#where she pinches everyone depends on where their worst spots are

[rainbowwing251]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Here’s a somewhat related Xenoblade 3 tickle scenario that I just thought of!

So I highly doubt that St. Patrick’s Day exists in Aionios, even in the City, but I like to think that it has some sort of equivalent holiday where if you’re not wearing anything green, you get pinched. Alternatively, this could just be a day where people who aren’t wearing green get pinched for no reason (at least not for a holiday-related reason, anyway).

Ouroboros learn of this holiday/day, and Eunie uses it as an excuse to pinch/tickle all of her friends for not wearing green since she’s the only one who wears green in her default outfit.

The next time the day comes around, everyone makes sure to change their class to the Medic Gunner class so they avoid her wrath, but she ends up tickling them anyway because spark them! Tickling them is too much fun for her to obey the rules of the holiday/day!

#tickling #xenoblade chrontickles 3 #ler!Eunie #where she pinches everyone depends on where their worst spots are #For example she’ll gently pinch Taion’s neck but squeeze Mio’s sides #or poke Sena’s belly button but scribble Noah’s stomach #this day is her day and by the Queen’s wings/ears she’s going to take advantage of it!

[musicalangel12]

The year is 2184, average earth temperature has doubled, only a few million people remain on earth. A green-movement managed to travel back to 2022. What are they doing?

“We need to stay to…Where’s Elias?”

“He got distracted by a squirrel,” Caitlin said, pointing to their left where their colleague was trying to pick the creature up.

Lian sighed. “That’s a wild animal! Do not touch it!”

“But it’s a squirrel! A real life, actual squirrel!” Elias exclaimed, sounding more like a child than a middle-aged man.

Pinching the bridge if her nose, Lian took a deep breath of fresh - not filtered or recycled - air. Elias had not been her first or even tenth choice for this mission but she had been outvoted. His experience as well as his demographics were better suited for this mission even if his mindset was more of an eco-tourist than eco-warrior.

“Elias, you can admire the squirrels later,” she told him, keeping her tone even. “Right now, we have a job to do. Everyone gather around for our briefing.”

To Elias’ credit, he immediately fell into their circle. Lian looked around at her team mates, everyone serious and attentive. She nodded in approval before making sure they were in a spot where no one could see them. Pressing a button on her com, she activated the holographic briefing recorded by their commander.

“Congratulations on making it safely to 2022,” Commander Hernandez said. “As you all know from your history lessons, 2022 has been determined as the tipping point for Earth’s climate crisis. If our plan works out, we can stop the destruction and change our future.

“We have identified the seven corporations who are the worst offenders,” she continued. “We have chosen the seven of you to infiltrate these corporations and work to change their culture from the inside to stop and even reverse their effect on the climate crisis. You have been given everything you need for a multi year mission. Good luck. We are depending on you.”

The hologram flickered before disappearing. Lian lowered her wrist, her stomach twisting in knots. But she tried to project an air of calm as she asked: “Any questions?”

They all shook their heads.

“Good,” she said. “We will have weekly progress reports and try to meet up once a month. If you experience any trouble, tap the red button on your com. Assistance will be rendered immediately.”

“Good luck, everybody,” Amari said, shouldering his backpack.

Caitlin nodded, grabbing her suitcase disguised as a briefcase. “Let’s go save the future!”

And so they dispersed, excited to succeed and afraid to fail. But they would see their mission through to the very end.

No matter what.

#satt-2184 #show and tell #satt-prompt #show and tell time #satt-writing-prompt #satt #writing prompt

[words-writ-in-starlight]

day 3: "insults"

Zetian came back to their chambers an hour earlier than she was supposed to, and the black-winged line of her lashes couldn’t quite hide the red rims beneath. She was sitting stiff and straight in her wheelchair, the way that Yizhi had learned to read as a kind of pain, like an arm tensed thoughtlessly to protect a bruise. And—he noticed it with some alarm—her golden robes, laid carefully out over her legs with his own hands, were spotted here and there with blood. There was some on her knuckles, spotting her right sleeve, and she held her hand delicately in her lap, as if it hurt her.

“Zetian?” he was already asking, concerned, as the door swung shut behind her. “Are you all right? Did something happen?”

“I’m fine,” Zetian said, and buried her face in her hands.

Yizhi crossed the room in a rush, and knelt in front of her, so that he could look up at her face and her hands. One, her right hand, was bruised, two of the knuckles split, as if she had punched something with enough force to break skin. He didn’t think she was crying, but her hands trembled, just faintly, as she lifted them, briefly, and closed her fists against her face.

“Zetian,” Yizhi said again, reaching up toward her hands. He caught her right hand in both of his, avoiding the worst of the bruising, and tried to gently pull it down. She resisted for a moment, then caved, all at once, letting her fist fall open so that Yizhi could rest her palm on his and get a look at the damage. “Zetian. What happened? Did someone do this to you?”

“No,” Zetian said, voice very flat. Her eyes were closed, and her left hand was pressing against the crease between her brows without regard for the formal makeup on her face. She had been due to give a speech this morning, and it had gone off without a hitch, his steel-eyed Empress the perfect combination of untouchable magnificence and cold, mortal ruthlessness. Yizhi had kissed her hands and told her as much, and she had scoffed, pinched his arm, and told him to go do his job instead of doting on her like the protagonist in some saccharine romance. He had chuckled, and she had smiled, and they had parted ways with one more affectionate kiss to her knuckles. She had seemed—not fine, she hadn’t been fine in a while, but she had been clear-eyed and sure. That had been maybe six hours ago.

“Come with me,” Yizhi said, standing slowly and keeping a light hold of her hand, cradled in his palms like a wounded thing. “I’ll wash your hand off, and we can get you into some clean clothes, okay?”

Zetian opened her eyes, staring at their joined hands like she wasn’t seeing them, and reached out with her left hand to touch her split knuckles, investigating. Yizhi closed his hands over her injured right, frowning protectively, and Zetian pulled back, blinking at the half-dried blood on her fingertips.

“I punched a wall,” she said neutrally.

Yizhi blinked himself, twice, and then said, just as neutral, “Okay.”

She was fingering at the blood on her right sleeve, now. There was some paint coming off her hand onto the fabric, the vermillion of her huadian smudged on her forehead and the heel of her thumb. She didn’t seem to notice, absorbed in the act of rubbing the gold, heavily embroidered silk between her fingers.

“Zetian,” Yizhi repeated, softly, and crouched back down so that he could look up into her face again. “Please, tell me what happened.”

Zetian took a breath, a long, shuddering thing, and let it out in a weary gust.

“I—was trying to avoid—people for a little while,” she said, halting. “So I was in—the study. The big window, with the curtain.”

Yizhi nodded. He knew the one she meant—there was a deep window ledge, made up with cushions and a blanket, so that someone might sit there comfortably for a while. If that person was, say, an Empress in need of a moment to herself, the curtain could be closed to mostly conceal the window ledge and the person inside.

“I heard a pair of maids come in. I should have told them I was there, but I didn’t want to deal with the—everything.” Zetian made a communicative gesture to indicate the nervous prostrations and scraping that most of the servants directed toward her. She unapologetically relished the same behavior from the more insufferable upper class, but it made her uneasy to face it from those who had once been her peers. “So I stayed quiet. I left my wheelchair at the desk. I don’t think—I guess they thought it was supposed to be there.”

She paused there, tongue touching her front teeth, breathing. Her gaze was fixed on some nowhere place over Yizhi’s shoulder, and the lines of her face were hard, angry, but also oddly uncertain. Yizhi didn’t move, just waited, holding onto her injured hand.

After a moment, Zetian stirred again, and said, “I heard them—talking. About…”

She didn’t finish, but then, she didn’t need to.

Yizhi had loved Zetian for a long time, now that he let himself think about it. He had thought, somewhat ashamed of himself for his favoritism, that losing anyone else would be easy, as long as she was with him.

It had not been easy.

They didn’t dare to say his name during daylight hours, unsure of how the raw wound would show itself, too afraid to let anyone else see the depth of their loss. They were both as defensive as lost children, unwilling to let an outsider even look at their hurts, let alone try to touch them. Instead, Zetian and Yizhi curled together and talked in whispers, in the dark, and hid their bloody hearts in each other’s hands.

“Oh,” Yizhi said, quietly. “They—what did they say?”

Zetian’s eyes snapped to his, and all the confused distance was gone, leaving a flame that burned white in its place. Her meridians stirred, he could feel them through his touch at her wrist, and the simple spirit metal headpiece she wore in daily business glimmered as if it was under a brilliant light.

“They said,” she said, a deadly hiss, “that the best thing he ever did was die. They said that he had nothing worth living for. They said,” she went on, voice getting louder, “that he was a murderer, and an animal, and a stupid one at that, too stupid to run for his life. They said that he—he probably raped all his concubine pilots, and they must have been grateful to die just to get away from him, and that I abandoned him to die in the Bird, and that I was right. They said that I was a hero for leaving him behind!”

Zetian was shouting now, almost screaming, throat raw and eyes red and running with the force of her anger. She had reversed Yizhi’s grip on her right hand, and now she was clutching him so tightly it hurt, grinding the bones together, while her left hand was clawed in the cloth of her robe, twisted, knuckles standing out pale against her skin.

“They said that I haven’t held a funeral for him because he didn’t deserve to be remembered—that he killed his whole family and he should have just—”

She stopped, choking on her words, as if she was forcing them out through a stranglehold. Then she spat, “They said that he should have just let the army shoot him, and then all his concubine pilots would still be alive, and we’d all be a lot better off.”

Zetian was shaking, her whole body vibrating under Yizhi’s grip, so that she looked almost like he had, shuddering while his system fought to survive withdrawal. She was crying properly now, ragged sobs of rage and grief, and that awful look of lost, helpless confusion was back beneath it all, and Yizhi—

Yizhi didn’t know what to do to make her feel better, because he was feeling a sudden upswell of sympathy for Zetian’s decision to punch a wall.

He wanted to punch a wall, too. Or, even better, he wanted to go down to the security office and demand every surveillance video from the entire building, and go over them with a fine-toothed comb to find everyone who had ever spoken a single one of those thoughts aloud. Then he could deliver them all up to Zetian on a silver platter, and maybe that would make the glaring emptiness, where they had all-too-quickly come to depend on another person, less painful.

“We haven’t held a funeral because we don’t know he’s dead,” Yizhi finally said. His voice was weak, fragile-sounding, and he realized when he spoke that he was crying too. Not Zetian’s wracking sobs, but a steady trickle that dripped from his jaw and clogged his throat.

“I told him that!” Zetian said, the words torn out of her chest. She was curled over in her chair, clinging to Yizhi like he was the last hope of rescue after a shipwreck, and crying almost into her knees, hand pressed over her mouth. “I said that right to his face, I said that he should have just taken a bullet rather than let them force him into piloting! I said—I said he had nothing worth living for, and those girls had everything, and he should have died rather than—and he agreed with me! He agreed with me, and then he—and then—”

Yizhi gave up on grace and pulled Zetian bodily out of her chair, into his lap on the floor. He wasn’t big enough for it to be comfortable, for either of them—his shoulders too narrow, his limbs too delicate—but she didn’t hesitate to follow his lead. She pressed her face into his shoulder and he fisted one hand in her robes, and felt her take a great shuddering gasp of air, every fiber taut and shivering with emotion.

“I told him,” she said into his robes, as if confessing a capital crime, “that if he was going to rape me, he should at least be honest about it. I didn’t say it like that, but he knew—he knew.”

Yizhi closed his eyes, resting his cheek on her hair, and felt his own breathing hitch. Zetian kept talking, like she couldn’t stop the flow of words now that she had started.

“What if he—what if he thought I still thought of him like that? What if he saved me because he thought—he thought that he was worthless, or a monster, or that we’d be better off? What if—”

“Stop,” Yizhi said, barely a whisper. He wasn’t even sure Zetian could hear him, over her own voice, her own guilt. But she stopped, and just sat and shivered in his arms.

Yizhi took a moment to breathe, her headpiece digging into his temple as he tried to find words.

“He saved us,” Yizhi finally said, slow and careful, “because he wanted us to live. Because he loved us. We can’t—it’s not fair to him, to spend all our time trying to decide if he loved us because he hated himself. That won’t—it won’t help us. And it won’t help him.”

“I was so awful to him,” Zetian said.

“Well,” Yizhi said, managing a brittle laugh through his tears, “sometimes you’re awful. Sometimes he was too. And me, every now and then. What matters is that we try to fix it.”

Yizhi shifted his weight, and carefully lowered both of them down onto the carpet, curled up on their sides, face-to-face. Zetian’s makeup was ruined, her blotchy flush showing through, and he was sure he didn’t look much better. He thought, for a moment, about how they had slept curled up like this the night before the attack on Zhou province. But then, they had been framing another body between them, hands lightly linked over his abdomen, his hands touching them hesitantly every once in a while, anxiously, as if he thought they might disappear.

Now, in the Empress’ quarters, they laid there together on the floor. The light outside the window began to darken, and Zetian’s tears dried, leaving her makeup smeared in ghoulish streaks down her face, and Yizhi kept holding her injured right hand to his chest.

Yizhi didn’t know how long they had been laying there when Zetian spoke, quietly, her voice clear and her eyes closed.

“I miss him.”

“Me too,” Yizhi whispered.

“I want to find those maids and kill them.”

“Me too.”

“We probably shouldn’t do that.”

“No. I could have them reprimanded, though.”

“Do that.”

“Okay,” Yizhi said, and bent his head to kiss the tips of her fingers. “If you let me clean your hand.”

“Okay,” Zetian said. “In a little while.”

#whumptober 2021 #no.3 #insults #iron widow #fic #self harm #starlight writes stuff #BIG iron widow spoilers but honestly you've been here you know this #anyway!!!!!! #i wrote this in three hours #i am actually delighted with it #ot3: iron triangle #i just!!!!!!!! #i want them to be SAD together!!!!!!!! #where are they? what's going on? how does zetian being empress actually Work?????? #i don't know and frankly i do not care! this is about them being SAD!!!!!!!

[heliads]

Til Death Do Us Part

There are a few things that are important to Pietro Maximoff. His sister, his home, his past. Now, there’s someone even closer to him- a mysterious S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, a woman with the ability to heal any wounds.

masterlist

Pietro sits by himself on the Quinjet, watching the ruckus about him. His foot taps impatiently while he waits for the plane to arrive back on the safety of land once more. Across the room, Wanda is conversing with Hawkeye in hushed tones. Steve Rogers and Tony Stark are bickering over something for the third time since the plane took off, Natasha Romanoff is emotionlessly prepping her weapons, and Thor is inspecting his hammer for damage.

There are multitudes of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents popping in and out of the room, sometimes checking readouts on the central cockpit and other times asking quick questions of the Avengers. There’s one woman who catches Pietro’s eye, who is currently flitting about Bruce Banner.

As Pietro watches, she hovers her hands slowly over his injuries. After Banner lost control over the Hulk and was subsequently brought back by Tony Stark, he was covered with scrapes and bruises from the fight. The woman who Pietro had noticed earlier is holding her hands a few inches away from Banner’s skin, and faint white light is spreading from her outstretched fingers to the cuts. 

Interestingly enough, the second the pearlescent light touches Banner, his wounds close up and fade away, leaving behind perfectly undamaged skin. Fascinating. The woman must have noticed Pietro’s gaze, as she heads over to him once Banner is deemed healthy once more.

She extends her hand to him. “I’m Y/N. Y/N L/N.” Pietro takes it, allowing a small smile to grace his lips. “Pietro Maximoff. That’s a nice trick you did with Banner’s injuries.” Y/N laughs lightly. “You’re not the only one with inhuman abilities. Healing people is my specialty.” Y/N gives him a once-over, checking for wounds that need her attention. She finds a series of gashes across his arms, and they continue their conversation as she begins to heal them.

“Unlike you, I was born with my powers. They didn’t show up until I was around twelve or so, and they were slow to appear. I was able to keep them hidden until I healed someone in public, not knowing any better. Next thing I know, Tony Stark’s knocking on my door and asking if I want to help out with the Avengers.”

Pietro makes a small scoffing noise in the back of his throat at the mention of Stark. Even though he’s now fighting on the Avengers’ side against Ultron, he still feels resentment towards the billionaire after his weapons were used against the Maximoff family. Y/N evidently notices this, as she fixes him with an understanding gaze. 

“I know how you feel about Tony, but he’s not all that bad. He was one of the first people to help me control my abilities for the better, instead of having to hide them. This job with the Avengers is one of the best things that’s happened to me. He regrets everything that happened with his weapons, and he’s almost killing himself trying to make up for all of the blood that was shed. It won’t make up for what happened, but I hope you know he’s doing everything he can to make up for the wrongs he’s done in the past.”

Pietro nods slowly. “I know. It’s just hard to look at him without thinking of what happened.” He changes the topic. “What exactly is your role with the Avengers? I didn’t see you out in the city with them at first, and I don’t think you’re a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.” Y/N studies the now healed gashes on his arm, then sits down next to him, taking advantage of a rare moment to rest.

“I’m kind of in between the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. I don’t fight with them because my powers can’t really help in battle, but in the tough fights I come out onto the battleground to heal the worst of the injuries on the go. It just depends on what they need.” Pietro clicks his tongue, thinking. “Does it drain you, healing all of these injuries all of the time?”

Y/N nods exhaustedly. “You have no idea. It’s easier than you’d think because so many of them have pretty strong healing processes by themselves, but the more severe the injury, the harder it is on me. One time, after the Chitauri came to New York, I healed Tony after he almost died. I was unconscious for two or three days.”

Pietro whistles softly. “Wow. Do you think there’s a limit to how much you can do?” Y/N inclines her head. “I ran some tests with Tony a few years back to see what I could do so they could clear me for the field. I can heal almost any injury, and I can even bring someone back from the dead, but only once.”

Pietro looks at Y/N, confused. “What do you mean, only once?” Y/N sighs, looking up to the ceiling. “I can make someone come back to life after they die, but it will kill me instead. A life for a life, I guess. As long as I’ve known that, I’ve lived in a state of constant stress. With all the time I’ve been with the Avengers, I’ve seen so many people who died. How can I decide to give up my life to save someone else's if I can only do it once? How will I know it’s the right person?”

Pietro takes Y/N’s hand, holding it close to him. “In the end, I think that will have to be up to you. Just know this- I think I can speak for everyone here that we’d rather have you saving people now then give up your life for just one person.” Y/N smiles at him gratefully. “Thank you. I just can’t shake the feeling that at some point, I’ll have to do it. I just hope I have enough time to really live my life before I give it up.”

Y/N and Pietro talk the rest of the journey, and quickly grow close. When it’s time to head back to Sokovia, Pietro doesn’t want to say goodbye. He’s happy to hear that she will be coming with him to the city, as the Avengers want her around when things undoubtedly go south. However, Pietro knows Ultron will be bringing his forces, and he’s afraid that she will get hurt.

Pietro tries to keep her close when they enter the city. Y/N immediately runs over to the refugees as they’re brought onto the ships, healing almost everyone she encounters. When the Avengers need her help, Pietro helps bring her to them. She looks exhausted, but she keeps going no matter what. Pietro can’t help but admire that.

Before he knows it, the fight is practically over. Almost all of the Sokovian refugees are on the ships, and they’re about to take off when Hawkeye spots a lone boy separated from the others, unable to get back to his family because of attacking robots. Clint sprints over to the boy, and the two of them are about to get back when Pietro hears the drone of engines overhead.

It’s like everything moves in slow motion. There are Clint and the young boy, almost to the rest of the refugees and safety. There is Ultron in his ship, firing away. The bullets rain down around them, inches away from the two figures. Pietro starts moving. One last sacrifice.

He almost doesn’t feel the pain. He almost can’t feel anything. His vision is starting to fade, everything disappearing into a haze. He can see Clint looking up at him in horror, and Pietro has time to utter one last sentence before he collapses to the ground.

“You didn’t see that coming?”

Distantly, Pietro can hear someone screaming. There’s this loud noise, coming again and again. He realizes it’s his heartbeat. It sounds again and again, but it keeps slowing down. It beats once, twice more, and then it stops, and Pietro Maximoff is dead.

There’s darkness.

Then, a sound.

It’s barely there, something just a decibel or two above complete silence. But it’s something. Dully, Pietro thinks that he shouldn’t be able to hear anything. Didn’t he die? Maybe he’s gone on to something else, some place after life. The afterlife.

The sound grows louder. It sounds almost like the whir of machinery. Then there’s something else- hushed voices, gaining volume until it sounds like the voices are all around him. Pietro gains a new sensation- feeling. He’s lying down, eyes shut against the world. What is happening to him?

All of a sudden, his eyes fly open. It takes him a moment to take in his surroundings, for understanding to seep into his first few thoughts. He’s in a white room, lying in a bed. A hospital bed. There are faces around him- no, people. He can recognize them now- Clint, looking relieved. Banner and Dr. Cho discussing a readout in the background. There are other people moving in the hallway outside, and starting to enter the room. Steve, Nat, Tony.

There’s a woman next to him, beaming tearfully. For a second, he thinks it’s his mother. He stares at her in disbelief, but then his vision sharpens. No, it’s Wanda, and she’s embracing him now, still sobbing. “Don’t ever do that to me again.” Pietro feels a smile slide onto his face. There should be someone else here, right? There’s someone missing.

Y/N.

Where’s Y/N?

All of a sudden, Pietro is filled with panic. He looks around the room, but she is nowhere in sight. He turns to Wanda frantically. “Where is Y/N?” She doesn’t answer him, but a saddened, almost guilty look crosses her face. A realization is coming to him, one Pietro is terrified to face.

She could bring someone back from the dead, but only once.

Clint is standing next to him. “Y/N saved your life out there.” Pietro can only repeat himself. “Where is she?” Clint sighs and looks away. “She died. We brought her body back with us.” And just like that, Pietro shuts down. The heart monitor next to him starts beeping frantically, and doctors start to pour into the room. Pietro’s eyes jump from person to person. “I need to see her. She can’t be dead. She can’t be-”

He’s cut off by a pinching sensation in his arm, and then his vision starts to slide into blackness.

Pietro wakes up an hour or so later. Tranquilizers never worked well on him- they always made their way through his system far faster than they were supposed to. Wanda is still sitting next to him, her face weary and worn. Pietro’s voice is cracked and quiet, but she still hears him. “Y/N. Is she really-” He can’t say it. Wanda nods, taking his hand. “I’m sorry, Pietro. I’m so sorry.”

Pietro just sits there dully. “Is there nothing you can do? Please, Wanda. You have to save her.” Wanda inclines her head. “There might be something- a procedure, risky, but our best bet. It’ll take the abilities of both Vision and myself. We start in a few minutes, I just wanted to be here when you woke up.” Pietro looks at his sister pleadingly. “Thank you. Please, bring her back.” Wanda smiles sadly, then stands up, gently placing his blankets back across his lap from where they had fallen down in all the commotion of earlier that day.

Eventually, Pietro finds he can’t wait any longer. He removes the IV from his veins, swinging his legs out from the hospital bed to stand unsteadily on his own. It takes him a while, but he manages to make his way out and into the hallway. 

It’s pretty easy to tell which room is Y/N’s because of the amount of doctors circulating around it. Pietro sinks into a chair opposite it. He’s never been good at waiting;  always too full of the unbridled need to get up and be active to ever sit still for longer than a few seconds. Yet now, Pietro can’t bring himself to do anything but stay here and wait.

After a while, Wanda comes out. She seems paler than normal, probably after the exertion of using her abilities to save Y/N. Pietro can only look up at her, afraid to say anything. Wanda stops in front of him. “The procedure is done. We don’t know if it will work. Only time can tell.”

Once all of the doctors have finally filtered out of the room, Pietro drags himself to his feet and shuffles unsteadily through the doors. Y/N is lying on another hospital bed, looking deathly still. Pietro stands next to her, wrapping his fingers around her unresponsive hand. 

He’s not sure how long he stayed there, but his patience is rewarded when there’s a slight twitch in Y/N’s hand. Then, her eyelids flicker open and Pietro’s tension finally leaves him. She’s alright. That is enough.

It takes her a few seconds to focus, but then she looks at him dazedly. “What happened?” Pietro smiles down at her. “You saved my life, so we saved yours. By the way, I’m going to need you to never try that self-sacrificing thing again. You’ve scared almost everyone in the building.” Y/N squeezes his hand, adopting a mock frown. “Technically, I think you’re the one who sacrificed himself first.” 

Pietro laughs, a bright sound in the midst of all the quiet of the hospital. He leans down and presses a kiss to her cheek. “Maybe so. But we’ve got each other back, and that’s all we need.” She smiles up at him, and Pietro feels happier than he has in a long time. 

#pietro maximoff #pietro maximoff imagine #pietro maximoff x reader #pietro maximoff imagines #quicksilver #quicksilver imagine #quicksilver x reader #quicksilver imagines #avengers #avengers imagines #avengers x reader #age of ultron #maximoff twins

[hayleygray08]

You are my home.

Introduction: this is my first writing on here. Bare with me.

Summary: you are a new member of the team after tony finds you in a hydra raid. You are shy, reserved, and not very talkative at first until you realize the team is not going to hurt you. Once comfortable you show them your powers and fall for a certain super soldier, again.

I used google translate for words in Russian, so if the words are wrong. I apologize.

In my writing, no one is dead.

Pairing: bucky x reader, everyone else is platonic.

Genre: fluff, anguish, mentions of torture, blood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am crouched in the conner,on the floor of my cell waiting for the guards to come get me. My daily training. More like torture.

They make me train as hard as I can and if they think I am slaking, I get a few thousand jolts of electricity shot through my body. Or even a few punches.

Yesterday was one of the worst days so far, that I can remember. I was getting random images flash inside my head, almost from a past life from what I saw, which made me loose focus quite a bit. In return the men who watch me train were heavy with the electricity jolts and even harder punches, anywhere they could land on my body. So, I was not looking forward to today's training.

I don't have a clock or windows in my cell but I knew every time they would come to get me. Like my body knew the exact moment every day. So when that time came and I was still in my cell I was growing a little worry. They are never late, sometimes early, but never late. Just then a siren rang out and the lights dimmed then went red. Was that the alarm for an intruder? How is that possible?

As a million thoughts ran through my head at what could possibly cause the alarm to go off. A very vivid picture or memory came to me and played on repeat. It looked to be the 40's, on a dock or a pier, I was laughing and looking out at the water. There were two guys with me. One was small, blonde hair, blue eyes, and had a small smile on his face. The second was bigger then the first, had brown hair, bright blue eyes, and laughing with me. Why do they look familiar? Why do I have two names on the tip of my tongue? Who are they? Just as I was about to say those names my cell door was blown off and there was a cloud of dust.

As the dust settles and I can properly see, there is a man in a red and gold suit of metal. He walks towards me as he says "Cap we got someone here. She looks no older then 24, covered in bruises, and looks terrified.""Yes, I'll make sure to get her out.""No, I can't tell if she is dangerous." He sighs and crouches down so he can look me in the eyes.

"Hi, I am Tony Stark, and I am going to take you away from here." Tony says and offers me a hand. I take it cautiously and follow him out the door and eventually outside.

Once we made it outside I take a deep breath. It felt so good to get clean air. I don't even remember the last time I was outside. Must have been years. I had to shield my eyes, it was so bright out. I didnt notice more people joining us. I was to busy looking at my hands and arms. Was I always this pale? I look up at the guy who took me away, Tony, and then darkness.

Tony catches me before I could hit the floor and runs into the jet. He lays be on a table and Bruce starts an examination. Nobody dared bother him. Nat hands Tony a flash drive and sits back down with the others.

While I was unconscious and now in the medbay at the compound, I was getting more images. Some are to fast to register what it was and some stayed a good while showing me a life I do not remember, but wish I did. Also things I did, hurting people, a chair, and training. It was all to much. To much pain, suffering, lose. I could feel myself have a panic attack. Which alerted everyone.

I jolted up into a sitting position clenching my chest and taking big gasps of air. My heart monitor going off like crazy. I looked around frantically, not recognizing where I was. I tried to rip out the Iv's but a pinching sensation in my shoulder makes me stop. I look up and see a women, before I am unconscious again.

Meanwhile in the common area Tony, Steve, Natasha, Wanda, Sam, Clint, Vision, Bucky, Bruce, Thor, Loki, Scott, and Peter all sat around looking at my file.

"Her name is y/n, y/ln. She was born in 1918, lived in Brooklyn, New York. Was taken by Hydra in 1946 while she was working on a S.H.I.E.L.D mission. Hasn't been seen since. Until about 2001 when she was spotted riding a motorcycle from a crime scene. Looked to be an assassination. Then again in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012 and the last time in 2014. So the last time was 7 years ago. It shows she was trained like the winter soldier, but never met one another. But her powers got out of control and they have been training her to keep them in control since 2014. She has assassinated 6 men, 4 women, 2 children, and 1 hydra agent in a training gone wrong on that one." Tony reads outloud to everyone.

Steve and Bucky look at each other with a look in their eyes, as if they can't believe it. Then Tony brings up a picture of me for the group to see. Everyone gasps as a few photos show up. One is me, Steve, and Bucky at Coney Island. Then one of me and Bucky smiling at each other. Then there is one of me and Peggy Carter. Once all pictures are shown, all eyes are on Steve and Bucky.

"You know her?" Asked Natasha. Everyone silently asking the same thing.

"Yes, we know her. She was our friend. She grew up with us. She was our best friend. And a little more to Bucky." Steve answers quietly, looking at Bucky. It has been 78 years since he has seen her.

As they tell the others about me and what they remember, I am waking up again at the medbay. This time more calm. The nurses and doctors where asking me questions but I wouldn't answer them. They could tell they were not going to get anywhere with me, they called Tony and Bruce. I still would not talk to them.

How could I trust them? I don't even know them. For all I know they could be Hydra as well. With all these images popping up I don't even know what to believe anymore. Both men were throwing question after question at me. I didnt know how to answer. Or if I even should. Once they realized they were not going to get anywhere they left.

By the time I got the okay from the doctors, I was put inside a cell. Something I am all to familiar with. But this one was clean, had a comfortable bed, running water, and was warm. All the walls were glass and I could see people standing around watching me. Two I kinda recognized due to the images that I get. Each one would ask a question, each time I just stared ahead.

"We want to help you." A women with red and blonde hair spoke up after a few minutes of silence. I laughed.

"You want to help me? You don't even know me. How can you help me?" I responded quietly.

"Wanda has some powers and is able to look inside your head. Put the pieces together for you. Help you remember." The same women responded looking at another women with red hhai. I am guessing is Wanda.

"We read your file, y/n, let us help you remember the things they have taken from you." Tony says as he walks around. I don't respond, just look at everyone.

They gave up after 3 hours of silence from me and them asking questions. They leave me alone until a few days later. For those days they would bring me food, check to see if I am okay, then leave. It was Wanda, Tony, Bruce, and Steve that came a few days later. I watch them as they open the door to my cell and take a seat on a bench.

"If you are okay with this, we would like to try something. It does involve bringing back everything Hydra took from you. It might be painfull. But we think you should have the choice in remembering your life."Tony speaks up after a few minutes of silence.

Do I trust these people to try and help me? Do I even want the help? To remember all the pain I have caused and I life I will never get back.

I look at the four people in front of me and when I looked at the blonde man named Steve a memory came to me. It was just us two in a tent that looked to be on a base of some sort. He was the way he is now bigger then the other one I have seen. As if he grew or got on steroids. He was telling me about someone but it was fuzzy but I had this feeling of sadness.

I take a big breath in and look at them. "What do I have to lose? Not like I am going anywhere anytime soon." I tell them as I look at my hands.

I didnt see Tony nod at the door but did hear it open. I look up to see a young girl, with a different wardrobe then the others. She smiles kindly at me as she sits next to Wanda.

"Hi, my name is Shuri. I am from Wakanda and I can help you remember." I just stare at her.

"How long will this take?" I ask quietly.

"Depends on the damage they have caused for you to forget everything. Could be a few days, weeks, months. If you have trigger words. We will make.."

"Trigger words? What does that mean?" I interrupt her.

"Words that change you into a different person. Like they did witht he winter soldier. When we got the files from the base you were held in, shows you do have some." Tony says to me.

"Oh, so then I guess we should start this thing." I tell them. They did not expect me to say that.

They step out of my cell and start to say 6 words in Russian.

"девять- nine"

"машина-car"

"цветок-flower"

At this word I started to feel a crawling sensation run across my skin. I started to blink rapidly, my vision was getting foggy.

"слива-plum"

"банан-banana"

Now I'm rolling my shoulders, flexing my hands, shaking my head. That crawling sensation is getting thicker, heavier.

"рок-rock"

Once that last word was said I stand up, look at them with a blank expression, and cock my head to the side a little. "готов подчиниться- ready to comply."

They ready the words and I am me again. Well the shell of me that I know. I sit on the bed and take deep breaths. I did not like the feeling of having no control.

They watch me before they leave me alone for a little bit. I don't remember those words but it felt like my body did and it hurt badly.

As i sit and then pace and sit again for I don't know how long, everyone else is in the common area trying to figure out what to do next.

"Her words are different from Bucky's, why?" Same asks as they watch me in my cell.

"They made the words unique for that person. Hers are more girly because she is a girl and what she likes. They make it so only one person gets triggered and not all at once." Bucky says with a frown.

As they continue to talk and see the next step. I am going a little crazy in my cell. I started to throw everything that I could, I tried breaking the walls, the floor. I was screaming, crying, and bleeding. No one knew of my powers because it was not put in any files. So when I fall to my knees and scream everything shuts down and I pass out.

Once the lights were out, they were up and running to my cell. As people in the building were trying to get the power back on.

When they get to me I was laying on the floor and covered in some weird goo. That started right as I hit the floor. Bruce went to check if I was okay and when he tried to check my pulse he got shocked. He steps away and goes to the others.

"This is not in her file, didnt show if she had powers or not. Why would they do that?" Natasha says as the nurses come in hazmat suits.

"Because she is more dangerous then we thought." Steve says sadly.

*********

That is part 1. Possibly a part two.

#bucky barnes #bucky x y/n #the avengers #bucky barnes imagine #marvel

[everybodyscupoftea]

this is the life

ole miss rafe x reader

you and your boyfriend deal with your ~futures~

literally no one asked for this lol, i’m sorry

(warnings: cursing)

Your animal and dairy sciences seminar had a report due that you’d stayed up very late making last minute edits to because you were stressed it was really bad. The next morning was brutal. Not only was in an 8 a.m. lecture, but your coffee machine was out and you overslept, barely giving yourself enough time to get to class before the professor checked attendance.

You slid into your seat, out of breath, just as started scanning the seating chart for attendance. The boy who sits next to you turned to ask, “Library was backed up this morning?”

“What?” you asked, halfway paying attention, still scrambling to get your notebook out.

“Since you’re running late, I’m assuming it’s because the library was busy when you went to print your report.”

Your stomach dropped and you swore, “Fuck. I forgot to print it. Fucking fuck. I submitted it online but I forgot we needed to hand him a physical copy too. Oh god I can’t afford to fail this class.” You were getting worked up and the boy was starting to look more and more like he regretted talking to you in the first place.

“I mean he’s pretty chill, so I’m sure if you explain he’ll let you bring it by his office later.”

The boy had a point, but you were already too far gone. For the rest of the class, you were unfocused, and if someone asked you what he lectured on, you’d have no clue, so preoccupied with rehearsing how you were going to beg him for an extension. You only had one other class, and you’d definitely be able to print it out and run it to him between them, but that was depending on if he let you.

Just as class was ending, your phone vibrated in your hoodie pocket, and you checked it, immediately calmed at seeing a text from your boyfriend. Rafe sent Can’t wait to see you this weekend and whatever had a grip on your chest loosened enough for you to take a full breath for the first time since waking up.

After speaking to your professor and his reassurance that you didn’t really need to worry much about the written report, that it was just to ensure everyone had it turned in prior to class, you left, much happier, but the exhaustion hitting you straight in the gut.

Thankfully, all you had left that day was a communication elective and then to drive to Rafe’s apartment in Oxford. He’d convinced you to make the trip because he wanted to show you around the place he’d called home for four years after leaving behind his “hometown trauma.” His words.

Your class flew by, people were giving speeches and you’d given yours Wednesday, so you sat there mindlessly, half asleep, until she dismissed the class for the weekend. Stopping back by your apartment to pick up your overnight bag, you decided to last minute check your PO Box, it had been a while. To your shock, you actually had mail, and when you saw the return address, the sick feeling returned to your stomach.

There was about a two-hour drive to Rafe’s apartment from Starkville, and you had the option of opening the letter containing either the best news or the worst news of your life before the drive or at Rafe’s apartment. Part of you wanted to know then, but a stronger part of you wanted to be with Rafe so he could comfort you if necessary.

Instead of making a decision, you felt your tired brain could not, you called Rafe. He answered before the second ring and you couldn’t help yourself.

“I see that receptionist job taught you some useful skills.”

“What?” he asked, sounding confused.

“Answering my calls fast, that’s good because my time is money.”

Rafe sighed, “Can I help you?”

“Someone’s mad. But, yes, should I open the letter from the vet school now or wait until I get to Oxford.”

You heard some shuffling around before he answered, “You think you can wait? I actually have something to tell you too.”

“Yeah, um, sure,” you were a little worried, “Is everything okay?”

“I think so. We just need to talk.”

“Right, talk, are you sure everything’s good?”

“Yeah, stop worrying. Just drive on over.”

You had been excited to go visit, but after that phone call you wanted to go back to bed. With a deep sigh, you rubbed your eyes with the heels of your hands and slumped backward. Blinking away the spots, you buckled up, pit in your stomach, and drove to your favorite coffee shop in Starkville. If shit was going to go down in Oxford you were going to have your comfort drink.

StrangeBrew’s drive-thru was packed and you tapped your fingers anxiously on the steering wheel as you waited to order your blueberry cobbler cold brew with soy milk. Right as the barista handed you the to-go cup, your phone vibrated and Rafe had sent drive safe!! <3. The fuck did that mean in the context of your earlier phone conversation?!

The drive to Oxford was boring as hell. You’d made it before, a band you liked had played there one night, and you and some friends had made the reluctant trip to see them. Turning on your podcast, you focused on nothing but the drive, pushing aside relationship doubts and the growing anxiety about the letter sitting in your passenger seat.

You called Rafe when you got close, and he was waiting outside his building when you finally found a visitor’s spot. He jogged over to grab your overnight bag and bent down to give you a quick kiss, before greeting you with, “Hey, baby, how was the drive?”

“Boring as fuck, nothing new.”

“Went smoothly?”

“About as smooth as possible. I’ve had to pee for the last like 40 minutes though, so it’d be great if I could do that now.”

He laughed and turned to walk to his building, motioning for you to follow him. You did, scampering a little to keep up with his long strides, and he unlocked a door on the first floor, holding it open for you, “Bathroom’s down the hall to the left.”

Rafe was sitting on the couch when you made it back out to the living room, and you finally took a good look at him. His laptop was on the coffee table and he was wearing a pair of Ole Miss sweats, a worn-out t-shirt, and a pair of glasses you were unaware he needed.

“Take a picture,” he interrupted your train of thought and you rolled your eyes.

“Shut up, Cameron. Now, tell me what you want to talk about so I can open my letter.”

“No, open your letter first and then we’ll talk.”

You weren’t sure why he was so insistent or why your heart rate tripled, but you were pretty sure it wasn’t the coffee. With shaking hands, you held up the letter from the MSU Vet School. All of your undergrad work came down to that letter, whether you’d have to take a gap year and try to find work to apply again or whether you could move forward in your career path.

Rafe watched on eagerly as you carefully tore it open and started reading. Eyes jumping across the page, unable to focus, you barely made out, Congratulations and We welcome you and We look forward to seeing you next fall.

With a gasp, you launched yourself at an unprepared Rafe and latched on, arms wrapped around his neck. He ran his hand up and down your back soothingly and asked, gently, “Good news?”

“I’m going to Vet School,” you whispered, voice cracking in the middle of your sentence.

“Fucking right you are, my little Rockstar.”

Your face heated up and you buried it in the crook of his neck, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders. Only to come crashing back down a few seconds later as you remembered Rafe wanted to talk. Pulling back slowly, you asked, “So, what was it you wanted to talk about?”

His face lit up and he leaned forward, hanging on to you so he didn’t accidentally dump you onto the floor, and grabbed his laptop. Clicking to his email, he showed you the message he had pulled up from Mississippi State University Department of History Admissions.

“So, you know I’ve been interested in teaching,” he started, “and I’m debating whether I’d like to teach college or not.”

“Yeah, last we talked, you were leaning toward college professor, right?”

“Right. Well, I applied to a few schools that had a PhD program I was interested in, and I heard back from my top choice.”

Your mind was racing, still not connecting the dots, until he motioned at his laptop. Looking back down, you skimmed the email, telling him that he’d been accepted into MSU’s PhD in European History program and gasped, turning back to him in excitement, “No way?!”

“Way,” he told you, wide grin on his face.

Jaw dropped, your mind raced to put together a coherent thought, “How long have you been planning this?”

“The program is good, this isn’t a new thought, but MSU obviously jumped up my preference list to the top after we got together.”

“Fuckin whipped,” you teased and he tilted your chin down to kiss you.

Pulling away he brushed some of your hair back, “Only for you.”

As he leaned in again, you were the one to pull back, “Wait, we have to celebrate!”

Rafe groaned, “No, let me kiss you.”

“No! I want food, I spent the entire ride thinking I was going to get dumped when I got here.”

He furrowed his eyebrows, “What?”

“We need to talk,” you quoted, “that’s one scary fucking sentence, Cameron.”

He smiled sheepishly, “Sorry, sweetheart, I just wanted to keep it a surprise.”

“Well you did.”

Rafe leaned in to kiss you again and pulled back to add, “You really think I’d make you drive all the way here, just to break up with you. I’m wounded you think that lowly of me.”

“You are an asshole.”

Rolling his eyes, he pinched your cheek gently, “Be nice to me, I’m sacrificing my dignity and lowering myself to Mississippi State’s standards.”

Blinking a few times in surprise at his sudden switch, you told him back, “Fuck off, I’m sure you were last choice as soon as they saw where you got your undergrad degree.”

Without saying anything else, he kissed you again, gripping behind your knees and shifting so your back was on the couch. As he lowered himself down on top of you, you decided that food could wait. You had your future to celebrate.

#rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron x you #rafe cameron fluff #rafe outer banks #rafe cameron fic #rafe obx #outer banks fic #outer banks #obx #college rafe #ole miss rafe

[shinylugers]

s. burnside

writing this because i’mma die on this hill for steve burnside and yall telling me his character was dumb and annoying and produced nothing for the franchise. fools. this boy was badass for his age and the trauma he went through.

incoming drabbling pov’s

tw gore, explicit mentions, gross stuff

just imagine being a 16-17 year old kid just hanging around your house and basically a private group of armed-to-the-teeth soldiers bust down your door, tie you up and set you across the room executioner style and blow your mom’s brains out in front of you. then all you can see is the dark when they throw a bag over your head, 100% kidnapping you and your dad. they throw you on a remote island military base now revamped into some strange concentration camp for a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical super power. you’re the enemy now because your dad tried to sell the company’s secrets to make a quick buck. you’re the prisoner now thanks to your parent’s bad choice. what did you do to deserve this?

imagine getting issued an inmate number. imagine getting it branded to your skin and how much that must have hurt when your screams filled the air with the other people going through the same damn thing with the smell of burning flesh stinging your eyes. you feel betrayed by your father. why isn’t anyone doing anything to stop this? who is in charge? why couldn’t they just fire your dad? imagine the tracking collar paired with the new branding that completes the idea that you’re now property of Umbrella -- and the realization comes crashing in that you might not escape, that you’re stuck here until you die. this place is how you die.

you and your dad haven’t seen each beyond passing glances and courtyard work. because these military dogs -- or whatever they are, make you do meaningless tasks to help build more of the complex into the island. but then those projects teeter off in the months. and then you start seeing people disappear, slowly but surely, the population of inmates you’ve bonded with over the months begins to dwindle. you hear screaming in the night. your blood runs cold. there are rumors that this Alfred Ashford who runs the base went mad - so what does that mean for you? and what the hell is an anatomist? isn’t that a doctor?

the uncertainty is killing you more than the knowing.

then something explodes. the island is on fire. everyone is being affected. the soldiers and guards are either evacuating or-- you’re sure you’re seeing things. but did Jeffery just take a bite out of Thompson? Sure, those two never got along.. but..

and then it happens. and keeps happening. before you can really understand what’s happening, you’re running for your life, hiding from men devouring each other, friends turning enemies and the dead ripping themselves out of debris and burning complex. you escape. only to find you aren’t the only survivor.

it’s a girl who knows her way around a gun, she’s gorgeous and you try not to look like a total idiot. ...and then a psychopathic Ashford bent on playing cat and mouse games with you both. you know eventually the only way to get out of here alive is team up, but you want to prove to yourself you can survive without needing others. depending on others is how someone can betray you, how someone can get you locked up on island full of lunatics, remember? you don’t need anyone.

and then you’re the one saving the girl, it’s before you even realize what you’re doing. didn’t you just say you didn’t need anyone?

but there was nothing ever decided about them ever needing you. you feel good about yourself, feel the adrenaline and for once in this crazy few days, you feel like you can do this. survive. and it helps she’s amazing, shit-- she’s really just some kind of angel that dropped out of the sky that moment you were about to suffocate for yanking some awesome golden guns off a wall. who even booby traps a room like that?

but then looking where you are -- in all of this chaos, it’s not surprising. you’re both dancing to the tune of a devil without realizing it, or maybe you do because this is the only way out.

and you shouldn’t be surprised one second when you see HIM. your father. a mangled shuffling corpse, dead-eyed and broken trapping HER, the girl that’s saved you just as you’ve saved her. you can’t let it end this way, you don’t want to pull the trigger. but he’s about to rip her throat out.

so you do. you let go. the sound is deafening, a rage and sorrow burns in your chest and has you vomiting up choked sobs about the only real family you had left in this world.

he was already gone by the time you found him. already dead. but this? this didn’t help.

she leaves you to your thoughts, strong willed and already pushing to find another escape route. but all you can think of is how to get revenge, how to pay the bastards back that infected this island in the first place-- Umbrella, whoever else, and the feeling festers with the bile in your gut. you can’t hide your face in your hands anymore; you stop crying.

then you find a spot on the island to lay your father to rest. you burn the body. you try not to focus on the stench and how it reminds you of your own flesh under a searing iron brand. leave nothing traceable, nothing left that anyone could desecrate. you never get to say goodbye, you never get to forgive, you never get to tell him it wasn’t fair.

the island, the virus, took everything.

( - - - - )

and this isn’t even the WORST of it really. just imagine after all that, you get captured after thinking you’ve finally escaped the island. you FLEW a plane. you almost...--  with her.. but.. ?

Alexia? Alfred? no -- this is really her, not Alfred, not the man you were sure died in the arctic base from falling to his death. you stared down the scope of his sniper rifle and won. so why is this happening? you spit curses at her, she laughs at you, shrill- undaunted. there is something cruel in her eyes, her tone. this is worse than Alfred and you feel something inside you churn with dread as there is a gleam of a syringe.

it pricks your skin and for a moment, you feel nothing.

and then everything at once.

you are on fire. your skin, your hair, your eyes, your veins. you feel like you’re drowning in a hellstorm of fury and blazing temperatures. the pain is nothing like you’ve felt before, your body thrums from shock and there’s bones crunching and snapping, twisting your limbs and spine like gnarling roots into something treacherous.

now there’s a voice singing in your bones and blood. like one of those grisly haunted dolls hanging from the ceilings of that manor; you’re pinched together with marionette strings and your limbs move, claws reaching for the deadly halberd keeping you in place. no matter what, you can’t stop it. you’re screaming on the inside and the chorus echos louder, swallowing everything.

you swing at HER - and pray you miss.

#˪♞˥ ᴅʀᴀʙʙʟɪɴɢ ( .𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐬 ) #steve burnside #resident evil #code veronica #˪♞˥ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴs ( .𝐨𝐨𝐜 ) #( i just needed to get this out of my system before starting rp again. LOL)

[sugakookielix]

Calico: Chapter 3

Summary: It has been two weeks since Mika came to live with Yoongi, and it’s time for her to finally meet his friends

Pairing: CEO Yoongi x Calico hybrid OC. 

Mentioned Pairings: Hinted potential Bunny hybrid Jungkook x Calico OC (but not really, this fic is Yoongicentric only). Other implied pairings for the future. 

Rating: PG

Warnings: Extremely brief mention of mistreatment/abandonment, occasional swearing

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 5.4k

Calico Masterlist

Credit for header goes to a friend. Original character used in the fic belongs to me. Do not copy, translate, or repost my work onto other sites without my permission. If you find my work has been reposted, please let me know asap. 

AN: This update took forever, and I know that a lot of you were waiting for it. As an apology, I have decided to make this chapter longer than my others. For future updates, please let me know if you guys prefer the longer or shorter chapters. I also would like to note (Since some people have asked) that this series started off as a commission to a friend who then decided to hand over character rights and rights to finish the fic as she left the fandom. If you would like to commission a fic such as this one, the link to my commission info can be found in my masterlist. Now, before I continue rambling, hopefully you guys enjoy the update!

It had been just over a week now and Mika seemed to be adjusting perfectly. As promised, Yoongi had taken her shopping and let her grab anything she wanted to help her feel more at home. Not the easiest task, given she would grab anything he looked at or recommended but never anything by herself. Eventually, he had given in and stepped back so she would have no choice but to pick things on her own, replying “If that’s what you want,” whenever she showed him something. It concerned the male a bit that she was so dependent for everything, but he assumed it was a result of her previous ownership and hopefully she’d snap out of it over time. Not that he minded having her cling to him, but it would be extremely tricky to get anything done if Mika always asked his permission to do something as simple as watch TV. 

Another recurring issue was the obvious separation anxiety whenever Yoongi had to leave for work. Hoseok had kept his promise and came over every morning to keep an eye on her so Yoongi could leave, but it was clear the hybrid was already attached to him. Mika would whine and cling onto him until he gave her a pat on the head and promised that he would return home before dinner. Otherwise, she had to be pulled away from him physically which caused its own set of problems. Yoongi would never admit it, but it broke his heart a bit to have to leave her while she was still adjusting, but there wasn’t much else he could do. It wasn’t like he could just not show up to work for a week or two to spend time with her, and he wasn’t confident with bringing her to the office yet given how shy she was. All he could really do was promise he would return until he determined if it would be a good idea to start bringing her to work. Hell, he hadn’t even introduced her to his friends yet. 

Thankfully, it was Friday, and Yoongi could spend the weekend focused on his new hybrid instead of the new business plan he was working on. His normally organized desk was now cluttered with various documents and files, some of which he hadn’t been able to open yet. It was that time of year where the male found himself flooded with potential changes to lead the business into another successful term and it was honestly overwhelming. Partnership offers, marketing plans, managing finances, looking over reports for all of the departments; it was a lot to handle, and yet here he was forcing as much of it as he could into his shift so he didn’t have to take work home with him. Not when there was a young calico cat waiting at home that deserved his attention on his days off. Especially since weekends were the only time she was actually calm, knowing Yoongi didn’t have to go anywhere without her. Yoongi had about an hour left before he could head home, and he was determined to complete as much of this paperwork as possible, having already worked through his lunch break as well.  

A knock at his door pulled the male away from his thoughts, barely looking up from the paper in his hand as he groaned out a forced, “Come in.” 

“You’re still working on that?” Yoongi looked up to see none other than Kim Seokjin, dressed and proper as always. If people thought that Yoongi was always professional, they probably hadn’t seen his business manager. Jin always dressed to impress, with well-tailored suits that molded to his form, hair brushed back with not a stray in sight, and the subtle touches of makeup to hide any potential imperfections. It was a very stark contrast to the way the older male acted, and definitely a contrast with the way Yoongi looked at the moment. His jacket discarded on the back of his chair and a few strands of his hair falling out of place from the number of times he’s run his hand through them in the past few hours. Jin took one look at the younger male and sighed, pulling up a chair to the other side of Yoongi's desk. “You’ve been looking at these since this morning,” he said, skimming through some of the papers, “why don’t you take a break before you burn out?” 

“I want to get as much done as possible,” Yoongi replied, “it would be nice to not take work home with me again.” 

“Because of your new hybrid?” Yoongi only grunted in response, but it was all the confirmation that Jin needed. “When are we going to meet her by the way? It’s been over a week now and everyone's dying to get to know the new member of the family.” Yoongi groaned and set down the document he was holding, pinching the bridge of his nose with his other hand. He knew the question was going to pop up sooner or later but now was not the time. 

“Don’t you have work you should be doing?” he asked. 

“Given it’s the end of the day and you have most of the work, not really. Besides Yoongichi, you look like you could use the distraction.” Yoongi groaned again, but he knew that Jin was right. He probably wasn’t going to finish this in an hour anyway so a break was probably what he needed. 

“I don’t know when you’re going to meet her,” he admitted, “she’s really shy right now and still getting used to her new home, crowding her with new faces is probably the last thing she needs.”

“Well she's going to meet us sooner or later,” Jin replied with a shrug, “what's the worst that could happen?” 

“A terrified calico cat and my house getting destroyed,” Yoongi said with a deadpan tone. Jin laughed a bit at the youngers' expression before shaking his head. 

“You say that as if we are barbarians, I’m sure everything will be fine,” he tried to assure, though his boss didn’t seem too convinced. 

“It’s not you I’m worried about, or even Taehyung, since I know you’ll be gentle, it’s the other hybrids I’m worried about. Jungkook is hyper and practically twice her size, Jimin is physically affectionate, and when Namjoon isn’t accidentally breaking everything he can be very intimidating. Does putting them in a room together with a very anxious kitten actually sound like a good idea to you?” Perhaps Yoongi was being overprotective, but he had seen first hand how scared Mika gets by the tiniest of sounds, so her being scared by other hybrids was inevitable. Still, Jin seemed dead set on convincing him that letting them meet her was a good idea. 

“Aish, you’re overreacting,” the older chided, “no ones going to pounce on her. She’ll have to meet us at some point, better sooner than later.” Yoongi sighed and shook his head. 

“I’ll think about it,” that seemed to be enough to please the older, as he quickly excused himself before leaving Yoongi's office. The blonde sighed and ran his hand through his hair before looking up at the clock, it seemed that their conversation took longer than he thought as it was about time to pack up. His eyes glanced at the scattered papers on his desk before sighing, organizing them into one pile and placing them in the top drawer of his desk, already dreading having to come back to all of that work on Monday. Still, he promised himself that he wouldn’t take work home and would enjoy his weekend, so that’s what he was going to do. With a tired sigh, he stood from his chair and stretched, feeling his back pop a bit from staying in one spot for too long. Flinging his jacket over his shoulder and grabbing his things, he quickly scanned his office to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything before stepping out, locking the door, and making his way down the hall. A few of his workers paused to bow and tell him good evening, but he only gave them a slight bow of acknowledgment in return. Yoongi wasn’t really in the mood for conversation right now, he just wanted to go home and rest. 

It was silent when he finally stepped through the door of his apartment, kicking his shoes off and calling out a soft, “I’m home.” Another few seconds of silence passed before Hoseok popped out from the kitchen. 

“I was getting hungry so decided to make dinner, hope you don’t mind!” he said with a soft smile. Yoongi smiled back and shook his head. 

“Not at all,” he walked over to his friend before pausing and looking around again, “where’s Mika?” 

“Taking a nap on the couch,” the younger replied, returning his attention to the stovetop, “she’s been out for a while though so she’ll probably wake up in a few minutes.” Yoongi hummed in acknowledgment and took a seat at the counter. He groaned softly as he rested his elbows on the counter and his head in his hands. “Rough day?” Hoseok asked without looking back. 

“Just busy,” The older mumbled, hearing his friend hum in acknowledgment. Hoseok knew better than to pry on work matters, which Yoongi was grateful for. He didn’t want to talk about it, or at least the actual work part of it. The conversation with Jin replayed in his mind, and Yoongi questioned if he should bring the idea up to Hoseok. After all, he knew more about hybrids than any of them, so his advice could be useful. “I spoke with Jin-hyung today,” he said, easily grabbing the younger attention. 

“Oh yeah?” Hoseok replied, “what about?”

“Mika,” when he didn’t get a reply, Yoongi took that as a sign to continue, “he said everyone's getting pretty anxious to meet her and that I should introduce them soon.” Hoseok hummed softly in thought, turning off the stove and beginning to fill three plates so they could all eat together. 

“What did you tell them?” he asked after another moment. 

“I said I wasn’t sure,” Yoongi lifted his head to properly face the younger, “I mean, I know they have to meet her at some point but she’s so shy that I don’t really know if it’s a good idea.”

“I’m guessing that you are asking because you want my advice? I mean, Hyung does have a point that she will have to meet them eventually if you want her to stick around, and she seems to be adjusting well to living with you. I’d say that as long as you are right there with her, and she has a place to escape if she gets scared, then it should be fine.” He didn’t even have to look at Yoongi to know the older still wasn’t convinced, shaking his head as he walked over with two of the plates, having to make a second trip for the third. 

“Thanks,” Yoongi said softly, beginning to pick at some of the vegetables as Hoseok took a seat beside him. 

“Why don’t you just ask Mika what she thinks?” Hoseok asked, “explain what will happen to her and let her decide when she is comfortable enough to meet them. If you do it on her terms then it will probably have a better outcome.” Yoongi shrugged softly. 

“I guess,” as if on cue, he felt two small arms wrap around him from behind, a soft tuft of white and orange fur tickling his cheek as the young cat curled up against him. 

“You’re home!” Mika purred, nuzzling her head against Yoongi's neck. Said male chuckled and reached to scratch at her head for a moment. 

“Why hello sleepy head,” Yoongi teased, “have a nice nap?” Mika yawned softly and nodded, still half asleep. It was very obvious that she had just woken up; eyes partly closed, hair falling messily in her face, and her tail swaying lazily under the oversized sweater she was wearing. As soft and precious as always, it was a wonder Yoongi hadn’t completely melted in her presence yet. She stayed curled up against Yoongi for a bit longer before he reluctantly pulled away. He was slowly opening up to how physically affectionate she was, but it still made him feel awkward at times, especially when someone else was around. “Why don’t you sit down before dinner gets cold, I need my arms to eat after all.” Mika pouted a bit but nodded and quickly climbed into the chair next to him, not hesitating to dig into her food. Both males laughed at her before returning to their own food, the conversation between them forgotten. 

Hoseok left shortly after dinner, patting Yoongi on the shoulder and giving Mika a side hug before bidding them a good night. The pair migrated to the living room shortly after, Yoongi scrolling through the tv channels while Mika distracted herself with one of her toys. The soft jingle of a bell echoed through the room, coming from the soft ball that she was pawing at and pushing around the rug, letting her cat side start to take over. Occasionally, Yoongi would glance down at her and just watch silently, thinking about what Hoseok said. Would she want to meet the others? The more he thought about it, the more it couldn’t hurt to try his luck. “Hey Kitten,” he called softly, “come here for a moment.” Mika perked up and immediately made her way over to the couch, taking a seat beside him. “How would you feel about possibly making new friends?” 

“New friends?” Mika asked, cocking her head to the side and giving him a confused look. Yoongi couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as he nodded. 

“I have a few close friends that would love to come and meet you. They own hybrids as well so you could have new playmates. They are a bit hyper though so I wanted to make sure you were ready before inviting them over,” he explained. Mikas' ears twitched slightly and she looked down for a moment. Yoongi frowned when he saw that, immediately thinking the worst. 

“What if they don’t like me?” not the response Yoongi was expecting, though he probably should have. 

“Of course they’ll like you,” he assured, “I’m sure once you get used to them they’ll love you.” Mika looked up at him to try and see if he was lying. He wasn’t, he was sure that they would like her, the issue was whether or not she would like them. After seeing that he was being honest, the hybrid softly nodded. 

“Okay,” she said softly, “when are they coming over?” Yoongi felt like a weight had been lifted off of his chest, letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

“I’ll talk to them tonight and see, probably sometime this weekend,” he was already pulling out his phone to text Jin, knowing he would pass the news onto Taehyung for him. Mika watched him for a moment before deciding that she wanted his attention again. A soft huff left the female as she slid closer to Yoongi, gently tugging at his arm and successfully getting his attention. 

“Cuddles?” she asked. Yoongi bit his lip to keep from smiling as he lifted his arm so she could snuggle up against him. Mika immediately curled into his side, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist. The male could feel her purring against him after a few seconds, shaking his head as he let his arm fall around her. 

“You’re very clingy you know,” he mused. The response he got was her nuzzling her head against the crook of his neck, mumbling something he couldn’t quite hear. “What was that? I can’t hear you.” He expected her to move and repeat herself, but she made no effort to do so. Her tail brushed against his hand as she relaxed, purring continued as her eyes fluttered shut. Yoongi realized that she was falling asleep and shook his head. If he was being honest, he envied the cat hybrid for being able to fall asleep when and wherever she wanted. He was lucky to get five hours of sleep on any given day with how hectic his schedule was. Yoongi quickly finished up his text conversation and set his phone down. After a brief debate on if he should stay or wake the sleeping hybrid, he carefully wrapped his arms around Mika and stood up. It was a bit of a struggle to lift her since he wasn’t the strongest, but she was thankfully light enough for him to carry to bed without much issue. Yoongi gently set the Calico down on the mattress and placed the blankets over top of her before going and getting ready for bed himself, making sure the doors were cracked a bit so Mika could wake him easily if she needed anything. 

After texting Taehyung and Jin, they all decided to come over for dinner the following evening. Hoseok had to work, but he said he would stop by for a bit if he could. Yoongi had spent the day cleaning so his place would be presentable for their guests while Mika ran around and did her own thing. He had also decided to just order takeout for everyone so he didn’t have to spend hours cooking for potentially eight people. Plus, he wanted to avoid going to the store at the moment and leaving Mika alone in the house. She still didn’t have a proper collar, only a standard black one that he doubted was comfortable given how often she picked at it. Yoongi felt bad and tried his best not to take her out in public too often until he could get her one that was of better quality. Since most higher quality collars were more expensive, many people just bought simple ones and only made their hybrid wear it in public. Money wasn’t an issue for Yoongi though, and he knew when the time was right that he would get Mika one that was special. 

The sound of knocking snapped Yoongi's attention to the door, apparently catching Mikas as well since she was clinging to him in an instant, hiding behind his slightly larger frame. He knew she was nervous, but hopefully, she would calm down once she saw them. “Relax,” he muttered, reaching behind himself to pat her head softly, “everything will be fine.” That didn’t seem to help much as the calico was still clinging to his arm when he opened the door, revealing Jin and Namjoon. 

“I know we’re a bit early, but I was too excited,” Jin said with a smile. Yoongi nodded and opened the door further to let them both in. 

“Figured as much,” he replied, closing the door and trying to pry the scared cat from his arm. If it was physically possible, Mika had curled up even more when she saw the new guests. Not that anyone could really blame her though, since there was now a large and intimidating wolf hybrid standing a few meters away from her. As sweet and as clumsy as Namjoon was, he could be very scary upon first glance. He knew it as well since he was actively trying to distance himself from the pair while Jin tried his best to get a look at the young girl. Yoongi had already explained how she might act to them so they would know how to better act around her. At least until she got comfortable with their presence. 

Jin bent down a bit so that he was eye level with Mika, waving and giving her a soft smile, “Hi, I’m Jin and this is Namjoon, it’s nice to finally meet you.” She stayed silent for a moment before Yoongi gently nudged her. 

“I’m Mika,” she whispered, so quietly that even Yoongi struggled to hear her. Jin couldn’t help but coo a bit at how adorable she was.

“Aren’t you precious, don’t worry, we don’t bite,” he assured. It was easy to notice now Mika's eyes darted to Namjoon for a moment before hesitantly nodding. Still, her grip on Yoongi never loosened and he was starting to worry that she would accidentally rip his sleeve. 

“Come on, let’s go sit down in the living room while we wait for everyone else,” he urged, already beginning to walk. He knew Mika would move with him and Jin and Namjoon would follow after so there was no point in waiting. It was another struggle to get Mika to let go so that he could sit down, but they eventually managed to get her to sit without trying to cling to him. Even if she was still curled up into a ball; her ears pressed against her head and her arms wrapped around her legs. Jin remained standing while Namjoon made himself comfortable in another chair. It was barely noticeable at first, but he was doing his best to remain calm so that he would be seen as approachable. With their advanced senses, hybrids could easily pick up scents that went unnoticed by their human companions. It was oftentimes how they picked up on certain emotions or detected threats. Namjoon was also still keeping his distance, wanting the cat hybrid to approach him first. This seemed to work as she relaxed after a few minutes, staring at the wolf curiously. Yoongi and Jin were so caught up in their own conversation that it shocked them when Mika finally spoke up. 

“What do wolves do for fun?” she asked, causing the two humans in the room to stop and stare at her. Namjoon thought over it for a moment before looking up at her. 

“Well, I can’t speak for all wolves, but I like to read in my free time. I also accompany Jin-hyung to work a lot so I’ll help him there when I can,” he said. 

“Namjoon is a pup at heart,” Jin cut in, “don’t let him fool you, he’s also very playful.”

“And clumsy,” Yoongi added. 

“Yah! It’s not like I try to break things, it just happens!” Namjoon whined. Yoongi rolled his eyes and chuckled a bit in response. Mika seemed to get bored with this conversation and decided to change the subject. 

“Does Jin work with Yoongi?” she asked. 

“I do,” the male in question replied, “he is my boss.” Mika looked up at him in awe when he said this. 

“Yoongi is really the boss?” the shocked tone in her voice caused the blonde to pout. 

“I told you I was the boss the day I met you,” he reminded, “did you not believe me?” Mika blinked up at him for a moment before shaking her head. Jin held a hand to his mouth as he tried not to laugh, Yoongi giving him an unamused expression. “Why exactly would I not be the boss?” he asked.

“Because normally bosses are mean and scary, and you’re too nice!” At this, both Jin and Namjoon burst out laughing, confusing Mika and annoying Yoongi. 

“Yoongi? Nice? That’s a first!” Jin teased, causing the other to roll his eyes. 

“Oh hush,” he groaned before turning back to his hybrid, “you know that not all bosses are mean right? Hobi is the boss at the shelter, and he isn’t mean.”

“But Hobi is fun and doesn’t wear suits to work every day,” Mika pointed out. This effectively confused Yoongi as he tried to process what exactly she was implying. 

“I’m guessing she doesn’t go out much?” Namjoon asked. 

“Not yet, no,” Yoongi confirmed, “Obviously I can only speak for the past two weeks, but we haven’t gone out much.” Both Jin and Namjoon nodded, knowing what he was implying and not wanting to bring up a potentially touchy subject. If Mika did realize, she probably didn’t understand properly as she spoke up again. 

“I was told hybrids weren’t supposed to go out much,” she said, referring to her previous owner, “the last time I went out we went to the park and then I ended up at the shelter.” Everyone froze at what she said, not knowing what to say. Thankfully, they didn’t have to worry as another loud knock echoed through the house, followed by another series of loud knocks. Yoongi sighed softly and excused himself as he went to answer the door. The second he opened the door, he was almost knocked over from the force of two hybrids pouncing onto him. 

“Hyung!” both males shouted, nuzzling against Yoongi who was still trying to regain his balance. 

“We missed you,” Jungkook said. 

“Yeah yeah, you literally saw me two days ago,” Yoongi muttered, “get off.” He pushed both males off of him as Taehyung stepped inside, giving his friend a huge smile. 

“Doesn’t mean we can’t be excited to see you!” Jimin argued. 

“Whatever,” Yoongi straightened out his sweater before closing the door, “come on, everyone else is waiting in the living room.” When they entered the room in question, everyone was in the same position they had been left in. Jin was busy laughing at something, likely another one of his awful jokes, Mika was looking at him confused, and Namjoon was trying not to laugh himself. At the sound of footsteps, both hybrids' ears twitched as they turned to the source of the sound. Namjoon waved at the group while Mika gave them all a shy smile. 

“Awe,” Taehyung cooed as he dropped to his knees in front of her, “aren’t you adorable? I’m TaeTae!” Mika flinched back a bit but nodded in acknowledgment. At least this time she didn’t immediately try to cower behind Yoongi. Well, that was until Jungkook and Jimin excitedly bound over to her, quickly jumping up on the couch. 

“Hi, I’m Jungkook!”

“Hi, I’m Jimin!” both hybrids spoke over each other, their energy immediately startling the smaller feline as she yelped and rolled off the couch. Within seconds, she had dashed past the group and back over to Yoongi, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head in his shoulder while muttering something about being too loud. Yoongi sighed heavily, ‘not again.’

“Yah!” Jin scolded, “we literally just got her to stop hiding and you had to come in and scare her again!” The two in question pouted a bit and lowered their heads, Jungkooks ears flopping down a bit. 

“Sorry Mika,” Taehyung apologized for them. 

“They’re just excited,” Namjoon explained calmly, “don’t worry, no one's going to hurt you.” Yoongi wrapped his arms around the girl softly before whispering to her. 

“They’re idiots, just ignore them and they’ll calm down eventually.” 

“We can still hear you!” Jungkook exclaimed, making the other roll his eyes. Still, the laugh he got from Mika was worth it. 

“Come on,” Yoongi encouraged, “we still have a few hours before dinner, why don’t we sit down and you can meet everyone properly.” He waited for confirmation from Mika before he pulled away enough to lead her back to the couch. The others would definitely tease him for being soft later, but he didn’t care. 

After a few hours, everyone calmed down enough and Mika actually felt comfortable being around the group. She was still a bit on edge and didn’t engage in conversation very much, but she did occasionally speak up or ask questions. Hoseok had decided to drop by as well which helped a lot, helping push Mika to interact more and not be shy. At one point, she had even allowed Taehyung to pet her, nuzzling into his hand a bit as he ran his fingers through her multicolored hair. They had all just finished dinner and were now winding down to watch a movie and relax before calling it a night. Yoongi, Jin, and Taehyung were tidying up in the kitchen, while the hybrids and Hoseok were playing in the living room. It was really just Jungkook and Jimin though since Mika was too shy to move and Namjoon knew better than to try and wrestle the younger boys. 

Mika was on the floor with one of her bells, tossing it around softly as the others did their own thing. Jungkook and Jimin were play fighting a little bit away, having already failed at trying to throw the bell with her. Hoseok was leaning on the back of the couch as he watched, about to say something when he heard his name being called from the kitchen. 

“I’ll be right back,” he said, “try not to break anything while I am gone.” He heard a mutual hum of acknowledgment as he walked away, leaving the hybrids alone. Jungkook watched for a moment to make sure he was gone before making his way over to Mika with a smirk. Of course, she noticed, looking up at him with a questioning glance. 

“Can I see the bell?” he asked, causing the felines' expression to shift. 

“No,” Jungkook pouted a bit, trying to reach for the toy as Mika pulled it back. 

“Why not?” 

“Because it’s mine and I don’t want to give it to you.”

“That’s mean, I just want to see it.” Mika huffed and held her hand out to show off the bell. 

“There, now you see it,” she said with a smirk of her own. Jungkook glanced at her before chuckling. Moving faster than she could react, he snatched the item from her hand and darted back to Jimin on the other side of the room. Mika blinked in shock for a few moments before realizing what just happened, “Hey! That’s not fair!” 

“Not my fault you weren’t quick enough,” Jungkook teased, laughing a bit as Mika glared at him, “if you want it so badly, why don’t you come get it?” The catgirl hissed for a moment before crawling over and trying to grab the toy from Jungkook, who only held it higher in response. “Really Jungkook?” she was clearly unamused by whatever game the bunny was trying to play. 

“Jungkook-” Jimin tried to interject but the younger only shook his head at him. 

“I already told you, if you want it then take it,” he pushed, dangling the toy over Mikas' head. She tried to grab for it again, only for him to pull it away at the last second, causing her to groan. Her tail began to sway behind her as she backed away slightly, ears pressing back against her head. Jimin, who realized what was happening, quickly tried to interject and grab the bell back, only for Jungkook to push him away as well, glancing at him and mouthing ‘Trust me.’ Namjoon had also picked up on what was going on and began to get involved as well. 

“Jungkook…” before he could get his full warning out, Mika had pounced onto the bunny hybrid, successfully knocking him back. Jungkook gasped as the wind was knocked out of him, but regained himself before she could grab the bell out of his hands, tossing the item to the side as he flipped their position so he was the one pinning her down. The commotion immediately alerted the attention of those in the kitchen who immediately ran out. Yoongi and Taehyung panicked and immediately tried to run over and break the two up. They were stopped however by Hoseok holding his arm out in front of them. 

“The hell Hoseok?” Yoongi hissed, to which the younger shushed him. 

“Relax and watch,” Hoseok whispered back. Yoongi huffed but did as he was told, biting at his nail to calm himself down. Sure enough, Mika quickly regained herself and managed to push Jungkook off of her, dashing after the bell once she was free. The bunny was still quicker though and beat her to it, hitting the toy away so they were both chasing after it. After a minute, the sound of laughter filled the room as both hybrids wrestled and chased after the small object, Jimin getting involved shortly after. Both owners immediately relaxed when they noticed this, Hoseok smiling at them proudly. “See, they’re just playing! Nothing to be worried about.” Yoongi couldn’t help but smile at the sight in front of him, happy that they seemed to get along. 

“Looks like we’ll be over for playdates a lot more,” Taehyung whispered. 

Yoongi's smile widened as he nodded, “Looks like it.” 

Twitter: SugaKookieBias

AO3: SugaKookieBias

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#bts #bts taehyung #rm bts #bts one shot #BTS jin #kpop #kpop boys #KPOP idol #kpop fan #fluff #kpop fluff #suga fluff #yoongi fluff #bts fanfic #bts ff #bts fluff #bts fic #kim namjoon #kim taehyung #kim seokjin #jimin #min yoongi #park jimim #min suga #yoongi #bts yoongi #suga x you #OC #hybrid oc #yoongi x oc

[pluckyredhead]

Fic: Never Set Me Free

It’s Jason Todd’s birthday! Here is me being self-indulgent about his issues and also Roy’s issues and how those issues somehow magically fit together perfectly:

-

Roy leaned carefully against the door handle, pushing it down with his hip until it clicked loose. There was an art to easing the bedroom door open while holding two full mugs of coffee, but Roy had mastered it ages ago.

It was barely dark in their bedroom this late in the morning. Jason was a tangled lump in the exact middle of the bed, the sheets completely stolen the second Roy had gotten up. Once a thief, always a thief, Roy thought with a fond smile.

He put Jason’s coffee down on the nightstand on the far side of the bed and the other mug down on his own nightstand, then sat on the mattress and bent down. “Jaybird,” he sang softly in Jason’s ear. “Rise and shine, little birdie.”

Jason groaned into the pillow. “Kill you,” he mumbled.

Roy laughed. “No you won’t. I brought you coffee.”

Jason sighed, then rolled over onto his back and opened his eyes. His cheek was red from being pressed up against the pillow and his hair looked like it had been styled by tornado. Roy would have fallen in love with him right then and there if he hadn’t already done so years ago. “You’re the worst.”

Roy brushed a haphazard curl out of Jason’s eyes. “I think my favorite thing about you is what a morning person you are.”

“Ugh.” But Jason hooked two fingers into the collar of Roy’s shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. His breath was a little sour but Roy didn’t care. “Lian get onto the school bus okay?”

“Yeah, she says hi, and that she wants you to meet her at the bus stop this afternoon and not me.” Roy lay down and Jason rolled onto his side to face him. They played every day by ear, depending on who was out working late and who was home with Lian; Jason hadn’t made it home until nearly three last night, so Roy had let him sleep and dealt with the chaos of getting Lian and her backpack and her lunchbox and her seventy-three permission slips onto the school bus by himself.

“Oh ho ho, who’s the favorite now?” Jason asked.

“One hundred percent you and we both know it.” Roy couldn’t even pretend to be annoyed by it. Jason, for all his skittish I don’t know anything about kids when they’d gotten together, was wonderful with Lian, and she adored him. Letting Jason be the Cool Dad was a price Roy would gladly pay for somehow stumbling into a magnitude of happiness he was still pretty sure he didn’t deserve.

Jason’s smile was smug and Roy couldn’t resist kissing him again, a little longer, a little deeper, before letting him go with a sigh. “I should get up.”

“What do you have going on today?” Jason asked, sitting up enough to pick up his coffee.

“I need to go through those phone records we tapped the other night, see if I can figure out where those city council funds are being siphoned off to,” Roy said. “And Donna’s in town so I’m meeting her for lunch. You?”

“Oh, this and that.” Jason put his mug back down and leaned in to kiss Roy. “Thought I’d start with this.”

Roy met him halfway, let Jason put him on his back and climb half on top of him. There was plenty of time before he had to start getting ready for lunch for them to fool around - and the truth was, he would have let Jason have his way even if he had been pressed for time. All these years and he still had absolutely zero resistance to Jason’s touch.

Not that he was complaining.

Jason kissed his way over Roy’s jaw to mouth at his throat until he hit the spot that always made Roy’s toes curl. Roy let out a low gasp and felt Jason smile before he started sucking what was sure to be a livid bruise against Roy’s pale skin.

“Ugh, baby, that’s gonna show,” Roy said, trying to gently push Jason’s head lower with a hand in his hair.

“Deal with it,” Jason mumbled against his skin, and kept going.

“Jason, stop!” Roy said, laughing. “Donna already knows we’re dating, you don’t have to brand me like a prize bull.”

Jason went tense and still on top of him. Roy frowned and craned his neck to try to see his face. “Jay…?”

“I’m not...I wasn’t…” Jason said, looking down.

Roy tilted his chin up with a finger and was surprised to see Jason looking embarrassed. “Wait, did you think I couldn’t tell?” he asked, smiling. “Every time I’m going to see one of my exes, you give me a hickey somewhere they can see. Or lend me your jacket. I mean, Christ, the last time we met up with Jade so Lian could see her, you had your hand in my back pocket pretty much the entire time. She knows my ass is yours, Jay, it’s kind of overkill.”

He kept his tone playful to lighten the suddenly awkward mood, but Jason still looked mortified and almost...guilty? His eyes kept darting back and forth but never meeting Roy’s.

“I didn’t mean to...sorry,” he said, shifting away.

“It’s okay,” Roy said, frowning. He could read Jason pretty well after all this time, but he hadn’t expected this reaction. “If it had bothered me, I would have said something. I know you get jealous, Jason, it’s not a problem for me.”

“I’m not - !” Jason started, then clamped his mouth shut.

“Jay - ”

“Sorry. I’ll stop. I didn’t mean to make it weird.” Jason pulled all the way off him, like he was going to climb out of bed. “Sorry.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake - ” Roy grabbed Jason and pinned him to the bed, straddling his hips to pin him down. Jason didn’t put up a fight, but he didn’t look thrilled about it, either. “Stop apologizing. I fucking love it.”

That got Jason to meet his eyes for the first time. “What?”

“I know, okay?” Roy said. “I’ve always known. You’re not subtle, Jaybird. Even before we got together, you were territorial - and it’s not just with my exes, because I never dated Dick and you get all squirrelly when I’m around him, too. Sometimes I think I should just get a ‘Property of Jason Todd’ tattoo and save us all some time.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Jason said, looking away. His expression was miserable.

“I don’t think you do.” Roy leaned down, hands on either side of Jason’s head. “I. Love. It. I love wearing your jacket out. I love when you put your hand on my ass in public like you were raised in a barn. I love that little move where you find an excuse to whisper in my ear and you put your hand right here - ” he rested his hand low on Jason’s hip “ - when you do it.” He reached up with that same hand and brushed a curl off of Jason’s forehead. “You want everyone to know I belong to you. Baby, so do I.”

The furrow in Jason’s brow got a little less pronounced. Good. He was listening. “It’s not that I think that you’d...I trust you. You know that, right?”

“Of course I do.” Roy would never forget it. Jason’s trust was a fragile, precious thing, and Roy would always be grateful for the miracle of having earned it.

“I just…” Jason’s teeth worried at his lower lip. “You’ve been with a lot of people.”

“Can’t believe you’re calling me slutty while I’m trying to have a serious conversation here,” Roy said, but he huffed so dramatically he knew Jason would know he was kidding, even as inside his own head as he was right now.

“Shut up,” Jason said, pinching his side lightly and making Roy laugh. “I mean, everyone wants you.”

“Okay, first of all, that is extremely not true, but feel free to say it as often as you want,” Roy said. “And second…” Now it was his turn to break eye contact. “Plenty of people have wanted me, sure. But no one…”

He hesitated, looking away. Jason waited.

“No one else ever wanted me enough to bother being jealous over me,” Roy said finally, trying to keep his tone light.

Jason reached up, turned Roy back to face him, and though his cheeks were still pink, he didn’t look embarrassed or guilty anymore. There was also no judgment on his face, which Roy had been half-afraid to see even though he knew, intellectually, he never would. It was why they worked.

“Come here,” Jason murmured, and pulled him down for a kiss before wrapping his arms around Roy’s ribcage and holding him close. Roy sprawled out on top of him, his cheek tucked against Jason’s shoulder.

“You’re not the only one who gets insecure,” he mumbled into Jason’s collarbone. “But I’m not the Robin mantle, or being the favorite son, or...whatever. You don’t have to be the bigger person about sharing me. I don’t want you to.” He shifted so he could look up at Jason. “I’m yours. I love being yours.”

And the look on Jason’s face, the soft one that only Roy got to see...well, it made saying the hard, vulnerable things totally worth it.

Jason leaned in to kiss him, gently at first and then more urgently, rolling them over until he was pinning Roy down again. “You’re mine,” he said, pulling back, his eyes intent on Roy’s.

Roy shivered. “Yes.”

“I’m never letting you go.”

“Good.”

“I will absolutely fight Donna for you.”

“Please do not do that, she has super strength and I like you in one piece,” Roy said, grinning. “Also I’m pretty sure she has no interest in fighting you for me.”

“Then she’s a lot dumber than I thought she was.”

“First of all, don’t be rude about my friend, and second of all, it doesn’t matter,” Roy said, pulling him down for another kiss. “You already won.”

He recognized the heat in Jason’s eyes, and the hungry way Jason’s mouth captured his, and had to pull away for a second, laughing. “Leave as many hickeys as you want,” he said, “but if I’m walking funny when I get to lunch, Donna will make fun of me.”

Jason nipped at his jaw, his hands moving purposefully downwards. “Sounds like a you problem.”

Roy slung an arm around his neck and arched into his touch. “Save it for when I come home to you, Jaybird.”

Jason sighed, long-suffering. “Oh, fine,” he said. “But then what am I supposed to do with you now?”

And as Roy pulled him down for another kiss, he knew he was going to end up being late for lunch. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

#jason todd #red hood #roy harper #arsenal #i write things

[afterthelastreset]

Rules Of One’s Soul Ch25 Ending

(Hey everyone. I just wanted to thank everyone who read this far and liked my story enough to read it to it's end. I had a lot of fun writing it and it makes me happy knowing some people loved it enough to read it fully. Thanks to everyone for reading this, adding it, or leaving a nice comment. And thank you to Toby Fox for creating such wonder characters for us all. Mak belongs to @alois-toussaint)

It was...just as they promised.

Rouxls took the last day off, with supervision of course. After that little scare both Seam and Jevil insisted that he stayed right there with them so they could keep an eye on him incase anything happened. So, Seam (forced him to sleep in) offered Rouxls his bed for the night, and he at first refused, but he was too mentally exhausted to argue for too long. So he took his offer, and fell fast asleep. Probably one of the most peaceful nights he had. He slept in rather late as well, because when he woke up he saw the blurry vision of Seam STILL sewing the black cloak he had been working on for a while now and Mak passed out lightly snoring on the couch, still wearing the small purple suit but now it was wrinkled in their sleep.

"So you're awake I see" Seam said with a smile, not even looking up from his sewing. ''I hope you slept well."

The worm groaned and reached up a blue hand run through his messy shiny hair. Slowly sitting up and looking to the cat with a tired grin. "...Yes. Thank thee." The blankets were tossed over, and his legs swung off the bed, And he slowly stood to his feet. Slowly stretching out his dark blue body and still Seam didn't look at him when Rouxls looked in his direction. "And howest didst thou sleep?"

"I slept rather well, thank you. But you must've been more tired than myself as you slept in rather late today, it's almost afternoon." Rouxls ground and reached to grab for his suit coat hung up on the bed post. Seam busying himself by doublechecking the stitching he had just done, bringing the black cloak up to his one good eye to peer at it. He was almost finished really, he just wanted to double check on everything before he decided to wear it. "So when does this celebration start if I may ask?"

Rouxls had just finished buttoning his coat shirt and sighed. "Tomorrow afternoon at five o'clock sharp. I musteth leave tomorrow to make sure all are according to plan-"

"After you're break today. You did promise us you would take time off today after all, and it would be rather rude to go back on your promise."

The worm paused what he was doing and despite him wanting to go and deal with the nonsense and chaos coming to prepare for the ball..He sighed in defeat. "Very well. Thoust shall havest mine word on it, but has thou been up to now?" He finally turned to the duke, who was currently running his hands through his head to try and tame his wild bed head but nodded to the cloak in his paws. "Thou haseth been working on that clothing for a longe time. What ever tis it for?"

"Oh this?" He held up the cloak and the duke nodded. "Oh, it's just an old coat I plan on wearing tomorrow on our little outing. It just needed some fixing from all these years, but it'll do in a pinch. But that also begs another question, what do you plan on doing until tomorrow afternoon?"

"I shallst keep to mineself and reopening mine shoppe for today." A smile came over the duke's features and he chuckled. "Who knowest how many Darkners forgotten to gettest their special someone something last minute.~ Mine profits and funds shall rise substantially."

He hummed and went back to sewing his cloak again. "I see. Are you planning on doing that for the entire time you're waiting?''

"...N-Nay. I'm also going to best thinking about f-future events, and ..a-and what wouldst be best for mineself and Lancer."

"And have you decided yet?"

A pause...And he heard footsteps walk past him and glanced up to see Rouxls stand in the doorway but smiled and looked back to him. "N-Not yet. B-But I havest plenty of time to thinkest it over. A-And perhaps a new speculation on mine life is just what I needed for a long time."

Seam chuckled again. "I suppose we could all use a fresh start every so often, but I want you to know duke. I'll support your descicion whichever you decide."

Rouxls smiled wider. "Thank thee. I shall seest myself out. I shall pick thee up by four thirty sharp tomorrow."

"Just be sure to be ready by that time tomorrow. I'll be expecting you, Mr. Kaard.~"

It seemed the whole day and a half of waiting for the two went by in a blink of an eye. He wasn't sure what Rouxls was doing within that time frame, but for him he was quite busy. More busy than he has been in a while. It took most of the rest of that day to finish sewing up the cloak back to it's former glory and it...it still smelt musty so into the wash it would go. Mak woke up not too long after Rouxls left and awakened with a snort and looked up at him. "Breakfast time??" He chuckled and offered to trade a giant diamond to wash the suit they were wearing and they happily agreed seeing the baseball sized diamond in his paw. Ok. So he got the laundry to go, what else could he do to prepare? ...Well what else to do but do what he usually did to pass the time in his life, he opened his sheap for a limited time this day. So he took down the closed sigh from his flap, gave Mak some food they gobbled down, and sat down at his usually spot behind the counter and waited. It didn't too long for three panicked Rudinns to come scurrying in and frantically looking around for anything they could grab for...the holiday he guessed, and came up to the counter. Each having a small bag of dark candy and one also grabbing a can of food along with it and the three threw money at him before slithering off just as fast away from the sheap....Well. If this is certainly how Rouxls said it would be, things just might be a bit more busy around here in the next few hours. AT least that's what he thought as his paws calmly went and picked up all the darke dollars thrown at him and he got up to pick up the few that fell onto the floor. Yep. It was looking to be a profittable time. And he wasn't wrong. Throughout the one day alone more darkners, mostly Rudinns with the occasional hathy or club, would make their way in and look around for what exactly they needed before exiting just as quickly with what they wanted. Most of it was tiny bags of dark candy, but their was also the occasional darkburger, tea mix, and at one point he even finally sold his spooky sword to a hathy. She said something about her husband always liking edgy looking things. Whatever the heck 'edgy' meant. But it wasn't over crowding, the most everyone would be in there was maybe four or five at a time and they'd leave just as quickly. Mak certainly wasn't enjoying the big crowd and just stayed in the back while occasionally poking their head out to ask a few questions.

"When's Jevil coming back?" "Lunch time now?" "Is my suit done yet?" "Where's my crayons?"

He chuckled and sat there and did what he normally did, meditate the hours away until someone else dashed in and he'd watch them scramble, buy, then leave then start his whole process again. The hours ticked passed and when a small period went without anyone, so he thought it'd be a good time to close up shop. He just got done sealing the flap of the sheap with the closed sigh hanging up, when he heard the familiar sounds of Mak's maniac laughter which could only mean one thing. He smiled as he walked back into his home and sure enough the sight of a very tired Jevil sat upon the couch and Mak was happily showing him their new giant diamond Seam gave them. The imp smiled and patted them on the head before flopping back into the couch's soft cushions.

He chuckled as he walked in and made for the armchair he always sat in. "Well, how was your day of work and playing with the little king?"

Jevil didn't even look up from his tuckered pose position. "Exhausting, exhausting. Rouxls, Rouxls has much to do around the castle and watching a child, child while practicing tricks is not easy, easy work at all. Even for myself, myself."

"Says the one that can do anything?," he chuckled as he sat down across from him.

Jevil chuckled. "I never said I couldn't, coudn't do it. Only that it wasn't easy, easy. But where is Rouxls, Rouxls?"

"He's at his shop resting as far as I know. He said he'll be back here tomorrow to escort Mak and myself to the castle, but how is that routine coming along? I would've helped but I vowed to retire from that life long ago."

..Jevil sighed before smiling wider and finally opening to look at him. "I respect, respect your descision old friend. But I will be able to perform tomorrow, tomorrow if I sleep all night tonight. If it means Rouxls, Rouxls and you will like it."

He chuckled. "You know I've always loved your tricks my dear friend. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Thank you, thank you." He smiled at him...before his smile disappeared for a moment and he turned his gaze to the ceiling. "Seam, seam?" He hummed and Jevil deflated a little with a sigh. "You know I can never, never apologize enough for my actions all those years ago, and I may make up, make up for my mistake...B-But if Rouxls chooses you or neither, neither of us...Would you mind, mind if we were still, still......I mean..Have, have a second chance at what once was between us, us?"

A silence followed and the cat was staring in surprise at the nervous form of jevil silently laying on the couch awaiting the cat's answer with fear as to what he might say. There was no way he wanted to be left alone after all these years of having no company except for guards delivering food or Lancer occasionally, and after he had discovered he had two soulmates he made peace with. But...it all depended on their answers. He was still dreading what Rouxls would eventually pick, but Seam-...He feared more. But as the cat Chuckled he squinted his eyes shut, fearing the worst.

"But of course. I couldn't imagine life without you again."

Like a spring his eyes snapped back opened and looked to the cat in disbeleif. "WHAT?!"

He just calmly shrugged and smiled. "I already forgave you, you apologised, and life is as normal as it'll be under the circumstances. Why wouldn't I accept an invite like that from my dearest and oldest friend- OOF!!" He didn't get a chance to finish before a purple blur suddenly jumped on him in the form of Jevil hugging the much larger cat as best as he could, Seam freezing up for a good moment or two, before chuckling and reaching up to pat the gremlin on the back.

"Thank you, Seam, Seam."

"Of course. But perhaps we both should get some sleep now. We both have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

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

Seam awoke the next morning to Mak asking for Breakfast and Jevil gone. Guess the royal jester was needed for rehearsal and all that with a ball. Which suited him fine. Not only did he himself had to get ready, but it was going to be difficult to convince the child to do anything of the sort, and he couldn't very well leave them here by themselves. They would've probably been ok, but he would've been a bad caretaker if he left the child there alone by themselves. First order of business was coaxing them into a bath, but of course like any child they refused and he had to brib them by offering them more shiny objects for their collection if they did so, which thy did reluctantly but they didn't like it. He'd make it up to them later when he was finished grooming himself....He was not fond of baths himself. One being because it was a cat thing, and another reason being because whenever he did take a bath his cotten always felt weighed down by all the water soaked into it and his stitches always strained. Nothing a magic drying couldn't fix, but that always left him rechecking all his stitches and brushing all his fluffed up fur. Especially the orange tuft of fur around his neck, it always fluffed up to make him look like some kind if lion, Mak laughed when it happened this time as he rain his claws and brush along the dum mane of hair and the rest of himself, repatching stitches and sighing after the amount of work fixing himself always took. Mak wasn't any better. They would let any part of them be brushed and even after he offered them something in return, only let him fix up the top of their head before clambering back into their suit and letting Seam fix them up and straighten their bowtie back into it's proper place, before throwing on his own black cloak. It had been slightly over a hundred years since he wore it, so he wasn't surprised when it was kinda snug, but it still fit fine all the same at least. He straightened out what he could and even dawned a fancy dress pants to match with it. When he was finished he summoned a mirror with a snap of the fingers and took a look at himself. The cat in the reflection smiled back as he inspected the cloak around his shoulders. The smooth black velvet had gold stitchings on the shoulders and hem and while it didn't go all the way down to his feet, it was still long enough to sheild his arms from sight unless he poked them out, and two large buttons were sewn to the left side of the suit with golden strings attaching them to the other side. Why- He'd say he'd look just like he did nearly a hundred years ago in this, even after his accident which left one of his eyes to be replaced by a button, minus all the patches he had now. Below him Mak was smiling and messing with their bowtie as if still readying themselves for the giant event. He chuckled and patted their head before snapping away the mirror.

"Are you nervous about the party?"

"Nah. Just hungry."

He chuckled again and made for the armchair he was all so familiar with. "Well just remember to behave yourself while we're there, and don't cause trouble." He sighed as he sat down into the comfy armchair and relaxed back into it's soft seat. Snapping his fingers to summon a flame before throwing it into the fireplace, lighting a fire in it's place. The kettle over the fire slowly starting to heat up.

They didn't have to wait too long. Time flew by as he sipped his tea and Mak..was playing with whatever shiny object they had collected recently, but there was no mistaking the sound of the flap opening and fancy heeled footsteps approuching the backroom. Seam hummed and looked to the old clock against the wall. Four thirty sharp. Well the duke wasn't a lier, he did show up to get them at four thirty sharp, and he smiled and turned to the doorway- And blinked in surprise at the sight before him. This could NOT be the duke. This fancy dressed up make up wearing beautiful GODDESS!! Could not be the duke. The blue man that was standing there was wearing fancy white, shiny heeled boots that stopped by his knees, fancy black dress pants and an even fancier blue and white velvet coat shirt. Gold shiny buttons shined from the coat shirt and the long elegant blue cape drapping over one of his shoulders and flowed down until it was a few inches away from the floor. Black spade markings lined the coat and white velvet gloves pushed the coat away for a moment. A small necklace hung around his neck with a shiny black spade and matching earrings were hanging from his pointed ears, but all that was nothing compared to his face. The shiny white hair that usually drapped down his back was now styled in an elegant braid drapping over his left shoulder and any left over small strands were curled framing his face. His eyelashes, looking like they had been curled, brought out his pretty mitchmatched eyes as they fluttered at him and Rouxls smiled. The worm quickly took notice of the cat's staring and the small pink to his cheeks, he's always had this effect on people, but this somehow made him feel more...bashful as the blue man looked down and reached up to push one of the white curls away.

"Art thou pleased with mine look?"

Seam didn't respond at first but coughed before giving a polite smile. "O-Of course. You look rather handsome tonight, Duke." Despite his initial shock at first, he calmly stood up and Mak poked their head out of their corner. Upon seeing Rouxls, they clambered out and bounded over by Seam's side as he rose a hand and snapped his fingers. The fire instantly disappeared and Seam turned back to him. "Sorry. Have to take precations."

Rouxls just bashfully cleared his throat. "T-Thank thee. Art thou r-ready to go?"

Seam patted Mak's head. "Yes. Are you ready to take us?"

His Only answer was smiling and held his hand out. Seam reached down to pick up Mak and calmly put the child under his arm before his bigger paw grasped onto Rouxls's and for a moment the two stood there and flushed, before he felt a sudden build up of magic and a blinding white light captured them both. It was a very strange and weird feeling to be sure, the light bodied nothingness feeling just felt..Strange. So when the three of them landed down on a path, thank goodness, instead of hard stone of the castle and much to his embarrasment, he fell over flopping softly onto the ground and coughed a few times. Blinking away the bright white light and staring up to the dark sky as feeling came back to his body and he realized his fur was standing on end. Mak grunted and crawled out from under his arm and shook the dust off themselves, just as Rouxls leaned over him with a concerned look over his face.

"Oh my. I amst so sorry! A-Art thou alright?"

"Yeah. I'm good." He grunted as he sat up and Rouxls comically pushed his back until the taller cat stood to his feet. The nervous worm quickly dusting him off and he shook his head, feeling slightly embarrased he fell over like a goober. Rouxls's way of teleporting was MUCH more different than Jevil's. He was used to the tight compact feeling of Jevil's twisting teleporting, but he guessed even Rouxls's way was more fancy of doing it. But he paused as Rouxls was still dusting him off and moved to the front of his magnificent cloak. And paused. "Oh. We're here."

The giant looming figure of the Card Castle's shadow towered over them as the cat stared and his button eye spun. He didn't even realize Rouxls had grabbed his paw and began to pull them forwards towards the castle's grand entrance. And Seam only watched as the castle grew closer with Mak bouncing at his heels, the front doors being guarded by two giant Rudinn Rangers who lowered their weapons once the duke waved them away. It was almost like nothing changed. The pathway was still as stone cold as he remembered and the anxeity of all those eyes possibly on himself again for being the old magician. Would everyone look at him funny? By being the duke's date he was bound to get some attention, but that was the least of his worries. WOuld the kings be displeased to see him? It had been quite a while and he wasn't sure if Rouxls told anyone of him being his date for this whole night, but it was still terrorfying. Even if noone knew or remembered him, he was sure he would get some attention for just being on the duke's arm, or more likely the duke being on his arm, but it still made him nervous. And when he blinked, brain catching up with him, he finally noticed they were in the castle. The many, MANY red and pink decorations lining the other wise drab hallways. A lot of giggling and smiles from the many staff and guards were a refreshing sight and calmed his nerves even if only a little bit. Mak was giggling and running around startling some of them and eyes wide at all the shiny decorations, and startling a few of the people watching the child floating around. But no one was looking at him, but he noticed a few people gazing towards the duke then away again. Despite his calm and polite smile, he felt a bit of annoyance at seeing the smiles sent Rouxls way, guess he couldn't help it. Despite what Jevil said, he wasn't the best or young looking. Scars and patches here and there. One eye. Stitches. He was only a few years older than Jevil and a few they were both older than Rouxls by a few more, but he still gave off the aura off being much older. Jevil was always saying it was because of how wise and patient he was, but he always knew it was more his appearance. But he was most surprised when the pair turned a corner and ran into two tall darners wearing suits and with professional faces. He was sure with his limited memory this was the rather large throne/ball room and by the way Rouxls was smiling excitedly at it, his gut feelings was correct. The worm suddenly stopped when Seam did and looked over his shoulder, white brow raising in confusion. The cat had grabbed the stuffed bat for a moment and kneeled down eye level with them for a moment.

"Now do you remember what we talked about?," He questioned and they nodded. "And what did we talk about?"

"No biting or scratching."

"And behave yourself. Can you do that?" They nodded again and he patted their head before standing back up and letting them run ahead to the doors. ROuxls excitedly lead him to the doors and nodded to the two in front of the doors as the child bounced excitedly at the doors waiting for them to open.

At Rouxls's nod, the two Darkners in suits both reached over and grabbed a door each and pushed them open. Seam was NOT prepared for what was on the other side of the doors. His good eye widened and his button one spun about as the doors opened and bright candlelights lit the room and bounced off the many MANY giant glittery decorations lining the wall. His ears twitched towards the left where a band was playing ballroom dance music even though no one was dancing(yet) and he couldn't beleive he just now noticed these sounds. Even though they were around half an hour early arriving, their must've been around at least fifty fancy looking darkners around them wearing glittery jewelry and other fancy things he didn't care for, but it seemed Mak did as their eyes widened before they ran off in a seperate direction giggling to themselves and disappearing into the crowd. Not that the two noticed. Seam was still star struck at the incredible sight of it all. Over to the far left near the winows was a very VERY large and long tabled filled with food: two gigantic roasts, a giaint salad, a chocolate fountain with bowls of fruit around it, a few cakes king sized, a punch bowl, a...giant bowl of Salsa(??), some platter of some kind of cookies(they were shaped like something but he didn't know what), another giant bowl full of dark candy, and a few other things he couldn't make out from the crowd clocking it. And there sitting on the thrones, were the kings and Queens themselves. Ah! He remembered them well. The Clubs were talking to their four headed queen. AH! King Heart and his beloved Queen Amory, the two looked so loving together as Mrs. Hearts fed her husband one of those strangely shaped cookies, and the Diamonds-...Well. They still looked as unhappy in their marriage as usual. The giant Rudinn was rubbing his temples and Mrs. Diamonds was glaring boredly at her surroundings. He chuckled- Until he saw him! The little jevil himself! There was a few wooden stands were in the middle of the floor a few feet above the audience with 5 performers. Four of them were simple jacks. 2 juggling a couple of harmless pins to each other on the stands above the crowd, the third a contorshonist curving his body into impressive poses impossible to most, and the last one laying on a bed of hot coals. The coals safely inside a suspended fireplace for everyone's safety. And in the middle stand of them all was the man of the hour themself. The purple menace hand't noticed them at all yet and wore a jester outfit similar to his regular one, only this one was made of black and gold velvet. The gold parts shiny and flashing brightly thanks to the devilknives he was juggling....and the devilknives were on FIRE!! He sat cross-legged in mid air and easily juggling four devilknives on fire, smiling widely and cackling at his work-

"Sir Duke and Royal Advisor Rouxls Kaard of Puzzles and Card Castle!!...And his plus one Retired Royal Court Mage Seam!!" Seam flinched as someone inside the door way called out Rouxls's official title and a LOT of people turned to see them, the kings included...He guessed someone told them about him too. Rouxls gave a smile and squeezed his paw almost comforting as he gently pulled the startled cat along into the room.

At the announcement of them two specific people caught their attention. Jevil snapped he smile over to them and paused. His yellow eyes widened first at Rouxls. The worm's hair and eyelashes naturally glowing and lighting himself as his fancy eyes met Jevil's and he bashfully smiled back...Jevil's hands didn't stop that expert juggling as he had developed to perform as second nature but he visibly gulped and his eyes slowly widened and had a pinkish hue to the bottom of those yellow orbs. But they started to become fully pink when he turned to Seam and saw the outfit he was wearing. The old but fancy magician cloak was simple compared to Rouxls or his or anyone else's outfits, but it suited him to a T and all the happy memories of him and Jevil performing and being happy came rushing back- And his smile came back even more wide as Seam calmly smiled at him too. His cackling growing as he juggled. The second person jumped up on their throne as soon as Rouxls's name was announced before jumping off said throne and began zooming through the crowd towards them. Pushing past others and excitement dripping over their young face.

"LESSER DAD!!" Rouxls's head snapped to the left and smiled widely kneeling down and holding his arms out just as Lancer grunted and squeezed between two darkners before coming free and running towards the worm who easily captured the young boy in his arms and happily brought the giggling boy up in his arms. Seam smiled and peered curiously at the small boy in the duke's hold, finally getting a look at this famous young king. The child was dressed in a small fancy uniform and cape, with a white crown on his head. A blue tongue stuck out of his mouth as she giggled and his tail wagged happily as his face hole that was apparently his face stared at his father. "Where were you? I thought your break was over."

Rouxls chuckled and bounced him a few times. "I waseth...a bit busy with a fewest new things and visiting someone." He turned to Seam who reached a paw up and waved to the small pup who tilted his head at him. "Lancer. Tis a friend, Seam."

"...You look really fluffy and tall Mr. Grandpa cat!"

Seam's brow rose, not expecting that kind of reaction from the child, but chuckled either way as Rouxls groaned softly. "Well, I'm happy you think so, Young King. " He bowed. "And what a brave little man you are."

"YEAH!! Lesser Dad is my noble steed too!!...Whatever a noble steed is." He said proudly and both men couldn't help but chuckle.

"Were you good while I was gone?"

He nodded. "YEAH!! I got to play with Uncle Jevil, and he made sure I got all the food I wanted, and he let me watch him practice, and he made me do boring homework with the teacher guy, and then I had to take a bath." He sucked in a breath to keep going. "And then I had to wear this itchy suit, but I got to eat ice cream for breakfast today!!" He took a moment to look at his father. "WOW!! You look really pretty, Dad!"

Rouxls rose a brow at him at the ice cream bit, but still smiled at the compliment. "Thank you, and you look as handsome as ever." He gave him a kiss to the forehead to which the child giggled at but shook his head.

"And Ralsei's coming!! I don't know when because his letter said his parents were busy, but he promised he would come!!"

He chuckled. "I look forward to meeting this Prince officially. We haven't been properly introduced since mine encounter longe ago with thine Lightner friends."

"This young uh..Prince wouldn't happen to be a small white darkner with glasses would it?" Seam asked curiously and Rouxls blinked at himbut Lancer answered before he could.

"YEAH!! He really cool!! Not as cool as Susie, but he can do really cool magic and is really nice!!"

He hummed and smiled again. "Well then I remember this Prince of Darkness. He and his friends visited my shop and fought Jevil. I was honestly surprised they made it out in one peice."

Rouxls blinked..before scowling. "What?..Art thou telling mineself that Jevil battled against children and thou let them?!"

Seam paused sensing Rouxls's now displeased scowl and shrugged nervously. "They lived, and aren't you the one who tried to stop them using puzzles and a powered up K-round?"

His frown deepened. "Mine puzzles were not thine best true, but they were made to trap and not harm and mine control crown -before it was destroyed by thine lightners- made thine K-round under mine control and I waseth going to stop it once it weakened thine lightners enough to store them safely within thine dungeon....I was NAY!! Intending on causing any harm or did so so carelessly, Seam." The cat didn't say anything this time and Rouxls sighed. "We and Jevil are goinge to have a longe talketh about this later." He quickly turned back to a small smile to Lancer and chuckled. "Now. Art thou having fun?" Lancer shook his head no. "Nay? What ever is thy matter?"

"Ralsei's not here and Uncle Jevil's busy...and everyone said I couldn't bring ANY toys and I have to sit on the dumb chair until Uncle jevil does his trick Routine." He pouted and leaned against his father.

"Oh? And when is Jevil going to entertain us?"

"He promised before my bedtime but it's taking too long!!"

Rouxls chuckled at his pouting and nodded to Seam to follow. "Well then. Now that I'm here, why don'tst thou wait with me while you wait for thou's friend, and gettest to know Seam better?"

"Is he cool?"

"Very.~ He was a magician."

Lancer's interest spiked up at magician and the pup stared past Rouxls shoulder up at the stuffed cat as he followed Rouxls back to the giant thrones. He was pretty anxious to be stepping up in front of the kings and queens no less, but to his surprise and absolute releif, none payed much attention then the usually 'Oh, I remember you. How are you these days?' kinda talk. Two of the four kings were too busy making googoo eyes at their partners anyways and one was busy trying NOT to notice the giant lady Rudinn they were married to. Lancer looked up at the kissig faces and made a 'yuck!' face and pointed at his mouth. Seam chuckling at the sight. Such a innocent child. Rouxls set him back down on the chair and Lancer groaned, falling back into the comfy seat as the other royals greeted the duke before going back to their regular business. Despite being next to the gigantic royals, Seam's attention was on the crowd. His good eye scanned the many, many couples swapping small hearts or giggling with red faces. One or two kissing each other. He thought he saw a flash on Mak every few seconds but couldn't be sure, and his eye went to Jevil the imp smiled seeing him look at him juggling before doing a flip in mid air looking like he was doing a hand stand without using his arms to stand and looked at him upside-down without stopping juggling and winked at him. Seam chuckled and waved back over to him- He hummed and turned back to the throne. Rouxls was now sitting in the throne with Lancer in his arms and said child was tugging his cape with interest.

"Are you really a magician?," he asked.

He chuckled. "A used to be. But I'm retired now."

"What does 'retired' mean?"

His paw came up to pat his head where his crown wasn't. "It means I don't work that particular job anymore. Now I own a store."

"Like Lesser Dad?" Seam nodded and Lancer smiled wider. "Uncle Jevil said you used to do tricks too!" His tail thumped wider in excitement. "Can you show me?! Please!!"

Seam hesitated for a moment, he hadn't really performed persay any tricks in a long time. But one look at Rouxls's smile encouraged him. After all, Jevil had made peace with their soulmates child, it was only fair he made a good first impression too. So he leaned down and held out his paws, both empty and not wearing sleeves. Lancer glanced at them curiously but jumped when Seam suddenly clapped them together, and slowly opened them to where he was holding a small toy in his paws. Lancer gasped at the cute teddy bear in his paws and reached out excitedly for it as Seam handed it over. Lancer was happy to examine the new toy before holding it to him in a hug and looked back to him bouncing and saying: 'Again! Again!' Rouxls was smiling wide now as was Seam as he performed another trick for the small pup. This time reaching behind his crown and then suddenly pulling out a single dark dollar, to which Lancer gasped in wonder and also took it when Seam offered it to him, shoving it into his pants pocket and asking for him to do it again. He smiled and happily performed a few simple tricks he remembered. Pulling a strand of tied together hankercheifs out of nowhere, which lancer also reached for excitedly. Making a small flame appear and turning it into different simple shapes like a circle, cube, flat surface, etc. Pulling a button out of his ear seemingly. And a few other harmless little party tricks a child like Lancer found amazing, the child was just fascinated with magic and he chuckled at his excitement. In the meantime Rouxls watched lovingly as Lancer was giggling and enjoying himself as Seam bowed as he clapped at his small performances. While this was going on every so often the announcer would shout out another name as more guests arrived.

"Princess Clover Clubs of Card Castle!!" King and Queen Clubs were excited and babbled as their small three headed daughter came up to them wearing a small crown for each head but that was about it. "Baron Mr. Elegance and Mr. Society of Great Bourd Pass!!" Two strange all white darkners made their way in about thirty minutes later and mingled with the crowd. Thirty minutes later."Royal Court Healer Ms Valen and her Husband!!" A slightly bigger than average blue hathy couple. Seam was starting to get the impression that most of the folks here were important court members and their plus ones/partners or just important people invited to the royal shindig. As the next ones also arrived around thirty minutes after the last. "General of War Sir Punch-a-lot and his husband!!" A VERY scarred up red rudinn ranger slithered through the doors with a slightly smaller green one and the red one gave a grumpy look around before rolling his eyes and letting himself be dragged in. Thirty minutes later. "Head Of Treasury and Staff Ms. Royal Coat Jack!!" A strange looking jack came in, but she just looked nervous and skittered in without another word. Huh. Guess she was the secritary Rouxls often referred to helping him. But the next announcement made Lancer perk up from his new teddy bear again thrity minutes later. "Esteemed Guest and Hero of the Darklands Prince Ralsei Durrmee of the neighboring Durrmee Kingdom!!"

This time a LOT of attention was focused to the doors as they opened and Seam looked too, wanting to get a look at this hero once again, and a small hush came over the crowd. Behind the doors strode in a teenage darkner. He looked-..Well exactly how Seam remembered. Same outfit too. Green cloak and hat, wide circle glasses, and red scarf. The nervous looking boy paused looking at all the darkners suddenly staring at him and he smiled nervously before waving a paw.

"Uh...H-Hi, Everyone." He quickly excused himself and made his way towards them. It seems the only ones who didn't stop were the band and performers, taking their jobs seriously no matter what happened. The nervous goat monster made his way through the crowd and Lancer's tail wagged even more as he came closer. "Excuse me. Excuse me. Pardon me, Ma'am. Oops! Sorry. W-Watch your footing, Sir." He said as he walked even closer to the royals who were now looking with smiles- Except for Queen Diamonds who seemed more interested in her jewelry. But the boy still bowed once he got close enough to the giant thrones and their occupants. "U-Um..Greetings, Everyone. I hope I'm not too late-"

''RALSEI!!" Lancer happily jumped off the Duke's lap and made for the teen still holding his teddy bear, said goat prince looked up just in time to watch the small spade pup hug one of his legs and giggled. Tail wagging. "YOU'RE HERE!! NOW IT WON'T BE ALL MUSHY AND BORING!! YOU WANNA PLAY WITH ME?!" All the adults (minus Queen Diamond and Clover) awed at the adorable sight of the teen giggling and patting his head in response. Clover's three heads were staring at the small goat teen with blue blushes even though each head had a different face responding to the blush. "Sure. If your dad doesn't mind." He looked back up at the duke still sitting in the throne smiling and watching, and waved a paw at him. "Um. H-Hello Mr. Kaard. Wow. You look really nice tonight. All of you guys do too."

Clover flushed deeper at that and Rouxls chuckled. "Nonsense. Thou arrived with plenty of time to spare. How waseth thou's trip?"

"F-Fine thanks." He straightened his glasses before looking down to Lancer. "And if he doesn't have any other duties, I'd be happy to catch up-"

"HEY!!" Most everyone jumped up at the sudden shout from one of the clubs princess's heads. "YOU PROMISED YOU'D BE OUR DATE TONIGHT!!" "I-It's fine if he wanted to spend time with him instead, I'll just be a little sad." "OH! I'm so excited! Our first date with a cute fluffy boy!"

"Uh..." Ralsei glanced to Rouxls for any help on the matter.

All of King Clubs heads looked displeased and about to say something a whole lot of somethings before his wife's heads spoke up. "Dearest we talked about this." "J-J-Just...l-l-let her have this moment..ok?" "Im fine with anything really." "HEY!! SHE'S ALMOST SIXTEEN!! GIVE HER A LITTLE SPACE!!" The five heads of his majesty stared at each other for a moment...before grumbling and not saying anything. "THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT!!" "Thank you, Sweetie." "T-T-Thanks." "Im still fine with anything really."

Ralsei still looked quite unsure before looking back to Clover. "U-Um..Ok. C-Can Lancer come too? I promised to spend time with him too."

The three heads looked at each other before the middle one spoke. "Would that make you happy and like us more?"

"Uh," he said still really unsure and looked at Lancer who nodded eagerly. "Yyyyeesss??"

"OK!! We can start by getting some roasted tree!!" She shouted before standing back up and walking towards him.

"Roasted what?"

He was nudged away by one of Clover's heads and Lancer happily bounced next to the two (or five if you counted each of Clover's heads as an individual) teens. King Clubs still not looking the tiniest bit pleased at his daughter's 'date' for the night at all.

"Do you think we're pretty?" "I thought we looked nice." "OF COURSE WE ARE!! WE HAVE STYLE!!"

"Uh..Yes?"

The last Seam heard of THAT conversation was Clover happily squealing to herself and still pushing the poor boy off with Lancer at their heels. At least the boy would be around two other kids and get to spend time with someone closer to his age group. But speaking of food, Seam gazed over to the table full of goods and wondered if there was anything to his liking. He didn't really have to eat being made of cotten, but anything he did eat was converted into extra magic later and who knows when that might come in handy? Rouxls seemed to mirror his same thoughts as he stood up and bid good morrow to the giant royals before turning in Seam's direction and gesturing to the giant food table in question. Seam nodded and the two began their way there, with Seam politely offering Rouxls his paw and the duke gladly taking it with a smile. The two made their way over past the others in the room and finally his one good eye was able to make out all the stuff on the table that was previously blocked from veiw...and his smile disappeared as he blinked. The last table sat a ....bowl of roasted tennis balls covered in cheese and-...a atcually honest to lightner tree that looked like someone tried to burn it but didn't do a very good job. Clover was there sitting on her hind legs and her front paws held a plate with ease. The giant plate had a couple of the tennis balls and a chunk of what he could only guess was this 'roasted tree' she was so excited about. One of her heads was jabbering to Ralsei while another one scarfed down what was on the plate. Poor kid was smiling nervously holding a plate with a single cheese covered tennis ball, obviously trying not to be rude...and LAncer was bouncing one of said tennis balls getting cheese all over the floor. The cat chuckled and shook his head. The poor kids. The duke and him at first stuck together looking at things but as soon as his eyes spotted the mac n cheese bowl he lit up and made a beline for it, leaving seam chuckling and looking around at all the other foods. He wasn't really that picky but none of it was really appealing to him yet. The roasts looked too hard and chewy, and he was never a big fruit or salad fan. And all the deserts looked too sweet for him. And there was NO WAY he was about to eat cheese covered tennis balls or burnt trees- And speaking of deserts. He chuckled when he finally saw the strange cookies and now understood why they were called 'Lancer Cookies', because they were all decorated to look like the young boy. He sighed and shook his head, going to move past the punch bowl since he wasn't really that thirsty....But paused when something...(or someone) slowly rose out of the punch bowl making a few darkners around them cringe in disgust.

It took him a few moments of blinking and staring to realize who it was, and when he did he sighed. "Mak. WHY are you in the punch bowl?"

The child blinked back. "I got thirsty."

His brow rose. "And so you decided to go swimming in the punch bowl?...And where did you get those sunglasses?" He now noticed the new and shiny sunglasses on top of their head. And he sighed. They were all sticky and wet now.

"Waiting for the surprise."

He blinked. "Surprise? What surprise?"

Before they could answer the same announcer that was shouting everyone's official statuses shouted out his voice from near the king's throne and he turned to look. In the meantime Mak slowly drifted back down into the pink punch and disappeared. "ATTENTION!! THE ROYAL PERFORMERS SHALL BEGIN THE SHOW!! PLEASE STAND CLEAR FOR THE CENTER STAGE!!"

Seam looked confused for a moment, but then sudden flashbacks of his old shows reached his mind. The audience of around a hundred darkners all gasped and stood aside when the jacks all stopped performing including Jevil as he caught the devilknives that he had been juggling this whole time. Each one being put out as he did and he watched in mid air as the five jacks jumped from their set up stages and began to push their own stage towards the middle one Jevil was sitting above. The five giant puzzle peice designed stages coming to fit perfectly with one another as he remembered it would and a small smile reached his face. Well, well. It had been quite a long time since he'd even seen a royal performance. Now was a good oppurtunity to witness one. Rouxls walked up back next to him watching curiously as he ate and the lights dimmed out until only two spotlights remained, one on the band that had gone silent, and one on the stage where all the performers including jevil had hopped off.

"ANNOUNCING LADY PAPER DOLL AND HER WONDEROUS BALLERINA DANCERS DOING THEIR FAMOUS WATERFALL DANCE!!" The man announced. "PLEASE EVERYONE STEP AWAY FROM THE DOORS!!''

Most everyone scrambled out of the way as the band started up some ballet sounding waltz music starting with violins at the same time the doors opened and in came not one but FIVE different all white white some black thin looking darkners dashed in through the dark. Making the audience gasped in surprise as they all jumped expertly and easily onto the table and could now be all clearly seen the spotlight. The biggest one was all white and stood in the middle as the black and white ones, four of those, all stood around her. All made similar ballerina poses as the music faded for just a moment before starting back up again, them moving along with it it gracefully. With the four smaller ones standing on their tip toes and slowly swaying their arms going a few yards away from the bigger one (the stage was fairly large and well built for such things) as their leader stood on one leg and reached her hand up as the soft flute music slowly died out once again and the other four stopped in a pose which left them on their tip toes and their arms pointed to their middles. They could hear the music conductor tap his music sheet stand and begin to wave his hands. Trumpets and violins started to play and they moved. The four began to move in similar motions, twirling themselves in circles while also circling their middle leader in a bigger circle as they spun, and who he assumed to be Lady Paper Doll moved as graceful as one would expect. She expertly brought her leg up high to stand on one leg and twirl around before taking a few graceful steps forwards the edge of the dancing circle before stopping, hand to her chest in fake distraught befor doing the same thing towards the other side before holding a hand to her forehead and dashing back towards the middle twirling a few more times before expertly 'falling' to the floor and laying limp like a ragdoll in a fake faint.

Seam hummed and leaned down to Rouxls to whisper. It was easy to see the worm as his white hair and eyelashes easily glowed in the dark giving him a beautiful aura. "They're very good. This Lady Paper Doll is quite graceful."

Rouxls nodded without looking at him. "Tis based on a true story about what someone sometimes experiences."

"Oh really?"

Rouxls nodded and pointed to Ms Paper Doll who had just now sat up to her knees and was fake sobbing and twirling her upper body in graceful circle motion to the music. "She represents the struggle someone goes througheth with their sad emotions when something devastating happens. And the four dancing around her-" He gestured to the still twirling ballarinas still doing circles while encircling her. "-represent the obsticles and circle of emotions thoust tis feeling. Which is why she's also metiphorically trapped within thine middle. Trapped within her own emotions and problems, which only go downwards as if one tis in a waterfall. Hence thy name Waterfall Dance. They're truly a remarkable group."

Seam didn't doubt that as he looked back to the lit stage from the dark audience. Lady Paper Doll then expertly held her hands up and pushed herself up onto her toes that resembled someone lifting a limp puppet. Twirling around a few more times before she blinked and held her head up to the light. Pretending to just now notice the light shining down on her. Reaching a hand up towards the spot light before she flinched and curled in on herself head down in fake shame. The four dancer had now stopped twirling and were facing her, the for gracefully ran up to her and held their arms above her as if metiphorically holding her down- Before she suddenly snapped back up. The four smaller dancers recoiled and treated back to their circle. This time running back to their circle, but instead of their twirling from earlier, they gracefully lept and ran around in a giant circle as the middle tallest dancer twirled a few more times before stoppong in the middle and striking a proud pose of her chest out, arms back and head held high. Rouxls smiled excitedly next to him.

"This is thine best part, the next steps represent her tossing the stress and thinges away from her and crumbling in sweet defeat and rising to thine goals!" He sighed. "Such beauty tis a work of art.~"

He had to agree. She stood in that pose for the longest time as the four others encircled her before she suddenly pirouletted and pivioted to the middle of said circle of ballerinas before stilling. One ballerina suddenly breaking the circle the circle and running towards her gracefully, the taller woman easily caught her and held her up in the air, the two doing a graceful pose before she let go mid spun and the smaller ballerina expertly 'fell' to her knees and slid a little away, hand to her forhead before 'falling' to the floor in defeat. Followed one by one of the other three who slid away and laid down in similar defeated poses which the audeience awed at and even Seam had to confess the ladies' were experts at their job. Leaving the spotlight on just the tall one and watching as the depressing and exciting music from earlier suddenly became more happy sounding and she prirouletted and spun in other dance moves he couldn't name as the song came to an end spinning happily and doing the same proud pose from before with her head and arms pointed backwards as the happy music finally ended and left. There was silence for just a few seconds before cheers and applause came from the audeince watching all around the stage and the other four ballerinas stood from their position on the floor to go stand next to their leader as they all curtsied to their audience. Seam found himself clapping along and smiling at the performances the ladies did for them. One by one they jumped off the stage and gracefully leaped back to where they came from. The balloroom still quite dark other than the two spotlights on the bandstand and huge stage. He almost did hear the announcer shout the next performers.

"UP NEXT!! THE JACK BROTHERS AND THEIR AMAZING BALANCE ACT!!"

The same four jacks from before all flipped and jumped from different parts of the audience onto the stage and struck a pose. Everyone clapping excitedly for the next act. Except for Seam. He recognized these old jacks and already knew their whole routine, if he remembered right they would start out with two of them standing on top of each other balancing on a ball and two others throwing juggling pins over the two flipping on the ball. And wouldn't you know it, one made a giant green ball appear, so Seam busied himself by turning around and grabbing one of these lancer cookies as the four performed, the audience including Rouxls watched captivated. Upon eating the cookie, he discovered it was just a regular sugar cookie with icing. He still didn't watch the performance when the audience gasped when one of the jugglers suddenly jumped onto the ball with the other two while still juggling back and forth with the one on the ground before they jumped, and was suspended onone of the bottom jack's held out arms, the entire time two jack's still juggling but now they were rolling the ball around moving around on the stage as they rolled around and juggled with expert balance, making the audience awe in disbeleif and he had finally turned around to look around at the crowd. It was dark but he was used to seeing everything in the dark besides lanturn light or his fireplace. He was looking for one small purple gremlin dressed in black ang gold in particular but he didn't see him anywhere. Now where could that little rascal have run off too this time? He was wondering if Jevil was planning some kind of grand entrance to the act, most likely. He always liked showing off to others around him. The four jacks was bouncing on the ball now, up and down a few times before one by one they jumped off the ball and the two juggling caught the pins and did poses with the other two. The audience roared again with excitement at the second performance as the four bowed to the watching crowd. Seam did too, more out of politefulness of the situation than actually watching the performance, but the four hopped off the stage and disappeared somewhere within the crowd not to be seen again for the rest of the night.

"NOW FOR OUR FINAL PERFORMANCE!! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! PLEASE WELCOME THEE ROYAL COURT JESTER SIR JEVIL!!"

The crowd both gave a mix of excited and unsure faces but all that changed once a giant puff of smoke exploded on the stage and Rouxls's and his smiles became wider. A small BOOM! noise also went off and gold confetti shot out everywhere. Some landed on the stage but some fell over the crowd, shining thanks to the spotlight. Happy cackling was heard as the dust cleared and there was the purple jester in all his glory, he giggled to the crowd and bowed. The bells on his hat jiggling to his movements, the gold parts of his outsit shining in the light. Here we go. They were in for quite a treat.

"Ahehehehehe!~ Welcome, welcome!! Let there be chaos, chaos!! Fun, fun!! But a word of warning, warning!" His held up his hands. "Please, please do not try to do what my chaos, chaos brings at home, home! They are quite dangerous, quite dangerous!!" He snapped his fingers and suddenly the band started playing some kind of upbeat circus music and the audience's main focus was on the clown as he Suddenly whipped out a metal hula hoop. He sucked a deep breath and his cheeks puffed out, Rouxls recognized it as the face he made before he blew fire. And sure enough flames came forth from the fool's mouth and the hoop caught fire. The iron circle was tossed away from him quickly after that and they guessed he must've been using magic to make it suspended in mid air on the other side of him, before he yet again reach behind him and summoned more devilsknives, around five. He was floating now and stood on the stage. Really showing how small he was compared to Seam and Rouxls. Without so much as a warning he began to easily juggle the sharp looking weapons as the flaming hot hoop came shooting at him. While STILL juggling, he easily jumped up a foot and jumped right threw the flaming hoop's middle, the hoop stopped before it could even reach the other side of the stage and they guessed Jevil must've been using his magic to make it go back and forth as he still jumped threw it whenever it got close enough and still juggled those devilsknives, cackling and happy all around at everyone marvaling at his skills. Bells jiggling wildly. "This is fun, fun!! But more excitement should be expected, expected!!" Without warning the devilknives were all grabbed by him one by one and shoved back into his black cloak disappearing while he still jumped through that flaming hoop, when the last devilsknife disappeared, he reached a clawed hand out and caught the flaming circle. Giving it a few shakes until it was completely put out and he held it up, showing it off with a smile.

Everyone clapped again including them and Seam chuckled. "An old but classic. I wonder if he shall do his famous No-throat sword swallowing trick or fire images."

Before Rouxls could answer, Jevil had already bounded to the other side of the stage before reaching over into the dark real quick as someone (one of the jacks most likely) handed him what looked liked a couple of long rods wrapped in an old cloth, he nodded to whoever handed him the thing before he made his way back to center stage, the audeince watching in silent anticipation. With his back towards the half of the audience that his two soulmates were and only stood back up when he unwrapped said cloth on the floor, a metal SHING!! sounded off as Jevil produced a shiny average looking sword in his hands and showed it off to the audience. "Again, again! Please do not recreate what you are about to see at home, home! Sword swallowing and playing with fire is a very, very dangerous skill even for me, me." The sword was tossed up without another word and it was suspended in mid air by his magic. One person in the band gave a drum roll as it slowly desceneded dowwards and to everyone's shock, the fool's head sprung off his shoulder with a spring and he opened those jaws wide. Rouxls's jaw dropped to the floor as his mousetrap jaws opened and the sword continued it's decent down and THROUGH IT!! The audience gasped when the sword seemingly disappeard into the void of his mouth until the handle was left and his spring neck wobbled. WHERE WAS THAT THING EVEN DISAPPEARING TOO?! Seam chuckled. He knew, Jevil was using teleprtation magic to give the illusion it was going down his none-existant-for-the-moment throat and instead most likely making it appear under the stage where the audeince couldn't see it, but it was still amusing to see their surprised faces. Especially Rouxls who looked at him bulged eyes. The drum still played when Jevil's hand flicked it back up and the sword began to retreat out of his opened jaws. As soon as the last few inches of shiny metal left his teeth, there was a crashed of symbols from the band stand and his neck sprung back down to his shoulder. Instantly like it never happened and he did another pose as the audienc roared again in applause, the sword dropping and being caught in his hand as he presented it back to his fans. Before setting it back down to his feet when another long metal thing was picked up by him. This time it was a long metal rod with some kind of giant fuse at the end. Like a long torch. The same hissing breath and puffed out cheeks signaled the flames before it erupted from his throat, blowing onto the end of the rod and catching it on fire just like a torch. He smiled and giggled at his handywork, holding it up and he looked around to the darkened audeience! "Hehehehe!~ Forms and shapes I make with flames, flames. But helpers I need to pick, pick what to form and dazzle you all!!"

Seam leaned closer to Rouxls. "He means he's going to pick a few people from the audeince to choose what magic picture he'll make with fire."

Rouxls gave a small oh and watched as Jevil tapped his chin and looked over the watching crowd. "Now, now! Who shall I pick to choose the first picture-"

"DO ME!! DO ME!!" Jevil's head snapped to the right and Rouxls suddenly groaned as Lancer was jumping and waving his arms a few feet away from the crowd in a very unkingly manor. "PLEASE! DO ME!!"

Jevil chuckled and bowed in the boy's direction. "But how could I refuse, refuse a request from our beloved King, King?" Everyone watched as Jevil turned his face and the flaming rod up towards the stone ceiling and sucked in another hissing breath, though this one seemed to take longer as his chest expanded at well- Before it all broke loose!! A large stream of flames shot out from his mouth and hit the rod as the flames' path widened and a HUGE wall of flames shot out above the audeince and spread out into lines forming the shape that was similar to the Lancer Cookies clearly intending to be the small boy. The audeince's eyes sparkled as the flames fizzled into nothing after a few seconds and immediately applauded the clown as he bowed his head, Lancer giggled and clapping his hands together from seeing his flame protrait. "Hehehe!~ Thank you, thank you!! As tradition I shall take four more requests, requests to equal five!! Who shall, shall request next?!" This time a lot more people raised their hands and shouted requests to the purple imp! And he slowly did them one by one. A rabbick for a Noble. Another flame portrait for Mr. Society. A lovely flower for King Hearts dedicated to Queen Amory, Rouxls awed at the romantic gesture King Hearts made towards his wife who herself gushed at the sweet thought. And lastly a diamond shape after Queen Diamond ordered it of him. Well...He couldn't disobey the Queens but King Diamonds looked rather embarrased as he held a hand over his face when it all happened. The rod was put out when Jevil stuck the entire flaming end in his mouth- Before removing it quickly and a fire giant stream of hot flame was shot over one part of the audeince who leaned away and gasped before applauding his efforts again. "Now for some old classics! But first please, please welcome by adorable asistant, asistant!!" He snapped his fingers and another bang and small explosion of smoke appeared something purple and grey shot out of the smoke cloud. It slid up to him in the form of Mak wearing those sunglasses and a kazoo in their mouth, blowing on it before posing and a poof of confetti went off behind them. "Now we shall begin, begin the fun!!''

The rest of Jevil's tricks were pretty basic tricks, He would summon props he needed or someone would hand him what he needed from the audience, and Seam watched as it went as followed. The disappearing box. The classic (fake) sawing someone in half. And the classic having Mak stand against a wooden wall while he threw small show daggers at them, expertly missing. And at the end the two did a pose at the end as everyone clapped for them and Jevil looked to the two soulmates standing to the side by the table. Giggling and-.. blowing kiss in their direction. Rouxls froze with a small squeak sound, immediately turning a darker blue and Seam chuckled at both their reactions as he and Mak bounced off the stage. The candles were relit and staff quickly rushed over to grabbed at the stage, pulling the puzzle peices apart and beginning to pushing them towards the front door the dancers had run through before, making more room in the large ballroom for one obvious reason. But they would get to that in a moment, right now everyone was starting to chatter to each other excitedly about the performances that had just been shown to them while others made their way for the food table. Seam felt sorry for all the folks drinking the punch, and the band started up with the calm ballroom music again. And Rouxls turned back to him with a wide smile.

"Thine Jester's performance waseth astounding!!" His wide grin and excited tone made Seam chuckle.

"I told you. Jevil's magical abilities are quite impressive."

A stream of maniac giggled from behind Rouxls made the worm jumped and whirl around and blink at the side of Jevil smiling, sitting in mid air, tail wagging behind him happily. "Really, really?!" He giggled more at the worm's slightly spooked face. Dark purple rushing to his cheeks as his head fell to his hands staring at the two of them lovingly. "Thank you, thank you. You both l-l-look so lovely, so lovely.~"

Rouxls cleared his throat and gave a polite smile and bow. "Thank thee. Thou art looking splendid as well. Thine performance waseth wonderful!!"

Seam nodded. "I agree. You're performances were just as magical as I remember old friend."

Jevil giggled even more and if Seam didn't know better, he would say he was flustered in the presence of both him and Rouxls dressed up in fancy clothing. More purple coming to his cheeks at the compliments, but what perked the old cat's attention was the sudden start up of exciting violins and the excited gasp King Hearts made. He watched as the giant hathy pushed himself off from his throne and turned to the other giant than average hathy bowing and offering one of his giant tentacles to her. She giggled and of course accepted his offer to her. His one good eyes watched as the two intertwined hathys made their way down the small steps of the throne and into the crowd of the ballroom. Seam knew exactly what was about to start happening and sure enough, a whole bunch of other darkners were bowing or asking their partners to dance and the dancefloor area was soon filled with the dancing forms of couples as they laughed and made googoo eyes at each other under the candlelights and pink and red decorations. Jevil watched them all for a moment before looking back towards Seam and Rouxls with expectance- Rouxls jumped in surprise when a soft hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him against an equally soft body.

"Sorry old friend." Rouxls eeped when he looked up and found himself leaning against Seam as the giant stuffed cat gave Jevil a patient smile. "I know we agreed to be equals but you had your date, so please allow me to have mine. But I assure you, you can come to talk to us when we're not busy dancing or whatever it is people do on dates."

Jevil blinked, clearly not expecting that but gave a smile at them anyways, "Fair enough, fair enough. I was feeling a little hungry anyways. " He looked back to the table just as the Royal Clubs couple walked by talking loudly to themselves and making a line for the roasted tree and sports section of the table. And Seam chuckled again before tilting his head down to Rouxls.

"I know I don't know how to ballroom dance, but I suppose I Should ask you if you would care to dance anyways."

Rouxls blinked flustered up at him and cleared his throat, looking down. "W-W-Wellst if t-thou c-can't dance I shant make thee dance if thou are nay comfortable with it-"

"Oh, I'm comfortable with it. I just don't know how to do the fancy dances they're doing." He gestured to all the fancy waltzes and ballroom dances the nobles and court members were clearly doing. Chuckling when he saw the Prince Ralsei trying to dance with Princess CLover but she was so bigger than him she just stood on her back legs as Ralsei nervously held her front paws and sort of rocked with her. Clover wasn't complaining though as her faces were a dark blue and Lancer was sitting on the floor next to him and playing with the teddy bear he had given him hours ago now.

Rouxls reached a hand up to nervously grip his braid and still didn't look at Seam even as the cat let go. "W-W-Well..I-I-If thou insists- " He blinked nervously when Seam bowed and offered a paw then.

"Well then Mr. Kaard. Would you like to dance?"

Roucxls could only stand there with a deep blue blush and Jevil chuckled behind him. He opened and closed his mouth a few times like a goldfish before clearling his throat trying to look perfessional before shakily reaching a hand out and grabbing the soft paw. It closed around his smaller hand and Seam leaned back up before gently tugging him and pulling him towards the dancefloor with everyone else. Rouxls looked nervous and gave a look to Jevil behinde him only to see Jevil waving him good bye. The fancy shining light and jewelry everyone was wearing was almost blinding as he was lead into the crowd and stopped. Pulled against another figure suddenly as Seam put them into the tradional ballroom dance pose, but instead of the fancy waltzing around them, he just gently made them start swaying in small circles. Which he was releived at. He didn't know if he could handle any real fast and fancy dancing with his legs feeling like jello. He looked up to Seam's face for a moment as he smiled back, his heart skipping a beat before he cleared his throat and looked away nervously again. The silence still going on for a moment before he tried to speak and break the awkward silence.

"T-T-Thou art a b-better dancer than thou thinkest."

"Well thank you. I'm sorry if I hadn't said anything yet. But I wanted to be sure you were just as comfortable speaking." there it was, the patience and consideration of the cat he always loved.

Rouxls chuckled bashfully and fluttered his lashed up at him. "W-Well thank thou. I appreciate thou's concerns for mineself."

"But of course. Why wouldn't I? You and Jevil mean a lot to me." He chuckled. "It's been so long since anything really mattered to me as much as this."

Rouxls blinked up at him lovingly and in surprise as they still circled around. The taller form almost blocked out the light making it bounce around him and make it almost like the cat was glowing, a being of light similar to himself. Which is why his brain possibly wasn't really thinking and he suddenly stood on his tip toes and pressed a kiss to his nose tip. Seam stopped completely surprised and Rouxls suddenly pulled away. Blinking up at Seam's frozen form and a sudden feeling of guilt came over him.

"O-Oh. S-Sorry! I didst not mean to makest thou uncomfortable-"

He chuckled. "No, no. It's alright. In fact I would say it was the best part of my night."

He blinked up surprised again. "R-Really?"

Seam nodded and Rouxls sighed, releived he didn't do anything wrong by his sudden boldness but he would make sure to ask first before he did anything else like that. He wasn't sure how long they stood there dancing in each other arms, Rouxls giggling if Seam's made a small joke towards him and still smiling. But the two were soon interrupted when a white paw pulled at rouxls's cape and the worm turned around curious and came face to face with Prince Ralsei. The goat darkner looks at him with a slightly guilty face, Rouxls stared down in his arms and noticed he held a sleeping spade pup. Lancer was lightly snoring in Ralsei's arms and cutely clutching the small teddy bear in his arms, the crown lopsided on his head and that spade hole in his face closed. He shifted a little in the goat prince's arms and gave a cute puppy yawn before curling into his warmth like any cute child would.

"Uh. S-So sorry to bother you Mr. Kaard. But Lancer fell asleep and I didn't know what to do." He held the child up to him and Rouxls smiled and reached for him. Lancer's face blinked open for a second and his mind woke up just enough to recognize Rouxls so when the worm picked him up, the pup wrapped his arms around his neck and laid his head on his shoulder still clutching the bear.

He grunted as he shimmied him into his hold. "Tis quite alright. Tis rather late after all, tis only natural Lancer fell asleep." He patted Lancer's back and looked back up to Seam. "Mine apologies but I must get Lancer to bed."

He held up his paws. "No, no. It's understandable. ...*sigh* I think I better find my small one too. They're most likely tuckered out after the exciting night they just had."

The two men and sleeping child excited the dancing crowd and spotted Mak pretty easily. Jevil was hovering beside them as they snored and laid on one of the chairs placed out for the guests. The imp chuckled and waved at the trio as they arrived and Seam sighed, reaching over to take the sleeping bat in his arms and looking over them. The sunglasses were crooked on their face, and they were all wet and sticky from the punch, but he soon found the extra weight to be a whole bunch of shiny jewelry stuffed in their pockets. He didn't say or question it and instead turned and started making their way towards the exit with Jevil shrugging and the two men followed after, neither saying a word to each other in fear of waking either children until they got to the giant doors that were pushed open by servants and closed behind them as the trio made their way out. Rouxls watched the doors closed behind him before turning around to the other two smiling men.

"I...I Hadst a great time tonight. I thank thee and apologise for thine trouble."

"No apologies needed. We might as well get going anyways." He held Mak up. "Plus Jevil is my lift back, these old stitches don't feel like walking all the way back home in the middle of the night." Jevil giggled next to him and nodded.

"Doth thou need me to showest thou where the door is?"

"No worries, no worries. I can teleport anywhere!" Jevil proudly proclaimed and Rouxls smiled even more before bowing his head.

"Then I bid thee both a good night..I shall seest thoust two tomorrow.~"

The two watched as Rouxls turned and made his way down a hallway and what they presumed to be the young king's bedroom...Before Seam turn also and began walking, leaving the sounds of music and laughter behind him, but could feel Jevil right behind him floating. The two went in silence for a moment before Seam finally stopped and inhaled deeply, letting it out slowly and turned to Jevil with a smile. And the imp smiling back the two sharing the same loving thoughts of each other and a certain snow haired duke. He shifted Mak into one arm and held out his paw to the jester. Jevil happily took the paw with a giggle and flush of purple. In a second both were suck up into the void, on their way home after such a loving night.

#Deltarune #Seaxls #Jeam #Seavil #Nosuit #rouxlvil #rouxvil #Seam #Jevil #rouxls kaard #Rouxls #rouxls x jevil #rouxls x seam #rouxls kaard x seam #rouxls kaard x jevil #seam x rouxls #jevil x rouxls #seam x jevil #jevil x seam #jevil x rouxls kaard #seam x rouxls kaard

[fierysafrina]

It’s for them | Saeran x reader

Fandom: Mystic Messenger Rating: General Word Count: 2.800 Genre: Hurt | slight Comfort | Angst Summary: You tried, only to fail, so you did the only thing you could think of. Notes: I got this idea yesterday while listening to my sad playlist on YT and yeah.. I’m sorry asdfghjkl

There are also spoilers for those who haven’t played it yet or didn’t caught up with it.

Rika. That was the only name you read constantly. Rika this; Rika that. You should have expected this, hell, you did with how they reacted when you joined the chat. To say that it didn’t hurt, would be a blunt lie. It hurt, always being compared to someone that wasn’t there anymore. But you couldn’t tell them that. Not when they were still grieving.

“Are you okay?” Saeyoung’s voice woke you from your thoughts.

You blinked and looked at him, forcing a smile on your lips. “Peachy.”

It was funny how easy it had become to lie; to smile while deep down you want nothing more but to yell at them that you’re not her. But before you can, you pinch yourself hard or make a fist, knuckles turning white from it.

Saeyoung narrowed his eyebrows, worry visible in his eyes. “I’m here if you need me. So is everyone else.”

They think I’m her. What makes you think they’ll listen? “I’m fine, Saeyoung.”

He doesn’t believe you, but doesn’t push you. His lips pursued into a thin line as he nodded and excused himself.

Of course, You thought to yourself. You were at the party, your second party you were responsible for, with all members. You were looking around, arms crossed over your chest as you took in everyone’s expressions, actions. They were happy, glad, some slightly picky, but everything went as it should go. That made you feel better. Even if just slightly.

A small smile dared to spread across your lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came when you spotted Jihyun in the crowd. You stilled, eyes widening as you watched him greet guests when he stopped beside Jumin. They exchanged a couple of words until his gaze fell on you. Your first reaction was to turn away. The next was you walking away, leaving the hall.

“I’m sorry…” Jihyun spoke quietly. “I care for you a lot.”

And there’s always a ‘but’.

You knew you couldn’t run away from him. Not when he’s the head of RFA.

You both stood on the balcony – both facing the city.

“How have you been?” Jihyun was the first to break the silence.

“Alright,” Your voice was quiet. “And you?” you glanced at him from the side.

“I…” he hesitated and an unsettling feeling spread inside you. “She’s alive…”

You weren’t sure when you went wrong. You did everything you could. You followed their suggestions, thought of their reasoning, always taking them in consideration. You poured your heart out to them and yet it didn’t seem enough. Jaehee was still suspicious of you, always against you whenever you and Zen talked of his relationship. Saeyoung still ran a background check on you, just in case; to make sure. Yoosung always managed to mention her, comparing what you achieved to her; what he wished for you to do instead. It only seemed that Zen and Jumin were the only ones that stood by your side, but the longer you knew them, their true colours quickly came through; they never argued against them, always staying silent.

Eventually you reached out to Jihyun, admitting your feelings for him only to be rejected. You couldn’t blame anyone but yourself for doing it at the worst time possible. He was still grieving for her death, so you did the only thing you could; you distanced yourself from everyone.

You refused any meeting with the members unless it was related to the party. You rarely went online if it weren’t for the party. There was always that constant reminder for you to do better, to be like her. It was funny how someone, who wasn’t there anymore, could take a toll on you. You felt rather glad you managed to convince both Saeyoung and Jihyun to remove the cameras inside the apartment and only have protection on the hallway. It was a gamble you dared to take. That way Saeyoung couldn’t see inside; couldn’t see the breakdown you went through every day.

Hearing Jihyun telling you that she was very much alive was the final blow. You were speechless as Jihyun admitted that she was alive this whole time along with her story as to why it came this far. You couldn’t do anything other than listen and he asked—begged you to not tell anyone, especially Yoosung. It hurt you and you had trouble breathing, but you still forced a smile and promised him you won’t tell a single soul. You couldn’t leave the party earlier, not without a good reason, not when you were the coordinator, the main guest of the party.

Glass after a glass of wine you drank until you felt arms holding for your elbow. You wanted to cry, you wanted to leave, but you were stuck there. Jumin and Saeyoung were both forward enough to tell you that you couldn’t leave the organisation without certain consequences even if Jihyun never said it directly. This whole place was suffocating.

A voice called out for your name and you turned your head to see a replica of Saeyoung but with blue eyes and white hair with pink tips.

Your chuckle was hollow when you pushed him away. “’m not for your games, S’ven…” You mumbled.

He snorted, but he grabbed for your elbow once again, his grip just a bit tighter. “I’m not him, princess.”

His voice was different than Saeyoung’s. Narrowing your eyebrows, you tried to free yourself once again, but winced at the pain that spread where he was holding you. “I-it hurts…” you whimpered, eyes growing teary.

“Now it hurts?” He mused and leaned closer to your face. There was something odd about him and a moment later, his tight grip lessened, his gentleness coming forth. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, expression turning softer. He raised his other hand and caressed your cheek. “Come with me, [Name]…”

It was so loud, so so loud, yet you still heard yourself speaking; “Why?”

He blinked before a smile spread across his lips. A chill ran down your spine at the sight of it. “You don’t need to be beside someone, who doesn’t care for you.” He stated, his smile widening when he saw you flinch. You averted your gaze, eyes immediately falling on Jihyun, who was busy talking with Jumin and Rui. “They don’t care if you go home now or later. They just wanted to see you appear, to see you’re okay so they can continue to delusion themselves that you’re Rika.” Your eyes widened at the name. How did he know about her? “But I? I know you’re not her after all it was me, who led you to them.”

Your head snapped his way, eyes growing even wider. You gulped and took a step back. “Y-U-Unknown?” you stuttered and you realized you were shaking.

“One and only.”

You looked around, for the members only to see them all chatting without a care in the world. It felt like a bucket of cold water poured on you. They really didn’t care for you. They just wanted someone to fill her place, to pretend that she was still there.

“You know, I really started to feel bad for you.” His voice was abnormally close, and you found him standing behind you. His hands ran up your arms, sending another wave of chills down your spine. “If I knew how badly they’d treat you, I’d take you for myself instead. I always kept a close eye on you. Was always there, hearing your confession, seeing your breakdown, seeing you distancing yourself from them.” His warm breath brushed against your ear as you stared at Jihyun, begging in your head for him to look your way. Just once.

“I know where Rika is.”

Something was odd about that sentence, but you couldn’t bring yourself to question him.

“Don’t worry, I won’t bring you to her.” He continued and you unconsciously leaned into him. “I learnt to become independent just so I can protect you. She doesn’t know that, doesn’t know I’m here to get you to safety instead. I’d care for you, like they can’t. I’d give you anything you want. Anything but them. You don’t want them beside you. They only care for themselves, for their needs. You don’t need those kinds in your life.”

You gulped and forced yourself to look at him. Your noses brushed for a split second, with you being the first to pull away. “I can’t.” you shook your head.

“Why?”

A simple question that took you by surprise.

“Then let me propose something.” He continued. “We leave right now and if by the end of the party anyone notices, you can stay. If not …” he trailed off and you looked at Zen, who was standing beside Yoosung and Jaehee, the three talking to each other, looking ever so friendly. “Hm?” he hummed, smiling softly. “Want to bet?”

You weren’t sure why you agreed when you already knew the answer.

Unknown reached out his hand and you put yours on top of his. He held it rather gently and led you towards doors. Just before you left, you turned back inside and saw Saeyoung looking at you. Your eyes widened, heart almost missing a beat that maybe you won’t get far. That maybe they actually cared for you. That just maybe Unknown is wrong and that you won’t have a reason to leave.

Who were you kidding? It was already past midnight, but you stood near the building. Your eyes were teary as you refused to cry. Unknown stood not too far away, watching you closely. You were holding your phone in your hand, gripping it tight.

Not once did you get a message.

Not once did anyone call you.

A tear streamed down your cheek, but you quickly wiped it away when you spotted Jaehee and Jumin leaving the building. Jihyun wasn’t too far behind and the three talked for a while more. You spotted Yoosung, Zen and Saeyoung left earlier, neither of them bothering to search for you.

“See?” Unknown spoke, walking to your side. “Aren’t they cruel? They depended on you so much and you gave them everything. You left behind your family, relatives, just so you can appease them. You gave them your whole free time. But what do they do when you’re in need?” He reached his hand forward and held yours. “They don’t care that you left earlier.”

Closing your eyes, you turned his way and Unknown was quick to embrace you. You don’t know what to say. You expected this outcome. Yet there was still a smaller part of you that hoped you were wrong.

How disappointed you were at yourself for thinking this way.

How funny it was when you appeared in front of them months later. They were visibly distraught, dark circles beneath their eyes, but the relief you saw in them made you want to laugh. And you did. You laughed before Unknown stopped beside you. You saw how Saeyoung and Jihyun’s eyes widened, neither wanting to believe. He wrapped an arm around your lower back and pulled you closer to his side, nuzzling his nose in the crook of your neck.

“W-what’s going on?” Zen stuttered, looking from you to Unknown, uncertain.

You tilted head to the side, but looked at Unknown – or should you say Saeran – who smirked instead. “What should we do, Saeran?” you asked.

“Throw each of them into a room? Lock them in the basement?” Saeran thought aloud.

Your lips turned upwards in a smile and it widened when you spotted Jaehee and Yoosung shiver. “Aw, is Yoosungie scared?” you cooed and leaned down, grabbing his chin tight. He flinched at your contact.

“Stop it!” Jihyun called, but you didn’t look at him.

You continued to stare at Yoosung.

Saeyung called for your name, but it fell on deaf ears. “Why are you doing this?” he looked at you and then at Saeran. “H-how? Why?”

“Shush, darling,” You murmured, sparing him a glance before you looked back at Yoosung. “Should I call Rika to comfort you?” It was so quiet in the room that you could cut air with a knife. A smirk grew on your lips and you gripped your hold on his chin, making him wince. You couldn’t miss how hopeful his eyes became.

“W-what do you mean by that?” Zen whispered. “Rika is… Rika is dead.”

Releasing Yoosung’s chin, you straightened and looked at him. “What? Don’t you know?” You scoffed, walking to Jihyun, whose eyes were wide from fear and regret, like he wanted to apologize to you. “Rika is very much alive.”

“She can’t be!” Saeyoung exclaimed.

“Why are you doing this?” Jihyun asked.

You could see how afraid he looked. Not just him. But everyone as well. How funny it was when they tried to appear strong only for their body and eyes telling different stories.

“Why?” you scoffed. “I’m not Rika.” You began. They looked confused. “Even after spending those two months with you, you still treated me like some outsider. You didn’t trust me, then again why should you.” You glared at Saeyoung, who gulped. “You saw me leaving, but did nothing. I waited for your call, message, anything, but I got it quickly. I was only Rika’s replacement.”

“No!” Jihyun exclaimed, shaking his head. “You weren’t!”

You looked at him. “You say that now,” you scowled; “but who was the one that told me she was still alive?”

All eyes turned on Jihyun.

Realization dawned on you. The corners of your lips turned into a smirk. “You didn’t tell them?” you raised an eyebrow before you took a step back. “I’ve decided.” You turned to Saeran, who was looking at you. “Why don’t we tie them and put them all together into a basement? Wouldn’t it be marvellous to see them argue, but be unable to do more?” You reached for his hand that he took without hesitation and intertwined your fingers.

“That does sound like a marvellous idea.” Saeran agreed. He turned his head and looked at the guards that stood by the door. “Tie them in the basement.”

Without a word, the men went into action.

“Wait!” Yoosung called.

You looked at him.

“Where’s Rika?” he asked, eyes wide, begging to you. “Where’s my cousin? I want to see her!”

You turned your head, ignoring his calls. Jumin, who was quiet the whole time, was the last to leave. But before they managed to walk him out of the room, you stopped them. Saeran looked at you confused and Jumin noticed the quick exchange with your eyes, assuring him it was okay. You walked over to the man and for a moment Jumin could see sadness in your eyes. It confused him.

“I’m sorry.”

It took you off guard. “It’s kind of too late, don’t you think?” you sighed, stopping in front of him. “You and Zen were …” you averted your gaze.

“I know,” Jumin nodded. “We’re as much to blame as everyone else.”

“Glad to know we’re on the same side.”

“That still doesn’t excuse your actions for doing this.”

“What do you expect me to do?” you glared at him. “I tried to gain your trust. I tried to be someone you can call a friend. It’s only been two months after I joined, but not once have either you or Zen stood up for me. Always remaining quiet, passive.” You hissed. “I tried, but I’m not her. I’m not Rika.”

Realization seemed to dawn on Jumin, because his eyes widened.

“But when Saeran came?” You continued with a softer voice, which he noticed as well. “He was always there for me. Pulling me back up when I was struggling. He helped me, by showing me I don’t have to be someone else. I can still be me and succeed.”

“Succeed in what?” Jumin asked, narrowing his eyebrows.

You caressed his cheek, tilting head to the side and smiled. There were screams that reached you, making Jumin still. “We can help you be rid of her oppression. Soon, you won’t be under her charm anymore. I can help you.”

“[Name]!” Jumin called when he was pulled out of the room. “Stop this madness! This isn’t you!”

Your smile only widened as you relished in the screams. Saeran walked to you, pulling you out of your thoughts. “Where is she?”

“She’ll be joining them after they receive the punishment they deserve.” He answered. “Just a bit more and we’ll be able to help them.”

Your shoulders slumped, feeling relief wash over. Saeran leaned in and pressed a kiss on top of your head.

“You’re doing well, my love. You must be strong, to show them how deep under her wraps they’ve been.”

“Yes,” you nodded agreeing; “after all, everything is for them.”

#Saeran Choi #Mystic Messenger #Saeran x reader #oneshot #safrinawrites

[heyhey-heyward]

expectations & disappointments

series masterlist

summary: Morgan Miller has lived her life under her mother’s thumb—but one afternoon with Kildare County’s most notorious Pogues changes everything.

word count: 1.4K

note from the writer: this is the first part of my series! I’ll be doing a taglist for people that would want to be included so send me an ask if you want to be included! this takes place along the canon events of the show, so major spoilers. also, be prepared for a  s l o w  b u r n  bc I can’t help myself.

enjoy!

Morgan Miller did not belong on The Cut.

She was from Figure Eight, the rich side of the island and where the Kooks resided. She had nice clothes and nice things and a nice education—her whole life was nice and practically laid out in front of her. She’d go to an amazing college on the mainland, and meet an amazing guy that would make an amazing husband. Then, depending on where her amazing husband would want to live, she’d either go back to the Outer Banks and buy one of the gorgeous plantations on Figure Eight or she’d move to some other equally gorgeous coastal town. She’d have two kids and a dog and be in bed by ten every night.

And she fucking hated it.

Nothing seemed worse to her than having to follow her mother’s carefully laid out plan. Having to spend each day on the lookout for an amazing husband—one that, if she was really lucky, might actually like her—and devote her life to. Apparently, having a husband was the number one priority for a girl, according to the widowed Mrs. Madeline Miller, who was currently working on securing husband number two.

Enter, The Cut.

A poverty ridden side of the island that got dealt the worst hand and told to make due. Home of the Pogues, the name given to the people that inhabited The Cut. Kooks acted like they ran the show, even though life itself on the Outer Banks would cease to exist if the Pogues all decided to up and quit working one day. Underappreciated and overlooked, Morgan had a soft spot for the hardships of that side of the island.

As a result, she took it upon herself to donate to The Cut as much as she could. Majority of the time, she avoided telling her mom her whereabouts. But it was a small island, and her mother had eyes everywhere. For the most part, she could smooth over any transgression with her mother by agreeing to go on any of the dates with certified Figure Eight boys she had arranged with the other overbearing mothers. Unsurprisingly, none had ever worked out.

With the arrival of Hurricane Agatha, Morgan had been working double time, helping families around The Cut prepare for a storm while donating a month’s allowance worth of drinking water and other groceries. Currently, she was dropping off supplies at a house on the main street of The Cut, climbing around the back of her dad’s old pickup to find the right cooler.

“Hey, Mo!” A familiar voice called out, using the nickname that everyone but Mrs. Madeline Miller called Morgan, and she looked up to greet the source with a smile. Kiara Carrera, a fellow Kook that defected to the dark side—at least according to Morgan’s mother and other Figure Eight higher ups. Really, she was just one step ahead of Morgan, having befriended a group of Pogues. Morgan, despite spending a great amount of time hanging around The Cut, mostly kept to herself. She knew the families, went to some of the Boneyard parties, but kept most people at arms length—it had been that way since her father passed when she was ten.

“Hey, Kie.” She greeted her with a wave, watching her and her group—John B, Pope, and JJ—approach on the sidewalk. Morgan found the cooler she had been looking for, the one that had the groceries needed for the family she was parked in front of. “Hey, help me with this?” She asked, setting the cooler on the tailgate while getting a case of water. John B didn’t waste a moment, grabbing one side of the cooler before helping her set it on the sidewalk. “Thanks.”

“So, where does your mom think you are today?” Kiara asked with a teasing tone as Morgan hopped off the back of her truck. She chuckled at her, shutting the tailgate and turning back to find the boys looking at her and Kiara with confused expressions. Probably because they had never seen Morgan and Kiara interact, having fallen out of touch for the most part since leaving Kook Academy. The whole Sarah Cameron drama wasn’t Morgan’s cup of tea, and when shit hit the fan with them, Morgan, instead of taking sides, seemingly dropped off of the face of the Earth.

“I’m on a beach somewhere, perfecting my tan and rehearsing what I’m going to say to my future husband when he asks me to marry him.” Morgan joked, sighing dreamily for added effect before rolling her eyes. Mrs. Madeline Miller was nothing if not determined to get Morgan to settle down. And Morgan was nothing if not determined to rebel against that.

“Yeah, why aren’t you back on Figure Eight? Kooks too boring for you?” Though most of the boys had chuckled at her comment, the blonde standing between John B and Pope spoke up with a smug grin on his face. The other two froze, though Morgan barely noticed as her attention fell to the sidewalk.

“JJ!” Kiara chastised. Morgan shook her head at her, waving a hand dismissively. It stung a little bit, that even after spending so much time helping the people on The Cut, that some still saw her as her mother’s daughter. It wasn’t Morgan, and never would be.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Morgan assured her, flashing a weak smile as she picked up the cooler and made her way to the house. She heard the group bickering on the sidewalk behind her, mostly just Kiara and JJ back and forth, and she sighed before turning over her shoulder one last time. “Hey, Kie, tell your dad hey for me!”

And then she continued into the house, and when she came out, they were gone.

Morgan didn’t think much about it, and continued on with her deliveries, only heading home when the sun started to set and storm clouds started rolling overhead. The lights were off in the house, but as soon as she slipped quietly into the too large kitchen that Mrs. Madeline Miller never used, the lightswitch was flipped and she was met with her disappointed mother.

“Hi, mom.” Morgan winced, knowing her mother would be upset at her for being out so late and from the way she was gripping the stem of her wine glass, Morgan could tell she knew where she was.

“I’m not having this argument with you again.” Her mother sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. From the way she was acting, one would think that she had caught Morgan doing drugs or smuggling beers out of the fridge instead of helping the less fortunate.

“I really don’t—” Morgan started even though she wasn’t sure how she was going to finish the sentence, but cut herself off when her mom raised a hand that silenced her immediately. Sighing again, her mother leaned against the kitchen island.

“Melanie told me you were in The Cut today.” Her tone sounded accusatory and Morgan was still trying to figure out what exactly was so wrong with helping out on the island. She just shrugged her shoulders in response, moving to the fridge to pull out a bottle of water. “I want you to go on a date with Kai Johnson. I’ve been talking to his mom and he’s a good kid—”

“I went on a date last week with Kelce! You have another one planned already?” Morgan exclaimed, though she knew it was a useless fight and started to head towards the door where she’d retreat into her bedroom. It was always the same thing with her mother. Morgan would do something to disappoint her and then she’d have to go on one of the dates her mother would set up for her in order to try and live up to the expectations of being a perfect Kook daughter.

“Are you going to go on a second date with him?” Mrs. Madeline Miller stepped to the side to block her escape route and Morgan sighed. She knew the answer and she didn’t even have to reply, it was the same one she gave her after every failed date—that they weren’t what she was looking for and she didn’t plan on seeing them again. “No? Then I’ll be telling Kai’s mother that we’re setting it up.”

And, like always when her mother confronted her, Morgan stayed quiet.

#jj maybank #jj maybank imagine #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank series #outer banks #outer banks imagine #outer banks x reader #expectations & disappointments

[carewyncromwell]

((Previously on “Quest for the Quidditch Cup”...))

[The morning of the Quidditch Final was very wet. Gray storm clouds had covered the ceiling of the Great Hall, with transparent raindrops dissipating before they reached the ground. It left Carewyn feeling a distinct sense of foreboding -- one only magnified when Ben met her at the double doors and walked her over to the Gryffindor table where he’d been sitting with Charlie and Jae.

Jae had pinched a copy of Rita Skeeter’s article about the upcoming match. Carewyn at first dreaded reading what horrible way Skeeter had managed to twist what had gone down with Skye and Rath, but when she actually read the headline, she felt her anxiety give way to aggravation.

“FROM CURSEBREAKER TO CHASER -- The Ultimate Underdog Story for the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup!”

That’s right. The story, it turned out, wasn’t about Skye or the Slytherin team at all -- Rita Skeeter had instead made it all about Carewyn and her supposedly “defying all odds” to fill the shoes of the “hot-blooded and impulsive heir to the Parkin Quidditch legacy.”

Although Carewyn was sort of glad that at least this meant that Skye’s misguided belief that Rath had attacked her on purpose hadn’t made the front page, she still couldn’t help but be really steamed about the article. She’d flat-out said that she didn’t want to give Skeeter an interview and that the reporter should talk to the rest of the team instead. But Skeeter apparently had gotten what she’d wanted anyway by asking the rest of the team a lot of questions about Carewyn and whether or not they believed someone “with virtually no experience playing in a serious match” could stand up against the five-time winners of the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup. The whole article made it sound like Carewyn truly was the only person who could win Slytherin house eternal glory -- a sentiment that not only was flat-out untrue, but that also made the pressure on her shoulders feel that much heavier. Charlie had tried to cheer Carewyn up by pointing out that the Slytherin team’s comments about her had sounded positive and that she did deserve some gratitude for taking the Chaser spot at the last minute...but even he seemed to agree it was rather cold to ignore how much work everyone else had put in.

“Your team Captain’s graduating this year too, isn’t he?” he said with a deep frown. “Any decent reporter would’ve mentioned that, after saying this was Skye’s last game at school.”

The article was like a meddlesome fly at the back of Carewyn’s mind the entire time as she headed to the Quidditch tent that afternoon, keeping her eye on the gray-tinted clouds.]

At least it’s stopped raining. And really, clouds can sometimes be better than sunshine -- less chance of getting blinded when you look up...

[Fortunately when she arrived, the rest of the Slytherin team greeted her pleasantly.]

Night: “Carewyn!”

Quinn: “Hey, Carewyn!”

[Carewyn gave the two Beaters her best winning smile.]

“Hi.”

[She took out her robes from her locker and started to change next to her fellow red-haired Chaser, Cara, who was sitting on the bench and putting on her cleats. Carewyn couldn’t help but notice the scrunched-up copy of the Daily Prophet she’d put her boot on top of.

Cara, ever the discerning sort, noticed where Carewyn’s gaze was and smiled wryly.]

Cara: “I hope you’re not letting what that Skeeter woman said get to you.”

[Carewyn blinked.]

“What?”

Quinn: “That rubbish about ‘the Quidditch Cup Final resting squarely on your shoulders.’”

Night: “Yeah -- I mean, that old bat’s always been a huge drama queen. From what I gather, the only reason she’s yet to cover the Cursed Vaults is because she’d been too busy writing articles like Millicent Bagnold supposedly wearing khakis to an international press conference...”

[Carewyn’s mouth dropped open in a mixture of disbelief and utter bewilderment. The Keeper, Ashok Peri, closed his locker with a clatter, looking over his shoulder with a huge smirk.]

Ashok: “If anything, I’d say most of the pressure lies on Kaylisa. She’ll be the one trying to catch the Snitch.”

Kaylisa: “But Quinn and Night’ll be the ones protecting me from Rath -- that’s quite a bit of pressure...”

Cara: “I reckon it’s like what Orion said last night...it’ll be about working as a team, right?”

[Carewyn nodded in agreement. Hearing the team downplay Skeeter’s article so thoroughly made her feel a lot better.]

“Right. We’ll all have our part to play.”

???: “Even me?”

[Skye had entered the tent. She was no longer holding her left side but was still walking a bit precariously.

Carewyn immediately felt herself tensing up again. Had she read the article?]

Kaylisa: “Skye! You made it!”

[Skye tried to smile brightly, but she seemed a bit tense too.]

Skye: “Just because I can’t play doesn’t mean I can’t wish my team luck, right? I already said I planned on cheering you on...”

[Her eyes landed on Carewyn, and the two stared each other down for a moment. Skye’s gaze was standoffish, like a dog with its ears back baring for a fight.]

Yup, she read it.

[Carewyn’s eyes narrowed.]

“...Skye, I didn’t know Rita Skeeter changed the article.”

[Skye raised an eyebrow.]

“She asked me for an interview and I said no, so I thought she’d go back to focusing on you. I told her to talk to the team, not me.”

Skye: “(lowly) It looks like she followed your advice.”

[Night rushed to Carewyn’s defense, coming up to stand beside her.]

Night: “Skye, we didn’t know Skeeter had been planning to write about you. If we’d known, you know we would’ve said something.”

[Cara and Kaylisa nodded too.]

“(firmly) I told Skeeter flat-out that I’m just your substitute. I didn’t want any attention for this. This wasn’t even supposed to be my match: it was supposed to be yours.”

I don’t want praise for chasing someone else’s dream.

“I just want Slytherin to win. That’s all.”

[Amazingly Skye’s face had cleared of the tenseness and insecurity it’d shown long before Carewyn finished. She smiled, her eyes touched with an almost ironic dryness.]

Skye: “You really are a hero, Carewyn. You steal the spotlight so well that Skeeter woman can’t help but ignore me, even at my worst...and yet you’re still too decent of a person to let it go to your head.”

[The rest of the team relaxed. Carewyn gave a faintly uncomfortable smile, her eyes still drawn to the grass to the left of Skye’s foot.]

“(mutters) ...Why would a story crowing about how I’m the only one who can win us the Quidditch Cup go to my head?”

Who needs that sort of pressure?

Skye: “(smirking slightly) I might’ve liked it. Sometimes I wonder how we were lucky enough to grab you instead of Gryffindor, Carewyn.”

“(snorts dryly) Because I don’t just barrel in without thinking.”

[Skye laughed loudly, only to immediately regret it when pain shot through her newly mended ribcage.]

Skye: “Ow ow...fffffudge, that hurts...”

[She hissed in pain.

Carewyn gave her a faintly pitying look as she pulled on her set of spare green Quidditch robes. She’d had to adjust the fit when she first practiced in them, since they’d originally been sized for Skye’s height and weight, not hers.

At that moment Murphy wheeled into the tent. His face lit up at the sight of Skye and Carewyn.]

Murphy: “Hey, Skye! Ready for the Final, Carewyn?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

My insides feel like snakes, but well, that’s normal, isn’t it?

[Murphy looked at Night and Quinn.]

Murphy: “Are you both ready too? We’ll be counting on you out there today -- remember, if you’re over Rath’s shoulder when she tries to attack Kaylisa, we’ve got a 97.2% chance of countering the Ravenclaws’ winning strategy...”

Quinn: “Don’t worry, McNully -- we’ve got this.”

[She exchanged a look with Night and the two Beaters both smirked.]

Cara: “(with a determined smile) Hey, Carewyn...once we’re 70 points up, let’s make sure one of us stays near the center field, just in case Kaylisa sees the Snitch and we need to signal Night or Quinn.”

[Carewyn nodded in agreement, her own face much more serious.]

“Good idea.”

Murphy: “That could also give you time to stall Rath, if it’s taking Night or Quinn a while to get there.”

???: “I agree.”

[Orion entered the tent, already fully dressed in his uniform and holding his Cleansweep. He inclined his head in a single nod to his fellow Chasers, Carewyn and Cara.]

Orion: “We will need to pull out all the steps for this strategy to succeed.”

[He raised his gaze to the others.]

Orion: “Gather around the blackboard, team. It’s time for our moment of vivification.”

[The Slytherins in the tent all shuffled over to the far corner where the blackboard was set up.

Once everyone had assembled, Orion lifted the tent flap that had blown forward, shifting it aside to reveal what it had been hiding -- four Magical Creatures, lined up in a row.]

[A memory fluttered over Carewyn’s mind -- herself, in third year, heading out to the Quidditch Pitch in the hopes of scoring a tryout with the elusive Slytherin Quidditch Captain...

“Fire Crab, Flobberworm, Kneazle, Niffler...”

Orion smiled broadly seeing how Carewyn’s eyes had widened.]

Orion: “I see you remember these creatures too, Carewyn. When each of you first joined our team, I asked you to memorize these four creatures -- to take lessons from each of them, before every practice and match. Today these creatures embody the same traits we’ll need to secure our victory. We’ll need the patience of a Flobberworm resting in the earth...and yet we must be as tenacious as a Niffler in pursuit of gold. We must depend on one another with the loyalty of a Kneazle...and yet we must each burn with the fire of a Fire Crab. Patience -- tenacity -- loyalty -- and fire. They are all traits I have seen in every one of you, whether you’ve been here with me since the beginning...”

[He glanced at Skye out the side of his eye.]

Orion: “...Or you’ve returned to be with me here at the end.”

[His dark eyes landed on Carewyn, softening significantly, before he addressed his team again.]

Orion: “Let me take this time to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. Even with how much we have won and how much we have lost, the fire in your hearts has never faltered. You’ve never lost sight of our prize. You’ve trained with patience, rather than seeking a shorter road. And above all else...you have been a loyal family to each other...and to me.”

[Some of the team looked like they wanted to cry. Skye already had bowed her head to hide the tears streaming down her face.]

Oh, Orion...the end really is coming up so soon, isn’t it? Your final match...your final chance, to achieve your dream of winning the Cup...

[Memories of Bill’s farewell party the previous year rippled over Carewyn’s mind. She felt a choking feeling forming in the back of her throat, but she fought it back fiercely, even as her eyes likewise drifted down to the ground rather than up at Orion.

Orion amazingly wasn’t crying. Instead his dark eyes shone with such overwhelming pride and softness, it made him look almost paternal.]

Orion: “It...has been an honour...one I will never forget.”

[Even though he’d held in his tears, however, Carewyn could hear his emotion shaking at the back of his soft voice. He was deeply touched by his team’s tears, even though he wasn’t crying himself.]

Orion: “(with more volume and determination) Now then...let us face our opponents with all of our fire! Let us work patiently and unified, as one whole! And let us, no matter what, not let anything stand in the way of our goal today!”

[The entire Slytherin team all burst into cheers, even as tears flooded their eyes and streaked down their faces. Soon Night, Cara, Ashok, and Kaylisa had all divebombed Orion and enveloped him in a huge group hug. Carewyn stood back, bringing a hand up to swipe at the corner of her eye as she tried to compose herself. When she raised her head, she noticed Skye wiping her own face clean of tears with both hands.

As the team dispersed, Skye approached Orion properly.]

[Carewyn looked at Orion, her red lips spread in a smile.]

“(very softly) It was wonderful, Orion.”

[Skye glanced at the four creatures with a raised eyebrow.]

Skye: “...How did you get those things over here, anyway?”

[Orion’s dark eyes twinkled mischievously.]

Orion: “Some mysteries are not meant to be solved -- ”

???: “Mr. Amari!”

[Madame Hooch had arrived-- and judging by how she looked at the flobberworm, Niffler, Kneazle, and Fire Crab, she had not approved of them being brought into the Quidditch tent.

Orion stiffened only ever-so-slightly upon being caught. Within seconds, his mouth spread into a rather large, sugarcoated kind of smile, like a cat trying to play innocent after knocking over an expensive vase.]

Orion: “These creatures are part of our team’s moment of vivification, Madame Hooch. They’ll be returned to Hagrid shortly.”

[Hooch fixed Orion with a rather beady, hawk-like look.]

Hooch: “See that they are, quickly. Neither they nor you should be here. Mr. McNully, you’re needed in the commentary box -- and Miss Parkin, I’d say you should go find a seat in the stands, before you miss anything.”

[Murphy shrugged his shoulders amusedly, and he shot Carewyn, Night, and Quinn a huge grin before wheeling himself out. Skye hesitated, glancing around at all of her teammates, Carewyn, and then finally Orion, before heading out of the tent.]

Hooch: “As for you all -- Mr. Amari, Miss O’Donnell, Miss Cromwell -- Miss Rhea, Miss Mercurenius -- Mr. Peri -- Miss Fortescue...”

((OOC: Next up...the long-anticipated Quidditch Final: Slytherin VS Ravenclaw!

Other Slytherin MC teammates referenced -- Cara O’Donnell @unfortunate-arrow, Night Rhea @nightrhea-hphm​, and Sabrina “Quinn” Mercurenius @danceworshipper! If I can do anything to tweak how your characters are written, just let me know! xoxo

I was very close to having the article reveal at the pre-match party like in the game, but...well, I knew I’d have to rewrite the whole scene anyway, so it felt like it’d be better to just get a move on and get to the match quicker. The fall-out needed to be addressed, of course, but it didn’t seem logical to split material that could fit into one roleplaying post into two, particularly since in this version of events, Skye isn’t so starry-eyed about Rita Skeeter writing an article all about her and so Carewyn has no reason to feel sorry about how things turned out. Honestly all Carewyn feels is the urge to “accidentally” knock a Bludger in Rita’s direction with her broom during the match, but she’s enough of a paragon to resist that urge. No matter how much Rita would deserve it. *SNORT*))

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #roleplaying #gameplay #carewyn cromwell #rita skeeter #charlie weasley #ben copper #jae kim #skye parkin #orion amari #murphy mcnully #cara o'donnell #night rhea #sabrina mercurenius #rolanda hooch #quest for the quidditch cup

[serzhantkris]

Rebel Yell- 3

Summary: Let’s get something straight: he does not love you. He knows that for sure, because he doesn’t want to scream at you and he doesn’t want to get married, and that’s the only things he knows for sure about people who are in love. And he was doomed to kiss with his fists and scream and be angry and blame everyone but himself for the rest of his life. So, no. Billy did not love you. Billy Hargrove x Hopper!Reader

Word Count: 2244

Masterlist

“So then she said that I was bullshit, ‘cause I was pretending everything’s okay.”

Steve crumbled up the wrapper, still chewing through the words, and tossed it over his shoulder. It landed unceremoniously in the back seat of the BMW, along with the other junk food he’d been scarfing down for the past two weeks.

“Exactly how many times did she say ‘bullshit?’” You reach for your drink in the center console, frowning at Steve from the passenger seat. He shrugs.

“I dunno, like six. Everything was just… Bullshit, I guess.” He doesn’t look away from the carton of french fries sitting in his lap. “Hops, did- did we-” Steve pauses, looking out the dirty windshield at the school sitting below, “She said, we killed Barb.”

Other students mulled about the lot, eating their lunches and gossiping about who’s dating who, who wore what. Some of them studied for SATs and worried if they’d be invited to parties that weekend. You caught some familiar faces- Tina, twirling her hair around her finger while she flirted with Ram Sweeney; Heather, sitting on the trunk of Vicky Larson’s car. Tommy and Carol, practically swallowing each other’s tongues. 

None of them had any clue what had almost happened to them a year ago. What had happened to you and to Steve and countless others. To Barbara Holland.

“I think,” the words come slow, like you’re trying to believe them before you let Steve hear. “None of us could have known what was going to happen to her.”

“Yeah,” Steve clears his throat. “Yeah, but we- we did leave her there. You know? We left her outside, alone.”

Suddenly, Steve’s fries and the hamburger in your lap smells rotten. “We didn’t know.”

That was all you could say. And if it convinced Steve or you or Nancy that what happened wasn’t your fault, that would have been enough. But it didn’t, and it wasn’t.

“Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am bullshit.”

You tore your eyes from your reflection in the car window. “I don’t think that’s true.”

Steve chuckles under his breath, leaning his head back in the seat. The low sound of the radio fills in the quiet, both of you lost in thought for a long moment. 

Finally, you say, “I think you should talk to her.”

“Think she’ll listen?”

“I think she regrets what happened. I think the worst that can happen is the two of you decide you need some space. Maybe talking to her about Barbara, and admitting that you were wrong to ignore her feelings on the subject will benefit both of you.” 

Steve nods, chewing worriedly on the inside of his cheek. “I should buy flowers.”

The spray of water hit him right in the face, stinging his skin from the pressure and intense heat. It ran down his throat and over the back of his head, sticking his hair to his face and neck as he scrubbed at his scalp with his fingertips. Eyes closed, he listened to the sounds of the others as they moved toward the showers.

Running a hand over his face, flicking the soap to the tiles under his feet, Billy blinked at the harsh orange walls around him. Pinching his nose, he cast a sideways look at the boy on his left.

“Don’t sweat it, Harrington,” he said. “Today’s just not your day, man.”

He pushed the handle on the shower that he, Steve, and Tommy were circled around, cutting off the water on his showerhead. Reaching for a towel, he pressed it against his face.

“Yeah, not your week,” Tommy added, looking around the shower to Steve. “You and the princess break up- you think she’s run off with the freak’s brother yet?”

Steve shot Tommy a harsh look, but the other boy’s grin just grew. Billy eyed Tommy, opening the towel in his hands as Tommy turned off his own water spout and moved toward the wall of towels.

“Don’t take it too hard, man,” Billy said, watching Steve push soap through his mess of hair. “Pretty boy’s like you’s got nothin’ to worry about. Plenty of bitches in the sea.”

“Guess that leaves some room for Hopper,” Tommy ruffled the towel through his hair. “Why have the princess when you could have the queen?”

Billy’s grip on the towel tightened as he wrapped it around his waist. If Billy had learned anything from hanging out with the freckled boy, it was that he was the exact person to go to for details about the girls at the high school.

“What’s her deal, anyway?” Billy rubbed at his nose, tilting his head back to look at Tommy. “She got a boy-toy or is she just a huge fuckin’ tease?”

Steve clenches his jaw, watching soap run down the drain. “Neither,” he snaps. Tommy just laughs, leaning against the wall with the towel wrapped around him.

“Not from what I remember,” Tommy says. “You remember last year, she ran out on Kurt Kelley when he tried to put it in her-”

“Don’t talk about her like that.” Steve’s hand smacked the spout, cutting off the water abruptly. “And you know she didn’t do shit with Kurt Kelley.”

Billy’s nostrils flared, tongue between his teeth as he watched Steve grab up a towel and storm to the other side of the lockers, leaving Tommy laughing and Billy intrigued in his wake.

Billy had claimed the corner of your smoking spot for his own. Always tucked where no one could see him from the window, he puffed on cigarettes and always flashed you a sideways smile when you snuck out the door. He shared his lighter, sometimes his smokes, and you returned the favor. It wasn’t quite a friendship, but it was a comradery. The two of you didn’t speak much, if at all, and never paid much attention to each other once the door closed and you were back in the fluorescent halls.

It didn’t take words, or even attention. In that little nook by the dumpster, no one could see. Billy didn’t go out of his way to try and win you over like the Halloween party. He didn’t need to be tough or flirtatious. He could just lean against the brick wall, you standing beside him, and blow smoke into the air. The silence was comfortable, and even though you didn’t know much about Billy, it was as though you’d known him for a long time.

The game you had unwittingly started with Billy had started to seep into your everyday life. Less than a month of knowing the guy, you were already enamoured. Not in the same way that Tina or Heather or any of the other girls were; sure, he was attractive. Almost insultingly so. He had the bad boy look- the bad boy everything. The Sammy Hagar hair, the leather jacket and button up shirts, the sparkling blue eyes- alright. So yeah, he was hot and definitely a hot mess just dying to happen.

But through the flirting, the crooked grins and the attitude, there was something in Billy Hargrove that was screaming. Something that made you want to joke, to tease and make him laugh. Under it all, he was sad. Maybe just as sad as you were. And like a magnet, it’s starting to pull you in.

There was no sun here, the cubby masked in shade, and even without the wind it made your fingers numb as you dug in your pocket for a cigarette. You glanced around the small space and couldn’t stop the disappointment from slouching your shoulders.

“You lookin’ for somebody?”

The sun reflected off the roof of the building as you squinted up, shielding your eyes to find him. Billy’s collar was turned up against the cold, cigarette in undoubtedly cold fingers. His arm hung lazily off of his knee, flicking the ashes over the side of the dumpster he was sitting on. The other leg hung off the side, swinging absently just a few feet from you.

“What are you doing up there?”

Billy raised the cigarette. “Smoking.”

Sticking the cigarette in your teeth, you approached the dumpster and grabbed the edge, hoisting yourself up by him. Your boots slid against the side of the dumpster, proving it to be a more difficult task than expected. Billy chuckled under his breath, sticking his own cigarette in his mouth and offering you his hands. He pulled you up, barely straining a muscle as your rear end hit the lid beside him.

With no walls to protect you, you pulled your hood up over your head. Your hair and face peeked out the front, cheeks turning red quickly. You fumbled for your lighter as Billy puffed on his cigarette.

“Here.” He turned toward you, leaning closer with a hand cupped around the butt. You followed suit, the end of your cigarette touching his as you inhaled. The smoke filled your lungs and you sat back, trying to ignore the warmth of his shoulder and thigh that were touching yours.

“Thanks.”

The two of you sat in silence for a long moment, flicking ashes below and blowing smoke toward the sky. “Who’s Kurt?”

“What?”

“Kurt Kelley,” he clarified, taking a long drag from his cigarette. “Heard a rumor about you and him today.”

You peer at Billy, pushing your hood back just enough to get a good look at him. He’s staring ahead, the blue of his eyes focused on the roof. The fog in front of his lips comes from the cold, not the cigarette smoldering in his hand. “He graduated last year.”

Smoke billows out of Billy’s nose. “And?”

“And,” you repeat, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth. “That depends what version of the story you heard.”

Billy chuckles under his breath. “How ‘bout the truth?”

The November wind drags Billy’s hair over his cheek. He makes no effort to brush it away, letting it stick to his chapped lips. He jabs the cigarette on the metal, letting it sizzle out.

“The truth is, Kurt Kelley is a liar,” you sigh. “Why do you care, anyway?”

Billy’s lips twitch into a smirk. “Here I thought we were friends.”

“You don’t even know me,” you tell him. 

“I know you like Joan Jett.”

“That was a dead giveaway.”

He turns his head, finally looking at you. The sun lights up half his face, the side that’s turned toward you, and you can make out every detail. He’s a Renaissance painting, made of winter blues and summer tans, and every flaw is lit up in a November halo.

“Maybe I wanna know you,” Billy says.

For the first time, you feel intimidated by him. “How’s that?”

He kisses you, and it’s warm and sweet and tastes like oranges; he’s a spot of summer, warm on your lips and the fingers that come to touch your face feel like fire. He’s hot and you’re freezing, leaning into his touch like it will save you from turning to ice. There’s an underlying taste of ash and wintergreen gum, and when he pulls away and licks his lips, you wonder if he tastes all of it too.

Your cheeks are flushed, pink crawling up over your nose. Your lips are pouted, starting to chap from the cold, but they’re still warm when he leans back, and now he’s looking at you like you’re the painting. 

“How very.”

His laugh is genuine- not at all the wolfish cackle you’d heard every time before, but a burst of sunlight coming from deep in his chest. His tongue gets caught between his teeth, and somewhere faraway, you can hear bells. School bells. Below, a rush of voices pass the door that led you to the dumpster, and to Billy.

“We’re late,” you whisper, indifferent. Billy just nods, not even blinking. 

He stands, adjusting his jeans before he grabs the edge of the dumpster and swings himself down. You scoot after him, legs hanging over, peering down. It’s not a far drop, but Billy stands there anyway, hand up to help you down. You land between him and the green metal, Billy looking down at you like he might kiss you again.

“Go out with me tonight,” he says. Billy’s teeth scrape his bottom lip, drawing it into what might be construed as a hopeful expression. “Let me know you.”

“That’s the most forward thing you’ve ever said to me.” You inhale, the air crisp and cold in your lungs. “Is this because of Kurt? ‘Cause you think I’ll sleep with you?”

Billy snorts, stuffing his hands in his pockets and taking a step back. He should have been offended, and normally, he’d at least pretend to be. But your question had not been accusatory- only curious, and honestly, he didn’t think you would in a million years. 

“I don’t care about what you did or didn’t do,” he shrugs. “And if you tell me to leave you alone and go fuck myself, I’ll leave you alone and go fuck myself.”

It’s a terrible, horrible, no-good idea. Saying yes to Billy was to invite the wolf inside, to open the door that you had left closed for a long, long time. He’d already taken a bite of Tina and Heather and Vicky and-- all those girls, left for scraps. Begging for another taste of Billy Hargrove. If he huffed and puffed, maybe you’d be left wanting more, too.

“Yeah. Okay, yeah.”

Taglist Open

@william-hargroves​​ @killer-queen-xo​​ @sallyp-53​​ @cloverrover​​ @scud994​​ @nighttwingg​​ @yaidothat​​ @abiwebb12​​ @camillewester​ @vespertxne​ @potatoheadthewise​

#billy hargrove x reader #billy x reader #stranger things fanfiction #billy hargrove #stranger things

[carryonmywaywardwriters]

One Day At A Time - Jensen x Reader

A/N: Part Four! If you’d like to be tagged, please sent an ask or message. As always, feedback is incredible. And, I hope you all enjoy <3

PSA: I am NOT a minor friendly blog. If you are below 18, please come back when you’re older. I don’t want to lose my blog because you were too eager to grow up. If I discover you, I WILL block.

Series Masterlist

Warnings: Widower!Jensen. Unrequited feelings. Online personality problems. Guilt. Nothing too wild, yet!

Word Count: Roughly 3,500

“Y/N,” Arrow's pinched up little face made you turn her way as you blinked awake. It took you a moment to understand what was happening. Her almost too dark to be blonde hair was mused from her night of unrest. “I got you a present.”

“Arrow, it's....” A look towards the clock made you groan, “It's four am.”

“I couldn't wait.” Five years old and afraid of almost nothing, she'd braved the dark night to make it across the patio in the back that led to your space. You sat up, yawning. Rubbing over your cramped neck. Sleep hadn't come easily to you, either.

In the end, you'd found yourself scrolling through Tumblr. Something every member of the cast had advised you not to do. But, the curiosity ate at you until you'd given into the urge. Only to end up feeling worse about where you stood.

There'd been so many posts calling out what you were afraid of. Hours had been wasted searching over every response and like. Seeing just how many people believed the worst in you. The impulse stalking of the fandom left you exhausted.

“What is it?” Your lips smacked as you pulled the blanket away to sit up. Moving back to the moment you were stuck in. The pajamas you were wearing had been a Christmas gift 'from' J.J the year before. Mint green elephant covered shorts and a cami.  It was perfect for combating the warm air that would hit as soon as you stepped outside.

“I made it at school,” She stated gleefully, lifting the little clay figure the art program she had asked to be involved with over the summer had allowed her to make. A tiny, uneven flower stared back at you. Haphazardly painted a deep purple. Making your heart flutter from such a simple action. God, I love this kid. “Do you like it?” The nerves were clear in her voice as she watched you look over it.

“Are you kidding? It's great,” The grin that tugged at your lips made her smile brightly. “Totally worth the wake up call.” You moved to give it a place of honor along the shelf that held little mementos all of the kids passed your way. As you walked back to the bed, she pulled your blanket over her. Snuggling in with a yawn. Your bed being invaded happened more than most would have expected. There was no point in resisting it. When you were fully wrapped in your blanket, she curled into your side. Listening to the sound of your heartbeat. “Thank you, sweetheart.” The small kiss to her forehead left her glowing so happily as her eyes closed that you wanted to cry. What you wouldn't give to have a child like her of your own.

That's how Jensen found you two later that morning. His lips pressed up at the soft snore that left his daughter's throat as you breathed gently below her. Your hand rested over her back as she held onto you. Preventing her from rolling in her sleep. A habit that typically led to kicking if you weren't careful.

He hadn't entered the side home you had taken up since you'd moved in. It had been an unspoken rule, allowing you to have some sort of privacy. Even if his kids broke it on a regular basis, he'd resisted. Until that morning, anyway.

It only carried three small rooms. A kitchen that extended to a living room, a bathroom, and the bedroom. He told himself to just check on you. But, instead, he'd found himself taking in the small pieces that told of the person residing inside of the home.

You'd added your own little touch to the place. Pictures of your life from before he'd known you and others with the kids, the Padaleckis, and other members of the cast you'd come to care for dotted around the walls and tables. Drawings covered your fridge from the littles. A bookshelf carried an array of topics. Everything from romance to biology. Letting him peak a little more closely into the woman who was so entwined with his life. You were smarter than even he'd given you credit for looking over the array. There was a tank resting in the corner. A large frog  had stared back at him when he'd peered in before thrashing away. The last thing he'd expected to see. Somehow, he imagined his kids to have been involved in that one.

His lips curled up further as he snapped a picture on his phone of the scene in the bedroom. Telling himself that it would be for you. A sweet little memory you wouldn't want to forget. As he tucked the device back into his pocket and prepared to walk away, Arrow spotted him. “Daddy?”

Her sitting up made your eyes blink open. Slowly, you came into focus. The sight of Jensen standing sheepishly at the foot of your bed had you jerking up and looking at the clock. With a muttered expletive, you threw yourself off the mattress. Reaching for the short silk robe that had been tossed over a cushioned bench the night before.

“I'm sorry,” You bleated out, tying the knot around your waist sloppily. Fully preparing to bolt and fix breakfast.

“It's fine,” He waved it off. Not bothered in the slightest. Relaxing some once he realized no one was shrieking at his intrusion. “Food's already done if ya want some.” His thick hands slid into his jean short pockets. The stretch of the green muscle top across his chest made you suck in a deep breath before forcing your eyes upwards. Only to zero in on that deep, pine gaze. “Just wanted to make sure you two were alright.” You wet your lips before jolting back to reality. Sending Arrow on her way to get some food. She went easily. But, her dad lingered behind, “Slumber party?”

“She had a present,” You answered, reaching towards your dresser to grab your clothes for the day. As if that explained it all. At his waiting look, you sighed. Continuing the story. “She couldn't sleep. Too excited to give it to me, I guess. So, she broke in at four am.” He winced, opening his mouth to apologize, you were sure. You didn't give him the chance. “It was sweet, Jay. No biggie. I gave it its own little spot to shine.” A point towards the shelf you'd left it on had him moving forward.

It was different, somehow. Being alone with him in his home was safe. Familiar. In your room? It made the air squish out of your lungs. The closer he got, the harder it was to breathe.

When he finally stopped, he was near enough that you could practically feel the heat emitting off of him. The nerves you carried grew stronger as he took in each item that had been gifted to you. Taking the time to explore every one you'd held onto over the two years you'd been receiving them.

“They really love you,” He murmured without looking up. His lips curling at what was supposed to be a version of Garfield. Zeppelin had offered that one to you the year before after you'd read the comic to him that had been in the paper.

“I...I guess so.” You swallowed tightly, needing to escape the intimacy of the moment. Getting back to business was the right course of action. Would give you the chance to escape. “I'm just gonna hit the shower and then I'll get started-”

“Take the day off,” The order took you aback. He didn't give you time to recoup.“Grab some food and get out for a bit. I'm gonna take the kids over to the zoo in Dallas. Let them blow some stink off.”

“That's a three hour drive...one way.” Your brow quirked as you thought about all the horrors that could come from that one. Recouping faster than he'd expected. “You're a brave man, Jensen.” But, you didn't fight him. He had that hard look in his eye. As if daring you to argue. You liked your position to much to chance it. Instead, you moved a step back. “You guys coming straight home?” Telling yourself that you were only thinking about dinner got you nowhere. Instead, the lingering doubts danced in your mind.

“I, uh...I dunno, yet. I was plannin' on staying out. Depends on what they want to do, really,” He rubbed at the back of his neck; looking at the lost expression you held. Feeling his own guilt creeping in. “Probably should pack up some bags, huh?” He told himself you'd appreciate it in the end. Contrary to what you'd said? Everyone needed some alone time. And the scene he'd stumbled on told him that you weren't even getting nights to yourself.

“Just in case,” You agreed, holding the clothes you carried to your chest. Clutching them as if they'd carry you to safety. “Give me ten, and I'll help round them up.” He opened his mouth to protest, but you continued. “It's nothing major, Jay...It'll get you on the road faster. So they have time to goof off at the zoo.” Not because you needed to be needed. That's what you told yourself, anyway. “Is Cliff going?” The nod made you relax some. No harm could befall them with their guardian angel at their side. “Alright. Good. That settles it, then.” With that, you turned away. Padding barefoot towards the shower.

Not even halfway to the animal park, Jensen found himself regretful. Whether it was because he'd left you behind or because he hadn't left you behind sooner, he wasn't quite sure. Maybe it's a bit of both. As your name left Justice Jay's lips for the fifth time in under a minute, he definitely settled in at the that last option. It was definitely the first one.

The kids were excited, of course. That alone made it worth it. Rescued exotic animals filled the small trail zoo that Austin carried. It had captivated them for the longest time. The Dallas one was bigger, though. Had more attractions.

Most importantly? It was something different. New. Jensen wasn't a huge fan of change, himself. But, it was something he needed to get used to. A zoo trip was nothing more than dipping his toes into the ocean. Yet, it was a start.

The only problem? It just didn't seem to be quite the same without your presence. And that was the heart of the matter. Even Jensen had to acknowledge that point. He'd called it right when he'd said you were part of the family.

“Why didn't Y/N come? Is she sick?”

“Can we facetime Y/N? I want to show her the elephant! It matches her pajamas!”

“Dad! We gotta get Y/N this necklace! Or.... Oh! This! She'll love this scorpion!”

Cliff was amused by the antics. Watching the way his friend tried to change the subject a bit so that they could enjoy the moment without the lack of you leaving a shadow. It worked for a short time, and then the name would come forth again.

Eventually, they accepted you weren't there. The questions were dropped. Instead, it appeared in an after thought. Such as your favorite animal. The smell of a food you loved. How much you'd love to play with them in the misting fans.

Jensen allowed it. Knowing that you were too big of a part in their lives to brush off. Instead, he found himself joining in. Noting that you would have been enthusiastically pointing the camera around, ensuring that the memories hadn't been forgotten. It was enough for the kids to agree; wrapping their arms around him and each other for images that you'd see later. They'd ensure it.

It didn't take long for him to realize that he was going back home that night. An overnight trip like he'd begun to plan wasn't fair to the kids. They wanted their home. Wanted you.

After dinner, he was back on the road. The fun had worn them out. All three of the young ones were out once their stomachs were full and the car was on the move.

“So...” Cliff started once the silence commenced, turning towards the man he called a friend.

His presence had kept what bit of attention Jensen had garnered down. Had helped ensure that the kids were all collected. Just as planned. Hell, he'd actually enjoyed the time out. The household was part of his family. Which is why he had no problem getting nosy.

“She needed a day off.” Ackles knew exactly where that one was going. After all, everyone else had asked him repeatedly. “What?” The knowing expression lining his bodyguard's face made his brow rise.

“Today is the first day I haven't seen her around one of your kids in the last two years.” He began tentatively. Treading with care. “Was she sick?”

“No.” The answer was hesitant. “No, I just...I thought she could use some time to herself.” The hum said that the response wasn't quite believed. Silence stretched between the men as headlights danced over them on the expressway. “Okay, fine... truth? I wanted some space with the kids.” He felt the familiar eyes gazing over him curiously as he steered the car. “She's...I dunno. Just there. Always. And...” How did someone put the feelings into words?

When you were there, it was just...different. He needed time with the kids to focus on what was coming. Where he would go in the future. On all those little things he'd finally be able to do. Even just taking the kids to the zoo, and giving you some much needed self care time was a step in the right direction. It was something he hadn't been able to do in ages. Gave you a chance to figure out what you'd do with your life as his family's changed majorly.

“Jay...” Cliff began slowly, unsure of just how well what he was going to ask was going to go over. “Are.. are you starting to...to look at other women, again?”

A heavy swallow filled the air, “It's only been two years. Don't be ridiculous. Dee...she was my heart. That wasn't what this is about.”

But, he couldn't deny it to himself. Not really. There'd been too many dreams of soft skin, small moans, and the old push and pull that he'd been lacking in his life for far too long. Jensen simply promised himself that he'd live without it. Danneel deserved that much from him. That never ending loyalty he'd promised her had to hold out.

“So, what is it?” There was no judgment. Simply curiosity. It made all the difference. With a huff, he slowly started to explain it all. Hoping maybe Cliff could offer some kind of advice that'd make everything start to make sense again.

–

“The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.” The song by Alec Benjamin played throughout the bathroom you'd taken over. You sang along softly. Mindlessly letting the hot water and bubbles keep you relaxed. “If we got each other, and that's all we have? I will be your lover, and I'll hold your hand. You should know, I'll be there for you. When the world's not perfect. When the world's not kind. If we have each other, then we'll both be fine.”

Your mind moved to what the direction Jensen had sent it as you stared out at the lake. Watching the lights from a boat trail over the smooth water without really seeing it. You weren't hung up on your ex. No, it was the set of emerald eyes that had stolen your breath just that morning. A sigh left you as you sank down further into the bath. The sweet song twisted inside your chest.

Guilt swarmed you as you faced the feelings you were harboring. Danneel had been your friend. She'd given you a place in her home. And how did you repay her? By making googly eyes at her husband when he wasn't looking.

Every negative comment ran through your mind, again. Each one you felt to be deserved. That was the hardest part. It was all things you'd already thought yourself at some point or another. Only made more real by the strangers who typed it.

Maybe he's right...maybe I need more time away. The thought tangled your gut painfully, that time. Suddenly feeling more real at the day alone. But what choice did you have in the end?

Jensen had said he didn't want you to go, yet you couldn't quite buy into that. Not completely. He was going to have more time once the show ended. You weren't going to be nearly as needed. That's what the day had been about, in your eyes. It only made sense to start moving in that direction. If only it was as easy for you as it sounded.

When the car pulled into the driveway, Oscar's bark pulled you from the hole you were in. A peek to the security system that linked to your phone let you know who it was just before the suddenly too awake J.J shouted your name. The Ackles brood had returned home.

You barely had enough time to drain the tub and don your pajamas in the master bathroom before tiny fists knocked at the door. The noise and lights had alerted them to your presence. Telling you to meet them downstairs.

Oscar was bouncing on his front paws as you stepped into the sunken living room where the sudden chaos was ensuing. Shaking the grown out top knot on his forehead as he pounced the air. Icarus simply raised his gaze off of one of his many beds; taking in the scene around him before he huffed. Curling back into the plushness he was wrapped up in.

“Y/N! There was an elephant!”

“Dad ate so much and gassed up everything in the car!”

“Cliff took lots of pictures, so you could see!”

“I got you a scorpion!”

“Arrow is super tired, but she got you a hat!”

Zep and Justice ran over each other to get in every detail of the day as Jensen walked in the front door, carrying the still sleeping Arrow against his chest. Your nod his way told him to go ahead, you had the other two. Carefully, you got them to start speaking one by one.

You had to look through the pictures on the camera the father of the the kids had taken with him. It was necessary 'ooh' and 'ahh' everything thrust your way before they gave in to the urge to go back to sleep. Jensen had to chase them away to get them in bed while you piled up the spoilings for the day so it could be better managed in the morning.

“I thought you guys were staying overnight,” Your hip leaned against the door frame that would lead you out to the yard. Stopping only because you'd heard the tired sigh.

“Kids wanted to come home.” He didn't say why. Didn't have to. The way they'd flocked you had said it all. “What'd you do today?”

“I...I just...I went out.” His head tilted as if expecting more. Curious to see what happened when you were given a life. The truth of it? You'd simply gone to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and hunted down your favorite waterfall. But, that wouldn't have been what he'd wanted to hear. “There's, uh, some gas-x in that cupboard over there if you need it.”

Jensen's cheeks flushed as he realized his kids had spared nothing, “Uh...yeah...they were...they were exaggerating.” At the way your lips pulled tight to hold back the smile, he dipped his head. Rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you want a drink? I suddenly need one.”

“No,” The answer came quick enough that his eyes held obvious confusion. “No...no, thank you.” You cleared your throat, carrying the dirty clothes you'd worn earlier to your chest. “I'm just...I'm gonna go. Get some rest, Mr. Ackles. You look tired.” And with that, you were out the back door. Running to safety.

“Mr...Ackles?” Jensen watched as you disappeared into the darkness. Frowning as he lost sight of you near the house. “What the hell?”

Part Five

ODAAT: @winchester-ofthe-lord​​​ @smoothdogsgirl​​ @ima-be-a-mongoose​​ @briagallen​​ @agusdoti​ @my-proof-is-you​

Dean/Jensen: @akshi8278​​​ @screechingartisancashbailiff​​​

Forever: @dean-winchesters-bacon​ @supernaturalginger​ @lilulo-12​ @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce​ @michaelneedssomemilk​ @lemondropirwin​​ @fanfictionismydeath​​

#supernatural #spn #supernatural fanfiction #spn fanfiction #Supernatural angst #spn angst #supernatural reader insert #spn reader insert #Jensen Ackles #jensen #jensen ackles fanfiction #jensen fanfiction #jensen ackles reader insert #jensen reader insert #jensen ackles x reader #jensen ackles x y/n #jensen ackles x you #jensen x reader #jensen x y/n #jensen x you #jensen x danneel

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

Tempest in a Teacup: Two

Clint watched you remembering how to be alive again with a smile. You were staring at a bowl of Rice Krispies like you’d forgotten what they were for as you curled like a question mark around a cup of coffee.

“Barton, I think you can cancel the DNA test,” Bucky snorted, smacking him on the shoulder as he passed. Clint snorted, “I could never deny her, that’s for sure.”

“Thank god she doesn’t look like you, though.” Steve teased, prompting Clint to flip him off casually.  

Clint kisses the side of your head and swaps your bowl of now soggy cereal that he knows you won’t eat for French toast he knows you will eat and you look up at him and smile your thanks sleepily.

For a second, you’re five again. Five and homesick. It was almost this time of year. Right before you started kindergarten. You had a cute little liting voice. Like a little silver bell. He couldn’t cook, not really and you’d eaten nothing but sugary cereal and carrot sticks and animal cookies for a few days. It was Saturday morning and you’d been awake and scared all night. Worried about your mom. ... The french toast had been a lot less pretty but that smile was the same.

You were bigger now. Stronger. Smarter. The most beautiful thing he’d ever seen still. And sometimes, he missed your accent. He hated it after you went to school and your voice got more Americanized. But you were his girl. He chucked you under the chin and handed Nat the other plate. She was taking you shopping. You needed school clothes anyway. And, as long as she’d been around, Nat had always taken you school shopping, for which Clint was grateful. Especially when you hit your teens. He got a bit lost after boys cargo shorts and plain t-shirts weren’t your standard gear. “Nat,” Clint teased, “no more platform boots. Seriously.” Natasha winked at you, “Not unless they’re on sale.”

You pick up a fork and lean into Clint’s side for a second as he stands there sipping coffee. You missed him. Between saving the world and just living far away, there was no such thing as enough hugs. Clint draped an arm over your shoulder casually and Natasha feels her heart ache just a little.

She knew. Probably better than anyone how scared Clint was that he wasn’t the parent he should be. But she wished she could show him this. A picture didn’t do justice to just how happy you looked when he hugged you just a little tighter. Maybe he wasn’t the parent he should be. Teaching you how to do some slightly illegal things, letting an assassin take you shopping, giving you back your fake ID; but, he was exactly the parent you needed. He was unfailingly supportive. He dealt with feelings and self-doubt and little heartbreaks in stride. He knew you. And he loved you with no conditions.

Clint gave the spy a look and Natasha only shrugged. You had a style. You liked what you liked. And frankly, it was cool. Distinctive. It suited you. Natasha knew damn well that as long as you bought age-appropriate clothing and you weren’t running around half-naked or in bondage gear, he really didn’t care what you wore. You went to an Academy for artistic kids. Weird clothes were expected. Nay. Encouraged. And New York. Land of Punks and Aging club kids, was the place to go. Nat look forward to this most of the year. It was fun. You were picky but not like... annoyingly picky. It was just an “I already know what I want and this is... actually close enough” kind of picky. “Got any Art supplies you need, kid?” Natasha asked. You frown, thinking, “Depends. Do you want me to make you some new wall clutter?”

“Did I hear Wall clutter?” Tony asked strolling in for coffee. “Y/N has offered to make Wall Clutter for the cost of Art supplies,” Clint said, tugging a stray lock of hair.

"Oh!" Pepper said, stealing the coffee mug out of Tony's hand and handing him water, "Could you do something neat we can Auction off After everyone signs it? It always brings in a ton of money for the cleanup fund." You take a bite of French toast and nod, thinking, "I could probably pull something together... It depends on how big a piece you want. And what medium. And subject matter."

Clint frowned but didn't say anything. You were a good kid. He knew you'd do hours of work for free. He also knew that it gave you something to do in all the downtime. That he could pester you while you worked as easily as he could while you were bouncing around the tower at warp speed. But, it rubbed him the wrong way. And then he remembered why. You did amazing artwork for them and you had. For years. Big pieces that went for literally millions. And you never got the credit for it. Nothing but your tiny little signature in the corner most people put a potted plant in front of.  "I'll let her do it," Clint said, clearing his throat, "As long as she starts getting some form of actual recognition for it... Most people just think those things are put together by a whole ass design studio. They don't realize it's one punk kid with some chalk and some aquanet." Your artistic shit was your superpower.

It was all the attention to detail and the effort.

Pepper gasped, "Have they really never put her name anywhere?" Tony frowned, "That's unacceptable." Your cheeks color slightly, "It's not that big a deal... I mean part of the money they make is because people think it's like Banksy or some shit." You do set work. You paint sets, make costumes, and run tech. You're pretty sure no one but your dad even realizes that someone has to make it all look good. He comes to the show and has tacos and good coke, the kind in glass bottles from Mexico, sent back to the crew while everyone fusses over the actors. And he sends you purple roses for opening night. You love purple.

"It is too a big deal!" Pepper says stomping her foot, "Four years you've been making us stuff to sell off and never once gotten even a mention on the program?" You shrug, "I don't get them for the shows I do sets for either. None of the crew really gets much beyond our names in a massive list." Pepper doesn't hear the explanation, she's already on the phone. She's halfway through shouting at someone. Something about back pay and other things that hurt your head to think about. So you take your plate to the sink and start cleaning up, working around Tony where he's standing directly in your way.

"Do you think you could do Asgard? Like long ways." he asked thinking. "Panoramic?" you ask. He nods and you think, figuring out logistics. "Medium?" you ask. Tony smiles a little, "What about spray paint?" Clint smiles a little from his spot, watching goings-on and relaying information to Pepper. You're planning things out in your head. Like a goddamn chess grandmaster. He can see pieces being moved around. "Photorealistic or stylized?" you ask. Tony snorts, "Let's say stylized. Wouldn't want Thor to try and walk through it." That makes you smile a little, "I can probably do that... What do you want me to put in on?" That makes Tony stop for a second, "Let's see what people will really buy," he said mischievously, "I'll get you a sheet of drywall to play with... And all the colors of spray paint you could ever need." You nod, "I can do that but I might need some time... and a large patch of grass you don't mind getting paint on. I don't really do Spray paint inside if I can help it."

Tony nodded and raised his coffee cup in mock toast, "You might be the least temperamental Artist we ever commissioned."

That made Natasha snort, "Clearly, you've never heard her backstage during a show. "Fuck Muppet" became my new favorite epithet after the last one." Tony chokes on his coffee and Clint snorts, "That's great," he laughed, "I changed my mind. Just make a giant thing that says Fuck Muppet." Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, "Y/N please don't."

"Now I'm gonna," you say, "And I'm gonna dedicate it to you, Steve." The laughter that follows you out of the room is satisfying. You don't need to turn around to Know that Steve's face is probably snapchat worthy. Or that your dad probably looks way too proud of you for talking back to a literal National Treasure. But, he had it coming honestly. No living creature should be that fucking uptight. It wasn't healthy. You were willing to bet that if you made him swallow a piece of coal he'd shit a diamond. But there wasn't time to Dwell on that. You and Natasha had shopping to do. At least some of it.

When you come back downstairs in jeans, your boots, and a red croptop with "You inspire my inner serial killer" written on it in pretty script, Clint shakes his head, "Another Forray into fashion design?" You shake your head and stick the last bobby pin into your right space bun, "Nah. Parker made me this one." Nat smiles a little. You don't look 17. You look 21 and Clint is about 4 seconds from a heart attack. But, aside from your midriff and a belly button piercing he already knows about, there's no other skin showing. And it's summer. "Cute," Nat says, "But please. Please don't make me have to stab some stupid frat boy today."  You grin, "Nah... They're all more trouble than they're worth."

Natasha grabs you by the hand and drags you out of the room before Clint can think too hard about that last comment and he retroactively tries to ground you until you're 83.

Steve watches Natasha flounce out of the room with you and Clint pour coffee like nothing just happened, "Have fun! Don't kill anyone!" Clint shouts after you. You half turn and sign "Love you, dad" to him and he smiles, "Love you too, punk" he answers.

"You really don't have a problem with her dressed like that?" Steve asked. "Like what?" Clint counters mildly, "Like a 17-year-old girl? In this year of your lord in the 21st century when ankles aren't sexy anymore unless you're weird? No. No, I don't" Steve winced, "I just meant," he started. Clint quirked an eyebrow, "She's 17. Not 7. She's my child. Not yours. It's just a shirt. Those are just comfortable jeans. And those boots are probably just comfortable too... If the worst thing she does is dress like that, get piercings I know about, and flirt with muscle-bound idiots until she gets bored with them, all things considered, I'll take it." You're a pretty girl. Really Pretty. And men tended to stare and they had since you were 12. It was gross but Clint didn't see any point in making you dress like a Nun when it was much more satisfying to break noses. Steve stayed quiet and left shortly after that. And honestly, Clint was grateful. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to tell him how to parent you.

But, he didn't think it was that bad. You were older now than he'd been when you were born. You made good grades. You had good friends. You called to talk to him and if you didn't call you texted. Truth be told, half the time he didn't know what to do with you and the rest of the time he just did the opposite of what his parents would have done. It was still better than Reggie did. She'd just sort of left you with her mom and fucked off to go help the CIA destabilize countries. Clint considered that job security. Reggie made the Warlords and Petty Despots and Clint helped put them down. It worked.

Outside, he watched as Tony made good on his promise to set you up. Paint, Drywall, tables, Brushes, attachments. Anything you could ever want were being delivered. Stark seemed intent on making up for his oversight and Clint was happy about it. You deserved credit for the cool shit you did. Maybe it would help drown out all the comments from people that looked down their nose at you. He drifted away to get some target practice in and you and Natasha wander the city, looking for the perfect new pair of platform boots and some little pieces of flair for your school wardrobe.  

By the time you return, Clint has been doing more looking at his phone than working. Natasha sent him pictures. Lots of pictures. And he saved them all. His personal favorite was one Natasha had taken of you both. Huge sunglasses and feather boas, pouting for the camera. You looked like you were having a blast. He couldn’t wait to hear about it, even if he didn’t actually want to participate.

Pepper knocked on the doorframe and leaned on it casually, “So,” she said, holding out a check, “Since the work she did for us would have made her some money... Probably a lot of money. Tony and I agreed that it’s bullshit that she didn’t get credit.” Clint took the check and just blinked, “Holy Shit.” was all he could say and Pepper smiled a little. “We figure that doing that work for anything Stark affiliated would have made her about that much in commissions for other rich people with more money than sense.” Clint snorted, “She is really good, isn’t she.” he said with a note of pride.

“Especially for all the crazy things Tony pitches at her,” she said nodding, “I have no idea how she’s going to do Asgard in spray paint but if anyone can.” Clint nodded, “She can,” he agreed. “So why are you giving this to me?” he asked, not following. “Because,” Pepper said smiling, “No 17 year old should have that much money... I figured you’d best hang on to it for now.” Clint nodded, “Thanks, Pepper.” he said.

She squeezed his hand, “I’m sorry we didn’t realize it sooner. It feels like we were taking advantage of her... but. We’re taking care of that oversight now. We planned a full showcase of the work she did for us previously to go along with the Auction of this piece. And I’m going to see if she minds us putting some of the dress designs she’s done for Nat and I on display too.” Clint nods slowly. It sounds like a lot. Maybe even too much. You’re still in school and he desperately wants you to finish, not just rabbit off and start cranking out art until your fingers bleed. So he says as much to Pepper.

The woman thinks for a moment and nods, “We’ll stick to the previous art pieces then. Just those for now... Later I will happily wear anything her little heart designs and send work her way.” That makes Clint feel better. A lot better.

You’re a kid. A gifted, talented kid. And you’re his. It’s his job to protect you until you can protect yourself. But as Pepper walks away and he stares at the staggering sum of money on the check, he knows he’ll probably never stop.

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#clint barton #natasha romanoff #tony stark #steve rogers #Dad!Clint #teen reader #pepper potts