#it works so incredibly well i want to flap my arms at work

[a-killer-obsession]

Wavelengths [Killer x Reader, Heat x Reader]

🔞 Minors DNI 🔞

A search for a rumored Vegapunk weapon leads the Kid Pirates to an unexpected new crewmate, with a bloodlust that rivals their own and an incredible power.

CW: Please check AO3 for all current warnings, but general warning for smut, slow burn, serious gore, and really dark themes. AFAB reader, she/her pronouns.

Masterlist || AO3 || Chapter 1

Chapter 22 - Date Night

Making port ahead of schedule leads to an impromptu date. Also, reader lore.

WC: ~3.5k

Taglist: @h0n3y-l3m0n05 @tremendoushorsepatrolgoth @iggy5055

After fleeing from breakfast you'd decided to head back to bed for a nap, given you really hadn't had a lot of sleep, and as comfy as Kid's thighs were for sleeping on, your neck was killing you from doing it. Thankfully you were able to fall asleep on your own, maybe the trick to getting some sleep this whole time had just been resolving things with Killer. Heat woke you for lunch, and afterwards he'd given you a reading lesson. Killer wasn't available to join, after a week of isolating himself he had a lot of work to catch up on.

He did find some time to see you after dinner though, knocking shyly on your partially open door before peering awkwardly around it. He found you in the middle of squinting at a children's book, mouthing the sounds to yourself as you traced the words with your fingertip.

“Sorry, am I interrupting?” He asked, backing out a little.

“No of course not, come in,” you smiled, quickly discarding the book, “besides, I promised you cuddles”

He nervously shut the door behind him before removing his mask and sitting it on the side table next to yours. He'd become accustomed to being maskless around you, especially when your own mask was off. Having your whole face available for him to see made him more willing to show his own, and your time together on the island had made him truly comfortable with you seeing his face. You shuffled back on the bed and made space for him between your legs, and he laid down with his back towards you, his head resting against your breasts. You quickly got to work threading your fingers into his hair and scratching his scalp the way you'd learned he liked on the island. He hummed contently as you did it, his eyes closing as he enjoyed your hands on him. If he tried hard enough, he could almost pretend you were both still on the island, not a care in the world, before any of the hurt had a chance to happen.

“This is nice,” you sighed after a while, draping your arms over his shoulders and resting your chin on the top of his head.

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed, “Hey I remembered something earlier though, did you ever read that letter from your mum?”

“Oh!” You reached towards your side table and he leaned forward for a moment so you could reach it. You retrieved the old, worn envelope from the drawer and returned to your previous spot as you handed it to him. “I could probably at least attempt to read it now, but I'd really like it if you did it for me”

“You sure? You don't want Heat to read it for you?” He asked hesitantly.

“I kinda only want you to know about it,” you hummed, resting your chin on his head again, “it kinda feels like our thing”

“Okay, if you're sure,” he replied, carefully threading his finger under the wax seal on the envelope to pop it away from the paper. He flipped up the flap and pulled out a single sheet of paper, a little wrinkled but clean from years of being protected inside the envelope. On it was a handwritten letter, in neat cursive. You were glad you'd asked Killer to read it, cursive was still really difficult for you to decipher. Killer unfolded the letter and cleared his throat before starting to read.

“April 22nd, Our Age of the Sea Circle 1517.

My dearest [y/n],

On this, your sixteenth birthday, I am thankful and blessed to hear that you are alive and well.”

You gripped his shoulder hard, shaking a little as you heard your own name spoken for the first time in over twenty years, a thread of memories flooding back to you. You could see your mother in the garden, hanging out the laundry on a sunny morning, her lilac hair fluttering in the soft spring winds. You were so small, so innocent, you could hear your own laughter in the memory as you ran to her and clinged to her leg.

“I remember…” you whispered, “that name, I remember her calling to me…”

Killer reached up to hold your hand against his shoulder, squeezing it for support as your tears started to fall quietly. “It's dated to 1517, that means you're 27, not 25 like we thought. You're the same age as me”

“Oh,” you said sadly, “that means I was locked up a lot longer than I thought”

“Oh Yin,” Killer said softly, “I'm so sorry. You're safe now, okay? It's all over, nobody can take you again without us burning them to the ground, we're always gonna come for you”

“Mmm,” you replied, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck.

“Do you want me to start calling you [y/n] instead?” He asked.

“Only when it's just the two of us,” you hummed, “I don't think I'm ready to share it with everyone yet”

“Okay then, I won't tell anyone,” he gave your hand a little squeeze, “do you want me to keep reading?”

“Yes please,” you replied after taking a deep breath. Killer kept one hand on yours on his shoulder but kept reading.

“I think of you everyday, oh how you must have grown by now. The marines tell me you are one of them now, and that your devil fruit no longer ails you. I am so glad, how proud I am of my girl for doing such good in the world.

Do not mourn for me my sweet [y/n], I am still a slave, but I was bought by such a kind family to care for their child. I've been with them these whole long ten years, raising her like my own, a sister you never had, and she will soon be an adult. When the time comes, her parents have agreed to free me, so perhaps we will meet again. You were such a beautiful, joy filled child, I hope one day you will experience such joy yourself.

I hope you are surrounded by love, wherever you are, and know that you have mine, wherever I am. Until that day comes where we meet again, I'll continue to think of you every day.

Your loving mother,

Val Sara”

“So strange,” you said after a long quiet moment of thinking, “I never knew my mother's name. She was always just ‘mum’”

“Well, that's more than I ever knew,” Killer hummed, “and she's out there somewhere, free, by the sounds of it”

“Mmm”

“Do you think you'll ever go looking for her?” He asked.

“I don't think she'd like the person I am now,” you sighed, “I fit in better with murderous pirates than I do with a sweet old lady, I think it's better she not know. And my wanted poster doesn't have my real name, so hopefully she'll never know.”

“Mmm,” Killer agreed, tucking the paper back into the envelope. He turned to his side to put it back on the side table but decided to stay where he was afterwards, laying with his face pressed to your chest, listening to your heartbeat.

“You ever try to find your parents?” You asked him as you returned to scratching his scalp.

“Nah, waste of time,” he replied, his eyes closed in content, “Kid and I have pretty common stories for kids from our island. It was known for gangs and crime, the criminal underworld pretty much ran the place. We don't know the specifics, but given what was normal for the island we can safely assume that they were either prostitutes or were forced, and either way had a kid they didn't want. I ran away when I was seven, I can't even remember her face anymore, just that she had brown hair. She barely took care of me anyway and I was beaten a lot by the men that would come by for her, so one day I just left. I found Kid not long after, he was in a similar boat but it was his mum who ditched him. He was only three, he would have died on his own, so I did my best to look after him.”

“Only three? Jesus,” you said softly, “no wonder Kid has anger issues. Fuck that bitch, and fuck your mum for not protecting you. Slag”

Killer laughed at the out of character insult, “It doesn't matter, Kid is everything to me, I wouldn't go back and change anything. If I hadn't run away I wouldn't have found him.”

“And you,” you poked his arm, “wouldn't have found me”

“That would've been truly awful,” he snorted, “who else would leave invisible whoopie cushions on my chair?”

“Kid made me do it!” You yelped as he pinched you playfully, “It was captain's orders!”

“Like you didn't also think it was funny,” he scowled.

“Okay… maybe a little,” you admitted.

“Mmhmm,” he nestled back into your chest and yawned.

“Do you want to stay here tonight Killer?” You asked, his yawn becoming contagious and making you yawn as well.

“I better not,” he frowned, starting to get up, “I wanna go have a shower anyway, I'll see you at breakfast”

“Okay Kil,” you gave him a peck on the cheek before stretching and getting ready to tuck yourself in, “night”

“Night, [y/n],” he said, putting his mask back on and sliding out the door.

The next day at lunch, Double announced that the wind's were in the ship's favour, and it'd be arriving at the resupply island before sunset. A plan was set in place that tonight would be for entertainment, and tomorrow would be for resupplying. The log pose reset time was inconsequential, since they planned on returning to this island for the reset after visiting the eternal pose island, so for now it was just a quick in and out. The ship was due to leave by lunch tomorrow to set off for what the crew had started referring to as ‘treasure island’. Really not much resupplying was needed, since it hadn't been long since the ship had been docked for three days while you were unconscious (the first two days of your coma having been during transit).

The commanders would also be skipping getting an inn this time round, since the turnaround was so short there wasn't much point, though the henchmen who wanted to have some privacy for the evening would no doubt get rooms. That being said, the higher ups still intended to head to a local brothel when the ship made port. You had no intention of joining them this time, so you'd made plans to see what other entertainment the town had. Maybe it would have a cinema, you hadn't seen a movie since you were a teenager.

“Any plans for tonight?” Killer asked as he climbed up to sit beside you on the figurehead skull.

“I was thinking about seeing a movie, actually,” you hummed, “if the town has a cinema”

“Usually islands with longer reset times have decent entertainment,” he replied, “it's supposed to take five days when we get back from treasure island”

“Oh, nice” you replied, “what about you? I won't fault you if you go with the others. I know we said we were waiting for each other but I don't want you getting blue balls”

Killer snorted at the comment, “Thanks for considering my balls but I think they'll be just fine,” now you were the one snorting, “I was thinking of just finding a nice restaurant, I was going to ask if you wanted to join me actually. We could see a movie after, if you'd like”

“Mister Massacre Soldier, are you asking me on a date?” You squinted.

“Uh, I think so? Maybe?” He said nervously.

“Well in that case, yeah I'd like that,” you replied, “I'll meet you when we dock,” you said cheerfully as you started to climb off the skull.

“Where you going?” He asked curiously.

“Gotta get ready for my big date!” You laughed, skipping away.

To be fair, it was the truth. You spent the next two hours showering, shaving, struggling with makeup, and throwing every piece of clothing you owned onto a pile on the bed in the hopes of figuring out what to wear. The island was a spring one, so that opened up a lot of options since you wouldn't have to dress to stay warm. The night air outside would probably be a little cool but your jacket would probably be enough. You'd also made the decision to forgo your mask, which meant you had to figure out how to do eye makeup. That on its own took a good half an hour.

In the end you settled on a dark purple, thigh length dress that showed off your legs. The neckline was modest and the dress had one sleeve, which conveniently covered the arm where your marine tattoo used to sit, now covered by a well healed burn scar. The dress was made from velvet, so it appeared almost black at first glance, a brighter purple where the light bounced off it. You paired it with a set of strappy black heels and a couple of silver bracelets that blended well with your seastone one. You kept your hair down for once, a rarity since it was easier to wear your mask with your hair tied back in your usual buns.

To finish it all of you had a small purse the saleswoman who sold you the dress had convinced you to buy. You didn't really have anything to put in it, so you just jammed a bag of candy inside to sneak into the cinema later. The purse itself was a simple dark purple circle made with a leather that had lines sewn to give a padded quilt effect, with a delicate silver chain.

The ship had docked maybe ten minutes ago, you'd heard the loud sound of the thick anchor chain unravelling as it was dropped and the flurry of barked orders as the ship was tied to the dock, so you gave yourself two thumbs up in the mirror, took a deep breath, and headed out to the deck. Kid spotted you quickly, his sentence cut short so he could wolf whistle, to which Killer smacked him over the back of the head.

“Have some fucking respect Kid,” he groaned. Killer was dressed nicely as well, in dark tidy jeans and a royal blue button up. You were glad you hadn't overdressed, it would have been a little awkward if he hadn't even changed, but he did say he wanted to find a nice restaurant.

“You two going on a date or something?” Kid eyed you both scrupulously, “what's with the clown suits?”

“Sorry you're allergic to nice clothes Kid, that must be hard,” you stuck your tongue out at him, and he frowned and crossed his arms.

“Whatever, use protection,” he groaned before heading off to bark more orders.

“Protection from what?” You asked Killer, “I thought we were going to dinner, should I go get my sword?”

“We are going to dinner, he was just joking,” Killer sighed, “he meant protection as in like… condoms”

“Ohhhh,” you replied, then stopped dead in your tracks, grabbing his arm, “were we supposed to use that on the island?”

“Don't fret,” he pat your hand and took advantage of it being on his arm to lead you, “I talked to Mohawk when we got back, he said the thing in your arm should be good for another year”

“Okay, phew,” you half heartedly laughed, “cos boy that would be awkward. Not that I would hate having your baby it just would be awkward on a ship”

“Oh? You want my babies do you?” He teased.

“Kil!” You pouted.

“Relax, I'm just teasing,” he rubbed your hand on his arm reassuringly, “let's get some dinner”

The two of you wandered along the waterfront for a short while before finding a nice looking restaurant, filled with happy, well dressed couples. You wondered if the two of you would look the same among them, or if you'd stick out. He led you to the little podium where a hostess was waiting to greet you.

“Any private spaces available?” He asked her, flashing a large wad of berri.

“Yes of course sir!” She replied enthusiastically, “We have a delightful private dining room perfect for a party of two, come right this way” she indicated for the two of you to follow and you continued to allow Killer to lead you. The space she brought the two of you was a closed off room, decorated in dark jewel tones and lit with several large candelabras, it was definitely a romantic atmosphere. She pulled a chair out for you and as you sat placed a napkin over your lap and a menu in your hands, then did the same for Killer.

“My name is Leah, I'll be your server for this evening. Our special tonight is freshly caught salmon, honey-glazed over a bed of seasonal asparagus, and our desert special for this evening is a warm spiced pear served with house-made chocolate gelato. Can I get you anything to drink while you look over the menu?”

The question was mostly directed at Killer, who seemed a lot more confident in this setting than you did. “Two glasses of whatever red you recommend please. Will you be the hostess serving us the entire evening, or will you have someone else bringing us our food?”

“I can be if that is what you would prefer sir,” the hostess replied.

“Good, I require privacy, as you can see,” he gestured to his mask, “so you are to knock and wait fifteen seconds whenever you're entering, and you're not to enter unnecessarily, we don't need to be badgered every five minutes about how the food is”

“Of course sir. You'll also find there are no surveillance den-den in this room, it's usually reserved for client meetings, so your privacy is very well protected in this room,” she indicated around the room, before walking over to a wall that had a small, silver button. “You can use this button to summon me if you require anything, I'll go get those drinks for you now but do not hesitate to call if you require anything at all”

“Thank you, Leah,” he cleared his throat and she gave a little curtsy and left.

“Is this okay?” Killer asked hesitantly, “it's not too much is it? I didn't have time to scout anything out beforehand”

“This is nice, Kil,” you smiled, leaning your elbow on the table and resting your chin in your hand, “and I'm glad to be able to have a meal with you without your mask. Or Kid, for that matter”

Killer took his mask off and gave you a shy smile. You could see his lips were freshly painted and he'd taken special care to apply eyeliner. It was always funny to you that he and Kid seemed to share an interest in makeup, you were honestly surprised Killer had eyebrows. You didn't question the fact that nobody could see the makeup on a usual basis, it seemed a bit like the kind of confidence boost you get from wearing a matching bra and panties set under your clothes.

“Anything look interesting?” He asked, lifting his menu to read. You'd been trying your best to read yours but some of these words seemed like alien scripture to you, you'd have an easier time defusing a bomb.

“Honestly, I'm a bit out of my depth here,” you sighed, “I see pasta, I see peas, that's about where my limit is”

“Well, it's better than nothing,” he smiled, “you've come a long way. I'll read it for you”

Killer diligently read through all the items on the menu for you, stopping to read the descriptions when you asked for them, till you settled on a roast pork dish that included roasted vegetables and greens in a garlic sauce, as well as chocolate gateau cake for the dessert. Killer of course, ever the predictable, chose a spaghetti based dish, one with seafood and marinara sauce, as well as a cheese and fruit platter to share and the special for the dessert.

All thoughts of seeing a movie afterwards were forgotten as you both got lost in conversation and delicious food, eating and talking till the hostess said the restaurant would be closing soon. Neither of you had realised how late it had gotten till then, and Killer tipped the server handsomely for her patience and the privacy she'd allowed the two of you. You weren't bothered about missing a movie, you'd had such a lovely evening, but Killer promised to grab a copy of next week's schedule from the cinema before leaving tomorrow so you could both go see a movie together when the crew returned for the log pose reset. Like a true gentleman he walked you all the way to your cabin door, before tilting his mask up, kissing the back of your hand and bidding you goodnight. Sleep was difficult that night, not for the usual reasons, but because you kept thinking about him and giggling like a schoolgirl. You'd all but forgotten the fact that today you'd learned your name, and your birthday, and your mother's name even. The butterflies in your chest were far more distracting.

[NEXT CHAPTER] - link soon

Author Notes: We don't have an exact date for in canon when the events of One Piece happen but we know, according to the wiki because I'm lazy, that Nolan the Liar's diary was dated to 1120 ‘Age of the Sea Circle’ and that was 400 years ago pre timeskip, so I'm estimating current year in the fic to be 1524, which in terms of canon timeline is happening somewhere between the time skip and Wano. Wano will be the endpoint for this fic so you'll know exactly where it falls in the canon soon. I also imagine Yin to be a Taurus cos she's stubborn and sexy, hey just like my Taurus wife irl. Also, easter egg, Val means ‘wave’ in Croatian, according to google. Which means our reader's name is really Val ‘Yin’ [y/n]. There's nothing special about chosing Croatian I just thought Val sounded cool lmao. I imagine if she wasn't [y/n] that her real name would be something like Freja, who was a goddess of love and war (alternate spelling for Freya, its the spelling they use in Croatia apparently so that would match the surname), I think that's fitting for our girl. Freya is also linked to the valkyrie which will be important down the line WINK

#one piece fanfiction #one piece smut #killer one piece #killer x reader #massacre soldier killer #heat one piece #heat x reader #kid pirates

[thorin-is-a-cuddler]

The way d‘Artagnan immediately suspected that Athos was still in contact with Aramis… i want to ask Dumas so many questions!

#srsly tho i will not shut up about this #i am reteading 20 years after only to follow the traces of athos and aramis love story #it works so incredibly well i want to flap my arms at work #20 years after #twenty years after #the three musketeers #athamis #athos x aramis #alexandre dumas

[lilacmingi]

BEACHED

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works

Pairing: Pirate!Mingi x fem reader

Word count: 8,000

Coughs racked your whole body, something rough and abrasive scratching your face as your body jerked with each wheeze.

"Hey, lady." An unfamiliar voice called.

You groaned, your eyes screwing shut as a bright light nearly blinded you.

You managed to lift your head as your eyes peeled open, squinting in the harsh sunlight. A dull ache became present near the back of your skull as you glanced around, taking in your surroundings. You quickly came to the realization that you were on a beach, but you weren't sure how you got there.

"Lady?"

There's that voice again.

A pair of scuffed, black leather boots were planted in the sand nearby. Your eyes followed up the person's body to their face. A man was standing over you, his thick brows knit together as he stared down at you.

"Thank goodness. Are you alright?" He asked.

"I..." You trailed off. "I think so."

Your throat burned, the words scratching your windpipe like broken shells. Your hair was frizzy and stuck together, the tangled strands hanging in your face as you stared off in the distance. Your skin felt sticky and gross. Grains of sand were stuck all over you, including on your clothes which were rubbing harshly against your flesh whenever you moved.

"What's going on over there?" A new voice called, catching your attention.

A tall, slim man walked over, his long coat flapping behind him as he approached.

"I found this girl passed out here." The man answered.

The tall one glanced down at you before crouching in the sand.

"What's your name?" He asked, his caring and gentle, brown eyes gazing at you with concern.

"Y/n." You answered, wincing when you felt a burning sensation in your throat.

"Do you know how you got here?"

You shook your head.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

The man's voice was deep, but his tone was so incredibly warm and comforting. It gave you a sense of trust, even though you didn't know him.

"I don't think so, but my head hurts." You internally cringed at the sound of your own voice. It sounded so weak and scratchy.

"Let me see. Can you sit up?"

You nodded, pushing yourself into a sitting position and allowing the man to examine your head.

"Oh."

That doesn't sound good.

"You've got a pretty big bump on the back of your head. Do you remember what happened?"

"No. I don't."

"Well, that's common for people with head injuries."

"Captain." The man who found you spoke up. "What do we do?"

"We're going to bring her with us. We can't just leave her here."

The man previously referred to as captain, turned to you with those same gentle eyes.

"Will you come with us?"

You nodded your head. Seeing as you didn't know any places to go, this seemed like the best option.

"Come on, then. I'll help you up."

The man placed his hands under your arms and hoisted you to your feet.

"My name is Mingi, by the way. Captain Mingi."

"Are you a pirate?" is what you wanted to ask but thanks to your voice giving out slightly, it came out like, "You pirate?"

"I am. You should keep the talking to a minimum until we get back on the ship. Sounds like your throat is pretty dry."

Mingi and his crew mate helped get you onto the ship where you were taken to the sick bay.

"This is Yeonjun. He's the doctor on the ship."

The young male gave a friendly smile.

"She's got a bump on her head. I need you to take care of that and get her cleaned up." Mingi told him.

"Yes, captain."

"Oh, and get her some water."

"Will do, captain."

"Yeonjun will take good care of you. I'll be back later to check in. Will you be alright?"

You trusted the kind captain, nodding your head in understanding. The doctor led you to a small cot, guiding you to sit down.

"Let me get you that water." He moved over to a cabinet, retrieving a large bottle and a small bowl, pouring some of the bottled contents into it.

"Here you go. Drink that."

You took the bowl from him, sniffing the liquid.

"It's water. There's a little rum and lime in it to keep it fresh. It'll hydrate you."

You took a couple small sips, allowing the liquid to slide down your dry throat and refresh it. After that, you downed the rest of it, setting the empty bowl aside.

"Do you feel better?" Yeonjun questioned.

You nodded.

"Good. Now, let me check out your head."

You allowed him to move your hair around and feel over your scalp.

"Oh. That's quite a bump. It seems like you cut your head as well."

"It hurts."

"I know." He frowned. "But you'll be alright. I just need to clean the wound."

Your eyes followed him as he moved busily around the small room, gathering bottles of liquids and pieces of cloth. He set the items aside and opened up one of the bottles, getting some of the clear liquid on a cloth.

"This is alcohol. It should disinfect the wound. I should warn you, though. It might hurt."

You nodded, sitting still as he pressed the cloth against the back of your head. A hiss immediately left your mouth as the alcohol-soaked rag made contact with your injury.

"I'm so sorry. Just hang in there." Yeonjun apologized.

You bit your lip, trying to bear the pain, just waiting for it to be over.

"What's your name?" He asked, trying to distract you.

"Y/n."

"Ah. Y/n. That's a nice name."

"Thank you." You said through gritted teeth.

"You're lucky captain found you. He's a very compassionate person."

"He seems like it."

The burning on the back of your head lasted for a few seconds before subsiding.

"Alright. Done." Yeonjun announced. "You did really good."

He grabbed a jar of an unknown substance and a small square of white fabric, as well as some sort of wrapping. You sat still as he got to work, opening the jar.

"This is a healing ointment I made with herbs. It should heal that cut in a few days." Yeonjun told you as he applied the ointment.

He grabbed the square of fabric and placed it on the back of your head before wrapping a strip of linen around your head.

"Sorry if that's uncomfortable. I have to do that so pressure is applied to that cut."

"It's okay. I trust that you know what you're doing."

Yeonjun gave you a warm smile. "I'm glad you feel that way."

Your eyes followed him as he carried the bottles of liquid and other medicines back to the cabinet they came from.

"I'll need to monitor you for 3 hours and make sure you don't have any other symptoms." He mentioned.

Mingi returned to the sick bay a short time later to check on you.

"Feeling better?"

You nodded. "Yeonjun took good care of me."

"Good."

"I'm gonna need to keep a check on her for 3 hours. Make sure she doesn't fall asleep." Yeonjun told the captain.

"Will do." He then turned to you. "Would you like to go out on the deck and walk around for a little while?"

You nodded, getting to your feet. Yeonjun stood close by to make sure you didn't wobble or fall over as you stood up and made your way to Mingi.

"I got it from here." He assured the medic.

Your bare feet hit the wooden deck that had been warmed by the midday sun. It felt pleasant, unlike that unbearably hot sand you woke up on. Just then, a scruffy-looking three-legged dog ran past you, causing you to let out a yelp.

"Beast!" You shrieked leaping into Mingi's arms.

The pirate captain did his best to catch you, confused by your reaction.

"Beast?" He repeated with furrowed brows.

Yeonjun, who was walking by, chuckled at your reaction.

"That's just Lucky." He mentioned. "He won't hurt you."

"Lucky?" You questioned.

"He's our dog." Mingi added. "There's nothing to worry about. He's just a pet."

"A pet?" You inquired softly as you got back on your feet.

"Yeah. An animal you keep for company."

"So, he's not dangerous?" You asked.

"No. Look." He crouched down and held his hand out to the animal.

You watched warily as the dog approached him, giving his hand a couple licks. Mingi then started petting the dog's head, scratching behind his ears a few times.

"You try." He urged you, gently.

You hesitantly crouched down, reaching your hand out to the dog, allowing him to sniff it. You then started running your hand over the top of the animal's head, continuing for a few moments before pulling away.

"See? He's friendly." Mingi smiled, his eyes crinkling.

You returned the smile, nodding.

"Come on. Let me show you to your room." Mingi beckoned.

You followed him into the ship and down a hallway lined with many doors. He stopped at one of them, twisting the knob. Inside was a bed and some small pieces of furniture. The room was compact, but cozy.

"Thank you." You told Mingi.

"Of course. You're welcome to spend some time in here if you ever get bored hanging out on the deck all day, though I think that's impossible. Me and my crew are rather entertaining." He grinned. "You can even take a nap if you want to, but not for 3 hours. I have to get the okay from Yeonjun before you can go to sleep."

"Right." You nodded.

"In the meantime, I can give you a tour of the ship."

"I'd like that."

"Alright. Follow me."

You maneuvered out of the sleeping quarters and down a set of steps, moving further into the ship. Once at the bottom of the stairs, you were met with a vast room full of tables and chairs.

"This is the galley. We have all our meals here."

"What do you eat?"

"Different things. It all depends on what we got from the towns we docked at. Usually we eat fish and some type of bread if we have it or soup. If we're lucky, we get meat. That's our favorite. Fruit is another common thing we get, but we have to eat it quickly or else it goes bad. Same goes for vegetables."

"How many meals to you eat a day?"

"Three, but some of us come in here to snack, if we have enough rations, of course."

On the way to the next room, you passed by the sick bay where you were first taken to.

"You've already seen the sick bay." Mingi commented.

"Do you have to use it very often?"

"Not often, but if someone ends up getting sick or injured, we do. I think me and my crew are lucky. Everyone has managed to stay in decent health and keep themselves safe during any battles."

"Battles?"

He nodded. "Sometimes we have enemy ships that come and attack us."

You frowned slightly at that.

Mingi seemed so nice. How could anyone want to hurt him or attack his ship?

The captain seemed to notice your expression. He smiled, lightly resting his hand on top of your head, careful not to hurt you.

"Don't look so sad. It's not often that we get attacked." He assured you.

"Why?"

"Why?" He repeated.

"Why do other people attack you?"

"Because they can. That's how piracy works. Sometimes pirates steal from pirates if they can't get the things they need from pillaging towns. Me and my crew try to barter and trade with merchants and fisherman when we dock. I try not to steal from people unless they deserve it."

"How do you determine if someone deserves to be stolen from?" You inquired.

"Lots of things. If they're cruel to the less fortunate, greedy with their money, or just bad people in general."

You found that admirable and maybe even a little heroic. Giving bad people what they deserve.

The next place Mingi took you to was the cargo hold. He explained that's where nonperishable or long-lasting items are kept, including weapons, rope, or other supplies that might be needed on the ship. You were surprised at how well-stocked it was, wondering how many stops it took to accumulate this much stuff.

After Mingi showed you around, you were taken back onto the main deck of the ship where his crew was hard at work, bustling about the deck.

"What do you use these for?" You asked, pointing to a stack of black spheres.

"Those are cannonballs. We put them into the cannons and shoot them at enemy ships."

You thought back to what Mingi said about sometimes being attacked.

"Don't they just end up at the bottom of the ocean?"

"Ah." He paused for a moment. "They do. I never really thought about that."

There was a brief silence before Mingi spoke up again.

"Hey, you wanna see the view from the forecastle deck?"

You nodded, excitedly, allowing the captain to lead you across the expanse of wooden boards and up a shallow set of steps that led to a slightly higher deck, a steering wheel situated right in the middle.

Mingi approached the helm, standing in front of it as he cast his eyes upon the horizon, the bright midday sun reflecting off the water's surface.

"This is my view." He smiled to himself. "Come here. I want to show you something."

He moved to the furthest point of the forecastle deck, right at the head of the ship. You rested your hands on the rails, leaning forward and peering over the edge to watch the bow of the ship cut through the waters. The salty smell of the ocean was comforting and the feeling of the strong sea breeze blowing through your hair was refreshing and invigorating. You were glad you ended up on this ship. If Mingi hadn't found you, you weren't sure what would have happened.

"Captain."

Mingi turned to see who'd called for him, spotting his cook standing at the top of the steps.

"Yes?"

"It's nearing the evening. Should I start preparing dinner?" The man asked.

"That's a good idea. Our guest Y/n hasn't had anything to eat since coming onto the ship. Make sure you prepare something delicious."

"Yes, captain." He gave a nod, turning on his heel and moving back down the stairs.

"I hope you're hungry." Mingi faced you.

"I am."

"I'm glad to hear that. You know, not every ship is lucky enough to have a cook like ours. He's good at what he does."

"His cooking isn't bad, I presume?"

"Not in the slightest. The food served on pirate ships is usually satisfactory, but the food served here is on another level."

Later that day, the dinner bell rang, beckoning the crew to the galley.

Mingi excitedly pulled you into the large room, helping to fix your plate as he spoke quietly to himself about how hungry he was and how amazing the soup looked.

He led you over to a table, pulling a chair out for you before sitting down next to you.

"This smells amazing." He commented before digging in.

You grabbed the small piece of bread that was served with the soup and took a few bites. It was really good. You hadn't realized how hungry you were until that moment.

You glanced down at the utensils next to your bowl of soup, your thoughts muddled and jumbled. Blinking a few times, you tried to remember how to use them, your mind going blank. Your eyes moved around the room at the other pirates, scanning over to Mingi who had one of the utensils in his hand, his cheeks stuffed with bread. He gave you a cute smile, his eyes crinkled in the most adorable way.

You returned the smile, moving to pick up the utensil he had, using it to spoon some of the soup out of the bowl, pausing to look down at it, wondering if you were doing it correctly.

"Don't worry." Mingi assured you. "It's not as bad as you think it is. Remember I told you our cook is really good at what he does."

You nodded, thinking back on what he said earlier.

Mingi watched as you daintily slurped the soup from the spoon, finding it utterly endearing. His heart did front flips in his chest any time you did, well, anything. You were so undeniably adorable and he wanted nothing more than to keep you safe and happy.

The sun was soon replaced by the pearly crescent moon as night took the place of day. After getting a decent meal on your stomach, you'd begun to feel drowsy, opting to sit on the deck and rest against one of the crates sitting around. Mingi made sure to linger nearby, walking around the deck, checking on his crew while also keeping an eye on you.

Yeonjun was headed back to the sick bay when the captain stopped him.

"Have you checked on Y/n?" He asked.

The medic paused, glancing across the deck to where you sat.

"I've been watching her throughout the day. She's alright."

"Can you check on her one more time? It looks like she's getting tired." Mingi mentioned, seeming worried.

"She's had a rough day. I'm sure she's ready to go to bed, but I'll go check on her."

Yeonjun headed across the deck, crouching down beside you.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not bad. My head is a little sore where I bumped it, but besides that I'm feeling alright."

"That's good to hear. You seem sleepy."

"I am." You nodded, letting out a yawn. "It's been a long day."

"Well, you're free to rest whenever you want."

"That's great news." You smiled, sleepily.

"If you get to feeling bad, come get me."

You nodded, your eyelids drooping further.

The medic stood up and went to deliver the news to Mingi who was immensely relieved.

"I should probably get her to bed."

"That's a good idea. She said it's been a long day." Yeonjun mentioned.

You were beginning to doze off, your body starting to slump over as you slipped closer to sleep. Before you could tip any further, Mingi caught you, startling you awake.

"Hey."

"Hi." You murmured.

"You should probably go to bed."

You nodded with closed eyes as he pulled you to your feet, escorting you down into the ship where the crew's sleeping quarters was located.

Mingi had a brief internal battle with himself as he accompanied you to your bedroom, not wanting to leave you alone. He wanted to keep you close so he could watch over you, but he pushed that need away, opening the door.

You blinked sleepily as you shuffled towards your bed, which Mingi helped you in, pulling the thin covers up over you.

The pirate hesitated for a moment, standing by the bed, gazing down at you as you nuzzled your face into the pillow. A few moments passed before Mingi slowly began to step away, pausing as he stood in the doorway for a second to get one last look at you before he finally closed the door.

It had been four days since you first boarded the ship and you were feeling a bit useless just wandering around with Mingi and following him like a lost puppy, so you offered to help out. If you were going to be staying on this ship, you wanted to be of some assistance. Mingi gave you small, easy tasks here and there to keep you occupied, which you appreciated greatly. It was nice to feel like you were doing something. He would ask you to grab maps for him, bring an extra candle over to his desk, and even fetch him a cup of tea or a glass of water from the galley when he was up late writing in his journals.

It was a quiet day on the ship and you were spending it on the forecastle deck, leaned over the railing watching the water below as the giant sea vessel sailed forward.

"Y/n?" Mingi called.

You lifted your head, glancing over your shoulder. "Yes?"

He jerked his head, gesturing for you to come over. You listened, walking over to the captain.

"Would you like to steer?" He offered.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Your eyes moved to the massive wheel as you chewed the inside of your cheek in thought.

"There's no need to worry. You have the whole ocean to yourself." He gestured to the vast expanse of water before you. "Plus, I'll be right here."

It was then that you nodded your head, ultimately agreeing to steer the ship for a few moments.

"Put your hands here like this." Mingi showed you what he was doing before stepping away so you could do the same.

Stepping forward, you placed your hands on the wheel just as he did, your fingers immediately gripping the wood once you felt the slight force of the wheel trying to turn on its own.

"It's okay." Mingi assured you, coming to stand behind you, his hands hovering over your own, ready to step in. "Just keep it steady."

You nodded, readjusting your footing and tightening your arms, making sure to keep a firm grip on the wheel.

"Good." Mingi praised, making sure to continue standing behind you in case he needed to step in and assist.

At some point, your arms began to get a bit shaky thanks to you not having much energy. That's when Mingi placed his hands on yours, his fingers curling around your own as his chest pressed against your back. The feeling sent a rush of heat to your cheeks.

"It's okay. I got it." He assured you, his voice low, breath fanning your ear as he spoke.

You suppressed the shiver that threatened to go down your spine in an attempt to ground yourself.

"Just keep it steady." He instructed, his voice once again so close to your ear.

Your fingers tightened around the wheel in response to him practically whispering in your ear.

You cleared your throat, pulling your hands away from the wheel, causing Mingi to back off.

"That was fun." You gave him a smile, trying to hide the fact that you were flustered beyond belief, stepping off to the side so Mingi could steer the ship on his own again.

Just then, Yeonjun stepped onto the forecastle deck, letting out an "Ah!" when he spotted you, pausing to greet his captain.

"Afternoon."

Mingi gave a nod in response.

"Y/n, I was looking for you." Yeonjun stepped forward. "It's been a few days since you were brought here. I was just wondering if your memories have come back yet."

You shook your head, giving him a half smile.

"Well, I'm sure they'll come back soon enough. In some cases, amnesia can last weeks. Sometimes months."

Your eyebrows creased with worry upon hearing that, to which Yeonjun hurried to console you, backpedaling.

"There's no need to worry." He assured you. "The chances of your amnesia lasting a month or more is very slim."

"Stop freaking her out, Yeonjun." Mingi said sternly. "She has enough going on."

"Apologies, captain. I didn't mean to."

"So, when do you think they'll return?" You question, anxiously tugging at the sleeves of your shirt.

"There's really no way to tell, but I would assume within the next week."

You nodded. "I hope so."

The medic gave you a small smile, patting your shoulder before exiting the area.

Mingi was watching from the helm, noticing the way you became flooded with anxiety, your arms wrapping around your form as you stared off, your eyes wide with worry. Seeing you like that made his insides twist uncomfortably. Not having your memories was stressful enough, the last thing you needed was to worry about them not returning for an extended period of time. He needed to provide a distraction.

Luck was on his side because right at that moment, an opportunity made itself available as the pirate captain spotted something in the water.

"Y/n, look!" Mingi pointed, leaning over the railing at the side of the ship, so much so that it looked like he was about to go overboard.

You followed his finger, spotting a small pod of dolphins swimming close to the water's surface, popping above the waves ever so often.

"Dolphins." You beamed.

"Aren't they amazing?" Mingi marveled.

"They are."

The most adorable giggles escaped the pirate's beautiful lips as he watched the aquatic creatures below. The sound makes your heart leap in your chest, a warm feeling bubbling up inside you.

"I'm usually busy steering the ship or doing other things, so it's a rare occurrence for me to see dolphins." He mentioned. "Oh! I've been practicing my dolphin impression. Would you like to hear it?"

You nodded, enthusiastically.

He cleared his throat, straightening his posture before placing one of his fingers on his ear and letting out a high-pitched noise that only vaguely resembled the nautical mammal.

Laughter erupted from you, shaking your body and making you clutch your stomach. You watched as the dolphins moved fluidly through the water, not paying attention to his lackluster, but funny, impersonation.

"Let me try!" You hopped excitedly in place.

You proceeded to do your best impersonation of the dolphins, making high-pitched noises akin to his, but higher, accompanied with clicking sounds. You watched as a few of them jumped gracefully out of the water in response, a few clicks resounding in the air.

Mingi turned to you with wide, childlike eyes glimmering in astonishment and adoration.

"Wow! You're really good!" He beamed.

You rubbed the back of your neck, feeling a bit shy at his praises.

You didn't even realize all your worries had dissipated, your mind now more focused on the bubbly and charming dolphins, watching them until they descended deeper into the water where you couldn't see them anymore.

Mingi couldn't help but smile seeing the way your face lit up with exuberance.

"You know, dolphins aren't the only aquatic creatures I've come across while sailing this ship." He mentioned.

"Really?"

"Of course. I've seen sea turtles, manta rays, and sharks, just to name a few."

You let out a quiet gasp. "Sharks?"

He nodded.

"It's amazing how you can see so many wonderful sea creatures. It must be fun sailing the seas and living life however you want." You commented.

"It is. I'd much rather be at sea than be on land. I wouldn't trade this life for anything."

As he spoke, you could see the way his eyes gleamed with both excitement and admiration. Not only did he enjoy being a pirate, but you could tell he belonged here at sea, on this ship with his crew.

The moonlight streamed in through the small porthole in your room, the beam so bright it illuminated the compact space of your sleeping quarters. You were restless and unable to go to sleep, too busy thinking about, well, everything. Your memories, or lack thereof, Mingi, not knowing what happened to you or how you ended up on the beach. It was driving you mad.

Did you wreck on a ship? Were you a prisoner tossed overboard? Or did you make a daring escape by jumping into the water? Were you a bad person? There were so many possibilities, so many scenarios swirling around in your mind.

Abruptly sitting up in bed, you swung your legs off the side, your bare feet hitting the floor as you stood up and silently exited your sleeping quarters, slipping down the corridor.

The ship was eerily quiet, only the soft creaking of the vessel could be heard as you tiptoed up the steps and out onto the deck, the cool night air greeting you by caressing your face and blowing gently through your hair.

The luminous stars glimmered above you as you sat on the forecastle deck, your legs resting comfortably between the wooden posts as your feet dangled over the side of the ship. The half moon shone down on the dark waters, reflecting off the surface and highlighting the shallow crests of the waves. Your eyes moved to the incandescent stars above as you hummed a tune to yourself, looking for patterns in the space above, sometimes being able to spot a line of stars.

The soft shuffling of boots against the deck caught your attention, putting your humming to an abrupt stop. When you turned around you saw Mingi with a distant look on his face.

"Mingi? What are you doing up?"

He blinked a couple times, glancing over at you. "I was sorting maps. What are you doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Me either. That's why I was sorting maps. I figured if I wasn't able to sleep, why not be productive?"

You chuckled lightly. "Would you like to join me?"

"I'd love to. I could use a break."

He walked over, grunting as he took a seat beside you, leaning back to rest on his elbows.

"The stars are pretty tonight."

You hummed in response.

"The sky is nice and clear." He added, waiting for you to comment.

When he didn't receive one, he turned to look at you for a moment, noticing the way you were staring distantly at the dark waters, your muddled mind drifting far away.

"You feeling alright?" He asked, cutting through the silence.

You blinked out of your daze before answering. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind."

Mingi nodded knowingly.

"It's driving me crazy not knowing what happened to me." You continued.

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"I'll take any advice or suggestions you can give."

"Take it one day at a time and try to stop thinking so hard about all this. The more you think about it, the more you'll stress and that's the last thing you need."

The way he spoke to you made your heart swell. He said it with such sincerity and emotion.

"You really care for me, don't you?"

Mingi's brows raised, the expression on his face dropping in surprise.

"Well..." He chuckled nervously. "Yes. I just don't like seeing you so wound up and tense. It's bad enough what happened to you, there's no need for any more stress. I want you to enjoy your time here on my ship and take it easy."

Hearing that somehow took a weight off your shoulders you didn't know you were carrying. It was reassuring and something you needed to hear. He was right. Why keep worrying when you can just have a good time and let everything happen when it happens?

Mingi sat up and turned to look at you, his usually sharp and narrow eyes were round and soft, sparkling in the moonlight, looking almost childlike. The endearing sight made your heart thump a bit faster. Your gaze moved down to his narrow nose that came to a delicate point that you could see when he was facing the side, then down to his lips that were full and plump, begging you to kiss them and drawing you in.

His eyes were trained on you as well, taking in every detail of your face. You were beautiful, so alluring but so innocent and sweet. Before he could catch himself, he was leaning in, slowly moving closer to you, the space between your lips diminishing until you could feel his breath fanning against your face. Your eyelids began to flutter as you prepared for the kiss only for Mingi to place his lips on your forehead.

"You should probably go try to get some sleep." He murmured.

Though you would have preferred a kiss on the lips, one on the forehead was enough to set your cheeks aflame. All you could do was nod, your mind having been turned to mush by a simple forehead kiss.

Standing up, you blinked a few times, murmuring a goodnight to Mingi as you went back to your sleeping quarters, your mind reeling.

The awkward tension lingering in the atmosphere was thick the following day, that kiss still hanging over your mind like a thick fog. You could hardly look Mingi in the eye without getting flustered. However, you did your best to push all that aside, making an attempt to go on with your day like normal.

Said captain was trying to do the same, unable to wipe the image of himself kissing your forehead from his mind.

I shouldn't have done that. He thought to himself.

In the moment, he though it was a good idea, but now that he's thinking back on it, replaying the scene over and over, regret is washing over him in waves. He shouldn't have done anything at all.

The aim was to kiss you on the lips, but he changed his mind at the last second after it dawned on him that you could possibly have a boyfriend and not remember. Mingi wanted so desperately to place his lips on yours, but he couldn't. He couldn't allow himself to be selfish like that. Forcing himself to stop thinking about himself and his own needs, he tried to cover up his flub by placing a kiss on your forehead.

Your reaction continued to flash in his mind, making his heart clench and his stomach twist.  You were surprised, your eyes wide, clearly not expecting him to do that. It was hard for him to tell if his actions weirded you out or not.

You'd been awkward all morning, but to be fair, so was he.

You were petting Lucky when you saw Mingi approach the railing of the ship, feeling around his coat pocket for his telescope. This made you stand up and walk over.

"There's a storm coming." He stated as he gazed out at the expanse of dark clouds looming over the ocean.

"Scary." You mumbled, watching the ominous mass of bleak clouds.

"It can be, but I've got a ruthless crew who knows what to do during storms like these. I've ridden out many storms on this ship, so there's nothing to worry about."

You nodded, hoping he was right.

Your nerves began to build as the clouds got thicker and darker, the ship seemingly moving closer to them. You knew the best thing to do was to look away and focus on something else, but your gaze kept drifting to the stormy cluster of baleful clouds, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of your stomach.

"Alright, men!" Mingi called out. "We're gonna do what we always do, keep to the the right side of the storm if we can. If not, I'll need all hands on deck. We've been through this before, so I know you all are aware of what has to be done if that were to happen."

"Yes, captain!" They chorused.

You had never seen him so serious before. His tone was stern, his voice deep and commanding, echoing across the deck. His usual soft and gentle eyes were sharp and laser focused, ensuring his crew was doing everything to prepare for this storm.

The pirate crew moved expeditiously around the expanse of the ship adjusting the sails and tying things down hastily. All you could do was watch, your nerves building. Based on the way your body was reacting to this impending weather, you assumed you had a fear of storms. Of course, you didn't know that for a fact.

It wasn't long before the winds picked up, howling as they whipped viciously around you. You knew immediately that the storm was going to escalate at a rapid rate, which only heightened your uneasiness. Raindrops started pitter-pattering on the deck, the drizzle only lasting for a few brief moments before they started to fall at a faster rate, multiplying quickly and hitting you like sharp bullets

"Hurry!" Mingi shouted over the roar of the rain, hurrying to the helm to steer the ship away from the storm. "Quickly, quickly!"

The ship lurched, creaking loudly each time the tumultuous waters pushed it, rocking it from side to side. The unsteady flooring beneath your feet caused you to wobble, grabbing onto the nearest object which just so happened to be the main mast. Inexplicable fear rushed through your veins making your whole body run cold, the feeling of being caught in a bad storm feeling all too familiar.

You blinked, brief flashes of memories making themselves known as you watched the violent waves and the sheets of rain that pounded the deck.

Your body being tossed around under the waves as you flailed your arms wildly, trying to fight back against the forceful waters that even you weren't strong enough to swim through.

Your hand unconsciously came up to touch the back of your head where the healing gash was, a phantom ache present.

You were feeling disoriented, unable to focus as your memories resurface, rushing in like a tidal wave and leaving you in a daze.

In these ephemeral flashes of memories you saw a deep blue tail in the turbulent waters. Your tail.

A horrified gasp escaped you, your hands trembling as they clamped over your mouth, your eyes darting rapidly around. You unconsciously started to back up, wanting to run away and hide somewhere.

You shouldn't be here.

In the midst of your freak out, Mingi grabs you and pulls you in to his quarters, startling you out of your stupor.

You don't even hear him say, "Come on. What are you doing out here?"

It was when he sat you down on his bed that you let out a shrill scream, scrambling away from him in a panic.

"Hey. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He apologized profusely, holding his hands up in a placating manner. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Your eyes began to water as you curled in on yourself, these memories flooding in and making you realize how dire your situation is.

"You're safe." He assured you. "It's just a storm. Nothing to worry about."

Your body was trembling. Mingi, who was ignorant to the fact that your memories had returned, merely thought you were acting this way because of the storm.

"Come here." He beckoned softly, holding his hand out as he took a seat on the bed.

You were slowly starting to get your bearings, calming down from your little panic spell.

Mingi is safe. You reminded yourself.

He's been nothing but kind to you since the day you met him. Pirate or not, there's no reason to be afraid of him.

Once he saw your guard was let down, Mingi neared you, taking your hand and pulling you closer. You allowed him to do so as he brought you to him, drawing you into his embrace. Your body relaxed immediately as you allowed your body to go slack, letting Mingi hold you, rubbing soothing circles on your back.

"It's okay." He cooed, his deep voice rumbling in his chest when he spoke. "It'll be over soon."

Your fingers wrapped around the collar of his coat, your eyes squeezing shut as you recalled the events prior to your accident.

You were a siren, one that was swimming too close to the shore when a bad storm hit. Your body was thrust around under the waves, being tossed around like a rag doll. The undertow mixed with the winds making the waters more violent, you ended up bumping your head on a rock that essentially knocked you unconscious. That's the last thing you remembered before waking up on the shore, and in clothes, no less.

You weren't sure how that happened, but whatever siren magic was at work, you were thankful for.

You remembered being with Mingi on the forecastle deck the previous night. You were humming when he came to you and he had that distant and dazed look on his face.

A new wave of horror washed over you as you realized you could have put him in danger.

You couldn't stay here.

"Mingi." You spoke up, your voice almost being drowned out by the racket from the storm outside.

"Yes?"

You weren't sure what it was that made you comfortable enough to tell him this, but you did.

"I got my memories back." Your voice trembled when you spoke, causing Mingi to be confused.

"That's great news. Shouldn't you be happy?"

"I remember what I am."

His head tilted, waiting for you to elaborate.

"I'm a siren."

Mingi's jaw goes slack, his eyes widening.

"I got caught in a storm and hit my head. That's how I ended up on the beach. This weather must have triggered my memories." You continued.

It all made sense to him. You weren't scared of the storm, you were overwhelmed by the rush of your memories returning all at once. Well, and the fact that you're a siren on a ship full of pirates.

You were on the verge of tears, feeling scared of your fate, but even more so what Mingi would think. It didn't help that he hadn't uttered a word since your confession.

"I..." You trailed off, unsure if you could even speak the words. "I need to go."

"No." Mingi stopped you immediately, speaking up so abruptly it made you flinch. "I want you here."

What?

You couldn't believe what he was saying. Was he insane?

"I don't belong here." You told him. "It's dangerous. Plus, I'm sure your crew won't take kindly to a siren being aboard the ship."

"The crew isn't in charge, are they?"

He made a valid point.

You paused in thought, considering the options available to you.

"If I stay, I want you to tell them the truth." You finally spoke.

"Deal."

The following day, Mingi gathered his entire crew on the main deck to address them.

"You brought a siren onto the ship?!" One of the crew mates exploded upon hearing the news.

"I didn't know!" Mingi defended.

"You put the whole crew in danger!"

"Not on purpose. I would never do that."

You chewed the inside of your cheek nervously as you looked around, taking in the mix of expressions on everyone's faces. Your gaze landed on Yeonjun who seemed uneasy. It was obvious he was trying to figure out how he felt about this situation.

"I know some, if not most of you, are upset about this, but it's not her fault. She lost her memories temporarily due to her injury. She only just got them back yesterday."

"She's still a siren." The same disgruntled crew mate spoke up.

"Does she appear to be a threat?" Mingi countered, pointing to you and your trembling frame.

"She's in a disguise!" The man argued. "How do you not see her for what she truly is."

"I do. It's you who doesn't see her for who she truly is."

The crew mate had had enough. There was no getting through to his captain. He knew he needed to do something.

"There's only one way to fix this." He reached for his weapon.

All you did was blink and Mingi had a pistol pressed against the man's head, his actions so fast you couldn't even process them. The usually bright and sometimes childlike captain's eyes darkened, their usual soft shape now taking on a much sharper and narrow one as he stared into the panicked eyes of his crew mate.

"Don't touch her." He demanded threateningly, cocking the gun. "That's an order."

The crew mate gulped, his hands held up in surrender.

"If you can't respect your captain, you'll be swimming with the sharks."

"Sorry, captain." The man spoke so quietly you could hardly hear him.

When Mingi withdrew his weapon, the crew mate scrambled back, his eyes lingering on the gun.

The atmosphere became eerily quiet, everyone clearly on edge after what just happened.

"I think she should be able to stay." Yeonjun spoke up, stepping forward.

You were surprised at this, not expecting him to take your side.

"If she wants to." He added, quietly.

"I do." You nodded.

"I want her to stay as well." Mingi spoke up. "If none of you agree with that, I'll be more than happy to drop you off at the nearest port."

His crew shared glances before they all nodded, ultimately agreeing to you staying on board.

"We're under attack!" The ship's battle master shouted.

"Load the cannons!" Mingi ordered sternly. "I want all hands on deck!"

"Yes, captain!" The crew chorused.

The men in charge of the cannons began loading them and pouring gunpowder inside. Without warning, a loud boom resounded in the air as a cannonball was propelled into the air, landing near the stern of the approaching enemy ship.

"Keep going!" Mingi urged.

He needed to slow the ship down and perhaps even sink it before it could get too close.

The cannonballs were only able to hold off the oncoming vessel for so long. If this ship got close enough, the crew over there could invade and start attacking.

"Captain, they're closing in!" The lookout up in the crow's nest called.

"We don't have any other choice." Mingi muttered to himself. "Y/n! Come on out!"

The men on board dug around in their pockets, retrieving the earplugs they fashioned, shoving them into their ears as you stepped out onto the deck.

This was the first time you'd be doing this in battle and to say you were nervous would be an understatement. Despite your fears, your drive to help Mingi and his crew was much stronger, pushing you to do the best you could.

Once Mingi gave you the okay, you started singing a haunting melody that caught the attention of the opposing crew.

They were close enough for you to see that they had stopped moving about the deck, being stuck in place.

Mingi gave a signal to the men at the cannons. They moved quickly, loading them up with gunpowder and cannonballs, firing them at the enemy ship. Some of the men were startled out of their daze, unable to do much as their ship began to sink.

Mingi gave a signal to the crew, indicating that it was time to hightail it out of there.

Once the ship had safely retreated, the crew was able to take a breather.

"You're incredible." Mingi beamed, pulling you in for a hug.

"It's nothing, really." You grinned shyly.

"I'm serious." He cupped your cheek.

Your eyes moved down to his lips momentarily, which he took notice of.

His thumb ran gently over your bottom lip as he closed the space between your faces.

When his lips made contact with yours, fireworks exploded. His embrace was warm and his kisses were full of passion. It was nothing like you've ever experienced.

"Captain's kissing Y/n again." One of the crew mates commented, causing a few others to groan.

Mingi pulled away long enough to scold his crew, telling them to let him have his moment.

A month had passed since it was agreed that you would stay on the ship. During that time, you and Mingi started dating. He thought you two were the coolest couple in the seven seas. A siren and a pirate.

Honestly, life couldn't be any better for you. Looking back, you were glad Mingi asked you to stay on the ship. If you had let your panic and fear control you and jumped ship like a coward, you wouldn't be here right now with the man you love.

"This calls for a celebration!" Mingi shouted. "How about I have the chef cook up something special for us tonight?"

The crew cheered in response.

"And how about you, my love?" He turned to you with a grin.

"Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate."

Hongjoong ⟡ Seonghwa ⟡ Yunho ⟡ Yeosang ⟡ San ⟡ Wooyoung ⟡ Jongho

Note 2.0: I wanted to put “siren!fem reader” in the pairing but couldn’t because I wanted to keep it a surprise. Though I think it was pretty obvious about halfway through 😅

Masterlist ᝰ — enjoyed this imagine? reblogs & comments are very much appreciated!

DO NOT steal, plagiarize, copy, repost, alter, or translate my works in any way

🏷 @h3arteyes4mingi @weird-bookworm @poppy2007 @parkjennykim @evidive @mxlly143 @lizzymizzy-blogg @minhanbyeol @dinossaurz

#mingi x reader #song mingi x reader #mingi x you #song mingi x you #mingi x y/n #song mingi x y/n #mingi imagines #ateez imagines #ateez pirate au #ateez oneshot #ateez scenarios #kpop imagines #kpop oneshots #kpop scenarios

[scuttlingcrab]

"The doublet is a magical item, so it can fit and mould to Raphael’s body no matter his form or temper." Now I'm just picturing Raphael transforming in anger while wearing the doublet and his rage is momentarily stopped when he realizes that it transformed with him and wasn't even singed.

Like, I could be incredibly angry with someone, but if I suddenly realized that my dress had pockets in it I know darn well that I'd need to at least stop and take a moment to marvel at that discovery before even thinking about continuing on with my anger. 😅

I was literally working on something similar when you sent your message! I've attached the ask below I was initially responding to. Thank you for your message anon and hope you enjoy! x

"Also, the idea of Raphael showing off his new clothes is just- It just tickles me! I can see him preening and flaunting like a peacock because of Tav's gift. I'd honestly read a sequel piece about that, if you want to write it. I've kinda already fallen in love with the whole idea of a luxury magic tailor Tav that the initial prompt fill and response has created as well as that Tav's potential dynamic with Raphael (and other characters *looking at Gale and his sewing needle quip*) and would absolutely be down to read more of that from you! 👀"

Summary: Raphael is caught off guard by his recent gift from Tav, so he decides to pay his little mouse a visit.

Notes: Read A Perfect Fit, which inspired this continuation.

Link to my other work in the Devil's Archive.

Dressed to Kill 

Raphael stomped through the halls of the House of Hope, shedding his mortal skin. The doublet didn’t set fire when Raphael transformed, instead, it morphed with his growing size. The silk fabric soothed his ridged body, feeling like a warm embrace. Raphael suppressed a scream. Wretched mortal! The debtors scurried out of his path like rats, seeking the shadows for an ounce of solace from the blistering rage. 

He passed an open window and jolted to a halt. The blood-red light of Avernus caught the designs of his doublet, causing it to glimmer like diamonds. During his shift, the colour of his clothing changed. It now had a dark golden shimmer, the infernal embroidery a deep blue. He extended his arm, admiring the sleeve as he twisted it only slightly, and watched as the adornment reflected tiny devilish patterns onto the marble floors. The decorations moved, as if dancing. Another interesting, subtle detail.

Staring at these animations, Raphael’s breath calmed, his mind cleared. He stood taller, his head never held so high. Abruptly he spotted one of the debtors staring at him from his peripheral and lowered his hand, slowly turning to face them. Fire burned in Raphael’s eyes as he hissed, barring his sharp teeth. The debtor screeched before scurrying off to continue their meaningless eternal task. 

“If I catch just one more incompetent lackey idling about, I will impale your sorry souls on trees and leave you to rot. You are all interchangeable. Do not forget that.”

Raphael watched as the last debtor fled from his sight. He will not be caught off guard again. No. In fact… he will pay that creature a visit. 

–

Raphael materialised at the creature's camp in a swirl of flames and sparks, returning to his mortal disguise. 

The camp was quiet at this hour, the creatures asleep, separated into their individual makeshift tents. And what a ghastly camp it was, third-rate, at best. Miscellaneous equipment littered every corner, books lay discarded, shoddy clothes hung drying on trees, and the animals… When did these mortals domesticate owlbears? Savages.  

He slowly approached Tav’s tent, nestled towards the lake's shoreline. He parted the flap with an index finger and peeked inside. The creature was fast asleep, sharing her tent with that monstrosity Karlach. 

He watched them sleeping, so defenceless. He perked up at the thought. If he was so inclined, he could have easily ended their lives, consumed their souls before the tadpoles defiled them; all it would take is a snap of his fingers…

“Rise and shine, little mouse.” Raphael purred. 

Tav sprang up from her bed roll, clumsily readying a dagger from her sleeve. She held it out towards Raphael, one eye still closed, as she fought off the interrupted slumber. 

Karlach simply turned over in her bedding, yawning and stretching like a cat. She slowly opened her eyes, sitting upright when she spotted Raphael standing at the entrance.

He smirked in response, placing a hand on his hip.

“What the hell is this creep doing here?”

“Good evening to you too, Karlach. I am simply checking in on my prospective clients.”

Raphael bowed deeply, making sure to be as flamboyant as possible in his gesture.

“In the middle of the bloody night? Fuck off, devil.” 

Raphael slowly straightened himself, adjusting his sleeves. He aimed his cuffs towards the campfire, taking care to make sure the lighting was just right to highlight the devilish decorations. 

“Tut, tut, Karlach, language. If I wanted to hear such hideous sounds I’d speak with a lemure.”

Karlach leapt to her feet, the rickety infernal engine in her chest glowing brighter as she stared daggers at him.

“Karlach, please…” 

Tav raised a hand at Karlach, putting away her weapon. She rubbed away the rest of the sleep and focused on Raphael. Her face instantly lit up when she caught sight of his doublet. 

“You’re… wearing it?” Tav whispered. She brought her hands to her mouth, attempting to hide her flushed cheeks. 

“But of course! How could I resist such a delicious gift? It’s not often a devil like myself comes across a mortal with such curious tastes. Your attention to detail is…”

Raphael dramatically clasped his hands together, as if in a prayer. Yes, indeed. Thank the Gods up above for damning these poor creatures and sending them straight into his claws. 

“Superb!” 

“Hells, what have you done?” Karlach groaned, rolling her eyes. “I told you it was a bad idea.”

Tav gave Karlach a sidelong glance, narrowing her eyes. Raphael’s smile grew, devouring the creature’s disapproval and embarrassment. Almost as scrumptious as a soul.

“You are quite the seamstress. What else have you been creating on your adventures, hmm? I wonder, what would be the price for another item such as this? Perhaps we can come to some sort of agreement?” 

Tav’s mouth hung open at his words.

“I-I-uh, didn’t think that far ahead. Let me sleep on it.”

“Don’t keep me waiting, little mouse. You had my curiosity, but now… you have my full attention.”

Raphael raised his arms out wide, like a peacock strutting their finest feathers. He laughed as he surrounded himself in infernal flames. He had truly stumbled upon his greatest prize, his secret weapon to uniting the Nine Hells. Raphael would reach his target soon, that was for certain, but oh, oh yes... he would look hellishly chic in his pursuits. He would turn heads, devils and mortals alike.

#writing #bg3 raphael #raphael the cambion #baldurs gate 3 raphael #fanfic #raphael baldur's gate 3 #raphael bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 fanfiction #raphael x tav #tav x raphael #tav #asks #raphael x karlach #karlach #bg3 karlach #karlach x tav #raphael #cambion #strike a pose

[watcheraurora]

Deepfrost Pass

More than a little inspired by @/mellozheist's want to give credit but not bother with my shipping nonsense so no tag unfinished Let It Go Tango animatic that I was watching... but as always I've got Rancher brainrot on my brain... have fun! 3.2k words

—

"Absolutely not," Grian snapped. "No. Not happening. You can't."

"Try and stop me," Jimmy challenged. "You're not a Watcher here."

"I am a Watcher here, but my powers are limited. Not gone. And I say no."

"Well I say yes. And you won't stop me." Jimmy shoved Grian out of the way of the door. "It's your fault anyway."

Grian's wings went rigid. "Excuse me?" he demanded, voice cold.

"It's your fault!" Jimmy retorted. "If you hadn't made that stupid server—"

"If I hadn't made that stupid server, you two wouldn't ever have met the way you did!" Grian spat back. "You wouldn't ever have known him like this if it weren't for me. If anything, you should be thanking me."

"I am grateful to you for that. But only that. The rest? Yeah, I do blame you for."

"If you go there, you'll die."

Jimmy shoved his arms into his coat. "That's a risk I'm willing to take."

"Tim—" Grian's hand lashed out and caught Jimmy's wrist. "Even I can't—and I'm a Watcher—It's just—there are nearly ten wardens in there. They've taken him over. He left for a reason. Can't you just—"

Jimmy shook Grian's hand off. "No. I can't 'just.' I know you think that whatever he found up there corrupted him or possessed him. I think you're wrong. That server was awful to him in a way he wasn't prepared for. I can take being the butt of jokes. I'm used to it. He never handled betrayal well and put on such a brave face that no one noticed. He snapped. And I'm don't care. I'm going to see him. I'm not here for very long before I'm going to get kicked."

"Tim, don't be stupid—"

"That's me. Stupid, stupid Tim," Jimmy spat. His wings snapped open and he hurled himself into the sky.

Grian was a fantastic flyer. He was small and nimble and could maneuver incredibly well. But he couldn't hold a candle to the raw power and strength of Jimmy's massive wings. That was what came from their height difference and builds. Jimmy was built for strength and speed. Most real canaries weren't, but he wasn't an actual bird, for crying out loud.

His armor barely even weighed him down as he surged higher into the sky. Grian would never be able to catch up. In small areas with lots of obstacles, Grian would win a race any day. But wide open sky going in a straight line? He'd have to work extra hard to keep up with Jimmy's casual flight.

He flapped his wings and soared higher. The world dropped even farther below. He knew this would be a long flight—hours, probably—but he would make it most of the way on the wing. Then the last leg of the journey on foot. He was prepared. He knew what he was doing.

He hoped.

All sorts of landscapes passed by beneath him. For hours. Gradually lifting up from plains into hills into foothills. Until he was in a taiga. Nearing the tundra tree line. Mountains surged up from the ground ahead of him, and he'd have to gain more altitude to access the pass between two of them that he needed. His wings beat the air harder, lifting him up until the air was almost too thin to cushion his wings and keep him aloft.

Jimmy flew until frost started to crystallize on his feathers. He knew he wouldn't be able to get any closer via flight, so he tilted into a sharp dive and braked hard, landing with a crunch of his leather boots in the deep snow. He pulled his coat tighter around him and drew his wings in close. They were so long that they dragged through the snow behind him. And they took the bite of this cold mountain range the most. But he couldn't let himself care about that.

He pulled a Blaze Rod out of his inventory and held it in one hand, a torch in the other. The Blaze Rod lit the torch and both helped keep him warm as he trudged up the mountain. He knew he couldn't be far now. The sun was going down. Mobs were going to start spawning soon.

He ate as he hiked. A golden carrot styled to look like a churro every so often. Scar had insisted he take them, so he had.

The sun went down. A full moon began to emerge over the mountain peaks. Jimmy caught sight of it when he was between peaks. There was no path to where he was going. Just the ever-worsening cold to lead him on. But he felt the direction in his heart.

So when he rounded the mountain and saw the fortress, he wasn't sure how to feel.

The thing was massive. Dark stone and teal accents. Grey-black towers clawed at the midnight-blue sky, as though trying to feed the stars to the gaping, frowning mouth partway up the enormous central tower. A warden's mouth.

The doorway was open, the portcullis raised.

Who needed security like that in a place like this? When the dangerous stuff was inside?

Jimmy stared.

The Deepfrost Citadel.

Blood. Pain. Screaming. Tango's yellow fire hair simmering down, blazing back up with the ice-blues and teals of soul fire. His friends' betrayals still lingering in his heart. The rage never fully going away, just pretending it was gone...

Jimmy still had some of Tango's memories. He remembered waking up in the middle of the night in Tumble Town, not too long after he first settled there after Double Life had ended, to Tango's screams in his nightmares. He remembered waking up months ago to a message from Grian, panicking that Tango had retreated into the mountains and no one had seen nor heard from him since.

Tango had even avoided him when he'd crossed over into Jimmy's world. Jimmy had rebuilt their ranch and everything. Tango promised it was his home. And then he spent all his time down in Gobland, too absorbed in work to... to ever... to ever come home.

A tear slid down Jimmy's face, trying to freeze but so hot that it made his skin tingle from the contact.

He trudged closer to the citadel.

Fine. If Tango was going to go back to his cave and his castle since returning home to Hermitcraft, then Jimmy was going to go to him.

He made it into the maw of the open doorway and shook off. Snow fell off his hair, wings, and the shoulders of his coat. His sheriff clothes were designed for the broiling heat of the mesa. They were thick and protective, but lightweight to release body heat.

Not a good idea for this taiga. He was freezing.

He climbed a long, dark staircase into a semi-constructed great hall.

"Tango?" he called. His voice echoed to the towers above him.

He heard the humming of a warden, coming from somewhere deep below. Just that sound alone made his blood run cold.

"Tango!" he called louder.

Something moved in the shadows cast by the soul fires. He whirled, expecting a warden or a ravager.

Nothing.

He held the Blaze Rod closer to his chest and extinguished the torch, tucking it back in his inventory. The lack of its warmth made his wings shiver. "Tango. Is that you?" he asked quieter. "Tango, please."

The movement was a shadow itself. Humanoid in shape, but nothing more than silhouette. It pointed, dodged to another shadow, and pointed again. Jimmy followed. "Tango, is that you?" Jimmy asked more urgently.

The shadow shook its head. Pointed again. Flitted to another shadow. Pointed. Jimmy followed its path.

A hole in the wall that led to a hole in the ground. The shadow briefly appeared, pointed down, and vanished.

Jimmy looked down apprehensibly. He didn't see any water... but there was a water elevator right next to this drop. Obviously a way up and down to somewhere.

Trusting in Tango, trusting in whatever they'd been on that first Ranch, hearts and souls in each other's hands, he closed his eyes and stepped off the drop, pulling his wings in tight so they wouldn't smash into anything or break and holding the Blaze Rod to his chest.

He landed on powdered snow, covered in a carpet square. It absorbed the damage of his fall. He ducked low to clear his wings and stepped out.

He was in a storage room. The walls were lined with rows and rows and columns and columns of chests. It was a remarkably compact storage room, all things considered. He'd seen the incredibly complex, sprawling system behind the doors of Scar's shop fronts in his theme park. That was huge. This was just chests. All shoved against one another. A Nether portal droned off to his left. And beside it, an archway that led out into a huge open cavern. Jimmy stood on the edge of the storage room's packed mud brick floor and looked out, his wings extending slightly behind him.

The cavern wasn't just some empty hole. It was filled with an unfathomably complicated web of redstone, all woven around structures. Jimmy couldn't make heads or tails of any of it.

This kind of area is where Grian's flying skills would be more beneficial than his. Jimmy could fly around in here, but he'd smack into every wall and track of redstone he came across. He couldn't maneuver anywhere near as well. This was an obstacle course dream for Grian.

Jimmy unfurled his wings and launched into the cavern, trying to keep his ridiculously long wingspan as close to himself as he could while still staying airborne while he flew around, searching the structures and the web of redstone.

"Tango?" he called. His voice echoed around the structure. He wondered if, for a moment, he actually saw that shadow running through the darkness alongside him. Or if he was losing it.

He heard giggling. Tango's distinct giggle. He pulled up short and banked in a circle, looking around.

"Hmhm! Dungeon's making me hear my birdie," Tango said in his high-pitched, silly voice. Sounding... slightly manic.

A firework rocket shot off. Jimmy heard the snapping of Elytra membranes. He looked around—

And caught sight of Tango flying back toward the storage room, a shulker box in hand. Jimmy twisted sharply and shot after him, catching his wings on tracks of powered and activator rails. He grunted in pain at the impacts.

When he finally made it back to the storage room, Tango was kneeling in front of a ground-level chest, rifling through it. He had a black hood on, attached to the long black coat he'd worn on Jimmy's world. The one that had spawned on him in Jimmy's nightmare when he snapped and his yellow fire hair had turned blue. The nightmare where the wardens broke through the ground at Tango's command and attacked the other Hermits who tried to contain them—and him—before he retreated up Deepfrost Pass and churned out his fortress.

He was singsonging under his breath as he moved materials from the chest into the shulker box. "Just keep workin'. Do the buildy-buildy. We'll show them. We'll show 'em all when I watch Ravagers munch their faces off. Especially Bdubs."

He shuffled over, popping another shulker box onto the ground and filling it with contents of another chest.

Jimmy just watched for a few moments.

"Gotta finish. Have to. Can't wait to feed the Hermits to the wardens."

Jimmy crept closer. He set a hand on Tango's shoulder. "Tango," he said gently.

"Wah-ga-gah!" Tango exclaimed, whirling around with his coat flaring around him. His hood fell off, revealing soul-fire hair. And, for just a moment, black eyes. But the black disappeared, and they were back to blue with deep blue sclera. He started laughing. "Very funny, Decked Out!" he called toward the cavern of structures and redstone. "Making me hallucinate Jimmy isn't going to speed things up, you know!"

"Tango, I—I'm not a hallucination," Jimmy said, tightening his grip on Tango's shoulder. The coat was so thick, he couldn't feel Tango's muscle giving underneath.

Tango leaned closer conspiratorially and winked. "That's what a hallucination would say," he said playfully. He turned back to his materials and kept shoveling them over into the shulker box.

"No, I'm not. Tango—" Jimmy grabbed Tango's shoulders and spun him around. "Look at me. I'm really here. I flew most of the way here and hiked the rest. I had to come see you. I had to—you—I miss you. I've barely seen you since our home worlds collided. You never came home to Tumble Town. The only reason I came through the Rift was to spend more time with you, and I've barely seen you since I've been here. You just left. What did I do, Tango? What have I done to warrant you avoiding me?"

Tango tried to turn back around, but Jimmy held him firm.

Tango blinked. Something like clarity sharpened in his eyes. "You're really here," he said.

"Yes. I'm here. I'm not some illusion or hallucination."

"I thought... the dungeon..." Tango looked out to the cavern, then back to Jimmy. Somewhere deep below, a warden hummed and sniffed. Jimmy's wings shivered. Tango's eyes snapped back to his. "I have to finish Decked Out. The dungeon needs to be whole."

Jimmy knelt so he and Tango were nearly at eye-level, still holding the shoulders of the coat. A glassy look made Tango's eyes unfocus.

"The others... they tried to stop me from leaving. But they've already held me back for so long. Bdubs betrayed me. We were teammates. He stabbed me in the back. He was no match for my wardens. Grian thought he was some almighty eldritch creature. But six wings are just more targets to get blastificated. Even Etho—the original!—was powerless to stop me when I finally let go of everything I'd used to hold myself back."

"Tango. Can you find it in yourself to forgive your friends?" Jimmy ran a hand through Tango's soul fire hair. It burned his skin in a way he wasn't used to. Soul fire was hotter than normal fire, but back when they were SoulBound, Tango's fire hadn't even been able to burn Jimmy's skin.

Tango bared his sharp teeth. His hair blazed brighter, higher, and hotter. Jimmy leaned away.

"Tango," Jimmy said soothingly. Repeating his name over and over to remind him who he was. To remind him he was a person. He cupped the side of Tango's face. "Look at me. Look at my eyes." He waited until Tango did. "Can you?"

Tango grumbled under his breath. Bitter and sarcastic.

"Hey. Remember when we first met? In Third Life? And I died to your lava game?"

"Dare to Flare," Tango said automatically.

"That's right. Do you remember when we met again in Double Life? After the creeper?"

Tango's voice pitched up. "You were angry."

"I wasn't," Jimmy said. "Not at you. Just that I'd lost the resources I'd gathered. It had nothing to do with you. And you were always so kind to me. I'm used to everyone putting me on the short end of the joke. You never did. You were a little sarcastic with me, sure. But you always put yourself at the short end of the joke. But you were kind to me. You're one of the only people who ever treated me with unconditional respect as a person, all the time. It's why I..." Jimmy cleared his throat. His wings twitched and ruffled. "It's why I fell for you, so fast."

Tango blinked, slow, like a cat. His head tilted into the contact of Jimmy's hand.

"You saw, while we lived on the Ranch, how everyone else treats me. I'm used to it. I encourage it. If they have to be mean to someone, they should be mean to me. I can take it. But you... you were never anything but loyal. Not just to me. To your team. And you got nothing in return but betrayal. You and me—we really feel our emotions. We pretend we don't, but we do. Our emotions are big and deep. The good, and the bad. Maybe it's why we got put together." Jimmy bent closer and rested his forehead to Tango's. "We have to learn to let the bad slide off, once we've felt it. You have to forgive the other Hermits. You have to let go of the rage."

Tango took a deep breath. "I... I can't."

"Please? Just try. For me?"

Tango reached up and wrapped cold hands around the back of Jimmy's neck, lacing his fingers together. "Birdie..."

"I'm only asking you to try. Breathe with me, and thing about letting it go."

"I'll try."

They shared deep breaths. Trying to tune out the wardens deep below. "Thank your emotions for keeping you safe, and release them," Jimmy whispered.

They knelt on the floor of the storage room for what felt like a long time. Just breathing and quietly encouraging Tango to forgive and let go. Jimmy kept quietly whispering affirmations he used to tell himself when he was learning not to mind the jokes.

A warden screamed somewhere below.

Tension surged out of Tango's shoulders and he slumped forward.

Jimmy caught him, cradling him to his chest. "I got you. It's okay. It's okay. You're fine." He rocked them both, his wings encircling them in a gold shield of protection. "What was that? Why did that warden...? Was Grian right? Were the wardens' influence bleeding into you?"

Tango shook his head against Jimmy's heart. "No. Other way around. My pain was bleeding into them. Wardens are mourners. They were mourning for me. But you're right. I can let it go."

Jimmy smiled. "That's it. Exactly."

There was a long pause. "I do still have to finish this game though. I've been working on it for so long—I can't just stop now."

"No, I know. But let it be just that. A game. Not a vessel for revenge or a channel for betrayal. Just a game."

"I can do that," Tango said. "Or. Well. I can try, anyway."

"That's all you need to do. Just try. Because there's merit in trying. And eventually, trying can pay off. Next thing you'll know, you'll be doing."

"Yeah... yeah. I can do that."

Jimmy kissed the top of Tango's head. The soul fire hair didn't burn him. "That's all I ask." He pulled back a little. "Come up with me? Outside? Come see the sky, please? The sun went down, but the stars are beautiful this far from everyone else. It's so dark and high altitude up here. They're beautiful."

"Okay."

Jimmy smiled. "Okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Okay!"

"Come with me!" Jimmy pulled Tango toward the water elevator.

#trafficshipping #Team Rancher #Rancher Duo #TangoTek #Jimmy Solidarity #that shadow was the consciousness of Decked Out btw. if you didn't get that #Team Ranchers #Tango Tek #Aurora Writes #Rory Writes #i tried to make this one short. I really did. I was shooting for less than 2.5k words. I failed

[fieldofdaisiies]

𝙰𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 - 𝙰𝚣𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚕 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

Happiest birthday you wonderful, wonderful human @moonlightazriel. I wrote this little drabble for you, to once again remind you how amazing you are, knowing you often don't see it yourself. I love you so very much and hope you have the best day 💛💛💛

Slowly Velaris, its buildings, its inhabitants, the streets, the trees and the River Sidra start to grow smaller and smaller the further you lift into the sky. A cool breeze touches your skin, your face and blows your hair around a little. You find yourself closing your eyes, leaning against Azriel, as he carries you into the open sky, large wings flapping behind his back. 

All is so good in this moment, so peaceful and quiet. It is perfect, it is just you and Azriel. He is your mate, your equal, he makes you complete and his unconditional love for you is one of the most beautiful things that there is in this world. 

These moments in the air is all you sometimes need. When everything gets too much, these moments help you clear the whirlwind of thoughts in your mind, help you come to ease with your mind and yourself. 

When you open your eyes again after a few moments of silence, you notice that Azriel's expression is tight, his jaw tense — something must be on his mind. 

"What are you thinking about?" you ask in a soft voice, eyes trailing over your mate's features. 

He turns his head a little, only looking at you momentarily as he needs to keep his gaze on your surroundings, ensuring your safety while flying. 

"That somehow you are the only person who does not see how amazing you are," Azriel finally says, no bitterness but only a hint of sadness in his voice. 

Your eyes widen, heart skipping a beat. 

"I don't understand it. You are so amazing, so kind, so wonderful and so incredibly smart, and still I find you doubting yourself over and over again." "Azriel…" "No!" he says, meeting your gaze briefly. "You think Rhysand would let you work for him if he didn't see your potential, your talent, your skills?"

"I—" "He would not. Just like me, all of the others so what you are capable of, and still you won't see it. And this hurts me, it hurts me that you don't believe in yourself."

"I never meant to hurt you, I just…I don't know." You turns your gaze away as well, pulling your lower lip between your teeth.

"I did not mean it in that way. You are not hurting me in that sense of the word, also this is not about me." Azriel's voice is a little softer now, empathetic. 

He holds you tightly in his arms, his solid chest a comforting press against your side. 

You are nearing a forest now, the sun is bright and high up in the sky, its strays falling onto the tree tops. Azriel, holding tightly onto you, flys a little loop before getting back on course. 

"Why is it so hard for you to see how amazing you are?"

You shrug — you don't have an answer. It just is difficult. "I don't know, I just find it hard to accept. I haven't received that many compliments in my life so far, not many people have found the things I do amazing, so accepting all of it, the kind words and praises, now is somehow I never learned to do."

"Oh, baby," Azriel squeezes you tightly, leaning in, so he can kiss the top of your head. "But you are receiving these compliments, that are 100% sincere now. And I think you should finally start believing them, huh?"

"I am trying to. I really am…" You finally lift your gaze again, meeting his for a moment. 

"Are you?"

"Yes! Or at least, I will try from now on, good?"

"Good, and you know what?"

You smile, waiting for what he wants to add. "I am proud of you for trying. You are so wonderful, and you deserve all good things and love and happiness the most out of everyone."

You feel your cheeks warm, and quickly bury your face in his chest. "Azriel, I am blushing."

"Good, I love it when you do, makes you look even more adorable than usual. My beautiful mate." Azriel grins from one ear to the other, carrying you over the beautiful landscape of the Night Court.

He lowers his head and draws in you scent, relishing in the smell of his mate, of you, the best scent in the whole entire world, like a fresh breath of air, and the only thing he needs to survive.

You chuckle loudly, a grin spreading over your face. "I love you so much, my mate."

The shadowsinger squeezes you anew. "I am sure I love you more. So much that words can't even express how much I love you." Azriel glances at the distance for a moment longer before finally looking back at you. "My stunning, wonderful, intelligent mate. The light in my life, the reason for my happiness. You are mine and I know that I am the luckiest male to have you as my mate."

~~~~~~~~ tags (crossed-out I couldn't tag) : @juulle987 @marimorena06 @danikasthings @younxii@nightcourtwritings @mrofontaine @lunalilyf @whor-3-crux @tired-all-the-time @anni-was-here @ummmmmwat @azbracadabra @j-pendragonx @hollyismentallyillhelp @famousbasementpainter @bsenpai @lena-davina @red-highlady @thesugatoyourtae @azrielsbabyg @aroseinvelaris @moony-thoughts @wrensical003 @cherryjain17 @moonfawnx @crushedcloudsx @devilsfoodcake22  @valeridarkness @azrielscertifiedslut @mulansaucey @cynicalpotato95 @hanasakr @high-bi-andreadytocry @eerievixen @feyretopia @moonlightazriel @randomness-it-is @brekkershadowsinger @eliieee23 @girasoli-e-sorrisi @illyrianvalkyriecarynthian  @kennedy-brooke @highladyofillyria @theworthlessqueen @marina468 @topaz125 @illyrian-dreamer @azriels-mate123 @eos-princess @courtofjurdan @a-frog-with-a-laptop @insufferablebookaddict

#azriel x reader #daisiies birthday fics #azriel #azriel x you #acotar x reader #acotar #acosf

[halsteadlover]

𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧

*Gif not mine credits to the owner*

• Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader.

• Requested: no.

• Summary: after a long day at work, the only thing Spencer wants to do is go back home to his family.

• Warnings: none, just fluff.

• Word count: 1814.

• A/N: here is my first Spencer fic. It’s ugly as fuck and I wanted it do be better but I hope you’ll like it, I’m sorry for this but it’s just a period of time where I’m not feeling 100% myself so that’s what I managed to do lol. Let me know what do you think, likes, comments and reblogs are very appreciated. Thank you for your constant support. Love you all ❤️

Spencer was as tired as he'd been a few times in his life.

The case the team had worked on had been particularly stressful, tiring and draining like few others and even though it had only been four days since the team had left for Boston, it felt like they had lasted forever.

And the distance from his family helped to further increase this already particularly precarious state of mind. It wasn't the first time he was forced to fly away for days to another city for work but that didn't make it any easier, especially then, because it wasn't just you and him anymore, but there was also little Reid.

It was incredible how such a small little being had managed to turn his life upside down, in such an overwhelming way he couldn't even stay a minute without thinking of him and without feeling the desire to hold him in his arms and fill him with cuddles.

Even staying away from you had become much more difficult than he could’ve ever imagined. He couldn't quite explain why, but ever since the baby was born he felt the bond with you had strengthened even more. He had heard so many stories of couples who couldn't resist, who got carried away by events and weren't strong enough to overcome the present difficulties and it was impossible to explain why, God, he worshiped the earth you walked on and he would’ve done anything to ensure your well-being, after all it was the least he could do for the mother of his child.

Ever since you told him you were pregnant and throughout the pregnancy until you became parents, it was as if he started to look at you with different eyes and the love he felt towards you increased dramatically, which he didn't even believe possible since he already loved you like crazy like he never did in his life.

Seeing you become the beautiful mother you were meant to be, carrying his child, God, he would’ve impregnated you every day if he could and if it was simple.

If anyone had ever told him he’d find the love of his life, that he’d marry you and have a child with you, he would probably have burst out laughing because he never, ever expected to be overwhelmed by such joy and to experience such a miracle.

And it was enough for him to cross the threshold of your home for him to feel that emptiness inside him finally filled again, happiness crossing him when he heard your voice mixed with little Reid's giggles.

Spencer walked into the kitchen and leaned against the door frame, his arms folded across his chest as he took a moment to watch you and your baby together. He was sitting in his high chair, his little legs and arms flapping in the air, his little face dirty with the food you desperately tried to give him but which he refused.

That simple scene put a huge smile onto Spencer's face and it was at that precise moment he wondered how he had ever lived without this.

You were gorgeous. Your hair gathered in a bun, your home clothes slightly soiled with food while you tried to distract your little one so you could feed him but in doing so you yourself distracted yourself, not realizing Spencer's presence.

Damn it, how had he gotten so lucky? What had he done to deserve such a perfect family?

“Hello my loves,” Spencer had announced and at that point you turned abruptly towards him, a huge smile on your face not expecting to see him and the spoon suspended in mid-air.

“Baby oh my god! When did you come back?!” you asked and before you could get up to say hello he approached you, placing his hands on your shoulders and giving you a kiss on your lips. He wanted that little kiss to last forever, making him realize how much he missed you, so much more than he thought.

“I just got back darling, I wanted to surprise you,” he replied with a smile on his lips and stroking your hair before returning his eyes to his baby, who at the mere sight of his father began to fidget more in his high chair, a huge smile on his little face. “And who do we have here? Hey, you little one! Come here to your pops.”

Before you could object by telling him you were trying to get him to eat, Spencer took him in his arms and the joy that overwhelmed him when after all that time he hugged his son again was priceless. “God I missed you so much little man,” he murmured as he kissed his little one's chubby cheeks not caring they were dirty with food. His laughter echoed through the kitchen, making your heart leap with joy.

It was so hard when Spencer was away for work, you couldn't deny it, but it was times like these that made the distance, the anxiety and worry worth it.

“You treated your gorgeous mom right huh? Have you been a good boy?” Spencer asked, as if his son could answer.

“Da-da-da...” the little boy kept babbling and you wanted to immortalize Spencer's expression after hearing his son say 'dad' for the first time.

“What?” Spencer murmured, incredulous, looking at you for a moment just to make sure you heard that too. “Can you repeat for me baby? Dada, yes say it again, da-da.”

“Da-da-...” your baby kept babbling while his sticky little hands continued to touch his father's face and it was at that moment you noticed Spencer's eyes fill with tears, while he tried to hold them back and not cry. Out of joy and contentment he started to kiss and tickle his baby, over and over again, eliciting uncontrolled laughter from him.

“Yeah! That's my buddy!” Spencer exclaimed before showering the boy with kisses, who kept squeezing and returning those kisses as best he could. “Yes! Oh my god! Yes I’m your dada!”.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he whispered, rubbing his nose tenderly against his son's. Your heart peeped into your chest and never as in that precise moment you felt more proud of your family, of the love your child would always receive from both parents.

You continued to watch that tender and very sweet scene, Spencer who continued to talk and look at his son as if he was the most beautiful of wonders.

Spencer wasn't joking when he said that little creature had saved his life, he made him a better husband, a better man, he made him love life even more and had made him understand how precious it was.

He had never been good at dealing with feelings, he was a scientific person, he believed in science, in evidence, in hypotheses that were verified, but everything that happened to him when he was with you, with his baby, was beyond rationality, the love he felt for you two couldn’t be described, it was a visceral love that could not be enclosed in a few simple words.

“You are the best thing that has happened to my life, your mom seriously couldn't have given me a better present and I am so proud of you,” he kissed mini Spencer's little forehead “I'm so sorry I was gone buddy, I’d never want to be away from you and your mama.”

He directed his gaze to you for an instant, a frown on his face as he noticed the tears streaming down your face, which you tried to wipe away in time but to no avail.

“Hey, baby what's wrong? Come here.”

Spencer drew you to him and surrounded your shoulders with his free arm, squeezing you and leaving a kiss on your forehead. “Nothing bad love, it's just… I'm so happy, you make me so happy. I couldn't ask for a better father for my son.”

He smiled but burst out laughing immediately afterwards when your baby stretched out his arm towards you and grabbed a lock of hair that had escaped the bun with his little hand, ruining that beautiful moment. Damn, how could a person of not even 50 centimeters tall have such strength?

“Hey, hey, no buddy no hurting mommy,” Spencer interjected, pulling your hair out of his hand.

“Oh you're so lucky you're so cute or you were going to have some problems mister, yeah! You're so cute baby, you like hurting mama yeah? Can you say mama?” you said smiling, however pointing a finger at him while instead he continued to laugh and giggle in Spencer's arms, amused by the situation.

“Da-dada-da…”

Your smile instantly disappeared from your face and Spencer started laughing heartily again, head thrown back.

“Yeah! That's my little boy! Dada yes!” he exclaimed, lifting him back into the air a couple of times before showering him with kisses.

“Oh so that’s how are things going mister? Did I go through 20 hours of labor for being disrespected like this?” you affirmed with feigned disappointment and hands on hips, but trying not to smile when you saw Spencer jumping and playing with the baby.

“I love you mommy but I love dada more,” Spencer raised his voice a couple of octaves in an attempt to mimic a child's.

“You're gonna pay so much for this Dr. Spencer Reid.”

“I’ll wait for you with immense pleasure my darling,” he winked at you and just that small action made you want to have ten more children.

You sighed, shaking your head in mock disappointment. “Since you're such best friends you'll be the one to keep feeding him while I'm going to take a nice hot bath,” you approached Spencer, giving him a kiss on the cheek and whispering in his ear “And I'll think of you so intensely when I'll be naked as I soap my wet body and touch myself.”

Spencer was mesmerized and paralyzed for a moment, his blood instantly flowing to his private parts at the mere thought of you naked. His eyes scanned every inch or of your body, devouring your ass with his gaze until your figure disappeared down the aisle.

“Holy shit,” he whispered, “You heard that buddy?” he turned to the baby “How about we take a deal? Now you'll be a good boy and you'll eat everything okay? So I'll give you a nice bath and you'll go to sleep, because dad misses mom so much and he would love to be alone with her. Yes little one, you’re such a good little boy,” he continued carefully placing his baby in his high chair and tying the hooks before starting to feed him again “I’m so proud of you, yes keep eating so in a while it will be dada's turn to pull mama’s hair.”

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[burgercheese1812]

How I think My Hero Characters (canon versions) would react if you randomly kissed them on the cheek:

(This has probably already been done but oh well)

Heroes:

Midoriya:

He’s a easily flustered and naturally an awkward person, so i could imagine that he would definitely just shut down for a good 10 seconds

Then he would turn into a blushing mess and the word spew

would.

never.

end.

He’d flap his arms around and look anywhere but you, spluttering and looking like a tomato

In the end he would not be able to form a coherent sentence and it would just turn into a bunch of baby garble

Everyone within a 50 mile radius would hear his “EH???”

Shoto:

Poor guy would be really confused

“Um… thank you?” He would for sure be really awkward about it

You two would stand awkwardly in silence for a good few minutes

He wouldn’t know what to do with the silence

“Uh… do I give you one now or something?

You: “I mean- sure, you can if you want to?”

He would then proceed to give you a kiss on the cheek and you two would stand in an awkward silence again

“So what happens now?” The guy is so pure and innocent and you have no idea what to say

You: “ummm… nothing..?” He just nods and walks off

After the interaction you’re the flustered one.

He has no idea what just happened and will ponder it for a long time.

Bakugo:

Would freeze for a second, like that time at the training camp he would look completely confused:

Like that ^^^

Then he would definitely scream.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT EXTRA??”

You would be able to see him blushing regardless of whether he likes you back or not

He is incredibly embarrassed

Explosions would go off and you’d better run for cover before he quite literally blows you away

After his little tantrum he probably wouldn’t talk to you for a while.

Or ever again.

Kirishima:

Bro just kinda looks at you

He would not understand what just happens.

Then he awkwardly gives YOU a kiss on the cheek

“It just wouldn’t have been manly if I didn’t reciprocate it!” He’d definitely say this with an awkward laugh and be rubbing the back or his neck or something

Inside however he is internally screaming

The guy is not smooth about it AT ALL

Would be sad that he wasn’t ‘manly enough’ to do it first 😔

Denki:

Thought he was prepared for something like this

Like he fully took notes from Mineta and planned this whole scenario out in his head

Had some really cool line planned like “wow, I’m shocked.” And then a cool ass smirk.

This is not how it went at all.

He just froze up and his mind went blank

Aaaaaand then he accidentally fried himself and

the only thing he could say was “wheyyy”

You had to take him to recover girl in the end

He has never forgotten about it and lives in constant embarrassment.

Sero:

Rizz god.

Acts like he’s not fazed at all

Smirks at you and then gives you a kiss on the cheek

He then winks at you and walks off around a corner, out of sight

He seems like the smoothest guy in history

Until you find that around that corner he is literally just screaming.

Iida:

Genuinely confused but you can see him blushing slightly and he sounds a bit flustered

“Is this your way of expressing feelings for me?”

You have to explain that you just wanted to see his reaction and it was a joke, but it takes a while to convince him

“Please ask next time you want to do something like that.” He says this with all his normal seriousness

you return to what you were doing like nothing happened

Tokoyami:

Tokoyami.exe stopped working

Literally speechless.

Bro just stands there, not moving a muscle with his beak just hanging open

Luckily he has a lovely quirk

Dark shadow appears, grabs your face and gives you a huge, loud forehead kiss

You and dark shadow laugh together as Tokoyami’s brain tries to process exactly what the hell just happened

Mineta:

He expects a kiss on the cheek but instead gets a hand

Guy is flung into oblivion

But really, if you were to kiss him he would just say something gross and you would immediately regret it

Shoji:

Gives you a genuine smile under his mask

Like, ‘your heart is literally about to explode’ ‘holy crap he’s an actually sun’ kind of smile

He would then give you a hug bear hug

He is a good hugger.

I would imagine that this would be such a cute and pure scene

Koda:

Just be completely flustered

Poor guy would go mute again because he literally just wouldn’t know what to say

Aoyama:

Would probably be just a BIT obnoxious about it

“Of course you would want to kiss the shiniest person here!”

Said with a twinkling wink, guy literally always has a sparkle in his eye

Would go back to looking at himself in a mirror and telling himself how pretty he is

He probably forgets about it

Ojiro:

Has an ordinary reaction (true to his character)

Like; being flustered, stuttering, blushing

Literally has no idea what to even think of it

Sato:

He was definitely baking something when you kissed him

Would awkwardly scratch his neck or head

Probably burnt whatever he was baking because he forgot about it 😞

Villains:

(Yeah lmao no one is safe 👹)

Dabi:

He tastes like burnt flesh mmm yummy

Sorry to all the simps out there but cannon Dabi would FRY you

You’d be crispier than a Krispy Kreme donut

more fried than anything at KFC

More burnt than a ranga in the sun

you would FEEL that burn all the way to the afterlife, a painful sting of rejection 😔

He probably would have laughed about it too

Shigaraki:

I really hope you made him moisturise before you kissed him

He likely pushed your face away and then remembered his quirk as you crumbled away

OR

he had a full on tantrum about it:

“EW WHAT THE HELL! GET AWAY FROM ME!”

Either way it didn’t go down well

Toga:

Got really REALLY excited

She then proceeded to stab you.

Multiple times.

Newsflash, people can’t survive multiple stab wounds and you are now DEAD

Don’t worry about it though she’s stored your blood as a midnight snack for another time

Congratulations you were a simp until the end 🫡

Twice:

His multiple personalities kicked in:

“Oh thank you here I’ll give you a kiss as well-“

“WHAT WAS THAT FOR-“

“I DIDNT WANT A KISS!”

“YUCK!”

Kurogiri:

Yeah you could try to kiss him but you cannot.

You just meet purpley mist

He would not let you get to close to his ‘real body’ 👀

A/N: I couldn’t be bothered to do anymore today lol sorry.

I’ll definitely end up doing the class 1A girls though so stay tuned!

PS: If any of ya’ll want me to do the teachers and some class 1B people (plus shinso ofc) repost this with the tags: #DO THE TEACHERS or #DO CLASS 1B or something like either of those (normally you could just comment it but my comments don’t work YAY! /s)

#my hero academia #my hero headcanons #mha #izuku mydoria #denki kaminari #bnha bakugo katsuki #mha fluff #class 1 a x reader #class 1a #mha dabi #shigaraki tomura #shoto headcanons #kacchan #bakugo headcanons #deku headcanons #mha kirishima #kirishima ejirou #kirishima headcanon #tenya lida #sero hanta #mezo shoji #mha twice #himiko toga #bnha toga #fumikage tokoyami #mha headcanons #bnha headcannons #minoru mineta

[crypt-tids]

A Gift Unto the King

22

Arrival

Epona huffed as Lucas tugged the brush through her long mane, paying special attention to the few tangles that had gathered at the ends. Her head bobbed, and she swung her neck around, urging him to give her chin a few scratches, before allowing him to continue brushing. Every now and then, a knot would give Lucas a bit of trouble, and the mare would shake her mane free as she grew annoyed with the persistent detangling. Lucas sweetly reassured her that he was nearly done—despite having quite a bit of grooming left to do, but she didn’t know that—and she reluctantly permitted him to finish.

“Well, well, well,” a voice approached, “I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see you again.”

Lucas glanced up with a start, before shaking his head.

“Very funny, Remus.” Lucas replied as the dark-haired man entered the stables.

“A few more days and I might’ve sent off for a headstone.” Remus grinned, crossing his arms over his chest, watching Lucas brush the dirt and dust out of Epona’s silky, black coat.

Lucas shot a piercing glare over the mare’s back, as Remus leaned against the stall wall opposite him, his expression decidedly smug. When Lucas’s gaze didn’t soften, he cocked his head, the breadth of his grin beginning to diminish.

“What, you’re not still mad at me, are you?” Remus raised a brow. “It all worked out in the end.”

“Luckily for you.” Lucas bitterly returned his gaze to the horse. “What if it hadn’t? I could have been exiled.”

“But you weren’t.”

“I could’ve been.” Lucas’s tone lightened as he twisted the point.

“Then I would’ve gone with you.” Remus nonchalantly shrugged.

“And be a deserter?” Lucas’s eyes met Remus’s, unanticipated surprise heavily lining them. Mostly regarding the speed at which that answer had fallen from his friend’s lips, as if he didn’t have to think about it at all—or conversely, that he had thought about it, at great length, and had thoroughly committed himself to that possibility.

“There are far worse things to be.” Remus gave a lighthearted smile, the sunlight twinkling at the corner of his eye.

Lucas playfully shook his head, as he swept the brush over Epona’s buttock, a puff of dust sashaying off of the stiff bristles. A hint of a smile played at the corner of his mouth as his facade cracked. He couldn’t be angry with Remus, even if he wanted to be. A bit like hating a baby duck, or a newborn kitten, he just didn’t have it in him. Especially now that he knew that Remus would willingly brand himself as a criminal for him. It was probably one of the sweetest gestures he’d ever been offered by a person he wasn’t sharing a bed with—albeit an incredibly stupid one. Even still, it warmed his heart.

Remus gave the stable a cautious glance over. The stalls appeared empty, save for the horses nibbling on their hay, and the courtyard beyond the doors seemed reasonably barren. He silently strained, listening for any stray voices, or shuffling boots, but heard none. Once thoroughly satisfied that they were alone, he leaned forward slightly to speak.

“So, how’s my godchild doing?” Remus kept his voice low, out of fear that he’d missed a prying ear.

“Fidgety.” Lucas smiled, as Remus let out a small snicker. “They’re fine.”

“And what about you?” Remus continued.

“Eh, I’d be better if I wasn’t stuck at home all the time.” Lucas joked, rubbing his palm over Epona’s soft nose, her lips longingly flapping for a carrot, which he, unfortunately, did not have. “Get’s bloody stifling sometimes, staring at the same ceiling and walls everyday. Hell, I even tried knitting.” He heartily chuckled.

“Knitting?” Remus pressed, an incredulous grin widening across his face.

“Mm-hm.” Lucas nodded. “Five coppers I wasted on that shit. It was fucking awful.”

The pair giggled together at the thought, and then, after a few moments, the laughter faded, and Lucas let out a long sigh.

“I think he worries about me too much.” Lucas’s tone dropped. “No matter how many times I insist that I’m fine… it’s like he doesn’t trust me.”

Remus’s brows creased slightly, his lips lopsidedly pressed together. Though Lucas’s eyes remained fixed on Epona, he could still see the darkened cloud swirling across the golden glass. It had weighed on him heavily, that much was plain, but in that moment, Remus found his sympathies lying elsewhere.

“Can you blame him?”

Lucas lifted his gaze, his face falling slack. As he stared into Remus’s softened eyes, his lips pressed thin.

“You gave him a good scare, mate.” Remus continued. “Scared the hell out of me, too, and I wasn’t even there.” He shook his head, his eyes falling to the hay covered ground. “When I was ordered to cover for you… when he told me what happened… gods, I’ve never seen a man tremble that way without a sword to their throat.”

A frown twitched at Lucas’s mouth, as his thumb mindlessly rubbed Epona’s jaw. She huffed lightly, then bowed her head, gently nuzzling her nose into Lucas’s curved belly. He hugged her close for a moment, graciously accepting that small amount of comfort, until she pulled away.

Lucas hadn’t known that Vin was the one who told Remus what happened. He had just assumed that the orders had trickled down, second-hand, from another member of the court, as they so often did. But Remus was there, with him, while Lucas was still lying unconscious in the infirmary. The idea of Vin being so visibly shaken over it all twisted in his stomach like a rusty knife. But he couldn’t take it back. He couldn’t change the past. And as much as he wanted to pretend things hadn’t changed, the choices he’d made, no matter how misguided or ill-informed, had changed them. Lucas clenched his jaw as his mind fumbled over every mishap of the past few months. It was no wonder why Remus understood Vin so plainly. Before Vin, it had been him. Remus was the one who had dragged him to the infirmary the first time he’d fainted, and it was Remus who had held him, and looked after him, in Widow’s Wild. He had been in the exact place that Vin stood in now, and Lucas hated himself for so easily putting them there.

“I never meant to worry anyone.” Lucas whispered shakily. “I mean that.”

Sensing the tremble in Lucas’s voice, Remus lifted his gaze. The lycan’s golden eyes had misted over, and his chin began to quiver—which he desperately fought against to little avail—and suddenly, Remus felt as though he may have sprinkled too much salt in a fresh wound.

“Whoa, hey-” Remus pushed himself off of the wall, and walked around the large black mare, towards Lucas. “Don’t cry.” His voice was gentle and kind as he pulled the sandy-haired knight close. “It’s okay, please don’t be upset about it. It’s in the past now, it doesn’t matter.”

The low, rumbling vibration of Remus’s voice radiated through Lucas’s chest, bringing with it a calming warmth—though, the words meant very little in that moment.

“I shouldn’t have brought it up.” Remus spoke softly, still tightly clinging to the younger werewolf.

Lucas’s swollen belly gently pressed into Remus’s abs, and he couldn’t help but notice just how much it had grown in the last few weeks. Even though it was still small, it had managed to become so undeniably present.

“I didn’t mean to cry.” Lucas mumbled into Remus’s firm shoulder. “Damn kid, makes me cry over everything.”

Remus smiled lightly, stroking the back of Lucas’s head. The lycan’s body jolted against him with each breathy hitch, his fingers tightly curling into the back of Remus’s blouse.

“It seems that worrying the two of you is all I’m good for.” Lucas sniffed through a hiccupy laugh. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Remus softly shushed. “Everything’s sorted now, isn’t it?” He felt Lucas’s head nod against him, and he let out a small, relieved, sigh.

In his arms, he held his dearest friend, a man he’d trusted with his life more times than anyone should ever have to, and in the depths of his heart, he still saw him as that strong, confident, witty man, who never bowed in defeat. But that man—that character that Lucas has so earnestly embraced—had started to fade away, leaving behind it a man far more delicate, in both body and soul.

But Remus did not pity Lucas. Far from it, in fact. Lucas’s vulnerability reminded him only of the promises he had made to keep him safe. Promises he had always been, and always would be, committed to until his dying breath.

They clung tightly to each other until voices began to carry throughout the courtyard, horse drawn carriages steadily approaching the castle. Lucas instinctively pulled away, his attention tugged towards the bustling commotion. Hastily wiping the tears from his cheeks, he cleared his throat, and Remus stiffened up, peering around the stable doors.

“Looks like the new weapons from Elvenwood just arrived,” said Remus.

Lucas shuffled up next to Remus as the carriages passed by. The wheels creaked against their axles as they bounced over the uneven ground, metal lightly clinking together in the large wooden trunks buckled to their backs.

“So it seems.” Lucas replied, with a sigh.

A long-haired elf passed the pair a disdainful glance, sending shivers up Lucas’s spine, before returning his gaze to the path ahead. He’d never thought much of elves before Carmilla arrived. But now that he had a much more intimate view into the kind of people they were—the kind of arrogance they held—he wished that he had never come to know them at all.

“With allies like that, I have a feeling it’s gonna be a hell of a war.” Remus huffed through his nose.

“Yeah…” Lucas mindlessly answered as anxiety clouded over.

Remus glanced towards Lucas, noticing that his fist had firmly clenched around the fabric obscuring his belly. It had become his most obvious tell, as of late.

With softened eyes, Remus placed a gentle hand on the lycan’s rigid shoulder, feeling it relax beneath his reassuring grip. Lucas’s golden gaze met Remus’s, and they shared a quiet moment.

“I’ll keep you safe. That is my promise to you, and that is my promise to the king.” Remus’s voice was soft, but sure.

“What happens once the war arrives?” Lucas whispered with a tremble. “What happens if I can’t be there to fight it?”

“Then I will fight twice as fiercely in your stead.”

Lucas’s jaw clenched, his lips pressing thin. He winced as his fears wrapped tightly around him, like a snake with its prey.

“What if I can’t protect them?” His eyes fell to the swell, so delicately held in his palm, as the tiniest flutter danced in his womb.

“Then I will protect them for you, just as I promised.” Remus replied, firmly. “The worries of war are no longer your concern, Lucas. I will carry that burden on your behalf.” He slid his palm down Lucas’s arm, grabbing his hand and lifting it to his lips. On his knuckles he placed a gentle kiss, an unspoken promise of devotion.

As his lips brushed away, Remus glanced up, his warm, brown eyes gazing softly into Lucas’s. Steadily, Lucas’s fears began to drift, no longer clinging so tightly to his mind. With an appreciative smile, Lucas wrapped his arms around Remus’s neck.

“Thank you.” Lucas whispered.

“Always.” Remus returned the embrace.

Vin watched as three elves entered the great hall, the superior of which led the other two, who had been tasked with hauling a heavy, wooden trunk, filled with weapons, for the king’s inspection. The leading elf was adorned with a long, white robe, embroidered with golden leaves and flowers upon its edges. His long, brown hair trailed midway down his back, the sides pulled in loose twists, and secured with a golden hair pin. The elves to his rear were dressed in a similar attire of faded green and silver adornments.

Stopping before the king, the elves lowered the trunk onto the stone floor with a gentle thud. With a few clicks of the clasps, they carefully opened the lid. The superior elf gestured to the box, inviting Vin to inspect the contents. Vin nodded, kneeling before the chest, and slowly lifting one of the fabric wrapped bundles. It was heavy against his palms, and he rested it over his thigh as he untied the string. Once thoroughly freed, he flipped the loose fabric aside, revealing the sheathed elven sword. Rising to his feet, he slowly removed the leather case, exposing the shimmering curves of the steel blade. At its base was an elegantly engraved oak leaf. His fingers traced over the hilt, settling on the pommel, where a carving of an acorn contrasted the silvery metal. He rocked the sword in his hand, inspecting it thoroughly. It was well balanced, and beautifully made, and certainly more than adequate to serve its purpose. Satisfied, he returned the sheath, and laid the sword back in the trunk.

“Do you wish to inspect the others?” The elf asked.

“I don’t think that will be necessary. I’m sure the rest will be similar enough.” Vin replied.

“Very well.” The elf agreed, directing the others to take the chest to the armory.

With an acknowledging nod, the pair hoisted the chest up, and headed out of the great hall. Though the trunk was obviously quite heavy, they carried it with grace and ease, as if it were lighter than a finch’s down feather.

“King Kai’en received your report. We’ve moved soldiers in to secure our northern border, though it’s been quiet thus far.” The elf firmly clasped his hands in front of him, lightly bowing his head. “Forgive the delayed introduction, my name is Ellery, advisor to the king. I will be visiting here frequently on his behalf.”

“Pleasure.” Vin nodded.

“I will also be overseeing the training efforts. I trust there will be no issues with that.” Ellery spoke directly.

“The more the merrier.” Vin returned flatly. “As always, Valkevilla welcomes whatever resources Elvenwood has to offer.”

“A new load of weapons and armor will be ready in about a month. In the meantime, I suggest you find ways to supplement with your own resources. We will have to thoroughly arm our own people, after all,” said Ellery, his tone carrying a sharpened edge.

“Of course.” Vin stiffened.

Ellery nodded, his chest puffed with the satisfaction of Vin’s discomfort.

“We’ll be gathering up to depart as soon as the last of the trunks has been unloaded.”

“Very well.” Vin replied. “Valkevilla extends its deepest gratitude to Elvenwood.”

“I’ll pass your sentiments along.” Ellery gave a small bow, then turned to leave the great hall, his boots gracefully tapping against the tiled floor.

Vin let out a harsh breath, releasing the tension his body had unconsciously stored during their brief interaction. Dealing with elves was never easy. It certainly gave Vin a much deeper appreciation for Carmilla. But at least progress was being made, even if it wasn’t in the name of an end he was at all pleased about.

Glancing out the window, he watched the leaves rustle in the breeze. The first of them had already begun to change into worn yellows and burnt oranges, and Vin realized that autumn had fallen upon them. The breeze now carried a harsher chill as the sun dipped below the horizon in the evenings, and he knew that before long, the first snow would grace his stoop. He desperately hoped that the coming winter would stall the war, if even just for a short time—at least long enough to watch his child draw their first breath. It was the one wish he’d prayed to the gods every night to grant. Hopefully, those silent words hadn’t fallen on deaf ears.

#mpreg #tum kink #belly kink #male pregnancy #werewolf #vampire #elf #dark fantasy #fic #agutk #a gift unto the king #knightau

[try-set-me-on-fire]

‘this is my husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner etc.’ for soft fic prompts?

Send me soft fic prompts! Read the rest here!

Heather would say she's not having a great day. Sure, her and Tracy hadn't been on the most stable ground lately, but coming home from the San Francisco office to a two page (both sides!) handwritten letter full of incredibly beautiful prose that more or less boiled down to it’s not you, it’s me was still a shock. And, you know, maybe she had been spending too much time crunching for work, but she’d been trying to make senior art director for years and when she’d finally got the promotion she wanted to make sure the studio didn’t regret it. The studio who, 15 minutes after the whole ‘getting dumped, epistolary style’, called to tell her the promotion had been unpromotioned. Two steps, unpromotioned, actually, seeing as they were “taking the project in a new direction” and “felt she would be better suited to a support role rather than leadership.” And, you know, Heather thinks of herself as a relatively laid back person, she’s chill, she’s calm and collected, but after four straight months of 6 day work weeks pulling overtime almost every night she thought she deserved a face to face goddamn explanation for all of this, so she had climbed right back into the subaru she’d driven all night in and took off towards Burbank.

She’d made it three exits past her apartment when some asshole in a truck too big for him to control had swerved into her.

At least someone's already called 911, judging by the emergency vehicles pulling up, and this was a rental car paid for with company dime, so she doesn't even have to stress about it being crumpled up like a tin can. There's a tap on the window frame (the glass is gone, she hadn't even noticed) and she startles, peering out at the platonic ideal of a hot guy she might have described to friends as her "type" when she was sixteen and still trying to be straight. Ruffled dark hair, warm eyes, a kind look on his face. She can't see his arms under his firefighter coat, but she bets they're jacked.

"Hi," the apparition says. "My name's Eddie Diaz. Are you in any pain?"

"Uh," Heather says, trying to take stock. "Mostly shaky, I think."

He nods, shining a flashlight in her eyes. "Can you wiggle your fingers for me? How 'bout your toes?"

"Eyes and ears and mouth and nose," she sing songs as she does so, and Eddie Diaz has the good grace to laugh.

"Alright, you're a little scraped up but I don't think you have a concussion. Can you tell me your name, the date, and where we are?"

"Heather Pantry, July 23rd, the 5 somewhere near Atwater."

"Pantry?" Eddie quirks an eyebrow as he examines the car around her.

"Hand to god," she says, used to the double take. "From the proud Pantry line of middle of nowhere Massachusetts."

"Well, good to meet you Ms. Pantry. I have to go get-" Eddie straightens up and waved someone over. "Honey, can you stay with her? I'm gonna grab the jaws and some bandages."

Eddie steps away and a new man crouches in his place. He's blondish, has a red birthmark splotched above his eye, and is grinning cheerfully. "Hey, we're gonna get you out of here in no time."

"I bet you got shit from other kids about your name too, huh?" She smiles at him in commiseration, and then confusion as he looks at her questioningly. "Oh, you didn't hear- I'm Heather Pantry. And you're Honey, right? Food names."

His face stays puzzled for a second before he laughs. "Ah, no." He jabs a thumb in the direction Eddie walked. "I'm married to that guy." He says it proudly, and his grin gets somehow more cheerful.

"Oh, shit, sorry," she says as he flaps an understanding hand.

"Don't worry about it, just don't let our colleagues know he used a pet name at work or we'll never hear the end of it. My name's Buck Diaz." He holds out a hand.

She mimes a zipper over her mouth as she shakes it. Multi tasking! Take that, potential concussion! Her eye catches on his name tag as he pulls away and she frowns. Aw no, concussion. "Why does that say…"

Buck looks down at the letters. "Ah, right. Well, I took Eddie's name when I got married, but my- everyone calls me Buck, has for ages, but it's a nickname from my old last name, and I didn't want to be Evan Diaz with no tie to that, so I changed my first name too, because Evan just isn't really my name anymore. But," he gestures down at the name tag, and then over his shoulder at the back of his jacket. "The names on our turnouts are one of the ways we find each other in low visibility, and how we might be initially identified if something, uh, goes wrong, and everyone rejected my perfectly good idea of being labeled 'Diaz 1' and 'Diaz 2' so… I was born Evan Buckley, my legal name is Buck Diaz, my work name is Buckley, sometimes people call me Buckaroo, and Chimney says they should just start sending me out to explain all that as the new concussion protocol."

"Chimney?"

"You'd fit right in around here, Pantry. You looking for a career change?"

"Hah," she says. "The LAFD looking to recruit failed art directors who can't maintain a good relationship with the best girl they've ever known?"

Buck grimaces in sympathy. "You've had a rough day."

"I've certainly had better." She looks at her shit thrown all about the car, feeling a little pathetic, and then back at Buck. If something goes wrong… "Is it hard, working together? Do you- I mean, either of you could get hurt at any time. It's gotta be hard knowing that, or- seeing that. Being there."

Buck's smile turns a little rueful, and he looks back towards the firetruck for a moment. "Yeah… we've had our fair share of close calls." He laughs, though there's not much humor in it, and starts holding up fingers. "Eddie's been crushed in a collapsed well 40 feet underground, and he got shot standing two feet in front of me, and there was the whole thing with the freeway collapse - which is how we got together, actually - and I've been crushed under a firetruck, was on the pier with our kid when the tsunami hit, and I got struck by lightning." He does a little jazz hand. "I died for three minutes."

"And seventeen seconds," comes Eddie's quiet voice. He's standing there with the supplies, looking down at Buck, something too steps more sad than a frown on his face.

Buck looks up at him, eyes intense, smile small. "And seventeen seconds," he corrects, and then looks back at Heather with both eyebrows up. "I don't recommend it!"

"I'll do my best to not get deceased."

“But I think…” Buck looks thoughtful as he stands to let his husband press gauze to cuts Heather didn’t know she had. “I’d rather be here, than not. I want to be by Eddie’s side, even and especially when things are hard, and to, uh,” he laughs a private laugh, bumps his elbow with Eddie’s. “To have his back, like I know he has mine.” Together, they work the jaws into the door and finally wrench it open with a terrible metallic screech. “And anyway, some of that stuff happened while I wasn’t even at work, so bad things can happen at any time. I want to… know I had the chance to do something about it, when they do.”

Both of the men reach in to help Heather, moving around each other so easily, so familiar. Her eyes sting a little, and she could blame it on the scrapes but she’s thinking of Tracy singing while she does the dishes. She sniffs a little as Buck holds her elbow. “Wasn’t… the tsunami years before the freeway collapse? You guys had a son already?”

They make eye contact over her head (jesus, they’re tall, is that a firefighter requirement?) and Eddie laughs first but Buck really cracks up.

“We may have done things a little out of order,” Eddie says, loud enough to be heard over Buck’s guffaws. His eyes are crinkled up. “Let’s get you to the ambulance, Ms. Pantry.”

She’s handed over to other paramedics, who go through a more thorough checklist than Eddie’s field triage. She’s paying attention to the questions, she is, but the ambulance doors are still open and she sees Eddie in the shade of the fire truck look around before pulling Buck close, a hand gentle on his cheek. He kisses him, and they’re pretty far away but she thinks the small smile on his face is probably visible from Saturn.

The doors close, and she’s carted off towards Cedars-Sinai where as soon as she’s cleared to leave she’ll find the gift shop and buy a notepad, a get well soon card, a coloring book- anything she can write on. She has a letter to send.

#eddie diaz #buddie #evan buckley #911 fox #my writing

[highfunctioningflailgirl]

10 mg of Truth

Cas approached Dean’s hospital room with a mixture of trepidation and misery pulling on his heartstrings. On the one hand, he was incredibly relieved that Dean was alive and would make a full recovery. On the other hand, Dean was in a lot of pain, and Cas knew he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. He’d depleted his grace saving the hunter from those five rabid demons who’d tossed him about like a football. For the time being, there was no juice left in him to heal the numerous fractures Dean had suffered, and it would be hard to have to watch him heal the old-fashioned, painful way.

Cas steeled himself before knocking softly on the door and entering Dean’s room.

He was awake - or as awake as someone on a high dose of morphine could be. Drowsy green eyes blinked at Cas from a face mottled with bruises. Dean’s right leg was in a heavy cast, his left arm immobilized in a sling to protect his broken collarbone. The thin hospital gown, Cas knew, was hiding a spectacular swath of bruising across Dean’s fractured ribs.

“Hey,” Cas greeted him softly.

“Hey…” A loopy smile tugged on Dean’s split lip when he recognized his visitor. He blinked again, as if those long, thick lashes of his were too heavy to keep his eyes open.

Cas’ heart did a sweet, painful little flip. He stood awkwardly by the side of the bed.

“How are you, Dean?”

That was what one asked a recuperating human, right?

Dean lazily clucked his tongue. “Peachy. Good as new in a few weeks. Hell, better than new!” He nodded at his leg. “They put hardware into me. I’ll be friggin’ Robocop!” He grinned, revealing his somehow adorably chipped front tooth.

Surprised, Cas couldn’t help but smile. He’d expected an angry, impatient Dean in a get-me-out-of-here temper. He’d expected a clenched jaw and the white-knuckled denial of pain. He’d expected the classic Winchester bravado on full display.

What he hadn’t expected was cheerful, drugged-to-the-gills charisma, and it was making him a little dizzy.

“I’m sorry that I can’t speed up your recovery,” he said, remembering his earlier woe. “At least not yet. I hope my grace refuels swiftly, so that, when we have you home–”

“Nah,” Dean interrupted him, flapping his good hand. “Don’t worry about it, Cas. You saved my ass. At least most of it.” He shifted with a goofy, crooked expression on his face. “Got a boot print on my left tush the size of Kansas, ‘s far as I can tell. But I’m alive, an’ those motherfuckers would’ve ganked me if it hadn’t been for you.”

Cas didn’t know what to say to that. But he didn’t have to, since Dean continued his hopped-up rambling.

“‘Sides,” he slurred, mischief in his eyes, “the nurses are really nice to me. And they’re hot. Well, most of them. Should’ve seen the one who took my temperature this morning. She was…” He gestured a “chef’s kiss” and smacked his lips. “Not as hot as you, though.”

Cas blinked.

What?

“Course, no one could beat that angel vibe you’ve got going on,” Dean continued, unfazed and chatty. “‘Holy’ my ass. You, Mr. Hot Accountant - “ Dean winked at him. “- were made for sin.”

Cas, struck dumb, felt his cheeks flush and his heart somersault in his chest. He’d felt attracted to Dean for so long, had hidden it as best as he could, badly, but determinedly, certain that, in spite of their special bond, Dean would never feel the same way about him. And now this - a medically induced, uninhibited flirt?

“Ah, yes- I mean, no!” he stammered. “Thank you, I -...” He struggled for words. He didn’t want to break the moment, desperately wanted to know if Dean meant this, or if it was just the meds talking. But he also didn’t want to take advantage of someone who was clearly off his head with pain meds and who, most likely, wouldn’t remember a single thing he’d said the next day.

“Cat eat your tongue?” Dean asked, his grin drooping sleepily.

Utterly confused, Cas looked around. “There is no cat.”

Dean huffed, wincing a little when the movement jarred his ribs.

“Cas,” he said softly, losing the fight against his heavy eyelids now. “I love you, man. Never change.”

His unencumbered hand searched and found Cas’ arm and slid down his sleeve against Cas’ palm. Castiel grasped and held it.

The angel had no idea what to say. Or what to think. How to correctly interpret Dean’s words. Chaos in his head and hope surging in his chest, he just stood there, Dean’s warm, calloused hand in his, and watched the hunter close his eyes and drift off to sleep.

#suptober23 #no.13 #flirt #fanfic #castiel #dean winchester #spn #supernatural #fluff #hurt/comfort #oopsie #destiel in the making #injury cw

[arecaceae175]

Autistic LU chain headcannons!

Including some gender and sexuality bc for me those are very tied to my autism. Most of this is rooted in their personalities, but some of this just appeared in my mind and didn't go away XD. Infodump incoming!!! :D

Time

Time uses they/them pronouns bc they literally have no idea what gender is

Has a lot of verbal shutdown episodes. They're able to communicate with sign language most of the time

Almost completely nonverbal as a child (Mask era)

When they do speak it's very monotone

More shutdowns than meltdowns

Time does really prolonged eye contact (to the point of awkward for allistics) bc it's all or nothing for them

Favorite stims: humming, playing ocarina, tapping their chest/collarbone

Lots of verbal stims, so nonverbal episodes and shutdowns can be hard to recover from since they can't do their favorite stims

If given the opportunity, they will only drink milk. No other sustenance.

Must be reminded to eat, can't interpret their bodies' internal cues very well

Very confrontational - will absolutely throw hands at ableists

So incredibly loyal. Once they think you're family, they will never, ever, ever let you go or let anything happen to you

Special interests: cows, masks (as a child, not as prominent anymore), and Time has memorized every single "dad joke" they've ever heard and LOVE telling jokes to break tension or cheer the others up

Asexual, biromantic, sex-positive

Warriors

Highest masking because of his time as a soldier

Hard for allistics to identify as autistic bc he's so good at masking

He has a lot of anxiety surrounding unmasking and showing his autistic traits, so he simply does not

That obviously doesn't work, so during the war he was constantly stressed and had meltdowns or shutdowns very frequently

Zelda and Impa tried to help, but there was so much going on that they couldn't do much

Mask and Wind helped a LOT during the war. Warriors wanted to make sure they were taken care of and could show their autistic traits, so he became a lot more comfortable with his own and created a more accepting environment

SO good at people reading, because he just memorized everything and watched everyone's every move

That gets quite overwhelming and causes shutdowns a lot

Doesn't have verbal shutdown episodes super often, but when he did in the war Proxi would copy his voice and speak for him. He's able to communicate with sign

Scarf is comfort item

The most ritualistic of the whole chain. Wars has very specific routines for most things that he does, and breaking routine is the biggest reason he has meltdowns

His meltdowns are very internalized, and he just likes to be left alone

He is now very confrontational about ableism

Also very very very loyal

He also has a lot of black and white thinking, and a strong sense of justice

Favorite stims: swaying while standing, shifting weight from foot to foot, spinning

When he's really happy he'll bring his arms up and like shake them back and forth in front of himself? Like his hands are flapping/shaking back and forth, but in fists, and his elbows are bent to his hands are almost in front of his face (I can see it in my mind but I'm having trouble explaining it)

Special interests: battle strategizing (could tell you very specific facts about any battle from any point in time that he's studied), loves to sew

Asexual, aromantic, sex-neutral

Wind

He has never once sat still in his entire life

Has never finished anything in a timely manner, ever

Always asks a lot of clarification questions, and he gets confused when allistic people get offended by his questions

Also has ADHD

Little to no voice volume control

That becomes an issue with the Links that are more sound sensitive, so it's something they're all trying to work on finding a compromise for

Favorite stims: rocking, chewing

He has a chewy stim toy that he wears around his neck. Grandma made it for him so he would stop putting things in his mouth

Loves the sensory aspects of being underwater

Always walking on his toes. As a child he was always toe walking, but his Grandma didn't know to correct that, so now Wind physically can't stand flat footed for long periods of time

He has a lot of trouble with routine. The autistic part of him wants the routine, but the ADHD wants spontaneity and usually wins

Has a lot of trouble keeping his things tidy and with personal hygiene (Wars helps with hygiene bc he is excellent at it due to his routines)

He doesn't really have shutdowns, just meltdowns

They involve a lot of loud screaming and self-injurious behavior

Biggest sensory issues: FOOD (bc he wasn't introduced to a lot of different foods and textures on Outset Island), under-stimulation

Special interests: sailing, pirates, also characters from a storybook his Grandma used to read to him and Ayrll every single night (at Wind's insistence)

Hyperverbal

Most likely to infodump

Asexual, aromantic, sex-repulsed

Wild

No gender. What's gender. Genderfluid, changes pronouns based on mood, and usually sticks with one set for long periods of time

Lost the ability to mask when they lost their memories

So they're the easiest for allistics to identify as autistic

Most people in their world don't care, but they have experienced some ableism since they can't mask

Entirely nonverbal. They use the sheikah slate as an AAC device

Cloak is comfort item

Favorite stims: hand flapping and bouncing on their toes

They walk almost exclusively on their toes and always have the dinosaur hands

Even mix of meltdowns and shutdowns

SO so so bad at understanding body language, sarcasm, etc.

They have a lot of trouble existing in a group. Like they'll wander off or do something dangerous and then not really understand why what they did was wrong (BUT they still love the chain of course)

Biggest sensory issues: crowds, lots of voices talking at once

LOVE deep pressure

Special interest: cooking, horses, cataloguing plants in the sheikah slate

Pre-calamity one of their special interests was sheikah tech, so they secretly LOVED going around with Flora researching sheikah tech

Asexual, panromantic, sex-repulsed

(Despite these being my autistic wild headcannons, I use almost none of these in Authenticity lol. Wild's autistic traits in that fic are primarily based on my own)

Legend

Gender?? Who's she?? Genderfluid, similar to Wild, but pronouns change more frequently

Not very good at accommodating themself

They often push themself WAY past their limits and then have long burnout periods

But they've gotta save the world, so it's fine, right? (Answer is no. It is very bad)

Must be reminded to sleep, and they have a lot of issues with sleeping

They often come across as rude to allistics, but that is generally not their intention, they're just bad at (allistic) communication

When they intend to be rude you'll KNOW

They have a really hard time communicating feelings and emotions, which frustrates them a lot and is hard for people trying to help them

This is especially an issue for the chain bc most of the time none of them can "read between the lines" and figure out what Legend is trying to say

Has never once gotten rid of anything because what if they need it? And also it is a part of their stuff and it has it's very specific place, so if it was gone then that place would be empty and then what would they do??????

Everything has a Place and they HATE when people touch or move their stuff

Biggest sensory issues: clothing, textures

Pants are a battle. People have given up.

Pants make Legend's legs THROB and feel like thousands of tiny knives are stabbing their skin. So they simply do not wear pants

Favorite stims: twirling their rings and other jewelry, rubbing good textures, humming (Marin's song)

Harmful stims: hitting things or themself (usually hitting their thighs)

Special interests: magical items, jewelry (jewelry with magical properties are the COOLEST SHIT)

Pansexual, polyamorous

Hyrule

There is no gender here. Gender makes no sense. They/them

They also have ADHD

Love asking questions because they want to understand every single detail of all these new exciting eras

Absolutely can't tell what tone they speak in

Really bad at paying attention to their surroundings

Attention span is practically nonexistent

They often wander off without even meaning to and don't realize until they're completely lost

Sometimes need to be reminded to do self care tasks

Have frequent verbal shutdown episodes that last for a long time. They can communicate with sign, and they also sometimes stick close to Wild and use Wild's AAC slate function

Favorite stim: running their hands through their hair (their hair is almost always dirty bc of this), shaking/twisting their hands

Harmful stim: skin picking

The skin picking is an ISSUE because it sometimes causes blood, and the blood curse is a thing

Biggest sensory issues: crowds and voices and also bright lights

Tendency to freeze and shut down when overwhelmed (this was an issue a lot during their adventures, but not so much now that the chain has their back)

Special interests: biology/anatomy, and there's a series of books they once found in an abandoned town that they LOVE. Books are hard to come by in their era so those are their absolute most prized possession

Asexual, aromantic, sex-repulsed

Sky

Bi-gender, he/she

Comfort items: sailcloth, Loftwing plush toy from Zelda, Master Sword

He carries around the loftwing plush absolutely everywhere he goes. She has a special protected pocket in his bag for when it isn't safe to carry her in his hands. Her name is Brenda (because my favorite stuffed animal friend is named Brenda and I'm in charge XD)

Favorite stims: jumping/bouncing in place, flapping his arms like a loftwing, humming, moving his fingers in the motions of playing his harp

Harmful stims: pulling her hair, hitting his ears when overstimulated

Eye contact???? Absolutely not. She will look everywhere except the person speaking to her

His biggest sensory sensitivity is sound

There was never much going on in Skyloft (other than things he was used to) and it's pretty small, so he got VERY easily overwhelmed on the Surface when he first started his adventure. Fi often had to guide her to a safe spot where he could get through a meltdown or shutdown

She still gets really easily overwhelmed and usually is nonverbal for the first bit of time after a portal shift while he adjusts to his surroundings

He's not great at communicating at all during his verbal shutdown episodes

When she gets overwhelmed she freezes and shuts down. He's more likely to have a meltdown once he's in a safe place

Since he gets overwhelmed so easily, Sky needs a LOT of sleep. More so than the other Links. Sky is banned from taking middle watch

She loves doing tasks that require intricate detail, like woodcarving and embroidery

Special interests: loftwings of course

As a child Sky related much more to her loftwing than he did any people, so his relationship with his loftwing is one of the most important things in her life

Bisexual, polyamorous

Got SO confused when people say he isn't supposed to have more than one partner

Like why??? He likes them both??? The more the merrier???? Makes no sense, does not comprehend

Twilight

Very good at routines. He loves routines. They're so great

Also, similarly, patterns. Twilight can pick out patterns in anything

He gets really irritated when something breaks pattern or is slightly uneven

He loves being on a farm and doing morning routines of feeding the animals

He's always always always related more to animals than people

Animals make sense, people don't

He's still not very good at allistic "social standards," so he's among the easiest for allistics to identify as autistic

Hyper-empathetic

But he doesn’t always know how to help. Wolfie is great for this

He has trouble with the sensory changes that come with shifting to/from his wolf form. Wolves and Hylians have very different sensory experiences, so adjusting between the two takes him a while. Once he's adjusted it's fine, it's just the adjusting itself that's hard

Has verbal shutdown episodes after meltdowns. They don't last super long, and he can usually talk again after a good night's sleep. He can communicate with sign during the episodes

Wolf pelt is comfort item

Favorite stims: touching good textures, rocking, humming

Harmful stims: biting his knuckles

Absolute favorite stim is rubbing his soft wolf pelt on his face, specifically over his mouth and on his upper lip

Special interests: goats, wolves. He knows every. Single. Fact.

Second most likely to infodump

Asexual, biromantic, sex-positive

Four

Too much gender to pick just one. They/them

Comfort item: a little wooden action figure toy thing their grandpa made for them. Four's had it their whole life and never ever goes anywhere without it. It's usually in a special pocket on the inside of their tunic

Most black and white thinker of the group

Four can't grasp or comprehend any nuance or sarcasm or anything in the abstract

They ask SO MANY questions, bc that is their way of understanding the world

They don't really understand most of Time's dad jokes, but they like it when the others laugh

Must be reminded to eat and drink water

Does not like touching other people or being touched by other people

Has more meltdowns than shutdowns

Their little body can't contain all the big feelings and the feelings have to come out somehow

Like Legend they also have a lot of trouble communicating feelings and needs

Biggest sensory issue: sensory symmetry. Everything must be even!!! Also big feelings ^

Favorite stims: they really like the smell of metal, bouncing on toes, spinning, love stim toys

Four never really stops stimming, but they've learned to do it discreetly (bc masking)

They love tinkering, and they love stim toys, so they've made themself a LOT of stim toys. They also love making stim toys for the rest of the chain. (They made a perfectly silent and very discreet one for Wars bc he has the most trouble unmasking)

Harmful stims: head banging

Special interest: tools. Four wants collect every tool in existence, and wants to know exactly what it does. Especially blacksmithing tools, bc Four also really likes blacksmithing

Demisexual, biromantic

Disclaimer: every autistic person has a different way of experiencing the world. I am only one person, so my experience is largely limited to myself. I tried to have links be very diverse in their experiences :)

Feel free to add some of your own autistic or otherwise neurodivergent headcannons!!!!!

#ace's lu analysis #autistic chain #lu headcanons #linked universe #linkeduniverse #im having so many thoughts #autism #autistic characters #lu wild #lu time #lu warriors #lu sky #lu twilight #lu wind #lu legend #lu hyrule #lu four #the lu boyos #i have spent HOURS on this XDXD #it has been so much fun #shoutout to Brenda #my Brenda is a whale shark #I got her at the Georgia Aquarium #i'm working on getting more comfortable taking Brenda into public with me because I always feel better when I do #but I'm worried people will be mean about it

[internalsealpanic]

Ghostwriting

Summary: After successfully completing a novel for the Penguin and a scathing article for Two-face, the Joker enlists your ghostwriting skills for his debut in the romance novel writing business. You accept, reluctantly. A/n: This, as most of my fics tend to, started as a joke. But thanks to @restwellsoon​ and @pricetagofficial​, it developed into something that had me by the throat. Warnings: proof of my actual insanity and quasi-romantic Dick Grayson x Reader in the bonus section because my hand slipped

Ghostwriting: The process of writing an article, a book, an essay, a song, or any other written piece under the name of the person who commissions you.

 Step 1: Interview the client.

 The whole situation is deeply ridiculous.

 You are, on a very rare sunny day in Gotham, dangling over a tank of jokerized piranhas in a rickety wooden chair and a very ugly Christmas sweater with Hyenas snapping at your socked feet while the maniac holding you by the collar continues to monologue.

 This is not how you want to end up on front-page news. So help you god, it's not.

 In the interest of not dying in your aunt Rowena's worst present, you speak up. "You... what, you want me to write a romance novel about you and Batman?"

 "Yes, yes, what about my explanation wasn't clear to you," Joker snaps. The part about the electrified fish, you think and keep to yourself because that hand around your shirt collar is looking incredibly loose. He sighs dramatically and points to the messy collage of pictures on the far wall. "I clearly explained it on the diagram."

"Right..." You squint. Ah, you see it now. Gotham must have supplanted the idea of drawing hearts on your crush's pictures with green, twirly mustaches and googly eyes. Makes sense. If any shit hole was going to do it, it's Gotham. "How long are you thinking exactly?"

Joker's forehead wrinkled for a moment then the moment extended until you began to suspect that he was just trying to see if he wrinkled his forehead just right to form the numbers. "Oh, how long is that one with three whosie whatsits?" It's your turn to look confused. He flaps his hand to make a swinging motion that nearly drops you into the tank. You suddenly know all the words to the Lord's Prayer. "The one with the mouse, the duck, and the dog." You're starting to suspect he's hallucinating this book. "There was a french turtle narrating it."

 Oh.

 "The Three Musketeers?"

 "That one!"

 "That's…” You search your memory. “...1.5 million words."

 "And?"

 "700 pages."

 "And?"

Step 2: Make sure you understand the voice of the person you're writing for.

 The process of turning a 200-page manuscript into confetti is a very messy one which the Joker enjoys doing in front of you immensely.

 "Garbage."

 You gape, watching him throw it all into the air while turning his nose up at you. "You barely read it!"

 "Garbage," he repeats then crosses his arms and with a distinctly Pepe le Pew accent he says, "Gar-baaaage."

 "But—"

 "Gar-baaaaage."

 You settle back into your chair. Baffled, you stare at him and he sniffs like you're the one acting rude. You get a little misty-eyed thinking about the amount of paper that was just wasted. "What about it was... garbage?"

"Well first off all," he says straightening up, "Where is the spice? Where is the drama? This is about as bland as my Nana's oatmeal." There is a brief flickering urge to ask him whether he means cyanide when he says spice but you don't only because he speaks up again. "And see here," he says pointing to the newly pieced together page, "does that sound like old Batsy to you?"

 "I guess not?"

 "And what about this," he jabs at a passage like it just insulted his mother, "This sounds nothing like me."

 "Right... My apologies. Do you..."know what you actually sound like? "... have any writing samples."

 "If I had any, I wouldn't need you."

 Fair point.

 "Oh, don't look so glum, chum. If you really want to get to know my work, you have to go back to the classics."

 Oh, joy, you think. "I guess I could, uh, look up early news reports..." He gives you a look. "... or I could, uh," find a better source of money, "I could get it from the source (?)."

 He huffs a little less irritated. "My earliest stand-up, of course."

 You blink. "You want me to time travel?"

 "Don't be ridiculous. All of my routines are on VHS."

 Time travel then.

  ()

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no," you hiss frantically as Bub, one of Two-face's terror twins, shuts the door in your face with a definitive thud. "Hey, hey, Bub. C'mon! Your boss at least owes me a coin toss before you say no."

 There's a moment. A lot of noises and a lot of racket then the door opens again.

 A man split down the middle slams the door open, glowering down at you. You smile and proffer a coin. He squints at it and bats it away, smoothly transitioning into flicking his own.

Step 3: Find the themes.

 Dick Grayson is a man who, normally, prides himself on having seen it all— giant robots, shapeshifting aliens, space cops, a man in black kevlar fighting crime so he can miss Thursday's therapy appointment.  He's pretty confident that nothing would surprise him.

 Wouldn't it be funny if he was wrong?

 Dick Grayson, for once in his life, literally stands corrected.

 Crouched in front of a wall plastered with scraps of paper and pictures of Batman and a various assortment of kinks all connected with bright marigold orange, you look up, pen tapping on your chin. "I think," you say with all the seriousness this does not deserve, "I figured out Batman's kinks."

 "I will pay you not to tell me," comes Dick's impossibly quick response.

 You ignore him and the wallet seemingly levitating out of his pocket. It seems to fly over your head that the offer to pay you was not, in any sense, a joke. It is closer to a threat.  But you press on anyway with feverish enthusiasm. "This," you point to a sticky note with omegaverse in the biggest, boldest print where all the messily scrawled arrows are pointed to, "This is the key to the kingdom."

 Dick, in spite of all the little voices in his head whispering better ideas, decides to humor you.  "Ok, how is batman," he squints, "'a furry?"

 You wave your arms frantically at the mess of pictures then tap vigorously on one of the grainy CCTV photos. Dick tilts his head, narrows his eyes at it, then figures this is why he hates playing charades. "You think he's a furry because he's... not photogenic?"

 "No. No, he— Dick, Dickerson, Dick Tracy, can't you see? It all makes sense! Think about it!"

 "I really don't want to." 

 "He dresses like a bat, dates a woman who dresses like a cat, and all his stuff is animal themed. I've connected the dots."

 Dick wonders how much sleep you've gotten and Dick wonders how much sleep he's getting if this is all starting to make sense to him.  "Uhuh," he says unwillingly taking the information in, "Is this your blackmail-batman-get-rich-quick scheme cus I gotta say this is a lot and I mean a lot of work." Dick thinks, even the GCPD hasn't put this much effort into finding out who Batman is, as he walks over. His brows wrinkle as he takes in the full breadth of your research. "Are those ... police reports?"

  Shit.

 "Naw," you wave your hand, "I wish. But these are old articles, these are testimonials from people who've interacted with him, these are psych profiles from experts..."

 Dick's mouth goes a little dry. "I'm guessing you're getting a pretty good picture of what kind of guy Batman is, huh."

 "Just about."

 He swallows dry and the possibility goes down like a large pill. "So... any guesses?" 

 "Sort of."

 Dick's lips flatten as he tries to work through the scenarios and how he can divert your investigation. He tilts his head in a way that reminds most people of a curious puppy. "Who's top of the list?" He asks innocently.

 You hum, pinning another picture onto the wall. "I don't really know. Haven't had time since the Joker's getting pissy about me not showing him a new manuscript."

 Those words make sense individually but not in that order.

 Dick blinks. "I'm sorry?"

 "Oh, I'm working for the Joker."

 "I'm sorry?" Dick repeats a little higher and louder.

 You seem to reconsider your phrasing because Dick looks genuinely concerned and possibly a little pale. "I'm ghostwriting a Romance Novel for him," you clarify, "Speaking of which, you're pretty good with tech, yeah?"

 Dick is still stuck on: "working for the joker" and "romance novel", so he just nods. You clap your hands together excitedly. "Great! Two-face isn't going to kill me!"

 "I'm sorry?”

Step 4: Be flexible

 You are an absolute goon.

 You are an absolute, categorical goon.

 Dick's laughing hysterically in your ear as you print off the last few pages of the manuscript. You, too, are laughing like a maniac. 6 months. Six-fucking-months, seven hundred and five pages, and more the 1.5 million pages later you have a finished manuscript called 50 Shades of Green (working title).  You've got tears in your eyes and you swear you're gonna quit writing the second this shit is released into the world. You might even change your name as a precaution because this thing probably violates several human rights you don't even know about.

 Who cares though?

 It's done.

 You cackle madly as you shut the door, ready to run to amusement mile to submit your final draft and run to Arkham to have yourself committed. If you're lucky and Two-face isn't hogging their time, you could get Dr. Hodgins and talk to them about Chewy and their other succulents.

 Everything stops. Breathing, thoughts, pulse— all stop when your eyes land on the large shadow looming in your living room.

 Shit, you think, taking a step back, body hitting the breakfast nook. You knew this whole thing was some sort of crime. You knew it. Your mouth goes dry and the color drains from your skin. Batman's going to kill you.

 He shifts, stepping closer. You have a thought. A small despairing thought that you might die crying and get tears all over the transcript. That's so much paper wasted. 

 The Batman stops and looks between you and the bundle of papers in your arms.

 "We need to talk."

 You flick your eyes to your phone reflexively.

 "Alone."

 Dick makes a protesting noise but the glare from Batman overrules any of Dick's protests.

 Batman nods, satisfied. He says something. Your brain fizzes out and the words become jumbled.

 You clutch the papers protectively to your chest. "You... what, want to buy the rights to the book?"

 "Yes."

 You blink. It's very strange to feel protective over a project you could not wait to get rid of just two minutes ago. Your brows wrinkle. Even if you did want to sell it, you don't technically have the rights. Well, you do. Sort of. But you like being alive and not on the Joker's shit list and you tell Batman as much.

 Batman nods. It's a surreal moment when Batman sits on your couch. Even more surreal when he takes a pen and a check book out.

 "How much?"

 "The Joker..."

 "I can take care of that."

 You pause. It's Batman. The man has a pretty good track record so far. You flick your eyes to the floor. Could you live with yourself if you charged Batman full price? It was one thing to scam the Joker, another whole entire world away kind of thing to scam Batman. You sigh. "I charged Joker $1 per word but I usually charge a flat fee of between $100,000 to $250,000 depending on how long the book is," you answer honestly. Looking at the book you have in your hands and the messy conspiracy theory wall, you might wanna charge at least $300k. You sigh again.

 "I can pay you the original amount owed," he says as if it's nothing, "it might take some time to go through though. All I need is all the files and research you've collected."

 You nod. Dumbstruck. You're not exactly sure about the legalities of this but you ask him to make a written promissory note to leave you along with the check he gave.

 The legality of this whole horror show is questionable but one thing you've learned about ghostwriting is that you have to be flexible.

   [Bonus section]

Step 5: Cover your tracks.

 Step 5.1: Get rid of the evidence.

 Jason's blustering. "That's gotta be the stupidest reason to drop out of college."

 Dick's brow ticks. He's not in the mood to deal with Jason's snark, not because his darling little brother just drained his pot of coffee, not because the little shit decided to track Gotham gunk all over his perfectly nice hardwood floors, and certainly not because said shit-head is sitting high and mighty on his kitchen counter being snarky about his life decisions. It's because, once again, Bruce is being petty. And Dick would rather spend his energy on being petty back rather than deal with Jason's snark.

 "You did not have to read an erotica about the Joker and B while panicking whether your project partner has accidentally figured out your secret identity. How would you like it if I described vividly how the Joker used electric fish to give B a hard on?" Dick snaps in one quick barrage of syllables.

 Jason looks and feels like Dick just threw bricks in his face. After a beat, he says, "You have a copy, right?"

 "Duh." Dick looks over his shoulder. "You sure you wanna read it?"

  A mean grin spreads over Jason's features. "Yanno, I gotta fucked up sense of humor."

 Dick knows cause he's got one too. "Fine."

 "Fine?" Jason's teeth flash and his features look more mischievous than threatening.

 "On one condition."

 ()

 Dick hadn't meant for this to get so out of hand.

 "Hi, I'm Vicky Vale, and tonight we'll be having the first meeting of Vicky's Viral Book Club. Naturally, we're gonna start with Gotham's very own hit- The Clown that Wanked Me (Batman)! Now many Gothamites know Batman, but they don't know Batman, and some speculate that he might even be Bruce Wayne. Stay tuned for more after the break!"

 It's not like Dick knew Jason was going to release the audiobook publicly or that Jason was going to do it at all. He may have underestimated Jason. He could not be more proud.

 "Jason... son... Jaylad... I'll increase your allowance by 10K if you do this one lil favor for your old man," Bruce begs. Poor guy doesn't know he's on speaker phone. Dick tries his best to choke on his Thai food in silence.

 "C'mon old man, I got principles. You can't just buy me out," Jason insists, sounding a little wounded, but he looks pleased as punch from Dick's perspective.

 "Jason, this is not how Gotham finds out who Batman is." Bruce sounds furious. Hal or Ollie must have heard about this whole thing already. "How did you even get a copy?"

 At that, Dick can't suffer in silence anymore and ends up laughing hysterically while choking. It's some kind of psychic ability at this point to sense Bruce's glare without visuals. Bruce has no tangible proof he is actually involved though. Dick made sure to be thorough about that.

 "Sucks to suck, old man," Jason cuts in. Absolutely delighted. "Besides, abso-fucking-lutely no one believes it's you." Jason, with a shit-eating grin, sends a rather scathing article denying that Batman could ever be Bruce Wayne.

 There's a shuffle and a soft thud that indicates that Bruce has set the phone down. When Bruce speaks again, his voice is slightly muffled like he's a bit of a distance away.

 Distraught, he asks, "Alfred, do you think I’m a big dumb idiot who's only use is his good looks, money, and being an excellent father?"

 Alfred with all the prim composure he's known for replies, " yes master Bruce, you are as the kids say, 'an absolute dumbass'."

 Step 5.2: The witnesses.

 "You got a call." Mai's got your phone pinched between her fingers, dangling precariously at an angle. You frown. You... don't get calls. She does. That's the point of an agent, isn't it?

 She shakes the phone at you and you take it because you feel like she's going to drip it. You don't recognize the number but answer it anyway.

 A voice you hadn't heard from since your first semester of college rings in your ear. "Hey," Dick says with a laugh like no time has passed, "look on Gotham Gazette's page."

 You do.

 You regret it almost immediately but you did it.

 "Gotham's hottest new book: The Clown that Wanked Me (Batman)! read by a mysterious voice."

 You skim over the article and there's a link. A link to the audiobook and on the page for the audiobook, there's a link to the PDF, a description,  and a whole slew of reviews. "Description: I decided to make an audiobook version of Joker's self insert fanfiction with Batman. Enjoy ;]." Huh. That is definitely your manuscript. Those are definitely positive reviews.

  "the most reluctant wank i've ever had"

 "content is shit but the narrator's voice is sexy"

 "it's written pretty well but I gotta ask if both the narrator and the writer are well"

 "when's the sequel gonna come out"

 You're floored. "What the fuck," you murmur.

 There's a snort then a chuckle. "Relax," he says, opening a soda can, "no one knows it's you. They all think it's the Joker."

 Fuck, you hope so. You keep scrolling, building up mixed feelings over the whole thing when a thought occurs to you. "... Are— Is this you blackmailing me?"

"Nope," he says. He's buzzing a little then adds, "maybe."

 What the fuck. "Nice to hear from you too then."

 Dick snorts. You snort too. You glance at the script you were working on and well, since he's already on the line, you might as well shoot your shot. "Any chance you're interested in being a one-off detective in a copaganda show?" You vaguely remember Dick complaining that Bruce said he couldn't hack it as a cop. Next best thing, right?

 "In exchange for my silence?"

 "Yeah. That and if anyone can sweet talk the producer into not firing me if I get named for that whole Gotham debacle, it's you."

 "It's a date then."

#gotham imagine #batfam imagine #batfamily x reader #gotham rogues #joker #two face #harvey dent #bruce wayne imagine #dick grayson x reader #kind of #optionally #crackfic #Jason Todd #Jason todd imagine

[jessysapphireblue]

One Piece Advent Calender Door 13

Door 13 : Heartfelt Cards to you

Walking through the snow-covered town, Luffy and you took in the decorations and enjoying some fresh hot meat from a vendor, while you stuck to cotton Candy. “mmmh! So yummy...I want some cotton candy as well” Holding it out to him, he took a big bite from it. “mmh~ yummy”, he grinned.

Both of you finishing your food, and Soma finally awoke from his nap around your shoulder, looking around. “What is this?” Luffy pointed to a table where children and adults sat, colorful paper by them. “It´s a Card workshop. You can make your own christmas card there” “Why would you make cards?”, he tilted his head. “Why, for friends and family for example. Writing them something or drawing. You can even send them across the sea” “JE! I make one for Sabo!”, he beamed at you.

“Oh, that is a nice idea!” “YOSHA! I want to made a christmas Card for Sabo!”, he cheered and sat down by the table getting to it. Smiling at your eager boyfriend, you looked at Soma. “Should we also make some? You can help me” Rubbing himself to you, you sat down next to a child and got to work. They had so many different things to decorate them with, strings, pressed flowers, little stones not to mention the pens in colors and stickers. Soma got you the stuff he and you wanted, the children looking at him. “Oh why you can pet him. He loves it”, smiling at them, they soon got comfortable and your shrunked dragon bathed in it.

Making cards for everyone of the crew, you personalized them on their taste, and you had to admit it was fun. “Done!”, Luffy cheered and showed you the card in a blue tone. “For Sabo, right?” “mmh! What do you think?” He proudly handed you the card and you looked at it. “He will love it”, you admitted with a soft smile. “Good! Now you also need to write your name” “Mine?” “Yes! You are also Sabos sister now. You´re mine so-” He held you the pen out and you smiled, taking it and writing your name on it. “Yosh! Now it´s perfect”, Jumping up, you smiled as you also gathered your cards and made them vanish with a simple flick of your wrist, Soma nestling on your head. “Shh, ok?”

Catching up to your captain. “Now, should we send it to Sabo?” “Yes! Yes yes yes!!!”, jumping around, you smiled and walked with him out of town. Reaching the forest, you breathed out and held your hands to the sky, concentraiting before moving them together in a circular motion and a big piece of cloud came down to you. Hovering in front of you, it made you smile and the cloud poofed away, revealing a cloud eagle. “HOW COOL!!!!” Luffy was sparkling like a star, causing you to laugh, as his cheeks held an exited blush. “Sage, deliver a letter for me, ok?”

“It has a name?! How cool!!! You are amazing!!!” “Luffy, letter” “Oh, yes” “Deliver this to Sabo, revolutionary. 2nd in command. Ok?” The eagle chirped and sucked the letter into himself. “Whoa” “So secure it from wheather. Good luck and safe journey, my friend”, you smiled and held your arm out as big wings spread and witha few strong flaps, he was gone.

“Je, you are way too incredible!!!” “And you calm down before you faint from excitement” “BUT! YOU! WOOOOOOOO!!! YOU ARE THE BEST GIRLFRIEND OF THE WORLD!!! IN! I DON`T CARE!”, he shouted and you laughed, the three of you walking back to the Sunny, as Luffy wouldn´t stop gushing about you.

#luffy #luffy x reader #luffy x oc #luffy x y/n #monkey d. luffy #one piece #straw hat luffy #anime and manga #straw hat pirates #straw hat crew #christmas cards

[jaymgates]

Antares Log - 9-22-22

Today was a rough one at work, so I cut out early to beat the traffic on 5 and took myself up to the barn. Antares is still on stall confinement while we get to know him and keep an eye on his leg, and he's going a little bananas. He's been cooped up a lot recently, but that leg needs to have some coddling still.

He was very happy to go outside, even if it was supervised. I put him on the lungeline and let him roll, graze, and explore in between some very light working sessions. He spent about an hour out and was much happier.

We followed that with about an hour of time in the stall. He's settling down enough to enjoy a good grooming, so we did that and bonded for a while.

I'd been planning to start tacked workouts next week, but the leg is still unhappy and he's still anxious enough that I might push those out another week. I'd been hoping to ride him at a thing in two weeks, but given how stressful and exhausting his trip was, I might just let him have a month to settle in.

He got his new halters today - a bright red nylon one that will be his every day, and a gorgeous black leather lined with red leather, with a silver nameplate. The leather halter is only for when we're being fancy. He's pretty happy with them, he kept trying to put his red halter back on in hopes we'd go on another adventure.

A couple of observations and experiences today:

- He is incredibly sensitive and responsive. He may be big and powerful, but a light tap on his shoulder will move him back even if he's being cranky.

- God help me, I think he's smart. That's a terrible thing in a horse...for the humans.

- He really wants to roll at the very edge of the round pen where there's a good chance of getting stuck.

- He pays attention to *everything*. Part of that is anxiety, but he's currently a squirrel. This makes doing literally anything an exercise in redirecting.

- He's a perpetual motion machine. He only stopped moving if I asked him to. Getting him into turnout will be good.

- He's starting to settle in, and starting to respond to me. Long way to go still, of course, but encouraging to see hints already.

- We started working on word commands today. A lot of it is tone - with Sif, I can make a hand gesture or noise and she'll respond - so consistency is key. We're working on "With me," "come," "stay", "turn", "stop", "wait", and, my favorite, "make good choices."

- He does not like "good choices". He's not a fan of being told no. He'll obey, but he'll complain about it.

- He whickered at me when I came back after going to get something. It was an adorable, soft, high-pitched whicker.

- Jesus christ he's more of a supervisor than Sif. He is CONSTANTLY up in everything.

- He is made of rubber bands. I've been asking him to stretch, and he'll happily stick his nose in his arm pit and not even blink.

- He's very spooky right now, but I think that's anxiety and not having ANY anchors or safeties that he recognizes. It may very well also be for the fun of it. I have some suspicion about that...

- A branch fell in one of the pastures, setting all the stallions and Antares on edge. He just stood, listening and sniffing, his head in the air and every fiber focused on the sound. Not spooky, but suspicious.

- Good god he's tall.

- He's VERY good at communicating, in a mostly polite way. I used treats to help him stretch, so now he asks for treats by stretching. He doesn't want to go back in his stall, so he stops and won't move until I look at him and acknowledge his protest, then he goes in. He's used to humans listening to him, so he's equally used to communicating with us.

And, my favorite: his little lip flap tic is definitely A Thing. You know how, when someone's been thinking and comes to a decision, they'll rub their hands together or something? That's 100% what he does. He'll stare off for a moment, thinking about things, and then flap his lips sharply together once, bob his head, and go back to being a pestilence.

It's super cute.

It was good to get out for a while, to have to turn off my frustration and just focus on the moment. It always quiets my brain down in a way nothing else does. And having my boy there, finally, is such a huge relief.

[suttonsehested6]

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