#’i don’t think about my dad that much anymore & i don’t visit his grave but he still haunts me | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

spideytingley · 3 months

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twice in a lifetime

pairing: steve rogers x platonic child!oc

summary: shortly after getting out of the ice in 2011, Steve finds out that the descendants of one of his friends live on New York, and he decides to visit them, thinking that maybe he won’t have to be all alone anymore. thanks to this, he finds a family for him in this new time.

content warning: brief mentions of death.

word count: 1.6k

Doubt had started to creep in as Steve hesitated on the doorstep, staring at the wooden door in front of him. An elderly man had opened the building’s door for him, recognising him from the news, or maybe from a museum exhibit — he was supposed to be ancient history by now, but yet there he stood. The second World War had been almost seventy years ago, and while having lived it, Steve was barely thirty. And his friends were dead, as he should be.

That was why he was standing in front of the apartment, really. It turned out that according to SHIELD’s extensive database, a past teammate of his, Dum Dum Dugan, had family living in New York, close to where he lived in Brooklyn. It was a no-brainer that he had to visit, at least drop in to see what had become of something he’d known. Something that wasn’t a grave. (Or Peggy Carter, of whom he didn’t want to think about too much, for the sake of his heavy heart.)

He would be intruding in their life, he knew that. It was probable that none of them ever wanted a super soldier in their house, stirring up memories from long ago, which was why he decided that, in reality, it was a bad idea from the start. He heaved a sigh and turned around. Maybe next time he would have the courage to go in. Third time’s the charm, isn’t that how that goes?

The sound of a lock turning made him stop on his tracks. The door to apartment 9B creaked, and Steve had to look down to see a head peeking from the small opened space left by the door. It was one of the kids he’d seen on the files, barely ten years old and grinning up at him like she knew something he didn’t.

“Hi,” breathed Steve, tripping on air as he made his way back to the door.

The girl giggled, sharing a look with someone still hiding behind the door. “Hi. You’ve been standing there a whole lotta time, Mr. Steve. Are you tired?”

He blinked. Maybe she did know something he didn’t.

“You know who I am?”

“Yeah! It’s the second time you’ve been to our house, but you never go in. Daddy says to give you time, but I think you need a little push,” she said, big green eyes looking up at him. “So this is me pushing you. Come on in, Dom even had time to bake some cookies while you were there!”

She made a motion of inviting him in, but as she walked towards what he guessed must be the kitchen, he stayed on the doorway. He knew her name was Flora, she was ten and a half, and barely four feet tall, which was short for her age. She was in fifth grade in a primary school in Brooklyn, and she already knew she wanted to be a doctor. Steve knew all these things about her, and he was a stranger to her — yet she was so trusting.

She turned around to look at him, a cheeky grin on her face as she said, “We have star sprinkles for you, Mr. Steve. Dad said maybe you wouldn’t like them, but Dom and I thought it would be so funny. Do you like red, white and blue sprinkles, Mr. Steve?”

It had been a while since he’d been around children, so he was unsure if Flora was some special case, or if all kids talked that much in so little time.

He managed to smile at her, about to answer—

“Flora!” a man’s voice chided, and Steve looked the other way to see who couldn’t be other than Ronan Dugan, her father, and Dum Dum’s grandkid. Ronan’s gaze settled on him, and he could see the apology swimming in his eyes. “Mr. Rogers, I’m so sorry about my daughter’s enthusiasm. They’ve just been excited to finally meet you.”

“They have?” he asked Ronan, startled. “I don’t mind it, it’s… refreshing, actually. And call me Steve, please.”

His eyes lingered on the girl running into the other room, her giggle echoing off the walls, and he was reminded of little Rebecca Barnes, who had just turned twenty the last time he’d seen her, which had been… a long time ago. She was probably dead, too.

“Director Fury told me you’d been asking around about us,” Ronan said, “and if there’s something my kids are, is nosy, so they found out about it.”

Steve had almost forgotten that detail. Most of the family had or was currently working for SHIELD both as agents on the field or offices, ever since Dum Dum had become one of the founding members of the organization—it was their legacy, and they clearly treated it like it.

Ronan stepped closer, lowering his voice. “If you think this is too much, I totally understand. You’re not obligated to be here, Steve. I can tell the kids you were called aw–”

“Nonsense,” he rapidly said. He didn’t know if he would have the courage to try again otherwise. “I’d love to meet all of you, if it’s alright with you.”

“I’m afraid Flora and Dominic would kick me out of my house if I kicked you out,” he joked, bringing an easy smile to Steve’s face. “You can leave your jacket on that hanger, by the way. The kids are in the kitchen, when Flora sensed you coming they started baking, as I’m sure she told you.”

Steve hesitated at the strange choice of words, but thought nothing of it and closed the front door behind him, hanging his aviator jacket. Soon he was being met with the smell of freshly baked cookies coming from the kitchen, where he could see Flora and a much taller boy, Dominic—who liked to be called Dom, as his file said.

As soon as he saw him, the teenager perked up, stretching a hand toward him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Ro– Sir… Captain America,” he rushed the words out endearingly in a nervous manner.

Steve shook his hand, briefly surprised by the strength of his grip. “Call me Steve, Dominic.”

“Then you can call me Dom,” he replied, with a grin.

He glanced at the countertop, where Flora was working very hard in concentrating on handling the sprinkles she had told him about by the door. In the time he’d been deciding on whether he would enter or not, they had baked cookies that looked very appetizing—all with the color of his uniform, the flag of the United States.

The kitchen was bigger that the one he had at his apartment, which made sense given that it was for a family of three. It was cozy, and lived in, noticeable on the way the fridge was filled with stickers and photos stuck to it with magnets of places they’d visited—he felt a sudden sensation of longing in the way this house screamed home, a stark contrast to the cold place that awaited him just two blocks away.

“Can you eat cookies?” asked Flora, bringing him out of his evaluation of their home. “Dad isn’t really allowed to, he’s supposed to be on a diet.”

“I can eat pretty much anything,” he confessed, with a smile. “And however much I want, thanks to being a supersoldier.”

“Great, because we made too many cookies!”

“Come on, Flora, there’s no such thing as too many cookies,” said Ronan, bringing one to his mouth. “Especially when they taste this good. I might have to ban you two from the kitchen, eh? Not all of us can eat without getting fat.”

Steve laughed at the dig, and took the cookie that Dom was offering. His eyes widened. “This is really good.”

The kids high-fived each other, bright smiles on their faces for a job well-done.

“What’s that?” asked Dominic, lazily pointing with his index finger to the leather notebook in Steve’s hands.

They had brought the trays to the living room and had turned on the television, and Steve had gotten it out of his pocket when something interesting had shown up on the News, ready to write it down for later.

“It’s where I write general knowledge events that I missed, so I can learn about them,” he said, handing it to him. “Director Fury gave me some of those, but I’ve been collecting them ever since I woke up.”

Flora stood behind the couch, reading the notebook from over her brother’s shoulder. “Steve, you’re missing a lot of stuff! I can’t believe Mamma Mia isn’t there,” she whispered in shock.

He hummed, recognizing the name. “That’s a song from ABBA, right?”

“And only the best musical of all time!”

“Says a ten-year-old,” laughed Ronan, sharing an amused look with Steve.

“Whoever recommended just Star Wars has clearly never watched Star Trek,” said Dom, a frown on his face as he read.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” breathed Steve, brows knitted together. “I tell you what, you both can write whatever you think I’m missing from this century—“

“—and the previous one,” piped in Ronan.

“And the previous one,” he agreed, and hesitantly looked at the kids. “And maybe you could show me some of it?”

Their eyes lit up, excitement shining in them.

“You are so watching Mamma Mia!” squealed Flora, running out of the living room.

Steve’s eyes followed her as she left, Ronan’s laugh filling the room. “You have a problem in your hands, she’s getting her CDs from her room.”

A beat passed.

“What’s a CD?”

#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers x original female character #original character #original female character #captain america #marvel fanfiction #captain america fanfiction #steve rogers fanfiction #dum dum dugan #found family #leah writes #i love seeing him happy #steve rogers deserved better in the 21st century #how did you let this man be alone for so long marvel #children #steve rogers’ notebook #original child character

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siancore · 8 months

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Feels Like Home | SamBucky | General Audiences | 842 Words

A/N: For @sambuckylibrary SamBucky Summer Bingo. Square fill: Coming Out

It was funny how belonging, and home, was not necessarily linked to a place, but a person. As if home was linked more to the family you had instead of a house you all resided in. Bucky had not had a home in so long – in a whole lifetime, actually, but he wanted that. He yearned for it. Dreamed of it.

So, he had packed up his belongings to leave the city that used to be his home so that he could be with his new family. He was ready to take that leap, to put one foot in front of the other on that journey, but there was one more thing he needed to do.

“I been thinkin’ about you a lot lately,” said Bucky as he stood awkwardly out under the paling Brooklyn sun. “I guess things come back to me in flashes, y’know? Memories. Regrets. All the words I wished I hadda said. I just – I need to say this. I just need to get this out and off my chest, so please don’t stop me.”

A melancholic smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He ran his hand over his hair, smoothing it down, and calming his nerves all at once.

“So, I’m not sure if you know, but I’m leavin’ town. And no, it ain’t like last time. I ain’t goin’ off to fight. I’m not putting my life on the line. I think I’ve finally found some — I dunno — some peace. I know, with what I’ve been through and with what I’ve done, the secrets I’ve kept; it sounds almost laughable, almost seems unfair.”

A cool breeze swept up around Bucky as he took a deep, calming breath.

“Speaking of secrets,” Bucky continued as he placed his hands in his pockets. “I’m tryin’ not to do those anymore. I met someone who makes me wanna be open and honest. And they really don’t judge me for what I’ve done and the secrets I’ve held inside.”

He let out a wry laugh and said, “I’ve held so much so close to my chest I felt like I couldn’t breathe, y’know?”

He removed one hand and rubbed it over his face.

“But I met Sam, and he just makes everything bearable. He makes me feel like I can breathe. He’s just so — Sam.”

Bucky smiled with joy, then. He removed both hands and gestured with them as he continued to speak.

“I know that doesn’t explain much to you, but if you knew him it’d make perfect sense. He’s the bravest, most selfless man. He’s got this sorta tough exterior, but he’s all soft and warm on the inside. He’s a charmer and a looker to boot. Funny and hilarious and probably the most annoying person I know.”

Bucky laughed at that.

“He’s also the kindest person I know. He’s a real hero.”

Silence pervaded a beat.

“Did I mention he’s a looker?” asked Bucky as he dipped his head a little. “He’s beautiful, actually.”

He paused a moment, letting more silence settle around him. He thought of Sam and his smile. He thought of how being with Sam felt like home. He continued to speak.

“I don’t know how else to say this, so I’ll just come out and say it: I’m so sweet on Sam Wilson. Didn’t think I’d ever get the chance, or the guts, to stand in front of the both of you and say that I was sweet on another fella. Wish I’d gotten to tell you both earlier.”

Bucky felt a pang in his chest as his eyes glossed over.

“I think you’d have liked him,” Bucky continued. “He would’ve charmed you, Ma. And you’d see how good he is, Dad. You’d both see how happy he makes me, and you’d be happy for me. I know it. It took finding Sam to figure out who I really am. After all of the fighting — fighting other people. Fighting myself and who I was — who I am. I can finally let myself be happy with him.”

Bucky wiped a tear from his eye, reached into his coat, and retrieved two separate flowers. He placed one single flower down on his mother’s grave, and then the other to his father’s.

“I’m leavin’ now,” said Bucky as he crouched down and ran a hand over his Ma’s name etched into the cold stone. “Don’t know when I’ll be back to visit. Delacroix is a lil’ faraway. Sam and I have a place. We’re gonna give this whole bein’ partners thing a good go.”

Bucky stood up and dipped his head once again.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you both when you were still here,” he said as a tear rolled down his face. “That I liked fellas, too. Not sure I’d even know what to say. I just know I love Sam, and I’m sure if you both knew him, you’d love him, too.”

With that, Bucky said goodbye to his parents and walked away, wearing a sad smile and carrying a heart so full of hope and love.

#sambucky #sambucky fanfiction #sambucky summer bingo #bucky barnes

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sergeantsporks · 2 years

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Sacred Vigil

CW: Religious Trauma/Themes, Death, Blood

There’s a corpse in the graveyard.

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, one Dad would tell at the table and chuckle at heartily while everyone else groaned.

Of course there’s a corpse in the graveyard. Graveyards are where corpses go. Where else would it be? The morgue, perhaps. A crematorium. Maybe the body farm, or a medical student’s lab, ready to be torn to pieces for the greater good. A police station, if the owner of the body was particularly unfortunate.

In general, a corpse should not be out of place in a graveyard.

The corpses that belong in the graveyard are sleeping, a heavy layer of dirt blanketing them. And snug they will sleep until they rise again on the Promised Day, or so the priests tell me.

But this corpse is wide awake.

Its lifeless eyes reflect the sky above it, asking heaven why? Its arms make an x over its chest, curled into claws, like it’s clutching at a soul long gone (who would cross its arms, but leave it to rot in the open?). The ground beneath it is wet, consecrated by blood instead of holy water, pouring from a hole in the dead man’s chest, instead of sprinkled from a bowl, though the rest of the graveyard is as dry as the bones it holds in waiting.

There’s a schoolmate buried in this graveyard. Taken too young, they said. Everyone cared because he was a football player (Yaaaaayyyy, go Bears), and because a tumor killed him. I doubt anyone but my two friends would have looked twice if it were me who’d been in the coffin. They wouldn’t have bussed the whole school out to the funeral. They wouldn’t have gotten special permission to bury me in St. Joseph’s historic graveyard, where no one dead any sooner than two centuries ago is allowed to rest.

I wonder if he hates that he’s buried here, in a little graveyard a road down from the school. The road is paved with potholes, and I could probably count the number of tombstones on my fingers and toes. Does he like his closeness to the fields he played on? Or does he wish he were buried somewhere more convenient to visit? Does he wish he was resting somewhere his family would one day be buried?

Not that where he’s buried will matter on Judgement Day, or so the priests tell me.

Still. I wonder if he’s lonely out here. Maybe that’s why I made my way out here in the hour between my arrival at school and when the bell actually rings, down the road full of potholes that are hell to navigate and make the trip seem much longer than the mile it is. To visit a kid who didn’t even know who I was when he was still alive, let alone now he’s asleep under a layer of dirt and scraggly grass. Sure. Sounds like an excellent reason.

Really, why am I here? Because I feel bad for him? Because, whatever our stations were in life, I now have the triumph of standing above the earth’s surface while he’s buried below?

No, I wouldn’t have made the effort to push past the brush overtaking the pothole road just to be petty.

I’m not like that, I think.

I hope.

No, it’s because I feel bad for him, I decide.

But when I saw the new, unburied body from the half-closed cemetery gates, I passed by my schoolmate’s grave on my way to investigate without a moment’s hesitation. Sorry, but the visit you don’t even care about will have to wait.

Treetops are swaying and whispering around the graveyard, closing us off from outside view. I pull a ponytail holder off my wrist, twisting my hair up. My fingers hover over the “call” button, dialed to the police station, but the phone isn’t ringing yet.

The corpse isn’t staring at the sky anymore. Instead, my face is reflected in those glassy eyes, staring up at me and asking what he did to deserve this. Why there’s a hole in his chest (why is there a hole in his chest?) and why his clothes are soaked with blood.

As if I have an answer for him.

Actions have consequences, but what the set of actions leading up to this consequence were, I have no idea.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I whisper to the corpse. It’s a ridiculous thing to say. “sorry for your loss.” As if the corpse is its own grieving family. “sorry for your loss.” It’s a stupid thing to say, even if it WAS to a grieving family. Cold, impersonal, the thing the person from the morgue says as they zip your grandpa up in a black bag after his heart stops but before they make a joke about what a big man he was.

“Sorry for your loss.” Colder than the corpse in the graveyard. And without warning, I feel the urge to poke it. To see if the corpse is cold, the way people claim death is. Is it limp and fleshy or has rigor mortis has set in? I slap my own hand, backing away. Disrespect on disrespect. Poking at human remains, like they’re roadkill. I’d probably regret it if I did anyway. I’d never be able to get the sensation off, wouldn’t be able to confess the sin away no matter what priest absolved me.

Out, out, damned spot, as Miss Hathaway the English teacher would say. I’m not particularly interested in obsessively washing my hands to get rid of the sacrilege. Besides, this man has suffered enough in life, hasn’t he? A series of events leading to a murder in a lonely graveyard couldn’t have been pleasant, not to mention the murder itself.

Right. Murder. I should get to calling the police right about now. There’s a corpse in the graveyard that doesn’t belong. And every second is a delay in finding out who put it there.

But then, maybe he’d like a bit of silence. Before men in white coats cut him open to determine the very obvious cause of death. A moment of silence in a quiet graveyard, enjoying the last time he’ll be above its soil. Before the people from the morgue zip him up in a black bag and take him away from the outside world forever. I hope they won’t make a joke about it, but maybe that’s how they cope with constantly being around the aftereffects of death. Do they have a better grasp on mortality than the rest of us, I wonder? Or do they look at every corpse and lie to themselves, saying it will never be them on the slab.

This could be me one day

Lying in a graveyard, murdered. Only to be found by a high schooler.

And she won’t even call the police.

I hit the “talk” button.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“I found a corpse in a graveyard.”

There’s a heavy pause. Maybe the person on the other end of the phone doesn’t know how to respond. “Is this a joke?”

“No, I mean, a fresh one. It’s not in a grave or anything. Like, he’s got a hole in his chest, and he’s not buried.”

What am I saying? I should have rehearsed this beforehand, I’m rambling. Why are these things always so coherent in my head, and then gibberish when I try to say them out loud? This is why no one would have come to my funeral. Deep breaths, deep breaths.

“Sorry. Let me start over. I think I found a murder site. Or maybe a dumping site. There is a dead guy here.”

I give the receptionist the address, hit the “end call” button without thinking even as she asks me to stay on the line, and am left alone again with the corpse.

Oh, god. I’m alone with a corpse.

I back away, the calm of morbid curiosity vanishing in a heartbeat that’s pounding louder by the second, and then I’m tripping over a tombstone and tumbling backwards. My hand squelches into dirt.

The ground was dry

Except for…

I scramble backwards before I can finish the thought, wiping my hand on a tombstone to get the dirt off (It’s just dirt, nothing else, just dirt. Nothing staining my hand permanently, nothing that would make my classmates finally sit up and take a second look at me, just regular, plain dirt).

Do I leave?

But what if someone comes back to move the body? Then the police won’t find it.

Oh god.

What if someone comes back to move the body while I’m here?!

But I’m not running. I’m not bolting back towards the safety of the school (and a sink to scrub the dirt, just dirt, off my hands). There’s a corpse in the graveyard, and for some reason unknown to everyone, including myself, I need to stay here with it until someone else can come to take my watch.

Whoever that someone might be.

#behold! the compromise between me and the actually valid criticisms of my classmates!#the character going to the graveyard to visit a schoolmate was ALWAYS the motive btw it apparently just wasn't clear enough #i didn't add that in #original writing #my writing #short story #writeblr #religious trauma #religious themes

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calypsoff2 · 2 years

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Ninety Three.

Staring off while the kids played outside, just watching my brothers with my kids and Junior in his little paddling pool. He looks cute bless him, least he sits up on his own, but Rajad is sat in the paddling pool with him, my kids are ever so happy in Barbados, and I love that. We have been here for a month now, it’s literally just been home school and fun for them, but I’ve been working at home but I’m having to make the journey back to LA and I’m unsure if I want to take the kids or leave them here. We have finally, well I mean I have finally got the home I wanted. Nine bedrooms and hopefully my forever home, it’s bittersweet because I would have stayed at the home Chris and I bought first time, but I can’t stand it and the home was mainly bought because we were new parents, just one child and we have more now so it’s nice to get more space, the home was smaller for Chris, he likes it like that, but this home is huge. I can host better there, I can let them stay like I do in New York, but I am happy for the move to Cali, I think I’m going to prepare the house, the kids school. Maybe leaving them here will be best but I don’t want to go, once I go there I really have to think of divorce and I’m not ready, but I said it, Chris has been quiet, or should I say I have been. I’ve stayed away from social media, literally a whole month without it, I’ve not spoken to anyone really. Just checked on my companies, spoke to Chris because of the kids and that’s it, he’s been quiet because of work and so am I but I just need to get back into it. I think I will visit my dad’ grave and then prepare to go back, do some work and prepare the house for my kids. It’s exciting but whatever, I’m doing it for them. I’m still trying to figure out where this secret baby is coming from because it sure ain��t my pussy, it scares me now, I can’t have any more kids. Mentally I can’t, I have been through too much to be doing that, I just can’t. The thought of it makes me sick to my stomach and I am not even joking, I can’t and will not have anymore. I have enough, why is god doing this. I’m going to protect myself and my peace too when I get back to LA, I won’t be even taking my son LA with me. My mother will be fine with them, she’s strict but she will do the job I will speak to her now actually “mommy” I spat, I just saw her walk by “yes baby she abruptly stopped and came over to me “I’m going to Cali, can you take care of the kids including Junior for a week, just a week. I need to go there and deal with the home and some stuff” my mother nodded her head “but what about you and Chris, I’m sorry but this looks so weird, the both of you just living separate lives” I shrugged “that is between me and Chris, sorry mom but I need to protect my peace with everyone I know it looks like we have split but once I know I will tell you” my mother isn’t happy but I prefer to keep this to myself; it’s my issue not anyone else’s.

Being on the jet alone really sucks ass, nobody to talk too but I will be seeing my team as soon as I land which I have missed them so much, I have missed all the jokes and laughs. Also I am child free so I can generally do what I like, maybe go out clubbing. My notification popped up; Chris has posted. He hasn’t actually posted in so long, so I am shocked he has, I’ve been quiet and so as he, we both been quiet but speak when we need to do for the kids and that’s it. Tapping on the notification and waited for it to load, I gasped as soon as it loaded, I didn’t expect to see my face. That is a shock, I had to double check it was his page, and it did say chrisbrownofficial, it does and it’s a picture of me, we was on a date here at the restaurant and he took this picture, I remember how annoyed I got because he put flash on but my eyes; they look nice here, I do look nice here. Scrolling down to the caption ‘How did she marry a goofy nigga like me! I love you Robyn, the strongest woman I know’ this is so random, I wasn’t expect this. Liking the post and then adding my own comment ‘I was blind🙂’ pressing send laughing to myself, that is so random from him and after all this time too and of course he calls as soon as “hey” answering the call “you good?” He asked “I am, you?” Frowning a little “you coming to Cali?” He must have spoken to the kids “yeah, its about time I show my face. Life goes on, you know. Kids need stability and a home so I’m coming back” I said “please don’t do this Robyn, I am begging you. Please don’t, you haven’t even seen things, I beg you. Please don’t, I do love you. I’ve been trying, let Tina show you, I am begging you. Ask Jay Brown” I am not even thinking of that currently, I mean I should but let him sweat “well I am here for work Chris, I need to sort the home out. I have bought the nine bedroom home so I’m coming to sort the school out for the girls and then yeah” I drifted off “you haven’t even watched anything; I’ve been quiet working hard on everything. All I want is for us to be a family again, I really do. I did these interviews, please don’t do this” I did want to make him sweat but he’s having a mental breakdown “Chris, listen to what I said. I’m coming there for a week to get the house ready and get the kids school done. Just relax and I’m working, I’ll check out everything. I just needed some zen, some peace. Everything has been hectic, so I closed off from social media, that’s it. I needed time, just relax” he is panicking “shall I pick you up from the airport?” I laughed “it’s ok, Tina is coming. I need to sell that home too but don’t worry about it, I’ll listen to everything” he breathed out “I called the girls and they said mom has gone to Cali I just got scared, I’ll meet you” he wants to meet me now “I have things on but I will, on a day. I’m going to have a sleep and I will speak soon” he is going to want to see me now “ok, ok. Talk soon” he disconnected the call.

Hugging Tina close “so good to see you back Robyn” she said “thank you, good to be back” it’s back to work for me “I’m so sorry about your dad” poking my lips out “stop it, it’s life. Let’s just get in the SUV, we have a lot to catch up on things don’t we” walking towards the SUV, getting inside and Rich closed the door behind me. I took in a deep breath because it’s a lot, a lot has happened and things have been said and done, it’s just things I need to deal with, it’s not easy to lost my dad, I can’t even. I miss him so much “I have missed you so much, I’m so excited about the new house too girl!” I chuckled “yeah, I know. I’m happy, it’s nice and big. The home we bought we had one child. It was nice, cute so it’s about time we upgrade to this. But since I’m not back on the work vibe, update on what Chris has been doing. He said I am ignoring him; he’s been doing all these things so please. Talk to me” Tina laughed “funny you said that, when you messaged me to say find out what he’s been up too so we can talk so yeah, how come you haven’t been checking up on him?” I sighed out “Tina I have been in a dark place, I just needed time to be out of the limelight, just have some peace, I was sick of seeing things about my marriage, about my kids, about that bitch, about my dad. I was sick, so I just closed myself off, Chris and I spoke but he’s been busy so have I, mentally for me anyways” I explained “well Chris has been very busy, I will tell you something he has been working hard to shame Nury” raising an eyebrow “he has an interview with Breakfast club and it was all pre-recorded and they said something like you made us come out of hours and he said yeah you had some random bitch here, something like that, he also had an interview with Angie, you want to watch?” nodding my head “go on then” I guess we can.

The breakfast club interview just ended “what you thinking?” I took in a deep breath “he admitted to it” I said looking at Tina “he held his hands up and said it was him” Tina held the tablet out “this is Angie interview, I put it to where he spoke on you, I mean most of it is, but this part. I really liked this one. I felt like he wasn’t angry, or even uptight. He was angry with the breakfast club, you can tell he was” I had to laugh because me and Tina are just sat in the SUV watching these, pressing play “you really love Rihanna don’t you, I see those eyes twinkle, you get all giddy but on a real. We have been hearing all the gossip, all the things going on about you and this girl, what is happening with that Chris? I mean I can see while I sit here, you love your wife so what is it. Set the record straight now?” Chris licked his lips, Chris does look very laid back here, with the other one he was annoyed with them very much “things got taken out of proportion, I fully take blame for this, I take blame for allowing her into my life but in no way shape or form did I want sex with her, or anything like that. She was there, I admit she shouldn’t have been. Yes I did text things about Robyn, like she is picking on that day where she was mad with me and we didn’t, I text that. I honestly just thought Nury was cool people, I am trusting like that but I made a mistake and she ran with it, she said things about me that were untrue, I never wanted a relationship with her, I was never going to do that. All I wanted was a team of people that I could trust, that is all but it didn’t look good, and I upset my wife, I hurt her. And I fucked up, plain and simple I did” staring at his face intently, he looks so genuine here, like he isn’t acting like an ass like he does.

“So you know you have hurt and upset Rihanna, that must be a big blow for you and your marriage” he nodded his head “it is, I don’t like speaking about my marriage at all but since I put it out there this is what I have to do now, I have to fix it. At first I was denying it, I don’t know but you can hear the interview with Big Boy. I was putting the blame onto Nury and honestly I don’t want to sound like a dickhead, I don’t want to air out a female because I have three daughters of my own and going out of my way to call her these words is nasty, but it’s happened, she has upset my wife, my kids, me. I now had to air her out and it’s like a bitter thing, but I am done with it. This is the last time where I am speaking on this situation but in terms of my marriage with Robyn” he paused “we are taking it a day at a time, and I am giving her that space, but I am taking fault. I allowed her into my marriage. But I have nothing but love for Robyn, I mean I have known her since I was a teenager so yeah” he laughed “oh yeah she was an exchange student at your school? How did you feel when you met her, at that age?” Angie asked “I loved her when I laid my eyes on her, but I was being a cool dude just playing her off but really I just wanted to be with her” Angie cooed out “that is so crazy, life. I mean to fall in love at that age and then reconnect, wow. See this is more then this situation, you admitted your fault, you said you did wrong and that is big of you, but you admitted it, this is the point. I hope this is a lesson learnt for you Chris because there will be more girls around, as a woman myself I wouldn’t like my business being aired out, at all. Forget about the billionaire she is” Angie said “and I totally get that, I just want to put that out there, I want the world to know that I am not that cheat, I am not a bad guy, an idiot yes, but that is it” he said “and the rest is generally music, oh wait there is a part about the kids” Tina skipped “here” Tina said “can we just discuss how your eldest daughter has taken Rihanna’s face, I saw her and I was in shock” Chris laughed “I was never involved at all, what can I say. She is and acts like Robyn” Chris looks so cute, he really does “this is why I laughed about the sex part, I said I am sure they are on baby number seven. Couples have their off days, it’s allowed” Angie made me laugh there “oh man, this is what people need to understand, but whatever. I just have to laugh” he shrugged, Tina paused it “he’s been quiet ever since though” nodding my head “why couldn’t he be this when I asked” I said, he made life so hard and to see him admit fault, it’s like when I think of him he calls me “hello” I answered “hey, you want me to drive you around?” I laughed “and do what?” how random “I don’t know but you here on some mission, you want me too?” I blew out air “erm, how about meet me at the new house, I will message you the location” he can see it too I guess “you can come to the studio when you can?” oh I am getting invites now “I will look into that, will I hear the album if so?” he is always playing around “for you yes” I may go “right, meet at the new house. You can check it out, then you can go back to your apartment and lonely bed” I sniggered “not really, my bed is warm with your panties next to me” I groaned out “nigga, bye!” putting the phone down.

#Chrianna #Chrianna Fanfic #Chrianna FF #Fanfic #Chrianna Fanfiction #Fanfiction

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sl-newsie · 12 days

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Spelled (Carlos de Vil x Sanderson Daughter) Descendants 3- Ch. 11: Time Will Tell

I can already feel the differences of not wearing the brooch. Not as much power but my mind is much clearer. Now I just need to settle one last request.

Mal walks out of the room just as Hades finishes up talking with Ben’s dad.

“He left me his Ember.” She holds up the blue stone with a stunned expression.

“Gosh, Mal. That’s… really thoughtful of him. It’s his most prized magical possession.”

Yesterday I would never have trusted her with something this powerful. I hope Mal’s changed as much as she says.

She looks around and leans in to whisper: “Just a little secret: I’m going to reopen the barrier.”

Happiness floods through me and I know I won’t have to ask for the favor after all. My promise to the VKs on the Isle will be fulfilled!

“But you can’t tell anyone!” Mal points a finger. “I’m going to announce it at the ceremony tonight.”

I nod. “Please forgive me for not attending, but I can’t stay here. You know that.”

She understands. Just because I’m not a fugitive anymore does not mean people will look at me differently. I will always be the Sanderson witch.

“You need not worry any more about keeping Auradon safe. As long as I am alive my protection spell will ward off any threats. Happy engagement, Mal.” I look over at her fiancée who’s just joined us. “Happy engagement, Brother Ben.”

He squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll miss you, Sparks. Come visit once in a while. Maybe pull some pranks?”

I try to offer a smile. “We'll see.”

All that’s left here is old memories. I’m not one to feel nostalgic. If nothing is to ever be the same again then I can’t twist my hands trying to think the impossible. There’s just one last loose end I need to tie up.

“Nice jacket, dog boy.”

I find Carlos is sitting in the courtyard with Dude. The place we fought before I left last time.

He spins around to see me and his eyes light up. “I’ve been trying to find you!” He suddenly goes quiet. “I understand now why you’ve been mad at me. I’m your one true love.”

I can’t have the heart to lie anymore. “Yes.”

“And you can never find another?” he asks softly.

A deep sigh escapes me. “No. That’s how it works for me.”

Carlos paces back and forth. “Maybe if I-”

“No. You are happy with Jane, Carlos.” I give him a final soft kiss on his freckled cheek. “I hope you and her find every form of happiness.”

His soft eyes frantically search my face for a second chance. “But what about you? You deserve to be happy too.”

“I’ve survived this long without true love. ‘Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.’ Song of Solomon 8:6. If it’s by only the will of God that I must live, then I cannot change it. I understand, Carlos. I don’t get a happy ending. No matter how hard I try to be good I will always get the short end of the broomstick. But it’s fine. I’ve accepted my fate, and will release you from the empathy link.”

Carlos shakes his head and starts stuttering. “I want to keep it. I’ll feel too guilty knowing that I left you.”

His caring words make me double-guess myself but I put those thoughts to rest. It’s not fair to keep him held to this if he’s already happy.

“You’ve been a very loving friend, Carlos de Vil. If you ever need someone to talk to, send Dude to find Binx. I’ll stay in touch.”

Before I can let myself be poisoned by any more false hopes I tear myself from the conversation and walk away from perhaps the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My true love.

In the end, I thought we were friends.

Then life started up again.

So I thought we’d start anew,

And that maybe you’d love me too.

You skip to your next romance.

Not even giving me a chance.

And perhaps our friendship will be lost,

I’ll still hope one day our paths will cross.

Do the right thing in the right place.

As long as I watch, you are safe.

You taught me how to have fun,

How to make friends with someone.

You showed me how to forgive,

And encouraged me to live.

I’ll just disappear,

And you can forget you ever saw me here.

Don’t regret anything, it’s my fault.

The burden is mine to be taught.

I’ll be ready, I won’t mistake.

You’ve prepared me for the sickness of heartbreak.

For how long, you never knew.

One day I’ll tell how much I love you.

And even if I can’t find bliss,

I wish you every form of happiness.

Back at the palace I see father and Binx have already packed up what little belongings we have here. Travel light, I suppose.

“What’s this book for?” Father holds up my spellbook.

“That is what’s currently holding the Sanderson sisters.”

Father tenses up and holds the book out to me. “I think it’s safer if you hold it. Between you and me I don’t want any run-ins with your aunts.”

“For your return home you’ll be traveling in style,” Fairy Godmother tells me and points to the black limo parked out front. “I’m so proud of you!” She gives me a big hug. “You are everything I ever hoped for in a Sanderson.”

“Does this mean I pass Goodness 201?” I joke.

“With flying colors!”

I help father carry the bags to the limo and find Remus leaning against the drivers’ side door. He's wearing his chauffeur uniform again.

“Time for a vacation?” he asks as I approach.

“You could say that, Remus. I hope FG gave you your job back?”

“Without question. That and along with a raise," he says proudly. "Now I’m in charge of personally driving Queen Mal to her meetings.”

The news brings a smile to my face. “Congratulations. I hope to see you around.”

The redhead tips his hat. “I wish the same thing. I’ll miss you, Magica. I’m glad to see everything worked out for you. Do you think you’ll ever come back?”

Life can be crazy sometimes. One day shows us everything is planned out. The next it shows that life can erupt into total chaos. Sometimes we’re shown that what we wanted might have been hidden in plain sight all along.

“Time will tell, Remus. Right now I want to live the quiet life I once hated. It’s time to go back to where it all started and remember who I am.”

“Magica Sanderson isn’t the same shy witch I picked up last year,” Remus points out.

I shake my head and look out onto the grounds as the sun begins to sink below the horizon.

“No. This is one Sanderson who’s going to write her own happy ending.”

#carlos descendants #carlos de vil x reader #descendants carlos #mal descendants #evie descendants #jay descendants #uma descendants #harry hook descendants #audrey descendants #ben descendants #disney descendants #descendants x reader #mary sanderson #winifred sanderson #sarah sanderson #binx hocus pocus #hocus pocus

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bisognamorire · 3 months

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Dear A.,

You wrote that this recent contact has been really hard for you. I agree, it has been for me too. Yet I wanted to bear it, if it meant we could come out more peacefully at the other side of the tunnel.

It pains me to think that I am not allowed to ever send you a postcard or a letter again and that this last message you had sent me, will be your last words to me until we go into our graves. I would’ve liked to hear your voice say it, because the voice in my head makes it sound very apathetic and robotic, even though iI think you were trying your utmost to restrict your emotions as to not incite mine (but they’re always incited anyway). The thought, that this is how we take this state of affairs into our graves, makes me feel doomed, unable to change my fate.

I wonder if thats how Bosie felt, after Oscar had died and he was unable to reconcile with him for the rest of his life. His poem resonates with me.

The Wastes of Time

If you came back, perhaps you would not ﬁnd

The old enchantment, nor again discern

The altered face of love. The wheels yet turn

That clocked the wasted hours, the spirit’s wind

Still fans the embers in the hidden mind.

But if I cried to you, “Return! return!”

How could you come? How could you ever learn

The old ways you have left so far behind?

How sweetly, forged in sleep, come dreams that make

Swift wings and ships that sail the estranging sea,

Less roughly than blown rose-leaves in a bowl,

To harboured bliss. But oh! the pain to wake

In empty night seeking what may not be

Till the dead ﬂesh set free the living soul.

Even if I am not supposed to contact you, perhaps you could bear to send me something in a while? A postcard from a vacation maybe. A little ‘im thinking of you’, a little ‘i miss you’, just please don’t never ever speak to me again for the rest of our lives.

Last week, in order to somehow soothe myself, I went to the city and just walked around aimlessly, mindlessly, I wasn’t in my body, I felt the world was unreal and I was moving through cotton. My mind was reeling with everything.

I blew the rest of this month’s money on a game I had wanted to get for some time, it is called Lies of P, the main character is this twinky malnourished victorian guy. But the game is really difficult and frustrating to play. When I am not at work these days (I work three different shifts), or sleep to recover from changing shifts at work, I try to play it to distract myself from entering an anxiety spiral about everything between us. Last summer, when dad died, I was very preoccupied because my family came together and we were doing little activities every day. So I was able to battle my depression by filling my days with life. I would’ve fallen apart had I not had that in this time. Too much had happened in the first six months of the year, it was simply too much.

But things have gone back to normal and I’m just constantly alone. Even though I do try to make friends. I sometimes attend a local tolkien fan club, but most people there already have gray hair. I try to not be so suspicious of people. Yet still, it seems like everybody is just upset with me being a mental trainwreck. Sharon visited me upstairs a few days ago and gave me a one hour lecture of why I cant continue like this and that I am not trying hard enough to not be depressed etc. i felt like I don’t want to exist anymore after that. I try my best everywhere and with everyone but its still not enough. I do everything wrong and hurt the people around me, without meaning to.

It is all very dismal and disheartening, I realise, when I write this.

All my love, your insane

Sabo

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ledenews · 10 months

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Rick Veon: A Gentleman You’ll Remember Much More than Mustard

He has that smile. Ya know, the kind of smile that makes you smile. And then, after him and then you, everyone else in the room ends up smiling. That kind of smile. Ya know, a lights-up-a-room kind of smile. So sure, yeah, you’ll be able to find him in a room thanks to his ear-to-ear calling card, but the grin won’t be the reason why you most definitely will remember Rick Veon. Oh no, there exist so many more. Like his love for his hometown and the happiness he has now that he’s married to his high school sweetheart. Or the tales Veon tells about his “back in the day” first life in Wheeling, and the acquaintances he made then who have turned out to be life-long friends since his return in 2020. And with him, the Linsly alum (Class of 1987) brought home an expanse of food service experience from extra-large American markets and now he’s owned and operated the very popular Belmont Brewerks in Martins Ferry for the past year. So, holy-moly-absolutely you will discuss with him “The Sandwich.” Not “sandwiches in general,” mind you. Seriously, please do not make that mistake. Trust in this: “THE. SANDWICH.” Now, it might not be immediately mentioned during someone’s first conversation with Rick, but it’ll happen over something as silly as mustard and the fact the condiment must – most-definitely-without-discussion – be on the bottom piece of bread (something about, “the delivery of the multiple flavors included” … blah, blah, blah). Again, attempt no debate. But goodness, by no means, by golly, will any of that represent why you’ll remember Mr. Rick Veon either. You will remember Rick Veon simply because he’s a real good dude. Rick's eatery is located on Fourth Street in Martins Ferry and features indoor and outdoor seating during the warm months of the year. Have you ever made the perfect sandwich? The answer is simple ... Hell NO! If you were to actually make the perfect sandwich why would you keep trying? For me, to make something to perfection means there is no better sandwich to be made, ergo my sandwich career would be over. However, I have made some truly awesome sandwiches, and some are retired, and some are still on my menu today. The California Club, for example … roasted turkey breast, bacon, Swiss, guacamole, tomato, organic field greens, mayo, toasted croissant. It’s currently retired, but who knows? How did the Upper Ohio Valley change the most while you were living in Arizona and Illinois? To tell the absolute truth, it really did not change that much. Sure, friends and family got older, but other than that the downtown still looks the same except we don't use it anymore (what a waste). Oglebay still looks relatively the same to me, Dicarlo’s in the Grove is now Patsy's, the Suspension Bridge is always closed, the Alpha, oh well, we all know that story, but other that, time pretty much stood still. Rick and his father, Raymond, were very close up until he passed away in October 2020. What did a mentor of yours teach you that you still remember today? That's a simple one seeing that my one true mentor was my dad, and he said, "Richard, don't take shit from nobody!" I have stood by that logic my whole life and I still believe and practice that every day. Where is your favorite overlook of the Wheeling area, and how often do you visit? The Mount Wood Cemetery in North Park. What a great view and the graves are extremely old yet in good shape. The view down the river is still the best view in the valley for me. I used to go there in high school to be by myself and 35 years later I still find myself up there just to be alone to think and find inspiration. Very soon after he returned to his hometown in 2020, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart - Heather - and married her in May 2022. Is Dagwood your favorite comic strip character? Why or why not? I never was a big comic strip reader, so it is safe to say I don't know much about any of the characters. Sure, I know Peanuts, Marmaduke, and a couple of others, but I would be lying if I said I had a favorite and why. However, to put a little twist into this question, I was always a big Hong Kong Phooey fan. Don't even have a solid "why" he is my favorite. I just remember loving the cartoon. Read the full article

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bo-nilsson-diaries · 11 months

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Mom

When I was younger I use to apologize by slipping notes under her bedroom door, writing is often easier than speaking, especially when it comes to the truth. When it’s written, you don’t have to see their expression, whether happy or sad. It’s easy. When I was younger, she’d send me letters in return, right under my door, and it would always make me feel better, having concrete proof that everything would be okay. But it seems I’ve outgrown those letters. The last one scent was around a week before my dad died, he was in the hospital for a checkup, and I asked my mom if I could study abroad. I still thought dad had a few more years in him, and I thought if I started to pull away, when my time eventually came, it would be easier on her. But trying to pull away while my dad was getting sicker and sicker just hurt her more. I can see why now, it must’ve felt isolating, and I’m sorry mom. After my dad died my mom moved back to Canada, she took me with her, I was upset. It felt isolating for me, but if I tried I probably could’ve handled it better, I mean, I’ve handled worse, the constant pain, the teasing, the loneliness, I’ve endured so much. Yet moving somewhere with my mom was something I just couldn’t take. Maybe it was the fact that I couldn’t visit his grave, or maybe it was the fact that I couldn’t even sneak into his room and hug his pillow for comfort anymore. Maybe it was the fact I couldn’t visit any of the places we use to go to, or never seeing my favourite teacher again. I was 16, I was still a kid, of course I couldn’t take any of it. But my mom couldn’t either, we should’ve gotten help, counselling maybe, to help with the grief. Instead, we turned to other methods, my mom tried to bottle it up, but I still heard her cry at night. I tried to surround myself with as many people as possible, to drown out that isolating feeling, but it just hurt even more knowing those “friends” didn’t even really like me. My mom knew they didn’t like me, she tried to tell me, I knew she was right, but I couldn’t stand how it felt like she tried to rip everything away from me. We fought often. Eventually I pushed her till all she could do was yell and hit, it seems I’m really good at breaking people down like that. I never can learn my lesson. Right now was when my mom needed me most, I should’ve manned up, I was the only one she had left. But the pain was too much for me, even if I deserved it, the bruises hurt so bad, she scared my dog, it wasn’t a healthy relationship. I loved her, and I know she loved me. But I had to get away, If I stayed neither of us would’ve healed. Recently, I talked to her again, and today I slipped a letter under her door, Im doing much better than I was then. I no longer feel isolated, now I want to help her. I’m sorry I left you mom, I’m sorry I was a bad son, a bad kid. I’m sorry I misbehave, and I’m sorry about that vase I broke. I still love you, I always will, and I promise I won’t leave again. Sometimes it’s still hard to look her in the eyes, not only does it remind me of the pain I caused her, but the pain she caused me as well. But I know that as the seasons change, and spring brings forth new beginnings, I think we’ll be alright. - December 9th 2022

#memories #memory #sweden #mothers #son #apology #mother #im sorry #loss #mournful

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lily-drake · 3 years

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Death

Death was nothing new in Marinette’s life. In fact it played a large role. Her friends and city had died a hundred times over. Her brother. Her funny, smart, loving, dramatic brother had died at the hands of a mad man. She didn’t think it was wrong for her to use the horse miraculous to visit her brother's grave. It was officially five years after all. He would be 20, he would have loved to plan out her 16th birthday this year. She sat down and read Pride and Prejudice out loud, only a few tears falling as she glanced at the grave every so often. She had also brought a bouquet of white lilies, statices, red carnations, and white daisies. Soft grass laid over the dirt, the sun gleamed above, and sometimes when she would lean against the grave it was almost like she could feel him.

Dark storm clouds began to cloud the sky, and she knew she would have to leave soon, though she didn’t want to. Dad would be upset if he caught her, though considering how many weeds she had to remove from the grave and how abandoned it looked, she doubted anyone had visited any time soon. Suddenly the rain began to pour down and it felt like the earth shook. She felt a great imbalance, but where, and how? She touched both of her ears and she could feel her miraculous still there, Tikki even poked her head out from her bag with a look of fear. A shiver ran down Marinette’s spine as rain came pouring down soaking everything in sight. She looked around, and she kept spinning searching for something, anything that could have caused or been affected by the imbalance. She waited there for many minutes just waiting, when she felt the dirt beneath her feet begin to shift a little. She quickly moved away and watched as the dirt slowly moved and shifted. She felt sick, because the dirt moving was directly where Jason was lying in eternal rest. This couldn’t be right, this must be some mistake! Her brother had died, she had seen the body, it haunted her nightmares for so many nights. He’s been gone for five years! This can’t be possible without some type of wish.

The grass began to move and shift away, and a fleshy mud covered hand raised from the ground causing a scream to rip from her lungs. Her body sprung into action before her mind caught up to her beginning to help dig up her brother's grave, and when she saw the jet black hair covered in dirt and mud she knew that it was him. She heaved him out from the hole and stared in shocked horror as he just sat there staring at her. His eyes were the same blue she remembered, but they were so clouded. Fear, confusion, and nothing shown in his eyes, like he wasn’t even truly there. This must be a dream, it has to be, no, a nightmare. Her brother shouldn’t be back, he died, she saw his limp body in dad’s hands, even if Alfred and bluebird tried to stop her. But the imbalance was real, she could tell, and he was affected by it.

Slowly she raised her hand and hesitantly placed a hand on his cheek. He leaned into her hand, though his eyes were still clouded and void. He may be alive, but he wasn’t fully…alive. She tackled her older brother into a hug and began sobbing onto him, but just sat there, head leaning against hers. Pressing her ear against his chest she could hear his gentle heartbeat, and just for a moment everything seemed like it would be ok. Then she felt a sharp prick in her neck and the world faded to black.

________

Marinette awoke to darkness. She tried to sit up and felt her hands held behind her back being held together by something cold and thick. Memories flooded back into her mind and she snapped into awareness and looked around. It was dark, though there was a small light coming from a window far above where she could not ever reach. The walls seemed to be made of thick stones and there was a heavy iron door a few feet in front of her. Jason wasn’t there though, he wasn’t in the room, she didn’t understand. Suddenly the door opened and she looked up and saw her mother’s green eyes. Her panic grew again, how did she get here, was she captured too? She had visited her often in Paris. She was very vague about her job, and she knew it was probably sketchy, but could it be bad enough to be captured?

“Marinette, My Darling. I apologize for your treatment, I did not realize that you were part of this.”

Talia rushed towards her daughter and unlocked the chains. She was pulled into a tight hug that Marinette quickly returned. After a few moments she pulled away but held her shoulders gently.

“I must show you something, come.”

Talia quickly stood and helped her daughter to her feet and walked swiftly through the calls of Nanda Parabat.

“What is mom?”

Talia smiled at that, she had always loved when her daughter called her that.

“It’s a surprise, My Flower.”

A few more twists though hallways and they stopped in front of a thick wooden door.

“I want you to meet someone.”

The door was pushed open and there sat a small baby in a crip with dark black hair, tanned skin, and dark green eyes. Marinette gasped and covered her mouth,

“Meet your brother, Damian.”

Marinette slowly walked over and stared at Damian through the top of the crib. He silently watched and studied her without making a sound.

“He’s about 3 months old.”

Talia said, smiling happily as she watched her daughter run her fingers through Damian’s small tresses of hair. With a snap of her finger one of her shadows stepped next to her.

“Bring Jason.”

And with that order they were gone returning a few minutes later with a boy who was alive physically, but was mentally gone. She could fix that though, it would be the last resort if all else failed, but she could fix it. Marinette looked up when she heard Jason’s footsteps and her bright smile fell slightly into a small sad one.

“Jay-Jay.”

She whispered softly as she took slow steps towards the boy. She quickly ran and hugged him again. He no longer smelled like mud and he wasn’t wearing his suit, and he was….he was alive again! Tears fell down her cheeks, because she missed him so much.

________

Marinette stayed with her mom in what she learned was Nanda Parabat. She trained with Jason, but he was catatonic, just going through the motions blankly. It worried her, especially as she watched her mother grow more anxious. She cared for her little brother, and wondered if her dad knew, or if he would even care. She often looked at Paris news for when she needed to go for Akuma attacks, but if her host parents even realized she was gone. They hadn’t, nor had any of her “friends” apparently as they hadn’t sent her a single thing from the weeks she’s been gone.

Marinette knew that Nada Parabat wasn’t a good place, knew that the people were bad, knew that her grandfather was the head of it. He didn’t seem to care who she was, he just thought she was some nurse for Damian, and she was thankful for that. She knew that the Lazarus Pits were here, what they did, how they were made, how her grandfather used them for selfish purposes. She didn’t do anything though, she was mad at her father for sending her away, mad that he adopted a bee kid only a year after he sent her away, mad that he never talked to her, mad that Dick never fought for her or looked for her, mad that Jason was forced to wake up and climb his way out of his grave only to be practically brain dead, mad that her classmates believed lies over her, mad that her host parents believed them and treated her like dirt or an invisible object meant to seen and not heard, mad that Chat Noir would leave her during battles because she didn’t return his affections, and mad that no one cared that she was gone! So she trained as hard as she could, made sure that she perfected everything her mother threw at her. Took care of her family and made sure they knew how thankful she was for them and loved them. Then when she finally got a text from someone it was insults for being a horrible person and hurting Lila when she hadn’t been there for weeks!

She threw her phone at the wall and the crack echoed around the room. Her breathing was harsh and ragged and then the tears she had been holding back finally fell. Sobs wracked her body as she bit her lip to keep silent. She tried to take in deep shuddering breaths, but it was no use and the sobs came out. Her knees felt weak and she crumpled to the ground. The door burst open and she saw her mom there knife in hand looking around the room with swift deadly eyes. When she didn’t see any visible threats she kneeled in front of her daughter and looked directly into her eyes. Eyes a storming blue that flooded with tears and made her heart ache and her want to murder whoever made her precious daughter look so broken.

“My Flower, what’s wrong?”

“N-nobody cares ab-about me! No one cares that I’m g-gone. Everyb-body hates me, and I’m so tired of it! I’ll n-never be enough for an-anybody and I’m t-trying so h-hard to do wh-what everyone needs or exp-ects me to be!”

Marinette stuttered out between sobs. Talia glared at that and felt anger at Bruce. She thought that he at least checked in with her every once in a while. She had guessed wrong then. She pulled her daughter into a hug and let her cry against her shoulder.

“Shh, shh. It’s okay. You are perfect the way you are Marinette. You don’t have to prove anything to me. You’re such a good sister, you train so hard, and you have so many amazing skills and talents. You are enough, don’t let anyone say anything different.”

Marinette gripped onto her mom and they both just sat there in silence as Marinette finally just cried. After who knows how long Marinette gently pushed away and looked her mom directly in the eyes with complete seriousness said,

“I want you to help me fake my death. If everyone wants to pretend I’m gone or wants me to disappear, then fine. I will. I don’t want to be seen anymore.”

Talia stared at her daughter in shock for a moment then gave her a small smile.

“It will be done my dear, you will be free.”

“Thank you mom.”

Taglist:

@queenz-z @aespades @fandomsaremylifeline @stainedglassm @toodaloo-kangaroo @prettylittlebutterflie @trippingovermyfeet @liquid-luck-00 @unoriginalmess @buginetye @miraculouslydumb @laurcad123

#maribat #BDBWM2021 #marinette dupain cheng #marinette al ghul wayne #talia sugar #class salt #tom and sabine salt #day 13 #death #sibling au #sibling jasonette #sibling daminette #damian is a baby #angst #fluff

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findingjoynweirdstuff · 3 years

Text

Dream SMP Recap (March 16/2021) - Worst Day

“May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.”

—-

VOD LINKS:

Ponk

Foolish

Tubbo

Ranboo

Quackity

Badboyhalo

Captain Puffy

—-

- Foolish continues work on the mansion.

- Ranboo goes mining and talks about his ARG plans while getting chat to gamble. It’s the calm before the storm.

---

WORST DAY.

---

- Quackity’s stream opens with a shot of Schlatt’s Grave. The sound of a chest opening can be heard.

“Alex...you know, you and I? You know I wouldn’t do anything disadvantageous...”

Chapter One.

- Quackity climbs up to the roof of Punz’s tower, where he comes face to face with Bad.

Bad: "You keep getting in my way, Quackity...”

- Quackity asks why Bad brought him up here. He tells Bad he’s just an asset to the Egg. Bad replies that he’s not just an asset -- he’s serving a purpose Quackity could never understand.

Bad: “You call it the Egg...that’s just the surface. That’s just what you think it is. It is so much more than that. It is something you cannot even comprehend.”

- Quackity asks if all Bad is is an “asset to power.”

Quackity: “You don’t know what power is, Bad, then that’s your issue. That’s why I’m getting in your way. It’s ‘cause I know the ins and outs of business, I know the ins and outs of power. And I’m sorry that’s something you’re never gonna understand yourself.”

- Quackity tells Bad to not waste his time. Bad replies that he called Quackity to tell him to stay out of his way.

- Quackity then says he can show Bad what he’s been working on: real power.

- A cutscene shows Quackity and Bad riding off into the distance, making their way to:

Las Nevadas.

Chapter Two.

- At his cow farm, Quackity finds a book in the chest, wondering who put it there. It gives instructions to follow a railway track above.

“You had the fattest ass in my cabinet.”

- Quackity follows the line down into a cave where Glatt is waiting for him. It’s...a gym? The Big Man Gym.

- Austin from Austinshow is a dead guy with Glatt.

- He can’t go upstairs or else his skin starts falling off, so he stays down in the gym with his dad.

- Wilbur goes to the gym every day in his beanie.

- Tommy also came down to the gym.

- The dead all come down to the gym to lift weights.

- Quackity asks who else is up there. Glatt says he just wants to reconnect with Quackity.

- Glatt has apparently been learning Spanish.

- Mexican Dream also comes down to the gym. Neither Quackity nor Glatt know who he is and Quackity asks if Dream’s been visiting. He hasn’t helped Glatt learn Spanish.

- Quackity tells Glatt he hates seeing him, so he’ll give him five minutes.

- Glatt gives Quackity a preposition: He wants to escape the confines of the gym and wants to be revived. He knows of a thing that exists that could help him: a book.

- The green guy who comes down to the gym sometimes has this book.

- Quackity tells Glatt he has a business venture, and is willing to offer him a bet:

If Quackity loses, he goes to Dream and gets the revive book and gives it to Glatt to use. If Quackity wins, Glatt never gets revived and works for Quackity forever.

They agree on the bet and start walking, Quackity asking Glatt about his other adventures...

Chapter Three.

- It’s raining. Quackity is standing outside Bee ‘n’ Boo as Sam walks up to him. He apologizes for calling Sam in on short notice.

- They head into the Big Innit Hotel, and Quackity tells Sam it’s time for him to visit Dream.

- Sam is hesitant. The last visit didn’t go well.

- Quackity says that there are issues with the prison, and that’s that Tommy died in there, and as Sam’s business partner, he wants to know Sam is reliable.

- Sam replies that his job isn’t to keep the visitors alive, but to keep Dream there.

- Quackity asks, even though Sam has Dream locked up, what stopped him from killing Tommy? Nothing.

Quackity: “He has power, Sam. He still has power. Why haven’t we killed him?”

Sam: “We can’t kill him, Quackity, he’s the only one who can bring people back to life. It’s the whole reason we put him in the prison in the first place.”

- Quackity suggests, then, that they go in, take the book from Dream and then they won’t need Dream anymore.

- Sam points out that he’ll refuse to give anyone the book, since Dream knows that’s the only reason they’re keeping him alive.

- Quackity asks that he at least be allowed to try.

- Sam says it’s not that he doesn’t trust Quackity, it’s that he doesn’t trust Dream. But, as Quackity points out, that’s the safety issue.

- Sam still doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Quackity starts backing away from the hotel slowly.

Quackity: “So how am I supposed to rely on you for any business opportunities, when you won’t even grant me one simple visit?”

Sam: “What is that supposed to -- I assume you’ve seen the work Awesamdude Constructions has done in Las Nevadas?”

Quackity: “Yeah, but Sam, that’s...You’re good at what you do, you’re just not cooperating though. That’s what I need from a business partner, cooperation.”

- Quackity has an idea. He places two item frames on the wall with an axe and a sword and asks to bring them in with him. That’s all he needs to get the last bit of power Dream has.

- Sam is still doubting, but Quackity brings up Tommy’s death, asking if Sam is going to let Dream get away with it. He assures Sam that he won’t kill Dream, just talk with him.

Quackity: “Sam, there’s an underlying safety issue, he killed Tommy. Do you really have any control of him right now? Is there any control you have over him right now, Sam? I can fix that, I can fix that! All you gotta do is let me in and bring these two in.”

- Quackity assures Sam that he knows what he’s doing and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get that book.

- Sam finally agrees, and they walk over to Pandora’s Vault. They enter the prison and Sam asks Quackity the entry questions:

“When’s the last time you visited the prison?”

“This is my first time. I’ve never visited the prison before.”

“Where is your place of residence located?”

“Las Nevadas.”

“Do you believe the prisoner deserves to be locked up?”

“No doubt about it, of course I do.”

“What are all your prior relations with the prisoner?”

“We don’t get along, I’ll leave it at that.”

- Quackity seals the waiver book without signing it.

- They go through the security measures and Quackity does the same with the other waivers.

- They make it to the lava wall. Sam gives Quackity some food.

Sam: “The tools you have are whatever, but...if you’re gonna do this Big Q, do it right.”

- Sam throws Quackity shears, Warden’s Will, Warden’s Hammer and some item frames. He tells Quackity to not hold anything in his hand.

- The lava lowers, Quackity crosses on the bridge and comes face to face with Dream.

- Quackity asks Dream how it feels to be in there. Must feel bad.

- He brings up what Dream did to Tommy. Dream asks what people think about it. Did they think it was cool? What were they saying?

Quackity: “What matters is the very concept of it. You have a book that can bring people back.”

Dream: “And now people will believe me!”

Quackity: “Yeah...I know you have that book, Dream. Everyone at this point knows you have that book.”

Dream: “Yeah! That’s good!”

Quackity: “I mean, depends on the eyes of who you see it.”

Dream: “Well, I mean...it’s good for me.”

- Quackity tells Dream that he wants -- needs the book.

- Dream tells him that he burnt the book. Now it’s just knowledge in his head.

Dream: “I’m the book.”

- Quackity asks him to tell him what he knows, or else. He puts up the item frames on the wall and puts Warden’s Will in one of them.

Dream: “How did you -- “

Quackity: “I’m asking the nice way, Dream, and you didn’t want to tell me.”

Dream: “You’re not gonna kill me.”

Quackity: “I”m not gonna kill you, but --”

Dream: “SAM!”

Quackity: “I’m gonna make your last days in this fucking prison hell, Dream.”

Dream: “SAM! HOW DID YOU -- “

Quackity: “Don’t fucking touch me man, alright? It’s simple, Dream, alright? You’re gonna tell me all the knowledge you have in that fuckin’ book or I’m gonna come here every. Single. Fucking. Day. To make your life hell. That is exactly what I’m gonna fucking do, and I”m gonna stick to it until you give me that fucking book.”

Dream: “I’m not gonna tell you anything!”

Quackity: “You have no other choice. If you want me here every fucking day, then you’re gonna give me the fucking knowledge on the book. I’m not fucking around, Dream, you’re gonna tell me!”

Dream: “SAM!”

Quackity: “You can scream for Sam all you want, Dream.”

Dream: “How -- there’s no way -- How did you sneak it in?!”

Quackity: “Alright, alright, you know what? There’s been enough talking. There’s been enough talking, Dream. You’re gonna tell me, or we’re gonna do this the fucking hard way for as long as we need to do it.”

- The screen fades to black.

- Quackity walks to the El Rapids poster, his clothes splattered with blood. One by one, he takes down the faces of Sapnap, George and Karl. He leaves his intact.

- As Quackity goes to the peak of El Rapids and begins to take it apart, voices can be heard in the background.

...

Quackity: “This means nothing, George, this means nothing in comparison...to a challenge to power.”

“At the end of the day, what this is is a new beginning, okay? This is a new beginning for the country El Rapids. Ready? Let’s just hit each other at the same time, ready?”

“Three...”

“Two...”

“One...”

“Yeah!”

Sapnap: “I wanna fight Dream.”

Quackity: “Step by step, Sapnap, step by step. We’ll get there someday.”

Ghostbur: “What is Mexican L’manburg?”

Quackity: “Mexican L’manburg was a little place we made next to L’manburg, to kind of commemorate...”

“It’s time to say goodbye and rename it to El Rapids, baby! Have you heard of Cedar Rapids, Ghostbur?”

Ghostbur: “Yes, I’m just chilling there! Most of the time.”

Quackity: “YES!”

...

- Quackity removes his face from the picture.

- There’s a final shot of Quackity from the back, looking at the picture...

It cuts to live-action as Quackity crumples the shot into paper, puts down a whiteboard calendar with all the days marked “Visit Dream,” crosses off the first and throws his briefcase down, spilling its contents of poker chips and a pair of scissors.

- End of stream.

---

- Bad gets a pet horse named Pebbles!

---

Upcoming events remain the same.

#dream smp #dream smp recaps #prison arc #tw torture #long posts

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foxghost · 3 years

Text

Joyful Reunion, Chapter 112

Translator: foxghost @foxghost tumblr/ko-fi1 Beta: meet-me-in-oblivion @meet-me-in-oblivion tumblr Original by 非天夜翔 Fei Tian Ye Xiang Masterpost | Characters, Maps & Other Reference Index

Book 3, Chapter 24 (Part 7)

Right there behind the stone statue at the top of the stairs is a wide platform, and behind the platform is a set of derelict buildings stacked out of bricks. It’s eerily quiet on top of the platform as it’s little frequented, and green creeper vines have climbed all the way up from the base of the foundations miles below. Nothing marks the years’ passing in the mountains, as though time itself is frozen here.

“Is this where you trained?” Duan Ling asks.

“Yes. This is White Tiger Hall,” Wu Du replies, climbing the steps with Duan Ling until they’re before the great hall. A plaque is barely hanging on high above them with three characters written in ancient seal script: White Tiger Hall.

“We’ll sleep here tonight. It may still be a bit cold in the mountains, but I think …”

“That’s quite alright,” Duan Ling replies, standing in front of the great hall, he stretches, facing the green hills beyond and their misty clouds. It reminds him of a line of poetry: my mind expands to take in this expanse of clouds; the sight of homecoming birds stretches the edge of my vision.2 From the moment they left Jiangzhou he’s enjoyed the first true days of leaving all his worries behind. Here, he doesn’t have to worry about anyone coming to kill him, and neither does he have to worry about saying anything by accident that can get him killed. They can sleep soundly and let themselves relax.

He turns back to glance at Wu Du. Wu Du is inside the great hall, sweeping the stone paths clean. When he finds a bird’s nest on a chair, he picks up the nest and wipes down the chair before putting it back.

“Eh?” Duan Ling spies a small animal dodging behind a pillar and walks quickly over. It’s a squirrel. When it hears footsteps it stops, turns around, and hesitatingly stares at Duan Ling.

“Animals in the mountains aren’t afraid of people,” Wu Du explains.

“Are there other people here?”

“No. Even back then it was just me, my master, his wife, and Shijie.”

Recalling the Xunchun who lost her life in Shangjing, Duan Ling lets out a sigh.

Once Wu Du finishes cleaning he adds, “Duan Ling, come. Let’s go meet the White Tiger.”

Duan Ling walks to the centre of the main hall, and looks up at a white tiger carved out of white marble enshrined in the altar. Its eyes are sunken as if gems used to be set in them, but they’re long lost, presumably stolen by thieves. A mottled, dilapidated mural of “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains”3 has been painted on the wall behind it, with seven Weiqi pieces carved out of marble inlaid into the mural.4

“I’m the seventeenth generation disciple, successor of the lineage of poison,” Wu Du says to the white tiger statue, “current leader of the White Tiger Hall, Wu Du. I’m here today with the crown prince of the central plains.”

Duan Ling cannot help but be awestruck, and his back straightens at Wu Du’s words. Wu Du stands tall in front of the statue, holding the index and middle fingers of his left hand to the back of his right hand to bow as a part of a special ritual on his pilgrimage to the White Tiger. "Lord White Tiger, please bless …

“What’re you called again?” Wu Du pauses to ask Duan Ling.

“What?”

“Your name.”

Duan Ling stares at Wu Du speechlessly. Wu Du stares silently back.

“What kind of a sect leader are you?” Duan Ling doesn’t even know what to tell him.

Wu Du whines, “That day you shocked me right out of my head, so how was I supposed to remember anything? Say it already.”

“Li Ruo, here to pay my respects,” Duan Ling takes one step forward. He knows that the White Tiger constellation is the god of soldiers and warfare, in control of everything that has to do with slaughter. He bows. “I pray for Great Chen to triumph in every battle, to be victorious in every war.”

Wu Du cracks a grin, and turns to the statue. “I pray you’ll bless and protect the crown prince of Great Chen, Li Ruo, and to allow him a smooth return to the imperial court.”

They each finish talking to the White Tiger, and afterwards, they look up together in silence, staring at the statue with its missing eyes. A draft brushes them by, pouring from the back of the main hall and rushing out the entrance, setting the fringes of their robes fluttering — as if a fierce tiger has just crossed the forest, setting all the leaves in the trees rustling.

“Where did its eyes go?” Duan Ling asks Wu Du.

“No idea. It’s never had them as far as I can remember, so they must have been dug out long ago. Its eyes can’t see, but it can hear just fine.”

Duan Ling thinks, sounds like that’s true. Perhaps the breeze was its instruction.

Duan Ling has never had so much free time in his life before. That very afternoon, Wu Du takes the stairs down the mountain again to move the bedding and food from their boat to their lodgings. Duan Ling offers to help, but Wu Du just tells him to rest. As soon as he puts the stuff down on the platform he’s off again to the boat for more.

White Tiger Hall has a rear courtyard with a set of houses sectioned into east and west wings, while the main house was the place where Wu Du’s master and his wife used to live. Duan Ling spots an alchemy furnace, still filled with solidified cinnabar and some medicaments, a mixture of something now pitch black. The west wing is Xunchun’s room. Duan Ling opens the door and peers inside to find it filled with cobwebs and dust, devoid of anything else. The east wing is Wu Du’s room. It has one bed, two wooden shelves filled with old things, piled high with worn-eaten ancient tomes.

“What a pity,” Duan Ling says, “you had this many rare hand-copied books, but they got so damaged. Aren’t you worried that the knowledge will be lost?”

Wu Du has drawn water from a creek behind the main hall, and he’s cleaning the house with his sleeves rolled up. "Everyone’s gone. Whether the martial arts knowledge is passed on or lost, there’s no one left to care about that anymore.”

“What’s in here?”

“The elixirs master refined ages ago. He’d always wanted to live forever, follow the Dao and become an immortal. He used to be just fine, but after eating too much of that stuff he couldn’t even fight anymore. When the capital was under attack he took his wife with him and got off the mountain to reinforce the troops, and he should have been able to escape unscathed, but whatever blasted elixir he took stopped his qi from flowing when he needed it, and the Khitans shot him to death.”

“Where’s he buried? Should we go visit his grave?”

“The cenotaph is back there. After the capital was taken by Khitans, Shijie had someone bring back his clothes. We’ll go if we have time. There’s no hurry.”

Together, Duan Ling and Wu Du clean up the room. Wu Du says, “I don’t need any of that stuff. Just toss it all out.”

“No no, they’re too valuable.”

“I’m keeping it all in my head, you know. Don’t flip through them now, they’re dusty. If you do that you’ll sneeze.”

Duan Ling sneezes dramatically more than a dozen times before he manages to reorganise Wu Du’s books, putting them away nicely on the shelves. He plans to make a copy of everything when he has time, and that way it’ll help keep White Tiger Hall’s knowledge intact.

It’s getting closer to dusk. Wu Du has half finished cleaning the place. He gets a fire started then, and begins making dinner for Duan Ling.

Watching Wu Du busying himself, Duan Ling feels as though he’s back to being a little kid again. He recalls those words once said to him: there will always be people who disregard all else to be good to you, no matter who you are. If I’m not the crown prince of Southern Chen, would Wu Du still have brought me here?

Duan Ling ponders this, and comes to the conclusion that Wu Du probably would.

Spotting an antique, worn-out case under the shelves in the room, Duan Ling bends down to open the lock. Once it’s opened, he discovers that it’s filled with wooden puppets of horses and people, carved with a small knife. They must have been toys carved by Wu Du for himself when he was all alone as a little kid. Underneath the toys is a red cloth sack, and Duan Ling’s about to open it when Wu Du notices and says, “Um … Don’t touch that!”

Thinking that it’s some deadly poison, Duan Ling quickly puts it back, but Wu Du is hurrying into the room, a crimson blush in his cheeks as he puts the cloth sack back in the lowest level of the case.

“What’s that?”

“It’s nothing.” Wu Du looks a bit embarrassed, which only serves to make Duan Ling even more curious and to keep pestering him. Self-conscious, Wu Du leaves for the kitchen to get more water so he can start steaming the fish, but Duan Ling follows him around the whole time until he gives up under the badgering. “It’s a baby wrap.”

Duan Ling pauses for a moment before he breaks out in side-splitting laughter. Wu Du sounds a bit irritated. “Don’t laugh!”

A thought occurs to Duan Ling and he thinks he understands. “You wore it when you were little?”

“Yeah,” Wu Du replies, “when the master’s wife found me, that cloth was the only thing on my person.”

“Was there a birth certificate? Your parents’ names?”

“No idea. Even if there was one, my master would have burned it.” Wu Du says without minding him, “Assassins can’t have mom and dad.”

“Doesn’t that mean you wouldn’t know when your birthday is?”

“Well let’s just treat … the day she found me as my birthday.”

Duan Ling only comes to that realisation then. “Which day is it?”

Wu Du doesn’t say anything, and Duan Ling seems about to press him, so Wu Du can but tell him, “I’ll tell you when it comes up.”

Duan Ling stretches out his pinkie, and so Wu Du gives it a little shake with his own. “Go wait for dinner, but don’t run off. Maybe no one is going to kill you here but getting lost in the mountains is no joke.”

Wu Du limits Duan Ling’s roaming range to the area between the stone steps and plank walkways, extending all the way to the platform, and he can wander through the buildings of White Tiger Hall as well, but he can’t go to the mountains behind the halls. Duan Ling walks to the edge of the platform to view the clouds, where they flow like an ocean in the mountains; the mist has risen, and in the mountains it’s as quiet as the land of the immortals.

The racket and prosperity of Jiangzhou, the strife between people — all of it can be left behind for now. They all feel like nothing more than a dream Duan Ling had during an afternoon nap.

If he can stay here for the rest of his life, maybe no one will ever be able to find them?

If he stays here for the rest of his life, maybe he won’t ever have to worry about anything else anymore.

An idea occurs to Duan Ling as he stares out at the cloud sea. If he’s able to accomplish all his goals and retire in comfort someday, this will be his final and only resting place. After experiencing so much, there’s nothing happier than to live the rest of his life in peace, with someone by his side … as he thinks this he turns to look back inside White Tiger Hall. Wu Du just happens to be banging some metal together to make a clanging noise, letting him know that it’s time for dinner.

“Scram! I’ll hit you!”

As Duan Ling heads inside, he sees Wu Du scaring off a monkey that’s come out of nowhere. The monkey wants to come closer and beg him for some food, but it doesn’t dare get too close. It stares at Wu Du with wide puppy eyes, then it turns them on Duan Ling. Duan Ling can’t help but laugh soundly, tossing it a bit of dry rations. The monkey immediately grabs it and runs off.

“There’s another one over there.” Duan Ling looks around and finds the big monkey rushing to give another, smaller monkey the food after it successfully begged for some.

“If you want food, eke out a living for yourself.” Wu Du jokes around. “If you want to be lord and master of the household, you’ve got to support your family.” Then Wu Du pushes against the great doors with his shoulder to close them.

During the evening, a solitary lamp swings back and forth in the mountain breeze, and beneath it the two of them have rice with plates of side dishes, along with the live fish they bought on the river. There’s even a couple of cups of wine to go with it.

After they finish drinking, Wu Du says to Duan Ling, “I’m going to take you somewhere. Let’s go.”

It happens to be a full moon tonight. Wu Du takes Duan Ling towards the mountains behind the halls, and they turn a corner through a narrow path, coming to the other side of the mountain where the sky seems to open up; the desolate wilderness of the mountains makes the moon look even brighter, and silvery light fills their vision.

Lit by moonlight, throughout the mountains, this is the only place planted full of peach trees; out in the mortal world peach blossom season has reached its end, but in the mountain temples they’re in full bloom. Amidst the mountain ranges the peach blossoms bloom in brilliant clusters, and the mountain breeze takes millions of petals off their branches to flutter beneath a bright moon.

“What do you think?” Wu Du asks with a smile.

Duan Ling is nearly unable to get any words out at all; he stares in a daze at the scenery before him.

“Only for about ten days every year,” Wu Du says, “do you get a view like this.”

“It’s too beautiful.”

Wu Du comes over to him, and they sit down on a rock together. He takes out his flute, and holds it to his lips. Music rings out, and in that instant, Joyful Reunion once more drags Duan Ling’s mind back into the faraway past.

When the song ends, Duan Ling and Wu Du quietly meet each other’s eyes.

Wu Du’s lips move imperceptibly, his breathing growing slightly urgent, and wearing nothing but an unlined robe and short pants, he’s sitting quite close to Duan Ling on the rock. Moonlight spills onto their snow white underclothes, and Duan Ling can vaguely make out the rugged and beautiful lines of Wu Du’s body.

“Duan Ling,” Wu Du says suddenly, “I … have something I want to say to you.”

Without knowing the reason for it at all, Duan Ling is starting to feel tense as well. “Wha—what?”

Wu Du looks down at him. They’re both quiet for at least several breaths, but then Wu Du is turning away to look towards the mountain streams, then up at the bright moon above, seemingly on edge.

“What did you want to say?” Duan Ling reaches out, his hand folding over the back of Wu Du’s hand, but Wu Du has turned his hand over to hold onto his.

“Do you …” Wu Du turns the thought over and over in his head before he appears to make up his mind and asks, “Do you like it here?”

Duan Ling smiles, and it’s like a million peach flowers blooming beneath the moonlight, how brilliant their blossoms.

“Earlier today I was just thinking,” Duan Ling tugs on Wu Du’s hand, “maybe someday I’ll just live here in the White Tiger Hall and never go back to the earthly world.”

“Oh no no,” Wu Du says immediately, “now that won’t do. I … you …”

“Yeah.” Duan Ling thinks about his duty, and that’s bound to be a heavy subject. He jests, “It’s just a thought.”

“No, that’s not …” Wu Du collects himself and says, “What I was thinking is that … aside from this place, I also want to take you … other places. And if you want … you can … take your time to pick, pick the place you love the most … anywhere is fine. The edge of the oceans, the ends of the earth, as long as you want to be there, I’ll be at your side.”

Duan Ling stares at him in startled silence.

“I … What I’m thinking is …” Wu Du doesn’t dare look at Duan Ling, and he can only stare off anywhere else, his handsome face turning crimson to his collarbones; even the skin under his tattoo is glowing red like he’s been drinking. His grip on Duan Ling’s hand grows tighter subconsciously and he stammers through his speech.

“Afterwards, I’ll also take you … to all those places you want to see. I’ll take you to Diannan, take you to … see the ocean. You … Shan’er, that day … when you called me ‘milord’, I know maybe you were just joking, but I’ve taken you here because I wanted to ask you … if you’re willing to … for the rest of our lives …”

By now Wu Du has already calmed down. The words have already left his mouth so he’s not going to be nervy anymore.

“In front of other people, you and I will be as we always were.” Wu Du doesn’t know where his courage is coming from, but he’s staring into Duan Ling’s eyes as he says solemnly to him, "Even if you’ve returned to the imperial court, I don’t need you to make me anything official. As long as you still think of me as you do in your heart today, I will find you the Zhenshanhe and guard you for the rest of your life, until the day I die.

“I know that in the future you’ll become the emperor. But I really … really … really want to be … with you …”

As he says this he’s getting nervous again. “I think … if you’re willing, I’ll definitely treat you well. Whenever we’re alone and there’s no one else around, I’ll … treat you … treat you as I would treat … my wife, and you’ll … yield to me as you would …”

Duan Ling stares at Wu Du in a daze, and Wu Du realises now that he’s still squeezing on Duan Ling’s hand and hurriedly lets it go. He reaches into a pocket in his robe and takes out a string of beads.

Wu Du unfolded his fingers, holding the beads in front of Duan Ling, and he moves his hand forward a little, as though he’s a mere humble human being presenting a tribute he made with all his heart, in a gesture more reverent than making an offering to the gods of their world.

The tribute is a bracelet strung with rosary peas.

Duan Ling’s cheeks turn scarlet in an instant as he comes to realise what Wu Du has left unsaid — to his surprise, Wu Du is wooing him. Even before this Duan Ling has had a vague feeling that this is the case, and the present moment is reminding him of that evening as the sun was setting, and Wu Du had taken his hand and told him all those things in the maple forest.

In a flash, the Duan estate’s dark woodshed, the snowstorm oppressive above the frozen Yellow River, those unfamiliar and gloomy days in Shangjing, a war that shook the earth beneath him, a night of panicked escape that feels like it happened yesterday, that harsh winter in Luoyang, his father’s death … in his mind these memories all shatter one by one.

They were each alone in the world as children, and now they’re beneath a sky filled with fluttering peach petals, silently facing each other.

In place of those memories are all those dreams once promised to him in that endless river of time, all those colourful, dazzling hopes, with the life he wants to lead.

Duan Ling seems able to see himself, and he’s able to see Wu Du as well — the Wu Du who grew up orphaned and alone is finally all grown up, and has made his way to him.

Wu Du’s hands have once solemnly taken hold of the sword that represents the last of the central plains martial artists; they have also blocked the sword that came at him with a force great enough to shatter the firmament itself outside Tongguan. But now they’re somehow overtaken by a slight but uncontrollable trembling.

“I …” Duan Ling takes a deep breath as he tries his best to restrain the excitement rushing about in his heart, but he notices that he’s unable to say anything at all. When he raises his eyes to meet Wu Du’s though, it seems Wu Du has come to a different conclusion. Noting that Duan Ling hasn’t taken the bracelet from him, his expression grows sad, and forcing a smile tinged with agony, he nods as though he already knew this would be the answer.

But to his surprise, instead of taking Wu Du’s bracelet, Duan Ling has thrown his arms around Wu Du’s neck, and closing his eyes, he leans in and presses his lips to Wu Du’s.

A mountain breeze blows by, sending a rustling through the leaves; flower petals scatter to fly through the air.

Wu Du’s eyes widen, and his entire body freezes as though he’s been struck by lightning. Not daring to move an inch, he holds the pose with their lips touching. When he comes to himself in the next moment, he stares at Duan Ling, his heart beating madly in his chest.

The two of them pull apart and Duan Ling takes Wu Du’s bracelet from him. He grips it between his fingers, breathing rapidly, wanting to say something but has no idea where to begin. They’re both red in the face, blood rushing through their ears, but Duan Ling is wearing a small, shy smile on his face.

And yet in the next moment, without a word at all, Wu Du gets up and runs into the forest of peach trees.

“Wu Du?” Duan Ling calls him, but Wu Du isn’t stopping at all. In two shakes he’s run so far not even a shadow of him can be seen anymore.

Duan Ling stares into the dark speechlessly, no idea what’s happening, but when he chases over he finds Wu Du turning somersaults under a tree, following them with a sweeping kick and several punches, whipping up the leaves and flower petals so they flutter like a cloud around him.

Duan Ling laughs, and Wu Du suddenly turns around. When he realises that Duan Ling’s spotted him, he dodges behind a tree trunk.

Duan Ling puts on the bracelet. Meanwhile, Wu Du has closed his eyes with his back against a peach tree, revealing that slightly roguish yet captivating smile.

Duan Ling has no idea what he should say. It seems as though everything has changed through this one evening, and the scenery before him has taken on a special meaning. I actually kissed him earlier! Where did I find the courage to do that? Wu Du’s lips were scorching hot and soft, not at all the way he’d imagined them to be, and he’s still thinking about the sensation he had in the very instant he kissed him.

Wu Du turns his head to peer from behind the tree, and finds Duan Ling sitting on the rock, stock still, with his back to him, facing the mountain range and valleys beneath the moon.

Flute music begins again, but this time it’s an elated, cheerful melody. Duan Ling turns to look; Wu Du is standing beneath a tree, playing another tune that sounds like a folk song. A smile spreads over Duan Ling’s face.

“What song is that?”

When Wu Du finishes playing it, he puts the flute away and answers him with a smile, “Little Water Clock. I only ever heard the master’s wife play it once, so. I don’t even remember if that’s exactly how it goes.”5

Wu Du returns to his seat by Duan Ling’s side, and they look at each other, smiling without words.

Then, Wu Du turns a fraction, and reaches out to wrap his arm around Duan Ling’s waist. He puts his other hand over Duan Ling’s cheek, and with a slightest tilt of his head, he seals Duan Ling’s lips with a kiss.

Duan Ling touches Wu Du’s face; the bracelet is wrapped around that wrist.

This kiss lingers on and on, as though long suppressed emotions have finally breached the surface, and in the blink of an eye their feelings have transformed into a raging flood, thoroughly drowning them both.

Wu Du doesn’t want to let go of Duan Ling even for a moment; he has his arms wrapped around Duan Ling’s waist, and almost pressing him against the rock, licks into his mouth. Duan Ling feels his cheeks growing ever hotter under this assault, and as time drips by he’s more sure that Wu Du is growing more impertinent in his plunder.

Duan Ling really is getting way too nervous, and he can’t help but struggle. As he does, Wu Du loosens his hold on him and swallows, staring into his eyes as though he has also realised that he’s gone a bit overboard. He lets go of him at once and asks uneasily, “I didn’t … I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Duan Ling shakes his head. He’s not sure why, but the scene he spied in the Bouquet Pavilion is surfacing in his mind again and it really is too exciting. However, he can’t seem to accept something like that just yet.

“Let’s … head back.” Duan Ling thinks that if they’re going to kiss then they’d better kiss indoors — at least they’ll have a roof over their heads.

Wu Du has come to his senses as well and says, “It’s windy, you better not catch a cold. Let’s go.”

Duan Ling and Wu Du slot their fingers together, and holding hands they stroll leisurely through the mountain paths back to the house.

“Mi … lord.” Duan Ling suddenly remembers what he called him, and smiles at the thought.

Wu Du is finding that funny as well, and the corner of his mouth is turning up before he knows it. His gaze goes from Duan Ling to the path before them, a narrow path passing through a boundless cloud sea, shimmery with moonlight, cutting through towering mountains.

As they go to sleep at night, Duan Ling can’t help reaching out to touch Wu Du’s chest, and they’re wrapped in each other’s embrace again; Wu Du leans in and kiss him cautiously, their bodies rubbing against each other through two thin layers of cloth, both of them growing scorchingly hot. It’s the first time Duan Ling has ever done anything like this, and it just happens to be spring when brand new desires are starting to bloom, while Wu Du has been studying the martial arts for years, and with no avenue of release for his longing, his breath burns him, wishing he could hold on to Duan Ling and simply have his way with him.

They kiss and kiss again; Wu Du’s hand slides under Duan Ling’s waistband, but when it goes over the curve of his hip and reaches his ass, Duan Ling starts to gasp urgently, and Wu Du swallows.

“Do I have to … to … do that?” Without warning, Duan Ling suddenly feels a bit scared.

Sobering, Wu Du thinks about this for a moment. “It’ll hurt you a lot, so not right now. Let’s do that some other time.”

Duan Ling nods and relaxes somewhat. He holds onto Wu Du, studying his features. Wu Du gives him another kiss and whispers, “I can’t bear to hurt you.”

And so Duan Ling smiles again. They’re pressed up against each other, with that hard thing between their legs rubbing together through the thin cloth of their pants. Even if it’s behind a sheet of fabric Duan Ling can still feel how big and hard Wu Du is — so much bigger than his own. Duan Ling just thinks it feels so good to rub against him like this, and he’s getting wet down there as he does so.

Wu Du’s breathing trembles, feeling so good he shivers all over, and soon enough he decides to simply turn them so that Duan Ling is beneath him, so that his weight is pressed down on Duan Ling as he kisses his lips, kisses the corner of his mouth.

After embracing each other for a while, they both somehow feel calmer, and neither of them say anything at all, just stare into each other’s eyes. Wu Du still can’t help smiling. “It’s like I’m dreaming.”

They’ve been kissing each other over and over yet Duan Ling isn’t prepared to do this or that … but he feels somewhat curious about it after all. “Does it really hurt a lot? Have you tried it?”

“I haven’t. Zheng Yan was the one who said that … yeah.”

“He’s tried it?”

Wu Du isn’t sure what he’s supposed to say to that. He reaches into Duan Ling’s shirt, touching him until it tickles. Duan Ling’s hands are behind Wu Du’s neck though, so he has no way of fighting back, and all he can do is beg for mercy repeatedly until Wu Du lets up. “He’s a ne’er do well who has a tendency to paw at pretty young men. I’ve been told that if you’re not careful it can hurt a lot. I don’t want you to develop a fear of it. When we get home I’ll get some … uh … at any rate I’ll take care of it. You don’t have to think about it anymore.”

Duan Ling understands now, and comes to think that is perhaps true. But he thinks that’s fine too — Wu Du’s tall figure pressing down against him gives him an overwhelming feeling of safety.

“I’ll take you home too, in the future,” Duan Ling whispers, his eyes roaming over Wu Du’s handsome features.

“You’ll go back some day.”

Wu Du thought Duan Ling was talking about the palace, but what Duan Ling meant was Xunyang. He’ll go there with Duan Ling at some point also. It’s springtime in Xunyang right now; the flowers must have already bloomed.

I do not monetise my hobby translations, but if you’d like to support my work generally or support my light novel habit, you can either buy me a coffee or commission me. This is also to note that if you see this message anywhere else than on tumblr, do come to my tumblr. It’s ad-free. ↩︎

From Du Fu’s poem, 望嶽 / “Mountain Gazing”. ↩︎

You can see the painting here. ↩︎

Also known as Go. ↩︎

The original here actually says Little Water Clock · Golden Hairpin, but the first part is the melody, while the second part is the lyrics. Golden Hairpin is a poem about love. ↩︎

#相見歡 #fei tian ye xiang #joyful reunion #xiang jian huan #fox translates things #probably shouldn't read this chapter in public

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attllhak · 3 years

Text

@tortilla-of-courage I flipped one of my Fancy coins and got heads, so here’s the one about Wild! (And Twilight and Time and Malon.)

This is also the first fic I wrote, so there’s also a lot of worldbuilding details here too. Regardless, enjoy!

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Twilight really shouldn’t be surprised by things like this anymore.

He had managed to befriend a trench mer about a year ago, and after all the drama that came from that he really should be used to weird shit just, happening to him.

But, here he was, surprised.

In his defence, usually he didn’t run into other mer when out swimming.

His family’s farm was along the coastline, and there weren’t any pods native to the area (outside of the trench mer that lived in the trench a few miles out to open sea), so the only mer that Twilight had ever run into were friends of his father’s who’d come to visit.

This was not a friend of his father’s.

The most obvious detail that this was something new was that all of Time’s friends were deep sea merfolk, and this individual was very much a tropical mer.

Well, maybe a mer. Twilight had never been good at telling the difference between merrow and mer, and that was made harder by the fact that he’d never seen a tropical mer before. This person could be mer or merrow and Twilight would never have been able to tell.

The second detail that said this was a new circumstance was all the blood.

That was actually what drew Twilight over. Large amounts of blood drew sharks, and though they were mostly kept away from the shores by the local zora, it was still better to avoid large blood pools in the water regardless.

Upon approaching, Twilight had noticed that the blood was fresh, and was coming from a merfolk that was definitely new to the area.

This tropical mer had been horribly injured, the entire left side of their body leaking blood into the water around them. Long, tangled blonde hair floated around their head, and their pale blue fins were tattered and damaged, and a few on their left side were just gone altogether.

Twilight initially thought they were dead until he got a bit closer, and their eyes moved to look at him.

Twilight had jerked back in surprise, eyes wide as he took in the expression on the mystery mer’s face, which had gone from defeated to hopeful.

Twilight had to fight to remember to breathe with his gills and not his throat for a moment.

He swallowed, and slowly tried to remember how to speak with his skin.

‘Who, what, why,’ he floundered for a bit. ‘Who are you?’

The mystery mer just watched him lazily, as though they didn’t have the strength to do anything more.

After a long, long moment, and what seemed like quite a bit of effort and pain, they managed to flash ‘help’ at him.

Twilight didn’t even hesitate, moving as quickly as he could without tripping over his fins to the mystery mer’s side, gently scooping them into his arms. Once he had a decent grip on them, he looked around to orient himself, and then took off towards the shoreline where he knew his parents would be.

He didn’t know if the mystery mer had issues with humans, but he couldn’t think of any other way to help them. The trench mer really couldn’t be trusted with delicate matters like this, as much as he loved Midna, so his parents were the only option he had.

He just hoped it wouldn’t make things worse by accident.

His head broke the surface not far from the shore line, where Time was sitting in his human form with Malon.

“Dad!” He shouted, struggling a bit more to keep his passenger steady as the water became more and more shallow. “Dad!”

Time looked up, noticed Twilight trailing blood, and was on his feet immediately.

He met Twilight halfway, which is when he noticed the mystery mer.

“Twilight, what,”

“I found them a ways out,” Twilight gasped out, letting Time help him carry them further onto shore. “They’re really badly hurt, and I couldn’t just leave them, so,”

“Malon!” Time shouted. “Red potions! Hurry!”

Malon nodded and ran up to the house as quickly as she could.

Time and Twilight hauled the mystery mer up onto the shoreline, though still in the water, and Twilight crawled up to the skirt that he and Time both had to pin around their hips to shift back to his human form, since clothes and mer don’t usually mix.

Twilight hurried back over as quickly as he could, stilling pinning fabric in place as he crouched down.

Fortunately it seemed like breathing straight air seemed less painful for the mystery mer, who had taken to clinging to Time’s shirt with his good hand.

Time carefully brushed back their hair, exposing the injuries on their head. Time frowned deeply.

“Can we help them?” Twilight asked, ringing his hands with worry.

“We can,” Time confirmed, and Twilight let out a full body sigh. “He’ll end up with some serious scarring, but he’ll live. What I’m more concerned about is the nature of these injuries,”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, frowning as he looked over the injuries himself.

Malon came back, three bottles of red potion in her arms as she dropped to her knees next to Time. She handed him one of the bottles.

Time nodded, mouthing ‘thank you’ to her, and opened the bottle. “Twilight, support his head,”

Twilight reached out, lifting up the mystery mer’s head so that Time could tip the bottle back and they could drink without choking.

“Dad, what did you mean about the injuries?” Twilight tried asking again once the bottle was empty and they were waiting the few seconds needed to see how well the potion worked so they could gage how many they would need.

Time frowned, but eventually pointed to the parts of the mystery mer’s tail where the fins were missing. “Here, the injuries imply his fins were sawed off by netting,”

“Netting?” Twilight asked, not really following. He knew he was rather sheltered for merfolk, since he grew up on land, but he couldn’t think why someone could end up missing fins from netting.

Time nodded gravely. “Poachers use a specific kind of netting that can cause serious injuries if you struggle too much,”

“Poachers?” Twilight echoed. He wasn’t so naive that he didn’t know people tried to poach merfolk, but poachers never got near zora controlled waters, which was where he’d found the mystery mer. “What are poachers doing here?”

“I don’t know,” Time said, popping open another bottle to offer to the injured mer.

Twilight accepted the other bottle as his mother got up to go and get more.

They spent well over an hour there, crouching in the shallows with this mystery mer as they slowly fed them red potions.

After a long while, Time declared that was enough, and they sat back.

The blood had stopped, but the entire left side of the mer was red and raw still, a collection of marks that would scar pretty badly. But they’d live.

Time sighed, letting the mer cling to his shirt with no small amount of relief.

“He’ll probably need to relearn how to swim with the missing fins, but he’ll be alright,” Time said, and both his wife and son sighed. Time looked up at Twilight. “You did good, bringing him back here. You probably saved his life,”

Twilight smiled. “I was just trying to help,” he shrugged.

“Thank you,”

Everyone froze, and let their eyes fall to the very tired mer in Time’s arms. Their voice croaked and was very quiet, but they all heard it clearly.

They all blinked at each other. Apparently no one expected them to speak a human language.

“Of course,” Twilight said softly, offering one of his hands, which the mer took with their bad hand. “I wasn’t just going to leave you there,”

They nodded, squeezing Twilight’s hand weakly and offering a smile.

“Darling,” Malon asked gently, drawing attention up to her. “Do you mind if we ask your name?”

The mer said nothing, frowning softly.

“Do you have a name?” Twilight tried. Midna had told him that not everyone in the trench had names, and he knew nothing about tropical merfolk. Maybe they had Nameless too.

“I don’t know,” the mer finally said.

“You, don’t know?” Time echoed.

“I don’t remember much,” they admitted, curling in tighter towards Time’s chest. “The last thing I can think of is floating, and then he found me,” they pointed towards Twilight.

Time and Malon shared a look.

“You don’t remember anything?” Malon asked.

They shook their head lightly.

Time and Malon shared another look, and Twilight shifted uncomfortably, bringing his hand up to join the other, just so he had something to do with them. He knew his parents did this often, speaking silently through facial expressions, but he’d never been able to figure out what they were talking about.

“You aren’t going to send me back out to sea, are you?” The mer finally asked, looking more than a bit concerned. “I, I don’t want to go back out there alone,”

“Of course not, dear,” Malon promised them, reaching out to set her hands on the one Twilight had between his own hands. “We wouldn’t do that,”

“We will need to find a way to make sure he doesn’t dry out,” Time pointed out. “We do live on land,”

“We have an extra water trough,” Malon pointed out. “We could pull it inside and fill it up until we think of something better,”

Time hummed. “Would it be big enough?”

Malon frowned at him.

“Right, my mistake,” Time coughed, covering up an amused smile.

The mer finally turned to look at Twilight, marred up face twisted in confusion.

“My mother is human,” Twilight explained carefully. “Dad and I are merrow, but since we can live on land, and mom can’t live in the sea, we live on land. We can and will bring you home, but unless you happen to be merrow then we’ll need to find a container to fill with water for you,”

“I don’t remember if I’m merrow,” the mer said quietly.

“That’s okay,” Twilight smiled. “That’s why we’re talking about options,”

The mer nodded, and curled back into Time.

“Alright,” Time sighed. “Twilight, can you carry him up to the house? I’m going to run ahead with Malon to drag a spare trough into the house to fill up for him,”

“Sure,” Twilight nodded, readjusting how he was crouched to take the mer from his father.

Both his parents stood up and headed back to the ranch, and Twilight watched them go, then turned back to the mer. The mer had wrapped their arms around his neck to hold on, and was looking between the retreating forms of Time and Malon and back to Twilight.

“You don’t have gills,” they said.

Twilight tried to look down at his neck (unsuccessfully), and shrugged. “I do, but they’re closed up right now. I don’t need them in my human form,”

“Oh,” the mer said, then nodded. “That makes sense,”

Twilight stood up, grunting as he shifted how he was holding the mer, and began slowly walking up to the house. Slowly because he didn’t want to trip at all.

Sure enough, Malon and Time had set up a horse trough in the kitchen with a small amount of water in it, towels and other soft materials lining the edge. Twilight knelt down and set the mer in it, being careful to be mindful of the still only mostly healed injuries.

The trough was just a bit too small, the mer’s tail sticking out the one end even fully sitting up.

Twilight and the mer both looked at the arrangement, taking in the cramped conditions.

“Well, this is most certainly a temporary thing,” Time sighed, holding a bucket of water in his hands and frowning at the arrangement. “I’ll call Ruto and see if any of the zora have anything that can help tomorrow,”

“That would be good,” Twilight agreed, voicing the mer’s nod.

(---)

The zora did promise to help with better accommodations, but it would take a while. So the mer spent a week and a half in a repurposed horse trough.

They took the mer back out to the shore every day, and Time and Twilight tried to help him relearn how to swim with his injuries. A zora princess, Mipha, also often attended these lessons after Time had called Ruto and gotten the zora involved. Mipha was a healer, and Ruto had made it very clear that they would be looking into poaching in their waters as that was unacceptable, and wanted to make it up to the poor victim.

This worked well, as the mer took quite a liking to Mipha, and she to him.

Of course, this was also where Twilight and Time learned just how outgoing their new family member was.

Malon called him their ‘wild child’, and after a while ‘Wild’ just became his name.

It fit, if nothing else.

Even on land, Wild continually became more and more vocal and involved in day to day life. He had been very quiet and reserved when they first brought him home, probably a side effect of his memory loss, but as he got more comfortable with them he started coming out of his shell more.

He would sometimes remember random things, and sometimes they would be sad things and others would be happy, but it was never anything big, or that they could use to find his original pod.

Wild didn’t seem to mind that much. He mentioned more than once that he was happy where he was, and was glad Twilight had found him that day in the open water.

The day he called Twilight his brother was the day that Twilight decided he wasn’t going to easily let go of Wild. This was his little brother now and Wild was part of his pod. Time didn’t argue this declaration, just told Twilight to go make sure Wild didn’t hurt himself showing off for Mipha.

Wild did not get hurt showing off for Mipha. Barely.

Wild adapted rather well to the lack of fins, and eventually was swimming just as gracefully as Twilight. Which still wasn’t very graceful, but it was effective enough that he was swimming confidently.

Which is when they spotted the boat.

It was a marine research boat, Wild recognized it but didn’t know why. Marine researchers weren’t allowed in zora controlled waters, it was one of the things they did to crack down on poachers. Hard to pose as marine researchers when marine researchers weren’t allowed in the first place.

‘We should go find Mipha,’ Twilight flashed at Wild, watching the ship warily.

Wild said nothing and didn’t move, just looking at the ship.

‘Wild,’ Twilight grabbed his arm. ‘We should go,’

Wild turned and blinked at him. ‘I know this ship,’

That sent Twilight’s heart up into his throat. He couldn’t stop himself from eying Wild’s scars, a reminder of the poaching that he’d survived.

Twilight swallowed hard, reminding himself that if this was what he was worried about then he’d need to be the one to stay calm, and tightened his grip on Wild’s arm a tiny bit. ‘We need to go,’ he flashed again, trying to press more urgency this time.

Wild shook his head. ‘I know this ship,’ he repeated.

Twilight took a deep breath, glancing up at the ship and seeing people start looking over the side of the ship. That did not calm his nerves. ‘Wild, marine researchers aren’t allowed here. And,’ he trailed off, biting his lip as he struggled and failed to avoid looking at the scars.

Wild caught on and shook his head. ‘I have a good feeling about this ship. I think it’s a good thing,’

Twilight did his best to avoid the worry and panic building in his chest. ‘They still can’t be here. These are zora waters, marine researchers aren’t allowed here. We need to go tell Mipha and Ruto,’

Wild shrugged. ‘Go then, I’ll wait here,’

‘I am not leaving here without you,’ Twilight flashed.

People on the ship were pointing now, and a small boat was being loaded to lower.

Twilight was starting to really worry now, biting his lip and trying not to squeeze Wild’s arm any harder.

‘Wild, please,’

‘You’re really freaking out, aren’t you?’ Wild asked.

Twilight nodded, not bothering to hide it with how the smaller boat had all but hit the water already. They were basically already out of time.

‘Okay,’ Wild offered him, as though he was consoling a small child, which Twilight would be offended by in any other circumstance. ‘Let’s go find Mipha and Ruto and tell them there’s a boat here that shouldn’t be,’

Twilight relaxed just a bit. ‘Thank you,’

They turned to swim off just as the person in the small boat started shouting.

“LINK!”

Twilight startled, not sure how this person knew his real name, as he’d been named after his father and so they both had nicknames. Wild, however, froze.

“LINK!”

Twilight turned to look, seeing a blonde woman with short cut hair leaning over the edge of the small boat, the arm not balancing her switching between waving and cupping her mouth when she yelled.

“LINK!”

‘Wild?’ Twilight asked, shaking his shoulder slightly.

Wild snapped out of whatever daze he was in, twisting in the water to look at the woman.

“ZELDA?!” He shouted back, bubbles erupting from his mouth.

Twilight reared back. Wild never spoke out loud when underwater. Even in the big tank the zora installed for him in their house, he either flashed or surfaced to speak to them.

It didn’t even register that Wild knew the woman’s name until after Wild was already halfway to the surface.

Twilight panicked and followed.

Twilight made it to the surface slower than Wild, and very carefully peeked his eyes above the surface.

Wild had jumped up and had his arms hooked over the side of the boat, and was laughing alongside the woman.

“Oh, and who’s this?” ‘Zelda’ asked, spotting Twilight.

Twilight sunk just a bit further in the water, narrowing his eyes warily.

“Oh! That’s my brother, Twilight!” Wild waved him over, grinning. “Twi! This is Zelda! She’s a friend of mine!”

Twilight cautiously approached, trying to hide how his heart was still ramming in his chest. He poked the rest of his head out of the water.

“Hello Twilight,” Zelda smiled. “I didn’t realize Link had any siblings,”

“Hello,” Twilight said, voice carefully kept even, which was about as polite as he could manage. “You do realize your ship is illegally traveling through zora controlled waters, right?”

Zelda blinked at him, and Wild glowered. Twilight just waited.

“Well, no,” Zelda admitted. “My father had said he’d spoken to the zora here, and that we’d be able to pass through to look for Link. He went missing a while ago, and we’ve been very worried,”

“He was lying,” Twilight informed her bluntly. “If he really had spoken to the zora then he’d know that we’d found him already, and there’s no need to look,”

Both Wild and Zelda blinked at him.

“You’re certain?” Zelda asked.

Twilight lifted an arm to gesture at Wild. “How many merfolk do you know that would match his description?”

Zelda turned to look at Wild, who in turn blinked down at himself.

“You make a very good point,” Zelda conceded.

“You should probably get your boat out of here, before you get into a lot of trouble,” Twilight advised.

“Right, a very good idea. Thank you for warning me,” Zelda smiled, and Twilight could almost believe she was sincere, but he didn’t really want to do so, just in case.

“We won’t tell anyone about it,” Wild offered, and Twilight sent him a half-hearted glare. “So you don’t need to worry about getting in trouble,”

Twilight HAD planned to tell Time and Ruto about it.

“We will need to tell them that someone had lied about speaking to them about getting permission,” Twilight reminded Wild. “That could become a big problem in the future,”

“Oh,” Wild seemed to deflate.

“We don’t need to tell them who was here though,” Twilight offered hesitantly at Wild’s dejected look, not really caring about how worried Zelda was. “We can leave the ship and it’s crew anonymous,”

“Thank you,” Zelda gasped in relief again, smiling.

Twilight shrugged. “I will need your father’s name, though. For the report,”

“Oh, uh, right,” Zelda fumbled, but did provide a name.

“You should come visit!” Wild grinned. “I’d love to introduce you to the rest of the family!”

“The rest of your family?” Zelda asked.

Wild nodded. “Yeah, mom and dad,”

Zelda frowned. “Link, didn’t you tell me your parents had died in a wreck a few years ago?”

Wild blinked. “They did?”

Twilight looked between them. “You didn’t tell her about the amnesia, did you?”

“Amnesia?”

Wild slid off the side of the boat and sunk up to his nose under the water, his hair floating like spider legs around him.

Twilight sighed. “I found him a few weeks ago floating injured in the water here. I brought him home and my parents and I healed him, which is when we learned he had no memories of anything before I found him. We brought him home with us, since we didn’t want to just leave him alone in the sea. The parents he mentioned are my parents, since we adopted him into our pod after a week or so,”

“Oh,” Zelda blinked.

“I’ve been remembering things though!” Wild piped up. “It’s how I recognized you,”

“Well, I’m very glad to hear that,” Zelda smiled. “And, I’d love to visit your new family, if they’d let me,”

She and Wild both looked at Twilight.

Twilight shrugged. “Mom is human and Dad and I are merrow, so show up on land without the ship and we’d be happy to let you in. We have been trying to find Wild’s original pod,”

“Wild?” Zelda blinked.

“We didn’t know his name and he didn’t remember,” Twilight explained. “We’ve been calling him Wild,”

“Ah,” Zelda nodded. “That makes sense. Where do you live? We’ll turn the ship around and meet you over land,”

Wild happily provided her their address, and she signalled for her smaller boat to be lifted up, promising to visit over land.

They watched until the ship had fully turned and left, and then headed back home.

Wild swam up to swim in front of Twilight.

‘You won’t get her in trouble, will you?’

‘The only person I plan to get in trouble is her father,’ Twilight explained.

‘Thank you,’ Wild flashed back.

Twilight did get Zelda’s father in a lot of trouble. Ruto had blown up, and Time, despite being dimmer than a true mer, still managed to nearly blind them as he went off.

It ended with Time and Ruto swimming off, publicly and angrily plotting while off on a warpath. Time likely had the same thoughts Twilight had.

They didn’t even have time to explain that they should be expecting company.

So they surfaced, Wild slapping the water while Twilight pulled on his skirt, and then Twilight carried Wild back to the house.

They decided to start by telling Malon that they’d have company before getting to the bit about Zelda’s dad lying.

A few hours later and Time walked in, still dripping and wearing only his skirt from coming out of the water. He was cursing under his breath.

Which is when the knock on the door sounded.

Wild shot up over the top of his tank, excitedly asking if it was Zelda, which confused Time immensely. Malon went to explain, and Twilight opened the door.

Zelda was tucking a bit of hair behind one of her ears, whispering with one of the people with her when the door swung open. The talking stopped when they saw him, not unexpected considering he was a big guy made mostly of muscle before even taking in the claws or second eyelid that came from being merrow.

Three people stood around her, sheikah Twilight guessed, based on the pure white hair and reddish eyes. One of the women had a streak of red dyed in her hair, and the man had a rather absurd haircut. At least the last woman looked mostly normal. Er, at least in that sense that she was only dressed like she was some kind of ninja or something. A gerudo woman stood a few feet back, watching him closely.

Twilight just smiled, not bothering to hide his fangs since he knew Zelda was already aware he was merrow.

“Zelda! You made it! We’ve been pretty excited about you coming over,”

Zelda smiled back. “Twilight! I’m glad we got the right house. It’s a pleasure to see you,” she waved at her companions. “I hope you don’t mind, I brought a few more mutual friends of Link and I’s, since we’ve all been really worried about him. This is Impa, Purah and Robbie, and that’s Urbosa back there!”

Urbosa stepped up to the porch, eying Twilight. He got the impression she maybe didn’t know he was merrow.

“So, you’re the one who found and rescued Link,” Urbosa greeted.

Twilight nodded. “I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he offered his hand.

Urbosa accepted, eying the claws on his hand.

“Twilight?” Malon called, appearing behind him. “Is this the friend you and Wild mentioned?”

Twilight nodded, and stepped aside, inviting them all in.

Malon greeted them happily, waving them into the living room where Wild was mostly out of his tank.

Wild slipped when he went to wave, and Time reached up calmly to catch him. Time hadn’t bothered to change, but was wearing a towel around his shoulders and was no longer dripping.

“Careful,” Time warned. “You don’t want to fall out,” he said it seriously, but there was mirth in his eye.

Wild grinned sheepishly, but without shame, and slipped back into the tank.

Zelda ran right up to the tank, craning her head up to look at Wild, her companions following her.

“Link!”

Time swiveled his head to her, looking confused, and Twilight hid his snort behind his hand. Time eyed him as well.

“Zelda!” Wild grinned. “You came!”

Zelda scoffed. “Of course I came! And, I brought more friends of ours!” She waved at the others, who all echoed their own greetings.

“Twilight,” Time said slowly. “Did you know Wild was having friends over?”

“We tried to tell you when we reported the confused marine research ship,” Twilight explained. “But you and Ruto got so mad that we couldn’t find a spot to jump in, and then you both swam off. So we came home and told Ma,”

Time nodded, eying the group. “And, you’ve learned Wild’s real name?”

“Yes,” Twilight confirmed.

“And his name is Link?”

“Yes,”

Twilight’s grin never wavered, and Time just sighed. Malon burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Impa asked, eying the group.

“Oh, I,” Malon coughed, trying to reign in her laughter enough to speak. “There’s three of you!”

Time sighed, and Twilight’s grin just grew.

“What does that mean?” Zelda asked.

“I’m Link Jr,” Twilight explained, pointing. “Dad is Link Sr,”

A few more voices join Malon’s in laughter.

Time sighed again.

“I’m going to go get dressed,” Time said, walking out of the room, flicking his towel up over his head and pointedly ignoring the rest of them.

Twilight finally broke and snorted.

The conversation went very well actually, and Urbosa relaxed quite a bit once it was explained to her what merrow were. She came from the desert, and so hadn’t ever encountered merrow before, which explained the weird looks she gave Twilight when he opened the door.

Zelda promised to visit more as well, and to bring more of their mutual friends in the future, and agreed to stay for supper when Malon offered.

“Oh, Wild,” she turned on their way out, looking a bit curious and confused. “I have a question,”

“Yeah?” Wild asked, leaning out of his tank and still grinning.

“Why are you in a tank and your brother and father aren’t?”

Wild blinked. “Because they have legs,” he said, like it was obvious.

“Well, yes,” Zelda agreed. “But, so do you,”

“What do you mean?” Wild asked.

“Wild, you do know that you’re merrow, and not mer, don’t you?”

“I’M WHAT?!?!”

#linked universe #lu #lu wild #lu twilight #lu time #malon #lu flora #mer au #injury mention #blood mention #behold! mer au fic!#i have one other thing with twi and wild #and one explaining what happened to wars #and i really need to introduce legend hyrule and four #but i'll do that later #for now there is this

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winterscaptain · 3 years

Text

a parent thing.

Aaron Hotchner x Fem!Reader a joyful future fic

a/n: here we have some ajf hotchner family history! evelyn comes to visit and it's all very soft. i hope you enjoy it :) as always, let me know what you think.

words: 1.2k warnings: language, children, egregious sentimentality

summary: “our daughters are the most precious of our treasures, the dearest possessions of our homes, and the objects of our most watchful love.” margaret e. sangster. au!june 2018.

masterlist | a joyful future masterlist | ajf faq | taglist | what do you want to see next?

“You know these are the first Hotchner daughters in six generations, right?”

Your head whips toward Evelyn, who’s rocking Caroline in the corner of the nursery. “What?”

“Benjamin told me that once,” she continues as if you hadn’t said anything. She knows you heard her. “He said there hadn’t been any girls in Aaron’s direct family line since the Hotchners left England.” She looks up and meets your eyes. “Yours are the first girls in almost two hundred years.”

You look down at Sophia, snoozing across your chest with her little lips pursed.

Two hundred years.

“Aaron, of course, is the oldest of two boys. Benjamin is the oldest of four, his father one of five, his father one of three. It’s all in a book somewhere. Aaron will get it when I’m gone, then Jack after him and his children after that.”

There’s a little smile playing at her mouth. “Benjamin’s grandmother started writing it all down, tracking the family, just to keep tabs on any girls that might show up. She didn’t know the names of the girls born before the family came to America - they aren’t in any of the immigration records so they may have stayed behind or escaped documentation.”

Her fingers brush the soft hair on Caroline’s head, running over the ridge of her tiny tiny ear. “Caroline and Sophia will be the first girls in the book.” She smiles. “And what fine additions they’ll be.”

+++

“Is it true there haven’t been any girls in your family in -”

“Six generations?” Aaron answers for you with a sardonic little smile. “Evelyn telling you stories today?”

You huff a laugh. “She’s bullshitting me, isn’t she?”

“With that one? No.” He offers you a hand and you climb into bed beside him, propped up with some pillows. “Don’t listen to a word she says about my high school years. I invoke the fifth and refuse to comment. Haley took that shit to the grave and I intend on keeping it that way.”

“Yeah, right.” Snorting, you take a sip of water and fold your legs under you. He watches you, his eyes soft. You decide not to tell him about the photos you’ve seen, or the fact that you plan to hang them in the hallway once all the boxes in the garage are finally unpacked.

He sighs, changing the subject without really changing the subject. He takes a moment to look at you soaking you in from the soft light of the bedside lamp.

Nights, after the kids are asleep, are really the only time you have to spend together at all - between Aaron keeping a full schedule at the office and Isaac and Jack and the girls, you hardly have time for each other during the day.

“That’s crazy. No girls at all?”

“None.” His eyes wander to the door. “It’s not just the team, you know? It’s my family. The first girls.” He shakes his head. “I can really explain it. There’s no reason to be proud, I mean, it’s just chance -”

“It makes sense, though,” you insist, picking up his arm so you can tuck yourself underneath it. “You’re allowed to be proud. Like sure it’s a little silly because it is the luck of the draw, but it’s fair to feel proud. It’s a parent thing.”

You bump his shoulder. “You’ve managed to do something nobody in your direct line has done in two hundred years.”

He rolls his eyes and kisses your head. “I do that every time I use an app on my phone.”

“That’s a bad analogy and you know it. Don’t be stupid.”

“Too late.”

+++

Jack curls up under your arm with a granola bar, watching Caro eat. You’re not shy about feeding the girls outside of the nursery anymore, and Aaron’s more than pleased that Jack has an opportunity to learn about the practical nature of anatomy in addition to whatever crazy shit he’s learning on the playground.

“Do you like having sisters, Jack?” Evelyn asks, bottle feeding Sophia from across the room.

He shrugs. “They’re not that different from brothers right now. Loud, sleepy, squishy.”

You give him that one, and even Evelyn laughs. “But you don’t mind having the girls around?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t mind.” He reaches over, brushing Caroline’s cheek with his finger. “I forgot how small they are.”

That draws a smile from you. “They’re cute when they’re not screaming, huh?”

“Yeah.” There’s a little laugh in his voice, and he focuses on the TV again, munching on his snack.

Your son, the teenager. Insane. Your eyes wander to the hanging photo of Haley on the wall, the photo of Jack and Aaron close to eight years ago resting beside it.

As you look, the door opens and Aaron steps through, looking exhausted.

“How was court?” You ask, in a more chipper tone than is entirely necessary, just for laughs.

Jack sits up, leaning on the back of the couch as Aaron toes his shoes off and drops his briefcase. “Yeah, Dad, did you wipe the floor with them?”

Aaron chuckles and you catch Evelyn hiding a smile.

“Almost, bud. I’m back tomorrow. Apparently, two hours wasn’t enough time to determine whether I’m an expert in my field.” He kisses your forehead when you look up to follow his movement around the back of the couch.

“You have a JD from a top-thirty law school and nearly thirty years as a profiler to your name,” Evelyn says, her eyebrows raised. “And they need more than two hours?”

“Well, mother,” he says, pressing a kiss to her cheek and stroking Sophia’s head. “Some lawyers... “ He feigns deep thought. “Are stupid.”

You’re so tired that makes you nearly howl with laughter, bracing Caroline against your body to keep from jarring her too much. Even then, she startles and starts to cry, but you can’t stop laughing.

Aaron rolls his eyes and takes her from you as you tuck yourself back into your shirt. Almost instantly, she quiets, looking up at him with big brown cow eyes.

“I’m with her all day, I gave birth to her, I feed her, and yet…” You gesture broadly to Aaron’s entire person. “She’s obsessed with you.”

Aaron winks at you and looks down at Caroline, speaking in the voice reserved only for her. “You just get me, huh, my little love?”

Jack snorts. “Yeah, you and the three-week-old just vibe, Dad.”

Aaron hardly spares him a glance, grinning down at his daughter. “When you’re older, just trying to vibe with your kid, I swear I’ll bother you so much.”

You and Jack look at each other, identical dubious expressions plastered on your faces. When you look over at Evelyn to include her in the joke, there’s something in her eyes as she looks at Aaron that makes you feel like you’re interrupting.

Training your eyes back on Aaron, you try to see what she sees, but can’t quite manage it.

Maybe it’s a parent thing.

+++

tagging: @avengersbau @ambicaos @angelsbabey @arganfics @averyhotchner @bwbatta @capricorngf @cevanswhre @crazyshannonigans @criminalsmarts @deagibs @forgottenword @genevievedarcygranger @hotchsflower @hotchslatte @hurricanejjareau @joanofarkansass @kelstark @prentisswrites @little-blue-fishie @lotties-journey-abroad @mandylove1000 @missdowntonabbey @mrs-dr-reid @pan-pride-12 @popped-weasels @quillvine @qvid-pro-qvo @reidingmelodies @reids-mismatchedsocks @roses-and-grasses @shesbiochem4 @ssahotchnerr @ssaic-jareau @ssareidbby @starsandasteroids @stxrrywildflower @sunflowersandotherthings @sunshine-em @teamhappyme @this-broken-band-girl @ughitsbaby @unicorn-bitch @luciilferss @violet-amxthyst @word-scribbless @writefasttalkevenfaster @zizzlekwum @iconicc @avatarkorraswife @mooneylupinblack @ssworldofsw @nuvoleincielo @kaemarie23 @violentvulgarvolatile @abschaffer2 @ellyhotchner @rousethemouse @baumarvel @reidtomestyles @dreamsonthewall @jhiddles03 @willlemonheadsupremacy @infinity1321 @messyhairday-me @itsalwaysb33nyou @finnologys @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @hothothotchner @happyvol7 @mac99martin @ssahotchner99 @triangularroses @vagabond-ing @itsmytimetoodream @magic_in_the_eyes_of_the_beholder @rebel-flying @nuvoleincielo @rqgnarok @ssa-volturi @reidyoulikeabook @schlooper @itsmytimetoodream @bau-baby @ssagube @oreogutz @lexieshuntingsstuff

#aaron hotchner x reader #hotch x reader #aaron hotchner imagine #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds fanfiction #aaron hotchner #criminal minds #tali talks cm #tali writes fanfiction #a joyful future #a joyful future fanfic

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issaxcharlie · 3 years

Text

Ghost Of You 2/2

Pairing: Ghost! Luke Patterson x Fem Reader

Summary: Luke, Reggie and Alex have to assimilate their loss. For Luke of his girlfriend, and for the others of their best friend after suddenly learning that she didn’t have the future they imagined, and instead died 23 years ago.

Thank you to @cookiebuba for being the head of the entire idea and trusting me with it, and to Emy for almost holding my hand to force me to write🤣💜

PART 1 HERE

“It can’t be.”

“Luke, I-”

"No, Julie. You are not telling me that the woman of my life, the purest person who has ever stepped on this world, not only lost her partner and her best friends, but was only able to live her life for two more years and then ended in a horrible accident. It's as if life wanted to torture her before taking her too.”

“Love of ?... Zeppelin shirt you wore when you ran away. Of course.”

“I- It can’t be true, please tell me it’s not true, Julie.”

“Luke... she loved you so much.”

He falls on the floor. The impact is strong, as if his legs have stopped working.

"I know." He whispers slowly, his gaze empty as multiple tears fall from his eyes.

The rest of the gang threw themselves to the ground around him and hugged him with all their might, trying to unite his broken pieces without any success. Alex and Reggie each crying silently over the loss of their sweet friend.

“What day did she pass away? Alex whispers.

"Let me search, one moment." Julie gets up quickly and checks on her laptop to find a little note about the singer's death.

"The rising singer Y/N Y/L who had just released the biggest hit of her career passed away this afternoon in a terrible car accident after leaving the cemetery where her late boyfriend, Luke Patterson, was buried. Y/L was there in commemoration of the 2 years of the loss of the aspiring musician, who died from a sudden tragic intoxication along with the rest of his band. Something to rescue from this tragedy is that at least she's already reunited with her eternal love. May both rest in peace.”

“This can’t be. My Y/N can’t be gone. Not her, not like that.” Luke is still in denial, unable to believe that his little girl suffered such a terrible ending.

“Maybe she’s not. There's still a chance that she's also a ghost.”

“Yeah, Julie’s right. We need to look out for her, we can't write her off without trying to find her first.” Reggie's eyes sparkle with hope, rushing to cover Alex's mouth in case he says anything other than motivating.

Luke takes his flannel and disappears immediately. Both Reggie and Alex stare sadly at Julie who simply whispers a "go, he needs you." They nod and teleport to their friend.

As expected, Luke is in front of the window of an old music store. He met his girlfriend here so many years ago, the day his parents agreed to buy him his first guitar.

The store had a small section where customers could try out some instruments and she was playing the guitar they had there and singing for the small audience. It seemed like it was something she did often because both the workers and certain customers seemed familiar with the girl.

Luke was captivated by her from the first moment. The energy and passion that radiated from her in every move was unreal. He had never seen anyone happier, much less singing with a borrowed guitar from a small downtown store.

The store is completely abandoned, so without saying anything he comes in and walks towards the small stage.

The ghosts of two 12-year-old kids singing together into the microphone invades his memory. If they only knew.

"Do you remember what was the first thing she said to you?" Reggie and Alex sit next to him on the floor, looking straight at the very small stage. They both try to imagine what their friends must have looked like singing here together the first time. Luke totally invading little Y/N's presentation trying to captivate her with his 0% music experience and 100% of enthusiasm.

Luke laughs through tears. "You have the voice of a country singer."

Alex starts crying when he imagines her. He met her just a few weeks later so he knows exactly how she must have looked and sound.

Reggie smiles while shedding a tear, remembering all those afternoons Y/N convinced Luke to join them in their country sessions. He knows that's why Luke hasn't wanted to know anything about country or his songs since they got back. They remind him of his sweet girl.

“I was so offended. I still didn't know anything about music but I had already decided that I would be a rocker. If I hadn't already been so dazzled by her I would have left without looking back.”

“And what did you answer to defend your honor?”

"You think so?" The three of them start laughing while still crying. A heartbreaking mix of pain comes from their chests.

“C’mon guys, next stop.”

The three of them were teletransporting around the city during the day without any success. Luke's desperation increasing for every place the songwriter wasn't.

At night the three decide to go back to the studio. Luke is heartbroken, bloated after crying all day, eyes red and sore, and whatever it was that was driving him to continue, off.

His friends couldn't do much for him either because each was living the loss in their own way, concentrating on living their own pain until they could process it.

Julie wraps them in blankets on the couch and tries to fill them with love, making sure to hug Luke tightly, who seems about to fall apart.

“Does anyone want to talk about her? Maybe it could make you feel better.”

“She was my entire soul, the words and melody in each of my songs. I just, I love her more than anything in this world. I would give anything for her. My guitar, my voice, my songs, whatever it took for us to be together. I know it doesn't seem like it at this point, but we belong together.”

“We know you do, man.”

“I didn't tell you but I dream about her almost every night since we got back. It is always the same dream. She is in bed, leaving my side intact. She's wearing one of my shirts and hugging my favorite one while sobbing. She falls asleep listening to the ballad I wrote for her soaked in tears and no matter how hard I try to wake her up, I can't get her to see or hear me. I can’t get her. After a few minutes she gets up still asleep and begins to dance as we did so many times, but alone. Then she stops and starts crying again inconsolably. And that's when I wake up."

"I'm so sorry, Luke. She deserved so much more." Reggie walks over to hug him, his head resting on his arm while he sobs.

“We couldn't even say goodbye to her.” Alex cries, his eyes completely red.

“We already know that she visited your graves, perhaps we could do the same, dedicate a few words to her.” Julie offers in an attempt to help them find some peace.

Luke looks devastated, but he nods his head as tears continue to fall from his face, the ring that his girlfriend gave him going in and out of his finger. Alex hugs Julie while she strokes his hair in an effort to calm him down and Reggie runs up to get a notebook and pencil to start planning what to say to his best friend tomorrow.

The three of them hang around all night, crying, writing, hugging, remembering the spark of Sunset Curve. In the morning before going to visit her, they realize is exactly the 25th anniversary of that tragic night that changed the lives of the four forever. Luke nearly punches a hole in the wall upon hearing the sad coincidence.

Her grave is right next to Luke's, who has never been here before and can't help but feel a bit anxious.

“Don’t worry, I’ll start.” Reggie tells the guitarist as he takes a step forward, a small smile on his lips.

"Hello, princess. Long time, huh? I'm Reggie, by the way. In case you don't recognize me from the slight change in my hair. I am trying a little more gel, I want something more elegant and classic. What do you think? Yes, I also thought you would like it.” Julie and Alex smile at hearing him talk to her as natural as possible.

“I tried very hard to think of what to say, because if there is anyone who deserves my best words, it is you. And three things came to mind that I want to share with you.

First, the color yellow.

Yellow like the guitar you were saving for two years to buy. You did everything. You were a babysitter, you walked dogs, you worked in the school library, you sang with your old acoustic guitar in every cafe, basically everything that will let you win some money.

And the day before you could finally go buy it, my dad broke my bass in a moment of anger in one of his typical fights with mom that got really out of hand. At least he didn’t hurt her, huh? But when you're a kid you don't even think about the possibility that something like that could happen, you just focus on the broken instrument in your hand. I ran out and ended up on the stairs of your house with my face soaked and one of the broken pieces in my hand.

You hugged me and promised that everything would be fine. That I was always going to have you four and that we would always be family. You assured me that good things happen to good people. And I believed you, you know? You were always right. But now that I'm here, that I know you didn't have the happy ending you deserved, I'm honestly not so sure anymore.”

Luke and Alex start crying again, each hugging Reggie from one side. Reg tries with all his might to continue through the tears, while Julie looks at them with a broken heart.

“The next day when I came back from school a new bass was on my bed. You talked to Mom so she could take the credit for the gift, but coincidentally was exactly the bass that I fell in love with a year earlier when we went to check if your beloved yellow guitar hadn't dropped in price. Luke revealed to me a few months later that you had to borrow money from your mom in order to complete the exact money for that one.

How generous do you have to be in order to do something like that? how noble? How loving? How selfless? You were always more than I deserved. I was supposed to be like an older brother for you, but it was always you who took care of me. I have Julie and Carlos, and I'm trying to be with them as you were with me. I had the best step sister in the world to teach me, and I hope I can do you justice.” Julie starts crying too after hearing his words, and resists the urge to going to hug him because she knows that they need their space to let go all the suffering that they carry.

“Second, my leather jacket.

When we started the band we made a 100% commitment to being rockstars. And a very important part is the look. You accompanied me on a walk around the city looking for the right outfit to literally go sing to the people who were lining up in front of the clubs.

Anyone could have left me alone on that for multiple reasons, not even these two wanted to face the trouble. But you followed me without thinking twice.

The afternoon was over and we still haven't found anything. Our feet couldn't take it anymore and we had 10 minutes to run to the club. But we stopped by a little store that had a black leather jacket in the window and you said, Reg, this is it.

You excitedly took me by the hand and when I tried it on, the rest was history.

Then I tried to get the whole band to use them but these two boys without fashion sense didn’t want to. You, on the other hand, supported me and wore your leather jacket during all the Sunset Curve performances we had, convincing me that they were our good luck charms and that if we both used them everything would be amazing. Oh god, I miss you so much.

And third, a star.

I thought you were a star when I heard you sing for the first time.

I thought you were a star when you and Luke managed to write the whole Sunset Curve album in 2 months.

I thought you were a star when you bought me my bass, when you made Alex feel better after one of his strongest attacks, when you filled Luke with love and support when he needed it the most.

And I believe it now that I know you are gone.

If you are in heaven, you have to be a star. And not just a star, the brightest star of all. I promise to look for your light every night to wish you sweet dreams. I will also sing you some country since you were the only one who appreciated my incredible sound, I hope it makes you smile.”

“That was beautiful, Reggie. I’m sure she loved it.” Julie finally reaches out to hug him as Alex prepares to be next.

“Hey. I don’t even know where to start.

I- I guess I should start saying I could never pay you all the times you were there to pick me up when I needed someone the most. I went back to dancing a little again. It's not the same without you, but somehow it makes me feel you close. I also met someone, oh Y/N, he’s so special, I'm sure you would have loved him and I would have loved the opportunity to introduce him to you. You were always there.

You were there to support me when I decided to learn drums to cope with my anxiety. You sang the song I was practicing over and over to keep me company and reassure me that what I was doing sounded good.

You were there to support me when I told you I like to dance. We spent hours choreographing different iconic songs and just laughing and enjoying creating more memories together.

Not shocking at this point but you were also there for me when I confessed to my parents I’m gay and you gave me strength all those times that I wanted to fall because they no longer saw me the same way.

You were always my safe place. And I regret with all my heart that I couldn’t be yours.”

Alex breaks down. She kept them on their feet during her darkest days and they paid her off by causing her the most horrible pain imaginable. Julie and Reggie surround her in their arms while sobbing. The last one of the band standing moves closer to the grave and drops to his knees.

“I’m so sorry, my love. I’m so fucking sorry.” Luke tries to be strong, but tears start falling like waterfalls from his eyes, his face red in a mixture of despair, sadness and anger.

“I will never forgive myself for leaving you alone. Baby, I've been without you for only 1 month and I’m going crazy, even with the boys and Julie by my side. I don't even want to imagine what you must have been through those two years. My soul is shattered just thinking about it.

At first when we returned I imagined you were happy after having fulfilled all our plans with someone else. And I thought nothing could hurt me more than that, but obviously I was wrong. Because although it hurt me that I couldn’t be the one who was with you, thinking that you had been happy gave me the peace to be able to continue. Now that I know that life took away your opportunity, the only thing I feel is anger.

Anger towards me, anger towards destiny. Anger at not being able to be together even after death. Since we discovered where you are, I have only been able to think of cross over and finally be with you again.

Or at least go back to the night before everything turned into a nightmare. Fall asleep with you in my arms one more time.

I swear I even miss your snoring and you biting my cheek after your goodnight kiss, as you would say, in a gesture of love.”

“Hello again, my love.

I can't believe 25 years have passed. First of all, I want you to know that I'm okay. Or well, the equivalent for ghosts that are destined to haunt the earth alone for all eternity. I made a friend for several years, Rose. I told you about her, remember? I know you guys would have been good friends, she was a ridiculously talented musician. Since she died I no longer had the strength to go back to the studio, but for a long time I enjoyed her company in one of my favorite places. She promised to tell you that I'm waiting for you. I will wait whatever time is necessary, okay? I love you so much, baby.

You three are always on my mind, and I think I can finally accept that the pain is just never going to go away. But lately something super strange has happened to me, let me tell you.

Throughout these years, in the darkest days, I see you. But, they were always memories.

A month ago, I started to see you having other kinds of experiences and I honestly don't know how to feel about it. Am I going that crazy? I selfishly hoped that you too were ghosts for so many years. I looked for you 5, 10, 15, 20 years. And just as I decide to give up, my head imagines you all over the city.

The first time I saw you singing Reggie's jam on the beach. You guys looked so happy, love. It filled my heart with peace for a few seconds, knowing that somewhere up there you are enjoying life singing together all day.

Then I saw my beloved Alex with a cute boy. My heart melted, I can’t even explain how much I wanted to run to hug him and gossip about it.

Baby, he looked so peaceful. I always wanted that for Alex. I didn't know whether to be happy or cry because that didn’t actually happen, so I did both.

The penultimate time was a few nights ago when I was walking in front of the Orpheum and I heard your voices. How wicked my mind is, right? A knife to the heart would hurt less.

And now, I can't even get close to your grave because I'm imagining you all again.”

Y/N doesn't know what to do, if she gets close enough will they disappear? What If they don’t? Will she bear to see them up close? She has been dancing with their ghosts in her dreams for so many years, but It’s not the same as doing it when she is fully awake.

She is about to run out of there in fear when the silhouette of a fourth person catches her attention. She doesn't know why, but it immediately reminds her of Rose. Could it be that she is imagining her friend too?

Curiosity is stronger than fear, like all those times when she got into trouble with her boys. She walks carefully towards her grave which is next to her beloved Luke.

“I swear I even miss your snoring and you biting my cheek after your goodnight kiss as you would say, in a gesture of love.”

“I don't freaking snore, I told you a million times already... and now I'm talking with my imagination, great.”

The band turns in shock towards the fifth voice. That's when she can see the girl's face and realize who she is.

“Julie? But, how?”

“Y/N?” Alex whispers on the verge of passing out.

She starts to panic, just before the boys can do something about it, a new person appears behind her.

“Hey, you took a long time." She turns around and jumps into the arms of who has become her only friend in recent years.

“Phoenix, thank god.” Her body continues to shake but she clings tightly to her friend while crying uncontrollably.

To say the ghosts are confused would be an understatement. And apart from that, the guitarist is having many conflicts with the jealousy that he is feeling at the moment. They haven't seen each other in 25 years and when they finally do, she runs into someone else's arms and clings to him like her life depends on it.

What does that mean for them? Is it too late?

“Beautiful, what's wrong? Who are they? Oh, wait. You guys were at the club a few weeks ago, you're friends with Willie, right?”

Luke feels like dying all over again hearing him call her that. She continues to shake but finally lets go.

“What? You can see them?”

“Shouldn’t I?” He looks at her skeptical and shifts his eyes from her to the ghosts.

“I- Oh my god. I'm going to pass out.“

“Baby, look at me.” Luke’s voice is a mix between a plea and a demand. The terror of knowing that perhaps he has already lost her without having had the opportunity to fight for her clouds his judgment and tears begin to fall from his face again.

25 years. 25 years fighting not to forget his voice. 25 years having him only in dreams, in memories, in melodies. 25 years waiting for him. 25 years on her own.

She turns slowly to meet those honey-green eyes she craved for so long to see, a painful smile from Luke makes her smile through tears.

She carefully lifts her right hand and gently draws it to his cheek, almost exploding at the feel of it.

“You came back. Oh my, It’s really you.” She jumps to the guitarist, entwining her legs at his hips, her arms tangled with all her strength around him, her head buried in his neck inhaling his scent. Tears coming out as if to drown her, all the pain and suffering that she faced all these years finally leaving her body.

Luke wraps her tightly in his arms, still unable to process what’s happening.

Alex and Reggie begin to smile without fully assimilating what is happening, while Julie begins to jump of joy.

“Babygirl, I'm sorry to ruin the moment but I have to rush to the club. Will you be okay here?"

“She's always safe with me." The guitarist growls, and Y/N starts laughing when she hears it.

"The jealous, protective baby in the beanie is right, don't worry Nix. I’ll go and find you later."

Phoenix nods with a smile and disappears. Julie begins to scold Luke while Reggie and Alex approach to touch the cheek of their best friend, still in the arms of the guitarist who does not seem to have any intention of letting go.

“We should go home to catch up. Reggie and I will accompany Julie, it seems that you two should speak alone first." Luke doesn't think twice and disappears with her in his arms.

“Good things happen to good people.” Reggie whispers as he hugs his friends and they start walking home.

Luke and Y/N reappear in the studio and they are both shocked for a few seconds. The girl trembles again in fear of dreaming.

“Hey, come here baby. Shh, I’m here, I promise.”

“Don’t leave me ever again, please.” He can see that it is very difficult for her to understand that is really happening, and to think that she lived without him not 2 but 25 years makes him want to cry again.

“I won’t. I promise, beautiful. Never again.” Luke wraps her in his arms, but she lifts her head from his chest to push her lips against his. The kiss is urgent, but they both instantly recognize each other and fit in perfectly. Luke picks her up again and gently lays her down on the couch, both desperate to feel the other, to recognize every inch.

“I missed you so much baby, I love you more than anything.” Luke whispers between kisses, not willing to have her an inch away from him.

“I love you my love. I love you, I love you, I love you.” She says while kissing the love of her life, happy for the first time in 25 years.

Before things get to escalate, the rest of the band shows up in the studio followed by Julie who clearly walks through the door.

"Let go of her man, it's our turn!" Y/N gets up quickly from the sofa while her boyfriend complains and she throws herself at both of them who pick her up as best they can and spin her in the air.

They put her down and Julie and her stare each other, both raise their arms and meet in a quick but sweet hug.

“You said my name back there, how?” The question that she has stuck since she met her finally coming to light.

“I met your mom many years ago when I came to visit the studio and realized that she could see me. We were friends for many years and I had the opportunity to see you grow up, but I always made sure to be upstairs when you came in in case you could see me too.”

“Well, now I understand how Carlos felt when he found out that we lived with ghosts. And It sounds like mom watches over us both from heaven.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she does.” Both girls smile and hug each other once more.

“I can't believe I endured 25 years without having those beautiful arms around me.” She whispers as they both lie on the couch, Luke has her completely cornered in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, baby. It breaks my heart that you have suffered that much for so many years.”

“It was not your fault. You lost as much as I did that night. Besides, I always knew that you would find me sooner or later. We belong together.”

“We do. I, I k-know we have way more to talk about but, who was the dude from the cementery?”

The insecurity in his voice is evident and Y/N can't help but smile. His emotions are complex, real, and nothing can make her happier than that.

“I’ll tell you all about my friend later, okay? For now... dance with me? I want to dance with the real deal.” He smiles and they both stand up, hugging each other as they slowly move through the studio as they did many times before life separated them.

The Luke in her arms is her Luke, the same one she has been waiting for so many years, finally back in her arms. And just as she thought when she lived, she will dance with his ghost for all eternity.

Thank you for reading✨✨

Taglist: @writerinlearning, @ghostofmgg @strangerthanfanfiction713, @thebloodthirstyvampress, @kinda-really-lost, @kcd15, @magnet-girl, @aliandthephantoms, @stxrkspidey, @pinkrockstar19, @s0uz4s, @shycupcakealissa @cookiebuba, @fangirlangioma, @sageellsworth05, @twist3dtinkerbell, @sunsetcurvenotsunsetswerve, @caitsymichelle13, @ifilwtmfc, @luckylouiebug, @bibliophilewednesday, @totomoshi, @siennanoelle01, @lunashadow6955, @bookfrog247, @morganayennefertyrell, @kiss-themoongoodbye, @rachelle3musicals, @imsydneywalker, @really-dont-forget-it @agentstarkid @talksoprettyjjx @kaitieskidmore1 @lukeys-giggle @katie-navarro @crybabyddl @cocopuffs0211 @marvel-ousnesss @blackhood5sos @tessxblxckthorn

Goy tags: @eternalharry @xplrreylo

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