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honeywitchers · 1 year

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Awful Plan, Great Result

A/N: This is from another one of my blogs that I decided to seperate my Witcher content from. I plan on deleting the original from that blog so if you have seen this before under a different name I promise I didn’t steal the story! This piece was inspired by @creativepromptsforwriting

Pairing: Geralt x Fem!Reader

Content and Warnings: Strong language, love sick Geralt, foggy brained Geralt just wanting to be loved, guy in an all green outfit thinking he can take on a witcher, violence because Geralt has had enough, soaking wet Geralt, love confessions, if you squint during the fight scene it might morph into Fiona fighting off the bandits in Shrek, wee bit of blood because bitches get stitches

Word Count: 2,934

Summary: Geralt of Rivia finds himself to be hopelessly in love with a soft spirited cottage dwelling woman. How does he confess his true feelings for her when he doesn’t even fully understand his own emotions? In quite possibly the strangest, yet most fitting way he could.

She was beauty. She was not just beautiful, she was the very definition of it. Even her breathing was filled with elegance. Her smooth skin mimicked the finest of silks that only royalty could ever imagine to afford. The way her hair complimented the tones within her face was almost unreal. Her features appeared cheerful almost always, no matter the situation, positivity leaking from each and every pore…..so why and how was it possible that a man like Geralt of Rivia could fall for her? He was the complete and utter opposite; rugged, rough skinned, quiet, constantly thinking of the dangers that fill the Continent, often dirty, and skilled in combat. Yet, despite all of this, she was the very sun in his sky, the stars to his moon, the flower to his soil, the…..you get the idea. The problem with this, however, was that she had not a single clue that he felt this way for her, completely oblivious to his undying love for her. All they seemed to be at this point were oblivious, emotionally constipated, and…….idiots. Complete idiots. Any onlooker could see that this was not a simply platonic relationship. Come on, the two were living together! And they had been for almost a year now! So anyways, here we are. The ever so odd tale of Geralt of Rivia and his……roommate.

The spotless wooden dining table Geralt had taken a seat at within Y/N’s cottage kitchen was almost buckling underneath his mass and the weight of his bulky armor. The dirt covering his arms and legs were surely destroying the cleanliness of it. He had just returned from a hunt that turned out to be a large group of villagers playing a trick just so they could get a chance at seeing the witcher in action. Geralt quickly realized this but not before he lost his footing and tripped over a partially buried root in the forest, rolling down a long and bumpy hill. Way to add insult to injury, universe.

Quietly grumbling curses under his breath, he did his best not to disturb the cheerful humming of Y/N, who was chopping up carrots for a stew she planned to make. Or more so attempting. The blade on the knife was terribly dull. Her cooking escapades had clearly taken a toll on the tool. It was all she had, so she had to make it work. Although, Geralt couldn’t help but find the sight amusing. Geralt’s eyes blinked rapidly and his posture straightened as if a light bulb had just gone off in his head. That’s it! He knows how he will profess his love! This is quite possibly the most romantic action a witcher could do! He suddenly stood from the table with determination, almost a little too fast, startling Y/N.

“Where are you going? You just got back.” Y/N questioned Geralt as he made his way to the door.

“I uh….need to go into town. I….forgot something.” He pathetically tried to come up with an excuse to hide his true intentions.

Before another word can leave Y/N’s mouth, Geralt was out the door and on his way to who knows where. She shrugged her shoulders and continued to shred—cut the vegetables on her cutting board.

Geralt loved and hated the fact that her cottage was practically in the middle of nowhere. It left them unbothered and with privacy but he still found himself annoyed that he had to trek through a grove and winding dirt paths just to get into town. He chuckled lightly as he came across a root hiding in the ground of his walking path.

“Hmm….not this time.”

Less than ten minutes later, Geralt began to approach a river. He was getting close.

“Thank the gods it’s not raining.” He said to himself.

The universe, being the absolute pain in Geralt’s ass, decided that sunshine and no rain was much too easy for the dear witcher. Why not throw a……minor? Yes, minor inconvenience his way, instead of allowing him to just walk his way into town and back smoothly. No, no, that would not do.

“Behold, witcher man! For I am Wulfgar, and I am here to take your coin!” A loud, high pitched male voice yelled out.

Geralt’s eyebrows furrowed and he turned around in the direction of the voice. What he sees is not what he was expecting. Standing ten feet before him stood a short statured man donning a green tunic and matching pants that were just a smidge too tight. A green pointed hat sat upon his bowl cut hair. A fashion expert, honestly.

Pointed towards Geralt was his embarrassingly small silver dagger. Confidence somehow oozed out of the mysterious bandit as he chose to lunge forward without strategy or thought. Because of the overwhelming bewilderment the witcher was experiencing, he jumped backwards just a hair too slow, resulting in the coin pouch at his hip being slashed open. Just as luck would have it, half of his coins were dumped into the river. Geralt grunted and unsheathed his sword, four times the size of the measly dagger Wulfgar wielded.

“Back off.” Geralt warned.

“Uh, uh….I…..I mean no harm, witcher. It’s….just a tough time, you know? So um…anyway…..please don’t um…..KILL ME!!!!!!!!” Wulfgar stammered and ran away.

“I uh….okay.” Geralt rolled his eyes and put his sword back into its holder. “Fuck!” He reached down to his coin pouch, coins were still slowly spilling out onto the ground. Like a beggar, he scoured the ground to pick up and salvage every last one.

Geralt considered turning back but brushed the thought off, knowing he couldn’t show up back at the cottage empty handed after he told Y/N he was going out. That wouldn’t make sense and it would only lead to more questions that he wasn’t currently prepared to answer. Instead, he began to think about how much of an idiot he was for believing this could work. Of course Y/N would never love him. He couldn’t even do this one self appointed task. Useless.

“Fuck.” Having a way with words, he cursed and treaded forward, feeling light raindrops begin to hit his skin and dampen his hair. What else could go wrong?

A short time later a now drenched Geralt waltzes into town square. The place is growing more and more quiet as he notices people rushing inside and merchants packing up the items at their stalls to avoid the increasing rain. Fearing that he missed his chance to come up with anything, he sprints towards the last remaining merchant.

“Wait!” He shouted.

The merchant looked up to him, eyes widening at his appearance. “Sorry, the rain is bringing all of us in for the day. Come back tomorrow.” The merchant went to turn away and continue packing without giving Geralt a second thought.

“Please, just….show me what you have.” Geralt pleaded with the man, hoping there is at least one item that even remotely resembled what he was looking for.

The merchant’s eyes narrowed and he stared in silence for a moment. “Witchers pay double.” He crossed his arms and stood firm.

Of course, because that’s exactly what he needed to hear after losing half of his wealth to the murky fast flowing waters of the river.

“Fine.” Geralt gritted his teeth, ready for the excursion to be over.

The merchant moved aside so Geralt could look at what his options were. His eyes examined the items laid out in front of him. There were four rolls of twine, a mysterious piece of cloth that appeared to have been white at some point during its existence, two cabbage heads that had been massacred by the wind and rain, rendering them inedible, and…..a knife! Just what he was looking for! A perfect kitchen knife to aid his one true love with her cooking! She shall never fret or strain her wrist again! He would wrap it in the softest of cloths and bend on one knee, hand stretched out, ready to release all of his pent up emotions and—

He realized it was in fact not a kitchen knife, but a dagger. A deep sigh escaped the witcher. It was a slightly rusted short dagger that was surely made for simple combat. A.k.a not something he originally planned on giving his soft ray of sunshine back at home to help her cook.

“How much coin for this?” Geralt held up the so-called weapon.

The merchant eyes his torn coin pouch. “Whatever you’ve got left.”

And so goes the last of his coin.

On his way back to Y/N’s cottage, Geralt is in a constant battle with his thoughts, telling himself over and over that he should not have gone out, how he wasn’t worthy of her love, how she could do so much better than him. How could he think it was a good idea to bring her a dagger that she didn’t need or even ask for? Especially one in a not so tip top shape condition.

Naturally, his one person conversation is interrupted by none other than…..Wulfgar.

“Now, witcher!” Wulfgar shouted. “I’ve got friends this time! And they have bigger swords than I! You will come to regret the last hour, mutant. You should have simply given me your coin!”

Three of the humans making up Wulfgar’s makeshift army came up behind Geralt in an attempted sneak attack and managed to snag the one sword he brought along with him, having left the other behind to be sharpened later on in the day. The witcher positioned himself into a defensive stance, looking at his surroundings. He counted six men in the group, all funnily enough sporting the same puke green outfits like they were part of some wannabe cult. The only thing left that he had besides his fists and signs to defend himself against the five swords and Wulfgar’s short stub was…..the dagger.

First, he fought off the three men who took his sword, one jumping on his back and immediately being thrown onto the ground, the second being knocked unconscious with a single punch. He took out the third using the Aard sign, knocking him against a tree. Two more men came running at him, swinging their swords haphazardly through the air, praying that one of them would draw blood from the witcher. The men however were very much unaware of their….lacking skills and were disarmed easily and knocked out.

Geralt then turned to Wulfgar, the last man standing. He was practically shaking in his boots, having just watched all of his friends fail miserably at taking down the witcher. After a moment, he bends down and picks up two of the swords left on the ground. He lunged forward again and this time nicked Geralt’s face, also slicing off a thin piece of leather covering his shoulder for extra protection. He looked to the side at his ruined shoulder piece and looked back at Wulfgar. He stepped forward slowly with an intimidating aura bouncing off of him. Wulfgar was stopped dead in his tracks in disbelief that he just made contact with the witcher. With one swift motion, Geralt swipes the sword out of the bandit’s hand, causing him to lose his balance and fall onto the ground.

“Uh….uh….uh Mr. Witcher, please.�� Wulfgar started to stammer.

“You will stay away. Or I will kill you where you stand.” Geralt warned, bearing his teeth.

Wulfgar was left in shock, eyes wide and not blinking as he watched Geralt start to walk away. Somewhere in his tiny little brain, the idea of trying one last time to win overtook rational thought. He pulled out a small throwing knife that had been hidden in his pant leg, aimed, and threw it at Geralt. Just as how the rest of the day had gone for him, the knife sticks in his shoulder directly in the spot where his leather had been cut away. All Wulfgar hears is a short grunt from him and before he knows it, Geralt grabbed the dagger he purchased and sunk it into his thigh.

“FUCK YOU, WITCHER!!! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!! YOU AND YOUR…..YOUR STUPID HAIR WILL REGRET THIS!!!” Wulfgar screamed and was attempting to army crawl away. “AND….AND YOU KNOW WHAT?!? YOUR MOTHER IS A WHORE!!!”

Geralt rolled his eyes at the empty insult attempts and once again continued his journey back to Y/N’s cottage, bloody dagger in hand. Oh man, he fucked up.

Once outside her cottage, he stopped and took a deep breath. What the hell just happened? He started off his day sitting at her kitchen table waiting for dinner and then boom, he’s wielding a dagger he bought for her and used it to stab someone after he beat up six people. Ah, yes, the unpredictable life of a witcher.

Finally, he opened the door to Y/N’s cottage.

“Geralt! Where have you been? I thought you were just going to market? Did you take shelter from the rain? And did you–” Y/N cut off her own string of questions. “Is that a cut on your face?” She stopped cooking the food she was still attempting to make and ran over to him.

“Oh….yeah….” Geralt responded, still standing in front of the door.

“What happened?!?” She reached up to touch his face but his head jerked away on instinct, causing her to pull her hand back. “Geralt….where did you go?”

“I….went to town square.”

“Yes, but…..Geralt. Your face is cut, you have no supplies from any stall, your coin pouch is gone,” Y/N pointed to his hip where the pouch once was. “and….your pocket is….bleeding.”

“Oh…..yeah…..that’s probably from…..this.” Geralt said quietly, slowly pulling out the dagger he bought for her.

At this point, Y/N has no idea what to say to him. He said he was going to market, then came back with nothing but a bloody dagger and blood on his skin? What happened to his coin??? A hundred questions ran through her mind as she stood there in silence, eyes locked onto the dagger in his hands.

“I….got it for your cooking.” Geralt broke the silence.

“My….cooking?” She repeated.

“Yes. Earlier you looked like you were having….issues cutting the food for your stew and I was just watching you struggle sitting there thinking about what I could do to fix it and how I could make you have an easier time and—”

“Geralt.”

“What?”

“What are you talking about?” Y/N asked, still dumbfounded.

Geralt stayed silent for a minute, trying to rake over his options. Should he tell her not to worry about it and walk away for the night? Should he brush it off as just trying to help with her cooking? No. That wouldn’t explain why he had no coin and was decorated with blood. He started to ponder whether he was ready to risk it all or not…….it was time.

“Y/N…..please accept this gift as a token of my love…..” His eyes darted off to the side. “For….uh….you.”

As if the situation couldn’t get anymore confusing or awkward, Geralt reached out to hand her the dagger laid out on both of his palms. She wrapped her hands in her sleeve and took it out of his hands. A moment of uncomfortable silence passed as the two stared at each other.

“Geralt, this is a dagger.” Y/N said firmly. “And it….it has blood on it.”

Geralt stood there speechless, fully taking in that he just confessed to someone with a bloody dagger that neither of them needed or wanted.

“Listen, I tried to get you something you could use every day and help you but this fool of a man made me lose half my coin and then it started raining so the merchants started to leave and I saw that and figured it was close enough to a kitchen knife so I bought it but then on my way back I ran into the same dumbass but he brought friends this time and—”

In the middle of his rambling, Y/N had set the dagger on a nearby surface. She then cut off his borderline incoherent thoughts by grabbing his face and pushing her lips onto his, creating an intense first kiss between them. She eventually pulled away to examine the face of the confused as heck Geralt. That….was the last thing he expected to actually happen. Did….did his dumbass plan work?

“You’ve felt for me all this time?” Y/N asked, hands still cupping Geralt’s face.

“Mhm.”

A huge grin spread across her face. “You fought off a gang of men, almost got killed, trudged through the cold rain, lost all your coin, and came home covered in blood…..just to get me something that might help me a few times a day?”

Geralt ran a hand through his hair and laughed at himself, listening to Y/N sum up all of his day’s fuckery. She was correct. He did all of that just to bring home the wrong thing.

“I guess….I just love you.”

“You guess?” Y/N prodded.

Geralt’s face softened. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Geralt. Now, kiss me again.”

“My pleasure.” The witcher smiled and kissed her once again.

It was a terrible, stupid, horrible, foolish plan………and it worked.

#the witcher #witcher #geralt of rivia #geralt x y/n #geralt x reader #geralt imagine #geralt fic #witcher imagine #witcher fic

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lorata · 8 months

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Claudius & Eibhlin for @penfoldx

in which anthropological study subs in for discussing one's private anxieties

(h/t to attractiveness anon & @literallyjustanyurlatthispoint for partial inspiration)

it's @penfoldx's birthday! have some ridiculousness

also found at DW here

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

The notebook lay on the coffee table, half buried under various tomes (that was a new word Claudius learned and liked to throw around, tomes) on rabbit husbandry, one corner peeking out just enough to draw his curiosity.

Eibhlin called them ‘composition notebooks’ and claimed every child in Three used them, which cracked Claudius up — imagine writing enough in school you needed multiple notebooks — but sure, why not. It was the genius district after all. She’d had to make do with recycled paper for a while after the war but now she could finally import the good stuff. Which meant Claudius kept finding them everywhere, experiment logs and local recipes and logical reasons why Brutus should let her keep a Village bear (pending).

This one, worryingly, carried the simple title ‘Observations’.

It could be private, unleashing the wrath of heaven if Claudius cracked open the cover. Or it could be a topic too awkward or embarrassing for Eibhlin to raise on her own, leaving this as the most convenient and least emotionally excruciating way of broaching the issue. The real question, which one?

With Misha, this would be deliberate psychological warfare. With Eibhlin, the lines blurred.

“Eh, fuck it.” Claudius flipped open the book. He could always cave on a fifth rabbit if need be.

Later that evening Eibhlin crept up behind him in the kitchen, impressively silent as always. Claudius resisted the automatic impulse to flip the chef’s knife around into throat-slitting position (years of post-Arena healing undone by ground warfare, now finally uncurling a second time) and laid the blade flat against the cutting board.

“Hold out your hands,” Eibhlin said. Her voice twinkled in a way that those who’d never lived with rabbits might call childlike innocence.

Claudius, on the other hand, shared his living space with several rabbits, and left innocence behind a long time ago. “I am making dinner,” he said without turning around. “Should I still hold out my hands?”

A pause, in which Claudius envisioned the pout growing like fog over the lake in early morning, and yeah, he thought so. “Misha says you are a party pooper.”

“Ironic,” Claudius said dryly, but while he’d acquired several mental illnesses over the years, finding ‘wee little rabbit poops’ endearing was not one he’d picked up along the way, sponsors save him. “I’m sure there will be more cute poops tomorrow. Do I want to know why you’ve been polling people in town about what they find attractive? If we’re hosting an orgy I should go out for snacks.”

Silence of a very different character this time. Claudius spent a long time cataloguing the pauses in their conversations, learning when to send for Beetee, when to backtrack and apologize, when to wait it out. “Ah,” Eibhlin said. “That was careless.”

“I thought maybe it was on purpose,” Claudius said. He slipped the knife back into the block and turned around, risking embarrassing Eibhlin with eye contact just to let her see he wasn’t pissed off. “Like one of those things you hid as a hint or something. I can pretend I didn’t see it if you want.”

Eibhlin’s gaze shuttered. “Don’t be asinine,” she said, her tone acerbic. “You do not need to insult us both. I am conducting — research. Anthropology. Desired physical traits in this district seem to be consistent in a way that extends beyond what I had assumed to be Village sampling bias.”

He’d been pretty good at keeping his expression neutral and non-judgemental, but Claudius felt his eyebrows creep up in spite of himself. “You mean we’re a bunch of lunkheads so you thought we were poisoning your data?”

Her ears turned bright pink. “I meant —“ but oh, looks like Claudius wasn’t the only one to pick up a few tricks over the years. Eibhlin stopped, narrowed her eyes. “You are attempting to distract me by manufacturing outrage. Despite the willfully reductive phrasing, yes. This is a community of athletic outliers. You are not representative. I have made many efforts not to generalize across the population, and so this one has surprised me.”

It felt absurd to have this conversation while Eibhlin stood in front of him with a handful of rabbit dung, and so Claudius ducked down for the compost bin. Stepping out of the way for Eibhlin to wash her hands gave him a second to think about whatever the hell this was. “Is it really so weird? We move rocks around and make guns in factories and kill people. Grr, argh, strong people hot.”

This time the impatience nearly skewered him. “But that is the point, it is not that. Perhaps superficially, for short-term liaisons, but not partnerships. There is a reason why attractiveness in Three is strongly weighted toward intelligence. Physically symmetrical but intellectually bankrupt partners will not create a stable or successful household.”

Claudius blinked. “Ouch?”

“Do not —“

“Okay, okay. “ He held up his hands. Three-stupid was not universal-stupid, they’d had this argument before and reopening it now wouldn’t help anyone. “So you’re trying to figure out what is the … biological imperative … behind what Twos find attractive?”

See, he could do it too.

Now she hesitated. He probably should have moved this conversation to the living room or found her a rabbit to cuddle before starting this conversation, but more fool him, now they had to have it in the middle of the kitchen with nothing to fiddle with but sharp implements. “Leaving aside the question of whether biological or evolutionary imperatives exist other than as excuses for the creation of sexist binaries — yes. In Three we value intelligence because intelligence is how we survive. I could not understand how brawn could hold the same value in your society.”

“Okay.” Claudius leaned back against the counter, hands braced but open, nonthreatening. “And?”

“It isn’t brawn,” Eibhlin said. “It’s — community. Care. You are a district of physical labourers and physical people, so of course you value those who can take care of each other with your bodies.”

“Sounds kind of like cavemen,” Claudius said, amused in spite of himself. “I’m sure Brutus would agree, though.”

“He did,” Eibhlin said, nose in the air with the delicate air of someone choosing not to take offence, as the bigger person in the room thank you very much. “And Artemisia, once she stopped laughing. She went home with many girls, but she wanted to marry Emory when she was young, and now she is with Devon. That speaks to type.”

“Okay,” he said, again. “I still don’t know what — you don’t just do anthropology. You have to have a thesis.”

Eibhlin’s fingers curled in her sleeves, which — Ah, shit.

This was the part Claudius hated. Speedrunning weeks of research and observations to find whatever tangled mess of emotions had prompted Eibhlin to do this in the first place, because while Claudius might mangle onions or spar with his mentor or call up his friends in a total panic when he had a problem, Eibhlin … well, she did science.

“Okay.” A third time, the jigsaw puzzles falling off the table and clicking together into the most terrifying image of a nightmare clown he’d ever seen, but also the clown was right in front of him looking sad and he had to be very careful not to jump. “So it sounds like … we have the best of both worlds? You’re a super genius and I — well, I can sort of fix the roof, if I have help.”

Eibhlin studied him in silence for several moments, eyes intent and searching, but finally she nodded sharply and the knot in his chest unhooked. “Don’t forget the cooking,” she said. “You have become quite adept.”

“Glad to hear it,” Claudius said. “You want to help? I was still chopping when someone tried to put rabbit poop in my hands.”

“Hm,” Eibhlin said, admitting absolutely nothing, and held out her hand for the knife.

#we must be killers: tales from district 2 #my writing #oc: claudius

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carriedreamerxx · 9 months

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-Sleep-

****

The house was humble and not at all worthy but…

He needed to get her warm and so this would just have to do. Her ceremonial garb was in tatters, his own tunic was torn beyond repair, but by the Gods he was going to try.

He could see their eyes on him, his friends, his colleagues, were they at last at peace? Did they see Link struggling to get up a mere flight of stairs holding their own beloved Princess by the waist with every ounce of his remaining strength.

"Link…" her voice was weak, and exhausted and propriety be damned -!

He swept her into his arms fully and crossed the last few steps towards the bed, under the watchful eye of Lady Urbosa who had likely already cursed Link's ill mannered handling of her precious little bird.

…. A fitting name really, especially at this moment, she shivered on Link's worn sheets, as he knelt at her side.

"Princess." He murmured. "We need to get you warm, will you accept my cloak?"

"Link…" was her only answer.

I will take that as a yes.

He swept his cloak off and covered in mud as it was, it was at least of thicker material than the thin silk of her gown.

…he hated this gown. Was it wrong he hoped it would be deemed unsalvageable and that they would have no choice but to throw the wretched thing in the fire.

A gown to honor the living goddess…

More like a damned funeral shroud.

Her skin was cold when he removed her sandals, the leather thongs so tight and frayed, they were cutting into her flesh, he bit back a curse.

These he threw down to the bottom floor, these he swore would be repurposed. He'd buy instead the softest leather boots he could afford and once word arrived from Impa and the Sheikah escort came to collect the Princess…

She was still shivering, she'd barely gotten that last whispered plea out before she'd collapsed into his arms, and…

I didn't answer.

There hadn't been time. Gods forgive him she'd gone down so fast and what had his first instinct been but to trust in his steed to get them to safety-!

Safety as in Kakariko not…

A mountain homestead was not the right place for a princess to recover from a twisted ankle let alone a one hundred years constant vigil-!

I didn't even sweep the damn floor!

Again those eyes bore down on him, he could almost feel the piercing gaze of Revali especially -

Fool.

She was asleep at least. Her breathing was steady, he wondered when she'd wake up, the days after the blights despite his best efforts almost always he'd been swept into town and Link had slept like a lazy dullard for hours he'd never get back!

Hours….the princess could never get back.

Fool.

"Aye, I'm a fool Master Revali, I admit."

Don't be so hard on yourself.

His lip curled wanly, "You say that Princess Mipha but you're a wee bit biased it seems." He shifted his gaze to the other tattered silver and blue Zora armor hanging in the makeshift closet. The chainmail was in pieces from a silver Lizalfos bite and tear, that's what he gets for playing cuckoo with a damned mean lizard with a pointy stick in your face.

That wasn't that smart little guy.

"Aye, I know Daruk." Link sighed and crossed his arms. "I know."

The floor was dusty. His clothes were everywhere. The flower on the table was droopy. By Hylia's mercy was Link a grown man or a wee child!

This is not a place for a Princess to wake up in.

At the very least he'd dust a bit in here. So what his own limbs ached, he had slept but last night when was the last time his-....the Princess had slept?

What had even happened to her - how was it she looked yet the same?

Link…Link was no scholar, aye truth be told Link could barely spell but…these were mysteries far too advanced for even the most brilliant of castle theologians let alone…a simple young man from Hateno.

Her wisdom, what he could remember of it at least, transcended time and spirit. She knew both the old and the new, what once was all the way to what must be-... She'd sacrificed…so much.

…so much.

The least she could have is a nice clean house to wake in.

"Link…"

He froze in mid step.

"...princess?" He murmured. Her voice was small…thin with fatigue, her eyes were still closed, was she even aware? "Please rest." He whispered back.

"...Link." Another whisper.

"Aye, I'm right here Princess."

"....Link." it sounded yet so... Sad. He frowned.

"...what can I do? She sleeps so fitfully I don't want to see her in any more pain, how can I make her see she's... She's free?"

"Stay with her. " The voice in his ear was low. Maternal. "You have done already what must be done, now stay with her Link."

".... Link."

He took a step closer. "Princess, you must rest. Please, it is over now and you have had a long trial now please milady…rest."

".... Remember…me."

"... I do. I do Princess. I remember not much… if anything… but I do remember you."

"....Link. Don't…don't leave."

He drew the blankets further over her before dragging a chair over.

"I won't. Never again. I swear it. Now please, just rest. I'll be right here when you wake up. I promise."

Her hand was soft, and so….so damned small yet he knew within dwelled a power so profound it had saved them all…kept them safe for one hundred long…long years.

She had kept the beast at bay…Link had merely come in with a sword and swung it at the right time.

"The hero of Hyrule…" he murmured. "Aye Zelda… you are indeed."

****

Word count: 950 words

Fandom: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild .

Notes: I'm a sucker for these two - at this point I'm going to do drabbles and one shots for them every time I have writers block lol

...which is a lot. Lol ah well.

#my writing #legend of zelda #legend of zelda fanfiction #botw zelink #drabbles #zelink

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the-lancasters · 1 year

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The Life and Times of Charlotte Aline Margaret Lancaster nee Nelson, Lady, Crown Princess, Duchess, Queen

AN: This post is a beast and if you have gotten to the end and read the whole thing congratulations and thank you for indulging me in this deep dive into Charlotte as a character. I have been working on this post for a wee while now and it kept growing and growing. She hasn’t shown up much in my story but as I have fleshed out the characters in the background, I grew very fond of her ❤

Previous| Beginning | Next

Transcript under the cut

Charlotte – How did it come to this?

My childhood was a relatively happy one. My brother, sister, and I spent most of our time in the country, sometimes mother would join us but father was often too busy in town and she would be there to support him and host his parties. I didn’t realise at the time that, as the Duke of Northumberland, he was a high ranking member of the aristocracy. All I knew was that he was never there.

Once I came of age, my mother set about preparing me for making my social debut. She impressed upon me again and again how important this was. I had to make the perfect match. As a woman I had limited options outside of marriage. As the eldest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, they were down to almost zero.

On my first visit to Goldsborough Palace, my future home, I was so nervous and I dearly wished I was back home in the rolling fields of Chatfield Estate. I did come to love the big old building but right then the facade seemed so intimidating and there were so many people jostling to gain favour. This is also when I realised exactly who my father was. We were escorted to a separate room and before I knew it, I was being presented to the King and Queen without the ever-present crowds of courtiers. I met my future husband that day too. Not that I knew anything of my fathers plotting and manoeuvring but after that meeting, I somehow gained the King's approval and my path was set.

The joy I felt on my wedding day was real. It felt like everyone in Illyria had come out to see me marry a Prince. Edward was charming, handsome, and eloquent. Everything someone of my status looked for in a husband. He listened to my thoughts about the books I read and the parties I went to as part of my new role as Crown Princess. While that may seem a low bar now, I remembered how distant my own parents were and this was a revelation. I quickly became pregnant to everyone's joy. While Mary was not the boy everyone was hoping for, I had an easy pregnancy and there was no reason it would not be a boy next time. And they were right, George came along next and the future of the Crown was secure. George was not even a year old when King Edward I died and my Edward became King Edward II. We all thought we would have more time to enjoy our marriage and grow our family, but not even Kings are immune to disease.

I was just 27. It was an adjustment, becoming Queen but it was something that my mother had prepared me for my entire life and it quickly settled into a rhythm. I saw less and less of Edward but he seemed to be growing into his role, from a charming debonair youth to a mature man. Little did I know that he was continuing his youthful pursuits elsewhere. But I carried on in ignorant bliss, going to parties, opening exhibitions and fulfilling my role at state occasions. A few years later, Thomas arrived. He was a gorgeous little boy, always smiling and giggling.

He would run through the halls of the palace with Mary chasing after him, his shrieks of laughter echoing in every corner. But life had been going too well, and I had become comfortable. While on a State visit to Ochya, we were called home urgently. Thomas had caught the flu and was steadily declining. We barely got there in time to say goodbye. Thomas’ death was the hardest thing I have ever had to endure. The guilt was crushing. I was not there for him when he needed me the most. I ceased all my engagements and barely left my rooms. Edward didn’t understand my withdrawal from public life. He lost himself in his work, upped his engagements, trips, and meetings. He did not darken my bedroom again.

George and Mary gave me a purpose to keep going. I became determined to not let them down as I thought I had let Thomas down. Mary was easy, as the responsible one of my children. She soon made a love match with the Crown Prince of Etrium and moved away to start a new life that would be filled with love, children, and new responsibilities far away from Illyria. George was like his father in many ways, charming and easy-going until he didn’t get his way. I indulged him too much, I realise now. In my attempts to protect him, I didn’t let him learn from his mistakes. I made excuses when his behaviour brought harm to others. At the time I fully believed that my son was different to everyone else's children and that he didn’t deserve the criticism. When Edward died, I was set adrift. Elizabeth was now Queen and while I tried to help guide her, it was no longer my place, it was hers.

My children no longer needed me, with families of their own to raise. And the Crown that I had given my life to, had passed on

I bought Glamis House with the money left by Edward to try and establish a place that was mine. I had gone from living under my fathers roof to my husbands. Everything that I could ever have wanted or needed was there but it was never truly mine. But Glamis House was different, I paid for it and I set about decorating every room exactly how I wanted to. And every day I felt a little more content. My favourite days were when the grandchildren came to visit me at Glamis. I would get the staff to make up their rooms and hide little presents all around that they could find during their visit. We would have lunch on the lawn and not care if their outfits were messed up. Things that I cared about once upon a time didn’t seem as important when we were out there. Margaret never wanted to leave after each visit. I still made trips into the city, to see friends, attend important family events but as the years went by, the time between trips became longer and longer. I wasn’t as young as I used to be and the trip took more and more out of me each time.

Margaret was always the first to come and see me in my rooms at the palace, no matter what else she was up to in life. I see so much of my younger self in her. Seeing my first great grandchild christened was something I never thought I would see. The next generation of the Lancaster family is starting, as I, the last of my generation, am beginning my end. In the very end, I had all that I could ask for - my family surrounding me. I hate to see them so sad, especially Margaret but the time has come to be reunited with Thomas. I worry for the future of my family. My one regret is that I could not be there to support them in the coming months But now, I am at peace.

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redwineconversation · 9 days

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Ada Hegerberg OLPLay Interview: "Lyon is my home" (April 17, 2024)

It was this or the OL Night Systems interview and unlike others I have a full time job that I'd really like to keep, so I chose to do the shorter one first.

Blah blah standard disclaimers apply; @OL Comms Dept what would I not do for an Earl Grey with soy milk? Not much; I'd say I hope the deranged lunatic who thinks I would EVER post on the godforsaken website that is the L Chat gets hit by a bus but that would require them to step outside so instead I just hope they drink expired milk so we can be on equal levels of disgust; banning stans from stadiums would solve so many problems; y'all know the speech by now.

♫ It's you and me, there's nothing like this, Miss Americana Olympique Lyonnais and the Heartbreak Prince ♫

I love how you can have a legitimate debate about this: did Ada Hegerberg mold Olympique Lyonnais into her own image? Or did Lyon recruit her because they saw themselves in her? Like yeah you can totally say I romanticize this team and you're not wrong, you're really not. But holy shit do I love a good love story, especially if it started in the rain.

For the sake of aesthetics, if a Hegerberg quote is in italics, that means it's a flashback quote. Present day quotes are in normal font. Brackets is my own commentary. Y'all can just deal.

ADA HEGERBERG OLPLAY INTERVIEW

[OLD FOOTAGE - SUMMER 2014 - HEGERBERG SIGNS WITH OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS]

Hegerberg: I have learnt some French words. "ça vas, ça vas bien" (it's good, it's going well).

Hegerberg: I think it's an amazing chance to play with some amazing players. The club has high ambitions and I think it's my personal ambitions as well.

[PRESENT DAY]

[HEGERBERG LAUGHS]

Hegerberg: Oh, I was so young. Just a young girl, really. I remember so well when I came to Lyon. It was a magical summer, first of all. I landed at the airport, there was Isabelle Dias who came to get me, she was in high heels, super fashionable. She looked so French. No, it's magical to see this footage because I had this innocence but you could see I was also starstruck but had a lot of ambition. Honestly, I had such high hopes. I felt at home from the very first day. And - [Hegerberg laughs] I was so young. I was a little girl, and I became a woman.

[2014 - 2015 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS FOOTAGE]

Hegerberg: It was my first trophy with the club. From the very first season, I think I was so well integrated within the team. There are really some real characters within the team. I would say wee had a game plan which was so well prepared. From that point I was already developing as a player at a level that I wanted. That team was magical. There were some really good players.

Hegerberg: The first year at Lyon, it was considered a failure because we didn't go all the way in the UWCL. But we still were perfect in the [French] league. I think that since the first day, I've really worked hard to be a part of the team and it's worked out really well since then.

Hegerberg: Honestly I think it was a pleasure to come into this team because I remember I came with my little book of French words. So I really wanted to learn French pretty quickly because I knew the importance of integrating well within a team in order to perform well, in order to get along well with the team, the town, the country. I think you learn things when you talk about your country. I went to Germany when I was very young, and then I came to Olympique Lyonnais and France. You need to know how to keep the balance between adapting but also keep your own culture, your own [moral] values. But you still have to adapt. So it's a really great experience. But it's true that Camille [Abily], she came to get me. I was in a tiny, tiny apartment when I first came to Lyon. Even if I was in a really, really tiny apartment, I was living my best life. I had great players like Camille, she came to get me every day to take me to the training grounds. I was starstruck. So they were a really, really good group who knew how to put in place an integration which was really top, I think.

[2015 - 2016 UWCL FINAL FOOTAGE]

Hegerberg: It's true that the first final that you win, it's special because it's the first one. So many things happened in that game. First of all I think we played at a really high level throughout the season. The first goal was really magnificent. It was started with a great move from Pauline Bremer. And it's true that I missed my first penalty. That was also my mentality when I was young, I didn't doubt myself. So when it was time for the penalty shootout, of course I was like "obviously I want to take the first one!" That was classic me at the time. No fear of consequences. And I think that's what allowed me to not have any limits, to achieve great things in my career. But it's true you're quite innocent, you're a bit naive in a way when you're younger. I remember those sensations. The players were telling me "don't worry, Ada. We're going to do it. Even if your penalty was saved, we're going to do it." I felt that mentality around me. And we did it. And I remember Lotta, Lotta Schelin, she was telling me "don't worry. Don't worry, we're going to do it." And she was right.

Hegerberg: It was a dream. I knew it would be hard to win. And it was really hard. The feeling of winning - first of all winning the UWCL, I couldn't even begin to imagine what we would go on to do. But it's an exceptional feeling. You start to understand the importance with time, because when you're young, you have a lot of hunger, you want to quickly throw yourself into the next one. So you think differently. But as the years went by I learnt the importance of having a trophy like that, know the work which goes into it. Winning the UWCL five years in a row, you need something exceptional. But winning the first one, that's something I'll never forget because it really set the basis for all the work behind the scenes. I've never stopped since. I remember that it gave me an enormous desire to continue. And I think you can say it's also the image of the team, because I think it would have been impossible to win so many years in a row if there wasn't that collective desire to win.

Hegerberg: I understood pretty quickly that it was an exceptional team with world class players. You had different cultures from different nationalities which gave an advantage with a French core, you could say. Having all those different cultures, I think that's what really shaped the team. I'm also proud to have come when I was so young and to have been part of a such a grandiose history, and to feel that my contributions were on par with our success.

[2018 BALLON D'OR CEREMONY FOOTAGE]

Hegerberg: A big moment, a big moment for me personally but also for the club, the team. It rewards the work of a whole team. It's impossible to win the Ballon d'Or without having a team which shines. I think we had fantastic seasons which allowed me to win a Ballon d'Or. I think that the players know as well that it's thanks to the work of a whole team which allowed me to win the first Ballon d'Or.

Hegerberg: I remember at the time that I knew a few weeks beforehand. I was asking myself a ton of questions, "what do you even say on stage when you win the Ballon d'Or?" But it's true that even being a female athlete today, to be a woman in sports, it poses different challenges on several levels. [Female] football players are faced with challenges which aren't only on the field. And it requires a lot of courage to overcome those challenges as I call them so that the sport always goes in the right direction. You need to always be there to say "hey, hey, hey. Are the right decisions being made so that the next generation has their place in sports, in football?" I would say fortunately and unfortunately it's also our responsibility today to do in sort that we leave the sport in better conditions than when we found it in. You need women, you need girls who start to take up space and who believe in themselves even, who want to succeed, who really want to work hard to take our place one day, because we're not going to be here [in sports] our whole lives, even if I would like that to be the case. So it was for them, it was for the new generation, for everyone who was watching. It was for everyone.

Hegerberg: It's impossible to succeed without knowing your own qualities and to get better. Confidence in yourself is fundamental to succeed in life. To find that [self] confidence you also have to know what you do well, what your qualities are. And do the work. Before anything else put in the work. Success doesn't happen by itself.

[2019 UWCL FINAL FOOTAGE]

Hegerberg: I'm getting goosebumps. To score a hat trick in a UWCL final, honestly, it's one of the craziest moments in my life, in my career. It's something - It's - I can't describe it because it's - it's such an important game. You see the first goal, it's something that I have worked with with my father since I was very young. We did it over and over and over again. Sprint, maintain your speed at the same time as you control the ball well, which stays close to your feet so you can quickly get the shot off. We did that over and over again for years. So to manage to do that in a UWCL final and score a hat trick, it's, it's something incredible.

Hegerberg: In fact, in that period where we were dominating the Champions League, we were winning year after year after year. All the work we had to put into it, all the talent, team spirit, it's very, very rare, very special. I would almost say it's not talked about enough. [Hegerberg laughs] But that's sports as well. We quickly move on to the next thing. But what was done there, it was historical. From time to time, when we're in the off-season or in season, I watch those games because it brings something out in me, it gives me something for the future.

Hegerberg: I think my father was exceptional in the manner he observed the technical side. As time went by we got to understand each other. We always had one-hour sessions because we knew you needed an hour to really maintain your highest standards. If we went above one hour we would really work on the technical details but the quality would drop a little. So we stuck with that one hour session working on technique. And we repeated that all the time, even when I had Christmas break or summer break. Even when I came to Lyon, we still continued to work on it. And it's those small details that have allowed me to develop [as a player], and always see what the areas of improvement are in my game. And when I look back today at the goals I've scored, there are details that I've been working on with my dad since I was super young. He really gave me an advantage in my career. It's incredible.

[HEGERBERG'S FIRST LONGTERM INJURY -DEC 2019 - SEPT 2021]

[Rehab footage]

Hegerberg: I think that everyone goes through a difficult period in their career. You always hear the phrase "it's part of being a professional athlete, getting injured." Unfortunately. For me, I pretty much had an entire career with no injuries. So then I had a serious knee injury and then a stress fracture in the tibia, which was very difficult to manage. There was absolutely no knowledge of women's bodies in female sports. I came to the realization there was very little competence around women's health in general, in their bodies, especially in sports. I look back on that period with a lot of pride because I had to dig so, so deep to come back. I really proved that I was still a top player. You needed to have a lot of courage, good people around you. It never would have been possible without my family, without my husband. My husband was exceptional. My agents. My friends. Without them it wouldn't have been possible.

Hegerberg: I always believed that I would come back. It's pretty crazy, because there were so many low moments. But I knew how to bounce back, with a lot of hard work and determination. I'm not a really patient person. I'm very impatient. But I learnt things about my mentality and my body that I definitely use today. It's a period I would have liked to avoid but at the time it taught me things I never would have learnt otherwise.

Hegerberg: First of all injuries aren't easy. But first I was unlucky with the injury that I had. But I was very, very fortunate to have met the right medical staff at the right time, who you could say pulled me out of that hell. What I'm capable of doing today, I'm really proud because I know how far I've come. To have the courage and discipline to return to the top level, it's almost better than a trophy. Almost. Because it's behind me now. Mentally I'm in a really good place. I want to play my best football in the years to come. And I hope that will be the case.

[HEGERBERG'S FIRST GAME BACK FROM INJURY - OCT 5, 2021]

[Game footage]

[HEGERBERG'S FIRST GOAL SINCE RETURNING FROM INJURY - NOVEMBER 2021]

[Game footage against PSG, Lyon 6-1 PSG]

[Hegerberg thinks about smiling]

Hegerberg: It's nice. You could say I spent a lot of time visualizing it while I was out [injured] to be prepared for those moments. And you could say I had been waiting for that moment for a long time. I love everyone's reaction. I love Griedge [MBock]'s reaction as well because it's true that we came back - the two of us came back from serious injuries. And we showed everyone we were able to return to the top level even if - even if you had something serious. So it's really nice.

[OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS - BARCELONA 2022 UWCL FINAL]

[Game footage]

Hegerberg: Yes, it's incredible. It's difficult for me to describe tonight.

[present day: Hegerberg laughs hysterically]

Hegerberg: I have to give a shoutout to Griedge [MBock] as well. What we went through was every athlete's nightmare.

[present day: Hegerberg is still losing it]

Hegerberg: Don't you realize it? It's the eight Champions League trophy for the club. I keep saying this, but the president, what he's done for us, for football in general, I don't have any words. I have so much respect [for him]. [The trophy] is coming home, it's deserved.

[Present day: is Hegerberg still losing it? Answer: yes]

[2021 - 2022 LEAGUE TROPHY CEREMONY]

[Trophy ceremony footage]

Hegerberg: [into a microphone] Where is the Champagne? Where is it? Where is the Champagne?? We need the Champagne.

[Present day: Hegerberg loses it]

Hegerberg: And it's true that that night [of the UWCL final], it was total euphoria. I think it was one of the biggest nights in women's football because it was such a good final, the intensity, I've never experienced intensity like that. There was a sold-out stadium with a lot of fans, a lot of Barcelona supporters. There was a lot of - you can say there some misspoken statements before the final [cf: Caroline Graham Hansen, cf: general WoSo media] but us as players we're focused on what happens on the pitch. That's not a problem. But I think there were a lot of people who, before this game, forgot everything this club has accomplished. And what was nice was that were prepared for it. We knew what our qualities were before the game. But I think a reminder of who we are was necessary. Coming back in my first season post-injury and winning the UWCL, it's really touching. I had forgotten, it was almost psychological, and to have been rewarded with that trophy, it's - it's magical. It's one of the best experiences I've ever had.

Hegerberg: What we showed that day, it's unforgettable. It's an exceptional team. And [Hegerberg laughs] what a game. Honestly, what a final. I feel those emotions all over again when I rewatch the game. I think - Wendie [Renard] won't like this - I think I've watched the game 12 times. It's a really high level game. I think - when I say the intensity, the technical level, the quality you have on the field, the stakes which were at play. The stakes were - wow. And also to come back and prove that we were the best team in Europe. That's not done singlehandedly. There's a lot of work which goes into it. When I watch the film, I also see all the suffering behind the scenes and what we had to go through to get there.

Hegerberg: I was really emotional as well because at one point I saw Jean-Michel Aulas in the stands, our president for so many years. I wouldn't be where I am today without him. Thanks to him we were able to build a team which was without a doubt the best team in the world for so long. Personally I will never forget the chance he took on me, to have me play here for so long. He was a big, big figure in my career. I will never forget him. [Hegerberg tears up a little] I'd like to thank him because it was an unforgettable period. So I'd like to say a big thank you to Jean-Michel Aulas for my adventures, which has been going on for 10 years now.

[CONTRACT EXTENSION]

[Contract extension footage]

Hegerberg: Lyon is my home. I had to stay. It was in my head since the beginning. I said to my husband "I don't see myself anywhere else." It's true that it was the first time since I've been at Lyon that it took - it took a bit longer. But since the beginning I've always seen myself at Lyon. It's my town, it's my home.

Hegerberg: It's a new era with a real bad-ass woman, I would say. Michele Kang is very ambitious. I'd like to thank her as well for believing in me. You can feel that she's a very ambitious woman who wants to bring something more, who wants to change the dynamic a little bit in football in general, and who really wants to be at the top with this team. You need someone who is ambitious, who projects discipline, ambitions, investment - especially investment - in the ranks, and that that transmits to the team as well.

Hegerberg: I think there are things we have to go get. We still have some nice trophies to go win. We have a lot of potential. I want to continue playing my best football here.

Hegerberg: I came here as a young girl and I became a woman here. Lyon will always be my home even after my career ends. And here I am very, very happy to stay here another three years and to work hard to win several more trophies, UWCL, league. All the trophies possible. Because we have to go get them now. You have to give everything, and I'm ready to give everything for another three years for my club.

#all good love stories start in the rain #ada hegerberg

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kentuckycaverats · 7 months

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being emo about what a difference del's made in my life, word vomit below the cut so i don't clog the dash.

i've talked about this a wee bit on here, but after my first couple of years getting into ttrpgs i realized that i kept accidentally putting pieces of my soul into my pcs and having surprise Realizations over the course of the game(s), so i decided to start doing it on purpose

i built del very intentionally to have like, all of my childhood-adolescent trauma. the details are all greatly exaggerated but are rooted in the same feelings: not being allowed to have boundaries, not being allowed to make my own choices, being denied autonomy, being openly gay and trans in a conservative christian town, intimate partner abuse, suicidality. the fujinamis are (very loosely) based on my own parents and the tsugas are the parents i wish i'd had. sabina is not-so-loosely based on my abusive ex

but del is unlike me in every other way. she can stand up for herself, she can set and enforce boundaries, she's strong-willed and physically capable, afraid of nothing, and genuinely can't be fucked to care what anyone thinks of her. traits that i don't have but desperately wish that i did. i figured that if i could develop and play a character who emulates those things, then hey, look, those exist in me too, because del can't exist without me. my therapist has been a huge proponent of this and has helped me to utilize del as a therapeutic tool, and boyyyy has it worked. with the combination of EMDR + delphine, i've made crazy progress just in this last year

last night my partner and i were talking to his best friend and ended up on the topic of first relationships, and she wanted to know about my abusive ex. and like. she's haunted me for over a decade. it used to be that i couldn't think or talk about what she did to me without violently dissociating and triggering nightmares about her. but it doesn't hurt me to talk about anymore? she sucks ass and she's the worst person i ever met in my life, but i'm not afraid of her anymore. and i credit like 50% of that to therapy/EMDR and the other half to del game

because del has gotten to face and defeat sabina twice: first in backstory, in which del diablerized her and ended up with sabina's consciousness kicking around in her head, then again with tara and the coterie by her side as she killed her for good. when we were going into that session my therapist had a hunch that being rid of sabina in-game would help me get past the last big block from my own abuser, and she was right. i didn't notice it right away, but even when she does show up in my dreams (and she did last night, like she usually does when i talk about her) they aren't nightmares anymore. she's there and i'm annoyed mostly, but not afraid. i can tell her no and tell her to fuck off and instead of the big looming figure she used to be in my brain she's just a pathetic asshole who can't reach me anymore

my therapist says all the time that the brain processes fiction and reality the same way, emotionally-speaking, and we joke about ttrpg as group therapy but it really has been. and so much of that credit goes to our st who's (1) brilliant (2) so cognizant of telling trauma stories in a safe and respectful way and (3) has a window into my soul i guess?? he knows i'm plural but the del/aelsidhe arc was a complete surprise to me, and oddly enough comes like, scary close to paralleling the relationship between myself (del as proxy) and the host before me (aelsidhe as proxy) who i was supposed to protect from our ex. i couldn't have come up with a more fitting arc for del if i'd tried

anyway. tl;dr - healing is stored in the fighty little cockroach lesbian and she will always be so so special to me

#not really expecting anyone to read this #sometimes you just gotta get the thoughts out of your head so you dont have to hold them anymore ya feel #del

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betterbooktitles · 2 months

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My wife and I got married in the Hamptons of Cleveland, a small gated community an hour south of Buffalo called the Chautauqua Institution. A year later, steps from where we had danced to a Beatles cover band, someone stabbed Salman Rushdie.

I worry Chautauqua will be known for that attack someday. When I tell a friend where we were married, will I see their face change in subtle recognition? Will it become like saying you went to Columbine High School but graduated years before the shooting?

Probably not. The Chautauqua lore is so rich that it’s unlikely to be known for any single event. It’s been praised by the New York Times for being a spiritually and intellectually satisfying retreat, and bashed in the New York Times for its Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the oldest children’s day camp in the country, one that still separates the sexes.

“Chautauquas,” according to the first few pages of Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance once littered the United States. Intellectuals toured the country giving lectures during the Lyceum Movement, an experiment in adult education for the masses. Chautauqua, New York was the flagship community and is also one of the few Chautauquas that has survived.

An entire page of my sophomore American History textbook was devoted to Chautauqua. Writers, politicians, comedians, and essayists all traveled on the lyceum circuit to get their message out to the world. William Jennings Bryan was likely the most exciting speaker, a man who I first heard about in the play Our Town where the Stage Manager excitedly tells the audience that “Bryan once made a speech from these very steps here.” Thanks to my family’s yearly vacations in Chautauqua, I too had seen some steps where Bryan had once made a speech. Exciting stuff. I was walking through a page of my history textbook every summer.

Though I knew the place was somewhat famous, Chautauqua’s history often seemed embellished. Once, a nice white-haired lady walking past me on the road, unprompted, pointed at a patch of grass beyond the institution’s fence and said “You know, Amelia Earhart landed her plane on that golf course once.” Sure she did, lady. Then a few days later, I’d found myself in the Chautauqua library staring at a giant black-and-white photo of Amelia Earhart standing on the Chautauqua golf course. It’s near a few photos of FDR in front of the Chautauqua Opera House.

It’s difficult to describe Chautauqua to the uninitiated. I happily let my wife describe it for others whenever the subject comes up: “It’s the set of Dirty Dancing.” Aside from the fact that it’s not in the Catskills and the spirit of the place is a little more centered on intellectual/spiritual edification, it is exactly like the set of Dirty Dancing, complete with a treelined lake, an enormous hotel, and a house full of actors and dancers at one end of the grounds who let loose, partying every night to the wee hours (10 PM) when everything in the Institution closes and strict quiet hours are enforced. Women can even take Ballroom Dance classes with young men, though I get the sense that both parties are a little more puritanical than Swayze and his students. Unfortunately, also like the movie, thanks to a few speakers from the Heritage Foundation, there are also several Chautauquans who like Ayn Rand.

For the kids who grew up going to Chautauqua every summer, it was a giant playground. We went during Week Five of the season consistently and became fast friends with anyone our age. Boys’ and Girls’ Club hours went from 9 AM to noon, and from 2 PM to 4 PM so parents could attend talks or a pottery class while the kids were playing dodgeball and rehearsing for Air Band (a lip-syncing competition for all club attendees). Because the Institution is safe compared to nearly every place people visit from, the kids roam free. They have carte blanche to do whatever they please during daylight hours. We biked, ate mountains of ice cream, or played ping pong for hours when we weren’t at club playing GaGa Ball, a game where you hunched over and used your hands to hit your opponents’ ankles with a volleyball.

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ransprang · 1 year

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Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 (Finale)

Serial Killer! Harvey x Ex-Lawyer! Reader - Chapter 4 (Finale)

wc: 1.7k

Year 1, Winter

The past few weeks were full of town gatherings at Lewis's house and at the Saloon to discuss what the town was going to do about the 3 missing people. You had joined the adventure guild in their patrols and there truly seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. No wild animals and nothing out of place.

The townsfolk got increasingly wary especially those with young children. Hence Lewis established a new curfew that everyone must be indoors before sunset and cannot leave until sunrise. This was awful since winter meant that there was less daylight.

On top of that, a while after Pam's disappearance Harvey had come to your house with a bouquet of flowers apologizing for his lack of response and expressed his love for you. How on Earth are you supposed to go on romantic dates with your new boyfriend now?!

The night before the curfew was completely set in place, Harvey took you to the beach for a romantic picnic while watching the sunset. While watching the sunset, he turned to you and held your hand gently, "Y/n, I may not be very strong, but I promise to protect you during these times. I promise nothing will harm you as long as I'm around." Unable to express how safe that makes you feel you lean in towards him..only to be startled by a loud noise, "OHOHO LOOK AT THE WEE LITTLE LOVEBIRDS WE'VE GOT HERE". Willy made his way down the dock amused by the sight.

"Enjoyin' the sunset are we before the curfew ey?" You chuckled with Willy and noticed that Harvey didn't seem too pleased. Before you could take Harvey away to a more private spot, "Aye, I understand with things bein' so scary now even I'd take a break away from work t'spend some time with the others. Ah but the ocean needs me hoho. Have fun you two." He started whistling and walking back to his house.

How dare he. How dare that lowly fisherman assume his profession is harder than mine. Did he really think it was easy for me to take time off to spend this moment with my precious y/n? He will pay.

"...Honey, you okay?" You said softly looking concerned. Harvey shakes off his thoughts, "Yes sorry I was just thinking of something." Harvey sees your eyes gaze into the distance clearly something is bothering you as well. He grabs your hand prompting you to speak.

"W-well you see with recent events I'm terrified of course, but I really think something bad is in this town and I'm not sure what it is. You see when I was patrolling for the guild I saw some stuff that may be out of place I guess? Like in the forests I saw a lot of beer cans by the cliff and I saw some red splatters on the way to the spa. I don't know if they mean anything..."

Harvey was surprised he forgot to clean up such little details, "Oh darling, I bet it's just all the stress and rumors getting to you-"

Harvey got interjected by your rambling, "No. No..it's so strange isn't it that 1 person has been disappearing every season since I moved in? I didn't really tell anyone in the Valley since I thought it'd scare people away. You see, I was a prosecutor in the city and well I've seen so many criminal cases to the point where it stressed me out and I had nightmares about them. That's why I moved out here. I'm wondering if this might be the doing of one of the townsfolk." Y/n looked over into Harvey's eyes for reassurance.

Harvey's mind was racing. His beloved was a prosecutor? Oh man, he royally messed up. Maybe y/n should've been the first target. He should've researched her background. No No NO what was he thinking, they are lovers how could he be thinking that he promised to keep you safe.

"Wow honey I didn't know you were from such a background it explains how you're so intelligent. I think with the curfews hopefully these scary events cease to occur ever again." Harvey says giving you a kiss on the cheek. Still a bit troubled you hug him and you both head home.

As Harvey opens the office door he sees that it's unlocked, which is strange considering he was sure he locked it. Thinking nothing of it he headed in and before he went to his room he heard some rumbling.

It was 4pm and Harvey let Maru go a bit early today, which she was thankful of considering the recent missing cases. She went home and just as she reached her house she realized she forgot to take a file with her to read up on before work tomorrow. Luckily she had a spare key Harvey gave her 2 years ago, which she didn't have to use till now surprisingly.

She unlocked the door and made her way to Harvey's office. Looking for the file she noticed there are a few less files than before specifically Alex, Pam and Shane's were gone. Trying to not think much of it she tried to look for the notebook with tomorrow's schedule. Out of curiosity she looked through the Fall history and saw that Pam's appointment was during her day off but she hadn't signed in. Which is strange since Pam always came in when she was in the office. It's been like this for the past few years.

Maru started wondering if Harvey knew something. He had been a bit more jumpy lately and especially protective of his belongings. Maru knew she shouldn't be doing this, but she went into Harvey's room. Taking a glance at the pilot gear she saw a bit of red on the corner and took a swab of the dried up liquid with a cotton bud she was conveniently carrying around.

Still feeling uneasy, she found snooped through his cabinet to find a jar of rat poison. The Valley did not have any rats so it was strange that Harvey needed this. There was a syringe next to it as well. Maru thought that the pairing was very odd. Feeling a bit creeped out she makes her way out till she sees a white board. Turning it around she sees Alex, Shane and Pam's faces along with others on the board. Maru started reading the board "Shane.. 3am cliff.. Alex 5am spa..tired...Pam appointment..rat poison.." Maru stopped reading out of fear and took a picture of the sight in front of her.

She just wants to get out of here at this point as she is about to exit she sees the front doorknob opening. Quickly she hides in a room trying to make as little noise as possible. She holds her hand over her mouth to make sure Harvey doesn't hear her.

Harvey is about to go into his room when he hears a voice. He's certain there's someone else in the clinic with him. Quietly he makes his way around the clinic trying to find the voice.

"...Help....Killer...Prosecute him" Slowly the voice is getting clearer. It's a woman's voice. "...he gets rid of the evidence." Harvey draws back the curtain that was covering one of the medical beds, "Maru?"

Reaching home you take a warm shower and are ready to collapse onto your bed. You got a voice message from Maru 5 minutes ago. Since you went to visit Harvey in the clinic at times, you and Maru also got along very well and you even considered her to be your best friend. She was the only other person who knew you were a prosecutor. You start listening to the voice message:

"Y/n, I'm in serious trouble you need to help me I'm in the clinic. I know who the killer is. It's Harvey. Please help me you need to prosecute him. I sent a picture it's enough evidence. Quickly before he gets rid of the evidence-" You then hear a strange noise then an all too familiar voice with a bit of a sinister tone, "Maru? What are you doing here?"

A terrified Maru replied "D-doctor Harvey I-" "Now now Maru it's a bit too late for you to be out and about, don't you know what's been happening lately?" The message then cuts off.

Your heart beats fast. Fingers shaking you open the attachment. It's a picture of a whiteboard detailing the recent disappearances. Your sweet boyfriend Harvey did all this? The same man who told you he'd protect you from all danger? The man who did aerobics class on Saturday mornings? It all feels so surreal.

You put on a coat and boots, and run to the clinic. Banging on the front door you yell, "Harvey? HARVEY??". There is no answer. It is eerily quiet. You run to the Stardrop Saloon hoping there may be someone to help Maru. Entering the Saloon, you started yelling help and all chatter stopped. Mayor Lewis asked what's wrong. "Maru.. Maru is in danger please you need to help her."

Sebastian hears his sisters name and without any questions immediately asks you to take you to her. Sebastian, Sam, Kent, and a few others come along seeing how frantic you are. They are puzzled when you lead them to the clinic. With the help of Kent and Pierre, the door was kicked open.

You all hear a panicked scurrying in one of the rooms. Heading towards the room the group collectively gasps as they see a bleeding Maru and Harvey in bloody clothes. Before Kent tackles Harvey to the floor, your eyes meet and he looks almost apologetic and embarrassed that you caught him like this. As you started crying, you just barely saw Sam holding Sebastian back from tearing Harvey apart.

Someone took you by the arms and led you out of the clinic.

With all the undeniable evidence, it was very easy to prosecute Harvey by the law. However, it took a huge emotional toll on you. Ever since this event the Valley had not been the same...

#harvey x farmer #sdv harvey #harvey x reader #headcanons #stardew valley #stardew valley headcanons #stardew valley harvey #writing #stardew headcanon #sdv #stardew #stardewvalley #sdv headcanons #sdv bachelors #sdv x reader #sdv bachelors x reader #sdv harvey x reader #Harvey x reader

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roukabi · 2 years

Text

Hey does anybody want Orpheus headcanons

The answer is yes. Here you go!

okey dokey so. When Orph was a wee, wee lad, about two years old, his mother Calliope made a descision. She couldn’t provide for the both of them, and, considering just how difficult little kids are, forced herself to give him to someone that would actually be able to care for him.

Hermes found the child on his doorstep one evening with a note from his old friend, whom was never seen again.

Now, Hermes knew as much about parenting as Calliope did, so he wasn’t. Thrilled with this sudden happening.

But the kid’s mama was a dear, dear friend of his, ever since they were young adults. And Orpheus’s huge, curious eyes sure were cute.

Orpheus doesn’t remember much of this, but he feels guilty about it nonetheless. Why'd he have to make things so hard for his mother? Why did he have to be such a burden?

And so, Orpheus was very timid around Hermes during those first few months together. However, if there’s one virtue Hermes has mastered, it’s patience. Slowly, he learns of Orpheus’s boundaries, what he likes to talk about, and what he really likes to talk about. Orpheus goes from standing shyly under Hermes’ stature to constantly attatching himself to Hermes’ leg.

When Persephone arrived one summer to find this child clinging to Hermes, her oncoming slew of questions faded into “awwwwww”s.

She put it upon herself to pitch in with Hermes’s parenting journey a bit, offering to watch Orpheus and teach him a few things.

It puts things into perspective for her, actually. She realizes that, in the wake of her + Hades' quarreling, the environmental and economic upheaval will, in fact, hurt the Surface people she cares about.

Anyway, back to the main boy. Orpheus loved music from a teeny-tiny age - he was almost always humming some random tune. And if Orpheus wasn’t humming, then boy, did that kid ask a ton of questions.

Orpheus gets a mini-guitar as a gift from Hermes. He’s pretty much self-taught.

Orph learned the “la-la-la-la” tune as a lullaby from Calliope. Hermes would sing it to the boy every night.

As he grows older, Orph gets better and better with music, impressing nearly everyone in town with how quickly he’s learning. (Nearly, because there's always Some Guy, I suppose).

Hermes tried to get Orpheus to work at the bar, but they realized that loud, demanding crowds were Not Very Nice to Orph’s sensory issues. So, he works as the bar bard. Bar bard. That’s fun to say.

As usual, the backstory dump is over, so now we get into the fun stuff

Though Orpheus is a great musician, he’s also an expert cook, carver, and sewer. Hermes taught him most of these skills. Orph is just... really good with his hands.

Autistic Orpheus is canon, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make up one billion self-projections More Headcanons! He’s got big sound + light sensitivity, stims vocally, LOVES anything soft/fluffy, and has RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria). He used to have a harmful stim of digging his nails into his hand when stressed, but through some gentle working-arounds with Hermes, that’s been reduced to pinching the skin.

He’s also bi and trans because i said so. i make the rules now

Orpheus can’t talk if overwhelmed, so he and Hermes know ASL. Orpheus taught Eurydice ASL as well in case he needed to communicate with her, and the first thing he taught her (in a nervously clever way) was “I love you”.

He gets his musical inspiration from watching the world around him. Thankfully, he’s a glass-half-full kind of guy, so many of his songs bring a much-needed joyfulness to the bar-goers’ lives.

When Orpheus meets Eurydice, his songs grow romantic veeerrryyy quickly.

Orph has a very, very extreme fear of death that only worsens during his Hadestown shenanigans. It's not much of a surprise, since he's the #1 fan of life + living.

The BIGGEST cuddlebug ever, loves hugs, loves snuggles. With Eurydice, though, he took it super slowly, only touching her when she was comfortable. In a few months, though, her favorite place turned out to be Orpheus’s arms :)

He’s not that great at making friends because he is too shy to say anything. He's really nice to bar-goers, of course, but he can't seem to go past that.

Orph cries easily, but not just when he’s upset. He’ll see one of those mice that sleep in flowers and tear up.

He's actually pretty strong, doing all of the heavy lifting in the bar for Hermes n such. He will never use this strength against anybody, though.

Orph has terrible spring allergies :/ it's a shame bc he loves spring

Eurydice is Orpheus's first and only love.

He thinks his singing is. okay, but not great. But he will hype up Eurydice’s dancing and (occasional) singing like crazy.

He's vegetarian and likes any kind of cheese or soup. And he likes strawberries!

Not a morning person, much to the amusement of early-bird Eurydice.

Can you tell i think about Orpheus Hadestown Too Much

#writing this and putting little imaginary hearts everywhere (in a distinctly non-romantic way)#orph is the best. i adore him. wish i could draw him.#hadestown #orpheus #orpheus hadestown #hadestown broadway #headcanons #long post #rook roars!

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catboygretzky · 1 year

Note

Eleanor! I feel like you’re a welcoming and accepting presence in the world of hockey fans; as such, I humbly ask you to please extend your advice if you’re willing.

I have 13 cousins (there are approximately 20 young people in my entire town, but that’s not relavent - I’m just trying to communicate the overwhelm of cousins I’m dealing with here), and we’re all very close, imagine a large roving gang of mulleted 11 to 24 year olds who regularly profess our willingness to die for one another before a collection of local educators who haven’t known peace for over a decade. The scene has been set. Now, this is what I’m in need of council regarding - two of said cousins have recently come out (I guess they just decided the safest way to do it would be to tag team the intergenerational woes of Catholicism), everyone took it surprisingly well, and there’s a general air of gratitude regarding the competition lessening for the handful of girls around here. However, these two cousins didn’t come out as gay, they came out as Gay Rat Bastards. More specifically, Gay Rat Bastards now willing to disturb Sacred Basement Hockey Time with gratuitous commentary on topics such as wether or not Holloway could “get it” (yes right? Like, obviously yes, the man is a peach). Not only are they regularly wrong, they’re actively committed to dismantling the stereotype that queer guys are generally well mannered and/or not quite the type to lob recycling as an expression of disagreement. As such, we’ve collectively engineered a solution to ensure Sacred Basement Hockey Time’s continuing sacridity. This is to say, we’ve been banishing them into one of those little fold-out baby prisons and feeding them Frosted Flakes through the bars when they graciously refrain from mentioning Draisaitl’s “big bitch energy” for two consecutive minutes. Is that unchill in a You Can Play sorta way? My brother and I have been debating this - are we Toxic Hockey Culture now? On one hand, everyone likes Frosted Flakes, they’re closer to the tv than most of the rest of us, we let ‘em out during commercial break, and I do provide them with an ample supply of Kokanee on account of their Draisaitl related opinions being entirely correct. But on the other hand, we have one of the kids posted up beside the wee prison gate with his twig to smack em if they attempt to escape. I guess what I’m asking is, how ethical is translating “Bonk! Go to horny (hockey) jail!” into practice? Other proposed solutions have included an unclear Duct Tape Plan, an even less clear Duct Tape Plan Two; Electric Boogaloo, and having every fourth game be set to mute during which they can run the entirety of the commentary on the condition that they refrain from interjecting during regularly scheduled Sacred Basement Hockey Time. Any enlightened and mature input would obviously be greatly appreciated.

Had to read this a few times and im still ,,,,,, anyway my advice is if you'd bonk a cishet person for doing the same thing it's fine

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meanwhileinstasiville · 1 year

Text

People would hang out with me even if they *weren’t* hostages

Versus “people would be sailors even if they *weren’t* shanghaied”.

I think this has some significance to the problem.

As I was talking through the framework for a brief for a *very expensive lawsuit* last night, on a dark mountain road, I began to wonder at what point impugning constitutional rights beginning with the 1st, can “catch up” with Very Powerful Corporations. Who own company towns. It seems a non-trivial.

It was implied on the way here, that I could be again and *was* spotlighted by Majestic spotlights last night. Coincidental because I’d already been spotlighted sleeping in the woods by body armor wearing BMXers in wee hours of the morning. I think maybe that’s not a good idea to continue doing that sort of thing. Corporate sponsored stuff, it isn’t, but *it is* related to the larger problem of persecution. I say that, because it was a to no one in particular talk as I’m an auditory person. And the sequence that followed from the spotlighting (by a lee expy, I might add) was, I guess supposed to “soften me up” for a religious necklace hanging from a mirror, coincidentally between me and the female passenger of a car getting off I-5. So it is tangentially related to the bigger problem; it’s easy to find a stick to beat a dog, and as easy to pay people to not be a persecuted person. This is not proselytizing.

Chicago seems particularly concerned with me having or doing anything of note. A “crazy neighbor” of my mom’s was taking down considerable city wages from the park department, despite crippling diagnosed OCD, and also, a party college econometrics degree not particularly relevant to the nature of the work. While living in his truck, and hoarding in OCD style. A part of me believes that he either graduated with, or was considered instrumental to the graduation of, my former boss’s (grocery business and not city business) son. Curious because what say could an economics grad from a party college have in city hall internal hiring decisions? I could go on to say, “if he could do that, then *anyone* could!” except that would ignore the reality of so-called “little Chicago. And it looks exactly like what it is. Ashland parks even has a transplant guy who walks no more than 10-15 feet from his “go kart” to do minimal exertion work, weighing about 300lbs or so. Quintessential little chicago.

As I walked in, and after the “spotlighting” call back of sorts, lee (of lake wobegon having tales) downstairs was asking where a “ryan” expy was going to sleep tonight, after the shelter he was staying in last night, and at the *exact* moment I passed through the door into the building. Of course, there’s lee by name and lee by expy appearance waiting upstairs at the printer. All these things are deterministic, and I can step back through them going back years and years.

Edit: I estimate getting murdered for my trouble, seeing as all of this factors into the larger “puzzle” of litigation because everyone wants free money. Chicago has been beefing with one side of my family since the 1960s; they don’t want me to have a beating heart. All the others, including the proselytizing attempts, are shots at “getting paid to not be me” which is not new. What they would call the “reward of a job well done” in lieu of “non-fungible” tokens like health or wealth or even dental care. Rife with prejudice unable to properly disguise itself, you might say, behind the “well wishing”.

Edit edit: I get a kick out of it, because as I had blogged about my sociopathic old man (”We have to go on a road trip because Disney made a movie!?!” “I think maybe they have too much authority, these days” first quote mine), he scared my aunt so bad that she kept a hammer just inside every doorway and smoked in bathrooms only small enough for one person to sit (and with a hammer next to the sink, too). “I’m telling!!!” she said when they were kids. “I have to let you go for you to do that...” my dad replied. She feared him for the rest of her life, and with good reason, because he meant that too.

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softrozene · 2 years

Text

Another Year Passes

Zhongli does not care to celebrate his birthday. The most he was going to do today was get a sweet treat until his partner and Childe come up with a sweet surprise for him! He remembers that despite how old he is, his birthday can still be special.

m.m

I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT WAS HIS BDAY UNTIL MY FRIEND TOLD ME WHEN I WOKE UP. Then I wasn’t going to post anything until I got this idea stuck in my head, so here is an almost angsty but very fluffy one shot! Enjoy!

Zhongli x Reader (Gender-Neutral/Nonbinary)

Warnings: Slight wee angst, fluff, honestly childe is in this because I love his interactions with Zhongli (can be considered polyam or not!), reader is not the traveler.

Words: ~1,6k

Another day. That is what today feels like and though Zhongli is grateful he no longer has to worry about his former duties, it still just feels like another normal day of his “mortal” life. He knows it is his birthday, he woke up to that aching feeling of another year passing him by, and the feelings of how old he truly is arise.

All of these rather meaningless thoughts do get him once in a while, but he is always quick to shake them off. To forget and actually be grateful. He has just one special plan today. Something he does every year. He goes and gets a special dessert for his birthday. This one dessert he only allows himself to indulge on his birthday.

Zhongli lets out a sigh as he gets ready for the day.

As the ancient geo archon gets ready, something else enters his mind. A small bitterness as he knows he is going to have to spend this day alone. His partner is not in town and frankly, he does see that as a good thing. He would rather not inconvenience them and their important meetings as one of many representatives of Liyue with other high figures from other places. He wants them to be relaxed and not stressed out for not being here which is why… He withheld the information of his birthday coming up.

A small regret is forming in his stomach, but it is for the greater good. He has many more years to celebrate this day with them. He could celebrate another time with them. Even with his logical side winning an internal war in his mind… His heart still aches for not being able to see his beloved on this day.

Just as Zhongli is ready to leave and head for the Wangshu Inn where his dessert awaits – He opens the door only to see Childe with a… Basket? Zhongli raises an eyebrow.

“Hello Childe, what are you doing here?” Zhongli asks as Childe hands him the basket.

It is of… Goodies it appears. Childe smiles a mischievous smile, but Zhongli ignores it as he awaits the answer to his question. Childe shrugs his shoulders.

“Little birdie told me it was your birthday today. Thought I would pop on by and hang out for a bit,” Childe manages to muster out with an odd gleam in his eyes.

It nerves Zhongli just a little bit, but the older man nods his head. “I see. Well, I appreciate the thought and the company, but I am headed for Wangshu Inn. It could take a couple of hours,” Zhongli states.

Childe shakes his head. “Actually, I would not mind walking with you there. Sounds super fun and all, but first, I think we should go shopping. What do you say? Any gift and it is yours.”

“…I suppose. You seem keen on it after all,” Zhongli says nodding his head.

He puts the gift basket in his home before he accompanies the odd Childe around Liyue. The company did mean a lot to Zhongli. It helped ease the loneliness he felt at the beginning of his birthday, but it is also not enough.

He longs to see (Name).

That would be the perfect gift for him, but Zhongli keeps his lips sealed. Childe also seems rather… Determined today. It nerved Childe once more before he pays no mind to do it. After picking out a gift of flowers in a highly expensive vase Zhongli wanted, the two begin their way to Wangshu Inn. It would also be good to see his old friend Xiao. Maybe Xiao would possibly want to make him the dessert he wanted – Zhongli knows it would taste better coming from an old friend too.

The closer they get to the inn, the more… Active Childe seems to get.

“Childe, as I said earlier, I appreciate the company, but why are you so concerned about coming with me?” Zhongli finally asks.

Childe laughs. “What? I can’t show you a good time on your birthday?”

“That is not it. I appreciate it-“ Childe cuts him off by pointing at the inn.

Childe smiles wider. “I got a surprise for you. You are going to love it.”

Zhongli… Highly doubts that, but he will indulge the man. The two take the elevator up to the main floor – Th second that Zhongli’s eyes roam, they widen in slight surprise. There is a banner with his name on it saying happy birthday to him. He glances at the smirking Childe who takes the lead off the elevator.

“Your surprise is on the top balcony. I will wait here. We will be having dinner later together back in Liyue,” Childe states as he takes a seat.

Zhongli nods and begins to walk up the stairs, pausing once he sees Xiao smiling at him from the top. He is surprised the other appears to be happy. Xiao, however, only says happy birthday before turning and leaving down the opposite side of the stairs. Zhongli is even more intrigued by what this surprise is since Xiao is in on it.

Once he reaches the top… Zhongli can feel his heart squeeze. The… Gift he wanted to see the most today is right in front of him. You, his partner (Name), sitting at a set table with the dessert he wanted to eat today.

“Happy Birthday, Zhongli,” He hears your pleasant voice greet him.

In all honesty… He could not be any happier. He has to express it to you so when he gets closer to the table, he bends down to hug you tightly. Taking in your scent as he hums.

“This is the best surprise though it begs the question, why are you here?” Zhongli asks as he pulls away to take his seat.

You smile that brilliant smile and say, “You did not think I would miss your birthday, did you? Childe is a really good gossiper, so he told me when your birthday was a while back and we planned this. I am a bit disappointed you did not want to say anything, but I know you just wanted my meeting to go well.”

“Did it? You are here when it was in Mondstadt,” Zhongli asks with concern.

You laugh lightly. “Yes. I had the meeting a few days ago. I wanted to get this all set up. I even had Xiao teach me how to make the Almond Tofu. Go on, try it! Later on – I already prepared it, when we get back home, we will get to eat your dish Slow-Cooked Bamboo Shoot Soup with your favorite drink… Or at least that is what Venti said it was,” You murmur uncertain all of a sudden.

Then you stop talking completely upon seeing Zhongli just stare at you. Your eyes turn to concern as you lean over the table to touch his hand. “What is this? Did I do something?” You ask gently.

Zhongli is confused for a mere moment until he feels the wetness on his cheek slide down. A tear. It is a happy tear though. He is genuinely happy he can feel… So apricated and loved on his birthday. Something he has not felt in many years. His first birthday in your relationship, he gets to spend it with you and friends and… He just can’t stop the joy he feels. He thought he was going to have to spend it alone again. He thought he was going to have to pretend to be genuinely happy once more before another year passes him by. Not anymore. He has you. His sweet partner to care for him and be excited he is another year older. He quickly shakes his head to reassure you.

“Heavens no. You did nothing but bring me joy today. Thank you, (Name),” Zhongli states as he is quick to squeeze your hand gently and use his other hand to try the Almond Tofu.

Once the spoon reaches his mouth, his eyes widen at the heavenly taste that makes his taste buds burst. “You did perfectly. It tastes wonderful,” Zhongli murmurs.

He pauses in his tasting to let you have a taste, leaning over the table to feed you himself. You oblige and smile upon eating it. “I am glad it turned out well for you, Zhongli.”

“I love you.”

Three simple words he still can’t believe he has the pleasure of saying to you. You smile and without any hesitation say them back – His heart is full and happy. Today really is the best birthday he has received in a long while. And he gets the pleasure of knowing that when another year passes – He can have so many memories with you and his next birthday will be just as joyful with you in it.

He goes to feed you another bite but is forced to stop midway when his moment with you is interrupted briefly.

“So, since birthday boy got a taste, can I now? I have been waiting all day,” Childe states as he appears between the two of you, in his own chair and his face close to the plate.

Zhongli says nothing but glares at him as Childe dares to take the bite off the spoon that was meant for you. Your face is blank from the tension coming from Zhongli now, and before the two can get into a funny argument – Another dish is passed onto the plate.

“My almond tofu. I still always make one for you, Zhongli,” Xiao states as he pulls a chair to sit at the table with the three of you now.

Despite the interruption… Zhongli is still very happy about how today turned out to be. A really sweet surprise it was, and he would not change a single thing about it.

#my writing #genshin impact x reader #zhongli x reader #zhongli #childe #fanfiction #one shot #genshin impact fanfiction #genshin impact oneshot #gender neutral reader #nonbinary reader #fluff

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whereisten · 4 years

Text

The New Kid

A Mark fic that’s part of our Halloween Series!

Summary: the new kid in town is nerdy, quiet, and cute. The two of you grow close, but could he be hiding a secret that might put your life in danger?

Pairing: Spider-Man!Mark x female reader (Mary Jane?)

Other Characters: best friend!Haechan, Ex-Boyfriend!Jeno, Villain!Taeyong

Genre: Superhero! Sci-fi, fluff (enemies? more like awkward classmates to lovers), some angst and violence, comedy, a little suggestive?

Warnings: a little cursing, minor mentions of verbal abuse, gun usage, some violent acts, blackmail, hostage situation

Word Count: 10K

(A/N: alright well..this shouldn’t have been this long but I had a lot of fun with this one so I hope you enjoy it😂, Spider-Man Mark is just so adorable my heartssnsjksjsjksk. Also..barely proofread, so mistakes, I know they’re there, but I pretend I do not see them😌)

—————

“Good morning class! Everyone please welcome our new student, Mark Lee!”

Your teacher held her arm out as she welcomed Mark in your Chemistry class.

Your head snaps up from your notebook.

A boy with round eyes and short brown wavy hair walks in.

“Hi..” he gives a thin smile and a small wave.

Your first thought is of how adorable he is. Your second thought is of how he looks nervous to enter a new school just a month after the year has started.

The class is silent with the exception of a few sniffles and music blasting through headphones.

Please don’t sit here, please don’t sit here.

You didn’t really have anything against him, you just loved having a table all to yourself.

“Please..sit beside y/n, for now.”

Damn it.

Mark pulled the chair out and sat beside you.

“...hi.” He said as he placed his backpack down.

“Hi.” You raise your eyebrows and open your notebook.

You just had to sit next to the awkward new kid. Perfect.

———

[Two Weeks Later]

You and Mark worked on your first project together. You had to come up with a presentation for the fall science fair, so you had to work well together.

“It’s a chance for you guys to get to know each other and build yourselves!” Your teacher said excitedly but the truth was that you weren’t thrilled to be working with anyone.

You rolled your eyes and turned to Mark.

“Alright..where do we start?”

“Well, the instructions say to combine water and salt first, so I guess we’ll start there.” Mark puts his round glasses on and smiles at you, but you frown.

“Okay, you’re the nerd so..” you raise your brows.

Mark chuckled. “We barely know each other.”

“Come on, who in the world wears glasses like that, You look like Harry Potter.”

“I love that movie, is that a bad thing?” Mark asked with genuine confusion.

“Harry Potter is great and all, but what horror movies do you like?” You started to doodle in your notebook.

You loved horror movies, you loved autumn and everything dark and dreary about it.

“Hmmm..I don’t watch horror movies..”

You gasp and drop your pen. “You don’t..watch horror movies?” Your eyes widened like you had been hurt deeply by his lack of taste.

He returned the same look of shock. “They’re not my thing.”

“Aish..what a loser..” you say under your breath.

You turned back to your notebook and continued to doodle.

“So where are you from anyway, Potter?”

“I’m from Toronto.”

“I see, and this little town looked appealing to your parents, didn’t it?”

He nods and looks at the side of your face, noting how under your bleak persona and poor attitude, was a pretty face and gentle touch. He could tell from the way you delicately drew in your book.

His senses also picked up on your relaxed blood pressure and steady breathing.

He saw every pore and heard every breath you took, your lashes looked extremely long as well, bringing about a dazzling gorgeousness to your eyes.

The very surface of your round lips was soft and plump, there was a shade new to him that rested at the center.

“Mark?” You turned to him.

He quickly looked away and shifted in his chair.

“Y-yeah..I’m living with my aunt here..my parents passed away a while ago.”

“Oh..I’m sorry..” you looked down at the table.

“Hey. You don’t have to feel bad about it..”

Mark smiled softly as he heard your heart rate speed up from nervousness.

“Mark..I-“ the bell rang and you thanked the heavens for it.

Mark turned and grabbed his bag before you could say anything else. “Well, I’ll catch ya later.”

“‘CaTcH yA LAtEr’” you mocked him to lighten the mood. “Yeah, Potter, I guess we’ll work more next time..”

He laughed.

His eyes became small lines and his cheeks puffed up, he was adorable, like a kid in a candy store.

You turned away before your face became hot.

———

[1 Month Later]

“The new kid is kinda cute..” Haechan took a sip of his juice while the two of you ate lunch.

“God, I wish I was in your class, do you think the counselor will change my class schedule now if I come up with a dumb excuse?”

You rolled your eyes. “Nah, I don’t think she will, and even if she did, why would you want to be in a class with that nerd?”

Mark was sitting by himself at a table in the corner, he was reading a book while chewing chicken tenders.

Haechan pouted. “But just look at him..I bet he’s the best kisser, do you see those lips?”

“Ew Haechan! He’s my partner in class, I don’t want to think about his lips!” You gagged and started to peel your banana.

Mark could hear you, he could hear everyone’s conversations in the cafeteria for little did you know of his secret.

“So you’re telling me you wouldn’t give him a chance, even though you gave a notorious school douchebag named Jeno one?” Haechan glared at you.

You kicked his shin under the table. “We don’t say that name here anymore.”

Haechan hissed. “You’re closer than I’ll ever be to that cutie..you better take advantage of that, I bet he’s super nice too.” He rested his chin in his hands as he swooned over Mark.

You rolled your eyes then locked eye contact with Mark just as you stuffed the banana into your mouth. You were frozen. The banana was about halfway in and Mark never let your eyes go.

You chomped on it and looked away.

Mark giggled and went back to reading his book.

“You open your mouth pretty wide for a girl that doesn’t know how to use it..” Jeno snickered as he walked by your table.

Your mouth was full so you couldn’t come up with a quick comeback, but luckily, that’s what Haechan was there for.

“Oh, shut up, big head. Like you could fill anyone’s mouth with that chicken nugget of a wee wee!”

You nearly choked and covered your mouth as you laughed.

Mark, who was over 30 feet away, laughed too.

Jeno quickly turned around to walk back to your table, but ended up colliding into Taeyong, the scary and filthy rich senior that everyone stayed away from.

Him and his posse, complete with Yuta and Johnny, were tall seniors that gave everyone death glares. Even the teachers weren’t safe. Taeyong’s father was the wealthiest man in town, he was a kingpin so he possessed a lot of power.

Jeno raised his hands. “Whoa, bro, I’m sorry.”

Taeyong steadied himself and pulled his hands out of his pockets. The entire cafeteria froze, you all had never seen anyone get in their way. Taeyong walked around in black clothing and never took his hands out of his pockets for it ruined his nonchalant attitude.

The black haired boy crossed his arms and stepped towards Jeno.

“If I were in the mood..I’d tell you to get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness..” his intense gaze made Jeno tremble. Hell, even you swallowed hard from fear.

“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

Taeyong’s mouth tilted into a smile, he rubbed his thumb along the side of Jeno’s face. Johnny and Yuta stood behind him while they smirked and chuckled at Jeno’s subordinance.

“I know it won’t.”

He walked away and out of the cafeteria.

Jeno scurried back to his group of friends while the rest of the students resumed their lunch.

Mark didn’t like the sound of this guy. He knew who his father was and he knew that he would be the only that could stop him and save the innocent lives threatened by him.

Later that day, you were getting ready to leave school when Haechan popped up behind your locker as you closed it.

“Shit!” You jumped when he popped up.

He cackled. “You know, for someone that watches a lot of horror films, you sure do get scared pretty easily.”

You huffed and swung your backpack over your shoulder. You didn’t notice Mark behind you and your bag nearly smacked him in the face, but thanks to his senses, he ducked quickly.

“Y/n!” Haechan saw Mark behind you.

“What?” You said as you turned.

Mark was there behind you, squatting below you awkwardly and looking up at your face.

You furrowed your brows. “What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to get a peak of something down there?”

Mark shot up straight and shook his head.

“N-no, no I’m sorry I was just..I know we are a little behind..but I was wondering if you wanted to work on the project together after..school, or-or something..” he looked nervous to talk to you. He kept looking to the side to dodge your eyes.

“I can’t today..I’m-“

Haechan butt in excitedly. “Oh! That works perfectly! Y/n, I was actually coming to tell you that I can’t go to the movies tonight! I have to do some extra work with my partner too! We can all study at Starbucks!”

You turned to him and glared. ‘What the hell’ you mouthed.

His eyes grew. ‘Just say yes’ he mouthed while nodding towards Mark.

Mark still looked to the side.

“Fine..meet us at the Starbucks on 10th at 5..loser.” You gripped the strap of your bag while walking away.

Mark chuckled at the nickname you gave him. He thought you were different, cute, but different.

At Starbucks, Mark was there before you were and ordered coffee for you.

“For me?” Your eyes widened.

Mark nodded and smiled widely. “Yeah! I don’t know if you like cream or sugar, so I got it black but everything is over there if you-“

You giggled and Mark swore he saw heaven when you smiled. “I know how it works, Mark, thank you for this.”

You rarely said his name, but he felt weak when you did.

Haechan and his lab partner joined the two of you. You did some more research for your project and talked about it while Mark jotted down important notes.

Haechan and his partner, Renjun, were supposed to be doing the same thing, but Haechan was too busy staring at Mark’s eyes.

“Haechan..Haechan!” Renjun tapped his hand.

They continued to work and as everyone got more tired, you noticed that Mark wasn’t jotting down notes like he did in the beginning. He was watching you talk, he liked watching your lips move and hearing your soothing voice. His eyes were locked on your face; it made your heart tremble.

“Mark?” You raised your brows and bit your bottom lip.

“Yeah..yeah!” He shook his head to come out of his daze.

“Did you catch anything I said? You've been staring for at least five minutes now..”

“I was..focusing.” Mark averted his gaze to the ceiling.

You shook your head. “You’re weird, Potter.”

Mark licked his lips and looked at the table. “I’m sorry I’m just a bit tired..”

“Me too! I think we should call it a night!” Haechan stretched his arms out and up high.

He cleared his throat as you all started to pack your things away.

“Mark..so we’re all going to the movies to see that new horror film, “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” tomorrow. Wanna come?”

You kicked his shin again.

“Mark doesn’t like horror movies.”

Mark scratched the back of his head. “Well, I only said I don’t watch them, not that I don’t like them..”

You sighed.

“Perfect! So we’ll see you tomorrow at 8! This is so exciting, it feels like a date!”

“Haechan!” You stood up from the table, glaring into his skull once again.

He shrugged his shoulders and stood up too. The four of you walked towards the door.

Mark only laughed awkwardly.

“Hey.. y/n..”

You paused and turned around. “Yeah?”

“Will you be alright..getting home at this time?”

You laughed out. “I’m fine..I take the bus at this time all the time!”

Mark nodded.

He was caring and it was strange for you, for someone to genuinely care about you for the first time in a while.

He had his own car. An old Hyundai that got him where he needed to be. He had parked it outside of the Starbucks.

He waited with you at the bus stop right outside. Haechan took Renjun home.

“We can wait in my car if you want..it’s kinda cold out here.” He asked as you pushed your hands into your hoodie and shivered.

“My mother told me to never get in cars with strangers.” You turned to him and smiled.

He chuckled and stepped forward on his toes.

“Well, if that’s what you consider me to be then..I won’t push you..”

You shook your head. “Mark..you’re weird..I was just teasing, take me to your chariot before I freeze to death, please.”

You got into his car and the two of you sat in silence.

You checked your phone and saw that your bus was running about 20 minutes late.

You sighed and leaned back into his car seat.

“Do you like this town so far?” You looked out the window as you spoke.

Mark loved being near you, you calmed him down and his senses didn’t go crazy like they usually did. Sometimes everything was so unbearable, but not when he was around you. He was happy that no one was in danger while he spent the evening with you.

“It’s..alright..” he spoke honestly, finding it difficult to lie about how he struggled to adjust to his new life, without his uncle, without his hometown friends, without his “normal, super power-less” life. He had been bitten by a spider and given these powers just a few months before moving.

“Do you miss your friends?”

“Of course..” he swallowed hard as he remembered playing basketball with his buddies.

“And your girlfriend..”

You let it slip out before thinking. Why did you care?

“Oh, I don’t have a girlfriend..”

You turned to him with bunched up brows. “Boyfriend?”

Mark giggled. “I don’t have either..why do you ask?”

He smirked as he tilted his head.

You scoffed. “Oh, Potter, don’t give me that look..I just wanna know more about you.”

“What about you? Tell me about yourself.”

You swallowed hard. “Well..I think this town is boring..my parents are divorced and missing half the time..I broke up with my asshat of a boyfriend, Jeno, before school started..and now I’m stuck here with the school loser.”

“Stuck?” Mark raised his brows. “You can jump out any time you want and stand in the cold.”

You put your hand on the door handle but he quickly leaned over and placed his hand on yours. Your breath hit his neck. He turned to you with wide eyes as he realized that he was actually touching you.

You froze.

He froze as well. “I’m..I’m kidding, you shouldn’t leave until your bus gets here.”

He sat down in his seat and cleared his throat but you still felt his soft hand on your skin.

You chuckled. “You’re so strange, Mark. I guess it’s a Canada thing.”

“I like..spending time with you, if I’m being honest. I don’t have many friends here but you’re..cool.”

You turned to him. “Cool?? You think I’m cool?”

Mark put his head on the steering wheel and sighed, realizing the mistake he made. “Why did I say that?”

“Haha! Potter! You can’t take it back!”

The two of you spoke about music and entertainment. You told Mark that you were happy to see that he was going to try a horror movie with you tomorrow. You finally opened up to him as he did to you also.

You both laughed and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.

He was a breath of fresh air in this town.

————

[The Next Day]

“It’s going to start in 5 minutes, where is he?” Haechan huffed as he looked at his watch.

You stood at the front of the movie theatre and looked around for Mark, but he was nowhere to be found. Was he really ditching you? You bought him a ticket and popcorn which had gotten cold by now. The ads that played before the movie were almost done. Haechan gave up and went into the theatre with Renjun. You stood there alone, awkwardly waiting like someone that was being stood up for their date. You looked at your phone but there were no texts or calls from Mark.

“Hey, I know you..” a voice spoke out from behind you.

You felt a sense of relief.

That was, until you turned and saw him.

Taeyong stood there with his hands in his midnight black trench coat, his hair was neatly parted to the side and two gold chains dazzled around his pretty neck.

“Are you alone?” He stepped towards you, a chill ran through your body and it wasn’t because of the temperature outside.

Your face fell, you stepped backwards away from him.

“I’m—I’m fine, thank you.”

Taeyong smirked when he saw your face of worry. He looked smug, dangerously handsome and cool.

“Whoever it is you’re waiting for...they’d be a fool not to show up..” his voice was deep, giving you goosebumps as you stared.

Was he flirting with you?

You laughed awkwardly.

A girl in a thin black body con dress walked up to him and grabbed his arm.

“Ready, babe?” She flipped her hair as she stared at him, but he still looked at you.

You felt bad for her. Yeah, she looked good, but at the cost of freezing in 20°F weather? Not even a gorgeous man like Taeyong was worth that.

“Sure..” he said smoothly.

They both walked into the theatre. You followed soon after. You found Haechan and Renjun and joined them. Haechan gave you a questioning look but you shook your head.

Mark never showed up.

He was too busy stopping a robbery downtown. It was him against 7 heavyweight champions trying to rob a bank. They were Kingpin’s men, but Mark used his web to bind them to the counters until police came.

By the time he finished, the movie was almost halfway done.

He sighed and grabbed his mask off while in a dark alleyway. He unlocked his phone.

You to Mark: where are you, loser? The popcorn is getting cold.

He smiled to himself. You got him popcorn, one of his faves.

You to Mark: gonna eat this by myself if you don’t show..

The next text message was a picture of Sour Patch Kids candy, the watermelon kind that he also loved.

You actually remembered him telling you he liked watermelons one day in class.

He closed his eyes and cursed quietly. He wanted to get close to you, but he was already messing things up.

————

[The Following Monday]

You threw your backpack down and sat in your seat in class.

Mark walked in soon after.

“You ignored my texts..” he said softly.

You ignored him and put your Bluetooth earbuds in.

He sighed then looked at his notebook.

“So you’re just not gonna talk to me?”

You bobbed your head and started writing as music played.

Mark looked around. Everyone had their heads down, they were either writing in their books or reading. So he put his hand behind his back, he quickly shot a web out to your ear bud. It malfunctioned and suddenly stopped working.

You took it out and looked at it.

“What the hell..” you whispered, genuinely confused as to why it burnt up while actually in your ear.

“Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t show up on Friday, but something happened..I wanted to be there, and—“

You finally turned to him. “Yeah, you chickened out. I’m sure you had better plans for your Friday night than to watch a stupid horror movie with me.”

Mark frowned. “No, no it’s not like that at all.” He wanted to be there with you and watch your face as you enjoyed something dear to you, he wanted to share popcorn and gummies, but those moments are a part of normal life for a normal teenager. He couldn’t have that.

“Really?” You raised your brows and placed your head in your hand. “I know what being second place in someone’s life feels like, Mark. It’s the same crap my parents and my ex put me through..I won’t go through it again.”

Mark shook his head and leaned towards you.

“I’m not like them, I’m here for you, give me a second chance..”

“Hey! Less talking about the weekend, more writing about science!” Your teacher called out.

When class ended, Mark followed you through the halls.

“I had something personal to take care of, y/n. Can we see a movie tomorrow or something?”

You shook your head and gripped the strap of your backpack. “There aren’t any movies out right now that I’m interested in..”

“Okay, umm how about a pumpkin patch?!”

You turned to him with wide eyes. “What are we? 10 years old?” You scoffed and turned to walk then bumped into someone’s broad chest.

You looked up slowly. It was him. “Oh..I’m sorry.” You exhaled.

“Be careful, I might just bite next time..” Taeyong’s smile gave you the creeps. It bothered you that you were seeing him more frequently.

Mark took your hand suddenly. “Hey..we’re gonna be late.” He spoke firmly and glared before taking you out of Taeyong’s sight.

Mark kept pressing you for a second chance as you continued to walk to the cafeteria.

“Okay, fine. Umm there’s this Halloween party this Friday, I don’t really want to go, but-“

“Let’s go! We can get something to eat after, my treat!”

You nodded quickly just so he’d leave you alone.

“Okay, Mark, let’s just get through this week.”

———

[Friday Night]

Haechan helped you out of his car when you got to the party. You wore a tight white dress and a feathery halo along with a small pair of wings.

You looked amazing with glittery makeup and white heels as your accessories.

Haechan dressed as a zombie and did a spectacular job on his makeup. He looked like he had really been bitten on the neck and the virus had spread throughout, leaving him grey with purple and green veins throughout his face.

You pulled your dress down and waited in the kitchen for Mark.

You grabbed yourself a beer and cracked it open.

Haechan drank with you as well.

He swallowed hard. “The nice refreshing taste of piss.”

“Yup, seems about right.” You winced and put the can down.

“Well, well..it seems the Virgin angel has arrived.” Jeno walked in behind you and grabbed a beer. He was dressed as a devil. The two of you had long since talked about dressing as the angel & devil pair for Halloween as a couple, but now that you had broken up, you didn’t think that he'd still do it.

You rolled your eyes. “What happened? Were your natural horns not enough?”

Jeno chuckled and tilted his head. “We’re playing 7 minutes in Heaven next..I’d ask you to join, but I know you’re just a teaser, never a pleaser.”

You scoffed, but Haechan jumped in.

“That’s what your little friend over there said last night when you pulled your pants down.”

Jeno flipped him the bird and walked away.

You went to the bathroom and checked your makeup. You looked wonderful, your boobs stuck out and your dress hugged your curves perfectly. You rarely dressed like this but it was nice to look and feel..pretty., you quickly fixed your lipstick and left.

As you turned the corner, you ran into him again.

“Ahhh..perfect timing, I did say I would bite you the next time we ran into each other.” Taeyong’s eyes widened.

You backed away and laughed.

He was dressed fittingly as a vampire. He was dark and mysterious like one, so you weren’t surprised. He looked even more handsome than usual in his dark eye makeup complete with black liner and red eyeshadow.

But the way he stared made you..uneasy.

His gaze trailed from your lips to your cleavage as he eyed you up and down.

You stood there in silence.

“Do you—“ he started to pose a question as he stepped forward but his girl walked up and hugged him from behind.

She squeezed him gently, but Taeyong looked annoyed. “Let’s go upstairs, baby…” she said lowly while looking into your eyes with an evil glare.

Haechan came and grabbed your hand. You turned away from the two love birds and followed him, never once worrying about what Taeyong had to say again.

“He’s here!” You heard Haechan gasp.

Mark walked in. He was wearing a...Spider-Man costume.

You giggled at how cute he looked in it. You saw his cute little butt as he spun around looking for you through the crowd in the house.

You raised your hand. “Mark!” You called out to him.

He finally saw you and started to walk over.

You couldn’t stop yourself from grinning. He was adorable as he giggled.

“Why Spider-Man?”

He shrugged. “Eh—I like the way my butt looks.”

You laughed and took his hand to the living room where a few people sat on the floor a circle.

They spun a bottle and whoever it landed on would be placed in a closet for 7 minutes in heaven.

Two members from the group were missing so you and Mark took their spots as they did whatever they were doing in the closet. He helped you squat down while pulling your dress down your thighs.

You rolled your eyes as Jeno held his new girl crush close to him. If he wanted to be with her in the closet, why did he sit beside her? You thought to yourself.

Everyone took turns spinning the bottle and when it got to you, you spun it fast, hoping that it wouldn’t land on someone that you knew, that way it would be just as awkward for the both of you.

Mark watched the bottle spin and based on the speed and rotation of the beer bottle, he knew that one end would end up pointing to you and the other would point to..Jeno.

As it spun, he placed his hand behind his back.

He looked up and pointed to the kitchen with his other hand.

“Oh my god, what is that?!” He yelled, causing everyone to turn to look at whatever he was pointing at.

You turned as well, so Mark quickly shot a small squirt of his web to increase the speed a little.

“What are you talking about?” You asked when you turned back to him. Everyone else turned back too.

“Oh, I could’ve sworn I saw a rat..maybe it was a decoration.” He shrugged his shoulders.

The bottle slowed down to a halt and just as you dreaded. It landed on you and..Mark.

Jeno laughed out loudly.

“What’s so funny?” Mark gave him a look of annoyance.

“It’s just that..she’s the biggest prude I know, good luck bro, she doesn’t give it up.”

“Maybe because she doesn’t want to..I mean, have you thought about how much of an asshole you are?” Haechan spat out.

Mark looked at you as you stared at him with wide eyes.

“Y/n..you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to..”

Jeno chuckled again.

You didn’t really want to be this close with Mark, but you had to. You had to prove Jeno wrong, even if you and Mark did nothing but stare at each other. You wanted Jeno to know that you weren’t a prude like he thought.

You stood up and nodded. “Let’s go..”

The two of you stood in the tight closet awkwardly.

The light was dim, but you saw Mark’s features clearly. His dainty nose and high cheekbones, his wide eyes and cute lips. He looked to the side nervously.

The truth was, you looked amazing in your dress. He felt his face become warm when he looked at your cleavage. The glitter made your skin sparkle even more than it usually did.

“So…” you stepped up and down. “I’m glad you came..”

“I’m glad I came too.” He swallowed hard. “Oh.. that, uhh, sounded weird, I’m sorry..”

“Mark..” you giggled. “You don’t have to be awkward, it’s me..it’s just that I’m wearing tight clothing for once..”

He chuckled and looked into your eyes. He raised an eyebrow, making your stomach weak.

“It’s not just that..” his voice is lower, quieter so no one can hear the two of you.

“What is it then?” You smirk.

He stares at your lips and as he’s about to answer a red alarm blares out in his head. His senses are tingling, someone is in trouble.

He squints and turns away. “I-i have to go…”

You step forward. “What? Are you..okay?”

You place your hands on his shoulder.

He loves the touch but can’t stop this nagging feeling. He had to go where his mind told him to go, he had to tend to whatever needed him or else he'd go insane from the noise.

“I can’t explain it, it’s like a migraine, I..just have to go.”

He turns to head through the closet door but you step in front of him.

“Mark, if you leave it’ll just prove Jeno right. Please just 5 more minutes, I’m sure you can stand being with me for just that.”

“I can’t. I have to go.”

You scoff and continue to block the door. “What? Do you have to run home to your aunt or something? Are you out too late?”

Mark shakes his head. “Y/n..it’s not that, I just—“

“Gotta be a good boy and go home now?” You teased him to buy time. You really didn’t want Jeno to gain any satisfaction from learning that the two of you did nothing.

“Y/n..” he looked intensely into your eyes. His eyes then floated down to your lips as he watched you nag at him.

“Mark, what is it with you? You bailed on me last time! Do you hate being around me or what?”

He took your face in his hands and kissed you hard and sudden.

Your back hit the closet door causing it to swing open.

But Mark didn’t care, he still held your face close to his and caressed your mouth. You closed your eyes and enjoyed the feeling of him on you. The way his tongue traced over your bottom lip for permission to enter, the way his nose poked your cheek.

You opened your mouth and turned your head to deepen the kiss.

Sparks flew between you and you both felt giddy. Blood rushed through your veins. Mark’s senses were calmed for a bit as they focused on what he felt right now with you. The building tension and the satisfying release.

You fell into him more and more. Even as the others cheered while watching, the two of you were consumed by each other.

You feel butterflies flying around without any intention of stopping and then..he pulls away. Your eyes open and you see your red lipstick all over the handsome boy’s mouth, confirming that what felt like a wonderful dream was actually a reality.

He stares at you through low eyes and licks his lips while panting.

Your lips are still parted while you too breathe heavily.

Your eyes are round and beg for more. Mark wants it too.

You look at his lips and lean forward, but he backs away and swallows hard.

“Catch ya later!” He runs out of the house as you stand there in shock.

Haechan’s mouth falls open.

“Oh...shit.”

———-

[The Next Day]

Taeyong listened to his father complain about the new superhero in town while at dinner.

“I don’t know where this little shit came from but he’s ruining EVERYTHING. We can’t get a simple delivery done without him popping up.”

Kingpin slams his fork down.

“He shoots a web here, he shoots a web there, and suddenly, my men are down and out! Tell me how that makes sense?”

“I’m sure they will stop him soon, he’ll get tired and give up.” Taeyong’s mother continued eating.

“Christ, I’m stressed and then we get a call from your teacher saying that you’re not showing up for class?!”

His father turned his attention to him while pointing a finger.

Taeyong shrugged.

“What the hell you moving your shoulders for? Answer me!”

Taeyong puts his fork down and sighs. “That class is a waste of time..”

“No, the only thing that’s being wasted is MY time and MY effort to get you to good college, you think I want you to end up like me?” His father’s voice rose.

“Is that such a bad thing?” A smirk fell across Taeyong’s face, irritating his father.

“Listen to me, boy, you could never handle the shit i handle, so DONT even think about it. You take your sorry ass to class and you graduate and go to college. Make something of that pea-sized brain of yours.”

“Honey..” his mom placed her hand on his father’s, but he lifted it and waved her off.

“Don’t! He’s like this because you spoil him. He’s a spoiled little brat.”

Taeyong continued eating, he was used to being insulted by his father.

“Dont speak like that, you’re just stressed because of Spider-Man, dear.”

“Shut it! You know that it’s true, you know he’s worthless!”

He stood up and gave Taeyong a frightening glare.

“You got one chance to prove me wrong, boy, make one more mistake and you’re out and on the streets with the druggies!” He huffed and left the dining room.

Taeyong sat quietly, gripping his fork in his fist and thinking about what to do. How could he prove to his father that he would be able to take over the business?

———-

[Monday]

You didn’t say a word to Mark for the first few minutes of class.

It was awkward but Mark didn’t seem to be bothered. He simply did his work in his notebook while listening to his music.

While the teacher was busy, you turned to him.

“Mark?” You whispered and leaned forward to get his attention.

“Mark?”

He still moved his head to the music.

You tapped his shoulder.

He turned to you with large eyes and took his headphones out.

“Yeah?” He said innocently.

“What do you mean by “yeah?” Are we not going to talk about the party?”

Mark smirked. “Do you want to talk about it?”

You nodded. “Mark, what was that about?” You knew what it was, you felt it every time you looked at each other. You had a developing crush on the boy you called a loser, you were just trying to hide it but it was becoming difficult as he was perfect in every way.

His cute eyes, nice lips, beautiful brown hair..you loved it all.

But most of all, you loved how sweet and caring he was, how he spoke to you and made you feel like you were the center of the universe as his entire focus rested on you.

He licked his lips. “I...did that to help you prove your boyfriend wrong.”

You blinked rapidly. “That was the only reason?”

“Um..yeahhh.” Mark looked to the side and moved his head in a “duh” motion.

“Oh..okay..” you looked down at your notebook and continued writing, feeling disappointed. But what did you expect? For Mark to confess his love for you? What a bizarre thought. You shook it off.

Later that day when you were at lunch, Haechan asked you about Mark.

“So what did he say?” He asked with his mouth full.

“He said he was just covering for me.” You shrugged your shoulders.

“Ahhh..I doubt it though, you guys made out like..really made out, it was sexy. If I knew you could kiss like that, I would’ve kissed you a long time ago.” he raises his eyebrows.

You made a look of disgust. “Ew! As if!”

You and Haechan giggled and continued eating.

You looked over at Mark’s usual eating spot in the cafeteria, but he wasn’t there.

“Where’s that big head, Jeno?” Haechan tilted his head when he realized that Jeno didn’t pass by for his usual snarky comment session.

“Hmm that’s a good question, I don’t see Mark either.”

“Oooo..are you waiting for a round two with him?” Haechan teased, but something didn’t feel right.

You stood up. “Hey, I’ll be right back.”

Haechan nodded and you turned away to walk around the halls.

You peaked down all of the corridors looking for him.

You eventually went outside to the soccer field and heard whimpering behind the bleachers.

You walked towards it and saw three boys gathered around another boy in the middle. The boy in the middle was crouching down and holding his stomach.

You walked faster.

“Give me his glasses!” You heard one of the boys say.

“He had these ugly things on and still couldn’t see us coming..”

You recognized the voice.

It was Jeno. As you got closer you saw Jeno raise his foot to kick at the boy on the ground, and to your surprise, it was Mark.

“Shit…” you ran closer, but Mark grabbed Jeno’s foot and threw him to the floor.

Your eyes grew as Jeno’s back pummeled down into the ground with so much force, you swore the floor shook. How was Mark that strong?

Jeno groaned in pain. The other two boys stared in shock before turning back to Mark and delivering blows to his chest.

Mark couldn’t take on the two of them.

“I don’t want to hurt you!” He called out to them, he was holding back for their safety.

“Hey!” You yelled as you got closer.

“Oh..look who showed up..the school slut..” Jeno said as he stood up straight and winced from the pain in his back.

“You gave it up to the new guy, y/n? Wow, I guess you are like your mother..”

“Hey!” Mark called out to him, but the other two boys held him up by the arms to keep him from hitting Jeno again. Jeno balled his fists up and was about to hit Mark in the chest.

“You’re an asshole, Jeno!” You ran up to him and swung hard, landing a clean punch to the side of his unexpecting face.

“Hey, what the hell is going on here?!” Vice Principal Kim called out.

“Shit.” You held your hand as a stinging pain shot through it.

The two boys let go of Mark and ran, leaving you, Mark, and Jeno to the mercy of the vice principal.

You sat in detention with a wrapped hand. Mark sat a few desks behind you and Jeno sat in front with a pretty black eye.

You are proud of yourself for doing something you should’ve done to him long ago.

You watched the clock tick for an hour as you sat there with nothing to do.

Mark felt terrible for getting you involved, he would’ve handled it on his own but you jumped in to help him and now you were hurt.

After detention, you grabbed your backpack and left without talking to Mark.

“Hey..” he ran up to you.

“Hey..I’m sorry..about that, I didn’t want you to get involved..”

“It’s not your fault, Mark, it’s just that..I’d rather be alone right now..” you had to walk home after missing the last bus.

“I’ll drive you home, it’s the least I can do.”

You turned to him and raised your brows.

“Without your glasses? Can you even see my face right now?”

Mark laughed. “Actually..I have something to tell you…”

“Go on..”

“I don’t need the glasses, I just like it when you call me Potter.”

A smile creeped across your face as you felt it become warm. You couldn’t help but laugh.

Mark drove you home as the two of you talked about Jeno’s look of shock.

“His face was priceless!” Mark scrunched his nose up and laughed gloriously.

You enjoyed watching him laugh, and without his glasses, he looked even more handsome.

You reached home and sighed. “Ahh..great, now I have to explain to my parents why my hand is swollen..”

Mark lifted your wrapped hand gently. “How does it feel? Does it hurt?” He bunched his brows up.

“And if it did, could you take the pain away?” You smirked.

Mark nodded. “I wish I could..”

“It’s fine, I’ll be fine, I took boxing class in the 9th grade..” you teased him but his eyes widened.

“Boxing class?! That is so cool!”

You giggled. “Mark, you’re so gullible!”

“Oh..” he looked down in defeat and blushed.

A moment of silence rested between the two of you.

You stared at his lips. “Well..I should get going..”

Mark parked across the street from your house so your parents wouldn’t see you coming out of a strange car.

You unbuckled yourself seat belt.

“Hey..” Mark said softly.

You turned back to him and watched his parted lips.

He leaned in closer as you swallowed hard. He was so close, just a few more inches.

Your phone rang out and you looked down.

Shit, Haechan texted you.

Mark smiled and leaned back into his seat. “I’m sorry, um..thanks again.”

“You’re welcome, Potter.” You winked and got out of the car.

He got out of the car and watched you head home.

But his spidey senses started to blare, something was coming, but you were texting on your phone as you crossed the street.

Everything happened in slow motion. The pick up truck speeding towards you, the steps you took to cross the road. You were moving too slow.

He had calculated it all. If he ran to you, he’d be too late, if he jumped in front of the truck he’d be too late and he’d get hurt.

There was only once thing he could do given the amount of time he had.

He stretched his arm out, flicked his wrist and shot a long sticky string out to your back. Once it latched itself onto your jacket, he yanked you back hard.

The truck sped by right in front of your eyes as you gripped your phone and looked up. You didn’t know what was happening or why you were flying backwards all of a sudden.

Your heart races, but soon you were in Mark’s arms. The truck came to a screeching halt once the driver realized that he almost hit you.

He spun you around to face him, not realizing that you were now entangled in his web.

You look terrified. “M-Mark..what the—“ you were out of breath, you looked down and saw the strings coming out of his skin.

Mark’s eyes widened as he looked down as well. The truck sped off after realizing that you were okay. It was just the two of you now, standing there in shock.

“Y/n…”

You let out a shakey breath. “Y-You're..him..You're—“

He put a finger over his lips. “Shhh..you can’t tell anyone.”

“S-spider-Man? THE Spider-Man??”

Mark nodded slowly.

Your mouth dropped.

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone.” Mark looked into your eyes and pleaded, his arms still held you tight to his chest.

You nodded but no sound came out.

He licked his lips and smiled. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”

“Mark..holy shit, I’m gonna..”

“Please don’t pass out on me, I don’t want to carry you to your parents while you’re unconscious..”

“But Mark..I mean, you’re like.. a superhero..that’s so cool.” You grinned and still looked at him through surprised eyes.

Mark blushed. “You think I’m cool?”

“Oh, my God why did I say that?” You rolled your eyes.

Mark looked at your lips and it was your time to kiss him.

You placed your lips on his while taking his face in your hands. He hugged you tighter and kissed you back, diving into you like you were a breath of fresh air that he needed. You both closed your eyes and embraced the moment as your pulses ran fast and eventually matched.

You stood there for a few minutes while kissing and hugging like you were in a movie.

Neither you nor Mark noticed a car that was parked 50 feet away.

But not just anyone’s car, Taeyong’s car.

He had trailed Mark’s car after he saw the two of you leaving school. He had nothing better to do and just wanted to see what the two of you were up to, but then he saw how the web shot out of Mark’s hand quickly and how you flew back into him. He saved your life, all while thinking that no one would see him.

But he was wrong, and now Taeyong knew what he needed to do.

———

[The Next Week]

You and Mark hadn’t things official yet, you both were scared for what would happen to your friendship. But that didn’t mean that you didn’t want to kiss him for hours on end.

Mark felt the same way. You had been paired up with someone else at a different table in class. The two of you were now departed and he wasn’t happy about that so he made sure to keep an eye on you.

You finally ate together too. Haechan had his suspicions when he saw the two of you smiling at each other for no reason, but he didn’t say anything.

Then one day, you didn’t show up to class.

Mark texted you the entire night before and even sent you tik toks to laugh at. He knew you were fine and if you were skipping class, you’d definitely let him know. You didn’t respond to the texts he sent during the day.

His spidey senses tingled, he knew something was up.

He called you while at lunch. And to his surprise, you answered.

“Y/n? Where are you?”

There was silence over the line for a brief moment, then you sniffled. “Hey, Mark. I’m home today, I just needed..a break.”

Mark paused. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, Mark, I’ll see you later. Please don’t come and look for me.”

“H-“ he started but you had already hung up.

He pursed his lips and looked intensely at his screen. Something was definitely up and he wasn’t going to stop until he found out what it was.

So after his last class, he headed to your house and knocked at the door.

When you didn’t answer, he walked around the house, looking for a way to get in without causing any damage.

He eventually found an open window on the second floor and after looking around to make sure no one was watching, he climbed up the side of the house and entered through it.

He stood up straight and saw that he was in your room, but you weren’t there.

Then he saw what looked to be a body under the blanket on your bed.

“Y/n?”

He quickly lifted the blanket and jumped in horror. It was a slide-sized Spider-Man action figure.

He had a sticky note on his face that pressed “press my belly button.”

Mark pressed the button and heard it speak through its fake mouth.

“Oh, hello, Spider-Man, or should I call you Mark?”

His eyes widened as the male voice spoke.

“Well..it doesn’t really matter..see, I’ve got your lovely girlfriend here with me..”

Mark here’s your muffled screaming in the background.

He grits his teeth.

“And she is here, waiting for you at the very top of the largest building in the city. I know you’re new here, but I’m sure you can find it.”

Mark curses to himself, he was caught with you and by some bastard that he didn’t know. Did Kingpin have his men follow him?

“Oh, and that nice friend of her’s, hmmm Haechan is it? He’s outside her house, but he’s probably all tied up.. don’t be late, Markipoo, we wouldn’t want y/n to hang out with me much longer..”

The recording stops playing. Mark runs out of the house, but stops in his tracks.

He’s too late.

Johnny and Yuta stand beside Haechan’s car. Haechan has JI mouth covered by a piece of fabric but his eyes are open and wet with tears.

He lets out a loud scream when he hears Mark.

They tied him to the hood of the car while the engine runs. He was literally tied up.

“Hey!” Mark calls out and runs towards them, but Johnny places a brick onto the gas pedal and puts the car in drive.

Haechan screams even louder as the car rolls down the hill fast.

Mark runs after it, struggling to keep up as it speeds down the street.

Johnny and Yuta stand back and laugh.

Mark had to find a way to beat, he had to calculate his speed so he could overrun it and stop it. Or he could shoot webs out from the back and pull it towards him.

His mind runs at 100mph as it goes through every possibility while he pants and runs.

“Haechan! Don’t worry! I’ve got you!”

The car is too heavy, and it’s going too fast, so he can’t hold it with his spiderweb material.

He leaps forward and up into the air, landing just a few feet in front of the incoming car.

He puts his hands in front of him and braces for impact. He had never taken on such a huge task before, he prayed that he would be strong enough to take a 4,000 pound car going at 80 miles per hour.

He grunts and presses forward onto the top of the car, causing it to make a loud skrrt sound and a huge dent to form. He uses his legs for stability as he struggles to stop it from going any further.

But he slides downward in his two feet.

“Shit.shit.shit.shit” he murmurs out.

Haechan cries to the heavens for help.

Mark pushes forward even harder while gritting his teeth. He lifts the hood slightly.

With a loud groan and harsh grip, he tears the engine out to stop the car.

The wheels slow to a halt and Mark places the car down.

He stumbles on his feet and nearly passes out, but he had to keep moving, he had to find you.

So he quickly puts his mask on before people come outside of their homes to see what the ruckus is about, then he unties Haechan.

“Oh my God..oh my God, what the hell?!”

Haechan panics and shakes.

“Mark, you’re—you’re..the guy..”

“Haechan, we can talk about this later. What is the tallest building and where can I find it?”

Haechan points in the direction of the tallest building in the town. It’s 1,000 feet high and is owned by none other than Kingpin.

Mark’s eyes narrowed as he clenched his jaw.

He swings through town quickly to get to you.

Once at the building, he decided that it would be faster to climb.

Meanwhile, Taeyong has you tied up and gagged.

Tears stream down your face.

“It’s such a shame things had to be this way..I kinda liked you.” Taeyong strokes your cheek with his thumb.

His phone rings.

“What is it?”

“He should be there soon.”

You hear a man’s voice say on the other line.

Taeyong gives a devilish smile and looks back at you as he hangs up.

“Perfect.” He winks.

He steps forward to you and takes your bound wrists in his hand. He takes your gag off with the other.

“Would you like to beg for your life now?”

“Fuck you, Taeyong! I never did anything to you!”

Taeyong smiles when you curse. “You’re right. All you did was go to class and look pretty...oh and decide to date a superhero. You had to expect us to use you as leverage.”

You shook your head. “Taeyong, you’re not like your father, you’re better than him! Please don’t do this.”

Wind blew your hair back as Taeyong had opened one of the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor.

Taeyong’s smile fell when you mentioned his father.

“I know I’m better than him, sweetheart, I get right to the source of my problems.”

He strokes your cheek again. “You know..you’re a lot prettier when you don’t speak, but right now..I want you to scream for me.”

He suddenly pushes you out the window but grabs the end of the rope that has tied your hands up.

You let out a blood curdling scream as you stare down as the tiny people and cars so far below you. You cry even harder.

“Just like that, sweetheart, you sound beautiful.”

He smirks and ties the rope to a pole to keep your body dangling.

“Mark!!” You cry out when you see him in his Spider-Man suit climbing up the building towards you.

“No! Don’t come any closer! It’s a trap!!” You try to stop him but Mark doesn’t stop, you’re right there and he has to get to you.

“The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout..” Taeyong sings to himself as he picks up his father’s machine gun.

He aims it out of the window and at Mark.

“Down came the rain and washed the spider out.”

He pulls back on the trigger, allowing bullets to fly in the direction of the crawling Spider-Man.

“Mark!!” You cry out once again as Mark let’s go with one hand and dangles with the other. He quickly moves from side to side to dodge the bullets.

He regains his position and continues climbing.

“Oh, he’s a stubborn spider.” Taeyong grins and unloads on him again, this time never stopping.

He moves it from side to side to catch him.

A bullet flies right over Mark, breaking his suit and cutting his skin. He curses then looks back up.

He had to pay attention, he had to get to you.

Taeyong goes maniacal with the gun but he just can’t seem to get him.

He stops when he’s out of bullets and Mark is just a few feet away.

You think he’s given up because he’s lost, but Taeyong got just what he wanted.

“Okay, sweetheart..” he unties the rope from the pole and holds it in his hands. “It’s time to fly like the beautiful angel you are.”

You look back at him with wide eyes. “Taeyong!”

He lets go of the rope. You fall out through the window fast and past Mark.

Mark throws his head into your direction and leaps off of the building towards you.

He tries to fly down fast but he can’t keep up with your falling body, he’s so close but he can’t get to you.

You cry and think about your life, you never imagined this would be how you’d die.

You see Mark coming after you with all his strength, you know he’s doing his best. But it was impossible, there’s no way he’d get to you in time.

And so you felt yourself lose consciousness.

Your head fell back and your body fell limply.

“No, no, no, no don’t give up on me!” Mark yells and stretches his arms out, he shoots two strings from his wrists.

They latch onto you, he pulls back as hard as he can, your body flying into his arms as he still falls down the side of the building.

He spins around and shoots another string onto the building. His fall stops abruptly and his body flings itself into the glass. He holds you in his arms to protect you from the shattered glass.

You both fall onto the floor of an office. People jump up and yell in shock.

“Oh my god..it’s Spider-Man.” a few people say with gasps.

But Mark is focused on you. He doesn’t feel the pain from the impact, for his heart breaks for you. He unties your hands and holds one of them in his own.

“Y/n..y/n.. please talk to me..” leans over you and shakes you gently. Your body lies limply. Your mouth is slightly parted and your eyes are still closed. He hears a faint heartbeat.

He starts to tear up when you don’t respond.

“Y/n, I’m sorry..” he lifts his mask off and kisses you on the cheek.

He doesn’t care who sees him and can possibly expose his identity.

“Please..just wake up..tell me you’re okay..” he then kisses you on the lips.

Your eyes flutter open when you feel his soft lips on yours.

You place your hands on the side of his face, the people in the office clap and cheer.

You breathe him in before kissing him back. He pulls away and smiles down at you. His wavy brown hair hangs over your face and his eyes are teary.

“Are you crying, loser?” You give him a small smile.

Mark laughs and kisses you again.

Once you assured him that you were okay, Mark hunted Taeyong down at one of his father’s warehouses. Taeyong, Johnny, and Yuta waited there for him with a gun and several weapons, but they weren’t prepared for Spider-Man’s speed, strength, and agility, especially when all three were amplified by Mark’s anger. He gave them all an ass whooping they’d remember for the rest of their life, then had the cops come to arrest them. Mark didn’t go into much detail, but you knew that Kingpin, disappointed and hurt, disowned Taeyong and left him on his own to deal with his own actions.

When Taeyong tried to tell him who SpiderMan was, Kingpin called him a fool and deemed him mentally unstable, for a scrawny and nerdy kid with Harry Potter glasses couldn’t possibly have been the Spiderman that was kicking their asses.

Everyone thought Taeyong was crazy and Mark was never identified by the people in the office room.

Johnny and Yuta gave Taeyong up and admitted that they didn’t know who Spider-Man was, for if they had gone along with him, they’d only look crazy too.

Taeyong was arrested for attempted murder of both you and Haechan and sentenced to life in prison. He was tried as an adult and without the assistance of his wealthy father, didn’t stand a chance at getting away.

———

[December]

Finals were over and you could finally celebrate with Mark.

You joined him for the Winter Dance while dressed in a long, sleeveless icy blue dress.

“You look beautiful, like a princess.”

Mark blushed as he took your hand and led you to the dance floor.

You smiled and laughed out. He too looked dashingly handsome like a prince in his black suit and a bow tie that matched your dress. His hair was parted to the side and smoothed back, he didn’t have his glasses so he looked older, more mature.

The two of you swayed side to side. You laid your head on his shoulder and drank in the scent of his cologne. He smelled like flowers, his touch felt warm on your bare back.

There were stars decorating the dark gym in order to set the mood. White snowflakes also danced across the ceiling.

“I...have something to ask you..”

His low voice vibrates against your chest.

You raised your head and looked at all of the beauty marks on his neck and jaw. Funny enough, they were in all the places that you wanted to kiss.

“Yeah?”

Your soft voice makes him weak, he wants to hold you like this forever.

“Will you..” he clears his throat and glances down at you nervously. “..be my girlfriend?”

Your face lights up, you smile widely.

“I thought you’d never ask, Potter.” You kiss him on the lips and spend the rest of the night together.

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