#took me quite some time to colour all of these the same hmph

[jokertrap-ran]

(光与夜之恋 Light and Night) Osborn’s 5✩ Inspiration: Black VS Black [黑色对峙] Date Translation (END 6: Heart-throb)

“Do you really think that I think there’s no helping you?”

*Light and Night Master-list | Osborn’s Personal Masterlist *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Join the Light & Night Discord (＾▽＾)~ ♪ *This 5✩ Inspiration has 6 Endings!! *Osborn’s tag will be #For Night, For Freedom *Requested by anon! You can check my on-going requests and more here!

✥ Choice: Heart-throb [心动] ★Night★

The cat caused an incident! What should I do?

⊹ Check the fallen model ⊹

I didn’t think too much about it, instead, hurrying over to where the car model had fallen. 

I picked it up and inspected the damages.

There was a long crack in the middle and several parts had broken off, scattering compartments all over the floor.

MC: Can this… still be saved…?

Just as I was thinking of how to break this bad news to Osborn, his low voice sounded from behind.

Osborn: What a big commotion.

Osborn: What? Did Mitt get into an accident?

I steeled myself and stopped covering the scene of the “car accident” that had occurred. I got up and handed him the car model that I held.

MC: The “culprit” knocked this car model down and fled.

Osborn frowned, reaching me in a couple of long strides.

He took the model and turned it around a couple of times, observing it with an indifferent look on his face.

MC: Is it too damaged to fix?

Osborn: I can just send it for repairs over the next few days. Let's go look for the cat first.

He calmly placed the broken car model back onto the shelf, taking a “let’s talk about this later” stance.

This model had been placed together with many other car models that looked new, pristine, and without a scratch. Not to mention, the glistening trophy that had been right next to it. A wild guess entered my mind.

MC: Do all the car models here hold some sort of commemorative meaning?

Osborn: Hm? Why do you ask?

MC: I mean, if they are some sort of special memento to you, then they should have been subjected to routine maintenance, right?

MC: If so, then you should also have the tools for it along with any part replacements, yes?

Thoughtfulness slipped into his eyes.

Osborn: You want to help me fix it?

MC: Yeah! That cat was just spooked real bad, and it wouldn’t do us any good if it got a bigger fright the next time and reacted even worse to it if we continued chasing after it.

MC: So, why don’t we leave the cat hunt for later and fix the car model back up first?

MC: Plus, I’m pretty dexterous with my hands. Wanna give me a chance to show you my prowess?

He raised an eyebrow, his pale green eyes glinting.

Osborn: Okay. Here's your time to shine.

Osborn stretched his arms over my head. For a while, all I could see was his broad chest. I felt my breath hitch.

Then, he suddenly lowered his head. His face was incredibly close to mine.

The scent of black cedar assaulted my nose. I blinked. My brain was lagging.

MC: Oh, okay.

Osborn: Take it.

My gaze slid to his hand. Turns out that he’d just been fetching the toolbox that had been in the cabinet above the display shelves.

Osborn: I'm waiting.

I took the toolbox from him and opened it.

I was greeted by a multitude of components in all shapes and sizes. Some of the tools in it were similar to the ones I used when making my designs, but there were also some that I’d never seen before.

I picked up a tool that looked like a cross between a pen and a knife, looking to Osborn for advice.

MC: What's this?

Osborn: An exacto knife. It’s used to cut off excess parts of the joints when required.

MC: Mmhm, okay. I've remembered it.

Osborn: This is a cutting plier, screw sanders, tweezers...

Osborn picked out a couple more tools from within the box and introduced them to me.

Osborn: Anything else you can't recognize?

MC: Not for now.

Osborn: Okay. Then let's remove the damaged compartments first.

MC: Okay.

First, we used a screwdriver to remove the damaged compartments. Then, we replaced them with brand-new spare parts.

This race car model was really different from those being sold out in the market. It was made with exquisite craftsmanship, and its internal makings were far more complicated than I'd initially thought.

When it was time to add colours to it, Osborn prepared the required paints and set them out in measured portions onto the palette with ease and finesse. He smoothly handed me a brush.

Osborn: Do you know how to touch up the paintwork?

I hesitated.

MC: I've painted outfit designs before for design needs, but I'm sure it's completely different from actually painting a model.

MC: I don't know if it works the same…

Osborn: See my demonstration first then.

He dipped his brush into the red paint, carefully painting it onto the model. It came out very uniform and smoothly layered.

I'd stared at him, watching him do it a couple more times. But, no matter how much I watched the same process, I couldn't quite grasp it. Even if I tried mimicking his actions, my paintwork always turned out patchy and uneven.

Osborn laughed, placing his hand over mine and directing the brush I held.

He directed my brush, guiding me on how I should be painting the compartment with a focused look on his face.

It was all serious and business, except… My focus was inevitably drawn towards his movements and breaths.

Osborn: Get it?

MC: Mmhm...

I tried my hardest to remember the way he did it and followed suit. The end result was much smoother than what I'd been accomplishing before.

After the finishing touches were in place, I raised the model and showed it to him.

MC: Like… this? This should be done now, right?

Osborn: Not bad. You've got standard.

My spirits soared at having received such direct praise from him.

MC: Since I'm such an apt learner, how about enlisting my help again the next time you make another model of a race car?

Osborn slightly raised a brow as he contemplated my paint-stained hands.

Osborn: I'll think about it.

MC: Does this even need to be considered?

MC: I'm pretty quick to pick up hands-on skills, not just fixing up models of racing cars! So I'm a fast learner no matter what it is!

MC: You can test me again if you don't believe me!

Just as I was boasting about my assets in an attempt to make myself appeal to him, Osborn's calloused fingers suddenly brushed against my cheek.

The rough texture of the pads of his fingers made my heart skip a beat.

MC: What's wrong?

Osborn: You got something on your face.

I doubtfully touched my face. Suddenly, I pulled my hand away to find my fingers stained with red paint.

Astonished, I look at Osborn's hands, only to find even more red paint on them…

MC: Don't tell me you drew something on it!!

Osborn: What gives?

MC: Hey! You're biting the hand that feeds!

Osborn: Whatever do you mean by that?

Osborn: I'm just adding some blush and colour to your face. Makes you prettier.

I was taken aback, nonetheless.

MC: Okay. Then, I'll add some colour to your cheeks for you!

Osborn: Whoa, hey! Easy!

MC: Nothing you say now is gonna stop me!

I swiftly picked up the brush and dipped it into the paint set out onto the palette, rushing straight for his face.

Osborn quickly reared back, but I subconsciously followed right after his retreat.

And this was how I toppled him down to the ground with him doing nothing to defend himself.

Osborn was astonished. He'd attempted to get back up, only for my other hand to immediately dart out to pin him down by the shoulder.

MC: No moving!

Surprise flashed through his eyes, as his usual impish smile crawled its way back up his face.

Osborn: Wow, what an aggressor.

MC: That's right. Now's my time to retaliate!

MC: No use trying to escape!

I circled the air with the brush, purposefully observing his face to make my mark.

MC: Hmm, what do you want me to draw on you?

Osborn seemingly accepted the fact that he was going to be an inevitable victim of mine since I already had him "pinned" down. He folded his arms behind his head, giving my question some serious thought.

Osborn: An air drawing?

MC: Dream on!

Osborn: Mercy, please. I beg you.

MC: It's too late to be begging me for mercy.

MC: Hmph. Just watch me improvise on the spot~

Just as I was rummaging through my brain for a glimmer of inspiration, a light bulb suddenly lit in my head. 

I had an image now: Mitt as it was fleeing.

❖☆———————————★❖

I leaned down, supporting myself on Osborn's shoulder. 

Following the curve of his jaw, I applied colour to his skin, drawing a colourful cat.

Osborn had his guard down, seemingly content to watch me work my "artistic talents" with him as the canvas.

The surroundings lapsed into silence.

I was drawing it on with such rapt concentration, yet I was still able to notice his long black lashes and hear his familiar steady breathing ever so clearly. I could somewhat feel the slight rise and fall of his chest.

I vaguely registered our close proximity to each other. My heart seemed unable to settle with the fact that we were so close to each other that our breaths intermingled, clamouring loudly within my chest.

I blinked twice, finishing off the last stroke before getting up and putting some distance between us.

❖☆———————————★❖

Osborn: Done?

I nodded.

Osborn: What do you think of your work of art?

Huh? Is he asking me to rate my own work?

I quickly gave him a once over, only to realize that I'd been distracted at the end, so it'd turned out a little funky. I nearly laughed at it right then and there.

MC: Ahem. I think it's not bad! You've got a big kitty on you now!

He waggled his brows, lazily raising his body halfway back up. His features were suddenly enlarged before my eyes once more as he leaned closer.

Osborn: Happy now?

MC: Mmhm… Pretty happy.

Osborn: Then let me tell you something that'll make you even happier.

He moved even closer, his words gently flowing with the air, wrapping themselves around my ears.

I shuddered as a scalding heat started creeping up my neck.

MC: ...What is it?

Osborn: The other kitty's right behind you.

Mitt: Meow~ Meow~

The last of his words were drowned out by the sudden meowing that sounded.

I snapped out of the trance of the moment, much to my embarrassment. Mitt had actually slinked behind me somehow without my knowing!

MC: Right, we should hurry and catch it before it gets up to no good again!

I quickly climbed off Osborn, flushing red as I fled.

A light chuckle sounded behind me in response.

❖☆———————————★❖

By the time we found Mitt, it was already sprawled out beside the TV cabinet with its paws stuck underneath, fiddling with something in the gap.

Recalling the layout of his living room, I quietly tip-toed and whispered my idea into Osborn’s ear.

MC: I’ll take left, you take right. We’ll pincer it.

Osborn: It’s already here, so there’s no need to go through so much trouble.

MC: Huh?

Osborn: Just wait and see.

Osborn took a couple of long strides forwards in the direction of the cat.

I followed after him, quietly approaching the black cat. However, my attention was suddenly caught by the photo frame that the cat had just been playing with.

Picking up the frame, I carefully observed it…

In the picture were Osborn and a couple of familiar-looking teammates. They’d all had an arm around each other’s shoulder, beaming as they held the same trophy.

Their faces all look much younger… Is this a photo from years ago?

The race car in the background had a red and white body with an orange rear spoiler, similar to the car model that Mitt had batted off its perch earlier.

MC: Don’t tell me… Was that car model made based on this race car?

I was lost in thought when a sudden meow broke my train of thought.

Osborn: Still wanna run?

❖☆———————————★❖

I raised my head to see Osborn with both arms raised, gently holding up the cat in question.

The bright and warm sunlight shone in through the window, carefully outlining his chiselled side-profile and the contours of his muscles.

Although Mitt had already been caught, it still glared daggers at Osborn. It was as if a cat and a human were engaged in a silent battle with each other.

After a while, Mitt seemed to register the fact that it’d lost, meowing pitifully in that soft cry once more.

❖☆———————————★❖

Osborn: Oh? You know how to beg for mercy now, don’t you?

Osborn carried Mitt to the little corner we’d set up for it. Mitt seemingly gave up on the game of chase, lowering its head to eat the cat food that we’d prepared for it since the very beginning.

Watching it eat its food so obediently, I couldn’t help but kneel down and stroke its round head.

Mitt cast a doubtful glance at me, but turned its head, indulging nuzzling itself into my palm.

MC: !

MC: I touched it! How cute…

Osborn: You’re that excited from just being able to touch it?

MC: Yeah. It looked so naughty that I thought I wouldn’t be able to touch it today.

Osborn: It’ll come running up to you for a lick or two so long as you have food.

MC: Then I MUST let it try the wet cat food! Maybe it’ll get closer to me!

I sped towards the sofa and picked up the packet of wet cat food, purposely waving it before its nose.

It couldn’t resist the offered temptation after all. Its soft fluffy paws batted at my wrist as it opened its mouth and cried its pleas.

MC: Okay, okay. Any more and you’ll end up a piggy.

I recalled something after putting away the remaining food. I picked up the photo frame that I’d set down earlier and handed it to Osborn.

MC: Oh, yeah. By the way, this was the photo frame that Mitt was batting with under the TV cabinet earlier. I don’t know where you normally display it.

He took the photo frame from me and glanced at it.

MC: And on that note, I realized that the car in the background looks very similar to the model we just pieced back together. Are they the same?

Osborn: Oh. The model was made according to this race car.

Suddenly, I recalled having seen the highlights of all his races before.

The year and month in which he’d won his first racing championship seemingly coincided with the time that this photo was taken.

My guess had tumbled out of my lips before I could stop it.

MC: Is this the car you drove when you won your first championship?

He quirked a brow.

Osborn: Why, you know me so well.

MC: Then… Is that car model something of a memento from that race?

Osborn: You can say that.

MC: I heard somewhere before that that car’s engine had to be changed out every two races. It shouldn’t be in use anymore, right?

Osborn: The engine exploded on me during that race, so it was only my companion once.

Osborn spoke lightly of it, but thinking of how exciting and terrifying it must have been back then, I couldn’t help but feel my heart sink a little.

MC: I’m glad the car model’s alright. Otherwise, it’d be such a pity for such a meaningful memento to get damaged like that.

Osborn: So I should thank you properly. Is that it?

MC: Huh? Thank me?

He chuckled lightly, his eyes sliding from the photo to my face. He had a slightly flippant look on his face.

Osborn: Weren’t you the one who made that car model more meaningful?

MC: ……

I was taken aback for a bit. I looked at him in surprise, only to find his gaze calm and gentle. There was a smile glimmering within his eyes.

Osborn: You were pretty clever when fixing the model. Why so stupefied now?

As his words sank in, I felt my heart flutter as I realized what he’d meant by having made it more “meaningful”. Something seemed to have filled my heart. It was a little flustering, yet also a little sweet.

I worried my lip and gathered my courage together before looking up to meet his eyes.

MC: Then, that makes me happier now…

MC: Although I didn’t get the chance to sit in on the race of your first championship and cheer you on…

MC: I was still able to piece the model back together and play a part in that precious moment of memory.

Inexplicable emotions surfaced in Osborn’s eyes, and in the next second, his big hand ruffled my hair with a vengeance.

Osborn: There’s really no helping you, is there?

I shyly ducked my head, but I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from rising.

At this moment, the sun had enveloped us both within its warmth.

The cat quietly ate by our feet, letting out a purr of satisfaction every once in a while.

Slowly but surely, unspeakable feelings started to bloom and spread within the confines of my heart.

I hope, from the deepest points of my heart, that time would always be eternally frozen in this beautiful moment.

⊹ ˚✩ ━━━━━━━━━━━ ∘◦ ✥ ◦∘ ━━━━━━━━━━━ ✩˚ ⊹

✥ Choose your Ending:

END 1 | Choice: Do Nothing [都不做]

END 2 +3 + 4 | Choice: Call Out [呼唤] ⊹Speak⊹

END 5 | Choice: Listen [倾听] ❖ASMR

END 6 | Choice: Heart-throb [心动] ★Night★

❖☆————— ⊹ For Night, For Freedom⊹ —————★❖

Previous Part: (Prologue)

#光与夜之恋 #Light and Night #Otome #Translations #Tencent #萧逸 #Osborn #For Night For Freedom #黑色对峙 #Black VS Black

[absolutepokemontrash]

The undatables as uncles need more love, so... What if L!MC and the rest of the children just go to the castle or purgatory Hall for a few days because the Bros got tired or just need a day of rest. Idk this makes no sense

Yes, more uncle shennaniganery!

A Day at the Demon Lord’s Castle

Masterlist

It was Demon-Flu season, and no demon in the House of Lamentation was spared from its sniffly wrath. It started with Belphegor waking up and sneezing right next to Beel, and it was all downhill from there.

Notice how I said “demon”, the dear little Half-Demons were all fine thanks to the efforts of M!MC who for some reason had bought a bunch of plague doctor masks the week prior.

“Why... why did you buy these?” L!MC asked, their voice muffled by the badly fitting mask.

“I saw em’ in a store window and I decided I wanted them.”

Three out of four of the Brat Brigade (plus the cat) were on their way to the Demon Lord’s castle to stay until the house’s little epidemic passed. Lord Diavolo had oh so graciously asked (begged) to be allowed to host the kids for a while.

What could go wrong?

Many things could go wrong.

For one, the first thing A!MC saw when they first arrived, was a rat. Not one of the gross scary ones, but one of the absolutely adorable ones that turns you into the ‘gently holds’ meme.

“I’m going to call you Templeton!” “*squeak*” “Yay!”

Barbatos of course came to greet the guests, and explained that they have a little... issue with rats at that moment. Butler-dad assured them it wouldn’t be a problem, just if the children saw any of the vermin running around to tell him and he’d dispose of them.

Templeton the rat was promptly hidden in one of A!MC’s pockets.

The Purgatory Hall crew was there as well, apparently Solomon decided to make brunch and Purgatory Hall’s kitchen exploded.

Lord Diavolo finally makes his entrance and declares that everyone should unpack and relax, his gorgeous/terrifying castle was their gorgeous/terrifying castle.

“So,” L!MC rested their head on their hand and rotated the knight in their free hand as they stared half vacantly at the chess board. “Did you take care of the snake in the labyrinth, Dia?”

Diavolo lit up when he heard his seldom used nickname. “Well, Henry 1.0 isn’t exactly bothering anyone down there at the moment, and I don’t think Levi is equipped to deal with a fifty foot long untamed snake.”

L!MC smirked and placed their knight down. “Yeah, at least not right now.”

The moment L!MC removed their hand from the knight, Diavolo moved his bishop and took their queen. Shit.

“Aw man...” L!MC mumbled, after a cursory look at the board, the poor thing realized that they had been screwed for the last five turns and Diavolo was just prolonging the match.

“Don’t feel too bad, L!MC.” Diavolo gave them a pat on the head. “Lucifer can’t beat me in chess either.”

“Hmph.” They wouldn’t admit it but... that did make them feel a little better.

“That reminds me, I have a favour to ask of you.” L!MC almost outwardly drooped at the mention of... ugh... a task. “Do you mind reviewing some dad-jokes with me to make sure they are suitably dad-like?”

“...what?” Quickly remembering they were in the presence of honest to God (poor choice of words... uh... Grandfather?) royalty, L!MC straightened their posture and tried their best to look respectfully curious instead of completely and utterly confused. “Pardon?”

“M!MC and several others have said I have ‘dad vibes’, so I’m leaning into it!” Diavolo smiled so brightly if L!MC hadn’t been the child of the Morning Star they may have been blinded. “My father wasn’t one for jokes, so I’d like to run these by you before I say them to others.”

Suppressing a snort of laughter, L!MC nodded. “Go for it, I’m all ears.”

Diavolo pulled out quite the long list and began to read out loud... L!MC quickly realized that this may take longer than expected. “Okay, to begin: I’m afraid for the calendar, it’s days are numbered.”

“Oh not-that-good-Lord...” L!MC muttered under their breath.

The dad jokes continued, some were funny, some were absolutely awful, some sounded like they were made for children in the Victorian era... overall, it was a good- holy shit that took over two hours...

“Finally,” Diavolo squinted at the last joke. “I went to the liquor store and they asked for my ID, while I fumbled for my wallet, my Blockbuster card fell out, the cashier said ‘nevermind’.”

L!MC furrowed their brows. “What’s a Blockbuster?”

“That was what I was hoping you’d explain to me... is it a dad requirement to get a card for that establishment..?”

“Mmmm...” L!MC pursed their lips. “Probably not. I mean, Lucifer doesn’t have one.”

“That’s true...” Diavolo looked at the clock, then stood up and began to shoo L!MC out the door. “Look at me, taking up all your time that you should be spending with your friends. Thank you for your help, L!MC, now don’t let me keep you any longer!”

Giggling slightly, L!MC shot a wave over their shoulder as they left the room. “Bye dad! See you later!”

They were half way down the hallway when they realized their verbal slip-up.

“Oh.” L!MC’s face burned with embarrassment. “Shit.”

Dad-volo was totally delighted and very cool about it, don’t worry.

M!MC and Bean the cat were hanging out with the angels in the very pretty royal gardens when that mess was going down.

Luke was being absolutely adorable and was snuggling Bean while he and Simeon looked at the pretty plants.

In traditional M!MC fashion, they were engaging in an average game of ‘lightly tease the chihuahua’.

“It’s just... you’re so small.” M!MC took the opportunity to rest their arm on Luke’s head as he stopped to observe a colour changing flower bush. “How many years have you been this height? 100? 200?”

M!MC had taken the news that Luke was older than them in stride, finding new opportunities to make the little angel do his adorable angy face. They were obviously succeeding in their jerkwad-endeavours as Luke pushed their arm off and fixed his now smushed hat.

“You be quiet! I’m perfectly average height for an angel my age.” Luke huffed, petting the cat, who hissed at M!MC. The stupid cat absolutely hated them for some reason, it brought L!MC never ending joy to bring the cat into their shared room and watch it hiss and swipe at them. L!MC should really show some more respect for their older cousin!

“Are angels normally the size of a fifth grader?” M!MC snickered. “Is Simeon considered a freak for his height?”

“No, M!MC, I am not.” Simeon chuckled. “Rest assured, Luke will grow.”

“Yeah! And I’m sure I’ll be taller than you!” Luke added.

M!MC smirked deviously and pinched Luke’s cheek. “Well, I’ll have to take advantage of your smallness and baby face while I still can!”

“Hey! Stop that!” Luke tried to swat their hands away, but M!MC had inherited their father’s reflexes and his penchant for being a little shit every once and a while, so Luke’s swatting only resulted in more pinches.

“Never!” M!MC teased. “Surrender to your smallness!”

“No!”

Luke took off deeper into the garden, surprisingly quickly considering he was holding a cat that was hellbent on clawing M!MC’s eyes out. M!MC laughed and gave chase.

“Luuuuuuuke! Come back! I promise I’ll be nice!” M!MC lied right through their teeth like the little heathen they were, as they ran down the path they noticed that they couldn’t see Luke up ahead anymore, nor could they hear him yelling for Simeon to make them quit their teasing.

“Heheh...” M!MC wheezed as they stopped to catch their breath. “Luke c’mon, don’t be a baby. It’s real immature to hide like that!”

There was no response, which made M!MC just a little nervous, just a smidge. The plants had changed from pretty flowers and gorgeous trees to a much darker clump of vines and twisting branches. It all seemed to be the same plant, M!MC noted as they scanned the area for any sign of Luke and the cat, or Simeon for that matter.

“Luke? Bean? Come on! Haul your asses over here, this isn’t funny any-” M!MC paused and looked down as something coiled around their left leg. “-more?”

The vine tightened and yanked them backwards, M!MC fell right to the ground and clawed at the path to stop them getting pulled into the brush. Another vine wrapped around their right leg, any resistance that digging their nails into the ground was nullified as both vines yanked M!MC into the bushes.

Well, this was a nightmare of epic proportions. The vines continued to wrap around the helpless half demon until they were completely unable to move. As M!MC looked around frantically, they made eye contact with an all too familiar pair of blue eyes. Ah! There was Luke!

“Mmmph!” Only Luke’s eyes were visible, but the eyes are the gateway to the soul or whatever, and M!MC took an educated guess and decided that Luke’s soul wasn’t too happy with them.

“Mmth! Mmth!” M!MC tried to speak, but their mouth was covered by the vines. The two would have to communicate with their eyes only.

‘This is your fault!’

‘How the fuck is this MY fault?’

‘If you hadn’t teased me this never would have happened!’

‘Grow thicker skin, you chihuahua!’

‘Fuck you!’

Listen, Luke probably wasn’t capable of trying to communicate a swear word, but it was incredibly funny for M!MC to think about.

“M!MC? Luke?” Simeon stepped into their limited field of vision. “Where are you two? This plant is carnivorous.”

Oh... lovely. That was good to know.

“Mmemph!”

“MFTH!” Luke and M!MC tried to call out to Simeon, only for the vines to wrap around them even tighter. Wow, what a way to go... strangled by a plant... ugh. L!MC would never let them live that down...

“Hm,” Simeon looked down at the vine that was coiling around his leg. “What a bother.”

Quick as lightning, Simeon grabbed the vine and sent a burst of shining gold magic shooting through it. The magic quickly spread to the rest of the plant and the moment the magic slammed into M!MC they nearly passed out from the searing pain that shot through their entire body.

They clamped their eyes shut and clenched their teeth to stop them from rattling as they felt the massive wave of Celestial magic wash over them. It was weirdly warm, like a hug from a friend, but it wasn’t a pleasant sensation, at least not to M!MC.

The plant let out an otherworldly scream as it threw Luke, Bean, and M!MC back onto the path at Simeon’s feet.

Luke picked Bean back up and dusted off his clothes like he didn’t have a care in the world. M!MC lay on the ground, if you listened closely you could hear them sizzle a bit. Nothing like being nearly strangled by a plant and then roasted by holy ‘fuck you’ magic.

“I’m glad you’re both okay,” Simeon pulled Luke into a hug and helped M!MC off the ground. “Did I ah... use to much magic?”

M!MC half-scowled at their saviour and wiped down their outfit. “Yeah. A little too much.”

“My bad,” Simeon ruffled M!MC’s hair. “I hope this serves as a learning experience for you two, Luke, don’t run off like that, and M!MC,”

The half demon nearly jumped in fear and surprise as Simeon swivelled to look at them. The smile on his face was far from comforting. “Don’t tease poor Luke too much, okay?”

“Uh... uh huh.” M!MC quickly nodded.

“Good! Now let’s head back, I think we’ve all had enough of the Royal Gardens.”

As the group returned, they passed a very red in the face L!MC and wondered what exactly went down in the time they were gone.

It’s common knowledge that Barbatos hates rats, it’s also common knowledge that A!MC is the embodiment of a ray of sunshine.

What does this lead to, you may be asking, well...

A!MC and their dear rat Templeton needed to hide from the politely homicidal Barbatos.

“Sh!” A!MC whispered into their pocket, the rat responded with an indignant squeak.

The Demon Lord’s Castle was absolutely massive, and trying to navigate it without a map was akin to wandering around an ancient pyramid filled with death traps. A!MC and their dear companion were wandering the place without a map and trying to hide from a butler that had the power to see into the future. The two fugitives were at a clear disadvantage.

A!MC had managed to stumble into an area that had paintings and statues completely everywhere, it was then they realized they were completely lost.

While quietly perusing the room, A!MC took notice of quite the lovely portrait of a woman. She had long flowing locks of golden hair and the most gorgeous captivating eyes... A!MC nearly shrieked when the woman’s eyes snapped to their’s and her face contorted into a scowl.

“Do I know you?” The woman asked, A!MC gulped and shook their head.

“N-no ma’am, I don’t think we’ve met...” A!MC mumbled before sticking out their hand for a handshake. The painting woman stared down at their outstretched hand, very unimpressed. “I’m A!MC, it’s nice to meet you.”

The half demon offered their cutest smile, their dad had lovingly taken the time to coach them in the art of being so darn tootin’ adorable that everyone would fall over themselves to get A!MC to like them. The moment the woman registered the smile, her scowl returned for a brief moment, then vanished entirely.

“Oh,” The woman smiled sweetly. “I do think I know you, do you mind coming a bit closer so I can see you better?”

Suffering from a complete inability to detect red flags, A!MC happily moved closer.

“Ah, just as I suspected. You look like Asmodeus.”

“You know my dad?” A!MC asked.

“Yes,” The woman’s eyes narrowed. “I know him quite well.”

A!MC was suddenly knocked off balance as a massive gust of wind shoved them closer to the painting. They frantically clawed at the stone ground as Templeton squeaked and squirmed in their pocket.

“Your father is the reason I’m stuck in this painting,” The woman explained coldly as A!MC tried to scramble away. “He escaped the labyrinth twice, but I don’t plan on letting you escape.”

“I-uh- m-muh-my dad’s probably really sorry about whatever he did! There’s no need to be rash!” A!MC stuttered.

“Yeah, no.” The woman huffed. “He had his chance to fix things. I’m getting even.”

“Not right now you’re not.”

A!MC swivelled their head around to see Barbatos calmly holding out a pair of scissors.

“Now Helene, I’d recommend releasing the child before I’m forced to take drastic measures.” Barbatos clicked the scissors together twice, and Helene paled. The wind pushing A!MC towards the painting dissipated and the half demon ran and hid behind the butler.

“Th-thank you...” A!MC mumbled.

“It’s not a problem, A!MC. Now I believe it would be a wise choice to move to another room.”

The two, (plus the hidden rat) ended up in the kitchen. A!MC shifted nervously as Barbatos began prepping lunch.

“Is there something you need to tell me?” Barbatos asked suddenly, A!MC straightened their posture and nodded.

“I um... promise you won’t be mad...” A!MC mumbled.

“I can assure you, I won’t be too upset.”

“I made a friend.” A!MC took Templeton out of their pocket and held him closely to their chest, Barbatos’s calm smile froze on his face. “He’s really sweet, please don’t kill him!”

“...A!MC.” Barbatos began slowly. “I’m not mad... just make sure it doesn’t escape and run rampant... now... please get it out of my kitchen.”

“Yes sir! Thank you sir!” A!MC turned and sprinted to their room.

Ugh... Barbatos, haven’t you ever watched Ratatouille? The rat can cook dammit!

When Luke went in to bake with his second dad he was very confused as to why Barbatos looked like he was having war flashbacks.

Huh... weird right? Anyway...

Good ol’ weird uncle Solomon suggested that after dinner everyone should get together and watch a movie.

L!MC and Solomon suggested that they watch The Conjuring and that idea got immediately shot down.

M!MC brought up that the most “family get-together” movie they could think of was Star Wars.

So they watched A New Hope.

“We could be watching the Conjuring right now.” L!MC murmured as they watched Luke Skywalker fumble his way to Obi Wan Kenobi.

“Yeah.” Solomon whispered back. “You know, I met Ed and Lorraine Warren.”

“Cool,” L!MC smiled. “My ren took me to their house once, when I went in to see all the haunted objects all the demons inside wanted to hang out with me.”

“Huh,” Solomon snickered. “Did they think you were Lucifer?”

“Yep. It was funny, Annabelle’s a pretty big asshole though.”

“I’d be an asshole too if I were stuck in a raggedy Anne doll since the 60s and not allowed to leave.”

“Both of you sh!” M!MC hissed, they threw some popcorn over their shoulder, which L!MC threw right back.

A while into the movie, M!MC elbowed Solomon and pointed at one of the aliens. “That’s you.”

“I’m so hurt…” Solomon pouted.

“And that’s you.” L!MC pointed at a stormtrooper that had just gotten shot with a blaster. M!MC scoffed and rolled their eyes.

“I’m not some dumb stormtrooper.”

“Yeah, you’re a little short for a stormtrooper.”

“HEY!”

“SHHHHHHH!” A!MC and Luke turned and started throwing their own popcorn…

The mess that they all had to vacuum after the movie was much more terrifying than The Conjuring ever could have been.

So, after a few days, Lucifer called to say that everyone was back to normal and the last remnants of the Demon-Flu were gone.

Yay! The kids could go back to their really overcrowded house!

The goodbyes were something to behold.

“Goodbye everyone! Come back sometime soon!” Diavolo waved from the doorway.

“Bye, Lord Diavolo!” L!MC smiled brightly and returned the wave. M!MC snickered and nudged them.

“That’s a pretty cold way to say goodbye to your dad-”

“Shut up…” L!MC growled.

“L!MC, what are they talking about?” Lucifer asked.

“Nothing!”

M!MC looked like they were weighing the pros and cons of surviving the conversation, then shrugged.

“M!MC, no, you have so much to live for!” A!MC pleaded.

“L!MC called Lord Diavolo dad!”

Mammon erupted into hysterical laughter while Asmo giggled and half heartedly patted L!MC on the head. Lucifer was not impressed.

“You know,” L!MC sighed. “I’m moving out. Lord Diavolo can I come live here?”

“L!MC, come back.” Lucifer trailed after his very embarrassed spawn.

A!MC pulled on their dad’s sleeve and cleared their throat.

“Yes sweetie?”

“D-dad, do you have a vehement hatred and or fear of rats?”

“Um-”

“Meet Templeton, he’s adorable and my friend.”

————————

Author’s note, The next part of the main series is coming next week… or this week… idk how long things take.

(Probably this week)

#the next mission is making sure the rat doesn’t get eaten by Detective Toe Beans… #Obey me #Obey me! #Obey me Fic #obey me shall we date #Obey me! headcanons #obey me! shall we date? #obey me headcanons #Obey me MC #Obey me Diavolo #Obey me Luke #Obey me Simeon #Obey me Barbatos #Obey me Solomon #Obey me Lucifer #Obey me Mammon #Obey me Asmodeus

[mimi-cee-hq]

Every Season - Kyoutani x Reader

Pairing: Kyoutani x f!Reader

Summary: Kyoutani finally introduces Y/n to the team. When they all comment on how he got such a sweet and innocent girlfriend, Kyoutani lets out a snort. A cute and funny getting together story of different kisses throughout the years and seasons.

Genre and Tropes: Cute childhood friends fluff!

Words: 2,218

This is for the July HQWN monthly prompt event. I'm using the International Kissing Day prompt.

Author's Notes: This is a match-up story for an anon. Thanks to @kingkags for beta reading the first half of the story. :) 

To anon, I don't think I captured your personality very well because I only write PG. loll. I tried to keep the main aspects of your description, so I hope you still like it. >.<

*****

“I still can’t believe that’s Mad Dog’s girlfriend.”

There were crackles from the meat cooking at the neighbouring table. Y/n lit the barbeque for their own table as she welcomed them. The entire team was curious to see what sort of girl Kyoutani was dating so Yahaba and Watari decided on her family's restaurant when they organized a graduation party for the third years.

Y/n smiled at the boys, “What would you like to order?”

The large bow in her hair bounced as she nodded, taking their orders. After she went through the list she wrote, confirming their preferences, she pushed up her round glasses with her knuckles before she left to process the order.

After Oikawa finished gawking at her, he turned to Kyoutani and asked, “How the heck did you end up with such a sweet and innocent girlfriend?”

Kyoutani, just when he was about to sip his drink, let out a snort instead. They were lucky. If the drink was in his mouth, it would have ended up in their faces.

*****

A tiny young girl stood in front of Kyoutani in the living room of her house. “Kyoutani, this is Y/n,” her mother introduced her to the five-year-old boy.

Y/n gave him a sweet smile and waved at him. “It’s nice to meet you, Kyo-chan.” The black bow in her hair slightly shifted as she gave him a small polite nod.

Kyoutani jumped back a couple of feet, clutching his mom’s shirt once he was at her side. He gave a low growl as he glared at her. He had a feeling he should be weary of her.

“Ooo,” Y/n cooed. “Can we keep him?” she asked her mom, giggling.

“What?”

“He’s so cute!” Y/n told her. “He’s like a puppy!”

“He’s not a dog!” Y/n’s mom scolded her.

Kyoutani continued to scowl at Y/n. When his mom left his side, he tensed up, and retreated to the far side of a couch. He gritted his teeth and sat with all fours on a cushion, not allowing his eyes to leave Y/n’s even as their mothers walked out of the room.

Y/n ran to her well-worn toy box and stuck her head in. After she searched through it, she told him, “Look, Kyo-chan!” She held up a bright red leaf. “I have one for you too!” she said, revealing a second one. She continued to share about how she picked them up a few days ago when she marvelled at the trees turning into various shades of reds, yellows, and oranges.

Kyoutani, with his hands still tense, inched closer towards Y/n. Once beside her, he took the leaf from her hand. Staring at the intricate veins on the red leaf, he noted that it was whole and not bent or damaged. His eyes grew as he stared in awe, his scowl finally disappearing and his eyebrows relaxed.

“It’s pretty—,” he started to say. But just as he tilted his head up to look at Y/n, her face was right in front of his. And then she stole a kiss from him.

She giggled.

Kyoutani jumped back, cheeks red and ears flaring. Seeing his reaction, Y/n fell on the floor laughing.

Clenching his teeth, he knew he should have trusted his instincts and shouldn’t have let his guard down. He wouldn’t be tricked again.

“Mommy! Kyo-chan bit me!”

*****

“It’s your turn,” Kyoutani told Y/n with a smirk. He was one pair of cards ahead of her in their game of Go Fish, but she didn't give up yet.

Y/n’s mom was watching the two kids play through the opened sliding door to their backyard. A cool spring breeze would sometimes enter the kitchen as she prepared some kimchi for a future meal. She could see the two sitting on an outdoor mat as they continued taking turns removing a card from the other’s hand.

Now at eight-years-old, Kyoutani would often be at Y/n’s house whenever his parents needed a babysitter. He still didn’t exactly like Y/n, but he didn’t have much of a choice.

At first he wouldn’t even talk to her. He would sit at the couch, cautious of Y/n’s every move, waiting for his parents to come back. But Y/n’s parents were kind to him. They noticed Kyoutani’s discomfort so sometimes her dad would take him out of the house. Some days it would be for ice cream. Other days they’d grab a burger. He even brought Kyoutani to a volleyball game once. But over this past year, Kyoutani finally got along with Y/n - or at least enough to get through a couple of games.

Kyoutani eyed at the two cards in Y/n’s hand, wearing his perpetual scowl. He licked his lips just before he grabbed a card from Y/n. He placed his pair of cards on the mat with a smirk. He won.

“You cheated!” Y/n accused him. Kyoutani rolled his eyes, accustomed with Y/n’s inability to lose. “I demand a rematch!”

“Hmph,” Kyoutani crossed his arms, scowling as he looked away.

Y/n’s mom sighed and shook her head. “When are they finally going to get along,” she commented to herself.

“We do get along!” Y/n told her mom. As if to prove her point, she quickly leaned towards Kyoutani to give him a peck on his cheek.

He flinched and shuffled away from Y/n, grimacing at her gesture. She laughed at his reaction as usual.

“What did I tell you about kissing Kyoutani!” her mom scolded her. “You’re torturing the poor boy!”

“But I only kissed his cheek this time!”

As Y/n continued to argue with her mom, Kyoutani attempted to scratch the cooties off his cheek, unaware of the red hue on his face.

*****

Kyoutani got out of bed after hearing pebbles tapping his bedroom window. He pushed the curtains open to see Y/n below, standing in front of his house. After nearly seven years of knowing her, she still does things that he could never predict. He groaned as he watched her breathe into her palms and rub them together. There was no snow on the ground, yet it was cold enough to see her breath. Y/n wore earmuffs which matched the signature black bow in her hair.

When he let her in, she threw off her scarf and earmuffs, letting out a big yawn before curling up on his living room couch.

“Why are you here when you're so tired?” Kyoutani asked her.

“I stayed up last night to finish up that history project with Kimiko,” she replied, not quite answering his question. “I shouldn’t have paired up with her,” she laughed. “She thought I was smart because I worked hard. But I thought she was smart because she hung out with the smart kids.”

Kyoutani smirked, taking a seat at her feet as she lay on the couch.

“Turns out we both share a brain cell,” she giggled. “Kimiko is fun but she’s too much of a clown. We get so distracted when we’re together. I don't know if we'll get an A." She groaned. "Remind me to never do a project with her again.”

“Never do a project with her again,” Kyoutani plainly told her with a smirk.

Y/n rolled her eyes and then jabbed his side with her toes. Kyoutani jerked away from her feet and shoved them away.

Y/n sat up beside him and hugged her legs. She turned to look at him and said, “Don’t you wish we were in the same class so we could study together?” 

Kyoutani feigned disgust at the thought.

“Hm?” she prodded as she batted her eyes at him. When she leaned in closer to him, pretending to kiss him, Kyoutani pushed her face away with his whole palm. She pouted, then got up to finally open the paper gift bag she brought with her.

“I have something for you.” She pulled out her notebook, pieces of coloured paper peeking out of the edges. She stood in front of him, revealing the notebook’s cover. Y/n had pasted together a picture of the two of them with the words “Happy 12th birthday” written underneath in her handwriting.

Kyoutani blinked a couple of times, not knowing what to say. His shoulders relaxed, still staring at the scrapbook.

“I know it’s still a few hours until your birthday, but I didn’t want to miss it—”

Kyoutani wrapped his arms around her. He felt her tense up before she started to pat his head.

Kyoutani had a rough day. He heard his teammates talking behind his back again. He didn't care to be their friends, but he at least longed for a team where he felt like he was wanted.

Y/n kissed his hair and hugged his head. Kyoutani sighed, deciding this was enough for now. He could be a lone wolf with volleyball knowing he didn't have to be one with her.

*****

Textbooks, pens and notebooks covered the kitchen table. Y/n dropped her head on her notes, exhausted from studying.

“I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit,” she told Kyoutani. “Wake me up if I actually fall asleep.”

“Why don’t you just go home?” he replied as he scrunched his brows, still glaring at the words in his textbook.

“Because I'll fail the test tomorrow.”

Kyoutani glanced at Y/n, her necklace catching his eye. Its pendant dangled as she stirred with her eyes still closed.

“Where’s your uniform's bow?”

“I threw it out.”

“What?”

“I know,” she yawned. “But it doesn't match this bow,” she said, pointing to her hair. “And I like this necklace.”

“Whatever.” Kyoutani didn’t bother. He knew the teachers would let her get away with it anyway. Even if they asked about her modification, she would just claim she lost it.

Kyoutani checked his phone. It was July 6, one of the days Y/n used as an excuse to flirt with him. He frowned, knowing that lately, he wasn't the only person she teased.

They entered high school that year. With new faces, students were eager to get to know each other. Some looked to make new friends while others searched for dating potentials. So there was one guy who made a pass on Y/n, and as they got to know each other, Y/n started to tease and flirt with him too.

Whenever Kyoutani saw them together, he shoved the guy aside and took Y/n with him. Y/n would prod him, asking if he was jealous. He denied it every time. He knew she wasn't serious when she flirted. She just liked getting a reaction.

Like with him.

He sighed at his unrequited feelings, pondering the pointlessness of them. It was pathetic. Gazing at Y/n shut eyelids, he wondered if he should put his feelings to rest too.

“I’m awake!” Y/n exclaimed, popping her head up and causing Kyoutani to flinch. He relaxed when she plopped her head back on the table. She turned to Kyoutani, staring at him. Kyoutani blinked a few times, wondering if she was going to say something. She did.

“Kyo-chan, you’re so pretty.”

Kyoutani rolled his eyes, knowing she was in her loopy mode and definitely too sleepy. “You should go home now.”

“Noooo~ I don’t want to.”

He rubbed his head, not knowing what to do with her. “Ugh, just go already,” he complained, grabbing her arm.

“But I want to stay with you,” she replied. He scoffed, shoving her arm back to her, before she continued. “I love you, Kyo-chan.”

Kyoutani choked up a bit. Did she really mean that? He studied her eyes, realizing she was serious. But his doubts still lingered, hesitant to reply.

He went for it. He didn't care anymore. He took this opening, hoping to keep his feelings alive and awake.

So he swooped in to give her a deep kiss, finally releasing the months - no, probably years - of longing for her. And she returned it.

After they broke apart, she commented with a smirk, "Did you remember it was international kissing day?"

"No, I forgot," he lied, going for another kiss.

*****

"I can't believe Yahaba got sick and missed this," whispered Oikawa.

"Yeah," Iwaizumi replied with a smirk. "He was the one who was curious about her the most."

Kyoutani watched Y/n as she came back to their table. She took the seat beside him and snuggled up against him when he placed his arm around her. She puckered her lips, asking for a kiss. Kyoutani gave a snort and rolled his eyes. But upon seeing her frown, he decided to give her a peck anyway.

"Ewww...," Hanamaki teased them.

"PDA! PDA!" Matsukawa chanted.

Kyoutani glared at them while Y/n giggled at his reaction like usual.

*****

Bonus/ Preview

Their team's manager fidgeted at the table, glancing at her wrist after scanning the restaurant. "Kindaichi," she whispered, nudging him. "Where's Kunimi?"

"He said his mom needed him for something."

"Oh," was all that came out of her lips. It seemed like she would have to wait until the new school year to see him again.

*****

Author's Notes:

I hope you liked it. :) I can't believe I was able to make a cute story for Kyoutani. lollll.

Also, their team manager is Y/n from WWYTF SMAU (completed) and Kimiko is Y/n from my Yahaba fic. Now a bunch of my fics are in the same world because I thought it would be fun. lol! (FYI, that wasn't the real reason why Kunimi wasn't there.)

*****

Matchup request description from anonymous: (For the longest time, I didn't know what to do with this. lol. I'm sorry I took so long to write this.)

Hi ^^ I like your writing and saw you were taking match up requests. I'm a small korean girl under 5ft. I have black wavy hair that is barely above my shoulders but I tie it back half up half down style with a black bow uwu. I also have wispy bangs with a round face and a small nose. I have round circle glasses that fall down cause of my small nose. In my spare time I do art. I usually paint, scrapbook, and edit. If I'm with friends I play card games but I get kinda competitive 💫

💫When I get comfortable with someone I start to become more of myself. In school I work really hard so people assume I'm smart. I also watch my words so people think I'm sweet and innocent. That's the complete opposite with my friends. I tend to flirt with them so I end up saying sexual things. And I won't hesitate to put my friends in pain by speaking uwu. With my 0 braincells I decided I would do anything almost anything for the aesthetic. Breaking dress code is one of them. 💫

Taglist: @dorkyama @the-black-birb @hqprotectionsquad @nagichi-kenma @moonaaluna @muffins-puffins (let me know if you want to be added or removed)

#haikyuuwritersnet #haikyuucreations #haikyuuwriters 0720 #haikyuucreations 0720 #kyoutani x reader #haikyuu x reader #kyoutani kentarou x reader #kyoutani kentarou #aoba johsai x reader #seijoh x reader #haikyuu!! #haikyuu #haikyuu fanfiction #haikyuu oneshot #haikyuu imagines #hq!! #hq #aoba johsai #seijoh #mimi's fanfiction

[shikonotama]

Noragami Reverse Bigbang 2021

Hello! This is my piece for this year's @noragamibigbang. The idea for this fic came from @littlessushi who was my partner for this reverse bigbang. Please make sure to check out her beatiful art! As this was the first time I participated in a reverse bigbang I was quite nervous at the beginning but thanks to my partner's help it was a really great time and I enyojed the writing a lot. Have fun reading! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ »That’s all. Thank you very much.« The young woman took the bag in front of her, bowed politely and left the supermarket she often used to visit on her way home. Right after stepping into the already fading sunlight that warmly lit the surroundings; she stretched both her arms high up into the air, closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. It had been a tough day so far.

Since she had finished medical school and started to work at the local hospital some weeks ago, starting from tomorrow she had her first days off, so she could take things easy today.

‘Alright, Hiyori’, she told herself, ‘time to head back home, get some warm tea and a blanket and just chill on the couch.’

Meow…

Surprised she lowered her arms and opened her eyes to look around.

»Meow…« It took her quite some time to get a glimpse of a tiny black cat. It sat on top of a trash can cover and had its eyes strictly focused her way.

»… me…ow…«, the sound coming out of the small mouth got quite a bit lower after she took some steps into the small cat’s direction.

»Don’t be afraid…«, she smiled, stood still and squatted down while leaning forward a bit. At first Hiyori feared the cat would jump up straight away and run, but it just kept watching her, then the black head rose, the cat closed its eyes and the tiny black nose started to wiggle.

»What’s wrong?«, she asked, knowing well a cat wouldn’t answer. Instead it opened both eyes in an instant: »Meow!«, the big green eyes were now focusing the white bag Hiyori just bought. The woman smiled, stood back up and put one hand into the plastic bag.

»Are you hungry? I only bought some buns, you know?«, she laughed and held a piece between her fingers, so the small animal could reach it without any trouble. When their eyes met again, Hiyori’s smile vanished in an instant and she froze.

Even though the weather hadn’t changed the slightest, the sound of raindrops falling onto the ground reached her ears: raindrops that hit the ground, the roof, the rain drain, her umbrella and the trash can cover.

“I will keep my promise!” Her own words echoed in her ears, “I will never ever forget about you…!”The young woman shuddered and held her breath.

»Ya…to…?!«, she whispered while barely getting any kind of sound out of her mouth and took a closer look at the pair of light green eyes that carefully watched her. The bun she just held dropped on the floor. Just one second ago, Hiyori believed that the cat’s eyes’ colour had changed from green into a deep and light blue – but she was wrong: It was still the same.

‘Why …?’

“Will you really keep that promise, I wonder…?”

Not caring about some people who would probably think she had gotten crazy, Hiyori let the entire bag fall on the ground, turned around and ran.

The park she just entered was still filled with people, mostly families and friends. Many of them already started to prepare their way home, but some were still enjoying their time together. The cherry blossom trees throughout the city had just started to bloom and drew everyone’s attention towards them. Tiny pink petals were dancing through the air, swirling around and lightening everybody’s mood, or so it seemed.

Countless children were running around, screaming and dancing with both leaves and their friends while on the other hand older people were sitting on blankets, drinking, chatting and laughing with their beloveds and family – meanwhile Hiyori was still caught in her thoughts, not fully aware of what just happened or where she ran to.

It was only some minutes later when she finally recognised she ran quite a distance. She abruptly stopped and leaned against a trunk, her eyes still closed to get back a hold of her breathing.

As her emotions calmed down and the surrounding sounds started to reach her consciousness again, she carefully blinked and reopened her eyes. Even though she could still feel her heart pounding against her chest, her breathing tempo went back to normal and her brain had started to work properly again. Even her hands had stopped shaking.

‘What’s wrong with me, all of a sudden?’ She led out a heavy sigh and watched the children play on the grass right in front of her eyes. Hiyori couldn’t help herself but bring back a smile to her face. It felt like ages, since she last went out for a walk during the Hanami. When she was younger, she used to go out with her family and play with her brother and friends like those kids did just now. Later, when she entered middle school, she used to come visit the blooming trees together with her friends, but since she went afar to study to become a physician, she simply didn’t have the time to take a relaxing walk around the park.

Just now, when her eyes tried to follow the petals swirling through the air, she felt like a heavy weight was lifted from her chest – a feeling she hadn’t felt in quite a while. Like a vanishing mist that lay upon her soul for the past… days… maybe weeks… or even years?

»This place sure is amazing, isn’t it?! We definitely have to come back here again next year!«

»You bet we will!«

»For real?! It’s a promise! You better not forget, okay?«

»Of course I promise. How could I forget something that important?!«

The three people, walking by Hiyori who still leaned against the trunk of one of the biggest cherry blossom trees around, laughed and giggled up until she lost sight of them.

»… a… promise…?« Hiyori murmured, softly pushing her body away from the cherry tree trunk. Slowly she continued her way through the park, passing by several trees – some of which were lit by nearby street lamps that had just been switched on one second ago. As she moved on, the amount of people crossing her way decreased, until she finally found herself at the edge of the park, looking over a beautiful riverside, while the sun had continued its way, so it was just about to touch the ground in the far distance now. This caused the white and pink petals swirling around Hiyori’s body to be touched by the fading sunlight, turning the already beautiful view into an even more mysterious one. The tree right beside her, which had its trunk wrapped up in a mat of straw, didn’t seem to be one of the strongest or biggest ones she passed today, nevertheless its petals rained down and spread across – some of them might even reach the other riverbank.

She carefully approached the tree and put her palm on top of its somewhat familiar bark.

‘So warm…’ She lifted her eyes and waved her gaze to the treetop. In an instant she could feel a fresh breeze of wind playing with her hair.

“The Sakura’s in full blossom.”, her own voice echoed in her ears. She shrugged.

“Whoa… they sure are pretty!” It was the voice of a young man, maybe still at a kid’s age. Startled, Hiyori took some steps back from the tree she just put her hand on and searched her surroundings.

“They are… Let’s come back next year, too, okay?!”

“Definitely…” The blonde boy beside her, his eyes sparkling in joy, nodded, still gazing at the big cherry blossom tree. Just one second later he snapped out of his current mood, turning his attention to the back while shouting: “Yo – You dumb old stalker. We did you a big favour by letting you come with us, so you better be careful!” Following his voice, Hiyori turned around as well. Some meters behind them stood a young man dressed in a black track suit. His gaze was locked on the cherry tree as well, but in contrast to the boy, his eyes didn’t sparkle, nor was there any joy visible on his face. His expressions hadn’t changed since Yukine spoke to him, he didn’t even spare a glance on the two. Hiyori couldn’t help herself but feel unease: It was rare for him to put up that kind of face. She wanted to ask him, wanted to know if something happened she didn’t know about, but on the same time she didn’t find the right words to do so. His mind seemed to be in a place far away from here, would he even bother to answer?

Then suddenly, he started to mumble some words. Not loud enough to understand completely, even though she really tried. The wind made the young man’s black hair cover his eyes, so she couldn’t get a hold of his expression anymore. ‘What’s wrong??’ Just as she started to make a move to turn around and walk in his direction, some of his words made it through to her.

“… huh? … can’t even remember… when I last saw…”

‘When?’

“What are you rambling about?! Cherry blossoms are everywhere in Japan…!” The boy’s voice snapped both of them out of their thoughts.

“Hmph… Dumplings over flowers for me any day.”

Without any further word, Yato headed straight to the bento boxes Hiyori prepared for today, sat down on the blanket and pinched a bit out of the box next to him. “SO MUCH FOOD!”, he picked up one of the sausages shaped like an octopus. In contrast to his appearance just some moments ago, he wore a big grin on his face, his cheeks rosy from excitement.

“Ahh, just looking at these adorable octopus hotdogs makes me warm with Hiyori’s love…”

“Wait ‘til everybody gets here, okay?”

“Everybody?”

Just as they spoke, a bunch of people appeared in the far, strictly heading for the cherry blossom tree they prepared the picnic at.

Hiyori couldn’t help herself but giggle at the images that just flashed before her eyes. Both Yato and Bishamon sure were energetic that day. Everyone else probably had a lot of fun, too!

»You should quit drinking that much if you lose the capability to control your actions, you know? Don’t blame me, Yukine or anyone else for the things you did!«

Hiyori had turned around, rolling her eyes and both of her hands rested on her hip.

‘At least he doesn’t make that gloomy face anymore.’

The annoyed look on her face vanished and turned into a happy smile as their eyes met.

»Whatever… this day turned out to be a lot of fun, huh? Well… it was even more chaotic as I could’ve ever imagined beforehand…«

After a short pause, she continued: »Yato…!« It was just then, when she finally realised that neither Yato, nor Yukine nor one of the others had been with her to begin with.

In front of her eyes there was still that cherry tree which had a small part of its trunk covered, the same petals dancing around her body and the same river some steps ahead.

»Right…«, she told herself, »… it’s already been some years.« ‘How could I forget? … Again…’ The whole amount of energy she just felt some minutes ago had already left her body, so she leaned against the tree behind her, slowly sliding to the ground. In silence, tears had gathered in both of her eyes, blurring her vision before they rolled over and left a wet mark on her face.

Back then she couldn’t even think about a life without them – a so called normal life. A life where she simply went to school to learn, have fun with her classmates and friends and then starting to think about her future goals.

After she was hit by that truck when she was trying to save this reckless god running over the street to catch a stray, she tended to leave her body from time to time. Even now she couldn’t fully understand what happened back then. As a so called half Ayakashi she could jump up high and her kicks were even stronger than Tono’s. Yato had promised to find a cure for her state. ‘Right… I even payed him the five Yen he requested.’ As time went by, she had started to stop regretting her new state and used the power given to her to help her friends and fight. What started as something alarming and scary turned out to be a way full of friends and mysteries to solve. Never could she have imagined that it would not stay like this forever.

Even though Tenjin had warned her to stay alert and thus suggested that cutting ties with Yato and everybody else would be for the best, she refused and stayed. She wanted to stay by their side – by his side. After she almost forgot about everybody once, she treasured her dairy even more, closely paying attention to reread and write something down every single day.

‘Why did I forget about them again? Did he cut the ties for real this time? That night?’ – He didn’t, she just remembered. After her cord was heavily damaged and her physical body had gotten weaker, Tenjin brought up the matter of cutting ties again.

“I’m sorry… if it wasn’t for me, your condition wouldn’t be that bad right now…«, Yato stood some steps away from her, his eyes strictly directed to the floor. It wasn’t easy to understand every word he said, because his voice was about to start trembling any moment. To cover up, he kept it low.

“That’s not true! Why do keep blaming yourself for things you can’t change?!!”

Hiyori’s voice was filled with anger and despair. If he really wanted to cut the ties that connected the two there wasn’t much she was able to do against.

“Yato…”, after a while she lowered her voice too, slowly closing the gap between them until she was able to touch his chin with her fingertips. Gently and yet firmly she lifted his head so his eyes had to make contact with hers. His were cold and without the sparkling deep blue she loved about them the most. His face was covered in bruises from the many fights he had to endure and despite her having bandaged them the best she could, he really looked like someone who should rest rather than standing here at night, chatting.

“… please.”, she continued her talk, “I don’t want to forget, I will be fine, I’ll-…!”

She felt cold sweat running over her face and her breathing was unsteady and fast. It was just at that moment, when she suddenly felt dizzy and was about to tumble. Yato quickly had put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his chest. She could feel every finger of his tightly holding onto her shirt while desperately trying to cover the fact that his hands were shaking.

“Please… I don’t want to forget… again…”, she whispered and could feel him strengthen his grip even more.

She tightly wrapped her arms around her knees as she remembered what happened more than six years ago. Her condition kept getting worse, so everyone suggested it may be best for her to continue living a normal life. That’s why she decided to sign up for medical school far away from Kofuku’s house. If she studied far away, kept her distance and regained her health, she would be able to meet with them again – at least that was what she had hoped for.

Her condition did indeed get better throughout the years passing by, she felt a lot healthier now and

could not remember a single day she left body again. ‘But… I ended up forgetting about them… about all of them nonetheless.’

‘I wonder… are they still arguing day for day? Fighting evil spirits? Did they get into a fight again and got hurt? Are they… still ali-…!’

Hiyori stopped her own thoughts, opened her eyes wide and held her breath while covering her mouth with both her hands.

“The only kinds of believers Yato could ever relay on were those one-time customers, not to mention he was never really blessed with a good shinki… I’m sure he had his fair share of fears and doubts. I bet there wasn’t a day when his mind was at ease, since he had to cling to one person’s memory at a time to stay alive…”

‘Right… without his lifeline, an unknown god like Yato would…’

Her chest hurt and her head was filled with dust. Hiyori could feel her knees shaking, as she tried to stand back up on her feet again. After she forgot about him during the past six years, did he…? No…

»This can’t be… right!« Hastily the woman grabbed the bag she was carrying her mobile in; at least she tried to. Where she remembered her bag to be, she could just grasp thin air. She must have lost her bag after encountering the black cat next to the supermarket this afternoon.

»Damn…!« With one jump she ignored her still shaking knees and jumped back on her feet.

‘It doesn’t matter if we’re supposed to cut ties… I don’t care…’ Her body ran back into the park she came out of some minutes ago. All its ways were lit by streetlamps, now that the sunlight was almost completely gone for today.

‘I have to call him… I have to know whether he and Yukine are safe… Please – be safe!’

The tears had flooded her eyes, making it difficult for her to follow the path she was heading properly.

‘Please…’, she begged in her mind, not able to think of something different anymore.

»YATO-…!«

Some birds that were sitting on nearby branches to enjoy the last warmth of the sun flew away in fright – not because Hiyori suddenly shouted out a name into the dark, but because of the sound of two bodies crashing into each other. The uninspected impact made the woman stagger backwards; therefore she was now sitting in the grass, heavily breathing.

»I’m terribly sorry… I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings. Are you hurt?«, the calm voice of a young man dispelled the rising panic occupying her mind.

»No, I’m… I’m fine. Sorry.«, she answered in a low voice and raised her head. Since it already got dark and the last piece of sunlight couldn’t reach the centre of the park she was now in, the big cherry blossom trees around her were all lit by some streetlamps. One might say the contrast of the dark night with its deep blue sky made a beautiful contrast to the white and pink petals still swirling to the ground, but Hiyori didn’t care about anything like that right now. She was looking into the direction the young man’s voice had reached her ears from. Even though she could only see his silhouette because he stood right in front of one of the lights, he had a somewhat calming aura around him. As she took a closer look she noticed he wore some kind of tracksuit. Maybe he was one of the students or freshmen who spend their time after work for some fitness runs through the park.

‘Whatever… I have to hurry!’

As she made a move to stand back up again, the person in front of her came some steps closer and made something swing right before her eyes.

»This happens to be yours, doesn’t it?«

Just now she realised that it was indeed her mobile phone the stranger was holding. She nodded.

»I figured.«, he replied and straightened his back again, »Well then…«

»How did you kn-…?«

»Be careful – tonight’s gonna be a gloomy night.« The young man in front of her avoided to answer her question and turned around, just to be gone not even a second later.

»Wait!« Hiyori put her hand in front to push her body on her feet again, when she realised her phone lying right before her eyes. Hastily she picked it up and unlocked the screen when she suddenly paused. Attached to the upper right of her phone, there was a small keychain she did not remember putting there in the first place. It was a golden crown which was attached to a thin string, shining even in the pale light of the street lamps.

The tears that had stopped once she fell to the floor continued to run all over her face, as she embraced the small keychain and squeezed it close to her chest.

»Thank god…«, she murmured and couldn’t hold back the sobbing that echoed through the dark, while a gentle wind, which brought a lot of cherry blossom petals with it, gently caressed her body, as if it wanted to give her at least a little comfort.

************************************************************************

Close to the riverside the young man was looking back at the park full of cherry blossom trees, when the woman’s whispers reached his ears and a relieved smile hushed over his face. He closed his eyes and turned around to leave.

»Stupid… I won’t disappear that easy.«

#noragami #noragamireversebang2021 #hiyori #yato

[yami-writes]

Touchstarved oneshot #1

touchstarved: a series in which your mans need love

(🏷️) Character: Katsuki Bakugo (⚠️)  warning(s): swearing~ fluffy katsuki teehee (🔖)  word count: 942 (💌)  note from Yami: <3

part 1 (here) | part 2 | part 3 | more on the way :)

~*~*~*~*~

You lazily swung open the door to your dorm, exhausted after a long day filled with boring classes and training. You flopped on your bed and let out a sigh, your sore and tired body indulging in the soft texture of your bedsheets. You take a look at your phone; no notifications, no texts, no calls, nothing. You wanted to call your boyfriend, but he was probably tired too, more than you even. You lied on your back, thinking of something to wake you up a bit, you still had homework to do, afterall. An idea popped in your head; why not some selfcare? Washing of the face and maybe a cool shower would do you some good! You decided to have a shower then continue your selfcare from there. How fun! You took off your uniform and headed to your bathroom without hesitation, the only thought in your head being a relaxing shower 

~

After your delightful shower you got out feeling refreshed, you couldn't wait for your mini selfcare session. You changed into your favorite shorts and a black skull shirt you had stolen from your boyfriend. It hung over you thighs, just the way you liked it. You took a whiff of the shirt; caramel. Oh how you adored the smell of your boyfriend, so sweet! It made you wanna keep anything and everything that belonged to him forever, just to indulge in that same scent. 

~

You sat on your bed and checked your phone again; still nothing. You thought of inviting some of the girls to do selfcare with you, but you shook that idea out of your head pretty fast. This was your time. You got up and went back over to your bathroom. You took out all your face masks and laid them out on your bed, trying to decide which one you wanted to use. You picked up a bright pink one Mina had gifted you; strawberry. Nah~ you put it down and looked at another one that caught your eye; it was a lavender colour with small sparkles in it. It looked quite authentic, and if you were being honest, a little expensive. “Momo…..” you thought as you picked it up, only to see she had bought you five. You let out a sigh as you inspected it; lavender scent, just as you expected. it looked so pretty and would definitely shine even more in the sunlight. You put one of the lavender masks aside and put away all the other ones, saving them for another time you needed to relax. 

You grabbed your silicone face mask brush and got a headband to push your hair back. You were about to put the mask on when you heard an aggressive knock at your door. You let out an annoyed sigh as you placed your stuff on the bed and went to open the door. You opened the door to see your boyfriend standing in front of you, looking at you with irritation “oh, katsuki!” you smiled as you tugged him by his wrist to come inside “don't katsuki me, dammit” he said, as he pulled his hand away from yours “you have been home for an hour, yet you haven't come to cuddle me. It's pissing me off~” he said. You had gotten used to his aggressive ways of demanding love, so you just smiled, your mini selfcare time being the last thing you were thinking about “so, what did you come for?” you teased, as you crossed your arms across you chest “i want my fucking cuddles!” he demanded, as he threw you over his shoulder “hey!” you yelped, as you pounded on his back. He ignored you and sat on the bed, placing you on his lap. “Hmph” he wrapped his arms around you, trapping you, when an idea came to mind 

“hey katsuki!” 

“what?” he aggressively answered, tightening his grip on you 

“wanna do facemasks with me? I have extras.” 

“hah??” you wiggled out of his grasp and went to grab an extra face mask and headband for him.

“The fuck is this?” 

“selfcare!” you exclaimed, as you put a headband on him. “This is stupid.” “Well you're allowing me to do it so…”

“Shut your trap.” you could tell he just wanted to be with you, therefore he was willing to do face masks with you. You took out your silicone tool and started to spread the face mask against bakugo’s already perfect skin 

“wow, you skin is so clear! You don't need this!” 

“whatever, i'll just do it anyway.” 

“you like it?” 

“NO! You already started spreading this shit on me, might as well finish.” he scoffed, but you knew better. You finished up his mask and admired how pretty it was on his skin. You got out a mirror and started yours, excited to be doing this with bakugo. 

“How long do i have to keep this on?” 

“30 minutes.” 

“HAH!?” 

“I said 30 minutes.” 

“I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!” you finished your mask and set down you mirror. You tried to think of something the two of you could do until it was time to take it off “how about a movie?”  “whatever.” you put  on a movie for the two of you to watch, then settled in bakugo’s lap, knowing he still wanted to cuddle. He let out a sigh of relief as the movie started, your eyes already glued to the screen. “I love you.” he mumbled almost too quiet to hear “i love you too, suki” you could feel a smile form on his features, as he managed to pull you closer to him.

Masterlist

#bakugou fluff #bakugou imagine #katsuki fluff #katsuki imagine #katsuki bakugo #bakugo katsuki #bakugo x reader #reader x bakugo #bakugo x y/n #y/n x bakugo #katsuki x reader #reader x katsuki #katsuki x y/n #y/n x katsuki #reader x bnha #bnha x reader #mha x reader #reader x mha #y/n x mha #bnha x y/n #mha #bnha

[wickedgamesoyaoya]

The thrilling saga of Hanamaki, the hero of stench continued well past forty-five minutes. And if the conversation would stray away from the subject, the comments issued by those seated nearby would immediately return the group’s attention to the humorous topic. At this point, the poor male was unsure whether his ego would ever heal from the damage it sustained today. But what swelled the sense of embarrassment colouring his cheeks was the fact it was all because of a bodily reaction he could not control. Truthfully – the absence of understanding was quite rude.

Dejected, the pink haired male sunk into the leather seat, until his chin was nestled against the lower part of his neck.

“Stop that. You’re going to hurt your neck.” Iwaizumi tugged at his shirt collar to dispel the second-hand discomfort he was experiencing as Hanamaki squinted at him, refusing to budge from the stance.  

“Who needs a neck anymore. I don’t. What’s the point of going on like this? I may as well die.” The unemployed male sniffled, allowing his arms to go limp on either side of him. He was searching for sympathy and yet, all you could submit to him was your laughter. If only you could grab a photo – he could easily be turned into a meme.

“Stop being so dramatic. None of these people know you, and I doubt they will remember you after today.” Steadying his elbow against the glass table, the trainer curled his fingers into a fist then supported his cheek against it. “Sorry to break it you, but you’re not that important.”

“But I will remember.” He countered, his eyes now shifting into your direction, where you were seconds from pinching Iwaizumi’s exposed cheek. Pausing mid-motion with your finger’s inches away from his face, a sheepish smile decorated your features.

“What? Maybe this is karma for calling Tooru smelly yesterday.” While the response was clearly aimed at the sulking male, your y/e/c irises remained fixated on the one you deemed your favourite. Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow in partial interest as his attention went to your hovering hand.

“That’s funny, I don’t remember your name being karma.” A low growl rumbled inside of Hanamaki’s throat, earning him a reassuring pat from Matsukawa. He would have interjected more often if he was not preoccupied by the delicious dessert plated in front of him. Dessert took priority over drama when it was the embodiment of heaven. “Look, she’s not even paying attention me anymore!”

“Now, now children. We’re all friends here.” The funeral home attendant offered without much enthusiasm, before sticking a fork coated in cream into his mouth. “Y/n, say sorry so he won’t break his neck and die.” Upon hearing his suggestion, you jutted your bottom lip into a pout in protest.

“I don’t want an apology. How am I supposed to go celebrate with your boy-toy’s business partners smelling like mutated pig?” Despite knowing no one would notice the movement, Makki crossed his arms under the table, mimicking the stance of a stubborn child.

“I’ll buy you a new outfit, cry baby. We still have some time.” After being shot down by Iwaizumi three times, defeat was grudgingly accepted. Your reflexes were no where as cultivated as his were. “Let’s settle the bill and go shopping, boys! Your sugar mama is buying!” As the declarations registered with the boys sat around you, the napkin settled onto your nap was placed onto the table.

“Yeah, I think I’ll pass. I do need to grab something though for work, so I’ll meet you guys at the shop.” The trainer removed his wallet, then began removing some bills as the other two males celebrated your announcement by completing a high-five.

“I’m still buying something for you, Hajime. You cannot stop me if you are not there.” Tapping a single finger on the side of your head, a little ‘hmph’ was blown out.

“I won’t accept it.” He did not bother to lift his gaze, knowing well what silly expression would be adorning your visage. But what he did not account for was the threat falling from your lips.

“If you don’t, I’ll scream daddy at the top of my lungs right now.”

Matsukawa stifled his laughter at your threat, while Hanamaki finally adjusted his position on the chair, grinning ear to ear in amusement. Iwaizumi exhaled a long breath, pressing two fingers against the bridge of his nose. He knew that you were shameless enough to follow through with said warning.

“Fine. I’ll accept it.”

“That’s what I thought.”

**

One of the positives of being a model is that people generally trust your intuition when addressing matters of fashion. It was for this reason that both of your friends did not debate you on any purchases that were made on their behalf. Hanamaki’s only request was that you did not purchase anything Osamu would wear since the cook’s wardrobe consisted only of t-shirts and jeans. Within twenty minutes, both men were dressed in semi-formal attire, radiating a sense of prestige they would not otherwise have. You fit perfectly between them with your chosen ensemble – a black cocktail dress paired with shortcut boots. Heels may have matched far more, but the pain accompanying them was not worth it.

With an arm hooked to one best friend on either side, you felt royal even if they were not your escorts.

“What time is it now? Are we almost there?” The question was hummed out to Matsukawa, who was responsible for directing the trio. His eyes focused on the GPS on his phone before returning to the area ahead.

“It’s 7:25, y/n. We will be arriving according to the GPS at 7:29. We won’t be late… For the tenth time.” Casting a glance down at the shorter girl, he shook his head with a laugh leaving his lips. “So, you’re no longer Ariel, huh? Now you’re Cinderella.”

Hanamaki snickered at the observation, prompting you to lightly dig your nails into his arm in warning.  “I don’t want to mess up and be there late. Nakamura said to be there at 7:30 sharp. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“You’re stressing too hard for no reason. I’m sure he will be surprised if you’re there a minute late or early.” Leaning down, the funeral home attendant rested his cheek against your head in effort to sooth you. 

“You’re right…” The admission was accompanied by a weary laugh. “I just feel kinda weird in my chest. I don’t know.” Instinctively you tightened your grip on their arms, hoping to destroy the insecurities plaguing you with the warmth their bodies provided.

“I’ll text Iwa. We’ll go inside together. You’ll feel better if he’s here.” Hanamaki padded away on the screen, alerting their mutual friend that his presence was needed.

“Mm. Okay.” You were beginning to realize the negative emotions afflicting you was because you missed Oikawa. Celebrating achievements without him placed a hole deep inside of your heart – one that only he could fill with his dramatic facial reactions and goofy laughter. Little did you know the hole would only grow in size very soon. 

“Alright… So. It should be the shop right here.” Matsukawa’s voice led your attention back to the busy street. Blinking to readjust to the light, you paused when your friend did, then instinctively turned to the large windows of the shop. It was a normal reflex, one that your two friends mirrored. But none of you were mentally prepared for the scene melting into view.

Stood behind the transparent barrier was your fiancé, with three other figures. You did not pay any mind to the two men. No. Your focus was on the short blonde woman.

The same woman who was drawing your fiancé into a kiss with a fluidity that conveyed a sense of normalcy. No… She kissed him as if it were the most ordinary gesture in the world.

As if he was her lover and not yours.

Let’s do it again, shall we - human bomb

Masterlist - Previous - Next

A/N: o.o

Taglist: @idiot-juice-enthusiast @vicassa @iloveanime691 @bringmelily @newfriendjen @hikarichannn @anime-simp @tsukkismamagucci @laughingismorefun @astronomyturtle @shegrewupwithoutafather @hyskoa1998 @deephumandragonperson @pretty-setter-bois @raenebalgaire @sugawarabby @justanotherfangirl2 @keijisworld @90s-belladonna @momoinot @sempiternal-amour @cherryblosom111 @yqshirov @haikyuufairy @volleybloop @bloody-bella @sadkaashistan @seikamuzu @namyari @toaster-stick @shakiraisawesome @coconut-dreamz @roseestuosity @prcttylittlcthing @uzumakioden @nerdynstoned @kenmasgameboy @unstableye @ouijaeater15 @aquariarose @fandomtrashpandasposts @helloalex80 @stfucanunot @envyusshades @cuddlesslut

#osamu x you #osamu scenario #osamu smau #hq osamu #osamu x reader #osamu miya #miya osamu #osamu x y/n #osamu angst #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu smau #haikyuu #haikyuu fanfiction

[xxcyj]

Lazy days

Felt very soft today ahhaha. This is literally just Hueingkai fluff that’s it. Requests are open so feel free to request anything if you want. Masterlist. << right here

Genre: Fluff Word Count: 982  Summary: Hueningkai being sweet

“I’m just saying, ducks without beaks are nightmare fuel.” Your boyfriend continued to speak as you just nodded your head. Smile and nod. JUST SMILE AND NOD.

“I’m well aware, we’ve been having this conversation for thirty minutes.” You reply back as you throw a pillow at him. Hueningkai laughs as the pillow hits him square in the chest. 

“But here you are, still listening.” He smiled as he reached over to tackle you into a hug. You tried you best to squirm out of his hold but he only held onto you tighter, making you eventually give in and laugh with him.

You loved moments like these. Where the two of you could just be yourselves and talk about whatever random things your minds came up with. You two were perfectly content with each other’s presence and didn’t need to go on dates all the time to still feel like a couple. Although Huengingkai was a ball of energy, always radiating his positive attitude to the world, he also liked to just mellow out for a bit with you. To recharge. 

You both fell silent as you stared into each other’s eyes. You truly loved this man who was holding you in his arms. You loved his warm smile and caring attitude. He was gentle and loving with everything he did. Hueningkai was the human embodiment of the sun, at least in your eyes. Every time you saw him, your heart fluttered

“You’re cute.” He said as he finally cut the silence between you both. A blush coloured your face as you went to hide your face in his chest from the comment. “So adorable when you’re shy like this.” He let out a hearty laugh as you tried to escape his embrace. 

“Shut up” You softly muttered, earning a soft hum from him. “Did you have a long day today?”  You asked as your eyes met his.

“Yeah, it has been a tiring day. But you give me energy so I’ll be fine.” He replied back earning a scoff from you.

“But for real though, has work been pushing you too hard? Are you taking breaks?” You asked as your eyebrows knitted together in concern. Hueningkai only smiled and let his hand land on your waist.

“You look cute when you’re worried about me.” He replied back as he kissed your nose. “Work is work, you know how it is. Sure my schedules a bit full these days but I get to come home to you every night and it’s like all my fatigue is gone.”

“You’re so cheesy sometimes.” You say with a smile on your face. He mocks a fake hurt look and ‘hmphs’ before saying “But you love it anyway” 

As you were about to reply, your stomach decided this was the perfect time to growl loudly. You both stayed silent before Hueningkai cracking up laughing. You were once again slightly embarrassed as your boyfriend continued to bust a lung laughing. 

“Are you done now?” You asked trying to sound annoyed but failed to do so when you let out a little giggle at the end of your sentence. Hueningkai’s hold weakened and you took this opportunity to roll away from his embrace. Finally realising the lack of you in his arms, he let out a cute little pout and reached his arms out. 

“Nope, you’re mean.” You poked your tongue out and left the room to go find something to eat. 

“Where you going? Don’t leave me here by myself” He called out as you were walking away. 

“I’m trying to find something to eat.” You called out as you entered the kitchen and began rummaging through you cupboards and fridge. 

They were empty. Dammit, that’s right. You forgot to go grocery shopping as you were at work all day and only got home around the same time as Hueningkai. You turned your head when you heard your boyfriend’s footsteps, he was greeted with a frown on your face as you gestured to the very sad looking fridge that was empty aside from the sauces and milk. 

“I forgot to buy groceries.” You mumbled as you went to hug him. Were you being dramatic? Yes. Would you continue to sulk due to your dumb mistake? Yes. Hueningkai let out a chuckle as he patted your back and pretended to comfort you like a child. 

“There, there” he cooed as you stared up at him. “Let’s go to the super market then.” 

Ten minutes later you were both out of the apartment holding the shopping bags in one hand and the other intertwined with each other’s fingers. The closest supermarket was about a five minute walk but with your growling stomach it felt as if you were walking for half an hour. When you finally reached your destination, you quickly ditched your boyfriend to catch some free samples. You could hear him laugh in the background but you didn’t care.

After touring all the free sample stalls and pretending to be interested in what the people were saying, you finally made your way back to your boyfriend’s side who was watching you from a distance. Hueningkai had his phone out the entire time filming you and was trying his best not to laugh. You roll your eyes and snatch his arm to one of the isles. “It’s not that funny.” You said as you poked his cheek. 

“I think it’s quite hilarious. Can’t wait to show the rest of the boys” Your eyes widen as you went to grab his phone from his hand but of course, the giant bully was, he just raised his arm up. You tried your best to jump but to no avail. Damn his long legs. 

“I’m kidding.” He called out when you stared walking away, eventually running up to you when you ignored him and planned a kiss on your cheek. 

#txt #txt x reader #txt scenarios #txt imagines #txt drabbles #txt huening kai #txt fluff #hueningkai fluff #hueningkai x reader #hueningkai scenarios #hueningkai imagines #hueningkai drabbles #txt x you #txt x y/n #hueningkai x you #hueningkai x y/n #txt x moa #huening #huening txt

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Kiro’s Greenhouse Date (Eng Translation)

🍒Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date which has not been released in English servers!🍒

Note: This is a cancelled date which will unlikely come to EN :<

More from this Collection: Gavin // Lucien // Victor

The date begins with MC commenting on how Kiro has been extremely busy lately. He hasn’t been picking up calls, and his messages have been short. MC also notes that although he appears normal on television, his eyes have become slightly dimmer.

MC recalls how Kiro has always been giving her strength whenever she’s feeling low, so she decides to do the same for him. She sends him a message:

MC: Miss Chips’ personalized mystery surprise, only applicable to Mr Kiro. Please claim this prize within the one hour time limit, or else it will expire~

After sending the message, I continue watching the television. However, I am entirely focused on my phone and alerted to every chime it makes.

Almost an hour passes and Kiro has not replied. While I’m hesitating whether or not to call him, my phone finally vibrates.

Kiro: This is the special prize winner Mr Kiro. I wish to ask Miss Chips – what exactly is my prize?

His tone is tinged with tiredness, but he still ends his sentences with a cheery lilt.

MC: It shall remain a secret. All you have to do is give me your time this Sunday!

Kiro is stunned for a moment, then a smile seeps into his voice.

Kiro: [laughs] When did you learn this trick of mine?

MC: Heh heh, I’m not telling you. Once you have accepted the prize, there’s no backing out!

Kiro: Yes, Mr Kiro promises Miss Chips.

MC: That’s great! I was even worried… ah, nothing….

Kiro: Worried about what? Were you anxious that I almost didn’t respond in time? I guessed correctly, didn’t I?

MC: Hmph, that’s because I didn’t want to waste my surprise.

Hearing this, Kiro chuckles from the other end of the line. The tiredness that was in his voice earlier has dissipated quite a bit.

MC: So it’s settled, I’ll come find you on Sunday.

Kiro: Even though it’s your surprise, how could I let you be the one to look for me? Don’t worry, I’ll slip away secretly and pick you up!

Before I hang up, Kiro suddenly mutters apologetically.

Kiro: Actually, my phone wasn’t by my side just now. It was only after I took a call that I saw your message. Were you very anxious while waiting?

MC: It’s all right. I was thinking that if you didn’t reply, I would tell you that the time limit got extended by another hour…

Kiro: [laughs] Do you know that hearing you say that makes me really happy? Even happier than hearing about the mystery surprise!

Kiro’s tone is gentle, and I can almost see a golden retriever from the corner of my eye, wagging its tail and smiling at me.

Kiro: All right, so it’s settled.

Hanging up the phone, I find myself smiling. Kiro has always been bringing me to his secret hide-outs to recharge my batteries. This time, it’s my turn.

MC has already planned how Sunday would go. Judging from Kiro’s busy schedule, he wouldn’t have had the time to go flower viewing. He also wouldn’t be able to go to public flower viewing places, considering his celebrity status.

MC: Or else, one wouldn’t be able to tell whether the crowd is there to see the flowers or Kiro.

Sunday arrives. While waiting for Kiro, MC recalls how she asked her father’s friend, Uncle Gu, for permission to use his personal greenhouse. When she was younger, she would visit the large greenhouse and her worries would melt away when surrounded by the gorgeous flowers. 

Even though she is unsure if Kiro would be interested in flower viewing, she thinks the change of scenery should allow him to relax.

While she is deep in thought, someone covers her eyes from behind.

The coolness of a ring brushes against my cheek, carrying the scent of its owner.

MC: Kiro…

?: Who is Kiro? I’m the special prize winner of your mystery surprise.

Pushing away the hands that are covering my eyes, I turn around to see Kiro wearing a pair of sunglasses.

He has deep eye bags, but his tired-looking expression has an insuppressible grin. I lean towards him.

MC: You look so fatigued. Did you not rest well?

Hearing this, Kiro furrows his eyebrows, his blinking eyes full of grievances.

Kiro: Yeah, I haven’t slept for three nights, and I feel so dizzy…

He says this slowly, and I hurriedly stand on my tiptoes, wanting to test his temperature.

MC: We shouldn’t have come out then… could it be a fever…

I look into Kiro’s clear eyes. He lets out a grin, looking a sly squirrel.

MC: You tricked me!

I purse my lips, my face flushing as I turn to the side.

Kiro hurriedly grabs on to my sleeve, a pitiful expression on his face.

Kiro: Okay okay I was wrong, don’t be angry, all right?

Kiro appears in my line of sight no matter which direction I turn my head. Looking at me with his bright eyes, my temper disappears in an instant.

MC: Fine, I’m no longer angry… Kiro is such a childish ghost.

Without a trace of anger or shock, Kiro continues smiling.

Kiro: Yes, I’m a childish ghost, and Miss Chips is the cutest~

MC: You’re shameless…

Kiro: I’m not. Isn’t it normal for a man to reveal his childish side to the person he likes? I even thought you heard about this saying before…

Kiro seems a little disappointed. He mutters, pulling me into the car.

I turn to look at him and see his side profile bathed in sunlight. The layer of gold makes his entire form look lively, fresh, and beautiful.

Now silent, Kiro’s face has a look of maturity that wasn’t there before. My heart suddenly does a flip, and I try not to think about what he said just now.

They finally reach Uncle Gu’s place, but it has been refurbished with additional features, so they have to walk through an eerie tree-lined pathway. MC gets goosebumps and nervously holds his hand.

Kiro: Eh?

MC: This is to prevent someone from running away suddenly.

Kiro: That wouldn’t happen. I’m not scared at all.

Trying to prove his point, Kiro tightens his grip on my hand, with an expression which says that he is unfazed by any circumstances.

We hold each other’s hands tight and walk forward step-by-step.

Kiro stands in front of me slightly, as though prepared to defend me at any moment.

His actions remind me of our experience at the haunted house, which he specially brought me to to prove his bravery. This time round, he doesn’t seem as afraid, though his palms are still sweating.

As we continue down the long pathway, Kiro seems to become increasingly relaxed. While he walks, he sniffs the air, just like an animal following the scent of food.

MC: What are you smelling?

Kiro: Dummy! I’m smelling the flowers of course.

MC: I don’t think I mentioned the greenhouse as being the mystery surprise. Can you really smell it?

Kiro: Of course! Also, I’ve confirmed that this place has a gigantic patch of Monet. I can already smell it!

MC: Monet? Isn’t he an artist?

Kiro: Heh heh looks like you don’t know! Here, follow me!

Saying this, Kiro pulls me into a run.

We run through the long corridor of vines, pass by a few patches of colorful flowers, and finally stand in front of a small wooden door with “Rosa chinensis” written on it.

Pointing at the sea of pink flowers beyond the wooden door, his eyes are filled with satisfaction.

Kiro: I was right! Like I said, there are Monets here.

MC: You’re saying that the Rosa chinesis is called Monet?

Kiro: Right! These pink flowers with yellow streaks are called… let me think! Yes, Claude Monet! They smell really good!

MC takes a closer look at the flowers and realizes that the flowers have a fruity smell. She can understand how Kiro could recognize them from afar.

MC: Are you very knowledgeable about the Rosa chinesis?

Kiro: Yes! When I was studying in France, I was a volunteer at the Botanic Gardens. Because some things happened, there was a period of time when I couldn’t attend school. I spent my entire day in the Botanic Gardens, and I learnt a lot about the Rosa chinesis. For example, how they differ from roses, the different parts of the Rosa chinesis, and the different types… only then did I realise that the simple-looking Rosa chinesis could also be so beautiful.

MC: It shares the same name as the prolific artist Monet though.

Kiro: Mmhmm, I originally thought that it got its name because it shared the same colours as Monet’s paintings. Later on, I discovered that it was far from that.

MC: Eh? Then what’s the reason?

Kiro: The Monet flower is extremely strong against diseases. It can’t be destroyed no matter what diseases plague it. Instead, it blooms even more beautifully. Monet was also such an artist. I saw his letter in the museum and learnt that he didn’t have a good life. He was sick and poor. Even so, he could bring people warmth. He taught me that sunlight is the most meaningful thing in the world, and that all of us have the ability to make choices.

Kiro keeps his eyes on the flowers, his expression lifting into a smile. It’s a different smile from before – a genuine smile that belongs to him, a smile stemming from his innermost heart.

I suddenly feel like I’ve been transported several years back, and I can see a younger Kiro standing amid the flowers with a brilliant smile.

When I return to my senses, Kiro’s big eyes are less than ten centimeters away from me.

I instinctively shrink backwards, but Kiro reaches out for my shoulder.

Kiro: Why are you dazing off while looking at my face? Be honest, what are you thinking about?

MC: I… I was just thinking about how you’re similar to Monet. You’re always bringing people brightness and warmth.

While saying this, Kiro continues staring at me, his pure eyes looking into my heart.

That person whose entire body exudes light, and is always giving me strength… he should have such pure eyes.

Kiro laughs, his eyes crinkling.

Kiro: Monet spent his life chasing after the light. That’s where we differ. I’m even better than him, because I have already found my light.

He blinks at me, as though he is keeping a major secret, waiting for me to probe further.

I am slightly stunned and am unsure how to respond.

Kiro: Why aren’t you asking me what my light is?

[Note: At this moment, Kiro has that “I’ve been flirting with you for the past year, thanks for noticing” face]

Looking at his expression, I laugh and play along with him.

Kiro responds with a sentence in French, and I don’t understand it.

MC: What did you say?

Kiro: I’ll tell you if you dance with me.

MC: How does that even work... you were the one who prompted me to ask that question…

Acting on his own whims, Kiro lifts up my left hand while hooking onto my right hand, pulling me into a dancing posture.

MC: …eh?

In contrast to my surprise, Kiro’s face is beaming.

His lips curve upwards, like a squirrel hugging a pinecone tightly and showing it off to its friends with pride.

His blue eyes are glimmering, as though they contain the entire galaxy.

In the center of that galaxy are two tiny faces, each of them belonging to me.

The atmosphere seems to have shifted suddenly.

MC: What did you just say?

Kiro: I said, dance with me.

MC: No, I’m referring to that thing you said in French…

Before I even finish, Kiro leans close to my ear and mutters something incredibly quickly.

Kiro: It’s too late.

MC: Huh? What do you mean by that?

Kiro: I just told you the meaning, so it’s too late to reject me now.

What…

My ears start reddening. Even though this is a private greenhouse, I’m slightly embarrassed to dance here.

MC: You-

Kiro: What about me?

MC: There isn’t any music so we can’t dance!

I instantly regret once the words slip out of my mouth.

Kiro: Music?

Kiro blinks.

With a sly grin, he starts humming a tune.

Only after five notes, I have already guessed what tune he is humming.

MC: …the doll and teddy bear dance?

[Note: I went to check and it’s an actual song bless his pure heart] 

Kiro: Yep. Don’t you think it’s similar to our current situation? Miss Chips~

He stretches out the way he says “Miss Chips”, ending with a smile in his voice.

MC: Am I the teddy bear? Or the doll?

Kiro: [laughs] Of course…

Kiro purposefully drags out his answer, leading me into a slightly inaccurate rendition of ballroom dancing. He twirls me around.

Kiro: …you are my Miss Chips!

I am tickled by his words. The embarrassment I felt earlier vanishes without a trace.

MC: Fine… don’t blame me if I step on you.

Kiro: Don’t worry, it wouldn’t happen!

Where does Kiro’s confidence come from?

I understand once I cooperate and start dancing with him.

MC: Stop, stop, I’m not dancing any longer! My head’s going to explode from the twirling. How is this considered dancing?

The reason why Kiro was so sure I wouldn’t step on him is because this isn’t the ballroom dancing I envisioned at all! Most of the time I end up getting twirled around by Kiro.

Kiro: Don’t you know that this is a sort of dance too?

With a smile, he leans close to my ear, saying this clearly. Several blurry Kiros appear in my vision.

Kiro: Don’t you find this blurry feeling amazing? It’s like how people go to bars to get drunk.

MC: So you’re feeling great now?

His words seem to take on a deeper meaning, but I’m unable to grasp them in my dizzy state.

Kiro: Mm, incredibly happy!

Kiro nods his head vigorously.

MC: All right. At least all that twirling didn’t go to waste.

The main purpose of today was to help Kiro relieve stress. So as long as he’s happy, that’s fine.

My pride doesn’t matter, and the dizziness doesn’t matter!

With this thought in mind, I let out a laugh.

Kiro: What are you laughing at?

I see three sets of Kiros reaching out to me with three hands. However, I can only feel one hand on my forehead, tidying my fringe.

MC: Because I get to see you being genuinely happy.

Kiro: You’re happy when you see me happy?

Kiro’s voice is laced with anticipation.

MC: Of course I’m happy. Normally, you’re the one taking me to your secret hide-outs to recharge my batteries and relieve stress. It’s as though you hold all the sunlight in the world. But I’ve never asked whether you ever feel down. This time round, let me be your rubbish bin and get rid of your troubles. I want to peel away all the grey clouds that are blocking the sun.

While I’m saying this, Kiro stands in front of me quietly, watching me with his head slightly lowered. His expression is serious, and his eyes are focused and deep.

He looks like Kiro on the stage, yet not exactly so.

MC: Hmm… even though I don’t know what you’re troubled by, or what pressure you’re under, I can sense that it isn’t because of a creative block. If you don’t want to talk about it, or if you can’t tell me-

Before the words “it’s okay” leave my lips, I am scooped into a pair of incredibly warm arms.

Caught off guard, I fall into Kiro’s embrace.

I hear Kiro’s heartbeats, like a tiny drum, fast and without rhythm.

My heart feels ticklish, as though thousands of ants have crawled into it.

I feel sunlight on the top of my head. It’s so warm.

It’s almost noon and Kiro has to return to work. Why does time pass by so quickly?

Kiro: MC, why are you so adorable! I am really, very very very happy today!

He speaks incredibly slowly. Every “very” seems to carry with it the solemnity of experience and time.

Kiro: MC, thank you.          

MC: A-are you happy today? Did you like my mystery surprise?

Kiro: Mm! I love it! Today is Kiro’s second happiest day.

MC: Which is your first happiest day then?

Kiro: Well… I will keep that a secret for now. I’ll definitely tell you in the future.

He puts a lot of weight on the word “definitely”, making me think that the day in question is somehow related to me.

MC: You still haven’t told me what you said in French…

Kiro hugs me even more tightly, and his voice travels to my ear.

Kiro: MC, you are my light.

🍯

Phone call: here

#mlqc #mlqc cn #love and producer #mlqc kiro #mlqc spoilers #a buffet of all the sugary goodness this world has to offer #this date ALWAYS brightens my day #hope it cheers you up if you’re feeling low right now <3 #cncancelled

[lovelyirony]

for the made up fic title game what about... 'dice la canción que algún te llevarás mi tristeza (entre miles de colores)' which translates to 'the song says that someday you'll take away my sadness (in between a million colours)' 🥤

Tony knows that everyone thinks that soulmates fix everything. He’s seen all the movies of hopeful young women looking at the elegant, painted-on-script on their arms, starry looks pasted on as they sing some bullshit song about waiting for their true love. 

He’s read books about a man finding the love of his life in a diner, and how much love they both have for each other. It’s hailed as a literary classic and it’s his classmate’s (Timothy’s) favorite book. 

Movies and books. Some of the best tools for hiding realities. 

Here’s another thing that Tony has seen, read into: his parents’ relationship. 

Mama has the words wrapped up her leg, calling her gorgeous and wonderful. 

It’s a lie, of course. No one thinks their words lie, but Tony sees it in the way that her stance always shifts to put pressure on her right leg, the one without the words. 

How even in the summer, she’ll wear long skirts to cover the words, how she carefully skirts around how the “love of her life” is doing in interviews. 

Howard wears long-sleeved shirts, flirts with other women and says that words don’t matter in the face of love. 

The oldest trick in the book, and they fall for it every time. 

But Howard was right about one thing: words don’t matter. 

Tony has his right across his chest, in a script that’s half-print, half-cursive: 

I swear to god, get out of my way or so help me god I’ll kill you. 

Really nice words. Wow. Tony feels so infinitely loved and cherished. 

His mother flinches when she sees his words, flinches at how cruel his soulmate must be. 

Oh, he looks like his father alright...but he’s just like his mother. 

Maria may not have the same words, never in the same tone, but her life turned out as if it was that. 

Wives were an inconvenience to many businessmen, and she was no different. She had known that a week after their honeymoon, Howard’s eyes curious and roaming. 

The kind of curious that she had fallen for, and then quickly realized that curiosity was a dangerous thing for him. Was a dangerous thing for her too. 

But she played the role of adoring wife, and sometimes they were together alone and it wasn’t-it wasn’t too bad. He would smile and she would remember the good times with fondness, and then she would bitterly remember that her soulmate thought she wasn’t enough. 

Tony sees her thoughts. Mama has never been particularly good at hiding her feelings from her son. 

After all, he learned all her tells. Has quite a few of them himself. 

-

But soulmates don’t matter, not to him, and not when he has college to go to. Finally escaping from Howard’s thumb, finally on his own. He got an apartment all to himself, he’s going to learn how to cook and not burn shit, and things will be great. 

No time for thinking about soulmates when you’re busy thinking about if you really need to get more than three pans, and maybe you do? Not sure. 

His neighbors are quiet. They don’t really interact much. They saw him move in, blinked, and Tony waved. Nothing else to say. 

He still hasn’t met the guy who lives on his left. Tony’s heard crashes and brief cursing streaks, and maybe one glass that got dropped, but that’s it. All he knows is chaotic sounds and maybe that his name starts with a “J.” 

- 

It’s just the beginning of October when Tony is juggling his groceries with his hands (refusing to make more than one trip) when someone comes pounding into the hallway, and Tony can’t see over the chip bag he has. 

I swear to god, get out of my way, or so help me god I’ll kill you, comes the phrase. 

Tony blinks. 

“Not if I kill you first, you son of a bitch.” 

The guy gasps. 

“Wait, so this isn’t a serious situation where my soulmate is shitty?” 

“You said something shitty first!” 

The guy looks back, and there is a rather murderous looking frat boy out for blood. 

Tony takes one look at the situation, decides that he’s not going to make this guy fend for himself against a rage-filled boy in dock-shoes and too much hair gel, and pulls him into his apartment. 

The boy goes flying onto the couch, Tony spills a bag of apples, and the frat bro is yelling at the door and pounding on it. 

“What did you even do?” 

“I kind of maybe took his bed and threw it out a window because he was being shitty at a party I went to.” 

“On a scale of one to seven, how shitty?” 

“One to seven? Who are you, who the fuck uses that scale?” 

“Me! I use it! Now rate it.” 

“Um, like a six?” 

“Hm, that is pretty bad.” 

There’s a thump at the door. 

Oh, the frat boy is trying to break his door down. 

Tony goes over. 

“You’re opening the door?” 

“Just...have faith in me.” 

“Not to be like that, dude, but I just met you like two minutes ago and even though we’re soulmates that doesn’t mean I just blindly put everything I have into you.” 

Tony grins. That sounded...perfect. 

“Oh believe me sugar, same thing goes for you. But I have knowledge on my side.” 

The door swings open, and in charges the frat boy, seriously not thinking that the door would open. He runs into the couch, flips himself over, and he’s on the ground. 

Tony leans over him. 

“I have a security deposit on this place that I’d rather keep, you know that? I also just bought ice cream, and it’s going to become soup if you keep bothering us. Now go or I’m going to call security.” 

“And what the fuck are they gonna do?” The frat boy spits. He’s trying to get up, but cannot. What a shame. 

Tony leans in closer. 

“I want you to really look at my face. I’m sure you saw it on the cover of Time as part of the article ‘America’s Most Influential Family’. There’s a lot I could do.” 

His eyes widen, and he scrambles out, near-about running into the wall. 

His soulmate breathes out. 

“Oh man, thank you.” 

“No problem. Always using my status to make things go away, it’s fun.” 

“So like...you said you were America’s most influential what, son?” 

“In a sense. Probably not. But sometimes people know me.” 

“Am I supposed to know you?” 

“Only if you really wanna work at Stark Industries and need a good word put in.” 

“Oh, I’m going to the military. Air Force.” 

“They got lucky with a guy as nice as you. I’m sure they’ll be proud of all the frat boys you run from.” 

“I’m Jim,” he says, holding out his hand for a shake. 

“Not calling you that,” Tony says, shaking his hand. “That is too close to an old man, and you look far from an old man.” 

"That supposed to be a compliment?” 

“Well, I should hope so. I don’t flirt with old men, I flirt with attractive people.” 

“You know, you still haven’t told me your name.” 

“Give me a minute.” 

Tony puts his ice cream in the freezer, coming back. 

“My name is Tony. What’s your last name?” 

“Rhodes, are you gonna use it for weird reasons?” 

“Nickname reasons. I’m thinking Rocky Rhodes.” 

“I’ll kill you.” 

“Not if you want to eat at the best restaurant you’ve ever been to.” 

“If you call me Rocky Rhodes, no promises.” 

“Hmph, fine. What about...Rhodey?” 

“I can always change it later.” 

Tony smirks. 

“Hm, maybe I’ll let you. But I think it’s a good nickname.” 

They both are silent for a moment. 

“You have any more ice cream?” Rhodey asks. “I’d, um, I’d like to get to know you. And I’ll pay for ice cream later.” 

Tony should’ve said no. He’s seen all the failure with his parents, he’s heard all the horror stories, read the words on his skin enough times in the mirror to know that everything could mean nothing and that nothing could mean everything. 

But he smiles. 

“I’ll keep a running tab.” 

- 

It doesn’t end up like Howard and Maria, no matter how many times Tony thinks it will, wonders if he acts like it, if it will all descend into madness and he’ll be right. 

Rhodey is patient and he calls Tony out on his bullshit. They both smile at each other over cups of coffee, evening argument forgotten. 

When Rhodey has to go overseas, he always gets ragged on by his peers because he buys the cheesiest souvenirs. He never tells them who it’s for, and it’s not until Tony adds the absolutely terrible rendition of the Statue of Liberty onto his personal key-chain for his car that they connect the dots and stare at him, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. 

Tony makes him the most decadent of meals when he’s back, giving neck massages and draping blankets that are so soft they don’t feel real over them at night. 

They come together and it’s like the ways that the actors and actresses smile giddily up at their counterpart, how the authors describe two coming together. Except it’s better. 

Because Rhodey leaves the coffee filter in the machine and forgets to take it out, and Tony nearly always remembers to take it out before it’s a day later and the kitchen smells like old coffee. 

It’s the way that Tony is only a control-freak about the thermostat, and keeps it at seventy-five always. 

“You’re such an old man.” 

“You’re just a weird guy who likes it to be sixty-seven! Who does that?” 

Rhodey grins, kissing his man on the forehead. 

“Me. But I’ll keep it seventy-five. For now.” 

Tony settles back into the couch, pushing his legs over Rhodey’s. He smiles up at him, and it’s...it’s the best feeling Rhodey could hope for. 

#lovelyirony writes #rhodeytony #anyways i love the ocncept of soulmates and how badly tony doesn't get it ! #rhodey #tony stark #iron man #war machine #soulmate au #also YEAH of course they fall in love bc rhodey pissed someone off #i think it's classique

[dhwty-writes]

I've had 'Just give me a reason' by pink stuck in my head all day lol, I humbly offer it as a song prompt if it sparks anything :D

“If it sparks anything”... Fam, I just astralprojected back to 2013 and my first kiss! I had a lot of fun with it (although I got a bit distracted midway through, I’m sorry!)

I also couldn’t decide whether I wanted to do a post-mountain fix-it fic or a modern AU, so you’ll get both! Here’s the angsty one (that’s way longer than expected) :)

Read on AO3

The unfairness of it all as he staggered down the steep mountainside was overwhelming. Twenty years of his life for... what exactly? For nothing at all!

Over half of his measly human life he'd spent trailing after that grumpy... horse's arse of a witcher. He poured his heart and soul into a song cycle just to change Geralt's undeserved horrible reputation! (And to get rich, of course, but that was neither here nor there.) By rights he should claim ten percent of Geralt's income, but did he? No, of course not!

He'd never asked anything in return. Nothing but company, a friend, a tiny bit of affection even. Not love, of course. He might be delusional and a hopeless romantic, but not that much of an imbecile.

He knew Geralt loved Yennefer and that the affection was mutual. It was pretty much obvious for about anyone who saw them together. And Jaskier wasn't just anyone. He and the witcher shared just about anything — food, coin, clothes, beds sometimes, when it was cold or there was only one room left. And, though the witcher denied that fervently, Geralt talked in his sleep sometimes.

Jaskier had discovered that one freezing night in a tavern in Kovir, when he'd woken up because he was uncomfortably warm. Additionally, to the heap of quilted blankets they laid under, Geralt had draped himself over him, too, clutching him tight against his chest. 'Cute,' Jaskier had thought, 'Geralt's a cuddler.'

But then he had started talking, and it had been torture of the most exquisite kind. Most of his ramblings were unintelligible, but those he could understand were unbearably sweet. "Don't go," Geralt would say whenever Jaskier tried to move away. Or "C'mere" and tug him closer to his chest. There were plenty of "Y'smell good"s and, on one memorable occasion an "I love you". None of them were meant for him, of course. But, oh, how he wanted them to be.

Jaskier had fallen for Geralt the moment he'd spotted him in that tavern, grumpily nursing his tankard of ale. He'd been absolutely smitten as soon as they walked free from Filavandrel and Geralt smiled at his "Respect doesn't make history" nonsense, thinking he wouldn't see. They had travelled together for the better part of a month, before destiny had parted them again. At an inn at the crossroads Jaskier had stolen a pretty lad's virginity and Geralt had ridden off into the sunset, not knowing he had stolen Jaskier's heart in turn. 'Good old days.'

Only that they weren't good anymore. Jaskier heaved a sigh that sounded more like a sob than anything else. What had previously been a rose-and-gold-coloured fantasy of a memory, seemed now rather dull, truth be told.

After a few weeks going their separate way, Jaskier had heard of a witcher near Hagge and gone to seek him out. They had travelled again, on and off. Most of the time it had been him, who had actively looked for Geralt, tracking down rumours about white-haired monster hunters. But not always.

Right before the whole child surprise ordeal, it had been him performing in a tavern and Geralt barrelling inside, interrupting him mid-song. "Jaskier!" the witcher had shouted. "There you are. I've got a contract, come with me?"

Or that other time in early fall. He'd gotten himself a comfortable place for the winter in the home of some noble lady, who he'd been entertaining with music, poems and other uses of his silver tongue alike, when one early evening a servant knocked on their door, quite adamantly insisting there was a visitor for the troubadour. His host had been none too pleased when he'd gotten up and dressed to greet a witcher of all people. "What the fuck were you thinking, bard," Geralt had growled, "not showing up all summer. I thought you were dead."

All in all, Jaskier had thought that his affection was, at least to some extent, reciprocated. And now this.

After twenty years the moment he'd dreaded had finally come. Twenty years of lavishing Geralt with love. Geralt, the person who'd been told he couldn't feel, mustn't feel. Twenty years of shouting his adoration to the heavens, to finally be told that it was unwanted.

To borrow Geralt's words: "Fuck." He needed a drink.

~*~

Geralt of Rivia was an idiot and he knew it. The revelation had dawned on him almost instantly after his foolish outbreak. Well, not entirely instantly. He had a feeling, at the very least, although he hadn't expected the bard to take his words literally. 

He hadn't been able to get rid of him with his gruff exterior before, so he hadn't thought he would now. The realisation that Jaskier was truly gone dawned on him, when he reached the base of the mountain a few days later and the bard was nowhere to be found.

Roach was still there, as were Geralt's bags. Their content wasn't. After twenty years of carrying frivolous outfits, chewed-on quills tattered notebooks that smelled of lavender, they were uncomfortably light.

"Fuck," Geralt said quietly. He didn't know why, but some part of him had hoped to find Jaskier there. 'Where he belongs,' his brain supplied unhelpfully. He frowned deeply, trying to rid himself of that thought. Jaskier wasn't some kind of possession to be owned.

But when he settled down for the night that evening, the forest devoid of any melodic chattering, of joyful laughter, of life, he knew it was true. Jaskier might not belong to him, he mused as he crawled into his bedroll. 'But he belongs to my side all the same.'

Somewhere along the twenty years of companionship — gods, was it truly twenty years? It was nothing for him, but such a long time for humans, who aged so fast — Jaskier had managed to firmly worm himself under Geralt's skin, to the point where there was something missing now that he was truly gone.

Geralt slept terribly that night. When the sun rose the next morning, he set out on another hunt. Not for a monster, that time, but the best thing destiny had ever given to him, that he had chased away with his brashness.

The scavenger hunt led him halfway across the continent, until he stumbled into another tavern on the coast of Temeria. Jaskier's trail hadn't been too hard to follow. Apparently, his friend had been fucking and drinking his way through three kingdoms.

And the bard looked as if he was doing a good job of adding a fourth one. He was more than just a little tipsy, sitting rather than standing on the stage. An agonised look passed over his face when he saw Geralt. He wanted to rush over and pull him into a hug, but then Jaskier started singing and the witcher was just frozen in place. It was the most heart-wrenching ballad yet. It took him only about three lines to realise who it was about. 'Fuck,' he thought.

All his instincts told him to flee. He wasn't prepared for this. He couldn't do this. But Jaskier had seen him already. No getting out of it now.

So, he shouldered his way through the crowd Jaskier always attracted and tried to hide in some secluded corner of the tavern. It took incredibly long for the bard to finally finish his set, and even then he made no attempt to seek Geralt out. Instead, he languidly leaned onto the bar, flirting with the barmaid behind it.

He barely suppressed a growl. 'Fine,' he thought and got up to confront his mistakes. He slammed his tankard down next to Jaskier, scaring the barmaid off in the process. "Jaskier," he greeted him.

"Oh, great," he sneered in response. "There goes my bed for the night."

"Hmm," he answered and ducked his head. "I'm sorry."

"What, for chasing off my newest conquest? I fucking hope you are!"

"No, Jaskier," he answered honenstly. "I'm sorry for what I said to you."

"Hmph, you need to do a lot better than that," he said and reached over the bar for a bottle of strong-smelling liquor. He poured himself a glass and knocked it back. Without pause he continued: "Because you know what? I'm fucking angry, Geralt."

"Do we have to do this here?" he hissed. They were attracting glares. Never a good thing for a witcher.

"No," Jaskier admitted and stood up. Bottle in hand he walked towards the stairs. "You're paying for the room."

"Sure," he grumbled and flagged down the innkeep. By the time he had managed to acquire a key, Jaskier had already dragged himself upstairs and drained a good portion of the bottle.

Geralt snorted and unlocked the door, but didn't comment on it. "What I've been trying to say-" he began, and was promptly interrupted:

"How about trying to shut up?" Jaskier hissed and kicked the door shut. "How about trying to listen to me after twenty fucking years?!"

"Jaskier, what I said-"

"This isn't about what you said! Don't you understand? What you said is only the tip of the figurative dragon mountain. I thought you actually liked me! I thought we were friends."

'Shit,' Geralt thought and ground his teeth. "Hmm."

Jaskier laughed hoarsely. "Oh, great. That same old story again. Why am I even bothering...?" He drank straight from the bottle, swaying a bit on his feet.

"You're drunk," he tried to say as neutrally as possible.

"And you're shutting me out again," he countered. Neither of them were wrong.

"I don't know what to say," Geralt tried.

Jaskier wasn't impressed: "Evidently." He made no attempt to follow that up with anything.

After a few moments of silence, Geralt realised that it was his turn to try and fix this mess with words of all things. "I can't sleep," he tried. "Not since you left."

"Poor you," Jaskier mocked cruelly. "I can't either."

"I can't sleep without you," he tried again. "It's cold. I'm dreaming. And when I wake up I'm alone. Roach is a horrible conversationalist and my camps are too big."

Jaskier put the bottle down slowly, gaping at him.

"I walked the path for decades without you and it was fine. It's not anymore. I can't do it any longer. And I guess... I guess I was scared." The words weren't any less intimidating once he'd finally said them. "You said I talk in my sleep?"

"You do."

"I don't. It's been beaten out of me in Kaer Morhen."

"So?"

He closed his eyes as tightly as he could. It was stupid, he knew. Childish, even. But he couldn't look at Jaskier for this. "So, I meant it. Every word of it."

No reaction.

"Please, Jaskier, I need you to forgive me."

"Give me one reason and I just might." He could hear him come closer. "Say it," he demanded. "Look me in the eye and say it."

It took him every ounce of his discipline to open his eyes and look at Jaskier, barely two feet away from him. "I love you," he said quietly.

"Louder."

"I love you. I've loved you for years, and it scared me, so I couldn't let you know. Witchers aren't supposed to be scared, and that scared me even more, and-"

The rest of his words was silenced by Jaskier's lips. The bard practically leapt at him, snaking his arms around his neck and pulling him close. "You're an idiot," he said when he pulled away. "A fool, a nitwit, an absolute imbecile. The stupidest man alive!"

"I am," he agreed, looping his arms around his waist.

"Why, oh why, do I have to love you of all people?"

"You love me?"

He laughed a teary laugh. "I do, I do. For years and years. How didn't you notice?"

"Because I'm a fool," Geralt said and kissed him again. He just couldn't resist.

"I'm still angry," Jaskier informed him.

"That's alright. But you don't hate me?"

"Far from it."

"And when I wake up on the morrow, you'll be there?"

"Yes," Jaskier promised with another kiss.

Geralt couldn't help but grin. "Good."

#my writing #geraskier #geralt of rivia #jaskier #the witcher #geraskier fanfiction #the witcher fanfiction #prompt fill #post-mountaion fic #angst with a happy ending #i'm sorry if the ending's a bit wonky #heart-of-a-rose #look i've got an ask

[thatonebipotato]

Pills(1)

Story Warnings: Angst, Deceit, Remus, blood, descriptions of pain

Chapter Warnings: Deceit, Remus, detailed descriptions of pain, blood, screaming, uhhh let me know of any more!!

;)

~~~~~

Remus gave a loud yawn, making a show of rubbing his eyes dramatically. A long night in his imagination had made him very tired, and he wanted- no, needed- affection. He wanted comfort, because long nights of getting stressed out sometimes only caused more stress. He frowned, watching Deceit. He was currently making them some breakfast, but that wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want food, he wanted his snake.

“Remus,” said snake said smoothly, “maybe you should go sleep a little longer, what about that, sweetie?” Sweetie. A lovely name that he had been hearing a lot more recently. Not that he was complaining.

“Yeah, but I’d much rather enjoy the view,” he said slyly, glancing downwards before looking back up to meet the other’s gaze.(ha, gays-)

“Remus, you can look later,” he said, sighing. “You need sleep. I’ll put some food for you into the microwave so you can eat later, ok? Go sleep.”

“Hmph, fine!” He got up out of the chair and yawned again, though he tried his best to suppress it. He stumbled his way down the hall, and past the hall that branched off to his room. He didn’t want to be in his shared room, and the room they’d started preparing for him separately wasn’t finished yet. He wanted his imagination instead. Sure, Dee had told him to sleep, but he’d much rather not. Besides, he could take a nap in the imagination or something, so it was fine!

He reached the entrance to the imagination, and began to feel off. Maybe it was because he was worried about being stressed again, maybe it was something else. But there was something… wrong. About his own imagination. The door seemed to be a lot darker, and more broken than it had before. Welp, that’s what happens when you let monsters run loose around the place!

He threw the door open without a second thought and sighed contently, breathing in the sweet smells of his imagination. Despite what most everyone else thought, his side of the imagination wasn’t that dark, or even that bad. At least, not on the surface. There were many flowers with strong fragrances here and there. Most of those fragrances were different kinds of poisons or hallucinogens. Prolonged exposure to them made Remus entirely immune, and even Deceit was mostly immune to all of them. The sky was a dark gradient of purples and oranges, pinks and reds, and some dark blues, the product of an endless sunset. The sad part about the sky was it was covered in storm clouds, most of the time.

There were trees, and a lot of them. They towered over the land, and were very dark, with patterns in their bark and leaves that resembled animal skulls of all kinds, and had sharp edges. And the beasts. Oh, how Remus loved his pets! There were one eyed things with a large mouth and long claws; there were large things with a million arms and eyes that killed its prey with the thought alone; there were furry creatures that looked innocent enough, but could swallow four blue whales whole and still want more; there were slimy things and scaly things, big and small things, things with claws, and wings, and broken, sharp teeth. Ones that howled, and groaned, and yipped, barked, cried, whined, and spoke. He loved his pets!

He wandered up to two trees, the mud made from the previous rain threatening to make him slip. They were very tall, and rigid. He held out his hands, and several ropes appeared in them, and a large cloth sheet. It was a hammock. He began tying one end to one of the trees, and the other to the second tree. He pulled down one side, and leapt up into the hammock. It rocked under his weight, before settling into a lazy roll.

Today, there weren’t any clouds. The trees blocked out most of his view, but he could still see the soft colours. The smell of sickeningly(quite literally) sweet flowers was mixed in with joyous scent of rain. One tiny little fuzzball leapt from the fronds and onto Remus’s tummy. It purred and curled up, producing a sort of tickly sensation. Remus reached out his hand and started gently petting the thing. It was just as soft as it looked. Most people would be sceptical about this puffball, and they should be. While is was furry, and looked like a very tiny monkey, it had the mouth of a snake. It’s jaw could unhinge, and it was venomous. It attacked anyone that wasn’t Remus or Deceit if they showed any sign of danger, or startled it too much.

Her name was Fred.

Fred yawned lazily, turning over onto her back to allow Remus access to her belly, purring louder when his hand found said spot. Remus slowly traced shapes onto her belly, and smiled. Fred had been staying around Remus remus a lot more, and was a sign that she was expecting. In a world made by Remus, what else did you expect? Well, expect more than they were, currently.

Her tail loosely curled around his wrist, and she dozed off into a quiet slumber. Remus would join soon after, but he didn’t want to. He forced himself to stay up until he couldn’t. His eyes felt like they were on fire, and his eyelids weighed down a person being thrown off the dock tied to an anchor. It didn’t help that he had started to itch, a mad burning sensation that crept down his arms and legs, and buried itself into his stomach. For all the pains he’d ever felt, this one was new. Was this supposed to happen? He couldn’t remember.

Just as he was about to drift off, he screamed. The pain immediately flared up, and it hurt. A lot. It felt as though his muscles were being pulled apart one by one, but also at the same time. His joints felt like they were being pressed into burning iron, and the heat never once died down. His skin grew extremely cold, and hurt against the burning of everything else. He kicked and thrashed and screamed and cried, falling off of the hammock and into the mud. He writhed around, and if anyone saw him, they would’ve thought he was having a seizure of some sort.

By this point, Fred was up and about, having been startled so horribly from her nap. She was still on the hammock, and was screeching at Remus with confusion written across her tiny face. The danger was coming from him, but he was also the one in danger. She didn’t know how, she just knew that he was.

Remus curled into a ball, still screaming. He’d managed to control himself from hitting everything around him, but he was still in pain. Why was he in pain? What was happening? Why wouldn’t it stop already? Was it happening to the others? Was this happening to Dee?!

His eyes, which had previously been squeezed close, shot open. Oh God, was this happening to Deceit?! He forced himself onto his hands and knees, even though he was in agony. His attempts to stand kept failing, and he kept falling back onto his knees, so he decided he would just crawl out instead.

The screeching had stopped, Fred was gone. Where she had gone, he didn’t know, but he didn’t want to care right now. He had to check on Dee.

There were suddenly arms under his own. He started hurting more due to pressure being put onto him, but that didn’t matter. Whatever had grabbed him was moving closer to the door. That’s all he needed.

The thing gently placed him back onto the cold, wet ground, and lowered Fred onto him. She had gone to get help! She made sure to jump off of him as soon as possible, and started working on opening the door. Once she got it to click open, she pushed it wide enough for Remus to crawl through, and sat waiting for him to pass through.

He started crying more, having to pick himself back up and out the door, which closed behind him as soon as he was out. He heard sobbing coming from down the hall, and forced himself up, leaning onto the wall. In this moment, he wanted to die more than ever. But he couldn't He had to check on his snake, dammit!

It took a long time, but he finally made it to the last stretch. It was just a crawl from here to get to his hurt Double Dee and make sure he was ok. The second that his own struggles had made a noise in the mostly quiet living space, the sobbing softened.

“R-Remus? Is-is that you?” His voice was broken and quiet.

“Y-” Remus got cut off by a coughing fit, which only made him feel worse, if that was even possible. When he finally stopped, he looked down to see blood on the floor, and some gloved hands by his face, that were also covered in blood. He had to physically restrain himself from screaming when the hands softly cupped his face. He finally looked up, and, though he felt like he was burning at the stake, felt his blood run cold.

Deceit had blood on his chin and staining his clothes. There were tears in his eyes, and he looked white as a sheet. His scales, while normally a vibrant greenish-yellow, looked grey, and his eye was tinged blue. Which was weird, because he wasn’t close to shedding.

“D-Dee Dee, what happened?” he forced out. His own voice was raspy and scratchy from him screaming, and it felt like he was being choked when he spoke, and not in the good way.

“I don’t- I don’t know,” Deceit admitted. His teeth were also stained red. “I think something’s w-wrong, but I just… Remus, everything’s r-really cold.” He looked close to fainting.

“Dee, take- take me to the couch. Now.”

Deceit didn’t question it. He just threw his arms around Remus’s shoulders and supported him as they walked to the couch, slowly. When they got there, and Deceit had set Remus down, Remus knew he would regret what he was doing.

He grabbed Deceit’s hand quickly, and pulled him down onto him with maybe too much force. Yep, he regretted it. The pressure felt like he’d been hit in the chest with a fast paced, rolling boulder. He didn’t say anything as he wrapped his arms around the others chest and held him tightly. Deceit went to protest, but then melted into the touch.

“You’re so warm,” he muttered, burying his face into Remus’s neck.

The second Deceit’s skin touched his, he squeaked.

“Wow, and you’re- you’re really cold!” Deceit was somehow even colder than Remus was. The pain slowly melted away, as it was like an ice pack was pressed into him, but it slowly returned as Deceit heated up. By the time that happened, it was too late to get Dee to move or get him an ice pack or something, because the snek was asleep. He was softly snoring, and looked so peaceful like that, despite the fact that he was bloody and actively causing discomfort.

Remus sighed, and decided the pain was absolutely worth it. He would give his life for Dee, and though he wasn’t dying now, this was the best thing he could do.

Though he was in pain, he forced himself to close his eyes. Soon enough, it started to ease up, and Remus was finally asleep. The breakfast the Deceit had been making was forgotten on the counter, and aside from the snoring from the two Dark Sides, it was silent.

This. This was peaceful. This is how the both wanted it from now on, at least for a little longer.

But that was only the first pill.

~~~~~

:DDDDD

Sorry for any mistakes I made, I didn't really go back and check for any, lol

Taglist: @fatesail @supersoftsupersleep @thesoftestpuffballwegot @chronophobica (two of you guys did show up? I?? Sorry???)

#ts remus sanders #remus sanders #ts deceit sanders #janus sanders #tw blood #tw pain #sanders sides #ts sides #tssides #thatsthat24

[longlivedesponge]

How you met ~ Teldryn Sero ~ Inigo the Brave

I love these two owo Sero is underrated thank god for his quest mod uwu. These are both from a Wattpad story I made but I thought I’d start posting it here owo hehe my first post

𝗜𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗼

This was certainly new. The conceited guards actually let you in, this came as shock since the failure of the visits of the last few major cities had resulted in the guards chasing you off till you were out of view. So you were quaintly relived to be allowed entry to Riften, not only that but you managed to wiggle out of paying an entrance fee. What in oblivion did they need to charge for you thought. You weren't overly familiar with Riften but you knew most its inhabitants were well off.

Your senses were heightened as you walked through the city entrance, the smells, noises and feeling in the air was pleasant. Not what you were expecting. Easy to say your nose was enjoying the aromas and your ears twitching at every intriguing noise. First impression was going promising so you headed into the building directly in front of you, of course the inn. The noise and sound seemed even more concentrated in there. The food and inside talk once again had your ears twitching. You headed to the bar front and took a seat at the stool and rested your head in your hands. The constant fleeing from the cities who denied access to you had you dreary, you at least thought whiterun allowed the khajiit to enter but alas you were wrong. As your eyes slowly fell down to the table in a daydream you spied a note, next to your arm. You looked around to see if it had been left by anyone or belong to one of the customers but no one was near. Harmless curiosity rose and you quickly picked up and read the note. It spoke of a "crazy khajiit" who had come into Riften trying to turn himself in for murder, but the guards refused and in the end the khajiit ended up paying them to put him in a cell. You couldn't believe what you were reading, why would you want to turn yourself in you thought? After a moment you stood up, put back the note, and left for the inn for the Riften Jail. Curiosity and question had arisen from this obscure note and you were intrigued as to why this khajiit would pay to be in a cell. After reluctantly tipping off the guard to let you in, you found another note on a table at the entrance, once again referring to a "crazy khajiit", once reading you discovered the key to his cell was in a broken strong box, now no reason to not confront him, you took the key and down the aisle of cells. Upon the first cell you see him, a rather depressing looking feline, staring at a jar with a dragonfly inside, giving off an infinite aura of sadness. It took you a moment to even realise his unusual fur colour, a shade of blue? You had never heard or seen a khajiit of such colour. His ears flickered in your direction and turned his head to you,

"Come to kill me at last have you?" You brows furrowed slightly in confusion.

"I'm sorry do I know you?" His expression soured and ears flattened at your words

"I am in no mood for jokes! Strike me down, take your revenge!" You were taken back by his response, guess the note was right in calling him crazy you thought, did you really know him? You unlocked the cell door and walked in in-front of him.

"Look, I don't know who you are, you clearly have me mistaken for someone else." He glanced up at you, expression slightly agitated.

"Did I really make you forget that much..?" He sighed,

"That is my fault also. I am your so called friend Inigo. I'm the one who killed you, I tried anyway. I am guilty, kill me!" He's so convinced he knows me. At first glance he acted so surely that I knew him and strongly believed that he tried to kill me? Well, that would make sense as to why he tried to turn himself in. You looked down at him again, his orange eyes glossed over with beg and sorrow. No one forces themselves to look that sorrowful you thought.

You thought for a moment and decided to make the khajiit and offer.

"Look inigo," His ears flickered up towards you, his expression the same.

"If you are convinced that we know each other and that you tried to kill me... I don't remember any of this, but wether it is true or not, feeling sorry for yourself in this cell will certainly do you no good. Why not come with me?" You stuttered slightly on the last few words, unsure if you came across too strong to someone who apparently tried to murder you. But he seemed to want himself dead more than he wanted you dead.

"I..fight with you?" His voice pitched a little and he sat up in his chair, clearly not the conversation he was expecting to have.

"Yes Inigo, I mean if you really did try to kill me in the past, then you can repay me, by helping me on my travels. Besides, I could do with some company." The sorrow over Inigos' eyes washed away at your words and his expression lightened.

"Repay my debt to you, or die trying. Yes I accept!" He practically yelled in glee and bounced up from his seat. He was acting like the polar opposite to the khajiit you first saw.

"Oh, I'm guessing you know my name if you tried to kill me but I don't remember introducing myself, I'm (Y/n)!"

"I think it would be good to reintroduce ourselves under better conditions." You chuckled at his toothy grin. Something told you your journey was to be more interesting with this guy around.

Teldryn

"Kill the false Dragonborn before she reaches Solstheim...Miraak shall be most pleased."

After being approached and quickly after attacked by some pompous cultists you didn't think they were serious, the whole attire and out of the blue accusations of being a fake Dovah seemed like a ridiculous mix up. But upon reading the instructions they had on them and going to the Windhelm docks for a passage to Solstheim and then hearing of the sailors experience with cultist of a very similar experience, you decided whoever this Miraak was really did want you dead, and away from Solstheim. But once again, the threat of death had you running towards the danger.

After a few hours of a rather unenjoyable boat ride, you found yourself stepping off the ship into Raven Rock. The first thing you noticed was the thick air it was full of dust or some sort or irritating particles, either way your lungs and face weren't adapting well to this new place. Whilst you were keen on finding this Miraak who so eagerly wanted you walking in Oblivion, you decided getting in some shelter from the this ashy air and finding out some information about Solstheim would be beneficial first.

You quickly found what you suspected was an inn called the Retching Netch. Most inns had some unusual name with some "amazing" backstory to go with it that the innkeeper would happily tell to anyone, so it seemed likely to you that this was an inn. Upon entering the unusual structure you were greeted with an unexpected sweet smell and the relief of cleaner air, you went down the steps to the lower level to see the inn keeper at the bar to your right and 2 or 3 people to your right. With the irritating air you thought more people would reside inside, perhaps their used to this air you thought.

"You look out of place outlander." Your head snapped in the direction of a voice addressing you, your gaze landing on a fully armoured man sat at the corner of a table, though you weren't sure if it was him that was addressing you because he had his whole face covered.

"Hmph, is it really that obvious?" You walked closer to the table. His arms folding.

"You stagger in here like some ash spawn and gawk around the place without saying a word, I'd say that's very unusual for a resident in this ash land."  You expression fell.

"Well I'd say it's very unusual for someone in a bar to be in full armour, even a covered face!" You slightly snapped back, if he wanted to be smart two could play that game.

"In case you didn't notice this land is full of ash and quite frankly I'd like to not be inhaling it constantly even inside." Despite the oddity you couldn't argue with that, the thick air was diabolical. You stood there for a moment not really sure what to say, just realising you may have offended the locals before being here for 15 minutes. Yikes.

The man cocked his head to the side and finally broke the silence.

"Well it's clear this outlander isn't familiar with this god forsaken land, you obviously need a bit of assistance if you're going to be here long." You raised a brow, his voice was very assured, like he had said this many times. He stood up from his chair to face you.

"Teldryn Sero, blade for hire, the best swordsman in al of Morrowind is at your service. For the right price." You looked him up and down, you were quite taken back by his confident proposal of hire. Despite the abrupt offer, it didn't seem like a bad idea. You were completely unfamiliar with this land and not fond of it already, also with someone here wanting you dead perhaps it would be a good idea to have someone watch your back.

After a moment you looked up and nodded.

"Alright Teldryn Sero, and much does the best swordsman in Morrowind cost?" You smirked.

"500 gold, used to charge 5000 so you'd be getting a once in a lifetime offer." He said with the same hint of confidence. Hm, not bad for his claims, and if he helps me find this Miraak guy, all the better.

"You've got yourself a deal Sero, I'm (Y/n)"

"I can assure you won't regret this (Y/n)." That confidence is going to get annoying you thought.

#skyrim #skyrim x reader #elder scrolls #inigo the brave #inigo #inigo the brave x reader #inigo skyrim #inigo skyrim x reader #skyrim inigo #skyrim inigo x reader #teldryn sero #teldryn sero x reader #skyrim oneshots

[edenforest]

for @oryss for the send me a one word prompt and i’ll write a summary for a fic someone else should write about it thing   

groceries: A meet cute where Arya is reaching for the last box of her favourite cereal on the highest shelf at the grocery shop and a tall, surly-looking stranger wearing headphones arrives and easily grabs the box but then walks away cause it’s his favourite cereal too and she’s now ready to fight him for it

I don’t know was anyone really supposed to write a fic, but I was inspired so I did. english isn’t my first language and it’s no beta read, bc it’s the midsummer weekend and I’m a little rosé tipsy, so I don’t really care. I hope it’s not too bad and happy midsummer!

Boo Boo Bull’s Berry Bonanza

The day had been long and frustrating. Arya entered the small corner store meaning to grab some frozen meal, but when even that seemed too much work - she was no mood for poking plastic and waiting for the microwave to do its thing - she headed for the cereals. She discarded anything that looked too healthy for her, that was not what she wanted. She wanted E-colours and sugar. And when she saw the garish and yet comforting shade of nearly neon purple that was the box of Boo Boo Bull’s Berry Bonanza on the top shelf her mind was made. And as there was only one box of it, it felt like destiny.

Arya reached for the box, rose to her tiptoes and stretched her hand, fingers nearly brushing the colorful cardboard, but not quite. She huffed and flopped her hands down, quickly glancing was there a stepladder or crate or anything really she could stand on and grab her pink and purple cereal treat. There was nothing that wasn’t made out of flimsy cardboard, and she hated to go ask for help. She reached again, cursing to whoever had though shelves this tall would be a good idea. Probably some smug tall person who had no idea how frustrating not reaching something was.

Her toes were hurting and Arya had to give up. She made a low and quiet grunt before facing up the fact that she needed to find someone taller to help her. She was already leaving to find someone when a guy appeared from behind the tall piles of soda crates, seemingly suddenly, almost stopping next to him. 

He looked sturdy and surly, in a quite interesting and hot way. Black unruly hair and bright blue eyes, wearing jeans and grey t-shirt, and one of those big headphones people who took listening music seriously, or pretending to be someone who wants to look like they were taking listening music seriously, had. And he was definitely tall enough to reach the top shelf. He was probably a head taller than Arya, who had stayed the same humble size since thirteen.

She had merely opened her mouth when he had already grabbed the purple cereal box, destined to be hers, and walking away.

“Hey!” Arya was surprised she reacted so fast and even more so that the tall stranger stopped. He turned, frowning, slightly moving his headphones from one of his ears. “Those are my cereals.”

The guy looked confused. “What?”

“My cereals,” Arya repeated and pointed the purple box. “That’s mine, I was just grabbing it.”

“Well grab another.”

“There isn’t another, it was the last one.”

The guy shrugged, moved his headphones back on and turned away.

Arya could've left it. She could've. Easily. Just let the guy leave, pick another sugary cereal from the shelf. It would’ve been easy.

But she had already decided she was destined to get the Berry Bonanza, and he was being kind of rude. She took a few quick running steps, twisted herself in his way at the narrow aisle. He grunted when he had to make such a sudden stop, and yanked his headphones down, to dangle on his neck.

“What’s your problem?”

“That's my cereals,” Arya said between her teeth. “Pick some other brand. I want the Berry Bonanza.”

“Are you five or something?” The guy asked, raking his black mop of a hair, looking frustrated. “I grabbed it, it’s my box.”

“I was reaching it first, you just grabbed it in front of my nose while I was asking could you hand it to me because I couldn't reach it.”

“Listen, lady, I don’t know what your deal is but I took the box from the self fair and square. So could you please step away from my way?”

“I’m not a lady.”

“I don’t really care to be honest.”

Arya gritted her teeth, her hands balled into fists. She wanted that cereal box and she was ready to fight for it if it came to that. But then he was sort of huge and looked super stubborn, so quickly she changed her strategy, she was nothing if not adaptable.

“Listen, I’m sorry,” Arya sighed. “I am just having a bad day and Boo Boo Bull’s Berry Bonanza is sort of comfort food for me.”

The guy made the kind of small hmph that indicated that he understood her.

“Could you maybe find it in your heart to let me have this one,” she asked, making a slightly awkward little smile, played innocent and fragile like she was a baby bird.

The guy frowned slightly deeper, Arya could see him starting to crack. He glanced the box and Arya made a slightly sad face.

“I'm just a dainty girl. I need the sustenance,” she muttered and tried her hardest to look like maybe she would wither away if she wouldn’t eat pink and purple cereals right now.

His face tensed up immediately. “There is nothing dainty about you.”

“What?”

“You look like you probably start bar fights,” the guy accused. “Like you probably have a knife in your bag.”

Arya eyed her gym bag in which she definitely had the switchblade Jon had given her. “Well, what if I have? I still want my Berry Bonanza.” She tried to grab the box. The guy pulled it away and tried to swat her further like she was a fly.

“You are really a pain in the arse, has anybody ever told you that?”

“All the time.”

“Get out my way!”

“Give me my Boo Boo!”

“What you are gonna do, fight for it?”

***

The day had been long and frustrating. Gendry leaned his head against the grey tile wall behind him. He had just wanted some comfort and sugar into his system. It was going to be just a quick trip to the corner store to grab his cereals and head out. “I can’t believe I got arrested because of cereals,” he muttered.

The girl sitting a few chairs away, on the same hard plastic chairs snorted. “No one’s arrested, you’re exaggerating.”

“Well we are at the police station,” Gendry pointed out the obvious. “And the shop owner is still trying to decide if he's going to sue, so it’s not really exaggerating.” He peered at the girl, her arms were crossed and she was scowling him back. She was annoying. And insanely cute with her big grey eyes and perky ponytail, soft pink pursed lips, looking healthy like she had just left the gym. Her hair looked still slightly damp from the shower. She probably smelled really nice if he would lean in closer. He wasn’t going to, though, she had almost gotten him arrested. And now her cuteness was distracting him from her annoyingness.

“He is not gonna sue,” she said. “It’s not like anything even happened. Though if he for some reason is going to sue, that’s going to be on you, because you were the one who knocked down the flat of pasta sauce.”

“Because you basically tackled me!”

She just huffed. “I barely touched you. A slight shove. A slight.”

Gendry shook his head and turned away from her. He couldn't believe that he was at the police station because of that stupid box of cereals.

The younger of the two officers that had arrived at the shop was approaching them. Gendry was happy it wasn't the tall blonde. She had been scary. He in the other hand seemed relaxed and the kind of person who would understand that sometimes even good people were pulled into weird situations, because of other, smaller and crazier people. Gendry straightened his back.

“The owner has decided not to press charges,” the officer said.

Gendry sighed. He glanced at the girl, who was peering him back again, looked like she wanted to say I told you so, but also secretly relieved. “But you need to pay for the damage you caused -”

“Of course.”

“- and you are both apparently barred for the shop.”

“Fair enough.”

“I think that’s an overreaction.”

“Please shut up.”

“Then there is this,” the officer said and lifted the nearly neon purple Boo Boo Bull’s Berry Bonanza box.

“It’s mine,” she said quickly.

“No, it’s not,” Gendry claimed.

“I bought it.”

Gendry scowled at her when she reached her hand and the officer handed the cereal box to her. She looked cute even while incredibly smug.

“Please get out of here,” the officer sighed.

***

Arya marched out of the police station, keeping her pace brisk, cradling her cereal box against her chest like an artificial berry flavored child.

“You didn’t buy it,” he said as soon as he entered behind her, and Arya spun to face him, then turned quickly back into walking.

“Pretty sure I did.”

“You grabbed it from me when they were already escorting us out, threw a tenner to the cashier and shouted keep the change,” He squinted at her with his eyes narrowed to thin lines. “It was a dick move.”

Arya jiggled her cereal box. “It worked.”

“Still a dick move.”

She stopped and sighed. He looked still so surly, and Arya felt sort of guilty for all the trouble they had gone through because of the box of cereals. “Listen, I’m sorry,” she said. “I know I said it before, but that was clearly an act. But now I’m being serious. I’m sorry that all this happened. And I’m sure you think I’m a crazy person. But I’m not, I’m quite nice actually.” His brow cocked up like he was doubting her. “But I really needed some pick me up today and when I moved here to attend uni I practically lived on Berry Bonanza like three years. It helped me then and it’s gonna help me now. I’m sure you don’t care about it, but in case you do, just know that this box and these sort of disgusting cereals mean the world to me.”

The guy looked like he considered what to say for a moment and then nodded. “It’s fine, it’s just cereals. Maybe I can find some other place that sells them.”

“I think this it’s too late for that,” Arya said, feeling suddenly apologetic.

He shrugged. “Well, what can you do.”

“And you probably grew up eating these, so you have had your fair share. We didn’t have these up North.”

“Yeah,” he admitted, and for the first time, his face softened. “My mom bought them for me for a special treat. Nothing really makes you feel like five years old with no cares in the world than drinking that purple leftover milk from the bowl.” There was a hint of a smile on his lips. “He used to… call me his little bullhead.” A shade of pink flushed his cheeks after that and he clearly regretted saying that last part.

Arya hummed, cracked a smile for him. He was really cute. “I guess you just have to go visit your mom and hope that she has some in her cupboards.”

His eyes dropped from hers and he shrugged again. “She died when I was seven so probably not.”

Arya’s face sank and the hand holding the box relaxed to hang limp against her side. He didn’t look like he was making it up or even saying things just to appeal her emotions. “I can’t believe you just played the dead mom card.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, I just -

“I know.” Aya sighed, glanced the garish purple box and then handed it towards him. “Just take it.”

“What?”

“Take it before I change my mind. I’m not gonna take cereals from someone who bought them because of their dead mom. I’m not a monster.” He didn’t move, just looked at her, so finally, Arya shook her hand and the box rattled. He reached to take it from her. “Enjoy,” she muttered.

“Thanks.”

Arya looked at the box in his big hands. “I’m gonna miss you.”

“Oh, well…”

“I was clearly talking to the box,” Arya said when he looked so awkward suddenly. “I mean I was looking at it. You better take good care of it.”

He shook his head, but the corners of his lips were tugging up.

Arya didn’t know what to say anymore, there wasn’t much to say. They had met. They had fought over cereals and almost got arrested. Now they parted their ways. She made weird twitch with her shoulders when waving felt too much and turned to leave.

“I live a few blocks away.”

Arya turned back to face him.

“And I have milk.” He looked surly again, but differently than before, like he didn't quite know what to do and it was annoying him. “You wanna grab a… bowl?”

Arya hadn’t looked the time, but it was already dark and she was standing in the street, in front of the police station and a hot stranger she had had a brawl with was inviting her to a bowl of cereals. It was not the way she had thought to spend her night. “Don’t you have any friends to spend time with?”

“...no.”

“Of course you don’t. You have no mom and no friends. How’s your dad?”

“Never met him.”

“I really walked into that one, didn’t I?”

He snorted, his smile was baring his teeth. Arya shook her head, trying not to smile herself.

“Well lead the way, I guess,” she said, moving towards him, her mind made. She would now have to be his friend. He had no other and he had her favorite cereals already. They started walking further down the street. “I’m Arya. Do you have a name, sad boy?”

“Gendry. And I’m not sad.”

“Please, it’s like you were built in a sad-angry-hot-boy-factory. Here, let me help and carry those.” Her hand reached toward the box, almost grabbing it while he looked surprised she had accidentally let slip out the fact that she thought he was hot. But Arya couldn't imagine he wouldn't already know it, surely there had been girls telling him that before. At the last moment, he managed to gather himself and pull the box away from her reach.

“Nice try.”

“I wasn’t going to steal them.”

“Sure.”

“I wasn't. And I can’t, because technically they are mine. I bought them.”

“With a dick move.”

“And real money.”

“This should be considered a tie because I bought the milk.”

“I doubt the milk cost ten dragons.”

“Neither did the cereals. Paying that much was your own choice.”

“It was the only bill I had! I’m just lucky I didn’t end up paying more.”

He laughed, looked at her in a weirdly soft way Arya wasn’t sure anyone had ever looked at her before. She could just feel how she would end up work tomorrow wearing what she was wearing right now, having Berry Bonanza for breakfast, and probably a hickey on her neck.

#arya stark #gendrya #gendry #gendrya positivity #game of thrones #gendry waters #my writing #fanfic

[captain-yeet]

Oh No, He’s Hot - Part 2

Pairing: Felix x Reader

Summary: Felix had little interest in dealing with the Cullens and their human pet. But all that changes when he lays eyes on her, and now he’s just a little more attentive to the mission.

Warnings: Some angst. I am fueled by the stuff.

\Part one here/ Masterlist

Summary:

Felix had little interest in dealing with the Cullens and their human pet. But all that changes when he lays eyes on her, and now he's just a little more attentive to the mission.

Felix's POV:

Aro had given them clear orders; investigate the Newborns in Seattle, check in with the Cullens to see if Bella Swan was still human. When Demetri made contact with Aro and informed him of the connection between the golden eyed coven and the small army of new vampires, he urged them to observe and see if they would fall. While he would be disappointed with the death of the gifted Cullens and the fact that he wouldn't be able to add them to his guard - his "collection" - he would be more than happy to see them fall. After all, him and Carlisle were not on good terms after he left them in Volterra.

So they kept watch.

And by God, Felix found the whole situation frustrating.

His training as a guard and executioner of the Volturi was screaming at him to take care of the Newborn army, it was their job. They weren't being conspicuous, they were murdering humans with no care in the world and it was the Volturi's job - his job - to dispose of vampires like them. But whenever he brought up his concerns, Jane used her ability on him.

So he travelled through the forest in a foul mood alongside his companions, seething slightly on the inside at how the witch twins wouldn't act and do something about the Newborns. Alec could easily use his powers and we'd have this mission completed within minutes. Absolutely ridiculous.

Felix was itching for this mission to be over, feeling quite fed up with the entire situation and his travelling companions' responses to events.

When they entered the clearing, the Cullens were awaiting them, tense and cautious. Felix zoned out and glanced around at the mess around them. Broken branches lay scattered around the grassy area, a rock had been cracked from what he gathered was someone being thrown into it. The pyre with all the Newborn bodies was burning brightly to the side of the two groups. He couldn't deny that he was impressed by how well they managed to handle themselves, but he'd never admit it out loud.

"My my, it appears you've let another human in on our secret," Jane's voice broke him out of his bored train of thought.

Another human? he grumbled to himself internally, gritting his teeth. Do they know no sense of secrecy?

The Cullens tensed up, Carlisle's mate and the blonde female standing protectively in front of another figure who he assumed was the second human. It was the blonde who spoke next. "She is of no danger to the exposure of our kind," she stated firmly, glaring Jane down, "leave her be."

"Let us be the judge of that," Demetri responded, smirking slightly at the blonde, who only glared harder.

A soft voice came from behind the female. "It's okay, I can handle it," it whispered.

The figure moved from behind the two protective Cullens and stepped forward. A young woman stood before them, jaw clenched tight. Her clothes were tattered and battle-worn, and Felix smelled the scent of blood on her, making a mental note that she smelt particularly nice. E/C eyes stared intently at Jane, her brows raised as if to say let's get his over with.

"Who are you?" Jane asked, slipping into her interrogation stance quickly.

"My name is Y/N," the woman spoke clearly, keeping her head high.

"And what business does a human have consorting with our kind?"

Her eyes flickered nervously between each of his companions, landing on him last. Felix straightened up a little, a feeling of complete intoxication taking over him. It was foreign, but... pleasant. He tried to brush it off, narrowing his eyes at the girl before him and steeling himself. Settle down, he grumbled again. Get a hold of yourself, idiota.

The girl's face turned a little red, blood rushing to her cheeks. "I came to assist the Cullens in their fight against the Newborns," she stated, clenching her fists tightly.

Demetri and Alec let out low chuckles that only a vampire's ears could hear. Jane however was not amused, letting out an indignant "Hmph" of a noise.

"She speaks the truth Jane," said Carlisle, his golden eyes darting from Jane to the human in question with worry.

"And pray tell us," Alec inquire, amused by his sister's reaction, "what are your gifts dear Y/N?"

The human took a shaky breath, looking back at Edward Cullen for a moment, who gave a slight nod. Felix's curiosity was burning by this point. She inhaled deeply, raising her hands with her palms facing upwards. A rumble of thunder echoed abruptly in the sky above them, and the human girl's hands lit up with searingly bright lightning. She raised her head a little higher, standing tall and her eyes began to change from their natural colour to the same glowing hue of blue as the lightning in her hands.

In all his years of living both as a human and his current life as a vampire, Felix had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

"You seem to have a habit of collecting gifted young ones, Carlisle!" Demetri called out, an amused look on his face.

Felix only just registered what his friend had said; in this moment, he only had eyes for the human in front of him, her powers subsiding as she lowered her hands. A mix of emotions were rushing through him, part of him wanted to go to her despite knowing that that would be rather unorthodox of him to do, considering the situation. What he wanted to do if he did that? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that she was fascinating to him, and that he wished no harm on her. It was like there was a physical rope lassoed around him, yanking hard to pull him closer to her.

With a feeling of dread and an astonished thought of oh shit, Felix came to the realization that this had to be his mate. What other reason could there be for this reaction? He'd certainly never felt this pull to any other human, or even any vampires he'd met.

A sudden laugh snapped him out of his deep thinking.

"What is it, Cullen?" Jane hissed, irritated by the obnoxious outburst.

The source of the laugh was the Cullen's mind-reader, who looked very amused. His human mate beside him stared as if he'd grown two heads. "It's amusing, how part of your intention was to check to see if my mate was still human, when one of yours has just found a human mate himself."

Felix felt himself tense up. Don't you speak another word, Cullen, if you're implying what I think you are...

Edward merely looked at him with a smug look on his face.

"I beg your bloody pardon, Eddy?" the human snapped, glaring at the mind-reader with a look of confusion and disbelief.

He didn't reply to her, now gesturing to Felix. "Why don't you share with everyone, Felix?" he challenged.

The cocky, self-satisfied tone in his voice set off a low growl from Felix, all eyes now on him. If he was still human, he was sure he'd be red in the face by now. "It's true," he admitted.

"What?" Jane hissed, glaring at him with the burning fury of a thousand suns.

He couldn't meet anyone's eyes; not Jane's or the other in his group, not any of the Cullens (most definitely not Edward's), so he looked at the human. "I feel the mating pull towards her."

Growls and hisses erupted in the clearing, making the human, Y/N, jump, her eyes widening in fear. Carlisle pulled her back, keeping his hands on her shoulders while his mate - Esme, he believed her name was - stepped closer to her. Felix felt some annoyance at the Cullen patriarch; he should be the one to do that, pull the girl away from the tension. He briefly imagined himself wrapping his arms around the scared little human, the thought almost bringing a dumb boyish smile to his face.

Y/N looked back from seeing who had pulled her back to stare at Felix, wide eyed and open mouthed. He couldn't tell if the look on her face was one of fear because of him, or fear of the situation in general. Regardless, he felt a little crestfallen.

"This is... unexpected," Jane broke the growls and hissing, sounding monotone. "We will have to consult with Aro for further course of action. But know this, Y/N," she added, looking directly at Y/N. "Gifted or not, you're still a human who knows of our kind. You won't stay human for long, you can count on that."

Felix whipped his head around to glare at the witch girl, the urge to throw her as far as he could across the clearing building rapidly.

Then again, when didn't he feel like doing that? Felix wasn't exactly fond of Jane, to say the least - Alec on the other hand was at least tolerable.

"So be it," Y/N replied calmly, distracting him from his aggressive thoughts, "but please, don't try to intimidate me with petty threats, kid."

Felix fought to contain a smirk. Oh yeah, I'm taken with her, he concluded. This human girl had the audacity to stand up to Jane - Jane, of all people - and that, was something he admired greatly. She was a feared member of the Volturi, one of the highest ranking officers, and here this human was defying her.

It was practically love at first sight.

Jane on the other hand was not as impressed, making a move toward his mate. The look in her eyes was one he knew well, as he'd seen it many times before she'd use her abilities on some poor wretched being. And also himself.

Don't you dare.

Felix quickly grabbed one of her shoulders, as did Alec. "Let us continue with what we came here to do," Felix reminded her, glancing quickly from Jane to Y/N, who's stoic resolve was slowly breaking. He could hear her heart hammering away in her chest hard.

Jane tensed. Then a smile appeared on her face, a tight-lipped one. She turned her rage onto another - a Newborn who one of the Cullen males stood with. "You missed one."

She began interrogating the girl, using her powers maliciously and smirking when the Newborn fell to the ground screaming. The Cullen's leaders tried to argue for the girl's asylum, saying that they'd take her in as one of their own. Jane however, had made her mind up.

Without sparing a glance at him, Jane blandly stated "Take care of that Felix, I wish to go home."

And so he did. It was his job. Being the executioner of the Volturi, this was his purpose. After he had taken the Newborn's life and had finished disposing of the pieces, he met Y/N's horrified eyes. A pang of regret went through him as he studied her face, clearly shaken by what he'd done. If someone had asked Felix if there was a kill he'd regretted a week prior to this moment, he'd have laughed and said. "Regret? Please, I harbour no regrets."

Now though? He would say this one was a kill he'd regret, not due to caring about the deceased, definitely not, but solely due to it being the cause of his human mate's fearful gaze directed at him. And it shattered him on the inside, completely and beyond a shadow of doubt in his mind.

#twilight saga #twilight imagines #felix volturi x reader #volturi #volturi imagines #felix volturi #twilight saga imagines #jane volturi #esme cullen #carlisle cullen #volturi x reader #my fics

[marypsue]

That Old Black Magic

I have no idea what the overlap is between these two fandoms, if there even is any besides me, but I wrote nearly five thousand words of Beth as a Discworld witch and by god I'm gonna share them.

Warning for major injury - nothing too graphic, but it's a big part of one scene.

I'm also on AO3 as MaryPSue!

...

It has been said, by educated men, that no two snowflakes are ever exactly alike.

This may be true*. It's also true, however, that every snowflake is made of the same stuff.

The witches of the Discworld are as many and varied as snowflakes**. Like snowflakes, though, no matter how unique, they share a few things in common. Magic, for one. And a tendency to wear black.

It isn’t a rule, exactly. Such things rarely are. Plenty of witches don’t wear black, and plenty of people who wear black aren’t witches. But it's understood, in much the same way as babies are understood to cry, that wearing black comes with the job.

In the recorded history of the Discworld, there have been five witches noted for wearing white. Three of them have been Weatherwaxes. 

Miss Elizabeth Sanchez wasn't one of them, yet, though it wasn't for lack of trying.

The village of Lower Bottom, nestled in the foothills of the formidable Ramtops, had been proud to say it had steaded a witch since the Century of the Desiccated Armadillo, if not before. Its inhabitants had seen their share of witches, their own and their neighbours', and many of them liked to fancy they knew a thing or two about the profession***. Miss Sanchez, with her white robes, foreign-sounding name, and city education, defied all of them. She didn't even wear the hat.

_____

*At least, no one's going to check their work.

**Although, like snowflakes, too many of them in one place end up looking like an indistinguishable mass, and prevent innocent bystanders from getting to work on time.

***In much the same way as anyone at a California cocktail party fancies they know a thing or two about writing.

_____

"It ain't right, Gytha," was the verdict delivered by an unimpressed Granny Weatherwax, at the Witch Trials the first year Miss Sanchez deigned to attend. "Her puttin' on airs like that. It'll draw...attention." She nodded, once, and settled back in the comfortable chair she'd located in a shady spot and glared at its former inhabitants for until they'd suddenly remembered they had urgent business elsewhere.

Gytha Ogg, also known as Nanny, opened her mouth to remind her best friend about a certain ball they'd both attended under false pretences, thought better of it, and took a big bite of the pickle she was holding instead*.

"She says it's for doctorin'," she said, at last, spraying bits of pickle flesh at the world at large. "So if she's tendin' to a sick cow what's got tiny demons in its blood, you can see she don't wear that same blood in to doctor your wean." She took another thoughtful gnaw on her pickle, her sharp eyes looking past the pen where two witches were throwing punes, or plays on words, back and forth at each other, to the distinct pale shape leaning against the fence on the other side. Nanny knew, from personal observation, that Beth Sanchez' white duds were at least as worn, stained, and well-scrubbed as the black dresses and robes of any other witch at the Trials, but from a distance, against all that black, the figure she cut was certainly impressive.

"Hmph," Granny said, folding her arms across her chest. "What, she's sayin' we ain't clean?"

"I...don't think that was it, Esme," Nanny said, carefully. "She's got a bit of that Magrat about her, all that messin' with herbs and potions. Wants things to be scientific."

The snort Granny let out said, it seemed, everything she thought on the matter.

"Science," she said, at last, as the pune-battle ended and the two witches were led off to a smattering of applause. "Huh. What good's that ever done anyone?"

_____

*Which, considering the state of Nanny's teeth, was no mean feat.

_____

Beth Sanchez, as Nanny Ogg had observed, was a great believer in science.

Not necessarily in practising it, or in exercising its methodology. She held a firm and unswayable belief in Science, like some people believe in gods or the moon or the innate worthiness of the rich, as an essential truth of the universe. Beth Sanchez believed in Science the way children believe in the Hogfather.

In any other person, this might have been a character flaw. But Beth was a witch, and, being a witch, she knew a thing or two about belief.

The potions she dosed out to the people of Lower Bottom for various ailments had a tendency to be poisonous colours, and occasionally glowed. But they worked, almost instantly, which was something even Granny Weatherwax couldn’t always say. Often with unexpected side-effects, but no one could say that what they’d got from their witch was anything other than exactly what they’d asked for*.

It had taken time for Lower Bottom to come around to their new witch’s...unconventional habits, but for the most part, come around they had. Old Goody Whitmore, who had held the stead for as long as anyone still living could remember, had been a traditional witch in every sense of the word, but her idea of doctoring had consisted mostly of ‘put a poultice on it and call me in the morning’. The inhabitants of Lower Bottom had quickly decided that they could put up with the idiosyncrasies of the new witch in exchange for a near-50% increase in recovery rates**.

Beth, for her part, had been lucky to land the steading in Lower Bottom. One of the strikes against her in the eyes of the townsfolk was that she hadn’t, as her name suggested, grown up around Lancre. She hadn’t apprenticed under a local witch, or even a witch close enough by to call ‘local’ to an Ankh-Morporkian. 

She had not, in point of fact, even intended to go into witchcraft. 

Beth had been interested in magic, since long before she’d been sent to the Quirm College for Young Ladies, where a string of teachers had all done their best to stifle that interest and had all failed miserably. She'd devoured books and articles on magical theory, asked probing questions of the maths teachers, and spent inordinate amounts of time doing unspeakable things involving doves and white rabbits. But her application to Unseen University had been summarily rejected. Wizarding, even after all that messy business with the girl and the staff, was still considered no proper occupation for a woman***.

And so Beth had found herself in the last place she'd ever expected to end up, living in a ramshackle cottage in a flyspeck of a village in the back end of nowhere, wiping runny noses and bandaging boo-boos for the entire village. In a way, it was like having children, if you had upward of a hundred of them and all of them, even the fully-grown ones, came running to you at the slightest stirring of trouble, expecting you to fix it as a matter of course and ask nothing in return. Some days Beth had to ask herself why she even bothered.

But then, sometimes, when she least expected it, the job reminded her.

_____

*Well, they could say it, but...

**Though anyone who had been a frequent purchaser of Goody Whitmore’s famous love potions quickly learned not to broach the subject with their new witch.

***There were, of course, a few enlightened thinkers among the faculty, but given that their push to include female students had included a lot of caveats involving tight sweaters and the placement of closures on official department robes, hedge-witchcraft started to look very good in comparison. No-one really cared if a witch wore a tight sweater while she stuck both arms up a cow's most personal parts to haul a particularly recalcitrant calf out into the world or reattached an unlucky lumberjack's severed limb, and most people would take one look at Granny Weatherwax or Nanny Ogg and agree that the best placement for closures on official robes was 'as high up and as often as possible'.

_____

"Miss! Come quick!"

Beth looked up from the patch of weeds she was still, in the face of all the evidence, calling a garden. Ronnie Beetham's oldest was flying up her garden path, gangly limbs flapping all over, so that the impression was of quite a bit more frantic motion than one adolescent boy should be able to produce on his own.

He skidded to a stop beside Beth's turnips, or at least the place where she'd planted turnips, breathing hard and leaning heavily against his knees with both hands. Beth rose to her feet and stepped over what had once been rows of strawberries and now could, perhaps, be generously called a strawberry patch. "What's the matter, Ollie?"

"You got - to come - miss," Oliver Beetham panted out. "Da - the threshing machine - it's his arm -"

Beth didn't need to hear any more. "Ollie," she said, placing a steadying hand on the boy's shoulder and mustering all the clarity and confidence she had to her voice, "go run back and tell them I'm coming. Get your ma to put a pot of water on to boil. Then find me some towels or clean rags. Can you do that?"

Ollie, still gulping air like it was water, looked up and met Beth's eyes. After a moment, he seemed to gather the presence of mind to nod.

Beth smiled.

"Good," she said. "Go. I'm right behind you."

Ollie tore off back down the garden path, elbows flailing, and Beth hiked up her skirts and ran for the cottage. Her big black bag sat just behind the door, beside the umbrella stand, for occasions just such as this one. Beth didn't stop for longer than it took to scoop the bag up, not bothering even to check that the cottage door banged shut behind her. Anyone stupid enough to try to steal from a witch - even an odd one - deserved whatever they got*.

Ronnie Beetham, Beth knew, considered himself something of an inventor. The rest of Lower Bottom mostly considered him a damn fool, but Beth liked him. She really hoped that whichever of his inventions he'd fallen afoul of this time hadn't done any damage she couldn't repair.

_____

*Usually, a couple of badly-tarnished silver teaspoons, the odd trinket or two, and sometimes a root vegetable. Witchcraft wasn't a profession that anyone went into expecting to get rich.

_____

Ronnie Beetham's arm had, in fact, been caught in his threshing machine. This would have been less of a problem if the threshing machine were anything more than a row of very large spinning blades.

There was blood all over the walls.

Someone had, thankfully, had the presence of mind to turn the machine off, so Beth wasn't also spattered with blood as she came through the door. Ronnie was on the floor in the middle of the room, back leaned against the leg of his workbench, looking as pale as Beth's dress and cradling his right arm in his left. There was a cloth wrapped around it that Beth was fairly sure hadn't started the day that shade of crimson. It glistened obscenely.

"Let me see," Beth said, kneeling in the sawdust next to him, heedless of the red soaking into her skirt. Her hands were still dripping from the quick wash she'd done at the pump, and she absently dried them on her skirts.

Ronnie Beetham looked up, met her eyes, and, mutely, unwrapped the cloth from his right arm.

Even Beth couldn't help but wince. Fingers weren't meant to flap loose like that.

"All right," she said, turning to dig in her big black bag and swallowing the bile that rose in her throat. "Ollie, how's your mother coming with that boiling water?"

With impeccable narrative timing, Euphemia Beetham chose that moment to step into the workshop with a big copper pot under one arm, looking almost as pale as her husband.

"It happened so fast," she babbled, as she set the pot down on the anvil by Ronnie's little forge, where Beth knew he built and adjusted the fiddly bits of inventions he didn't trust the smith with. "He just reached to calibrate a wobbly blade - we'll have to scrub this whole room, how will I ever get all the blood off of everything is what I want to know, if we leave it it'll just rust -"

"Mrs. Beetham," Beth said, firmly, but Mrs. Beetham went on like she hadn't heard.

"...and I'll have to replace all this sawdust, of course..."

"Euphemia," Beth said, sternly, in her best, most authoritative voice. Finally, the woman stopped talking, blinking at Beth like a trapped animal. Beth took a deep breath in, deliberately softening her voice. It wouldn't help anyone to have Mrs. Beetham melt down into tears right now. "Thank you for the water. I need you to do one more thing for me. Go out and find me a stone about the size and shape of your husband's fist. Take your time if you must, but find one as close to the real thing as you can. Once you've found it, go and bury it in the dead centre of your garden, as deep as you can manage. Can you do that?"

Mrs. Beetham blinked a few times more, and for a second, Beth thought she might dissolve into tears anyway. But she held Beth's gaze, and after a moment, nodded, before turning and practically sprinting for the door.

"Are you..." Ronnie Beetham asked, through gritted teeth, and Beth turned back to him, startled. She hadn't thought he was in any shape to follow what was going on, let alone speak. "Are you...going to put...the pain...into the stone...?"

"Ronnie, that's a damn good idea," Beth said, drawing needle and thread from her big black bag. She didn't tell him that she'd sent Euphemia Beetham on a fool's errand to get her out of the sickroom and give her something to occupy her mind, some purpose to make her feel useful, to keep her from having the hysterics she'd clearly been ready to fall into. If she did tell him, Ronnie might not trust her, and then all of this would be a great deal harder than necessary. Especially the part where she put his pain into the stone. "If you hadn't been an inventor, you might've made a fine witch. Now, hold still there for me for a moment."

Ollie was busy wringing out rags into the copper pot. He started when Beth came up behind him with her needle and thread, dropping a rag into the sawdust. "Miss! I boiled the rags, miss, like I seen you done when you delivered our Charlotte." He held out the bowl they lay in like an offering, and Beth couldn't help but smile as she took it.

"Very well done, Ollie, that'll help keep - uh - 'tiny demons' from getting into your father's blood." She took the rags, and then, feeling a sudden rush of something she couldn't quite name, "Go get your father some good thick blankets, will you? I can manage here."

"I've got a strong stomach, miss," Oliver Beetham said, looking so solemn that for a moment Beth almost caved.

Instead, she patted him on the shoulder with the hand holding needle and thread. "I'm sure you do, Ollie. Thank you for all your help. But none of us should have to have a strong stomach when it comes to our own parents. Go get the blankets, then run and help your ma. I'm sure she could use your strong young arms to help dig that hole."

Ollie still didn't look convinced, so Beth added, "I'll yell if I need you."

"You really will, miss?" Ollie asked, sounding doubtful, and Beth barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.

"I really will, Ollie. I may be a witch, but even witches have only so many hands. Now go."

She watched as Ollie raced for the door, then turned back to considering the best way to sterilise needle and thread without scalding her fingers.

Ronnie, who had been watching her the whole time with the peculiar blank expression of someone sitting atop a plateau of pain, said, "Am I...going to lose...my hand?"

"Not if I can help it," Beth said, finally settling for holding the ends of the thread and using it to dangle the needle in the pot point-first. "And, Ronnie, I can help it."

She pulled the needle from the pot. It glinted sharp in the workshop's golden light as Beth settled it atop the freshly-washed rags. Ronnie Beetham took one look at it, and his good left hand went scrabbling for his breast pocket.

Beth crossed the room and knelt back down beside him, carefully unwrapping the blood-soaked cloth from around his right hand. The damage was bad, almost more startling now that she could get a proper look at it, but already she could see where and how the repairs needed to be done.

She held a hand out for the flask Ronnie had found in the depths of his vest, and he handed it to her with a gentleness that was either reverence or weakness from blood loss and shock. "Gonna...use it...t'clean th'wound?" he slurred, and Beth smiled in his direction before tossing back a slug of Euphemia Beetham's horrible homebrew.

"In a manner of speaking," she said, once the taste had been sufficiently burned out of her mouth by the alcohol. "Oh, don't look so worried, Ronnie, you know me. You know how good I am at this."

She handed the flask back to him, and picked up a rag with her left hand, the needle with her right. 

"This will hurt," she said.

_____

_____

Oliver found Beth out by the pump, where she was washing her hands. The blood had got under her fingernails and dried there. It always seemed to do that, no matter how short she kept her nails. Perhaps once Ronnie was back on his feet she'd ask him to mock up something like a little brush for scrubbing underneath them.

"That was some fine stitching you done there, miss," Ollie said, so quiet that at first Beth didn't hear him over the water.

"Wh- oh. Thank you, Ollie." Beth was almost too tired to smile at the boy. She wasn't sure how long she'd been in that workshop, stitching, but she did know it had been hours. All she wanted was her own bed.

It was because she was so tired that it took her longer than usual to notice the way Ollie was fidgeting. "Your da will be fine," she said, already dreaming about a hot cup of tea. "He might have to leave the fine needlework to your ma from now on, but he'll use his hand again. Don't worry."

"I'm not, miss. I know you're the best," Ollie stated, matter-of-factly, not seeming to notice that he'd just become Beth's new favourite person. He wrung the bottom of his shirt in both hands as he said, "I was wondering, miss, how it was that you became a witch, miss?"

Beth blinked at him.

"When the steading came open, a friend recommended me," she said. And then, with an idea of what this was really about slowly creeping up on her, added, "But the usual way is to apprentice yourself to another witch."

Ollie twisted and twisted the bottom of his shirt until Beth worried it might tear.

"Would you consider taking an apprentice, miss?" he asked the dirt at his feet.

"I'm barely more than an apprentice myself, Ollie," Beth said. "But - there may be someone around with an opening. The best place to start asking would be at the Witch Trials next summer, but I can start to put the word out that someone around here is looking."

Ollie's smile was incandescent.

"Thank you, miss!" he said, and then, a little belatedly, "Can I make you a cup of tea, miss?"

"Thank you, Ollie, but I need to get home and have a proper wash-up," Beth sighed, brushing back a stray lock of hair from her face. She moved to dry her hands on her skirts, but, realising what a stiff, sticky mess of rapidly-drying blood they'd become, opted to shake her hands dry as best she could instead. "May I ask you, why the sudden interest in witchcraft?"

Oliver Beetham took so long to answer that at first, Beth thought he wasn't going to.

" 'tain't sudden, miss," he said, in a very small voice. "I seen you deliver our Charlotte, miss. We still got our ma - and now our da's still got his hand - because of you, miss."

"But why not medicine, then? Or wizardry, if you've got an interest in magic? Why witchcraft?"

Ollie bobbed his head from side to side. "What doctor's going to bother with us out here, miss? And what's a wizard going to do, miss, poof it all better? What's all that going to cost us, miss?"

When Beth didn't answer right away, Ollie turned beetroot-red to the tips of his ears and turned his gaze back onto the ground. "Pardon me if I spoke outta line, miss."

"No-o-o," Beth said, slowly. "You've just given me something to think about, that's all. Thank you, Ollie." 

Oliver Beetham nodded, and then, as if finally sensing that this might not be the time or place, turned and scarpered, leaving Beth standing alone with blood drying in her skirts and her hands dripping.

_____

_____

Dusk was gathering over the mountains as Beth dragged herself up the garden path to the cottage, only a few last glimmers of purple light trapped between the peaks. Her big black bag felt like it was stuffed with lead, her boots even more so. 

The cottage seemed somehow smaller and darker than usual in the fading light, the moss covering the roof like a huge, lumpy beast hunched over the building. It was not the most inviting thing to come home to at the end of a day like the one she’d just had. 

The big black bag hit the floor as soon as she crossed the threshold, landing back in its place beside the umbrella stand. She’d replace the needle and thread in the morning. She’d just have to hope that nobody else needed emergency surgery in the middle of the night.

Beth shuffled down the hall and turned left into the kitchen, taking the matches from their place above the fireplace. She knelt, reaching for the kindling - and then froze.

Somewhere in the darkness of the parlour, something had just moved.

Beth straightened, slowly, grabbing a piece of wood off the pile she kept in the basket by the fireplace. As weapons went, it wasn’t a particularly good one, but she’d never felt the need to have anything better on hand. Most people weren’t big enough idiots enough to break into a witch’s cottage. 

“You were cursed the moment you stepped across the threshold,” she said, weighing the split log in her hand. At least it was heavy enough to do some damage, if whoever was in there got within reach. “I’m the only person who can remove it -”

“Do - do you feed that line of bullshit to all your visitors?” a familiar voice sawed out of the parlour, and Beth dropped the log out of sheer surprise. It clattered against the flagstones, the only sound in the sudden silence.

“Dad?”

Beth’s father unfolded himself from one of the two mismatched chairs, sauntering into the kitchen with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his white wizard’s robes. “Hey, uh, Beth. Long time no see.”

“I haven’t seen you since Quirm,” Beth agreed. It took her a minute to gather up her wits, to remember how cold and dark the cottage around her was. She crouched down and grabbed a handful of kindling, tossing it into the fireplace. “Sorry, this place is a mess - if I’d known you were coming -”

Before she could even reach for the matches, a fire burst to life in the hearth, green flames licking up around her battered tin kettle. Beth straightened up again, looking over at her father, who still had both hands in his pockets.

“Thought you were a witch,” he said, and Beth felt the tips of her ears burn.

“Tea?” she asked, rather than respond to that, crossing the kitchen to light the gas lamp in the window. She pulled the pot and two chipped cups from the cupboard beside the window, turning towards the icebox for the milk. 

“Nahhh,” her dad said, and Beth returned the teapot and one of the mugs directly back into the cupboard without breaking stride. “Do you - don’t you keep any - any booze in this dump?”

Beth drew in a deep breath.

“I do not,” she admitted, turning back towards the fireplace, and her father. “What, uh, what brings you all the way up here? I thought it was too far to visit.”

“Oh, yeah, it is,” her dad agreed. “This place is in the middle of - of - of nowhere. Hate to see you wasting your potential in a shithole like this.” He pulled a hand out of his pocket, waving what at first glance Beth thought was a handkerchief, and then realised was an envelope. “Which is why I’m here.”

Beth managed to stifle her questions before she started blithering. Either the letter her father handed over to her would answer them all, or it wouldn’t. Regardless, she would look stupid asking questions if she literally had the answers in her hands. And if there was one thing her father had neither time nor patience for, it was stupidity.

There was nothing written on the front of the envelope, but the heavy purple wax seal on the back was stamped with two interlocking “U”s. For a moment, Beth felt as though she’d been frozen, fixed in a solid block of ice, unable to move or even breathe.

“You planning to open that sometime tonight?” her dad demanded, and Beth breathed out.

Her fingers shook as she broke the seal. Beth tried to tell herself it was simply because she hadn’t eaten dinner yet, because of how long and tiring her day had been, but she knew better.

“It’s a - a - a full scholarship,” her dad interrupted, clearly growing bored with how long the letter was taking Beth to unfold. “Those pricks wanted me, they had to take you too. That’s what you wurrpanted, right?”

The letter was printed in elegant hand on soft, creamy paper, crisp and white, stamped with the University’s crest. The first few sentences were welcoming, positive, almost unctuous. The rest glazed over into a blur of grey as Beth stared at it, uncomprehending.

“This is...” she started, and then stopped. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You could start with ‘thank you’,” her father suggested. 

“Thank you,” Beth repeated. “This is...a lot. Too much.” The creamy, soft paper was crumpling under her thumb. She hadn’t touched anything like it since she’d left Quirm College. The inhabitants of Lower Bottom thought the semi-gloss paper the mail-order catalogue was printed on was fancy. “I need to think about it.”

“What - what’s there to think about?” her dad sneered, feeding a log into the fire absently and grinning when it threw up a rainbow of sparks. “You can come back with me, live out your little dream of whatever you wanted to do at the University, and have everything you ever wanted. Or, you can stay here, in this garbage pit of a house, picking up after a pack of idiot hicks whose idea of a good time is - is - is taking their half-sister on a romantic date to a lynching.” He glanced over at Beth with a shrug. “Your call.”

Beth looked into the fire, into the leaping green flames, and then past the fireplace, out into the hall, to the shadowy shape of her big black bag.

“I need to think about it,” she repeated. And then, feeling as though she was waking from a dream, “You’re welcome to stay the night, though I’ve only got the one bedroom. I hope you won’t mind there’s a draught from the roof. Steven Gidding keeps saying he’ll come fix it, but he’s always got some excuse -”

“I literally could not care less about your small-town problems,” her dad interrupted, and Beth managed a smile.

“Good. Then, if you don’t mind, I need to change.” She gestured down at her skirt, at the dried blood the green light turned almost black, before starting in the direction of the bedroom. “Make yourself at home.”

“I won’t,” her father called after her. “And you shouldn’t either.”

Beth hummed, low in her throat, but she didn’t turn around.

The letter in her hand crackled much like the fire in the hearth behind her.

#rick and morty #discworld #this is mary's fic tag #I am so so sorry for this thing what I made #but I think I finally solved The Problem Of The Footnotes #sir terry would have made all of the additional names and place names clever Latin or Greek puns but I am not clever #I couldn't fit it in but jerry is definitely mightily oats in this scenario

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Balance on the Head of a Pin

Chapter Twenty Three

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Loki Laufeyson x OFC  |  Word Count: 5639 Warnings: none

Lauren dragged her hands down her face for what felt like the hundredth time in less than an hour, moments away from screaming and committing an act of justifiable homicide.

“Quinn, I’m not going to tell you again. Get those monstrosities out of this room!” The twelve foot tall red and white pillars looked like barber poles and were so incredibly ugly, Lauren had honestly thought the woman was joking when she’d had the men pack them inside. Then, Quinn had started barking orders to have them place along the walls, highlighting the opening to each of the adjoining rooms, reaching just to the bottom of the floor of the second story balcony.

“Oh, poo, Lauren. You’ve always had questionable taste. I ran them past Magnolia and Marabeth, and they approved.”

Lauren clenched her fists tightly at her sides, it was that, or she was going to strangle the woman. “Yes, well, I highly doubt mama knew you meant this.” She was moments away from throwing the biggest hissy fit, telling Quinn she was fired, and ripping it all down.

After breakfast - which ended up more like brunch thanks to the lateness of her star to the day - she’d left Loki and Thor with the children, the kids excited and chattering, wanting to hear story after story of Asgard and all they had seen and done together. Loki hadn’t wanted to stay, having stated he was to be assisting her today, but Lauren had encouraged him to remain with his brother. With the way things had been going in the house, they likely wouldn’t handle the battle she was about to wage with Quinn very well.

Threats would fly, death would be threatened, stuff would likely get broken, and she wouldn’t be any better off than before. Add in her mother and sisters… all hell could break loose around her.

Now, hours later, after a never-ending battle of ‘would she, won’t she’ with Quinn, Lauren was about ready to tear out her own hair. They’d gone head to head over just about every aspect of the party. Though Quinn had been sufficiently cowed by Thor’s rage at first, her snarky attitude had returned quickly, and the same old snotty remarks had started to fly.

“Well, if you want them gone, you remove them,” Quinn sniffed, turning up her nose.

The arrival of cold air on the back of Lauren’s neck had some of her anger dissipating.

“Darling,” Loki crooned, wrapping his arms around her waist. A gentle kiss was placed to the back of her neck. “You seem a trifle upset. Something I can assist you with?”

Typically, she would have brushed it away, not wanting to trouble him with such trivial things, but she was too pissed off to care anymore. “You see those?” she said, pointing at the hideous eyesores.

“The red and white atrocities? Yes.”

“Would you be a darlin’ and get rid of them for me?” she asked, continuing to stare down Quinn who’s face had become a mask of rage.

“Of course, my sweet,” he chuckled and snapped his fingers. They disappeared in a sparkle of green.

Quinn gaped for a moment before gasping, “Lauren Guillemin! Those were expensive!”

“Waste of money if you asked me. They were ugly,” Loki grumbled. He moved to stand at Lauren’s side and looked around the entire space. “I must admit, my darling, I prefer the parties you throw in New York. This leaves… something to be desired, but it is not as if you had a say in the planning.”

“I beg your pardon?” Quinn huffed. “Y’all think you can do better? I’ve worked hard on this!”

Lauren glanced up at Loki and watched the smile break, wicked and full of mischief across his face.

“Well, bless your heart,” Loki drawled, making Lauren giggle, his grin growing even more. “But yes, I could do much better.”

“Hmph!” Quinn thrust her nose into the air. “Then y’all are on your own! I quit!” She stomped off toward the interior of the house.

“I hope you can put your money where your mouth is, peaches. She’s runnin’ off to tattle,” Lauren sighed. She turned toward him and caught sight of Sadie coming through the open doors, garment bags in hand.

The brunette took one look at the room and her face twisted in disgust.

“Sadie!” Lauren called out.

She hurried forward on her tall heels, shaking her head. “Oh, Lulu! What the hell were they thinkin’?”

“You should have seen it before Loki got rid of the pillars,” Lauren groaned.

“Lady Sadie.” Loki nodded to her and eyed the bags.

“Loki,” she gave him a wink. “Good to see you again. You ready, Lu?”

“For?” Loki asked.

Lauren gave a small sigh. “Does it look like I’m ready?” she asked Sadie before turning to Loki. “We have a bit of ritual when it comes to these parties. Sadie comes early to drop off our gowns. Then, she and I usually get ready together. You know. Hair, makeup, help each other look perfect.”

“You need no help in that department, my heart,” Loki murmured, ducking down to kiss her reddening cheek.

“Thank you, peaches, but with all… this… I just…”

“Lauren.” Loki cupped her cheeks. “I have this. Go. Do things with Sadie. Did you eat lunch?”

“Oh!” Lauren pressed a hand to her stomach when it growled.

“Clearly you did not.” He gave an exasperated sigh. “I will see to that as well.”

“Loki, no. I’m fine to get it myself.”

“Evidently you are not, or you would have joined Thor and I when the children ate,” he scolded gently. “Go do your things, my heart. I will see a meal is brought to your room.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm.

Her blushed flared a little higher. “Are you sure?”

He rolled his eyes. “Go. Now.”

She rolled hers in return, stepped back, and dropped into a sweeping curtsey. “Yes, oh mighty god of Asgard.”

“Better,” he quipped, smirking at her and making Sadie giggle.

Lauren shook her head, but she returned his smile and stepped closer to go up on her toes and kiss his grinning lips. “So bad,” she murmured.

“Just how you like me.” He gave her bottom a pat and nodded to Sadie, shooing them on their way.

Sadie linked arms with Lauren. “He’s so great!” she sighed happily.

Lauren smirked at Loki over her shoulder. “Mmm, he’s somethin’ alright.”

They were on their way up the stairs as Thor was coming down, and Sadie’s grip became instantly tighter.

“That’s… that’s…”

“Thor, my lovely,” the blonde said, pausing on the stairs to offer his hand. “Brother to Loki and soon Lauren.” He lifted Sadie’s fingers to his lips.

“Oh!” Sadie giggled and blushed, causing Thor to grin.

“Sadie is my very best friend, and she’s married, Thor. Behave yourself,” Lauren scolded.

“You wound me, little sister. I simply introduced myself to this lovely woman.”

“Yeah, Lulu! Don’t go burstin’ a girl’s bubble!” Sadie gave her a wink.

“Does Marcus know of this bubble?” Lauren teased.

“Don’t you go tellin’ tales, Lauren Guillemin!” Sadie huffed.

Thor laughed, dropping down a few stairs to look up at them. “Ladies, it shall be our secret. Lauren, darling, I’m afraid we quite tuckered out the small ones. Young Sara showed me to their room after Benny dozed off. They are napping with Usun.”

Lauren leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Thor. Can you keep Loki out of trouble? Sadie and I are going to get ready.”

“Already?” he asked, looking shocked.

“It takes time to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse,” she laughed, patting his cheek.

“You are as lovely as an Asgardian evening, little sister. No work required.”

She smiled, another blush colouring her cheeks. “High praise indeed, Thor. I know just how lovely Asgard’s sky is at night.”

“You do?”

“Your brother is tricky that way,” she snickered, giving Thor a wink. “Thank you for entertainin’ the kids. I really appreciate it.”

“They are good children. It was not a hardship. I shall expect a dance this evening, Lauren. And perhaps the lovely Sadie would grant me one as well? With her husband’s approval, of course.”

“Marcus can stuff it!” Sadie giggled. “I ain’t turned down a dance with the King of Asgard!”

Lauren burst out laughing and shooed Sadie up the stairs. “I’m so tellin’ him you said that!”

***

Loki smiled when Lauren’s laughter echoed through the hall. When Thor came down the stairs moments later, he knew what the cause was and smirked at his brother. “Did you flirt with Sadie?”

“Only a little,” Thor huffed, his grin just as wide.

“Sadie Brockett has been one of the only people to be decent to Lauren since I have been here.”

“She is quite spirited,” Thor chuckled.

“It sounds as if her husband is also quite spirited.” Loki eyed him knowingly.

“I am well aware. I am not three hundred any longer, Loki. I do have restraint. It is not as if I need to flip every skirt which walks by.”

“Just flirt with it,” Loki chuckled.

“There is nothing wrong with flirting.” Thor crossed his arms.

“Hn. I recall father having a different opinion when you were younger. Did he not threaten to cast you into iron drawers to keep your cock contained?”

Thor burst out into a hearty chuckle. “Well, I was a randy fellow for an age.”

“For a century.”

“It was not my fault. I came fully into my powers about that time. The fertility aspect took me by surprise.”

“More like, by the balls,” Loki laughed.

“It was a glorious few years.” Thor sighed, his eyes lost to memories.

“You nearly turned mother’s hair grey.”

“I think we did that together, brother.” Thor’s smile turned sad.

“Indeed,” Loki murmured, looking away toward the sound of approaching feet and the large man heading their way.

“We doin’ more here? The guys and I get paid by the hour whether we’re workin’ or not… so…” He shrugged, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at them with contempt.

Loki arched a brow at his attitude. “Your services are no longer required.”

“Huh?”

The thing Lauren had failed to realize was, though he’d been tasked with staying with Thor, he hadn’t bothered. Loki had cast an avatar, his brother well aware he wouldn’t leave his Ástvinur to deal with them alone when he could be there, watch over her, and see she succeeded in her task of pulling this disaster of a party out of its downward spiral.

He’d been thoroughly enjoying watching her go head to head with the insufferable Quinn. Her feisty nature was on full display and had caused many of the men working around her to stop and watch his Lauren with admiration.

But this man, for some reason, set Loki on edge. Something about the way he’d watched Lauren, all predatory eyes and sneering mouth, had Loki moments away from stringing him from the rafters by his entrails.

“What is your name?” he asked, the tone sharp and cold.

“Jimmy Johnson. What’s it to ya?”

“Well, Jimmy.” Loki pulled himself up to his full height, his magic burning in his eyes as he took a step into the man. “If you so much as look toward my woman again, I will skin you alive and leave you for the dogs to feast upon.”

Jimmy took a step back, his eyes widening in fear. “Wh-what… what you goin’ on about?”

“Lauren is not some piece of meat to be leered at. If I see your eyes linger upon her again, I will send the crows to pluck them from your skull.” Thor’s hand came down upon his shoulder, but Loki would not be stopped. “Collect the rest of this motley crew and remove yourself from this home. Your services are no longer required.”

“You can’t do that!”

“As the woman who was your boss has now quit, I most certainly can. Leave!” he snarled, the wolf he’d shown Lauren present in his voice.

“Loki,” Thor warned. “Take a breath, brother. They are leaving.”

Jimmy took another step back, more concerned with Thor’s arrival at Loki’s side than with Loki’s own threats. Too bad the one he truly needed to fear was the one standing before him.

“I don’t need this shit,” Jimmy sneered, waving his hands at them and stomped away out the door.

The rest of the men began to collect their gear as well when another man came up to them with his hat in his hand. “I apologize for Jimmy. He’s new. Only came on for this job when we wound up shorthanded.”

“Be more discerning in your selective process the next time,” Loki huffed.

“Will do.” He nodded, not offering his name. He turned on his heel and walked out, gathering the rest of the workers with him.

“What will you do now, brother?” Thor asked as he took in the half-finished space.

“I will fix it. Lauren will not be disappointed.” With a flick of his fingers, he transferred both himself and Thor to the second floor.

“Ugh, you know I dislike it when you do that.”

Loki only shrugged. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

***

Lauren giggled when Sadie fanned herself at the top of the stairs. “Lordy, there’s two of them! I can’t believe the eye candy you’ve brought home, Lu.”

“They definitely are easy on the eyes,” she agreed, taking two of the bags from Sadie and heading for Marabeth’s room.

“Are the rest of them as smokin’ hot as them two?” Sadie asked, nearly giddy with excitement.

“Handsome takes on a whole new connotation when it comes to the Avengers,” Lauren laughed, arriving at her sister’s door. It sat open, Marabeth nowhere to be seen, and Lauren breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lu?” Sadie murmured, laying one of the garment bags over a chair sat near the door. “How are you really?”

She smiled but it was sad and tired and a little tight. “It’s been a battle, Sadie. Worse than ever.”

Sadie took her hand and held it firmly. “I’m here for you, Lu. Whatever you need.”

“I know, Sadie,” she whispered, her voice catching on the rawness in her throat. “I’d never have made it this far without Loki.”

Sadie tugged her from the room and down the hall toward Cissy’s. “Oh, Lulu. The way that man looks at you. Wow!”

Lauren blushed and ducked her chin down. “He’s kind of amazin’, Sadie. We had a bit of a… misunderstanin’ this mornin’, but everythin’s better now. He’s not like people think. He’s not cold and hard and merciless. He’s… wonderful,” she sighed happily.

“Says the woman stupidly in love with him,” Sadie teased.

“I seem to recall you gushin’ and goin’ on about Marcus in much the same manner,” Lauren snickered.

“Yeah, well,” Sadie flushed and smiled. “I still do. He even puts up with my Avengers obsession.”

“I need to tell him I’m sorry about that!” Lauren giggled. “You’d never have gotten so invested if I didn’t keep tellin’ you stories from the tower.”

“Oh, hun. The obsession was already there! You just gave me a reason to run with it!” Sadie burst out laughing.

The door to Cissy’s room was wrenched open to reveal Cissy. Puffy-eyed and red-rimmed, Lauren blinked and gasped softly having never seen her sister look so dishevelled. “Cissy?”

“I hope your happy, Lauren. Because of you, mama’s fit to be tied.”

“Me? What did I do?” Lauren asked.

“You embarrassed me! Mama called me a whore! Told me to get myself upstairs and to stay here till the party because I’d embarrassed her. Marabeth turned into a complete bitch, yellin’ and swearin’, accusin’ me of doin’ it on purpose. So I wanted to catch the King of Asgard’s eye? So what? You could have at least done me the courtesy of a word beforehand to know I was puttin’ a foot wrong!”

Lauren took a step back when Cissy leaned threateningly toward her. “Cissy… mama’s been sayin’ forever you shouldn’t be flauntin’ yourself! I had nothin’ to do with Thor sayin’ what he did, and if mama’s mad, don’t go blamin’ me for your mistake.”

“You could have warned me!” she wailed.

It set off Lauren’s already short fuse. “Priscilla Elizabeth! Y’all need to pull your head out of your ass and start takin’ responsibility for your actions! You’ve spent the last few days tryin’ to entice my fiancé to no avail, you dress like a slut to try and draw Thor’s attention, and then think it’s my fault when he mistakes you for a loose moral woman? Grow up, Cissy! I ain’t your whippin’ boy any longer!”

A gleeful Sadie thrust Cissy’s garment bag at her. “‘Bout damn time, Lu.”

“You can’t… you… how dare you speak to me that way!” Cissy barked and slammed the door in their faces.

With a huff of breath, Lauren bit her quivering lip and stalked off toward her mother’s rooms.

“Good for you, Lu,” Sadie said a few minutes later.

“I just can’t even deal with all of them right now,” Lauren sighed. “They just keep clawin’ at me, Sade. It’s always my fault, even when it’s not. You know, my mama turned on me when she found out Thor had brought gifts for the kids and Marabeth had protested. She immediately thought it was me who’d said Thor had overstepped. Me!” She stopped to lean her hand against the wall. “Why do they hate me?”

“Oh, Lu,” Sadie sighed, pulling her into a hug. “That’s a million dollar question. One we’ve been askin’ for ages. I still ain’t got a clue as to the why, but you’ll always have me and my family, your Gran, and it sounds like Loki and Thor have your back.”

“Yeah. Yeah, they do.” A little of the anguish in her heart settled with her friend’s words.

“Now. Let’s drop off this last bag and then you, darlin’ need to tell me what that was about. Did Thor call Cissy a whore?” Sadie asked, eyes full of amusement.

“Somethin’ like that,” Lauren chuckled softly.

Sadie giggled for all she was worth as they made their way down the hall to pause in front of Magnolia’s door. It was open enough for them to make out the woman seated within, fussing in the mirror.

Lauren bolstered her courage and knocked on the door. “Mama, Sadie brought the dresses.”

“Lauren, dear. Come in!”

The cheery greeting threw Lauren off-kilter, but she pushed the door open and walked in, Sadie hot on her heels.

“I do hope Thor is enjoyin’ his visit?” Magnolia asked, looking up at Lauren in the mirror.

“He seems to be,” Lauren offered.

“Good. That nasty business with Cissy and Marabeth earlier could have led to disaster.”

“Yes, well… Cissy’s a little upset.” She looked to Sadie who was placing the second to last garment bag on the bed. The brunette gave a helpless shrug, unsure what the hell was happening.

Magnolia was never this nice.

“She dresses like a hussy. It was past time someone smacked her back.”

“Mama!” Lauren gasped.

“She’s spoiled, hun. We all know it.” Magnolia alighted from her stool before the mirror and swept up Lauren’s hands. “But let’s talk about you, Lauren. Are you happy, peaches? Everythin’ alright with your visit? I know I was pushin’ George at you somethin’ fierce, but I just wanted you happy. I can see know, your happiness lies in New York.”

Stunned, Lauren could only stare at her for a long moment before finding her voice. “Uh, yeah, mama. I mean, it’s been… um…”

“Oh, precious.” She released Lauren’s hands to cup her face. “That’s good. I’ll hear no more foolish talk about you leavin’ and never comin’ back now, you hear me?”

“O-okay?” Lauren couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Never in all her days had Magnolia spoken to her like she cared like she was worth something. While it satisfied a piece of Lauren’s soul to have her mother actually give a damn, another part of her, a much more cynical part, wondered what the hell her mother was up to.

“Good!” Her eyes drifted down to the necklace around Lauren’s neck. “That’s a pretty bobble, but I think we can do better for the party tonight.”

“Thank you, mama, but it was a gift from my Ástvinur. I won’t be takin’ it off, and it goes just fine with my dress.”

“Oh, but Lauren!” she started, reaching out to touch the brúðr steinn.

Lauren jerked backward, bringing her hand up to the item protectively. “No, mama. It’s an Asgardian thing. Leave it be.”

“So stubborn,” Magnolia huffed, the sleeves on her robe billowing outward when she slammed her hands to her hips. “You should be drippin’ diamonds in the dress Sadie picked out. Ain’t that right, Sadie?”

The woman who’d been watching the show from her perch on the bed shook her head. “Sorry, Miss Annandale, but since Loki modified Lauren’s dress, she’s right. Diamonds would look trashy.”

“Sadie Brockett! Why I never!” Magnolia huffed before turning back to Lauren. “I insist you take it off! Right now, Lauren Guillemin!”

“No!” Lauren snapped, glaring down her mother. “Mama! What’s gotten into you?”

“You can’t go enticin’ one man while wearin’ another man’s jewelry!”

“What?” Lauren whispered, unable to believe she’d heard that correctly. “What?”

“Thor, darlin'! Thor! He already has feelin’s for you, I can tell. You’ll break it off with this Loki, and charm Thor instead.”

“What?” Lauren shouted.

“Why be simply a princess when you could be queen, Lauren!”  

She took a step in retreat, concerned with the crazy she could see blooming in her mother’s eyes. “Why would I… that’s… you’re off your rocker, mama! I love Loki, not Thor!”

“Who said anythin’ about love? This is about power.” Magnolia stalked her across the room, eyes locked on the brúðr steinn. “Now, take that off, or I’ll rip it from your throat.”

“Miss Annandale!” Sadie gasped, stepping between her and Lauren. “Y’all need to calm down. You’re talkin’ crazy.”

“What would you know?” Magnolia sneered at Sadie. “You’re pedigree is no better than the mongrel now runnin’ the halls of my home.”

“Mama!” Lauren gasped.

“Magnolia!” The harsh voice rocked the woman back on her heeled slippers like a slap.

Magnolia pulled her robe tighter around her. “Hoyt! What… what are you doin’ here?”

“I heard the shoutin’,” he growled, hand clenched around the doorknob. “Lauren, sweetheart. You and Sadie get on out of here. Your mama and I need to have words.”

“Daddy?” Lauren looked to him and had a rush of relief fill her when his hard eyes softened.

“You go on,” he said, nodding toward the hall.

Sadie grabbed the garment bag in one hand and Lauren with the other. “Thanks, Mr. Annandale.”

“Thank you, Sadie.”

Lauren paused at his side, dragging her hand back from Sadie. “Daddy?”

He touched her cheek and placed a kiss to the top of her head. “It’ll be alright, little girl. I promise.”

“Daddy,” she sighed, eyes full of tears.

“I know I can’t make up for… everythin’, but I’m not gonna let things slide anymore. You and your friend go get ready. Save me a dance?”

“Always.” A tremulous smile broke upon her lips as Lauren stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered before darting out the door. It slammed with a good bit of force, but she didn’t stick around long enough to hear the details.

“Lu?” Sadie asked, her eyes big and round.

“Guess we’ve got a lot to talk about, huh?” Lauren chuckled.

“You bet your ass!” Sadie barked and snatched up her hand to drag her toward the nearest set of exterior doors, preferring to take the shortcut around the house rather than back through all the twisting hallways. “With all this excitement, who needs Avengers?”

Practically running along with her, Lauren revelled in the cooling breeze and the incredible moment of joy she’d gotten from her father’s interference.

He was on her side. He had her back.

For the first time in forever, she didn’t fear her mother’s retaliation.

***

“Impressive.” Thor nodded, staring at the ceiling. “Reminds me of that one cave.”

“On Vanaheim, I know. If you’d be willing to assist, a jolt of lightning right there will light the works.” Loki motioned to the tip of the centre stone.

“You are sure the ceiling will not come down?” Thor asked, doing as requested.

“What do you take me for?” Loki scoffed. “Only the three in the center are real. The rest is an illusion.”

“A masterful illusion,” Thor murmured.

“And just the beginning.” Another wave of his hand had them standing in the center of the ballroom.

“Must you? We could take the stairs,” Thor grumbled.

“Stop being a child. We’ve jumped farther with less success. Be thankful I don’t put you in the wall or something.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.”

He glanced to Thor’s grumpy face and turned his wrist over, so a large stein of beer rested in his palm. “Better?”

“Much!” Thor snickered, plucking it up by the handle.

“So… red and white are to be this theme, but I am well aware there should be blue for this apparent feast day,” Loki murmured to himself. “Hold on to your beer, brother.”

Magic rose in crackling lines of green to swirl and dip and curl around the room. Lines of it went straight to the ceiling, flowing out and down, draping sheer white curtains from the rafters high above to the floor far below, and enclosing the ballroom in a sea of soft white. The floor beneath his feet rippled, the hardwood disappearing, replaced by an illusion of stone never before seen on earth. It shimmered a pearlescent cream but was heavily veined in a red so dark it appeared as if someone had drawn rivers of wine through the white. Trees of inky black grew up along the walls, spreading branches and unfurling leaves of silver while blossoms of red and white budded into flowers which smelled sweetly of nectar, each stately trunk highlighting a doorway.

It was a wonderland of red and white, but it felt as if something were missing. With a smirk, Loki reached out and touched the nearest drape. A burst of sparkles erupted from his fingertips to wing their way around the room, little blue lights which would dance and move throughout the night.

“Loki,” Thor breathed in awe. “You have outdone yourself. Lauren will be most impressed.”

“It will show better once the evening descends.” He turned his attention to each of the rooms around the hall and changed those around as well.

Each ‘bar’ was redone in the same white walls, but he turned the trees into vines, racing up the wall behind the serving center and out along the ceiling, similar to pictures of grapes in a vineyard he’d once come across. Leaves of silver hung from them, but he chose to forgo the flowers. Instead, he lit the walls, blue lights which shone toward the ceiling, and turned the floor into an inky black sparkling with stars.

“Reminds me of one of Tony’s nightclubs,” Thor chuckled.

“Overdone?” Loki asked.

“You know it is not. The people will have a taste of Asgard this night as well, I would hope?”

Loki sent his brother a smug grin and wandered into the room where the food would be served. “Something like this?” he asked, waving his hand toward the tables.

Everything shimmered and shifted, becoming stone and wood, a rugged counterpoint to the elegance of the other rooms.

“Perhaps, if you refine it some,” Thor said, arching a brow as he downed his beer.

“Hm, indeed.”

Another flick of wrist had the ceiling disappearing, replaced by the vision of an Asgardian night. The illusion was impeccable, the walls darkened though they appeared, still, as stone. Each table was covered with a thick cloth of velvety red and black brocade, playing host to immense candelabra of snowy white, already aglow with candles.

“You surprise even me with your imagination, Loki.” Thor wandered further into the room and passed his hand through the flickering flames of the illusion. “You’re powers are already increasing.”

A smirk, wicked and full of delight graced Loki’s face. “I do not even feel winded.”

“Incredible.” Thor passed his hand through the candle. “Your illusions used to disappear at a touch. Now, to see them only waiver and resume, brother, I am amazed.”

“My Ástvinur is a blessing,” Loki agreed. “None of this would be possible without Lauren.”

“And what will your finale be? You have one set of rooms left.”

The lounging area was a problem, but Loki was nothing if not creative. More whips of magic had the room sparkling like a diamond. The tables and chairs seemed made of glass, while more black vines and blood red flowers dripped from the ceiling. He mirrored the walls, reflecting the interior back a thousand times over, and among the branches upon the roof, he set glittering white lights which cast a soft glow over the room.

Thor grinned wide at himself in the mirror. “How romantic of you, Loki. Lauren will be pleased.”

“As a possum eating a sweet potato,” Loki chuckled.

“Pardon?”

He shook his head. “It is one of Lauren’s more colourful southernisms.”

“Ah.” Thor nodded. “Like how she calls you peaches?”

“It is preferable to overgrown Asgardian,” Loki quipped, throwing a devious smirk his brother’s direction.

Thor glowered at him, but the clip of swiftly moving heels coming their direction halted any further rebuttal. A staccato beat echoed, indicating two pairs of heels.

“It appears we are to be chastised, well, I am at any rate. Shall we?”

Thor rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “I see what you mean about the sisters. They are poisonous, but then the mother was no better. The audacity of her to blame Lauren without all the facts. How inappropriate.”

“It is what is done in this family. She is seen as one without worth,” Loki fairly growled, sauntering out of the room to wait for the arrival of what he was certain would be Marabeth and Quinn.

“Without worth? Ha!” Thor snorted. “If they understood at all her value to us, they would be ashamed.”

“Shame does not seem to compute with this family. Marabeth treats her children as nothing but possessions to be owned. Cissy acts the brat, never having been told no a day in her life. She steals from Lauren, or, as Lauren put it, borrows and forgets to return whatever it was she wanted. And then there is Magnolia. The mother. Who was sleeping with Lauren’s previous fiancé.” Such anger lived in him for this family, such hate, Loki had to clench his fist to keep from cursing the entire lot of them.

“You will have to excuse me, brother, but I must have misheard you. Did you say Lauren’s intended was sleeping with her mother?” Thor was staring at him agape.

“Yes,” he hissed like the snake he was known for.

Thor passed his hand over his face. “I see why you wished my return to this place. When this is finished, we should return to Asgard with your Ástvinur. Take her where people will appreciate her.”

“If she so chooses,” Loki agreed. “She is a strong woman. Unbelievable strong,” he murmured softly. He flicked a finger in the direction of her room. A tray of food would be waiting on her dresser when she arrived.

There had been a host of information coming to him from the brúðr steinn. Anger, hurt, confusion. The slow buildup of fear which had ended abruptly when her father had appeared. She knew now the worth of his gift and had protected it with a ferocity which humbled him.

He wasn’t sure what had happened, only that it included her mother, the brúðr steinn, and eventually her father. Had Hoyt not arrived when he did, Loki would likely have wound up with his hand wrapped around the throat of another of Lauren’s family members. However, it seemed her father was stepping in, as he’d said he would.

It made Lauren deliriously happy. That, in turn, made him happy. He was determined to forever more stand as her shield against those who would harm her.

“Loki,” Thor murmured, staring down at his hands.

He startled slightly when he glanced down to find his fists wreathed in green flames. “Forgive me. I was thinking,” he said, snuffing out the fire.

“Brother.”

The word full of caution had Loki sighing. “Last stage. Last stage, Thor. My need to protect her from any and all things is… consuming.”

“Do not kill anyone who does not ultimately deserve it,” Thor murmured, glaring at the women standing in the doorway leading into the ballroom.

Their mouths hung open, and the look of utter disbelief made Loki chuckle. “I did tell her I could do better.”

When Marabeth and Quinn exchanged a look, turned around and left, Loki broke out in laughter.

“It appears you are above reproach!” Thor laughed along with him.

He had to wipe tears from his eyes, then clapped a hand down on Thor’s shoulder. “Come. We will take care of the garden. Then, perhaps we will drink for a while.”

“If you are creating the beer, Loki, I will drink it.” Thor gave a sharp, excited nod, and the two of them made their way out into the late afternoon sun.

Next Chapter

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