#tiny but dangerous XD

[yilian0203]

The little Ghost King.

#guardian #zhen hun #镇魂 guardian #镇魂 #shen wei #zhenhun #fanart #guardian art #zhenhun novel #zhenhun art #the little ghost king #babyyyyyyyy #my baby #baby shen wei #tiny but dangerous XD #i mean I am literally going for one art a day

[mushroom-for-art]

Height tracking lore stuff

Axel - 9'6"~ - due to his unstable genetics from having human genes forcefully spliced into his mew genes a lot of his genetic formation information got screwed resulting in his current mewtwo appearance for one taller humanoid-ish and such unfortunately in the mess of his genes trying to stabilise from the new information and damages the gene for growth in all areas height bone growth muscle growth ect got left on, and by the time Axel even remembered/figured out how to manipulate his own genetic coding to turn those genes off and stabilise himself he was already massively tall and he absolutely hates it. He wishes he was 6 foot odd, the tall hurts both in memory of his past self and also oh god being this tall is suffering, especially when you've got metal armor screwed into your bones causing probably bone fractures and splintering as you grow and the metal fixings don't. Having a horrible time, he's gonna maim me just stupid big mewtwo who wishes he wasn't stupid big

Prototype - 8'8" - it's just a nice number to me fam lmao and also with the slight damages to his dna from being a clone of axel he loses some height and his genes were probably fixed during development to cap his height before he entered the suffering giant height range

Scribe - 7' - due to the Smeargle genes his height got cut otherwise he would've been a similar height to his brother, he is very embarrassed and angry that he's shorter than some of the later generation mewtwo

Dusty - 8' - as an adult he's only a few inches of his papa! Prototype would be so proud of him, not many clever thoughts here just liked him being the same height as Imp

May - 5'4" - #sorry, no height for u it's too iconic your short ass is too iconic May and canonically you are literally stunted because of the tainted with synergy mega stone implanted in development you're physically and power wise stunted I'm afraid assigned runt of genetic litter

Darkness - 7'6" - height restored, this girl has been hassling me for AGES for extra height when she realised 6'9" is probably not actually that big for a mewtwo, like way back since March I think? She realised she was not the big mean bitch she thought she was and she wasn't having it XD so she finally successfully bullied me into giving her extra height and she's quite happy knowing even with Mays souped up Mega evo that adds 2 foot she's still taller than her sister normally

Matt: 6'2" - he came into my office and also bullied me into giving him height, pointing out rightfully that Mays stunted height isn't genetic but was purely environmental soooo he still has the potential to be tol and also lore wise he wasn't immediately terminated for his missing limbs as he was going to be spare parts but if he was only 5'9" his organs would probably be smaller than a normal twos and this kinda shitty spares so he gets height and it also provided him with gender euphoria but in exchange he is losing a kidney reduced to one slightly bigger than average one and losing some eyesight benefits because nope you need more issues from genetic degregation and hes losing his implanted mega stone he's getting a mega stone accessory later in exchange. He tries to get pushed to 6'4" but after being told I'd make him only 6' he shut up

Imp: 8' - big girl!!!! When she first comes out she's fully developed mentally and her body is fully developed organs reproductive system ect but she was intentionally kept in a more cramped tube and kept on strict nutrition which means when she first emerged she was only about 6'3 still rather big but kept smaller easy to handle than say Prototype or Scribe, after she escaping and getting to eat as much as she wanted and not being hungry and having actual space to exist her more prominent fossil mew genes went 'hello!!' and her growing hormones reactivated to let her become her full potential in height and body so she's probably a bit stockier as well that her first image having gained them muscles too

AI: 7'5" - unlike her parents AI is intentionally given access to foods to grow big and strong as an adult (as a teen she's likely about 6'7") with the intent of having her body incubate larger stronger mewtwo offspring that could be transferred to growing tanks or raised, the theory being bigger body bigger womb and growing space and while technically true with Imp having the size and capability to potentially produce a large egg (due to having more other pokemon genes) and MIA likely able to produce a large baby if she desired one AI will obviously be removed from there before they can use her

MIA: 7'9" - being out on the battle fields a lot MIA had room to keep growing and would scavenge food whenever she could devouring down berries and even other pokemon meaning she grew much like her mother had despite the facility trying to restrict her. Also MIA may have been made using Axels dna as well as Imps explaining the coloration change from creams to more purples and the persistence of tall genetics despite them being restricted, this also potentially explains the then jump from purples and pinks to Blue with AI as Axel is a holder of blue gene tho this is usually as a stripe something in Imp/MIAs genes likely had blue stripe gene turned on all the way making it blue fill, this makes MIA Axels daughter as well as Imps.

Important note: Imp and Axel share no genetic relation from their mew donors or human gene donors, though later they may refer to each other as Cousins which will then become siblings as Imp longs for familial connection with anyone like her and Axel can see she needs that and isn't gonna be a "well actually," jerk to her about it. He sees no harm in saying they're family even if by all means they're not. When they find out about MIAs existence and shared genetic relation to them both neither of them see it as weird cause they know there's no relation, despite the hatred of his kin Axel is probably a bit more open to acting as father with MIA (until he realises she doesn't want that in which cause he quickly steps off). So don't be weird about it alright

#My rambles #My lore #Height records #And useless more rambling #Why they so big? Cause I can #I stopped caring XD #Big bitches upon yee #I also just love them all being giants #Makes them more scary and dangerous I think #And then there's May #Oh tiny ex sona my beloved

[scare-ard--sleigh]

unaltered, this dress goes past the knee but i think she needs to be shorter

#silver swag #i won't front this is absolutely a ploy to make you all look at my body 😌💖 #i kinda think a rhinestone buckle would be cool in the middle #just to highlight the knot thing & give it a tiny bit more structure but idk. project dress lmao get me some sewing machine practice. #i'm also thinking of going the full barbiecore nine yards and finding some pink pumps lmao or maybe wedges. #i saw these lime green pumps that could be such a serve with this but it's risky bc they might actually look Awful #and i don't think i own anything else that would go with them remotely xD #god vinted is so dangerous asdjhigkhl okay ANYWAY; summer lewks mwahhh

[partywithoutsmiling]

Another AU that has been knocking around my mind for a while XD I call it Moonlit AU

It can be summed as such: Pop Trolls are pretty wild bunch when it comes to looks, varying in colours, flocking/fur patterns, glitter, freckles, hair, you name it

It got me thinking, what sort of thing would they find attractive in prospective partner? While singing/harmonizing could be a part of it (and ngl, that did made me think of the Happy Feet movies, as silly as those were), my mind turned towards more physical attributes

Thus, this AU was born- where one of the reasons why Pop trolls like to be most active at night (to party) is that a Moon's Light also allows them to appreciate fur/flocking patterns otherwise hidden, where the complexity and style varies from troll to troll, as is thought to show one's inner self

Contrary to what one would expect from the Princess (and future Queen) of Pop, Poppy's patterns are rather simple- but striking nonetheless, firm and bold stripes, like taking a wide brush to a canvas- straightforward but chaotic in their hardly orderly fashion Poppy struts her patterns; they are unique and dominant among the general showing of swirls, polka dots and flower like spottings She is aware her stripes are not considered the most attractive of features- too similar to that of a predatory critter, too sharp for who is supposed to be cheerful queen of equally cheerful people- but she is a romantic at heart and believes that when it will be time to choose a consort, those physical features are surface-level importance at best, and this is the mentality she has going forward, looking at the glowing marks of her friends and considering them equally beautiful no matter what.

Until she manages to spot Branch one night outside under the full moon light that is.

Branch's pattern, in high contrast to Poppy, is far more complex. Symetrical but delicate in its filigree, and far more detailed than anything the Princess has ever seen before. Usually, Branch ventures out only on moonless nights, as he feels the glow of his marks are too visible, too dangerous to just show out and about, for every dangerous predator to see- and it is purely bad luck when bad weather caughts him outside longer than he would have liked, and Poppy manages to catch the sight of him while he is completely unaware he had been seen.

All her conviction flies right out of the window, as she looks at his delicate patterning and her mind just goes blank and - Oh

Usually she would have called out to him, ask him to come to a party- but she feels mesmerized, hypnotized by the elegance of the filigree, and her mind longs for a way to memorate it forever- with a photo, or a painting- and she stares at the entrance of his bunker long after he vanished inside, completely stupefied and wrong footed.

Before, Poppy hardly ever gave Branch a thought, when it came to this part of Pop Troll culture; as part of her, guiltily, sort of assumed that with his lack of colour, his patterning would be rather bland as well- and besides, it's not like he ever shown a desire to participate in courting dances.

But now she is left with sudden new, and unexpected feeling- her heart and breath going now a bit faster everytime she catches a glimpse of him from now on, her cheeks flushing and her tail wagging in excitement

(Her desk's drawer is filled with failed cut out scrapbook pieces of leaves and tiny detailed filigree, as she attempts to journal her sudden and new discover and cant get it quite right)

Tldr; Pop Trolls have fur/flocking patterns that appear only under the moon's light, and Poppy finds Branch's so irresistibly attractive she hardly knows what to do with herself

This pushes her to try and spend more time with him- just spend time with him, no trying to push him to go to parties with her or trying to get him to sing or hug

For his part, Branch is both secretly pleased his own crush is now paying more attention to him than to Creek (who is not happy with this development) but also holy shit Poppy is paying more attention to him, so it is kind of unnerving for him, freaking him out

#trolls #dreamworks trolls #trolls fandom #trolls branch #trolls poppy #Moonlit AU #troll art

[grandlinedreams]

You! 🫵 You have an excellent way of weaving words, it leaves my heart in a kerfuffle! (no better way to describe it otherwise xD)

If your inbox isn’t already exploding, would you be up for a little fluff scenario with good ol‘ Law?

Trope: „Can we keep him? Pleeease?“ - Reader found a snow leopard baby . . 🥹 (If you know you know)

I let you channel your inner Law, I‘m curious how you‘d set the scene :3

Hope it ain’t too dull of a trope - thank you ~!

OUGH I'M HONORED 🥺 he really does just bounce around in my head like a lil dvd screensaver but also PLEASE that little baby 🥺🥺🥺

[Heads up!: fluff, Law is a sucker for puppy dog eyes we all know, Bepo is an accomplice]

It's cold.

Dangerously so, the wind making it difficult to keep on your course ㅡ how you're supposed to see anything in the vast tundra of blinding white is beyond you, but you press on.

You have to.

You tug at the fur-lined rim of your parka hood, trying to tug it over the rapidly numbed quality of your lips and nose. You'll be fine, you know that ㅡ the others can't be far from here.

Longing for the warmth of indoors and needing to tell Law what you'd seen in your scout ahead (a whole lot of nothing, unfortunately), you hurry your pace, only to halt at a faint, muffled cry.

Was someone else out here? You still, eyes narrowing as you strain to hear above the whistle of wind.

It takes a minute to hear it again ㅡ raspy and high, like the cry of a child. Your heart sinks as you turn to search for the source. You know Law will scold you if he finds out, much less if it's a trap of some sort ㅡ but the likelyhood of an enemy is low, and you can't just leave a child out here to freeze.

It takes several minutes of searching and stopping to pinpoint the cry before you find the source, and you stare with wide eyes.

No way...

ㅡ

"Cocoa, Captain?"

Law looks over as Bepo places the mug of steaming hot chocolate down beside him, watching tiny marshmallows bob in it before his attention shifts back to the door of the little cabin they've commandeered as a base of sorts.

"[Name] should've been back by now." You'd gone out to scout ahead, take not of any potential enemy activity ㅡ but you've been gone for a while now. And though Law is concerned, he masks it with the rise of irritation.

As if summoned, there's the darkening of the window set into the front door and he tenses for a second before you step in, quick to shut the door behind you.

"[Name]!"

"Hey guys," you greet. "Sorry I'm late, I got a little sidetracked."

Your cheeks are flush with the contrast of cold to warm, as is the tip of your nose ㅡ but from what Law can see, you're unharmed. Good.

"Anything to report?" He asks and you glance over.

"Huh? No, no signs of enemy activity." There's something you aren't telling him, that much he can tell.

"Are you bleeding?" It's Shachi's question that snaps Law's attention back to your coat, spotting the smear of red that he'd missed on his first once-over.

"Oh," you say as Law stands, intending to assess whatever damage has been done, demand to know what actually happened ㅡ only to halt as you reach for the zipper of your parka. "No, it's this little guy's."

You tug the zipper down, and a rounded, fluffy head wiggles free. Wide, wet looking blue eyes blink at them before a mouth opens to reveal tiny, razor sharp teeth as the creature offers a raspy sounding mew.

"Is...that a snow leopard?"

Several eyes snap to Law for a moment, the familiar speckle of his cap ㅡ and then back to the cub you have cradled in your coat.

"He's been injured," you say as you shuck your coat entirely in favor of cradling the cub to you. It's far bigger than a kitten, but broad paws still curl against you. "I couldn't just leave him out there..."

"[Name]." Law's eyes narrow. "A word, please." He turns to retreat down the hall to one of the other rooms, listening to your footsteps in tow. He waits until you've shut the door behind you before he turns to you. "Explain."

"I scouted as far ahead as I could given the current environment and found nothing out of the ordinary. If there's really something going on here, it's higher up the mountain." Your tone is calm and cool, professional ㅡ and he sighs.

"I meant the cub, [name]."

Your expression crumples as you look down at the leopard cub, and Law notices the ragged cut in its side, fur wet with blood. "I couldn't just leave him out there, Law. He'd die."

"He's a wild animal, [Name]. It's the way nature works." He knows he sounds unnecessarily cruel ㅡ and there's the squeeze of his heart when you frown and cradle the cub tighter to you.

"That doesn't mean I have to let it happen." Your fingers curl into soft fur, stroking gently. "I know he's a wild animal, but I want to help. Can't we keep him? Just until he gets better?"

You look up at him, and Law tenses. There's a shine to your eyes ㅡ he's never seen you cry, and you're about to over a damn cat? No, he knows this tactic. He knows exactly what you're doing.

Damn Bepo for teaching you his weakness to puppy eyes.

His teeth grit, muscle in his brow twitching as you continue to stare, silently pleading. All you're missing is the jut of your lower lip, and he jerks his head, scowling.

"Fine. But he's your responsibility. Now stop looking at me like that, damn it!"

You smile, pleased as you adjust your hold on the leopard cub and step towards him, leaning to brush your lips against his cheek in a soft kiss. "You're cute when you're grumpy, Law."

And then you're gone, hurrying off to gather what you need to treat the cub and leaving Law to process the warmth of your lips on his cheek. "What a pain," he grumbles, but there's a faint upward quirk to his lips.

#ㅡmine. #one piece scenario #one piece x reader #trafalgar law x reader #law x reader #ㅡgrandline friends!

[muffinsin]

Swinging by from the server: the talk of the daughter’s flies being around reader was so cute. Imagine if you just came across a pile of Bela in your room or something- just a clump of flies from Cassie or Dani in the corner watching you- ahaha such an adorable thought really! What do you think?

- AK Anon

I loved this conversation, hon XD very odd indeed, but very fun🙌

Masterlists

Bela

She likes to keep at least one of her flies with you at all times when she’s busy and you’re left to roam the castle on your own

For safety purposes, she reasons

She doesn’t want you to get in trouble, she reasons

The castle is such a dangerous place, she reasons

You know, she enjoys being close to you, and likes to personally ensure your safety

You don’t mind, you like the little winged companion travelling with you

Usually, she sends out one or two flies to hover near or on top of you

Often, you allow the small insects to sit on your shoulder as you go about your day

During those times, you often feel her nuzzle against your neck or shoulders, even in such a separated form of her swarm, eager to receive contact

You’d never think of denying it to her

Then, there are other times, such as when you’re kept busy for painfully long

Now, sometimes when you’re working on finishing up some papers, you’ll have your girlfriend sit patiently

Yet, as time drags on, Bela gets restless and bored

Instead, she swarms off, and leaves you with a couple of her flies

You consider them your companions in such times, your tiny assistants eager to bring you what you need

Often, they retrieve little things for you, such as paper clips

They purr happily when you praise them and allow them to drop the items in your hand, their tiny wings flapping excitedly, their little arms and legs rubbing along one another

At other times, you see the tiny insects flap their wings in a desperate attempt to lift a pencil multiple times their size and weight

Upon satisfying you and bringing you all you need, even the little insects come to rest for once

You watch as they all huddle together in a pile of flies at the edge of your desk

Then, silent purring is heard, so quiet you must hold your breath and lean in to even hear it

However, the sound is unmistakably a small version of the purrs your girlfriend is capable of doing

The pile of insects lays, mostly unmoving, as you work, and only sometimes can you spot an insect moving about

When you finish your work at last, they all seem to come alive again, tiny wings flapping in an attempt to reach Bela when she swarms back into the room

You smile fondly at her

Cassandra

She insists on being close to you

Cassandra is, even if she would rather face a snowstorm in the middle of December than admit it, very clingy and protective

You’re her precious lamb. Her lover. Her everything

She often feels anxiety when she doesn’t know where you are, even if she attempts to keep this a secret

The castle is grand, and dangerous. She worries. She knows, her family isn’t the only threat here

As such, Cassandra likes to keep some of her flies attached to you

She tries to keep these a secret too. Opting for hiding around corners or far up, little insects attempting to stay hidden

When you catch one and clasp your hollowed palms over one of her little insects, she tenses. Each time, without fail, a dark crimson blush on her cheeks and a frustrated, embarrassed snarl passing her lips

When encouraged to be less secretive about her little flies, she opts for travelling by pocket. Yours

Cassandra likes it best when you happen to wear a top with a front pocket at your chest. When controlling one of her flies, she likes to stay huddled up in there

It’s warm, and close to you. Two things that are among ger favorite things in the world. Not that she’d admit that

She stays like this every day, whether in the dungeons torturing poor souls, hunting out in the forest, taunting her sisters or exploring the outside

A fly is always with you, tucked in your pocket, its little head peeking out and its little wings flapping angrily whenever someone dares get too close, and flapping happily whenever you offer a tiny droplet of blood to the insect

You know, normally this would mean your girlfriend is purring. Alas, you don’t hear it when it comes from only a single fly

Cue to Cassandra gritting her teeth in aggravation when she begins purring and blushing in the middle of “playing” with a prisoner

On rare occasions, you find her completely spread out- not, the usual way

You still chuckle when you sit at your desk to tend to your hobby, Cassandra’s head on your lap, and find yourself surrounded by piles of flies

With her body somewhat out together enough to allow her to lean against you and keep her head in your lap, she sleeps soundly

On the window sill, lie two piles of flies, each seemingly basking in the sun. They, like Cassandra as a whole, seem to almost purr and vibrate with happiness

On your desk are the next two piles. One for each side, little insects sleeping and taking up your space. Before your girlfriend fell asleep, you noticed the tiny heads of the insects cocking and tilting from side to side to examine your work

And lastly, the pile on the bed, spread out and nuzzled against the soft fabric of the pillows and blankets, equally purring and twitching at times

You giggle whenever you gently bump your fingertip against a fly and it makes your girlfriend whine in her sleep

Daniela

Before seeing it for yourself, you never really gave her nature a thought

Of course, you know of her flies. Naturally

You just never saw them as individuals. Daniela is a swarm. An entity. A whole

You never assumed her flies could exist independently from one another, controlled separately by your girlfriend, or even not controlled at all

As such, you’re quite surprised when you walk into your room one day and find a pile of flies on your bed, rubbing up against your pillows, others merely sleeping seemingly comfortably

And yet, Daniela is nowhere in sight

Upon scooping the little insects up, they rub up against your palms instead. You giggle at the light, ticklish feeling

When you enter Daniela’s room and find her lying down and reading on the bed, the insects rush forwards to reconnect with what you assume must be a part of her back

She grins, her smile and eyes wide when she sees you

“Join me, my love!”

How could you deny such a sweet request?

Still, as you settle in next to your girlfriend, you notice a few stray flies buzzing about in the room

Some cuddled up in the shirt of yours you left her, as though eager to cover themselves in the scent that must cling to it

Others basking in the sunny spot on the window sill, while two others sit curiously on Daniela’s fingers, their many eyes taking in the book pages as she reads

A few move off her body, leaving little holes where they used to be

Daniela doesn’t seem to notice

Not even her voice wavers or her smile falters as the little insects move away and fly through the room

You feel the insects and the featherlight touch of little legs on your skin, as though they, like your clingy girlfriend, tried to cuddle up to you

You feel them on your shoulders and on top of your head, little legs tangled in your hair, little wings flapping happily

Others settle on your arm, climbing and seemingly playing with one another

You wonder whether Daniela is even aware of it

You hear the light purring coming from your girlfriend, and feel the tiny insects vibrating slightly against your arm and fingers

When she closes the book and stretches, you see her sharp teeth glisten in the light just as she yawns

Her flies seem to return to her, just enough to allow her to rest her head on you and wrap her arms around you

You grin. It’s cuddling time

#cassandra dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu #AK anon

[onskepa]

Hello, this is my first request so excuse me if it's misunderstanding

So, I had a dream about neteyam x human reader who is a woman. Reader it's paralyzed from the waist down, like Jake. But the only difference is that she doesn't and won't have an avatar. Usually, she doesn't leave her room so when Neteyam comes over, he has to carry her everywhere so she thinks she's a bother. He assures her that carring her it's not bother and it's rather adorable to see her tiny frame in his big arms.

Thank you<3

Helloooooooooooo darling~!! Quite the dream you have XD

Alrighty! Hopefully this comes out to yours and everyone's satisfactions~! enjoy~!

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

Susyang

The story of Jake Sully, the sixth Toruk Makto, the Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya clan, has been share all over pandora. How he arrived in such a weak form but managed to rise and defeat the sky demons.

Susyang, a human girl was born in Pandora. She along with another human named spider. But there is a large difference between them. Spider is very strong, athletic, and can freely move where ever he desires. Susyang? She cant.

When her mother was pregnant, things were fine until during her birth. Things did not go well. During her birth, her mother passed away, and the birthing complications affected her lower half of the body. Was never told what went wrong but susyang's chance of walking was taken before she could even open her eyes.

Forever to never use her legs until her last breath. Strapped in a wheelchair to move around the lab, and forever to be inside. Pandora is already dangerous enough for a human to move around. Susyang hold no chance to last an hour.

But she makes the most of it, reading so many books about pandora, watch the scientists do their daily work. Would even chat and talk about interesting plants or animals they found.

One of her favorite things to talk about are the native people. The na'vi. How she wishes to meet one. Norm did his best with his avatar body, while happy, susyang still sees norm through his blue body. To meet a real one, to interact and play. Wouldn't that be a dream...

"Wait another human kid lives with you?" little kiri asks to spider. Everyone was eating some fruit they collected and enjoying a bright sunny day. Spider nods, "yeah, she is really nice and super smart!". Interested at peak, kiri asks more, "why hasn't she come out with you? is she smaller?". At that, spider's smile falls a bit into a sad expression.

"She cant" he replied. Lo'ak turned, his eyebrows forming down, not understanding. "What do you mean she cant? are there enough masks?" he asks, spider shook his head no. "It is not that, its just....she cant leave so easily like me. Her legs don't work". Lo'ak and kiri immediately know what he meant.

Their father has explained his time as human, how he was limited to his wheelchair because of his dead weighted legs. Sadness and pity took over their emotions, "well what if we come to her instead? We can play with her and so she wont feel lonely" kiri suggests. Spider liked the idea and already the three began to plan things out.

The following day, everything was normal in the lab. Susyang was reading a book when spider came into her room already setting the wheelchair in front of her bed. "Hey, come come!" spider was very energetic and seemed to be in a rush. Raising her eyebrow, susyang looked at spider, "why? is something going on?". Not really answering her, spider carefully lifts susyang from the bed and gently to the chair. Quickly securing her legs, spider wheeled her out of the room in high speeds.

The sudden action startled susyang, making her squeal a bit. "Spider! hey hey! stop it! where are you taking me!?" feeling a bit scared she is under spider's mercy. Spider didn't reply as he strolled her to the entrance of the lab.

Suddenly coming to halt, susyang who was closing her eyes opened after a moment. Spider went in front of her and extended his arms wide with a huge smile. "I want you to meet my friends! this is kiri, lo'ak and neteyam sully!", susyang opened her mouth wide in shock. Her head lifting up to see their massive height. True na'vi! in front of her!

How badly she wanted to say something, but all came out was tiny squeaks and cute noises. The na'vi kids giggled at her noises thus making her blush in embarrassment. "She is so cuuuuuuute~!" kiri coos as she gently squishes susyang cheeks.

Lo'ak played with her hair, getting the feel of her soft texture while neteyam bend down to her level and smiles softly at her. Susyang blushed a bit seeing him. But she had to keep her cool no matter what!

"spider told us a lot about you. We decided to come and play with you" neteyam says. He carefully observed her actions, the tiniest hint can say much about a human. "u-umm th-thank you!" she smiles sweetly, feeling lucky and thankful for spider.

Neteyam got closer, opening his arms, susyang looked at him, "n-neteyam...!"

"Neteyam please I beg of you to not drop me!" 15 year old susyang clung tightly on the back of 15 year old neteyam. The boy chuckled, making sure his friend was holding tightly as he climbs higher on the trees.

Today neteyam planned things out for susyang to enjoy. After meeting each other, they became inseparable. Connected at arms, both neteyam and susyang were just really close to each other.

Despite susyang insecurities, neteyam is always there to cheer her up. Making sure that she belongs in pandora just like spider. Which is why neteyam has a nice surprise for her. With the help of his father and brother, they build a gift susyang would love.

Arriving at the north river, neteyam cleared the way to reveal something to susyang. "No way, is that...?" susyang says, looking at what is in the water.

A boat. A simple boat fitting for na'vi size. But it was beautiful, was decorated with lovely carvings and full of beautiful flowers. "Oh neteyam...this is beautiful!!" susyang says with emotional joy in her voice. With a huge sigh of relief, neteyam relaxed. It was two weeks of hard work to create it, with every carving was dedicated to susyang, in hopes this would be a better travelling method for her.

Carefully and gently, neteyam lays susyang on the boat, where it is softly cushioned with fibers and leaves. Making sure she is secured well, he hops on, and with a paddle, he begins the journey.

Settling in a peaceful silence, susyang takes notice of the small details of the boat, touching it as if it was made of glass. There is clear evidence that it was done by love and care. It made susyang appreciate it all more.

Looking up at neteyam who is steering the boats direction, she smiles in adoration. Her dear friend had spent so much time to make sure she is comfortable and safe while being out in the forest. It made her feel a bit....guilty. Had her legs work, perhaps she would have been as free as spider.

Arriving at their destination, neteyam picks her up bridal style. "How much further is it?" susyang asks, "not far, almost there" neteyam answers. What else is there to show? Susyang knows every corner of the forest after so many years.

Few minutes later, they arrived in a small hut, above the trees but near the river. It was lovely, cushioned softly, and everything was close at arms. The shade was perfect, the view was perfect. All was perfect. "What is this...?" she asks silently, but neteyam heard her. Placing her in the middle of the hut, he gestures to the whole area, "this is is for you. Me and the others worked on this so you can enjoy the forest, way better than being stuck in your room".

Neteyam smiled brightly as he explained, feeling quiet accomplished and proud. Anything to make his dear friend smile. But then he heard sniffles and weeping. Looking down, he sees susyang crying. Quickly bending down to her side, he cradles her in his big arms.

"What's wrong? does it hurt? did I do something wrong?" he asked, worry heavy in his voice. Susyang only cried louder, letting her salty tears fall from her eyes. Now neteyam felt really panicked. Was it not to her liking? Was it too rough the cushions? Not enough space? Was the items too far away? Each second passed and neteyam's inner worries were rising.

"y-you....!! and th-the others.....!! did all this for m-me.....!! I am s-so sorry for making you do this....!!" was all susyang could say without it being a mess of tears. His ears perked up at that, why is she apologizing?

"susyang....no no, there is nothing to be sorry for. Why would you say sorry? You haven't done anything wrong" neteyam says gently. Stroking her back, trying to sooth her. But her tears keep falling without stopping.

"n-no...!! its because of these stupid legs!! I c-cant do anything! I always have to rely on someone and I hate it! I cant even have an avatar of my own! stupid legs! I am weak! pathetic! I am nothing but a burden to you and everyone else!"

This was the first time neteyam heard her confess like that. He understood that not having functioning limbs can be a burden but never to this extent.

Cradling her in his arms, he gently rocks side to side as means to hopefully calm her down. Placing a small kiss on her head, he waits it out for her to cry it all out. Perhaps it was the pent up frustration that needed to be released. Keeping your emotions all bottled up is never a good thing.

"sssshhh....you are not a burden susyang. Not to me, not to anyone. You are everything to me, nothing about you is a burden. I enjoy spending time with you and I enjoy doing these things for you. When I hold you, feeling your tiny body against mine, I feel like I can protect you. From any danger in this world. And I am happy with that. Your happiness means everything to me".

Those words struck susyang right in the feels. Making her stop crying at once. But instead of sadness, her tears were replaces with that of tears of joy.

"w-what? why are you crying again!?" neteyam asked with more worry again. Susyang laughed and put her whole body weight on him. "I am not s-sad silly.....!! I am just happyyyyyyy!!" she cries while smiling. Neteyam always seems to find a way to get to her heart.

As she let her happiness show, neteyam just gives her more kisses and laughs a bit. As long as susyang is happy and comfortable. That is all it matters to him.

Aaaaaaaand that is all for this one! idk if this is a bit too long but who cares! Hope you liked this one! until next time! see ya!

Susyang = fragile

#avatar #avatar the way of water #na'vi x reader #na'vi avatar #avatar 2 #na'vi x human #lo'ak #kiri #spider socorro #neteyam sully #avatar neteyam #neteyam fluff #neteyam x reader #neteyam #neteyam x human reader #neteyam x you #neteyam x y/n

[darushi-chan]

MORE HOTD REPTILES AU 🤗 EDIT: After I took a nap I checked the post on my phone and the quality of the image looked like crap, dont know if it is my damn phone or what, but just to make sure I divided the strip in parts, now it looks fine in my phone, I like looking at Vhagar the komodo dragon in good definition ok xD? Also Arrax with his cute little crown. Im in pain, I commited myself and finished this in almost 3 days, never again lol. Headcanons time: -If you follow my other posts you know Aemond and Luceyrs are roommates, Aemond lied and said Vhagar “was friendly” so Luke will stay with them, he had been very careful and nothing happenned for like 3 weeks, but the one time he went jogging and didn’t make sure Vhagar’s enclosure was properly closed something happened.  -His “Lucerys it’s in danger” sense tingled and he came back in time to prevent disaster, but Luke saw Vhagar in his room. -Lucerys knows Vhagar its not “friendly”, but he also wanted the roommates situation to work, so he feigned ignorance and trusted Aemond, after all Vhagar did listen to him, most of the time.  -Vhagar did want to have snack time so bad 😞, but she also loves her almond, so no eathing the tiny dragon, Arrax its “her friend” now, and shes also a new member of Luke’s youtube videos! Plenty of new subscribers thanks to that 😂. -Yes, their silly costumes are a little bit of an hommage to their HOTD real characters, after all we do love to make Luke and Aemond queen and king (Or kings) in a lot of fics 😋. -Also also, yes Luke its wearing crocs with cute charms on them, I also love jogging pants, very comfortable 😌. -Vhagar its inded as tall as Luke when she stands, she’s a full grown Komodo, my doberman its as tall as me when he stands, so I think that makes it possible, I’m like 1.60 m,  5.25 feet, so yeh. -After this Vhagar and Arrax become really good friends indeed, they take walks together with Luke and Aemond, they sunbathe, Luke makes videos with both of them from time to time, they also play catch and chase together, this scares Luke a little, but Vhagar will not hurt Arrax, they are important to her know, Aemond likes them, so does she. -The costumes and videos are a little bit tedious, but Luke makes sure to never do something she hates, and Aemond always gives her special treats and cuddles after them, she also gets a fanbase that sends her gifts! Luke says she’s a star now 😘. -MOre lore that keeps me awake at night: Targ special pet companions Need to be a reptile or amphibian+ blood magic with a Targ blood family member sample, usually blood+ some other secret enchantments. Usually, the parent will bring their baby or child and be shown a wide variety of options, specifically eggs, and if there’s a connection with one or more, they are taken and can go through a series of trials and blood magic rituals, and the one that hatches at the end it’s the one that goes with the client. This process can take some time and specially lots of money from the client. Also, it can only work with people from Valyria, the only ones that can really afford this type of thing are the Targs and their blood family members. They may or may not also have a very restrictive contract with the dragon keepers for this kind of service too, hehe. Driftmark incident and bonding with Vhagar!: Alicent lets Viserys have his way with Aegon and Helaena, they got their pet companions since very young, she agreed since both were also relatively safe options, but then he started to get sick and wasn’t as able as before. She never liked this tradition the Targs had, just looking at Rhaenyra’s Syrax, or even worse, Laena’s Vhagar, the seven forbid one of her kids bonds with a monster like that, so with Aemond she gets more control of what her son get access to bond with, small geckos, frogs, turtles…safe and/or small companions, but none of those take, time passes and then Aemond decides he wants to have a big crocodile like his father, Alicent hates the idea, she wasn’t a Targaryen, so she really didn’t believe it was safe. But no matter what other small safe reptiles Aemond was shown none of them reacted. Aemond knew why, he didn’t want any of those “safe” companions, Aegon and Jace won’t stop bullying him with one of those, he needed something that commanded respect, not something “small and safe”. More time pases and Aemond still doesn’t have a pet companion, Alicent stops trying, and he gives up a little. The day of the funeral the kids dare Aemond to go into Vhagar’s enclosure. He accepts and goes into Vhagar’s room at Daemon and Laena’s house, there he finds this really big lizard he has never seen before. The dragon keepers haven’t shown him anything like it, and even if it’s not a croc, he knows this would definitely do, his excitement goes away when he kind of feels the creature’s sadness. He starts to sing her a Valyrian lullaby (The one Daemon sings to Vermithor), and this catches Vhagar’s attention, she goes out from her enclosure and Aemond touches her snout (Like in how to train your dragon, hehe) while he says Lykiri and Dohaeras (Like in the show!). Vhagar can sort of feel the connection, but we still need the blood for it to be completed. Cue the other children. Aegon and Jace can be a little bit mean and feel kind of “attacked” (Inferiority complex it’s that you?), that Aemond it’s getting a good reaction from Vhagar, they weren’t expecting that after all, and because children can be little shits they enter the room and try to make fun of Aemond for singing Vhagar a lullaby, Vhagar has never seen this other children before and doesn’t like all the noise so she goes back to her enclosure. Rhaena and Baela are not vibing that much with the bullying, neither does Luke, but then Aemond gets mad and lashes at everyone, telling them they have lame companions, how they wish they could have something as cool as Vhagar, especially the idiot Strong bastards. Luke and the girls are sad and crying and answering their own mean things to Aemond and then everyone its fighting. Aegon knows their parents are gonna kill him if something happens, so he runs away in search of the adults. There is some stuff used to feed Vhagar in the room (Gloves, scissors, thongs and stuff like that) and in the struggle those things end up in the floor with Aemond and Jace, Aemond grabs the scissors and slashes them around in desperation and ends up cutting Jace a little. Its then that Luke, that was comforting Laena and Baela after they got punched in the squabble, sees this and gets scared, and ends up pushing Aemond, he trips around the mess and pierces his eye with the scissors, by then the adults arrive and all hell breaks loose. While everyone screams, Vhagar gets close to Aemond and licks some of his blood from the floor, Laena its dead, and she likes this feisty hatchling, so the bonding gets completed. Still, the adults are fighthing, but the kids get to say the truth about the taunting and the mean words and Alicent, Rhaenyra and Viserys see the damage that has been done through the adults mean remarks and hatred. So yes, they are all very mad, and are not in the very best terms then, but they all decide to start going to family therapy, so not everything goes to shit in a couple of years, this way Lucemond and Jacegon can still be a little bit toxic, but nobody needs to die, ok? Also Alicent freaks out and almost passes out when she sees the monstruosity sitting at her son’s side, that makes everyone go back to their rooms, lol. 

#lucemond #simple comic that almost makes me lose a hand #lol #Im going away on a trip this friday #so i really wanted to finish this before wednesday #its wednesday and 3 am now #but i finished before #so its fineeeeee #i have a lot more of ideas i want to draw! #but that will have to wait till next week when i come back #vhagar the komodo dragon #arrax the bearded dragon #hotd reptile AU #a little bit of #jacegon #i need sleep #but it wont come #halp

[writingthingsisdifficult]

It's been a long, long time

Steve Rogers x reader

Being on a mission, even with Captain America and Bucky Barnes, is a dangerous thing. One could become injured, and maybe even need someone to take care of oneself…

A/N: trying to get into writing again – it’s been a while (you might even say it’s been a long, long time XD ). Contains violence, swearing, bodily harm. Also pining and awkwardness. And a dose of idiots to lovers.

Obligatory English is not my first language.

Word count: 8893

***

The evening is freezing cold. There is promise of snow in the air, but none of us have the time to appreciate it. We have a job to do. Villains to stop, a world to save. You know, the usual. It should be a quick in and out again. Cap and Bucky are taking the helm on this, and I’m bringing up the rear today. 

The only thing heard in the cargo bay as we ready ourselves, check the gear one last time before they let us go, is the noise from the quinjet. Then almost total silence as the pilot switches into stealth mode. A buckle snaps into place, soft steps on the hard floor, a cough. It’s the quiet before the storm.

“You ready?”

“Lead the way, Cap,” I reply with a grin. If he only knew I would follow him through fire and back. 

“Buck?”

“Let’s go.”

The air rushes in as the hatch lowers, and we walk side by side towards the opening. The plan is to jump out once the plane is low enough and enter the base on the north side, then quietly and quickly take out the enemy before we wipe the system in the control room. I do believe there’s a possibility of fire too.

I glance up at Steve. He’s standing still, his face focused and serious, no doubt going over the plan in his head again. To think I would have the privilege of working with him, and Bucky, like this… I feel like I’ve proven myself to… well, myself. And I never really thought that he would be standing here, so close to me. There’s so much I want to say, to tell him, but words can wait until another day. Right now we have a task to do.

I stare into the darkness, watching the tiny lights in the distance grow larger and larger. Good thing I’ve never been afraid of heights. 

Steve jumps first, then Bucky, and soon I follow suit. It’s a short, but exhilarating trip through the air before I hit the ground, tucking my body to do a front flip, and landing on my feet. Then I carefully fold the small parachute and stuff it back into the pouch, sending a quiet thanks to Stark and his nanotech.

Before I allow myself to be proud of my landing, I take a moment to make sure both Steve and Bucky are ok. They look like they’re just out for an evening stroll.  Steve adjusts his shield and gestures silently towards the base. A wordless ‘let’s go’, waiting for confirmation from us. Bucky rolls his shoulders, I nod. The snow on the ground muffles the sound of our steps as we slip undetected into the base.

Peeking around the corner of the nearest building, a shed or storage of some sort, Steve holds up three fingers, then points to the left. Guards. Not unexpected. We all know what to do. Bucky pulls himself up onto the roof. I can’t see him in the dark, but I know he’s positioning himself for an attack.

“Think you can get them to come a bit closer?” Steve whispers, so close to my ear that I can feel the warmth of his breath. A slight tremble ripples over my body, and the hair on the nape of my neck rises. Jeez! That man is going to be the death of me.

“Of course,” I reply confidently, trying hard to not give away that I was two seconds from sinking to my knees in front of him. Holding my head high, I saunter into the lamplight. “Hey, boys. What’s a girl gotta do to have some fun around here?”

Three heads snap up, and after a moment of confusion, they charge, momentarily forgetting the guns in their hands. I whip out my batons and power up the charge, but before I can do anything, Bucky lands on top of the biggest guy. I can hear the snap of the guard’s leg breaking from here; it sends chills down my spine. He groans and mutters something inaudible, but before he can finish his sentence, Bucky’s fist connects with his nose.

Steve whips around the corner, taking the other guards by surprise – at least if we go by the yelling and cursing. And so it begins. I have to keep myself from laughing with the adrenaline and thrill. I almost feel lightheaded as my energy rushes through me. The middle of my baton strikes the soldier’s shin, sending him to the ground. I leap on him, shoving my knee squarely in his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. Then I bring a baton round, activating the switch to send a jolt of electricity through his neck. He collapses down into the snow and twitches for a few seconds.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Steve land a solid blow to the jaw of one of the guards, making him drop like a sack of potatoes. I grant myself a small smile. He returns it when he sees me.

The base isn’t fully manned, but there are still enough soldiers to make me break out a sweat. They’re not very disciplined, though, throwing punches this way and that. Finally a bullet whizzes past, hitting the wall behind us with a bang, but before the shooter can even think about pulling the trigger again, Steve’s shield hits both him and the gun. A previously unseen soldier makes his way to pick it up, but Bucky beats him to it, and knocks him down before throwing the shield back to Steve. The way his shoulders roll with the catch sends a shiver down my spine and heat to my ears. I can only imagine how that would look without the suit. 

“Get a grip! You’re working!” I mutter to myself, shaking my head to clear my mind. But that moment of distraction rewards me a hard blow to the jaw. I stumble backwards and flex it. Nothing’s broken, but it’s gonna leave me with one hell of a bruise.

The idiot thinks he got the upper hand and stalks toward me brandishing a knife. I wink at him and swing around to kick him in the chest. He staggers, and with a swift movement I am on his shoulders, my thighs firmly pressing on his throat. A garbled laugh slips from his lips, and then finally his knife clatters to the ground. The gurgling stops, and he topples over. I roll off him, get to my feet and dust myself off, satisfied with my work.

The fight has died down, the ground is littered with dead or dying men. We take a moment to get control over the situation, to make sure there’s no one lying in wait for us. The area is clear. All soldiers and officers are accounted for.

“Nice save,” Bucky smirks. “I was wondering if you needed help.”

Steve smiles warmly. “She doesn’t. Never have.”

The heat in my ears spreads over my cheeks. Thank my lucky stars that I’m already flushed from the fight. It would be so typical to be betrayed by my rushing blood now, after denying myself the truth for so long. I swallow the giggle in my chest, but I can’t stop the stupid grin. “It’s a team effort,” I huff slightly out of breath, ignoring the embarrassment. “Wouldn’t have survived without you two here. You good?”

Nodding, Bucky pats my shoulder. “Yep. Going to have a few bruises in the morning, but nothing I can’t handle. You?”

“Mhm.” I grin. “We made a good team out there.”

“Yeah,” Steve agrees, wiping blood from his split lip. “We do make a good team.” He opens and closes his mouth a couple of times to continue, but apparently changes his mind. Instead, he looks to Bucky, and then back at me. His eyes widen, dropping the snow he used to wipe his hands clean.  “Oh, Jesus! Your face! You’re bleeding!”

Wiping my brow, I wave him off. “It’s nothing. The other guy is worse off. Uh, what’s next?” I ask, shifting the conversation to something else, even though I know the plan inside and out. Now that the fight is over, exhaustion rolls over me. I had almost forgotten the toll a mission like this takes. 

“Easiest part left,” Bucky replies, pushing his hair from his face. “Disable the system, and then we get to play with flames.” He grins like a kid that’s been let loose in a candy store. 

“Piece of cake, that. Let’s go so I can get home at take a nice, hot shower. Get all this gunk off of me.” I smack my lips and wipe a lump of something thick and gloopy from my neck. “Ew!”

“According to the map provided by SHIELD, the control room is located right next to the main gate. Follow me. I’d like to get home and take a shower too.” Steve takes off with light steps.

They’re a bit faster than me; I can’t really get my feet to follow. Not that that’s anything unusual. I haven’t got the stamina that the serum gives, so I always follow at my own pace. 

Breathing hard and with adrenaline fading, I lean on the wall for a bit. I just need a small break. Unlike Cap, I can’t do this all day. At least not without a little pause to catch my breath. My uneven breath.

Something feels off. There’s static in my earpiece and a weird rumbling in my mind. I shake to clear my head, but it only makes me dizzy.

When I push off the wall, I wince. The right side of my torso feels warm, too warm, and it aches; that dull ache that leaves an ominous echo in my mind. Looking down, I realise my jacket is torn, and when I touch the fabric, my fingers come away dark and sticky. Fuck!

Glancing up, I see Cap and Bucky pushing on, already almost out of sight, fully focused on the mission. No need to distract them. I’ll deal. We’ll meet at the rendezvous point later.

The zipper sounds harsh in my ears, ripping through the air like a chainsaw, revealing the extent of my predicament. There’s a deep gash running from my bellybutton to my ribs on the right hand side. Double-fuck!

Cold air caresses the wound, snowflakes dance in the dim light. It burns. I have to blink to keep my focus as nausea creeps up, making me even dizzier. My tongue feels thick and fuzzy. No way I’m walking away from this. Rubbing my eyes, I get a final glimpse of Steve rounding the corner and then he’s out of sight. I’m hit with a sudden pang of regret: I never got to tell him… anything.

Time seems to slow down. I suck in air to steel myself, but it stops at the top of my chest. My breath is ragged and shallow. Blood drips from my lips, and I wipe my mouth with heavy movements. 

Everything is so cold. My body weighs so much, making my knees buckle and give out. It’s a strange sensation; feeling both heavy and so light at the same time. Stumbling forward, I suddenly lose my balance. Luckily I manage to catch myself with my hands so I don’t faceplant on the ground. The snow cushions my fall a bit, but the impact still sends a shock through my body, and by the feel of it, my palms are as good as shredded. It doesn’t take long before my clothes are soaked, and soon my bones are frozen through.

When I open my eyes, the bright white has turned a dark, rich crimson. I feel sick. I always knew there were risks being involved in my line of work, but this isn’t how I imagined I’d go.

Every breath is laboured, every movement slow. My lungs convulse and drops of blood and spit flies everywhere. Some hit my cheek, and I recoil from the slap.

I try to push myself up again, but it’s no more than a feeble attempt, resulting in a silent groan and even deeper scrapes on my hands.

Thirty seconds pass at most, but it feels like an eternity. As I sit on my knees and hands, quiet stinging from the cold and the cuts on my knuckles mixes with the throbbing in my side. If only I could have one wish it would be to say goodbye.

There’s a whooshing of something in my ears, my vision is fading. A nothingness seeps in, cinching it to pinpricks in front of me. To my left I vaguely register movement, but I’m too far gone to really notice. I just want the pain to stop. 

My vision goes completely, and shortly after so does my hearing, Gravity takes over, and my head hits the snow with a heavy thud.

There’s a commotion nearby. Or at least I think there is. I’m slipping in and out of consciousness as I’m bleeding out. It’s hard to get at firm grip on anything at all.

There is no light. No sounds. I’m wrapped in a cocoon, like I’m swaddled tightly in a warm blanket. Time is syrup. Everything is so hazy. I’m not sure where I am, or even who I am. Or if I am at all. Just let me drift off to sleep.

I’m jolted and shaken, and the amount of noise around me weighs me down; beeping and muffled rumbling and sounds I can’t place. People whispering. There’s a bird singing somewhere… I think. My ears are buzzing. I try to open my eyes, but the light is so bright it hurts. A soft whimper escapes me, but I can’t speak. The voices get louder, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. It doesn’t take long before darkness consumes me.

A flare of blazing, white light flashes in front of my eyes. My back arches as a sharp pain shoot through my body. The savage scream that erupts from my mouth lingers in my throat, scratching and itching, biting at my consciousness, but the waves I’m riding pull me under again, and I don’t have enough strength to fight them.

Somewhere above my head I hear a frantic “No, no, no…” followed by a quieter “Fix it. Please.” There’s pressure on my shoulders. It’s warm. Pleasant. My head rolls to the side, and it’s dark again.

Someone’s calling my name. The voice is far away, but through the cotton in my ears the urgency is clear. I cannot answer. I don’t know where it’s coming from.

My eyes are crusty when I try to open them. I blink, and blink again. The light is harsh and it does nothing good for the growing headache that throbs in my temples. The room is unfamiliar with its light green walls and – I squint – colourful, abstract paintings. The air smells sharp, a little bitter, but clean. It stings in my nose.

There is… an attempt to sit up, but I’m pinned down by wires and tubes and my own lack of strength. The failed attempt tugs on the needle in my hand. Jesus that hurts! “Fuck!” The word comes out as a coarse croak, setting off a coughing firework befitting an old man.

“Hey, hey, hey… relax.” Light touch on my forehead, and then Steve’s face comes into focus. He looks tired, drawn. But he’s smiling, so I try my best to smile too. My lip cracks. “You scared us. It looked pretty sketchy for a moment.” When he moves closer, he reveals another person standing behind his back. I have to strain my eyes to focus, but after a second I see Bucky, looking so worried I’m tempted to get up to comfort him. 

I begin to speak, but that only starts another coughing fit. 

“Don’t. You’ve been… out for a long time. Here.” Steve pours a glass of lukewarm water and holds it to my lips. 

I drink greedily; I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so delicious. And it washes away the rawness in my throat. “Thank you.” It’s a mere whisper, but at least I can communicate.

Bucky moves to my other side. “You look like shit!” He laughs at my glare. “Really, though, it’s good to have you back, doll. If not, Steve might’ve gone on a rampage…” He chuckles, ducking to avoid Steve’s swat, and picks up the red button. “Let’s call the nurse, hm? Let them know you’re not dead?”

The nurse shoos them out of the room, but she has to use stern words before they reluctantly leave with promises that they’ll be back. 

Feeling my forehead, she gives me a quick smile. “Right, honey. Let’s make sure you’re okay, alright?” She’s a kind woman with light hands, making the testing and prodding and questions almost bearable. She has to take my blood, she says, nodding towards my hands resting on top of the blanket. I lift my left arm, and she fastens a rubber band around it. The smell of the alcohol wipe sticks to my nose like a horse fly. The wet is cold, and when the needle punctures my skin, it’s almost as if I can hear a crisp pop.

I’m used to needles, have no problems with blood work, but when it’s time to change the bandage on my stomach, I squirm in my bed. It hurts, and now that I’m awake, I really just want to fix it myself. 

“Listen,” she starts, using the same stern voice she did on the boys, “I apologise for being harsh, but you died! You’ve been cut open several times, your intestines had to be shoved back in and rearranged, your body is battered and bruised, and I’m amazed you didn’t have any broken bones. By all logic your skull should be cracked. You’re lucky all you got from the resuscitation were a few fractured ribs. We had to keep you in an induced coma for a week just to let your body rest.”

Coma? What? I look from her to the window, a deep furrow between my eyes. 

She laughs, and continue dressing my wound. “It’s okay to be a bit dazed. You’ve been beat up pretty bad. But you’re gonna be as good as new when we’re done with you.”

The next few days goes by at a snail’s pace. Sure, I’ve got plenty of visitors. Nat and Clint, Wanda, even Director Fury swings by one time. Bucky is here most days. So is Steve. He doesn’t leave my side unless he’s told to by the staff. I’m eternally grateful that I don’t have to be alone all the time.

My room is filled with flowers and balloons and get well cards. But I hate being this helpless. Everything hurts; moving, breathing, sleeping… The nurses are doing their job, and it’s a fine job, but I want to go home. I want to sleep in a soft bed with warm covers, with a pair of pyjamas that leaves a bit more to the imagination than the flimsy gown they’ve dressed me in. I miss my TV, my music… I miss the freedom to do as I please. And I’m not afraid to tell the nurses exactly that. 

“We’ll see,” is the only answer I get.

So my days are filled with physical therapy that leaves me sweaty and annoyed – damn, I hate that walker – chatting with whoever is there when I’m feeling up for it, and dozing when I get too tired. Night and day all kinda blend together. It’s difficult to keep track of time.

Whispers draws me out of my slumber.

“You’ve gotta tell her, Steve.”

“I know. But I can’t spring it on her like this. Let her recover first.”

“Fine. But tell her! Or I will!”

“Okay, okay! Shh… you’re waking her!”

I half wonder what that was all about, but I drift off before I can think to ask, and when I wake up again I can’t really tell dreams from reality, so I say nothing.

It’s been a week and a half since I woke up in the hospital bed, and I’m about to start climbing the walls. When Doctor Lloyd comes by on her daily visit I moan about staying again. 

“About that,” she says with a bright smile, giving me hope. “I was thinking it’s about time you get some fresh air.”

“Yes!” I mutter under my breath. Finally! A grin creeps over my lips, and I’m half a second from swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. 

“However –“ She interrupts, stopping me with a look. Her face is serious, but kind. “You can’t be on your own. Not yet.” Her voice full of sympathy. “If I am to discharge you from our care, you need someone who can look after you at home.”

My face and heart falls. “But –“

“Listen. I’m going to be honest with you. You have been through four surgeries, and you have a very long, very tough road of recovery ahead of you. If you’re good, and follow my advice, you’re looking at at least twelve weeks before your body is back to relatively normal. And you need minimum two more weeks without any physical exertion at all. No housework, no lifting, no stretching. You will need help. With everything. Do you have anyone you can call?”

I grimace, fighting the sudden pressure behind my eyes. My head is filled with I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to! Of course. I live alone, and she knows it. But I can’t stand the thought of staying in the hospital for a moment longer. I discreetly rub a finger to the corner of my eye, concealing it as removing some gunk, but I know that if I’m not careful, everyone in this room will watch me ugly cry.

There’s beeping in her pocket. She fishes out a small device, nods and walks to the door. “When I return, I’m going to need an answer.”

“Fuck!” I groan loudly when the door clicks behind her.

“What’s wrong?” Steve and Bucky quickly get to their feet.

I glance over at them, blinking away the remaining tears before they can see. They retreated to the far corner to give me some privacy while the doctor talked. “I’m stuck here for the next… god knows how long.”

They cross the room. Steve frowns. “But I thought you were supposed to go home soon.”

“Yeah, so did I. Or… I hoped,” I reply with a sigh. “But they won’t release me unless I have someone who can take care of me while I recover.” I think for a bit, shoulders slumping forward. “My sister lives on the other side of the world, and she’s too busy with work and the kids. Besides, she’s already taking care of Mum. She can’t be on her own with the dementia and all. So she can’t just drop everything and fly out.” Not that I particularly want her to. We’re not that close. It would just be awkward.

“Oh.”

Bucky stares pointedly at Steve, nodding almost imperceptibly towards me, like he’s finishing an argument they’ve had before. 

Steve clears his throat stiffly. “How about, uh, how about you come live with me while you recover?”

My stomach flips, and I’m pretty sure it’s not because of the injury. Looking away, I swallow hard. “I don’t want to burden you with that responsibility.”

“You could never be a burden.”

“But it’s twelve weeks. And I’m gonna be useless for at least two of them.” I’m not gonna lie. Staying with Steve sounds like an absolute dream right now. But chances are it would eat me up to be that close to him for so long.

“Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it. Bucky and I were… discussing it earlier, since we figured you were going to need someone close by –“ He pauses. Rubs the back of his neck. “My apartment is big enough. Please, will you let me help you?”

Bucky smirks. “Yeah, please let him help you. Or else he might just go mad from the guilt.”

Guilt? Confused, I’m about to ask, but then I see Steve’s face, scrunched up like a puppy, mirroring Bucky’s, making me laugh. I shrink from the pain that follows. “Fine. You can help. Just don’t make me laugh.” I make a point of looking inconvenienced, but secretly, gratitude washes over me. If it has to be anyone, I’m glad it’s Steve.

“Good. That’s settled. Thank you.” Steve steps out of the room to make some arrangements, leaving me pondering the guilt comment.

“Bucky?” I shift a bit in the bed to look him in the eyes.

“Yes?” 

“What did you mean that he feels guilty?” 

He looks down for a moment, a grimace flits across his features. “Well, to tell you the truth, we both feel guilty. We just left you, didn’t even check if you were okay –“ He grips the metal railing on the bed, and I can see his face tighten.

“You asked,” I reply, patting his hand. “And I said I were. No reason for you to think otherwise.” They should absolutely not feel guilty. And the way I’m floating with relief and joy from getting out, there is no way I’m letting them feel bad!  

“Yeah, but we should have been with you. You died! You should’ve seen h…” He stops himself. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re here, and you’re gonna be okay, and Steve is happy to take care of you.”

There it is again, a small flash of something. But what? Steve would be happy to… My chest tightens, it feels like I’m going to implode. Just as I’m about ask Bucky what that means, Steve comes back. 

“Sorry about that,” he smiles, sliding his phone back in his pocket. “Had to make a few phone calls. Suppose you need some things from your own apartment. Natasha said she’d be more than happy to go over and pack a suitcase for you. And Fury needed to know where to find you should something happen.”

I look at him, bask in his happy smile. Oh yeah, I’m definitely gonna struggle for the next weeks. “You sure it’s okay?” I have to ask, have to know that it’s not just because I was upset or because of guilt.

Bucky and Steve react in unison. Arched eyebrows, annoyed smiles, and exhaling through their noses. “Yes.” And that’s the end of the discussion. Don’t think I’d be able to argue more even if I wanted to. 

Three hours later I’m wheeled out of the front door and over to a waiting car. Bucky tosses a bag with the few possessions I had while admitted into the boot while Steve helps me into the back seat, making sure I’m comfortable before climbing in on the other side. 

Bucky gives us a mock salute, then winks at me. “I’ll see ya later. And please wait a week before you kill him, won’t you?” He shuts the door, and heads over to his motorbike.

“Let’s go,” Steve laughs, shaking his head and gesturing to the driver. “Let’s go home.”

Steve insists on carrying me from the car, and though I protest, I can’t deny that I’m enjoying it quite a bit more than I should. 

He sets me down on the kitchen counter and begins looking through the cupboards. “You hungry? Bet you want something other than hospital food. I haven’t been able to go shopping for a while, but there should be enough to fill you up for now. I’ll call in a few favours, so you don’t have to be alone, okay?”

I start swaying. My muscles aren’t strong enough to sit upright without support yet, but it’s fascinating to watch Steve being so natural in a domestic situation that I don’t say anything, just bite down the struggle. Until I almost wobble off the counter, and knock a small knife to the floor. 

“Oh shit! I didn’t think… you shouldn’t be sitting without a back rest. You’re probably exhausted too.” It isn’t a question at all. 

I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. But I am tired. Maybe I should just take a teensy nap or something.” The sofa is looking very tempting right now.

“Of course. You sleep. I’ll make us something to eat and come wake you after it’s done.”

“You sure? I mean, I could help with –“

“No. No, you’re not helping me with anything,” he interrupts, dropping the bread so he can pick me up. 

I feel like I don’t weigh a thing, floating through the air, securely enveloped by strong arms. Don’t think I’ll ever get used to feeling his arms around me, and I tuck it away in my mind to remember a rainy day. I almost forget to protest when he passes the sofa, but he just laughs. The rumble from his chest vibrates through me, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stay appropriate.

He nudges the door to the bedroom open with his foot and walks sideways through. When he lets go of me, I sink into the mattress. It feels like a cloud after the hospital bed. Steve glances around the room. “Sorry about the mess. I didn’t have the time to do anything special in here. Just let me put away the clothes –“ He quickly scrunches up a couple of t-shirts and shoves them into a hamper in the corner.

“What, is this… Is this your room? But… where are you gonna – don’t tell me you’re gonna sleep on the sofa! Nope!” It’s out of the question to kick him out of his own bed, and I wriggle to get out of it again.

“Relax.” He looks at me and smiles sheepishly, lifting my leg up again and tucking the blanket tightly around me. “That isn’t my bed. Well, technically it is, but that’s besides the point. It’s not the one I sleep on. Never really gotten used to a normal, civilian mattress, so I usually sleep on a field cot… And I was thinking… So I can be close by in case you need anything, I’ll just sleep on that.” He points to the floor on the other side of the bed. Tucked into the other corner is a mattress, neatly done with folded sheets and everything.

I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head a little bit. “This is awfully well planned out, Captain, considering we made this deal just today. I didn’t even know I would be released until this morning…” I try to sound tough and serious, but I can’t quite hide the twinkle in my voice. Trust Steve to have a plan. Even for this.

He actually blushes, and looks away as he answers. “Uh, well, you see… Bucky – and I – thought it might come to something like this, so I got it a couple of days ago. Besides, I’ve been meaning to get a proper bed for ages. And now I had a good reason.”

“You’re a couple of sneaks, the both of you,” I grin. My chest leaps with the thought of him going through all that hassle just in case I needed a place to stay. “But thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it,” he says gruffly. He clicks off the light and glances over his shoulder. “I’ll leave it ajar so I hear you if you need anything.”

I haven’t slept this well in… forever, I think. The bed is perfect, and there’s just something about the room; the light coming from under the door, the scent, whatever it is, that makes me feel safe. 

Steve wakes me a little while later, a tray in hand. “Figured you wanted to be comfortable while eating. And when you’re done, you can sleep a bit more. It’ll be good for you.”

It’s dark when I wake up again. My head hurts, and my mouth is bone dry. A glass of water. That’s what I need. The kitchen isn’t that far, so I roll over on my side and slide my feet to the floor. But I can’t seem to get my abs to follow instructions. Instead I sorta hang over the edge like a slug, unable to get up or down. “Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter, wriggling to get into a better position. But the more I try, the more I twist, and the strain stabs and stings my side.

“What’s going on?” Steve’s voice is groggy with sleep. He sits up so I can see his head over the edge of the bed. Even upside down it looks confused.

“I just wanted to get a glass of water.”

“And you decided that you’d do that yourself. On the first night out of hospital, despite the doctor’s orders to not do anything physical at all?”

I give him my best puppy eyes. “Yes?”

“What am I going to do with you?” he sighs, helping me back under the covers. After propping me up with pillows and checking on my side to make sure nothing is ripped, he fetches a glass of water. When he comes back, he gives me an exasperated smirk. “Next time, just wake me, okay?”

My stomach drops when I see how tired he looks. “I’m sorry,” I start, feeling like this whole situation could have been avoided if only I had paid more attention.

He cuts me off. “Don’t. You don’t have anything to apologise for.”

“Sor–“

He shuts me up with a finger on my lips and a soft shh. “Go back to sleep. You need the rest.”

***

“I think I’ll manage from here,” I say when I’m safely down on the little chair in front of the sink. We decided on using the office chair, since that can spin, and it has wheels, so it’s easier for me to access what I need around the bathroom. Steve has already brought me washcloths, towels and soap, and I’ll spare him the horror of giving me a sponge bath, since I’m not ready for a shower just yet.

“If you’re sure,” he replies. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” he adds when he closes the door.

Washing away the hospital smell that sticks to my face feels amazing. The water is warm, and the cloth is soft. I sigh with contentment as I let it linger over my eyes. 

I pat my face dry and move on to get out of the sweater I’m wearing. Ow! Each time I try to lift my arms and pull it over my head, my stitches sting. After three attempts and lots of quiet swearing, I’m stuck. “Um, Steve?” I call, trying to sound calm, but the burn in my side is concerning. “A little help, please?”

From my limited vision through the fabric I see his head in the mirror, poking through the door, looking increasingly worried, but with a crooked smile on his lips. “Jeez. How did you do that. Here.” He averts his eyes like the perfect gentleman he is when he frees me from my sweater, but he tuts at my stupidity and refusal to do as the doctor instructed. 

I hesitate for a second. “Um... think you can help me unhook my bra too?”

With minimal fumbling, he does as I ask, and before I can say anything else, he wrings a wet cloth and starts washing my back for me. I can’t do anything but close my eyes and breathe as he quietly fusses over my cuts and bruises, before leaving alone to finish cleaning myself. When he returns ten minutes later, I’ve turned into a towel burrito. 

“I figured you needed something to wear, and the clothes Natasha packed didn’t look very comfortable.” He looks down on his hands and then back at me; he’s holding an oversized zipper hoodie and sweatpants.

“Thanks. Those will do.” The fabric is soft, like feathers against my skin. “I’ll be right out.”

“Good,” he replies and leaves me alone again.

A couple of minutes and a good deal of fumbling later, I’ve managed to get into the sweater. Sure, it took time, and sure it was a bit painful, but over all I’m happy with my effort. But it’s another situation altogether with the sweatpants. I just can’t lift my feet high enough to step into them while holding them, and when I drop them to the floor, I can step into them, but I can’t bend down to pull them up. Shit.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I call for Steve again. “Help?” I squeak, gesturing to the grey bundle on the floor, ignoring the rising heat on my neck. I hadn’t thought of this; that I actually need help getting dressed. For some reason I’m not that embarrassed, really, more disappointed that I have to be that kind of a burden. If we’re going to make this work, I can’t let my pride get in the way.

“Oh.” He watches me intently from the doorway.

“Yeah.” I give him a flat smile. “I think I can get out of my clothes on my own. At least mostly,” I add when I notice the arched eyebrow and crooked smile on his face. “The zipper hoodie works, so that’s good. But… this movement,” I mime pulling up the sweatpants, “hurts. I can’t bend properly, so…”

“It’s what I’m here for,” he says, before quickly adding “to help.” He kneels in front of me and guides first one, then the other foot into the sweatpants, while I hang onto his shoulders for dear life, and he looks away while pulling them up. Only when they’re safely tied and hanging, do I drop the towel. 

I want to thank him, but no sounds come when I open my mouth. So I settle on a smile and a nod, though that is wildly insufficient.

“Sit,” he orders, but his voice is mild, and once I’m down again, he turns the chair around so my back is towards the sink. 

You would think that Steve has done all this before. He knows precisely what he needs to do, and he’s the gentlest being on the earth in this moment, tenderly lowering my head into the sink and making sure I’m comfortable and that the chair doesn’t roll away, all while silently asking me if it’s okay.

“Mhm.” I close my eyes, savouring the sensation of warm, running water over my scalp. Then he begins to massage, and I melt into the chair. An obscene noise rises in my throat, but I swallow thickly, settling for a quiet hum instead. I can get used to this.

The last of the hospital sweat swirls down the drain, replaced by the clean smell of shampoo. That it’s Steve doing it is just icing on the cake. Now, if just that stupid sting in my side could disappear too, my life would be perfect.

With my hair wrapped in a new towel, he picks me up and carries me to the living room. I’m pretty sure I could walk if I wanted, but what’s life without a little exploitation of the situation?

It quickly becomes a routine, him helping me with the things I can’t do, carrying me from room to room. Picking stuff up from the floor when I drop it, making food when I’m hungry… And my heart swells for every kind gesture. I feel like I’m about to explode.

My strength and pain fluctuate over the weeks. Some days I’m ready to take on the world, and Steve has to remind me that I still have a long way to go, others I can hardly get out of bed, but my recovery is definitely moving forward. Before long I can even sit up without support for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

***

The tape tugs on my skin, and I’m glad I only have to change the bandage every other day. I hiss as I pull on it, but I just can’t get myself to rip it off quickly today. Taking a deep breath, I change my grip and try again, but no luck.

“You decent?” Steve’s voice floats through the door, and moments later, his head pops in.

“Yeah,” I answer, not even looking up to see that he’s already in the room.

He gently pushes my hands out of the way. “Let me,” he says, soothing over the red skin where I’ve already managed to remove the tape. His eyes lock with mine, and he gives me a quick smile. “I’ll count to three, then pull, okay?”

I nod and breathe in, then out again. 

“One, two –“ He pulls. 

I let out a loud yelp. “Oh, you fucker!” 

“There you go. Good girl.”

My mind blanks. Did he really…? I hold my breath for a few seconds in fear of making some sound I’ll regret later. Through my haze I barely recognise that the new bandage is already on, and he’s pulling down my sweater. Just before he lets go, his fingers lightly brush over my skin, making my heart flutter like a hummingbird. I’m gonna need a month to recover after this.

He moves to pick me up again, but I want to do it myself. No, I need to do it myself. “I can walk.” I think. My legs suddenly feel so very weak, and when I try to get up, I just can’t.

Instead of commenting, he offers his arm, and practically pulls me to my feet while supporting my back. He’s right there when I take the first, unsteady steps on my own since the fight. I both miss the walker I had in the hospital and don’t, but I know that if I need to, I can always grab onto Steve. Or in the worst case, he’ll lift me up and carry me into the living room.

“So. What do you want to do today?” he asks as we slowly make our way towards the sofa.

“I don’t know. Not much I can do.” I’m not used to sitting still. “How about we just watch TV for now – well, I can watch, if you have other things you want to do.” Please stay with me.

“No, that sounds good.” He brings out a small notebook and a pen. “I have a lot of catching up to do. What do you wanna watch?”

Later that evening, Bucky comes traipsing in with his hands so full of bags that they’re stacked all the way to his elbows. “Food delivery,” he announces loudly, dropping the bags on the floor for Steve to put away. “How’s my favourite patient?” he grins, turning to me.

“Can’t complain. Steve’s being an angel nurse.”

“Good, good.” He’s already on his way out again. “I slipped in a chocolate for you in case you can’t take it anymore,” he adds, pointing to Steve with an exaggerated grimace.

“Thanks. You’re not staying?”

“Nah. Got a mission coming up. And Steve, remember: I’m not your personal DoorDasher.”

Steve laughs and follows him to the door. They remain standing, talking for a bit – whispering so I can’t hear them, but there’s an urgency to underneath their voices. I wonder if Steve was supposed to go on this mission too. A pang of guilt punches me in the gut. Bucky better come back in one piece.

“Be safe,” I say, swallowing hard.

“Don’t worry about me,” he replies and closes the door behind him. Steve busies himself with the groceries.

“What kind of mission?” I ask when he finally sits down again.

“Huh?”

I frown. “Bucky. What was the mission?”

“Oh, didn’t ask. Sorry.”

Despite being so curious that I’m about to burst, I don’t ask again. I’m not privy to all communication between SHIELD and their agents.

***

Steve is gone. He’s been gone for a couple of hours. Think he had to run to the store or something, but I couldn’t go with him. Which is okay, I guess. So I’m lying on the sofa, tapping my fingers, trying to count to 500 backwards. It’s something to do, to keep the boredom at bay. Every day feels like the days I stayed with my grandparents when I was little. You know; constantly a little bored, because you don’t have access to all your toys? But also excited, because you’re on holiday and it’s kinda new and regular routines don’t apply? Quiet days passing slowly, but pleasantly. There’s a kind sort of nostalgia to the whole thing.

Here I don’t have my books or stuff, and though I can always go get some, it’s not the same, because there’s nothing like that feeling of just browsing, picking up the one that piques your interest at that moment… I do have my music, though. It’s on my phone, and that is wonderful. But I miss my record player, and listening to digital music through headphones doesn’t quite give the same experience. On the other hand: I get to spend every day with Steve, and now that I don’t fall asleep from exhaustion every hour, I can actually enjoy it.

When Steve comes back, carrying bags and looking so deliciously domestic that I can’t do anything but sink into the sofa to hide my reaction, I breathe a sigh of relief. Weirdly enough, being alone has started to make me uneasy.

“Welcome home,” I splutter, trying to conceal the sound as a yawn. Outside the sun is setting, sending long, peachy rays that spreads over the walls. If I’m lucky, the colour in my face can be explained away. Not sure he’s fooled.

He gives me a wide smile and brings me a bottle of soda. “Thanks. What do you say we order dinner today? I couldn’t decide what I wanted when I was at the shop, so I just picked something. And now I don’t really feel like making lasagna at all.”

“I’m always up for takeaway. Did you have anything in mind?”

“How about…” he thinks for a bit. “Thai? Form that restaurant down by the square?”

“Absolutely!” He asked me one of the first days what my favourite food was, and I just said the first thing that popped into my head, being too preoccupied with the sight of his shirt straining over his shoulders, but it’s sweet of him to remember. And I do really like Thai food, so it’s a win-win.

Two hours later we’re both full, content, and comfortably seated in the sofa. We’ve made it a habit for me to lie with my head in his lap. That way I can rest, and I don’t have to twist or move in case I get tired. If this is the only good thing that comes from this situation, I will be happy.

He absentmindedly strokes my hair, watching the clouds floating by outside the window. “You wanna watch a movie today?”

“Sure.” I’d go to the end of the world with him if he asked me. I’m not ashamed to admit it. “What do you want to watch?”

“So, I’ve been meaning to… You know I’ve got my list – gotta try to update myself – ”

“Get with the times,” I offer with a smirk, looking up into his face.

“So to speak. There’s a lot of things I missed, you know, when… anyways, I thought maybe we could watch Fellowship of the Ring? I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, and it’s been on my list for a while, ‘cause I really liked the books.”

“I’d love to. It’s one of my favourites.” The prospect of watching Lord of the Rings with Steve makes me warm and fuzzy. 

Somewhere around Weathertop my head starts feeling heavier, and before Arwen has breathed out “What’s this, a ranger caught off his guard?” sleep overtakes me. 

It’s dark outside when I wake up. The light from the tv screen is too bright, illuminating Steve’s peaceful face when I look up. He’s deeply entrenched in what I recognise as scenes from Helm’s Deep, a serene smile on his face. His hand rests on my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I feel an intense urge to reach up and kiss him, but I don’t. Instead, I hum and stretch and rub my eyes.

He looks down. “Hey.” It’s merely a breath. “I didn’t want to wake you up, you looked so comfortable.”

You have no idea. “How many orcs has Gimli killed yet?” I want to tell him, I should tell him. But I don’t know how. And definitely not now. Not when I’m like this. I don’t want to come across as a smitten patient who has a crush on her carer. Not when this is so much more. Damn! I’m in too deep. This is going to be torture! 

Steve chuckles and glances up at the tv again. “Seventeen?”

There is something in his eyes, I can’t decipher it, and instead of trying, I shift my attention back to the film, muttering “Hado i philinn,” simultaneously  with Aragorn, and lose myself in Middle Earth for a couple of hours.

***

The brush glides through my hair, followed by a gentle hand. Careful movements, every one calculated to do the least amount of damage. It’s a secret dance that we’ve been rehearsing for the last couple of weeks, and I’m sad to see it end. 

On the surface, my wound has healed. I can move a lot easier, stretch my torso, twist around. Yes, I still get tired quickly, and I still can’t stand for long amounts of time, but it’s time I take over my own bedtime routine.

I close my eyes, savour his touch, his fingers in my hair… It’s more than I had ever dreamt of. As I exhale, a tiny whimper follows. Steve stops immediately. Oh no!

He lets go and lean down to get a look at my face. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? Was it too rough?”

Shit. How do I explain away this one? I can’t. I shake my head and take a deep breath. Inside me every emotion swirls together like a tempest. “No, Steve. You didn’t hurt me. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, you do everything right. The thing is…” I pause, watching his face fall.

“Oh.” He gets to his feet and starts to walk away, still with the brush in his hand. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

Not thinking, I reach for his hand. I try to pull him back, but I’m not strong enough yet. The movement shoots daggers through my stomach, but it’s easy to ignore it.  “Wait.” The word is small and weak, but important. “Let me finish, please.” Then you can leave, if you need to, I add in my head.

He turns back, watching me with wary eyes. 

I weigh my words. If I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do this right. “The thing is…” I repeat, then clam up again. Come on! You can do this! I clear my throat. “Steve… I love you.”

His jaw drops, as does the hairbrush. It clatters to the floor, but I don’t think he notices. Blinking stupidly, he just stands there like an idiot. If I weren’t so nervous, I’d laugh.

“I have for a long time,” I continue quickly, afraid I’m gonna lose my momentum. “But I was afraid to say something, because I don’t want you to think I’m crushing because you’re kind to me and take care of me, and I don’t want to ruin our friendship, or the team. I didn’t want to make it awkward, but now that I’ve spent so long with you, I just forgot for a moment, that I’m supposed to be normal, that we’re not…” I trail off, want to finish with together, but I can’t bring myself to it. Is he reacting? His face tells me nothing. Crap. I’ve fucked it up. “Steve, say something? Please?”

He shakes his head. “Uh. Sorry. I just… I’m…” A gentle smile. “I was going insane, trying to figure out how to tell you – how you make me feel. That I haven’t felt like this since I don’t remember when… And then you beat me to it. I could kiss you. Can I kiss you?”

“Uh-huh.” This time it’s my turn to blink stupidly, but it takes me less time to recover. “Yes. Please!” 

I stretch up to meet him halfway, ignoring the doctor’s orders, and throw my arms around him. The distance between us closes and we pause, just for a moment, to drink in the sensation. Both of us smile into the kiss as we melt together, electricity sparking between us, leaping over the skin, tingling in the hottest, darkest depths of our minds. 

When he finally draws back, my breath is heavy. I’m not quite sure where I am, but I’m definitely not complaining. Instead, I pull him back to me, and he follows, hungrily, to kiss me again.

#steve rogers x reader #fanfiction #fluff #angst

[skyward-floored]

One of my cats just tried to fit himself in my backpack (didn’t work sadly. It’s a big backpack but umm…he’s bigger XD). But it got me thinking about kitten Wind crawling into Warriors’ pouch and just like hanging out there

No one knows why he finds it comfy (I mean, there’s all manner of hard, pointy and potentially dangerous stuff in there). But he does and no one can get him out (or has the heart to really try). So Warriors just walks around with his pouch open and a tiny kitten sleeping inside.

HELP another one of your fics has given me brainrot /pos

That’s so cute abdbjgdhhd he totally would. Just crawls himself in there and zonks out surrounded by all of Warriord’s stuff (and getting cat hair all over it). Occasionally Warriors’ pouch makes a snoring noise XD

#I love this yes thank you #answers from the floor #lovely adrift in thyme #kitty wind

[tinytinybumblebee]

STARES AT YOU WITH MY AUTISTIC EYES.... so u like bg.3,,, do you have any particular headcanons :0

INTENSELY STARES BACK W/ MY AUTUSTIC EYES,,,mayhaps

Okay,,,,,Mama Karlach is CANON. She literally calls herself "Mama K" when you're starting to explore the mountain pass!!!

-After Astarion whines about how sore his feet are getting from all the walking, she offers to carry him 😭 (ofc she can't because,,,ball of fire but, adorable image)

-Karlach is definitely a flip! Coolest mama and wildest big sister around!

-(let's pretend she doesn't burn ppl pre-getting to baldur's gate ) she loves to scoop up her tiny one's into tight bear hugs at random times (girly has cuteness aggression and NEEDS to hug her babies when she sees her tiny one doing literally anything)

-Tiny Karlach is sooo curious. She needs to know everything about anything! Definitely the kiddo who will see an owlcub and ask her carer 10000 questions about it ("Can it fly? Where does it sleep? Do they get bedtime stories??")

-Tiny Karlach also wants to be friends with everyone! She is the tiny one who will spot another tiny one who is shy/being excluded, and she will run over to them and start talking to them and ask if they wanna play!

-Tiny Astarion is the most(tm), incredibly fussy and will throw tantrums at the slightest change in his routine (but, he truly doesn't mean it from malicious, poor little guy is just,,,going through it emotionally and fussing is his way of getting those yucky feelings out)

-Although Astarion doesn't sleep, when he's tiny, he'll beg for bedtime stories (especially the ones where his carer places his name into the stories)

-Shadowheart is the cool, goth big sister who is probably practicing spells on you, but she makes it sound fun and nothing humongously dangerous! She'll tell you stories and lets you hang out in her tent (just, don't touch her stuff with your baby hands xD)

-She has a secret teddy bear she cuddles at night (but will always deny it because big girls don't carry teddies!)

-Lae'zel calls tiny ones "hatchlings"

- She's,,,learning not to tell her tiny one to "punch their throat" whenever her tiny one comes to her saying another tiny one was mean. But, hey, that's what she was told as a youth, so girly doesn't quite understand the whole "gentle parenting" xD

-Halsin is a big papa bear, literally. He'll transform into his bear form when his tiny one is sleepy so that they'll have something cozy n' warm to cuddle up with ♡

-The best at storytelling. His voice is gentle but fun and makes the stories so vivid (sometimes even adding some druid magic is add effects!)

Aaaa that's all i have rn but 10000% there will be more hehehe

#agere #age regression #sfw #fandom agere #mailbox #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #karlach #astarion #shadowheart #lae'zel #halsin

[sunshowersanddandelionwine]

YOU ASKED AND YOU SHALL RECIEVE

(this is going to be Long so prepare yourself XD)

Murderbot Diaries:

I have no idea if you've ever read the murderbot diaries books by martha wells (which, if you havent and have any sort of interest in science fiction PLEASE READ THEM THEYRE SO FUN) but the character of secunit is SO ghost coded its not even funny

for those unaware: secunit is short for security unit, which in the world of murderbot are partially artificial and partially human constructs created as cheap labor. secunits are considered property rather than people, despite being totally sentient. they are not, however, autonomous. secunits have a thing called a "governor module" that will essentially fry their brains if they do anything to go against the company/their client's orders. secunits can be repaired and reissued to new clients, so the whole thing is just super fucked up

anyway, back to the au. ghost, like murderbot, manages to disable his governor module somehow and is able to act completely autonomously. however, he's been so Fucked Up by you know... being a secunit, that he doesnt exactly know how to be autonomous or his own person, so he just. Doesnt. and he continues to protect clients as they come up, doing his best to hide the fact that hes able to act freely.

enter the 141 survey crew, who are his latest group of clients that hes been tasked with protecting. its a much smaller group than he's used to, only seven members compared to dozens and dozens, but that means he's the only secunit sent along which is for the better tbh. the members of the survey include laswell, price, gaz, soap, farah, alex, and roach.

for once in ghost's life, he's not treated as a looming threat or an inanimate object, but an actual person with thoughts and opinions of his own. and he Does Not Like This At All.

at least, not at first. but he finds his walls start getting eroded by these idiotic humans and their idiotic tendencies to make the worst possible choices. (especially a certain engineer with a taste for explosive materials, but thats neither here nor their)

of course, something has to go wrong, as it always does. there are two other survey teams on the planet - kortac and shadow company. and according to a message sent by one of them (not sure which yet lmao), something is hunting them.

and soon, the 141 is going to be hunted to

im trying not to directly copy the plot of all systems red (the first murderbot novella) so yeah!

Muzzled:

this is going under the read more because its getting too long lmao

cw for mild mouth trauma and general blood/violence

SO this one is fun.

ghost is still part of the 141, alongside gaz and price. he's a werewolf (obviously XD) and somehow, a mark gets the drop on him while he's shifted into his full wolf form

he wakes up in a tiny iron cage in a dank basement, with a burning pain across his snout, jaw, and neck. his captors managed to muzzle and collar him with pure silver, keeping him as weak and docile as possible. hes still fucking dangerous as shit, but this way they can at least handle him.

his captors, a group of hunter/poachers, have a shitton of other supernaturals trapped in the basement with him. they come down to gloat, and with them is a strange man. he doesnt talk smack like the others. he moreso tries to blend into the shadows and disappear. but ghost cant tear his eyes away from the bright blue eyes lurking in the darkness. or the thick iron band locked around his throat.

the man is clearly inhuman, but he cant - or wont - speak. hes tasked with taking care of the "feral wolf" (ghost) for the duration of his stay. from the precise wording of the orders, ghost knows exactly what the man in.

fair folk. something powerful, too, given the iron bands around his wrists as well.

days of ghost plotting his escape pass, and ghost and the fae start to come to some sort of wordless alliance. they take care of each other as best they can from their relative cages, finding solace in each other that they cant find anywhere else.

something happens later down the line, maybe gaz and price are getting to close to the operations, but the poachers decide that its time to cut their losses and skip town. they order the fae to "take care of the wolf". ghost's heart drops, because he knows that a fae cant disobey an order given by the keeper of their true name.

but in the poachers' haste to get things wrapped up, they made a mistake. they left the order unclear and open ended.

and the fair folk always take notice of loopholes.

the fae unlocks ghost's cage and releases him from the silver. ghost, rather than just go up and slaughter the entire organization himself, decides to be extra and lets loose every single other creature trapped down there with him. they all go and massacre the ring, but ghost doesnt. because the fae collapsed on the floor of the basement, dropping his glamour in the process. and the sight is grisly.

he's skin and bones, barely any muscle or fat on him at all. the iron ring around his neck and the iron bands around his wrists hang loose, showing the thick rings of scar tissue on pale skin. but the worst is his mouth.

coarse, rough thread seals his mouth shut, the wounds red and angry and irritated. locking the fae's strongest weapon away, keeping him firmly under the whims of his captors. he may have had the freedom of movement that ghost lacked, but he was as much a prisoner here as the rest.

ghost somehow manages to get them all out safe, and he finally gets the fae's name. his true name. not the silly little nickname he gave him in his head while watching him clean the basement day in and day out (soap).

for the first time in months, simon and johnny speak to one another.

there you go, hope you enjoyed! @bl-nk-sp-ce

#wayward seeds #soapghost #cod mw2 #cod mwf2 #ghostsoap #john soap mactavish #cod modern warfare #cod mwii #simon ghost riley #murderbot diaries au #muzzled au #i wish i knew how to tag you friend! #but for some reason its not working </3 #thank you for asking about them i love rambling about my silly little stories and ideas :D #i have SO MANY MORE so feel free to ask about them any time!!! #my inbox should be open as well if anyone wants to ask on anon

[ikeromantic]

Hi! I have an idea for Ikemen Sengoku: Making a Gingerbread House with MC! It can be all 17 suitors (if that's okay with you!) getting together and making a gingerbread house (Ieyasu being like "you want us to make a house made out of ginger-flavored bread? 🤣) and eating it by the end?

Happy Holidays!

🎄

Happy Holidays!

I sat on this request for nearly a year, just so I could post at the holiday xD  It’s rather long, but you DID ask for allllll 17 warlords! 

Mai sat on a stool in the vast kitchen, staring at the tiled counters and wooden tables. When she’d proposed a gingerbread contest, she did not expect all the warlords to jump on the idea so agreeably. But they did. Maybe it was the idea that it was a contest . . . 

Nobunaga

He frowned fiercely at the leaning tower of crisp gingerbread. “This is not sufficient. The frothing will not hold and I have yet to add the tenshu.” 

Mai giggled. “You can’t be serious. It’s already taller than anyone else’s gingerbread house. And it’s frosting. Not frothing.”

Nobunaga’s eyes sparked dangerously. “I cannot win if my castle lacks a tenshu.”

“That might be true . . .” Mai teased. 

The cookie tower looked as if it might fall over any moment. Nobunaga began to systematically add supports, determined to win at all costs. “I will make it work,” he growled.

Hideyoshi

His cookie table was an array of smaller gingerbread buildings. He bent over each, adding little details that identified them as shops, houses, and guard towers. 

“That’s really nice, Hideyoshi. But you do know, you only needed to make one house, right?” Mai peered over his shoulder.

“Of course, but Lord Oda’s castle must have a town.” He grinned. “You see? Here is the first shop I took you to, and there is a tea house where we shared a drink together. And there is the gate you met me at when I came back from a battle.”

Mai’s cheeks flushed. “All these places are places we were at together?”

“Yes.”

“That is so sweet!”

Hideyoshi gave a roguish grin. “Sweet enough to win?”

“Maybe,” Mai laughed.

Mitsuhide

Mai found Mitsuhide’s gingerbread house finished. It was a lovely little two story with delicate frosting decorations. Tiny gumdrop people stood outside, and after a moment, she realized there was one for each of the Azuchi warlords, even one that was clearly Mitsuhide. But there was no sign of the man himself.

She went looking for him, but he wasn’t any place she expected to find him. Frustrated, she headed out to the yard to see if he’d left early. When she did, she spotted him slipping into the ingredient storeroom.

“There you are!”

Mitsuhide dropped the gingerbread ingredients he was holding. “Hello there, little mouse.”

Mai raised an eyebrow. “Whatcha doing? Nothing nefarious I hope?”

“Me? Never.” He winked. “Did you follow me here for a little . . . private time? Does it count as cheating if I make love to the judge?” 

“No. And yes.” She put a fist to her hip. “You should probably get back before someone realizes your gingerbread house is undefended.” 

He left with another salacious look. She made a note to herself to make sure no one used the ingredients he’d touched. You could never be too careful.

Kyubei

Kyubei sat in front of a pile of gingerbread pieces, looking confused. 

“Can’t decide what to make,” Mai asked.

“I’m not a warlord, so I’m not sure why I’m being included in this contest. Things would not go well for me if I won . . .” Kyubei sighed. 

“That’s ok. I understand. If you don’t want a shot at the grand prize -”

Kyubei’s eyes widened. “What is the prize? I didn’t know there was a prize!”

“Well . . . it’s nothing much. A day out with me. Silly, right?” She wrinkled her nose.

“Y-yeah. Ummm . . . I just uh, remembered what I wanted to build, sooooo . . .” He leaned forward and began to arrange his cookies. 

Mai shrugged. “Ok. I guess I’ll leave you to it then? Good luck!”

Kyubei was too focused to reply.

Masamune

“Masamune,” Mai said his name with a questioning tone. “That doesn’t look like a house.”

The one-eyed dragon had crumbled his cookies in rows, and used the frosting to construct a series of tubes, ramps, and basins. He was eyeballing what looked like a turning gear made from gingerbread when Mai walked up, but set it down to grin at her. “It’s not! I was just thinking I can use this ginger-bread to model an irrigation system I’ve been working on.”

“Umm. Alright. That’s pretty neat, actually.” Mai leaned close to look at the work he’d done so far. “How’s it going then?”

“Better than expected. Although I had to reinforce the joins here -” he pointed, “and here. I think this cookie has structural integrity issues.” 

Mai nodded. “Well, it is just a cookie.” She sighed. “I hope you’re not planning on running actual water through it?”

“How else would I test it, kitten?” He ruffled her hair.  

Ieyasu

Ieyasu frowned fiercely at the stacked gingerbread cookies on his table. “This is stupid.” His jade glare was in full force as Mai stopped by to see how he was doing. 

“Well, you don’t have to make one if you don’t want to.” She smiled at him and added, “though I’d really love to see what you come up with.”

His cheeks heated and he glanced away. “I hope you aren’t smiling like that at everyone.”

“Like what?”

Ieyasu gave a disgusted sigh. “I better win this thing, is all I’m saying.”

Mai laughed. “Then you should get to building. Mitsuhide’s already finished and Nobunaga has a tower twice as tall as anyone else’s gingerbread house.”

“Pfft. Don’t try to make me jealous.” He gave her an unreadable side-eyed look.

“I’m just telling you there’s some serious competition. But I know you can do it.” 

“Ugh. And now you’re trying to cheer me up,” he tried to frown but the corners of his lips kept curling up in a little smile.

Mitsunari

Mai paused a few steps away from Mitsunari. He had several blue prints around his work station, and his cookies were all organized by thickness, size, and coloration. He was focused intently on sticking two of the pieces together when she finally approached him.

“Mitsunari? How’s it going?”

He didn’t look up or acknowledge her presence.

Mai waved a hand in front of his face, but Mitsunari didn’t seem to notice that either. “Hey, can you hear me? Mitsunari? Hello?”

He continued to work with single-minded intensity. 

“Alright. I guess you’re in the zone, huh?” She eyed the house he was building. It reminded her of something. “Is this . . . Oshi castle?”

Mitsunari still didn’t reply and after a few moments of silence, Mai shrugged and moved on. She supposed he would tell her soon enough, once he got back from Planet Mitsunari.

Keiji

Keiji sat with his arms crossed, glaring at a haphazard lean-to of burnt cookie. The edges were crumbling away, even with the frosting to hold them steady.

“Oh no! What happened?”

He glanced up at her sharply. “I’ll tell you what happened. These hands were not made to bake! What kind of weird idea is this, anyway?”

“Awww. You’re so adorable when you pout.” Mai reached out and wiped a bit of frosting off his cheek, making sure to brush her fingers along the sensitive spot at his jaw line. 

Keiji snatched her hand. “That’s cheating, princess.”

“Maybe, but I bet you feel more motivated now, hm?”

He laughed, his foul mood vanishing as if it had never been. “Maybe.”

“Then get in there and do your best! I’m rooting for you.” Mai grinned and pulled her hand back just before Keiji managed to lick the frosting off her fingertip.

Ranmaru

“Oh, wow! Ranmaru . . .” Mai’s eyes widened when she got close enough to see Ranmaru’s gingerbread house. It was the most adorable little temple ever made of cookie. It sat atop a little cookie mountain, dusted with sugar-snow. Candied animals gathered around it, big eyed, adorable creatures with happy little smiles. A gingerbread monk stood in the doorway, his robes made of pretty purple frosting, and despite a jagged crack in his cookie face, he also sported a wide grin.

“Do you like it?” Ranmaru tucked a bit of hair behind his ear, anxious and eager for praise.

“It’s amazing! Everything is so cute!”

He smiled happily. “Good! Even if I don’t win, I’m just glad my little cookie house made you smile.”

Mai’s heart turned to mush at his sweetness. “You are too much,” she sighed. 

“Are you sure I’m not just enough for you?” He gave her an unexpectedly saucy wink.

“I don’t know. If you get any sweeter, you’ll give me a toothache.” Mai laughed.

“Then I’d get to nurse you until you were better.” Ranmaru’s expression was suddenly thoughtful and calculating. Then he giggled, his usual cute grin firmly back in place. “Only kidding! I’d never want that to happen to you!”

Kenshin

Mai cleared her throat to announce her approach as she neared Kenshin’s work table. It was never wise to surprise the God of War. 

“There you are,” he said, without turning to look at her. “I was wondering when you’d come by.”

She smiled. He always pretended to be so chilly, but she knew better. “So what are you making? It looks like a - a -” Mai leaned closer, examining the little cookie house. “It’s a rabbit hutch! And those are bunnies!”

Kenshin gave her a thin half-smile. “You are correct. This is Take, and there is Matsu, and over here being naughty is Ume. She is eating radish in the garden.” 

“Oh?” Mai looked even closer. He’d crafted a tiny daikon out of cookie crumbs and frosting, which Ume had half in her little bunny mouth. “Wow. You’re really good at this!”

“You sound surprised.” Kenshin raised an eyebrow.

“Well . . . you know . . . the whole god of war reputation and all . . .” She stuttered, feeling suddenly called out.

Kenshin grabbed her by the waist, almost pulling her into his lap. “When I have won this contest, I will take you to Kasugayama, and I will show you more of the God of War.”

Mai swallowed, her heart beating quite fast. “Um. I . . . yes. That would be great. Now if you could just let go?”

Kanetsugu

Kanetsugu wasn’t at his station when Mai stopped by to check on him, but he was easy to find. Pacing quietly at the edges of the room, making notes on each of the other warlords’ gingerbread houses.

“Ummm, Kanetsugu, what are you doing?” She caught up to him to ask her question.

“It should be obvious, fool.” When Mai still looked confused, he sighed. “I’m evaluating the competition, noting flaws and strengths.”

“Oh! That makes sense.” Mai grinned. “So you can learn from the mistakes others make.”

Kanetsugu’s quick-silver smile flickered across his lips. “I see you can think when you try.”  He tucked the notepad away and crossed his arms. “My gingerbread castle will be the best. I cannot lose.”

Mai raised an eyebrow. “You really want to win the prize, hm? But you know it’s just -”

“It is not about prizes. I cannot fail my lord.” His haughty stare had an unexpected heat to it, and just the tip of a toothy fang showed in his sharp smile. “Though the prize is not without merit.”

She felt a blush rise up her cheeks. Somehow, Kanetsugu always ended up leaving her feeling completely turned around and a bit undone.

Shingen

Mai sidled up to Shingen to get a look at his gingerbread house. It was a respectable looking cookie construction. Two stories, with gumdrop flowers on the walls and sugar-pane glass in the windows. “It’s looking really good, Shingen!”

“Is it?” He gave a mournful sigh.

She turned from the gingerbread toward him, worried. “Is something wrong?”

Shingen’s eyes were wide and damp as if he might cry. “I cannot help but feel this cookie house is missing some vital piece. And without it . . .” He sighed again, and looked away.

Mai frowned. “Missing something? Is there an ingredient I can get you? It looks like you used the gummies and frosting and red-hots. You even made sugar-glass for it. I don’t know what else you need.” 

He reached out and took her hand. “It’s missing . . . an angel. But alas, the only angel I know cannot be held by mere baked cookies.” Shingen raised her hand to his lips, and before Mai could react, placed a tender kiss to her wrist, where her pulse was now pounding rapidly. 

“Erm, I think kissing the - the judge might count as cheating, you know?”

“Then I will submit to your divine punishment, oh goddess. Shower me with your . . . wrath.” A wicked little light shone in the depths of his grey eyes and a tiny smile curled on his lips. 

Yukimura

Mai walked over to Yuki’s table, but he saw her coming and quickly covered his gingerbread house with a large sheet of paper. “Uh, hello Yukimura.”

“Go away, boar woman. I’m busy.” He frowned at her. “I don’t know why you’re walking around bothering everyone.”

“Well, I am the contest judge. And I wanted to see how you all were doing. So . . . how is it going for you?” Mai tilted her head, trying to see under the edge of the paper, but Yuki blocked her view.

“Fine.” He continued to block her view using his hands and body. “You can go now, before you trample my cookies.”

Mai poked him in the chest with her finger. “You are so rude. You know I’m going to get to see it at the end anyway, right?”

Yukimura shrugged. “Yeah, sure. But that’s at the end. It’s not done yet.”

“Oh. Well I guess that makes sense. Guess I’ll just leave you to it, then.” Mai nodded and pretended to move away as if she was done checking on him.

Once she’d turned to walk on, Yuki shifted the paper away and bent back to his task. 

Mai spun around too quickly for him to cover it again before she could see. Her lips parted with a surprised breath. The gingerbread house was small and cute, with little heart shaped windows and tiny sugar flowers. Two gingerbread people stood in front of it, hands clasped. One of them had unruly brown hair and big nut-brown eyes with a red and black kimono. And the other looked a lot like her.

Yukimura looked at her, horrified. His cheeks were red and his eyes were wide. “No! Don’t look! You didn’t see, right?” He jerked the paper back over it.

“Umm. No. Nope. I didn’t see a thing. I’ll just, uh, see you. Later.”

“Y-yeah.” Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. 

Sasuke

“Thank you for sponsoring this contest, Mai.” Sasuke glanced up as she approached. 

She smiled. “Well, I didn’t want it to be a contest. Just a chance to make something nice together, but you know how warlords are.”

“I do.” He pushed his glasses back up his nose. “I too, am feeling the competitive spirit. I believe I have a fighting chance. My prior exposure to gingerbread cookie houses and my mathematical acuity give me a 64.325 percent chance of victory.”

Mai’s eyebrow rose. “Your . . . math?”

Sasuke nodded. “Indeed. I was able to calculate the precise geometry of each piece of my gingerbread house, even accounting for shrinkage and spread while baking. Additionally, I made use of fractal formulae to create an endless variety of snowflake designs.”

His gingerbread house stood in a swirl of tiny sugar-crystal snowflakes, held by almost invisible threads of spun sugar. And the cookie itself held delicate little patterns made in frosting.

“It’s really lovely,” Mai said, leaning closer to look at the designs. 

Sasuke gave her a conspiratorial bli-wink. “I hope you’ll still think so when it comes time to judge. I am very interested in the grand prize.”

Yoshimoto

Mai had high expectations for Yoshimoto’s gingerbread house, so she was a little surprised when she stopped by his table. The gingerbread house was simple, though elegant. The cookies looked thin, crisp, and very delicate. 

“Mai! Are you previewing the art you will be judging today?” He smiled at her warmly.

“I am. I wanted to see how everyone was doing and if anything else was needed.” She gestured to his cookies. “Are you missing anything for yours? I thought you might need extra decorations.”

Yoshimoto gave a slight shrug. “I think this is sufficient. I can’t think of any item I am missing.”

She nodded and began to step away, but stopped. “Are you sure? Because . . . it looks pretty plain. I thought you would, you know -” Mai made an expansive gesture with her hands.

He chuckled. “Ah, I see. No. I considered visual spectacle as a possibility, but this is cooking. The art of it is flavor, and the purpose is to best display the essence of a ginger - bread. So that is what I have endeavored to do.”

“Oh!” She grinned. “I should have known there was method to your madness.”

“Hopefully I have captured the flavors well enough that I will capture you as well.” Yoshimoto’s smile was teasing.

Motonari

Predictably, Motonari was crafting a gingerbread boat. Though it seemed to Mai that the boat was more a platform for cookie cannons. They lined the sides of the boat in frighteningly accurate detail. 

Motonari grinned widely as she approached. “I thought yer contest idea was more flower-headed nonsense, but turns out this is fun. I didn’t know I could bake a weapon.”

“Erm, yeah. That was . . . exactly what I had in mind too. Cookie weapons.” She sighed. “Well, at least it looks like you put a ton of effort in. The sails look really nice.” The cloth was made from thin sugar-glass, stretched on cookie poles. 

“Yeah,” he shrugged. “A ship has gotta have sails. But look at this,” he shoved a little cocoa ball into one of the cannons and then lit the tiny fuse at the back of the cookie. 

“Motonari, what did you just -” 

The cookie burst apart, spraying them both with crumbs and chocolate. 

Motonari laughed wildly. “Ahhh, this is gonna be good fun.” He reached over to run a finger along her cheek, wiping off a smudge of cocoa, then put his finger to his lips. “Mmmm, tastes like Oda princess. Sweet.”

Mai stepped back, feeling her cheeks heat. “Hey, no touching the judge! That counts as cheating, you know?”

“Heh, sure. But I’m a pirate. I don’t mind a bit of cheating so long as I win.” The twinkle in his garnet gaze was dangerous, equal parts madness and passion. 

Kennyo

The demon abbott wore a scowl of concentration as Mai approached. His gingerbread house looked like a forest shrine, complete with sugar and cookie trees around it. He was painting tiny details onto the door, but stopped when he noticed her watching.

“You.” He straightened and gave her a tentative smile, unpracticed but genuine.

“I was just coming by to see how you’re doing.” Mai gestured to his cookie shrine. “It looks amazing.”

“Thank you.” He glanced at it and then back at her. “I thought this would be a purposeless exercise, but I find the crafting of this gingerbread to be meditative.” 

She gave a little laugh. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it then. I wasn’t sure if you would even come - but I’m glad you did.”

Kennyo nodded. “I could not waste such an opportunity. Though Nobunaga will survive this day, I will crush him in this cookie making competition and destroy his soul. He will suffer -”

Mai patted his arm and he stopped his resonant rant with an awkward look of embarrassment. “Good luck, Kennyo,” she told him. And as she left, she could have sworn his cheeks colored a bit.

Kicho

Kicho’s gingerbread house was enormous. A veritable emperor’s palace of cookie, heavily decorated with all manner of sweets. Django stick trees beside syrup pools and fruit gelatin sculptures. Spun sugar columns and colored glass, and frosting-painted walls and murals. 

He smirked as Mai gasped in surprise at the size and detail of the thing. 

“This is amazing! You made all of this?”

“Unlike these fools, I have some knowledge of this . . . gingerbread.” He sneered. “They think they’ve planned a winning strategy, but only one of us can be the victor today.”

Mai giggled. “And that will be you?”

Kicho fixed her with a sharp stare. “I am certain of it. And when I am victorious, I will take my prize.” He surveyed her with a slow, evaluative look. When she shivered, he gave a humorless laugh. “You really shouldn’t put something on offer that you’re afraid to give.”

“I’m not scared of you.” Mai took a moment to compose herself, wanting to somehow wipe his smug smile away. “You do realize I’m the judge? Intimidating me is not a good idea.”

In one smooth movement, he swept her legs out from under her and caught her in his arms. “No? But you seem to enjoy it so much. Just look at you now. Your cheeks are on fire.”

Mai struggled out of his grasp and gave him a stern frown. “I should take points off for that.”

“But you won’t. It would make you feel bad.” Kicho smiled again, the expression lighting up his face. “I’ll see you later. Make sure to dress properly for the occasion.”

Epilogue

The dining hall was a warzone. Tables displayed the destroyed remains of gingerbread edifices. Crumbs and bits of dried frosting were scattered like shrapnel from tanegashima. The groans and sighs of the cookie-massacre survivors filled the air. 

At the head table lay one survivor, eyes closed, hand resting on a belly too full to move. She slept fitfully, her dreams a landscape of gingerbread castles and little gumdrop warlords chasing her through them. 

“Does this . . . mean . . . no one won,” Masamune gasped from his spot on the floor. 

“I believe you are correct,” Sasuke sighed. “It appears the judge has been overcome.”

Keiji gave a sad chuckle. “There are some battles no one can win.”

Kennyo made a tsk of disapproval, though he too lay in a circle of gingerbread crumbs. “Excess always leads to ruin.”

“I never thought something could be too sweet,” Ranmaru whimpered.

“We appreciated the beauty and symmetry of gingerbread flavors, and now we must pay for our hedonism.” Yoshimoto gave a breathy sigh. “Still, I would do it all again.”

“You need to reconsider, cuz,” Shingen grunted.

Yukimura exhaled slowly. “My belly hurts.”

“That’s what you all get,” Ieyasu snorted from where he lay on his side.

Mitsunari, sounding chipper even now, asked, “Oh! You are so wise, Ieyasu! You must have stopped eating before we did. And now you’re just laying there to make us feel better.”

“Shut up,” Kenshin hissed.

Kanetsugu tried to sit up. “I will silence them, my lord.”

“Was this your doing, Mitsuhide,” Hideyoshi asked.

Mitsuhide shook his head, his golden eyes closed. “I spiked just one bag of ingredients with fish flakes, but the little mouse caught me.”

“I can confirm,” Kyubei added.

“Then who,” Nobunaga and Shingen asked together, then glared at each other from across the floor. 

Only Kicho was still up, and he gave the fallen warlords a smug grin. “It seems I’ve won the day, and all you fools can rot. I know better than to stuff my face with gingerbread and frosting.” He took a step toward the sleeping chatelaine. “Now for my prize.”

But Kicho had forgotten one thing. His sometime ally Motonari still had his cookie cannons. The room exploded in another round of gingerbread crumbs and chaos.

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen #holiday silliness #fanfiction #fanfic #otome #otome guys #fluff

[phoenixcatch7]

While I'm on a totk information roll, I just want to add:

Did you know the diary slab in lookout landing isn't just placed there as a prop? It's very small, but there is a flower pedestal it comes from! I wonder what would happen if you made it there early.....?

But look at the view -

Forgive the pixel distortion, but it's just stunning. You can see the whole map and past the horizon from here. There's no weather to worry about, and the sunrise and sunsets are breathtaking. It's perfect for stargazing, or cloud watching if you look down XD.

And yes, you read that right.

Three km up exactly. Well, if you stand on a ledge. (For Americans, 1.87 miles.)

The air has started to get thin up here, ignore the game mechanics telling you it's a cosy 7°C. It's very much not. It's not quite in the human danger zone yet, though.

It's by FAR the highest thing in the game - the wind temple looks so tiny if it loads in at all! And even that's roughly 2000m up.

But to put it in perspective.... This is barely a third of the height of mount everest. That clocks in at a whooping 8km high! There's a hawaiian volcano that reaches 10km above sea level! Please do not go that high with human lungs!

If you make it up there, it's great to set a medallion down. Do whatever the heck you please. Set up a fake house with zonai devices! Use it to place beacons! Practice skydiving! You can fall forever, you can reach huge distances if you wear the full glide set too.

Just... Be careful when you hit the ground.

#loz #legend of zelda #tears of the kingdom #totk #loz totk #botw totk #loz tears of the kingdom #Gushing about totk

[nachowtoast]

My version of half-nakey Mammon! Ah.... I wanted to draw this for a long time now, but art got me hard. Here is an explanation of why I have chosen this design. :3 I imagine him with Antennae cause the sins we have seen (Ozz and Bee) have something on their fluffy heads too. Will draw an angry version/monster version soon to show how they react to his electricity! Mammon probably being the first clown/jester ever got me thinking that the jester hat was just to hide these cuties under there. They are sensitive~ His mismatched colors on his hands and feet: We´ve seen him at his own concert and that prolly were his naked hands with no gloves on. Why? Slamming the guitar is way easier without an extra layer on. haha : D Feetsies with two jelly beans. Why? Look up Spider Paws and you know why. XD Plus... his feet are sooooo tiny!!! I drew them way too big. I love dog paws.. as an owner of an overly fluffy dog with tiny feet I love paawiies!! The white fur? Some spooders got "fur". I love @devilsroost ´s design of Mammon! Using the white fluff design makes him compatible with all kinds of clothing and also looks good in his giant form. Plus I love fur so much and it makes him even more dangerous if that manipulative arse looks cute and fluffy. (No you don´t need to know why it is important for me to imagine giant spooder Mammon nakey) The nipples~ Black diamond-shaped nippies cause Ozzie has heart-shaped ones and Mam has the black rhomb signs all over his suits. (They are mostly covered with fur so you can´t make out the form much...) Hair? Yeah... he just combs it back cause that is the mafia vibe, but it can be poofy and cute looking too : D

#helluva boss mammon #mammon toast #mammon helluva boss #hb mammon #hb mammon fanart #helluva boss #he is just a giant comfy bean bag and I would fall asleep on him whenever I am on top #I gave him trousers to be minor friendly XD #best man 12 outta 10 he can gaslight me any time/j

[skgtp-vn]

bsndn the little doodle of Ash made me giggle and imagine a tiny version of Vix being all dorky n cute and I just-

I really like the tall emo with no spine,,

and as cute as a tiny Ash would be, I'd have to put him in a little time out area so he didn't yoink anything dangerous.

Djidokdeke XD time out for the lil guy

Incoming compilation of my boys being dorky:

Silly lil guys ^^

#my style is so inconsistent #blatantly so #skgtp #skgtp vix #skgtp ash #cotton candy jester asks