#story yet they keep insisting that it's a fanfiction. Like what's your problem

[primofate]

The Ruthless Prince (Part 21 - Finale/Epilogue) Scaramouche x fem!reader [Genshin Royal AU]

Summary: When Prince Scaramouche picks you out of a random group of commoners to marry, your life is turned upside down. He’s mean, snarky, condescending and he doesn’t act like a proper husband or prince at all. However, when Prince Tartaglia from the neighbouring kingdom takes an interest in you, Prince Scaramouche finds himself even more annoyed than usual. This is the story of him and you navigating this roller coaster of a relationship.

Note: aaannndddd it’s done! It’s not a very long chapter for several reasons. I just wanted a clean ending and though there were not a lot of details of what happened to the gnosis, Serena and Finnian and other things, I decided to keep those for the extra chapters! Thank you so much for going on this journey with me lovelies! My first full Genshin fanfiction has finally ended and what a nice journey and process it was! 

Warnings: mentions of a honeymoon, soft-ish Scara

Word Count: 3k

Summary and a recap on the Royal AU plots are here.

Read other parts: (Ruthless Prince Masterlist)

“Where do you think you’re going?” Scaramouche’s gruff and sleepy voice reaches your ears. His arms are suddenly tight around your waist, tensing at the slight movement of you trying to take his hand off. 

“Just to the bathroom, Scara,” you tell him, still grasping the back of his hand to take it away from your waist. He huff-sighs, retracting his arms to himself to let you jump off the bed. He pushes himself up by his elbows, the blanket pooling on his lap as he props himself up into a sitting position, back leaning against the headboard of the bed. 

He doesn’t say anything as he watches the door to the bathroom click close, and he lets out a stifled yawn, not bothering to cover his mouth. From the looks of it, it was probably nearly time to wake up anyway, judging from the sunrays peeking through the curtains. 

Scaramouche sat in silence, mind still a little foggy at the sudden awakening, but he’d rather be awake than asleep whenever you had to be away from him, even if it was just to the bathroom. He’s painfully aware that it’s probably leftover trauma from your disappearing act a month ago. 

His eyes peeked open when he heard the bathroom door open up again and you came strolling out, sporting a yawn just as he did earlier. You’re about to walk over to your side of the bed, but Scaramouche beckons you over to his side instead and you tilt your head in question. 

He’s shirtless. That’s how he slept now, becoming more comfortable around you and behind closed doors. He’s nicer, occasionally still harsh and biting, still incredibly stubborn and sometimes still insufferable. But now, he didn’t seem to have a lot of problems being clingy, or was that more of his paranoia speaking?

You supposed it was because of the incident, and you couldn’t quite blame him for being paranoid of history repeating itself. Though you insisted that he should really ease up. 

As you approached his side of the bed he easily envelops you in his arms and pulls you on top of him, then he rolls to his side, bringing you along with him while you yelp in surprise at the sudden move. You’re trapped in his arms again as he closes his eyes, ready to go back to dreamland.

“We’re supposed to be waking up,” you mock glare at him, knowing that he can’t see you. You’re inches away from his peaceful face.

“...When have I ever woken up on time?” He counters and you can’t say anything back, just shaking your head to yourself. You end up resting your eyes as well. It’s getting colder in the kingdom and you thought that Scaramouche’s tendency to be more cuddly in bed came at the right time. 

If the blankets weren’t enough, his warmth surely was. 

“We’re visiting Kuni today,” he suddenly mumbles. You don’t open your eyes, but your heart sinks a little at the statement. You hadn’t visited his grave, perhaps part of you wasn’t ready yet, but the two of you had agreed on it today. 

Dragging it on just didn’t seem respectful. 

“...I know,” you relax into his hold, your mind moving into your subconsciousness as a slight sleepiness overtakes you, going back to the day you found your way home.

“The broken arm is the biggest problem,” The doctor told Scaramouche when he came back into the room after the doctor’s evaluation. “But the bruises on her back are bad too,” the doctor prescribed a tub of salve but Scaramouche wasn’t aware of the bruises at that point and he turned to you with his brows furrowed. 

“What bruises?” he asked you and you could only turn back around and slip the yukata off your shoulders to show him just how purple your back was from whatever impact it went through. Scaramouche held back from grimacing at the sight, it spanned near your shoulder, up until below what seemed to be your shoulder blade. 

The doctor was dismissed, and after a nap you’d woken up feeling better than the past few weeks. Scaramouche was in bed with you, but he was sitting on his side of the bed, just silent and accompanying you till you woke. Part of him was trying to sort out his thoughts, but while you were asleep he had already sent a letter to your parents, along with asking a maid to update his own. 

Scaramouche made sure you were awake enough to answer his questions, and you told him everything. Starting from when Tartaglia had forcibly entered the room, to him wanting the gnosis, Kuni staying behind, up until you found yourself with Serena and Finnian, finding out you lost the ring but somehow kept the gnosis safe. By the end of the story, Scaramouche had a difficult expression on his face. 

“...About Kuni,” He couldn’t meet your eyes as he told you, but your eyes had nowhere else to go to except his face, and the more he talked the wider your eyes became. 

Kuni had passed away. 

The first thing you thought of was it being your fault. If you were stronger, if you maybe stayed, maybe gave the gnosis up, even though all the solutions you could think of were bad solutions it might’ve at least left Kuni alive. You were flabbergasted for a moment, Scaramouche’s gaze still turned away from you, until you turned yours away from him too. 

There’s a moment of silence that passed between the two of you, both of you sort of letting it really sink in that these things have really transpired. People were lost and you almost lost each other. 

“...It’s–It’s my fault–” it came out involuntarily, your sentiments about Kuni’s death, but Scaramouche, almost as if he predicted you would feel that way, cut you off without a second for you to argue. 

“You know very well that it’s not,” 

“But it feels like it is,” you whisper, voice wavering at the slowly descending knowledge that Kuni was gone. He might have seemed like a small part in the grand scheme of things. But to you, he was a sort of kindness in an unknown world. A guide that was patient and understanding, wiser than anyone else in the castle. “...You blame yourself too, don’t you?” You end up asking Scaramouche.

His silence was a clear answer. 

He blamed himself for more than just Kuni’s death. The war itself. Your disappearance. Your current state. The knights that fell under his command. Losing the gnosis. Not planning in advance. In a sense it was as if the whole world was on his shoulders, and he had failed everything that he was responsible for.

His thoughts broke when he feels a weight on his shoulder. He glances sideways to see that you’ve laid your forehead on his shoulder, concealing your face from his. 

“...I’ll stop blaming myself if you stop blaming yourself,” You bargained with him, but that was so much more easier to say than to do. 

“...I can’t do that. This Kingdom is my responsibility,” He was truthful in his answer. Yes, perhaps not everything was his fault, but there were definitely things he could have done better. He wasn’t depressed nor distraught over his mistakes. He was simply disappointed, but it was fuel for him to plan and do better next time. He wasn’t going to let it cripple him. 

“...Share it with me then,” you whisper, almost inaudible. He dips his head a little closer to hear you better. 

“...Share…?” He repeats, not exactly knowing what you were trying to say. 

“...Your responsibilities, your burdens, your struggles… Share it with me. As the princess of this kingdom and as…” you pause, still having your face concealed from his gaze had probably made you a little braver. “...as your wife,”

Scaramouche feels himself freeze at the words. He held back a shiver that crawled up his whole being, an electricity that woke him up to the reality that you were here with him. Not just physically, but in his mental state, his struggles. You were here, and you were willing to experience it all with him.

There’s a squeeze at his chest that he could only describe as beautifully painful. Your sentiments of wanting to be acknowledged as his partner, and wanting to be involved in what he went through had probably cut through him easier than any blade. 

He relaxes as you continue to rest on him, a secretly tender gaze on his face when no one else is looking. “Idiot,” he whispers, but leans down to press a kiss on the top of your head.

Scaramouche remembers that clearly in his mind. 

That was probably one of the things that pushed him into planning for today.

As the two of you stand in front of Kuni’s grave, you offering a prayer as Scaramouche laid down flowers next to the stone, it’s a wonder that peace is all that he feels. He didn’t know if that was because he had already mourned enough in his own time, or if it was because you were there with him, but he felt like he could face his old advisor once again. 

There was still a deep set sadness, seeing the grave, but as you spoke to Kuni out loud, Scaramouche was more comforted than anything else. 

“I made it back, Kuni. Thanks to you, and thanks to Scaramouche, I guess,” You added as an afterthought, almost as a joke. Scaramouche can’t help but scoff next to you. It feels like talking to an old friend who had never left. 

“Scaramouche is still an asshole,” you start, to which Scaramouche was ready to scold your head off for, but you continue within seconds. “But he’s also a little nicer. To me, at least.” You grin a little, feeling the evil glare on you. “He’s trying his best to sort things out in the castle and he’s always so preoccupied about keeping the kingdom safe. It’s all he ever does.” Scaramouche could sense the eye roll on your expression, though he wasn’t looking. You continue to subtly insult Scaramouche in front of Kuni and ended with “but I’ll keep an eye on him!”

You bow your head towards the grave then turn to Scaramouche, mischief in your eyes. “Anything you wanna say, Scara?” you ask and he has glared at you all through your tattling to Kuni about him but he takes a deep breath and sighs it out just as deep. 

Scaramouche turns to Kuni, closes his eyes, as if talking to him privately. He stays like that for a moment before opening them and stating, “...I’ll be fine now, Kuni,” there’s determination in his voice and nothing but confidence. But he had to ruin it with an equally condescending comment about you. “Y/N nags me so much that there’s no way I’ll forget to do things. I even hear her in my sleep.” 

“Hey!” you protest.

“You started it!” he barked back.

You huff and cross your arms over your chest, grumbling. This was certainly not the type of behaviour one would expect in front of a grave…but since it was Kuni, you had a feeling that he understood anyway, and was perhaps happy to see everything was still as it is, maybe a little better.

“...I forgot something at the carriage, wait here a second,” Scaramouche mumbles, averting his gaze away from you and starts the short walk towards the carriage. It was just a few feet away from the two of you. If you turned, you could see it waiting by the street, but you turn your attention away from it and back to Kuni’s grave as Scaramouche walks away.

“...In all honesty, he’s doing much better, Kuni,” you whisper, not wanting to get caught saying nice things about the ruthless prince. “He’s so stubborn, so annoying and so insulting but he’s just a little concealed in his ways. I think you knew that already though, right?” You smile and stifle a laugh, “He’s nice to me, in his own weird ways,” 

“What’re you laughing about?” You whip your head around to see Scaramouche raising an eyebrow at you. He’s clutching something in his arm, and when you realize what it is you let out a gasp. 

“Th-That’s my teddy bear! Where’d you get that?!” Scaramouche had conveniently left out the part where your mother had given him your teddy bear. The bear in his arm looked new though, and it was then that you knew he had it repaired. Though you always liked the rustic look of your old bear, knowing that it was repaired and could last longer was a surprise too. 

“Somewhere,” Scaramouche replies cryptically. He hands you the bear, and you happily take it. You recognized it as your own because of the purple ribbon around the neck but, on closer inspection, there’s something different about the ribbon.

“What’s…?” You mumble absentmindedly, taking the ribbon on your palm and noticing that something was tied around one of the strings cascading down.

It was a ring tied to the ribbon, letting it hang on the teddy bear’s chest. You touched the ring, and turned it around in your fingers, inspecting it. 

It was a simple rose gold band. Very subtle and very unassuming with no jewels or gems at all. You lift your head up to look at Scaramouche with question in your eyes, but he had his gaze averted away from you, hand rubbing the back of his neck. He mumbled something that you didn’t quite catch. “...Huh?” You ask again, leaning ever so slightly closer to try and hear him better.

“I said,” he says louder, taking in a breath, “Marry me,” 

The wind is knocked out of your lungs. 

The proposal was so unexpected and awkward and yet so endearingly sincere. He’s looking straight at you now, a stern gaze on him and you look back at him with your heart caught in your throat, breath taken away, and all you can think of is how much more handsome he looked at that moment. 

You stared at him wide eyed, your mouth opening “...We’re already married, idiot,” you couldn’t help but state and he snaps his gaze towards you at that.

“I know that, stupid!” he glares, but you can see that there’s slight unease in his posture. His arms that are always crossed over his chest is not because he was feeling smug at the moment, but more of embarrassment and unsureness. 

“I meant, marry me, for real, this time,” 

And though your heart was pounding you could only really reply to his proposal with some humor. You were bursting with warmth from your chest, but you didn’t know if he was being serious. “...We ARE married for real,” 

Scaramouche lets out an exasperated sigh and draws himself closer to you, hand catching your elbow, not letting you scamper away from him. “You KNOW what I mean,” 

“Do I?” You whisper, a bit of blatant disobedience coming out from you. You feel him lean closer to you and you don’t resist. His other free hand places itself on your waist, gripping at it to move you even closer to him. He closes his eyes, tilts his head the slightest bit sideways and leans in to capture your lips in a chaste kiss. 

That’s how you know he was serious. 

The kiss lasts for a few innocent seconds, yet the message behind it is priceless. There’s a hint of want, as if this alone was not enough and though he was gentle, he’s held back. As if he wants more than just your lips and your body, like he wants every part of you, your heart, your soul, existing next to him for all eternity. 

He pulls only an inch away with a soft sigh, “A wedding with a real kiss at the end,” his hand snakes up towards your neck and tilts your head at the right angle for him to pepper kisses down your jaw. “A wedding with real vows,” he whispers, stopping at your chin then moving up to press one on your cheek. He can’t help but think how warm you are, even in weather that’s bordering on winter, his fingers and lips are heating up on your skin and he loves it. “So? Are you gunna give me an answer, or not?”

There it is. That somewhat charming assertiveness and the rare show of affection. It melts you a little inside when his touch as much as grazes you. “...A small one? With just the few people we care about, maybe?” You try to bargain though it must be strange to have a re-wedding, even with just the closest people there, but you had a hunch that Scaramouche had it all planned out already, excuses and all. He’d always been a detailed planner, if he really wanted something to happen. 

He lets out a half-huff and a half-laugh, “I don’t care, princess. As long as you’re there and I’m there,” 

It’s your turn to stifle a smile, giving yourself a silly, lovesick, lopsided grin at his statement. “...Alright then, you greedy man. I’ll marry you. Again.” You roll your eyes, but no words can describe how much of a teenager you feel at that moment. How those flutters in your stomach were in fact from this man who had once given you nothing but trouble and grief. He had a long way to go, and so did you, but the world had brought the two of you together, two different shades of the same colour that clashed yet blended together so effortlessly in the end, turning into a pleasant painting of an imperfect yet fervent relationship. 

“Then you agree to a real honeymoon too?” There’s a grin in his voice and you gasp in mock surprise. 

“Is this why you want a re-wedding? You just want the honeymoon that we missed the first time around!” You put your hand on your chest, pretending to be hurt and wounded but he slinks away from you and flicks your forehead at your antics.

“Maybe,” a smug grin splays on his face, but you know well that he’s just playing along with you. He takes your hand and pulls you along with him, back to the carriage as you continue your act of being torn and hurt. 

“You wound me,” though you squeeze his hand back, and you tuck the teddy bear under your arm as you willingly follow him. The smile on your face a complete contrast from your constant complaining and teasing.

He puts your voice at the background as he calms the storm in his heart. As per usual he had a confident and put-together look on, but he had been anxious that you wouldn’t have liked the idea of a “real” wedding. 

It wasn’t so much the wedding or festivities that he cared about…it was strangely the authenticity of it…that you deserved more than just a fake one and that he wanted a sincere one for you. 

He had it in his mind, had it at the tip of his tongue, but there were some emotions that he wasn’t brave enough to face yet, and some feelings that he wasn’t sure how to put into words, still discovering and exploring it with the thought of you, but he knew what he had envisioned:

A wedding. With sincere and real feelings of what he thought he never needed: Love and a lifetime of companionship.

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#scaramouche x reader #the ruthless prince #scaramouche #scaramouche royal au #genshin royal au #genshin impact #genshin impact royal au #scaramouche fluff #scaramouche angst #genshin impact scaramouche #scaramouche fanfiction #genshin impact fanfiction #scaramouche x reader fanfiction

[drgnrder82]

Fictober22: It's my name on the line & Adaptable, I like that.

Fanfiction

Fandom: Jurassic World

Prompt(s): It's my name on the line & Adaptable, I like that.

Warnings: None

A/N: Takes place before the events of Jurassic World. Includes two OCs from my Jurassic World Fanfic, Mistakes of the Past.

~*~*~*~*~

Franklin heard the crunch of a paper wrapper before he even turned the corner into his office. The shared office, he wasn’t so special as to have his own office yet. 

"Uh?" Franklin pulled his glasses off his face and checked to ensure they were clean. "Lowery? Why are you at my desk?" 

Lowery Cruthers had been onboarded several weeks before. If Franklin's memory served correctly, Lowery was destined for the control room on Nublar, not on the mainland working IT. The perks of working in IT and handing out security access to certain areas of InGen and Masrani Corp, Franklin had access to this kind of information. 

"Well, funny story," Lowery pushed up his own glasses, crumpled up his breakfast sandwich wrapper, and left it on Franklin’s desk with a pile of greasy napkins. “Claire insisted I get trained more on our security systems since I have a background in computer engineering.” 

Franklin hissed to stop himself from saying something… rude. 

“This is a nice office. Not as big as the control room, but…” Lowery commented as Franklin pushed past to log onto his computer. 

Sure enough, on his calendar was a tentative invite for Security Training and an email from Claire Dearing flagged as critical. 

Franklin glanced at Lowery and said, “Fine.” 

He rolled over another chair, ready to dump Lowery from Franklin’s favorite chair, and swept the breakfast wrappers into the garbage can under his desk. 

“This seems like a cushy job. Don’t have Claire looming over you constantly,” Lowery said, sitting back and making himself comfortable. 

It would be cushy if I wasn’t babysitting you today. Franklin logged into the security interface and started his explanation. There were physical cameras, various fences, and chips in the dinosaurs… Nublar was decked out with every available way to keep people safe and monitor the dinosaur locations. 

"Yeah, that's all stuff I know. It's like Nublar 101. Think Claire wanted a more in-depth explanation of…" 

Uuuuugh. Franklin bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to stop him from saying anything he shouldn't and reread Claire's email. Yeah, Lowery was right. 

“Rumor has it you created the firewall when you were in school, you young ‘in.” 

Franklin hit a few keys and pulled up the code for the firewall. He wanted a lesson? Fine, Franklin would give Lowery Cruthers a lesson! 

“So this is…” 

Lowery raised his eyebrows at the screen. 

Maybe the guy knew a little bit about code and… 

“Uhhhh…. You might have a problem,” Lowery frowned. 

“There’s no…” Franklin glanced at the screen. The code was changing. “No!” 

Someone was in his firewall! Like they hadn't tripped any of his alarms, and… what the actual hell was going on?!?!?!?! 

Franklin shoved Lowery out of his face and began typing. 

"You're… uh… oh! Whoever that is… they're adaptable. I like that," Lowery said and nodded approvingly.

"This isn't funny!" Franklin spat, typing faster and realizing he was making more mistakes than typing correctly. His mistakes were going to cost him… God. Claire would have his job! When she got a hold of him, he'd never work in computers again. 

Whoever was on the other side of this attack was good. Like Franklin would never admit it out loud, but they were better than him. He could barely keep up, and something was slipping through.

“Maybe if you just…” Lowery leaned over Franklin’s shoulder, dusting him with crumbs. 

“Sit! It’s my name on the line! Not yours!” Franklin watched the attack unfold for a moment before he saw it. The weakness. 

***

Lilia held a straight face, though it was rather painful. Claire had her phone unmuted so she could speak and made Li promise not to giggle. 

"Ms. Dearing?" Franklin Webb, Claire's latest IT tech to take the security for Masrani Corp. "There was a breach on security, but it's been… terminated." And the poor guy sounded out of breath and on the verge of a panic attack.

"See that it stays that way," Claire said, clipped, and ended the call. "Poor kid probably thought his job was on the line." And she gave Li a tight smile telling Li that it was entirely possible his job HAD been on the line.

Li and Claire were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Claire, with her stiletto heels and perfectly manicured hair, nails, and skirt-suit, put Li's cutoff t-shirt and ripped jeans to shame.

"Cruel of you to send Lowery as a distraction," Li smirked at her monitor, hitting a few buttons while she scrolled through screenshots of what she'd just hacked into, reliving the chaos she'd just imparted on the firewall.

“Security is a top priority for Mr. Masrani. Great job today. Thank you.” Claire headed off as her phone buzzed with a new phone call to take. The seconds between calls seemed to get shorter the longer Lilia knew Claire Dearing. 

A message came across Li’s phone. Her brother, who’d been listening to everything. 

Cam: His job might be on the line. We’re good. 

Li grinned at the monitor. 

#fictober22 #fictober #fanfiction #jurassic world fanfic #jurassic world fanfiction #lowery cruthers #franklin webb #claire dearing #Mistakes of the past #fanfic

[darkacademicfrom2021]

It’s very ambiguous

Pairing: Loki x reader (gender neutral)

Summary: You have finally come to age; your soulmate mark draws itself in your skin. You can't figure out who it connects you with, but, oh dear, you can only hope and wish it is to him. But Loki won't make it easy for you to find out. Will you both overcome the pride and fear that would involve your love?

Word count: 4.6 K

Warnings: a bit of angst. (English is not my mother tongue and it’s my first time writing fanfiction in english, so forgive me if there’s any errors, and feel free to correct them!)

Sighing at your reflection, you stared for the Norns know how long to the fresh image that drew itself in the side of your abdomen.

You thanked it was easy to hide; saving you endless mockery from your friends if they saw that. The vivid portrayal of who you loved the most, in the most ambiguous drawing you could’ve ever gotten. How ironic.

What the Heavens would that mean, you asked yourself at least five times until the impatient knocking on the bathroom door pulled you out of your thoughts.

“Hurry up, we’re late”, said Sif. You knew she was already all dressed up for the Ball, and she would kill you, seeing you were still on your robes. You opened the bathroom door slowly, with burrowed frows. You couldn’t hide it, as much as you tried to. “Oh, for God’s sa…” she started complaining, but stopped as soon as she realized you were in a terrible state of mind.

“I got it”, you explained after she made you get out of the bathroom and sat you on the edge of the bed. “I got the mark. Impossible to guess”.

“Don’t worry about it, you’ll know who they is when the time is right”, said she, comforting you and eyeing the outfit you’d chosen earlier. “But crytime is over. Guess what time it is now. Yes, you guessed right. The Ball”.

The last thing you wanted to do in that moment was to dance; or to stay in a chair drinking wine the entirety of the night, for that matter. You didn’t need another reminder of your frustrated attempts at making him notice you. And you knew he wasn’t the one (if he were your soulmate, it would’ve already happened years; no, decades ago). But you still couldn’t help but falling in love at every little smirk, every little comment, every little thing he did. Dear, you were lost, completely gone in love.

That’s why you knew you wouldn’t find your soulmate for a long, long time. At least not until your crush for Loki had finally gone away.

“I’d rather stay”, you stated, and she rolled her eyes.

“Well, I want to go, and I can’t go alone. Please, at least do it for me”.

“Why would you want to go? Ever since we’re on age of being asked to dance, we have only gotten invitations from… well, anyone except them. And in the Balls we can’t even be their friends”.

“We can be friends, if they talk to us first we can talk back”.

“Yeah, we could, but they don’t talk first. They never do”.

Both of you were completely lost for the princes. But, unlike you, Sif had a chance with Thor. She was graceful, divine, a wonderful woman; a whole Goddess, an amazing warrior. There was no question Thor would sooner or later find love in her friend. But you… why would a prince like Loki lay his eyes on you? Romantically, he never showed a single trace of interest in anyone, much less someone in his friendgroup. You were the closest to him, yet he never said a thing.

He probably knew you drooled over him. He must have noticed how you looked at him in the library when he read to you, how you always defended him from everyone else’s mockery, how you intentionally pretended like you didn’t know any better in spells so that he could help you out. How your heartbeat raced when he fell asleep on your lap. He must have noticed, yet he said nothing.

She finally managed to convince you to go, with the condition that if you weren’t asked to dance at all, or even talk, you’d go back to your manor early.

You got in your best clothes, and undressing the best attitude possible, you both arrived at the palace and entered the ballroom as quick as your feet let you. The ambient was marvelous. Subtle lighting, most of them by candles. The golden details that characterized Asgard so well were everywhere. Both King and Queen were sat in their thrones, waiting patiently for the rest of the royal family to arrive before giving the annual speech and getting the party started.

“Do you think they’re not coming?” asked Sif as you got comfortable in your seats, eyeing the entrances.

“They can’t miss it, they’re sort of the hosts”, you said, “but… well, I don’t know. The other day after training, Thor mentioned something about this year being particularly difficult for them”, you added in such a low whisper that Sif had to pull closer.

“What did he say? He didn’t mention anything to me”, she whispered back. You two looked like you were merely gossiping, if it weren’t for the lack of giggling that would usually follow.

“He said… he said something along the lines of ‘we’re expected so much more than before in these dances, they’re more than just for fun now’, and, Sif, I think he meant…”, but she abruptly interrupted you.

“Courting? Oh, for the Norns, they’re not expected to choose a partner now, so soon, aren’t they?”.

“Soon? Sif, they’re already at each other’s throats for who’s becoming King, and they have been for a while”.

“They’re not exactly competing, anyways. You don’t have to worry about this. It’s not like Loki’s the one winning” said she, earning a subtle kick in the leg. “Auch!”.

“Would you stop being so hard on him?”.

“You know I’m right!”. 

“You know it hurts him. If you think so, at least keep it to yourself, Sif”.

You could’ve kept lecturing her if it weren’t for the sarcastic clapping of the Queen upon seeing the arrival of her sons. You read the ‘you’re late!’ on her lips and the apologetic looks on their faces. But nothing of that distracted you from admiring how marvelous Loki could get sometimes. Just when you thought he couldn't look any better, he outdid himself. You let out a sigh and Sif laughed.

“You’re staring”.

“And rightfully so. Look at him”.

But no matter how much you looked at him for the whole evening, you couldn’t get even a gaze from him. He didn’t even eyed you from the distance. You would’ve even gotten actually mad at him if it weren’t for the fact that he wasn’t looking anywhere. He didn’t seem like he was avoiding you; he was actively staring at the floor, with the saddest look on his face. And Thor looked pissed off.

“There’s a story in there and I will ask for as many details as possible once Loki spills the beans to you”, said Sif, elbowing you.

“I don’t think he will. Look, it looks like more than a fight. He looks so upset”.

You could only wish you were brave enough to break the stupid rule of the royals approach first so you could take his hand tightly and comfort him in whatever he was going through. As you always did. As he always let you.

The music played for three hours. Everyone was on their feet, dancing away, drinking away and chatting away, as one should in a Ball dance. Everyone except you and certain dark prince you didn’t even bother staring at anymore. You gave up looking for his attention an hour after the dance properly started, and it did nothing good to your pride to have been trying for that long anyways.

Sif got her chance, of course. Thor took his time, but after long he gave up with whatever quarrel he was having with his brother and approached her decisively. You were past pissed. Disappointed. After another sip of your wine, you couldn’t resist and stole a glance to Loki’s seat. To your surprise, you met his gaze. The God of Mischief was staring at you, and he apparently has been for Gods know how long. He quickly dropped his head and went back to looking at the floor, now with a completely red face.

You soon realized he was even more upset than before, as he watched Thor and Sif dance. And then you understood. Everything fell into place. Of course. Of course he liked Sif. Who wouldn’t. That’s why he fought with Thor. That’s why he was so worked up. You didn’t even need to read his mind to confirm it. 

You waited, still holding your eyes on him. You waited for another half an hour, but your patience was already on thin ice and he didn’t look like he would do anything more, anyways. So you did what you should’ve done hours ago. You got up and left.

“No, brother, you can go, I’ll let Mother know I’m staying”, said Loki from his room.

He could hear Thor’s patience shatter in pieces from the other side of the door.

“Don’t be ridiculous, we can’t miss the Ball. Father will kill you”.

“It’s not my problem”.

“I think it is quite your problem, brother”. Loki sighed. He wasn’t in the mood for his mockery. Thor sensed it and lowered his tone of voice, insisting. “Tell me what it is, Loki. I promise I’ll try to help out”.

But he only scoffed and locked the door, to start pacing around the room, feeding his anxiety even more. He covered his arm with his palm and tried his best to make it go away. It’s just an accidental illusion. I’m making it out of nervousness. I need to make it go away, he kept saying under his breath. But it didn’t go away. It wasn’t an illusion.

“Oh, FOR THE NINE REALMS”, he kicked his chair as a sudden burst of anger ate him alive.

“Loki, let me in!”, insisted Thor. “I’m going in”.

“You can’t help me”.

“I might, if you just tell me what is it. You love the dances. Come on”.

“I do love dances, Thor, I’m not particularly fond of the weight this one has on us; not this year” he growled from the floor, knees on his chest. “Not with what I had planned, I can’t do it now” he whispered. Thor pretended like he didn’t listen to that last bit.

Loki had been circling around the idea of asking you to dance for the last few months. It was all he wanted; to caress your hand and gently hold you by the waist, to move at the pace of the music, to feel your heart on his chest, his rising heartbeat with every breath you took. He wanted you, and if that wasn’t possible (and he was sure it wasn’t) he wanted to dance with you all night long.

But now, he would have to court you and marry you if he did. And, of course, it was what he wanted. It was definitely all he wanted. But he knew you wouldn’t. And he wouldn’t risk your beautiful friendship over anything in the world. What if he lost you forever? He could never bring himself to lose you, in any form or way.

“Brother, let me in. Or get out of the room. We’re late”.

“You’re late, Thor. Must I repeat myself? I’m not going”.

“I’m kicking the door”.

Loki sighed, and waited to hear Thor’s intense footsteps get closer and closer to the door to open it just in time and see him land on his face. Thor got up off the floor with blood on his nose.

“It combines with your crimson cape, brother, no need to worry” said Loki mockingly.

But Thor paid little attention to his silvertongue. Instead, his eyes were fixed on his arm. Then, he understood exactly why he was acting so terrified. Loki covered his arm as soon as he realized, mortified, but it was now too late and Thor had already seen it.

“Do you need any other reason to invite them to dance with you?”, he said with a grin of pride.

“It's not them. I’m certain”.

“How are you so certain? It’s such an ambiguous drawing, and you haven’t seen theirs!”.

“They doesn’t even have a soulmate mark yet. They told me the other day”.

“You didn’t have one at that time either, it must have changed. Come on”.

Loki sighed and put on a long sleeved outfit, while letting Thor rant about how much he was sure you’d reciprocate his feelings. And Loki couldn’t say anything against it, because it would only bring ruin to everyone; to spill the obvious secret that haunted him everyday.

The fact that you lusted over Thor.

And it hurted him like anything else, because he knew even though you didn’t say anything. He knew he was the lesser prince. The one that gets looked over. The shadow in his brother’s spotlight. The always-prince, never-King. It hurted like Hell.

But there was nothing he could do about it. And now he had a mark that linked him to the Norns know who, but he only had eyes for you.

Because you were always there. You were the one to defend him against his own insecurities, and everyone else’s accusations. The one to laugh the loudest at his jokes, the one to hold him the tightest when you were in fear, the one to call him first to anything. And you were perfect. But you, for obvious reasons, didn’t think the same of him. You thought the world of him, but not in the way he wished.

And he wouldn’t even get to see you happy from someone else’s love, because his brother didn’t even have eyes for you. The idiot of Thor could not see your brightness, and Loki wondered how could anyone not fall in love with you.

“You need to try, Loki, you’ll never know if you don’t risk a little”.

“A little? To you this is a little? Do you have any idea what would happen to me if I lost them forever? If the person that I love the most leaves me because I just decided to stop hiding my feelings?”, yelled Loki, completely angered.

“Ah, there it is. If I decided to stop hiding my feelings”, repeated Thor, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.

“What is that supposed to mean?!”.

“You are afraid; so incredibly afraid of letting anyone know you fully. That is your problem, Loki. They’ll accept you no matter what, because they already know you. You think you’re hiding, well, you’re not so good with this little lie of yours”, said finally Thor, tired of biting his tongue about it.

“You know nothing about their feelings”.

“I know enough”.

“Believe me, you don’t. And you don’t get to say a word about my love life, or anything about this situation, for that matter. You don’t get to make light of my situation, as you do with everything regarding me. Now, leave. Me. Alone”.

They continued fighting about it until one of their tutors had enough of their unpunctuality and came to look for them. Both entered the ballroom still highly upset at each other and said nothing about it all night. Frigga knew exactly what they were talking about, and didn’t make too much of a fuss about the delay in their arrival.

Loki tried to not look at you in the entirety of the night; avoided all the eye contact he could with anyone, specially you. He was too afraid you’d choose that exact time to practice your special abilities at mind reading (since you’ve done this at previous dances, when Loki didn’t approach you), and if he didn’t see you, you couldn’t do it. Because if you dared reading his mind you’d only find yourself. And in those little moments he got to glance at you, while you were distracted with something else, he sank in sadness, because all he wanted was to embrace you and dance with you. You looked as fantastic as you always were and more. You looked especially excellent. And it didn’t go unnoticed to him that you looked annoyed. From the eye-sided glances he got to steal from you, he saw you staring at the seat he and his brother were in. You were expectant. You wanted to be taken out to dance. And Loki’s suspicions about your crush on Thor only got reassured when he asked Sif for a dance and you looked the most annoyed you’d ever looked in ages.

You left the dance early. After about ten minutes Loki decided to go after you. Outside of the ballroom you could still be a friend; that was the whole point of swallowing his feelings. He wandered the palace until he heard fireballs collapsing against the huge walls of your typical training spot, but he lingered his entrance to observe you in an incredibly angry state of your magic.

“You’ll set the palace on fire” said a gut-wrenching familiar voice. Of course Thor was there. Of course Thor would get earlier to comfort you in something that he destroyed.

“Then so be it”, you answered with a crack in your voice. Loki didn’t mean to invade your privacy, but he couldn’t help himself but to listen.

“I know why you’re upset. Believe me, it upsets me too”.

“You have no idea what upsets me”, you answered, and Thor chuckled. Loki could sense that Thor was thinking about how similar you and Loki were. You threw another fireball against the wall.

“Let me guess”.

“Enlighten me, your majesty”.

“You didn’t get to dance with the man you like”.

“You know nothing about the man I like”.

“When will you all stop treating me as if I were blind? Come on, why won’t you tell me? I’m your friend. I know you’re burning up in love and you still think you don’t have a chance because… because what? Because he’s the prince of Asgard?” said Thor. You stopped your magic and stared at him with teary eyes.

“Because the prince of Asgard I love, is in love with Sif. And there’s nothing I can do about it” you answered. Loki’s heart broke. Hearing you admit your raw feelings to Thor that way, and Thor not even understanding you were talking about him.

“What makes you think he’s in love with Sif?!” insisted, still clueless.

But Loki didn’t need to hear any more of that. He ran through the halls of the palace until he got to lock himself in his room.

“What makes you think he’s in love with Sif?!”, Thor asked, and you scoffed. You lowered your gaze to the floor, trying to make the tears go unnoticed. They didn’t, and Thor hugged you tightly.

Thor was almost like a brother to you. You grew up together, but it was more than that. You were always for each other. He never had to ask about your love for Loki, he always knew. And you never had to ask about his crush in Sif; it was transparent. So you both supported each other. You didn’t even bother telling him how she felt about him, it was bound to happen. Now, you and Loki, on the other hand…

“He is, you can’t deny it”.

“I’m denying it, I assure you”. You wiped your tears away and touched your mark over your clothes. He smiled. “You got the mark, didn’t you?”.

“Yeah”.

“What is it?”.

“Ugh, it doesn’t matter. Maybe I should just forget him and start looking for my soulmate. If the mark showed up today, then it must be for something. There has to be a reason”. Thor nodded, still smiling. “What are you so happy about, dumbass? My heart’s broken".

“Nothing. You keep on looking. Can I see it?”, said he, patting your back.

“It’s too ambiguous, you won’t guess it”.

“So I expected”.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Do you know anything?”.

“Nothing whatsoever”.

You got in your fighting position. Loki bent down in his seat, focusing on the next fight. He was sure you’d win; he has been teaching you new moves and you completely mastered them. And your rival didn’t know any better, anyways.

One kick from your opponent; you avoided it and threw a punch. Another kick. Another punch. The rival grabbed your leg, making you lose your balance and almost fall down, but you used that impulse to push him away and get him to the ground. He got up and started using magic. A blue light shone around him and started getting closer to your feet. You closed your eyes and focused intensely; soon, water drops started emerging from the tips of your fingers. They quickly transformed into a stream of water that wrapped your opponent from head to toes, making his electricity magic attack him, instead of you. Loki smiled.

Your rival pushed further his strength and one of the electrified waterjets hit your leg. You fell to the ground with a scream. It hurted, a lot. Loki gasped and Thor had to grab his shoulder to remind him it was just a training fight. For his tranquility, you got up on your feet soon and started using your magic again.

An aura of sparks and wind formed around you while you closed your fists, extremely concentrated. Your opponent waited without attacking, but behind the shield of his armour. Loki saw Thor smile proudly; this was the part he taught you. For your fire side of your powers, Thor was the one to train you thoroughly. Loki sighed, frustrated because you haven’t yet shown what Loki had taught you with such enthusiasm. He still observed you with attention.

“This part is awesome, look, brother”, whispered Thor in his ear, which only made him angrier.

“I’m sure it is. They is awesome. And wait until you see what I taught them”. Thor chuckled.

“No need for jealousy, Loki. They’s all yours”. Loki rolled his eyes and directed his attention to the fight again.

The sparks and wind grew bigger and bigger around you, circling your whole body. Once the sparks became fire, you directed your whole energy to your opponent, sending him against the wall. If it weren’t for the gigant fire-proof shield, he would’ve gotten completely roasted.

You put your guard down, and as you did so, the wind and fire around you dispersed. Loki got to see you again once the magic flew down, and realized you had your clothes slightly lifted up. He tried not to look out of respect, but Thor gasped, and that drew his attention directly to what surprised his brother. And it did not disappoint. Loki’s chest got as tight as it has ever been. His breathing became irregular and unsteady, and his face got completely red. You didn’t notice your shirt had lifted up, so you didn’t realize what was going on. You got closer to your defeated rival and shaked his hand.

“You win. I see you’ve been well trained”, he said.

“I have”, you answered, and directed your gaze to the princes who were watching the fight. You walked closer to them to chatter, as you always did, but Loki got up fast and ran out of the training room. Thor told you to follow him, and Loki heard your footsteps behind him for the entirety of the hall, until you two got to the gardens.

Loki was shaking. He didn’t want you to be there. He didn’t want you to see him that vulnerable. And you knew it, so you didn’t get closer than two meters apart.

“Loki”, you said after a while, behind his back. “What’s wrong?”.

He turned around, face still red. He was usually cold, but at that moment he was burning up inside and out. Maybe he was burning out of love for you. Maybe out of anger, for being so pessimistic and making himself a martyr when his brother was clearly right. Maybe out of rage to himself, for waiting so long to make a move and losing so much time lost in his own head. But you were still standing there, concerned. And he had to say something, because you still didn’t know anything.

“I saw your mark”, he stated. Now you were the one with the red face.

“Oh… I, I don’t, uh…”, you stuttered, and he got closer to you. He grabbed both of your hands and you looked at him in the eyes, clueless. “I try not to give it that much attention”.

“Why?”, he asked. “It’s your soulmate. The person you’ll love the most”.

“I already love someone” you said, in a burst of confidence. Loki swallowed in nervousness. Your hands started to get sweaty. “I… ugh. Sorry. I don’t want to say…”.

“Who? Tell me, I’m your best friend”.

“I don’t want you to be”, you finally said. “It’s you, Loki. It’s always been you. I don’t care about this stupid soulmate mark, because I know I’m in love with you and I always have been”.

Loki stayed silent, which only made your anxiety increase. He finally looked at you in the eyes and formed a subtle smile.

“I thought you loved Thor”.

“What? Why would I…?”.

“I heard you after the Ball; you said the prince you love was in love with Sif”.

“Yeah, you”.

“I’m… what? I’m not… I’m not in love with Sif, darling”.

Your heart stirred, and you weren’t sure if it was because of the pet name he just gave you, or the fact that you got it all wrong. He wasn’t in love with Sif?

“I’m sorry, did we both think…?”.

“We’re idiots, apparently”.

You both laughed. That was it; that cotidianity, that normality that felt, even in the most embarrassing and intense moments, completely fine. Because you were, before anything, friends.

You hugged him. He returned the hug and caressed your neck and back with one hand. You felt his heartbeat rise, and from that position, he whispered in your ear with that beautifully deep and raspy voice; “I saw your mark”.

“I don’t care about it. I don’t want to ruin our friendship, ignore my feelings if necessary. But my heart only beats for you”, you whispered back. He sank his nose on the crook of your neck and felt his mouth form a smile against your skin. You shivered and felt warmth in your stomach.

“I don’t want to ignore your feelings”.

“I love you”, you said once again, regretting it in that instant. You couldn't stop your words from falling out of your mouth. You felt like you sounded desperate.

“I love you too, my dear”.

You, in shock, looked at him in the eyes. He kept smiling, and putting a strand of your hair behind an ear, placed a small kiss on your red cheek.

“I don’t know what to do next. I like being your friend”, you said. “And I don’t think we’re meant to be. I got a mark, and you haven’t, so it’s obvious we won’t end up together anyways. And I want you by my side for all my life; even if it’s just as a friend, you know? I don’t want to lose you”. Loki chuckled at your rant. “What?”.

“What makes you think I didn’t get my mark yet?”.

“Well, I… I don’t know. Did you?”.

“Yes”.

“What does it look like?”.

He smiled.

“It’s very ambiguous”, said he, sarcastically.

“Hard to guess, is it?” you chuckled, realizing what was going on. Loki lifted his sleeve, uncovering an identical soulmate mark to yours.

“Hard to guess, yet so obvious”, he said. He grabbed your waist and neck and both melted in a long, desired kiss. You sank your fingers in his hair, caressing his scalp. “Yours?”

“It’s very ambiguous too, you know?”.

#loki #loki laufeyson #loki x reader #loki x y/n #loki x gender neutral reader #loki laufeyson fanfic #loki fanfic #mcu #thor #ragnarok #loki ragnarok #loki dark world #loki odinson #odinson #soulmate au #loki soulmate #soulmate #soulmate mark #loki soulmate mark #fic #loki fic #marvel #marvel loki #tom hiddleston #hiddleston #thomas william hiddleston #thomas hiddleston #tom william hiddleston

[stephspurs]

A Family Affair | Euro 2020 Football Fanfiction

Hi besties!! here is the long awaited part 9!! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did whilst writing it!! a big thank you goes to @emwritesfootball for proofing this part & making sure its up to scratch for all of you lovely readers! Let me know what you think babes hehehe!! Love Always, Steph xx

Part 9. | nona parte

word count; 2006. writing tools; third person until dashed line, first person thereafter. next update; Friday 13/08 5pm AEST. Updates are three times/week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday)! tags (as requested by users); @footballffbarbiex @obsesseds-world @abysshaven link to fic masterlist here

The season kicked off in the middle of August and Amelia had been more than prepared for her first match in the premier league. She spent day after day analysing the players in the first team, introducing them to the magical world of rehearsed tactics. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the brilliant girl; she had to learn how to implement the plays coupled with the speed of the game. But so far, so good. Chelsea have been winning and her plays have been working, the boys were getting the hang of it - no matter how apprehensive they were at the start.

Jorgi played a big part in demonstrating the success of the play, performing best in his midfield role to guide the game and direct the change in play to his teammates. By the time they had played a few fixtures, they had really gotten the hang of her approach to set pieces and began to put their trust in the young girl. They were starting to see results and wanted to keep the winning streak going while they could. The fourth fixture in the new season was one that Amelia was looking forward to, personally: Chelsea v Aston Villa, Stamford Bridge, 3pm kick off.

Jack and Amelia had grown closer and closer, FaceTime‘dates’ as Jack would call them, a weekly occurrence. She had spoken to him just as much as she had spoken to Jorgi - and they were still carpooling to and from Cobham together. Her friendship with Jack was full of easy conversation and flirtatious banter, teetering over the line of friendship but being that they were kept physically apart, the friendship line remained largely intact. One person that had drifted even further away from her, despite her believing that it couldn't be possible, was Ben Chilwell.

Every time she walked into a room that he was in, if he didn't have to be there he would immediately leave. Amelia didn’t understand what the problem was. Yeah sure, they were flirty together in Mykonos but they never crossed a line together, no matter how many times the wine went straight to their heads. If anything, she should be the one running away from him. She was the one who sent him a couple of messages here and there that he just opened. She spoke to Mason, Jorgi, Billy Gilmour - who was another one of the boys she had developed a strong friendship with - and all of them insisted they didn’t understand their friend's strange behaviour.

On the evening before the Villa match, Amelia was laying on the couch in her townhouse binge watching yet another docu-series on Netflix when her doorbell rang. This was strange, most people that came past the house these days had their own set of keys (her parents, her brother, Jorgi) or they texted to let her know they were outside. Her townhouse was three stories high, so if she was upstairs on the top level vacuuming the chances of her hearing the door were slim to none. Either way, she got up off of her loveseat  and walked to the front door, peeking through the peephole - she lived in London, alone, she wasn’t opening that door until she knew exactly who was on the other side.

______________________________________________________________

“To what do I owe this visit, Benjamin?”

“Hi, Mils.”

“Wow, nickname basis already - I thought only friends called each other by their nicknames.”

“Did you think we weren’t friends?”

“Well, friends don’t treat friends the way you’ve treated me since the evening I left Mykonos.”

With a sigh, Ben looked down at his feet. I did feel a small bit of guilt for that one, but he deserved it. Continuing to find the cracks in the marble step of my door’s threshold more interesting than facing my expression, I took a step back and forced Ben to look up at me.

“Well, are you going to come inside? I’ve got the kettle on and a really good series going that I would like to get back to.”

With a charming smile, Ben took a step forward, took the door handle out of my hand and shut it behind him. Slipping out of his shoes, he followed me down the short hallway to my kitchen and pulled a seat out at the island bench.

“So, really now - why are you here? Nervous about tomorrow?” I questioned as I took two cups out of the cupboard and brewed one tea for him, one coffee for me. 3 years in Italy and coffee in the evening became the norm for me. It was my comfort drink.

“I’m here to apologise for the way I've been acting towards you for the past six weeks. I’ll be honest, I don’t know why I’ve been like this”

“Cut the crap Ben, you know exactly why you’ve been doing it. Now tell me the truth or, as far as I'm concerned, you never came here tonight and tomorrow we will be back to how we were yesterday - you running away from me and me pretending that it doesn't bother me. Even though all it does is bother me.” Not expecting that outburst to come out of me, and to be fair neither did I, Ben looked me in the eye and stayed silent, choosing his next words carefully.

“The first time I saw you, the night you told your brother off in the rec room at St. George’s Park, I thought you were the most determined woman I had ever seen in my life. Not scared of the 30 grown men who were very obviously all on the same side, literally. Then the next time I saw you, after the final match, how you comforted your brother when you were at the highest of highs and he was lower than low, I thought you had more compassion than every person in that stadium put together.”

“When you came to SGP again the next day and delivered the tactical analysis of the game you won, I thought ‘wow she is so intellectually brilliant’. And then when you turned up in Mykonos, all sunkissed and relaxed, sitting next to me and involving me in conversation with my pals but making me feel like you wanted my contribution...I remember it like it was yesterday. Amelia, you smiled at me and my heart did a somersault in my chest.”

“You shut me down outside the club that evening, and when we came back inside I caught the end of your conversation with Jorgi about Fede. Putting two and two together, I understood all that I needed to. The few days after that we carried on like normal. Then, you left and I didn't know if I would ever see you again to be fair. When you messaged me, I got too nervous to reply because I didn't know how to just be your friend. And then when I thought I had finally gotten through a day without thinking about my friend's little sister, you showed up at Cobham as my tactical analyst. I didn’t know what to do Mils, I don't know how to be just your friend when I've had nothing but unfriendly thoughts about you since the first time I saw you command that room of men you had never met in your life.”

The whistle of the kettle ringing out behind me is the only noise filling the kitchen. I’m staring at Ben; he’s staring back at me with nothing but truth behind his eyes and his heart on his sleeve.

“Benj, what you were feeling, what you are feeling is totally valid and I never want you to feel like you can’t share those feelings with me. You’re right, Mykonos changed things for me. What you were feeling was reciprocated, but Ben, I was going back to Italy. At that exact moment, I had no idea I would end up here. I thought I was enjoying a break before another high-intensity season in Italy. I wanted to kiss you so badly at the club that night, but I knew it would only hurt you. I’m used to being hurt, it's a feeling I've grown to expect. But you, you’re too pure to experience the kind of hurt that comes along with knowing you’re making a bad decision, but doing it anyway, because I wanted to be selfish with your heart.”

“Amelia, can I ask you something?” I nodded, holding my breath as I braced myself for the question poised behind his eyes. “If you were in the mood to be selfish, what would have come from that evening?”

“I can probably show you better than I can tell you,”

Walking around the island bench, I pulled the back of Ben’s chair slightly so he pivoted towards me. Standing in between his tracksuit-covered legs, I ran both hands up his arms until I got to his neck and finally beside his face. Threading my fingers through his hair, I pulled his face towards mine and our lips met. It was as soft as a butterfly kiss but as powerful as anything I had ever felt before. His hands wound around my waist and settled themselves on the small of my back before travelling down and giving my backside a gentle caress, forcing a laugh out of my lips and straight into his mouth. Pulling away slightly, so we both had a bit of breathing space to sort out our lightheadedness, Ben spoke his next words very softly.

“I need you to promise me something, Amelia.You need to promise me that you will stop thinking about my heart before your own. I am old enough to make my own decisions, and the decision to ignore you for these past few weeks has been one of the worst ones I've made in a really long time. But I did make it, and it was because I got scared, and I hurt you, and I am so sorry. The decision to come here tonight however, I feel like it more than makes up for that one very very stupid one”

“You’re such a smooth talker, Benj.”

“Say my name again, Mils, you don’t know what it does to me.”

“Down boy, your tea is going cold and I need to find out who killed Sophie in West Cork.Meet me in the lounge.”

A few hours had passed and it was nearing 10pm, well past Amelia’s bed time, but Ben was still sitting on her couch, feet on the table (despite her telling him to remove them) and arm around the back of her shoulders.

“Chilly, I don’t want you to think I'm not interested in you because I so am, I just don’t want to rush into anything. What I left behind in Italy was complicated and heavy; I'm still trying to learn how to exist without him if I'm honest. I want you to just give me the space I need to grow into my own here in the city, if that’s okay with you.”

“Of course it's okay, Mils. From what Jorgi has told me about Fede, I can understand why you want to take it slow now. But please, don’t call me Chilly. My friends call me Chilly, and Mills. I thought I made it clear before that I don’t want to be your friend.”

“To me, you’re Benj. Thank you. Wait - what do you mean what Jorgi has told you about Fede?”

“I may have asked a couple times about you, and for the record, he is team Bamelia.”

“Bamelia? That is the ugliest word I have ever heard. Never use it again.”

“How can it be ugly? It's mostly your name, and nothing associated with you could ever be considered anything less than beautiful.”

“Stop being so smooth Benj, you’re going to make me blush in a minute.”

“Good, can’t wait to see how you could possibly look even cuter than you do right now.”

“That’s enough Benjamin.”

“Okay I’m done now.”

Part 10. | parte dieci

#football imagine #football fic #jadon sancho #ben chilwell #mason mount #declan rice #ben white #jack grealish #tyrone mings #kyle walker #ben chilwell imagine #jack grealish imagine #mason mount imagine #football one shot #tyrone mings imagine #x reader #a family affair fic #steph writes #stephspurs #italian national team #jorginho #federico bernardeshci #jorginho imagine #bernardeschi imagine #juventus fic #juventus imagine #italy nt imagine #england nt imagine #three lions imagine #azzurri imagine

[lovee-infected]

For the anon talking about how they hate how over exaggerated a character is. I am not trying to start hate or anything, but if you don't like the way how someone portrays the character, just stop reading it. Some people don't delve deep, they just want to write fanfics for fun they're not going to make sure it's 100% the characters VERY complex personalities. Or the way how they view a character is different from their beliefs. I've gotten this message before and I am TIRED of it

I think it's a good time to talk about this because I've been thinking about bringing the topic up for a while. To begin with, let's clear something between the two anons because I think it's a misunderstanding:

Note: Please read this, this is important.

Anon A is saying that they're sometimes bothered by how some fanfics and Aus have a different way of picturing character X, in other words, they don't really enjoy it when a character is bring mischaracterized

Anon B (this anon) is saying that if you're bothered by a fic because you don't like how they're characterizing an specific character, then you don't have to read it.

Let me say that both of these anons are right, yet to think that their ideas are the opposites of each other, is totally wrong. In other words they both have a point, but I guess their points needs a stronger a better way of being explained in order to avoid any further dramas and misunderstandings.

Why am I doing this? Because I've seen -enough- of it. After the twst character analyses, aruges toward the mischaracterizations in this fandom became a thing, it's been causing some issues and arguments between the fans and it's mainly because of how sides fails to explain their points clearly.

Though I didn't really receive any rude asks/comments regarding myself the matter I can still how some fans feel attacked, offended or called out by character analysis posts or have the NERVE to attack or offend others with their own perspective on characters and try to force others into accepting them.

Enough with drama, I'm sick of it. I'm going to explain this as clearly as I can, hopeful that this would at least lessen the chance of having to go through another drama regarding the mischaracterization issue.

1) The concept of FANfiction

First off, the fanfiction itself; what is a fanfiction? What type of writing is considered to be a fanfic? What is it even used for? These are the questions we all need to answer before getting to know the world of fanfic.

Just as its name explains, it's fan + fiction. It's the result of the fan's creativity and imagination taking place in a fictional plot, something that hasn't happened with the original characters and he original story. The fans' imagination is often far beyond the plot which the original story/series/book offers, yet this isn't going to hold fans back from imagining it. Fanfiction is the way of giving yourself (or others) the specific and plot with the original and canon version isn't going to give you, in other words it's a way of getting what you wish to see through a story but this time, it's you who'd decide what will happen.

You are the one who decides how characters will be, you are the one who decides how and where this story happens and you are the one to choose how this story must come to an end. It's all about your own imagination and creativity, which enables you to have power over everything about your own story and fanfiction, everything (In expection gor than legal issues including claiming the original character as yours). You have the power, and you choose how it should be.

2) Fanfiction and mischaracterization

This was mainly the most brought up issue in the recent Twst drama, mischaracterization through writings. Many were saying how they find this annoying and nerve-wrecking, but no one really talked about how mischaracterization comes to life.

Let me tell you, as long your writing is a fanfic, there is a 70% chance of mischaracterizing the plot or the characters and there's nothing wrong with it, that's just how fanfiction works! It isn't supposed to be canon, it is fanon and only fanon. Everything that happens is fictional and fanon based, in other words, it's the fan who decides what should happen in a fanfiction and how it's supposed to be!

One of the Fanfiction's best purposes is giving the fandom a chance to mischaracterize! To write the characters the way they wish them to be and not necessarily the way they truly are. Fanfiction allows us to imagine and create something that isn't true, so let me clear my point here: It's totally okay to change the characters' personalities in your fanfics! As the writer, you have the right to do so, and since writing a fanfic must be for your own pleasure in the first place, no one can stop you from imagining whatever you want! No one can jump out and say stuff like "YOU CAN'T MISCHARACERTIZE A CHARACTER IN A FANFICTION" because that'd be super lame. It's your own fanfiction, your story, your creation and you're free to mischaracterize if that's how you like it to be! And if anyone doesn't like that, remember that they don't have to read that.

3)What is the problem?

Look, we've been going through some drama because of the recent character analyses of twst fandom, and I'd like to explain why. First off, note that I think both sides of the argument have been wrong and I'm going to talk about both of them.

Let me begin with a small example: It's been argued that based to what we've seen from Leona's personality so far, he doesn't seem to be the type to love healthily or even easily fall for anyone. Some of the fans seemed to be offended by the statement and said that "They still want their Leona fluff no matter what everyone else says" okay okay, this is the problem I was talking about: Saying that canon Leona doesn't seem to be much of a fluffy lion or a sweet lover isn't equal to forbidding the fans from writing fluffs for him or picturing him as a adorable and gentle lover! No one has the right to hold fans back from appreciating and enjoying what they like! But it's important to know what exactly is happening.

I'll talk about some crucial points you need to know about character analyses and how it's different from a fanfic in part (4), but before that, let me continue to give some examples of the recent argues and how each of the sides were wrong.

A) You enjoy reading fluffy Malleus content but character analyses have been saying that he isn't as soft and cute as you'd expected him to be. Does this mean that you can no longer ask for wholesome Malleus content or enjoy reading them? -> Of course not! You're still free to read/imagine/write whatever you like with Malleus! No one has the right to tell you what to do, and character analyses aren't meant to be a way to hold you back from enjoying what you like! If you're enjoying something, go for it! In this fanon world no one can accuse you for not following the canon interpretations!

B) You've spent a rather long time getting to know Ace and his canon personality, and you really like the way he is! But by reading fanfics/ fandom's interpretations on him you can't help but to feel like they aren't giving his personality the justice he deserves, and aren't seeing the great and amazing character he truly is. Is it okay to feel upset about this? -> Just as I said, it's totally fine to have your personal interpretations of a character no matter how different the rest of the interpretations are! But the real question is: what should you do when you think fandom isn't doing a character justice? This would be answered in part D!

C) You are enjoying your personal ideas and headcanons with Idia and many are saying that your way of picturing him is so adorable! Does this necessarily mean that the canon Idia as well is like you describe him? -> Absolutely not! No matter how adorable an Au/headcanon is, everyone's free to enjoy it but you should remember that canon ≠ fanon. You are totally free to imagine whatever you'd like! But keep this in mind that you shouldn't insist on your ideas being necessarily canon!

D) You feel like many are mischaracterizing your favorite character and you don't like it, what should you do? -> Well to begin with, remember that other fans have the right to characterize a character just as much as you do! You can't stop them from doing what they like or expect them to change the way they are because of how different the canon interpretation of a character might be. But you as well have a great chance to inspire the fandom by your own ideas! You can try to discuss how different the canon personality of your favorite character is and even try to turn that into a character analysis! This way you'd not only avoid causing any drama because of disagreeing with someone's way of picturing your favorite character, but you will also have a chance to present your personal ideas and characterizations to the fandom in a friendly and polite way!

E) You don't like how an author is characterizing some of the boys, what should you do? -> Easy solution, don't read it. Let me tell you, I have gone through this a lot and do you know what I do whenever I read/see something that doesn't match my tastes and expectations? I keep scrolling! That's all, I don't have to like it, but I don't have to read it either! 😀

F) You're an author and a writing request is asking you to write for a character in a way you just can't or don't want to write because that goes totally against your idealistics and ideas on a character, for example: You just can't write something really wholesome and fluffy for Leona because you can't imagine him being like that, what should you do? -> It's obvious, then don't write it! You have the right to choose what you'd like to write and how you like to picture a character no matter what others think. If you want to picture Leona as an emotional and soft boy, it's totally okay! If you want to picture him as a cold-hearted and mean prince, again it's totally alright! Remember, just like fans you have the right to picture and characterize the characters the way you want to, and no one can tell you otherwise!

G) You've read a character analysis and you realize that you've been mischaracterizing Floyd for a while, should you feel bad or sorry about it? -> Of course not!! Even if you were mischaracterizing him, keep this mind that there's nothing wrong with picturing Floyd as the way you want him to be! As long as you don't claim your headcanons to be canon and share stuff like "Canon from is definitely like this" or "Floyd would do that, canon! ^-^" it's totally alright to imagine him the way you like!

H) You saw someone saying something about Malleus that didn't match the canon interpretations of him. You quickly replied to then and corrected them about their wrong point of view and tell them how the real Malleus is, which kinda led to and argument between you and the person, did you do the right thing? -> Absolutely not! Attacking others out of nowhere and without any context isn't the right way of introducing the canon characterizations to the fandom! Even if you were right, keep this in mind that the other person has the right to picture Malleus or any other character the way they want them to be so if you want to correct them or try to get to know the canon character interpretations, you should do that from the logical and polite way.

I) Someone wrote a character analysis for Idia and said how they find it so annoying when people who refer to Idia as "Baby" and "uwu beanie". You often refer to Idia as baby or cutie yourself and the context of that analysis/general post some how got to you. You feel lowkey attacked and offended, did the original poster say the right thing? -> No, matter what the context is or how accurate and well-written that analysis was, directly calling people who have a certain way of picturing a character "Annoying" is rude no matter how you think of it. Even if the original poster were right about Idia not being UWU, their way of wording their sentence wasn't really pleasant; keep this, in mind that everyone in the fandom is free to picture Idia as they like and it doesn't even matter if you don't like it or not! If you're going to write an analysis/essay regarding a character's personality, remember that you should prove your point and disagree with opposite opinions through logical reasoning and explaining your point, NOT by offending and attacking other ideas by savage contexts like "You have to stop saying that Idia is like this", "I hate it when people say Idia is like this", " It's so annoying to see people saying Idia is like this... "

4) What's with the character analyses then?

There's a difference from the canon and fanon interpretations of a character, this is a truth which cannot be denied. But it's important to remember that just because a canon interpretation of a character exists, you can no longer enjoy the fanon interpretations!

Even I, for example, enjoy picturing someone like Malleus as an purely evil being like Maleficent herself because I enjoy seeing him as a perfect figure for "Mister of all Evil", but in my Malleus analysis post I explained how we should NOT think that Malleus is nothing but pure evil or a heartless monster! See, this is the difference I've been talking about. I'm pretty well-familiar with the canon Malleus, but I'm also enjoying the my own fanon Malleus and I know that the Evil Malleus I admire is a fanon one, not the canon one!

The thing is, character analyses aren't meant to be a way to hold anyone back from enjoying their fanon interpretations or imagining what they like, they aren't call out posts either. They are simply a way of getting to know the characters as if you're getting to know one of your irl friends. You come to think of them, see how deep their personalities are and get to learn more about them!

It's true that reading a character analysis might make you realize that you've been somehow mischaracterizing a character but this, isn't anything to be sorry or frustrated about! Character analyses are written to learn us more about our favorite characters, or as I like to name it, they want to show us that they're a lot more that we may imagine them to be!

Now, you may wonder how can we write a good character analysis without getting out of the line, offending anyone or giving out any cheap information?

I, personally, am pretty strict when asked to do a character analysis. Doesn't matter if I like the character or not, I'd try to judge them nonetheless. You HAVE to talk about both good features and bad features, and you must strictly avoid your analysis from getting personal; you have to make sure that your personal thoughts, feelings and emotions regarding a character aren't effecting your analysis. You shouldn't be writing it in a way to show off with your analytical ideas either.

Some people think coming off as rude would make them sound valid and acceptable, or they might just be used to being a little offensive in general, but as I explained in part 3-I, I won't recommend using any harsh or mean languages at all. Let me note that your way of wording your ideas is crazily important and if you're not careful enough with what you say and how you describe your ideas, your post would be not only be not much helpful as an analysis but also a cause of more drama and arguments. Also, keep this in mind that even the best of character analyses can't totally catch the characters' personalities correctly because we do not own them! Twisted wonderland's characters are a property of aniplex and neither me not anyone else in this fandom has the right to claim what a character is 100% like unless Disney officially releases those details!

Writing character analyses can be hard, from finding enough of hints to defend your point to choosing the right Grammer and way of speaking to avoid any further misunderstandings. But remember, those who write character analyses have no right to attack anyone because of them (They can oppose to different opinions of course, opposing ≠ attacking ), but keep this in mind that readers have no right to attack then because of their analysis either! See, that's a two-sided relationship. Both of the, sides have to learn to respect, both of the sides should, know, their boundaries and both of the sides have to be respectful!

Warning: When I say you're free to do or imagine whatever you wish to do, know that posting and sharing writings too has its own rules. Make sure to put the proper warnings, and avoid using any taboo or clearly impolite and sometimes, illegal concepts such as incest, pedophilia, etc.

I actually had a lot more I wanted to say regarding the matter but I'm keeping it short, because I know that writing too much would make this boring and pretty hard to read. Hope that it's clear enough and avoid the possible future misunderstandings and arguments regarding the matter. Please, this isn't even about twst, it's about learning to respect each other it's about real life. Having people read THIS is a lot more important than having them read my character analyses or writings.

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #malleus draconia #ace trappola #leona kingscholar #idia shroud #important

[djmarinizelablog]

A Conversation with the Author of City Comma State, kippielovesyou/ForcedSimile

Had a short interview with the author of City Comma State, @kippielovesyou/ForcedSimile and asked her if I could share our conversation online---she said yes!

Did you know that Hange and Levi in her work was based on Spongebob and Squidward's interactions?

Read the entire transcript below:

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djmarinizela (D): if i may ask, where and how did you learn to write so good? what inspired you to write city comma state?

kippielovesyou (K): i don't mind at all! it's genuinely just years of practice. i've been scribbling stories since kindergarten (i had a long standing multi part series in first grade about all my classmates). i think one thing is certain: having a strong understanding of characters whether you borrow them or they are your own is pretty key.

a lot of points [in Isayama's story] could have been better thought out or tighter. however, we all love his characters. a weak plot (or in the case of city comma state: no plot) can be ignored or forgiven if everyone loves the characters

i'll be honest, i spend a lot of time trying to understand why a character does things or reacts a certain way. and yes, sometimes, that means i act out scenes in my car while driving. it's embarrassing...

there's a lot more to it, but to me that's the most important thing

as far as how city comma state came about: i wanted to do a slow burn romance centered around levihan, but I also wanted to show how all these characters care about and support each other. i knew in the confines of the AoT world, anyone could die at any moment and that didn't work with the softer feelings i wanted people to enjoy. how can you enjoy the friendship between mike and hange if he dies? it's possible, but it upends all the warmth we were enjoying. so i wrote an AU. i wanted to keep levi with a rough background with many walls, and i wanted hange to have her own issues that they can work through together. and i love the idea of them adopting/supporting the 104th kids without the fear of sending them out to war

D: your answer is so profound and helpful, thank you so much! I can honestly say you pretty nailed it when it comes to character development---everyone has a character arc in your fic! [my next question] is about the gender discourse in your story. I know you started City Comma State pretty early in 2014, but even back then, the nonbinary identity wasn't widely known before. How were you able to flesh out the discourse on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and play it out on the dialogues and backstories?

K: it's pretty funny, a lot of the LGBTQIA+ has always been discussed i my family. we've had gay, lesbian, trans, gnc, bi and asexual people in my family for generations, as far back as the 20s (that we're aware of). hange's gender being debated made it a prime opportunity to write such an experience, some of which is borrowed from my own life. when i read older chapters i see certain slips in dialogue where i could have made an effort to be more neutral. we're in such a binary society that sometimes even if you feel in between, it slips in. in fact, i'm sure some people might take issue with the fact that i stuck with she/her for hange. i'm not sure i'd make a different decision today. i like this version of hange the way she is, and i hope hange's nb/gnc status comes across in more than just pronouns. hange's full identity is so much more than that and that is what i wanted to explore. and i think no matter where you fall on the whole LGBTQIA+ spectrum, you are more than just the label you've chosen. yes, in this story levi is bi/pan. but i don't think he ever says that explicitly, and he avoids labels. it seems fussy to him, which feels levi. discourse would not be his thing. i think even having a debate about whether or not he was bi or pan wouldn't be something he would want to engage in, he just wants to do what he wants. instead it's heavily implied. i think we forget since so many of us experience this discourse online and want to label things that there are people who don't want to involve themselves in it. it goes back to how would this character act. for instance, based on how levi is in canon, i can see many ways to interpret his sexuality. there's cues for a lot of different takes. but levi doesn't seem like the type that would need a definitive label in order to be happy. there's many ways to interpret hange's gender (and i've written several takes, some where they're more insistent on their pronouns), but i think hange's more excited to explore life than worry too much about much about how they're addressed or how someone talks about them. maybe another character might be more caught up in labels but hange and levi not so much

D: No, don't be sorry, I am more than thankful for your answer. I really appreciate it! I don't get to have these kinds of conversations with other writers, so I am grateful for your insights.

K: a really funny anecdote for you: i loosely based the idea of my levihan off of spongebob and squidward. you know, since they start out as neighbors and hange is more invasive than levi is used to

D: that's.... a stretch. but thanks for the tidbit! was the annual star wars contest also something that you do in your family? that part as well as all the geeky references won me over tbh!

K: it was an extremely loose inspiration! but hange mowing her lawn in the middle of the night so levi wouldn't be mad at her is on par with a spongebob move. and um...my family, while they can be a little nerdy, is not nerdy enough to do the star wars tournament! i made that up entirely

i just imagined hange having eccentric family, so they have very unusual traditions that none of the children question

i'll be the first to say a lot of city comma state is unrealistic and a little bit of a domestic fantasy. there's a lot of problems with money, employment and such that hange and levi SHOULD have but that's a little too real and not what i want to be the focus of this story. like hange landing a job that gives her a day off and she doesn't suffer a severe pay cut as a result? unrealistic. but i have other things i want to tackle. plus, in canon we have humans that turn into giants and 3D maneuver gear which would probably kill its user in real life. i think making certain parts of this fanfic a little idealistic is okay

D: are there other works that influence your writing? or authors that inspire you to write?

K: There's too many influences to count. reading is so important and even things that are bad are helpful. i actually was trying to read a YA series that seemed really cool and i had to stop reading because so many things were so annoying (I won't reveal which, since i think it has a small but dedicated fandom and i don't want to rain on their parade, it is purely a taste thing to some degree). instead of being upset and thinking that I wasted my time, i took note of what made me stop reading (that is a long list of things i didn't like so i won't bother to outline each one). even if it's something as small as a fanfiction that you had to click out of, ask yourself why you stopped. Especially with fanfiction: you already like these characters, what you're looking for is usually pretty specific (a pairing, an au, a specific scenario, etc). why, when this author has ticked all your superficial boxes, did you stop reading? and when you love something as yourself why. Ask yourself why you love the source material even! do you really love the plotlines and the world or do you love the characters? Is the dialogue strong? something to also pay attention to: people in general. how do they speak, gestures, facial expressions. really listen to how people talk (Youtube podcasts are really good for this!).

i think people would be surprised, a lot of what i really like to read is very all over. from surrealist novels, to classic literature, to science fiction aimed at children (i'm finally reading animorphs after almost 20 years!). and what i write for original fiction doesn't reflect what i'm probably best known for.

D: thanks for this, Kippie! looking forward to reading more of your works!

K: i'm still amazed at the response! writing is so solitary to me and i don't really look at my numbers. it never occurred to me that people would be discussing my fic!

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If you haven't read Kippie's Levihan fic yet, here's the link to get started: City Comma State

#levihan #aot #snk #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #interview #writing #fanfic #fanfiction #ao3 #mine #djmarinizela

[breitzbachbea]

📓?? 👀

Okay, okay, okay, so -

Put “📓” or some other version of a book emoji into my inbox and I’ll explain the plot of a fanfiction that I haven’t written but daydream about.

The Ancient Olympics AU (which I talked about with @crispyliza )

This AU came into being after I relistened to the "The Ancient Olympics" episode of the history/comedy podcast "You're Dead To Me". It had the interesting information that a lot of Olympic winners actually came from Sicily & South Italy! So naturally I began to wonder what might have happened if my Sicilians ended up in Olympia ...

Dramatis Personae:

- Michele Vento (APH Sicily, my OC) as Trainer of the Bontade Twins - Marco & Lorenzo Bontade (Human OCs of mine) as Athletes from Syracuse - Herakles Karpuzi (APH Greece) as Athlete from Athens - Timothea Simonides (Human OC) as Herakles' Trainer - Omar Simonides (Human OC) as ... Good question? Co-Trainer to Thea ig

The Happenings™:

- Lorenzo and Marco want to compete in the upcoming Olympics as runners. Michele,probably a distant relative to them who lives close, becomes their trainer.

- The Sicilians roll up to Olympia, most likely a few days early because travelling is an adventure in these days and it doesn't hurt to have a few extra days to get accustomed to the terrain.

- Michele also definitely loses the Bontade twins 10 minutes after arriving at the sanctuary bc he wasn't looking for 0.5 seconds. So now he lost his boys at a place that currently contains approximately half of Magna Graecia.

- The reason he wasn't paying attention? Some athletes were preparing themselves nearby, bucknaked of course. Amongst them Herakles. Michele has always been a sucker for strong arms and legs, so that plus Herakles' beautiful face has him swooning from the get go.

- After he recollects his twins, they spend the next few days training, as do the other athletes, which is when Herakles notices Michele's looks.

- Christina (crispyliza) had the galaxy brain idea that Herakles intentionally flirts with Michele to sabotage the Bontades success at the games. It's an idea that he comes up with together with the Simonides - to be completely fair, it was probably Timothea's. Omar: "My, looks like you've got a fanboy." Herakles: "And what a pretty one at that." Timothea: "He seems to be a bit shy about it, though. Or maybe he's actually after those twin brothers?" (They figure out he's the Bontades trainer) Timothea: "Oh, he's a trainer! Pretty sucky at his job though if he's oogling the competition so much." Omar: "All the better for us, though." Timothea: -oil lamp ignites over her head bc light bulbs aren't invented yet-

- While we're at the Simonides: This was before it was mandatory for everyone to be naked, so Timothea managed to sneak into the games by posing as a man. Omar helps her with it, since he's trans and thusly got experience. Christina also had the hilarious idea of them having fake beards, which is just, YES. Timothea definitely cut her hair and they made whatever beard is in fashion in Athens at the time out of them. Their mother Natasa used to be a famed winner of the Heraea, the woman's games also held in Olympia.

- So let the games GreSic flirting begin

- The Problem: Michele doesn't want his boys to think he's betraying them for a rival athlete. He also really wants Herakles to rail him. The Solution: Find ways to be sneaky and secretive about it so the twins don't have to find out. Here is one of the possible scenarios I had for this: "When I first thought about this, I also had this scene in my head. Idk how accurate it works, bc it involves a tent and in the ydtm episode they didn't mention how people were housed during the games. (Like, I am sure there were guest houses, the temples probably offered some places to sleep, both of that but in upscale fancy for all the rich and important people attending yadda yadda.) Do you know that trope(?) when someone has sex but is trying to hide it? That. Just Michele sticking his head out of the tent, clutching at the fabric to keep everything else closed. Tells his twins, who looked for him, he is kind of busy rn. Tries is best to hide the fact of what is actually happening and to make them leave. It works. Kind of. Because as soon as they are gone, Michele sighs with a :| look and tells Hera to stop. "But why?" "Because you would have to nail every corner of this tent down and then they'd still find a way to spy!" Which is exactly what the twins ARE doing. They are trying their best to get an unnoticed peak from one place of the tent. But because it has to be subtle, all they get to see is feet and they either don't hear them or don't recognize Herakles' voice. I don't think he is the person to go out of his way to pick on people or pick fights in general, so they probably haven't had much interaction. So Michele smoothes out his chiton annoyed and leaves the tent, to then just stomp around enough for the twins to notice him and pretend they weren't doing what he knew they were doing."

- One day however, Marco & Lorenzo are missing their trainer and can't find him. They run into Thea & Omar, who are missing their athlete. Hm. Weird. Wonder what's that all about :)

- They end up catching Michele and Herakles in the act, just out there somewhere underneath a tree, which, naturally, makes the Bontades VERY upset. Lorenzo: "What do you think you are doing?!" Omar, in his head: 'Herakles, obviously.' Marco: "He's the COMPETITION, Michele!" Both: "You've left us all alone for THAT?!" Since the Simonides were in on the whole thing, they're not surprised just disappointed that Herakles vanished without a heads up. "Well, that ain't sprinting practice."

- The most hilarious thing is that could not even tell you who wins the race. I didn't even think about that part until yesterday. I'm kind of particular to the thought that it's somewhat of a photo finish with the three of them, but the twins come out on top. Since there can only be one winner, they flippantly let one of them be chosen by the equivalent of a coin toss. So technically, either Marco or Lorenzo has won, but they keep both parading around with the wreath and insist that the inscription to them mentions them both as winners. Now, if they got their way is another story, I didn't read any academic articles on this at. all.

- Second place is as good as last in the Ancient Greek world, but Herakles takes the loss in stride. Timothea is probably the one who's most upset. Marco: "Hah, so all your flexing - " Lorenzo: "and all your fucking for nothing in the end!" Michele: "Hey, I'd like to think I'm a reward in and of myself, not an obstacle."

Sequel Bait:

- Back home in Siracusa, Michele gets asked if he doesn't want to train his cousins, too. The ones from Neapolis. The ones Michele can't stand. However, his mother talks him into it and he agrees. Extra funny because Lovino & Feliciano were also talked into it by THEIR parents. So Michele spends the next four years butting heads with Lovino, knowing fully well their mother will rip his head off if they don't do well. Lovino is of course hiding his giant insecurities about disappointing his loving father & mother behind snark. Michele will arrive at Olympia with four athletes in two this time and looks like he aged 40, not 4 years from all the stress.

- Herakles is no competition this time, though! He wants to try his hand at wrestling this year. However, very quickly after his arrival, he butts heads with a fellow wrestler from one of the Greek colonies in Asia minor. Only thing's more annoying than his big mouth, which he shares with his wrestling buddy, are probably the flirtations coming out of it & Herakles can't wait to show him his place. (Yes, I do know that the Turkish people came into the area that is modern day Turkey far, far later, he should be of another ethnicity [and he gotta be Greek to participate, anyways] but. Is any of you really going to deny me Herakles and Sadık wrestling, bucknaked, covered in oil? I'd hope the fuck not.)

#beareplies #cunchishai #writing #aph #hetalia #hws #aph greece #hws greece #aph sicily #hws sicily #hetalia au #aph romano #hws romano #imma not tag Feli he is also here but like. this ain't about him. #aph turkey #hws turkey #storie nostre #gresic #hera #miche #marco #lorenzo #thea #omar #lovi #sadik #also dilan and omar definitely fall in love #dilan is sadik's wrestling buddy #havva is his actual trainer #dilan tries to pick fights with the simonides but omar just thinks she's really hot and she doesn't know how to deal with it

[spooderboyandtincan]

Do you have Spooder bby and Tindad fanfiction recs? Maybe that don't have any hospitals please,,,? I just see way too many and can't read them-

of course, i’d love to! i’ll rec:

Turn My Day from Good To Great by @superherotiger 

When Tony invited Peter to the tower for 'official internship training' out of the blue one day, the teen had to admit he was a little suspicious. Tony was a strange person. A creature of habit and somehow unpredictable all at once, a paradox that would forever throw Peter for a loop, he was sure. Whatever Tony had planned for Thursday, Peter had the feeling he wasn’t getting out of it no matter how hard he fought it. And so, with a lazy shrug, he figured he might as well settle in for the ride.

But then why were there so many children running around Stark Industries? And why did everyone keep looking at him with these soft eyes whenever he stood beside Tony? What on earth did Tony plan to put him through today?...AKA Tony brings Peter to 'Take your kids to work day'! Only problem is, he hasn't told Peter that just yet...

(Gift to Malya for the Friendly Neighbourhood Exchange!)

Of War and Starlight  by @superherotiger

No matter where in the universe you stood, no matter what species you reigned from, no matter how hard you fought the laws of nature, there were some things in the world that were inevitable. Life. Death. Love. Hatred. Destruction. Creation… But above all the others, only one force made every soul in the universe cower.

War.

It was never satisfied. Never pleased. There were no winners in war…

Except, of course, for the King of War, who the other Celestials simply named Stark.

But when the King of War senses a strange lifeform at the edge of his kingdom one day, he approaches the bright presence fully expecting to be the one to snuff it out of the galaxy. What he doesn’t expect to find is a baby drifting in the midst of space, wrapped up in a blanket of comet’s tail and shimmering like a star against the void they lay abandoned in.

And above all things, the King renowned for violence and destruction certainly never expected to find that this small, innocent baby was in fact no ordinary child, but a Celestial just like him...

~~~

(Celestial Irondad AU)

Tea for Tony by @joyful-soul-collector

Tony gets sick (but insists he isn't) and it's up to Peter to help him out

Misser Star’ by @joyful-soul-collector

“Woah there Sea Legs,” Tony said, catching him under the arms and setting him up straight. “Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself.”

“The sea is in my legs,” Peter said, clinging tight to Tony’s arm as he wobbled slightly. “What if my legs… were in the sea?”

“Oh wow--this is going to be fun.”

OR

Peter gets his wisdom teeth taken out, and is a very silly lad

Blanket Forts and Midnight Stories by @joyful-soul-collector

Tony and Peter spend the day building a blanket fort and watching movies!

(Rated Teen for swearing)

and there are so many others that i’d love to rec! (i have a terrible memory and there are so many other fics out there that i just love i just forgot about!)

#ask #anon #fic recs

[barjogaron]

This is the continuation for my Elite AU Love & Deceit! The fanfiction can be read on ao3 here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32302612

And on Wattpad here:

Chapter Three:

Waiters and waitresses all dressed in white stand on every corner of the table. There are young men who play violins in the corners of the room, and women who tug on the strings of harps. I see my suite mates are already seated and I grab a random seat to sit in. From across from me I see Polo looking at me with hungry eyes, teasing me with a smirk. I ignore him and observe the rest of the dining hall.

Traditional European foods of all kind are already set up neatly on the white blanketed table on silver plates that are partnered with a drinking glasses and silverware. A heavenly chandelier hangs from above everything and Crisanto sits at the head of the long table. He is accompanied by other people dressed just as fancy as him. A young man with rosy cheeks and a friendly smirk, sitting next to another guy with beautiful caramel-colored skin and dark eyes. There is also a girl who sits beside them and they all bicker in a soft chatter, laughing and giggling in unison. There are a few other important looking people as well. I assume they are all Cristano's very opulent friends.

"Welcome, everyone. This meal is not only for my departure, but also in dedication to you, the new addition to the White Mansion." Crisanto smiles. Even though I shouldn't take it in other way, "new addition to the White Mansion" sounded pretty odd to say, but I shouldn't think too hard about it.

"Ah, right on time as always." Crisanto turns his heads to his sons that enter the room. Leading his brothers, dressed handsomely, is no other than the bruiting, Guzmán.

He is dressed in a black velvet suit, a suit that darkens his eyes in a strange deep incandescent green filled with obscured devilry. His hands are in his pocket, and he looks at just about everything in the room, except for in my direction. For a split second our eyes lock, and he quickly turns away clenching his jaw. I can tell he is forcing himself to avoid me. But why? I wonder what his problem is.

His brothers are dressed in a more casual formal  attire. They all sit in seats near the girls I'm living with, and some next to each other and other guests who I am not yet familiar with. By the time all the boys sat down, the only spot left for Guzmán to sit is next to me...

His powerful scent infiltrates my nostrils and I can't help but to think how good he smells. I try my best to ignore him, tapping my fingers on my thighs. I can feel him eyes looking over me, and from the corner of my eye I see his jaw do his signature clenching thing again, and he quickly turns his head away from me, taking a sudden interest in the silverware in front of him.

"Now, shall we say grace before we begin?" Crisanto smiles but it quickly fades when he looks at me, giving me an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry Nadia, forgive me. Would it be alright to say prayer? I don't want to oppress any different religious beliefs." he asks me and I shrug in my seat, trying to avoid all the eyes of the room staring at me.

"I really don't mind it." I smile nervously.

"Splendid. Come now, let us all hold hands." he tells us. I'm not so keen to the idea of holding hands with Guzmán, but I must do so. This day just keeps getting better and better...

We all stand from our seats, grabbing onto one another's hands. I am hesitant to hold Guzmán's hand, inching my hand closer to his.

"I don't bite," whispers Guzmán. "Hard." He surprises me by practically snatching my hand into his. His hands are bigger than mind, fingers slender and ringed with silver, and easily wraps around my cold hands. Unlike his, which are somewhat soft and very warm. For some odd and stupid reason, I can feel my face heating up and I literally shake my head to fight against the sensation. I hate this.

"Our gracious Heavenly Father," Crisanto begins the prayer and we all close our eyes as he continues. For some odd reason I am tempted to open my eyes, and stupidly, I do, only to see Guzmán staring at me. I close my eyes quickly and I hear a soft chuckle escape from his mouth. I didn't think he was even capable of even chuckling, let alone laughing. I can feel the heat rising, my palms getting hotter and hotter.

Please end this prayer already! Please! I mentally scream. I repeat it over and over in my head, just so I can escape Guzmán's grip. Within moments, Crisanto ends the prayer with an amen, and we all sit back down in our seats. Thank goodness.

I snatch my hand back as quick as I could, looking away and pretending Guzmán doesn't exist. Yet, this cunning young man has the audacity to lean closer and whisper into my ear.

"Don't worry, I enjoyed holding your hand too." he grins against my ear. I can feel him smiling at me. I know for sure it's with all the wrong intentions.

"Don't flatter yourself." I whisper back to him and his eyes simmer cold, but his perky lips still hold that smirk. Guzmán smirks and focuses his attention to his plate.

"I can tell you're not going to be an easy catch." he says and my mouth hangs open. I know he's trying to get under my skin. I can tell by his cheeky smile.

I scoff.

"You have another thing coming if you're thinking I'm a catch." I tell him and focus on my plate, waiting for the waiter to reveal our meals. Everyone else is socializing with one another like normal people, and here I am with the dreamy yet diabolical, Guzmán, who I barley even know—is finding it in his twisted pleasure to annoy me.

"Don't worry, little rabbit, I enjoy a good game." I look at him and I lose it.

"Game?!" I shout and everyone goes quiet. I clear my throat thinking of something of a way to quickly dig myself out of this awkwardness.

"I didn't know you fancied sports so personally, Guzmán." I shoot Guzmán a wicked look, hoping he catches on. He simply grins. Damn his smile is gorgeous, but already I despise him.

"Oh yes, basketball is a sport I love. As well as rugby, and such and such." Guzmán replies and everyone continues to their casual banter. I notice his brothers whispering to one another, chuckling.

"Nadia, I'd like you to meet my young friends who are successful in the fashion industry," Crisanto smiles at me, pointing to the gentleman with the dark blue suit and wavy brown hair. I can tell he is a model because how charming he is.

"This is Nathaniel Gray, he models for Calvin Klein. The fellow next to him is his friend, Austin, accompanied by their companion, Eleanor Steel, who is a photographer.

I wave to them and they give me friendly smiles, but I can tell they weren't really interested in the acquainting business. The waiters reveal our meals which consist of steak, lobster, salads, vegetables, fruits, and my personal favorite beverage besides lemon water and wine.

The night had went on and on about business talk and getting familiar with one another. The boys kept cackling to jokes most of the time, and I would occasionally talk to my suite mates. Carla was busy flirting with a guy named, Joseph, who was more than alluring on his part

Throughout dinner, Guzmán stayed quiet and kept to himself. He didn't make any snarky comments, or made an attempt to bother me. Every time I talked, he just...watched me. Maybe he didn't think I noticed him, or felt him looking at me. Or maybe, he didn't care if I did...

"So, Nadia, please do tell us a little bit more about yourself." Nathaniel asks, taking a sip of wine from his glass.

"There's not really much to know about me." I nervously reply. Being the center of attention was never my favorite thing to be.

"Please, enlighten us." Nathaniel insists and I sigh to myself. Guzmán is fully focused on me and I can feel the anxiety brewing within me.

"Well, I'm from Madrid, Spain, born and raised. I love singing and photography, as well as writing. Um, I'm in my last year of college at NYU, majoring in English and hope to one day publish a story of my own. I'm Twenty-one years old, and I have a loving family who I am thankful everyday for." I tell everyone and notice Guzmán has turned his attention somewhere else, burying a smile under his hand pressed against his lips.

"Well that was a perfect little bio if I ever heard one. Nice to meet you, Nadia." Nathaniel says and I smile and mentally pat myself on the back. I take a quick glance at Guzmán who drinks his wine. As soon as I look away to down the rest of my glass of wine, I think I hear him say, "This should be fun."

"What did you say?" I look at him. I meant for it to come out more with authority but I sounded like a timid school girl.

"Nothing, Princess," Guzmán grins while standing. "Enjoy your meal." he winks and walks away from the table, leaving the dining hall. Crisanto watches him leave and I pour me more wine and continue eating.

I really wonder what goes on in Guzmán's head. I sigh. So far I have survived the ongoing night. Let's see how it ends.

...

AFTER DINNER ENDED everyone said their fair-wells and goodbyes to one another. Carla kept flirting with Joseph, and the other girls were a trying to keep their drunken behavior managed until they got back to the suite. Crisanto had got into his white limousine hosted by William, and had left for the airport. The house is now officially in the supervision to me and his sons. Honestly, I don't know which terrifies me the most.

I stroll around outside on the balcony after getting changed into more comfortable clothes to sleep in, which is just a typical silky white gown. My hair in a messy bun and I am so glad to have all that make-up off my face. I put on my reading glasses and make me some tea to soothe me. I figure I'll take this peaceful moment to enjoy the night air. I tip toe outside onto the balcony while the the girls are asleep l in their rooms.

I take in the fresh late spring air. The breeze cool, just right, soothing and running across me. The balcony is big and acts as a perfect view for most of the enormous backyard of the white mansion. I see the tennis court, the basketball court, the swimming pool, the green house, and the walking trail that stretches into a land of tall trees amongst the meadow between the mansion and the woods.

I lean on the ledge of the stone balcony guarded by more white lions. Below, I notice someone standing near the swimming pool. He just stands there, looking at the large pool illuminated with the lights beneath it. I set my cup on the ledge and watch him. It's of course, Guzmán, to no surprise. I just watch him. What is he doing? Why do I care?

I continue to watch as he mindlessly watches the pool with his hands in his pocket. Then, to my surprise, Guzmán begins to slowly undress, taking off his clothes peace by peace. His skin is open to the night air. He pulls down his pants, kicking of his shoes and sliding off his socks. Finally, the biggest shock, is that he slides off his black name brand boxers and tosses them to the side. Oh my god, he's naked! Skinny dipping at that!

I can't help but to notice how his physique is literally godly, Greek defined for sure. The shape of his rear even, it's unearthly. I blush at the sight and I want to look away. In fact, I even turn my head...but instinctively, I find myself looking back.

He rakes his fingers through his hair and I am mesmerized by the intensity of his back muscles. He must work out. A lot. Catching me off guard, Guzmán turns his head back towards where I stand and I quickly duck to the floor of the balcony. I peak at him, seeing him turn back around and I cautiously stand back up. I watch as he dives into the now disturbed water, swimming naked and proud without a care in the world.

taglist: @inmyarmsyoufell @elitestan @glamorizing @jasminejc4525

#elite au #elite fanfic #elite season 4 #guznadia #guzman x nadia #netflix elite #ao3fic #ao3 #fanfiction #wattpad fanfic #ander x omar #romace #writers #wattpad fiction #omander #omar ayuso #aron piper #manu rios

[rainydaydream-gal18]

Echo x Reader: Sightseeing

(Author’s note:  I’m soooo sorry, I’ve been neglecting my Hobbit fanfiction duties, but I have Star Wars on the brain!  I don’t know, I’ve been drawn back in.  Here is a little something for you Echo fangirls.  He’s one of my faaaves!  This is pre-citadel, just so you know...)

   “Echo!” 

   The trooper glanced up from his datapad at the sound of his brother calling his name.  Fives was standing there, shaking his head in what looked like disappointment with arms folded across his armored chest.

   “What?” Echo shrugged his shoulders.

   “We’re in the middle of this beautiful city, and you’ve got your nose in a datapad!”  He gestured to their surroundings.  It was a warm night.  The duracrete was damp from a brief rainfall not too long before, and neon light signs reflected in the puddles.  Citizens walked back and forth, some talking on comms and others waiting in lines to try the exotic street foods that filled the air with scents that would make anyone’s mouth water.  It was beautiful now that Echo got a good look, but there were other things on his mind.

   “I’m reading the latest report issued about Geonosis,” he defended.  “Apparently some Geonosian worm infected-”

   “Brother, no.”

   “But-”

   “No, no.”  Fives shook his head again, reaching over to snatch the datapad from his best friend’s hand.  “You need to take some time and enjoy the sights.  There will be plenty of time to catch up on the latest reports on our way back.”

   “I suppose,” he conceded, still not completely convinced.

   “Like here,” Fives put an arm around his shoulder, drawing him closer to a cart where street food was being sold.  “Do you think we could enjoy such things on the cruiser?”

   Echo stared at the breaded aquatic creature on a stick, his empty stomach rumbling.  He remembered that he hadn’t eaten yet that evening. “That is an excellent point.”

   “I’m starving.  Let’s try something, eh?”

   Echo nodded, and he and Fives took their place in line.  Fives was looking at the menu posted on the front of the rickety old cart, and Echo took the time to observe his surroundings again.  There were some things he hadn’t noticed before- like how if he listened closely enough, he could hear a lively tune playing over the chatter of citizens.  It was a diverse crowd with droids and people.  His casual scan was halted when he spotted a beautiful pair of eyes.

   They only caught his gaze for a moment as she walked by, but Echo found himself following the form that they belonged to.  She was absolutely lovely, he admitted to himself in the privacy of his own mind.  Sure, in his travels he had seen a few that he found attractive, but none that had this effect on him.  It felt like his insides were coming apart, and he wondered if he should approach her.  What would he even say?

   A shadow moved along the wall of the buildings behind the woman.  The shadow moved steadily, and Echo quickly realized that it was following the owner of those eyes he so admired, who seemed oblivious to the situation.

   His jaw tightened as he tracked the figure, fists clenched.  He quickly made his way through the crowded sidewalk until he neared the shadow’s target.

- - - - 

   You had noticed the individual dressed in a trench coat with the collar turned up walking at a steady pace behind you.  He was distant, but close enough to raise alarm in your mind.  He had followed you down every turn.  Perhaps you were being paranoid, but perhaps not.  Not wanting to take any chances, you considered a few ideas to lose the guy.  As you passed a group of street vendors, you took note of a few troopers in uniform.  By the looks of it, they were ARC troopers.  One happened to look over at you and made eye contact briefly.  Maybe he saw the situation you were in because he kept staring even after you had broken the mutual gaze.  You decided to go a little farther and then circling around to approach the troopers.  If this individual was really following you, hopefully they’d get the idea and leave if you were in the company of soldiers.

   A line of citizens cut in front of you, and someone had shoved you off to the side.  

   “Ouch,” you complained, though you realized the incident was the least of your problems.  The two troopers in your line of sight were nowhere to be found, and the figure behind was gaining on you.

   Suddenly, a gloved hand just barely rested on your elbow, prompting you to move forward.  “Keep walking.”

   You glanced up to see the ARC trooper you’d made eye contact with before.  He had kept the standard trooper haircut and had no visible tattoos or scars on his face, only a handprint painted on his armor to distinguish him from others.

   “I don’t mean to alarm you,” he spoke in a low voice, “but there’s someone following you.”

   “I know,” you replied.  “I haven’t been able to shake him.  I was actually heading back around to find you and the other ARC trooper, hoping you’d scare him off.”  You pretended to be familiar with the trooper, slipping your arm around his waist and smiling.  

   “Well, you found me.”  He steered you back out of the crowd toward the nearest building.  The individual in the trench coat had slowed down at this point, and you saw a pair of eyes reflecting light in your direction.  The trooper put his arm around you, drawing you closer to his armored chest, and he blatantly stared down the stranger until they flinched and hurried away.

   You exhaled in relief.  “Thank you.”

   “It’s no trouble, really.”  He caught your gaze again, looking at you with those warm brown eyes of his.  He was handsome, no doubt, and the chivalry he displayed just now made him even more handsome in your eyes.  “Are you okay?”

   “A little spooked,” you admitted.  “But I’m fine, thanks to you.  My ship isn’t too far from here.  I think I’ll be alright.”

   He lifted a brow.  “You sure?  I can walk you back.”

   “No, don’t worry about it.  I don’t think he’ll want to follow me to where I’m headed.  Trust me.”

   “Okay.”  He gazed at you a little longer.  “What’s your name?”

   “Oh, I’m ________.”  You held out your hand.

   He shook it.  “I go by Echo.” 

   “Echo?”

   “It’s a long story.”  A look of embarrassment crossed his features.  “I used to reiterate orders in the training simulations, and my teammates would call me ‘Echo’ out of annoyance.”

   “Really?  That’s an interesting way to get a name.  I like it.”

   A mutual silence settled between you two.  Echo stole a glance at a nearby vendor and gestured toward it with a gloved hand.  “Hungry?”

   “Yeah, I could eat,” you decided.  Whatever it was that they were selling at the cart was foreign to you, but looked and smelled good.  Fortunately, the line was short.  You and Echo only had to wait a few minutes before stepping up to place the order.  You fished out your wallet, but Echo gently tapped your hand.

   “Allow me.”

   “But you just rescued me.  I couldn’t ask you to pay.”

   “You’re not asking.  I’m insisting,” he said with a smile.  He handed a few credits to the vendor and accepted the food, motioning for you to follow him away from the cart so the next person could order.  You took a bite of your portion and smiled.

   “This is really good!  Thank you.”

   “Don’t mention it.”  He bit into his serving as well.  “Wow, that is good.”  As the two of you finished your snack, Echo inquired to know more about you.  “So, what do you do for a living?”

   “I’m a mechanic.”

   “Yeah?  What kind?”

   “A good one,” you replied with a cheeky look.

   “I suppose I walked right into that one, but seriously, what sort of things do you work on?”

   “Mostly ships.  I like making a difference, getting to travel, and meeting new people.”  You gave his armored shoulder a playful nudge.

   “Sounds like you’re doing what you love.”

   “You could say that.”

   Another mutual silence ensued, but it made neither of you uncomfortable.  For just a few more minutes, you enjoyed the other’s company and the newfound friendship.  The moment was interrupted when the other ARC trooper you’d seen standing next to Echo before approached.

   “There you are, Echo!” he exclaimed.  “I waited in line, but by the time it was my turn, you were gone.”

   “Sorry,” Echo looked bashful.  “Fives, this is _________.  We ran into each other and got talking.  _________, this is Fives.”

   “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fives.”

   “Right back at you.”

   You glanced at the chrono on your wrist.  “Oh, I need to get back to my ship.”  In a moment of bravery, you leaned in to press a kiss to the side of Echo’s face, though with you having to lean around his ARC trooper armor, it ended up closer to his jaw than cheek.  “Thank you, Echo, for looking out for me.”

   His eyes widened in surprise, and for a few seconds he struggled to come up with a reply.  Finally, he just uttered, “anytime.”

   You smiled.  Echo was strong and brave, and yet so sweet and, well, darling.  With a farewell to him and Fives, you headed back to the ship that you were expected at in only a few minutes for the start of your shift.

   “Wait,” Echo hurried after you.  “Can I comm you?”

   You felt warmth in your face.  “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you around.”

   And then you turned and left.

   - - - -

   “So what’s all this, huh?”  Fives gave Echo a playful punch to the shoulder plate.  “I turn around for two seconds, and I find you with a girl.  An actual girl.”

   “She needed help- that’s all.  Someone was following her, and I couldn’t let anything bad happen.”

   Fives narrowed his eyes slowly.  “Ohhh, I see how it is... You like her.”

   “What?  How did you gather that from me helping a random citizen?”

   “Can’t say I blame you.  She’s cute, that’s for sure.”

   “Come on,” Echo rolled his eyes.  “Are you even listening to me?”

   “I’m listening, and all I’m hearing is that you totally have a thing for _______.”

   Echo cleared his throat, hoping he’d drop the topic because even though Echo tried to deny it, Fives was spot-on with his analysis.  It comes with the territory of spending your whole life with your teammate.  They know you pretty well.  “Either way, I doubt I’ll ever see her again.  We ship back out tomorrow anyway.”

   Fives patted his back.  “You never know, brother, you never know...”

   The entire evening out, Echo tried very hard to enjoy himself.  He caught himself searching the crowd for that face again everywhere he and Fives went.  Fives even suggested they circle back to where he met her again, just in case she came back looking for him too.  She was nowhere to be found.  When both troopers had enough exploring, the two headed back to the Republic ship.

   After getting through security, they went toward the trooper quarters.  They chatted idly about the interesting things they saw in the city and the foods they tried.  

   Echo was nearly floored when he caught a glimpse of that familiar pair of eyes.

   She was wearing a jumpsuit typical of mechanics in the GAR, and she was talking to a coworker, most likely an electrician, in the hall while he worked on a light fixture.  She looked up and met Echo’s gaze, and she smiled brightly at him.  Without thinking, Echo walked right up to her.

   “Wait, you work here?  On this ship?” he asked.

   She stifled a chuckle.  “Yeah, you didn’t know?”

   “I’ve seen mechanics around all the time in the hangar.”  He raised his brows incredulously.  “I would’ve definitely remembered you.”

   “That was actually pretty smooth,” Fives muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Echo to hear.

   “I’m new,” ________ admitted.  “Well, new to this ship.  I used to work with the 212th, but seeing as General Skywalker is the one with the highest destroyed vehicle count, they transferred some of us over.”

   Fives burst out laughing.  “That sounds like the General.”

   “Well then, I’m glad to be seeing more of you, _________,” Echo said.  “I’ll let you get back to work.”

   “Alright,” she nodded.

   “Alright,” he echoed, gazing back.  This time, the silence that followed was rather awkward as he didn’t budge or break the stare.

   Fives’ eyes shifted between the two before he broke the awkward silence.  “Uh, it was nice to see you again, _________.  We’ll be heading out now.  Have a good night!”  He grabbed Echo by the shoulders and gently pushed him in the other direction.  Echo regained his senses and kept walking, occasionally sneaking a glance over his shoulder.

   “We’ve got to work on your flirting skills,” Fives groaned.  “That last bit was just painful to watch.”

   “I’ll be seeing her,” Echo said with a smile on his face.  “I guess that means I’ll have plenty of practice.”

#Clone Wars #star wars: the clone wars #Clone wars imagine #clone wars reader insert #echo x reader #arc trooper fives #arc trooper echo #clone wars echo #clone wars fives #Reader insert #x reader #the clone war #sw:tcw #tcw #clone wars fanfiction

[monggu-eomma]

Lost and Found: Chapter 1 (Field Trip)

Pairing: Dhampir!Jungkook x Moroi!Reader

Genre: Vampire Academy!AU, action, and fluff

Word Count: 4.4k

Prompt: vampire!au

Warnings: Jungkook says the word “ass,” and there is an action sequence. Brief allusion to blood, because it’s vampires. 

Summary: Jungkook is a Dhampir training to become a Guardian. His whole life he had been taught that “they come first” and that he is meant to guard and protect. In the middle of the field exam, Jungkook tries to wrestle with unanswered questions while protecting you at all costs. 

Author’s Note: First off as far as fanfiction goes, I just want to note that this is the longest thing that I have ever written. This vampire!au is based off of the Vampire Academy books and as such I don’t have any ownership over the mythology of this story. With that being said, don’t worry if you’ve never read the books before. I made sure to include enough background information so that you can fully enjoy reading this scenario without having prior knowledge. This scenario is also for the BGW Bingo Bash and falls under the “vampire!au” prompt. © Field Trip is copyright monggu-eomma. Do not re-post, modify, and/or translate this piece of writing without my permission. 

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The world is not as it seems -- humans are not as alone as they think themselves to be. In the shadows of the moonlit nights, Moroi and Strigoi are at odds with each other. The Moroi, living vampires with the ability to control one of the five elements: earth, air, water, fire, and spirit, are under the constant threat of becoming the meal of the Strigoi, undead vampires that have little to no control over their bloodlust. In the middle of this eternal conflict are the Dhampirs, half human and half Moroi, and they serve as the sworn protectors of the Moroi. They are the only thing that stands in the way of the Strigoi and their next meal. 

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They come first. The mantra was a whisper that entered Jungkook’s mind as he woke up from another nightmare. He didn’t need to be reminded of that saying. Ever since he started going to St. Vladimir's Academy to train to become a Guardian, that phrase became a mantra that was ingrained into the minds of every Dhampir. They come first. 

Jungkook sat up from his bed, the covers pooling around his bare waist. He ran his fingers through his long, wavy hair as he thought about the field exam. It had been three weeks since the field test had first been administered. The field test was meant to test all last year novices to see if they were ready to be Guardians. The field exam consisted of all last year novices being assigned to a Moroi to guard for six weeks. During that six week period Jungkook had to follow and guard you, a Moroi that also went to St. Vladimir’s Academy, against professional Guardians that would attack at random to simulate the attack from Strigoi. 

 Two of the perks of this six-week exam was that Jungkook didn’t have to go to his regular day classes and that he didn’t have to wear the St. Vlad’s uniform. Instead, he would wear all black, like every Guardian, and he would follow the Moroi that he is assigned to, in that case being you, as you attend your night classes, seeing as sunlight causes discomfort to Moroi. This six week exam also gave Jungkook time to think about his future without having to worry about keeping up with his classes. He would be graduating in a few months and from there he had two options -- petition to be the Guardian of a Moroi, or let the Council choose who he should guard, and Jungkook wasn’t sure which option to choose. 

After taking a longer than usual shower, Jungkook dressed in a slightly loose black shirt that he tucked into tight fitting black pants that accentuated his thick thighs and long legs. He finished the look with a black belt around his pants and tan combat boots. Today was a special day, because the Moroi History of Ancient Civilizations class was going on a field trip to the Natural History Museum. If he weren’t in the middle of the field test, Jungkook would be happy to have an excuse to leave St. Vlad’s for a day, but today the field test would be twice as hard. Ordinarily Jungkook only had to worry about fake “Strigoi attacks” from his instructors, but today he also had to worry about real Strigoi attacks. Strigoi attacks were not a common occurrence during the day since Strigoi burned when they came into contact with sunlight, but they could still hide in the shadows to wait for the opportune moment to strike. 

Rolling his shoulders and craning his neck, Jungkook took a deep breath. “Everything is going to be fine,” he said to himself in hopes that he would be able to manifest what he desired. He patted the pockets of his pants to check and make sure that he had everything that he needed with him. “Nothing will go wrong. There will be actual Guardians there and Strigoi wouldn’t try to attack with all of us around during the day.” 

With a final deep breath, Jungkook left his room to find you and join the others for the field trip. It wasn’t often that the Moroi went out during the day, considering the discomfort that they experienced when coming into contact with sunlight. Jungkook needed to make sure that you were ready for the field trip and remembered to stay close to him, not that you need reminding. Guarding you was easy since you didn’t sneak off and you kept out of trouble. In fact, Jungkook wouldn't have minded guarding you after he graduated, but that was a thought that he could entertain later. For now he needed to be focused and prepared. Everything is going to be fine. 

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

“I hate field trips,” Jimin muttered as he watched Moroi students walking around the botanical exhibit of the Natural History Museum. Jungkook stood next to him and laughed at his remark. Jimin was a Dhampir, just like Jungkook. He was half human and half Moroi, whereas Jungkook was half Dhampir and half Moroi. Jimin looked like the typical Dhampir: average height, above average good looks, and muscular strength. Although Jungkook was also a Dhampir, from afar he could easily be mistaken for a Moroi with his height and good looks, but upon closer inspection it was clear that Jungkook was no Moroi. His muscular strength alone was indicative that he was no Moroi and his tan skin was evidence that unlike the Moroi, he could be out in the Sun without experiencing mild discomfort. 

“I didn’t know it was possible for you to hate something,” Jungkook jokingly replied as he looked down at his friend. Jimin huffed and folded his arms over his chest. It took a lot of willpower for Jungkook to not coo at his friend. 

“Why? Because I’m short and cute,” Jimin spitefully replied, using air quotes when he said cute. 

“There’s nothing wrong with being short and cute,” Jungkook said. Jimin sent him a questioning look and before his friend could pounce on him, because Jungkook knew that Jimin would, he added, “Strigoi underestimate you when they see you. They think ‘this small thing isn’t a problem’ and then you kick their ass, so it works out in the end.” 

Jimin shook his head left and right. “I just don’t like that we have to be on duty while they get to enjoy everything,” Jimin said, gesturing at a group of giggling Moroi that passed them. They waved their hands, flipping their hair as they passed by. Jungkook would have waved back, to be polite, but his homeroom teacher was looking at him and his gaze exuded an if-you-wave-back-or-flirt-with-them-you’ll-fail-for-today. 

“Maybe you shouldn’t have insisted on guarding a royal,” Jungkook said as he directed his gaze to Taehyung, the Moroi that Jimin was hellbent on protecting. Even though there were plenty of professional Guardians around, both Jungkook and Jimin had to be extra vigilant since they were not within the safe confines of St. Vladimir’s Academy. Taehyung was a royal Moroi and as a result, he was a constant target, with or without the field test. Although Jungkook knew that there was no way that Jimin would have chosen anyone else to protect, even if he wasn’t officially Taehyung’s Guardian, yet, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You know that’s impossible,” Jimin retorted. “He and I have been best friends since we were six.” 

Jimin and Jungkook continue to focus their gaze on Taehyung, who was inspecting a biological timeline of the Earth’s history, and you by his side seeming to feign interest. Taehyung had the typical features of a Moroi, he was slim and tall with wavy light brown hair falling in waves over his piercing brown eyes. He wore a green silk dress shirt with a few buttons undone to show off his collarbone and loose fit black slacks paired with brown sandals. Like all Moroi he was beautiful without even trying. Although Jungkook couldn’t deny that Taehyung was good-looking, he was not the one that had captured his attention-- it was the Moroi standing next to Taehyung that had captured Jungkook’s heart. It was none other than you, Y/N. He had spoken to you for the first time three weeks ago, when he was assigned as your “Guardian” for the field test. You were also tall, although not as tall as Taehyung, and beautiful without even trying. Unlike Taehyung you were not a royal, although that didn’t matter to Jungkook. Even with the simple clothes that you wore, a plain short-sleeved, black dress that stopped a few inches above your knee with fake glasses -- you were without a doubt breathtaking, figuratively and literally-- not that Jungkook would ever admit that to himself or anyone else. 

“Y/N looks cute today,” Jimin remarked. Jungkook slightly jumped away from his thoughts and awkwardly averted his gaze elsewhere. You always look cute.

“Um... Yeah... She looks good,” Jungkook said, hoping that Jimin wouldn’t read too much into this. Jungkook didn’t want people knowing that he found you mildly attractive. Jungkook and Jimin were close friends, but he knew that Jimin was terrible at keeping secrets and this mild attraction did not need to be out in the open for the whole world to know, especially you. It was widely known that Dhampirs and Moroi never had serious romantic relationships. At most Dhampirs and Moroi fooled around and when the time came for more serious relationships, they settled down with their own respective races. Jungkook didn’t want to be mocked or put down for having mild feelings that would lead to nothing. 

Jimin nudged Jungkook with his elbow, a knowing smile on his face. Jungkook opened his mouth to rebuke Jimin, when a screech pulled them out of the beginning of playful banter. They both turned to the sound of the sudden screech, ready to jump in action. Taehyung was grinning as his fingers moved around to create a disarray of flowers in your hair. The sudden growth of flowers had taken you by surprise and caused you to get frustrated at Taehyung. You had spent a lot of that morning doing your hair, since it was not cooperating, and he was turning it into a bird’s nest. Jungkook’s spiked heart rate had calmed down once he saw that you weren’t in danger. 

“You really take this seriously, don’t you?” Jimin asked with slight concern laced in his voice as he noticed Jungkook’s hand reaching for his silver stake. Jungkook hadn’t even realized that he had done that. Jungkook looked at him in surprise. Jimin immediately put his hands up. “It's not a bad thing. It’s good to take this test seriously and to be on guard, but you’ve changed since the test started. Before you were confident and couldn’t care less. Now... Now you’re on edge.” 

“Well we’re Guardians in training. It’s our job to look after the Moroi and make sure that they don’t become the meal of the Strigoi,” Jungkook mechanically replied in an attempt to explain his recent change in behavior. “Even with their powers, they are still vulnerable and an easy target.” 

Jimin nodded his head in agreement and put his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “You are the top of our class, Jungkook. You are more than capable of protecting Y/N and whoever you are assigned to after graduation.” 

“I know that... I know that I’ll be a good Guardian--”

“Great,” Jimin coughed. 

Jungkook playfully rolled his eyes. “Yes, a great Guardian. But this test is making everything seem that much more real -- protecting Moroi and killing Strigoi.” 

“But there’s something more,” Jimin added. Jungkook nervously shifted on his feet. Jimin was right. There was something more, but Jungkook didn’t know if he was ready to say it. To admit it would expose him and it would make his fear that much more real. 

“Look, I--” 

“Jungkook!” 

Jungkook and Jimin both slightly jumped at your sudden appearance. The flowers that once decorated your hair were gone, for the most part. Jungkook could still see a few loose pink flower petals in your hair. 

“Hi Y/N,” Jimin said with a big smile. Jungkook was still staring at your hair. He wanted to look away and say something, but he couldn’t. Unfortunately, you had caught on to his staring and looked up at your hair in panic. 

“Are there still flowers in my hair?” You asked as you started combing your fingers through your hair. “Taehyung made these pink flowers grow in my hair when I told him that he reminded me of seaweed with that green shirt that he’s wearing today.” 

Without thinking Jungkook took a step towards you, so that you were a little less than a foot apart and started to extract the petals from your hair. You froze at how close he was to you and under his touch, not expecting him to help you remove the loose flower petals. During the time that he had been guarding you, Jungkook had been quiet and standoffish. He hardly spoke and when he did it was to discuss your next destination or talk about Guardian/Moroi business related things. On the one hand, you didn’t mind his professionalism, but on the other, you wished he would open up to you more. 

You continued to comb through your hair as Jungkook finished removing the last of the flower petals. At the last petal, Jungkook’s fingers lightly brushed against your hand. A slight buzz ran through your hand at the simple and brief touch, and it left you wondering if touching him would always be like that, or if it was just a part of your imagination. 

Jungkook cleared his throat and took a large step back away from you, the lack of his warmth leaving you a little cold. 

“There, all gone,” Jungkook finally said. You nodded your head and fiddled around with your dress as your mind lingered on the feeling of his fingers lightly brushing against your hand. 

“HEY Y/N!” You winced at Taehyung’s loud, booming voice. He slung his arm around your shoulder and much to your annoyance he leaned some of his weight onto your body. “Did you tell them?” 

“Tell us what?” Jimin skeptically asked, his arms folded against his chest as he scrutinized Taehyung’s grin paired with the mischievous look in his eyes. 

“Y/N and I are going to check out the night sky exhibit. It basically shows you what Earth’s night sky was like before industrialism and technology was a thing,” Taehyung explained. 

“Sounds good,” Jimin replied. “We’ll follow you along.” 

Jungkook squared up his shoulders and walked with Jimin as he trailed behind you and Taehyung. There was a light bounce to Jimin’s step and Jungkook suspected that Jimin was happy to finally be moving on to a new exhibit. 

“You know, it’s moments like this where I’m thankful that neither of us was assigned to be Jin’s Guardian for this exam,” Jimin said. Jungkook laughed and nodded his head. 

“Me too. If one of us had to guard him during this field trip, it would be a disaster,” Jungkook replied. He felt bad for Hoseok, Jin’s “Guardian,” and he could only imagine the pain that Jin was putting him through right now. Jungkook had hoped and prayed to the highest of heavens that he would not be assigned to Jin for his exam. Although he was on good terms with him, Jin was notorious for walking to the beat of his own drum and Jungkook pitied the Dhampir that would officially guard him once he graduated from St. Vladimir's. 

Jungkook saw you slightly shiver as you entered the night sky exhibit and he too could feel the shift in the air from damp and warm, to dry and cold. The change in air was very welcome to Jungkook, since he was feeling hot in the previous, overly crowded exhibit. 

The night sky exhibit turned out to be a room that was shaped like a planetarium, although unlike a planetarium there were no chairs. There was quiet, ambient music playing in the background of the dark room. The only source of light came from small dots of light clustered in the ceiling. All in all, the night sky exhibit was simply beautiful. Jungkook took some time to admire the “stars” above him, but his thoughts were quickly brought back to the present as he heard Taehyung attempting to point out constellations, with you laughing while accusing him of making up constellations. Dark places were not ideal places to be spending time in, but due to Dhampirs having heightened senses, Jungkook and Jimin were more than capable of seeing around the dark room and keep an eye out on Taehyung and you despite the dim lighting. 

Suddenly, a sense of dread filled Jungkook as the air in the room abruptly shifted and grew colder and drier. Goosebumps ran along the back of his  neck with a shiver running through his whole body. I’ve felt this way before. 

He quickly turned around, his silver stake in hand and with all of the force he could muster, he stabbed at whatever was behind him. In the back of his mind Jungkook hoped that it was just a Guardian staging a fake Strigoi attack for the exam, but the fear in Jimin’s eyes told Jungkook that there was no Guardian nearby. 

Jungkook missed his jab and with a strong push from the Strigoi that he tried to stab, his body was flung against a wall. A sickening crack from the wall pulled a scream from you. The back of Jungkook’s head began to throb as his body slid against the wall to the ground. If he were human, he was certain he would be bleeding, but he couldn't linger on that thought for now. Jungkook could see Taehyung standing defensively in front of you, with Jimin in front of you and Taehyung. This was far from over. Jungkook would fight until the very end, no matter the price that he would have to pay. They come first. 

Jungkook pulled his body up and focused his gaze on the Strigoi standing a few feet away from him. The undead vampire had his back to him and was focusing on Jimin. It probably thought that Jungkook was knocked out, but it would take more than that to stop Jungkook. He would do everything in his power to protect you. They come first. 

Jimin didn’t dare look at Jungkook, so as to not give him away. He caught the glance that Jungkook shot him and briefly nodded at him. Alone they couldn’t take that Strigoi down, but together they had a small chance. Novices like Jungkook and Jimin stood no chance against a Strigoi, but they were certain that the screams would alert Guardians to their predicament and if they could hold off the Strigoi even for a moment, maybe the Moroi could make it out alive. 

It was now or never. Jungkook lunged towards the Strigoi, his silver stake aimed at the back of the Strigoi’s heart. Everything moved in slow motion during his lunge. Jungkook noticed Taehyung’s outstretched hands prepared to use his element to his advantage, although it would do little good in this fight since Moroi were not trained in using their powers to fight. Next, Jungkook saw Jimin’s hard gaze along with his hard, defensive stance. At least if something bad happened to him, Jungkook knew that Jimin would protect you in his stead. Finally, Jungkook’s gaze landed on you. He could see the palm of your hands and he smiles to himself, seeing that you want to fight with your element. Had you always been this brave, or had he missed the small signs that gave way to your bravery as he followed you around these last few weeks? Jungkook looked into your eyes for a brief moment and instead of seeing the fear mixed with determination that he expected to see, he saw your eyes filled with terror. Something’s not right. 

Jungkook heard the crunch of a stake going through flesh quickly followed by Taehyung and you shouting his name. He knew that the blow coming from the Strigoi would kill him, and there was nothing that he could do. Jungkook was fast, but he was not as fast as a Strigoi. He couldn't move fast enough to save himself -- to save you. He felt a warm rush of air followed by a cold hand backhanding him, knocking him hard to the ground. 

The last thing that Jungkook could see as his body fell to the floor was Taehyung holding you in his arms, stopping you from going to him. This scene felt all too familiar to Jungkook and he wished that he could push his body up from the ground, but the blow from the Strigoi was devastating. It felt like he had nothing left in him to do anything anymore. He just hoped that he had done enough to give you time. They come first.

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

It took a few moments for Jungkook to open his eyes. For a brief moment he wondered if he strayed into the afterlife, but a quiet assessment of his surroundings pointed at something else. The room smelt sterile and slightly fresh from a soft breeze from an open window drifting from one place to the next. The material from the thin blanket that covered two-thirds of his body felt worn, used, and familiar. Although it had been almost a year since Jungkook had been to the infirmary of St. Vladimir’s Academy, nothing had changed. He had become all too familiar with the infirmary for three out of the four years that he had been attending St. Vlad’s due to the numerous injuries he had sustained during his training. 

After allowing himself to regain some energy, Jungkook was finally able to open his eyes. The natural light from the infirmary wasn’t kind to eyes and it forced him to blink several times, to reduce the sudden harshness. Finally, Jungkook noticed that he was far from alone. He looked to his left and saw a person sitting on a chair with their head resting against his hip. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw a forgotten flower petal on the back of your head. 

Jungkook shifted his body to get to a more comfortable position causing you to wake from your brief rest. After wiping the sleep away from your eyes, you found Jungkook staring at you. This wasn’t an uncommon situation for you to find yourself in with Jungkook. You had always wondered if he stared at you because he liked to study people or perhaps because he didn’t know what to say. There was also a possibility that it was a combination of both of those things. Typically you would speak up to break Jungkook out of his thoughts, but this time he was the first to speak up. 

“.... you stayed?” Jungkook stated. 

“Of course I did,” you said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re my Guardian.”

Silence filled the infirmary at the realization at what had taken place in the night sky exhibit settled into Jungkook’s thoughts and your thoughts. 

“You could have died,” you whispered, looking down at your hands. “If we hadn’t--” 

“It’s okay, Y/N.” Jungkook placed his hand on your hand to give some comfort. “No matter what we do, there will always be threats. There is nothing that we can do about the fact that there are threats, but the best that we can do is be prepared.” 

You nodded your head and despite the tears that clouded your sight, you smiled. 

“We cannot change the circumstances that we face, but we can change how we proceed with them,” Jungkook continued to say. He removed his hand from your hand so that you could wipe away the stray tears that pooled in your eyes.

“You’re right. We can’t change the cards we have been dealt, we can only do our best with what we have.” Jungkook smiled and continued to ask you questions.

“How are Taehyung and Jimin?” 

Your smile was more than enough to reassure Jungkook as you explained how his stake and Jimin’s stake both pierced the Strigoi’s heart from opposite sides. That meant that Jimin and Jungkook would both be getting a molnija mark, a mark that is tattooed on the back of the neck’s of Guardians to mark how many Strigoi they had killed. It was almost unheard of for Novices to have even one molnija mark, but it wasn’t totally impossible. 

You explained how Guardians had come rushing into the planetarium just a few seconds after Jungkook was knocked out. It was relief to hear that nothing terrible or unexpected had happened after that. You went on to tell Jungkook that he had only been out for a few hours and that as a result of his accelerated healing he would be alright to continue his exam and acting as your “Guardian” in a day or two.  

Long after you left to feed, Jungkook once again found himself thinking about his future and you. Before this exam, Jungkook wasn’t sure which direction to go in. There hadn’t been a Moroi that he wanted to petition to guard, but Jungkook didn’t want to put his name on a volunteer list and let someone else choose who he should guard. He didn’t want to risk being stuck with a stuck up Moroi and before the field test Jungkook felt as though he would be doomed to that fate. Then, Jungkook thought about you. He thought  about how air always seems to have an extra swirl around you, which made sense considering that you were an Air user. You were not as impulsive or crazy as Jin, but he could start to see that you were not as quiet and docile as you made yourself out to be. He also thought about how patient you were with him despite his awkwardness and his occasional abruptness. 

Even if he had only known you for a brief time, Jungkook couldn’t deny his attraction towards you. Was it just physical? Was there something more to it? It was too soon to tell, but Jungkook wanted to know more. He wanted his questions answered. Maybe after the exam was over he would continue to look after you, if you would let him. Maybe he wasn’t doomed. 

Sleep washed over Jungkook and he let himself succumb to the land of far away dreams with a new mantra in mind. 

You come first.

#jungkook scenario #jungkook imagine #btsghostie #bts scenario #btsghostiebingo #jungkook #jungkook scenarios #jungkook au #jungkook imagines #jungkook x reader #bts scenarios #bts imagines #bts #jungkookfic #action #fluff #vampire au #vampire jungkook #bts au #bts vampire au

[sophfic27]

Questions (Have You Ever Wanted to be a Fly on the Wall?)

Summary: By now, you probably know the drill (his name is Bill), on their tenth birthday, the first words a person’s soulmate will say to them appears somewhere on their body. The word "hello" is one of the most common phrases in the world, so when Roman ends up with it on his wrist he decides to get creative. Everyone he meets who greets him with a "hello" he asks them a question. And he'll keep doing this until it's on someone's arm. This is literally my first ever fanfiction that I've finished and posted, so here's hoping you like it.

Pairings: Prinxiety, Logicality (background-ish), Dukeceit (background)

Word Count: 2870

Warnings: One instance of an F bomb, I think that’s it, let me know if it’s not

Notes:  I got the idea to write this after scrolling through soulmate POVs on TikTok with my sister for fun. We discussed how one could solve the problem of having a really common phrase, and she said "I'd just ask weird questions, because I'm really good at that." So I decided to write this. Most of the questions Roman asks in this I stole from my sister, because, yes, she really does randomly ask these wackadoo questions unprompted. She's great. Enjoy.

Read on AO3

If anyone was going to describe Roman as anything, it was fanciful. Of course most kids were excited by the prospect of getting their soulmark and meeting their soulmate, but Roman had very big plans for how he was going to meet his soulmate. He grew up with Disney movies telling stories of soulmates and star-crossed lovers and found himself mesmerized by the power of soulmates. The lovely tale of the Little Mermaid, and Ariel trying to somehow convey to the prince that he was her soulmate when she had no voice. The story of Aladdin doing all he could to survive and be worthy of his princess soulmate. When he was eight, he saw Anastasia, a story of soulmates who met before their words appeared. When she lost her memory, she couldn’t have known the boy who saved her was her soulmate, and he knew but thought that she must have died until fate brought them together again. Roman was amazed. With only two years until his words appeared, he fantasized about all the ways he would meet and woo his soulmate, what unique phrase would change his life forever. Maybe he already knew his soulmate and just didn’t know it was them! Roman counted the days until he got his words with impatient anticipation.

Roman was younger than his twin, Remus by seventeen minutes exactly. So there they were, huddling on the bottom bunk with flashlights at 3:11 am only two minutes left until Remus is exactly 10 years old and he receives his soulmark. “It’s going to be something really lame, like ‘you’re annoying’ or something,” Roman insisted. Having grown up with Remus, he found it hard to think he could even have a soulmate, but they both knew he was just giving him a hard time. “Nuh-uh,” Remus squawked in a mocking tone. “Yuh-huh,” came Roman’s equally childish reply. “NUH-UH!” “Shut up, or Mom and Dad will yell at us again!” Roman socked his twin with a pillow. He tapped the screen of the tablet they had snuck into their room from the living room. 3:12:31. They’d been checking the time obsessively, but now there was only half a minute left. They exchanged a sort of giddy look as the clock ticked closer and closer. “10, 9, 8” Remus started to count as the time came upon them. Roman joined quickly, “7, 6, 5, 4.” “3.” “2.” “1.”

They watched as two words drew themselves onto Remus’s wrist: “Um, wow.” The twins blinked at the words for a minute, until Roman broke the silence, “nice going, doofus, you’re going to weird out your soulmate immediately.” “You don’t know that! Maybe it's a good ‘um, wow,’” Remus protested. “How would that be good? ‘Um, wow, you’re so handsome, ooooh,’” Roman made a mocking kissy-face and was promptly knocked over by another projectile pillow. He laughed, “face it, you’re a weirdo, ‘um, wow’ is not a good thing.” The door swung open with a whoosh and their mother stood there, staring at them. Roman covered the tablet with a pillow to hide the stolen device, and Remus scrambled off of the bunk. “I told you boys NOT to stay up like this,” Carla snapped. Her hair was up in curlers and she had hastily pulled a bathrobe over her pajamas. “But, Mama, our soulmates!” Roman whined. “Yeah, I got my words,” Remus waved his arm around even though the light was too dim for their mother to read the words and she was too tired to humor them. “That’s nice, Remus, but I told you, Papa and I have to work tomorrow, you can’t be keeping us up like this, I told you we’d look at your words in the morning,” she rubbed her eyes, still bleary from the sleep she wanted desperately to return to. “But it is morning!” Roman cried indignantly. Carla fixed her son with a pointed glare and he looked down and climbed under his sheets. Carla sighed, “thank you. Now, you can tell me what your words are in the morning when Papa is awake, but right now I need you, boys, to go to sleep, okay?” “Okay, Mama,” the twins replied in unison. Remus climbed back up to his bunk and got under his covers. Carla nodded and departed the room for her own, her slippers making light scuff sounds down the hall. As soon as the door clicked closed at the end of the hall, Remus poked his head over the edge of his bunk and looked down at his twin, “how much time is left?” he whispered. Roman uncovered the tablet and woke the screen, “ten minutes,” he whispered back. The next ten minutes crawled by painfully slow. Roman lost track of whatever his brother was saying as his thoughts turned to what his words would be. He was pulled out of his trance when Remus broke his silence to ask “how long?” again. This time, when Roman woke the tablet, he saw that it was 3:29:22, and he became overwhelmed by the fact that there was less than a minute left. He reported to his twin and went back to staring intently at the digital clock. Each second felt like an eternity, but they dragged him eagerly forward until- The grandfather clock down the hall chimed the half-hour, and Roman tugged his pajama sleeve down excitedly and turned the flashlight onto his wrist. There a beat of silence until, “so? What does it say?” Remus asked eagerly. Roman sighed, “it says ‘hello.’” Remus stayed quiet for a second, “that’s going to be hard to find,” he offered. Roman collapsed back into his pillow. “Well, I’m going to sleep. Night, bro,” Remus mumbled from above. “Night,” Roman murmured. He looked at the singular word again and switched off the flashlight. “Hello” was one of, if not the most common soulmark in the world, because it was the most common greeting, regardless of language. At least there was that, Roman considered, his soulmate probably spoke English. But that wasn’t helpful. Remus was right, it was going to be hard to find his soulmate. Roman sighed and turned over onto his side. Okay, thought Roman, then I’ll just have to get creative.

It was common practice to try to use unique and specific greetings when meeting someone for the first time to cheat destiny and ensure an easier time finding their soulmate, but with as common a phrase as “hello”, Roman had to scrap all of his fantasies of grand romantic gestures and fairy tale meetings in favor of a way to guarantee his soulmate would recognize him. The plan was simple, if he was talking first to someone new, he stated his name first and foremost. Anyone he approached first, he greeted with “my name is Roman, nice to meet you.” The part where he got creative was with anyone who approached him first by saying “hello.” “Hello!” chirped his friendly new classmate in sixth grade. “If you were an insect, how long would it take you to die?” Roman asked immediately. The girl stared at him before replying shyly, “I don’t… know?” “Darn.” He always made sure to explain his tactic after using it to avoid further alienating new acquaintances. And thus he continued this way with every new person he met, always with a new and random question.

“Hello.” “If you could time travel, who would you meet?” “…Abraham Lincoln.” “Okay.”

“Hello.” “If you could make a new type of snowman that wasn’t made of snow, what would it be made of?” “Uh. Oranges?” “Cool.”

“Hello.” “If a bat flew into your house speaking with the voice of a cartoon, but claiming to be your best friend, what would you do?” “…What?”

Sophomore year, Roman and Remus were fifteen years old. Remus had already met his soulmate, Janus, and naturally, “um, wow” had been a response to Remus weirding him out, in addition to the realization that Remus was his soulmate. Roman, on the other hand was still trying to find his soulmate with random questions, but to no avail. The second semester had begun and Roman’s physics class was changing seats. Roman collapsed into his new spot next to a boy he knew to be Patton, but with whom he had not actually talked yet. Patton was wearing a blue t-shirt with a repeating cat pattern across it. His honey-brown hair was lightly curled, and a pair of round glasses were balanced on his freckle-covered nose. He smiled warmly at Roman. The teacher finished giving his instructions and let the class go to meet their new partners and get to work on their assignments. And thus the cycle began anew. Patton turned to Roman with a grin, “hello!” Roman huffed slightly as he quickly summoned a new question, “what’s your favorite musical?” he asked in lieu of a real greeting. Patton stared at Roman for a beat before raising a hand to his chin thoughtfully, and Roman knew that the boy probably didn’t have his question on his wrist. “Mamma Mia,” he answered finally. “ABBA. Good choice,” Roman chuckled. Patton giggled back, “Why do you ask anyway?” Roman showed Patton his wrist, and he nodded wonderingly, “I get it, you’re trying to have a unique greeting, because yours is so common.” “Bingo,” Roman said, slightly relieved that he didn’t have to explain it all again. “I’m guessing you don’t have my phrase, right?” Patton’s hair bounced as he shook his head. He presented his own wrist, marked with the word “Salutations” in unusually crisp font. “Ooh, you have a fancy soulmate,” Roman said, “that, or they’re a nerd. I’ve never seen such a professional-looking font.” “Me neither,” Patton giggled again. “At least ‘salutations’ isn’t a very frequently used greeting.” Roman nodded, “yes, a nerd like that will be easy to spot,” Roman joked. “I’m Roman by the way,” he said, suddenly unsure if Patton knew who he was or not. “Patton!” he replied with a quirk of his head and a broad smile. “Nice to meet you,” he was aware of the teacher surveying the class to see who was working and quickly added, “maybe we should get started.” Patton nodded and they set to work reading instructions and becoming friends.

Half-way through the first semester of senior year, Patton introduced Roman to his recently discovered soulmate, Logan. Upon meeting him, Roman remarked that he was exactly the kind of nerd he had expected when he had seen Patton’s “salutations” soulmark. He then lamented that he was once again left surrounded with people who had soulmates when he didn’t, at which point Logan informed his that “statistically speaking, most people meet their soulmates in their twenties or thirties.” “Thanks, pocket-protector, but that’s barely comforting. I have the most common phrase in the English language,” Roman complained. “Actually, according to most studies performed in the last 20 years, the most common phrase currently is ‘hi,’” Logan corrected him with a push of his glasses. Roman stared at him in disbelief and Patton giggled at his side.

“I’m telling you Roman, he’s actually really nice,” Patton assured him as they walked down the path towards Roman’s house. Both boys were bundled up in coats, their hands stuffed firmly in pockets to protect against the biting winter wind. Roman had a Christmas party coming up in a few days, and Patton was trying to convince him to invite the fairly anti-social kid who never got of his emo phase, Virgil. In all honesty, Roman didn’t care if Virgil came or not, plenty of Remus’s friends, who he didn’t know, were going, but Patton was determined to make Roman and Virgil friends, and as it was, Roman didn’t think he had anything in common with the emo. “I’m sure he is, Pat, but…” he hesitated, searching for some way to appease his friend without giving in. “But what?” Patton pressed, meanwhile physically pressing against his shoulder. “But you get along with everyone, and everyone loves you. You can find something in common with anyone no matter what,” Roman stalled. Patton’s eyes bore into him. “I on the other hand, don’t think I have anything in common with Virgil. I mean, he’s all surly and dark, and I’m a theater kid straight out of High School Musical,” he gestured grandly before his hand quickly retreated to the warmth of his pocket again. “Have you ever even talked to the guy?” “Well, no, but-” “Then how do you know you have nothing in common?” Patton’s voice lilted. He always gave off the vibe of a dad trying to get his child to try a new food or something. Roman shot him a side-eyed look, and Patton continued, “you like Disney, right? Well, it just so happens Virgil is into Disney, too! See? There is something you have in common?” “Yeah, sure, but… I mean, who doesn’t like Disney?” Patton just shrugged. Roman was being stubborn, but Patton knew he’d practically won. “All I ask is you let me introduce you to him at the party, okay? Just let him say hello. You can even ask him one of your weird questions.” Patton waved a gloved hand vaguely. Roman was suddenly aware that he seemed to know something Roman didn’t, but he ignored the feeling in favor of a childish groan. “Fine, you can bring him to party and introduce him to me,” defeat dripped from his voice, and Patton clapped in delight and cheered as they arrived on the doorstep of the house.

Some pop rendition of Jingle Bells played through the house as Roman made his way to the snack table. The table was draped with a festive table cloth covered in reindeer and sleighs, and it featured an impressive array of cookies and cupcakes and other holiday-themed treats. Most claimed that Roman and Remus overdid the party thing, but in truth it was mostly Roman. Classmates and friends milled around dancing, eating, and chatting happily. Roman picked out a tree-shaped cookie that he had made and started to make his way into the living room when he heard someone call his name. Roman turned to see Patton dragging a boy toward him, a broad grin decorated his face and, as usual, outshone the blinking Christmas light necklace he was wearing. They met just to the side of the entryway into the living room. “I know you said you hadn’t met yet, so Roman, this is Virgil,” he gestured to the boy standing next to him. His dyed purple bangs draped just down to his eyes, and he was wearing a dark purple sweater in place of his usual patchwork hoodie. Virgil watched Patton carefully, only looking at Roman when introduced by name. Virgil gave a wave so slight, Roman would have missed it if it was any smaller. His low voice was soft, and yet carried easily over the din of the party, “hello.” “Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall?” Roman said. His response was automatic. Replying to “hello” with a question had become an unconscious habit after doing it for so many years. Virgil stared. That was a standard reaction to Roman, he had hardly registered the question that had come out of his mouth. Patton’s further widening smile, however, was not a standard reaction. Roman then realized that Virgil’s stare was different from others as well. His gray eyes shone with shock instead of the confusion Roman was accustomed to. Suddenly becoming uncomfortable with the silence, he said “… What?” “… I’ve always wanted to ask, and I mean this sincerely, what the fuck kind of greeting is that” Virgil said finally as he started to tug down his sleeve, revealing the words on his wrist. Roman’s face lit up with astonishment and excitement. “No, I’ve never wanted to be a fly on the wall, but thanks to you, I’ve thought about it bordering on obsessively for almost eight years.” Roman finally broke out of his trance. “Oh my god, I can’t believe it worked,” he exclaimed as Virgil stared quizzically at him. Roman showed him his own wrist and explained the logic behind his seemingly random question. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he whirled on Patton. “You knew about this, didn’t you?” He shrugged innocently. “I knew that Virgil had a weird question on his wrist and that you have a tendency to ask such questions,” He grinned slyly, “I couldn’t be certain, but it was a pretty fair bet.” “You’re a mad genius,” Virgil cocked his head at Patton. Patton smiled brightly again, “I don’t know what you mean, kiddo, I’m just helping out where I can.” Roman shook his head and laughed, “alright, Pat, I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” “That’s fine, Roman,” Patton clapped him on the shoulder, “I’ve got to go find Logan, so you guys get to know each other,” Patton waved as he stepped away. Roman and Virgil turned to face one another and stared at each other in silence for a few moments. Roman wracked his brain for what to do next, and all he could come up with was, “So… Disney?”

#prinxiety fanfiction #prinxiety #sanders sides #fanfic #fanfiction #my writing #logicality #dukeceit #roman sanders #remus sanders #virgil sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #janus sanders #ts remus #ts roman #ts virgil #ts patton #ts logan #ts janus #roman x virgil #patton x logan #remus x deceit #remus x janus #creativitwins

[chaniters]

Alone again

After a brief chat with Miss Jackson and Marshal Charge, Cyrus makes it to the pickup point, but things don't go as planned. Alone again, he begins to realize escaping his own emotions is starting to become an impossible task. Spoilers for Fallen Hero, Rebirth below the cut  ___________________________

It’s over. 

You didn’t have to take off your ski mask for her to know it was you. 

You apologized, for not telling her you were boosted, but she smirked, saying it was only fair since she never told you she was boosted either.

“Besides… I knew all along” she says, leaving you cold, her eyes blinking with the golden color for the briefest moment.

Could she see your implant with her tech control all along?

You didn’t ask and rather stayed away from her mind. 

You choose to believe she didn’t, because if she could see it, then that would mean…

That would mean she took you in anyways, knowing what you truly are. 

And that makes no sense. You don’t need telepathy to know.

The doctor came in briefly, telling her that she would be fine and that her granddaughter would be coming to take care of her. 

As he left, she said her workshop in flames, and a third heart attack were clear signs that the universe wanted her retired for real, so she was going to be doing just that.  

You found it really funny, thinking the universe would speak to anyone, but she seemed really convinced, so you didn’t argue. 

Instead, you thanked her again and left before her family showed up. You don’t think you’ll ever see her again. 

Barely thirty minutes to make it to your pickup point and return to the world you belong to.

You walk out of the hospital feeling deflated, but you know it’s for the best. You had your fun, pretending to be human for a few months, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t real.

“Hey, kid…. Sorry... I mean Sidestep!” 

It takes a few seconds to register that he’s talking to you because you only made up Sidestep today, and once again, you can’t feel his darn mind. 

“Yes sir?” you ask, looking his way. He’s on a motorcycle by the entrance, one foot on the ground. 

“Just Charge” he snorts. “That was some good work at the warehouse. Want me to leave you somewhere?”

“...sure,” you say. Thirty minutes can go by really fast… you could use a lift. 

You tell him where to leave you, not the pickup point but nearby.

“Hop on”

You climb at the back of the bike, holding on to him, as he starts the engine, taking to the streets. 

“Did you get that arm checked up?” he asks “Did they say anything about the explosion?”

“I just bandaged it myself”

“Wh...  you were right in a hospital, why didn’t you get a doctor to see it?”

“I don’t like hospitals and I just went in to see Miss Jackson. Besides, I don’t have medical insurance”

“The rangers could foot the bill If I…”

“I’m fine” you repeat. It was easy to steal bandages. As for painkillers, you don’t really have a use for them. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near explosions without a proper suit. Or insurance for that matter” 

“I came out alright, didn’t I?”

“Here, take these at least” 

He pulls something from a compartment… Painkillers and antibiotics. Strong ones. 

“I’m not sure I’ll be using those” you say. You’re not sure the farm would like you taking medication from strangers...

“Just take them,” he insists,  giving you an odd look, as he stops by a traffic light. 

At this rate, you’ll be there with time to spare. 

Bikes are fast.  

The material of his skinsuit smells artificial up close and has muscles carved in its exterior for looks. It makes you wonder if it’s any indication of the man underneath, or is it all just looks?

“How long?” he says after a long silence

“How long what?”

“How long have you been boosted?” he repeats the question as if it had been clear totally clear the first time.

“...I’d rather not talk about that” 

He stays silent, until you reach your destination, stopping the bike. 

“I know getting boosted is a great high… but you shouldn’t be so reckless… and that’s coming from me”

“I just wanted to save miss Jackson” you reply “She didn’t deserve to die” 

“She did not” he agrees. 

“You live here?” he says looking around the semi-derelict neighborhood. 

“I was staying at the workshop,” you say getting off. 

“But you do have a place to stay the night, right?”

“Of course I do” you reply. The farm will accommodate. 

“Alright… hmm... Listen, I shouldn’t say anything, but the PR department is looking for younger heroes that we can team up with, you know, so they can later join the team, or work together? And they can get resources and …”

“You don’t need to offer charity” you interrupt. “I’m fine, I can take care of myself”

He sighs, tiredly.

“Hey, I’m trying to be nice here. All I’m saying, if you want to team up in the future, I can teach you the ropes. You were going to go alone in there. If I hadn’t shown up...”

He keeps talking about how reckless you were, how unprepared and underequipped you are, but you begin to wonder if he’s not just trying to pay you back for pulling him away from that blast and distracting Psychopathor. 

That is something you can understand a lot better... 

“Ok,” you say. “I’ll take you up on that offer. Maybe we can team up in the future then, Marsh-”

“Charge” 

“Charge” you repeat, correcting yourself for the millionth time. 

“That’s… great actually!” he smiles. “Seek me out at the rangers HQ in a couple of days and we’ll talk about it,” he says, offering a hand.

You look at it for a brief second, before shaking it. 

“I’ll be there. But for now, I really have to go!”

“Of course, take care!” he says as you walk off.

No problem with agreeing to his offer to team up,  because you’re never going to see this guy again after all. Just under ten minutes to make it to the pickup point.  

____________________

You check the cheap plastic watch you’ve been using. 

Right on time, and just around the corner is where you’re supposed to meet. You’re about to turn when you hear familiar words...

“Yeah, the idiot redhead resisted after we made it to the bridge. Clocked me in the face, hit me with something heavy, maybe a metal tube or something, and tried to get away, but I got a hold of him. We fought and I strangled him on the floor with both hands. He struggled a lot, but in the end, there was nothing he could do. When it was done, I threw the body into the water as the boss said, nobody will ever find it.”

The words are immediately followed by a single gunshot, and the mercenary you brainwashed falls into view, dead, a puddle of blood forming under him. You made him repeat that story to anyone who asked, and now the Special Directive killed him because of it.

You can’t feel their minds, but you know they’re there.

“Control? We’re on the spot, but the doll isn’t here. Our SCO found one of Psychopathor’s, goons skulking around, and caught him. He confessed to having killed the missing SCO. They supposedly tossed it into the water down the bridge. Requesting new orders. Over”

You can hear the reply, in a broken radio signal.

“Understood. Head to the bridge, and search the area. We will contact divers to try recover the remains of the SCO for recyclable material. I’ll notify the director. Over”

“Understood control, over,” he says hanging up. 

“Shit. And now we get to spend the entire day waiting for tactical divers because that stupid doll couldn’t even stop that junkie from strangling it?”

“I heard it’s just a useless unit.”

 “I read its record and it was pretty mediocre. Useless really when compared with scent-based SCO’s. Besides, telepathy? Those freaks should never leave the lab. You never know if numbers are really working ”

“Well from what they told us, only the lab wanted it for experiments anyways and you know how that ends.”

“Newest candidate for brain in a jar?” one of them snorts.

“No department will miss it, but the director will still be mad” another one comments.

“Who cares? it won’t last. She’ll just design a new one and forget about this one. Like she does every single time”

They keep talking, but your feet turn and you start walking in the opposite direction. 

Further, and further away, until you can’t hear them anymore…

And then you are sprinting.

Running.

Your vision blurs, It’s hard to even see where you’re going now.

You rub your eyes, all watery now, and you keep running until you are too exhausted to do anything but walk. 

It takes you a few moments to realize you’re back by the entrance of Miss Jackson’s workshop, the building completely ruined by the plasma fire. 

Can’t go back inside. There is nothing left in there for you.

You sit down against a wall on the opposite street, next to a dumpster. 

Mediocre.

Useless.

No department will miss it.

Candidate for brain in a jar.

Nowhere to go. Nobody cares.  Nobody knows you. Miss Jackson is gone. The farm doesn’t even want you. They think you’re dead.

You’ve never felt so alone before. 

You pull the mask off, wrapping your arms around your legs, resting your face on your knees. 

Are you crying? Dolls aren’t supposed to cry. Genes are strong… Genes aren’t supposed to feel emotions like this… Everything feels wrong. Everything is upside down… 

Maybe they are right. Maybe you are too weak, and there is something really wrong with you.  Maybe you’re broken, and that’s why you wanted to pretend to be a human for so long. Maybe you wanted to feel these emotions, and now you’re paying the price. They were never meant for you… 

Maybe you brought it upon yourself...

The thoughts keep spinning in your mind for hours and the tears won’t stop. You can feel people passing by, ignoring yet another homeless outcast living on the streets. 

Your eyes close, and you feel yourself drowning in confusing thoughts, drifting further and further away until sleep finally pulls you out of their reach, and into the calmer waters of forgotten dreams. ______________ If you want to read more: My Fanfiction: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero    DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Rydén. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

#fallen hero: rebirth #Fallen hero fanfic #Charge #Sidestep #fallen hero rebirth spoilers #fallen hero

[bouncyirwin]

🔥 Steamy Fics - Rec List 🔥

I decided to compile a list of some of my favourite smutty fics for you guys to enjoy as well! Remember to let the author know if you like their work ✨

Room Service by mummapaintstheblues || KakaSaku || 11.6k words

“If you've got a kink there, I can help work it out for you.” Sakura almost choked on her drink. Turning her whole body to regard him fully in a show of, what she hoped was obvious disgust. The sight of his smirk reigniting her fury. While it was attractive enough to send tingles of anticipation through her before, right now it only served to add to her misery

AU where Sakura struggles to resist the charms, and fingers, of Hotel Masseuse Kakashi.

Watching You Watching Me || KakaSaku(Gen) || 2.1k words

Sakura reveals that she wants to be on display for Kakashi. Kakashi asks Genma to help out.

Kakashi Candyman by Endoh || KakaSaku || 7.6k words

"Just how much did you drink before coming down here?" "Sakura," Kakashi murmured darkly, trailing his hands down her thighs as he knelt at her feet, "I'm still thirsty." Kakashi notices that his wife could use a little 'de-stressing' before hosting the Halloween Benefit Gala….

Better Man by Kakashisgf || KakaSaku || 179.7k words

Sakura and Sasuke have been married for over a decade, but things are far from perfect, and Sakura's beginning to realize that maybe she deserves better.

Follow Your Nose by TipsyRaconteur || KakaSaku || 8k words

Sakura decides to find her signature scent. Kakashi “helps”. Things get out of hand.

Icha Icha Fanfiction by TipsyRaconteur || KakaSaku || 12k words

Kakashi suspected that Sakura was writing Icha Icha fanfiction. And if she was the author… and she was pairing Junko with her former teacher… well, that had some very interesting implications.

Pin Me Up, Pin Me Down by J-Pop Princess || KakaSaku || 20k words

Sakura is in her third year of medical school and is struggling to pay the bills. When an opportunity comes to pose as a nude model for a men's magazine, she reluctantly takes it, but she didn't expect the magnetic pull toward her photographer.

Something Dangerous by moderndayportia || KakaSaku || 17.3k words

Sakura must submit to Kakashi's special training to prepare for a lethal mission.

Repercussions by AshleyTrecartin || KakaSaku || 3.9k words

Kakashi hates hospitals, and Sakura knows that. Usually she handles her boyfriend's checkups, but when he finds out that he made her an appointment to see Ino he decides to punish her.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving by ivegotpurple || KakaSakuShisui || 4.4k words

Shisui likes to buy his two partners gifts.

Based on the prompt "The skirt is short on purpose."

Hands To Yourself by TipsyRaconteur || GenIno || 6k words

Genma takes a very handsy, very drunk Ino home to NOT sleep with her. Yet.

Players by Kukaburraxxii || GenIno || 153.1k words

Ino joins the league of players.

Snapdragons and Steel by SomnificSheep || GenIno || 6.7k words

Fox doesn’t know why he continues to do this. Every mission he dons the mask it’s the same. He rolls deep in the oceans of regret, waves cresting and breaking over him with terrifying force. Years of this, and it never gets easier. Fox does his duty, comes home, pastes on a smile, and pushes through with a stoic determination he’s not sure anyone expects from him.~or~Genma comes home to something new.

magic in your hands by exarite || TobiSaku || 4.3k words

Haruno Sakura is a massage therapist. Senju Tobirama is her hot, older client.

Push My Buttons by mrssakurahatake || GenSaku || 5.7k words

Ino has set Sakura up on another blind date, but she gets trapped in the hospital elevator before her date can even begin.

Sakura looked around at the worn-out speaker and the dead security camera and for a brief moment considered just punching a hole in the floor. It would serve the board right for refusing to fix the stupid machine properly.

Genma's voice brought her out of her own spirling thoughts, "I don't like that look."

"I was thinking of just punching my way out, but the board would probably take the cost of fixing it from the general budget, and that would affect my patients."

"I guess we finally found a situation you can't just punch your way out of?"

"Don't push it, Shirunai. I would be more than happy to punch you."

Ask Me Nicely by TheCopyMistress || GenSaku || 4k words

He could give her what she needed. All she had to do was ask for it.

Supplemental Training by ohayohimawari || KakaOC || 5k words

At Jiraiya's insistence, Kakashi learns the art of seduction, as well as how to keep his inner demons at bay. A Konoha Brothel story.

Overindulgence by ohayohimawari || KakaMei || 2.7k words

Thanksgiving is a time to grow closer to your loved ones and indulge in the pleasures of the harvest from the year. Kakashi and Mei do both...with gusto.

Things you just don’t talk about by Enodia || ShikaSaku || 119.3k words

"Do you enjoy sex?" Shikamaru asked bluntly. I just can't believe I'm talking about this, and with Shikamaru, of all people, Sakura thought. Sakura is in for a surprise. Or, rather, a series of surprises.

Party of Three by J-Pop Princess || NaruSakuSasu || 63.1k words

Sakura has never really explored the world of sexual desire but after a little too much sake, all that could change!

Punishment and Reward by thetoxicstrawberry || KakashixKakashi || 2.2k words

Kakashi finds a unique use for his own Kage Bunshin.

Give and Take by Stark_Black || KakaGen || 113.9k words

Genma made a mistake, a tragic mistake that may have cost him everything. He can't hide it from Kakashi though, and now the Copy Ninja is being torn apart by his honor, and by his feelings for one of his oldest friends.

Welp folks, that’s it ... or is it?

Find below the cut some shameless self-promo ✨

Cravings || KakaSaku || 3.8k words

When you mix alcohol and pent-up frustration, things are bound to go somewhere. Phone sex, sexting and mutual masturbation.

Let The Truth Sting || KakaSaku || 3.1k words

Sasuke's first glance at Kakashi's face comes in the form of Kakashi's open mouth pressed over Sakura's. Or, in which Sasuke sees Sakura has found her happiness with someone else. Quite graphically. [KakaSaku, Sasuke's POV]

Make Me Lose Control || KakaSaku || 6.4k words

A mission to Ame turns into a paid vacation, and Kakashi and Sakura find themselves crossing all sorts of lines.

Nocturnal Activities || KakaSaku || 3.7k words

Actions have always spoken louder than words. Book vs. Movie.

Knock Knock, Let The Devil In || KakaSakuShika || 29.3k words

Kakashi had always appreciated Shikamaru's ability to turn any situation in his favour. He just never expected to become a willing target to his whims.

Mission Report || KakaSaku || 6.9k words

Through a haze of confusion and a killer hungover, Sakura discovers she’s in Kakashi’s bed.

Every Last Drop || KakaSaku || 3.3k words

“This isn’t about you. You’re amazing at what you do. I just … the shower—well—you’re just not a showerhead. And sometimes that’s what I want.”

When she chances a look at Kakashi again his eyes have widened slightly, and he looks entirely taken aback. “You—the showerhead?” The amount of disbelief packed into that word would’ve made a lesser woman dissolve into uncontrollable laughter.

The blush steadily spreads down her neck as she contemplates this bizarre conversation he pulled her into having. She really hadn’t wanted to ever discuss this with anyone. “Yes, the showerhead. Problem?”

Sakura looks away again, feeling the slow, simmering burn of embarrassment.

A few moments of silence later, Kakashi shifts, and when he speaks he nearly purrs.

“Can I watch?”

Serendipity || KakaSaku || 11.7k

It's tough being a med-student but between running into her ex-boyfriend and his actress fiancée, and meeting her favourite author Kakashi Hatake, Sakura thinks that could be the least of her worries.

Stay With Me || KakaSaku || 2.6k words

Falling for her doesn't leave him with bruises and broken bones, it leaves him with warmth and the colour green and the rapidly addicting revelation that it might all just be alright after all. KakaSaku Proposal AU.

When You Awake || KakaSaku || 4.2k words

Prompt: Could you please do "We slept in the same bed for space reasons but now we're just waking up and there's something about your bleary eyes and mussed hair"

Stolen Moments || ShisuiSaku || 1.8k words

Prompt: "all that blood really brings out your eyes"

Late Night Revelations || KakaOC || 4.1k words

Nousagi and Kakashi crash in an Inn after a gruelling ANBU mission. Things take an unexpected turn as Kakashi's more playful side makes an appearance.

#ooooof this took forever #i hope you enjoy! #kakasaku #naruto #smut

[unsteadygalaxy]

all is soft inside

Mirage doesn't really think any Legend really, definitely cares about him for him. Not for his skills or his assets for a team- him specifically. But Bloodhound... Bloodhound is different.

And that confuses the hell out of him.

Also posted on ao3 at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26475064/chapters/64513456 

you are here at chapter 1 | next

A/N: I’ve made some revisions to the first three chapters! I think they flow a little better and I’m finally happy with them.

Update Feb. 2, 2021: Hi again! I just wanted to make a quick note in light of the release of Pathfinder's Quest. I started planning and writing this fanfiction before the lore book came out, so this fic will not align with either of their canon backstories. I absolutely loved the book and the canon backstory we have for all the Legends, especially Pathfinder and Bloodhound! I won't spoil anything, but you guys should absolutely get your hands on a copy as soon as you can. Enjoy!

1. i bear a shadow

The row of glasses set out on the counter are mocking him.

Come on, Elliott, he thinks, that’s dumb. He picks one up and starts to polish it. Cups are inanimate objects. They don’t have feelings. But the water spots on each glass seem to stare at him like little eyes, scrutinizing him, and yeah, mocking him. 

“You could leave me alone, you know,” he mutters, and he feels dumb for speaking to the open air. There’s no one in the bar- it had closed forty minutes ago, and only Elliott remains. But an empty bar plus an on-edge Elliott is a recipe for disaster, because his thoughts tended to wander.

And they are not wandering to the best of places tonight.

His thoughts are lingering on his mother, and he knows he isn’t doing himself any favors by dwelling on her. He knew her Alzheimer’s had been getting worse for months, but there was no way to prepare himself for what happened the week before. He called her every couple of days to check in on her- he’d been doing it for almost a year. When she had picked up the phone, she had seemed distracted and upset, but the worst moment of all came when she asked him who he was. 

‘Oh, Mom, you’re- you’re such a jokester,’ he stammers, his heart dropping straight into his stomach. ‘Ha, yeah, that was great. Good one. Anyways, Mom-’

‘Mom?’ she asks, and her voice is confused on the other end of the line. ‘I’ve got kids? Well, damn! Would you look at that?’ She laughs, and Elliott has to force himself to laugh with her, because his heart is churning in his stomach acid and he’s one hundred percent positive that if he didn’t, he’d be crying. 

He hasn’t told anyone, of course, because he doesn’t really know how to. How do you casually bring up the fact that your mother doesn’t remember you anymore? A cynical side of him whispers, Who would care anyway? But he pushes that away, because he knows he’s cared about.

He hopes he’s cared about. 

It’s not a secret that he’s been having a hard time in the Games lately. He’s been distracted and fuzzy-headed and frustrated, and he doesn’t think he’s broken top 5 in at least a month. The pay hasn’t been as consistent either, and while Elliott is managing, the margin between his income and his bill for his mother’s memory care was alarmingly small. He feels like he’s in a constant state of panic. If he wasn’t winning, if he wasn’t making as much as he needed, how would he-

The glass in his hand cracks and promptly shatters, sending water stained shards onto the counter below. One shard catches a ridge of skin as it falls, and Elliott swears profusely. The blood blooms across his skin, and the pain accompanies it. A sharp hiss flies from between his teeth, and he grabs a towel. He presses it to the fresh wound, grimacing as he stains the fabric.

“That looks painful, Elliott.”

Mirage whirls around to see a certain masked hunter leaning against the door frame, arms crossed. Bloodhound meets his gaze, or so he assumes; he can’t see their eyes behind their goggles.

“Hound! I, uh, no, what are you talking about?” he blurts, scrambling to hide his hands. “I’m fine, totally fine! More than fine, in fact. I’m totally peachy! How about you?”

Bloodhound sighs. “Elliott, please do not lie. I saw you injure yourself.”

“Lie? Who, me?” Mirage scoffs, though his insides have become uncomfortable with shame. Bloodhound’s sudden presence made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and he’s still waiting for his body to calm down.

Bloodhound sighs once more. They shake their head and pull a bandage from one of their many pockets and approach the bar swiftly.

“Really, Hound, I’m fine!” he insists, backing away from the bar. “Don’t worry about me, I can just go bother Ajay or something-”

“Elliott.” Bloodhound’s voice is commanding, yet gentle. “Be still.”

Elliott’s knees promptly turn to jelly.

Bloodhound takes a seat across the bar and removes their gloves. All thoughts of his mother forgotten for now, it strikes Elliott that he has never seen Bloodhound’s hands. Or any other part of them without their gear. Silvery scars stretch across their hands in spider web patterns, and their fingers are calloused and worn. 

“W-What happened to your hands?” Elliott stutters, before he can stop himself.

“That is a story for another time,” Bloodhound murmurs, their voice soft and quiet through the modulator. “Please give me your hand.”

Elliott does not press the matter. “Uh… hold on.” He pushes the spotted glasses aside and offers his bleeding hand. Bloodhound takes it gently. They cradle his hand in their fingers as though he is something valuable and precious, and Elliott’s cheeks redden. He finds himself feeling extremely glad he didn’t trim his beard this morning. 

Bloodhound guides him to the sink from across the bar, and turns the knob. They place his hand under the faucet and begin to clean Elliott’s wound. Their fingertips ghost across his skin and a silent hope forms in Elliott’s chest before he squashes it. Whoooaaa there, buddy. You barely know Bloodhound. Calm down.

Pain lances through his palm, and he flinches. Bloodhound notices this, and they say something in their language that Mirage does not understand.

“What was that?”

“Fyrirgefðu mér. I am sorry.”

“Oh. Don’t worry about it,” Elliott replies. “I’ve had worse. Much worse. In fact, this is the most boring la- lacer... injury I’ve ever had! Super easy to deal with, and-”

“Elliott, please,” Bloodhound says firmly. “You are allowed to feel the pain you bear.”

Mirage falls silent, shame and frustration rising in his chest. All of his emotions feel turbulent, roiling, volatile. The words bubble out and over like an exploding bottle of soda before he can stop himself. 

“No offense, Hound, but who are you to tell me anything? I don’t know a damn thing about you.” He jerks his hand away and wraps it back up in the towel, cringing slightly as his hand meets the old blood. “You’re this mysterious badass who always makes the top five in every damn match you play. How could you know what disappointment is like?” He turns his back to them and picks up the broken glass, then tosses it angrily into the trashcan to his left. “Who do you even have to lose? You don’t talk to any of us. You barely show up here. Why are you even here right now? We know next to nothing about you. Hell, I don’t even know your name! How am I supposed to trust you outside of the arena, much less inside?” HIs words are angry and bitter, and he spits them out like bullets firing from a gun.

“You think I do not know pain?” Bloodhound’s voice is quietly angry. Mirage stops in his tracks, and the shame washes through his stomach once more. “You think I have not lost anyone I love? You think that because I am successful, I do not know the meaning of suffering?”

“No, Hound, I-”

“That is not my name!” they exclaim, and for the first time, Mirage is afraid of the person standing in front of him. “My name is Bloðhundur, and you will address me as such.”

“Bloodhound, look, I-”

“I have known verkur of the deepest kind,” they snarl, standing up from the bar suddenly. “I have seen horrors that will haunt me for the rest of my life, horrors that would keep even the robot andskoti up at night. You think you are the only one to know suffering and anguish?” They scoff, and deftly slide their hands back into their gloves. “You think you are entitled to my story? To my identity? No, Elliott. That is a right few have ever received.”

“Bloodhound, I’m sorry. I didn’t think-”

“And therein lies the problem.” A pause. Then, “The presence of success does not mean there is an absence of pain. The path to victory is fullur af sársauka. Full of pain. Even outside of the arena.”

And with that, they leave as quietly as they came, leaving Elliott alone with his thoughts once more.

#apex legends #miragehound #mirage apex #bloodhound apex #miragehound fanfiction #elliott witt #elliott witt apex #mirage apex legends #bloodhound apex legends #one of my first apex fics! #this will be entirely self indulgent #and i don't give a single solitary shit #definitely giving in to the idea that writing fanfic is a coping mechanism WHOOPS #oh well #bloodhound is nonbinary thanks #apex fanfiction #my writing