#on the bright side the pet sitting job for my aunt is coming up soon | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hale-13 · 3 years

Text

Scare Tactics

By Hale13

For the Summer of Whump Day 19 Prompt - Fear

“And just to show you we mean business…” Peter flinched when his index finger was grabbed and sharply snapped in half, leaving him breathless. He didn’t scream though. He wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction. “Tough kid,” the leader mused, petting Peter on the head. “I’m going to let my men work him over,” he said to the camera lightly. “You pay me within the next four hours and I won’t start cutting off things he’ll miss. Sure would be a shame… he’s got his whole life ahead of him you know.”

Words: 2407, Chapters: 1/1 (Complete), Language: English

Fandoms: Spider-Man (Tom Holland Movies)

Rating: Gen

Relationships: Peter Parker & May Parker, Peter Parker & Tony Stark

Character: Peter Parker, May Parker, Tony Stark, Happy Hogan

TW: Canon Typical Violence, Kidnapping, Implied/Referenced Torture

Read on AO3 or below the line break.

“One more hour! C’mon, just one more hour please,” Peter begged, hands twitching and sweating as he looked around frantically. He could do it. He just had to do it.

“Whatcha doing Pete?” Tony asked right in his ear causing Peter to let out a high pitched scream and rip the VR headset off his head, nearly tossing it into the wall and only barely catching himself at the last second.

“What the fuck!” He exclaimed, panting and placing a hand over his racing heart – it was galloping under his fingertips. Tony, standing next to him with his hand extend like he was reaching out to touch Peter, had his face pinched up like he was trying not to laugh and failing spectacularly.

“What was that?” The man questioned, pulling the headset from Peter’s twitching fingers to set it down on the bed and safely out of reach lest Peter almost throw it again. “You okay?”

“You scared the shit out of me!” Peter told his mentor dramatically as his heart rate slowed to a more manageable rhythm. Damn he was so close to winning!

Tony quirked an eyebrow. “Thought you had a tingle or something,” he said with a teasing tone and that was it, Peter was never letting Tony and May have lunch together again. Tingle… seriously? “What were you doing anyway?” Tony asked, picking the headset back up and turning it around curiously in dexterous fingers.

“Playing FNAF,” Peter said with a shrug. “I had nearly won too!”

“Beg pardon?” Tony asked with a head tilt. “Did you just have a stroke? I don’t speak teenager.”

“It’s a game Mr. Stark,” Peter grumbled, grabbing the headset back to turn it off. “A horror game. You’re a security guard and you have to live through the night without a bunch of animatronic animals killing you.”

“Sounds exhausting,” Tony commented, passing Peter his untouched book bag – he was supposed to be doing homework while Mr. Stark was in a meeting but oh well. He could always do it later, it was the weekend after all. “Happy’s pulling the car around. You sure you don’t want to stay? It’s getting a bit late.”

“I’m good,” Peter insisted, throwing the bag over his back and tightening the straps a little to sit more comfortably. “Besides, May and I are supposed to marathon the new season of Lucifer tonight.”

“Ah yes,” Tony said with a smile. “Do tell aunt hottie I said hello would you? I’m looking forward to our monthly co-parenting coffee date next week – can’t wait to tell her about this!”

Peter groaned and blushed. “Please don’t,” he muttered, skirting around his mentor to get to the door. “See you next week?” He asked as he paused in the doorway, turning back to look at the man and smiling.

“Yeah I’ll see you next week kiddo. Don’t have too much fun this weekend!”

“Bye Mr. Stark!” Peter called as he raced to the elevator, bouncing impatiently on his toes as it descended to the garage where Happy was waiting in one of the many black town cars Stark Industries owned.

“Took you long enough,” he groused good naturedly as Peter hopped into the back, dropping his book bag into the foot well and buckling his seatbelt with a bright ‘hey Happy!’ before pulling out his battered copy of The Collected Works of Shakespeare. He was supposed to finish MacBeth before class on Monday morning and he had been putting it off for a while (re: the last two weeks). Thank god for SparkNotes!

He read in the peaceful silence of the car as Happy navigated the busy Manhattan roads into the more quiet streets of Queens, finally pulling to a stop in front of Peter’s building and unlocking the doors. “See you Monday kid,” he called as Peter jumped out of the car.

“Thanks for the ride Happy!” Peter answered as he shut the door and waved the car off before letting out a sigh. It had been a long week and he was looking forward to just hanging out with May and decompressing. He felt like he barely saw her these days since she moved to working nights – it had been way too long since their last Netflix binge sesh. Peter took the stairs two at a time, forgoing the ancient and slow elevator, and was soon standing outside his door, fumbling for his keys.

As he went to slip the correct key into the lock, Peter felt every hair on his body stand on end as a shiver tore through him. He paused and looked up and down his hallway. Everything was quiet and peaceful, nothing out of place, so why was his Spidey sense tingling? With a gulp, Peter looked at his door and felt his heart freeze in his chest. May!

Peter swiftly unlocked the door and threw it open only to pause just over the threshold.

May was seated in one of their kitchen chairs, pulled into eye line of the door to the apartment, and looking pale but utterly pissed as the masked man behind her jammed the muzzle of his gun further into her temple. Peter, his heart nearly beating out of his chest and his adrenaline spiking to leave a metallic taste in his mouth, held his hands up immediately in surrender. As if it would ever be a question with May involved.

“Close the door,” the man said firmly, jutting his chin and Peter felt it snap closed behind him, paying no mind to the other invaders that were scattered around the room, his eyes stuck only on May.

“What do you want?” He asked, surprised that his voice was steady – he could tell that his body was still and sure but inside he felt like he was about to shake apart; like he was standing in the epicenter of an earthquake.

“Your cooperation mostly,” the man with the gun answered, passing the weapon off to one of his underlings and approaching where Peter stood motionless, hands still raised, just inside the door. His eyes were a pale blue and they scraped over Peter’s form quickly before he held out his hand. “Phone, watch, bag. Give me anything that Stark might have chipped and don’t try anything funny. I’d hate for anything… untoward to happen to your Aunt.”

“Okay,” Peter agreed, slowly pulling his bag off his shoulders and letting it drop to the floor with a thump. One of the men behind him picked it up and started riffling through it as Peter unlatched his watch and passed it over along with his phone. He was grateful that he hadn’t brought his suit with him to school today or he’d have a much bigger problem – assuming they didn’t already know he was Spider-Man of course.

“Search him,” the man called out as he dropped Peter’s phone and watch to the floor before pointedly stomping on them until they broke. Peter fought to hold still as he was patted down, making eye contact with May. She gave a minute shake of her head and Peter bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood. He knew she didn’t want him to compromise his identity for her but he would do whatever he could to keep her safe – Spider-Man be damned.

“He’s clean,” one of the goons called out, nudging Peter forward and forcing him to sit down opposite May.

“Peter Parker,” the leader mused, walking over until he took up all of Peter’s sight leaving May out of view and ratcheting Peter’s already frantic heart rate up more. “Tony Stark’s personal intern. How does one get that job eh?” He looked at Peter expectantly and Peter grit his teeth together.

“Right place right time,” Peter grunted, his eye contact never wavering. The leader frowned behind his mask and smacked Peter sharply, causing his head to whip to the side. It was more surprising than painful and Peter glared back in obvious loathing.

“That will be your only warning,” the leader grunted, leaning down so he was eye level with Peter. “Next time it’ll be your aunt. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” Peter confirmed, gripping the arms of his chair tightly and trying to control his strength. By his count there were five men in their apartment. If he were alone or in the suit it wouldn’t be a problem but with May involved…

“Now let’s try again,” the man continued, pacing a circle around Peter’s chair like a shark circling prey and thus giving him the briefest chance to make eye contact with May again. The skin of her forehead was red and dented where the gun mashed into her face. But he eyes were full of fear and anger for Peter – her sight was locked on the cheek he could feel burning and already swelling. “How did you get your internship?”

“September Foundation,” Peter answered. “I submitted some of my work on clean energy and Mr. Stark was impressed enough to offer me the internship.”

The man hummed, stopping his circling and placed both hands on Peter’s shoulders, squeezing them. “But it’s not just an internship anymore now is it?” He questioned, tone light. “I doubt any normal intern gets access to Stark’s personal lab or stays overnight. For a while I thought you might be his bastard but, no, it doesn’t seem you are.” Peter tensed at the words and bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, tasting blood. “However you are important enough for him to pay handsomely for I’d wager.”

“He won’t,” Peter insisted, not breaking eye contact with May – she looked terrified now and he wasn’t sure who she was scared for most. “He doesn’t negotiate with kidnappers.”

“We’ll see,” the man said lightly, unconcerned. “Here’s the deal Parker. You’re going to come with us, quietly, and I won’t put a bullet through your aunt’s skull. I hear that you watched your uncle bleed out from something similar – wouldn’t want another death on your conscience now would you?” Peter flinched violently, unable to hold it back and felt tears prick at his eyes. He couldn’t cry now. Not in front of these assholes. “You’re going to come with us and, once we get you back to base, I’ll call in the order to let your aunt go. If they don’t hear from me within the next six hours… well I’m sure you can figure it out.”

Peter nodded slowly and tried to silently apologize to May – she was watching him with tears now cascading down her cheeks and shaking her head, begging him not to give in. “I’ll do whatever you want,” Peter agreed, sealing his fate.

His Spidey-sense screamed at him and he forced himself to hold still as the gun clocked him across the temple, knocking him out instantly.

—————————————

When Peter finally woke up some indeterminate amount of time later it was to a throbbing head and aching neck from sitting slumped over and tied to the most uncomfortable chair he had ever had the displeasure of sitting in. He opened his eyes with a groan to look around the room. It was darkened, of course because why wouldn’t it be, and empty, also not a surprise. The door in front of him was made of a dark metal the same as the chair he was sitting in which was bolted to the floor.

He tested the cuffs that were binding his wrists to each arm of the chair and found that they weren’t reinforced and should break easily with his strength. So they didn’t know he was Spider-Man then – that was a plus. Peter could work with that.

Before he could look around much more or even try to formulate a plan, the door in front of him flew open to admit multiple people, all in masks, and a camera set up that had Peter’s blood running cold.

“I have to thank you for your cooperation,” the man from earlier said gaily as he entered the room last. “You made this much easier than anticipated.”

“My aunt?” Peter asked, voice wobbling a little but his eye contact unwavering.

“Fine. As we agreed,” the man confirmed, kneeling down a little to look directly into Peter’s eyes. “Now we’re going to make Stark a little video, a one-sided video chat if you will, to ask him for a little… monetary gift. All you have to do is sit here and look pretty while we do all the work okay?” He said condescendingly, running a hand through Peter’s hair before patting his cheek mockingly.

It took all of Peter’s willpower not to head butt him directly in the nose.

The set up was done fairly quickly, the camera pointed directly at Peter and the red light blinking. His captor came to stand right behind him, hands resting on Peter’s shoulders again.

“Oh looks like he’s tuned it! Hello Stark, I think I found something that belongs to you,” the leader said, squeezing Peter’s shoulders. “You shouldn’t just leave your things lying around you know. Don’t want them to get displaced.” Peter grit his teeth in irritation and humiliation – he couldn’t believe he had let himself get kidnapped – that he had put Mr. Stark in this position! “Anyway,” he continued lightly, “I have a little request. A trade if you will. I’ll give you back your intern and you give me twenty million dollars and a clean way out of the country. Shouldn’t be too hard for you right?”

Don’t do it Peter tapped out on the arm of the chair in hasty Morse code. Don’t give them anything. I’ve got this Peter tried to say with his eyes. Trust me.

Later, his jaw hanging loose and his body aching with breaks and bruises, Peter will let a single tear fall.

The door knob turns and his adrenaline spikes.

#summerofwhump #summerofwhump19 #Prompt: Fear #irondad #spider man #Summer of Whump 2021

12 notes · View notes

snowflake-of-destruction · 4 years

Text

Grass is Greener // Sibling Shenanigans 1/3

“I might be getting a divorce!” The signs of truth were there. Kairi had a cat carrier in each hand, Astrophe, the princess too good for a carrier, laid across her chest with claws dug into her shoulder, and the long strap of a duffel bag crossing her chest at a slant with the bag itself balanced against a cocked hip. Kairi’s shadow and liner were smudged and eyes too bright. Her smile was forced. Her hair was coiled in a complicated knot, but with several strands fallen out and curling slightly with damp and stuck to her face and neck, and she was wearing a short black sequined dress with tennis shoes and no socks. She was a definite picture.

However, her lines were delivered with the air of someone announcing that they had won an all expenses paid trip to Port Royal, and not that the life they had built was crumbling around them, so Axel thought he could be excused when it was with an exasperated sigh and a, “What happened this time?” that he welcomed his little sister through his front door and not a sympathetic and concerned, “Tell me what happened.”

“You know how Vanitas was supposed to be gone this weekend?” The carriers were already on the floor and Kairi and Vanitas’s manx, Ali, had, by all evidence Axel could see, turned to smoke and reformed outside the wire barred door as soon as it was set on the ground before Kairi had even bent to unlatch it, Astrophe running after his sister. “Is Stuffing shut in the bedroom?” All of Kairi’s cats knew Turkey was monarch of the realm, and they were proud aunts and uncles to the litter (Pumpkin, Gravy, Cranberry, Potato, and Biscuit, all of whom were supposed to have gone on to new homes by now, but Kairi suspected were to become permanent fixtures since Axel had not been able to “find the time” to secure appropriate homes so far since “They can’t just go to anyone, Kairi, and I’m not sending them to your broken home either!”) but Kairi’s old wirehair cat, Tillac, who Axel assumed was in the other carrier, and Stuffing had a rivalry that stretched back years.

Axel didn’t even bother to nod, opting instead to ask, “Is Xion okay?” as he closed the door and then addressed his sister’s other question while bending to pick up the shoes she’d already kicked off so he could place them on the shoe rack by the door which she never remembered to do. “No, I don’t keep Stuffing shut up unless I’m expecting Tilly, which I wasn’t.” The last was said with a pointed look. “I see you had your hands full, but would it have killed you to call?”

Kairi gaped at him. “Axel, I just took the kids and left my husband, and you manage to take his side by implying the only reason we could have argued is if I had planned something untoward in his absence, insult one of my dearest friends, imply you care more about Xion than your own sister, and whine about how my showing up is going to impact the plans I know you don’t have all in the space of seconds? Axel, your baby sister is distraught!”

“Yeah, but is Xion okay?” Axel repeated without pause. “She’s sensitive.” He dropped the shoes in their proper place and let out a belated snort. “Untoward? Are you using a word of the day calendar so you can impress the hubby’s friends?”

Kairi released Tillac to go harass Stuffing until Turkey put her in her place, stood up, and tugged the hem of her dress down and readjusted the bodice to try and wrangle everything into a more presentable place. “Not all of us spend our days communicating only in grunts, brother dear.”

“Hey!” Axel gasped in mock offense. “I’m trying my best to teach Demyx human speech, but sometimes I have to meet him halfway.” He opened up his arms and gestured with his hands for Kairi to come hug him, an olive branch she immediately accepted, tripping over the cat carriers to throw herself in his arms. “Now tell me what happened and we can get drunk, or I’ll go threaten the bastard with a weed whacker or something.” He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. There wasn’t enough information yet to establish whether this was a you’ll work it out moment or a you really shouldn’t go back this time with a side of you could do so much better, so he left no follow up.

“It’s really not that bad,” were Kairi’s first words and Axel could have provided commentary, but led her over the couch instead. Presumably, that meant Xion was fine. “It’s my fault. I picked a fight.”

He waited a second for more details, and, when none came, he urged her along. “Atta girl. Knock some teeth out? He has too many.”

“Axel, please.”

“Didja, blacken one of those creepy gold eyes?” Axel forced an exaggerated shudder to go with his words. He didn’t have to do much to make it happen. He’d found Vanitas unnerving ever since Kairi introduced them (or, rather, failed to, since “Guess who got married in Vegas?” did not an introduction make).

“His eyes are hazel and they are gorgeous.” Kairi sighed, picking up a wandering kitten from the arm of the couch and sitting them on her lap to cuddle (Pumpkin or Cranberry, but with Kairi’s hand covering the the top of their head while she scritched their scalp, there was no way to check the marking).

“Sure, if you’re a hawk. I bet all the lady hawks go crazy.”

“That’s my husband,” Kairi warned.

“Yeah, but for how much longer?” Axel scoffed, brushing his sister’s fight with husband off again, something he still wasn’t sure he wouldn’t regret later, though Kairi’s glare was weak enough he was confident that he would be called to post bail because Kairi and Vanitas were picked up for indecent acts in the back seat of a convertible in the middle of a car show by next week. It wasn’t like this was the first time Kairi had shown up on his door, claiming things might be over. There was a bit of a girl who cried wolf situation at this stage. He picked up his half finished beer from the coffee table and took a swig. “And I’m just saying you have bad taste. Xion excluded. Do you want to put your duffel and the carriers in the guest room?”

“I don’t have bad taste. You have bad taste,” Kairi fired back and Axel couldn’t help but picture her at eight years old with a missing tooth and a haircut she’d given herself because he had dared her. “Your last boyfriend was literally a serial killer.”

“You have to kill three people before its serial and he was only convicted of manslaughter. Honestly, it’s like you never had a bad relationship before.” Axel’s easygoing reply of the standard line didn’t match the sudden flicker out and fade of amusement from his eyes.

“You do better with bored housewives.” Kairi patted his arm, and it was almost like an apology. “I’ll get the luggage in a minute.”

“I do fantastic with bored housewives,” Axel corrected, “but I’m usually only interested in their husbands.”

“Oh! Speaking of,” Kairi tucked her legs beneath her and sat up straighter, predatory look entering her eyes, “You started work for Xion’s brother-in-law today, right?”

Kairi smiled suddenly with too many teeth--maybe she was well suited to her husband after all--and Axel found it took all his focus to swallow his beer without choking. It occurred to him that the thermostat might have been broken, because the room was getting humid but the air hadn’t kicked on. “Weren’t you distraught?” He furrowed his brow like a good concerned big brother. “Didn’t you have a fight with your husband? You may be getting divorced. I know we don’t talk about things that bother us like a normal family, thanks Dad, but that’s upsetting news! I’m distraught! My ears are wide open.” He took one of Kairi’s hands in both of his and there was a meow of protest from Pumpkin. “I’m listening.”

Kairi pulled away and resumed important kitten petting duties. Unlike before, where her petulance was for Axel taking things too lightly, her frustration now seemed to be at internal sources. “Sora invited me away for the weekend. Most of that duffel was already packed.”

“What about Xion?” Axel whined his bias. “She was in…” Axel made an okay symbol with his thumb and index finger and whistled between his teeth for effect, “fine form when I saw her earlier. She was wearing this petal pink bodycon number so short I saw that starfish you’re always talking about, and I think she cut her hair again, or at least did some different product. She was wearing that perfume you got her too. I thought you guys had something planned tonight.”

“Maybe she was going out with Ventus.” Kairi was dismissive enough in tone, but her lips pursed when they were done with the words and Pumpkin made a complaining noise like he’d been squeezed.

“Who?” Axel oozed false innocence and confusion.

“Her husband...fiancé...boyfriend...whatever,” Kairi waved vaguely, more obviously disgruntled by the moment.

“Not whatever. Just because you skipped a few steps with ol’ Vani the Vain, doesn’t mean there is a distinct difference between those three things, typically one that matters to most people.”

“Just those in the relationship,” Kairi countered.

“And those with...what’s the word?” Axel pretended to think as Pumpkin abandoned Kairi in favor of him, and two more cats came bolting into the room as if summoned, sensing Dad was handing out love. “Morals? Boundaries? Restraint?”

“Van and I do have restraints…” Kairi hummed, trailing off once the joke was made and clicking her tongue to lure Potatoes to her.

Axel howled protest and screwed up his face, playing along, glad Kairi was distracted again before she could get sad. “ Too much information even for us!” When Kairi giggled--with grateful eyes that said she wasn’t really that amused, but was trying because she saw he was working hard to keep things light from the moment she’d walked in the door--Axel declared that part of his job done and reoriented back to allowing Kairi to tell her story. “So Vanitas was supposed to be gone so you made plans with Sora, and you were just going to leave the cats? “

“Xion was going to check in on the cats,” Kairi clarified the important part.

“You were going to have Xion catsit while you went traipsing off with the flavor of the month?” Axel stretched his mouth and widened his eyes, daring his face to stick in the clowning expression. “You’ll never get her to leave Airvent and marry you instead that way!”

“I’m already married...for now,” Kairi tokenly defended her marriage.

“Doesn’t count. He didn’t get my blessing...and he never will.” Axel was quick on both parts of the rejoinder.

Kairi ignored him as he expected her to and started to confess in a rush, “So Vanitas announces that he’s not going to the conference anymore; something about him finding out some of the last second substitutions in presenters and articles being presented when his was declined in the peer review stage...He was still published, but it’s a whole political thing with being featured in the conference. Anyway, he had to boycott on principle, so he’s home, and he told me to get ready because we were going out to dinner and we were going to order multiple bottles of wine and get kicked out of our favorite restaurant because he’s already a disgrace…his words. He gave me the opening, and I took it, because I’m panicked Sora is going to show up at the door.”

Axel raised his hand like an obedient child in a classroom to be called on, but just went ahead and interrupted even when he was ignored. “Isn’t Sora the yoga guy? Couldn’t he defeat Vani Vain with the power of friendship and love?” He hadn’t met Sora. Kairi was quite adamant that he wasn’t allowed to after he’d been a little more than politely amused at her stories. It was a fair ask since Kairi had, rightly, assumed that the only reasons Axel wanted to meet Sora were to see if he could make him cry for the fun of it, warn him off his sister, or, if he proved to be as attractive as Kairi said, sleep with him himself.

Kairi continued as if the interruption hadn’t happened. “I don’t take it right away. I get dressed, start to do my hair, and then I start throwing things from the vanity and yelling about how he can’t just order me to doll up like that’s all I am, his doll, waiting pretty on a shelf, ready to play with when he remembers I’m there. I point out he never asked me to come to the convention with him, and after we had such fun at last years’.” Axel snorted, knowing that story, and the pattern of being blocked out continued, “And I know how many spouses come along now. I think I accused him of having an affair. I really don’t know. I half blacked out. A spirit took over, and when I came to, I was packing a bag and insulting his paper because he still wasn’t getting angry enough fast enough to justify me leaving.”

“It sounds like you handled the situation brilliantly,” Axel complimented. “So did you call Sora and tell him to pick you up here, or is the weekend off? Am I on catsitting and husband deflection duty?” He wasn’t seeing a problem yet, not even something that warranted Kairi’s overdramatic divorce line, though a troubling thought did occur to him. “If he smacked you, shoved you, laid a hand on you in any way when you started yelling at him, I will do more than threaten him with the chainsaw. He’s dead. Demyx will help me hide the body. He knows a guy, and he owes me. They both owe me. Plus, I learned some tricks from my ex.” He softened his concern and threats he was prepared to follow through with in jokes.

“Stop thinking the worst of him at every opportunity,” Kairi snapped, and Potatoes rubbed his head against her stomach to calm her. “He just...took some low blows of his own and things escalated more quickly than I wanted them to.” She shifted uncomfortably.

“Like what?” Axel responded carefully, not wanting to supply guesses when it was a losing game, even if he came from the angle of listing reasons anything Vanitas could have said was untrue.

“It doesn’t matter,” Kairi insisted, which was a prime sign that it did. “I just might be here a few days for real after Sora and I get back. He’s coming to pick me up in an hour.”

Axel was silent a moment, assessing whether he should push Kairi to talk or hope the weekend healed the wounds, then nodded and gently lifted all cats away from his body. “An hour doesn’t give us much time. Go sit at the dining room table. Go!” He shooed her.

Kairi complied without asking for explanation and Axel went into the kitchen, grabbing two wine glasses down from the cabinet and an open half a red from the fridge. On impulse, he grabbed a few empty beer bottles from his recycling pile as well and stuck them under his arms. He continued their conversation as he rejoined his sister. “Do I get to meet Sora or is he supposed to stay outside and honk? Put your head down on the table and look listless.” He poured the barest hint of wine in the bottom of the glass he put in front of Kairi, and did the same for the one he put in his spot at the table. He arranged the empty beer bottles with the eye of an artist. “Let me go get my phone. Look sadder, but not so sad it’s unbelievable.”

“If you want to meet Sora, take one of his classes.”

Axel snapped a series of pictures to choose from, talking to himself, “She’s doing fine, Vanitas. We spent the evening talking. Of course. I’ll send you a picture.” Raising his voice a few decibels, he gestured back to the living room. “Go lie down on the couch, cover yourself with the fleece from the armchair, put a cat or two on your chest, and close your eyes. We’ll shoot, ‘don’t come over now, Van, she’s sleeping,’ next and then you can change into sweats and grab some board games from the closet. I’m assuming you’ll be too mad to answer phone calls from him anyway, but do you want to take your hair down and get it wet in the sink for some, ‘No, she just got out of the shower, why are you so creepy needing evidence?’ safety shots?”

“You’re seriously the best brother ever,” Kairi leaned up on tiptoes and pecked Axel’s cheek on her way into the living room.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Roxas was watching you today from the upstairs window,” Kairi tossed out nonchalantly. “Xion texted me about it. He wants to smell your hair and cook you dinner.”

“He what?” Axel stuttered and nearly fumbled his phone. So much for a steady hand and unflappable cool. The Howe he hadn’t met yet, having spoken with Isa Howe during his initial looks around and estimates for the yard, had come outside after Xion had left, and all but admitted to watching him at least as long as to comment on Xion detouring to chat with him a minute before she went to her car, and, sure, Axel had purposefully peeled off his shirt and rolled down his overalls to his waist after Roxas had went inside, hoping he was still watching, but he hadn’t seen any proof, and their brief conversation had spent a moment on shock of shared acquaintances (“You know Xion? I knew you were Kairi’s brother--she recommended you--so it makes sense since they’re close, but that’s wild. Small world.”) and then stayed in the professional (apparently Roxas had been the one who had done the sketches Isa had shown Axel of what the garden in the backyard was supposed to look like when he was done). Maybe Axel had noticed that Roxas had eyes the exact color blue as the delphinium hybrid he had presented at his last flower show (had to keep up the street cred that he was more than just a lawn service guy and a tree and hedge trimmer somehow--even if that sort of thing was his bread and butter), and that he was pretty cut since he hadn’t bothered with a shirt when he ran outside. And perhaps, when the sun caught his hair he looked like an angel out of a renaissance painting. None of that meant anything though.

“He wants to cook you dinner,”Kairi repeated, cavalier. “Be gentle with him. I think it would be his first time out of the box in awhile.”

“I’m not…” Axel pinched the bridge of his nose, counting to keep from getting angry and only managing to count the problems he had with what Kairi was suggesting. “Is this why you recommended me to your friend? Are you my pimp now?”

“He needs a fling.” Kairi had the nerve to shrug. “You are an accomplished flinger. The only person you’re seeing right now is Demyx, and he’s just a friend sleeping in one of your spare rooms….He is still just a friend sleeping in one of your spare rooms, right?”

“Most nights.” Axel left it ambiguous whether Demyx spent the odd night elsewhere or whether the friend lines sometimes blurred. “And my best tree trimmer.”

“That’s what I heard from Ienzo.” Kairi proved the Emberson comedic timing lived well in her. “So what’s the problem with Xion and I wanting to give Roxas a hot gardener fantasy to brighten up his life? He’s a friend.”

“So many things are wrong with that, Thalassa Shell.” In times so serious, Axel had no choice but to bring out family pet names.

A beat passed. Kairi didn’t apologize for the idea like she was supposed to. Axel didn’t harp on it more. Another question fought its way out of his throat. “Incidentally though, did he say anything else about me?”

#grass is greener verse #fanfiction #axel #kairi #kingdom hearts #akuroku #not really akuroku but ya know gotta warn people #vanikai #kaixi #GIANT THANK YOUS TO EVERYONE WHO ENJOYS THIS #AND ESPECIALLY ONES THAT CREATED THINGS CELEBRATING THE NONSENSE #snippets

40 notes · View notes

genuflectx · 4 years

Text

Alien/Reader {Xenith}

Length: 12,346 words

Main Themes: Aliens, fluff, consensual human pets, pet shows, micro/macro, comfort,

Other Warnings: Grief, global warming, mention of surgery, physical exam, telepathy, insects, space travel, broken family, being poor

SHOUT OUT to my beta readers! RosalieBear and Volurin!

(all images in aesthetic board are labeled for reuse with modification or are mine)

If you enjoy this writing, consider joining my patreon! $5 donors get to see half of stories like these before publishing, and $10 donors see the whole thing a full month before everyone else!

1/25/2020: REPOST

There was just nothing left for you on Earth. Nothing. The last thing you felt before leaving that dirt ball was relief.

The tides had risen significantly, draining into unprepared cities and tourist destinations. Corporations had seen it coming but had pockets too fat to ever consider a change. The little people wanted change; cried for it. There was simply no one around to listen. You could no longer stand to see your home planet dying in front of you. You’d already lost a pen-pal to the flood waters of a grand hurricane, inspired by the boiling sea.

The city you grew up in became more violent as you aged. You tried not to come out of your shoddy apartment if you could, wanting to avoid the risk of becoming the center of the next vigil. It wasn’t the peoples’ fault, widespread economic inequality plunged more and more innocents into unavoidable poverty. Even you saw some of that pain when one year, you were forced to live off of noodles, rice, and beans, courtesy of a broken limb. Medical bills weren’t cheap in your country.

But the worst of it wasn’t the failing climate or the civil unrest. It was the sheer loneliness. Your family was scattered; decades were punctuated by uneasy gatherings that just reiterated why it was you only met once every ten fucking years. Good god, even the aunt who was supposedly the nice one gave you the migraine of the century. And your parents? They’d broken your heart.

You’d had a generally good relationship with your mother and father, even if they always felt the need to fight against your every life decision. Your mother had contracted an avoidable ailment, believing only in alternative medicines, and passed away. Your father, unable to cope, spiraled into an understandable depression, and hadn’t been the same since. He did not believe in psychology or medications taken for mental health, much like your mother. And there was nothing you could do to change that. Years after your mother’s passing, you became distant from your father.

So there really was nothing for you left on Earth. Nothing but worsening weather, crushed rebellions, and your ever silent pay-as-you-go phone. But the Xenith homeworld, beaming with white light? It would be a clean slate. A new life.

It was nearly a decade ago that the Xenith had made first contact. They were easy going, monstrously big creatures, that became overly excited when they’d met their first human. They had no intention of meddling in human politics. No no, Earth was much too messy. But they thought the humans themselves were so interesting, that at the first world-wide conference with Earth’s leaders, they asked humanity to ship people to their planet as soon as possible. The world leaders had naturally been baffled. ‘Ship’ humans like a product? They did not agree. The Xenith had been disappointed but understood.

But, after many years of discussion, of voting, of drawing contracts, a few countries were finally on board. And it was all free. The Xenith provided everything needed to pay for transport. They even trained humans for and oversaw the surgeries that were necessary for humanity to survive in their atmosphere and gravity.

So, after having robotic organs implanted directly into your body, going through a long recovery process, and packing a few small bags, you were shepherded onto a spacecraft and given a room. You boarded without even looking back. Not even a text goodbye to your family. You were certain they would never even notice you were out of state, let alone off planet.

The journey wasn’t so terrible, if you were honest with yourself. Most of the staff were human, save for a single Xenith translator. But being near that one Xenith was simply… astounding. You got the feeling you would never lose the awe you had upon being in the same room as one, let alone if you were ever in the presence of a whole crowd.

It was true that they were giants. When knuckle-walking on all fours, they must have been at least fifteen to twenty feet tall. When standing bipedal, even taller. Their pads were soft, black to dark-blue, and stretched across ninety percent of their four thick fingers and beyond the knuckles. Then, their feet had three round toes with equally as thick padding on the soles.

Their bodies were smooth and rubbery, with semi-glittery skin, as if partially transparent. Skin colors ranged from pale blues, pinks, yellows, and grays, to the rare dark gray. They had four slits in their lower chest from which they breathed from, and instead of hair around the edges, there was a lace like material to protect the delicate flesh within. Tails were usually cropped, but if not cropped at birth then they would grow long and stiff. Their pelvic bone was theropod-like. It made them sit funny.

Despite their cold outward appearance and inability to express as widely as a human, they donned their bodies in beautiful clothes. The translator themself wore bright, pumpkin-orange fabrics over their body, which was embroidered with dark red thread. Their clothes were not tight fitting. Rather, they made one reminiscent of blankets thrown over horses during winter. Perhaps they even looked like capes, especially when they stood on their back feet.

Xenith were just amazing. You could hardly believe one of those beasts was supposedly going to adopt you. You couldn’t imagine how life with one would play out.

While the trip was very accommodating, and the watchful presence of the translator kept everyone up to date, the food had been a down side. Apparently supplying enough goodies for the re-locating humans had been too expensive after all those surgeries. Only the ship staff got the real stuff. Everyone else got flavored paste in pouches. The alien promised better grub upon arrival, as the government run ‘companion shops’ were very eager to receive a new shipment of humans.

“Thhhey’re the new favorittte,” the translator had bellowed with their strange, five-pronged tongue. “humansss…. are so cute! You will be treated well.”

You had a lot of thinking to do while the craft took its two month journey into the stars. This was considered a 'job’ or 'volunteer work’ by the humans who arranged the set up. But to the Xenith, it was much more. It made you wonder exactly what the nature of being a 'companion’ was. Before deciding to leave, you had done a little reading, but only enough to know that you were eligible and able to leave as soon as possible. The rest of the information on what the job entailed would come to you through the translator.

Xenith rarely spoke aloud, and when they did it was slow and booming with a lisp. Otherwise, communication lay in their skilled telepathic abilities. Their satellite dish heads and six wriggly antenna aided their inward conversation, but did not translate well with lesser species, including humans. It was very difficult for them to learn human languages. Luckily, the translator had become an expert over the year.

“When you arrive,” said the alien, their tongue pronouncing 'v’ as 'fph,’ “you will come to be placcced into public viewing roomsss in designated adoption locations. Many will be waittting. Many will want you.”

Someone in the back of the orientation room asked “So, this is like an apprenticeship, right?”

That had confused the Xenith. They blinked and took a brief moment to think, the skinny antennae on their flat head fidgeting. Eventually their brain pulled up the translation, and they perked up. “No, this is not ssservitude. You learn no trade. But if any harm comesss to you, you will be removed. Not that harm comesss your way. We cannot think to hurt our companion.”

“And we can leave whenever we want? If we don’t like it? I read that we could!” asked someone else skeptically.

They nodded. “Whenever you would like. But… you would break your master'sss heart, as you term the phrase,”

The more you learned about the species during your transport, the more you realized what the translator had said was pretty literal. Humanity liked to imagine itself as a quick-to-pack-bond species, but the Xenith had them beat. Their whole psychology was based so heavily around emotional bonding that when a pet passed away, it nearly killed them. For their companion to dislike them so much that they would leave willingly, it meant absolute heart break to the Xenith. You wouldn’t doubt that organ failure due to the strain of separation was possible too, but that was only a guess.

It was all as the translator had said. Upon arrival the humans were relocated to sprawling government facilities that housed creatures looking to be adopted. Both sentient and non-sentient species were presented. You were placed into a rather roomy, glass-walled space at the front of the building. Two other humans lived with you, and through the right-sided wall, you could see another group of three inside of their own spacious glass room. It truly reminded you of a combination pet shop and apartment complex, if not for the hovering aliens constantly peeping over the glass.

A caretaker, who did not speak any human languages, made sure all was well three times a day. Hot food and heavily filtered water were always available. The three of you had your own rooms with human beds, which the Xenith cleaned once a day.

You’d never had a maid before. It gave you a vague sense of guilt that you weren’t cleaning the room yourself, but the caretaker did not seem to mind. If anything, they acted as if they had the most wondrous job on the planet; humming aloud and talking cheerfully to the pets despite language barriers.

Over the course of three days your bunk mates had been adopted. You grew sad and alone, wondering why it was you that had yet to be chosen. Humans were supposed to be the new favorites, right? There were certainly a great number of Xenith who still visited your cage, but after they spoke with the caretaker, they left to view other options.

What was so wrong with you? Was it something the caretaker said that scared everyone away? Many a night was spent at the edge of your tidy little bed, lost in thought. Anxiety plagued your heart. Maybe this was a mistake.

At the very least, there was a particular Xenith that visited you once a day. You wanted to believe that they were interested in having you, but worry got the best of your troubled mind. For all you knew, they just pitied you; glancing down into the glass thinking how it was so sad no one actually wanted to take you home. You sighed.

This alien had four fleshy horn-like appendages on their satellite dish head, in which the top-most left horn was shorter, as if by past injury. A deep dark red cloak was tied over their back, which fluttered and swayed as they padded on their knuckles. The reds, accented by golds, contrasted the pale, desaturated blue of their silvery skin. They also had a cropped tail, and whenever they greeted the caretaker, their tail stub and six pink antennae would wiggle.

You hoped with all your heart that they were thinking about picking you. You couldn’t take the loneliness any longer. That was the main reason why you left Earth, after all. Still, the nagging fear that you would not be wanted, not even by the supposedly pack bonding Xenith, instilled a deeply rooted misery in your twisting guts.

Another despairing week passed by. In the morning, that particular red-robed Xenith came to your display for the dozenth time. The caretaker came with them, and they were both glancing down at you and across to one another silently. You squinted, wondering what the pale giants were telecommuting about.

“(And all is settled? The shipment is now here? It must be perfect.)”

The inner eye lids of the caretaker’s eyes blinked slowly. “(Correct, Sientia. The import of human belongings has docked. Expect delivery today.)”

Sientia was delighted, their upper most and longest antenna coiling together with excitement. They gently lifted and pressed the pads of their knuckles to the ground, as if prancing in place. Now that the secondary ships containing Earth goods were finally arriving, caring for human pets would be a lot easier. There had to be good beds, good bathrooms, good food and clothes. So, tomorrow, Sientia would come back and remove you from the lonely communal homes.

Sientia, some short time before, had reached the end of their mourning period. As a Xenith, companionship was the main driving force of their life. So when their previous pet passed away of old age, they fell into a deep, sorrowful grief, and decided if they survived mourning, the next one must have a longer life span. It just so happened that the long-lived alien species, Homo sapiens, were finally agreeing to put their people into the Xenith pet program.

So, Sientia had given away some of their extra crop in order to secure their pick of the next human pet shipment. Each craft carried fifty at a time, so demand was very high, especially being that it was first come first serve with pets. And on the first day of your shipment’s arrival, Sientia had chosen you. You were the perfect shape, and with the despairing history listed in your files, Sientia knew you had to be the one. How could they choose any other human to be their companion? They would give you a happy life.

Both of the giants began to stare down at you, and you stared back. The visitor lifted back their lips (or what barely constituted as lips) and bore their flat teeth in what you assumed was meant to be a smile. Xenith facial expressions were rather empty, since they spoke telepathically. This one was acting on purpose. They were hoping to elicit comfort from you. Instead, something about the attention made you embarrassed and you looked back down.

The next day the funny blue-tinted alien arrived to take you home. They were accompanied by the caretaker, who was in very good spirits. Sientia splayed out their huge palm inside the glass, awaiting your reaction. Instantly, the caretaker jolted.

“(You may scare the thing away with such forward action! It is typical to allow me to place the pet into a container for relocation. If they bite you or become injured, I am not liable.)”

Sientia barely flinched at the warning, instead focusing on you. It was as if they had not heard the caretaker at all. “(Come, come. I am taking you home!)”

When Sientia 'spoke,’ you heard nothing. Rather, you felt the strangest tickle in your brain that traveled down your spine, and you got the sense that they were asking for your attention.

Glancing slowly from the hand to the strange salamander face above you, you suddenly realized you were being adopted. Relief washed over you and, with a nervous smile, you climbed on.

You flailed and got to your knees when the hand moved. Gravity pressed down on you gently as Sientia lifted you up, up, up out of the glass apartment and into the air. They stopped you close to their face, where you could look deeply into their six pink neon eyes.

“…H-hi,” you peeped, feeling as vulnerable as a bare baby.

“(Look, they are brave! I will carry them,)” Sientia imparted happily to the caretaker.

“(Very well. Allow them to collect their belongings, then you may leave. Please contact us if you require additional supplies. And you,)” The caretaker gestured towards you with their long antennae. “(You must be good to Sientia. Their body is weak from mourning.)”

Of course, you heard nothing.

So you gathered your things and went home with them in the most horrifying way possible; over twenty feet in the air. They trod home on two feet. The world moved passed you in a blur of light and color, and when Sientia noticed you shaking, they placed their other hand over you to create a comfortable bubble of safety. You wrapped your arms around one of their thick fingers so you could feel some sense of security.

Eventually you arrived. Before letting you down, they moved into a specific room and closed the door behind them. It was best to let pets grow used to their new environment slowly. One room would do for now.

“(There you are,)” they comforted. They placed you and your suitcase at the mouth of a house-sized 'cage,’ which rested upon a high surface. “(Nice and easy.)”

The comforting words fell upon deaf ears. You stood there shaking, still feeling adrenaline pumping in your veins. You barely shifted to glance back at the uncomfortably square human-sized door.

Sientia stared at you. When you only moved to cross your arms, they snorted from the nostrils of their chest and went away to a device embedded in the wall. They touched the screen. A couple of choice pages were pulled up, to which they read greedily from. Images were downloaded.

They glanced back at you. Back to the screen. Back at you. Then they lumbered over and sat down nearby.

“(I see I have made a mistake, your expression seems to be 'unhappy,’ or 'distant.’ You are a brave human. But. I may have been irresponsible to carry you before you were ready. I got, excited.)”

They studied your face for a while longer, their expression hard to read. Xenith had a perma-smile, much like dolphins. Sometimes it was unnerving to look at.

You looked away, feeling awkward to be stared at silently. Soon you began to glance around the gigantic room, noticing the state of your surroundings. Besides Sientia’s bed (what looked like a pile of cloth in a long box), a computer poking out of the wall, and the smooth counter top that your cage sat upon, the room was eerily empty. The walls were a pale, metallic pink, and a heavy light emulated the sun overhead. No windows.

Sientia huffed. They decided they would attempt to communicate better. They didn’t know your language, but they had learned a few words and phrases in preparation for your arrival. They’d probably butcher them, but hopefully you would understand. Earth languages did not come easily with their sticky, five pronged tongue.

“(Perhaps I should have began with) Hello, I am called Sssientia.”

You started frightfully. You didn’t think this one could talk!

“Could you speak the whole time? Um, I’m [Y/N]. Your name is… pretty. Ssssen-ccchia,” you enunciated. It sounded more harsh from your toothy mouth, though.

They perked up, pleased. Finally, your attention was back upon them. Now you both knew each other’s names. Not a bad start!

“Hungry?” asked the giant, trying to speak softly so as not to frighten you.

You smiled shyly. That spooky ride to your new home had made you forget you hadn’t had breakfast. “Yes, a little.” you replied.

Sientia knew 'yes.’ They made a low, throaty sound and stood up on all fours, then got to their two feet. You were left alone in the empty room as the alien fetched something to eat. Curiosity over came you; what would they bring back? The adoption facility had given you baked chicken, fresh corn-on-the-cob, and ripe fruits like peaches and pears. Would your new owner present the same? Your belly rumbled.

They returned, hopeful you would like the foods they were given from the companion facility. Sientia plopped down carefully and lowered their palm. Inside was a cucumber, a hunk of warm, uncut bread, and a fat chicken leg. The meal looked miniscule in their oversized grasp.

“Strange combination,” you mumbled with a smirk, accepting the food. There was no plate, so you just nibbled straight from their hand.

Sientia’s antennae wiggled and curled with joy. They watched their little pet eat from their palm; a new sense of adoration and comfort washing over them. They had a good feeling about you, even if they still hurt from their previous loss.

They’d been so terribly sad when their previous pet had passed. Sientia had known that it was coming. That species only lived about twenty-five years, which for a human, was fifteen Earth years. But it was still a shock when they’d woken to find their beloved friend gone. Even while watching you eat, they felt a small tang of pain. The mourning period was over, but the sadness of memory never really left.

As you crunched straight into the juicy cucumber, Sientia crunched down on something too. You stared up, head cocking in confusion. When Sientia noticed, they slowly lowered the partially eaten food to your level for you to get a good look-see.

You stepped back. “Ah! That’s a HUGE bug!”

The half-eaten insect-like fauna was removed from your space as soon as Sientia realized it scared you. Seemed like a lot about the Xenith world frighten a human, but they hoped you would come to enjoy it in time.

“(It is tasty, I raise them. Perhaps I will show you the farm someday. But staying very close. You are a good snack for large livestock, like this one,)” they gestured by lifting the insect in hand, then biting off another gooey chunk.

You shuddered and averted your eyes. Gross. How could you forget? Xenith were well known on Earth as a people who consumed 'gargantuan pests.’ Great measures were taken to bar them from entering livestock onto Earth when they visited. Dead ones only. They’d surely cause a massive plague if not kept well under watch. Yet, here on the Xenith home planet, they were farmed far and wide as a main source of food.

You weren’t hungry anymore.

The rest of the day was spent inside that one room, exploring. That is to say, exploring what little there was to actually explore. Your cage was like a little house: a cozy bedroom with a king-sized bed, a spacious bathroom (plumbing and all), a small library with books in many languages, and a more open area for eating.

The cage did not have a ceiling, except for the bathroom. One of the walls of your bedroom was glass, while the dining room was all glass. By contrast, both the library and the bathroom were made of painted wooden walls.

Below the cage there was empty space, empty space, empty space. Perhaps for Sientia this was a small room, but to a human it was a beaming cathedral. You felt like a ladybug when you tottered about the bottom edges of Sientia’s thickly blanketed bed. Sientia kept a close eye on you while you sniffed around. They did not want to step on you.

The day was long on this planet. A cycle was thirty-two Earth hours. You ended up taking a five hour 'nap’ in the mid-day. Had a second meal. Then about three hours after that, Sientia gently put you back to bed and dimmed the room’s light.

After a very, very long sleep, you were awoken as Sientia stirred about the house. You rose drowsily. Good god, you hoped a few months on that schedule would see you adjusting to it well. Your circadian rhythm, so far, was displeased. Days too long, nights too long. But you’d live.

As you slipped an old T-shirt over your head, Sientia appeared, looking in above you. They watched you a bit, but you were reluctant to do anything while feeling like a walking television.

“Uh, hi,” you waved awkwardly.

“Hi,” Sientia repeated. They did not know many words. “Hungry?”

Food was already set out for you in the dining area. You had a breakfast of scrambled eggs (a little rubbery), pancakes (with maple embedded), and a sliced apple (salted). When you were full, Sientia slid one of the glass walls out of place. You didn’t know those were removable!

A hand was laid down. “[Y/N], come, (I am going to get you many nice things to wear.)”

You grimaced. You didn’t want to be carried around like that again just yet. “I would rather not.”

Sientia’s antennae moved subtly, thinking, then they understood the issue. The hand came back up as they puffed out their chest. Sientia pointed to a harness. Right above their four nostrils was a backpack like carrier, which was strapped around their shoulders. It reminded you of a baby wrap or purse, but much, much larger. It even had a few pouches in front for accessories, such as food or toys.

“You had one of those? Why did you carry me in your hand yesterday!” It was more scolding than it was a question.

Sientia bellowed a response, but you got the feeling that it was as meaningful as a human meowing back at a cat.

“…Alright, okay. Let’s just do this then.”

So they cheerfully settled you into the pocket on their chest. It was deep enough that you would not have to see the world, if you choose not to climb up and look.

You spent the ride curled up close to the side of the pouch that Sientia’s skin touched on the other side. You thought you could hear a heartbeat from there, but that was surely impossible. Xenith didn’t have hearts. At least, not in the human sense. Still, there was the steady pulse of their body, thumping gently and keeping you calm. And since you were so close to their nostrils, hot air constantly warmed the pouch. You wondered if this was how a lap dog felt while being carried in a purse. It was nice. You nearly forgot that you were being carried far from the ground.

Finally, Sientia came to their destination. It was a little pet boutique that sold many different types of imported clothes, specializing in sentient species. It had recently begun to acquire shipments of imported human goods.

Sientia had been devastated to see what little you had brought with you, and was determined to put you in something better. You may have left your new home wearing a hole-worn T-shirt, but you would return wearing lavish threads.

“(Hello, what species do you shop for?)” asked the retailer, who was dressed in extravagant magenta fabrics.

You poked your head out, nervous eyes wandering around.

“(Eh! You care for a human! So cute! Yes, yes, we have many clothes for humans. Please, let them down to browse, and we may write up a payment plan.)”

Sientia helped you to the floor and the retailer pointed them towards the human section. It looked small, but it was truly as expansive as a mega-chain on Earth.

“Y/N,” Sientia gestured towards the clothes and gave you a nudge.

You hadn’t been paying much attention and stumbled, catching your balance by grasping onto a clothes rack. Upon realizing the rack was proportionate to your size, you gawked. Your wide, surprised eyes drank in the sight; rows upon rows of imported human goods. Dresses, jackets, shorts, coats, an extensive section of underwear. You looked back at Sientia with awe.

“Are you actually going to buy me clothes?” you peeped, barely audible enough for the pale giant.

When they gestured towards the rows again, you turned and began to tear through the selection.

You tried on clothes for an Earth hour. When you’d come out from the (far too big) stalls to show Sientia, they were always overjoyed with how stunning you looked. It didn’t seem to matter what you picked out, it simply pleased them that you were having so much fun.

At the checkout line, you had garment after garment piled up in your arms. You couldn’t remember the last time your face had hurt from smiling this long. Sientia carefully petted your head with a round finger tip before taking the clothes and checking out. You’d gotten all that you’d wanted, and instead of being chided, your master was brimming with elation. No one had ever been so glad to throw their money away on you. Not even your parents. You tried to massage your cheeks to relax them while the retailer and Sientia finished up their business.

Back home, you folded and hung your new threads up neatly. Then you strutted about bearing a fancy faux fur coat and patterned leggings. You even had new name brand shoes. None of it matched, but it was more than you’d ever had. To show off like a proud peacock made you blush, but Sientia purred and grumbled happily, finding you quite humorous. You couldn’t help but enjoy their attention after such a nice outing together.

They brought their head down to the table. “(You seem so happy and look so good! I hope I’m doing well by you, so that you may want to stay with me.)”

You came near. Avoiding their watchful gaze, you nervously lifted a hand and patted their snout, between the smaller eyes. “Thank you for all of this, really. I was worried about being here, but I think… maybe you have a good heart. Or,” you laughed “maybe you just like to spend extravagant amounts of money to show off? Well.. I’m grateful.”

They audibly chirped at you in reply, nuzzling the hand carefully with affection.

A few days went by uneventfully. Then one day, while you were being allowed to explore the (much larger) main chamber, a loud beep alerted Sientia to visitors.

They opened the door. “(Antha, you’re here! Welcome! It’s been very long, please come and have a drink. Where is your- eh! Your human is on your head! Doesn’t that hurt?)”

The dark gray Xenith bumped a padded fist with Sientia in greeting, then chuckled out loud. They came inside as they spoke. “(Only a little, it tickles now mostly. We are close, so I am not annoyed! Now, where is yours that you tell me so much about? I’ve been eager for ours to meet. It is good for humans to have a friend. They’re social beings.”)

You carefully stepped under a table, watching the guest enter. Upon the other’s dark, wide set head, a human stood and clung to antennae with both of their hands. It frightened you even to look at. Good god, that was high. They could slip at any moment and plummet to their death. You had to look away so it didn’t make you queasy.

“Come,” called Sientia as the two Xenith laid on blankets around the shallow table.

So you came out and were placed upon the surface, which was covered with a thin, patterned cloth. Likewise, the guest brought down their companion. Instead of going to greet one another, you both remained close to the side your master lay at. But then Antha spoke an alien language out loud, and their human came to you.

“Hey. Antha thinks I need to talk to someone of my own species I guess. So uh,” he stuck out his hand awkwardly.

What was this, a business meeting? You hesitantly accepted the shake. This man was possibly ten years older than you and was wearing casual, comfortable clothes. He spoke with a slight accent, which you were unfamiliar with. But the most interesting feature was that when Antha spoke to him again, he actually turned and understood.

“So like… you can understand them?”

The man turned back to you. “Uh, not really,” he pointed at a device in his ear. “Antha just got us digital translators. I mean, some of the words don’t translate very well, and there’s some lag, but it’s better than nothing. I think my master is going to give yours one! Say, how long have you been a pet?”

While you and the other chatted idly, Sientia and Antha caught up.

“(So… you’ve been feeling better?)” Antha asked quietly in Sientia’s head.

Sientia’s eyes became downcast. “(I… suppose so. It’s hard to adjust to something new after being with someone for so long. It’s going to take a while.)”

Antha lowered their head in understanding.

“(It still hurts. As I rest, my body aches,)” their six antennae moved sluggishly and drooped.

Antha attempted to comfort. “(I am here. And so is- what do you call your companion? They will sooth your ache too.)”

“([Y/N], a good name. I believe they are feeling well about their new home. The cage is proportioned correctly, and they have eaten nearly everything I’ve given them. We do not communicate well, because we cannot understand one another, but I feel that they are generally happy so far.)”

Antha’s head bobbed, remembering they’d come for a reason. “(Th, yes! Here, accept this gift!)” they then dug something out of the pouch around their chest. There was a strange object, meant to be clipped onto one of the large antennas. Then, beside it, a tinier object that looked like a grain of sand in the palm of a Xenith.

“(Gift?)”

“(See that I speak to my human so easily? This is a translator! My friend, you’ve been through such grief, you deserve something nice. Please accept it.) Clarence dear, help [Y/N] with the device.”

The man stopped talking and perked up at his name. He nodded, and took the small piece when it was lowered to him. He helped you do basic set up while Antha fit the bigger piece onto Sientia. It took about ten minutes to get everything all settled, but luckily, it wasn’t too difficult.

“Can you hear me?” asked your master nervously.

You gasped then smiled. Amazing! “Yes! Yes, I understand perfectly! This is so cool!”

Clarence returned to the side of Antha and sat in their hand, satisfied.

“It works well,” spoke Antha, rubbing their thumb gently over their pet’s back.

“Thank you Antha! Th- [Y/N], are you happy?”

Emotions were mingling and mixing intensely inside of you. So when Sientia suddenly popped that question, you had to take a moment to process it. That was only the third question Sientia had asked you since meeting, and it was such a selfless one. You blushed.

“I-I-I mean-” you stammered. “-this world is… different. But the air is clean and the people are kind, so.. yeah. I’m pretty happy,” you spilled. “Anything beats Earth.”

You glanced back at Clarence and Antha. Clarence was rubbing his face against Antha’s fingers affectionately like a cat. Your blush darkened and you snapped back to Sientia, who titled their head.

“Are you happy, Sientia?” you peeped. You wanted to add 'are you happy with ME?’ but did not.

“…Yes, see?” they put on a humanoid smile, teeth and all, like they had done before adopting you. But there was a thin layer of sadness under that reply.

You were quiet, but eventually smiled back. You hoped Sientia couldn’t understand the way your brows furrowed in concern.

After a short, awkward silence, Antha huffed and spoke up. “Sientia, [Y/N], have you considered competing yet?”

You looked back and forth between the two. “Competing?”

“(NO,)” Sientia lowered their head and looked away. “(Antha… you know that was Inridd'h and I’s favorite thing.)”

“(Yes, I’m sorry,)” they apologized, before lifting a grabby Clarence up onto their head. “(But I just… I also know how much it meant to you. To be able to train and spend so much time with your companion, and to show the crowd how much you trusted one another.”)

It seemed the Xenith were ignoring you. You sighed and sat down, legs crossed.

Sientia looked back up at Antha, their sad pink and cyan eyes like doe. They watched Clarence balance and keep a careful hold on Antha’s antennae. Eventually he made his way to the back of Antha’s head where their crest was, and settled there when Antha tilted their head forward. No sense of fear. Clarence knew Antha would not allow him to fall. Then, Sientia shifted to watch you. You sat so patiently, waiting for attention. Guilt struck the blue Xenith.

“[Y/N],” they called softly. “Would you like to compete?”

You straightened up. “Well, that probably depends on what you two mean by competing. Like… sports?”

Antha rumbled. “Perhaps not. It’s more similar to a, ehm, a 'dog show?'”

They didn’t sound too convinced of their own comparison. You scratched your head and leaned back on your hands. “So like, being dressed up and paraded around an arena? Or is it more like agility, where dogs run through tubes and go up ramps?”

Both of the aliens looked confused. It seemed they had difficulty explaining. Antha only had vague knowledge of how human dog shows worked, and Sientia was totally unaware of them. However, Clarence had been in a few small scale shows.

“It’s kind of a dog show plus beauty pageant!” he yelled from Antha’s head. Antha flinched in return, so Clarence apologized quietly for yelling so close to their sensitive antennae.

Sientia placed their head onto the table, where eye contact was easier. They looked like they were awaiting a response.

You stood and crossed your arms uncomfortably. A sense of dread sat in your guts. You thought about the nice new clothes you’d been given, and tried to imagine yourself walking down a stage all fluffed up. All your brain could conjure was the image of a crowd of Xenith and strange, beautiful alien creatures, wondering why it was you were so… ugly. Why were your clothes like that? Why walk that way? You imagined what they’d say.

'Oh, you know humanity is simply second to the slug peoples of planet Dirtemous. That’s why they all look and act so hilarious!’

Then the beautiful alien’s equally beautiful friend would laugh and reply. 'Yes, and what sort of awful thing would ever want to claim THAT particular human as a pet? I’d rather have the slug! Ho-ho-ho!’

You took a breath. What a stupid imagination you had. But even such an exaggerated, outlandish thought had some sort of truth in it. You were anxious. Not only were you worried about being scrutinized by strangers, you were also worried that you would embarrass your master. Sientia was a kind, lonely thing. They didn’t need you making things worse. You were just making yourself sadder and sadder, and the look in Sientia’s eyes did not help.

“You don’t have to agree, my pet,” they eventually added.

With one last glance at Clarence and Antha, you decided. You wanted to trust Sientia like that. You wanted to make them happy. So, you would try.

“Yes. I don’t think I’ll be very good at it, or win anything, but… yes. I’ll compete,” you shrugged.

There was both pain and joy inside of Sientia. The notion that they were replacing a chunk of their heart that was once filled with their old pet devastated them. But they also knew the only way to recover was to keep going; to move forward. Inridd'h would not have wanted them to keep falling asleep at night aching for relief. Inridd'h did not smile upon them when they shut themself away.

Sientia, too, would try.

An overwhelming desire for comfort overtook Sientia, and they scooted their flat head forward to nuzzle you. It knocked you back a bit to have their whole head thrust up against your body, but you steadied and petted their head.

“Are you okay?” you asked, unaware of why it was they seemed so upset.

Antha stood up slowly. “It is time we head back home. Please keep in contact, Sientia. I care. We will want to come to your competition! Goodbye friends.”

“(Wait, you never had anything to drink!)”

But Antha and Clarence had already gotten to the door and let themselves out.

You hadn’t been sure what training for an alien competition would entail.

Apparently, you would be physically looked over to determine if you had good breeding. Like a dog. You didn’t look forward to that part very much, considering you were sentient and not some space lemur that could just be treated like decoration. This segment would also note your outfit. Sientia had said that this part of the competition would be worth less points than the rest of the competition.

Then, much like a pageant, you would show off your talents. This forced you to actually have to sit down one night and determine what the hell your talents even were. Running away from home, maybe? You got flashbacks from the horrific talent show in second grade. You did not want a repeat of that.

“I don’t think I really have any talents,” you admitted to your master as you sat comfortably in their bed.

Sientia laid down beside you, poking at a device in their hands. You supposed the device was much like a cell phone on Earth, but made for the Xeniths’ large, clumsy fingers. They were pulling up videos of humans performing various tasks, hoping to find a talent to suggest.

“Cooking?” they asked.

“I can cook packaged ramen. Maybe bake a potato. So no.”

“Horse riding? We do not have a 'horse,’ but they can provide something similar.”

You plopped over on your back, grimacing. “God, no.”

“Th! Humans are adequate at singing!”

“Um… let’s not even go there.”

With every suggestion your heart sank further and further. You should have never agreed. With a sigh you turned over onto your side, hoping to keep Sientia from seeing the way your eyes watered. You wiped at the sting.

“Sientia, really, I don’t think I can win this. So maybe I should give up before we get too deep.”

They sat up on their elbows, setting the device down. “I detect sadness in your voice. Did you change your mind?”

“I just don’t want to get your hopes up.”

The room was quiet a moment. Then the giant turned on their side and gently rubbed their finger along your back, hoping to ease the pain in your words. The sensation was… actually very nice.

“Please, do not be sad [Y/N]! You don’t have to do this if it makes you uncomfortable. The competition is simply an act, performed for the love of it, and perhaps sometimes for the prize! I don’t believe any companion’s master has been broken by a loss. I could not be disappointed if we lost. So, please feel better.”

You still had a heavy heart, but the reassurance that this was not anything serious helped you feel a bit easier. Knowing that Sientia already knew you could lose and did not care cheered you up even more.

“R-really?” you squeaked, turning onto your back once again.

They nodded, swiping their finger across your torso and belly as if to continue comforting.

You squeaked and grabbed the finger, face red. “That tickles!”

Sientia stopped and removed the appendage. “Eh! Sorry!” they looked away. “My… previous companion enjoyed belly rubs.”

Now it was Sientia who sounded sad.

“Do you… want to talk about it?”

They thought, antennae moving slow as if fidgeting. Eventually they huffed out hot air and answered.

“They were bigger than you. Non-sentient. Covered in rough, damp skin. Very jumpy and loud, and they passed away in their favorite spot in the glass house. We… used to compete a lot. And I miss them,” Sientia seemed to sink into the blankets. “That is all I would like to say for now. I’m still hurting.”

You had to wipe at your eyes again. Memories of your mother played through your tumultuous brain, reminding you how grief could invade one’s life so fully. Even when your family had problems, you never could stifle or hide the hurt when she passed. After gaining courage, you stood and moved to curl up against Sientia’s skin.

The alien was surprised at the contact. They glanced down and felt their affection surge for you, the finger coming to your back again.

“You’re so much softer than Inridd'h. So much different.”

You curled against yourself tighter and nuzzled your forehead against their skin. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it is good that you’re different. I’m different than I once was, too. Please never be sorry for being yourself, my pet.”

After a minute or two of easy silence, they added. “Do you still want to compete, or have your changed your mind?”

Without hesitation, you replied. “I still want to do it. Maybe I can’t think of a talent off the top of my head, but… I’m sure we’ll figure it out. Together.”

In the end, you decided on painting. According to Sientia, Xenith were most fond of abstract art. That was something you could do. Though not formally trained, you’d painted a couple of shoddy pieces in the past that your parents had enjoyed. One had even been printed as a holiday greetings card, much to your embarrassment. But unlike the thickly globbed on acrylics of family pets and favored cartoon characters, you’d be working with thin watercolors to make something representational and abstract.

So you practiced and practiced. Sientia had even gotten you a nice new desk to sit and paint at. You’d use thin sheets of paper to work with, though the Xenith’s idea of “thin paper” was still rather thick.

It was actually extremely therapeutic to just focus on shapes and color. You’d find yourself trying to represent the objects in your room without making it obvious what they were. Making an abstract piece representational was a feat and required a great deal of thought. You hoped by the time the competition started, you’d be able to stand in front of the crowd and paint something they would enjoy.

Soon, you moved onto painting on a sheet of paper tacked to a wooden board, which was held up by a portable easel. You’d stand in front of the blank, semi-yellowed sheet, and just think. A pink spot there. An orange square there. A deep, deep cobalt wave streaked vertically through the piece. It was missing something. You watered down some yellow then made a generously thick, wiggly-lined circle around the square. Done.

“How comes practice?”

You were startled and snapped your head up. How long had Sientia been watching? You stilled your heart and smiled up at them. “I actually think my work isn’t half bad!”

“Hm,” The giant lowered their head closer to your spot on the counter top. “What is it?”

You stepped back. “Well, what do you think it is?”

This response pleased Sientia. They tilted their head this way and that, before deciding. “I don’t recognize the shape. This yellow, it is a good color. I am no artist, but I also enjoy-” they gestured to the blue. “-this squiggle, here.”

You placed your hands on your hips, feeling all fuzzy from the praise. “It’s a lamp. One I had in my apartment, way back on Earth. It was pretty ugly, but my parents had given it to me as a housewarming gift.”

Sientia lifted their looming head back up. “I didn’t know humans needed heat lamps. Should I ask one be imported?”

You laughed heartily, before taking a rest and explaining that no, you had not referred to a heat lamp.

The time to compete finally came. Sientia picked out a nice outfit for you to wear, settled you into the pouch, then headed out eagerly.

You knew you’d arrived when it became terribly noisy. Most of the Xenith remained in their heads, however other alien species that resided on the planet were chattering away.

You poked your head out of the pouch to watch where you were being taken. You were inside of an arena, which was surprisingly similar to arenas on Earth. The stands were chock-full. It was hard to distinguish what sort of other aliens were among the bleachers. All you could make out was a mix of pale Xenith, and various shades of lavender and baby’s breath blue.

The two of you checked in and were escorted to the first area. This space was within the bleachers. Instead of having the audience surrounding you, you were simply on camera for the first half of the contest. Later you would be taken back into the thick of it.

Sientia placed you carefully onto a pedestal as drones buzzed around everyone. They kept all companions at around Xenith chest level, as they stood on twos. Almost immediately you were surrounded by several of the other Xenith contestants, who were delighted to see a human.

A silvery Xenith focused on Sientia. “(You have a human?)”

“(Aw, might I hold them?)” asked a yellowish Xenith.

The third spoke your language. “Hello!”

Sientia huffed awkwardly and kept close. They seemed abashed.

“(Please don’t touch! This is [Y/N]. It’s their first competition, so do not frighten my dear companion!) [Y/N], are you well?”

You backed up and bumped into the hand of the yellow-tinted Xenith. With a start you leaped and stumbled back over to the side Sientia was closest to. “It’s just… wow. A lot of attention.”

“(Apologies. I attempted to adopt a human, but they continually were out. How did you receive this one?)” questioned the silver alien.

Sientia fidgeted. “(I farm, so I simply gave excess crop away early. This secured a spot to choose a human.)”

The yellow Xenith kept staring at you longingly. “(Ehmmm… I wanted one, too. You think ahead. Very smart.)”

Sientia wanted to get rid of them. “(I believe the judging is starting.)”

So the others ended up scurrying back to their own companions, but not before a couple more desirable glances were thrown down at you.

You sighed, grateful.

“It really is starting,” commented Sientia with surprise, as the judge came into the inner bleachers. “Brace yourself. The pedestal will shift.”

So. A physical and fashion check was first on the agenda. It was the part you had been dreading every day. You took a deep, calming breath.

Because so many sentient species were twelve feet and under, the judge had to be proportionate during this segment. Everyone was moved downwards, so that the small judge could come by. A drone slightly bigger than your head followed behind the no-nonsense alien, which you had no doubt was plastering all this upon the screens outside.

One by one, the contestants were- you shuttered- fondled. You didn’t know if that was a good or bad shutter, but you had butterflies in your stomach.

The judge, a seven foot tall, light blue alien that walked on the tips of its three-pronged feet, was very thorough. They would circle the contestant, watch the way they walked, judge their outfit, and then feel certain parts of the body over. Occasionally a contestant would lean in, as if dizzy, before the judge finished up, wrote something down, and then left to the next pedestal.

“Don’t be nervous,” comforted Sientia quietly, who had laid beside you. “Remember, we can forfeit at any time my pet. I will not let you stay if you change your mind.”

You smiled at them before being spooked by the sudden appearance of the judge. You hadn’t realized that the alien had been getting close.

The judge was very professional throughout most of the examination. Stoically, they watched you walk and jotted something down. Comments were mumbled in an sing-song alien tongue about your choice of outfit.

'Polka-dots, with plaid shorts?’ you imagined them saying.

Then the part that had you most nervous came. The alien felt your arms gently, slid a hand over to your chest and thumbed over the ribs. Were they counting them? They squished down where certain organs were along your body. Finally, the intrusive appendage cupped your cheek and pressed your upper lip out of the way. You instinctively bore your teeth and grimaced.

“Very good teeth. Unique human specimen,” spoke the strange alien in your language.

There was a sweet scent, like sugar, in the air. Your eyes fluttered and you found yourself relaxing. Suddenly you understood why it was some of the other contestants appeared to become dizzy. Whatever this alien was emitting smelled lovely.

The judge swiped a finger over your blunt human canines. “Always fascinated by Homo sapien teeth.”

They removed the hand and glanced over at Sientia, the air sack around their neck tinged pink. “You groom your human well,” they said in Sientia’s language.

“Thank you,” Sientia eyed the judge suspiciously.

You had no idea what they had said. The judge patted your cheek, quickly wrote a final thought down, then left. It almost made you sad to see them go. However, after a few minutes your head cleared. That was a weird experience. You straightened your back and awaited the second segment.

“Do you think I did alright?”

Sientia moved their head near. “Yes, you did wonderfully! I am certain. The judge sounded… much too pleased. Fae are simply like that, though.” They gave you an encouraging nuzzle.

You blushed and rubbed your hands over Sientia’s head. It was funny that you were supposedly the pet, yet you were the one who did most of the petting. You felt them physically purr.

After the first segment ended, contestants were directed one by one back into the main arena. The Xenith held their companions in their hand and were paraded around the edge. It was hard to keep your cool. You had to force yourself not to look down as you tried to keep balance.

This was all so overwhelming. It wasn’t nearly as loud as a stadium back on your home planet, but the quiet chatter did invade your thoughts. Being so high in the air, with all eyes and ears and words directed at you, started to make you terribly dizzy. But as you glanced over into the crowd, you found a familiar face.

“Look! It’s Antha!”

“Ehm,” hummed Sientia in response, who was finally allowed to come to a stop. “You see Antha?”

Antha wiggled their fingers. On top of their head stood Clarence, hardly more than a speck in the distance. But the little speck squirmed, and you just knew he was waving vigorously at the two of you.

Your spirits lifted again. You waved back, grinning. The support was very much needed, and Clarence’s presence reminded you of the true reason you’d decided to compete. You wanted to trust Sientia fully, as Clarence did Antha, and you wanted to make your master happy.

Sientia nodded their head in Antha’s direction. This almost made Sientia feel like they had before the mourning period; warm and fuzzy, like a healthy Xenith. They puffed up just a little more, antennae high and spread wide.

So, it was time for the talent competition to begin. You watched the flickering screens above the stadium as various individuals attempted to impress the intense, boring eyes of the judges.

There were four judges in total. One Xenith. The other three included a brawny, one-eyed biped, a large piebald covered in feathers, and the previous judge who had done the physical. They sat across the field, and hardly blinked as they jotted down notes and numbers on the performances before them.

A dark, four-armed alien with a flat face could throw a heavy metal ball across the entire field with ease. A five-foot, mousy alien could complete an agility course in under twenty seconds. A long and skinny serpent like alien could dance and twirl like a ribbon within the air. The crowd particularly liked the serpent, clicking and chattering at the graceful shapes made as she looped around.

You tried to still your heart. That was some tough competition, but you’d been practicing your art skills each and every day. You were certain you would please at least the Xenith judge. Maybe you’d win them over with your human 'cuteness,’ even if the painting didn’t elicit a major response. After all, some thought humans were endearing. If you fumbled, you’d play it off and try to look nothing short of adorable. Even if the voice in your head kept telling you that they should see you as an ugly species, that you yourself were ugly, you’d been proven wrong on multiple occasions.

Finally, it was your turn to shine.

“Are you ready?” asked Sientia quietly, with concern.

“As I’ll ever be.”

Sientia stepped further into the field, careful let you down, then removed your setup from the pouch on their chest. It was a large sheet of watercolor paper, nailed to a wooden board five feet wide and ten feet tall, which Sientia propped against their free wrist. Your act would consist of painting a certain someone while using their hand to raise and lower yourself along the canvas. A show of trust while also entertaining the crowd. A perfect act.

Two drones flew low, eyes watchful. You tied an apron on and stuffed your brushes into the front pockets. After picking up a closed container, you made meaningful eye contact with Sientia. They lifted you upon their hand, to which you opened and dumped the container down over the top of the paper. Gray tinted water dripped, soaking into the paper a quarter down.

The brushes were whipped out. Over the course of ten minutes you drove the wide tipped brushes into buckets of pre-mixed colors and swept them across the open plains. Deep cyan, made from an imported liquid watercolor, was your main shade.

You made four quick strokes, forming a ball with spikes coming from one end. One long thin strip vertical from that, though not touching. Then horizontally a fat, stocky, uneven line that was bigger at the end than tip. Two near perfect, wet cyan circles close to the bottom, both dripping towards the edges. You admired your work a second, already out of breath.

A few more blue splotches were added before you switched colors. A bright, watery pink mingled with the blues, mixing into purple in several areas. Embarrassingly, a large, unwanted splat splashed onto the paper, to which you blushed and pretended was on purpose. Then, before you knew it, you were adding the final touches in a gold leaf yellow.

Standing from a distance in Sientia’s hand, you turned your head this way and that, before giving a curt nod and deep bow.

“Tah-dah! It’s finished!”

Sientia let you down, and you were exhausted. Finishing a painting that large in just over ten minutes killed you. You popped your joints and looked hopefully over at the judges. Three of them were scribbling excitedly, while the Xenith was staring at the art. You didn’t know if that was good or bad. Eventually the giant titled their head down and gave their unknown input, too.

“You are so amazingly talented,” swooned Sientia, drawing your attention.

You smiled sheepishly, face very red. “Th-thank you. I… made it for you.”

Affectionate and surprised, Sientia wanted to cuddle you, but the two of you had to step back so the next contestant could work.

The rest of the aliens went by in a blur. You were simply too in your own head to pay hardly any attention. Over analyzing the minute body languages of the judge panel was not fun, and had you guessing- then guessing again- as to what your final score would be.

When the last out-of-breath contestant returned to their owner, the talent segment was done. All Xenith and pets were marched around the outer rim for a final lap, before returning to the inner stadium. Pets were placed back onto their pedestals to rest while the judges compiled their thoughts.

You sat and fidgeted quietly.

Sientia’s head teetered against the edge of the pedestal, cross-shaped eyes focused upon your nervous little form. “It is okay if we don’t win, my pet. Please remember. I’ve had so much fun today! It’s been a very, very, very long time since I’ve walked the circle and presented my companion before all. Do not fret so!”

That made you smile, if only a tidbit. “I know… I just can’t help but have nervous energy! If we won, that would make me sooo happy. It would make you so happy.”

The alien’s face emoted more densely than you’d ever seen before. Their eyes dilated, antennae curled, and they put on a wide, open grin. The smile was added for you, but still. Such emotion.

“I was right to choose you, [Y/N]. You are perfect.”

You nearly cried. Who in your life ever called you perfect? Not your first partner, nor your last. Most certainly not your parents or 'good’ aunt. Nobody was perfect in this world or the next, but the sheer fact someone was inspired enough to utter something so romantic made your heart flutter. You opened your mouth to even attempt a reply, but a noise chimed and echoed through the spacious corridor, flinging everyone around into silence.

A winner had been decided.

You stood and swallowed, hard.

Upon the elongated screens high, high on the metallic walls, the various aliens of the panel chatted softly. The same footage was being aired on enormous screens above the stadium, so everyone was watching in anticipation along with the contestants.

The four judge panel went through each contestant’s score briefly, citing anatomy and subjective thoughts on the talent segment. As they spoke in the local Xenith tongue, recordings of the contestants and their owners were played. You could not understand the talk at all, yet your eyes stayed glued to the video.

You saw yourself. Did your painting really look that bad on screen? 'Stay optimistic,’ you chanted to yourself inwardly. 'The Xenith like abstract art.’

You were given a number score of 68 out of 100. A sigh of relief. That wasn’t totally awful. So far, the scores ranged from 22 through 65, meaning you were somehow ahead. But there were still seven more scores to reveal.

Burning eyes stared down the screens, counting scores. 43, 50, and there it was, 71.

You lost.

Your legs were weak. You found yourself on knees, not even bothering to watch the rest of the judgment. Sientia had turned attention to you as soon as the higher score had been announced.

“Are you okay?” asked Sientia gently.

You sighed and ran a hand through your hair. “Yeah, I guess. Disappointed. Trying not to cry, but okay.”

They paused in thought. Sientia was truly not put off by the results. If only you could hear their telepathic emotions, they could send a wave of comfort and compassion your way. Instead, they had to settle for the physical and verbal. That was fine, too.

You felt something boop your head and flinched. A quick glance up revealed that one of Sientia’s longer antennae had touched you, from where the giant was tilting their head down. It patted you, unsure, the other poking you carefully in the face. It was like a dog coming up to sniff you. Considering the antennae were the most sensitive part of any Xenith, this was perhaps not far off.

“I know you’re trying to comfort me,” you said. “and it makes me happy, but… I don’t think I’ll be totally over this for a few days.”

“When we get home, I will make you your favorite food, and we can put on one of the imported Earth medias you like so much. Will this sooth?”

You couldn’t help the tug at your lips. “Hmmm… that is… acceptable. Thank you. So, who won?”

Out of 15 contestants, you ranked number 8. That was nearly in the dead center. The winner, with a score of 100 (as all contest winners are scored 100), was the four-armed alien who’d thrown the metal ball across the field. You supposed you couldn’t feel too bad about losing to an act like that. After all, even you had been impressed by that contestant’s superior show of strength.

There may have been resentment in your heart, as if you could have somehow done better, but at least Sientia did not blink twice at the results. To be human was to be rampant with emotion, so you could not help but feel a little upset at losing your first competition. But in the end, it was Sientia’s judgment that mattered. And Sientia was overjoyed just to spend time with you doing something they loved. That was something you would simply have to learn, especially if you decided to partake in more pet shows.

The two of you were given your prize, then met up with Antha and Clarence before leaving.

Antha lifted and pressed their knuckle pads to the ground, with Clarence balancing stupendously on their head. “(The two of you looked very good on the field!)”

If a Xenith could blush, Sientia would have. Instead, their antennae twirled bashfully. “(Thank you, friend. [Y/N] did well. I am so very much proud of them.)”

“And how do you feel, companion [Y/N?]”

You were still being carried in Sientia’s hand. You pursed your lips and shrugged. “Disappointed.”

Antha lowered their head closer, as Clarence wanted to comment.

The other human waved and beamed. “Hey, you did super great for your first competition! I’ve been in a few and man, let me tell you… the first time I tripped in front of the whole stadium. Over my own feet, too. Don’t worry so much, you did just fine!”

You couldn’t help but smile awkwardly, a little embarrassed “Thanks, Clarence.”

On the way home, you fulfilled your dream of riding at the top of Sientia’s flat head. Your master had been reluctant and afraid that you would get anxious, but you were adamant. One arm looped tightly around an antenna, the other fiddled with a tiny red participation ribbon, which was your only prize.

“Pet?”

You hummed.

“I’ve thought to ask. You say you painted for me. But, ehm, what have you painted?”

It took a moment to decipher the question. “Oh! Well,” you blushed. “I was trying to paint you! I know it didn’t come out exactly how I expected… that I could have done b-better to impress the judges-”

“Eh! No more talk of judges! I will hang it upon my wall above my nest. Look, we are home.”

Home was lamp-lit and unfit for a human to wander the rooms wide as a veldt, but it was home. The house that you grew up in had never felt like home, nor did the apartment you huddled in on Earth. But this strange, empty cube in the suburbs of the Xenith home world? It had begun to feel like home more so than any sad, brick building every did. You left Earth months ago, and never once began to regret that decision.

Sientia, you master and friend, spoke to you candidly and with compassion. They clothed you lovingly in lavish things, smoothed your anxieties like an iron, and wanted nothing more than to spend as much time as possible with you. They loved you so much that they wanted to lift you high in their palm, to put you in the eye of buzzing drones and chattering aliens.

Even during a time that Sientia was still recovering from loss, they wanted to badly to move forward. You think that they did. You could hear it in their voice now, whenever they spoke sweetly to you, that they knew Inridd'h was smiling. Before the competition, when you were still practicing your abstract thinking, there was a glint in Sientia’s six eyes. It filled them with comfort to watch you work so hard, and with such great passion.

You loved the miniature house Sientia built for you, and the surrounding areas Sientia themselves lived in. But more than anything, you loved Sientia. Sientia was what made the house a home. You prayed you could stay as long as possible, because at this point, you had no intention of leaving.

So, when they two of you returned home, you ate a big dinner, popped in a human movie, and curled up on their nest together. You fell asleep atop their head with a full belly and a healing heart.

EPILOGUE

Sientia held you close to their body. You could feel warm air rising from the nostrils of their chest, as you wobbled and balanced close to their shimmering blue skin.

“Now, you must stay close. Some species may swoop low and pick you up if you move too far. It is perhaps safer to remain in my hand, at first.”

You nodded, apprehensive but excited.

It had been half a year since you decided to become the pet of the great alien species, the Xenith. But you’d yet to experience the awe of being in close quarters with your master’s life work; their livestock. They’d kept you distant from their crop, as giant bugs were most certainly to be predators to little humans. You could be a tasty, blood-filled morsel. The scenario was as tense as introducing the pet chicken to a new barn cat.

You shielded your eyes as they opened the door to a blistering glass greenhouse. After a moment of wiping away involuntary tears, you were able to see again.

“Woooah,” you gasped.

To Sientia this was a large terrarium, but to you it was an expansive jungle. Tall yellow grass sprouted all around, circling the dirt and clays below. Alien ferns spread their fleshy leaves and fronds, sprinkling the air with heavenly scents. A myriad of neon blossoms bloomed among the plants and grasses, dotting it all with pinks, yellows, and whites. You’d never seen anything like this before. Not even at the zoo.

“Is this what all your grasslands look like, out in the wild?”

Sientia physically rumbled. You’d come to distinguish their vibrations and grunts from one another by now, and could see that they found your question funny.

“Some. I try to keep my crop happy.”

“Sooo.. where are all the gross bugs?” you asked, peeking over the side of their palm.

Sientia sat. “Here is one, in the grass.”

With their free hand they plucked the animal right out of hiding. It squeaked and stirred, squirming in surprise. It was much bigger than you, but still smaller than Sientia’s hand. You were used to seeing your master chomp down on these creatures, but they looked so much bigger when wriggling.

Sientia gently set the insect down into their other palm, so the two of you could meet up close. However, they kept a firm finger to the bug’s back, to keep it in place.

It’s stubby, fat antennae twitched and flickered, prickly legs struggling to pull itself out from the weight on its back. Eventually it was still.

“Go on. It’s safe. This is Henhil, you may tell from the markings against the back and legs. This one’s first clutch hatched a few days ago, so we shall not keep her long. You hear this, Henhil?”

Henhil’s mouth parts chewed idly.

“Wow,” you whispered, fascinated.

They really did just… look like giant over sized Earth arthropods. This type seemed like a cross between a fat beetle and a mantas. Her body was covered in a shiny black, and her wings, legs, and face were lined with silver. Two stripes of green cut through the silver on each of her eight legs. Bugs still freaked you out, but this was truly an amazing opportunity. What Earthling got to boast getting up close and personal with Permian era insects?

“She’s very pretty.”

Henhil started to wriggle again, her energy returning. You stumbled away, mindful of the mouth, as Sientia went ahead and plopped her back into place.

“On, then. Back to your children. Is this what you were expecting [Y/N?]”

You sat down, the heat exhausting you and making you sweat like a pig. “Well, it’s definitely something you’d like to do. I mean, raising bugs.”

“Then you think you would truly like to utilize such animals in a future competition?”

In the excitement you’d nearly forgotten the real reason Sientia was introducing the bugs to you at all. You’d been in two competitions now, and had won neither. Somehow, the concept of horseback riding continued to come up. Sientia was fascinated by the horse. There were no horses imported off planet, which was a shame. The next best thing where Sientia’s crop of livestock.

The insects were horse sized, give or take. Some had a body shape well off enough to accommodate a way of riding comfortably. Of course, they were being bred and raised to eat. Not ridden. But that didn’t mean that some of the younger one’s couldn’t be coaxed into allowing a human rider onto their backs. Henhil’s new clutch was likely a good place to start.

So, did you think you’d be able to get over your squeamishness and ride a big ol’ bug for the sake of winning? Absolutely. Winning wasn’t everything, but it would sure feel great to win. Or, if not win, to at least get second place. You know it would delight Sientia.

“I think I’d like to try. Maybe tomorrow, when you show me her mate, we can take a peek at the babies too?” you shuttered. “Are they like… grubs?”

The translator did not translate 'grub’ very well, but Sientia got the gist.

“Somewhat. Let’s go inside, you appear over exerted.”

Sientia brought you to their face and nestled you gently as you gave a smooch on their 'nose.’ Then, they stood and absconded from the sweltering greenhouse.

#terato #exophilia #aliens #size difference #writing

114 notes · View notes

tinytony-snack · 4 years

Text

Boy bands and movie marathon

[Superhusbands, superfamily, omegaverse, making-out, fluff & smut]

~~~

A two-day mission wasn’t the longest time he spent far from home, however coming back felt strangely like returning after an entire month of radio silence. Every hour he spent without his family was wrong under many aspects, especially during cold days, when all he wanted was to wrap his arms around his Omegas and little Alpha, cuddling with them while watching a kid movie—he almost forgot any other movies still existed.

The only thought made his chest warmer, like only a sweet kiss from Tony, or a good sip of hot chocolate, could do.

He entered the new Avengers compound and slid his shield off his shoulders, setting it aside on the floor. Sometimes also Captain America could be a little messy, by leaving the shield anywhere, or the dirty dishes in the sink, or putting coffee grounds in the disposal. Nothing that Tony didn’t know already.

The air inside was warm, the atmosphere peaceful; it was pretty soon in the morning, shortly after dawn, and a Sunday no less. A lazy day by textbook, that even Sam and Nat were probably still asleep or quietly reading a book, and they were the most morning people of the team, after himself.

With his mind and body already relaxing at the idea of getting into bed near his husband, Steve stepped into the living room of their quarters, only to stop again, that time surprised by what he saw.

Tony wasn’t sleeping in their bed, curled on Steve’s side, his face pressed on Steve’s cushion, fluffy bed-hair sprawled everywhere. He was crouched on one sofa, working on the StarkPad, wearing a big blue sweater that was falling down one of his shoulder—definitely not one of his own—comfy, old sweatpants and a pair of socks with a pattern made by little Steve’s shields.

The Alpha’s gaze laid immediately on him, beaming in the view that was his mate covered by his own clothes; Tony was a thief, that’s been clear since the beginning of their relationship, and even after many years of marriage Steve still felt his possessive side being teased by it.

Tony looked back at him, his brown eyes sparkled when he saw the Alpha. He couldn’t get up though, his movements were limited by a blonde head resting on his lap, and by another bigger body curled around his sister and half pressed against Tony’s side. Their children were sleeping on him, wearing their favorite Captain Marvel and War Machine footie pajamas.

Steve memorized the scene, to draw them exactly like that, a warm image of the loving Stark-Rogers family.

“Welcome back,” his husband whispered, tilting his head in that adorable way that made Steve wanting to kiss him all over.

“Hey Omega. What’s happening here?” He kept his voice down too, looking sweetly at their two sleepy children. The more they grew, the more their sleep became light, just like the both of them. Steve was sure his Omega was holding his charming purrs to avoid waking them up.

He walked closer to the couch, stepping out of his shoes along the way, just to be stopped by the finger Tony held up in front of them.

“Don’t sat on my couch with your dirty clothes,” he warned, putting aside the StarkPad.

Steve rolled his eyes but stopped, for the moment, to undress from his work suit. Tony loved his furniture.

“Yesterday I told the kids you were coming home early. They woke me up one hour ago, begging me to let them stay awake until your arrival,” the Omega explained, gently moving one of Mary’s blonde lock away from her gracious face.

Steve’s heart melted. He took a deep breath of his family’s scent, looking at them with the most devoted gaze. He was the luckiest man on earth; his family was beautiful, they made him happy, and cherished, they were everything he always wished he could have when he was only a young soldier, but didn’t think it could really happen.

“I appreciate the effort,” he joked lightly, his voice shaking a little. “You should go back to sleep too, honey”

Tony shook his head, resting it against the back of the sofa. “I prefer what I’m doing now,” he said with a smirk, desire coming out of his eyes as he was ogling at Steve’s massive body. “Mmm yes, slowly,” he murmured, slightly parting his lips.

Steve restrained a chuckle, but did as Tony ordered, gradually unzipping the suit from the back. It was very innocent considering the things they did together… or to each other, but the Alpha’s chest raised with pride in being desired by his beloved Omega, and he released a low, deep rumble.

Tony’s eyes opened wide, not in awe but preoccupied, knowing that once the kids were awake, nothing could’ve made them sleep again, until night. Steve froze, with his suit open but still on, then his mouth curved into a bright smile.

“Pops!” Mary chirped, lifting her head and looking stunned at her dad. Peter followed her right after, opening his chocolate eyes and smiling excited. “You’re back!”

“Hi there, miss scientist,” he greeted Mary, scooping her up as she left her spot on the couch to throw herself at him. “Morning baby boy,” he said to Peter, who circled his waist with his arms and pressed his chin against his stomach, looking up first with a sunny smile, that was all Tony’s, then it became a little pout with a frown. Most of his facial expressions were all Tony’s, really.

“I’m not a baby,” he answered, as Steve placed one hand on his head, ruffling more his bed-hairs.

“Yes, you are, Petey,” the young Alpha responded seriously, while also climbing her Pops. Steve wasn’t sure why she always did that, trying to get over his shoulders or his head, it was just funny and sort of cute. His cute little monkey.

“You’re both babies, that’s it. Now that the case is closed, let your father be a good husband and kiss me properly,” Tony got up and hugged both Steve and Peter—since he was still attached to the big Alpha—making a comic kissy face.

“Ew,” both the kids whined, Mary curved against Steve’s shoulder, with her upper body dangling from his back and her feet almost kicking Tony’s face.

Steve growled playfully, planting a rather loud kiss on his Omega’s lips and blocking Mary’s legs before she could hurt him.

“So bossy,” he whispered, with his mouth still pressed against Tony’s.

“You missed me,” the Omega retorted laughing, a sound that filled Steve’s heart with more love. He should’ve always laughed; it made his eyes wrinkle at the corners, and the cheerful smile took the Alpha’s breath away.

“Papa, guess what Ned and I did last Friday!” Peter exclaimed to obtain his attention.

“Let’s see, have you two… been to space? Joined an alien boy band?” He faked thinking about it, while circling Tony’s thin waist with the arm that wasn’t holding Mary’s legs. His mate pressed himself against Steve’s side, nuzzling on his cheek while purring low and steady. They could’ve spent hours wrapped around each other like that, talking and laughing with their kids.

“Noo,” Peter giggled, like his dad was really silly. Then he halted, looking up again with a questioning look. “Do aliens play music? Could we join their bands?”

“Absolutely not,”

“We’ll ask aunt Nebula,”

Steve and Tony answered, then exchanged two very different looks.

“Don’t put those kinds of ideas in my son’s head,” Tony threatened him, trying to glare, but still looking all soft and cute.

“Then what did you guys do?” For the sake of his marriage, Steve followed his instincts and didn’t press more on the other topic.

“We stayed up past midnight, watching a Star Wars movie running!” The little Omega squeaked, looking so excited for doing something for the first time.

“Don’t you mean a movie marathon?” Tony snorted, looking down to pet his son’s hair with Steve. Peter nodded, pressing back with his little head, making their hearts squeezing when he purred.

“Uh, you’re a big Omega then, staying up ‘til late with your friend,” Steve praised, his voice soft, coaxing his family with a gentle rumble from his throat.

“I got A for my art project,” Mary interrupted, kicking lightly again to move from her current position.

“Easy there, monkey,” Steve helped her sliding down to sit on his arm, then she got two kisses on her forehead and cheek from both of her dads. “And great job, I knew you’d make it.”

“Does that mean I can join the alien band too?” She asked, pulling off her best round puppy look, that she totally didn’t learn from him.

“Daddy and I will talk about it,” Steve answered, before Tony could react again. His Omega gave him a severe look, mouthing a ‘no’ without saying it.

“I’m hungry,” Peter announced, just when the Alpha was leaning down to kiss Tony again. He couldn’t resist the Omega when he acted sternly.

“Go with your sister in the kitchen and get the ingredients for pancakes, we’ll be there in a moment,” Steve instructed them, putting Mary on the ground.

That got him two excited squeaks, and an involuntary purring from his still slightly upset husband. Tony loved when he used the Captain’s voice, and he might or might not have done it intentionally.

He opened his mouth, but Tony shushed him. “Are you willing to risk adding something else that could put you in more troubles?”

Steve thought about it for a moment, gazing in his Omega’s smug eyes. They weren’t fighting, but that little argument was keeping them from having some other kind of quality time together, and after two days he needed more than chaste touches.

Instead of answering, he circled Tony’s waist with both arms making him bend over, following right after, kissing him properly.

The Omega muffled a surprised moan, but followed his lead smoothly, intertwining his long fingers through blonde hairs. After a long, innocent yet very affectionate kiss, Tony’s mouth opened for him, and Steve bit down at his bottom lip, harder enough to make him yelp, before sliding inside with his tongue, swallowing the delightful sigh.

They separated only for the time of a breath, diving back in the second after. That time though, Steve’s hands went down and insideTony’s pants, to take a full handful of his gorgeous ass, earning another pleasant moan that escaped the Omega’s wide opened lips.

Steve felt the familiar fabric of his mate’s underwear, he stroked the fancy, delicate lacy and Tony kneed when the Alpha squeezed him tighter, kneading at the hot flesh of his ass. “I did miss you,” the Alpha let out in a growl, lifting him up with one quick jerk.

“Me too, Alpha” Tony answered out of breath, panting heavily, his legs going around Steve’s waist automatically and a rush of wet coating his tights.

Steve rubbed noses with the sweet Omega in a fond motion, waiting for Tony’s lungs to fill with some air again, and when he rumbled in his ear, he felt his mate melting against his body, purring until the Alpha bent to devour him again.

“Sweet, perfect Omega,” he murmured, nuzzling at Tony’s cheek, squeezing his ass, while his mate got to work on his neck, nibbling and licking to the soft spot. Steve rocked his hips, pressing against Tony’s own hard flesh, and they both moaned loudly, like two horny teenagers that couldn’t control their instincts.

“You smell incredibly, I can feel how wet you are for me-”

“Dad, Pops! Are you coming?” Peter’s voice made them groan and growl in disapproval, but Tony didn’t stop leaving a trail of warm kisses up to his jaw, purring louder to keep the Alpha’s focus all for himself.

“Settle,” Steve forced the word out, his hands leaving their favorite place to land on Tony’s hips.

“Alpha,” he whined, but doing as his Alpha commanded, pressing his forehead against Steve’s shoulder. They both huffed and sighed, but there weren’t much they could do.

“It’s still very early,” Tony commented, exhaling again, while Steve strolled toward the kitchen, carrying the Omega with him. “There are high chances they’ll be asleep again for a couple more hours, if we can stuff them with as many pancakes as possible.”

“They aren’t turkeys, you know?” Steve smiled, sniffing Tony’s scent. God, it was a mix of love and sex, and he wanted nothing more than biting him.

“Oh, I know, but I also know they got your appetite. That’s tons of eggs, flour and milk,”

“And chocolate chips,” the Alpha added in agreement, before stopping to walk.

Tony raised his head and looked confused at the sudden halt, but all Steve could see were his red, swollen lips that he couldn’t wait to taste again, and again, and again.

“We’ll feed them, and then I will have my own breakfast,” he said suggestively, having no doubts Tony would’ve taken the hint. In fact, his Omega looked very interested, even as he tried to maintain a straight face.

“Well, what are you’re going to have, Captain?” He asked, with a voice as tempting as the fully kissable mouth that formed the words.

“You,” he said hoarsely, more of a growl than anything. “Pretty Omega, I’m gonna eat you out so well you’ll forget what day it is.”

Tony jumped, his mouth falling open on a gasp, and Steve took advantage of it, shoving his tongue past his lips, digging his fingers into his hips to keep him still, in a possessive streak.

“Let’s- Let’s make children… I mean food, let’s make it. Oh god, let’s make it,” and really, there weren’t anything more lovely than a flustered, rambling, mind blown Tony. Steve was finally at home.

122 notes · View notes

clownsgobeepbeep · 4 years

Note

Don't let the candles go out, and they'll protect you okay uwu

Something a little late but eh X3

The day had finally come.

Ula was finally a year older, and she was quite proud of it.

This year, she decided that she did not want some “big” celebration, but she only wanted the day to herself and her small family. Specifically the tiny clowns she called her siblings, and so, her parents allowed her to roam around town with the two of them, and of course her trusty companion Mana.

“You really like those, huh?” Ula asked with a bright smile, looking at her axolotl who practically pranced with every step he took. “I guess I did a good job for my first time.”

Mana barked up at Ula, wagging his tail in excitement before he turned to look at his back where his new bat wings harness was. His little one made a pair just for him and one for Kala, the former clearly excited and showing off his wings as he strolled with the little clowns.

“Going back to today’s lesson,” Ula cleared her throat, dragging along her red wagon while her two siblings comfortably sat inside. “The second rule of Halloween is to always wear a costume. Tradition says that wearing a costume was basically a disguise for hiding away from the bad spirits, so don’t listen to what those dummy Halloween-haters.”

“Okay.” Davey replied, tapping his tiny fingers on his belly as he enjoyed being wheeled throughout town. “Candy?”

“Oh yeah, that was rule number one.” Ula nodded before noticing that Davey made a grabbing motion with his hands, making her giggle. “But yeah, I’ll make sure to give you guys some candy too. It is October after all. I saved up some money just for the occasion.”

Davey gave a hum of content, soon laying back once more as he and Cordelia watched their surroundings.

Houses were already adorned with Halloween decorations, as were the stores that the kids now walked by.

Little Cordelia’s eyes lit up at the sight of pumpkins situated at nearly every spot she looked, smiling while gripping onto the red wagon in complete excitement. Soon she had started to make thrilled, gibberish sounds, bouncing in place while pointing to the pumpkins.

“You like the pumpkins Cordie?” Ula asked, stopping the wagon to admire the scenery. “Well, that takes me to the next rule of Halloween. You must never blow out your jack-o-lantern before midnight. That also keeps the bad spirits away.”

Cordelia continued to speak her own language, pointing at what were arrays of different sized pumpkins. At the very top were the smallest of them all, and at the very bottom were the large and heavy ones.

“Excuse me sir?” Ula called out to the vendor who turned to her with a warm smile. “How much are the pumpkins?”

“Big ones are three bucks. The tiny ones are fifty cents. It all depends.” he replied, chuckling at the sight that was Cordelia clapping her little hands while bouncing in place.

“Huh. Then can I have...three big ones and one tiny?”

“You know how much that’ll be?”

“Pay attention.” Ula whispered to her siblings before clearing her throat. “Each pumpkin is three and I want three, so three times three equals nine. Plus a tiny one, nine-fifty.”

“Nice! And you want them in the wagon?”

“Yes please!” Ula nodded before pointing to Davey and Cordelia individually. “One in front of him, the other in front of her. The third one right here. I’ll carry the tiny one.”

“You got it.” the man helped Ula load the pumpkins into wagon, eventually saying their goodbyes after Ula paid up and resumed her birthday stroll.

“You see this Cordie?” Ula presented a candle that she had also purchased from the man. “This goes into the pumpkin after we carve it and make it look cute or scary. Like I said, you don’t blow out the jack-o-lantern before midnight. Don’t let the candles go out and they’ll protect you, okay?”

The infant gave her version of a nod, far too entranced with the pumpkin she refused to let go of.

“Yeah, I thought you’d like that.” Ula ruffled Cordelia’s hair, immediately repeating the action with Davey who clearly felt left out less than a second later. “Anyways, I’m starting to get hungry. How about we visit uncle Pepper’s shop?”

_____________

After some more walking, Ula opened the glass door that led into the small shop where she expected to find her uncle. Instead, she saw a baby sitting on the counter, and not one that was fathered by Pepper.

“Bingo? What are you doing here?” Ula asked the baby who sat on the counter, all alone as she ate a cupcake adorned as a spider. “Where’s your mommy?”

“Right here! I’m right here!” sounded Ferry’s voice as she hurried to the front, everyone seeing as she came in with the first born of the triplets. “Hello Ula! Happy Birthday to you.~”

“Oh thank you.” Ula giggled before bringing her wagon closer, her siblings staring up at Ferry and Ally who attempted to hide behind Ferry while being carried. “Have you seen my uncle Pepper?”

“He went to go do some errands and he took Ben with him. Had to buy more supplies for all the Halloween goodies.

“Oh. Huh.”

“Were you looking to see him?”

“Not really, I just wanted to see if I could get a treat for my baby brother and sister. I was showing them around town, and teaching them the rules of Halloween.” Ula motioned to the pair, then hearing a bark from Mana. “And maaaybe something small for Mana too.”

“I can arrange that.” Ferry nodded with a grin. “I mean, we also do give out free candy to whoever comes by. I know that rule of Halloween.~”

This alone made Ula smile widely, getting quite giddy on the inside before Ferry walked more towards her.

“Do you think you could hold Ally for a bit?”

“Sure! I love Ally.” Ula reached out to grab the baby who clung onto Ferry, eventually letting go and instead clinging onto Ula who laughed to herself.

“I’ll be right back then,” Ferry started, then looking down at the wagon to see Cordelia finally releasing her pumpkin to instead reach up towards Ferry who giggled. “And I guess I’ll be bringing a little trick-or-treater with me.”

Cordelia cooed as she was carried by Ferry, cuddling into her chest as the woman made her way to the back of the bakery.

“Those are some cool cupcakes.” Ula looked at the glass display next to the cash register, Davey looking from inside the wagon as he was brought a sense of awe at the sight of gorey cupcakes. “Uncle Pepper and Ferry make all of these. Also aunt Belinda, but she has her own job too. I wonder if Ben and Greta are gonna do this when they grow up, the twins are already learning.”

“Cupcake.” Davey stood up on the wagon, having to lean against the glass to hold himself steady as he continued to scan all of the cupcakes. “I want one.”

“I’ll tell Ferry when she’s back.” Ula leaned down to kiss Davey’s cheek, making him giggle before he plopped back down on the wagon. “You’ll get a bloody one. And Cordie will get one with gummy worms.”

“Okay.” Davey looked around, soon locking eyes with Ally who immediately hid her face on Ula’s shoulder.

“You wanna play with Ally?” Ula asked, eventually lowering Ally onto the other side of the wagon after having moved the pumpkin that was in between the infants. “I’m gonna grab Bingo.”

Bingo soon looked at Ula with a face that seemed almost offended that that thought even crossed her mind, shocked when Ula picked her up from the counter just as Ferry came in. She looked over at Ferry, almost asking for help as Ula held her against her chest.

“I brought some chocolates for Davey, and Cordelia picked out some gummy brains.” Ferry mentioned as she set Cordelia down on the counter, also placing a box in a bag beside her. “I almost forgot, your mommy made an order and I was meant to deliver it today after taking the girls with their dad. Would you mind taking it with you?”

“I don’t mind at all.” Ula shook her head while petting Bingo’s, not really realizing that Bingo kept staring at her, fully offended. “What did she order?”

“Oh, just some cookies for work. She’s giving them to her employees I guess.” Ferry gave a giggle before whispering to Ula. “And I know that rule of Halloween about the candies, but just this once, don’t check your candies okay?”

“Mmm, okay I guess.” Ula shrugged, soon trading Bingo for the box Ferry provided. “Before we leave, can I buy the treats for everyone? I want cupcakes for Davey and Cordie. And also a doughnut with sprinkles for Mana.”

“Of course!” Ferry walked behind the counter, chuckling at the sight that was Cordelia squealing and giving an unexpected hug to Bingo who’s eyes had widened greatly. “Just know, they’re on the house.~”

_____________

The day had started to come to a close, Ula realizing that the sun was close to setting and that her siblings had grown drowsy.

“We’re almost there.” Ula told the two, really only telling Cordelia who was fighting her hardest to not nap like Davey already had. Ula was smart enough to bring along pillows and blankets for the two.

“I wonder what mom and dad have been up to this entire time.” Ula pondered to herself, then petting Mana’s head as he walked alongside her while holding the bag in his mouth. “Maybe we’ll get to watch a scary movie once we’re there. I hope mom made some dinner.”

Mana, not able to bark, gave a nod and a wag of his tail before their home finally came into their line of sight. Right on the window was Kala, no doubt having been waiting for their arrival to make sure they all got home safely.

Barks were heard from inside as everybody got to the front door, with the exception of Davey and Cordelia who were still on the wagon.

“You spent quite the while outside.” Ula heard her mom after the front door opened, Jelly helping her bring the wagon over the steps before everyone was inside. “We thought Michael Myers had taken you.”

“Oh, pssh.” Ula’s cheeks turned pink as she walked inside, soon gasping at it all. “Whoa! Look at all of this!”

“While you were out, your mom and I worked on all of this.” Lennie soon appeared, ruffling Ula’s hair before kissing her cheek. “Happy Birthday Ula.”

All around the house there were Halloween decorations, the ceiling being adorned with stickers and even hanging figures like bats and spiders. The couch has orange and black pillows, a good amount of the house having similar color schemes.

“Wowie! I love it all so much!” Ula jumped in place, then seeing as Jelly came around with the box they had brought from Pepper’s bakery.

“Did Pepper or Ferry tell you what was in here?” Jelly took the box out of the bag, Ula shrugging.

“She said some cookies for your employees.”

“Good.” Jelly nodded, soon opening up the box and angling it so that Ula could properly look inside.

“Wait,” Ula blinked inside at the box. “That’s not cookies.”

“You are correct.”

“That’s a cake. With my name on it.”

“It sure is.”

“Ferry lied to me!” Ula gasped, eventually realizing why. “Because it’s a birthday cake for me!”

“There you go.” Lennie chuckled to himself, helping Davey and Cordelia out of the wagon before placing them on the couch to nap. “Your mom bought popcorn and other snacks so we can enjoy the cake while we watch scary movies.”

“Yes!” Ula exclaimed, hearing Mana bark excitedly. “All night?”

“Until we all pass out.” Jelly nodded, soon feeling Ula engulf her in a hug.

“I love you guys so much.”

“We love you too kiddo.” Lennie soon received a hug, hugging her back before the family got down to business.

2 notes · View notes

hopewritcs · 5 years

Text

dancing in the kitchen. finale.

pairing: romantic steve x reader, familial dustin x reader

word count: 1.5

summary: without giving too much away: the reader is Hope Henderson, Dustin’s older cousin who’s staying in town, due to some family issues. takes place soon after s2.

note: from the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of you who have read this. those of you who have been there from the beginning and those of you who only just recently found the story. it’s been a great journey and i’m lucky to have had your support.

other chapters: masterlist

ditc tag list: @stevieboyharrington, ,@thekidsofneibolt, @labgeek, @tyedyedstars,@samisimportant, @madhatterweasley, @pity-mee, @l4life, @restlessmelodrama@darkuserboxes,@princessnancy,@hipsmcgee, @wtf-richarddd @honey-your-bee-puns-sting@whataloadofmalarkey @queenlalybug @im-a-stranger-thing@bilesxbilinskixlahey @ravenclawnerdfromnarnia @trashyemonerd , @theslayingavenger, @addictwithaheavydirtycheetah, @patat-boi (if you wanna be added to the tag list, let me know!!)

SIX MONTHS LATER ( LATE JUNE )

School was over for the summer. Everyone was doing their own thing, the mall having opened up not too long before the school days finished. Steve had gotten a job at the ice cream parlor Scoops Ahoy! and Y/N had gotten a job at the movies. Dustin was particularly excited about that, claiming that Y/N could get him in to see any of the new films playing over the summer for free. She’d rolled her eyes at the suggestion, but didn’t actually say no. She did get a discount on tickets, and he was her favorite ( only ) cousin.

It was one of Y/N’s days off when she was sitting watching a video she’d rented on the couch, Tews perched in her lap purring contently as Y/N pet the cat. She had no plans until later in the day when Steve was going to take her to dinner. So she was surprised when the phone rang, but got up to answer it.

“Henderson residence! This is Y/N speaking.”

“Y/N, darling! It’s your mother.”

As if Y/N couldn’t recognize the voice to begin with. It had been months since she’d gotten to Hawkins and her parents had jetted off to Europe on yet another save their marriage escapade. The only communication she’d gotten was two or three postcards from different Italian cities. She didn’t mind, though. She preferred to be staying with Claudia and Dustin. Her parents did believe all those awful rumors about her anyway, whereas ever since she got to Hawkins neither Claudia nor Dustin pushed to know her reason for coming to Indiana. Though, Y/N was sure that Claudia had gotten the skewed story from her mother.

“Darling, are you there? The telephone connection is rather poor at the airport, I’m afraid. Y/N?”

Y/N shook her head, clearing her thoughts. “Sorry, mom. I was just thinking. Are you back in New York?”

“We just landed not too long ago, but your father’s having trouble getting us a car.” Her mother’s voice was filled with disdain. Which is always the tone either of her parents took when speaking about the other, at least in private. “How’s small town life?”

“It’s pretty good, actually. I’ve been doing a lot, I even got a job for the summer until school starts back up.”

“Are you staying? Sweetheart, did we discuss our daughter staying with Claudia for another year?” She could tell her mother attempted to pull the phone away from her ear so Y/N couldn’t hear it anymore.

“Another year? I think my sister would be alright with that if we asked. I mean, we’ll send money and the rest of Y/N’s things.”

“But she can be so troublesome! I’m sure something’s happened since we’ve been away.”

“Dear, you’re overthinking this. Let me speak to Y/N.” There’s a scoff from her mother, and she could picture the roll of her eyes but the sounds of shuffling objects must mean that her father got the phone. “Pumpkin, are you still there?”

“Yup. How was Italy?”

“Excellent. We’ll get the film developed and send you some pictures, I got you some souvenirs I’m sure you’ll love too.”

“Could you stay on topic for once!” She heard her mother hiss in the background, more than likely hovering behind her father’s shoulder as he spoke into the phone.

“Yes, apologies.” He paused, probably holding back a sigh, before speaking again. “Pumpkin, are you certain you’d like to stay in Hawkins? I’ll have to speak to Claud about it either way.”

“I do. It feels like home, daddy.” Y/N explained. She’d never felt more at home, more welcomed, more herself than when she spent time in Hawkins. And now that she’d been there for months and was making progress with her own friends and had Steve too, she didn’t want to leave.

“Alright. Leave a note for your aunt to call me back and I’ll discuss it with her. I just want you to be happy, Y/N.”

“I’m writing the note now. Thanks. This really means everything to me.” Y/N scribbled down a note on the pad by the phone before tearing it off and moving to put it with one of the magnets onto the fridge door.

“Be sure to keep in touch, okay? I want to hear all about this summer job next time we call.”

“Of course, dad. I love you.”

“Love you too, pumpkin.”

A few days later, Y/N was getting things set up at home for Dustin’s return from his camp. Claudia had offered for her to go along to pick him up from the camp, but Y/N declined, opting to get things set up at home. Dustin’s friends had all called her on the walkie talkie in Dustin’s room the night before to ask if they could come over to surprise him. And, of course, she said yes.

She was getting a couple of snacks ready to put on the living room table as she overheard the kids conversation. El would use Dustin’s robotic toys to draw his attention to bring him out into the living room for the surprise. They talked about it freely because Y/N knew about her powers now.

It had come two months earlier back in April on one particularly rainy day. Steve was dropping Y/N back at home and he refused to come in when asked, “They’re going to want me to stay the night too.” He had groaned, to which Y/N laughed and kissed her boyfriend goodnight before coming back in the house. Though she hadn’t been able to find the kids at first, she heard their voices coming from upstairs in Dustin’s room. The moment that she saw them sitting there on the floor surrounded with a couple of objects floating in the air, she was cut off with his door slamming in her face before she could say anything.

They had to tell her after that, Y/N was too confused and had definitely seen what she knew she saw. But she was sworn to secrecy. All they told her was that El ( Eleven, or Jane now, according to the birth certificate that Hopper had gotten for her ) had been an experiment as a baby and came out with telekinetic powers. Of course, Y/N thought it was crazy. And then El had demonstrated the power for her specifically to understand.

Since then, the kids almost felt like Y/N was more included. The way she’d reacted to Eleven’s powers wasn’t what they had expected. They may have expected a bit more of a reaction, but all Y/N had needed was a simple explanation of the powers, a quick show of what they had meant, and then she was quick to believe what it was.

Not that they thought anything was going to happen again, the gate was closed, but if something did happen, they would figure that Y/N could help them too.

Then, a couple of days later, Y/N was at the mall having finished her own work for the day at Scoops Ahoy! sitting in the break room with Steve, chatting about nothing in particular, when Dustin had shown up, Y/N had was glad that she’d timed her lunch break accordingly and watched as Steve jumped up from his seat in the back to go and greet her cousin. She followed behind, opening the window and leaning out to watch the exchange with a smile on her face. She even giggled as she watched Robin roll her eyes and look at Steve.

“How many children are you friends with?” she asked, before turning back to look at Y/N. “How many kids does this guy know?”

“Technically, this ones my cousin. Hey Dusty!” she called with a slight wave from where she stood in the break room and Dustin turned to her shining his bright smile in her direction.

“Don’t these children have parents of their own or is it you two?” Robin asked quietly as she leaned back to look at her.

Y/N stood over with Robin who was cleaning as Steve prepped Dustin his own ice cream boat. He’d offered to have Y/N sit with them, but she’d kissed his cheek and told him to catch up with her cousin. They’d had a similar conversation the night before, her and Dustin. She wondered how Steve would feel about the whole Suzie situation. Y/N was positive Dustin was telling the truth, simply because she knew her cousin and wanted to believe the best thing for him. She’d been having a side conversation with Robin, whom she’d grown to consider a friend after spending a lot of her free time ( and lunch breaks ) down at Scoops with Steve.

When the line at Scoops got busy again, Y/N escaped into the back room. She wasn’t technically supposed to walk back their freely, or even at all, but no one had stopped her.

Somehow, she wasn’t exactly surprised when Steve and Dustin came bursting through the door, Dustin sitting down at the table and pulling out a recording and a book. She grabbed the book quickly and looked between the two of them, “Russian to English translations? What are you two idiots doing now?”

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #stranger things reader insert #stranger things x reader #dustin henderson x reader #ditc #dont @ me i used the word finale because epilogue moved onto a second line in the post lol

75 notes · View notes

likexporcelain · 6 years

Text

A Crack in Everything (Chapter 2/8) - Jonerys

Summary: Six years after their high school romance ended in emotional ruin, Daenerys Targaryen runs into Jon Snow by chance on Valentine's Day, forcing old memories to the resurface. This sudden reunion could be cathartic, but it could also deepen the cracks already in their hearts. The question Daenerys grapples with is, will this all be worth it in the end?

Rating: Explicit (eventually)

First two chapters up on Ao3 - additional tags/warnings/notes there

The next day, Jon didn't come see me at Martell's, and I hadn't really expected him to, but I had hoped. After a full week of hoping, I had given up any attempt to make myself prettier in the morning, opting for an extra hour of sleep rather than a longer shower and enough time to straighten my hair and apply the right amount of makeup. When I got to work looking my usual, slightly disheveled self, the male employees working my shift made similar comments about how they preferred my hair straight and Daario risked me filing a complaint with the bosses by smirking at me and saying “Done trying to impress me, huh? You know you're my favorite, Dany.” I rolled my eyes and tried to avoid him the rest of the day, but I couldn't help but feel like a fool for ever doing anything to impress anyone, even Jon.

It would be another week, the first day of March, that I would see Jon again. I had just had a rather annoying conversation with Daario where he tried to convince me it was still February. His version of flirting no doubt, judging by the way he would wink his eye and lean toward me across the register counter. I had been moments from leaving to use the restroom, just to buy me a couple minutes alone, when the little box above the sliding front door dinged.

He looked the same as when I ran into him at his work, but this time in a white t-shirt exposing an arm covered in ink and his hair was down in dark curls I remembered well. When his eyes found mine, I dropped my gaze to the counter top, cowardly.

“Hi there, Sir. Let me know if you need any help,” Daario greeted him.

I had wanted to see Jon for days, but now I found myself hoping my manager's long back was enough to hide me from him. I heard footsteps move further into the store and when I looked up, Daario was sending me a look of displeasure. “I shouldn't have to do your job for you, Dany. That's why I'm the manager and you're the floor associate. Now go see if he needs any help.”

As I walked past the isles, I ran my fingers through my hair anxiously before just giving up and using the black hair tie around my wrist to pull it all into a pony tail. I found Jon in the last isle, hands in his pockets and staring at shelves stocked with grain-free dog food.

“Do you have a dog?” I asked, trying to keep the nerves out of my voice.

“No.”

When he turned to look at me, I forced myself to keep eye contact. “Do you have any pets?”

“No.”

Seemed like as sure a sign as any that he had come in to see me, but my mind still raced with alternate explanations. He needed to buy a gift for a friend's dog's birthday party perhaps?

“Neither do I.”

“Do you have a lunch break coming up or something?”

“No, I don't get lunch breaks because I only work five hours a day.”

“Oh. . . I have work at two.”

It was already one, according to my watch.

“I could take lunch at five, if you want me to,” Jon suggested.

Did I want him to take lunch at five? I got off work at five. He obviously wanted to talk to me, or he was just doing this because he thought I wanted to talk to him. This felt horribly awkward. Jon and I had never been this unsure with each other, not even when we sat next to each other in Chemistry all those years ago. Did I really want to keep doing this? Keep having painfully awkward conversations with a guy I wished meant nothing to me?

“Yes,” I answered. “Yeah, okay.”

He nodded and for a few moments we just stood there in silence. But then his feet moved and he left.

As soon as I got back to the register, Daario threw up his hands at me. “Maybe if you'd kept up the beauty treatments, you'd actually get someone to buy something every once in a while.”

* * * * *

At the end of the last lunch period before Christmas break, Jon put his number in my phone and told me to text or call whenever I wanted during the two week period we would be away from each other. I texted him as soon as we got into Chemistry, telling him to do the same. This would be the first stretch of time he would spend at his uncle Ned's house without the reprieve of school and – I thought, optimistically – me. He didn't say so, but I knew he was nervous about it.

“Are you in hell?” I had texted him Christmas morning just after waking up. The night before he had texted me almost nonstop about a horrendous Holiday party his aunt Cat had thrown, inviting a slew of neighbors, Ned's employees, and their families. Every other minute my phone had buzzed with a new message detailing another insufferable conversation he'd had to sit through, or another bizarre appetizer he was forced to try, or another tipsy middle aged woman hitting on him before pretending like she didn't know he was only seventeen.

He had told me Christmas would be “family day” which was not a good thing. It wasn't that he disliked his family. Although he resented his uncle on behalf of his mother, Jon cared for him like one cares for family and he genuinely enjoyed his cousins. Jon just wasn't good at being part of a family. A lone wolf trying to be part of the pack.

“I've been pretending to still be asleep for an hour. Eventually they'll send someone in for me,” Jon replied right away.

“I wish I could pretend to sleep. I've got work today. Pray for me and I'll pray for you.”

Christmas was a busy day at the outlet mall. I'd worked every day since our break began and would work almost every day until going back to school. On the bright side, I was going to stop by the Apple Store after my shift and get the 64GB Classic I finally had the money for. A Christmas gift for myself, since I wouldn't get any from anyone else. That was what I thought at least.

A half hour before my shift at Banana Republic was up, I felt a gust of warm breath tickle the back of my neck as I fixed the 50% Off rack. I giggled and twisted, swatting Jon on the shoulder.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice down.

He looked nice. Too nice. Clear face, goop in his hair, and wearing clothes that looked like what we sold at Banana Republic, but more expensive. Not at all the sort of wardrobe I had imagined Jon would wear during his free time. A teal sweater – cashmere? – and black chinos.

“I snuck out.”

“You snuck out?”

“You would sneak out too, Daenerys. They were about to have a family portrait taken. Look at what I'm wearing right now. I told them I was going to the bathroom and went right out the window.”

Jon always used my full first name. He had found out on his own what Dany was short for and refused to use the nickname ever since. If he had been anyone else it would have annoyed me – I was self conscious about my name because it just highlighted the fact that I was a Targaryen, daughter of the infamous Aerys Targaryen, who was convicted of fraud when he stole over a billion dollars from his clients as a financial adviser – but the syllables sounded so soft on his tongue, never accusatory or cold. “I love your name. Your whole name. I want to know where it comes from,” he'd said to me, and when I reveled to him that both parts of my name were essentially made up – Targaryen being adopted some two hundred years ago when my ancestors wanted to stand out – Jon told me about his name. “My mom was a Stark obviously, but I never knew who my father was. Only Mom's name is on my birth certificate. As far as I know, when the nurse asked her what she wanted to name me, she said Jon Snow on a whim. All I know is that she never wanted me to be a Stark. I guess both of our names are made up then.”

After begging to be let off work a bit early, I made Jon go with me to the Apple Store and then we took a walk around the Outlets, buying a couple of cinnamon pretzels and talking like we were still sitting behind the basketball gym at school. While he had much more to complain about regarding his time cooped up at the Stark place, there were good things he shared as well. He told me about the strange things twelve year old Arya did to make him laugh and showed me goofy pictures of six year old Rickon. Apparently, ten year old Bran could scale the entire facade of the Stark mansion in less than sixty seconds, but got grounded whenever his mom caught him. Sansa, who I already vaguely knew as a freshman at our school, was quite the seamstress, according to Jon, and was already designing her dream wedding gown, despite not having a boyfriend and being only fourteen.

Lastly, Robb, just a bit older than Jon, was home for the holidays from USC and managed to get into Jon's good graces enough for an odd-couple friendship to form. Robb had graduated from Westeros Prep the year before. We had shared a math class but hardly ever exchanged words. He was always polite, though, and I hoped he wasn't trying to change Jon's opinion of me. If he was, Jon didn't mention it.

Even though they were Starks, I liked that Jon was getting along with his family. It made me feel like I could one day have a big family too and do alright.

I had no delusions that this was a date. Jon may have paid for my pretzel, but not once did he hold my hand and I didn't try to hold his either. However, this time together outside of school made me wonder what a date with Jon would be like. I wanted to find out.

The sun was going down and I was finishing up a hot chocolate when Jon finally looked at his phone. He cursed under his breath at all the missed calls and texts from his aunt wondering where he was. “Apparently I've ruined Christmas,” Jon told me with a small chuckle. I blushed at the irony, because from my point of view, it was the best Christmas I'd ever had.

I walked with him to his car and he offered to drive me home. I made up some excuse so that he wouldn't insist. Despite knowing Jon wasn't actually a rich kid, I didn't know enough about where he came from to feel comfortable enough showing him where I lived, alone in a tiny studio apartment above a Seven-Eleven on the wrong side of town.

“Okay, but before I leave, I have to give you your present.” He popped the trunk of the Mazda sedan his uncle got him shortly after he moved in.

“You shouldn't have gotten me anything, Jon. I didn't get you anything.”

“I don't want anything,” he replied and lifted a brown Ralph's bag from the trunk and presented it to me.

“You got me groceries? How thoughtful.”

“Just look inside, smart ass.”

Smiling, I dipped my hand inside and felt something soft. It was a sweatshirt in crimson and when I unfolded it, I saw big-print white letters running across the chest. “HARVARD.”

“That's where you're going to go, right? Sorry, I'm not really good at gift giving.”

I shook my head and hugged the sweatshirt to my chest with one arm. “Well, that's my first choice, but I think my chances of getting in are slim. Thank you, though. You're sweet.”

“Well, don't tell anyone. It'll ruin my cred.” He closed the trunk and leaned back on it. “Are you sure you don't want a ride home?”

“My gift to you will be you not having to drive me home. It's in the complete wrong direction, and it sounds like you might become the victim of domestic violence if you don't get home soon.”

He didn't move right away. His finger tips drummed on the car and his face scrunched in the way it would when he was thinking about something. I wondered for a moment if he was going to ask me out, or maybe even kiss me, but when he finally pushed himself off the car, he took me into a quick one armed hug and said he'd see me at school. I should have been happy. Jon had never really touched me before save for an accidental shoulder bump here and there, and that day, he had made the conscious decision to wrap his arm around my shoulders and bring me gently to his chest. But I didn't think of it as a step forward at the time. I thought of it as a missed opportunity, and figured I was doomed to wade in the frigid pond of friendship until he found someone he liked better.

* * * * *

The time on my watch read five o'clock and I realized that Jon and I hadn't discussed where to meet. Was I supposed to go to Whole Foods or was he going to come back to Martell's? I said goodbye to Daario, grabbed my purse from the back room and walked out into the breezeway in front of the shop. Figuring that if I walked toward Whole Foods I'd eventually run into Jon, I started moving. The sun was starting to fall and the lights lining the walkway were turning on. I got to the first set of Whole Foods' sliding doors just as Jon was coming out of them. I watched him pull out a cigarette and light it with a green Bic lighter before announcing myself.

“You're smoking for real now, huh?” I pretended like I hadn't already deduced that, just to have something to say.

He turned to me and expelled some smoke that puffed upward with the wind. “I know it's unhealthy, but I figure it's at least a better alternative than some things I could be hooked on.”

If he had been anyone else, I would have silently judged that excuse, but I knew Jon and where he came from. If he needed to smoke to avoid other substances, I wasn't going to give it a second thought.

“Yeah, I'm pretty much addicted to caffeine at this point. Still don't like coffee, but it's just Diet Coke and Dr. Pepper all day long. I once drank four Monsters in one day. I'm strictly soda now, though. But, I guess I don't really know the difference health wise.”

“Do you want to walk? I have to find something to eat that isn't organic.”

I followed him out of the Marketplace, across the street to the In-n-Out, both of us completely silent until I told him I'd save an outdoor table while he ordered. Despite the coolness in the dusk air, I was acutely aware of how much I had been perspiring and sitting inside a stuffy fast food restaurant would be torture.

After a bit, Jon sat down across from me with a tray of burgers, and two cups. “I know you didn't eat, so I got you a cheeseburger and a chocolate shake. You still don't like thousand island, right?”

“Yeah. Thank you. How much was it?”

Jon waved away my question away with a sweep of his hand before grabbing a burger and taking a bite. In school, Jon never ate during lunch period. He didn't want to bother one of the Starks' many servants by having them fix something for him and he didn't want to venture into one of the busy food lines on campus. On the few occasions I'd get to watch him eat, I enjoyed it maybe more than was normal. The way his jaw moved and his lips pursed while he chewed. . .

We both ate silently until Jon was half way finished with his burger. He set it down on the tray, wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked “So what the hell are you doing working at that stupid place?”

Swallowing hard, I took a sip of milkshake to sooth my throat. “Need money.”

“So you're still in school?”

I took another few sips, buying myself some time. “No, I'm not.”

“I don't understand.”

“What the hell happened to your face?” I asked instead, my anxiety turning to frustration at the way he was trying to interview me.

His eyes moved to the table top as he twisted a fry in his fingers. “Got cut,” he replied.

“How long have you been in Long Beach?”

“About a year. Sam lives here and I was staying with him for a bit, but it didn't really work out so I've been on my own for a little while.”

“Sam? Shit, I haven't heard from Sam in forever. I haven't heard from anyone in forever. How is he?”

“Married.”

“Are you serious?”

Nodding, he resumed eating.

My shoulders relaxed, thinking about Sam now instead of how insecure I was about my life.

* * * * *

I had been jealous of Samwell Tarly once. I had grown so used to being the only person at Westeros Prep that Jon could tolerate that seeing him and Sam become chummy in Chemistry made my heart beat a little more irregular. Sam had been in most of my classes since Sophomore year, but I didn't know much about him, just that his family was wealthy like everyone else, he was a straight-A student like I was, and he had no other friends, also like me. For a whole week I had convinced myself that Jon was replacing me with Sam, that he had realized I had a crush on him and felt it was time to get a friend who didn't think about kissing him all the time.

When Jon wasn't behind the basketball gym at lunch that Friday, I was sure that he was with Sam, but I didn't know where that would be. He had left me, and I needed to accept that. One would think that I'd be used to losing people, what with how many people I'd already lost, my father and oldest brother having died before my birth, my mother dying on the day of my birth, my other brother, Viserys, promising to take care of me and then doing the opposite until deciding I wasn't worth the trouble. This felt different, though. This was abandonment without explanation, without closure.

When the bell rang, I walked to Chemistry by myself, checking my phone once again to see if Jon had texted me with an explanation for his absence. Nothing. But then a hand landed on my shoulder and I stopped in my tracks, looking up and expecting to see Jon, but the boy beside me was taller, thinner, and his curls were blond and not black.

“Hey, Dany,” Loras Tyrell greeted me with his blue eyes shining brightly, like I wasn't just his math tutor. “You hear about the party at Dick's tomorrow night?”

“Like, Dick's Sporting Goods?”

Loras laughed one of his melodic laughs and smiled sweetly down at me. “You're funny, Dany. I always thought you were a cool girl. Everyone else at this school has there heads up their asses. No, I'm talking about Dick Tarly.”

“Tarly? Like, related to Sam Tarly?”

“Yeah, I guess. Look, I was wondering if you were planning on going, because if you are, I think it would be awesome if we went together.”

“Um. . .” My mouth had gone dry and I forgot all about the bell and that I had to be anywhere. “Okay?”

“Alright, sweet. So, I won't be able to pick you up or anything because I'm grounded from using the car and I've gotta hitch a ride with my sister. But, when you get there, find me, alright?”

“Sure.”

And without another word, Loras was off and I was standing in an empty hallway, mind struggling to process what had just happened. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I had just agreed to go on a date with one of the richest and most attractive students at Westeros Prep. I was late to Chemistry that Friday and my punishment was not being able to take the pop quiz Mr. Baratheon handed out before I got to my seat.

After the quiz, was a lab assignment. Sam had become Jon's lab partner after his last partner moved away during the break and I used that as a way to blame Mr. Baratheon for taking Jon away from me. If he hadn't banned us from associating in class, I could have been Jon's lab partner. Instead, I was Tyene Sand's, and not only did she outwardly despise me, she also had no problem letting me do all the work and then copying all of my answers. Watching how Jon seemed to get along so well with Sam at their lab table, I couldn't help but think about how many times I'd let Jon copy my homework. Had he just been using me for answers this whole time?

I would have my answer after the bell rang. I was usually one of the last out of the class because, unlike everyone else, I didn't start packing up until after class was over. Jon was waiting for me in the hall.

“Did you go to the basketball gym today?” he asked me. “My math teacher gave me detention. Forced me to scrape gum off desks during lunch. Why do people still put gum under their desks?”

“Oh.” My cheeks flushed. I felt like such a neurotic fool and then lied, saying “No, I actually had a tutoring session at lunch, so I guess it worked out perfectly.”

He chuckled and started walking with me in the direction of my next class, even though I was pretty sure his was in the opposite direction. “Well, at least we were both not having any fun.”

“You and Sam seem to be getting along.”

“Yeah. He's pretty cool. I mean, he's completely uncool, but I think that's kind of cool, you know?”

“Sam's really nice.” It was true. He was really nice. One of the only nice people at Westeros Prep, besides Jon.

“He told me about this party his brother is throwing. I guess their parents are out of town. Sam's pretty miffed about it all so I thought I'd go and keep him company. I asked if I could bring you along and he said that was fine. What do you say? Want to go have a miserable time with me at Sam's house tomorrow?”

“Okay.”

Jon turned to head to his own class, but I stopped him quickly with a confession. “Jon, wait. I actually told Loras Tyrell I would go to the party with him. Well, not really go with him, because we're going to meet there, but you know what I mean.”

“Loras Tyrell? Isn't he gay?”

“No.”

“I'm pretty sure he's gay, Daenerys.”

With a roll of my eyes, I replied “I've been tutoring him for months. I've known him for years. I think I would know if he was gay or not.”

“Maybe. But maybe you wouldn't, because he's definitely gay.”

“First you're pretty sure he's was gay and now he's definitely gay? Which is it, Jon? And why would he ask me on a date if he's gay?”

“I have no idea. But he's gay.”

“Whatever. Gay or not, I told him I'd go with him, so unfortunately, I'll be a little too busy hanging out with him to be miserable with you and your new friend.”

“Okay?” He looked positively perplexed. Hell, I was perplexed. I had no idea what was going on or how this argument happened. All I knew was that I liked Jon in a way that I had never liked anyone before and it was fucking with my mind. “If you would rather go to the party with Loras, then I think you should.”

I don't want to go to the party with Loras, is what I should have said, because it was the truth, but I suddenly didn't have the courage to speak truth. Instead, I replied “Good” and continued on to class, knowing I would be late to that one as well.

* * * * *

“I can't believe Sam is married,” I said, more to myself than to Jon. The weather and milkshake was finally cooling my body temperature and I was beginning to feel cold. I pulled my black cardigan from my purse and put it on. “I mean, I'm sure he's a great husband, but it's just so strange to think that there are people we went to school with who are now married.”

“They've got a kid too,” Jon added before plucking a pickle into his mouth. “Sam Jr. He's not Sam's biologically, but he met his wife while she was pregnant and the birth father is a real piece of shit that isn't around anymore. I don't know the whole story, though.”

“Wow.” I stared at my hands, clasped around the milkshake cup, thinking about babies and trying not to notice the sudden twist in my gut. “You said it didn't work out, living with him. Why not?”

He shrugged and if I remembered correctly, he wore an expression that would be best translated as I don't really want to talk about it. Eventually he replied “I do better on my own.”

“Yeah, I guess I do too. I have a roommate. She's really sweet, but I avoid her more often than I'd like to admit. She spends most of her time with her boyfriend anyway.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

I would have took the question in a more suggestive way, but when my eyes lifted to Jon, he was pulling another cigarette from his shirt pocket and sliding it into his mouth, his attention focused solely on lighting the thing. Once, six years ago, he had told me “No one wants to kiss someone who smokes. So I make the girls I'm not interested in think I smoke. It just saves everyone a lot of time.” Sitting there with him in front of the In-n-Out, however, I thought I wouldn't mind tasting the tobacco on his lips.

“No,” I answered. “Do you?”

“Nah. As for a girlfriend, though, I don't have one of those either.” He exhaled a plume of smoke and checked his phone. “I need to get back to work soon. You never answered my question.”

“What question?”

“What's going on with you?”

My hands had gone numb from the cold of the milkshake cup, but I hardly noticed. “Just living my life. Same as you, I guess.”

Drumming his fingers on the table top just as he had done so on the trunk of that Mazda that one Christmas evening, Jon stayed silent for quite some time. I made no attempt to break that silence, but at the same time, I didn't feel put off by it. It was Jon. When he eventually stood, he didn't put an arm around me and bid me goodnight, but he did ask if we could talk again soon. I wasn't sure what the point was, but I wasn't about to say no.

“I have weekends off,” he said. ��I can pick you up from work on Saturday.”

“Alright.”

With a short nod, Jon sucked on his cigarette and turned back toward the Marketplace.

#jonerys #jonerys fanfic #game of thrones fanfiction #jon x dany #jon x daenerys #got fanfiction #jonerys fanfiction #jonerys fic #mine #my fic #fic #a crack in everything #a crack in everything: chapter two

11 notes · View notes

i-write-stuff-its-ok · 7 years

Text

Petals and Ink Part four

Summary: Michael and Jeremy spend some time at the mall together after their friends have left them alone.

Warnings: Mild swearing

Genre: Fluff

Word count: 1656

Author's note: It’s one of my headcanons that Michael comes from a huge family. Any Mell family members are characters I made up. Also Conner Mell is not a reference to DEH. I just like the name Conner, also I want the potential for jokes with Mrs.Mell messing up Connor and Cathy.

Michael stood there awkwardly. He didn’t know what to say or do, but here he was in the mall with Jeremy after his friends had ditched him. “ Well at least I don’t have to stand there awkwardly well people give me strange looks well I sit in Pink this time.” Michael said trying to break the silence. Jeremy laughed. “ S-so what do you want to do?” Jeremy asked. Neither of the boys quite knew what to do. “ Oh I was just gonna walk around, see if I can find anything for my brother. It’s his birthday soon and I still need a gift.” said Michael. “ You have a brother?” “ Two actually. Two older brothers and an older sister.” “ So you're the youngest.” “Not really, if you count in my cousins. I have two older cousins to but I also have two younger cousins. And since we all lived together there basicly my siblings as well so, yeah.” Michael smiled. “ Wow, big family. Your so lucky.” Jeremy said. “ Im taking it you're an only child.” Michael smiled. “ Yep.” Jeremy chuckled. “ I've always wanted brothers and sisters.” “ You say that now but once you have them,” Michael raised his voices pitch to imitate his mother, “ Max no Marco I mean Michael. Cathy I mean Conner. Michael drive your cousin to his friends house. Michael you have to be an example for Max. Michael get out of your brothers room he's having friends over.I don’t care who did it your all in trouble.” “ Wait so two older brothers and a sister and four cousins thats-” “ Eleven people if you count my parents and my aunt.” “ Wow, sounds,” “ Loud.” Michael laughed “ Loving.” Jeremy smiled. “ Well at least you get both your parents to yourself.” Michael teased. “ Not really my parents are divorced.” “ Oh, I'm sorry.” “ Nah it's fine it happened when I was little I'm over it.” “ Shit shit shit I made it awkward god dammit Mell. I am a failure of a human being.” Michael thought. The two of them stood in silence for a bit. Michael fiddled with the straps on his overalls and Jeremy looked at the ground. “ So, where did you wanna look first. What’s your brother into?” Jeremy asked with a nervous smile breaking the silence. “ Oh I was thinking about looking around for some shirts in Vans and I don’t really know.” “ Alright cool.” Jeremy smiled. The two of them walked together around the mall. Stealing quick glances at each other. They stopped in Vans and got a few shirts and a hat for Michael's older brother Conner. “ Hey can we stop at the pet store really quick? I need to get some food for Daisy.” Michael said. “ Daisy ,is that you dog or cat's name?” Jeremy asked. “ Actually Daisy is a snake.” Michael smiled. “ A snake? Y-you own a snake.” Jeremy asked shocked. “ Why is that surprising?” Michael asked. “ Well umm,” Jeremy looked Michael up and down. Michael looked down at his pastel outfit. “ I see your point.” Michael laughed.

They walked to the pet store and Michael got some crickets for Daisy and some cat treats for Cookie dough. “ You have a cat to?” Jeremy smiled. “ Well he’s my sisters. But I do live with him so I guess he’s mine to. Me and my sisters are roommates since she moved out to go to college , I'm taking a gap year to make some more money. I bet your in art school with how amazing you are at drawing.” Michael said smiling at Jeremy. “ No it’s way too expensive. I'm just gonna go to community college if I go some where at all.” “ What no way you're too talented to pass up art school.” Michael gushed. Jeremy started to turn red. “ Pssssh nah.” Jeremy looked at the ground scuffing his shoe. They left the pet store and wandered around the mall chatting. Michael felt his phone buzz. He took his phone “ New message from Christine.” He opened the message and read “ Having fun on your date?” Michael felt his face grow red as he read her text. “ What wrong?” Jeremy asked looking over to see what Michael was looking at. Michael shoved his phone in his pocket. “N-nothing!” They walked past the Cinnabon, Michael looked at it. He hadn’t had it in what felt like forever. Jeremy noticed him looking at it. “ Oh I haven’t been there in forever. Wanna get some.” Jeremy smiled. “ Sure.”

The two of them got there cinnamon rolls and iced coffees. They sat down at one of the little tables inside. “ I still can’t believe you have three siblings and four cousins. And you all lived together?” Jeremy laughed. “ Yep, poor Cathy. She was the only girl, or at least she was until Daniela came along but Daniela is only four so, Cathy is still stuck with us guys.” Michael smiled. “ Ok so let me see if I got this. There's Marco, Robbie, Cathy, Gabriel, Conner, then you, Max, and baby Daniela. Right?” Jeremy said. “ Close, you forgot the twins.” Michael smiled. “ What you never said anything about twins.” Jeremy said confused. “ Hahahahahaha there's no twins I’m just kidding!” Michael laughed throwing his head back and leaning back into his chair. “You got them all right good job.” he smiled as he sat up and took a bite of his cinnamon roll. “ Ummm got some frosting.” Jeremy said gesturing to his mouth. Michael tried to whip off the icing from his face but missed. “ Did I get it?” asked Michael. “ No, umm, just, here let me get it.” Jeremy said as he leaned over the table. Michael felt Jeremy’s fingers brush his as he reached for a napkin. Michael felt chills go through his hand. Jeremy leaned in close to Michael and wiped the frosting off of his bottom lip. There noses touched. Michael looked down at Jeremy's lips. He was biting his lip. Michael felt his face grow hot. Jeremy made eye contact with him as he brought his eyes up. Both the boys turned bright red. Michael pulled back in embarrassment his glasses sliding down his nose. Jeremy fell back into his seat and looked down. Michael pushed his glasses back up and looked at Jeremy blushing. “ Did you get it?” He smiled. “ Y-yeah.” Jeremy stutterd. “ Thanks.”

After they had finished their treat they walked around looking for their friends. As they walked out of the corner of his eye Michael saw Jeremy Inching closer to him. Soon they were walking side by side. Jeremy's fingers brushed against Michael's hand again. Jeremy noticed and quickly put his hands in his pockets. Michael studied Jeremy's profile as they walked. His curls flopped in his face and his eyelashes were long. His nose stuck out at a sharp point and his bottom lip stuck out. His smile went to the left of his face and his eyes crinkled up when he laughed. He noticed Jeremy fiddled with his sleeves a lot and slouched over a little bit. Michael was so engrossed in watching Jeremy he didn't even notice the bench. Michael walked directly into it. His lower body slammed into the bench and he fell back onto floor. “ Whoa are you ok?” Jeremy said crouching down to meet Michael on the ground. “ Yeah, I’m fine. I just wasn't paying attention to where I was going.” Michael said embarrassed. Jeremy stood back up and reached out his hand to Michael smiling his lopsided smile. Michael took Jeremy’s hand and stood back up as Jeremy pulled him up. Jeremy looked down at his hand that was still holding Michael’s, he didn't say anything. The two of them stood there holding hands for a few seconds before Michael noticed and quickly pulled away. “ S-sorry I, sorry I didn’t n-notice we were s-still.” Michael stammered turning red. “ No no no it’s fine sorry.” Jeremy apologized as he put his hands in his pockets. They were quiet for a bit before Rich and Jake found them.

“ Hey dudes what’s up.” Jake said as he waved at the two of them. “ What’th up tall ath, flower power.” Rich said nodding at them. “ Please don’t call me tall ass Rich.” Jeremy begged. “ Flower power?” Michael mumbled to himself confused at what Rich had just called him. “ So what did you two nerdth do all day?” Rich asked. “ Oh we just walked around and talked, Micheal got some stuff for his brother.” Jeremy said. “ We got Cinnabon.” Michael added. “ Did I hear Cinnabon?” Christine asked as her and the other girls walked up to join the group. “ Yeah me and Michael got some-” Jeremy was cut off by Brooke. “ What? You got Cinnabon without us Michael?” Brooke said jokingly sounding hurt placing her hands on her heart. “ Gasp! You monster!” Christine teased placing her hand on her forehead dramatically. Jake looked at his phone and saw the time. “ Hey we gotta take off and get back to work or else Chloe is gonna be pissed.” Jake said “ Awwwwwww do we have to.” Jena whined. “ Yeah thith thucks.” Rich groaned. “ Sorry I don’t make the rules. Chloe dose. Let’s go.” Jake sighed. Jena Jake and Rich started to walk off. Jeremy stayed behind. He took out a receipt from his pocket. “ I, ummm does anyone have a pen?” He asked. “ I do.” Brooke smiled as she took out a pen from her purse and gave it to Jeremy. Jeremy quickly scribbled down something on the back of the receipt. Jake noticed Jeremy wasn’t with them and turned around. “Jeremy, come on dude we gotta go.” Jake said waving Jeremy over. Jeremy looked down at the paper in his hand. He shoved it awkwardly into Michael's hand. “ H-here, umm I, bye.” Jeremy stammered before running off to catch up with Jake and the others. Michael looked down at the receipt in his hand. He turned it over and on the other side was Jeremy’s phone number.

#BMC #bmc fanfic #bmc musical #bmc michael #bmc jeremy #bmc meremy #bmc rich #bmc jake #bmc christine #bmc brooke #bmc jenna #bmc ships #bmc boyf riends #boyf #riends #boyf riends #shipping #fanficion

33 notes · View notes

ff15trashgoldenslumbers · 7 years

Note

So idk how much longer your ask is gonna be open, but if you get around to it, I wanna see how the chocobros would react to their S/O calling them daddy accidentally. Thank you! I love your writing!

OMG! I was just thinking of writing a free form drabble on this! Can you read my mind! This is going to be so adorable it’s going to be horrible! Horra-adorble! (I originally had another for Gladdy, but you’ll get that later. ;) )

~~~~~

Noctis

“I’ll be back about 7, you sure you don’t wanna come?” You called to the couch of your lump of a boyfriend, already knowing the answer since it was raining.

“No thanks.” Noctis called, as you checked your belongings one more time. “Do you have your keys?”

“Yes,”

“Money?”

“Yes.”

“Kisses?”

You laughed as you walked over to the man, leaning forward as you pressed a kiss against his lips, hearing your phone jingling, seeing your Father calling you. Meaning he was downstairs to pick you up for your family dinner with your great aunt who was in town, when all you wanted to do was cuddle with your Prince.

“I do now.” You giggled, sliding your phone to silent, only to gasp as Noctis pulled a hand to the back of your neck.

“Just a few more to hold you over.” He replied, more kisses littering your red painted lips, as you phone buzzed again. “Better get going.”

You rolled your eyes playfully to your boyfriend, “Sure, Daddy.”

Both of you froze, it was a slip, you didn’t mean it, Hell! You couldn’t recover!

Noctis blinked those bright blue eyes in confusion, “I’m not a, Father.”

You petted his head, “Of course you aren’t sweetie, I’ll be back soon. Love you!” You yelled all but sprinting out the apartment door.

~~~~~

Prompto

You bounced, all those days practicing with Prompto and you got your first bullseye! Plus the recoil damage no longer hurt, well not as bad.

“You did it!” “Prompto cheered, as you lowered your earmuffs.

“All thanks to you,” You smiled, as Prompto took his gun, magicking it away as he scooped you up in his arms for a spin.

“I think this calls for a celebration, take-out, King’s Knight and cuddles?” He smiled, twirling you.

You beamed, head still rushing with excitement, “Sure thing, Daddy.” Only as the words left your mouth, did you realized the stupid mistake you made, inwardly groaning.

Prompto smiled brightly, before tilting your head up to him, “I’d knew you’d agree, Mama.”

~~~~~

Gladiolus

You gasped, at the large hand than barely missed your head, ducking out the way, as you rolled into a crouch.

A friendly sparring match between you and your boyfriend was always a good way for the two of you to release the week’s tension, and often how many of your arguments got solved. Both of you never went for a kill shot, but there were many close calls.

“Gotta be faster than that, babe!” Gladiolus called, throwing a left haymaker at you.

You squeaked, dodging out the way, wrapping both your arms around the man’s forearms, at the same time shifting all your weight, as you spun. Bending over, as you lifted the man over your head with a loud roar, before slamming him into the ground.

The two of you stood in shock, trying to process what happened, Gladiolus laying on his back, as you stared down at him. Only for the spell to break as you realized what happened

Panting heavily, you fucking did, you flipped your behemoth of a boyfriend over your shoulder, and now you didn’t have to do the dishes for a week!

“Ha ha I did it! Yes!” You yelled, before collapsing on the man, who knew that lifting the big guy would take every bit of energy you had in you.

“Nice job, babe.” Gladiolus chuckled, sitting up cradling you in his lap, as he pushed a kiss to you cheek.

You turned to the man, a huge smile on your face, “I kicked you ass big guy!”

“I know, I was there.”

“Fuck you, Daddy!”

Gladiolus smirked, “If you insist.”

You barely had time to react, as you were tossed over a shoulder. “Wait, no Gladdy, I said Gladdy! Come on I’m tired.”

“That’s cool, I only need you to lay there.”

“Uh fuck me.” You groaned letting out a gasp, at the hand slapping your ass.

“That’s the plan.”

~~~~~

Ignis

You felt like the living dead, shuffling into the kitchen, your hair looked like a Chocobo’s nest, your robe somehow on your body, possibly out of sheer will power at this point, one sock on, the other sock was who knows where. Two all nighters, led you to this pageant beauty of a morning.

When you had woken up, you had realized the bed was empty, as your arm was splayed across Ignis’ side, yourself face down,mouth open, obviously snoring throughout your first night asleep in 48 hours. Only to smell breakfast floating through the apartment, meaning Ignis was being the perfect little dear, and making you something to help your fried body and mind. When all you really wanted was for the man to come back to bed.

“Good morning.” Ignis called.

You managed at what you hoped was a good morning, your blurry vision leading you hopefully to the table. Collapsing into a chair, as you held your head, it felt like you had a hangover. A work hangover!

“Here you are, my love.” Ignis called, placing a large mug of Ebony tea before you.

“Thanks, Daddy.” Your fried mind managed to get out, as you picked up the cup. You watched Ignis’s eyes widen slightly, before he chuckled, placing a kiss to your forehead.

“After breakfast, why don’t we retire back to bed.”

You sipped your tea, “Perfect.”

#ffxv headcanons #ff15 headcanons #ffxv text post #final fantasy 15 headcanons #final fantasy 15 text post #final fantasy xv head #drabbles #final fantasy drabbles #noctis lucis caelum #noctis x reader #prompto argentum #prompto x reader #gladiolus amicitia #gladiolus x reader #ignis scientia #ignis x reader

368 notes · View notes

badboygoesfluffy · 7 years

Text

About lonely people and love (chap 1)

Cataleon had moved into this town a year ago, and ever since the first day, a certain redhead had caught her attention. The bad boy of the school, who looks so sad when he thinks no one’s looking.

Castiel x OC (Cataleon) Drama, Romance

"Yo. Kitten! Why you in such a hurry?" I hear a voice calling for me down the hallway, making me sigh. I easily recognize the voice, practically hearing the smirk in his voice. I stop and wait for him anyways, knowing that we're heading to the same classroom. I've been going to this school for almost a year now and I've known him ever since the day one. Sadly he's become quite a pain in the ass lately. I still remember my first day in this new town, and how sweet he used to be. I had to transfer here in the middle of the school year, so I didn't really have time to get used to the town before starting at the school. I moved in with my aunt, and it was already night time when I got to her house.

The house looked fairly normal on the outside, a dark beige two-story building with a small yard in the front, if you even could call the small grass plant and a single dried bush a yard. The house next to my new home stood out from the neutrality of beige, light grey and yellow of the street, as it was almost black. The yard was surprisingly well kept with some bushes and even a small pond. It was rather odd, but I didn't think of it too much, already tired from the drive to here. I decided to bring my stuff inside now, not wanting anything to get stolen. I took two of the lighter boxes, and went to the door, opening it and almost dropping the boxes when I saw what was waiting for me. The outside didn't give out any hints of what I saw inside. Bright pink walls with purple swirls on them greeted me in the hallway, and from my spot I could see the kitchen and living room. Both were very bright, mostly pinks and purples with splashes of white, blue and black. I knew right away that it would take me some time to get used to it all. My previous home was mostly black and white, with some greys to balance it out. All of the furniture was modern and sleek and it never really felt like home, more like an office with it's huge windows. I had grown so used to the bland and boring colour scheme that even a splash of pink would have weirded me out, let alone this mess of colours. I shook my head slightly as I walked up the spiral stairs, wishing that my room would be at least a bit more neutral. I saw a note on one of the doors, saying that it was mine. I slowly opened the door, peaking inside. I let out a sigh of relief, as I saw the light grey walls, with black and blue accent colours. It had a really calm feeling to it and I knew I would feel at home there in no time. I placed the boxes on the floor and saw a note on my new bed.

Hi darling! I hope your new room is what you wished for. I had the walls repainted, so you would feel more at home. I will be back later this week, there's food in the fridge. Love ya, auntie <3

I couldn't help but to giggle slightly at the note, already feeling very welcome. I've never known her that well, just met her at a couple of parties before, but she seemed very nice and she let me stay at her house to study so I couldn't really complain. Before leaving to get the rest of my things, I opened the window to let some fresh air in. I looked outside, seeing the same dark grey house from before. Straight across from my room was another one, with deep red curtains pulled in front of it. I stretched lightly, making my way back downstairs. I got back outside, and started taking some more boxes from the trunk, placing them on the ground so I could lock the doors soon. I almost hit my head as I heard someone talking and jolted up to see where the voice came from. "Are you robbing the house or moving in? Should I just call the cops or?" I could hear someone ask with a very amused voice. I looked at the tall young man with a big dog next to him. I saw the smirk on his face as he got closer and I chuckled. "Of course I'm robbing it. In the middle of the evening when people like you are walking their dogs and what not." He seems a bit taken a back by my reply but chuckles as he sees my smile. "In all seriousness, I am moving in" I smile at the guy who nodded and seemed to be thinking about something for a moment. "So is the crazy old lady finally moving away?" he asked, sounding almost hopeful, and I bursted out laughing. Well that surely described my aunt well. She's a fashion designer who doesn't even care what other people think, which most of the time leads to something odd. Like last week when she came to see me, she was dressed in a pink, ruffly dress, saying that she was going to be my fairy godmother now. The young man looked rather puzzled, but didn't say a word, possibly waiting for me to explain. "Sorry about that... "The crazy old lady" you're talking about happens to be my aunt. So sorry to burst your bubble but you won't be getting rid of her just yet" I chuckle as I see his pale skin turning light pink in embarrassment. "Uhh... Sorry.. You two look nothing alike so... I didn't know.." he mutters, making me smile. "Don't sweat it. She is... a rather extraordinary person to put it nicely. But crazy lady describes her just fine as well" I laugh and the other seemed relieved by my words. "Do you need help with those?" the guy asks after a moment of silence, motioning towards the pile of boxes. "Nah, I'm fine. You just continue your walk. He seems to be getting a bit antsy" I said, referring to the dog by his side. "Demon? No, he just wants to come and say hi" he shrugs, letting the leash go when I kneeled down to pet the dog. "Well aren't you a good boy~" I cooed at the cutie who almost pushed me over, laughing at it. "I could still help you, though. I live right next door so we were just finishing the walk" the stranger suddenly speaks again and I look up at him. So he's my new neighbour? "If you insist, then sure. I'll make us dinner as a thank you" I say as I get back up again, taking a box from the ground. "And no buts," I continued as he was about to protest. " You help me so I need to do something to pay you back. Besides, I haven't eaten since the morning and really need some food" I smile at the other, who sighed in defeat, before nodding. "Fine. I'll just take him home first. Be back in a minute" he said, taking the leash again and walking to his house. Damn... I never thought I'd meet my neighbours this quick. Besides, he is kinda cute with his long red hair and grey, intense eyes. I took the box inside, deciding that it's best to get all the boxes inside first and then bring them upstairs. I just lifted one of the last boxes when he got back. I looked up at him, telling him to just bring the last two boxes in while I lock the car doors. I went inside after him, closing the door behind my back. "My room is upstairs, second door on left. The door's open" I say as I pick up one of the boxes, walking up the stairs after him. He places the boxes next to the ones that are already there, looking out the window. "I don't think I asked your name before" I mused out loud, getting his attention again. "So do you mind telling me? Or should I just call you "mystery neighbour?" I ask jokingly, grinning at the taller one. He just snorted at me, before answering my question. "No thanks. It's Castiel" he said as he started walking back downstairs. "Castiel..? That sounds familiar. Didn't my aunt used to babysit you when you were young?" I asked and he nodded. "Yeah, when my parents weren't at home." "I'm Cataleon, by the way. I know, strange name, but my parents weren't the most normal people" I laughed lightly, but something in that sentence caught his attention. "Weren't?" he asked, turning to look at me. "uhhh.." I muttered, turning my gaze away. I had been living with my father's brother before moving here. Him and his wife happened to live close by and they took me in when my parents died when I was younger. Now I needed to move in with my mother's sister since she lives closer to my new school and I would have never asked them to move for me, with their small child and all the hassle of finding a new job and all that. Probably sensing my discomfort with the question, he changed the subject. "Cataleon, huh? Well that's an odd name. I'm starting to see how you and Agatha are family" he chuckled as we moved my stuff upstairs. The conversation died out after that and we didn't say a word before getting to kitchen. "Are you fine with some pasta?" I ask and he nods, sitting down. "Can I ask why you moved here?" I heard his voice and glanced at him from over my shoulder. "I'll be starting at the school here tomorrow" I answered while cooking. "Sweet Amoris high? I go there too. Third year" he says and I look at him again. What? He's the same age as me?? I thought he was at least three years older than me! "What? Did I say something weird?" He asked as I placed the two plates on the table. "No, not at all. I just thought you were older than me, that's all" I smile at the other as we start to eat. He left after dinner and I put the dishes away, too tired to wash them. I went straight to my room, and put the sheets on the bed, collapsing on top of it afterwards. I didn't even change my clothes and fell asleep, not even turning on my alarm.

I woke up the next morning, still feeling tired from the night before. I stretched for a moment before looking for my phone, finding it on my bed. I looked at the clock and jumped out of the bed. "Oh no! No no no no! Not today!" I yelled at myself as I rummaged through my boxes, finding some clothes to wear. I went with a black band t-shirt, a short blue skirt and white, knee-high socks. I checked from the mirror that my red hair, ever so long and wavy, didn't point to all the possible directions, and took my bag, running down the stairs and straight to the hallway, deciding to skip breakfast. I put on my sneakers in a hurry, trying to balance on one foot and almost falling over. I shouted a quick goodbye just in case, before running out the door. In my hurry to my car, I didn't notice another pair of feet walking towards me until it was too late. "Ah!" I yelped as I fell, pulling the other person down with me. "Well good morning to you too, Kitten" I could hear Castiel snickering on top of me with his hands on both sides of my face. I could feel the blush creeping up my face as I opened up my eyes and could see his face just inches away from mine. "D-do you mind getting up? I'll be late.." I muttered in embarrassment, trying to avoid his gaze. "It's cute how shy you are" he grinned, but got up anyways, taking my hand and pulling me back to my feet. I still didn't look at him, trying to tidy up my clothes quickly. Then I realized what he had said earlier. "Wait, what did you call me? Kitten?!" I snapped at him, but he only laughed. "Well, Cataleon reminds me of a cat, but you're more like a child, so kitten it is" I could see the proud grin on his face and only shook my head. "I'm not a child..." I muttered and started walking to my car. "Do you need a ride to school? My bike is surely faster than your car" he asks, pointing at the motorbike parked in front of the houses. I was wearing a skirt but I also didn't want to be late. "Sure. Do you have an extra helmet?" I asked back and he nodded, passing one to me. "Would I have asked if I didn't?" He asked knowingly and I just huffed at him. I sat behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist as we left. I was sure we broke some speed limits on the way, as not ten minutes later we pulled up in front of the school. "Here we are. You can let go now" he chuckled, patting my hands lightly. I did as he said and got off the vehicle, taking off the helmet. As soon as I did that, I could hear him burst out laughing. "What.. what's so funny?" I asked him, and he only pointed at my hair. I got back next to the bike, checking my hair from the side mirror. "Oh gosh... this isn't my day at all.." I muttered as I saw what I feared, my hair a huge mess. I took my bag and searched around for a moment, finding a hair tie and pulling my hair up to a messy ponytail. At least I look presentable now. "Are you going to stay there all day?" I could hear a voice from the distance and saw Castiel walking ahead. "Wait for me" I yelled back at him, taking a few running steps to catch up. We walked inside together and Castiel showed me the way to the principal's office. "Thanks. I would have been so lost by myself.." I smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of my head. "No problem. But you're on your own now, I don't feel like being late again" he grinned at me before leaving. I took a deep breathe before knocking at the door, waiting for someone to let me in. I was surprised to see a young, blond boy open the door. "Yes? Are you lost?" he asked with a sweet smile. "Uhh... I'm starting here today. Isn't this the principal's office?" I asked back, afraid that Castiel had taken me to the wrong door. "Oh! You must be Cataleon. Yes, come in, the principal will be back in a minute" He let me in, getting back to work himself. I just stood there awkwardly, not really knowing what to do. He seemed to notice my discomfort and turned to face me again. "I'm Nathaniel by the way. I'm the student council president here, so if you need help with anything, just ask." I smiled at the boy, shaking his hand. "Thanks. If you don't mind, I could use a tour around the school" I said a bit shyly and he nodded. "Sure thing. Are you free tomorrow morning before school?" I could only nod before the door was opened again and an older lady dressed in pink got in. "Oh, you must be miss Reyes. Nice to meet you" I couldn't help but to feel a bit intimidated by the woman, who's voice boomed in the almost empty room. "Yes, that would be me" I finally answered, offering a smile. "I don't have much time to waste, but I will show you to your first class. After that you can ask the other students, they will surely help you" she said, motioning me to follow her. "And here's your schedule for now. There might be some changes, if the teachers feel like you would fit better in another group, depending on how well you do in your studies" the lady explains and I only nod, taking the paper from her. I had to almost run after her, not being able to keep up, even though my legs were much longer than hers. We stopped in front of classroom 125 and she knocked on the door, opening it without waiting for a reply. "Mr. Faraize, I have your new student here" she said, motioning me to get inside. I walked into the classroom and could here some whispering right away. "Well, why don't you introduce yourself, miss" the nervous man behind the teacher's desk said, and I kind of felt sorry for him. "Yes, of course! I'm Cataleon Reyes, but feel free to call me Cat. I just moved here, so I hope I get to make some friends soon" I flashed a dashing smile at my new classmates, even though I could hear some snickering from the back of the room. Sadly I didn't see Castiel in the midst of the students. "Great. You can now go and sit next to... uhh..." the teacher looks around, trying to find an empty spot. I see someone raising their hand, only to see a ruffled sleeve and top of their silver hair. Well that seems odd. "Yes. Lysander. Thank you. Now let's get back to the topic" Mr. Faraize started explain something about history, but I didn't pay too much attention as I got to my new seat. I raised my brows as I saw the pair of mismatched eyes looking up at me. I sit down anyways, taking a good look at the odd person next to me. His hair is silver, those messy locks covering his forehead as he smiled gently, his golden and green eyes boring into me and his Victorian era styled clothes didn’t really help the impression of someone a bit to the lunatic side. "Hi, pleasure to meet you, Cataleon" he smiles sweetly and offers me his hand. I took it, thinking that he just wanted to shake it, but got surprised as he raised my hand to his lips, lightly kissing the back of it. “I wish you’ll enjoy your time here. If you need any help, don't be afraid t ask” he said, turning back to his work. I was left sitting there, a bit shocked by what just happened, but decided to just let it be. He seems like a nice person after all. At least going to school here didn't seem to be boring. After the class Lysander showed me around the classrooms I had that day so I wouldn't be late again. On our way we saw a couple of his friends, a group of three girls. Violette seemed like a sweet and shy girl, who loved art even more than I did. Iris was bursting with sunshines and positivity and I couldn't help but to smile with her. And as soon as I met Kim I was sure she was someone to trust. A bit loud, but surely a great friend. I thanked Lysander as we got to the last classroom on the list and he left soon after, not wanting to be late either. I didn't have anyone I knew with me in the next classroom and I ended up sitting next to a girl named Peggy, who kept asking me question through out the hour and half. She told me she's a journalist for the school magazine, which explained her curiosity. In the end, I had a lot of fun talking to the brunette. Soon the class came to end and she left, saying that she was too busy to have lunch with me and the small group of people I've got to know. I was walking down the stairs to get to the cafeteria as someone pulled me from bot of my arms behind the stairs. "Well well. Who do we have here? The new girl who doesn't know her place" A blonde girl I had never seen before laughed at me as her friends kept me in place. "What..? What are you talking about? I haven't broken any rules?" I asked, confused by the trio. "Not the written rules, Kittycat. The rules I make" she took a hold of my chin, pulling my face up to face her. "Don't you dare to get close to Castiel. He is mine" she hissed in a low voice, letting my go and scratching my cheek with her acrylic nails at the same. I yelped in pain, trying to pry away from them. "Huss... You don't want anyone to hear us right. Everyone here likes and trusts me. So you better keep your little mouth shut or I'll do worse. And remember. Don't talk to my Cassy. Don't even look at him" she kept talking down at me, running her nail down my cheek, making it bleed slightly. I tried my best to keep my cool as they left me there, sitting on the floor. What was that all about. My cheek was pulsating with pain as I got up, planning to just wash it in the bathroom when someone took a hold of my arm again. I spun around, ready to slap the three assholes, only to see Castiel standing there, looking rather confused. "What happened to your face?" he asked, looking at my bleeding cheek. "Nothing.. I was just clumsy" I muttered as an answer and tried to get away from him, but he took his hold on my arm. "No. Your nails can't be long enough for that kinda scratch." I hadn't seen the mark myself, so I didn't know what he was talking about. "Let's get you to the nurse's office. She'll patch you up. Then I'll take you back home" he started walking back upstairs, still not letting me go. "I can go by myself. I'm not a child" I huffed at the redhead, but he wasn't having any of it. "Just tell me who did this and I'll let you go. Or you'll be coming with me and telling the nurse." I gave him a tired look, but he kept being stubborn. "I don't know who they were. Some three assholes. One was blonde, the other brunette and I'm pretty sure one of them was Asian" I explained and he let go of my arm. "Amber.. I should have known" he muttered to himself. "Why didn't you tell me straight away?" I could tell he was used to dealing with the three of them. "We just met yesterday?" I try, but even I knew at the moment that I wasn't too convincing. "She said that I shouldn't talk to you at all, or it would be worse next time..." I finally gave up, looking away. The redhead only huffed, taking my arm again and starting to pull me up the stairs with him. "B-but! You said I wouldn't have to go if I told you?" I tried to get away from him but he didn't seem to listen or care. "We'll show that to her brother. Guess he can make her behave" I gave him a puzzled look, but followed him anyways, as we got back to the principal's office. He knocked and waited until the blond boy from before opened the door. "What do you want?" Nathaniel asked, clearly pissed off. "Not me, her. Your sister is acting like an animal again. You better keep her under control" Castiel points at me and I only smile sheepishly at the blond boy. "Amber did that? Oh gosh... Come here, let's clean that up" he let me in as Castiel waited outside. I stayed quiet as he cleaned the wound. "I'm sorry. Amber doesn't realize the world doesn't revolve around her..." he sighed when he was done. "It's not your fault. I just wasn't careful enough" I offer a smile at the other who only shrugs. "I'll try and talk to her about it. Hopefully she'll stop acting like a brat soon" he led me out of the room where Castiel was still waiting. "What took you so long? I was going to leave you behind" the taller boy said and Nathaniel huffed at him. "Then why didn't you?" he asked with a raised brow and I turned my gaze back to Castiel. "She doesn't have a ride home. And she doesn't know the town, so walking can't be a good idea" he explained, making me smile a bit. "Thanks for the help, Nathaniel: We'll be off now" I smiled at the blond, making my way past Castiel and towards the main entrance. We didn't talk much until we ran into Lysander. "What are you two doing together?" He asked, looking very confused. "And what happened to your cheek?" I glanced at the boy next to me before replying. "It's a long story. I got into a bit of trouble and Castiel helped me out" I smile at the worried guy who only nods. "And how do you two know each other?" he seemed even more puzzled by the fact that he saw us together, not about my cheek. "Oh, she's my new neighbour. I saw her moving in last night and gave her a ride this morning or she would have been late" Castiel explained, clearly the two of them were good friends. They chatted for a while longer before we all got to parking lot and parted our ways to get home. As we got in front of our houses, I could see my aunts car parked there. Oh, she's home already. Castiel tried to sneak away but couldn't disappear fast enough, so my aunt told him to come and eat dinner with us. We sat in the living room while my aunt cooked for us, not saying a word. "Tell me, Cassy darling, how are you liking your new neighbour?" she grinned from the kitchen, making Castiel clearly uncomfortable. "She's fine" he replied quietly, "much better than you..." he added as an afterthought and I couldn't hep but to laugh. "That's great! You will be spending a lot of time together, I'm sure. You're always welcome in this house, no matter what" I could tell that there was some bigger meaning behind those words, but I didn't question it. They had known each other for years, so of course my aunt would know things about him that I didn't. I excused myself to go and change my clothes before the dinner was ready. I heard them bickering about something was I went upstairs but didn't really think too much of it. I changed into a loose t-shirt and jeans and brushed my hair that was still a mess from this morning. I made my way back downstairs and we had a nice dinner, with my aunt telling all kinds of stories from when Castiel was still a child. I couldn't help but to laugh at his embarrassment, but I could still tell he wasn't actually mad at her. After eating, Castiel went back home and I decided to do some homework before sleep. When I got anything done, I didn't feel that tired anymore. I took my guitar and started playing around with it, not really playing any particular song, just going with the flow. I almost jumped out of my bed when I heard something hit my window. I peaked out, seeing Castiel at the window across from mine. I opened the window before he could throw another small rock at it. "You didn't tell me you played the guitar" he said simply and I chuckled. "You never asked" I answer, turning to sit with my back against the wall again. "Can you play something for me?" He asked after a moment. "Sure" I mused, thinking for a while, before starting to play. After a while I peaked out of the window again, only to see Castiel already sleeping. I smiled to myself, putting my guitar away and going to sleep as well.

That was over a year ago. Things have changed quite a lot, but I'm happy with my life here. I've got used to almost everything, except for one thing. One person to be exact. And it was the redhead calling for me. Castiel.. is hard to explain. He is mischievous, but sweet at heart. He’s a bully, but knows when enough is enough. He has a sharp tongue and doesn’t really know how to comfort others but I guess he’s trying. He has short temper and when he hits his limit, he really does hit it. He doesn’t like many people but once you get to his good side, he’ll be loyal to you. He acts all tough and like a bad boy but when he thinks no one watches him, he has this sad look in his eyes, and I still don't know why that is. He is.. A lot of things.

But above all of that, he’s the boy I love.

#my candy love #mcl #fan fic #about lonely people and love #rewrite #i would love to hear what you people think of this!#I feel like this version is less childish or something #but i would love some comments #reblogs are loved too <3

13 notes · View notes