#sic of crows fic | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

seidenbros · 2 months

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Let's Hide Under the Covers

Pairing: Wylan van Eck x Jesper Fahey Summary: “I can’t look at myself without seeing my father,” Wylan said with a sigh, his eyes fixed on Jesper’s chest again, until Jesper tilted his head up again so they could look at each other. “You look nothing like him.” Jesper raised his other hand as well to frame Wylan’s face and kiss the tip of his nose. or Wylan gets kicked out by his father after finding out that he is homosexual. Jesper and Kaz take him in, but Wylan struggles with looking at his own reflection, always seeing his own father there. So, a bit of change needs to happen. Word count: 3.580 Warning/Tags: angst with a happy ending, emotional abuse, Jan van Eck is the scum of the earth, established Wesper, mentioned homophobia, mentla breakdown, love confession A/N: Inspired by one of shog_draws (Instagram) drawings. This turned out a whole lot angstier than I wanted it to be, but ey, just go with the flow, right? No beta as usual, I hope you like it 💚 Read on AO3

He knew the face that was staring back at him when he looked into the mirror, had known it all his life, but ever since being kicked out, Wylan always saw his father when he looked at himself, and it tore him apart. He actually looked a lot more like his mother, but lately, he saw the man who loathed him that much more and more. The shape of his eyes, the freckled cheeks, even his hair. It was delusional, Jesper had told him multiple times that he looked nothing like his father, and he should know since he’d spent a lot of time looking at Wylan’s stupid face.

They’d met at university, but not because they were in the same courses or because they had the same friends, it was rather by accident. Wylan was studying music, because he wasn’t good at anything else - his father’s words of course. In fact, he was happy that he got this opportunity, to do something he loved, something he really burnt for. Being as good as he was, he got a few privileges, and maybe, it also had a bit to do with his father’s money, who’d donated to the university time and time again. So, Wylan got to practise piano in the auditorium whenever it was free and whenever he liked. It was some kind of escape from home in a way, so he’d really spent a lot of time there. And that was where Jesper had found him about half a year ago. He’d played a prank on one of his friends and he’d used the auditorium to hide. Wylan hadn’t realised that he’d gotten company, so engrossed in the piece he was working on. Jesper had taken a seat somewhere at the edge, drawn in by his playing, by the way he took the papers and scribbled something on them, his pen between his teeth or behind his ear while he was playing. Only when he’d leaned back and put down the pen, he’d realised that he wasn’t alone anymore, because Jesper had gotten up to clap and cheer for him. Needless to say, Wylan had nearly had a heart attack because of that, but in the end, this had been the day they’d started talking. And ever since then, Jesper had come by to listen to him play when he wasn’t in one of his courses or working as a barista. They’d had their first date about a month later, and hadn’t wasted any time to go on their next date and the next, share their first kiss and spend the first night together. Wylan had told him pretty early on that his father didn’t know about him being homosexual, that he was scared to tell him, and Jesper understood. His father had been really accommodating when he’d told him that he was bisexual, had told him that he loved him no matter what, since Jesper would always be his son - he just wanted him to come home with a nice person that treated him right. But he knew how closed-minded people could be, so he was perfectly fine with keeping what they had between them until Wylan was ready to tell his father, just that this opportunity had never presented itself, since someone had outed him to his father, sending him pictures of Wylan and Jesper together. It wasn’t a scandalous picture or anything, just the two of them being close, sitting at the piano bench together, sharing a kiss. That someone had followed Wylan to take these pictures in the first place, was outrageous, but when Jesper had found out that Jan van Eck had hired someone to spy on his own son, he’d nearly lost it, though that was probably more because Wylan had called him after being thrown out of the house he’d called his home for all his life so that he could come and pick him up. Oh, Jesper and Kaz had had to hold each other back to not go up to Wylan’s father and give him a piece of their mind. Wylan hadn’t even been able to get all his stuff out of there, just a couple of clothes before Jan van Eck had pushed him out the door telling him that he didn’t have a son anymore, and that he should never show up again. He’s already been a disgrace because he wasn’t able to read, but kissing another man, a man like him was even worse.

Two weeks had passed since that day. It felt like it had been yesterday, and at the same time, it felt like it had happened ages ago. Wylan was grateful for Jesper and Kaz as well, because the two of them shared an apartment and let Wylan live with them. He didn’t need a lot of space anyway, sharing the bed with Jesper, and he cooked for them as often as he could, sometimes even with Jesper together. Wylan was endlessly grateful to the both of them, and when he told them that he’d find a place of his own, even Kaz told him that he didn’t have to rush anything. Kaz, who looked like he could crush you with a simple look in your direction, or might plot your murder, had a soft spot for Wylan, especially after he’d heard about all the things Jan van Eck had done to belittle him, make him feel worthless. Throwing Wylan out had just been the cherry on top in the end, and Kaz was sure that he was better off away from his so-called father.

Wylan jumped a little when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his middle, a warm, naked chest pressed against his back. Jesper . He pulled Wylan even closer against himself, nuzzling his nose against the nape of his neck, into his hair there. He pressed a soft kiss to his spine after a moment, Wylan relaxing against him, putting his hands on Jesper’s forearms. He always managed to do that, put his mind to rest, let him calm down. It was almost like a magic trick or a switch that Jesper flipped.

“Why aren’t you in bed with me, Wy? It’s four in the morning,” he murmured against his skin, his lips slowly working their way along his shoulder, and if he could, he’d kiss every little freckle there, he’d told Wylan that much more than once. Jesper propped up his chin on his boyfriend’s shoulder and looked at him through the mirror.

“Sorry… Just I don’t know. Sorry.” Wylan cast his eyes down and started nibbling on his bottom lip. When Jesper took his arms off him and stepped back, Wylan wanted to protest and pull him back, but there was no need to do that when Jesper turned him around to face him.

“Stop apologising and talk to me.” Jesper cupped his face and Wylan immediately leaned into his touch, craving it. “You do know that you can talk to me, right?”

“Of course, it’s just… it’s stupid.” Wylan’s hands landed on Jesper’s hips, needing that kind of body contact, because it grounded him. Jesper grounded him.

“It’s not stupid if it affects you like that. Your feelings are valid, remember that!” Jesper had told him that before, but he knew that it wasn’t so easy for him to open up, to really talk to him, and express his feelings after years of being told that he should suck it up, get over it, and whatever else his father had told him. Even after his mother’s death, he’d been told these things, and once again, Jesper wanted to strangle that bastard.

“I know.” And he did, but it was still difficult to act accordingly, because he was too used to being silent about these things. But Jesper really knew how to break through his shell, how to wipe his mind clean. One kiss managed to do that, and feeling his lips on his own right now definitely made him a lot calmer right now.

“So…?” Jesper pressed carefully, mumbling the word against his lips before he pulled back, rubbing his thumb lovingly along his cheek. Wylan’s own thumbs slowly started stroking back and forth along his skin where his hands lay on his hips.

“I can’t look at myself without seeing my father,” Wylan said with a sigh, his eyes fixed on Jesper’s chest again, until Jesper tilted his head up again so they could look at each other.

“You look nothing like him.” Jesper raised his other hand as well to frame Wylan’s face and kiss the tip of his nose. “Your nose is much narrower than his, your freckles are nothing that you have from him.” Jesper kissed both cheeks, pretty sure that he’d gotten the freckles from his Mum. He’d only seen a picture once, and that was still in Wylan’s room in the van Eck mansion. “You have the kindest eyes I’ve ever seen, and you have so much love to give.” Which couldn’t be said for his sorry excuse for a father.

This time, it was Wylan who kissed Jesper, who rose to the balls of his feet and put everything he felt right now into that kiss. Jesper’s hands dropped to his shoulders, squeezing them, holding onto them until Wylan pulled back again.

“Thank you,” Wylan whispered against his lips, lowering himself again, his hands finding their way onto Jesper’s chest, placing his right one above his heart so that he could feel its strong, steady beat beneath it.

“I’ll tell you again and again if I have to.” And he knew he’d have to tell him at least a couple more times. Something like this wasn’t easily overcome, the emotional abuse of years manifesting itself like that. But Jesper would tell him and show him how wonderful he thought him again and again until Wylan believed it himself or rather didn’t doubt that anymore, and realised that he had nothing in common with Jan van Eck. For now, they went back to bed, cuddled close together and got a few more hours of sleep before they had to get up and face the day.

A few days later, Jesper came home late in the evening from work, looking forward to wrapping his arms around Wylan and pulling him close after the last couple of customers had really pushed him with their behaviour, but one of his colleagues had pulled him aside, had taken him to the back so that he could calm down a little, and then work behind the scenes more or less, clean up and stuff. That way, he hadn’t had to deal with them anymore. But now, work was behind him, and he could enjoy a quiet rest of the evening and night with Wylan, since they didn’t have to get up in the morning - and because Kaz wasn’t home for the night. He hadn’t told him what he was up to, just that he had some business to attend, and Jesper knew better than to ask any kind of questions about that.

“Wylan?” he called out once he’d closed the door behind him, taking off his shoes and hanging up his keys. No response. Instead, he heard music coming from the bathroom, so maybe, Wylan was enjoying a hot bath, figuring that nobody would disturb him. Jesper took off his shirt while he walked over to the bathroom and dropped it right in front of the door.

“Want some company?” he asked while opening the door and stepping inside, but there was no Wylan in the bathtub, and the situation was nothing like he’d expected. Wylan was sitting on the floor, his back against the bathtub, hugging his knees. He seemed to be in his own world, not realising that Jesper was in the room with him. His heart dropped upon seeing him like this. He knew that there were good and bad days. Days where Wylan was just himself, could enjoy their time together, laugh with him, but also days where he was somewhere far away, doubting himself and everything he was doing, and Jesper knew why this happened. They’d talked about it, about Wylan’s past, about his father and all the things that had happened, that Wylan had thought were normal until he’d seen Kaz’ and Jesper’s reactions. Jesper had promised him that he’d be there every time he needed him, every time he felt like this, so he wondered why he hadn’t called him or sent him a voice message. Then again… Wylan being Wylan didn’t want to be a burden to him. He wasn’t, not at all, because Jesper loved him and wanted him to be happy all the time.

“Hey…” Jesper lowered his voice as he sank down on his knees next to Wylan, carefully touching his fingertips to his bare arm.

“Jesper!” Wylan stared at him wide-eyed, before he quickly lowered his head again. “Sorry, I didn’t want you to find me like this. I wanted to clean up before you got back.”

“Clean up?” And the Jesper saw it. There was a pair of scissors lying next to Wylan, some cut off hair as well. Oh no . “Did you…?”

“I needed something to change and then I…” He shrugged his shoulders and turned his head a little to show Jesper just where he’d chopped off some hair. “Is it bad?”

Jesper reached out his hand to rake his fingers through his hair at the side, realising just how much was missing there.

“I think, we can fix that. You’ll just have to walk around with shorter hair for some time. Give me the scissors, I can do that.”

“But…”

“But what, darling?”

“You love my hair!” Wylan looked at him again, eyes a bit wide and his cheeks turning that beautiful shade of light pink that Jesper loved to see so much,

“I do, but I love you more. And I will still love you with short hair.” The words were out before he realised it, because he hadn’t said them out loud yet. He’d been feeling them for a while, had been thinking them, but it was the first time he spoke them. Upon realising that, his heart beat faster in his chest, especially because Wylan didn’t say anything for a moment. But then, Wylan leaned over and kissed him, soft and sweet at first, but more insistent after a moment, taking Jesper’s hand into his own.

“I feel the same way.” Wylan’s words were a mere whisper against Jesper’s lips, but he heard them, felt the vibration of the words against his lips, and his heart threatened to beat right out of his chest. He’d had his fair share of adventures and dates, but Wylan was the first person able to capture his heart, because he knew that it was safe with him.

“So that means you trust me to cut your hair?” Jesper asked with a grin, trying to take the seriousness out of this situation a little bit, grinning at Wylan and wiggling his eyebrows.

“I trust you with everything.” Honest to a fault, and that made Jesper’s heart speed up even more. Luckily, he had something to do, something he had to concentrate on, because otherwise, he’d probably start babbling because he was a bit overwhelmed with this admission. When Wylan tried to get up, jesper quickly put his hand on Wylan’s thigh and held him down.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Don’t you want me to sit down on a chair or something like that.”

“Nope, we’re good right where we are. Need you close.” With that, he grabbed Wylan’s calf and pulled him closer, pulled his leg over his own, grinning at him. “I missed you all day, so this is perfect.”

He took the scissors from Wylan and got to work. He really didn’t want to screw this up, but he had to go a bit with the length Wylan had already cut a part of his hair to and so he snapped away. He was so concentrated, that he stuck his tongue between his teeth when he assessed his work, looked at the left and the right side. He really managed to work in silence, or rather without saying anything because the room was filled with music and Wylan humming quietly along to it.

“Alright, we’re nearly finished.” Jesper looked at him, leaned back for a moment before sitting up straight again. “Just a little shorter at the front so I can see your stupid face.” He winked at Wylan as he said this, making him chuckle, and it was the sweetest sound he’d heard all day. “There, all done.”

Jesper put the scissors aside and leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips, before he carefully got up and helped Wylan do the same. He had to admit that he was a little nervous when he led Wylan to the mirror and stood behind him, so they could both look at his reflection. He certainly looked different, well, his hair did, but apart from that, he still had those incredibly impressive eyes framed by long lashes that showed so much kindness, still the same lips that Jesper loved to kiss, still the same man who’d stolen his heart that first day in the auditorium.

“It’s short.” Wylan stated, squinting a little as he touched his fingers to his hair.

Well, yes, Captain Obvious.

“And I… I don’t see my father anymore.” Without waiting for a reaction, even a word, Wylan turned around in Jesper’s arms and kissed him, full of love and feeling, and a lot of happiness. Jesper wrapped his arms around his waist and held him close, sinking into the kiss, happy as well because Wylan was happy.

They only broke apart when they heard a knock on the door and Kaz calling out to them. Jesper’s brows drew together in confusion.

“Didn’t he say, he’d be gone all night?” Jesper slowly let go of Wylan to turn towards the door and open it.

“Yeah, I thought so.” Wylan took Jesper’s hand in his own before they walked out of the bathroom. They still had to clean up, but they could do that in a minute.

“Kaz, we-”

“It won’t take long,” Kaz interrupted him and turned to go to the kitchen, expecting them to follow him, and they did. Jesper knew Kaz long enough to know what he wanted them to do.

“I think these belong to you, Wylan.” Kaz pointed at the pretty full table. There were some clothes, lots of papers - Jesper recognised the sheet music among them - Wylan’s beloved flute and probably the most important part, the picture of Wylan’s Mum.

“How did you…?” Wylan let go of Kesper’s hand to pick the picture up. He was biting his bottom lip to keep the tears at bay, but Jesper understood him, knew how much this meant to him.

“I have my ways. The less you know-”

“-the better,” Jesper finished for him, smiling at his best friend. “Thank you, Kaz.”

“Yes, thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“In fact, I do.” He didn’t elaborate, but Jesper knew what he meant, because Kaz had lost his brother, the only family he’d had left at this point, and for Wylan, it seemed to be the same, because Jan van Eck had never really been a father to him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He tapped his cane against the table and then he was gone again.

“Did he…?”

“Trust me, you really don’t want to know.” Jesper let out a laugh, because it really was better not to know how he got certain things done. That way, they couldn’t tell anyone else even by accident.

“You’re right.” Now, Wylan laughed along with Jesper, leaning up against his side. “I’m just really grateful for that. Didn’t think I’d ever see my stuff again.”

“Yet, here we are.” Jesper pressed a kiss to his temple. “How about you bring that stuff in our room and I clean up the bathroom?”

Our room . To him it was, and he hoped that Wylan felt the same way, felt so at home here, that he could call it that. Because he knew for a fact that Kaz didn’t want him to move out. Otherwise, he would have helped him find an apartment right from the start.

“Are you sure? I can help you.”

“I know, but you don’t have to.” He cupped Wylan’s cheek and leaned down to give him a kiss. “And when we’re both finished, we can cuddle up in bed. Sounds good?”

“Wonderful.” Before he turned and put his belongings into their room, Wylan stole another kiss, unable to stop himself from smiling. He was brimming with happiness right now. He had the most wonderful boyfriend, Kaz had gotten him the photo of his Mum and his flute back among other things, and he finally lived in a place where he felt at home for the first time since his mother had died. He knew that there was still a rocky road ahead of him, that there would be moments like tonight when he’d be down, but Jesper had once again shown him that he was there for him, that he was by his side and wouldn’t just leave because it became difficult. Because he loved Wylan, and Wylan loved him, and that made all the difference.

#wesper #wesper fic #wylan van eck x jesper fahey #jesper fahey x wylan van eck #wesper angst #six of crows fic #sic of crows angst #wesper fanfiction #staffi writes

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wigglepiggle · 3 months

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Hey <- is a mutuals that like plague doctors and crows. and goop

hi!!! I have the guy who I hopefully won't talk too much about but no promises because I'm the autism

that post was about this guy venomshank phighting he's a deity and he's cool

he wears the plague doctor mask because he has this issue where he has the ability to turn people into zombies but no control of when he'll just start going feral biting people so he has to wear the mask and lock it so he doesn't kill everyone he also has a zombie army and sometimes he'll show up in game and sic them on people (in a controlled environment where everyone's already trying to kill each other)

and the crow part. he has a crow as a pet it's the family pet (he has a son) the crow's name is sisyphus and it's in his concept art (by soda_stuff who's on tumblr their art is so good) and the moment I learned he had a crow he became my favorite sword (phighting deity group) sisyphus beloved crow

look at his under the mask face. :}

and the goop is on his weapon here and I've seen fics where he produces the goop in like his mouth or something when he goes feral but idk if that's cannon or not??? it would make sense I guess. some cannon facts are like all over the place on the devs twitters or streams I think and sometimes people don't put them on the wiki so I just do not know whats going on sometimes but 👍

anyways thank you for coming to my phighting propaganda post awesome game

#his event in game is apparently despised by many heh #i havent experienced that yet so idk #he spawns zombies on everyone and you have to kill them

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flowers-of-io · 1 year

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14, 23, 25 for the fic asks!!

14. a fic you didn’t expect to write

The Aftermath! I just sat down in a coffee shop on a very stressful day and wrote it in the span of an afternoon. I guess I needed to let out some steam after the season's Cathartic (sic) But Disturbing finale, and sinking into my lil fantasies in my lil brain is my prime coping mechanism, so I suppose gushing out over 2k words without really stopping until it was done was a stress response.

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

Well, most of these I count into the "current wips" category, plus I hardly ever truly abandon an idea and instead leave it hanging as a work in progress for eternity... But here are some that budded over the year but never really got past a few lines' worth of writing:

Savathun tracking down and rallying Ir Anuk to her cause upon being resurrected (I've got like five lines of dialogue written for that)

long one-shot about Ór and the Beyond Light campaign

last thoughts of Quria, Blade Transform (this one has been SITTING THERE since we killed Quria almost 2 years ago...)

the Scorned Barons and Uldren's first supper after escaping the Prison

Immaru dealing with the mess that is the Lucent Brood rn, and searching for Sav (this one I'm thinking very intensely about but still can't seem to really take off with the writing process, iykwim)

Season of the Lost ficlet about Yilwran and Mara (I've got like... two paragraphs so far)

Sav posing as Enina and spying on Eris during Season of Arrivals

Crow & Amanda reconciliation (but way waaaayyy back in Season of the Risen)

Hawthorne and Ikora talking politics after the Vex incursion in Splicer (I've got the opening written)

Kabr ficlet to last year's Destcember prompt "Shattered Glass"

faction leaders celebrating the Dawning in the FWC hq back in the good old times

Aunor reacting to Taeko's death post-Savathun's Song strike (another veeery old idea)

Aunor getting emotionally caught up in hunting all the Corrupted Guardians and ending up drinking on a rooftop with Drifter and Shin

Ór meeting Misraaks in person for the first time

25. a fic you read this year you would recommend everyone read

Oh there are So Many, but one I squeaked my whole way through was customary by @moonbottles (motorboats). It's just !!!!!!!!!! I must as well mention @intrepiddreamx's Diplomatic Ties again, because Meren is literally the best protagonist I have ever seen in a fic and I want to kiss her. The fic is super funny and well written, and you'll love her.

#thank you!! <3 #reply #kentarch3

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elles-writes · 2 years

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get to know you tag game

favorite color: brown and purple

currently reading: the dark tide, sic of crows (for a fic)

last song: cardigan by taylor swift

last tv show: stranger things

last movie: fear street 1994

currently working on: marauders soc au, richie tozier centric oneshot

tagging: @mike-wheeler-ik-what-you-are and anyone who wants to play

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lovelyfandomthings · 2 years

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Fanfic recs (:

Can y'all pls drop some SHORT fanfic recs in the comments. I'm trying to get out of a reading slump (pls no smut)

Fandoms incuding: PJO, HP, DSMP, MCU, Eragon, SOC, Circe

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incomingalbatross · 3 years

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GF Fic: (Insert Time-Related Pun Here)

Having a birthday on the last day of summer was great when you were a kid.

When you were in college and vacation ended somewhere in the last third of August? Not so much.

“Grunkle Ford, I...I don’t think Mabel and I can make it to Gravity Falls,” Dipper confessed, the day before his twenty-second birthday.

“Is it the travel time?” Ford asked from the other end of the phone. “If your usual transportation is too slow, we can call in a favor or two for you kids—I know plenty of entities that would be happy to give you a lift as a birthday present—”

“No, I know, I know,” Dipper said, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “And I really appreciate that, Grunkle Ford, I just...it’s not the travel, it’s being there. The other years we’ve been in college, our birthday was always on a weekend—last year was a Monday, but we spent that year with you guys instead of in school—”

“Thank goodness that seer tipped us off about her vision of 2020!” Ford agreed. “Taking a gap year to sail the Arctic with us was definitely the right decision for you two.”

“Right? Half a semester of online classes was more than enough. But—I mean, maybe it’s being back in school after being gone for a year, maybe it’s just early-semester problems, but...” Dipper sighed. “It’s just, I’m taking five classes, and I’ve got a TA job this year, and I’m getting back into the DD&MD group again and maybe planning to DM a oneshot as a Halloween event, and...” He sighed again. “It all looked much more manageable on my schedule. It was color-coded and everything!”

Grunkle Ford hummed noncommittally.

“Yeah, I know,” Dipper admitted. “Not the first time I’ve overbooked myself.”

“Not quite, perhaps. But it’s very good that you’re learning to recognize it and take steps to take care of yourself—when I was in college, I burned out routinely.”

“Mabel would sic the ‘Self-Care Fairy’ on me again if I didn’t learn.” The “Self-Care Fairy” was a truly terrifying onslaught of Mabelness, complete with costume and character voice, and would not go away until its subject had reached an acceptable level of well-being and had examined their mistakes. “Which is why...I have to cancel. If I came to Gravity Falls, even with instant travel, I’d only be able to get there around like 5:00 PM and I’d be stressed and anxious the whole time. And then I’d get back here exhausted and with no homework done and with class tomorrow, and...I just don’t think I can afford that.” Dipper paused, a knot twisting in his stomach. “I’m really sorry, I wish we could come...”

“Of course, Dipper, we know you do!” Grunkle Ford hastened to assure him. “Don’t feel sorry for us—of course we’d love to see you, but we just had the summer together. I’m just sorry you’re so short on time.” There was a moment’s silence.

“But how is Mabel doing? Is she facing the same challenges?”

“I mean, sort of.” Dipper smiled ruefully. “She kept trying to figure out some solution so that we could have our usual birthday and everything would work out, but...neither of us could come up with anything that would actually work. And she’s really busy too. She jumped back into school full steam ahead, and she’s got her Etsy store, and all her social groups to keep up with—you know she’s better at managing her energy than I am, but it’s still a lot.”

“I understand that,” Ford said. “You both do what you need to to keep up with your responsibilities, okay? We’re very proud of you both, you know.”

Dipper swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I know, Grunkle Ford.”

“Well, then, I’ll let you go—I imagine you have plenty to do right now! We’ll get in touch with you tomorrow, even if only by text.”

“Thank you, Grunkle Ford! Mabel and I are going to video-call at some point, we think, so there’s that. Say hi to Stan and Soos and Melody and the kids and everyone for me?”

“Of course, my boy. Have a good evening.”

“You too.”

The call disconnected, and Dipper sighed, throwing himself down on his bed. After a minute, he picked up his phone again and texted Mabel.

Just called Ford and canceled plans. He said to take care of ourselves and that he and Stan are proud of us.

Then he pushed himself into the homework for tomorrow until his phone buzzed.

Aww, of course he did. <3 Thanks for calling, brobro. I wish we could go, but you were right--I’ve got WAY too much booked. Why didn’t we check what weekday our birthday was FIRST???

Dipper snorted. Maybe we’re dumb :/

IMPOSSIBLE, Mabel sent back. Clearly an evil College Schedule Gremlin messed with our brains

Is that the same guy who makes it so you can never take the prereqs you need when you need them?

Yep!! And the one who fogs your brain so you THINK you’ve filled all your requirements until it’s too late to patch up the holes in your plan. His phone buzzed a second time after that text. ...Ugh, maybe there ARE gremlins in all the college systems

It would explain Blackboard, Dipper agreed with a frown. Huh, maybe they should look into that...

Anyway, though, u good for Zoom tomorrow?

Dipper huffed, reminded of the fact that they had no time for a paranormal investigation right now. Yeah, he typed, I can do an hour or so anytime after 5:30.

Cool, I will figure out a time and let you know!! Can’t wait to see your 22-year-old face!! :) Even if it sucks that we can’t party :(

Same, same. TTYL :)

Dipper tossed his phone aside again, shutting his eyes for a minute. It wasn’t just the party that had him down—though he would miss the bash that Gravity Falls usually threw on their birthday. It was...everything.

It was having a birthday without Mabel.

Oh, sure, they would talk, but they wouldn’t be in the same place. That was why, really, he’d hung onto their plans until the very last minute. He’d made it work on paper—taking an evening to travel to Gravity Falls, have a party, and be back in time for the next class—and it just felt wrong to admit defeat, to compromise on something this important. Their birthday meant the two of them celebrating together, having a good time, acknowledging that it was important.

This year wasn’t going to feel like a birthday at all, Dipper thought glumly.

But no, that was quitter talk. They were going to do their best anyway, because they were the Mystery Twins! Even if the situation was lame. Even if he was going to spend his time on the call with Mabel tomorrow doing homework and/or bursting with stress.

He opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. “Why do I always overfill my schedule?” he asked plaintively.

The ceiling didn’t answer.

---

Dipper dropped his backpack with a thud on his dorm room floor, hastily unzipping it and digging out his laptop. He was late—he’d left his thermos in his last classroom, and been halfway across campus before he realized and turned around to go get it. He blamed his sleep deprivation (a week in, and his body still hadn’t readjusted to the rhythm of morning classes).

Now, though, he could finally pull up Zoom. He plugged in his headphones as he waited for it to connect (stupid dorm wifi), and was rewarded with an ear-splitting squeal.

“Happy birthday, Dipper!”

He grinned at her beaming face. “Happy birthday, Mabel!”

“Did you get a birthday cupcake?” she demanded. “Or at least a birthday cookie?”

He grimaced. “I got ice cream at the cafeteria, but I had to eat it there,” he confessed. “Here, I’ve got...a birthday candy bar?”

“Hmph.” Mabel looked crestfallen, but plastered a smile on anyway. “It’ll have to do! We can sing Happy Birthday, anyway. One, two, thr—”

Before they could launch into an inevitably out-of-sync rendition of “Happy Birthday,” Dipper heard a loud knock. Judging by Mabel’s startled turn towards her door, she heard it too—

Wait, what?

The knocking repeated. On both their doors.

“..Huh,” Mabel said thoughtfully. With a wordless glance between them, they both unplugged their headphones and went to their respective doors.

“Happy birthday, slugger!” Stan said, grinning, the instant he saw Dipper. Over the internet, Ford’s voice was greeting Mabel at the same time.

Dipper’s jaw dropped.

“Ha!” Grunkle Stan shoved past him into the room. Waving to the camera, he added, “Happy birthday, sweetie!”

Ford peered past Mabel into the screen. “Happy birthday, Dipper, my boy!”

“But—what—”

“Grunkles!” Mabel cried. “...But wait, why not just video call us? Not that we’re not happy to see your wrinkly faces, but you came such a long way!”

“Yeah, exactly,” Dipper said, waving his arm in confusion. “You guys—you know we can’t really visit, right? Even with you with us? We don’t have time. I dont want you guys to waste a trip—”

“But we didn’t,” Ford said smugly. “We came to bring your birthday presents.”

With a flourish, Stan produced something and handed it to Dipper. It looked like...a piggy bank, but with a clock face set into the side?

Mabel gasped. “It’s so CUTE!”

“But what is it, Grunkle Ford?” Dipper asked.

“Simply put, my boy...it’s time.”

“It’s a Time-Savings Bank,” Stan said proudly. “Got our hands on these babies a few months ago, on a little side trip. See, when you’ve got some extra time—like, at night, or when you’re waiting for a pot to boil, or whatever—you can use these gizmos to store it up instead! Then when you need more time, you use the clock to take it back out. Whammo! You squeeze in a few extra hours between the normal ones.”

“Like Daylight Saving Time without the false advertising,” Ford added. “We know you two are short on time right now, but...if you’d like, there’s enough in here to give you and everyone currently at the Mystery Shack a good few hours of spare time. What do you say, kids? Still up for a party?”

“Are we!” Mabel crowed.

Dipper stared at this miraculous device. “But...that’s a lot of hours,” he said. “Where did you get the time?”

Stan barked out a laugh. “You kiddin’, Dipper? We figured from the start that at least one of you would burn out when you went back to school. We’ve been putting time aside in these things for months.”

“...Really?” Dipper said. Somehow, he found himself blinking rapidly, and swallowing down some obstruction in his throat.

Stan coughed uncomfortably, looking away. “I mean, it’s not like we gave you any time we had a use for. Just some odds and ends here and there...every day... Anyway! You kids wanna get this show on the road?”

“YES!” Mabel shouted.

Dipper beamed. “Definitely,” he said. “Absolutely.”

And a few minutes later, when they all found themselves in the Shack (courtesy of one of those “favors” Ford had mentioned yesterday), and Dipper had piled into the inevitable group hug with his twin and his grunkles—and with hours of birthday celebration in front of them all—he had to add, “Best present ever.”

#did i neglect my college homework to write this? yes. yes i did #anyway #happy birthday dipper and mabel!#belated in my timezone but NOT ON THE WEST COAST so it WORKS #gravity falls #mystery twins #dipper pines #mabel pines #pines family #my fic #i did not proofread this At All so...there may be glaring errors #i'll find out later

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popquizhot-shot · 3 years

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Update: I am alive and am currently writing the previously mentioned Mcu and Sic of crows crossover fic, BUT it’s a reader fic, and y/n is a fan of the crows.

I’ve decided it’s going to be a Kaz x reader, and I promise you, Y/n is not going to be Inej 2.0, I promise you

also Loki reads the books and is torn between Jesper and Inej, and he joins in on the fun because he’s Y/n’s bff. and also because why the hell not?

#kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #MCU #marvel cinematic universe #marvel x reader #Loki #inej x reader #jesper #tony stank #Bucky Barnes #natasha romanoff #Nina x reader

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jupitermelichios · 4 years

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Jupiter’s Top 10 Fic Series of the Decade

In no particular order (and belonging to no particular fandom)

Honourable Mentions: Of Hunters & Hellblazers by KittyAug - Self Help by maskedfangirl - Bad Jokes by hahaharley - Doubtful Sanity by DustToDust - Wilton’s Bakery ‘Verse by machine_dove & sproings - Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc by etothepii - New Favourite F Word by Polaris - little beasts by noctiphany & likewinning

drawn into something by Nonymos (Venom, Eddie/Venom, Dan/Anne, Eddie/Venom/Dan/Anne)

“Eddie, you… and him.”

“Yeah.” Eddie stares at the floor. “And… and look, Annie, I know it’s weird, but I can explain, I…”

His voice breaks, he’s damn near tearing up, panic rising again—and he jumps when Anne cups his face.

“Hey, it’s—it’s all right, Eddie.” She’s making a valiant effort to smile. “Don’t get so worked up. I’m not gonna run screaming.”

“No?” He laughs and sniffs. “Damn. Starting to wonder what it’s gonna take, at this point.”

This is not Nonymos’s only entry on this list. In fact they may just be my favourite fanfic author of all time. Drawn into something is everything everything I want from a Venom sequel, emotional, kinky, romantic, and poly.

OTP: Fight Club by MorganOfTheFey (Detroit: Become Human, RK900/Gavin)

"One hundred. Ten X," Nines says, voice flat enough it almost doesn't sound like bragging. "I would have been decommissioned otherwise."

"Ohhhh. Aw, that's sad. Just," She tries to snap her fingers and gets distracted for a moment when she can't. "Jus'like that?"

"Yeah RK, that's so sad," Gavin echoes. "Can you play yourself despacito?"

His own phone blares the song barely a second later. Gavin drops a few f-bombs fumbling to get it out of his jacket pocket and turn it off. Then as soon as he puts it back in his pocket, it starts up again.

"Thank you for the suggestion, detective," RK900 says. "This is making me feel better."

The fourth part of this is still coming out, and it’s the highlight of my week when the new chapter drops.

Dreams of the Waking Man by Lex_Munroe (Marvel Comics, Wade/Cable, Daken/Bullseye, Wade & Hope)

All at once, it hurts. It hurts worse than the day Nate died (because Wade couldn’t accept it back then, insisted that Nate had managed to timeslide out, that the busted old telemetry circuit would only let him go forward and he was just lost for a little while).

He sits in the middle of the floor, ducks his head, cries.

She was smarter than he was—than he is. She’d known all along. Brave girl.

Timesliding doesn’t work right on Wade, never has, and their cobbled-together sliding module barely had power to take one stringy teenager for one jump.

She’d known she was leaving her parents, that she certainly wouldn’t see one of them again and quite possibly wouldn’t see the other.

Wade allows himself a moment more for grief and shame and humility. Then he clears his throat and wipes his eyes and gets back to work.

This may be the cleverest fic I’ve ever read. Crossovers, theoretical physics, and the best love story Marvel never wrote.

The Mountains Are The Same by bonehandledknife & Primarybufferpanel (Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa/Max, Furiosa/Ace, Everyone & Healthy Coping Mechanisms)

“'Real isn’t how you are made’” Gilly said with the air of a quote, of a Remembering, “'It’s a thing that happens to you.’”

Rotor closed his eyes in a long blink, “A thing that hurts, innit it right?”

“Sometimes,” Gilly agreed, squeezing his hand, “That’s life though, when you are Real. We all become it bit by bit. But it doesn’t happen if you’re not strong, if you’re not soft, if you’re not sturdy.”

“ But how can y'be all of those at once ?” he wheezed out. It’s getting hard to catch his breath.

“You are all that right now, aren’t you?” Gilly asked him with piercing eyes, “No one else of all these Boys has had the strength to ask for me. And I will Witness you as I have kept all those of my sisters who’ve fallen these past days.”

This series is not always easy, it doesn’t shy away from the hard or the dark or the painful, but it is always worth reading.

The Unspoken Truth by Nonymos (MCU, Clint/Loki)

Barton glared at him like he was trying to decide whether he was being mocked or not, but the next second, his shoulders slumped. Loki was familiar with the feeling – that dreadful feeling of discovering something repulsive in one's own nature.

And then, he waited. He waited for Barton to think and connect the dots, to realize that an obvious solution was standing just before him, to remember how he had felt when waking up tied down, or being forced to drink down the water. The demi-god just stood there, hoping – almost praying for the first time in his life – that his enemy would look up at him with something else than hatred in his eyes.

No one writes kink quite like Nonymos writes kink, and this series is the perfect encapsulation of that.

The Stone Gryphon by rthstewart (Narnia, primarily Gen)

"Tools!" Richard was so shocked he was near speechless. He sat down heavily on the bench and began writing frantically in that strange code. "You are saying that you have observed ordinary crows use tools? Peter, that is… remarkable."

"Well, I've seen Beavers use fishing tackle and sewing machines, so it didn't seem that unusual at the time."

I’m not going to lie, this may not be to everyone’s taste. But, amateur theologian, lover of weird animal facts, and history nerd that I am, there are very few fics more exactly tailored to my interests.

Republic of Heaven Community Radio by ErinPtah (WtNV x His Dark Materials, Cecil/Carlos)

The greeting catches both her and Carlos off-guard. It's not wrong to talk directly to another person's daemon, but it's still a little weird. "Likewise," she stammers.

They're both waiting for the obvious next step, which is for Cecil to introduce his daemon. The fact that Carlos hasn't spotted her yet is understandable — a big community gathering in a small space, you get plenty of daemons breaking away from their humans to socialize directly with each other. Any of the dozen animal shapes currently within ten feet of them could be Cecil's. If his daemon has an unusually high range, there are even more possibilities.

What Cecil says instead is, "If you ever have any important experimental-theology news that you need to share with the town, call me any time! Everyone listens to my show." There's a touch of what Carlos hopes is nothing more sinister than smugness when he adds, "Everyone."

He steps out of the way to let someone else interrogate Carlos, and vanishes into the crowd. Carlos doesn't get a chance to see what daemon he leaves with.

This may be the most carefully thought out crossover I’ve ever read, and I’m a little in awe of ErinPtah’s skills.

The Soul in the Machine by missdreawrites & Troodon (Dishonoured, Corvo/Outsider)

“... Outsider?” Corvo asked, sitting down on the filthy floor. “In the published list of the people who died of the Plague… how many were registered Augments?”

“Son of a bitch, ” Corvo swore with feeling. “This is… look at this waste. We aren't even people to them, are we?” He looked down at the body next to him. “And I killed the one person who could help. I did this. I doomed an entire people to plague, and murder and…”

The cyberpunk Dishonoured AU I desperately wish I’d thought of, because it works so very well.

In Which Tony Stark Builds Himself Some Friends (But His Family Was Assigned by Nick Fury) by scifigrl47 (MCU, Steve/Tony)

“Do you know what the difference between a villain and a super villain is, Stark?” Coulson said, leaning his palms on the tabletop, looming over everything like a very snappily dressed gargoyle.

“Style?” Tony asked, pointing both index fingers in Coulson's direction like the gunslinger that he was. He added a wide grin to the gesture, but Coulson didn't seem to notice.

“A villain has a giant mass of robotic vacuum cleaners that he can sic on his enemies. A super villain gives them the ability to fly.”

“In my defense, I do not actually remember installing repulsor technology in the Roombas,” Tony said, choosing his words carefully. It had been a working theory, sure, but he still wasn't quite sure when he implemented it. Maybe sometime on Tuesday night... That one was a blur. “It was a very long couple of days. So I was as surprised by that as everyone else.”

This doesn’t really count as a rec, since everyone in the fandom has read it already, but it really wouldn’t be fair to draw up a ‘best of the 2010s’ list and not include this.

A Great and Gruesome Height by mokuyoubi (Hannibal, Will/Hannibal)

Bedelia lashes out but Will is quicker. He grabs her wrist, pressing hard between the delicate bones with his thumb, until she makes a soft noise of distress and drops the fork.

Hannibal purses his lips and leans in close to her ear. “Now that is disappointing,” he whispers, and Bedelia has the good sense to be afraid with that mouth so near her skin. He inhales her scent deeply and straightens. “I thought you and I were beyond such petty jabs.”

“Were it not for the fact that you required medical attention, I have no doubt I would have met a similarly crass ending at the hands of your pet,” she says, lip curling in disgust.

Hannibal smiles serenely and says, “Will is a creature entirely of his own making. It is not to me to guide his hand. Merely to share in the sublime perfection of his vision, when he allows it.”

There are many dark!Will stories out there, and most of them are a lot of fun, but few are quite at believable as this one.

#top 10 list #top 10 fic #stony #hannigram #symbrock #cablepool #reed900 #cecilos #frosthawk #fic recs

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gurguliare · 6 years

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HAPPY YULETIDE ONE AND ALL READ MY GIFTS

The Aphorist --- Fogg/Passepartout, 5083 words, the 80 Days fic I’ve been dreaming of since 2013. Passepartout wades through several background revolutions (political, maritime, of the heart) and gets his man in the end, mostly by fainting punctually!! I love him!

Monsieur Fogg stood in front of him, not so close that he crowded Passepartout but not so far that Passepartout could not hear him when he asked in a low voice, "Can you walk, my man?"

There was an argument going on behind them, the thug being chastised for strangling guests. Passepartout took Monsieur Fogg's meaning.

"I can, Monsieur," he nodded, not entirely sure he could but inclined to try. From the creeping heat across his skin Passepartout was certain there would soon be impressive bruises around his neck. He would rather not gain any more.

Passepartout straightened and Monsieur Fogg looked at him. Appraising, Passepartout thought. His master did not look entirely satisfied with what he saw, but he tipped his head to the west and turned his attention towards the horizon. Passepartout supposed he had been deemed sufficiently upright.

Song for an Old Friend --- Aria & Cass, background Aria/Jacqui, 1637 words. I received two stories this year about Aria going to the sic-semper-tyrannus museum and crying her angry eyes out, and I’ve never felt luckier. This is the one where she goes Incognito as A Boring Person and calls the head of OriCon on her way home; I also love Aria Joie.

"Do you want me to come?" asked Jacqui from behind her, still lying in bed. Jacqui slept in most days, allowed herself the luxury of laziness that hadn't been afforded to her before. Sometimes, Aria allowed herself to do the same.

"No," she answered honestly, still looking at her own reflection. She had developed wrinkles - crows feet under her eyes, smile lines around her mouth. They would be easy to get rid of - getting rid of wrinkles was as easy as dyeing your hair - but Aria thought she might like to keep them. It was... nice, seeing those signs of her own age. Growing old had never been on her mind, so it was a pleasant surprise to see it happening. Jacqui was getting them too, laugh lines and crows feet and creasing around her forehead - and they had never talked about it, but she was pretty sure she felt the same.

"I need to go alone," she continued, still taking in her own reflection.

And last but in no way least: Three Doorways, an ensemble piece whose very title appeals shamelessly to my C/W kinks, thank you author; 1219 words. Featuring a more ambivalent museum visit and Mako and Orth’s respective Cass- and Ibex-hangovers; it’s possible I just adore everyone in this bar.

The next stop is a factory inspection out near Wreathe. The missive from the management doesn't call for an on-site visit but, hey, Orth likes the travel. He's on his way to being the most well-traveled man in the Golden Branch Sector. The voice in his head that sounds like Attar—Ibex, Orth thinks, spitefully, then, Attar, half-apologetically—notes that if he were a small fish in a small pond on Counterweight, this glimpse into the vast sprawl of Oricon is like being dumped into an ocean. And is a fish anything more than a drop to the ocean?

But that's fine, Orth thinks. He never aspired to rule empires, corporate or otherwise. It's fine. He likes the travel.

#friends at the table #counterweight #80 days #kisses fingers licks chops #i feel like i ate a four course breakfast and i'm now excited to dive into the frances hardinge tag for more #IT'S THE MOST LUCRATIVE TIME OF YEAR

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goofygoldengirl · 7 years

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A playlist for the rocketshipping fic of the same name

Round Here: Counting Crows

Glycerine: Bush

Rocket Queen: Guns N Roses

Black: Pearl Jam

Lydia: Highly Suspect

Cat And Mouse: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Anna Begins: Counting Crows

The Blower’s Daughter: Damien Rice

Sic In Transit Gloria (Glory Fades): Brand New

Jimmy: Tool

Push: Matchbox 20

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot: Brand New

H.: Tool

Patience: Guns N Roses

Collide (Acoustic): Howie Day

#rocketshipping #catch me if i'm falling #catch me if i'm falling fanfic #catch me if i'm falling fanfiction #8tracks

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rosalinesbenvolio · 7 years

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I Want To Leave You Feeling Breathless

Maya's feet hurt. Lucas notices.

man I've had this idea in my head fOrever & this isn't exactly what I planned so idk if I'm gonna write another very similar But Not The Same fic or not but have this pile of fluff. title from celion dion's steve mcqueen

also on ao3

It’s not noticeable at first, actually, which Maya likes to put down to the sheer overwhelming nature of nearly doubling the size of her friend group and the amount of people she has to (wants to, is honored to be able to) worry about.

In hindsight, it’s entirely unsurprising that Lucas is the one who brings it to her attention: Lucas has rapidly become someone she can count on to give it to her straight, since Riley loves her too much to take fault in any of her bad traits and Farkle may be a genius, but he misses increasingly huge parts of her life.

Lucas calls her a short stack of pancakes and Riley agrees and the argument is settled by Mr. Matthew’s weird older brother, but Maya still goes and trades her favorite winter jacket for a pair of heeled booties at Demolition. How’s she meant to protect Riley from the big bad world if she’s too short for Riley to hide behind, anyway?

Of course, that isn’t the end of it. Riley just keeps on growing, and it’s getting quite clear that Maya’s not. Maya finds herself looking up to meet her sister’s eyes on a near-weekly basis, and she finds herself trading in each pair of shoes for a new-to-her even taller pair.

The good thing about the triangle dissolving and the whole group of them being overwhelmed with high school and relationship drama and extracurriculars and friendships outside of the circle is that no one really notices that Maya is coming to school in what is, basically, a half step away from stilettos. Or, if they do, they don't realize it's a part of some sort of weird insecurity-slash-pathological-protective-instinct and instead chalk it down to her fashion sense, which has settled into a happy medium between Rebellious Maya and Maya With A Father Figure. (It's fun to test Shawn, with skirt length and transparent blouses, but it still feels warm and fuzzy somewhere between her lungs when he tells her she's too young for such clothes.)

The downside, of course, is that she can only complain about her arches and the balls of her feet killing her so much before someone goes ahead and points out well, why are you wearing those kinds of shoes? like they think they've solved climate change or something.

In their sophomore year, when teachers start making noises about the ACTs and the SATs and their AP exams, Riley institutes a mandatory weekly study session, telling them they'd best all show up or else she’d sic her father on them. Cory’s gotten even more ridiculous ever since Shawn came home and married her mom, insisting that he's now her actual uncle, and Maya appreciates the excuse of not wanting to deal with Mr Matthews any more than she has to. She’d have come anyway, because she sort of misses Riley and the rest of them, for all they still hang out every few days, and she hates studying alone, but it's nice to be able to claim a less sappy, more selfish reason.

Maya gets to the Matthews’ residence first, even before Riley, who’s been distracted with flirting awkwardly with a girl on the cheer team, and the entire place is empty, so Maya unlocks the door with her own key, hobbles over to the fridge and pulls out what she assumes is the rest of the previous night’s dinner, leaning heavily against the countertop as she watches it go ‘round and ‘round in the microwave.

The front door opens at the same time the microwave dings, and Maya straightens up and forces her face not to wince as she carries her plate over to the couch, heels clicking against the wooden floors. Lucas is at the coffee table, already pulling two prep books out of his bag, his baseball duffel leaning against the wall by the door, his hair dropping with what Maya hopes is shower-water and not sweat.

“Riley still putting the moves on Sam?” Maya asks as she sinks into the couch, stirring up her pasta and reluctantly accepting a stack of flashcards from him.

“I think Sam finds it more endearing than uncomfortable,” Lucas says, and he grins a little knowingly when Maya lets out a tiny sigh of relief—they'd all been worried when Riley came out as bi to the cheer team, because some of the upperclassmen had been a little mean about it, but they'd graduated and the rest of the team seemed mostly fine with it in that shitty denial sort of way.

“You think she's got a shot?”

“I'd say the hair twirling was pretty telling,” Lucas gossips, raising his eyebrows and waggling them until Maya snorts.

“Riles’ gonna get some,” Zay announces when he, Farkle, and Smackle come crashing in. “Farkle saw Sam leaning over and holding Riley’s elbow, and I heard them set a date for Saturday.”

“He also whooped and got us caught,” Smackle says, shrugging out of her sweater and sinking into the love seat next Farkle. “I find myself unable to believe believe that this is who got me an etiquette book.”

“Is no one gonna let me forget that?” Zay mumbles. “It was a nice gesture!”

“Almost as nice as pity-asking me out,” Maya quips and Zay groans, messing up her hair as he passes by on his way to the pantry to look for Mr Matthews’ secret poptart stash. Every time he finds them, Cory changes the location, and it's been almost a year of passive aggression, and Maya wholeheartedly approves.

“I helped him hide them,” Farkle calls out to Zay, who is halfway underneath the sink. “You'll never find them this time.”

Zay does a passable imitation of Farkle’s old favored honk-laugh and Farkle whirls, half out of his seat, to throw his copy of The Scarlet Letter at Zay’s back.

“You swore you'd never do that!” Farkle half-shouts, patting Smackle’s calming hand on his forearm absently. “Now I get to tell everyone about you getting locked in the chicken coop.”

Lucas snorts and then starts laughing, ducking his head and pressing his hand to his mouth. Maya reaches out and prods him in the back of the skull, easy enough to reach, for once, since he's finally taken his regular seat on the floor, between the couch and the table, in front of her.

“Do you already know this tale, Sundance?” Maya presses when his shoulders keep shaking, even as he mostly controls his expression. Zay’s struggling to get out from under the sink and yelping loudly in protest, swearing and shouting that Farkle had better not, but Maya’s attention is entirely on the green-eyed cowboy at her feet. “How come you haven't told me?”

“Zay knows too many things about me,” Lucas admits, grinning ruefully even as he reaches back and catches her hand to stop her from continuing to jab her little fingers at him. “But I think Farkle is just annoyed enough to share.”

Zay yells nonsense the entire time Farkle speaks, and Farkle only just gets louder until the both of them are nearly screaming over each other. When Riley finally shows up, looking dazed and well-kissed, Farkle has to tell the story again, since they're all cracking up and she's curious. Zay pouts the entire second time, making menacing noises, but he's ultimately a good sport about blackmail deals.

They break for dinner when Auggie gets home, and they all take turns talking to Cory and Topanga when they call from their date-night vacay hotel in the Hamptons, like the upper-middle class white people they are.

Between biology and trig Maya brings up Sam, and Zay leaps at the change to tease someone else for a change, but Riley is, Maya is proud to note, somewhat more composed about this love interest than she has been in the past, only pinkening a little when Maya makes kissy noises, and only gushing for a moment about Sam’s eyes and how smart she is before she fairly adeptly turns the subject to Lucas’ most recent game.

Maya leans over and cuddles into her sister for a while after Lucas and Smackle get into it about the validity of baseball as a hardcore sport and the comparable mathletes team. Riley allows Maya to pet her hair and snuffle at her cheek, smiling gently and fondly as she wraps her skinny arms around Maya’s frame, squeezing and giving her a look like we can gush more later.

Maya blows a raspberry against Riley’s elbow-pit in a and don't be stingy on the details and eventually drags herself to settle back against the other arm of the couch, one leg bent at the knee, other one dangling over the side, heels still strapped to her feet.

Eventually it's time for Auggie to go to sleep, and the group settles into their quieter selves, Farkle and Zay quizzing each other on the periodic table, Smackle typing steadily on her laptop, working through her English essay with a sort of efficiency that still impresses and terrifies Maya in equal measure. Riley is the first one of them to nod off, curled up tinier than she should be able, all those long limbs and huge personality, hugging her math notes and her phone tight to her chest. Zay is next, and Farkle pulls out a book to read. Lucas is still working through his ACT prep book, setting his phone’s timer and taking test after test, eyebrows furrowing a little when he doesn't finish with the results he'd wanted.

Maya stretches hard, arching her back and pressing her shoe against Lucas’ cheek when he wrinkles his nose at the sound of her spine cracking. He blinks and finally looks up from his workbook, hands catching Maya’s heeled foot and holding it steady, his expression like he's working through some tough problem.

“Still wearing these, Shortstack?” He says, not really a question, more under his breath than anything else. His eyes are glinting in the dim room, and Maya knows she's been caught. Because Lucas is a fundamentally different person than she is, he doesn't immediately start laughing or crowing at this new knowledge. He barely even smirks.

He does, however, shift around until he’s more or less facing her, pull her foot a little closer to his chest, and unbuckle her shoe, sliding it off her aching foot with an overwhelming sort of gentleness.

He motions for her other foot and, somewhat dazed, she slowly slings it towards him, taking care to not jostle Riley with the movement. He removes that shoe too, and just holds her feet in his hands for half a second before he digs his thumbs into her arches and Maya has to bite down on her lip to hold back a damn moan, the pleasure-pain is so good.

He keeps doing it, too, massaging her feet and her ankles, soothing and firm in an alternating, mind-blowing pattern, those green eyes looking up at her from his spot at her feet.

“How long have you needed this?” Lucas murmurs, and Maya—Maya flushes, eyes glancing around the room to make sure Smackle and Farkle finally succumbed to sleep.

“How long have you wanted to do this?” Maya retorts quietly, and Lucas doesn't answer her any more than she answered him, but his hands drift up a little, working her calves with strong, slightly calloused fingers, never leaving her feet for long.

Maya tilts her head, hair falling around her in a way she knows is attractive, and Lucas’ eyes dilate, obvious only because of how closely she's watching him.

“I won't pretend that I think anything I say will convince you to stop,” Lucas muses, brushing his thumbs across the delicate bones in the top of her feet.

“They're kind of my thing, now,” Maya says, with a casual shrug that doesn't do too great a job of disguising her shudder. Lucas is polite enough not to mention it, although now—now, he's smirking.

“Gotta give the people what they want,” Lucas agrees.

The words are on the tip of her tongue: and what do you want? but she's only ever been brave with Riley, and this ain't something Riley can help her with. Lucas seems to read the question in whatever expression is on her face anyway. He bends down and presses a feather-light kiss against each foot before giving Maya her feet back and smiling, that proper, Huckleberry smile that Maya won't admit for a million dollars that she's missed.

“I'll make sure to hear you, the next time you complain about them,” is all he says. It's almost a letdown. Her stomach swoops at all the promises in his expression. It kind of feels like a beginning, though.

#lucaya #lucaya fanfiction #gmw fanfiction #show: girl meets world #ship: lucaya #writing #mystuff

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