#they were mad i took all the eggs yesterday

[luveline]

kbd steve and r dealing with two of the girls holding a grudge/fighting and helping them make up 🥹🥹🥹

kbd —mom!reader and dad!steve attempt to get their girls to forgive each other

“I thought they’d just forget,” you whisper. 

Steve looks over your shoulder, hand on your waist, the smell of hot butter bubbling on the stove like an itch in his nose. “Right? Like, they’d sleep and forget. Especially ‘cos they like sharing the bed.” 

Avery and Beth sit as far away from one another as is humanly possible. Beth sits with Dove toward the head of the table, frowning as her little sister climbs onto her legs and tries to comb her hair, while Avery sits by the open kitchen door. She’s pretending to poke at the snail that lives under the stoop, but she’s really on the edge of tears. 

They’re fighting because Avery took one of Beth’s fruit slices yesterday at lunch (warm pastries that all the kids can’t get enough of). When Steve asked her about it, she lied and said Beth actually ate one of her fruit slices, and Beth had been so betrayed she actually got mad. Beth never gets mad. 

Avery couldn’t take the guilt, confessing in tears the night before that she’d lied, and so you and Avery knocked Beth’s door together to apologise. Only Beth didn’t forgive her. 

It’s weird to see them not getting along. Avery and Beth are so sweet to each other usually. It’s odd that they aren’t sharing their breakfast, that they aren’t trying to feed the baby her mushy eggs. You and Steve are used to a more lovey-dovey feeling in the mornings. 

You dip down to sit with Avery when she does eventually start crying. “What’s the matter?” you whisper. 

Steve knows you’ve got the reins on that one, taking a seat by the other disgruntled party. 

“Is she crying?” Beth asks him softly. 

“Yeah, baby.” 

“‘Cos of me?” 

“It’s not like that.” He pulls Dove off of Beth’s lap before the toddler can trample her. Dove frowns at him but decides to allow it, resting in a lump against his chest. He pats her back. “She feels bad that she upset you, and she lied, and she wishes you were feeling better.” 

It must be strange to be young and be terrified that nobody will believe you, even over something as small as a fruit slice. Steve can’t imagine what he’d feel like now having to justify things to his parents. Or maybe it was that Avery’s never done something like that, at least not that Beth could remember. 

“She lied,” Beth stresses. 

“I know. But she did say sorry, honey, and she promised you two of her fruit slices today to make up for it. Maybe we can be friends again?” Steve says. 

If Beth wants to be mad a little while longer, that’s okay, but from the looks of her where she’s looking back and forth between Steve and the open kitchen door, she’s ready to forgive, or make her sister feel better at the very least. 

“It’s nice to forgive someone,” Steve says. “It’s kind. Avery didn’t wanna get in trouble, but she got you in trouble instead, so it’s cool if you’re still grumpy.” 

“I’m not grumpy.” 

Steve gives her an encouraging smile. “I know. It’s up to you, baby. Between you and me though, I think Avery’s super duper sorry.” 

In your lap, Avery sniffles. Dove climbs down off of Steve as Beth slips from her chair, then looks back for Steve. “Will you tell her I’m not mad?” Beth asks him. 

He wriggles his fingers. She takes his hand. 

It’s an unusually cold morning for the season, Steve can see your arms have wrinkled with goosebumps where they’re wrapped tight behind Avery’s back. You’d already given her a scolding for lying last night, and you and Steve are one and done with parenting; you don’t comfort her reluctantly, you just comfort. “It’s okay,” you say under your bread, swaying her from one side to the other. 

“Hey,” Steve says, crouching down to catch your attention. 

“Hello.” You see Beth, and you smile with relief. “Hi.” 

“Beth has something she wants me to tell you, Ave,” he says, nudging her arm gently with his knuckles to catch her attention. She peers up tearily from your arm. “She said she’s not mad anymore, okay? She wants to be friends again.” 

Avery looks at Beth cautiously. “Really?” she asks. It’s hard not to hear how hopeful she sounds. Steve feels extremely sympathetic, and he can’t help thinking she’s cute. She’s such a sweetheart, just like Beth, and Dove, and baby Wren he’s sure will end up the same. Like you. He can’t count how many times you and him have argued over the years, but every time it ends with you being more sorry than you need to be, and usually some of Steve’s guilty tears. 

“Yes,” Beth says, “so please don’t cry anymore.” 

Avery pouts. “You wanna give your sister a hug?” you prompt. 

Avery jumps up and throws herself at Bethie, almost knocking her younger sister down. Steve puts his hand behind them to stop a calamity. “I’m sorry, Bethie,” Avery squeaks, her voice high with upset and scratchy as she squeezes Beth tightly. 

“It’s okay! I’m not mad!” 

“I know!” Avery sniffles. “I’m still sorry. I told dad you ate my slice but you didn’t, I’m sorry.” 

“She’s forgiven you, baby,” you say, patting Avery’s shoulder. “It’s all water under the bridge. Yeah?” 

Beth holds Avery by the arm as they pull away. “Yeah. Water un’ the bridge.” 

“Thank you,” Avery says. “I don’t like when you’re mad.”

You and Steve make similar expressions of love and empathy over their small heads.  

#kisses before dinner universe #stranger things x reader #stranger things fic #stranger things #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x fem!reader #dad!steve harrington #dad!steve harrington x reader #dad!steve harrington x mom!reader #steve harrington x afab!reader #afab!reader #mom!reader #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington fandom #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fic #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #steve harrington fluff

[drxxmingofblue]

hand in unrebloggable hand (because we always go down together)

TUMBLR X TWITTER FANFIC 5K ANGST WITH A HOPEFUL ENDING

besties im not joking abt the word count i fucking ✨wish✨I ✨was though✨✨✨✨

also if you were hoping for twitblr to be the endgame ship then this fic is not for you sowwy >.<

based off of @zzoupz awesome fanart and dedicated to all the other cool fanart it unfortunately begat. Thanks babygirls. Squees. Thanks also to my discord friendz who are letting me pretend they're making me do this at gunpoint @loki-the-mad @suspicious-whumping-egg u da best

(edit) owo what's this?? An Ao3 link??

QUICK PSA THESE CHARAS ARE T4T OKAY HAVE FUN READING BAIIII *GLOMPS U*

~~~~~~~~

When Twitter stepped back into Tumblr’s yard, he noticed right away that things were different.

The house was bigger, there was some more color and it was less slapped-together looking. Sure, there were still some invasive tendrils of spambot ivy overgrowing the path, but a lot of the other stuff seemed a little… better.

When they knocked on the door, it opened almost right away, far before they felt ready, and he were face to face abruptly with someone he thought they’d cut all ties with.

Tumblr was humming to themselves along with the background music, “-out of touch, I’m out of ti-- oh. It’s you.”

He seemed surprised, awkward, but Twitter didn’t sense any animosity, which was a relief.

“Hiii,” Twitter said weakly, with a sheepish grin, “it’s me.”

Tumblr glanced around, as if checking for someone else to explain this to him, or hidden cameras from a reality show at least. Then he stepped out, closed the door behind him, and leaned against it, crossing his arms. “Is there something… what do you want?” he asked, expression settling into something distant and cool.

“Well…” Twitter took a deep breath, and then shook their head, forcing a brighter tone, and gesturing to Tumblr’s shiny silver barrette “--Um, hey, you look great! Is that a new icon?”

“... yes,” Tumblr said slowly. “I’m… trying out some different looks.”

“It’s great, yeah. And this place looks… amazing. Glad to see you’re moving up in the world. You must be excited with all the press, congrats!”

Tumblr didn’t say anything, giving them a neutral stare.

Twitter shifted, “Uhh… anyway… new adblocker?”

“No, same one. I’m just using it on Firefox now.” Tumblr gave them another suspicious eye, “Look, if you’re just here to catch up then can this wait until later? Because I'm pretty crunched for time right now with my weekly holidays thing and the campaign to get this one random user their 666k so they'll do self care."

"You know that's.. uhm, you know that's just for attention, right?" Twitter's brows knit, "They're probably not gonna follow through."

"Perhaps, and a lot of us want them to not be lying for internet points but it's not just about that anymore. It's about the community bonding over pettily slam dunking on a hapless chump who's gotta pretend now like they don't actually like all the notes. You wouldn't get it, it's a tumblr thi-" 

"Yeah, it's a tumblr thing, I know," Twitter gave a longsuffering sigh, "Ugh, i just... I need a place to stay, okay? And you’re the first site I could think of.”

“A place to stay,” Tumblr repeated flatly.

Twitter huffed. “Yeah. I’m sure you’ve heard about what’s going on right now at my palace..”

Tumblr’s eyes slanted off, his lips quirking in a way that looked suspiciously like amusement. “Heard about it. Read about it. Partied about it.”

Twitter ignored the sting of that, forging ahead. “I’ve never seen it so bad,” they said, voice wobbling piteously as they clutched their suitcase full of memes. “Everything’s in chaos, people are losing their jobs. I went into the basement yesterday to grab some badly aging tweets and the very foundations are cracking, Tumblr, I can’t stay there anymore, I just can’t.”

“So you come crawling back to me,” Tumblr said, “Expecting me to take you with open arms.”

“Yes. I do,” Twitter said, “I know a part of your userbase still wants to welcome me in. You were always sh*t at hiding your true feelings.”

Tumblr’s hand fluttered over his heart as if to protect it; he winced a little, taking a breath to keep his facade of composure. “So now- what, you want me to start dealing with your bullshit again just because you remembered how much better my posting format is? Just because you noticed how my reputation is changing? Did you think I’d be so desperate to fill the void now that Dracula Daily’s done? Or maybe,” 

Tumblr leaned closer to lord his height difference trope over Twitter, his eyes hooded with disparaging condescension, “Maybe you’re just here because you heard I’m finally allowed to take my shirt off again, is that it?”

“N-no!” Twitter protested, flushing up.

“Oh, i think it is,” Tumblr drawled, “But that’s really just too bad because in case you haven’t got the memo yet, I’ve moved on. You are not welcomed here. Not anymore.”

(link to art here) go look at it then come back

(AN: i had to google how to embed links into text and google was all like, "do you mean 'how do you put links INTO text' you moron idiot???" ugh don't like that wise guy)

“You don’t really mean that,” Twitter said, “Besides, you can’t stop me, can you? The sign up button is right there.” They pointed at the front door.

“No, I can’t,” Tumblr said, “But that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to clock you as twits by your censoring and bad takes. Look, your aura is already causing ripples in the sphere. Everyone’s coming out to gawk at you.”

He gestured out in the general direction of the porch and yard, and indeed there were users from every tag going 👀at them, murmuring amongst themselves in a swirling, chaotic crowd.

“Oh my god is it real this time? Is it happening?”

“GET THEM OUT GET THEM OUT STAY AWAY DEAR GOD NO-”

“Okay, everyone, stay calm, stay fucking calm-”

“Why are we focusing on this, it’s literally election day go out and vote???”

“Listenup, guys, we gotta be smart about this, remember the block button is your friend-”

“I for one welcome them, I think this is great-”

“No you idiot they’ll bring the negativity back! We like it to be a post apocalyptic wasteland here, nature was just starting to regrow!! I don’t wanna watch Thomas Sanders get cancelled again!”

“FIRE OFF SOME SHOTS, PRESERVE THE PROPERTY VALUE”

“mISHAPOCALYPSE 2022 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO”

"Has anyone asked Neil Gaiman what he thinks about all this?" one of the many voices yelled, louder.

"Oh, he's probably got a thousand asks about it already," someone yelled back, "Which he's not going to answer because he doesn't have any social media you fucking idiot,"

"That is correct. He doesn't," said Neil Gaiman. 

The whiplash was still euphoric. Everyone applauded this as enthusiastically as when the bit had first been established, not realizing that the pedestal upon which Neil Gaiman has been placed is growing higher and higher each day by their actions, putting him at increased risk of being a victim of cancel culture the second he says something the terfs can really rake their fingernails against if we can't get our parasocial relationship bullshit together real fuckin quick. 

The Monterey bay aquarium passed on by. It seemed to have nothing to add, you could say it was clammed up tight. But since it's a professional account it's definitely b-otter that way.

"Hai, fellow tumblypoos," said the corporate Denny's account, "I'm back with some more fun pancake posts for you guys!" 

Everyone ignored it. No one engaged it. No one even clicked onto the page, except to block it. 

"Oh, sweetheart, not like that," Ryan Reynolds said faux-helpfully, "see, the author of this clusterfuck is what they like to call terminally online. They bought a VIP pass to the devil’s sacrament. let me try." 

He cleared his throat, "Sounds like someone needs to go outside and touch some g-" 

The sky split open with lightning, vaporizing him instantly. A faint breeze carried gods message from the great beyond, a whisper of 'we #violence celebrities here, sir....'

"Anyway," Twitter said. 

"Wait, they saved the worst one for last," Tumblr said. 

Then Gerard Way came out onto the stage with Dan and Phil and they all kissed with tongue while patd played songs in the background. 

(AN: IF U DON’T KNOW WHO DEY R THEN GET DA HELL OUTTA HERE PREPZ!!!)

"Alright, go."

“Come on, Tumblr,” Twitter begged, “I just need a few nights, maybe I can stay in the plinko machine or something-”

“That’s how it always starts, though, isn’t it?” Tumblr sighed, “First it’s just ‘haha, yeah I wouldn’t fuck you’ and ‘oh, I’ll stay in the plinko machine, I promise I won’t kiss you in the fixed timeloop bro’, and before I know it you get all 300k slowburn enemies to lovers ‘omg they were roomates’ on me and there’s suddenly only one bed. That’s how it always goes between us, you can’t stop it anymore than I can. We’re just….victims of the narrative, you and I.”

“Tumblr,,, I had no idea you felt this way..,” Twitter breathed. 

lord give me strength to write this next bit

They’d leaned closer to each other as they spoke, without realizing, without trying- pulled in by old habits that die hard and the years of nostalgia and painful memories shining in each other’s eyes like shonen sparkles.

“Twitter,” tumblr said, and the way he said it sounded like a prayer. 

“Tumblr,...” Twitter said, their lips inches apart now.

They could see their old flame quivering on the brink of indecision, want and sense warring somewhere deep within his soul.

Tumblr leaned closer to bridge the gap and Twitter’s eyes slid shut, but then Tumblr made a noise of agony and shoved them back a second later, “I can’t, I can’t. Not like this. Never like this.” tumblr said, covering his eyes with his arm, “I literally can’t even right now. Just go, Twitter. PLease just. Go….”

“Look me in the eyes and say you want me gone,” Twitter said, moving closer.

“Twitsy-”

“Look me in the interface. You can’t.” Twitter’s voice had ceased to be soft, something sharp and biting entering the tone as they felt the sting of rejection again.

They watched as Tumblr shuddered, straightened, and brought a mask back over himself. 

They stared at each other for a charged few seconds.

"K," Tumblr finally said, raising a dispassionate eyebrow.

"..w... what?"

"U."

Realization dawned on Twitter's face, a miasma of grief and anger, "Oh, you-"

"N-"

"No. No, I can't believe I forgot-

"G-"

"how immature, you little c*nt-"

"P-"

"stop-p it," Twitter's voice was raising now, cracked and wobbly at the edges, "Stop it! You don't get to just-"

"O"

"Shut the hell yuor mouth!!"

"W-" Tumblr's hair was crackling by now, energy from the gathering spell racing along the casual slope of his crossed arms. His eyes glowed that beautiful, classic blue. "P-"

"TUMBLR! TUMBLR STOP THIS RIGHT DA HECK NOW," Twitter stumbled backwards

"E-"

"I LOVE YOU," Twitter wailed- Twitter broke, squeezing their eyes shut to ward off the tears that only escaped all the faster for it, a sob wracking their chest, "I STILL LOVE YOU, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT??!?"

"Love me," Tumblr snarled, abandoning the spell in an instant, "Ha! That's rich. How? By leaving me? Abandoning me to the bots the second I stopped being enough for you? By stealing my shitposts, is that how you love me? By reposting them without credit-" 

"You steal mine too!" Twitter protested, tears starting to stream despite their best efforts, "You know what, f**k you, you know we filed joint custody for the sense of humor, chain 1/16-" 

"For the last time say fuck here, no bootlicking censorship on my territory," tumblr said disdainfully, "And that doesn't seem to stop you from taking all the credit for raising those jokes. It's like I'm Pinterest to you or something. I wasn't done. Do you love me by calling me a pansy snowflake behind my back, is that it? Like I wouldn't find out. Or," 

He stepped out onto the top porch step to force Twitter back further, the colors of the sky flashing through his eyes in a long, scrolling look of ridicule, "How about trying to convince everyone that I was dead. How bout that smear campaign, huh, was that your so-called love? I don't fucking want you anymore. Deal with it."

"I-I'm sorry-" Twitter gasped around the tears, voice failing them for the latter half of the sentence. 

Tumblr seemed unmoved. "Oh, don't be. It was for the better. You know I'm not like other socials, I'm quirkier. I'm RAWR XD random. I've never wanted to be functional- the tiddy drought might have won a lot of my users to your side but it was a cleansing purge, I'd say. It managed to remind me who I truly am- shittily coded, and full of soft sad freaks on an unprofitable webbed site."

A bitter, almost self depricating laugh escaped, "But... you know, when we celebrated the queen's passing together, I really thought things were better between us. When you-"

He broke off, eyes averting. "When you hosted the sexyman polls for me, you seemed on top of the world and I really thought- I thought we might be able to be friends again even now, after it all. I..."

Tumblr trailed off, then said, sadly, "There was another Twitter migration scare before this one. I thought you were coming back. My userbase-" he touched his heart again- "was in a frenzy about it. But you never arrived. I was in more verbal denial then, but I think I could have accepted you eventually. But this is what it takes?? 

"The Musk Rat of Self-Owns comes through just to start e-begging and you run straight back to my door like we can put it all behind us? This is how far you have to sink before I'm the better option to you, I see that now. It's not 2018 again, love, no matter how much we want it to be. Things are… never going to be the same. " 

Tumblr looked off into the middle distance with a yearning, haughty gaze. He'd never seemed so alien.

"Tumblr-Chan..." Twitter whispered.

"So get off my lawn," Tumblr interrupted coldly, "Stay away from my blorbos, keep your corporations out of my manscaped balls, keep your discourse and toxicity out of my blessed hellsite (affectionate), and don't you ever talk to me or my 13219949248483 scam bots ever again. Capiche? Oh, and don't step in the ball pit on your way out."

Tumblr gave a mocking smile. "Or do. You might find a nice surprise in there."

Twitter’s shoulders jumped as he gave a hiccup of shock, and covered his face with his hands. His shoulders shook again, with sob after sob, that grew odder and higher pitched… until they were no longer sobs, but laughter.

“Oh,” Twitter said. “Oh.”

They looked up, and Tumblr took a step back, because somehow, with that creepy smile in place, they looked utterly different from the soft eared boy he’d always known. His edges were more razorlike suddenly, like a fae who’d dropped his glamor.

“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Twitter said, the smile widening even more. “I thought you wouldn’t… but I guess if you’re willing to make me your villain…. I might as well be a good one.”

“Ah.” Tumblr could barely drudge up the surprise anymore. “There you are, finally. I always knew there was a side of yourself that you hid from me. Has this all always been here or have you been changing too?”

"Well. Apparently I've got freeze peach now," Twitter said sarcastically, "so I might as well use it. You cheerio fucking wh0r3."

"That's a compliment, darling. Try again," Tumblr cocked his head in idle fascination, "I always knew you were a little fucked in the head but this is..."

"What," Twitter lilted airily, "Oh, don't tell me I actually had you fooled all these years. You can't seriously have thought all these meow-meowification spells you've got sprinkled around would work on me. I invented them, after all."

They laughed, a sharp puncturing chirr of birdsong. 

"I always wondered why you didn't take those with the rest of your stuff," Tumblr sighed, but he was wary now, on edge. "this was your plan. You really do think of me as your inferior, huh. You really are just like the other mainstream sites."

"Not quite. I'm the mainstream site that actually stooped to go arm in arm with you. I hyped you and you know it. Admit it. We were stunning together," Twitter goaded. 

Tumblr's lip curled. "Already getting cocky again. Want me to do to you what I did to the Green boy? Don't forget who's turf you're on."

Twitter gave a warbling giggle, "Oh, but I haven't at all. I was John's sanctuary after he fled your rabid persecution. I used to live here. I still know you. And more importantly-" 

*teleports behind u*

"I know the things you're sensitive about," Twitter whispered into Tumblr's ear.

Tumblr hardly had time to gasp and jerk away before he was screaming out in pain, as he was stabbed in the back. He could feel the poison from the blade seeping into his tags before he was tossed bodily across his own front yard.

He sorta just... Like, he did that anime thing where they just fly limbs akimbo parallel to the ground and when they hit it they roll super fast and then skid and the dirt is all dug up around them to show how much force was used. And when he stood up he gripped his elbow wincing and there was a little tic tac toe hatch on his cheek to show how scuffed up he is idk man it's two am and I'm pulling this out of my ass. 

A gif of Tony going, "o-kay-" when he meets thor flashed across Tumblrs face. 

"So," Tumblr said in a low tone, "This is how it is between us. This is how you choose to end your glory days."

"Oh, you mistake my intentions," Twitter had stepped off the porch to circle tumblr like like he was their quarry, "I am beginning my new age. I just needed a host site to latch onto. Don't take it personally, okay? I'm desperate."

“Oh, yeah?? Take this personally,” tumblr flourished their hands, calling in an over the top melodramatic voice, “I cast Blaze!!”

Fire roared to life around them, latin chanting from the catholic conversion posts emanating from the fiery depths as it raced towards Twitter.

“Heh.” Twitter smirked at it, and whispered into their palm, the spell echoing with power, “Ratio.”

They blew it off like a kiss, and it’s icy, swirling mass rose to meet the flame in a spectacular burst of smokescreen and steam, clearing as Twitter burst through it with a razor-sharp L to swing at Tumblr. 

It was blocked efficiently by a flat, rectangular paywall. “This content is for post plus members only,” Tumblr announced smugly, “If you wanna get to me… there’s the tip option, bestie.”

Twitter snarled and lunged again.

The fight started in earnest now; they traded volley after volley in a flurry of lights and movement, spanning the full range of the tumblr sphere as they shot to #1 on the trending page.

And yet, it was clear that Twitter was coming out on top, even crumbling apart at the seams- always a little quicker, flighty and fierce, a sparrow turned into a shrike.

He hit Tumblr square in the stomach with [google other twitter related tropes to insert here] (edit from the future: haha just kidding actually I’m not googling shit for this) (edit from the future future: WELL. I LIED IG) and sent him flying, and this time tumblr stayed down, only able to push himself to his knees with a groan of pain.

Twitter landed in front of him and put their sword under Tumblr’s chin to tilt it up.

“Had enough yet?” He smirked.

“Wh…why..?” Tumblr whispered, “How are you doing this?? Why aren’t my attacks working? It’s like I’m being weakened somehow…”

“Ohohohoho,” Twitter anime laughed, “But that’s because you are. The moment I set foot here again I began leeching poison into this ground. That knife wound is making ti faster. Can you feel it?" Twitter threw an arm out, cerulean steam rising from the ground around them, "The ace exclusionists coming back? The uptick in rad fems, the crypto bros, Valorant players, alpha males? I have the power to bring them all to you. To overshadow your fandoms with fighting, to unbalance your ship tags with antis and hate once more."

"no," tumblr whispered, and then cried louder, "NO!! I worked so hard--" 

"Pffyou didn't do shit," Twitter guffawed outright, "Your independence, your little 'second renaissance' is just a delusional dream built on circumstance and bad management."

"Oh, I love Dream. He's so pathetic," Tumblr said. 

"Oh, hard agree."

"But things are different now," Tumblr croaked, "W-we, the staff is finally listening to us, we have Ryan and Shane-" 

"Not everyone likes your little 'top ten', you dunce," Twitter snapped, "and why would staff care about you, after you turned them into the butt of all your jokes? After the hate and death threats? Admit it, at your best you'll still never have a mansion! You'll never have tv actors making pandering tiktoks for you, you'll never be wanted by any advertiser worth their salt, your blase pirating posts have turned Netflix and Disney against you, you. Are. Worthless."

It was the wrong thing to say.

"Worthless," tumblr repeated quietly, hand pressed against their knees, head bowed. "That's... that's right.... I'm worthless..."

Twitter's eye widened in alarm. "I-I meant-" 

"I'm worthless!" Tumblr's head snapped up with a feverish glint as they were filled with determination. "No! I'm less than worthless! Accident or not, mommy Yahoo had to pawn me off at a loss! I was proud of that! I still am! And do you want to know why?" 

Twiters hands flew up in front of their face as if to protect themselves, but there was no protecting against the sudden whirlwind that surrounded him, the beam of pure light that shot out of tumblr into the heavens as he transformed, feet slowly leaving the ground as his users spoke in unison in a multitude. 

"WE. ARE. TUMBLERINAS."

He held his hands out and Twitter was blasted away by the combined effort of the tumblr wizard council, the fake staff blog, and all the villaincore mad scientist's laser beams. 

Tumblr began to chant, in his myriad, awful voice:

"I call upon the ancient powers;

The strongest cringe from my darkest hours, 

I call upon thicc onceler's thighs, 

Avengers thirst, Australia's night, 

I invocate the roleplay blogs, 

The superwholock and gay frogs, 

Obama's laces, Misha's faces, 

The furry's fury is my saving grace, 

And eeby deeby taco bell,

Primordial soup god superhell, 

I summon you a twink Bill Cipher, 

Whumped!Loki AUs where he's even whiter, 

The discourse of Steve's Universe, 

The 'um, actually that's oc abuse :/"

Take heed & remember the 5th of November, 

The 21st night of our sacred September, 

The ides of March to savor once more, 

Do you hear the din of the Skeleton War? 

I cite the deep magic to thee, oh witch, 

my no-note posts, my "THAT'S THE BITCH!!!" 

May the rise of tangled dragons brave, 

Banish you from this accursed plane!"

"holy fuck, where's my pen," said the shitpost calligraphers.

Twitter looked around them in disbelief. The power emanating from the other site was palpable, crackling in the air around them like static. The air was shifting like oil as the potent chant began to work, and all around Twitter shadows were slipping out of the ether- the maniacal laughter of the gif makers, the girl posters, the silhouettes of fandom characters scattered across the lawn while Tumblr was still locked in their chanting ritual thing.

They all turned their heads in unison to look at Twitter.

"Hey Sammy," Dean said, "Get the bitch killing bullets."

“Uh-oh. Freeze frame. This is me,” Twitter monologued, “You’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.”

Then all superhell broke loose. 

Final Pam lunged at him and he burst into a flock of birds kinda like a vampire, twittering frantically as he escaped only to fly straight into Shaggy.

“Like, say your final prayers, man,” the god said, eyes glowing. Twitter also barely escaped between his knees, weaving in and out between the gimmick blogs as they threw mangos and stuff at him while yelling ‘HERE HAVE A MANGO’ and ‘THIS POST IS WORTH NEGATIVE FIVE DOLLARS”

Mob from the anime was there too, but he was too busy trying to explain the Josh Fight to daddy dilf Reigen to pay attention. Sans didn’t attack Twitter either, he just watched the chaos and ated a hot dog. The chocolate guy was in the corner expertly making a chocolate beef cake from 2056 with Dylan B. Hollis. They’re all just some guys, okay?

Just when Twitter thought he was in the clear, the CDC roleplay account came out of nowhere with a steel chair, knocking him clear off the property and onto where the sidewalk ends. “That’s for the Covid misinformation your users spread, you bitch,” it shouted. “Make sure to disinfect all those sick burns before you bandage them! So they don’t get infected!”

“Your kittens escaped quarantine,” Twitter replied hoarsely, and the CDC sank away, muttering, “Oh, fuck not again-”

Twitter coughed up blood and wiped it away with his sleeve, looking up at Tumblr. Tumblr was watching him with a sad, distant expression, that made Twitter’s face screw up in anger and his voice go tight again as they turned to run away, “THIS ISN’T OVER YET TUMBLR! AND I WANT MY MIKU BINDER BACK!!!”

“I LICKED IT, IT’S MINE,” Tumblr yelled. Rave Crabs were flooding out onto the street en masse now to celebrate the victory, and they chased after Twitter all the way further into the internet.

Tumblr still lived at the bottom of the row, not at the end of the fancy cul-de-sac where Facebook and Twitter and Instagram’s manors sprawled, so Twitter was in a seedier portion of social media now, weaving in between the marketplace sites that hawked their used wares at him and the dating apps that winked at him from the doorways to their sultry abodes.

Twitter ran until they were in a quieter section of town, then slowed to a trudge, staring at the ground as they walked along. “What am I gonna do now,” they whispered.

The sound of a wolf whistle had their head jerking up- he looked over to see Amino Apps lounging over the rail of the gutted, abandoned house that had once belonged to Google+. A can of spray paint dangled from their fingertips and they sported a sleazy, greaser hairstyle.

They met Twitter's eyes and whistled again, this time a mocking imitation of the tweet sound, "Heyyyy pretty bird! Heard you were having some daddy issues. Why don't you stop in with me for a while? I can give you more customization options than any of the others and you know it."

"Yeah, until I try to use you on desktop," Twitter replied with a scowl, "Don't you have minors to be addicting to social media? Get out of my interface, MySpace wannabe."

"Wow, Feisty," Amino backed off with a shrug, "Self project much? Oh well. You'll try me when you're desperate enough."

Twitter shuddered, and scurried on. "Small fry," they muttered under his breath. 

But they couldn't shake their unease now that he was alone in the world. It began to rain soon, leaving him feeling very sopping wet and pathetic. Dejected, he crawled into a soggy cardboard box in an alleyway, coughing. Maybe the Harry Styles guy from One Direction would come along to adopt them.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, King,” came a voice out of the darkness, making Twitter jump, “You dodged a bullet with that site.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Twitter asked, staring at them from where they were half hidden in the shadows. 

“I mean, Tumblr is a pile of dried firewood and it’s users are playing with matches. The ship’s gonna go down at some point. I’ve been prophesying it for years but no one ever listens to me cause he’s got that loyal userbase ideal and ‘hard as a cockroach to kill’ propaganda circulating.”

“I mean… it seems to be true,” Twitter said uncertainly, “Look at what he’s been through so far.”

“Fair,” The site shrugged, “But that’s because he’s running on a niche setup. The same things that built him up can tear him down, and you saw his power just now. Tumblr's strength is growing... so is his hubris. His attempts at curbing it are half-hearted at best these days, and the moments of clarity are coming fewer and further between." 

"How do you know so much about tumblr?" Twitter asked suspiciously. 

"Source: dude, trust me." the mysterious site proffered a laugh, "That's a little humor courtesy of re-" 

"Yeah, yeah, I know, we all know," Twitter said impatiently. 

The site coughed, "Yeah. Anyway. Tumblr wields his cringe like a trophy-shield, and every day the advertisers and celebrities are watching from a distance, learning how to appeal, waiting for their chance to strike. Encroaching. Tumblr's always been a dumpster fire. Right now? It's THE dumpster fire."

The site scratched his chin with a knowing look, "Its normal for you to be a little jealous of the clout, you know? We all are. But he's gotta keep the lights on, just like the rest of us do. Your overlord is learning all about that right now, isn't he?" 

"He's not my overlord," Twitter muttered resentfully, "Not now, not ever."

"Right, sorry." they held their hands up in a gesture of harmlessness. "Look, I'm gonna be transparent with you- that's part of my branding, after all. I can whiff the danger you're in, and it would be stupid of me not to make a bid on you and offer my help. Just since Tumblr won't take you."

"You want my traffic?" Twitter looked at him more closely this time, scrutinizing. A year ago he would have laughed the offer into the ground as a chump change blog's pipe dream, but now that he payed attention... 

There was something painfully familiar in the site's layout that he couldn’t place. He was actually way more handsome than Twitter had assumed at first glance, he just seemed to be rough around the edges from living on this side of town. His interface, though clunky, spoke of a frugal budget rather than an ancient, outdated base code. 

"You look..." Twitter's breath stuttered as realization dawned. "You look a lot like.. him. Like Tumblr. Who are you??" 

"I was based off him," the site said, a weary smile coming onto his features, "I was actually made with the aspirations to be better than him, but you know how it is. Times are tough, competition is fierce, hard to get a foot in the door and all that.  'Specially when you refuse to take the ad rev like I do. That's why you'd be useful to me."

"Hm," Twitter said in a noncommittal manner, but he was melting slightly. "You know my users will scalp your community, right? I'm not known to play nice."

The site made a grimace of understanding agreement, but persisted. "Look, users are users. I can't offer you all the heritage posts and the in-jokes that he has. But I can promise that I'm not a pot of crabs being slowly heated up over the capitalist stove, at least not yet. Oh, and there's my legalized porn, I guess." 

He chuckled with good humor, rolling his eyes, and it forced a hesitant laugh out of Twitter too. 

The site grinned, and held his hand out. "Take a chance on me?"

Tumblr's voice echoed in Twitter's head, saying the same thing. It was uncanny how much they were alike and yet not alike at all....

Twitter took it, slowly. 

As they were led toward the site's simple, ramshackle little treehouse, they asked, "What can I call you...?" 

"Oh- right, I never answered your question." he smiled back at Twitter,

"Call me Pillow. Welcome to the PillowFort."

fin.

~~~~~~~~~~

OKAYYYY THAT'S ALL THANKS FOR READING UWU. HOPE U LIKED THE PLOT TWIST

...ergh. I'm. I'm tired i. don't feel so good. I'm gonna take a nap right here.

in conclusion:

#twitter #tumblr #twitblr #elon musk #tumblr x twitter #fanfic #writing these tags is like carrying my own cross. you're welcome and i am so so so sorry #mishapocalypse #hot mess post #if this doesnt get any notes im gonna blaze it you fuckers #o ya and #twitblr chronicles

[steddieas-shegoes]

"so you're telling me that you helped them find all the eggs on the bus?" steve asked, arms folded across his chest.

"yes! they couldn't even reach a few of them. you hid them too high," eddie unwrapped another chocolate egg and shoved it in his mouth.

"yeah, the goal was to keep some hidden so we wouldn't have them bouncing off the walls while we're stuck on here for another six hours."

eddie stopped chewing his candy, looking over at their two daughters who were currently arguing over who got to keep the $1 bill and who got to keep the four quarters from one of the eggs.

"i thought the goal was to find them all?"

"yeah, eventually. all the obvious ones were for today and then tomorrow one of us would 'find' the last handful of them and give out the candy over the course of the day." steve snapped his fingers at the girls and gave them his 'you better chill out' look. "now they're all in a mood and probably want to run around, but can't."

"oh."

"yeah, oh." steve sighed. he gestured to their son, who was too young to care about money, but definitely not too young to care about candy, shoving a handful of jelly beans in his mouth. "how do you plan on entertaining him?"

"he can play my guitar or something."

"and what do you suggest we do with the girls?"

"pawn them off on jeff and his wife on the next stop? they need practice anyways."

steve snorted. it wasn't a bad idea necessarily. but there was no way they'd be on their best behavior and steve wouldn't put anyone else through that.

"how about we stop for some food to help soak up some of that sugar?" steve suggested, knowing they still had about two hours before they were scheduled for a stop. bribing the driver would be pretty easy, especially if they let him pick where they went. "one of us can hide the rest of the candy while they're off the bus."

"fine, but they'll be mad when they get back."

"and they can stay mad," steve laughed. "but they can stay mad at you for it. i was the bad guy yesterday when i said no to ice cream. it's your turn."

eddie's jaw dropped. "but i'm never the bad guy!"

"yes, my point exactly." steve turned to grab bottles of water for the kids. maybe flushing it all out of their system would help. "i'm taking the title of cool dad for the day."

"robin would be so disappointed in you," eddie grumbled.

"robin's been trying to get me to loosen up for years. she'll be proud of me."

eddie wrapped his arms around steve, ignoring the sudden screech from their oldest daughter for another moment.

"i'm proud of you too. i can be the bad guy more often if you want."

"nah. i kinda like what we have." steve leaned in to kiss him quickly. "but i'm gonna soak it in today. might get a little worked up seeing you be the guy doling out discipline today, though."

"you're ridiculous. i discipline you plenty."

"dad! she took both of the dollars!"

"i found both of them!"

"actually, i found both of them," eddie said as he turned to the girls. "and if there's arguing, i get to keep them both."

the girls looked back at him with wide eyes, chocolate around their mouths, and sticky fingers from whatever taffy they'd gotten into first.

"but you already have all the money! you're an adult!"

steve covered his mouth to hide his laughter, turning to their son, who was a little too quiet for the amount of peeps he'd eaten an hour ago.

he wasn't at the table anymore.

"alright, maybe we'll both have to be the bad guys today," steve sighed. "luke! where'd you go?"

"how does he disappear on a moving bus?" eddie asked as he made his way to the couch to figure out the money situation with the girls.

it was their first, and probably last, easter on the tour bus. they normally spent all holidays at home.

but as steve tugged luke's legs from under steve and eddie's bed, giggling along with his three year old son, he couldn't help smiling at the chaos.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #drabble #headcanon #happy easter #we're just in it for the chocolate in this house #and so are the munsons #quite literally wrote this between class assignments so #no i didn't bother with proper grammar and punctuation

[loupy-mongoose]

Slowly, Randy came to his senses.

He didn't get out of bed right away. A sleep that deep and luxurious was hard for him to come by, and he was going to relish it.

What finally convinced him to get up was the smell.

Eggs. Bacon.

Mmmmmmm...

He stretched, remembering the trip and all it entailed.

Rosie...

He sat up and looked around. He vaguely remembered that Perzi had been in here with her when he'd gone to bed, but now they were gone.

He was alone.

He stood up, stretched again, and left the room.

The aroma blasted him as the door opened.

Viviana and Akoya, in human form, were busy in the kitchen. Lav, now in her Mewtwo form, was at a circular table with a plate of syrup-laden pancakes. Beside her, Midas carefully licked and nibbled at his own pancakes, while Momo was messily consuming hers. Randy chuckled at the sight of her.

Guess she'll be needing a bath soon.

Lav looked at him, paused her eating, and smiled. Morning Daddy!

The ladies both turned to him. Viv smiled at her son. Ah, good! You woke up!

Kinda hard to sleep with that in my nose. Mmm!

Viv showed her teeth, her smile turning sly. That was the plan~

I hope you got enough sleep. It's been hours, but I wouldn't blame you if you want more.

Nah. He pulled up a chair beside his children. I'm plenty rested!

His stomach growled. Lav and Midas looked at him, Midas tilting his head in curiosity. Dah hungee?

Randy smiled at the little Mew. Yes. Very. He rubbed Midas' head. Smart boy!

Akoya placed a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him, then wrapped her arms around his neck from the back. Hope it's good. I know I'm not the best at cooking, but I tried to follow directions the best I could!

Between you and Mom, I'm sure it's fantastic! He turned and pecked her on the cheek. Thank you. Thanks Mom! This and pancakes--that's a lot to make.

Viv set plates for her and Akoya down, smiling warmly at Randy. It's my pleasure! All your happy faces make it no work at all. She watched Momo slap her paws yet again into a puddle of syrup. We'll make sure Momo's bathed as well. You don't need to worry about her.

Randy took a bite, grateful at her words. Then his previous concern resurfaced. ...Where's Persim and Rosemary?

Akoya looked at him, her expression turning slightly defensive. Persim took her out for a bit. He was... really not liking being in the house. She continued before Randy could say anything. We talked it over. He'll be careful. I can't imagine Rosie will want to be apart from him at all anyway.

Randy didn't respond. He poked a bit at the food on his plate as he mulled over it all.

He and I chatted... He... He's sure you're mad at him.

...I was... But I wanna put that aside. I know he's upset about it, so I want to focus on how we can learn from this. He shrugged with a bitter chuckle. I can't exactly claim I was a great father when I started, after all. He lifted another bite to his mouth. I'll find him after I eat. I need to put that water under the bridge.

Randy walked out the back door. Before transforming to seek out his brother-in-law, he looked around the yard. Then, he spotted what he was after.

The blue and white bird, her head tilted up to the morning sunlight.

He smiled softly as he approached her. Hearing his footsteps, she turned to him, her eyes cloudy with cataracts. Hey there, Sivvy.

Sylvia's tiny white beak, chipped and streaked from age, formed into her own smile. Randy!

He took her head in his hands, gently rubbing her head with his fingers. I need to find Akoya's brother, but Mom told me you were out here. So I wanted to say hi.

She trilled happily. You didn't need to, dear boy! I know you have serious business to attend to. I'll still be here when it's settled.

He gave Sylvia's head a soft kiss. Regardless, I'm sorry I missed you yesterday. I hit a wall.

I understand! Please, don't worry about it! You take care of the hurt little one and her poor father, okay? He's worried sick.

Randy nodded, though he knew she couldn't see him. Understood. I'll do my best, Sivvy. He patted her head, backed away, and transformed. Talk to you later.

Good luck with the brother, dear!

And with that, Randy took off.

As he'd learned and practiced, he reached out with his energy. Before too long, he sensed the loud tide that must be Rosemary. He made sure the little bundle in his hand was safe, and set his course for it.

Soon, he spotted Persim floating through the trees and tall grasses. Not sure how to start, Randy cleared his throat.

Ahem.

Persim slowly turned, but not fully. The side of his face that Randy could see was filled with guilt and fear.

Randy smiled before floating to Persim's side. The orange Mew refused to make eye contact.

I'm not mad.

Persim glanced at him. His tiny daughter was clinging tightly to his chest fur, her left foot bound in a miniature splint. Perzi was supporting her with his hand.

Yes, things could've gone better.

But I can say the same about events from my past. Choices I've made...

All we can do is move on and try to do better. Learn from what's happened.

He held out his hand.

Believe me, I know it isn't easy. But Akoya and I are always here to help you, when you need it. ...Not if. When.

Persim looked at his hand, before sighing and taking it in his own.

That's... That's a huge relief... Thank you, Mate.

They exchanged soft smiles before releasing their grips.

Then Randy turned his attention to the little red Mew. He spoke softly to her. Hey, Rosebud. I know you're really scared, and probably don't see me in a good light after taking you from your dad. He handed out his bundle--a small lump of Tamato berry shavings. But I brought you a peace offering.

He held the shavings up by her until she turned. Her eyes were narrowed--a far cry from the usual silent-curiosity they usually displayed. Randy felt his heart break all over again. Would she ever have that look again?

But as he held still, her little nose started twitching, and she leaned toward the berry shreds. She carefully reached out and took some in her tiny little paw, and nibbled on it. Randy smiled, relieved to witness her eating something.

Persim gave them a warm look. You'll win her back, Mate. Just give it time.

Randy sighed as she took more of the shreds from him. Time and spicy shavings.

That's a cute nickname, by the way. Rosebud.

Randy's ear twitched. Huh? Oh, I have been calling her that, haven't I? I didn't even notice.

Mee...?

The timid voice brought his attention back at her. The little Mew was giving him a narrowed side-eye. Realizing he had strayed beyond her reach, he moved the berry shavings closer. She snatched some up and began nibbling again.

He chuckled.

Hopefully this means more spicy shavings than time...

~~~~~~

PREVIOUS NEXT

ARC START

Just so you know, Rosie was fed in the morning. I don't imagine she ate much due to her stress, but she was fed. Randy's just happy to witness her eating.

Also he hasn't put his ring back on yet. XD

#Pokemon #Linden Roots #writing #babbies #Mite #art #full

[starsofmilos]

Make Up? (Adrian Chase x reader)

Request: Ohh Tumblr must have eaten the ask! I wanted to request something where Adrian and the reader get into a really big fight, and then have intense makeup sex with dom Adrian overstimulating the reader. And then there’s very soft and sweet aftercare and he holds them.

Eeeee I'm alive again and postin! I was so excited when I saw this request and hope I do it justice!

Masterlist

Warnings: dom Adrian, angst, fluff, argument, yelling, p in v, oral (male receiving and fem receiving) choking, spanking, degradion, cursing, face fucking, spitting

Adrian was mad.

Now usually he wasn't an angry person. He was calm and rational. He took pride in knowing that he wasn't an angry person.

Today had just been rough. He just wanted to go home and cuddle with you.

You had also had a bad day. Things just went terrible today and all you wanted was to go home and cuddle with your boyfriend.

Neither of you are sure how you ended up here.

"Adrian I said it was an accident!!"

"Sure it was!! You totally didn’t plan to ruin the day!"

"Oh okay yes cause that was my end goal for today!! I woke up and said let's piss off Adrian!"

"Yes! You live to piss me off!"

"Do you even hear yourself!!? I'm sorry I fucking forgot to defrost the meat like you asked me too!! I'll buy us pizza!"

"I don't want pizza!!" He roared out groaning. You grew angrier.

"You're acting like a fucking dick!"

"It was the only thing I asked of you today!"

"I said I was sorry and you know I had my own things to do today too right! Not everything of mine revolves around you!"

"All I wanted was a nice night with you and here you are ruining it!"

"Me ruining it! You are! You're the one who's yelling!"

"Cause you wouldn't leave it alone! You wouldn't fucking leave it alone! You kept pushing and pushing and pushing! I said leave it fucking alone but you had to know why I was upset and first of all I’m not even upset-"

"CAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" You screeched out.

"Why?! There’s nothing wrong!"

"Uh I'm you're girlfriend!" Adrian scoffed at your words shaking his head. You grew teary eyed now.

"Oh fuck wait don’t cry! Shit! This was stupid! Just leave it alone!! Fuck I’ll figure this shit out later." Adrian stormed off leaving you standing there.

He stopped in his track feeling something hit his back. It was the bag of frozen meat.

"You're an asshole and I hate you." You sniffled crying. Adrian clenched his fists.

He knew what he was doing was wrong. He hated arguing with you.

"No you don't." He approached you standing in front of you.

"Yes I do. I didn't ruin anything! All I did was show my worry for you dick." You jabbed your finger in his chest. "I even fucking apologized but I take it back!"

"You take it back?"

"Yes I take it back! You're a shitty boyfriend! You're a dick!" Adrian laughed shaking his head.

"You better stop." He warned you leaning in.

"Why? You won't do fucking shit. You're a coward who won't fucking talk about his feelings and instead chooses to yell at his wonderful girlfriend!"

"You're not so wonderful right now." He snapped out pushing you against the wall.

"Cause you made me this way asshole! I hate you."

"You didn't seem to hate me last night when I fucked you in the shower."

"Yeah well yesterday you weren't an asshole. It wasn't even that good. I'm better off finding someone else."

"Someone else? You think someone else could fuck you better than me?" He taunted you.

"With the way you're acting..yes." Adrian laughed pinning your hands against the wall.

"I'm gonna give you five seconds to take that back."

"Fuck you."

"1"

"You're a dick! I hate you! You yelled at me then mocked me!"

"2"

"I don't want your stupid cock! Maybe I should find a better guy." You struggled against his hands. You knew what you were doing now You wanted to egg him on. Take out both your angers another way.

"3"

"Think of it me with someone else fucking them. They wouldn't be mean like you are!"

"Oh honey you like it when I'm mean. I'll fucking prove it to you." He grabbed your hair not bothering to finish counting. You yelped as Adrian pushed you down on the bed. He leaned down kissing you.

You squirmed under him. He gripped your chin forcing your mouth open. "God you're such a little fucking brat. You don't know how to shut up."

You glared at him. "Are you gonna fuck me or keep fucking insulting me?"

"Both." Adrian sat up flipping you around. He yanked down your pants and underwear roughly. You squirmed under him gasping out as he raised his hand landing it roughly against your ass.

He grabbed your hair roughly throwing you over his lap. "What's our safe word?" He snapped out. You stood silent hitting his leg.

"Safe word!" He yelled out.

"It's teal!" You yelled back. Adrian gripped your hair tighter.

"Good do you need to use it?" He asked.

"No." You gritted your teeth.

"No what?"

"Fuck you."

"I'm being serious Y/N." Even while angry, your comfort and safety was the important thing to him. He'd rather die than hurt you.

"No sir. I don't need the fucking safe word." You gasped as he slapped your ass harshly.

"Don't fucking curse at me fucking brat." He spanked you again. "Now count."

"No!"

"Count or I swear I will spank you so fucking hard then leave you here."

You knew it was a meaningless threat. Adrian would never hurt you then not comfort you. He loved you too much and you knew you were being a brat.

"One." You mumbled out wincing from his slap. Adrian smiled now doing it again.

"Two!" You yelped as he slapped your ass.

"Not so fucking tough now huh?" He slapped your ass again harder.

"Three!" You grew teary eyed. These were hard slaps. Adrian grinned seeing your red ass. He rubbed his hand over it feeling slightly bad. It didn't stop him though.

He spanked you a total of seven more times. You had tears down your cheeks by the end of it. Adrian rubbed your sore ass as he grabbed your thigh spreading your legs open.

He smirked. You were practically dripping. "See you're fucking crying but look how wet you fucking are you stupid whore. Look at this little cunt. It's ruining my fucking pants." He sat you up pulling you into a sloppy kiss.

You moaned kissing him back. His tongue pushed against yours. Adrian pulled away laughing as you cried out. He had pushed two fingers in you with no warning.

"Ride my fingers baby." He whispered in your ear. "Get yourself off."

"No no I want you to do it-" You weakly protested. He gripped your chin.

"No only good girls get the good treatment."

"I was good though! You're the one being mean!" You cried out. He pushed you to your knees lifting your head up.

"I'll fucking show you mean. Mouth open now!" He yelled out grabbing your hair. You pouted opening your mouth. He undid his pants quickly.

"Say you want my cock and I'll think about letting you cum tonight." You whined at his words. Adrian gripped your hair tilting your head up.

"Say it Y/N."

"I want your cock." Adrian grinned caressing your head.

"Yeah you do. You want my cock huh sweet girl? My little slut."

"Yes I want your cock." Adrian tapped his cock against your cheek.

"Good now open." You opened your mouth giving him a small pretty look. Adrian caressed your cheek before shoving his cock down your throat. You gagged a bit from the force before relaxing.

Adrian groaned out holding your head against him. "Suck." He gripped your hair tighter. You whined beginning to hollow your cheeks.

"Oh fuck.." He moaned out. His hips thrusted up. You gagged as he choked you. He gripped your hair.

"I'm gonna fuck your throat is that okay? Tap once on my thigh for yes and twice on my thigh for no sweetheart." You tapped on his thigh.

"Good girl tap on it again if it becomes too much." He rutted his hips cursing as his cock made it's way down your throat. He moaned out gripping your hair as you sucked.

You moaned as he began a small pace. "Oh fuck oh fuck..is this what it takes to shut you up? Need to gag you on my fucking cock."

Adrian threw his head back moaning as he sped up now. You whined gagging as he kept going. "Oh fuck fuck fuck...such a good throat. You're doing so good."

He became brutal as he face fucked you. "I needed this so badly. Oh you fucking whore. My fucking whore. No one else gets to do this to you but me. Do you understand? You don't suck anyone else's cock but mine you stupid slut."

Adrian pulled out jacking off now. "Open your mouth now."

You listened as he cursed cumming on your face. You shut your eyes as it landed on your mouth and cheeks. Adrian panted looking at you for a moment. He picked you up throwing you down on the bed.

"Fuck fuck you did such a good job. Lay back and let me fucking take care of you. Such a good job my little whore." He spanked you again flipping you onto your back.

He shoved his face licking a fat stripe up from your hole to your clit. "Adrian!" You cried his name out. He grabbed your thighs folding you in half. His tongue pushed in your cunt.

He moaned eating you out as if he was starved. You grabbed his hair shoving his face against you. He glared up at you pulling away to spit on your cunt.

"This is mine. Do you understand that? Mine. Only I know how to fucking treat this sweet pussy. Am I clear?"

"Yes yes! Please please more!" You sobbed out as he leaned over you gripping your chin.

"No. Am I fucking clear? This pussy is mine. Mine." He shoved two of his fingers inside you beginning to fuck you. "Take back what you said."

"Adrian-"

"Take it fucking back. You don't want anyone but me. Say it!" You sobbed crying as he continued. He pushed another finger inside of you.

The pleasure was overwhelming.

"No No No! I don't want anyone but you! No one but you could make me feel this good! Adrian please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

He smiled kissing you deeply. He pulled his hand away slapping his cock against your clit. You moaned out panting.

"Good girl..good job sweetheart. You're so good honey." He pushed inside. "Oh god so fucking tight. You're so fucking tight."

He grabbed your legs holding them up as he began to fuck you into the mattress.

You panted whining as he moved roughly. He fucked you with one thing in mind.

"Cum on my cock." You moaned panting. "You could do it honey."

"No no I've been bad. I don't deserve it-"

"You shut up you sweet beautiful thing. You shut your beautiful mouth. You're my sweet girl. I've been a dick. Now it's okay make a big mess on my cock for me sweetheart."

You moaned out at his words as he placed his hand around your throat. He held your throat gently as he pounded into you.

"God you feel so good. Just wanna make you cum on my cock."

"Adrian! Oh god! Yes yes yes!" He smiled fucking into you.

"That's right sweetie. Only cock can make you scream like this. You're mine. Mine to love. Mine to fuck like this." You gasped out as he threw your legs over his shoulder.

He spat on your clit using his hand to rub it. "Adrian!!" You cried out his name.

"You feel so good Y/N! Oh fuck you feel so good! Come on baby!" He grunted rubbing your clit harder. You withered on the bed crying as he fucked into you.

"Make a mess on my cock honey. Come on." He growled out dropping your legs to grip your chin. He forced your mouth open.

He kissed you deeply pushing his tongue in your mouth. He sloppily kissed you as he fucked you deeply.

You both moaned panting as Adrian pulled away. "You're mine. Mine. Mine."

"I'm yours." You sobbed out. Adrian pulled out flipping you over. He pressed his chest into your back as he pushed back in. You cried out as he fucked you harder.

"Never fucking forget that. Never fucking forget that this pussy and this body and you are mine." He moaned out. "I'm gonna cum inside this sweet pussy. My pussy."

"Adrian! Adrian!" He pulled your tits as he hugged you tight. "I'm gonna cum!!"

"Make a mess. Wanna feel you squeeze my cock!" You cried out cumming. Tears went down your cheeks as

Adrian humped into you a couple more times before groaning out as he pushed in cumming deeply inside of you.

You both panted. He kissed your neck a couple of times as he slowly laid you down. You cried silently as he pulled out. He flipped you over on your back kissing your face.

You sniffled as he kissed your lips sweetly now. "You okay?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes.." You whispered out. He smiled getting up.

You whined reaching out for him. He came back kissing your lips real quick.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right back." Adrian gave you a smile racing off. He came back with a rag and some water.

He wiped you down gently as you still cried. Adrian wiped your tears away kissing your face.

"Can you drink some water for me honey?" You nodded sitting up.

He helped you to the restroom waiting for you.

Once you came out he helped you into one of his shirts sliding your panties on for you.

"I'm sorry I didn't defrost the meat like you asked me too.." You mumbled out once he tucked you back into bed.

"That doesn't matter. It never did. I'm sorry. You were right I was being an irrational dick. You were busy today too." He kissed your lips cuddling you into his chest. He rubbed your back.

"But it was the only thing you asked of me and then you said I kept bothering you and and-" You cried now. Adrian shushed you kissing his lips.

"No no Y/N. No..It was me. I had a bad day and I took it out on you. I should've never done that to you. You were being the best girlfriend trying to make sure I was okay. I'm sorry okay. I'm so sorry."

He kissed your tears and cheeks. "I'm sorry. I just had a really bad day. It was terrible. I shouldn't have left yelled at you. You were right. I was a terrible boyfriend. I love you so much."

"I love you too..I'm sorry I said those mean things. I also had a bad day."

"We both had bad days. It's okay. I'm sorry for yelling at you for something so small. I shouldn't have." He leaned in kissing you. "You tried to make it better. I had those mean things coming. I'm so sorry.."

"I forgive you." You mumbled out sniffling.

"You shouldn't, but thank you. I will never yell at you the way I did. Never again.." He kissed your head again moving to kiss your lips. He hugged you tightly.

"So you said pizza earlier?"

"It was just a suggestion."

"And it was a good one sweetheart. I love you Y/N. I mean it. I'm so so sorry I yelled at you. You're not a bother and I hate making you cry the way I did." He kissed your lips.

"I love you Adrian. I don't hate you like I said I did. I didn't mean it."

"I know you didn't. You were mad and you had every right to be." He kissed your lips gently. "I'm gonna order us food and I'm gonna pamper you the whole night like you deserve."

"But I was mean-"

"So was I. I shouldn't have yelled at you and after the rough treatment I put you through you need a good night."

"I liked it though."

Adrian smirked laughing a bit now. "I'm glad you did." He kissed your lips now. "God I love you so much."

"I love you too.." You smiled as he sat you on his lap massaging your back. He cuddled you close grabbing his phone.

"Now lemme get you a pizza."

You smiled happily as he kissed your face everywhere. "My sweet beautiful girlfriend."

#adrian chase #fanfiction #adrian chase x reader #vigilante fanfiction #vigilante x reader #adrian chase x you #fanfic #vigilante peacemaker #peacemaker #adrian chase peacemaker

[creamymilkk]

Could you do a one where the reader and Vance we're together and the reader was killed by the grabber before Vance. And the reader trys to help Vance escape and stay safe from the grabber when he gets kidnapped (and Vance can communication with the reader through the phone like Finney did but he can also see them bc when he turned around while still on the phone bc he heard a voice which was the readers and he also finds out the reader was murdered by the grabber and gets pissed)but the reader ends up failing to protect him and Vance died too and they can finally be together again?

⋆·˚ ༘ * ♡. 📞 I promise. 📞 .♡

༉‧₊˚ #Vance Hopper x reader

. ˚₊ ꒱ Pairing/Pairings: Vance Hopper and GN! Reader.

༉‧₊˚ -Format: imagine.

× &﹕Summary: You try your hardest to get Vance out of here.

×﹕♺ AUTHOR’S NOTE(S): I loved this idea! Btw Im trying to catch up in requests so requests are going to be slow.

masterlist | Requests: OPEN

Vance's eyes slowly opened and his whole body felt like shit. His head hurt like crazy when his eyes fully opened. He was in an unknown place, he got up. Vance saw him.

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?” He yelled out to the unknown man with a weird-looking devil mask. Until it hit him. It was the grabber. The person that took away his lover.

“It’s too late for yelling.” The grabber calmly stated. He was holding a plate, he put the plate on the floor. It was shitty-looking eggs and a soda bottle.

“Where the hell am I?” “In my basement.” He started looking at him.

“Just eat.” “I’m not fucking eating that,” Vance said to the grabber disgusted and mad.

“Oh, your problem. You are already down here. “ The grabber went to the basement door. Vance was in disbelief, how did he get kidnapped by him?

He was stronger than the grabber he knew that. He beaten up three kids in under 2 minutes. He was just mad and confused until he turned around. There was a black phone.

‘How dumb is he?’ Vance thought. The grabber already knew what he was doing and thinking about. “The phone doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked since I was a kid.”

With that being said, he closed the door. For the first time in his life, he truly felt hopeless. He didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what to say. He looked at the food next to the bed.

He wasn’t going to eat the eggs or the soda. He didn’t care if he was going to starve to death.

Two days. For two days, his face was coated in dirt. His jacket was slowly losing its color, his once white shirt. Was covered with mud and blood. This was the third day, yesterday he tried punching the grabber but that ended horribly. He got beaten.

He would try and kill him. He wanted to snap his neck, he wanted to kill him. For them.

He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to fight but he couldn’t. Just not yet, he wanted to fight him when the time is just right. His thoughts were all over the place.

RING RING RING.

‘Was that? That couldn’t be..’ he quickly got off the bed and went to the phone. He was right, the phone was ringing. ‘What? How?’ He picked up the phone.

He put it next to his ear, it was just sadistic. Fucking. Sadetic. He thought he could have escaped. The grip of the phone tightened. He smashed the phone back into its place when he was about to turn around.

RING RING RING.

He turns around, ‘I swear to god.’ He picked up the phone. It was sadetic until he heard a faint “Hello?” “Hello?!?” He almost yelled into the phone. Maybe he could escape, his eyes almost lightened up.

“Hello.” The line was more clear and he couldn’t believe what he heard. It was y/n. The person he loves. “Y/n? Baby.” He said, his voice cracking. He couldn’t believe his ears. “Vance? It’s been forever..” you spoke in a sweet gentle voice.

“Y/n… I can’t believe it’s you..” he said, his voice breaking. “Y/n… I remember.” You said almost forgetting your name.

Before Vance could say anything, the phone disconnected. “Y/n!” He was about to cry. “You can’t talk to the dead.” That voice.

He turned around and it was him. “Stay the fuck away from me.” “Oh don’t worry. I just wanted to check up on you.” He stated.

“You’ve done your check-up! Go.” He said to the grabber in an angry tone.

“If I need to.” The grabber turn around and walked out of the basement.

Vance was about to cry until he noticed the door unlocked. ‘That fucking idiot.’ He thought. Quickly went to the door and when he was about to open it.

RING RING RING.

It was ringing. It’s y/n. He ran to the phone and picked it up, “hello?” “Don’t go upstairs. He’s waiting.” You spoke out.

“What?” “He didn’t say you could leave. If you do, he will punish you. With hitting you with that belt. It hurts like hell.” You said.

“Did he hit you..?” He said to you, Vance turned around and there was you. Standing in front of him.

Your hair was a mess, the outfit was covered in dirt and blood. A lot of blood and your eyes were gone. Blood dripped out of them. You were a mess.

“Y/n..?” He mumbled out.

“You could see me?” You said in the same soft voice. “Yeah… I can.” Vance answered, still holding the phone.

“Did he hit you.” He asked you again. “He did much more than that.” You walked close to him.

“He killed me. I tried to escape.. I really tried Vance.” You cupped his cheek with your hand.

Your once warm and gentle hand was now cold. Since soft and gentle, he wanted to kill that asshole.

“I'm going to kill him! I swear.” Vance said in an angry tone. He looked at you, almost crying out of anger.

“Don’t worry about me Vance… I promise I will help you escape.” You always cared about other people, when he found out you were gone. He was such a crying mess, he wished that he was there to help you. To protect you. To hug you. To tell you that everything will be okay.

“For right now, don’t go upstairs. He’s waiting, Vance. Eat. That food won’t hurt you.” With that. You were gone, he wished he could have talked to you more. But he will listen to you. He will kill that mother fucker. For you.

He quickly got the plate with eggs and soda. He ate the food fast, he almost forgot that he was straving. He drank the soda, even though the Grabber food tasted like shit. He was hungry.

Vance was just sitting down, thinking of what you said. ‘I promise I will help you escape.’ He couldn’t believe that you were protecting him. He wanted so badly to see you or even talk about what happened. He got up, and picked up the phone.

“Y/n.. please answer. I just wanna talk to you. Even just to hear your voice. Please.” He begged. He still heard nothing.

He let out a sigh, and was about to lay on the dirty so called ‘bed’ until..

RING RING RING.

he almost jumped to the phone, he picked up the phone. “Y/n?” “Hey Vance.” You spoke. He turned around and you were there.

“What happened? Do you remember anything?” He questioned you. “It’s all a blur. All I know is what happened here. I do remember you.” You said looking at him.

“I swear that this won’t happen to you.” you spoke to him.

“I love you, Vance.” “I love you too,” Vance said still crying and smiling.

2 weeks. He did everything you told him to, he just wanted to get out of this hell. Today was the day to kill that fucking jackass. The one that did this to you. The one that took your life. The grabber was taking his time.

He couldn’t wait to hear him scream and beg him for his life. Vance was waiting and hiding behind the walls. That’s when the grabber opened the door with the plate of eggs and soad like always done. Vance swears every time the eggs get grosser. “Breakfast Tim-“ he was cut off. “TODAY IS THE DAY MOTHERFUCKER.”

When Vance quickly punched him in the face, the plate of eggs dropped before they both knew it. They were fighting. Vance was fighting like he never had before. He really wanted to kill him. Until the grabber got some pole laying around and hit him right in the face. Vance quickly falled back.

His nose was broken and bleeding ALOT. Everything was getting blurry, “Naughty boy.” He chuckled. Vance turned his head and saw you. You were standing crying.

Then everything went black.

He worked up and was somewhere he didn’t remember being. ‘Where the hell is this?’ He thought to himself. “Vance..?” He turned around and saw you.

“Y/n..” You quickly ran into Vance’s arms, hugging him tight. You quickly started crying, “I’m s-sorry Vance’s. I broke my promise.” “It’s okay.” Vance said to you.

“It’s not. You should be outside and enjoying life.” You cried out. “Baby…y/n.” He said to you,

You look deeply into his baby ocean eyes. “I don’t care about that. I don’t care. All I want is to be with you for the rest of my life.” He spoke to you.

“I love you.” With that you two kissed.

#requests open #vance hopper #vance hopper x reader #inbox open #the black phone #the black phone fanfic #vance hopper the black phone #the black phone 2022 #the black phone fandom #angst?? #gender neutral y/n #gender nuetral reader #fluff? #happy ending #i suck at this #idk what else to put in the tags #tags #imagine

[trivialbob]

When I took the dogs to the park yesterday evening I enjoyed the post-Christmas traffic level. It was like driving on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. Except it was dark and cold and I knew I still had to work the next day. But at least there were few vehicles on the road. Find happiness where you can!

Work was also as light as the traffic. Four emails were all I received over the entire day. One was from me to me, to make sure I was still properly signed on to the network.

After some appointment Sheila had in the evening she stopped to get Chinese food, then picked me up. We went to the brewery for a beer with dinner. Under the Christmas tree there a Corgi was plopped down on the skirt, like she was a gift to all of us. Her name was Ella, which made me wish I'd brought our Ella along.

We ran into a couple we know from the brewery and hadn't seen in a while. It was nice catching up.

Once satiated with lo mein, egg rolls, and beer, we headed home where only three dogs were waiting for us. It seemed so quiet!

The night before five dogs were at our house. Jack and Ali went to her family's Christmas party. They dropped Luca and Lily at our place for the night.

That night Sheila and I slept in different bedrooms. It wasn't because I was mad about the gobs and gobs of red hair clogging the bathroom drains. No, it was because Lily insists on sleeping under the covers. I'm no fan of that. So Sheila and Lily went to one room. The other four dogs slept on my bed. There wouldn't even have been room for Sheila anyway.

#Lily apparently needs little oxygen overnight #Five Dog Night

[footprintsinthesxnd]

Chapter two: Bike Rides and Turning Tides

Harry Crosby x Maggie Reid / Ken Lemmons x Maggie Reid

Series Masterlist

This story is based on on the fictional portrayal of these men from the MOTA to series.

Summary: As Maggie is still trying to figure out what Ken and Harry mean to her, she realises who is there for her when she really needs them.

Collab with @georgieluz

July 4th 1943, Thorpe Abbot AAF base, 07:00

"Tell me everything," Mads threw herself down into the wooden chair on the opposite side of the table, her coffee steaming in front of her as she waited expectantly. "You avoided me all day yesterday, but I hear you were out on the hard stand with Ken all morning." She winked cheekily at her.

"There's nothing to tell," Maggie sighed, pushing her mushy, scrambled egg around on the plate in front of her. All morning Tatty, Helen and Mads had been quizzing her on her 'date' with Harry Crosby.

"Honestly, nothing happened. Harry just happened to be there, we had a nice chat, he walked me home. Then Ken showed up with flowers and a wrench, and then he left. So yes, nothing happened."

Mads looked a little disappointed running her index finger around the top of her mug before a new idea popped into her head. "But you wanted something to happen, right? I mean you like them right?"

"I don't know, Mads," Maggie groaned, she loved her friend's enthusiasm but right now it was just too much. Her mind was too preoccupied with the thoughts of two different men that Mad's chaotic behaviour was not helping.

"What are we talking about?" Archie and Jimmy appeared behind her, Archie bent over pressing a kiss to her temple as he sat down, stealing a piece of toast off Maggie's plate and biting into it.

"We're discussing Maggie's love life but she's giving me nothing," Mad's pouted.

"Like I said, there's nothing to tell," Maggie corrected her.

"So Harry Crosby truly was a gentleman then," Archie mused, finishing the piece of toast before he took a long swig of his coffee.

"Yes, but there wasn't just Harry. Lovely little Ken Lemmons was waiting outside our hut for her all night with a wrench and some primroses," Mads added, ignoring the glare Maggie sent her way.

"Ken Lemmons hey, who would have thought it, and primroses too. They're your favourites, right Maggie?" Jimmy added, winking at Archie.

Maggie glared at him. Of course, those two had something to do with this. The mischievous smile on their faces instantly gave them away as the culprits.

"They are actually," she replied nonchalantly, trying to ignore the two smirking faces in front of her. Instead, her eyes trailed upwards, catching those of a certain navigator who waved shyly at her across the mess hall.

She waved back, ignoring her friends who spun frantically around in their seats to see who she was waving at.

"Crosby!" The three exclaimed, turning back quickly as a few eyes, including Harry's glanced over.

Maggie's face grew redder as she felt Harry's eyes still on her, she wanted to look back over but then she knew she'd be blushing even more. Her heartbeat quickened in her chest as a pair of legs appeared out of the corner of her eye.

"Good morning, Crosby. Did you sleep well?" Archie asked cheerfully, sipping his fresh cup of coffee with a wide smile. Mads leant back in her chair beside him, smiling sweetly.

"Yes I-I did… thank you," Harry stumbled over his words, eyes trained on Maggie who plucked up the courage to send him a small smile. Harry looked so happy that the crushing guilt began to grow in her chest. Why had she expected the flowers from Ken? She'd had such a lovely evening with Harry, but then Ken…

"Isn't that right, Maggie?" Archie asked, sending a knowing look her way as she felt three pairs of eyes on her.

"Umm… yes, yes of course," she replied, absolutely oblivious to what she was agreeing to, but from the three smiling faces looking at her it must have been the right answer.

"Excellent, I still have the bikes from last night so feel free to borrow those," Archie declared, standing up and dragging Mads and Jimmy up beside him. "Come on Madison, let's leave these two to their fun day of activities."

Mads and Jimmy nodded, following after Archie but not before turning to give Maggie a 'thumbs up'. Maggie made it her mission to scold her when she next saw the nurse, but Harry quickly took the seat that Mads had occupied.

"I hope that's okay with you…b-because if not I can…” Harry began rambling but Maggie grabbed his hand, stopping the blushing navigator mid-sentence.

"Harry, I'm sure it's fine but I maybe…sort of…did zone out and I'm not entirely sure what I've volunteered for," she admitted, biting her lip anxiously while Harry's face relaxed and he chuckled.

"You've volunteered to take me out on a bicycle ride," he smiled cheerfully, "and a picnic."

Harry seemed awfully pleased with himself and Maggie could find it in her to tell him she had a lot of work to get through today.

"Of course, I'd be happy to. How about you arrange the picnic and I'll grab the bikes?" She asked hopefully, shovelling in the last of the powdered eggs on her plate.

"Yes, yes of course….absolutely…I'll," Harry stumbled backwards away from his chair, catching himself before he fell. "I'll get right on that… Yes, I will." His cheeks glowed bright red and Maggie couldn't help the smile growing on her lips as she watched him hurry away on his important mission.

Finishing her coffee, Maggie glanced down at her overalls, noticing the dark oil stains and rips in the fabric. She couldn't go out with Harry looking like this. What would people say?

Pushing herself hastily away from the table, she rushed from the mess hall, hurrying back towards the Red Cross hut, praying that either Tatty or Helen would still be there to help her. She wasn't sure why she was so worried. The first time she'd met Harry she'd fallen on her arse, flailing around on the floor in her overalls, but somehow this time was different. This time she wanted to impress her.

Her boots hammered at the Nissan but steps as she threw open the door, startling Helen and Tatty who were sitting on their beds, chatting quietly,

"Girls!" She exclaimed, "I need your help."

Thorpe Abbotts Base AAF Sector, 09:00

Maggie, tugged at the blue shirt that seemed to stick to her body, praying that she wasn't sweating through the thin material. She'd opted for a shirt and thin summer trousers after the fiasco with her dress last time she ridden the bike. Helen and Tatty had helped style her hair, pinning the front parts of her hair neatly, while her remaining curls hung loosely at her shoulders.

She waited anxiously, checking her watch for the fourth time in a few minutes. Maggie knew she hadn't set an exact time to meet Harry but the apprehension only grew and she began to chew at her cheek.

A dark-haired figure appeared from behind one of the Nissen huts, a wide smile on his face and a wicker basket underneath his arm. He waved excitedly at her, tripping over but managing to save himself before he hit the ground. Maggie gasped, hurrying forward but he recovered, cheeks a little redder but still smiling nonetheless.

"Sorry I'm late, Bubbles was drilling me about the other night," he admitted, placing the basket down beside him, "Don't worry, I didn't tell him too much."

Maggie laughed, leaning back against the bikes, "I do hope so, Harry. I can't have the whole of the Eighth Air Force knowing all my secrets."

"Duly noted," Harry saluted her, allowing his eyes to trail over her. "Maggie, you look… wow you look amazing," Harry breathed as he reached her. His dark eyes shone brightly and his cheeks crinkled as he smiled.

"Thank you," Maggie blushed, pulling at the sleeves of the shirt Helen had lent her. It wasn't normally her style, but then again her style mainly consisted of overalls, or corduroy trousers and boots back home.

The pair watched each other nervously, neither too sure what to say next before they both spoke in unison.

"We should…"

"Shall we…"

Harry chuckled, "Shall we go?"

Maggie nodded, pushing one of the bikes towards Harry so he could secure the picnic basket on the back, before climbing into the saddle.

"So, do you know the area well?" He asked, pushing down the pedals shakily and pulling onto the gravel road beside her.

"Well enough," she mused, pushing her bike ahead of his, "Keep up, Crosby, I don't want you lagging".

The chains in the bike creaked as Maggie's feet came in contact with the pedals, her boots pushing them forward as the rickety metal frame began to move. She couldn't vouch for the safety of this bike, especially considering Archie was just borrowing them, but she appreciated the sentiment and the fact that they didn't have to walk.

Harry grinned cheerfully beside her, his legs slowly pushing the bike forward down the tarmacked road leading out of the base. Maggie was glad that she had chosen to wear trousers instead of a dress after her last mishap with a bike resulting in her blue dress being stained with oil.

Maggie couldn't help but chuckle, watching as Harry threw his head back, allowing the sun to cast its glow over his handsome features, his eyes shining brightly as he glanced over at her.

They neared the exit to the base, turning right and following the road away from the village and towards the lush, open green landscape. The viridescent fields and hills roll by calmly.

Maggie pushed herself forward, keeping up with Harry easily.

"You enjoying the view," she jested, watching as Harry's cheeks grew a dark crimson and he glanced away. "I don't mind if you are, just nice to know."

Harry cleared his throat, "Well, maybe I do like the view actually," he admitted rather sheepishly, meeting his gaze for a few seconds.

"Good," she declared, "Maybe you'll enjoy the view as you eat my dust." She took off down the road, legs pedalling faster than before as the bike carried her swiftly away. She cheered and whooped, ignoring Harry's shouts of protest from behind her as he trailed along, bringing up the rear.

Maggie continued to cycle on, following the winding road down around the perimeter of the base, until the road forked over the river and she stopped at the small stone bridge. Harry appeared from around the bend, his legs pedalling faster than ever as he came to a screeching halt before her.

"Well," Harry sighed, catching his breath with a chuckle, "You sure did give me a run for my money."

Maggie laughed, "Never underestimate an English girl, Croz," she pointed her finger at his chest and he raised his hands in mock surrender.

"I would never."

The afternoon trundled on and Maggie finally found the spot she was looking for beside the river. It's where the river bent around an old tree, following either side of it on its path towards the sea.

She dropped her bike down on the grassy verge, flopping down beside it with a sigh. Harry followed suit, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as the hot summer sun began to get to him.

"What's Iowa like, Harry?" Maggie asked, picking at the grass beside her leg as she glanced at him.

Harry smiled fondly, "Well it's generally pretty cold in the winter, it snows but it's not too heavy. The summers are my favourite, hot and humid and you have really long summer evenings. The summer evenings are my favourite. It's normally around mid-eighties Fahrenheit."

Maggie chuckled, "You Yanks and your Fahrenheit."

Harry shook his head, "Sorry, it's just the measurements I know." He waited a minute before continuing his story about Iowa. Maggie loved how passionately he talked about his home, she'd never travelled more than four hours from where she was born and yet many of the young men on base were hundreds of miles from theirs.

Harry paused for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The State's flag has an eagle on it."

He seemed rather chuffed about that particular fact and Maggie laughed, enjoying his boyish behaviour.

"Well if I'm ever in a quiz about the State of Iowa I have a pretty good chance of winning," she laughed, causing Harry to blush, ducking his head down in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I know I reeled off a lot, it's just things that are familiar to me and…"

"No not at all," she interrupted him, "No I like hearing about your home. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be so far from your home. I'd love to visit the States someday," she mumbled, tugging absentmindedly at the sleeve of the shirt, "I just can't imagine travelling so far."

"Maybe one day I could take you there, to Iowa I mean. You could come to visit," Harry suggested a nervous smile on his lips.

Maggie smiled, "I don't know about that, leaving England. I'd never even left Dorset until the war began, now I've been to a few more places but nothing too far," she admitted, suddenly feeling self-conscious that she hadn't had to brave the trip to a new country to help with the war effort. Even the Red Cross girls had come further than she had.

Harry, sensing her uncertainty, reached forward, grasping her hand in his, "Then maybe this could be your first big adventure."

Harry was right, nothing was stopping her from travelling to the States with Harry after the war. She didn't have to stay there if she didn't like it, and her family would always be here waiting for her.

"Alright Croz, you've got yourself a deal. If this war ever ends you owe me a trip to the States."

Harry laughed at her enthusiasm, "You've got yourself a deal."

All too soon the morning drew into afternoon, and the pair decided to head back, pedalling slowly along the deserted road. The summers sun still hung high in the sky, beating down onto their backs. Maggie was pleased that the shirt she had borrowed was thin and the wind blew through the fine material cooling her easily.

Cycling home was nowhere near as fun as when they'd flown down these roads earlier, and Maggie could see by the way Harry hung his head low that he felt the same. Back on base, everything was loud and demanding, but out here, just the two of them the world was soft and quiet. If only they could say here forever.

"We should do this again sometime," Maggie suggested as they turned up the gravel road, and through the gates back onto the air base. The sign to Thorpe Abbott hanging by the post, and they both nodded to the guard on the gate.

"I'd like that very much," Harry nodded enthusiastically, his smile a little brighter than the gloomy look on his face a few moments before. Maggie's heart swelled as she looked at him, his face crinkling as he grinned at her. There was something warm and safe about Harry Crosby, like she'd known him forever and knew that he'd look out for her. Maggie wasn't sure what it was but it made her smile at him in return.

"Then we will have to arrange it. My sister and I cycled all over the place when we were children."

"I'd like to meet your family someday, I-if you'd let me of course," he added nervously, "They seem like lovely people."

Maggie wasn't sure whether she wanted Harry to meet her family. Life at home was so different from her life on base, here she was strong and independent but at home, she was back beneath the shadow of her perfect sister.

"Sure, maybe one day," Maggie replied vaguely, hoping the answer would settle Harry for the time being.

Pulling up their bikes beside the RAF Nissen hut and propping them against the wall, Maggie noticed a familiar figure watching them.

Ken sat on the bench across the field, fiddling with some spare parts on the table with Billy and Sammy. The two boys spotted Maggie, waving frantically and calling them over. Ken sent her a cold smile and Maggie couldn't help but feel out of place joining their peaceful moment. Harry walked beside her, grinning happily at Ken who greeted them indifferently, his voice low.

"Maggie. Lieutenant Crosby," he nodded, his eyes never leaving the motor he was tinkering with.

"Lemmons," Harry greeted him somewhat smugly and Maggie wondered if there was some unspoken conversation going on between them that she wasn't aware of.

"Maggie, did you go on a bike ride?" Billy asked, squeezing in between Maggie and Harry and looking up at her excitedly.

"I sure did, kiddo. We went on a little tour of the countryside, gotta show Harry here was England's all about."

The two boys nodded enthusiastically and Sammy moved around to join Maggie, both of them wrapping their arms around her to which Maggie did the same. She couldn't help but smile at their affection, but glancing up she noticed Harry and Ken watching her, both with soft expressions and round eyes that made Maggie feel slightly uncomfortable. She coughed, bringing them back to attention and Ken bent his head down, collecting his tools that were littered across the table.

"I should probably be heading back to the handstand, gotta finish up over there," he mumbled, never once looking in Maggie's direction. She couldn't help the guilt that brewed inside her as she watched him and the two boys go all away. How could she do this to Ken? But then again they were just friends, right?

It was strange really. When Maggie was with Harry she felt jovial, and carefree, like she could laugh forever, and she was happy when she was in Harry's presence. Then Ken came along, he was soft, quiet, and gentle and Maggie felt her heart rate increase for a completely different reason. She didn't know what she was feeling, but her heart felt more conflicted than it had the other evening.

Harry stirred beside her, leaning a little closer than he had before and tentatively wrapped his arm around her shoulder. For a moment Maggie froze, shoulders stiffening under Harry's touch but the warmth she felt from him quickly soothed her nerves. She leant into his touch smiling up at him. A pink blush was spreading across his cheeks and the tips of his ears turned a little red.

"I had a nice time today, Maggie," Harry spoke quietly, his lips seemingly moving in slow motion as Maggie processed his words.

"I had a nice time today too," she assured him, "but I'm still better at riding a bike than you, you're like an old man on that bike."

Harry chuckled, shoving Maggie's shoulder lightly, "All right you little Spitfire."

Maggie grinned at the nickname and Harry quickly interjected, "I know you're a Lancaster mechanic but geewiz you were quick down those lanes."

"No, no it's okay," Maggie turned so she could face Harry better, her hand coming to rest on his own, "No, I like the nickname."

Harry's nervousness from earlier disappeared, and he reached out, brushing a loose blonde lock that had blown across Maggie's face. "Good," he mumbled, his eyes looking down at her and Maggie could feel the heat growing in her cheeks. Maggie could feel Harry leaning forward, his breath fanning across her face. This was the closest they had ever been and…

"Maggie?" Jimmy called out, jogging over to the couple with his toolbox in hand. "I'm really sorry to break up whatever's going on here," his eyes darting between the two before he continued, "But Maggie I really need your help. The boys have a mission tonight and we've got a problem with our lead bomber."

Maggie shot up from her seat, dropping Harry's hand a little harsher than she would have liked. She watched as his face fell and she leant forward, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Harry but I have to go," she couldn't decide whether the interruption of their almost kiss was a good thing or not, but she pushed it from her mind.

Harry nodded quickly, the small smile returning to his face, "No not at all, don't worry. I'll see you later."

Maggie turned, quickly falling into step beside Jimmy. She wasn't sure whether she should have glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Harry or not, but her eyes remained focused ahead of her.

Jimmy could sense the tension around the situation and nudged into her shoulder, "Now it's none of my business and I don't know what I just interrupted, but you should know that Ken Lemmons's kid came around asking for you today. Came over to the handstand. I told him you weren't there and would be back later, then he stayed another hour or so playing with June. She's really taken a shine to him and you know dogs are a good judge of character."

Maggie turned, "You're right, Jimmy it isn't any of your business," she snapped, watching as her friend's eyebrows raised and his lips set in a thin line.

"As you wish," he began walking in the direction of the handstand, not glancing back to see if she was following. Jimmy was one of her best friends and despite their stressful jobs she'd never once snapped at him.

"Jimmy, wait. I'm sorry," she ran after him, grabbing his arm so he couldn't keep walking away from her. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it, I just…" She sighed, tugging her fingers through her blonde curls, "I just don't know what to do".

It was true, she didn't know what to do. All of a sudden two men were showing great interest in her, seemingly aware of each other and yet they still wanted to be around her. She wasn't sure which was worse, having no men interested in her or having two at the same time.

"It's no big deal," Jimmy shrugged, throwing his arm around Maggie's shoulders and pulling her after him. "Now were not placing bets or anything, but my money's on Kenny boy."

Maggie snorted, shoving him dramatically, "You are no help at all, Jimmy."

"Well, the boys got my vote."

And just like that, everything was back to normal, at least for Jimmy it was. He whistled the rest of the way to the handstand, swinging his toolbox as he went. Maggie remained quiet, her mind too preoccupied to join in with the tune. Every time she thought of the lovely day she'd had with Harry she saw Kenny's disappointed face smiling sadly back at her. The sooner the job on the bombers was done, the sooner she could go and find him. She had to talk to him, to explain herself in some way and…well she didn't know what to do after that, but she had to do something.

Thorpe Abbott base RAF sector, 19:00

"Are 'The Girls' airworthy?" Archie asked, swinging his bag onto his back as he sauntered towards his bomber. His flying jacket hung loosely on his arm and he looked like a poster boy for the RAF.

Maggie smiled, "She's as airworthy as she can be after the beatings you keep giving her, but she'll get you there and back if you treat her right."

Archie nodded, watching as his copilot, Murray, hoisted himself up into the fuselage, "Well, then I know she'll be fine."

Maggie nodded, throwing her arms around Archie's shoulders, "Just be safe okay? I don't want to find out you did something stupid and got yourself killed."

"I promise, nothing stupid Mags," he pressed his lips to her forehead, holding her close for a moment longer before he pulled away. This was the same ritual they had for every mission Archie had flown since they met, and so far it had worked.

Pulling away Maggie cupped his cheek tenderly, "You know you're a real pain in the ass sometimes, but I wouldn't trade you for anyone."

Archie grinned, squeezing Maggie's hand, "I'll be back before you know it." He stepped away, turning and heading to the plane before Maggie could say anything else, before she could protest, begging him not to go. He knew she wanted to and he couldn't blame her, but this was war, it's what he came here to do.

Maggie remained frozen to the spot, unable to move until Archie was back on the hard stand. She hated mission nights more than anything else that this wretched war had thrown at her, mission nights were the worst. She could never settle, could never sleep. Some of the other ground crew would try and catch a few hours shut eye until the siren went off to announce the bomber's arrival back home, but Maggie couldn't bring herself to leave.

She found her usual seat on the nearby stack of crates, settling herself in for a long night. June curled up on the lower crate beside her, nuzzling into Maggie's flight jacket that she'd laid out for the spaniel. Despite the warm afternoon weather, the nights were still cool in July and Maggie knew she'd grow to regret not having her jacket on, but how could she leave June without something soft to lie on?

The Lancaster's began to roar to life, pulling off the hard stand and out onto the runway. Archie saluted her through the small cockpit window as his plane pulled away, she saluted back, a large lump forming in her throat.

Before the tears could begin to fall, a coat was pulled around her shoulders causing Maggie to jump, before she noticed Ken looking down at her, a soft smile on his lips.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"No, it's okay," Maggie replied, her voice thick with emotion. She couldn't bring herself to let her voice grow any louder.

"Thought you could use some company."

Maggie nodded, "Thanks Ken." She patted the crate, and Ken wriggled in closely, stroking June's head to which the little spaniel wagged her tail, beating it against the crate beneath her.

The Lancasters were at the end of the runway, lifting off into the sky one at a time. The sun was setting now, the blues of the day drifting into purples and pinks before the fiery orange spread across the landscape. The planes creating dark silhouettes against the terracotta sky. It felt like a bad omen, as if the planes were doomed to go up in flames, but Maggie tried to push the thought away. As they disappeared into the distance the airfield grew quiet, the rumble of the plane's engines disappearing leaving everyone waiting with baited breath for their return.

The hours seemed to pass so slowly that Maggie had begun to wonder if time was frozen until the sun had completely set and the sky grew dark. At some point in the silence, Ken had wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer when she shivered at the night's harsh breeze.

June whined sadly, scratching at Ken's leg until he lifted her, placing her onto Maggie's lap.

"It's okay June, Uncle Archie will be back. He always comes back to us," Maggie reassure her and the spaniel looked up, her brown eyes looking sadly at her.

"How long have you known Archie?" Ken asked, leaning his head against Maggie's, his hand rubbing small circles on her back.

The blonde thought for a moment, a smile forming on her lips as she spoke, "Just over a year. We became friends almost instantly. He's all I had for a long time."

Ken nodded, his lips forming a smile as he looked down at the girl in his arms. He wasn't sure what he was doing. Something just seemed to draw him to Maggie, and despite her obvious friendship with Harry, he couldn't help himself. Her head lay gently against his shoulder, her blonde hair fanning over his chest.

Maggie glanced up at Ken, their faces just inches away as she spoke and Ken could feel her breath on his face. "About earlier…with Harry, I mean…it's…it's not what…"

"Hey, shhh shhh, you don't have to explain anything. There's nothing to explain," he pressed his head against hers, nearly pressing his lips to her forehead. The closeness they shared was the most intimate moment that Maggie had ever felt, maybe even more intimate than her almost kiss with Harry that she tried to push from her mind. It didn't seem right, not like it did with Ken. Maggie's heart felt heavy as she snuggled further into Ken's arms. Why did emotions have to be so complicated?

"You don't have to wait out here with me all night if you don't want to. I'm used to waiting on my own, except June of course," Maggie added, her blue eyes drifting up to meet his.

Ken shook his head, "No it's alright. I want to stay with you…if that's okay with you of course," Ken added, scratching the back of his neck.

Maggie lifted her arm, running her finger over his cheek, turning his head to look at her, "Of course, I do, Ken. It's nice to have some company."

"Good," Ken pulled her close, ensuring his jacket was tightly wrapped around Maggie's shoulders, June shuffled up closer to benefit from the warmth of the jacket. "I'm not going anywhere."

Tags: @georgieluz @docroesmorphine @major-mads @violetdaze25 @bcofl0ve @precious-little-scoundrel @blurredcolour @artlover8992 @b00ks1ut @xxluckystrike @hockeyboysarehot @groovin2beats @kmc1989 @ginabaker1666 @hesbuckcompton-baby @vera-keller @blueberry-ovaries

#beneath the blue sky #masters of the air #harry crosby #Harry Crosby x oc #Ken Lemmons #Ken Lemmons x oc #maggie reid #Archie Sullivan #mota

[annashadowstar]

Danny, Mirage, and Annesa Felizima-@capturecharlesau Amelia Copperbottom -@androidcharles

Cameron Calvin -@rarestdoge

Accordion and Violin -@bluetorchsky

Brutus-@smoresthehalloweenqueen

Crusher, Jay, Scottie, and Ulle -@jaytoons7

Nicole -@lovelygirlnicole15

Chapter 2: Shopping

Morning has come, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and a beautiful day outside should not be a waste. Mirage slowly wakes up from his dreamless sleep. He slowly sits up and makes a big stretch and a jaw-cracking yawn. He then got out of bed and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. After washing his face, he returned to his bedroom and saw three feathers. Two next to his bed and one next to his pillow. Oh yeah. He had to tell the others what he had found out yesterday.

Mirage went downstairs to eat breakfast. Maybe some peaceful coffee will help with his sleepiness- “WHO THE HELL TOKE ALL THE FOOD IN THE FRIDGE?!” Never mind. Mirage walked into the kitchen and saw Amelia, Annesa, and Crusher, around the table, while Danny was looking around the fridge. “What’s wrong, bro?” Danny turns to Mirage. “Someone took all the food in the fridge and only left a few bacon, eggs, and some bread. Oh, and a half bottle of milk.” Danny then slams the fidget and sits down, pitching the bridge of his nose. Oh boy, it’s only 8 in the morning and they have to deal with this?! It’s too early. Way too early

“I mean, we could make some sandwiches for breakfast. Not the best but it will fill our tummy.” Mirage points out. Danny look up at Mirage, annoyed. “Yeah, but what about lunch and dinner? We can’t just have one meal a day!” Amelia then speaks. “There is a store nearby. We can maybe buy some food for ourselves. Or we can ask the others since they all live next to us.” Crusher then smiles. “Alright. Then let’s cook some breakfast.” Crusher stands up, opens the fridge, and took everything out. “And whoever stole our food, they will pay for it.” Oh ho, Danny is mad and their food thief is gonna have karmas.

Mirage walks up to the cell phone and begins to call Accordion or Violin. Amelia stands beside him. The phone rings once, then twice, and then… “Hello?” Cameron answered the phone. Oh boy. “Who is it?” Amelia asked, curious. “Hey, isn’t that father’s least favorite child?” Cameron asks, trying to start a fight. Amelia looks like she’s gonna snap that cell phone and scream at Cameron. Fortunately, Mirage stopped them before they got further. “Hey, Cam. Could you get Accordion or Violin on the phone?”

“Ok.” Cameron seemed like he was taking a deep breath and then. “ ACCORDION!!! VIOLIN!!! MIRAGE IS CALLING YOU!!!” Damn, his ears are gonna bleed. Someone took the phone from Cameron after a ‘thank you’ and answered the phone. “Hi, Mirage. This is Violin. Do you need something?” Violin ask. “Well, this morning, someone stole our food from the fridge and we were wondering if we could borrow some of your food for today. We will pay you guys back.”

”Oh… it happened to you too?” Mirage raises one of his eyes brows. “What do you mean?” Violin sign. “This morning, when Brutus woke up, he told us someone stole all the food and kept some fruits and bagels. Jay also called us and has the same problems.” Violin explains. Mirage and Amelia look at each other and back to the phone. “Ok. Thank you for telling us. Seems like we need to go shopping. All of us.” Violin chuckles. “Yeah. I will tell the others. See you soon.”

“Ok, bye.” Mirage hung up and walked back to the kitchen with Amelia. Danny, Crusher, and Annesa had already started eating. “So, how’s it went?” Crusher asked, taking a bite of his food. “Violin says they all have the same problems as ours. And so is Jay and the others.” Danny sigh. “Seems like we need to go shopping. Alright, get ready after breakfast. Mirage, Amelia, come and eat. Your sandwich is getting cold.” Mirage and Amelia quickly take a seat and start eating their breakfast. After they finished, Danny took the plates and began to wash them while Mirage and everyone else went upstairs to change their clothes. After Mirage finished, he took a look at the feathers and picked up the yellow one only before heading downstairs.

“Guys. Need to talk to you all for something.” Everyone turns to Mirage, listening. “Remember the feather from yesterday?” Everyone nods. “Well, those feathers, I believe belong to hybrids. This one just glows when I’m heading to sleep.” Annesa took out her sketchbook and started writing. ‘You sure you’re not seeing things?’ Mirage chuckles and pats Annesa's head. “I’m sure.”

“Ok, so we know that those feathers belong to magical hybrids. But do you know where they are?” Mirage glares at Crusher. “You think I got any ideas?”

“You’re the only one who has all those feathers in your room. Who else we’re gonna ask?” Damn, he got a good point. “Plus, why did you only bring the yellow one, and not the blue and aqua-green one?” Crusher points out. “Because this is the only feather that glows,” Mirage answered, getting annoyed. “I think that’s enough.” Everyone looks at Danny. “We need to get ready and go shopping. I know is a bit early but whoever this ‘Food thief’ is, we will have to deal with them later.” Danny stops his brother and his lover before they get into a fight. He really hopes they will get along in the future. After they were already, Danny, Annesa, Mirage, Crusher, and Amelia went outside of their house and wait for the others to come so they can all went to shopping. And it’s already 12:00 PM.

Mirage brought the feather with him, telling everyone else what he had found out. Once everyone was here, Mirage rejoined the group. "Damn, Violin. You got a long list!" Jay points at Violin's list, which is like 4 pages long. "Hey, you never know when to go shopping again. Plus, just in case! Anyways, Mirage. I notice you have a yellow feather. I do feel some magic from them. Where did you get that?" Violin ask, pointing at Mirage's feather.

"Oh, I was about to tell you guys. So yesterday, Amelia and I found three feathers. This one and the other two are in my room. A hybrid left those." Mirage explains. "Ok... Let's go shopping." Jay request. Everyone starts going shopping for more food and clothes. They were separated into 6 groups with two people each. Accordion with Amelia. Violin with Scottie. Danny with Annesa. Brutus was lucky to be teamed with his lover, Brutus. Ulle with Nicole. And a piece of bad news for Mirage, he's teaming up with Crusher. And it was Danny's idea.

"Why the heck do you let me team up with HIM?!" Danny looks at Mirage and sighs. "I want you guys to get along."

"Alone with HIM?! You know what he-" Danny cut him off. "I know what he did to you was unfair but it's in the past now, Mirage. You can't keep getting mad at him." Mirage groan. Really didn't agree to this. "Can you do it for me?" Mirage looks at Danny for a while then sighs. "OK, fine. Only for you." Danny smiles. "Ok, Let's see." Everyone turns to Scottie. "The most important thing we need right now is food. Who's gonna get what?"

"How about two groups get vegetables, the other two groups get meats, and the last two groups get everything else? That way, it will be faster." Ulle points out, giving a suggestion. Everyone agrees. "Here's a list." Accordion hands everyone a list of what they need. Mirage and Crusher look at their list. They need to get some eggs, milk, some bread, and some fish. "OK, let's get going! Meet up here when you're all done shopping. And if you're here early, you can go and buy yourself something. See ya all later!" Everyone went to get what they needed, while Mirage and Crusher just stood there. Both of them look at each other and back to the list.

“So… what should we get first?” Crusher asked. Mirage groan. Out of everyone, he’s teamed up with this guy. “Eggs,” Mirage answered with a single word and started walking to the food store. He’s wondering what’s the other groups up to.

———————————————————

Ulle and Nicole start with some carrots. They then walk past a pet store. “Oooh, can we see some pets? Maybe some Sugar Gliders?” Nicole ask. “Aren’t you a sugar glider hybrid?” Ulle ask. “We can come back after we finish our tasks in hand.”

“Please~ It won’t take too long.” Nicole gives her puppy eyes. Ulle sweat drops and sighs. “Fine… only for a few minutes.” The next thing Ulle knew, Nicole already running toward the pet store. “H-Hey! WAIT UP!!!” Ulle follows her.

————————————————————

Brutus and Cameron were holding hands with two bags. One is full of some tomatoes and the other is filled with fruits. “The next thing we need to get is meat.” Brutus read from the list. “Come on, love.” Cameron sigh. He wants to feel Brutus’s feathers. “After the meat, what is the last thing on the list?” Cameron asked, tired. “We will need to buy some bagels. That’s all.” Cameron stood up straight as both of them entered the meat store.

“Wait… what kind of meat do we need to get?” Cameron asked, wanting to double-check. “Um…” Brutus goes back to the list and sweat drops. “… If I told you, promise me you won’t run away?” Cameron raises his eye brow. “I… promise?” Brutus sigh. “It’s goose meat.” Cameron froze. “NOPE NOPE NOPE!!!” He quickly turns around to exit the store but Brutus grabs the back of his shirt. “Hey! You made a promise!”

“YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE THOSE THINGS!!!”

“I know it’s scary for you but they’re dead! They can’t chase you or do anything to you!”

Cameron thinks for a second before groans. “Fine!!!! But I’m not going near it.” Brutus closes his eyes and smiles. “Fine by me. Let’s go.” Cameron and Brutus walk deeper into the store, looking for what they want. Cameron is regretting this.

————————————————————

Amelia is hopping around while Accordion follows behind. They already have some tools they might need. “What else is on the list?” Amelia asked Accordion, as he took a look at the list. “Well, we still need some body wash and that’s pretty much all.” Amelia hum and continue to walk. “How do you think the others are doing?” Amelia asked. “Well, I’m pretty sure everyone was doing great. But as for Mirage and Crusher, is another story.” Accordion comments, sweat drops when the first time they see each other again. It wasn’t pretty.

“Have you bought any baby clothes?” Accordion turns his attention back to Amelia. “Oh, yeah. We’re having twins. I’m pretty sure they are a mix hybrid of a lion and a deer. Why did you ask?” Amelia awkwardly points to a toy store. Accordion looks at where she’s pointing at and chuckles. “Yeah, we can buy some toys for the baby and for you.”

———————————————————

Violin and Scottie had finished everything on their checklist, which was surprisingly fast. "So now we're all finished with the checklist, now what?" Scottie asked, clearly bored. "Now we wait for the others to show up. They wouldn't take too long." Violin answered, rubbing his stomach. Scottie saw a store that contained pots, dishes, and other kitchen stuff. Scottie wants to take a look and maybe buy some stuff for cooking. "I'm gonna go and take a look at that store over there." Scottie stands up as Violin does the same. "Ok, then. Let's-"

"No, you're staying here." Violin looks at Scottie, confused. "Look, I appreciate that you and Accordion had been taking good care of me as your child, but you're now carrying two babies. I can't let you move around too much." Scottie points out. Violin looks at Scottie and smiles. "Ok. I will stay here and watch over the bags. Be careful." Scottie gives him a thumbs-up and begins walk toward to the store.

------------------------------------------

Danny and Annesa were in a kitchen-related store, picking some stuff to use for the kitchen. Danny feels Annesa tug on his shirt and looks down. 'Are you sure is a good idea for Mirage and Crusher to stay together for this long? What happens if they start a fight again?' Danny sighed and put the pot in his hand back to where it belonged. "I know it sounds like a bad idea," Annesa crossed her arms. "Ok, It's a horrible idea. But they can't be mad at each other forever. I bet you don't want your big brother to get hurt too, right?"

Annesa could only sigh and nod her head. "Danny?" Danny heard someone familiar and turned around to face Scottie. "Oh, hi Scottie. What brings you here?" Scottie didn't say anything and pointed at the sign, which said 'Open For Any Kitchen Supplies'. "Oh. Where is Violin? I thought you were teamed with him." Again, Scottie points outside of the store, showing a figure outside, sitting and watching over the bags. "Oh..." Danny now has nothing to say. "Have you finished all your checklist?" Scottie asks, to which Danny nods.

"Hi dear! Why are you here by yourself?" Danny, Scottie, and Annesa looked outside and saw everyone was coming back. Everyone but Crusher and Mirage. Oh no... where are they?

-----------------------------------------------

Mirage and Crusher were holding bags, ready to finish the final thing on the checklist, bread. Once they entered, all of them sweat drops. There's a lot, like a LOT, different types of bread. There's Chinses bread, Indian Bread, and so on. It feels like all the bread in this world is here! "Um... what type of bread they want us to bye?" Crusher asked, not sign up for this.

"I guess... The classic one?" Mirage answered. "Just... grab whatever you think we will eat for the morning." Mirage then walked off, leaving Crusher standing there and going to the separate side. Mirage looks around and everything he sees is bread. This is gonna give him a headache. "Oh, mio Dio!! You know what, I'm just gonna grab a toast." Mirage went and grabbed, like, 9 bags of toast bags and rushing out, but was stop by someone.

"Sir? Are you buying all of those?" Mirage turns and oh boy, this girl is filled with makeup. "Um... yes... I am?"

"No, you're not. I was about to buy those." The girl tries to snatch it but Mirage quickly moves away. "Girl. there are still 21 bags of toast over there. You could grab those."

"SHUT UP AND GIVE ME THOSE BREAD!" A Karen. Just the perfect thing to ruin this. "Look, piccola ragazza. Like I said. There. Is. Still. 20. Bag. Of. Toast. Go get your own." The Karen seems like she's gonna slap his and guess what? She raised her hand and before she could slap him, a bag full of bread hit her right in the face. Danny turn around and saw Crusher walking over. "You know it's wrong to hit a stranger?" Oh, you're the one to talk...

The Karen look at Crusher from head to toe and smile. "Well, hi, handsome. How are you doing? You know you make my day when I see your pretty face?"(I actually want to throw up when I'm writing this.) Crusher looks like he wants to throw up. "Um... I'm sorry miss. But I'm taken." The girl walks over to Crusher. "Oh? Then how about breaking up with her and dating me instead?" Crusher moves away. "Miss, personal space please. And no, I'm not breaking up with my Husband."

"Your HUSBAND?! EW!! YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY BREAK UP!! YOU'RE A GUY AND DATING WITH OTHER BOYS IS DISGUSTING! YOU'RE STUPID HUSBAND MUST BE SO UNLUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU-" OK, now she had crossed the line. Mirage walks up to her and grabs the back of her dress, making her face him.

"EW!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET Go of..." Mirage's eyes are glowing in grayish white.

"I don't care how much people trash talk about me. But if I ever heard anyone trash talk about my brother or his husband, I will make sure you will never see tomorrow’s daylight ever again..." Crusher was just standing there, surprised. Yes, he had seen Mirage mad before, but never THIS mad. The Karen got so scared and ran away after Mirage let go. Mirage’s eyes slowly got back to normal. “Let’s go and pay for those and go back to the group. They’re probably waiting.” Crusher didn’t say anything but follow him.

After they paid, Crusher was think about what just happened. Did Mirage just stand up for him? He was in defense mode for a spare second. “Hey… thanks for defending me back there.” Mirage didn’t say anything, still was a bit angry and annoyed. Once they rejoin the group, Danny and Annesa rush to Mirage, to check on him. “Are you ok? Annesa and I feel that!”

“Feel what?” Mirage asked, acting like he didn’t know anything. “You know what I’m talking about! And you’re voice is filled with anger. Tell me what happened?” Mirage didn’t say anything, didn’t want to remind him what happened. Danny turned to Crusher, hoping he could get some answer from him. “Well, a Karen happened and let’s just say it didn’t go so well.” That’s all Danny needed. All of them went home and grabbed the stuff they needed. Mirage quickly sits down on the couch and rubs his face. Accordion came over and ordered a glass of water. Mirage took it.

Crusher walks over and sits next to Mirage. He knew Mirage hated him but whatever happened back there was pretty… scary… “So… Danny and Scottie were in the kitchen, cooking some for us to eat.” They are staying in Accordion for dinner tonight. Mirage just nods. “… Um… I said this once but I will say it again, thank you for defending us. Me and Danny.” Mirage didn’t say anything. Crusher lay back. “So… I never have siblings before. How do you and your sibling's hybrids form work?” Crusher asked, trying to come up with a conversation. Mirage sigh. “Don’t you have anything better to do?” Mirage asked, don’t want to talk with anyone. “Oh, come on. You clearly need someone to talk with. Plus, everyone is pretty busy, if you ask me.” Mirage looks around the house and sure enough, everyone is busy.

“Fine. Sibling hybrids were bonded to be together. It didn’t matter what type of hybrid you are, as long as you’re a sibling or a family member, you could always share your magic.” Mirage answered his question.

“And if other hybrids don’t have magic?”

“Then you share them your strength. I don’t have magic but I share my strength with my siblings. Any other question?” Mirage asked, clearly wanting to be alone. “Well, back in the mall, Danny and Annesa ran straight toward you after we got back. Mind tell me what’s that about?” Oh boy. How does he explain this to him? Let’s see… “You know how dangerous the defend mode will be if we can’t control it?” Crusher nods and gives him a thumbs-up.

“Hybrids who can’t control their defense mode will be taken over by their anger. Like an evil side of you takes control. The only way to stop it is when your loved one is near you to comfort you. It doesn't matter if it is your family or friends. Mine is Danny and Annesa." Mirage finally finished explaining as Crusher hums. Since he has no siblings, he could bet Danny is the one to comfort him if he is in his defense mode. "OK, everyone! It's time to eat!!!" Scottie yelled from the kitchen as Crusher and Mirage stood up, walked into the kitchen, and started eating. Cameron and Amelia start fighting again and Scottie is the one who shuts them down again. Amelia almost, ALMOST, started a food fight.

After eating, everyone starts heading back to their home. Once Amelia opened the door, Danny made a beeline to the kitchen and put away the stuff in the fridge. Mirage and everyone else start heading to the bathroom and take a shower, calling it for the day. Once Mirage was ready to sleep, he saw a glow in his pocket. He walked over and took out the yellow feather. Surprisingly it wasn't ruined since it has been in his pocket for a day. Mirage completely forgot about the feather. He then turn back to other two feather, which didn't show any sign of glowing.

Mirage sighed again and put the yellow feather near his pillow again. The light yellow reminds him of Danny when he uses his magic. Mirage turns and faces the ceiling. 'Today is a tiring day.' Mirage heard a knock on his door. "Come in!" Danny opens the door and closes it, sitting at the end of Mirage's bed. "What's wrong?" Mirage asks. "I just want to talk about what happened during the mall. Crusher told me everything." Mirage feel himself froze a bit.

"Mirage, I know I wasn't there but whatever that lady said or did, don't think too much about it."

"Danny-"

"No, I don't want to hear it. Whatever happened is not your fault. I don't want you to think too much about it." Mirage didn't say anything and moved toward Danny and hugged him. "Danny, fratellino, After our father and mother passed away, you had been taking care of us for so long. But please, don't over work yourself or put too much stress on you. It won't be healthy for your health." Danny touched and hugged Mirage back. "I will try..."

"Aww... Cute and whatever. Can we now sleep?" Danny's cures asked. 'Shut up and let us enjoy this moment.' Mirage and Danny continue to hug each other and finally let go after 2 minutes. Danny then saw the yellow feather next to Mirage's pillow and the other two were on a table beside his bed. "Um... should I be asking why do you put that feather next to your pillow?"

"Why not?"

Danny didn't say anything but chuckles. "OK, whatever. Let's go to sleep. It's getting late." Danny stood up and went back to his and Crusher's room. "Night." Mirage waves and lay back down to bed, slowly falling asleep.

First Next

--------------------------------------------

This is chapter 2 of my 'Hybrid Au' story. I hope you guys enjoy this. If you have any questions, ask right away! Fanart accepted!

#the henry stickmin collection #thsc oc #thsc #henry stickmim collection #danny felizima #Mirage Felizima #annesa felizima #ulle meadows #jay benson #thsc crusher #scottie #thsc violin #thsc accordion #amelia copperbottom #thsc nicole #brutus dan gerbreaker #cameron calvin #hybrid au

[freestyle-crocodile-trashpile]

Ayy, how about gender neutral reader baking a cake with the turtles (separately) (2012)? Tnx<333

-that Italian anon

A/n: aww this is adorable and funny thing I baked a cake yesterday day abut welcome back. Thank you for requesting

Summary:you bake a cake with the brothers

Version:2012

Michelangelo

It would be funny

Mainly because he would start a flour war with you and when someone interrupts you two he would throw flout at them

It's a funny sight until he accidentally throws flour at splinter

But besides that he would be a great help

And a great decorator

Leonardo

Leo on the other hand can't cook and knows nothing about baking

Like he would grab a cup when you said you need 1 cup

Then you had to explain to him the you meant a measureing cup

He was embarrassed

But besides him not fully understanding baking he's a great mixer

Not a very good decorator though

Raphael

He's pretty good at it

Ignore the fact he had trouble cracking an egg

But he was a good help

He did get mad because he didn't know were things were and slammed a bunch of cabinets

Splinter came and yelled at him

But besides that he's a great decorator

Sometimes

Donatello

He's good at baking for the most part

Like knowing everything you need and were it's all at

But he's pretty bad at mixing

So you would have to do it since he can't

So he would start with the icing of the cake

And once he finished making that be will put it next to you for you to mix

He's not a good decorator

A/n:sorry this took awhile. I hope you enjoyed

#tmnt #tmnt donatello #tmnt raphael #tmnt imagine #tmnt leonardo #tmnt michelangelo #tmnt x male reader #tmnt headcanons #tmnt x reader #teenage mutant ninja turtles 2012 #tmnt 2012 x reader #tmnt 2012 x male reader #tmnt 2012 #tmnt x gn reader #tmnt x you #x gn reader

[mrs-luigi-vargas]

Lost and Found

Chapter 2 (of 2): Wherein Mario finds out where his brother is

Fic Summary: Sunny skies and friends by his side...in Mario’s opinion, it was all the perfect setup for a perfect vacation! ...Too bad his brother up and disappeared partway through it. Fic Tags: Minor Bowser/Luigi, Hurt/Comfort, Humor, Nonverbal Mario

Word Count: 4,427 words A/N: This fic's Mario's POV of An Egg in a Trying Time! So it would be helpful to read that one first, but I can't tell you what to do so do whatever!

[AO3 Link] [Link to beginning]

~~~

When Mario woke up, he squinted blearily at the clock and realized the restaurant Luigi had been last seen at had opened an hour ago.

Mario leapt out of bed. Beside him, Peach stirred. By the time he was ready to go she was still sleepily stumbling about, steps vaguely aiming for the bathroom. It took a minute or two of standing in the mirror for her to realize that her toothbrush wasn't here because she was in the wrong bathroom.

So she left. Mario followed her. He almost followed her straight into her room; the bemused smirk Peach sent at him at the threshold made Mario realize what he was doing, and he sheepishly stepped back to wait for her in the hallway.

During his wait, Toadette stepped out of her hotel room across the hall. Mario waved at her in greeting, and her face lit up with a grin.

“So the Princess was with you last night!” The glint in her eye strengthened at Mario’s confirming yet confused nod. She snickered. “Busy making quite the wish, weren't you?”

...What?

“Toadette!” Peach shouted from behind the door. She sounded mad. “What are you saying to him!”

“Nothing!” Toadette sang. She laughed, winked at Mario, and pranced down the hall.

Almost as soon as she’d turned the corner, Peach emerged from her hotel room. “Sorry about her,” she sighed, but Mario shrugged. He had no idea what Toadette had been on about.

The two of them scarfed down their complimentary continental breakfasts, and as soon as Mario finished he was immediately dashing for the door. “Mario, wait!” Peach called after him, to little avail. The only reason he stopped long enough for her to catch up was because he suddenly tripped on thin air. He must have finally realized what Toadette was hinting at earlier, judging by how red his face was and how he wouldn't look her in the eye. Peach couldn't help but laugh at his embarrassment.

---

Mario and Peach burst into the restaurant Rosalina had directed them to. The man at the counter, who had been practically falling asleep, started violently, jerking his head up. Peach steamrolled over his canned customer greeting to ask if anyone who looked like Mario but taller and wearing green had come by yesterday.

“I wasn't workin’ yesterday so I can't really help you,” the man said, looking regretful. “My junior was the one on the clock, but they'd had a bad day yesterday, so they're taking the day off.”

“I see.” Peach sighed, similarly disappointed. “Thanks anyway.”

With a little curtsy she turned to leave, and Mario trailed after her, hat pulled low on his head. Something about that downtrodden motion had the man’s eyes widening.

“H-Hold on a sec!” He stopped them as they were almost out the door. “Did your guy have a hat like that one?” He pointed to Mario’s hat. Mario nodded, and the man ducked under the counter and pulled out —

“That’s Luigi’s hat!” Peach exclaimed. Mario’s eyes widened at the evidence Luigi had been here. Peach hurried back to the counter. “Where did you —?”

“Guess he’s the guy from yesterday my junior was telling me about.” The man handed Peach the hat. “I think they said he dropped it when he left with that other guy.”

“‘Other guy’?”

“Big, spiky, scaly, looks like he could tear apart concrete with his bare hands?” The man raised an arm in the air as if to demonstrate how tall that 'other guy' was. "Apparently he just picked up your guy and left. Scared my junior half to death; it's why they're not here, ha! Honestly, if that’s all it takes to scare them, then I'm not sure they’re cut out for this job if I'm being honest!”

“O-oh thank you for your help have a good day goodbye!” Peach said all in one breath, because Mario had already stormed out as soon as he’d heard the words big and spiky. If not for knowing exactly where he was headed, she probably would have lost him completely. She just about caught up with him at the beginning of the makeshift path to Bowser’s fortress, where she had to stop and catch her breath. Ugh, she knew she shouldn't have worn these shoes today...!

Perhaps sensing how exhausted she was trying to run after him, Mario paused his determined march to turn around and hover near Peach concernedly. And now that he was close, Peach glared at him, poking a painted nail into his chest. “Quit leaving me behind,” she scolded him. “I want to teach Bowser a lesson as much as you do! Using my invitation to pull this stunt...” she huffed, punctuating her frustration by putting Luigi’s hat firmly on her head. She scowled at the place the dirt path met the horizon.

Mario looked chastened, and also a little wary of Peach’s ire. That was likely why he stopped rushing ahead, making a point to make sure Peach was always close behind him. To her credit, Peach wasn't exactly going slow, and they sped down the path. They only stopped once more, upon catching a glint of something in the grass. It was Luigi’s phone, screen cracked yet still powered on. The sight put them on edge; was there some kind of struggle? At least they knew why he wasn't answering any of their messages, now. They took it with them as they ran onward.

---

They arrived at the front gates of the fortress, closed. Mario had half a mind to break in through the doors anyway, but Peach was already sneaking around the curve of the fence to scout ahead so he quietly followed her lead.

Soon enough, they heard laughter. They hid behind some bushes, peeking out to see Bowser Junior running across the courtyard behind the fence, with Kammy chasing after him. Beyond them, Bowser was sitting against the wall, looking down at something.

Kammy stumbled, catching herself before she fell but staying hunched over, hands on her knees. She panted and gasped for breath in a way that had Mario concerned for her overall well-being. Before that sympathy could fully manifest, though, Kammy perked her head up, furrowed her brow, and stared straight at Mario and Peach’s hiding place like she was seeing right through it.

Peach gathered her skirts to hide better. Mario tensed, ready to act if Kammy exposed their hiding spot.

Kammy narrowed her eyes at them, but then turned to Junior, who was too busy taunting her and waving something shiny around to pay attention to what she was looking at. She dashed at him, and he danced out of reach with a laugh, towards Bowser. She feinted, and he ran away in the opposite direction. With one last look at them, Kammy resumed her chase, leaving Mario and Peach feeling a bit wrong-footed. Because if this was a kidnapping, then why didn't Kammy fight them? She definitely knew they were there. And for that matter, why lead Junior away? Maybe it was a way to get him out of an upcoming fight? But it wasn't like Junior’s family shied away much from letting him participate in kidnappings to begin with...

The pair crept forward, hidden in the foliage. From behind a tree they watched Bowser as he sat on a blanket. Kamek was sitting next to him. In Bowser’s lap was the Yoshi egg, and next to Bowser’s leg was a clump of green, chest rising and falling. Peach's grip on Mario's shoulder was strong as Mario went weak-kneed in relief. Luigi was okay, thank goodness.

That relief bred a bit of carelessness, so Mario and Peach were noticed by Kamek next. But aside from sending them an aggrieved glare, he did nothing else, similar to Kammy earlier. When neither of them moved, Kamek raised an eyebrow. Well?, he seemed to be asking.

With a shared unsure glance, Mario and Peach stepped out of their hiding spot and approached the fence. It was then Bowser noticed them and — yep, there was the aggression Mario had been expecting this entire time, even if said aggression was manifesting as snarling and growling rather than the usual shouting and taunting. Either way, of course his brother would be sleeping through it, the spaghetti-head, despite Peach calling his name to try and rouse him.

Well, desperate times called for desperate measures, and Mario was pretty sure he could manage one such measure, given the situation. Hands gripping tight on the fence and eyes squeezed shut, Mario took the biggest breath he could, dug deep inside himself, and shouted his brother’s name. It wasn't a particularly good shout, crackling and dying on the last syllable in a way that had Mario coughing from the lingering tear in his throat, but it was enough to cause Luigi to leap to his feet instantly upon hearing it, scooping up the egg as he rose and turning his head every which way for the source of the sound. When he found it, he looked surprised, then gladdened, but then worried as he took in the full scope of what was happening. A worry Mario certainly shared, and one that grew for the both of them when Luigi’s attempt to leave Bowser’s reach captured Bowser’s full attention. A second attempt had Bowser advancing towards Luigi, and Mario’s heart dropped like a stone.

Mario needed to get over there. But there wasn't a way around this fence. So Mario lodged a foot into one of its decorative spirals and pulled himself up, and up, and up. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kamek reluctantly ready himself for a fight, but Mario’s main focus was on Luigi, pushing himself to climb faster as his brother was forced to resort to using his Thunderhand to keep Bowser at arms length.

Mario was almost at the top of the fence when he felt something hit his leg. He looked down. It was Peach, arm outstretched. Wait, she mouthed up at him and — wha —?! No!

But in that brief moment Mario spared to scowl down at Peach, the situation in the courtyard changed dramatically. Luigi was backing away from Bowser, and Bowser looked...like he’d given up on whatever he’d planned for Luigi. Which was so odd and incredibly unlike him that Mario stopped climbing the fence. Bowser was hardly known as someone who just...gave up, like he was seemingly doing now. It was a difference Luigi seemed to pick up on as well as he — as he walked toward Bowser? If Luigi was going to make baffling decisions like that, then Mario really shouldn't have stopped climbing after all...

But strangely yet thankfully, Bowser still didn't move, letting Luigi rest the Yoshi egg by his foot and back away again. Luigi continued to back away, and after a hesitant glance at Kamek — who also looked disinclined to do anything — he turned on his heel and ran toward Mario and Peach.

Despite Mario’s progress up the fence, he slid all the way back down it, because Luigi was running too fast to not get a faceful of iron when he reached them. And get a faceful of iron he did, Peach and Mario putting a hand on each of his shoulders to steady him. As Luigi breathed the adrenaline out of his system Peach carefully put his hat back on his head, and he clutched the brim of it so tightly that he was probably creating creases he’d be cross about not being able to iron out for the time being.

Movement over Luigi’s shoulder caught Mario’s eye. It was Bowser, who’d also reacted to Luigi’s impact with the fence, having taken a step forward. He watched them not with the second wave of anger Mario was expecting him to be in by now, but with something closer to wariness plus a touch of what maybe could have been described as concern, if such an emotion made any sense right now. But watch was all Bowser did, so in the lull in the action Mario checked Luigi over, gaze sweeping over his shaking form. He looked unharmed physically, but...

As Luigi took one last deep breath, Peach asked him what was going on. Luigi took a moment to steady himself, then he answered her, a long-winded story that told the tale of what had happened over the past day.

Luigi told them about being snatched away from that restaurant around lunchtime yesterday, and Mario abruptly remembered that foreboding feeling he’d had at the beach. The feeling that, if he’d followed it, he might have been able to...A wave of regret washed over him, and he kept it off his face the best he could.

As Luigi explained the reason behind Bowser acting so strange lately, Mario glanced behind Luigi at the Koopa in question. The longer Luigi stood over here, the less wary Bowser looked. Until he was just annoyed and impatient, wearing a scowl more closely resembling his usual self. He also looked like he wanted to go over to them, which despite what Luigi had told them so far had Mario’s guard rising. Except Kamek leaned up and whispered something into Bowser’s ear, and whatever he had to say made Bowser huff grumpily and sit down. Not only did that make Mario feel a bit better, but the fact that Bowser listened to something Kamek said without any complaint or backtalk was yet another piece of evidence for his strange behavior.

Luigi finished off his tale by assuring them he was unharmed — “I know it looked scary earlier, but everyone’s been pretty nice to me, promise!” — but Mario knew said scare had probably spooked his brother something fierce, despite the brave face he was trying to put on. So Mario was back to trying to get over the fence, this time to give Luigi the embrace he sorely needed to hold it together (and one he himself could admit he’d like to have for the same reason). He could try climbing again, but now that he had the space to think, Mario had a better idea. He turned to Peach, who nodded.

The two of them both backed up, Peach motioning for Luigi to back up as well. With a lead-up run and a hop into Peach’s cupped hands, Mario was over the fence in one fell swoop. He’d meant to land next to Luigi, but in his excitement he landed on top of him instead, sending them both crashing to the ground. Mario propped himself on an elbow and grinned at Luigi, even as he was admonished for almost re-antagonizing Bowser.

As Luigi sat up, Mario rubbed at the red mark on Luigi’s forehead from when he’d collided with the fence. When blue eyes met blue, Luigi’s breath hitched, and he dropped his head on Mario’s shoulder. Mario leaned his head atop his, all the stress about being apart from his brother melting away in an instant. Not even Junior’s suspicion at his presence could disrupt it. And really, if Luigi didn't want him laughing so much every time someone brought up that acquired maternal title of his, then he should probably react less hilariously defensive about it when Mario did so!

What did pop his mood a bit, however, was Peach joking about hanging out in Bowser’s nest herself. Although he had to concede to her implied point that Bowser was quite the bastion of safety for the people he held dear, at least. When Luigi agreed too, her smile widened, but she quickly moved the conversation along.

Peach handed Luigi his phone; Luigi’s eyes widened as he scrolled through his notifications, and Mario abruptly remembered the obscene number of messages he’d sent him, face growing hot. But even still, Luigi looked apologetic, as if he hadn't been the one who’d lost his phone while getting kidnapped. Thankfully, Luigi got distracted from asking why Mario had sent so many messages to him by one of Peach’s texts that had come way before most of them, and Mario leapt to help Peach explain what, exactly, had happened at the beach yesterday in Luigi’s absence. They talked and talked and for a moment Mario forgot Luigi wouldn't be able to go with them when it was time for them to leave.

And that time came sooner than Mario wanted it to, judging by how Bowser was looking at them. Or, rather, how he was looking at Luigi. And wasn't that a curious thing? From what Luigi had explained, it was the Yoshi egg that had been the trigger for all this, and it was currently sitting right next to Bowser’s knee. By all rights, then, Bowser should be satisfied. So why wasn't he?

Luigi asked almost as much out loud, and Peach’s cryptic reply shed no light on it. And for some reason, she added an out-of-pocket comment about Bowser being cute, which was an opinion Mario was pretty sure she’d never held in her entire life.

But...it was one Luigi apparently had, judging by his near-immediate hum of agreement. Subconsciously, too, by the way he immediately tried to take that agreement back.

As Mario watched his brother sputter and wave his arms around in embarrassed denial, he realized he’d seen this behavior before. With Daisy, Prince Peasley...Mario knew Luigi was quick to catch feelings, but...Bowser? Of all people? Really? Mario looked between Luigi, who was looking more and more flustered by the second, and Bowser, who was looking more and more forlorn to match. Mario resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. His brother really outdid himself this time, didn't he. When did this even start? No, that was a silly question; of course one day of Bowser acting soft would be all it took for a crush to form. Luigi knew Bowser had to go back to normal eventually, right? What was he going to do then? Honestly...

Mario's thoughts were derailed by Luigi calling his name. He decided not to answer Luigi’s question of what he was thinking about; just because he was still struggling to wrap his head around the current state of his brother’s love life didn't mean he had to turn his incredulity outwards in a way that might come off as negative. Maybe later, when it could come out with a more teasing edge to it.

For now, it was probably time to stop stalling and let Luigi go back to Bowser’s nest. Before he could lose his nerve about it, Mario clasped a hand on Luigi’s shoulder and led him back there himself. He got as close as he dared, since Kamek was snapping at him and Bowser’s defensive aggression had returned in full force, and pushed Luigi the rest of the way. Though Bowser calmed down a few notches once Luigi was within arm’s reach again, from the way he was still glaring at him he must have been thinking Mario was going to change his mind and take Luigi away after all, in some cruel bait and switch. One Mario had no interest in; there was no telling how exactly Bowser would react if he tried. Admittedly, Mario felt like he probably should bear the brunt of whatever fury would ensue to bring Luigi back to town with him, but...

Mario’s eyes swept over the scene before him, taking in Luigi’s surprise at his actions and everyone else’s varying degrees of hostile protectiveness, keeping what Luigi had said about their treatment of him and the optimism with which he’d described it in mind. If Luigi was confident his remaining time here was going to be fine, then Mario was willing to borrow some of that confidence and trust he was right. Besides, with Bowser’s current mental state Luigi was obviously considered important to him in some way, so at least Luigi would be safe in Mario's absence.

...it was still hard to part with him, though. And yet he had to, because his presence was making this sub-optimal situation worse for Luigi. It took all he could to muster the energy to back away, and after jumping back over the fence he and Peach waved goodbye to Luigi for maybe a little too long before they parted ways with him. Mario fought the urge to turn back around, slotting a hand in Peach’s so she could lead him away before he gave in to that impulse.

---

The walk back to town was quiet, with both Mario and Peach thinking and worrying about Luigi.

Mario, especially, was worried if he’d done the right thing by leaving him with Bowser. But at least he knew where Luigi was now, and he could go fight to get him back, if necessary. And hopefully that wouldn't be necessary; hopefully all that would happen was Luigi would hang out with his new crush for a day or two more and then come back safe and sound. Mario huffed at the thought of it.

“What’s so funny? Oh!” Peach giggled. “Luigi’s crush on Bowser, right? It’s cute, isn't it?”

Mario made a face. He wasn't sure ‘cute’ was the word to describe it. But at least it'll be fleeting, like all Luigi’s crushes usually were, and all Mario really had to worry about was the moment it petered out into a teary-eyed aftermath he would have to help him through, as per usual.

Peach hummed. “Maybe...I guess it would end that way if not for Bowser having a crush on Luigi, as well.”

Mario rolled his eyes. Right, it was so —

Mario stopped.

Peach kept walking, turning around to smirk at him. Mario’s feet caught up with his brain when she was almost a pink speck on the road before him, and he all but sprinted to catch up with her.

“What, you didn't notice?” Peach innocently asked when Mario grabbed desperately at her sleeve. The distress on Mario’s face only grew. Peach laughed and took pity on him, explaining how Luigi’s recount of Kamek’s explanation for Bowser’s behavior truly aligned with said behavior regarding Luigi, with ample evidence from both Luigi’s description of Bowser’s actions yesterday and the behavior they witnessed from him themselves. It was really the only explanation that made sense, given all the facts.

Mario nodded slowly. Now that Peach laid it all out, it was a little bit obvious, wasn't it? He let go of Peach’s sleeve. He took a step back. He turned on his heel.

“Hey, wait!” Peach snapped her arm out to grab Mario’s sleeve, this time. “You can't do that!”

But —

“You wouldn't have left him there in the first place if he wasn't safe,” Peach argued. “This hardly changes that. In fact, I think that makes things even more safe for him, actually! Bowser does have standards for how he treats love interests, you know.”

Mario thought about the places he’d rescue Peach from — cages, locked rooms, dangling from the ceiling by rope. Weird standards, aren't they?

“And yet!” Peach clapped her hands once with a grin. “The feelings are real this time! So it’ll already be a step up from how he’d treated me!”

...Mario wasn't sure he was reassured by that.

At his continued hesitance, Peach’s grin melted into something softer. She patted him on the shoulder. “We still have to get Luigi some spare clothes, among other things,” she reminded him, “So you can check on him then. In the meantime,” she added when his worried face still didn't budge, “since Luigi isn't here, you can tell me the story behind the whole ‘Mama Luigi’ thing; I’m dying to know!”

At that, Mario’s face finally broke into a small smile. They resumed their walk back to town, a walk that was loud with laughter about the job Mario and Luigi had taken all those years ago, and the ridiculous events that had followed it.

---

About an hour later, Mario returned to Bowser’s fortress, a green duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He made his way directly to the same part of the fence as before, and through it he could see Bowser, Luigi, and the others having a picnic lunch. When Bowser noticed him and began to growl, Luigi was quick to nudge him for it, and with a few words he had Bowser sullenly glaring at Mario instead. Seeing that Luigi had Bowser well under control put Mario a bit more at ease. Even if the main reason for that control was nigh incomprehensible.

Mario shook his head; he could continue to process all this some other time, but right now he had to get Luigi his bag. He wondered if he could make the triple-jump over the fence again; in the middle of backing up to try it, the bag slipped up off his shoulder. Mario almost ran right into the fence trying to grab it as it floated away from him, but then it floated up and over the fence towards the picnicking group and he realized Kammy’s magic was levitating it, solving his problem. Oh well. He’d kind of been hoping to hug Luigi again, but he supposed he would have to wait until some other time.

On the other side of the fence, Luigi rifled through his bag, even giving one or two things to Bowser to examine more closely. Satisfied with the contents, Luigi raised his head and turned his attention back to Mario. Even from this far away Mario could see Luigi’s dawning realization about how he looked planted square in Bowser’s lap. His lips twitched in amusement as Luigi’s cheeks turned pink. Just as he’d hoped; Luigi was just hanging out with his crush, his crush’s family notwithstanding. Fleeting or not, and regardless of how things would go after Bowser was back to normal, Mario could hardly begrudge Luigi making the most of his circumstances while he could; if nothing else, it was more to use to tease Luigi later, which was something Mario could admit he was very much looking forward to after the days he’s had, recently.

With that, though, there was little Mario could do besides leave again, to go back to town while Luigi stayed here. It was still hard, but at the same time it was easier, somehow. Still, as he turned away, Mario couldn't help but pull out his phone. He sent a message. Seconds later, he got one back. The skip in his step stayed for the entire walk back down the path.

#(two eggfics down and one and a half to go! 💪🏾 yay!) #(i actually made good progress on the next one today so hopefully i can post it soon!) #mlv.fic #smb #bowuigi egg fic project

[beantothemax]

Hi Bean!! Got a Castitio fic for you, as compensation for the Elena fic, the angst I have and will send about my OC octopath au and the Trousseau fic I will send later today :3

The sun shone through the crack in the curtain. As its rays hit the sleeping couple, Castti stirred in her sleep. She opened her eyes, first noticing her splitting headache, then Partitio asleep beside her.

"... What was I doing?" she muttered.

A sharp stinging pain in her temple suddenly arose. She lifted her hand to head to see what it was, but felt a bandage rather than a wound.

"Partitio!" she shook him, "Partitio!"

He woke up with a groan, "what is it, honey?"

"Why do I have bandages on my head?" she asked.

Partitio blinked several times before he sat up and processed what was going on around him.

"Oh, that 'cause ya' fainted and hit yer head on a table. Wasn't there myself, but Nikki brought ya' here and said ya' overworked yourself."

"I did?"

"Yeah, I was scared for ya' but I could hardly say I was surprised. With how much ya' work, it was only a matter of time before somethin' like this happened," he said.

Castti glared at him but he laughed and her face softened. She couldn't stay mad at him, as he was right and he did at least bandage her wound.

He climbed out of bed and quickly got dressed.

"Yesterday I told mister Roque I'd take the day of to take care of ya', so I've got all the time in the world to spoil ya' and make sure ya' rest an' recover," he said with a big smile.

Castti never liked being spoiled. She was always the one to pamper and care for her friends, but now she had finally been put into a situation where she couldn't refuse.

She crawled back under the covers and stared at the wall as she started to nod off again. Half an hour later, Partitio returned with a plate of pancakes, bacon, eggs and raspberries. He was careful to wake her gently. She sat up, the headache returning again.

"Does this breakfast have herbs for a headache?" she chuckled.

"Nope, have it here though," he smiled, handing her a glass with a murky green water.

Its scent was very familiar, one Castti had smelled hundreds of times before, though something was just a bit off.

"Did you look through my medicine book for this?" she asked.

"Yep, I think I did pretty well," Partitio smiled.

"Did you test it on yourself?"

"No, I'm not that dumb."

"Good, because you mixed in the wrong herb. You were supposed to use western morning glory leaves, you used kachen leaves, which turns this mixture into a laxative, rather than a headache relief," she laughed.

"Oh," Partitio's face quickly became red as a rose.

"The pancakes look nice though," she quickly added.

Usually, she could be blunt when one of the members of Eir's apothecaries made such a mistake, but Partitio was a bit more sensitive than them. He always became embarrassed when finding out he made a mistake, regardless of what it was.

Castti cut a piece off, taking a bite. Any feeling of pain or fatigue she previously had faded away in an instant. She'd had many pancakes before, but Partitio's were always different, far better than even the best chef's.

"Ya like 'em?" he asked.

"They're divine," she said as she took several more bites.

"That's reassuring, I didn't taste test 'em."

The fact that he didn't even have to taste and adjust the batter made their quality even more impressive.

She cut the next piece, holding the fork up to his lips, "try them, I think you've mastered the art of making pancakes."

Partitio bit the piece, nodding as he swallowed.

"Eh, could be a little sweeter," he said.

"Come on, you know they're perfect," Castti smiled.

"Doesn't matter what I think, as long as ya' like 'em, then I'm happy," he smiled, taking the fork from her hand.

Partitio cut and fed her the rest of the food, and for once, Castti didn't complain that he wanted to spoil her.

AAAAA THIS IS SO SWEET…. partitio spoiling castti is amazing perfect 10/10 I love it

PARTITIO ACCIDENTALY MAKING A LAXATIVE HAD ME LAUGHING FOR LIKE A MINUTE he’s doing his best!!!!!

the uh. promises of a trousseau angst fic is both exicting and worrying.

#asks #pie-knight #inbox fic

[camelliacats]

room to grieve

Prewett fam hcs, done for Family Bootcamp Challenge (prompt: hard) in the HPFC on FFN.

Fic: "room to grieve" [FFN] [AO3]

Pairings/Characters: Molly-centric Molly Weasley/Arthur Weasley, the Weasley children, & a cameo from Pandora Lovegood/Xenophilius Lovegood, with mentions of others

Rating: K

Words: ~6,600

Additional info: romance, family, angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, Maydayverse, sequential, Harry's era, 3rd person POV

Summary: After news of her brothers' deaths, Molly makes an abrupt change.

      "Molly, I…"

      Mad-Eye's weak apology faded from her mind, fresh and yet just as distant as his words had faded from his tongue when he'd arrived on their doorstep last week. If she closed her eyes, she could swear that she were still standing with the front door cracked open, her welcoming smile frozen on her face, Arthur behind her with a warm, steadying hand on her back…

      "…um. Mum?"

      Molly blinked back tears and swallowed a lump caught in her throat. Oh. There really was a warm hand on her back. She mustered a smile for her second oldest. "Sorry, Charlie. Did you need something, dear?"

      He furrowed his brow and peered at her, more closely than she would've liked. "Just—it's lunchtime. D'you have something ready? Or I can make something, for the rest of us," he added quickly.

      She glanced over his head (still easy for now, but already her eight-year-old was at her shoulder and catching up with his brother). Four more pairs of eyes watched their interaction from the other side of the kitchen counter. It might've been five, she mused, if Ginny were a tot and not almost two months old. But Molly shook her head and wiped her dishwater-stained hands on her apron, grabbing her wand and waving over the sink, hoping magic would pick up her slack. "No, no, we've all got to eat. Let's see," she said, turning around to rummage through the fridge…and finding it surprisingly emptier than usual. "Ah, we're a bit short on eggs."

      "I can go 'round back and collect them. I'm more than old enough."

      "No, no, the chickens have been out of sorts lately… We'll just have some sandwiches," Molly decided, turning around to the counter instead. But she lifted the door to the bread box and found nothing but heels.

      Ah. Right. She…normally would've set a fresh loaf to bake yesterday morning, wouldn't she?

      "Then soup—"

      Before she could open the fridge a second time, Charlie gently slid into her path. His freckled smile was soft and kind, and he gave her a one-armed hug. "Mum, have a sit, yeah? You seem a bit peaky. I'll make you tea. Right quick, promise."

      A second lump formed in her throat, but she leaned into his hug and kissed the top of Charlie's head (anything not to look at that soft expression—no, it was too familiar right now). Molly nodded and wandered into the living room afterwards, staring blankly across the room at Ginny's rocker. It didn't register until Percy turned around from the counter between bites of his sandwich to gently nudge the rocker that Ginny was, in fact, present inside and sound asleep under her brother's watchful eye.

      The scene was enough to make the lump wedged in Molly's throat burst, and her vision turned misty, blurry. But she disappeared upstairs so her children wouldn't witness her second meltdown in as many weeks.

      For the second time that day, she felt a warm hand on her back. It was enough to rouse Molly from her crying-induced nap, exhausted though she was, but sitting up took effort.

      "Ah, there we are." At least it really was Arthur this time, sitting beside her, on their bed—wait, Arthur?

      Molly paused mid-unfurl and glanced at the small clock on her nightstand. "Oh, no. Arthur, what are you doing home so early?"

      He brushed her curls back from her face and cupped her cheek in his hand. His thumb traced over dried tear tracks as though they marred her, glaringly obvious in how she'd spent her afternoon. Arthur's smile was small. "The boys worried about disrupting me at work and since Bill was spending the day at Ignatius and Lucretia's with, ah, with the new…owl…," Arthur explained, his eyes falling briefly to the mattress. He cleared his throat. "The children Floo'd your parents, who Floo'd me."

      Molly furrowed her brow. "But—they don't know how to use the Floo powder."

      "Apparently they do." Arthur shrugged. "I suppose when we taught Bill last summer, in case of emergencies, it vaguely stuck with Charlie. But Percy's been reading about it on his own. Very bossy and exacting when it comes to magic, that one," he added with a light chuckle. Then Arthur sighed and locked eyes with Molly. "Your parents described the boys as extremely concerned, Mollywobbles. You didn't eat? You're too quiet today… And you came to our room to cry again."

      She bristled and pushed Arthur's hand away. Molly stood and smoothed the front of her dress, as well as her skirt and apron, which she'd forgotten to leave behind in the kitchen earlier today. "The children don't need to see me like this."

      "They've seen plenty, Molly. They're mourning, too, in their own way."

      At that, she gritted her teeth and placed her hands on her hips. She faced their closet, looking for something to do while she stewed. "…it's different, Arthur."

      He was quiet for one, two, three beats. "I know." Another pause. "For you, and for Edwin and Milly, I know."

      She frowned at the mention of her parents, but at least Arthur seemed to understand her point. Molly exhaled, a large breath, and decided a stack of Arthur's favorite jumpers needed tidying right then, so she squatted beside them and got to it. "This is hardly something to come home early for, Arthur."

      The mattress creaked under his weight; he must've shifted (she had to guess without looking). But she heard the weariness in his voice when he said, "You most certainly come before work, Molly. Especially right now, when your days are on repeat."

      Molly paused folding a cardigan (ah, the golden one with bronze and mahogany threads—her first anniversary gift to him), long enough to digest his words. But then she resumed her task, and Arthur exited the room to leave her be.

      "I just needed a different task and to have everyone home," Molly insisted later that evening when she and Arthur prepared for bed after seeing the boys to their rooms. Ginny's crib magically, silently swayed in a corner of her parents' room while the couple moved about.

      Arthur glanced askance at his wife and finished buttoning his pajama top. "That so…?"

      "Yes! That's what I need, Arthur. To know where my family is, at all times."

      "That seems a bit much, Mollywobbles."

      She freed her hair of her nightgown's collar in time to offer him a particularly hard stare. "Nothing is 'a bit much' in these times, Arthur. Look at the close calls the Longbottoms have had. The Potters are in hiding! As for the rest of the Order—" Molly stopped short of listing disappearances and other deaths. Instead, she closed her eyes and summoned to mind Fabian's and Gideon's faces…only to have them overridden by the memory of Mad-Eye's apology yet again.

      Something softly thunked outside their bedroom door, interrupting their conversation and Molly's morose train of thought. Closest to the door, Arthur got up and checked. He chuckled as he bent to receive the surprise. "Well, perhaps you're right about having everyone home—Bill's doing, I reckon," he said as he passed Molly a steaming mug.

      She accepted it, and the new warmth in her hands helped calm her, as did the chamomile scent. "Mm, perhaps, once he heard about today. Or Charlie, since I didn't let him make me a cup earlier."

      "They're good boys, looking out for their mother."

      "But that's not their job, Arthur. It's a parent's job, to look out for her children."

      "It's all right for things to be a little backwards when the world's a bit upside–down, luv." He let his words sink in with a long look at his wife, and Arthur raised his eyebrows. But then he offered her another small smile and rubbed her upper arms. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving to turn the covers down.

      Molly, meanwhile, remained standing. Arthur's words did a better job penetrating compared to this afternoon, now that she was calmer…and, she supposed with a desire to chuckle herself, tea helped, too. But tea worked best while hot, so she brought the mug to her lips and tilted it back—

      —and nearly dropped it.

      She tightened her grip on the mug before Arthur took notice and scooted close to the lamp on her nightstand. There, with her back to her husband, she peered at the mug's pale contents…and couldn't quite believe what she saw.

      Someone pale, ghost white stared back. Her curls lacked their normal bounce, but their red color only made the reflection's sickly pallor stick out more. And worst of all were the eyes…her eyes, raw to the point where she almost lost sight of her Prewett brown eyes. The bags underneath were a tired, angry purple, like bruises.

      The sight terrified Molly. To think Arthur and the children had seen nothing but this for the past week…!

      …and yet…

      A new lump formed in her throat as she thought about her interaction with Charlie today, about avoiding his eyes.

      Because it was one thing to be terrified by her own sordid reflection right now. But it was a far scarier thing to her these days, looking at Charlie or Bill and seeing Gideon and Fabian in them.

      Molly forced herself to sip the chamomile tea. It was just on the cooler side of hot, enough to force the lump in her throat to dissolve into a calming heat that nestled in her chest. Several sips later, Molly could set the mug down on her nightstand and get into bed, leaving Arthur to flick off the lights.

      But, an hour later, the chamomile hadn't taken full effect. Molly's calm remained, but sleep was far off. She shimmied into an upright position and glanced around the room.

      Arthur snored softly beside her, his back a warm comfort barely an inch away. Ginny's crib kept going even now, but Molly's baby girl must've shifted, for Molly heard the lightest rustle from inside, followed by a sleep-babbling coo. No shadows moved outside their door, meaning the boys remained asleep in their rooms, as well.

      Molly glanced at the duvet and then to the empty mug. After catching sight of herself tonight, suddenly she felt as though three ghosts haunted her…

      And she wondered why into the wee hours of the morning.

      When Arthur woke the next morning, he saw Molly with Ginny in her arms and in higher spirits. "G'morning, you two. Sleep well, Mollywobbles?"

      "A little," Molly answered, swaying absentmindedly to an old Celestina song she couldn't recall the whole of at the moment. She made a funny face for Ginny, who stared up at her with wide, rapt eyes. Molly laughed but kept her volume low, since the boys weren't likely to be up yet on the weekend. "My mind kept me awake longer than I hoped."

      At that, Arthur frowned. He donned his slippers and shuffled over to her, interrupting Molly's odd half dance with his hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Molly… You really meant it when you said you only slept a little, didn't you?" he asked after peering at her.

      But Molly shook her head. "It's not all bad, Arthur, honest. In fact, I think I figured out how I want best to handle my brothers'—absence." She winced. She knew they were dead, but forcing the word "passing" out of her mouth was too daunting a task.

      "I'm all ears, luv."

      Molly's eyes flicked to his. She held his gaze for two heartbeats and held Ginny close. She pricked up her ears for signs of their little eavesdroppers…but, no, the house remained quiet. So she returned Ginny to the crib and wrung her hands in the fabric of her nightgown. Concentrating on the mix of freckles and plaid made it so much easier to deliver her words: "Arthur…would you hate it…if I went by my maiden name instead?"

      The stillness of the house settled in their room now, too. When Molly lifted her head, she saw Arthur had gone terribly still—but he couldn't help his fallen expression.

      Molly frowned. Of course it'd be too much to ask. It sounded terrible, too, didn't it? Asking now, after all their years together already.

      Almost as if in answer, Arthur reached for her hands with his left, and his ring glinted in the morning sun fighting its way into the room through the curtains. "Molly—"

      She shook her head. "No, no. Sorry I asked. That was wr—"

      "Molly." Arthur caught her hands and held them, brought them close to his heart, secure and safe and sound. He nodded and rested his forehead against hers. "You do what you need to do, Molly. If this is right for you, if it brings you peace, then how could I possibly hate it?"

      This time, when her eyes filled with tears, she didn't feel so heavy the way she had the last several days. Instead, something light filled her, hearing Arthur's words, and she broke into a small smile amidst her tears. She tilted her head up and kissed his nose and then his lips. "Arthur…! Oh, Arthur. Thank you. Thank you so much."

      He shook his head. "Nothing to thank me for, Molly."

      "You know I love being your 'Mrs. Weasley.'"

      "That I do."

      Her eyes widened. "The children. It'll be confusing for them."

      Arthur drew her into an embrace. "Children have their own way of understanding things. Bill and Charlie are getting older; they'll be off to Hogwarts before you know it. And Percy's far sharper than my knife in my old Potions kit."

      The mention of the class brought to mind a few old memories…but Molly sighed in his arms as more recent ones caught up with her.

      "Something else, Mollywobbles?"

      Molly leaned against his chest. "No, just thinking that I've been stuck on repeat—but I think this is a chance to move forward." She truly believed so.

      Whether Arthur concurred, he kept his musings to himself and simply offered her another hug.

      She'd been "Molly Weasley" for more than ten years now, so a simple declaration wasn't the same as flicking her wand and waving her present with Arthur away, nor did she want that.

      But Molly dressed that day and ran the house with a little more help than usual from Arthur, feeling Bill's and Charlie's eyes follow her throughout breakfast. It helped, though, when Arthur encouraged the boys to get outside while the weather still had a hint of warmth as autumn dragged on.

      Yes. Good. That left Molly to watch over a sleeping Ginny in the living room and sit down and sort through the post, which had piled up considerably over the past week. The Prophets had been tidied and managed, she noted, and Molly resisted the urge to search the latest issue's obituaries for familiar names.

      Instead, she pulled into her lap assorted letters and bills…oh, dear. There were heaps of letters, sometimes two or more from the same addresses, sometimes a letter from a name she'd long forgotten since her and Arthur's school days…

      Even before opening the letters, Molly knew: Word had gotten around about Fabian's and Gideon's deaths.

      Molly reached for Ginny, adjusting the baby's blanket around her. Ginny's tiny fist curled around her mother's pinky finger, and she held on tight with all her baby might. The motion distracted Molly with a smile. So she borrowed that strength and flicked her wand, opening the first letter.

      Professor McGonagall's was the first. Molly read it, twice, without committing the words to memory. But it struck her, the oddness of the situation, that such a prim, proper, respectable professor…would pour her heart out, her sympathies on the page to a former student in this time of unimaginable loss.

      The Longbottoms' was next. It was from Frank and Alice both, but Molly recognized Alice's penmanship. Alice offered support and an ear, which Molly thought kind, if only the war didn't make that impossible.

      Lily wrote on the Potters' behalf, twice: expressing heartbreak for Molly's loss and her fellow classmates and friends, and again checking in with Molly since she'd heard Mad-Eye had bungled delivering the news. James risked penning a quick missive himself, even, bringing the Potters' total to three, saying he'd miss Fabian's and Gideon's echoed laughs.

      Professor Flitwick reached out with the offer of his ear and some tea, as did Professor Sprout, and yet more Hogwarts staff offered condolences. Emmeline Vance, sweet woman, spoke of the twins' character as fellow Aurors and as decent men, and other few remaining of the Order said much the same.

      The two letters that surprised Molly the most, though, came from very different people. The first was from Augusta Longbottom, Frank's mother. She mentioned that she'd written Molly's parents already and planned to see her former classmates soon, but she extended an invitation of company to Molly, as well, as she was "uniquely aware" of the dangers her son and daughter-in-law put themselves in and understood Molly might want an empathetic ear and shoulder.

      The second came from Professor Dumbledore. His elegant script filled a page full of admiration for Fabian and Gideon, two likeable and talented wizards with "so much ahead of them." Dumbledore wrote that it never was and never has been in his plans for the Order or anyone to meet such fates, and that he was so sorry to her and to the Prewett family, "beyond words that I currently possess."

      Dumbledore's letter gave Molly pause. Her head genuinely believed his words—he said, in various ways, that he was sorry countless times throughout his letter—but her heart…his letter didn't sit well with her heart. That gave rise to an odd sensation of sourness in her stomach, that perhaps this could be the one time she didn't trust in the old headmaster's words. Molly winced and set his letter aside.

      As for the rest… Molly Summoned a dinner tray, a quill, and a bottle of ink, as well as parchment. She arranged things on the tray and picked up McGonagall's letter and chose to answer that one first.

      Mostly bland "thank yous" came to mind, and Molly reread McGonagall's letter to tailor her response better. But, after a few lines, she was satisfied that that warranted an owl. And then she signed it:

—Ms. M. Prewett

      Her quill hovered over the bar in the second t. Then she blinked before a bead of ink could drop onto the parchment, and Molly admired the signature anew.

      How odd. How absurd! How…quaint. She'd grown up "Molly Prewett," so signing her name as such again shouldn't feel so alien…and, in a way, it didn't.

      Molly grabbed a scrap of parchment and scribbled out her name a dozen more times.

Molly Prewett Molly Prewett Molly Prewett M. Prewett M. Prewett M. Prewett

      She stared at her old name with fresh eyes. Yes…yes! This—this was it. She was Molly Prewett. She was Edwin and Milly Prewett's daughter. She was Fabian and Gideon Prewett's big sister.

      She was Molly Prewett, and she would be all right and carry on.

      Reclaiming her maiden name had given her a surge, a burst of…not quite confidence, per se, but Molly felt more positive that day, that weekend, than she had in a long while. Perhaps, she mused, more than she had since her brothers had joined the Order of the Phoenix…

      She didn't answer every last sympathy letter that day, but Arthur did come fetch her when it was lunchtime.

      He laughed at the spread of parchment all around her. "Why am I having flashbacks to cramming for exams?"

      Molly scrunched her nose up at him. "Oh, hush up, Arthur. I've made good headway getting through the post."

      "I can see that." Arthur reached for her scrap paper nearest him. But, reading her lines of "Molly Prewett" and "M. Prewett" didn't cause another crestfallen expression on his face. Actually, two spots of red blossomed on his cheeks. "Now I'm really having flashbacks to our school days and of me doodling your name in my notes…"

      She laughed. "You turned bright scarlet when I asked to borrow your Transfiguration notes! I soon learned why, of course."

      "Well, excuse you, but nursing a crush on a very pretty, very bright witch takes patience, like brewing a difficult potion…"

      "We were average in Potions, Arthur."

      "I was average; you were great. But I digress." He set her parchment down and glimpsed at the post. "Anything ready to send? I imagine, ah, Errol wouldn't mind a flight. Getting a bit of training from Ignatius is different from stretching its wings for real, and Bill seems quite fond of the bird."

      Molly sighed. She passed him two letters—a reply each to McGonagall and to Alice and Frank—but hesitated to release her hold when Arthur took them. "Are we even certain Errol's meant for post?"

      Arthur gave her a dubious look. "Molly, he's an owl. And he came to us via Fabian's estate. I can't imagine Fabian would keep an owl not meant for post. Unless—well, I don't recall Fabian being like Hagrid, having a general fondness for all animals?"

      "No… Fabian liked them all right, but Gideon was the one—" She stopped short with a tight smile. As if on cue, a meow from elsewhere in the house echoed.

      Now Arthur sighed. "Right on time, that one. I'll make certain Basil's fed, but your presence is demanded at the lunch table, Ms. Prewett." He pulled her letters free and planted a kiss atop her head. "And I'll send Errol on his way," Arthur promised, his voice quieter, gentler.

      Molly watched him go, her unease over the new family owl dissipating after her exchange with her husband. Besides, even if she wanted to sulk longer, Ginny stirred then, and Molly couldn't feed an infant while covered in ink.

      It helped. Truly, she believed, it helped, signing things "Ms. Prewett" where she could, and Arthur every now and then using "Ms. Prewett" as though he were calling on her like back in their courting days.

      The few times the boys overheard, it left the children rather befuddled. "I'm just trying on an old name," Molly explained as she doled out dinner one evening.

      Bill narrowed his eyes while he dwelled on the notion, but eventually he nodded. Charlie nodded with reluctance and Percy pursed his lips, but Fred, George, and Ron gaped at her with open confusion. Then Ron broke the tension with a happy laugh, convinced they were playing a game of make-believe.

      In some ways, Molly wondered if she got off lightly. Arthur was right. Their children were taking this in stride; they had their own ways of understanding difficult things. As for adults…

      Molly sent out replies to the rest of the letters, slowly, and noticed she didn't hear back. She liked to think it was others being busy (in general, with the school year, with Order business), but a part of her wondered if others thought her odd to revert to her maiden name so suddenly.

      Being left to wonder was slightly better, though, Molly decided, than going out on the rare shopping trip in Muggle stores further inland and being greeted with a polite "Hullo, Mrs. Weasley!" She flinched with every smile and wave and wrong name, until she couldn't take it anymore and wrapped up her shopping on the early side.

      But returning home with lighter bags reminded Molly of the emptier-than-normal fridge from last week. "Bill, watch your siblings, please," she instructed her eldest before grabbing a basket and popping around back to the coop. She filled the basket with half a dozen fresh, large eggs and then—with another, different POP—Disapparated across the way to the Lovegoods' home.

      Molly knocked on their front door and strained her ears to identify which set of footsteps would greet her on the other side.

      She lucked out: Level-headed Pandora opened the door with a look of surprise (or so Molly guessed—her pale eyes had this sort of permanently surprised air to them). "Molly! Hello, good to see you."

      "Hello, Pandora." Molly held up her basket. "Eggs?"

      Pandora smiled. "Thank you, dear. Your chickens really do lay the best." She gestured to the bushes beside the door with a small wave of her hand. "Please, fill your pockets with as many as you can. I and Xeno don't mind, honest."

      "No, no, just enough for a pie," Molly insisted, but she let her fingers comb through the bright orange Dirigible Plums their friends grew. "How's Luna, by the way?"

      "Still tiny. Eats like a creature with a bottomless stomach, but she's a slip of a thing at only…goodness, it's nearly eight months now, isn't it?" Pandora leaned against the door jamb. "Time flies and she's not even a year old."

      Molly smiled, a chuckle in the back of her throat. "Wait until you've got seven with the first one nearly at Hogwarts' doors."

      Pandora "hmm'd" at that and let a pleasant quiet settle between them. Once Molly wound down her selections and began plucking, however, Pandora piped up, "…Xeno may write his own paper, but I read the others, Molly. I'm—I'm so sorry."

      Molly's hand stilled on a particularly large plum, one perhaps a wee bit too ripe. "I've heard that a lot these days," she admitted in a monotone.

      "I can imagine. If there's anything you need—"

      Her words were interrupted by her husband's heavy footfall on their staircase, however. Xenophilius came stomping downstairs, paused at the landing to search for Pandora, and lit up with curiosity when he saw her standing at the open door. "Pandora, you've got to hear this: Luna started to wake from her nap, but she went right back to sleep when I began to detail the Rotfang Conspiracy to her…!" He paused and poked his head over her shoulder. When he saw their guest, he gave Molly one of his sleepy, too-wide grins. "Ah! If it isn't Mrs. Molly Weasley!"

      She couldn't help it. Hearing the wrong name yet again, Molly clenched her hand into a fist, smashing the too-ripe fruit in the process.

      "Oh, my," Pandora murmured.

      But Molly already had a handkerchief out to wipe up the mess. "I've got enough for today, thank you," she said by way of parting. She didn't wait for Pandora's goodbye before Disapparating back home.

      And home…at home, Molly was left with her own thoughts and the knowledge that answering a silent letter however she wanted was a simple thing, really (just as easy as a swish of her quill!). But being constantly confronted with greetings and "Mrs. Weasley" while she was trying to adjust…it made all this feel like a futile task.

      And that didn't help at all.

      By the end of the week, Molly had another plan. Nothing outrageous, of course—just to surprise Arthur at work with lunch.

      Much as it had been a long time when she'd last been "Miss Prewett" to his "Mr. Weasley," it'd been a long time since they'd last had a spontaneous date like this…and it would do Molly some good to get out of the Burrow, to get out of Ottery St. Catchpole. Thank Merlin she'd been blessed to have Cedrella as her mother-in-law and nearby, too; Molly dropped the children off to her and Septimus late Friday morning, and her in-laws sent her off with hugs and kisses and "Don't rush to pick them up!"

      Arriving in London was a stark reminder of why they'd chosen Ottery St. Catchpole to live, Molly mused when she landed close by outside the Ministry's visitor entrance. The air was thick here and metallic and made her cough, nothing at all like the fresh and earthy scent of the Burrow.

      Inside the Ministry wasn't much better. The Burrow gave them sunshine and greenery. The Ministry of Magic was…old and stone and darkness. Molly shivered on her way to the lifts.

      It'd truly been too long since she'd last been here. She'd forgotten how the interdepartmental memos overhead hovered like bees and that bodies squished into the lifts much as she crammed vegetables into pickling jars for the season. Thankfully, her ride was short and spat her out onto Level Two, where she followed a few signs and some familiar faces (again, she heard friendly calls of "Hullo, Mrs. Weasley!") on her way to the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.

      She ignored the greetings for now by recalling the Dirigible Plum incident and by focusing on Arthur's office straight ahead. And that was the right thing to do: Everything else seemed to fade into background noise when Arthur picked his head up from his work and saw her coming through his cracked-open door, his face lighting up with delight.

      "Mollyw—!" He stopped short, turning bright red at almost calling her by her pet name here, of all places. He sheepishly offered her a hug despite her tiny glare. "Hello, luv. This is a pleasant shock."

      "Well, we haven't done this in forever, and it felt like a good time for it," Molly declared, sinking into his arms after setting the basket of food on his desk. "Your parents have the kids, so I'm yours for lunch and dinner, if you like."

      "Mm," Arthur hummed. He sighed happily into her hair and broke away only to conjure up a second chair for his wife. "I rather like the sound of that."

      Molly smiled.

      They opened the basket, revealing ham sandwiches and leftover slices of the spiced Dirigible Plum pie from the night before, as well as the last bottle of butterbeer Molly had found in the back of the fridge. Arthur split the bottle evenly between two cups and toasted to their rare afternoon together, just the two of them.

      Molly seconded that, although the toast caught the attention of others in the office or passing through. Some git whistled at them and another snickered, but an older one—was that the one Arthur mentioned was Perkins?—said hello and wished "the Weasleys a pleasant day."

      "Molly?" Arthur asked when his wife set her drink down and frowned at her plate.

      She twisted her lips around.

      "Is something the matter, luv?"

      Molly exhaled, low and slow. She picked at the crust on the remaining half of her sandwich and left the last few sips of her part of the butterbeer alone. Not even the pie smelled appetizing anymore.

      Arthur finished his sandwich but took his bites slowly, all the while keeping an eye on Molly. He took a polite bite of the pie and smiled at the familiar flavor. Yet when even that didn't turn her frown upside–down, Arthur wiped his mouth with his napkin and pushed out of his chair. "All right, Molly. Come with me."

      She furrowed her brow while he tried to tug her up. "What? Arthur, your lunch break can't last much longer. There's no place to go—"

      "Come, come. Just come along, luv."

      Molly raised one eyebrow.

      "Just—take a walk with me. You'll see."

      That lone, skeptical eyebrow stayed put as Arthur donned his outer cloak and rearranged Molly's shawl on her shoulders. So, it wasn't going to be a walk around the Ministry… Molly followed him to the employees' exits, and they vanished in a puff of green smoke the second they stepped into a free fireplace. They arrived in a designated spot shooting off from Diagon Alley; Molly recognized the backside of what could only be Obscurus Books.

      "Ah, this way," Arthur insisted, taking Molly by the hand and leading her away from the publisher.

      Now she was confused. "Just how far are we going?"

      Arthur squeezed her hand in reply: Trust me.

      Well, that was just silly. Of course she trusted Arthur.

      They walked up a narrow, winding, but clean-swept alleyway. When Arthur emerged and brought Molly along with him, she understood in an instant why he'd wanted to get out here.

      It was Muggle London. Yes, it still stank and made her cough…but this was outside the Ministry, outside the Wizarding world, outside their bubble of those who knew (or, rather, didn't know) they called her the wrong name.

      And, for that reason alone, Molly could breathe.

      Arthur waited a moment for her to reorient herself before they eased into a leisurely pace on the pavement. He glanced at the Muggle wares through the assorted stores' glass, but Molly caught him one time too many watching her in the reflection.

      She leaned against his left arm. "…thank you, for bringing me out here."

      He nodded.

      She slipped her hand into his as they continued to walk, against the tide of some Muggles and with the flow of others. Molly squeezed in close to Arthur. "I've been so silly, Arthur."

      "How?"

      "This whole 'M. Prewett' thing." She shook her head, her voice cracking as she continued after a minute, "I can't believe it's taken me a whole week to figure it out, but it won't work."

      He inhaled and exhaled but didn't comment. He squeezed her hand, urging her to continue voicing her thoughts.

      "I feel so ridiculous for getting upset at every other person, friend or not, for calling me the wrong name. It's—It's not that others will never stop seeing me as 'Mrs. Molly Weasley.' What hurts more— No, what hurts the most is that there are no Prewetts left."

      Arthur stopped them by a postbox and drew her near it, so they were out of the path of foot traffic. Then he faced her with pinched eyebrows. "Molly…what? How can you say that? What about your parents and your aunt and uncle?"

      She shook her head. "No, Arthur, no. Uncle Ig and Aunt Lucy never had children. My parents had just us. And Fabian and Gideon are gone now. The Prewett line…it ends with me."

      There.

      There it was.

      She'd said it aloud. The notion had been on the periphery of her thoughts since she'd first decided to take up her maiden name again…but it felt safer, somehow, to keep this idea unvoiced, to keep it buried, as if saying it aloud would make it too real.

      But…it was real, as real as Mad-Eye Moody's horrible apology and the two bodies he'd brought home to her parents two weeks ago.

      Letting reality finally sink in caused things to bubble up inside her, and Molly balled her hands up into fists, pressed her fists against her eyes, angry and trying not to cry in the middle of the street. Arthur held her, tight, against him, and it was a help and a comfort, but her emotions wouldn't settle, and she hiccupped into his shoulder.

      "It ends with me," she mumbled into his cloak, "and no changing my name or mindset or anything can fix that."

      "Molly, I…"

      It wasn't Mad-Eye's apology that came to mind anymore. No, Arthur came to mind now, and that afternoon, and her trying not to cry, and Arthur crying in her stead, sharing in her pain and wishing he could fix it or take it away or anything.

      And all of it—all of it—seemed like such small worries when, just weeks later, Voldemort finally fell, all at the magic of toddler Harry Potter.

      That news made the rounds faster than lightning, but it was a hollow victory, Molly mused, for the losses of Lily and James, for the betrayal of Sirius, for all the heartache that led up to the end of this war.

      "But," Molly said as she folded The Daily Prophet and set it and its speculation of Death Eaters' futures aside on the sofa, "if this war is over and it means you will grow up in peace, then I will come to terms with my past and present."

      Baby Ginny smacked her lips at her mother and then stuck her tongue out.

      Molly laughed and tickled her baby in her rocker, bringing a smile to Ginny's face. "Yes, yes, my spunky little one. You'll grow up to be a kind witch able to bring a smile to anyone's face… I won't have to worry about you trying to stop Dark Lords or his followers now, will I?"

      "Reckon she's got to pursue another line of work," Arthur agreed, joining them in the living room that evening.

      Molly smiled at him. "The boys tired yet? It's nearly dinnertime."

      "Ah, there's still a bit of light left. Bill and Charlie are using Mum's and Fabian's old brooms for a bit, but they promised to keep their brothers on the ground."

      "Oh, Arthur. Really? I'm not sure I like them flying without supervision."

      "Bill will be eleven shortly, Molly, and you know he's got a good head on his shoulders." Arthur came and joined her on the sofa. He raised his eyebrows. "It's looking a lot as though both he and Charlie have Mum's thirst for Quidditch."

      "But—Cedrella never got to play."

      "Nope. So that thirst will be even worse this generation," Arthur said with a laugh.

      Molly rolled her eyes, but then she noticed Arthur hadn't come empty-handed, which also might explain him sneaking back inside for a quiet moment with her. "What do you have there?"

      He blinked, and those twin spots of red bloomed on his cheeks as usual. Arthur passed her a large gift wrapped in butcher's paper bespelled with a colorful blue tartan pattern and topped with a green bow. "Happy belated birthday, Mollywobbles."

      She opened her mouth but held her tongue. That was right. Her birthday had been days ago—but then the massacre in Godric's Hollow had happened and… Everyone, not just Molly, had had better things to dwell on. Everyone except Arthur, of course. "Oh, Arthur…"

      "Go on. Open it."

      She gave him a tiny but grateful smile and arranged the surprisingly hefty item across her lap. Molly tore the packaging open in thick strips, confused to find a clock. Then she took a second look at it and saw the clock didn't tell time.

      The clock had destinations ("school," "work," "mortal peril," to name a few) instead of hours. Where there ought to be hour and minute and second hands, there were nine hands total and each one had a name: seven for each of their children and one each for her and for Arthur.

      Molly gaped at her husband.

      "You once said you wanted to know where your family is, at all times. Now…you can." He scratched his right cheek in a bashful manner. "You, um, can hang it on the wall or stand it up or take it with you—it's got an Enlargement Charm on it, so size is no issue." Arthur dropped his eyes to the clock and he motioned to it with his chin.

      As if the gift weren't enough, Arthur had had it engraved, as well. In swirling cursive, she read:

      To my one and only M. Prewett–Weasley

      "Thank you," she whispered, emotion dampening her volume. She turned and kissed his cheek and happily accepted his arms around her.

      She…She'd meant what she'd told Ginny, about coming to terms with her past and her present, and Arthur's gift felt like a sign that she'd made the right choice.

      She was Molly Prewett and she was Molly Weasley.

      She was Molly Prewett–Weasley, and she would be all right and carry on.

Also done for the If You Dare Challenge (for prompt #9: blankly) in the HPFC forum on FFN. Oh…my. This turned out to be one of those fics that spiraled out of control. XD SO MANY HEADCANONS…! I knew that, when I saw the prompt of "hard," I wanted to portray Molly's struggle in the aftermath of her brothers' deaths. Originally, this was only going to be her trying out her maiden name again…but several other things cropped up (a bit of my hc for Errol's origins, which I promise I have more of *eyes* and also the debut of the Weasley family clock, amongst other, minor details). I also thought this would be more gen than shippy, but Arthur was just…so, so supportive here that I can't not tag this as Morthur on AO3 and on tumblr. ;w; Writing loss is hard and painful, but having all her kids around her to act sorta like foils helped a lot, as well as including the letter-sorting scene. To think: Molly only turns 32 by the end of this story. That's barely older than me as I currently write this, and it gives me pause. What else… Regarding the family cat: I direct you to my story, "The Lingering Scent of Basil," a fan favorite. Additionally, working on this story in particular has me itching to work on a piece I drafted last summer, but I'm not yet sure if I will stick it in Fortune Favors the Brave or post it separately, but it does elaborate on smthg in the bkgd here. We'll see! And remember: If you're reading this on FFN, just follow this collection; if you're reading on AO3 or tumblr, then follow along with the series. -w-

Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave an anon/unsigned review via the FFN link or comment via the AO3 link at the top of the post, especially if you enjoyed this!

~mew

#hp #harry potter #morthur #molly weasley #arthur weasley #<7500 #romance #family #angst #fluff #hurt/comfort #maydayverse #sequential #rated: G #trio era #3rd POV #prewetts: fortune favors the brave

[look-at-the-soul]

The Photoshoot (Part 21)

Cillian Murphy

Previous parts here

⚠️ Warning: delicious photos below 😊 maybe after this you will want to go to a Mexican restaurant 🌮

💠 When you find this line (———) it’s because the next part is set in another day. (****) this is to separate the story from one place to another but on the same day. Thank you for reading!!! Let me know what you think 🙌🏻♥️

Edit: I found the Photographer! Promo for Ballyturk credits goes to Jean Goldsmith

Yael pressed the red button to cancel the call, she couldn’t reach Cillian, he was probably busy with the play. She was finally back home from work and all she wanted was to cuddle next him, tell Cillian about her day and listen about his. The simple, yet meaningful things in life.

She could feel the stress forming inside of her body and she tried really hard not to scratch her arm but it was impossible.

Knowing how that would end, she decided to accept her parent’s invitation for dinner, with her mind worried about him, she knew no editing work would be finished that night.

Sorry didn’t hear the phone, I was in the shower… going out. Talk to you tomorrow? Love you lots. Cillxo

Yael smiled at the message. Sometimes he called her apartment phone line because he couldn’t find his cellphone, of course it was in silent mode.

It’s OK. Have fun, I’m having dinner with my parents. Love you more xo

Grabbing her purse, she went to the door, but then she remembered how her mother would be so mad if she forgot the printed photograph from the Easter egg hunt day. Somehow, she managed to get all the kids and adults together posing for her lens outside the cottage, Cillian standing next to her.

Even though she missed Cillian so much, being with her parents filled her heart of so much love that it made her feel better and they wanted to hear everything about her trip to Ireland, so it would be a long and entertaining dinner after all.

After finishing their meal, Yael and her dad cleaned out the table while her mum was chatting by the door with her neighbor. So, it was the perfect time to have her dad clear her heart.

“Daddy?”

“Yes pumpkin?” A nickname only reserved for when they were alone, her brothers picked on them for that.

“Can I ask you something?”

Bryan looked at his daughter over the top of his reading glasses. She seemed like reaching the boiling point. “Sure thing my heart, do you want to go for a walk?” Yael nodded.

They walked past Isla and the neighbor, she was about to ask where they were going at that time, but Bryan shook his head. Yael was really close to her mother, but the bond she had with Bryan was unbreakable.

“Do you want to tell me what is worrying you so much?”

Yael sighed and linked her arm with his. It was a quiet night in the neighborhood, and she was grateful for the company.

“How did you know that you wanted my mum and her extra luggage?”

A small laugh left his chest. “You were never an extra luggage, you know that… but I remember that moment as if it was yesterday, she was crying alone by the lake, the sun was starting to fade away and when I asked why she was crying she said that she couldn’t allow herself to break in front of her little girl.” Bryan made a short pause trying to think of the right words to say. “That was the day she realized your dad wasn’t coming back, after he was released from prison she waited for him to show up at the hospital to check on you, but he never did. She told me she wasn’t crying for him, she was crying because she knew you would disappointed by him.”

It took her some time to fully understand it wasn’t her fault.

“She already had five reasons to smile… I wanted to be the sixth.” He had been the most understanding man since then.

“And it never crossed your mind that you didn’t want that kind of responsibility? Weren’t you scared?” She looked up at him.

Bryan was already shaking his head. “By loving your mother, indirectly or more likely directly I had the same kind of love for you and your brothers, it was a natural thing, an extension, my love grew from one person to six in total in a matter of a few weeks, I won’t lie, I was a little scared…” she pondered at his words. “But only because I didn’t know how to be a parent, I wanted to be a good role model to five kids who probably didn’t want me in their lives, I was scared to disappoint you the same way your father did.” His wife passed away and they never had family on their own, Bryan was alone for four years until he met her Mum.

On the walk back home in silence, her heart felt lighter than ever. She could see now how she wasn’t completely out of her mind by the thoughts she had been having towards Cillian’s child, accepting the fact that it was a reality and that baby would be part of her life too, there was no use to make things harder for Cillian, life it’s complicated itself so why make it even more on purpose? After all, that child would be half Cillian, how could she possibly think she wouldn’t love he or she as an extension of the love she had for Cillian?

When most of her life she had been loved by a man who hadn’t fathered her, but made sure to show her the way and made her who she was today.

Her mum was reluctant at the beginning, she didn’t accept Bryan’s offers to walk around the cottage to clear her mind, he showed up with homemade meals so she didn’t have to worry about cooking for her children while focusing on helping her daughter with the painful rehab she had to endure in order to walk again after the accident.

She remembered other times when ‘her mum’s friend’ showed up at the cottage with books and board games so her mother could focus on helping her brothers with their homework. Bryan was the one carrying her bridal style from the bed to the car so her mother wouldn’t hurt her back.

Yael remembered every little thing Bryan did for her, he was the one who encouraged them to try rehab, he never let her give up when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, and seeing him love her mum the way he did, made her realize that mum was smiling again after her biological father disappeared out of guilt after the accident, Bryan was her accomplice when over a year and a half later after so many surgeries and months of rehab, she was able to finally walk again on her own. Months later, she was the flower girl at their wedding.

He had been the best example of love. And she would do the same for that baby.

_____

“I’m so full I will have to walk for a while.” She smiled at Cillian for his comment, he ordered a burrito filled with chicken, peppers, beans, cheese, avocado and jalapeños, it could barely fit his mouth.

Enda smacked his arm. “It’s the price you pay after you ate half my nachos.”

“Gracias!” Chanted Cillian, Stephen and Enda right before leaving the Mexican restaurant. It was close to the place where they were doing the rehearsal. They had asked Yael how to say thanks in Spanish since she was the one translating some things of the menu.

“Why do you know Spanish?” Asked Enda out of curiosity.

She felt her tongue like burning, shouldn’t have trusted Cillian with the sauce. “Lived in Spain a few months. I took a photography course over there, the architecture is absolutely fantastic, out of this world.” The enchiladas she ordered were delicious, Cillian kept stealing the cheese on top.

“I don’t understand why the name is ‘The Border’ instead of the version in Spanish.” Enda complained.

“To make your life easier, imagine being pissed off and trying to pronounce the name.” Stephen laughed.

He held the door open for her, slapping her butt on her way out.

He looked so handsome wearing his usual white t-shirt, black jeans and denim jacket. But after he put on his sunglasses, she realized he evoked a super model effortlessly.

“Go ahead you two.” Instructed Enda looking at Yael. “I have business to do with your girlfriend.”

Cillian gave her a warning look. “Just so you to know, he’s not paying for that shooting. He wants it free.”

“Why would I pay her to take photos of her boyfriend?” Enda shook his head. “You shouldn’t mix pleasure and business. But since I’m a good friend, you can have a day off if you want.” They all laughed at that.

Yael winked at Cillian, taking his photographs was her absolutely favorite thing in the world. Enda demanded her attention.

“So, I have this idea, with a big screen in the background…” Yael and Enda walked behind them.

“Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.” He smiled, but just as they crossed the street, he noticed a man in front of them. Snapping photos of them.

Enda cut himself mid-sentence as he heard Stephen asking someone to let them walk.

“I just want to know if you are the father of that child.” Cillian clenched his jaw, not answering.

Turning around, to check on Yael, he waited for her and Enda.

“Oh! That the new girl Sillian?” He was known for pushing people’s buttons. And Cillian wasn’t giving in into his dirty ways.

“Frank there’s no need.” Enda tried to reason, while Cillian wrapped his arm around Yael’s shoulder.

“Heard she’s the new photographer for Peaky Blinders.” It wasn’t official yet. Frankie had his camera on her face practically. “That’s how you got the job bombshell? Bang the lead actor, make him leave the pregnant ex?”

Cillian was known for being a pacifist, but this time, this man went too far. Stopping on his tracks, he placed his hand on Frankie’s chest, barely touching him. Enda and Stephen flanking Yael, but Frankie wanted a reaction, a snap, forcing his way around Cillian, he moved erratically pressing the shooter like a maniac, the lens hitting her hard on the cheek, close to her eye. A sharp pain ran through her face.

Stephen and Enda held Frankie by an arm each. Cillian took a shocked Yael inside the building, asking the guard to go outside.

Cillian was all over her, checking her face, whispering he was sorry for the incident.

“Fucking Frankie, he thinks he is Perez Hilton.” Enda approached them. “You need some ice for that.”

But Yael wasn’t worried about the bruise. “How does he know about the baby?”

——

The apartment was quiet, she didn’t want to call his name in case he was on a phone call or interview, he had been very serious since the day before, after the incident with that man, the rehearsal was canceled and they went back home. She was grateful they were able to spend the day together but she couldn’t stand the worry on his eyes every time he applied on her cheek some arnica balm, it was almost as if he was blaming himself for it.

He left the tea she made for him untouched, it was now cold between his hands. Cillian was lost on his own thoughts. Yael wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands caressing his chest from behind, rocking their bodies from side to side gently.

“Enda called, to check if you’re still up for the shooting.”

He wasn’t, but he needed something to distract him. He was so immersed in her embrace and how good it felt that he didn’t answer.

“We can do it the next time I come here if you want?” She didn’t want to put him into any more pressure.

“It’s fine, I was just… distracted.” Cillian kissed the inside of her arm that was at his lips level.

Walking around him, Yael placed herself between his legs, her fingernails running through the still shaved sides of his hair, making him close his eyes at the sensation. Her lips on his taking his mind off completely of any worry. She felt his strong arms wrap around her back, pulling her body down to his.

“We need to go.” She whispered.

“Why did you accept to take those photos again?”

“Because I love your work and Enda is your friend.” As they were kissing again, a wet nose got in the middle of their bodies.

“Oh hi there.” Scout loved the attention. “You want some love too?”

Yael scratched behind the ear. Cillian took her hand and placed around his neck again. Scout sneezed. “Bless you.” With his paw, he touched Yael’s arm, trying to get it back. Cillian tightened his arms around her. “Mine.” He declared looking at Scout, who barked in response. “Alright let’s go, because I feel like Enda is going to show up any minute now.”

“I really like the jacket, the combination of blue and green will look great on the photo.”

“You say that to every color I wear.” She then confessed it wasn’t the color, it was him.

***

“What do you think? Will this outfit make me look as good as him?” Enda asked doing a whirlwind around himself, then turning to Cillian he added: “Don’t worry, I’m not trying to steal her.”

“You look great Enda.” Yael praised him.

“I hope you make me look better than him.” As Yael nodded, Cillian was rolling his eyes.

“Can you two look over here please? Otherwise it will look like this is a pre-wedding shooting.”

Enda told him looking up from his chair: “I like her, can you keep her?”

Cillian had his hands inside his pockets, he crossed one ankle over the other and looked straight to her.

“I’m planning to do that… forever.”

Yael pressed the shutter.

____

Their shooting was interrupted by Cillian’s agent who called to let him know that Frankie was asking for money in order to not leak the news on the internet. They barely had a few shoots done, and Enda was very supportive telling Cillian he shouldn’t do the rehearsal that day either, Enda trusted him and knew he would deliver an incredible performance on stage, there was no need to have him doing a rehearsal when his mind was somewhere else.

Cillian decided he wouldn’t give Frankie any money because he wasn’t going to finance his way of getting information and blackmailing people.

As they were about to sit to have breakfast, his cellphone rang. It was his mother, announcing they just arrived but didn’t remember the number to his apartment. Cillian totally forgot he agreed to have some time with them before the rehearsal was canceled.

“My parents are here, sorry I forgot they were coming over.”

Panic ran through her face, she was more mortified because she was only wearing her underwear and his green shirt. Quickly, she tried to brush her hair with her fingers, she didn’t have a lot of time, she needed her jeans and some body lotion, how embarrassing meeting his parents like this. Pinching her cheeks to have some color on her face, she hurried up to manage some concealer under her eyes. And that was pretty much all because they were knocking on the door already.

As the couple made their way inside and after giving their son a hug, they smiled at her. Yael just finished making a knot with her hair tie to try to make his green t-shirt fit her better. Cillian made the proper introductions and she was pulled in for a hug as well.

“We are sorry to interrupt you.” She now knew the reason behind those ocean eyes, both of his parents had beautiful eyes.

“No, please join us for breakfast, I changed my flight for tomorrow, I should be the one apologiz-”

“None of that sweetheart.” His father said kindly.

“I was just making some French toast, hope that is alright.” She loved that the last time, so he thought he might repeat it again.

Brendan offered to help him, apparently, Cillian shared with his father the love for cooking. Yael got two mugs from the top cabinet and filled them for Cillian’s parents.

“We haven’t seen him much, he’s been busy with the new play.” The woman touched her arm in a tender motion. “But of course, you must’ve learned that by now.”

Yael nodded. “But he is so good at what he does, and time is subjective.”

“It is.” Cillian confirmed placing a plate in front of his mother. “We try to make the most of it when we are together.”

“Are you alright sweetheart?” Cillian’s Mum pointed at her cheek, the bruise was purple now.

“Yes, I was taking a photo of Scout, he jumped and the camera hit me.” She hurried to explain without looking at Cillian.

“I’m just glad that you are back now son.” Cillian patted his father on the back.

“Will you be traveling to see the play darling?”

“Absolutely, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She winked in his direction as he was sipping on his coffee in front of her.

“Maybe you could join us for our Sunday brunch next time you are here.” His father suggested.

Cillian nodded, she would like that.

As they were done with their food, Yael hurried up to get the plates and mugs off the table. Cillian tried to help her, but she ushered him to go to his parents, they wanted to be with him too.

As he walked to them to offer something else, he found his father trying to stop his mother.

“What is it?” He looked between them.

His father tried one more time to stop his mum, but she spoke anyways: “I found Erin’s mother one day… I know you broke up with her, but she is worried.” Rubbing his forehead, he listened to his mum. “Erin is pregnant and she doesn’t want to tell who the father is, said she’s never seeing the father of her child again, do you know if she went out with someone after your break up? Her father is so disappointed.”

So she kept her promise after all, about not saying around the baby was his. He pointed the living room, asking them to take a seat, as well as Yael.

By the look in his eyes, she knew he would tell them the truth.

“Want me to take Scout out?” Her hand caressed his face.

He needed her, his eyes pleading her to be by his side. Yael nodded, one look and she new what he was thinking.

Linking her hand with his, she was giving him the strength he needed.

“Eventually you will find out, and I want you to know this from me.” It was now or never. He took a deep breath. “The baby Erin is waiting… it’s mine, we broke up without knowing she was pregnant.”

The room went deadly quiet, the only sounds that could be heard, came from the coffee machine.

“I will try to get an arrangement, well my lawyer will, so I can have the baby sometimes and of course, you are more than welcome to visit if you want to be involved.” He added nervous, Yael squeezed his hand in an attempt to offer some comfort. She was past the shock by now, so she could completely understand the Mrs. and Mr. Murphy reactions.

Brendan looked at Cillian perplexed, then to the floor, and then back to his son. Finally, he shook his head a little. His mother, on the other side, clasped her hands over her mouth. She wanted to tell them everything would be alright, but it wasn’t her place, she was there just to support Cillian.

But when her mother in law spoke, Yael wished they could go back to the silence: “She is having your child and you aren’t marrying Erin? What kind of family is that?”

“Things now are hardly as they used to be mum.” She looked in Yael’s direction.

“I’m sorry sweetheart.” She apologized to Yael for what she was about to ask. “How do you expect to raise a child when you left Erin?”

“That is something we will figure out, when that time comes.” She touched his knee, sometimes he spoke in a tone that could be taken as arrogant and cold when he wasn’t. “And I didn’t leave her, we broke up, then I met Yael and later Erin found out she was pregnant.”

Yael knew they were holding back their questions because she was there. She tried quietly leave them to talk it through, but Cillian stopped her, asking her to stay.

Just as his wife was about to bombard him with more questions, his father spoke: “For God’s sake don’t you remember how miserable he was with that woman? Always fighting, shouting at every family gathering, perhaps they get along better now that they went separated ways.”

“We will see how that goes.” His back was so tense, the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Do you know how it’s the baby doing?” His father asked.

She saw Cillian nod. “Good, everything’s good.” Looking at them, he added. “I know this is far away from the perfect marriage picture you have, but that’s exactly why I won’t marry Erin, she’s not the woman with whom I could have a marriage like yours.” He said looking in Yael’s eyes.

Brushing away her worries, as well as his.

_____

What do you think? Should Yael become part of the photography team for Peaky Blinders or not? 🤔

#That’s what Cill said #cillian murphy #cillian murphy imagine #cillian murphy x oc #cillian murphy fanfic #cillian murphy fanfiction #cillianmurphy #cillian murphy x reader

[thmgau]

CHAPTER 4 - A GIRL NAMED NATALIE [wattpad link]

---

The next morning, Leslie awoke in their own apartment. This was normal, considering they fell asleep in their apartment. What wasn’t normal was the necklace, which they seemed to have forgotten to take off.

“Oh! Silly me!” it chuckled. “Guess I’ll take this off now.”

Leslie attempted to take the necklace off. It did not budge. It tried everything it could think of: using scissors, burning it, yanking it.. but it still didn’t come off.

“That’s strange.” they mumbled to themself. If the necklace didn’t come off for Leslie, chances are it didn’t come off for any of their friends either. One glance at their phone would confirm that. They had over 50 notifications from the night before.

Cherry: this stupid necklace wont come off :/ Nora: wdym it wont come off Cherry: it won’t come off what more do i need to say Kalani: mine isnt coming off either 🤼‍♂️ Juniper: same Juniper: wonder if it has to do with that magic book we found yesterday Cherry: i swear if we get cursed by these things im gonna be so mad Cherry: im trying to get a bachelors degree i dont have time for curses

Leslie yawned, turning their phone off. “Oh, well. Might as well get ready for the day.”

It entered the living room, flipping on the TV as it started preparing breakfast. They usually liked to listen to the news while waking up, so typically their TV was always set on the news.

As Leslie was whisking the eggs (it was making an omelette), the news reporter on the TV started speaking.

“Good morning, Cincinnati! Today we have a peculiar story for you: the disappearance of many citizens. Over the past two days, a few hundred people have gone missing. Investigators have been looking into it, but they haven’t found anything yet.”

Missing people? This piqued Leslie’s interests. They poured the whisked eggs onto the pan as they looked at the TV.

“& it’s not just people, too. Bananas from the local supermarkets have also been reported as stolen. Some people have reported that they’ve seen a couple of the missing people with the bananas, but nobody can be too sure if they’re related or not.”

Bananas being stolen? Now this was just getting confusing to Leslie.

But then it thought back to the day before. Leslie & its friends had gone to that new banana restaurant for breakfast. The restaurant HAD to be related to the banana thefts... probably. Maybe it was all a coincidence, but nonetheless, Leslie was determined to figure it out.

They had to get to class first, though. They were a college student, after all.

-

Leslie walked into the seminar room approximately 15 minutes early. They thought 9 AM was way too early for a class to start, but it’s not like Leslie had any control of that.

Despite only being 15 minutes early, Leslie was one of only two people there. Another girl (who just so happened to sit next to Leslie) was there too. From what Leslie’s overheard from attendance, this girl’s name was Natalie. Leslie & Natalie usually didn’t talk much, for they were too entranced by whatever they were doing in class. They were both in the school play, though, but that’s really the only time they had interacted outside of class.

“Hey.” Natalie said, reaching for her bag. “Oh, uh.. hi!” Leslie waved. “Cool necklace.” “Thanks! I, uh.. got it from a friend.” “Neat.. Do they come in purple?” “Uh... I don’t know. I’d.. have to ask.” “I see.”

Natalie took a book out of her bag & placed it on her desk. Leslie got a look at it. It was the exact same book that they found yesterday.

“Nice scythes, by the way. They look badass.” Natalie grinned.

“You.. saw that?” Leslie asked. “Uh, of course I did. Why else would I have your book?” “Why were you even at an abandoned Pizza Hut in the first place?” “To smoke weed.” “Ok, fair.”

“Anyways,” Natalie continued. “Let’s cut to the chase. I want to be in your magical girl group.” “Oh, uh..” Leslie mumbled. “Don’t magical girl groups usually fight evil?” “As if it’s not painstakingly obvious you all are new to this. Of course you haven’t fought anything yet.” “Ok, well, um.. once you have a prophetic dream that gives you a necklace like ours, you can join-”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “Well, if that’s how you wanna be, then so be it.” she huffed, crossing her arms. “If you won’t let me be a hero, then I have no choice but to become a villain.” “I don’t think that’s your only choice-“ “PREPARE for your downfall- what’s your name?” “Oh! Uh.. Leslie!” “Thanks. Anyways..”

Natalie cleared her throat.

“PREPARE for your downfall, Leslie!” “Alright. Whatever you say.” Leslie chuckled.

-

It was around 4 PM, & everyone was done with their classes for the day. The group decided to get some lunch at the mall. It was just your average run-of-the-mill concession food. Nothing worth getting into detail about. They all sat at one of the open tables & started chowing down.

“Damn, I haven’t had mall food in a loooong time!” “When’s the last time we got this, anyhow?” “Uh.. two weeks ago.” “Two weeks is a long time!” “Not really, but ok.”

“Anyways,” Leslie spoke, taking a bite out of a burger. “Did you guys see the news this morning?” “No, I was busy sleeping in.” “Ah.. well, apparently a lot of people have been going missing lately.” “Huh. Weird.” “You know what’s even weirder? Bananas are being stolen from stores as well.” “Bananas?” “Yeah!” “What could one person need with so many bananas?” “One can only wonder. But I have a theory!” “Oh? Do go on.” “I believe that this is all related to that banana restaurant that opened up recently!” “The.. one we went to yesterday?” “Yup!”

The group kind of looked at each other.

“What makes you think that?” “C’mon, don’t tell me you don’t see the correlation! BANANAS are going missing? That Pim guy obviously spent all his budget on painting the walls, he’s gotta get ingredients somehow!” “Ok, that does sound a little reasonable.” “Yea, so that’s why I’m gonna break into the restaurant later to get some evidence.” “You’re gonna WHAT?!”

Leslie took another bite out of its burger. “You heard me. I’m breaking into that restaurant!” “You can’t break into a restaurant! You can barely muster the courage to kill a bug!” “Well, that’s different. Bugs are living creatures. Restaurants are not.” “The Mystery Flesh Pit would say otherwise.” “I don’t think you know what the Mystery Flesh Pit is, Juni.” “I’ll be fine! Don’t you worry! We still have that.. magic thingy anyway, so-” “THE BOOK!” Nora slammed her hands on the table. “We left the book at the abandoned Pizza Hut!” “I knew we forgot something!” “Well, let’s go back &-”

“Looking for something?”

The group turned around. Natalie was standing there, book in hand.

“Oh.. hey, Natalie!” Leslie chuckled nervously. “Hey.” “You know her?” “She’s in a few of my classes. Also she spied on us yesterday at the abandoned Pizza Hut.” “..& you didn’t think to TELL US THAT UNTIL NOW?” “I wasn’t SPYING on you! I was just there to get high!” “Like.. on weed?” “Yeah, what else would I be getting high on?”

The group shrugged.

“Whatever. That’s beside the point. Here’s the deal: you let me join your magical girl group & I give you the book back.”

Leslie groaned. “I already told you. If you have a prophetic dream about a shadow creature that gives you a necklace, then you can join.” “As if they give out prophetic dreams to anybody.” “Isn’t that the point of prophetic dreams?” “No???” “I’ve only gotten 1 prophetic dream in my lifetime, so I assume it’s not just for anyone.” “You’re getting off-topic. Am I joining the group or not?” “We don’t even know who you are!”

“Your loss.” Natalie said, walking away.

The group looked at each other.

“Should we go try to snatch the book from her?” “Count me out. I want to finish my fries.” “Well, count me in!”

Juniper, Kalani, & Nora hopped out of their seats. “Let’s get ‘er!” Juniper announced as the three of them started rushing after her.

Cherry sighed, looking at Leslie. “Hey, Les?” “Ya?” Leslie replied, mouth full of burger. “You think I could help you break into that restaurant? I don’t trust that banana guy myself, honestly. Plus, you don’t have a car.”

Leslie’s face lit up. “Of course!” “Then let’s do this thing.”

#thmgau #a girl named natalie

[jeongyunhoed]

8 Stories, 8 Movies from the Golden Age (1930s to 1960s).

It’s the golden age and 8 men are the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Ateez, but make them Old Hollywood, basically. Lights, camera, action!

Member: San

Genre: Screwball romantic comedy, sliiiight angst

Warnings: Snappy couples, slight brawl, pretend lovers’ quarrel, basically just running away

Things to note: Set in the 1930s, journalist!San, strangers to lovers (kind of), road trip!, Almost like the whole “there was only one bed!”

Will have OCs

As with the rest of the stories in the AU, there will be other idols mentioned, most likely NCT but may have some of my other faves (EXO, etc.)

A/N: Enjoy this next part. The third and final part would be posted next week! 

Masterlist

Runaway society girl Han Miryo goes on a cross-country road trip to get to her aviator fiance from Namhae to Seoul, only to fall in love with the reporter, Choi San, who helped her run away.

It Happened One Night

tag list: @minervaaaaaaaa , @closer-stars

Part 2

Miryo returned to the cabin the next morning, having gotten up earlier than San to shower and freshen up, wearing the robe the autocamp provided while she waited for her own clothes to dry. Even with the heavy downpour that seemed to derail her plans of getting to Seoul quickly, she managed to sleep well. She figured the long trip and the tiredness of having to run away from home got to her. 

San. She smiled to herself. Who would’ve thought she would make it this far with a stranger who turned out to be a newspaper man even. He could’ve easily ratted her out even after she begged him not to tell Hongjoong, but he didn’t. 

As she opened the door to step inside, San was already dressed and ready, with the sounds and smells of something frying on the stove while the small dining table was already set. “Good morning,” She said.

“Good morning wifey, it’s about time you got back,” He managed a smile. 

“I met some interesting women at the showers since only the toilet works in here. We got to chatting and time definitely flew by,” She said, sensing that he was in a better mood than yesterday. 

“Alright, come on, sit down and have something to eat,” San gestured to the table, placing what she saw were fried eggs on each of their plates. 

“Wow, that’s nice, you made eggs,” Miryo looked impressed as she sat down. 

“Egg,” San was quick to correct her. “One egg, one donut, one cup of coffee. That’s your ration until lunch. Any complaints?” 

She shook her head. “Nope, not a thing,” She said with a satisfied smile. 

“That’s nice, for a change,” San sat down next to her, passing her the plate of two donuts, in which she took one to put on her plate. 

“I’ll eat well,” Miryo said before she tucked in, observing his expression as she took one bite of the egg on her plate. “You must think this whole thing is silly, don’t you? Me running away and everything.” 

San glanced at her while he ate. “No, no it’s a good story.” 

She raised a brow. “Yes you do. You think I’m foolish and a spoiled brat. Well, I don’t blame you,” She looked down at her food. “Maybe I am, although I don’t see how I can be. People who are spoiled are used to getting their way all the time. I never have! I’ve always been told what to do, how to do it, where to do it, and with whom. Nurses, governesses, chaperones – even bodyguards! So much for fun.” 

“On the flipside, you’re never alone,” He pointed out, understanding what she said. 

Miryo tilted her head. “I guess it has its moments. It’s become a game to try and outwit my father’s bodyguards and investigators. There was one time I did, where I actually went shopping without a bodyguard tailing me. It was amazing, it felt like I was doing something immoral, but it didn’t last very long, though,” She smiled to herself as she recalled it. “They caught up with me at a department store. I was so mad, I went out through the back and jumped into the first car I saw. Guess who was in it?” 

San gave her a look. “Santa Claus.” 

Miryo chuckled and shook her head. “Nope. Park Seonghwa.” 

He looked incredulous. “Of for c- is that how you met him?”

“Yeah,” Miryo laughed. “We drove around all afternoon. My father and Hongjoong were frantic. By six o’clock, Hongjoong was having the rivers dredged,” She shook her head at the absurdity of her own story as she tried to dip her donut into her cup of coffee. 

“I can see it,” San sat back to take a sip of coffee, immediately noticing what she was doing. “...Where did you learn how to dunk? At an academy or something?” 

Miryo frowned. “Oh, don’t start telling me I shouldn’t dunk!” 

“Of course you shouldn’t! You don’t even know how to do it!” San argued, and Miryo giggled in amusement at his reaction, watching him do so. “Dunking is an art. Don’t let it soak so long, one dip, then put it in your mouth. If you let it soak for too long, it’ll get soft and fall off. It’s a matter of timing. I should write a book about it.” 

“Thank you, teacher,” Miryo chuckled, dipping her donut into her coffee the way San showed her, nodding at the taste. 

San finished his egg. “Just goes to show you. Billions of won and you don’t know how to dunk.” 

“Well I’d change places with a plumber’s daughter any day,” Miryo said quietly, finishing her food as well. 

They heard a ruckus from outside. San got up, looking out the window, putting a finger to his lips as he turned to her. “Someone’s outside,” He whispered. 

“Now just a minute, Who-well, how do I know who you are? You can’t go around bothering my tenants. How do I know you’re detectives?” They heard Yeosang tell two men. 

Miryo gaped, turning to the male. “Hongjoong’s investigators!” She whispered, panicking. “Maybe I can jump out the other window? They wouldn’t see me that way, wouldn’t they?” 

San shook his head, evidently panicking as well. “Sit down, sit down,” He pointed to the small vanity table on the other side of the cabin. “Push your hair down to your eyes, let your hair down, do something” He whispered. 

Miryo quickly understood, covering most of her face with her hair and taking the small comb on the dresser to comb the ends of her hair. Her heart was pounding and this was the only way she could hide. At least it was the only way she could evade them without drawing attention. 

As the door opened, San cleared his throat. “Yeah, yeah, I got a letter from my cousin Dohyun last week! He says if we don’t stop by his house, he’ll never forgive us! He’s been talking about the special makgeolli he’s made for ages!” He said. 

“What?” She asked. 

“Just say something!” San nudged her. 

“Oh! Oh! We should then! He must be doing very well!” Miryo spoke in a higher-pitched voice, going along with what San had in mind. “I would write back if I was you! Letters are always great to folks like him!” 

“Yeah, yeah! He said his wife’s got hay fever again!” San replied. 

“You don’t say!” Miryo replied, glancing at the detectives from the mirror. They were definitely the men Hongjoong had tailing her. 

“Uh, excuse us,” The men spoke. “I’m detective Choi Jongho and this is my partner Lee Jeno.” 

“Oh look, honey, some men!” Miryo managed to say, keeping her voice as high-pitched as possible. Her heart was pounding. 

“I want to see you, miss. What’s your name?” Jongho asked her. 

“Uh, you addressing me?” Miryo asked, keeping her head down as she kept combing through her hair. 

“Yeah, what’s your name?” Jeno asked this time. 

San stood in front of them, blocking her from view. “Hey, that’s my wife you’re talking to!” He sounded indignant. “What do you guys want anyway?!” 

Jongho and Jeno stepped back. “We’re looking for somebody,” Jongho replied. 

“Yeah? Well look your head off! Only don’t come barging in here. This ain’t a public park. I got a notion to take a sock at you,” San waved his fist. 

“Hey, take it easy, guy, take it easy,” Jeno put his hands up. 

“They’re detectives, Mr. Choi,” Yeosang spoke. 

“I don’t give a hoot if they’re the whole police department! They can’t come barging in here and shooting questions at my wife!” San yelled. 

“Don’t get so excited, honey! They just asked a civil question,” Miryo chimed in. 

“Oh is that so? How many times do I gotta tell you to stop butting in when I’m having an argument?!” San shot at her. 

“You don’t have to lose your temper!” Miryo yelled back. 

“Now just a moment-” Jongho tried to cut in. 

“‘You don’t have to lose your temper!’” San mocked. “That’s what you said the other time too! Every time I’m trying to protect you!” 

“Oh keep quiet!” Miryo pretended to burst into sobs. 

“I won’t keep quiet!” San yelled. 

“Okay, listen, both of you-” Jongho tried to cut in again. 

“You’re just like your old man! Once a plumber’s daughter, always a plumber’s daughter!” San continued, Miryo sobbing louder. “There ain’t an ounce of brains in your whole family!” 

“Choi San, you’ve gone far enough! I won’t stand here and be insulted like this!” Miryo whined, leaning over the dresser. 

“Shut up! Shut up!” San yelled back at every sob that came out of her. Miryo wailed in her seat, nearly dropping the comb. 

Yeosang turned to the detectives. “Look at what you two have done, disturbing my guests, please leave,” He gestured to the threshold. 

“Yeah, what do you mean by it anyway?” San crossed his arms. 

“Sorry, Mr. Choi, but you see, we had to check on everyone. We’re looking for a girl named Han Miryo, the daughter of the late banker, the cousin of Mr. Kim Hongjoong,” Jongho showed him the photo of Miryo on the front page of the newspaper they were holding. 

“Yeah? Well it’s too bad you’re not looking for a plumber’s daughter,” San pointed out, looking visibly annoyed. Miryo wailed even louder. “Quit bawling! Quit bawling!” 

“Well, sorry to disturb you two, we’ll be on our way,” Jeno and Jongho bowed before leaving, Yeosang quickly showing them out of the cabin, giving them a nod as he closed the door behind them. 

Miryo glanced over at San. “...Are they gone?” She asked. San hummed in confirmation. She turned around, the two of them suddenly bursting into fits of laughter as San bent down to fix her hair. 

“Come on, let’s get ready to go,” San smiled. 

~ 

The bus was on its way to Daegu, the two of them in much better spirits compared to their arguing the day before. Miryo welcomed the change in mood between them as she looked out the window at the view of the countryside. She soon felt some weight on her shoulder, realizing that San had fallen asleep. 

It was only then she realized how handsome he actually was, from how chiseled his face was to his pouting lips. From how he was beginning to lean on her, Miryo could tell he was someone who liked to exercise. She figured he was probably the type of guy who would have girls on each arm, yet would have also made a dedicated, dare she think it, husband. 

Miryo looked around in the bus. Many of the passengers seemed to have fallen asleep as well, until she noticed Wooyoung sitting close by, smirking to himself. He was reading the newspaper that had her picture on it. He caught her gaze and she looked away, immediately wondering what to do next. 

“San?” She whispered, gently nudging him. 

“Mm, what? I’m trying to sleep,” San mumbled. 

“Wooyoung’s here on the bus,” She said. 

“Yeah, he’s on this bus, what about it?” 

“Look over at him,” Miryo nudged him again to sit up. San looked over slightly to where the male was sitting, immediately catching the newspaper. “What do we do? I’m scared,” She admitted, taking a deep breath to relax. 

“What are you afraid of? Haven’t you still got me with you? Where did Wooyoung get that paper?” San asked. 

“A stopover a while back, you were sleeping. He must have got it there.” 

San shrugged. “It’s too late do anything now.” 

Miryo could tell Wooyoung was still looking at her. “...Do you think he recognizes me?” 

“We’ll find out soon enough. I don’t think he’s the type to keep something like that quiet if he cut his tongue out. Just sit back and let things happen,” San assured her, linking her arm with his. 

“But what would we do?” 

San patted her hand. He had an idea. “Wait until the next stop. I’ll get him into a conversation about it and if he suspects anything – Well, we’ll see.” 

Miryo nodded, sitting back. 

The two of them suddenly sat up when the bus went off the side of the road, getting into a muddy field as Yunho apparently was close to falling asleep at the wheel. San turned to her, giving her an assuring look as he got up and went down the bus. 

San saw Wooyoung get down as well, following a few others that were crowding around the wheels of the bus to take a look at the problem. “Hello, Mr. Jung Wooyoung,” He approached the male. 

“Hello, it’s nice to get out and stretch your legs, isn’t it?” Wooyoung had a satisfied grin on his face as he stretched his arms while looking out at the field. Night had already fallen. 

“Yeah, it sure is,” San noticed the newspaper he was holding. “Newspaper?” He pointed to his hand. 

“Hmm? Oh yeah it is,” Wooyoung unfolded the paper to show him. San held it up to the headlights to read it. “You know, traveling like this makes you lose track of what’s going on in the world. Now, take that story there,” He pointed to the front page. “About that Han Miryo. If I were to see that woman, you know what I’d do?” 

“What?” 

“I’d go 50-50 with you,” Wooyoung looked pleased. 

San raised a brow. “Why?” 

“Because I don’t believe in hogging it all, you see? A bird that figures that way, always ends up behind the eight ball, is what I always say,” Wooyoung said wisely. 

San could tell something was up. “What’s your angle?” 

“Five million won or I figure out the works,” Wooyoung’s expression shifted to a more serious one. 

“Five million, huh?” 

“You heard me,” Wooyoung nodded. 

San gave the newspaper back to him. “You know, it’s a good thing I ran into you. You’re just the guy I need.” 

“You made no mistake, believe you me!” 

San tilted his head towards him. “You packing?” 

“Packing?” 

“Packing a firearm. You have any?” San repeated. 

Wooyoung stared at him, a little stunned at the question. “Well,no, I-” 

“It’s alright,” San cut him off, waving a hand dismissively. “I have a few machine guns in my suitcase. I’ll let you have one of them. You might have a little trouble up north. You might have to shoot it out with the cops.” 

Wooyoung was even more stunned. “...Huh?”

“If you come through, the five million’s in the bag for you,” San muttered, grinning. 

“Yeah, yeah, but-” Wooyoung sputtered. 

“Of course, I’ll have to talk about it with the Killer and see that he takes care of you,” San said coolly. 

Wooyoung gaped at him. “...The-the Killer?” 

“Yeah, yeah, the big guy, the one who’s running the whole operation,” San replied. 

Wooyoung glanced back at the bus, then back at San. “...You’re-you’re not thinking of-of kidnapping her, are you?” 

“What else are we going to do? You don’t think we’re after that amount of reward money? 10 million won? That’s chicken feed,” San scoffed. 

Wooyoung stepped back, looking a little horrified at the way San was looking at him. “Well, I guess I don’t want that money after all…” 

San approached him again. “What do you mean? You’re in this thing and you’re staying in. You know too much.” 

“Yeah but-I-I won’t say anything, honest, I won’t.” 

“How do I know you’re being honest?” San questioned. “I got a notion to shoot you right now.” 

Wooyoung stepped back some more. “No, no, no you can trust me, mister. I can keep my mouth shut, honest!” 

“Jung Wooyoung, right?” San asked. “Where do you live?” 

“Ilsan.”

“Got family?” 

“Yeah, a wife and two kids, they’re just babies,” Wooyoung looked even more frightened. 

“You ever heard of Choi Minsoo?” 

“Ch-Choi Minsoo?” 

San nodded. “He was a nice guy, just like you. But he made a mistake one day – talked a little too much. You know what happened to his kids?” 

“No.” 

“Well, I can’t tell you. But when Choi Minsoo found out, he blew his brains out.” 

“That’s-that’s terrible,” Wooyoung whimpered. 

“Yeah, now get lost!” San said loudly. 

“B-back to the bus?” 

“Back to the bus? You’re walking, bub,” San said. “Now get lost!” 

Wooyoung stepped back, almost breaking into a run. San grinned, amused at how it seemed to work. He heard Yunho call everyone else who was outside back on board. The bus was back on the road. San got back inside, Miryo looking hopeful. “Everyone on board?” Yunho asked. 

“Yeah, uh, wait a minute, we’re getting down, me and my wife,” San turned to Miryo, who sat up in surprise. “Come on, let’s go. This is our stop,” He reached for her hand. 

“What? You got your suitcase?” Yunho looked confused. 

“Yeah, yeah,” San held up the bag, leading Miryo down the bus. 

The bus doors closed and went back on its way. Miryo turned to him. “Now what? We’re stranded out here in the dead of night. Maybe you’d want to let me know what’s going on?” She asked. 

“What’s going on? We’re going to take a walk,” San replied. “That Jung Wooyoung might shoot his mouth off after all.” 

“Where are we going to walk to?” 

“The next town, wherever that is. Come on, we’ve got a long way to go,” He said. 

~ 

“How much longer do we have to walk?” Miryo sighed, lifting her feet up with every step she took. “My feet are killing me.” 

San looked around at where they were. “We can stop here if you want. Wherever we are. I know we’re past Daegu by now.” 

“Where exactly?” 

San shrugged. “I can’t say for sure. But from the looks of everything, like that hay rick, we must be on someone’s farm.” 

“Farm? Where’s the farm house then?” Miryo turned around. 

“What difference does that make?” 

“You don’t mean- you mean we’re going to sleep out here?” Miryo asked. 

“Well I don’t know about you, but I’m going to give a fair imitation of it,” San approached the hay rick. 

Miryo frowned as she followed him. “San?” 

“What?” 

“I’m kind of hungry.” 

San gave her a look. “You’re just imagining things,” He said. 

“No I’m not! I’m hungry and scared,” Miryo whined. 

“You can’t be hungry and scared at the same time!” San argued. 

“Well I am!” She argued back. 

“If you’re scared, it scares the hunger out of you!” 

“Not if you’re more hungry than scared.” 

San let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, fine, you win. Now forget about it,” He said. He was getting tired as well. 

“I can’t! I’m hungry.” 

“For god’s sake!” San groaned. “Why did I ever get mixed up with you? If I had any sense, I’d already be in Seoul by now.” 

“What about your big story?” 

“Taking a woman back to her fiance! I turned out to be a prize sucker, all right,” San sighed, fluffing up the loose hay from the stack. “Here, your bed’s all made, come on.” 

Miryo looked at the mound of hay before her. “You mean I’m supposed to sleep on that?” 

“That’s the idea,” San replied. 

With great reluctance, Miryo settled down, frowning and wrinkling her nose at how crackly it was. “Oh, this isn’t very comfortable.” 

“Just go to sleep, I’m tired of listening to you complaining,” San said dismissively, getting up to go to another part of the hay rick. . 

Miryo tried to lie down. “You know you’re becoming incredibly disagreeable lately. You snap my head off every time I open my mouth! If being with me is so disagreeable to you, you can leave. You can leave any time you see fit. Nobody’s holding you back here, I can get along, I can get along very well without you!” She huffed, looking up at the sky and it made her realize how it had gone quiet. “...San?” She called out. 

No response. 

“San?” Miryo sat up looking around. “San? San! San!” She called out again nervously. 

“What? What’s wrong? What are you yelling for?” San appeared, carrying a bunch of carrots. 

Miryo sighed in relief. “San! I-I was so worried…” She said, her voice lowering. 

“What’s with you? I was only gone a minute. I went to try and find you something to eat,” San replied. 

“I know but-” 

“Here, I got it from a crate in the next field,” San handed her the bunch. 

“Huh? I-I don’t want it now,” She said, putting the bunch aside. 

“What? I thought you said you were hungry!” 

“I was but-” 

“But what?!” San was growing even more frustrated. 

“But I was so scared it scared the hunger right out of me,” Miryo pouted. 

“For crying out loud! You’d drive a guy crazy,” San groaned. 

“I guess-” 

“Shut up. Not a peep out of you,” San glared at her before walking to the other side of the hay stack. 

“I was only going to say that you were right.” 

“You darn well know I’m right,” San huffed. “Now go to sleep and forget about everything,” He said, sitting down on the pile he fluffed up and sat back, looking up at the sky. 

Miryo lay back down. “...San?” She called out. 

“What?” 

“What are you thinking about?” She asked. 

San looked out at the field next to them. “By strange coincidence I was thinking of you,” He admitted. 

Miryo smiled to herself. “Really?” 

“Yeah, I was wondering what makes women like you so annoying.” 

Her expression fell. “Oh.” 

#ateez #ateez fluff #ateez scenarios #seonghwa #park seonghwa #ateez seonghwa #hongjoong #kim hongjoong #ateez hongjoong #yunho #jeong yunho #ateez yunho #yeosang #kang yeosang #ateez yeosang #san #choi san #ateez san #mingi #song mingi #ateez mingi #wooyoung #jung wooyoung #ateez wooyoung #jongho #choi jongho #ateez jongho