that clenched now, “A repeat of the last time?” Mattheo had his tongue in cheek, clearly trying to keep his composure and his tone authoritative, “Yes, the last time. Lest not forget you nearly getting sexually assaulted and the boys and I having to kill five fucking people, or has that occurrence slipped your pretty little mind, Princess?” You tensed slightly, your eyes squeezing shut at the memory. Forcing yourself to meet his gaze you tried to match his demeanor, “No, Mattheo, it has not.” He gave you a saccharine smile that you took as anything but sweet. Leaning back in your chair you crossed your arms, pouting in defeat.

Mattheo felt a strange pang in his chest, like a tight ache that was telling him to change his mind, but he had to stand his ground, “You and Pansy have the night off. Enjoy it. It won’t happen much in the future.” He avoided your gaze, looking everywhere but your eyes because he knew once he did he would give in. Instead he kept his stare the the black mahogany beneath his tapping fingertips, “I’m doing you a favor. You have the night off.” You leaned forward on your elbows, making sure to keep your tone sweet and even, “Thank you, boss, I truly appreciate it.” The use of his title stung, but he did not have the time to dwell on his feelings.

Giving the boys all a curt nod, the group stood. Each man disappearing with a chorus of crack-like pops. When the last one was out of site you turned to Pansy, letting out a frustrated, “Can you fucking believe that?” At the same time she blew out a laughing, “You are so fucking lucky, Birdie.” You blinked at her in confusion, “Lucky? How am I lucky? I essentially just got sat from a business deal because other men can’t handle I have fucking tits.” Pansy just smirked, shaking her head, “The sooner you acknowledge your feelings for each other the better all of our lives will be. I mean him too by the way. That little lovers quarrel you guys had at the table had us all at the edge of our seats. You should’ve heard the things Theo was saying.”

You groaned, “Spare me.” Pansy couldn’t help but laugh, giving your shoulder a light squeeze. “C’mon. Let’s go shopping or something, get your mind off it. We have the night off, remember?” You smiled then. A slow, almost sinister smile that had Pansy shaking her head. You stood up, walking out from the dinning room. Pansy was quick on your heels as you hustled up the stairs, “No. Birdie, whatever it is you’re thinking the answer is no.” You, on the other hand, couldn’t stop the wheels in your mind from turning, “He told us we had the night off, Pans. Then let’s do what any hot, single women would do…let’s go out.” You walked into your room, making a b-line for your closet, “Help me pick out an outfit.”

You turned to see her still standing in the doorway, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. “Oh come on,” you walked back towards her, grasping her wrist and dragging her inside fully. “Help me pick one out and I’ll pick one out for you. You know they never come back from these business deals until the next day, hell, sometimes the next evening depending on how it goes. We’ll go out for a few hours, have some fun, and then we’ll be back here asleep in bed before they even knew we were gone.” Pansy chewed on the inside of her cheek, “Just one club?” You took your index finger, lifting it up to the center of your chest and making a small ‘x’ motion, “Cross my heart.”

Pansy’s shoulders relaxed then, her smiled growing two fold, “Okay…then I say wear,” she flicked through your options, giving a sad pout after a moment, “Wear something of mine, because for Salazar’s sake, Birdie, we need to take you shopping.” You groaned out a slight giggle, “I know…maybe if I play my cards right I can convince Mattheo to buy me some.” You were mostly joking, but the look Pansy gave you told you it would be worth a try in the future. After a few outfit changes, the two of you were turning in the mirror and examining your final choices. After much debate, you finally landed on a blood red corset top with a black leather skirt while pansy opted for a black body-con minidress.

You let out a low whistle as you took in your reflection, “Salazar’s fucking sake we look good.” Pansy nodded, “If we don’t get free drinks tonight, there’s something wrong with the male society.” You huffed a laugh in agreement. After a few finishing touches to your hair and makeup, the two of you apparated down the street from the dance club. As the two of you made your way down the pavement, you were acutely aware of how different you felt compared to a few months ago. “You know, Pans, I haven’t been out like this in a long time,” you hooked your elbow with hers as you guys approached the line to get in. Pansy leaned her head on your shoulder briefly, “We’re gonna have a good time tonight, Birdie. You deserve it. Just relax and let loose. Who knows when we’ll be able to do this again.” You giggled, smiling sweetly at the bouncer as he nodded and let the both of you in without hesitation.

As you entered the club the sound of bass was nearly overwhelming. You could only mildly hear the melody to whatever song was playing, let alone your own thoughts. Pansy hooked her fingers with yours as she led a path towards the bar. You could feel men’s eyes on the pair of you the whole way up. While at your own club Pansy was stoic and focused on her job, this seemed to be an environment where she thrived. Pansy gave a particular pair of tall, handsome men a wink as she squished the two of you between another pair of guys. “Oh, excuse me handsome, we were just trying to get a few drinks, maybe a shot or two,” Pansy’s tone was coated in honey as she batted her eyelashes at the broad blonde next to her.

Her seduction trick was flawless, the blonde man buying both shots and both cocktails. She thanked him and gave a pat to his cheek before dragging you to the dance floor. This became a repeated pattern for the night: bar, batted eyelashes, dance floor. You had to give it to her, the routine worked. “Go on, Birdie you try. How about…” her eyes dragged over the sea of bodies near the bar, “him.” Her manicured finger pointed at a taller man near the center of the bar. He was handsome sure, tanned skin and dark curls on the top of his head, “Why him?” Pansy gave you an incredulous look, “Because he looks like Mattheo.” You were thankful for the amount of alcohol in your system to help hide the burning blush that flooded your cheeks, “Okay, fine.”

You made your way to the bar, Pansy close behind. As you got closer you tried a different approach than Pansy’s earlier tactic. Coming up to the man you stood directly behind him. You motioned for Pansy to stand next to you, her giving you a questioning look. The bar area was crowded, and all you needed for you plan to work was exactly what was about to happen. As another group of people tried to squish through the crowd behind you, your body was bumped forward, causing you to put your hand out and catch yourself on the man in front of you. As you’d hoped, the man turned around and you made your eyes wide and innocent as you looked up at him through your lashes, “Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry. These crowds are terrible.”

The man smiled down at you, his eyes weren’t the same as Mattheo’s. The man’s were more of a walnut brown and felt cold, like this was all a game to him just as much you . His smile also was nothing near as stunning as Mattheo’s…but regardless the man was clearly falling for the charm you’d put on, eyeing you up and down as he spoke, “Oh it’s quite alright, beautiful.” You let out a bashful laugh, looking down at the ground. The man caught your chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting your gaze back to his, “Let me buy you a drink, your friend too.” His eyes flickered over your shoulder to Pansy.

“O-okay,” the boldness of his touch causing you to stutter over your words. Your chest ached once he turned to order the drinks. The interaction didn’t leave you as satisfied as it did Pansy, if anything it left you yearning for something else. You turned to Pansy after the man handed you the drinks, “I didn’t like that.” She hummed in acknowledgement, “Yeah I was more so testing a theory.” You raised both eyebrows at her, “Mind telling the whole class, Miss Parkinson?” Pansy shook her head, smiling as she downed half her drink, “Not, yet, Professor.”

The more you drank the more your chest ached. And the more you felt yourself longing for him. You were far beyond inebriated, not thinking clearly, but what Pansy couldn’t hear couldn’t hurt her. Mattheoooooo, you closed your eyes and called out to him, not even knowing where he was with the deal, if he was possibly fighting someone. You just wanted to hear his voice. Princess…what’s wrong? You smiled to yourself. You were sure to Pansy it seemed like you were just enjoying the music as your body still ebbed and flowed with the beat.

Mattheo’s frown turned down further, something that wasn’t unusual during business meet ups, but this one was going fairly well. “What’s up, boss?” Enzo leaned in to whisper to him. Mattheo held up a finger, trying to focus on your voice in his head, Teeeooooooo, miss youu. Mattheo’s jaw clenched, Birdie, where are you? You hated using your legimens, the fact that you were communicating with Mattheo that way, along with how you were talking was causing him high concern. I’m dancing wiff Pansy, she’s such a good dancer, Teo. I wish I was dancing with yoooou. Mattheo eyed Draco, silently telling him to take the lead before Mattheo walked off back towards the truck. Birdie, are you drunk? There’s no fucking dance floor at the house? Where the fuck are you?

He rubbed both hands over his face, trying to control his breathing. Not drunk…maybe drunk…don’t member the club name, like a pretty flower. Mattheo walked back towards the others, “Are you happy with the product or not?” He was being stern with the man but Mattheo needed this deal over with. The De Luca family member nodded his head, “Yeah, we’re happy. Well wire you the money first thing in the mornin’. Always good doin’ business with you, Riddle.” Mattheo nodded, shaking the man’s hand before grabbing Enzo’s collar and dragging him away with it. “Ow, woah, hey what the fuck?” Enzo was confused by the motion. “Birdie and Pansy went to a fucking club and now Birdies drunk, we have to go get them.”

Theo jogged to catch up, “Which club did our little trouble makers go to?” Mattheo scowled slightly, “This isn’t a fucking joke, Nott. And she said something about a pretty flower? She’s fucking drunk, she’s fucking talking to me through legimens and even then I can tell she’s slurring her words. You were a man whore in your prime, Nott, which club is that.” Theo huffed out a snort but didn’t deny Matthoe’s allegations, “Sounds like probably The Dahlia.” Mattheo nodded, “Draco, Blaise, you two take the truck back. Enzo, Theo, you’re coming with me.” The boys all nodded at their assignments as Mattheo reached out to you again, Stay put, Princess, I’m coming to get you. He rounded the corner with the other two boys to make sure they were out of sight before apparating to the alley down the block from the club.

Your voice rang in his head once more, Are you going to dance with me Teo? I miss you so m- Mattheo stopped in his tracks the moment your voice cut out causing the two behind him to almost smack into his back. “What is it, what happened?” Enzo was taking in their surroundings checking for threats he may have missed. “Her voice, it just…cut out. She was talking to me and then it was like something cut it off before she could finish.” Enzo wore a worried look, glancing over at Theo whose lips were downturned. Mattheo started walking again, only faster this time. As they approached the entrance to the club, the bouncer must have recognized Theo because he pulled back the rope and allowed the three men in without question.

As they approached the edge of the dance floor Mattheo gave one instruction, “Find them.” The three spread out, weaving through swaying, sweaty bodies as they tried to catch a glimpse of anyone that looked remotely like either you or Pansy. Running into Theo, Enzo asked if he had any luck. Theo shook his head, “Not yet. Every bloody black haired woman looks like Pansy out here and I can’t catch a glimpse of Birdie anywhere.” Mattheo approached the two, eyes asking the same question Enzo had moments before. Theo shook his head, Enzo’s height giving him an advantage in the middle of the crowd. “There,” he pointed over the heads of those around him. Theo and Mattheo turn, following his indication until they’re face to face with a very far gone Pansy.

She pouted as they approached, assuming they were there to break up the fun. She opened her mouth to complain when Matthoe effectively cut her off, “Where’s Birdie.” Pansy rolled her eyes, turning around the point at the person behind her. Only you weren’t there. Pansy turned in a circle, once, twice, three times before stopping and facing the men in front of her. “I swear, Mattheo, she was just here. She’s been by my side all night. We were dancing on each other not even five minutes ago.” Mattheo’s face grew hot, a sense of worry rushing over him that he’s never felt before for any kind of person, “What do you mean she was just here. Where the bloody fucking hell would she go?”

———-

You groaned lightly, your head pounding as you tried to sit up. The floor beneath you hard and cold, your outfit doing little for warmth. As you pushed yourself to a seated position you felt a weight in one of your wrists. Looking down you saw your wrist wrapped in a thick metal cuff, a chain attaching it, and effectively you, to the wall behind it. “What the fuck…” a low whisper left your lips as your eyes started to adjust to your surroundings. The floor below you was concrete, leaving a persistent chill running throughout your body. Around you seemed to be the layout of an old factory, abandon machinery and materials littered about the space. It was darker in the building, the emergency lights appearing to be the only functioning electricity around you.

Hugging your knees to yourself, you squeezed your eyes shut, trying to call out to Mattheo. You repeated his name, over and over and over. You groaned out in frustration, slapping the floor next to you, causing the chains to rattle. “Whatever it is you are trying to do will not work.” You stiffened, the sound of his voice was something you thought you had forgotten, but hearing it ring through your ears once more brought a flood of painful memories with it. You looked around, trying to anticipate the direction the voice was coming from, the the old walls of the factory had the sound reverberated from every direction. “You know I didn’t think you’d be knocked out this long. But then again, your drunken state must have heightened the effects of the Stupefy charm.”

You watched his figure emerge from the shadows, the fear you once felt quickly returning like a white hot burn all over your body. You scooted yourself back until you were nearly flat against the wall, your knees hugged to your chest as his name fell from your lips like a ghosted whisper, “Damiano…” He smiled, flashing all of his teeth like a snarling predator as he towered over you, “Hello, Sunshine. Did you miss me?” You stayed silently, trying to press yourself impossibly further away, leading him to let out a low and menacing chuckle. He squatted down to your level, forearms resting on his knees as he balanced himself on the balls of his feet. He reached out slowly, like he was going to touch your face. You turned quickly, swatting his hand away.

He smiled once more before grabbing your face harshly, forcing your gaze to meet his, “Don’t be like that, Sunshine. I’m being very nice only chaining one arm down, but if you misbehave I have no qualms doing the other.” You huffed out your nose, still refusing to speak to him. You closed your eyes once more, desperately trying to reach Mattheo, or anyone from the family for help. Damniano applied more pressure to his grip, surely leaving the beginning of what would be a bruise on your face when he was done. “I already told you…your little tricks your new boyfriend taught you aren’t going to work. I figured he was a legimens like his failure of a father. I put a spell on the building; he can’t hear you and you can’t hear him.” Your lip quivered slightly, a new sense of fear enveloping you.

Damiano tsked at you, “I knew it. I always knew you were a stupid, weak, little witch.” He let go of your face before swinging his palm and slapping your cheek with enough force to split your bottom lip. You gasped, coughing slightly to catch your breath again, spitting blood onto the cold stone before you. You glared at him, “You think I’m weak because I’m not like you? Abusing and torturing those that don’t agree or don’t do my bidding? Why am I even here, Damiano. What do you want with me?” He looked down at you once more, a devious smirk adorning his features, “This is why you’re stupid, Sunshine. Can you not see it? Godric, okay. Let me spell it out for you. I don’t want you. You’re nothing to me. Even when you were mine you were nothing, just a tool. And that’s what you are today. Well…more like…a tool.”

Your face fell, which only caused a laugh to emit from his throat, “Oh dear girl, don’t worry. We’re not going to kill you. But we’re going to make sure Mattheo and the rest of his little group get the message. He stole something valuable from me. You, Sunshine, were nothing, but your abilities were everything. I can’t just steal you back or he’ll sick his fucking dog Berkshire. Can’t have that can we? But what I can do, is send him a fucking message.” He drew his wand as he stood a few feet away from you. You held your breath, trying to prepare for whatever he was about to unleash, but nothing could help with what he casted. With a red light leaving the tip of his wand your body was instantly aflame with pain, your muscles and limbs contorting and squeezing with agony. Your breath felt like it was knocked from your lungs, your mouth agape and gasping for air.

Two more figures appeared beside Damiano, their wands also drawn and prepped for whatever torture they were directed with. After a few moments he broke the spell, grinning as you gasped for air and tried to hold your body up from the floor. “You know, I was really hoping you would scream. I sometimes find myself missing the sound of you squealing in pain when I used to punish you. No one has quite the same ring to it you had. Guess I’ll just have to up the intensity of it all. Boys,” he turned to his cronies on either side of him, “together this time.” In perfect unison the mumbled the spell together Crucio. Immediately your back arched off the floor, your arms and legs contorting awkwardly as the searing pain once again entered your body. A blood curdling scream left your throat, the sound nearly as defeating as the pain you were feeling. Your eyes rolled at the immense pain, your mind going blank.

As you felt like you were on the brink of passing out, Damiano instructed them all to stop. He turned to them once more, giving specific instructions, “I want you to rough her up a bit more, but don’t touch her face. I want her to be recognizable when they find her. The two men nodded before approaching you together. You managed to sit yourself up again, holding yourself up on wobbly arms. This position didn’t last as one of Damiano’s men quickly landed the heel of his boot to your shoulder, your collarbone cracking with the action. You flew back slightly at the action and collapsed on your back. You groaned in pain, clutching the area and turning to your side. The men began kicking you; in the stomach, in the ribs, in the back. You were a rag doll for their game of human football, barely audible grunts and moans slipping past your lips. “That’s enough,” Damniano’s voice rang out. You coughed, spitting out more blood that seemed to fill your mouth.

The two men left your side immediately, walking back to their previous positions to watch as Damiano approached you. He crouched over you again, taking your face in his hands. With his thumb he spread your blood over your lips, “I always did like red on you.” You tried to pull away, but your strength was null, “Like I said, Sunshine, you…are weak. But you were mine first. And I can’t let you, or anyone else, forget that.” He shoved you from his grip, you falling back down to the ground. You were limp on the cold concrete as Damiano lifted your skirt over your hips. You felt him grip the meat of your thigh closer to your hip before the tip of his wand began to dig into your skin with a white hot burn. A whimper left your throat as he carved into your skin; you could smell it burning. Once done he grabbed the back of your head, tilting your neck awkwardly so you could see his handiwork on your body. On the outside of your thigh, closer to your hip was a small symbol that would make it impossible for you to ever see it without thinking of Damiano. A sun.

A single tear fell down your cheek, Damiano leaning in and licking it off your face with a satisfied hum. “You know I love it when you cry, Sunshine. But I can’t stick around to watch. As soon as I’m gone, the blocking spells will be lifted. Then you can call your little dark lord boyfriend. You’re at 1538 Woodbury Lane in London. Really wish I could see his face when he finds you.” He pulled your skirt back down over your legs once more, patting your leg where he just carved your skin before walking away and apparating out of sight with a low popping noise. You waited a few moments, just to make sure he wasn’t coming back, before tightly shutting your eyes, your entire focus on Mattheo and anyone else in the family that might be able to hear you.

1538 Woodbury Lane, London. 1538 Woodbury Lane, London. 1538 Woodbury Lane, London. You repeated the address over and over again until finally you heard him, We’re on our way, Princess, don’t move. You opened your eyes, at the sound of his voice, tears now flowing freely down your face. The irony of that statement ‘don’t move’ was not lost on you, causing a forced laugh from your lungs. With Mattheo’s confirmation that he was coming, you finally allowed your body to relax into the concrete below you. As if that was all the permission your body needed, your eyes felt heavy and soon, everything became dark.

#Protego series #mafia!matheo riddle #mafia!slytherin boys #mafia!blaise zabini #mafia!enzo berkshire #mafia!theo nott #mafia!draco malfoy #mafia!pansy parkinson #Mattheo riddle x you #Mattheo riddle x reader #Mattheo riddle angst #Mattheo riddle fic #mafia!au #mafia fic

[the0doreslover]

Cooking class | t.n x fem!reader

“Miss mcgonagall you cannot fail me!” You protested walking into her class which, unfortunately for you was full of students. “Oh, hi Hermione”

“Miss y/l/n maybe instead of interrupting my class you can come up to my desk and speak to me quietly” she sighed

“Sorry” you said walking up to her desk ignoring the eyes and laughs of the gryfindors and slytherins

“Right what have I failed you in?” She asked

“This one” you pointed to the subject called “clubs and activities”

“Miss y/l/n I’m not sure if you are aware but that’s not a subject more so an option”

“My fifth year report card is almost perfect I just need anything but an F in this” you said

“I see, well the first year cooking club is probably the only club accepting new members at the moment. If by the end of the month you show great effects in cooking club I’ll see what I can do” she smiled

“Thank you miss! This is why your my favourite” you said hugging her before making your way out the classroom and waving bye to Hermione.

“We’re sorry sir!” Draco said to a very angry mr flitwick

“You should of thought about that before you boys thought it would be funny to play a cruel prank on me!” The man replied angrily

“You’re not going to tell our parents right?” Blaise asked

“That is exactly what I’m going to do”

“Please sir, we won’t do it again my dad will kill me if you tell him” theodore begged

“I see” the teacher sighed

“How about you let us go with a warning?” Draco said with a smirk

“You’re pushing your luck mister malfoy… actually I have just the right punishment for you boys” flitwick said making the boys share a confused look

“Cooking club! My father will hear about this. Isn’t that for girls” Draco huffed as they walked towards the classroom they were told to be at.

“Believe it or not I’m a great chef” theodore laughed as they neared the door to the cooking club

“Well at least it’s only for three days” blaise sighed pushing open the door.

As they walked inside they noticed all the first years plus you looking up at them

“We thought you were the teacher” you said going back to writing on your hands

“Where is she anyway?” Draco asked annoyed

“It’s a He actually and i don’t know” you replied

“Well I guess it a free period” theodore said High fiving blaise

“why are you three here anway?” You asked them

“Punishment from flitwick” blaise replied

“Why are you here?” Draco asked

“Extra credit” Theodore answered for you “you should of seen the way she came into the room this morning” he laughed making you roll your eyes

“i didn’t know you spoke” you raised your eyebrows “i don’t think i’ve ever seen you even open your mouth”

“well you’ve caught me on a good day” he grinned

“Um excuse me” you looked next to you and saw a little girl tapping you “the teacher is terribly late and we’ve already wasted 20 minutes do you know if he’s coming?” She asked

“Oh um I’m not sure sorry”

“Oh” she looked down with sad eyes

“Oi theo didn’t you say you were a great cook?” Blaise asked

“No I didn’t” he lied

“Yes you did, if i remember correctly your exact words were, Believe it or not I’m a great chef” Blaise smirked

“Well y/n is a girl who probably should know how to cook why don’t you teach the class” Draco said

“would you do that?” The little girl said looking at you with her soft eyes

“come on l/n have a heart” draco smirked

you kissed your teeth before lifting yourself from your chair. You went to the teachers desk and read the recipe “banana bread muffins” before levitating the ingredients onto all the desks

“If you lot aren’t going to do anything move to the back” you said to the three boys who moved straight away

“Um I think your meant to partner up” you said watching all the kids go into pairs “okay so um first I think you add vanilla extract?” you questioned yourself aloud

“no you don’t” theodore said watching you with an amused expression on his face.

“oh you add the eggs”

“not yet” he said

“Okay um, you add apple?”

“That’s not even part of the ingredients” he laughed

“So help me?”

“Only because it’s pathetic seeing you try to cook” he sighed walking towards you

“First you add the bananas” he gave you a pointed look while putting an apron on

“Nice apron, pink is your colour” you said as Draco and blaise started laughing

“Shut up I’m helping you aren’t I?” He groaned

“Fine” you said throwing Draco and blaise aprons too

“This isn’t my job” Draco made a disgusted face

“If I’m doing it your doing it” Theodore said rolling up his sleeves as they complained.

“Okay next melt 1/3 cup of butter” theodore said melting it with his wand “and mix it together”

“I know what’s next!” You grinned “flour”

“Well done, you’re not that clueless then. You can measure 1 and a half cup flour for me then” he smirked

You grabbed the packet of flour and pulled both sides causing it to open everywhere covering you and theodore while all the children laughed

“I take back what I said why would you open flour like that” he said blowing flour off his arm

Once the mixture was made you, theodore and the rest of the pairs were putting it into cupcake cases. While you were filling your last case you noticed some flour on theodore’s shoulder, you reached out to wipe it. As your hand came in contact with him he stopped what he was doing for a minute

“You had flour” you said quietly pointing to his shoulder

“Oh Thank you”

“Your welcome theodore” you smiled

“theo”

“what?”

“call me theo… please”

“Okay”

The cupcakes were in the oven and everyone was sitting down waiting, “how comes you can actually cook” you asked breaking the silence between you and theo who were sitting on the floor with your backs against a cupboard

“My mother used to cook for me while i watched, I loved watching her cook so much it was probably the best part about my childhood” he said smiling.

“aww notts a mummys boy” you teased

“yeah i was” he laughed

“wh-"

*DING*

you both jumped at the sound

“that’s loud” you stood up

“um well take your cakes out of the oven now before they burn” you said awkwardly rolling on the balls on your feet.

Once the cakes were cooked down the kids stuffed them into their pockets, seeing as there weren’t any containers (that they could find)

“Well come back tomorrow” you sighed “hopefully the teacher will show up”

Once all the children left you grabbed your bag and walked towards the door before turning to the three boys at the back of the class

“thank you for helping me today” you smiled as nott stared at you. “i’ll see you tomorrow” you left.

“Are you okay theo?” blaise asked the boy who was still staring at where you were moments ago.

“yeah, yeah she just reminded me of someone for a second”

#harry potter #hogwarts #fanfic #slytherin #x reader #theodore nott #theodore nott x reader #blaise zabini #lorenzo berkshire #pansy parkinson #draco malfoy #theodore x you #theodore nott x you

[chaotic-goodsir]

For day 2 of this Hatchetverse series thing, here's part of the sequel to You Could Call This Luck that I've been trying and failing to finish. Turns out plotting a thing about time travel with multiple POVs and timelines is hard.

To avoid confusion: in this particular timeline, (most of) the events of the musicals didn't happen. Time Bastard did, though, because we all know Ted can't catch a break.

(Also sorry for the long post - I don't usually post fic like this directly to Tumblr, but since this is unfinished I didn't want to put it on Ao3 just yet)

*

Pete Lauter sits at the desk in his science classroom at Hatchetfield High School, trying to finish the last of the week's marking. His eyes are dry from staring at his tablet screen, and the hum of the heating units is starting to get on his nerves. His students' lab reports all blend into one after a while - most of them are clearly written by AI. Getting teenagers to write anything as unexciting as a lab report on their own these days is almost impossible. He's not sure why the school still requires it, but then who is he, a mere teacher, to question the relevance of the national curriculum? Only the guy who sees first-hand how badly it works for his students.

Pete doesn't hate his job, most of the time, but it can get exhausting. This particular evening, he's ready to go home, heat up yesterday's leftovers - maybe make a hot chocolate, why not? - and enjoy the Friday-night peace and quiet. Theo will be out somewhere with his friends, and Steph's away on highly-classified work business. It's the perfect time to finally start that sci-fi novel that's been sitting on his bedside table for weeks. He's craving some decent, interesting writing that isn't the work of a teenager or a robot.

Sounds like a plan, he thinks, saving the report he's been working through and switching the tablet to sleep mode. He'll get the last of the marking done on Sunday night. For now it's future-Pete's problem.

He pulls on his jacket - his favourite, the one with the elbow patches that Steph bought for him last Christmas - and is about to pack the tablet away when the screen blinks into life again.

Ruth Fleming's icon (a photo from her honeymoon in Europe, Ruth and her wife smiling in front of a clear blue sky) flashes onto the screen. It's no surprise that she's still at work - drama club starts in an hour, and she has rehearsals to direct. Pete sighs and taps the icon, hoping she isn't about to ask him to help out again.

'Hey Ruth,' he says. 'I was just about to head home - do you need something?'

Ruth sounds a little out of breath, the way she always does when she's anxious.

'Pete, thank god you're still here. You need to come to the north wing staffroom, now. It's your son.'

Pete freezes. 'Theo?'

'Of course it's Theo. Do you have another son? Look, I don't wanna worry you, but he's hurt. You should come quick.'

'What do you mean, hurt?' Pete asks, panic rising. What is Theo even doing in school, on a Friday night? Something stupid and dangerous, clearly, if he's managed to hurt himself.

Pete swings his backpack onto one shoulder, carrying the tablet in his free hand as he rushes out of the room. He doesn't bother to lock the classroom door.

'How badly? Like, ambulance bad?'

'I don't know. I don't think so. But he's talking crazy.'

He's talking, Pete thinks, okay. He feels bad for thinking it, but he's not 100% convinced this isn't just Theo pulling a prank. He wouldn't put it past his son to do this kind of thing for attention. Theo Lauter is a lot of things, but a well-adjusted teenager doesn't seem to be one of them, no matter what Pete and Steph try.

Ruth knows that, of course, and the worry in her voice is making Pete worry too. She'd see through a typical Theo prank pretty easily. Which means this is probably real.

'I'm on my way.' He tells Ruth. 'I'll be five minutes.'

He hangs up and races down the corridor, cutting through the courtyard to get to the North Wing. The staffroom is upstairs, in the English and Languages corridor. When he gets there, the door is wedged open. Ruth is by the sofa, trying to comfort a teenage boy who looks a lot like his son.

But there's no sign of Theo's trademark denim jacket or band t-shirt. This kid is wearing a white shirt, suspenders, and bowtie, all stained with - Pete realises in horror - a concerning amount of blood. Instead of Theo's ponytail, this kid has his hair down, shoulder length, pinned back to keep it out of his face. And this kid is wearing glasses, with a crack across one lens.

Theo has his mother's eyesight. He's never needed glasses in his life.

Either Theo's pranks have reached a whole new level of elaborate, or this is not Pete's son at all. This kid looks more like-

Well, he looks more like him. Like Pete himself, when he was 25 years younger.

Not for the first time, Pete considers that he really needs to move his family out of Hatchetfield. Only in this messed-up town would something like that even be a possibility.

The kid notices him standing in the doorway, and his eyes go wide behind his cracked glasses. Then he says something that disproves neither the actual-time-travel theory nor the Theo-pulling-a-prank one, but spooks Pete either way.

'...Ted?'

*

Agent Stephanie Lauter is in a highly classified meeting at the PIEP HQ when the smartwatch around her wrist starts to buzz.

She glances at it, annoyed, and sees her husband's icon blinking at her. Pete knows she's busy today. He wouldn't call unless it was something urgent. He's one of the only contacts who can call her through the HQ's high tech digital barrier system.

Maybe it's just an accident. She swipes the icon away. If it's urgent, he'll call back.

She waits for a pause in General Lee's presentation, then raises a hand.

'I'm sorry, sir. My husband is trying to call me - I think it's urgent.'

'Well, you had better take it then,' Lee says, with his characteristic earnestness. No matter the situation, the old General has a way of always seeming that he knows more than anyone else about what's going on. It's a little disconcerting.

He waves towards the door. 'Good luck, Agent Lauter. I hope your family are all safe and well.'

She thanks him, apologises again, and leaves quickly. Outside the meeting room, a security guard in a bulletproof vest watches her pace anxiously up and down the corridor as she returns Pete's call.

'Steph,' he says when he picks up. There's an anxious note in his voice that she does not like the sound of. 'Sorry, I know you're at work. Are you busy right now?'

'It's fine,' she says. 'What's wrong?'

'It's Theo,' Pete says, then pauses. 'Well, no, it's not Theo. At least he says he's not, and I think he's telling the truth. I... I don't really know how to explain this, Steph. It's gonna sound crazy.'

'Breathe, babe,' Steph says, because Pete is talking at about a hundred miles an hour now. 'I work for PIEP. I can cope with crazy.'

'Okay.' Pete says, taking a breath. 'Okay.'

'Is Theo alright?'

'Yeah. At least I hope so. He's at his friends, probably. I'm at school, and there's a kid here that looks like him. Ruth thought it was Theo, and he's covered in blood - not hurt, thank god, just covered in it - so she called me. But it's not. Not Theo, I mean.'

'What? Who is it?'

'I think it's me.'

To anyone else, in any other context, those words wouldn't make sense. Pete is a 41 year old man, and their son is 16. It would be insane to mistake one for the other. Not to mention that Pete is Pete. This kid that's shown up covered in blood can't possibly also be him. One person can't possibly be in two places at once.

But in Hatchetfield, anything is possible. And then, on top of that, there's the Spankoffski Effect.

Steph has often wished she could tell Pete more about the work she does for PIEP. About the data that shows his brother Ted's disappearance, back in 2019, wasn't just an unexplained tragedy but a large-scale temporal incident affecting multiple universes. Pete doesn't even know that there are multiple universes. It would probably break his little nerd heart if he knew she wasn't telling him.

Nor does Pete know about how, the day she told the now-retired General MacNamara that she and Pete were engaged, his congratulations came with a warning:

'By all means, marry a Spankoffski if you wish, Miss Lauter. But a word of advice. I'd strongly suggest you don't take that name, and don't give it to your children.'

When she asked him why, he'd told her that was classified. It wasn't until she graduated from training that she first heard about the Spankoffski Effect, and put two and two together.

In every timeline known to PIEP researchers, something with the power to sever a person from the flow of time itself has an interest in - no, more like an obsession with - Pete's brother, and possibly his entire family.

She's not sure she could tell her husband that part even if she had clearance.

And now Pete's younger self has appeared at the school where he teaches. Steph does not like the sound of that at all.

'You're sure it's not Theo pulling a prank? I wouldn't put it past him.'

'If it is, he deserves an oscar. And this kid has my phone, Steph. From years ago. With my medical alert details, everything. I don't think Theo would go that far.'

Probably not, no, but she wants to be absolutely sure. 'Have you called Theo? Checked where he is?'

'Shit,' Pete says, then catches himself for swearing in front of a student. 'I mean, uh, shoot, no. I should have done that.'

She tries adding Theo to the call they're already on. The line rings out, so she tries again. No answer.

'Steph, if you're calling him, I can't hear it ringing. I don't think this kid has Theo's watch.'

A message appears on Steph's watch screen:

< Fuck off, mom, I'm busy :) >

'Well,' She says, wondering briefly about nature and nurture and whether it's some failure of parenting that turned her son into such a little shit, 'our son just messaged me. Unless he can do that with only his mind, I don't think he's with you.'

'Okay,' Pete says. Then, 'shit.' He doesn't catch himself this time.

Shit is right, Steph thinks. 'Wait there. Keep the kid calm. Stay calm yourself, okay? I'll come to you.'

She doesn't tell him she's planning to bring PIEP agents with her, but he's probably figured that out already.

'Aren't you in DC?'

'Yeah, so you'll have to hold out for a few hours. Anything weird happens - anything else weird - you call me straight away, okay?'

'Okay. Yeah. Love you.'

'Love you too.'

Steph hangs up. She pinches the bridge of her nose with one hand and groans, wondering why she never had the sense to move her family out of Hatchetfield.

Would that have helped, though? If something from the Black and White is after Pete, couldn't it find him anywhere, if it wanted to?

The security guard is staring at her.

'Everything okay, ma'am?'

'Yeah,' she says. 'I'm fine. Just - don't ever marry a Spankoffski, no matter how cute he is.'

The guard blinks, clearly baffled.

'Um... right.'

#hatchetverse #hatchetfield #npmd #time bastard #nightmare time #starkid #tgwdlm #peter spankoffski #stephanie lauter #lautski #t'noy karaxis #ruth fleming

[sapphireginger]

Chapter #2

Summary:

The boy nods and shyly smiles. “C-Can my daddy go with me?” 

Stiles nods immediately. “Absolutely, Cub. This course is designed for our cubs and their parents. Don’t worry. It’s okay to be a little nervous but I know your daddy will be right up there with you and I’ll be right down here.” 

The boy nods and watches as the instructor harnesses his dad. “S’cuse me Mr. Stiles?” 

Stiles kneels down again. “What’s wrong, Cub?” 

The boy’s voice gets super soft. “My daddy gets a little scared up high too. Can he be a cub too so he’s safe a-and if either of us gets scared you’ll come help?” 

Stiles melts and smiles softly. “I promise.

Stiles Stilinski is an instructor at a zip line adventure park called Howlin' Heights, located in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. He’s in his sixth season as an instructor. He graduated high school at the age of sixteen and started college right after. He graduated from Seline Elite University eight years ago and then began to build his company. He has a degree in Business Administration and a degree in nursing. He spent a couple years in college as an EMT. Then two years after graduating, at the age of twenty-two he opened Howlin' Heights. 

Erica was his first hire, and with her came Boyd who is their maintenance guy. Next came Jackson, Theo and Isaac who all were friends of his from college whom Stiles kept in contact with. Lastly came Allison and Kira to round out their little group. Now at twenty-eight years old he has six years of success under his belt and a family he gets to see every day, that he calls Pack.

The crew gathers in the cabin as the guests arrive and Erica gets them checked in. Stiles heads over to the whiteboard. “Okay pack listen up please?” 

They all gather around and nod their acknowledgement. 

“Okay today we have Kira starting on the Howling Course. She’ll take the first shift down there. Jackson you’re starting down the hill on courses five and six. Theo? You’re on Lunar Landing. Are you ready for that?” he asks.

Theo nods with a smirk. “Absolutely, Alpha. I’ve been looking forward to it.”

Stiles nods and turns to Allison and Isaac. “Ally, you'll take the safety brief for the second group today and then we’ll rotate with Allison bumping Kira, Kira heading down to relieve Jackson and Jackson heading inside. Isaac, you have the safety brief for the third group today and then we'll have the rotation again with Isaac bumping Allison, Allison heading down to relieve Kira and Kira heading inside.”

“What about you, Alpha?” Allison asks, her hip cocked to the side.

Stiles huffs. “I was getting there.” He hangs up the schedule and the rotation. “I will be doing the safety brief for the first group today. I think Erica said we have a couple for the Cub Course in that group. So, I’ll do the briefs for both. I can always pull one of you over to the Cub Course if we get anymore for that one.” 

He looks at the crew who all are vibrating with excitement. This is one of the reasons why he loves his job. Seeing everyone excited to do their job warms his heart. “All right pack. Let’s have a howling good time!”

They all break and Stiles heads into the office connected to the cabin. “Hey, Catwoman. How’s it going so far?”

Erica grins as she attaches bracelets to their first group. “All good so far Alpha. I have two more I’m waiting on for your group. If you want to head out and start harnessing, I’ll send the last two down when they’re ready.”

“Sounds good.” He slips on his gloves, clips his water bottle onto his harness and heads out with ten adult harnesses. He takes his place at the start, waits while people start to gather around, and offers them a smile.

“Welcome to Howlin’ Heights. My name is Stiles, and I will be your instructor today. Now, how many of you have howled with us before?” He watches as a few people raise their hands. “All right. Well, welcome back.”

The group of returnees claps excitedly and Stiles chuckles in response. “For those of you who are new, we also welcome you. It is our goal to make sure that you all have the best time possible while you’re here. Before we head down, we need to get you all harnessed up.” 

He holds up one of the harnesses, the other nine resting on his shoulder before hanging them on the hooks.

Everyone in the group has their eyes on him as he continues. “So, the most important thing is that you never adjust your harnesses yourself. If at any point your harness feels loose, you need to let an instructor know and we will help you with it. I’m going to go around and get you each harnessed.” He begins harnessing all the guests. 

As he finishes with the last one, he takes a step back. “All right. Now your harness should be secure. Did everyone get their harness adjusted by me?” Everyone nods and Stiles grins. “Perfect. Now on your waist you will find a red pouch that has a whistle in it. This is only for emergencies. There will be instructors on the ground that you can call out to if you need something but if it’s serious, if it's an emergency, then use the whistle. Everyone, make sure you have a whistle for me please?” He waits while they check and then nods. “Good. I see everyone has wristbands and you all have gloves?” 

Everyone in the group raises up their gloved hands. 

“Wonderful! Now that we have that out of the way we’re going to head to our practice course. If you’ll follow me, we’ll make our way down now.”

Stiles leads the group down and pulls out his radio. “Stiles to Cabin.”

“Go for Cabin.”

“I have finished harnessing and am heading down to the practice course.”

“Heard, Alpha. Your last two should be there with you now.”

Stiles glances at his group and notices a man with a boy on his shoulders. “I have eyes on them. Thanks, Catwoman.”

“My pleasure Batman. Have fun.”

🐾╰☆╮🍃╰☆╮🍃╰☆╮🐾

They all reach the practice course and Stiles gestures for them to spread out so they can all see him clearly. Once they do, he begins. “So, like I said earlier, my name is Stiles and I’ll be your instructor today. In order to make sure we all have the most amount of fun possible, we need to go over some rules. So, turn up your ears, give me your eyes and silence those voices. We’ll leave the howling for when you get to the ziplines. Here we go!”

Stiles starts off by explaining their equipment. He demonstrates the trolley that an instructor will put on the cables for the various courses as well as the carabiner that they will be responsible for making sure to attach. “It is important for your safety that you always make sure you have two points of attachment at all times. When you do have to unclip your carabiner, do so but then clip it back on before taking a step.”

“Excuse me?”

Stiles glances over and smiles. “What’s up?”

“Where does the carabiner clip to?” the teenager asks.

“Good question! You see this heavy duty silver cable here?” 

The girl nods. 

“Good. That’s where you will clip it. It is the main line and the cable you must always reattach to.” Once she nods her understanding he continues. “Now an instructor has to attach you to the course. You cannot under any circumstances attach yourself to the course. This is to ensure that you get attached correctly. Now that you know how to get attached to the system, here’s how we do the zipline.”

As Stiles is giving the safety speech for the zipline, he notices the man who has moved the small boy from his shoulders to his hip. Their wristbands indicate the Cub Course, while the rest of their group have wristbands indicating the adult course also known as the Howling Course. 

“All right. Let’s see if you were paying attention. Show me by demonstrating what you just learned here on our practice course. If I can see you've understood the information, I'll send you to the first course.”

One by one the people in the group get on the practice course and only two of them have to go again before Stiles deems them ready and sends them down to course one. “Stiles to Cabin.”

“Go for Cabin.”

“I’ve got my first group heading down to course one. The practice course is raked and I’m taking two guests to our Cub Course.”

“Heard Alpha,” Erica says back.

“I’m here to let them in Alpha,” Kira replies over the radio.

“Sounds good, Kit.”

He turns to face the man and his son. “Hey guys! If you follow me, we will head to the course.”

With a nod from the man and a wiggle of excitement from the boy, they make their way down the hill towards the station with the cub harnesses and trolleys.

“So, as you both heard I’m Stiles and I’ll be your instructor. I’m going to tell you some very important things.” He kneels down to help the child into a harness. He smiles at him encouragingly. “Never hesitate to ask me any questions. Okay, Cub?” 

The boy nods and shyly smiles. “C-Can my daddy go with me?” 

Stiles nods immediately. “Absolutely, Cub. This course is designed for our cubs and their parents. Don’t worry. It’s okay to be a little nervous but I know your daddy will be right up there with you and I’ll be right down here.” 

The boy nods and watches as the instructor harnesses his dad. “S’cuse me Mr. Stiles?” 

Stiles kneels down again. “What’s wrong, Cub?” 

The boy’s voice gets super soft. “My daddy gets a little scared up high too. Can he be a cub too so he’s safe a-and if either of us gets scared you’ll come help?” 

Stiles melts and smiles softly. “I promise. Are you ready to give it a go?” 

The boy smiles excitedly and grabs his daddy’s hand. “My name is Ezekiel, but I go by EZ or Zeke and this is my daddy! His name is Derek.” 

Stiles smiles and offers his hand to the dad. “Derek? Nice to meet you. I hear you’re going to be a cub today too?”

Derek’s cheeks heat up, but he nods despite holding his son’s hand tighter. “Yes?” 

It’s obvious to Stiles that this wonderful—this beautiful—man is going through this despite his fear because his son wants to. 

“Okay. So, your course is a little different. You only have to worry about your trolley. Just like the big course, only an instructor can connect you to the course.” He steps up to the small practice course and attaches his trolley. “So, when you’re on the course you can hold onto the rope of the cable but don’t hold onto the trolley. We don’t want any pinched fingers,” he explains wiggling his own fingers, oblivious to the way Derek’s eyes darken at the sight.

“What about the zipline, Mr. Stiles?”

“Good question, Cub. When you go down the zip line the only thing you can hold onto is the rope.” He then attaches his trolley back onto his harness. “Are we ready?” 

Derek and Zeke nod, though one looks slightly pale while the other is eager to get on the course.

Stiles has them complete the practice course first and smiles at how thorough the kid is, making sure to do everything exactly right. 

As he walks them to the gate, out of the corner of his eye, he notices Derek staring at his arms and has to laugh a bit to himself. Erica always teases him about people drooling over his hands.

🐾╰☆╮🍃╰☆╮🍃╰☆╮🐾

Once Stiles gets them up safely on the course for loop one, or Lupine One, he radios in. “Stiles to Cabin.” 

Erica replies back. “Go for Cabin.” 

Stiles smiles. “Hey, Catwoman. Any chance someone loves me enough to keep me at the Cub Course by taking my rotation in the Howling Course?” He glances up watching the son instructing his dad and he can’t help but melt at it.

“Daddy it’s okay. See? I put my foot right there in the middle and it didn’t shake at all. You can do it!” 

“Okay, I can do this.”

“Yeah, you can, Daddy!” Zeke cheers.

They both get to the platform and Derek lets out a heavy sigh of relief. “Wow.”

“Come on, Daddy. This is just the first obstacle and Mr. Stiles says no howling until the zipline.”

Derek looks down to where Stiles is, his cheeks pinking when he realizes Stiles is watching them. He quickly looks back at his son. “Well, we definitely have to howl. So, we better get to the zipline quickly then.”

“I wish we had a moon out, Daddy. Then it would be perfect,” Zeke says as he starts on the next obstacle. “Cause wolves howl at the moon.”

After a couple more deep breaths, Derek starts on the next obstacle, glad he didn’t try to eat before this, well at least not a full meal.

“Do you think they have a glow in the dark night?” his son asks as he reaches the other platform and looks back.

“I don’t think so kiddo. That wouldn’t be safe. We just have to pretend we have a moon. You can be a wolf without the moon.”

“You can?! I wanna be a wolf. Come on, Daddy! Only four more obstacles and then we can howl!” he says grinning ear to ear.

Derek swallows. “Yeah. Only four more.”

#sterek #chapter 2 #high on zipping into love #zipline park owner stiles stilinski #single parent stiles stilinski #single parent derek hale #adorable child character #zeke hale (oc) #derek hale #stiles stilinski #erica reyes #allison argent #theo raeken #kira yukimura #fluff #nervous derek hale

[bechloeislegit]

25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022

Day 6 - Celebrity Holiday Bake-Off

Prompt from Tumblr User mamapitch: Music producer Beca Mitchell is asked to participate in a Celebrity Christmas baking competition for charity and is randomly paired with actress Chloe Beale.

"Come on, Beca," Theo implored. "Khalid already told them you'd do it."

"But I don't bake," Beca exclaimed.

"That's a lie," Theo said, chuckling. "You may not be able to cook, but we both know you do know how to bake."

"But why me?" Beca whined.

"Because the Food Network execs asked for you," Theo said. "Besides, it's for charity and will be good for your reputation."

Beca stared at Theo; Theo stared back at her with a raised brow.

"Fine," Beca finally said. "How is it even supposed to work?"

"The 'competition' will start with ten competitors," Theo explained. "They are all in the entertainment industry, and you will be randomly matched with another contestant and compete as a team."

"Who did I get matched with?"

"I, um, I don't know yet," Theo said. "I don't think you'll find out until the first day of the competition."

Beca sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"Anyway," Theo continued. "You will be given a challenge, and you and your partner will work together to make something for that challenge. If you score high enough, you both move to the next round. It goes like that until only two teams are left to compete in the finale. They will be crowned the champions and have $25,000 donated in each of their names to the charity of their choice."

"How long will it take?" Beca asked.

"They request you be available for a week," Theo said. "They will tape one show a day for five days. Plus, add in travel days to New York and back."

"If we lose, do we get to go home?"

"No," Theo said. "They want to have everyone there for the big finale and have asked that each contestant remain in New York until then. That shouldn't be an issue for you; you can work from anywhere."

"When do I have to go?"

"They want you in New York the week after Thanksgiving," Theo said. "They plan to tape the week of October 31 to November 4, so you should plan to fly to New York on October 30 and fly back to LA on November 5."

"Fine," Beca said, running a hand through her hair. "I'll have Dani block off that entire week and make my reservations tomorrow."

"Don't look so down," Theo said. "You might actually enjoy it."

"We'll see," Beca said.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

Beca couldn't stop yawning as she stood waiting to be introduced for the first day of taping. She had arrived in New York late the night before, and her body was still on L.A. time.

"Our next celebrity contestant is a Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/producer and was discovered during a USO Tour with DJ Khalid," the announcer said.

Beca was waved forward, and she was now standing outside the door to enter the competition kitchen area.

"Welcome, our final contestant, Beca Mitchell!"

Beca pushed through the door and saw several other competitors already in the room. She looked around and gave a quick wave as they lightly applauded.

Beca took her place and stood waiting for the questions she was told would be asked of her.

"Welcome, Beca," host Jesse Palmer said.

"Thanks for having me," Beca said. "I have to say I love watching these competitions."

"Hopefully, you've learned something along the way," Jesse said, chuckling.

"Hopefully," Beca said, smiling back at Jesse.

"Is everybody ready to find out who you'll be baking with?" Jesse asked.

"I am," Beca said.

Jesse chuckled as the contestants showed various levels of excitement as they shouted out.

"Yeah!"

"I'm ready!"

"I want Beca," one woman called out, causing Beca to snort a laugh as she looked at the woman.

The woman smiled back at Beca, giving her a salacious wink.

"Oh, my God!" Beca said, laughing again.

"Okay," Jesse said, getting everyone's attention. "In this hat, we have the names of our music celebrities." He holds up a blue knit cap; then he holds up a red knit cap. "And in this one, we have the actors in our group. I need some help, so I'm calling on Santa to draw the names. Santa! Santa, we need you on stage!"

Suddenly, Santa walked through a door from behind Jesse. Beca jumped when the woman standing next to her squealed and clapped.

"Looks like Santa has a fan," Jesse said, laughing as the woman jumped up and down.

Beca was looking at the woman; it was the same woman who said she wanted Beca as her partner. The woman smiled and winked at Beca, causing her to blush slightly and look down at the floor.

Beca zoned out, and a minute or so later, her eyes widened when she saw a pair of Vans come into her sightline. She looked up to find the overly excited redheaded woman standing in front of her.

"Looks like I'm all yours," the woman said with a saucy wink.

"I'm sorry?" Beca said, looking around. "What is happening right now?"

Beca looked around to see the other contestants looking at Jesse. She looked at him as well, hoping to figure out what was happening.

"Okay, contestants," Jesse said. "You have your teammate and your first challenge. As soon as I say go, it's time to start baking."

Beca looked at the woman, who was apparently her teammate, and had no clue who she was.

"Wait," Beca said, looking around. "What's the challenge?"

"Don't worry, partner, I'll fill you in once we get to our station," the redhead said.

"Oh, um, okay," Beca mumbled. "Thanks."

Jesse called out. "Your baking time starts now!

Each of the teams ran back to their stations. The redhead grabbed Beca's hand and pulled her to their station.

"Okay," the woman said, facing Beca. "We have three hours to make three dozen Christmas sandwich cookies."

"Um, okay," Beca stammered and held out her hand. "So, um, I'm Beca. Beca Mitchell. Who are you?"

The woman smiled. "I know who you are," the woman said. "I'm Chloe. Chloe Beale. I'm an actress."

Beca shook Chloe's hand, saying, "Sorry. I know you're an actress, I just didn't know your name."

Chloe smiled as Beca continued to shake her hand. Beca realized she was still holding onto Chloe and released her hand, dropping her hand down to her side.

"So, um, Christmas sandwich cookies? Do you have any ideas on what kind of cookies we should make?"

"Well, the challenge is a sandwich cookie with peppermint and chocolate as the primary Christmas flavors," Chloe said. "And I think we should decorate them."

"Oh, okay," Beca said. She thought for a moment before suggesting, "What if we made a hot cocoa cookie? We can make a chocolate cookie with a marshmallow cream filling with peppermint sprinkles."

"Yum," Chloe said. "That sounds delicious."

"Yeah, it does," Beca said, smiling. "Let's get started."

"Okay," Chloe said. "Could you get the flour and sugar? I'll get the chocolate and marshmallow and some peppermint sticks."

Beca hurried over to get the flour and sugar. She carried the two jars over to their station and set them down.

"Teamwork," Chloe said, winking at Beca as she set down the chocolate and marshmallows. "I like it. It's what's going to separate us from the other teams."

"Are you always so, I don't know, bubbly?" Beca asked, shrugging.

"I'm known for my bubbly nature," Chloe said matter-of-factly as she stood in front of the standing mixer.

"I'll get the oven preheated," Beca said. "And we still need the peppermints."

"Oh shoot, I forgot the peppermint," Chloe said.

"That's okay," Beca said. "I'll get it."

Beca walked over to the candy section and picked up a few peppermint sticks. She was hurrying back to her station when she stumbled and fell, dropping the peppermint sticks and causing them to break into pieces.

"Oh, my gosh!" Chloe exclaimed, running over to Beca. "Are you okay?"

"Beca," Jesse called out as he and a few stagehands rushed over as well. "Are you okay?"

Beca blushed as both Jesse and Chloe helped her up.

"I'm fine," Beca said as she got to her feet and looked down at the floor. "The peppermint didn't fare so well, though."

"You take it easy," Chloe said. "I'll get more."

Two people rushed out with a broom and cleaned up the broken peppermint. The cameras filmed the other contestants to allow Beca time to compose herself.

Chloe brought over some peppermint and checked to make sure Beca was able to continue.

"I'm fine, Chloe," Beca said. "The only thing hurt is my ego. And the peppermints."

Chloe chuckled and pulled Beca into a hug.

"I have a feeling we're going to be the best of friends by the time this is over," Chloe whispered before pulling away from Beca. "Now, let's get to baking."

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

"Five minutes remaining, bakers," Jesse called out. "Let's get those cookies done and plated."

"Do you think we should taste one to make sure they're okay?" Beca asked as they placed the second cookie on top of the peppermint marshmallow filling.

"Yeah," Chloe said, taking a cookie and biting into it. "Mmmmm! These are better than I expected. Try it."

Chloe held the cookie to Beca's lips; Beca pulled her head back. Chloe was undeterred and pressed on. As Beca opened her mouth to protest, Chloe shoved the cookie into Beca's mouth.

"Hey," Beca mumbled and started chewing. "Mmm, wow! This really is good."

"I knew it would be," Chloe said, smirking. "We're definitely going to be the team to beat."

Beca rolled her eyes just as Jesse said, "Time's up, bakers. Step away from your stations."

Beca and Chloe put their hands up and stepped back. The judging began, and the teams each stood before the judges for the taste test.

It was Beca and Chloe's turn, and Beca stood next to Chloe and let her explain their cookie idea. The judges tasted their cookies, and Carla Hall exclaimed, "Dudes!"

Beca chuckled, and Chloe squealed.

"If these were warm, I'd swear I was drinking a cup of hot cocoa," Carla said. "The peppermint marshmallow is amazing, and you have just the right amount of peppermint flavor without it being too overpowering. Great job!"

"Thank you," Beca and Chloe said.

"This is a really good cookie," Duff Goldman said. "I'd say more, but I'd just be repeating what Carla has already said. I will add that you two have definitely set the standard high for the other competitors."

"Thank you," Beca and Chloe said, turning to smile at each other.

Their gazes turned to the third judge, Nancy Fuller. She was smiling and waving her hands as if she was conducting an orchestra.

"Does that mean she likes it?" Beca whispered to Chloe.

"It does," Chloe said, nodding as Nancy began speaking.

"You two definitely know you are in a Holiday Baking Competition!" Nancy said. "And if this is what you can do this early in the contest, I think you might actually win it!"

"That's the plan," Chloe said, chuckling.

"Thank you, ladies," Jesse said.

"Thank you, judges," Chloe said, waving and grabbing Beca's arm as they walked out of the room.

"We got a dude from Carla Hall, and Nancy Fuller thinks we can win it," Chloe gushed as she and Beca went to wait with the other competitors. "This calls for a celebration."

"Maybe we should wait to see if we actually make it to the next challenge," Beca said.

"Oh, we'll make it," Chloe said. "I'm pretty confident about it."

"I hate to sound overly confident," Beca said. "But you might be right."

"I know I'm right," Chloe said confidently. "Care to have dinner with me tonight to celebrate?"

"Um," Beca mumbled. "If we make it to the next round, we'll go out to dinner and celebrate."

"Great," Chloe said. "We can talk about it on the way back to the hotel."

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

Beca and Chloe made it to the next round, and their cookies were voted best of the day by the judges.

Beca met Chloe in the hotel's restaurant and was surprised at how much she enjoyed Chloe's company. She found herself smiling and laughing throughout the meal. She also found herself staring a couple of times; Chloe was very pretty.

By the time dessert was served, Beca had learned quite a bit about Chloe. She learned that Chloe was discovered by a talent scout while still in High School and had come out as bi to her parents and friends when she was eighteen. She tucked that little tidbit away for later.

"And I'll be living in New York," Chloe said.

"What?" Beca asked, having zoned out for a moment and missing what Chloe had been talking about.

"I'll be living in New York," Chloe repeated. Seeing Beca's confusion, she repeated, "My new TV show will tape here, so I'll be moving here while we tape. It beats having to fly back and forth between here and LA every week."

Beca frowned at this news. She had hoped to ask Chloe out on a real date when they went back to LA. But it looked like Chloe wouldn't be in LA.

"That sounds like. . .fun," Beca said, looking at her phone. "It's getting late. I should get back to my room. I have some work I need to do before I go to bed."

"Oh, um, okay," Chloe said, frowning at the sudden change in Beca's demeanor.

Beca walked Chloe out to the elevators. Chloe leaned against the wall while Beca stood facing the doors.

"Is everything okay?" Chloe asked, watching Beca.

"What?" Beca said, looking over her shoulder at Chloe. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just have a lot of work. My bosses figure I can work from anywhere, so being here should be no exception."

The elevator dinged as it reached Beca's floor.

"This is me," Beca said, hurrying off the elevator.

"Goodnight, Beca," Chloe said and sighed heavily as the doors closed.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

Even after working until two in the morning, Beca was up early, dressed, and out of the hotel by seven. She grabbed a coffee from one of the street vendors and hailed a taxi.

Beca knew she was being silly, but she couldn't get Chloe and the fact she would be moving to New York out of her mind.

Chloe woke to her alarm about the time Beca arrived at the studio. She sighed and slowly made her way out of bed. Once she was showered and dressed, she made her way down to the restaurant to get something for breakfast.

Chloe looked around, hoping to see Beca having breakfast. Her shoulders slumped when she didn't see her.

"Maybe I'll just get something from the crafts table at the studio," Chloe mumbled as she turned and left the hotel.

Chloe went to the crafts table; she smiled when she saw Beca talking to Jesse. She walked over and stood to the side so they could finish their conversation with some privacy.

"Are you sure?" Jesse asked. "That was quite a tumble you took yesterday."

"Yeah," Beca said. "I'm good. I swear."

Jesse patted her on the shoulder and walked away. Chloe moved, so she was in front of Beca.

"I looked for you this morning," Chloe said. "But you had already left the hotel."

"Yeah," Beca said, looking down at the floor. "I was awake early and was afraid if I stayed, I'd, um, go back to sleep."

"Hmm," Chloe said, looking over the food selection.

"I highly recommend the spinach quiche," Beca said, pointing it out to Chloe.

"Thanks," Chloe said as she grabbed a bowl of fruit.

Beca felt bad about how she treated Chloe after dinner the night before, so she grabbed a cup of coffee and stayed close while Chloe ate. The silence was killing Beca, but she didn't know what to say to Chloe, so she didn't say anything at all.

"Okay, competitors," Jesse called out. "Let's get things started."

The Beca/Chloe team threw away their trash and followed the other competitors onto the stage and into position. They stood waiting for Jesse to tell them what the challenge was for today. Beca noticed Chloe was paying very close attention to everything Jesse was saying. Beca was too busy trying to subtly look at Chloe, but she did manage to hear what the challenge was.

"And your time starts," Jesse said, pausing for dramatic effect. "Now!"

Beca hurried after Chloe and stopped at their station.

"So, I'm thinking the cookie representing me should be a star," Chloe said, getting down to business. "I can decorate it to look like a Hollywood Walk of Fame star."

Beca smiled and looked at Chloe. "I like that idea."

"What cookie do you want to make to represent you?"

"Um, a musical note?" Beca said.

"I have a feeling every musician here is going to do a musical note of some kind," Chloe said. "Or a CD because it's simple. We need to go bolder with you."

"Bolder, huh?" Beca said, taking Chloe's arm. "Come with me."

Beca stopped in front of the display of cookie cutters and looks at them. One, in particular, catches her eye, and she takes it down. She examines it and crinkles her nose while she thinks.

"What are you thinking?" Chloe asked, trying not to smile at how cute Beca looked; she was still a bit mad at her after all.

"This is supposed to be a rainbow," Beca said, showing Chloe. "What if we use it to cut out the cookie, then we sort of bend it in the middle so it doesn't have such an arc? We can cut this side of the cloud off and bake them. Then we can pipe on the icing to make them look like headphones. I use them all the time whether I'm singing or producing."

Chloe smiled, and her eyes lit up. "That's genius!"

"Really?" Beca asked, excited to see Chloe excited about her idea. "Let's get started."

"Since our must-use ingredient is orange, I think we should do a basic cookie," Chloe suggested as they walked back over to their station. "We can add the orange flavoring into the icing."

"That sounds, um, good," Beca said, nodding her head. "But safe. I think we should add the orange to the cookie dough as well. That way, we'll have the orange flavor profile in both the cookie and the icing."

"Look at you talking about flavor profiles," Chloe said, bumping Beca's shoulder.

Beca blushed and smiled.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

Beca and Chloe didn't win the best cookie of the day, but they did make it to the next round. The judges loved their cookie ideas and thought they represented each of them perfectly. The biggest critique was Beca's piping work on her headphone cookies; the judges felt it wasn't "clean" and needed some work.

Chloe was disappointed they didn't win for best cookie again but didn't put any blame on Beca for it. Beca, on the other hand, blamed herself and sulked all the way back to the hotel.

The teammates rode the elevator to their respective floors. Chloe didn't get a chance to say anything as Beca stood in front of the doors, staring down at the floor. Chloe found herself alone when Beca hurried off the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

A short time later, Beca was still angry with herself and decided to order room service for dinner.

Chloe was going to stop by Beca's room to see if she wanted to have dinner together but didn't know Beca's room number. She called the front desk and asked for Beca's room number, but they wouldn't give it to her for "guest privacy" reasons.

Feeling a bit dejected, Chloe went to the hotel's restaurant, hoping to find Beca there. She was even more disappointed when Beca wasn't there. Several of the other competitors were there, and she ended up having dinner with a small group of them.

Early the next morning, Beca hurriedly dressed and rushed to the studio again. She found Jesse and asked if she could use a station to practice her piping; he said it wasn't against the rules, so she should go for it.

Beca didn't want to disappoint Chloe again, so she practiced until other competitors started showing up. She cleaned the station and waited for Chloe.

Chloe walked on set and saw Beca standing at their station. She stomped over to Beca with fire in her eyes.

"Are you avoiding me?" Chloe blurted as soon as she was standing in front of Beca. "Did I do something to upset you?"

"What?" Beca asked, looking around. "No. Why would you ask that?"

Chloe huffed and turned her back on Beca. The competitors were called to the set, and Jesse stood waiting for them. He went through the challenge for the day; the competitors had to grab a bag from the back to find out what plain pie they would have to transform and make into a holiday pie. Beca didn't have a clue what that meant but figured Chloe did, so she wasn't too worried.

Beca should have been worried. Chloe was still upset with her and offered no help regarding what to do about transforming a strawberry pie into a holiday pie. Beca started gathering ingredients for the pie crust as well as strawberries and sugar for the filling.

Chloe stood by and watched. When Beca heard Chloe huff at something she did, she had enough. She threw down the measuring spoons and looked at Chloe.

"You must not be a very good actress," Beca said with a snort, causing a small gasp from Chloe. "If you were, you would be better at pretending to be a contestant in a baking competition."

"How dare you?" Chloe said. "I am a good actress and have the awards to prove it."

Beca laughed. "Fine; you're a good actress. Now show me how good a baker you are, and help me transform a strawberry pie into a festive holiday pie. And, put your acting chops to work and pretend you at least enjoy my company."

"I am a good baker, and this pie will be amazing," Chloe said. "As for enjoying your company, even I'm not a good enough actress to pull that off."

Beca chuckled as she went back to measuring out the pie crust ingredients.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

After the judging, Beca couldn't erase the smirk from her face. Getting Chloe fired up was rewarding as she and Chloe not only made it to the next round but were also awarded the best pie of the day. Beca also learned that a fired-up Chloe was hot; very hot!

When the competitors were let go for the evening, Beca looked for Chloe so they could head back to the hotel together. Beca even had hopes of getting Chloe to join her for dinner again.

Beca frowned when she realized Chloe had left with some of the other competitors. She made her way to a car and went to the hotel alone.

Beca was sitting in her room, working, when her stomach rumbled from hunger. She ignored her hunger pangs and continued working on the track she had started. Well, she would have if she could stop thinking about Chloe. All she could see was Chloe's face smiling at her when they stood before the judges. After the judging, Beca wanted to speak to Chloe so she could apologize for the way she had been acting toward her, but Chloe had rushed off before she got the chance.

"I should go to her room and apologize," Beca mumbled to her empty room. "I really like her and hope we can be friends. If she wasn't moving to New York, maybe we could be something more."

Beca threw her headphones onto the bed and got up. She went to the door and opened it; she stopped when she realized she had no idea what room Chloe was in.

"I'll go down to the front desk and ask them," Beca thought.

Beca rushed out of her room and to the elevator. She burst out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened on the ground level and ran into someone. She reached out to keep the other person from falling.

"Beca?" Chloe said.

"Chloe?" Beca said.

"Are you okay?" they asked simultaneously.

"I'm fine," Chloe said. "Where were you going in such a hurry?"

"I know you won't believe this," Beca said. "But, I was going to the front desk to find out what room you were in. I'd like to talk to you if you have a minute. Privately."

"Um, okay," Chloe said. "Want to come to my room? Or we can go to yours."

"Let's go to my room," Beca said as she hit the elevator call button.

Chloe nodded and stood with Beca, waiting for the elevator. Beca waved Chloe into the elevator, stepping in behind her. Beca hit the button for her floor and leaned against the sidewall. Chloe stood across from Beca, chewing on her lip. She couldn't take the silence and cleared her throat, causing Beca to look at her. Before Chloe could say anything, the elevator came to a stop, and Beca led Chloe to her room. Beca opened the door and waved Chloe inside. Chloe turned to Beca.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about? Are you going to explain why you've been so angry with me and avoiding me?"

"I wanted to apologize for all that," Beca said. "To be honest, I wasn't angry at you, I was angry at myself and took it out on you."

"Why?"

"Um," Beca said. "I liked you. I mean, I like you. I realized it when we had dinner after the first day of the competition. I convinced myself that we would be good together and even had all these scenarios going on in my head where we started dating when we got back to LA. Then you started talking about moving to New York, and I thought-." Beca sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know what I was thinking. It just seemed like I finally meet someone amazing, who I felt a connection with, and she's going to be living across the country. I had myself believing that you didn't like me like that and wrote us off as being anything more than acquaintances after the competition was over, and that bothered me, so I was a dick to you. I'm sorry for that."

Chloe stood looking at Beca with her arms crossed. Beca started getting fidgety as Chloe stared at her, not saying anything.

"I do like you like that," Chloe finally said, causing Beca to let out the breath she had been holding. "That's why it hurt so much when you ended our dinner so abruptly and then avoided me the next day."

"I'm sorry," Beca said. "Can we maybe start over? Maybe be friends."

"I'd like that," Chloe said, stepping toward Beca. "But there is something I'd like even better."

"Um, oh," Beca said, her throat suddenly dry. "What, um. What would you like better?"

"I'd like it if you asked me out," Chloe said, stepping closer.

Chloe was now standing nose-to-nose with Beca. Beca cleared her throat and took a step back.

"I, um, I can do that," Beca said.

"Then do it," Chloe said, wrapping her hand around Beca's neck and pulling her into a kiss.

~~ 25 Days of BeChloe Christmases - 2022 ~~

Six weeks later, on Christmas Eve, Beca was sitting on her sofa waiting for the finale of the Celebrity Christmas Bake-off to air. She was startled by a knock on her door. It wasn't that late, but it was later than she was used to having someone drop by.

Beca opened the door and was startled when the person standing there yelled, "Surprise!"

"Chloe!" Beca squealed, pulling the woman to her. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to stay in New York for Christmas."

"I couldn't have my girlfriend celebrate our first Christmas as a couple without me, could I?"

"No, no, you couldn't," Beca said as she captured Chloe's lips in a kiss.

The kiss ended, and Beca smiled. "Care to watch the bake-off finale with me?"

"As long as there will be kissing while we watch," Chloe said.

"It's a deal!" Beca said, closing the door as she took Chloe's hand and led her inside.

#25 Days of BeChloe Christmases 2022 #Christmas 2022 #bechloe #beca mitchell #chloe beale #food network stars #bechloeislegit

[incorrect-ikevamp-quotes]

Shakespeare: I sleep with a knife under my pillow

Jeanne: Weak. I sleep with a gun

MC: You’re both pathetic

Theo: Oh? what do you sleep with?

MC: le Comte

#ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp shakespeare #ikevamp jean #ikevamp theo #ikevamp mc #ikevamp saint germain #ikevamp comte #ikevamp jeanne #okay but why do i see theo high-fiving her for that one #yall i should not have laughed at this as hard as i did #but i refuse to apologize for a r t #i think my favorite part abt this is that comte wouldn't even be mad he'd just 'hell yeah she does' #ikevamp incorrect quotes #source: incorrect-quotes-generator

[yoooespinosa]

warm eyes & steady hands | t.n & b.z

➤ Request: here

➤ Warnings: Mentions of panic attacks and disassociating, death, grief, angst with bittersweet ending?

➤ Word count: 3.8k

Masterlist | Taglist

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It was a repeat. An endless cycle of tears that left you feeling empty in the end.

Having to state your feelings, your doubts and insecurities, over and over again. It took a toll on you.

You had let it go on for long. Only saying the same sentences, a broken record, a few times.

It was no secret that your boyfriend, theodore nott, was a shameless flirt. He bathed in the shy smiles and blooming blushes he brung upon any girl at hogwarts.

You knew that before you even got in a relationship with him. Hell, that’s how he managed to win your affections.

But you had thought, that certain part of him would stop when he got with you. You thought you would be the only girl who would get to be in the receiving end of his flirtatious ways.

You were wrong.

You were fine in the beginning. You were okay with the way he called others ‘love’ or ‘darling’. That, you could live with.

When the double entendres started, it formed a pit in your stomach. Confusion clear on your face. But when you brought it up, “They know i’m joking.”

“But do they?” Blaise had muttered under his breath as he saw you staring unsurely at one of the many girls, giving your boyfriend eyes that held not so innocent intentions.

Still, you could live with that also. Even if it left you awake a couple of seconds longer, you still knew that at the end of the day, theo was yours.

It wasn’t long before you began questioning that though. Because if theo was yours, why the fuck was he pushing daphne greengrass’s hair behind her ear?

It was an innocent touch, but with the shattering of your heart, it felt like so much more than that.

If it was innocent, how could it cause this much damage?

“I think you should talk to him.” You startled from the intruding voice. Tilting your head, you hadn’t noticed when blaise walked up next to you.

“Maybe.” You mumble, desperately searching for control, trying to put on a mask of indifference.

But blaise was always an observant person. And he saw how much you were hurting. He heard the faint tremor in your voice. He saw how hard you were fighting those unwanted tears.

“No,” He says firmly, your gaze automatically snaps back to him. “you need to talk to him. Because that,” He lifted his chin to the scene of your boyfriend with another girl, pulling all his strings to make her laugh. “you don’t deserve that.”

You’re not sure if it was his tone or the way his eyes had sparkled with something unreadable, but it had you listening. It had you obliging.

It had you walking with determined steps to theo’s dorm that night. It had you having high hopes to get your point across, to actually make him listen and understand that point.

But of course, not everything goes to plan.

“I don’t want to fight tonight.” He sounded tired. He looked bored of the conversation.

You hadn’t even been there for ten minutes. It had only been five minutes since you brought the topic up.

“Why are you belittling my feelings?” You ask, every word resounding with a crack.

He looked at you as if you were crazy and that only made it worse. “How am i belittling you?”

“Theo, i ask you time and time again to stop.” You say, vision blurry from the thick tears hanging on the ledge. “And you say you will, but you never do.”

“I’m trying.” He walks a step closer, you take step back. His face contours with hurt. “Why can’t you see i’m trying? I don’t know what you want from me anymore.”

Exasperation blends with pain, “I’m telling you right now.” You say. “I’m telling you that it makes me uncomfortable when you treat other girls the way you should only be treating me.”

He shakes his head. “That’s not true.” He says. “You don’t see me fucking th-“

“Stop,” You cut him off. “Please, theo, i’m telling you that i don’t like something. Why aren’t you listening to me?”

“I am.” He forces out, dragging a heavy hand down his face. “I am listening and i am doing what you’re asking.”

“You’re not theo, that’s the thing, you’re not.”

He mumbles under his breath followed by a string of curses. “I don’t see what the big deal is.” He shrugs, his eyes hooded from the repeated phrases.

“The big deal is that i’m telling you i am uncomfortable with something you’re doing and you’ve still yet to fix it.”

“Because they know i’m not being serious. They know i have a girlfriend.”

“They laugh at me behind my back. They think i look stupid and naive theo, how can you not see that?”

He stares at you for a second and you think of leaving, you think it’s hopeless. But then he shakes his head again, forcefully. “I get it.” He lets out a humorless laugh.

“Get what?” You were tired, a throbbing in your temple had your tears flowing consistently and there he was shaking his head with a sarcastic smile.

“You’re insecure.” He scoffs. “And you’re projecting that on me and girls you’re jealous of. All of this had nothing to do with me and everything to do with yourself” He says, sneering at the floor. “Putting your own fucking problems on me and trying to make me feel guilty for shit.” He mumbles to himself.

You felt as if your heart fell to the floor. How could he be so cruel?

You couldn’t stop the anguish sob that forced its way out of your mouth. Everything you were saying was going over his head like it didn’t matter. Like your feelings didn’t matter. Like all you were was some sad insecure girl that needed all of his attention to yourself.

The sounds of you crying seemed to bring theo to his senses. Face dropping with the realization of his hurtful words.

“I didn’t mean-“ He tried to hold you, grasping your arms.

“Get the fuck away from me.” You gasp for breath, hitting the wall behind you with your clumsy steps away from him.

“I hate you— i fucking hate you theo.” It was hard to breath through your sobs.

“Let me hold you.” He grabs a hold of your arms, pulling them to your side when you tried hitting his chest.

“No,” You tried getting out of his hold, but it was helpless. “Get off of me.”

“Stop—“ He wraps himself around you, holding your head firmly against his chest. “You’re going to give yourself a fucking panic attack— breathe with me.”

You could hear his heart against your ear, beating rapidly. You tried breathing, copying his own.

The only thing you could get out were a string of i hate you for doing this to me. But still he held you, rocking you gently, ignoring the pain those words brought him. He held you until you fell asleep in his arms, to the sound of his heartbeat, his shirt stained with your tears.

He cleaned you up and tucked you into his bed. Holding you once more when he changed himself. Pulling you firmly against him, holding you tighter than he ever had before. He fell asleep thinking this was the end of the argument, thinking nothing really had changed.

But everything had.

He was gone when you woke up.

There was no weight of an arm around your waist, no chest against your back, and no warm breath hitting the nape of your neck.

It hurt more than it should have.

His words from yesterday had hit you just as hard as his absence. And he wasn’t even there to talk with you about it. It was just you and his cold bed.

Nevertheless, you dragged yourself out of bed. Doing the minimum for your appearance, only patting down your hair. Doing nothing to hide the bags that formed under your eyes.

An ounce of relief filled your chest when you saw him in his normal seat at breakfast. But the ache from last night still hadn’t gone away. Neither has the puffiness that your endless tears had caused, and blaise had noticed that.

“Hey.” Theo greeted as you hesitantly sat next to him, his tone was easygoing, his body relaxed. He was the juxtaposition of you at the moment.

“Hi,” You greeted back, but it sounded more like a question. He didn’t notice though, only throwing you a smile. Blaise glanced at you both, studying your demeanors. You chose to ignore that.

“I saved you a plate.” You looked back at your boyfriend, only finding him talking to the girl seated next to him.

A hand came in view, pushing the plate filled with your favorite foods.

“Thank you blaise.” He nodded back.

“I’m gonna head to class,” Your attention was back on theo. “i’ll see you later.”

He left, leaving a kiss on the top of your head, and a hand against the back of the girl that was next to him.

You couldn’t help but feel disappointed. This just proved that you got nowhere last night. That it was useless.

You felt as if you were the only one putting effort into this relationship. Like you were the only one that cared.

“You okay?” A gentle voice broke through your haze. You looked up and met blaise’s eyes. They were filled with warmth. They brought a blanket of comfort down on you.

You shrugged. Then shook your head, fiddling with your fingers. You didn’t have much of an appetite anymore.

“You want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know.”

He nodded. He was patient with you.

“It might help to indulge with someone that has a different perspective.” He puts a hand on your shaky fingers, holding onto them, bringing you some stability.

Nodding your head slowly, you considered it, contemplating if you wanted to talk about it here where someone could easily overhear you.

Blaise seemed to see right through you. Knocking gently on the table below and moving to get up. “You don’t have a first period, right?” You shake your head. “C’mon then.”

It was warm outside, with a refreshing breeze gracing them every now and then. There was a few people littered on bench’s or sitting on the grass. All in all, it was quiet and felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the thick air that was close to suffocating you in the great hall.

You leaned back against the tree, hands playing with the strands of grass. “What is your perspective?” You ask the boy next to you.

He hums, lips wanting to tilt up. “Well, i think i’m quite bias.”

You frown, brows furrowing. “How so?”

He looks at you with that same unreadable glint, he looks away before you can make out what it means. “You deserve better.”

Your frown deepens. You shook your head dismissively.

“You do. It’s obvious to everyone, but you.”

You sigh, you didn’t want to hear this. But you made no move to leave.

“You’re in denial with it. But y/n, nott treats you like shit.”

“He doesn’t.” You say instantly.

“Then why do you look like you’ve been crying all night?” He asks you softly.

“Couples get in fights all the time.” You shrug, voice low with doubt.

He nods, eyes narrowed in thought. “If you don’t mind me asking, what did you argue about?” He knew though and you could tell.

You look back down at the grass, not bothering to answer.

“What did he say?”

“He said he was trying.” You mumble.

“He’s trying.” He repeats under his breath, tasting the words. “It didn’t look that way when he easily left you at breakfast, doing the exact thing he said he was trying to fix.”

When you don’t say anything he continues, “You don’t deserve that. You shouldn’t even have to ask your boyfriend how to treat you in the first place, he should know that himself.”

You gnaw on your bottom lip, grasping on every word coming out of blaise’s mouth. Letting his gentle tone sooth all your sadness.

“You deserve someone better.”

You scoff. “Yeah. And who would that be?” It was a rhetorical question, but it made blaise’s heart flutter with hope.

He was quiet for a second, wondering if he should come out with it or keep it hidden forever.

“I could treat you so much better.” It was almost a whisper, if you heard it or not, he wouldn’t repeat it.

You heard him though, loud and clear. Your head snapped to him immediately, eyes wide with shock.

“You?” You stuttered out pathetically.

“Yeah,” He says slowly. “me.”

You could only stare at him, mouth dry and no longer able to form words.

“I like you y/n.” He states firmly, gathering up every ounce of courage he had in him. “And if you don’t feel the same, then that’s fine. But if you would give me a chance, i would give you the fucking world. Because you deserve it, you deserve everything.”

He plants his hands on either side of him, pushing himself off the grass.

“I don’t want an answer right now, not after what just happened with nott just the other day. But when you do figure out what you want, whether it’s having to ask for the bare minimum every week or be cherished every day the way you deserve, let me know. I’ll be here, i’m a patient man.” He gives you a smile. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

You watched him retreat, your head a jumbled mess.

Looking back, you realized that time was a precious thing.

Blaise’s words would replay in your head throughout the passing days. Every morning you woke up, theo’s arm around you feeling like dead weight, i could treat you so much better.

Every silence in class, every small distraction, i like you y/n.

And every night, your back to theo’s chest, i’ll be here, i’m a patient man.

His words made things so much clearer when they should have confused you. But instead his words felt like a guiding hand, a gentle touch to the right direction.

Because you finally realized that you did deserve better. And theo was amazing, but maybe he just wasn’t the one for you.

You had expected it to be hard— breaking up with theo. You thought it would leave you in shattered pieces. But instead it felt as if a heavy weight was pulled off of your chest.

You had left him with a soft kiss goodbye, for old times sakes.

He was showering you with promises of him changing, but you heard it all before and you would not fall for it this time.

The easiest part though, the one you were sure of, was running to blaise’s welcoming arms. He felt like home, one you didn’t know you were missing. One that was there all along, but was blocked from view. It was all clear now though.

And theo saw all of it. He saw the difference in you when around blaise. He saw you becoming happier as the days went on, your eyes brighter.

He would be lying if he said it didn’t hurt. It filled him with regret, watching as another treated you the way you begged him to treat you.

He felt bitter in the beginning. He did all he could to win you back, apologizing every day. Bringing you flowers and chocolates. But atlas nothing worked.

It wasn’t until he noticed the way blaise looked at you that his perspective changed. He looked at you as if you were the only girl in the world. Like every other girl was irrelevant, they were nothing.

He realized that blaise was what you deserved. It hurt, but he accepted it. If you were happy, then he would try to be too. No matter how hard it was.

It was a battlefield. The place you considered home, turning to rubble right before your eyes.

The sky was dark, no stars in sight. The only thing casting light was the flashes of curses shooting out from wands.

It felt like the end of the world.

Blaise was gripping your hand tight, pulling you away from harm, running to find somewhere you could both hide.

You were both out of breathe by the time you found a stable enough pillar to go behind and try to sooth your beating hearts.

Blaise kept peaking his head around the pillar every now and then, holding you against his chest.

“I’m scared.” You whispered, muffled against him.

“It’s okay,” He pushes your hair behind your ear, cupping your face in his larger hands. “i’ll protect you.”

And for the first time you smiled, distracted by all your surroundings, because you knew that he would keep you safe. You knew that it was a promise that he would keep.

It all happened so fast.

There was a incoherent shout behind you, a warning you wish you listened to. Your body shifting, moving out of the way. And then a flash of green.

One second you were in the safety of blaise’s hold and then the next, he was lying on the ground.

“Blaise?”

There was more shouts behind you, but you weren’t focused on that, you couldn’t take your eyes off of your boyfriend.

You knelt down beside him, hands shaking with nerves as you moved his head onto your lap.

“Blaise?”

He was unresponsive, eyes empty, but he seemed so peaceful.

You couldn’t stop calling his name, shaking him gently, waiting for him to wake up. For his eyes to fill back with that familiar warmth that you’ve grown to love.

“Y/n, i’m so sorry.” A hand was on your shoulder, kneeling besides you. You knew it was theo, you could tell by his voice, but still you didn’t take your eyes off of blaise.

You shook your head. There was nothing to be sorry about. Blaise was fine, he was just right there. They just needed to get him to the hospital wing and then everything would be normal again.

Theo reached over closing his eyes gently and that’s when it hit you.

You couldn’t tell if it was you screaming or someone else around you. Everything was too blurry to think straight. Everything was a mess.

Someone was rocking you, whispering in your ear, but you were too far gone.

Because blaise saved your life in exchange for his. And how could you ever live with that?

You decided then, that it must have been the end of the world.

Blaise’s funeral was beautiful. It was a sunny day, recovering from the light rain they had that morning. He would have loved it, you just know it.

The grass was dewy and the sky was the bluest it’s been in awhile. The birds were singing and the soft wind caressed everyone around. It was like he was there.

Like he was standing next to you, holding your hand. Like he was saying his final goodbye.

You felt as if your heart was breaking into two. Because he was two feet away from you, but he was still so unreachable. He would always be now.

He was gone and you could barely comprehend it.

The only thing keeping you from collapsing into a mess of tears, was the steady hand that was holding yours.

Theo held your hand the whole time. When blaise’s mother gave her speech, barely any words coming out with all the tremors it held.

He held your hand when you gave your speech. You talked about how much of an amazing person blaise was. How he felt like home. How he was the most genuine and selfless person you’ve ever got the chance of meeting. You spoke about how much you loved him, how he would always hold a place in your heart.

He held your hand as you walked up to the casket, to say goodbye. To look at him one last time. He held you as your tears streamed down your face and you couldn’t find it in yourself to move. You wanted to look at him forever. Even if his eyes were closed and were gone from view.

And he held your hand when they lowered him in the ground. Held you as you desperately tried to dissociate because it hurt too much. It was an ache to your chest, your lungs compacting in with it.

Theo was there for you as the days went on too.

When everything was too much, he was the reason to stay.

When you screamed about how it should’ve been you, theo was there to tell you that blaise wouldn’t have wanted that. He was there till your voice went hoarse and there was no more tears to shed.

He was there when a sense of nostalgia hit you. When something simple brought every memory back. The force dragging you to the ground until you couldn’t get up. He was there to pull you off the floor, dragging you out of the deep waters before you drowned in them.

He was there on the easier days too. When acceptance was just in reach. He brought you up a step to grab it. And he was sure to let you hold onto it for as long as you could.

He was there when you visited his grave. As you talked to him for hours, catching him up, because he had always enjoyed listening to you talk. And he would leave when you wanted to be alone.

He was there when someone would ask how you were. When you didn’t know how to answer at times, he would do it for you. Letting you know that it was okay to not be okay. That there was nothing wrong with taking little steps.

And he was there when the nightmares haunted you. When there was a flash of green and the love of your life hitting the cold ground. He was there when you woke up screaming.

He held you as your anger took over. How you sobbed about hating blaise for leaving you all alone. As your heart cried out, he held you. He rubbed your back in circles, stroking away that anger, until you were numb.

He held you so tight that it almost hurt. He was holding the broken pieces of you together, even if he cut himself too in the process.

He was there with you in every bad and good moment.

When everything felt like it was crashing down around you, you would look at him, and you would feel grounded.

With theo’s arms wrapped around you, his soft whispers against your head and his familiar scent surrounding you like a blanket— you thought that maybe it would be okay.

That one day you’d look back fondly at blaise’s memory’s and the grief would fade.

As long as theo was there to hold your hand, you knew that would be possible.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━



#theo nott imagine #theo nott oneshot #theo nott x reader #theo nott fluff #theo nott x y/n #theo nott x you #theodore nott #theo nott #blaise zabini x y/n #blaise x y/n #blaise x you #blaise zabini #blaise zabini x reader #blaise zabini x you #lexi’s fics ◡̈

[samadiw]

Knickers - Part 05 - We need to talk 🤐

.

D : "You smell good."

Hermione jumps

H : "Shit, you scared me, Malfoy."

Draco smirks and leans in closer.

D : "Didn't you ask me to meet you here?"

Hermione nods nervously.

H : "I did...."

She eyes him in his all black ensemble.

Merlin, he looked sexy as fuck.

H : "Umm, why aren't you in uniform?

Draco smiles fondly.

D : "My mother asked to see me, she misses me."

Hermione's heart melted.

H : "Oh, is she okay?"

D : "Yes, she's doing quite well, thank you."

Draco trails Hermione's bottom lip with his thumb.

D : "Its been hours since we kissed."

Hermione leans into his touch, her lips part and she whispers.

H : "Yes, I think it's time you refresh my memory, Malfoy."

Their lips touch and Draco deepens the embrace oblivious to their surroundings.

The sound of books falling to the ground interrupts them, they break apart and turn to the source.

A frightened 1st year stares at them.

Draco narrows his eyes menacingly.

D : "Move along, repeat what you saw to no one."

The terrified boy nods vigorously

Hermione rolls her eyes.

H : "Must you scare them."

Draco puts his hands in his pockets and raises a brow.

D : "Must we hide?"

Hermione looks at the blonde intently.

H : "I thought we agreed to keep our encounters secret."

Draco grins mischievously.

D : "Yeah, it does add to the fun, doesn't it?"

He closes the gap between them and traps her with his body.

D : "Meeting up randomly and snogging in forbidden places."

His fingers travel up her thigh and disappear under her skirt.

Hermione gasps but let's Draco do as he pleases.

Draco drawls seductively.

D : "Makes you feel dirty and adventurous, doesn't it?"

He presses flush against her.

D : "You get off thinking about me, Granger?"

Almost every night, but she wasn't going to tell him that.

Hermione rolls her eyes.

H : "Oh please, I have better things to do than masturbate every single night.

His long practiced fingers push aside the cotton underwear that covers her sex and strokes her inner folds.

Hermione whimpers and throws her head back in pleasure.

Draco grins in satisfaction

D : "Plenty wet now."

Laughter from the next aisle brings Hermione crashing back to her senses, she steps away from Draco and warns.

H : "Stop, there's alot of people around."

Draco chuckles.

D : "Why did you want to meet in the library, Granger? Is there a fantasy you've suppressed and want to bring to life?

Hermione averts her gaze and blushes.

H : "I, umm, have something to discuss with you."

Draco eyes the nervous Gryffindor.

D : "Go on, I'm listening."

Hermione's cheeks redden further and she stares at her feet.

H : "So, umm, Valentine's day is coming up and...."

Draco brings his hand up and interrupts.

D : "I'm going to stop you right there, I don't believe in fucking Valentine's day."

D : "It's a money making bloody ridiculous day."

Hermione's face falls in disappointment but she hides it well.

H : "Oh, I see, then this conversation is quite pointless."

Draco frowns.

D : "Granger, finish what you started to say."

Hermione grabs a large book and holds it tightly to her chest, she averts her eyes again and mumbles.

H : "Umm, no...I have to go."

Draco watches in confusion as Hermione hurries away from him.

Over the next few days Hermione ignored Draco and his advances.

She gave him various bullshit excuses.

What he did however see was Michael Corner (The sodding Head boy and shite Quidditch player.) Chatting up the witch he had been secretly snogging.

In frustration Draco walks towards The Great Hall and sees a bunch of people crowding around a bright red poster.

He walks upto Blaise and Theo

D : "What's going on?"

Theo grins excitedly.

T : "Valentine's day party."

Draco frowns and leers

D : "You can't be fucking serious."

Theo rolls his eyes and retorts sarcastically.

T : "Yes, yes, we are well aware of your crazy feelings about the day."

He smacks his forehead.

T : "Fuck, I've got to ask Luna."

Blaise nods in agreement.

B : "Good idea, mate, I'm going to ask Patil before some other fucker does."

Theo raises a brow and quips.

T : "Will you be joining the festivities with your mystery witch or are you going to drown your quacker ideologies in a bottle of firewhiskey?"

Draco sneers.

D : "First of all, theres no bloody mystery woman and second, well, yeah...maybe I'll ask someone."

It dawns on him.

Fuck, was this what Granger wanted to talk to him about before he rudely interrupted her?

Malfoy, you fucking donkey.

He had to find her

Draco looked around wildly, Granger was nowhere in sight.

D : "I have to go."

Theo asks suspiciously.

T : "Where?"

Draco glares sternly.

D : "None of your bloody business."

Theo chokes back a sob mockingly.

T : "It's like we dont know you anymore."

Draco rolls his eyes

D : "Stop acting like a possessive girlfriend, Theo."

Theo pouts and sticks his tongue out.

T : "You used to tell me everything."

Blaise rolls his eyes

B : "Stop your moaning."

Draco turns to sprint down the corridor to find Hermione but bumps into Corner instead.

D : "Watch where you're going, you insufferable git."

M : "Mind your attitude, Malfoy."

Hermione steps out from behind Michael and bends to pick the books she dropped.

M : "Are you okay, Hermione?"

Her eyes dart from the poster to Draco

H : "Yes, I'm fine."

Draco rounds on Hermione and asks desperately.

D : "Granger, can I speak to you?"

He throws a look of disgust at Michael and demands.

D : "In private."

Hermione puts her books in her bag and shakes her head.

H : "Sorry, I'll be late for class, let's catch up later."

Did she just disregard him like he was some unworthy piece of shit?

Hermione disappears into the Hall and Michael high fives Terry Boot.

Boot asks at once.

TB : "Did you ask Granger to the party?"

Michael frowns and shakes his head.

M : "I didnt get the chance, she's always got something going on."

M : "What I wouldn't give to tap that."

Draco heard word for word, he balls his hands into fists and controlls his raging temper.

Terry laughs.

TB : "You better get a move on then."

Michael nods enthusiastically.

M : "Yeah, I'm going to do it now and get it over with."

Draco almost drops his books and bag.

What the fuck?

What was this weird feeling of icy cold doom he felt in the pit of his stomach?

It slowly turned to blinding rage and he tried to tame it.

What he wanted to do was grab Corner by his robes and beat the mediocre wizard into a bloody mess.

Draco doubles over and fights the bile that rises.

Blaise eyes his best friend in concern.

B : "Er, you okay, mate?"

Theo frowns.

T : "Fuck, is he going to be sick?"

Blaise quips.

B : "Chill, hes feeling several emotions at once."

Theo raises a brow in question

T : "What?"

Blaise starts to count.

B : "1, 2, 3...."

It hits Draco like a ton of bricks.

He fucking liked Granger...alot.

Hook ups and random kissing aside, he wanted more.

Shite...

Draco straightens with renewed purpose.

D : "I need to go."

Blaise smirks and nods.

B : "Yeah, you do that, mate."

Draco rushes into The Great Hall

Theo stares after Draco's distraught figure.

T : "What the fuck is going on?"

Blaise lazily points to the Hall.

B : "Let's go watch, shall we?"

Michael reaches the Gryffindor table first and taps Hermione on the shoulder.

Everything happens so fast.

Draco runs at breakneck speed and tackles the unsuspecting Ravenclaw, they go crashing to the ground.

Everyone around them gets to their feet and stares at the struggling men on the floor.

Theo takes a step forward but Blaise holds him back.

B : "Let Draco handle this."

Michael groans and rubs his bruised side.

M : "What the fuck is wrong with you, Malfoy?"

Hermione crosses her arms over her chest and asks impatiently.

H : "What the bloody hell are you doing?"

Both men get to their feet and try to adjust their tangled school robes.

Michael opens his mouth to speak, but Draco waves his wand effortlessly and places a silencio charm over the Head boy

Corner glares sternly and makes obscene hand gestures.

Draco clears his throat quickly and blurts out.

D : "Granger, will you go with me to this stupid Valentine's thing?"

Hermione blushes and grins triumphantly.

H : "People are staring at you."

D : "Fucking let them, I don't care, go with me?"

H : "I'll think about it."

Michael grins smugly.

Draco is indignant.

D : "Really? Are you fucking serious?"

Hermione steps closer and kisses Draco lightly on the lips.

H : "Of course, I'll go with you."

Theres pin drop silence, the entire body of students and teachers were staring at them with their mouths hanging open and eyes wide, except Slughorn.

He continued to eat his breakfast.

PS : "Minvera, my dear, I believe, you owe me hundred Galleons, did I not tell you the unlikely duo were a couple of sorts?"

McGonagall stares at Draco and Hermione in shock.

PM : "You did indeed, I just never believed it."

Draco smiles fondly.

D : "Marvellous, see you in potions, Granger."

Michael stares at the scene before him dumbfounded.

Draco mutters the counter spell.

D : "Oh sorry, Corner."

Draco slides in next to Theo at the Slytherin table.

His housemates gossip around him.

Theo continues to stare at his best friend and asks in disbelief.

T : "Granger?"

Its Blaise who answers.

B : "Yes, Granger, you need to learn to be more observant, Nott."

T : "Hermione Granger?"

Draco bites into a piece of buttered toast and grins.

D : "She's brilliant, mate."

The second Hermione sits down, Ron expresses his rather colourful feelings.

R : "Malfoy??"

Ginny snorts into her pumpkin juice.

G : "You are incredibly thick, Ron."

Harry laughs.

Ha : "I knew you were doing something, but I didn't think it was Malfoy."

Hermione blushes.

H : "No, umm, we haven't."

Ron looks at them in disgust.

R : "She kissed the snake."

Hermione smirks smugly

H : "I've been kissing him for weeks."

Ron looks like he's about to vomit.

R : "That's disgusting, you know that's Malfoy, right?"

Hermione rolls her eyes exasperatedly.

H : "Yes, I know, now drop it."

She looks around and scolds

H : "And that goes for the lot of you."

Ron bites into a sausage savagely.

R : "The world is going bloody bonkers."

#dramione #draco and hermione #draco x hermione #hermione granger #draco lucius malfoy #dramionefandom #dramionefanart #dramione smut #dramione fanfic

[strawberrylemonz]

Past and Present

Part 12

Part 13 [CURRENT]

Part 14

DT: @petrichormeraki @applepie1000 @jump-in-the-cadillac @ivorylin @sydneys-sketches 

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

Tommy quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, but it was too late. The group in front of them turned to face the source of the group. Tommy mentally smacked himself upside the head as he pulled Fundy behind him, the Lovely Trio slipping behind him as Kristin and Grian stepped in front of Sam and Puffy, who held the children close. It wasn’t until three familiar faces made their way to him, that he felt like breaking. It wasn’t because Phil was there, concern and relief flooding his face as he looked over Tommy. It wasn’t because Techno was looming over them, facial expression unchanging, only betrayed by the several emotions going through his eyes. It wasn’t because of Ghostbur, because Ghostbur wasn’t floating there. He wasn’t even floating he was standing. There, standing with his hands stuffed into his pockets, stood Wilbur, who was very much alive. The three of them stepped towards the youngest member of their family, the one they missed so dearly, only to stop when he put his hands up in defense, stepping closer to the fox shifter behind him.

“Wilbur, you’re...you’re-”

“Tommy, you’re okay!”

Everyone on the Dream SMP frowned as Tommy made an “eh” noise, making a balancing movement with his hand as he peered back at the group behind him, all who, aside from Sam and Puffy, made similar noises and movements back at them. Much to their embarrassment, they were the only ones who found amusement to it. Regaining his composure, Tommy turned back to Kristin, giving her pleading eyes. She nodded before nudging Grian, who was already moving to pick up Theo. Clem smiled as she climbed into the embrace of her grandmother, hugging her with delight. After being reassured that the children were away from the group, Tommy returned his gaze to the members of his older server. 

“Let’s go to a more private space. I would very much like you all more if you don’t start anything unnecessary during my opening.”

Without waiting for a response, Tommy turned and, after ensuring Fundy was safely in front of him, began walking out of the cavern, everyone else following behind. As he waved to guests and Hermits alike, he led the group into one of the larger taverns. Taking out a keycard from behind the automated desk, he patted the robot working there before walking over to a large set of double door. Humming a tune that caught Wilbur’s attention, he inserted the keycard and pushed the doors open, leading the group in. He closed the door after the last two people, who happened to be a very disgruntled Jack and Niki. After everyone was sat down in their own seats, they all exchanged uncertain looks. Finally, Fundy decided it was best to break the silence. 

“So, I see the resurrection was successful.”

“Yeah, we managed to get Wilbur bac-”

“You have a son.”

Tommy saw Fundy stiffen beside him as the voice of Wilbur spoke up, quieter than they remembered. Fundy pressed his lips in a thin line as he peered up to his newly revived father. Giving him a little nod Fundy cleared his throat as he scratched the back of his neck. 

“Yeah, I do. He’s great, you know. Very smart and fun, sneaky too.”

“Do I know who your significant other is?”

“I wouldn’t call him my significant other, we aren’t together. He was very...the situation was...we didn’t work out. But, yeah, you know him. You all do, actually.”

“Who is it?”

“Dream”

Fundy quickly spoke the name, reeling back as he waited for the expected backlash. Hesitating for a moment, he almost believed that, much like the situation with Tommy, he would receive no backlash. He was, however, quickly proven wrong. The only other revived man there was the first to speak up.

“WHAT?!”

“YOU FUCKED DREAM?!”

“LANGUAGE!”

“THE FURRY FUCKED GOD, OH MY FUCKING ENDER-”

“George? George, can you hear me? Dude, blink if you can hear me-”

“When we said ‘suck it green boy’, we didn’t mean literally!”

“How did you manage to get him to-”

As the chaos began to rise, Fundy began to shrink in his seat, panic settling in. Taking note of this, Tommy frowned as he tried to settle everyone down. When no one responded to him, he grew frustrated. Getting annoyed, Tubbo sat up to yell at the source of the chaos, only to find that he was beat to it. With a loud foot stomp, a booming voice yelled over the chaos. 

“Will you all shUT UP?!” 

Silence filled the room as everyone turned to face the source of the yell. There, fists clenched tightly by her side, stood Drista. Everyone hesitated about her next course of action, as the eyes on her mask seemed to glow with her annoyance. As she sat down, crossing her arms and legs together, she huffed as she prepared to speak up once more. Much to her annoyance, however, the door to the room creaked open, a new presence creeping in. 

“Sorry I’m late, you all have seem to have forgotten me back on my server.”

Everyone watched as the figure approached, Fundy shrinking in his seat. Tommy stiffened in his own, one hand in Tubbo’s, the other clamped around Fundy’s wrist. Tubbo, on the other hand, glared at the floor as he held onto Tommy’s hand, as if that alone would solve their issues. The figure, now more visible to be Dream, hummed as he stood in between the three boys and the members of his server. Seeming to only focus on the three, he crossed his arms as he laughed.

“Wow, I didn’t think I’d see you three again. Tommy, Tubbo, it’s been years. Good to see you two in good shape. Fundy, I haven’t seen you in a little over two years. Didn’t think that I’d find you here, of all places. Did you all miss m-”

SMACK

Everyone stared in shock as Dream held onto his face, trying to keep his mask steady as he regained his balance. Once he quickly regained his composure, he quickly turned to face his “attacker.” Standing in all her glory, stood his sister, hands on her hips as she stood there, anger simmering underneath her mask. As she stood up straight, she hummed in acknowledgment as Lani walked up beside her, leaning on her for support. Holding her hand out, Lani smirked as Drista gave her a high five. The beginning of their best friend handshake was cut short, however, when Dream spoke up once again.

“Drista? When did you get here? Is this where you’ve been? Why haven’t you come by to visit me-”

“Oh, I don’t know, why did you never reach out to me? And if you had bothered to show up to the revealing of the park on time, you would have known where I’ve been. Now sit down and stay quiet so we can all catch up.”

“And none of you better try attacking! All guests are unable to do any form of pvp that’s not in any of the special arenas, so don’t even try!”

“Yeah, what Lani said!”

--------

The group was walking to the opposite side of Tavern Town, towards the booth games. Fundy was walking with Quackity and Karl, telling them of al the projects he had done since he last saw them. Not trusting her brother at all, Drista walked beside Dream, Lani joining in on keeping an eye on the admin. Tubbo was catching up with Ranboo, as well as timidly speaking with an unusually kind Schlatt. Humming as he walked in the front of the group, Tommy bopped his head as he replayed a song in his head. Opening his mouth, he quietly sang out the lyrics that swam in his head.

“He’s in your bed-”

“-I’m in your Twitch chat”

Jumping slightly, Tommy turned to see Wilbur, walking up to be by his side. Joining him in this was both Phil and Techno, the three of them as awkward as ever. Unsure as to what to expect from them, Tommy just gave them a nod of acknowledgment. As much as he wanted to embrace the three of them into a grand hug, telling them how much he missed and loved them, he didn’t dare to do so. After all the years they spent away from each other, he was able to reflect and forgive them for the wrong things they’ve done to him, intentional or not. What he didn’t know, however, was how they viewed him after all these years. Did they forgive him for all the troublesome chaos he caused, intentional or not? Could they find it in themselves to do so? He didn’t blame them if they didn’t, he wasn’t even sure if he would.

“You know, we thought that you had died, mate. No one had seen you in so long after...after L’manburg. And I know he isn’t family, but he practically was, so it was concerning when Tubbo went missing too. Then, out of nowhere, Fundy was gone overnight. I thought I lost my family, so I became desperate to get Wilbur back so that the three of us could get you all back.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, mate?”

“Why get us back? Why want us as family?”

Did he forgive them? Yes, of course he did. Doesn’t mean that he had to forget their actions, as well as the consequences that came from them. Doesn’t mean that he wasn’t allowed to question their decisions. He still loved them, sure, but he needed answers. He needed to know if they loved him back, if they loved all of them. He watched as Wilbur was in deep thought, trying to find the right words to say. He turned to see Phil, emotion running through his face as he stared at Tommy, not knowing what to say to his questions. The last person he thought would speak up, spoke up.

“We were blinded by our own emotions, Thes- er, Tommy. That’s not an excuse for our impulsive decisions, especially ones that put your life at stake, we know this. But we are family, as much as I tried to run away from that fact over the last few years. I let the voices and the power that I held as a pvp god distract me from my original mission.”

“Original mission? What was that?”

“Protecting you. Well, protecting everyone in my family. I have always been protective of my family, but the first night you were brought home changed how I handled that. The moment you laughed, I knew that I had to get stronger to keep all of you safe. I never thought that I’d use that strength against the very same person who brought me to want to become stronger. I’m not going to beat around the bush, we’ve been a shit family to each other these past years. We’ve hurt you, in ways that we may not even know. But, Tommy, if you let us, we can try to be the family you deserve.”

Tommy stared at his eldest brother, surprise painting his face. Blinking a few times, he switched his gaze over to both Phil and Wilbur, before returning it to Techno. Lightly biting his tongue, he took his gaze off of the pink haired warrior and faced the front, refusing to look at any of the three men walking beside him. Finally putting proper words together in his mind, Tommy spoke up once more.

“You all have hurt me in a handful of ways, that is true. But I’ve also hurt all of you, too. For all that, I’m sorry. As for not being a family, that can’t be solved quickly. This isn’t something we can speedrun into a healthy dynamic.”

“Tommy, we-”

“But that doesn’t we still can’t heal. If you are all willing to take the time and effort to work with all of us to fix our family, I’m willing to give you that chance. Oh, and Technoblade? You can call me Theseus, it is a part of my name, after all.”

Tommy couldn’t help but smile as the tension from the three men left their bodies, relief taking its place. Peering behind him, he made eye contact with his nephew, who stared back with worry. His worry, however, melted into a content smile as Tommy gave him a reassuring nod. Waving him over, Tommy smiled as Fundy excused himself, jogging up to be at his uncle’s sign. 

“Hey, Tom- Hey!”

“Haha! Look at you, being all amazing!”

“Can you not be an embarrassing uncle for five seconds?”

“Nope!”

Fundy rolled his eyes at his uncle, laughing for a while before standing up straight. Ducking his head in nervousness, he gave a shy smile and wave to his grandfather, as well as his other uncle and father. Before words were exchanged, however, a frantic wail filled the air, catching Fundy’s attention immediately. Taking a few steps in front of everyone else, he kneeled down with arms open. Running towards him was Theo, wide eyes as he reached for his father, who lifted him into the air in an instant. Burrowing his face into the neck of his father, Theo dramatically wailed once more. The concern that once filled Fundy and Tommy had melted away at this. They now knew that he wasn’t in danger, he was just overreacting. The two of them would bet anything that a certain gremlin was behind this. 

“Theo, what’s wrong, buddy?”

“SHE WAS GIVEN A SWORD, WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!”

Fundy and Tommy gave each other a look, both unsure as how to respond to that. A shrill shriek of joy caught the entire group’s attention. There, frantically swiping a wooden sword in the air, came a joyful Clementine at full speed. Running up to Fundy, she began to jump up and down, sword waving in the air, as she tried to reach Theo, who had managed to climb on top of his father’s head.

“DON’T LET HER REACH ME, PAPA!!! SHE’S CRAZY WITH THAT THING!!!”

Theo shrunk behind his father’s hat as Clementine reacted to his statement by growling at the fox hybrid. Sighing, Tommy scooped up the rowdy child, who squealed as she hugged the sword.

“Clem, ya can’t go around swinging a sword at your cousin. And don’t ever hug an actual sword, ever, dear god. I’d like you to keep your fucking limbs, Jesus Christ.”

Clem only responded to this with a giggly smile, turning back to face her cousins. Fundy rolled his eyes as he plucked his son off his head, cradling him in his arm as Theo hugged his father’s hat in his chest. 

“Clem, what do we say when we hurt someone or make them scared?”

“SUCK IT!!!”

“For fucks sake, Clementine, no. We say that to jackasses and assholes, not to your cousin. Try again, Clem.”

“Humph, sorry, TT.”

“Hm, okay! I forgive you, CC!”

Before the children, who were now conversing in their own secret language, were introduced to everyone, a concerned Grian and Kristin ran over. Once they saw the children, they physically relaxed. 

“Thank goodness they came to you guys, we nearly panicked when they ran. Things were going great, but then Clementine whacked Grian on the foot before turning her attention to Theo.”

“It’s what we expected, this is Clementine we’re talking about.”

“Grian? Is that really you?”

Grian stiffened as he turned to face Phil, Wilbur and Techno staring at him in disbelief. Rubbing his arm in uncertainty, he watched as Phil walked up to him. Eyes scanning his face, Phil let out a strangled noise as he threw his arms around Grian, never expecting to see his first missing son after all the years that passed by. Grian let out a sigh as he hugged back, a smile painted on his face. Pulling away, he let out a laugh as he turned to his brothers. Shooting Tommy a look, Grian snickered at the nod of approval given to him. Turning back to Wilbur and Techno, he let out a hearty laugh as he yelled out words that Techno knew too well.

“OH, I’M PRESSING THAT HUG BUTTON!!!”

“Wait-”

Tommy wheezed out a laugh as Wilbur and Techno were pulled into a group hug by Grian, the triplets finally being reunited. It wasn’t until they heard the choked up and shy tone that came when Phil spoke.

“Kristin? How, uh, hey! How up? What’s you? Shit, wait, no. How are you?”

“Really? Decades separated, and this is the greeting I get.”

“I didn’t mean to be-”

“At least buy me dinner, sheesh.”

#memories in the stars #memories in the stars au #hermit!tommy au #hermit!fundy #hermit!Kristin #hermit!Tommy fankid #fwt fankid theo #mcyt fanfiction #PRESS THAT HUG BUTTON POG #Grian Wilbur and Techno are triplets au #Grian Wilbur Techno and Tommy are brothers au #Clementine and Theo are at it again #Pogs for the gremlin children

[mercheswan]

“There you do Dad, everything settle for tonight’s big auction” Stiles said pating his fathers back.

The Sheriff’s office was holding a Valentine’s Day auction, in which the deputies auctioned for dates to raise money for the department. You know, fighting supernatural monsters every month was... expensive. The Sheriff put all the Pack to help, in fact, Mason was going to be the event’s host.

“I’m still not really convince about this” Jordan said joining the conversation.

“You have nothing to worry about... I bet you’re going to be the highes bid of the night” Stiles said. “I’m face I’m pretty sure that a very threatening readhead, is going to try and win a date with you tonight” Stiles whispered into the deputies ear, making Jordan blush. “Let’s see how you do old man. I’m sure some lady, or gentleman, will try and have a date with the Sheriff, there are many people into authority” Stiles teased.

“But I am not participating” Noah smiled mischievously.

“What are you taking about? You’re on the program, in fact you’re the last one of the night. See, here, STILINSKI” Stiles showed the program to is father.

“I am not the only Stilinski in Beacon Hills” Noah smiled.

What?

Oh no.

“Stop lying it’s not funny” Stiles looked at his father very serious.

“Why would I participate in this when I have a very young and handsome boy who can easily earn more money than me. Do not let me down, you’re representing the Stilinski men after all” The Sheriff said mockingly before leaving an astounded Stiles behind.

“You can ask Lydia to bid you for you too. But I’m sure you’ll be fine” Jordan added.

Dad... I’ll make you pay for this...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Come one Stiles, stop acting like that.” Scott tried cheering his best friend up.

“Betrayed by my own father...” Stiles babbled words complaining about the situation.

“Maybe it won’t be so bad. And maybe you can get a Valentine’s Day date with someone interesting” Scott suggested.

“Gee that’s for reminding me that I was going to spent the day, alone, not like you lover boy...” Stiles groaned.

“Look I promise to bid for you okay?” Scott smiled encouragingly. Stiles smiled back.

The event was a success. They were all types of people. Families supporting their relatives, young and old people. They were all having fun and there really wasn’t an atmosphere of competitiveness, which helped Stiles to calm his nerves.

Jordan was going before him. Stiles tought that he should have closed the event but... he was the Sheriff’s representative so... he has to be the last one.

As Stiles predicted Jordan managed to ear a lot of money, 840 dollars, to be more exact. Stiles was pretty sure that Jackson and Ethan had helped Lydia a bit.

It was time.

“A last but no least, please a big applause for Stiles Stilinski. We all know him, he is the Sheriff’s son. A very handsome young men with a bright mind and tongue, so ladies and gentlemen don’t hesitate, he is totally date material” Mason introduced making the people on the room laught but at the same time, making Stiles die of mortification.

“What the hell Mason” Stiles hissed to his friend.

“Well start the auction with 20 dollars” Mason announced. Scott raised his hand and Stiles thanked him. “Excellent. 50?” Mason asked. Malia raised hers. “Great, 75?” An old lady from the first road raised her hand. “100?” A group of teenage girls shouted. Stiles breathed out, well it wasn’t so horrible.

“One thousand” a male voice said loudly causing the room to silence for a second of shock. Stiles’s heart started to beat out of control. What the fu-. People looked at the source of the voice, but Stiles found him before anyone else. Theo.

Mason composed himself from the surprise. “Oh wow, look at that... that’s big, okay... one thousand for Stiles. Does someone give more?” He asked.

Stiles was looking at Theo. The chimera was leaned on the wall with a stupid and confident smirk on his face. What was he planing?

“Well, finally someone with game” Another voice sounded in the room. Stiles turned to look at it. Peter Hale. “Two thousand” Peter said. Ah no. This was not happening. No, no, no. Beacon Hills top two psychopaths were bidding for him, what have Stiles done to deserve this.

Theo separated from the wall looking at Peter with a threatening glare. “Three thousand” He shouted.

The room was out of control. Everyone was gasping and clapping. Stiles felt dizzy.

“Five thousand” Peter said with a playful smirk looking at Theo. The Chimera looked ready to attack.

“Dad... dad do something” Stiles whispered to his dad.

“You’re doing great!” The Sheriff gave his son an encouraging thumbs up. What the hell. No!

“Make them stop!” Stiles hissed.

“All money it’s welcome” The Sheriff whispered back.

“Six thousand” Theo raised his bid.

“You don’t even have that money!” Stiles complained.

“I’ve just turned 21. I gained access to my trust fund” Theo claimed.

Stiles rolled his eyes. “Are you going to waste all your money in getting a date with me!?”

Theo was on the front row now. “Maybe I think you’re worth it” Theo said seductively at Stiles. Stiles really goes that the light helped to cover up the little blush of his cheeks. Damn you Theo.

“Eight hundred” Peter laughed. Stiles bet he was enjoying taking something away from Theo. He wa evil like that.

Theo growled. Out loud. “Ten thousand!” He shouted. Stiles saw people recording the whole thing. Everyone was so entertained.

Stiles saw Peter smirk but before he could talk Malia. Literally. Sank her claws into his father’s arm. “No more. You’re not having a date with me ex boyfriend” Malia growled softly. Peter rolled his eyes but nodded.

“But you’re donating the eight thousand to the department Hale... you owe the Sheriff’s department a lot” Noah proclaimed.

So that meant...

“Oh! So it’s ten thounsand. Ten thousand, final bid. Perfect, Mr Raeken you won yourself a date for Valentine’s Day” Mason declared and the room cheered and applauded.

Theo wore a bright smile in his face. Did he really wanted the date that much?. Theo looked at Stiles winking him with a devilish smirk.

Omg I’m having a date with Theo Raeken.

~~~~~~~~~~

Stiles discovered really quickly that Theo knew him very well. He had prepared the date with detail and Stiles enjoined everything. It was romantic but not overwhelming. When Theo confessed that he had always had a crush on him. Maybe Stiles should have acted differently. He should have waited a little longer. Maybe it was the fact that he was alone and that Theo understood him better than many people. Maybe it was some stranger phantom of Valentine’s Day. Whatever the reason were Stiles kissed Theo and sparks flew. They ended up spending the night in Theo’s apartment. But Stiles has the feeling that everything’s was going to turn out just fine.

#steovday #steo #stiles stilinski #theo raeken #teen wolf #peter hale #steter #teen wolf au #teen wolf fanfiction #teen wolf fic #boy auction #sheriff stilinski #jordan parrish #scott mccall #lydia martin #malia tate #stiles x theo #steo fic

[cacoetheswriting]

unrequited love - spencer reid

Warnings: mild cursing, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of murder, usual criminal minds stuff tbh Word Count: 2.6k Requested By: anonymous : “can you write a spencer reid fic? something ansgsty maybe..”. 

--

No one understands why you do certain things even when you know you're never going to get anything back. - Shahul Hussain

QUANTICO, VIRGINA

The smell of freshly brewed coffee was probably your favourite, especially at ungodly hours of the morning. Closing your eyes for a brief moment you could feel a sort of calm and warmth surround you. The aroma slowly awoke your senses. Your lips touched the brim of the white mug in your hand and you took a slow sip.

“Good morning Y/L/N.” Derek Morgan appeared beside you. You looked up at him from your mug. “I brought you a coffee but I can see you couldn't wait.” He joked holding up a paper cup. “You know me Derek, I’ll take all the caffeine I can get.” You replied grabbing the cup from him. “Especially at four in the morning.” Derek smirked. “Yeah, they have to stop doing that to us.” 

With two coffees in hand, you made your way to the conference room. The rest of the team was already there. You sat at your usual seat, placing the coffees on the table in front of you, and turned your attention to the screen.

“Morning my lovelies.” Penelope began. “I would say good but there is nothing good about it given the case we have been asked to wor-” “Garcia.” Hotch interrupted briefly encouraging her to get to the point. “Right. Yes. No time to waste.” Penelope cleared her throat and fixed her glasses.

“Last night, twenty-five year old Millie Moore didn't return home after her shift at a bar in Riverside, California. Her body was discovered this morning in a dumpster behind her workplace.”

“The killer wanted her to be found.” JJ stated. There was a brief pause before Penelope continued. 

“The kidnapping and murder was linked to four other cases in the state of California spanning over the last month.” The images filled the screen causing you to clench your fists in disgust. 

The small rather insignificant action was observed by the brunette man sitting across from you. Unnoticed by everyone else at the table, Spencer’s eyes focused on your hands before travelling up to your face. He examined the look spread across your features, trying to figure out what was on your mind. 

“He definitely has a type.” Rossi noticed. “Any signs of sexual assault?” Derek questioned. “Yes, actually all of the victims displayed signs of uhm.” Garcia couldn’t bare to finish her sentence. 

“Given the small cooling off period between each victim, we need to assume the unsub has his next target already picked out.” Hotch stated. “Garcia can finish briefing us on the plane. Wheels up in twenty.”

The group nodded at each other and all got up from their seats - all but you. For some reason you couldn't avert your eyes from the gruesome images that filled the screen. 

“Y/N...” Spencer’s soft whisper brought you back to reality. He stood just a few steps away. You titled your head to look at him noticing a concerned look spread on his face. “They look like me Spence. The victims, they all look like me.” 

Spencer cleared his throat. “Humans in fact, aren’t that genetically diverse. So eventually, the numbers would dictate that certain features resembling yours and another persons will randomly combine.” He paused. 

“But that doesn’t mean they are an exact duplicate of you.” He smiled hoping you would smile back. “You’re right, sorry. It’s just a little weird.” “We’ve had weirder.” Spencer said as you got to your feet. The young doctor grabbed one of the coffees for you as you grabbed the other and followed you out to the pit. 

“You know caffeine increases alertness by blocking a brain chemical called adenosine that makes you feel tired, while at the same time triggering the release of adrenalin that’s known to increase energy.” Spencer stated placing the coffee cup he was holding on your desk. 

“If the amount of caffeine is high enough, these effects are stronger, resulting in caffeine-induced anxiety.” You finished the fact for him, slightly rolling your eyes. “Yes Spence, I know. You tell me this every time I have more than one mug in the morning.” The smart doctor shrugged smiling at you. He grabbed his go-bag from underneath his desk and waited for you. 

The friendship you shared with Spencer was an odd one. The two of you were quite close when you were still at the academy. He helped you study for all your tests and was always one to share tips on how to complete certain tasks. 

A couple of years go by without contact. At that point you were a field agent in New York, which is where you reconnected on a case. The spark was instant although neither of you wanted to admit it. This time Spencer stayed in touch. It was clear then that whatever undiscovered feelings he had for you back when you first met resurfaced - but you weren’t ready to explore whether you felt the same.

Next thing you know you were getting a call from Aaron Hotchner with an offer to join the BAU. Something, you later found out, Spencer had fought to get organised. 

It felt like you played with his heart. To an outsider it probably even looked like that - he fell in love with a girl and landed her a dream job in hopes that she would love him back. 

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA

“What if we’re dealing with a disgruntled boyfriend or husband?” JJ posed the question. “He lost someone in his life that resembled the victims.” “Then why kill them?” Derek questioned. 

The team was gathered around a conference table brainstorming. Spencer was the only one not sitting down, not unusual for Dr. Reid. He was pacing around the bullpen talking on the phone, probably with Penelope. 

Your eyes lingered on the back of his head for a moment through the glass window. Something Derek noticed immediately. “Where’s your head at Y/L/N?” You turned your attention to the rest of the team. “What if JJ is right in a way? But rather than a significant other, what if the unsub was rejected by these women or someone who looks like them?” 

Derek nodded his head in understanding. Your eyes scanned the team waiting for anyone sitting at the table to suggest something else. It was Rossi who opened his mouth next however whatever was on his mind was interrupted by Spencer storming into the room.

“Where’s your mind at pretty boy?” Derek questioned leaning back in his chair. “I spoke with Garcia. All of the victims had social media accounts and tagged-” He approached the map pinned to one of the boards. “- three different spots in this location before they were murdered.” With a red pen, Spencer circled one area on the map. 

“The hunting ground.” Rossi stated and everyone else nodded.

“Let’s split up.” Hotch began. “Reid, go with Y/L/N. Derek and Rossi, and JJ you’re with me. I’ll get Garcia to send us the exact addresses, hopefully one of these places will bring us a step closer to catching the unsub.” 

The team got to their feet and one by one left the conference room, leaving you alone with Spencer. “Ready partner?” He asked smiling at you. “Always.” 

It didn't take long to get there, traffic was unusually quiet for California. Plus whenever you’re with Spencer the conversation flow makes the moments pass by quickly - you never run out of things to talk about.

“Looks closed.” You said getting out of the car, shutting the door behind you. “Strange, it’s the middle of the day.” Spencer noted as he walked around the hood. The two of you glanced at each other before moving forward towards the entrance of the coffee shop.

The door wasn't locked so you made your way inside. A small ‘ding’ from the bell above your heads signalised you have entered the premises. An eerie feeling came over you. 

The lights were switched off. The chairs were placed neatly on the tables. Menus were carefully stacked beside the register, sugar bowls placed in a row along the countertop. A wet floor sign was placed in the middle of the room. You walked around it carefully, that’s when you noticed the strong smell. 

“Is that?” You asked looking at Spencer. “It smells like bleach.” The young doctor stated back, his hand travelled to his gun. Slowly, with one hand on your weapon holster, you made your way around the countertop. That’s when you felt someone grab you from behind. A shriek escaped your mouth getting Spencer’s attention. 

The unknown male held your arms behind your back as he led you back towards the middle of the coffee shop - using you as a human shield. He kicked over the yellow sign and stopped. You could feel his hot breath against your skin, it made you sick. “Let her go.” Spencer stated sternly, pointing his gun.

“I’m going to walk out of here.” The male said. “And you’re going to let me.” You watched Spencer shake his head. “I can’t let you do that.” His response wasn't what the man wanted to hear. Frustrated, he drew your weapon from the holster and placed it to your temple causing the air to catch in your throat.

“How about now?” The man sounded angrier. He could sense your fear, just like you could sense Spencer’s. The young doctor met your gaze briefly before looking back at the man holding you. 

“What’s your name?” Spencer asked. The man scoffed. “I’m not telling you shit!” “Tell me your name and maybe we can sort something out.” Spencer said calmly, his gun still pointing in your direction.

There was a brief moment of heavy silence before the man snarled: “You first.”

“My name is Dr. Spencer Reid and the woman you are now holding at gunpoint, that’s Agent Y/N Y/L/N.” You could feel the man shift, as if he was trying to get a better look at you before he turned his attention to Spencer again. “Theo.” He said simply. 

“Nice to meet you Theo. How old are you Theo?” “What’s that got to do with anything?!” 

Your whole body was shaking at this point. 

“O-okay Theo. Tell me this instead, why did you kill all of those women?” “I didn’t hurt anyone!” Theo snapped. “Only a guilty man would hold a federal agent at gunpoint.” Spencer pointed out. “Shut up!” Theo lowered the gun from your temple and pointed it at Spencer. A lone tear escaped the corner of your eye. 

“Why did you kill them Theo?” Spencer asked again. 

“They deserved it.” Theo answered after a brief moment of silence. “They hurt me!” “How did they hurt you Theo?” The man’s grip around you tightened. “They just hurt me!” He screamed. “Now let me go or I swear, she’s next!” The gun was back at your temple. 

Spencer met your scared gaze. The look in his eye was almost as if to say everything was going to be okay, that he was going to get you out of this. You tried to smile. You even mouthed “It’s okay.” at which Spencer’s jaw locked - he wasn’t going to lose you, not like this. 

“Those women hurt you Theo? I know exactly what that feels like.” Spencer said calmly. “Being hurt by someone you love.” You could feel Theo nod against your head. His grip loosened slightly.  

“Do you know what unrequited love is Theo?” Spencer asked and without waiting for a response continued. “It’s love not reciprocated or returned. It’s when you love someone and they don't love you back, they don't acknowledge your love.” Spencer stated. At this point you were crying. Lone droplets escaped your eyes and traced down your cheeks. 

“That’s how those women made you feel, right? As if you weren’t worthy to love them.” Spencer said. You could feel the hurt in his voice.

“They didn't see me.” Theo said, his voice shaky. “They didn't care!” He exclaimed taking a step forward. In doing so, his grip around you loosened completely and you were able to turn around while grabbing his arm that was holding the gun.

Theo kneed you in the stomach causing you to fall back a little. When you looked up he had the gun pointed at you. 

“If you shoot her, I shoot you.” Spencer said sternly, his weapon once again drawn and pointed at the unsub. Theo scoffed. “She's the one that hurt you, isn't she?” Spencer didn't respond. “I figure I’d be doing you a favour then.” 

The sound of the gun being cocked caused your heart to stop. Yet Spencer was quicker. He fired one shot, hitting Theo in the shoulder. This enabled you to overpower the unsub and disarm him.

“Call for backup.” The young doctor said kneeling down beside you. “Spence-” “Call for backup.” He repeated without looking at you. Without saying another word, that’s exactly what you did. 

BAU Jet

The sound of silence filled the plane. Everyone was exhausted to say the least, and catching up on necessary sleep. Yet every time you closed your eyes you felt uncomfortable. Spencer’s words from the coffeeshop kept ringing in your ears, the broken look on his face overwhelmed your brain. 

Slowly, you got to your feet and walked down the jet. The young doctor was sitting alone at the back of the aircraft, head buried in a book. 

“Hey.” You whispered loud enough to get his attention. His head popped up, his eyes met yours. “Hi.” 

“Mind if I sit down?” You asked politely pointing to the empty seat. “Not at all. Make yourself comfortable.” He placed the book down as you made yourself comfortable. 

“Can’t sleep?” “I could ask you the same thing.” Spencer replied. “Well, having a gun pointed to your head isn’t exactly dreaming material.” You breathed with a soft smile. Spencer nodded his head.

There was a brief moment of silence.

“I wanted to thank you.” You said. “For saving my life.” “I was just doing my job.” Spencer replied. “Right.” You sighed and leaned your head back on the chair, breaking eye contact.

“Y/N-” “I’m sorry Spencer.” You interrupted. Confused, the young doctor asked: “Why are you apologising?” “For hurting you.” Slowly, you tilted your head to once again look at the brown haired man. His head was down, his fingers playing with the hem of his shirt.

“I’m sorry for making you feel as if you weren't worthy.” “I just said that to get the unsub’s attention. I said that so he would let you go.” “We both know that's not true Spencer.” 

The young doctor sighed. “I don't know what you want me to say Y/N.” He whispered while turning his head in your direction. “You don't need to say anything.” 

Spencer lifted his hand and slowly using one finger placed a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, his thumb brushing against your cheek as he did. A shiver ran down your spine at the touch. 

“I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.” Spencer said, his hand now holding your face. “However, you made it obvious you don’t feel that way about me so I’ve done my best to just be your friend.” He sighed. “Y/N it’s getting really hard to just be your friend.”

He let his hand fall before shifting his body weight away from you. He leaned his head against the aircraft and looked out the window. 

Tears formed in your eyes. “Spence.” You whispered but he didn't respond. Instead, the young doctor closed his eyes.

You knew better than to keep pushing. With your fingers, you wiped the tears from your face and made yourself comfortable before also closing your eyes. 

Hoping you’d drift asleep quickly your mind wondered. Tomorrow, you would talk to him again tomorrow and everything would be just fine. Right?

Never pretend to a love which you do not actually feel, for love is not ours to command. - Alan Watts

--

masterlist

#criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fandom #spencer reid #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x oc #spencer reid fic #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid angst

[official-weasley]

Meant to Be (Charlie Weasley x OC)

What happens when Bill brings home a girl and Charlie is completely awestruck by her?

WARNINGS: mentions of alcohol & sex, curse words, angst

CHAPTER 7

Charlie

9 months later…

I woke up to the knock on my door. I put on some pants and went to see who it was.

“Peter, what’s wrong?” I looked at the clock on the wall.

It wasn’t even 5 in the morning.

“I’m just passing by to tell you that you should go to see Ernie before you finish work today.” He was leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. “We are getting 2 new dragons soon and I think we’ll need more people.”

“Sure.” I nodded sluggishly and rubbed my eyes.

“I want to add a person to your team. I know you can handle it but I don’t want you working extra hours when we can expand our crew.” He explained. “What do you need me to do?” I yawned.

“I picked someone with an impressive resume. Ernie will have the paperwork for you to fill out and just make sure you send it back tomorrow morning.”

“No problem. I’ll get it done.” I gave him a thumbs up.

He grinned at me and walked away.

A newbie. This should be fun! I never got to train anyone before. Everyone that I work with was already here before I arrived so I can’t lie that I was excited about this. I knew that Ernie wasn’t in so early in the morning and by the looks of the clouds I wouldn’t be able to see the sunrise today so I decided to go straight to Aami.

He was outside now. He had his own little habitat and everything! His wing never grew as Tina and I hoped it would so he will never be able to fly. He obviously didn’t care as much as I felt bad about it. He was such a cheerful dragon and obedient too. I love every single beast in this reserve but I can’t help to admit that the little Fireball became my favorite. He wasn’t little anymore, he was a head taller than me now but I will always see him as he was in the nursery when I watched him drink chicken blood and brandy.

As I promised Peter I went to the Admission Office after work.

“Hi, Ernie.” I greeted him when I stepped inside.

“Charlie!” He grinned at me.

He was the most cheerful person I will probably ever get a chance to meet.

“Peter said you have some papers for me?” I leaned on the counter.

“Right! The recruit!” He clapped. “Not going to lie, was a bit surprised when I saw it. Don’t tell Peter that I peeked.”

“I won’t.” I chuckled. He placed the papers in front of me. “Any letters for me?”

“Not today, no.” Ernie looked through the pile of envelopes that weren’t delivered yet.

“Have anything to send out?”

“No.” I shook my head. “But I do need to sign these and I need to send them first thing in the morning. When will you be here?”

“At seven. Is that too late?” He scratched his nose.

“No. That’s perfect. Thanks, Ernie.”

I gave him a high-five and said goodbye. I looked through the papers while walking back home and stopped when I saw the name on the application.

Rhylee Pertinger

No way! I took a deep breath. It can’t be her. I couldn’t know for sure because I didn’t even know her last name. There are many Rhylee’s out there, right?

I hurried to unlock the door, placed the pieces of parchment on my kitchen table, and sat down. I went through them. No resume. No details about who she was or where she was from. Just the name. It would be too much of a coincidence if it was her! Merlin can’t mess with me so much.

I was doing good. Not great but good. Considering that Bill barely sent me a letter and that I didn’t see him since that Christmas break, it was safe to say that he knew something.

I never saw Rhylee after that and never spoke to her and I was planning on keeping it that way. Her coming here would be a disaster. I can’t work with her. She can’t be on my team.

Calm down, Charlie. This doesn’t mean anything.

I checked the papers again. She’s arriving in two days. I can’t panic for two days. I was doing so great bottling everything that happened for a year and nine months and I won’t stop now. Even if it is her, nothing has to change.

When we work we rarely speak and since I still remember just how breathtaking she was, I know my co-workers will be all over her so I can just go back to living my normal, busy life.

—

“I think we are all done here.” I looked at my watch. “And with 20 minutes to spare.”

“Wow.” John looked impressed.

“Peter made a mistake recruiting that girl. We are just too good.” Evan looked proud.

“Oh, right! She’s arriving today. Fresh meat!” Theo clapped his hands together.

“Please don’t scare her away.” I shook my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You better behave or I will fire you.” They all started laughing and we walked back to the village together to get lunch.

“Are you ready?” Peter came to our table just as we were finishing eating.

“For what?” I said with food in my mouth.

“Your new co-worker. She’s here.” He winked at me.

I got up and followed him to the main gate.

“I am so sorry, Charlie.” Peter put his hand on my shoulder as we were walking.

“What for?” I asked, puzzled.

“You will have a lot of trouble keeping your boys in line for the next few weeks.” He laughed.

“You lost me, Peter.” I wanted to laugh with him but I didn’t know what was so funny.

“I met the girl that’s joining your team. She’s about your age. Very pretty.” He started to explain. “She went to Beauxbatons and decided that Gringotts wasn’t really doing it for her anymore.”

My heart sank.

Gringotts?

Did he say Gringotts?

“Gringotts?” I asked, pretending to not know what he was talking about.

“C’mon, Charlie. We all know they have dragons down there.” He grinned at me. “She said that the work got boring so she applied for a transfer.”

He finally let go of my shoulder. I prayed to Merlin he couldn’t feel me stiffen up. There was no doubt in my mind now that I was right to panic two days ago.

It was her.

She was here.

Why?

I can’t do this. This was my safe place. I didn’t go home for such a long time, because I felt so guilty, that my parents actually came to visit me. And now she was here.

I wish I could say that I forgot all about her but it would be a bold lie. I didn’t. I still think about her from time to time. I still remember the feeling I had when I was with her. I remember every detail of her face and her body as if I saw her yesterday. I hated the feeling in my chest. The happy, excited feeling of seeing her again.

I sucked in a breath and suppressed it. Bottled it down like everything else from that few days at the Burrow.

“You okay?” Peter looked at me.

“Fine. A bit nervous. I am too young to boss so many people around.” I chuckled nervously, hoping he will interpret it as a joke.

“You’ll do fine.” He said with a serious face. “You have been working here for 5 years Charlie and I don’t regret putting you in charge of a team.”

“Thanks.” I smiled faintly.

It meant a lot coming from him.

We arrived at the gate and my legs stopped working when I saw her. I had to use every muscle on my face to keep my jaw from dropping. How could she be even more beautiful than when we first met? My heart started racing and I swallowed hard. This was not good.

She can’t do this to me! Can I fire her before she even starts working?

“Hi, Rhylee.” Peter waved at her and I was finally able to move again. “This is…”

“Charlie.” She grinned.

Was she happy to see me?

“You two know each other?” Peter turned to me.

Great. Now they are going to ask me how I know her. What am I supposed to tell them!

“Kind of.” I said, my voice barely audible.

“You’ll tell me later.” Peter whispered to me and pushed me forward.

Rhylee and I awkwardly shook hands.

Her touch sent shivers down my spine and I couldn’t stop the night we spent together rolling in front of my eyes.

There it was again. That feeling I got when I was around her. The feeling in my chest, pushing me toward her. I hated it. I hated that I couldn’t ignore it.

“I’ll leave you two alone…”

Oh, please don’t.

“And I’ll see you at dinner.” Peter waved at us and walked away.

Okay. Act professionally. You are her boss and she is just going to work here. No big deal, right?

“So, I’ll show you to your cabin first. And then if you’re not too tired I can show you around. Where everything is…you know…dragons…” I couldn’t look at her. I was looking straight ahead but I could feel her eyes on me. “…and stuff.”

I swallowed hard. I don’t think I was ever so nervous.

We walked in complete silence until we reached her cabin. Surprisingly, it wasn’t awkward at all. How could it be that I was enjoying walking through the Reserve with her in silence after not seeing each other for almost 2 years?

I wanted to say something. I wanted to know why she was here. I wanted to ask her why she came here. I wanted to know how she is. But I couldn’t gather up the courage to do it. She didn’t say anything even though I know she glanced at me a few times.

In the end, I decided to just stay quiet. I did say that I won’t talk to her outside work so at least I was doing something right.

“Here are your keys and my cabin’s right over there.” I pointed at the one between the two opposite hers. “We meet every morning around 7 in front of it and we go feed the dragons together.” I handed her the keys and she slowly unlocked the door.

She placed her bag inside and locked the door back up. She put the keys in the back pocket of her jeans, all while looking me straight in the eyes. The expression on her face was as if I was looking at myself in the mirror.

Awestruck but horrified at the same time.

She had to know I still work here. She had to know that we would meet sooner or later. Perhaps she didn’t think that she would be on my team or that I would be her boss.

Well, neither have I so welcome to my club!

We stood there for a few more seconds, looking at each other like idiots, and just as she opened her mouth to say something I gestured for her to move.

“Let me show you around.” I had to stop her from speaking.

I was terrified of what she had to say.

“We have 15 dragons in the Reserve and our team works with 5 of them. Up there…” I pointed my finger at the boulder to our left. “Is our Chinese Fireball, Gorra. Behind that hill is Ogto, our Ukrainian Ironbelly. On the other side…” I turned my head to the right now. “We have Ren the Romanian Longhorn, for which you already heard about.” I swallowed hard when I remembered that she asked me if Ren was my girlfriend. “And right next to his habitat is Bunny, our Common Welsh Green.”

She turned to me and I wished she wouldn’t have that look in her eyes. If it was possible, sparks would fly out of them. She seemed so excited to meet every single one of the dragons I just mentioned.

“The last one is the newest member of our family.” I tore my eyes off hers and turned around. “I don’t know if you’ve heard what happened at the Triwizard Tournament last year at Hogwarts when the Chinese Fireball stepped on her eggs.” She gasped and shook her head. “We only managed to save one egg and since it was cracked he couldn’t evolve properly so he can’t fly.”

“Otherwise, he’s okay?” She whispered.

I just hummed.

“I took care of him and still do. His name is Aami and he isn’t big on trust yet so I can take you to meet him tomorrow but I usually go feed him alone.” I looked at her to see how she will respond.

“I understand.” She said with a gentle voice.

“So in the morning, we feed them. Then after lunch we train them and then before dinner we feed them again.” I explained our daily routine while taking her to see where the Admission Office and the nursery were.

“If you want to work with hatchlings you have to talk to Peter.” We stopped in front of the nursery. “He allowed me to be with Aami before we could move him and I’m in charge of a team so if you have a wish to work with baby dragons I am sure he could do something about it.” I grinned at her.

I couldn’t stop my lips from spreading into one. I was getting soft. Getting comfortable around her again. This wasn’t good. I have to keep it together. But it was so hard. It was so easy to just talk to her even if she barely said anything back.

I know she was just taking everything in. She loved the dragons at Gringotts more than anything and I am sure she couldn’t wait to start working with the ones we have here.

I felt as if she didn’t change a bit. She was still emitting positive energy. She still had that playful look in her eyes. She looked excited and she was just overall a pleasant person to be around. The only thing that changed was the fact that she was nervous and she tried hard to hide it too. It made me feel more at ease but bothered me at the same time as I couldn’t shake the feeling she felt like this because of me.

“Charlie…” She started, her voice barely audible.

“It’s Friday today and we only work tomorrow, we have Sunday off this week.” I interrupted her. I didn’t know what she was about to say but her voice was telling me that she wasn’t about to ask a question concerning her orientation. “You can also work on your days off, of course.” I continued.

I was only doing my job after all.

“On those days you go to Ernie, who works in Admission Office which we passed before and he will appoint you to where they need more hands to help.”

She simply nodded.

I told her everything she needed to know. What am I supposed to do now?

“You must be tired.” I said, looking at nothing in particular behind her. “I’ll let you settle in.” I glanced at her and quickly looked away. I couldn’t deal with the curiosity with which she was looking at me. “On Friday we all usually grab a beer in the tavern. You can come if you’d like.” I blurted.

I was so weak gazing into her eyes. I already knew that her working here is going to be my downfall. I loved my job and I have to do everything to keep her from ruining it for me.

“I’ll see how long I’ll need to finish unpacking.” She smiled shyly. “Emm, could you tell me in which direction my cabin is again?” She looked embarrassed.

It was only natural that she felt a bit disorientated. The Sanctuary wasn’t exactly small.

“Why don’t I accompany you? I have to change anyway.” I offered.

I knew it was a bad idea but I have to be nice to her. She didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not her fault I’m feeling this way. She was my co-worker now and I need to make her feel comfortable at her new workplace.

We walked to her hut in complete silence. The questions of how she is and what she is doing here resurfaced but I didn’t say anything. I could sense that she wanted to speak but thought better of it.

We awkwardly said goodbye and I rushed to my home as fast as I could. I unlocked the door and shut it loudly behind me. I leaned on it and let my body slide down until I could feel the floor beneath me.

This is seriously not happening!

I was panicking again. I didn’t even know why but I knew this wasn’t good. It wasn’t good for me. I have been bottling everything up, hiding my feelings. Pretending that nothing happened, that I didn’t feel guilty about what happened that Christmas. Her being here made all of that come right back up.

All the guilt, all the sensations, all the memories.

The pain of the thoughts of what I did to Bill.

Everything.

I didn’t even know why Bill stopped talking to me. The letters just got rarer and rarer and now I’m lucky I get anything from him and when I do, it’s short and to the point. I miss him. I miss my best friend, my brother. I miss talking to him and telling him everything.

I was too afraid to ask him what was wrong. Too afraid to say something. Mum didn’t mention anything out of the ordinary so I knew he was okay but I knew that our relationship changed.

Did he know what happened between me and Rhylee? He couldn’t. He didn’t even tell me if he ever got around to asking her out that’s how much silence was between us.

I buried my fingers in my hair and started pulling. Why was this affecting me so much? Why did I have to put such pressure on myself? I can’t escape this time. This is my job. I could lie and apparate away from my family but I can’t just pack my bags and leave.

I can’t just run again.

But I can’t face her either. I can’t talk to her about us or how I feel. She can never know. She’d think I’m insane. This is the second time I’m seeing her. She probably forgot all about me.

Yeah!

That’s why she was so shocked when she saw me. She remembered that I worked here. That had to be it. And here I was, pounding my head like an idiot, overthinking everything again.

It’s my fault I feel like this and I have to get my shit together. I have to do it for my job. If I could talk about nothing else than dragons for seven years at Hogwarts and if I could study like an idiot for my O.W.L.s and my N.E.W.T.s to get this job I have to do everything to make myself comfortable and enjoy it as I did before she showed up. I won’t let myself ruin this!

I can’t.

It’s the only good thing I have going for me.

I don’t have a girlfriend. Yes, I did sleep with April three times. And I slept with two other girls but it was meaningless. I felt so empty doing it. It didn’t bring me any joy. It didn’t even come close to what I felt that night with Rhylee. So I just stopped.

I gave up all hope to ever find a girl like her and to be honest, at this point I wasn’t even trying. I’m better off alone. Most of the people here are single.

Why would I have to be the special one? Why would I have a perfect job and find the perfect girl?

I took a deep breath and held it in. I was hoping it would make all the feelings inside me disappear. At least it made me calmer. I took a quick shower and changed my clothes. A part of me wanted to just stay in tonight but I knew my friends would ask questions tomorrow and I can’t have them doing so in front of her.

I closed my eyes before leaving my hut.

You got this, Charlie.

Just breathe.

She’s just a girl.

I locked the door behind me and headed to the tavern.

“You drunk already, Theo?” I joked as I sat down.

“Sober as a Pixie.” He shook his head.

He looked disappointed that he wasn’t drunk.

“What does that even mean?” Asked John as he reached our table.

“I’ll tell you what it means.” Theo gestured for him to sit down next to me.

“Do you know Gerta?” He looked at every single one of us. We all nodded. “I asked her out before coming here.”

I pressed my lips together, trying hard not to laugh. Gerta was the only woman in the Reserve with whom nobody dared to mess. She was taller than all of us and she had strong hands, covered with tattoos. She started working here a little after I did and I always felt so intimidated by her.

“You’re joking!” Andrew shouted.

“You didn’t!” John slammed his hand on the table.

We looked at each other. We couldn’t hold it in anymore. We started laughing.

“And how…” I couldn’t breathe. Theo mentioned on several occasions over the years that he was going to ask her out but never mustered the courage to do so. “How did it go?” I tried keeping a straight face even though I knew I was failing miserably.

“At first she laughed.” Theo looked offended. This was too good. After all these years of teasing me, this was just what I needed today. “Then she slapped me so hard that everything turned dark for a second.”

I have never seen Evan laughing as hard as he was now. John was slamming the table with both of his hands now, making the beer glasses jump. I actually shed a tear, that’s how funny it was as I imagined Gerta slapping the complete shit out of him. I didn’t think anything could make my day today but boy was I wrong. This was priceless.

“Did you at least walk away?” I asked as I wiped away the tear.

“Of course, not! Don’t you know me?” Theo facepalmed himself.

“Oh, no. What did you do?” John asked after finally catching his breath.

“My stupid arse asked her if the slap meant no or was she just kinky.” Our laugher filled the air around us once again.

He didn’t do that! Why didn’t he ask her out in front of us? I would do anything to see that happening!

“And what did she do?” Andrew was holding his stomach.

His muscles probably hurt from laughing as much as mine did.

“What do you think she did?” Theo was now laughing with us. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop us and was better off joining us. “She slapped me again, on the other side.” He pointed at his left cheek.

“What are you idiots laughing so hard for?” Peter joined us and sat down.

“Theo asked Gerta out.” John managed to say before starting laughing again.

“What?” Peter looked at Theo in disbelief. “You…”

“There’s our new girl, mates!” He interrupted himself and nodded his head behind me, John, and Andrew.

We turned around and Rhylee was awkwardly standing by the bar, waiting for her drink. She was wearing an old oversized t-shirt and still managed to look so cute.

“That’s our new co-worker?” Andrew forgot how to close his mouth.

“How in Godric’s Hollow are you expecting us to do any work around here with her working alongside us?” Evan moaned.

“And guess what?” Peter smirked, looking at me. “Charlie knows her.” They all turned to me. “So I think she’s off-limits.” He winked at me.

“She’s Bill’s friend.” I said quickly.

I didn’t want them to ask any further questions. I already didn’t like the smirks on their faces.

“We made friends with the wrong brother.” Theo shook his head and if he was sitting next to me I would punch him in the gut.

“I don’t buy it.” Evan said.

“Buy what?” John wasn’t paying attention.

“I think Weasley’s lying to us.”

They were on to me.

“Interesting.” Said Theo slowly.

“What’s your theory?” They all turned to Evan.

I wish the ground beneath me would open up and swallow me.

“I believe him that she’s Bill’s friend.” Evan started. “But I don’t think the story ends there.”

I swallowed hard.

Why was I friends with these gits?

“C’mon, Charlie. Tell us.” They blinked at me like a bunch of girls at a sleepover.

“I…”

“Hi.” This was the first time I was glad Rhylee showed up. “I didn’t know where to sit and I only know you two.” Her eyes went from Peter to me.

“I don’t think we were properly introduced.” Theo stood up so abruptly that he banged his knees into the table.

He extended his arm and Rhylee shook his hand.

One by one they all introduced themselves and offered her to sit down. Thank Merlin she didn’t decide to sit down next to me.

“So you transferred here from Gringotts. You have to tell us about the dragons there!” Andrew broke the silence and I could see Rhylee appreciated it.

“I can’t really tell you much.” She smiled. “I am still sworn to secrecy even if I don’t work there anymore.” The boys started whining. “But I can tell you there are three dragons and one of them is an albino.” Her eyes kept escaping to me.

“Albino! Did you hear that, Charlie!” John bumped my shoulder.

I only hummed in response and tried looking anywhere but at her. They all knew one of my life goals was to see an albino dragon.

She told them why they are keeping dragons in Gringotts and what her job was. She told them that she was in charge of her own team and Theo teased me that she might steal my job. She told them about their feeding schedule and that the Norwegian Ridgeback has only been with them for a year and nine months.

A year and nine months.

That’s how long it has been since we last saw each other. And I still remember that she wanted to name the dragon Nyx. I wonder if she chose that name. I hated that I couldn’t ask her. I would give myself away that she is not just Bill’s friend and if I start a conversation with her, I am not sure I’ll be able to stop.

“How come you came here?” Andrew asked her.

“I was having a hard time watching the dragons be so secluded.” She admitted. “And…” She shook her head, stopping herself from finishing the sentence, and gazed at me.

They were all looking at her with raised eyebrows.

There were so many words on her lips that just couldn’t wait to escape her mouth. I knew she wanted to say more but for some reason, I knew she only wanted me to hear what she has to say. I sunk in my seat. I was feeling bad for her. This was as unfair to me as it was to her even though I had no idea what was going through her head.

A pretty girl like her…she has to be with someone. She moved on. Nobody is as stupid as me, obsessing over someone who I can’t be with and for a year and nine months too. For all I know, she could already be married and have a child.

My eyes scanned the fingers on her left hand. I couldn’t stop myself from looking.

No ring.

Why did I feel relief?

Why did I feel good about it?

“It was nice meeting all of you.” She emptied her glass. “I would love to stay and get to know all of you better but I’m quite tired.” They all started mumbling that it’s alright and that they understand as she stood up.

She said good night to us and walked away. I could feel her eyes on me before she walked away but I couldn’t look at her.

I wanted to stand up and run after her. I felt like I was going to burst into flames if I don’t. I wanted to tell her that I still think about her and I wanted to finally tell her how I felt that night. I wanted to bury my face in her hair and wrap my hands around her waist and kiss her so strongly that she would have to hold tight to me not to fall.

“You’re drooling, Weasley.” John whispered to me, disturbing my train of thoughts.

“Okay, now I’m with Evan. She is not just Bill’s friend.” Theo said after she was out of our hearing distance.

“The awkwardness between you two…” Said Andrew.

“And the way she was looking at you.” Continued Peter.

“What happened?”

They all turned to me after John’s question.

“I told you that she is Bill’s friend.” I said through my teeth.

They cornered me. They knew me too well to buy my lie.

“And…” Peter pushed my beer closer to me and gestured for me to say more.

“I can’t.” I said, my voice rusty.

I shook my head. They can’t know. I promised myself I will keep this to myself. That I will never tell anybody. I kept it a secret for so long, I can’t give up now.

“Charlie,” I felt John’s hand on my shoulder, “we’re your mates. What the fuck is going on?”

“Bill brought her home last Christmas. He fancied her.” I blurted out. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I was looking at the beer glass in front of me. I couldn’t look them in the eyes. “We got drunk together while the rest of the family was in the village and we had sex.” And I couldn’t stop talking either.

It felt so good saying it out loud. Admitting it. I told them everything. How Bill doesn’t know or at least I don’t think he does. How guilty I feel and how she made me feel and just how bad I feel that she is here.

Everything that I bottled up for almost two years came running up and I just couldn’t stop talking. I was a rat’s hair away from bursting into tears that’s how many emotions were running through my body but I blinked them away.

It might’ve felt good telling them this but I am not going to cry in front of them. We were drinking beer for fuck sake. We were adults. I’m not going to cry about a girl I barely knew. I already told them too much.

“Bloody hell.” Andrew was the first to speak after a long pause.

I was still staring at my glass. I wasn’t ready to see their expressions.

“Why didn’t you ever tell us about her, Charlie?” John asked gently.

I finally lifted my chin. They all looked like they felt sorry for me, as if they understood where I was coming from, as if they were on my side.

I had to be reading them wrong.

They can’t be.

Don’t they understand what a terrible person I am? What I did to my brother?

“I promised myself I would never tell anyone. I was doing so well. I didn’t think she would start working here.” I admitted.

“Doing well?” Theo scoffed. “You’re miserable, mate.”

I looked at him and then at Peter and Andrew who were both nodding in agreement.

“We might joke around a lot and tease you Charlie, but this is not okay. You still feel guilty after all this time and we can see that it’s tearing you apart.” Evan continued.

“Is she with Bill?” Peter asked carefully.

“I honestly don’t know. I never brought myself to ask.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Bill changed his attitude in his letters soon after and now I’m lucky enough if I even get a response from him. I don’t know how he could find out but it would be the only explanation why he’s not talking to me.”

Saying it out loud hurt.

I felt like I lost my brother.

And for what?

For a girl?

I was ashamed of myself.

“No wonder you never take a day off. You overwork yourself thinking it would help with all your problems.” John sounded disappointed.

“You can’t keep doing this to yourself, mate.” Andrew said gently.

“And what am I supposed to do?” I raised my voice. I didn’t want to talk about my feelings. Everything I felt on Christmas day came right back up but this time, it hurt twice as much. “Do you even know how pathetic I sound that I’m still not over a girl that I spend one night with? What a terrible person I am to sleep with my brother’s girl?” I buried my face in my hands.

“You’re not pathetic. You two had a real connection. Do you know how rare that is?” I looked up at Peter.

“It is?” I said more to myself than to them.

They all nodded.

“We might joke around with women but deep down we all want what Peter has.” Andrew admitted, putting his arm around Peter’s shoulder.

He was the only one of our lot who was married. Who was in a relationship for that matter. I knew that Peter met Tina before I got here and they seemed happy to me but he never really talked that much about her. John told me once that they got married rather quickly but that was pretty much it.

“I have that with Tina,” Peter explained, “what you described, Charlie. And if that’s really how you feel you have to talk to her.” I shook my head.

Was he mental!

What was this?

What happened to us messing around and drinking beer on Friday night? Since when were they giving me relationship advice?

“You have to clear the air otherwise it will eat you alive.” John followed his lead.

“Talk to Bill if you have to. I’m sure he would understand.” Andrew continued.

They were all losing it.

Understand? There is nothing to understand. Everything is clear as a Summer’s day. What am I supposed to do? Apparate to Egypt and say “Hey, Bill. So…yeah…I fancy your girl. You understand right?”

“I don’t know in what fucking fairytale land you are all living in, but this is real life and things are not that easy.” I chugged my beer and slammed the glass at the table.

“They are, Charlie.” Peter tried to convince me.

This was too much. They lost it.

“Stop it!” I shook my head and stood up. “We are not talking about this anymore. Not now, not ever.”

Why did I have to open my mouth?

“Forget about it and I’ll see you tomorrow at seven, okay?” I walked away without looking at any of them.

I felt their eyes piercing through me as I got further away.

I am not going to allow them to feel bad for me. I was the antagonist here. I was the one who made a mistake. I wasn’t allowed to be forgiven. I can’t be. Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut? Why did I have to be so honest? And the worst part was, this time I wasn’t even drunk.

#harry potter fanfiction #charlie weasley #charlie weasley fanfiction #the weasleys #weasley family #hp imagine #charlie weasley x oc #charlie weasley imagine #the burrow #harry potter imagine #weasley fanfiction #charlie weasley x mc #bill weasley #harry potter #wizarding world

[sprnklersplashes]

theo/robin- “we broke up but I was in an accident and you're still my emergency and you dropped everything to come to the hospital”

also on ao3

He grabs the phone at what he suspects is a second before it stops ringing. After pushing himself off the couch and throwing about five hundred things off the coffee table in search of it. He can feel Moth’s stink eye on him even as he turns and heads into the hall, half-closing the living room door. Not just because he disrupted the organised chaos of their coffee table, but because he violated their ‘no answering the phone during the movie’ rule. He’ll make it up to her, he tells himself. He’ll do the coffee run tomorrow. Even she can’t remain mad after an iced latte.

He hears her pause the movie and thinks maybe he’ll throw in a cupcake too.

“Hello?”  he asks.

“Robin Goodfellow?”

“Yep.” He’s just a little suspicious, because the voice definitely isn’t one he recognises, and hardly anyone has his number, just Moth and a few close friends. It’s a little unusual, but not too much, and certainly not enough to scare him or anything.

“This is Greendale hospital.We’re calling you because you’re the emergency contact for Theo Putnam.”

Apparently, he spoke too soon.

The first part is enough to send a shiver running up his spine. He thankfully doesn’t have too much experience in hospitals, but the word still puts him on edge. His experiences might be few and far between, but he’s smart enough to know that calls from hospitals mean bad news, 99% of the time.

And yet, that’s not even the part he’s focussing on. Instead he’s focussing on the name uttered on the other line. A name that makes him feel like he’s drowning, and flying, and dying all at once, just at the mention of it.

“Theo?” he asks. Slowly, the information begins to come together, clicking like a jigsaw puzzle. Theo. Hospital. Hospital. Theo. Emergency contact. Him. Emergency. Theo in hospital for an emergency. He breathes out steadily, one hand flat against the wall, and swallows past the lump in his throat. “Theo Putnam?”

“Yes.” The operator’s voice is soft, careful, coaxing him to stay calm, and it would work were it not clearly rehearsed. They’re trained to stay calm in any kind of crisis. Robin is yet to learn that. “He was in a motorbike accident. We’ve tried to get ahold of his father, but we’ve been unable to reach him.” 

Robin looks down at his watch. Of course, he thinks. Thursday night. 8pm. If nothing has changed, then Mr Putnam is out in the fields right now, his phone left on the kitchen table because, in his words, ‘it’s too expensive to take out and get lost’. Theo had tried, and failed, to explain to him that the point of a cellphone is for people to reach him whenever they need to. Briefly, he hopes that the hospital doesn’t see Mr Putnam as some neglectful asshole for this.

But there’s more pressing things than Mr Putnam’s reputation.

“Is-is he okay?” He pushes his hair away from his face and pretends not to notice the trembling hand, or how the warmth has fled his skin entirely.

“Yes. We believe there’s nothing fatal. Like I said, he crashed his motorbike and was badly hurt. And since he’s a minor, we need someone to come in and fill out some paperwork for him, and take him home. He’s in no state to drive himself.”

I bet he isn’t. Robin lets out a soft curse and leans against the wall. Now that the worst-case scenario is over, he lets himself think about how much bullshit this all is, and how much of an asshole Theo is because, seriously dude, you didn’t update your emergency contact info? Why was I even there to begin with?

His heart flutters though, just a little, when he thinks about it, and he tries not to hate himself for it.

“Mr Goodfellow?”

“Yeah,” he says. “Yeah, I-I’ll be right there. Thanks. Bye.” He hangs up before they can say anything else, and lets the dial tone ring in his ear, flood his mind and leave it blank, before springing into action.

And of course, Moth is standing in the doorway when he turns, her grin only growing wider when he jumps.

“Jesus, Moth.”

“Where you off to, hot shot?” she teases, like she doesn’t know. Like she paused the movie so they could watch it together. Like that name didn’t set alarm bells off for her as much as it did for him.

Moth never liked Theo, and never made an attempt to hide it. Not even when he brought him around, or when Theo tried to get on her good side. He gets it, to some extent, given that they;re brother and sister in all but blood, and protecting him was a job she began early on. But even he soon got bored of her speeches about how Theo isn’t good enough for him, how he’s risking too much for a small town farm boy. He reminded her that he was hardly high class himself-an ex foster care brat who only just got a full-time job as a tattoo artist. Her rants didn’t stop bringing Theo round though, and towards the end he just started tuning her out. He assumed, hoped, that one day she’d get tired, or bored, and then finally see the good in Theo, and they’d all live happily ever after.

So much for that.

She wasn’t necessarily happy when Robin came home that night, eyes full of tears and heart freshly broken. She made him some tea, turned on Taylor Swift and let him cry his sad little heart out. So no, she wasn’t happy. But still.

Now he pushes past her into the living room, grabs his jacket from the coffee table, and prepares himself for some more of her bullshit.

“I guess I owe Mer ten bucks,” she sighs. Her response is so far from what he expected-which was something closer to a rant about how he’s better than this-that he freezes in place, his eyes narrowing in a silent demand for the answer. She just shrugs, her lips pursed like it all makes perfect sense. “She bet me you wouldn’t last six months without him. I thought you were stronger than that, but that’s what I get for believing in you.”

“Okay, first off, can you and your girlfriend stop making bets on my love life,” he says. “And second, he was in an accident, for your information.” He pulls his jacket on and turns down the collar. “He’s in the hospital. I'm his emergency contact.”

“Oh,” is all she says. She’s not one for admitting when she’s wrong, not out loud, so she just steps aside and tosses the keys into his open hand. It’s enough for him though, and he taps her shoulder as he passes her in thanks. “Text me when you’re coming home,” she says just as he opens the door. “And if you need anything. And… if he’s okay.”

He nods, the gesture minute, and jogs outside. He throws himself into the car and peels out of the driveway, shaking fingers wrapped around the steering wheel. He picks the first radio station he can and turns it almost all the way up, letting it drown out his thoughts.

It doesn’t work, but no-one can say he didn’t try.

                                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He’s not in the waiting room five minutes before he puts his headphones in. It’s the same logic as the music in the car; drown out the sounds, forget where he is. The paperwork sits on his lap, supported by a wooden clipboard that’s seen better days and a receptionist with tired, sympathetic eyes sporting dark shadows. She tells him she’ll come and get him whenever he can see him, and less than a minute later, appears with a paper cup of coffee. ‘You look like you could use it,’ she said before leaving him to the paperwork.

The coffee sucks, but the gesture is appreciated.

He texts the Midsummer Night's group chat, updating them on what little has happened so far. Moth is surprisingly sympathetic, messaging him privately saying she hopes he’s okay, Merry offering words of comfort and the others piling on with the love and support. It’s beautiful, and it’s sweet, but it’s suffocating. He mutes the chat before he can see someone else asking if there’s anything they can do and puts on a podcast that has yet to let him down. From there he reads through the paperwork and mindlessly puts his signature wherever he needs to. He tenses at the sight of the word ‘surgery’, even if the word ‘minor’ is before it and shudders at the word ‘accident’. He turns the volume up on his podcast every time his thoughts start going down a road he doesn’t like, as if Theo will be okay if he doesn’t let himself think about it.

By the time the nurse taps him on the shoulder, he’s getting dirty looks from the lady two seats down that tells him everything she thinks about his podcast choices.

“Hey,” the nurse quietly, like he might bolt if she scares him. “The surgery went well, and we moved him to the recovery room. He’s awake, if you want to go see him.”

She leads him down a perfectly-polished corridor, neon lights distorted in the shiny reflection, and quickly up in a too-small elevator before stopping outside what must be Theo’s room. Room 203, with the word RECOVERY printed on the wood in grubby white letters. The nurse tells him something in a soft, polite voice and he thanks her before leaving, because he wasn’t raised in a barn, and then it’s just him and the door. And Theo, on the other side of it.

It takes more effort than it should just to put his hand on the handle.

It’s been four months now. Four months, two weeks, five days, because yeah, he counted. Four months since Theo’s insecurities got the better of him and he told Robin to leave, since Robin got tired of trying to work it out and told him that he’d come back whenever he’s ready. A week later, Roz appeared on Robin’s doorstep with most of his things in a box-a mixtape he’d made for Theo’s birthday, one of his shirts, his cap, a book he’d forgotten about. Four months of waiting beside the phone, of not-so-subtly checking out his social medias.

Four months without waking up next to him, or meeting him for coffee, or sharing milkshakes, or having his face pressed into the crook of his neck.

Four months had never felt so long, and now here they are.

He doesn’t feel himself turning the handle, only sees the door slowly opening before him, a cold wash spreading over his body. He doesn’t know what he’s expecting. Stony silence. A potted plant being thrown at his head. A colourful array of curse words telling Robin exactly where to go. Or maybe, in his wildest dreams, Theo bursting into tears and begging him to take him back.

He doesn’t know what he expects, but what he gets is Theo blinking at him, surprise slowly trickling through the medication-induced haze.

“Hi,” he says slowly. That’s the first word Theo has said to him in four months. Hi. His response is ‘hey’, so it’s not like he’s much better, but still. 

He closes the door and moves closer, stopping a good few feet from Theo’s bed. He isn’t an asshole, and so he lets the fog clear a good bit before he starts saying anything. He had planned on going straight into a lecture, but state he’s in, he now feels bad doing so. His skin is almost as pale as the sheets he’s lying on, his right cheek sporting a nasty looking purple bruise, smaller marks and cuts trailing along his neck and jaw. The arm facing Robin is wrapped in layers of white bandage, while the opposite leg sits atop the sheets and wrapped in a cast. He moves, little by little, until he can see that side of his body, which seems to be more bruises than skin. He winces on instinct, and then remembers that he still can’t see what’s beneath the blanket and hospital gown.

“What are you doing here?” Theo asks after a while.

“I’m still your emergency contact,” he replies, and he tries not to laugh when Theo curses under his breath. He chuckles humorlessly. “Seriously, you need to get that changed.”

“Yeah, I’ll make that a priority.”

“Well, you should. I changed my contact info two months ago. When-” The words catch in his throat. When it became clear to him that Theo didn’t want him back. When he texted him and waited around for two days for a reply. When it was obvious that Theo had moved on and he should do the same. “Well, I did.”

“Oh well good for y-” He gasps sharply, the word turning into a strained cry as he clearly pulls on something he shouldn't have. Robin’s at his side in less than a moment, his hands on his shoulders because he’s unsure where else to put them. They stay there, sitting in that half-embrace, as the seconds pass and the tension fades from Theo’s face. Robin watches and resists the urge to run his thumb along Theo’s jaw.

“You okay?”

“Peachy keen,” he replies in a voice that implies anything but. Now that he’s closer, Theo somehow looks worse than he did when he came in. He can see the bruises poking out from beneath the hospital-issued gown, along with freshly-covered cuts. He remembers the nurse telling him something about needing stitches and he tries not to shudder. 

Theo’s eyes follow his and, because Theo is a bastard, he smiles.

“I look pretty badass huh?”

“Not the word I would use.” Theo pouts and damn it, Robin can’t help it. He laughs; he’s not made of stone. Theo laughs too, as much as his beaten-up body will allow, and raises an eyebrow at him. “So is this the part where you tell me ‘I told you so’?”

“No. Because I am not an asshole.”

But in complete fairness, he did tell him so. Several times, in fact. He told him over and over again that that bike was a death trap and would it kill him to wear a helmet for the love of God and there’s no way he should be on that thing when he doesn’t even have a permit and does he know the reason motorbike insurance is so much cheaper than car insurance? He had told him all of that, over and over again, and Theo had just laughed and kissed his cheek and told him he’s cute when he’s protective. 

Well now he’s cute and right.

“No,” Theo says after a pause. “You’re not an asshole.” He tilts his chin slightly and looks at him, his eyes still slightly dazed, probably from the pain meds. “You came all the way out here because you heard I got hurt. That’s not an asshole thing to do.”

“Yeah, well… You’d have done the same for me.” He doesn’t deny it. Instead he just huffs a soft laugh and looks down at his sheets, his free hand toying with the fabric. Maybe it’s just him, he hopes it’s just him, but it feels too bold, what he said. Like he had just asked, or at least implied, something about them not being entirely over. His heart skips a beat, and so he quickly changes the subject. “They said they’re trying to reach your dad. I know he’s usually busy these nights. They said they’ll keep trying to reach him.”

“Oh God.” Theo’s head hits the pillow, a low groan escaping him. “My dad.”

“Yeah.” Theo opens one eye and looks at him and sighs heavily, grunting slightly with his sore chest. “You may not tell me you told me so, but my dad definitely will.”

“Well, to be fair… he told you so.” He chuckles when Theo flips him off, a scowl on his bruised face. Robin feels braver, and moves closer again. 

“Do you know what happened to the bike?” he asks.

“Nope,” he sighs. “I haven’t seen that bike since I crashed it. And I kind of forgot to ask the paramedics what they were going to do with it.” He picks at the sheet. “But given how I ended up, she’s probably scrap metal by now.”

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I know how much you loved that bike.”

“No you’re not,” he replies dryly. “You hated it.”

“No, I hated the risk attached to it. That’s different.” He finds himself, somehow, standing at the foot of Theo’s bed, his hands shoved into his pockets. He opens his mouth to say something else, but he doesn’t know what, and it feels weird. Words always came easy with Theo. That happens when you have someone you can be yourself around. When there’s no need to hide anything because you’re not afraid of what they’ll do. There was never any need for hesitation or hint of discomfort between them. Not until right now.

He doesn’t know what to say, but he doesn’t want to go either. He’ll stay until his dad comes, he decides. Until he knows Theo’s going to be okay.

And it’s probably a good thing he does, given that his ever-restless ex boyfriend grows bored of laying down and tries to push himself up, despite his beaten-up body’s protests. He gasps sharply, a short, stifled grunt escapes him, but he keeps acting as though it didn’t happen. Robin rolls his eyes and moves over to him; one hand on his arm and the other adjusting his pillows. Theo scowls again, because he would walk on broken legs before asking for help, but he doesn’t push him away.

“Here, careful… there you go.” Theo sits up against the wall, his back supported by pillows. Robin settles next to him on the mattress, watching his face for any indication that he should go. He doesn’t get one. Instead, he gets a smile, and the ghosting of fingertips along his hand.

“Thank you,” he says. “For… for coming here.”

“It’s fine,” he replies. His mouth runs dry, his heart beating louder and louder being so close to him. He’s missed him. Holy crap, he’s missed him. He’s missed him for months and it all slams into him now, like a speeding train hitting him. Theo doesn’t meet his eyes, doesn’t say anything, just keeps tracing patterns on his hand, his finger getting faster and faster by the minute. He knows him well enough to know what that means. He doesn’t push though, because finally being this close to him is something he doesn’t want to risk losing.

“Robin,” he begins after a long while. “About what I said to you-”

“It’s fine,” he says again, a little too quickly this time.

“It’s not,” he says firmly, shaking his head slightly. “It wasn’t. What I said, the way I said it…” He closes his eyes briefly, probably reliving the night they broke up. He’s recalled it countless times since then. “You didn’t deserve it. And don’t-” He holds up his finger to silence him before Robin can even say anything. “Tell me that it’s okay, you Canadian asshole. Because it wasn’t.”

He laughs at that, even if it’s short-lived. He felt bad for thinking it sometimes, but it never felt right, what Theo had said to him. Half-sentences about not wanting to hold him back, how he can’t stay and give up everything just for him. How he ended it with “I don’t want you anymore” and told him to go. Aside from maybe cheating on him, he doesn’t know how it could have been worse. Leaving him with a broken heart and so many unanswered questions.

“Okay, it was,” he says. “Thank you for apologising.” Theo smiles, barely, and his fingers move quicker against his hand. He doesn’t say anything, not out loud, but he does rest his free hand on Theo’s knee. A brave move, maybe, but also a silent signal that it’s okay. That whatever he has to say, he can say it. God knows when they’ll see each other again, so they might as well.

He must hear it, but even so it takes a lifetime for him to say “I got scared.” He leans back on the pillows, the three words having drained him, and Robin processes it.

“You got scared?” he asks. “Scared of what?”

“Of us,” he sighs. “Of you and me and… how serious it was all getting. And… and your family, and my family, and school. And it was all getting so serious and I-I freaked out.” He swallows thickly and pulls his  good knee close to his chest, a small whimper escaping him. He doesn’t know if it’s from the pain or something else. “I’m sorry.”

They fall silent, and Robin digests what he said. For the past few months, he’s lived with constant confusion over their break-up, and it was just over the past week that it was slowly morphing into acceptance that Theo had just outgrown him. Now there’s this, and his view is shaken up again.

“Oh,” he replies. That might be the only thing he’s capable of saying, given how tight his throat is. He tries to clear it, only to find tears blurring his vision. “Theo… what happened?” Something comes back to him, one night near the end, with Theo over at his place. Him arguing quietly with Moth in the kitchen, her whispering that Theo will ‘ruin his life’. It hadn’t occurred to him how thin the walls in their house actually are. “Did you hear me and Moth?”

“Some of it,” he mumbles. Robin opens his mouth, a fire against Moth ready, but Theo holds up his hand, his pained expression grinding him to a halt. “It’s not just Moth though. It’s everyone else. You heard it too right?” He laughs bitterly. “When people said how weird it was that we were getting so serious so fast.”

Robin doesn’t say anything. Theo’s right; people did talk. It wasn’t because it was two boys, which for Greenedale, is saying something. It was the fact that they’d only been together a few weeks before they were staying at each other’s houses. It was that just two months into their relationship, Robin gave Theo his father’s ring. They talked even more when Robin let it slip they were looking at apartments to share for when Theo went off to college. So yes, people talked, but they weren’t listening. Or apparently, he wasn’t.

“Since when do you care what other people think?” he asks after a while.

“I don’t. But I care about you,” he says. “I care because what if they were right? Robin, you were planning on moving out of Greenedale for me.”

“Yeah, and I said I was okay with it.”

“Well what if I wasn’t?” His voice is tight, shaking, and when tears run down his red cheeks, Robin doesn’t hesitate in wiping them away. Theo leans into his touch, shivering slightly at his skin against his. His hand comes up and wraps around his wrist, his thumb rubbing against the back of Robin’s as he tries to compose himself. “What if I wasn’t okay with dragging you across the country?”

“Is that what you think you were doing?” he asks. “Theo… you weren’t dragging me anywhere. I wanted to go with you.” He swallows thickly before adding, “I still do.” Theo closes his eyes and runs his hand through his hair, his fingers catching on knots.

“Yeah I know,” he whispers, and Robin isn’t sure if he’s talking to him or to himself. “I know that now.” Theo hesitates for a moment, uncertainty in his eyes, but then he wriggles closer, despite his beaten-up body, and Robin does the same until they’re just a breath apart. Close enough for Robin to count the freckles on Theo’s cheeks. Holy crap, he loves those freckles. He loves him, every part of him.

Moth was wrong; he wasn’t lasting six months without him.

“Why did you come here?” Theo asks.

“Because I’m your emergency contact,” he reminds him. 

“Mm-mm.” He shakes his head. “Roz is third on the list. You know that. You could have left it to her. Why did you come?”

“Because you were hurt,” he says, and he means it. It’s the truth, but not the whole truth, and they both know it. “Because I miss you.”

Theo laughs, and kisses the inside of his wrist. 

“I miss you too,” he says, and the tears running down Robin’s face aren’t from heartbreak this time.

The kiss starts slowly, their foreheads pressed together before their lips touch. Robin moves to hold the back of Theo’s head, his free hand on his hip, still mindful of the condition his ex(?) boyfriend is in. Theo’s hand curls into Robin’s shirt, his other tangled in his hair. He feels Theo’s grin against his mouth, feels his own heart finally being put back together. Feels the weight of the past four months finally slipping away, leaving a new future open for them. Together.

But he also feels Theo’s hand shaking, his short, pained gasp against his mouth, and so he pulls away, leaving a small frown on his boyfriend’s face.

“I’m not going to make out with you on a hospital bed,” he tells him. “No matter how badly I want to.” Theo huffs a laugh and nods. 

“Fair enough,” he says. He doesn’t let go of Robin’s hand though, instead linking their fingers together. “What about when I get out of here, we can maybe talk about this? About you and me and…. Everything. And I can try not to freak out this time.”

Robin pushes Theo’s hair away from his face, mindful of the bruises, and smiles.

“I’d like that.” He moves in to kiss him again, fully intending to keep it small this time, but they’re interrupted by the door opening, and a familiar, frantic voice cutting through the air.

“Theo? Oh my God, I left my phone in the house and I just got the call from the hospital, are you-”

He stops his rant just as Robin turns around, his and Theo’s faces a matching shade of red. He feels flashed back to when Mr Putnam caught them in Theo’s room, his mouth hanging open and his eyes darting between them just like he did then, waiting for an explanation. Except they’re not in Theo’s bedroom this time around, and this is the first time Joe has seen him in months, so he sympathises for him this time around.

“So…” he begins. “You two got back together?”

Theo just laughs and buries his face in Robin’s shoulder.

support me on ko-fi

#goodnam #theo x robin #theo putnam #robin goodfellow #caos #chilling adventures of sabrina #caos ff #i did a writing!! #look at me!!

[thelionbyname]

Together We Are One (prequel part 5)

(This has kind of evolved from a fanfiction into its own story, but eh, enjoy!)

“Hey Impulse! What’s going on? Little Tango called and said you wanted me to come.” A friendly voice drifted through the house, preceding its owner: another old man, but one who still had streaks of blond hair visible between the grey strands. This man walked in slightly bent over, not because of age, but because a very small girl was clinging onto his index finger. Together, they walked over to the center of the room, where a gathering of sorts seemed to be taking place. Four toddlers were sitting on the ground, facing the old man with the dirty shirt: Impulse.

Impulse looked up at the newcomers and replied, “Zed! Yeah, well... I think it’s time to tell them, and I thought it would be easier for both of us if we did it together.”

Whatever Zed had been expecting, this wasn’t it. It seemed Impulse had uncovered some memories he had tried to suppress. His eyes were suddenly filled with pain, pain that had not been there the first time, that now crashed back like a boomerang; only temporarily disposed of. He dove head first into the rabbit hole of memories that, despite having been in a hidden corner of his mind for thirty years, were clear as day, made fresh through the pain that stained them.

“Gwampa, what’s wong?” The innocent voice of the small child pulled him out of his whirlwind of thoughts, and Zed was suddenly aware of the girl gently tugging his finger.

“I’m okay, Tekkie. Go sit down.” And to Impulse, he said, “Yeah… I guess it is.”

The little girl, Tekkie, her grandpa’s troubles already forgotten, ran over to sit next to Tango and held his hand. Her soft fingers, which had not yet lost their baby fat, easily wove through his, and were clearly very comfortable doing so. He grinned at her, and she flashed a dimpled smile back. Then they turned their heads to face their grandpas.

Zed had taken a seat in the chair normally occupied by Impulse’s wife. He automatically reached for his friend’s hand in comfort, but he didn’t know if he was comforting Impulse or himself.

And in this position, hand in hand, they started.

Though there was still pain, it was a relief to talk about it, together. It was mostly Impulse talking, because he had spent his entire life dwelling on this, analysing every mistake, remembering every thought. Every time he paused for breath, however, Zedaph continued, contributing his own perspective.

The five toddlers listened intently to the most epic tale they had ever heard. They were very good listeners, gasping at the right time, whimpering when a character died, never interrupting. Only the oldest, Tango, was aware that this was all real, not just some story.

When their grandpas got to the part where little Tango’s namesake disappeared, they could not continue. Zedaph let out a sob.

Little Tango didn’t make them continue; for a five-year-old, he was very emotion-sensitive and seemed to know exactly when it was too much. Instead, he asked them, “Did they ever come back?” though he already knew the answer.

Impulse fought to hold back tears, and choked out, “No… they never came back.”

At the same time, in another world...

“Screwdriver.”

“This one? Here you go.”

“Wrench.”

“You could ask politely.”

With the sound of metal rolling over concrete, a man emerged from beneath a complicated-looking machine. He lay on a skateboard he was using as a car creeper, and his face was smeared with oil and what looked like rust. The man blew his moustache away from his mouth with a sigh of exasperation. “For efficiency reasons I find it easier to name what I need, rather than go ‘Tango, could you hand me that drill over there?’ every time.”

“At least say please?” Tango replied.

Mumbo rolled his eyes and disappeared under the machine again. For a moment there was no sound except the steady tap, tap, tap, of a hammer, but then Mumbo spoke again. “Bolt, please.”

Grinning, Tango handed one to him and replied “That’s more like it.” He heard a sigh come out from under the machine, but he could tell Mumbo was smiling. Tango turned when he heard footsteps approaching them. Suddenly, he stood face to face with Xisuma. “Gah! You startled me, X!”

X chuckled and looked down to where Mumbo’s hair was visible. “Nearly done, Mumbo? I have something to tell you guys”

“Almost.” Mumbo sounded like he had his tongue between his teeth in concentration. There was the low buzzing of a drill, and then Mumbo rolled out from beneath the machine again. “There! It’s finished! Phew… I’ve been working on that for weeks!”

“Amazing! So now all Tango has to do is program it.”

“Yes. That’ll be done within a few minutes. But you said you had to tell us something, X?” Tango reminded him.

“Yeah. Could you follow me to the meeting room? Falsie, Grian, and Keralis are waiting for us.”

The three of them walked into the next room, where indeed there were three other people sitting around a table, playing cards. False, Grian and Keralis looked up as they entered. They looked expectantly at Mumbo, who answered the question in their minds. “It’s done,” he said, with a hint of pride in his voice. They cheered, and Grian gave Mumbo a high-five. Sort of, because since he was sitting and Mumbo was super tall, Mumbo had to give a low five to Grian’s high five.

Xisuma walks carefully past a wall covered in weapons and over to a mobile whiteboard. He turned to face the rest, who had all sat down and were patiently waiting.

“I have some rather depressing news. Every day, I walk out of my apartment and meet my neighbor, who leaves at the same time. When I first moved in three years ago and met her for the first time, she was cradling a baby of perhaps four months old. Last week, when I saw her, she was holding that same baby. Then I realised, over the course of three years, that baby had not aged at all. I see them every single morning, yet I had not registered this until last week.

“So naturally, I decided to get to the bottom of it. I found pictures of us from when we had just arrived in this dimension, and saw that none of us have changed at all either. Of course, that doesn’t say much, because adults simply don’t change much over a mere three years, which is probably why we didn’t notice before.” He paused for breath, and Grian spoke.

“So, we don’t age. Is that really such a bad thing?” He grinned.

Xisuma didn’t smile. He looked at Grian sadly, and Grian’s smile vanished. “I wasn’t done. While I was trying to find out exactly what was going on, I found some other information. I asked Tango to hack into NASA for me-”

“So that’s what that was for!” Tango interrupted. Then, catching Xisuma’s eye, “Sorry.”

“NASA managed to do quite a bit of research on the time machine before we stole it. It is a miracle that Mumbo was able to fix it, when some of the best scientists in this world couldn’t. But the point is, I found some things. We previously thought that the black hole sent us to another dimension. We were wrong. We are on the same earth, but in a different timeline.”

This revelation was followed by shocked and comprehending gasps from those listening. 

Xisuma nodded absent mindedly, and continued. “Black holes warp time. This explains why we don’t age. Time flows differently here. We didn’t go through the black hole, we are inside it. It doesn’t just freeze all organic matter into one state, it slows time as we experience it. For us it feels like we have been here for three years, but back home in the other timeline, it has been ten times as long. So for the other hermits, we have been gone for three decades. They probably think we’re all dead.”

This time there were pained gasps. Remorse transformed each of their features as they realised how their friends must feel.

“But it’s not all bad. Our original plan to get back was to use the time machine to travel across dimensions, but now that we know that doesn’t apply, I made some adjustments. We need to travel through time. We know the risks of messing with the past, but it is the only way to get back. You see,” He paused and started drawing on the whiteboard. He drew a straight line from left to right, and then split the line at the end so it resulted in a rotated Y of sorts. “This is what the timeline would look like, were it possible to visualise it. This,” he gestured to the bottom of the Y, “ is when we were all still back home. And here,” he pointed at the intersection, where all the lines came together, “is where we went into the black hole. We went to one timeline, while the other Hermits continued on the other. So the only way to go back to them is to take the time machine back to before we went into the black hole, because any time after that, we would still be in this timeline.” Xisuma looked around to see if they understood. It looked like some were still processing all the information, but there was only as much confusion as what was to be expected.

False spoke up. “That means that when we go back and change the past, we erase all the suffering we caused them, and their entire timeline,” she stood up and walked to the board, “will vanish.” she wiped away one of the split-off lines.

“Exactly,” Xisuma nodded. “We need to stay hidden until our past selves have gone into the black hole, because otherwise we could seriously mess up the past. This means that we have to stay far away, because past Tango or past Cleo could sense our presence.”

At this, Tango’s eyes widened. “That’s right! I used to have telepathy! I had entirely forgotten about that…” His eyes glazed over for a second, clearly seeing things the rest could not. Xisuma’s smooth British voice brought him back to the present.

“Right, yeah. I found information about that during my deep dive into NASA’s archive, too. NASA has two theories; the first being that the black hole runs on a different frequency, one that is not compatible with magic. The magic is still in the air somewhere, but humans can’t access it. The second theory is that magic is entirely dead here, because the vortex is too powerful, and magic simply can’t survive.”

They all sat and stared blankly, remembering a better time, when they were above the regular laws of humanity. They never knew why their powers had ceased to exist when they regained consciousness after being thrown around the void, until now. At least, a theory as to why. As they thought back to when they were more than human, the homesickness was suddenly overwhelming. From one moment to the next, they were all desperate to go home. It had always remained their home, all three years they had spent elsewhere. It had never felt truly theirs here.

Tango cleared his throat, which suddenly had a lump in it, and said, “I say we leave as soon as possible. I’m going to go program the time machine so it’s ready to go.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, some wiping the silent tears from their cheeks. Tango speed walked into the room with the time machine; he couldn’t get there fast enough.

Once he disappeared past the door frame, Keralis spoke for the first time that evening. “I agree with Tango. Let’s go home. Today. Anyone have things in their apartments they want to bring to the past?” He looked around, studying each face individually. He realised he hadn’t really seen them since coming here, to this new world. He knew he would only see the ghost of his past life. 

“Nah, but I do want to keep these cool suits,” Mumbo said, gesturing to the six spy outfits on display in glass cases along the wall behind him.

“I second that. I just want to go home,” Grian concurs.

Within a few minutes, as Tango had promised, the time machine was ready for departure. Somehow they all managed to squeeze into the machine designed to transport one person.

With effort, Xisuma got enough oxygen to say, “Tango, you did program this properly, right? You were in quite a rush.”

“Yes, X. Have some faith in my abilities, please.” Tango rolled his eyes. “Ready? Here we go!” he pulled a large lever- with difficulty- and they vanished in a bright flash.

                                            *          *          *

#hermitcraft #hermitcraft fanfiction #Tangotek #tango tek #Xisuma #Xisumavoid #Falsesymmetry #False symmetry #MumboJumbo #Mumbo jumbo #Grian #Zombiecleo #Keralis #Keralis1 #Impulsesv #Zedaph #Zedaph plays #Zedaphplays

[survivingthejungle]

everybody wants to rule the world (caliban)

When Sabrina was 8 years old, her life got a little more unusual. Being a half witch raised by her two aunts and cousin (all full-blooded witches)  in a mortuary was not a common experience for most children. But things became different when another cousin, from her mother's side of the family, came to live in the Spellman house. Her mother, Diana, had a brother, William; WIlliam married and had a daughter just two years before Sabrina was born. She was named Genevieve Sawyer, and she and her paternal cousin had been very close to one another their entire lives. When it was heard that William had been shot and that Genevieve's mother was not fit to parent, the girl's cousin and family immediately stepped up to take her in and be her legal guardians. 

Despite Genevieve's unfortunate circumstances, she never lost her bright personality or kindness. She seemed to stick out like a sore thumb in the Spellman house from time to time, but it was a welcome change of pace for everyone who lived there. For the next eight years after she had gone to live with her cousins and aunts, she had grown into a compassionate, driven young lady. Growing with her were several pets she had acquired over the years. Genevieve had a special love for animals and so had adopted many. She had a spotted turtle named Tucker, whom she had rescued from getting run over by a truck one morning. She also had an orange tabby cat named Tex, a green budgie named Pico, and a blue pit bull terrier named Bambi. The latest addition to the family was an albino ball python, whom she was currently in the process of naming. 

"Genevieve. I mean it this time," scolded her aunt Zelda. "No more pets. You have barely enough space for them all, and I won't allow any more of this."

"No more, aunt Zelda. I got it. This guy is the last," she affirmed, gesturing with the snake which was slithering over her shoulders and down her left arm. Her aunt shuddered. 

"How you can allow that thing near you is beyond me."

"She's sweet!" she defended. "She's just curious."

"She stays in your room only. If I see a snake slithering about my house I won't hesitate to kill it."

"She won't go anywhere. Promise."

Once her aunt had finished scolding her and left her room, she turned her attention back to her new friend. "What do we call you, huh?" Genevieve said. She set the snake down on her bed and flipped on her record player against the wall to fill the silence, and an old Fleetwood Mac album started spinning. "Well," she said, "I have to take Bambi and Tex on a walk, so I guess we should put you in your tank, huh?" She moved the young albino to the mostly empty tank and placed the lid over it, promising, "I'll get you some decorations while I'm out." Then she put on a pair of socks, laced up her shoes, and grabbed two harnesses and leashes from the footboard of her bed, heading downstairs to find the only two of her pets that were mammals. "Morning, aunt Hilda," she greeted the small blonde woman.

"Oh, g'morning my love! Are you taking Tex and Bambi on a walk?"

"Yeah, once I find 'em." "Well you'll eat first, won't you?" She pointed to the table. "Some toast for you."

"You're the best," Genevieve said, sitting down to take a bite of it. The toast was covered with peanut butter and sliced bananas; simple, but a favorite of the girl's. She finished eating quickly and was off again in search of her cat and dog, finding them in the family room. Tex was lounging on the couch and Bambi had seemingly been banished by him, staring at the tabby from the ground. "You wanna go on a walk?" she said to them both, her voice increasing by about an octave. Bambi's ears perked up and her eyes widened; Tex hopped down from the couch and over to circle Genevieve's legs. "Hey auntie," she called into the kitchen, "Do you know where Beans went?"

"Yes," her aunt called back, "I believe she went to go see Harvey, Roz, and Theo?"

"Okay. Thank you!" She then strapped both of the harnesses onto Tex and Bambi and put them on their leashes, and then made their way outside to their usual walking route. About halfway through their walk she and her two companions made a detour to go to Harvey's garage, where Genevieve had guessed their band would be practicing and where her cousin had gone to find them. Heading around behind his house, she found the garage door unlocked and entered in to find the four of them seemingly discussing something important.

"'Vieve,"  Sabrina greeted as soon as she saw her cousin. "What's up?"

"I was walking Tex and Bambi," she responded, holding up the two leashes attached to both animals. "What's up with you?"

"Sabrina's trying to take us to Hell," Theo told her. 

Genevieve's eyebrows raised and she went to take a seat on the couch closest to her. "Why?" she asked Sabrina.

"Nick." She said his name sadly; she knew her cousin missed him a lot and felt guiltier every day she left him trapped there. "I think I found a way to get him out."

"But, like… He's still…" Genevieve trailed off, not knowing how to formulate her thoughts exactly. 

"Yes," she responded, knowing what the girl was getting at. "A flesh Acheron. But I might have a solution for that too."

—

Sabrina had brought the five of them through Dorian's portal to Hell with an incantation, where they landed on a cold, dark beach, coughing up the salt water that had gotten into their lungs. "Wait, so… Hell is a beach?" Harvey asked.

"The Shores of Sorrow," Sabrina whispered hauntingly. 

Theo stood up and pointed out at the water. "Guys. Look. What are those?" There were tall wooden structures standing above the waves, and from them came pained groans and wails. Hands were reaching out, desperate to grab whatever would come close to them. 

"They're the souls of the damned," called a deep, unfamiliar voice. The group turned their heads to look for the source, and saw a large sandcastle and someone walking out from behind it. He had blond hair and was wearing a flowing white shirt that he had left unbuttoned. "They drown as the tide rolls in. Over, and over," he said, looking out at them, "For all eternity."

"Bummer," Genevieve whispered to Roz.

"Hi," Sabrina greeted him as the group approached him. "We're looking for Lilith." He didn't respond. "Uh, Madame Satan? S-Queen of Hell?" The boy looked pointedly at her, on the verge of a smirk. "She's in Pandemonium, if you happen to know the way." He turned his head and pointed left. Sharp jaw, Genevieve thought. 

"All blood flows to Pandemonium." Sure enough, there was a large rock through which blood was flowing, that seemed to turn into a path further up the beach. "Follow the blood-red road where it flows, and there you'll find the throne of Hell," he instructed, still pointing. 

"Thanks," Sabrina said. He pushed his hair back from the wind blowing on the beach, smirk still present. What does he know that we don't? her cousin wondered.  "And you are?"

He seemed as if he were about to respond, but decided against it. "Never step off the road," he advised. He looked at their feet then. "It's clever you're wearing dead men's shoes. Though… any demon worth his salt can smell mortal flesh a mile away."

Genevieve's brows furrowed. "Ew." The boy glanced at her and then turned back to his project. 

"Come on," Sabrina said, "Let's go." The four trailed behind her, but Genevieve stayed still for a moment. "Hey! I like your sandcastle," she called to the boy. He looked back at her, intrigued. "Bye!" she waved. He lifted a hand in return, and she was on her way. 

— 

The journey through hell had been… adventurous, to say the least. Between the field of crucified people beating eaten by crows, to the forest with a magical flower and a bloodthirsty tin man, to a horrific mock-high school classroom, Genevieve and the others were exhausted, scared, and ready to go back to earth. After being rescued by Lilith's helper, a man dressed in a bellhop's outfit and being seated at some hellish feast, she and Sabrina began a conversation about getting Nick out of Hell and taking care of Theo's uncle's soul as well. The Infernal Kings weren't recognizing Lilith's newfound authority, so she struck a deal with Sabrina- the throne for her boyfriend and her friend's uncle. Sabrina, of course, agreed, and the process had begun.

— 

"Infernal court, I bid you welcome," Lilith greeted from the throne. The three demonic kings stood before her in wait. "The city of Pandemonium has an honored guest. May I present to the hordes, Sabrina Morningstar, daughter of Lucifer Morningstar." Sabrina walked to stand next to the woman and looked around the throne room. "In his absence, she has come to officially declare me Queen of Hell. Isn't that right, Sabrina?"

"Yes, that's right," she told them. 

"This is treason! Heresy!" the Kings protested. "Lilith is a concubine, not a queen. We do not recognize her. She was Lucifer's whore. The realms are in chaos, and the Earth, the Pit, the Heavens, the Cosmos, they all reject Lilith's claim to the throne."

"And who do you propose would rule?" she shot back. 

That was the million dollar question, it seemed, because the Kings got a nefarious look in their eyes. "All hail Caliban, Prince of Hell. Molded from the clay of the Pit itself, native son of the inferno, born to restore and rule our dark domain!"

"Hello again," said the supposed Prince Caliban, in yet another open top. He maintained the smug look on his face that he was wearing at their last encounter. 

"Uh, hi?" Sabrina said, mildly confused. 

"What is this?" Lilith questioned. "This is salvation," he told her. "Since the Dark Lord's desertion, the Nine Circles of Hell have been breaking down. I, Caliban, will restore stability and do what Lucifer failed to do… conquer the earth. Remake it as our Tenth Circle, and enslave the tribes of mortal and witch."

Before anyone else could get a word in edgewise, Genevieve spoke up. "No? You most certainly will not!" she said. He raised his eyebrows at her. "Dude. You're… you're not even a real person." Her brow furrowed. "Someone gets one good blast with a hairdryer and what happens? You dry up and crack?"

"I'm afraid that's not how it works, darling." He stepped closer. "Though you are clever for that." Yet another smirk. Smug bastard. Closer. And closer. 

She glared at him. "Thanks," she deadpanned. 

"You are pretty, for a mortal," he said to her. "Maybe I'll have mercy on you." He lifted a hand to beside her face and toyed with a strand of hair that had fallen out of her braid.

"Don't touch me." She slapped his hand away, and he stepped back. Sabrina and Lilith had been whispering to each other from the moment that Caliban revealed his plan. But now, she was seemingly comatic; her eyes and Nick's were both glazed over in red and they were both catatonic. But when her senses came back and her eyes returned to normal, she had adopted a newfound confidence. "No, we won't," she said to Lilith. "I am Sabrina Morningstar," she announced to the hordes, "And that throne is mine. By blood, and by birth."

"Here we go again," Harvey muttered. Genevieve chuckled. 

"Yours to give me, you mean," Lilith interjected. 

"No. Mine. To claim." She sat on the throne herself, and her cousin had to admit that she looked rather regal. 

"We do not accept this!" the Kings argued. "The witch lives on Earth. She cannot possibly rule Hell."

"You've obviously never been to high school."

"You are a child, not a queen," another King shot. 

"I am a young woman." Right on, her cousin thought. 

"You cannot fulfill your father's duties." "I can," she insisted, looking at Lilith. "With Lilith as my advisor." "What?" "Isn't that what kings and queens do when they're too young to rule?" she argued. "They appoint a…" "Regent," Lilith offered. "Yes. As a matter of fact, yes." "Then you, Lilith, are my regent."

"I dispute this." Caliban, of course. 

"Okay, Dirt-Man," Genevieve said. She had begun to harbor a deeply personal sense of loathing for him, especially because of how he disrespected her cousin's authority and was a raging narcissist. 

After an attempted challenge for the crown, Sabrina dismissed the court and he and his clique left Pandemonium. She and the rest of the group, along with Nick and his tongue, followed Dorian's instructions and used the flower and the incantation to return home. 

— 

Sabrina had royally fucked up— no pun intended. After fumbling her first soul retrieval and getting locked in an industrial freezer by her second, she was beginning to lose hope. And she was running out of time. While Lilith was out searching for the wayward queen, the clay prince decided to go on his own adventure.

— 

Genevieve was occupied in her cozy, bright room when a gust of spiraling flames interrupted her peace. She had been lying in her bed, reading a book and accompanied by all of her pets (which was a rare occurrence). Pico had nestled onto Tuck's shell and they were both napping. Bambi was curled up against her side and Tex at her feet, and the new snake— whose name, she decided, was Rhiannon— was also curled at the end of the bed. "Quite the companions you've got," he spoke deeply, disturbing the silence. "You!" she said, sitting up and starting all but the python. "What are you doing in my room?" she asked, exasperated. 

"Here to see you, of course," he told her, sitting down on the edge of her bed. Genevieve

was still perplexed. 

"...Why?"

"You amuse me, mortal. And you've caught my eye. Your friend may be the Queen of Hell—"

"Cousin," she corrected.

"Your cousin may be Queen, but it's you who's really captured my attention."

"I… Okay," she responded, brows furrowed.

"No one's ever spoken to me as boldly as you have. Especially for a mortal. If I wanted to punish you, in fact, it would be well within my rights. Even your cousin could not do anything about it; laws in Hell differ than on Earth."

"So, what. You're here to kill me? Because I threatened your ego?" Genevieve rolled her eyes and got up, Bambi following after her. She grabbed Rhiannon and carried her over to her tank, flipping the switch for her heater and closing the lid. She then grabbed Tuck, as gently as possible to allow him to keep napping, and put him in his tank as well.

"Of course not," he chuckled. "You're much too interesting. It would be a shame for your potential to go to waste." "Potential," she said, disinterested. Walking to her door, she slipped on a pair of shoes that sat against the wall. "For?"

"For you to align with me. You may not like me much now, but I'm sure you'll grow to."

"For me… I'm sorry, what? You expect me to betray my cousin for someone who wants to literally enslave my people and take over the Earth?" He said nothing. "No!" she waved her hand at him, signaling for him to leave. "Be gone. Or... whatever you say to banish demons." She left her room and headed down the hallway and to the stairs, but Caliban was not far behind. Neither was Bambi.

She made a pit stop in the kitchen to make herself a sandwich before she left the house. "Do you think me unreasonable?" Caliban asked, leaning against the counter while she worked. 

"Well, yeah. Actually I do." 

He grabbed her hand before she could continue. Making sure to never break eye contact, he pleaded, "Please. Let me prove you wrong." She pulled her hand away.

"Why are you so dead set on this?" she groaned. "I said no!" A frustrated laugh left her lips.

"I'll make you a deal," he pressed. She returned her attention to her sandwich and refused to look at him. "Submit to me, and I will abandon my plan to enslave the tribes of Earth." Still, silence. Genevieve pretended that he wasn't even there anymore, slipping Bambi a piece of turkey in between the two of them. Once again, Caliban brought his hand up and grabbed her chin; she couldn't turn away. 

"You won't get the chance," she spat. "My cousin is the Queen. Your plan will never happen." He opened his mouth to argue, but in a split second, decided against it. 

"If that's truly how you feel, then I concede. But know my offer still stands." Genevieve shrugged, straight-faced, unsure how to respond. 

"Will you leave now? I have somewhere to be," she told him, putting her sandwich in a baggie and walking to the kitchen table where a backpack was hanging off the back of a chair. 

"Will the lady allow me to escort her?" he countered. She threw her food, a water bottle, and a sports drink into the bag as she considered it. 

"Fine, I guess." She slung the backpack over her shoulder before kneeling down to scratch and kiss Bambi's head. "Bye, Bambi!" she said, her voice having gone up at least an octave. The blue pit thumped her tail and opened her mouth in a typical pit bull smile. Without a word, she stood up and passed Caliban to go retrieve her sneakers which were sitting by the front door. He followed, attentive to her every move. She locked the door behind her on her way out and began walking into town. 

"Where are you headed to?" he asked her.

"The gym. I coach junior high volleyball."

"Is that a mortal sport?"

"Yeah. I played for a long time."

"Why did you stop?" 

Genevieve stayed silent for a beat. "When I was still in high school, a few colleges wanted to recruit me for their teams. I would have gone to any of them, but…"

"But what?" "Well, I don't really know what I want to do with my life. I didn't want to just up and leave my family with no plan. So after I graduated this spring, I decided to take a gap year to figure out what I want to do."

"Have you figured it out yet?" he asked. His tone seemed genuinely interested. 

She stayed quiet for a while longer. "No," Genevieve admitted, dejectedly.

"Maybe you should work with animals," Caliban offered. "Really? Why?"

"You seem to like them enough, you've got several as pets."

"Yeah, that's fair. But I don't think I could ever be a vet," she claimed. 

"Then don't. Try something else."

"Like what?"

"You're the mortal here, not me," he chuckled. "You know more about your options than I do." Genevieve let out a little laugh as well. "Think about it," he advised her. 

"I will. Thank you, Caliban."

— 

Sabrina didn't return home until well past midnight. As she walked through the front door and quietly closed it, her cousin broke her silence from the stairs. "Where you been, Beans?"

Sabrina nearly jumped, startled. "I was— Oh, Aunties," she muttered, finally facing all three of them. 

"Well, do you care to explain yourself?" Zelda questioned. Sabrina glanced at Genevieve, who was leaning over the top of the banister and mouthed I didn't say anything.

"Oh, I'm sorry I missed your first day at the Academy," she apologized. "I had this prob-"

"How many secrets are you keeping from us?" Zelda interrupted.

Hilda piped up in typical good-cop fashion. "You didn't happen to go to Hell, bring back your father, the Dark Lord, and stick him in the bowels of the Academy without telling us, did you?"

"Putting what's left of the coven, not to mention the entire world, in grave peril, just so you can see your boyfriend." 

"That's not why I did it," Sabrina argued. 

"Oh, God. Here we go again," Genevieve muttered as Tex jumped up onto the bannister beside her. She gave his head an absent-minded scratch as she watched the scene unfold. 

"Oh, I know why you did it. Cassius delivered a stack of books with rituals about soul transference… I thought the Dark Lord was bad. I thought he was dangerous, but Lilith preserve up from his demented, lovesick daughter."

"Aunt Zelda!" Genevieve shouted. "That was so uncalled for!"

"I couldn't just leave Nick in Hell!" Sabrina defended herself. "Every second he was down there, he was in torment. Aunties, every second he was in pain."

"We know, darling," Hilda tried to comfort. 

"And it's my fault." Her cousin began to tear up with the thought of Nick's suffering. "He did it for me. I couldn't just… wash my hands of him." Hilda stepped off of the stairs and went to Sabrina to try to comfort her. "I owed it to Nick to at least try and get Lucifer out of his body and into someone else's."

Zelda had begun to abandon her condemnation of Sabrina's actions, instead demanding that she come up with a well thought-out plan. "Whose? Where do you expect to find another vessel strong enough to withstand being turned into a flesh Acheron for the Devil himself?"

In a moment of perfect timing, Ambrose and Prudence appeared in the front hallway with a raggedy, bearded man at their feet. "Aunties," he greeted. "I'm home." It was evident in his tone and lack of breath that he was exhausted. "Any chance of a cuppa?"

Genevieve went downstairs and followed her cousin and Prudence into the kitchen. 'Whatcha want, 'Bose?"

"Something to help me sleep, finally," he rasped. "Thank you, cousin." (They weren't really cousins, but it was how they had referred to each other since Genevieve had come to live with them those 8 years ago.)

"You too?" she asked Prudence. "Yes, please."

— 

  The next night, Sabrina returned home and immediately headed to Genevieve's room to de-stress from her arduous day. "That jerk Caliban challenged me for the throne," she sighed, laying down on Genevieve's bed. "Again. Legally, this time. And I had to accept it."

Her cousin took a deep breath. "Wow. He's really not letting it go, huh?"

"No. I wish he would, though."

"Well, what was the challenge? What do you have to do?"

"We're both supposed to search for the Unholy Regalia. It's a Hell thing," she explained at Genevieve's confusion. "The first item is Herod's Crown."

"H- King Herod? Like 'kill the babies' Herod?"

"That's the one."

"Jesus," Genevieve exhaled. "...No pun intended." She had been sitting on the floor with Rhiannon, watching as she explored the room, but stood up to sit next to her cousin. "Beans, you've got a lot on your plate right now. Are you sure you're gonna be okay?"

Sabrina considered her question for a moment. "No. Actually, I'm not sure. But I have to do this." She shut her eyes tight for a few seconds before opening them again and sitting upright. "And I have so much homework on top of this."

"You know what? I don't have anything to do tonight. You go to bed, I'll do your homework tonight." Sabrina smiled softly at her cousin. 

"Vieve, you don't have to do that—"

"I know. But I want to. You need to rest. Besides," Genevieve said, "I already got through all of those classes once. I can do a few assignments tonight."

— 

It was about eleven o'clock that same night and Genevieve was on a productive streak- in terms of getting her cousin's homework taken care of. She had advised Sabrina to talk to Ambrose the following day about looking for the crown and, subsequently, the rest of the regalia. In the midst of her focus, a gust of heat hit her and she could sense a presence in her room. She didn't even bother to turn around from her desk. "Go away, Caliban."

"I take it you've heard about my challenge, then?"

Genevieve set her pencil down and stared at him. "Do you have any idea the shit Sabrina's been going through, lately? I know you don't care, because all you want is power, but she's an actual person with other responsibilities and an entire life that she's dealing with on a daily basis. You're made of clay and you're from Hell, I get it, you must not have any sense of empathy, but this is taking a toll on everyone. You are such a raging narcissist." Caliban's smirk had dissipated by now. "Get out of my house, Caliban. I'm busy."

"You're wrong," he said. He was uncharacteristically quiet. "I can be empathetic." He sat down on the edge of Genevieve's bed, and Tex had allowed him to pet his head. "I do have emotions."

"Showing them from time to time might do you good." He said nothing, focusing his attention entirely on Tex rather than making eye contact with Genevieve. "Why are you here?" she asked, adopting a gentler tone. She felt as if she had been hard enough on him to get her point across. "Don't you have a crown to find, or something?"

"I've not yet located it. I was wondering if you've considered my offer?"

"Of course not," she scoffed. "I don't think you're gonna win. Beans may be busy, but she's smart. And talented."

"Well, she is the Dark Lord's daughter."

"Regardless. No, I haven't considered it. Is that all?"

"I hear there's a carnival in town."

Her brows furrowed momentarily. "What do you care?"

"Would it please the lady to accompany me? Tomorrow night?"

Genevieve went stiff like a deer in headlights. "Um… sure, okay. I guess?"

"You seem confused," he observed. 

"Yeah, I- I am. A little. Surprised. Why do you wanna go to the carnival?"

"Is this not how mortals court each other?" he asked, standing up to lean against the desk she had been working at. He seemed his usual self again, another smirk crossing his face. "Or would you rather skip the formalities?" He winked, grinning down at her. Though she was still sitting, it was obvious that he was taller than she was. 

She scoffed lightly. "Fine. I will go to the carnival with you tomorrow," Genevieve conceded. "Are you done now?"

"Are you sure you wouldn't have me spend the night?" he teased. 

"Don't push it, Dirt-Man."

"As you wish," he told her, and threw his arms up, creating a vortex of fire and returning to the pits of hell. 

— 

Genevieve finally retired to bed at about quarter till 1 in the morning. Rhiannon was cozy in her tank and Tuck was in his; Pico was sleeping in his cage and Tex was curled up at the foot of her bed. Bambi was laying with her back to Genevieve's, but the blue pit had been awoken by a sudden presence appearing in the room. In the dark, Caliban had returned once more to the girl, this time having astral projected. Bambi's head stuck up, sniffing at him. He put his finger up to his lips and whispered to the dog, "Shh." Bambi was convinced and went back to sleep, leaving the boy to himself. He walked around until he was facing her, and he knelt down at her bedside. He rested his head on one arm while his other hand brushed some stray hairs away from her face. She looked so peaceful he was almost afraid to touch her. "Sleep well, darling girl," he whispered. "And forgive me for what I must do." Without another word, he kissed her forehead and promptly returned to his physical body in Hell. 

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