#fic: familiar

[vladdyissues]

At the root of it all, Vlad just wants someone to love him.

He couldn't get love when he was young and shy and awkward. He can't get love now that he's rich and powerful and confident. He thinks if he can just win Maddie and Danny's affection—keyword: win, as if love were a prize, a trophy, something to be earned and possessed instead of grown and nurtured, like a seedling—then he'd finally be complete. He'd have everything.

But he's wrong. Eventually, I think, he would realize it. Even if Maddie left Jack and Danny loved Vlad like a father, it wouldn't fix the brokenness deep inside him. It would be a temporary, inadequate fix. A bandage on a compound fracture. Vlad requires more serious care. The broken bone needs to be set so it can heal properly and grow straight again. It's a process that's going to hurt very badly at first, but once everything begins to align and the scar tissue heals over, it will get better.

But as long as Vlad continues to put the key to his happiness in other people's pockets—Maddie, Danny, his wealth and power—he'll never be able to heal.

#danny phantom #vlad masters #meta #just dp thoughts #healing #dependency #he's so empty #he tries to fill the bottomless pit inside him with people and material things #but it's never going to be enough #it can't ever be filled #fic: familiar

[carissimipaixao]

— iii. FAMILIAR

published on: june 21, 2023 pairing: okabe rintarou & reader summary: the rain feels cold and unpleasant on your skin, but you try to convince yourself it's bearable. word count: 1.9k+ entries: i. | ii. | iii.

When the bell rings for the last time, [Name] heaves a long sigh of relief. Thursdays are the longest days of the week — the classes go as far as six in the afternoon, but the day never quite ends there. Besides, the days now feel very short, as the sky gets dark at roughly around five. She doesn’t live too far away, especially by train, but something unsettles her when it’s dark. Especially when it’s December.

She takes out her phone from the side pocket of her bag. No text messages. She stares for a moment or two, but she puts it away before it gets to her. Instead, she puts everything inside her bag and follows her classmates out of the room. Some turn to her in curiosity. It’s been more than two weeks since she’s been an internship student in Tokyo Denki University, but, besides the brief introduction that the teacher requested of her, nobody knows anything about her. Nobody knows her. She’s just minding her own business, away from everyone. That usually works well. The fewer problems she gets herself in, the better.

It’s gotten easy to walk through a crowded hallway, pretending nobody’s there. Everything sounds muffled, as if it’s happening in a distant place. [Name] just grips the right strap of the bag closer to herself, head hanging low, as she walks down the stairs. When she approaches the exit of the building, the first thing she sees is rain.

Damn it!

She opens up her bag, although she suspects already that the umbrella was left at home. She fumbles with the content of her bag, but, in the end, nothing is found. She groans and hangs her head in defeat, but then stands upright. It’s just a little bit of rain, [Name] thinks — or rather, tries to tell herself. You’ll be okay. She wraps her scarf closer to herself, puts her phone inside the pocket of her coat to avoid damage, and begins walking home.

The moment the rain touches her skin, she hisses. It shouldn’t be a surprise that it would be cold at this time of the year, but it’s never really satisfying to feel freezing cold water on you after you’ve been inside a warm building for nearly an entire day. Perhaps, it wouldn’t feel as bad if she had taken the chance to go to the cafeteria and get a warm coffee, with just the right amount of sugar in it. But, the more time she wastes inside the university, the later it gets, the worse she feels. You can get your coffee at home, don’t make such a fuss. The scolding tone in her own thoughts is not really her own, but it’s gotten so automatic to include her voice in her head, to make sure she doesn’t stray away from her path and her own errands. One can argue that it’s not exactly healthy, but, oh well… Old habits die hard.

She hears splashes behind her, increasingly getting closer, before she suddenly stops feeling the water on top of her head. ‘Careful, you’ll get a cold.’ She turns her head to see Okabe hunching slightly over her. He holds a black umbrella in his left hand, standing close — but not too close — to her so that both are protected from the rain. She stares up at him for a moment, caught off guard, and she observes his face and that small smile that’s on his lips.

‘...Thank you.’

His smile falls, and he frowns a little bit. ‘Are you okay? You look a little… upset.’ [Name] glances away, and makes herself look smaller as she pulls her arms closer to her body. He notices. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.’ Instead, they continue on their way, going through the gates of the university.

As per usual, there is a lot of traffic. Regardless of which region you are, Tokyo is still Tokyo. Many students are leaving in groups, perhaps to spend time together or accompany each other home. She can see a couple of lovebirds as well; even from a distance, the slight closeness between the two of them is enough to tell that the two are in a romantic relationship.

A car drives by, going above the speed limit. The sound snaps her back to reality. What are you doing? Pay attention! She murmurs under her breath, feeling her skin burn as she feels the young man’s gaze on her once again. They stop on the crosswalk, amongst a crowd, and they wait for the light to turn green. It’s as they stand there that it crosses her mind that she hasn’t even asked in which way he was going. Perhaps, he’d be heading home, and they would stop walking together.

Before the words can get out of her mouth, Okabe speaks. ‘Where are you headed? I’ll walk you to the station.’

‘You don’t need to…’ The thought of walking this close to him makes her paranoid. And guilty.

‘I’m not letting you get sick,’ he says and chuckles, trying to lighten up the mood. ‘I wouldn’t really be able to forgive myself, you know? Besides, it’s a quick jump to the sta—’ 

When he turns to take a look at her face, he finds himself fumbling with his words, his breath caught in his throat, upon seeing her eyes already on him. Okabe freezes on his tracks. There is something in her gaze that paralyzes him — it’s that seriousness, that seeming uncertainty. Thoughts are running wildly through her mind, mostly doubts and questions. She can’t name what she is feeling, but the selflessness and kindness she has been receiving from the few people she’s met in Japan feels unreal. Especially his.

They don’t really know each other. Besides the short conversation they had in the seminar, two weeks ago, which wasn’t unpleasant by any means, they haven’t had many encounters. They don’t share the same classes as Okabe initially speculated; thus, besides an occasional wave in the corridors or cafeteria, they haven’t really had the chance to get to know each other. Their schedules are different, and they are busy as they are, especially with exams and assignments around the corner. If anything, she would be catching up to the weeks worth of studies she hasn’t been able to follow while she was signing up for the internship.

But, that would most likely be a lie.

In truth, [Name] has been avoiding him. Though, not just him. She hasn’t been in touch with Naoko, besides the times they interact in school. The foreigner tells herself this is to protect herself, to avoid misunderstandings, and to make sure nothing goes wrong while she’s away from home. Many people say that what’s happened in the past is gone and over with, that it can’t come back to haunt you. But, it never hurts to take precaution, does it? Even if university can’t go as poorly as highschool did for her, [Name] is afraid it repeats itself.

Perhaps, taking an internship was a bad idea after all.

‘[Name]?’

It’s when he calls her name — bashfully, she notices, from his tone and the glow on his face, no longer from just the cold — that she realizes she has reached for the sleeve of his heavy coat. She blinks as she stares at her own hand, gripping tightly onto him, and slowly pulls it back into her pocket. She keeps her eyes on the sleeve, unable to look him in the eye.

Why would he care so much about her? Does he feel some sort of obligation to make sure her stay in Japan goes well? She wouldn’t be surprised if some teachers had assigned students to watch over her, to see if she needs help with anything — the language, assignments, possible misunderstandings. Naoko mentioned that, sometimes, students are responsible to keep an eye out for internship students, especially those from Western countries. In fact, hadn’t she said something amongst the lines of “contact me if you need anything”? Would that mean Naoko—

No, don’t even go there.

Okabe hardly knows her, yet it feels like he does. The thought that he is looking out for her, despite being in different years and the very few interactions they’ve had between each other makes the guilt within her heart grow. Perhaps, for all this time she has tried to keep herself isolated, within the circle of studies, she hasn’t noticed how much of an idiot she can come across as. She’d practically flee from Okabe and other classmates whenever she found an opportunity.  

‘...You’re a good person, Okabe,’ she murmurs under her breath. Taking a deep breath, she raises her head, watching him with that same seriousness from before. ‘Thank you for looking after me.’ Despite her initial thoughts, those words are sincere. It feels vulnerable, and [Name] isn’t quite sure if she likes it or not.

He opens his mouth, and a strange sound comes from his throat, as if he’s choked up on his words, unsure of what to say. It’s during those seconds where he’s confused and embarrassed that she takes notice of the situation — two people standing in the middle of the rain, having a heart-to-heart conversation. That’s how it feels like, and it’s not a completely unfamiliar feeling. If Naoko was here, she would surely say it’s just like a scene from a romance movie.

A sudden voice rings from the other side of the street. The crowd that was around them has long shifted, disappeared and replaced. [Name] looks up to see that the crosswalk light has been green for a long time, before turning to the figure that is jogging towards her and Okabe, umbrella in hand.

‘Tutturu~♪’

‘Mayuri,’ Okabe turns to the girl at the same time. The redness on his face is yet to vanish. ‘Sorry, I was just about to text you.’

‘That’s okay. Mayushii has just gotten here, too.’ The girl shakes her head with a gentle smile. Then, she turns to [Name], eyes wide in surprise and curiosity. ‘Huh? Who’s this?’

[Name] finds herself shrinking a little bit, now feeling hyper aware of the way she’s dressed, the way she brushed her hair which is half-soaked from the rain, the way that she probably didn’t brush her teeth that good this morning, the way that—

‘This is [Name],’ Okabe takes the matter into his own hands, politely introducing her to the highschool girl. There is a slight mispronunciation of her full name, but she isn’t entirely bothered by it; in fact, it nearly sounded perfect. ‘She’s an internship student at my university.’

‘Oh, you’re a foreigner?’ The girl — Mayuri — looks at her in amazement. Perhaps, she hasn’t seen many foreigners before. ‘Pleasure to meet you. I’m Shiina Mayuri, but you can call me Mayushii.’ She bows in greeting.

‘P-Pleasure to meet you as well,’ the young woman takes the hands out of her pockets and follows her example. When she’s done, she finds herself staring at that gentle, innocent smile, lost in thought.

‘Were you thinking of heading home?’ Okabe asks Mayuri, after watching their interaction carefully.

‘Well, Mayushii needs to stop by the lab to get some recipes that Yuki-san left for her.’ Mayuri puffs out her chest in confidence. ‘And Mayushii will execute them to the best of her abilities, following the lessons of her mentor!’

For some reason, Okabe shivers next to her. Before she can think about it any further, he turns to look at her instead, giving her a calm smile. ‘Where are you headed?’

‘Uh,’ she fidgets a little bit on her feet, ‘Akihabara.’

Both blink at her, before Mayuri (shouldn’t it be Mayushii, if she clearly prefers the sound of that name?) pulls the umbrella closer to her as she steps closer, to avoid being too close to the road as the light has turned red again. ‘Then, it’s decided. Akihabara it is!’

#okabe rintarou #okabe rintaro #rintarou okabe #rintaro okabe #okabe rintarou x reader #okabe rintaro x reader #rintarou okabe x reader #rintaro okabe x reader #x reader #reader-insert #fanfic #fanfiction #steinsgate #steinsgate 0 #steins;gate #steins;gate 0 #fic: familiar

[stevieschrodinger]

Thinking about no upside down everyone's happy and healthy and *cough* alive. Witch!Steve's happy off living his best life in his super cute cottage with his cute garden making soaps that help with itches and creams that clear up bruises and just generally being content. His best friend Robin who has convinced herself that Steve is lonely and Robin is a Meddler (TM) so she, not having anywhere near Steve's skill with magic, steals one of his books and Steve's favourite crystal and a flower from the roses that grow over his front door, and goes home with them.

And she summons Steve a familiar, except she doesn't tell Steve and when she doesn't hear anything for a bit, she assumes she got it wrong or something.

Meanwhile Steve is trying to shoo a jet black snake out of his cottage, except it keeps hiding in the cupboards. Steve ejects the thing to the bottom of the garden in a pillow case. He's very gentle because he's fairly sure the snake is magical in some way.

This is confirmed when the snake, after being told they are very pretty but 'not an inside snake' actually responds by 'hiss'ing.

It doesn't hiss.

It says the word 'hiss'. And it says it repeatedly when it's being carried in the pillow case.

"You can come back when you learn some manners," Steve informs the very male sounding snake. Not that Steve wants to make any assumptions.

Anyway long story short, Eddie is Steve's familiar and he can turn man shaped and makes Steve's magic so much stronger and the reason Robin doesn't hear anything for ages is because they fall in love and have been sexing it up with Eddie's double snake dicks.

Or something.

#eddie munson #stranger things #steve harrington #steddie #fic ideas #witch!steve harrington #familiar!eddie #snake!eddie

[theminecraftbee]

Etho and Grian are back at base, hysterically laughing over their achievement. Cleo sits inside, staring, as the two of them talk about getting a wither and a warden to fight, and tries to figure out what she feels about it.

In some ways it's not their fault. Task made them do it and all that. Plus--

Well, it's not like she and Etho are losing hearts anytime soon. They've both done a damn good job keeping themselves from dying. A benefit, Cleo thinks, of deciding to team with Etho this time. Between the two of them, they'll largely only do chaos they can recover from. Maybe this is their game. Maybe this time, Cleo manages to stick with someone until the very end. It looks like it. It looks like...

Grian, of course, is the confounding factor.

She wasn't going to turn him away. He needed allies. They needed someone a bit better at actually doing damage than herself or Etho. It's mutually beneficial. And, besides, he's weirdly lovable, in an inherently kind of dangerous way. A little like loving a bobcat someone had accidentally raised as a pet cat until it got a bit too big and stinky and murdery for them. Like, yeah, he shouldn't be domesticated and he's not, really, in any sense of the word, but it's a bit sad to watch him try to survive on his own now, right?

Hah. Maybe that's what Scar managed to do to him. Would explain a lot, really.

Anyway, he's her bobcat now, which is the problem.

See the thing is: Cleo understands Etho. It's why finally deciding to be partners for once felt... right. They're similar flavors of people. Scared, mostly. Survivors, but not in the 'will stab anyone' way that like, Martyn is. Loyal, although Cleo has no delusions that Etho is as loyal as she. And scared. Has she already said that? Scared. It's important to the kinds of things she and Etho are. Like... mountain lions, maybe. Mountain lions that have been around just enough people to know how dangerous they are. Like that.

God, she's only doing cat metaphors. Bdubs really is turning them all into furries.

Anyway, the point is, Grian isn't scared.

And that... terrifies her.

That's scarier than anything else. Because, see, Cleo wants to survive. But more than that, she wants her partners to survive. And she and Etho, the two of them are doing well. Better than most people. They're green and they have so many hearts.

But Grian? Grian's yellow and not afraid and goading Etho into not being afraid too. It's not their fault, exactly, Cleo thinks. They both had hard tasks. They didn't have a choice, Cleo thinks.

But. But.

She doesn't know what to do, if Etho gets convinced the humans down the mountain aren't scary. She doesn't know what to do if he gets too close. She doesn't know what to do if he gets hurt.

Because she--she doesn't think she can learn to stop being scared, anymore.

But she also doesn't know how many times her heart can stand to lose someone.

Did you know--wild cats are social? They have a reputation for being loners, but mountain lions, they're social. They don't do well being alone. They don't actually hunt solely alone. That's the important bit here. They seem independent, sure, but actually...

Anyway. This is Bdubs's fault. For making her a furry, apparently.

She watches Grian and Etho scheme together and sits back and breathes and tells herself that Etho isn't going to stop being afraid anytime soon. That if push came to shove, he, at least, would retreat back, and that maybe the two of them could convince Grian to retreat too. Safe from hunters. Safe from red.

Maybe safe from hurting each other, too.

(She's not so sure about that part.)

#secret life smp #secret life spoilers #zombiecleo #a bee fic #staring in. cleo and the fact she seems to consider dying before or at the same time as her allies as her happy ending #staring in. cleo and the fact that the thing she and etho have most in common is CAUTION. #and then staring at grian. #hm. well. hopefully that ends better than it seems like it might. #ALSO SHOUTOUT TO ME HAVING THE BRITISH PERSON USE METAPHORS USING EXCLUSIVELY AMERICAN WILDCATS #in my defense they're the ones i'm actually familiar with

[kissatoru]

ughh i wanna put a bratty sub in his place so bad!! :((

i wanna make him think he’s got the upper hand until the last minute, to watch the look on his face when he realises that he’s been playing right into your hand the entire time; that every moment leading up to this was just a carefully calculated step in your plan. i want to see how he struggles to fight back once he does, how hard he tries to prove himself, not realising that if he was really the one in control, he wouldn’t need to prove it, would he? he’d just do it. yet here he is, scrambling for his place back in the driver’s seat that he was never truly in.

your giggles would interrupt him amidst his little speech, cutting off the empty bluffs and dirty promises that he could never even dream of keeping anyway; the way you’d chuckle behind a coy hand like you’ve got some little inside joke with yourself? it would make that fragile ego of his fucking quiver; make him feel confused and embarrassed and he would try to twist the situation back in his favour, of course he would, to try pretend he’s in on the inside joke... but the truth is he feels helpless. for the first time ever, it feels like he’s the one in the dark; he’s the clueless and defenseless one, the one who’s been caught in a trap he never saw coming.

but then again, how could he when you play the part of prey so well? when your innocent performance is so convincing — with your big glossy eyes and shyly averted gazes, your voice so sweet and unsuspecting, stumbling over filthy words like you’ve never even thought them before? what reason would someone like him have to fear a precious thing like you? he’s all chiselled muscle and tenacity, with the eyes of a wolf; you’re small compared to him, cute and soft and easy to overpower — and yet he still ends up beneath you because your presence alone harbours more power than he does in all those muscles he’s so proud of, and his resolve is weak as long as you know where he’s most sensitive and what words make him blush, and with enough patience and punishments, those wolf’s eyes will melt into a puppy’s every time.

and getting a man like him to submit — or better yet break — is no easy feat. he thought himself a dom before he met you and god, if there isn’t anything more rewarding, more wonderful than that; teaching him to bend to your will and seeing his inevitable downfall each and every time. no matter how many times or how far he goes to defy and provoke you, you both know that he will always return to his rightful place: beneath you and completely at your mercy.

EREN JAEGER, TOJI FUSHIGURO, TOUYA TODOROKI, MUZAN KIBUTSUJI, SANEMI SHINAZUGAWA

#hellooooo waving at you from down here in the tags #this a veryy old drabble i wrote that later inspired my weak for you fic #(so if it sounds/feels familiar then that's why lol) #but it got lost in my drafts and i totally forgot about it until now #so have these crumbs while i work on my hornyween fics and other wips lol #x reader #x dom reader #sub character #sub eren #sub aot #sub toji fushiguro #sub toji #sub jjk #sub dabi #sub mha #sub bnha #sub kny #x fem reader #x male reader #x gn reader #( ★ ) my stuff.

[flockoff]

In a another world, Peak of Combat has a plot that involves Time Travel Shenanigans which puts V in one of the Funniest Situations.

#My Art #DMC V #dmc poc #Devil May Cry peak of Combat #I mean kind of? Kind of #Local man has to deal with teenage versions of all the people he knows including himself #Familiars having a great time watching V now have to babysit everyone for once #V's Personal Pear Wiggler #Also RIP to the shadow leash backpack and the Nightmare leash backpack for Dante and Vergil #They got to small in the pic #DMC Griffon #Dmc Shadow #Dmc Vergil #Dmc Dante #Dmc Lady #Dmc Nero #Nero and Lady do not need leashes because they also would like to figure out what the hell is going on #Vergil and Dante need leashes because as soon as they are in vicinity they just start fighting #anyway I am going to post peak of combat opinions at some point. #BUT PRIMARILY—I want to read a time travel fic #devil may cry art

[cipher-the-sidhe]

“You cannot speak to him,” Moon says as he sets his hand over your mouth, silencing you. You don’t have the strength to resist, much less stay conscious, but your heart begins pounding.

“You cannot look at him,” Sun says gently but with a great deal of warning in his voice as he covers your eyes with his dark digits. You’re in the dark. The speed of your breath through your nose picks up as you become hyper-alert through the fog of tiredness.

“You cannot listen to him,” they say together, voices overlaid and sending your pulse spiking as arms reach across your chest as your familiars cover the ear opposite of them. Together, their combined efforts hold you in a cage of their palms.

You’re made deaf. You’re in the dark. You’re held silent.

Perhaps you have tempted an evil into this world you were not ready for.

. ✨✨🌙✨✨✨🌙🌙✨✨✨🌙🌙✨✨

From @naffeclipse ‘s “Double Toil and Trouble”

I love this scene and this fic and I wish wish wish I had time to do a proper illustration but I DONT, so I did this instead and it’ll have to do.

#fnaf dca #familiar!sun #familiar!moon #double toil and trouble #naff’s fics #fanfic fanart #my art

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

This one is dedicated to @shirokokuro, who made a lifeguard AU fic to fill the void where there was none.

Read it here! It's great: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51598429

#poorly drawn mdzs #mdzs #modern au #mdzs au #nie mingjue #lan xichen #lan wangij #wei wuxian #I am still so flabbergasted. And boy it is such a treat of a fic. Thank you for making my dream come true. 5k+ is WILD!!! #You made me laugh so many times! The jokes were on point! #I have *not* been able to stop thinking about: #"Lan Zhan has half a mind to march over and explain aquatic safety to them. #(“Wow you're so familiar with the pool rules“ the lifeguard would swoon. ”Let's run away together!“)” #The truly unhinged Lan Pining was very well done! #LWJ suffers emotionally but in only the most teenji way he possibly could. #Also I'm such a nerd - I love the fact you put links in for reference. Genuinely felt giddy each time #I will make people read this fic with every power bestowed upon me

[flowercrowngods]

hello i’m attempting something for steddie week too, but it'll be one large thing probably @steddie-week

day 01: pining

2 new messages

eddie The Problem munson: —steeb —esteban —stefano  —stevie —love of my life apple of my eye pls pls tell me i can call you  —i am very chill etc etc —no i’m not  —let me call youuuu  —😠🥺🙏

Steve snorts as he picks up his phone and reads Eddie’s messages that keep coming in his usual spam of consciousness, a giddy feeling spreading in his chest as he snorts and goes to answer. 

— Call me then, coward 

Not a second later, his phone rings. Steve picks up immediately, even though he considers making Eddie wait; just to be difficult. Just to calm his racing heart that is always so lively around Eddie. 

“What,” he says, attempting to sound bored and annoyed — in vain, because even he can hear the smile on his face. Traitor, he thinks to himself. 

“Steve,” Eddie sing-songs, drawing out Steve’s name like he does every time he’s happy. “Steve, Steve, Stevie.” 

“Ed, Ed, Eddie,” he sings back, relaxing into his couch and shutting the laptop. Lesson planning can wait, he decides, shuffling all the loose pages into the text book and placing his laptop on the pile, trusting that physics won’t betray him. “What’s got you so happy, hm?” 

“Why do you think I’m happy?” Damn idiot has a smile on his face as he asks that, Steve can hear it. It makes his own grin widen and he huffs into the phone. 

“I literally know you, babe.” 

Babe. His heart flutters every time he says it — and he tries not to, because it’s meaningless, it’ll never happen. But Eddie picks it back up every time, and Steve is weak. God, he is so, so weak. 

On the other end, Eddie hums and Steve basks in the sound for a moment. It’s always so contagious, Eddie’s happiness, and he wants to soak it all up. Wants to be the reason for it. Wants, wants, wants. 

“You do,” Eddie says, his voice so light and fond it makes Steve’s whole body tingle. And his heart flutter. And it fills him with such happiness that he feels like he could take on the entire world right now, just with the way Eddie’s voice went all soft on him. 

God, he’s hopeless. So, so hopeless. But he’s also weak. An addict, leeching off Eddie’s attention, getting a kick out of the smallest dose, and absolutely certain he couldn’t survive if it were taken from him. He needs it. Even if it kills him a little bit, because— 

“She said yes.” 

Steve blinks. “Huh?” 

“Chrissy. She said— She said yes, Stevie. We’re getting married.” 

He says it and he sounds so happy. So, so happy. And Steve is the world’s worst best friend for the way he freezes, the way he almost drops his phone if it weren’t for the vice grip he has on it, frozen in time and space because his heart has stopped beating. It has stopped, surely, because no beating heart can hurt this much. No beating heart can crack open and still work the way it used to three, five, seven seconds ago. 

Eddie, bless his entire soul, laughs to fill the silence, and it’s the happiest sound. A boyish one, like there is no pain in the world and not a worry on his mind. A bit hysterical, too. Like he can’t believe it himself yet. Like this is the best day of his life and saying it again has reminded him of it. At least that’s what Steve imagines it feels like when someone wants to be married to you. He wouldn’t know, of course, as the only person he would ever ask is already engaged to someone else. Apparently. 

Eddie is engaged. 

Engaged and laughing and so, so happy. 

And Steve feels nauseous. Dizzy. Breathless. His eyes begin to sting and the hand that’s holding his phone begins to tremble, his grip so tight it hurts. 

Steve feels… too much. His hands tremble and he tries hard not to cry. 

“You’re getting married.” 

“We’re getting married.” 

They’re getting married. 

Fuck. 

Someone has to tell Robin. Because in true Platonic Soulmate manner, Steve and Robin fell in love with the two people who are in love with each other. Like the chaotic mess they are. 

“Sorry I didn’t tell you about it sooner,” Eddie continues, a bit more sober now. Sounding genuine and sufficiently awkward about it, in true Eddie-manner. Like the big old softie he secretly is. “I would have, but…” 

But I know you’re in love with me and didn’t want to burden you with the love I carry for someone who isn’t you, Steve’s brain auto-fills helpfully. But you keep flirting with me and there was never room for someone else when I was with you. 

But, but, but— 

He swallows and drags in a deep breath past the pain in his throat where all the words he can never say are forming a massive lump. 

“Hey man, don’t worry about that, we all know I suck at keeping secrets,” he offers. And it’s a lie, because he has kept this one thing secret for years and years. This one thing, this huge and all-encompassing thing that he can feel in the tips of his fingers when he is texting Eddie, and on his tongue when they are talking, and in his heart even when he is sleeping. 

This one thing, this one secret, is his never-ending love for Eddie. 

And he will add another one to that, a lovely little friend for it. To keep it company. That other secret, of course, will be the way his heart has shattered into a million little pieces and will remain that way until he can’t even look at Eddie anymore. And even then will he look at Eddie and smile at him, and Eddie will smile back and the pain will flare up again.

Again and again and again, for the rest of their lives. Possibly even beyond that. 

“You do suck at that,” Eddie chuckles, though it is quieter this time, almost private. Fond. Gentle. Always, always like that. It used to mean something once. And if Steve closes his eyes, he can imagine that Eddie smiles his secret smile, the one Steve has only seen directed at himself. It almost breaks him. 

Eddie’s I have known you for a whole eternity and love you beyond words, silly, but you also make my life so much harder-smile. That’s what he has dubbed it because that is what Eddie had said the first time he smiled like that when Steve was drunk off his ass. 

But. But, but, but— 

It’s no use to think of that now, to reminisce and imagine what might have been if… Well. If Steve weren’t Steve. 

And that sure is a dark path he doesn’t want to trudge now, not in the face of the even darker path of Eddie getting married that he sure as hell will have to walk down for the rest of his life. 

He sighs and tries to think of something to say. Something good. Something that is not Please don’t marry Chrissy. Please don’t take yourself away from me. Please. Please don’t get married to anyone who isn’t me. Please open your eyes and see me, please listen to me, please understand what I say when I say I love you. Please.  

He kind of spaces out for the rest of the conversation, not really listening to Eddie’s words over the ringing in his ears and the pumping beat of his shattered heart. 

Eddie speaks softly to him, the undercurrent of happiness and contentment still in his voice, and it would give Steve life, it would be contagious, it would be so very precious if it didn’t also drive the knife of pain ever deeper into Steve’s entire soul, slicing him apart with no one around to put him back together again.  

Splitting him in half. One half that just wants Eddie to be happy, to sound like he does right now for ever and ever. And the other half, loathing that Eddie’s happiness is not inspired by him, not because of him, not in any sort of relation to him. 

It’s not fair. And Steve is torn. So he shuts himself off and lets Eddie ramble, tells him that he is tired after pulling an all-nighter again and wrangling the his difficult seventh graders that were particularly hard on him today when the other man asks him if he is all right. 

“Steve,” Eddie sighs, and a traitorous tear rolls down Steve’s cheek at the caring exasperation he hears there. “How often do I need to tell you that sleep is important? You’re gonna wear yourself out at this rate. And the kids just suck.”  

“I know,” he says, and sniffs, willing the tears to not fall. Not until Eddie has hung up on him. 

“Aww. That emotional, huh?” 

At that, Steve sobs out a laugh and gladly accepts the way out. “Well, excuse me, my bestest friend whom I love very much is getting married soon! Or, well, I hope it’s soon, nobody has time for all that suspense. Anyway, I am allowed to be emotional about this!” 

Eddie chuckles again and sighs gently. “Yes, you are. I’m glad you are. Thank you, Stevie.” 

Don’t thank me. Not for this. Not over this, please, don’t thank me. 

“Don’t thank me,” he says with a grin, and it hurts his cheeks from how forced it is. “Thank yourself for being brave enough to actually go through with the proposal! We both know you’re chicken shit.” 

Just like me, he thinks. Just like me. 

They laugh and it sounds hollow to Steve’s ears. He just wants the phone call to end, wants this to be over with. Wants them to not get married. Never, ever, in this life or the next. 

He wants… he wants Robin. No, he needs his best friend, his soulmate. He can’t cry alone, not about this. 

Eventually, Eddie hangs up, that smile still so audibly his lips, and that painful happiness still very clear in his voice. Steve wants to share it. But he can’t.

All he can do is stare at the phone in his trembling hand before he closes his eyes and lets himself cry, his head falling back against the couch until he slumps over to one side. He stares and he cries until he can’t anymore. 

Eddie. The love of his life. Is getting married. To Chrissy, the other, platonic love of his life, who is like a sister to him. Who, coincidentally, is the love of his real platonic soulmate’s life.

Fucking hell, the mess they find themselves in!

After a while of pitifully staring at the wall, all cried out and feeling thoroughly pathetic, he lifts his phone and speed-dials Robin. 

“Stevie?” 

He sniffs, and it must sound as awful as he feels, for her next words are, “I’ll be right there. Alcohol or ice cream?” 

“Both?” he whimpers after a moment, and Robin hums right back. 

“I’ve got you. I’ll be there in ten.” 

She hangs up before he can say anything more, and he is overcome with all the love he holds for her. 

As he waits for her to come over, he does not move from the awkwardly half curled-up position on his couch, the lesson plans for tomorrow forgotten completely. This is his life now. His Eddie-less life. His engaged-Eddie life. His loveless, hopeless, endlessly pitiful life. 

come back tomorrow for: bittersweet & angst | read here

#steddieweek2023 #steddie #steddie fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #dio words #listen idk if this'll be a whole thing but I hope it will (but also I've written almost the exact same premise for the Witcher once before #so if you feel like this is too familiar I swear I am not plagiarising this is just me again with a hallmark typcial trope dont yell at me #please 🤍 #it’s technically not day one for me bc it’s 3:42am but eh

[ladsofsorrow24]

yuri sasunaru... based of this very nice fic by @greatloverslieinhell

#sasunaru #sns #uchiha sasuke #uzumaki naruto #naruto #naruto au #ladsofsorrow24 #title kinda inspired by those boku no natsuyasumi games on the playstation #i fucking love that game AND this fic #also drawing naruto's bedroom is pretty fun i think i'm kinda okay at drawing small spaces for background?? #that's more improvement than i can say for last year #anyway... yuri sasunaru.. very nice #i love the way they're written here... gyaru narumin who love the sea... #and sasuke who break away from traditional femininity is just so... beautiful #like it really feels like them but it also feels... refreshing? to view this ship in a very different yet familiar lens #i love it so much go read this fic if you love yuri AU sasunaru

[vladdyissues]

Please give us som Vlad headcanons!!! :)

Oh boy, you're gonna wish you'd never asked 😆 Long post ahead

🎧 Vlad is a huge fan of 80s synth-pop and new wave. Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths, Duran Duran, Tears For Fears, Pet Shop Boys, a-ha, and New Order, to name just a few.

🎵 On a similar (quarter) note, music from the late 70s and early 80s is still difficult for him to listen to because it reminds him of the years he was pining for Maddie, the accident, and being hospitalized. Mid-80s music and beyond, when he began to take his life back and build his wealth and power, is his "good old days" music.

🎹 Another music headcanon: In Familiar, I hinted at Vlad being a pianist. I think he'd look pretty hot playing a saxophone, maybe even a trumpet. And Martin Mull is a pretty good guitarist and singer, so Vlad also having those talents would be really cool. But I like to believe that Vlad plays the geekiest, dorkiest, nerdiest, most Slav-coded instrument of all: the accordion. Just imagine him torturing Danny and Sam and Tucker with polka music and ballads about cheese while on a camping trip. Maybe Wulf howling in agony from somewhere in the woods.

🧀 Yeah, he’s basically the negaverse equivalent of Weird Al.

👂 Vlad got his ear pierced in the mid-90s.

🔥 Despite being a fire specter ("having a fire core", to use the phandom terms), Vlad loves the cold. Winter is his favorite season, Christmas his favorite holiday. A bit of a spoiler for either chapter 13 or 14 of Familiar: Vlad is a superb ice skater.

💔 Besides his mother, Maddie was the only woman Vlad ever loved.

🐄 Vlad grew up the son of a poor Wisconsin dairy farmer. His mother was a first-generation Romanian* immigrant. He was the first member of his family to go to college, and on a full scholarship. He has no siblings. (*I may adapt Vlad’s nationality depending upon the story/art/situation, but generally I like to HC him as Romanian, which you can see on his backpack here in this AU.)

👊 Vlad was a victim of bullying in his teen years. Because of his first name and his ethnicity—not to mention his appearance and disposition: skinny, gangly, "ugly", shy, nerdy, poor—Halloween was always a miserable time for him: getting pelted with plastic vampire fangs in the hallways at school; cruel nicknames like "Count Vladislob" or "Vladis-louse"; racist remarks about his Romani mother; "Bleh bleh! I vant to suck your bluud!" It was awful.

✌️ Because he spent so many years being made to feel ashamed of his unusual name, when he became rich and successful after obtaining his ghost powers, he put his name and initial everywhere. V for Vlad.

🏈 Vlad got his love of Green Bay from his father. Apart from a shared surname, it was one of the only two (2) things he and his dad had in common.

🔧 Working on farm machinery like tractors and hay balers was the other. Vlad and his dad would often fix the farm equipment themselves rather than hire a mechanic—mostly out of necessity. Vlad is still pretty good with a monkey wrench, though in college his focus shifted from engineering to physics after meeting Jack and Maddie.

🚀 Vlad grew up in the sixties. Space race, the moon landing, the Cold War. Every kid his age had space fever. Vlad was no exception. His bedroom walls were a collage of stars, rockets, shuttles, astronauts, and cosmonauts. Yuri Gagarin was his hero. He wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. (Just like Danny.)

🩸 I mentioned this on another post, but I'll add it here, too: Vlad's obsession with gaining more power stems from the trauma and weakness he experienced when he was hospitalized. He made a vow to never be that helpless again.

🪦 Both of Vlad's parents were dead by the time he got out of the hospital. He was estranged from the rest of the Masters family and therefore had no one to turn to.

👶 Because of this, Vlad became obsessed with having a family of his own. Ironically, the accident sterilized him. He will never be able have biological children.

🍪 Some of Vlad’s happiest memories are baking with his mother. He had (and still does have) quite a sweet tooth—and a penchant for cooking.

#annnd i think that's a good place to stop. for now #danny phantom #vlad masters #vlad plasmius #dp headcanons #meta #many of these ideas appear in familiar. so if they look ''familiar'' that's why #fic: familiar #asks

[carissimipaixao]

─ ii. FAMILIAR

published on: february 10, 2023 pairing: okabe rintarou & reader summary: as luck may have it, you are able to return the mistaken manual to its rightful owner. word count: 1.8k+ entries: i. | ii. | iii. note: this is be a multiple-chapters fanfic, and each entry will be numbered accordingly on the top of the story. if you are reading this from a reblog, don’t forget to check the original at my blog, due to broken or missing links! second note: slight changes, including a pov change from 3rd person to 2nd person!

You have never been one to mingle with the big crowds. They often feel caging, as if you have been locked up with no possible exit in sight or at least an exit that wouldn’t invoke a hundred and then some gazes upon your fleeing figure. Moreover, you always feel claustrophobic when you are surrounded by people, after all. However, if there is free food involved, it is a worthy sacrifice.

It has been based on that reasoning that you decide to attend a seminar at Akihabara Techno Forum, accompanied by a new friend you made at the beginning of the week at University. Perhaps, the reason you two clicked so easily — and so quickly — is because of Naoko’s warm personality, despite her playful nature. Then again, unlike many, Naoko has never once glanced at you as if you were some sort of freak.

However, something had come up at the last minute, and Naoko had been requested by her aunt to come over and watch over her little cousins while she was away for a business meeting. Although the news have slightly upsetted you, you think against going home; after all, you have made your best to draw out time. Spending most of the afternoon in the library, writing down notes and finishing up some homework, you have also wasted some of your time on public transport, not to mention the time you sat outside the building, waiting for Naoko. Life’s too short, you have reasoned with yourself. As well as my wallet.

And that leads to where you now stand — by an exit door as you watch in mild boredom, the ice in your glass twirling along the movements of your wrist as you twitch it to an imaginary tempo. It was an interesting seminar, you wouldn’t deny that, but, because the subject is not really part of your own expertise and you were often lost in context, you had guiltily found yourself drifting into sleep multiple times. Well, if anything, you can just blame it on your unhealthy sleeping schedule and the stress.

With a sigh, you open your purse to pull out your phone, unlocking the screen to find an unread message by Naoko. Unable to fight off the smile that has bloomed on your face, you swipe up.

Naoko * please, save me orz * they’re too hyperactive for an old woman like me

You * come on, don’t tell me you’ll give up that easily. plus, aren’t i the older one here?

Naoko * my apologies, obaa-chan * how was the seminar?

You * it was interesting, it was about some sort of AI that they are developing. it seems to behave the same as the original person, while also having their memories.

Naoko * oh, that seems cool! * wonder if they take volunteers?

You * isn’t one naoko enough?

Naoko * harsh * i actually regret not attending, but it seems to have lasted long enough for me to have napped at least through the entire thing

You * don’t remind me * i almost fell asleep, but hey, let’s talk about this more later. i’m sure the newspaper and the media will be talking about this amadeus project soon enough.

In the corner of your eye, amongst the sea of bright colors, there is a sudden spot of black. The bold color immediately draws your attention, and you raise your head to stare. The person has their back turned to you, their shoulders dropped in what appears to be a mix of exhaustion and disappointment. Yet, the more you stare, a confusing sense of familiarity slowly begins to settle in, finally culminating into realization the moment the person turns their head ever so slightly. Your brain immediately replays the events of the previous day — your very first day at Tokyo Denki — but the scenario that you have caused by bumping into another student and stranger makes your cheeks burn in embarrassment.

Suddenly, the weight of your bag seems to increase, as you recall the existence of a red book.

You put your phone away, observing the young man for another quiet moment, and take a deep breath as you clenches a hand around the strap of your shoulder bag. Each step you take, as you near the man who remains oblivious to your approach, makes your heart thump a little bit quicker, and the sound reverbs in your ears. Your lungs fill up with air, one more time, before the anxiety can overtake you.

The man is just within your reach, and you notice how his eyes are ever so slightly narrowed. Before you can distract yourself any further — because you cannot avoid the inevitable —, you reach for him, moving to tap his arm. However, you quickly decide against it and, instead, clear your throat. The man jumps, being abruptly brought back to reality,  and he turns around.

His reaction is immediate, and, just as before, his eyes widen and his body goes stiff.

‘Good evening,’ you begin, your heart racing as you fight the urge to look away from that intense and disconcerting gaze. Whatever it holds, it beckons a weird sense of fight or flight within you. You blame it on your anxiety, which is certainly increasing the more the silence grows.

The stranger — or, Okabe, as the name that was written on the manual suggests — opens his mouth, but no sound comes out.

You continue, ‘I wanted to apologize. For bumping into you yesterday, that is.’ You internally debate whether or not you should bow deeply, whilst taking into consideration that he seems to be around the same age as you. Either way, you do a quick bow, ‘Please, forgive me.’

He closes his mouth, his jaw nearly clicking, and clears his throat. ‘No, it’s alright. I should’ve been more careful.’ He chuckles quietly, ‘I admit I wasn’t paying that much attention to where I was going.’

Yet, despite the attempt to brush the incident under the rug, you can still see how he remains tense.

Maybe, he’s just shy and awkward, just as you are.

But, upon seeing how his face appears a bit whiter than it should be?

‘Are you alright?’ you ask, frowning. ‘You don’t look so good.’ You glance around the room and lean slightly forward, lowering your voice. ‘Do you want me to get someone?’

‘Huh?’ He blinks. Then, he waves a hand, whilst giving you a reassuring smile. ‘No, no, I’m alright.’ When you don’t look convinced, he adds, ‘I’m just tired. It’s just been a long day.’ His eyes wander to the side, for a moment, as he takes a deep breath. It almost looks like he is purposefully avoiding your gaze, just as you had tried not to do moments ago. But, you don’t press. Instead, you watch as he exhales slowly. It reminds you of what you often do when you are burdened by your inner storms.

And, just like that, the conversation seems to come to a halt.

Well, you bite your lip, this is awkward.

You begin to reach inside your bag, which draws the student’s attention back to you. ‘Before I forget,’ you say as you pull out the engineering manual. ‘I know this isn’t exactly the best spot to return something, but better now than ever.’ You hand it out to him. ‘It seems like, while I rushed to the classroom, I accidentally took your book, instead of mine.’

He stares at the manual for a moment, before exclaiming in recognition. He carefully grabs the book from your hand — and you try to ignore the sensation left behind by the tips of his fingers against your skin — and opens the cover, nodding upon seeing his name on the very first page. He meets your eyes with another chuckle, although, this time, it doesn’t appear as forced or nervous. ‘So, this is where it was. And here I was, thinking I had lost it.’

‘I’m sorry. I’m too clumsy,’ you give him an embarrassing smile. But, he shakes his head.

‘That’s alright,’ he soothes her. ‘You were in a hurry, from what I can remember. Plus, mistakes happen.’ His eyes widen for a split second, as if he has realized something, and his lips quirk timidly. ‘Then, I’m guessing that the book I took is yours.’

You nod, ‘Most likely. But, no worries. You can just give it back to me tomorrow or whenever it’s possible. It’s okay.’ you suddenly extend her arm, feeling slightly more comfortable as time passes, ‘Oh, where are my manners?’ You give him your name, smiling warmly.

After putting the book under the wing of his arm, the black-haired man gently grabs your hand, a soft smile on his face, ‘Okabe Rintarou. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’

‘The pleasure is all mine.’

Okabe tilts his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. ‘Are you a new student at Tokyo Denki University?’

‘I guess you could say so. I’m doing an internship.’ You look to the side, staring out the distant window as you watch the city lights flicker. ‘I’ve always wanted to visit Japan, anyway. So, two birds with one stone.’

Something shifts in his eyes, but you can’t decipher it fast enough.

‘So, you’ve never been to Japan before,’ he muses, although it puzzles you how it sounds much more like a statement, rather than a question. ‘Which major are you in?’

‘Same as you, engineering.’

‘We may be sharing some classes in the future, then,’ Okabe nods, his smile growing as a joyful glint appears in his eye. ‘If you need help with anything, don’t hesitate to ask.’

You beam up at him. Somehow, you feel at ease when talking to Okabe, despite the fact that you two have just met — well, officially, anyway. Even though you also clicked just as quickly with Naoko, there is something different about this student that makes you feel so comfortable. ‘Thank you! That’s actually very kind of you.’ You will certainly need all the help you can get.

Suddenly, something comes to mind.

‘Wait, hold up,’ you raise her hand, frowning. Okabe blinks. ‘Weren’t you the one, just now, who argued with the audience?’ His back straightens. ‘Something about how skepticism would “stop the progress”?’

The young man grimaces, rubbing the back of his neck. You swear you see a touch of pink beginning to bloom across his cheeks, and you smirk. The amused expression causes him to look away. ‘Don’t laugh,’ he murmurs. ‘It’s embarrassing.’

You cover your mouth, attempting to muffle your giggle. Not that it stops Okabe from hearing it.

As impossible as it would be to believe, his face gets redder by the second. ‘I just—’

‘It’s alright, Okabe,’ you say. ‘You don’t have to explain yourself, especially to me of all people.’ You straighten your back, giving him an approving nod. ‘I actually think you did well to speak your mind. It was brave, and I personally didn’t enjoy the man’s tone, either.’ Okabe pauses, staring at your faraway expression before it quickly morphs into another teasing smirk. ‘For someone who looks so shy, you actually have a lot of guts, huh?’

‘Give me a break,’ his shoulders drop with an exasperated sigh, and his reaction only makes you giggle, once again. Yet, his lips curl into a smile.

#okabe rintarou #okabe rintaro #rintaro okabe #rintarou okabe #okabe rintarou x reader #okabe rintaro x reader #rintarou okabe x reader #rintaro okabe x reader #x reader #reader #reader-insert #fanfic #fanfiction #steins;gate #steinsgate #steins;gate 0 #steinsgate 0 #steins;gate zero #fic: familiar

[leavingautumn13]

To contrast with its docile pre-evolution, camerupt are temperamental, bitey, bullheaded, and prone to setting things on fire. They are often placed with herds of regular cattle to defend them; a well-trained camerupt can take on a pack of mightyena by itself.

Camerupt have very few natural predators. Mightyena will sometimes make an attempt if a member of the herd is particularly weak or sick, but they more often stick to numel. With rock-type moves, a camerupt can put up a fight even against a salamence.

Due to the dangers camerupt can pose even to its trainer, numel is rare as a starter pokemon except in the Lavaridge area. Most captive camerupt have been bred and raised in captivity; if a specimen was caught in the wild it was most likely caught as a numel and then evolved. Approaching wild camerupt is not advised.

[send me a pokemon and i'll draw it in my style and add my headcanons]

#camerupt #realistic pokemon #pokemon #pokemon rse #pokemon oras #autumn.art #i'm doing rough anatomical sketches? i'm officially too far gone #''that camerupt in the front looks familiar'' that's maxie's camerupt tephra from my fic. with a slightly more coherent redesign #anyway. hoenn's answer to bison

[silveme]

How it feels when Jake Lockley shows up unannounced in a mk fic where they still don’t know who he is yet

#it’s always so much fun every time like it never gets old somehow #“At least it seemed to be Steven. His voice not quite the familiar accent it usually was and yet strangely nothing like Marc’s” HELLOOOOOOO #definition of the phrase big dick is back in town #moon knight #jake lockley #steven grant #marc spector #moon knight system #layla el faouly #marvel #mcu #fanfic #mcu fic #marvel fic

[knox-knocks]

I love making andrew and neil dangerous and violent in fics cause no matter what they would literally rather break their own hands than hurt each other

#I just like when two people who are so capable and familiar with violence allowing themselves to be vulnerable and gentle with each other #learning together what softness is and why it’s not entirely a bad thing #sharp edges on sharp edges #never grinding each other down #but fitting together nicely. maybe not perfect. but it works for them and it’s beautiful #I say this when I’m literally writing a fic where they’re both hunting each other down BUT BESIDES THAT #andrew minyard #neil josten #andreil #tfc #aftg

[larluce]

AU where Merlin is Arthur's familiar

Firstly, for everyone that doesn't know, in European folklore of the medieval and early modern periods, familiars were believed to be supernatural entities or spiritual guardians that would protect or assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic. They're almost always represented as some kind of animal, like a cat or a bird, sometimes a demon.

So, having that cleared up, how would Merlin be a familiar and how would he be Arthur's familiar of all people when Arthur isn't a sorcerer?

That's the thing, in this AU a group of evil druids or sorcerers find out about Merlin's identity earlier and his whereabouts while he is still in Ealdor. Not wanting Emry's magic to be under the command of some prophesied king and desiring that power to themselves, they kidnapped him and make a ritual to turn him into a familiar (a merlin especifically). They also erase his memory so Merlin doesn't remember he was ever human. Just when they where about to bond the bird to the sorcerer/druid leader to have Emrys magic under their command, Merlin manages to escape. He doesn't know who he is or where to go, he just knows he has to go far away from there.

Somehow, probably through his run away ordeal, familiar Merlin ends up in Camelot's castle, with an injured wing. He's chirping in pain when the young prince finds him in his yard.

Arthur: (covering his ears) Why are you making so much noise? Shut up! (looking closely) Wait! you're hurt? (picks him up carefully) I think your wing is broken. (Merlin chirps louder) Alright, alright! I'll find help. (runs as fast as he can) Gaius! Gaius!

The court physician bandages the bird's wing, but he can't take care of it due to his work, so Arthur does it. He makes a place for the bird in his room and feeds it. He tries to not get attached to it knowing the bird will have to return to its natural environment as soon as it recovers. However, after the bird's wing is healed, it doesn't want to leave, not matter how many times Arthur frees it in the forest, it always comes back, so finally Arthur decides to keep it. He has a bit of a fight with his father, because he never let Arthur have a pet, but after the bird protects the prince of a witch that was in disguise by stinging her eyes out, the king finally allows the prince to keep it. The prince, very happy, brings the bird to his chambers.

Arthur: (with Merlin in his forearm) Now the you're oficially my pet- (the bird chirps in protest) Well, my, eh... animal companion? (the bird deadpans) We'll work on that later. The point is, I should probably give you a name. (the bird moves its wings, excited) What about...bird? (the bird shakes it's head) Yeah, I've been calling you that from the start, so no. hmmm. What about falcon? Gaius says you're a falcon, though you're too small to be one, honestly. (the bird chirps, offended). I should just call you falcon or little falcon. No, it's still too long. Lil' falc? No. hmmmm. I think Gaius said you were a especific kind of falcon? How was it? Mar... Mer...Merloni? Merlon... Merlin! That was it. I'll call you Merlin.

Without knowing, Arthur just finished the last step of the ritual: naming the familiar, and with that, becoming the familiar's master. When the bond is created, a flash of light blinds him and, suddenly, the bird is replaced by a boy, who now is sitting on him, while he's spread on the floor.

Arthur: (looking up, shocked) What the fu-

Merlin: (looking down, confused) Arthur! Why are you smaller now? Wait... I can talk? (brings his hand to his face surprised) And I have... hands? Where are my wings? (panicking) Arthur, I lost my wings! And my feathers!(crying)NOOOOO!

Arthur: Merlin? That's.. you? Merlin? Mer...Merlin, shut up! (Merlin stops crying) And get off me! (shoves Merlin aside) How did this happen?

Merlin: You think I know?! Maybe that witch cursed me to be as ugly as you as a revenge for turning her blind. (sobs) My wings, my beautiful wings.

Arthur: (offended) Excuse me? Is not like you were a "handsome" bird either, you poor excuse of a falcon.

Merlin: How would you know, human with so little imagination that names his bird after their species?

After their stupid fight, they go to Gaius, in secret, of course. They can't have the king knowing the prince's bird was cursed. The physician does his investigation and, after Merlin discovers he can turn to his bird form and his human form at will and do some magic stuff, he concludes Merlin is, in fact, a familiar.

Gaius: Incredible! I thought they were a myth. It's said they're spiritual guardians of magic itself and that just the most powerful sorcerers could summond one and tamed them to become even more powerful.

Merlin: No... it can't be. I'm just a bird! I can't be a magical creature! I can't!

Arthur: (Knowing Merlin's scared due to his father laws and believes) Merlin. It's okay.

Merlin: (crying, almost hysterical) NO! I'm not a monster! I swear! I'm not evil!

Arthur: I know. Human, bird or familiar, or whatever, you're a good person. Well, a good being. Nothing is going to change that and nothing is going to happen to you, alright?

Merlin: (calms down) alright (snifs)

Arthur: But we need you to remember. Do you have any memory of you being anything but a bird?

Merlin: No, I've always been a bird. Although... (thoughtful) I don't... remember being a chick before.

Arthur: A what?!

Gaius: He means a baby bird.

Arthur: Oh, right (blushes). I knew that.

Merlin: Yeah, my very first memory is just before I came to Camelot, when... I was trap in a... cage. (he trembles at the memory) There were humans with capes, I think. They said they wanted to... control me, to had me at their mercy. I don't know what they wanted to do with me but I escaped. I thought I wouldn't make it. (with tears in his eyes) I was.. so scared.

Gaius: They must be the sorcerers that summonded you.

Merlin: Great. So not only I'm some magical entity but I'm sorcerer's slave now?

Arthur: (fiercely) You are NOT a slave! You are... ("mine" he is about to say, but stops) your own.

Merlin: (suddenly scared) What if they look for me?!

Arthur: I won't let them take you. I promise.

Gaius: And I don't think you have to worry about being some sorcerer's slave, Merlin. If you were bonded to one, you wouldn't have been able to escape in the first place.

Merlin: That means... (hopeful) I'm free?

Gaius: And in Camelot where magic is forbidden, so you're safer as you can be. You'll just have to keep pretending you're a bird, if that's not a problem with you.

Merlin: I'm completly fine with that.

Arthur: (joyful) And me! (composes himself) I mean, I like him better when he can't talk. (Merlin frowns at him)

Times goes by. At first, Merlin stays in his bird form and tries not to do magic, because, apparently he's been doing magic all this time without knowing (honestly, how was he supposed to know all the things he accidentally broke or dirt in Arthur's room were repaired and cleaned by him? He just thought Arthur has very efficient servants!). But it becomes impossible, not only because not doing magic makes him sick, but Arthur keeps running into danger time and time again, so he has to use magic to protect him. Arthur scolds him everytime he does that, he doesn't want his friend to be discover, but eventually it becomes rutine. Also, Merlin starts to take his human form more and more frecuently, because he needs Arthur to understand him, sometimes to give him a piece of his mind, to warn of some danger he finds out, or simply to cheer him up when he's sad or pass time.

Merlin: Is magic really evil? (he looks at his hands)It doesn't feel evil when I use it.

Arthur: How does it feel to you?

Merlin: It feels like... flying (he smiles and closes his eyes) So natural and beautiful, like the earth under my feet and the wind moving my feathers. And I feel it everywhere, not just inside me, but in every living thing. In every flower that blooms, every pup and chick that is born. Even in you. It's suppose to corrupt you, but instead of feeling wrong, I feel so good and... so alive.

Arthur: (looks at him for a moment, completely in love and then composes himself) I don't believe magic is evil. Not anymore.

Merlin: (open his eyes, surprised) Why's that?

Arthur: At first I thought you were an exception to the rule, but then Morgana-

Merlin: (even more surprised) She told you?!

Arthur: (just as surprised) You knew?!

Merlin: I could feel the magic inside her (he admits, guiltily). I wanted to be wrong. She's one of the kindest human I know, but then I saw her doing magic and... I just couldn't tell you. It wasn't my secret to tell, I'm sorry.

Arthur: It's alright. I understand. (he sighs) She was... so scared, Merlin. She begged not to tell my father, like I could ever do that (he laughs dryly). And she didn't learn magic, she just have it. She didn't even know she was a sorcerer until recently.

Merlin: Oh... (thoughtful) That explains a lot of things.

Arthur: What do you mean?

Merlin: Morgana isn't the only one, I think. Sometimes I fly around and I feel people with magic inside them. Some of them are evil, so I call you, but there are others that just do minor stuff, like healing spells and potions. But there are other too that… don't do magic at all and yet… the magic inside them is so strong. I thought maybe I was seing the potential of magic, but now…

Arthur: (in heavy realisation) So it's true. My father's been killing innocent people all this time.(with tears rolling down his eyes) I've been killing innocent people all this time.

Merlin: (hugging and comforting him) No! Arthur you did nothing wrong. You didn't know.

Arthur: (crying and hugging tightly in return) I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!

Aaaand that's it. I don't know what else could happen. Apart of merthur getting together obviously. There would be a lot of pinning and confused feelings. Arthur first meets Merlin as a bird after all, so accepting he has a crush on his bird friend is not going to be easy. The same goes to Merlin. Lets not talk about when they both discover they're bonded and Arthur could technically control Merlin and use Merlin's magic at his will if he wanted. And I guess at some point the evil sorceress/druids would try to get Merlin back. And then Merlin finding out he was human before and has a mother in ealdor… Damn that's a lot of angst.

Anyways, I still have a couple of fics on going so I don't think I'm going to write this anytime soon... or ever. So if anyone wants to write it feel free to do it. Or just comment any ideas you have for this concept/prompt below so I can keep them in mind if I write it in the end.

EDIT: I DID A PART 2, GUYS!!! -> LINK

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