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lvlyghost · 10 months

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The Things I Never Said: Part 3

Pairings: Simon 'Ghost' Riley

Summary: You're required for one last mission.

Word Count: 2.5k

Tw: aaaaaangst, hurt with a lot of comfort. injuries, mentions of blood, kissing and slightly suggestive but nothing too explicit. price has to make a hard choice:(poor grammar, bad english ofc💅🏻 foreshadowing to my price fic 'salvation' if you squint.

A/N: i'm not gonna lie, when i wrote the first part of this fic i was bored and never in a million years did it cross my mind y'all would like it this much. sorry if this isn't as good, this is the final part of it, although i plan to write little drabbles every now and then. this was such a nice ride 🩷✨ thx for the support; remember english isn't my first language, corrections are welcome 🤍🐸

Masterlist✨ Part 2

Desk rotation wasn't fun, but it seemed to be the only suitable work for you considering your pregnancy, besides, it would allow Simon to keep an eye on you. At least he's sure you'd be safer in the military base than alone in your home.

Your only companion as you sit in the tech room is nothing more than a computer with two screens and Jimmy, the other tech guy who sits in the far corner across from you.

True to his word, Price had saved you and Simon a horrible martial court plus being discharged. Technically you're no longer a part of the 141 task force which is already upsetting to all of your team; instead working strictly under Price's command and assisting the different branches of the military. Meaning you're no longer subdued to Lieutenant Riley, therefore you're not his subordinate, at least not directly.

You respond to Price and only Price.

Nearing the end of your first trimester your swollen belly has started to show, the same you try to dissimulate by wearing bigger shirts than you would usually wear, but enough for Simon to notice when he'd place a big calloused hand on your stomach.

'It's... tiny.' He had stated, to which you laughed softly.

'Of course it is, your hand is massive!'

You shake your head, with a small smile on your lips as you remember that scene.

"Everything good?" You ask your companion.

"Mhm. You know you're the best for creating the security system right? Not a single breach or flaw. Couldn't ask for a better partner."

"Is that a chai?" Completely ignoring what he just said you point the white disposable cup next to him. He looks between you and his drink.

"Yeah? Didn't know you liked it, here... have it. I can get another." He assures you when you hesitate.

You thank him with glowing eyes and excitement. Cravings... you're embarrassed of the amount of food you've asked from Simon in the middle of the night. Sushi, pizza and even peaches just for the sake of the baby.

He's being the gentlest man on earth. Caring and supportive. Your phone buzzes as you're about to start to work. The screen lights up with a message from your Captain. Huffing you stand up, letting Jimmy know you'll be back in a few minutes, or so you thought.

You're not prepared for the hell unfolding inside John's office.

You're able to hear male voices from the other side of the hallway. You don't know why but your heart begins to race, knocking twice once you've reached the brown wooden door.

"Come in!" Price shouts from inside.

You open the door, greeted by John's hardened eyes and Simon's back as he hunches over the Captain's desk. Confused and much to your dismay there's a gigantic folder between the two men, your eyes fall on Ghost's trembling frame.

He is enraged.

Body buzzing in anger as the soft click of the door interrupts the silence that's fallen suddenly inside.

"You wanted to see me Sir?"

Price slowly stands, Simon doing the same, turning his head ever so slightly to watch you from over his shoulder.

"I need to talk to you, sweetheart." Price begins.

A deep breath exits Simon's chest.

"What is it?" You take a step closer to them, until you're standing next to him, crossing his arms over his chest he remains silent.

"We need you. For a mission." He states. "It's important, sergeant. I don't think anyone else would be able to pull this off." Your eyes dart back to your boyfriend. Staring daggers at his superior. "I'd never ask for this if I had to."

"Bloody hell Price, she's not fucking going!" He is seething.

The gut-wrenching feeling sets in your belly, tossing and turning with anxiety. Simon isn't taking this well and you don't want to see him like this, it breaks your heart.

"How important, Sir?" You ask.

Ghost snaps his head towards you. Jaw tightening, and calls your name ever so softly.

"Don't." He barks. "Don't fucking play the hero, kid." He warns you.

"I'm not trying to play the hero, Simon." You talk back. "I'm trying to figure out how to get this done. I might have someone else that could go in my place." Price sighs. "Can I do it from the base? Maybe I don't have to leave the compound."

"Reports say the files are heavily encrypted. It's the Russians, sergeant. We're not dealing with amateurs." He turns to Ghost emphasizing the last word. "You more than anyone should understand, Lieutenant."

"Not when you're bloody sending her to a suicide mission!"

"These are not my orders Simon! General Shepherd wants her! I tried to talk him out of it. I can't do much more, son." You swallow when Simon starts pacing around like a rabid dog, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Is there any way I can do it? She can guide me through it the whole time..." he's back, leaning closer to his Captain. "I know I...-"

"Unless you know how to code and decrypt systems to perfection it can't be, Ghost. I'm sorry."

"It would only slow down the mission, get you caught. And in danger..." you reasoned, mumbling and staring down to your feet. There's no one else. Not even Jimmy. The one you had in mind.

Simon's mouth snapped shut.

His eyes are helpless when he connects them with yours. The realization of what's about to happen sinking in his core, he tried. He really did.

One long stride and he's embracing you, so tightly you think you'll suffocate; you hug him back, head resting right over where his heart beats frantically against his ribcage.

"I'm coming with her." He snarls. "Not Kyle, not Johnny. And certainly not someone from fucking KorTac." He turns to glare at Price with a death stare. "It'll be me, no one else."

"John's devastated." You tell him. Your back pressing against his hard chest. The water in the bathtub is warm, and smells like lavender and sandalwood. After the catastrophic meeting a few hours ago, Simon was too outraged to remain at the base so he drove both of you back to the safety of his apartment. You rest your head on his left shoulder, enjoying the delicate touch of his hands on your lower belly. He hums, almost absentmindedly. He didn't want to think about Price, or the mission for all that matters. All he can think of is you. He sighs, closing his eyes he presses a kiss on your hair.

"Bloody fucking bald cunt." He spits. You snort at his comment. Shepherd was a complicated man, and hardly one you could negotiate with once he had his mind set on something or someone.

"When do we have to...-"

"Tomorrow." Your lips are pressed into a thin line. "I'll be there no matter what, right next to you, love." He reassures you. You were never one to hesitate during missions but now... releasing a shaky breath you turn your head to look at Simon.

"I'm scared..." Simon's body goes rigid. The hand on your stomach halting. "It's not even for me, you know?" Swallowing your free hand reaches down to find his own, lacing your fingers with him. A muscle becoming prominent in his jaw as he grits his teeth.

"Nothing will happen to you. Bloody count on it, yeah? First shite I deem dangerous I'm pulling us out of there, understand?" You nod.

"Promise me you won't get hurt." There's a moment of silence that becomes unbearable the longer it extends. "Simon..." his eyes are fixated on yours, shining with what you can only describe as worship. The faintest of smiles spreads across his features.

"Don't you worry about me, sweetheart. Not for one second." Breathing deeply you pull him down for a kiss. It's slow and tender; makes you forget about all the difficulties you face. Biting down his lip, Simon takes it as a sign to further deepen the kiss. Tongues finding each other in a fight for dominance. "Don't wanna think about what tomorrow holds. I have you here right now. That's all I need."

Your mind goes back to the moments you and Simon shared last night. It was so simple, so real.

That's how things were supposed to be.

Easy.

Not heart wrenching, not stifling down a cry as you watch him get shot. A bullet that was aimed at you .Breaking in had been easy. Way too easy for your liking. But you thought that for once maybe a mission wouldn't be a pain in the ass. The hardest part was getting inside their systems; John was right. It was hellish even for you. It took more time than what you had anticipated. No one would've been able to pull it off.

"Whoever is behind this, they're good." You acknowledged as you type down the codes that will eventually get you in.

"Bloody brilliant you are, kid." Simon watches from the other side of the room, eyes scanning the hallway every now and then looking for any possible hostiles. You send him a coy smile.

"Keep looking at me like that and I'll get no work done."

"How am I supposed to look at you then?" He asks

You don't answer because the screen in front of you suddenly shifts from 'Access denied' to 'Access granted'.

"Got you." You whisper. Simon stands straight. You plug your USB and start downloading all the information as well as setting a virus so their system gets permanently damaged.

"What is it?" He gruffly asks when the files finished downloading on your own device. Clearing your throat you try to ignore the horrible pictures you just took a glimpse of.

"Just... insanity." Is all you can say. A loud metallic sound echoes in the room, you never get to see the person behind you. Ghost's eyes widen and he barks an order your ears don't register, static fills your eardrums. The gunfire starts but lasts mere seconds. Crimson blood splutters from Simon's body.

You stand up, knocking down the chair as you jump out and run where Simon's injured body kneels. You fall down grabbing him by the face. The pain you're feeling deep inside has never been worse.

"I'm fine." He hisses. "Just my fucking shoulder."

As if that would make you feel better.

"Let's get the hell out of here." Your lips quiver. You run back to retrieve the small USB drive.

The body of a man lays down, a pool of blood forms around him. He was hiding behind you the entire time. Had Simon been distracted the outcome could've been atrocious. Yo don't dwell on it.

"Come on, baby." You urge him, crouching down to help Simon as much as you can to get him standing. His weight is just too much for you, you think, when he finally raised to his feet.

"S'okay love. Don't... don't overwork yourself. I'm too heavy, don't wanna get you hurt because of me."

Tears form in the corner of you eyes at such selfless act.

"You're the one who got hurt because of me, Simon." You stammer.

"So what? Would fucking die for you." You shake your head but keep close to him. Pressing down the wound on his shoulder as you head towards the exit. "Evac point is ten minutes away. We should be fine." The gun that rests on your thigh feels heavier than it should.

You're lucky, you guess as you walk away from the god forsaken building.

Lucky that you have him by your side, even when his blood stains your fingers. He's there, you're there and you're making it out alive. Wounded or not, Simon would never let anything happen to you, that's how deep his love for you was.

He wasn't like his dad at all.

He was real, caring, something not much people knew. Not in their lifetime.

The amount of blood he was losing was inhumane. An injured shoulder couldn't cause someone to lose this much blood, you ponder. Your black shirt feels sticky and damp, you take a quick glance and hold back a sob. Another gunshot wound, one he didn't care enough to tell you about and you didn't notice, too scared to even think.

Far in the distance between two big threes a black truck awaits. Johnny's face dropping when he noticed Ghost's decaying form. He rushes in your direction, taking him off of you, carrying his weight. He gives you a concerned look.

"Johnny..." you choke up. "We have to save him, please."

It's been the worst 48 hours of your life since you landed. He got two surgeries done in order to remove the fragments from inside his body. You were exhausted, barely ate or slept. It almost felt criminal, selfish, when your eyes started to close and finally gave in.

Then the nightmares came.

Ones where he didn't make it back and instead you had to leave him behind and never got to meet his child.

A warm feeling spreads from your skin. A faint touch. Are you still dreaming? His face erupts in your subconscious mind and you cry again. He's fine.

When you slowly open up your eyes you're met with blue eyes and a raspy voice.

"Don't neglect yourself for me, kid." You're speechless, the searing pain in your heart eases. He knows you so well. Knows you haven't left his side. "Takes more than a bullet to keep me away from you." When you don't move nor speak he continues, clearing his throat. "Come here, sweet thing."

There's a new wave of tears that fall mercilessly down your cheeks. You carefully climb up next to Simon's good side.

"Don't you ever scare me like that!" you weep. Sobbing uncontrollably Simon hushes you. Murmuring words of comfort in your ear. The anesthesia is still making him feel dizzy but that doesn't stop him from kissing every part of your face. Your hair, your forehead, your cheek and finally your lips.

"Let's leave this place for a while. Go on vacation while we still can..." you beg.

Simon's lips twitch. He's smiling down at you.

"What do you have in mind doll?"

You breathe deeply.

"Greece. I always wanted to go to Greece."

There's moments in life when you doubt you'll get a happy ending. Being with Simon at first was pure coincidence, something that had evolved from deep admiration and respect, which then turned into something more. It turned out to sleepless nights at the common room with the task force. Longing stares during briefings. Looking after each other during missions.

The training sessions together. Lending his massive leather jacket because you were always reluctant to bring your own. That one night he couldn't resist it anymore and went to your dorm. How you felt under his touch, oh he was touch starved when it came to you. And when he learned he was going to be a father, that moment would be ingrained into his memory until his very last day.

"Greece it is."

It's a promise.

TAGS:

@nijiru @illyanam1011

#call of duty modern warfare 2 #cod #cod mwii #cod mw2 #cod x reader #cod mw22 #cod ghost #simon ghost riley #simon riley imagine #simon riley x reader #call of duty ghost simon riley #john price x reader #soap mactavish x reader #cod simon riley #simon riley #cod simon ghost riley #simon riley x you

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misshoneyimhome · 2 months

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「2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ FOLLOWERS CELEBRATION」

“I like waking up with you” I Nico Hischier (🌺)

Summary; While Nico Hischier may struggle with expressing his emotions, leading to occasional frustrations and arguments, a strong relationship can withstand any challenge.

Tropes & warnings; no warnings; strangers to lovers, couples fight; very mild-smut descriptions;

Other notes; so as I finished, I sort of realised that it doesn’t really have much plot - it’s just pure fluff; still hope it’s readable 😅 inspired by the lyrics from ‘PILLOWTALK’ by Zayn Malik 🤍

Word count; 1.7K

・✶ ｡ﾟ

You and Nico fell in love quicker than you ever imagined possible. In a way, it felt as if fate had brought you together on purpose, weaving your lives into a beautiful tapestry of love and passion. It was as simple as the fairy tales you grew up with; from the moment you met him on that crisp autumn evening, you knew your life would change forever. It was love at first sight.

Your love story began at something as simple as a charity event for the New Jersey Devils, right at the start of the hockey season. It was a night filled with glamour and excitement, the room adorned in the team's red, white, and black colours.

You were there as a friend of one of the team’s partners, however, as the event had unfolded, you suddenly found yourself standing alone, without the companion you’d arrived with.

Yet, in a mere moment, lost in thoughts as you gazed into thin air, among the buzzing crowd, your eyes suddenly met Nico Hischier's. His big, brown golden eyes captivated you instantly, sparking a connection you simply couldn't deny.

And to your surprise, Nico confidently made his way through the crowd in your direction, never breaking eye contact. And when he stood before you, his smile was nothing but magnetic.

"Hello," he said, his voice smooth with a hint of a sweet yet rough accent. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. Would you mind if I joined you?"

Though his boldness took you aback, there was just something about him that had you drawn in. And before you knew it, you were engrossed in deep conversation, completely oblivious to the world around you.

"I must admit," Nico said with a playful glint in his eyes, "I didn't expect to meet someone as captivating as you at this event."

His words warmed you, causing a blush to rise to your cheeks. "I could say the same about you," you replied with a soft smirk, completely unable to look away from him.

And as the night then progressed, you felt an unexpected strong and deep connection to the Swiss captain, as if you'd known each other for ages. So as the evening slowly drew to a close, you couldn't shake the feeling that this might just be the beginning of something extraordinary.

To say the least, you were absolutely right. As the weeks passed and turned into months, your connection with Nico only grew stronger. And before long, despite your initial hesitation, you moved from being just good friends to something definite more.

It was no secret between you, that you’d had concerns, influenced by the idea of dating a professional hockey player with a demanding lifestyle and packed schedule. However, Nico dispelled those worries with his steadfast commitment to you. He didn't just start calling you his girlfriend sooner than expected; he proudly introduced you to everyone as his partner anywhere you went, demonstrating his dedication through every word and deed. In a way, it was quite remarkable how, despite the demands of his career, he always found time for you, placing your relationship above all else.

Because Nico's life as a hockey player did indeed involve frequent travel, rigorous training sessions, and the pressure of performing on the ice. There were nights when he returned home exhausted, his body aching from a challenging game. Yet, even in those moments, he never failed to show you love and appreciation. Whether through a heartfelt text before bed or a lengthy phone call while on the road, he made sure you felt valued and cared for.

And especially one aspect of your relationship that remained constant was the physical connection you shared. The chemistry between you was electric, igniting flames of desire that grew hotter with each passing moment. Your intimate moments together were nothing short of explosive, leaving you both breathless and exhilarated every time.

Incredible sex became a defining feature already in the very beginning of your relationship, the kind that would make the neighbours blush and the walls tremble. But you never paid any attention to the noise complaints or the curious glances from passers-by. In those moments of passion, it was just you and Nico, lost in each other's embrace, consumed by the intensity of your love.

During those intimate moments, you felt the deepest connection with Nico, as the barriers between you dissolved and you revealed your souls to each other in the most vulnerable and intimate way possible. Every time you lay intertwined in the aftermath, your bodies still tingling with pleasure, you were certain that you were in love.

However, naturally, challenges arose along the way. No relationship is without its flaws, including yours. Arguments erupted over missed dates or suddenly cancelled plans, tensions escalating like an impending storm. Yet, as always, Nico had a knack for smoothing over rough patches, turning conflict into connection. With just a smile or a tender gesture, he could transform the atmosphere between you from a war zone into a paradise.

It was a turbulent relationship, to say the least. Nico's ability to express his absolute joy and deep love for you was unmatched, his affection evident in every touch and whispered word. But beneath that outward display of affection lay a layer of resilience and reticence when it came to his concerns and fears.

And it didn't take you long to notice that he tended to bottle up his negative emotions, keeping his worries hidden deep inside. Nico was skilled at putting on a brave face, particularly as the team captain, even when the weight of the world seemed to be bearing down on him. And while you admired his strength and resilience, it also led to frustration and tension between you.

There were times when you wished he would open up, and share his fears and insecurities with you. However, whenever you broached the subject, he would shut down, enveloping himself in silence. In those moments, the distance between you almost felt insurmountable, like an unbridgeable chasm. But, no matter how bad your arguments could be, Nico never let you go to bed angry or sad.

One evening, after a rather heated argument, you sat on the edge of his bed, tension thick between you.

"I'm sorry, y/n," Nico said softly, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to shut you out like that. Sometimes I just feel the need to be strong for everyone else, and I forget that it's alright to lean on you too."

His words resonated deeply within you, highlighting the complexities of his role both on and off the ice. You reached out, taking his hand and gently squeezing it as you met his gaze.

"You don't have to be strong all the time, Nico," you reassured him, your voice gentle yet firm. "I'm here for you, through thick and thin. We're a team, remember?"

And a faint smile slowly grew and played on Nico's lips as he nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I know," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion. "And I'm thankful for you every day, y/n. I don't know where I'd be without you."

Navigating the highs and lows of your relationship required a delicate balance. Yet, through it all, your love for each other remained unwavering, and you were determined to face the challenges together, hand in hand.

In fact, maintaining this steadfastness was surprisingly simple; Nico never allowed you to even consider the idea of walking away. And truth be told, you had no desire to. Despite the ups and downs, everything between you felt pure, raw, and intensely passionate.

The past year had been nothing but a whirlwind for both of you, with highs of victories and lows of defeats. Throughout it all, you had been each other's support, standing strong through thick and thin. And with the off-season offering a brief break from the hockey season's demands, you cherished every moment spent together, aware that Nico would soon be back on the ice, fully engrossed in the game.

Then as the autumn leaves then began to change, marking the start of a new season, Nico's excitement was beyond palpable. He simply couldn't contain his joy at the prospect of another year filled with his beloved sport and the woman who had captivated his heart.

And as you lay together in the gentle morning light, Nico's words enveloped you like a warm embrace, filling you with love and affection. His vulnerability caught you off guard, as his declaration of love lifted your spirits.

"I like waking up with you," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion, echoing the sentiment you had shared countless times before.

Your heart fluttered at his words, warmth flooding through you at the depth of his affection. You gently reached out, brushing your fingers against his stubbled jaw as you spoke softly, a smile gracing your lips.

“I like waking up with you too…” you murmured, your voice filled with tenderness.

But it was evident there was more on his mind. "I can’t believe I have you in my life... I love you, y/n…" Nico's voice quivered with emotion, his gaze locked on yours as if seeking reassurance.

And you couldn’t deny the way your heart swelled with love for him, mirrored in the depths of his gaze. "Nico," you whispered, reaching out to stroke his hair, "I love you too, more than words can express."

The moment hung heavy with emotion and possibility. Then, with a surge of determination, Nico voiced the question he'd been pondering for a while.

"Move in with me, y/n," he implored, hope and longing evident in his eyes. "Please. I want us to wake up together every day, fall asleep in each other's arms. Will you move in with me?"

And you couldn’t help but let a tear slowly well in your eye at the sincerity of his request, overwhelmed with love for the man before you. So without hesitation, you simply enveloped him in your arms, whispering your answer in his ear.

"Yes, Nico," you choked out, your voice thick with emotion, "Of course I'll move in with you.”

As you held each other in the gentle dawn light, surrounded by the promise of a new beginning, you knew this was just the beginning of a beautiful chapter in your love story. With Nico by your side, you felt ready to face whatever the future held, confident that together, you could overcome anything.

#2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ followers celebration #nico hischier imagine #nico hischer x reader #new jersey devils imagine #nhl fanfiction #nhl imagine

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3cremepie3 · 1 year

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Slip!

Jade Leech x reader Smut/ fluff 18+

Synopsis- After taking a fall down the mountain Jade takes care of you! Quiet loving sex with the leech bro.

A/n- I just realized I didn’t write for him. So after weeks of writing and editing here he is. Also p.s this is long ash.

Warnings - mentions of injury, slight dark humor, saliva, multiple creampies, cursing, overall sloppy sex, sweat, strange dick shape

“Welcome Y/n.” Jade smiled down at you waiting underneath a large tree. “Hi, Jade.” You huffed out of breath from the long trail you had to walk to get here. “Don’t tell me you're tired already that wasn’t even a quarter of the way to our destination?”

“Nah that was nothing.” You lied trying to catch your breath. “While then let’s start walking,” you cheered!” You leaped over a large log and onto the walkway. Your boots squeaked as you walked through the numerous muddy paths.

“Thank god I found these at ramshackle,” you noted. “Yes to do these activities you have to have a sturdy pair of footwear,” Jade spoke. “I made that mistake my first time walking up here.” His voice was almost drowned out by a nearby stream so he spoke louder.

“I could barely stand while working at the Lounge the next day.” I know Azul probably didn’t let you have a break either,” you added. “You guessed right but luckily I didn’t have a shift the after so I was okay.” Just let me know if you need a break alright?”

“Right,” you nodded. Jade took note while you both walked even though you saw these same rocks and tree’s over and over. “How do you have so much to write down?” It’s the same scene over and over again.”

“Maybe I’ll find something new one day it’s always good to keep a new perspective on things.” Like, let’s use this rock.” He bent down and picked up a rock. At first, I thought it was a metamorphic rock that’s very common.” But looking closely I can see it’s a sandstone which is still common but still you get the point.”

“So it’s always good to keep an eye out?” Yes, try to find me something pretty we need better pictures.” Will do!” Now your eyes were scanning every surface. You thought of picking up a frog but it leaped away. Then you pointed to a bird but it flew away.

A bunch of mushrooms hung off a branch so you were gonna point those out but he said something that was living. “Ooo found something!” You went to grab the beautiful creature. “Stay just like that don’t move a muscle,” Jade demanded. You did as follows so he could snap a pic. It flew off of you going back to its business. “Come look Y/n.” Aww!” You gushed looking at the butterfly that landed on your nose.

“This is perfect for our club poster,” Jade chuckled. “Hell yeah it is I found you two pretty things,” you joked. “Yup you’ll attract more club members.” Am I that fine?” Yes, are you blind to others' attraction to you?”

“I must because I had not one clue I was the “It girl” or whatever you want to call me.” Do you think everyone just asked you to come to their club meetings with no motive?” You thought back to all the proposals people had given you over the months. You were even allowed to attend their events if you wanted to.

“I thought that they just wanted my company?” I’m a good friend once you get to know me,” you pleaded. “Well you never come so they wouldn’t know that.” Not true I’m here with you today,” you called into question. “Now I can brag to Floyd about this his mood is sure to sour.” I wasn’t ever gonna go to basketball with sweaty high schoolers that are gonna yell at me when I miss. That seems like an absolute nightmare.”

“Yeah they wouldn’t go easy on you,” he chuckled. But I’m glad you're here with me.” Yes even though you scare me sometimes well most of the time!” I still rather be in this club than anyone else’s.” Thanks for coming y/n. For a long time, I thought I would always be alone. But somehow I’ve gained a companion.”

“Yup for now on I’ll be the best partner you can ask for Jade.” Y/n there’s something else I’ve been wanting to ask you.” You paused your actions to look back at him. Before he could speak his expression seriously you got distracted by the rain. It started to fall suddenly and heavily like a blanket of snow. “Does it usually rain on this mountain?” Yes, that’s why I brought these.”

He handed you a yellow poncho. “Up ahead there should be a resting area we can wait there until the rain clears.” Okay, let’s get there fast my boots are getting soaked.” You dashed ahead of him not focused on your footing. “Wait it’s slippery up there L/n!” He tried his best to warn you but it was too late. You already slipped on the stone steps. “Fuck why did I wear high waters!” You cussed looking at the gash in your leg.

“I’ll clean up your wound soon.” For now, let me carry you.” Are you sure I’m pretty heavy,” you warned. “There’s nothing to worry about,” he shushed you. Afterward, you didn’t protest as he picked you up bridal style. Despite the added weight, his steps were stable and he didn’t slip. “I'm sorry Jade I didn’t mean to be dead weight.”

“We got our mission accomplished so I don’t mind.” Besides you’re not heavy.” He bounced you up and down in his arms. “Ah,” you screamed thinking you were gonna fall down the hill. “I forget how strong you and your brother are.” You could probably deadlift Jack.” He didn’t look anywhere near tired even after bringing you further to the rest stop.

Which you now saw was a supply shed. He dropped you on a recliner that was in the corner. “This is your idea of a rest stop?”

“Yes now Stay still,” he directed. He pulled a small first aid kit out of his backpack. “At least someone came prepared.” You laughed at yourself who only brought your outfit and a half-eaten granola bar. “I always get hurt while up here.” Especially when I was newer like you I scraped my legs a lot.” I know just the thing to treat your injuries.”

He pulled out a small bottle of alcohol. “This is going to sting .” He explained to you all while holding that same unreassuring smile. “Wait!” I’m scared.” Sorry I know I’m such a baby,” you frowned. “This has to happen Y/n I’ll be here to guide you through it.” Fine just do it,” you blurted.

He began to pour the alcohol on the scrape. You grabbed his hand out of instinct squeezing tight on the large and long fingers of his. “All done.” He patched you up thoroughly then leaned your leg on the chair. “I think we should stay here until morning.” My weather predictor says there’s gonna be a storm.”

The whole time he was talking you couldn’t focus since you just now realized you were holding his hand. “Such a gentleman,” you spoke aloud. “What was that,” he interrupted. “I didn’t think I said that so loud… but I did mean it.” Thanks for all your help Jade I would’ve probably had to camp in some tree stump if you weren’t here.”

“I’m not so good at taking care of myself. But your pretty caring I can see that in the way you treat Floyd.” Thank you that was nice of you Y/n and… “About that thing earlier Y/n that I was trying to tell you.” Oh yeah, you weren’t able to finish I’m sorry that I interrupted you.” No problem as long as your listening now.” He clasped his other hand over both of yours encasing them with warmth. “I didn’t need your help to take pictures for the club.” I brought you out here for another reason.”

Silence filled the shack and the only thing you could hear was the rain tap in the background. “You brought me in these secluded woods to eat me?” You joked thinking it was funny but other questions ran through your mind. What was he planning to do with you? Was Jade asking you out? Your mind couldn’t even process it correctly. You stayed frozen in shock for a minute before his lips on one of your knuckles brought you back to earth.

“I hope you can find it in you to answer me.” It doesn’t have to be soon I’ll wait however long it takes.” Wait you’re serious Jade this isn’t some rude prank or scheme you and Azul boiled up?” No, I would never go as far as I plan to go with you,” he admitted.

“Just how far do you plan to go?” You smirked catching his flirtatiousness. “If your comfortable I wanted to try third base?” But today I’ll only be servicing you, my sweetheart.” He leaned over on the corner of the chair to kiss you.

While doing so his hands trailed down lifting your legs to each side of the chair. He sat up then squeezed himself in between your legs. Now he was impossibly closer smothering you into a drool-sharing kiss. You could feel him smile against you as you begged for air against him. But his tongue held you in a tight lock.

Your hands clasped his hair and your legs locked around his back. For a moment you even forgot about your injury blinded by lust. Finally, you broke apart. Worn out from the heat of the moment your leg dropped remembering the pain it once beard.

Jade looked at you one last time for permission before sliding your pants off. If only you’d known you would’ve worn your cutest panties. But Jade didn’t seem to give a damn after kissing your clit through them. “I did bring you deep in the woods for this.” Somewhere far where I know no one will bother us.”You shivered at the straightforward action while he laughed finding you too sensitive for your good.

“Try to stay still,” he directed. Even after his direction, you were still squirming in his strong grasp as he liked up your panties. His fingers lightly followed the path he made. Your underwear was completely drenched in your essence by the time he pulled them to the side. If he didn’t have patience he would’ve torn them off but he much preferred to keep their ruin so he could use them later.

He spat a globe that rolled down to your fluttering hole. You watched his every move your body reacting to every movement of his in anticipation. He paused completely his fingers just a few centimeters from your clit. He wouldn’t be a leech if he wasn’t at least a bit malicious. The noises falling out of your mouth were embarrassing. Jade could tell how uneasy you felt as his other hand worked his way up your shirt.

Your bra soon fell on the chair. You gripped the sides for support so your hands wouldn’t tangle in his hair. You wanted nothing more than to slam his head down on your cunt. You could feel his heavy breathing as his sight focused on yours.

“Please I can’t wait any longer,” you groaned. If you didn’t have such a grip on the chair then you would’ve touched yourself by now. “You’re so impatient.” You just really want my tongue that bad huh?” Yes please, I need you.”

“Just wait a little longer.” He kissed the area around your hole. You waited for what felt like forever you were even more soaked than the ground outside by now. You couldn’t wait for another second his smooching was too stimulating. Your hands moved from the side of the chair and into his hair.

You would probably come to regret it later but for now, you needed the pleasure. He groaned his supply of air being cut off since you stuffed him in your fat cunt. “Ahh finally,” you whined. “You’ll come to regret this later once I start I won’t stop.”

He wasn’t lying he licked you in all the places you needed until you were creaming all over his tongue. The first time you felt good your orgasm was powerful. You tightened the grip on his hair. The second time felt odd to you. Never before had you been so sensitive after an orgasm.

Your clit which he rolled around meticulously was now throbbing. “This feels weird.” You mewled feeling a new sensation rocking through your body. “Just let it all out no need to hold back.” Your body began to spasm your back arched off the chair and your head fell back. You hadn’t realized what you’d done until you looked down at Jade's ruined face.

“Ah, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make a mess.” You tried your best to help him reaching for a shirt to dry him off. But his grip on your legs tightened. He forced them back open again and began to feast. Maybe it was the merman in him but he loved it when you squirted. So he was gonna make it happen again.

Only this time his fingers filled your hole pumping you while his thumb rubbed on your overworked clit. He moved them faster and faster until the familiar feeling came back to you. “So good! So good, so good,” you chanted. He was hitting a spot you never thought you could reach.

Your juices dripped down his fingers but he didn’t care continuing to pump in and out of you. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s possible to get this wet.” You're making a mess everywhere but it’s nothing I can’t lick up.” It took you until now to notice his tongue wasn’t normally shaped. You couldn’t tell since you’ve never gotten head before. It was long and pointy enough to make your toes curl as it filled you.

He switched in and out with his tongue and his fingers his pace was slow. But the preciseness of it all had your legs crushing his head in between your thighs. Another orgasm hit you and he achieved his goal of making you squirt again. “I don’t think I can cum anymore.” That’s an impossible statement Y/n of course you can still cum look at how you're taking my fingers.”

Despite your begging, he didn’t let up erasing orgasm after orgasm out of you. You lost count of how many times you came your mind turning to mush. The sounds of your lovesong intensified as did the thunder that almost shattered the window. But you knew you were safe in his grasp. Your body jolted with each vibration his tongue let out.

You bit your hand embarrassed by the sounds you were making. But he removed your hand from your mouth. If you had to hear his groans as he ate you out he wanted to hear your reactions too. “Let me hear how good I make you feel.” Or I’ll stop altogether,” he threatened.

“No please don’t stop,” you begged. If you could feel this good just from his fingers how would his dick feel? It was all you could think about. You became unaware of your surroundings letting the pleasure take over.“I need you to fuck me.” Please I’m begging you!” Anyone walking nearby could probably hear you scream these slutty statements but you couldn’t care. Not when he complied pulling away from you. His face was smeared with your juices and his hair was ruffled. He looked a mess but nowhere near as worse as you.

Your mascara was running down your face for quite a few years fell. Also, your lips were swollen to perfection to him they looked biteable. And your body was hot and flushed with sweat it added a glow like no other to your beautiful skin. However, at the moment you couldn’t find a reason to hate it. Maybe the moonlight and the rain consumed you. Or maybe it was the kiss he pulled you in. The aftertaste was strong this time since you could taste it yourself.

“I have something to share with you before we continue.” What’s that Jade,” you said hastily. “My dick is different than most people.” It’s one part of me that only half changed when I turned human. That’s why I didn’t want to just pull it out.”

“You’ve already excepted every imperfection of mine.” So, of course, I’ll accept yours baby.” His smile returned to his face. He was quick to pull his cock out his pre dribbled on your thigh.“Okay,” you huffed. You were hesitant he was large as you expected but way thicker than you could handle. His cock had ridges that you could feel as your fingers traced. As you felt it he began to get slimy.

“I can’t wait much longer Y/n are you ready?” I- I don’t know if I can handle this.” I made you lose enough now relax love.” He slipped his cock into you after a little resistance. Immediately you tensed the stretch knocking the air out of your lungs. But after a few of his sloppy strokes, you felt good. Your cunt which had previously been prepared was now slimy with his slick.

“How are you feeling Y/n?” He already knew the answer by your face. Your eyes were rolling in the back of your head. He was hitting so deep inside that you began to see white. It didn’t take long for you to cum. He was quick to follow. His cum flowed back in and out of you as he continued to fuck you threw his orgasm.

Your body collapsed to the side of the chair. He lifted your leg so he could still have access to you’re drowning cunt. His strokes were slow and his hips snapped forward once your cunt craved more. You were both still sensitive from your highs that occurred not even a couple of minutes ago; consequently, the round was short.

The base of his cock was covered in a ring of your cream. Things weren’t only looking sloppy but they sounded sloppy. The sound of wet smacking filled the walls. Your body was tired but somehow you were able to keep up with his thrust throwing your ass back on his toned body. You didn’t having speak since you were able to see every emotion he wanted to convey through his smile.

He littered your neck with kisses and you littered his body with scratches. You would have felt bad but he didn’t care. The pain was nothing to him all he could feel were you milking him dry. His dick throbbed inside you. You could feel each vain and ride budge as he came inside you once again.

“I can't stop now not ever,” he whispered. “Please stay with me and take it.” His hand moved your head which was rolling back to his. “Don’t pass out I know it feels good but you gotta stay with me.” He spoke while thrusting into you. Your body was overstimulated each time he moved you gushed at him.

This continued after you moved through many positions. it didn’t matter how outlandish they were as long as he could see your face. Your injuries weren’t considered they couldn’t matter right now. “It’s too dark to leave we would get stranded.” He decided but you could tell it was just an excuse to stay with you and keep making love.

Before you knew it the morning had swept over you both. You awoke both of you collapsed in the chair. You were cockwarming him so you removed yourself from the previous rounds of cum he loaded into you dripping out.

“So this wasn’t a dream,” you confirmed. “Well, I’m glad I slipped!”

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bitchesgate3 · 2 months

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Disclaimer: I have not romanced Minthara nor have I fully played the Dark Urge.

One thing I've experienced whilst having Minthara in my party since Moonrise is that there feels like there are narratively TWO Mintharas. And the Durge break up makes sense for one and not the other.

This 1st Minthara: Upon rescuing Minthara, all your initial conversations are deeply emotional. And later ones at camp are so deeply insightful that her maturity and experience compared to the other companions really stands out.

She understands the plots going on and the subterfuge and conspiracy. She reflects on her experiences with the Absolute, her understanding of the Chosen 3, her gratitude about being saved by Tav, her time under Orin's thrall, and gives us glimpses into the emotions that run through all these experiences.

How does a merciless woman grapple with being shown mercy? Her specifically. Not Dror Ragzlin. Not Priestess Gut. But her - singled out - for mercy?

This Minthara feels like she makes sense of these experiences for herself, to find a life to carve out on her own - integrated with her indomitable spirit. She is a dynamic and nuanced character and makes her a must-have companion for me on ANY playthrough.

However, another Minthara exists.

Minthara is most likely intended to be Chaotic Evil. She comes across as Lawful at times, but I think she was de facto made to be compatible with any type of evil, hence she must be chaotic. As opposed to Lae'zel who with Lawful Evil and disapproves if you are dishonorable in some way.

Astarion in EA was more overtly Chaotic Evil leaning Neutral Evil, and probably more conventionally chaotic because some of what he approved of felt like evil for shits and giggles. Following his whims and entertainment.

Minthara on the other hand is certainly calculated by comparison. She understands that seeding disorder is a way to destabilize an existing power in order to obtain it for one's self. This knowledge of undermining pairs extremely well with the overarching mindflayer plot. So while she may inevitably seek more secure power for herself, her ambient dialogue options encourage chaotic evil in this way.

And that's where this 2nd Minthara character comes in. She is the only companion that consistently disapproves of every "good" aligned decision the other companions make. She encourages you to make deals with Gortash and the Emperor (THE master manipulators), and has all these big plans for world domination right out the gate that she sort of assumes you're on board with.

The most egregious thing for me is that she grants approval for the silliest evil actions in the game.

It's clear to me that being opportunistically evil, selfish, and self-serving makes sense for a character like Minthara who utilizes chaos and fear for her own goals, but I find that because she is the only character who could possibly align that way, Larian gives her EVERY possible [calculated] chaotic evil approval that comes up.

So this 2nd Minthara ends up saying the most contrived, cartoonishly evil dialogue responses that really breaks immersion because it feels as if she's only saying that because she's the only companion who can.

That being said, I don't mind this "2nd Minthara"/Chaotic Evil Minthara existing and actually being a part of her character (because clearly this is intended and part of the authors' vision), but when the 1st Minthara seems to hint at possessing divergent thought while this 2nd Minthara seems stuck in her ways, I can't merge the two entities as the same one.

I actually think the game needs to add flags similar to Gale and the Crown where the more you agree with Minthara on her disapproving of the companions defying their dominators/approving when they align with them, only then you will get the Durge break up if you defy yours.

Just adding those flags - not even adding new content - would be an easy fix and I think would help justify why these two Minthara's even exist.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #minthara #larian #the dark urge

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rafa-jaja · 2 months

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Asking for your help...(pt2)

Bruce Wayne x Gn reader

You never thought you'd see Wayne Manor again, but here you are...standing in front of the front door, debating whether to knock or not. But before you could decide the door opened, it was Alfre.

- Please, I ask you to come in, we don't want you to get sick from being outside too long in this weather.

- Hello Alfred, you haven't changed a bit.

- Compliment me, wait here please.

You wanted to talk more with Alfred, but you knew that's not why you were here, the truth is you didn't know what you were doing in this place. Every inch of the property brings back bittersweet memories.

Right now you could be in the comfort of your own home, enjoying a nice cup of tea with your cat as your faithful companion. But no, you had to do what Constantin's note said.

Suddenly something knocked you to the floor, it was Tim, he had grown so much since the last time you saw him.

- You're back! you don't know how much I missed you," he said hugging you tightly.

- Tim...I appreciate your love, but your crushing me.

- Sorry, I was really looking forward to seeing you again, how have you been?

You were about to answer him when someone caught your attention, it was Bruce, the bastard hadn't changed a bit. You got up from the floor and faced him.

- I'm going to make something clear, I'm not here for you, I only came because a friend asked me to.

- Understood...while you are in the mansion I would like you to see something.

You simply nodded and followed him to the Batcave, it was the same as the last time you were here. Bruce was looking for something in his files when someone appeared out of the shadows, you didn't know him, but you guessed who he was...he was Bruce's biological son, you had to admit it, he was almost an identical copy of Bruce.

- And who are you? Another super useless one that is going to try to help us?

Yes, he's the same even in sarcasm, but you can't blame him...it's not his fault that his prominent genes are from his paternal side.

- Damian, behave yourself...I'm sorry he didn't mean to be rude.

- Don't worry, I'm not affected by sarcasm.

- Ok...I wanted you to see this, it's the surveillance videos from the bombing a few weeks ago.

On the big computer there were different videos of Talia and her henchmen destroying police stations and attacking civilians, this is one of the many reasons why you withdrew, seeing innocent people suffer always made your heart clench in your chest.

You quickly deduced what this was all about, it seems Bruce and the league have not been able to discover what the target of these attacks is, they attack without any pattern, their next target could be a company or a school.

- We were unable to capture Talia, and she has shown no signs of what her plan is...we have one of her henchmen in custody, and I wanted to ask you to do me a favor-

- To read his mind and figure out the plan, you don't have to repeat everything, just take me to him and let me see what I can do. But I'm only going to do this once, as a favor to the league, nothing more.

When they arrived, some Super who were old companions greeted you, others looked at you with surprise, you knew what they were thinking, you had returned after years. But you only do this to get Bruce off your back and finally have a normal life.

They sat the man down in front of you, without delay you entered his mind, you were surprised to see that there was nothing...he literally had no thoughts of his own, he was like a shell of bones and flesh that followed orders, he had no control or conscience, not even a sense of right or wrong.

- He hasn't spoken since he was caught? - You asked the guard present.

- Nothing, not even a whisper or a threat.

You left the room and went to the conference room.

- Did you finish quickly, did anything happen, did you find out anything useful?

- That man has nothing... he's like a dummy.

Those present were surprised, they couldn't believe what you were telling them.

- A dummy? You're telling me that this man destroyed an entire building...he's a puppet controlled by Talia?

- Yes, I'm afraid there is no information that would be of any help with your case...well, with that said I'm leaving, I've done what you asked me to do, so I hope you will leave me alone from here on out.

No one objected, but the desperation on their faces was evident. When you arrived at your house you expected to finally be able to rest, but great was your surprise to see Constantin sitting in your living room.

- Not that I mind you being in my house, but at least you could call me.

- You know I like to be spontaneous, I like to have the surprise factor.

You let out a little laugh, Constantin is your best friend, he has been with you through thick and thin and has helped you fight your inner demons.

- So? what do you want to do? I don't have any alcohol at the moment.

- The truth is I just wanted to spend some time with you, I know these last few weeks haven't been the best.

- Ok...you want to watch a bad demon movie for a laugh?

- You read my mind.

It was all laughs that afternoon for the two of you, but elsewhere, specifically at Wayne Manor there was someone thinking about you.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Can Bruce put his thoughts about you in order? Does Talia have a macabre plan? Will you have to face your demons again or overcome your past?

Part Three?

#bruce wayne x male reader #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne #dc x male reader #dc x reader #dcu

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betyloca · 2 months

Text

Imagine: being the youngest member of team x with the same mutation as Victor but a different personality and is very protective of you.

Stryker had gathered the members of team x to introduce them to the new member.

They were at the base waiting for Stryker with the new recruit, some of them were interested in what skills he would have and then there was Victor who was not interested.

Wade: I hope it's not someone else like Victor, otherwise I'll decapitate myself with my sword.

Logan: Don't say stupid things.

The doors opened revealing Styker with a teenager next to him, he was wearing a leather jacket and pink sunglasses with his hair painted blue.

Stryker: she is the new member of the team

Wade: It's a game, right?

Fred: It's a girl.

Y/N: Who the hell are you calling girl?

you said making yourself at him but Stryker stopped you by putting an arm in front of you.

stryker: she is going to be with us she has the same mutation as Victor

Logan and Victor turned to see you, the others were in shock.

Wade: Okay, I'm going to get my sword.

They thought you would be just like Victor, good thing that only in mutation he was cold and chilling and you, on the other hand, were very outgoing and mischievous, you always got in trouble for making jokes with Wade.

On missions, Victor always had you as a companion. You thought he didn't like you. Every time you spoke to him, he only responded with a grunt.

On a mission a soldier had cornered you, you were on the ground very tired from running so much, he had pointed his gun at you.

soldier: damn phenomenon I have you

You closed your eyes waiting for the impact of the bullet but it never came. You opened your eyes seeing Victor holding the man by the neck.

Victor: You think it's a big deal to point a gun at a child, that makes me sick.

He said, digging his claws into the soldier's neck, killing him.

I turn to see you approaching

Victor: can you stand up?

You didn't answer. He bent down and took you into his arms. You complained because you didn't want me to help you.

Y/n: put me down, I can walk alone.

Victor: You can't even stand and you want to walk.

Y/n: I can crawl

Victor: how stubborn you are, girl.

He said as he walked, you growled at him in defeat as you rested your head on his shoulder letting the exhaustion consume you.

He looked at you smiling a little as he walked to the base.

Victor: Who would you have turned out to be so stubborn, little kitten?

He said, bringing you closer to him to protect you from the cold.I was never going to admit it but I was worried about you on all the missions you were together.

#victor creed x reader #xmen x reader #victor creed imagine #sabertooth x reader #sabertooth #victor creed #xmen imagine #xmen wolverine

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autistichalsin · 3 months

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Shippy Halsin/Origins moments, part 1: Lae'zel

I'm starting with Lae'zel because, sadly, she and Halsin have vanishingly little together. They have (2) party banters together, total, and very few of their one-one-interactions, I.E. in Origin Lae'zel runs, offer anything different than a Tav would. That said, there are a very few interactions I can pull shippiness from!

In the ending, if Origin Lae'zel is on the Orpheus path and chooses to fly off to the astral plane, Halsin will say: fly on, Lae'zel. May the Oak Father preserve you and guide you true.

Even if she's not of his world, he still hopes his deity will protect her. :)

If Lae'zel stays loyal to Vlaakith after the confrontation, Halsin says: Your loyalty stands to you, Lae'zel. I can only hope Vlaakith recognises it as I do.

Your queen's words have set your mind then, Lae'zel? I would not wish to be the one that Vlaakith unleashes you upon.

He believes in her, even on her evil path, and he admires her strength and skill in combat.

Similarly, if Lae'zel decides to turn against Vlaakith instead here: So, it seems that Vlaakith is your queen no longer, Lae'zel. That took no small amount of backbone.

He admires her, quite a bit.

When getting to know Halsin in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, Lae'zel, as with the other Origins, has a line unique to her.

For Lae'zel, the line is: I despise sunsets, slow wits - and small talk.

To which Halsin responds: Luckily there's nothing small about getting to know someone like you. There's little occasion for frivolity in nature - I can appreciate your stance... even if others do not.

Halsin very rarely responds negatively even to blatant insults. Here, though, he not only doesn't mind it, but he outright states his respectfulness of her and her boundaries. Despite having just said he wanted to know her like she wanted to know him, he is willing to back off when she says she doesn't want it to veer into small talk, and instead affirms her worth as a person (basically saying it's not small talk when it's her) and that it's valid to not enjoy more than the necessities of conversation.

This is a level of insightfulness and respect that a lot of the other companions don't give Lae'zel; they will either be angry at her attitude or try to get her to lighten up. Halsin just respects that this is who she is, even if he would like to talk to her casually. It speaks to Halsin's fluidity and adaptability in social situations that make him well-suited as a romantic partner to many different kinds of people, and while Lae'zel may be scornful of most- and definitely would scorn Halsin's diplomacy-first approach- I could see her slowly beginning to respect Halsin's attitude in turn. Unfortunately, though, that has to stay a theoretical, because in canon, almost every line that implies something between them is from Halsin to her, not vice-versa.

Here is one of the two party banters they share:

Halsin: Such hoarding of wealth. A tomb for riches that could be put to better use.

Lae'zel: I've heard the same said of bears - the kind you take the shape of. They hoard, gorge, and hibernate through hard times.

Halsin: True... but only until the thaw, then life goes on. This gold may never see daylight again, while others go cold and hungry.

Halsin doesn't act offended here, though he would have every right to be (in fact, he reacts calmly whenever someone pushes back against his nature metaphors and such). Instead, he calmly states his position to her.

Also, this is probably reaching (but when the content is this sparse, I kind of have to, right?) but one gets the feeling a Githyanki wouldn't exactly know a lot about bears normally. Maybe she asked the companions for information about bears to learn more about Halsin?

Their other party banter is, uh... well. THAT one.

Lae'zel: You've quite the appetite, Halsin. I'd wager you've bedded more of your foes than you've felled.

Halsin: Hmm. A challenging sum. The chimera has three heads... but does it still count as one?

Lae'zel: Must have been a challenging kill.

Halsin: Kill... yes.

The openness in sexual conversation is interesting, because both are far more unashamed about sex than normal; Lae'zel because of her culture and Halsin because of his Druidic beliefs. This causes Lae'zel to show no mercy in slut-shaming Halsin, and Halsin to be equally unusual in taking absolutely no offense to it, calmly responding to her question by... sharing a story one gets the feeling few others would want to share, I.E. bedding a chimera. (Well, either bedding it, or lying about it to troll Lae'zel, which would also be entertaining).

Interestingly, this conversation is all about the juxtaposition of sex and violence. While we all know Lae'zel prefers her lust as dessert after bloodlust, Halsin enjoys regular lust, but seems open to mixing it with violence (bedding more of his foes than he's felled). Which would seem to indicate he would be open to Lae'zels... preferred courtship.

And indeed, one of the few bits of reciprocation we see from Lae'zel is when discussing her thirst for Halsin. I.E. if another player character asks her for an open relationship with Halsin, she says: Undoubtedly. Arms like tree trunks, chest broad as an ocean[...]

And after recruiting him: Halsin's proved himself a fine ally already. He'll be useful in battle, If those tree-trunk arms are an indication.

Lastly, though it's not nearly as fun as some other reactions, they do, of course, react if the other is kidnapped by Orin, and it at least indicates good feelings to each other.

Lae'zel: Orin thinks Halsin's abduction is an ultimatum to kill Gortash. Foolish woman - as if I needed more reason than I already had.

This is actually quite a lot of positive emotion considering it's Lae'zel of all people saying this. It indicates she is NOT happy Halsin's been taken, even if she acts aloof about it.

And, lastly, to finish up this tragically short meta, is Halsin's reaction for Lae'zel being kidnapped by Orin: Will Orin truly free Lae'zel if we slay Gortash? I am not so sure... a rescue may be in order.

He wants to save her. :)

Yeah, that just about sums up how little I can piece together, try as I might. I WANT there to be a lot for them because I adore them together and want to have something to point to, but sadly, really, all we got is "Lae'zel's down bad" and "Halsin really respects her boundaries as a person who doesn't like to talk much." Not a lot to go on, but it could be a lot worse!

One post down, five more to go. :) Next up will be Halsin/Wyll.

#halsin #halsin silverbough #lae'zel #bg3 #baldur's gate 3

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animentality · 5 months

Note

Not to send you an essay but do you ever think about how Gortash was the only person in the whole game who didn’t want anything from Durge but Durge. Just them, as a person. Like yes he wanted the netherstone, and wanted the alliance. But what I mean is there were no prereqs for Durge as a person. Every other companion, every other NPC even, wanted Durge to either resist and refuse Bhaal or pursue power and claim their birthright. Everyone had their two cents for what Durge should or shouldn’t do irrespective of how Durge actually felt about it. It made any friendship or love offered to them conditional, even in the case of their companions. It was always “I’ll stand by you, IF”. To be fair, not necessarily unreasonable for the normal person to set boundaries on murder and such lol. But my point is that they all wanted something from Durge first.

But Gortash. OF ALL PEOPLE. Gortash didn’t want anything from them but them. Even for Durge’s biggest supporters in either moral direction - Jaheira, Sceleritas, etc - it was not that simple. Yet Gortash’s friendship with Durge (and to be clear I think they were so in love but I say friendship here to emphasise that even on top of or irrespective of any romance, they were genuinely friends too!) was unconditional. “This changes nothing” is a line I know we all talk about to death but god. That is genuinely unconditional. It is!

(If we want to push the delusion a bit further, that’s a declaration of the unconditional nature of their alliance, which can be chalked up to nothing less than real and honest love as far as I’m concerned. He has no other reason to not care that Durge just said yeah the entire divine commandment part of this mission is in the pot. But Gortash was like I Do Not Care! And he meant it! “Oh yes incomprehensibly powerful beings came to us in our dreams and asked us to do all of this in their names in the first place, and you just pissed on that, but no biggie!” Same short-tempered petty bastard who kicks you hard in the shin with his metal-toe boot if you accidentally hit him. Who straight up attacks you if you show up to his office without any of the netherstones and say you forgot them or whatever. Guy who just kills you if you GIVE HIM THE STONES LOL. But he doesn’t care even slightly that Durge said fuck off to the lord of murder who ordered this whole plot to start? Doesn’t yell, doesn’t ask Durge what were they thinking, just goes oh ok. He makes me insane btw)

I’m also painfully aware that Durge will never find that kind of unconditional support with anyone else, ever. I just feel like this would haunt my resistance Durge for the rest of his days tbh.

(And like. My resistance Durge loves Jaheira, she’s the parent he never had and she means the world to him post-canon, he follows her around like a lost puppy because ultimately he is one but I have to wonder if he would lie awake at night with the niggling thought that maybe what he has with Jaheira would not survive if he acted any other way. Plus the thought that Gortash knew him at his absolute worst, and loved him anyway. And maybe that wasn’t a GOOD thing, morally - a GOOD person shouldn’t have loved him like that, right? - but he loved him anyway. I don’t think my Durge would ever ever get over it. Especially with the fact that he can’t even remember 99% of their relationship. Gortash can’t ACTUALLY haunt Durge cause Bane is busy using his soul as a stress ball but in every metaphorical way. Durge is haunted.)

Tldr Gortash is the guy who says “just be yourself <3” and I think that’s beautiful

You know, you hit the nail on the head.

Of course it's not unreasonable to expect your friends and lovers to stipulate, that they will only love you as long as you don't go on a murderous rampage.

That's totally reasonable, that's normal, I agree with it on principle.

But. But.

As you said.

Gortash loved you even when you went on a murderous rampage.

I am obsessed with him, because he loved the dark urge without reservation, believing in their ability to control their urge, but also admiring their intelligence and their talents.

He knew what they were from the start, and he accepted it!

And he could still love them!

I just don't think anyone else in the entire goddamn game could say that!

And that's why I'm obsessed with Durgetash.

You get me.

It's about loving someone for who they are, and not what they are to you.

They were never just the Chosen of Bhaal, whom he must work with, not to him.

Never.

They were never the Bhaalspawn, the savage dark urge, the scourge of Faerun.

They were themselves. And he liked that.

Guys, he LIKED them.

#baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #dark urge #enver gortash #durgetash

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noctvrnal9999 · 3 months

Text

Got a private message asking me to comment on the whole Neil stream thing so I guess here goes. Excuse my thoughts, they are never coherent.

What I liked about the stream is not what Neil said, but what he didn't say. I'm not big on watching streams, his or anyone's, but I watched some and I noticed Neil is very very careful when discussing Astarion. If anyone is aware how deranged the fandom can get - it's definitely him. I saw him dance around the topic multiple times either in streams or in clips I've seen all over the internet. I highly respect him for that because unlike someone (cough cough) he's not telling people what to think or what narrative they should take for any reason. A true professional unlike someone (cough cough).

So while he addressed operatic vs theatrical and there's no arguing that he delivered it wonderfully, what we really have is Larian saying "yeah, AA is still same Astarion, just with his most awful traits amplified" and then we have Neil saying "oh yeah, the mask is off". And that's... extremely important. I said this in tags before - what Neil doesn't say, to me, is important as well. He doesn't tell that Spawn is maskless just as AA, he just... skips over it, emphasizing that AA is the complete mask-off version of Astarion. I'm not going to cling to this because this is just something I immediately noticed and might not have been intentional on Neil's part, but... I don't know, I personally think it was done for a reason.

Anyway.

But this is what I've been saying too. Astarion is a bad person from the very beginning. I got people insult me over this take, I got told I'm a horrible garbage person for this take. But I stand by it. And even without personal interpretation you have proof of that within the game. You have a very good-aligned character (Karlach) and Astarion is at the opposite end of that spectrum. Every other companion (sans Minthara) fall somewhere between the two.

What Ascension allows Astarion is not only to live his life fear-free - it allows him to be himself. As Spawn he's constantly acting. To either get protection or simply not to turn into a mind-flayer. And Tav can take the route of trying to convince him to be better and he starts aligning his views to Tav along the road but he's still the same person. Just going to say this - nobody changes this drastically in just couple of months without pretending (which is presumed timeline for entire BG3). And people don't immediately get all better from major mental trauma in 6 months only (just sayin').

Point I'm trying to get at is this - to me Neil confirmed what I have been saying all along - Spawn is coping and still lying. Because he has no choice but to adapt. Maybe he's not lashing out or yelling, but seeing the epilogue he came off to me as grieving for things he will never have.

And then we have Ascended - a fully unleashed Astarion, who's confident and not apologetic for being himself.

That is true Astarion.

Astarion who isn't guilt-tripped or chastised into needing to change, Astarion who does not need to listen to people telling him how he's awful, Astarion who can do as he pleases without needing to explain himself to either his master or houlier-than-thou Tav.

Astarion who he was always meant to be.

Because he's a vampire. There's a reason why vampires in every single media piece are portrayed as evil. As a Spawn he's evil, as a Vampire Lord he's just doing what vampires do best - gain power and exploit that power for his own benefit. He's not just some cute boytoy with fangs, he's a vampire and he will never not be a vampire in BG3 (you can headcanon whatever you want in what happens after but that's not relevant here).

Ascended Astarion is true Astarion not because it's one of the routes we can take and headcanon that way, but because he's a vampire, and as Vampire Lord he's his own man at last, not needing to rely on anyone or to be defended by anyone. He has power now, to be whoever he wants and be true to himself while he does it. Without the fear of judgement, without the fear of being discarded if he's "too much" or not "good enough".

And with Tav at his side - he has everything he ever wanted: vampiric power that has never been witnessed before and a beloved who vowed themselves to be by his side forever, giving him ultimate assurance that there's someone there for him and will be there for eternity.

#ascended astarion #my adhd is making every single post i make kinda jumbled but listen #i actually make good points imo it just takes me a bit to get there

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noroi1000 · 10 months

Text

Wall

Enemies to lovers with Gojo The previous one had a bug. I couldn't edit one part. Sorry. I'm sharing a second time.

"Don't you think you shouldn't be standing against the wall next to his office? You should come in here right now." White Hair said as he walked out of the door next to which you were standing.

"This wall does not belong to you. And I called to wait for you to open the door for me." You muttered with your hands in your pockets.

You couldn't give him the satisfaction that you needed something from him.

When he opens the door for you and invites you in, it means he wants something from you.

"So I couldn't go out at all. But feeling your energy behind the wall is a bit distracting," he said as he leaned against the doorframe. "It felt like you were stalking me."

"You're the one who stares at me every time I pass by or see me!" You groaned as you saw the smug smirk on his face.

"I can not look? That's what I have eyes for." He chuckled.

He really has no respect for anyone! Neither to the older nor to the younger!

Even to those of the same age as him!

"Soon your eyes will be smudged on this wall!"

"Scary, scary~." he hummed, not taking in what you were saying.

"Utahime was always right about you!"

"Then why do you keep coming to me and never refuse to work with me?"

"You've never done that either!"

"Do I see that (y/n)-chan is attached to me? Do you like me as a companion that much? Do you like enemies to lovers? If so, why don't you try to do something I like?"

"Enemies to lovers?! You're fucking crazy!"

"And you like crazy men like that, don't you?"

He was so annoying! Even though neither you nor he showed that you liked each other, he didn't act like he hated you!

He was joking! He did everything to piss you off! You already know how Utahime feels when he says that!

Ever since you remember him, he's been like this!

If you could, you would kill him!

However, at the same time when he's gone, you feel that it's not the same day...

Maybe you are now denying your hate feelings, however there is something about you that says you don't hate Gojo Satoru at all...

Or is it true?

Maybe you don't hate him?

It's hard to think about it and admit it...

But Gojo Satoru has been in your life forever and you've started getting used to him.

Even though you've been acting like enemies for years, you can't stop thinking about this clown...

When you see him, you think to look at him to know if it's him or someone else. Even though no one but him has white hair and a black blindfold all the time...

When you see him, you calm down strangely, and then you know you're home...

It wouldn't be the same without him...

Even though you've been like enemies for years, what you've been through together confuses you and your feelings...

Without Gojo Satoru, there simply wouldn't be such a life for you... It would be completely different from what it is...

Or are you really enemies to lovers?

NO! This can not be! You don't love him! He can only be a workmate! a collaborator!

There is nothing else between you!

And you are absolutely sure of it!

"How long will you stay like this? You know... My door is open..." he said sighing.

You looked at him and at his hand holding the door open.

You took a few steps towards him.

"I do not bite. When you enter this room, I won't kill you or anything. Therefore, go boldly. Besides, you love it when I annoy you."

"And you'll love it when I stick my fingers in your eye..."

"You don't have eyes like mine and you envy me... Poor (y/n)-chan..."

"Don't talk to me like that!" you screamed as he closed the door behind you.

Gojo Satoru has always been your enemy... Him and his damn jokes... He does everything to piss you off and embarrass you. You've been competing since high school...

And now it's so easy for you to believe that you were never enemies?

Haha... Free jokes...

The impossible remains impossible and cannot be changed.

Sometimes you come to him for no reason, pretending it's something important.

But it's just your body that leads you there, to him.

Even though you clearly want to show that you hate him... You can't resist the fact that you're drawn to him...

It's so unfair to your pride...

But your eyes wander as you pass each other.

You just can't live without each other... I guess that's an easy explanation.

Even though you've always been enemies, something blossomed between you because of your arguments.

"Same wall again, (y/n)-chan..." he muttered with his irritating grin as his forearm was placed next to your head on the wall.

"Don't talk to me like that..."

"Do you need to discuss an important matter again? Or do you want to have lunch with me again? As recently. You didn't share your food with me... But you still miss having me around, don't you?" He chuckled softly.

"I can't stand next to the wall at school anymore?" you asked with a winning smile.

He likes to annoy you so much... The way this man loves to get on your nerves is huge...

And you let him. And you will continue to let him.

Because you love that this man is so annoying and is next to you.

It started with you being enemies. And now it's your love/hate.

Even though you love to hate each other. And it perfectly shows how strong your bond is.

You love that Gojo Satoru is with you.

That's why you let him hold you on the corridor. Your back on wall, while he's kissing your lips.

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk x you #gojo satoru #gojo x y/n #jjk #gojo x reader #jjk x reader #gojo

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minihotdog · 5 months

Text

A Diamond in the Rough

Summary: The surviving recruits move on to graduation. While the other grads get to see their families for the first time in months, y/n stands alone.

a/n: *shrugs*

c/w: little to no proofreading

w/c: 5k

***

“What about him?” Laswell points to the photo of a blond young man. His face is stern, his buzzcut making him appear juvenile as his dark uniform contrasts with the blue, white, and red of the UK flag draped behind him.

Cpt. Price hums softly, examining the photo.

“He’s got grit. Talks too much for his own good.”

“Oh?” Laswell looks at the captain, waiting for him to clarify.

“Almost failed the interrogation. Can’t have that liability on the force, can we?”

“Absolutely not.” She nods in agreement.

Price crosses his arms, looking over Laswell’s shoulder as her fingers ghost over the various photos. All young and determined faces. When the occasion that he could look for new members came around he’d sometimes wonder what was said of him when his photo sat on the desks of the men who had forged him into the SAS. The young man he was before a new reality aged him, adding a new wrinkle with every deployment and mission. He’d had a fire burning inside him. It still burned even now, maybe brighter or hotter, but wielded skillfully with experience.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen her before.” Laswell pulls him from his thoughts to a photo of a young woman, her hair pulled into a tight, neat bun, her lips pulled into almost a straight line and her eyes appearing dazed as if she wasn’t fully present. Laswell’s eyebrows furrow as she looks at her companion.

“Ah, Y/N Y/L/N. The little shadow.” He laughs silently. “Didn’t like attention very much.”

“No one should like attention from the instructors,” Laswell states matter-of-factly.

“She’s smart, quick, passed physically and mentally.”

“Interrogation?”

“Passed.”

“So what’s her catch?” She stands up straight, now crossing her arms.

“Didn’t build rapport with other recruits. In a team, she disappears.”

“And alone?”

“Brilliant.”

“I think with a good mentor she could learn to play well with others, don’t you think?”

She slides the photo to the side, looking back with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m inclined to agree, but it won’t be easy. Can’t break something already broken down.”

“But you can teach.”

***

“... So once again, congratulations to all of you young men and women who stand before me today. Your strength and resilience sought you through til the end. You are the future and now protectors. Protectors of freedom and countless lives who, even unknowingly, look to you for your sacrifice and strength.” An applause erupts from the crowd watching over the dozen or so graduates standing stiff at attention.

“I hope you all celebrate with your families, who have waited eagerly these difficult six months to see what has become of their sons and daughters. Families may now approach their graduates.”

The open space was filled with footsteps, murmurs, and cries of happiness. Each graduate reuniting with their loved ones. Everyone had now begun scrambling off to celebrate.

Y/N now stood alone, still facing the podium. Quiet whispers came from the few that were still on the outskirts of the tarmac about the last standing graduate. “You can’t tap her out. It has to be family.” She hears a boy scold his parents.

The clouds that lingered overhead now turned a dark grey and a mist began to fall. At this point, if she walked off, no one would have tried to stop her in the name of tradition. Any passerby would feel too much pity to do so. But she continued to stand. Feeling the raindrops run down her face, masking her silent tears dropping just the same.

A figure appeared in her peripheral vision. His eyes continue facing forward, the point of focus lost in a blur. She made out an umbrella and camo fatigues. He continued on his path to her, stopping only a few feet away.

She’d seen the man before. He’d attended the training, watching over as the recruits were battered, covered in dirt, or even bloody. He was the bearded man, always donning a boonie hat, who she’d once caught looking at her as she clutched her bleeding nose after being placed against a recruit twice her size in what was supposed to be a friendly sparing match.

He plucked his cigar from his lips as he eyed her in such a pathetic state, still standing proudly, on the outside, at least.

“Y/L/N, your family couldn’t make it?” His low growly voice nearly gets drowned out as the rain falls harder.

“Don’t have one, sir.” Her voice almost croaks.

“S’that right?” He murmurs to himself, bringing his cigar to his lips. He glances away for a moment as he blows the smoke out of his lungs.

“Corporal, I’m Captain Price. I’ve been watching you for the last six months. Before you submitted your application, you earned a medal for identifying what could’ve been a crippling data leak. Which, inadvertently, protected me and my team.” He points at her with his now stubby cigar, “You’ve got potential. And I'm willing to bet on it. Join my task force.” His words came out more like an order rather than a proposal.

“Or what?”

“Or stand out here in the rain… You’ll have a family of your own in us. Your choice.”

Her eyes scan his face suspiciously. He senses her reluctance and his head tilts, a soft smile pulls at the corner of his lips.

“Alright, I’ll join you.”

His smile grows and his bushy mustache hides his upper lip. He steps closer, the umbrella now shielding you from the freezing rain.

“I hope you’re ready to do some real work.”

#John price #captain john price #captain price #kate laswell #laswell cod #cod fanfic #cod drabble #task force 141 #call of duty fanfic #myfic

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twst-drabbles · 11 months

Text

Ace and Deuce 6

Summary: Every so often, the little plant nymphs, sans Riddle, will get rid of their current bodies and sprout out a new one from the various seeds they’ve produced. This time, it was Ace and Deuce’s turn.

(Looooore for the plant nymphs. But also I just wanted to write about baby plant nymphs.)

You remember a long while back about starter pets for kids or expecting families to try on a number of websites. You weren’t looking into them, you were more trying to search for a university that was willing to accept you but you accidentally clicked on it. One of the very first results was the plant nymph.

Safe to say, that article, or tier list, annoyed you with how it framed plant nymphs as these miracle creatures that didn’t need that much care. To an extent, you kind of get why, since it’s more common to find solitary plant nymphs without a main flower to care for. Of course, people would look at them, be charmed by their generally passive nature and keep them as companions. But, much like dogs, they’re pack creatures that have social needs that need to be met.

And, if those needs aren’t met, they won’t be able to produce any seeds needed to refresh their bodies just in case. As such, plant nymphs are horribly framed as having a very short lifespan, much like the equally misunderstood goldfish.

You kind of hate remembering that, especially when you have a newly reborn Ace and Deuce on your palm.

They had almost no features to them, just smooth little green blobs with a head, body and stubby arms and legs. Such a soft and tender green made them look squishy, like if you threw them against the wall, they’d splat and reform like all those weirdly smelling rubber toys. Of course, that won’t happen, not with their hard seed armor shells protecting them, like a walnut sprout just starting to peek out. Made for a very adorable outfit because it was just too big and heavy.

“Careful there,” you kept your tone low as you pressed your thumb against Ace to keep him balanced. A new body meant new hearing, and you don’t want to overwhelm. “Can’t have you falling off my hand.”

To the untrained eye, these two looked the same, but to yours, you can tell. Despite their similarly colored selves, with on eye fully shut as they’re too young to bloom their flowers, their other dewdrop eye had a color you’re familiar with. They were so small, a little bigger than your thumb nail.

“I’ll get the nursery ready,” you said, just to warn them that you’re going to move. Ace made a squeaking protest, and Deuce was right along there with him, but by the nodding of both their heads you can tell they’re very tuckered out from bursting through their seed walls. “Oh quiet there, your bodies are vulnerable and you need it.”

Plant nymphs really have no trouble discarding their current bodies for the sake of a new one, so long as there are plentiful seeds to spare. Ace and Deuce liked to keep themselves new and fresh, and it shows in how many childish antics they all get into. Riddle could certainly also refresh his own body if needed, but it seems they all hold this collective pride on keeping his body as perfectly well kept as possible.

The cultures of these nymphs really does fascinate you sometimes.

Because Deuce’s feet barely reached past his seed clothing, he rolled forward like a ball the minute he stopped standing straight. His round bald head met your palm and you snorted.

“I’m never going to get used to this.” This stage never lasts long but it’s enjoyable every time.

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst-drabbles #twst-drabbles exclusive #drabble #heartslabyul #ace #ace trappola #deuce #deuce spade #house pet au #reader insert

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ravenelyx · 1 year

Text

I love you in every timeline - Chapter 2: One Hundred Years of Solitude

← Prologue

← Chapter 1

→ Chapter 3

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x Fem!Reader

Words: 10.5k

Chapter Warnings: angst, Harry Potter characters appearance, no name usage for reader (not even y/n dw), use of 2nd person though bc it makes sense for the story - trust me, Sebastian is veery confused and veeery jealous but he found a friend in this madness, veeeeery slow burn

Summary: "He smiled as he sat down next to the blonde girl, ignoring the giddy feeling in his stomach as you watched his every move. He also might have accidentally sat right opposite of you.". In which Sebastian, in his search for a cure in the Dark Arts, finds himself 100 years into the future and meets his most trusted companion's descendant (who looks far too similar to the girl he was once secretly in love with).

A/N: I deeply apologise for the late update. I wanted to use this Chapter to expand a bit over his life at Hogwarts and other relationships, other than, yk, the rrrrromance. Anyway, Daphne is my crush.

You can find the whole fanfiction here on ao3

"Intrigued by that enigma, he dug so deeply into her sentiments that in search of interest he found love, because by trying to make her love him he ended up falling in love with her." - Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude

The Great Hall was almost empty when he entered it, as most of the students had already gone to class. Since he had a free period before Charms, Sebastian decided to allow himself more sleep than usual.

Not that it had been any useful.

He felt exhausted, dragging himself to the nearest seat at his House table and resting his head on the cold wood. There was hardly anything left, and he was more than happy to just munch on a cold pancake and drink a glass of pumpkin juice, enough to sustain him for at least a few hours, although barely.

Perhaps it was the sight of the Hall, empty and familiar, perhaps it was the enchanted ceiling shining sunny rays on the Slytherin table, perhaps it was the unsatisfactory breakfast after an unsatisfactory dinner, but for a split second, Sebastian was at home.

It was a sour feeling, like his pumpkin juice had spoiled and his pancake had grown mould in his hands, yet he couldn't stop feasting on it, searching for a piece he could savour, if only once. That, he realised, was the beginning of his destruction.

Memories of the previous day's conversation came flooding back and he groaned, the weight in his chest growing heavier, and the pancake suddenly seemed even less appetising as he dropped it onto the plate.

'Everything is clearer in the morning', Dumbledore had said.

Perhaps he should lend me his glasses, Sebastian thought.

Fortunately, the headache had subsided since the conversation, and although his sleep hadn't been as satisfying as he'd hoped, he felt a little better than he had a few hours ago. Maybe it was the pumpkin juice.

He shoved the pancake back in his mouth, almost choking on it, and rubbed his eyes before standing up. From his table, a few Slytherins turned their heads towards him, and he recognised a few of his peers among them: a brown-haired boy was waving a wand around with a devil-may-care attitude while a blonde girl tried to snatch it out of his hands. None of them seemed in a rush to leave, which almost made Sebastian think he had read his timetable wrong.

He checked again for good measure and he was glad to know he was absolutely right. He then thought he might have been mistaken about the students: they either weren't in the same year as him as he had previously thought or they were waiting for the perfect moment to be fashionably late.

Sebastian, for all his self-respect and gallantry, had little time to be fashionable.

Leaving the students be — and ignoring their eyes on him as soon as he turned towards the door — he headed off to class, ready to begin lessons in a new, unfamiliar environment.

It felt bloody ironic to think that after five years.

If anything, the hallways were deserted and the cracking fire of the torches put him at ease, and that was a pretty huge step up. The walk to Classroom 2E was almost refreshing, and for once, he didn’t lament the stairs. The same couldn’t be said for the screeching laugh of a certain Slytherin girl as soon as she saw him wander around.

“Lost, new fifth-year?” laughed Pansy Parkinson, then she turned to her right as if expecting someone to pat her back.

If her goal was to discomfit him, she might need to review her bullying strategies.

“You’re not still crying because of what happened yesterday, are you?” retorted Sebastian, only stopping briefly to look at her before resuming his walk.

“I could give you detention,” she shrieked.

“That would delight me.”

Pansy Parkinson didn’t follow him, for which he was delightfully glad. Not that it would matter that much: he’d see her in class anyway — probably fleering at him with newfound energy once she had his beau beside her.

A perfect pureblood pair, he almost wanted to throw up.

The classroom hadn’t changed an inch, so much that Sebastian almost expected Professor Ronen to parade down the stairs with his purple robes and terrible jokes. Instead, what waited for him was a short man standing on a pile of books, swinging from left to right on his tiny legs. He was waving his wand around, blank scrolls of parchments depositing themselves on each desk while a whole new bunch of them floated around his head.

“Oh! Come! Come!” he shrieked as soon as he saw Sebastian, gesturing for him to approach his desk. “Have your classmates met you yet? Oh, I’m sure they have! You seem like a nice, friendly bloke!”

Sebastian wasn’t sure if the words “nice” and “friendly” suited him, actually, but he gave the professor a smile nonetheless.

“I’d told Dumbledore he ought-a make a proper introduction! I can’t imagine how odd it must have been for you — and especially in such circumstances,” he whispered the last part, and Sebastian felt his smile falter and his heart drop pathetically to his stomach. That is something that adults do, where in all their experience and emotional maturity they always fail to consider their younger interlocutors' perspective, and Sebastian really wanted to snap at the small man and make him understand that he didn’t exactly feel the need to be reminded of his situation all the time.

The man seemed to notice, too (and what miracle, Sebastian thought), and he brought his hands to his mouth, capping it shut like he had just revealed a big secret. “Sorry,” he muffled, “I ought-a be more sensible.”

Unwinding his hands, he finally addressed the rest of the students, motioning Sebastian to turn towards them.

To say his introduction was embarrassing would have been too kind a compliment.

He stayed still like a statue, almost hoping that the less he moved, the less visible he was. The professor did the honours, and Sebastian had to fight the urge to take out his wand and blast Draco Malfoy and his gang to Merlin’s grave as they snickered.

“You may go and sit next to Miss Davis.” The small man lightly patted his back to direct him towards the desk. “I’m Professor Filius Flitwick — you can come and find me for any doubts, my office is open at every hour!”

“Every hour indeed,” whispered Miss Davis as soon as Sebastian sat down. “He might even give you cupcakes if you look distressed enough!”

Sebastian thought that Professor Flitwick might have to step up his baking game, as far as distress goes.

Charms class had paid off, and Sebastian felt better, more like himself, than he had in the past twenty-four hours. Flitwick was a little eccentric, but a very knowledgeable and capable Charms master, other than a lenient Professor by Hogwarts standards — he didn't even give extra assignments to those who were late.

Miss Davis — or Tracey, as Sebastian learnt — had been very helpful. She shared her book with him and lent him her notes. Sebastian realised there were quite a few things that he had never heard of, fruit of many decades of research and discovery.

On the whole, he believed he was content enough and ready for his next class. Sebastian felt at ease in an almost confounding way: and he was sure he'd become jittery soon enough, yet a new found purpose — if only for a short time — invigorated his spirit. If he focused on school, he'd fill his brain enough not to think about anything else. That was ideal.

"What do you think, mate?"

A Slytherin boy approached him, slinging his bag on his shoulder, and Sebastian jumped a little, surprised by the sudden voice. He recognised him as the boy in the Great Hall, with the messy brown hair and the long face, but his blonde friend was nowhere to be found.

"What?" asked Sebastian, slowing down to allow him to approach.

The boy smiled reassuringly. "Flitwick. That was your first Charms class in Hogwarts, was it not?"

Sebastian had to bite his tongue at that, willing Professor Ronen’s jovial face to disappear from his mind. “Indeed it was…”

“So?”

So…

Sebastian tried not to make a comparison, but a wall of pros and cons was already manifesting in the window on his mind, served with just a tad of cognitive bias.

"Oh, it was good. He's a bit eccentric isn't he?" said Sebastian tentatively.

"Yeah, but he's all right. We thought he was part elf for the longest time but we never dared to ask."

Sebastian smirked, remembering the professor’s squeaky voice and the books he had to stand on. He was almost bizzarre, when he moved his wand around: like a toy hit by a Transfiguration spell that jumped around as if alive. "I thought he was a bit… short."

"Yeah. Apparently he's part Goblin instead, but heh, same thing," said the boy nonchalantly and walked past him.

Sebastian faltered, stilling in place as if someone had poured concrete on his shoes. Just as a cracked mirror, the toy decayed on the wooden floor, moulded by years of humidity and abandon.

He thought he had grown even slightly accustomed to the changes — to the people wandering around him, the classmates treating him like a foreigner, the professors having to hide him under carefully practised smiles and braided hands on their mouths — and yet, the mere idea that his own professor had goblin ancestry was tearing him apart like nothing before.

He knew that Goblins weren't the ones that cursed Anne (his friend had told him that, after all), and he knew, logically and maturely, that just because a few of them were bad didn't mean all of them were, but he still felt a little flame of anger — and prejudice — light up inside him, along with scattered guilt for his own thoughts and the memory of Feldcroft's events.

Sebastian wanted to forget the past, and yet it kept following him, even through space and time, and he couldn’t help but think about that goblin slitting his own throat at his wishes, and intrusively imagine Flitwick being in his place.

He really tried to ignore it, for his own good. Flitwick was a good teacher, a skilled wizard even: his ancestry had nothing to do with it — or him. He hoped that he wouldn’t need more time to warm up to the Charms professor after hearing the new information.

But he knew he did.

“What’s that face, new student?” came Draco Malfoy’s provoking snicker, followed by his group’s. “Was this little class so hard it made you realise how dense you are?”

“I'd worry more about your failed Colour Change Charm today. Need help with that?”

Draco Malfoy shut up immediately.

Upon leaving the classroom, Sebastian read his timetable again and saw that he had three free periods before Care of Magical Creatures. He groaned in displeasure and then cringed at himself: he was probably the only student in the whole world who wanted to actively study at the moment. He sighed and simply decided to spend his free time in the Library to try to catch up on what he had missed.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

"Could you direct me to the books involving the events of the last century?" Sebastian asked the librarian as soon as he entered the room, and she eyed him suspiciously before handing him his library card and pointing him in the right direction.

Not much had changed in the Library, so much that Sebastian was still able to pronounce every book by memory as his eyes skimmed over the covers. He walked through the Library like it was home, his chest caving with a soft buzz of comfort and excitement. Sebastian thought he might cry on the spot if he didn't have so many curious eyes on him.

There was, of course, a new section with books he had never read before: books of the new century, and, wistfully, the books he was searching for. Whilst the new shelves broke that bell jar of naiveté gradually forming around him as part of him still clung to the past, an excited grin broke onto his face nonetheless; he had always prided himself on having read every book in the room — except for the Restricted Section — and the idea of absorbing even more knowledge was almost invigorating enough to brighten up his day. He was his parents' son after all.

Madam Pince stared at him from across the room, her neck moving to watch his actions in a way that eerily resembled a rattlesnake as he grabbed as many books as he could carry in his arms before placing them on the nearest desk where another Slytherin girl sat. She looked at him suspiciously, with a playful hint in her eyes.

"Busy, aren't we? I almost took you for a Ravenclaw,” she said jauntily, then glanced back down at her book, a copy of Intermediate Transfiguration, and unwrapped a parchment scroll beside it, pushing a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear so it wouldn't fall in her face.

Whether the girl intended it as a compliment or not, he allowed it to go over his head: her teasing had already stepped foot into his boundaries, but Sebastian felt like the bell jar was too broken to stop it, and he let it be.

"I've a lot of catching up to do," he sighed as he took a seat in front of her, opened the first book on the list — A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot — and read the table of contents, frowning when he noticed the book didn't get past the 19th century. What surprised him the most was that this was, technically, the assigned book for the year. Was the history of the past century so useless and uneventful it didn't deserve to be shed light on?

The girl raised her head and looked at him as he focused on the words in front of him. "Oh, right. You're the new student everyone's talking about, aren't you?"

That was not exactly on his list of yearly accomplishments.

Sure, he was the best duelist in Crossed Wands (second best, he suddenly reminded himself) and his duels were the talk of the school for days after they happened, and especially if they involved her.

But that was good talk. The kind of talk that makes people know you as talented and dashing and charming (and a loser sometimes, but only because she was better: and if she was better, he didn't care), not the kind that depicted you as the boorish and lonely new student who didn't even deserve a formal introduction and had a fight with two Prefects on his first day. That was the bad talk: the talk he wouldn't wish upon his worst enemy (or perhaps only to those like Duncan Hobhouse, because he was a boorish and a loner and his formal introduction should spare everyone present. But that was Duncan.)

"Everyone?" he asked then, rhetorically and with a strange need to eat those words back up and become that boorish loner, too.

"Well, it's quite an unusual occurrence. People are curious."

Curious wasn’t exactly what Sebastian needed at the moment, yet Hogwarts was, after all, a bracket of adolescents waiting to feast and find something else to worry about than their potions essay.

"Fair enough," he said, folding the book shut and putting it aside, deeming it useless for his research. "I'm Sebastian Sallow."

"Daphne Greengrass. Pleased to meet you." She extended her arm towards him over the table, her palm open and waiting, and he faltered for a moment at her boldness before repeating her movements. Her grip on his hand was firm and confident as she shook it. Sebastian studied her face more closely, a feeling of familiarity lingering on the back of his mind.

"Are we in the same year?" he asked, almost feeling the gears turning in his brain as he tried to recall her face.

"You're observant," she replied sarcastically. "Yeah, I was actually sitting behind you in Charms just now. Next to Pansy?"

Like an epiphany. He remembered the blonde girl at breakfast. She was one of the few students who arrived late to Charms class.

Then his brain focused on the name she said, and his eye twitched. "Don't tell me you're friends with her."

"I wouldn't say 'friends'; she can be rude sometimes."

Sebastian had a word in mind that perfectly described his combination of “rude” and “Pansy Parkinson”, but decided not to say it. He just rolled his eyes and Daphne smiled. "Really, most of the time she's all right. Quite nice even — but only if you're a pureblood. I'm actually surprised she's never thought of me as a blood traitor, considering the stances of my family, but I suppose there's a clear line between support and neutrality, and we haven't crossed it yet."

As if neutering any possible debate, she began scribbling on her parchment what seemed to be the beginning of an essay.

Sebastian felt like the line between neutrality and supremacy was much more blurred instead.

"Delightful," said Sebastian simply, picking up the nearest book and beginning to read it as they fell into a comfortable silence.

The books felt like a balm and a curse, redolent of pretty much every emotional experience Sebastian had lived through in the past day.

After about an hour, he put the books back, having flicked through them all, and had just begun to let his eyes wander over the shelf in search of a new one when he heard shuffling behind him.

Daphne had put her books away and was frowning at him. "It's nearly lunchtime, I'm heading to the Great Hall. D'you want to come?"

Sebastian paused for a moment, looking around and noticing how the Library was emptying by the minute. "Uh, sure. I didn't realise it was that late." And he found himself following Daphne outside, striking a conversation on the way and feeling a little lighter.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

The sun was still as hot as ever as he followed his fellow Slytherins to his Care of Magical Creatures class a few hours later. Draco Malfoy led the group, snickering along with Pansy Parkinson and the two big students about some second-year Hufflepuff they took points from. Sebastian rolled his eyes so hard he could have sworn he saw the back of his own head.

When Malfoy's blonde hair disappeared from his field of vision, he almost rolled them again when he recognised the familiar robes of his Gryffindor classmates.

Gryffindor could only mean one thing: You.

He frantically looked around for your familiar silhouette and breathed a sigh of relief when he found nothing. You hadn't mentioned any elective other than Divination to him — apart from your obvious dislike of Arithmancy — so perhaps, by some benevolent Supreme Being, you hadn't chosen that course, and he would have to see you even less.

His solace was short-lived, because after only a few seconds he heard hurried footsteps behind him. Sebastian turned and saw you walking towards him, followed by the two Prefects and the boy with glasses. Just like that, dread washed over him like magma, and he was sure his vision had lost focus for a moment — his body shrivelled at your presence, like you had touched him and burned his skin to the bone and no amount of Wiggenweld could fix it.

He grimaced (and he thought that the fact that he managed to contain his face to a simple grimace was noteworthy) as you approached and mentally prepared himself to start a conversation with you — because of course you would talk to him: you had done it every time you had met the day before.

It was logical, like Ominis being angry at him for no reason, or Anne taking his hands in hers when they met.

(But that logic can break, and he knew it all too well.)

It's not that he didn't like talking to you — he did: far too much, in fact — but he had made a promise to himself and was willing to keep it. He had already regretted telling you about the Undercroft, and he had felt incredibly embarrassed that morning when he had remembered your conversation.

‘I suppose I had no other choice,' his mind played it over and over mockingly, taunting him like a broken cuckoo clock in an old lady's house — and he has seen an awful lot of them in his time living in the countryside — or like one of those school kids he wanted to strangle when he was young, singing off-key doggerels at the bare mention of a girl's name.

You flashed him a smile and gave him a quick wave, and the corners of his mouth lifted against his will. He sounded himself leaning towards you, ready to strike up a conversation when you would inevitably stop beside him. After all, you had followed him the night before when he left the Great Hall, hadn't you?

And so he spoke, "Hi—"

"Neville? How did you get here so fast?" you said at the same time, shifting your wide eyes towards the Gryffindor group. You practically dashed past him, rushing towards another Gryffindor boy standing just a few feet away from him, and Sebastian was left there, his greeting hanging in the air unanswered. "We literally just left the greenhouse, did you sprint here or what?" He heard you laugh.

"Hello, Sebastian," said Hermione, as Ron and Harry gave him a nod of acknowledgement, with polite smiles on their faces. The three of them joined you and Neville, along with the rest of the Gryffindors, and Sebastian sighed, a heavy feeling in his chest and pure shame seeping through his veins. He thought he had physically heard his stomach bounce like a poorly knitted pillow, and the more his mind replayed the scene, the more it unbounded until all that was left was a poorly looped slip knot.

"Well, that was awkward." Daphne was right next to him again and had witnessed the whole interaction. Sebastian's eye twitched.

"What was?" He decided to play dumb, already knowing he'd be unsuccessful as his gloomy expression was more than enough for a tell.

"'Hi." She taunted him with an exaggerated dreamy sigh, and he bit the inside of his cheek in annoyance as another step forward in that boundary almost felt like a kick in the shins.

"I did not sound like that."

"You sounded exactly like that," she smirked. "You almost threw yourself in front of her, too."

"I did not," he protested weakly, looking at the ground to measure his position and see if Daphne was actually right.

She was.

"I beg to differ. What's with the few steps you took forward then?"

Sebastian was properly blushing now, and as the girl giggled, he felt like a wet Puffskein in a camp of Poachers. He frantically looked around to ensure no one was looking his way, and no one was, yet he still felt as if their eyes were just barely waiting to peel the skin off his bones as languidly as a blink. He took a step back as if it could undo his actions.

"Don't tell me you've already got a crush,” Daphne continued, either unaware or uncaring of Sebastian's feelings. “You've been here — what, a day? I mean, I get it. She is gorgeous; I'm sure many guys and girls would agree, but that's a record."

"I don't have a crush," he said through gritted teeth, arms tightening around his midriff as he crossed them to his chest protectively, yet at the sceptical look on his newfound friend's face, which seemed to reach parts of him that felt a bit too personal — specifically the alcove between his ribcage and heart — he snapped. "I don't! She just reminds me of someone else I knew. It's not her I... It's just not like that, all right?"

A few heads turned to him, startled by his outburst, and he chewed on his cheek to calm down. He did not need further attention.

He opened his hands and caressed the palm over his arms, as if smoothing the skin down.

The girl stared as well, and Sebastian was pleased to see her bite her lip as if regretting her words. "Wow, all right, I get it." She took a few steps to stand right beside him, trying to appear unfazed by his tone, and faced the Professor, whispering: "So, it's like a 'fill-in crush'?"

Not again.

Sebastian sighed heavily, like it could remove the huge weight of her words crushing his lungs. "A what?"

"You're attracted to her because she’s, in a way, similar to your other crush," said Daphne matter-of-factly, nodding in satisfaction at her own statement.

His blush spread, and he had to close his eyes to bask in that bell jar again, if only for a little.

"I wouldn't say 'attracted'," he muttered, but Daphne only raised her eyebrows knowingly, and he found himself yielding like a fool. "Well, yes... probably."

For some reason, the admission didn't actually crush his lungs as he had expected.

(He then thought the sigh had actually been responsible for that: let's give credit where credit is due.)

"Mm..." Daphne seemed lost in thought for a while. "Well, the only advice I can give you is to sort out your feelings."

Feelings. Those weren't feelings. They were a trick: a traitorous, disgusting trick of his brain that made him want to throw up.

"There are no feelings to sort out. I don't feel anything for her." Sebastian averted his eyes. "Nothing real, at least," he mumbled the last bit, turning his head away from the blonde girl. It was a terrible large word for such a small muscle.

"Well, that's great, for now. But if you do at some point — or if you two become friends in the future — really put some thought into it. After all, you can't rule the heart." She winked at him as Professor Grubbly Plank began her lesson.

You can't rule the heart. Sebastian knew this all too well and yet seriously wished he could. Especially at that moment.

"Was your crush unrequited?" Daphne added musingly as she got her book out of her bag, and his breath caught in his throat. He had, for a moment, settled down in that peaceful certainty that was a closed conversation.

Logic was broken again.

"Why... Why is that so important?" he asked, reproaching himself for his ridiculous stutter.

"It must have been if your brain is looking for a replacement."

“I do nothing of the sort,” he spat defensively, as if Daphne’s words had moved past that alcove and directly touched his nerves. He turned to glare at her, but she just shrugged and acquiesced to his words without arguing. That unbalanced him, like missing a step and feeling the void under your stomach.

Under normal circumstances, he would have been deeply offended by the girl’s assumptions, yet for some reason, he was relieved by her utter lack of judgement about his insane situation.

“All right, I’m just saying. Be careful," she resigned and proudly showed him her assignment sketch of a Bowtruckle, as if the conversation had never happened. Despite everything, he snorted at the sight.

“I’m impressed. It looks almost different from a twig,” he said, pointing at its head, and she slapped his arm with her book.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

The day had gone better than he had imagined, and the next day started just as well, only with a bigger breakfast. This time, both Daphne and Tracey sat next to him, and that mere action made him feel normal again. (And there were no dry pancakes this time, Sebastian noted happily)

Ron and Hermione had stopped him right after he left the Great Hall to give him his textbooks for the day.

“McGonagall asked us to get these for you. They’re a bit worn down, but they will do. I hope.” Hermione had said.

Transfiguration class went by quite smoothly, and McGonagall was more of a capable teacher than he was willing to admit. He grinned in victory when he was the only one to have Vanished his mice completely by the end of the lesson.

“Oh, come on. You can’t be serious.” Daphne complained, holding up a slithery mouse tail. “There’s no way you managed to do that before me. Beginner’s luck,” she sulked.

“Next time, you should start from the tail,” he snickered proudly.

“Next time, I’ll Vanish your mouth, Sallow.”

After that came two whole hours of Potions, and Sebastian was curious if the rumours about Snape being strict and — quote — a bully were true (the rumours being Ron Weasley).

He entered the class, careful to keep an eye on you, just in case you had the bright idea to sit next to him, and basically sprinted to one of the square tables that already seemed too crowded for you to attempt to follow him.

Unfortunately, his planning was as bad as ever because he ended up banging his hands on the table to avoid crashing into it, inhaling some of the dust and erupting into a coughing fit that momentarily broke his focus. When he noticed the bright red hem of your uniform right next to him, it was already too late.

"’Morning," you smiled politely at him, and he forced himself to smile back, certain that he could not have mustered a better expression than one that said, 'I'm going to puke.'

To be fair: the dungeons were quite humid, and that, mixed with the various strong smells of potions and ingredients — and the dust still lingering at the back of his mouth — was not helping.

“‘Morning,” he said, making his voice as clear as the ceiling of the Great Hall. The thought of being mocked by Daphne Greengrass again surpassed any social etiquette in the proper tone to use. You, however, seemed totally unfazed.

He assumed that being around blaring Gryffindors every day must have attuned your ears to withstand ultrasounds by now.

“How was your first day? I forgot to ask yesterday.”

Yeah, you walked right past me. Did you remember that, at least? he almost said.

“Not bad at all. I had only three classes, though,” he shrugged nonchalantly. The fact that you didn't even stop to talk to him and ask how he was doing was not bothering him.

Maybe it was mildly upsetting, like waiting all day to explore the Highlands and then being stopped by a sudden rain.

Perhaps just a little annoying, like receiving an A instead of an E on an essay one had worked on for days.

But not bothersome. That would mean he cared, and he didn't.

You nodded and began setting your ingredients on the table. “What about today?”

He had to force himself not to care then. Force himself to suppress the sudden, prideful fluttering in his chest. He decided he was going to check the dorms that night: there were definitely a few moths or flies nestling around that he had accidentally swallowed while sleeping.

"McGonagall, first two periods."

You gave him a sweet smile that made his stomach tighten, and before he could stop himself, the moths fluttered and he blurted out, "I was actually the only one to master the Vanishing Spell today."

You seemed to be caught off guard, and he saw Daphne stifle a laugh out of the corner of his eye. For a moment, he didn't quite grasp what he did wrong. Then, like a cannonball he felt his cheeks warm up, as if his body had caught up before his brain.

Because he had just shamelessly bragged about himself like a first-year learning the Levitation Charm for the first time.

"Cool." Your voice was about an octave higher as you nodded at him, unsure how to respond to his statement. He bit the inside of his cheek, and wished the Giant Squid would burst through the window and snatch him away to make him its lunch. He definitely needed to check the dorms.

"W-what about you?" he asked instead, knowing that not even the Squid would show him mercy at this point.

(He suspected it would laugh at him, too.)

“Two free periods. I caught up on homework a bit.” You shrugged off your robe and neatly placed it with the others in a corner of the classroom closest to your worktable. “Hogwarts Professors do love an essay, don’t they? Feels like I haven’t stopped writing since the year started. It wouldn’t have surprised me if they asked us to write one right on the train.”

He grinned. “Seems like I have a lot to catch up on.”

“If you’re lucky, they’re going to spare you. I can’t believe I still need to work on my essay on Gillyweed; I thought I might spend the evening—”

Just like that, a tall Gryffindor boy came sitting on your right, and Sebastian watched as you faltered, pausing your hand mid-air. You were holding a handkerchief in which you had wrapped your Erumpent tongue: It never made it to the table's surface.

“Hi,” said the boy politely, flashing you a smile that you returned immediately.

“Hi,” you breathlessly replied, finally setting the wrap down and wiping your hands on your cardigan, taking a deep breath. Sebastian waited for you to continue your sentence, but it seemed like your conversation with the Slytherin was the last thing on your mind at that moment.

“Is this seat taken?”

What happened later felt more like a warm rush to his forehead, which quietly manifested into a frown. Why was he bothering asking if he had already put his stuff down?

But you didn’t seem to notice.

“Not at all — you can have it.” You stuttered a bit.

He watched this whole interaction with his mouth open, noticing the small smile dancing on your lips as you stole glances at the boy, and he did the same. They said looks could kill, and those gazes felt indeed like tiny stabbings all over his skin.

He met Daphne’s gaze, and she gave him a knowing look, hiding a smirk. His jaw set, and he mouthed, “Don’t start.”

“Today, you will be brewing the Babbling Beverage,” Snape said, forcing Sebastian to look away from the pathetic and horrifying scene next to him. “It’s fairly easy to grasp and should be a piece of cake for students who are supposed to be at Ordinary Wizarding Level, but I’m sure even then, some of you will encounter difficulties if so to speak.” He shot Neville a smug glance, and the boy seemed to shrink into himself. Malfoy snickered.

“Instructions are on the blackboard. You may begin.”

He saw you take out your textbook and search in your bag for — something you probably didn’t find. Groaning, you took out your quill and ink and began scribbling the instructions on the book, crossing ingredients and numbers, adding arrows and switching passages. That took you a whole five minutes before you closed your book and got to work.

He added Alihotsy leaves as his water simmered, and you did the same after a few minutes, glancing at what seemed to be a watch. The leaves had to stew in water for twenty minutes, so he got closer to you out of curiosity.

“Is that a watch on your wrist?” he asked, leaning over your shoulder as you were reading the time. It was worn and a little chipped on the sides, the hands wavering between seconds passing.

“It’s a wristwatch. Do wizards not use them?”

Wizards definitely used watches (he himself carried a pocket watch at all times), but he had never seen them worn as a bracelet.

“It looks fancy.”

You snickered. “Nothing fancy about it. I actually bought it for a cheap price."

That would explain the painfully slow pace of the hands.

"I can see it's barely moving at all," he smirked.

"I know," you stifled a small chuckle. "You could say it’s dying on my watch.”

Sebastian paused then, with a quiet buzz in his brain. There was a moment of realisation on his part before he found himself snorting, insides twisting and cringing at your terrible joke.

And the best part (the absolutely amazing part of it all) was that he would have had the same idea had he been in your place. A lousy, dreadful pun that would make anyone's chest shrivel in embarrassment. And yet he loved it.

"Merlin, that was awful!" He tried to hide the absolute joy on his face. Anyone else — Ominis, Anne, her — would either dismiss or ignore him when he made jokes like that, and rarely laugh. And there you were. It was you saying it, and it was you laughing at it. And it was him feeling warm all over again.

So different. How could you be so different?

"And yet you laughed. That says more about you than it does about me."

It did indeed say a lot about him, Sebastian acquiesced to that, and yet when you turned to smile at him, he froze. And if he hadn't caught a glimpse of your clock, still feebly moving, he would have thought time had too.

Sebastian hadn't realised how close the two of you actually were. He hadn't realised if it happened when he leaned to look at the watch. Or if he got even closer as he laughed.

His vision blurred for a second and his delusional, twisted mind screamed at him to lean in, and lean in, and lean in, because it was her, after all. He could just do it, just to put an end to those fluttering feelings that have been eating at him for months.

And he did. Just a little, enough to feel your breath touch the side of his face. Enough to notice the stray thread coming loose from the shoulder of your cardigan. Enough to notice every fleck of colour in your eyes.

Your eyes.

So different.

It wasn't her.

The rational part of his brain tightened the reins of his body, stopping him immediately like an abrupt braking, and he took a step back, almost stumbling backwards, heart hammering in his chest.

If you were her, you wouldn't have made a joke like that. It just wasn't her personality, he reasoned.

And yet, he wished it was. He wished he could mould the two of you together and keep you both with him. Then he forced himself out of his fantasy: the last thing he needed was to lose his grip on reality more than he had on his own life.

He decided to just sort out his ingredients while he waited, trying to stop the blush from spreading across his face.

He didn't look back at you to see your expression.

"Well, it could have been better." He eyed his potion gloomily. It was dark pink and definitely didn't smell like bubblegum, as it should have, not like yours. He glanced at your cauldron, which was filled with bright red liquid: a perfect job. His shoulders slumped.

“Mm, not bad,” said Daphne as soon as she was beside him. “You were supposed to stir five times before adding Leech Juice, not six.”

“I got distracted," he muttered, sending you a glance. You had asked the other boy — whose name was ‘Dean’ as he heard you say more times than he can count (you had only said his name twice, but it was twice too much for Sebastian’s taste) — to grab you a pair of Billywig stings that were drying in a basket beside him and that you couldn’t reach yourself. You could’ve asked him. He had some spare stings as well — maybe not as many as Dean, he admitted, but enough for both of you.

“Right, right, by your ‘not-crush’ and her… ‘yes-crush’?”

“She doesn’t have a crush.”

“Right, she doesn’t. And it’s definitely not requited either,” Daphne remarked sarcastically, looking at you and the boy chatting merrily. Sebastian thought he might throw up in his cauldron and create a whole different brew altogether.

“Just because they’re chatting doesn’t mean there are romantic feelings involved.” He stirred the potion again in frustration, and the mixture turned purple. He cringed. Thank Merlin, he had already filled a phial to hand Professor Snape.

“Come on, I’ve been in this school longer than you, and everyone knows something is going on between her and Thomas. They’ve been at it since last year.”

“She called him ‘Dean’ before.” He frowned, his stomach churning painfully. Maybe you hadn’t asked him for his Billywig stings because he had eaten them without realising.

“Yes, Dean Thomas,” the blonde rolled her eyes. “You should’ve seen the look on his face when you got close to her to ‘look at her watch’.”

“I was really looking at the watch.”

“Yeah, well. It was priceless either way.”

He felt a wave of pride strike from inside him, but he forced it back down almost immediately. Sebastian wasn’t here to date, and if you and Dean Thomas had something going on, then so be it. He didn’t care, anyway. He didn’t care that you had just lightly punched the boy’s arm, laughing at something he had said (Was he that funny?), or that he had asked you if you could study together this evening (So graceful), or that you had said ‘Yes’ and he had told you to meet him in the Library (That was his brand).

Sebastian had promised himself to stay away from you, and that’s exactly what he was planning to do.

But he had also promised himself to catch up on his studies, so how bad could it be if he ‘followed’ you there?

And the Library was a public place, open to any student, so how bad could it be if he accidentally sat near your table? Or at it?

“Please, don’t.” Daphne’s voice brought him back.

“Don’t what?”

“Follow her to the Library tonight. That would be pathetic. And stop staring , it’s creepy.”

Sebastian just wanted Daphne to stop walking around him and hitting all the right spots. Was she a Legilimens or what?

“I—I wasn’t planning to.” His face flushed with his lie, and he sighed deeply again. “I just... I mean, I need to study too. And I wasn’t staring.”

Daphne sighed, dropping the subject. He suspected she thought it was no use arguing with him. He was actually glad for that reasoning.

"Come on. We still have another hour to go through. Try to pay attention.” She said tiredly.

You had left the class with the Gryffindor that day, leaving Sebastian absolutely fuming like his messed up potion he had half a mind to dump into Dean's morning pumpkin juice.

[Read more]

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