#and to think this morning i was feeling nostalgic and reading the letters from the tyrdj project and looking at what we wrote to jimmy

[choidaisy]

where mingyu finds memories of his first girlfriend and decides to send her a message upon realizing she is nearby (part 1)

Part 2 here

words: 1,892 warnings: not many, just mingyu feeling nostalgic and regretful about past choices a/n: i think im a bit sad after writing this, i wish i could hug mingyu

Upon awakening at dawn, Mingyu felt an unexpected urge to revisit the past. The day promised to be busy with a looming show, but he decided to dedicate some time to organizing dusty relics that had rested for years in his closet.

As he pulled boxes from the dark hideaway, one of them caught his attention in a peculiar way. "I didn't even remember you were here," he chuckled, releasing a sigh of nostalgia. He sat on the floor, unraveling the treasures buried in layers of memories.

The lid of the box, when lifted, unleashed a specter from the past. Photographs, yellowed and blurred as if the previous decade had wrapped them in a nostalgic veil. Mingyu held one of them, observing with eyes that absorbed every detail. A smile, immortalized on paper, evoked long-dormant emotions.

Among the relics, a crumpled and aged letter captured his attention. The faded ink gave the words a melancholic tone, as if time itself had intertwined them with sadness. Unfolding it, Mingyu encountered handwritten messages, a distant voice echoing through the lines on paper.

Each item taken from the box told a story from ten years ago, a time when the world seemed simpler, and smiles came more easily. The room, once bathed in morning light, transformed into a theater of shadows and longing, where the silent echo of the past filled every corner.

Mingyu, sitting on the floor, embraced his memories as if holding a part of himself that had been left behind. The clock on the wall, like a silent witness, marked the present, but the open box cast a bridge to a persistent past.

Thus, he spent the morning immersed in the melancholy of recollections from a decade ago, a journey through time that left scars on the fabric of his soul, like indelible marks of a sad song echoing beyond the decades.

Mingyu's gaze lifted towards the ceiling as a specific photograph emerged from his memories. He closed his eyes, leaning against the wall. The image captured a moment of genuine laughter between him and Y/N, an instant immortalized where worries were forgotten in the face of her amusing words. A bittersweet smile illuminated his face, contrasting with the frozen joy in the photo.

Mingyu's mind traveled back in time, recalling how Y/N had the gift of eliciting laughter from him at every turn. Nostalgia enveloped him like a mist, and he found himself smiling in a different way than that depicted in that old picture.

"How must she be these days?" he questioned amidst the shadows of the past. He decided to explore the virtual world in the hope of finding traces of her life. He opened Instagram, typing her name in the search bar with a tentative expectation.

And there she was. Y/N's account, though not abundant in photos, revealed the path she had taken over the years. Mingyu scrolled through the images, witnessing fragments of a distant life. She had grown, distancing herself from the scene they once shared.

The photographs told silent stories of adventures and growth, of laughter that now echoed elsewhere. Mingyu, lost in the visual narrative, felt the distance that time had imposed between them. A sigh escaped, echoing in the quietness of the room as he absorbed the metamorphosis of the one who had once been the constant source of his joy.

He opened photo after photo, immersing himself in the visual narratives that composed Y/N's life. He read comment after comment, each word resonating like a melancholic melody that transported him to a time that no longer existed. "Damn, why am I doing this to myself?" he wondered, a storm of emotions churning within him. On impulse, he turned off his phone screen, trying to distance himself from those bittersweet memories.

He closed the virtual box that was her profile, and with a heavy sigh, he promised himself that it was time to close this chapter of the past. The day progressed slowly, each second feeling like an additional weight on his shoulders. Mingyu became entangled in the whirlwind of emotions, struggling to find a peace that seemed elusive.

When night settled and the show in Seoul finally came to an end, Mingyu remained backstage, the energy of the stage still pulsating in his veins. A persistent intuition whispered in his ear, urging him to reopen her profile. A mixture of curiosity and self-destruction led him to succumb to the silent call.

The screen lit up again, revealing Y/N's world in a way he couldn't avoid. The past resurfaced in digital colors, the photographs a window to a time he thought he had left behind. Mingyu found himself scrolling through the images, a roller coaster of emotions sweeping over him as the silent backstage of the show became the backdrop for a personal drama unfolding before the cold glow of the screen.

Y/N had posted a story, an update that hadn't existed before. Mingyu took a deep breath, feeling his heartbeat quicken as he embraced all the risks of being caught snooping on her social media. "What the fuck is this?" he exclaimed, the intensity of his voice echoing and surprising those around him.

"What's going on, Mingyu?" Wonwoo asked, showing surprise at the sudden reaction.

"Oh... sorry, guys," Mingyu stammered, distancing himself from the group still stunned by what he had just discovered.

Sitting on a bench, disbelief written on his face, Mingyu fixed his gaze on the phone. "Y/N, are you here? Were you watching our show?" he whispered to himself, as if uttering the words made the situation more tangible.

Without giving himself much time to think, Mingyu decided to respond to the story. "You here?" he added a shy emoji, a mix of surprise and anticipation that shone through the typed words.

The night stretched on, a tapestry of anticipation woven with threads of uncertainty. Mingyu, immersed in the anticipation of a response that felt surreal, watched the hours drag on. Before heading home, he joined the other band members, sharing a few glasses of beer in a ritual that would normally be synonymous with relaxation and laughter. However, his mind was elsewhere, more focused on his phone than the lively conversation permeating the table.

Even amid laughter and toasts, Mingyu was shrouded in a cloud of thoughts, lost in his own reflections. Tension hung over him as his eyes occasionally drifted to the device, eager for a notification that had yet to arrive.

It was then that Mingyu made an unusual decision. He was the first to say goodbye, breaking the tradition of staying until the end. The night continued for the others, but for him, the journey back home was marked by a heavy silence and an anticipation that stretched beyond the visible night horizon.

It was around six in the morning, and Mingyu was still tossing and turning in bed, desperately trying to fall asleep when a notification flashed on his phone. "Mingyu...?"

She had finally responded. Without thinking much, he initiated a voice call right there, in the Instagram direct messages chat.

"Oh... Mingyu. Is everything okay?" She answered with a cautious voice, a tone laden with surprise and concern.

"Hm, hey Y/N, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called, I just..."

"Did something happen?"

"I just... thought about you all day... I'm sorry." He scratched his head, words coming out in a thread, his voice choked with emotion, an echo of the restlessness consuming him.

"Are you drunk? Your voice sounds (pause) weird (pause) and it's like six in the morning..."

"No, I'm not drunk... I'm sorry, Y/N. I'll hang up, I shouldn't have done this." There was a tense pause, a contained sigh in his voice, echoing regret. The girl on the other end of the line sensed the vulnerability in every word, the complexity of what was unfolding in this unexpected conversation.

"No, Mingyu... Stay on the line, I'm just surprised... It's been so long since we last talked. I thought it might be an emergency or something."

"Yea, quite a while... Almost ten years?"

"Something like that... How are you? Did you have to wake up early today?"

"Oh... actually, I haven't been able to sleep yet..." A pause to take a deep breath. "And you, why are you up early?"

"I'm at the airport, heading back home..."

"Oh, so you didn't move back to Korea?" Sadness echoed in his voice as he verbalized the realization.

"No, just passing through..."

"Ah... I was really surprised when I saw you were watching my show."

"My niece is a big Seventeen fan," she explained.

"Daennie?" That's how he used to call little Shin Dae years ago. "God, she was a little kid... She's, like, twelve now?" The question arose gently, an attempt to map the years that had slipped away, even though distance had kept them apart.

"Yea" she laughed from the other side of the screen. "She's almost my height now."

"That's crazy..."

"Yea, time flew by... Mingyu, how did you find my Instagram?"

"Oh, about that... I stumbled upon a photo of us yesterday morning... I got curious about you and looked you up... Don't think I'm a stalker or anything."

She laughed on the other side of the screen, a gentle laugh hovering between nostalgia and the present.

"Y/N, I miss you, you have no idea how much..." he confessed. "You know, you'll always be my first girlfriend, my first love... I regret my decision so much."

"Mingyu, you didn't decide alone, it was the wisest choice. You know that."

"Honestly, I don't know if it was worth it."

"How not? You're living your biggest dream."

"But you're not here with me..." The last sentence slipped out like a sigh, heavy with a lament that echoed between the words, outlining a wound that time hadn't completely healed.

"Mingyu, don't do this." She heard him let out the sound of a sniffle. "Mingyu? Are you crying?"

"I'm sorry for saying these things, Y/N... I just wish I could go back in time and make different choices; I would have found a way to make both things work well."

"You would have regretted it, Mingyu. Look at how you're a star now."

"I regretted the same way."

"Mingyu, listen to me... We were very happy together, but our story happened at the wrong time. We were young, but we had an important choice. We did the right thing." She paused. "We grew up well."

"And will our story ever happen at the right time?"

"I don't have the answer to your question." Her response hung in the air, a sincere confession that floated between the uncertainty of the future and the certainty of the past. Silence became a delicate bridge between two hearts that, even at a distance, still shared an intertwined story.

"Y/N, I always thought I couldn't have you, that you're someone I should forget, but..." He was interrupted by the girl who spoke hastily.

"Mingyu, I need to hang up; I'm boarding now... we'll talk later."

"I wanted you to know that..." The call ended. "I still love you." Mingyu murmured to the silence of the phone, the words lingering in the void like an unspoken sigh, while the sound of farewell echoed in the distance between them.

Part 2 maybe? let me know :)

#svt fanfic #svt imagines #seventeen #svt #svt fluff #svt x reader #mingyu #kim mingyu #mingyu x reader #mingyu x y/n #mingyu x you #mingyu fluff #mingyu scenarios #mingyu fic #mingyu imagines

[headfullofpresley]

Elvis Presley Tag Game

Hi babies! I know there's already a few of these floating around, but I decided to make one as well because I love doing and reading these (so definitely tag me in yours~). Also, ignore me naming 300 songs for each question, I couldn't pick one 💀.

Questions are under the cut. 💗

When was the first time you heard of Elvis?

He's always been in my life because his music has always been played in my family (especially during Christmas lol), so I guess I kinda grew up with him.

What's your favorite era?

I love him in all era's tbh, but the 60s have a special place in my heart.

Favorite song(s) from the '50s?

Harbor Lights, How Do You Think I Feel, Anyplace Is Paradise, Don't Be Cruel, Wear My Ring Around Your Neck, Ain't That Loving You Baby, I Was The One, One-Sided Love Affair.

Favorite song(s) from the '60s?

Dirty, Dirty Feeling, Make Me Know It, Such A Night, Surrender, Reconsider Baby, Starting Today, (Such An) Easy Question, Witchcraft, Little Sister, Kiss Me Quick, True Love Travels On a Gravel Road, Suspicious Minds, Summer Kisses, Winter Tears.

Favorite song(s) from the '70s?

The Wonder of You, Patch It Up, We Can Make the Morning, Always on My Mind, If You Talk in Your Sleep, Moody Blue, Make The World Go Away, Snowbird, Never Been to Spain, I'll Never Fall in Love Again, Are You Sincere, This is Our Dance, Walk A Mile in My Shoes. I CAN'T JUST PICK ONE LMAO

All time favorite song(s) that you simply cannot skip?

How Do You Think I Feel, Starting Today, Moody Blue, I'll Never Fall in Love Again and Make The World Go Away.

Least favorite song?

Tutti Frutti, Ready Teddy and Milkcow Blues Boogie. don't hate me 👀

Favorite gospel song(s)?

Swing Down Sweet Chariot, How Great Thou Art, Crying in The Chapel, Bosom of Abraham and Lead Me, Guide Me.

Favorite country song(s)?

Snowbird, Whole Lot-ta Shakin' Goin' On, Funny How Time Slips Away, The Fool, Flaming Star, U.S. Male.

Favorite non-English song?

We'll Be Together (most of it is english but it still counts bc i love this song ☻), Wooden Heart and Santa Lucia.

A song(s) that makes you feel nostalgic?

Jailhouse Rock, Can't Help Falling in Love, Heartbreak Hotel, A Little Less Conversation, Are You Lonesome Tonight and Return to Sender - they remind me of my childhood sm.

A song(s) that makes you cry?

There's Always Me, I Need Somebody to Lean On and Unchained Melody.

A song(s) that makes you wanna dance?

Polk Salad Annie, The Love Machine, Vino, Dinero Y Amor, Bossa Nova Baby, Rock-A-Hula Baby, Return to Sender, Slicin' Sand, Happy Ending, Blue River, A Little Less Conversation.

Favorite song Elvis has covered?

SWEEEEET CAROLINE! 💃🏼

What's a modern song you wish you could hear Elvis cover?

Paper Doll by John Mayer - i want it, i need it! *slams table*. also, Roller Coaster by Danny Vera.

Do you prefer vinyl or CD?

I love both and I love the nostalgic feel of a vinyl, but when it comes to sound, I prefer CDs.

Favorite album?

From Elvis in Memphis, Love Letters from Elvis, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee and Moody Blue.

Favorite movie soundtrack?

Blue Hawaii, King Creole, It Happened At The World's Fair and Fun in Acapulco.

Favorite live performance?

The Ed Sullivan performances, my god. But I'm also obsessed with the show from August 11, 1970 for That's The Way It Is.

A live performance you wish you were present at?

My ass would be front row at every show, idc.

Favorite jumpsuit(s)?

Adonis, Black Conquistador (IM OBSESSED I TELL YOU; OBSESSED!), Conchos, Royal Blue Fireworks, American Eagle, Pharao and Silver Phoenix. His two piece fits were also very *chef's kiss*.

LIKE HELLO????? TALENTED, BRILLIANT, INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, SHOW STOPPING, SPECTACULAR, NEVER THE SAME, TOTALLY UNIQUE, COMPLETELY NOT EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE!!!!

Favorite movie(s)?

Blue Hawaii, Fun in Acapulco, Flaming Star and It Happened at The World's Fair. Also Viva Las Vegas and King Creole and Loving You and I'm going to shut up now.

Least favorite movie(s)?

Harum Scarum, Stay Away Joe, Kissin' Cousins and The Trouble with Girls.

Favorite co-star?

Ann-Margret and Shelley Fabares.

Favorite documentary?

Elvis by the Presleys, That's The Way It Is, Elvis on Tour and Elvis: Return to Tupelo.

Favorite interview?

This one right here. I can listen to this man talk for hours and fell asleep to this many many times lol.

Favorite car?

The Purple Cadillac Eldorado is sexy af. And also the Stutz Blackhawk... loooord.. 🥵

Do you collect merch? If so, what's the one thing you hold most dear to your heart?

I spend too much money on this man (woops), but I'm obsessed with Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll which contains Alfred Wertheimer's amazing work. Andddd a collector's item of the Blue Hawaii soundtrack. 💙

Do you think you'll be a fan of Elvis for the rest of your life?

Yes yes yes. He's such a big and important part of my life, I can't imagine him not being in it anymore.

tagging some of my lovely mutuals: @woundmetender @eliseinmemphis @foreverdolly @septembersghost @mrpresley @marriedtopresley @elvispresleywife @ab4eva @elvisabutler @infatuatedharleys @steph-speaks @mooodyblue - if i missed anyone, sorry bbies!

#its kinda long but lets goooo! #elvis #elvis presley #elvis tag game #elvis ask game #elvis fans #elvis presley fans

[ecileh]

a court of rage and fire

sup nestas and nerises, i’m writing a fanfic that is basically just how i wanted acosf to go (feat nesta rage betrothal to eris). some of y’all might appreciate so i wanted to share here. the first chapters are up on ao3

this is an AU that diverges from canon acosf at chapter 58, beginning with the day after winter solstice. there is no deus ex machina or gaping plot hole coming to rescue characters at the last moment. character decisions have final and far-reaching consequences. some of your faves may die, and they cannot be saved. the stakes are high; proceed accordingly.✨

here’s an excerpt:

✦✦✦

Prythian, the day after Winter Solstice.

Her arms filled with a motley assortment of rectangular packages, Nesta rested a moment on the porch of the River House. Despite her overall glowing feeling of love for the Night Court this morning, she still felt a tiny inkling of anxiety. She had never called on the court unannounced. Even though the last few days had passed rather pleasantly, did they really want to see more of her? Even if she came bearing tokens of good will?

She had passed the morning in the bookshop, spending the first dozen or so of the credits Feyre and Elain had given her on everyone but herself. A thick book of what her human family would have called fairy tales—did Fae still call them fairy tales?—with whimsically painted illustrations, for Feyre and Rhys. Not technically for the baby, as it was ill luck to gift before birth, but she hoped they would read the stories to the child. A guide book of herbs and their magical and mundane uses, so old it was browned by time, for Elain. Fashion history for Mor, though Nesta supposed five-hundred-year-old Mor had already lived through much of it. A gilded stationery set for Amren to write letters to Varian. As for Azriel and Cassian, she was not entirely sure if they read much, other than dull strategy books, of which there were few in the bookshop. They did try to encourage pleasure reading there, after all. But the bookshop had allowed her to use credits toward the confectioneries they sold in the little reading lounge in the front of the store. She had noticed from their meals together in the House of Wind that Azriel had a hearty love for dessert, and if Cassian had less of a sweet tooth, well, maybe he'd be eager to eat a few off her bare skin when she returned. She had asked the bookseller to wrap each item for her, and Nesta had painstakingly written everyone's name on their gift with the beautiful calligraphy her mother had drilled into her so long ago.

Nesta debated leaving the gifts on the porch as if to say, I'm a coward and also didn't have any money to buy Solstice gifts until you gave me shop credit. But then she remembered how lovely it had been to spend time with the court yesterday, and how it had made her a bit nostalgic for the holidays she and her sisters had shared in their human childhood. She expected that Mor and Amren might have slept in after the late night, and that the bat boys would likely still be at the mountain cabin, depending on how quickly the snowball fight had been won. But she at least hoped to see Feyre and Elain.

So Nesta knocked, and waited. No answer. The servants would have the day off since the Inner Circle liked to recover quietly from all the Solstice partying, so she tested the knob. Although Nesta expected it to be locked and enchanted, it turned easily, perhaps having been spelled to allow family members in as they wished. She found an empty living room. Thinking to perhaps find Elain in the garden, where she still liked to sit even in winter with little tending to do, Nesta began to head toward the back door.

But the sound of voices behind an imposing, closed door stopped her. It sounded like everyone was in there, all arguing and talking at once.

Nesta knew the door. It was Rhysand's office, which often was used as a formal, private meeting room. Not so private that she couldn't hear from right outside the door, however. Rhysand apparently hadn't thought to seal the room, with no servants in the house, and the House being enchanted against unwelcome guests.

She might have been added to the list of welcome guests, but Nesta was sure they hadn't expected her.

Imagining her presence would be an unwelcome interruption, she almost decided to take the cowardly route of leaving the presents at the door, so she could scurry back to the bookshop to pick up a book for herself and enjoy the reading lounge before making the climb back up the stairs. But a word caught her attention. Her name.

"Nesta's debts—" came from Amren's voice.

"—her choice—!" Definitely Mor.

"—not having this conversation!" Cassian's impassioned voice roared above the others.

Then, silence, and a rush of air from the small space between the parquet floor and the door. Feyre must have taken the air out of the room to quiet everyone for a moment, so her mate could regain control.

Nesta moved closer to the door as a gaping black hole formed in her chest.

Rhysand's voice came on a thin strand of air through the keyhole where Nesta now pressed her ear. Even with her Fae hearing, the door and walls were thick and well-built, and she did not want to miss another word. Rhysand's was no longer the voice of a male arguing with his family, but the pompous voice of a High Lord speaking with absolute power.

"We will put it to vote."

Calm silence was the only response from all in the room.

"I would hear first from my High Lady," Rhysand continued.

"I-I can't. It's not right. We can't keep voting on the lives of those who aren't present. Rhysand, I forgave you, I forgave all of you for voting on me, but Nesta...she'll never forgive us. It should be her choice." The distress in Feyre's voice was evident, even muffled through the door.

"Is it your choice to abstain from the vote, then?" Rhysand asked gently, but with a distant coolness to his voice that indicated the vote would continue, with or without Feyre.

"No." Feyre's voice was ragged with emotion. "I vote that it should be Nesta's choice."

Mor was quick to say, "I vote absolutely not. We can't even tell her. I won't let you do to her what was done to me."

"No one is going to slice her up and nail a note to her belly," Amren said. The words would have been cruel from almost anyone else, but it was Amren's usual blunt tone. "Eris is our ally. Besides, it's my vote next. Wait your turn, Morrigan."

"We will proceed with order, lest we all end up yelling again. Amren," Rhysand said encouragingly.

"Yes. Nesta should go. The bride price, gold or favors, will pay off her debts, and we will cement Eris's alliance. No one is forcing her to actually marry him—she'll have plenty of chances before the final ceremony to back out for any number of reasons, and in the meantime, she can provide the Night Court with insight into Beron and Eris's dealings, and Keir as their close ally as well. It's not like Eris has exactly given us much on either of them, and if Beron or Keir contacts Koschei..."

"You are suggesting that we send Nesta to spy." Azriel's low voice was careful and steady.

"Frame it as a test of whether we can trust her as part of the Inner Circle," Amren replied. "But yes. You would train her until she leaves, a few weeks perhaps, and check in on her regularly. It will cause less distress for Azriel to be our liaison than Cassian, of course. Less territorial male preening, at least."

A pause while everyone mulled this over, though a growl escaped from Cassian. Nesta's heart was pounding as the realization that they were voting to sell her off in marriage sunk in. Rage flowed from a widening pit in her chest to heat every part of her body.

"This is an intriguing play," Rhysand finally said. "Morrigan, your vote?"

Nesta had never heard so much emotion in Mor's voice. Mor was nearly shrill as she said, "No, no, again no. If not no, then give her a choice for Cauldron's sake, but don't let her make the wrong one where she could land in Beron or Keir's claws. You say no one is going to hurt her, but what is stopping Beron or Keir from getting to her if she is found out?"

"Nesta herself," Elain said quietly, with a small, rueful laugh. "She has more power than any of us, truly. And didn't Eris ensure your freedom, in his own way? He is a powerful ally, and the risk seems worth strengthening that alliance, or at least gathering information on Beron and Keir's dealings. I say yes."

Nesta was sure that Elain was out of order, but no one corrected her. The silver flames began to press at Nesta's internal walls at Elain's betrayal, but Nesta tried to count her breaths in the practice of Mind-Stilling to calm herself, lest she burn the entire house away to nothing.

Rhysand said, "That's two votes for yes, one vote for no, and one vote for leaving it to Nesta. Azriel?"

"It should be Nesta's choice," Azriel said slowly. "Having eyes and ears on the greatest dangers from Autumn and Nightmares would be a great boon, I cannot lie. But for it to work, Nesta has to want it. And I will not condone further forcing her into anything. Moving her to the House of Wind has been good for her, yes, but I am not sure we were right for leaving her no choice between that and certain death."

"And I vote no," Cassian finally gasped with fury. "We are not discussing this. She is mine. I will not again be in comp—"

Cassian cut himself off before he could say more, but Nesta could feel the unfinished thought caught in Cassian's throat. I will not again be in competition with Eris. As if she were the consolation prize for neither of them winning Mor over five hundred years ago.

And that phrase. She is mine. It had been one thing to say it in private, when it was the passionate words of foreplay, but to say it behind her back as if he owned her...that was unforgivable.

She would suffer no male to control her.

Nesta stood on the precipice of that black hole in her chest, filling with silver flames that threatened to swallow her and everything in a mile radius whole. She wanted to shatter, but she did not yet allow herself to surrender to the gaping pit.

"Rhys," Feyre pleaded, her husband's vote now the arbiter of a three-way tie between a choice, a forced betrothal, and yet another secret kept from Nesta, who had asked nothing of most of them except for the freedom to live her own life after twenty-five years of having no choices. Anything but her own choice threatened to break Nesta forever.

Nesta did not wait to hear the vote of the High Lord.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40460172/chapters/101360355

#nesta archeron #neris #eris vanserra #nesta deserves better #ecilehwrites

[sisterspooky1013]

More Than A Feeling, Chapter 14

Rated X | Read it here on AO3

Six weeks later

Scully closes her eyes and leans toward the open window, letting the hot summer air rush over her cheeks.

They’d received a letter earlier in the week from Dylan’s mother, thanking them again for their help and letting them know that he started his first day of his GED program. She admitted that while she’d never want to relive the trauma of his prolonged disappearance, she is delighted by the responsible, motivated young man that showed up on her doorstep six weeks prior, dirty and hungry and with no recollection regarding where he’d been for the better part of a year.

While Mulder is still bitter that the dog from Kansas City had already been cremated when he made the outlandish request that they compare its DNA with Barry’s, Scully has made progress in convincing him that the reappearance of Dylan, and several other previously missing carnival employees, was the best possible outcome, especially given that he seems to have left his career as a drug-dealer behind.

Even if the lack of answers regarding what, exactly, happened at More Than a Feeling left him frustrated, she suspects that the way their relationship changed as a result is more than a consolation prize. The juice was worth the squeeze, she thinks to herself, smiling as she opens her eyes and looks at him across the console.

He has one arm hanging out of his open window, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel in time to the music. While his cheeks are now clean-shaven, his plain white T-shirt and jeans remind her of Luke, and she feels nostalgic and excited.

People smile and tell me I’m the lucky one, and we’ve just begun. Think I’m gonna have a son. He will be like she and me, as free as a dove. Conceived in love, sun is gonna shine above.

She is overwhelmed by deja vu, and sees an opportunity to re-write history. She reaches across the console and touches his knee, and he glances over at her, a smile slowly stretching across his mouth. Switching to take the steering wheel with his other hand, he winds his fingers between hers and squeezes. She lifts their joined hands to her mouth and kisses his knuckles, and he looks over at her with a mix of surprise and delight.

Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey, and everything will bring a chain of love. In the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes, and tell me everything is gonna be alright.

“Oh, there’s the turn,” she says suddenly, and they kick up gravel as he makes a sharp left onto a long, rutted driveway.

Her heart starts to race as she sees the Ferris Wheel in the distance and smells the singe of burnt popcorn. They park in the customer lot and join the crowd waiting outside the still-closed gates, their hands clasped as they listen for the opening notes that they now know by heart. When the first beat of the drum kicks in, the gates slowly swing open and they see Tami beaming from ear-to-ear as she welcomes the customers.

Mulder and Scully hang back, allowing the initial rush of the crowd to make it through the welcoming committee before they step through the gates and see it all through a different lens. The tunnel of employees is just about to break apart when Madge spots them and her face crumples.

“Buddy Boy!” she chokes out, hobbling towards them with combined smiles and tears.

Mulder drops Scully’s hand and opens his arms wide, wrapping Madge up into a long, tight hug.

“I’m sorry I had to leave without saying goodbye,” she hears him murmur, and Madge pats his back and tells him that it’s alright, she understands.

“Henny Penny,” Lenny croons as he approaches her, and Scully feels herself blush. “Or I suppose I should call you something else?”

“Dana,” Scully says as she offers her hand, and he takes it.

“We sure have missed you two around here,” Lenny adds with a nod towards Tami.

Tami hovers nearby, looking chagrined and nervous. Scully walks toward her with an uncomfortable smile, unsure what her former boss made of the report that finally closed the open investigation into More Than a Feeling.

“Hi, Tami,” she says lightly, and Tami bobs her head. “How have things been?”

“Uh, okay I guess,” she says, playing with the ends of her newly installed box braids. “We’re still pretty shook up about Summer. I guess I just can’t believe that she did what she did, you know? Right under our noses, too. And that whole story about ‘Doraldina made me do it’ was some crazy talk. But we’re carrying on, as we always do.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Scully says, reaching out to grab her hand. “I know you didn’t know,” she says emphatically, and Tami smiles gratefully.

“It was a shock to all of us,” Picker adds as he steps up beside Tami and catches Scully’s eye. “Hopefully they’ll find ‘er, wherever she ran off to.”

“Hopefully,” Scully repeats.

“Well go on and enjoy yourselves,” Tami says, her mood lifting. “Madge is working on something special for you, but it won’t be ready for some time. Go see the other side of the show.”

She and Mulder wave to the crew as they set off down the midway, admiring the brightly colored plush and saying hellos to the agents they recognize. Scully points out rides that always gave her trouble, and they reminisce about nights spent stargazing on the Ferris Wheel.

“Hey,” Mulder says, tugging on her hand, “let’s check this one out.”

She smiles in embarrassment as he leads her up the ramp into the funhouse, and lets him push her up against the mirrored walls of the maze as they kiss until they are disrupted by the tittering of children.

They walk back out into the unforgiving sun, making plans for lemonade slushies and all the other treats they never bothered to pay for but always had their eye on. As they leave the midway, they run into a fortune teller machine set up between two joints.

Zoltar speaks! The glass front of the case declares. Inside is a dark-haired man wearing a jeweled turban and holding his hands over a crystal ball.

They stop in their tracks, looking at each other with matching perplexed expressions.

“You should try it!” the agent at the nearest joint, whom they do not recognize, says with a smile.

“No thanks,” Mulder says quickly, leading her away.

They walk in silence for a few minutes, save for the beeps and wails from the games and the blasting seventies music from the rides. Suddenly, Scully has a realization.

“I don’t think you ever told me what your fortune from Doraldina said,” she says, stopping in the center of the midway and looking up at him.

Mulder smiles mischievously and she quirks an eyebrow at him.

“I’ll tell you when you’re older,” he replies cheekily, winding an arm around her shoulders and leading her toward the Ferris Wheel.

-

Venice Beach, CA

“Hey Autumn, the Zipper is getting all lurchy again.”

She sighs, rising slowly to her feet and wiping sweat from her brow.

“Did you put it out of order?”

“No, Tommy said to keep it running until someone complains,” the young man says with a shrug, and she bites back a snarky comment.

“Thanks, I’ll be there in five,” she says with a forced smile, and the young man wanders off.

She collects her tools and makes her way to the back of the grounds, entering a worn wooden shed and pulling the door closed. She drops her toolbox onto the workbench with a clatter, rolling her head around as her neck pops in protest. The rush of crashing waves and the shriek of gulls filter in around the organ music from the carousel, and she feels a pang of longing for another place and time.

She collects the items she’ll need to work on the Zipper, reapplies sunscreen, and takes a long drink of lukewarm water. Before she heads back out, she squeezes past decommissioned ride cars to the furthest corner of the shed, where a jagged form is concealed beneath a tattered green blanket. She throws the blanket back, revealing a partially constructed machine made up of mostly wood glue and electrical tape, and the battered plastic face of a woman with long, dark hair.

“We’re getting there,” she says fondly, running her fingers through the form’s hair. “Slowly but surely.”

She re-covers the machine, locking the door of the shed behind her as she walks towards the midway, singing to herself.

“Welcome to the Hotel California. Such a lovely place, such a lovely face. They livin’ it up at the Hotel California. What a nice surprise, bring your alibis.”

END.

Tagging @today-in-fic

#the x files #x files fanfic #txf #dana scully #fox mulder #xf fanfic #x files #the x-files #xfiles #case fic #case file

[starkslove101]

CHAPTER 13: "Glorious Purpose"

A/N: This chapter is the longest one so far. It has over 5k words. Pls leave some likes and some comments. I'd like to know what you guys think!

I woke up around 5 A.M... I kept stirring and woke up Steve in the process. "Doll, are you alright?" His New York accent coming through.  I sighed, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry" Steve turned to his side. "It's fine. This bed is too soft anyway" he laughed. "What's wrong?" he asked. "I don't know. I couldn't sleep anymore. Something is about to happen I just can't say what it is" My hand was covering my face, slowly dragging git down.

Steve gave me a sorry look and pulled me closer. "It's going to be okay" We stayed like this for hours. I kept falling asleep and waking up. Around 9 A.M. I woke up again. This time Steve was gone. He left a note on his pillow, out training. I will see you later today. I love you - Steve. 

I smiled as I put it on my nightstand. I got out of bed and grabbed my phone while I was walking to the kitchen.

I checked it for messages. Tony texted me 30 minutes ago. Wakey wakey, I'm coming with coffee and breakfast. I sighed as I was leaning against the kitchen counter. I started to put my hair in a bun. Not much later Tony knocked on the door. "Good morning sleepyhead" he stood there with 2 cups of coffee and a box full of donuts. I didn't say anything. I just stepped aside so that he could come in.

I knew this was his way of saying sorry. "You are not a morning person" he laughed. He set everything on the kitchen island and sat down. "I usually don't do much talking in the morning," I remarked. "Gross" Tony said laughing. I rolled my eyes. He slipped me a coffee and I took it. "Thanks" I stared out of the window. "What's wrong?" Tony asked. I sighed and shook my head. "I just can't shake this feeling that something is about to happen," I said. "Ever since that attack in Mexico earlier this year," I said again. "The god of Thunder is real and it makes me wonder what else is out there you know," I said, biting a piece from a white glazed donut. I saw Tony think. He didn't say and just listened.

"The 1940s were such a simpler time you know. The weirdest thing we had was Captain America" I said feeling so nostalgic. "And if there was something we didn't know about it" Tony didn't even try to get a word in. "I liked the time when this wasn't a problem" I showed my glowing hand. Tony just nodded. "He felt guilty you know" I bit the inside of my cheek. "Sure" I spit. "He ruined my life. He took my husband away from me, kept my powers a secret just so he could test a time machine and I don't even know why" I felt heat rising to my hands and it took everything in me not to burn down my kitchen.

Tony looked down. "I understand but come with me. I found lots of letters addressed to you" I gave him a look. "Please humble me. If you don't want to read the letters we can just hang out if you want" he gave me his best puppy-dog eyes to convince me. I thought about it. I could use the distraction. "Fine, let me change into something more decent," I said. Tony nodded while he grabbed another donut.

I went to my room and grabbed black jeans and an emerald green blouse from my closet. I took a black belt with a golden circle to close it off. I combed through my hair putting it in a high bun. I walked out and I saw Tony standing in front of my bookcase. "You have the original version of The Hobbit that's awesome" he flipped through it. "It's a gift. I never read it" I admitted. Tony looked at me surprised that I hadn't.

I grabbed my coat and bag and made my way to the door. Tony put the book back and walked towards me while grabbing his keys from his pocket. We walked down and got in his car. 

"I asked to bring back your car from Arizona. It's in the parking lot" I smiled. "Thank you. I don't think I'd survive another trip on Steve's bike" Tony laughed.

"It's good to have you with me," he said. I hummed. "Yeah," I looked out of the window. Tony sighed. "I'm sorry for everything I shouldn't have pushed it" Tony finally apologized. "It's fine" I just said. I wasn't mad at him. He shouldn't have to say sorry for anything.

"Look" I sighed. "This place is the only thing I have left from Jack and the little I have left from my old life," I said. I grabbed Tony's hand in mine. "I understand," he said looking down on our hands touching. "It's yours. If you ever want to stay and have some privacy" he grabbed my hand tighter and I nodded. 

We finally arrived at Stark Industries and got out of the car. We made our way to his office. However, When we arrived, the door to his office was open. "Were you expecting someone?" I asked. "No, it might be Pepper," Tony said shrugging his shoulders. I stepped in front of him and I pushed the door open with my foot.

Someone was standing in the middle of the room, dressed in a black suit. I knew who it was. "Phil" I sighed. I know what that means... He swiftly turned around with a soft smile on his face. Tony looked at me with big eyes. "Of course, you know this guy," Tony remarked as he made his way to his seat.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. That uneasy feeling in my chest returned. "The Avengers initiative" I froze in my place. This confirmed everything I was dreading. 

"What do you need me to do?" I asked. "Help me gather everyone, starting with him" he pointed to Tony. Tony stammered but quickly shut up. 

Phil handed me a file. He quickly left as his phone kept ringing.

"Tony, we need to talk"

1999.

"May I introduce you to Agent Colson" I leaned against the kitchen cabinet. Nick had his hands crossed behind his back. A young man was standing next to him. 

"You know last time you broke In I had to tell Tony I was talking to myself. He thinks I'm crazy now" I said sipping coffee. 

The new guy looked amused. "What's your actual name honey?" I turned my head to the stranger in front of me. "Phil Coulson Ma'am" I smiled as he stuck out his hand to shake. "Please don't call me ma'am makes me feel old," I said.  "Apologies" he smiled. "Nice to meet you, Phil" 

"Did you bring what I asked for?" A plastic bag fell on the ground with a loud thud as Fury threw it. 

"What's in the bag?" Nick asked. 

"Why are you asking? You already know" I opened the bag and took it out. Coulson was grinning from ear to ear.  He probably wasn't used to someone talking to Fury like that. He is the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D. after all. 

I threw the plastic bag on the ground and I revealed a SSR jacket. It was Jack's.  I just held it tightly against my chest, smelling it.  It had his cologne all over it. "Thank you," I said, my voice soft. 

"Now, what can I do for you?" I asked, holding the jacket like a teddy bear. "I need to access some files. Howard gave you the highest clearance" I frowned. "How can I have the highest clearance as far as he knows I've been dead for decades" Nick shook his shoulders. "I don't know" I sighed.

"Fine, Where do I need to sign?" Phil looked at me with a sorry look. "You're going to have to come with us," Nick said. I looked at the door. "Stark is in a meeting. I'll get you in and out in an hour" I sighed again. "I could use some fresh air" I gave in.

In a matter of minutes, I found myself in their headquarters. "Show me those papers" I sat down in an office chair. Phil put them down softly in front of me. "The Avengers Initiative" I read. I flipped through the pages. "What is that?" I looked at Fury for an explanation.

"4 years ago there was an Invasion. We have kept it under wraps so far so I am counting on your discretion" Fury warned. "My lips are sealed" I raised my hands in surrender. "I knew then and there that we couldn't leave Earth unprotected" I nodded. Makes sense, I thought. 

Fury sat down in front of me. "Why do you need me to sign off?" Fury leaned forward and turned a few pages. "Howard put in a clause. I  Don't know why. But you are the only one that can give permission" Fury said.

I shook my head. "Sure whatever," I said. "If this puts Tony or anyone else in danger I will come for you" I took a pen and signed the papers. "I can pull the stops on this too right?" I asked as I put a dot next to my name after I signed. I looked up and Fury nodded. "I promise it'll be alright," Fury said. Coulson looked up surprised. Nick grabbed the papers and walked out.

"He likes you though," Phil said. "He does not make promises" I looked up. "They all do it for Howard. They're nice to me because of him. This is just his guilt manifesting." I spit. "I had a good life. Now I'm stuck to a Playboy billionaire" I felt anger coming up.

Phil gave me a sympathetic look. He leaned against the desk, his arms crossed. All he did was listen and it felt nice instead of being on the receiving end. "These are weird times," I said. "I miss the time when an entire nation was fascinated by one man with a shield" Coulsons' eyes lit up.

It was nice seeing someone being touched by the sentiment of heroes. They don't exist. It didn't have any purpose.

Heroes die or they disappear...

2012.

"I thought they only wanted me as a consultant," Tony said. The sleeves of his white button-up shirt were rolled up over his elbows. A few buttons hung open.

If it wasn't so early he'd probably be neck deep in a bottle of whisky right now. "They do. But they don't have a say in it anymore, I do" I said emphasizing 'they'. 

"I don't need Tony Stark. I need Iron Man" I stopped Tony from pacing back and forth.

I sat on the desk one leg was lying on top of it and the other stood on the ground to hold my balance. 

"Who else is going to join?" Tony looked down at me. "I don't know," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Then what do you know?" I bit the inside of my cheek. Not much, I thought. "That this case is highly sensitive and could be catastrophic if we don't do something about it" I looked him in the eyes. Tony grabbed my arm. "How are you so sane about this?" I looked away for a second.

I didn't feel sane at all. I was scared and I wasn't sure if we were doing the right thing. Howard trusted me with this but I'm still kept in the dark about a lot of stuff. Nick Fury and I weren't on the best terms since the incident with Killian. I was doing this to keep New York and everyone I care about safe.

The only hope I held onto was that I could pull the plug on this whenever I wanted. Even though I knew in the back of my mind that Nick could pull one over on me and shut me out. "I am not. but I also need you to keep calm and collected. I know you can do that" Tony nodded hesitantly "I trust you" He placed his hand on my cheek in a firm grip, without hurting me. Somehow it felt comforting to me. "It's going to be fine," I said with a soft smile.

"Now" I pulled back and grabbed another folder. "What do you know about thermonuclear astrophysics" Tony smiled. 

"Absolutely Nothing. Give me a few hours" I laughed. 

"There's my man" I patted him on the back. "Get studying," I said. " I need to make a call" I jumped off the desk, straightening my clothes. 

"You look great in that blouse," Tony said when I walked out of his office. "I know," I said before I closed the door.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Phil's number. "It's me," I said when he picked up. "Did you find her?" Phil shifted to the other side. 

"Yes, we did we're on our way to Calcutta" I leaned against the wall. 

"Calcutta?" I asked. 

"We're looking for Banner" It was a good thing that I was leaning against the wall. "Dear God. Be careful" I said. 

"Always, Ma'am" The line went dead after that.

I walked back into Tony's office. His desk was full of papers and notes. I smiled as I saw him. He looked so adorable. "How was your phone call?" 

"Short" I laughed. "How's studying going?" he looked up. 

"It would be nice If I knew what I was studying for?" I laughed and showed my phone. 

"This has been stolen from us early this morning" Tony looked up taking the phone from me.

"The tesseract?" I nodded, crossing my arms over each other. "I thought your boyfriend dunked it in the ocean 60 years ago" I rolled my eyes. 

"Yes, until your dear old dad got it from the ocean looking for Steve" Tony smirked. 

"You me to find out what they're planning, right?" he asked. 

"More or less. You'll have help though" I smiled innocently.

 "Alright now, leave" I nodded. I decided to go down to the lobby and get something to drink.

I grabbed a water bottle from the vending machine. While I get lost in my own thoughts, trying to gather them. Trying to make sense of the whole situation wasn't easy. Especially because there were so many secrets. I was sure Howard made S.H.I.E.L.D. to get rid of the whole secrecy within government buildings. 

"Hey," I jumped up. I turned around. It was Steve. 

"Hi honey" I smiled. I went in for a kiss but he dodged it. I frowned. "What's wrong?" I asked. He crossed his arms. 

"How long have you known?" I frowned again. 

"Known what?" I stammered. "The tesseract" I shook my head. 

"It's been here for decades," I said. "I know as much as you do," That was a lie. I knew it had been here for years.

Steve noticed my lost look. "What do you know" he turned to me, his eyes soft. "There's an emergency protocol in place" I explained. He took my hands in his, not as a reassureance but more to calm his nerves. "It's a long story." I sighed. I started explaining what was going on when I was interrupted by the phone going off.

It was a text from Phil. 'We have Banner. We'll meet at the helicarrier in 15 hours' it read.

*15 hours later*

I was on my third cup of coffee. Tony had this worried look on his face and Steve was constantly pulling on the neck of his shirt. Everyone was on edge. We have been short on information. The only thing we knew was that one of our agents and our scientist Erik Selvig had been compromised.

All I could do was drink coffee and wait. "Woman, if you don't stop drinking coffee your heart will give out," Tony said, clearly amused. I hadn't slept and I needed a pick-me-up. 

"The last thing I remember is that I have healing capabilities" I looked at Tony while drinking from my cup. He shook his head laughing as he took away my cup and switched it for some water. 

"Here drink that or take a nap" he looked me in the eyes sternly. 

"Yes Father" I laughed, doing a salute. Tony just shook his head.

People were slowly gathering for Fury's briefing. After a while, Fury and Coulson walked in with Bruce and Natacha on their heels. "Alright!" Fury said slowly getting the attention. Everyone took their place around the table. I was too nervous to sit down so I stood behind the chair. Tony and Steve both stood next to me. "Yesterday our S.H.I.E.L.D.- base was destroyed." I looked down. I saw the damage when I went up there a few hours ago. It was nothing but rubble with a S.H.I.E.L.D.- logo on it.

"Was something taken before you know" Tony mimicked the sound of an explosion. Fury wasn't having it, however. "The tesseract was taken from us along with a few of our best agents who are now compromised" I shared a look with Natasha. I knew that one of the agents was Barton. She looked sad.

"Who took it?" I asked. "This guy," Fury said, A picture showed behind him. You have got to be kidding me, I grabbed the chair in front of me and sat down. Tony caught on and grabbed my shoulder. Everyone was on edge now. This was exactly what I was worried about.

"A literal God, How about that" Tony Whispered in my ear. I started scratching my arm again. "We traced them down to Stuttgart Germany" We all locked eyes with each other. Once the briefing was over we all walked out to the hall. I felt angry and scared. I was about to confront Fury but Steve stopped me. "Leave it" Steve grabbed my wrist.

He knew it wouldn't end well. I was still mad at him about the whole Killian fiasco. "He's hiding something" I spit, angry. I felt the heat going through my hands again. "We'll figure it out" We made our way to the lab. Someone was already there when we got here. He turned around. "Bruce, Hi" I smiled and stuck out my hand. "Ransom" he smiled uncomfortably. "Thank you for coming," I said placing my other hand on his. "It's not like I had much of a choice" I gave him a sorry look."May I introduce you to my friends" I stepped aside. Tony immediately struck up a conversation. 

Steve made his way beside me. "So, what's the plan" He whispered. 

"There's a storage room at the bottom of the helicarrier. I have a hunch you'll find something there" I whispered back. "I'll talk to Tony to see if he can find something" Steve gave me a stern nod. "I'll be right back" I made my way to Tony and Bruce.

Sketches of the tesseract were scattered around. There was one I hadn't seen before. "What's this?" I pointed to it. "We call it the scepter. Loki has it with him. He can control minds with it" Bruce said. "Can you track it?" I asked. "I'm trying. But I think we'll have a better chance of tracking Loki than the staff" I sighed. " Alright. Thank you" I leaned against the desk.

Bruce excused himself. Tony slid against the desk standing next to me. "I have J.A.R.V.I.S.  running codes, so we'll see what's going on" I smiled. "Thank you" I hugged his arm. "You're very welcome darling" he placed his head on mine. "I don't know what to do now" Tony laughed. "We'll know when we know" I nodded. "Yeah," we had 5 seconds of silence before the computer started beeping.

We walked over to the screen where the noise was coming from. "What is it?" I asked. Tony Just cursed. Turned the screen towards me. "What's phase 2?" It showed a blueprint of weapons. But before we had time to figure it out, Fury burst in the door. "What the hell is going on?" I felt anger boiling up again. 

"This!" Steve walked in dropping a gun on the table. Steve's face looked like it was about to explode. I was right behind him when I saw the HYDRA logo on it. Fury raised his hands and took a few steps back. 

"Look, I can explain" I took a few steps forward. 

"Please do before I take your head off your body" My hands balled up into fists burning bright orange. 

"After the Invasion In Mexico, we noticed that we were painfully and hilariously outgunned we had to find a way to protect ourselves." I frowned, tilting my head. 

"Then why get this team together?" Steve asked, his voice stern. 

"Phase 2 was just in case Phase 1 didn't work" Fury pointed to us. His answer didn't clarify anything. I was still angry and his answer made it worse.  I could restrain myself to not blow his head off of his body. He's still my boss after all and he knows things that I haven't figured out yet. I might still need him. 

"I need this to work" Fury sounded almost desperate. Before the situation could get worse the alarms went off. 

"It's Loki, we found him" Natacha ran in with Maria and Bruce behind her. "He's at the opera in Germany," she said. I sighed desperately. 

"For what?" I asked. "Iridiuim" Bruce covered his face with his hand, shaking his head. He looked as desperate and scared as I was. All be it for different reasons. "Why does he need iridium?"  Steve asked zipping up his suit, getting ready for a fight. "He needs it to stabilize the Tesseract," I said prompting everyone to look at me like I had two heads.

Some sense of Pride boiled up inside of me. In all honesty, I am not smart enough to know any of this. I just looked at Tony's notes last night. I remembered something. 

"Yeah, we'll have to get it before he does" Tony Said. "Suit up," Steve said halfway out of the door. Everyone shared a look and ran out. 

Soon Bruce and I were the only ones left in the room. Bruce looked nervous. 

"Are you alright Doctor?" he nodded. "All of this is new for me" I knew he didn't feel safe. Nor did he want to be here. I sat up on the desk. 

"You are safe here doctor" I tried reassuring him. It didn't help. 

"It's not me I'm scared about. I'm scared about the other guy" I looked down. 

"It's gonna be fine" I decided to shift the focus.

"Can you tell me more about that scepter-thingy?" Bruce looked relieved and smiled. 

"This 'thingy" he laughed. "Can control minds" Bruce explained. "There's nothing more to tell about it honestly. It's all we know" I sighed. 

"We will figure it out I guess," I said, reassuring him. 

"Take a break. It'll be a while before they get back" he looked up at me, amused. 

"It's not like I can go on a stroll" I rolled my eyes. 

"No, I meant to eat something" I laughed, grabbing the pack of half-eaten berries Tony started eating but dropped when he had to go. He took it and devoured it. 

"I'll get something to drink" I walked out, looking for something.

"Tony was right; I shouldn't have drunk so much coffee." Exhaustion started to kick in. I yawned as I walked to the mini-kitchen of the plane. I crouched down in front of a fridge filled with bottles of water. I grabbed two. I turned around and jumped up by Coulson appearing behind me. His arms crossed behind his back. 

 "Agent Evans" he greeted me and I smiled. 

"It's Ransom but hi Phill" he smiled. 

"Do you need anything?" He smiled but shook his head. 

"I just wanted to know how you were doing?" I looked up surprised. 

"I am doing just fine" I smiled innocently. I wasn't doing fine. I was terrified. It seemed like he noticed.

What he did next surprised me. He pulled me into a hug, a tight one. It took my brain a while to register his action. 

"Wha- agent Colson" We stood there in an awkward hug. I didn't fight it. "That's nice" I sighed as I fell into his grip. Everyone was probably looking at us like we were crazy. He took a few steps back. "Thank you," he said as he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. I'm sure he needed that hug more than I did. "Of course, are you sure  that you don't need anything else?"  I asked and laughed.

"Yeah, join S.H.I.E.L.D. again" I squinted my eyes. 

"If you all start telling the truth I'll consider it" He looked away quickly and set his eyes back on me. 

"Fair enough" he sighed. 

"Be careful, Phil" I said. "Out of everyone, here on this hellicarrier. You're the only one I truly trust" I said. 

He looked looked at his shoes. "You too" I nodded and finally excused myself and walked back to the lab. 

Bruce was staring aimlessly through the window when I got there. Not that there was much to see. There were only clouds and blue skies. 

"I have water" Bruce stuck out his hand.

"Thanks" I sat back down on the desk. We didn't say anything. It felt nice to zone out for a while. Our peace was interrupted, however, when people started running. 

"Bruce" I whispered, touching his arm. He turned around and we both made our way to the door. Loki walked in, guarded by eight soldiers. His hands were cuffed.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. If I could, I would scream and run but my feet were glued to the floor. Loki flashed an evil smile as he passed by. It sent shivers down my spine. Banner shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Steve and Tony appeared behind him.

I was relieved, to say the least. 

Steve had opened up his suit, his mask was broken. 

"Are you guys okay?" They nodded. They looked shaken up. I just pulled both of them in a tight hug. 

"I just fought a God. I'm not sure I'll ever be okay" Tony sighed dramatically. "In all honesty, I don't think I ever was okay" Tony joked and I looked up, amused.

"Let's go we need to get debriefed," Steve said. I nodded and walked with them. Everyone was sitting at the round table again. Except for Thor. He was so tall that he towered over me. The warmth radiating from him.

Steve and Tony sat down. The adrenaline inside me was too high for me to relax and sit down. The screen was pulled up. It had live footage of the basement where Loki was being kept. He was talking about Banner. He shared a look with Natasha. He rubbed his temples. Steve closed his screen. 

"He's gonna drag this out" Steve sighed. "Thor, what's his play?" he asked. 

"He has an army called the Chitauri. They're not of Asgard nor any world has known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth, in return, I suspect, for the Tesseract." Thor said.

"That's why he needs Erik Selvig" Bruce stood up and started pacing. "He's building another portal" Bruce looked at me. I didn't know what to do. 

"Selvig, I know him" Thor chimed. 

"He's an astrophysicist," I said. 

"He's a friend," Thor said and locked eyes with me. "Loki has them under some kind of spell." his arms were crossed making his muscular arms more prominent.

 "Along with one of ours," Natasha said her voice laced with sadness.

"I can't be the only one who thinks that you captured Loki way too easily, right?" I stated. 

"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. You can smell crazy on him," Bruce said. Agitating Thor. 

"Have a care of how you speak. Loki is beyond reason but he is of Asgard, and he is my brother." He turned towards Banner. 

"He killed 80 people in two days," Natasha said. 

"He's adopted?" Thor quipped. I laughed silently.

"He has the iridium to stabilize the Portal. Why?" Bruce asked. 

"So that the portal won't collapse on itself like it did at S.H.I.E.L.D." Tony chimed. 

"Okay, but what does that mean?" I asked. 

"It means the portal can stay open as long and as Loki wants." I bit the inside of my cheek. 

"We need to stop him," I said. It was an obvious thought.

"So who's gonna go down there?" I said. 

Everyone turned to Natasha. She rolled her eyes. "Fine." she stood up. I was excited. I was about to sit in the front row of an interrogation held by THE Agent Romanoff.

Tony.

I sighed locking eyes with Ransom, looking up. I noticed Thor's face contort. I leaned back in my chair and turned around. 

"Hey, point breaks If you keep thinking like that your brains will explode," I remarked. He turned my way. Throwing his hammer up and down.

"This girl. Who is she?" he asked pointing to Ransom. Ransom froze. I raised my eyebrows. 

"I'm Ransom," she said her voice so soft. 

"Why do you need to know?" Steve asked standing up and pulling Ransom behind him. 

"Y-you looks very familiar, Ma'am" he stammered. Surprised by the quick retaliation he encountered. 

I tilted my head. "How so?" I stopped swirling around. 

"I do not know. I cannot put my finger on it" he was walking back and forth.

"I mean I'm technically 95 years old maybe you've seen me before," she said smiling softly at him. Thor just nodded relieved as she smiled and when Steve backed off.  He quickly let it go. We didn't have time to be focused on this right now. Instead, we shifted our focus back to the screen.

Loki was pacing in his cage. 

"There are not many people who can sneak up on me" he snickers. 

"But you'd figured I'd come," Natasha said her voice soft, laced with innocence. 

"You would appear as a friend, as a balm. And I would cooperate," he said. I rolled my eyes. Boy, and I am the one who is the sweet-talker. 

"I want to know what you've done with Agent Barton and Selvig" Natasha's hands were crossed in front of her. 

"I'd say that I've expanded their minds" his voice laced with amusement. "Is this love, Agent Romanoff?" he bested her. 

"Love is for children. I owe him a debt" she said not even revealing an inch of emotions.

She started doing a deep dive into her history. "Before I worked for SHIELD, I uh- well, I made a name for myself. I have a very specific skill set. I didn't care who I used it for, or on. I got on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar in a bad way. Agent Barton was sent to kill me, he made a different call." she said. I shifted my focus to Ransom, she was scratching her arm.

Steve grabbed her hand to stop her. Jealousy washed over me, again. I needed to stop this. 

"Ah, no. But I like this. Your world is in the balance, and you bargain for one man" I looked at Ransom again. I'd do everything for her. 

"Regimes fall every day I tend not to weep over that. I'm Russian" I laughed silently.

The room shook as Loki hit the glass of his container. Natasha jumped back, looking scared.

He started screaming and spitting words. I couldn't register much of what he was saying. I was ready to go in there and to shut him up.

"Before You go flying up there, look," Ransom said and grabbed my arm. 

"When he screams I'll split his skull! This is my bargain, you mewling quim!" Natasha was fake crying, her head hanging low. 

"You're a monster!" she yelled, her hands covering her face. 

"Oh no, you brought the monster!" she turned around facing Loki, her face dry.

"Doctor Banner? That's your play?" Loki's eyes widened as he stepped back. 

Natasha turned around, walking away from the room. She spoke into her comms. "He's after Banner," she said. 

Before she left the room, she turned around. "Thank you for your cooperation" Natasha finished her interrogation. 

I smiled. Ransom stood beside me. "That was so hot" she whispered. I looked at her amused. No one else noticed her saying this. "Yeah, I know" We started giggling like two teenagers. 

Steve looked at us, not understanding what was going on. Making me have some sense of power and control of my feelings and the situation.  

Next part

#avengers #love #fantasy #my writing #fic writer #marvel mcu #new page #drama #infinity war #iron man 3 #battle of new york #loki laufeyson #loki series #loki odinson #loki #mcu loki #loki season two #loki x reader #tonystark #tony stark drabble #tony stark fanfiction #tony stark fic #tony stark imagine #tony stark x reader #tony stark x y/n #tony stark x you #tony stark #stevetony #steve x tony #clint

[originalfireemblemscenarios]

Your writing is so fun to read! I was just getting disheartened that the unsent letter requests were all gone, but here's my own unsent letter request: Shigure is married to a woman that loves to hear him sing, but tends to fall asleep fast. So sometimes, Shigure will just inadvertently sing her to sleep. When she does go to bed, though, Shigure stays up later and writes letters next to her while she's asleep. So one day, after caring for both of their pegasui, reader accidentally finds the letters stored somewhere (box in the closet, drawer in his nightstand, wherever he'd keep them) and is kinda confused because she's never seen him write before.

Ngl I have much more fun writing the Unsent format... So I guess next time I'll bring it back I'll give it more spaces!

~

His soothing voice always calmed you. And he was happy that his signing gave you peace. He still remembers how surprised he was that you fell asleep just like that when listening to him sing.

But there was one problem, sometimes he had a sudden urge to talk to you. Not wanting to wake you he at first started making lists of things he wanted to discuss... And with time they changed into letters. He never actually showed you any, because he found it a little embarrassing for you to read it even if he was about to say the exact same thing.

Now it happened yet again. You were quick asleep in your shared bed and although he would love to join you he had another urge to write. He hummed quietly as his hand moved on its own as he wrote down the letter. After finishing he admired you as he waited for the ink to dry so he can safely put the letter away. He was still in awe that he was married to such a wonderful woman.

It was rather late so as he started thinking back about random moments you've shared he forgot why he was still up to begin with. Standing up from the desk he left the letter and went to sleep.

Next morning he was quickly awake and by the time you were up he already went ahead to care for your pegasi. As you stood up you noticed that something was at the center of the desk so you walked up to it out of curiosity.

Dearest Y/N

Everyday you bring me so much joy, today was no different. Yet again I had the luxury to be with you from sunrise until midnight. Although I am staying up late by now. After singing for you I started feeling nostalgic again, I thought about how our relationship developed over the years. I still remember our first date like it was yesterday. Maybe tomorrow I'll ask you to participate in similar activities as we did that time? I definitely would love to re-live the experience, but nothing can be the same as it was- can it? I suppose that's what makes that memory so charming. Either way I look forward to tomorrow, I already feel like it's going to be a good day.

Love,

Shigure

As you were reading it you could hear him enter the room "Greetings, my love" his smile was just as soft as his voice. When he walked up to you to give you a good morning kiss he noticed what you were holding.

He was quite surprised to see it, but as he recalled how things went yesterday he siad "I thought I put that away" you knew he was talking about the letter "Wasn't it intended for me anyways?" you asked.

"Both yes and no. You see, I made a habit of writing letters to you whenever I'm unable to talk to you" he was a little embarrassed but he wasn't by any means nervous. It was rather sweet of him to think of you as often as he did that he had the need to go through with this solution... It also made you wonder "Can I see the other letters?"

After a little bit of hesitation- he agreed.

#Shigure #Shigure fire emblem #Fire emblem shigure #Shigure fates #Fe shigure #Fates shigure #Shigure fe #Shigure x reader

[grey-rambles]

heyyyy hope you get better soon! try putting less stress on yourself, it always helps :)

i also severely need book recs,,,, what is your favourite book? personally i love dystopian/fantasy-ish books so like my top three books are caraval (stephanie garber), red queen (victoria aveyard), hunger games (Suzanne collins)

anyway hope you’re good :) get well soon ♥️

-🐍

Awww, thank you 🐍 my beloved :)

I actually called off work today because I could hear weight on my right leg when I woke up this morning, and I think the impromptu three day weekend really helped! I'm feeling a little better now, and I'll be seeing my doctor soon for a change to my meds.

As for books, that's a tough one. Honestly, I don't read many print books these days- it's so much easier to just read fanfiction on my phone lol. I've never heard of two out of three of your picks, might have to check them out! I never ready The Hunger Games, was reassured by a friend that it wasn't for me, haha.

I love fantasy! I really loved the Inheritance Cycle when it was coming out. I also love "The Thief Lord" and "Dragon Rider" by Cornelia Funke.

My favourite author ever is Charles de Long. Favourites include "Waifs and Strays", a short story collection; "Widdershins", the culmination in his long-running Newford series; "The Blue Girl" and "Someplace to be Flying", both of which are set in Newford, but are more like spin offs from the main plot.

I'm feeling nostalgic lately, so some of my childhood favourites include "The Phantom Tollbooth", "Secret Letters from 0-10", the Percy Jackson series, and "H.I.V.E: The Higher Institute of Villainous Education" and it's sequels. Oh, and Artemis Fowl. Loved those.

Besides fantasy, I mostly read biographies of NHL players.....

I hope something here catches your fancy, 🐍!!

#🐍 anon #grey's rambles #once again i have rambled far too much #this time im blaming the painkillers lol

[first-impressions-gaming]

Lake

Developed by Gamious

Published by Gamious, Whitethorn Games

Release Date September 2022 (April 2022 for some platforms)

Tested on Xbox Series X

MSRP 19,99 Euro/USD (Available via Xbox Game Pass)

The opening scene welcomes us to the apartment of Meredith, the protagonist of the game, while she was typing an e-mail to her workmates about a project that they had been working on. The game takes place in 1986 and Meredith lives in an urban city in US, yet the opening scene takes a drastic turn and we find ourselves in Providence Oaks, a small town so to speak.

Meredith returns to Providence Oaks for holiday for two weeks, but her parents are on holiday as well, so she gotta fill in for her dad as a postwoman for the duration of her visit. We’re welcomed to the town by Frank Coleman, a postman who teaches us the ropes of the job. After having a short chat with Frank we dive into the game, the promise of the game is presented us to this point: Meredith will be delivering parcels and letters to residents around the town.

The town and Meredith’s parents’ house, Weiss Residence, do not live up to expectations, my main point being the environment feels blank, superficial and generic. It doesn’t raise any emotions in Meredith as a protagonist, and it should considering that she returns of her hometown after 22 years. She does not react to any character or environment with a particular sense of sentiment. For instance, the player is given two choices at first night: to watch TV or read a book. What I anticipated is that Meredith would pick and read a book from her childhood, a book that had an impact or influence over her all this time to draw player’s attention closer to the story, but instead of that, she reads a book of her mother’s, literally just a random book, one that does not add anything to the plot or character development, what’s worse is that the book is narrated by a male voice as Meredith reads it and the scene is cut in mid-sentence, possible “make a choice between two options” mechanic’s opportunity is wasted and not used in a deserving way, the ideal choice would be a flashback to the past with either choice, the player would have gotten to know Meredith better.

My second nitpick regarding the Weiss Residence is that the player is not given a chance to walk around the house at all. When the work ends, we are right back at home in the living room and we have to strictly stick to the “watch-TV-or-read-a-book” mechanic, how come Meredith just does not prefer to walk around the house, re-visit rooms, kitchen, garden or basement? How come she does not get nostalgic for the house she grew up in returning after more than two decades !? The fact that Meredich is…disconnected from her surroundings kills the whole protagonist-returns-to-her-hometown-and-is-nostalgic vibe for the player. I can specifically name two games which nail this feeling: Tell Me Why (Developed by DONTNOD) and Norco (Developed by Geography of Robots).

One of our delivery locations is a video rental store, during the delivery Meredith and the owner of the store have a chit-chat and Meredith ends up renting a movie named The Postman Knocks Twice. After finishing our deliveries that days, we return to home as usual and we are presented with three options that night, the third option being “watch The Postman Knocks Twice”. Naturally, I picked this one thinking that “Oh great, Meredith rented this movie so there should be a cut scene and this movie will help the story progress and we can build a closer friendship with the store owner”. Alas! I have never been this wrong, nothing happened, there was no cutscene at all. Meredith woke up and it was morning. This does not make sense one bit, what was the purpose of our conversation with the owner, renting the movie, having the choice to “watch” it if it does not amount to anything? In order to compare and contrast this point, I will draw examples from other games. Think about games that have “collectibles” in them, such as open-world games, like The Division series, or linear titles like The Last of Us. In these games, you can bump into totally optional collectibles (recordings in The Division, letters in TLOU) and pick them up, these are small details in a bigger world but they can present you glimpses of that world, of characters you will never get to know physically, or of past. When you think about this way, the player expects the rental movie to be a force driving the narrative, but no. This one is another wasted opportunity.

#gaming #games #indie games #lake

[go7-made]

Trying to figure this shit out again after two years lmao

SO to whomever wants to even read this hello, I’m one of those who decided on disappearing to escape to Twitter from the pr0n bot/ban debacle and now I’m back bc Twitter I feel like I’ve seen too much???? And there is just non-stop information that you can’t seem to get a break from, I feel like it’s just too messy for my foolish brain now. Obviously here is no better but it’s a different kind of chaos I can handle lmao

To be very very honest, I also feel like I can’t share anything personal aside from retweets, it just feels very Public™??? If that makes sense. I read on someone’s post that explained it waaaay better. Twitter is starting to feel suffocating and I’m not sure if anyone feels the same.

I didn’t think I’d be coming back here to start posting again. I just want somewhere to be able to share my shit with full clarity. I’m also glad to see some people I follow never left! I feel a sense of familiarity, I kinda wish I didn’t those two years ago lol

Pretty much an update to me from me: this is mostly ramblings if not a letter to myself, bc I pretty much left whoever I was, pre-pandemic, here. I decided to go through old posts and I feel nostalgic. I don’t have much interest in the things I was most passionate about anymore, but I’m still trying to hold onto them while my support system keeps me afloat.

I’m entering the first week since my sweet father passed away peacefully after taking care of him with my family for 5 years. It had its ups and downs but if I had the chance, I would be more than happy to do it again. I just wish I knew more.

I remember being so adamant about agnosticism—now it’s been 7/9 days since we began the Novena. It seems silly to my mom, but I greet him good morning and good night. I feel comfort in that. I learned a new language because of him. I understand more because of him. I have plenty regrets of not doing enough good for him but I’d like to think he would forgive me. (For some reason I feel like a prodigal child.)

Suffice to say I left here not knowing anything for the future and came back in pieces. I’m just about put together, but the pieces are pretty much in a pile right now. And I’m just pushing them around to get through the day. The initial shock has died down and my tears aren’t falling anymore, but obviously I won’t finish grieving anytime soon. Unfortunately grief can come in the form of morbid jokes. I promise I won’t do that often.

I’m sure I had a lot more to say to myself but I’ll just leave it at that. Anyway glad to be here, this is me rn:

#personal #update

[fruityfourgalore]

for the "give me a letter..." ask meme: s!

!!!! thank you thank you! i am so happy you sent me a letter! *cracks knuckles* ok ok

+ shapeshift (jenna doe): currently listening over and over. i can't remember how i cam across this one recently, but. her voice? her writing? the way she gives me nostalgic feels? *grabby hands* it's been a while since i have found an artist on my own (not like maya and joe, that was brought to me by themselves and the fandom). i love that feeling of needing more from an artist and just sitting at the edge of your seat for the next single they graciously hand feed you. //and she's so sweet, bubblegum, cherry; and i'm salty, might make your gums bleed//

+ sophmore slump or comeback of the year (fall out boy): fob, fob, fob. this song. the way their track titles read like a millennial magazine cover and the way they have their unique way of talking to the listener in their songs. idk. fuck. i will always love these fuckers. //we're the kids you used to love, but then we grew old. we're the lifers, here 'til the bitter end, condemned from the start, ashamed of the way the songs and the words own the beating of our hearts// annnnd //there's a drug in the thermostat to warm the room up and there's another around to have us bend your trust; got a sunset in my veins and i need to take a pill to make this town feel okay// been slowly working on a tattoo for the second bit lyric for years because. its perfect. this song is perfect.

+ seventy times 7 (brand new): ever since the cutest cheerleader in my 4th period world history ap class made me a mix cd with this song on it i haven't released my chokehold on it. it is my go to song when i am pissed at anyone, especially when platonic relationships come to a crashing end. its mean, but fuck if they don't know how to capture this very specific feeling, when friendships die. //so is that what you call a getaway? tell me what you got away with cause i've seen more spine in jellyfish, i've seen more guts in eleven year old kids. have another drink and drive yourself home. i hope there's ice on all the roads and you can think of me when you forget your seat belt and again when your head goes through the windshield. is that what you call tact, you're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back. so let's end this call and end this conversation. and is that what you call a getaway? tell me what you got away with cause you left the frays from the ties you severed when you say "bEST FRIENDS" MEANS FRIENDS FOREVER// 🔥

+ she's in love with a boy (trisha yearwood): listen, the venn diagram of my parents' taste in music is two separate circles. they did not have any doubles in their vinyls and cassettes when they got together, okay? my dad was all bob dylan, jethro tull, and steve miller band while my mom was all fleetwood mac, barbra streisand, and james taylor. and my dad would make pick fun at my mom (lovingly) whenever she'd play a trisha yearwood cd saturday mornings. and personally, i found this song fascinating at the ripe age of 7 (it came out when i was 2, but it was mom's fave album ok) because my name was in it AND katie was in love with tommy? you mean the cute power ranger tommy? lmao. // katie looks at tommy like i still look at you//

+ sex & candy (marcy playground): i remember listening to this one back when i was like 15 and writing too much roswell fanfiction during 5th period english lit (not that i was sitting in class with my iPod playing) it was the song for maria/michael. //who's that casting devious stares in my direction? mama this surely is a dream//

send me a letter and i will write too much about my top 5 songs that start with that letter :)

#i didnt mean for this to be a lil novel? i just love music ok? #ask game #send me more please thanks #theres 25 other letters #about me

[thoughtonthoughts]

Grief

Yes, death of a parent is that glove slap. 

It’s that awakening moment to life and what it really means to live. It better helps to understand what is the cycle of life about, where we came from and where are we going, connecting us to our real self and to others. It stirs everything that would need be to be stirred, at some point in our lives. That's why I don't want to let this drag and sweep it under the “mental rug”.

Very often we get angry at other family members (mother, brother) but that stems from the fact that we just want to be heard. Rarely someone understands. No one understands because they did not experienced it, or they experienced it but do not want to talk about it or even when they experienced it they are just experiencing it in a different way. 

After losing my father, relating and engaging with people around me,  with the little things in life that next to this loss they just don't seem to deserve any attention or energy. 

How do we engage and relate to people around us after this? We have to find a way to belong to places where we belonged before. 

As I read somewhere: It’s not that misery loves company. It’s just that pain craves understanding.

I am experiencing many random thoughts during the day but, I know that they are guiding me through the path I must follow. Yesterday, I woke up feeling nostalgic but thinking about a person that I haven't seen in a couple of years. I went throughout the day with that nostalgic feeling. I spent my morning reading stuff about the brain under the effect of LSD compared to the brain of children and jazz musicians. In the afternoon, I revisited Nick Cave’s music and a letter he wrote to a fan on how to deal with grief. I rediscovered his website, The Red Hand Files, and his cathartic songs. 

I ended my Sunday with an immense “saudade” (there is no other word that can possibly describe the feeling) of my father and crying a lot. But I woke up the next day with space for other things and feelings.

Sadness has a voice. The hurt you feel that’s been stuck between your chest and throat. The broken heart. But sadness as well as the other emotions are visitors that bring a message. 

“Sadness allows us to let go of things. Can sadness be, as well as a goodbye, or serve as a sigh of remembered love, a reparative breath that precedes an adjournment, a pause of gratitude before you inhabit the next you. Like a gesture of reverence to the passage of life. An act of appreciation of the past and of the loved one.” Nick Cave

#grief #losing parent #sadness #dealing with grief #nick cave #love #father

[robertdowneyjjr]

I don’t even know what to say. Whenever I see a notification that RDJ has a new social post, I expect joyous news about his new ventures, upcoming projects, and celebrations of his family. Never did I expect to read the shocking and terrible news that Jimmy is no longer with us.

Jimmy Rich was a constant in the fandom. He was a friendly face that made this community what it is today. Jimmy’s kindness and openness gave us unparalleled access to Robert’s work and life that we never would have expected otherwise. He was always the first to share the love we as a fandom had for him, for Robert, and for each other, to the world. The work he did allowed us to feel like we were part of the team, as if even through a screen, we were with Robert, Jimmy, Davy and Jeanne every step of the way on each press tour and each media opportunity that was happening across the other side of the world. Without him, we wouldn’t be the same.

It goes without saying that I had always hoped to meet RDJ in person and have a conversation with him. But on top of that, I had always wanted to meet Jimmy, to thank him in person, for being a brother to Robert, and for being a friend to us. I’m thankful that he was always a patient and positive presence, grateful for every interaction I had with him on Instagram, where he was always generous with his time, his responses, and his likes.

He was a beautiful soul, a genuinely loving person. I appreciate everything he has done for us, and my thoughts go out to his family. Though he is gone way, way, way too soon, I hope he’s found peace and reunited with his brother, Prometheus.

#sameasiteverwas

#i know i'm never here anymore but i've never stopped being a fan and this is really upsetting news #and to think this morning i was feeling nostalgic and reading the letters from the tyrdj project and looking at what we wrote to jimmy #and wondering how he was doing #little did i know... #:( #jimmy rich #rest darling

[just-miru]

[Blueycapsules]

William Afton x reader

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

i think y'all are familiar with the "did you know i can hold the whole world in my hands?" type of one-shot by now, but even so i decided to give it a try anyway, since it's a pretty cute idea :D

[tw: nothing, just possible typos and/or other small mistakes | crack | fluff | one-shot ]

[word count: 2,267 words | 11,436 characters]

[first published: 16.02.2022]

[slightly edited: 20.02.2022]

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

"The whole world?"

i wake up to the sound of pouring rain outside. it's a pretty nice way to wake up actually - quite calming. i am facing the window and i can see the droplets of water running down on it.

it kinda has a nostalgic feeling to it - remember choosing a drop of water and hoping it will win the race among all the other drops?

anyway, turning the other way around, i am met with the usual sight i was blessed to witness every time William doesn't nuzzle his whole ass being into my chest - head on the side, arms laying flat on the bed with the palms towards the ceiling, and his butt hanging up in the air (here - in case it doesn't make sense).

'how does he even sleep like that?' i ask myself as i do every time i see him like this, chuckling silently a bit. his mouth is slightly open, a weak snore coming out of it every now and then.

i can't help but smile at him.

turning my attention to the clock, i read the red-glowing numbers '07:16'

i decided to stay a bit more in bed, not having anything important planned for the day. covering myself back with the blanket, i let my eyes close, hoping to fall asleep again, but my plan was soon to be messed up by the bloody urge to go to the bathroom-

i sigh. before getting out of bed, i lean in and give ma man Willy a small peck on the forehead.

making my way (downtown, walking fast-) to the bathroom, i throw a small glance out the hall's window - it has been raining for some time, large muddy puddles being already formed on the ground.

taking my time, i lazily do my morning routine, changing from my pyjama pants and throwing on a plain t-shirt.

by 07:48 i made my way towards the kitchen. opening the fridge, i take out four eggs, some bacon and butter, then start preparing the breakfast for me and William. waiting for the frying pan to heat up, i go up to the cupboard and take out a sliced loaf of bread. i take out two slices then put them in the toaster, setting it for 5 minutes.

i then open another cupboard and take out a cup, placing it on the table. it is William's favourite teacup - white with '#1 bloke' written on it in black, bold letters. i put some water in the kettle that is always placed on the stove, but i don't turn it on - i have tried before to make his tea, and i have failed miserably... it seems i really suck at making it so i just prepare the things he needs for when he wakes up to make it himself.

cracking two of the eggs open in the pan, i wait for them to cook. while doing so, i take two small plates and place them on the kitchen counter. a few minutes pass, and i take the first eggs out on one of the plates, cracking the other two left. i let my eyes close shut and listen to the frying sound they make on the pan. breathing in the nice smell of freshly made food, my mind wanders off for a bit, to nowhere in particular.

i just stay like that for a while...

"..."

"SHMWOP!"

"hOLY FU-" i quickly turn around, fearing for dear life.

"oh shit, is just the toast-"

it never fails to scare the living shit out of me. even if i have been using a toaster for quite some time, it always catches me out of guard.

that bloody thing-

i take the golden slices of bread and put them on the plate along with the eggs. i then go and grab a butter knife, and, of course, the butter. cutting two thin squares of it, i gently place them on top of each toast.

turning quickly back to the stove i take the two eggs out on the other plate, then place four slices of bacon in the pan and wait for them to be done.

as i put the last slice of bacon on my plate, i am proud to declare the breakfast as finally done. wasting no time, i grab a fork from a drawer and dig in.

peacefully eating my breakfast with the sound of the rain in the background, i manage to finish pretty fast.

the clock reads 08:10 when i'm done.

standing up, i go and place my plate and fork in the now not so empty sink. i stare at it for a bit.

'gotta wash it later'

i go into the living room and my eyes fall onto the book i've been trying to read for the past few weeks. it's on the small table beside the purple couch. some dust can be seen on the book's cover. a small piece of paper that's supposed to serve as a bookmark tells me that just about half of it has been read.

sitting on the said couch, the book in my hands, i start reading it. the rain outside seems to die out a bit with every page i turn.

time flies by and i am left with only a few pages to read. stretching myself a bit, i let down the book on my lap so i can rub my eyes a little. sneaking a small glance towards the clock i am surprised to see that not even an hour has passed since my little reunion with the book.

i pick it up from my lap, filled with determination to finish it - there's like, what, 100 and something pages left to finish. i can finish it today.

the rain has fully stopped by now.

it's peaceful.

... until it isn't-

a floor creaking sound is followed by a sleepy "mornin' luv" coming from no one else but William - my beloved.

"morning," i say throwing a small glance at him. he's still in his light blue dressing gown, pink slippers on.

walking towards me, he lazily wraps his arms around my shoulders from behind the couch, nuzzling his nose into my neck, his breath hot on my skin.

"breakfast's on the kitchen table, go grab some."

"mhm" humming into my skin, he clings to me for a bit more "thank you dear" then he lets go and starts walking to the kitchen. cold air is quick to hit the skin of my neck, already missing his warmth.

i just nod at him, even though he has his back turned on me. fully focusing back on my book, i keep on reading.

soon, the sounds of the boiling kettle and clinking fork on the plate are to be heard.

after a while, i hear him place his plate in the sink before he emerges from the kitchen with a steaming teacup in hand.

he places the cup on the living room table, taking the TV remote in hand before sitting next to me. he's quick to turn the TV on. he switches between the channels a bit before settling for one of his typical British movies - surprisingly, it was not a Harry Potter movie.

"does it bother you?"

"hmm?" i glance up at him. "the TV dear" then he just points towards my book, waiting for my response.

"oh, no, don't worry!"

nodding, he turns his attention back on the movie.

ignoring the TV in the background, comfortable silence falls over us.

*

i finally finish the book. closing it, my eyes linger a bit on it's now dust-free cover as i try to process the ending - kinda disappointing, not gonna lie. he said goodbye after promising not to do so. it really hurt my little heart - such a shame.

anyway- at least i won't feel guilty for putting it off for too long anymore! i place it on the table and stretch myself once again.

my attention is now on whatever William's watching, but it doesn't really intrigue me. eyes are still glued on the screen, i just don't bother to pay attention to what's happening.

Will shifts a bit in his seat, and just by doing so, he manages to somehow get my full attention without even trying. i end up admiring his profile.

'he's so pretty-' a small smile appears on my face

he's so focused on the movie, i just can't-

his eyebrows are a bit frowned as he follows the plot, mouth slightly pouting, his arms crossed over his chest. overall, he looks so serious.

it's simply adorable-

"wot is it?"

oh shit- he must have noticed my not so very subtle staring. he doesn't even turn to face me.

"nothing"

i don't take my eyes away from him and his beautiful ass face, nope. i keep on staring, smile only growing bigger as time passes... that sounds pretty creepy, i know! but it's nothing like that.

he is trying to ignore my piercing gaze... and he's failing miserably - he's so tensed up in his seat.

'why not see how much he can keep going like this?' a smirk is gracefully making a small appearance on my face as i keep staring respectfully. his leg starts to bounce a bit. i am not even sure for how long i've been staring.

...

ok, ok- i think i had enough fun for today, i will spare him.

... or maybe not so fast-

"you know" i begin as i bring my knees close to my chest, warping my arms around them, my eyes finally drifting away from him "i have been thinking-"

"well, that's definitely a starter-"

"hey!" i can hear the smirk in his voice. he just laughs in response. can this man get any more precious than he already is? aaaahhh-

i clear my throat "anyway, as i was saying before i was rudely interrupted-" i eye him playfully "i have been thinking and i am pretty sure i discovered a way to hold the whole world into ma tiny two hands!" excited, i show him my hands, wiggling my fingers.

"i take back what i said."

"wha- why?"

"darling" his British ass accent might have as well just killed me-

"the whole world?" he shakes his head - oh no! he's trying to make me sound 'schewpid', isn't he? i pout at him. "how do you even plan to do that, luv?"

"i can actually show you i am able to do that!" i state determinated, as i move closer to him.

"please do, then."

without wasting a moment, my hands find their way on his cheeks - they're so soft! i gently caress them with my thumbs, smiling sweetly at him.

they turn hot under my touch quite quickly, a reddish colour painting them as well.

i could die right here and right now-

his eyes widen, still processing what's happening. he's adorable-

slowly he places his hands on top of mine, pinkies up. he's so gentle as if he thinks i am going to break under his touch. the surprised expression is quickly melting into a soft, love-struck one.

he has actual hearts in his eyes-

i can't control myself anymore - i pull him closer and start peppering his pretty face with kisses. with each kiss i pull him closer and closer into me, until i lay on the couch, having him on my chest. i giggle as his face becomes even redder if that's possible at this point.

brushing a strand of hair behind his ear, i place a very small and quick peck on his lips. the flustered expression he has can't really hide the disappointment he feels because i did not kiss him properly. he pouts in my hands.

'gonna tease him just a bit more-'

i start leaving small kisses on his neck, up to his jaw, going for the cheek. as soon as i reach the corner of his mouth i pull apart. i mimic a specific shit-eating grin at the flustered mess i have in front of me.

i love him so much-

feeling satisfied, i decide to actually give him a proper kiss this time.

running my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp lightly, i lean in while closing my eyes. a small squeal leaves his mouth as my lips finally touch his. he must have thought i was gonna tease him again - how cute.

he froze up at first but was quick to melt into it. cold hands cup my cheeks to depend on the kiss. his lips are a bit chapped, but nonetheless perfect.

as i pull apart for air, he quickly leans in for a final peck. i chuckle at his expression - he has that weird cat grin on. reaching my hand out to ruffle his hair a bit, it is stopped midway by William's grip. guiding it to rest on his cheek, he takes my other hand and does the same thing.

his usual cold eyes are now full of warmth as i gently hold his face, rubbing small circles with my thumbs over his his rosy cheeks.

"you're adorable-"

the words barely leave my mouth, and he is already hiding his face into my chest, groaning.

smiling at his behaviour, i start running one hand through his hair, the other one drawing random patterns on his back.

"told ya i can hold it!"

"oh shut it-" he says in annoyance, but i can feel him smiling against my skin.

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

ok, this time i tried not to rush it as i did with my first one-shot, and i think it came out pretty nice :D

still, instead of feeling it's rushed, i have the impression that i made it way too long with way too many unnecessary details-

ahh, such is the struggle :'D

also :0 being written in first-person point of view, i am aware that i have to use the "i", "my" and "me" quite a lot, but at some point it becomes annoying, i guess.

was it like that? a bit annoying to read those pronouns over and over again, or where they kinda balanced in the one-shot? :0

since i am the one who wrote it, i am way more critical about this little thing, and i feel like it's making the fic harder to enjoy :'D

#fnaf #fnaf x reader #blueycapsules #blueycapsules x reader #william afton #william afton x reader #my beloved #x reader #fluff #william afton fluff #irummna writes

[randomshyperson]

The Scarlet Witch Prophecy - The First Year

Series Masterlist ||  Read on AO3

Summary: As the youngest daughter of Howard Stark, you have ordinary expectations for your years at Hogwarts. Little do you know what adventures await you when your destiny is intertwined with the legendary Scarlet Witch.

Warnings: +16. Adaptation of the Harry Potter Saga, Magical Thematic, Prophecies, Mentions of Violence, Torture and dark magic, Language (swearing and minor/major offenses), manipulation of will, Underage kissing, insinuation of smut with minors, Smut (overage), descriptions of death, aggression, obscurity, angst, fluffy, soulmates analogies.

Chapters will have additional warning when necessary.

Tag list ( let me know if you want to be tagged or removed idk haha) @mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @justagaypanicking / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @myperfectlovepoem // @helloalycia // @ENSORCELLME // @AIMEZVOUSBRAHMS @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia

//////////////////////////////////

Part I - The First Year

Hogwarts will be fun was the first thought you had when you opened the letter in your hands.

Tony, your older brother, ruffled your hair slightly as he came down into the kitchen and watched you open the mail.

"Your letter finally arrived, huh, little witch?" He joked with a smile as he sat down at the table. 

"I can't wait to go!" You commented excitedly rereading the acceptance letter for the third time.

"Miss, after coffee, can we go to diagonal alley if you like?" Jarvis, your butler, asked you politely as he poured Tony's coffee making you hesitate slightly. Tony, who had his eye on you, forced a smile as he patted you on the arm.

"I'll go with you, don't worry." He assured and you nodded.

"I wish dad would come." You grumble as you sit down and Tony sighs.

" Yeah, me too." He says. "But you know he's busy, and we can't leave it to the last minute."

You mumble in agreement as you serve some sweetbreads on your plate.

Eating in silence for a few moments, you are startled slightly when Tony lets out an exclamation.

"Damn, I forgot to write back to Steve." He announces getting up and walking over to the next shelf where there were some stationery and pen.

"Your boyfriend will be upset." You tease lightly, and Tony mumbles softly without responding.

When he finishes writing the letter, he goes to the kitchen window and opens the metal, whistling loudly in a familiar rhythm. A few seconds later, Iron, his barn owl lands in front of him. Tony stroked the animal gently before dangling the letter in his paws.

" Please take this to Steve, Iron." He ordered and the animal made a noise before flying away again.

"Jarvis, I'll get ready to go." You tell the man as soon as you finish eating and head off toward the stairs.

//-//

Diagonal Alley is a noisy place.

Tony asked you to walk beside him, but you stopped walking at the first Quidditch shop you spotted, and he had to turn back halfway when he noticed you were no longer beside him.

"Don't do that." He warned, mildly annoyed, but you glazed over at the exposed broom in front of you, and he let out a chuckle when he noticed. "Come on, Y/N, you already have a broom."

"But that's no ordinary broom." You retorted with an impressed look. "It's a Nimbus 2000, it's the fastest broom there is."

"You have the 99, I don't understand the difference." He retorted with his hands in his pockets and you shrugged.

"Tony, can we buy it?" You asked pleadingly, making your brother laugh slightly.

"Let's buy your stuff first please" He retorted with a smile and you grumbled but accepted the arm he offered for you to hang on. Jarvis walked behind you with a keen eye on your surroundings.

After you had bought the vast majority of your supplies and replenished your stocks of potions items for Tony, Jarvis took you to Blossoms and Blurbs to buy this year's books.

"Good morning! Hogwarts, third and first year books, please." You heard Jarvis tell the clerk who approached you three. Tony nodded his head signaling you to feel free to walk around the bookstore in the meantime, and that is exactly what you did.

You found many interesting books in the place as you walked among the shelves. One in particular caught your attention, as there seemed to be little miniature magical creatures trying to jump out of the cover, and you grabbed it on a table, watching the item carefully.

You smiled when an ink dragon jumped into your hand, moving your head as if you were looking around. Distracted by the book, you let out a low exclamation when someone bumped into you.

"Sorry, kid." You heard a female voice speak in a humorous tone. It is a girl taller than you, short red hair. "I ended up tripping over some of those runner books."

"It's okay." You said with a smile. The girl looked at the one book in your hands for a moment.

"Do you enjoy creature tracts?" She asks casually as she reaches for a book on the bookshelf beside her.

"I don't know yet." You say and she looks at you slightly confused, "I never studied."

"Ah, first-year." She understands and you nod in agreement. "Hogwarts too or some other?"

"Hogwarts." 

"Cool, I guess I'll see you there then." She says. "I'm from Slytherin, third year."

You let out a surprised exclamation.

"Maybe you know my brother." You say and the girl takes her gaze from the books in her hand she was checking to look at you with her eyebrow raised in curiosity. "His name is Tony Stark, he's also from your house."

The girl lets out a short laugh.

"I can't believe you are Stark's sister." She says. "We're not exactly friends, but I've seen him around the dorm several times. And your brother is a pain in the ass, by the way."

You laugh lightly, agreeing.

"I am Natasha Romanoff." She introduces herself next, balancing her books in one hand to greet you. You introduce yourself with a gentle smile. "Good luck with your books." She says before turning away.

You think it's cool that you already know someone besides your brother before you start at Hogwarts.

//-//

Buying your wand is a rather strange experience.

Mr. Ollivander has a glint in his eye as if he knows everyone's secrets, and seems to disappear and reappear in his store very easily.

Tony sat on one of the stools while he waited for you, and Jarvis went to buy something for you two to eat.

After trying almost five wands, and exploding a glass vase when he tried the last one, Mr. Ollivander sighed.

"Sorry, I don't know why it's not working." You asked feeling nervous, but he smiled.

"Don't worry, dear." He said. "Difficult customers are so much fun." 

He walked back in between the shelves after that, and then reappeared with three new packages.

"I remember when Howard Stark bought his wand." He told smiling nostalgically as you opened one of the packages, a black wand in front of you. "Phoenix, Cedar, slightly flexible."

"Dad has changed wands thousands of times." Added Tony wryly, but Mr. Ollivander didn't seem to mind.

The wand you tested let out a faint spark when you tried to cast a simple conjuration spell, and the man in front of you was quick to take it from your hand the next second.

"I think I have a better idea." He announced turning around, and then climbed the ladder supported by the wall, picking up a package at the top.

"Try this one dear." He asked handing you a dark wand, the wood was shiny, a color you didn't know exactly what it was, but it was beautiful. 

When you grabbed the item, you felt a tingling sensation spread throughout your hand, and the wand vibrated slightly for a few seconds, causing Ollivander to let out a noise of excitement.

"You see, I knew I would find an owner for you dear." He spoke and you realized that he was speaking with the item in your hands. Soon he turned his gaze back to you. "Take good care of this one, will you, it was quite difficult to get dark elf blood for the core."

"R-right." You said with a slight frown, not quite sure what to make of that information.

Tony laughed lightly at the interaction, he should be used to Mr. Ollivander's eccentric manner by now, since he kept breaking his wands just like your father and often returned to the store to get a new one.

After paying, you and Tony met Jarvis outside, he was carrying some sweet rolls.

//-//

July ended too quickly for your happiness. You were very eager to go to school.

You spent most of August at home, playing quidditch with Tony in the backyard, curiously reading the magic books you bought, and trying to peek into the basement where your father worked, but he always caught you looking and smiled, asking you to go back to your room.

You would like your father to take you to the station, but he said he had a magic conference in September, and would be traveling for the next few weeks. Tony was upset, but he put his arm around your shoulders and asked you to hurry to get your bags.

When you finally got to the station, you were slightly nervous about going through a wall, but Tony laughed, and showed you how to go first.

You hugged Jarvis good-bye before following your brother along the way.

Tony dragged you across the train cars to the first empty cabin he could find. He commented that it would be nice if you made your own friends, but that he would like you to sit with him.

So here you were, sitting with Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, Tony's best friends since the first year. The boys smiled encouragingly at you. You already knew them, because Tony kept inviting them to spend holidays with him all the time.

"Hey, Y/N, how was your vacation?" Steve asked as soon as you sat down next to him. You shrugged, saying that it was nice, but that you were looking forward to attending Hogwarts.

Soon the boys started talking about what they were excited about next year, and you did your best to keep up, not knowing exactly who the people they mentioned were, or knowing the classes they talked about.

Many minutes after the train was moving, a girl opened the cabin door.

"Hey, strangers." She greeted with a smile. 

"Hi Peggy." Steve said with a smile, you frowned at the slight scowl on your brother's face.

"They're calling for us in the prefects compartment, Steve." She warned and Steve nodded, getting up. He and the girl then left, and Tony crossed his arms.

"What's wrong?" You asked noticing his posture and the way Bucky had a little smile on his face.

"It's nothing." Grumbled your brother, and as he turned his face to the window, Bucky who was standing in front of you, whispered to you.

"Tony thinks Peggy likes Steve." He recounted. "So he doesn't like Peggy very much."

"Oh." You said, pretending to understand the whole plot. It didn't make much sense to you because everyone couldn't be friends, but you figured that when you were your brother's age you would understand better.

//-//

The Hogwarts Express only stopped at night.

Properly uniformed, you smiled when your brother patted you on the shoulder, telling you that he would meet you at the castle, since the first-year students had to go by boat.

Your hands were sweating a little as you walked up to the extraordinarily tall man who introduced himself as Drax.

"First-year students, please, six in each boat." He shouted to the crowd, and the students moved closer together.

You sat in one of the first little boats, five other children you didn't know surrounding you.

"I'm so excited." A blonde girl commented cheerfully, waving her hands. She smiled at everyone as she introduced herself as "Harley Quinn". 

"I bet you''ll blow something up once we get there, Harley" Added a redheaded girl sitting next to you, you could tell by her tone that they were probably friends. The blonde, Harley, laughed.

"Shut up, Ivy." She said, and then Drax was back, climbing into one of the boats beside her. He checked the boats one last time, then waved his hand, and the transports began to move.

Everyone, including you, let out a chorus of excitement.

When you noticed the castle, you smiled. It was huge, and just as amazing as Tony used to tell you. 

"Wow, it must be amazing to fly over all that." You quietly observed, and the girl next to you turned her head in your direction, smiling.

"Do you like flying?" She asked, and you nodded. She looked at you for a moment and then held out her hand to greet you. "I am Diana. Diana Prince."

"Hi, Diana." You said introducing yourself next. "Do you also like to fly?"

"I love it." She says. "I hope i can make it onto the team."

"I don't know if the first-years have any chance, but I'll be rooting for you." You assure, and Diana smiles.

When the boats stop in the harbor, the students are all excited to get out and see the castle, but Drax's almost intimidating posture makes everyone properly behaved.

He leads the crowd to the staircase, and then there is a lobby. There is a woman waiting for everyone, her strict posture makes you think she is someone you wouldn't want to upset.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." She announces. "I am Professor Okoye, head of Gryffindor house."

The students exchange burbles next, but the teacher's gaze shuts them up almost immediately.

"As long as you are here, your houses will be like your families." She continues. "Your triumphs will earn you points, and if you break any rules, those points will be taken away." 

She says, casting a disapproving glance at one of the students in the corner, who giggled. "In a few moments we will begin the sorting hat ceremony."

The teacher then turns around, heading toward a large bronze door, and talking to someone on the other side. You hear someone laughing near you, and you turn your head to the side in curiosity.

It was a blond boy, and he seemed to be enjoying himself as he balanced one of the gold cups he picked up from the surrounding shelves. You thought he would be in trouble if he knocked it over, and this seemed to be exactly the same opinion as the girl next to him, who was looking at him disapprovingly.

"Stop being an idiot, Peter, put that back." She complained and he laughed, shrugging.

"Gamora, you're a spoilsport you know." He retorted and when he put the cup back, it spun and fell to the floor, breaking into several pieces. The boy turned pale as Teacher Okoye turned her head in his direction.

You rolled your eyes, walking over to them.

"Reparo" You said drawing your wand as you pointed at the broken object. Some children let out impressed exclamations when they saw the bowl form again, but you just put your wand away in shame. It was no big deal. Okoye caught up with the three of you next, looking reproachfully at the boy.

"I expect better behavior during the ceremony, sir..."

"Quill"

"Mister Quill." She completed and took one last look at the boy that had with his head down before turning back to the front of the crowd again, waving for the students to follow her.

"Hey, that was pretty cool." Peter commented beside you as you walked. You shrugged, focusing on the path.

//-//

The sorting hat was something exceptional.

Tony never told you how the choice was made, and you knew it was only to annoy you. He had sometimes joked that the students faced each other in a duel, and even though you told him to shut up, you had a look at his spell book before you came.

The actual ceremony was much simpler, however.

When it was your turn to climb onto the small stool, you bit your lips, hoping that everything would go smoothly. Just as the old cloth of the hat fell over your eyes, blocking your view of the rest of the hall, you heard a voice in your head.

" Hello, dear, no need to be so nervous." Announced the hat gently. "You are a curious little thing, I see."

"Is that a good thing?" You thought, and the hat chuckled lightly.

"It might be." He said mysteriously. "Interesting what I see here. Very interesting."

"What are you seeing?"

"Your memories, dear."

"Oh." You thought, feeling slightly embarrassed. That seemed like an intrusion of your privacy. The hat laughed again, and you remembered that he was on your head.

"You're hard to sort out." He says, and you squeeze the stool. "Don't worry, I'm not going to send you home, that's not how it works."

"Oh, right."

Hat was silent a few moments. 

"I see courage in your heart." He says and you try to remember the characteristics of the houses. "But that courage is well forged with your loyalty."

You swallow dryly, feeling your anxiety rising. This was definitely taking much longer than the people who went before you.

"You are as smart as your father and brother, both members of the Slytherin house." He says.  "There's a willingness not to let them down."

"That's personal." You grumble feeling your cheeks flush, but the hat doesn't care to apologize for bringing up your insecurities.

"Ah, this is interesting here. A pure kindness, yet pruned in your origins of shallow paternal affection”.

You frown, not understanding what he is saying.

"You are quite adaptable child, it has always been one of your best virtues." The hat remarks, and you get the impression that the next part is only said for you. "Tell me, where would you like to stay?"

"Isn't that your job?" You retort in thought, and hear him laugh again. You rush to correct yourself, not wanting to be rude. "Sorry, hat. I don't really know. I'd like to stay where I fit in best."

"You would do well anywhere." He retorts, and you frown. "And that's pretty impressive, you know. I haven't met another hatstall since the last century."

You swallow dryly, not knowing if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"I'll work hard, sir." You tell him. "I don't want people to think I'm a special witch just because of my family. That's something I'm sure, I don't know if it helps you choose."

Hat lets out a sigh of relief.

"Actually, that's exactly what I needed."

It takes a moment for him to speak again, and when he does, you feel your whole body shake.

"Hufflepuff"

//-//

Steve Rogers is the head boy of Hufflepuff and he celebrates excitedly when you sit down at the table next to him.

"That's so cool" He comments. "I'll be able to tease Tony all year about it."

After that, director Agatha Harkness, made the announcement of the beginning of the year. If her goal was to scare the students, she succeeded when she talked about the deadly dangers surrounding the forbidden forest and the punishments for the disobedient. Professor Strange interrupted her speech as he cleared his throat, awkwardly waving for Agatha to stop saying such things, and the woman giggled. 

Dinner is delicious, and then you are following the crowd of students into the communal rooms. 

"Butterbeer" Steve said to the portrait on the wall, and you blinked in surprise when the painting moved to the side, a door behind.

You sighed when you realized how cozy the Hufflepuff's common room was.

"Everyone please come in." Asked Steve in the center of the room, waving to the students who stayed behind. When everyone was around him, he smiled. "The dorms are divided by gender, but you can sleep wherever you feel most comfortable. I will only suggest that none of you try to sleep with the seventh graders, because they are scary." Steve joked making the crowd laugh lightly. "We have a supply of food in those lockers, just in case you feel like having a snack in the early morning, outside of the permitted hours for walking around the castle." He continues and stands thoughtfully for a few moments. "Most of the things you need to know are on the bulletin board on that wall, and you can also ask me anything you want. Your belongings have already been taken to the free beds, but if you want any help, you can organize among yourselves or just come talk to me."

Steve smiled as the crowd moved. You headed in the direction where he said the rooms were.

//-//

You let out a surprised exclamation as something landed on your head.

"Damn, sorry!" Asked an asian girl approaching you, and pulling the small being out of your hair as you entered the room. "Groot, I told you to behave yourself."

"I am groot." Grumbled the little creature. You looked at it wide-eyed, impressed.

"Wow, is that a tree?"

The girl laughed, putting the small creature sitting on her shoulder, sitting on the bed next to the one you identified as having your things.

"Yes and no." She said. "I found Groot in my garden over the vacations, and well, I don't know what he is exactly. But I think he was trying to make my mother's plants grow."

"He's really cute." You commented approaching with your finger extended. Groot smiled, accepting your touch.

"I am Mantis." Says the girl next and you smile at her as you introduce yourself. "We're going to be roommates."

"Yes, and so is Groot." You add as you take off your cape to throw on the bed that would be yours.

After eating so well at dinner, it doesn't take long for you to fall asleep. 

You dream of glowing green eyes and a red light, but you don't recognize them or understand what it means, and when you wake up, you no longer remember.

//-//

Two weeks since you started at Hogwarts, you are used to how eccentric everything can be.

The classes weren't as difficult as you imagined, but that's probably because you've had contact with magic all your life and always had an easy time learning things. All the teachers were unique in their own way. 

Professor Rocket, for example, taught Transfiguration and spent almost the entire period transfigured into a raccoon, even outside of class hours. He was temperamental and got irritated very easily when students talked too much in his class, so it was not recommended to do so.

There was also Professor Fury, who had an eye patch as a mandatory piece in his daily costume, and all the students spent more time trying to guess how this happened, than listening to his explanations of defense spells against the dark art.

Your astronomy class on Wednesdays was taught by Professor Odin, who like to claim that he was a descendant of the Olympian gods, but no one believed him. He was also the father of two of your classmates, Thor and Loki Odinson, who were the exact opposite of each other. While Thor was warm and friendly, Loki was cold and reclusive, plus the former was from Gryffindor and the other from Slytherin. Surprisingly, you liked them both. 

You ended up meeting the head of your house only on the second day.  

Professor Heimdall taught Divination, so you wouldn't have any classes with him until the third year.You bumped into him when you were late for fifth period and had to run to the common room for your Potions books, and almost fell on the floor when you turned the corner without looking and the professor was there.  He prevented you from falling with a wave of his wand, smiling gently. 

" Forgive me." You said clumsily, feeling slightly intimidated by the yellow irises as the magic set you on your feet properly, as well as catching your books in the air and placing them in your hands again. 

"Be careful with the castle corridors, Miss Stark." Said the man, and for some reason, you thought he wasn't just talking about this little incident.

"Professor Heimdall, let's talk in a private place, please."  Asked Professor Okoye, who was standing at his side, she looked at you with a certain disapproval, and you couldn't tell whether it was because of your intrusion, or the fact that your tie was hanging loosely around your neck, in addition to the open buttons on your shirt.

After this little incident, you asked Steve who Professor Heimdall was, and he explained that he was the head of Hufflepuff, and might seem intimidating at first glance, but that he was very kind.

But so far, the professor who has intrigued you the most was Professor Erik Lehnsherr, who taught Potions. He didn't say anything that wasn't related to the subject, didn't make any comments about behavior or events at school. And he had such a stern and mysterious look in his eyes that no student had the courage to ask him anything. You heard Peter Quill make a bet with Thor Odinson that Professor Erik was unable to smile because of some particular sorcery, but you thought it best not to laugh, especially since Mr. Lehnsherr was looking at your direction.

When you had your first Potions period with Slytherin, after herbology professor T'Challa needed to reschedule classes for an appointment, you were surprised to discover that professor Lehnsherr had children.

Gamora ended up on the same bench as you, and she was talking to her sister, Nebula, about an incident that occurred in their dormitory.

"Clearly, the professors' children have an easy time getting away with punishment." Nebula bitterly remarked, and you frowned in confusion. 

"I don't think it was the girl's fault." Gamora retorted as she put the ingredients into her cauldron. She looked at you quickly, realizing that you were listening to the conversation, but she didn't scold you, she just kept stirring the mixture.

"What happened?" you asked next, and Nebula looked at you with mild irritation. She seemed about to tell you to mind your own business, but Gamora smiled, moving closer to whisper to you.

"A girl lost her temper in the Slytherin dorm bathrooms last night." She told. "She's a second year, her name is Wanda Maximoff. She and her brother are Professor Lehnsherr's kids, and everyone is saying that she didn't go to detention because of it."

Your jaw dropped, impressed. 

"I can't believe Magneto has children." You said making Gamora and Nebula laugh at the nickname. Last week you found out that the school had been calling Erik that since he stopped the hall chandelier from falling on the teachers' desk two years ago when he used non-verbal magic to attract the metal, and everyone started calling him that behind his back. Tony told you and you liked the story.

"I know right, he seems so self-contained." Gamora remarked looking back briefly. Professor Erik was focused on his own potions book.

"That noisy kid from Gryffindor said he's married." Nebula added next and Gamora laughed lightly.

"Peter Quill?"

"Yes."

"Wow, that's surprising." Says the girl. You both return to stirring your cauldrons in silence after that little conversation.

When you have finished your mixing, Professor Erik gives Hufflepuff five points for your good work, and you smile with red cheeks.

"You're nice." Nebula suddenly said beside you as you were leaving the room. Gamora stood next to her. "Do you want to walk around with us?"

"We're already walking." You joked and Gamora laughed unlike her sister who grimaced.

"Yep, definitely cool." She added. "Do you want to have lunch with us?"

"At your table or mine?"

Gamora and Nebula exchanged glances.

"I'm not sitting with Hufflepuff." Nebula declared and you sighed, rolling your eyes.

"You know I'm from Hufflepuff, right?"

"I'm reconsidering the invitation." She retorted and you frowned, but Gamora smiled at you.

"Will you sit with us, please?"

You sighed, nodding in agreement. You could talk to Tony after all.

//-//

Lunch at the Slytherin table became an everyday thing after that day. It took two weeks for Mantis to start joining you, and then you realized that you had a small group of friends now.

At Christmas, neither you nor Tony came home, because your father was working and you didn't want to be alone in the Stark mansion. You ended up turning down Tony's invitation to spend Christmas with Steve Rogers and his family, because you weren't really friends with Steve. Tony insisted, not wanting you to be alone, but you assured him that you would be fine in the company of your friends, and that he needn't worry.

On Christmas morning, Groot woke you up by jumping on your face. You laughed lightly because he was so small that he was like a tickle, and stood up as you returned the little creature to Mantis' bedside table.

A few hours later, as you were opening your presents at the Slytherin table along with Gamora, Nebula, Mantis, and Peter Quill, who had also stayed at Hogwarts for the end of the year, you let out an excited exclamation.

"I can' believe it." You spoke, opening the package in front of you. It was a large box, it was bewitched and only revealed the actual wrapping once you tore the paper off. It was actually a broom.

"Wow, that's cool." Peter remarked as he looked at your present. 

That's how you ended up in the middle of the snow, testing your new broom while your friends cheered and celebrated below you.

"Are you sure you can fly?" You asked Peter as soon as he asked you if he could ride. He shrugged, smiling.

You and the girls watched as he controlled the broom for a few feet above the ground, and then he overspeeded it and sped away.

You all ran into his direction, while the broom seemed almost annoyed at his lack of control, and knocked him into a tree. Peter fell between the branches, onto someone who was resting under it.

When you all reached him, you frowned when there was a boy pushing Quill.

"Watch it, dude!" Warned the boy, but before you could say anything, Gamora was already stepping forward, wand in hand.

"It was just an accident." She said and the boy looked at her surprised with her wand outstretched. He crossed his arms however, not looking scared.

"Oh, you're going to spell me now, are you?" He teased.

"Piss off, Maximoff." Warned Nebula next, taking a step beside her sister. So this was Pietro Maximoff. You figured that confidence should come from being the son of one of the professors.

"I suggest you leave my brother alone." Warned a voice behind you. You turned next, only to catch sight of a girl with brown hair, green eyes that glittered with anger. 

Gamora clenched her jaw, and Nebula drew her own wand toward the girl, who also had her wand in her hands.

You sighed, raising your hands as you stood in the line of fire.

"Would everyone please calm down?" You asked. "It was just a misunderstanding, and the broom is mine anyway, no need to fight about it."

It takes a moment, but Gamora puts down her wand, and everyone follows her after that. She has an insinuating smile on her face.

"You really are a Hufflepuff, aren't you Stark?" She teases, and you laugh sheepishly, putting your hands in your pockets.  "Come on Quill." 

Gamora warns and the boy shoots Pietro an ugly look as he leaves. You accept your broom that he hands to you, and turn around, your gaze meeting that of the girl who is supposed to be Wanda Maximoff for a moment. You feel your face heat up at the intensity of the angry look, and you look away, following your friends.

//-//

The months went by quickly as the rest of the school year passed. You managed to do very well on the exams, and didn't get involved in any near-fights again.

When the year ended and the Hufflepuff didn't win the House Cup, you thought you should have been more upset, but you didn't mind having Gamora and Nebula celebrating beside you, laughing and hugging you excitedly.

You also didn't understand why you felt your stomach turn when you caught Wanda Maximoff smiling amidst the Slytherin celebration when you looked around.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #wanda maximoff #wanda x you #wanda maximoff x you #wandaxreader #wandaxyou #wandaxyn #wanda maximoff x yn #The Scarlet Witch Prophecy #marvel imagines #harry potter au #wanda maximoff x female reader #wanda x fem!reader

[illusionsofdreaming]

How about a Cale proposing/asking out Reader for marriage/date?? I love your fics and this is just a thought that I often imagine (It's usually people asking him out but this might be a nice change!? I think...)

Ft: Cale

Tap tap tap tap tap-

It was the soothing rhythmic sound of not getting anything done. Concentration having long since fled the premises as he stared blankly at the notes on the table, watched as the blue nib danced up and down and up and down again.

The notes were important he supposed but his heart wasn’t into it, mind occupied and consistently distracted by a particular receipt on his table.

It’s been several days and he has yet to hear a reply.

He’s not quite sure what to make of it. Certain social rules of this world clashed with his modern-day knowledge of social cues. One would think he’d have an advantage as one who transmigrated into a novel he’d read, but The Birth of a Hero never properly introduced the social decorum of the world in detail. 

Perhaps the only reason he made it thus far with his half baked knowledge of etiquette was thanks to Cale’s trashy reputation which, ironically enough, made people more accepting of his faux pas. Alas, if it weren’t for Hans’ persistent nagging that he should handle this important matter ‘the proper way’, he really wouldn’t have bothered. Now he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. Would it mean anything if he were to send a follow up letter? Or perhaps he should go there himself-

A knock on his door distracted him from his thoughts and he glanced up to see the origin of his headaches, Hans, peek in. 

“Young master, you have guests from the _________ household and-“

Cale was out the doors before Hans finished.

⚛》》》》》◆《《《《《⚛

Despite having your back to him it was almost embarrassing how quickly he was able to pick you out amidst the crowd of people.

“__________.” He greeted, snow crunching beneath his boots as he neared your side, he hoped his breathing wasn’t too quick as he’d rushed over as soon as he’d learn of your visit. The burning question rested on the tip of his tongue, the cure-all to his worries as he reached for your hand. “I have been wait-“

“Cale! Just the person I wanted to see!” You turned, smile brightening your features as you pulled him closer, close enough that he could see how the cold had already kissed your cheeks pink. 

“Did you receive-“

“Yes, that’s why I’m here!” 

A flutter of nerves was set alight in his chest that made him weirdly jittery. How unusual. He’d always been so assured of the results of his plans (and he’s confident in his prediction of your response) yet he couldn’t help but feel flustered. He understood nothing of this world’s customs and Hans did mention a response would’ve usually been sent by letter. Does you coming here in person symbolise something he’s not getting again?

Something was pressed into his hand and his heartrate spiked uncomfortably as he glanced down to receive the scroll you passed to him.

He hesitated, frowning at the brown parchment. Noting the ugly frayed edges and wondering, why couldn’t you have just told him what’s written within since you’ve travelled all the way here anyways.

“Take a look.” you urged him and he sighed.

“Can’t you-“ his words faltered off abruptly as he unfurled the paper to reveal a mess of lines and sketches, his mind blanked as he stared uncomprehending at the contents. “W.. what is this..”

“Isn’t it exciting?” you glanced at the paper, delight and unadulterated joy shone through your eyes. “The designs for the waterways are finally complete! We can finally move onto the next phase, I’ve even gathered the others to discuss this! It shouldn’t take long, we just need to iron out the logistics and-“

He’d tuned out as he stared at prototype on the page, his mind struggled sluggishly to make sense of what’s happening. Cale’s expression remained carefully blank as he lifted his head up to look at you and finally noticed the circle of vassals awkwardly standing around them. 

Huh? 

⚛》》》》》◆《《《《《⚛

“..implementation of the new waterways will greatly improve the situation in the slums and if we...” 

If looks could set things on fire, the conference table would’ve long turned to ashes with how hard Cale’s been glaring. He had rested his two elbows on the oak table, fingers weaved together to create a net that supported his chin. To others, the firstborn son of the Henituse household may seemed to be in a contemplative mood, in truth, Cale had zoned out since the very beginning.

Perhaps there’s been a mistake. Maybe you did not receive it or perhaps he’d missed another social cue. Did he unknowingly commit another taboo?

“…Cale?”

He shouldn’t have listened to Hans’ ridiculous suggestions when he knew he had no patience for the roundabout and overly complex ways people liked to handle things here. He ran a tired hand past his face. Right, next thing he’s going to change in this world would be the removal of all redundant and confusing social constructs. First, he’ll start with the books on courtroom etiquette-

“Cale.”

A hand landing on his shoulder jolted him from his thoughts and he looked up to meet your frustrated gaze. He gaped, caught off guard by your ire.

Your long sigh pricked at his conscience but you interrupted him before he could explain himself. “I sent the others out for a break.” You sat on the edge of the table facing him, although clearly annoyed, there was concern in the slight dip of your brows.

“You’ve been distracted the entire meeting Cale.” 

He rubbed the back of his neck, pressing against the tension building there. “Sorry.” He admitted softly. 

“Is something on your mind?”

You. 

“It’s nothing.” To admit that his thoughts were in shambles all because of an unanswered letter would’ve been far too pathetic. Gods, when have he fallen so low. “I need a drink.” he decided abruptly and would’ve gotten up and escaped, but you knew him too well. With a subtle shift of your weight that looked all too natural, you leaned forward and your two hands rested against his armrests to support yourself in a comfortable lean, effortlessly and efficiently caging him in. 

“Cale.” Your tone broke no argument. It was clear he was not going anywhere until he cleared this matter up.

He sighed, slumping against the chair in defeat as he dragged his gaze slowly upwards with the reluctance of a child who’d just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar and was now forced to admit their wrongdoings. He hesitated when he caught a glimmer of something on your shirt. 

Somewhere along the meeting, as the room got warmer you must’ve taken off your thinner overcoat, it would’ve explained why he hadn’t noticed such an obvious accessory from the beginning. But now that he had laid eyes on it, Cale can’t seem to look away. His hand reached out cautiously, brushing over delicate work, the building tension within him eased away as he reminiscences at the nostalgic sight. 

It had only been several weeks ago when he’d went out to find the best jeweller in the Kingdom to have a specific brooch made. A bright golden shield with the Henituse’s family mascot emblazoned on, two magnificent rubies inlaid as eyes. 

With the solid feeling of the brooch under his fingers, his previous worries melted off like sleet to be replaced with an indescribable warmth in his chest.

“It suits you.” he finally says. It really does. 

Cale never liked things made in his honor, but something about you wearing his symbol made him feel a lot of things. 

Your rumble of laughter made him look up and you brushed a hand through his locks, amusement in your eyes. “Is that it? That’s what’s been bothering you all morning?” you mused.

He snorted and slumped forward, resting his face on your lap. “You wouldn’t reject it.”

“Confident, aren’t we?” you laughed and carded your fingers through his hair.

It was the truth which you both knew. He had never been a stickler for rules. The relationship between you happened as a gradual process, you two clicked and it just eased into your daily routine and became the norm. There was never any need or desire to announce it officially. But as someone who transmigrated into this world, who also decided to continue living in it, he wanted to do it your way. Because in the end, even if it was bothersome, annoying and baffled his 21st century mind, the gesture would mean something to you.

Now that he’s solved the mystery, satisfied he didn’t botch up some weird etiquette, he had time to analyse the day’s events and realised one thing. He lifted his head from your lap, “You orchestrated this. The waterways weren’t that urgent.” he deadpanned, stuck between feeling awe that you took all the effort to tease him and indignation that you’d dare.

“It’s not often one gets the chance to fluster you.” you admitted, not at all feeling guilty when you got the chance to witness his bewilderment first hand.

“Aigoo..” he clicked his tongue and in one swift movement, stood from his seat, forcing you to lean back as his arms landed by your sides, effectively reversing your positions. “You’d bother the vassals for this, how bold.”

You blinked innocently up at him. “I bothered no one actually, they all volunteered to help.”

He frowned. Traitors. The whole lot of them. He could actually hear them cheering outside the room. He’s going to have to tell Basen to talk to them about their loyalties soon. Well. Not that it would matter much. He glanced down at the gleaming brooch on your chest and his lips twitched into a satisfied smile despite himself. 

Perhaps there’s a reason behind such silly traditions after all.

Notes: So I combined these two asks because they’re pretty similar and to answer your questions: I believe Cale’s not one for grand gestures and formal things but he’ll occasionally abide by certain traditions if it has special meanings and especially if it’d mean something to you. 

#imagines #tcf #trash of the count's family #tcf x reader #cale henituse #fluff #dating #asking out #why are all my imagines so long #i was hoping i could keep this one short #but HAHAHAHA #brain went NOPE #also I feel like I can't really write TCF imagines that well #I don't know why #welp #at least I finally got something out! #horray!

[warmau]

☆ [nostalgic] summer romance!au ten another late birthday au (again) but hey ten time :3 find others here: johnny | haechan | taeil | taeyong | mark | jaemin | yangyang | yuta | sicheng | chenle | kun | yukhei | doyoung | jaehyun | jungwoo

not knowing what to say isn't a foreign feeling to you, yet when you come face to face with ten outside his apartment on this summer morning, you are almost too petrified to even string a sentence together

he's really just........leaving

ten shines a big smile and from the open door you hear kun's exasperated voice asking why in the world ten is packing up his entire existence for a program that's going to last two months

"you look nervous"

ten jokes first, running a hand through his dark hair which he's spent the colder months growing out

"im the one going to a different country and yet you look like you might turn green"

his laughter tickles you and you force yourself out of the weird, frozen feeling, for his sake

"im not nervous - it's just this is our first summer apart since what, highschool?"

ten leans against the frame of his door and lets kun scuttle past him with a scowl

yangyang and hendery bounce after him with ten's insane amount of luggage

"yeah but it's two months, not two decades. plus....you know how much ive always wanted to do this."

right. and here you are being selfish.

"of course, i mean it's literally the birthplace of ballet."

"technically that's italy, but france is a close second."

"i hate you"

ten pulls you into his arms before you register that this is your goodbye hug

"i'll miss you too."

kun drives everyone to the airport, he complains and cries the most.

sicheng gives you a knowing look when ten takes your wrist in his hand and tucks your arm between his.

you ignore the look, and focus on ten. on him. and then - when the switchboard pops up his flight info - he gives a bubbly and excited

"ive gotta go!"

and then summer starts, just as he's gone

"so when are you going to tell him you're in love with him."

sicheng brings the big gulp he stole from hendery up to his lips and you keep your eyes closed behind your sunglasses

"sorry, yukhei's not my type."

"you know im not talking about yukhei."

you dig your fingers into the sand beside your towel, the beach is already so noisy so you pretend you don't hear sicheng, but you still feel him looking.

you guess a part of it is true, you love ten. who doesn't?

is that the core of the issue then, that ten is so available and loveable and charming, that it makes him also unattainable?

or at least, unattainable to you.

you hear your phone buzz inside your bag and sicheng is being dragged into the water by the rowdy rest of your friend group

it could be a text from ten?

your mind excites, but you put out that fire

it's probably just spam.

ten does text and even video call the first two or so weeks while he's away

you get blurry photos of food at cafes and the eiffel tower, random fancy looking dogs being walked on the small, cramped streets

ten's connection is kind of bad - but he still gleams through the fuzzy facetime camera as he shows you around the room the dance academy has provided

pangs of his happiness and excitement seep into you

and then there's the first sign of worry comes knocking and twirling through his door

a group of other dancers, all beautiful and strong, asking ten - from the limited amount of french you catch - if he's done, they're waiting for him to go to a show with them

ten gives you a scattered, quick goodbye. he says he'll video call again.

all you get is an update text almost five days later that has no pictures attached just a;

im ok - by the way i totally miss eating hot chips with you at midnight. ive had like a banana smoothie and that's it.

sicheng and kun are the first to pick up on the shift, you are quietly withdrawing to yourself

nothing makes you laugh

ten doesn't reply to your question about what the paris metro looks like, actually he doesn't even read it

kun nearly tugs hendery's ear red when he shares a snap story of ten pressed cheek to cheek with his new dancer friends in front of the louvre when you're in the same room

the thing is you are not jealous of any of them.

you don't go around trying to find their facebooks, clicking on their instagram profiles, comparing you and them.

you are just sad to your bones that they will understand ten in such a way that no matter how long you two have been friends

you will never, truly know

"you're his best friend"

sicheng reasons on the phone as you stare up at the wall above your desk, littered in old pictures and clippings and your gaze catches on the ticket stub from ten's first-ever solo dance performance

it had been a talent show in highschool.

it had been the first time you saw ten perform outside the corner of his cramped bedroom or the glimpse you caught meeting up with him outside the dance academy

he's in paris, he's with people who love it so much more than i do - they love dancing like he loves dancing.

i cannot understand that.

"i think you were right sicheng."

"im always right."

i do love him. when am i going to tell him?

you hang up after sicheng has his i told you so moment and stare at your screen

a notification flashes across the screen and it's a text from ten

the trains here are blue. i miss you.

you want to reply right away, so you open the message and start typing

i miss you too. actually, i think i finally understand why people who are in love are so hurt when they're suddenly left without their other half and ten you are my o-

you delete the sentence and make a face

nice. i miss you too.

you don't send it - or at least you forget to because your fingers are shaking and you exit out of the messaging app before checking

abandoning your phone, you turn on your side and stretch your hand out to reach the edge of the bed

there's enough space between you and it for someone to fit, so you remember the countless times ten has laid there

smiling and laughing and tickling your face with his sleeping breath

you can't even recall a conversation because there have been hundreds

suddenly you feel a warmth creep up your skin

hundreds of opportunities to tell him - and each time i chose to be a coward.

"you should write him a letter."

"this isn't a movie, what - you think im going to write a letter and he'll jump on the first plane from france to come to my side?"

sicheng cocks an eyebrow as if to say it is a possibility

"no. im not writing a letter. i'll suck it up and confess when he comes back."

you somehow end up writing a letter.

maybe because you really do want to just send a long text spilling your mushy, soft, pink feelings

but you know that's just not what ten deserves

he deserves (and you do too, but you won't admit this) a face to face confession

so you start retelling the moments that flutter up in your heart whenever you think about him

how he makes the room brighter when he's in it, how he dances with every bone, joint, muscle in his body - how he approaches it with no inhibition and true devotion that paints its way across his face when he practices, how he fits perfectly into the hole that grows more massive every day you don't see him

standing there across the hall - coffee in hand, gym bag with his scuffed dance shoes

by the time you're finished - the letter is longer than you imagine. there are parts crossed and scribbled out, repetitive thoughts, and stupid little comments and metaphors that compare ten to flowers or clouds or anything else pretty in nature

you cringe at yourself, but you do feel better

it could be your outline for when the time to actually tell him comes.

you shove the papers into an envelope, write ten's name and the address of his parisian dance academy just for the irony

and then make the mistake of letting it sit on your desk

in a matter of days, it has been swallowed by a bunch of other papers and trinkets

and when you're rushing around your room trying to get ready for another adventure to the beach - sicheng clinks the lollipop against his teeth and fishes it out - curious at the stamp

"do you want me to mail this?"

he asks and you're trying to find those sunglasses you literally just bought and grumble that sure, whatever - you'll meet him out by kun's car.

halfway to the beach, you turn in horror from the passenger seat to look at sicheng in the back

your eyes like saucers and a tremor in a voice

"wait. what did you ask me back in my room?"

sicheng's big smile is red from the candy, "your letter to ten."

and there comes the second pang of dread and worry that takes the overwhelming shape of your summer

oh my god - oh my god - maybe the letter won't even make it. i mean it's a letter to france....it'll take at least a month to get there. wait - it probably didn't even have a stamp on it. oh god maybe the address was totally off and some poor stranger is about to be subjected to my very incoherent feelings.....

every day you look at your phone and there's no texts or emails or anything from ten

his social media has gone quiet too

you throw your dignity down a well and ask all your friends if they've heard from him and they all scratch their heads and say no, it's been maybe a week since they did

your stress then turns from your love letter to a possibility that ten is in trouble

he kind of thrives from attention so it is very weird that he's so off-grid

you decide finally, on the day that it's been exactly a month and one day since he was gone, to call

you hover over the facetime button - should i text him first?

with a yelp, you nearly drop and crack your screen when ten's name flashes across the screen

you settle your breathing and tell yourself he hasn't gotten the letter, there's no way - since when has snail mail been efficient?

you answer and are about to ask what's up when ten waves something into the camera

"i got your letter."

maybe you go into rigor. because ten's eyebrows knit and he asks if your connection is ok, you aren't saying anything

you don't know if it's just because you miss him so much that you're able to drag yourself back into consciousness or because you are curious, in the depths of your mind, what his reaction will be

"o-oh. right- i-"

ten frowns and you think it's coming. the rejection is coming.

"is that why you didn't answer my text? you sent the letter instead?"

"your text?"

"yeah, i said i missed you and you read it and never responded."

a peek of a smile stretches on his pretty, bare face

"i never thought you were so romantic to send a letter."

something burns on your skin but you just try to make sure your hand holding the phone doesn't shake

"im not - i just, it was dumb sicheng said i should write it because - i don't know. he's the romantic, blame him."

"you're the one that said i could make a shy tulip open its petals with my laughter."

"oh god"

that smile turns into a grin

"and that my dancing manages to cast a spell on you."

you hide your expression by turning your face

"are you going to re-read the whole thing to me?"

"should i, you're so poetic."

"don't make fun of me."

your voice is serious this time, small and huddled, because you mean it

worse than being told he doesn't feel the same is to be ridiculed for holding him in your heart like this for so long

"im not making fun of you, the letter is beautiful."

you still can't look at him, it's so ten to be kind before he's cruel

"i could never write something like that - so i thought i would just call you and say it."

you don't need to love song yourself into telling me you just see me as a friend

"i love you."

your head whips back so fast your phone drops and you curse and ten can't help but laugh

"sorry, sorry -what did you say?"

he runs a hand through his dark hair, the lighting in his room is dim and illuminates him perfectly

a large white t-shirt engulfs his slender shoulders as he sits up against the wall

"i love you. i know it's corny to confess over facetime, but im guessing it's more forgivable than text?"

a bubble bursts in your stomach and it makes you feel lightheaded and inhumanely blissful all at once

"i love you too."

"more then friends right, because your letter had this part about kissing im very interested in."

you bite back your lip and nod, both embarrassed that he'd bring that part up too but also seeing ten - your close friend, your secret love - talk about kissing you

makes some of the neurons in your body go haywire

"good, i seriously was scared you might have been pranking me with thi-"

"i would never. im not hendery."

"oh how are they, ive been super busy with the practice for a review so i haven't talked to anyone."

another thing you love about him, he keeps everyone in. he leaves none of his friends behind. he pretends like he couldn't have a care in the world, but he cares more than anyone else.

"he's ok, he almost crashed kun's car yesterday."

ten shrugs, "expected."

and like that - everything is still somehow the same. there is no awkward phase after you've talked about your feelings for each other at all.

because your love doesn't come as a one hit punch because ten is beautiful, although he is to an unfair degree

it comes from the experience of being around him. having so much of him. maybe even getting a little addicted.

you do talk more on the phone, no more long pauses even though ten's practices get more grueling and you tell him to take his time to rest

but he's sweaty on the practice room floor - texting you - telling you everything is sore but the thought of seeing you soon makes it all better

it's three days before ten is scheduled to fly back that he has his review and you are biting your fingernails waiting for him to tell you about it

when you get a youtube link at like three in the morning - you click it and someone has recorded ten's performance

somehow, he looks more graceful than you've ever seen him

a new text comes in when it's almost done

'i think i did well - can i get a reward?'

'you'll get a really good one when you're home'

he sends a winking emoji and you can't fall asleep after because you wonder what he's expecting, you'd meant a kiss - had he meant more?

you wouldn't mind that at all.

xiaojun is being pulled away from the conveyer belt by kun and hendery is asking sicheng for a sip of his starbucks as you all wait for ten's plane to land in the airport lobby

you two have not told anyone - mostly because you know there will be endless questions you won't have answers too and sicheng might literally never let you live it down

so you wait for ten to be here so you can suffer together

you see the gates from his flight open and sicheng mutters that you look like you're going to pop like a goddamn balloon

for once in your life, you don't snide back at him, folding your hands in front of you and tippy-toeing to see over the crowd

and then, like seeing him for the first time all the years ago when you first met, ten comes out

hendery and xiaojun try to go for a running jump, but the older members hold them back because everyone can sense whats coming

you dash toward him and ten doesn't stay still either - you two collide so hard it almost hurts, but you don't care at all

ten's duffel bag falls over his shoulder and your hands are wrapped around his neck before he can even say your name

it's a first kiss that couldn't be more characteristically fit for you

sweet, big smiles tasted on lips, and interrupted by none other than your group of friends gasping in a symphony of shock

except for sicheng - he knew

ten tastes like you imagine he would taste, maybe because in smaller ways you've already had doses of the sunshine that radiates off him before

he keeps his hands wrapped around your waist as he looks down into your eyes

"mon amour"

"is that really all you learned in france?"

"ummm yeah, i don't know how to say let's get out of here and back to my place even though im pretty sure someone said that to me at some point."

you pout, "don't try to make me jealous."

"never!"

ten chuckles as you press your face into his neck and hug him close

the only way you get pulled apart is because someone (kun) reminds you all you're still at the PUBLIC airport

the drive back is a frenzy and everyone wants to know everything and not about just you two - because you're "two" now - but about france and traveling and ten's dancing

like you'd sensed - nothing has really changed

just this time, your fingers are locked in tens. and the warmth you longed for in silence is suddenly all out in the open.

funnily enough, you and ten don't ever write letters to each other again.

ten just doesn't like writing - it takes too much sitting down

and you are horrified everytime he fishes your love confession out of the memory box and dangles it above your head as leverage

it's how he convinced you into adopting the first cat. now you two have three.

so when you and him are deciding the best way to let all your friends know about your upcoming event you cross out mailed invitations

"we can make an email list."

your legs are thrown over his thighs on the sofa and he's resting the laptop on you them

"let's just make an instagram post: wedding in our backyard on thursday - you're invited."

ten pinches his nose

"we are not having a backyard wedding. we could not fit everyone in my dance company into it anyway."

you play with your engagement band and sigh

"fine, fine. what about.....we just call everyone and tell them. if we call kun right now he'll let all of the world know by the end of the week."

ten agrees with a hum, but then starts typing and you lean over to see

"bulk wedding invites? you're giving in?"

he closes the laptop and tosses it to the side, easily and gently pushing you down onto your back to hover over you with a small content sound

"i am. but we don't even have to write the letters - some company will do it for us."

his lips are inches from yours and all of a sudden you're young again - waiting to kiss him for the first time at that airport

"you know we'll still have to write vows right."

he is about to kiss you, he's so close and your eyes are closing

"i'll just read your letter outl-"

"TEN NO!"

he laughs, laughs until he finally does kiss you and then laughs again when he pulls back - the overflowing amount of love that exists in that moment is potent

you tell him to get over that old thing, but he shakes his head

"never, when again in all the lives i live is someone going to say i could make a shy tulip open its petals with my laughter?"

#i know his bday was in february please im still working through them cries #ten au #ten imagines #ten scenarios #nct au #nct imagines #nct scenarios #wayv imagines #wayv au #wayv scenarios #sfw #nostolgic!au #ten #member: ten #im sicheng through all this