#scolding and yelling at his son for having been such a disappointment and humiliating the name. And suggesting a therapist too at this rate

[amnesique]

do i wanna know? — tyler galpin

part 1 part 2

pairing: tyler galpin x reader x xavier thorpe

summary: after tyler defended you in front of your ex-boyfriend, you helped him get rid of the anger, that was still running through his veins, in your special ways.

warnings: SMUT (18+, minors dni!), briefly violence (towards another character), car sex, angry sex, unprotected sex, quickie, switch!tyler galpin, switch!reader.

the sheriff kicked all three of you, —you, tyler and xavier—, out of the cafe to scold you. you were somewhere behind it, xavier sitting down on the couch, holding his head back to try to stop the bleeding, while you were sitting with your arms crossed over your chest, somewhere on the left side, away from him, but close to tyler.

"i can't believe you, tyler! you've stooped so low as to pick a fight with someone over a girl!" said his father, clearly very disappointed that all the customers had to witness such a thing. he didn't know how he was going to get back inside and meet the people there.

tyler rolled his eyes, while xavier had a satisfied grin on his face, pleased that even the sheriff was against his own son. "he humiliated her in front of everyone!" tyler continued to be on your side, losing his temper as he straightened his back against the wall he was leaning to, with his arms crossed over his chest.

despite everything, the fact that the galpin boy didn't back down even when he was scolded by his father and continued to be on your side, to take your defense made you feel an emptiness in your stomach. no one had done this before, not even xavier.

it was nice to have someone willing to fight for you.

xavier let a weak laugh roll across his lips and in a split second, tyler rushed to appear in front of him, grabbing him by the collar and slamming his head back so hard he slammed into the hard wall of the cafe, causing you to take a step back and look in shock, hand to your mouth.

"do you want me to help you get your blood flowing even harder and you don't know how to ask me?" he said to xavier, his jaw clenched.

his words made you feel more attracted to him.

but it didn't last long because the sheriff stepped in, pulling tyler, by the shirt, away from xavier, "that's enough!" he yelled and pushed his son behind him so as not to have access to the nevermore student in front of him, who was still holding his nose and was whimpering weakly.

"go home! and take y/n with you," the sheriff added, running his hand over his chin in frustration. "i'll stay here, trying to convince thorpe not to sue the hell out of you for all of this."

"i don't think so," muttered xavier, continuing to add fuel to the fire.

if the sheriff wasn't there, xavier would've been six feet under just because of the look tyler gave him at that moment.

he turned his back and he motioned for you to disappear as he yelled at his son, "what the hell are you waiting for, son?"

forced by the situation, tyler tore his apron off him and threw it on the floor, barely accepting that he needs to move. but he did. with you very close behind him.

but he didn't say a word, nor did he wait for you, until you two reached his car, which was parked also behind the cafe.

he got in first, slammed the door behind him and when he heard that you got in the passenger seat and also closed the door he took off, barely giving you any time to put on your seat belt.

"what's wrong with you, tyler?" you yelled at him as he continued to press the accelerator. "you act like it's all my fault!" you added, seeing that he was ignoring you, and you couldn't deny that even though it scared you to see how fast he was driving, it also turned you on to see how his fingertips clenched around the steering wheel.

upon hearing your last words, he exhaled the air he was holding in his lungs and took his foot off the accelerator, letting the car return to a normal speed, while his breathing was calming down in a slow rhythm.

“no way it's your fault,” he whispered, not looking at you, and you might not have heard him if you weren't already paying attention to him.

"so what's all this about?" you asked him, feeling yourself starting to get sensitive, gesturing between the two of you.

he ran his tongue over his lower lip, eyes still fixed on the road. "i don't know what you mean," he answered briefly and to the point, even if he was lying.

"you do know!" you said, and took off your belt, so you could turn to him. and when he felt your hand touching over his thigh, his whole body stiffened. "you didn't say a word to me in this whole situation and even though you say it's not my fault, you seem angry with me too." you added and continued to move your hand up and down, to get his attention, as you kept glaring at him. with pleading eyes.

no matter how hard he tried to stay rational, to ignore your touches and the gaze, that he could've feel even though he wasn't even looking in your direction, it seemed like his intimate part was making decisions at that moment, at the expense of his brain.

his jeans were getting tight and his thinking was clouded as his breathing was getting heavier.

“stop it,” he said, trying to take your hand off him, but you resisted, resting your hand over the top of his jeans, trying to take them off slowly.

taking advantage of the fact that he had stopped at a traffic light, being a red light, you turned his head with your free hand towards you and being so close to his lips, and with your hand unzipping his jeans, you said, "let me help you."

"no," he said softly, trying to lie to himself that he didn't want this, but making a faint sound as your hand finally unzipped him.

you moved closer to his ear, and moving your palm over the bulge in his boxers, you said, "i know you want this."

remembering that last time he was way too lost under your touch and not only wanting to get even, but also because he was driven by the anger he had because of your ex, he pushed you off of him, he pulled his pants back up on his hips and zipped them back up, then he started the car when the light turned green. and although his gesture should've hurt you, you clenched over nothing at his action and you pressed your lips together to prevent any sound from coming out as you pretended to look out the window.

after a few minutes, finding a place where he knew no one would pass by, he suddenly stopped the car and at the same time the air stopped in your throat.

"what's going on?” you asked tyler, looking up at him uncertainly and ignoring the uneasiness that had settled inside of you.

"get in the back," was all he said, looking in the rearview mirror.

"what—"

"y/n," he said your name in a tone that made you let him have full control of you, "i said 'get in the back'."

you gulped, the uneasiness leaving your body and giving space to impatience to install. and, biting your bottom lip in anticipation, you made room between the seats to slip into the backseat. you could already feel some moisture making its appearance between your legs.

letting you to wait, tyler exited though the driver's door and waited a few minutes with his hand on the back door opener. moments when you looked at him through the car window with the same pleading eyes from earlier, having the same effect on his jeans.

when he opened the door, you cautiously stepped back, leaning back with your head against the glass of the door opposite him, looking at him as if you were a deer caught by the hunter. you didn't even realize when your dominant part was over and his was just beginning.

he quickly closed the door, and then, with slow movements, he made room for himself by climbing over your body, with his lips close to yours. using the same teasing that you used on him. not just once, but twice.

you wanted so badly to kiss him, to taste his lips again, but when you tried to connect your lips with his, it took all the resistance in him to place a finger over your lips and to stop you, while leaning on you with his other hand, that he rested on your hip.

"please...", you said, although you didn't know what you were begging him to do.

a not-so-subtle smirk appeared on his lips, "what are you asking me to do, exactly?", using the same words against you that you had used when the roles were reversed.

and yet, what he wouldn't have expected was when you ran your tongue over his finger, sucking it. at that moment his dominance was slipping and he barely managed to be able to keep it on, as he withdrew his finger placing his hand over your neck instead, squeezing lightly. what he didn't know was that you were into it, but he found out quickly, when a squeal of pleasure left your lips.

to silence you, he kissed you, quickly, forcefully, as if he longed to do it again for a long time. and the hand on your hip made its way, between you two, under the dress that you wore, quickly finding its place over the material of your panties.

he felt the effect he had on you from the first contact with the material and he hurried to get it off of you, at the same time pulling down his pants and boxers in one movement. and yet, all this time your lips had not parted. besides, each of you were breathing harder, also existing a few moans here and there, from the both of you.

he hurried to line himself up at your entrance, suddenly pushing himself in and swallowing the moan you let out over his lips.

all the anger he felt towards xavier thorpe, your ex boyfriend, —and the fact that xavier had you before him and still he had the nerve to call you names, even though you were no longer his and you could do it with whoever you wanted—, was felt when in the first phase he withdrew a little and in continuation re-entering you as suddenly as the first time, with more force that time.

he continued to hit the place where you needed him the most, while the hand around your neck tightened his fingers around it from time to time, and the other hand made circles over your sensitive spot.

"i'm close—", you said between moans, but he was quick to come back hungrily on your lips, increasing the speed with which his hand moved.

continuing to move his hips into you with the same intensity, feeling you tighten around him, he pulled away from the kiss only to speak, with his forehead against yours, "i know, love, you can let go."

hearing his words, you allowed yourself to forget about everything and feel how you came down from the high place where he had brought you within a few minutes, while you let out unholy sounds, which also sent him, right after you, over the edge.

he got out of you, but he didn't rush to get off of you, letting his head fall into the crook of your neck and inhaling your perfume as you felt yourself full of him.

“i'm starting to think this is becoming some kind of a habit for us,” you said with a weak giggle that made him shiver. "i don't dislike it," then you quickly added to not give him the wrong idea.

he lifted his head to look at you.

"me neither," he said, rushing to kiss you again.

#wednesday #wednesday series #wednesday fandom #wednesday fanfic #wednesday angst #wednesday smut #tyler galpin #tyler galpin fanfic #tyler galpin x y/n #tyler galpin x reader #tyler galpin angst #tyler galpin smut #xavier thorpe #xavier thorpe fanfic #xavier thorpe x y/n #xavier thorpe x reader #xavier thorpe angst #love triangle #angst #minors dni

[mrsfrecklesmarauders]

TW: Physical and Verbal Abuse, Alcohol.

Sirius had never felt such humiliation. Sirius' parents weren't the best. Sirius was used to the yelling, the horrible stares, the silence treatment, even the violence. But Sirius wasn't used for them to be violent in front of other people. Perhaps in front of Regulus, maybe Kreacher, or one of his cousins. But never in front of his friends. His whole classmates, actually.

It had only been a silly mistake. Sirius and his friends had sneaked out of the castle to go to a party. It ended up wrong. Not only were they caught. But there happened to be a reporter from an important magazine and the next day, there were articles everywhere about how the Heir of the Black Empire was an aggressive rebel.

Sirius hadn't seen Orion so furious. When Sirius saw his father walking down the hall, he didn't have time to say hi when Orion punched him so hard, he dropped to the floor. The students around gasped.

"Are you trying to drive me crazy, Sirius?" Orion yelled "Do you find it amusing and funny to stain the Family name like that? Ha? ANSWER ME, YOU PUSSY"

Sirius was in shock. All he did was touch his bleeding nose, trying to figure out what to do next. Sirius felt the pain that the punch had caused him. But it wasn't compared to the pain of being humiliated. Everyone was staring at him. The Marauders, the girls, even the Slytherins. He could see Mulciber and Snape smirking. Sirius felt so small and vulnerable.

Do something! A small voice said inside his mind. Hit him back. Show him you are not weak.

But Sirius couldn't move. He was scared to burst out crying if he did so.

"I am talking to you, Sirius!" Orion continued.

Sirius felt hot tears in the back of his eyes "Answer me, you twat!"

"Hey... Mr. Black?" It was James who spoke. And Sirius realized his best friend had witnessed it and he felt more ashamed. "There is not need to treat him like that! He is your son..."

James didn't sound as confident as he always was. Orion Black was intimidating. A power not everyone confronted.

And James was not used to this kind of relationship. When Fleamont found out about the incident, he scolded James, but seconds later he was making jokes to him. Like nothing has happened.

"Do not meddle into this, Potter!" Orion answered with eyes so full or rage, that James took a few steps back "This is between my son and me"

Then his eyes full of venom turned towards Sirius.

"Come on, Sirius. Get up! What are you, a girl? Fucking pussy... Get up! Face me like a man!"

Sirius was blind with rage. He wanted to make Orion Black suffer.

Sirius raised to his feet. He felt the arms of Orion helping him. So Sirius pushed him away.

"Get off me!"

Orion chuckled.

"Can we talk about this somewhere else?"

Sirius was aware of the stares.

"Are you embarrassed with your classmates?" Orion mocked "Take responsability for your own actions, Sirius. I will speak with Dumbledore about your punishment"

Orion continued to speak about how Sirius was a disappointment, how Sirius was an immature kid that only craved for attention, and how much suffering he was causing his mother. It wasn't true. Walburga couldn't care less about him. Sirius wished he wasn't shaking. Sirius wished he could do something else. Defend himself. Something! He was so pathetic.

"Perhaps I am considering transferring you to a military school. My father was right"

"What? No!" Sirius became desperate. He couldn't leave Hogwarts, his friends, his home... Grandpa Artucus was insane. He always talked about Dumstrang. A military school in the middle of Russia. Full of discipline. They would shave his hair!

"Please no! I promise I won't do it again!"

Orion smirked. Sirius felt pathetic.

"We will discuss it later"

Orion gave a nasty look to the curious students watching the scene.

"Don't you have to be in class?" he shouted "Come on!"

He took one nasty look at Sirius before turning and walking away.

Sirius felt all eyes on him now. He didn't dare to look at them. He felt so humiliated.

"Sirius..." James put a hand on his shoulder. But Sirius pushed away.

"Don't touch me!!" he yelled pushing his friend away "I want to be fucking alone!"

Sirius ran away from there as fast as he could. He locked himself up on his dorm.

After crying like an idiot, he decided to do something about it. He had been so pathetic!

Sirius decided to drink the rest of one of the vodka bottles from the previous party.

The alcohol on his system gave him the encouragement to face his father. He wanted to prove to him and everyone else he was not a pussy. He was not a coward. He was fucking Sirius Black and no one messed up with him.

Sirius climbed down from the Gryffindor Tower hoping his father was still around. Hoping he hadn't left. Luckily for Sirius, Orion was by the Great Hall, chatting with Professor Slughorn.

Sirius smirked thirsty for revenge. Seeing blood on his father's nose would be glorious for him.

"There you are!" Sirius yelled, walking towards him. He was a bit dizzy and felt his cheeks burning but he was fine "I was looking for you, father"

Orion looked at Sirius with disgust. And he sighed, as if he was tired of Sirius' shows.

"Mr. Black!" Slughorn exclaimed "Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"Shut up, Slughorn!" He wouldn't have dare to say that if he wasn't slightly drunk "I am not talking to you. I am to talking to him"

Sirius pointed at his father.

Slughorn blinked in surprised. But Orion expression didn't change.

"Mr. Black..."

"It's okay, Slughorn" Orion stopped him "Could you leave us alone?"

Slughorn nodded and left, not without giving Sirius a curious look.

When they were finally alone, Orion crossed his arms and sighed.

"You keep breaking the rules and you expect not to be punished?"

Sirius' heart started to race. This was it. He could punch Orion in the fucking face.

"Come on, son"

Sirius ignored his nervousness and his hand shaking. He took a swing right to Orion's face but he easily moved away. Sirius lost balanced and almost tripped.

Orion looked surprised and furious.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I'm just fucking tired of you humiliating me all the time!" Sirius shouted

"Sirius..." Orion tutted as if he was treating with a little kid.

Sirius became aggressive.

"Do you want to hit me?" Sirius said, pushing his father "OK! Come and hit me! Hit me!"

"Sirius!" Orion yelled trying to stop Sirius.

"Let's settle this like men!"

"Can you calm down?"

"If you are so strong then, come and hit me again! Fucking hit me!!"

Sirius tried to punch Orion again but he grabbed his arms to stop him this time.

"Stop it, Sirius! Calm down!!"

Sirius wasn't stopping. He wanted to get into a fight. He wanted to win. He wanted to show him.

But Orion was stronger. He had always been stronger. He wrapped his arms around his son to calm him down. But Sirius kept moving and moving.

"Hit me! Hit me again like you always do!!"

"Sirius!"

"What's going on here?"

The imponent voice of Albus Dumbledore himself, interrupted them. Sirius felt Dumbledore's arms pulling him away from his father. Even though Sirius kept moving like a maniac.

Dumbledore put Sirius behind him protectively and he pushed Orion away.

"Stay away from him!"

"Don't touch me!" Orion snapped furiously pushing Dumbledore's hand away. "Don't put your nasty hands on me!"

"What are you doing?"

"Don't meddle into this Dumbledore!" Orion was yelling furiously "Sirius is my son! And I need to fix things with him"

It sounded as if fix things was bit the shit out of him or something.

"I am the Headmaster and I am ordering you to get out!"

No one had ordered anything to Orion Black. So obviously he was offended.

"He is my son..."

"Get out, Orion!" Dumbledore continued "I will fix things with him...." he pointed at Sirius "But right now. I need you to go"

Sirius was shaking. He didn't know if it was fear, rage, or just the adrenaline he was experiencing.

If looks could kill, Dumbledore would've been long dead under Orion's eyes.

"Fine! I will go" he said. And Sirius was relieved "But we will continue this conversation at home, Sirius" he spoke to his son "Do you understand? There are going to be consequences"

Dumbledore was grabbing Sirius' shirt. And Sirius was kind of thankful. His legs were getting weak.

Orion's stare scared him. This wasn't over. There will be consequences of what he had done. Bad ones.

Orion gave Dumbledore a nasty look before storming out of there.

Sirius didn't know he was holding air until he let it out one his father was gone.

"What the fuck is into you, Sirius?" Dumbledore scolded him "Why would you do something like that?"

"I'm so tired of his humiliations! He is a dick!"

Dumbledore frowned.

"Have you been drinking, Sirius?"

He asked as calmy as posible. Sirius had to recognize he sounded slightly intoxicated.

"No" Sirius answered. But it sounded like a lie.

Dumbledore sighed.

"I am sorry, Professor" Sirius cried, ashamed of disappointing him "I know I deserve to be punished"

"Why?" Dumbledore asked "Why did you?"

Sirius didn't know how to answer.

"I promise I won't ask where did you get the booze from and I won't punish you..." Dumbledore said "I just need to know"

Sirius shrugged ashamed.

"Did you think alcohol would give you the courage to face him?"

He did actually. Sirius was a coward. He acted all rebel and cool but he actually couldn't face Orion. Or the rest of his family. He was scared.

"He won't listen to me" Sirius sighed "He is constantly putting me down. I am so tired"

"There are other ways to face your father, Sirius"

"Like what?"

Dumbledore swallowed.

"With words..." he said "With actions... By being yourself. And showing him you are better than him... Than all of them!"

Sirius looked down.

"Sirius, I know you are better than them...." Dumbledore continued "Responding with the same violence he gives to you, it is not an answer"

Sirius nodded. Dumbledore was right.

Dumbledore gave him a soft smile.

"Now.... Go to the Kitchens and drink some coffee..." Dumbledore said "I want you sober for the next period"

"Aren't you gonna give me detention or something?"

Dumbledore sighed "I think you learned your lesson" then he added "Don't drink again... I mean it is normal to have a few drinks in a party... But not like this. You don't want to depend on alcohol, do you?"

"I am not an alcoholic"

"I well know so" Dumbledore smiled "You're a good kid"

Sirius smiled back.

"Thank you, Professor" Sirius said "Really, thank you"

"You're welcome" Dumbledore winked

Sirius would never forget his professor's words in the days to come. Sirius wanted to be better than Orion. Than any member of his family. He knew he could. He knew he could face them. He might be a Black but he was Sirius. And that was more important.

#marauders #maraudersera #muggleau #microfic #sirius black #orion black #albus dumbledore #james potter #remus lupin #peter pettigrew

[ben-the-hyena]

With @papabirdurskeks we concluded Parker cheats because he was influenced and curious by the way of his aunt and his uncle and tended to hang out with them from preteenhood to avoid the pinkness of the house (as soon as he had married Penelope Peter had agreed as long as he would have enough mirrors) and breathe a little, and the more he stayed the more the cheating world interested him and made him curious asking about things and their newest schemes and inventions, it was less boring than playing fair ; he wasn’t evil like them in fact he’s a good guy just a bit rebellious and of course had to leave sometimes because their evil ways would bother him, but the cheating part was cool. Trap magazines such as Traps Illustrated or villainous derivates such as Psychopathic Recluse fascinated him and were often lended by the Dastardlys once they were done. While Peter even if he would have preferred him not to cheat ended up accepting and encouraging his son as long as he was happy and not evil (hence why once he becomes his coach he plays along even giving him circuit plans), Penelope ALWAYS hated these magazines in her house and refused her son to be a cheater, that wasn’t nice ! In fact she was relieved whenever she rather found porn magazines in his bedroom than traps magazines. Pandora didn’t care anyway and never stopped no matter how Penelope forbid, in fact trolling her amused her you can guess (and even if she and Dick were cold and villainous to him she actually was proud deep down he had taken from her). And Piper was the BIGGEST snitch

#One day Parker came and asked for the newest edition to Dick. Dick told him his son already had it and threw his nephew in his bedroom #hoping for some wrestling between the little boy and his teenage son he bet on. Parker was scared BUT won with a rubber snake #Dick the 4th has a phobia and was screaming like a little girl. Parker won the edition and Dick the 3rd was MAD a Perfect cheated best #scolding and yelling at his son for having been such a disappointment and humiliating the name. And suggesting a therapist too at this rate #wacky races #family #aunts/uncles and niblings #siblings #parents and children #when they were young #parker perfect #cheating #magazine #race #scold #piper perfect #peter perfect #penelope pitstop #pandora pitstop #dick dastardly #house #moi #papabirdurskeks #lol

[germanreich]

Guren guren guren

Title: In the Absence of the Demon

Disclaimer: This is a fan-made translation from Chinese translations! Please go easy and enlighten us on any mistakes or deviations from the original light novel. All credit goes to the original author and illustrators. - Hyaka and Kuro Shion

——————————————————————————————

‘This is Ichinose Guren-sama.’

This was heard in one of the classroom of First Shibuya High School.

Until recently, everyone here should have been an enemy.

What greeted them originally was only scolding, ignoring and a cola bottle thrown from goodness knows where –

Opening the classroom door, there were a few students whispering in the corridor.

‘I heard he was selected as Kureto-sama’s direct subordinate.’

‘They say he was hiding his real strength, but was found out by Kureto-sama.’

‘He’s on good terms with Shinya-sama too, and his strength has even been acknowledged by those two from the Mito family and Goshi family.’

‘So which idiot said he was a rat from a bad family?!’

‘You said it yourself.’

‘No way! Stop joking!’

Guren himself, however, was ignoring those upsetting conversations. He sat at his desk, supporting his face with his hand and daydreaming. Evidently, he was lacking in sleep.

Overnight, he had been in the backseat of a car on the Tomei Expressway, bound for Tokyo via Aichi at 150 km per hour. During that time, his mind was fixated on what might happen in the future, and so he was unable to have a good sleep.

‘……’

Guren squinted his eyes, half-asleep, and gazed out the window.

Although it could not be felt in this classroom with its excellent air-conditioning, outside it was so hot that the scenery seemed to be enveloped in a heat haze.

Today was the 20th of August.

For normal schools, it would be summer vacation, but in this school there were no such holidays.

According to the news, the temperature these few days had set a new high. Why was it so hot? If the heat persisted, it might lead to stored food going bad, but since the world was going to end this Christmas anyway, to worry about food going bad would be utterly meaningless.

‘…… Guren. Guren!’

Someone called his name.

But Guren did not notice and continued to look out the window.

The owner of the voice grew angry and forcefully rapped the table.

‘Hey, Ichinose Guren! Why are you ignoring my questions?’

Impatiently, Guren glanced towards the source of the noise. There stood a girl from his class.

Her most noticeable characteristics were her bright red hair, strong gaze and pale white skin.

This was the daughter of the prestigious Jujo family – Jujo Mito.

She continued to speak.

‘Every day, you don’t train and you always have this dazed, dumb attitude…… has the fame from being noticed by Kureto-sama made you so arrogant?’

‘…… Who’s arrogant?’

Guren countered, and Mito angrily replied.

‘I’m talking about you! Ichinose Guren. In class you act as there is no one around you, during physical education and spells class you don’t use your true strength. What on earth do you want!?’

Faced with these questions, Guren was troubled over how to answer. In the first place, the content covered in class here were already below his intellectual level. There was simply nothing worth learning.

However, everyone here was his enemy, so there was no need to let all his enemies see his true strength.

And so, every day, Guren acted lazy and pretended to be a half wit – but even if he explained all this she would definitely still not understand.

In the Hiiragi family, to have value or to be famous – in the eyes of the people here, this was something to be celebrated.

Hence, for Guren to become arrogant or proud was not surprising, for this was something that was worth feeling proud over.

So was it better to act out that happiness? However, be it his terrible attitude or hidden true strength, both had already been seen through by Kureto, so was it still necessary to hide everything to such a degree?

In the midst of pondering all these, unexpectedly –

‘……Uwah~’

A yawn leaked out of his mouth.

This angered Mito even more.

‘What kind of attitude is that?’

‘Your yelling is making my ears hurt.’

‘First of all, just now during physical training, I saw that you lost to a classmate in an instant…… How can this be? Your strength shouldn’t be so low!’

Guren shrugged.

‘No, I really do only have that much strength.’

She grew even more furious.

‘And that is exactly the kind of attitude that gives others a headache!’

‘Headache? Why? You have no reason to have a headache.’

Mito spoke intensely.

‘Of course I do! If you laze about, those from prestigious families who hang out with you will also be laughed at and shamed, haven’t you noticed?’

No wonder she was so angry.

In other words, being Kureto’s subordinate, Guren was now grouped with Jujo and Goshi, so if his bad attitude were to be seen, he would also drag down the reputations of the others.

Guren smiled and said.

‘Why do I have to be concerned about your reputation too?’

‘That is because…… We are all Kureto-sama’s subordinates, in future we will also be companions working together, so……’

However, Guren was no longer listening.

Companions.

They were companions?

Kureto-sama’s subordinates, companions?

This was certainly fortunate, to be personally chosen by Kureto-sama to be one of his underlings.

This thought surfaced in his mind.

‘…… Haha.’

Guren laughed in a self-depreciating way, before yawning and continuing to support his head with his hand.

‘Hey Guren!’

Mito called.

The male sitting nearby began to laugh.

Hiiragi Shinya.

‘Come on, Mito-chan, don’t bug him anymore. It’s not like his laziness and disappointing attitude is anything new.’

Mito showed a respectful face to those of the Hiiragi family.

‘Ah, Shinya-sama. However……’

‘Anyway, to someone of his caliber, the curriculum taught at this school must be pointless. Right? Guren? Don’t you agree?’

‘……’

When Guren ignored Shinya, Mito grew angry again.

‘Hey, you! How dare you ignore Shinya-sama’s words!’

Hearing this furious shout, the people outside started to whisper again.

‘Hey, looks like that rumor was true. He really is on good terms with Shinya-sama and that girl from the Jujo family.’

‘So, does that mean that rebellious Ichinose branch family has sworn allegiance to the Hiiragi family… to Kureto –sama?’

Hearing that voice,

‘……’

Guren once more stared out the window and gently bit his lip.

In the past, the Ichinose family had been the most loyal to the Hiiragi family, and among the branch families had been the most prestigious and powerful.

But 500 years ago – they split with the Hiiragi family, and set up the religious sect ‘Mikado no Tsuki’.

With regard to the situation then, there were no exact reports, but the reason for this was something everyone knew well.

The lone reason, was simple a love story.

A heart-rending love story.

There had once been a beautiful Ichinose girl, the Hiiragi’s eldest and second sons both vied for her favor.

After a series of complicated events, the girl’s affection was successfully gained by the second son.

According to legend, the eldest son was unable to accept this reality.

Thus one night, the eldest son raped the girl, impregnated her and had the second son castrated.

After that, the eldest son had his own son, the girl and the second son cast out of the family.

The exiled second sun, together with the Ichinose girl, then set up the new religious sect ‘Mikado no Tsuki’.

However, their defeat was still apparent.

After all, when all was said and done, the eldest son was still heir to the Hiiragi family.

The one leading ‘Mikado no Oni’, was the heir to the Hiiragi family.

However, the eldest son did not destroy the organization set up by the second son and the Ichinose girl.

The reason for this, was to humiliate them.

So that the Ichinose girl who had not chosen him, and the younger brother who had betrayed him, would be laughed at and scorned for eternity.

He allowed them to live to suffer humiliation.

To allow their descendants to always bear the scorn of others.

Of course, the castrated second sun could not produce children with the girl.

Hence, the child born of the rape by the eldest son – the Hiiragi boy became the adopted son and heir of ‘Mikado no Tsuki’.

The second son was always scorned.

The girl was always scorned.

The two of them continued to deeply love the other. Yet everything other than this was taken away.

Everyone in the families scorned them.

Humiliated them.

This was the price of betrayal.

The price of betraying the Hiiragi family.

And so, everyone in the families became used to scorning the Ichinose family.

That was why the Ichinose were always rats.

From the moment they were born, they were dirty, smelly rats.

Only, after a long time, all this simply became urban legend.

To the new generation’s Guren and those of the Hiiragi family, this was no longer a topic of importance.

That was why Kureto could calmly issue orders to Guren. The eldest son of the Hiiragi family, had forgiven the Ichinose family.

While this could be seen as violating tradition, it was still a reasonable thing to do. Anyway, things like the ancestors’ love stories, no one really cared about.

Being the loner among the ten families comprising the Ichinose, Nii, Sanguu, Shijin, Goshi, Rikudou, Shichikai, Hakke, Kuki and Jujo, the Ichinose should be the strongest.

If that family would follow Kureto-sama today – this was important enough to be a significant topic of discussion.

It could also be due to his controlling nature that Kureto-sama took Guren under his wing.

Recess was coming to an end, class would resume soon.

Hence, Mito huffily returned to her seat.

As she did so, she was also teased by Goshi.

‘You really don’t learn, huh. Why bother with Guren? Or do you like him……’

‘Shut up!’

Goshi had only said halfway before he was slapped.

Goshi laughed.

However, the rest of the class dared not to laugh. They were afraid of the revenge that came from laughing at a member of the elite families.

And so, everyone could only show kind, sincere smiles.

In the end, whether it was Jujo or Goshi, they were both venerated by the others.

The teacher was already standing on the teacher’s platform. The fourth period of the day began.

This class was on the ways to counter and deal with Western magic, a topic in which Guren had little interest.

Shinya, sitting next to him, lightly tapped his shoulder.

‘Hey Guren.’

‘……’

‘Hey.’

‘So noisy.’

‘Well, this is class. So try to speak softer, okay?’

‘That wasn’t what I meant.’

But Shinya pulled his chair closer, leaned on Guren and whispered in his ear.

‘…… If I’m speaking so softly, will I anger the teacher?’

Guren turned with a face full of irritation.

Shinya was still smiling widely. In this school, there were no teachers who dared show wrath towards those who bore the Hiiragi name, Shinya was only saying this for fun.

Guren did not say a word. Shinya annoying him was also perfectly normal, there was no need to respond.

Yet Shinya did not seem to care and continued to whisper in his ear.

‘Tonight, <Hyakuya Sect> will come. So where shall we meet up?’

In this instant, Guren could not help the widening of his eyes.

His gaze locked onto Shinya.

This was not something that should be said in a school run by ‘Mikado no Oni’.

If they were to be overheard, they would immediately be arrested and tortured.

However, Shinya was still wearing his usual smile. Evidently, before saying these words he had already made untold preparations.

If so,

‘……Don’t scare me like that.’ Said Guren. Shinya grinned again.

‘That’s because it’s not good for you to always ignore people and even make Mito-chan angry.’

‘Stop joking around. I’m not interested in playing around with you.’

Guren said, directing a stern gaze at Shinya.

‘I’m not joking. I’m also not interesting in silly games.’

Guren stared at Shinya.

Shinya merely smiled and let Guren stare.

Guren had no inclination to trust Shinya.

Shinya had given him the piece of the chimaera called <Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse> that Mahiru had left behind, so to some extent he could be trusted, but if he let down his guard, he might be taken advantage of.

Therefore, it was necessary to act cautiously.

‘……’

Guren did not reply.

Taking the initiative, Shinya placed a piece of paper on the table. On it was written the address for rendezvous that night.

Shinya had left his fingerprints on this paper. If Guren gave it to Kureto, the place where they were to meet the <Hyakuya Sect> would be ambushed by the Hiiragi family, and Shinya would also be killed that day.

In other words, Shinya had exposed his weakness to his opponent.

With a shocked expression, Guren asked.

‘…… Why do you trust me?’

Shinya smiled.

‘Why don’t you instead say that you’re amazed at my alertness.’

‘Because your face annoys me.’

‘Ahaha. Even though I look so friendly?’

‘Shut up.’

‘….. Anyway, you may know nothing about me, but I’ve always heard about you.’

‘……’

‘Ever since I was young. From the time I first met Mahiru… Because, she always talks about you.’

Shinya said thus.

Guren smiled coldly.

‘Then, did you go mad with jealously? You really like Mahiru, right?’

In response, Shinya smiled lightly.

‘To be accurate, I have good feelings towards Hiiragi, but I don’t like her to that extent.’

‘……Humph.’

‘But, I really am jealous of you.’

‘Huh? Why?’

‘I’ve always been imagining what you were like. I wondered about if you were to appear before me, which of us would be stronger, and what you looked like, etcetera.’

This made Guren remember.

When he first entered the school, Shinya launched a surprise attack on him.

Of course, even now he could not ascertain the truth of his words, but maybe to some extend he was trustworthy.

Even so.

Guren picked up the paper Shinya left on his table and slipped it into his pocket, taking care to preserve Shinya’s fingerprints on its surface.

This action that purposely preserved the fingerprints was noticed by Shinya, who smiled.

‘How prudent.’

‘To avoid the fate of the trash that is not street-smart and is disposed of.’

Hearing him say this, Shinya was a little upset, and said.

‘…… That self-pitying talk…… If it were Mahiru she would definitely put on an annoyed expression, why on earth does she like you?’

‘Maybe my face looks friendlier?’

When Guren said this, Shinya looked at him in apparent surprise.

‘…… Ha, hahaha.’

He laughed.

Guren cast his gaze outside the window.

The schoolyard, as expected, was filled with dry heat.

It was summer.

Summer.

If this world were to end on Christmas day, this would be the last summer ever.

———————————————————

After class and club activities were over, the phone rang.

The caller ID read <Hiragi Kureto>.

The main candidate to be the Hiiragi heir, the student council president that no one in school could disobey.

After pressing the ‘Answer’ button, he heard the other’s voice.

‘What?’

‘No. Is there anything you need of me, Kureto-sama – that is how you should say it.’

‘Do you like oppressing your subordinates that much?’

‘Nah, just joking.’

‘Your jokes aren’t funny at all. Have you been spoilt so much by the higher-ups that your brain has also spoilt? (TN: Hurhur, pun intended)

‘Hahaha, do you want to die?’

‘I dare you to try. Do you think it’s such an easy feat?’

‘……No. But, you know, I really like that attitude of yours.’

‘Sigh~ What attitude do you like?’

‘Although your way of speaking is very sharp, when you cannot win against me you clearly recognize your own status; this attitude.’

‘……’

Guren did not respond. Because this was a fact. Right now, he could not afford to be surrounded by enemies.

‘Mikado no Tsuki’ could not afford ‘Mikado no Oni’ as an enemy.

This was not a simple child’s fight. Even if he attained victory with his sword, it would be meaningless.

If the people he respected and treasured were labelled as criminals, even the pregnant would not be spared.

Just like 500 years ago.

The situation had not changed at all.

Mito and Goshi, who had finished packing and were ready to go home, walked over.

Goshi saw Guren and snickered.

‘Making a call right after school ends, could it be your girlfriend.’

Mito overheard this, and –

‘……What!?’

For some reason she stared at Guren.

Guren ignored her and continued to talk on his phone.

‘Anyway, what do you want?’

‘During lunch break tomorrow, come to the student council room.’

‘No.’

‘Haha, you don’t have the right to refuse. See you tomorrow.’

‘Bleh.’

Before hearing the sound of Guren sticking out his tongue, Kureto ended the call.

Shinya, who was sitting beside him, lifted his head to ask.

‘Kureto-nii?’

‘My girlfriend.’

Hearing this, Mito rushed over.

‘…… Wait, wait a minute! You’re still in training, how could you engage in such leisure activities as dating?’

What on earth was this girl saying.

Guren stared at her with an irritated expression, before sighing and ignoring her. Mito was immediately angered and glared at him forcefully. Seeing this, Goshi burst out laughing for some reason.

Guren did not take notice and instead scooped up his bag and left his seat.

Behind him, Mito muttered angrily.

‘Why is he rushing off just because a girl called him? What rubbish.’

Hiding a smile, Shinya told Mito.

‘That call just now was from Kureto-nii.’

‘Eh? What, really?’

Shinya had overheard.

‘Are you going to the student council room now?’

Guren shook his head.

‘No, tomorrow, during lunch break.’

But hearing him say this, Mito was even more unsettled.

‘Wait, wait, you really talked to Kureto-sama like that? That question just now……’

‘How annoying.’

‘What annoying! Wait……’

To the sounds of Mito raging, Guren left the classroom. It seemed that Mito was not yet done ranting, so Guren bluntly closed the door.

In the corridor, Sayuri and Shigure were already waiting for him. They were now in the class just next dor.

‘Ah, ah, Guren-sama. We have been waiting for you!’

Shigure then spoke coldly.

‘Did those disreputable people from the Hiiragi family do anything to you today?’

Behind him was Mito who was complaining ‘Those who are disrespectful to Kureto-sama will blah blah blah’, now, in front of him was his aide who was calling the Hiiragi family disreputable.

Half wanting to burst out laughing, Guren resisted and replied.

‘Nothing at all. Just as usual.’

Sayuri still showed a worried expression.

‘What do you mean, as usual? Did someone throw a cola bottle at you?’

Shigure’s face immediately went cold.

‘If so, we must kill everyone in the Hiiragi family.’

From her uniform skirt, she pulled out a knife. She was serious.

But Sayuri did not notice this and spoke cheerfully as usual.

‘Oh yeah, Guren-sama! What do you want to eat? Whatever Guren-sama wants to eat, I can make it……’

‘Curry.’

‘Eh, again~?’

At this moment, the classroom door opened. Mito walked out and noticed Shigure’s cold glare.

‘Ah, Yukimi-san…… Such a scary expression, has something happened?’

‘No, nothing at all.’

‘Even so, it is better to speak of happy things here. As such, there are some things Yukimi-san should also tell Guren. With the disrespectful manner in which he treats Kureto-sama, right now Guren’s position is not very good.’

However, Shigure directed her cold glare at Mito and answered.

‘Guren-sama did not do anything wrong.’

‘Being his aide you always cover up for him……’

‘Outsiders have no right to criticize the master of my house. Your voice is very piercing, can you keep it down a little?’

‘……Uh.’

And so Mito embarrassedly silenced herself, casting a silent plea for help towards Guren.

‘Why’re you looking at me?’

Guren said, which made her blush for no reason.

‘…… I, I only, I was only thinking for your sake……’

‘Don’t pry into others’ matters.’

Goshi walked out from behind Mito.

‘Alright, stop teasing Mito-chan. Today’s that day right? The day that everyone plays nice and goes to Guren’s house to play, right? So let’s all get along.’

But this was the first time Guren had heard of such a thing.

‘Huh? What’s up with that?’

Guren burst out. Grinning, Goshi explained.

‘Well~ you see, we’re all united as Kureto-sama’s subordinates, so sometimes we should get closer right?’

‘No, never heard of that.’

‘Yes. Okay. Since I have just come up with such a brilliant idea, let’s all go to Guren’s place.’

‘Stop kidding. That would obviously never happen.’

Unfortunately, yet another nuisance emerged from the classroom, this time it was Shinya who walked out.

‘What, what? Such an interesting idea. I also want to go~’

His expression filled with annoyance, Guren whipped around to leave.

‘What idiots. Let’s go.’

And so he left, which Shigure and Sayuri following.

However, Sayuri occasionally glanced back over her shoulder.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Guren asked.

‘……Are those three following?’

‘Yes.’

‘…… Haa, those idiots really took it seriously.’

Shigure lifted her head to ask.

‘Should I destroy them?’

‘If you can even shake off Mito, that would be not bad already.’

‘…… That is true…… Uuu…… I am not strong enough, I am very sorry……’

‘No, forget it, I’m not angry or anything.’

Guren gently petted Shigure’s head, causing her to look at him in surprise. On her usually emotionless face, a dazed expression seemed to emerge.

Compared to this, the reaction from the side was much bigger. Sayuri’s face was filled with panic.

‘Ah! Ah! What was that just now! Shigure is so sneaky. Me too! I also want to be petted by Guren-sama!’

But Shigure grabbed and restrained Sayuri’s hand, saying.

‘…… No. Last time Sayuri confessed to Guren-sama and was petted, this time it’s my turn.’

‘Eh~ Yuki-chan is so sneaky. I also want to be petted.’

‘No.’

‘But, but.’

They argued so, but the two aides were already showing expressions of understanding.

When petting Shigure’s head earlier, Guren had slipped the paper Shinya had given him behind Shigure’s ear. On it was written the time and location of the meeting.

2am.

Hikarigaoka Park.

In front of the tennis practice courts.

This was the meeting with the <Hyakuya Sect>. Naturally, the name <Hyakuya Sect> was not written on this paper, but there would definitely be preparations to be made. Weapons had to be readied. Or perhaps they would have to move stealthily and not let anyone notice.

Shigure spoke.

‘Putting the jokes aside, today I need to take in the laundry, so I shall head back first. What about you, Sayuri?’

‘I need to go the supermarket. Today, everyone……’

She glanced back. Guren confirmed it.

‘Probably so. That bunch is very annoying, we can’t shake them off.’

‘I see. Then just to be on the safe side, I will prepare their shares too.’

As Sayuri said this, Goshi snuck over.

‘Ah, to be able to eat Sayuri-chan’s homemade cooking? I’m really looked forward to it.’

Sayuri answered his smile with a cold aura, before saying.

‘Then I shall prepare curry, Guren-sama.’

With this parting statement, she turned and quickly walked away with Shigure.

Seeing them leave, Goshi sped up to walk side by side with Guren.

‘…… Guren you really are sneaky~ to have two such cute girls serve as your aides.’

Shinya also walked side by side with Guren.

‘You could just ask your family for the same.’

‘Ah, Shinya-sama… Nah, I’m not as good as my younger brother. Actually, they don’t really think much of me……’

‘But now you are Kureto-nii’s subordinate.’

‘Oh yeah, that’s true. After that all my attendants’ attitudes towards me changed, but that immediate change is what’s repulsive…… It feels like my brother is also more nervous……’

The two people by Guren’s side chatted as they walked.

‘You’ve really made up your mind to come to my house?’

As Guren asked this, Goshi nodded.

‘Yeah. Can we?’

Shinya then smiled.

‘Ah, is it that? You’ve hidden many R-rated books in your house, so us visiting is a problem for you?

Actually, it was not because of hidden porn magazines that he felt trapped. Even if it were people from the Hiiragi family who came to check, they would still not find anything of significance.

Why did Goshi suddenly want to visit Guren’s home? Shinya had also taken notice of this issue.

No matter how you put it, today was the day that they might meet the <Hyakuya Sect>.

Was it possible that Kureto had found out about this –

That the meeting tomorrow afternoon in the student council room was just a cover, and that he actually knew that they were meeting the <Hyakuya Sect> today.

Guren directly interrogated Goshi.

‘…… Were you ordered by Kureto to keep surveillance on me?’

Shinya looked over at Guren and Goshi. Evidently, he had also been thinking about this.

Goshi shrugged.

‘Nope. I haven’t gotten any instructions from Kureto-sama.’

‘Then why do you suddenly want to come to my house?’

‘Because we are companions.’

‘Huh?’

‘We are also classmates, if this were a normal school, it would be the summer holidays now.’

‘So?’

‘It’s the time for everyone to play together. Right?’

However, Guren wore an expression of complete befuddlement and shook his head.

‘I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.’

Goshi laughed.

‘Really? Okay, the truth is that~ I got scolded by my parents yesterday.’

‘Parents? What did they say, that you have to gain as much of Kureto’s favor as the Ichinose?’

Goshi shook his head.

‘No, no, the opposite actually. They said that the Ichinose trash are still traitors and will soon be shunned again, so I should not associate with them so much.’

His parents certainly had foresight, thought Guren in his heart. However, it seemed that Goshi intended to ignore his parents’ criticism.

‘You should listen to your parents, or you’ll become bad.’

‘So what if I’m bad.’

‘You rebellious rascal.’

‘Haha, just like those who steal motorcycles for a joy ride? That also seems like a great activity for summer~’

‘Go die.’

‘Hahaha’

Goshi laughed.

From the side, Shinya asked.

‘Does Goshi have a motorcycle licence?’

‘Ah, no. What about Shinya-sama?’

‘Me neither. But I can ride one during training.’

‘Ah, me too~ but it’s more fun to take the public’s possessions? I also want to ride a motorcycle bike.

Even as they conversed, they continued to follow Guren. Obviously, they planned to follow him home.

In the middle of Shinya and Goshi’s discussion of motorcycles, Mito spoke.

‘…… Can I, um, ask you something?’

It seemed that she also intended to follow Guren home.

‘…… Um, just now, you petted Yukimi-san’s head.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Ah, that…… that……’

‘What about it?’

Mito was having trouble forcing the words out.

‘…… The two of you, uh, are going out?’

‘Ah?’

‘Uh, or is that even if you are not officially dating you would touch your subordinates so tenderly? Or unless, unless, even at night……’

‘What are you saying?’

‘To lay a hand on your subordinates who cannot disobey you, what kind of person are you……’

‘You’re really noisy.’

Guren let out a sigh and stopped listening.

This group of rascals, what were they up to since just now? Their inane chatter was just like that of normal school students. In the first place, to play with friends, this idea was something Guren could not understand. To gather at his house, what did they want?

Was it to play poker?

‘……Good grief.’

They walked out of school.

The weather was the usual oppressive heat.

There were still students training in school. This was the type of school it was. Even if the <Hyakuya Sect> attacked and decreased the school population, no one would stop to rest.

The order to lockdown all information had yet to be rescinded. Only the few in the higher ranks knew about their state of war with the <Hyakuya Sect>.

Even so, small conflicts were taking place unceasingly. Not just in Japan, but even in the branch organizations all over the world, fights were starting to take place.

Hence, to say that the headquarters of ‘Mikado no Oni’ in Shibuya was the most peaceful place left on earth might not be a lie.

Even the <Hyakuya Sect> could not easily lay siege to Shibuya.

However, this school with its concealed traitors was a different story.

As Guren looked around the school, he thought of all the things Mahiru had done.

About dyeing this school crimson with the blood of students, and the things he had done in his youth.

Mito noticed his distant gaze.

‘……Time passes really quickly, huh.’

Was Mito also comparing the schoolyard before her eyes to the scenes of that day?

The scenes of blood and corpses everywhere.

‘Yeah. That’s true.’

It seemed like he had made no progress forward at all, but time was already slipping away.

Mito spoke.

‘In this short time, I’ve already been saved by you twice.’

‘It was just luck.’

She laughed bitterly and lifted her head to gaze at Guren.

‘…… You said it was by luck, but wasn’t it because of it that you ended up grievously injured and comatose for a month?’

‘I was just careless. Furthermore, sleeping is my hobby.’

‘You’re always cracking jokes to change the subject…… But, Guren.’

Saying this, she gripped a small piece of the back of Guren’s shirt.

‘……I really want to show my gratefulness. So, I want to repay you.

‘Repayment, huh. Like how?’

‘…… Like, until the day Kureto-sama officially acknowledges you, and gives you the position of honor you deserve in ‘Mikado no Oni’, I will always support you.’

Nosing into affairs that were not hers – this is what Guren thought, but did not say aloud.

‘…… Furthermore, the current Guren, father would never accept……’

‘Huh?’

‘Nothing, just talking to myself.’

For some reason she stepped back shyly.

Guren really couldn’t understand her feelings.

He could not understand Goshi’s feelings either.

Why care about the Ichinose trash? Why support him? In Aiichi, the research on Kiju, that if discovered by the Hiiragi family would be severely punished, had already begun.

Yet this bunch of people trusted him so easily.

Companions? Friends? To gain position under Kureto? These kinds of words were too foolish.

It was just as Goshi’s parents had said, the traitorous Ichinose family that was rotten to the core, was too dangerous to get close to.

But even so they said they wanted to be friends. They said that they wanted to deepen their friendship as fellow subordinates of Kureto. It seemed that they did not suspect him as all, and were still innocent and happy in their roles as the young mistress and master that were coveted by their families.

‘……’

Could he kill these two with his own hands?

Guren mulled over this in his head.

Because they were enemies, enemies of the Ichinose family, there would come a day when it had to end. When that time came, could he do it with his own two hands?

In Ueno he had not killed them. That should have been the time to do it, yet he could not. Whether or not this was the right thing to do, he had no idea. It was not a matter of principle. The point was that he should have acted, but he could not.

– I couldn’t do it.

‘……’

This sentence reverberated in his head.

Once again he recalled Kureto’s words to him.

‘Although your way of speaking is very sharp, when you cannot win against me you clearly recognize your own position.’

Kureto had said this before.

But was it the truth?

His ambition was ultimately just empty talk, if Shigure and Sayuri were to be captured and held as hostages, would his ambition be so easy dispelled?

Or was it that he still held such an innocent way of thinking that he could not even kill Mito and Goshi?

If so, he should just discard his ambition. For he had already dragged in his comrades in the Ichinose.

The war had already begun.

It had already begun long ago.

Despite all this, Goshi exhibited no anxiety at all, and asked with a face filled with expectation.

‘Hey, is your place far away?’

‘If I say it’s far will you go home?’

‘No way.’

Guren sighed.

‘It’s not that far…….’ He replied tiredly.

Translator’s comments

Hyaka: The history of the Ichinose and Hiiragi is so dark. Guren can also be very dark. Also, why is Guren so popular? First Mahiru, then Shinya, then Mito, not to mention Yuu-kun, Shigure and Sayuri…

K. Shion: Cos he is Guren that’s why. .__.

[be-dazzled]

A Tread-Thin Line

Pairing: Sasuke x Sakura Alternative Naruto Universe

Writer’s Corner: This is some sort of alternative Naruto universe where no parent died. lol.

Borrowed Concepts:

Shinobi – ninja Hokage – leader and protector of the village

Masterlist

—

Sakura came out of her tent very exhausted and very much insulted. Still a seething mess as she marched out of her one-person tent to give that backward-thinking, woman-hater a piece of her mind. Oh, she was going to give it to him good. That Uchiha guy probably sensed her plan, that’s why he wasn’t there at the camp. Her jade eyes automatically searched for his tent standing opposite to hers; it was zipped open and empty of one dark-haired Shinobi. Maybe, he was hiding from Sakura and maybe, it was the wisest decision he ever made since shutting up when her penetrating glower told him to.

“Oi, Sakura-chan!” The golden-haired beamed at her. His toothy smile a total contrast to what Sakura was always receiving from the other third of Konoha’s Team 7.

“You’re still eating?” Sakura walked up to Naruto, deciding against sitting next to him near the fire. She still had some scolding to do. But as she ambled toward him, the young healer winced at him, scrunching her nose at the ramen cup still hot in his hands.

“Wan’ some?”

Sakura only gave him a disapproving look to which Naruto was accustomed to by now. Being the son of the current Hokage wasn’t as grand as they make it out to be, Sakura realized, as she watched the said son slurp up the noodles with the loudest and most irritating sound possible to man. It was one of the young medic’s pet peeves and it was making her want to hit something – or someone.

“Have you seen the Grinch?”

She did not understand his response but Sakura assumed he meant to say ‘Sasuke’. They both came up with the codename since both Naruto and Sakura were at the receiving ends of Sasuke’s subtle but palpable derisive prejudice. The arrogant, ‘my smile is too precious to waste on you’ Uchiha branded the two the second he laid his charcoal eyes on them and quickly decided Naruto and Sakura weren’t worth his time.

Naruto continued to talk while limp noodles hanged between his lips and the vein on Sakura’s forehead threatened to pop. Talking with a mouthful was another one of Sakura’s pet peeves. So, she decided it was better for her and her poor vein to be away from the bumpkin as far as possible.

“Well, I’m just gonna go find him and hammer some manners into that rich snob.” Sakura started for the darker part of the forest.

Sasuke was probably somewhere out there doing some secret training so he could rub the fact on both Naruto and Sakura’s faces that his skill was a hundred levels above the two. But what really pushed her buttons was the fact that Sasuke Uchiha was right. Sakura could never catch up to his skills even if she trained until training actually killed her. She was just a medical ninja, after all, while Sasuke hailed from one of the founder clans of Konoha and one of the strongest, most influential families, a fact he never forgot to remind her. He was the son of the chief of the Konoha Military Police Force and was believed to follow in the footsteps of his father and older brother in serving in the force.

She, on the other hand, was a plain civilian before enrolling into the Academy. No family influence, no power, no great feats under her family’s name. But Sakura had one of the highest marks in the Academy despite being a regular Haruno and she trained religiously to become more powerful, even earning the spot to train under the Great Tsunade, one which was highly coveted. She ought to be proud of herself but if given the opportunity; the young medic wished she’d be assign to some other team. Of all the people she could team up with, Sakura had to be stuck with the annoying son of the Hokage and arrogant heir of the Uchiha Clan.

Well, it wasn’t like Sakura chose to be part of that team. So, the feelings were mutual.

“Dammit!” She kicked a pebble so hard that it hit deep a trunk of tree.

Why couldn’t she be with Ino? Hell, she’d even choose Rock Lee any day, despite his bothersome flirting towards her, if that meant she could lose the shackles from the Grinch, the wicked demon lord that walked on earth.

Naruto, she could deal with. But Sasuke?

She remembered the argument they had earlier that day. At the mission briefing, the very first time the three of them were officially introduced to each other, Sasuke had managed to insult her for being a civilian and for being a woman. He not only announced to the world his disappointment being chosen into such a low class team but had gladly pronounced that ‘the girl’ would only slow him down in the mission. He said he’d rather do it on his own.

“What a prick!” She screamed into the air. “He thinks just because he’s an Uchiha that he was above everyone else?”

If the old Oak could talk, he would politely ask the young woman not to glare at him.

“I’ll show him.”

She stopped for a second, shutting her eyes close to concentrate, straining her ears to listen to the muffled noise. She followed the sound, clearing the path toward where it was coming from. With every step she took, the sound of the steady fall of water calmed her nerves down. Her anger slowly ebbed away but was gradually replaced by a feeling of sleepiness. Fatigue slowly caught up with Sakura and her tired muscles was begging her to jump into the promising bath in the waterfalls. What with all the arguing and glaring she engaged herself with that arrogant bastard. It wasn’t such a bad idea, she thought. A good bath could wash away all those anger she’d been harboring against the youngest son of the Head of the Uchiha clan.

The moment her jade eyes found the source, her body demanded she jumped right into the shining water pooling at the foot of the magical falls. She was about to give in, starting to peel off her jacket, but stopped when she realized someone has beaten her to it. A surge of panic and, if Sakura was being honest, a sense of shame too, forced her to hide completely behind one of those large rocks that surrounded the pool. Her decency told her to walk away and return to camp. Let whoever it was to enjoy some private bath time. But curiosity had always gotten the better of Sakura. She poked her head, adjusting her vision to see clearer. Sakura’s eyes widened when she realized who it was – butt-naked Sasuke Uchiha himself, showering under the falling water.

With Sasuke’s back on her, the very curious jade eyes had a full, unobstructed and front-row-seat view of Mr. Uchiha’s butt cheeks gloriously resplendent in the moonlight. Sakura’s mouth ran dry. So much so that she contemplated to drink the water from the pool just for a second. She probably shouldn’t since it wasn’t purified.

Sasuke Uchiha’s gloriousness must have had them purified, a voice in her head suggested. Absent-mindedly, outer Sakura nodded in agreement. Who could blame her when that evil woman-hater possessed that perfect round and firm butts just waiting for a bite?

She slapped herself for thinking such dirty thoughts and scolded her inner Sakura. Weren’t we mad at him?  Inner Sakura said she wasn’t – not at all. As a matter of fact, Inner Sakura could really have a taste of those, “No!” Sakura probably said it too loud as the unwitting Sasuke turned around to her direction.

The young medic quickly plunged behind the rock, slapping both hands over her mouth to keep herself quiet and wishing Sasuke wouldn’t make anything out of what he heard. For all he knew, it could have been a wolf low-whistling when it saw the tushy too. Because who wouldn’t? Sakura hit herself on the head to stop thinking dirty butt-related thoughts.

The peeping tom waited quietly behind a large, misshapen rock; cautiously poking her head out of the edge to make sure Sasuke wasn’t suspecting anything. When he had his back on her again, undisturbed from enjoying the natural shower, Sakura peeled her eyes away from the tushy region – which proved to be a struggle because Inner Sakura was lonely – and up his muscular back and then finally, at Sasuke’s beautiful side features in full view now that he tilted his head on the side. He looked like a character from a romantic novel came to life, bathing under the silvery illumination of the moon. He was hypnotizing.

Go get it, girl. Inner Sakura goaded, snapping the real Sakura back to the here and now.

“Get a grip, Sakura.” She whisper-yelled to herself. “This is the guy who thinks you are nothing but a dust he could just step on.”

Sasuke’s calm and serene face was replaced by that scowl he seemed to have permanently in Sakura’s memory. It was enough to erase all dirty thoughts she had about that despicable woman-hater. Man, those good looks and delicious assets were a waste on such an evil narcissist.

“Yeah, we hate him.”

Yeah right.

Shut up, Inner Sakura.

Sakura looked around to see an escape but the universe did her better. On a line of smaller and drier rock formation nearer her hiding place, there lazily sat a pile of folded clothes. Bingo. A crazy idea hit Sakura, one she’d never dare to do. But with all the humiliation and evilness she had to endure because of one certain Uchiha, it didn’t hurt if she asked for some payback.

The trained medical ninja took steady and furtive steps toward her destination, cautious so her small movements wouldn’t be picked up by Sasuke’s heightened sensory. That guy had the ears and eyes of an owl. Once the package was secured, Sakura got out of there in a whiz. The moment she was out of earshot, the thief let out the evilest laugh she could muster, holding Sasuke’s clothes draped on her arms. She could only imagine his face walking back to camp completely naked and discovering it was this ‘girl who will only slow him down’ who stole his clothes. And oh, how much he’d hate himself because he didn’t even notice her stealing them? What a blow in his face that would be.

“Just giving him a taste of his own medicine.” Sakura reasoned. What she did was only as despicable as Sasuke belittling her and her capabilities. No one crossed Sakura Haruno and got away with it.

The cherry-haired started back to camp and couldn’t wait to tell Naruto what she did to that evil snob. Sakura walked on cloud, momentarily forgetting where she actually was and the dangers that the forest held in its depth. Suddenly, her shining emeralds came confronting two pairs of hungry, glowing eyes. With measure steps, they stepped out from their hiding, revealing their sharp canines, ready to tear skin from bones. Sakura was transfixed in her spot as she faced two hungry creatures ready to pounce at her anytime.

“Okay. No sudden movements.” She told herself, remembering what she learned in the Academy about saber-toothed cats that eat humans; one of which was that these predators usually travel in packs, which meant that they also attack in packs. Quickly reviewing and analyzing her options, Sakura made up her mind. “Nice kitties.” She cooed, as she started slowly backing up while her predators advanced.

“You guys hungry?” Sakura mentally memorized the way back to the waterfalls. At least she’d had some good chance to survive since Sasuke was there; she could throw him at the hungry, killer cats, if push came to shove.

“You guys are nice, right?”

Her predators growled in response, jogging the medical ninja’s memory about the killer cats being hostile too, hence, the name.

“Okay, maybe not.”

The hungry animals picked up their pace, slowly but steadily lessening the gap between them and their cherry-haired prey. Afraid her attackers were running out of patience, Sakura was left with no choice. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Accordingly, she threw the garments in her hands at her attackers to blind them momentarily, then, ran for her life. No looking back.

Her ears picked up the sound of the steady flow of the water and increased her speed, not wanting to wager on whether the hungry killer cats were able to catch up with her. If they did, then, she must be dead by now. But since she’s still breathing, albeit running out of it, then that meant she was able to outpace them. For how long? She’d rather not answer and decided to run as far as her feet could take her.

The sound was becoming clearer which only meant that Sakura was near her destination. As she was approaching the base surrounded by big rocks, Sakura’s trained eyes made out the silhouette of a tall man stepping out of the natural pool. The runaway never thought she’d think it but Sakura was glad the evil snob was still there. So, with one last push, she jumped the man and clung to him for dear life.

“Sasuke!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso, causing the man to sway a little as he tried to balance both their weight on his two feet. Sakura buried her nose against the crook of his neck and tried, as much as possible, to explain the dire situation. “Killer cats.” She cried between pants. “Killer cats. After me.”

“I don’t see anything.”

Sakura heard him say.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Sakura felt him crane his neck to look in the dark. “There are no scary cats after you, Haruno.”

Sakura, ignoring the Shinobi’s condescending tone and, for some reason, starting to trust his words, lifted her head back just far enough to look at him in the eyes. They were deep and dark, like he was always carrying the night sky in his eyes.

Interesting.

But what’s more interesting was that thing poking at her stomach.

Very interesting.

Inner Sakura forced the young medic to confirm her suspicion and, being the obedient woman that she was, the young woman lowered her gaze between her and Sasuke. Both Inner and Oouter Sakura widened their eyes in astonishment.

Blessed and highly favored! Inner Sakura mused. No wonder the guy thinks he’s a gift to humanity. He’s the whole package! For the second time that night, Inner and Outer Sakure were both in agreement.

“T-that’s because you surprised me!”

Sakura tore her engrossed gaze away from the ‘package’ and back to the face she couldn’t recognize.

Is the Great Sasuke Uchiha… blushing?

The young medic couldn’t believe her own eyes; given it was dark and his face was illuminated only by the moonlight. Plus the fact that, from what she had learned about the total snob, it was impossible for him to get flustered, especially because of her. But before Sakura could confront him… and maybe tease him about it, if she actually had the ability to form sentence after witnessing ‘the thing’, the flustered snob unceremoniously dropped Sakura on the ground.

“Hey!” The pang of pain helped her with the ‘forming coherent sentences’ problem. She pushed herself off the pebbly ground, dusting dirt off her hands and butt and glaring at the naked man turning away from her.

“I placed my clothes here somewhere.” Sasuke said to himself, not minding the fact that his back view was in full display to one very angry and very guilty Haruno.

Time to come clean.

“About that…” She began, intense glare softening to embarrassed, looking everywhere but at the naked man.

“What did you do?”

Of course, Sasuke Uchiha had good deduction skills too. He quickly and easily caught on, narrowing his eyes at the possible culprit as he kept his back on Sakura.

Yes, tell him, Sakura. Inner Sakura goaded. Tell the naked man why he is naked.

“The killer cats.” Sakura unconsciously shifted her weight to the side, scratching a finger against her cheek, very telling signs of her guilt. “The ones after me? Well, I panicked a little. So…” A short laugh tumbled out of her lips. She meant it to ease the heavy tension forming between them. Now that Sasuke fully faced her, eyes promising bodily pain, the soft chuckle came out awkward.

And when Sasuke was running out of patience, he took an intimidating step forward, forgetting about his current situation, to force the truth out of the woman.

“Ithrewthematthekillercatsasdistraction.” Sakura blurted out in one breath.

“What?”

He wasn’t just mad. Sasuke Uchiha was boiling in anger.

“You threw them at the killer cats as distraction?”

Protector-covered arms flew to cover Sakura’s face, bracing herself for the coming KO punch. She was sure the woman-hater wasn’t above hitting a girl after what she had done.

But despite appearances, Sasuke was above hitting a girl.

Sakura dropped her arms when a moment passed and she was still standing, completely unscathed. Realizing belatedly that Sasuke was just a foot away from her and becoming hyperaware that Sasuke wasn’t wearing any clothes. Well, because she threw them at the killer cats.

“Oh, your boner is gone.” Sakura slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized what she just said and made sure her eyes were just staring at his deep and dark orbs.

And not somewhere down south.

“Yeah, girls stealing clothes and throwing them at killer cats can do that to a guy.”

Sakura could feel his suppressed anger by the way his hands squeezed her forearms, then, spun her around to the general direction of their camp. Good idea, she thought. Since the jade eyes couldn’t keep themselves from drifting down that dangerous place.

“Now walk, you thief.”

Sakura did as she was ordered, feeling exactly like what Sasuke called her – a thief who got caught in the middle of a sloppy job, arrested and forced to do the walk of shame. Only differences from an actual police arrest were: one, she wasn’t actually under arrest and two, Sasuke wasn’t aiming a gun at her in case she flees.

Speaking of guns… No! No, speaking of guns, the medic scolded her Inner Sakura and continued down the path back to the camp, serving as human shield for the naked Sasuke. All the while uneasy, a little nervous and a bit… turned on because have you seen the size of his thing?

Yeah. Inner Sakura had this silly, all pleased and satisfied smile plastered across her goof-ball face while Outer Sakura had to fight a sudden rush of heat. The clothe stealer mentally slapped the silly smile off that stupid goof-ball. No more thinking about it too, she berated her inner self.

But Inner Sakura refused to listen. That stubborn bitch. So, now, Sakura had to deal with her inner self staging a rebellion.

A part of her wanted to just strangle the guy in his sleep; another part had no qualms jumping him naked. Granting that her reason was life or death, still, she had no business thinking about that woman-hater’s ’business’. But silly Sakura kept forgetting that if there was one universal truth we all share, it was that the line between love and hate was a thin one.

In her case, lust and hate and thread-thin.

—

TBH,  Main girl stealing main guy’s clothes isn’t at all original but honestly, I just wanted a mental image of SasuSaku in that compromising position. And unfiltered Sakura? Yes pls. Ahahaha. I’m sure I’m not the only one! Who liked the return of Inner Sakura?

#sasusaku #sasuke x sakura #sasuke uchiha #sakura haruno #be-dazzled #sasusaku fic

[hoffkk]

On the second day of Ficmas, hoffkk gave to me...

Two Silver Bells (A Garvez Fanfic)

*******

Penelope's fingers flew across her keyboard as she frantically dialed JJ's number for what felt like the umpteenth time.

"Come on... come on... pick up." She mumbled to herself as she fretted with worry.  She had called everyone on the team at least twice already, but no one was answering.  She had just been talking to Jennifer and listening in on Luke's conversation with the unknown subject a few seconds ago.  He had been trying his best to talk down the psychopath, but, like most psychopaths, he wasn't being very cooperative.  Luke pressed on anyway, trying to get the location of the third bomb the unsub had planted.  The rest of the team had tracked down the first two and disabled them just in time. However, judging by the loud noise that blasted through her speakers only a moment ago, they weren't so lucky with bomb number three, which the unsub must have had close by, but how close? Were they okay?  Were they hurt?  Were they... No. She told herself tersely. Don't think like that.  They're fine, perfectly fine.  But the truth was, she really didn't know if they were.  She didn't know anything, and the not knowing was killing her. Penelope's job was to know things. All things.  But all she knew right now was that there was an explosion, and that the communications were no longer working.

After a few minutes, the ringing completely stopped, and she couldn't get through period.  Completely frustrated, she gave her keyboard a loud whack. Immediately regretting her actions, she stroked her keyboard lovingly and said, "I'm so sorry, my precious. Mama loves you.  It's just been a bad day.  Then, to herself, she scolded, "Get it together, Garcia.  Breathe and believe."  

Penelope turned in her rolling chair to face away from her desk and took a few deep breaths.  She was somewhat calm when her phone pinged with a text message.  Whirling around at the speed of light, she grabbed her phone.  She couldn't help but smile as she saw the name flash across her screen: chocolate thunder.

Opening the message from Derek, there was a picture of one year old Hank in an elf outfit, sitting on Santa's lap.  The sight of her godson made her own grin widen even more as did the accompanying message: Merry Christmas, baby girl!  Oh, how she loved her big black twelve pack and his little mocha mcnugget. This was just what she needed.  Derek always did have a way of reading her mind and making her feel better during times of woe.

As she stared at the Christmas photo, Penelope got an idea.  She may not be able to talk to the team, but that didn't mean she couldn't help them.  Setting down her phone, Penelope headed down the hall to the storage closet and dug out the boxes of holiday decorations.  Some Christmas cheer perked her right up, and she bet it would do the same for the team too. So, Penelope got to work decorating. She started with her office then did the team's desks and offices as well.  

A half hour later, it was officially Christmas in Quantico and Penelope was back on her computer. She was in the middle of researching some eggnog recipes when her phone rang.  Hitting the speaker button on her phone, she immediately stopped and said, "Come, all ye faithful and please save me from this silent night with some good news."

"Hey, Penelope." Jennifer replied in an amused tone.

"Oh, my god, JJ. What happened?  Are you okay?"  She questioned rapidly.

"Yeah, I--" JJ began but was abruptly cut off by her frazzled friend.

"How's Luke?  Is he all right?  Tell me he's all right."  Penelope rambled.

"Well, actually--" Jennifer tried again to no avail.

"Because I swear if that fruit loop harmed even one hair on my luscious Latino Adonis, I'll--"

"Penelope!" JJ yelled, cutting her off this time.

"What?"  She retorted sharply, startled by her friend's outburst.

Jennifer cleared her throat and calmly replied, "You're on speaker phone."

"Oh." Penelope answered as a wave of embarrassment washed over her.  At least no one was around to see her wide eyes and flushed cheeks, and, with any luck, Luke wasn't anywhere near JJ right now.

"No worries, Garcia."  Interjected a familiar masculine voice.  "You're Adonis is a-doing just fine."

"Well, good." Penelope responded truthfully as she mentally kicked herself for having such a big mouth and no filter to go with it. It appeared luck was not on her side after all because Luke Alvez was clearly present and no doubt so was the rest of the team if the quiet snickering through her speaker was anything to go by. "Anyway, would someone like to catch me up on what the heck has been going on?  I've been sitting in the dark here for half an hour."

"Sorry about that."  JJ replied. "Things have been pretty crazy in Philly."

The whole team then launched into a retelling of the events before, during, and after the explosion, including how the bomb took out a cell tower and some power lines, making it impossible to get in touch until now.

"But everyone is okay, right?  No concussions or missing limbs?" Penelope queried only half joking.

"We're fine, promise." Jennifer swore.  "We're just boarding the jet and should be home within the hour."

"Good."  She nodded to the empty room.  "Oh, and BT-dubs none of you are allowed to make any plans for tonight."

"Why?" Luke question curiously.

"Well, JJ, my dearest gal pal,"  Penelope began, purposely ignoring Alvez.  "I may have covered the bull pen thoroughly in the holiday spirit, and, when you all get back, we shall drink some holiday spirits.  I figure we could all use some holiday cheer after this case."

There was a round of 'count me ins' then Emily spoke up, "Sounds good, Garcia, but I hope covering the office in holiday cheer doesn't require mistletoe."

"But of course it requires mistletoe."  Penelope answered matter-of-factly.  "Mistletoe is, like, the holiday decoration.  You can't have Christmas without it."

"Well, I'm sorry to inform you but mistletoe is against department policy."' Emily told her as she tried to hide the amusement in her voice.

"Seriously?" Penelope whined.  "Can't I just have one little thing of mistletoe?"

"Sorry," Emily said.  "If I let you hang mistletoe, HR will have my head... then yours."

"She's right, Pen."  Jennifer chimed in.  "Do you really want to end up the focus another sexual harassment seminar?"

"Hey," She defended, thinking back to the humiliating day when her nicknames for Derek Morgan were plastered all over the 'what not to do' slideshow presentation in the sexual harassment meeting.  "It's not my fault someone blabbed about my personal conversations with Morgan."

"Penelope..." Emily trailed off in warning.

Penelope sighed dejectedly and finally relented, "Fine, I'll take it down."

"Thank you." Emily replied.

"Well, you're not welcome."  Penelope told her in disappointment.

Luke spoke up then and said, "We better wrap this up.  It's almost time for takeoff."

"We'll see you soon, P." Prentiss told her.

"Fly safe, my lovelies." She retorted sweetly, all of her disappointment temporarily pushed aside.

"Bye, baby girl." Luke tossed back in a tone that told her he was wearing the biggest grin on his face.

Penelope, who was sitting back her rolling chair, suddenly sat ram-rod straight and stuttered, "Did he just-- Did you just -- oh no, you didn't!"

There was no immediate response, so Penelope called out, "Hello?  Luke?  Anybody but Luke?"

When the dial tone rang out, signaling the call had been disconnected, she spat, "Oh no, you did not just hang up on me!

Hitting the hang up button with a huff, she went back to her recipe search, all the while thinking about how to get back at Luke for the horrible infraction he had just committed.

*******

About an hour and a half later, everyone was gathered in the bullpen, laughing and drinking the best eggnog they had ever had.  Well, everyone but Luke.  Apparently, he had a mysterious errand to run.  At least, that's the message Emily delivered to her.  Upon hearing this, Penelope felt irritated.  First, he steals Morgan's nickname for her, then he ditches her party like it's nothing.  How rude!  The most annoying part, though, was that she was actually kind of missing his presence. How she could miss a jerk like him was beyond her.  Okay, maybe it wasn't totally beyond her.  After all, as much as Luke teased her, he was still a good guy.  He was sweet and smart, and funny (not as funny as he thought he was but still...) and not to mention total eye candy.

Suddenly realizing the path her mind was traveling down, Penelope quickly shook the thoughts away and returned her focus to the group.  Rossi, Matt, and Tara were talking about restoring old cars, while Reid and Emily were checking out some recent photos of JJ's boys.

"Ooh! Let me see!" Penelope called out excitedly.

She was scrolling through her friend's phone and checking out all the adorable selfies her godson had taken, when Luke finally rolled in.  Penelope tried her best to ignore him as he walked over all suave, looking like a hunk of burning love with his hair perfectly quaffed, chin perfectly scruffy, and wearing a leather jacket, fitted jeans, and satchel draped over his torso.

She was semi-successful until Luke began speaking.

"What's up, guys?"

When Penelope didn't reply, JJ said, "I was just telling them about my son, the photographer. He has apparently discovered the art of the selfie."

Luke moved closer to check out her phone as well, stepping between Penelope and JJ.

Penelope scoffed and rolled her eyes as she immediately took a step away from him.

"Everything all right?" He asked in response, knowing she was still peeved at him from before.

She had planned on ignoring him but couldn't help but respond, "You think you're so funny, don't you?  Well, you're not.  And for the record, you're also not Derek Morgan.  You may be similar with the beefcake build, darker complexion, and the sexy smile, but you are so far from his level of swagger and agentry."

"Agentry?" JJ laughed as she looked to Reid and Emily.

"Swagger?" Reid said just as confused.

"Shhh!" Emily retorted.  "I wanna see where this goes."

Reid and JJ shrugged as Penelope ranted on.

"So, I don't ever want to hear you using the phrase 'baby girl' again.  Got it?"  She questioned sharply.

"You like my smile, huh?"  He teased, tossing a wide grin her way.

"That would be all you heard.  Ugh! You're so infuriating!" She all but yelled as she turned around and began walking away exasperatedly.

"What are you doing?"  Luke called out to her.

Penelope looked back at him over her shoulder and responded, "Consider this me hanging up on you." then stormed off in the direction of her office.

*******

Minutes later, Penelope was checking her email when she heard a knock on her office door. Spinning in her chair, she found Luke standing in the doorway who still wearing that enticing leather jacket as well as his satchel.

"Come to torment me some more?"  She inquired.

"I actually wanted to apologize."  He said, surprising her.  "I didn't mean to upset you with 'baby girl' thing.  I mean, I wanted to annoy you, sure, but not make you mad."

Penelope stifled a smile and explained, "I appreciate your apology, but to be perfectly honest I'm not really all that mad.  It's just... that was just our special thing for when Morgan and I saw each other... and now I rarely see him, so it's kind of a sensitive thing for me." She paused a moment, then added,  "I also just like yelling at you."

"Noted." Luke tossed back with small smile.  "I'm kind of fond of it myself."

"You are?" She asked in confusion.

"Yeah, you're cute when you're angry." He clarified.  "Your cheeks get all flushed and your nose scrunches and you start making up your own words."

"I always make up words."  She argued.

"No, you use words creatively, stringing them together in a unique way, but you don't actually make them up until you get all fired up."

"Oh," Penelope's lips quirked upward at that, at how he noticed something so small about her. It made her wonder what else about herself he had noticed.

Neither one said anything, and it got quiet for a long moment as they continued to stare at each other.  His soft gaze and cheeky smile sent a chill through her body, something that seemed to occur a lot these days but only when Luke was around.

Feeling a little awkward about her reaction to him, she broke the silence and asked, "So, was there something else you wanted... other than my forgiveness?"

"Uh..." He sputtered for a moment as he came back to reality. "Yeah, actually, there is. But you do know that you never technically gave me your forgiveness?"

"Didn't I? Oh, well."  She said teasingly, not making any effort to do so now either.  "As you were saying, kind sir?"

Chuckling under his breath, he began to walk toward her as he dug into his satchel.  She made note move to get up from her chair or say anything else so he began to explain his real motivation for coming to see her.

"Well, I know you were upset about the mistletoe thing, so I got you a little something to make you feel better."  Luke told her as he pulled her prize from his bag.

Penelope 's look of bewilderment turned into one of shock as she took in the item in his hands.  In his grip was a candy cane striped head band with a long curved wire sticking out of the top, resembling that of a real candy cane, except for the end.  At the end of the curved wire were some green leaves tied together with a single red bow and two shiny silver bells.  Penelope stared in disbelief.  This was why he was late?  Because he got her a present?

"It's a mistletoe headband." He stated the obvious as he stopped in front of her.  "I figured this way you could take mistletoe with you everywhere you go... and not get in too much trouble for it."

"That is incredibly thoughtful, Luke.  I just don't really know what to say except that this little do-hickey is the coolest thing ever."  Penelope said as she beamed and poked the bells on the end, imagine the cuteness of the jingling as she shared a magical holiday kiss with a special someone.

"Allow me." Luke offered then squatted down to her eye level and placed the head band on over her bleached blonde hair that cascaded slightly over her shoulders in light waves, contrasting heavily with the red ugly Christmas sweater dress she wore. He let his hands linger for a moment as he stared into her warm brown eyes.

Penelope's heart began to race as she processed what was happening and wondered what he was going to do next.  She sat still and watched as he leaned forward and began to close his eyes.  She let her eyes flutter closed in response and waited.  A moment later, Penelope felt him press a tender kiss on her right cheek.  It was sweet and simple yet still made her toes curl in delight.

Pulling back, he looked her in the eyes once more and said, "Merry Christmas, Sweet thing."

She touched the spot on her cheek with her fingertips and smirked as she watched him walk away.  By the time he made it to the door, his words finally registered and she called after him, "Wait..." She stood up as he turn around with a cheeky grin.  "What was that?  What the heck was sweet thing?"

"I was trying out a new nickname for you, you know, since 'baby girl' is officially off the table."  He teased.

"Well, officially so is sweet thing." She informed him. "Off the table and into the trash. Keep trying though." She added jokingly.

"Challenge accepted." He said with a wink, then headed out the door and back down to the party before anyone on the team got too concerned about their absence.

Penelope bit her lip and cocked her head slightly as she watched Luke walk down the hall and out of sight.  He may not be the Mocha Chocolate Chip Frappuccino she's used to, but he sure is one hell of a Caramel Macchiato.  Smirking devilishly, she flicked one of the bells on her head band and thought to herself, "Oh yeah, Luke Alvez can jingle my bells any day."

#Criminal Minds #Penelope Garcia #luke alvez #garvez #mistletoe #the second day of ficmas #two silver bells

[avaalons]

Chris Evans Fic: Seven Stages

Another anonymous request:

Ok can I request Chris and his ex being cast in the same movie and trying to be professional but its obvious that they still love each other.up to you if they reunite or not.

Enjoy!

***

1

What. The. Fuck?

That was your reaction when you heard the news that your ex-boyfriend was being cast opposite you in the movie you’d worked long and hard to be a part of.

The nausea overwhelmed you almost immediately, all your floating-on-air happiness at actually scoring the role drifting off into the distance like a lost balloon.

How were you supposed to be expected to deal with this? It’s not like you were just going to be working alongside each other like you would in any other job in the world. You were going to be romantic interests! The whole narrative revolved around this relationship! You’d be spending every day for the foreseeable future pretending to be in love with your ex-boyfriend.

No, you told yourself quickly, calm down. You were professionals. Exes had starred opposite each other in acting roles before. All you needed to do was get in that head space where you weren’t you and Chris wasn’t Chris.

You could do this.

You could.

It’d be fine.

2

It was not fine. No matter how many times Chris told himself he just get on with this, he quickly realised there was no ‘just’ about it. It was hellish.

He tried so hard, so, so hard to not see you as you but your scent was the same when you brushed by him, the feel of your skin under his hands when you had to touch, the press of your body against his when his character brought yours in for a hug. For some reason, he just couldn’t compartmentalise you. It was all too familiar. And it was holding back his performance, he could feel it.

Worst of all, tomorrow was the biggie. A silly argument about misunderstood feelings, resulting in a hot and heavy make out session leading to a night spent together.

Chris lay awake in his rented apartment, wondering if you were over analysing this as much as he was. If he’d been struggling up to now to compartmentalise, this was going to be a whole new ball game. There would be close ups and longing stares, laboured breathing and skin-on-skin. Chris willed his brain to work with him, not against him and, as if you could sense his dread, his phone buzzed on the nightstand, illuminating to inform him of your message.

Please don’t freak out on me tomorrow. This movie is big deal for me. Get your head in the character. We’re not us.

You knew, of course you did. You’d been able to sense all along how much he was struggling separating reality from fiction.

His first response was to be defensive and he quickly typed out a message telling you that he wasn’t freaking out, he was a professional thank you very much and he had no feelings so there was no problem. He concluded that it sounded like it was you having the problem, not him.

He’d never lied to you like that.

You didn’t reply.

3

You bristled when you saw him on set, remembering the anger that had kept you from a restful sleep the previous night. Make up had had a job on their hands this morning.

But you shook it off. You had to prove him wrong now, after all, even though you’d seen the subtle hints that betrayed his discomfort during all your days working together. You couldn’t help the feelings of rejection. You knew it would be difficult but you didn’t think he would be so repulsed or unsettled by your company. Had he met someone else? Did he look at you now and wonder what had he ever seen in you?

It was the bedroom scene first. The set had been readied, the lights dimmed, the ambience created, and you were sat in your fold out chair, wearing a robe, very, very interested in your phone and not much else.

The sickening anxiety rose in your stomach and you tapped your foot repetitively against the chair leg to hide the slight tremble of your limbs. You ran through the shots in your mind, trying to make it seem like a check list, something to get to the end of, cold and clinical.

You glanced upwards through your lashes and saw Chris talking to the director. He was wearing his robe too and you knew from your own state of undress that there wouldn’t be much underneath it. They were chatting and nodding and gesticulating towards the set, the director laying out his vision for Chris’ role in the scene.

Then, all too soon, you were called.

4

Chris could feel your heart racing. The first shot was going to be medium close up, you laying down together and moving into the shot, gently, you underneath his body, his arms encasing you, gazes locked, the warm glow of the lamps illuminating your skin. He knew there’d be some appropriately sensual music laid over the top in post-production. It was a romantic, intimate moment, the couple finally admitting their true feelings, finally giving in to where they’d been headed all along.

And as he laid you down, hands caressing you, lips ghosting your skin, it was suddenly all too much for him. He couldn’t do this, not in front of all these people, not with everything you’d shared. He felt like he’d literally just let a camera into his bedroom and he was exposed and vulnerable. All his feelings and emotions laid bare on this film set.

He jumped up like your skin burned him. He didn’t miss your expression of devastation, of humiliation, but it wasn’t enough to keep him there.

‘I’m…I’m sorry.’

And he rushed towards his trailer.

5

Son of a…

You lay there, embarrassed beyond belief. ‘Cut’ had been yelled and after a few moments of surprised blinking, an assistant or two ran out after Chris while one thoughtfully handed you your robe.

You told him, warned him not to freak out. And now, here you were, practically naked on a cold, draughty set made to look warm and cosy, unable to film your scene because your ex couldn’t even bring himself to pretend to be attracted to you.

The fuming anger spread through you pretty quickly after that, fuelled by the humiliation, and you stormed off towards his trailer, blazing.

You thumped on the door twice before letting yourself in unceremoniously.

‘What the HELL do you think you’re doing?’ You stood, arms folded, directing the full fury of your gaze towards where he sat, head in hands, still only clad in boxer briefs.

He shook his head wearily, ‘I can’t. It’s too much.’

You swallowed your pride, your tone scolding, ‘Listen Chris. I know this is tough given our history, but you’ve been in this business long enough to be able to get over it when you’re not attracted to someone. You’re literally getting paid to pretend you’re desperate to be with me, so just get over yourself and do it. Don’t mess this up for me, please.’

He was silent for a long moment, before he sighed deeply and looked up at you, his arms falling into a shrug, defeated.

‘I don’t need to pretend.’

6

You were frozen in shock, rooted to the spot where you stood, trying to process what you’d heard him say.

Eventually you found your tongue but when you spoke it was barely more than a gravelly whisper, 'What?!’

He stood up then, needing to gain some semblance of control. He was irritated, frustrated with himself.

'You heard me,’ he barked out a humourless laugh, throwing his hands in the air, his voice verging on aggressive. 'I said I don’t need to pretend. Any of it. I don’t need to pretend to find you the most attractive woman on the planet, or pretend that I want to make earth shattering, intimate love to you, or pretend that I want to spend every single waking moment of my life with you. Because it’s all fucking true. And that’s why I can’t do it. You don’t feel the same and it’s too fucking raw.’

He had paced the small space of his trailer while all of his feelings came tumbling out, expecting you to turn on your heel and leave.

This was easily the most unprofessional thing he had ever done and you wouldn’t forgive him easily.

7

You were still in shock, the version of events he was telling you so different from what you had conjured in your own mind. He wasn’t uncomfortable because he was repulsed… it was the complete opposite. It was a revelation and you couldn’t help the smile that began to form on your mouth.

You took tentative steps towards him where he leaned on his arms against the back of a chair, weary from his outburst. He turned to look at you warily as you stepped closer, his blue eyes dark from the weight of the burden he had been carrying.

You ran a hand along his jaw, smoothing across his beard, before cupping the back of his head and tugging his mouth down to meet yours. The kiss was slow and heady, the mark of two people who already knew each other intimately. It was the delicious, languid rolling of tongue against tongue and, once he had stopped being surprised, Chris wrapped both hands around the space between the bottom of your ear and your neck, drawing your face even closer to his, keeping you there so he could kiss and kiss you, deeper and deeper, and finally soothe the craving he’d been having for months.

You both had to breathe eventually, and you rested your foreheads together, your palms pressed against his chest (you always had loved feeling the muscles under your fingertips there) and him keeping firm hold of your head.

'Come with me and put all of that into the scene, please. We can make this look really fucking good.’

You could practically hear his heart drop as disappointment flooded his face, thinking you just wanted to placate him enough into completing the scene, and he released the hold on your jaw, but you held him firm.

'Don’t misunderstand me, Chris. We need to go out there and give the performance of our lives but then I sure as hell want you to take me back to your apartment and make, what was it? Earth shattering, intimate love to me. For real. All night. If you can.’

He regarded you for a moment, organising his thoughts, before pulling your face back to his.

'Every night,’ he clarified, making it very clear where he wanted this to go.

'I’m yours,’ you whispered, agreeing wholeheartedly.

#chris evans #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans imagine #chris evans x you #chris evans x reader

[euphxmia-pxtter-blog]

The True Epilogue (a Harry Potter fanfic)

*in which all my ships are true and things are great* Several pairs of curious eyes followed the family of five as they pushed through the crowd at Kings Cross Station toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Atop the packed trolleys that the parents pushed were two cages- one containing a beautiful snowy owl and the other a badger, which made grumpy noises every few seconds. "Hang in there, Comet," the black-haired boy said placatingly. "I know it's no fun, but you've got to behave." "I don't know why you had to bring the stupid thing anyway," his brother said, rolling his eyes. "It's not on the approved list." "Yes, but he's injured!" "All your pets are or were injured." "And he has separation anxiety!" "I bet they'll take it away from you." "James!" their father scolded as Matthew's bright blue eyes widened in fear. "Don't say things like that. Your dad and I wrote to Headmistress McGonagall in advance, and she said it was fine." Draco put a hand on Matthew's shoulder. "No one is going to take Comet away." "Hey," Harry said suddenly, "there's Ginny, Luna, and the girls." The youngest Potter shrieked and made to run toward the family friends, but Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Callisto Ariana Potter, what have we told you about running off?" he scolded. She smiled cheekily. "Not to do it, I think." "Well, you think right. Look, here they are now, anyway." The other family reached them, and there were cheerful greetings all around. "So, shall we cross over?" Luna asked, and Ginny nodded. Their oldest daughter, Nymphadora, took a step forward, but her sister exclaimed, "Wait!" Nym raised an eye brow. "What is it, Gillian?" The redhead bounced excitedly on her toes as she answered. "This is Matty and my first year going through as actual students, so we should get to go first!" Matt held up both hands to show that he was not a part of this. Nym was already squinting, though. "I say, whoever gets through first gets through first," she said challengingly. She and Gillian turned and raced for the barrier together, disappearing through it within a second of each other. Ginny sighed in exasperation, pushing a trolley forward to follow them. Luna only looked amused as she trailed after her wife. Callisto tugged on Draco's sleeve. "I thought you said no running," she told him, frowning. "Yes, but I can't control what they do. They're not my children." This argument lost its value, though, when James pushed ahead through the barrier as well. Harry groaned. "I promise I'll talk to him, Callie," he said to avoid the rising complaints. The rest of the family followed James. "Can I go this year, Daddy?" Callie asked. Harry shook his head with a chuckle. "Just one more year, sweetheart." She scowled and stamped the ground. "Dad?" Matt said as James boarded the train with Nym (though Gillian stayed behind to wait). "Do you know what House I'm gonna be in?" Harry smiled and shook his head. "No one knows for sure ahead of time," he said, "but I know you'll be great no matter what." "And luckily," Draco added, "you know kids in every House, so you'll always have someone to talk to." Callie tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. "I'm gonna be a Slytherin," she said confidently. A little bit of pride shone in Draco's eyes. "I don't doubt it." "Alright, Matt. Go on and take your stuff," Harry said gently. "You and Gillian should get on board. You don't want to get left behind. Matt nodded and moved toward the train, then swiveled and threw himself into his father's arms. "I'm gonna miss you," he said. Harry hugged him hard. "I'll miss you too, kiddo." Matt hugged Draco too, and then he and Gillian got their stuff and waded through the small crowd to the train door. "We'll write!" Draco called after him. "Every day, if you want!" Harry added. Matt gave them a slightly wavering grin before disappearing. __________ Matthew thought he was ready for the Sorting. He thought he'd either be in Gryffindor, like Harry, or Slytherin like Draco. He definitely was not expecting the Sorting Hat to yell out "HUFFLEPUFF!" the moment it touched his head. To ecstatic cheers from his new Housemates, he made his way dazedly toward the Hufflepuff table. He'd heard Hufflepuffs called 'duffers' and 'goody two-shoes' and even once 'the stoner House', none of which sounded very positive to Matt. Still, he put on a brave face. A cobalt-haired Teddy Lupin clapped him on the back as he sat down. "Glad to have you, Matt!" he enthused. That's right! Teddy's a Hufflepuff, and he's not so bad. This thought didn't erase his disappointment entirely, but it did help. What helped even more was hearing another shout of "HUFFLEPUFF!" immediately following a call of "Weasley, Gillian". Matt broke into a grin as his best friend sat beside him. "I can't believe I'm a Hufflepuff," he stage-whispered to her. Surprisingly, she rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh, please. Like you could have been anything else." His eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?" "Let's see. For starters, you're a vegetarian. You always get one of your dads to take you to random volunteer things. You never let anyone get away with saying mean things. You take in injured animals- you've literally got twenty different pets now, if you hadn't noticed- and your favorite just happens to be a badger, the symbol of Hufflepuff House. Honestly, if you'd been sorted anywhere else, I would have died of surprise." Matt laughed. "Well, when you put it like that." Any remaining worries he had about his Sorting vanished the moment they stepped foot in the common room. It was vastly wide and round, with honey-colored walls. The lighting was a mixture of natural light coming through the circular windows and and a warmer, golden light shining from within glass spheres on intricately carved stands. The room itself felt like mid-autumn and laughter. Best of all, there were animals. Matt suddenly understood why the Headmistress had given in to his parents' request to accept Comet so quickly. There were maybe two dozen creatures- some magical (like a pixie and a clutter of puffskeins), some nonmagical (like a hawk, a dog, a rabbit, and a beautiful peacock). Matt heard a loud noise and turned. "Comet!" The excited badger barreled across the room and into his legs. Matt crooned as he and Gillian bent down to pet it. A few of their new Housemates crowded around to coo at the addition to their strange zoo. "I think this little guy will be happy here," Teddy said. "As far as I know, we've never had a badger. Which is honestly ridiculous, given our symbol." Matt laughed. I think I'm gonna like it here. __________ James had never felt so ashamed and rejected. The words still echoed in his head. "Not the right fit," they had said. He, James Alexander Potter, wasn't the right fit for Gryffindor seeker. It was humiliating. After all, his own dad had supposedly been the best seeker Gryffindor ever had, and Draco had been his Slytherin counterpart. Yet James had failed. It wasn't that James was vain or inflexible- when they said he'd make a better chaser, he'd tried out with all his effort and scored the spot. It was a matter of belonging. James, the oldest, was the only one of the Potter children who wasn't the biological child of either parent. Matt was Harry's- as anyone could see by the untamable hair and the awkward knobby knees. Callie was Draco's- again apparent by the blonde hair and the confident ambition. James was alone with his plain brown hair and hazel eyes and his (apparent) lack of Seeking skills. To add insult to injury, this meant he was the only one with no blood ties to the Lovegood/Weasley family, which had been interwoven with the Potters' in the cases of Matt and Callie, as well as Nym and Gillian. In any case, he wasn't sure what to do now. He had no other way to prove himself worthy of being the son of the Chosen One. "You know it doesn't matter to them," Aiden Finnigan told him. "Your dads, I mean. You're their son, and they love you." They were in the Gryffindor common room that evening, and James gazed into the fire, only half-listening as he dwelled on his own shame. He sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's just... man, you know I don't normally care what people think of me, but this is different. People look at Matt and they see Harry Potter. They don't even act much alike, but Matt's got the look and that's enough for everyone. Me, what have I got?" "Bravery, willingness, an open mind, a mischievous nature, and great taste in friends." James looked up from the fire for the first time in ten minutes, a ghost of a smile crossing his face, and gave his best friend a light push. "Hey, I'm serious," Aiden continued. "I mean, I'm not much like either of my dads. I mean, I've been told I look like a Finnigan, but I definitely don't act like one. And Dad #2 likes to joke that I got my extreme height from him, even though I don't carry any of his blood. I don't act much like him either. And that doesn't bother me. We're not meant to be pale echoes of our parents anyway; we're meant to find and shape our own identities." James nodded. "I suppose you're right." "As always." "Oh, shut it." A few days later, James's owl showed up at breakfast with a letter from Harry. Jamie- I heard you made the Quidditch team, and I'm so proud of you! I knew you could do it if you wanted to- I've watched you fly, and you're fantastic. Make sure to keep your nerves in check before games, okay? Ron can vouch for the fact that anxiety is a Quidditch player's worst enemy. I'm not worried, though. Oh, I wish your Grandpa James could see you now. You know I never got to see him play, but he was a Chaser too in his day- don't know if I ever told you that. He was also a hell of a prankster, just like you. McGonagall won't tell you anything, because she can't be seen condoning troublemaking, but if you see Fred floating around, he'll tell you all the use he and George got out of the Marauders Map when they were students. Grandpa James is the one known as Prongs. I wish I could show you the map personally, but it went blank when Teddy's dad died- he was the last Marauder standing; they called him Moony. Sorry, I've gone off on a tangent. My point is, we're all proud of you, and your grandparents would be too. Lots of love, -Dad James was stunned. His grandfather, the one he had been named for, was a Gryffindor chaser? How had he not known? He re-read the note once, twice. It appeared that he was a bit of a Potter after all. He was curious about this Map thing too; he'd better find Fred. __________ Ben was tired. Okay, maybe that was an understatement. "Exhausted" might have worked better; "barely functioning" was near perfect. He was tired because it was midnight and he was sitting in the hallway outside his common room. He was physically capable of going inside and lying down in his nice warm bed to sleep, but he could never do that. Neither could the thirteen other Slytherins sitting out in the hallway with him, including Nym. A prefect had come out three times now to order them all to bed, but no one budged. "I'm not stepping foot in that place until they change the password," Ben had told her the third time she came out. She had thrown up her hands and not come back, which earned Ben a few pats on the back. The hallway was quiet enough that Ben could hear the footsteps long before anyone appeared down the far end. "Someone's coming," he whispered. Everyone tensed. Would they be punished for this? Ben hoped not, but he needn't have worried. He let out a breath of relief when he saw Teddy Lupin heading toward them. The Head Boy had probably been summoned to help mitigate the situation. "What's going on here, guys?" he asked. "The new password is offensive," a fifth year girl answered, "and we're not going in until they change it." Teddy Lupin frowned- not at those in the hallway, of course, but rather at the situation. "Oh? What's the password?" "Clean blood," Nym spat disgustedly. Teddy only sighed outwardly, but his hair turning scarlet was a clear sign of his true anger. "Alright, well we can't have you lot just sitting in the hallway, so you'll have to come stay with us for the night." There were hesitant nods all around, and the beginnings of smiles on a few faces. Staying with the Hufflepuffs... Before we go, I have to check who's coming. Your prefects gave me the list of absent students. Please say 'here' when I call your name. Jade Moorland?" "Here," said the fifth-year who'd spoken up earlier. "Nymphadora Weasley?" "Here," Nym said, and Teddy smiled. He'd always seemed fond of the younger girl, though maybe it was because she bore his mother's name. "Joshua Bingham?" "Here." Teddy went on down the list, ending with "Benjamin Wood?" "Here," Ben answered. "Alright, that's everyone. Come on, you all!" Ben liked the Hufflepuff common room. He liked how friendly everyone was. He liked the peacock, Heracles, who seemed to like him too. There were even more things he liked the next day: for instance, how a cluster of Ravenclaws took turns shooting charms at the Slytherin door, trying to change the password or else get it to open without one. Or how, when that failed, the Gryffindors- led by their prefect, who happened to be Ben's older sister, Elizabeth- attempted to forcibly remove the door entirely. This series of tries failed as well, but it stirred up enough commotion to draw in the Headmistress and she, upon understanding the problem, rectified it immediately, to great cheers from all parties. Ben hugged his sibling. "Thanks for the help, Lizzy," he said. "Any time, little brother. It's a good thing you guys did here today, pushing for change. Dads will be proud." "Think so?" "I know so. You'll probably make prefect next year too." Ben laughed. "Oh, D1 would love that." He imagined Percy's face when he learned that both of his children were now prefects like he had been, and Ben felt a warm rush in his stomach. I'd love that too, he thought to himself. Lizzy just grinned. __________ Daisy hadn't meant to start crying in the middle of Charms class; she just couldn't hold it back anymore. She'd been trying to control her distress since the letter had arrived that morning from her father, letting her know that Grandpa Vernon didn't want them coming over for Christmas that year or, it seemed, any year following. Of course, Dudley hadn't explicitly told his daughter why they were no longer welcome, but she wasn't dumb enough that she couldn't figure it out on her own: it was because she had magic. It was already her second year at Hogwarts, but at holiday time last year her grandparents hadn't known yet. Now they did, and Grandpa didn't want to see her anymore. She cried silently, with her head down, but her fellow Ravenclaws didn't miss her shaking shoulders, and the room got quiet. Anna Granger-Weasley, her closest friend and the only one who knew what had happened, put a comforting hand on Daisy's back. "I know it's not the same," she whispered, so as not to disturb the rest of the class, "but you guys are totally coming to our Holiday gathering instead." Daisy turned her head to look at Anna with teary eyes. "We are?" "Oh, absolutely. It's a huge get-together that we do every year in James and Matt's backyard. My Granny Molly makes twice as much food as we need, even though there's already thirty-three of us in total. Uncle Percy drinks too much mulled wine and then goes on a rant about something or other, except none of it makes sense. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Oliver fight over which of their Quidditch teams are better- Ginny plays Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies and Oliver is Keeper for Puddlemere United. Uncle George tells us stories about Fred and him when they were students together. Aiden's little sister Mallory, Professor Longbottom's daughter Bex, and Callie sometimes decide to put on some silly show. It's all great fun." Daisy smiled weakly. "Sounds great. You sure there's room for me and my mum and dad?" Anna laughed softly. "There's always more room at a Weasley party, and the Potters' backyard is distinctly huge." "I suppose that's true." Daisy tried to grin after that, but Anna could probably tell she wasn't back at 100%, because at lunch she started up a game. "It's called the Story Game. We take turns adding a sentence to a story as we go along. The sentences have to make grammatical sense, but the plot can be as strange or random as you want." "Ooh, sounds fun. Can we join in?" Daisy and Anna looked up to see Matt, Gillian, and Nym sliding in beside them (The school had recently switched to an open-seating policy to maintain camaraderie between the Houses). "Yeah, sure," Daisy said, scooting to make more room. "Alright, I'll start," Anna said eagerly. She drummed her fingers in thought for a moment. "Okay. Once, there was an old, grumpy sorcerer who lived in a cave on a mountain." Gillian jumped in next. "The people at the base of the mountain believed that if you brought the sorcerer a gift that he liked, he would grant you a wish in exchange." "Every day," Matt added, "Someone took a gift up the mountain, but the sorcerer didn't like any of them." "Then a new woman moved to the town below," Daisy inserted nervously, hoping she was doing this right. "She heard about the man on the mountain, but nothing about his powers," Nym put in. Anna's eyes brightened as she saw where Nym was going with this. "The woman thought the man must be lonely and perhaps cold all by himself, so she took a warm blanket and a fresh batch of cookies and brought them to him," she said. "The man was touched by her genuine generosity," Gillian said, "and he offered her anything she wanted." "She thought for a long while, and finally she decided," Matt contributed. "And she asked, 'Can you put some brains in my son Tobias's head, because he hasn't got any." Anna snorted at the mention of her brother, and suddenly the whole group had dissolved into laughter. "You can n-never tell Toby about this," Daisy choked out between giggles. They all shook their heads in agreement, still fighting to contain the wave of mirth. "This is why you're my favorite," Anna informed Daisy gleefully, and Daisy grinned. These really are the people I want to spend my holidays with, she realized. __________ Aiden's heart started racing the second the blood red envelope landed in front of him at breakfast. He elbowed James, eyes wide with horror. "It's a Howler," he said with a voice full of dread. James gave a sympathetic smile. "It might not be so bad. Maybe it's some really good news, or maybe it's just a prank from someone. You haven't done anything wrong, have you?" Aiden shrugged. "I mean, we did turn all Professor Longbottom's gardening things pink and sparkly last week, but he didn't seem to mind. I think he even sent a set home to Bex, who I'm sure was thrilled. It was an innocent bit of fun." James smiled at the memory, but the smile dropped from his face almost immediately. "Dude, it's smoking at the edges." Aiden jolted in alarm. "Just open it, before it's too late," James counseled. Aiden took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and tore the envelope open. When he heard his ten-year-old sister Mallory's voice ring out, he thought he was safe. Just a prank after all. But then he heard her words. "AIDEN OH MY GOD, I JUST FINISHED THE NEW SEASON OF NEVATERIA AND YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED!!! STEVEN AND MABEL KISSED, AND THE SHIFTMEN KILLED CODY, AND JONATHAN TOLD CHRIS THAT HE COULDN'T SEE BEA ANYMORE. I'M DYING AND I HAD TO TELL YOU. OKAY, BYE!!!" For a moment, there was dead silence in the Great Hall, and then a hundred people started shouting at once. They were all muggleborns or half-bloods who watched Nevateria, the current most popular sci-fi show, and they were all furious at Aiden. "I'm sorry!" he yelled. "I didn't ask her to tell me!" James frowned. "What was all that about?" he asked. Oh. Aiden had forgotten that, even though James's dad was raised by Muggles, they didn't watch television very often. "It's a show," he tried to explain. "One of the best shows. And Mallory just spoiled it for everyone." "Ah." Aiden was shamed by his non-pureblood peers for the rest of the day. It might have continued on longer, except that Toby Granger-Weasley ran up to him in the hallway after his last class, out of breath, and exclaimed, "The Room of Requirement can generate wifi!" "What?!" "AND it can be a movie theater!" "You're joking." "I'm not! It's officially the weekend. Let's round everybody up and marathon Nevateria together, my guy! I've got Anna waiting in there so the room stays put. Whoever you pass, send them that way. We can get a few house elves to bring snacks. There's tons of space, so if they want to watch too, that's fine. Come on, let's go!" Toby, Aiden, and James took off down the hallway together. "Brilliant, you are!" Aiden exclaimed while they ran. "This is why you're a Ravenclaw!" The plan worked seamlessly. Everyone interested gathered in the Room of Requirement, sitting in movie theater seats, and they got the show to play. Several house elves carried around food and drink for those who wanted it, though a group of Hufflepuffs convinced two to sit down and watch for a while. It turned out Missy didn't like it much, but Pokey was absolutely entranced. He babbled nonstop about the brilliance of it to his unfortunate neighbor, who happened to be Matt. Matt was too pleased at seeing a house elf freely enthuse about an interest to care. They all had a great time, and all the animosity toward Aiden ended. It was definitely a good day. __________ There would certainly be more struggles ahead for the Potters, Granger-Weasleys, (Lovegood-)Weasleys, Finnigans, Woods, Longbottom, Lupin, and Dursley, but they didn't have to worry. They were one huge team, a family, and they could handle anything. Well, almost anything. It turned out there was still a limit on how many animals a single person could bring into the school, which was a problem for Matt, who found himself missing his other creatures. "You know, when they say don't do something," James said oh-so-helpfully, "they just mean don't get caught doing it." Matt shoved his brother, insisting that he wasn't like that, but in the end he snuck all his animals into the castle, with help from Callie. Family meant helping each other, even if it's helping them break school rules... didn't it?

#Harry potter #potter verse #Drarry #Linny #perciver #deamus #Ronmione

[lamiaward]

Dracula comes to Storybrooke

I don’t own OUAT

Season 6 au. Dracula is in town, and he has his eyes on Regina. Henry and Emma must fight for Regina’s safety as Dracula invades her dreams and steals her strength but do they know what they are up against? After all, there was never anything in the fairy tales about Snow hitting her prince with a rock…..

Warnings : mention of the marriage to Leopold. (non-graphic) Mention of injury.

She is angry. Or rather, she is trying very desperately to be angry, because anger will allow her to be cold and disdainful to the blonde mena- the blonde, to Emma - to pull her walls up and have them be as thorny as possible. It is humiliating, how she can't speak because even swallowing hurts but all she wants is that anger to will protect her, and how she digs her fingers into her own skin because how dare you desire that anger. That anger is the evil queen's. That anger will hurt your family and it. is. WEAK.

Her sight is blurred, and every time she swallows it feels like she has to force several arrows down her throat. She wants to throw herself at something and have it hurt, for searching for that anger so desperately. You have friends, family. You should be grateful for that. You cannot be angry.

She isn't. Or rather- she isn't at who she wants to be. She is furious at herself- for wanting this in the first place, for daring to think happiness is still something she is allowed to strive for, for any of the thousand times she was weak, she doesn't even know- and she can only think how she keeps making the wrong choices, somehow. She thinks of the way Emma's muscles froze beneath her fingers - and hates herself when she can only think of the split-second those lips moved against her and her own lips started to pull up at the corners.

She isn't foolish: she knows what she feels for Emma. Some days, she can even appreciate it. Some days, she isn't furious with herself for how Emma's smiles can wreck her heartrate and how she feels breathless whenever they connect- magically, or just when they talk. Most days however, she is painfully aware of what she has done- of how Emma Swan deserves better than what she could ever be.

Unfortunately, knowing it doesn't protect her.

Fortunately, she doesn't see Emma for at least days after it happens. (and perhaps she further humiliates herself by sobbing into her pillow, and in an especially weak moment, she wakes hungover stares at a thankfully unsent message)

She is miserable and using all the skills learned from a mother like Cora, and a mentor like Rumplestiltskin to hide it. She thinks Henry might know ( he definitely suspect) and he is even smart and instinctual and caring enough to likely guess it has something to do with Emma. Especially since Emma has been trying very hard to avoid Regina, making excuses that ranged from "I've got work" to " I am looking for the creeps that kidnapped you" (she had never actually gotten to telling Emma just how she had arrived at the house in the midst of the forest) . And Henry is cross with her - as he had told her " I can't believe she is being like this, I am so sorry mom"- and even Snow is scolding her daughter - I am not mad Emma, I am just disappointed - like that wouldn't make Emma's longing to run worse.

Snow was family, but sometimes she still thought the woman was an idiot. Especially concerning her daughter, who happened to come from a very different background and logically wasn't always understood by her mother. However, Regina would've expected Snow to at least be able to work out that certain things trickered Emma. Like disappointing her family (it was undoubtly terrifying to the lost girl Emma used to be; disappointing a family must have once meant losing them again)

Things were tense in their family right now- and Regina felt horrible enough that she had barely left her house the past three days. Right until Henry had enough of it - " Mom. You are hardly a threat to the public good anymore. You've saved everyone at least three times, and most of the people kind of love you" - and she was coarced to leave the house by a mixture of Mill's slyness, Swan stubborness and Charming - well charming-ness.

Our son is a force of nature. But she smiled for the first time in days as she was pulled along by a chatting Henry, listening to his stories about lessons and superheroes and writing ideas with the easy, proud smile only he could pull from her. She tried to scold him, but instead laughed when he yelled a greeting at Ruby in the middle of his story, then gently pushed her down and continued talking.  "so I told him he was dumb. Because it is wonderwoman, duh. So of course she would win".

Regina smirked. " I agree, thinking she would lose is rather foolish".

" Right? Anyways, after that Ben was kind of sully. Until I promised we could meet at my place soon again" Regina melted as Henry grinned adorably.  "I think he misses you cooking".

" That is rather sweet of him".

Henry shrugged. " Your cooking is just really good".

" Did you never hear about the rule, Henry?" Ruby had suddenly appeared. Years of experience had taught her to just come to the table because the two would be talking nonstop anyways, so it really didn't matter that she interrupted them.

Regina arched her eyebrow slightly - Ruby could almost hear the 'what now, miss Lucas'- while Henry just smiled at her.  "You shouldn't compliment someone else's cooking when you're in a restaurant - especially not one where the cook has a crossbow"

" I am pretty sure Granny also prefers my mom lasagna".

" No, I don't lass! I have been making delicious meals long before your mother could even spell the word 'lasagna'  " .

Regina bit her lips to hide her smile. " It is rather rude to listen in on people's conversations, miss - "

" Not when the people are blabbering about you, then you can listen in all you want. And none of that miss Lucas bull, Regina, or I will come over there".

" I am terrified. I am sure you knitting needles are very sharp after all "

Henry snorted, while Ruby shook her head and whispered " Are you insane? She has wicked precision with that crossbow of hers".

" I've catched your grandmother's arrows in the past".

Ruby's eyes lit up in recognition.  "Oh yeah. You know, if I hadn't been kind of angrily terrified at the moment, that would've been so awesome".

Henry nodded.  "It was pretty bada- cool".

" Do I need to test your arrow-catching skills, your majesty" Henry grinned at Granny.She had walked over, which she often did when the dinner wasn't too crowded.  She was scowling, but her eyes told him that she wasn't really mad or anything. Just some friendly teasing, which showed his mom had really become part of the Charming family.

" I would not want to harm your ego like that, dear" Regina immediately shot back, the disinterest in her tone and general tone obviously fake. Her eyes were glinting slightly as well.

Granny huffed. " Ha. As if you could!".

" I could catch anything you throw at me".

Henry interrupted the friendly bickering-goading when he was suddenly struck by a thought. " Mom! " .

" Yes, mijo?".

" You should".

Regina frowned. " I should .. catch arrows?".

" Well yeah. It is the perfect way to test your speed , right?".

" Henry, I have told you before - I am not certain it is wise to experiment with my newfound 'talents' " . I have just rejected the darkness- what if I hurt you. Regina felt like she had participated in that foolish 'ice bucket challenge' that Emma and Henry had been talking about before all of this happened. There was so many ways to accidentally hurt Henry.

Henry scoffed. " Mom, you would never hurt me. And- I really think we should gather more intel. And because you won't let me sneak into that house - ".

" Henry. Under no circumstances are you to ever enter any building that has those creatures in it. Understood".

" Yeah. But regardless, if you won't let me find out stuff in that way, we need something else. And I don't think your powers are evil or anything".

It was only years of conditioning by her mother - manners, Regina, are important if you want to marry- that kept her from shifting in her chair. " I hope not" she said, with a glance at Ruby ( Granny had walked back into the kitchen now that the 'fun part' was over). She just smiled.

" Well, I don't think so " he hesitated, then asked. " Or - what does it feel like?".

Like having run a marathon in the burning sun, and forgetting to drink. Like rubbing ice cubes over your gums. Regina had to swallow, both figuratively and literally. She had to swallow the urge to wrinkle her nose with disgust as she swallowed more spit than she thought she could produce. But that was what it had been like, an incredibly itchy and dry throat alternated with moments where her salivory glands were working overtime.

" Mom?".

Regina shook herself. Even as a teenager, I never had issues with my concentration like this. " I- right, what it feels like. It is difficult to describe. I am experiencing several things, Henry" .

" Like what- ".

Regina glanced at Ruby.  "Perhaps we should order first?" . Ruby's pout showed that she understood that Regina had ulterior motives ( namely getting the gossip away from her private business)

" Yeah okay. Hot chocolate with cinnamon, fries and a burger please".

" Henry, please choose at least something moderately healthy. You have already eaten too many unhealthy things the past days".

" The burger has lettuce on it".

" Fine. But only because I will prepare a nutritious meal tonight. And tomorrow. And- did Emma already tell you what she will be preparing for you friday?" Usually, they have family dinners on friday even though every other week it's 'Emma's' friday. But Regina suspects there won't be any family dinners for a while.

Henry snorts. " Mom, I am pretty sure Emma doesn't even plan what she is going to do in the next hour, let alone two days later. She usually just goes to the store with me, and lets me pick something ".

" I will choose something then" Perhaps risotto. I still have not tried that recipe.

"Okay, sure. Are you going to order now?".

Regina sighed, then chuckled. " Of course. I would not want you to explode with impatience, after all"

Henry rolled his eyes, but he returned her grin. She turned to Ruby.  "A chicken wrap, and a coffee please"

" Sure, madam mayor" Ruby immediately said, grinning. Like her grandmother, she liked to tease. Which was why she still called Regina madam mayor, even if they had become somewhat friends thanks to Snow's habit of holding events where she tried to drag Regina off to talk with everyone ( including dwarves. She had come to tolerate Grumpy. Tolerate. Not like him, like Henry insisted she did).

As soon as Ruby disappeared with a wink and a "coming right up, mayor Mills" , Henry tried to convince her. " Come on mom, we need to know more. The book is still not giving enough information!".  

She briefly touched his hand at the aggravated tone.  "Henry"

" I know- I just, what if you suddenly get worse? What if the transformation isn't over yet, or the vampires try something again o-or" Regina left the booth and sat down next to him, throwing an arm around him at the sight of his crestfallen expression.  " todo estará bien, mijo"  

" You can't promise that "

" Corazón- ".

Her own eyes burned at the sight of his wet eyes, and the tear trails on his cheeks. " No! You can't"  he hugged her really tightly for a moment, then pulled back again but stayed close. Before she could reassure him that she was fine, that she wasn't dying or anything, that they would find a solution, he whispered something that made her bite her lip really hard to keep from crying herself.  "No me dejes mama, no me dejes"

She hugged him again. " Nunca, mi cielo".

When he was calmed down enough, she slowly pulled away again and grabbed a tissue from her purse. As she gently wiped away his tears, he leaned against her.  "I thought you wouldn't wake up anymore. That my family would get broken".

Her hand stilled. " Henry, you would never be alone. You would still- ".

She almost flinched at the angry tone.  " I don't care! Nothing is okay if I don't have my entire family" she had a flashback to a four-year-old Henry, the one who was terrified of the old creaking oak tree, to the point where he would grab her hand so very tight and hide his face. " You are my mother. I love you".

"I love you too , sweetheart, I love you so m-much" a few tears slip. But she manages to keep the rest back.

" Then at least do something, please".

Regina sighs. " Like what?".

" I don't know. Just- at least feed or something".

" Henry- ".

" Mom. I am not stupid. I can see you're hurting, that you're becoming more frail and have less energy and- I think you need blood. " he adds the last part in a really quiet voice.

" I am fine".

Henry huffs. " Yeah, right" he is quiet for a while, then:  " you wouldn't have to hurt people. The hospital always has blood available".

It is odd, how the cold in her gums intensify while she feels slightly nauesous at the idea as well. Of course I do, I do not wish to drink blood. Old, cold blood. So unlike Emma's warm- She nearly flinches at that thought. She has been having thoughts like those a lot , but it still unbalances her.

" I will think about it" she finally says, allowing Henry to pull away.

" Promise?".

" I promise"

He seems calmer now, almost relaxed. He even smiles brightly at her, and glances at the kitchen. " I think the food is ready " . She loves how he can still get excited about things like that. About food, and comics, and video games.

She waves Ruby , who had been waiting for a sign that they didn't need some time and space anymore, over. She immediately saunters towards them, hands Henry his food and drink with an affectionate " There you go Henry, try to eat a little slower than usual so you don't choke" and a head ruffle before turning towards Regina.

Her smile abruptly drops. As does her stomach. When she tries to think, all she gets is  'thirsty' . Her eyes flit down, to where she can suddenly hear a heartbeat like a drum, all thumpthumpthumpthump. She hisses, her gums suddenly burning like she has drunk hot chocolate far too quickly.

" Ruby " she says. She is aware- but why- that she should tell the girl to leave, but all she wants her to do is closer. She thinks that sound may have been a plate falling- who cares when Ruby is coming even closer than she had been previously and she she smells so good.  

The sound is nice too Regina thinks when Ruby moans really softly as she yanks her forward and immediately slides her lips over her skin, following the path of blue veins towards - she only realizes the growl was all hers three seconds after it happened. She gasps as it all comes rushing in- the sounds of hushed whispers and yells, the smell of coffee and all the other things you can buy in this diner and the furious-worried face of Granny Lucas.

The crossbow still pointed at Regina.

The arrow planted in the wall next to her, its feathers tickling Regina's skin when she turns her head. The blood on her cheek, the wrong colour when she lowers her hand again.

" You got three seconds girl. You back - or do I need to point this thing at your heart? " it's Granny's growl, and it prompts Regina to lick lips that feel dry and kind of burning before croaking " I am back, I believe".

" Ruby, come stand next to me".

" Gran- ".

" Girl".

" Granny- she wasn't going to hurt me".

Regina feels pleasant shivers, and very unpleasant ones crawling and jumping over her spine. She wants this. If I as much as insinuated I wanted my teeth burried in her neck, she would let me. Ruby's eyes are black, with gold pulsing underneath. She makes an angry sound when a hand wraps around her wrist , and tries to pull her back. Regina might be growling herself.

" Gra- " .

" Shut up  "

Granny's hand, the one that is holding her crossbow as she points it at Regina, is trembling. Regina takes another step towards her- when did I stand up, exactly- and keeps staring at her as she smiles at Ruby.  "Ruby?" she immediately yanks herself free and presses against Regina. Who is only barely aware of a harsh voice, and the wood in her right hand. She tosses the arrow back, in the direction where she can feel the other woman is still standing.

Ruby tastes amazing. There is only a slight hint of iron, an aftertaste really. The first impression is spices and meat and- her magic flares, something explodes and she only barely catches Ruby when her knees buckle. She lays the girl behind her, then slowly grabs the arrow in her shoulder.

" Last warning. I don't want to hurt you Regina- but I will if you don't leave my granddaughter alone". like earlier, it all comes rushing back. She is aware that it is Granny standing there, and that she is trembling slightly but that her lips are pulled tight. She won't hesitate. The boy next to her- that's Regina's son. Regina's brave, kind boy and he is screaming. She thinks he might have been screaming her name first, but now it's all " don't hurt DON'T HURT HER DON'T   "  as he struggles against the person holding him.

Regina collapses, falling on the seat of the booth.

She almost pushes Henry away- you could get hurt, you could get hurt, you could hurt - but ultimately, she cannot bring herself to do so. He sobs as he rushes into her arms, and she pulls him towards her and watches Granny over his shoulder. She still has to lower the crossbow.

" I am sorry, I am s-so sorry". She likes Ruby. She could've hurt her. Usually, this would be the part where she gets angry and fights something - preferably the monsters who did this to her. She should toss her fireballs at their faces- surely fire can still destroy them.

In fact, she might have - were it not for the hand that's suddenly on her shoulder.

She tries to breathe through her mouth only, but it is useless. Ruby is still there, and Regina can smell her, and the blood still on her lips tastes delicious and. She wants more.

She grits her teeth, tries to push the hand away. " Ruby- "  the fool just smiles- and Regina feels her control slipping again when she leans in. She feels something that may be teeth sliding out in her mouth when Ruby murmers  "It's okay. I know you won't hurt me. You have my permission".

Before Regina can do something admittedly stupid, something she will regret, Ruby yells  "hey!" and throws her grandmother an affronted look. Granny just rolls her eyes, tightens the hand around her granddaughter's arm.  " I am not going to let you be bitten by a vampire. Isn't it enough to be a werewolf?".

" I wouldn't immediately turn into a vampire" Ruby pouts.

" No, Ruby".

Ruby sighs. " But she needs blood, doesn't she?".

Regina can function normally again, now that there is a little distance between her and Ruby. " That is a very bad idea, miss Lucas".

Ruby turns to her.  "No, it isn't. I don't know how long you can go without blood, but I am guessing not that long before it turns really unpleasant. I heal faster than most people, so it is pretty safe to bite me" . She grins.  "And it feels pretty awesome- really, I wouldn't mind. At all".

Henry stands and wrinkles his nose at Ruby. " Ew"

" What? It does! It kind of feels like- ".

Regina quickly raises her hand to stop Ruby. " That is enough , miss Lucas",

" Maybe I was going to say it just feels like eating sundae".

Regina snifs.  "I very much doubt that".

Ruby's grin widens.  "You are also really hot, which probably- ".

" Ruby!" Henry throws her the most exagerrated, betrayed and revolted look.

Ruby just laughs and playfully pushes him. " Come on, surely you have heard that before "

" I don't want to hear it" he narrows his eyes at her.  "And you have a girlfriend".

"It is not like I am offering to sleep with her- I am just offering my blood".

" Please do not ever say the word 'sleep' in relation to my mom ever again. Ever".

"Okay, whatever mister sensitive".

" Ruby, please stop torturing my son. And I am not going to bite you".

" I am just asking for a repeat performance  "

" Mom!" Henry scolds, when Regina cannot help herself and smiles flirtatiously at Ruby. Stop that! At least she manages enough control to not say Ruby's name like that again.

" My apologies Henry, but- ".

"You know, we could always go upstairs" Ruby offers.

Regina arches her eyebrows. " I am a queen, and have a bit more class than that".

" Yeah, right" Ruby says. She looks like she is going to add something, but then she glances at Henry and shuts up. Granny snorts, and finally lowers the crossbow.

Henry sighs and looks at Regina.  "It might be a good idea, you know" before Regina can say anything, he quickly clarifies.  "To drink her blood".

" Henry. In most tales, vampirism is strongly linked to mind control. It could be very dangerous to drink anyone's blood"

 "Maybe. But it is also dangerous if you don't! ".

Granny sighs. " I cannot believe I am saying this, but perhaps the boy is right" she gently touches Regina's shoulder. And says... something. Regina doesn't really know. She is distracted for a moment, and she clears her throat but it doesn't make the feeling any better. Without thinking , she grabs Granny's hand

It is yanked back. " Don't even think about it, I am not your walking juice box  ".

" I was hardly going to bite you. Your blood - it is less appealing".

Granny scoffs. " You did not seem to mind two seconds ago ".

" That is likely because I am still very thirsty" Regina admitted.

" So you think you wouldn't drink Granny's blood if you weren't like really thirsty".

" I think so"

" So it matters whose blood it is? ".

" Yes. It smells different- and it makes me feel different".

He wrinkles his nose. " Like, when you drink it".

" No, more like- when I am around people".

" Wait a minute" he quickly grabs his bag, that he had placed on the ground when they entered the diner, and takes out a leatherbound notebook, and a pen in the shape of a lightsaber.  "Okay. So what does it feel like?".

" All the customers are calmed down again, and I think some of them are getting antsy "Granny remarks, looking at severely grumpy-looking people. She looks at Regina. " Can I trust you to only set your teeth in actual food, not humans?".

" I am in possession of something called self-control, miss - Granny "

Granny snorts. " Didn't look like that just minutes ago, little miss selfcontrol. Try to keep your teeth tucked in, or whatever" Regina weakly glares at the woman as she marches away, to the counter.

" Should you not get back to work as well?" she asks Ruby.

" Nah. I am entitled to a lunch break anyways" she plops down next to Regina- or tries to. Before she can , Regina stops her with her hands on Ruby's hips and gently pushes her towards Henry. " Sit next to Henry, dear, not me" her fingers tighten on those hips for a moment, and for a crazy second she thinks about pulling Ruby in her lap.

She tries to be subtle about putting more distance between them, even when Ruby sits down next to Henry with an eyeroll and a little huff. She forces her focus back to Henry.  " What did you want to ask, mijo?".

He clicks his pen. " The blood thing. What does it feel like, and smell like. How do you feel right now - do you think you really need to feed right now or is it okay?" he points the pen at her.  "And no lying! I will know it, and you can't sabotage the research like that".

Regina feels warm, and light, and automatically smiles.  "So you have inherited Emma's 'superpower' now".

He just shrugs, then watches her impatiently. She brushes away a stray lock and stares at her plate. What is the best way to explain? She tries to think back to what she felt when Ruby got so near. And compare it to what she has felt around other people. " My senses are sharper. That is one of the things I noticed immediately. My sense of smell has also improved immensely- so I can smell their blood now. And it's iron but it is also very specific".

" Specific?".

" Yes. Miss Lucas, for example, smells like the earth and spices".

"Oh. What do I smell like?".

"Why do you want to know? ".

" I am curious".

" That new aftershave you 'borrowed'  from David. It is quite... overwhelming".

He blushed and looked down. She clumsily reached for his hand and squeezed it once. " It is smells perfectly fine to humans Henry- it is just a bit much for someone who can smell extremely well".

" You sure?".

" Of course".

"So what does my blood smell like? ".

She sighed. Why did I raise him to question things again, and to persist?  " You smell like ink, and old books and chocolate".

He stares at her. " That isn't what my blood smells like, isn't it?".

" No, but- it is kind of difficult to explain Henry. The most I can offer, is that your blood smells sweet with only a hint of bitterness".

" Oh cool" . He scrabbles something in his notebook. " So have you ever wanted to drink mine?".

She inhales sharply, brings her hand to her forehead for a moment. "  Henry- "

" Mom. I don't care, okay? Like, of course I care that this is happening, that you are in danger and everything but if you have ever wanted it- it won't make me look at you differently".

He is so sweet, so understanding and caring. She smiles at him, forces down the tears that are threatening again. " I know, mi cielo, but - this is all just very confusing".

" Okay".

She sighs, then admits " I have- It was not as pressing, or overwhelming as it has been around other people. But I am thirsty and - " She tries to smile, but it ends up being more of a grimace. This thing I am turning into does not care you are my son, and that I love you and I would never do something like that.

" I get it. But-  "he scrunches up his brow a little.  " it is far stronger around other people? ".

" I- yes. I hardly even have to attempt to control myself around you. It is more that the thirst gets stronger than that I truly want to drink your blood".

" Hm. Interesting. What about gramps and grandma?" her heart aches, like someone froze it and then grabbed it to squeeze it like one of those stressballs Archie once had the nerve to offer to her. That small grin- it is all Emma's.  " Do you want to drink Snow White's blood really badly? ".

She manages a chuckle. "Surprisingly, no. It is- with Snow, the thirst is managable. It is worse than around you - it feels like you have not drunk anything yet, and it is already in the afternoon, and you see a glass of water somewhere. It is that feeling. But it is nothing I cannot ignore, or even something that would be in my mind for a long time".

He scribbles that down as well. " And grandpa?".

" It is different with your grandpa. If I forgot to watch myself around, something might accidentally happen. But I have a feeling that I would have to be incredibly thirsty for that to happen".

"" Huh. What is different about Ruby and Emma then?".  

She tries to hide how that unsetttles her, but she can still feel her eye twitch just a little bit. "Emma?".

" Well yeah, you bit her didn't you?".

" I am certain that was merely because I had only just been... changed Henry".

She sees her own you-do-not-fool-me-you-imbecile look thrown back at her. " Mom. I have seen the weeks after. There were at least three accidents where it almost happened again. Three. And you kept- you kept using the Thrall".

" The Thrall".

He grins for a millisecond. " That is what I call the mindcontrol thing. Pretty good, huh?".

" I am certain I did not- ".

"Mom, you totally did. It is not like I am accusing you or anything, okay. I just noticed that you used the Thrall to like get her closer?".

She feels like the oxygen in the air has suddenly replaced with poison, poison that makes her lungs burst, her stomach lose all functionality, her self-loathing pretty much explode like a volcano.

" Mom. It is okay" she shudders and looks down at her hand, which Henry is gently holding. She can't look at his face. He loves Emma. Surely- he wishes something better for her than me. " Mama"

She glances at him.  " If that is what I did- it was never on purpose Henry. I would never-  " She thinks of arranged marriages, and she used to hope desperately that Leopold would be called away that night. She thinks of Emma's face, grim and dark and pained, as she laughs and tries to pretend the creeps that looked a little too long, touched a little too much - or just wanted her to do things for them that would get them into trouble- when she pretends that was nothing.  "  I would never hurt her. Not anymore- ".

" I know. Duh. Mom, you have stood up to Gold for her, and risked a lot for her, and you cook for her when you know she is going to have a long day for work. Seriously, how many times have you given me food that I should give to her?".

" We are friends" it is the only thing she knows to say.

"Yeah. And I think it is great and all, but- " he steels himself, raises his head slightly. " what happened? Why is mom trying to run again? " it is a question he has asked a lot, and the answers she has given ( "I don't know". " she told us, she is busy") have not been believed.

" I have told you that it is miss Swan's-  ".

" Mom. Will you just be truthful, please. I hate this , okay? I hate that she doesn't just barge in anymore, and that you are subdued, and that grandma is sort of fighting with mom and I hate how we might not have family dinner tomorrow or the day after or the day after that. We need to stick together. You are in danger, and mom is running" he sounds like her, so angry with a lot of pain and fear hiding beneath that anger.

She touches his chin gently.  " Your mother will not run forever, Henry. I am sure she will realize what she is doing, and apologize to you".

"She shouldn't apologize to me, I still see her. She is mistreating you. She should be there to protect you!".

" Henry, I can protect myself. Better than ever, actually".

" But what if you get bitten again, or they kidnap you or they force themselves into your dreams. It is only Emma that has kept you in bed these past weeks. If she hadn't stood guard, and been around you and everything, you would've gone to the graveyard again".

That much is true. She feels herself smile at the memory of Emma holding her hand to keep her from getting away in her sleep, or waking and seeing Emma sit in the chair in front of the bed, or any of the other silly things that Emma did because she cared. Because they were friends. And you ruined all that. You are hurting your family. Again

" I am just saying mom, we need Emma".

" I know, Henry, but this is Emma's choice. Not ours. She has to decide for herself what she wants".

" But- " .

" Henry"

He shuts up, but she knows this isn't the last time he will bring it up- and if he won't bring it up again, he will try to find some way to get Emma to at the very least talk with her again. She knows the look in his eyes, knows him well enough to be aware he is already concocting a new operation.

She should be colder. She can feel the cold- but it isn't touching her. That doesn't make sense , but it is like walking in the Snow wrapped in really thick clothing. She breaths and it is visible, she can feel ice beneath her feet and when she tries to light a fire- it freezes before her heavy limbs and struggling magic can make it work.

" What do you want?".

He steps out of the fog. Or perhaps he stops being part of the fog. When he spreads his arms wide open, his cape billows behind him. There was not any wind just now. "  You, my dear, you".

She almost tries to channel the evil queen before she gets nauseas by the thought that she would still cling to that, even now. Instead, she just shrugs and crosses her arm. She purposefully slides her eyes over him, making sure to keep her expression as bored, as disinterested as possible.  

His hands feel like an electrical shock and a snow storm all at once. "  I believe you to be the perfect fit for my family, Regina" the evil queen probably would have ripped his hands off by now. Regina just stands stockstill as he slides them from bare shoulders to her hips. She waits one more second before she pushes him, hard.

She notes he doesn't breathe when she steps close enough that their lips could brush, pushes him even harder. " You-  " she pushes him again. It is almost easy to find rage now, with his smug smile, with the blood around it glaring in her face.  " are not family".

She hisses at the painful electrical shock she receives where his hands are grabbing her wrists. Looking into his eyes is like fighting sleep but she manages a glare whenever she glances at the blood around his mouth.  "What does a creature like you know about family?" she spits in his face.

He chuckles. He chuckles, but the look in his eyes is so pained Regina forgets for a moment and has to bite her lip to keep herself from asking whether he is okay. " Too much to be happy"  he says, which makes her narrow her eyes.

She tries to make her magic work, but it barely flickers - fear works almost as well as anger usually, why is it not working why is it not working. Perhaps because she isn't afraid. His hands are burried into her hair, yanking on it to bend her head back, and a droplet of spit glides of his fangs and falls on her neck and he smells so much like blood that her own teeth start to burn (not his blood- if he has it. Is that- ) but she isn't afraid. She isn't much of anything.

It is good. It is forgetting pain, and warm baths, and touches that make you shiver in a good way. It is good enough that she doesn't protest as his teeth scratch her neck, and again. And again. Doesn't protest - he is a monster, stop him!, who knows what this will do to you- until she sees it.

She yanks back so quickly and with so much strength that she trips over her own feet and he nearly falls as well. She trips over her own feet again in her haste to get up, hardly feeling the pain as her knees hit the ground, she gets up again and throws herself down next to the body.

Her magic does obey now. It seems as desperate as she is, purple sparks hovering above her hands, as she lowers them to throat and the abundance of blood. She can only focus on the blood- not what is beneath it. Not how that throat is -

She takes exatcly ten minutes to asses the injuries and think about what needs to be healed- how it can be healed.

Regina closes her eyes and pushes at her magic. Pushes and forces it to sink into what is left of skin and grits her teeth ( it is pretty much like kitesurfen during a hurricane). She breathes through her mouth and pushes her hands into the wet earth- No. You don't want that. You can't hurt him. You can't.

Still, she feels herself bending over, gently brushing away brunette locks from a face whose features are still set in an expression of acute terror. Wake up baby, wake up. When she presses her lips to his cheek, she knows it was a mistake. She is too close to all the blood on his neck.

Hungry. Thirsty. It burns- but with cold. She reels back when her fangs shoot down painfully - or she tries because a hand buries into her hair and pushes her towards the crumpled, small body in front of her. She struggles, but she can't fight her own instincts and the extremely strong grip on her head all at the same time.

She can't help licking her lips when she is pushed against that neck, her lips smeared with the blood there - she tries to yank away, or light a fireball or do anything but he just laughs.  His voice so close to her ear, his weight at her back- it all makes her sick.

" Just give in - and I will give you even something better"

" Get the hell away from me" she growls, her fingers burning as she gets ready to thow him off- the sudden flash of heat automatically makes her throw herself forward, using her body as a shield. She keeps pressed down, does not even move when she feels her shoulders burn.

She only stands when a familiar touch is on her arm, and quickly pulls her up.

Emma lifts the child in her arms without another word. She puts away her sword before she starts to walk. Regina presses closer to her, summoning a fireball and glancing around the courtyard. She curls her hand around Emma's arm, then allows her magic to take them.

As soon as they materialize in her bedroom, Emma puts the child down on the bed. She takes a step back, then asks  "Is he - "  she grits her teeth, shakes her head. Regina presses her hands against her stomach in a hopeless effort to calm down- and to keep herself from going over to hug Emma.

She does walk over, and places her hand on Emma's arm though.  " I aleady healed him".

" And he is- ".

" I thought they had ripped his throat at first. But I believe the injuries are more superficial than I believed at first- ".

" Super- Regina, look at all the blood!".

" Yes, well. I do not- " she yanks Emma back from the bedside when the boy suddenly grabs for her arm, his eyes snapping open. She pushes Emma behind her at the ferocious snarl, the sounds, the - well everything. Stubborn idiot she thinks as Emma tries to push past her. Tries being the operative word, because no way that Regina is letting Emma rush towards the boy when he is snarling and spitting like this.

They exchange a startled, worried look and rush forward at the same time when the boy starts to groan instead of hiss, nearly black eyes terrified. He opens his mouth " M-mamma?" then screams. Regina pushes him down as he starts to kick, hit and try to crawl at his own skin. She grimaces when his teeth sink into her hand instead of his own.

" Emma-  "

" Right here" Emma pants, struggling to hold the kicking/screaming/slapping boy down.  "  Jesus kid, calm down okay?".

The boy actually listens for a moment. Regina sees her own pain in Emma's heartbroken expression as the boy's lips tremble and he whispers  "Dolore" .

Regina gently wipes a strand of hair from a very sweaty forehead. " Il dolore si arresta" she whispers. She smiles as he grabs her hand. He swallows, nods. She stares at his arm- it is not just too thin, but the blue veins are pulsing. And - Emma flinches next to her as the boy starts screaming again.

" Regina. What the hell is going on?"

" He is changing "she breathes.

" Shit".

"Quite" she says, trying to grab his arm again as he flails on the bed. His body arches, his eyes rolling, but before Regina can do anything, he already collapses and his head lols to the side. She presses her fingers to his neck, holding her breath-

she looks at Emma.  "He is alive"

" You didn't react like that ".

Regina shrugs.  "I am rather used to pain  ".

" Regina-  ".

" However, we are not knowledgable enough to assume that is the reason. Something else may be going on ".

" You were like that too"  Emma said quietly.

" Like what?" she automatically squeezed Emma's bicep, trying to comfort her.

" In this coma-like state. It was goddamn awful".

" I remember"

They stared at the motionless boy for a moment before Emma asked " what do we do now?".

"He can stay here, as long as he needs".

" And what if he changes? ".

Regina sighed.  "The hospital, I suppose".

" Ah"  Emma is squirming, enough that Regina slowly turns to look at her an arches an eyebrow at her. Emma rolls her eyes slightly, but swallows and softly says "  'm sorry".

" And what , exactly, are you sorry for? " even if a part of her immediately wants to forgive Emma- you are the one who was foolish enough to kiss her- the rest of her wants her to squirm a little. Wants at least a little elboration, because she had just been thinking she might actually get a happy ending when Emma had run away.

She doesn't even know what Emma is feeling, because the cruel ( yes cruel . Giving hope and then ripping it away by running is nothing short of cruel) woman is not looking at her. "  Fine. I am going to check on Henry, miss Swan. I understand if this friendship between us has to come to an en-".

It is impressive how quickly Emma moves forward. Regina sighs as the door slams closed, Emma's magic obviously the culprit.  "Emma. There is no need to damage either my door or my walls- ".

"Regina, hear me out okay? I really like this thing we have. Because you're kind of an asshole at times, but I get that is also because of your very high-maintenance mother and well- everything. But what I said , I meant that. No one understands me like you do. You wouldn't think to judge me, or just forgive me because you are a hero or whatever, or even demand that I be the saviour"

Regina couldn't have frozen more if someone had tried to use squid ink on her again. " You are the only one in this whole damn town I practically had to force to let me help with finding their happy ending" .

Emma swallows, nods. " I would never ruin that. Really. Or do you- do you want to stop being friends?".

" No. I enjoy it" . She almost adds all the other things she wants. How she wants to wake up, and see that awful jacket haphazardly thrown over a chair. How she wants to slap Emma's hand away from the pots and pans on the stove. How she wants to laugh at Emma's silly jokes, and listen to her stories. How she wants to bicker and fight and make up. (because for a moment, she had genuinely believed Emma might want those things, too. But she didn't. She had run away, had she not?)

" Great. I - think it is great, you know. I have never really had friends. Apart from Lily, but that was a freaking mess. And really, what are friends worth when they're just your friends because they are predestined or drawn to you or whatever shit it was that kept pulling Lily to me, and me to Lily" Emma shakes herself. " Anyways, I like it too. I really like your cooking, and you help me with all this stuff- like the magic, and you are pretty great when you are not plotting my downfall " she laughs, a little awkwardly.

" Wonderful"  Regina says emotionless. Just like her mother, destroying me. Although I am certain that the storybook was not alluding to this method of destruction.

"  Yeah. So, friends? " .

She deserves better anyways Regina reminds herself as she tries to smile through the pain.  " Of course. You are forgiven, miss- Emma".

Emma exhales slowly. " That means a lot, thanks. And uh- I really am sorry. I shouldn't have run like that".

" I am familiar with your special brand of coping, Emma" it is not completely gentle, because Regina cannot have Emma running away. Not when that could hurt Henry again. But it is gentle enough that Emma still smiles at her.

" I know. And I- I am trying not to be that person anymore".

" Okay. We have bigger things to be concerned about"  she looks at her wall in purpose, because more of Emma Swan's stupid face and stupid kind expression and she will forever embarrass herself by breaking down crying. And I do not want Emma to feel guilty. She has started to feel far too responsible for people's happiness.

"  I guess- Regina, do we not need to talk more about this. I mean, you-  " She cannot even bring herself to say it, she is so revolted by it. Regina's eyesight is slightly blurry, but she manages to swallow even if it feels like it is not saliva but tiny daggers and glance at Emma. Who looks ready to bolt again.

" No, miss Swan. We need to do what is best for our son. And what is b-best-  " she actually needs several seconds to calm herself, don't cry don't embarrass yourself, and she looks at the wall because if she looks at Emma Swan everything hurts too much. " for Henry, is if his mothers are both here. And they are cooperating. So that is what we will do. You will apologize to Henry. You will explain it to him. And you will never do that again".

She stares at the wall as Emma comes closer. She has to clench her hands into fists to keep herself from actually, physically pushing the woman away. Now that she can no longer fool herself into believing that somewhere, deep down but somewhere , Emma feels like this as well- the very thought of Emma being near her is too hurtful right now.

" Go, mi- Emma".

She hovers, and for a moment Regina desperately wants Emma to reach out. To ask whether that is tears brimming in Regina's eyes. To notice that she is nearly crumbling. Emma reaches for her, but she closes her mouth again before saying something. She squeezes, once, then slowly lets go and gives Regina a timid smile before the door slams,

and Regina crumbles against it.

#swan queen #season 6 au #vampires

[beanieandflannels-blog]

Fateful Encounters Chapter One

“Fuck,” was the first thing Bennie Cortez thought when she jolted awake from that nightmare. Letting out a disheartened groan, she ran her tawny hands through her unruly mop of dark chestnut hair. It was the fourth time that week she was struck with that god-awful nightmare.

Sprinting through the thicket of the Westbrook Groves, the fireflies her only source of light and her hair flapping through the wind, as Bennie was being chased by a creature of hell, only to be gobbled up when her legs gave out from exhaustion.

“Manzanaaaaaaa?! Are you upppp?!” a familiar tenor-ranged voice called out to Bennie, muffled slightly by the rapid knocking on the white pine door. Only one person called her by that nickname, Bennie’s twin brother Benjamín, who went by Ben. Mumbling a half-hearted ‘Come in!’, Bennie crawled back under the covers as Benjamín entered the dimly-lit room, the strand of lanterns hanging through the ceiling casted a shadow over his sharp jade-stoned eyes, intensifying his dark underbags from late night study sessions.

“Get up,” he stated, his voice dropping an octave to signal the seriousness in his tone.

“Nope,” was Bennie’s response, burying her face into the memory-foam pillow, flipping Ben off in the process.

Ben merely sighed at his sister’s early morning antics, it had become a daily nusinance to him to get her out of bed. Quickly cracking his knuckles, he used all of his strength to grab Bennie by her ankles and dragged her out of bed. Despite being shoved out of bed every school morning, Bennie still yelped in surprise, colliding with the beige carpeted floor with a dull thud.

“HIJO DE PUTA!” Bennie cursed at her brother, the Spanish phrase rolled off her tongue flawlessly, as she clutched her head in pain.

“We come from the same mom, Manzana. Now, GET UP!” with one swift motion, Ben grabbed Bennie by her wrists and launched her up from the ground. Bennie stumbled a bit, but soon regained her footing, shooting her twin a stone-cold glare.

Although Ben and Bennie were nearly indentical copies of their father in appearance, their personalities were polar opposites.

Ben was the more outgoing and charismatic of the two, his good looks and natural charm made him of the most popular guys at Westbrook High. Along with being a honors student, Ben was also the captain of the junior varsity football and Vice President of the student council. All the girls loved him, all the boys envied, and all the adults respected him. He was the perfect everything; son, student, athlete. Sadly, he was also the perfect brother to Bennie, which made Bennie's desire to despise him nearly impossible.

And then there was Bennie.

Extremely introverted and sharp-tongued, she was more like her late mother than Ben was. Bennie was also a honors student, earning better grades than her male counterpart, but her reserved nature and mental instability made her a background character and a frequent target for humiliation by the more self-centered kids at school. It wasn’t Bennie’s fault that she suffered from mental illness, she was the twin who unfortunately inherited their father’s anxiety issues and their late mother’s schizophrenia. Only through the fine arts, Bennie was able to truly convey her emotions.

“Papá and Madrastra are going out on a date tonight, so we have to babysit,” answered Ben, as Bennie opened her messy closet of assorted flannels and skinny jeans.

“Correction, YOU have to babysit. I have band practice,” hummed Bennie in response, choosing a classic dull red flannel paired with a black skull-patterned tank top and washed out skinny jeans from the closet. Bennie was never the social butterfly and used to only have one friend, but all of that changed freshman year when she found that poster of a teenage indie rock band looking for a guitarist and lead singer.

Ben shot a glare at his twin sister, crossing his toned arms against his chest, “I covered you last time! You said that you would cover me next time and next time is this time. We even made a twin pact! A twin pact!”

Bennie paused from changing, letting out a breathless curse. Twin pacts were sacred, breaking one would probably cause a full-scale catastrophe. Getting out of her nightgown and pulling the skinny jeans over her bare legs, Bennie replied with a disappointed sigh, “Fine, I’ll cover you…on two conditions.”

Ben cocked a thick brown eyebrow in bewilderment, “And what might those two conditions be?”

“One,” she held up a finger, “Tell me where you’re going tonight,” she held up another finger, “Two, I’m inviting Anners over.”

“I’m going on a date with Jackie Robinson to and sure, you can invite Annamarie over,” stated Ben, running his hands through his shaggy locks, with a small smile upon his pale rose lips at the mention of Bennie’s best friend.

Bennie made a sour face at the mention of Jackie Robinson, the school whore who only got popular through sucking cock, as she got the tank top and flannel on her body, “Jackie Robinson? You sure have low standards, Mr. Vice Prez,” earning another death glare from her brother. Ben huffed out in retort, “Says the girl who hasn’t even had her first kiss.”

“Says the boy who doesn’t know what a clitoris is,” Bennie spat with just as much venom, reaching for her hairbrush that was on the nearby vanity.

Ben’s sun-kissed face instantly flushed into a shade of scarlet red, scrunching his face up in utter annoyance, “You’re walking to school then, dummy” before sprinting out of the room. Bennie barley had time to react when she heard the roar of a car engine and the screeching of tires from outside.

“SCREW YOU, BEN!” she yelled out the window, as a familiar red convertible pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. Since either of the twins were old enough to drive, Ben’s teammate Paul would drive them to school. Bennie buried her face in her hands and let out a frustrated groan, pissed off that she would have to take the bus to school. She loathed the school bus with every fiber of her being, the only other people who rode the same bus as her were obnoxious freshmen and that one senior who smelled like pot.

“Bennie! You missed your ride!” a deep voice laced with an Argentinan accent called out from downstairs. Pulling at tuffs of her messy bob, Bennie yelled back, “I’m gonna take the bus, Papá!”

“Okay, mi hija! I’m off to work! I love you and be good!" her father shouted, ending the brief conversation by exiting the house and hopping into his Toyota, driving off to work. Bennie sighed in relief, the anxious feeling in her stomach subsiding, and she placed her thick-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, slightly askew. She quickly got her beat up Doc Martins and signature beanie on before grabbing her military-styled messenger bag and jogging down to the first floor of the Shingle-styled house.

—–

“Morning, Bennie!” a high-pitched nasal voice greeted her when Bennie entered the kitchen. The voice belonged to a short curvy woman with Scandavian features, fixing breakfast for a gargling toddler in a shabby plastic high-chair. Forcing a smile onto her lips, Bennie returned the greeting, “Good morning, Ms. Cynthia…”

The woman, Cynthia, whipped her head around, baby blue eyes fixated on the tall girl. She smiled at Bennie and chuckled lightheartedly, “Bennie, how many times I have to tell you? Call me Mom, silly! Your father and I have been married for five years!"

“Mommy! Pancakes!” the toddler, Bennie’s stepbrother Nathaniel, called out, banging his little fists against the high-chair’s built-in table. Cynthia smiled sweetly at her child, handing him a small plate of pancakes. Nathaniel let out a delighted squeal, stuffing fistful fulls into his tiny mouth.

“I’m heading to school. Later, Cynthia,” Bennie referred to her stepmother by her first name just out of spite.

“Okay! Have a good day, dear! Your medicine and breakfast are on the dining table!” Cynthia didn’t pick up on Bennie’s harshness, focusing on Nathaniel to make sure he wasn’t choking on his breakfast.

Bennie rolled her apple green eyes at the woman, walking out of the kitchen and into the dining room. Cynthia was right, a small plate of bacon and eggs was on the table with a glass of water and a pill box. She grabbed the pill box and popped open the compartment labeled as 'Tuesday’, placing the pills on her tongue and swallowing them with the assistance of water.

Bennie grabbed a nearby container and placed the food in it for later, shouting a fake-sounding thanks to Cynthia. She ran out of the house swiftly before her stepmother could respond, making her way to the bus stop. Placing her vintage headphones on, Bennie began to blast Panic! At the Panic to tune out the world around her.

When Death of a Bachelor came on, Bennie was already at the bus stop, a small playground that was devoid of neighborhood children. She sat down on one of the swings, still jamming out to the beat of the bass, and Bennie proceeded to scarf down her breakfast, knowing fully-well that the bus driver would scold her if she ate on the bus. Bennie managed to inhale the bacon and eggs in less than two minutes, almost beating her record of a minute thirty seven.

Ding! Bennie's cellphone suddenly chirped, signaling the arrival of a text notification. She whipped out her iPhone 5, small compared to the size of her hand, and read the text. It was from her best friend, Annamarie.

💕Anners💕: Already at school. Had to redo an assignment, but I'm waiting for you near the front entrance. How's your morning? Did you sleep well?

Whatever stupor Bennie was in, she immediately snapped out of it at the sight of the text. No matter if she was angry or upset, a text from Annamarie always cheered her up. However, before she had the chance to reply back, something rolled up to her foot.

"Huh?" Bennie cocked an eyebrow in confusion, pausing her music to see what had landed by her feet. It was an orb, about the size of Bennie's palm, the purplish cystral gave off a mystic glow. Bennie suddenly felt compelled to examine it, drawn by the curiosity to see if it was real or just another visual hallucination. Yet, the moment she touched the orb, it began to hover and spin rapidly, causing Bennie to retract her hand in surprise and fall off the swing with a crunchy-sounding thud.

"Shit!" she groaned, wincing at the mulch chips that embedded themselves into her head. Bennie tried to get back on her feet, but a heavy yet invisible weight was applied to her chest all of a sudden. It was the orb, somehow it became the size of a bowling ball. Struck with fear, Bennie quickly yelled out, "Help! Help! Why is a bowling ball on me?! What the fuck is happening?!"

Someone did hear her pleads for help, the moment Bennie reopened her eyes, she saw a young man hovering above her. Literally HOVERING ABOVE her. The two of them locked eyes with one another, Bennie's apple green ones with the stranger's heterochromatic icy blue and warm amber.

He was terryifing gorgeous in Bennie's eyes; his hair was a wave of ombré from dirty blonde to light brown, reminding her of lightning bolts, and his skin was free of any blemishes and the softest shade of chestnut brown. He was around Bennie's age, maybe seventeen to nineteen, yet his eyes shined with wisdom and experience, making him seem older than he appeared. What made Bennie even more confused, besides the fact that this guy was levitating, was his choice of attire.

A puffy vanilla-colored dress shirt with a fringed collar and black dress pants that seemed to show off his muscles, scuffed-up boots on his feet that stopped at the mid-knee region, and a satin cape draped over his bony shoulders.

"Uh...are- are you some David Bowie impersonator?" Bennie blurted out, the man's choice in clothing reminding her of that one movie where David Bowie was a goblin king. Dammit, what character did he play? Jason? James? Jareth! Jareth from the Labyrinth, Bennie recounted how many times Annamarie forced her to watch that classic Bowie film.

"What? David Bowie? No," the young man spoke for the first time, his voice scratchy and rough like a smoker's yet eloquent and sharp like an affluent heir.

Before Bennie had a chance to respond, the young man snapped his fingers and the strange orb was lifted from her chest, spinning mid-air until it shrunk to the size of a marble. Bennie got up from the ground, finally free to move again, stared in awe, as the David Bowie impersonator made a piece of string appear out of thin air. He connected it to the orb, forming a bracelet, and placed it in the palm of Bennie's hand.

"You're gonna need this," the man stated, tying the bracelet over Bennie's sleeve delicately.

"Wait-" it was too late, the man had already disappeared from Bennie's line of vision. Bennie stood there, taking a moment to process what had just happened. She shook her head, dismissing the experience as a mulit-sensual hallucination. Remembering that she hadn't reply to Annamarie's text, Bennie whipped out her phone and sent a quick reply, just when the school bus pulled up at the stop.

Just peachy.

I need to get my anti-psychotics readjusted, Bennie thought to herself, the conversation between that strange man still on her mind. It was just another hallucination, right? Right.

Yet, the bracelet was still around her wrist.