#plus i went looking around and the branch is just made of light

[lucysarah-c]

Fifteen, what an age to be alive. Dad!Levi

Summary: Steal your father's car! What could go wrong? Author note: Since the Marley world seemed to be around the 30s-40s, I’ll set this idea in a world that looks like the mid-50s. This is POST WAR. Warnings: Cursing 'cause Levi, obv. And slightly mention of a group taking advantage of a girl, nothing really happens and there's no graphic description at all. Word count: 3.9k Pairing: Dad! Levi x Mom! Reader

His hands gripped the big round wheel of the car as his eyes scanned the dark night with a nervous smile, quickly turning into clenched teeth. His attention shifted to the passenger seat, soft as if it was a scene from one of the horror pictures he saw at the drive-in.

A light blond girl lay unconscious, her head resting against the door, appearing lifeless. She wore a typical sleeveless red button-up shirt and very short white shorts, with white socks crumpled down to double-coloured loafers. Her hair was still in a ponytail, exposing her face completely. It was August, plain summer break, and he knew that most of his classmates wore shorts or even swimsuits at the pool or beach. But somehow, her exposure made him blush and feel ashamed, as if even staring felt wrong.

Turning to the back seat of the car, he picked up his letterman jacket and placed it on top of her, covering her as much as possible. It looked big on her, and somehow, Adrien blessed every deity mentioned; he probably was inheriting his father’s uncle’s height and not his father's, a fact becoming rather obvious every day, as he was only 15 and already almost 1.80m.

“Calm down, Adie… you got this,” he whispered to himself, “I’ve no idea what I'm going to do but I got it.”

How did he get into this situation? It was supposed to be a silly night out; one of his friends invited him to a party of the seniors who were graduating from high school that year. What was the issue if he was just a freshman? Fifteen, eighteen, it’s the same! Plus, it was some party at some old forgotten building, half destroyed during the rumbling around ten years ago, in the middle of nowhere. Nothing wrong with that.

Yes, perhaps he stole his father’s keys and car. Yes, perhaps he lied about sleeping in his room. Yes, maybe he stole a bit (a lot) of money from his parents. “I mean… deep down, it’s my father’s fault for not allowing me to come legally,” Adrien argued with his own reflection in the car's mirror.

But everything went downhill when he saw a group of guys dragging a girl who was clearly not feeling well and decided to step in. Now, here he was, the party had turned into a mess as the fight happened, he got kicked out with an unconscious girl, and who knew what they had given her. He hit his forehead against the wheel as time slipped through his fingers; he was supposed to be back home already.

“Fucking shit! Who told me to step in!” he cursed under his breath. Deep down, he knew stepping up for what he had been told was horrendously wrong, knowing he had the strength to fight those assholes back. ‘The curse of being a fucking Ackerman, man,’ he thought.

He had done the right thing, at least one right thing during the entire night, but now he had to face the consequences. Muffled cries mixed with distressed groans filled the car, “My father is going to kill me!”

His forehead kept hitting the wheel repeatedly as if that would knock some common sense into him or perhaps give him a concussion and fake that he had been kidnapped or something. Surrounded by trees in a dead-end road, it wasn’t even paved. Only the footprints of multiple cars to follow back to civilization. The distressed teen didn’t even know where he was; his older friend had guided him there and left with his girlfriend at some point of the party.

Slowly raising his head up again to admire the endless kilometres of dim nothing, contemplating his options, seizing his courage. “Come on, Adie. Be a man, be a man!”

The trees’ branches creaked in the middle of the night, the car slightly swayed under the strong summer wind. “I want my mommy,” he muttered.

Hand on the wheel and turning on the car, one step at a time, he took a deep breath and then decided to go out on the road again. Forgotten somewhere, his father’s car’s papers and driver's license. In them it read “Levi Ackerman.”

Each branch from the forest that scraped the car was a personal pain, praying to any god's existence that it didn’t scratch it. Of course, his father had filled up the tank, obviously he had. Levi was like that, always cautious. Adrien did a personal wish his father had a map stored in the glove compartment, but obviously, he didn’t. After all, Levi knew the streets of the city like the back of his hand. He drove a lot, especially since his legs weren’t what they used to be anymore. Perhaps he didn’t need any support for walking any longer, but walking long distances wasn’t in Levi’s plans anymore.

“Perhaps I can… drive to the hospital, leave her, and like run away,” he contemplated, before groaning loudly, “No, I can’t do that. God, I’m dead.”

‘I could have walked away, but no, Mr. Adrien Ackerman has to be a hero. Mr. Ackerman has to do the right thing.’

Adrien had driven twice in his life; this one was the second. The first was a few years ago when his father sat him down on his lap and let him do it for a little bit. He was happy he hadn’t encountered much traffic and only had to drive ahead because he wasn’t completely sure yet what the third pedal was for.

“I got it, do not worry,” he said, trying to sound reassuring to the unmoving girl on his right. Adrien’s grey eyes checked on her from time to time, but she seemed deeply asleep, or so he hoped. “I’ll get to the hospital in no time, and you’ll be alright,” he promised.

His smile created a couple of dimples on each side of his face, but it quickly faded as fear kicked in. “And if you’re not alright, do not worry. I’ll throw myself off a bridge, and we can be not alright together,” he kept joking as if, by some miracle, the girl would reply.

He didn’t even know her name, and somehow, that made him feel even guiltier. As civilization began to appear and the sky began to lighten up, he lost hope of not dying at the hands of his own progenitor, but he was also hopeful that at least he was getting somewhere without crashing. The sun hadn’t shown up yet, but the deep blue of the sky had a particular glow to it that made it imminent.

The streets were deserted, and rightfully so; it was the middle of the night on a Monday. Adrien tried to park the car as best as he could, finally reaching the only hospital he somehow remembered the route to. Rushing to the other door, he carefully picked her up.

When he crossed the doors of the main hospital, which was almost empty at those hours, the doctors on duty quickly took her in, some searching for identifications inside her clothes. The police officer at the front gates forbade him from leaving the place.

“Alright, please hand me your ID,” the front gate secretary asked after informing him that the girl was out of danger, but she would have to stay for monitoring. Adrien’s suspicious silence made the woman raise her eyes from the form she was filling out to look at him. “You know that carrying IDs is obligatory, right?”

“Yes, madam…” He felt his palm sweating as he feared being taken to the police station.

“How old are you?”

Her voice sounded calm but tired as she quickly understood the issue, “… eighteen.”

With a loud sigh, she took off her cat-eye red glasses and then slowly blinked back at him. “Look kid, I’ve been on night watch for three days straight. I’ve no energy to deal with this.”

Adrien’s eyes remained glued to the floor, feeling small despite his stature. “… fifteen,” he admitted reluctantly.

Her unpleasant groans echoed in the empty walls that reeked of disinfectant. He slowly turned to the gates, and the security guys began to chuckle as they drank coffee. Feeling the need to clarify, he said, “I swear it wasn’t me who hurt her.”

“Kid, people who drug girls don’t carry them to hospitals,” she replied disinterestedly, pouring the information into the typewriter, the typing echoing in the place. Finally, she picked up a post-it with a pencil and raised it to the top of the reception table. “Your parents' contact number, please.”

Her eyes quickly moved to him and then back to her writing as he hesitated to fill out the paper. “You know I’ve done nothing; can’t I just go?” Adrien insisted, trying to escape the situation.

“Kid, you’re breaking national curfew and walking around without identification. A responsible adult must come and sign for you to leave; otherwise, you’ll live here until you turn 18.”

“Could you at least wait until 9 am to call my mother’s work number?” He smiled awkwardly, trying to find a way to avoid his father’s rage. The secretary looked up at the clock; it wasn’t even 5 am and then back to him, deadly. Unpleasant complaining groans echoed as he reluctantly wrote his house’s telephone number. “Sorry.”

Sat down at one of those uncomfortable waiting room’s seats with a latte and chocolate donut he brought at the cafeteria, he waited as someone waits to be hanged. The doctors and nurses moved here and there attending to the few people that came in with emergencies. Until the secretary walked by and said, “Your father picked up the phone; he said that getting the car and coming this way.”

Adrien’s grey eyes quickly turned in fear to check out of the window, grimacing uneasily as he admired the family's car parked outside. “Great…”

The longer it took, the more Adrien knew he was in trouble. Pressing his eyes closed and clenching his jaw, as if he could already feel the kick in his ass. Despite the nerves, his head bobbed forward as he fell asleep, and the tug of falling forward snapped him back awake. At some point, he rested his head on the joined seat and fell asleep, mouth open.

The front gates snapping open woke him up, and he wished to make himself smaller so he could hide behind the back of the seats. But as he turned backwards, Levi was at the front desk talking to the secretary and security guards. His dark hair was a mess, and it seemed like he had just put on some shoes and a shirt because he still had the pyjama pants on. Outside, the cap that his father had probably been forced to take there.

As the secretary picked up the forms for him to fill, his father quickly raised his grey eyes to shoot him across the room the deadliest glance he had yet to witness. ‘Goodbye everybody, it was nice knowing you.’

Avoiding facing death, Adrien remained seated, giving his back, but he quickly heard the footsteps of his father, characterized by the slight hobble he had after the war. With his presence looming, he looked down at Adrien, who slowly raised his attention up.

Smiling innocently, “Hi, dad.”

Levi didn’t smile back; quite the opposite, he frowned even more and extended his right hand that was missing two fingers. “My fucking keys.”

The teen searched for them inside his jeans and quietly handed them over with puppy eyes. Levi snapped them, but his hand didn’t withdraw. “And my damn money.” Repeating the same action but with the bills, Levi grabbed them and began to count. “And the rest?”

Adrien mumbled some incoherent groans as he refused to make eye contact. “Tch,” Levi clicked his tongue and gripped his shirt neck, raising him from his seat, pushing him to the exit. “Get in the fucking car.”

The walk of shame only accentuated as his father's angry tone didn’t match the polite one he used to greet the secretary and guards on his way out. He cowered in the passenger seat, trying to make himself a tiny ball as Levi slammed the door shut. Loud sighs that didn’t withdraw the deep frown before he turned on the car again.

“You’re so fucking wrong if you think I’ll stand this type of behaviour; I'm telling you,” Levi spat the words as he drove back home. “What the hell were you thinking?!”

“Adrien!” Levi insisted as the kid didn’t even reply, looking to his right as he waited at a red light. “You don’t want to talk? Fine, fucking ungrateful brat. You know how fucking worried your mother was when we received a call from the shitty hospital? Eh?”

“The drive-in the other day, the supposed hang out at your friend’s house that you were never fucking there, and now this. Are you fucking proud?” the ex-captain of the scouts kept going as his eyes were glued to the road despite only one of them working anymore. “You’re grounded, you’re so fucking grounded that I’ll fucking die, and you’ll have to get a damn Ouija board to contact me to see if you can go out to buy groceries.”

The teen just silently rolled his eyes as the long list of unhappiness of his father about his behaviour couldn’t care less. “Don’t you dare to roll your eyes on me, brat. You heard me? Drop that fucking attitude.” Somehow his father always seemed to have eyes everywhere. “Happy now? You ruined your entire summer break; beg all you want later on. You’re not leaving the house.”

“As if you’d let me go out anyway,” Adrien murmured mockingly under his breath.

“What?” Levi demanded. “If you’re going to have the guts to steal MY car, MY money, and break MY orders, then grow the guts to speak the fuck up.”

“That you never let me go anywhere!” Adrien shouted back angrily.

“For what? To go to this damn party in the middle of nowhere to hang out with fucking rapists and get

shit-faced?” Levi argued back. “You think I was born yesterday? I know exactly which places I don’t want you to get involved with. You think you’ve everything figured out, but that’s not it, Adrien! You’re 14! Fourteen!”

“I’m fifteen!”

“You turned fifteen two weeks ago, for fuck’s sake!” Levi shouted, slightly turning to his right before focusing back on the road. “I’m telling you, better fix your attitude or this is not going to end well. You may be getting big and feel cocky, but you won’t play smart-ass with me. You can grow up to be as tall as the fucking Colossal Titan, and yet you would do whatever the fuck I tell you!”

“I did the right thing! I stood up for her; I’m not stupid enough to do whatever my classmates do. Why can’t you see that?!” Adrien complained as they reached the front of the house, and Levi stopped the car.

“’Cause you were stupid enough to steal my car even when you don’t know how to fucking drive!” Levi complained as he got out of the car, walking to the front door. He kept going with the lecture but lower as he didn’t want to wake up the neighbours. “You don’t like it? Choose another father in your next life; in this one, it’s me, and I’m not going to let my teenage kid not give a fuck about the decisions I take. I’ve gone through too much shit for a fucking brat to tell me what I believe is the best for them.”

They both walked in, and Levi locked the door behind them. The room was still dim for the early hours, and their dog greeted them enthusiastically. The keys dropping at the front plate echoed loudly, and the tuxedo cat of the family finally appeared to rub himself against the legs of the teen, who quietly picked him up. Y/N quickly rushed to check on her kid.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did they hurt you somewhere?” She seemed clearly agitated, and Adrien remained with his eyes glued to the floor.

“No, mom,” he murmured, downcast. “I’m fine.”

“Oi, to your damn room,” Levi quickly ordered. “and clean it up; I won’t say it again.”

The kid left, cursing under his breath as he went upstairs and slammed the front door shut.

“What happened?” she asked Levi, who was preparing himself a tea to calm down, enveloping herself in a negligee.

“What happened? That kid is driving me nuts, that’s what's happening,”

Y/N sighed loudly, positioning herself behind her husband and running her hands through his arms, seeking to provide some comfort. She then switched to hugging him from behind. “He’s going through a phase… his new classmates are mostly kids who survived the rumbling, and some of them aren’t the best influence. He just wants to fit in, you know how important that is at his age.”

“Tch,” Levi kept facing the countertop, murmuring as the anger didn’t quickly wash away. But eventually, he closed his eyes and sighed loudly as the adrenaline slowed down. “The audacity of that kid, where the hell does he get it?”

Y/N couldn't help but chuckle against his back, “MH, I wonder,” she said sarcastically. “If they were still around, perhaps we could have asked some senior MPs… perhaps they could enlighten us on how you were as a teen,”

“I wasn’t like that,” Levi softly replied, almost ashamed of the point out.

“No haha you were worse,” Y/N was entertained as she kissed his shoulder blades tenderly. “Or do I have to remind you how you made me sneak out to meet you after curfew?”

“That’s different…”

Forcing him to turn around to place a kiss on his scar as she caressed his face softly, “He’s your kid,” she murmured against his lips. “He hates to be told what to do and has the strength to know he can get out of almost any situation. Asking him to be submissive is like asking him not to be an Ackerman; he got it in his genes,”

Levi just groaned, accepting the caress, her loving his face as if he was brand new and the residues of the war had never happened.

Days passed by, and while the mood in the house was slowly returning to calmness, the punishment still stood, and Adrien was reading in his bedroom, suffering the heat of summer without being able to go out with his friends. He couldn’t even play his record player because if in normal cases his father tolerated him to play his favourite bands loudly, now he was almost cursed to quietness. Levi didn’t seem to be very fond of Rock; perhaps Paradise music was too behind, and the period of adaptation was lacking. It sounded like loud noise to him.

A quiet knock at the front door was heard, mostly because the dog that was resting beside him in his bed raised hastily and rushed downstairs. The noise was almost imperceptible as his father was vacuuming the living room’s carpet while his mother prepared dinner. Adrien was about to raise himself from his bed and open the door himself, but the overwhelmingly loud noise of the vacuum stopped, so he guessed his father was on it.

Levi opened the front door without checking; he had faced so many adversities in life that he hardly doubted that anyone who rang his bell at 6 pm on a Thursday in their quiet family neighbourhood was a threat. “Yes?” he crossed his arms as he admired the young girl at the front gates. She was wearing the usual outfit of the time, white and brown loafers, crumpled low white socks, an inflated pastel yellow skirt that was tightly around her waist with a white blouse. The matching light cardigan was hanging from her shoulders, but she didn’t seem to put it on, another thing that Levi thought was some stupid new fashion trend from teens. That and his son’s imperious necessity to fold the sleeves of his t-shirts. High ponytail and blushed cheeks.

“Good evening, Mr. Ackerman,” The girl greeted him with kindness and politeness.

“Hello,” Levi replied, almost uninterested, his usual unfriendly nature not withdrawn even after years of not being on service.

“I was wondering if Adrien is at home,” she asked, and Levi wished he could roll his eyes at how almost immediately the girl blushed at the mention of his son’s name. “I’m the girl from the other night; I wanted to thank him…” seeing Levi’s slight frown at the memory of that early morning, she nervously added, “And you, of course, for what he did for me,” The young girl handed a package that was easily deduced to be a cake.

“He’s grounded,” Levi quickly replied. “And you don’t need to thank him; he did the only right thing to do. I don’t raise abusers,”

“Oh…” the disappointment in her voice was palpable, “Well, but please at least take the cake? For all the inconvenience,”

“No, kid, it’s alright-”

“Hi, sweetie! Adrien will be down in a minute!” Y/N popped behind Levi, slightly pushing him to the side and smiling softly at the girl. “Do you want to wait inside?”

Levi looked at his wife, confused and slightly offended by how quickly she overstepped him in the conversation.

“Ah, no, it’s alright; I don’t want to be a bother-”

Adrien appeared behind his parents, wondering what the whole issue was, and his mother quickly pushed him forward. “There he is!” She added while tugging Levi back inside. “Let’s give him some space,” she whispered to her husband, who was refusing to move.

“Oi,” Levi complained as he was forced back inside.

Both parents faking to be doing something in the living room to not be seen; Levi wasn’t spying, but his wife was. “She’s so cute,” she whispered, “and she’s crushing so much on him.”

Levi clicked his tongue, “He’s tall. All girls of that age crush on tall boys,” he argued back.

Y/N chuckled and turned to look at him, “talking from experience?”

“Ha ha,” Levi faked a sarcastic laugh. “He’s supposed to be grounded,”

“Shh, I can’t hear!” She hushed him back and then moved slightly as Levi joined her next to the window.

“Great,” Levi said annoyed, “she’s fucking bonnie,”

Confusion was written all over his wife's face as she grimaced dazed and raised an eyebrow, silently asking how those words could be said with such disappointment.

“Now I won’t only have to buy him all those stupid vinyl records, textbooks, and uniforms for the school team, but I’ll also have to start buying condoms; there goes my fucking salary,”

Tags!: @nube55 @justkon @notgoodforlife @nmlkys @humanitys-strongest-bamf @quillinhand @thoreeo @darkstarlight82 @i-literally-cant-with-this @angelofthorr @aomi04 @levisbrat25 @fxnnyackerman @secretmoneybearvoid @s0meb0dy-0nce-t0ld-me @trashblackrainbow @l3visthighs @hum4n-wr3ckag3 @hannieslovebot @feelingsandemotionsnotexplored @flxrartsstuff @starrylevi @rithty @mariaace @ackrmntea @emilyyyy-08 Wanna join my tag list? Here!

#levi ackerman #levi #captain levi #levi aot #snk levi #levi x reader #levi x y/n #aot levi #snk levi ackerman #levi ackerman x reader #levi ackeman #levi attack on titan #captain levi ackerman x you #captain levi x reader #captian levi x reader #captain levi ackerman x y/n #captain levi x you #levi shingeki no kyojin #levi x you #aot #attack on titan #snk #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titans #levi x reader smut #levi ackerman snk #levi ackerman x female!reader #dad levi vibes #dad levi

[dragonrider9905]

Sunset in Your Eyes, Sunrise of My Life

Thank you so much for the prompt @photogirl894!!! I really like how this one turned out, and I hope you do too!!!! This piece is a participation in @clonexreaderbingo!

Bingo card square: sunset

Being a bartender at 79’s had its perks and its downsides.

One of the perks was serving a very lively and lovely crowd: the clones.

One of the downsides: you had strange, strange late hours that threw you for a loup. 

But you loved it. 

Tonight was one of those nights that got your blood boiling a good kind of heat. You were laughing and dancing around the bar table filling orders, flirting and socializing with what came to be your favorite group of human beings. These clones were (almost) always respectful, kind, considerate, brave, modest, funny…there were a few bad apples in the bunch but overall, whenever you worked this job, you always had fun, and left with a glow in your face and warm feeling in your heart.

If only you didn’t have to work your other job to make this one possible!

The lights were low and the music was high, loudly beating out a jukebox favorite. The bar was busy, just how you liked it. The dance floor was filled and you saw many happy faces, as there ought to be. All of your favorite people were gathered for a relaxing evening where they could forget the war for a little while. All your favorite colors were in town. The grays, the golds, the blues, and finally a few teals showed up. A familiar kind face finally making his way to his normal spot with the same kind, tired smile. 

“Hey Howzer, how’s it going? Your normal?”

You knew most of the regulars and their orders by now. Howzer was more than a regular to you though. He’d become sort of a brother, watching out for you when the boys would get rowdy or when nat borns would get disrespectful. He was quiet at first but you brought out the playful side of him. You always looked forward to seeing him and worried when he was deployed, whether or not he’d come back.

“Yeah, you know, not bad. Better now that I’ve seen you.”

“Thanks hun. Here you go. You know, there is more to life than Mailoorun cocktails? Try branching out a little, it’s on me. If you hate it, you can get your next regular free.”

Howzer laughed, “No thanks, I’m good. I like the fruity stuff. It is one of two reasons I come back here.” He held up his hand and coughed into it while saying “I’ve got to make sure my vod’ika stays out of trouble.”

You gave him a look and he returned it with a goofy grin.

“Plus, I don’t want to take money from your hard earned tips…I know you don’t earn a lot working here.”

“You’re worth it though.”

Howzer’s face softened a little. “Thanks…but all the same. The fruity stuff, vod’ika. Tell me how you’ve been?”

For a good half hour, you went between chatting Howzer’s ear off, ragaling him with tales of work, 79s, school and your family life. Howzer returned with stories of his brothers. Never of the war, always jocular tales of the boys.

During this time, clones would come and go but out of the corner of your eye, you saw a pair of clones who always made you smile. They entered not too long ago but were engaged in conversation so you hadn’t approached them yet. The one with the five tattooed on his forehead had his arm slung over his buddy with a hand painted on his chest piece. Quite obviously annoying his brother by the look on his face. Howzer grinned a knowing grin at you and eyed the same pair, raising his eyebrows a little. 

“Shut up.” 

“I didn’t say anything! He’s a good lad, and he’s obviously nervous. Why don’t you talk to him?”

You chuckled. “I know who he is, Howzer. He’s one of my favorites. I’m going to do more than that. I’m going to flirt with him first; let’s see how red we can make his face.”

“You’re horrible, but I love you for it.”

“Aw shucks, thanks!”

You made your way down the bar, talking and pouring more drinks. The closer you got, the more you caught of their conversation.

“You should talk to her.”

“No! She is too good for someone like me. I’ll just bongle everything up.”

“You’re so sweet to her; you’ve got a chance. This isn’t your first time talking to her. You should just ask her out.”

“No way; that could be taken as disrespectful. She deserves all the respect in the galaxy, and if I mess it up, she wouldn’t speak to me again—wouldn't blame her for it either.”

“Hey, she’s coming over this way. I’m going to call her over and you’re going to talk to her.”

“Don’t you dare! Fives!”

“Hey miss! We’d like to order here, please? When you have a moment?”

“Fives you little—” His angry expression cut short when you walked up to the pair with a smile, shocked nervousness and wide eyes replacing the annoyed look of before.

“Uh, hi, yes, we’re thirsty, water please? Water good. You’re pretty. Good. You’re good at this, and kind. Thank you for asking.”

“This is a bar, you can have something else besides water.” You leaned over the counter and practically put your face next to his, and watched the clone blush at your closeness to him. That, or from his embarrassment. “We do have good Corellian whisky. Might be a good change from your normal, Galaxy Explosion.”

“Uhhhh, yes please, Ma’am. Sounds good. Wait, you remember what I drink?”

You smiled, “I remember a lot about you, Echo.” 

He froze, and stared into your eyes, mouth agape. You could almost see the cogs turning in his brain, trying to figure out what you meant by that. 

“Here I was hoping you’d say the same thing, love. I’ll be right back with your drink. What’ll you have, Fives?” You leaned over to give the extroverted brother some attention. 

“Give me the same as him!”

“You got it!” 

You chuckled, then went to fetch the glasses and materials needed to concoct the specialty. You saw Echo let out a big breath then shove his brother next to him. 

“Fives, I swear…” but you interrupted again, coming with a few bottles.

“Have you ever seen one made? Watch this.”

You started flipping the bottles, tossing them in the air then catching and pouring them. You lit the top with a blue flame then served him, smirking satisfied at his gawk. 

“You are…that was perfect. Thank you.”

“You haven’t tried it yet, hun. Wait til you do, then compliment the work.”

He eyed the glass suspiciously, turning it around in his hands.

“I didn’t poison it if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Echo looked up aghast. “I…it’s not that. How do I drink something flaming?”

“You blow it out first.”

“Oh.” 

Still not looking convinced, he blew out the flame and brought the cup to his lips, face still scrunched up suspiciously. 

Echo was a person of habit, you knew exactly why he was reacting this way but it was too good not to tease him about it. You snickered and he raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll get you your regular, hun. I can tell you don’t like it!”

“No! It is really good…”

“But it isn’t what you wanted. I’ll be right back.”

While you were mixing Echo’s new drink you saw Echo run a hand through his hair. 

“I’m digging my own grave right now, Fives. I just insulted her and I have no idea how I did that. Just bury me now.” Echo clunked his head on the counter.

“Eh, I don’t think she took it as an insult…hey, she’s coming back.”

Echo shot straight back up. 

“I like what you made, but thank you for this. I’m sorry I was rude…”

“Echo.” You broke him off rather sharply. “You weren’t rude. I’ve seen you in here a bunch of times and this is what you get because you like it. If you weren’t in the mood for the other one, I wasn’t going to make you drink it, even if it was good.”

Echo let out a breath.

“Still…”

“No buts or stills. Tell me how you’ve been, love.”

Echo colored a little bit at the nickname and slowly the shyness melted away as his slow, calculated speech started to turn playful and quick, filled with fun and smiles. It did not escape your notice that Fives was being uncharacteristically quiet, signature smirk ever present on his face.  

The nervousness was replaced with a happy glow, and Echo soon started to smile at your special nickname for him. Throughout the night, you bounced between the customers but always came back to him to finish one of the many conversations you’d started. Howzer just smiled. He liked where this was going.

“That’s why I like sunsets…” you concluded. “They say everything is going to be ok. A sort of promise, you know? After a long day, they offer some peace, some serenity. A farewell to the day, even if it was bad, there is still something to be grateful for. I can’t even describe how I feel when I watch one…each is so different! If I miss a sunset, I try to watch the sunrise. It either starts my day out right, or ends my day well.”

“Good luck seeing anything on this polluted planet. I swear it just turns from night to day. Nothing like what I’ve seen on other planets.” Echo scoffed. 

“Coruscant has some of the most lovely sunrises and sunsets, if you know where to look for them.” You placed your hands on your hips, raising your chin challengingly, “You can’t see them most places but believe me, it is worth it—if you know the right spot to sit. I know some secret places that would rival some of your ‘oh so great’ sightings.” 

“If you say so.” 

“Say, I get off at 400 hours. Want to head back around six thirty and we can watch the sunrise together?”

“Or how about I just stay here, you know, to protect you. Fight off all those unrulies for you. Make sure you’re alright. Some sketchy people can sit in a bar late at night.”

“I’ve survived before you came along, Echo.” You smirked but your eyes betrayed their sparkle. “But if you wanted to stick around, I wouldn’t protest. And by unruly, you mean Fives right?”

Echo’s lips pulled up into a smile.

“Of course.”

“Hey! I heard that!”

“Then it’s a date!” You said excitedly.

“A…date? Yes! A date!” Echo looked flustered. You could only snicker, it was so cute. 

The night went quickly and slowly the patrons trickled out of the bar. You said goodnight to Howzer, Fives took his leave, then it was just you and Echo alone in the empty room.

“I have to clean up, then I’ll be ready.”

“I can help.”

“No, Echo, just sit and enjoy yourself…”

“No, I’m helping. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go on our ‘date’.” Scooping up a bunch of glasses and heading for the kitchen, the discussion was ended. You could only shake your head with a touched smile. 

— — — 

You and Echo climbed to one of the highest buildings of the city. The world below buzzed with activity but up here, it was only a distant noise. The lights of the city were glowing softly, like a blazing campfire. 

You took a seat on the platform and patted the spot next to you. 

“You’ll have to admit I’m right.” You said a little winded. “This spot is the best on Coruscant.” 

“Ok, you win with this one. No matter what the sky looks like, this is pretty amazing.”

You smirked a little and looked out towards the east, waiting for the glorious gold you knew was to come. Echo fiddled with his hands a little trying to form his thoughts. Finally, he came up with something. 

“You know, what I wanted to say was that you’re pretty, and kind. Still stands. Would you go out with me?”

You tore your eyes away from the horizon. 

“What?” Had you heard him right?

Echo turned a deep red. “I said, uh, would you go out with me, on a date—a real one where I can treat you special?”

Your confusion turned to pure bliss. “Echo, I couldn’t love anything more.”

You looked into his eyes and noticed they were their own sunset. The amber color threw off golds and rich browns as the reddened sun flashed across them. There was a firmness, a fierceness, enflamed there yet a kindness that ruled them all.

His eyes held all the power of the setting sun and you knew you no longer would have to wait until the end of the day for serenity and peace and certainty. All you’d have to do was look deeply into the eyes of the man before you.

“Say, we come back here and watch the sunset tonight? I’ll pack some food, and maybe some music, if you want to dance that is.”

“Echo! You’re such a romantic!”

“You have no idea.”

In that moment, the sun broke from its cage in the clouds, spilling over the planet, blanketing it in a sheet of gold. Echo gasped, spellbound.

“Ok, you were right. This is…amazing.”

You chuckled but he interrupted you.

“But I’ll just have to one up you by bringing you to Kamino to watch a sunset or sunrise there. They’re rare but nothing can beat a sunset at home.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

You watched every sunset you could together after that. Your relationship grew with every rising sun. When you’d work late, Echo would stop by and watch the sunrise with you. If you had school and worked your other job, he’d join you for the sunset. You continued your routine when Echo was deployed but it wasn’t the same. It was always so much more special with him. Every once and a while, he’d comm you but nothing compared to having him sit in silence next to you while you watched the sky transform before you.

When he was finally home, you’d spend the evenings chatting away. Tonight was different though. An unknown heaviness weighed on your heart. You couldn’t explain it, or put your finger on it. It just sat there, its presence demanding to be known. Echo had been back for nearly two weeks and you soaked up every minute you could together before he was deployed again tomorrow. You’ve been through this so many times. Why was this different?

“Echo, I have a strange feeling about this one. I wish I could tell you not to go, but I know I can’t…just…be careful, ok?”

Echo knew he hadn’t told you much about this mission. It was dangerous and he didn’t want you to worry. But he was an ARC. This is what he was made for. Besides, when he got back from the Citadel mission, he’d have a good story to share with you. But all he could say was:

“I promise.”

You stayed silent after that, snuggling up a little closer to him, as if it would be the last time, and watched the world fall to night.  

— — —

To say you were in a foul mood was an understatement. 

School sucked today, your other boss was being a jerk for no good reason, and you just mourned the first year anniversary of Echo being killed.

If another person tried to make a pass or ask you out, their hand was going to be shattered today. If another kriffer told you to move on because enough time had passed, you were going to kriffing break something, like their face.

You weren’t nearly ready for that.

No one could replace your Echo. 

It had been so long but at the same time, it felt like only yesterday you’d seen Fives walk in, dressed in full uniform before the bar closed, face more serious than you’d ever seen it, and you knew. He didn’t have to say anything, you just knew. And you were grateful for him coming at the end of your shift because you wouldn’t have been able to make it through that day if he’d come sooner. 

You remembered how Fives helped you close up, took you home, and took care of you in the following days. You helped each other heal. You’d always been friends, but you became good friends after that. A knowing smile here, a remembrance there, a slight “he woulda loved this” “I know.” Shared between the two of you.

But then Fives was ripped from you as well. 

Lots of men never came back. It always saddened you, but it never weighed as heavily as it did now after Echo’s demise. Every death stung so much more. 

“Don’t you ever do that to me.” You’d told Howzer. “Or I’ll kill you.”

He’d smile sadly at you and make the promise he knew he didn’t have the power to keep. You knew he couldn’t keep it because life had different ideas in place. You just needed to hear him say it, promise that he’d do anything he could to survive. He came less and less to 79’s due to his new outpost on Ryloth but you kept in contact through holocalls. It became your only reassurance he was alive, as his barstool sat abandoned more and more frequently, only to be taken up by some stranger instead.

Heart and feet heavy, you strolled into work to prep the bar for an evening of “fun”. You had an hour to sulk in before you had to plaster a smile on your face. Clean the counter, set the glasses, cool some of the products, prep the pretzels, then give yourself five minutes to rehearse a convincing laugh.

The minutes went by quickly, and you were lagging. Becoming more exhausted, earlier than normal. You knew why, but that didn’t help. It only made it harder. Bracing your palms in a tight grip on the back counter, stepping back and bending at your middle, you leaned over hoping that would relax you and help the air into your lungs.

You just needed a few minutes, then you’d look like you were ok, even though you weren’t.

You heard a throat clear behind you, and you could tell whatever the man had to say was going to be a jest or a horrible flirt. To be frank, you weren’t in the mood. You opened your mouth to say so in the most (un)kind way you could think of so the kriffer would back off and leave you alone (plus you weren’t even open yet, what the heck) when you heard:

“Uh, hi, yes, we’re thirsty, water please? Water good.” The man had to stop and compose his voice before continuing. Laughs and emotion hidden under the surface. “You’re pretty. Good. You’re good at this, and kind. Thank you for asking. But what I wanted to say was that you’re pretty, and kind. Still stands. Would you go out with me?”

You froze. Not daring to move. 

“Hm, I remember the service being better here before I died. Perhaps my memory is wrong. Thought she’d at least glare at me for how bad that was. Rude really.”

You gasped and gripped the shelf behind you until your knuckles lost feeling, not daring to look back. You could feel your lungs protest, claiming an unusual rhythm on its own, body shaking, eyes stinging. 

It couldn’t be.

“Echo?” 

It was barely a whisper but the voice heard you, and responded with a chuckle. 

“How could you tell, was it the corny compliment?”

The voice was closer; it was no longer behind the bar but directly behind you. You could feel his breath tickle your ear and push your hairs to your cheek. 

“I-is this real?”

You couldn’t look up. If you did, he’d surely vanish. After all, that’s how dreams worked. If you didn’t look up, the longer he’d stay.

Instead of an answer, you felt an arm snake around your waist, your back flushing against his chest. Instinctively, you closed your eyes and grabbed the arm wrapped around you. You couldn’t look, if you did, you’d wake up. This brief moment of happiness would be over. 

“I hope so. Because if this isn’t, I’m not leaving this dream.”

“...that sounds like something someone would say in a dream…”

The phantom of Echo, with very real arms, huffed.

“Or perhaps it is something half romantic, half stupid, only Echo could come up with.”

“Now I like that a lot better.” His voice sounded so jocular. 

“Echo…?” 

“Hm?”

His face was in your hair now. You could feel him nuzzling his way to the crook of your neck so he could rest his chin there.

“You were dead. You…” 

All strength left your body as the shock wore off. Tears fell unchecked and unstoppable. Your legs gave beneath you. If it wasn’t for Echo holding you, you would have fallen. Echo held tight but guided you to the floor so you could rest. He didn’t move from behind you yet, but waited for you to turn around when you were ready.

Sobs wrecked your body, so Echo decided to sway you back and forth in hopes it would comfort you. Assuring words easily came. When none seemed to be working he tried something else.

“Death cannot stop true love; it can only delay it for a little while.”

Your gasp turned into a snort and airy laugh, his words having the desired effect at last.

“We’ve watched too many old holofilms together. They give you the worst ideas. You really had to say that, didn’t you.”

You could feel him grin against your cheek. 

“That was pretty good, you have to admit. I planned that one out for a while. Never thought I’d be able to use it, then I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” 

“Oh, did you now?”

You finally shifted in a half circle to look at him directly. What you saw was not what you were expecting. One hand was gone, replaced by a metal scomp, his head where his goofy hair used to be, had ports, and his cheeks were hollow, face pale. A look of all the suffering he endured plastered on his face.

But those eyes…they were the same. You would know them anywhere.

 You reached your hand up to stroke his cheek.

“I know I look different…” a shadow of doubt clouded his face. He looked away trying to find words. Your hand gently guided his gaze back to you. 

“Echo I couldn’t care less what you look like…You’re here. You’re back…”

Another wave of emotion crashed against you. Heaving, you hid your face in the crook of his neck.

“I’m just so glad you’re back. I missed you so much.”

“Cyar’ika, we’ve….got a lot to talk about. Can we talk after work tonight?”

“Echo, you’ve been dead for a year. We can talk right now.”

You glanced at the clock. “I’ll get Ted to cover my shift, we’ll still have time to catch the sunset.”

— — —

You jostled the crate in your arms. It was heavy, but you were used to hard work. 

You heaved and pulled it closer to you, grunting under its weight. Sure you were used to it, but this kind of work also used to be more pleasant.

This bar wasn’t as good as the one you were used to, but it was a job, you got paid, and it was away from all the ‘noise’ in the galaxy. You knew it wouldn’t last forever but for right now, it was what you needed.

After the Empire rose and the Jedi Order fell, you fled Coruscant and ended up here of all places.

By here, you meant the backwater, sketchy, seedy, good for nothing planet of Ord Mantell in a bar owned by someone of similar repute. She went by the name ‘Cid’ but some part of you doubted that was her real name. You couldn’t help but to be suspicious. You trusted less than no one here.

Nevertheless, she hired you and didn’t ask questions (too many questions); just how you wanted it. 

You’d lost Echo one more time…Your heart was so sore but numb by now; After what you’d seen what had happened to the clones, how they all weirdly changed from robust to robotic, you never reached out. Echo never reached out either…from what you knew. You changed your comm channel a long time ago. If he’d suddenly decided after a month of nothing to contact you, you wouldn’t know it. 

Your arms started to ache. Cid had you running all sorts of errands that weren’t technically your job, which made you salty, but you couldn’t afford to lose this job. Money was a rare thing in the galaxy and earning it honestly, was even rarer. 

A sigh escaped your mouth—you couldn’t decide which was more rare, money or love. You’d gained a beautiful man who loved you, only to lose him. He came back, only to disappear again without a trace. Was he dead? Did he just forget about you? What had happened? You didn’t get it.

Maybe we just weren’t meant to be. Perhaps our sunrise was supposed to melt into something else. Maybe our relationship has had its final sunset.

Thinking like that wasn’t going to help anyone. Shaking your head, you tried to rid yourself of the thoughts, but they’d always haunt the back of your mind and you knew it. You had other things to worry about so you tried to focus on that. 

Cid’s ‘special team’ was going to be in today. Apparently they’d run a few high risk jobs with very successful outcomes—a very rare feat for some of the rumors you heard about the jobs. It was unfair you hadn’t met them yet. It honestly felt like Cid was keeping you from them on purpose and you didn’t like it. It wouldn’t be in your interests naturally. If she didn’t want you to know them, you’d better introduce yourself soon, you thought.

The door slid open quietly. Cid’s gravelly voice already talking at a loud volume.

“My bartender is out. Should be back with the stuff you boys want soon. Why don’t you wait in my office while I’ll settle stuff with her before we discuss your next job.”

Yeah, yeah, whatever Cid, I’m moving. I’m moving.

You weren’t supposed to be back for another half hour…you’d gotten back early. Perhaps this was a good time to make an entrance, bother the cranky old lady by not only showing her your efficiency (not that that would do anything) but you’d drop in on the team. The look on her face would be worth it.  

But when you stepped fully inside, your body locked up. Your fingers turned cold and became rigid, but in their rigidity, they lost all their strength.

The box crashed on the floor with a bang, undoubtedly cracking the crate. You heard the bottles clank, probably broke a few. Your feet started to get wet, so that was a good guess. 

But you couldn’t look down. Your eyes were locked on the scene in front of you.

Four men and a little girl were crowded around your counter, now all turned to look where the noise came from. A familiar set of amber eyes rested on you, first with surprise and shock, then excitement and love.

“E-Echo? I-is that you?”

Your throat tightened and tears sprung to your eyes without permission, breathing becoming irregular, air demanding to be let in in heaves.

The clone in question broke from his brothers and made his way to where you stood, cautious but quickly. 

“Echo!” You cried again, breaking out of your stupor and running towards him. “Echo! You’re ok? You’re alive? Echo…”

Echo scooped you up in his arms and held you tightly.

“Oh cyar’ika…I was so worried about you.” He cradled you against him, stroking your hair and rubbing soothing circles on your back to abate your sobbing, “I tried to call you but there was never an answer. I was so worried. I couldn’t at first because it was too risky. It made me sick but I had to protect you. Not hearing from you…I thought something bad happened…”

When your cries finally overpowered his own worries, he tried to calm you by abating those. “I’m here; I’m fine. I’ve got a sister now, I’d like you to meet her. She’s great and she’ll love you. I’m ok, I’m really here…It’s over now…I’m never leaving you again.”

You had to laugh. Of all the places, this is where you’d meet him?

“So your Cid’s special team?”

He chuckled. “So your her amazing bartender who always disappears when we show up? All this time you’ve fetched us things and I didn’t even know it was you…”

Your mind ran through all the errands Cid had you do at the request of her ‘special team’ getting parts or food and whatnot.

“Still looking out for me, even if you didn’t know it.” 

You bit your lip. Did Cid intentionally keep you apart? Anger started to course through you, but you’d never said anything to her about Echo. Had Echo said something to her?

Echo watched the different emotions cross your face. He knew you must have questions and there would be time for answers later. Now he only wanted one thing. 

He leaned down, lips grazing yours as he whispered:

“Would you like to watch the sunset? It's been so long…”

You prayed there’d be more sunsets between you. You hoped beyond hope that this sunrise wouldn’t end. That you could sit together side by side and watch the days melt away together and weave a glorious glow of memory. The only sunset you needed was right before you, in Echo’s eyes.

#the bad batch #tbb echo #clone x reader #clone x you #echo x you #echo x reader #fives clone wars #echo #clone trooper x reader #echo the bad batch #echo the clone wars #howzer #captain howzer #CFB2023

[vaporwavebeach-writes]

PoisonCat (Valentine’s Day Exchange)

Pamela (Poison Ivy) Isley x Selina (Catwoman) Kyle

(1,055 words)

Summary: Ivy discovers she really likes to be called “Doctor”

Warnings/Tags: 18+ (not quite smut, but it gets reallll suggestive), botched heist, patching up wounds, friends with benefits (they are definitely gay LMAO), light medical play, discovering a new kink, make outs, getting real sensual with it

Notes: Surprise @acapelladitty!!! I was ur gifter for the exchange!!! I’ve never written for Poisoncat before, but after doing a bunch of research for them, I now love them (I mean, I already did before but you get it LMAO). I wanted to let you know that you are a huge inspo to me and I’ve really enjoyed all the times we’ve cooked up some wild shit 😭😭 Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

-

It wasn’t often that a heist went awry for Selina, but this time was sure to take the cake. Triggered security systems and broken glass were the least of her problems, now having to face the consequences of working with Edward Nygma. Mentally, Selina beat herself up for knowing better than to work with a conniving snake like him, but that didn’t matter now. The loud blaring of sirens could be heard in the distance as she lept from rooftop to rooftop with ease. Continuing to escape deeper into the night, Selina knew exactly where to run to.

Far enough away from the scene of the crime, Selina found herself perched on top of the overgrown warehouse. Thick branches and moss covered the outside, making the building look abandoned. Nobody would even think that a place such as this would be an ideal hideout, but for Selina, it was a refuge. A sanctuary. The home of an old friend.

Climbing through the window, Selina’s entrance was almost anticipated as Ivy watched her come in expectantly.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Ivy grinned.

“Nice to see you too, Pam.” Selina leaned against the wall, out of breath. “How did you…?”

“Word gets around fast,” Ivy shrugged. “Plus, all the cop cars woke me up.”

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, I was up anyway.” Ivy made her way over to Selina. Pulling up her mask, Ivy inspected the small cuts and bits of glass occupying Selina’s face and body. Her face was streaked with blood and sweat. “Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah? You look like hell.”

“Yeah,” Selina snickered. “I just got back.”

———

Selina was seated on top of the table. Her tight, black suit was cast aside, leaving her in an undershirt, her underwear, and several small bandages. Around her was a bowl of discarded glass and a small trash can of bloodied gauze.

Ivy made her way in between Selina’s legs, standing in front of her. She applied the disinfectant carefully. Selina winced at the sudden sting, but Ivy took a gentle hand in the application. The gaze in Ivy’s eyes was soft. It was easy for Selina to get lost in them.

“You’re staring again.” Ivy spoke up faintly.

“Am I? Purred Selina. “You’re so close to me, must be your pheromones.” She giggled. “Or blood loss.”

Ivy chuckled playfully. “First of all, my little flower,” she pushed a bit of Selina’s short hair off her face. “You haven’t lost nearly enough blood for delirium.” Ivy set down the disinfect. Her arms soothed their way up to Selina’s shoulders. “As for the pheromones?” Ivy’s hands cradled the area between Selina’s jaw and neck. “They only amplify what’s already there.”

Selina glanced down and back up again, soft laughter escaping her lips. “Whatever you say, Dr. Isley.”

There was a pause from Ivy. It was as if a switch went off. Cocking her head in consideration, she asked Selina to repeat what she had said.

“Whatever you say… Dr. Isley.” Selina repeated.

Ivy’s green complexion flushed. Selina’s forwardness was always welcome in their interactions. Having Selina in her current position would more often than not signal that they were going to have sex on a night like this. It seemed to be going that way thus far. It was the use of Ivy’s professional title being used in such a flirtatious manner that stopped her dead in her tracks. It fired her up, far more than usual, and Selina could see it from a mile away.

“Y’know…” Selina swiftly wrapped a leg around Ivy’s body, pulling her in closer. “I still feel a little hurt from the glass, I think I might need a more thorough examination, what do you think… Doctor?”

Their faces are just inches apart. Ivy scans Selina’s face. Selina’s dark, pleading eyes sparkled with mischief. Ivy always enjoyed the little dynamic they had. Usually she would be the one to initiate anything. A few whispers of filthy nothings, controlling some stray vines to gently twist around her thighs, and a kiss to the neck and Selina would be a goner. However, tonight was not one of those nights. Selina was pushing Ivy’s buttons and they both fucking loved it.

“Well, I may not be a doctor in a medical sense,” Ivy cleared the table, getting up behind her. “But in my professional opinion,” she continued as her hands reached Selina’s sides, pulling the cat burglar closer to her. Ivy’s hands wandered up to trail over Selina’s breasts. Ivy could hear Selina’s breath hitch, and decided to push forward. “Maybe if you’re in that much pain…” Ivy whispers as Selina can feel her breath tickle her ear. “… I think some bed rest is in order.”

Selina turns her head around and presses her lips to Ivy’s. What first started as small pecks soon evolved into a tender kiss. Ivy could feel Selina snake a hand through her red curls; her nails gently scratching her scalp. Ivy let out a soft sigh as Selina pulled away for a moment. She fully moved herself around to face Ivy completely, before straddling her thigh and returning the the kiss. Selina let out a low moan as Ivy playfully bucked her up her thigh. With a coquettish chuckle, Ivy’s hands trailed down to Selina’s ass before gently nipping at her bottom lip.

“Fucking tease,” Selina grinned. “Who knew that the illustrious Dr. Isley could be so salacious?”

Ivy hummed before quickly hoisting Selina off her thigh and off the table. “Then I’d suggest we take this appointment to the bedroom,” Ivy wraps an arm around Selina’s shoulder. “I do have a reputation to uphold you know.”

“Oh please do,” Selina’s hungry gaze caught Ivy’s as they made their way into the bedroom. “I would so love to see that reputation in action.”

Ivy lowered Selina onto the bed, hands caressing her thighs as she sunk down, kneeling in between her legs. Selina shuddered at the sudden sensation of Ivy’s nails gently dragging across her thighs. It was one of her weak spots that Ivy loved to exploit.

Ivy batted her eyes puckishly up at the mewling Selina. “Don’t worry my dear,” Ivy placed a kiss on Selina’s inner thigh. “I know just the thing to make you feel all better.”

#poisoncat #selina kyle x pamela isley #catwoman x poison ivy #batman rogues smut #poison ivy smut #catwoman smut #pamela isley smut #selina kyle smut #mia writes batman!!! #mia writes

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

Life Is Short So Make It Sweet

Chapter Seventeen: Farewell Kiss

Summary- 3.5k Curtis Everett x Plus!Sized Reader. Ending the rest of your Christmas with Curtis, returning back to Duluth is like a giant welcome home. Ella welcomes you into her home with the last of the holiday celebrations.

Warning- Hot steamy time in the Hot Tub. Some body image doubts for a brief moment.

A/N- The end of their first holiday's together! It is no surprise I'm sure to anyone that the holiday months are my favorite and I had so much fun giving them that same kind of joy, even among some of the hard moments. Thank you so much to everyone for reading this series and commenting. I appreciate it so damn much. Thank you @what-is-your-plan-today for reading it through first. Dividers made by @firefly-graphics

Chapter Sixteen / Masterlist

The rest of that morning was spent opening the last of the gifts. You managed to surprise Curtis with a wool coat that was shorter than the one he typically wore to the freight yard and a simple black beanie that he greatly appreciated since the one he was wearing was starting to fray and stretch out of shape. 

But, as nice as they both were, neither was as special to him as the charcoal drawing you had gotten from Steve. 

When opening your gifts, you stammered at the chunky heeled leather boots he had purchased. With supple soft leather in a wider size for your foot and calf, they fit perfectly and when you questioned it, he was forthcoming that he had taken a sneak peek at another pair you favored on date nights. In addition to the boots, he gave you season passes to the aquarium and a set of honey-colored amber stud earrings that you had fallen in love with in the local jewelry store near your apartment. 

“I can’t believe you remembered.” You said in surprise when you flipped open the grey velvet box. 

He seemed to think nothing of it as you admired them in the sunlight beaming down on the two of you sprawled in front of the Christmas tree. “You pointed them out to me Honey, of course, I remembered.” 

It struck you how easy he made it sound, that something that made you so happy he took note of. You leaned across the bits of torn Christmas paper to cup his cheek and give him a kiss. One that he was happy to accept, drawing you through the torn paper till you were half sprawled against him, making you giggle against his mouth. “Thank you, I love them so much.” 

Curtis even helped you put them on, his thumb tracing the curve of your jawline and tilting your face just enough to catch the light. “They were made for you Honey.” 

You spent the last of the daylight outside. Strapping into the snowshoes, you let Curtis break the trail down to the lake while you followed behind him. Brushes of snow once in a while fell from the branches overhead, leaving snow crystals clinging to your jackets and hair. The air was a refreshing chill that streamed out in rapid puffs around both of you. 

Every so often, Curtis would stop both of you, pointing out markers from the trail and together trying to catch your breath as snowshoeing in the fresh powder was harder than it looked. 

Tracks were easy to find and although you were familiar from your studies, you were fascinated to see them in person, following them into thick underbrush and winding away deeper into the forest where you two would investigate a bit before circling back around.

You found other things that made you eagerly would grasp his hand and tug him closer to go look at. Curtis happily went along with you, even snapping pictures on both of your phones for you to print out for the classroom. Your favorite one was following a set of rabbit tracks through the deep snow that suddenly stopped, a set of wings imprinted where the last of the tracks were. Curtis tucked in closer to look while you tried using your boot as a way to measure the wingspan in the snow imprint while snapping a picture.

It didn’t nearly come close. 

“Owl’s hunting probably.” He glanced up into the trees, seeing if it was still nearby. “If they are out, it's getting late. If this was last night, the wind would have blown it away.” 

You hummed while you gave up trying to measure it, giving a guess as to what kind of owl it could be. “Means it will be dark soon.” You held out your hand for his, offering to help him up. “Head home? We got the hot tub tonight and I’m ready for a good long soak in that.” 

He wrapped an arm around you, tucking you to his side where you let yourself lean into his body to rest. You didn’t want to admit but your calves were screaming and you were starting to feel chilled beneath all the winter clothes you had on. “I can’t think of a better way to finish Christmas Honey.” 

Surprisingly the cabin was closer than you had realized, within a short amount of time Curtis had you back inside and up into the loft to get changed while he got the hot tub opened. You slipped into the bathing suit you brought, a flowy two-piece that still showed off part of your stomach. Your hands slipped along your showing skin, hiding the stretch marks from yourself in the mirror while you did your usual pep talk. Not to mention that your thighs would be on display, and you felt more exposed in this new bathing suit than you did with the Christmas Eve lingerie. 

“Why are you nervous Y/N? You guys will be in a hot tub. Underwater most of the time since it's cold out. And it’s dark.” You peeked outside to see Curtis already stripped to nothing and easing himself into the jet-streamed water. Half the tub was in the dark, just a bit of light under the water. He happened to glance up and you waved at him nervously before wrapping yourself into a robe. Your reflection gazed back at you in the mirror and your worried look melded to one of determination. “That hot water is gonna feel so good after today, get down there.” 

It was that push you needed to make your way down from the loft and although tightly gripping your robe around you, you wandered out onto the deck to where the hot tub was steaming away. Curtis shifted over from where the steps were, settling across from where you dropped your robe. 

Curtis admired a lot of things, a well-built engine, a good meal, and spending time with his family and friends. None of them compared to seeing his girl step from that robe. You cautiously dipped your toes in and then sunk your foot into the steaming water with a sigh of bliss on your face. Your bathing suit, although meant to keep you covered, he was aware of that, did almost anything but and he was unashamedly basking in admiring you. The only thing he hated was that your lowering into your seat covered your voluptuous thighs and curves peeking out from the fabric of your suit. 

As you continued to sink, you let your head tilt back against the lip of the tub, giving a sigh as the bubbles surrounded you and you looked probably as relaxed as he has ever seen you. Perhaps that was good enough for now. 

Your foot stretched out, running along the inside of his calf. The porch lights were dimly lighting the area, giving the whole scene a more intimate feel. “This feels so good Curtis.” 

His hand captured your ankle, rubbing along the curve of your foot which encouraged you to sink further into the water, letting Curtis have more of your leg to massage. “I know, I think this has been one of the best holidays I have ever had. Although Halloween and Thanksgiving were hard to beat this year.” He grinned wickedly, blue eyes glinting in amusement as you bit at your lip, your toes curling as he ran a finger along the arch of your foot. 

“I’m glad I could give you those lasting memories.” 

Curtis tugged on your leg gently, easing you to float over to him and turn you around so your back pressed against his chest, his hands still working some magic under the water. “Mmh, and more to come. What’s the next holiday?”

“New Years.” Your head tipped back against his shoulder, feeling your tensed muscles ease looser while his hands rubbed along your thighs. “Then Valentines Day.” 

“Well, New Years we will be at Ella’s if you still want to go-” 

“Of course I do.” 

“Then Valentines, you are all mine, Honey.” He started pressing kisses against the side of your neck, sure to hit those sweet spots that had you going breathless. Your ass wriggled back, and he knew you had to feel his cock pressing against you. 

“I think I’m all yours right now.” You tilted your face to meet his, sharing soft kisses and sighs against him. He shifted the tip of your bathing suit, rubbing his warm palms against your breasts in a slow manner, making you feel every touch so intimately that you were arching for him. 

“Yes, you are Pretty Girl.” He kissed you deeper, searing some part inside of you that made you forget to be self-conscious with him. It left you chasing for him, even when he pulled away once more to ask you a question. Concentrating when he was pulling and teasing your nipples like that was hard, his entire palm would cover them again, turning you on that much more as he paid attention to you. “You are not too sore after our hike though?” 

“No, not at all.” You reached behind you to rub your hand against his cock, squeezing just as you knew he liked to feel him shudder in your touch. Curtis wasn’t a small man, but the way you were stroking him, he ached to feel you stretch around him, feel you squeeze him, and cry out in the dead of winter to tell the whole of Minnesota how good you felt with him. His hand dipped, rubbing at your clit when he eased your bathing suit aside to feel you start to give in, riding on the tip of his fingers rubbing at your pearl. “I want you inside me, Curtis.” Your voice was needy, a plea for him to give you what he had been wanting too. 

“I got you, Honey." He assured you while lifting you enough to resettle you where he wanted you. Easing his cock into you, you grabbed his forearm wrapped around your waist to let yourself enjoy the feeling of him stretching you. You breathed out sharply when you felt all of him inside of you, his teeth nipping at the hinge of your jaw with a groan at how good you felt. "Ready?" Curtis checked, still stroking his fingers against your clit.

When you nodded with a sultry "Please?" did he give powerful thrusts that had you bouncing easily on his cock, causing the water to roll and slosh in the tub. 

It was quick that you found a rhythm that caused you to hold back whines of pleasure, but he could still hear the soft “Oh’s!” whenever he hit you just right. 

“Come on Pretty Girl, it’s just us on the lake.” He encouraged, tilting your head back so he could find your mouth and kiss you breathless. “You don’t have to keep quiet like in the apartment.” 

You whined, a beautiful pitch among the sound of water sloshing around them as he gave measured thrusts into you. “Right there, Curtis.” You finally said, while his arm banded across your chest to keep you pressed against him. 

“Like this?” He sucked a loving mark in the crook of your neck. 

“Yes, yes please.” Your voice rose sharply while your pussy clenched around his cock, making him hiss at the way you pulled him in, bouncing up and down to match him. “I wanna come.” 

“Then come for me.” 

“I need-” 

“Need what?” 

“Need-” You reached behind you to grasp the back of his neck to keep yourself grounded to him, arching with each thrust he gave. His hand grasped your belly, down to your hip, rocking you back into meeting him. “-touch me, Curtis touch me.” 

Curtis could feel you almost peaking your high, releasing your hip, he rubbed his fingers against your clit, listening to your satisfied cries that echoed out in the open. “Yes, don't stop, fuck Curtis, fuck.” 

“Lemme feel you come for me Pretty Girl, show me how good you feel.” He encouraged, feeling you melt for him as you cried out once more. 

Curtis didn’t stop, not till he had you coming for him a couple more times and you whined for him to come with you, and with such a sweet request from you, he couldn't say no. “Shit.” He cursed against your shoulder, his movements jarring and demanding till he felt his body snap, filling you with him until you both sagged back in the hot tub, letting the water soothe you both back to rational thoughts. 

You twisted in his hold, hugging around him while he rubbed at your back, you felt good in his hold, all soft and warm with your lips once in a while pressing sweet kisses to his jawline. You would sigh softly, satisfied. “Merry Christmas Curtis.” 

Returning home was a welcome sight. There was always something about leaving that was exciting and coming home was satisfying. The next few days after Christmas was a lazy sort of busy. You bounced between your apartment and Curtis’s house depending on what you needed to get done. Curtis spent the next few days snow shoveling his place and helping Tanya and Timmy get theirs done and then Curtis ‘hired’ Timmy to continue helping him with other neighbors who needed the extra hand. It typically ended with you helping Tanya out in the kitchen, making a hot meal for Curtis and Timmy when they finally came inside for the day, Timmy eating quickly and passing out in front of the tv while the adults sat around the table chatting till it was time to leave. 

New Year's Eve was a bit different. You had a back seat of your car with gifts for Sophia and this day you dressed up for the day. A green velour tunic fell down your thighs with a pair of dark grey leggings underneath. Curtis himself dressed in a similar shade of green flannel and black jeans, effectively making you two look like a put together couple. 

Arriving at Ella’s proved to be a bit of excitement as the three year old could be heard from inside yelling “Uncle Curtis! Uncle Curtis” and Ella flung open the front door to see Sophia peeking around her with a giggle. 

“She is more excited today than she was on Christmas morning.” Ella declared as Sophia tried to bolt to Curtis, but she was quicker and grasped her daughter from running out onto the icy steps. “Careful, I haven't gotten a chance to salt these yet.” 

You motioned Curtis to give you some of the stuff he was carrying, but he just shifted them into one arm and took your hand to help you up the steps. Ella was sure to smirk at him which made him roll his eyes at her. “Don’t want anyone slipping.” 

“Sure you don't Curtis, it wasn't just an excuse to hold your girlfriend's hand?” She teased while she stepped aside to let you both in. He handed her off the gifts, sure to hand one just to Sophia. 

“That too. Go help your mom put those under the tree Sophia Bear and I will be right there.” 

Sophia went into the living room shaking the package the whole time listening while Ella followed behind her. 

“I could have helped you.” You said while Curtis drew your coat off and hung it up. 

“Could have, but I rather hold your hand.” He winked at you while grabbing the bag of salt from the hall closet. “Make yourself to home Honey, Ella refuses to let you act otherwise.” He stepped back out and you followed where the other girls went, finding them mixing your presents in among the others Ella had under the tree. Sophia marched over to you to take your hand, much like her uncle had, and led you to the couch. 

“Look what Santy bring me.” She climbed up and Ella settled in nearby while you sat next to Sophia, going ‘ooh and ahh’ at all the things she handed you. 

“Yeah, Santa must have dropped his sled off at your grandparents.” She snorted as tucked her legs up, getting comfy while watching you two. “Grey’s parents always get her so much. Want some toys to bring back to Curtis’s?” She chuckled. 

“Well, it might not hurt to have some there for when Sophia comes to visit.” You pointed out as you worked on brushing the hair of a doll and braiding it. 

“Ha, I will do just that. Curtis can’t say no to this kid and she has so much here and at Grey’s place. How was your Christmas Y/N? Curtis said that the cabin was stunning.” 

“Oh, it was, beautiful. They had us a little tree to decorate, a nice wood stove that Curtis kept the place warm with. I talked to my parents and sister's family that morning. We went snowshoeing.” You drifted off as you handed Sophia back her doll. 

“Mmhm, yeah sounds great. Curtis said the hot tub was his favorite.” Ella grinned cheekily and you were sure you felt your cheeks heat up. 

“It was.” Came a voice behind you as Curtis made his way into the living room, Grey following behind him. Sophia abandoned her toys for her father and her uncle came into the room. “After a day of snowshoeing, it was just what was needed.” He winked at you while handing Sophia off to Grey.  

"Mmhm, mmhm." Ella grinned at the two of you, a knowing look on her face. "Hot Tubs are good for that I suppose."

“Can we open more now?” Sophia asked looking at all the adults, her little bottom lip poking out in a plea. Saving the two of you from Ella's teasing for now.

“Didn't you open enough with Meme and Papa?” Grey questioned and she gave a firm shake no. “Okay kiddo, how about you hand out presents this time?” That made her perk up, skipping over to Ella’s tree and crawling underneath it to start digging out gifts. 

Grey settled in the chair near the tree to help Sophia with figuring out who got the gifts while Curtis shifted a pile of toys aside and settled next to you, his arm circling over your shoulder. “Y/N gave me a stunning drawing that one of her coworkers did, next time you come over Ella make sure I show you.” 

Sophia came over carrying a box all nicely wrapped while she pushed it into your lap. “From me Y/N.” She said, excitedly opening her mouth. “It’s tea and-” Curtis pushed forward to cover her mouth, scooping her into his lap. 

“Sssh, can't tell Y/N what it is.” 

“I wrapped it!” Sophia changed tactics while you tugged at the bow. 

“Do you want to help me unwrap it?” 

“Yeah!” She reached around Curtis to help you rip at the paper. Sending it flying. Ella sat at the other end of the couch giving a dejected sigh. 

“I worked so hard on wrapping this year too. All for it to last two seconds?” 

Curtis snorted in laughter as Sophia was sure to personally show you every bag of tea Ella had packed in the box. “Reminds me of when you used to unwrap everything, including mine.” 

“Santa didn’t properly label the boxes.” She huffed as Grey handed her a gift for Sophia, which she beckoned Sophia away from you to find out what was in it. 

“What did you get of Curtis’s?” You asked as you tucked away the box at your feet while watching Sophia open her gift. 

“Boys jeans in three sizes too big.” Ella laughed as she helped her daughter take the doll out of the box. “I insisted they were mine and Grammy hemmed them up for me.” 

“Cause you wouldn't drop it.” Curtis pointed out and Ella shrugged. 

“Hey, I wore those jeans for years. My favorite pair.” She reached around to grab a large box and handed it to Sophia. “Go bring this to your uncle to shut him up.” 

Sophia made the effort to put it in his lap, patting the box while looking sternly at Curtis. “Momma said shut up.” 

“Thanks kid. I appreciate it.” He worked on opening it up, and once the lid fell off, he stood up, a pair of jeans unfolding in front of him. 

“Is that better Curtis?” 

“A little bit.” 

The evening wore on to the later hour. Sophia had long since crashed after playing with all her new presents from that evening. You and Curtis worked on picking up the living room while Grey and Ella went to put Sophia to bed for the night. Once they came back out, child-free, Ella broke out some bubbly to celebrate and cards to take up the hours with the tv playing in the background. When the midnight hour was almost there, you four gathered around the tv, counting down. 

Anticipation curled in your belly, you could feel excitement at being able to kiss Curtis when midnight struck, almost like a sign of good luck to come if you two caught it just in time. As soon as the television announcer exploded with the midnight sign, times square in New York blasting with celebration, Curtis tilted you back slightly and kissed you enthusiastically. Making you giggle into the kiss at the sweeping taste of champagne coming from him.

Next to you Grey and Ella pressed for their own friendly midnight kiss on each other's cheeks, but you lost focus on them. Your grasp dug into Curtis’s shoulders although he held you secure in his arms, making your head swim as his tongue pressed for yours to tangle together. 

Seconds, minutes, it really didn't matter. You kept going for more as he gave it and when you both broke apart gasping for some air, your grins matched one another. 

“Merry Christmas ya filthy animals and a happy new year.” Ella held up her glass of champagne and you tilted your glass towards hers, letting the gentle clink welcome in January officially. 

#life is short so make it sweet #curtis everett and honey #curtis everett x honey #curtis everett and reader #curtis everett and plus sized reader #curtis everett and you #curtis everett x you #curtis everett x plus sized reader #curtis everett x reader #curtis everett au #chris evans characters #amber writes #sweater writes

[ticklishraspberries]

Giggly Glam (Connor, Zoe)

Summary: Connor buys himself makeup, then realizes he has no idea how to do makeup. Zoe tries to help. (Take this Connor lives and gets to heal his relationship with his sister thing I wrote. No one asked me to, I just have an obsession with this stupid fandom. Enjoy it or else /lh.)

He wasn’t sure what had possessed him to buy it. He’d only gone into the beauty aisle to buy a new bottle of black nail polish, and had somehow ended up picking out a few cheap makeup products. It was a completely impulsive, stupid decision, and if Connor had an ounce of sense, he’d turn back around and return it all.

But he didn’t. Instead, he decided to use it as an olive branch, or whatever the saying was. You see, almost dying had sort of knocked some sense into his head. Well, that plus some therapy, and seeing the looks that Zoe kept shooting him across the table at dinner.

So, maybe when he got back from the hospital, he’d made a whole big scene about how sorry he was for the way he’d acted towards her, towards them all, and maybe he’d cried harder than he had in years, and clung to his mom like a scared child on the first day of school.

Yeah, looking back, that had been pretty embarrassing. But it had shattered the layer of ice between him and his family, which he supposed was a good thing. He just hadn’t worked up the courage to dip into that murky water again, afraid he’d do something stupid like cry again, or make it worse by clamming up and telling his sister to fuck off like he would have a few months prior.

But a gift? It was an olive branch, he supposed. Not an apology, not an explanation, but it was something. So when he got home, he went right up to Zoe’s door and knocked.

“Come in,” she replied, and she looked surprised when it was Connor who entered, not her mother. “What do you want?”

Her tone wasn’t overly harsh, just a tad annoyed, mostly confused. Connor cleared his throat awkwardly. “Uh, I got you something. At the store. I don’t know if you even really wear makeup, but I just…Yeah. Here you go.”

He placed the bag on her dresser, and turned to leave, but paused when she spoke.

“Makeup?” Zoe asked, standing up off of her bed and walking over, snatching up the bag and looking inside. “Thanks, I guess. I don’t wear it that much, but it’s good to have.”

Connor nodded. “Cool.”

“Why though?”

“Why what?”

Zoe raised an eyebrow. “I can’t remember the last time you got me a gift. At least, one that wasn’t clearly bought by mom, who put your name on the label. So why?”

Connor shrugged. “I mean, honestly, I bought it on impulse and realized I was never gonna use it, so I gave it to you. Not very thought out, I guess. Do I get points for trying?” he asked, his tone light although there was a pit of anxiety in his stomach. He still wasn’t used to talking to Zoe like this; normal, casual conversation wasn’t really his forte.

“You got it for yourself?” Zoe asked. “Why wouldn’t you wear it?”

“Cause I get called gay at school for wearing nail polish, I think eyeliner would be pushing my luck,” he replied. When she didn’t seem amused, he continued, “Plus, I have no idea how to use any of it.”

“Where do you think I learned it? It’s not some inherent skill that comes with being a woman. Look up a tutorial online or something,” she said. “Fuck what kids at school think.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” he shot back. God, could he not get through one conversation without being an asshole? He opened his mouth to apologize, but it got stuck somewhere in his throat and wouldn’t come out. It was like every time he tried to swallow his pride, he fucking choked on it.

Zoe just rolled her eyes. “I was gonna offer to just show you myself, but if you’re gonna be a dick, I’ll just keep my secrets to myself.”

“What do you mean show me? I’m not just gonna sit here and watch you do your own makeup,” he said.

“I could do it for you. I mean, I’m not great at it, but at least you’d get an idea of what it’s supposed to look like. And if you don’t like how it looks, I’ll keep the makeup and we can pretend this never happened.”

Connor thought about it for a moment, nibbling at his bottom lip. “I guess. Uh, thanks. And sorry for, um, snapping at you.”

“Whatever,” Zoe replied, but she had a small smile on her face. Almost fond. “Sit on my bed. Wait, but take your shoes off first.”

He obeyed wordlessly, feeling incredibly strange. Zoe’s room had changed a lot since they were kids. The walls that had once been covered in stickers of flowers and photos of boy band members were now decorated much more tastefully, although Harry Styles was still making an appearance. Her twin bed had been upgraded to a full-sized one, and it was in the middle of the room rather than pushed against the wall like it had once been. Her sheets were no longer Disney princess themed, but rather soft blue ones with stars on them.

As he sat down, Zoe began peeling plastic off of each makeup product: A stick of black eyeliner, and a palette of four eyeshadows, in varying shades of purple, and a tube of mascara.

“Just your eye makeup, or do you want a full glam?”

Connor furrowed his brows at her, chuckling. “Full glam? Nah, I’ll pass.”

“Okay, okay, fine.”

She placed the products on the bed, then went back over to her dresser to grab a cup of brushes. “Your first mistake was thinking that the little wand this eyeshadow comes with would be enough,” she said. “You’re lucky that mom keeps buying me sets of brushes for every holiday.”

“Every holiday?”

“Every. Holiday. Three Hanukkahs in a row, two birthdays. So many brushes.”

Connor snorted. “I guess she thinks you wear ‘full glam’ every day,” he said, putting air quotes around the phrase she’d used, which made her chuckle.

She sat down on the bed beside him, her tongue poking between her teeth as she thought. “Okay, I think I’ll do your eyeshadow first…Just close your eyes and try to sit still,” she said.

“Yes ma’am,” he muttered, shutting his eyes as he was told, and he heard her shuffling around with the products.

After a moment, he could feel her hand hovering in front of him, and braced for impact, ever so dramatic. A somewhat flat, stiff brush touched his eyelid, and his face twitched despite his best efforts. He got it under control quickly, the sensation surprisingly easy to get used to.

“So, I’m putting the lighter color on your lid right now,” Zoe explained. “And after, I’m gonna use the darker one sort of, like, around it.”

“Sounds fancy,” he replied.

Zoe snorted, using her other hand to hold the side of his face, keeping him in place. Connor couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so close to his sister, or shared this much physical contact with her. It was weird, but it somehow felt natural, still so familiar. Her fingertips were rough from guitar string scars, and her hands were steady.

He heard her switching the brush, presumably also switching the color. The heel of her hand pressed against his jaw as she continued.

The brush was much fluffier than the last, and she was doing it so lightly, it felt like an annoying itch, and he scrunched his face up on instinct.

“Stay still,” she reminded him.

He huffed, but attempted to comply. He managed to keep his composure for a bit, but as the brush stroked against his face, turning the outer corner of his left eye the striking color of artificial grape candy, the feeling turned from an annoying itch to a feather-light sensation.

Connor couldn’t help it; he giggled, turning his face away from her.

“Stop moving!” Zoe said, retracting her hand.

“I can’t help it!” he replied. “It…feels weird.”

She ignored him and attempted to continue, but when the brush touched his skin again, he giggled again.

“Does it tickle?” Zoe asked, sounding almost incredulous. “There’s no way your face is ticklish.”

He felt his cheeks turn hot, and scowled. “Shut up,” he said, knowing he had no argument that would convince her that she was wrong.

Zoe’s lips twitched.

“Shut up. It’s not funny.”

She lost it, starting to giggle herself. “I’m sorry, but it is funny.”

Normally embarrassment felt white-hot, a rage-inducing humiliation that sent him running for the hills or taking out his anger on whoever was closest, a pit in his stomach. He was expecting that feeling to surface at that moment, but all he could feel was the color in his face and Zoe’s gaze on him.

Maybe it was because there were very few things his sister hadn’t witnessed: She knew him when he was still a gap-toothed child that was afraid of bugs, or when he grew into a pre-teen with braces and a constantly cracking voice.

So, instead of freaking out, he just glared at her half-heartedly. “Whatever.”

“Are you gonna survive if I continue?” she asked, grinning.

He rolled his eyes but nodded, bracing himself for the brush to return. He managed to sit still for the rest of the process, perhaps by sheer willpower or because Zoe was using a firmer touch to spare him some dignity.

“I’m kind of terrified of poking your eye out if I do your mascara,” she said to fill the silence. “Or eyeliner. I’ve never done it on anyone else.”

“Very reassuring,” he muttered.

All the brushes were away from his face, but he kept his eyes shut in case she went back, which was apparently a mistake, as Zoe had taken his sass as a chance to poke him in the ribs, making him flinch and huff out a laugh.

“I can’t believe I forgot you were ticklish,” she said.

“Please forget again,” he replied. “And, if I remember correctly, you are too. I’m not above revenge.”

Zoe laughed. “Okay, truce. But it’s nice to see you smile again.”

The sincerity of her statement made Connor freeze up, just for a moment. He was wading into foreign territory enough, but genuine conversation was almost too much. “Uh, thanks. I think?”

“Sorry, I just—You know, it’s just been a while since…” she trailed off.

“I know.”

She nodded, twirling the eyeliner pencil between her fingers. “So, do you trust me to not blind you?”

“...Not really, but fuck it.”

It turned out that Connor really rocked the color purple, and he loved the way that black eyeliner looked on him, and Zoe offered to show him how to do it himself next time.

He left his sister’s room and walked down the hallway with a giddy feeling in his stomach, something he hadn’t felt for a long time. It occurred to him that he had really missed his sister, no matter how hard he’d ignored it in the past. They still had a lot to work on, but Connor felt like something healed in them both that day, and it was all thanks to an impulsive purchase.

#deh fic #deh ticklefic #deh tickle fic #dear evan hansen fic #dear evan hansen fanfic #dear evan hansen #connor and zoe #connor murphy #zoe murphy #connor & zoe #connor and zoe murphy #murphy siblings #ticklish!connor murphy #ticklefic #tickle fic #deh #raspberry writes

[nerdypanda3126]

A kiss before a long time where they won't meet each other (Luka's Tour or Marinette's Fashion Week)

Hey, thank you so much for the ask! 😁 Sorry it took me a little longer to get to this one (and it does teeter on nsfw territory, fair warning) but I hope you like it!

Marinette groaned against the early morning light, not only because it meant it was morning and she hated mornings, but also because this particular morning meant it was the start of Luka's American tour and she wouldn't see him for six entire months. It'd be the longest they ever spent apart.

On the plus side, she did get to wake up to Luka sleeping beside her now, and with the morning light falling on the angle of his jaw and casting a shadow on his cheekbone he looked like a drawing torn out of one of her sketchbooks. She leaned into the light to block it from getting in his eyes and ran her fingers through his hair, trying to wake him up gently.

When he did open his eyes, he instantly smiled on seeing her and threw an arm around her to tug her down into a kiss.

God she was going to miss him.

She tangled her legs in his, wrapping herself around him as much as she could while she kissed him and kissed him and kissed him. On the bedside table, Luka's phone alarm went off and he reached over blindly, without breaking away from her, to silence it.

"Don't go," she said before she ducked in to press a line of kisses down the side of his neck, shifting so she was more on top of him. His answering chuckle and the way his hands tightened on her hips almost made her believe she was winning him over. When she nipped at his shoulder he let out a groan and bucked his hips up into hers, emphasizing what she was doing to him.

"Believe me, if I didn't have to make this flight, I'd stay here with you as long as you wanted me."

"Forever?" she breathed, and despite knowing he'd be shirtless on stage at some point, or maybe because of that, she locked her lips around a spot on his chest that wasn't covered by tattoos and made her own mark on him. Underneath her, Luka had stopped moving, and when she sat up to survey her work he was staring at her with a funny little smile on his face.

"Do you mean that?" he asked.

She traced the cherry blossom branch that webbed across one of his pecs as she blushed and realized what she'd admitted to.

"Well, yeah," she said, and met his eyes that were still trained on her in that softly intense way of his. "I know we haven't talked about… you know… marriage or anything like that but…"

He stopped her hand tracing on him to press a kiss to the inside of her wrist. "Funny you should mention that now," he said against her skin, then kissed her palm for good measure before he moved his hand to her hip to steady her as he twisted to fumble in the drawer of his nightstand. She thought he'd produce a foil packet, but instead he pulled out a small velvet box.

When he straightened, he watched her face carefully as he propped the box on his chest in front of her and opened it to reveal a modest silver ring with a brilliant blue sapphire.

For a moment all she could do was stare at it.

When she finally managed to look back at Luka, he looked like he was holding his breath, but he was still watching her and waiting for her response.

"...oh my God, Luka," came out of her before she could help it. He chuckled nervously.

"I was going to wait until after the tour," he said, sliding the ring out of its box to inspect it in the morning light. The sapphire reflected a glint of light over his face. He paused, and his eyes flicked up to hers. "But I guess this way you can think about it if you want? And you don't have to answer now, of course not, but just so you know—"

"Are you… proposing?" she asked with a small manic giggle bubbling out of her.

"Yeah, I guess I am." He smirked back. "Definitely wasn't my plan to do it this way, but—" He shrugged. "Just felt right."

"You're proposing," she repeated as a smile started stretching across her face. "This is you proposing."

His grin shifted until it was mischievous and with one smooth movement he flipped her until her back hit the bed and he was on top of her. The velvet box clattered to the floor.

"I could do something else, if you want."

He dipped his head to brush his nose against hers playfully before he leaned in to kiss her deeply. She wrapped her legs around his hips and cradled the sides of his face as she tried to communicate how much she loved him and didn't want him to go, especially now that they were—

Wait, she still had to say yes!

"Yes," she broke away to pant in his ear.

"Yes what, love?" he murmured. "Tell me what you want."

A laugh bubbled out of her as she kissed him again. When she pulled away, she kept his head in her hands and pressed her forehead against his.

"Yes, of course I'll keep you forever."

A bright grin split across his face and he opened his hand to reveal the ring he'd kept a hold of. "Then you'll be needing this," he said, and she gave him her hand to slip the ring on her finger. "And I'm going to be late to my flight."

He laced his fingers through hers tightly around her new ring and fell into kissing her, and neither of them could seem to stop smiling.

Send me a kiss!

#lukanette #pro lukamari #lukanette endgame #endgame lukanette #marinette dupain cheng #luka couffaine #rockstar!luka #kiss ask #purppleinara

[allthewriteplaces]

My Paradise

Author's Note: This isn't my best work, and it's been three years since I wrote it, but it would be a shame if I were to continue to let this little story sit in my USB drive collecting dust, only to never see the light of day when I was so proud of it when I finished it. Plus it's nice to look back and see how much I've improved over the years.

Story Summary: The day has come for Arkov Sosha to marry the man of her dreams, the Captain of the Hercules, himself, Yargwynn Salta and while it's been a long time coming, and their adventure hasn't all been smooth sailing, everything is finally falling into place.

Warning(s): None, only fluff

Word Count: 2478

From the moment we are born, it seems as though our fates are sealed and our destinies are written somewhere in the stars. Each step we take and each choice we make, alters our path, opens new doors, and leads to infinite possibilities, infinite realities exist within our universe, each one a branch in the ever growing tree of life.

Had I not made the choices I made, I wouldn’t have went on such incredible adventures and meet so many wonderful people who would ultimately become my family or be standing in my chambers on the Hercules, a place that was once foreign but had now become my home dressed in a gown woven from the dark cloths of the night sky and sparkled like a thousand stars.

Everyone dreams about their fairytale wedding, and I am no exception, it was the sort of thing that most girls, including most of my childhood friends, always seemed to like to talk about at sleepovers and even at school. To tell you the truth, however, I never thought much about it, in fact, it was the last thing on my mind. There were so many other things I wanted to do with my life first, like exploring far off places and making a life for myself, just like my mother did.

She is gone now. I wish that she could see how happy I am; I wish that she would be there to see me trying on my wedding dress - one that I am in the process of adding the finishing touches to - and I wish she could see me walking down the aisle on my wedding day.

Loss is not anything new to me, I’ve lost many friends and family over the years, and the pain and the sadness that come along with it, are like waves, trying to knock me down over and over again, and toss me onto the sand, never to drown, but no matter how many times I fall, I somehow manage to get back up and live another day.

Well, I suppose in a way, she is here in spirit, watching from somewhere far, far away from this place.

She always said that I had a gift for creating things, making something amazing out of what appeared to be nothing and that is exactly what I’m doing right now. I suppose it’s my way of having her with me, and for a split second, a smile makes its way onto my face.

Rubbing my tired eyes, I realize that it’s getting late. I hold up the dress and examine the stitching. It still needs a bit of touching up, but I have at least twenty-four hours before I get married. Goodness, even now, saying those two words, I still can’t believe it’s happening, it still doesn’t seem real yet.

Let me tell you, when I first met Captain Yargwynn Salta, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight, though I couldn’t deny that there was something about him that drew me to him. Sure, he flirted with me here and there, and maybe I responded with a few witty remarks of my own, but it was only in playful banter, until it wasn’t, until our feelings for one another started to grow.

When I first realized that I was indeed falling in love, I was terrified; no, I wasn’t afraid of falling in love specifically, but I was afraid of the feelings that came with it and the pain that would ultimately come when they would not be returned. The whole sensation where I could barely get a word out when I was around him, or when his hand would accidentally brush against mine was similar to standing on the edge of a cliff and not knowing what waited for you at the bottom besides the possibility of imminent death.

But instead, when the both of us were at our very worst, and I had been teleported to the glistening clear waters and sandy shores of Cantahc when things seemed to be bleaker than they ever had been, he told me that he had grown to have said feelings for me as well, but after all that had happened, it was almost impossible for me to get my head around what was going on. I had been waiting to hear those words for so long.

And that was where we shared our first kiss, right there on that beach, I was being held tightly in Yargwynn’s strong arms, my own personal safety net that I could always depend on catching me when I fell, and comforted by his soft, almost rumbling voice, his heartbeat hammering against his chest, and his gentle hands resting on either side of my face.

Apparently, according to him, I am a terrible kisser; okay, I’ll admit, I’m not as good as he is, but I think I have a strong grasp of what to do and what not to do, and I will have tomorrow evening to prove him wrong.

There is something romantic about a beach wedding that makes it the perfect spot for our special day; we will be getting married by the ocean, in the company of our closest friends and family.

Making my way to the comfortable bed we both share, I climb in and glance over at my soon-to-be husband, whose purple locks are sprawled out on the pillow, and the top three buttons of his loose-fitting pirate shirt are undone. There is also a small grin on his face, which tells me that he’s not quite asleep yet.

“Finally, I was starting to think that I’d be spending the whole night alone,”

“You know that I would never deprive you of my company,” I reply, undoing my braid and letting my hair fall down my back in cascading waves. “It’s all done for now, I just have to add a bit more stitching along the bottom of it, but you’re not allowed to see what it looks like until I’m done.”

“Why not?” He pouts, but his tone remains lighthearted and playful, so I know he’s just teasing me.

“Well, don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, especially in her dress? You wouldn’t want to disappoint Lady Luck now, would we?” I repeat the same words he said to me when he caught me sneaking aboard The Hercules.

“I suppose not.” He sighed and then rolled over onto his side so that he was facing me, brushing a piece of my hair behind my ear and then placing a kiss on the side of my neck. “I can’t believe I’m marrying you tomorrow.”

“Well, there’s no backing down now, is there?” I whispered, smiling at the gesture.

“Nope.” Even in the darkness, I can see his grin growing and he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer toward him. “Not even if you beg me to let you go, I won’t. I nearly lost you and there’s no way I’m going to let that happen ever again.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere, even if you beg me to leave, I’m staying right here.” To prove that, I take his hand in mine, placing a kiss on each of his knuckles. He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose.

I can’t believe that tomorrow, I , Arkov Sosha, will become Mrs Arkov Salta. It has a nice ring to it.

Hours and hours pass by, the sun is setting and the air is warm, just like I imagined it would be; I cannot picture a more perfect day to get married. My husband-to-be is waiting for me outside and I can hear him laughing, no doubt trying to regale the guests with his epic tales, that’s the pirate in him, I’m sure.

I slip on the dress, careful not to damage anything by pulling or moving too quickly. It’s impossible for me to not be anxious right now; so many things could go wrong, and anything can happen, but I cannot let that distract me, I can’t let those superstitious and insecure feelings get in the way of what is going to be the best day of my entire life.

I let my hair down, then stand in the mirror. The girl staring back at me isn’t at all like the young girl who would have been there. Her hair was a lot messier, her clothes a bit more tattered, and her eyes a bit tired, and she was a lot thinner, less muscular. I almost don’t recognize her.

With a sigh, I step barefoot onto the sand, feeling it trying to get between my toes; it’s a strange feeling, I’ll admit, but I’m slowly becoming more and more used to it the longer I find myself living here. The closer I walk, the better I can hear the musicians playing softly in the background.

I am not paying attention to anything, other than the proud, adoring smile on Yargwynn’s face; he, too, has changed since I met him, his hair is a bit longer, he never, ever lets me cut it, unless it’s hanging in his face, then he will let me trim a little bit off. He does have it tied back, though, just enough for me to see those hypnotic blue eyes staring back at me.

“You look beautiful,” he says in a whisper as we stand together under a makeshift altar, his thumb gently strokes the back of my hand and already, I feel my nervousness slipping away. Loyal, a guardian angel from Queria, is the one to marry us. Their friends, a vampire, a fearless mouse, and a wizard are part of the small group of friends we’ve invited to join in the celebration.

The second the speech is finished, and we are finally allowed to kiss, as the music picks up to a more upbeat tune, it finally feels real, this whole thing. We’re now husband and wife. Everything we have faced together, every high and every low is worth this one moment, this small fraction of time.

Soon, as the sun has set completely and the stars unveil themselves, it’s as though it’s just the two of us, dancing on the water as the music continues to play. The moonlight reflects off the water, making it shimmer and shine.

“How does it feel to finally be married to me and be Mrs. Yargwynn Salta?” Yargwynn asks as we lay side by side on the sand, and the waves rush against our feet.

“It feels pretty good,” I reply, closing my eyes as a warm breeze blows by, and finding his hand, putting it into my own. “I just wish there was a way they could have been there and seen us, you know?”

He gently pulls his hand free, then shifts a little so that he’s sitting up on one elbow and his chin rests on my hand. “They were here. They did see us and they were happy. And they wouldn’t want to see you crying on your wedding day.”

I sniffed, then nodded my head slowly, standing up and then moving towards the water. It’s nice and cool, perfect for swimming in. I lie back, letting it hold me up. I glance up at the infinite number of stars peering down at me, once again reminding me that I am only a speck, just a dot on a gigantic canvas.

My eyes pop open when I feel two hands gripping my waist and pulling me up, grinning down at me.

“Leaving me already?” he frowns and clicks his tongue, “Arkov, my darling, how could you? And on our wedding day, too.”

“Leave you? I would never!” I struggle to catch enough breath to stop laughing and reply. “I am not as tricky as you think I am.”

He sighs dramatically and then puts me down, sulking. I roll my eyes and then with both of my hands, I splash him with as much energy as I have.

“Did you…just splash me?” He sputters; I nod and he grins, more madly now, and then splashes me back. “Yeah, you’re in trouble now!”

I manage to dodge out of the way and soon, we’re both laughing and splashing each other like the children we once were.

Later, as soon as we are both calm and dried off, we lay down on top of the soft sheets, lulled by the sound of the waves crashing outside.

“Have I ever told you how much I love you?” Yargwynn whispers in my ear, his deep voice husky and his accent a lot thicker.

“Not enough,” I tease and he pulls me on top of him, keeping his hands on my hips.

“Alright then, I will tell you every day until the day I die how much I love you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“And you’re the best thing that’s happened to me.” I kiss his nose, “and I love you more, to the four corners of the universe and back again.”

He rolls over so that I am the one beneath him. He nuzzles my neck, making me laugh and the love in his eyes makes me melt completely. “And I love you, my beautiful wife, to infinity beyond infinity”

I lay my head down on his chest, allowing my hand to rest right above his heart as he makes his way further into mine.

The End!

Please consider checking out the inspiration behind the story created by @goodboyaudios

#short story #space pirate saga #gba yargwynn #arkov sosha #yargwynn salta #Youtube

[bluemoondust]

✧Insert Coin✧ (PREVIEW)

A/N: This is just a preview for an idea I thought up of based on a song plus some concepts I've seen. I only chose these characters because I don't want to have too much clutter. However, if you'd like to see the concept with any other characters, feel free to ask!

This building seemed like it could collapse on itself any moment, but given how long it's been around, the chances are slim. You only wonder what went on here before it was abandoned. A friend had told the two of you that it used to be a school, most likely for gifted students. You would think this place would have remained in tact, but maybe the staff didn't meet the budgets.

Though you were amazed with how much greenery had grown into the place. It gave you some semblance of how many years had passed since this school was in session. The fact that you're practically walking on grass and passing through branches tells you... Probably a decade or two. Even with it shutting down, why was this not something you ever heard of? Your friend had to look through archive files to even find out about this school's existence. Wouldn't this sort of thing have been made public?

A sigh escapes you. You were getting off topic. The only reason why you were even here in the first place was because your other friend was too uneasy to go alone. They had a fascination with searching abandoned buildings. At one point, you two and some other friends had went to an mall that had closed due to the major decrease of people coming in. It was fun, but right now it could've been better if all of you were here. Everyone else was either busy with their jobs or the amount of time their college courses demanded.

So it was just the two of you. Together exploring this abandoned school that you've never heard of. You don't even think there was a name mentioned.

"Oh? I didn't think something like this would be in a school. A vending machine, yeah, but this?" Your friend was facing something you couldn't quite see, so you leaned to the side to get a better look.

A gachapon machine?

"You would only see these in stores or the laundry mat. Why would the school have this?" They further examined the contraption as you spoke up, "I mean, given how the stairs look, maybe the headmaster has some sense of humor. Albeit a little odd..."

They looked over to you with a smile, "Wanna try it? I don't really play these things. It seems like a form of gambling to me." You chuckle at their words and almost laughed when they commented on how the people who made these things wanted to get the young ones to start early in such.

It looked to be that this gachapon used to light up, making you wonder if such a thing would still work. Especially with how old this school seemed. You shrugged and just hoped that this thing wouldn't eat your coins in the process. You pulled out your wallet and got a coin to insert. It was pretty simple how to use this, given how you've always begged your parents for some change in order to get a prize in the capsule as a child.

Turning the knob, you heard the clatter of the coin and soon saw one of the capsules fall through. Your friend made a noise of amusement. Even with what they said, it still looked fun to watch.

Carefully picking up the capsule, they asked, "So, what'd you get? This thing doesn't really have much pictures on the sides, just writing. Here, lemme just... 'The ever reclusive detective', 'The supreme leader of phantom thieves', 'The stone hearted affluent progeny', 'The.... "

The list went on as you listened to them read everything. It was probably characters you could get from the gachapon, but you couldn't wrap your head around what sort of show or game series had these type of characters. Two lucksters? Okay then.

You grasped the lid of the capsule. "Well, let's see what we got. You can't really see who's inside but it just makes this a little more exciting." With a small pop, the lid separated from the other half.

Inside, revealed...

Yep, that's it for now. If you have any comments or questions about this, feel free to share!

#yandere danganronpa #yandere danganronpa x reader #yandere shuichi saihara #yandere kokichi ouma #yandere rantaro amami #yandere makoto naegi #yandere byakuya togami #yandere hajime hinata #yandere nagito komaeda #yandere imagines #yandere x reader #yandere x you

[summertimemusician]

*downs four mugs of extra strong coffee with a sigh* So, that new trailer huh?

Too sleep deprived to go full theorist, so instead I'll compile all of the instances/triggers I can remember for each of the Link's journeys to distract myself from from Skyward Sword because boy having patience with the emulator controls is actually driving me batty. But if I lived through Minish Cap, Zelda I, OoT and Majora's Mask then I can probably do this.

Spoilers below I suppose?

Skyward Sword Link/Sky looking for Sun after she fell from the Cloud Barrier even though he had zero idea what was going on because she's his best friend and his main childhood friend and literally killing a god for her after he hurt her with lethal intent.

Minish Cap/Four Swords (Adventures) being fully intent on vibe checking Vaati for turning his best friend into stone, stealing the Light Force from her and then kidnapping and almost marrying her against her will and succeeding, came to care for Ezlo and the Minish later on as something of a happy incident, because they've basically been with Link through all of the journey and I feel like Link helped Ezlo heal from Vaati's betrayal as a result (my headcanon is that even if the doorway is closed, him and Ezlo still kept in contact and Ezlo taught him tricks of the Minish Trade in magical items)

OoT Link lost the Deku Tree, his father figure at the literal start of the darn game, and went to fulfill his last words by meeting the princess, who then asked him for help and Link being Link wouldn't refuse (that's a fairy for another day, I have so many thoughts on these boys), then Saria, his literal childhood friend and adopted sister, being taken by Ganon and to likely a lesser extent Ruto, who I feel he would come to see as friend even with the whole marriage thing. He also cares for Navi, the entire point of Majora's Mask is that he went looking for her at the end of the game, and he came to care for Sheik who is later revealed to be Zelda so of course he was going to kill Ganon and either succeed or die trying (well, did die trying in the Fallen Timeline Branch which was technically the 'True' one, before Majora's Mask, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were a thing and no I will not let any of you forget that technically the Hero of Time was always meant to die but kicks it in different ways depending on the timeline, give this man a BREAK, he may as well be the Odysseus of The Legend of Zelda at this rate, the powers that be keep screwing him over yeesh).

Wind Waker Link wasn't even related to the Hero's Spirit, Ganon just fucked around and found out with the wrong kid's little sister that Wind Waker Link basically made the fates and gods bend with the force of his fury to get Aryll and later on Tetra back into making him the hero just so he could throw hands with Ganon, friendly reminder he's one of two Links that actually kill the guy, and the plot of Phantom Hourglass is also related to getting his new bestie Tetra back.

Spirit Tracks Link literally only became the Hero because his Zelda asked and they became close friends and likely remained close by the end of the game, plus his mentor and likely one of his main caretakers in his youth was basically mortally wounded during that whole deal, 'nough said.

A Link to the Past Link mainly helps Zelda because it's his uncle's final request, but then later on they actually are show to be close enough for him to invest himself on her safety even without that motivation, see A Link Between Worlds and also the Linked (hah) ending of OoA and OoS. He likely also was willing to help Zelda with the wish because, even with the awful prices and freeloading and lying, he came to care for Ravio as a friend and to a lesser extent Hilda too as she was his main guide through Lorule. Plus Marin, who really was an emotional gut punch for everybody I think (read: I played Link's Awakening as a kid and whenever I go visit a beach and a friendly seagull comes by I immediately get flashbacks, I don't know how they are in y'all's places but where I'm from they're shockingly chill).

The Original Zelda's Link aka Zelda one and Zelda II's main motivation was to find the princesses, though that one is slightly shakier because we have no idea if any of them knew each other before the world basically became an apocalyptic scenario or if it was just to vibe check Ganon again, find his vibes lacking and save the land again so it could start to heal.

Twilight Princess Link had the village children (one of them basically being like his surrogate little brother in Colin) and childhood friend taken by Ganon's minions, man had no idea what was going on or even WHO Ganon was before the game mind you, he was just a farmer herding goats in Ordon, he was just determined to get his family back no matter the cost, then he came to care for Midna and the plight of her people and what Zelda was going through and was specially close to Midna, the real thing that set him off against Ganon enough to go in with lethal intent was when he thought Ganon had killed Midna, so not only was he the source of the suffering of most of the people he cared about, but he also was under the assumption one of them DIED while he couldn't do anything about it, it's no wonder he snapped so hard and was just READY to obliterate Ganon.

Cadence of Hyrule is actually an interesting case, because not only does Link go looking for Zelda when she's trapped in an eternal slumber and then comes to care for Cadence, Zelda actually goes looking for Link too if he's the one trapped, that actually gives them away as pretty close be it as friends or something else.

Hyrule Warriors, boy is it also a complicated one. Warriors Link is a soldier willing to break rank to defend his country rather than to wait around with his fellow trainees, so him and his Zelda weren't close at all before, but I can see them becoming close when Zelda breaks out the Sheik identity as there's more chances for them to fight and interact side by side and then heal after the War of Ages is over, plus Lana and Linkle, though realistically speaking, Warriors Link would probably care about all of his comrades in battle on sheer virtue of not only their time spent on the battle field but also of the after, it's easy to relate to someone who knows what it's like to suffer through the same experience, though it's very likely he'd be the closest to Zelda, Linkle and Impa after all was said and done. They'd all have pretty similar nightmares I think.

And finally BOTW because I honestly cannot remember if Link in AoC actually lost someone close to him or if it's a Hyrule Warriors situation. Boy where do I even BEGIN with this dude (I say, as BOTW has been existing rent free in my head ever since the final TOTK Trailer dropped, honestly an achievement as usually that spot is reserved for Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask), okay. First he lost his childhood friend in Mipha when the Calamity first struck, and then the other Champions whom I feel he grew close to with time (yes even Revali), likely his family as we see concept art of a sister and a father, Zelda and finally Hyrule, his life and memories, his entire identity as a person though thankfully he was nudged into getting parts of it back. And is probably going to experience that same trauma all over again in TOTK.

Any other instances and I'll add here but Tl;Dr : All of the Links (except maybe the First Hero, Hero of Men and 10.000yrs Ago Hero, though that one is unlikely if you ask me) probably have a lot of separation/abandonment issues plus very big problems with failure (see Skyward Sword Link, no thanks to you, IMPA. And also BOTW Link who probably has the worst of the bunch) or just failing people in general, and as a result are extremely protective of whoever they consider their person and most likely always need to reassure themselves they're still there and are very dedicated to them as a result, in this essay I will-

#loz #linked universe #link #something something tag all the games here #something something oh the inherent tragedy and downsides of being the hero to a story #when you didn't even want to be included in the narrative in the first place #more tags will be added later cause I'm tired. #have a lot of thoughts trapped in my head #though no one would be interested in the actual essays

[allcountersarehipheight]

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

Tagged by @kazz-brekker (thanks!)

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

I think it’s gotta be A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske! I had heard so many wonderful things about this book and it really lived up to and exceeded expectations. I love magic systems that differ from the stereotypical “magic” and this one had me thinking about how everything worked for days after I read it. Also the romance was delightful so that was definitely a plus!

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey! Hands down. Technically, I read it as part of American Hippo which was a combination of River of Teeth and the sequel (and also more technically this was a re-read) but it’s a sequel and I’m counting it. It’s an alternate history (which I adore) and Gailey’s characters are always so well fleshed out and diverse. I’ve read all of her books and they never disappoint.

3. New release you haven’t read yet

My copy of Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is staring at me from my bookshelf every time I pick something else up instead. I keep meaning to get to it and then I remember how absolutely confused I was when reading the other two books. As someone once said, “being confused while reading is a feature, not a bug” and I respect that but also I have not gotten around to it.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab!!!!! I am so so so very excited about this book it’s not even funny. The Shades of Magic series is arguably one of my favorite and I cannot wait to see what absolutely buck wild stuff happens next. 

5. Biggest disappointment

Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans. I picked it up at the library because I liked the cover and I think I had seen something about it somewhere? But I couldn’t get into it (didn’t even finish). I tried cause the premise was really interesting- going back again to the different magic system. This one specifically was very heavily alchemy based which was really neat and I wanted to know more about that specifically, but for whatever reason I couldn’t get past the first 30 pages or so.

6. Biggest surprise

I think this has to be Leech by Hiron Ennes. When talking to the librarian who was checking out my books, she looked at me and went “oh! one of my coworkers read this and had no idea what was going on the entire book.” Honestly- a glowing recommendation. You really start off in the thick of things with no explanation and every new piece made the puzzle just that more interesting. I’m trying to branch out in what I read and this fell into that category and I’m happy with it.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Allison Saft! I just finished A Far Wilder Magic and it was absolutely incredible. Once again the cover got me to pick up the book and it was phenomenal. The book is magical (both in the narrative and figurative sense) and it was so easy to get sucked in by everything that was happening. Her character work was gorgeous and I fell in love with everything that was going on. The characters felt real in a way that is hard to articulate without going on a very long tangent and the plot itself was very very good. I cannot wait to read the other book she has published and I look forward to whatever she comes out with next.

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

Ok, so bear with me- Jasper Detchard from The Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles. This book is apparently a retelling of a Victorian pulp novel The Prisoner of Zenda which I did not know until I started reading. Jasper fits very neatly into my favorite character type: rugged man with heart of gold. Jasper’s heart is less golden and more shriveled but also I love him. He was a dick from the get go but he protected the people he cared about and his internal narrative had me cackling in public.

9. Book that made you cry

Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist. It’s a zombie-western and I didn’t know I needed that genre until I got it and now I’m fairly certain I don’t want to read anything different ever again. The range of emotions that I felt while reading this book were wide and varied and it did not pull its punches a single iota.

10. Book that made you happy

Casket of Souls by Lynn Flewelling! Or Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles. Both were lovely but very different. Casket of Souls is the penultimate book in the Nightrunner series and I just love everything about these books. I’d read an entire book of them just chilling and not having anything happen and I would be happy. Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen was a historic romance with the main romance going from secret lovers to enemies to friends to lovers again and let me tell you that ride was as wild as it sounds but it was an absolute treat to read.

@thisisadecisionimayregret and @heretodazeandconfuse I want to know what y’all are reading (also hello hi)

[usagi-p]

Jack x Reader: Part One

It had only been a few months since you first arrived at Night Raven College. Truth be told, you fit in quite well and had managed to meet some decent enough people to call friends; that is, if “friends” is how you would describe people who only hung out with you for the sake of what they could get from you. Try as you might to deny it, you always found yourself being anything and everything for people who didn’t put in half of the work you did for your friendships. Someone always needed something from you: your time, investment, emotional support, a place to crash, a shoulder to cry on. The list could literally go on and on. 

It hurt you to think of your “friends,” so you always found a way to escape them all by reading in the courtyard. They never really came around that part of NRC, and whoever did come would just pass by. You had found a place where you could blend in and let them miss out on you, and it was oddly peaceful. One afternoon, you found yourself sitting in your favorite spot under a tree. There was a nice little bench you always sat on, and you had brought along a book to read this time. It was assigned reading for Magic History class. Since your dorm always had someone hanging around and making noise there, you figured your secret spot in the courtyard would be a better studying space. 

An hour passed of your reading time, and the text bound in leather captured your attention to the point where you didn’t notice what was going on around you anymore. It wasn’t until you heard someone’s gruff voice speak that you looked up from your reading: “Hey.” 

You met the sharp gaze of someone much taller than you, his figure and tone giving him a sense of authority. Regardless of his grade level, he was someone that wasn’t to be trifled with. You brushed a hair from your face as you spoke to the guy standing in front of you. “Oh! Sorry, I was caught up in my book. You’re… Jack, right? From Magic History class?”

He nodded once, his tense stance relaxing a little. “Yep, that’s me. I didn’t realize you came here to read.” 

You shrugged, “I don’t often do it. I came here because my dorm was too noisy. Plus, I just wanted to get away for a bit. Find somewhere quiet to just settle.” 

Either the light between the tree branches was playing tricks on your eyes, or Jack’s face flushed the faintest shade of pink. Embarrassed, he asked: “Did I interrupt that? It wasn’t my intention…” 

Adamantly shaking your head, you told him no. “I’m fine! I actually don’t mind. Did you need something?” 

He seemed to grow more bashful, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand as his eyes avoided yours. “I noticed the book you’re reading. That’s the one for class, right? I’m… having a hard time understanding some of the material from what Professor Trein told us to read. Would you mind helping me?” 

You and Jack had never been on bad terms. In fact, he was one of the nicest classmates you knew, and he was a no-nonsense guy when it came to class. Helping him didn’t seem so bad of an idea. You patted the bench next to you, “This spot’s open. You’re welcome to take it if you want.” 

He stiffly moved to sit next to you, seeming nervous about the whole ordeal. It wasn’t until you started covering the book’s chapters that he seemed to relax, focusing more on what you were teaching him. Time seemed to slow down as you exchanged notes and talked more about the material, but you didn’t mind in the slightest. This was the nicest thing that had happened for you in a while, and you didn’t want it to stop.

Almost two hours went by before you realized what time it was. By now, the sun was setting and you had to get back to your dorm. Jack offered to walk back with you, saying, “It’s no trouble. I’d rather you get back safely than have any problems.” 

With Jack walking beside you, the conversation was sparse. You both still were a bit shy, even though you had shared extensive notes over the material for class. You made it to your dorm with no interruptions or distractions from your walk, which you enjoyed. As you turned to say goodbye to Jack, he suddenly asked: “Hey, um… Look. I really appreciate you helping me out with the material for class. I wanted to know if, uh… I could maybe treat you to some coffee or tea next time we see each other? N-Not that I’m demanding or anything! It’s m-more just if you might want to do something like that. I’m fine either way, I just-“ 

He stopped short as you failed to suppress a chuckle. His antics of being nervous around you were endearing in a way, so you found it cute that he was struggling to ask to repay you for your help. “I’d love that, Jack. When would you want to do it?” 

He seemed to be sweating a little, but he tried to play it off. “Will you be in the courtyard again tomorrow?”

You nodded, only committing to it if it meant you’d spend time with him instead of your so-called friends. “I usually head there right after my last class, so let’s say 4:00. That sound good?” 

He nodded eagerly, then regained his composure. “Great! Uh- I mean, great. I’ll see you then, I guess.” 

As he turned to leave, you called out for him to wait. He met your gaze with a questioning look before you said, “Thanks. For being so kind this afternoon, and for actually listening to the things I was saying. I’m… not really used to that, so I appreciate it.” 

He smiled, no shame in the act as he did so. “Sure thing. I’m glad I found you today.” 

With that, he turned to head back to his dorm. You giggled to yourself as you watched him go, his tail wagging slightly as he became more distant. You turned to head inside your dorm, but you couldn’t get over the butterflies making your stomach dance with emotion. What was this sensation? Why did you feel this way after being with Jack? You didn’t have answers yet, but maybe you would learn them with your next encounter with him. Perhaps, you thought, Jack was showing you what a true friend was meant to be.

#disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland #twst character x reader #twst jack #jack x reader #jack howl #savanaclaw #original writing

[dollythesheepp]

Veronica- Chapter 2

you can read it on ao3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44050953/chapters/111192034#workskin

Jason Dean called her two days later. With everything else settled, Betty could start working as soon as possible; he told her that Veronica had already been working on the third book, although she had taken a four-month break right before the accident happened, and that she had thousands of notes in her office that would certainly help Betty, but Jason couldn't even begin to sort them out because the place was a mess, so he said Betty was welcome to stay with them for a few days to look through the notes and files herself.

Part of her thought staying in a house with two total strangers wasn't a very smart idea, especially since Veronica was still recovering, despite Betty not knowing the extent of her injuries, but as she held the eviction papers in her hand -sent three days before by her landlord, stating she only had a week to move out and her new place wouldn't be ready for at least two weeks- she said screw it and agreed, getting up to pack her things almost immediately

The three-hour car drive from Cleveland to Cincinnati lead her to a lavish, two-story house in the middle of nowhere. It was as beautiful as it was eerie, the giant windows and the tall brick walls of the Georgian-style home -branches of poison ivy covering parts of it like a tumor, waiting to overtake everything- made Betty feel the size of an ant. The metal gate made way for her rented car to pass, moving slowly as the couple accepted this new intruder into their house; she drove past the garden, one that would have been lovely if it is taken care of, instead there was nothing but dried grass and flowers that once had been colorful and full of life. Soon Betty found a spot in the giant parking area; from inside the car, she could see the big trees and the mountains behind the house. The place probably cost more than Betty could make in a lifetime.

As she stepped out of the car, the wind instantly making her hair and coat swing frantically in different directions, she saw the front door open and Mr. Dean come out of it. "Want some help with your stuff?" he asked, one foot still inside the house as if he was unsure of what to do next. He clutched his light jacket tightly around his body like the intense weather had caught him by surprise.

"It's ok, I got it!" Betty said, grunting a little from the heavy weight as she attempted to get her bag out of the trunk, but Jason ignored her and went to help anyway, the wind slamming the door behind him as soon as he stepped out.

Betty hadn't brought too much stuff, she'd figured one bag with her essentials would be enough, since she didn't plan on staying there for long, a day or two to sort things, get to know Veronica and her writing style more, hopefully talk to her about what her plans for the series were, and leave as soon as she got enough information to do her job; she didn't want to be alone with people she didn't know, and more importantly, she didn't want to bother someone who was recovering from an accident.

Jason took her bag out of the car with ease, as Betty stood there looking at him awkwardly. She hadn't meant to stare at him -and she definitely hoped that he did not realize - but it was hard not to take notice of his appearance, the dark hair, hazel green eyes, and strong features made Jason Dean a very handsome man. Or perhaps it had just been too long since the last time Betty had had sex.

Jason lead her to the front of the house. He used his free hand to open the door, and made way for her to enter. Betty hated those types of fancy houses that looked cold and uninhabited, with everything so white, clean, and expensive that made you feel more like you were in a museum or a morgue than an actual home; thankfully, Jason and Veronica's house looked nothing like that. Even with the exterior of the house looking so dead, the inside had a warm feeling to it, there were books everywhere -always a plus in Betty's opinion- and family pictures, and even a cat that rubbed itself against Betty's leg when she walked by it in the living room.

"This is JFK," Jason said, kneeling to pet the tabby cat on its head. He got up and grabbed the bag again. "Let's put this in your room, alright?"

Betty followed Jason through the hallway, and he stopped in front of a big, white door. As he fished for the door's key in his back pocket, Betty observed the photographs displayed on one of the walls, of Veronica and Jason in different periods of their lives. There was one that seemed to be of their high school graduation, the young couple wearing matching caps and gowns, and a proud smile on their faces; a few serving as memorabilia from different trips -Paris, Rome, Disneyland, beautiful beaches, dolphins, snowy mountains, you name it -; at least three from their wedding, Jason carried a lovestruck smile in every photo, and Veronica looked radiant in her white dress, and a small baby bump could be seen through the gown; in some, Veronica's pregnant belly is more visible; in others, the belly gives way to a beautiful baby, with rosy cheeks and hazel green eyes just like Jason's; the baby grows into a toddler -with the typical birthday photos in front of colorful cakes- then into a little girl, with wavy brown hair, freckles and a smile in almost every picture.

Betty had no idea that they had a kid, and there was nothing in the house that indicated that either; the place was silent and she hadn't seen a single toy anywhere.

"That's Hazel," Jason said behind her, startling her a little. Betty had lost herself looking at the pictures, forgetting that she wasn't alone for a second. She turned around to look at him, embarrassed for being so nosy. Jason had already opened the door and Betty wondered how long he had been looking at her as she snooped through the pictures.

"She's adorable," Betty said. "How old is she?"

"She's eight," he answered, but his expression hardened the moment the said the words, suddenly it felt like a dark cloud had appeared above them. "She was eight but she, hm...she passed away almost a year ago."

Betty could feel her heartstrings being tugged inside her chest, regret taking over her for being so intrusive. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry," was her textbook response, because what else do you say to someone who suffered such a loss like that?

"Thank you. We're handling it the best we can, Veronica and I," Jason said, his eyes filled with deep sadness. "It was just so sudden you know? The house used to be so alive, with her dancing around and playing and now it's just so quiet. I haven't gotten used to it yet."

As a writer, it was uncommon for Betty to be at a loss of words but at that time she found herself without a clue as to what to say. Her heart went out to the little girl, who looked so happy and loved in all of the pictures. Betty wondered what had happened.

"Sorry for that," Jason said with a nervous laugh, an attempt to lighten the mood. "I didn't mean to make you sad. Come on in."

It was clear that he was trying to brush off the subject for his own sake, and Betty was happy to help, despite the small part of her that wanted to know more. She finally walked into what would be her room for the weekend, it was bigger than her bedroom back in her apartment; there was a queen-sized bed, and a nightstand next to it, plus a wardrobe and another door, which Betty guess was the bathroom, and a window overlooking the lake; the room smelled freshly cleaned, with a pleasant hint of lavender.

"I hope you don't mind sleeping on the first floor by yourself," Jason said. He sauntered over to the window and closed the curtains.

"Not at all," Betty reassured him. "Thank you, Mr. Dean."

"Call me JD," he said. He walked out of the room and Betty followed in tow. "Veronica is upstairs, let me introduce you to her."

#heathers #heathers the musical #jd x veronica #Veronica Sawyer #Betty Finn #jason dean

[cryinginsidebecauseofbrutasha]

Day 7: Medicine (by Havelin if you want the inspiration)

Natasha watched the rain, sitting outside the compound in the refurbished greenhouse. It was her comfort space, sitting comfortably in the solace of blankets and fairy lights. It was small and cozy. No one knew about it.

Nat sighed.

They had lost a really bad fight between her team and a really enthusiastic branch of the Black Order, who had come back for vengeance, she assumed, and while, thankfully, there weren't any casualties, everyone was a little shaken up.

Natasha stared at her phone, screen dark, as she contemplated calling him.

On one hand, she might get a few words of sympathy. On the other, did Natasha really want a few words of sympathy?

Nat shook her head at herself, swallowing her pride. She went to her starred contacts list and pressed the top number. It rang once before he picked up.

"Nat?"

Natasha sighed. She didn't even know why she was holding her breath for him to answer. He had never left her hanging. "Hey, Bruce." She took a shaky breath. "How are you?"

The was a short silence before she heard a car door being closed. "I'm in my car," the scientist answered. "Are you at the greenhouse?"

Natasha exhaled a laugh. "How'd you know?"

"I just do." Bruce sounded rueful, but maybe it was just the audio quality. "What happened?"

Nat shook her head as if he could see her. "Just... the last mission. We didn't really... you know."

"Oh." The scientist didn't offer up the words of sympathy Natasha had wondered about. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Talk to you then?"

"Sure." Nat closed her eyes. "Hey, Bruce?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

There was a brief pause, then– "Anything."

Natasha smiled as she hung up.

A few minutes later, Bruce knocked on the greenhouse door.

"Come in!" she called.

Bruce stepped in and looked around. "You redecorated," he noted.

Natasha sent him a wry smile. "Well, I couldn't keep your quantum theory Pinterest board up here forever." She watched him sit down at the foot of her egg chair. "It's my resting place and it made my head hurt."

The scientist smiled softly. "I could teach you."

Nat rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean." She sighed, leaning back into her chair. "Things have been crazy."

"This week, month?" She opened her eyes to see Bruce watching her carefully. "You were out of reach for a while."

"This whole..." Natasha waved her hands around to try and convey the sheer vastness of crazy she experienced. "... Thing." She turned slightly to look at Bruce. "How are you?"

He shrugged. "I'm fine. Working on a project at the moment."

"About what?"

"Time travel." Bruce shifted in his seat. "I just wanted to try. I have schematics running right now. Uh, Tony's actually over here, with Morgan. We were hanging out."

Natasha blinked. "Oh my god." She sat up. "I interrupted you. I'm sorry."

Bruce shook his head. "It's fine. We weren't getting anywhere." He chuckled. "Plus, after Ultron, I had this safeguard installed so that once I leave the place for more than ten minutes, everything is self-contained. It won't break. Even with Tony and his baby with sticky fingers."

Natasha sighed.

They were both startled by Bruce's phone pinging.

He checked it and sighed. "On another hand... they could just figure it out." Bruce looked at Nat. "Do you need me to stay? I can have it set on a back burner for now. Time travel isn't urgent."

Natasha shrugged lightly. "Go do your time travel thing. I'll be fine."

Bruce looked unconvinced. "Tasha..."

His phone pinged again.

Bruce was halfway between sitting and standing.

Nat bit her lip. "Actually, could you stay a while?" she asked softly. "If you can."

"Of course I can." He sat back down, but Natasha pulled him up into the egg chair with her. "Back to our old habits, aren't we?" he commented with a small smile.

Nat returned with a shameless one.

They sat in a comfortable silence, squished next to each other even though the egg chair had plenty of empty space between them and the walls.

Natasha glanced at Bruce only to see him already looking at her.

"What?" he laughed quietly at her smirk.

"Nothing." Nat smiled to herself. She looked back to see him again, gazing at her. "You're staring."

"Is that so wrong?"

Nat rolled her eyes and linked their arms. "This reminds me of before the... you know." She leaned her head against Bruce's shoulder. "I think... maybe if I had tried a little harder, we might've been together still, right now."

He was still looking at her. "We could still try again. There's still time."

"According to who?"

"The world." She felt Bruce drop his head on hers. "We aren't dead yet."

Natasha laughed. "That doesn't give me a reasonable timeframe, you know."

"I made you laugh."

Nat huffed. "With your face, it's not that hard."

"Ouch."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Natasha got on her knees and sat back on her heels. "I think we should try again."

Bruce's smile widened. "Oh, really?" he asked.

"Give me one chance," Natasha said. "I don't deserve it, but give me just one chance."

The scientist curled his arm around her waist. "Who said you don't deserve it?"

"Me." Nat grinned up at him. "Are you going to send me to a psychiatrist?"

Bruce rolled his eyes affectionately. "Ha. At least you've stopped calling them 'shrinks'."

"I have."

"And it shows some growth."

Natasha sighed and looked Bruce in the eyes. "When I ended things... did I tell you why?"

"You said it was too much," he said. "Though you weren't very convincing, for a spy."

Nat settled into his arms. "That was part of it... but another part of me was scared of what would happen if I followed through on plan A."

Bruce smiled slightly, a little confused on the outside. "What was plan A?" he prompted.

"Telling you I loved you that night," Natasha confessed. "Over a romantic candlelit dinner and a bouquet of a dozen red roses."

"Aww. You're a romantic."

"Of course I am." Nat sighed. "It's a pain." She had a sudden moment of forgetfulness. "Why did I get you to come here again?"

Bruce chuckled. "You asked me how I was and I knew something was up so I just came."

"Typical." Natasha nudged him a little. "You're a romantic too. Running in the rain, 'I-remember-every-tiny-detail' kind of romantic. Though," she added with a smirk, "that can be translated that you're a creep."

Her scientist rolled his eyes. "Ha."

"It's true!" Nat grinned. "But hey, you fixed my headache. You're like my own personal brand of Tylenol."

Bruce laughed slightly. "Of course. I'm headache medicine."

"It's a compliment!"

"I have no doubt it is."

"I love you," Natasha blurted out. She immediately hung her head and whispered quietly to herself, "Fuck." She looked back up. "That was not how that was supposed to go."

Bruce smiled. "I love you too."

Natasha opened her mouth and closed it. "Th–thank you." She blinked. "Yeah."

"Tongue-tied?" he teased.

Nat batted his hand away annoyedly. "Shut up, Banner," she muttered.

"Anything."

--

Here's the song that inspired me today! It's called Medicine by Havelin. 

#bruce banner #natasha romanoff #brucenat #brutasha #the hulk #black widow #hulk #hulktasha #hulkwidow #banneroff #marvel #mcu #marvel fanfiction #mcu fanfiction #fanfic #vii’s 12 days of winter writing #fluff #avengers #avengers 2018 #endgame #endgame au #medicine #medicine by havelin #Spotify

[nonhumen]

@chaosbled : It was a beautiful night, the stars shining high in the sky, & surprisingly warm out for that time of year. The weather was completely ill-suited to how he was currently feeling, dark blue suit ruffling in the breeze, the silver accents sparkling under the moonlight.

Chuuya checked the time on his watch & felt anxiety twist deep in the pit of his stomach as he paced around outside the restaurant. It had been over an hour. Where was he? He promised he’d be here. The redhead knew it was a bad idea, he’d made too much of a fuss about the stupid holiday. Why hadn’t he just been content with a normal night inside with the one he loved? Had he really sent Dazai running for the hills? Or maybe…

The ring box in his pocket felt heavy all of a sudden. What if Dazai knew what he had planned? Had the prospect of such a commitment sent him spiralling? Chuuya swallowed hard, deciding he’d give himself another fifteen minutes before he went looking. He’d check the rivers first, then the bars, then... Pulling out his cell phone, he felt nausea wash over him. Still no messages. He called Dazai again, & this time allowed it to ring until the message recorder kicked in.

“ Mackerel, will you please just pick up the phone? I know you’re getting these. I promise I’m not mad, okay? It’s just a dinner reservation, I don’t give a shit about the cancelling fee, just tell me where you are & I’ll come pick you up. ” Chuuya said, his heart felt too fast in his chest. He knew it was just the anxiety, but he couldn’t seem to calm down. “ Look. If I freaked you out with the flower delivery, the suit & the invitation, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to — I just wanted it to be memorable… Don’t do anything stupid, please. I — ”

He swallowed hard, feeling like something was lodged in his throat. “ Honey, I know what you’re probably thinking, & no, you can’t just piss me off enough to make me think you’re not worth it because you’re scared of letting people get too close. It didn’t work when we first got together & it’s not going to work now. So whatever plan you have, you can forget it. I know you’re probably sitting alone in the dark somewhere, scared as hell & you might have those Agency fuckwits fooled with your goofball routine but I’m your partner. So whatever you’re feeling right now, you don’t have to deal with that alone. ”

He felt the tears fall & wiped them away harshly with the back of his head, breathing shakily. “ You’re not alone, no matter how dark it gets in that big, stupidly smart brain of yours. You’re not alone because I’m there in the dark with you, & I’ll light the way for you, every damn time, I don’t care how often I get covered in your blood or soaked with river water, you know I’ll be there every damn time. I love you. Je t'aime plus que ma propre vie. ” His voice cracked, fingers tightening around the phone. “ So please, just… come home. Just come home to me. ”

eyes open slowly. there's a pounding in his head and it looks like the world is tilted on its edge. oh rather, maybe he is. focus comes back and dazai realizes he's laying down, neck twisted at an uncomfortable angle. trees... is he in a forest? the fresh smell of soil and grass clings to his sense as the memories slowly start to come back. oh right. fingers reach up to feel the rope still around his neck, following the line to a splintered branch. eyes narrow. the tree had been rotting from the inside. dazai sighs heavily. he tests moving is neck, noting how it is sore but, unfortunately, not broken. next, he moves to sit up and winces as fire shoots down his left arm. he must have fallen onto his shoulder and dislocated it.

not wanting to feel that pain any more, dazai remains laying in the dirt. instead, he fishes into his pocket and pulls out his phone to check the time. 21:30. and there are six missed calls from chuuya with one voice message. he flips open the phone, squinting at the bright screen as he calls up the message. he made him worry again. he went off and did something stupid again. but then, hadn't chuuya done something stupid too? dazai has been able to read chuuya like an open book ever since they were fifteen. it took him about a week to learn what had changed in chuuya in their four years apart. and he knew exactly what he was planning. special flowers, a new suit for him, a dinner invitation at one of the fanciest restaurants in yokohama... all for a holiday that chuuya has never shown interest in before? no, he wanted this night to be memorable for another reason. a reason dazai simply cannot give him.

chuuya once asked him if he was afraid of people. at the time, dazai had considered himself incapable of fear. he knows better now. he thinks he's been afraid ever since odasaku died in his arms. he's been afraid to feel at ease, to hold something close, to living thinking things can be okay. chuuya has given him all the things he's afraid to have. that unending love and devotion focused solely on dazai terrifies him. there is care in his own heart, sure, but he does not believe he can ever feel as intensely or as thoroughly as chuuya can. he thinks the redhead should be with someone who knows what to do with all of that love instead of someone who only knows how to squander it.

the message ends with a plea to come back home. he would if he could, but he's stuck in this position at the moment. chuuya really will have to come and fetch him this time. he calls him back and notes that he picks up on the third ring. ah, he's started looking for him already. " chuuya, listen to me. " his hollow voice cuts through the barrage of questions on the other end. " i'll tell you where i am but you have to promise me something first. " lips thin and he swallows the lump in his throat. " promise me you will go back to the jeweler's and return what's in your pocket first thing tomorrow. you... you'll never be enough. nothing ever will be. the pain of living will always be here. no matter what, what little happiness i find for myself will inevitably slip right through my fingers. " this moment, when it is so very hard to breathe, is dazai's natural state.

eyes close. " you can stay in the darkness with me as much as you like. you can even be my light out of it for a time. but when i finally release myself from this terrible dream, i will not leave you in my personal hell alone. what i mean to say is, i refuse to make you a widow. " the phone beeps at him to signal it has a low battery. " ah, you might want to track my gps before my phone turns off. i don't know exactly where i am; somewhere in ikego forest. " dazai pulls as much emotion into his voice as he can muster, trying to soften the blow of the much more painful words he had spoken. " i'm not too worried, you always find me. good luck! " he ends the call before he can hear chuuya protest, letting the phone fall into the dirt. dazai sighs heavily. he's so tired.

#chaosbled #𝐃𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐈 : ALL AN ACT / IC #𝐃𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐈 : THE ONES WHO SAVE ORPHANS / ADA VERSE #suicide tw #suicide attempt tw #hanging tw #happy valentine's day luna LMAO #he's so terrified of commitment it isnt even funny

[coquelicoq]

L (sorry if both asks went through, tumblr is garbage)

i only got one ask from you but i also got an anon asking for L, so it is meant to be!

Put a letter from A-Z in my ask and I’ll tell you 1 thing I love which starts with that letter.

i love leap years. i love that the calendar year is a social construct and sometimes we just all agree to throw in an extra day (or, in the case of lunisolar calendars, an extra month). i love that it's possible to have a birthday that some years just doesn't exist. i love that our tracking system for a natural phenomenon is imprecise enough that we're noticeably out of sync after only four years. (but also, four full years! not too shabby!)

i love lentils. there was a "let's make some soup poll" going around recently that ENRAGED me because lentils were not an option. yes many soups do not contain lentils and sometimes i even make and eat those soups...but to not offer them as a possible response was a slap in the face that lentils don't deserve. i once made lentil soup and some errant lentils found their way underneath a dish that i left in my sink for like two weeks and when i finally got the courage to wash that dish i found that the lentils had sprouted...not a good look for me as someone who should clean the sink more often, but the point is they're just little guys...straining for the sun with their little leafs....please don't forget about them 🥺

i love language. i love the creativity of it. i love that alongside its versatility and endless potential it is also by definition understandable…like no matter how far we take it, it only really remains language if it's communicating something from one person to another. and it's so human: fallible and incomplete and always changing, just like us. it exists because we are social creatures. the things it has allowed us to do! what a different existence this would be if the only things we could experience or learn about were the things available to our own immediate senses. plus all of my favorite types of humor are language-based. actually maybe i should branch out with my interests lol. think about things other than language for a change…

i love labelmakers. love me the fuck out of some labels. love making 'em, love sticking 'em to shit. in college i worked in a cafe where we had to wear nametags and i would just make myself a new name with the resident labelmaker (stored under the register) whenever i felt like it. i still have that nametag actually. it says my name is WANDA.

i love libraries. currently avoiding my local library because of the holds (there are so many) but i'm glad it exists. knowledge wants to be free!!! i love that i've had my library card since i was a wee bairn and it has my little kid handwriting on it. i love locating a nonfiction book in the sprawling morass of the dewey decimal system. it's probably not that hard but it feels like an accomplishment every time. i love libraries with big staircases and full-wall windows. i love seeing people sitting in chairs reading.

i love paintings of light on water but i'm not sure if that should go under P instead and i feel like i talk about it all the time so i'll spare you.

i love lyrics...especially stupid lyrics. especially abstruse lyrics. especially lyrics with sick rhyme schemes. especially lyrics that sound incredibly facile if you say them with normal cadence and pitch. that's why they're lyrics and not non-lyrics! they're meant to be sung!! i love stuff that's exactly what it's supposed to be and you maybe don't even notice until you try to make it something it's not. i love when it takes thirty years for me to realize i have no idea what the lyrics mean, or that i've been singing the wrong words all along. i love that lyrics are made by a person to a purpose. i especially love it when the lyrics come written down with the album. when nobody got me i know cd liner notes got me.

#except when the cd liner notes don't have lyrics in them which is like. what is even the point #so i'm choosing to ignore those. they don't count. they are dead to me #asks #not anon #okay this is the last of the letter asks! (since i decided to also answer anon in this same post) #thank you to everyone who sent me a letter! i felt very full of love yesterday <3

[felixmoonstar]

Hello, goodafternoon everyone, im here once again to publish another one of my pieces of writting. Im sorry for the lack of recent interaction, i had a criativity block and couldnt do anything new, but now ive come with a new piece, and quiet a different one if you put it aside with my other texts. Anyways, ill leave a song for you to enjoy while you read it. Also, i may make a POV of the other characters in this specific piece, also as always, im open for critics that could make me better in my writting, and i hope yall have a nice day.

The Discovery.

"I'm sitting on the branches of a tree, one already leafless due to winter, which is close to a cozy house, I have nowhere to go and nothing better to do, so I just stay there, sitting, watching the house . I stay here from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, until I realize that no one else is awake, I find this peculiar, as I'm not used to sleeping so early, but I don't think much about it, and just relax for now. Im bathed by a beautiful light as the moon and stars answer my staring, those that were my only company that night, and I ask myself why all this, whats the reason of this lack of opportunities, this headache and mainly, this lack of a person to be with me. These questions and others haunt my head, I don't understand the reason for all this, and I'm afraid the answer will make me even worse, although I think that's okay, after all, nothing makes sense, and nobody knows that I'm alone anyways, apart from the presence of the moon. I feel a slight butterflies in my stomach, followed by a lump in my throat after thinking for too long, so I decide to try to get closer, I climb down from the tree with some ease, then I approach the door and gently try to open it, failing, as I was locked. Soon after, I walk around the house looking for somewhere I could get in, and I find an open window that I assumed was a bathroom, so I climbed the house to get in there. I used my arms to reach the window, strangely those houses around seemed like quiet small, then after a few seconds of climbing, I was inside, and I gently opened the door so as not to wake anyone, then i went to the kitchen to try to find something to eat after all these days without eating, after that i heard glass breaking, and I look back. I see a terrified man, shaking and with his mouth open, the glass that broke was a glass of water, and as i saw the person's fear I triednto talk "Hello" I said, and that just made the man scared even more, and scream running upstairs, which made me look at myself. Long arms and fingers, gray skin, erratically shaped legs, and extremely long nails, then I realized why everyone avoided me, why I had no one why they turned off the lights and went to bed so early, those houses arent small, my arms are simply too big, this is why people are afraid of me,this is why they try to run away, i spent my whole life deceiving myself, but in the end there was no doubt, I am a monster."

Why i choose that music?: i thought that the kinda sad type of music would make sense for this text, plus, the protagonist of the history is a monster, and i guess that ghosts are as well, i dont know if it counts but oh well. Anyways hope yall think its a good option and that it matched. Once again, thanks for your time, and have a nice day.

#literature #writeblr #my writing #art #spilled ink #writing #begginerartist #small artist #Spotify