#UPDATE: Put a 'read more' at the top to ease scrolling through.

[dezz111]

Funerals Are Cheaper than College: The Fatalistic Humor of Gen Z and Our Rising Depression

“Bold of you to assume I want to live.”

I can already feel the pearl clutchers gasping in offense and concern at these words. But hear me out. The average funeral with the viewing, embalming and all that good jazz costs between $7,000 - $12,000.  That price tag drops dramatically to a pretty $350 if you decide to do cremation since the funeral home can usually do it in house. The average college can cost roughly $25,000 for four years. Four years that you might need to tack on some extra time depending on your major. So as you can see, funerals are cheaper than college. By a long shot.

“Guess I'll die.”

College is super expensive and life is already stressful enough as it is without the crippling weight of student debt. Now ok Boomers, I can hear some of  you asking  “What stress could we possibly have?” And I’d be more than happy to read back facts to you if I knew how such a thing felt. But because I’m from Gen Z and relish chaos, I’ll sum it up.

We’ve grown up with:

911

Regular School Shootings

Bombings

Several Natural Disasters

Mass Shootings in General

A Civil War

Civilian Murders by Those Meant to Protect

A Pandemic

And many other things 

All this before 25. I’d say we’re pretty traumatized. To quote Summer Smith, “B*tch my generation gets traumatized for breakfast!” 

We live in a technological age where everything is at the tip of our fingers. I'm writing this very piece on my phone where it will automatically upload to the cloud and be ready to update from any device. Older generations may claim that this has made us inattentive to what's happening around us as we become so absorbed in social media and our dumb jokes. But it's because we are too aware of the world that we're like this. Everything is right there. 

And we're seeing it as it happens.

Remember that list of things we've lived through I provided with apparent glee? That was the trademark cynicism that we use to protect ourselves. We are reliving history with better weapons and coverage. We don't have the luxury of simply turning away from something we don't want to see. A shooting happens and we see it on six different channels from thirty different angles.  You can scroll as much as you want but you'll see that same disaster on every feed as it gets shared over and over. A murder that might have taken a few days to reach a city can now reach the nation in seconds. We know everything. And it hurts.

Everyone has coping methods and ours just happens to be the one people take the most offense to: humor. We don't make our jokes in jest, it's simply how we process it. We can't simply tune out what makes us uncomfortable. Turning off our own phones makes it easier to hear someone else's. It's inescapable. We can only sit back, watch and listen as our whole world continues to go up in flames. 

And so we make our jokes.

We put together our draft list for World War III in order to ease the foreboding sense of terror at how close it is. We compare the security of government buildings to that in video games and books to ease the fear of how easy it was to storm the Capital. We put together funny clips comparing the blast radius of bombs to hold back the absolute anxiety of how easy it would be for one man to wipe us out with the push of a button. We make memes about everything that scares us because we have no other way to cope.

“This is fine.”

Our parents may tell us to try therapy but for us, it's not a viable option for everyone. Trauma has become something of an entertainment value for older generations. True crime is the most popular genre of podcasts amongst women. Crime shows such as Law & Order (Which has been airing since 1999 and has 23 seasons. Let that sink in a moment.) are topping the charts and breaking records. Medical dramas fill countless blocks of the tv guide. Movies based on true stories of highly traumatizing events fill theaters. We are surrounded by our triggers and told to watch as “these are real things that we need to learn about”. When we argue against it and declare our discomfort, we are labeled uncaring or selfish. It's hard to open up or seek help when our emotional shortcomings are summed up as a “bad attitude”. 

Having therapists complaining about our trauma dumping on Tik Tok isn't very encouraging either.

And thus we get to the root  of our problem: depression. Uncertainty is the pandemic of this generation, a far worse disease than Covid in some cases. Studies performed by the American Psychological Association have shown that only 45% of Gen Zers report their mental health as very good or excellent - a number that pales in comparison to Millenials (56%), Gen Xers (51%) and Boomers (70%). Gen Z has been coined as the “most depressed generation”, with over 37% seeking out mental health counseling or therapy. There was a 30% increase in suicide between 2006-2016, peaking in youths 2017. We are chronically stressed, most of us coming of age within the last four years. Housing costs have never been higher, the economies destabilized, our school lives completely uprooted.

It's hard enough to be a member of Gen Z without becoming something of a caretaker to your younger siblings now that everyone is trapped inside and has to do online learning. 

Anxiety rose by 25%, people ages 20-24 making the largest leaps in numbers in 2020.The rate of depression had jumped by nearly 33% in 2021. The isolation has taken a serious toll that has been further compounded by the lack of mental care. Areas of lower income reported that school counselors were the only source of mental health services. School is stressful enough. 

Let's move to the fun part of trying to find a job. 

At this point we wish we were back in grade school where the most stressful thing was deciding between the orange crayon or the yellow color pencil for the sun. We've got student debts breathing down our necks and a resume with no references other than McDonald's and that job you worked at a summer camp. Jobs don't want to hire you without appropriate references. They want a masters degree and five years of experience  despite this being your first interview. And you're probably not even going to get hired for something your degree is in. Don't forget that student debt, which will take twenty years to pay off as you struggle to survive off of that biweekly check that's barely above minimum wage. Maybe if you're lucky you'll get a nice office job… as an intern. In a struggling job market, you're sure to have everything in life!

So sorry if our last two brain cells have a little trouble processing our trauma in a way that protects the feelings of others. But we have to face the fact that Gen Z is traumatized as hell and we became super ( note the heavy sarcasm ) adjusted through humor dark enough to resurrect the Black Plague. Not that Covid's any better...

"Aight, Imma head out."

#blog #gen z post

[isakthedragon]

A Dragon Sized Adventure Chapter 40

(Oh, @kaotickanine, how can I thank you!)

Chapter 40: Mind Your Mind

*As our heroes were walking to the next terrarium…*

Sonic asked Aku-Aku. "So, you are a great and mighty witch doctor?“

Aku-Aku: "Yes, that is I, Aku-Aku (I would like to note that his and Uka-Uka name should not have a hyphen, it’s just so Tumblr stops marking it in red.). My duty is to protect anyone who needs my guidance.”

Crash smiles. “I missed you, Aku-Aku!” Crash hugs his spiritual protector.

Aku-Aku smiles. "I see you have been doing fine without me, Crash.“

Knuckles: "Well, we did help him by letting him use our rings and Chaos Emeralds as protection in lieu of you.”

Aku-Aku: “Well, thank you, my children.”

Cream: “Mr. Aku-Aku. Most of us are over 6, you know.”

Aku-Aku: “Of course, but I see myself as a father figure for everyone, no matter what world they are in.” He looks at Sonic, Spyro, and all of their friends in a pleasing manner.

Shadow: “So, you are going to protect us?”

Aku-Aku: “Indeed. I bet you already broke plenty of crates with my face on them, but finding nothing inside. But fear not, I shall come and protect you now. I can at least offer enough protection to keep you from losing your rings.”

Spyro was still a little confused. “Who was that black mask we met?”

Aku-Aku: “Ah, that was my brother, Uka-Uka. He chose the dark side of witch doctoring as I took the light side. I locked him away eons ago, but Cortex accidentally awoke him again and Cortex attempts to work with my brother for world domination. Thankfully, they haven’t succeeded yet.”

Sonic: “Well, don’t worry, we’ll end their plan right now for good.”

*The door to the next Terrarium opens with a flash of white and reveals…*

Silver: “White space?”

Tails: “That doesn’t make sense. We’re not in a place without time. My clocks are still working on my devices.”

*Our heroes walk a bit forward and another flash of light, much more darker, occurs.*

Sonic: “What the-”

N. Trance appears. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t those heroes that are giving Dr. Cortex and Dr. Eggman so much trouble.”

Once Sonic sees N. Trance, he laughs.

N. Trance: “What? What’s so funny?”

Sonic tries speaking between laughs: “… I’m sorry… I can’t take this… I thought ‘Eggman’ was too much… but this villain… he’s an ACTUAL EGG!!! I got so many egg puns!” *Sonic collapses on the floor laughing.*

Aku-Aku: “Uh-oh, I am worried he angered him…”

N. Trance, surprisingly, is unfazed. “Are you quite finished?”

Sonic is still laughing, but gets up. “Like, are you a well-rounded villain? *Sonic laughs* "Or are you too hard-boiled to handle my puns?!” *Sonic keeps laughing as the others groan in displeasure.*

N. Trance smiles: “Oh, I see. Well, I’ll tell you one thing, you aren’t cracking my shell, for sure.”

*Sonic stops laughing when he hears N. Trance make his pun.* “Huh?”

N. Trance: “That shut you up. Too bad your puns are useless to break me. I am Dr. N. Trance, master hypnotist from the 5th dimension.”

Spyro: “What the heck is a 5th Dimension?”

Tails: “Well, science suggests that-”

N. Trance: “Shut it, you two tailed fox!” *He uses his left mechanical arm, revealing a hypnotization device and uses it to hypnotise Tails, leaving him frozen for the moment.*

Sonic gets surprised and is angered to see his best friend hypnotized. “What the hell, you shelled freak?! Why did you hypnotize my friend?”

N. Trance: “Because no matter what you guys think you know, it is wrong! Besides, he was an easy target to start off on.”

Sonic: “What do you mean by that?”

*Sonic soon learned what he meant when N. Trance started hypnotizing anyone else he could. N. Trance had an easy time hypnotising Rouge, Espio, Charmy, Vector, Silver, Blaze, Spyro, Cynder, Sheila, Sgt. Byrd, Bentley, Agent 9, Coco, and Crunch as well.

Luckily, Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow, OMEGA, Amy, Cream, Big, Ember and Bandit, Hunter, Bianca, Crash, Aku-Aku, Pasadena and Von Clutch were able to avoid being hypnotized, but their minds were still probed for their memories.*

N. Trance: “Darn, I didn’t get all of you. No matter, I stole what I needed. Now SLEEP!” *He snaps his fingers, making everyone else fall asleep. He takes his hypnotized subjects and prepares his world…*

—–

Sonic is the one to wake up first. “Ugh… why do I feel like I have a hangover?”

*The others slowly wake up too.*

Stew: “I haven’t been this hungover since my bachelor party.”

Crash: “AH! Our friends! They’re gone!”

Aku-Aku: “Indeed. I think N. Trance took them.”

N. Trance’s voice is heard, but is nowhere to be seen. “Not exactly taken, more in a deep sleep. And if you want them back, you’re going to have to make it through my twisted world!”

Shadow: “Huh?”

*They look around, and the white area from before became a sort of dreamscape, the land separated into different sections for each individual and for any large amounts of memory N. Trance replicated. In the specific section for someone, their area had them floating in the center in a deep sleep. A button was in front of each of them. When it is pressed, the dreamer is sent deep into the dreamscape, having you search for the character.*

Sonic noticed the closest area was for Tails. “Ah! We got to help my little buddy!” *Sonic presses the button and entered the dream. Knuckles just so happened to be next and jumped in to help to as a friend...*

—–

Level 71: Tails’ Adventure

Crates: 133

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:30.00

Gold: 1:25.00

Platinum: 1:20.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Sonic and Knuckles

Badniks: WWI and WWII Lab Assistant Pawns: They fly their planes and bombers around the level. They’re more aiming at each other and at random places, but you should still watch the skies. Cluckoids: They sure can blow up a storm!

Mutants: Thun-dars: Strange, black clouds that hover around, looking for targets to shock with a lightning bolt. Tapper: A Tapir + Ripper Roo hybrid with the power of hypnotism. I think N. Trance has been watching a bit too much anime since it has a lovely yellow sheen like a certain Pokemon. Instead of a pocket watch, it uses its swirling eyes similar to Ripper Roo to hypnotize it’s victims. It also looks like Ripper Roo, but only has a bit of his DNA, while also having some Tapir characteristics. Be careful not to let it hypnotize you, otherwise it will make you walk into the nearest trap to damage you. Although, I bet it might be useful to turn that power around on the enemies… NOTE: Watch out for their Tapir trunks! Should they connect onto anyone, it will instantly kill the victim since their mind is sucked away here in this dreamscape. But controlling the Tapper will let you do the same insta-kill to the enemies too.

Knuckles: “Where are we, Sonic?”

Sonic: “Looks like we are in Tails’ mind, considering the planes flying around.”

Knuckles: “So our friend is in here, somewhere.”

Sonic: “And we have to wake him up. I don’t trust whatever that N. Trance did.”

Knuckles: “Right.”

Kaotickanine says: A technological paradise taking place on tropical islands and in the sky. On the islands, technology works in harmony with nature (think Sonic CD’s Good Future) while the sky is filled with old-fashioned planes of all kinds soaring through the clouds. However, N. Trance’s influence is causing parts of Tails’ dream to resemble Eggman’s dreams, with harmful technology polluting the islands, war planes firing at others and dropping bombs, and a few storm clouds striking lightning.

The only thing I have to add is that Tails can be found asleep in a bed at the end of the island chain.

Sonic: “Tails!” *He hurries to him, with Knuckles in tow.*

Knuckles: “How do we wake him up?”

Sonic: “I’m not sure…” *The only thing Sonic had in mind was to touch Tails’ forehead. Luckily, it woke up the sleeping kitsune.*

Tails: “Huh? Oh, hey, Sonic, Knuckles. What happened? Last I remember is N. Trance knocking us out.”

Sonic: “He placed you in this dreamlike world that is most likely made from your mind.”

Tails: “Hmm, sounds right. Well, no time for resting, I got to help out!”

*Tails get out of bed and leaves the level with Sonic and Knuckles.*

Achievement Unlocked: Believe in Myself

—–

Level 72: Rouge’s Night Out

Crates: 147

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:35.00

Gold: 1:30.00

Platinum: 1:25.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Shadow And Omega

Badniks: Spy Lab Assistant Pawns: They carry various gizmos and guns that they fire upon you with almost laser-like precision. Thief Lab Assistant Pawns: They carry around big bags of loot that they swing around like clubs.

Mutants: Jewel-anhas: Various colored and types of gems that have gained a sentience and a thirst for blood. Best to attack these things from a distance.

*Shadow and Omega enter the dream world.*

OMEGA: “ACCESSING LOCATION FILES… … … LOCATION UNKNOWN! CLOSEST MATCH IS CLUB ROUGE”

Shadow: “I think that is right, Omega, but i think this her imagined version of it. I don’t trust this place since it looks so similar. We better find Rouge.”

Kaotickanine notes: We’re inside the mental version of Rouge’s own casino, Club Rouge! Rouge’s dream is almost identical to the actual place, but instead of money or even gold everyone is gambling for jewels and there are a few “twists” as to be expected in a dream. Rouge’s other lifestyles seem to also be seeping in, with spies and thieves comprising all the people, and they’re none too friendly of each other or you. N. Trance’s influence, however, is causing a lot of the gems to actually be hostile monsters that attack like hungry piranhas. Be careful when jumping over a pit filled with jewels, for they will jump up and try to drag you down with them…

Rouge can be found at the back of the safe area, hanging from a bar, asleep.

OMEGA sees Rouge with his targeting system. “TARGET LOCATED! ROUGE HAS BEEN FOUND!”

Shadow: “Hmm, but she is sleeping…”

OMEGA: “PERHAPS A LOUD NOISE WILL WAKE HER UP?”

Shadow: “No, I remember she said she hates loud noises. Hmmm…” *The only thing to come to Shadow’s mind was to pet her head. She wakes up quick.*

Rouge: “Mmm… hey boys. Feels like it’s been a while.”

Shadow: “We better get you out of here, Rouge. N. Trance has made-”

Rouge cuts him off. “Why leave? I’m surrounded by jewels! Who cares about N. Trance?”

OMEGA: “THE JEWELS HERE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KILL US!”

Rouge gets angry. “WHAT!!!!!! NO ONE MESSES WITH JEWELRY!!! I’m going to personally kick that shell’s ass!”

*She leaves her perch and the trio leaves.*

Achievement Unlocked: Fly in the Freedom

—–

Level 73: Espio’s Ninja Training

Crates: 151

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Sonic and Cream

Badniks: Yakuza Lab Assistant Pawns: They fire their tommy guns in a sweeping motion across the ground and air, so watch how they are firing their gun. Ninja Lab Assistant Pawns: They appear out of nowhere, throw a ninja star or 3, then disappear after a few seconds and appear elsewhere.

Mutants: Oni: Various Yōkai creatures that seem hungry… for you.

*Sonic and Cream enter the world…*

Sonic gets a teardrop on his face from confusion. “Huh? What’s this place? Feels like old-timey Japan.”

Cream has the happy anime face. “Sound right, Sonic. I heard that Espio really loves anime a whole bunch!”

Sonic: “I see… that’s why I feel like paper and ink. Heh.”

Cream: “Espio ought to be around here somewhere for meditation. Let’s search the city and forest.”

Kaotickanine mentions: Espio’s dream resembles a combination of an anime taking place in the woods and a city noir film, with Japanese style dojos scattered around. Gun toting mafia goons serve as the more outward enemies while ninjas serve as the hidden type, hiding in the shadows waiting for the kill. N. Trance’s influence has also caused sinister Oni to appear and wreck things. Think you can restore harmony to Espio’s turmoiled mind?

Espio can be found on a tree stump in the forest, meditating…

Sonic dons the classic anime pointing look. “Hey! There’s Espio!”

*They walk towards him, but he is meditating on the stump. It may not look like it, but he is doing it against his will.*

Cream notices something. “Hey, Sonic! I think he is chained by literal chains around him, *The chains become visible.* and they are keeping him in the meditative state!”

Sonic: “Hmmm, how do we wake him?”

Cream giggles. “How about a Super Sonic Spin-Dash Overdrive?!” *A japanese translation appears.*

Sonic smiles. “Smart kid. Well, here goes: ‘SUPER SONIC SPIN-DASH OVERDRIVE!!!!’ ” *Sonic revs up his aerial spin-dash and tears through all the chains. They break and fall to the ground and Espio wakes up.*

Espio has the surprised anime face. “Huh? What happened?”

Cream: “You were chained up here in your dreams.”

Espio: “Oh. I see my ninja training has failed me.”

Sonic: “Meh. I think N. Trance cheated really. I don’t think they teach ninjas about hypnotism.”

Espio: “True… Thanks for saving me Sonic and Cream.”

Sonic: “Of course.” *They leave the world.*

Achievement Unlocked: Annie, Are Yōkai?

—–

Level 74: Charmy’s Hive

Crates: 157

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Sonic and Espio

Badniks: Buzz-Bombers: Simple badnik, simple destruction Buzzer: How appropriate.

Beasts: Wasps: Angry little buzzers, aren’t they?

Sonic: “Hmm, so this is Charmy’s mind?” *The world definitely looks abstract and crazy.*

Espio: “Oh, my… I never realized this is what goes on in Charmy’s head. I thought it was because he was a kid…”

Sonic: “Well, let’s do right, and find Charmy.”

Kaotickanine says: A massive beehive oozing with honey and has flowers and all sorts of fun stuff scattered all over, such as roller coasters. What do you expect from someone as fun-loving and scatterbrained as Charmy? This place is normally harmless, but N. Trance has caused huge wasps to invade this hive, stealing the honey and the flowers, wrecking the fun stuff, and aiming their very pointy stingers at you!

Charmy can be found at the end of the last roller coaster, on top of a flower.

Sonic spots the bee first. “There’s Charmy!” *They hurry to him.*

Espio: “Oh, Charmy…” *He hugs the bee and this wakes up Charmy.*

Charmy: ♪ “Oh… oh! Hi, guys!” ♫

Espio: “Charmy! You’re okay!” *He hugs him more.*

Charmy: ♪ “Aw, thanks, Espio.” ♫

Sonic: “Come on, let’s leave before the wasps come back.” *They leave the honeycomb.*

Achievement Unlocked: You Better Bee-have

—–

Level 75: Vector’s Swamp

Crates: 147

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:35.00

Gold: 1:30.00

Platinum: 1:25.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Espio and Charmy

Badniks: Mafia Lab Assistant Pawns: They Mafia here seems to love firing rifles at you, so keep moving to avoid those bullets. Bard Lab Assistant Pawns: They play music so terribly that they can make physical sharp notes appear and send them flying your way. There are a few others though that may try to hit you with their instruments instead.

Beasts: Crocodiles: They may be Vector’s friends and family, but they don’t know it and are always hungry for an easy meal.

Mutants: Fi-ras: Strange beings that are made of pure fire that walk around trying to burn someone. Too bad that they are idiotic enough to put themselves out if they run into the water.

*Espio and Charmy land in the dark part of the swamp.*

Espio: “Hmmm, Vector’s home, I assume?”

Charmy: ♪ “I think so! Let’s go find our croc! Whee!” ♫

Kaotickanine says: It seems Vector is dreaming of his original home; a bubbly, disgusting swamp. However, for very odd reasons, a huge band concert is occurring and tons of music lovers have gathered, oblivious to the many dangers present in this swamp. And not only that, but Mafia goons have also arrived for some agenda only Vector knows about. And just to make things even more complicated, N. Trance has caused a few fires and horrible musicians to pop up, causing even more danger and threatening to ruin the party!

Vector can be found a part of the big band in the big gazebo.

*Vector is singing about something…*

Espio: “Sounds like he’s been singing for a while.”

*Charmy quickly grabs the snare drums and does a drumroll to awaken Vector.*

Vector: “Huh? What? Why am I here?”

Charmy: ♪ ”We’re in your home, Vector! In your dreams! We came to save you!” ♫

Vector: “Oh! Right, that N. Trance. Thanks for saving me.”

Espio: “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Achievement Unlocked: Team Chaotix!

—–

Level 76: Silver’s Future Imperfect

Crates: 163

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:45.00

Gold: 1:40.00

Platinum: 1:35.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Shadow and Big

Badniks: Police Lab Assistant Pawns: Sporting a more futuristic look, they still will either fire their pistol lasers at you or swinging their lightsaber clubs at you.

Machines: Security Cameras: They observe area with visible line of sight, that, if entered, will shock you.

Mutants: Iblis: It’s more aiming to tear down the city, but you should still watch out for its fists punching about. Iblis Monsters: The various Biters, Golems, Takers and Worms return, but they aren’t hard to defeat still.

Shadow: “Hmm, I know this is Silver’s dreams...”

Big: “But it feels too good to be true?”

Shadow: “Yep. So you had the same idea, Big.”

Big: “Yeah, we better watch out.”

Kaotickanine says: Ah, the future! An idealistic utopia of all sorts of convenient high-tech, like hovercars, and everything shines like silver (pun intended). Although, this future seems a little too perfect, even for a dream, and it seems Silver’s mind is aware of that as there are security cameras all over and robotic police that are very brutal with upholding the law… And now N. Trance is resurfacing Silver’s memories of the horrible futures he once came from, where Iblis and the Ifrit turned everything into a flaming wasteland, what with lava sprouting from underneath and spawning fire demons!

Silver can be found near the outskirts of the city, being held in a similar way that Shadow was once in (In ‘06).

Big: “Hmm, there’s Silver, but how do we save him?”

Shadow: “Hmm… break those things holding his body?”

*Big uses Shadow as a baseball and swings him into the devices. They break and release and awaken Silver.*

Silver: “Huh? Where am I?”

Shadow: “We assumed your dreams, as it has been so far.”

SIlver looks around. “I… don’t know, this place feels a little exaggerated. I’m not this paranoid.”

Big: “I doubt N. Trances worlds are accurately telling the truth... or at least, the right truth. EIther way, let’s get out of here. We need to save your friend.”

Silver: “Blaze! I got to save her!” *They leave the world.*

Achievement Unlocked: Welcome to the Future!

—–

Level 77: Blaze’s Sol

Crates: 172

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:50.00

Gold: 1:45.00

Platinum: 1:40.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Crash and Silver

Badniks: Pirate Lab Assistant Pawns: They carry about muskets and sabers to attempt to harm you,

Mutants: Iblis: He’s still attacking you, but all his fiery attacks are making at least rocky pathways to the next islands. Iblis Monsters

Silver: “Mm, it’s Blaze’s world. It may be new to me, but I will still find her!”

Crash: “That’s the spirit!”

Kaotickanine notes: At last, we move on to Blaze’s mind, which manifests as the endless ocean that is the Sol Dimension. However, due to her duty as Guardian of the Sol Emeralds, numerous small islands of stone pillars and jewels are all over the place, and the sun appears much closer than it should be. As you might expect, you’ll be running into pirates (ROBOT pirates) and, just like with Silver, N. Trance is resurfacing memories of Iblis, causing small volcanoes to sprout all over the place and summon fire demons…

Blaze is laying on an island far in, covered in flames, save for a path to her.

Silver: “Blaze!” *He hurries to her.*

Crash: “How do we wake her up… and avoid being burned?”

*Silver can only think of one thing… and kisses Blaze on the cheek. The flames disappear into her, and she wakes up.*

Blaze: “Huh? Silver?”

Silver was blushing a bit. “Good… you’re awake.”

Blaze teases. “Was I the princess you expected?”

*Silver blushes red, clearly suggesting his feelings.*

Crash: “Not to break up any love or anything, but we need to save more people. Can we move out now?”

Blaze smiles “Well, I’m ready to go. But I am a little worried about loverhog here.” *Silver blushes even redder as they leave.*

Achievement Unlocked: Robot Pirate Island

—–

Level 78: Spyro’s Accidental Darkness

Crates: 157

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Shadow and Amy

Badniks: Ape Soldiers, Leaders and Commanders: The memories of Malefor’s Ape army were retooled by N. Trance to a more badnik appearance. But don’t let the badnik look fool you; they still have their dangerous claws and explosives to hurt you hard! Hell-Hounds: Those strange dogs from Spyro’s memories may have been turned into badniks, but they still have a dangerous and harmful bite.

*Shadow and Amy land outside the front door into the Well of Souls’ halls.*

Amy: “Oh, my! What is this place? This is not the kind of images i would expect to see in his mind. He looked so cheerful…”

Shadow: “Hmm, if I had to guess, N. Trance has grabbed some of the Dragon’s darker memories and made this dark and desolate place.”

Amy: “Oh, my! We should hurry and find him then!”

Spyro’s mind world is quite a drop in cheerfulness from the others, almost like it was filled with darkness. And that’s the best way to describe the place since it seems to be N. Trance’s version of the Well of Souls. Roboticized apes and bandik hell-hounds patrol the dark and dangerous halls that would house Malefor underneath. Can you fight your way through and rescue Spyro, who is close to the well, before the darkness consumes him?

Amy: “Look! There’s Spyro! Near that hole!” *Amy starts walking forward, but Shadow grabs her arm and holds her back.*

Shadow: “No! Don’t get close to him, Amy!”

Amy: “Huh, why not?”

Shadow: “Don’t you feel it, a dark presence…”

Amy focuses a bit. “Oh, yeah. And I can see that Spyro seems to be sucking the darkness from the well. But how do we save him then?”

Shadow: “Let me grab him. I think we need to get him out of here.”

Amy: “Alright, but be careful.”

Shadow: “Hmph, don’t worry, I should be fine.” *Shadow goes and grabs Spyro and gets him away from the well.*

Amy: “He still hasn’t woken up. Did he take too much darkness?”

Shadow: “I think i have an idea, but we need to go save that darker dragon.” *Shadow and Amy carry Spyro out of the world and set him down outside as they go for Cynder next… *

Achievement Unlocked: Our Hero Takes A Rest.

—–

Level 79: Cynder’s Lonely Heart

Crates: 189

Time Trial

Sapphire: 2:05.00

Gold: 2:00.00

Platinum: 1:55.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Shadow and Amy

*When Shadow and Amy enter, they find a magical chain has bound them together, preventing them from separating too far away.*

Amy “We’ve been chained together, Shadow.”

Shadow: “I bet it’s from her dark memories too. N. Trance thought it would hinder us.”

Amy: “Well, let’s show him how wrong he was and find Cynder.”

Cynder’s memories do not seem much better than Spyro’s. Her’s are dark and quiet, nary an enemy to be found. Her dreamscapes seems to be made of parts of her domain, Convexity, the Fellmuth Arena ship and the deeper areas of the Well of Souls. This place is more of a platforming challenge, but you must succeed if you want to save Cynder, who is also near to the Well of Souls. Hurry and save her before it is too late!

Amy gasps “It’s Cynder! And it looks as though she is too near to the hole too! We better get her away quick!!”

*Shadow goes and grabs Cynder and they escape the dream world. He goes and places Cynder next to Spyro. It seems to have worked because placing them together awakens both of them.*

Amy: “Yay! They’re waking up!”

Spyro: “Huh? W-what happened?”

Shadow: “N. Trance left you guys in your darkest memories.”

Cynder: “H-he did?” *She clearly didn’t look happy at all.*

Spyro: “It’s alright, Cynder. Our friends saved us.” *He gives her a kiss on the snout which eliminates her anger.*

Cynder: “Thanks.” *She gets up.* “Alright, no more lazing about. Let’s help out.”

Spyro gets up too. “Right.”

Achievement Unlocked: Dragon Love

—–

Level 80: Sheila’s Alps

Crates: 136

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Spyro and Cynder

Badniks: Pickaxe Rhybots: If they spot you, they will attempt to attack you with their pickaxe. Moose-bot: They try to charge and run over you.

Spyro: “I see we are in Sheila's mind and it looks like her home.”

Cynder: “I hope we can find her.”

Thankfully, Spyro’s friends have dreamscapes that a ton less on the dark side. We visit the mind of Sheila, which appears to be her home in the alps with those prankster billy goats. I bet if you help them out by breaking the rocks and defeating the ‘rhynocs’ and ‘moose’, they will lead you to the kangaroo.

Spyro: “Sheila!” *They find her sleeping near the mountain top.*

Cynder: “How do we wake her?”

*Spyro immediately sends one of the billy goats flying of the mountain with a headbutt. It woke Sheila.*

Sheila: “Wha- what happened?”

Cynder: “You were asleep because of N. Trance.”

Sheila: “Mm, that little egg-shaped freak, huh? Well, thanks for waking me. Come on, let’s go!” *The 3 leave.*

Achievement Unlocked: Up on the Mountaintop

—–

Level 81: Sgt. Byrd’s Base

Crates: 129

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Sheila and Cynder

Badniks: Flowerpot-throwing Rhybots: Gardening has never been so dangerous. Net-Swinging Rhybots: Be vewy quiet, we’re hunting dragons. Tranquilizer-Shooting Rhybots: Nighty night.

Sheila: “I see we are in the base of Sgt Byrd. He’s nice.”

Cynder: “Indeed. Let’s go find him!”

N. Trance has worked his magic to create his version of Sgt Byrd’s Base. He’s made it more like army barracks, with close walls and ceilings, making the rhybots more dangerous than usual. You have to fight your way through to reach Sgt. Byrd.

Sheila: “Look! There’s Sgt. Byrd!” *They go down to him.*

Cynder: “He’s in a cage. How do we get him out?”

*Sheila uses her powerful kick to break down the door, which wakes up Sgt. Byrd*

Sgt. Byrd: “Huh?! Oh! Hello, Spyro’s friends Cynder and Sheila. Golly, what am I doing here?”

Cynder: “N. Trance left you in your dreamscape. We came and rescued you.”

Sgt. Byrd: “Well, thanks for the rescue. No time to dawdle, misses, we got more POWs to save!” *The 3 of them leave.*

Achievement Unlocked: Forward! March!

—–

Level 82: Bentley’s Outpost

Crates: 141

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Spyro and Sgt. Byrd

Badniks: Torch-Carrying Rhybots: hey really have a wanting to burn your ass, huh? I wonder if they are hungry… Seal-bots: These seals are much too dangerous for a circus act. Mind their fastballs!

*Spyro and Sgt. Byrd find themselves at the base of a mountain when a familiar face comes running up.*

Bartholomew pants heavily. “I... I… I…”

Spyro: “Calm down, Bartholomew, and tell us what’s up?”

Bartholomew: “I… I found Bentley at the top of the mountain sleeping but was chased off by the rhynocs… Can you help me save him?”

Sgt. Byrd: “Of course we will, little yeti. My rockets should easily take those rhynocs, and anything else we find, out.”

Since when did mountain climbing get so dangerous? N. Trance has not made it easy to ascend the mountain, what with all the bouncing giant snowballs about. He’s even made the seals and the rhynocs more deranged! Can you make it to the top with Bartholomew in tow without getting squished?

*Once the 3 reach the top.*

Bartholomew: “Thanks lads for getting us to the mountaintop! Let’s go wake Bentley.”

Spyro: “Right!”

*They walk up to the sleeping Bentley. It appears helping out Bartholomew wakes Bentley from his slumber as he wakes up as soon as they get close.*

Bentley yawns. “Ah! Mmm, such an exquisite slumber! I feel well rested.”

Spyro: “Good! Cause we need to hurry on and help out the others.”

Bentley: “Indeed we do, young dragon Spyro. Let’s leave!”

*The trio leaves, as the memory of Bartholomew goes into slumber.*

Achievement Unlocked: Deadly Seals

—–

Level 83: Agent 9’s Lab

Crates: 132

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Bentley and Tails

Badniks: Laser-Shooting Rhybots: They’ll fire a shot off and on to try and zap you. There are also armor wearing ones that need to be crushed by Bentley’s club to defeat them. Bird-bots: They hang around in their nests until you get close, which evokes a dive-bomb attack from them. It’s better keep moving to avoid it and attack them as they return.

*Bentley and Tails enter the dream world.*

Tails: “So this is Agent 9’s mind, huh? Feels quite happy what with the beachy theme.”

Bentley: “All the more reason to be cautious where we step.”

Don’t let the happy beach theme fool you, this is still a dangerous area made by N. Trance! The lab is overrun with those rhynocs and there is a whole lot of fighting to do if you want to go save Agent 9.

*Tails and Bentley approach Agent 9, who is sleeping on the beach.*

Tails: “How do we wake him up?”

Bentley: “I’m unsure. Spyro told me to pronounce: ‘There’s a rhynoc in the bushes!’ “

*Hearing this makes Agent 9’s eyelids fly open.* “Did somebody mention a rhynoc?! I heard about some rhynocs!-” *Sees Bentley and Tails and calms down.* “Oh, hey, Tails, Bentley.”

Tails: “Phew! He’s awake.”

Agent 9: “Why so worried? I feel fine! Oh! That’s right! That N. Trance freak! Let’s go and fry him!” *He bounces away and Bentley and Tails follow him out of the dream.*

Achievement Unlocked: Crazy Monkey Action Figure

—–

Level 84: Gone a Bit Coco

Crates: 119

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:20.00

Gold: 1:15.00

Platinum: 1:10.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Crash and Amy

Badniks: Teddy-bots: Teddy bear toys that look cute but will immediately try to bite and claw you when you get close. Candy: This Candy sure isn't sweet at all, since it wants to eat you!

*Crash and Amy find themselves in Coco’s mental laboratory.*

Amy: “Your sister’s lab sure looks sweet, Crash! And that’s including the pancakes!”

Crash: “PANCAKES!!!” *He goes to lick one of the stacks and touches the butter, which makes him wince in pain.* “Yow! Acidic butter! That’s not tasty at all!”

Amy: “I bet N. Trance had something to do with it, and I don’t trust those dancing bears and candy too. Darn you, N. Trance! You don’t mess with good stuff!”

Crash: “Yeah! We better go find Coco!”

Kaotickanine says: It appears N. Trance has messed with the good mind that is Coco. Much like Tails’ dream, it’s a technological paradise, though this one manifests as a giant laboratory underground, giant computer screens featuring cute things bouncing and dancing. However, this techno-paradise is also interspersed with all sorts of things Coco enjoys, such as teddy bears, candy, and PANCAKES!!! However, the candy and teddy bears are out for blood and want to eat you! Also the syrup and butter on the pancakes are acidic (the pancakes themselves are fine, thankfully)

*Crash and Amy find Coco deep in her laboratory, running around between computers and typing stuff.*

Amy looks at what she’s typing. “Is it just me, or is what she coding ruining her dreamscape? I swear I keep seeing her typing things that are causing damage to them.”

Crash: “You’re right, Amy! Coco, stop!”

*He goes and stands in front of her, which doesn’t stop her. But when he grabs her arm, she breaks out of her trance.*

Coco: “Huh? Oh! Hey, Crash! And Amy. What are you guys doing here?”

Amy: “We came into your dreams to find you, and we find you here destroying your mindscape!”

Crash: “And you were making pancakes terrible!!!” *Crash sobs.*

Coco: “What?! No one can make pancakes terrible! Let’s move it, guys, cause N. Trance is about to not become a side of this breakfast!” *The trio leave.*  

Achievement Unlocked: A Pastel-Colored Horrorland

—–

Level 85: Crunch’s Gym

Crates: 195

Time Trial

Sapphire: 2:20.00

Gold: 2:15.00

Platinum: 2:10.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Crash and Silver

Mutants: Tiger Bodybuilders: They’re usually lifting weights of massive sizes. If you get close, they won’t hesitate to swing them around like a ballet dancer pole. Bear Boxers: They’re punching those punching bags hard enough to swing them back and forth widely, so you want to watch where you walk. Lion, Wolf and Dragon Fighters: They are a flurry of attacks all around at each other, and are certainly very dangerous if they spot you. I would suggest running away unless you can find some way to defeat them.

*Crash and Silver enter the gym and find the unconscious Crunch in the middle of the floor.*

Crash: “CRUNCH!!!” *He tries to run to him, but shields form around Crunch’s sleeping body.*

Silver: “It’s no use. He seems to be protected by those shields. We need to find some way to disarm them.”

Crash looks and sees the Elemental Masks at the end of the 4 halls. “I think I know who’s making those shields.”

Kaotickanine says: We all knew Crunch likes to work out, so it’s no surprise that his dream is a giant gym, filled with all sorts of muscle builders! Unfortunately, unlike Crunch himself, these muscle builders aren’t the welcoming type and they are all too willing to use the gym equipment to take you out. And if that wasn’t enough, N. Trance is causing the Elementals to manifest in Crunch’s mind, turning parts of the gym into hazards befitting their respective elements and empowering the muscle builders!

Indeed N. Trance did, he split the gym into 4 sections: One for Rocko, one for Wa-Wa, one for Pyro, and one for Lo-Lo. Other than giving protective barriers to the fighters, they have also the transformed the gym in their areas. Rocko has plenty of rolling rocks and boulders lying about, Wa-Wa’s is filled with water so that means it’s time for swimming, Lo-Lo’s has tornados and wind blowing about, and Pyro has fire burning everywhere. You need to make it to the end of the section and beat the masks until they disappear, taking away their elemental shield that is around Crunch.

*Once the 4th one is broken and Crash and Silver return, Crunch wakes up.*

Crash: “Crunch! You’re awake now!” *He goes and hugs Crunch.*

Crunch: “Aw, hey, Crash.” *Yawn* “I feel well rested.”

Silver: “Good, that means we can go and deal with whatever else N. Trance has for us.”

Crunch: “Yeah. Let’s go smash that egg.” *The trio leave*

Achievement Unlocked: Train Your Brain

—–

*N Trance appears as a hologram in the main area.*

N. Trance: “Well, well, so you saved all your friends, eh? Well, you still got a long way to go to fight me! See if you can handle levels made by me mangling your memories!” *He laughs and disappears and unlocks a new path.*

-----

Level 86: N. Trance’s MotorWorld

Crates: 104

Time Trial

Sapphire: 3:30.00

Gold: 3:25.00

Platinum: 3:20.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Pasadena and Von Clutch and Crash

Kaotickanine notes: N. Trance has combined the memories of Pasadena and Von Clutch with Crash’s, creating a mindscape that mostly resembles Von Clutch’s park but with desert roads and large pools of water from Crash’s moments where he had to race Cortex’s goons in vehicles or water ski while chased by a shark. Goes without saying that you’re going to be doing a LOT of driving and riding, all while contending with the combined obstacles of Von Clutch’s park and the hazards from Crash’s experience.

Achievement Unlocked: Sister C’rashin’

—–

Level 87: Darkness Strikes Innocence

Crates: 184

Time Trial

Sapphire: 2:05.00

Gold: 2:00.00

Platinum: 1:55.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Shadow and Cream

Badniks: GUN Troop Lab Assistant Pawns: They may be acting ‘good’ by attacking the Artificial Chaos and Black Arms, but they are still on a mission to destroy Shadow too.

Mutants: Artificial Chaos: Watch out for the water tendrils, ouch! Black Arms: Various sized aliens that are out to kill Shadow, mostly because of betrayal.

*Shadow and Cream find themselves outside of Cream’s home. Vanilla, Chocola, quite a few Chao, and even Maria sit in front of the house.*

Cream: “Heh he, it’s home, sweet, home! There’s Mama, Chocola, and our other Chao friends!”

*Vanilla, Chocola and the Chao, and Maria wave at Cream and Shadow, who then wave back*

Shadow smiles. “Indeed, quite a happy place. It sure is- Wait, Maria!? But how is she-” *He remembers where they are.* “Oh, no.”

Cream: “What is it? Is something the matter?” *She remembers too.* “Oh… N. Trance is going to do something terrible to our memories, isn’t he?”

*On cue, a dark portal opens up in the far distance and out comes the army of Black Doom, the Black Arms. Also dispersed in their ranks is Artificial Chaos. From down the nearby road in the other direction, the distinct coloring of GUN trucks come rolling past.*

Vanilla: “Oh my! What’s going on here!?”

Maria: “Shadow, I don’t like the look of this… You’ll help us, right?”

*Suddenly, a huge beam of energy shoots down from the sky and blasts Cream’s house, destroying it and causing Vanilla, the Chao, and Maria to be knocked forward from the shockwave. Cream gasps and tears form in her eyes*

Cream and Shadow: “NO!!!”

*The three loved ones, dazed by the explosion, try to get up from the ground, but they are lifted into the air. Then a familiar enemy of Shadow’s materializes behind them: Black Doom.*

Black Doom: “Hello, Shadow!”

Shadow: “DOOM!!! How dare you show you haunt my mind again!”

Cream: “PUT DOWN MOMMY, THE CHAO, AND MARIA RIGHT NOW!!!”

Black Doom: “Hahahaha! You should thank that egg-shaped entity for restoring me, even if only in your memory! I may not be able to destroy your world, but I WILL shatter your mind and drag this innocent child with you! You want your family back so much, you pathetic bunny and hedgehog?! GO FIND THEM!!” *He raises a hand and sends Vanilla, the Chao, and Maria in different directions. Once he was done, he disappeared. Cream then breaks down, sobbing.*

Cream: “My home… *Sniff* My family… *Sob* And Maria… This can’t be happening…”

Shadow places a sympathetic hand on Cream’s head. “Calm down , Cream. Remember, these are just our memories. Your home and family are perfectly alright. And Maria… Point is, there’s nothing to be tearful about.”

Cream calms down. “O-oh yeah… It felt so real...”

Shadow: “Hm, well now that I think about it, all this is taking place in our minds. And an attack on our memories… Even if they’re memories, we best hurry and save our loved ones before they are killed! I’m not going to allow my memories of Maria to die nor will I let yours perish as well!”

Cream: “Right! I’ll help you the best I can, Mr. Shadow!”

Kaotickanine says: N. Trance has revived Black Doom from Shadow’s memories and now that demon of an alien is savaging both his and Cream’s minds by attacking Cream’s home, flower field, and Chao Garden with Artificial Chaos, GUN Troops, and Black Arms, and hiding with Vanilla, Chocola and the Chao, and Maria around the area with the hostiles! You must quickly find these three and rescue them before they meet their doom! Even if they are merely memories, Shadow and especially Cream’s minds will be shattered should their loved ones die…

*Once they find them all and return back to the destroyed home, Black Doom appears.*

Black Doom: “So, the pathetic life forms found their friends, hmmm? Well, too bad you are stuck here unless you can defeat me!” *He laughs evilly.*

Shadow gets an idea and whispers it to Cream, who smiles in agreement.

Black Doom: “Prepare to die, you pathetic-”

Cream interject, saying: “CHEESE, GET HIM!!”

*Cream’s chao Cheese flies about Black Doom, and then runs into him. Either because he is a memory, or because Cheese is a ball of pure kindness, Black Doom shatters into tiny pieces like glass, only getting to say: “NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” as he breaks apart.*

Cream: “Yay! We did it!”

Shadow sees the warp orb. “And we can get out of here too.” *The 2 waste no time jumping in and escaping the memory world.*

Achievement Unlocked: I Am All of Me

—–

Level 88: Experimental Horror Film

Crates:148

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:35.00

Gold: 1:30.00

Platinum: 1:25.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Crash, Coco, and Crunch

*Crash, Coco, and Crunch enter the next dream world and find themselves in cages.*

Coco: “What? Hey! What’s going on?”

N. Trance appears. “Oh, just my next trap for you.”

Crunch: “Once we break out of here, we will kick your butt!”

N. Trance: “I know that, that’s why the cages aren’t very strong. No, the trap is what you will see ahead!” *He laughs and disappears.*

Just as he said, the cages were easy to break apart and escape from. But when they did that, an alarm sounded.

Alarm: “WARNING! Bandicoot experiments have escaped! WARNING! Bandicoot experiments have escaped!”

A memory Cortex can be heard shouting from far away. “Stop sitting about, you imbeciles! Go round them up!”

Memory N. Brio: “Y-y-yes! S-s-s-so we c-c-can perform more experiments on t-t-them!!”

Crash: “Uh-oh! We better get out of here!”

Coco and Crunch: “Right!”

Badniks: Lab Assistants: Nothing really special about them. One throws beakers around and another tries to shock you.

Kaotickanine notes: N. Trance is forcing the Bandicoot trio to relive their days as Cortex’s mutated experiments; being forcibly evolved into members of his army. In order to get out of this nightmare, the Bandicoots must escape from their prisons and free the other animals being subjected to this torture, all while evading the memory of Cortex, N. Brio, and his goons.

The exit here is jumping out of the window Crash originally jumped out of in his debut game.

Achievement Unlocked: Mutations

—–

Level 89: DOOMed Once Again...

Crates: 173

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:50.00

Gold: 1:45.00

Platinum: 1:40.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Hunter and Bianca

*Bianca and Hunter enter the next memory world and find someplace familiar…*

Bianca: “Oh! Look at this! It’s our old honeymoon spot in Fireworks Factory!”

Hunter: “Yeah, it was pretty beautiful, especially with you there.”

*Bianca blushes.*

*Unfortunately, the scene changed to the deep insides of the base of Fireworks Factory.*

Bianca: “Huh?”

N. Trance appears on one of the monitors. “Sorry to interrupt some fond memories, you lovebirds.” *He smirked.*

Hunter: “Where the hell did you send us?”

N. Trance keeps smirking. “HELL is a pretty accurate term for where you are, for sure. I hope you guys aren’t DOOMed” *He laughs and cuts the monitor as the door in front of them opens, revealing an army of ninjas, but looking a little different…*

Badniks: Trident-Swinging Demon/Ninja Rhybots: You better be quick to attack them, or they will give you a swift smack with their tridents. Gun-Firing Demon/Ninja Rhybots: They pop off 5 fireballs in a row from their ‘guns’, so you might want to keep moving or defeat them from a distance. Bomb-Throwing Demon Rhybots: They bounce fiery bombs around until they blow up. They are too strong to hit anywhere, save for their backside. But, you better run, cause they will charge after you as a suicide attempt. Fireworks Demon Rhybots: They fire off homing rockets at you, so you’ll want to keep on your toes. In a fair return, if you can set them on fire, they will shoot off like a firework and hit the nearest enemy, killing them.

Well, isn’t this honeymoon revisit turning into a disaster! N. Trance has sent a whole demon/ninja army after the happy couple to try and kill them! Can you fight your way through this personal HELL in a dangerous facility full of explosive material without becoming singed?

*Hunter and Bianca escape out the last door and into the warp orb as the place blows up to pieces.*

Achievement Unlocked: Big Rhybots Have Big Robot Guts

—–

Level 90: Panic Aboveground

Crates: 109

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:15.00

Gold: 1:10.00

Platinum: 1:05.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Blink and Spyro

*Blink and Spyro enter the next dream world which looks a little out of sight.*

Blink: “I think it’s my mind. I even like my memories dark. Heh.”

Spyro: “That’s all good for you, but I wouldn’t mind a little light.” *He uses his flame breath to create a little light around them.* “Now, where are we…”

N. Trance’s voice can be heard. “Here, let me help you!” *He deletes the darkness from Blink’s mind.*

Blink: “Hey! Don’t do… that…” *He sees the location they are in and is immediately scared.*

N. Trance: “Heh he. I knew you would be immediately scared of the sky, especially of a place like Cloudy Domain! Hope you can find the way out!” *He laughs and leaves.*

Spyro: “Come on, Blink. I’ll carry you out of here. Get on my back.”

Blink does so. “Thanks… I don’t like the sky, you know my fresh-air-a-phobia.”

Spyro: “I know. Come on, let’s find the elevator down…”

Kaotickanine says: We now enter Blink’s mind. Although something’s not quite right… Our underground loving friend is WAY above ground in the Cloudy Domain! Even though Blink has never set foot in the floating city, for good reason, N. Trance has forced the entire location into his mind and now the mole’s “fresh-air-phobia” threatens to make him experience a panic attack, which will shatter his mind. Only way to escape this is to get Blink to the elevator of the city.

Achievement Unlocked: Clouded Minds

—–

Level 91: Sour Passion

Crates: 197

Time Trial

Sapphire: 2:10.00

Gold: 2:05.00

Platinum: 2:00.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Amy, Cream, and Big

Badniks: Horrific Egg Pawns: Various Egg Pawns that have taken some ‘scary’ shots from the badnik maker. One appears to look like Black Doom’s Eye, but with more tentacles that will try to grab you and throw you into its eye, which is also its mouth. Another appears to be the Egg Magician, but more taller and slender and grey (Perhaps the SlenderEgg?). And it looks like it forgot to get the Egg face, which has made it creepier. It warps around to try to spook you and take some rings. A third, which could only be called the Egg Minotaur, appears to have a bull for its head piece and is more built (taller and more muscular) than the standard Egg Pawn. Other than looking big and mean, it will charge around until it crashes into something. A 4th, called the Egg Imp, is probably Eggman’s craziest Pawn yet. It flies around like a maniac, shooting fireballs from its trident. But it also has some making from the Egg Bishop, as it can heal and call badniks as well. That’s very crazy.

*Amy, Cream, and Big enter the next dream world*

Amy: “Are you sure you want to come with us, Cream? I love having you tag along with me, but I can sense you're still recovering from that trip with Shadow… “

Cream: “Don’t worry Amy, I’m fine. I don’t want to be doing nothing while you and everyone else work to save the world!”

Amy: “Alright then! So long you’re feeling up to to! Anyway, where are we?”

*Team Rose finds themselves atop a high hill, overlooking three “zones” of differing appearances*

Big. “Hm… That place looks familiar!”

*Big points to the “zone” on the far right, which contains various biomes with rivers and ponds within*

Cream: “Really, Big?”

Big: “Yeah! Although I don’t think I’ve ever actually been to that place but I think about something like that all the time. It’s the perfect fishing spot for me and Froggy to catch all sorts of fish!”

Amy: “Interesting… And actually, that area over there looks like all the things I think about a lot transformed into a location! I can see parts of Twinkle Park, soft served ice cream, a wizards tower surrounded by a magical garden, and there’s me and Sonic dating!” *Amy looks even closer at that area* “Oh my God! And there’s me and Sonic’s children! “

Cream: “Really!?”

Amy: “Yeah! Um, but let’s not dwell on that…” *Blushes with a “sweat drop”* “Unless people dream about their future children often.”

Cream: “Heh, I’m not sure…” *Cream looks at the middle area* “OH MY GOSH!!! I imagine that place all the time! It’s the perfect Chao Garden with all sorts of fun rides, games, and sweets!” *Cream and Cheese grab each others hands and jump up and down* “Cheese! It’s our dream come true!”

*N. Trance’s voice echoes around the three* “HA!!! Sure, it looks like a dream now, but soon it will be a permanent nightmare!”

*Amy, Cream, and Big all huddle together in a defensive stance while looking around for the fifth dimensional madman. Suddenly N. Trance appears in front of them, floating in the air overlooking the three areas*

N. Trance: “In case you haven’t figured it out, which I’m sure you haven’t given how dim-witted all three of you are…”

Amy: “Says the guy who failed to mind-control all three of us.”

*Cream and Big openly laugh while Amy smiles with a proud look*

N. Trance: “SHUT UP!!! These three areas are your respective imaginations! The things that define your whole beings! I was not amused at all by you three resisting my mind-control despite your poor brains, so now I’m going to make you suffer in the worst ways! You, pink hedgehog, consider yourself an unrelentless optimist? Let’s see how optimistic you’ll be once my ‘Seeds of Doubt’ are finished!”

*N. Trance materializes evil looking seeds, which he then tosses onto various areas in Amy’s imagination*

N. Trance: “It will take time, but soon enough those seeds will overwhelm you with doubt! And with doubt comes despondence, and with despondence comes depression. It won’t be long until you become a hopeless pessimist and the only thing you look forward to is death rather than love!“

*One of Amy’s “dream children”, a pink baby hedgehog, touches the “Seed of Doubt” and disappears*

Amy: *In tears* “NO!!! DIAMOND DESTINY!!!” *Breaks down sobbing*

Cream: “You monster!”

N. Trance: “Thank you for the compliment! As for you, sickening little girl, I’m once again going to send some minions of mine to attack your peaceful paradise! And this time…”

*N. Trance fires off his “clock hand” at Cheese and grabs the Chao*

Cream: *Gasp* “CHEESE!!!”

N. Trance: “This pixie won’t interfere by giving you lingering hope and fighting my creations! And also for you, dumb cat!”

*N. Trance grabs Froggy, who was perched on top of Big’s head*

Big: “FROGGY!!!”

*N. Trance tosses Cheese and Froggy somewhere into Cream and Big’s respective imagination, which are then overrun by scary and violent robots*

N. Trance: “I sure hope my forces find them before you do! Toodles!”

*N. Trance disappears, leaving behind a saddened, openly crying Team Rose. Amy, however, soon stops bawling over Diamond Destiny and her eyes blaze with fury*

Amy: “THAT SLIMEBALL IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!!! Come on guys! Let’s rescue Cheese and Froggy and destroy those Seeds of Doubt!”

Cream: “Don’t need to tell me! Me and Cheese are inseparable!”

Big: “And I won’t allow any harm to come to Froggy!”

Kaotickanie says: Team Rose have been reunited at last! Too bad it isn’t a happy occasion... N. Trance is now attacking their imagination: using “Seeds of Doubt” to corrupt Amy from a cheerful optimist and into a depressed pessimist, stealing away Cheese and Froggy from Cream and Big and hiding them somewhere in their respective imaginations, and has overrun all three locations with violent robots! To keep Team Rose from wilting, you must venture into “Amy-tropolis” and destroy the Seeds of Doubt, Cream’s “Chao Funland” and find Cheese, and Big’s “Fishing Paradise” and rescue Froggy!

*After Team Rose solve their respective problems, Cream and Cheese are deeply hugging each other, as are Big and Froggy, and Amy looks at the four with a heartfelt smile.*

Cream: “Oh Cheese! I’m never letting anything separate us again!”

Cheese: “Chao!”

Big: “Me neither! I’ll protect you forever Froggy!”

Amy: “Aww, I’m so happy for you guys!”

*Amy’s face grows saddened and she sighs, which Cream takes note of and reacts accordingly*

Cream: “Something wrong, Amy? You don’t sound very happy…”

Amy: “Well… I’m genuinely happy for you two! I-I just wish I was able to protect something of my- Huh?”

*Amy looks down and Diamond Destiny on top of her feet, looking up at Amy*

Amy: *Overjoyed gasp* “DIAMOND DESTINY!!! YOU’RE ALIVE!!!“

*With tears of joy, Amy scoops up her imaginary infant and repeatedly kisses her, much to the infant, and Cream and Big’s amusement*

Cream: “I’m so glad she’s okay now! I was honestly worried…”

Big: “But she’s not-”

Cream: “Shh! Don’t ruin the moment, Big.”

Big: “Oh! Sorry.”

Amy: “I know what you were going to say Big, Diamond Destiny isn’t real. But I love her like she is! And she WILL become real soon enough, heehee!”

Big: “Sure, Amy, and we will be enjoying the fanfictions that come out of it.”

*Team Rose laughs as they take the warp orb out*

Achievement Unlocked: Follow Me

—–

Level 92: A Forgotten Robot’s Vengeance

Crates: 164

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:45.00

Gold: 1:40.00

Platinum: 1:35.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Omega, Shadow and Rouge

Badniks: E-100 Alpha ‘ZERO’ : Eggman’s starting failure of the E-100 series. Even though he is not considered part of the series, he is still quite dangerous with his electric extendable arms and rocketry. To defeat this robot, you’re going to have to shock him so you can destroy his insides. E-101 β: Eggman’s first successful entry in the series, this robot is outfitted with tons of missiles and energy spheres. It even comes with a frontal shield to block attacks! To defeat Beta, you need to find some way to attack his backside... E-102 γ: Eggman’s second successful entry into the series, this one has homing rockets firing off of its arms. Gamma is pretty durable so it might take a few hits to defeat him. E-103 δ: Eggman’s 3rd robot in the series. It’s not as interesting, as all it does is fly around and shooting missiles off and on. Defeat by homing attacks is probably the easiest to do. E-104 ε: Eggman’s 4th robot in the series. Like Delta, Epsilon is not very interesting either, just flying around and firing missiles off and on. It should be no match for the Dark gang. E-105 ζ: Eggman’s 5th robot in the series. Zeta looks like the construction he had when fought in the Hot Shelter, with the rotating ring and 8 missile-launching tubes. Still, it shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge. E-1000: Fake Gammas, just to add in some extra rocketry support for the robots.

*Team Dark decide to enter the next dream world.*

Rouge looks around at the cyberspace. “Well, this looks new. Where are we?”

Shadow: “If I had to guess, some kind of digital space. Reminds me of GUNs and Eggman’s cyberspace.” (It does take some cues off of them.)

Omega: “IT IS MY CYBERSPACE. LOCATION CONFIRMS IT.”

Shadow: “Hmm, so it is your memories, it seems…”

*Explosions from missiles can be heard.*

Omega: “DAMAGE IS OCCURRING TO MY CYBERSPACE. DETERMINING PROBLEM.”

N. Trance appears holographically: “Let me save you some trouble. I brought the memories of the original E-series. I know how you regard them, Omega, but let’s see if you are the superior robot.”

Omega: “I AM THE SUPERIOR ROBOT!”

N. Trance: “Then prove it! Destroy them before they destroy you!” *He disappears.*

Kaotickanine says: Apparently, even the mind of a computer is not safe from N. Trance as we now delve into Omega’s “psyche”. Of course Omega’s mind is a lot different from everyone else’s, being a cyberspace filled with info and all sorts of digital stuff. All the same though, Omega’s memories make up this world and this time N. Trance is feeding on the robots superiority complex, reviving the first E-100 series, including the famous Gamma, and having them wreak havoc. To keep Omega from suffering a blue screen of death, the E-100 Series robots must be destroyed.

Achievement Unlocked: This Machine

—–

Level 93: Dark Hedgehog Minds

Crates: 142

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:40.00

Gold: 1:35.00

Platinum: 1:30.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Shadow, Rouge, and Omega

Badniks: Shadow Androids: Robotic copies of Shadow that have the new memories of Shadow’s more revenge-set mind. If they spot you, they will fire homing rockets after you.

Mutants: Mephileses: The shadowy replicas made from Shadow’s, er, shadow. They know karate, just like the real one, but they aren’t very good at it. It should be pretty easy to dispatch.

*Shadow, Rouge and Omega are immediately sent to the next dreamworld after the last one.*

Rouge: “What- Hey! Why did we jump into another memory world?”

N. Trance appears as a hologram again. “Cause I am not done with you! I bet this place looks familiar to you, Shadow.”

Shadow looks around and sees the ARK. “It’s the ARK, so what?”

N. Trance: “Don’t act so naive, I know how much you care about this place. I bet it would anger you if it was getting destroyed...” *He messes with Shadow’s shadow and makes what could only be called Mephiles.*

Mephiles the Dark: “Yes, Master N. Trance?”

N. Trance: “Go, memory Mephiles, destroy the ARK!”

Mephiles: “Yes, Master.” *He makes an army of copies of himself. N. Trance helps and makes an army of Shadow Androids for them to go into.*

Mephile Clones as Shadow Androids: “We will destroy everything, including the Earth, for killing Maria.” *They chant as they leave the area.*

N. Trance looks at Shadow, who is clearly annoyed. “Go ahead, destroy them. They are obviously not you. Get revenge!” *He laughs and leaves.*

Rouge grabs Shadow’s hand. “I think I see what he is trying to do, Shadow. Can we destroy them for you?”

Shadow reassures her. “He thinks he can mess with my mind, but he’s wrong. I’m not getting revenge; I’m just destroying a terrible villain.”

Omega: “THEY SURE ARE ANNOYING. STARTING DESTRUCTION SPREE!”

Kaotickanine: We once again visit Shadow’s mind, manifesting as the Space Colony ARK in its prime, but this time he’s not sharing it with Cream nor is he dealing with the Black Arms or GUN. Now N. Trance has managed to revive the erased memories of Mephiles the Dark, who is now doing his best to corrupt Shadow’s mind into his servitude, and N. Trance also brought back a forgotten memory of Shadow’s: his revenge seeking self after being awakened by Eggman, who is now using the Shadow Androids to make Shadow seeks Earth’s destruction again.

Achievement Unlocked: Who I Am

—–

Level 94: The Floating Isle

Crates: 197

Time Trial

Sapphire: 2:20.00

Gold: 2:15.00

Platinum: 2:10.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Friends: Knuckles, Tails, and Sonic

*Knuckles, Tails, and Sonic end up on a flying island, but it looks different.*

Sonic: “Hey, it’s Angel Island! But something looks different.”

Tails shivers. “Say… I don’t remember Angel Island being so cold.”

Knuckles: “It shouldn’t be! I think someone is messing with the memories of my island!”

N. Trance appears on one of the ring monitors nearby. “You got that right! I screwed with the environments on your island! Think you know your island so well? See if you can make it through this!”

Sonic smashes the monitor: “Ugh, I hate that channel. Come on, let’s go!”

Given that he’s lived on the place for his entire life, it’s no surprise that Knuckles’ mind takes on the form of Angel Island. However N. Trance is turning this floating paradise into a disaster by mismatching the many areas of the island; Hydrocity is all dried up and filled with sand, Sandopolis is flooded with water, Ice Caps has melted, and Mushroom Hill frozen over. Time for the Rad Red to protect his home once again, even if it’s only in his mind.

Achievement Unlocked: A Dragon Sized Adventure & Knuckles

—–

Level 95: Sonic’s Nightmare

Crates: 121

Time Trial

Sapphire: 1:25.00

Gold: 1:20.00

Platinum: 1:15.00

Tappers to Save: 5

Helping Partner: Shadow

*Sonic and Shadow find themselves in the familiar down-sloped streets of City Escape.*

Shadow: “I suppose this last memory world is for you, Sonic?”

Sonic: “I think so, although I don’t see the reason why we are here. I don’t remember anything particularly dreadful in this place.”

N. Trance’s voice can be heard. “Oh, no? You don’t remember anything particularly dangerous here? Cause I looked and found the perfect nightmare here…”

Shadow: “What is he referring to, Sonic?”

Sonic starts panicking a bit. “I… I don’t know! What did I see here that was just so nightmarish?”

*Unbenounced to Shadow and Sonic, N. Trance appears behind the hedgehogs who are not looking behind. He appears in the Nightmare GUN Truck, packed with plenty of saws, rockets, spikes, and other dangerous objects.*

N. Trance: “Maybe a little BUZZ CUT may jog your memory!” *He swings one of the saws near the hedgehogs and bangs and spins it against the ground.*

Sonic is clearly scared when he hears the noise. “O-o-oh, no… I-i-i don’t want to look… I… must RUN!!!!” *Sonic starts running away really fast, leaving Shadow behind.*

Shadow: “Huh? Sonic! Wait up!” *He hurries after Sonic and N. Trance drives along behind them.*

N. Trance has prepared one last diabolical trap, and it is all for Sonic. He’s chasing the 2 hedgehogs in what can only be called the GUN Truck from Hell! It even supports a hellish paint job! N. Trance isn’t going to let anything stop him, as he will destroy anything you pass. He even warps you out of City Escape and into other worlds as well. You’re only escape is just rushing to the warp orb at the end.

Achievement Unlocked: Rolling on the Edge

-----

*As the 2 hedgehogs left, N. Trance had been thrown out of the GUN Truck’s windshield and came out with them. He flew for a bit until he crashed into the ground, cracking his shell a bit. He got up in anger.*

N. Trance: “Okay, that’s it! No more ‘yolking’ around. I’m going to finish this! Is there any of you that thinks they can crack this egg?”

*Rouge and Coco step up for fighting.*

Coco: “We don’t like what you did to our minds.”

Rouge: “So we’re going to be the ones to ‘hard-boil’ you!”

N. Trance: “I’d love to see you try…”

Boss: N. Trance

Kaotickanine: The fight against N. Trance is a tough battle that comes in two phases. The first phase is fought entirely by Coco on the ground, wherein N. Trance starts off by summoning a powerful enemy from any of the character’s minds (Beta, Black Doom, etc.), which Coco needs to defeat with the assistance of the other characters aiding from the background. Thankfully, these summons are quick to defeat, and once they’re taken down N. Trance will re-enter the battle arena and shoot his clock hand at Coco like a grappling hook. Should he hit Coco, N. Trance will shoot at her again, but should you make him miss his hand will get stuck and he’ll struggle to get it loose, which is the perfect opportunity to jump onto his head. After that, N. Trance hops out of the arena and shoots at Coco with a “PSI ray” and the process repeats. Hit N. Trance four times and phase 2 with Rouge will begin, in which N. Trance’s flies his head off his body and into the air. N. Trance’s head is invulnerable to any of Rouge’s attacks, even her kicks. However, you can use your attacks to guide N. Trance’s head underneath these three containers in the arena: liquid nitrogen, acid, and lava. Should N. Trance’s head get underneath, one of the allies will pull on a lever, making the harmful substances descend right onto N. Trance’s head. After that, N. Trance will destroy the containers and fire off “PSI bullets” at Rouge, at which point the process repeats. Dropping everything on him will finally make him vulnerable enough for one last kick from Rouge, which will defeat him.

Achievement Unlocked: Humpty Dumpty Had a Big Fall

*N. Trance breaks apart, but before it gets too gruesome, he gets warped away. Rouge returns with the rest of the gang and they leave the Terrarium.*

Death Head’s Bridge

Uka Uka appears and finds the hypnotized Cortex and Eggman. He breaks it and berates Cortex. “CORTEX!!! Those stupid animals have defeated N. Trance!! You better have a plan to defeat them!”

Cortex appears unfazed by Uka-Uka’s anger. “Oh, what’s the point? They’re going to just defeat us again. I’ll go, but it just seems like we are heading for the same outcome. That’s the definition of insanity!”

Uka-Uka simmers in anger. “And what are you going to do, Eggman?!”

Eggman finally tires of Cortex and his minions. “Nothing really. As he said, there is no point!”

Uka-Uka rages: “WHAT??!!! Why not?!!”

Eggman is unconcerned with Uka-Uka and is clearly even more angrier. “Because you fools are the most pathetic bunch of villains that I have ever seen! Even my robots do a better job that what I have seen from his ‘experiments’ and from you and your friends! All I have seen is you guys offer little challenge to Sonic and his friends, and you know what? I rarely call them that way! I am DONE with you fools! Begone!” *He uses the transport beam to send Cortex and Uka-Uka to the next terrarium.*

Eggman: “Cut the power to the transporter, Metal Sonic!”

Metal Sonic: “YES, SIR.” *He cuts the power to them entirely.*

Eggman: “Follow me, my henchmen. We’re heading down to finish this.”

Cubot asks Orbot: “What does he mean by that?”

Orbot: “Best not to question the boss. We should follow him.”

*Eggman, Orbot, Cubot, and Metal Sonic leave the bridge.*

Next Time: WARNING! WARNING! Entering the Space Terrarium!

#Isakthedragon's fanfiction #A Dragon Sized Adventure #ADSA #ADSA: Chapter 40 #UPDATE: Put a 'read more' at the top to ease scrolling through.

[softjakehoon]

My Roommate Who Uses an XL Condom pt. 1

pairing: Jay/Reader

includes: slight edging, deep throat, cum in mouth, rough sex, breeding kink, roommate sex

warning: this is a written smut, if you don’t like reading stuff like this, scroll down for your sake please it’s not that complicated, thank you. 

also, this was inspired by a manga called "Joushi no Asoko wa XL size" and it's the part about the xl condom thingy, which would be on the second part though. and of course, our y'n being a product reviewer. the rest are based on my imagination.

----

You've been searching for a part-time job for a couple of hours now, but most of the jobs available are full-time shifts. You're in your fourth year in college and you're pretty much occupied with all of the school works and activities that's why you resigned from your previous customer service job. You have no choice but to choose a job that will allow you to manage your own time. It's not like you wanted to do this out of boredom. You have to support yourself to afford your tuition fees and daily expenses. Your parents are both senior citizens so you had to work right after you turned 18.

"Product reviewer? No way, this sounds too good to be true."

One-week deadline per product.

Flexible work schedule. 

Salary offer $1000 per review.

You didn't hesitate to submit your application. You have to get this job or you won't be able to pay rent. You don't even have anything to eat for this week. You sighed at your current situation. You went to the shower room to clean up before going to bed. 

---

You woke up around 8 am, starving. You went to the kitchen to find something to eat. You were surprised to see the fridge full of actual food to eat. 

"Am I dreaming? How is the fridge full of food when it was empty last night?" You grabbed a tub of marinated beef and began cooking. 

"Fuck, when was the last time I ate meat? I've only been eating ramen and junk food lately. No wonder I feel like shit." You laughed at your own misery. You were cut off by the sound of the door opening. You don't remember inviting anyone over to your apartment. You don't have a roommate as well so you started to feel nervous. 

"Who is it?" You shouted while chewing on the meat you wrapped with lettuce. 

You turned your head around to see a man around your age wearing all black and a frown on his face. 

"Who are you?" He asked you back. 

"I asked you a question first. Why do you have a key to my apartment?" This time, you went to speak to him up close. You're near-sighted so you wanted to see him up close. 

"I'm Jay. I moved in last night. Are you my roommate?" He kept his cold expression. 

He's handsome as fuck, but cold as hell. You thought to yourself. Too bad. 

"Oh, that must be why the fridge is full this morning. Fuck, sorry I cooked the beef bulgogi just now. I will pay you back once I get paid from my job." You looked down from embarrassment. 

"That's alright." He didn't even bother to ask your name and went to his room. You didn't want to bug him about it since you still owe him a tub of beef so you just shrugged your shoulder and finished your breakfast. 

While eating, you checked on your email for updates. 

"Holy fuck." Your jaw dropped upon reading an email. It was from the company you applied to last night. You got the job, and you're starting today. 

You signed the contract immediately and submitted all the needed requirements. Your first product will arrive in the afternoon so you couldn't help but be excited while washing the dishes. 

After doing the dishes, you decided to do the laundry. You've been going braless in the apartment when you were still alone but you have a male roommate now so you can't do that anymore. You needed to wash them. 

"Fuck, I ran out of shorts as well? What have I been doing all this time to forget doing my laundry?"

You decided to wear an oversized almost see-through white shirt and black underwear. 

While you were putting your clothes in the front load washing machine, you heard him pretending to cough. 

You dropped the clothes upon hearing that and looked around to see him piercing you with his eyes staring straight at your body. 

"What do you think are you doing?" He said, raising his eyebrows. 

"I'm doing my laundry. Are you blind?" You looked to your side, afraid of meeting his eyes. 

He stood in front of you, "I'm not. In fact I'm very much pleased of what I'm seeing right now." You gulped when he touched your chin and forced you to look into his eyes. 

"What are you doing?" You're starting to get nervous, or turned on. You don't know anymore. Is it because you haven't had sex for so long now? Fuck, you know you can't have sex with your roommate. You know damn well how it would end since your ex was also your roommate before. 

"I'm making you look at my face. Ever since we met you've been avoiding my gaze." He smirked at you, turning you on even more. 

"T-that's because you look scary, dude. Geez, get your hands off me or I will punch your face so I won't have any reason to look at it." You tried to push him away only for him to corner you on the wall with his arms locking you in. 

"Don't call me that. Or I will kiss you right now." You knew he wasn't bluffing. But for some reason, you wanted to kiss him as well. So you called him that. 

"Stop playing around, dude. Can't you see I'm busy doing someth-" You were cut off by his lips on yours. It stayed still for a short moment as if he was trying to see how you would react. But when he sensed you closing your eyes, he began to move his lips along with yours.

It was a sweet and passionate kiss as if he knew you all his life. It felt so good, you couldn't help but pull his hair, making the kiss deeper. His right hand holding your face along with your jaw, his left hand holding your waist, keeping you close to his body. You could feel your core starting to get wet from the heat that you're feeling, making you rub your thighs together. Taking the hint, Jay placed his knee in the middle and closed the distance between your body. You're now grinding on his thighs, desperately looking for friction and release. 

"Are we just gonna kiss all day or are you going to fuck me?" You pulled away from the kiss and chased your breath.

"I thought you said you're busy." He smirked again. 

"Well now I'm not." You kissed him again, this time with so much lust and desire. Jay is incredibly handsome, he's tall and has a nice body as well. Normally, you don't hang out with guys like him because you know they're always into pretty girls, but you don't want to think about it for now. 

"Relax, baby. I'll get you nice and ready first." He grabbed your breasts as soon as he removed your shirt, sucking on your nipples while his right hand palming your core. 

"I guess I don't even need to. You're soaking wet already. Is this all for me, babe?" He removed your last piece of clothing and slipped two fingers inside you. 

"Fuck, Jay. Shut up already and put it in.” You can't help but moan as he slips his fingers in and out of you.

“Stop bossing me around, brat.” There was a sudden change in his aura, his fingers thrusting in and out of you now roughly. 

“Damn it, I wanna cum on your cock, please. Fuck me already.” You begged. You’re about to reach your climax under his touch. All of a sudden, he removed his fingers making you bite your lips in frustration.

“What the hell? Why did you sto-” You were cut off when he grabbed a fistful of your hair, pushing you down on your knees. He immediately removed his belt and tied your hands with it. You stared at him with your puppy eyes while waiting for him to remove his clothes.

He pumped his cock a couple of times before squeezing your cheeks, a sign for you to open your mouth. You were taken aback by the size of his cock in your tiny mouth. You can’t even touch him to support yourself, so he was holding you by your hair and fucking your mouth as he wants. 

“See, this is what your mouth is for. It’s not for you to talk back, or be a brat. This mouth is meant for my cock.” Tears pooled in your eyes as the tip of his dick hits your throat every time he would thrust. You were able to get rid of your gag reflex, thanks to your ex.

“Fuck, how are you so good at this? I fucking love your mouth. You’ve got no gag reflex? Fucking insane, ahh.” He’s growling at this point. You can tell he’s close as the veins in his dick are getting more prominent and it’s twitching inside your mouth.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum.” After a couple of thrusts, he came down your throat. You gladly swallowed his cum, making sure nothing goes to waste.

“Shit, brat. You better remember how I taste.” He said, untying your hands from his belt. He helped you to stand, kissing you while placing you on top of the counter. 

He took no time in aligning himself into your core. He gathered your wetness using the tip of his dick and finally pushed it in. You can definitely feel the stretch but the pleasure goes beyond the pain at this point. You were moaning softly against his ear. 

“Fuck, you feel so tight around me.” His thrust getting steady and rougher each time.

“You feel so good, Jay. I’m gonna cum.” You’re finally getting the release he denied you earlier.

“That’s right, cum on my cock.” You moaned in response. Your walls tightening around him even more, making him meet his nearing climax for the second time.

“Cum with me, Jay. Come inside me, please.” You were on birth control anyway. You were on an injectable contraceptive and it’s still in effect ‘til now. You will probably need to ask him if he’s fucking around later on but you really wanted to have his cum inside you. Hearing you beg for his cum was music to his ears. After easing you from your high with a couple of thrusts, he came right after. You felt his dick twitch inside you, his cum spreading heat in your walls. He pulled out seconds after, making his cum leak out of you.

Jay swore he took a mental image of it in his mind. You looked so hot, all fucked out because of him. You, on the other hand, waited for him to help you get off the counter.

Which he didn’t do. He put on his clothes and went straight to the bathroom to clean himself. 

“What a jerk. Did he just leave me here after all that?” You tried not to feel too disappointed. Still, it made you feel angry. He could’ve at least helped you. “I’m never having sex with you again, asshole.” You said just enough for him to hear you in the bathroom.

Author’s note: Jay’s point of view will be on the second part. He’s a gentleman pls.

#enhypen smut #enhypen hard hours #enhypen jay #enhypen jay x reader #enhypen jay scenarios

[quicksilverownsmysoul]

Sparks Pt. 5

It has taken me forever but I finally updated Sparks! I’m sorry for making y’all wait so long but I’ve been busy with other stuff and I keep starting series before I finish the first one (I need to stop doing that). I know it’s been a while, if you need to reread the old ones they are all linked in my masterlist, it’s pinned on my page! Anyway I hope y’all like it!

You can read Part 4 Here 

Summary: 

Warnings: None, this is pure fluff

Word Count: 2298

The ride there was an experience to say the least. Scott drove which meant Jean got shotgun, the rest of you were piled into the backseat. Kurt kept hitting Jubilee in the face with his tail, her hair blew into your face every time the breeze hit, and you were so cramped that you were practically sitting on Peter’s lap. Peter was thankful you couldn't move to turn around, or else you would see how red his face was. He was sitting extremely still too scared to even move. Because if you moved even an inch over, he knew his leather pants wouldn't hide what would form. Scott looked at you guys through the rear view mirror, flashing you a cocky smile. “You guys comfortable?” Jubilee flipped him off while the rest of you grumbled out a no. He laughed and turned back to face the road. 

Scott pulled up to a diner and parked, hoping out to open the door for Jean. Kurt wiggled his arm free and opened the door causing you guys to fall out of the backseat. Jubilee fell onto Kurt’s back and Peter ended up falling on you, he caught himself with his hands, you guys inches from one another. You watched his eyes dart down to look at your lips before glancing back up to meet your eyes. You smirked up at him. “If you’re going to pull something like that, at least buy me dinner first.” 

Peter felt his face heat up and he started to sputter. You laughed at his flustered state and after a moment he did as well. He liked how casual you were about this and how you were able to joke to ease the tension. He smirked back down at you. “Well maybe after I do buy you dinner we can continue this.” It was your turn to get embarrassed. 

“Really guys?” You both looked up to see Jubilee standing with her arms crossed. “Right in front of Kurt.” Kurt was covering his face out of respect for you two and shielding himself behind her. You both turned red and scrambled to get out of the car. Peter let you get up and then hopped out of the backseat behind you. Jubilee pulled you to the back of the group with her and gave your arm a squeeze. “He likes you.”

Peter glanced back at the two of you in between bugging Scott and Jean. He saw you and Jubilee talking in hushed voices and giggling with one another. He felt himself gulp, something told him you guys were talking about him. He caught your eye and whipped his head back around, hoping you didn't catch him staring. 

Scott made his way to the front of the group to announce where you were but Peter hip bumped him out of the way. Scott cussed and Peter just sent him a wink and a smile. He turned back to face the group, his eyes locked on you. “Welcome to our favorite diner, Gus’ Games and Grub.” Peter stood at the front of the group his arms held wide open, showing off the diner. You felt yourself smile as you looked around the place, there was an arcade attached to the restaurant, with a prize cabinet and about a million blinking lights and sounds. 

“This place is awesome.” Peter watched as you took it all in, his heart swelling at the fact he was able to impress you with his favorite diner.

“So do you guy wanna do for dinner, do you wanna split a pizza or get-”

“Let’s play.” Peter said, cutting off Scott. 

“The whole reason we came here was for dinner.” 

“No, it was to have fun.” Peter smirked. “Something you wouldn't know anything about.” 

“Ooooo.” Jubilee responded as her eyes darted back and forth between the boys. 

Scott surged forward but Jean used her powers to stop him, pulling him back towards her by the collar of his sports jacket.

“You guys are acting like children. There is an easy way to decide this.”

“You’re right Jean, battle to the death it is.” Jean rolled her eyes at Peter’s comment. 

“Let’s just take a vote. Who wants to eat first?” Jubilee, Kurt, Scott and Jean all raised their hands. “Who wants to play the arcade first?” Peter's hand shot in the air, he sent you a wide smile when he saw you agreeing with him. “Sorry Peter, looks like we’re eating first.” Jean turned toward the counter and Scott sent him a condensing smirk behind her back. Peter stuck his tongue out in response. He didn't care that he lost the vote, he had you on his side. 

Dinner was filled with easy conversation and stolen glances. You and Peter kept trying to catch each other’s eye from opposite sides of the booth. He had wanted to sit next to you but Jubilee had beat him to it and she refused to move. As soon as you finished eating Peter slid into the booth next to you as Jubilee got up to throw the trash away. He slung his arm behind the booth and you scooted closer to him, making him blush. He leaned down and gently moved his hand to cup the back of your neck. “Wanna go have some fun.”

“What kind of fun is Maximoff?” You teased, loving the way it made him flush red. 

“The best kind there is.” Peter sped off you with you, ditching the other guys as you made your way to the arcade. Peter stood near a dancing machine game and held his hand out towards you with a slight bow. “May I have this dance?”

You curtsied back at him. “Of course.”

You hopped up on the dance floor as Peter put coins in the machine. He used the buttons to scroll through the songs, he stuck his tongue out in concentration trying to find just the right one. He made his selection and joined you on the mini stage. The music started playing and you felt your smile widen. “Oh my god I love this song!”

“Me too!” 

You guys turned back to the screen and started to dance, doing your best to coordinate with the colorful arrows on screen. But it was hard to pay attention when you both were too busy looking at one another and singing the lyrics back and forth. You saw Jubilee approaching the machine out of the corner of your eye. She leaned on the bar behind you, Kurt and the others not too far behind. “I was wondering where you guys went.” 

“We went to totally dominate this game.” Peter bragged as he scored three bads in a row on the game. 

“I can see that.” Jubilee watched as the song ended and the screen showed off your guys' score. It was ranked a D- with a 22% accuracy. 

“Man you’re bad at this.” Scott said.

“What like you could do better?”  Peter scoffed as he hopped off the stage offering you his hand. You took it and hopped off as well. 

“Watch me.” Scott and Jean took your guys places on the game and inserted the coins to play. You and Peter watched with your mouths hanging open as they scored perfect on every step. The song came to an end and they stared at you guys with matching smirks. 

“Okay you so totally did better than us.” You admitted. Peter just grumbled out an agreement. 

“Because we are better.” Scott remarked. 

“Wanna bet?” Peter asked as he crossed his arms across his chest. 

“What kind of bet?”

“Not again.” Jean muttered. 

“Whoever wins the biggest prize by the time the place closes gets the keys to your car for the rest of the week.” Peter smirked.

“What do I get?” Scott asked, hesitation in his voice. 

“I don’t know what do you want?”

Scott scrunched his face up in concertation for a moment before he answered. Knowing exactly what he wanted if he won. “If I win I get your pac-man machine.” 

Peter’s eyes widened, you could see him weighing the risks in his mind. He glanced over at you. He wanted the car so he could ask you out on a date, he wanted to do it right, with a car instead of speeding you somewhere. You gave him a smile and that made up his mind. He turned back to face Scott, a challenging look in his eyes. “I’ll take that bet.” 

“Okay so how are we going to do this? Teams?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“So it’ll be me and Jean, you and (y/n) and Kurt and Jubilee.” 

“What? Why are we playing? And why do I get Kurt?” Jubilee asked with her arms crossed. 

“Hey!” Kurt whined. 

“Sorry.”

“It’s more interesting if we all play.” Scott said. 

“Plus it’s not like you guys are going to win, it’s either going to me or Scott.” Peter joked and Scott nodded in agreement.

“Really?” Jubilee narrowed her eyes. “We’ll see about that. Come on Kurt.” With that they were gone. Now it was time for the games to begin. 

Peter and you sprinted over to the skeeball machines. He put a coin in each one and sped back and forth throwing the ball down the lane, getting the highest scoring points each time. You collected all the tickets, your heart pumping full of adrenaline. You played all the games you could while Peter ran around the arcade beating all the games and winning all the tickets. They made an announcement over the loudspeaker that they would be closing in five minutes, so you and Peter finished off your games and made your way to the counter. Jean and Scott were already there, their ticket pile paled in comparison to yours. Peter opened his mouth to mock them but Jean held up her hand and pointed to the right. You turned and saw Jubilee and Kurt sitting on top of the prize counter. She had three different pairs of sunglasses on and Kurt had about a million scrunchies wrapped around his tail. They were both drinking slurpees, a giant stuffed pink gorilla by their feet. Jubilee lowered her glasses as she took a long sip of her drink. ‘’’Sup losers.” 

Peters was gaping at them, glancing back and forth between the giant gorilla and them. “I- huh.. How? WHAT?”

Jubilee held her arms out and slung one around Kurt. “We won.”

“How?!?” Scott asked. “You guys only played like two games!”

“Yeah we won 67 tickets!” Kurt said excitedly. “That’s how we got the sunglasses and scrunchies!” He held his tail up showing them off. 

“That still doesn't explain how you won.” You asked with an amused smile on your face. 

“My cousin is the manager, I bribed her into giving us the biggest prize.” She pointed down at the stuffed gorilla. “Meet Barbara.” Scott and Peter stared at her with huffy faces getting ready to protest her winning. ‘Hey you never said we couldn't cheat.” Jubilee took another sip of her slurpee. 

“Yeah but you still cheated.” Scott argued.

“What like you guys didn't?.” She pointed at Scott and Jean. “I saw Jean using her powers on the basketball machine.” She motioned towards Peter. “And don’t even get me started on this one.”

“Damn you go Jubilee.” You cheered her as she gave a little bow. 

“So we win!” Kurt cheered. 

“Indeed we do.” Jubilee stuck her hands out in a grabby motion “Keys. Give me.” Scott reached into his pocket and begrudgingly tossed the keys to Jubilee. She caught them with a smirk. “I’ll see you guys in the car, I’m driving.” 

You cheered her on as she left. “Never underestimate Jubilee.” 

“Agreed.” 

“So what are we going to do with all these tickets?” You asked. 

Peter took them from you and came back a second later, arms full of prizes. “We can take them home to the kids at the house.” 

“That’s so sweet Peter.” He smiled at your praise.

“I uh.. I also got something for you.” Peter set down the prizes in his hands and riffled through them. He pulled out a stuffed turtle from the pile and nervously brought it over to you. You took it in your hands, heart swelling at the action. “His name is Mister Dibbles.” 

You looked down at the gentle face of the toy, smiling at it and then back up at peter. “I love him.” Peter gave you a wide smile. 

As you guys made your way out of the diner Peter fought with himself back and forth on whether he should still ask you out. By the time he got to the car he had made up his mind. He opened his mouth to ask you but Jubilee grabbed him by the arm and pulled him off to the side. 

“You can have the car after tonight.”

“What?” He asked, shock evident on his face. 

“You can have the car.” She shrugged. “I know you wanted it so you could take (y/n) on a date.”

“How did you know that?”

“You’re pretty easy to read.” Peter smiled and rushed forward crushing Jubilee in a hug. “Stop that, put me down!” She giggled out. 

“Thank you so much.” 

“Mhmm and don’t worry I’m not going to take your pac-man machine. But you owe me.” 

“Anything.”

“I wanna style your hair.”

“Anything but that.”

“Ugh fine.” 

Jubilee and Peter made their way back over to the car. You smiled as you saw Peter getting closer to you. He returned it. “Hey can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Would you maybe… like to.. I don’t know...go out with me?” You felt your face split into a wide smile. 

“Of course I would.” 

Taglist: @chiswritingandreadingcorner @enemy-of-wonkru @xxspqcebunsxx @coffeeandteaintheevening @kitwalkerangel @xmaximoffic @livingmybestfictionallife @evanmybeloved @kaismessiahbb @bugboy-and-icegirl

#peter maximoff x y/n #peter maximoff #peter maximoff fluff #peter maximoff x you #peter maximoff x reader #peter maximoff fanfiction #quicksilver xmen x reader #quicksilver xmen #quicksilver x you #quicksilver x y/n #quicksilver x reader #Scott summers #jubilee Lee #evan peters #marvel #quicksilver #xmen fanfiction #xmen x reader #evan peters x you #evan peters x reader #evan peters fluff #peter maximoff imagine #Peter Maximoff

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Celebrity Crush| part 1 | BTS x Reader mini series

Pairing: BTS x Celebrity!Reader

Key words: celebrity crush, singer, idol.

Word count: around 8,000

Masterlist

Okay, this one is just regular fluff, but it definitely has potential to become more juicy, maybe even angsty... I had many ideas when I was writing it, but decided upon cutting it where I did. Maybe there will be part two to this story, maybe not. If there will be it will also probably be able to functionas a totaly separate one shot. Also I couldn’t decide on a ship here! Initially it was supposed to be RM, but I kept coming back to JK (my bias xd). That’s where possibility of an angst story lays... Anyway tell me what you think of this piece!

“AH!” Namjoon exclaimed, dropping his spoon down into his soup.

“Hey, watch it! You’re spilling everything!” Seokjin yelled back at him as some of his friend's soup splashed out from his bowl.

“What happened?” Hoseok asked, sipping his soup slowly and looking at Namjoon with curiosity.

“It’s-It’s (Y/N).” He stuttered out, his eyes still glued to the screen of his phone. He was scrolling through Twitter when he noticed a tweet from his favourite female artist, (Y/N), announcing her world wide tour.

“What? Did she message you?” Seokjin asked him with a chuckle, knowing well that wouldn’t happen.

“I wish.” Namjoon scoffed and clicked on a link to an article some music site posted immediately after reading (Y/N)’s tweet. “(Y/N) has announced details of her long-awaited world tour.” He read out loud to  his friends already feeling his heartbeat pick up. “The singer has continuously updated her fans on the details, promising them that she was working on the announcement. Now, via a short video on Instagram simply captioned ‘Hello world’, she has finally revealed when and where the No Limitations tour will be starting off. You can see the full dates, which she simultaneously posted on her Twitter account, below.” He quickly scrolled down to take a look at the dates and locations. His jaw dropped as he scanned down the list and noticed the Asia leg of the tour. “Soul is on the list.” He muttered. “In January. Seoul is on the list.” He repeated looking at his friends with wide eyes.

“Finally!” Hoseok exclaimed reaching across the table to pat him on the shoulder. “You can go see her then.”

“It hasn’t been announced when tickets will go on sale.” Namjoon said in panic as he frantically searched the internet for information about the tour.

“I’m sure our staff can get you in there without a ticket.” Seokjin said casually, but Namjoon took the matter very seriously. (Y/N) wasn’t just someone who’s music he liked. He also had a huge crush on her as a girl in general and he wasn’t about to pass on an opportunity to see her perform live.

“I have to talk to our PD about that.” He said in an excited tone and clicked his Messages app to draft up a passionate yet professional text saying how much he wants, no, needs to go to (Y/N)’s Seoul concert.

“Now?” Seokjin asked, taken aback a little by his fast pace.

“No time to waste. It’s (Y/N) we’re talking about.” Namjoon chuckled. “If all goes well maybe we could work on some music together.”

“Yeah and maybe something more.” Hoseok teased him, earning a loud laugh from Seokjin. Namjoon only smiled up at them from his phone, because among those who followed the news about BTS it was a well known fact that he had a thing for (Y/N).

Whenever they would get asked about their celebrity crushes in interviews he would say (Y/N)’s name. Ideal girl - someone like (Y/N). A song they could listen to on loop - (Y/N)’s latest single. Fashion inspiration at the moment - (Y/N). Favourite movie - that one (Y/N) had a cameo in for like three minutes. It would happen so much that ARMY’s started making compilations of him talking about her on YouTube called “Namjoon drooling over (Y/N) for 7 minutes straight” and so on. At first he was embarrassed about it, but after some time that awkward feeling turned into hope that maybe she’ll see it and fall for him as well. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he still liked to imagine the moment you would message him saying you would love to collab on a song.

-

“I’m going to go talk to our PD.” Namjoon said, as he took off the bright pink sunglasses with Happy New Year written on top of them in a silly font. He wore them for the small photoshoot they just had for BTS’s New Year’s Eve post on Twitter.

“Now?” Jimin asked him, raising his brows.  He was still wearing his party hat he put on for the session. “It’s New Year’s Eve.”

“I know. I just-” He was interrupted by Taehyung’s loud cheer. “I’ll be right back.” Jimin just shook his head at his eagerness to find out whether (Y/N)’s staff has already answered BigHit’s request for letting Namjoon go to your show with a backstage pass as a celebrity guest of sorts.

Since they were already at the BigHit headquarters for the photoshoot and a little celebration for the beginning of the new year Namjoon had to walk just a couple of doors down to get to PD’s office. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door. After hearing a faint invitation he pressed on the handle and opened it.

“Oh, it’s you. Why aren’t you with the others celebrating?” The PD asked, obviously surprised to see Namjoon.

“Ah, yes. I’ll be joining them in a minute.” He said, remembering Jimin’s words. “I just came here to ask about the No Limitations show. It’s in January and since it’s already first of the month I wondered-”

“Ah, of course.” PD cut him off with a smile. “You're going.”

“Really?” Namjoon asked in shock.

“Yes, all of you are.” Namjoon must have looked very confused for a moment there, because PD rushed with an explanation. “We got an answer saying they were going to issue a formal invitation to the concert and an after party to the whole band anyway. Go and pass on the news to the rest of the boys. We’ll have a proper meeting about this next week.” Namjoon thanked him accesively and assured he’ll let the rest of the members know about the situation. As he walked down the hall he heard their voices from the dance studio they had the photo shoot in. He was speechless.

“It’s happening.” He thought, leaning on the wall to catch a breath before coming inside. After a moment he pushed the door open and joined his group members with a bright smile.

“Guys, guys. Listen” He called. “We’re going to (Y/N)’s concert!” He exclaimed and they cheered, gathering around him, smothering him with hugs and tugging on his cheeks teasingly.

-

“Look at him.” Jimin chuckled pointing at Namjoon who was pacing around the room. “So excited for the concert.”

“Of course he is. He’s going to meet his crush.” Seokjin added, also laughing.

The whole group was teasing him about (Y/N) all throughout January. It was seventeenth today, the day of her Seoul show and he couldn’t wait. They already got their hair and makeup done. They were dressed to the nines. All that was left was to get to the show.

“The car is here.” Someone from the staff announced and all the boys got up from their spots. As they walked down the hall together they all took turns patting Namjoon on the shoulder for encouragement.

“Do you think we’ll have a chance to talk to her?” Jungkook asked with excitement when they were all in the car together.

“Of course!” Hoseok exclaimed.

“No, but like, for real talk. Not just: nice to meet you, let’s take a picture, goodbye.” The youngest explained quickly.

“Hopefully.” Seokjin said, patting Namjoon on the thigh as that was something he was worried about. He would definitely be happy if he got even only a second with (Y/N), but he wished for more.

After a short drive the car stopped in an underground parking lot under the venue of the concert. As they got outside they could hear the cheers of the crowds gathered outside. Their staff took them on an elevator explaining once again how the night will go. First a before party with other guests, then the concert itself and after that the after party at a hotel. Namjoon repeated the sequence of these events in his head a million times already. Technically he was prepared, but practically he was a mess. His hands were sweating and his heart was racing like crazy. He looked around the small elevator at his closest friends and the familiar faces of BigHit staff who were accompanying them. Realising he has so many people around him for support eased his nerves a little.

“I can’t believe we’re in the same building.” Namjoon muttered under his breath.

“Yeah, she was also in the same building as us at the VMA’s and AMA’s and so on.” Yoongi teased him and everyone chuckled.

“That’s true, Namjoon.” Taehyung agreed with a grin. “You shouldn’t be so worried.”

“Easy for you to say.” Namjoon added right as the elevator door opened.

“Yeah, she already saw us perform at one of the award shows. She knows who we are. It’s going to be fine.” Jimin said in a nervous tone. Namjoon just nodded to himself trying to make the anxious thoughts go away as they approached the area where the before party was held.

They were all excited to see (Y/N)’s show and attend her after party, but with the tremendous enthusiasm also came the stress of meeting an A list celebrity from overseas. 

-

“I can’t believe she’s still not here.” Namjoon whined to Taehyung and Jimin as the rest of the group scattered to chat with other invited idols and celebrities. “All the dancers and her band are here already.”

“It’s still early.” Taehyung tried to cheer him up. “She’ll show up any moment. I’m sure.”

“Definitely.” Jimin agreed with him energetically.

Before Namjoon could voice another concerned thought lingering in his brain everyone in the room started cheering and clapping. He looked around wondering what caused this reaction as he noticed the obvious reason.

“Thank you all so much for coming.” (Y/N) said stopping somewhere in the middle of the gathered crowd of celebrities and staff. “It means a lot. Really.” She put her hand to her chest as she spoke. “If all goes well the show will be starting in a couple of minutes. Wish me luck and have fun.” 

“That’s it?” Taehyung asked as (Y/N) was rushed away by her staff to the stage entry. “I thought she was going to chat with everyone or something.”

“Do you chat with guests before the show?” Jimin asked. “That’s what the after party is for.” He explained and Namjoon hummed in agreement. Just the quick glimpse he caught of her was enough to leave him speechless.

“Let’s go watch the show.” Hoseok said approaching the three from behind with the rest of the group following close behind.

There was a big screen in the backstage lounge and a couple of smaller TV’s located at the stage entries for those that wanted to glance at the stage during the show to see the real deal. They watched the first half of the show in the lounge and later relocated to the left entry area. Namjoon’s eyes were glued to the screen as everyone around him chatted away. He tried to pay attention to the conversation and partake from time to time, but his focus quickly went back to (Y/N). She looked stunning singing and dancing on stage.

Suddenly a group of staff dressed in all black rushed into the area they were hanging out in with some other guests.

“Wardrobe change, left.” One of the staff said as she clicked on her earpiece.

Namjoon almost jumped out of his seat when he saw (Y/N) jogging down from the stage and into the swarm of her people from her team.

“Woah, that gave me chills.” Yoongi commented as (Y/N) passed by them surrounded by her wardrobe, hair and makeup team.

“Say something.” Hoseok whispered, elbowing Namjoon’s side.

“Like what?” He asked following (Y/N) with his gaze as she disappeared behind her dressing room's door.

“Great show, looking good. Anything really.” He encouraged him with a cheeky smile.

“No.” Namjoon shook his head, already feeling the blood rushing to his head.

“Do it. Do it.” The rest of the members repeated after Hoseok, but he only shook his head once again.

“She’ll come out any second.” Seokjin added in a warning tone.

He was right. The dance number performed by her backup dancers was getting to an end and (Y/N) should be running out onto the stage soon to sing the next song.

“Great show!” Jungkook yelled out in English.

All the boys’s heads snapped in his direction and then onto (Y/N). She was walking out of her dressing room in long strides. As Jungkook yelled out his praise she turned to look his way without stopping,

“Thank you!” She answered quickly before being escorted by her staff into the understage corridors.

All the boys started shoving and pushing the youngest member teasingly.

“Namjoon was supposed to say that. You took over his part. Jungkook, you’re so eager.” They yelled with laughter.

-

“What time is it?” Taehyung asked the group as most of the guests gathered in the backstage lounge to watch the encore of the show.

“It’s close to eleven.” Seokjin answered, looking at his phone.

“Before we finish off the show with this last song I just wanted to take a minute to say: Thank you so much.” (Y/N)’s voice echoed from the stage and through the speakers in the lounge. She was standing in the bright lights holding the mic to her lips. “Thank you for choosing to come see the show and spending the night here with us. I really can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for all of you, here in the audience and back at home watching and streaming my music and the shows. Thank you so much.” 

“Ah, she’s so nice. Never forgetting about her fans.” People around muttered.

“I really, truly appreciate you guys. I cannot imagine how this year would’ve gone if I hadn't spent it with all of you, all of the people on the stage and behind it. We’ve been away from our homes for so long.” (Y/N) voice got higher with nerves and sadness that came over her as she spoke about her home. “We’re coming close to ten months on the road now. That’s a long time.” She said, bringing her hand to her chest to show her gratitude. “Thank you so much for putting up with me.” She chuckled and the staff cheered. “I feel so lucky and so fortunate to be working with all of you and to be able to perform in front of all of you.” She sighed deeply, undoubtedly masking a cry. “So thank you. I love you so much. Thank you.”

-

The audience was shouting and applauding loudly as (Y/N) walked off the stage waving to them. As soon as she was out of the view she handed her microphone to one of the sound people and took a big gulp of water from the bottle one of the staff handed her.

“Thank you.” She breathed out. “I need to get out of this hair as soon as possible.” She chuckled tiredly as she walked into her dressing room.

“We’ve got about twenty minutes to get you ready for the after party.” Her assistant, who was waiting inside, spoke calmly as the beauty and wardrobe team gathered around (Y/N) quickly taking out the bobby pins from her hair and undoing the back of her dress. “There’s quite a lot of guests your manager would like you to talk to, at least for a minute.” She said and quickly moved on to listing all the most important people attending the party.

“Have any of those people been informed that I might want to reach out to work with them later?” (Y/N) asked, getting into her oversized sweatshirt dress with the help of some staff so that she doesn’t ruin her makeup.

“No, that’ll be done after tonight. Sometime this week though.” She explained scrolling through something on her tablet.

“What time is the flight to Osaka tomorrow?” (Y/N)’s voice sounded tired as she thought of getting on another plane.

“Actually, there’s been a change of plans.” Her assistant said casually. “You got surprise booked for a daytime show tomorrow, so we’re staying in Seoul for that for the whole day and flying to Japan the next morning. The crew will be already there setting everything up for Saturday.”

“Two days in Seoul?” (Y/N) was surprised.

“Mhm.”

“What’s the show?”

“King of Masked Singer. You’re going to be the surprise opening act. I’ll fill you in on everything tomorrow morning.”

“Perfect.” She said smiling at herself in the mirror as the hairstylist was fixing up her hair.

“Heels or sneakers?” One of the wardrobe girls asked.

“Heels.” (Y/N) answered without hesitation. She wanted to look her best when surrounded with so many new faces at the after party and pairing sneakers with an oversized sweatshirt didn’t seem like the greatest combination for that.

“Ready.” The head stylist stated as one of the staff helped (Y/N) get into her thigh high booties.

From there, accompanied by security, (Y/N) and her assistant walked to the elevator that took them to the parking lot located under the venue.

-

As (Y/N)’s car pulled up in front of the hotel a swarm of fans and paparazzi started yelling out her name and waving to get her attention. She stopped to get her pictures taken, walked up to a couple of fans to sign their albums or pictures and walked inside to get to the after party. With her assistant following her every step and the three body guards right behind them she took yet another elevator to the hotel bar rented for the occasion. 

“Let’s do this.” (Y/N) whispered to herself as she pushed the bar door open.

When she walked deeper into the crowded room random hands touched her shoulders and unknown voices spoke words of praise directed her way. She smiled and thanked the faceless mass making her way towards the DJ’s stand.

“That’s her.” Hoseok whispered as (Y/N) passed by the group of boys.

“Woah. She’s dressed cool.” Taehyung gasped, eying down her figure.

When she stepped onto the slightly elevated stage the DJ stopped the music and handed her a microphone. A wave of cheers erupted from the gathered guests as everyone noticed the star of the night had arrived.

“Hi.” (Y/N) spoke sweetly into the microphone and let the crowd yell or whistle back at her for a moment. “It’s so nice to see all of you here.” She chuckled. “Eat, drink, have fun. It’s all on me tonight. Just tonight.” She joked and the crowd clapped and yelled in excitement. “I know you all came here after the concert, but it’s not all about my music tonight.” Her tone turned mysterious all of a sudden. “It’s actually a very special day for someone else as well. A very funny guy, an inspiration in the studio, a dance mastermind and a dear friend and coworker of mine.” With every endearment term she listed the cheers got wilder. “Johnny Campbell. Where you at?” She asked looking around the room.

“Here!” Someone called out in the front of the room.

“Johnny, this is for you.” (Y/N) said in a low voice and started singing a very sexy adaptation of the birthday song.

As she finished someone in the crowd whistled and Johnny joined her on stage.

“Happy birthday Johnny.” (Y/N) finished off her wishes and hugged him tightly. “Let’s party, everyone!” She exclaimed into the microphone earning a loud cheer from everyone gathered at the bar.

-

(Y/N) made her way to the bar, stopping to chat and take a picture with someone every couple of steps. More than twenty minutes had passed from the moment she got off stage to when she finally got to the counter and grabbed herself a glass of expensive champagne. She sipped on the bubbly liquid and chatted to members of her dance crew. Looking around the room she locked eyes with a guy she recognised from somewhere. It took her a minute to realise it was BTS’s Jimin she was looking at. She smiled to herself, remembering that his group was on her manager’s to-talk-to list. Being halfway done with her drink she decided to down it and get another one before walking up to the group of boys.

“Oh my god.” Jimin exclaimed. “(Y/N) just looked here.” 

“Where is she?” Namjoon asked, feeling his panic and excitement blur into one.

“At the bar.” He answered through gritted teeth.

“She’s coming here. She’s coming here.” Jungkook said quickly as (Y/N) made her way towards them.

“Hi, guys. I’m so glad you could make it.” She said in a sweet tone. “I’m (Y/N).”

“We know.” Jungkook blurted out which would normally earn him a shove to the shoulder from the older members, but the sound of (Y/N)’s chuckle at his comment made them relax and join her with nervous laughter. “I’m Jungkook.�� He added extending his hand.

“I know.” (Y/N) answered with a smile and went for a hug and kiss on the cheek instead of a simple handshake.

“You know?” He asked in shock.

“Yes, I saw you guys perform at award shows, your music is everywhere. I know BTS.” The members smiled widely as she explained and started greeting the rest of them in the same way one by one. The hugs were quick, but still sincere. “I’m so happy you found time in your busy schedule to come see my show.” 

“We wouldn’t miss it.” Namjoon said, trying to sound cool and collected. He wasn’t going to mention that he practically begged their PD to get them backstage.

“Oh, thank you.” She smiled and Namjoon’s knees almost went weak at the sight.

“Yes, great show.” Jungkook added and the group laughed.

“Oh, it was you.” (Y/N) also laughed realising it was Jungkook who yelled the words of praise her way halfway through the concert.

“Yes, I… Liked your dance with… By Your Side.” Jungkook said slowly making sure he picked the right words. “Great choreography.”

“Thank you.” She answered, bringing her hand to her chest as she accepted his compliment. “It’s nothing compared to your routines though. Those look hard.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you. We work hard. A lot of practice.” They muttered with modesty.

“Honestly!” (Y/N) exclaimed. “I was trying to learn the routine for your song with Halsey with my girls… So hard.”

“Boy With Luv?” Jimin raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah, but the foot choreo was killing me.” She complained jokingly.

“Hyung, ask her which member’s part she learned.” Jungkook asked Namjoon in Korean.

“He wants to know which member’s choreography you learned.” Namjoon explained.

“Yours,” (Y/N) pointed to Jungkook.

“Me?” He asked and she nodded energetically. “Hyung, say I can teach her the choreography.” He added in Korean with a wide smile, still shocked he’s talking to such a huge star. Namjoon and the rest of the boys laughed at the youngest member’s bluntness.

“He’s saying he’ll teach you.” Namjoon hurried with an explanation as (Y/N) looked confused by what they were laughing about. 

“Watch out, ‘cause I’ll take you up on that offer.” She raised her brow at Jungkook cheekily who looked at Namjoon for a translation.

“She says she might take you up on that.” He translated to his friend and he laughed, feeling a blush creep up onto his face.

“I sang your song during soundcheck today.” (Y/N) stated and all the members raised their brows at her.

“Which one?” Jungkook asked.

“Sweet Night. V’s solo.” She said pointing to Taehyung. “It’s such a sweet song and you sound amazing in it.” She said, touching his shoulder.

“Thank you so much.” Taehyung smiled, bowing to her slightly.

Not in many moments Namjoon was glad that his members couldn’t speak English as well as he did, but right now he couldn’t be happier about it. They were all so excited to be talking to (Y/N) they forgot their tongues. The alcoholic beverages that they already consumed didn’t help either. They asked him for translations every other sentence, meaning (Y/N) needed him to translate for her as well, meaning he was talking to her more than any other member, meaning she looked at him more than at any other member. Despite the language barrier the conversation flowed so easily between them. He felt ecstatic.

“(Y/N).” Her assistant called her name and brought her to the side for a moment.” It’s showtime.”

By saying “showtime” she meant that it’s time for (Y/N) to perform a song or two to entertain the guests and keep the party going.

“I’ll be right there.” She answered her and walked back to the group of boys.

“V, could I borrow you for a moment?” She asked with a sweet voice.

Unsure of what she might want from him, but still excited Taehyung followed (Y/N) into the bar.

“You said you love Underneath and know the lyrics by heart.” She said, glancing at him as they walked side by side through the crowded room filled with chatter and music. Taehyung hummed in agreement, feeling his heartbeat grow faster and faster. “You know them well enough to sing it live with me now?”

“What?” He asked, almost tripping over his own feet.

“I’m supposed to perform a couple of songs now. Would you like to perform one with me?” She asked stopping and looked him in the eyes with hope.

“Of course.” Taehyung answered, giving her his signature box smile.

“Great!” She exclaimed and grabbed his hand to lead him backstage. “This way.”

-

“Where do you think she took him?” Seokjin asked as (Y/N) disappeared with Taehyung in the crowd.

“I have no idea.” Namjoon answered, also curious about the whole ordeal.

“She’s very nice.” Jungkook commented.

“Yeah, nicer than I imagined.” Yoongi added.

“We have to get a picture together.” Hoseok said and the rest of the boys agreed.

“Look, there’s (Y/N).” Jimin pointed towards the stage where the DJ’s booth was located.

“Welcome to the stage, the one and only, (Y/N) and Korea’s very own, V of BTS!” Announced the DJ and all the boys’s jaws dropped to the floor.

“What?!” They screamed in unison.

“Hi.” (Y/N) said in a low voice. “V and I have a very special cover for you tonight. Please enjoy, Underneath.”

The rest of the members sang along to the fast paced pop song as V and (Y/N) performed. The lyrics talked about hidden feelings and the tension that can build up if you don’t give them a way out. Even though (Y/N) and Taehyung never sang together before their voices blended perfectly in the duet. When they finished their performance the crowd applauded loudly. (Y/N) put her arm behind Taehyung and he did the same. Joined in this side hug they bowed to the audience.

After a minute or two Taehyung got back to his friends with the widest smile on his face.

“Can you believe this?” He was still in shock.

“Congratulations. You were so good. Woah.” All the boys chattered at the same time.

“I recorded you.” Seokjin added as he pulled out his phone from his pocket. They gathered around the small screen watching Taehyung and (Y/N)’s performance once again.

“Where is she?” Namjoon asked Taehyung as the video came to an end.

“Last I saw her she was talking to MAMAMOO.”

“Ah, so cool. She’s probably busy. We didn’t even take a picture together.” The group chimed. After a moment of sulking they went back to obsessing over the fact that they met (Y/N) and that one of their own members sang with her.

Surrounded by music, food and alcohol the time seemed to fly by very fast. Accompanied by their staff they left the party around two in the morning without having a chance to talk to (Y/N) one more time.

-

Mornings after concerts are usually pretty bad for both the audience members and the performing artists, but mornings after concerts combined with after parties, meeting new people and mingling with every music producer possible are even harder.

(Y/N) woke up with a headache and a bitter taste in her mouth. From her bed she walked straight to the bathroom to take a shower. When brushing her teeth she scrolled through her Twitter feed reviewing every other caption or photo on the endless string of posts from last night she was tagged in. She liked a couple of tweets posted by her friends and was about to lock her phone when she noticed a simple caption.

“Great show #정국” (Y/N) pressed on the picture to see it whole. She immediately recognised Jungkook, one of the members of BTS, a band she met last night. He was standing in front of the big monitor backstage with her tour logo on it, making hearts with his fingers and smiling at the camera. She smiled to herself remembering how easily yesterday’s conversation flowed with the group of boys.

“Ah, I wish I had his number.” (Y/N) muttered. “I could take him up on that dance lesson offer.”

-

(Y/N) rushed to open her hotel room’s door to the room service. The hoteboy brought in the big breakfast she just ordered minutes ago and set it on the table. As she got ready to dig into the scrambled eggs her phone started vibrating. She looked at the called ID and quickly picked up as she saw it was her assistant calling. She gave her a quick rundown of the day’s events and informed her she’s free to rest and relax until three in the afternoon.

“That’s when they’ll pick us up for King of Masked Singer.” She finished explaining.

“I have one more question.” An interesting idea popped into (Y/N)’s head. “Is there a way you could get me the number of BTS’s Jungkook?” 

-

(Y/N)’s phone chimed as she was finishing up her breakfast. She picked it up reading the message she just recieved.

“I got it.” As she read the message from her assistant another one appeared on the screen. This time it was a string of numbers.

“Ah, what should I say?” (Y/N) pasted the number into her contacts and waited a minute before pressing the dial button. The phone beeped a couple of times before going silent. Jungkook didn’t pick up. “Hm. Let’s try again.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Jungkook was hanging out with his friends in their shared apartment. He was typing something up on his phone when the screen lip up with an unfamiliar number. 

“Hyung, do you know this number?” He showed the ringing screen to Taehyung sitting beside him on the couch.

“No. Pick up.” Jungkook just shook his head at his answer.

“I don’t pick up unknown callers.” He rejected the call and went back to what he was doing. “This person is calling again.”

“Pick up.” More preoccupied with switching through TV channels, Taehyung encouraged him tiredly. Jungkook swiped right to take the call and put it on speaker.

“Hello?” He asked in Korean.

“Ah- Hello.” Jungkook and Taehyung locked eyes in surprise and curiosity as the person on the other side spoke in English. “It’s (Y/N). From yesterday.” Taehyung almost screamed in shock. Jungkook felt all his blood rush to his head.

“Ah, sorry. Hello. Sorry.” He stumbled over his words, trying to explain why he didn’t answer her call at first ring. “I don’t pick up if I don’t know the number.” (Y/N) chuckled on the other end of the line.

“It’s fine.” Her voice was sweet and calm. “Actually, I’m calling, ‘cause I’m still in Seoul-” Taehyung stood up from the couch covering his mouth with his hands, still in deep shock. “-and I was wondering- I was thinking about what you said last night, so…” Jungkook scrunched his eyebrows, trying his hardest to remember what he said that made (Y/N) call him the next morning. “If you have time we could meet and dance together.” Taehyung gasped. “You could teach me the Boy With Luv choreo and-” Jungkook couldn’t control himself and answered her before she could even finish asking the question.

“Yes.” He blurted out. Taehyung jumped back on the couch and pushed his shoulder with a huge smile.

“Really?”

“Yes, yes.” He assured her.

“Should I come to your-” Eager to see her he cut her off again.

“You can come to our studio. I will text you the address.”

“Great. I’m free until three in the afternoon so text me the time as well.” She added.

“Okay.”

“Okay. I’ll see you there.” (Y/N) added after a moment of silence.

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye.”

“AH!” Jungkook threw his phone, which felt red hot in his hands right now, on the other side of the couch.

“What was that?!” Taehyung yelled, shaking on his shoulders. “How did she get your number?!” 

“I have no idea!” Jungkook felt his body relax as he was no longer on the phone. “Oh my god. I have to text her now!” He reached to dig his phone out from under a stack of pillows and blankets on the couch. “And I have to go see her!”

-

“You’re doing great.” Jungkook praised (Y/N) with laughter as she jokingly overdid the moves and gestures in the choreography. “Like that.”

“Okay, but in all seriousness how did I do?” She asked, cutting the jokes short. Jungkook raised his thumbs up with a smile and she chuckled again.

“Let’s do it again and record it so we can review. You vs me.” He set his phone up on the floor by the mirrors in the studio space at BigHit.

“Teacher vs student.” Jungkook just hummed in agreement before playing the music.

-

Tired after practicing Boy With Luv for an hour and freestyling for almost two more (Y/N) and Jungkook sat down on the floor of the dance studio panting. She stood up to get herself some water and immediately regretted it.

“Ah, my legs.” Jungkook smiled at her words. Although (Y/N) danced in her music videos and during live performances her routines were far more relaxed that BTS’s regular dances. Their moves were sharp and strong and her’s more sexy and slow. Chucked her emptied water bottle back into her bag and turned to face Jungkook again. “Are you hungry?” He raised his brows, knowing what will come next if he says he is in fact hungry.

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go eat something.” Her proposition was so blunt and free. He could not refuse her, but the excitement that filled his chest at that moment didn’t overshadow the fact that the rest of his group would be so bummed they didn’t get to eat with (Y/N) as well.

“Ah, can I do this to them?” He whined in Korean. (Y/N) gave him a confused look since she didn’t understand a word he just said. “My members will be jealous.” He explained with a slight smile.

“Oh, I didn’t think about that. Should we invite them?” That Jungkook wasn’t expecting.

“You want that?” He asked to make sure he didn’t just hear something wrong. (Y/N) smiled sincerely at his unsure expression.

“Yeah, why not?” Jungkook quickly got up from the ground and dug his phone up from his pocket.

“I’ll call them. Wait a second.”

“Okay.” (Y/N) answered as he walked out of the studio to call his friends.

Jungkook dialed Namjoon’s number, knowing he was at the apartment right now enjoying his day of rest. The line beeped a couple of times before he finally picked up.

“Hello?” His voice was low and sleepy in contrast with Jungkook’s, which was excited and fast paced.

“Hyung, listen. Get the rest of the guys and put me on speaker. I have something to tell all of you.” 

“What is it?”

“Are they all there?”

“Wait a second.” Some shuffling and name calling was heard on the other side of the line before Namjoon spoke up again. “Okay, go.”

“So I’m with (Y/N) right now. We just got done dancing and all that and… She’s invited us all to lunch.” 

“What? Oh, wow. Really? How cool.” The group erupted in chatter as they heard Jungkook’s news.

“Yeah. Can you come?”

“Of course. Yes. I can’t.” Another bundle of statements was heard.

“Who can’t?” Jungkook asked, saddened.

“Yoongi.” Seokjin said.

“I already have plans with our producers, but you all should go.” Yoongi explained, still encouraging the rest of the boys to go out.

“You sure?” Namjoon asked.

“Yes, go.”

“We’ll take a picture for you.” Hoseok joked.

“What are we going to eat?” Taehyung asked out of the blue.

“I don’t know.” Jungkook answered, not really having thought about that yet.

“Since we know Seoul maybe we should pick the place?” Seokjin proposed thoughtfully.

“Good idea. I’ll tell her that. When will you come here?”

“Thirty minutes? We need to get dressed.” Namjoon said and murmur of agreement was heard.

“Okay, okay. Don’t overdress though, we’re both in sweatpants.” Jungkook added with a chuckle. After exchanging goodbyes he hung up and sighed deeply, letting his shoulders relax a little before going back into the studio.

When he opened the door he saw (Y/N) stretching her legs in a sitting down position. He joined her on the floor before speaking.

-

As Taehyung pulled into BigHit’s parking lot Jungkook and (Y/N) were already waiting outside. Both dressed in large black puffer jackets going over their knees, they stood beside one another. Jungkook was looking over (Y/N)’s shoulder pointing to something on her phone.

“Now you can add a picture.” He said, swiping his finger on her screen. (Y/N) nodded and pressed on the camera option.

“Take a selfie with me.” She asked, raising her phone up to take a picture of the two of them.

Jungkook smiled shyly and pulled his mask down half way. (Y/N) did the same before snapping a cute picture to set as her contact photo. Jungkook quickly pulled his mask back up to cover his cheeks that started to turn bright red. He glanced over her shoulder as she manipulated the photo to fit both of their faces into the small square.

“And synchronise your contacts, so I will be there.” He added as she finally accepted the placement of the picture.

“Oh, great.”

“Yeah.” (Y/N) pressed on the ‘synch contacts’ button before looking up at Jungkook.

“Thank you.” She said sweetly and pulled her mask back over her nose.

“You’re welcome.”

Taehyung noticed the two of them standing in front of the building exit and slowly pulled up. As he got closer he rolled down his window.

“Hello!” The sudden greeting made them jump up slightly.

“Hi!” (Y/N) called back sweetly.

“Come in!” Shoulder to shoulder they walked towards the car after Taehyung's invitation.

Namjoon was already sitting in the passenger's seat making it so that Jungkook and (Y/N) had to sit together in the backseat.

“How was dance practice?” Namjoon asked them.

“What was it?” (Y/N) tapped Jungkook’s arm. He whispered something to her and she clapped her hands in realisation. “Daebak.” Namjoon and Taehyung laughed at her harsh pronunciation.

“It was good. Great.” Jungkook added after the chuckles died down. “Where are the other guys?” He asked Namjoon in Korean.

“The rest of the guys will meet us at the restaurant.” He explained in English, so (Y/N) could understand. She was still doing something on her phone when he glanced at her from the front seat.

“Jungkook.” Her shy tone echoed in the car. “I synced the contacts, but you’re not here.” She showed him her phone with a concerned expression. “Look.” 

“Maybe I will just add my number like normal and then it will be saved in the contacts.” (Y/N) hummed in agreement, giving him her phone.

“What are you doing?” Taehyung asked in Korean, eying the two in the rearview mirror. Jungkook glanced at him, thanking god that (Y/N) doesn’t speak their language.

“I made (Y/N) a Kakao account.”

“And you’re putting your number in?” Taehyung continued in a teasing tone. Jungkook smiled at (Y/N)’s screen and typed in his ID.

“It’s not like that.” 

-

The boys picked out a traditional korean diner with private rooms and floor level tables. They ordered mountains of meat to fry and tons of side dishes, soups and rice. At first (Y/N) widened her eyes at the amount of food concerned there will be leftovers, but within thirty or forty minutes she realised that those six boys’s stomachs can intake much more food that she can.

The conversation within the group flowed swiftly and comfortably as it did the night before. There even was some talk about possible musical collaborations. No one was looking at the clock, but at two o’clock sharp (Y/N)’s phone buzzed.

“Ah, it’s my assistant.” She announced with deep sorrow in her voice. “Unfortunately I will have to get going soon, guys. I have a TV appearance this evening.”

“TV today?” Seokjin asked in English. He seemed really shocked. When he spoke again he directed his words to Namjoon and spoke in Korean. “She shouldn't have eaten so much noodles and rice. She’ll be bloated and puffy. That’s very bad.”

“He says noodles and rice is bad for TV, ‘cause you might get puffy.” Namjoon explained to (Y/N) who just waved him off and chuckled.

“Ah, I’ll be wearing a big dress and a mask anyway.”

“What show are you on?” Namjoon asked, curiously.

“Something called King of Masked Singer.” The boys started talking over each other in Korean and patting Jungkook on the shoulders. After a moment of that Namjoon translated the jist of it to (Y/N).

“Yeah, so JK also was on that show.” (Y/N), who was sitting opposite to the youngest member of the group, looked up at him with a smile.

“Really?” She asked after swallowing another sip of hot soup. “What did they put you in? What costume?”

“I was…” He wanted to tell her everything in English, but was missing the most crucial word. “Hyung, how do you say fencer?” He asked Namjoon who looked confused for a second before answering him with a shrug. Jungkook reached to his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’ll show you.” He typed the right words into YouTube and passed (Y/N) his phone. As soon as she looked at the moving screen she nodded in realisation.

“Ah, fencer.”

“Fencer, yes.” Namjoon agreed. (Y/N) skimmed through the video listening to Jungkook’s clear and beautiful vocals in the cover of BIGBANG’s If You.

“Woah, this is good.” She said, looking up at him.

“Thank you.” He accepted the compliment as she passed the phone back to him.

“You know what you will have?” Hoseok asked.

“What I’ll be dressed in? Yeah, I’m singing Beauty and the Beast, so I’ll be a princess.”

“Ah, cute.” Seokjin called out with a chuckle as (Y/N)’s phone buzzed once more.

“Ah, I really have to go.” She sighed deeply as the boys whined at her early leave. “I have to get myself intact before going to the studio.” She said gesturing to her laid back outfit. Since she was meeting Jungkook earlier for dance practice she was wearing a pair of branded sneakers, high waisted sweatpants and a hoodie - an outfit most of the boys in the room thought of as very pretty, but to her it was just workout gear.

“Do you need a ride?” Jungkook asked, all of a sudden realising she drove here with them and might not have a ride back to her hotel, but (Y/N) shook her head.

“No, my security is already parked outside.” The boys nodded at the professional sound of that statement. She was an A list celebrity after all and couldn’t just run around town by herself.

Everyone stood up from the table as (Y/N) slipped on her shoes and jacket.

“It was so nice to see you again.” Namjoon started as (Y/N) turned towards them before going out the door of the private dining room. She smiled sincerely and swung her backpack onto her shoulder.

“I’m so glad we got to hang out.” She looked at them with a shine in her eyes before going in for a hug with each of them. “And that we got to dance.” She added stopping in front of Jungkook. He smiled and chuckled as she hugged him goodbye.

“Yes. Me too.”

The group exchanged a couple more words of goodbye before (Y/N) walked towards the sliding door. As she was about to close it behind herself she slipped her face mask down and smiled at the group once more.

“Hopefully that’s not the last I see of you.” She added and the boys erupted with negating statements and chuckles.

#bts #bts scenario #bts scenarios #bangtan #bangtan boys #bangtan sonyeondan #scenario #scenarios #bts idol imagine #idol imagine #kpop imagine #celebrity crush #bts celebrity crush #bts x reader #reader x bts #btsxreader #readerxbts #idol!reader #celebrity!reader #singer!reader #bts fanfic #bts fanfction #fanfic #fanfiction #fluff #jk #jungkook #namjoon #rm #suga

[blu-joons]

DATING TVXQ A⇴Z HEADCANON ⇴ Jung Yunho

A ⇴ AFFECTION

Yunho loves to keep you safe, that is always his priority with his affection. Any time the two of you hold each other, he’ll want to be the big spoon as he feels responsible for being the one to love you and hold you closely.

B ⇴ BEFORE DATING

You met Yunho during his recent comeback when you were working backstage at Music Bank. After he got his first win, he decided to treat all of the staff that worked there, you included. When he handed you a coffee, his eyes met yours, and his smile grew. Despite not saying a word, Yunho made a mental note to not leave that night without introducing himself properly.

C ⇴ CONFESSION

After a few weeks of getting to know each other after the evening on set, Yunho knew that he felt that there was a strong spark between the two of you. Eventually, when he took you out one evening, he knew that he had to confess before he risked losing you. At the end of a night of dinner, he reached for your hand across the table just before you headed off, telling you exactly how he felt and the feelings he had moving forwards too.

D ⇴ DATES

He loved to take you out for dinner and be the perfect gentleman for you, but he also loved to do physical dates as well and get competitive. Yunho was a great switch between serene and romantic dates and loud and boisterous dates which you adored. You never knew whether he was going to show up at your door in a suit, or whether he was going to show up dressed casually, vowing that he was about to beat you at mini golf or something similar. No matter what you were doing, Yunho just always had to make sure that he won.

E ⇴ EXPERIENCE

So many years had been spent dedicated to his work that Yunho had very little time for dating, in fact, he couldn’t even remember the last time that he had been out on a proper date before he met you. He was slightly anxious at the start of your relationship, but like a duck to water, he soon remembered how to date and more importantly, how to love. If there was one thing, he was able to take from his usual self was the role of the gentleman, he took care of everyone, and made sure to take extra special care of you too.

F ⇴ FIGHTING

His passion is one thing that can only be sat back and admired most of the time, but for you, when the two of you start to argue, it can be a slightly more intimidating thing. He firmly believes that he’s right in any situation and will fight with his heart to prove that to you. Eventually, you usually end up leaving to give yourself some space and relax from the intensity of sitting through his passionate rant. Once you return, Yunho is always a lot calmer and very apologetic for getting himself so worked up, reluctantly beginning to admit that perhaps he isn’t as right as he’d always like to think he is and admit that you could be right too.

G ⇴ GETTING TO KNOW HIS FAMILY

Yunho was most keen to introduce you to his little sister as she had been on his back for a while about settling down. He was proud more than anything else to introduce you to his family and know that they were fully supportive of the next chapter in his life, silently hoping that it could lead to a special time for you all.

H ⇴ HOME

He was keen to move you into his apartment quite quickly so he could both spend more time with you and also keep a closer eye on you too. He was definitely wary about how some fans would react about your relationship so Yunho wanted to try and keep you safe within the comfort of his own home and make sure that the place felt like your own too.

I ⇴ “I LOVE YOU”

Yunho was the first one to say, ‘I love you,’ one evening. He was convinced that you were asleep beside him after a particularly difficult day for you. He’d been trying to get you to sleep forever, and when you finally did, he leaned across and whispered those three words to you with a promise that things would get better and that he’d be there for you.

J ⇴ JEALOUSY

Getting jealous was too damaging to his pride, however Yunho would definitely be alert about situations that could be uncomfortable for him to watch. He was incredibly protective of you and didn’t like anyone around you that he didn’t trust first. Changmin would often end up having to tell him to take a step back when he could sense that Yunho was beginning to get jealous as if he felt strongly enough than neither of you could predict what was going to happen or quite how Yunho would act in the situation.

K ⇴ KIDS

Having a family had often felt like the thing that alluded Yunho, until he met you. Whilst he didn’t want to rush anything with you, he knew he wasn’t getting any younger and definitely wanted to start thinking about a family soon. You’d often sit back and watch Yunho at work and wonder how he’d be teaching his children, the passion and the drive that he’d put into making sure that they were cared for and loved. You knew he’d always encourage them to follow their dreams too and make sure that they reached for the stars.

L ⇴ LAUGHTER

Despite often being serious and focused when it came to work, when it came to relaxing with you, Yunho loved to laugh. Not many people always got to see the humorous side of Yunho, and so you knew you were lucky to find out more about the real him. He felt so at ease around you that he couldn’t help but smile and laugh, even at the most random things that you did, he’d often giggle himself just in happiness that you were in his life. He always made sure to value with a smile, but most importantly he always made sure to be there when you needed him there to be able to cheer you up and make you smile.

M ⇴ MISSING

Having spent so many years on the road, Yunho never imagined that he could miss anyone again, and then he met you. He often felt like he was just starting out on the road again, reliving the same feelings that he had nearly twenty years ago when he first started travelling and leaving home. He both hated and loved the feeling of missing you, the distance was tough, but it also gave him the motivation to always give that little extra on stage too because he knew you’d be back in Seoul watching fan cams and scrolling through social media after a show so that you could see him and check out their performances too.

N ⇴ NICKNAMES

Yunho tended to call you, ‘bub,’ it was something quick that very easily rolled off the tongue for him. There was never really anything else for him, he loved having the one name for you that he could always rely on for an answer from you.

O ⇴ OBSESSION

He was obsessed with your eyes; he could tell a lot from them and was able to read very well how you were feeling just by the way that you looked at him.

P ⇴ PDA

Affection in public wasn’t something that Yunho felt was a big deal, he didn’t care what anyone had to say if he wanted to wrap his arm around you or hold you closely into his side. Whilst he was never over the top with his affection, he was more than happy to do his own thing without you without acknowledgement of what others thought.

Q ⇴ QUESTIONS

He’d often ask for your opinion a lot in career decisions that he had to make. As you were a team, he felt like it was important to get your view too on the choices that he made and make sure that you supported them all.

R ⇴ RANDOM FACTS

The two of you had your own little spot by the river that you always made sure to go to. Going down to the Han River was always something that Yunho had done to clear his mind, but now he had you to go down with him too, he loved to take you down and talk through anything that was troubling either of you. You’d always go to the same spot and sit for hours, clearing your minds and enjoying the fresh air too.

S ⇴ SEX

As with anything that Yunho does, intimacy is always a very passionate and intense affair with him. He puts his heart into everything with you and always make sure to pay close attention to how your body feels and make sure he sticks to the things that you like. His hands will always do a lot of exploring and his lips will always trail along your body, always finding new sweet spots of your body that very quickly become a weakness under Yunho.

T ⇴ TEXTS

Whenever he’s got a schedule through the day, he’ll make sure to update you regularly, so you know that he’s looking after yourself, expecting you to do the same so he doesn’t have to spend his day worrying about you.

U ⇴ UNIVERSE

Over so many years, Yunho really felt as if he had it all, aside from the chance of love. Meeting you changed that and gave him the final thing that he felt like he’d been missing out on so far in his life, the chance to love and be loved.

V ⇴ VACATION

He’d been to some incredible places on all of the tours that he’d been on, and Yunho couldn’t wait to take you to some of them and show you the world. To be able to go back and not have to work was a definite bonus for Yunho too, but most of all, he loved being able to take you away and say thank you for all that you did for him.

W ⇴ WHINING

Yunho is long past whining, he’s an adult these days and knows that he can’t have your attention all of the time however much he might want it.

X ⇴ XXXXX

His lips will often be attached to your skin in some way out of habit. He can’t help but kiss you whenever you’re near him, even if he has to take a few steps closer to you, he’ll do it just to be able to peck your cheek. Yunho’s favourite kisses are definitely forehead kisses, he stands slightly taller than you, but what he loves most about them is the feeling of brushing your hair out of your face so that he can lean down and kiss against your forehead.

Y ⇴ YOU

You were his true love, the first real love he’d had, and the last too.

Z ⇴ ZZZ

Strong arms would always hold you close at night, he loved to fall asleep with you against his chest and keep you comfortable in his hold too. He hated distance between the two of you at night, the tighter you were against him, the better.

---

Masterlist

#tvxq #tvxq imagine #yunho #yunho imagine #u-know #u-know imagine #tvxq yunho #tvxq scenario #tvxq reaction #tvxq u-know yunho #jung yunho #jung yunho imagine #tvxq drabble #tvxq one shot #tvxq fluff #yunho scenario #yunho reaction #yunho drabble #yunho fluff #yunho one shot #kpop #kpop imagine #dbsk #dbsk imagine

[caiminnent]

and you said, kiss me [kylux, rated M]

PROMPT(S): First Kiss (@kyluxpositivity, Day #: Past Prompts Revisited) & Surprise "Kiss a Ginger Day" Kiss (from YearofKylux on Twitter)

SUMMARY: The Master of the Knights of Ren shifts on his feet like a cadet. “I brought you a gift,” he says lowly, through a strange static. “One best enjoyed in private.”

Hux’s brain stutters.

“It’s food,” Ren elaborates before Hux’s overtaxed mind can conjure up any embarrassing ideas—around a mind-reader, no less. “Messy to eat. You would appreciate the ease of cleaning.”

Or: Ren returns from Gelda with a honeyfruit for Hux. Things get out of hand.

FANDOM: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

TAGS: Kiss a Ginger Day, Pre-Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mutual Pining, Getting Together, First Kiss, Hand Feeding, Insecurity, Armitage Hux Has Feelings, Kylo Ren in Love, Love Confessions, If You Squint - Freeform

Photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash

3.5K || ALSO ON AO3

One last meeting and Hux can finally retire for the day.

With three dozen floors between him and Conference Room 11-E, he strides past the stairs without a glance, skimming the meeting objectives on his datapad on the way to the turbolifts. They will never cover all of these—not in the time they set. Sniping at each other and bickering make up half of every High Command meeting; they’ll be lucky to touch upon the important matters within the first hour.

How tragic, that the people tasked with deciding how to spend the First Order funds can’t even make effective use of two hours.

The turbolift finally stops on his floor. Hux puts his datapad away as the doors slide open, revealing only Ren inside.

Hux’s foolish heart soars. When the notification of Ren’s arrival wasn’t followed by a summons from Snoke, Hux assumed he would see Ren once—more likely, if—Ren deigned to write and drop off his mission report. After several weeks without even a status update, he will take thirty seconds in a turbolift.

“General Hux,” Ren says as Hux enters, dipping his head.

The button for the officers’ deck is lit. Hitting the one below it for level 47, “Ren,” Hux greets back. A fresh, light smell that reminds him of a forest hits him in the next breath. Odd. He’s more used to smelling ash and ozone on Ren after a mission. “I see you’ve returned.”

“Try not to sound so disappointed, General.”

The corners of Hux’s lips twitch, an errant smile quickly suppressed. “These missions of yours mean more work for me. How many of my troopers did you lose this time?”

“None.”

“Truly?” That must be a first.

“Yes,” Ren says, pride booming in his voice even through the vocoder. “The inhabitants responded favourably to a show of the Force. Your exceptionally trained men scarcely needed to fire a blaster bolt.” Arse. “The rest was ensuring a smooth transition of power.”

A smooth transition of power. Since when does Ren care about keeping things diplomatic and orderly when he could slaughter his way through a mission and call it done? Who is this man and what did he do with Hux’s co-commander?

Not that Hux is complaining. Any cause that means Ren will stop using his troopers as cannon fodder is good in his book.

In the small screen above the buttons, 45 flashes, switching to 46. “Well done, Ren,” Hux says with a nod as the turbolift slows around them. Ren straightens to his full height. “I’ll look forward to your report.”

Level 47 is a maze of offices and meeting rooms lined around endless corridors, which are empty enough this time of the day. The walk to 11-E stretches in Hux’s mind’s eye as he steps out of the ‘lift. Part of him wishes for Ren to accompany him to the meeting, to remain a solid presence by his side while Hux endures yet another bout of pointed looks and snide comments that all say he wouldn’t have been here if he weren’t Brendol’s son.

“I could brief you in your quarters,” Ren calls out after him.

His heart skipping a beat, Hux pauses mid-stride, glancing at Ren over his shoulder. Ren is keeping the doors open with a hand on the frame, one foot in the corridor. What Hux wouldn’t give to read his bare face right now.

“My quarters?” Hux asks carefully. In all their years of sharing the command, they’ve never done something so personal as to visit each other in their chambers. Does Ren even know in which section Hux resides?

The Master of the Knights of Ren shifts on his feet like a cadet. “I brought you a gift,” he says lowly, through a strange static. “One best enjoyed in private.”

Hux’s brain stutters.

“It’s food,” Ren elaborates before Hux’s overtaxed mind can conjure up any embarrassing ideas—around a mind-reader, no less. “Messy to eat. You would appreciate the ease of cleaning.”

Perhaps Ren has been replaced on Gelda after all. The idea doesn’t sound more far-fetched than Kylo kriffing Ren bringing Hux gifts and considering his comfort.

“Very well,” Hux’s mouth says with little input from his brain. “2100 hours. Don’t be late.”

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

The meeting drags on.

Sixty-five minutes in, Hux caves and lets his attention wander. He’d calculated half the figures Lieutenant Mitaka is delivering anyway; he’s sitting at this table more out of duty than necessity—not to mention, to keep the High Command somewhat civil as they, quite inevitably, gripe about Starkiller Base. Simple-minded fools. Two more years—he will show the lot of them what his pet project can do.

As Captain Canady starts his own tirade about how strategically unsound putting such a sizeable portion of their resources into a single project is, Hux pulls up information about Gelda on his datapad. A tiny, nondescript system of no import besides falling on a trade route. Two high-ranking officers accompanied by three squads of Stormtroopers would have accomplished the same goal, freeing Ren up for matters which actually require his… unique skill set.

If only Canady knew how strategically unsound Leader Snoke’s missions can be.

Scrolling down, he reaches the Culture section—only to find it empty. Kriff. For the son of a kitchen woman, he’s woefully uncultured about galactic cuisine, much less that of a castoff planet in the Outer Rim. Although he doesn’t expect Ren to show up with a seven-course meal, the idea of being unprepared for the visit—which certainly isn’t a date, even if it carries the characteristics of one—leaves Hux cold.

It’s going to be all right. He’s survived countless diplomatic dinners at his father’s side, smiling politely as his throat swelled and the contents of his stomach threatened to rise; he can handle whatever Ren might bring.

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

He makes it to his chambers with six minutes to spare. So much for changing into something casual and presentable before Ren comes.

Not that he’s sure he owns such an outfit to begin with. His few sets of civilian clothes were picked more for practicality than appearance. Although that green pullover and the dark pair of trousers that Phasma had wolf-whistled at should still be somewhere in his dresser, Hux doesn’t have time left to check thanks to Admiral Brooks’ desperate need to be the loudest person in every room.

Kriffing nothing goes according to plan today.

Exasperation pulling at his chest, he leans against the door and closes his eyes. There’s still time to salvage the situation. He’s lost his composure about this… private meeting; it’s his failing to face in due time. For now, he needs to make sure Ren won’t find out about the tizzy Hux worked himself into.

Taking a deep breath to ground himself, Hux pushes off the cold durasteel and goes about setting the stage. His greatcoat carefully draped over the coat hanger. His gloves carelessly thrown over the side table. While the water heater works, he unfastens the top handful of the hidden latches on his jacket and artfully dishevels his hair in the mirror. When the access panel chimes with a request for entry, everything around him communicates high-ranking officer unwinding in private after a long day.

As he opens the door, he can only hope it’s good enough to fool a mind-reader.

The ever-present helmet and gloves aside, Ren certainly pulled off casually presentable. Instead of his regular rags, he’s put on a shirt that outlines his form nicely and leggings, holding a bundle that’s tied off with an orange ribbon on one hand.

Relief courses through Hux at the sight. The fabric most likely holds a small fruit or vegetable. Unless Ren picked the weirdest harvest available to bring back, this should go without an issue.

Hux welcomes him, stepping aside to let him pass. Before closing the door, he checks for unwanted eyes in the hallway. All quiet, thankfully. An underdressed Commander Ren paying an after-hours visit to General Hux’s private rooms—Hux couldn’t hope to snuff out the rumours.

Ren is standing awkwardly in the middle of the living area, his free hand clenching and unclenching at his side. Gesturing at the sofa, “I was about to make caf,” Hux says. The water heater clicks off right then, as if backing him up. “Would you like some? I’ve only got the instant kind, but it works in a pinch.”

“Sure,” Ren says.

Hux doesn’t have a clue how Ren takes his caf, which matters little as he doesn’t keep milk or sugar in his kitchenette anyway. Palming two coasters, he brings the mugs to the living area. Ren, for his part, already made himself comfortable: unmasked, leaning against an armrest with an arm over the back of the sofa and a leg folded under himself. As if he belongsthere.

Hux knows, with the same certainty as the Starkiller’s future success, that he will make an arse of himself in front of Ren before the evening is out.

Talking about a planetary takeover with warm beverage in their hands and Ren’s gift on the table feels wrong somehow. Mirroring Ren’s position at the other end of the small sofa, Hux catches him up on what little happened in his absence instead. Shitting on the High Command and incompetent officers—which overlap—is always an entertaining pastime, and they do so unabashedly until the caf is gone and the conversation comes to a comfortable lull.

He waits for Ren to mention the gift first. Ren came here for a reason; now would be the perfect time to bring it up. Ren, however, is more interested in his own hands on his lap.

Hux suppresses a sigh. He’s got to do everything himself, as usual. “You mentioned a gift,” he says, tilting his head at it. “Am I to receive it before it spoils—or is it merely decorative?”

Face lighting up, Ren nearly knocks over Hux’s mug on the table in his haste to get to the bundle.

“There you go,” Ren says, offering it on two palms. It looks bigger in Hux’s hand; not big, but not as bite-sized, either. The binding unravels at the gentlest tug, the fabric falling away to reveal a round, orange fruit barely held within its tight skin, so bright it looks dangerous.

“I hope this isn’t an attempt to poison me in private,” Hux says, only half-jesting. He likes to think they are past the bitter rivals stage by now, but one never knows with Ren and his infamous mood swings. “That would make a poor end for our pleasant evening.”

Ren chuckles. Will wonders never cease? “Rest assured, General, I wouldn’t have resorted to poison if I wanted you gone.” He extends a hand for the fruit. “Here. I’ll help you with it.”

“I hardly need instructions on eating,” Hux points out, rolling his eyes. His curiosity is piqued enough to hand it over, though. Surely Ren doesn’t plan to play any Force tricks on it?

Appears not. Ren produces a pocket-knife like a regular person, flicking it open as he turns the fruit in his other hand. The skin parts easily under the sharp blade, a clear, glittery liquid oozing out of the thin cut and onto Ren’s gloves.

Ignoring the ruined leather, Ren cuts out a slice, offering it to Hux between the blade and his thumb. Hux reaches for it—Ren pulls it away, looking at him with open disapproval.

Hux pins him with a look of his own. “You can’t expect me to literally eat out of your hand, Ren.”

Ren gives the fruit a pointed squeeze. More liquid leaks out, dripping down the side of his hand. “Would you rather dirty your uniform?” he asks, catching a drop with the back of his other hand before it can fall on the sofa.

Absolutely not. The idea of dripping food all over himself with Ren watching turns his stomach. Still, letting Ren feed him feels shameful—in a thrilling sort of way, which only adds to the embarrassment. Tell-tale warmth has already spread across his neck, crawling up to his ears.

Ren extends the offering again, uncharacteristically patient. That alone should be suspicious where Ren is concerned. Nothing in his bare face hints at deceit, though; if anything, Hux reads nerves in the line of Ren’s shoulders, his sharp gaze walking the line between anticipation and trepidation.

Steeling himself for Ren pulling the fruit away at the last moment or mocking him for his eagerness, Hux leans forward, taking it with his teeth.

The fruit is predictably sweet, leaving a line of juice over his mouth as he sucks it in. Its flesh practically melts into a thick nectar on his tongue. Although he doesn’t normally prefer his food soft—if he can’t bite down on it, it’s not worth eating—he would gladly make an exception for this.

Resisting the urge to lick his lips, “What is this?” Hux asks. It reminds him of the birthday cake his officers tried to surprise him with once, creamy with a surprisingly dark aftertaste.

“Geldan honeyfruit,” Ren says. “It’s a rare harvest—takes nearly four standard years to grow. We were lucky to come across it.”

“And your infamous sweet tooth couldn’t resist it,” Hux throws back, mostly to see Ren pout.

Ren smiles instead, an unfairly appealing curl of lips. Curse him for making Hux feel like a cadet instead. “I don’t hear you complaining, General,” he points out. “Would you like more?”

Unwilling to seem too eager, Hux makes a noncommittal hum. Ren’s smile grows.

“On Gelda, honeyfruit is worth its weight in gold,” Ren says as he feeds Hux piece by piece, his naked voice washing over Hux. Hux keeps expecting the next piece to be one too many, for the light tingle over his skin to become overwhelming, for his pride to finally rear its head. “Their entire culture is based around it. The food. The folk tales and remedies. The calendar. Hell, if I don’t see another wedding in a forest for as long as I live, it will be too early.”

Ren places the last bite in Hux’s mouth with his fingers—that newfound, desperate part of Hux longs to chase after them, to lick Ren’s shining gloves clean.

What the everliving fuckis wrong with him?

Putting the knife aside, Ren strips his dirty gloves from the wrists up, rolling them inside out. Hux does not watch the obscenely slow reveal of skin. “And it might be just a superstition,” Ren adds, throwing the gloves next to Hux’s own pair on the table. “But Geldans strongly believe that not sharing a honeyfruit brings bad luck until the next season.”

The food sits heavy in the pit of Hux’s stomach.

Irritation rises in him, that pleasant stirring deep in his belly giving way to churning agitation in a heartbeat. Of course there was a punchline to this whole evening. “Ren, you kriffing—”

Ren slowly, purposefully, slides closer until his knees bracket Hux’s, a new weight to his dark gaze as he leans in. “Hux,” he mumbles, glancing at Hux’s mouth before meeting his eyes again. Hux feels a new tension coil between them, the air getting harder to breathe in. “May I have a taste?”

Words stuck in his dry throat, Hux nods.

The kiss is little more than a brush of skin, followed by a firmer peck on his lips. His lips stick to Ren’s as they part. Ren huffs out a low laugh before catching Hux’s bottom lip, sucking it between his own.

Hux flounders. There’s no kind way to describe it. He’s got a general idea what he should and shouldn’t be doing with his mouth, but reading up on the technicalities hadn’t prepared him for the kisses Ren peppers on and around his lips like straying too far would hurt him, mixing it up with the occasional nip. It definitely didn’t prepare him for the way Ren angles Hux’s face to his liking, parts his lips with a gentle tug and kisses him like he wants the air in Hux’s lungs.

The honeyfruit still coating Hux’s tongue is too thick to taste Ren through no matter how hard he tries. Inhaling sharply through his nose, Hux buries a hand in Ren’s hair—soft, how is it so soft—and slides the other underneath Ren’s shirt, just high enough to rest a thumb over the burning skin. Ren makes a sound low in his throat, palming Hux’s thigh and moving higher with that same, purposeful drag.

Stars. Stars, what are they doing?

Lightheaded, Hux pulls away, putting a hand on Ren’s chest to keep him from following. Ren stops without protest, sitting back far enough that they aren’t touching anymore and not an inch further.

“Is everything okay?” Ren asks, similarly winded. His hands are clenching and unclenching on his own spread thighs, his back a rigid line.

Hux nods again, focused on keeping his breathing regular and getting his heartrate back to normal. Some deep kisses, barely any contact and his body buzzes with want anyway, long starved for touch. He would have been ashamed of his enthusiasm, had Ren not been in the same state.

Once he can find his words, “That was… rather unexpected,” he says. Ren’s face falls. “I don’t mean unwelcome,” Hux amends, keeping his tone gentle. “I merely wonder, what brought this on?” Why now, after years of not even hinting at this sort of interest?

Ren runs his teeth over his bottom lip. “Are you familiar with Kiss a Ginger Day, General?”

Hux might as well have jumped into ice water for how effectively his leftover desire is doused.

Right. Right, it was today, wasn’t it. He hasn’t dealt with lewd remarks since he became a captain, long enough that he stopped dreading the date. How foolish of him to let his guard down. Of course Ren, the only one high enough in rank to dare, wouldn’t miss the chance to make a practical joke out of it.

The taste in his mouth turning bitter, “Leave,” he hisses.

Ren frowns, his expression caught between hurt and confusion. “General,” he says. “Hux. I didn’t mean to offend you, I was—”

“Let me guess,” Hux bites out. “You were trying to flirt with me.” It’s always one or the other. Does Ren think himself so clever, putting two and two together? Does he believe he’s the first person to make the connection?

A younger, softer Hux may have found the attempt endearing. Present-day Hux has been relocating obnoxious officers for calling him General Ginger behind his back since the effective day of his promotion. The attention stopped feeling flattering long ago.

“No. I mean, yes, I was trying to flirt, but your hair colour was irrelevant. Mostly.” Ren licks his lips. “Let me explain?”

Wasn’t that what Ren was trying to do? “You’ve got two minutes.”

Ren runs his fingers through his hair and grips it at the base, tightly enough that it must hurt. “I found out about this day last year,” he starts, the words practically tumbling out of his mouth. “Four days after the date. That was also the day where I realised, um. That I had feelings for you.” Breath catches in Hux’s lungs, his stupid heart quickening. “So I suppose I took it as, a sign? That I should do something about it. I swore to myself that I would, by that day next year.” He shrugs, stiff and jerky. “A year went by fast.”

A—small but loud—part of Hux can’t shake off the thought that Ren is having him on, that any minute now Ren will laugh at him for being foolish enough to think he might have any interest in Hux. The rest of him is captivated by the blush high on Ren’s cheeks, the way Ren keeps licking and sucking in his kiss-reddened lips.

“I didn’t come here expecting to kiss you, Hux. The fruit was just an excuse to be alone with you. If you regret it—” Ren takes a shuddering breath, gazing at Hux imploringly. No one deserves such earnest eyes. That’s simply unfair. “If that’s what you want, we can pretend it didn’t happen. It’s okay. Just don’t hate me for it.”

Hux’s heart clenches at the thought. “That’s not what I want,” he confesses, the words coming easier than he would’ve expected. He feels emboldened in the face of Ren’s evident uncertainty, of the hesitation colouring his words. “I want it to have happened—as long as this means it can happen again.”

“It can,” Ren says, a smile blossoming on his lips. Hux is quickly growing addicted to the sight of it. “Whenever you want. As many times as you want. And, um.” His smile turns wicked, a new glint in his eyes. “The honeyfruit. I brought back a small crate of it, if you wanted to try the other thing again, too.”

A small case, stars. Hux had never appreciated the man’s greedy nature until now. He will have to make sure they properly preserve it; four standard years is a long time. “You’re a menace, Kylo Ren.”

“That’s how you like me,” Ren says, a question lingering in his tone.

“Yes,” Hux admits. “Yes, I do.”

#kylux positivity week #kylux #Kylo Ren #Armitage Hux #Star Wars #Cai does words #finished fics #long post #Kiss a Ginger Day #and you said kiss me #I can't believe I finally finished this

[jgvfhl]

Number Lads!!

GUYS I hit 700 followers today?? Amazing. So, I worked extra hard to get this part up and finished for ya!

Part 2/??? Read Part 1 here :) Words: about 4k, no warnings

So I remembered the Battle of Kamino is a thing. And I had just put Sevenset in Rancor battalion. Whoops! But, if you know anything about me, you know nothing really bad happens.

CT-2222 = Do-si-do = Double Trouble

CT-3333 = Trees = Green Bean

CC-6666 = Sixes = DEATH

ARC-7777 = Sevenset = ARCBoiiiii

CT-8888 = Loops = Loopy

Reading the inventory lists from the datapad in his hands was increasingly difficult. Loops rubbed his eyes and shook his head roughly, trying to refocus, to put the overwhelming feeling of helplessness behind him. The whole Wolfpack felt similarly. Every announcement over the PA system made them jump. General Koon was using his limited free time to gather with groups of troopers to help ease their minds, and it was helping, but the general had chosen an uphill battle.

Kamino was under attack. The closest thing any clone had to a home, and the Separatists were trying to destroy it. The Wolfpack hadn’t been called to the front, as was their normal position. When the battle cleared, and the dust settled, they would be there to help pick up the pieces, until another assignment called them away.

So they waited.

Worse for Loops, he knew Sevenset was in the thick of things, following the ARC commanders at the helm of the defensive actions. He knew the ARCs were the best soldiers on Kamino, and he knew the 501st and 212th had boots on the ground as well, and Generals Ti, Skywalker, and Kenobi would be there with them. He knew this. But it barely helped ease his worries.

Technically, the next Numbers meeting wouldn’t be for another three weeks, but Do-si-do had commed everyone to ask if they wanted to move up the date because of the battle. Obviously, they hadn’t heard much from Sevenset. Or from Commander Sixes, but that wasn’t as much of a worry. He was a commander, he had a whole Star Fighter wing to lead into battle. Still, the radio silence only made Loops more uneasy. But Trees and Loops had agreed to meet with Do-si-do, at least, and that would start in about ten minutes.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Loops tried to put aside the gnawing worry in his mind to finish this inventory before the meeting. It wouldn’t be fair to hand over a half-finished inventory to the next guy on shift. So he slogged through it, walking around the denoted section of the Lightbolt’s cargo hold, reading the crates, scrolling through his datapad, until he was finally done. As he left the hold, he handed off the device to Tanner, one of the officers overseeing inventory at the moment.

“All set, sir.”

“Thanks, Loops. Get some rest.”

“Will do.”

He didn’t rest, not really. When he got to his bunk, he propped himself up against his pillow at the head of his bunk, waiting the last few minutes until Do-si-do sent the transmission to start the meeting.

“Hey, Loops.”

He looked up at the face looking upside down at him from the top bunk. “Hey, Racket.” Loops was always grateful his bunkmate never complained about some of the late-night Numbers Meetings.

“How you holding up?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“I know you’ve got a buddy in Rancor, just wanted to check in.”

The knot of worry in his gut tightened. “Yeah.” His voice felt hollow. “Thanks, Racket.”

“Haven’t heard anything yet, huh?”

Loops shook his head. “Two and Three and I are having a call soon to talk it out.”

“Ah,” Racket said, “I’ll give you some space.”

“Thanks,” Loops said, although his brother’s head had already retreated to his own bunk. Right on cue, his comm blinked its light. He hadn’t had the chance to get a holoprojector today. But he would be able to hear the others.

“Hey, Trees,” Do-di-do’s voice had a smile in it. “Loops?”

“Couldn’t get a projector today, sorry,” Loops said. “I can still hear you.”

“Oh, good.”

“Hi, Loops,” Trees said.

“Hey, Trees.”

“How’s the Pack?” Do-si-do asked.

Loops shrugged, before remembering they couldn’t see him. “It’s… well, you know. Everyone’s on edge. The general’s been helping though.”

Trees agreed. “Yeah, General Unduli and Commander Offee have been holding group mediations for the ones who want it.”

“I’ve heard General Windu’s working on that too, but…. He’s busy as all hell.”

“Yeah, High Generals usually are,” Loops said.

“Anyone else… find it kinda weird, though?” Do-si-do furthered.

“What do you mean?”

“Like… I dunno. I didn’t expect the Jedi to care this much.”

“Oh,” Trees said flatly.

“I mean--obviously, they care if Kamino is attacked,” he went on. “Because it’s producing the whole damn army, but I never thought they’d… do all this.”

It was a fair reaction. Most clones, upon encountering their generals, were a little unsettled at how… human they were. Loops had certainly had a learning curve when he’d joined the 104th. General Koon was… amazing. So, honestly, Loops hadn’t been surprised when he had offered to help his troopers through the stress of the Kamino attack. But, Do-si-do had always been a bit skeptical of the Jedi, even though, from what Loops had heard of General Windu, he would regularly go out of his way to defend his men.

“I’m not complaining,” Loops said.

There was a longer than normal pause afterwards. He eyed the blinking light on his wrist comm, wondering. It wasn’t uncommon for the signal to get interrupted by space travel.

“What are you boys gossiping about now?” Ah. Not space travel. Just Commander Sixes. His brain did a mental double take as that thought formed. Just Commander Sixes.

“Oh, uh…” Do-si-do searched for words. Trees was probably frozen again. “Just… thought some of us could use the conversation. With Kamino under attack. And all.”

There was a gruff, nonverbal reply from the commander.

“Don’t suppose you got any updates we laymen didn’t, sir?” Do-si-do asked cautiously. Loops couldn’t help leaning towards his comm. Even a little news would help…

“None any of you have clearance for.”

Loops rolled his eyes, falling back against his pillow. He should have expected it. But that didn’t make it any less disappointing.

“Sir, you know the point of this call was to ease stress, not make it worse?” Do-si-do replied.

“Armor up, shiny, we’re at war.”

_____

ARCBoiiiii: Guess who’s not dead!!!!

Loopy: kriff is it over???

ARCBoiiiii: Yep! Sent the clankers running and the Hairless Harpy and Evil Spider Legs too

Green Bean: did you just nickname… Grievous and Ventress?

ARCBoiiiii: what’s it to ya?

Loopy: are you okay sevens?

ARCBoiiii: aw loopy were you worried?

Loopy: get karked

Loopy: ...but yeah

ARCBoiiiii: where’s do-si-do?

Green Bean: dunno. might be on the wing.

Loopy: sevenset. are. you. okay.

ARCBoiiiii: ah okay. and yes! i am okay, loops. little sore, but i’m not hurt. Rancor’s casualties weren’t bad.

Double Trouble: SEVENSET YOU SONAUVA HUTT HOW ARE YOU

ARCBoiiiii: Do-si-do!!!!!! im okay :D

ARCBoiiiii: Cmdrs havoc + colt in medical tho… colt had a run-in with ventress i guess

Loopy: oh kriff--

DEATH: he’s alive after that?

DEATH: … really, boys? the name?

Double Trouble: Sevenset’s idea sir

ARCBoiiiii: Do-si-dos idea

ARCBoiiiii: kark dammit

Double Trouble: beat u haha

Loopy: lol

Green Bean: How ironic. He survives Kamino only to be reaped by Death later

DEATH: ha

Double Trouble: 0.0

ARCBoiiiii: i feel unsafe

Loopy: trees where has that biting wit been hiding my friend

ARCBoiiiii: WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT SOMETHING IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!

Double Trouble: ??????

ARCBoiiiii: I FOUND NUMBER FIVE

Loopy: Yay!! He was the one in 501st right?

ARCBoiiiii: yeah! pretty damn good sniper too from what i heard. AND GUESS WHAT ELSE

Green Bean: There’s more?

ARCBoiiiii: He and his batcher got promoted to ARCs so THEY’RE STUCK WITH MEEEEE

DEATH: I almost pity them.

Green Bean: ha

Loopy: wait what’s his name??

ARCBoiiiii: fives

Double Trouble: oof unoriginal

DEATH: Oh really, Do-si-do?

Double Trouble: wait no

Loopy: do-si-do it’s been nice knowing you

Double Trouble: nO WAIT it’s hardly fair, you’ve got Death as a name too

DEATH: Sure thing. Anyway, Fives and his batcher are Rex’s freaks, and he always takes his ARCs with him. They’ll be gone after graduation.

ARCBoiiiii: aw shucks :(

Double Trouble: that’s still like… almost three months tho

ARCBoiiiii: yessssss i’ll drag em into the next couple holos

Green Bean: But… it’s just Fives that has the repeating number, right?

ARCBoiiiii: well yeah but they’re practically inseparable, i’d feel bad

DEATH: that’s pathetic

ARCBoiiiii: one of these days we’ll find a recruit you actually like

DEATH: No

Double Trouble: speaking of, did you find number nine? Isn’t he in the 212th?

ARCBoiiiii: no… I’ll ask around, the orangios are still planetside for a bit. and i’m still on the lookout for a cadet 1111!

Loopy: glad you’re alive

ARCBoiiiii: *mwah*

Loopy: aaaaand now I’m not

-----

For the second time in about two minutes, Fives once again lagged a step so he could reach back and tug Echo along by the sleeve. “Keep up, will you?”

“Fives--”

“I don’t want to hear it, Echo, I told you already.”

His batchmate wasn’t going quiet without debate. “But we’re supposed--”

“--to be doing something very boring, now quit complaining.”

“It’s ARC training, Fives,” Echo hissed, yanking his sleeve away, but keeping pace with him behind Sevenset. “It’s all important, even if it’s boring.”

Their leader turned around, walking backwards as he said, “Well… I mean, I’ll be honest, I’ve never used the desert field training once, so…” He shrugged.

“Yeah, because you live on an ocean planet,” Echo pointed out.

“Pays off,” the ARC trooper grinned.

“Doesn’t it get kinda boring, though?” Fives asked. “The same planet over and over?”

“Boring?” Sevenset turned briefly to avoid a squad of junior cadets being led by medic. “Nah, not boring. Maybe the scenery leaves something to be desired, but hey--so did Coruscant. But helping to train brothers like you two? Never boring.”

“I think Fives would have to try to be boring.”

“I’m boring when I sleep.”

Echo turned a skeptical look on him.

“What?”

“What do you mean ‘what?’ you snore like a rancor--”

Remembering who was walking with them, they both looked at Sevenset to add, “No offense.”

And then Fives cut right back in with a rebuttal. “Well maybe I wouldn’t snore if I didn’t have your entire weight on top of me?”

Echo waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, no no no, don’t you pull that argument--”

Fives scoffed. “I am absolutely pulling that argument--”

“You snored on Rishi, and we all used our own bunks.”

That was true. They hadn’t had a reason to share until after…. “Okay, but how do you know that wasn’t Cutup?”

“Cutup--!” Echo’s incredulous tone was somewhat marred by the smile creeping onto his face. Their arguments could never keep a serious face for too long. “You don’t snore in a kriffing accent, Fives!”

Fives could no longer keep the smile off his face either, and he gave Echo a gentle shove with his shoulder. “Okay, you got me.” The gesture was returned a little more violently. Then they noticed Sevenset had come to a stop by a door, and they pulled themselves together to face him.

“You guys were on Rishi Moon?” Sevenset asked, passing his vambrace in front of the control panel to open the door. He gestured them in.

It was a small meeting room--very small, from the others Fives had seen. The holotable jutting out from the far wall probably left room for about seven people. He and Echo stood to one side of the door, hands behind their backs. Fives decided against asking why Sevenset had access to to this place.

“Yessir, we were the last men stationed there.” Echo’s answer was curt, almost blunt, but kept carefully under the veneer of professionalism he managed so much better than Fives did. It had become their standard answer for Rishi questions.

Sevenset glanced over at them from where he was typing at the holotable. “Echo, buddy, I just commandeered you from under your CO’s nose. You can drop the ‘sir.’” He looked back to the blue holograms in front of him. “So were you the ones who blew up the all-clear signal? Saved us a hell of a lot of trouble around here, I’ll tell you that. Should be thanking you.”

“There’s… no need for that.” Echo’s voice shrank slightly, his eyes dropping towards the floor. Fives sighed as quietly as he could, silently bracing for the unpleasant exchange that was sure to follow that deflection.

“Really? I hope you got medals or something, though,” Sevenset replied. He finished typing and stepped back from the table, facing them. “How’d you do it, anyway? Not easy to blow a base like that.”

“No…” Fives agreed hollowly, hoping the ARC would eventually get the karking hint and change the subject. There were already a half dozen scenes of memory playing through the back of his mind as he did his best to pointedly ignore them.

“Liquid tibana.”

He turned to look at Echo, who caught the unasked question in his eyes.

“He asked,” his batchmate shrugged helplessly, now looking anywhere except at their faces.

Sevenset’s eyebrows rose, crinkling the tattoos on his scalp, and he nodded. “Yeah, I guess LT would do the trick, wouldn’t it?”

Nope. Not getting the hint. And Echo--Maker bless him--would keep answering his questions even if it gave him a panic attack. Maybe ARC training could help him kick that habit.

“Did they really send commando droids--”

Fives didn’t let him finish. “Look, Sevenset, we don’t really like talking about Rishi.” Next to him, he noticed some of the tension leave Echo’s shoulders. “Our whole batch was stationed there, and, aside from Commander Cody and Captain Rex, we’re the only ones who survived that attack.”

Sevenset blinked, realization hitting like a splash of cold water. “Oh. Yeah, of course,” he looked down, scuffing one of his boots on the floor without much enthusiasm. “Sorry about  that. Should’ve realized.”

Fives dipped his head, acknowledging the apology. He knew Sevenset hadn’t meant any harm by asking, but at least he’d apologized. The holotable made a noise, and Sevenset practically flew to answer the incoming transmission. Fives couldn’t blame him for wanting to dissipate the uncomfortable silence that had followed his apology. He nudged Echo with his elbow, and they moved closer, still shoulder-to-shoulder, as the first two holograms appeared.

The first clone they saw sat in what looked like a cockpit, although “sitting” was a generous term. More like lounging. His head was shaved on the right side, and the long curls left were bleached and dyed a cold white. His face lit up upon recognizing Sevenset.

“You are alive!”

“Of course I’m alive, Do-si-do,” the ARC replied, once again all smiles. “I am almost offended you thought my first fight with Rancor would finish me.”

The second clone--in recognizably 104th gear--gave a tiny smile. “Here I am surprised Do-si-do hasn’t gotten a surprise visit from Death after his remarks about originality in the chat.”

The pilot, Do-si-do, made a show of looking under and behind his seat. “Nope, all clear. Sorry to disappoint, Loopy.”

“My name’s not Loopy.” He turned to look at Fives and Echo. “My name’s not Loopy, it’s just Loops.” Kind of a fun name, really. Fives wondered what his number was. Eight, probably?

“And for once you beat Trees here,” Sevenset remarked. Another hologram appeared. “Ooh, but not by much.”

Trees, by the looks of his armor, was in the 41st. But, unlike the others, he looked downright regulation, like Echo. “Sorry, I got stuck behind a gonk droid in the hall.” Catching sight of Fives and Echo, he added, “Oh, are these the new guys?”

“Yep!” Sevenset looked to them.

Without warning, Echo’s hand appeared, grabbing Fives by the jaw and turning his head to the left. “And you’ll never guess which one of us is named Fives.”

Fives swatted his hand away, Echo ducking the half-hearted attempt to put him in a headlock. “I am going to kill you,” he growled at his batchmate’s stupidly smug expression. So he liked the number; he had a good reason to like the number!

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with it, come on,” Sevenset smiled. “You and Loops can match.”

Loops turned his face so the tattoo on his right cheek was visible. An infinity symbol? Stylized number eight? “First thing I did when I got the chance.”

“How’s ARC training treating you two, then?” Do-si-do asked with a smile.

Fives glanced at Echo. “Not too bad,” he answered with a shrug.

“Yet,” Echo added.

Sevenset smirked and nodded knowingly. “Emphasis on ‘yet,’” he agreed. “Right about the three- or four-week mark, you’ll really start regretting some life choices.”

“You survived, though,” Trees pointed out. “Can’t be that bad if they managed to drag you over the finish line.”

“I do have more than one personality trait, you know.”

“Whaaat?” Do-si-do shook his head. “Can’t believe you’re more than your carefree facade. Actually upset now.”

Sevenset raised an eyebrow at him, but Do-si-do ignored the silent challenge and just blew him a kiss through the screen. Sevenset had mentioned he and “number two” had started this group, and now Fives could indeed understand they knew each other pretty well.

“Wait,” Loops spoke up. “What’s your name?” He gestured a little vaguely towards the two batchmates.

“Oh.” Echo straightened up a bit. “I’m Echo.”

Loops waved at him.

“Is this everyone?” Fives asked, looking to Sevenset. He had mentioned the group wasn’t “complete” yet, but he hadn’t expected it to be this small.

The other four shook their heads. Sevenset answered. “No, there’s still the commander, but we don’t pretend to know when or if he’s gonna show. The others--number one, number nine, number four, and zero--we haven’t found yet.”

“And Commander Fox wants nothing to do with us, thanks to Sevenset,” Do-si-do added.

“Also true.”

Echo’s confused expression matched the questions Fives had in mind. He didn’t know Commander Fox’s number off the top of his head. Echo probably did. He’d known the captain’s and Commander Cody’s like that. But… there was another commander? They turned to look at Sevenset together, although two different questions came out of their mouths.

“What commander?” Fives asked.

“You asked Commander Fox?” Echo said at the same time.

They didn’t get answers. Well. Not explicitly. A fourth hologram appeared beside Loops, Trees, and Do-si-do. The single pauldron denoted rank. The full kit of black armor, helmet included, didn’t give many other details. So. That commander. Whoever that commander was…

Next to him, Echo tensed, just barely, but Fives could read him too well to miss it. He looked over. Fives recalled his batchmate’s reaction to meeting the captain and Commander Cody for the first time. They had reputations, they had stories, and Fives had been right with him in that sense of awe--aside from the whole… being invaded by commando droids… thing that had been happening at the same time. And right now Echo kind of looked like that. But his expression had none of the subtle reverence Fives remembered. More… fear? Not quite. He’d seen Echo scared. Who was this guy? And why couldn’t Fives place him?

“Hey, Commander,” Do-si-do greeted, like there was nothing strange about a commander in all-black armor appearing on their holotable. None of them had even gone to attention. That was a little odd.

The commander folded his arms across his chest and grunting a nonverbal reply. His visor landed on Fives and Echo. Again, Fives saw Echo’s whole body stiffen in his periphery. “New guys?” the commander eventually asked, his voice sounding an awful lot like Alpha-17’s gruff speech.

“Yep,” Sevenset nodded, not even addressing him as sir. “This is Fives, that’s his batcher Echo, and you have magically chosen to appear right when they started asking questions about you.”

“These the inseparable ones?” This man had absolutely no variation in tone, and it was going to get creepy.

“Looks like it,” Loops replied.

The commander stared at them for a few more seconds, before giving another wordless huff and looking away. “No one’s inseparable.”

Fives did not like the chill that sent down his spine, despite the words having, as before, no discernible emotional tone. Behind his back, his hand tightened around the opposite wrist, the dull pain momentarily distracting his mind from the commander’s implication. Glancing to Echo, he saw his brother’s jaw clench, his mouth pressed into a line as he stared down the holograms. Fives shuffled closer until their shoulders and arms touched, feeling his brother lean into him.

Sevenset looked between them and the holotable before taking half a step sideways towards them. “Okay, Commander Dark and Angsty, maybe don’t scare away the new guys? Thanks.”

The commander’s helmet tilted up ever so slightly--probably rolling his eyes--but he stayed quiet.

“And that,” Sevenset went on, turning to Fives and Echo, “is Commander Sixes, AKA Commander Death, and yes, he is always like that.”

Finally, it clicked in Fives’ mind. He knew about Commander Death, he just hadn’t seen any images of him. Sithspit, no wonder Echo had reacted like that. The Death Wings were downright terrifying by word-of-mouth, and that--that was their commander.

And these guys were just… chatting with him. They chatted with him… regularly. Sevenset didn’t even call him sir. What in the nine hells…?

The commander’s visor went to Sevenset. “How are Colt and Havoc? Haven’t had a chance to comm them.”

“Mm? Oh. Commander Colt’s just got out of medical. Commander Havoc got out a couple rotations ago.” Sevenset shrugged. “That’s all I’ve got.”

Fives had seen Commander Havoc during training yesterday. He’d walked a little stiffly, but from what he’d heard about his injuries, walking at all was pretty damn good.

“Did you ever find number nine?” Loops asked. “In the two-twelfth?”

“Eh…” Sevenset held up a hand palm-down and tilted it back and forth. “Sort of. I got confirmation he is in with Commander Cody’s boys, and that his name is Nines, but that’s all. Never got eyes on him or a frequency, or I would’ve patched him in.”

Echo opened his mouth, then closed it. Fives nudged him to speak. He’d already drawn attention from Loops, Trees, and Do-si-do anyway. “Well, just--Torrent works with Commander Cody’s men more often than most. We could keep an eye out for him.”

“Once we’re back with the company,” Fives added.

“Oh yeah,” Sevenset nodded. “Totally. Thanks.”

“Any word on the others we’re looking for?” Trees asked.

Sevenset shook his head. “No luck with number one over here. Still haven’t found any cadet with that number.”

Do-si-do added, “The ninety-first has leave in three weeks. My company will be on Coruscant for about a ten-day. Anyone else?”

“I’ll check,” the commander said, reaching out of frame for something.

While he was silent, Loops put in, “Well, the Wolfpack won’t be off for another month and a bit.”

Trees nodded. “The forty-first is still on for another two months.”

“And obviously the three of us aren’t going anywhere,” Sevenset said, tilting his head towards Fives and Echo. “Gotta say, that is one thing I miss about being in the Guard. Can’t see everyone when they’re on leave.”

“The one-eighteenth has leave in about a month,” the commander finally reported. “Should overlap with the ninety-first for a few days. Maybe you can find zero in there. My fighters have a mission with the Nova Corps coming up, too. I’ll see if I can find number four.”

A smug smile appeared on Sevenset’s face. “I thought you once said you weren’t our recruiter, Commander.”

The commander stared at him for half a moment, then answered, “The Marines won’t have leave for another six months. You want to find number four? This is how you do it.”

The ARC nodded, his smile never changing. “Okay, alright, I get it. We won’t tell anyone you like us.”

The commander huffed quietly, then muttered, “I’m still surprised Alpha-17 didn’t beat that attitude out of you over there.”

Echo smirked. “Well, at least that means there’s hope for Fives.”

Fives shouldered him. “Hey, I haven’t done anything.”

“Yet.”

Sevenset grinned at Fives, who found himself returning a small smile. Trees pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maker help us, there’s two of them.”

“Something wrong with that, Trees?” the ARC replied with mock severity. Fives would admit, he did like Sevenset. He liked seeing a higher ranking soldier maintain a lighter sense of humor. Most of the Teth survivors in Torrent had a dark streak--Coric might have it the worst, actually, and it was rubbing off on Kix.

“Nothing wrong, just means I’ll have to explain to my medics why my blood pressure’s so high.”

Do-si-do and Sevenset laughed, and Loops smiled. The commander just shook his head. Yeah, Fives could get used to this.

-----

Edit: I FORGOT TAGS @nl13 @darth-void @glubtheflyingfish (sorry i missed you in part 1) @blsmjoon @23-bears @theultimatesandwich @peacefulwizardfox @alamogirl80

#YAY #number lads #numbers gang #my writing #my fanfic #i write things sometimes #arc trooper fives #arc trooper echo #clone trooper ocs #clone ocs

[calumance]

can you write something about maybe when the reader was pregnant cal would post a monthly update it would be ultra sound with the reader and cal and duke and every month her belly would grow bigger with every family photo and all the fans would look forward to a monthly post because he was always so inactive on instagram and it’s just fluff around and maybe cal having a baby photoshoot and taking pics of mama 😭😭😭

UM YES. This is so fucking cute, oh my LORD. 😭😭😭

        The minute Calum’s eyes landed on the positive pregnancy tests, his eyes filled with tears. A smile stretched across his face, a happy laugh escaped his chest. His hands reached up towards his hair and he pulled at his blonde locks in disbelief that you were carrying his child. “Are you serious?” He asked as the tears finally spilled from the rim of his eyes. You nodded, there were four positive tests there, it’s unlikely that four positives would be false. He dropped his hands from his hair and threw his arms around you. You cried with him, happy that your efforts to have a baby have finally paid off. The second he let go of you, and collected himself, he pulled out his phone and arranged the positive tests in an aesthetically pleasing way and snapped a picture. He smiled and looked at you, “This is too exciting to not post.”

        Calum posted the picture to Instagram, with the caption “Baby Hood currently in the making.” The picture immediately blew up. There were thousands of likes, and thousands of comments. After all, it was the first picture Calum had posted in a long time. All of the comments expressed the happiness and excitement for you and Calum. As much as the comments made you feel good, it didn’t matter because Calum was making you feel even better. Always kissing your stomach and always making sure you felt okay. “How are you feeling today?” He asked when you came out of the bedroom after waking up.

        Your hand was over your stomach, having just thrown up for the third morning in a row. “Not well, I’m already super over this morning sickness thing.” Even though you had brushed your teeth, your mouth still tasted rotten. You licked your lips and walked into his open arms.

        “I read that you should eat fruits and carbs for breakfast. So I made you some potatoes and a bowl of mixed fruit to help ease your tummy.” Calum said pointing to the small breakfast he had prepared for you.

        Your heart melted, how was he doing more reading on pregnancy than you were? “You really made me breakfast?” You asked him, the rise in hormones getting ready to make the tears burst from your eyes. He nodded and smiled, looking at you. You started crying, and you laughed, “These stupid hormones, I don’t know why I’m crying.”

        Calum laughed and placed his finger under your chin to tilt you head up. He kissed the tears on your cheeks before kissing your lips. “It’s okay, you’re still absolutely beautiful.”

        The tears poured more and you laughed again, “Stop it!” You playfully pushed against his chest as he laughed and kissed you harder.

**

        The first month finally passed, and the morning sickness was starting to slow. Especially with all of Calum’s helpful hints and tricks to get it to subside. You had just finished at the doctor and was looking at the picture of the ultra sound, a small laugh escaping from your chest. “What’s so funny?” Calum asked you as he started the car.

        You shook your head and looked up at him. His eyes twinkled in the sunlight just before he slid his sunglasses onto his nose. You could barely take your eyes off him, they always talk about women having a pregnancy glow, but no one ever mentioned the glow men get when they find out they’re going to be a dad. “Nothing.” You say after swallowing, “It’s just so hard to believe. I mean, look at this.” You pointed to the ultrasound in your hand. The picture showing something that was starting to resemble a baby. You stared at the ultrasound and smiled, “That’s our baby, our baby that’s growing inside of me.” You shook your head again. Calum laughed and drove off.

        Once you got home, you hoped in the shower, feeling a bit grimy from the doctor’s office. When you got out of the shower, you looked at your phone and smiled when you saw Calum had uploaded a picture of your ultra sound to Instagram. The caption reading “Boy or girl?” You chewed on your bottom lip as you scrolled through the comments. After a few minutes, you added your own comment, “I vote boy” with a blue heart next to it.

**

        Calum continued the trend of uploading a picture every month, showing off your bump and how it was growing. The fans always impatiently waiting for the next update. When Calum had posted a picture from the gender reveal party, egg yolk all over his head, dyed blue egg shells in his hand, the fans lost their minds. Lost their minds in the best way, that is. Suddenly, Calum kept getting baby gifts at their shows, and their interviews. Even though you and Calum were absolutely ecstatic about the baby, it was funny to see how excited the rest of the world was.

        On the eighth month of your pregnancy, Calum decided to put his photography skills to use. You dressed yourself in a cute sundress that highlighted your large belly and you traveled to the backyard where Calum shot an impromptu photoshoot with you. Including himself in some funnier pictures, like the one where he pretended to have a baby bump and you laughed at him. The last picture being a sweet one where he held onto your belly and pressed a loving kiss to your lips. You scrolled through the pictures he posted, a huge smile sitting on your lips. Calum looked over at you and laughed, “What are you smiling at?”

        “Those pictures you took are amazing.” You said lifting your eyes from your phone. “It’s like you somehow captured everything we’ve been excited for in ten pictures.” Calum blushed and you set your phone down and opened your arms asking him to come closer to you. He crawled on the couch and placed himself so he could hover over you and rub circles with his hand over your belly. Your fingers trailed down his neck as his eyes stared into yours. His eyes full of love, and lust, and every emotion in between. “I love you so much.” You said as your gaze flickered to his lips and then back to his eyes. Without another word, he connected his lips to yours, a needy and loving kiss.

**

        Finally, you welcomed your precious baby boy into the world. You kept him to yourself for a while before announcing his arrival to the world. It wasn’t until after your families and the boys had met him, that you finally decided to show him off. Calum set the camera up in the backyard again and did another photoshoot. He took pictures of you holding him, and then your switched so you could take pictures of him holding him. After Calum was satisfied with all of the pictures, you walked back inside and placed your son in his bouncer, sitting on the couch and leaning your elbows on your knees so you could stare at him.

        Calum came in with his camera and sat next to you. “I posted the pictures so everyone would stop bugging me for an update.” He said with a laugh.

        You smiled and pulled your phone out of your pocket. You swiped through the pictures he posted and tears started to form. All of the comments full of happiness and welcomes. Everyone was more than excited to finally see Baby Hood as everyone called him. You blinked away the tears and continued to read the comments. “I know that everyone loves him, but I don’t think anyone can love him more than you and I do.”

        Calum smiled and scooted closer to you on the couch so he wrap his arms around you. You placed your phone on the cushion next to you and wrapped your arms around him in return. He placed his chin on the top of your head and said, “I know. I love him more than anything in this world.” He placed a kiss on the top of your head, “Next to the woman who gave him to me.”

        You looked up at him and blushed, “I love you, Calum.” He smiled and pressed his lips to yours, silently telling you he loved you back.

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

Tag list: @mantlereid @notinthesameguey @viiirg0 @wheniminouterspace @thinkofmehlgh @another-lonely-heart @limer-encia

#asks #anon #requests #calum hood #Calum Hood blurb #Calum Hood oneshot #Calum Hood imagine #Calum Hood fic #Calum Hood fan fic #Calum Hood fan fiction #Calum Hood writing #Calum Hood 5 seconds of summer #Calum Hood 5sos #calum hood x reader #reader insert #calum #calum blurb #calum oneshot #calum imagine #calum fic #calum fan fic #calum fan fiction #calum writing #calum 5 seconds of summer #calum 5sos #calum x reader #dad!cal #dad!calum #dad!calum hood #dad!sos

[antivirus-mh-au]

Antivirus - Chapter 2

TW: None Chapter 1 here Ao3 link If you like this, please leave a like, reblog, or send me an ask! It encourages me so much.

He blew the smoke from his mouth around the cigarette, the morning sun catching all the particles as they floated into the air. Tim drew the J on top of the fresh carton and dropped the pen onto the dashboard. Pulling the cigarette from his mouth, he drew in a deep breath of fresh air, fresh as you could get at a gas station by a highway. Looking around the parking lot, at the people filing in and out, he shook his head and gave a wry smile. Hard not to be in a good mood when you got some decent sleep for once.

Becca and Lukas were okay. Lukas's leg had been taken care of, and the two had set back off for Idaho, back to the families that loved them. Another success case for Timothy Kane. Another group of people adding to the myth of his existence. Seemed like every month there were more of them. The Operator never tired. The sickness never eased. In fact, it only grew worse.

But like hell was he going to start off a good morning with that depressing shit. He'd gotten paid, gotten rest, and he'd found out where the nearest library was with free internet. He was not going to let a rare moment of peace escape him. He'd lost too much for that.

The library wasn't far away from the gas station he'd refilled at. By the time he pulled into the parking lot, it was open, as were the windows on the front of the building. He spoke briefly to the clerk at the front desk, making sure he understood their internet rules and that it was okay for him to bring in his thermos of coffee, before finding a convenient spot by a power outlet. 

His laptop was getting old, it took a while for it to boot up. As Tim waited, he thumbed through a newspaper. Experts predicting a war with China for the third time in as many years, conflict in the Middle East, the royal family in Britain getting roped into some scandal or another. That was why he didn't read the news much, it was always the same. By the time he got to the comics (never his favorite part of the newspaper), his laptop had finished, and Tim traded the two without a second thought.

He could and did check his email on his phone but he was old-fashioned and preferred to use his laptop when he had the chance. Earlier Becca's mother replied to his report about her daughter returning home, a message he'd saved in a special folder he looked at when he felt particularly shitty. 

Another email was waiting for him now, from a 'Meridith Frederickson'. Another client, looking for her son and his missing best friend. He replied to that one, offering to schedule a Zoom meeting later that same day. By now he knew all too well what happened if he wasn't on top of his cases. 

And of course, he had new messages in the spam folder. Tim glanced over the subjects of the emails without opening any of them. Some didn't have any, but most were vaguely threatening, the kind he usually got from trolls and kids. 'Always watching', 'there's no escape', 'how could you', and on and on and on. People thought they could get a rise out of him by acting like totheark, but none of them even came close to what Brian had been all those years ago. 

Tim glanced at the tab next to his email, frowning. There was no sense in trying to put it off, even if he hated doing it. Everything on that site made him feel worse, and today had been a pretty good day. But if he didn't look, he'd regret it later, falling into a rabbit hole of updates that was guaranteed to fuck him over. So he opened YouTube.

The videos were taken down years ago, the channels involved with Marble Hornets wiped from the website. But that didn't mean they were gone, just hidden away on Google Drives and shock sites. What was on YouTube was... the fandom.

It made his skin crawl thinking about it. People from all over the world were obsessed with what he and Jay had been through. He'd seen hundreds of articles about the videos, from five minute listicles to long analysises about the events and the people involved. He'd seen other things, too, things he'd rather not remember. Like the fanart...

Out of everything, though, it was the YouTube community that unsettled him the most. The passionate, wide eyed college kids. The naive high schoolers. The older people, with their backgrounds in criminal science and forensics and cryptids and God knew what else. They picked over the videos and tweets and codes like vultures at a pile of bones. Like it was just a fictional web series, like people he knew and once liked weren't dead. And they spread the disease. It didn't take all of them, leaving the YouTubers alone, but claiming their followers. It made him sick thinking about all the people he couldn't save, the people who had no one left to try and find them, the people who vanished into Rosswood Park and were never seen again. It made him sick, watching these ignorant people talk about his pain as if they were all insects under microscopes.

But if he didn't pay attention, who knew what might happen. The Operator was watching all of them. One slip up was all it took.

He scrolled through both the front page and his subscriptions. The videos were, in the end, all the same. Speculation, discussion, analyzation. Some of them he could watch later. Others needed his attention now.

Tim’s eyes landed on a video, and his heart clenched. The Neophyte was streaming again.

The still image didn’t show much. Neophyte_Calling didn’t put much work into his channel. It was just a shot of what the streams normally showed, pale, unkempt hands poking free from black robes, resting on an old plastic table. That was what he expected to find once he opened the stream.

And he’d be correct, that was what awaited him once he got the courage to click. The hands twitched and clenched and dug at the table. It wasn’t the hands that were special though, it was what the owner of those hands were saying.

“Autumn after firestorm, the nights don’t listen and the butter is on the corn. Ten days or twenty paces of living guts wrapped around an old man’s neck. The water comes up to your waist but you don’t feel the attitude of denial inside the bastard daughter’s heart. Oh, god, eureka, industry was never so smooth…”

Complete nonsense. The ramblings of a man on some kind of drug, or lost to some unknown mental illness. Despite this, the chat flooded with messages. Donations popped up occasionally, attempts to get the Neophyte’s attention. He didn’t notice. He never noticed. He just kept talking. And he would keep talking until the stream ended on its own, or he passed out on the table.

People called him a prophet. Claimed every word he spoke had a double, or even a triple, meaning. They recorded every word he said and discussed them among themselves, coming up with ‘translations’ for his maddening dialogue. And to be fair, they could have a point. Sometimes, what the Neophyte said did seem to foretell events that happened not long after he spoke them. But the god the Neophyte channeled was not one Tim would ever ask someone to worship.

Silence. The man stopped talking, his fidgeting hands resting flat on the table. Dread filled Tim’s body. Speak of the devil, he was doing this again?

The Neophyte spoke again, his voice deeper now. The words came clumsy from his mouth, uncomfortable, heavy, as if he had never spoken before. The emphasis, the tone, it was all wrong. Tim had no trouble understanding them, however.

“You always fight,” It said through the Neophyte’s mouth. “You always resist. You tire, and exhaust, and fall. You continue to fight despite.”

The robes shifted, the head hidden from the camera’s view tilting.

“Tim,” It said. “You are a grain of sand. I am eternal. I am here. I will always be here. You understand. You continue despite.”

On the side of the screen, the chat surged with messages. It raced so quickly, Tim couldn’t have read any of them even if he tried. He didn’t look away from the livestream. 

“Tim,” It said again. “Enough. You have fought hard. You are getting old. That’s enough. It’s time to come home. To us. To all of us.”

The hair stood up on his arms, on the back of Tim’s neck. He shuddered.

“Like hell,” he whispered, and closed the tab.

But even though he closed the livestream, he could swear he heard the Neophyte, the thing puppeting him, whisper in his mind.

“Coward.”

When 2pm rolled around, Tim was back in his van in the library parking lot. Obviously he couldn’t do a Zoom call inside the quiet space, but their internet reached well past the parking lot. He sat on his bed, now folded up like a couch inside the converted van he lived in. His laptop open before him, the program open and ready. Now he just had to wait for her.

Hard to say what this Meredith Fredrickson would expect a private investigator like him to look like, but Tim did his best to look presentable anyway. Hair combed, beard trimmed, leather jacket kept to the side out of her line of sight - leather jackets weren’t worn by authority figures, and that was what he was trying to be right now. Not anyone could do this job, but who’s to say she knew that? If she didn’t like the way he looked, she could try to find someone else to find her son and his friend. And if she did that, by the time she realized only Tim could help her, it would be too late.

Thinking about it that way made him shudder.

Of course, while he was prepared to deal with what she thought he would look like, he wasn’t as ready for what she herself would look like. As the call began, and Meredith’s face came on screen, Tim hesitated. He looked at her closely again. Had he seen this woman before?

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Fredrickson,” He greeted.

The woman shook her head, her curly brown hair tossing around her slim shoulders.

“Meredith is fine,” she said. “I haven’t been called ‘Mrs’ since my husband died. I changed back to my maiden name - my son’s last name will be his, not mine.”

“Of course,” Tim said. Odd information to include, but people tended to ramble when they were nervous.

He looked at her again, at the frown lines developing around her lips, and the worry and pain in her wide-set eyes. Behind her was a normal looking home, a few windows with pale curtains, a kitchen kept clean from what little he saw. Something was nagging at him. What was it?

“Did you fill out the information packet I requested?” He asked.

Meredith nodded.

“Yes.”

The file appeared, Tim half-listening to her as he opened it.

“I know this is a very strange thing to ask from you,” Meredith said. “But circumstances have changed in a way I really didn’t expect. I know it’s hard to believe that after ten years my son could be alive, but I don’t have any other explanation for…”

She trailed off. Tim didn’t look away from the document she’d sent. The names written on the very first line.

Missing People: Jay Merrick and Alex Kralie

Motherfucker, had he been tricked?

Tim shot the woman a sharp glance, examining her expression in seconds. She was not the first person to ask him to track down Jay and Alex, but she was the first he hadn’t screened out before it got this far. Most people were upfront about their intentions, or were obviously trolling, or he otherwise got weird vibes from them. This Meredith had slipped him by, and wasted his time in the process.

“He is my son,” Meredith said. “I’ve included his birth certificate, since I thought you might not believe me.”

“I don’t need it.” A birth certificate? Those weren’t easy to fake, but Tim was no expert on Photoshop either. 

“I would’ve included Alex’s, too,” Meredith continued. “After all the years he and Jay knew each other, you would’ve thought I’d have it too.” She laughed, and there was pain within it. “But his parents died in a car accident about six years back, and…”

“Wait.” Tim refocused. “Alex and Jay knew each other?”

“Since the first year of middle school,” Meredith said with a nod. “I have a lot of photos of them. You know, Jay went through a phase, where he wore all black, and listened to rock music with singers I couldn’t understand. He got a tattoo of one of the bands on his ankle behind my back. I was so angry...”

She laughed again, and her eyes went distant. Tim stared at her, his mind flashing back to all the conversations he’d had with Jay, things that didn’t go into the videos. Being Alex’s childhood friend, since middle school - the phases he went through as a teen - that damn tattoo he was so embarrassed of. None of these were known by the fandom.

Oh god, this woman was the real deal. Even her face, now that he looked at her, was just like Jay’s. The distant look in her eyes as she thought… Jay got that same expression.

“Meredith,” he said, his voice softer, kinder. “Do you know about Marble Hornets?”

“I can’t bring myself to watch them,” she said. Meredith folded her hands together. “But I know what… what was shown on the videos. I know that they are…” She swallowed. “Considered dead by most people. I was one of them.”

His gut twisted. By most people, including her. “But something… changed.”

“Yes.” She took a deep breath, and moved to wipe her eyes. “I got a package in the mail about a week ago. Inside was a flashdrive and a few printed photos. It had been placed in my mailbox - I don’t know who sent it.”

Oh no, Tim thought. Not this again. Please, don’t play this game with people again.

“What were the photos?” He asked, aware of the sound of his own voice more than anything else.

“I’ve included most of them in the document,” Meredith said. “I… I still can’t believe what I’ve seen, but… But they don’t look like they could’ve been faked.”

Dread pressed down on his shoulders. Dread and something else, some kind of energy buzzing through his nerves. Tim looked at the document, scrolled down, and opened the photos.

Some were blurry, taken from a distance and zoomed in before being printed. Some were clear as glass. It took him several seconds to process what he was seeing, what the subjects of the photos were. Tim blinked, looked again, and his pulse quickened.

Alex, standing on a street corner, gray in his hair, exhaustion on his face. Jay in a dark cloth jacket with a hood, looking over his shoulders. Alex, and Jay, Alex, and Jay, in all the photos, in every single one. The clothes were different, the faces aged, but there was no denying what he was seeing, and like Meredith said, no way to fake what he was looking at.

“Oh my god,” Tim mumbled.

Jay and Alex were alive.

#marble hornets #marble hornets fanfiction #marble hornets tim #Tim Wright #mh tim wright #mh tim #marble hornets alex #alex kralie #mh jay merrick #jay merrick #MH Jay #mh antivirus au #mh alex

[tastingmellow]

Surprise, Surprise

A/N: Due to my disappointment with Asap Rocky I have decided to do a fic to cope with my sadness. I’ve been a white man’s whore lately so this what you’re GETTING. HA, so this was actually a dream I had about Chris Evans and we’re just gonna plug Steve in there because, why not? Updates and more new fics coming soon, I just need to get this out before I forget it.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Black!Reader

Summary: The Avengers find Steve’s phone.

Warnings: ITS FILTHY. READ WHILE YOU’RE ALONE.

Word Count: You don’t need that information. Pay attention.

“Who’s fucking phone is that?” Bucky spoke out loud, mouth full of cereal as the shrill ringing of a phone sounded through out the the kitchen. Sam looked up from the newspaper he’d been eyeing, glancing around the kitchen. “Not mine. I put mine on vibrate.” Thor trotted in, all smiles and buzzing energy. “Can one of you please answer that device, it’s quite annoying.” He spoke, gesturing vaguely towards the counter opposite of him.

Natasha climbed off her chair and grabbed the phone, declining the call since it was an unknown number. “Oh, it’s Steve’s. Where is he?” She turned, sitting back in her seat with the phone clutched in her hand. Wanda shrugged. “He’s probably out for a run right now.” Sam chuckled, taking the phone from Nat. “I told the old man to stop leaving his phone laying around. Smile everyone.” The few that were in the kitchen leaned over the island, all of them wearing goofy smiles. Bucky being the odd one out with giving the camera the middle finger with a cheeky grin.

“And now to set it as his home screen...done.” Sam smiles to himself and leaned on the counter, scrolling through Steve’s photos and videos. Some photos were blurry and uneven while others were clear. Most of them were of you or the team when y’all were walking around. Some were of you smiling brightly into the camera. Steve didn’t have many videos probably about 20 but a good majority were with a thumbnail that showed his bed head on.

“What are you doing?” Thot asked over Sam’s shoulder and Sam shrugged. “Steve’s gotta have some embarrassing videos of himself trying to dance or something. Maybe even some of precious Y/N.” Natasha shook her head. “Not possible. She’s way to observant to let someone get an embarrassing video of her.” By now Wanda, Bucky, Natasha, and Thor had all gathered around Sam to look at the video. “Come on, its Steve. Why would she be suspicious with him?” Without much thought Sam clicked on the video.

It started simple enough. You had walked out of the bathroom in your pajamas and plopped on the bed grabbing your phone. Steve’s phone seemed to be set up in a corner in his room, perfect angle for whatever was about to happen. Steve sauntered into the room and laid beside you, the two of you having an easy conversation full of laughs and smiles. “This is it? He recorded them talking?” Sam scrunched up his face, ready to go to the next video before Thor stopped him. “Wait, what is Steven doing...”

All eyes stared at the phone as Steve rolled on top of you, pressing his lips to yours in a sweet kiss. It was silent as the few who were there watched Steve kiss you, his hips rutting against you while his hands caressed your body. Your hands tangled in his hair, your legs wrapping around his waist and tightening to pull him closer. One of his hands slipped between your body, gliding into your sleep pants as he moved kisses to your neck. The group could clearly hear your small moans, could clearly see Steve’s hand disappearing in your shorts to play with your cunt.

Wanda blinked. “This isn’t...oh my god it is.” She let out a shaky breath and leaned in closer. Natasha gulped, moving closer as well. Your hands had grabbed onto Steve’s shirt, pulling it over his head and off his arms before his hands returned to your core. You bit your lip as he tugged off you pants and spread your legs, pushing one up to your chest to fully expose you to him. He hummed in delight as he watched his fingers glide in and out of your cunt, watching your juices coat his fingers. He gave you one last peck before laying on his stomach, his face inches from your soaking heat.

You whines as he blew cold air onto your clit, his fingers spreading your plump lower lips apart. His tongue slowly sneaked out, flicking over the bud softly. You shuddered and Bucky coughed. “You know your buddy made sex tapes...” Sam spoke and Bucky shook his head, still quietly watching but now shifting in his chair. Your curls piled over the top of your hand as your hands tangled in his blonde locks again, relishing in the feeeling of his warm tongue gliding over your clit.

Steve’s hips grinded into the mattress beneath him, his lips puckering to suck at your bundle of nerves while you let out a loud cry. Your hips buckled against his face, grinding yourself against him as he stuck his tongue out, letting you use his face to get off. Your breathing picked up, your chest heaving as you nearer closer to that sweet release. Steve reinserted his fingers, moving them in and out at a bruising pace. The loud, wet noises of your cunt filling the air throughout the kitchen. A loud squeak was heard as Thor pulled a chair around to have a seat, fully enamored.

You came with a loud moan, an arch in your back as you grabbed Steve’s head, holding him there while he worked you through your high. You shook, breathing still uneven as Steve came up, bringing his fingers soaked in your essence to your lips. You opened your mouth and grabbed his wrist sucking on his finger as he tugged your shirt up, tongue swirling around your nipples once you never wore a bra to bed. You hummed in delight, sucking his fingers clean before he pulled them out. He sat up, taking off his sweatpants and you followed by tugging off your shirt.

You climbed onto your knees as Steve sat back against the headboard. His hand caressed your cheek as you eyed his dick. “Get it wet for me, baby.” You hummed softly and leaned down, taking his angry red tip into your mouth. Steve smirked, leaning his head back against the head board with a soft thud. “That’s right, Princess. Get it nice and wet and I’ll fuck you til the sun comes up.” You grabbed his balls, taking his dick deeper into your throat with a light gag.

“He’s a dirty talker, knew it.” Natasha snapped and Sam rolled his eyes. “It’s always the goody two-shoes.” All eyes turned back to the phone and the sight made Bucky choke. Your legs were spread, your pussy on fully display as your head bobbed up and down. Steve’s hands were caught in your hair hair as he lightly thrusted into your mouth, praising you on taking him so well. Sam tilted his head, something akin to a groan passing through his lips. “Fucking Christ...”

Steve softly tugged on your hair, pulling you up. Spit dribbled down your chin as you gave him a blissed our grin. Steve pulled you into his lap, giving you a loud, sloppy kiss as you straddled his hips. Your hand reached between the two of you, grabbing his wet appendage to steady it before you sank down. Steve groaned into your mouth. His hands grabbed at your ass as he bottomed out, his head resting on your shoulder. You slowly began to move, your hands gripping the headboard above his head as you rolled your hips onto him.

You moaned, mewling as he rolled his hips into you. One of your hands fell to his chest as you started bouncing, your ass cheeks jiggling in a way that had Thor biting into his fist as he tapped his foot. The sound of skin slapping filled the room. Your moans mixed with Steve’s words of encouragement. “God, you’re so pretty, baby. You look so good taking my dick, keep going.” Your nails raked his chest as you rocked against him, grinding into him with a desperation that had Steve’s eyes rolling back.

Steve smacked your ass, sending a shock right to your clit. “Steve, I’m so close. Please.” Wanda’s eyes widened when she realized what was happening. “He’s gonna make her beg. He’s gonna make her beg...” she mumbled mostly to herself but Natasha heard it. Steve licked his lips, looking up to you to find your head thrown back. He gripped your neck in his hand, grabbing your attention immediately,

Your eyes met his and your hips stuttered as you tried to hold off your release. “Beg me and I’ll give you whatever you want.” You shuddered and both your hands fell to his chest as you stopped. That received a hard smack to the ass. “I didn’t say stop, I said beg.” You gasped, your breath caught in your throat as tears of pleasure gathered in your eyes. “Please, Stevie. Let me cum, I need to cum so badly. I’ll be good, I promise just let me cum.” You became desperate, your hips bucking against him.

Steve took you off his dick, making you whine in protest. Steve chuckled before turning you around and pushing your face into the mattress. Steve pulled your hips up and spread your legs, teasing your entrance with his dick. You shook, inching back on him. He let you, his hands resting on your hips as you eased back on him. “Work for it, baby. Make Daddy cum and I’ll let you cum.” You bit your lip as you rocked back against, your ass slamming into his hips. He watched you cream over his dick while your moans flowed from the phone.

“They’re fucking filthy...I wonder if they’re up for threesomes.” Natasha spoke up and Bucky shrugged, leg shaking. “I don’t know but her moans are driving me fucking crazy.” Thor let out a shaky breath. “Gods above...” he murmured as he continued watching. Your hips had sped up, slamming into Steve with vigor. He groaned, leaning his head back as he smacked your ass. “Such a good girl. You treat Daddy so well.” Your hips slowed, rolling at a teasingly slow pace. Steve groaned watching your hips move against him.

He pushed your hips down and turned you sideways just a bit so he could see your face. His hips slammed into you with abandon, his hands firmly set on your ass cheeks. Your hand rested against his as one of his slid up to your throat, gripping it just enough to send you into overdrive. Your eyes rolled back as his thrusts became sloppy yet more intense. “Cum for me, baby...” he muttered and two strokes later you were letting an uncharacteristically loud and high moan rip from your throat. You coated his dick in your juices and he followed after you, covering your walls in his own cum.

You painted as he rolled you over slowly, burying his head in your chest as his hips slowly started up again. You twitched, stopping his hips with your hands but he shook his head, intertwining his fingers with yours and holding your hands above your head. “Just give me one more, pretty girl. One more, that’s all I want.” You whined and clenched around him, causing him to groan as pressed his lips to yours. His hands let go of yours, finding home in your hair as he kissed you passionately, slowly. Your hands rubbed over his back, returning the kiss before your fingers found his ass. He chuckled against your lips as you gave his cheeks a light squeeze.

He pulled away from you, pressing his forehead to yours as he dug deeper, bottoming out. You bit your lip, shuddering as left kisses all of your neck and chest before coming back to rest his forehead on your again. Your body jerked as he sped up, slamming his hips into you at a steady rhythm. Your nails scratched at his back and before long your were cumming again, pushing your breasts against him. Your release sent him over edge and he collapsed on top of you, chuckling softly when you tightened your legs around him. “Keep me plugged for the night?” You mumbled, sleep already taking over. Steve kisses your cheek before resting his head in your neck. “Whatever you want, Princess.”

The video ended abruptly and before anyone could say anything you and Steve walked into the kitchen. Steve was sweaty, like he’d just come from a jog and you were freshly showered, curls pulled on top of your head. Steve leaned over and pressed his lips to yours and the group across from the two of you stared, eyes wide. You turned, startled by the group. “Um...you guys okay?” You looked at them before Bucky cleared his throat, nodding rapidly. “Yeah, yeah. We’re good. How are you guys...doing?”

You giggled and turned around to grab something from the fridge. “I’m fine, more worried about you guys.” It was silent, Natasha and Thor’s gaze landed in your asss while the rest stared at Steve in shock. Steve tilted his head before reaching into his pocket. When he didn’t feel anything he checked himself all over. “Babe, you seen my phone?” He asked and you turned, shaking your head. “Didn’t you leave it in here last night?”

He smiled, kissing your lips and Sam coughed loudly causing the two of you to give him a weird look. “You’re right, thanks babe...you guys sure you’re alr—...” his eyes landed on the phone in Sam’s hand and his eyes widened. “What is it?” Your eyes followed his and you choked on your juice. “Please tell me you didn’t...” the group nodded and Bucky smirked. “Didn’t know you had such a mouth on you, pal.” Steve’s checks flushed and you chuckled. “Lady Y/N, your ass could get me through an eternity of torture.” You glances up at Thor and sat your glass down. “Ten seconds...” you murmured and Thor tilted his head as you counted down.

“Ten seconds to—....” he jumped out of his chair as you rushed towards him, chasing him around the living room while Bucky, Sam, Nat, and Wanda moves out of the kitchen, leaving the phone on the counter. “You should really use a password, Steve.” Sam spoke and Steve sighed, nodding his head as he watched you tackle Thor to the ground with a loud thud. “Noted.” You tugged at Thor’s hair and he made a remark about you doing the same to Steve which made you tug harder. “And wash your cups thoroughly, please...” Wanda spoke up and Bucky laughed as Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, blushing deeply.

“Hey, Mr. Rogers! Is this your phone? Can I use it to look up—...” Peter Parker spoke picking up the phone causing all heads to turn, including yours and Thor’s, your legs trapping him in chokehold.

“NO!”

———————

@uzumaki-rebellion @lilulo-12 @ishipwhateverthefuckiwantto @you-know-me-and-where-i-be @chaneajoyyy @hisxblackxqueen @thickemadame @ladye103 @chefjessypooh @brwn-sgr @calif0rnia-lovers @zimboniiiiii

#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x black!reader #Bold’s Fics #Bold’s Secrets

[sayhitoforever]

Burn Season - Malcolm Bright x Reader - PT (7/?)

A little holiday gift for all you lovely people.  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6-  Thanks for all the love and support for this series. You guys are wonderful, your feedback makes my heart feel so full. I am playing around with the idea of making this it’s own fic, with an OC protagonist instead of a reader insert. If I go through with that, you guys will be the first to know and I’ll post any links here, most likely for AO3. Thank you, as always, for reading. This will be the last update for 2019! GIF credit to diver5ion because Malcolm is serving LOOKS 👌 .

~

Even with the meticulously neat organization of the evidence, it had taken Malcolm well into the evening to get through the boxes. The pictures were spread across his island and the floor as he’d tried to set up the scene the way it had been when it was first photographed. He poured over each report and lab and all the testimony that had been gathered before starting in on Y/N’s notes, usually left on sticky notes stuck to the reports. Some of them were incomprehensible, clearly pulling facts and forming theories around evidence he’d yet to read through.

It was strange, he thought. Y/N had said it wasn’t personal, that she hadn’t cared about her father, but all the hard work in front of him said otherwise. It could be that he was misinterpreting it, that the dedication to all the evidence spread around him was just part of her job. It was stranger even that her father wasn’t among any of the victims contained in the boxes, not that he could tell at least. Why, he wondered, would she tell him what she had but leave out any information that corroborated her story?

Six crime scenes, six charred buildings, corpses into the double digits, the timeline spanning over eight years. It had grounds to qualify as a serial killer by the modus alone. Always an abandoned factory or warehouse, some condemned and dilapidated building. Planned, intentional, where no one but the intended victims could be hurt. It was an act of empathy, an act of restraint, and that ruled out any theory involving a sociopath.

Malcolm found that all of the victims in the boxes had some kind of mafia affiliation. It was a dawning sort of dread that fell over him as he realized that the manner in which they’d been tied up, every last one of them, reflected crimes they’d been alleged of committing. The two handcuffed to old piping were infamous sex traffickers, known for keeping women chained up in basements to be abused. Another with remnants of his shattered kneecaps found in the ash, both ankles broken, known for crippling his enemies before executing them with a bullet between the eyes.

We will make you sorry.

Retribution then, like paying it forward in the cruelest way possible. Forcing them to suffer that which they’d done to others before they died. It was the fire though; the fire didn't seem to fit. It was the odd piece of the puzzle. Why burn them? What was that a reflection of?

Malcolm was reaching for his phone to text Y/N when it chimed with a message from Gil. ID on the victims from the other night that they were able to pull from their dental records. More mafia thugs, he noted as he scrolled through the reports Gil had sent, before stopping at the list of their alleged crimes. And there at the bottom of all three was the answer to his developing theory. Alleged murder, charges that never struck, involving bodies out in the wilderness, tied to posts with rope and shot at like an execution by firing squad.

The next chime was a phone call and Malcolm brought the phone to his ear.

“Gil,” he said by greeting.

“You got anything for me, Bright?”

“I…” Malcolm hesitated, looking at the spread of evidence all over his loft. “I don’t know. There’s a lot here, Gil. Years of evidence.”

“Any of it you can bring in? We could try to help, offer a fresh pair of eyes?” Gil offered and Malcolm could hear the sound of a coffee pot being returned to its stand. He smiled tiredly; so they were all depending on caffeine to get through the day now.

“There’s too much here to bring.” Malcolm stared at photos of the fourth crime scene, recalling testimony of a nearby vagrant. Something about overhearing someone a short while before the old factory had gone up in flames:

We will make you sorry.

Malcolm sighed, knowing that a fresh pair of eyes might actually be of some help. “But, let me grab what is most important and I’ll head over. Is Y/N there? I had a couple questions for her.”

“I saw her about a half hour ago, so I would imagine she’s around here somewhere,” Gil replied.

“I’ll be there soon,” Malcolm promised and pocketed his phone again as Gil confirmed.

What precisely to bring with him out of the mountain of evidence before him was another beast entirely. Should he rebox it and bring it all with him? Should he even keep reflecting on old evidence when he had a new case with fresh evidence that might even have more reliable results to focus on? Photos at the very least would help, and he made quick work of returning them all to their properly labeled envelopes and slipping them under his arm after donning his coat.

The chill in the evening air was like a sigh of relief as it washed over him. He’d been cooped up for so long, so focused, that he hadn’t even noticed that he’d been feeling a little claustrophobic. When he entered the precinct for the second time that day, Gil was on a heated, closed-door phone call with someone in his office, Dani had left to chase down the owner of the warehouse, and JT was on his way back with food for them all. With a sigh, envelopes full of old crime scene photos still tucked under his arm, he made his way to Edrisa’s lab where he was greeted with the sound of her pealing laugh as he opened the door.

“Mr. Bright!” Edrisa greeted him, face lighting up as he entered her lab.

Y/N was sprawled in Edrisa’s chair, booted feet kicked up onto her desk. The look she gave him across the room was a little haggard, but sharp nonetheless. He’d never asked her what business had called her away so quickly earlier, but it was clear now that sleep hadn’t been involved. It was the most comfortable he’d seen her around another person, and he wondered what specifically it was about Edrisa that maybe put her at ease.

“You two aren’t drinking again, are you?” he asked, eyeing Edrisa closely.

“Oh, no, no, it’s too early for that,” Edrisa laughed, looking back at Y/N who nodded with emphasis. “We were swapping stories of the worst dead bodies we’ve seen.”

Malcolm shot Y/N a critical look. The grin he received in return was nothing short of sardonic. “You have a laundry list of dead body stories?”

“More than I’ll ever let on,” Y/N said with a casual shrug, grin nearly splitting her face in half as she heard Edrisa’s groan of defeat.

“I knew you were holding out on me,” Edrisa lamented, hanging her head. “I even told you about the bog body.” Malcolm couldn’t help but chuckle at the hang-dog look on her face.

“C’mon, E. I gotta save the good ones. Can’t spill all my good stories at the same time.” Her eyes glittered as she looked over Edrisa’s sagging frame with another laugh, before she pinned Malcolm in place again.

“Oh, where are my manners? Have you two met already?” Edrisa exclaimed, glancing between the two.

Malcolm blanched for a moment, having forgotten that Y/N had left the crime scene while Edrisa was caught in traffic the other night. And again after the Baby Stout incident, she’d yet to discover that they were already well-acquainted.

“We are familiar,” Malcolm replied, slowly and awkwardly.

Edrisa blinked up at him, the word ‘familiar’ seeming to strike a chord with her. “Has she told you any of her good stories?”

“Unfortunately, Mr. Bright and I haven’t had the opportunity to share our best case stories,” Y/N piped in, moving her hands to settle them atop her stomach as she lounged even further down into the chair. “But this case is squaring up to be a pretty good one.”

“That’s true!” Edrisa said enthusiastically. “I might even submit this case to the review board if we close it. Carbonization of tissue is such a fascinating subject, very open to debate about how it…”

When both Y/N and Malcolm stared owlishly at her as she trailed off, clearly lost in her own thought, she gathered herself just a little. “I could use more coffee. Do either of you—”

“Yes, please,” Y/N and Malcolm said in stereo. Edrisa’s eyes flitted between the two of them like she was watching a ping-pong match before she pointed at Y/N and laughed like they’d shared a joke Malcolm hadn’t quite caught. She continued to chuckle as she exited the lab.

Y/N remained where she was, feet still propped up, hands folded on top of her stomach, eyes studying him where he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, eyes darting around the room.

“Spit it out,” she said suddenly. “Unless the question is meant for Edrisa.”

He winced, visibly, beginning to hate just how transparent Y/N made him feel. He couldn’t be that obvious, right? He was a trained professional after all. “It’s a sensitive question,” Malcolm said instead, holding back more questions. Always questions. Questions he was sure might never get answered. Not when the person he needed to ask evaded them like a pro, not when the questions entered a territory too personal, too private, too dark.

“Ok, I’ll bite,” she said simply.

Malcolm hesitated, his own racing train of thought coming to a screeching halt. “It’s regarding your father,” he said, giving her the leeway to refuse his request.

She stared at him impassively, cocking her head to the side slightly. “I’m still listening.”

He swallowed reflexively, trying to push out one coherent question at a time. “Was there anything that stood out in his autopsy report, anything weird, anything violently particular?”

“Clever.” Was the only thing Y/N said for a moment, eyes glazing over a little in contemplation, her silence leaving Malcolm prickling with anticipation. “Can’t believe I never thought about this, but yeah. His mouth had been stapled shut. Surgical steel.”

Malcolm’s pulse thundered in his ears as her gaze focused on him once more. She'd said it so easily, effortlessly, like the act of recalling that her father’s body had been mutilated while he was still alive, that he’d been silenced, before being burned alive meant nothing to her. Maybe it really wasn’t personal for her. Maybe it was just one of those cases you got fixated on because it had gone unsolved for so long. Maybe Malcolm was just projecting something onto her. His own need to understand everything that effected him in some way. The way she was looking at him, calm, exhausted, with no real sadness in her gaze, spoke volumes.

He stared back, too flabbergasted to speak for a moment before swallowing dryly. “So, I have a theory…”

#prodigal son #prodigal son fox #malcolm bright #malcolm whitly #malcolm bright x reader #malcolm whitly x reader #burn season #x reader #x you #x y/n #reader insert #fanfic #gil arroyo #JT Tarmel #dani powell #edrisa tanaka #sayhitoforever #hitowrites

[ddaenghoney]

chapter twelve

masterlist link in blog description.

As a successful songwriter, you want nothing more than the acknowledgment that the chart-topping musical pieces are your own creations. But contracts, relationships, and the difficulty of facing the stakes involved head on, keep your mouth shut until pressure builds too much.

Pairing(s): Park Jimin x Y/N, Min Yoongi x Y/N

disclaimer: any characters depicted do not represent the actual personality of the respected idol in real life.

Series warning(s)/genre(s): Chapter-based written fic, Slow-burn relationship(s), Fake-dating, Unrequited love, Songwriter/producer!oc, idol!Jimin, idol/songwriter/producer!Yoongi, friends with benefits, drama, romance, smut, angst, fluff (updated as needed)

Chapter warning(s): mentions of anxiety and themes of anxiety from slight claustrophobic environment.

Word count: 5463

if you enjoy please, please let me know!

You click the volume button on your phone to raise the playlist’s sound to comfortable blur of the world around. More particularly, to avoid any verbiage from entering your eardrums when you are already too aware of how much attention you bring to yourself. Rationalizing that your presence at the airport makes sense given your public relationship with Yoongi, you simply scroll through a feed of posts on Instagram to bide time, waiting for an arrival text.

Yoongi told you not to come when you told him as he boarded his flight home that you’d be there to greet him. Explaining that it’s dangerous to your safety considering the amount of crowds sure to welcome him as well with the flight back being public, Yoongi said he’d go see you from the airport instead. You would’ve agreed had the whole ordeal not been requested hours earlier in a direct email from Yerin.

“Ms.,” The sound muffles in your ears, more aware of the bodyguard’s request for your attention by means of a gentle pat on your shoulder. You remove an earbud, spine tingling at choice words that seemed amplified by the tall ceilings and shiny tile floor of the terminal. “He should be landing soon, when he enters, please make sure you follow our guidance to the vehicle instead of loitering. For your safety.”

You nod, feeling exceptionally feeble in this alien situation. Never in your life would you picture yourself waiting for someone of such high recognition in the middle of the airport at the top of a wall of fans held behind you by use of a flimsy metal barrier. Furthermore, you would not ever think the person would be a falsified boyfriend where your position in the crowd only drives irritated spikes constantly in your direction.

Granted, the majority of people waiting to spot Yoongi seem polite, and even yell back in your defense. Still, you didn’t necessarily want to be at the center of this type of attention. The guard next to you probably finds you being there just as annoying as you thought you’d be when you read the email’s demand-

“Look, he’s here!”

Like the shot to start a race, the one discernable exclamation causes a frenzy of calls. The barrier budges only slightly, impact stopping as sensibility takes over and the hundred or so people try to act as civil as possible given the circumstances.

You clutch your phone tighter in your grasp, glancing back at them all as they scream different things to gain attention, but your eyes go back to the opening doors. Along with other passengers getting as far away from the mayhem as possible, Yoongi walks out with the inherent entourage of staff and guards.

Your smile is incredibly forced because of the nerves rumbling in your throat from the amount of people and volume, but then altogether the expression fades away as Yoongi just nods in a direction for you to follow them down the premade path to the awaiting SUV. Gathering he’s irritated by the added hysteria of you being there, you move towards him quickly, grabbing hold of the hand he extends out for you, but it becomes abandons as well. Instead replaced by Yoongi’s arm worming around your waist to pull you closer to his stature as the crowds get more vivid on account of paparazzi waiting towards the doors.

Your newly free hands find purchase quickly gripping onto the fabric hanging off of Yoongi’s torso, nervously following his pace as the bright flashes stun your senses. Biting roughly on your lip, you feel the bumps from security, hear the constant shouts of attention for both of you, and try your best to ignore it all, repeating that it’ll end soon.

The car doors are open long before the two of you reach them. Yoongi nudges you ahead at last moment to let you inside first, following in quickly afterward with the door shutting just as swiftly. You exhale air held in your lungs as your hands fiddle with one another in your lap, trying to ease as the car departs.

“Are you okay?” Yoongi raises the armrest of his seat to turn, knee nearly bumping your own seat while his eyes scan over your person. “I wish you would’ve told Yerin no-- that-” He points to the back of the car where road trails behind you both, head shaking, “is scary enough for anyone, but making you wait there for me for hours?” He scoffs, rubbing his bangs back from his face, “Bullshit. You shouldn’t have had to go through that, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

Quiet lingers in the air, Yoongi’s chest rising and emptying a bit more visibly from the angered rant. He waits for you to respond, still eyeing your figure for outward signs of distress from the crowds. You eventually nod your head,

“Not a fan of that all.” Your voice feels grated, must sound so too as Yoongi frowns at you in response. He glances to your hands balled in your lap, still fidgety for relief with one another. Wordlessly he reaches for them both, taking them within his larger appendages. Rubbing gently, Yoongi also nods his head to your conclusion. “I’m sorry if it made you upset I was there though.”

“I’m not mad about that.” Yoongi mumbles easily in response, keeping contact for himself because of how your hands feel between his. Naturally, he hates that invasive part of fame, finding it anxiety inducing for multiple reasons. “It just bothers me you had to be around all of the crowds and deal with that.”

“I’m okay.” You convince him with a small voice, that also helps your own psyche to hear aloud. A faint smile curls on Yoongi’s lips as he lifts his gaze back to yours, silently telling you that you didn’t need to pretend. Your shoulder shrugs because it’s not a complete lie. “You’re here. I’m okay.”

Yoongi’s lips pursed at your tiny admission, appearing to grow satisfied with the words, but his head ducks shyly. The balling connection of your hands feel only a little tighter because of a flustered squeeze by Yoongi, “If you say so then...”

“Oh,” You interrupt the moment to shift on your seat, facing Yoongi when he looks back to you in a focused surprise. “Can we go to my apartment? I have the cake.” You grin as you watch Yoongi’s eyes light up in remembrance of the jovial promise you made to him before leaving. His lips curl, visibly peeking teeth as he chuckles at the excitement and pride you emit from the endeavor,

“Who am I to say no to cake?” ---

“Ignore all the papers on the-- what’s supposed to be-- dining table. I’m the worst at keeping it clean.” You mutter as you type in the code for your front door, ignoring Yoongi’s light laughter because in reality you’re internally thinking about how much of a mess you left the rest of the place. Pushing the door open, you scan the room as Yoongi follows you inside. Incidentally, it’s not that awful, but the table is as much of a disorganized array of papers, notebooks, and other stationary that you knew it would be.

“You can put your backpack on the armchair, or anywhere.” You gesture to your living area, before walking along to the kitchen space on the side opposite the table.

“I’m going to end up falling asleep on the couch if I get too close to it.” Yoongi admits in a joking murmur as he places his bag beside the entrance to your door instead, stretching out his arms when they’re free of the weight.

“Wait, yeah, you’re probably really tired, huh?” You frown as you pull out the cake from the refrigerator, turning to place it on the small island. “I’m sorry, I should’ve let you go home and sleep-” “I’m okay,” He says with a smile, though your frown remains because of sleepiness in his eyes as Yoongi meets you in the kitchen. “Besides I’m just going to make my sleep schedule worse if I let myself go to sleep at two in the afternoon.” He tilts his head, smile tugging on his lips as you continue to frown up at him dissatisfied with the situation. “Quit pouting, I’m okay.”

“I’m not pouting.” You mumble, averting your gaze to the cake, fingers lazily playing with the container’s lid. The movement halts as Yoongi’s chuckling rings in your ears followed by his thumb prodding the plush of your cheek, calling your eyes back to his.

“You’re literally pouting.” Yoongi’s voice is quieter than it needs to be, despite its playful intonation as he studies your expression with gleaming fondness seemingly in his irises. You tighten your lips into a line, listening to the silence while the imaginary sound of your heart tries to pretend it’s accelerating audibly. “I can sleep later; I wanted to see you, Y/N, it’s not a big deal.” His arm falls back to his side as Yoongi looks to the container, catching the pink frosting’s pigment visible through the blur of the container’s texture. “Don’t judge me if I eat this entire thing, by the way.”

“Are you hungry?” Your soft tone is contrastingly teasing paired with a smile as Yoongi makes a tiny unintelligible noise followed by a mumble of falling asleep when they served food on the plane. You poke your finger into his side, giggling instantly as he jerks from you and grabs your hand. His eyes are wide, startled when he looks back at you, appearing utterly and dramatically offended that you tickled him beneath his ribcage. “Grilled cheese sound good?”

A grilled cheese layered with deli meat and quickly sauteed veggies and a full slice of cake make Yoongi sigh with contentment as he relaxes back into your couch. You watch with amusement as the amount of carbohydrates weigh down his eyes more than before. Chewing on the final bite of cake he insisted you had to eat as well or else it wouldn’t be a real celebration, you set your empty plate to the coffee table clattering its edge barely against Yoongi’s. “You and Namjoon are great at cooking.”

“It was just a sandwich.” You play off the compliment, thinking back to the first year of Namjoon’s cafe opening where you helped him out a lot more than nowadays that it is settled.

“The best one ever.” Yoongi goes on, eyes closed while he lounges back on the cushion, smiling when he hears you scoff in disbelief, yet with gratitude. The show’s sound lingers in the background of your perception, as you ponder calling him a cab so Yoongi could go properly rest. “You know you still haven’t told me about how the meeting with Yerin went.”

In the moment Yoongi brings up the topic you’ve done entirely well to avoid so far, you bite onto your bottom lip, shifting your stare aimlessly back to the television. Telling Yoongi that you’ve practically quit your job with no plan on how to get back on your feet afterward sounds like a way to get him to think you’re a little bit crazy, or at least very careless. When Namjoon found out he spent about ten minutes going back and forth from congratulating you without fervent emotion and staring at you like he was just as confused about what you would do as well.

You didn’t really want to go through that again, even if it is warranted due to their worry.

A hum vibrates your lips, thinking of a way to get him to altogether forget about this subject. Maybe if you put on a rain asmr playlist he’d fall asleep and you could abandon the country for a week to figure out an excuse of why you’re irrationally spoken decision in the meeting won out over something more civil. And resembling a continued livelihood.

“Was it bad after all?” Yoongi shifts on the couch beside you, legs coming up to sit criss cross as he faces you to better gauge your emotions. “You said you’d tell me about it when I got back since it wasn’t a big deal, but,” A tiny laugh leaks out with a contrasting mixture of nervous and attempt to keep the conversation’s ambience light-hearted. “Maybe not?”

“There’s just not much to say,” You begin vaguely, fingers in your lap fidgeting with one another as you figure out how to go about speaking, “They weren’t interested in changing my contract anymore than giving me a larger percentage of royalties so,” You shrug as the words trail away, thinking that you have no actual reason to find this difficult to admit. Yoongi wouldn’t be angry or judge you, but it felt embarrassing to say. Considering how financially secure your career at SoundWave keeps you, how could you just pull away from that to practically start over from the ground up?

“Ah,” Yoongi head nods in understanding. You glance towards him, watching him tossle around his locks and appear so groggy and without energy from the ten hour flight home. Yet he still seems intent to pay attention and hear what your situation is like now, to be beside you as you adapt to changes. “So you signed with them again.”

“I didn’t renew the contract.”

Without flinching, your eyes follow Yoongi’s head as it shoots up. No particular shock invades his appearance for a moment, just eyebrows creasing and a mutter, “You didn’t?” It’s as you nod slowly that his eyes begin to widen, lips parting in a shocked circle, then a repeat, “You didn’t.”

You swallow thickly, before cracked, small, practically soundless laughter leaves your lips as you just nod again. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Your words are hollow, different from how you casually spoke the facts to Namjoon a week ago. More caught up with the severity. Worried.

“Wait,” Yoongi frowns, rubbing his neck as he connects everything verbally, “They weren’t going to change the contract like you wanted, so you decided not to renew. You’re just going to be there until your contract ends?” Rambling continues along while you just nod in response. Eventually your own hands come up to hold your jaw as you mutter,

“Oh, I fucked up. I messed up, didn’t I?”

“No,” Unconvinced you look at Yoongi whose head shakes instantly, though there’s nothing about how his eyes stare at you that help you believe the response. “No, no-- you deserve credit, Y/N. You really do.”

“I’m not getting credit for anything at SoundWave.” You mutter, letting yourself fall on your side into the couch, straying from Yoongi just so he wouldn’t catch the consistent nervousness invading your expression. “I have to find a company-- work in general for songwriting or production with a blank resume.” You inhale, counting the seconds as the air sits in your lungs.

In the short gap of response you recall how much Yoongi has had to do for you so far. Always comforting your screw ups and dealing with the remnant dissatisfaction in your previous relationship. Now you lie on your couch, ranting your problems again, and hoping for something in response. You don’t do enough for him at all, yet you still lean on him like it’s his job to help you out.

You didn’t want to tell him about the meeting because Yoongi’s nice and he’d give you advice, spend his energy worrying for you as well. You shouldn’t misuse his kindness, especially when he has plenty of other responsibilities for his own job. You exhale the air, scooting further from him to rest your head on the plush of the armrest, “Yoon, just forget it. I’ll figure it out on my own somehow, you don’t need to listen to all of this crap.”

Yoongi blinks, frowning in dissatisfaction of the apparent worry, and your misplaced desire to push him out of your affairs for fear of it being annoying. “I’m not obligated, Y/N.” He waits a second to hear a response but receives nothing more than your legs curling slightly towards your chest. His hand presses into the couch, torso arching as Yoongi scoots to lean over, “What’s wrong with telling me?”

“I always rant about things to you.” Your eyes evade his own, though you’re very aware of the closer proximity due to the shadow he casts over you. “And you’re always, like, I guess accommodating to all the problems I have, and I bet it’s so old by now. You’re tired from your plane ride and I’m just stressing you out more.”

“You have to get this out of your head that you’re troubling me because of any of this, angel.” Yoongi’s voice resembles starlight, and the sentiment exuding shines in little spurts across your senses. Your mouth tightens into a line, just returning the slightest glance because you’re unsure why he’s this sweet to you. “I can’t imagine how nerve-wracking this is for you, but it’s okay to let people help you.”

“Do-” You cut yourself off, sighing as you head shakes a little. It’s past the time when you should be asking what you want to ask, but it feels acceptable to go on as Yoongi simply stays silent. To help encourage you further, his free hand rest overtop of yours, working to cast warmth. “Do you think I messed up, Yoon?”

Despite the uncertainty, despite this being the biggest decision you could have made for your career, the line of questioning doesn’t cause Yoongi a lot of thought. One could blame the blind optimism or inherent positivity of his closeness to you that makes him assume your success from here on is sure, but he doesn’t think that deeply about it. After all that you’ve created and produced musically, he simply believes everything will be okay for you, so he shakes his head. Smiling gently as his hand squeezes yours,  he says all you could want to hear in that moment,

“Not at all. You stood up for yourself. That’s never wrong.”

It takes only a moment for a smile to begin flowering on your face, more on account of Yoongi’s convicted gaze that maintains a softness that you’re starting to believe is an unconscious talent of his. Nodding slightly, you sigh letting yourself heed his perspective, if only as a means to make yourself try and think as optimistically. In the very least, if you were able to make a career out of music, albeit not under the best circumstances, then you have as much of a chance to do it again.

“Maybe I always tell you everything because you always say something to make me happier.” The audible ponder causes a tiny prickling of heat to crawl along the back of Yoongi’s neck then flourish more so as you shift beneath him, properly looking up at him with a sincere smile. The situation between your bodies travels closer to the forefront of his mind, but Yoongi’s cheeks speckle with pink only because of your words’ effect.

“I’m glad you think that.” Yoongi speaks quietly, rich timbre touched with a fluster. You nearly giggle at the fact, but the candylike tone of his proceeding admission causes your chest to swell, “I’ll always try to make you feel better, whenever you need me to.”

His words are sweet like honey, inciting summer to crawl along your complexion. You swallow nothing, just finding the gaze he returns to your eyes completely entrapping, but more so like that of a hug. Your heart could gush from just the pleasantness of his voice.

“Yoongi,” You find nothing to say following calling his name, so instead your hands escape his singular grip so that you can cover your face, hiding away the erupting blush. “You’re-” You groan without irritation, prompting Yoongi’s eyes to widen in confusion. His lips curl into an inquisitive frown, altogether taken aback back by your flustered state. “You’re dangerous-- you’re too sweet. I can’t even believe you.”

“What?” He chuckles at your senseless mumbles where you lie beneath him. “Dangerous and sweet, that doesn’t make sense.”

“Right?” You peek from beneath your hands, nodding. “You’re a contradiction.” Masked away from his view is your smile as Yoongi continues in chuckles. You feel his body growing limp, likely tired from holding himself up on one arm for the duration of the conversation, and then sleepy on account of his earlier plane ride. “You should take a little nap, at least. I’ll wake you up, promise.”

“You think so?” He questions your ability to wake him up though not actually intending to challenge you. Yoongi’s body inevitably sinks atop of your own, and he intends to shift away until your hand lies on his bicep comfortably. He bites his lip, suddenly undesiring of moving, especially as you hum an affirmative to his rhetorical ask. “Aren’t I heavy?” A testing whisper. Gauging if you’re as settled with the position as he finds himself to be.

“No, I don’t think you are.” You brush away his nerves unknowingly, finally finding your own courage to let your free hand mesh very gently into his bleached locks. Trying to soothe him into a quick slumber you guide your fingertips play around rhythmically, only ceasing for a moment as Yoongi’s waist shifts just so that he can rest more comfortably. Also ensuring that the majority of his body weight doesn’t press onto you, but that’s about all he can manage until the ministrations of your fingers in his hair lull him out completely.

---

“What are you so worried about?” Yoongi stares blankly at the computer screen while Hoseok’s question on speaker phone rings through his ears. Analyzing the final touches on the side project of potential songs he’s made with you over the past couple of months, he finds himself unsettled looking at them. Your name brightly pixelated in parenthesis beside each title, and it only serves to irritate Yoongi to continue seeing it.

Not that he ever planned to release these songs, but now that they’re done and he’s well into consideration for what could come for you at the end of the month when your contract is officially finished, Yoongi can’t avoid the negative association of their presence in his computer’s library.

“She doesn’t know what she’s going to do, and even if she’s as talented as she is, it’s fucking hard to get any noteworthy company to give her chance, Hoseok.” Yoongi sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index finger. “I’m worried about her; she already shouldn’t be having to start over, but I can’t do anything to help her, and I couldn’t do anything to help you either.”

There’s a falter of replies, both parties finding themselves surprised at the final piece of the outburst.

“Yoongi-”

“I should’ve helped you.” The conversation shifts back into stagnation. Yoongi sighs again, rubbing his face as the expected reply comes after a long pause.

“I told you me getting fired is my own fault. You know the CEO already had crap against me. The situation with Seulgi just sealed the deal for him.” Hoseok’s voice reasons factually, as if those two simple reasons are enough to say being laid off from their old company makes any type of sense. “I don’t blame you for anything.”

“I do.” Yoongi doesn’t know if his voice is loud enough for Hoseok to hear, but he doesn’t repeat the admission. Recalling how simple it would’ve been to defend his friend, Yoongi taps his finger on his desk, then glances back up at his screen where your presence remains like a reminder of a year ago. Yet different from that time.

Yoongi feels no worry about his own career while he stares in thought of what to do about your own. Where he had to consider his actions in light of his stoic reputation in the public, he doesn’t think about that in the present. His manager would if Yoongi brought the issue up, likely be ready to shut down anything related to helping you in the eyes of the media and fans. Risking the long-running persona of SUGA for some unfortunate songwriter who made a misguided choice is impossible. Reasonably speaking, SUGA can’t help you without sticking the name in the middle of a potential scandal.

“It’s kind of funny hearing you so worried about her considering you only became friends from having to pretend to date.” Hoseok disrupts the stream of thought, bringing Yoongi back to reality. “She went and met you at the airport a couple of days ago, right? Saw it all over twitter.”

“Yeah,” Yoongi nods, then furrows his eyebrows at the memory of loud people and camera lenses in every direction around you as he walked into the lobby. “They made her go. Isn’t that fucked up? What if something happened?” He rubs his jaw, feet pushing him languidly side to side in his seat. “She’s not used to crowds like that-- it makes me mad-” Hoseok’s laughter stiffens Yoongi’s shoulders. Wondering what he said, Yoongi whines to cut into the laughter, “What?”

“You’re just really fond of her, huh?” Hoseok’s light voice makes Yoongi go quiet. Lips tighten into a line as he goes on. “I thought from the pictures that you became an actor overnight, but I guess that was really you being protective.”

Confused, Yoongi tilts his head in thought, trying to recall if he seemed particularly overbearing in the airport, but can only come to the conclusion that he had been trying to ensure you felt secure in the intense environment. He crosses his arms over his chest, humming when Hoseok questions aloud if the line went dead.

“What do you mean fond of her?”

“What?” Hoseok laughs again, but more so from amusement, spinning around in his desk chair on his side of the line, barely missing a collision with his knee on the corner of the table. “Bro, you know what I mean-”

“Wait,” Yoongi takes hold of his phone as loud thumping hits against his door followed by the ring of the doorbell. “I’ll talk to you later, I need to go.” Rolling his eyes at the dramatic, high-pitched whine Hoseok sends through the line, Yoongi ends the call, abandoning his phone on the desk as he gets up. Dotting through a quick list of potential visitors, he doesn’t recall anyone supposed to come, and knows it isn’t you because of your knowledge of the passcode.

“Hey,” One of the other producers greets Yoongi with a smile as he opens the door. A large, orange envelope  in his hand waves into the air, “I was just bringing you some mail from the lobby while I was on the way to my desk.” He explains casually, prompting a nod from Yoongi albeit with smothered confusion on why the random producer is doing him a favor when they’ve barely ever worked together.

“Oh, thanks for that.” Yoongi sets aside the speculation, instead voicing appreciation as he takes the delivery.

“Yeah,” The guy’s reply falters, but Yoongi shakes it off to step back into his studio until the exchange continues further, “Actually, you’re close with Y/N now, right? Is it true she got fired?”

Inquisitive to the ear, but something deeper about the tone makes Yoongi’s eyebrows crease. He looks back towards the producer who meets his eyes with a now forced smile. Deciphering the intention as something negative, Yoongi’s head tilts in consideration of what he could be trying to get at. “Where’d you here that from?” “What? Oh,” He stutters, glancing towards the door frame as he shrugs, “You know, just gossip and all… I was just curious since she gets the most work, you know?”

Yoongi inhales remaining silent as he comes to understand this producer to be similar of a vulture. Likely others too are interested in receiving more work following your inevitable departure, but the insinuation of you being let go instead of quitting unsettles him. Irritating to hear. “I mean, it’s not just me curious,” He glances again away from Yoongi this time down the hallway where his eyes grow wide for a split second upon recognition, “Oh, like Jimin here-- hey, you’re wondering if Y/N got fired too, aren’t you?”

Yoongi steps a small step forward so he can lean his head and view down. Jimin appears confused at the question, hands in his pockets like he’d simply been walking to wherever.

“You heard she got fired, didn’t you-”

“Stop saying that.” Yoongi cuts into the producers loud voice, slicing them with an annoyed grit clinging to his words. “She didn’t get fired.” His arms cross over one another, envelope hitting against his side as he does so. Jimin’s movement causes Yoongi’s gaze to shift back towards him, expression etched with his upset temperment from the rude gossiping.

Jimin doesn’t say anything, slow steps like that of someone on a stroll, intending to walk past them both. The producer shifts a little distance away from Yoongi’s calm and heavy glare, watching with a stupor at the disposition that originally he hadn’t expected as a reaction to his questioning.

“It was just a question,” He mutters then nearly bites his tongue when Yoongi snaps his eyes back, “I just think it’d be pretty good for the company to vary more, that’s all-- she just works in the background anyways, it’s not like anyone would notice.”

“Hey,” Jimin interrupts the trail of irritated rebuttals about to leave Yoongi’s lips, eyes fixating into a glare towards the fidgeting producer, “She does more for the company than any of us do, so why don’t you stop talking shit and go actually work on something?”

“I,” The producer bites his lip, glancing nervously between Jimin and Yoongi, before nodding his head, “Yeah,” He turns on his heel, then startles backwards a few paces towards Jimin, eyes widening. “Oh, Y/N-”

The tension in Yoongi’s expression releases, stepping forward to let his studio door shut, revealing you barely more than a few feet from the three of them with two members of a girl group looking increasingly shocked and curious at the conversation at hand. He stays quiet, wondering how much of the guy’s stupidity you heard, but as he takes in your narrowed eyes he can freely assume enough.

“I didn’t get fired, I quit.” You say simply, voice devoid of civility. Glancing from the completely embarrassed producer to Yoongi then Jimin, you just sigh. Though you were aware this questioning would come eventually, you expected something more decent than gossip about people wanting to shift into your spot the second you leave the company. The two girls around you voice shocked questioning, but you pay no mind to them, “Next time you want to try gossiping about me, just ask me yourself; this is so ridiculous going behind my back for your own selfish gain.”

Jimin steps to the side as the producer nearly collides with him as he paces back another step, “You’re right, I’m sorry-- really.” You just scoff, watching him quickly scamper down the hallway so nothing more could be said.

“Wait, Y/N, you’re really leaving?” The youngest of the girl group members asks you with surprise, frown covering up her face. You just rub your face, nodding,

“Yeah, sorry; I have stuff to do.” You mumble in reply feeling a headache ready to come on from this whole stupid situation that is no doubt going to become increasingly invasive as this situation gets talked about around the company. You step towards Yoongi, turning to smile apologetically to the two girls, “It’s not a big deal, sorry.”

You hear the familiar sound of a clicking keypad and find the door opening as Yoongi takes the hint to let you inside. He steps inside first, holding the door open with his hand, as you go to follow and find yourself looking towards Jimin. Devoid of much expression his head just nods in a silent greeting to you and your find yourself doing the same without really noticing, going on to murmur quietly, “Thanks for speaking up for me, Jimin.”

Then you enter into Yoongi’s studio, realizing as the door clicks shut that Jimin finally did what you thought he never wanted to. Where in the past he’s only ever stood by silently while the company uses you to its own benefit, he today defended you without any need. Though you have no way of reasoning why he suddenly found it necessary to speak on your behalf, you find the fact that it occured a startling mixture of thankfulness and comfort.

Only it came too late.

if you enjoy please, please let me know via ask, comment, rb with tags– however ! i’d just really appreciate feedback 🥺 i hope you enjoy the series, i’m working really hard on it! : )

tag list (send an ask to be added): @jaiuneamesolitaiire​ @tsvkino-usagi​ @xionysus​​ @baebyjoonie​ @honeyoongles​

#yoongi #bts #jimin #yoongi fanfic #bts fanfic #jimin fanfic #yoongi au #bts au #jimin au #yoongi fluff #jimin fluff #bts fluff #jimin angst #yoongi angst #bts angst #bts series #yoongi series #jimin series #bts x oc #yoongi x oc #jimin x oc #all #series veil

[imagine-loki]

Return

TITLE: Return CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter Ten AUTHOR: theterrifyingtermite ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine that, at the end of Endgame, Loki comes back. Only one problem: this isn’t your Loki… RATING: T NOTES/WARNINGS: Only the epilogue remains! As of this, my main brain child is wrapped up. I’ll be back after another five years! (haha, we’ll see is I return sooner. [okay i’m done with me] but seriously, thanks for reading.)

Chapter Ten:

Aside from the now normal feeling of discomfort across her entire body, blamed on the longevity of her pregnancy, she really hadn’t had too much difficulty over the remaining weeks of growing a half-alien baby.

Loki had been a near constant, helping her in any way that he could. While she was not on an order of total bed rest, she had been commanded by Christine to stay off her feet as much as possible.

It was a good thing she enjoyed books – especially when a certain someone with a soothing accent was reading them to her.

And, while she had heard some women complain about being at the height of their pregnancy over the summer, she actually hadn’t minded so much. It helped when you had a sentient half-block of ice indwelling your womb and knew wizards skillful enough to allow some of that to leak back through their containment field.

She’d had to wear a second watch to anchor all the added spells since the incident, but it had been completely worth it.

It hadn’t hurt that she argued the baby probably wouldn’t like it if she were to become overheated, being partially Frost Giant, and all.

Everything was wonderful, and she was content.

Mostly.

“Are you sure you feel fine?”

Her attention was pulled back to Thor who had been tapping his fingers repeatedly over the past quarter of an hour, even as he updated her about life in New Asgard.

He had become another staple in her life, popping in and out at least weekly, if only for a few minutes at a time before gallivanting off across the galaxy for several days on any sort of adventure.

Her lawn would never be the same.

He was concerned, because that feeling; that pressure had grown – but it had done this the day before and gone away again. It wasn’t terrible, so she wasn’t worried.

Besides, she had read it was normal. It was almost her due date, after all, otherworldly genetics aside.

There was nothing to worry about, so she rolled her eyes, repeating in a voice almost patient, “Honestly, yes. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Mhmmm,” he dragged out the sound, leaning forward to stare at her midsection. “I suppose you would know, it being your body and all-”

“Thank you for that concession,” she drawled.

“-even though you’ve never done this before, and the baby isn’t actually normal for human standards.”

“Thor!” The only thing closest to her was a mug of tea and lip balm. Not wanting to stain the carpet, she snatched up the tube and hurled it at him.

It bounced against his chest, but he merely blinked in confusion. “What was that for?”

“You. Are. Infuriating.” She enunciated each word, jabbing a finger in his direction before nestling back against her mess of pillows; shifting her hips until a vague comfort was met. “Go back to telling me about what Korg did this time to that ship.”

A squint, and then a slow nod before he complied.

She listened to him, determined to focus.

Well, she at least tried to listen as his persistent concern hovered over her mind.

There was something about the way her pelvis was aching that day that was starting to get unsettling.

Not that she wanted to give him the satisfaction of being right.

“-And then, Valkyrie, she picked up the box, the empty box mind you-“

No, no. It was nothing. Thor was just getting under her skin with his pestering. She would be able to tell. They had promised her she would be able to tell.

“-the only problem was that this time, Miek-“

A pit formed in her stomach, but she purposed to keep her expression interested as Thor jumped up to find something to use in his demonstration.

“-you would never guess what sort of-“

A thought and then nonchalantly, she folded her hands, fiddling with the clasp of the secondary watch.

“-and then a blaster goes off, and I said, “oh, no!” with my hands up like this, and-“

As he continued to ramble, turned sideways from her and fully invested into motioning out the story, she slowly – very slowly slid the buckle apart and allowed the watch to slide off, repeating the action more quickly on the primary one before he caught her.

At first, nothing.

Until there was undeniably something.

The rush of magic, daggers of ice, and pain splitting her open from the inside out all hit her senses at once. She suddenly heaved for air, choking out Thor’s name as she immediately doubled over.

He was crouching at her side in an instant, hands grasping at her, declaring over and over again that he knew it; he knew something was wrong; he didn’t know magic himself, mind you, but he spent enough of his life around it to know when something was going wrong, and something was definitely-

“Shut up,” she gasped out, fisting a hand in his shirt as the contraction finally abated, “and look at the clock. I need to time this.”

One minute. Two. Then-

“Six,” she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut as another contraction started no more than ten seconds after that one abated. “Hand me my phone. I need them. Don’t know how long…”

Breathless, she leaned against Thor, one of his arms wrapping around her as he picked up her phone. He scrolled through its contents, dialing quickly when she bit out “Christine.”

Her head had almost instantaneously started to ache. The effects of the baby’s magic were sweeping through her at full force along with the labor.

It took another moment, but then her body relaxed, and Thor was setting down her phone, lifting her, and sitting on the couch with her in his hold.

“They’ll be over soon. When they come, I’ll go track down Loki; I swear it.”

She nodded, bumping against his jaw. In response he hugged her, murmuring something soft and soothing against her hair as she sucked in a deep breath, steeling herself for the next contraction.

“What?”

“I said, ‘I told you so!’” This was repeated cheerfully, with a kiss dropped onto the top of her head as she growled at him.

___

Six days ago, they had been the pair on her couch. She was stretched out, legs flung over his, in a dream-like state as what the masses referred to as cult classic played in the background.

Christmas in August. Well, basically September.

There were worse things that could happen.

Loki had been frowning, studying the TV while absentmindedly running a hand over one of her shins. He had remained quiet through most the film – entirely opposite from his counterpart – and while she had needed to explain some of the jokes, he merely nodded.

No reaction whatsoever.

Dull.

She hummed out a sigh, distantly aware of music playing in the background. It faded in and out as she drifted.

Well, she had dozed until the hand on her leg clenched down, nails biting into her skin.

“Ow,” was her grump, as she cracked open an eye to pout at him. “Loki, what are-“ she started, before taking in the expression on his face.

He was still staring at the screen, credits rolling, not appearing to hear her.

“Loki?”

A quiet comment came a moment later.

“That seemed a bit…chaotic.”

“Ah…” she shifted around until she had hauled herself up into more of a sitting position, pausing to take a few controlled breaths after the effort. “Isn’t chaos normally your thing?”

“Mischief,” came the disgruntled mutter, as a short giggle escaped her.

At least the line on his brow had eased somewhat.

No, there it was again.

And he refused to look at her.

“I don’t understand – they bicker the entire time, and then it’s all forgotten?”

“Well,” she began, intending to be thoughtful, “that’s usually how families work for the most part.”

The crease on his forehead deepened.

She grimaced.

“Listen…I know what it was like for you.” She folded her arms on her shelf of a stomach, hoping he would hear her. “What you went through – that’s not normal. Around this planet we call that abuse.”

“Perhaps I deserved  it.”

A scoff.

A pause.

A guilty look, following by confession:

“I stabbed Thor when we were eight.”

An inadvertent grin broke through then. Thor had recounted that particular story only a few visits prior.

Loki sent her a frustrated look, and she coughed, putting in an effort to smooth down her face.  “Sorry,” she apologized, stretching out a leg to lightly kick the man. “Keep going.”

“I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing,” he finally admitted, after another scolding frown. “I feel that it’s going to go spectacularly wrong, as has everything else. I’ve no idea how to be a fa-”

His words cut off as he had clenched his jaw suddenly, turning his face away from her contemplation.

Well, there it is.

Insecurity had been the other Loki’s primary fear as well, though it had never quite been directed this way before.

Good thing she had practice with a Moody God of Mischief.

Wiggling around, she managed to swivel herself and scoot over until she had sidled up against his arm. She dropped her head on his shoulder and took his far hand in her own.

He remained still for a moment, then sighed as she covered it with her own and moved it to rest against the curve of her middle.

“Listen to me,” she commanded gently, reaching up her free hand to hook around him. “You won’t be perfect. That’s impossible. But what you have is the opportunity to make your own choices. You know what not to do. Whatever you think you needed – compassion, time, or gentleness – you’re right. And you have all that in you, and you can give it to him. I know you will.”

He had made a noncommittal sound at her words but very soon after had chosen to slide the arm she was on around her back and tuck her in more.

They fell quiet, but as the Christmas music droned on in the background, he had slowly begun to lose tension.

And then, she thought of what she had been doing earlier that day. She waited several more minutes until he had stewed enough for one afternoon before she tilted her head back to catch a glimpse of his reaction.

“You know, I was thinking of using the name Haldor.” She murmured into the stillness, biting the inside of her lip to keep from laughing at all costs.

It was immediate.

“Haldor?” A stricken frown was sent down to her, his eyes wide. “You want-“

And then there was a sulk as he caught the impish tone just after.

She had let her joy bubble over then, and after a moment, he had smiled.

And all was well. Not forever, but for the moment – it would be fine.

___

She was miserable.

“It was suppressing labor, you idiot! After you said it wouldn’t!” Christine smacked the wizard’s arm, a glare tightening her features. “Now figure out how to help her without screwing it up more!”

She was also trying to ignore them. They were arguing; Wong was methodically setting up a pool, interjecting the most unhelpful side comments, meanwhile, she was dying.

Well, not actually like the last time, but close enough to it.

She blew out the breath she had been holding, whimpering as another contraction tore through her midsection. Forcing herself to breathe in and out; just get any bit of oxygen, really – she willed herself to remain calm.

Even as she pressed her face into the rocking chair that she’d soon be using to nurse the baby.

Even as she wanted to scream and carve the baby out herself; to hell with it all.

Even as the contraction broke, and she slumped down again, energy spent.

Even as she ignored Stephen’s every suggestion that she just let them use magic; really, it would speed up the process and make everyone’s lives easier-

And then his voice washed over her.

“I’m here,” he chanted again and again as he knelt beside her; a hand massaging up and down her back; another brushing sweaty tendrils of hair off her temple.

Heaving for air, she only managed a grumped “Took you long enough, you bast-” before another wave of pain crashed through her, and she choked on the rest of the insult, raging internally instead.

“Easy,” was the direction, as she fisted her hands into the fabric of the chair. He shifted and reached around to lock an arm around her shoulders and hold her upright. “Breathe.”

She tried to smack him for that; flailing blindly to her left until she hit something, and he grunted.

“I am,” she spit at him, scowling at his smirk, even as the pain vanished as quickly as it came.

“And you’re doing it so well.” His fingers wrapped around her hip as another contraction started almost instantly.

“Time to get in,” Christine ordered, popping up on her other side to help him lift her to her feet and transfer her to the water.

Time.

Fine.

She could do this.

She would.

She only believed it when, to her blurred, unfocused amazement, Loki slid in behind her, anchoring her against his chest.

“Ready when you are, my dear,” he murmured.

Okay.

Okay.

Now she was.

___

And later, when it was all over, she was curled up in her bed and gazing down at the little, pale infant – so pale, he almost shimmered an icy blue at times – determined to never take her eyes off him.

There were some faint markings swirling around his shoulders and down his arms, but the rest of his torso and legs were smooth. The bottoms of his tiny feet were also pattered, the lines only curving up his ankles.

His little fingers and toes were cold to the touch, but to her it was a delight.

The few curls he had were dark. Brown, more than likely, as he grew. Maybe black.

His eyes that he had blinked at her once he was cleaned, dried, placed in her arms were brown, just like hers – until the light had hit them, and then a flash of the deepest red could be seen. 

He was beautiful, and he was hers.

An arm slipped around her upper body, palm resting over her heart, and squeezed her gently.

Well, he was theirs.

#Loki #Lover #Angst #Father #Others #Submitted fic #submission #return #chapter 10 #theterrifyingtermite

[gatesofember]

Frailty and Fortune: Chapter 7

PJO Arranged Marriage/Royalty AU Part 10

Rating: T | Pairing: Solangelo

Prev | Next | AU directory | Read it on AO3 (Recommended) | Arranged Marriage AU Masterpage

Summary: A few months have passed since Prince Nico’s wedding to William of Solace. Even with his husband at his side, Will sometimes feels lonely as he settles into his new life. He misses his home, his family, his friends, and his studies in Venadica. Meanwhile, Nico is uncertain how to help him, awkward about expressing himself, and he wonders if he’ll ever be able to truly make his husband happy. As time goes by and Will continues to feel lost in his new home, Will and Nico must both learn how to make their marriage work.

Will had intended to start working on city improvement plans as soon as possible, but Nico appeared to have other ideas.  After Will returned to the palace, Nico spent the rest of the day and most of the next doting on him.  While the gesture seemed sweet at first, by the afternoon Will found himself so distracted by Nico hovering over his shoulder that he could hardly think, let alone theorize ways to reconstruct the Plutonian economy, so he subtly suggested Nico ought to help Hazel brush up on her fencing.  Nico’s expression fell and Will felt immediately guilty, so when Nico asked if he was being bothersome, Will hurried to explain that he wanted to do some research and that Nico’s presence made it difficult to focus—“because I love you so much,” he said, which provoked a blush and a soft, sweet smile from his husband, and then Nico agreed to give Will some alone time.

Will found Reyna flipping through papers in her study.  He’d never visited her chambers before so he hovered outside the door awkwardly for a moment, holding a large scroll under his arm while he watched the top of Reyna’s head and tried to think of a way to politely announce himself.  Reyna made an excellent friend, but she was intimidating as a soror and advisor.  Will always felt small around her—unless, of course, she chose to dull the sharp, authoritative aura that she normally gave off, but she was selective about the circumstances under which she did so.

Finally, Reyna looked up.  “May I help you with something, Your Highness, or would you prefer to continue lurking in the doorway?”

“Oh,” Will said.  “Uh, yes.  I wondered if you had a moment to spare?  I’d like to talk to you about a few things I noticed in the city yesterday.”

“You mean when you decided to run off without telling anybody and set the whole palace in uproar?”

Will bit his lip.  “Um—” he started, but Reyna gave him a knowing, if exasperated, smile.

“Have a seat, Your Highness,” Reyna said, gesturing to the chair across her desk.  When he did, she folded her hands in front of herself and leaned back.  “I presume you want to talk about the financial state of Divitia?”

“Well, uh, yes,” Will stammered.  “I thought, if you’re amenable, we could discuss some ideas I had for recovery.”

Reyna nodded for him to continue.

“I’ve been looking into Divitia’s aqueducts,” Will said, unrolling the scroll he’d brought on top of the desk to show her a map of the city’s sewage system.  He’d uncovered it from the palace’s archives that morning before Nico had woken up to distract him.  “It’s all horribly dated.  Nothing’s been touched for a decade.  No maintenance, no upgrades—nothing apart from an occasional cleaning.”

“And for a reason,” Reyna said.  “You know what happened a decade ago.”

“Yes, the Scarlet Delirium,” Will answered.  “But the system needs to be renovated.  I didn’t have an opportunity to examine anything while in the city, but I’m sure it’s in desperate need of repairs and I know it’s inefficient.  The streets are filthy, Reyna.  All that sewage not being properly drained—it must be affecting the health of the citizens.  Sanitation and clean water greatly decrease the risk of spreading disease.  Construction would provide at least temporary employment for some of the citizens and jobs in sanitation would offer a more permanent solution, which won’t fix the economic troubles of the people but should somewhat ease them.  We could contract engineers to design a new system.  Venus’ aqueducts are supposed to be incredibly brilliant—perhaps we could implement something like them here.”

Reyna sighed.  “Will, your enthusiasm is admirable, but you need to think smaller if you want to help people.  Venus has the most sophisticated sewage systems in the world.  The Duchess had the entire island updated less than half a decade ago, but we don’t have the funds to build anything like it in even one city.”

“Then what about the Venadican system?” Will asked.  “Or the Phrygian?  I can write to my aunt and Lityerses to ask for the city plans.”

Reyna shook her head.  “A new system is impossible.  The most we can do is repair and give some minor updates to the one that already exists.”

Will looked down at the map of Divitia’s aqueducts.  “I’ll put more thought into it, then,” he said, rolling the paper back up.  “Smaller thoughts.”

“Have you talked to your husband about your ideas?”

Will paused.  “That’s...um...well, no.”  Nico hadn’t seemed very keen on discussing things earlier.  He’d been more interested in distracting Will with kisses and light touches and pretty smiles.

Reyna sighed and rubbed her temple.  “Gods above, then what do you talk about?”

Her tone caught Will by surprise.  “What do you mean?” 

Reyna shook her head.  “Forgive me, Your Highness, I shouldn’t have said anything.  That wasn’t appropriate.”

Will’s frown deepened.  Your Highness?  Just a moment ago, she’d called him ‘Will.’

Reyna pursed her lips when Will didn’t let her relent.  “It’s really not my place,” she said.  “Only, the both of you seem to be building a habit of not discussing things with each other.  Like in Phrygia.”

“But we talked about what happened in Phrygia,” Will said.  “Besides, do I really need to tell him everything?”

It came out sounding more sour than Will intended, and Reyna picked up on it.  “Are you still fighting?” she asked.

“No,” Will said.  “It’s just that I don’t see why I need to report to him so much—or anyone else, for that matter.  After I went to town yesterday, everyone kept scolding Mellie and I.  Why do people need to know where I am or what I’m doing every second of the day?”

“Everyone wants to see you safe, that’s all,” Reyna assured.  “Well—your husband has the additional motive of wanting to know your schedule so that he can put himself in it whenever possible.  He likes spending time with you.”

“I’m just not used to having to report my activities so much.  I used to leave the Sun Palace to explore Phoebus and Delphi all the time, and in Venadica I lived in the city.”

“Phoebus, Delphi, and Venadica don’t have the same level of crime as Divitia.”

“Yes, I noticed,” Will admitted, thinking of his lost coin purse.  “But it’s still restraining.  Almost suffocating.”

“You could tell the Prince you feel that way,” Reyna suggested with a faint clip of exasperation in her tone.  “Just an idea.”

Will frowned.  “You really think Nico and I don’t talk seriously enough?”

Reyna folded her arms.  “I didn’t say that, precisely.  It just seems like there are a few important things that you’ve neglected to mention to one another.”

Will had to admit, they did spend a considerable amount of time kissing or talking about unimportant nonsense.  “Then is there something that Nico hasn’t told me?”

“I didn’t say that,” Reyna repeated, but she didn’t deny it, either.

“Perhaps I should talk to him,” Will said.  “You’re right, after all.  We’re married.  We should talk to each other about these things.”  And if there was something Nico hadn’t told him, Nico might feel better about discussing it if Will opened up to him first.

“I’m going to see Akhlys and offer my assistance in the infirmary again,” Will said.  “If Nico asks for me when he finishes Hazel’s fencing lesson, will you tell him I’ve gone there?”

Reyna nodded.  “Yes, Your Highness.  Leave the aqueduct map here and I’ll look over it.”

Will glanced at the rolled paper in his hands.  “Really?  But I thought you said we couldn’t do anything.”

“I said that you need to think smaller,” Reyna corrected.  “It’s a good idea, Will.  We can’t do it on the scale you’d like, but if you and I do more research, we’ll find a more obtainable solution.  I’ll contact some engineers to hear their initial thoughts.”

Will beamed.  “Thank you, Reyna,” he said, setting the map back down on her desk.  “I appreciate your time.”

“Always, Your Highness.  And good luck with Akhlys.  Maybe this time she’ll be more agreeable.”

“Somehow I doubt it,” Will mumbled, but he thanked her all the same.

Will, as usual, found Akhlys alone in the darkened, dusty infirmary.  The door was only barely cracked open, like she was trying to make the space as uninviting as possible without rendering it unavailable.  Will saw her silhouette shadowed in the back of the infirmary behind the desk, handling a silver instrument and blinking at it with bleary eyes.  Will squinted, but he couldn’t tell what it was.

“What’s that?” Will asked as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Akhlys slammed her instrument down on the desk and Will cringed.  He hoped the instrument wasn’t too expensive.  “You again!” Akhlys barked.  “How many times must I chase you off?”

“But I—”

“Out!” she said, standing up and waving her arms to shoo him away.  “Leave!”

Will almost backed into the corridor again, but then reminded himself to stand his ground.  “I thought if we talked a bit more, we might come up with an arrangement that suits both of us.”

“My current arrangement is miserable enough,” Akhlys said as she stormed out from around her desk.  “I do not need men puttering about my infirmary making a mess of things, too.”

Will blinked in surprise.  It had been a while since the last time his gender had caused an issue; healing was a women’s discipline, but it did not actively exclude men.  People generally did nothing more than express surprise at seeing him in a woman’s role.  It wasn’t uncommon for patients to feel more comfortable with a female doctor, but they were usually polite if they requested another physician, sometimes not even speaking up until Will noticed their unease and asked if they would rather be treated by someone else.  Comfort and trust were of utmost importance when treating a patient, so Will considered it his duty to provide that for them.

But Akhlys wasn’t a patient.  Akhlys was a fellow healer clinging to outdated rules of conduct, brushing Will aside because of his sex.  Will was reminded of a few researchers at the Grand Expo who had all but ignored him until they realized who he was—a student of Asclepius and the nephew of the Matestra.  Within the first few days of the Expo, Will had learned to introduce himself as Asclepius’ pupil at the beginning of every conversation so that he’d be taken seriously from the start.

“I understand your apprehension,” Will said, forcing his tone to sound polite.  “But I am a perfectly qualified student of medicine.  I studied in Venadica under Asclepius, and if you like, I can share my research with you and—”

“I do not care!” Akhlys interrupted, now standing so close that Will could see the yellow crust that always seemed to line her eyes.  “I do not want anyone’s assistance, least of all a bastard like you.”

Will felt like he’d been slapped.  People didn’t call him that—not to his face, at least.  Natural-born, yes, but bastard?  Most people wouldn’t dare.

“Akhlys!” roared an angry voice, and Will and Akhlys both whirled around to find Nico in the open doorway to the infirmary, still clothed in his fencing gear and eyes blazing with fury.

Will had seen Nico angry before.  He’d been formally introduced to Nico’s temper during their trip to Phrygia.  But he hadn’t seen Nico angry like this.

“What did you just call my husband?”

Akhlys’ usually pallid face went white.  “Your Highness, I did not mean—”

“Oh, but I think you did,” Nico snapped.  “I demand you apologize this instant.  I will not allow anyone in this palace to speak to my husband that way.”

“Nico, it’s alright,” Will said, trying to sound soft and soothing.  “She doesn’t need to—”

“Yes, she does,” Nico interrupted.  “No one speaks to the Prince’s consort that way.  Akhlys, now.”

Akhlys, Will had thought, only seemed to know two emotions: anger and misery.  But now he realized she also knew fear.  Akhlys’ sunken eyes had grown in terror, her thin body recoiling in fright.  And despite how unlikable her personality was, Will couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

“I apologize, Your Highness,” Akhlys croaked.  “I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s quite alright,” Will said.

“It isn’t,” Nico insisted.  “I don’t care how long you have worked here, Akhlys.  I don’t care how many kings you have served.  If you treat my husband this way again, I will see you removed from the palace.”  His hand latched firmly around Will’s wrist and he tugged his arm.  “Come,” he said, pulling Will through the doorway.

Will followed obediently, but looked back at Akhlys as they left, worried in spite of himself that she’d be alright.  Regardless, his chances of developing an amicable professional relationship with her seemed worse than ever.

*   *   *

Only one person, aside from Nico himself, had ever called Nico a bastard to his face, but that had been more than enough to cement the idea in his mind as a child: Nico was a bastard, and that was unforgivable.

And yet, it had been a long time since Nico had last thought of himself as disgusting due to his birth.  He didn’t think he was lesser than anyone else because of it and he didn’t think that it made him undeserving of his title.  Without realizing it, Nico had become more comfortable with the knowledge that he was natural-born, and while Nico knew that he had been improving since long before his engagement, he was also aware that a large part of it was thanks to Will.  After all, Will was natural-born, and Will deserved the world.  How could being natural-born be disgusting?

So when Nico heard the word ‘bastard’ directed at his husband, his temper flared into an uncontrolled inferno.  He knew what it felt like to be called a bastard, to be told that his very existence was shameful, and to be forced into believing that he was worthless.  Nico wouldn’t hesitate to banish anyone to the depths of Tartarus for making his husband feel that way.

From over his shoulder, Nico heard Will’s voice, small and uncertain: “Are you upset with me?” 

Nico slowed to a stop in front of their rooms and turned back to face him.  “Of course not,” he said.  “Why do you think I’m upset with you?”

“You are pulling me.”

Nico looked down at their hands, finally noticing that he’d grabbed Will by the wrist.  He let go immediately, but Will’s sleeve was already wrinkled.  “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

Nico frowned.  Will kept saying that, but it wasn’t alright.  It wasn’t alright for Akhlys to speak to him the way she had.  It wasn’t alright for Nico to drag him away without permission.

But Will entwined his fingers with Nico’s and led him through the door to their apartments.

“I’m not upset with you,” Nico repeated, closing the door behind himself for privacy.

“Yet it seems like you disapprove of how I handled Akhlys,” Will said as he deposited himself on the chaise in front of the cold fireplace.

“No, I—” Nico stopped.  “Actually, yes, I do.  You can’t let her speak that way to you, Will.  What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?  Would you have just allowed it?”

Will raised an eyebrow calmly.  “It’s not as though her opinion is particularly uncommon.  I’m not ashamed of who I am, but I do realize that with my parentage being what it is, I was never the ideal candidate for a prince’s husband.”

“You were the perfect candidate for a prince’s husband!  I chose you, didn’t I?  And I did so knowing very well that your natural parents weren’t married.  That at least should be enough for Akhlys to know better than to speak to you that way.  How dare she call you a...a....”  Nico waved vaguely, unable to say the word.

“It’s nothing that I haven’t heard before.”

Nico clenched his fists.  “Who else?  I’ll make every one of them apologize—”

“No one in the palace,” Will assured calmly—too calmly for Nico’s liking.  “I don’t think I’ve been called a bastard since before we were engaged, actually.  It wasn’t uncommon for the families of prospective suitors to either refuse me or offer little in return for my dowry—‘on account of the circumstances of his birth,’ they’d say, if they were being polite about it.”

“Polite?”

“Oh, and Octavian calls me a bastard all the time, but that hardly counts.  No one listens to Octavian.  The point is, I’ve gotten used to it.  It was a bit of a shock to hear from Akhlys, but it doesn’t bother me much.”

“Well, it bothers me!” Nico snapped.  “It’s disgusting.  How could anyone imply that you’re sullied or...or impure?  And what does the marital status of one’s birth parents mean, anyway?  That doesn’t make you a....”  Nico gestured again.

“But I am a bastard.”

Nico felt something inside himself shake and threaten to crumble, like he was ten years old again and Minos...Minos....

It’s no wonder you’re so incompetent, bastard that you are.

Selfish bastard brat!

Your sister may have been a bastard too, but at least she was intelligent.

You’re nothing but a whore’s filthy bastard!

But I am a bastard.

“Stop saying that word,” Nico choked.  “Natural-born.  You are natural-born.  You’re not...that.”

“Natural-born, then,” Will relented, but the hint of exasperation in his tone suggested that he was growing frustrated with Nico.  “And it’s not disgusting.  I thought you didn’t care?”

“I didn’t!” Nico said.  “Don’t,” he immediately corrected.  Why was it that he always said things wrong when he got this way—angry and nervous and too emotional to string words together properly?  “I meant they are disgusting—the people who call you that—not you and not your birth.  I just hate that vile word.  I don’t want anyone to use it on you.”

Will sighed.  “Nico, I appreciate you trying to defend my honor, but—”

“Will,” Nico interrupted, “the Queen Consort is barren.”

The silence that followed lasted only a second, but it boomed and echoed in Nico’s ears for what felt like hours.

He’d said it.  He’d finally said it.  Nico had always intended to tell Will about his biological parentage, and now that Will was his husband, Nico didn’t have to keep the secret from him.  He still felt a sharp, brief jolt of terror that Will would be disgusted and announce he couldn’t love Nico anymore, but that fear was quickly crushed beneath the heel of certainty that Will would not abandon him or begrudge him for being natural-born.  Nico had said it because he trusted Will, he reminded himself.  It would be alright.  After all, he and Will were the same.

“Barren?” Will repeated.

Nico nodded.

Will was quiet for another moment.  Then he said, “That’s nothing to be concerned about.  It’s normal for women her age to stop cycling—”

Nico blinked.  “Wait, what?”

Will tilted his head curiously.  “Haven’t you heard of menopause?”

Nico hadn’t, but he felt fairly certain that Will had misunderstood his point.

“Will, she’s always been barren,” he said.

Will stared at Nico, his head still tipped to one side.  At first, all Nico could read in his expression was confusion, but then the lines of Will’s face began to change—slowly, then all at once.

Will sat up straighter.  “Then you mean...you mean, she’s not....”

Nico ached to hide his face, but forced himself not to look away from Will’s eyes.  “She’s not my birth mother.”

“Oh,” Will said.  “Oh.”

And he fell silent.  Nico watched and waited until the shock in his eyes had dulled just a bit more before he spoke again.

“Will, you can’t tell anyone.  If it becomes known that I’m not the King and Queen Consort’s natural child, the country will go into chaos.  People hate me enough already; they’d love a reason to throw me out of the line of succession.  No one else can know about this.  You understand that, don’t you?”

Will nodded.  “Yes, of course,” he said, his brow furrowing adorably.  Nico wanted to kiss the wrinkles away, but it didn’t seem like an appropriate time.

“You have questions,” Nico observed, gingerly sitting beside him on the chaise.  Will glanced at Nico when he sat down, his mouth opening to say something, but hesitated.

“You may ask anything,” Nico said, weaving and unweaving his fingers anxiously.  “I’ll answer what I can.”

Will wet his lips.  “Can you tell me about your birth mother?  Who is she?”

“Do you recall my governess, Lady Maria?  I’ve mentioned her before.”

Will nodded.

“She was my birth mother.  Before Bianca was born, Maria was one of my mother’s—that is, one of Persephone’s ladies.  When my father and Persephone discovered she couldn’t have children, Maria became...a surrogate, I suppose you could say.”

“How did they manage to keep it a secret?” Will asked.

“When Maria’s condition became too obvious to hide, they said Persephone’s pregnancy had complications,” Nico answered.  “Everyone in the palace was told that she would remain in her rooms and was only to be attended by two of her ladies—Maria being one of them.”

“And the other?” Will asked.

Nico pursed his lips.  “Her name was Marie.  She was Persephone’s half-sister and Hazel’s natural mother.  When I became heir to the throne, I was already fixated on the idea of taking a husband, so if I was to remain childless, my father needed another heir to continue the royal line.  Maria and Bianca died around the same time so with Maria gone, Marie was the best option for a surrogate.  She already knew that Persephone couldn’t have children.”

And Nico’s parents had trusted her.  Why wouldn’t they trust Persephone’s sister?

That trust turned out to be misplaced, in the end.

“And what happened to Marie?” Will asked.  “You speak of her in the past tense.”

“She’s dead now,” Nico answered.  He tried to remain impassive when he said it, but something in his voice must have alerted Will.  Will watched him with a studious gaze, like he was trying to answer a puzzling question, and Nico avoided looking at him directly.

“I’m sorry,” said Will.  “I know that Lady Maria was important to you, but was Marie...?”

“No,” Nico answered.  “Marie—she was...well, that’s another story.”

Memories of that night still tormented Nico’s dreams.  Sometimes, he still woke up gasping, desperately clawing at the invisible hands clamped around his throat.  He still saw the shadow of someone looming over him in his nightmares, reaching down to strangle him in his sleep.  Just last month, he’d bolted upright in bed, clutching his own neck, coughing, gagging—it was a miracle that he hadn’t woken Will.

“Does Hazel know?” Will asked.

It took Nico a moment to remember Will was still asking about their natural birth.  “No,” he said.  “I wasn’t supposed to know, either.  I found out on accident.”

“Accident?”

“My tutor, Minos.  He told me while we were on the countryside.”

Will frowned.  “How did he tell you on accident?”

“He was angry,” Nico explained.  He couldn’t recall why Minos had been so furious at that particular moment.  Perhaps the memory had been lost in the shock of what happened after, or perhaps Nico hadn’t known why to begin with; towards the end of Nico’s stay at his estate, Minos’ temper started to become so easily tipped that Nico had a difficult time keeping track of exactly what he’d done wrong.  Minos hadn’t always been so harsh with Nico, but once Nico found out about the baiting....

“He lost control of himself,” Nico went on.  “He shouted at me and called me a....” He cut himself off, unable to stomach saying the word.  “But he didn’t mean to say it.  At least, not the first time.”

“Nico,” Will said, slowly and deliberately.  “That does not qualify as finding out ‘on accident.’  You do understand how that’s not an accident, don’t you?”

“He was angry,” Nico repeated.  “He couldn’t control himself.”

The lines of Will’s face drew tight and hard in that unforgiving way that always caught Nico by surprise.  “I don’t believe that’s true,” Will said.  “People don’t do things on accident when they’re angry.  They use anger as an excuse to justify themselves.  And you couldn’t have been more than ten years old at the time!  What sort of person says that to a child?”

Nico bit back the urge to argue that Minos couldn’t be blamed.  After all, Nico knew what it was like to be that angry—to feel fury well up inside him so hot that he saw red.  He knew what it was like to lose his grip on himself and fly into a rage, to do and say things that he’d be ashamed of later.  Nico had done it before.  He’d done it to Will.

Nico’s stomach lurched.  No—he wasn’t like Minos.  He couldn’t be like Minos.  He wouldn’t.  He’d never, ever hurt Will the way Minos had hurt him.

“Where is Minos, anyway?” Will asked.

Nico clenched his fists.  “Gone,” he said firmly.

Gone, Nico repeated in his mind.  He’s gone, he thought again, the way he’d practiced.  For nearly a year after returning to Divitia, Nico had stayed up late each night, holding his knees, rocking back and forth, and reciting the words over and over until they were firmly planted in his head.  Minos was gone.  It was over.

Will nodded.  “Good,” he said.  Nico flinched, but Will didn’t seem to notice.  “So Minos knew about your birth.  Who else?  Akhlys would have overseen the pregnancies, I assume.”

“She didn’t,” said Nico.  “My father requested a sororal midwife—your aunt.”

Will raised his eyebrows.  “Artemis?”

“Maria’s first pregnancy happened while Artemis was still a soror in Venadica.  She was sent here when my father asked for a midwife,” Nico explained.  “She became Soror Princepa of Delphi before I was born, but she still answered the call when my parents asked for her help again.  Maria was without a midwife for the first few months, though. Artemis had other matters to attend to in Diana before she could travel to Pluto—she was helping deliver you, actually.  By the time Hazel was conceived, Artemis was the Matestra, the Scarlet Delirium was in its downswing, and I was living on the countryside.  Artemis left Venadica to stay here in the palace under the guise of diplomatic purposes.”

“And I must have already fled Pluto with the other Venadican children, so I didn’t even know she’d left the city,” Will said.  “Did Bianca know any of this?”

Nico shook his head.  “No.  The only other people who know are Reyna and a few of my father’s closest advisers.  Hestia, too.”

Hestia had been there the day Nico found out.  She’d entered Nico’s room to find him crying, and Nico, too distraught to feel more ashamed than he already did, had told her everything.

Will looked confused for a moment, then his expression cleared and he said, “I’d forgotten you were friends with Hestia.  She was a maid at Minos’ estate, wasn’t she?  I always wondered how you came to know each other so well.”

“We looked after each other,” Nico said.  “We had to.”

Had to, from the moment Hestia found the beaten dog hidden in Nico’s room.  Had to, when Nico needed her help smuggling food to Asterion.  Had to, when Minos discovered them and....

Nico looked up and found himself pinned under the gaze of Will’s soft blue eyes, almost crushed by the gentle understanding in them.

“You can tell me anything,” Will said, but he didn’t ask for details.  Nico was grateful.  One day, he’d tell Will everything, but today he’d already said enough.  He could only bear his soul so much before the pain immobilized him.

“I know you brought all this up because of what Akhlys said, but you realize you could have told me any time, don’t you?” Will said.  “If you were trying to comfort me with the knowledge that both of us are natural-born, or if you felt you somehow owed it to me to tell me....”

“No, that wasn’t why,” Nico assured.  “At least, that wasn’t the only reason.  I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.  And yes, maybe I did think you’d take comfort in the fact that we’re the same, because I know I do.  I was ashamed of it for a long time, but then I met you and...you weren’t.  If you don’t feel ashamed, why should I?  So when I told Akhlys to apologize to you, I wasn’t just trying to ‘defend your honor’ or whatever it was you said earlier.  I think I was trying to defend myself, too.  It sounds selfish, but—”

“It doesn’t,” Will said.  “Not in the slightest.  And it bothered you when I wasn’t as upset with Akhlys as you were, didn’t it?  You wanted me to stand up for myself because then I’d be standing up for you, too.”

Nico swallowed thickly and managed a short nod.  “Maybe being called a ba— being called that doesn’t bother you as much as it bothers me, but my experience with that word is different.”

Will’s head inclined encouragingly.  “Minos?” he asked.

Nico nodded again.

“Then you must have really hated it when I called myself that.”

Nico’s eyes drifted towards the tiled ground.  “I don’t mean to tell you what you can and can’t say—” he started.

Will reached out and placed his hand on top of Nico’s.  “It’s alright,” he assured.  “No, you can’t tell me what to say or not say.  But this?  I can do this for you.  I won’t use that word anymore and I won’t allow anyone to call me it, either.  It’s not like I’m especially fond of it, anyway.”

And then Will kissed Nico, and Nico hadn’t realized how much he needed it until that moment.  He knew Will still loved him, but the physical affection made it feel more real.

Will didn’t care that Nico was natural-born.  He would love Nico no matter who his birth parents were.

“Thank you for telling me this,” Will said.  “It couldn’t have been easy for you to talk about that, but I’m so grateful that you did.”

“I wanted to tell you sooner — almost did, a few times.  But I decided to wait until we were married.  It’s a family secret, and now you’re part of the family.”  Nico didn’t add that he’d also wanted to wait because once they were married, Will wouldn’t be able to leave him.

Well—that wasn’t quite true.  The marriage was unconsummated.  Will could still leave.  Will didn’t know that, though.  He wouldn’t leave if he didn’t know it was a possibility.

Nico’s stomach twisted.  How could he even think that?  Will wasn’t disgusted.  Nico had known that Will wouldn’t be disgusted.  And besides, he couldn’t trap Will in marriage—he wouldn’t do that to someone he loved.  So if Will had wanted to leave him....

It was best not to think about that.  Will would never have left him for being natural-born and it was an insult to Will that Nico had ever worried.

“I trust you,” Nico said, partly to remind himself.  Something about speaking the words out loud solidified them further in his mind the same way the kiss had, allowing him to reaffirm his grip on their truth.  Will had never given Nico a reason to doubt him.  Nico could trust Will.

“And you always can,” Will said.  “I’m your husband.  You can tell me anything.  Happy things, sad or angry things—even simple, unimportant things.  Anything, Nico.”

Nico resisted the instinct to avert his eyes.  Eye contact was hard for him, especially at times like this when he felt uncertain, or scared, or guilty.  Nico trusted Will, but he couldn’t tell him just anything.  Most things, yes.  But not anything.

“But only if you want to,” Will continued, like he sensed Nico’s hesitance even though Nico had tried to hide it.  “I understand that some things are difficult for you to talk about and other things you may rather keep private.  You can tell me anything, but you don’t have to tell me everything.”  Will waited a moment, like he was giving Nico a chance to say something, but when Nico stayed silent, he said, “Anyway, you were right about Akhlys.  That was an awfully nasty thing to say.”

Nico wrinkled his nose.  “It was completely out of line.  Even if I weren’t natural-born, I would have been furious with her.  No one speaks to the Prince’s consort that way.”

“My gallant protector,” Will said, sliding his arm around Nico’s back and kissing his temple.  “What do you say we spend the rest of the day like this?  I seem to have a free schedule.”

“But I thought you wanted time to yourself,” Nico said.

“I did,” Will answered.  “And now I want time with you.  Are you agreeable?”

Nico sighed contentedly as Wills lips brushed over the crest of his ear.  “Yes, I’d like that,” he said, and he leaned into his husband’s side and let the comfortable warmth of Will’s love wash over him.

#arranged marriage au #solangelo #Nico di Angelo #will solace #royalty au #solangelo fanfiction #solangelo fanfic #my fic

[useless-slytherclaw]

Chapter 21: Malfoy Manor

“We just have to get the Horcrux, she says,” Regulus rubbed his temples.  He was sitting at the dining room table across from Iset.  Outside, the sun was just rising, but there were no windows into the dining room, so all the light came from the chandeliers overhead.  

“I never said it would be easy,” Iset responded.  There was a scroll of parchment in front of her and she was tapping her quill against it as she thought. 

Groaning, Regulus buried his face in his hands.  “I know that.  That doesn’t mean that this is any less mad.”

Picking up one of the free scrolls of parchment on the table, Regulus started writing.  

Cissy,

Thank you.  I hope you enjoy your dinner with Bella.  

R.A.B 

P.S. fortior

Regulus tapped the parchment with a few muttered words and it turned blank.  He carefully folded it and called for Kreacher.

“Take this to Cissy.  Make sure she is alone.”  Kreacher took it and bowed.  

“Yes, Master Regulus.”

“Thank you, Kreacher.”  

Regulus sat back down at the table.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t much for him to do but wait. Iset was making a list of supplies she needed for her wandless magic in case things went to hell.  Regulus didn’t have anything to do until 16:00 when he would go to Narcissa’s house and get some hair from Bellatrix’s hairbrush for the polyjuice potion.  His brain raced, trying to make sure they had everything.  It had been weeks, but that didn’t make him feel more prepared.

“You’re being antsy,” Iset said without looking up from her list even though she hadn’t added anything to it for several minutes.  

“I just,” Regulus struggled to find the words he wanted. “I don’t want to die again.”

“I don't want that either,” Iset said, “but you aren’t helping anything.  Why don’t you go up to the library.”

So, Regulus retreated to the library for the rest of the day.  He didn’t really have anything else to do.  Besides, the smell of books that filled the library was comforting.  There were two large stacks of books on the desk.  He decided to try to track down Ravenclaw’s diadem rather than reviewing curse-breaking theory one more time.  With a sigh, he pulled the top one off a stack and started to go through it.  To his surprise, he lost track of time and Iset appeared around two with a plate of sandwiches. She handed the plate to him and sat down, picking up a book from her own stack by the couch.  Neither of them spoke, but the silence between them was tense.  Regulus found it impossible to focus on the book.  Dread was twisting his stomach in knots.  Last time he went after a Horcrux, he died, and he wasn’t in a rush to repeat the experience.  Instead, he pulled his sketchbook out of the drawer.  It was much easier to lose himself in the way she looked bathed in the golden afternoon sun than it had been in the book.  His fingers itched to capture the curve of her neck, the twisting inky pattern of her braided bun, the way she pursed her lips, and a million other details that made her up.

When the clock chimed three forty-five, they vacated the library.  

Sirius was pacing up and down the hall like a caged animal.  “Where have you two been?” He snapped.

“In the library,” Regulus said calmly.  “Doing some reading.  There’s still another Horcrux after this one.”

“Don’t you think we should worry about one at a time?” Sirius demanded.

“Worrying does nothing,” Iset broke in before the brothers could get going.  “We have a plan.  It’s almost time to go.  You do remember the plan, don't you?”

Sirius just rolled his eyes.  “Yes, I remember the plan.  It’s really absurd that you are treating me like a child.”

“Last time I saw you, you were always acting like a child,” Iset said coolly.  “I haven’t had enough time to update my opinion.”

Sirius growled, but to Regulus’ surprise didn’t say anything.  Maybe he was trying to prove that he had matured in the last seventeen years.  Iset turned away from him and gripped Regulus’ arm tightly.  

“We’ll see you outside of the manor?”

“You’ll see Bella outside of the manor,” Regulus responded with a smile.  Iset rolled her eyes, but let go of him.  

“Be safe.”

“It’s just Malfoy manor.  No need to worry.”

“You are sure about Narcissa,” Sirius cut in.  Regulus actually did roll his eyes this time.

“Yes, I trust her.  Cissy will keep Bella occupied.  I passed along your spell for strengthening the wine.  Besides, it's a bit too late to be doubting her now.”  

Sirius frowned at him but passed him a flask.  “Polyjuice potion from Moody. It's enough for a few hours.”

Regulus took the flash and tucked it into his robes.  With a deep breath, he gathered himself and started walking towards the door to the house.  “See you both soon.  Don’t kill each other.”  

Sirius barked a laugh and Iset snorted, and then Regulus was opening the front door and stepping outside.  He’d spent enough time at the Malfoy Estate that he didn’t have any problems picturing it as he apparated away.  

Then he was standing alone in front of a pair of wrought iron gates.  Regulus had once known all of the security measures on these gates, he really hoped that they hadn’t been drastically changed while he was dead; Narcissa would have mentioned it if they had, right?.  His heartbeat was racketing faster and faster.  It wasn’t just Cissy on the other side of these gates, it was Bella and Rodolpus and Merlin help him, probably the Dark Lord himself.  For a second, Regulus was paralyzed with fear.  How was he supposed to just walk into this house?  But he’d already defied the Dark Lord once, right? And Iset was waiting for him. He had to do this.  

All he could hear was the sound of his heartbeat in his ears, but Regulus raised his left arm to the gate, letting the robes fall back.  For the first time since he’d returned to the realm of the living, he felt a stirring in the dark mark on his arm, and the gate swung open before him.  Regulus almost stumbled with relief as he entered.  Grateful for the time he had spent here during summer breaks, Regulus took a side path through the garden and to a side door.  His ears were straining for the sound of another person, and more than once he almost jumped out of his skin only to realize that it was another peacock.  

A few minutes later he reached the side door, his heart was still racing.  He was resigning himself to the fact that his heart rate probably wouldn’t go down until after they had escaped with the Horcrux… if they escaped.  Maybe he would go into cardiac failure and be put out of his misery.  But, that didn’t happen, so he pushed the door open carefully. 

Stepping inside, Regulus could hear the sound of Bella’s characteristic cackle.  Even though it was diluted by distance, it sent shivers down his spine.  Bella had always unnerved him, and acting as a Death Eater by her side had only shown him the depths of her cruel insanity.  Regulus gritted his teeth, he had things to do.  The dining room was halfway across the manor from here, no one was going to see him.  Regulus moved through the house, taking the back stairs used by the house-elves to get to the family quarters.  He was slightly calmed by memories of running up and down these stairs as a child, chasing after Cissy and Bella and Andy.  

None of the doors were locked, but who locks doors in their own house anyway?  Regulus put his ear to each one before he opened it: an empty guest room, an empty guest room, what looked to be a teenage boy’s room, an empty guest room, and then a guest room suite that looked lived in.  Regulus slipped in and eased the door shut behind him.  There were no photos or memorabilia in the room that would immediately tell him whose it was.    

There was a bed, a wardrobe, a pair of chairs, a vanity, and a desk.  Regulus quickly crossed to the desk.  It was neatly kept with only a quill and ink on the surface.  Moving to open one of the desk drawers, he found it locked.  As quietly as he could, he used alohomora to unlock the drawer.  The drawer was full of neatly stacked letters all written in precise handwriting.  All of them were addressed to “Bellatrix, my most loyal servant.”  At the bottom, they were stamped with the dark mark.  Regulus dropped the papers as if they could burn him and slammed the door shut, regardless of the noise it made.

At least he’d found Bella’s room.  Shoving the letters from his mind, he moved to the vanity.  Opening the drawer to the vanity, and praying for no more surprises, he was grateful when he found that the drawer contained a hairbrush, combs, pins and a myriad of other such objects.  Regulus pulled a few long black hairs out of the brush, shoved them in his pocket, and moved towards the door.  He wanted to get out of this house as fast as he could.  Still, he paused to listen at the door, the hallway was completely silent, so he stepped out.  He could hear his heart hammering again as he made his way back to the servant stairs and out of the house.  He didn’t pause for breath until he had escaped the grounds and disapparated to Lestrange Manor.  

Several long and slightly shaky breaths later, Regulus’ heartbeat was slowing down.  He tried not to think about the fact that he wasn’t even close to done yet; he’d only managed the easiest part of the mission. Grimacing, he pulled the flask of polyjuice potion from his pocket and shoved the hair into it.  He closed the lid and shook it.  He opened it up and tried not to grimace and the black, tar-like substance in the flask. Keep reading on AO3

#good slytherins #regulus black #hp fanfic #sirius black #regulus lives #regulus deserved better #multichapter #chapter 21 #malfoy manor #polyjuice potion #fan fiction #harry potter #hp #fanfic