#nervously bringing my art to tumblr

[irrieia]

finally got around to painting yuki ;;

#nervously bringing my art to tumblr #yuki tsunoda #he deserves so much #my art

[gigabyte-flare]

Insatiable (Part 1)

Summary: You are a researcher for D.S.O. who is responsible for studying Leon Kennedy as Las Plagas overtakes him, maybe even finding a cure. He starts to take a liking to you, too much of a liking to you.

Word Count: 2k

Pairing: yandere plagas!Leon Kennedy x fem!reader (afab)

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Actions depicted in this story are not condoned in real life. You are responsible for your own content consumption. If any of the following warnings trigger you, please read at your own risk. Minors do not interact, this story is 18+ only.

Warnings: Extreme violence and gore, biting, dubcon, forced breeding, gross las plagas-y things, death, mentions of un-aliving. DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT.

A/N: Heavily inspired by this artwork by @chanif-art on Tumblr along with Project Scorpion by @tagzpite. Literally could not get this idea out of my head until I wrote it down. Definitely going to be another series. We're also going to pretend D.S.O. was founded way sooner than 2011 k byeeeeee

“I fought a war and I learned how to win, but how do you fight when the enemy’s within?”

You step out of an elevator led by two armed D.S.O. operatives in tactical gear deep underground at HQ, your white lab coat flowing gently as you walk forward. Grasped in your right hand is a voice recorder. You and the operatives go through a series of heavy steel doors leading you into the bowels of the underground facility.

Is all this really necessary? you think to yourself as you’re led deeper into the abyss.

Finally, you’re brought to a single cell enclosed with clear polycarbonate panels with steel reinforcements. In this cell was a man sitting in a chair that was bolted into the floor, his hands chained behind his back and his legs chained to the legs of the chair. This man is Agent Leon S. Kennedy. You approach one of the panels closest to the steel door keeping him in. 

Switching the voice recorder on and bringing it to your mouth, you state your name before continuing, “The year is 2004. The subject is field agent Leon Scott Kennedy, currently 27 years old and exhibiting the late stages of Las Plagas infestation, his body is covered in dark, vein like marks. Subject is currently slumped over in the chair. He appears to be catatonic.”

Bringing the recorder away from your mouth, you motion to one of the operatives to guard the door. You input a passcode into a key panel next to the door. It lets out a hiss as it slowly swings open. As you step in, the door swings closed and locks.

You bring the recorder back to your mouth and continue, “Agent Kennedy?”

You watch as Leon slowly lifts his head, his face completely covered in the dark veins, his once blue eyes now have a slight red tinge to them, it makes your stomach twist in sorrow, he used to be such a handsome man.

“Subject appears to still have some cognitive ability left as he immediately recognized his name. We’re still trying to understand how he hasn’t broken down now that the alpha Plagas host, Osmund Saddler, has been destroyed--”

“I’m right here, you know,” Leon suddenly spoke, making you jump.

“Ag-Agent Kennedy!” you reply, eyes wide in shock that he’s able to speak. 

“Please, just call me Leon, sweetheart.”

His dark gaze seemed to pierce straight into your very soul. You collect yourself, clearing your throat.

“How are you feeling, Leon?”

Leon looks down at himself, tugging gently at his restraints before looking back up at you, “all things considered, I actually feel pretty damn good.”

“That’s… good, I guess,” you reply, your nervousness clear in your voice. 

You hadn’t prepared for this, every researcher that attempted to interact with him got absolutely nothing out of him, hence why they sent you down. You argued with them, not seeing the point but now you began to realize that the difference was they were all men, you were a woman. 

“Awww… there’s no need to be so nervous, sweetheart, it’s just me, Leon Kennedy. I promise I don’t bite,” he says, a small smirk appearing on his lips, “hard.”

“Do you know where you are and why you’re here, Leon?”

He lets out a chuckle, “yeah, I’m in D.S.O.’s research facility because I’m turning into a monster.”

“That’s putting it rather bluntly, but yes, that’s correct.”

“About time they sent someone cute down here to visit me, the rest were much too dull. If I wasn’t chained up, I’d ask you out to dinner and a movie.”

You feel yourself blushing, “that’s… very kind of you Leon, however that won’t be happening anytime soon, I’m afraid.”

“That’s a shame, because I’d love to take you to bed and make you scream my name,” he growls, a sinister grin overtaking him.

Your heart is pounding out of your chest as your eyes widen at him. This wasn’t like Leon at all, the parasite was clearly twisting his thoughts. You panic, turning around to motion the operatives to open the door and let you out. As soon as you’re out of the cell, you briskly walk away from the cell as fast as you can, not once looking back. You could have swore you heard Leon’s laugh echo after you. 

“I am not going back down there, are you insane?!”

“You’re the first person he has actually spoken to since he got back from Spain,” the lead researcher, Bryan said, setting your voice recorder down onto his desk. 

“So? Your point? I’m not doing it and that’s final!”

“Look, this recording gives us valuable data on him, it’s clear that the Plagas inside him is mutating into a more dominant strain. It must know it’s the last one left,” Bryan said, pleading with you.

“So we’re just going to poke and prod him like he’s some guinea pig? Leon wouldn’t have wanted that! Are you sure there’s no way we can cure him?”

“If we attempt to remove the parasite now, it will kill him--”

“Then let’s put him out of his misery, this isn’t right!”

The silence between you was deafening. After a few minutes, Bryan finally spoke.

“Judging by this recording, the Plagas has one thing on its mind.”

“Which is…?”

Bryan looked up at you, letting out a heavy sigh, “reproduction.”

“All the more reason I shouldn’t be going back down there!”

“He’ll be restrained and you’ll have at least two operatives with you at all times, you’ll be safe,” Bryan leans forward on his desk, folding his hands together, “the data you collect from Agent Kennedy is invaluable in finding out how the parasite works, just… go down and talk to him. I know yesterday was unnerving but there is one thing he said that is true, he’s just Leon Kennedy. He’s in there somewhere, even if the Plagas is influencing him.”

You cross your arms, staring at the floor, letting out a frustrated sigh before looking back up at Bryan, “fine. But I want hazard pay.”

“Consider it done, here’s your recorder back,” Bryan says, sliding the recorder across the desk towards you. 

You grab the recorder of the desk, turning on your heel to walk out of Bryan’s office.

“You are to report down there in an hour, you hear me?” Bryan calls after you just as you walk out the door.

You fight the urge to flip him off, thinking better of it. You walk down the hall into your office, getting your lab coat back on and sitting at your desk. You press play on the recorder, listening back on your interaction with Leon several times. There was one part where you repeated it several times, sending chills down your spine.

“That’s a shame, because I’d love to take you to bed and make you scream my name.”

How long had Leon been locked down here, chained to this chair? How many men in lab coats came and tried to talk to him? He knew he was a lost cause, why were they keeping him alive? How many times did he wish death would come and take him in his sleep?

But then you came, awakening something in him.

Your natural scent filled the cell completely, so many hours had gone by and he could still smell you and you smelled absolutely divine. He couldn’t stop thinking about you, the way your voice was so sweet yet filled with drive and intelligence. The way you blushed when he flirted with you. The way your heartbeat began to race at just the mere mention of taking you.

God you were so cute when you ran off, all flustered, he couldn’t help but laugh; he hadn’t felt alive like that in so long. His reminiscing was interrupted suddenly when he could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Lifting his head, he practically began to salivate when he saw you had returned.

You came back to me, baby, where you belong…

“The subject appears to be conscious and alert, he watched us as soon as we were in his line of sight,” you say as he watches you speak into the voice recorder. 

With a hiss, the door opens and you step inside. Leon breathed in deep, taking in the smell of you, you smelled even better than you had yesterday. He feels his cock twitch in his pants in excitement. He watches as the door behind you closes and locks, just like it had yesterday, trapping you in here with him.

Curse these fucking chains…

“You’re more lively today, Leon, care to tell me why?” you ask, your voice flat and void of any emotion.

“How about you tell me why you smell so nice,” Leon replies, grinning at you, drool running from his mouth down his chin.

He watches you shift uncomfortably before you continue, “I’m not answering that.”

Leon scoffs, shaking his head, “then I’m not going to talk to you, sweetheart.”

You take a deep breath, “if I’m going to be honest, I don’t know why I smell so nice to you, Leon.”

His red eyes scan up and down your form, imagining it without all those needless clothes. Imagining himself pinning you to the floor and fucking you stupid. A strange, clicking sound came out of him from the back of his throat as he pulled aggressively on the chains holding him to the chair. He watches as the two men with guns outside become alert. Leon lets out a low growl as he glares at them.

You turn to face the men, signaling to them to stand down. He watches them both relax before you return your attention to him. 

“The transformation appears to be progressing faster than expected,” you say into the recorder, “are you in any pain, Leon?”

Leon slowly shakes his head, “no, just unbelievably horny, doll.”

“We have reason to believe the subject is displaying an increased libido due to the fact that the parasite inside him knows it’s the last of its kind.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here, that’s awfully rude.”

“Fine,” you say, lowering the recorder away from your mouth, “what do you want to talk about, Leon?”

“You should ask those nice boys out there to take these chains off me,” Leon purrs, staring at you longingly.

“Absolutely not, Leon,” you reply, crossing your arms, “those chains are there for my safety as well as your own, at least until we can get the Plagas out of your body.” “I think I’m too far gone for that, don’t you think, sweetheart?”

You take a deep breath and exhale loudly, the sorrow clear in your eyes, “I am so sorry that this is what you have become, Leon.”

“I’m not,” Leon says as that sinister grin overtakes him again; he starts to chuckle.

“Leon,” you begin, stepping closer and kneeling down to be eye level with Leon, “I know the real you is in there, somewhere, you have to fight it.”

Your scent was almost enough to drive him crazy, you were delectable. He licks his lips, that clicking sound coming out from this throat again. His eyes are locked on you and he sees you glance down briefly before looking back into his eyes. He knew what you were looking at, you were looking at the noticeable bulge in his cargo pants.

“You’re so pretty, you know that?” Leon says, his body visibly trembling.

You don’t respond, you simply stare at him with that same sad look in your eyes. How could you not want him as much as he wanted you. His lips curl into a snarl.

“Let me FUCK YOU!” he growls, lunging forward, the bolts in the chair letting out a loud screech as they’re bent slightly.

You stumble back, falling backwards onto the floor as Leon continues to struggle violently. The two men with guns come rushing in, one of them grabbing you off the floor while the other shoots a tranquilizer dart into Leon’s thigh. Leon feels the effects almost instantly, his body becomes limp as he becomes sluggish, his mouth hanging agape as he watches you get led out of the room by the two men, the door shutting and locking behind them as you’re led away.

“Mine,” he whispers in his last moments of consciousness, “all mine.”

Part 2

#leon kennedy #leon s kennedy #leon kennedy x reader #leon s kennedy x reader #leon kennedy smut #leon kennedy x reader smut #yandere!leon kennedy #plagas!leon kennedy #gigabyte writes #insatiable

[bellaxgiornata]

Falling For the Devil [Part fifty-four: "The Impossible Friendship"]

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Summary: Karen invites you out to Josie’s to have drinks with her and Marci.

Or

You don't realize Karen and Marci have other intentions behind you coming out until it's too late.

[Series of one-shots about Reader meeting, falling for, and dating Matt Murdock.]

Warnings: 18+ for this series; contains humor, fluff, romance, angst, smut (like...a lot of it later in the series), language, some violence

Word Count: 4.9k

a/n: This installment is a part of the Big Angst arc. Forewarning, there is no comfort in the next handful of installments, not until you reach "The Aftermath" (Part 58) will there be comfort. Another angsty update bringing you closer to the installment with comfort. There's another Matt POV in this one! You can find the entire list of installments for this series on tumblr here. And if you're enjoying it please let me know!

"Come on, why don't you just stop by?" Karen asked you over the phone. "Please? As far as I'm aware, Matt is still going to be finishing stuff up at the office with Foggy tonight. It's just Marci and I here at Josie’s right now."

You leaned against the door of your apartment, slipping your shoes off of your feet as you held the phone to your ear. "I don't know," you answered hesitantly. "I really don't think I'm ready to run into Matt. And I just finished a class so I'm all sweaty."

"That martial arts thing?" she asked curiously. 

"The self-defense thing," you corrected her, rubbing a hand along your aching backside. "And yeah, I just finished up another training session tonight. My ass is somehow bruised from it."

"Well just wash up and bring your bruised ass to Josie’s," Karen urged. "We haven't seen you in a week and a half. If Matt shows up we'll just deal with that then. It's not like we can't leave if you want." 

You ran your hand across your forehead next, blowing out a rough breath as you glanced at your empty apartment. If you stayed home you'd just be alone all night and that didn't sound remotely appealing in contrast. But your stomach twisted uncomfortably at the prospect of seeing Matt; you still hadn't seen or spoken to him since he broke up with you and jumped off your fire escape almost two weeks ago.

"I mean I suppose…as long as you really don't think he'll be there," you nervously answered. "I know it's been a couple weeks but…I don't know if I'm ready to see him, you know?"

Karen sighed gently over the line. "Yeah, I understand. But even if he did show up, it's not like he'd be a dick to you or anything. I heard him telling Fog the other day he’s been wanting to talk to you about everything. That he'd be open to a friendship if you were."

A pain hit you in your chest, right over your heart, sharp and hot. Friends. You'd go back to being friends again. After everything you'd been through with Matt, all that time you'd shared together, the way you still loved him, how you'd been a few months from living together and even mentally picturing a wedding in your future–he wanted to just be friends with you. 

Swallowing down the lump of emotion in your throat, you said, "I suppose I can wash up and come out for a bit tonight with you two."

"Great!" Karen exclaimed excitedly. "We'll see you in a bit then!"

You exchanged goodbyes before hanging up. Head rolling back, it lightly hit into your apartment door as your eyes closed. You sure hoped Karen was right and Matt wasn't coming out tonight with Foggy after work. Because you weren't sure how you'd react to finally seeing him again.

Pushing yourself off of the door, you dragged your tired and bruised body to your bathroom. You pulled your hair up and started the shower, intending to quickly wash the sweat off of you before heading to Josie’s to meet up with Karen and Marci.

________

"Can we please talk about anything else?" you begged Marci. "We have discussed the breakup in depth plenty already and I would love an evening where I don't think about how much it hurts."

Her face softened across the table from you before she nodded. "Yeah, sorry," she muttered. "I just…don't understand what happened."

"You and me both," you grumbled, picking up your beer and taking a drink. 

"So are you…dating yet?" Marci asked curiously. "Or like, sleeping around a little at least?"

Your brows furrowed as your nails fiddled nervously with the label on the beer bottle. "No, that's the furthest thing from my mind. Why, is Matt?" you asked, eyes darting between Karen and Marci. 

"No," Karen said firmly, shaking her head. "I've heard nothing of the sort. I'm pretty sure he's still hurting."

"Yeah, I get the same vibe from Foggy Bear," Marci assured you.

Your eyes fell back down to your beer, your nails still picking at the label on it. You definitely didn't want to think about Matt fucking someone else. That certainly hurt too damn much. 

“How’d that court case go for the firm?” you asked Karen, eyes still focused on the beer bottle. “I know it was sort of a big deal.”

“It finished up the other day,” she told you. “We won, thankfully. So that’s a big weight off of our shoulders this week.”

You nodded silently, drawing the beer back up to your lips. Taking a few deep drinks, you finished half of your third beer already. As you set the bottle back on the table, you ignored the way Karen and Marci were shooting you sympathetic looks. You knew you were drinking your beers down faster than usual, and you figured they both could easily guess why, but you’d had a long day writing bullshit fluff pieces for Ellison–which seemed to be your permanent assignments lately–before pushing your body through yet another rigorous self-defense lesson. You needed the buzz of alcohol to dull everything else right now.

A sharp inhale of a breath came from Marci across the table, the sound catching your attention. You glanced up at her from your bottle, raising a brow curiously. Beside her, you saw Karen stiffening in her seat, her back straightening as her bottom lip slipped between her teeth. Immediately your shoulders sagged knowing there was probably only one reason they’d both reacted like that to something behind you. You chanced a look over your shoulder just for confirmation. 

Sure enough, Matt was casually walking towards your table with a hand holding onto Foggy’s arm. Because of course he’d show up the one Thursday night you’d randomly popped into Josie’s. And of course he’d be looking handsome as fuck with his slightly messed navy blue tie and a few buttons undone on the top of his powder blue dress shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing the thick, muscular forearms that you loved so much as his winter coat hung over one arm. It looked like he hadn't shaved in a few days either, but somehow the darker stubble only made him look more handsome. His hair was just a bit windswept from the walk here from their office, your fingers itching to comb through the dark strands and fix it as you'd often done so many times before. Your heart constricted in your chest at the sight of him and his easygoing smile–it wasn't fair that he looked this good. 

You shifted back in your seat, a wave of nausea rolling over you that was entirely unrelated to the alcohol as you focused on the table. Clearly he’d known you were in here before he’d decided to come in anyway. You weren’t even sure what to make of that. Probably wanting to be friends , you thought bitterly. As if it was just that easy to pretend the last eight months hadn't happened. As if they hadn't been the best eight months you'd ever had. But maybe they hadn't been near as great for him. Tears burned at your eyes at the thought and you rapidly blinked them back.

“Hey ladies!” Foggy greeted, though you heard the bit of tension in his voice as he acknowledged you, saying your name which was more of a show for Marci to pretend that Matt didn’t know you were seated there. “I didn’t know you three were here.”

Your eyes narrowed suspiciously down at the table at the tone of his voice. Somehow you didn't believe this wasn't some elaborate setup between your friends. And while you didn’t believe Matt had been a part of it–you were sure he wasn't because he could have easily just called if he'd wanted to talk to you–he had nevertheless gone along with it. 

“We were just having a little girl’s night,” Marci answered her husband.

“Ahh, well, we’re very sorry to intrude,” Matt replied in that charming way of his. “We just figured we’d grab a drink after the long day. We didn’t know you were all here this evening.”

Matt quickly greeted Karen and Marci before he said your name, the word sounding a bit pained as it came from his mouth. Your eyes remained fixed ahead of you, unable to look at him just to your left as you muttered a quiet greeting in return. Your heart was squirming in your chest, aware of his blank gaze on you from your peripheral. This was uncomfortable.

“We…can grab another table,” Matt offered awkwardly. “If you’d all prefer us–”

“It’s fine,” you cut him off, eyes still avoiding him. 

“You know, I think I’ll go grab us some beers,” Foggy announced, clearly feeling the discomfort and finding an excuse to disappear.

Matt’s hand reached out, falling onto the back of the chair beside yours. He pulled it out slowly, taking a moment to sit down at the table beside you. You picked up your beer and took another drink, ignoring the matching looks Marci and Karen were shooting you. When he’d settled into his seat, you saw him adjusting his glasses on his nose from the corner of your eye. He said your name again and you flinched.

“How have you been?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

You bit down on your tongue, fighting back the bitter laugh that threatened to spill out of you. How had you been? Fucking heartbroken, that’s how you’d been. What kind of a question was that? But you sure as hell weren’t about to admit that to him. Not like you figured he would truly care, considering he’d never once reached out to you after the breakup or the kidnapping to see how you were doing. Why the hell would he suddenly care about how you were doing now?

“Fine,” you answered sharply, intentionally not asking him in return. You didn't care he could tell it was a lie.

He shifted in his seat, the movement seeming a little uncomfortable. Good, you thought, let him feel uncomfortable. It was the very least he deserved. 

Matt cleared his throat loudly, his attention shifting towards Karen and Marci across the table. “Do you maybe mind if we have a moment to talk?” he asked them.

Your eyes snapped shut as you heard the pair of them scooting their chairs back across the bar floor instantly. When you opened your eyes again, Karen was clearly urging you with her eyes to talk to him.

“Yeah, sure,” Marci said. Her gaze landed on you as she added, “Just let us know if you need anything.”

The pair of them grabbed their drinks and made their way towards Foggy at the bar. You sighed, feeling like somehow this had been a setup. You focused on peeling the label off of your beer bottle again, unable to look at Matt beside you as he turned in his seat, facing towards you. He sat focused on you for a long time, neither of you saying a word. You sure as hell didn't want to be the one to break the silence. But the longer you both sat there without speaking, the more uncomfortable you felt.

“I’m sorry for…what I did,” Matt finally said, a nervous tremor in his voice. "How horribly I ended things."

Your hand tightened around the neck of your beer bottle, eyes glaring at it. For some reason his simple apology after what he'd done only pissed you off. Especially since he hadn't even bothered to reach out to you, it had been your friends orchestrating whatever this awkward meeting was.

“No you’re not,” you shot back, drawing the beer to your lips for a drink.

Taken aback, Matt’s head tilted to the side. Out of the corner of your eye you could see his brows furrowing behind his dark glasses at you, his lips parting in surprise. You lowered the bottle to the table and continued to fidget with it.

“What?” he asked.

“You’d have to actually regret your actions to mean that,” you answered, still not looking at him. Even you heard the bitter edge in your voice as you continued. “And judging by your utter silence over the past two weeks, you don’t. I don’t remotely believe you’re sorry for how you just broke up with me after everything and then left me there. And honestly, I don't want a half-assed, unfeeling apology from you.”

“Sweetheart–”

“ Don’t ,” you warned coldly, cutting him off firmly as your eyes finally landed on him. 

There was that sick feeling churning in your gut again, something unpleasant instantly washing over you just at the sound of that term of endearment you desperately wished to hear him say with the love and feeling he used to say it with. Matt sat frozen beside you, almost as if he’d accidentally slipped up with saying it himself and only realized it when you’d spoken.

“Don’t call me that,” you said firmly.

He nodded quietly, his mouth thinning into a straight line. You saw the movement of his throat as he swallowed hard, his face dropping down towards his lap. A confusing mix of emotions flickered through you as you let yourself take in the sight of him before you. 

There was a large part of you, one that had been quickly growing over the last week, that wanted to yell at him. Maybe curse him out even. You wanted to tell him off and make him hurt, to make him feel even just a fraction of the pain you’d been feeling because of him. You wanted to tell him how pissed you were that he hadn’t emotionally been there for you after what had happened, though you’d certainly tried to be there for him. You wanted to tell him the fucked up part of that evening wasn’t the way he’d fucked you after, but the way he’d broke your heart and left you broken and alone–and then never reached out to you afterwards.

But there was also a part of you that was dying to throw yourself out of your chair at him. You wanted to wrap your arms around his neck and bury your face in his chest and cry. You wanted to feel his strong arms around you, hear his voice whispering in your ear how sorry he was and that everything would be okay. That he didn’t mean it. That he loved you still. That he wanted to fix things and talk through what happened.

Instead, he broke the awkward silence with one of the last things you wanted to hear.

“I’d like to find a way to apologize. To be friends, if that's alright?” he said, voice soft. 

You winced at that word again. 

“I don’t…want this tension between us,” he continued. “I uh, I don’t know if you would like that as well?”

Your hands tightened around the cold beer bottle on the table before you again, eyes glaring daggers at it. “Friends?” you asked skeptically.

“Yeah,” he replied quickly. “We can talk about something else for now. Like maybe why you’re covered in bruises?”

Your eyes narrowed further at the brown bottle in your hands, brows creasing together. “How do you even know that?” you asked.

“The uh, sound of your blood,” he answered awkwardly, clearing his throat.

“Of course,” you muttered under your breath. “Well, I don’t think it’s really any of your concern,” you said, turning back to face him.

His face fell at your words, but your focus immediately shifted to just past his shoulder. A young brunette was determinedly making her way towards the pair of you, her eyes fixed on the back of Matt. Your grip tightened even further around the bottle of beer in your hand.

“Hey,” she greeted, cutting in the moment she reached the table. 

Matt startled in his seat, almost as if he hadn’t been aware of her approaching the pair of you. He turned a little in his chair, shifting in the direction of the young woman. She smiled down at him, tucking a strand of hair nervously behind her ear. You wanted to puke.

“You know, I’ve noticed you in here a few times before,” she continued, ignoring you as she spoke, “and I’ve never had the nerve to just come say hi. I noticed you don’t have a drink, can I…maybe get you one?”

Your blood felt like it was boiling as Matt sent her that charming smile of his. It was like the universe thought it would be even more amusing to not only force you to have the friendship talk with Matt, but to then throw a pretty girl flirting with him in the middle of it. Because it’s not like your heart was hurting enough as it was, no, you needed to be reminded that this man drew attention from beautiful women everywhere he went. He didn’t need you .

“I appreciate that, but my friend has already grabbed me a drink,” Matt told her.

“Oh, okay, well maybe I can get the next one?” she asked hopefully, her hip leaning up against the table.

You lost it when Matt laughed lightly at her open flirting. As if this whole situation wasn’t killing you slowly to be stuck watching. Shifting in your seat, you drew your beer up to your mouth and downed the last half of it before roughly setting it back onto the table. The noise caused both of them to focus on you. Sliding out of your seat, you hoped Matt could feel the glare you were shooting him.

“I’ll pass on the friendship,” you told him.

“Oh, shit, was I interrupting something?” the young woman asked.

You shot her a sarcastic smile, ignoring the way Matt was quickly turning back towards you in his seat. “Yes,” you told her bluntly. “You were. But I’m done here. He’s all yours, sweetheart .”

Matt said your name, his tone almost desperate. “Wait,” he begged you. “Stay, please.”

But you didn’t. 

You made your way towards the exit, the sound of your heart hammering in your own ears as you went. At the bar, you noticed Foggy, Karen, and Marci all wearing sad smiles. Even Josie behind the bar seemed to be shooting you a sympathetic look. 

Fighting back the well of tears, you pushed the door open and left the bar. You didn’t need to force yourself to endure the pain of that situation any longer than you already had. The Matt you’d known would have told that young woman off for interrupting that conversation, for acting like you weren’t even there, but for some reason this time it had felt like he’d done the same.

You hugged your arms across your chest, sniffling hard as you walked back to your apartment alone, somehow feeling worse than when you’d begun your evening. 

________

“Oh uh, I’m–I’m so sorry,” the young woman said.

Behind him, Matt could hear her taking a few steps back, but he was more focused on the sound of you lightly crying as you hurried away from Josie’s. He didn’t care when the young woman behind him slunk quietly away, he hadn’t even noticed her initially when she’d approached the table anyway. If anything, she’d been a frustrating interruption that he’d tried to politely get rid of, one that had blindsided him and made him further nervous when he’d been trying to figure out how to just talk to you. 

Which, somehow he still fucked that up, too.

Your heart was beating unsteadily in your chest, though you were getting further and further away and it was quickly becoming almost impossible for him to keep focusing on it. He’d noticed it had been beating irregularly a lot lately whenever he passed by your apartment at night.

Though he had noticed the way it had stuttered in your chest the moment you’d seen him tonight. He’d also noticed the momentary uptick in your body temperature, the almost imperceptible flush on your cheeks, and the rush of pheromones rolling off of you when you’d first spotted him. He couldn’t deny that it had pleased him to still see your body reacting like that just at the sight of him, either. He always loved how you had reacted to him, consciously and unconsciously. 

He had to admit it was difficult for him tonight to refrain from pulling you into a hug or drawing you in for a kiss–and fuck how he missed the taste of you on his tongue, missed the feel of your warm, soft lips always so eager for his. He missed the way you curled in against him whenever he embraced you, the scent of you filling his nose and those soft little sighs he didn't think you realized you made each time he did wrap you in his arms.

But you’d quickly become angry with him after that initial jolt of attraction. He felt the increase in your blood pressure, the race in your pulse, the tension in your muscles. You’d been subtly grinding your teeth, too, besides the nervous fidgeting with your beer bottle–which had been your third beer already. You’d been pissed at him, even more so after he had idiotically asked you how you’d been. Though the anger was rightly deserved; he had been an asshole. And even though he still felt it was best to not pursue something romantic with you to keep you safe from himself and his extracurricular nighttime pursuits, he hadn’t wanted to entirely cut you out of his life. Matt loved you too much to lose you permanently even though he knew how selfish that was. 

But he also didn’t know how to reach out to you after what he’d done and what had happened. He didn’t want to give you false hope for something more between you both, because as badly as he wanted that, it wasn’t safe. He wasn’t safe. But he was desperate to apologize and to help you understand why you were better off without him. So he had to admit that he had been a little bit happy when Foggy had told him about Karen and Marci’s ploy to get the pair of you to talk at Josie’s. At least he could blame it on them if you’d gotten mad about it–which it seemed like you had.

“What the hell happened?” Foggy asked, his tone light and teasing as he plopped into the chair beside Matt. “We leave you two alone for barely more than five minutes and you send her running off looking like she’s on the verge of tears!”

“It wasn’t intentional,” Matt murmured.

Foggy slid a beer towards Matt and he accepted it, uttering a soft ‘thanks’ before bringing it to his lips for a deep drink. He could feel Foggy’s eyes on him.

“Well, so what happened?” Foggy pressed.

Matt blew out a rough breath, raising his glasses with one hand and rubbing at his eyes with the other. “I don’t really even know,” he admitted. “She’s mad at me. Which I get and I definitely deserve that anger. But I barely had a chance to truly apologize, or to try to ease the tension before attempting to again. She certainly didn't want to hear it the first time. But then I was interrupted.”

“Ahh, yeah,” Foggy said, nodding. “Figured that’s what did it. Why didn’t you brush that girl off like you usually do?”

“I was trying to!” Matt quickly defended. “I didn’t even realize she’d come up to the table until she’d been talking. Wasn’t even remotely focused on anything else but our conversation. So when that woman showed up she threw me off entirely. By the time I was trying to send her on her way it was too late.”

Matt’s heart ached in his chest at how it felt to call out for you to wait, to just stay to talk to him, only to have you just walk away from him. Though he knew that pain didn’t feel remotely as horrible as when he’d done it to you two weeks ago.

“You know,” Foggy began, “that whole friendship thing is bullshit. You love her, man. Couple weeks ago I was pretty sure you were debating on ring shopping. What the hell happened? And don’t,” he continued sharply, Matt hearing the way Foggy’s hand rose and pointed a firm finger at his chest, “tell me it’s because she was kidnapped.”

“But it is,” Matt stressed, his hand gripping his beer bottle in frustration. He leaned in on the table closer to Foggy as he harshly whispered, “Backman’s men took her to get to me, Fog. Me . They held a gun to her head because of me . She doesn’t–doesn’t deserve that. She deserves to be with someone who won’t put her in danger. Who won’t have dangerous people kidnapping her because of what they do. Or put her in danger because of who they are." Matt roughly shook his head, drawing the beer back up to his lips. “She’s safer without me.”

“That’s stupid and you know it,” Foggy shot at him. “You know, Karen said she’s been taking a bunch of self-defense classes lately.”

Matt frowned as he set his beer onto the table. “That’s why she’s covered in bruises?” he asked softly.

“Yeah,” Foggy said. “And for the record, still really weird you can notice that.”

“Further proves my point,” Matt muttered, shifting in his seat.

“What point?” Foggy asked.

“She’s taking self-defense classes now, after what happened,” he answered. “She wasn’t afraid before, but now she is. And that’s on me.”

Foggy cleared his throat, the sound of him nervously chewing on his lip not lost on Matt. With a sigh Matt’s head turned to his friend beside him, raising a single brow.

“What?” he asked. 

“It’s just…” Foggy began hesitantly, “Karen said that she’d told her she was taking the classes because she no longer had Daredevil protecting her, not–not because of what had happened.”

Matt’s frown deepened, a pang hitting him in the chest at that information. “I’ll always protect her,” he replied immediately. “Always.”

“Karen also said that…there was more to it than the kidnapping,” Foggy continued awkwardly. “That uh, some of it was about what happened afterwards? When you two uh–” he cleared his throat uncomfortably, “–you know.”

Matt grunted in frustration. Foggy’s heart nervously sped up at the sound.

“It uh, it’s really none of my business, man,” Foggy quickly added, “but Karen said she had repeatedly stressed that whatever happened was entirely consensual between you two. And I just think you two need to just sit down and talk.” “Fog, no,” Matt snapped. “I’ve told you already, her and I can’t happen. I won’t willingly put her in danger.”

“Matt, come on,” Foggy pushed. “She's miserable. You’re miserable. We all see it. You’re always out in the mask, too. You’re barely sleeping anymore, man. Always so distracted at work. And if you’re not grumpy, you’re mopey. I’m worried about you, Matt.” Foggy leaned closer towards his friend, resting his elbows on the table. “Dude, you love her. What the fuck is it going to take? Just talk to her. Stop torturing both of yourselves needlessly. Apologize and work it out.”

“I heard you the first time, Fog,” Matt grumbled, bringing his beer back up to his lips. “I intend to find a way to properly apologize. What I did was…wrong. And she shouldn’t have met that side of me. But anything more than friendship between us is not happening.”

Foggy was shaking his head roughly, Matt could hear the way air was moving around the pair of them. He could practically feel the disappointed look on his friend’s face.

“You just can’t ever let yourself be happy, can you?” Foggy asked, his voice sad.

“That’s not what this is,” Matt stated firmly.

“Isn’t it?” Foggy asked, his brows creasing together. “You’ve been the happiest I’ve ever seen you for the past eight months. Because of her . She’s perfect for you–hell, she accepts the weird and very unsafe hobby you have with open fucking arms! She accepts you ," Foggy pressed, placing a hand on Matt’s shoulder. "And the first time something goes wrong, the first time things get really scary for both of you, you just fucking bolt. You’re scared, Matt. That's what this is. You think if you leave her first, you won’t get hurt. But guess what buddy?” Foggy's hand left his friend’s shoulder, waving it around at Matt, gesturing roughly at him. “You’re already hurt. She's hurt. And you did it to yourself. But it doesn't have to be like this and deep down you know that."

Matt grit his teeth together, shaking his head as his focus dropped down towards his beer. “That’s not what this is,” he repeated.

Beside him, Foggy’s shoulders slumped as a sigh left him. He picked up his beer and took a long drink.

“If you say so, Matt,” he said, tone disbelieving. 

This was about keeping you safe, Matt told himself. His friends just didn’t understand.

#matt murdock x reader #matt murdock x you #matt murdock x f!reader #matt murdock x fem!reader #daredevil x female reader #matt murdock series #matt murdock fic #matt murdock fanfic #daredevil x reader #matt murdock angst #fftd

[novanovocaine]

Imperfect (also on A03)

Summary: By chance you meet one of your favorite erotica authors who goes by the pen name Pantalone. When you give him an honest opinion of his work and make a sexual remark by mistake, you've instantly piqued his interest.

(I’ve never posted a fanfic to tumblr so im hoping this goes well!! I wanna aim for at least 20 hearts/likes and I’ll post part 2! Please do not repost on other sites, heavily reference, plagiarize, or translate my works at all. Thank you!!)

You didn't often attend these conventions, not really any conventions, but this one was certainly…out of your league, to say the least. Had your friend not dragged you here you wouldn't have ever imagined yourself standing within the large convention hall surrounded by all sorts of adult vendors.

The adult industry was vast to say the least, but you didn't care to be so open and casual about your interests, especially the amount of smut you read to fuel your fantasies. They were fantasies, that's all, and you didn't see anyone being able to bring them to life any time soon, so erotica would have to do the job. That was your logic to justify your interest in it. 

You soon grow bored of the atmosphere, it's loud, obnoxious, and your friends are irritating you so, you dismiss yourself and travel to another section of the convention. To your surprise and delight, it's filled with erotica authors. Immediately, you recognize a popular one, a Schneznian author who goes under the pen name of Pantalone.

 You thought it was a bit strange of a name, but nonetheless, he also happened to write some of your favorite novels. There was something about his writing style that was absolutely flawless, so realistic, and descriptive. It all flows so smoothly, like rich chocolate, and you were always left wanting more, opting to start the entire novel over from the beginning. It wasn't just erotica at this point, it was a world of art, and it was clear Pantalone took great pride in his work. Very admirable indeed. 

Naturally, his booth is crowded by fans, begging to have their copies of his work signed. Now you wish you'd known he would be present, if you had, you wouldn't have even hesitated to bring a copy of your favorite, Il Dolce Tormento, for him to sign.

Maybe…you could.

There were plenty of other erotica novels he'd written that you'd been wanting to get your hands on as discreetly as possible, not wanting to get picked on for being such a fan, and now was the perfect moment to not only add to your collection but to have it signed too! 

With your mind made up, you march over to the booth and patiently wait your turn until the crowd clears just enough that you can quickly browse the broad selection and eventually pick one that sounds pretty good. 

Up close, he was just, as if not more breathtaking than he is in pictures. He wore his thin, silvery glasses and a pleasant smile as he spoke to a fan. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the company as he laughs and pushes some of his long, raven black hair to one side as he responds. Everything about his seemed so…perfect. It was a little intimidating to be so close to a man who appeared to be the pinnacle of perfection, looks wise that was. 

Finally, finally, your turn came around and by then you were shaking in your shoes at the thought of meeting him, speaking to him face to face. It felt like you were approaching a supermodel. 

"H-hi there," you greet nervously.

When Pantalone smiles it seems like his whole face follows. You'd never looked upon such handsome features, his jawline was appealingly soft but still noticeable and up close you can even see dark circles beneath his eyes that were an enchanting grey. 

"Hello to you too, miss, is that for me to sign?" He asks, pointing to the book you held tightly to your chest. Damn, right to the point…what were you thinking?

"Oh yes please! I'd really appreciate that, it's an honor to have your signature on one of my favorites. I-" you catch yourself rambling and stop before you become bothersome. How embarrassing, he probably heard this nonsense day in and day out. 

Pantalone chuckles softly, covering his mouth with his fist and motioning for you to hand the book over. 

You flush and do so with shaky hands. He takes it and raises an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you picked this one," he muses as he takes the pen from behind his ear and signs the cover. You wish this would have lasted longer, but his comment also intrigues you.

"What about it?" You ask as he flips through the pages. 

He shrugs and his cheesy smile returns. "Because it was my first novel, it wasn't popular and as a result didn't sell well, so I thought it was no longer made as it was forgotten. Poorly written and all. Looks like I was wrong."

You shake your head. "I don't think so. I actually became invested after I read this one not too long after you published it. I liked your writing style more so than the plot, so I decided to lurk and see if you improved in the areas where you lacked," you answer honestly. 

Pantalone finds himself nodding, a bit stunned at hearing such a thing from a fan. No fan, most of which were die hard, ever analyzed his pieces, erotica was just…erotica. You either loved it to jerk off to or steer away from it. No one, minus his editors actually paid attention to his flow and how he pieced the story together. 

"I see, I must say that I'm touched," he remarks stiffly.

"You should let me touch you," you joke, but you instantly cover your mouth and stare up at him at horror. "I'M SO SOR-"

"Is that a promise?" He joists back, finishing the comeback off with a cheeky wink and a smirk. He leans over the table, just close enough so that you two were now face to face, the closeness makes your body burn. You feel him slip something into the back of your pants and he whispers into your ear. "Make good on that, topolina," he purrs. 

You step back, baffled, and nod dumbly before robotically walking away until you're out of the convention hall and into the hotel lobby where you dart to the elevator. You're itching to get to your room and see what he snuck into your pants, you hardly care if anyone else saw that stunt. You can't even call it sexual harassment, you liked his closeness too much to even consider labeling it as that. His aura alone had your breath hitching and your pussy throbbing. 

You nearly break the door down to your hotel room and fumble with your pants after you throw the book onto the desk to look at the slip of paper. It was a business card? You turn it to the back only to be delighted by the sight of his personal cell with a caption of, 'chiami, mia dolcezza ♡'. 

Oh fuck. 

You bite your lips and read over the card multiple times. You actually wooed him with that offbeat follow up…what were the chances? 

You wait until you know the convention is over and after excusing yourself from your friends suspicions, you lock yourself in your room and call Pantalone.

He picks up instantly. "Who's speaking?" 

"The weirdo," you reply bashfully, squirming on your bed. 

"Ahh yes, my weirdo indeed," he hums. "That was charming."

"Charming?" You wheeze.

You hear him hum in agreement. "Very much so. Regardless, I just wanted you to have my personal. You intrigue me."

"You sound awfully confident about your decision to grant me such a privilege," you say. 

"Why not?"

You scoff. "Well, we're still strangers," you start.

#pantalone #pantalone x y/n #pantalone x you #pantalone x reader #genshin impact #genshin fanfic #genshin smut #genshin lemon #spicy content #multiple characters #eventual smut #genshin x reader #beta reader

[darkstar225]

Twice's 10th member is the only single lady in the group (lol that's me)

A/N: I got an ask on Tumblr from one of my besties on Tumblr and I loved writing it, ty bae! :D

The request: whats up broskie >:) another request lols anyways in a world where y/n is the only single member so like idk 3mix, dahmo, satzu, michaeng, so Jiheon from fromis_9 and y/n are like classmates and they never spoke ever until they got partnered for a project they ended up getting close quickly and they developed...feelings (A/N: Hey love, I adore receiving your asks <3)

PS: Tysm for everyone that reads what I write, I hope I can bring a smile to your faces every time I post! I'd like to thank whoever sent me this idea 'cause I loved to write it <3

__________________________________________________________

In a world where TWICE's Y/N was the only single member among her bandmates (all the single ladies~), the idol life was both exciting and isolating. Despite being surrounded by her supportive and loving sisters, there were moments when she couldn't help but feel a bit left out. But little did she know that fate had something extraordinary in store for her. The maknae's world, as she knew it, was about to change when she found herself partnered with Jiheon, from the girl group fromis_9, for a school project. They were classmates, yet they had never spoken before, moving in different circles with their busy schedules. The day the teacher announced the project partners, Y/N glanced nervously at Jiheon, who returned her curious gaze with a warm smile. They exchanged a nod, acknowledging their newfound collaboration. TWICE's child couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

As the days passed, they began working on their project together. Initially, the conversations were centred around the assignment, but slowly, they started to open up to each other about their lives outside of music. TWICE's maknae discovered that Jiheon had a passion for painting, and Jiheon found out that Y/N loved photography. Their shared interests brought them closer. They found comfort in each other's presence, a unique bond forming between the two youngest idols. There was an unspoken understanding between them, as both had experienced the demanding life of being a K-pop idol and the loneliness that came with it. One afternoon, as they worked on their project at Jiheon's place, she suddenly brought out a canvas and a set of paints.

Jiheon - I want to show you something! 

With her eyes filled with excitement, she then started painting, her brush strokes filled with emotion and grace. It was a breathtaking sight, and Y/N felt captivated by the raw talent in front of her (You're my zing~). Her heart pounded as she watched Jiheon's art come to life. She had never seen someone express themselves with such passion before. Without thinking, she took out her camera and started capturing the moment, preserving Jiheon's artistry in photographs.

Jiheon noticed what Y/N was doing and smiled gratefully. 

Jiheon - Thank you for capturing this, bae. It means a lot to me.

Y/N blushed, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest (She's down bad). 

Y/N - I should be the one thanking you for letting me witness your art, hon.

From that moment on, their connection grew even stronger. They spent more time together, both at school and outside of it. They explored new hobbies together, from attending photography exhibitions to trying out different art forms. They were each other's support, a source of strength that they could lean on in the challenging world they inhabited. As the weeks passed, TWICE's sunshine couldn't deny the fluttering feelings in her heart whenever she was around Jiheon. She admired Jiheon's talent, her kindness, and her unwavering determination. Jiheon, on the other hand, found herself drawn to Y/N's dedication, her love for her group, and the genuine care she had for others. One evening, as they sat on a rooftop under the starry sky, Y/N couldn't hold back her feelings any longer. 

Y/N - Jiheon, there's something I need to tell you...

Jiheon turned to face her, her eyes filled with curiosity. 

Jiheon - What is it, Y/N?

Y/N - I... I've developed feelings for you. I know we've become close friends, but it's more than that for me. I think I'm falling for you. *blushing*

Jiheon's eyes widened in surprise, but a gentle smile graced her lips. 

Jiheon - You have no idea how happy I am to hear that, I've been feeling the same way too! You've become such an important person in my life, and I can't imagine it without you.

The confession opened up a floodgate of emotions between the two. They shared their stories of insecurities, hopes, and dreams, finding solace in the understanding they provided each other. They decided to take their relationship slowly, letting it grow naturally without any pressure. When the maknaes finally decided to share their feelings with their respective groups, they were filled with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Y/N stood in front of her TWICE unnies, taking a deep breath before speaking from her heart.

Y/N - Unnies, there's something important I want to tell you. I've developed feelings for Jiheon, and she feels the same way about me.

At first, there was stunned silence, and then a wave of surprise and joy washed over the faces of the TWICE members. Nayeon, the group's eldest, was the first to react. She smiled warmly at their kid as she talked. 

Nayeon - Baby, we've noticed how close you've become with Jiheon, and we're happy for you both. As long as you're happy, we support your relationship wholeheartedly.

Her other older sisters nodded in agreement, assuring Y/N that they had no issues with her dating Jiheon. They all expressed their excitement and curiosity about their relationship, eager to know more about the girl who had captured their sunshine's heart. Meanwhile, over in the fromis_9 dorm, Jiheon gathered her courage to talk to her fellow unnies with a slight blush on her cheeks. 

Jiheon - Unnies, there's something I want to share with all of you. Y/N and I have become really close while working on our project, and we've developed feelings for each other.

The fromis_9 members, too, were taken aback at first, not expecting the news. But after a moment of processing, they all broke into smiles and cheers. Jiheon was met with hugs and enthusiastic congratulations from her sisters, who were genuinely happy for her.

Gyuri, one of the closest to Jiheon teased playfully. 

Gyuri - Ah, Jiheonie, you sly fox! I can't believe you kept this a secret from us!

Jiheon laughed, feeling relieved that her unnies were supportive. She explained how she and Y/N had connected on a deep level, their shared experiences as idols forging a strong bond between them. As days turned into weeks and months, the two groups interacted more, attending each other's events and even collaborating on some projects. The bond between TWICE and fromis_9 grew stronger, and the members of both groups saw how happy their maknaes made each other. 

During joint gatherings, the TWICE unnies showered Jiheon with affection, treating her as one of their own. They admired her talents, and she felt welcomed into their close family. Likewise, the fromis_9 unnies embraced Y/N with open arms, grateful for the happiness she brought to Jiheon's life. They shared laughter and stories, and the girl felt accepted as if she had been part of fromis_9 from the beginning. In their intertwined lives as K-pop idols, the new couple became a symbol of love and support for their fans and the entertainment industry. They proved that love could blossom even amidst the demanding schedules and challenges that came with being idols. As their relationship grew stronger, they faced the ups and downs together, supporting each other through it all. Though they still had to manage their busy careers, the youngests always made time for each other. From late-night phone calls to surprise visits during breaks, they cherished every moment together. When they had a chance to collaborate on a project, they poured their hearts into it, their chemistry evident in every performance. Their fellow members and fans alike marvelled at the harmony between the two groups and the vibe created by their relationship.

In the end, Y/N and Jiheon's relationship proved that love knows no boundaries, not even those of hectic idol life. They became each other's pillars, finding solace in knowing they had someone to lean on during both the highs and lows of their journey. And this made them have a single thought:

We are proud of our chosen family.

A/N: I apologise for any errors, English is not my first language. Pls, let me know if there's something wrong, ty for reading <3

#kpop imagines #kpop gg #twice imagines #twice 10th member #twice x reader #twice scenarios #twice #twice fluff #twice added member #twice addition #twice x y/n #twice x you #fromis #fromis 9 #fromis jiheon #jiheon imagines #jiheon #nayeon #nayeon x reader #jeongyeon #jeongyeon x reader #momo #momo x reader #sana #sana x reader #jihyo #jihyo x reader #mina #mina x reader #dahyun

[t00thpasteface]

maybe the drama in this fandom isn't anything special, but i think all the love and creativity really IS!! i'm so touched to see all the marcien votes in this poll— not because of what it means to win (or nearly win) a simple poll tournament on tumblr, but because each vote came from another person i reached out and touched with my silly art.

i started drawing marcien art after a really ugly breakup with my first and only boyfriend. i gave a lot of things to him, all my firsts, and he took it all from me and left me a hollow shell. in the aftermath, i was just coming into my long-repressed identity as a lesbian and hardly even knew who i was. and my first way to explore that was to make make my hok, suzy, a lesbian just like me, and refuse to ship her with either of her two best friends... since then i've had a lot of men i thought were my frends suddenly refuse to acknowledge my presence after finding out i was a lesbian, or worse, demand explanations and take my identity as a personal offense. suzy is a lesbian who doesn't have to suffer like i did. she will never have to bury her identity by forfeiting her heart and body like i did. this idea grew into something far more frivolous on the surface, but that seedling sprouted from a dark place, which is why it means so, so much to get all this love for it.

it may not look like it, but i pour a lot of heartache and worry and regret into my work. my goal has always been to rise above it all and bring smiles to people of all stripes with my cartoons, and even after being an active online artist for easily over half my life at this point, every nice comment, kind reply, and excited tag still makes me literally squee out loud with happiness. i can't articulate how amazing it is to know how many lives i've crossed paths with and brought at least a little joy to.

i'd like to to channel that gratitude to give another warm thanks to @incorrectskyrimquotes for running this poll and braving so much psychic damage in the process. thanks for bringing us together and inspiring us to write, draw, and cheer for our blorbos.

i'm going to be going off to college for my second bachelor's degree this autumn, and in the middle of all the nervousness and fear surrounding that decision, it's no exaggeration to say that ALL of you guys— the ones who reblog every post, the ones who leave wacky tags, and even the ones who just likespam and never reblog— are giving me the resilience and resolve to keep studying and working hard, and giving me something fun to come back to once i've set my textbooks down for the night.

so hey, cheers to marcien!!! and cheers to everyone reading this. i'm so lucky to have yall and i hope i'm making it worth your while with every doodle, sketch, and comic. STAY MINTY!!!!!!

#shebbz shoutz #sketch #I LOVE YOU GUYSSSssss waaaaaa

[snowbellewells]

Self-Promo Sunday: “And by a Sleep, We Hope to End the Heartache”

*** Sorry I’m late with the Sunday re-run this week! I’ve had the cover art made and this story picked out, but just haven’t been able to get it posted past couple of weeks. Anyway, this story was originally written for the second edition of the @csstorybook​ on Tumblr – go check that out if you haven’t, it’s amazing!!  My episode for that project was 5x04 “Broken Kingdom” and I wanted to imagine how Killian might have tried to help comfort a sleepless Emma as she fought the darkness within.  Hope you enjoy!  I’d love – as always – to hear what you think!

This can also be found as a chapter in my one-shots collection “Of Swans and Swords and Hopeful Hearts” on AO3 or on ff.net...

             “Lass…Emma… Love, please, you have to stop…” his quiet voice, vibrating with emotion despite its soothing timbre, still somehow managed to slice through the paranoia, the swirling images, and yammering voices roiling inside her skull.  It was the one thing, other than her son’s hopeful, trusting face, which had managed to do so since she had risen from the ominous hatch in the Camelot forest, alone, confused, and the newest Dark One.  Her stride faltered at his plea, her step finally pausing before the window of the castle suite they had been given by Arthur for their accommodation.

             Looking over her shoulder to find his fraught gaze, Emma turned slightly toward the pirate, a glance half exasperation and half desperate need on her conflicted face.  “What do you want from me, Killian?” she whispered tiredly, her shoulders slumping with a weary defeat he had rarely seen from her.  He had no way of knowing that Emma desired nothing so much as to cross the large open chamber and collapse into his arms, as she had a week ago when they’d first found her in the stone circle about to crush Merida’s heart.  His embrace tight around her, his heart beating frantically just under her palm, those few moments had been the only time the riot inside her head had seemed to cease – when she could think clearly, as only herself.  She needed that relief again, and yet she feared letting down her guard, even for a moment’s comfort.  She was barely keeping all the violent, persuasive urges twining through her consciousness at bay, barely keeping all the raw power tingling under her skin from breaking free.  She could not allow herself the peace of Killian’s embrace; rest might let the horrors loose upon them all. 

             Her pirate watched her knowingly, his eyes gentle, yet seeing and understanding too much as his discerning gaze studied her from across the room.  Those blue pools of his stare took in the way she vibrated slightly, no matter how she tried to hold still.  He saw the tangled, disheveled fall of her hair – usually more a silky sheet of gold – the strange, rough grey duster she wore, still trailing dirt and dried leaves from the forest floor behind her.  This was his Swan before him yet, but she was in distress and guarded once more, in a way she had finally begun to put in her past – and he experienced a disorienting, long rush of despair at how to help her.  He only knew for certain that he must find a way.

             “Come here, Lass,” he finally murmured, half a directive and half an appeal, as he held out his hand to her from where he sat at the edge of the room’s large canopy bed. 

             “Why?” she fired back nervously.  “I’m the Dark One now.  I don’t sleep, remember?”

             The unhinged tone in her voice, as well as the unvarnished bitterness, worried him more than he cared to admit.  Killian hesitated, biting his lip and considering his next words carefully.  His pause only seemed to agitate her further.  Why indeed?  And yet, he could not help but want her near, wish to gather her to his side, run the curve of his hook down her spine, and attempt to soothe her, bring her some measure of comfort, however ineffectual it might prove in the end.

             Heaving a deep sigh, Killian forced his voice to remain slow and even, despite his frustration and his utter anger at the situation his Love had been cast into.  Crooking his fingers in invitation, beckoning her forward while keeping his hand extended to her palm up, he raised an eyebrow slightly in challenge.  “Nor am I trying to force you to, Emma. I have not forgotten what you are battling, but can I not try to aid you in the fight?  Can I not hold the woman I love for a few moments?”

             Her lower lip trembled in response, before she pressed her mouth tightly closed, considering his offer, the longing clear on her face, until she let her swirling green eyes meet his at last.  “Y-you still…you still see me?” she finally whispered, her voice desperately fearful, quivering at the end with hope.

             There was no need for flowery words, only to hold her gaze, give a decided, affirmative nod and answer, “Aye.”

             At that single word, Emma took one hesitant, faltering step toward him, then another, until he could clasp her hand in his questing fingers and pull her against him, sitting at the edge of the rich, overlarge bed.  Mumbling quiet nonsense, Killian tucked Emma under his chin, cradling the back of her head in his palm and rocking them gently from side to side.  “Shh, Love, shh… it’s going to be alright,” he crooned, injecting steadfast certainty he wished he truly felt into his tone.

             Emma’s voice was broken and child-like as she spoke, her words muffled slightly by the leather of his sleeve.  “How can it be?” she asked plaintively.  There was something achingly human about her now, when before she had seemed so steely and impervious – untouchable as she stood at the window like a sentry, proud and strong, but cold and hard as well, looking out over the courtyard into the dark night.  The power within her was a distancing shield, a barrier higher and more impenetrable than her emotional walls had ever been.  Pulling back again briefly to look into the limitless eyes of this man who had pulled her back from the brink, her face was flushed and wet with silently shed tears, as real and vulnerable as he had ever seen her.  “I’m hanging by a thread, Killian.  There’s so much pressing inside, trying to escape, and the voices, the Dark Ones before me, they’re constantly whispering, watching, tempting me and trying to take over.  If I let my guard slip, if they get loose…  I’m terrified of what might happen, what I might do… who I might hurt…” The last words dropped to the barest whisper, her eyes falling to their intertwined fingers anxiously, unable to see the disgust and disapproval that must surely be on the face that had always before been nothing short of adoring.

             However, what she found when she looked up was far from devastating – so tender it made her very pulse still, bringing her up short and blinking in disbelief.  “That will never happen, Emma.  I know it with every fiber of my being, as surely as I know the way around my ship and as clearly as the navigator’s course is marked by the stars in the sky. You are stronger than that demon, Love.  Though I hate that you must fight so bitterly, I have no doubt that you will win.”

             “Thank you for believing in me, Killian,” she bit her lip, the lower one caught by her teeth, and she continued to play with their fingers, again avoiding his eyes to stare at their joined hands.  “But I can’t help worrying.  You can’t know that for sure!  When you found me yesterday evening, trying to take the dagger from Regina’s hiding place, I nearly took your head off!  It was your quick reflexes that saved you, not any restraint of mine.  I wasn’t in my right mind at all.  Wh- what if you had been killed?  What if you had been Henry?  Or my mom with my little brother?”

             Killian sighed, giving a moment for Emma to feel her words had sunk in, gathering her closer still against his chest and pressing his lips to the soft hair at the crown of her head, humming gently against her skin, hoping to quiet her anxious quaking in his arms.  When he did speak at last, his voice was low, a mere warm undertone at her ear.  “Swan, you have already fought back since then.  Think of our ride this afternoon, and that moment of perfection in the Middlemist field.  The Crocodile’s vile echo, any of the others, they were not present then, were they?  Those insidious voices vanished, aye?  Do not grant them a way back in.”

             Emma nodded weakly, burying her adorably perfect little nose into his thickly furred chest, as if it were the softest pillow she had ever rested against.  Killian had never seen her so fragile – his angel of boots and leather and steely resolve – and though his heart swelled that she would finally turn to him in her need, he hated the burden she bore.  It was too much, too much to ask of a woman who had been so strong and carried such hurt all her life.  A little sigh escaped her rosebud lips, the breathe tickling his collarbone, and Killian felt a rush of tension and wild energy drain from her, her shoulders slumping and her slight form leaning against him more heavily for support.

             “So, do you think you can allow yourself a bit of peace?” he asked, smoothing mussed strands of her hair back over her shoulder affectionately, just as he had done almost since their first meeting.

             Emma only muttered unintelligibly against him at first, before she finally put enough distance between them for him to make out her husky voice.  “I’ll lie down with you and try to rest a bit.  You still need to sleep, Pirate.  But I won’t…it won’t work…I’ve figured that out by now.  It’s just the way it is…”

             “Fair enough then, Swan.  I will make do with what I can get,” he assured her, offering a crooked half-smile and scooting back toward the pillows piled at the head of the bed while still keeping her in his embrace.

             She made no effort to distance herself, moving with him and placing her hand over his heart near her flushed cheek as he settled comfortably on the mattress, looking up at the high, stone ceiling above them.  His one hand began to trace idle patterns on her shoulder and arm as they cuddled together, neither drifting into sleep yet, but perhaps finding a bit of respite all the same.

Eventually, when Killian did find his eyes fluttering closed, he began to speak, softly and almost without thought.  He would not leave her alone in her struggle, and so he began to fill the void with words to keep himself awake and with her.  To his own astonishment, what came to his lips were tales he had long forgotten until that moment, memories from when he was but a lad long ago, which no other person had heard – not even Milah or Bae – until that moment.  And he was grateful then for Emma’s warmth and full attention as he spoke, emotions that had needed vent for centuries were now finally loosed – all the pain and rejection of being left alone and afraid in the dark, a child who had started out on an adventure with his papa and instead been thrown rudderless into the heaving waves of a cruel and treacherous adult world. 

His voice dwelt haltingly on his one light – both his anchor and his compass – his Liam.  Once begun, the story of their stolen boyhood streamed from him, the bits and pieces of the beloved older brother who had been his companion and the only family left to him, in a harsh, dark world of slavery and bleak deprivation.  Liam, who had told him stories when he couldn’t sleep for the suffocating pitch blackness of the hold where they were sometimes locked at night merely for the sake of the other crew’s entertainment or for some imagined mistake; the growing young man who had given half his rations to his gangly younger brother whose belly never felt properly full; who had found a way to splint Killian’s ankle when the sadistic bosun on their master’s ship  had yanked and twisted it to keep Killian from scaling the ropes to the crow’s nest where he could hide from the hulking man’s mistreatment; the protective father figure who had curled around his sibling offering body heat when they both shivered in their bunk, one threadbare blanket between them on winter nights at sea, and his hero who had given Killian the one gleam of hope he had possessed in those endless suffering years. It had all been pent inside him for so long that once he began to speak of Liam, Killian couldn’t bring himself to stop until it was all voiced.  Liam Jones had been taken from the world much too soon, and Killian had not allowed himself to grieve – taken to piracy and retribution, plunging headlong down the ages -  until that moment in Arthur’s kingdom with his silently listening True Love.

His deluge of words did not seem to faze Emma; in fact, she appeared to welcome his outpouring, tracing gentle fingertips over the contours of his face and into his hair, the strokes as soothing as his touch had been to her a short time ago.  Killian didn’t know how long he talked and Emma listened attentively, but his eyelids at last drooped closed in the still watches of the night, his voice slowing and tripping sluggishly, exhaustion and flagging adrenaline towing him under until he could not fight sleep any longer.  He thought he saw Emma’s hand wave over him, but then he was lost in slumber. 

 ~~~88~~~

When he woke with the next day’s dawn, the spot where she had rested beside him was still warm, but Emma was no longer there.

 ~~~88~~~

              They set up a reassuring pattern after that.  Night after night, for as long as they were guests in the castle of Camelot, Killian could at least coax Emma to lie down in the circle of his arms and rest her weary body, if not her mind, in actual sleep.  It was better than nothing, and the pirate strove with all he had to stay awake with her, to keep vigil at her side through the lonely grey hours, when she was most vulnerable and her strength might flag.  Exhausted though they both were, it could have been so much worse, and Killian was grateful for what she did allow him to do.  The first time he had fallen into slumber and woken with her gone, his heart had been in his throat, fearful for where she might have gone and what horror could have gripped her and spurred her from their resting place.  However, when he found her where they all convened for breakfast, a tiny, almost light, smile curved her lips upward at the corners when she spied him.  Something in her face let him know that she appreciated what he had shared, that he had allowed her to comfort him, and that somehow in granting her that caring gesture, he had made her feel more human and given her back a bit of herself.

             Those sleepless nights in the broken kingdom of legend’s Once and Future King, when Emma curled into his side and he finally felt the shaking ease from the taut muscles she had held under rigid control all that day, more terrified with each passing one that she might slip and do some terrible magic she couldn’t take back, and he sensed more than heard her say that the hissing demons in her mind had ceased their torment for a while – those nights were when their fragile love, born in Storybrooke over moonlit walks, pizza with Netflix, and interrupted coffee dates, took root and grew into something dauntless, lasting, and True.  From those nights he held her until his body gave up and forced him to sleep, or they both stayed awake and saw the morning paint the sky together, from then on Captain Hook and his Swan Savior were joined in a bond which could not be severed by distance or foe, the Darkness, or even Fate.

             Once they left the land of Avalon, there was further pain and trial.  The fatal cut from Excalibur would have been Killian’s death; he had been resigned to it, had lived much longer than he’d ever been meant to and begged Emma to let him go.  But the threat of losing her pirate – her reason to finally open her heart again and let herself fully live – caused Emma to make a tragic mistake.  The temptation that had finally broken her resistance and blackened her soul after all her desperate struggle and restraint, was made in bending the laws of nature to keep him alive.  His angel fell to the need to save him, to not lose one more person who loved her and allowed her to love – to feel – in return.  And when she crumbled, it drug him into the pit along with her.  Harsh words and rage, bitten into blades that wounded and scarred, passed between the True Loves who then shared the worst Darkness the realms had ever known.

             Yet, after the torture, the fire, and one more crippling separation, they found the way back to each other.  Exhausted, battered, but hand-in-hand, after traveling to the very Underworld itself and defying the lord of that domain, in the end even death could not part the Savior and her captain forever.  When they finally stole a moment upon their return – tripping tangled together up the front steps of the house that Killian and Henry had chosen by the dim light of the stars on a chilly May night in Storybrooke, Emma was so sleepy she was nearly punch drunk in her sailor’s grasp as he barely managed to catch her before she fell onto the wooden porch.  Both of them were chuckling lightly, blearily only half awake, but so glad to be alone together and safe, at least for a moment, that anything else could wait.  It had been a long time coming, and the austere hall and front room were somewhat haunted yet by their distorted alters’ presences and the barbs they had thrown, but they bypassed that silent space – it would keep for the morrow – to finally enter the bedroom they had always meant to share.

             The peace which washed over Emma in that moment they fell together, sinking into the thick, cushy comforter, navy blue dotted by tiny white anchors she had chosen with him in mind, and the joy she felt at the sleep-muted delight on his face on first glimpse of them, was the most comfort she had felt since he stole her away on horseback that afternoon in Camelot.  It seemed lifetimes ago now, though she could still feel the pink petals of the Middlemist flower he had handed her in that green haven and the sun slanting down on their faces as they had kissed.

             She realized then that though there was healing still to be done, they had once more reached the place of hope they had found amidst the dazzling field of blooms and golden light.  There was the promise of forever in that hazy remembered moment, with the white dress and cape, the wind in her hair, the kiss that had swept her up in delight. Though the sky had been their only witness, Emma had felt her heart blend irrevocably with his in that moment, and there in their home by the sea, weeks or months later, so jarring and confused she hardly knew which, as he pulled the sheet and blankets up to her chin before huddling beneath them with her and hoping to banish the world outside, it felt as if they were finally going to enjoy the vow that had been made between them in that fairy tale scene rose-tinted in her mind’s eye. With Killian at her back, arms wrapped around her so that hand and hook could rest upon her skin, and his nose nuzzled warmly at the nape of her neck, at long last Emma finally slept.

Tagging a few who might enjoy: @jennjenn615​ @searchingwardrobes​ @kmomof4​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @laschatzi​ @jrob64​ @apiratewhopines​ @hollyethecurious​ @winterbaby89​ @sotangledupinit​ @anmylica​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @teamhook​ @revanmeetra87​ @gingerchangeling​ @gingerpolyglot​ @optomisticgirl​ @tiganasummertree​ @spartanguard​ @therooksshiningknight​ @the-darkdragonfly​ @elizabeethan​ @donteattheappleshook​ @drowned-dreamer​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @cosette141​ @xarandomdreamx​

#self promo sunday #cs missing moment ff #cs angst and fluff #cs one shot #ouat 5a one shot #by a sleep we hope to end the heartache #csstorybook entry #cs ff

[your-ghoul-pal]

Lavender Love

Pairing: Sunshine/reader

Warnings: none, just pure fluff

wordcount: 2.7k

A/N, i purely wrote this cause i wanted to read smth like it but couldn't find it. I just need more Sunshine content ngl. (also first time posting fanfic to tumblr, be kind :))

*gif not mine*

AO3 LINK:

Sunrays softly dance around on the pond in the garden. The wind ruffles the coloured leaves in the trees. Your footsteps creating a soft crackling sound on the path. You take a deep breath, feeling your lungs fill with cold autumn air. The flowers may be finish blooming for a few weeks most are bright and lively. You reach out your hand to smell some. Lavender, your favourite. You take out your sketchbook and start sketching out the little flowers.

Short strokes of your pencil on the paper is all you focus on, until you feel soft drips on your hand. You look up, the sky had been painted a dark grey signalling you to return inside. You hadn’t noticed that someone was observing you from the other side of the pond. Your jacket is almost soaked when you step inside, the rain storm had caught you.

Once you walk into the sibling quarters and arrive at your dorm you notice a small something in front of your door. You reach to pick it up when you see it is a small bundle of lavender, you grab it and look around hoping whoever left it was still around. Yet, the quarters were empty beside a few cats that roamed around.

You enter your dorm, hanging your coat to dry and filling a small vase with water for the lavender. The little bundle smells nice and very strong for its size, which you don’t mind. You pull your sketchbook out of your bag to finish the page for the lavender.

Over the next few weeks there were more small bundles of flowers left at your doorstep, some had little notes attached. ‘I hope you have a day as sweet as the smell of lavender’ and other sweet little notes. One day a bundle with many flowers that you had studies showed up with a little card. ‘Hi, meet me at the lavender bush by the pond at 13h <3’. It seems a little odd to you but you’re too curious about who had send you the flowers these past weeks. While preparing you throw a few extra snacks in your art bag; (Which holds your notebook, sketchbook, some art supplies but mainly snacks). Your mind wonders off thinking who could be the secret flower bringer.

The clock indicates that it is 12.48 so you throw on your jacket and shoes. You swing your bag around your shoulder as you exit your dorm heading towards the garden. There are barely any clouds in the sky, the wind is rustling in the last leaves on the trees. You walk down to the pond, noticing that no one is there yet. You check your watch. 12.57. You sit down close by the lavender bush and stare at the water that is half hidden away by the leaves that have fallen.

Soon you hear footsteps approach you, causing you to turn around. “Hello” you say with a kind smile, you recognise the stranger to be Sunshine. Your eyes meet with her eyes, “hello” she says while taking place next to you. The two of you sit in silence, not knowing how to start the conversation.

“Are you the one who left flowers at my doorstep for weeks?” you break the silence and turn to her. She turns her gaze to the pond and softly nods. “I love it, it is nice to have flowers in your room. Really brings in some cosiness, don’t you think?” you continue. “Yes, flowers do bring a nice feeling to a room” she responds in a soft voice. Silence returns and both of you stare into the pond.

“Why did you ask me to meet?” you break the silence again. You turn to her and notice her cheeks are flushed and that she is nervously fiddling with the grass. “Well, uhm. I. I wanted.” She stumbles over her words. “I wanted to learn more about flowers, and it seems like you know a lot about them” she finally manages to say causing her to seem relieved. “Well, I know a fair share thing about flowers and plants, so you are right about that” you say while reaching for your sketchbook.

You talk about all the flowers and plants you have been studying and drawing for the past months. Sunshine listens with a lot of attentions asking questions here and there. You show her every single page you have filled so far, she seems beyond interested in it. Complimenting almost every drawing that accompanies the notes. The compliments one by one paint a fluster on your face, causing you to be glad that her focus lies more on your sketchbook in your hands.

The two of you continue to talk for hours, the sky being painted slowly painted by darkness. The conversation had already moved beyond plants and onto more personal territory. You learned that Sunshine loves pastel colours, pasta and well of course music. However, you didn’t know she adores classical music and opera. The darkness reminded you to return inside, where you said your goodbyes to each other.

Over the weeks she strikes up conversations with you, about anything she could think off. More and more she would join you when you were researching plants to be around you, which you didn’t mind.

On this particular day it had snowed so much the night before that going outside was a death sentence, leaving you to help others with their duties. You spend the entire day sweeping the hallways and stoking up the hearths to keep the Abbey sort of liveable. In the end of the afternoon, you sneak away to your dorm to rest.

Trudging through the sibling quarters you are met by a small bouquet of flowers at your doorstep. “It’s the dead of the winter, how did anyone get flowers?” you wonder while reaching to grab the bouquet “ah, that makes more sense, they’re made of paper. They still look very lovely” you murmur to yourself. You enter your dorm and place the paper flowers in an empty glass on your small desk that is filled with notes and sketches. You plop down on your bed and roll into a blanket, readying yourself to take a well-deserved nap. When you almost doze off, you are startled by a rapid but soft rapping at your door. You unroll yourself from the blankets and walk over to the door.

When you open the door, you are greeted by Sunshine. “What are you doing here?” you ask her. “Well normally I would join you in your studies outdoors but since we can’t go outside. I figured I would still hang out with you” she explains while anxiously fiddling with her sleeves. “That’s okay, come in” you say letting her in.

You plop down on the couch and signal for her to sit down next to you. “I was actually going to take a nap, but we could watch a movie or something?” you suggest, too tired to think of something else. “Oh, I didn’t mean to disturb you from sleep. I can leave again so you can sleep in peace” she says standing up. “Don’t worry about it. I like hanging out with you” you exclaim, why did I say that, WHY DID I SAY IT LIKE THAT. That was way too enthusiastic to be just friendly, why am I such an idiot.

Your brain falls quiet when you feel her lips brush softly against yours. Quickly she pulls away, her eyes filled with fear “Sorry” she murmurs. Your cheeks are flustered up “It’s okay” you murmur assuring her. You look up and meet her eyes, the panic in them has been mainly replaced by longing. A longing you also feel coursing through your body, a longing for her.

She scoots herself even closer to you, placing herself under your arm and leaning against your chest. Your heartbeat only speeds up more and more, you hope that she doesn’t notice it. A few helpless attempts to calm your heartbeat go by but over time the thumping in your chest slows down. Your arm is becoming restless and a bit painful, “Want something to drink?” you ask “Tea? Hot Chocolate?”. “Hot chocolate sounds nice" she says shifting herself to sit next to you again.

You walk over to the compact kitchen in your dorm. You reach for the cabin with mugs and grab two of them; one has drawn pictures of lavender on it and the other has a small cat on it. While you turn on the kettle and grab the cacao, Sunshine has joined you in the kitchenette.

When the water boils you put it in the mugs and stir in the cacao powder. You turn around and hand Sunshine the lavender mug, “Careful it is hot”. She smiles and takes over the mug from you. Sunshine sits down on the couch again, both of you put down the drinks on the coffee table. “One second” you say and walk off to your bedroom. You grab one of the blankets on your bed and a few book about nature of your nightstand. Once you return Sunshine sits on the couch with her legs pulled up to her chest sipping from her mug.

You plop down next to her and put the books next to your drink. Sunshine scoots closer to you and you drape the blanket around the shoulders of both of you. A question that has been wandering around your mind for ages finally finds an escape, “Why do you hang out with me so much? I mean I am not that special, I’m just another sibling of sin. Nothing more.” Why am I like this? Why do I have to ruin every nice moment I have. Can’t I really not act normal for once. The thoughts slowly infect your mind.

“To me you’re not just another sibling of sin. To me you are special, your interest and care for plants intrigued me. Ever since I’ve gotten to know you more and more, I’ve been lingering for more. Lingering to know more about you, your interest and the attention to detail”. Your cheeks fluster up and you turn to face your lap as she continues, “And not just your mind interests me” your heartbeat speeds up again. what does she mean by that? Does she? No, that’s stupid, is it? Her voice trails off, unsure of how to continue.

The silence takes over, neither of you sure of how to react. Sunshine still sips on her hot chocolate, leaning against your shoulder. You have grabbed one of the book and flip trough the pages, stopping on the page about lavender. You lay the open book on the table in front of you and grab your mug.

“Lavender is such a lovely thing” Sunshine says “Not only the plant and the smell, but also the association with the colour”. you raise your eyebrow, unsure of what she means “Well the flower as well as the colour lavender became a symbol for queer empowerment and resistance. It adds on to why I adore lavender so much” she says in a dreamy voice. “What do you mean?” you ask, unsure of what she is trying to say.

She snuggles closer to you, her head resting against yours, “I’m not sure” she looks up at you, her glare moves to your lips. Suddenly her hand grabs your chin, and she turns your head to face her. Her eyes finding yours. “Is it okay if I ki-“ she didn’t get to finish her sentence as you already pressed your lips against hers. She melts into your lips, it’s a short but sweet kiss. You pull back and stare back into her eyes, noticing a twinkle formed in them. You can feel your face fluster up again, but Sunshine her cheeks are also coloured a soft reddish pink. You can’t admire her face for long as she pulls you in for another kiss.

Her lips feel soft on yours. Her smell fills your noise and drowns out your thoughts. There is only the now, nothing other than you and her. She places her hand behind your head locking you in the kiss, causing you to melt into the kiss more. After a short while her hands moved from your shoulders to your back to then rest on your hips. Your arms are wrapped around her neck, causing your bodies to be pressed up against each other.

Her hands finds the hem of your shirt and carefully tugs on it, you pull yourself away and stare at your lap. “Sorry” Sunshine says , “I-It’s fine, it’s me” you say with a shaking voice. “It’s just that” how do I explain this? “I am asexual.” “What is that?” Sunshine asks tilting her head. “Well for me it means I feel no sexual attraction, nothing. For me personally I don’t like anything that has to do with sex and all that. Kissing, snuggling all that is fine, but more? It's just not it for me.”

She listens carefully and thinks about your words for a few seconds “That makes sense”.

“What do you mean by that?” you ask confused

“Well, ehm. I… I understand that feeling, I don’t always have it. It is like that most the time, not always. I thought something was off about me.” Her voice trails off into quiet.

“There is nothing off about you” you cup her face in your hands and give a small kiss on the tip of her nose, causing her to smile.

You rake your fingers through her hair and tuck one of her curls behind her pointy ear. She tiredly leans against your shoulder, her breath slowing. You interlock your fingers in hers, rubbing your thumb over her knuckle. “I think we are both pretty tired, the couch is not super comfortable to sleep on” you say hoping she understood what you were trying to signal. “Where else could we take a good nap” she says while a yawn escapes her mouth.

You stand up and lead her to the bedroom, “May I suggest, a bed. Perfect for sleeping activities” you josh at her. She rolls her eyes at you and sits down on the side of the bed. You plop down next to her, still having the blanket draped around your shoulders.

You notice how cold your room is and wrap the blanket tighter around yourself. Sunshine takes notice and wraps her arm around you. Another yawn escapes her mouth, “let’s lay down and nap already, then we may wake up in time for dinner.” Why are her yawns so damn adorable? You think to yourself.

You stand up and pull back the bedcovers and step into your bed. You scoot over to the wall making that there is enough space for another body, and you pat on the empty spot next to you. “Are you sure?” Sunshine says having turned to face you. You can see that she iy shivering, presumably from the cold. “It is cold, and we are both tired, this will kill two birds in one stone. You don’t have to sleep here, you can also go take a nap elsewhere if you prefer?” you say hoping that you aren’t hurting her feelings.

“It is cold everywhere in the Abbey, the ghoul dorms somehow being some of the coldest” Sunshine says while she steps into the bed as well. You can feel her shiver. You pull her closer to you, hoping to warm her body and at least stop her from shivering. She lays her head against your chest, causing you to pray to your heart beat to slow down.

Sunshine curls up further against you and you wrap your arms around her. You can feel her warm up more and more. You listen to her breathing calm as your eyes feel heavy themselves. You curl yourself around Sunshine and get a bit more comfortable. Your nostrils are filled with the smell of her, finally you recognize it; she smells like lavender.

So, with the warm bundle of Sunshine in your arms you drift off into your well-deserved and needed sleep.

#the band ghost #ghost the band #ghost band #sunshine ghoulette #nameless ghoulettes #ghost #sunshine ghoulette x reader fluff #sunshine x reader #the band ghost fic #ghost fanfiction #fanfic #my writing #long post

[mtnkat3]

Good morning my loves! My beloved Bears & Angels! Oh how I think of you! Even in my sleep.. I feel & talk with you.. I find beauty in that!

I've been up since 8am [bed ~1.40am] & trying to get things done, & talk to people too. I pray to be the help, & a beacon of God's Love to those I know & speak to. I hope I help! I give that to God.

I just.. I miss you .. so badly! Maybe that's why God has opened up some glimpses to me. I mean I don't have a clue about some things. Obviously. & the whys are driving me bonkers! but I know that I feel you .. sometimes better than others. I love you . That's what matters. When I get to throw open the barn doors.. whatever configuration that may be.. I know that I will have been blessed beyond measure! Because I will be free! And I know in my soul that's how He will bring us together!

I won't ever give up!

Not on God, you, us, nor myself!

I'll be back to doing handstands on my bed just for fun! Lol! [Last was 2012.]

I so wanna be doing yoga, pilates, dancing, bellydancing, several martial arts [krav maga, aikido, mma, tai chai, jujitsu, some others I know...] dancing, swimming.. omg, this fishing kat so misses water! [Tigers love water!] I want to do things that I can both enjoy but also feel good & inspired & watch myself become better at.

I've always been a climber & a bit of a daredevil. so getting back to pushing my own limits is definitely something that I want & need to do. And I mean getting over phobias that piss me off. [Like handbridges. The ocean because of near drownings & such.]

No matter how strong I am, or appear to be. I am a woman. A fallible human being. I make mistakes, own up to them & work to do better. I am both physically more strong than I appear, being chubby. sigh. But mentally I'm strong even when I'm scared & afraid. I know what my fears are. and that's important. That's how we work thru them. I know that I am both nervous to make the big step out the door to freedom. But also jumpy jellybeans excited too! The nervousness is that I won't have anyone to break my fall. I will make it, or fall flat on my face. That's up to God, & me making righteous woman decisions. That's me being wise, with my financial health, & my body, goals, health & life. To be a good, wise, righteous woman. Step carefully.

Ok my loves .. between the time getting away from me.. stuff I have got to get done & needing to get moving.. & this dang lag! Guess tumblr is trying to stop me using 10! Roflmao!

I love you .

Period.

I will never give up.

~True love never dies & true love always waits!.~

I work & await on my cliffside. .

For my universe I'll wait for eternity.. into infinity.

Your complex quirky warrior queen daughter.

~Tijgeress kat Phoenix. 🌺🐾🐯✝️

🤓👩😌🙇‍♀️⚓🙏🌂🔗⛓🧰🦉🐢

⌚⚡🌠🚀🗝🔱⚜💝🐻🦌🧩♠️♾🧭🕯🎶💋

Th.11.10.2022 10.42am est.

[holdinbacksecrets]

Saraya hiii, again very sorry for not responding sooner! Have not been very active on Tumblr the last few days actually

Thank you so much! I just finished law school so I'll be joining a firm as an associate - don't know what to expect so quite nervous tbh asjiwgeufi

Ahh no worries - I totally understand that Camellia may not be something you might enjoy! Another one of my friends started watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo and even she has been raving about it so I might start watching it soon too

Oh yes, FoE has raised standards so high that very few might be able to compare to it tbh

Oh and I have made significant progress in watch Doom at your Service since my last message about it! It's just that I have not been able to watch it as regularly as I thought it would but I do intend to finish the series by next weekend - I will certainly let you know once I do. I am certain I will have a lot of thoughts and feelings that I will need to let out so I apologize for flooding your inbox in advance XD

How have you been doing? Hope you have a great week ahead!

~ 🐼

hello patty! (sorry i haven't answered your last ask! i like to save ones that have requests until i've written them <3)

totally understandable. i respect you for taking a break... i probably need to do the same soon >.< ohmygod!!! CONGRATULATIONS! that's so exciting! i have so much respect and admiration for you! i would love love love to hear more about this and how you're adjusting to the new firm. uncertainty -> nervousness... once you get in there and adjusted, i hope some of that or all of it leaves you <3 so cool. you're so cool. cheers extraordinary attorney woo is exceptional, and i do not use that word lightly. it's in my top 5 at least, possibly top 3, but i cannot proclaim that until the drama finishes. i also love shows with attorneys/lawyers, so i'm curious what you'll think of it being an actual lawyer >.< exactly! actually... this is good to bring up because extraordinary attorney woo has been the only drama i've been able to stick with after foe i cannot wait for my inbox to be flooded with all things doom at your service. earlier this week, i was enjoying the tumblr tag for it and reliving some of my favorite moments. what a lovely drama. i'm glad you're still enjoying it! all i can talk about today is hobipalooza. this week has been difficult, but my spirits are high today all thanks to jung hoseok. i've also made significant progress on my bedroom art wall. i'll probably post some pictures soon. i also thought of starting a podcast this week, so i've been chewing on that since friday.

#s talks #🐼 anon #offering another congratulations because i cannot help myself <3

[thefallenbibliophilequote]

The Asgardian Way

Loki x Reader

Summary: you get your period on the most unfortunate time- on date night with Loki. Embarrassed as you are of the topic from past experiences with boyfriends, Loki shows you that unlike mortal men- Asgardians view this time of the month for women in a much better way.

Word count: 1,849

Warnings: period talk, fluff, shade on Christianity, some shade on human men, Loki being the ideal boyfriend we all deserve.

A/N: this was requested by @the-departed-potato and while I do not take requests I just really had to do this one because this was like just perfect for me specifically to do. Sorry it took so long! Sorry if this sucks!😅 I also truly had to hold myself back from giving even more shade on Christians of old times because damn I could write a whole essay about those people and how they spread misinformation that changed real history to fake mainly bc of witchcraft. This is not beta read so all mistakes are by yours truly!

No one is allowed to repost my writing or steal or copy my work! Reblog on tumblr is fine.

Masterlist

--

It's been going on for months now, the shameless flirting, the gentleman behaviour, and the devious looks he sent your way that completely contradicted his actions and left you a blushing mess even when he only opened the door for you- then he would wink at you.

It wasn't until one night that you gathered up courage to ask him out.

You were staying late at the Avengers Tower, you wanted to finish working on the new gadget you had built with Tony at the lab so he sent you to bring the two of you some coffee- he knew it was useless to tell you to go home and sleep- last time he tried to do it you called him a hypocrite and conditioned one of his suits to blast him if he gets close to you. You found it hilarious. He made sure to update the security of his code.

You went to the kitchen when you happened to overhear a conversation of two gods.

"Why have you not taken her on a date yet, brother?"

"I wish to court her properly, she deserves to be treated like a lady." You heard Loki respond to his brother. You leaned on the wall, trying not to get hopeful and to get the butterflies to calm down.

"Y/N is a fine lady, however, I heard from Stark that midgardian women might mistake courting like ours as mere jest." You smiled a bit at the scoff they both let out.

"Mortals continue to baffle me." Came Loki's comment, before Thor continued- not letting the subject go.

"Ask her on a date, I'm sure she will appreciate it." He encouraged his brother who wasn't as sure.

"I think, brother, that she is different- she will appreciate the old delicate arts of courting." He was not wrong- you were always old fashioned. But now at his admission, you stepped out of the shadows and into their view.

"While I do appreciate the courting, I'd love it if you would ask me out." Loki turned around at the sound of your voice.

"How long have you been standing there, darling?" he fidgeted with his hair.

"Long enough," you stepped down the stairs to stand in front of him. "What do you say about this Friday night at six? There is an art exhibit at the museum, I think you'll like calling out all the inaccuracies."

"Yeah, I'd like that." He gave you a small shy smile, and you completely forgot about Thor who stood on the side, watching it all unfold.

"This is great," he said. "You two are finally going on that date, see brother I told you-"

Thor stopped when he looked at Loki who sent him daggers at ruining the moment. You only chuckled.

"I have to go get Tony and I some drinks, so I guess I will see you then." You were about to turn around to head towards the kitchen when Loki took your hand in his, making you turn around, then he kissed the back of your hand lightly, bowing with a small smile at the blush on your cheeks.

"I look forward to it."

It took you a couple of second to function after he did that, mumbling a quiet goodbye you turned around and refused to look back at the smirking god.

•

You have gone with the god for a couple of dates now and then, sometimes you didn't see him for a whole week because of meetings in Asgard and while you were sad that you didn't get to see him-you were glad he was gone on that exact week every time.

You have been seeing him for about 2-3 months now and it was great- up until your period decided to come early. Right on your scheduled date.

You were nervously pacing your apartment thinking how to tell Loki that you can't go out with him tonight. You didn't want him to see you like this- he is a god, and you- you are a mortal woman who was having trouble getting out of bed because your body decided to punish you for not being pregnant this month.

Your body was so sexist.

Suddenly, a knock on the door.

Groaning, you got out of bed and headed for the door, checking who was there you were puzzled when you saw Loki there, dressed to the nines. Surely you didn't waste so much time, he must be early.

"Dear, are you okay there?" he called you.

"Yes, I'm fine- just a moment!" you tried to make yourself look presentable in a rush just so you could open the door to the dashing prince who was awaiting you.

You opened the door with a smile, which he returned.

You were used to acting like you were okay while your cramps were killing you from the inside but it seems like the god of lies could not be so easily fooled.

"Hi Loki, I was not expecting you this early." You laughed courtly, "And I was actually meaning to call- I'm not feeling so well today, I'm afraid I have to postpone our date tonight."

Loki walked into your apartment, kissing you on the cheek before pulling back to study you.

"I wanted to see you sooner, so here I am. But now that I am here- well tell me what is wrong, dearest?" he frowned when he saw you slightly clench your fists.

"Oh, I'm just not feeling well, I won't be good company and I won't be able to enjoy a lovely night with you I'm afraid."

"I'm a healer my love; you always seem to forget my magic," he smirked slightly causing you to laugh- which was not good right now for you.

"I remember your magic powers very well when you prank me." You countered. "But no, this is not something you need to worry about."

He reached out and took your hand with a small laugh. The door locked itself with a wave of his hand as he took you to the couch.

"I'm afraid you will have to do better than that to fool the god of lies." He took both of your hands in his and you were sure he could see your embarrassment with the way he was gazing into your eyes, "Now tell me, what is wrong?"

"You really don't need to- it's kind of embarrassing-" you started to mumble, lowering your head.

"I'm still here, aren't I? What kind of man will I be if I am not taking care of those I care about?"

You pulled your hands away from him, embarrassed as you mumbled something he couldn't quite put together.

"What was that?"

"I'm on my period." You closed your eyes- not wanting to see his disgusted look. "See, so you don't need to be here, I can take care of it myself and we can reschedule our date to a week from now."

It was not a problem to you- you knew the drill- but having to explain it to a clueless god felt humiliating to say the least.

"Is that all? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" You opened your eyes to a puzzled god.

"Because it would make you uncomfortable," you replied, suspicious of his reaction.

"Why on Odin's beard would it make me uncomfortable?" He frowned at you and looked you over. He started peppering kisses on your hands.

"Because it is my period?" You knew he is a god, but maybe asgardians women didn't get that. "Here on earth, men tend to be disgusted by it, they don't like to get involved in it or talk about it."

He huffed out in surprised anger- that you did not expect. The god in front of you did not know how human males could be so awful.

"Well that is preposterous! Women are to be worshipped at those times!" you stared at him-he had always treated you differently, unlike anything you have seen on earth before. You knew Asgardian ways of manners were much old fashioned and yet so different all the same.

"Then tell me, how do asgardians see it?" you leaned on the back of the couch, facing Loki and pulling a blanket over you. You liked how safe he made you feel, but this still felt weird to you- you were not sure how to react- to what extent it goes. So, curiosity got the better of you, "because if I'm being honest, this is kind of embarrassing."

Loki sent you a smile with a twinkle in his eye.

"Darling there is nothing to be embarrassed of! You are naturally as powerful as a thunder storm, a tornado- lightning cowards before you and your power!" he was going to make sure you understand it, he had never been so baffled by humans before. "You hold the ability of life- eternal life- in every drop of blood that falls from you- from the most powerful being in all the realms. For a couple of days each month- you are being shown your true power even through your suffering- and in that time you, my dear, are more powerful than a god. You should be nothing but worshipped. That is what the gods of Asgard know it to be true."

"Do they really all think that?" you felt a sharp pain suddenly and Loki came closer to you, put his usually cold hand on your stomach and you felt comforting warmness ease your ache.

"They know it. The people of midgard knew it too at some point, but then some people who thought themselves gods- I think they called themselves Christians- decided that the bleeding was a show of witchcraft and called it a sin and spread many lies about it, which now I see are still believed to this day. You see, they were quite stupid." You laughed at the disgusted look he gave you, which in turn made him smile. "You know, I probably shouldn't tell you this but…"

"You never obey such rules." You laughed and put your hand over his one that was comforting you on your stomach.

"In one of Thor's travels he bathed in a river filled with the menstrual blood of the powerful Giantesses. That was to give him enlightenment and eternal life."

"Ew, did he actually do it?" you scrunched your nose and Loki kissed it.

"That is not disgusting- that was powerful and very well respected. When he came back, he was the smartest I have ever seen him."

"I hope he took a good bath after it…" you chuckled and smiled at him, "Thank you for this, the Asgardian way of thinking is way better than that of earth."

"Now, dear, while I do have a preferred way to help take away the pain-" you blushed under his gaze. "Tell me, what is it that you desire? Tell me, so I can worship you as I should."

You kissed him then and you knew right then when he kissed you back that the Asgardian men are way better.

•

Taglist: : @callmeluna @sstanbarnes @buckys-other-punk @drabblewithfrannybarnes @easygoingtheatre @that-one-person @justab-eautifulmess @onceupona-happilyeverafter @wipplogg @supraveng @samwilsons-pillowpecs @ayybtch @kitkatd7 @chrissquares @make-me-imagine @jessalyn-jpeg

#the asgardian way #my writing #loki #loki x reader #loki x female reader #loki x you #loki laufeyson #loki laufeyson x reader #loki odinson #loki odinson x reader #loki imagine #loki fluff #fluff #period fic #loki fanfic #imagines #fanfiction #tom hiddleston #marvel #mcu #this has pagan elements and mythology

[poppubaburu]

Here are a SPAMTON of content, [tumblr/twitter/instagram/tiktok sexy man!!! I’m kidding. He’s more of our Tumblr’s silly man! But whichever is your preference...] I made and did (Aha! see what I did there? ahahaha...(nervously laughs))

Spamton artwork description and lore from top to bottom

1. This is my very, very first Spamton NEO post. Please discuss and comment me what you think, please, Spamton enjoyers. I’m looking for more DELTARUNE community people and artists to talk to and share a common liking. 

It’s your preferred depiction of Kris encountering Spamton NEO in either Pacifist/Snowgrave Route. Either way, he’s gonna FINAL ATTACK eat Kris’s soul, spit it out, and repeat. 

2. There was a moment where I battled him, pacifist route, and FluffyGuard was on me, or the soul, while getting through Spamton Neo’s final attack. I headcanon thought he was sneezing at me with those attacks when I was spat out. It hasn’t left my mind. I guess Ralsei’s fluff was super effective. 

3. A bunch of Spamton lore all in one canvas page. Oh boy! Spamton enjoyers! Sit down, relax, and Wow! I have my head cannon stories and AUs to tell ya! 

An Addison AU moments where I wished the Lightner characters can bring him along on their journey and maybe...just maybe...rekindle with his friendship with the Addisons. Sure, Spamton would be incredibly resentful and embarrassed about it, but he slowly opens up and of course, there’s food. 

(1st battle sequence moment what if. Spamton being such a tease) Spamton has something in his mouth. You’ll never know...or maybe you already did know...

Canon that when Addisons abandoned him, he drinks. One of them happens to be Lemon Drop. Nvm. He’s already been drinking and hungover many times while with the Addisons.

Canon what his Addison appearance looks like before his current appearance.

The day he was over intoxicated of booze, he gets infected by Virovirokuns making his speech patterns, mental, and physical state worse. It’s uncommon, but this would happen multiple times. Poor fella.

I had a headcanon where Spamton has to pull off a disguise with Noelle to avoid Queen’s detection. Kris is just bored as fu--- throughout it but tolerates and actually enjoys Spamton’s snazzy/spazzy company. 

Spamton likes Ralsei. If left with Ralsei, he’d interchange between Dealmaker glasses and his usual normal form; There are times he gets paranoid that FluffyGuard attack/defense is on him; he shouldn’t need to sneeze. That or his smell/senses are that sensitive. 

If during Snowgrave route, I’d like to see and imagine offscreen moments of Spamton lurking (kinda like Sans did in Undertale) and observing Kris’s odd behavior towards Noelle; as well as witnessing Cyber World Darkner characters freezing, or dying. At the end of the ordeal of Noelle encountering Berdly, she meets Spamton or rather Spamton hesitantly approaches Noelle, not fully aware of her power and strength to kill him. She embraces him, whispers “I’m sorry”, and spares the salesman. She runs off to HOME, Queen’s mansion. Also, I’d like to mention how she is fascinated by dolls; and horror movies canonically. So, seeing this guy wouldn’t exactly faze her.

If there was a Pacifist AU moment where Noelle and the Lightner gang lets Spamton see fireworks. 

Kris is not exactly much taller than Spamton, but Spamton is slightly lightweight and can sit on the Lightner's shoulder and head just fine like a Pokémon buddy; a comforting beanbag. 

4. Headcanon that Spamton meets Noelle (Pacifist AU) and I kinda want hilarity to ensue between these two. Something between Netflix “Inside Job” bestie and platonic relationship or “The Ghost and Molly McGee” kinda thing. 

***Some other stuff Spamton and DELTARUNE series related are on my Twitter and Deviant-art page. *** Thanks for viewing. Please reblog; heart it, comment, or view it. Please and always give me credit as the artist if wanting to share. 

P.S. I don’t interact very much on Tumblr. I’ll do my best to. But I interact most on Twitter and sometimes Deviantart. It’s a little hard to manage tending to all different eggs in different baskets of social media. 

#spamton #spamton g spamton #Spamton G. Addison #deltarune #deltarune ralsei #deltarune kris #deltarune noelle #deltarune snowgrave #spamvember #deltarune chapter two #deltarune addisons #spamtonneo #spamton neo #kris deltarune #ralsei #noelle holiday

[alrightberries]

dante’s inferno

request: wassup homie could you maybe write a college au fic where levi and reader are rommies, then one day reader brings home an adopted cat without levi's prior knowledge? You could decide what happens next lol. Tysm 🥺

❈ pairing: levi ackerman x reader

❈ genre: fluff, semi-crack ❈ word count: 4k

❈ summary: college au. in which you bring a stray cat to your dorm and your neat freak roommate won’t let you keep it.

alternatively: a compilation of college shenanigans where you and levi are best friends who are bad with feelings (ft. an unamused cat named dante)

❈ trigger warnings: profanity. mentions of alcohol and smoking. implied smut.

a/n: this was supposed to be loosely based on the nine circles of hell according to inferno by dante alighieri— hence the title— but i did my research wrong so now it’s loosely based on the seven terraces of purgatory according to divine comedy. i’m keeping the title tho.

Inspired by this art by @ryuichirou on tumblr.

Permission to repost art was granted by the artist. Do not repost/edit the art without explicit permission from the artist.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

i. first terrace: pride

“We’re not keeping it.”

“But why?”

“We’re not keeping it.”

“But why.”

Levi’s tongue clicks in annoyance. His eyes glance next you where the offending creature lay on your bed; tail curling, paws kneading at his your favorite fleece blanket. Quite frankly he’s a little offended when the little shit has the audacity to glare at him back.

He’ll never admit it, but his ego’s a bit bruised because the cat’s glare was slightly better than his.

“I said no,” he firmly replies, looking back to you. “It’s bad enough I have to share a room with an anarchist who has no respect for boundaries—“

“One time, I forgot to use a coaster that one time!”

“—and now you expect me to share a room with a dirty fur ball who does nothing but eat, shit, and sleep?”

“He’s a cat, Levi.” You murmur, scooping the cat into your arms. “And he has a name,” you give a nervous smile when you see your rommate grit his teeth. He feels a headache coming.

“You named it?”

“Dante is not an ‘it’.”

Levi makes a move to step closer but immediately stops when the ‘Dante’ hisses at him.

“Aw, he likes you.” You coo.

“Clearly,” he replies unenthusiastically. “Listen,” he sighs. “I respect your cat’s pronouns but that doesn’t mean he’s allowed to stay. Or do I need to remind you of the mac and cheese incident?”

Okay, maybe he was on to something. If you got caught with a pet in the dorms you’d breach your third and final warning, and you’d be forced to dorm off-campus. The fact that you were still here after the mac and cheese incident was solely because Levi pulled some strings (aka asked Erwin, golden boy of the campus who owed him a favor, to pull some strings).

But you couldn’t just let Dante go. There was something about him that felt so familiar; something about his black fur, thin silver eyes, unamused snarl, and overall grumpy demeanor. Especially endearing was the way he’d grumble and pretend to be annoyed whenever you tried to cuddle him but would complain if you stopped.

You just couldn’t figure out who or what he reminded you of.

Maybe you would’ve figured it out too if you weren’t so distracted with watching Levi and Dante stare at each other. Your eyes dart back and forth between the grouchy cat sitting on your bed and your grouchy roommate sitting on his desk. Both were slightly crouched over with their heads tilted up in a show of dominance; they were engaged in what seemed to be a glaring contest, gunmetal irises unamused and mouths taut in a snarl as they protected their territory.

You sigh. You really, for the life of you, couldn’t figure out why Dante felt so familiar.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

ii. second terrace: envy

Levi is not jealous. He’s not.

At least that’s what he tells himself as he sulks alone on his bed. His arms are crossed and his lips are in a pout, eyebrows knitted in distaste, occasionally glancing to your side of the room where you sat up on your bed. He’s sure whatever movie you chose to watch together is interesting and all, but right now all he could pay attention to was that stupid cat. Sitting on your stupid lap. Getting its fur stroked by your stupid hand. Getting all the love and affection his stupid self should be receiving.

It was him you should be cuddling, not Dante. Saturday nights were reserved for him and you, not you and a cat while he happened to be in the room. He’s been trying to make a move on you since high school and he can’t fucking believe he’s losing your attention to a cat. Sure, he’s always been too chicken to make a move and had to suffer seeing you get together with assholes— as per your type during your emo high school days— but this was a new low. He can’t wrap his head around the concept that he’s losing his longterm crush to a motherfucking cat.

When you coo at how adorable the fleabag was for what felt like the 50th time that night, Levi decides he’s had enough of the cuddle-hogging piece of shit.

Wordlessly, he crosses to your side of the room and lifts the cat from its perch, ignoring your protests as he sets it down on the floor and tells it to ‘scram, you little fuck.’ He uses a hand to dust your lap free of any microscopic cat particles Dante probably left behind before lying down his head down once he was satisfied. He grabs your hand to put it on his hair.

“Stroke.” He orders, eyes closing.

“What? No! You pushed off Dante.”

“He was in my spot.”

“You couldn’t have given up your lap pillow for one night?”

“One night?” He scoffs and turns to look at you. “You’ve been abandoning me for two weeks. That disgusting, tic-infested, rabies-carrying slob has no business sitting on your lap.”

“He’s not disgusting, you gave him a shower before you agreed to let me keep him. And I took him the vet to make sure he had all his shots. He’s clean, Levi.”

“Tch, good. Now throw him out and let him find someone else to freeload from.”

“Okay, what’s going on?” You guffaw. “You’ve been grumpier than usual. And why’re you being such an ass to Dante? He’s just a cat.”

“Don’t think he’s special in some way. I’m an ass to everyone.”

“Then why does it feel like you’re always extra mean to him?”

He doesn’t reply. His lips are downturned into a frown when he looks away with a click of his tongue, and you realize with a sigh you won’t be getting an answer from your cryptic roommate soon. Your fingers start mindlessly stroking his undercut when you get lost in your thoughts— a habit you developed through years of Levi using your lap as a pillow. He always complained the first few times you did it but you knew it calmed both him and you, and that it put both your minds at ease. Moreso Levi right now, apparently.

You’re keenly aware of how he seems to curl up into you the more you keep going. You watch as his shoulders slump down when you stroke the side of his face, and his eyebrows relax slightly. From your angle, you could even see the way his eyes close in content. Maybe even a tiny smile if you were being delusional.

Your lip twitches upward.

“Oh my god, Levi, are you jealous of a cat?”

“Shut up and play with my hair.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

iii. third terrace: wrath

“You owe me a new cravat.”

You blink up at your roommate. “What?”

“You owe me a new cravat.” He repeats. He pulls from his pocket a white piece of fabric— barely recognizable— torn into shreds, releases it mid-air. It gently lands on your open palm.

“Wait, did Dante do this?” You ask, eyeing the slik in your hands.

“Unless you went feral in the middle of the fucking night and decided to cut up my clothes, yes.”

“Oh my god, Levi, I’m so sorry. I swear Dante will never—“

“You actually owe me three cravats,” he interjects. “The first two I overlooked since they weren’t that expensive but I draw the line here.” His lips are downturned into a frown, eyes poorly concealing his clear distaste. “This one’s my favorite and it was made from silk.”

You eye the fabric in your hands once more before nodding in understanding, setting down the once beautiful cravat before taking out your wallet. It was only fair that you paid him back; he was being more than generous with letting your cat stay and keeping it a secret, and now you wonder how many bad things Dante’s done that Levi’s overlooked or simply never brought up with you.

“Sure, I’m really sorry. How much do I owe you?”

Levi doesn’t say anything. Instead he pulls out his phone and types something on what you could only assume was google, most likely looking for the same brand of the cravat your cat had just torn into shreds. You weren’t entirely sure how much those could cost, but surely you could afford—

“What the fuck!” You screech, eyeing the page with very, very hefty price tags listed. Holy fucking hell where did he even get the money to buy something so expensive. Gulping, you nervously look up at your unimpressed roommate. You already knew he was taking it easy on you; his aura was the only thing intimidating, at least he wasn’t giving you the murder eyes. And even though he was a man of his word, you were thankful he hasn’t reported Dante.

Still, it didn’t change the fact that Levi looked pissed beyond belief.

“Uhm... can I pay you with a check that’ll definitely bounce?”

“You will pay me in cash.”

“Fuck, fine!”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

iv. fourth terrace: sloth

Levi silently works on his desk. His laptop’s open in fromt of him, numerous notes from classes and books from the library surrounding him. The gentle sounds of clicking and clacking echoe throughout the room as fingers typed at the keyboard, eyes concentrated and lips pulled taught as he focuses on his task. He’s on a roll. He’s almost done with this part of his research, nothing could snap him out of this, he just needs to—

“Levi, when do you think Dante will come back to me?”

He stops typing and grits his teeth.

This is how it’s been the entire night. Ten minutes of peace before you ask him some stupid questions that could’ve been answered with common sense.

“Fuck if I care.”

“Do you think it was something I did?”

He resumes typing. “Yes.”

“Do you think he’ll come back?”

“No.”

“Even after all we’ve been through?”

“Still no.”

“I miss him,” you sigh. “I miss him so much.”

“Then you shouldn’t have left the door open.”

It’s been a week since Dante escaped the dorm and Levi doesn’t understand why you’re still so depressed about it. I mean, you only lost a cat that you loved and treasured and treated like family. Surely a week of moping around in your pajamas and eating nothing but chips and soda was catharsis enough.

He hears you shift in your burrito blanket, presumably to turn away from him so you can sulk into the wall next to your bed. Good. Now he can get back to working on—

“Levi do you think Dante-“

“Enough.” He grits, slamming his laptop shut.

“Where’re you going?” You ask, eyeing the way he hurriedly stuffs papers and books into his bag along with his laptop.

“Out.” He replies, grabbing his keys and his coat. “I can’t stand this shit anymore.”

Your head is burried in your blankets when he slams the door shut and all you could do was slump down because great. You lost Dante, and now you’ve royally pissed off Levi.

Great. Just fucking great.

Unlike your cat, however, your roommate comes back hours later, just before curfew. He doesn’t bother with a hello— he never does— and neither do you, opting to stay hidden underneath the sheets. Though suddenly, there’s a dip in the mattress followed by a pur next to your head.

Could it be?

“Dante?” You murmur, lifting your head from underneath your cocoon of fabric. Small black paws and silver eyes meet your gaze. “Dante!” Immediately sitting up, you pulled him to your lap, scratching his little head and cooing about how much you missed him as he purred and curled into to you.

Levi would never say it, but he missed seeing you smile at the little fleabag.

You turn to look at your roommate. “How’d you find him?”

“Asked around the campus. He wandered into another dorm building and probably thought it was ours.”

“Well yeah but... I thought you hated him?”

“I do.” He replies instantly.

“Then why’d you find him?”

“I hate him, not you.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

v. fifth terrace: avarice

“I fucking hate both of you,” Levi grumbles, staring at the dorm.

Towers of boxes lined his supposed to be clean dorm room. He had a hard time prying the door open since it was blocked, and he wasn’t even sure how the boxes weren’t blocking out the light from how high they were piled. Dante’s sat on a stack of box directly next to the door, purring and flicking his tail around. Levi squints his eyes and glares at the little shit.

“You especially.”

“Mrow?”

Levi’s day had been, with no irony or sarcasm at all, amazing. He got a good grade on his research paper; the guy in front of him at the cafe accidentally ordered an extra serving of (coincidentally, Levi’s favorite) tea and gave it to him for free; and he got full marks for the presentation he’s been worrying about for weeks. His class even got dismissed early so he had an extra hour for lunch. He knew you didn’t have classes, so in honor of his great day he thought he’d do something nice and take you out for lunch. His treat, of course.

But any trace of his good mood vanished when he went back to the dorms and got greeted to a room that looked like it came from an episode of Hoarders.

This is what he gets for trying to be nice.

“Levi! Is that you?” You called out.

“What the fuck happened?”

You laugh sheepishly— at least Levi thinks you do. He couldn’t see you beyond the hundred boxes that took up your shared room. He hears some rustling and the sound of things being moved around before finally your head pops out from behind a wall of brown, smiling at him apologetically before walking towards him (and tripping a few times).

“Remember when I said I’d order some toys for Dante as a surprise?”

Levi’s eye twitches. “Don’t tell me—”

“I accidentally ordered 10,000 instead of 10. Online shopping struggles, am I right?” You nervously chuckle at his pissed off face. Levi was not in the mood.

Your smile widens as you make twinkly gestures with your hands. “So uh... surprise?”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

vi. sixth terrace: gluttony

The clinic is still when you first entered.

The harsh smell of alcohol and sterile metal makes your nose grimace, and the coldness of the thermostat brings goosebumps to your arms. Behind the wall, somewhete in the waiting room, cats are hissing, dogs are barking, and you could even hear the sound of birds angrily chirping and rattling their cages.

Dante cowers in fear on the silver table, and your heart aches. His ears are down and his fur’s standing on its ends, but you couldn’t comfort him. Not right now, at least. The veterinarian still needed to do a few more checks.

You gulp, “how’s... how’s Dante looking, doc?”

“Not good,” she murmurs. Her eyebrows are furrowed, and she takes a deep sigh as she eyes the information on the chart. “It’ll take months before he can walk properly again, possibly more if we don’t do anything about it soon.”

“Don’t tell me... is he—-”

“I’m sorry, my dear,” she sighs. “But your cat is heavily obese.”

The corners of your lips twitch down into a frown, and your palm is warm when you start to stroke Dante’s fur. He calms down a bit from your touch, less on edge but still guarded as he warily eyes the doctor’s gloved hands.

“But I don’t understand,” you reply. “I’ve been following the recommended diet you put him on, and I haven’t been feeding him anything other than the cat food and vitamins you recommended. How’s he still obese?”

“Well, we could look into other solutions, but for now I think we ought to look at whether or not Dante has an underlying health problem.”

Levi tunes out the chatter between you and the vet, bored eyes staring into nothing. He’s leaning against a wall and he’s watching the cat carrier. Your bag’s slung over his shoulders and your coat’s in his arms, and he was sure you didn’t even need him to be here for “moral support.”

He mentally scoffs. You probably just needed a chauffeur to drive you for free, and honestly, Levi would rather feel like a chauffeur than a coat rack.

His eyes make contact with Dante’s, and all the fear in the cat’s eyes is suddenly gone, replaced with a steely glare and bared teeth. A warning, one no one else notices but him.

Levi gives him a solitary nod, understanding what Dante wanted to say.

Don’t tell Y/N I’ve been sneaking to the neighbors.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

vii. seventh terrace: desire

There’s something about the buzz of alcohol and nicotine that makes Levi confident—- the liquid courage in his veins and the smoke in his lungs clouding his judgement. Perhaps that’s where he finally gets the balls to cross the room, drunken eyes on your equally intoxicated ones, before he pulls you in for a kiss.

The kiss starts slow, with lips just interlocking and lightly testing the waters. But then he feels your tongue make its way inside his mouth and your fingers weave into his hair to tug him closer, and Levi loses the last threads of inhibition he has. His tongue massages yours and one of his arm wraps around your waist, the other comes down to grope and knead your ass. He feels you walk backwards and your hand pulls at his tie, dragging him with you. Suddenly he’s trapping you against a wall, lifting one of your legs up to wrap around his hips so he could grind his crotch into yours.

Levi doesn’t expect his first kiss with you to be like this; messy and full of tongue and spit, full of fingers clawing at clothes and small grunts escaping your lips. He was hoping it’d be more romantic, with warm cheeks and fingers softly intertwining, shy kisses exchanged through little smiles.

But he’s not about to complain—- he’s wanted to be with you for years, and god he loved having you like this. Loved having you all hot and desperate, trapped between his firm chest and the wall. His cock is hard in his pants, and he just about growls when he feels you start to undo his belt, the fly of his pants coming down as you got on your knees and stared up at him with innocent eyes as you pull out his aching boner. There’s a cheeky grin your face when you pump at his length, and your tongue peaks out of your mouth before—

“Levi, are you okay?”

His eyes snap open, and he’s greeted to the sight of your worried face directly above his.

“Fuck!” he yells, and his forehead slams into yours when he flinches away. “Sorry, sorry” he quickly ammends when you yelp in pain.

He’s covered in sweat, he notices. Chest heaving, heart beating a little too loud for his liking, and he silently pulls the blankets over his cum stained boxers when you sit beside him.

God, he was really hoping you wouldn’t notice the fact that he came in his pants like a high schooler. And it was before dream you even got to suck him off. How much more pathetic could he be.

“Are you okay?” He asks, and you nod.

“Yeah, m’fine, it’s just...” your eyes are distracted, staring off into space. Fingers trace his thighs, and you sigh. “You were having a nightmare,”

Levi blinks. “What?”

“You were having a nightmare,” you repeat. “Kept tossing and turning and groaning in your sleep. And you kept making these... funny faces,”

“...right,” he nods. Sure, a nightmare. A nightmare he never wanted to wake up from.

It takes about ten minutes to reassure you that yes, he was fine, don’t mind the way his cheeks are flushed, he was just... shaken up from his nightmare, is all. Then you’re back to bed, sleeping the night away, and twenty minutes later he’s on his way back to bed too; this time with a fresh pair of boxers and a content look on his face, all thanks to him finishing off his fantasies in the communal bathroom during his shower.

The door makes a quiet click when he shuts it behind him, and he freezes when he catches sight of Dante sat up on your bed, tail flicking behind him as he gives Levi a knowing look.

Levi squints his eyes, and he threateningly whispers, “you tell no one.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

epilogue

The half empty room brings a frown to your face, and all you could do was pout as you sealed up the last of the boxes.

“Why do you have to leave again?” you ask, and Levi turns around as he finishes folding the last of his clothes. He shrugs. “Cats aren’t allowed in the dorms.”

You owed him your entire college career, that much was sure. The RA’s found out about Dante, and Levi had taken the fall to spare you. He wasn’t required to move out since it was only his first strike, but he insisted on doing so so that Dante wouldn’t be alone, saying he already found an apartment nearby and he’ll never hear the end of it from you if he didn’t take Dante with him.

Bullshit. Levi had a soft spot for Dante, you knew that much. He wasn’t doing it for you, he was doing it for himself. Though normally you’d be overjoyed to know that Levi really did secretly like the cat he pretended to hate so much, this time, you were just pissed. You couldn’t believe a fucking cat was stealing away the guy you’ve been in love with since high school. Sure, you were too much of a coward to ask him out, but he was basically your boyfriend already—- the entire campus knew you inadvertently had dibs on each other.

“Yeah but... do you have to leave me alone?”

“I asked you to come with me, and you said no.” He points out. “I still don’t see why when we’ve been roommates since we were freshmen.”

“It’s different off-campus!”

“How?”

“Because it’s like... it’s like we’re moving in together, y’know?” you reply. “And it seemed wrong to move in with you when we’re not even dating.”

“Let’s do it, then.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighs, handing you a spare key to what you could only assume was his new apartment. You glance between him and the key in your hands, and he rolls his eyes when he realizes that you still don’t get it.

“I know we’re doing this backwards since couples don’t typically move in before the first date,” he says before gesturing to Dante. “But we already have a son, and I know you’re his favorite parent. We can share custody until you can move in with me.”

You blink. “What?” Your brain stopped working when Levi referred to you as a couple, and you’re pretty sure your heart stopped beating too. At this point, anything he said went in one ear and out the other. He flicks your forehead.

“Hey— ow! What was that for?”

“You weren’t listening.”

“And you’re being a prick!” you grumble. “It hurts, y’know.”

He scoffs. “What do you want me to do? Kiss it better?” he scoffs.

Your mouth moves faster than your brain, “I’d rather you kiss me.”

Wait. What?

Before you could go back on your words, Levi shrugs. Warm palms gently grab your cheeks, pulling your face closer to his. Your eyes widen and you momentarily freeze, brain definitely not working anymore. He hesitates when you don’t make a move, but then you’re shyly leaning forward, and that was all the confirmation Levi needs.

“If you insist,” he whispers, and suddenly your words die on your tongue when his lips interlock with yours.

alrightberries © 2020. do not modify or repost.

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[storytellerofuntoldlegends]

an icarus and his sun: chapter 6

A/N: seeing y'all freak out over the last chapter when i have the outline and i know that things get worse... it feels me with evil glee. also vyeoh drew some amazing art of the last chapter, show them some love!! <3

Warnings: crying, hugging, arguing, threats of violence, heartbreak

AO3 Link - Tumblr Masterpost

-

Jimmy still felt like he was in a daze when they made it back to his empire. Lizzie hadn’t let go of his hand once, and he was grateful for the grounding touch. She was still murmuring words of comfort and asking what happened, but Jimmy could only nod numbly. Every single thought and feeling he had of Scott felt tainted now. Was anything he had felt even real? Or did Jimmy just fall right for Scott’s plan (whatever it was) hook, line, and sinker. Just thinking about it made Jimmy feel nauseous.

Katherine and Joel landed beside Jimmy and Lizzie, and Katherine looking equally as distraught as Jimmy felt shook him out of his stupor slightly. Wordlessly he let go of Lizzie’s hand to pull Katherine into a hug. He held her tight as she hugged him back, crying into his shoulder.

“It’s gone. It’s all gone. There’s barely anything left of my castle,” she hiccuped. Jimmy didn’t know what to say as he held her, but gently rubbing her back seemed to help.

“Fwhip was plotting against the House Blossom Alliance the whole time, Sausage too. I think Gem, Pearl, and Scott were involved as well,” Joel explained. Jimmy just about shuddered at the mention of Scott, trying not to cry.

“Why would they do that?!” Lizzie gasped.

“Fwhip said something about how the alliance was too argumentative, and should be destroyed before anything worse could happen and bring down our empires,” Joel explained. Katherine let out another hiccupping sob at Joel’s words, and Jimmy murmured words of comfort to her. Then he looked up to the skies, and his heart froze. Three figures were flying towards them- one with elytra, one with bright yellow feathered wings, and one with white feathered wings tipped in gold. Joel noticed Gem, Pearl, and Scott in the air as well, and grit his teeth as he put a hand on the hilt of his sword. Lizzie rushed over and put a hand over Joel’s, shaking her head.

“Stay on guard, but let’s hear them out. We only know that Fwhip and Sausage were the masterminds behind this. But if they are here for trouble, we’ll make sure they regret it,” Lizzie said, tone going dark at the end of her statement. Joel hesitated for a moment or two, but dropped his hand from his sword with a frustrated sigh. He and Lizzie did, however, stand protectively in front of Jimmy and Katherine as Gem, Pearl, and Scott came to a landing in front of them. Jimmy let go of Katherine, but she didn’t go far, taking his hand and gripping it tightly.

“I know we’re not high on your list of people to see, but hear us out. We didn’t know that Fwhip was going to take such… drastic measures,” Pearl explained, hands up placatingly as her wings fluttered anxiously.

“But you did know Fwhip was up to something,” Joel countered.

“We knew he wasn’t super happy about the House Blossom Alliance, but we thought that he would just pull a harmless prank or pick a fight with Jimmy or something. Not destroy Katherine’s castle,” Gem continued, Pearl nodding along with her. Scott stayed suspiciously quiet, and Jimmy’s mouth settled into a firm line as he let go of Katherine’s hand.

“But Scott knew. Didn’t you,” he accused, glaring at Scott. His expression immediately turned guilty, and that was all the confirmation Jimmy needed.

“I wanted to tell you, really! But-”

“But you kissed me instead of telling me or ANYONE about Fwhip’s plan!” Jimmy shouted, stepping forward and gesturing angrily, that cold numb feeling from before now replaced with molten fury. Lizzie gasped, drawing her sword and fully intending to lunge at Scott, but Joel quickly scrambled over to hold her back.

“Joel, let go of me, I need to give Scott a piece of my mind for taking advantage of our sweet swamp boy’s heart!” Lizzie fumed, straining against Joel’s hold. Joel glared at Scott, but his grip on Lizzie didn’t let up.

“Scott, you better have an explanation for this, or I will let my wife loose on you,” Joel warned. Scott actually looked a little terrified, and part of Jimmy hated the fact that he was relieved at that.

“I should have warned people about the TNT, I know. I just- it was stupid of me to hope that Fwhip was going to change his mind. And I was going to tell Jimmy, but then I saw Fwhip in the distance, and he had his crossbow aimed at him. I- I figured that Fwhip wouldn’t take the shot if it meant hitting me too. So that’s why I kissed Jimmy, and by that point it was too late to warn anyone,” Scott explained, his expression pleading and apologetic. Joel and Lizzie seemed to accept his explanation, as Joel let go of Lizzie and she sheathed her sword- but they both still glared at him. And Jimmy wanted to believe him, wanted to say he forgave Scott and rush back into his arms again- but there was something else that bothered him.

“What did Fwhip mean, when he said something about ‘playing the part?’” Jimmy asked, absolutely terrified of the answer but needing to know the truth anyway. Scott swallowed nervously, expression overcome with guilt once more.

“Fwhip told me to keep an eye on you, make sure you wouldn’t be a problem. It wasn’t just Katherine goading me into being nice that kept me coming to your empire, at first. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t-”

“Leave,” Jimmy growled, having enough of Scott’s excuses. Scott flinched at Jimmy’s tone. Good, it was about time people stopped seeing him as the sweet swamp boy or the friendly Codfather. He was done being pushed around, done being used and tossed aside.

“Jimmy, please- believe me, I really do care-”

“I don’t wanna hear it! I’m sick of your lies and manipulation! I never want you to set foot in the Cod Empire again, if I ever even SEE you again I will make sure you regret it,” Jimmy shouted, the words fracturing his heart into a million pieces. But he couldn’t afford to trust Scott ever again.

“Jimmy…” Scott trailed off, any fight finally leaving him as his wings drooped. His gaze shifted between Jimmy’s angry glare, the tears on Katherine’s face, the glares from Lizzie and Joel, and the sympathetic and apologetic expressions on Gem and Pearl’s faces. He looked back at Jimmy one last time, eyes glassy- before taking off into the night sky. Jimmy couldn’t even watch him leave.

“We truly are sorry for everything that happened. We know it doesn’t make up for it… but we wish you the best, Codfather and allies,” Gem said softly, before taking off into the sky as well. Pearl gave them a weak smile before following Gem. Jimmy waited until he could no longer see either of them in the sky, and finally let himself cry, falling to his knees as ugly sobs wrenched their way out of his throat. Lizzie scrambled to his side, pulling him into a hug and letting Jimmy cry into her shoulder.

“It’s okay, let it out. I’ve got you,” she soothed.

“He tricked me. And like a fool I fell for it, I fell for him,” Jimmy said between sobs, desperately clutching at Lizzie. Joel came over to kneel at their side, pulling both of them into his arms and rubbing Jimmy’s back. Katherine joined the hug pile too, on the opposite side of Joel. Jimmy wasn’t sure how long the three of them all stayed there with him, but they all held him until he finally had no tears left to cry.

-

After Jimmy had finished crying, Lizzie gently prodded him into changing, insisting that he would feel better in his normal clothes. She was right, and a lot of the tension drained from his shoulders once his trusty cod head was back on his head. From there, Lizzie and Joel brought him and Katherine to Lizzie’s empire, saying that Katherine could stay in the embassy she built, and that neither of them wanted either one to be alone at the moment. Katherine and Jimmy didn’t argue, neither of them wanted to be alone either. So they ended up huddled together in Katherine’s embassy, a borrowed blanket from Lizzie over both of their shoulders. Lizzie stayed with them and made sure they were comfortable, while Joel flew to Pixandria to update Pixl on everything that had happened.

“This is all my fault,” Katherine said numbly, after a long silence. Jimmy and Lizzie looked at her in confusion.

“It’s really not, you didn’t blow up your own castle, after all,” Lizzie pointed out. Katherine smiled weakly, shaking her head.

“But none of this would have happened if I didn’t insist on making friends with everyone. Everyone would have been fine if I just stayed out of it and stopped trying to bring people together,” Katherine said, voice watery.

“Katherine, if you hadn’t tried to bring us all together, I’m sure much worse would have happened. Who knows how many empires would have been destroyed if it wasn’t for you,” Jimmy countered softly. Katherine let out a small sob, hand clasping over her mouth as she tried to collect herself.

“But if I hadn’t started those meetings, pushed you and Scott to be nice to each other- then you wouldn’t have to be feeling this way,” Katherine said, voice as fragile as glass when she dropped her hand from her mouth. Jimmy shifted to face her, gently gripping her shoulders and looking Katherine in the eyes.

“Katherine, listen to me. My- my heartbreak is not your fault. None of what is happening is your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Fwhip. You hear me?” Jimmy asked, voice gentle but no less serious. Katherine’s eyes went wide.

“You’re heartbroken?” she asked in a shallow gasp. Jimmy gave her a sad smile, throat growing tight as he felt his eyes watering again- funny, he thought he had run out of tears.

“I learned what love was, only for it to get crushed barely a day or two after. So… yeah. I think I am. But that still doesn’t make it your fault,” Jimmy said, tone forlorn before it turned gentle and serious once more. Katherine let out a shaky sigh, nodding her head.

“Okay. Okay. I’m still sorry you’re feeling this way, though,” Katherine said softly. Jimmy just smiled, pulling Katherine into a hug.

“So what’s our next step? Plotting our revenge on Fwhip?” Lizzie asked, and Jimmy couldn’t help but chuckle at her casual ruthlessness.

“I think before we do anything revenge-related, we should help Katherine rebuild her castle,” Jimmy replied, frankly not wanting to think about getting revenge on Fwhip, because that would likely lead to getting revenge on Scott as well. And Jimmy definitely didn’t want to think about Scott at the moment.

“I don’t know if you’re the best person to help me build,” Katherine teased lightly. Jimmy gave her a weak smile in response.

“I think I’ll be able to manage if you’re guiding me,” he replied softly.

“I would definitely appreciate the help,” she said with a smile, and it was the first time Jimmy had seen her smile, truly smile since the ball.

“Then I’ll help, mediocre building skills or not,” Jimmy insisted, glad to have something to look forward to so he could think about anything other than Scott. He was done with him, no matter what his traitorous heart thought about his sunshine smile, his laugh of gold, or those icy blue eyes that contradicted them both. So much about Scott felt like a contradiction, now. He snarled and teased and jabbed, but there was a hidden fondness too, or at least it seemed like there was. Jimmy wasn’t sure if it was ever real to begin with. Then there was how he sided with Fwhip, even though Katherine was his true ally, a business partner too. Nothing made sense, and Jimmy wondered if he should have let Scott explain- no. Jimmy was never going to give Scott a chance to use that silver tongue on him again, paired with a smile that was only gold-plated. He wouldn’t be hurt again.

-

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[kawaiijohn]

Rewind, Rinse, Repeat Chapter 1

For Invisobang Minibang 2021

Ao3 Link

Chapters: 3 finished, 12 total Rating: T+ Warnings: Major and Minor Character Death- all temporary, Implied Child Abuse/Neglect, Strong Language, Mild Body Horror, Mild Injury. Other warnings listed by chapter Characters: Clockwork, Danny Fenton, Pariah Dark, Levi | Leviathan (OC), Mal (OC), Observants, Mentions of other characters Ships: Lost Time, Dark Ages, CW & OC child, CW & Levi | Leviathan (OC) Genre/Tropes: Human AU, Magic AU, Found Family, Character Origin, Hurt/Comfort, Original Magic System and Lore Additional Tags: Existentialism & Existential Angst, Memory Loss & Amnesia, Corruption, Clockwork Centric, They/Them Pronouns for Clockwork, The Fenton's A+ Parenting, Obersvant Bashing

Summary

“Clockwork can I ask you something? How did you become a ghost?”

The tale surrounding the mystery of Clockwork's existence; a world where magic is common and ghosts are not. A world where one lonely, average mage tries with all their might to save what means most to them. A world where things need to be remade into something better.

Shout out to my betas @bibliophilea and @moonlights-shadow-warrior for keeping me sane, @13thdoodle for letting me use their OC, Levi, @dailudannos and @sailor-toni for providing art for later chapters, and all the folks over at @invisobang for being awesome!!!!

Chapter One below the Cut. The rest is available on my Ao3 account because tumblr linking/posting is hella broken.

Chapter 1: An Inquiry

“Hey, Clockwork? Can I ask you something?”

Clockwork looks over from the mirror they were watching intently.  “You already have, Daniel,” they reply, offering the other a smirk.

“Oh, ha ha.  You've never said that to me before.”  The reply is filled to the brim with sarcasm, as per usual.  Danny rolls his eyes, but a small smile gracing his lips betrays the fact he isn't annoyed in the least.  “Seriously, though.  It’s something that's been on my mind like... every day for the last two weeks!!"  He raises his hands towards the sky, flopping back in the air dramatically.  "But... it's kinda, y'know.  Personal-”  Danny trails off, slightly embarrassed.

Of course.  Clockwork finds themself smiling fondly- Danny thought he’d said something he shouldn't have- an inquiry that could make his guardian upset (as if it's even possible to upset Clockwork like that).  A question is a question, and this is a worrying habit of his that the Time Master is trying to help break, even if it's still somewhat endearing to them.

“I uh, I mean... it’s personal about- to you, not to me. That’s what I meant!!” Danny continued.

Clockwork stares at him, unblinking.  An idea (or thousands) of what he may ask flashes through their mind’s eye.  With a single, calming pulse to their Core, Clockwork pushes the involuntary slideshow of timelines aside as if they're no more than curtains.  They need to focus on the window in front of them; the here and now, not the temporal drapery.

It's a habit they are trying to overcome for Daniel’s sake.  To ensure their ward's growth, they need to stop peering into the near future as often- not discourage his asking of questions.  After all, what is a child if not but a well of endless curiosity?  Cutting Danny off is also sure to disallow the development of any trust or patience Clockwork needs to build within their young ward.  They wouldn’t receive either of those things if they assume what he wanted to ask.

It's common decency to not assume, lest it ‘make an ass out of you and me’, according to Daniel.

It is going to be a tough habit to break, but by the (other) Ancients, they're trying their best.  Their ward deserves the infinitesimal choices all other children have when asking things of their guardians, so even if they do glimpse to the future, they will not mention it to him.  Clockwork refuses and will continue to refuse to take their ward’s agency away; to not have a choice in things is a fate worse than fading.

The boy has been quiet, stuck deep within his own thoughts even after an impressive five minutes and thirty-seven and a half seconds of silence (uncharacteristic of the boy, Clockwork notes).

Now that just won't do- he must have lost his train of thought.  Clockwork gestures at the ghost boy, motioning for him to continue.  It works- Danny adverting his eyes and clearing his throat, "Well, it’s just like- you know so much about me- like, how I died, the whole Ghost Zone Prince business, that entire disaster doomed timeline with Dan... I just keep thinking- no- realizing, that I barely know anything about you!!”  He throws his arms up in thinly veiled frustration.

Clockwork smirks. “You had another question, did you not?”  They place a hand along the edge of the closest Temporal Mirror, turning to face the mirror- still halfway facing Danny.  They can see his inner debate clearly written on the boy's face- the mirror reflecting as if it were an ordinary object (for now).  They turn towards it fully and watch Daniel's reaction from behind them, acting as if they aren't finding joy in their ward's hesitation.  It's always adorable when he tries not to offend Clockwork. "I may be able to work with time, but that doesn't mean I wish to float here waiting for an answer all day."

Danny blinks a few times, rolling his eyes again in response.  Clockwork is certain that if they weren’t secured to his skull by human musculature they’d fall out and roll away.  “Well, I’m sorry for trying not to be rude and like, asking outright... but since it’s you I have to always be super direct!!  Jeeze you’re frustrating sometimes!”  He floats towards his mentor, crossing his arms.

Danny often forgets Clockwork isn't easily upset over trivial things such as questions.  Most questions are about things they already know the answers to, anyways.  And the few things that they don’t know when asked, they figure out soon after.  Such is the duty of the Master of Time- to be a step ahead of everyone and everything else always.  Besides, in most timelines (68.3% of them, to round up) the question Daniel wishes to ask is along the lines of ‘What was your past like?’ Another small fraction (a little under 20%) the question is ‘How did you get so strong?’ .  And even in the remaining timelines, the question would be along the lines of ‘How do your time powers work?’

They are each things Clockwork expects Daniel to ask them at some point or other, as it were.  There isn’t really anything Daniel can ask that could be too shockin-

“Clockwork, I was wondering… how exactly did you become a ghost?”

They... did not see that coming… in any of the timelines they’d glimpsed.  Clockwork stills for only a fraction of a moment, but it’s long enough for Danny to flinch, feeling as if he’s crossed a line.  They hear more than see Daniel shrinking in on himself as they look off into nothing, buried memories waking slowly in their mind.

Clockwork is brought from their introspection by a mumbled curse.  “Shit!  I mean... uh crap??"   They just stare at Danny as they are brought back to the present.  "Never mind just... sorry for asking...  Oh man!  Did I offend you somehow?  Ancients dammit, this is what I was worried about!!”  They watch him curiously, soft whirring coming from their ward's anxious core.  “We can just forget about it if-”  Daniel’s hands wring together nervously, shoulders tense with worry and face full of guilt.

Right- facial expressions are also important for a young ghost's emotional communication and development.  Sometimes the Time Master wonders if their isolation in Long Now affected their social behavior (it did).  Their face is carefully blank most times, so they set to fix it- they offer a small grin, hand coming to rest on Daniel’s shoulder.  “It is more than fine, Daniel.  You asked if you could ask a question- which is in fact, two questions, I should note- but I gave you consent to ask it of me.”  They squeeze his shoulder to placate the worry.

“It’s about time I told you this story, as it were.  I just did not foresee it being told at this very moment."  Clockwork floats slowly, turning away from their Mirrors.  "Come along- it’s best we sit for this.  I’ll have one of your friends bring us some tea.”

Danny floats after his mentor, looking around the room the two normally use to study history of the Realms.�� “So, uh… is it a long story or...?”

“Oh, it is very long, indeed.”  They fly through an ornate door and over to their favored 'chair'- a stack of comfortable cushions in violets and blues, both impossibly cool and warm at the same time.  They recall Daniel discovering the room, eyes full of wonder and posture relaxed.  Clockwork chuckles- the first time their boy had wandered in here he'd decided to take a running dive into the pile, jumping up in surprise when it was cold as ice, yet warm as fresh laundry.  The expression on their ward’s face is one of their fondest memories; a happy moment amongst all the tedium of watching time.

“It may take a while to tell this tale proper. But, it is a story that ought to be told.”  Daniel makes himself comfortable on his chair of choice- an unholy combination of 'borrowed' pillows and what appears to be a more modern gaming chair- complete with an obnoxiously bright green-black color scheme.  Clockwork has to hide another smile as Danny wiggles himself deep into the pile.  “So, Daniel- what do you know of the phrase ‘Totems of Power’?”

“I thought I was getting a story, not a pop quiz!  Unfair!!”  His disdain for schooling makes Clockwork laugh fondly before the boy continues.  “But they’re like… hmm how do I explain this?  Well, there’s the universe right?  Like every timeline and every result of every timeline all at the same time kind of ties into the main universe thingy- but there's still a main timeline, and that's kinda like... Main Street, and the other possible timelines are uh... like side streets with dead ends?  But there's other forces that like, aren't time and… uhhh...”

He hums, crossing his arms deep in thought.  Clockwork takes the time to purr-sing-hum at one of the many blobs floating in and out of their lair; Daniel had asked them to keep some around as pets and the Time Master was happy to oblige.  They were unable to deny something so beneficial to the young Prince, after all.  The one deemed ‘Mr. Pants’ by one of Daniel’s friends answers their call.  Clockwork buzzes to it a quiet request- ‘bring Daniel's favorite tea and mugs for two, please.’  The little thing chirrups and zips off through the walls- eager to serve the Lair’s owner and be (potentially) rewarded with pats (from Daniel).

The Time Master brings their undivided attention back toward a grumbling ghost boy, lost in thought.  “Daniel if you need to ask for help I’m glad to-”

Danny snaps his fingers, coming to a realization before his mentor can finish.  “I got it!!  The best way to explain it is ‘The Universe needs to run smoothly, so there’s certain forces- like Time or Space- that are upheld by a powerful entity, like a person or like… the avatar of that concept?  Yeah, something like that, but they ensure the aspect they represent is properly cared for so the universe doesn’t completely like, die.’”  Danny nods to himself.  "It's why you stepped in to stop Dan, to make sure the world didn't end like that."

“That is correct- it is my job to ensure this universe of ghosts and reality doesn't crumble prematurely.  Now, do you have a recollection of any other Totems you may have encountered?”

“Well, yeah!  We call them ‘Ancients’, though- so like… Pandora is the one for war and history, and Nocturn is for like… dreams?  The Void or something, maybe?  And then there’s old man Pariah who isn’t one, but he said there’s a Leadership Ancient somewhere, and then-”  Danny pauses, blinking at Clockwork in realization.  “Wait, you asked that for a reason, didn’t you?”

“That I did.  Becoming the Totem, or Ancient of Time is where this story starts.”  Clockwork hums, seeing Mr. Pants fly back towards the two- nearly spilling scalding tea all over the ground.  “Now then.  We have drinks.  We are sitting comfortably.  I believe it’s time I spin my tale for you.”  They take a sip, closing their eyes in bliss.

They open them once more and see Daniel sitting, eyes full of stars and eager- Eager to hear, eager to fire off a question a minute.  It makes a chuckle bubble up in their throat, to see their favorite person so excited to learn.

“Once upon a time, there was a human; average in most ways, a simple person living a simple life.  They would get up in the morning, perform their daily tasks, and go to sleep at night.  Day in, and day out- a boring, but fulfilling existence.

“However, where this story differs from what we recognize as reality, is that in this realm, humans who could control magic were the norm.  Think as if it were like one of those fantasy games you and Tucker play together- mages, healers… all of those and more were commonplace when I was alive.  Yes, humans can wield magic now, but it is nowhere near as frequent as they could in our tale.”

They pause, seeing that Danny was about to interrupt.  “Wait wait- this realm?  Like- this is a completely different reality?? And people can wield magic now???  Are you messing with me?  Like… I thought it was all just-”  The boy stops, his train of thought drifting off the tracks as it tends to now and then.

“Yes, first, this is a completely different realm from either the Mortal Plane or the Ghost Zone.  Second, Daniel- tell me... have you not noticed the magic of those you have encountered?  Blood blossoms… a reality warping gauntlet?  The existence that is ‘Freakshow’ in general should be a red flag, seeing as his talents were… strangely non-ghostly in origin.  Not to mention objects such as the Infi-map...”

“Man, I wish I could forget about Freakshow… who mind controls ghosts???  He was the worst!” Their young ward crossed his arms and grumbles.

“If you’re done sulking about your past misadventures and former foes, I was in the middle of telling a story, if I recall correctly.  One you asked I tell you…”  Clockwork simply stares, unblinking as steam wafts from their slowly cooling tea.

All is well, they knew Danny would only take approximately 4.85 seconds to snap his attention back to their story.  Clockwork sips their tea, waiting.

Danny snaps out of his thoughts only a millisecond off of Clockwork's prediction. “Sorry... it’s just super weird to think that magic actually… still exists?  Like ghosts are real and all but magic being a thing feels a bit far fetched, don’t ya think?”  He pouts, brow furrowed.

The Master of Time finally closes their eyes, removing the hood from their head.  White hair floats gracefully behind them, settling just past their shoulders.   Clockwork opens their eyes again- a serious, yet warm expression directed at their ward.  “Magic is simply defined as reality altering acts using both energy and the willpower of a sentient being, if that helps.”  Another sip.  Mr. Pants made a wonderful batch of tea, as always.  They smile wider when they notice Danny’s expression- the boy has never seen them without a hood, and they know doing this will (in 99.78% of all possible timelines) convince the boy to take what they said seriously.   ”Just as ghosts can be defined as ‘ectoplasm given form and consciousness’, forces beyond humanity and the physical realm can be explained with scientific terminology if you know where to look.”

“So like... what all did magic have to do with this ‘simple human’ version of you?  Did you ever have the power to shoot lightning??  Could I shoot lightning if I tried?  Like were you some sorta time wizard?  Is that why you’re all… timey-wimey and powerful?”  Danny wiggles his fingers with a look of confusion on his face.

Clockwork always finds their Core warming when their boy acts his age.  He's abnormally prone to shoulder the destiny of the world on himself and often forgets he's just a kid.  “You could continue asking questions one at a time, or you could allow me to tell my story.  The choice is yours, Daniel.”  They smirk, watching as Danny purses his lips, his steady flow of questions stopping short.  The best answer.  “Perfect- all is as I thought it would be.”

They close their eyes and reminisce as they continue.  “Now- to answer your last question… Yes.  You could say magic is how I came to be the Master of Time in both the Infinite Realms and the mortal plane, but there is much more to the story than that.  Other players, situations, and pure circumstances.  The universe in its infinite chances and possibilities brought myself, as well as many others to the situations they face here and now.”  Clockwork pauses, taking the moment to stare straight through Danny’s soul.  “Even yourself.”

The boy shudders, an appropriate response.  “Wait... me?  Did you… do something in the past to like… a past version of someone we know??  Can that even happen???”  Danny is already enraptured by the story, eyes twinkling as his mentor opens up about themself.  The boy is obviously thinking about everything that has happened, everything that could possibly have happened, and everything that Clockwork could possibly drop on him.

They feel Daniel cautiously tug on loose strands of time to see if he could possibly scope out what is about to be said, quickly failing to do much else beside give himself a small headache.  “Time stuff is still really confusing, Clockwork…”

“You could say that.  You could even say that trying to mess with time in the inner sanctum of Long Now is the most confusing ‘time stuff’ one could do if they were not myself.”  They grin- a Temporal Mirror appearing behind them with a thought.

“What’s the mirror for?”  Danny catches sight of himself and looks away, embarrassed that he’s been literally glowing with power after trying to do something so simple with his developing powers.  The glow is something he’s been working on suppressing recently.  After all, it would be a shame if other ghosts could see the boy powering up by aura alone.

The Master of Time smirks, bringing tea to their lips again.  “I thought it would be fun to attempt braiding my hair and doing my makeup for once.  It has been an awfully long time since I’ve done either.”

They stare at Danny who just bursts into laughter.  “Did you just use sarcasm???  Man, I didn’t know you could lighten up, Clockwork!”  The boy laughs harder, sinking deeper into his nest of pillows.  After a few minutes he was finally wiping tears from his eyes.  “But no.  Seriously… what’s the mirror for??”

“Why, what they are always for, Daniel- seeing through time and space.”  Clockwork waves their hand.  The mirrors show an image of a human with dark hair and burgundy eyes.  They have a large, hooked nose and medium brown skin- and Danny finds himself having a hard time guessing their gender.  The human sits at a desk, paused in time with the delicate gears of a clock sprawled along the desk surface, tools in hand.

Behind Clockwork, the image changes, showing the human living through an average day- images play in small spurts, never showing the whole story.  “Do you understand what’s being seen?”  The young boy nods, grabbing Mr. Pants out of the air as the blob drifts between the two.  Good, he will probably need the companionship, especially towards the end.

This isn’t the easiest story to tell, nor is it easy to listen to, but with a sip of their tea, Clockwork continues.

#danny phantom #invisobang #invisobang 2021 #dp #phanfic #art #my fic #RRR #dantes vibe corner

[fanficimagery]

Friends in High Places

Summary: When Spencer comes home with files to a case that has his team stumped, he's surprised when you- his neighbor for a couple years now- is the person who gives them a new lead to follow. That and that you're ex-SHIELD.

Words: 8K Warnings: This is what I get for starting a rewatch of Criminal Minds and then watching Marvel movies all in one day. Fml. I've never written for Criminal Minds, so please excuse the mediocre-ness of their characterization. I have no idea what I'm doing; I just knew I wanted a crossover between these two fandoms. Also timeline? What are those? All you gotta know is that this is an AU where Bucky's joined the team and Steve DIDN'T ruin the life Peggy Carter would have had. As for the CM side, this is sometime after Hotch has left and Emily took over. Idk.

Having the night off and wanting nothing more than to just be lazy, you're sitting on your couch in your most comfiest clothes and mindlessly scrolling through Tumblr as your TV plays some program on Animal Planet. You're not even paying attention to the program, but the low sound is perfect for background noise.

You're queuing up some art posts that catch your attention, as well as some gif sets of the TV shows you've become a constant viewer of in the past few years, when there's a knock at your door. But not just any knock. It's a specific knock that you and your neighbor came up with after you got to know each other and became fast friends, and it was to let the other know they were home and wanted company. You mostly worked nights and his work schedule was always all over the place, so it's surprising you're both home at the same time.

Picking up your phone, you shoot him a quick text that you'll be over in five.

Spencer Reid is literally the man of every woman's dream, even if they didn't know it. He's cute and adorable and sometimes dangerously hot all rolled into one, and the best thing about it all is that he doesn't even know it. You had met him on one of your first few days in the apartment complex, but unfortunately it was during one of your slight panic attacks when a thunderstorm had caught you off guard while you were sitting in your car and you didn't have an umbrella.

He had seen and heard you freaking out as he was passing by, and knocked on the passenger window. You had collected yourself just long enough to roll the window down a few inches when he asked if you were okay, then proceeded to answer his own question by stating you obviously weren't. When he realized you lived in the same complex and asked if he could climb inside your car and out of the storm, you had stared at him in confusion until he realized that might have been a bit weird since you were strangers. He stammered his way through his explanation of being an FBI agent and after showing you his badge you had let him in.

You didn't have to tell him what was making you panic and he proceeded to keep your mind occupied. He asked about you and where you had moved in from, and spewed random facts about anything to temporarily make you forget about the storm raging outside. But the torrential rain wasn't letting up and the lightning was only getting closer and closer. He made you realize you had to make a run for it and even offered up his umbrella for you. You had thanked him with tears in your eyes and made a run for it on the count of three when you were settled just enough.

Inside the lobby of your apartment building, you had stood there trembling while Spencer nervously gripped onto the strap of his messenger bag as he stood across from you. When you were shaking the water off his umbrella, you hesitantly told him your reasoning for your freak-out. It wasn't necessarily the thunderstorm, but rather the torrential rain that wasn't letting up. A few years back you had a drowning incident and too much water on your face tended to bring back those memories. He said he understood and then with a sympathy tinged smile he offered to walk you to your apartment. It was a pleasant surprise to learn you had only lived two doors down from him.

Weeks turned into months and months into a couple of years, and you and Spencer were nearly inseparable when you both had the same day/night off.

So after quickly fixing your already messy hair so you don't look like a complete slob, and pulling on a loose hoodie, you grab your phone from the sofa and then head on out. Your socked feet keep your footsteps quiet as you head down to Spencer's door where you knock three times on it before opening it up and stepping inside.

But before you can greet him with a cheesy welcome, he's already calling out, "Hope you haven't had dinner. I picked up some burgers on the way home."

On cue, your stomach grumbles. "God bless you, you beautiful, beautiful man!" You hear him laugh from a room that's not where his kitchen is, so you make a beeline for the kitchen instead of accidentally walking in on him changing. There are two paper bags on the table and you quickly grab plates from his cabinet to separate the food on. Spencer enters the kitchen in a shirt and some gray joggers, and you greet him with a beaming smile. "You're home and in one piece! Yay!" He laughs and you quickly lean in to peck his cheek, not saying a word when you catch sight of his pink tinged cheeks. "You have any beer?"

"Yes. Grab two, please."

"Got it." You hear one of his kitchen chairs creak as you open his refrigerator to grab two beers, you then searching a nearby drawer for the bottle opener. Once you find it, you walk back over to the table and open each beer before handing one over to him.

"Thanks."

"Mhm." Taking a seat, you set your beer down before unwrapping your burger and dumping your fries out onto the plate. "So what's up, doc? You're home surprisingly early."

"We've hit a wall on our latest case," he says, keeping it vague. "There was nothing for us to do while Garcia did her thing, so Emily sent us home for a bit."

"Nice." You take a bite of your burger and your eyes widen when Spencer's eyebrows raise in surprise. When you realize how your words sounded, you're quick to backtrack. "Wait! It's not nice that you hit a wall, but nice that you got sent home! I got free food out of it. That's why it's nice. Not because, you know, you haven't found the-"

"Y/N, you're rambling," Spencer says, lips twitching. "I understood what you meant."

You sigh, shoulders dropping, and grab half a fry to toss at him. "Eat your food, Reid. It's getting cold."

It surprisingly doesn't take long for the two of you to eat your dinner, you both being hungrier than you first thought. After you're done, Spencer turns down a second beer but tells you to help yourself. You do. And on the way into his living room, you bump into one of his chairs and knock his bag over. You gasp and set your beer down on the coffee table, falling to your knees to scoop up his files that had spilled out.

Chuckling, Spencer crouches next to you as you profusely apologize.

"It's okay. It was an accident." A few pictures had slid out of their files and normally you'd just shove them back in because his work wasn't any of your business, but the face staring back up at you makes you pause. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a little heavy on the eyeliner, and a lip piercing. You know her. "Y/N?" You gulp and flip to another picture- brown hair, brown eyes, mole above the right eyebrow. You know her too. "Y/N? Are you okay?"

With trembling hands, you flip back to the first picture and show it to him. "Is Lilian dead?"

Spencer's eyes widen. "You knew her?"

Knew. Past tense. She is dead. Showing him the second picture, you nod sadly. "Kyndall too."

He seems to stop breathing then and from one moment to the next he's opening files and pulling out picture after picture. As you stare at each of them, you grimace and swallow down the bile that's threatening to climb its way up your throat. "Y/N, do you know any of the others?"

Shakily exhaling, you point at each picture. "Desiree, Celeste, Maria. I don't know this one, but I think her last name was Valdez? And then the male is Tim."

Spencer falls on his butt, staring at you in surprise. "That's right. We know their names and their current line of work, but that's about it. Their files only seem to go back a few years. Everything between the end of their high school career and current line of work seems to be scrubbed clean. Do you- do you know of any connection between these people? Any little thing you know can possibly be a big help to my team."

Your gaze darts up to him and your heart sinks. You've managed to keep your past mostly hidden, but now it seems the time has come to tell him what you did before. "They, uh, they're all ex-agents of SHIELD. The real SHIELD, not HYDRA."

"What?"

"If I remember correctly, they were computer analysts or paper pushers. They had gun training as one would think an agent would have, but they were agents who didn't really have to train in hand-to-hand since they never made it out into the field."

"You're positive? How do you know this?"

You gulp. "Because I'm ex-SHIELD too."

Spencer blinks at you, but then in the next moment he's up on his feet and reaching for his phone. He places a quick phone call, stepping into another room and leaving you alone. Your stomach sinks and you have a feeling that this confession might have just put a wedge in your friendship. After all, though ex-agents were being picked up by other different branches of the government, you weren't sure just how exactly trustworthy all ex-agents were being treated.

Spencer reappears, nervously tucking his hair behind his ear. "Do you mind coming with me back to work? My co-workers could really pick your brain about this."

You blink at him. "W-What? You're not mad at me?"

"Mad?" He chuckles. "Why would I be mad? I mean I wish I had known what you did so I didn't have to worry about you being alone when I left for a case, but I can see why you would keep that underwraps. HYDRA made a lot of people paranoid."

"Tell me about it," you mumble. Then after a few seconds, you finally climb up to your own two feet. "Um, just let me go put on some shoes. I'll meet you in the hall."

Spencer's smile and nod eases some of your worries, but you still quickly make an escape to go put on some shoes. Your front door bangs open and you hurry to your hall closet. Yanking open that door, you pull on the first pair of Converse you come across. Then taking a moment to think, you grab a pair of knee high boots that you use every once in a while. Reaching inside, you grab your old badge and a USB stick, sticking your badge in your back pocket and the USB in your front pocket. Then grabbing your keys from the hook by the front door, you shut the door after exiting and lock it. Spencer is waiting down the hall for you and you jog towards him. He tightly smiles and then leads you downstairs, towards his car, and you sit quietly in his passenger seat while he drives.

On the way towards Spencer's place of work, he can't help but ask, "So what exactly did you do with SHIELD if you don't mind me asking."

You shrug. "Cat's out of the bag now, so I don't mind." You chuckle though it kind of falls flat. "I was, uh, a computer analyst for a while. But then I was taken on a field trip with a few agents and we ended up trading bullets with several not so nice guys. The field agents liked the way I handled myself and requested I level up, so to speak."

"And you never thought of trying to get hired on with anyone else? If I recall, the FBI and CIA were picking up ex-SHIELD agents after the fall."

You shake your head. "Remember that drowning incident I mentioned? Or the reason why I can't take baths anymore and have to turn my shower on and off between washing?" Spencer hums, remembering what he thought were odd quirks until he realized it was all because of your fear of certain amounts of water. "That drowning incident was HYDRA's fault. I spent months in rehab and just- well, no one wanted a damaged agent."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm kind of glad they didn't. I quite like my neighbor who picks up take-out and bakes sweets for me after a rough case."

You try not to think too much about his words and instead choose to smile at him before looking out your window. The drive is only about twenty minutes and fortunately the radio fills in the semi-tense silence.

When you get to the FBI building, Spencer escorts you inside with a hand at the small of your back. You're given a visitor's badge and you quickly clip it onto the hem of your hoodie. The elevator ride up to the BAU's main floor is a short one and it opens up to a wall of glass where you can see several desks behind it.

Spencer opens the door for you and you can't help but make yourself seem as small as possible. You cross your arms over your chest, hugging yourself as you enter the room. There are several people milling about, but no one pays you any attention. Only one female, dark bangs covering her forehead while the rest of her hair falls just passed her shoulders, heads towards you once she spots you and Spencer.

"Y/N," Spencer says, introducing you to the woman as she nears, "this is our Unit Chief Emily Prentiss. Emily, this is my good friend Y/N Y/L/N."

Emily is all smiles as she reaches to shake your hand. "Hi! It's nice to finally meet the girl who takes care of our boy wonder after cases."

Spencer nervously chuckles and you find yourself genuinely grinning. "It's nice to finally meet you too. I've heard some funny stories about all you guys."

"I will neither confirm nor deny any of those."

Emily then leads you towards a room where three others are waiting. "Guys, this is Y/N Y/L/N. Friend of Spence and ex-agent of SHIELD. Y/N, this is Special Agent Derek Morgan and Jennifer Jareau, and our very own technical analyst Penelope Garcia."

Everyone happily greets you and Jennifer even gives you the go ahead to call her JJ. You're offered a seat at their round table and you glance at their board filled with pictures of people you used to work with. Spencer sits next to you and you offer him a feeble smile when he reaches beneath the table to squeeze your knee.

"Alright, guys, I know we're all interested in the girl who lives next to Spence, but we need to get down to business." Spencer groans as his teammates all chuckle. "So Y/N, is there anything else you can give us about the victims? What exactly did they do? Did they all personally know each other or just enough because they were coworkers? Even the smallest bit of info that you think is inconsequential can help us."

"I, uh, I can do you one better," you say. You shift in your seat and reach into your front pocket, pulling out the USB stick. "Since I figure all those NDA's we signed are now null and void thanks to Agent Romanoff's data dump, and because you're Spencer's friend, I feel comfortable handing this over. It kind of made me nervous keeping it in my house anyway."

You slide the USB towards Penelope and she gasps, snatching it up and holding it as if it were the holy grail. "Is this- are these files? Because let me tell you, I tried to download those files as soon as they hit the net but there were just so many and not even our WiFi could download it fast enough before they were scrubbed clean."

You grin and nod, chuckling at Penelope's squeal. "I started collecting everyone's files that I could get my hands on. I started with the baby agents- agents whose files wouldn't toss up red flags when their files were opened. The more clearance I was granted, the more files I was able to download."

"Oh my god. Yes! You are my new favorite person." Penelope rushes around the table, bending down to kiss your cheek with a loud mwah! "Reid, keep this one. I'll be in my lair."

The group all chuckle as you blush, but then Agent Morgan is clearing his throat. "Not that I'm not grateful about what you're giving up, but isn't what you were doing illegal?"

You shrug. "It possibly was, but then Director Fury realized I was memorizing it all and didn't have a problem with it so long as those files didn't leave my office."

"But you have them on you now," Morgan says.

"Yeah. The USB was hidden within my belongings in my office. My office surprisingly survived unscathed after Captain Rogers crashed the helicarriers into the Potomac, and my stuff was packed up and shipped to me while I was in rehab."

"If you don't mind me asking," JJ wonders, "but were you at the Triskelion when HYDRA came out or..?"

"I don't mind the questions at all," you say. "It's actually quite nice to talk about it with people who aren't eyeing me suspiciously." The group flashes you small smiles. "I was actually on a consulting job with a recently formed SHIELD team whose base was a humongous plane that was constantly on the move. Anyway, one of those trusted team members ended up being HYDRA. He led a group of his men onto the plane, killed half of us to get control of it, and then locked me and two scientists into a holding pod before dropping us into the middle of the ocean."

"The drowning incident," Spencer suddenly realizes.

You smile sadly at him, nodding. "We sank to the bottom of the ocean floor. There were three of us and only one little oxygen tank." Spencer grabs your hand beneath the table and you're grateful for the grounding pressure. "We gave it to Jemma. Fitz and I were going to attempt to swim, but we didn't make it. Fitz blacked out first, then me, and then- then nothing. We woke up in a trusted SHIELD facility, and Fitz and I couldn't operate like we used to. With our brains having been deprived of oxygen, it messed us up for a while."

"Wow," Emily says. "I am so sorry."

You shrug at her with a small smile. "It was all part of the job."

"What do you do now?" Morgan asks. "I hate to say it, but with all our victims being ex-SHIELD, and you as well, we have to rule you out as-"

"I get it." You smile in reassurance at him since it kind of pained him to admit that you could be a suspect and have Spencer glare at him for even thinking it. "I'm a bouncer at a bar most nights."

Morgan chuckles. "A bouncer? You!?"

"Hey! I might not look like much, but I did train with Avengers. I could probably give you a run for your money, agent Morgan."

"Okay, okay," he muses.

"I also work as private security for Stark Industries when they throw galas. If you need the exact dates I've been working, I can get that for you."

"Please," JJ says. "Spencer's already vouched for you, but protocol and all that. You understand."

"I do. I'll just- I'll text my bosses to email my clock-ins and clock-outs."

Pulling out your phone, you immediately text your boss at the bar and Pepper Potts. You keep the explanation vague as to why you need it, but assure them it's very much needed for a case the FBI is working on. They completely understand and you even have to make Pepper swear not to get Tony involved.

The emails come in not even ten minutes later and JJ happily takes your phone to run the dates with Penelope, promising to be quick about it. You remain in your seat, watching as Morgan and Emily walk towards the board and start tossing their thoughts back and forth over what they've learned so far.

Your hands are atop the table, thumbs chipping away the already chipped nail polish you have on. The second you raise your hand with the intent of chewing on your thumb nail, Spencer catches your hand. "You okay?" He quietly asks and you stare at him. He then lets your hand go as you pull them back into your lap.

"Yeah. Just getting kind of tired. And a bit anxious. Someone's targeting ex-SHIELD agents and I- well I'm one of those people."

"No one is going to hurt you, Y/N. I promise."

You feebly smile, not taking his words to heart because you know he can't actually keep that promise. He might want to, but you know better than to take these types of promises seriously in situations such as this.

JJ reappears, a bright smile in place as she hands you your phone. "I'm pretty sure Penelope programmed her number in there."

"That's fine." You chuckle. You lay your phone on the table, giving your attention back to Emily and Morgan who's now being joined by JJ.

"Guys, Garcia is having a ball right now. There's so much information she wasn't privy to before, but I'm not sure how any of it is going to help more than Y/N already has." Emily and Morgan look at JJ, waiting for her to explain. "We already know victims weren't the best at hand-to-hand, which the unsub clearly took advantage of. But we need to know what they were presently doing and if they were checking in with anyone because there are a lot of dead ex-agents. That's not a coincidence. Either someone who's ex-SHIELD or HYDRA is picking off ex-agents one by one, or someone who has a grudge against SHIELD found a list of ex-agents and is working their way down the list."

"Where do we even start?" Morgan asks, incredulous. "SHIELD technically doesn't exist anymore and those who are operating in the shadows are nearly impossible to track down thanks to the Avengers. None of them are exactly easy to get a hold of after General Ross made it his personal mission to bring in James Buchanan Barnes for crimes HYDRA made him commit. They like working on their own."

"We'd have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to get a face to face," Emily says, sighing. "If we're lucky they'll want in on the case since it's related to SHIELD."

"Um, actually.." You nervously raise your hand, calling all attention on you. "You can bypass all those hoops."

Emily stares at you, sitting on the edge of the table as she crosses her arms over her chest. "You still have connections, don't you?" At your sheepish grin, she huffs in amusement. Every other team member straightens with hope in their expressions.

"Agent Prentiss, I am the connection." As you pick up your phone once more, JJ and Morgan step closer to the table. You scroll through your contacts, finding the one you need and tapping on it. Then putting it on speaker, you try to soothe your nerves as the ringing through the speaker seems to make the atmosphere of the room become tense.

The ringing stops as the connection is made and then, "Well, well, well. If it isn't my second favorite human on God's green Earth." You roll your eyes at the charm oozing from him. "What kind of trouble are you in now, doll?"

Emily and JJ's eyes widen, and you shake your head in amusement. "Put your boyfriend on the line, Barnes. I'm calling in a favor."

"Are you calling to finally take us up on that offer of joining us for a night?"

Everyone in the room seems to freeze, although Morgan is highly enjoying where this seems to be going. You close your eyes, scrunching up your nose. You can't believe they just heard that. "Steve really needs to put a muzzle on you."

"Well if you're into that-"

"Bucky!" You bark. "You're on speaker." Morgan finally loses the battle with his laughter and you wish you can sink into your chair. Instead you have to settle for just insanely blushing and covering your face with one hand. "I'm currently with the BAU of the FBI. They have a case that they could use some help on."

"Oh." There's a beat of silence. "Christ, Y/N. You should have stopped me sooner. Stevie's gonna lecture me again. Hold on. I'll go get him."

The line goes silent and you nervously meet Spencer's gaze. He's the only one who doesn't seem as amused which is why you don't find Bucky's greeting as funny as you normally would. Something about his expression actually makes you wish Bucky hadn't said anything.

"Y/N?"

You sit a little straighter in your seat. "Hey, Cap."

"What's going on? Buck mentioned the FBI."

"Uh yeah. I'm with Agents Prentiss, Morgan, Jareau, and Doctor Reid," you tell him. "They've been dealing with a case that had gone cold and well I kind of made a connection they hadn't seen before because they couldn't, and uh I'm sure they could use your help."

"What was the connection?"

You look at Emily and she nods, letting you tell him. "Steve, all the victims are ex-SHIELD. Specifically agents who wouldn't have had too much training; who couldn't hold their own without a gun in hand."

There's a sharp inhale. "What do they need?"

Emily's eyes close in relief and she holds her hand out for your phone. You happily oblige her and hand it over. "Captain Rogers, this is Special Agent Emily Prentiss. I'm the one in charge of my team here."

"Hello, Agent Prentiss. How can my team and I be of help?"

"Well we mainly need to pick your brains and ask some questions. We're aware that SHIELD is still operating to an extent, even if it is in the shadows, so we'd like to know if the victims were still affiliated with you. If we're dealing with someone who is or was from SHIELD or HYDRA, we'd like to have you involved since you have more experience with how they operate."

"That's fine. I'll gather my team and set up a room. Are you okay to set up base here in the Compound?"

"Yes!" JJ says, starting everyone. She clears her throat and calms herself. "Yes."

Steve chuckles. "Very well. Gather everything you need. I'll be sending a quinjet for you all since it'll be faster. Y/N knows the pick-up location."

"Thank you so much, Captain Rogers."

Emily hands you the phone and seeing that the call is still connected, you say, "Hey, Steve? Thanks for this."

"It's not a problem, sweetheart. Are you okay though? You're an ex-shield agent yourself."

"I know, but nothing has been out of the ordinary. I'm okay."

"Good. You coming too?"

"I was actually planning on going home after driving the agents to the location. I'm not an active agent anymore, bub."

"I know you're not, but with that agent neighbor of yours coming here I rather have you here as well so we can keep an eye on you." You sigh at his protectiveness. "Bring a change of clothes for a week. I'll have Nat get a hold of your boss and let him know some of what's going on so you'll have a job to go back to once all of this is over."

"You're a pain in the ass, Rogers."

Steve laughs. "See you soon, Y/L/N."

The call ends and you set your phone down. Glancing up, you smile sheepishly at the team staring at you. "So, uh, I guess I'm tagging along. Sorry about that."

Emily opens her mouth, her words getting stuck as she shakes her head in amusement. "Don't be. You got us working with the Avengers within minutes as opposed to taking hours, possibly even a day if I had to put in a request."

Morgan whistles appreciatively. "This is insane. I'm gonna give Garcia a heads up about our field trip. Expect another tag a long. I don't think she'll pass up this opportunity."

You chuckle as JJ says, "Rossi is going to be so pissed he took a vacation and missed out on working with the Avengers." Then looking at you, she adds, "Do you think Spider-Man will be there? My son absolutely loves him and I would be the coolest mom ever if I got a picture or video with him."

"I'm sure Pe- uh, I'm sure Spider-Man will make an appearance," you say. "He's always hanging around after his classes are done for the day."

JJ's eyes widen. "You totally know who he is."

"I do. And let me tell you, he absolutely adores kids. Ask and he'll happily oblige."

"Guys. Guys!" Emily says. "Case first, fangirl later."

Spencer snorts and you elbow him on reflex. He grumbles, Emily and JJ grin, and you innocently smile at Emily. "Sorry, Agent Prentiss. I'll just- I'll go sit on that couch over there so I'm not in the way."

Emily starts telling her team what needs to be done, repeating herself again when Morgan returns with a clearly excited Garcia. Morgan informs everyone he'll go gather the boxes of files while Spencer immediately sets out to disassemble the board of pictures and post-its. Garcia excitedly rushes back to her own office to pack up a few things, while Emily and JJ figure out what all they'll need to be taking with them.

To keep yourself occupied, you waste a few minutes by playing a game on your phone.

You're not sure how much time has passed, but someone hesitantly sitting next to you takes your attention off your phone. Glancing up, you see Spencer sitting there and realize everyone else has cleared out of the room. "We should be ready to head out in about ten minutes."

"Oh. Okay."

There's a moment of silence and then, "Soo.. Bucky Barnes." He chuckles, running a hand through his hair, and you can tell his amusement isn't exactly genuine. "He's- he's not the type of person I pictured you with if I'm being honest."

"Barnes?" You snort. "Ew. No." Spencer seems surprised by your reply. "Bucky likes to flirt with me because he knows it won't go anywhere. He's well aware of the actual person I have a crush on and he respects that. Mostly."

"O-Oh? So there is someone in the picture then?"

"Well, not really," you say. Squirming in your seat, you're not totally comfortable with the direction this talk has taken until you see you're not the only one squirming. Spencer is avoiding eye contact, but he's also clearly awaiting your answer. There's also a telltale flush up the side of his neck to the tips of his ears, and- oh. Oh. Seeing how nervous Spencer suddenly is makes you feel better. So better, in fact, that you feel you should speak up about something that you've kept secret for a while. "Well I mean I'd like there to be," you say, grinning when he freezes. "The thing is, he actually lives down the hall from me." Cue him holding his breath. "He's totally adorable, but also secretly hot which is so unfair, and he works for the FBI." Spencer's head snaps in your direction, eyes wide. You smile sheepishly and shrug. "The only downfall is that he's way too good for someone like me, so I settled for friendship."

Your heart is beating terribly fast and the only thing keeping you glued to your seat is Spencer grinning bashfully, cheeks pink. "If you ask me, I don't think he's too good at all. I-If anything, he probably thinks you were too good for him which is why he never made his own feelings known."

Relief washes over you and you laugh. "We're idiots, huh?"

Lips pressed together, he smiles wide. Then, "A little."

"Rain check on this discussion? We've got Avengers to greet and you have a case to solve."

"Of course!" Spencer hastily stands, offering you a hand up. Grinning, you take it and let him pull you to your feet while shoving your phone into your back pocket. "Wherever we're going, is it okay to leave our vehicles there?"

"Yeah. It's private property and pretty secluded. No one gets in without codes."

"Okay then. We'll swing by our building for your bag and then you can direct one of the drivers while the other follows."

"Sure. Sounds like a plan."

Because of the connection between the list of victims, you have an escort up to your apartment while you pack a bag. Emily and JJ happily accompany you, leaving Spencer to fend for himself with Morgan and Garcia.

In your apartment, the two female agents waste no time in subtly trying to figure out your exact feelings for their dear friend and you take great amusement in skirting around the answer they so desperately try to pry out of you. And it's only after your duffel is packed do you tell them you and Spencer had admitted some things to each other, but you are planning to talk about it further after their case is closed. JJ seems oddly giddy and Emily coos about their boy genius growing up. You blush, relieved that they've taken a to liking to you. Then when you get back to the vehicles, you know Spencer has been questioned as well given the smirks being sent your way.

The drive to the field isn't long and the team is impressed by the level of security for a seemingly abandoned airfield. There's an unmanned gate which you get off at to speak for voice recognition, punch in a specific code, give a hand print, and then secretly have your forefinger pricked for a blood sample. Then when the gate swings open, you quickly climb back into the car and instruct Emily towards the second gate where a guard sits. The guard greets you warmly and, after you introduce those in the vehicle with you, he assures you he knows all about the impending pick-up.

"So what exactly are we in for?" Morgan asks. You're all waiting in an opened hangar, the boxes they'd packed sitting on the ground.

"Your perceptions about them are about to be changed," you admit. "I'm sure you've all told yourselves that the Avengers are just like you and I, but you have no idea how true that it is until you meet them."

"Who is the nicest?" JJ wonders.

You take a moment to think about. "Honestly? They're all nice, but if I had to choose I'd choose Spider-Man. It's hard not to like him. The kid's a puppy."

"Who gives the best hugs?" Garcia quickly adds.

Everyone chuckles at her eagerness. "That's a tough one," you say. You ponder on it for a moment. "I say it's a tie between Steve and Thor. They hug full on, chest to chest. None of that half-assed, one arm hug nonsense."

Garcia practically swoons. "Oh to be wrapped up in those beefy Asgardian arms." You snort and shake your head in amusement.

Another twenty minutes pass and you regale Spencer and his friends about some of your work with SHIELD. But all too soon the telltale sound of a quinjet reaches your ears and when you look up you see one incoming.

"Well that was hella fast," Garcia muses when she spots the quinjet herself.

JJ grins. "Stark technology. Gotta love it."

Emily nods in agreement. "We definitely need an upgrade."

Whoever is flying the quinjet lands it with ease, and Spencer, Morgan, and JJ immediately pick up their boxes. Shouldering the strap of your duffel bag, you start heading towards the quinjet when the ramp is being lowered and the team follows a few steps behind.

Clint Barton walks off the ramp and you chuckle, hurrying your steps. Both your arms go around his neck and one of his arms wraps low around your waist. "Short stack," he says. "What trouble did you get into now?"

"Why does everyone assume I'm in trouble?" You pout as you pull back, pinching his cheek and cooing before stepping back out of range. "And what are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be on the farm with those precious little heathens?"

"I was, but Laura had leftovers for Nat and Wanda. I was just dropping them off when Steve rounded up the team."

"Oh nice." Then turning around, you gesture to the BAU team. "Clint, meet Special Agents Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, Doctor Spencer Reid, and the brains of the beauty of the team Miss Penelope Garcia. Guys, meet Clint Barton formerly known as Hawkeye."

Everyone shakes hands, with the exception of Garcia who slaps his hand away and pulls him into a hug.

"Baby girl," Morgan laughs, "what are you doing?"

She squeezes a chuckling Clint before letting go, she then whirling on her own friend. "This is my first time meeting the Avengers. Do not take this from me!" Morgan's eyebrows raise in amusement, the whole team and Clint chuckling.

Then not wasting anymore time, Clint ushers everyone on board. He shows them where the boxes and your bag can be stowed before taking the pilot's seat up front, only to be joined by Morgan moments later in the co-pilot seat. You show Emily and Garcia how to buckle in, and then take your own seat between JJ and Spencer.

Clint counts down for lift off and you grip your harness as you feel the quinjet take flight. Spencer nudges you with his elbow and you glance at him, grinning to assure him you're okay. But when you can feel the quinjet picking up speed thanks to the feeling in your gut, you close your eyes and are thankful that no one brings up the fact that you're actually really nervous right now.

Your left hand is grabbed and gently pried from your grip on the harness, and your eyes fly open in surprise. You look towards your left and JJ smiles at you reassuringly as she squeezes your hand in comfort. Then when your right hand is grabbed and given the same treatment, you glance over at Spencer and can't help but blurt, "I-I've never been nervous about flying before."

"It's perfectly normal to subconsciously be nervous or anxious after we trudged up your past earlier," he says. "Just close your eyes and relax. We won't let anything happen to you."

You nod, smiling shakily and turn your head to rest it against the headrest of your seat. Then closing your eyes, you're grateful for the team not asking you anything for the duration of the ride. Instead, they save their questions for Clint who's all too happy to answer what he can.

You know the Compound's come into view when Morgan whistles in appreciation. Clint lands to quinjet with ease and then everyone's unbuckling themselves when he gives the go ahead. Before you can grab your bag, however, Spencer is grabbing it and beaming at you when you sigh with mock annoyance.

One by one the BAU team disembarks after Clint, leaving you and Spencer to bring up the rear. You hear Clint introducing everyone and notice everyone's congregated around in a circle. Then just as you and Spencer join, you notice that Garcia is petting Bucky's vibranium arm. You snort, catching an amused Steve's attention.

"Y/N," he greets.

"Steve." You step forward, briefly hugging him and then Bucky. As you step back in line, you gesture towards Spencer to introduce him. "This is Doctor Spencer Reid. Spence, this is Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes."

Steve leans in for a handshake, but then pauses mid-shake. "Wait. Spencer Reid? The Spencer Reid?" He grins. "Are you- are you and the agent neighbor one in the same?"

You sharply inhale, eyes widening when everyone turns to stare at your rapidly blushing face. Steve's grin turns rather teasing and your eyes narrow at him. "Two words; octopus dick." Steve's amusement vanishes, and everyone turns towards a now blushing Steve as Bucky guffaws. You turn your gaze on him next. "I don't know why you're laughing, dolphin boy."

Bucky immediately shuts up and Steve shakily grins before addressing the team. "Okay! Now that we've all been introduced, lets get inside before Y/N starts a war she can't finish."

Morgan and JJ are the only two to follow after Steve, Bucky, and Clint. Emily and Garcia remain with you and Spencer, and both females look to you with pleading eyes.

"Please tell me how four innocuous words got two supersoldiers to blush like that?" Garcia asks, Emily nodding along with her. "I need to know!"

"Sorry, girls," you tell them. "Those stories get out and I'm dead meat."

The both of them grumble about not getting answers, but move on without fuss. Before you can follow, however, Spencer steps closer to you. "You won't even tell me?" He asks, voice quiet.

You huff. "You already know."

Spencer's answering smile is enough to make you roll your eyes and he's quick to keep pace with you as you enter the building. There are numerous people milling about, but since it's late most of the trainees are in bed. Every piece of furniture and fixture still seems brand spanking new, so you don't blame the BAU team looking around in awe.

Heading into the chosen office, you lead Spencer inside before catching Steve's attention. "I'm gonna let you guys get to work. I'll be setting up in my room if anyone needs me."

No one objects, so after taking your bag from Spencer you take your leave. You leisurely make your way towards the living quarters of the compound and find your room with ease. Opening the door, the familiarity of it brings a tired smile to your face. The lamps have been turned on, awaiting your arrival, and even the TV has been turned on with its volume on low. The walls and bedding is the same as everyone else has, but you know it's your room because of the personal pictures on the dresser and bedside tables.

Since you're going to be staying until the case is over and then probably a couple days more after, you decide to put your clothes in the dresser rather than leave it in your bag for the entire time. After that's done and you've switched your TV to a movie you like, you pick out a standard set of black sleep pants and a blue/gray shirt that every trainee at the compound wears to bed so you can shower before crawling into bed yourself.

You're grateful for the private bathroom and even more grateful to see the products you use already waiting for you. You turn on the water to the shower, grab a towel from the bathroom closet and set it on the counter along with your change of clothes before you start to strip.

You keep your hair in a topknot as you shower since you had washed it earlier that morning, so your shower is over within ten minutes. Then by the time you're dried off and dressed in fresh clothes, and your teeth are brushed, you exit the bathroom.

Stepping into your room, you startle at the sight of Spencer sitting on the small cushioned bench at the foot of your bed. He's staring up at the moving playing, the corner of his lips quirked up in amusement. But at your small gasp, he looks towards you, lips spreading into a fond smile.

"Captain Rogers said it was okay that I wait for you. I don't mean to intrude."

"Spence," you huff a laugh and then continue on towards your bed, "we have keys to each other's apartments and sometimes barge in without warning. I think you waiting in here is more than okay."

"Just needed to make sure," he says, "what with this being a new place and all."

"Mhmm." You sit on the edge of the bed that's right behind the bench, putting your feet on the cushion beside Spencer and practically hug your knees as you stare at him. "How did everyone settle in?"

"E-Everyone's good." Spencer turns sideways, grinning up at you. "We got our own rooms here so we don't have to be back and forth from a hotel. When we left, Garcia was being introduced to the holographic tables and now I don't think she's going to sleep tonight."

You chuckle. "I knew she'd fall prey to all the pretty tech here." He chuckles along with you. "And how did everyone take the news to hearing the details about the case?"

"They're taking it very personally," Spencer tells you. "Mr. Barton even asked to stay on as a consultant. He and agent Romanoff are not very happy."

"Well they might not be as smart as you, Doc, but I think they're going to be a big help. You guys will be out of here in no time with the bad guy in cuffs."

"Is that so?" He muses. You grin and nod. "And if we're out of here in no time, are we still waiting until you go home for that discussion we still need to have?"

"We can table the discussion," you say, "but I really need to do this before I chicken out."

"Do what?"

Without thinking too much more about it, you reach out to cradle Spencer's jaw in the palms of your hands. You bring his face closer to yours, pausing with barely an inch between your lips. It seems he's held his breath in surprise, but when he notices you're waiting for some sort of unspoken permission it's him who closes the gap.

There's nothing heated or rushed about the kiss- it merely being a chaste kiss of several little pecks before he catches your bottom lip between his teeth. You smile, your lip popping free from where it stretches, and you giggle as he leans up to chase your lips.

"Ahem." The interruption causes you to jerk back from Spencer, eyes wide when you catch sight of Bucky leaning against your door jamb and looking quite smug. "Hope I'm not interrupting." You groan, laying your forehead on Spencer's shoulder while he quietly snorts. "So with this new development, does this mean our threesome will now be a foursome?"

You can't help but laugh and sit straight once more so you can see your friend. Unfortunately, the question actually gives you pause and there's a split second where you actually give it thought. But in the next moment your nose wrinkles and you shake your head. "What? No!"

He points at you, eyes gleaming. "You paused! You paused which means that no just turned into a maybe. I'm gonna go tell Stevie we're back in the game!"

"James!" Spencer finally laughs and you groan again when Bucky pushes off the door jamb, whistling as he walks away. "I hate my friends."

"Just wait until Morgan finds out. It'll be worse." Spencer chuckles as you sigh, and he gets up before walking around to the side of your bed. He places his palms down on the mattress, leaning over you to kiss you once more. "I'm gonna go to my room before Sergeant Barnes brings back reinforcements."

"Okay. I'll probably see you around the compound, but I'll do my best to stay out of your hair while you're looking for your unsub."

"Are we still talking after?"

"Of course. Well we can either talk or order in some Chinese and hole up in one of our apartments for a weekend. Your call."

"I like the second option," he says.

"I figured you would." You kiss him one last time and then push against his chest. "Now go. We'll figure things out soon."

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