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writersrealmbts · 5 years

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Tangled Hearts

Description: Hybrid!ot7 x reader: You have seven hybrids and life with them can be both good and stressful. Some days are better than others, but in the end, you know that they’re always there for you, in more ways than one.

Angst/Fluff/Suggestive Stuff/SFW

Posted: 10/18/2019

Tags: poly!bts, multi, ot7, hybrid bts, Monsta X cameos

Wordcount: 22,844

A/N: Hope y’all are ready for this. It’s a long one. A really long one. And it is pretty angsty, so sorry about that, also I used Monsta X characters in this as well. I hope you guys like it since I finished it for the celebration of 2,000 followers I reached a while ago. It was also a sort of request/suggestion from months and months ago about the quirks of hybrids. I really hope this doesn’t flop like most of the rest of my works.

You woke up, frowning as you tried to figure out why, then groaning as the rapid thumping occurred above your room once again. “Kim Taehyung would you stop scaring Hoseok!” You heard rushed footsteps as Taehyung tried to get away before you could catch him in the act.

You caught him by the tail on the stairs, and dragged him back to Hoseok’s room, where the bunny-hybrid was hiding under the bed, foot thumping against the bed again. “Apologize now,” You ordered, releasing the tail and crossing your arms.

Taehyung snatched it and held onto it with a strangled sound. “But—”

“Taehyung! I would like to remind you that you were both the person who kept me up until two in the morning and the person who woke me up when the sun wasn’t up yet,” You warned. “And I swear to God if you still have whatever bug or creature you scared him with in my house I won’t get you any frogs for two weeks.”

His eyes widened, and his cute ears twitched. His gray and black ringed tail was still held in his hands. “S-sorry, Hoseokie-hyung.”

Hoseok just made a squeaking sound that was the closest he could get to coherent.

You took a deep breath. “Get whatever it is out of my house, you will be apologizing later. No frogs for a week.”

Tae slumped, but rushed out.

You crouched down and held out your hand, waiting for Hoseok to register it, then letting out an “oof” and falling on your butt as he slammed into you. “Hey, it’s okay, Hobi. I know, he frightened you. Woke you up with a snake, didn’t he?”

He nodded, his heart beating so rapidly and he was still so upset, foot thumping against the air. “Sorry. Waking. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind being woken, I mind that it was Taehyung doing it for the fifth time. I’ll have a serious talk with him later, okay. Just breathe. You want some carrot juice this morning?”

He nodded again, finally starting to calm down.

The two of you stayed that way until he looked up at you sleepily.

“There we go,” You said softly, smiling down at him.

He relaxed completely and grinned up at you. “Better check on Seokjin-hyung. Tae was in his room first. He might kill Tae.”

You groaned. “Head downstairs. I better get everyone moving.”

He got up and nabbed a sweatshirt as he exited his room, checking the hallway before going out just in case.

You headed into Yoongi’s room, stripping the blankets from his form in one quick movement and calling for him to get up.

He groaned. “But it’s morning…”

“And you didn’t eat anything after dinner tonight and your doctor wants you to gain at least ten pounds. If you’re going to embrace being partially nocturnal, eat accordingly. You can go back to bed after you’ve had some food,” You told the mink-hybrid, ignoring the groaning and the grasping for blankets. “Don’t make me dump water on you. I already had to deal with Taehyung this morning.”

“That raccoon is going to be the death of all of us. Let me kill him first.”

“Play nice and get up. Don’t forget to make your bed.” You headed to the next room, humming softly as you entered so you wouldn’t startle Jungkook.

He rolled over and looked in your general direction. “They’re loud.”

“Sorry, pup,” You helped him get up and laid out an outfit for him. “I’ll send Jimin in to help you?”

He nodded, feeling the fabrics and starting to unbutton his pajama shirt.

You went to Jimin’s room across the hall and easily woke him with some pets and the promise of bacon if he was a good boy and helped Jungkook change. Dogs were definitely the easiest.

Namjoon was already awake, but his nose twitched and pulled out of his book to look and acknowledge you. “Morning.”

“Morning,” You replied, both aloud and with your hands, signing as well that it was time to head downstairs for breakfast.

He nodded and closed his book. He ducked and rubbed his head against your hand, then against your arm, purring as he did and heading downstairs.

You headed to the last room, noting it was open and that Jin wasn’t inside.

You hurried downstairs to find a sulky Taehyung getting a glare from the fox-hybrid.

“It was just a joke, hyung.”

“Did anyone laugh?” Jin snapped back, a growl lacing his words.

Namjoon looked at you, completely lost.

You signed “snake” and pointed at Taehyung, then Hoseok and Seokjin.

Namjoon shook his head and took a seat, hitting Taehyung’s arm. “Be nice. They’re always nice to you.”

Yoongi slunk in and dropped into a seat as well, head on his arms and snarling slightly when Hoseok bumped into him on accident. He muttered an apology that he wasn’t awake yet.

Hoseok looked more amused than anything and started poking and prodding the sleepy mink.

“Morning!” Jimin called, leading Jungkook to an empty seat.

You started throwing breakfast together: Carrots into the juicer, bacon into the frying pan, and frozen waffles into the oven. “Someone sign for Joon while we go over today’s agenda?”

“I’ll do it,” Jin agreed.

“Okay, so, we need to weed the garden and I need to go pick up more plants for it, so that’ll be two different teams. Jungkook, can you empty the dishwasher and wash the dishes from breakfast?”

“Sure,” He replied, his tail slowly thumping against the chair. He sounded nervous and determined. He emptied the dishwasher fairly regularly (you hand-washed sharp knives so that he would be safe), but didn’t usually wash the dishes that didn’t fit himself.

“Someone dry the dishes for him to make sure they’re clean and refill the dishwasher. We’ll do hot-dogs and grilled vegetables for lunch, so I’ll need the veggies washed and ready for cooking when I get back from the store. I need someone to inspect the rooms before breakfast is ready—”

“I’ll do it,” Hoseok volunteered.

You nodded. “You know where the clipboard is. After lunch, we’ll rest during the hottest hours of the day, then we can head out to pick berries. Come back, eat dinner, go swimming. Sound good?”

There was a chorus of agreement from the boys.

“What’s my night-time chore?” Yoongi asked, rubbing his face.

“Clean the kitchen, eat another meal, fix the door to the shed. It’s getting stuck.”

He nodded and slumped back over.

You put his plate in front of him first since he had to have very specific portions as well as extra supplements.

Hoseok started to dart upstairs for room inspection, but you stopped him and gestured for him to eat.

Jin took over and told you to go ahead and go take a shower and get dressed since your morning routine had been disrupted yet again.

You showered and dressed, made your bed (which wasn’t that hard since you barely got to sleep in it), and went back out to find all of them gaping as Taehyung stared bleakly at the waffle he had impulsively “washed” in the sink.

“It’s alright, I put extras in the oven. Here, wash an apple,” You intervened, smiling gently and opening his hands, putting the fruit in instead. That was why you had a garbage disposal installed.

He washed the apple thoroughly, then hurried back to his seat where Jin had put waffles and bacon, buttering the waffles for Tae so that he wouldn’t be tempted to try and wash them again.

Namjoon patted Taehyung on the shoulder. “It’s okay. We all do strange things.”

“Jungkook, you’re about to put your hand in the syrup,” You warned, guiding his hands to the silverware and then taking over from Jin so that he could eat since they all ate twice as much as you and you honestly just had a smoothie in the morning lately. Strawberries, blueberries and banana with orange juice and some protein powder and you were good to go. Though Jungkook always insisted on smelling your breath. It was weird, but no weirder than when Jimin would lick you when you had worked up a sweat.

Speak of the devil, he was giving you the side-eye, an evil grin on his face. “No boyfriend today? It’s been a while.”

It had, but the last time your boyfriend had been over had been…disastrous. They had all behaved like little monsters and it took you four hours to clean the house afterward.

“Well, I have these hybrids that don’t know how to behave when I have company over,” You replied, giving him the eye. “My trash-panda trashed the house with the help of my normally sweet and loving Labrador. My sweet kitty pretended that nothing existed if he couldn’t hear it, and he can’t hear anything. My Malamute decided that he was going to be hostile. The mink I so lovingly rescued absolutely demolished my couch and my fox ran away and hid. And my bunny, my sweet, lovely clean bunny, decided to come down with a sickness that doesn’t actually exist and scare the bejeebers out of me. So no, my boyfriend won’t be coming here until you all learn to behave better around strangers. Which is why after we’re done swimming tonight, I’m going to his place.”

They all froze, staring at you.

Then they started protesting all at once.

“He scared me! I can’t see him and the smells were all over the place! But you can’t go there! What if he’s a serial killer?”

“What if his hybrids attack you?”

“It was a good book!”

“Yoongi started it!”

“I am not a trash-panda!”

“I really didn’t feel good!”

“I am always sweet and loving!”

You rolled your eyes.

“They could hurt you!” Yoongi added as they all started to quiet down.

“They haven’t hurt me before,” You countered. “And I work with my boyfriend, we go through a ton of different background checks. If he is a serial killer, he’s a very good one if he can pass those tests and have hybrids trust him. Now, who’s coming with me to the store?”

Namjoon raised his hand quickly, reading your lips.

The others raised theirs a split second after, but you were pretty sure Jimin had been first.

“So, Namjoon and Jimin. Yoongi, enjoy your nap. Taehyung, you help Jungkook. Hoseok, and Jin, get to work in the garden?”

Taehyung perked up at the prospect of not weeding right away with the others. “Yes, ma’am!”

The others nodded their agreement.

You nodded. “Let me do my makeup. Brush your teeth and get your shoes on.”

“Okay!” Jimin signed the instructions to Joon, then hurried upstairs.

Jungkook looked slightly nervous with Jimin leaving his side, but he’d been getting better about it with every week he lived with you. He trusted the others now, especially Hoseok, Seokjin, and Namjoon. He was still a little jumpy around Yoongi and Taehyung, the latter of which tended toward spontaneous sounds and actions that Jungkook couldn’t see coming.

You tried to push him as much as possible, gave him more responsibilities, brought him into new situations, and reminded him to use his other senses. He’d relied on Jimin for years, unable to do anything else because he was told constantly that he wasn’t able to in his former situation. It was hard to get Jimin to not protect and care for Jungkook.

Then there was Namjoon, who’d been in an accident with his former owner, the result of which left him deaf and abandoned by his owner’s family. The betrayal had left him so broken, and yet your little kitty had quickly warmed up to you as you taught him again how to use sign language and worked with him on reading lips. He’d been with you longest.

Jin was your most recent addition to your household, and he’d been with you for two and a half months now.

“Y/n, are you sure…” Hoseok started, setting the clipboard down. “Are you sure that you’re happy with your boyfriend? You never seem happy when you come back from hanging out with him. And his hybrid’s scent…I know it really bugs Jungkook, and Yoongi…and Namjoon. Especially Namjoon.”

You looked over the room inspection sheets, not surprised by Hoseok’s findings. “I take care of all of you all day, I organize your days, I make sure you all eat properly, and I try to love you all as much as I’m able to. My relationship isn’t perfect. I know that. But…” You sighed as you struggled for the words to say what you needed to.

“You…need to get away from us?”

Your eyes widened. “No! I just…I need someone to take care of me sometimes. I would never try to burden you all with my problems. You all have so many of your own, and sometimes there are things that I just can’t share with you guys. Well, I could tell Namjoon as long as he wasn’t looking at me.” You ran a hand through your hair, feeling even more frazzled. This day was not going as you planned.

Hoseok was tugging on one of his ears, thoughtful but sad. “I understand.”

You looked over his face. “Do you?”

He met your gaze, then looked down. “I think so.” He leaned forward and nuzzled your shoulder affectionately.

You quickly welcomed his affection, kissing his temple and stroking his hair.

“We’re…ready…” Jimin announced, looking worriedly between you and Hoseok.

Namjoon came over and pet the bunny’s head, gaining Hoseok’s attention before signing something over your shoulder.

Hoseok nodded and pulled away. “I’ll go make sure Taehyung doesn’t get Jungkook hurt.”

“He’s not completely irresponsible,” Jimin pointed out.

“He had a snake in my house, he’s not entirely responsible either,” You argued, folding your arms. “Thank you, Hobi. Also, could you check on Jin. He seemed…quiet.”

“That is a problem.” Hoseok hurried off to find the eldest.

Namjoon hugged you from behind, nosing at your hairline so lightly it sent chills up your spine. “We’re ready when you are.”

You nodded, grabbing your purse and extricating yourself. You looked through and then groaned. “Who took my keys?” You yelled.

You heard a lot of scampering sounds from multiple offenders as they hastily retreated in different directions.

“Y/n?” Jimin said hesitantly.

You took a deep breath and then dropped your purse. “I’m going back to bed. One of you get the keys back. We’ll get groceries tomorrow. Tell everyone lunch is whatever the hell they can scrounge up.” You headed upstairs, ignoring Jimin’s whimpers and Namjoon’s worried and confused call of your name.

Yoongi’s head snapped up guiltily as you came into your room.

You marched over and grabbed your pillow and favorite blanket and marched back out, ignoring his inquisitive looks.

You went down the hall to Jin’s room, going in since you knew he’d already taken off for the garden and curling up in his bed. You pulled the covers over your head, hugged your blanket and pressed your face into it to release the scream of frustration and anxiety that the day had already brought you.

It wasn’t even 8:30.

They left you alone, Jin only slipping in a few hours later, sitting on the edge of the bed and petting your back through the blankets before leaving you alone again.

It was around 11:30 that Jungkook came.

“Y-y/n? Um…Jin-hyung and Yoongi-hyung made us lunch…do you…want someone to bring you something?”

“I’m not hungry,” You replied softly, cursing your voice for wobbling.

“Oh…okay…” His footsteps retreated hesitantly, a whine evident in his voice.

You pushed your face into the pillows, reaching for your phone in your pocket only to realize it wasn’t there. You’d managed to nap in between the bouts of frustrated tears.

But now you were angry, because there were only two that could have taken it.

You got up, roughly making the bed before going downstairs. “Jung Hoseok, if you or Namjoon have my phone, you need to give it back right now.”

Hoseok looked startled. “I don’t have it, y/n.”

Jimin had translated for Namjoon, and the way he seemed to get interested in the food on his plate said it all.

All of them shrunk away from you.

You took a deep breath, trying desperately not to have a meltdown on them. “Why?”

Namjoon seemed to be shrinking by the second, despite not knowing what you asked.

“Y-y/n?” Yoongi said, looking nervous. “I…I’m sorry I took your keys.”

“Why did you take them? You knew I was going to the store. We just discussed it.” Your eyes were tearing up, and it made you even more upset because you didn’t want to cry. You were angry.

“Because we could live without groceries, but I couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving us tonight to go visit that stinking—”

“Yoongi,” Hoseok hissed, punching the mink.

Adding hurt to your list of feelings, you knocked on the counter in front of Namjoon.

He finally peeked up at you, then pulled out your phone from his pocket.

You signed “why”.

His gaze dropped back to the counter. “I just…I wanted to know what he talked about that was so special….”

“Happy with what you found?” You asked aloud as he glanced up at you. You shook your head and looked away from him and Yoongi. “I am beyond frustrated right now. Do you think it’s easy taking care of all of you? Doing all of this, and working? Can’t you guys just make some days a little easier? Maybe follow the rules for once, or eat of your own volition? Maybe try not to destroy what little bit of sanity I manage to maintain on bad days? Maybe stop antagonizing me over trying to have some sort of love life?”

It wasn’t fair to some of them. It wasn’t fair for them to be getting these words when they had done nothing wrong.

But you were crying now and the words just didn’t want to stop.

But you had to stop them, so with a choked sob, you turned and fled back upstairs, locking your bedroom door and pulling the dresser in front of it for good measure.

You left your phone down there again.

You stripped the sheets because they were covered in mink and malamute fur, quickly remaking your bed before sliding between the taught blankets and sheets, hugging one of the extra pillows. You shouldn’t have gone downstairs while you were angry. They were all in various stages of recovery, and outbursts like this were the equivalent of two steps forward and five steps back.

“Y/n?” Jimin called through the door, voice wavering. “Please let me in. Please?”

You squeezed your eyes shut.

“It’s okay, y/n. They know they messed up. No one is mad at you, or hurt. Well, you’re hurt, so please let me in?” His voice became plaintive, stronger now and yet still soft.

You would probably regret it.

But you moved the dresser and unlocked the door.

He slipped in, growling at whoever tried to follow him and locking it again. He pulled the dresser in front of the door for you and then turned and opened his arms.

You hugged him as tightly as you dared, and he hugged you back. “I’m doing everything wrong.”

“No you’re not.”

“Then why doesn’t anything ever go right? Why am I so toxic?”

“You’re not toxic, y/n,” He quickly corrects you, thumbs on your lips to keep you quiet so he could talk to you. “You’re not. It’s just…a bad day. It started out on the wrong foot, and then someone greased the floor.”

You snorted, recognizing your own words. You’d said them to him a few months back, the day after Jin had arrived and Jungkook was struggling and Jimin had a bad day that he accidentally took out on Jin.

He smiled, then pressed five kisses all long your forehead before carefully kissing/licking the tears from your cheeks. “You know, Yoongi felt so bad about it once he realized why you were…initially upset that he ate a whole lot. Because he knew that if you were mad at him, you’d at least be happy that he ate a proper meal. Even if he is disrupting his natural sleep-cycle.”

You groaned. “Oh god, he’s going to be a zombie until we get him back on his schedule again.”

He quickly shushed you. “Don’t worry about that.”

You kept bonking your head on his shoulder. “How can I not?”

He chuckled. “See, this is why you’re perfect. Even when you’re mad at us, you still worry about us.” He nuzzled into your hair.

You heard a car door and flinched. “What was that?”

He looked just as bewildered as you, but went to the window. “Uh oh.”

More car doors.

“What uh oh?”

“I better go tackle Yoongi. Your boyfriend is here. And he brought his hybrids.”

You felt your heart drop to your stomach and you and Jimin rushed downstairs to prevent bloodshed.

The boys all looked warily out the front windows through the blinds.

You rushed to the front door and outside, hearing protests from Yoongi and Jungkook (who heard the front door open) and ignoring them as you rushed up to your boyfriend. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled down at you. “Wow, some greeting. Hi to you too.”

“Hi, what are you doing here? And with your hybrids? Are you trying to get someone hurt?”

“Look, the only way they’re going to accept me is if they know everything about me, including my hybrids. I told them to be on their best behavior, so don’t worry.”

“You do remember what happened the last time you were here, right? And it’s already—”

“Have you been crying?” He asked, gently wiping at your face.

His one hybrid, Jooheon, whimpered a bit. “Y/n? You smell sad and angry, and scared? Is everything okay?”

You groaned. “I’m fine, it’s just a bad day here. Which is why this is an especially bad day for you all to be here.”

He folded his arms. “Are you sure it’s not just an excuse?”

“Excuse me?” You folded your arms.

“Are you sure you’re not just using your hybrids as an excuse to push me away?”

“Y/n!” Yoongi called out in a growl.

You closed your eyes. “Do you really think you’re not already in enough trouble?” You asked, turning to look at him.

He nodded toward the house. “Jin-hyung’s having one of his attacks.”

“I swear to god if you’re bluffing I’m gonna wring your furry tail,” You warned, hurrying inside, your boyfriend only steps behind.

Jin was spasming on the ground, definitely having a seizure.

“What’s wrong with him?” Wonho, one of your boyfriend’s other hybrids, asked softly as you and Shownu rolled Jin onto his side as the spasms stopped.

Shownu checked his pulse, watching his watch while you timed how long it took Jin to start to come out of it.

“What’s going on?” Jungkook asked worriedly.

“He’s out of the seizure, we’re just waiting for him to recover,” Shownu answered.

You saw Jungkook shrink away more. “Jungkook, Hoseok, could you go make sure Jin’s bed is ready for him? He’ll want to rest. Yoongi, Taehyung, take Namjoon into the backyard. I’ll send Hoseok out to get you when you can come in.”

There was some hesitance from all of them, but slowly they murmured their assent and left.

Jimin crouched beside you, glancing sidelong at you as if he would see the explanation.

You just shook your head slightly. You should have known Jin would have a seizure. You’d suspected he wasn’t okay that morning. But no. You were so self-centered that you neglected one of your main duties as caretaker of all of them.

Shownu met your gaze as you looked away from Jin, and sort of held onto it. “So…really bad timing?”

“The worst,” You agreed, sighing in relief as Jin started to come out of it. “You should back off so he doesn’t freak out.”

He backed away, waving his hybrids closer to the front door.

Hoseok came back with a blanket, one of Jin’s. “For the smell.”

You nodded, carefully tucking it under his head. “When he’s recovered enough, can the two of you help him to bed?”

They both nodded, but Jimin caught your wrist.

“You couldn’t have prevented it,” He reminded you.

“But I should have seen it coming. It’s my job to see it coming.” You pulled out of his grasp and headed past your boyfriend and outside.

His hybrids went and got into his van, but he stayed beside you. “They’ll never accept me.”

“We don’t know that—”

“Yes, we do. I do. I get it now.”

“Please don’t do this to me today,” You whispered.

He nodded, turning and pulling you into a hug. “Okay. But how much longer are we going to keep kidding ourselves?”

“You can break up with me tomorrow. Just…leave it for today.”

“I…still need a date for the wedding this Saturday. Why don’t we call that our last night? End it on a high note?”

You nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, okay.”

“And I’ll still be around if you need me. We work together, after all. It would be awkward if we…”

“Yeah. Might take a while.”

He nodded, petting your hair a bit before heading toward his van. “Jin might want to scent you. It’s comforting to them.”

You nodded, waving as he drove off.

You went back inside after a few minutes to try and compose yourself, heading upstairs to where the boys had already moved Jin.

He tiredly reached out for you and you obliged, crawling under the covers and into his arms. “Y/n.”

“You want to scent me?” You asked softly, smirking slightly has Jungkook huffed jealously.

Jin did it instead of answering, he was obviously exhausted and in a bit of pain, but his body seemed to relax a bit more as he breathed you in and covered you in his scent. His hands gently rubbed your back, and he curled around you, head in the crook of your neck. “You smell so nice now.”

“I didn’t before?”

He hummed, not committing either way.

You sighed, and ran your fingers through his hair. “What did I smell like before?”

He breahted in carefully and then seemed to press a kiss to your neck. “Anxious. And depressed.”

You let out a little scoffing breath and curled up slightly.

He wrapped around you a little more. “Are you okay?”

“We’re breaking up. After the wedding on Saturday.”

He stiffened. “What?”

You just nuzzled into his body.

“Y/n?”

“It’ll be amicable. Has to be.”

He tilted your chin up. “Don’t break up with him because of us.”

“He’s breaking up with me,” You told him. “We just aren’t the right fit.”

He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry, y/n.”

You shrugged, shivering and grabbing at the blankets. “It’s just the way things go sometimes. How are you feeling? Headache? Muscle soreness?” You rubbed your hands on his back and sides, massaging his shoulders.

“I’m just tired. A little sore.” He sat up, nose twitching. “Also restless. They’re arguing.”

You sighed. “How bad?”

“It’s pretty hushed, so I’d say it wasn’t too bad.” He sighed. “Do you…do you think that I’ll ever…fit in with them?” He whispered, sounding so sad.

“You do, you do fit in. They love you.” You pushed yourself up so that you could rest your head on his shoulder. “I love you.”

He started petting your hair. “I love you too.”

——

“Y/n? No boyfriend tonight? It’s been a while,” Jimin asked teasingly, leaning on you with his arms draped over your shoulders. “His smell isn’t on your clothes as much as it usually is.”

You ignored his questions and teasing, guiding his arms to hold you instead of dangling and blocking your view of the book you were attempting to read. It was honestly the first time you’d found any of them getting on your nerves ever since day a couple weeks ago and you were determined to just ignore it as long as you could.

“Don’t you want to go see him? Cuddle up and smooch him?” Jimin kept teasing, ignoring the grumpy looks he got from Taehyung—who preferred to be your cuddle partner if at all possible.

You sighed and started to reread the page.

“Leave her be, Jimin,” Jin said softly.

“Oh, come on! What? Are you preparing to bring him over here again?” He asked, rubbing his cheek on your hair and giggling at the way your hair tickled his face. “I know we’ll need to be on our best behavior. You could make your homemade bread, and we could clean the house really nicely. Though, no promises on enduring the mushy-gushy stuff.”

You hummed and tried to refocus on your book, shifting slightly to bear his weight more comfortably.

“I mean, at least he’s not clueless about things like how to take care of hybrids. And he makes you happy, right?”

“They broke up Jimin, leave her alone,” Jin said, shoving Jimin off of you and then cuddling up next to you in a way that prevented the others from touching you. Very protective.

They were staring now, and you heard something drop to the ground.

“Y/n…when?” Namjoon asked, coming over to stand in front of you, then crouch when you wouldn’t look at him.

You flipped back to the page you had been trying to read the whole time when you realized you hadn’t absorbed it. Again.

“After the wedding they went to together. Now leave her alone.” Jin signed it as well, then nuzzled up to you again.

“He’s pretty bossy for the new guy,” Tae muttered.

You looked up at that. “Tone.”

“Sorry,” he immediately apologized.

Namjoon looked confused, but also resigned to being out of the loop. “What happened?”

You shook your head. “It wasn’t working. We both agreed. We’re still attempting to be friends, especially since we work together. Now, can we not talk about this anymore? Guess I’m done reading. Guess I better get ready for work. Jungkook, are you still coming into the office with me?”

He nodded, scrambling to his feet and tripping over Hoseok’s legs.

Jimin caught the malamute, setting him back on his feet.

“Thanks hyung.”

Jin hummed getting up with you and holding onto you still. “Do you have to go?”

You wrapped your arms around him and hugged him tightly. “You can come too.”

He perked up. “Really?”

You nodded. You were worried about him. He’d been lethargic all week and if he was going to have a seizure, you’d rather he be with you. At least at the clinic he could get taken care of should anything go wrong. Maybe he was getting sick-sick. Besides, you had your own office and you thought it’d be nice for Jungkook to have someone from home. Like a security blanket. And you wanted to try and get Jin to bond with at least one of them a little more strongly. So far the only sign of attachment you’d noticed was both him and Yoongi finding solidarity in their need for some quiet. But Jin still struggled with sign language so he couldn’t really talk with Namjoon. Taehyung was so unpredictable and Jin so easily startled that things had been sort of touch and go. He was okay with Jimin and Hoseok but still so quiet.

But you’d noticed that he’d naturally look out for Jungkook and seemed comfortable around the Malamute, and Jungkook seemed comfortable around the fox.

Jin was bounding toward the stairs, guiding Jungkook who for the life of him couldn’t figure out how he wasn’t to the first step yet in his excitement.

“How come they get to go? Why are you playing favorites?” Taehyung asked, and you didn’t think anyone could have a more heartbroken face.

“I don’t think Jin’s feeling well and I want to be able to keep an eye on him. Besides, you get bored at my work and end up causing me trouble. You and Jimin can play video games since all of the chores are done. Someone make sure Yoongi wakes up at dinner time and eats a good meal?” You shoved a few things into your bag and headed for the front door. You were already ready for work, you just needed shoes.

“Yeah, we’ll make sure he eats,” Jimin said, following you.

So were the others.

Honestly, ever since that day a couple weeks ago, the boys had all been acting a little strange. They were more cuddly, got along better, broke the rules less….

You looked them over, noticing that Taehyung was still pouting. “Come here, trash panda.”

He made an indignant sound even as he hugged you.

“It’s not even a full shift. I’ll be home in six hours, and then I have the next two days off. We can watch that foreign film you wanted to. I do need to do some canning on one of the days, though. Hoseok, are you still taking Namjoon down to the farmer’s market?”

He nodded. “We’ve got the list of things you wanted us to see if we could get. I’m just glad we can go there without getting in trouble.”

“Take a phone with you, just in case. Mrs. Taylor said she’ll keep an eye out for you, too. Tae, release, I need to give them money.”

“How come I can’t go to the farmer’s market?” Tae pouted as he released you, watching your every movement as you pulled out your wallet and got the money you had withdrawn for the farmers market.

“Because you can’t abandon Jiminie and you know he can’t do the market.”

“I’ll take you next time, Taehyungie, I promise,” Hoseok said, lovingly hugging his younger brother.

Tae snuggled up to the older easily, pout turning into a bit of a smile.

Jimin hugged you. “I’m sorry I teased you,” He whispered. Then he was sniffing you, nose pressed against your skin.

“Jiminie?” You asked, because he sniffed you more.

He pulled back and tilted his head, brow furrowing. “What’s wrong?”

“Um…nothing, you were just getting a little zealous with the sniffing.”

“No, you smell…what do you smell?” He muttered, smelling you again. You ignored the answer your mind supplied of “depression, anxiety and residual teen angst”.

Namjoon leaned in to sniff as well, curious about what the dog was doing, and he sort of flinched back nose wrinkling.

Sure, they’d sniffed you before (especially right after showers) but…the only time they’ve ever flinched away like that was when you were rank and you really knew it (curse fitness day, and your boss for coming up with it). Or that one time when a skunk-hybrid came in and he was one of the rare ones that still had the glands that emitted that foul, foul odor. They didn’t even flinch away when you were sick.

You gently shoved Jimin away, feeling a little insecure now.

But Tae was behind you and he sniffed you too, and made a weird noise.

And Hoseok’s nose was twitching now.

Jungkook came stumbling down the stairs. “I’m rea—” He froze, nose scrunching cutely. “Y/n?”

“I’m fine. I don’t know what you guys are smelling, but I’m fine. I’m gonna be late. Seokjin! We need to leave!”

“Sorry, coming, sorry.” He came down the stair more gracefully than Jungkook, and headed straight for the door.

You took the chance to follow him out, despite the boys protesting.

“Y/n, that smell,” Namjoon said, looking worried as he caught your hand. “I don’t like it. It…it scares me.”

You rubbed your forehead. “There’s nothing I can do about it right now. I’m going to be late. If I still smell like it tonight, then I’ll go to the walk-in clinic after I drop Jin and Jungkook back here. Okay? Stay safe at the farmer’s market,” You told him, making sure to mouth it clearly as you tried to escape his hold.

He finally released, but he still looked worried.

You were climbing into the car when your phone rang with your work coming up as the contact. You groaned, expecting to get scolded or something, then quickly answered.

“Y/n? Hey, you better not come in. The skunk hybrid is back. We’ve had to close the clinic. Boss said if you can finish those files and presentation and send them in before your shift would have ended he’ll still pay you for the time you would have been here,” Shownu gagged. “Oh, no. He got Kihyun.”

“Okay, good luck.” You rubbed your forehead again, as if it would make that hint of a headache disappear. “Thanks for calling me.”

“No problem. Oh! I gotta go!” He hung up after a strange sound in the background.

“So…we’re not going?” Jungkook asked, sounding a bit disappointed.

You started the car. “Why don’t we go out for lunch and then to the park?”

“Seriously?” He perked back up and you could hear his tail thumping against the seat.

“If that sounds okay to Jin.”

“Can…we get ice cream?” Jin asked carefully.

“Sure!” You pulled out of the driveway. “And to make it up to the boys we’ll stop at the regular market and pick up some of their favorites since I have the next couple days off.” Thankfully some of their favorites were the cheapest things you could get.

“You do a lot of canning?” Jin asked.

“Oh, yeah. Same with the garden, it just helps cut costs which allows me to take care of you better. Besides, some things are better homegrown, especially for you guys. And then we get whatever else we can from the farmer’s market.”

“Didn’t your father help you get the garden started? Back when you first took in Namjoon?” Jungkook asked.

You nodded. “He did. Told me I’d need a bigger garden than I had planned, helped me figure out what to plant where, and helped me set up the indoor herb garden. I should go visit him. I just need to candy some of those peels before I go so I can trade with him.”

“Candy peels?” Jin asked, sounding lost.

You looked in the mirror and smiled. “Lemon, orange, grapefruit, a few others. If the boys manage to get strawberries I’ll candy some of those as well. I think you’d like those.”

“You don’t make that much at the clinic, do you?”

You shrugged. “Enough to set some aside into savings. Besides, Hoseok had so much crap given to him when he was little that if he has too much he gets sick, and Yoongi basically lived off of what he could find to eat in the forest. I lived this way with my parents too. Plants grow. Might as well use what nature is growing for us.” Plus when you started you definitely weren’t able to put any into savings, and you still had that slight fear that it would happen again. Especially with so many hybrids. You had a better paying job now, at the clinic, but you still sometimes dreamed that you couldn’t afford proper meals for you or your hybrids and had to call your dad to bail you out. Again. And of course your dad was always angry in the dreams, even though you didn’t think he knew how to be angry in real life. He’d turned really zen after he started keeping bees.

He hummed thoughtfully. “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten that you’ve foraged?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Your weird and my weird are probably very different.”

“Okay, something you think Jungkook would think is weird.”

You shrugged again. “Nettles.”

It was very quiet, and your head decided to remind you that it was resolved to develop a headache.

“How?” Jungkook asked breathily, sounding horrified.

“I mean, if you prepare them properly they don’t hurt you. I would only eat them as a last resort though.”

“Okay, what’s the weirdest preserve you’ve ever made?” Jin asked, sounding more comfortable asking questions.

Your mind glossed over all of the things you made from the time you could remember to today. “Um, maybe the Queen Anne’s lace jelly. It was good, but strange.” You squeezed your eyes shut for a moment at the red light. It’d been a long time since your breakfast at 5 a.m. and your stomach was really telling you about it.

“So all those canned goods we were using up in March and April were things you preserved?”

“Yeah, and weren’t they so good?” Jungkook asked, grinning. “I really like her pickled carrots.”

“That’s because you should have been born a bunny instead of a dog.”

Jin laughed, and it was a wonderful sound that had Jungkook laughing as well.

You pulled into the parking lot, feeling…weirdly shaky. You slowly pressed on the brake.

“Y/n? What’s wrong?”

You stared at the steering wheel, then shakily reached over and put the vehicle in park as your vision went wonky. “Can’t…need to park…”

“That smell,” Jungkook whimpered again. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Y/n?” Jin climbed over the console and cupped your face in his hands. “Her heartbeat is really fast…and I don’t think she was sweating this much at home.”

Someone behind you honked.

Your headache was getting much worse now.

“Can you pull into that parking space?” Jin asked.

You looked at it, and you knew you could, but you also didn’t know how you could. “Not okay.” You’d never felt like this before.

Jin disappeared again just before you closed your eyes, but Jungkook very quickly took his place, fumbling to find you and then nuzzling up to you.

Your door opened and you heard Jin talking to someone, but your vision swam when you opened your eyes and you were shaking more than you did when you were shivering from the cold. It was tremors, tiny but so widespread that you felt you wouldn’t be able to even pick up your phone.

You knew you faded in and out, remembered Jin murmuring that you fainted again, probably telling Jungkook, who was whimpering every time you came to.

“See, she’s looking better already,” Someone really cheerful said nearby.

“Actually, I can’t,” Jungkook answered dryly.

“Don’t be rude,” You murmured, rubbing your eyes and looking around you. “Um?”

“Don’t worry, your blood sugar got a little low. We’re running tests to see what could have caused it. When did you last eat?” The nurse said, and you could see now that you were in some sort of medical facility.

“Uh…about five this morning? How did I get here?” You sat up, despite her coming towards you to hold you down. You definitely felt better than before. “What happened?”

“You fainted after your blood sugar dropped, someone at the restaurant called an ambulance and we got you here as quickly as possible. You’re very lucky it wasn’t something worse.”

You frowned, looking over to Jin and Jungkook.

Jungkook seemed to share your opinion about the overly cheerful nurse, but he stayed beside Jin, one hand clutching jin’s shirt. You were sure he was probably terrified.

Jin looked relatively calm, comparatively. “When will she be released?”

“As soon as we know she’s stable, and the doctor gives her the okay. I’ll go see how we’re doing on those tests,” She gave you a smile that was just a touch too big and exited.

Jungkook darted over and was wrapped around you in a couple seconds, licking your cheek in his stress. “We didn’t tell the others yet. The doctor said you’d be okay and Jin said you’d probably want them to stay home and the only way to keep them there was to not call them. Because I know if we told them, they’d all come here and they barely let us in. She’s not happy about us being here but the others said it was fine and that you’d probably recover better with us here.”

You curled into his strong arms. He’d taken to working out about a month before you took in Jin, saying that if he was going to be unable to see things he might as well be strong enough to take care of anything else that came at him and you were proud of him for it. Even if he hadn’t shown any other signs of stepping out of his comfort zone or detaching from Jimin as much. Hybrids were naturally pretty strong, having slightly higher metabolisms and energy that led them to exercise.

“Sorry about lunch,” You murmured, lovingly rubbing your nose against his jaw.

He smiled softly, and a hand came to find your face before he pressed a careful kiss to your forehead. “I’m just happy you’re okay. That smell is gone now, too.”

Jin climbed onto the foot of the bed, sitting attentively.

“They’re going to know the moment we walk in. Oh, crap, the car!”

“It’s in a parking spot at the restaurant. Will you even be allowed to drive?”

“I better,” You moaned. “I’m going to have to ask someone to take us there.” Which meant either calling your father, or your ex.

Jin handed you your phone.

You sighed, staring at the screen for a second, and then texting Shownu to call you if he wasn’t busy. “I don’t even know when I’m getting released. I just want to go home. And eat something. I’m still hungry.”

Jungkook pressed another kiss to your forehead, then your temple, then your cheek. So soft and careful.

You smiled at him even if he couldn’t see it.

Then your phone was buzzing as the call came in.

“Hey, Shownu,” You murmured.

“Y/n? What’s up?” He sounded worried.

“Um, first, how are things at the clinic?”

“Fine, we got it mostly cleaned up. I managed to avoid it, and all of the hybrids that were hit are…still bathing. What’s wrong?”

“So, I’m okay, but I’m sort of at the hospital. It’s nothing serious, I just fainted because of low blood sugar or something, but my car is at this restaurant and—”

“Whoa, back up! Low blood sugar? Hospital? Y/n, what happened?”

“I’m not really sure. I was taking Jungkook and Jin out to lunch because the others were acting weird and I was already in my car to come to work when you called last time and I just didn’t want to deal with it, so I drove to the restaurant but my head was hurting and my vision went all wonky and I knew I needed to pull into the parking space but I couldn’t figure out how to do it, and I was shaking, and then I guess I fainted or something and I woke up here, and I’m going to get discharged eventually and I need my car but it’s on the other side of town and my dad lives two hours away.” You sighed, leaning onto Jungkook again. “You’re only person I knew I could call.”

“Are you going to be allowed to drive?” He asked.

“I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to? The nurse seemed pretty convinced that I was fine.”

“Okay. I’ll bring Wonho just in case you can’t.”

“That’s right, he got certified to drive…I should look into that for one of the boys.”

Jin looked away from you, ears turning red.

You arched an eyebrow and then listened to the quiet on the other end for a second. “Are you sure you okay doing that?”

“Yeah, y/n. I’m sure. We’re…friends. I care about you. Even if we’re not dating. Even if you’re clueless.”

“Hey now, don’t insult someone in the hospital.”

“Which hybrids were with you?”

“Jungkook and Jin.”

“Alright. I’ll be there in about half an hour.” He hung up after you thanked him again.

Jungkook huffed slightly, sniffing your hair.

You looked over at Jin. “What was that about?”

“Oh, um, I finished the first part of the certification…” He looked at the ceiling. “But then the seizures started.” Being a hybrid made the process twice as difficult, but a hybrid with epilepsy? Out of the question.

“It’s okay, Jinnie. It’s a thought for later anyway. Have to budget for it.” And then decide who was the best choice for it. You thought Hoseok would be a good choice.

“Alright!” A doctor came in with that, making both hybrids jump.

Jungkook’s grip on you tightened.

“Whoops, sorry, forgot to knock. So, we ran some blood tests and it looks like it was hypoglycemia. It causes your glucose levels to drop to low and can result in various symptoms, such as blurred vision, vision changes, dizziness, lightheadedness, shakiness, fatigue, weakness, rapid or pounding heartbeat, excessive perspiring, headaches, nausea, hunger, anxiety, irritability, or confusion.” He looked over a chart as he listed the symptoms.

“Sounds familiar,” You murmured.

“Indeed. Now, we’re looking into the causes but from your bloodwork I’m going to guess it’s hypothyroidism.”

“My mom had that,” You replied, mostly hoping he wouldn’t try to go into excessive explanation. “Well, she had Hashimoto’s.”

He nodded. “Alright, I’ll order another test. Hopefully we can catch it if that’s what it is. But otherwise, I’m going to have you finish that I.V. and then give you a prescription for a low level thyroid medication. You’ll have to follow up with your physician to see how the medicine is doing and to check your thyroid again. As for the hypoglycemia, try to eat very regularly. Maybe five small meals instead of three a day. If you can’t do that, then carry around some snacks or drinks with high carbohydrates: bread, rice, cereal, fruits, juice, or milk. Eat when you’re hungry. And pay attention to what your hybrids say, then can smell when the chemical balance in your body changes and can alert you to lowering blood glucose.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

He nodded and headed back out.

Both boys were quiet.

Shownu got there just as they removed the I.V. He stayed back, quiet as well. He didn’t say much other than a quick hello to all of you.

When you finally were released from the hospital, you followed him to his car.

Wonho sat on the roof but he dropped to the ground and gave you a smile, patting your head. “Glad you’re okay.”

You nodded, then made to climb into the backseat but the boys took it and left the passenger seat. They had picked up some food for you and the boys as well.

Halfway to the restaurant, Shownu sighed. “Your other hybrids don’t know?”

“Not yet. Didn’t want them trying to get to the hospital.”

“Are you cleared to drive?” He asked, but then he glanced at you. “Nevermind. You still look exhausted. Just let us drive you back. Otherwise I’ll worry.” Too kind. You had liked him because of how kind he was. But the two of you were just…wrong for each other. It wasn’t a good fit. You may never know why.

“I’d appreciate it,” You replied softly, leaning your head against the window.

You must have dozed off because you woke up to Wonho carrying you inside.

The other boys were standing around worriedly, waiting to get to you.

You rubbed your eyes as you were set on the couch. “Thanks, Wonho.”

He gave you a pinched smile. “Shownu said not to forget the project for work.”

“Right, I’ll get that submitted. Thank him again for me? And say hi to the other boys?”

He nodded and headed back toward the door after nodding to the boys and whispering something to Jin, who was at the entrance of the living room, far away from the others.

Probably because Yoongi looked livid.

Jungkook was wrapped in Jimin’s arms.

The front door closed and there was a ten second silence that followed, broken by Yoongi’s growl.

Feral and furious.

You met his glare calmly. “Yes, Yoongi? Would you like to comment on the fact that something happened that was out of my control? Or was it the fact that I had to ask Shownu for help since I couldn’t very well ask any of you?”

A snarl. Too upset to speak.

“Or maybe it’s because neither Jin nor Jungkook told you all that I ended up at the hospital, since they knew it was a bad idea? Or maybe you’re mad because I left even though I didn’t have to go to work?”

A hiss. So you were still wrong.

“Okay, then it must be the fact that my ex-boyfriend and I broke up because he knew my hybrids wouldn’t accept him. Now, I’m still not sure why he got that impression, perhaps you’d like to enlighten me?”

He looked shocked.

You arched an eyebrow at him. “You didn’t know. Now you do. Care to guess?”

None of the others were looking at you now. Even Jungkook was facing away.

Namjoon was angled so he could still read your lips but it didn’t look like he was looking.

Yoongi slowly came over and sat beside you.

You waited silently.

“What did the doctors say was wrong with you?” He finally asked.

“They think I have thyroid issues that caused me to get non-diabetic hypoglycemia. I just need to make sure I eat regularly, and carry snacks around. Once the tests come back, they’ll decide if I need a prescription for thyroid medicine. He thought the smell you guys caught was actually an indicator that my blood sugar dropped, so if you smell it again I should eat.” You were glad the question game had worked. You’d found that if you threw questions at Yoongi when he was upset beyond the point of words he would calm down enough to work through what was bugging him. And it also gave him an idea of your thoughts on the matters, things you thought he might be upset about but would upset you if discussed.

Hoseok always murmured that it scared him, because the first couple times he thought you and Yoongi would get extremely hostile with one another, but now it just made him uncomfortable because it wasn’t the tactic for him and he knew it worked exceptionally well for Yoongi.

Yoongi turned his head slightly your way.

You stroked his head, then his ears, smiling as he flopped onto your lap, curled up. You stroked his back. “I’m okay, Yoongi. Just a little tired. Not tired enough that I won’t wring the tails of anyone who snapped at Jin or Jungkook.” You grabbed his tail.

The sound that came out of his mouth was a clear indication that he had, in fact, snapped at one or both of them.

You squeezed slightly.

He flipped over. “No, no, no. I’m sorry! It just scared me to see you like that!”

You let his tail run through your fingers. “Apologize to those you snapped at.”

He pouted.

“Properly,” You added, for good measure.

He deflated and rolled off of your lap, trudging over to Jin with a bowed head. “I apologize for snapping at you. I regret that I jumped to the conclusion that you didn’t look out for y/n like we would, and I’m sorry for saying that. I know you looked out for her, otherwise Jungkookie-ah would be mad at you too. You probably handled it better than I would have.”

Jin just dipped his head slightly.

You bit your lip, looking away and meeting Namjoon’s steady gaze.

He signed he was glad you were okay, then he glanced over at Jin and Yoongi before nodding to you and heading over. He took Jin’s hand. “Oh, hyung, could I sleep with you tonight?”

Jin brightened up slightly and he nodded.

Yoongi trudged back to you as they headed upstairs. “I don’t think Seokjin-hyung likes me.”

“I think he’s shy,” You replied. “But I did expect him to integrate more by now. Did I miss something?”

“I’m…I’m not really sure how to approach him,” Taehyung said, quickly cuddling up on your other side. “I scared him last time. Actually, I’ve scared him every time.”

Jimin was rubbing his hands together, staring at them while Jungkook clung to him instead. “And I didn’t want to scare him with my hugs. I remember what you told us about his other home.”

“Jimin, he loves hugs. Taehyung, he loves hugs. Yes, he is easily startled, but he’s also very strong. It’s hard for him. You all had been together for at least a year when he came here, most of you longer.”

“He has big shoulders,” Jungkook murmured, smiling a bit. “He let me hide behind him at the hospital. He knew a lot too.”

“I try to always tell him that his cooking is good,” Hoseok said, looking guilty with his long ears fully back against his head and neck.

You sighed. “So you do want him to stay?”

They all regarded you with looks of surprise.

Jungkook looked panicked. “Why wouldn’t he stay? He’s staying, right?”

“Of course he’s staying,” Yoongi growled, but then he sighed. “We just have to make sure he wants to stay. The first month we couldn’t help, he was in and out of the clinic because of his seizures and he barely was awake. But Namjoon was right, we need to up our game.”

“Namjoon?” You asked.

Hoseok nodded. “He said he was worried about Jin because he’d noticed that Jin was starting to smile more, and then he pulled away again. He didn’t know what happened, though. We just noticed that he was even quieter and he stuck closer to you. But part of that might have been because he knew about you and Shownu breaking up.”

You nodded a bit. “Some of that was me seeking him out, yeah.”

“Why did you tell him?” Taehyung asked, a little pouty.

“I knew we were breaking up before the wedding. Found out on the day that shall not be discussed. I just needed to tell someone, and I felt safe telling him.” You sighed, letting your eyes close. “Who’s going to help me up to my room?”

“My turn!” Jimin shrieked out before the others, quickly abandoning Jungkook (who looked pretty disgruntled that he wasn’t really able to help you to your room because of the whole “seeing” issue) and wrapping around you.

You squeaked as he actually picked you up to set you on your feet before nuzzling into your neck, giving it a subtle lick.

“Need to scent you,” He murmured, then pulled you toward the stairs. “My turn to sleep with you.”

You sleepily thought through the list and realized that you’d slept with a different hybrid cuddling you each night, but that it had been over a week since Jimin got a turn. “You’re right, it’s your turn. You’re overdo for a turn. Thank you for being patient, Jiminie.”

He leaned in and kissed your cheek, arm around your waist instead of pulling you by your hand.

“Why’d I get a house with stairs?” You grumbled.

He just laughed softly, but stopped when you stopped him by your door so you could quickly check on Namjoon and Jin.

They were both asleep, Namjoon purring a little in his sleep as he spooned Jin. Jin looking surprisingly small in the cat-hybrid’s arms.

You closed the door again, going back to Jimin, who had his pajamas now, and heading into your room. You changed in the bathroom while he changed in your room, then you crawled into bed with him, all cuddled up.

“Hey, y/n?” Jimin whispered as you were feeling your sleepiest. “What Shownu said…we know what he meant, but…it might take us a while to show you or explain it. Please be patient with us. We love you so very much.”

You hummed back, unable to respond any other way because you couldn’t even summon the energy to part your lips.

He pressed a light kiss to your forehead, then shifted so your head was on his shoulder.

Even better.

———

You stared as your mind tried to process what you were seeing.

Namjoon shifted, smiling shyly as he held a rose out to you.

You smiled back, stepping forward to take the rose from him. “Thank you, Joonie. It’s lovely.”

He grinned, dimples appearing as he looked to the ground.

You looked to the table that was set for two. “Did you cook?”

He shook his head quickly. “Jin-hyung made most of it.”

You nodded. “Probably for the best.”

He looked at the table. “It’s not the fanciest dinner in the world….”

“But you prepared all of this for me, and I’m sure it will taste just fine,” You reassured him, signing as you spoke just to make sure he got the whole message.

He purred loudly in response, pulling you into a hug and rubbing against your cheek, a hand just below your throat to feel any vibrations that would alert him to you talking to him instead of giggling.

You let him rub against you for a while, then gently pushed him back. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

He nodded enthusiastically and pulled your chair out for you, eager to please, apparently.

You sat watching as he hurried, and tripped, and then managed to sit down across from you before also serving you.

The two of you made had small conversations, but he seemed nervous and shy, despite knowing you for the last four years. It’d been a long time since you’d seen him this shy.

You signed that he looked handsome tonight and he started getting a tinge of red to his face as he looked down at his plate. You felt a twinge in your stomach, watching those delightful dimples, the way he bit his lip and covered his mouth as he laughed shyly. Just one of the many things you loved about him.

He seemed so anxious to make sure you enjoyed yourself, which mostly amused you but also made you slightly wary.

You didn’t dare to ask until the credits were rolling from the movie the two of you watched after dinner. “Can I ask why?” You asked with your hands.

He tilted his head, sleepy purr slowly stopping in confusion.

“Dinner? This, all of the other boys being mysteriously quiet, it’s a little suspicious,” You explained.

He looked down at his hands, then hesitantly signed, asking if you hadn’t enjoyed it.

“Of course I did,” You replied aloud, then turned his head so that he could see you sign it with a smile. “I always enjoy spending time with my kitty.”

He smiled again, but he still looked nervous.

You watched him, seeing him debate with himself, the internal conflict evident in the way his ears kept twitching and swiveling and the restless flick of his tail-tip.

He scowled after a moment.

You reached up and stroked his head, and he melted, leaning into your touch. You shifted closer, rubbing his head with both hands as he basked in the attention.

His eyes opened again after a few moments, and he looked at you so softly you thought you would melt. It really had been forever since you’d had any real time with your kitty, your first hybrid.

He leaned in and suddenly his lips were on yours, softly and barely brushing, but a kiss none-the-less.

You looked at him, surprised.

He looked a little scared, but also…without regret. His hand rested gently on your neck as he leaned in again, lips more firmly in contact with yours this time.

You closed your eyes. Those questions from back when you first took him in coming back to you now that you could answer them. And yes. Yes, he was a very good kisser.

His arm slid gently around your back, pulling you just a little bit closer as he kissed to your ear. “I love you, y/n. But not the way we’ve been pretending. I love you in a romantic way, I just never knew how to tell you. I didn’t know if you’d accept me still, even if you didn’t return my feelings. Then you brought more people for me to love as well.”

You breathed in sharply, but didn’t make a sound so that he could keep talking.

“We were all upset when you started dating, and we realized we were all in love with you. We weren’t sure about Jin-hyung because he was still new when you started dating, but we found out that he loves you this way too. And you act as though you’re ours, y/n. You act like our mates. Can you tell me that you’ve never admired us?” He whispered, his voice stronger now. More confident. “I’ve seen you. The way you blush when Jungkook doesn’t have a shirt on. The way you seek out Yoongi’s embrace when you’re feeling uncertain. How Taehyung brings a smile to your face when you’re feeling sad. The way you watch Jimin and Hobi when they’re dancing. How upset you got when you didn’t think we were getting along with Jin. How you look to me when you need someone to support the choices you’re making. Even Jungkook knows how much you love us, and he’s blind.”

You turned your head slightly away from him.

His voice got gentler. “I bet that’s what Shownu saw. He saw that you were our mate. Because we weren’t trying to hide it, and maybe we should have. Or maybe his hybrids smelled it. The way we coated you with our scents. The claiming scent Yoongi gets the moment your boyfriend is ever mentioned. You even let me kiss you. Would you let the other boys kiss you too?” He was teasing you now.

You signed into his hand. ‘Would you?’

“We started kissing each other a while ago,” He answered, deliberately changing what he knew you meant. “Consoling one another because you were off with someone that wasn’t one of us. Jin was the only one I hadn’t. Wish I had done that earlier. Foxes are good kissers, not as much tongue as the dogs and not as nippy as minks. Still as shy as bunnies, though. And a little playful like raccoons.” He placed playful little kisses on your neck, giving little examples of what he said as he said it and making you shiver under his touch. A playful purr rumbled through his chest.

Then his lips were pressed to yours once more before he met your eyes again. He was calm and confident.

You stared back, still unable to form words.

“What do you think of that, y/n? Of all of us loving you, romantically?” He asked in a low voice. God, that voice. “What do you think about the fact that Yoongi would love nothing more than hold your hand everywhere? Of Jimin’s not-so-innocent hugs, desperate to feel your body against his? Of Jungkook working out just to get your attention? Hoseok knowing exactly what he does to you when he’s dancing? Taehyung purposely causing trouble so that your attention will be focused on him 100%? Jin so desperate for you to love him as much as the rest of us that he studied all of your cookbooks? Of me watching you, not always so that I can see when you look at me or speak to me, but because you look so damn attractive no matter what you wear? Or that we’ve all imagined you carrying our offspring?”

You met his gaze, unwavering. You were a little too shocked by all of this new information. You sometimes wondered if Hoseok had been teasing you on purpose (you weren’t blind), but always dismissed it.

“Carrying kits,” He murmured, cupping your face in his hands, “Or pups.”

You swallowed hard.

“That’s the funny thing. You have six different breeds in this house, and if you were bear any offspring of the five that aren’t dogs they’d still be called kits. Would you like that, y/n? To be full of our kits and pups? I’ve read some scientific studies, and I bet you were attracted to all of us because you can bear all of our kits and pups.” He started kissing at your neck.

Your fingers tangled into his hair.

“Still nothing to say?” He chuckled, sucking at your skin. His hands unabashedly touching your waist and stomach, roaming your back.

You turned your head to mouth a word into his skin.

He pulled away to look at your face, uncertain of what you said.

But a loud thump caught your attention, and your head snapped toward the door as a low groan was heard after the thump.

Namjoon growled, probably guessing what it was you heard from the look on your face.

You took the moment to catch your breath and pull away from Namjoon, going over to the door and opening it after hearing the whispered scolding going on behind it.

They froze, staring at you.

Jungkook winced. “Told you she heard us.”

Even Yoongi’s eyes were wide at getting caught.

Hoseok and Jin weren’t with them.

You folded your arms, looking over the youngest three and your second oldest. “So only Jin and Hoseok were the smart ones?”

Jungkook grabbed Yoongi’s shirt, looking nervous.

Jimin and Taehyung were still on the floor, staring up at you in alarm.

Namjoon was growling at an increasingly louder volume, like he was worried he wasn’t doing it audibly.

You got a weird gut-feeling at that moment.

You looked over the boys, then stepped over Taehyung and walked down the hallway, knocking on Hoseok’s door since Jin’s was open and empty.

He called for you to come in.

You poked your head in and saw him watching a timer on his phone, crouched next to Jin who was placed in recovery position with a blanket under his head.

He spared a glance your way, looking somewhat relieved. “Hey, it’s a quick one, I think. Just waiting for him to come out of it.”

You nodded, stroking his ears once before sitting on the floor beside Jin to wait for him to come out of it.

The others were watching from the doorway.

Well, Jungkook was asking them what was going on.

Jin started waking up, and Hoseok sighed in relief, stopping the timer.

You smiled softly, proud of your bunny for being able to take care of Jin on his own.

Hoseok softly kissed the top of Jin’s head. “Hey, hyung. How are you feeling?”

You got up and left Hoseok to take care of Jin, surprising him and the others. Normally you took care of Jin after, mostly because none of them seemed comfortable doing so. But you could tell Hoseok was capable of doing the job. And you bet Jungkook would be more than willing to help, which was why—”

“Jungkookie, can you help Hope-ah take care of Jin?” You asked softly, reaching up and brushing the hair from his eyes.

He nodded, eager to please.

“Thank you.” You kissed his cheek, using the information Namjoon had given you as a little bit of a weapon. You could see the switch in the other’s eyes as jealousy over the tiny kiss manifested.

“I could help too,” Taehyung said, pouting at you.

“But I need you to do something else.”

He brightened up. “Oh?”

You nodded. “I need you to help Namjoon get to sleep, because I’m sleeping alone tonight.”

All of them deflated, and Namjoon looked utterly defeated.

You pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I have some things to think over.” Like how you were going to wrap your mind around all of your hybrids being in love with you. The jump felt natural with Namjoon, four years of being together just seemed to naturally culminate. But every other thing that came out of his mouth needed time to ruminate in your head. Man.

Jimin caught your arm. “What about me? Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Keep Yoongi out of my room,” You ordered, kissing his forehead. “Goodnight boys.”

You got murmurs and grumbles in return.

You closed your bedroom door, and locked it for good measure.

You looked at the loveseat that you and Namjoon had been sitting on just a little while ago, his little tease about you carrying kits or pups echoing in your mind and making you shiver.

The more you thought about it, the more obvious it was that they were in love with you. That they never knew how to tell you. All those “I Love You”’s that weren’t as platonic as you had convinced yourself. It made sense why they started acting out more, causing more trouble. They had no way of telling you, they barely had any legal rights and given most of their backgrounds they may have been hesitant to make a move.

They probably all agreed on Namjoon telling you. Namjoon, who was hopeless in most things, except in reading you and knowing what to say to get them all on the same page again. Who had been with you the longest and knew you best.

But even he had been scared. He told you as much. That he was scared you would kick him out if you didn’t return his feelings.

You spending tonight alone probably scared all of them more. But you didn’t want to rush into anything. Because once they knew you accepted them and their feelings, you’d be thrown in the deep-end.

Wait. Were you really thinking that you were going to accept all of them? All seven?

You felt like you might be losing your mind. How would a balance ever be achieved? How would you ever find time for yourself with seven needy hybrids? Were you even in love with all of them? Sure, you loved them, and you’d be lying if you said you hadn’t ever admired their natural godliness and physique, which then was paired with wonderful personalities. Jimin’s sweetness and understanding, Taehyung’s loving and bright nature, Yoongi’s thoughtfulness and willingness, Jungkook’s perseverance and protectiveness, Hoseok’s determination and nurturing, Jin’s humor and consideration, and Namjoon’s mediation and intelligence. Honestly, all of them had everything you could ever dream of putting on a checklist.

You head snapped up and toward the door just as you were about to flop on the bed when a soft knock met your door. You looked at it in surprise and disbelief. Hadn’t you just asked them for the night to yourself?

You opened the door, meeting the worried gaze of Yoongi.

“I just want to talk to you for fifteen minutes, and then I promise I’ll head back to Jimin. He’s in the shower right now.”

You bit your cheek and opened the door a little wider so he could duck in. He seemed nervous and upset, and if he was showing it outwardly, then you were a little worried too.

He paced a bit, obviously wide awake since this was the time of day that he was most active usually. “I just…” He stopped and met your gaze, and he looked so heartbroken that you quickly hugged him.

He nuzzled into your shoulder, unusually forward and open. Normally he was sort of distant in his affection, caring for everyone without looking their way and getting all shy about holding someone’s hand or sharing a bed even though you all knew he secretly loved cuddles sometimes. He was breathing like he was trying not to cry, and you knew he was stressed about something.

“What’s wrong, Yoongi?” You whispered, lightly rubbing his back.

“I just…I wanted to make sure…” He was lisping a little now, stumbling and stuttering as he tried to pick up the words he wanted to say. “Is everything okay with us? I feel like we’ve been fighting for forever and I know we’re not really fighting but I just feel so…”

“Yoongi,” You said firmly, pulling away to cup his face in your hands. You knew this was partly his trauma speaking, too much stimulation mixed with doubts and worries and anxieties that he hadn’t dealt with or voiced. “Yoongi.”

His glazed eyes focused on you instead of the floor after a few attempts to focus on you.

“Yoongi,” You whispered softly, not wanting to say anything important until he was grounded more.

His eyes flicked to your hair, then your hands. He squeezed them shut as his head tilted into your hands just a little more.

“Yoongi,” You murmured, seeing his tail go still finally, his ears flick a couple times before focusing on you.

He finally met you with mostly clear eyes, breathing.

“Everything is fine with us, baby,” You whispered, smiling softly. “We haven’t fought since I came home from the hospital. Remember? And I understand why we fought before that. I’m sorry.”

He blinked a couple times, then his gaze dropped to the floor. “I shouldn’t have acted that way no matter what. I knew it then too.”

You hummed softly, stroking his hair. “I love you, you know.”

His gaze came up, and he looked over your face before his entire demeanor relaxed. “Love love?”

You leaned in and gently kissed his adorably pouty lips. “Love love.”

Which was how you earned a squishy Yoongi with the makings of one of his gummy smiles that you adored, trying to hide the smile and his pleasure by tucking his head against your neck.

You giggled softly, contenting yourself to pressing softly little kisses to his head, hoping that all of this would help him stay out of another lapse.

Jimin’s head appeared through the door, and he was most definitely pouting. “Hey…you said…”

“Yoongi needed me. You know the rules don’t apply then,” You answered easily, gently prying Yoongi from your shoulder so you could really check on him.

His eyes were clear and soft, sleepy.

You nodded softly. “Come get him, Jiminie. He’s a little sleepy from it.”

Jimin quickly entered and went to Yoongi’s side, arms wrapping around Yoongi, who was getting hit with the after-effects of his panic. He’d probably sleep clear till tomorrow night. “Y/n, I think he’s too far gone.”

You nodded. “Alright, let’s get him onto my bed.”

“Could we…could we have a big cuddle session instead of you sleeping alone?” He asked hesitantly.

You thought a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. Don’t wake anyone though. If they’re asleep, let them sleep.”

He nodded and left once Yoongi was on the bed.

Yoongi was barely conscious, but he definitely knew the moment you crawled into bed next to him.

Hoseok helped a tired-looking Seokjin into the room, with Jungkook clinging to the back of Hoseok’s shirt as a sort of guide.

Taehyung rushed in and quickly cuddled up to Jungkook’s back.

Namjoon and Jimin came last, making sure everyone had enough blankets before getting comfortable yourself.

You used your phone to bump up the heat a little bit so that they wouldn’t catch a chill (because they would, and then you’d be dealing with sick hybrids), then whispered goodnight, which was only returned by a few people before leaving the burning questions of your relationship with these men for another time as the broken purrs, little sounds, and the soft sounds of sleep started appearing all around you. You didn’t let them all sleep with you often because you usually ended up overheating and having nightmares, but sometimes you could get away with it and it was honestly one of the most peaceful things you’d ever experienced, if not a little crowded.

You woke up to a mouthful of fur, which startled you enough that you fully woke up, but somehow managed not to wake the source of the fur—Hoseok. He was splayed out where Yoongi used to be sleeping, with his head on your shoulder and ears across your face.

You smiled to yourself as you carefully stroked his ears and moved them from your face. “Weird bun.”

“No nightmares?” Taehyung asked, snuggling up to your side now that he knew you were awake.

You smiled at him, closing your eyes. “No nightmares. Probably because everyone was fairly spread out this time.”

He nodded against your shoulder. “Yoongi went to take a long bath before going back to sleep. Jin’s in the bathroom with him to make sure Yoongi doesn’t fall asleep in the tub. He said he was feeling better. Jungkook and Namjoon went out to the garden, and Jimin is getting out the extra baskets and buckets because it looks like a bad storm is rolling in.”

You nodded. “What’s wrong with Hoseok?”

“Food last night didn’t agree with him.”

You winced. “What did you guys eat?”

He looked at the ceiling. “Pizza. He even stuck to the vegetarian pizza, like last time.”

You sighed. “We’ll have to have him detox again.”

He pouted. “But he gets so sad on the detox.”

“But he could get really sick without it. I’d rather have short-term sadness and health than long-term sickness and short-term happiness. Besides, I found some new recipes for it and tasted them and they taste much better, and we did discover that he can use honey as a sweetener. I should go help the others. You going to nap since you were up comforting Hobi?” You brushed his hair from his forehead as he blushed lightly.

“I can help.”

You shook your head. “You really look like a raccoon right now. Really dark circles. We can take care of it. There probably won’t be that much.” But if Namjoon thought it was important to harvest as much as possible, then it must be some storm coming through. You and Taehyung carefully moved Hoseok so he was resting on Taehyung instead and you hurried downstairs.

Jimin had the TV turned to a news station, and they were talking about an extreme cold front. He glanced at you. “It’s forty-two degrees outside (5.5 C).”

Frost was a whole different beast.

You went digging into the closet to get to your coat, grabbing a stack of your buckets and following Jimin out to where Namjoon and Jungkook were already working.

Jungkook was feeling through the green beans, picking mostly on instinct.

Namjoon saw you and stood straight for a moment, signing that there was an ice warning. Asking what should and could be salvaged.

You looked over the garden. It was July. You signed you’d get back to him with a plan and he nodded before going back to harvesting the lettuce.

Jimin was making quick work of the strawberries.

You took a deep breath, and starting working through the zucchini and the other summer squashes. You’d leave some that were completely unripe to chance, but you were grabbing the almost ripe ones as well.

Jin, Taehyung, Yoongi, and Hoseok all came and started helping, followed shortly by your father, who seemed to have given them all jobs already as Taehyung, Jin and Yoongi headed for the trees and Hoseok hurried to the carrots.

You looked up at you dad, surprised and more than a little stunned.

He just smiled at you. “Got mine in yesterday. Had a feeling. Tell Joonie-boy to pick the unripe tomatoes too. Jimin, green strawberries are edible as well. I’ll start digging up some plants to move inside. Hopefully won’t kill them. You keep working.”

You nodded hurrying to convey your father’s instructions and then darting back to your squashes. You were worried about at least three of your boys, but the idea of losing all of your harvest, especially with Hoseok’s conditions, made you a little panicky.

“I think I finished the green beans,” Jungkook called out.

You quickly guided him to the peas. “Just pick all the pods you feel. We’ll be picky later.”

He nodded and started feeling along the plants.

You moved on to the cucumbers.

“It’ll be okay,” Hoseok said, not looking up.

“Are you okay?”

“A little queasy, and my stomach hurts, but I’m more worried about what will happen if we don’t get enough from the garden before this cold kills it. The news station said snow and ice. In July. That’s crazy.” He started packing some straw over some of the carrots to try and let them brave the cold snap. “Will there be a chance to grow more after things warm back up?”

“I don’t know right now. Might have to do a lot of indoor gardening.” You might have to budget more for groceries.

“Glad your dad is here.” He glanced toward your father as the man re-entered the garden and started collecting buckets that were either full or couldn’t hold more without damaging the other contents (Jimin’s berry bucket) and replacing them with empty ones. “He came in probably five minutes after you went downstairs.”

“I believe it,” You wouldn’t have woken Hoseok or Taehyung for anything. “Is Yoongi’s hair dry?”

“Mostly. He’s wearing a hat.” He leaned over and kissed your cheek, rubbing his nose against it as a comforting gesture before moving to a different section of the garden.

By noon, you all had harvested as much as you could and you ushered your shivering hybrids back inside while you and your father spread some straw over some plants in a thick later to try and help them through the cold so that maybe you’d have something after all of it has passed.

“I’ve got some squashes in my greenhouse this year,” He said casually. “And Pumpkins. My hives probably won’t produce much more this year though. Probably be a long winter this year. I brought your share over, though. Went foraging the other day with a couple buddies too. Found more mushrooms than I need and I know some of your boys love them. Catmint by the shed went wild too, but we’d best not tell Joonie-boy.”

You laughed a little at that. “Probably not.” You looked up at him now that there was nothing left to do. “Thank you for being here.”

He smiled and gave your head a pat. “I know how important it is to you, to make sure those boys get the healthiest food possible. I know how important this garden is. I know it allows you to keep all those boys. You’re doing a good job, y/n. I’m proud of you. Now let’s get inside. Your boys were thorough. Let’s get the things I brought from the trunk and I’ll help you make a plan for all of that. Even help you start canning. Just finished the last jar of pickles you gave me last year and they were good, bumblebee.”

You relaxed a little more, heading inside where Jin was passing out mugs of hot chocolate to everyone—including you and your father—except Hoseok, who got an herbal tea that was easy on his stomach.

Your dad went out to his car, pulling Jungkook and Seokjin to help him since they seemed to have warmed up already and apparently looked strong.

Taehyung was looking at everything, looking absolutely dead on his feet.

Hoseok looked like he might be sick.

Yoongi looked grumpy and tired.

You took a deep breath. “Taehyung, when you finish that, why don’t you go sleep with Yoongi? Hoseok, you don’t have to drink the tea if you don’t feel good.”

“It’s helping,” Hoseok almost whispered back, taking another sip.

Yoongi looked a little less grumpy, and more just tired. He managed to gulp down the rest of his hot chocolate. “Hurry up, but don’t burn yourself. I’m gonna dry my hair the rest of the way.”

Taehyung nodded, taking another careful sip of his hot chocolate.

Jimin had himself cocooned in the throw blankets, practically hugging his mug.

Namjoon helped you take off your coat so you wouldn’t have to set down the mug. He asked if you were okay.

You signed back that you were only a little stressed, adding that you were glad your father showed up when he did.

He nodded, smiling. “Dad’s a lifesaver.”

Namjoon had called your dad his own since his second year of living with you, but it still made you feel warm and fuzzy. Your father wasn’t always the easiest man, he had quirks by the dozens, but you loved him so much and his acceptance of your boys meant a lot, but their acceptance of him meant even more.

Jin led Jungkook in, both of their arms fulls. Jin had a cooler while Jungkook had a large box and a couple bags hanging off his arms as well.

Your dad came in with a box as well, looking amused. “Alright, you’re definitely capable, kiddo. Sorry for doubting you.”

Jungkook nodded feircely, determination and pride still clear on his face.

Jin looked like he wanted to laugh. Probably because both men totally just tricked Jungkook into taking the majority of the burden.

Still, seeing Jungkook that confident was kind of worth it.

Your dad clapped his hands together and then rubbed them, making Jungkook jump in surprise. “Alright, so—”

Sleet started pelting the windows.

You scrunched your nose. “It’s July. How is this happening in July?”

“Uh, bumblebee, I might be staying tonight,” Your dad murmured, looking out the window in concern.

“Yeah, I don’t want you driving that far in this. Roads will be nasty.” You closed your eyes, then went over and closed the curtains.

“Alright, you have your canning equipment in the basement?”

You nodded. “Jars too. I got some more when they were on sale.”

“I’ll start getting everything cleaned up and set up, you make a plan for what you want to make, okay?”

You nodded again, heading over to the desk in the corner and getting your notebook and personal recipe book before cuddling up to Jimin to try and ignore the freak-storm outside.

Jimin was on his phone. “I could plant some squash seeds, we had some extra earlier this year and there’s room in our garden-room. It’ll take longer, but we should be able to harvest in September if we do.”

You peeked over and saw him looking up information on things to grow indoors. You had a veritable garden in the downstairs bedroom as it was. Growing some things in water—like cabbage, lettuce, celery, leeks, and green onions—and others in pots—like carrots, and various cooking and medicinal herbs that had a home in a nice growing rack that your dad’s buddy made for you one year after you canned his tomatoes for him. You weren’t sure how your father always managed to meet these people that are perfectly happy bartering, but you weren’t about to argue.

“If we plant green beans now we could have those too,” Jimin murmured, shifting so his head was resting on the arm of the couch.

Too bad. You’d been right about to kiss his cheek for being such a wonderful, thoughtful pup.

Instead you squeezed his arm, and focused on making a quick plan for what to do with what had been salvaged.

“Y/n?” He whispered.

You looked up.

He was looking at you sadly. “How much do we depend on the garden?”

You dropped your gaze. “It’ll just make things a little more tight. I was ahead before the trip to the hospital. I’m still ahead. I’ve got a nice little savings account set aside. But the garden…it’s really important for Hobi’s health, and it makes it so I can take better care of you all. Have treats every now and then. It’ll set us back next year as well, because a lot of the plants will be killed before we can harvest seeds from them. But we did get quite a lot, and it’s not too late to grow things indoors. The root vegetables will probably survive, which will help. Dad apparently moved the potato barrels into the mud-room for now, so that will help.

Jimin nodded. “Taehyung said that’s why he and the others came downstairs. They heard him cussing at the barrels.”

You felt your eyes widen slightly. “Must have landed on his foot.”

“Probably. I’ve never heard him cuss. He’s too chill.” Jimin studied your father from across the room as he prevented a disaster from happening with Namjoon, Jungkook, and a package of new jars. “Electricity bill will go up if we start growing more plants indoors.”

“I’ll compensate somewhere,” You replied softly, leaning on his shoulder.

Hoseok sat down on your other side. “So, would now be a good time to tell you that last month, when I started my turn taking care of our indoor plants, I also kind of sort of added a pumpkin plant just to see what would happen?”

You made a mental note (that would probably get lost, let’s face it) to check on the garden room more often. “Um, yeah. That’s good to know. Can you two help me can while we set Jungkook and Namjoon to the task of planting stuff in there?”

“Yeah, I think Jin is planning on helping with the canning too, which is good since he seems to know his way around the kitchen.”

“He’s been reading my books,” You murmured, smiling a little. It was so nice having so many people to help you through all of this. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

“I really like this tea,” He chuckled. “Makes me less nauseous. Helps with the pain too. I think Jin added honey too, and you know how much I like honey.”

“A lot,” You agreed, nuzzling his head. “If you’re tired you can go rest.”

He shook his head. “Yoongi said he’d come down later. I’ll go rest when he does.”

You nodded, thinking that sounded fair. Hoseok did look much more awake than either of the other two.

“So, why did he have me pick the green strawberries?” Jimin asked, changing the topic as it came to mind. Both dog-hybrids did that sometimes. Just jumped ship and ended up on a different one. “Or green tomatoes?”

You smiled a little.

“He also had us pick the unripe blueberries,” Hoseok pointed out. “What’ll we do with them?”

“Well, probably pickle them.”

Both hybrids looks extremely perturbed at that thought.

————

You groaned as Jungkook carefully massaged your neck and shoulders. You were super sore from all of the canning, pickling, jam-making, candying, and every other sort of preservation method you and your father could think of for most of the produce.

He placed a barely there kiss to your hair, something you would have missed if you hadn’t been looking up to say something to him.

You smiled, relaxing even more into his touch.

Jimin was bouncing around with Taehyung, somehow finding the energy to play despite working so hard right alongside you.

Namjoon was curled up with Jin, going through a sign-language textbook with the older.

Yoongi was sleeping on the footstool, a light blanket thrown over him.

“It’s raining again,” Jungkook whispered, moments before you were able to hear the rain yourself. “Whats the temperature?”

You looked at your phone. “30 degrees (-1.1 C).”

He whimpered slightly. “Do you think yo-da—do you think he made it back alright?”

You father had braved the roads about an hour ago, having been trapped at your house for two nights in a row and wanting to check on his bees.

“Well, we’ve got another hour at least before he would arrive at his home. I’ll give him half an hour leeway for slow driving, and then if he doesn’t update me, I’ll try calling.”

Hoseok came out of the bathroom, looking pale and exhausted, coming over to curl up next to you. “Hurts.”

You bit your lip, quickly pulling him into your arms and trying to comfort him. “We’ll start another cleanse. Okay?”

He nodded, looking only a little more miserable. “Now?”

“We can do it later.”

He shook his head. “Now.”

You nodded. “Kook, let me up?”

His hands slipped from your shoulders, where they had been holding on, gently but firmly.

You and Hoseok headed into the kitchen, Jungkook hugging onto Hoseok.

You pulled down different jars. “Alright, I want to start you out with some dandelion tea, tonight I should be able to make that one veggie drink that you liked last time as well. Maybe add in some red clover to the tea?”

“Can I use honey too?” He asked softly, curling toward Jungkook.

“Yeah, we can use a little bit of raw honey, bunny.” You got that out as well, waiting for the tea to start boiling. “One to ten?”

“Five,” he replied, ears completely drooped, and eyelids following a bit.

You nodded, letting your fingers drum on the countertop for a moment, before checking the water. “I can bring this up to you, Hobi. Why don’t you go get comfy in your room?”

He shook his head, getting a little pouty.

You went around and stroked his hair and ears. “Words, baby.”

He looked a little embarrassed, but finally whispered, “Your smell helps the pain.”

Your hand paused, then you shook off what he said and kept carefully stroking his head. “I’ll be up with the tea when it’s ready. For now, can Jungkook keep you company?”

He nodded, but was a little reluctant.

Jungkook nuzzled his hyung. “Come on, I’ll rub your tummy.” He shuffled along with Hobi toward the stairs, hugging him from behind and probably slowing the process.

“I’m not a dog.”

“No, but you still like tummy rubs,” Jungkook said victoriously.

You smiled to yourself, watching them go before engaging in a rapid conversation with Namjoon while Jin spent a good five minutes just rubbing his eyes and bemoaning how there was so much to learn.

Namjoon was calling Jin cute, and you were agreeing, but he was also inquiring after Hoseok.

You shrugged a bit, giving him what little you knew.

He shared your worried look, then rubbed Jin’s back as Jin became slightly more animated in his complaints.

Taehyung went and plopped in Jin’s lap, putting a finger to his lips. “You’ll wake Yoongi-hyung.”

Jin seemed slightly startled by the appearance of Taehyung, but made a cute noise before wrapping his arms around the raccoon and squeezing him.

Taehyung laughed, trying to escape.

Jimin flopped onto one of the couches, energy gone again, but tail wagging as he watched Tae and Jin.

You finished making the tea for Hoseok and headed upstairs as Yoongi woke up, softly complaining that they were too loud.

Namjoon followed you, eyes a little hazy. “I…I wish I knew what they sounded like.”

You nodded, understanding. He knew what you and your father sounded like, he’d met you just before he permanently lost his hearing. Before the damage really set in. He said that he could still hear your voice sometimes, in his head. The same as he could hear the songs he used to listen to, before. His previous owner’s voice. But when the boys were all laughing and talking and he just couldn’t keep up, sometimes it really got to him.

You leaned over and gave him a soft and very brief kiss. You couldn’t sign anything with your hands full, but you mouthed “I know.”

He nuzzled your shoulder, then took the tray from you. “Jungkook’s feeling guilty about not being able to sign. Especially now that Jin is starting to learn more.”

You nodded. “I’ll ask Hobi to work with him on it.” You signed as you spoke, walking backwards so that you could talk with him. “And I’ll talk to him about it.”

He nodded. “He forgets sometimes. I know that makes him feel bad, but I understand. Sometimes I forget that he can’t see. He’s so functional sometimes.”

“I know.”

“Have you adjusted the budget yet?”

You lokoed away, turning back to face forward.

“Y/n?”

You signed that you wanted to look at your records for last year and find out how bad the damage to the garden is first.

He nodded slowly. “Okay. Whatever happens, we’ve got your back.” He kissed your cheek.

You gave him a tight smile and headed into Hoseok’s room.

He looked like he was in a lot of pain, so you hurried to his side.

Jungkook was gently rubbing his back, but looked concerned. “He’s really cold, y/n. I tried covering him up but he won’t warm up.”

You felt Hoseok’s face, worry rushing through you. “Jungkook, go get Jin.”

“Why?”

“Do it. Tell him to come up here. Tell Yoongi to start the car.”

He hurried off, Namjoon helping him navigate without knowing what was going on.

Hobi opened his eyes, looking at you weakly. “Sorry, it got worse just a little bit ago.”

You shook your head, stroking his hair. “I’m going to have Jin carry you to the car.” You helped him sit up, wrapping the blankets around him and grabbing one of his warm hats from the nightstand drawer.

“The roads—”

“We’ll be careful,” You cut him off. “But the doctor said you need to come in when it gets this bad, so that’s what we’re going to do. Who do you want to go with us?”

“Yoongi,�� He whispered, letting his head fall to your shoulder as he groaned in pain.

You pressed a kiss to his head, feeling him shivering in pain as well as cold.

Jin came rushing up, looking worried.

“I need you to carry him to the car.”

He nodded, coming over and scooping him up. He frowned at the weight, but quickly exited.

You ran to your room, grabbing better shoes and your own hat and sweater, plus your backpack and hurried downstairs. “Jin and Namjoon are in charge. Yoongi, Hobi wants you to come with us. Get your coat. Jimin, bump the heat up a bit, I don’t want any of you getting catching a chill. Stay inside.”

“Call us the moment you can,” Taehyung instructed in return, quickly hugging you and looking worriedly after Hoseok.

You hurried out to the car.

Jin and Yoongi had Hoseok buckled into the backseat, and Yoongi was buckling in next to him.

Jin hurried back inside.

You got on the road as quickly as possible, calling ahead to let them know you were on your way and why you were coming in when the roads were so dangerous because your boss thought that personal safety was important. You blasted the heat as soon as the car was warm enough, silently cursing the monster responsible for Hoseok’s delicate health.

“He fainted,” Yoongi said softly, worry coating his words.

You started cursing aloud, hating that the roads were bad enough that you really couldn’t hurry any more than you were. “I hate them. I hate them for this.”

“I know. I think we all do,” He replied calmly. “Except Hoseok. I don’t know how he can forgive them so easily. How he can forgive those bastards when they poisoned him for years. I remember when we first got him. How he was so confused about why he was taken away and what happened. How he would cry for his owners that tried to kill him. The withdrawals.”

You shuddered. It had taken you, Yoongi, Namjoon, and your father to take care of Hoseok as he went through the withdrawals of the myriad of drugs, and alcohol that he had been fed. He didn’t remember much from the year before you rescued him, but you knew that he sometimes dreamed about what happened, because he wouldn’t let anyone touch him when he first woke up until he realized it was you and he was safe. Nowadays, he didn’t react to those dreams as much. Usually just got up and took a shower. He hadn’t realized what he was like when you got him until he saw Taehyung on a withdrawal from the drug his owner had only given him for a week. He told you that he couldn’t imagine what he must have been like coming off of several drugs and alcoholism.

You never let him dwell on it, though. And as time passed, and he found out about his new health condition that came from the poisons that they had given him alongside the drugs, he seemed to finally understand what he’d been through.

“Because it led me to y/n,” Hobi murmured, barely conscious.

“Shh, save your strength,” Yoongi quickly admonished, and you could see him holding tighter to the bunny. “This isn’t a time to get sappy.”

“Eight,” Hoseok sniffled.

You felt your jaw clench, tightly gripping the steering wheel as if that would help the roads be more clear and get you to the clinic faster.

Time continued to drag, even after reaching the clinic, your coworkers hurrying out to rush Hoseok—who’d fallen unconscious two miles back—into the clinic to get his treatment started.

Yoongi held your hand while both of you waited. “It’s going to be bad this time, isn’t it?”

You nodded.

“Y—” He broke off and hissed a moment. “Dad said something the other day about knowing someone who employs hybrids. I could see if they’d hire me.”

“I can’t ask—”

“I’m telling you. Not asking,” He quickly amended, changing his tone. “I know how bad things are going to get without an extra income. And Taehyung said something about the neighbor by the trails asking him if he would help out because he was having trouble with regular raccoons. Taehyung’s good with them. He just hasn’t had a chance to talk to you about it. I’m going to tell him to do it.”

You looked at the floor, eyes filling with tears.

“And if you need to take more shifts, we’ll make sure that we’re fed and that all the chores get done. You’re not in this alone, y/n. We’re here. This is what we do for those we love.” He wrapped an arm around you when he saw your tears, holding onto you. “It’s a bad week. I’m sorry.”

You just turned and sobbed as quietly as you could into Yoongi’s shoulder.

Minhyuk came out from the back after an hour or so, hesitantly approaching. “Y/n?”

You gave him a bit of a smile. “Hi, Minhyuk. How are you?”

He shrugged. “Okay. Missed seeing you. So have the others.”

“Um, this is Yoongi. Yoongi, this is Minhyuk. He’s one of Shownu’s.”

Yoongi nodded curtly.

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes at the way Yoongi had tensed up. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, the heat went out in our place, so your boss said we could stay here while it’s fixed.”

You nodded, then studied his worried face. “You can just tell me what you need to, Min.”

His face dropped to the floor. “They had to take him to surgery. They think his kidneys are failing.”

You felt sick.

“What does that mean?” Yoongi asked, voice barely more than a whisper.

“He’ll need a transplant to live. They think they have one, but they’re testing now. Otherwise, he’s going to get put on a waitlist and…” he looked at the floor.

“He doesn’t have enough time left to be on a waitlist,” You finished the sentence, voice feeling raw.

“I’ll let you know if the donor is a match,” He said after a moment of silence.

“Thank you, Minhyuk,” You whispered, knowing he heard.

Yoongi’s grip on you was tight, and you could see he was beyond words.

It was another three hours before Shownu came out instead of the doctor or Minhyuk, which scared you. It scared you a lot.

“Y/n?” He said, waiting for you to respond.

You drew in a shaky breath. “Yeah?”

“The donor was a match. Hoseok got the transplant. Everything looks good. It’s only one, so he might need another transplant later, but we’ll get him on a list. They’re both recovering well.”

You felt like the breath had been knocked out of you. “Wait, did Kihyun…?”

He nodded. “They’re the same type of bunny hybrid.”

No wonder Minhyuk seemed so worried. No wonder Shownu was telling you. He would have had to give permission. He probably spoke for you when it came to the surgery too.

You hugged him, then pulled away. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

He nodded, smiling a little. “He’ll be awake soon. Kihyun’s already awake and doing really well.”

“I have to thank him.”

“He still likes your chicken soup best.”

You laughed a bit. “I’ll bring some next time.”

He smiled a little more and nodded. “Go see Hoseok.”

You looked back at Yoongi, who seemed frozen with relief. “Yoongi, come on.”

He finally looked up and hurried to follow you and Shownu back to where Hoseok was laying in a bed.

The bunny hybrid’s ears were quirked funny, and he still looked pale, but he at least looked like he wasn’t in terrible pain like before.

You kissed his forehead, and ran a hand over his silky ears. “Precious bun.”

He sighed softly in his sleep, turning toward you ever so slightly.

There was still so much to figure out. If you hadn’t been able to even let Hoseok know that you were in love with all of them the same way they were in love with you…

You shuddered, and squeezed his hand. “Too close. Way too close. I’m going to be so paranoid.”

“I think we all are,” Yoongi murmured in agreement. He was holding Hoseok’s other hand.

You ran your fingers through Hoseok’s hair, thinking about your boys at home. “We should tell the others he’s okay.”

“After he wakes up,” Yoongi agreed, leaning down to sniff Hobi’s wrist. “When he’s awake, then we’ll call. Probably be soon.”

And it was. Only ten or fifteen minutes later, Hoseok’s eyes started to flicker open and shut as he stirred. He made little sounds of discomfort and grogginess, but blinked sleepily up at you before smiling a bit. Then at Yoongi, broadening his smile.

“Pretty people,” He murmured deliriously. “My pretty y/n and my pretty Yoongi-hyung. Where are my other pretties?”

“They’re at home, warm and safe, and worried about their pretty bunny,” Yoongi said in an adorably gentle voice, standing to stroke Hobi’s ears.

The bunny melted under the touch. “Pretties safe and warm. I’m a pretty bunny?”

“A very pretty bunny,” Yoongi agreed. “A Sunshine bun. A sun bun.”

Hobi giggled. “I’m a sunny bunny?”

“A very sunny bunny,” You confirmed, kissing his cheek. “That we love very much.”

He looked at you adoringly. “Am I your sunshine?”

“My only sunshine,” You agreed.

“Wow,” He breathed.

Yoongi was grinning, pulling his phone out to video tape this.

“Am I the best sunny bunny?”

“The very best. Very pretty, very sunny, my one and only bunny,” You told him, rubbing your nose against his and earning his brightest smile.

Also tears because a drugged up Hoseok is an emotional one, and he was crying happy tears because he was the best bunny in your world.

You carefully wiped every tear away, still smiling at him. “Yes, Hobi. My charming, handsome, sunny bunny.”

He sniffled, and looked at Yoongi. “Pretty? Am I still your pretty?”

“Yup, my carrot loving bun-bun. Do you know where you are?”

“The not-home place,” Hoseok said gravely, nodding slowly, then made a cute noise before giggling again. “Hobi hobi?”

“Hobi hobi,” You agreed, kissing showering his face with kisses. “My hobi.”

He leaned forward just a little to rub his cheek against yours, and you quickly met him and moved closer so he wouldn’t strain his body or hurt himself.

Yoongi handed him a cup of ice chips. “Start with these, Hobi.”

Hoseok pouted, but slowly started eating the ice chips as Yoongi fed them to him. “Where are my other pretties?”

You smiled at the repeat in conversation. “What are their names?”

“Well,” he swallowed. “There’s Joon-joon. He’s a Raccoon hybrid.”

Yoongi adjusted his phone (which he had positioned on the table to film Hoseok) while holding in his laughter.

“And there’s Jiminie, he’s a blind kitty.”

You bit your lip, barely containing your laughter.

“TaeTae is a Labrador retriever, and Jungkookie is a bunny.”

You squeaked as you held in the burst of giggles.

“Seokjinnie-hyung is an Alaskan malamute and he’s deaf,” Hobi was looking at the ceiling thoughtfully, but his gaze came down and he smiled at Yoongi brightly. “And yoon-yoon is a mink!”

“Well, he got one right,” Yoongi muttered, obviously holding in his laughter.

“Hobi, you’re the bunny, not Jungkookie,” You managed to squeak out.

His eyes got huge. “Oh yeah. Oh! Jungkookie is a fox!”

You finally let your giggles out, stroking his head. “Okay, we’ll go with that for now. Are you sleepy, bun?”

He drooped and nodded, like the mention of sleep drained him.

You kissed his forehead. “Then get some sleep. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

He nodded, dropping into sleep faster than you’d ever seen before.

Yoongi stopped video taping. “Keeping that for a rainy day. And to tease him endlessly.”

“Send it to me,” You told him, still stroking Hoseok’s hair. “I’m going to go see how Kihyun is doing. Thank him.”

“Y/n? Thank him for me too?” Yoongi’s voice was soft, and you felt like there was a hint of shame there.

Sure enough, he had shame written on his face.

You went around to him and cupped his face in your hands. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I…I used to think that Shownu’s hybrids would hurt you. They really care about you though, don’t they? So I was wrong, and I was really mean about it too, and the way I behaved around Shownu—”

“Yoongi, it’s okay. Really. No one can blame you for being wary of other hybrids, and the way you’ve welcomed every hybrid I’ve ever brought into our home is more than I would ever ask from you.”

“I didn’t really welcome them,” He murmured.

“No, you gave them space. Except Hobi because I needed your help with him. And Taehyung because he just wouldn’t let you give him space. And once you felt more comfortable, or they felt more comfortable, then you started interacting with them. You’re so considerate, baby. And a lot of that was jealousy. But there’s nothing to be jealous of now, is there?”

He finally met your gaze and shook his head. “Nothing.”

You kissed his lips, watching him turn pink afterwards. “Stay here with Hobi. I’ll be back.”

He nodded, taking Hoseok’s hand again.

Yoongi stayed at the clinic with Hoseok while you went home.

The boys were camped out in the living room, surrounding the fireplace and listening to Namjoon reading aloud from some novel or other.

Taehyung greeted you first, not interrupting Namjoon’s reading, but coming and hugging you after you got your coat off.

You sighed and leaned into his embrace, then pulled back and pecked his lips, leaving him stunned as you went and joined the rest of your boys, sitting beside Namjoon and leaning on his shoulder.

“Y/n?” Jungkook said, perking up as he smelled you.

“Shush, Namjoon is reading,” You admonished softly, grateful that Namjoon had been turning the page when Jungkook had tried to interrupt instead of in the middle of a sentence.

Jungkook dipped his head sheepishly, managing to make it over to your side at least and rub his cheek against your knee.

Namjoon kept reading, able to tell that you were listening even though you came in in the middle of the story. He shifted when you put a pillow in his lap and curled up there, one hand resting on your arm, but he never faltered from his reading. His voice soothing and full of the character’s emotions.

You looked over your boys, noting how Jin met your gaze, eyes flicking to Namjoon, then Jungkook who was enamored with the story again, before meeting your gaze again with a shrug.

You smiled then looked to Jimin, who was listening, but also drawing.

Taehyung finally came back and sprawled over Jin, looking euphoric. He was just grinning hugging his tail, glancing up at the elder now and then and receiving pets in return every time.

Namjoon finished the chapter with a soft sigh., a satisfied smile on his face and he watched Jungkook rub his face against Namjoon’s legs, verbally complaining about stopping. He managed to reach over you and stroke the pup’s ears, causing the boy to go still and then climb up next to Namjoon to get better ear scratches.

You laughed softly and got up so that they could cuddle better.

“Hoseok-hyung?” Jimin asked softly, finally coming to greet you now that story-time was over.

You cupped his cheek and pecked his lips, eliciting a similar response as Tae had had. “He’s doing fine. And the roads are better, so we can all go visit in the morning.”

Jimin was staring at you in shock, then stood up completely straight as he pointed at you with that same surprised look. “You kissed me.”

“She what?!” Jungkook fell from Namjoon’s lap.

“Are you complaining?” You asked softly.

“I am!” Jungkook cried out, looking utterly betrayed.

“She kissed me too,” Taehyung chirped, hugging both his and Jin’s tails for some reason.

“I’ve also kissed Yoongi and Namjoon before, and I intend to kiss Seokjinnie next, followed by my precious Jungkookie,” You piped in, smirking at the gaping pups.

Namjoon chuckled as Jin finished catching him up from across the room.

“Why am I last?” Jungkook asked, pouting.

“Because you’re neglecting Namjoonie.”

His face turned toward where he knew Namjoon was, hands finding Joon’s legs. “I am?”

“Mmhmm. Joonie cares about you spending time with him too, you know.”

Namjoon was looking embarrassed as he quickly grabbed Jungkook’s hands before they could slide up any farther.

You giggled and got up, going over to Jin, who leaned up and met your lips in a gentle kiss.

Taehyung was in awe.

“Besides, Kookie, you’re not last. Hobi is. Because I want him to remember being kissed.”

He grinned, glancing your way. “It’ll make him so happy.”

“By the way, apparently all of us are his pretties,” You told them, signing as you did so Namjoon understood as well.

“Show me the video,” Taehyung said, looking ready to beg if he felt he needed to.

You shook your head. “No, I want to get subtitles onto it for Joonie. I’ll show you guys before we leave in the morning. And I do have to work tomorrow, but a friend is going to bring you guys home after our visit, okay? Hobi will stay at the clinic for a few days.”

Namjoon signed behind the other boy’s heads, asking about the budget.

You signed back a simple, “Later.” Which confused the others, but they knew that sometimes you and Namjoon talked about things that they didn’t know about. “Alright, I’m ready to conk out. Joon, you and Jungkook spending the night together?”

Jungkook blushed furiously, but Namjoon nodded, pulling the boy up onto his lap.

You looked at the other three boys.

Taehyung looked between you and Jin, then sheepishly turned and pressed his face to Jin’s chest, surprising the fox as Taehyung hugged onto him.

You nodded and held out your hand to Jimin. “You and me, pup.”

Jimin took it shyly, letting you lead him upstairs. He parted to get his pajamas, coming back and finding you already in bed and quickly wrapping you in his arms. “So, Yoongi told us that he had to have surgery, but it felt like there was more.”

“He had to have an emergency kidney transplant,” You whispered, trying to find the best spot to rest your head. “Thankfully there was a donor that matched and was willing. But we’re going to have to be really careful from now on.”

Jimin nodded. “And money?”

You didn’t answer, finally finding the right spot.

“Yoongi told us about the money issue, y/n,” He admitted softly. “We know things are going to be tight. I only really brought it up because I want you to know that Yoongi and Namjoon are really doing their best to try and help and take care of you as well. Taehyung already called the neighbor and said he’d help out tomorrow since the weather is supposed to warm up a bit. And Yoongi said he was going to call Dad after you left the clinic. I’ve got a lot of stuff planted in the green-room. And Namjoon said he had something that we could do, but he didn’t specify, just said it was an idea he’d had a couple weeks ago when he and Hoseok were at the farmer’s market. And I saw that the orchard needed some help, and I bet Jin would go with me as well.”

You were crying again, but not as violently as earlier. “I love you guys so much.”

He pressed a kiss to your forehead, squeezing you a little tighter. “We’re family. You’ve done so much to help us, it’s only right that we help you help us.”

“You’ll have to learn how to take care of Jin if he has a seizure.”

“I know how, I just haven’t done it yet. Haven’t needed to. But it might leave Jungkookie here alone…”

“I can take him into work with me. He can work on reading braille.” A skill he should have been taught years ago, but was only just learning and very slowly.

Jimin nodded. “Then after your friend brings us home tomorrow, we’ll head out.”

You kissed him again. “Thank you, Jiminie.”

He licked your cheek, too sleepy and happy to combat the strange instinct, and did it a couple more times when he could taste the tears on your cheeks. “Mine,” He grumbled in a happy sort of way and then sighed softly.

———

Bringing Hoseok home had been one of the best things. It was a week after his surgery, and the weather was still crappy, but it wasn’t below freezing. Your boys had been working odd jobs, Jimin and Jin at the orchard (they had somehow managed not to lose most of their apples), Taehyung helping the same neighbor with a few other things after convincing the raccoons to move to a different area, and Yoongi working a night-job that he seemed to like.

Namjoon had gotten a bunch of quails from a neighbor lady who had wanted to stop taking care of them (she said she was getting too old for the hassle), and between him and the other boys, they had set up a pen and shelters for the quails. So you had lots of fresh eggs and Namjoon was incubating more already, and the lady had been nice enough to give the feed she had (which was the healthiest kind available, and you were grateful since that was the brand that had the best quality) as well as the incubator. He paid for it by fixing the fence to her garden and helping her with some of the heavy digging for her garden.

Your garden had taken a huge hit, but the root vegetables made it. Some of your trees had been killed by the sudden freeze, and your berry bushes looked pretty sad. It messed up most vegetation, and every farmer at the farmer’s market had increased their prices a bit because of of the damage to the crops.

Hoseok was just glad to be with you at the market, two weeks after his surgery.

Namjoon and Jimin were selling some of Namjoon’s eggs.

You knew Hoseok loved the farmer’s market. He knew most everyone by name, and they’d somehow heard about him going through surgery and were all so kind to him, especially the older women who told you how he’d always help them with any heavy lifting. They also tended to give him little get-well gifts. So, without purchasing anything you got a large jar of fresh, organic lemon juice, a can of peaches, a bag of green beans (a few of which he was already munching on, healing made him extra hungry), a small thing of maple syrup (jackpot), and a couple scones by the time the two of you reached Namjoon’s table.

He grinned, dimples appearing, and signing that he’d made twenty dollars so far, and there was someone who wanted to buy a couple of the birds for meat at the next market.

You smiled back, proud of him.

Hoseok sat with Namjoon and Jimin started walking around with you as you checked to see what was there and what you could get. You managed to get some corn that had been picked just before the freeze, a bunch of baby cucumbers that you’d make into pickles, broccoli (at a discount because you purposefully chose the stemmiest ones and the man thought you were crazy), and some peppers that were deformed (not that it affected taste at all).

Hoseok came over and took Jimin from you, and when they reappeared, Jimin was carrying a watermelon and looking very pleased.

Hoseok was talking with the person who had all the watermelons, a bright grin on his face.

You shook your head a little, going over and looking at her cantaloupe as well.

She grinned at you. “You have such sweet boys.”

You smiled back. “The sweetest.”

“It’s so nice to see someone letting their hybrids have independence, and letting them go to the market for the house. They need the responsibilities, they’re meant to be hunters and foragers. It’s not natural to have everything provided for them. And your boys are all so well adjusted, even the grumpy one.”

You grinned at her description of Yoongi. “I wish I could take credit. They’re just sweethearts naturally, I guess.”

“How bad was your garden hit?”

You shrugged a little. “We managed to salvage most of it and a lot of my root vegetables survived. But it sort of messes up some of the later harvest.”

She nodded knowingly. “My husband and I barely got all of this in before the cold hit. We managed to save some of the garden beds with some straw and a tarp though. I’ve seen your boys going round and helping folks out ever since the storm, made me proud like they were my own boys.”

Hoseok made a squeak of pleasure.

Jimin had gone back to help Namjoon.

You nodded. “I’m proud of them too. They work so hard and I never really asked them too, either.”

Hoseok took your hand, looking at you adoringly.

“Well, except this little bun, he’s been stuck in bed,” You squeezed his hand and kissed his shoulder.

He chuckled softly.

“Well, I hope we see him more often now. I heard that old greybeard has some grapes if you’re interested, sunshine.”

Hoseok perked up and nodded. “Thanks halmeoni!” He pulled you toward the stall that must have been “old greybeard”s.

The man regarded Hoseok, then turned and picked up three bags from behind him. “Was wondering when you’d make it here. Five bucks.”

You looked at the bags, then him. “For all three?”

“Yeah, your boy here helped me unload my wares while my leg was broken.”

You just smiled and paid him for the large load. “Are you sure?”

“Go on, it’s mostly the grapes that came off the stems anyway,” He scoffed.

You dipped your head in thanks and headed back towards Namjoon and Jimin. “See, you didn’t need to get a job like the others, Hobi.”

He had a pleasant glow about him, but he also looked tired. “I think I need to be done for the day.”

“Okay,” You agreed, getting Namjoon to help you carry everything to the car since Jimin was talking with someone for him.

Jin, Taehyung, and Jungkook were playing in the front yard, but hurried to come help with whatever you might have gotten.

Taehyung hugged Hobi, nuzzling him lovingly. “Tired baby.”

“You’re the baby,” Hobi said, chuckling. “Let’s go sleep, baby.”

“Yay!”

Jungkook and Jin were playfully bickering as they carried everything but the watermelon (which you had) inside.

Yoongi was up, and he took the watermelon from you with a smile. “They must not have noticed this.”

You shook your head, knowing how big of watermelon fiends they were. “Put it in the garage for now.”

He nodded and headed that way while you headed inside.

Hobi and Taehyung were curled up together on the couch already, turning on a show.

Jin was looking through the takings, handing the bag of scone to Jungkook and telling him to take them to Hobi. He had a little bit of authority in the kitchen nowadays, making sure that everyone gets when you were at work and quickly picking up on different canning methods, which he was using for pickling some quail eggs recently.

It was warm enough today that all the windows and doors were open, letting the house air out.

Jungkook hugged you, kissing you multiple times. “Seokjinnie is being mean.”

“Yah, that’s hyung to you!”

“Seokjinnie-hyung is being mean,” Jungkook amended, kissing at your lips but missing and kissing your chin instead. “Stay still, y/n. This is hard enough.”

You laughed, and gave him a nice, long kiss.

He relaxed a bit, looking past you blindly, but his thumb caressing your cheek ever so gently. “Your skin is so soft. And I love your voice.”

You fondly tugged at his hair. “Your hair is getting long. Did you want to cut it?”

He shrugged. “Not yet.”

“Okay.”

“Does it look bad?”

“I don’t think you know how to look bad, Jungkook. Any of you boys, really.”

“Are we still spending tonight together?” Jungkook asked. “All of us?”

You nodded. “Yoongi doesn’t work tonight. We’re going to play a game as a family, then then we’ll go to bed. But right now, it’s lunch time.”

The boys had easily taken to you being theirs romantically, only insisting that if you were theirs that you also had disclose financial information and let them actually help and know how things are.

It was nice being able to let them take care of some things instead of only you. To share the burden.

Even though things weren’t really stable yet when it came to finances, especially with Hoseok’s medical bills, it was already starting to get a little better. And next week Jimin and Namjoon were house-sitting for your dad while he went on a road trip with some buddies (promising to bring back unsprayed oranges, so apparently they were going somewhere warm) to go hiking and such and he was paying them pretty well to keep a close eye on his bees.

Yoongi loved his night job, and it worked well with his need for a mostly nocturnal schedule. He’d only had one issue with another hybrid, one who had tried to pick on him due to his small size, not realizing that minks were ferocious predators when angered. Especially when they’d been abused before. It was cleared up and that employee had been fired. Now he was really happy.

Jin had started teaching Jungkook how to play the guitar, and was already doing better with sign language.

Taehyung’s mischief was oddly constructive the past week. No snakes in almost a month. Or frogs.

“Oh! Tae, did you tell her?” Jin asked, suddenly, looking into the living room.

Tae looked back, then abandoned Hobi as he scrambled toward you with a grin. “They asked me if I wanted to teach!”

You blinked at him, a little lost. “Who wanted you to teach what?”

He shook his head as if to get his thoughts straight. “Jin, Jungkook, and I were at the park and this school group came and they had kids that were deaf and blind and all that and I was trying to give them space but they realized Kookie was like them and then that we knew sign language too and I ended up playing with them for a while and the teacher said that they often hire hybrids to help in the classroom and since I already know sign language they wanted to know if I’d be interested and I said I was because I really liked playing with the kids and we went back to the school and the principal said that if you gave written consent then I could start on Monday!”

You grinned. “That’s amazing, TaeTae!” You hugged him tightly.

Hoseok was making a happy shrieking sound, but was too tired to get up, but Taehyung quickly went back to him wrapping his arms around the bunny happily.

The six of you sort of celebrated over lunch, and told the last two the good news when they arrived a few hours later.

You wondered if you’d ever breath properly after today. Between kisses and long hugs, lingering touches, and heated looks, you barely had time to breath and once they got you to bed…

“She’s look great full of our kits,” Yoongi agreed with a statement you hadn’t heard, but quickly spotted the tell-tale lip-bite of Namjoon’s.

Taehyung nodded.

“Nah, she’d look better with pups,” Jimin argued cheekily.

“I wish I could see her with either,” Jungkook complained.

“You’ll have to see her with your hands,” Hoseok said calmly. “Which could be even better.”

You arched an eyebrow. “You all know that we’re at least a year away from any impregnation here?”

“But we’ve been together for five years,” Namjoon objected calmly, smirking.

“Four years,” Yoongi said.

“Three and a half.”

“Three.” Taehyung piped in.

“Two for us,” Jungkook chirped triumphantly, holding his hand for a high-five with Jimin.

Jin looked sad. It hadn’t even been a year for him.

“Doesn’t change anything,” You told them, getting up and wrapping your arms around Jin’s neck from behind, resting your cheek on the top of his head. “We’ve still got to get used to being together before we take a completely different step and you guys don’t get any time with me. Besides, we can’t afford any children right now. Maybe after we manage to get our savings account back. We can start a kit slash pup fund.”

They all seemed to exchange glanced and you suddenly worried about what you might have just done.

“You know, having pups and kits is much cheaper than having human babies,” Yoongi said just a little too casually. “If we all starting making a little bit each day, we might be able to save up for it by Christmas.”

“Especially if we can cut the food budget even more,” Hoseok said, but he sounded more skeptical.

“The rest could eat more rice, and then we also have the quails and we should have our first hatchlings in a week or so,” Namjoon pointed out.

You looked between them all as they all started legitimately planning how to save money for babies, then sort of started laughing. Leaning against Jin, who glanced up at you.

“They’re still underestimating everything,” he whispered.

“Think they’d notice if we went upstairs?” You asked back, as the boys gathered to start doing the math.

He shook his head and both of you snuck upstairs, already kissing before you heard the shout of surprise from downstairs at finding you gone.

“Better hurry if you want to show them that you have just as much right to me,” You whispered.

He grinned and lay over you on the bed. “You’re okay with me touching you first?”

“I’m here with you, aren’t I?” You asked.

He quickly kissed you again, hands wandering.

“Oh damn,” Yoongi muttered from the doorway.

“You going to stand there all day?” You asked as Jin kissed down your neck.

All of the boys piled in and hurried to yours and Jin’s side.

A chaotic mess of a family, but filled with so much love, that you knew you’d never regret letting them all have part of your heart.

Masterlist

Tagging: @ephemeral-mindset @young-yellkie @alex--awesome--22

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dracothedeatheatingcupcake-ao3 · 3 years

Note

oooo ooooo my guess is sunset, sleepy, perfect, and picnic!

Ahh, I'm assuming this is for that WIP guessing game thing from a couple days ago?? Nice words, I can tell what you're trying to get information about ;-)

Standard TPWM and TPWP spoilers ahead! Some are fairly big, so be warned.

(Read more added for Mysterious Reasons ;-) )

TPWM:

Sunset: "Mondo watches as Taka takes a deep breath and nods shakily, the small smile he’s wearing so utterly incredible and heartbreakingly beautiful. Mondo honestly has no idea how Taka doesn’t have a girlfriend (or boyfriend, he refuses to judge) already. He’s literally the epitome of a perfect man. Beautiful, caring, kind, smart, considerate, surprisingly funny… like, damn. He’s the whole goddamn package and Mondo has no idea how he’s not taken. Anyone would be beyond lucky to have him. It’s all he can do to smile back at the kid, eyes roaming his features, before remembering his fast-approaching deadline. If they wait too much longer, Taka won’t be able to see the full extent of the sunset, and that would be a goddamn shame, honestly."

Sleepy: "Mondo remains laying like that for an unknown amount of time, too afraid to move and look at the time. He doesn’t want to wake the kid, after all. Not before it’s time to get up. He’s quickly coming to crave these sleepy moments, moments where he’s awake but the kid isn’t. Moments where he can allow his heart to feel all the shit he’s not allowed to feel during the day, his heart beating for one person and one person alone. Moments where the world outside doesn’t matter, and only the world he’s holding does."

Perfect: "Mondo’s face is on fire with mortification at the overly sappy words he’d said, but he can’t find it in him to regret them. Not when he means them fully. Taka... yeah. Yeah, he looks good like this. Looks /amazing/. So beautiful and sharp and shit. But... fuck. It’s not /him/, and Mondo can’t help but hate it a bit for that, too. Taka... Taka is amazing as he is. His personality, his looks... his /everything/. He doesn’t have to change a single thing about himself. He... he’s already perfect, even with his flaws. So... so perfect..."

(I'm adding 'perfectly' to this, since I like the paragraph the word showed up in and I really wanna share it, ha.)

Perfectly: “"Goddamn, kid. ‘M not tryin’ ta hassle ya, just... ‘m just tryin’ ta figure more out ‘bout this new life a’ yers. Ever since Daiya... shit. I know ya were super close ta him, kid. An’ I know you an’ I weren’t that close, but ya know I viewed you an’ Dai like family. Hearin’ what happened ta him... shit broke my fuckin’ heart. I kept tryin’ ta call ya, ta let ya know ya didn’t hafta be alone, but ya never fuckin’ answered. You can imagine my fuckin’ shock when I overheard the news that not only were ya in town, but that yer attendin’ that fuckin’ high-class school now. Wanted ta reach out again, see how ya were, but I just... didn’t fuckin’ know if ya’d want that shit. Made it perfectly fuckin’ clear ya didn’t wanna see me after the funeral. Thought maybe ya might a’ changed yer mind after ya called, but I guess fuckin’ not. Just... hope things work out well fer you an’ yer kid. Mean that. Ya deserve ta be happy, Mondo. An’... know y’ain’t gonna wanna hear me say this shit, but I know Dai would be proud as fuck if he could see ya today. Fuck, ya look so fuckin’ grown up... makes me feel like an old crone, goddamn. But... it really was nice seein’ ya today, kid. Real fuckin’ nice.”" (This is said by an OC not in TPWP, by the by, ha. Mondo needs more adults who care about him. <3)

Picnic: "He continues to tell himself this as he puts the shit from the picnic away. Trash in the trash can, helmet on his counter, wine bottle and glasses on the table… the kid watches him the entire time, his eyes intent as ever, and it makes him oddly nervous. Wanting to give his mind something to focus on other than his nerves, Mondo begins to babble about how much fun he’d had that day and how he wants to do it again sometime. Part of him is hoping that it will get Taka to start talking too, but he should have known better than that. All the kid does is /stare/, giving a small, almost dismissive nod when he finishes. He tries not to let it destroy him."

~~~~

TPWP:

Sunset: “Oh, so now it’s fucking all about you again, huh?! Like fucking always! What the fuck did ya think was gonna happen, saying that shit ta me?! What, that we’d just- just fucking... ride off inta the fucking sunset together?! Ha! Yer fucking /delusional/ if ya think that would ever /fucking/ happen! Y’ain’t... y’ain’t got no fucking clue who the fuck I am! Don’t even know the fucking /shit/ I’ve done! God /fucking/ dammit, Kiyo, how fucking dare ya say this absolute /shit/ ta me, when ya’ve got no fucking clue who the fuck I am! You-“" (Have fun guessing the context for this piece of dialogue... ha. It's the only paragraph that has sunset in it outside of the chapters I've already posted, though, so it's what I'm going with here!)

Sleepy: "Taka lets out a soft noise to indicate that he can do it himself, shifting heavily to sit up. Despite all the sleep he’s gotten, he still feels so very tired... he’s not sure if the medication causes drowsiness or not, but regardless, he feels very lethargic and sleepy. He doesn’t try and argue against Mondo, though. Mainly because he finds that— despite his still somewhat queasy stomach— he is actually hungry. And the soup does smell very good, when Mondo carefully opens the top of the soup container..."

Perfect: “"Y’ain’t. Y’ain’t gonna ever be alone, Kiyo, not with me here. Shit, man... I ain’t ever leavin’ ya, an’ I don’t care how many times I gotta fuckin’ say it ‘til it sinks in, fuckin’ a million times, don’t mean shit as long as ya... as ya know I /mean/ it, okay? Ain’t a single, fuckin’, goddamn thing that’ll make me hate you. Not... not anythin’, okay? I may get mad or upset, ‘cuz I ain’t fuckin’ perfect an’ I know I got my own issues ta deal with, but... but no matter how mad I may get, ain’t ever at you, okay? I’m just... mad. At myself. At the world. At just... all a’ it. But not you... not- not ever /you/. Okay? A-an’ I’ll tell ya this every fuckin’ day if ya need me ta, every goddamn minute. Ain’t goin’ nowhere, man. Not unless ya want me ta go. Yer kinda stuck with me, heh. So don’t... don’t worry, okay? I’m... I’m here, Kiyo. I’ll always /be/ here. If there’s one thing I want ya ta know... it’s that, okay? Ain’t ever leavin’ ya. /Never/. Okay?”"

(I'll do 'perfectly' here too, since... why not, ha.)

Perfectly: "And if Mondo- a-ah. /If/ Mondo works through his own issues and realizes that he does... does /want to be with him/, well. Then, Taka will do everything he can to make /them/ work. To make... to make them work. After all, he highly doubts he will ever love someone quite as much as he loves Mondo, even if he might be able to find some form of love again. If he believed in such fanciful nonsense as /soulmates/, well. He’d think that he and Mondo are it. Two pieces of the same puzzle, made perfectly to compliment the other, even if they’re not at all the same. Their similarities are just enough to make the differences all the more striking and beautiful, he feels. He doesn’t quite know if Mondo feels the same about him, can’t quite get a feel for that, but he doesn’t doubt that Mondo feels /something/ for him. Something more than just friendship. Something deeper than just that. Something decidedly not /familial/, too."

Picnic: “"Yeah, it sure fuckin’ is, Kiyo. We, uh... we should come back here one day. Have a picnic or some shit. Maybe when it ain’t fuckin’ freezin’, but uh... fuck, dude. Shit’d be nice, yeah?”" (This is legit the only other time I use the word "picnic" in this fic other than in chapter 16, ha.)

~~~~

(Link to the original post so everyone knows what this is about, ha)

Fanfic Work-In-Progress Guessing Game

#Ask Answers #wip guessing game

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lihikainanea · 4 years

Note

All sentimental, reading OG Bill x Tiger like that morning sex piece where she says she wants to be ‘even closer’ when cuddling. Can we PLZ talk about sleepy, romantic cockwarming? Like, they’re too tired from a long day to even indulge in lazy sex- but need SOMETHING. I picture them both being too stubborn to admit that they’re too tired for their usual kind of lovin’ - Bonus points (fuckin hell) if he gets a little desperate with the sleepy whispers “need to be inside you” 🥺💦

LISTEN MAN I am just out here low key trying to get my thoughts into the internet world and here ya’ll are COMING FOR MY LIFE.

Nani, baby, I could talk forever about cockwarming. I could talk for even longer about cockwarming in a subby context. And I could talk for even longer than that about subby tiger, cockwarming, and how Good Dude Bill just makes her feel so loved and safe and comfy.

My train of thought derails splits and ya’ll just gonna HAVE. TO. DEAL.

So like, it’s been A Day for our girl tiger, right? A day full of balls-to-the-wall shit. I don’t know about any of you guys, but I’m the smallest fucking subbiest thing behind closed doors but in public? On the dating scene? At my job? Get the fuck out of my way before I destroy you and everything you love. I am ruthless. And my job often requires me to be a powerhouse, to go up against men much more influential and powerful than me in every way, and I can’t show an iota of weakness. Not one, because I’ll be fucking eaten alive.

But the thing is, when I have days that require me to really push it, to really be aggressive and authoritative, Jesus, emotionally and mentally when I get home it pushes me into such a small space. Because I like it when somebody else has control, I like it when I don’t feel like I need to be the one handling everything, and secretly I love it when someone forces me to yield. It’s nice to lose, in that sense. To give up the clutches of control.

In any case, maybe tiger is the same, and she’s had a day full of too many things that made her feel too in control, and now she’s fussy. Having a lot of anxiety about it. And she’s definitely not fussy in a bratty way, she’s not gunning for a punishment and in all reality probably couldn’t handle one anyway, but she’s fussy in a needy, emotional way. She’s really clinging on to him for most of the night but she’s also fidgeting, she’s doing that nervous habit thing where she’s picking at her lip--and when Bill gently reaches to pull her hand away and hold it instead, 30 seconds later she’s bouncing her knee uncontrollably. And when he puts his hand on that to stop it, then she’s scratching at the back of her hand and he can see the first onset of hives start to break out. So when he stops that, she huffs--maybe even gets up, walks away. There’s just so much nervous energy that she’s having a hard time reeling in. She didn’t eat much at dinner, got too warm in the bubble bath he drew for her after to relax, and she wants affection but is also kind of getting annoyed by his touch. He lets her be, he intervenes when he can see her mind getting away on her too much--like when she starts picking her lip again--but otherwise, when she’s this kind of fussy, she needs to be left alone a bit.

And when it’s bed time, Bill goes to get her at the kitchen table where she’s sketching or knitting or whatever, her knee bouncing out of control. He’ll coax her to the bathroom to brush her teeth while he gets her hot water bottle ready, and then they tuck in together. And Bill’s usually a pretty heavy sleeper--and it’s pretty immediate--but he fights it off a bit, because he knows tiger’s going to have trouble sleeping. He curls around her back, tucks her hot water bottle against her stomach, plops a gentle kiss on her ear and then buries his nose in her neck. She’s the one who reaches for his hand, brings it up to her mouth and slides his thumb inside--and he thinks thats a pretty good sign, maybe she’s ready to relax a bit.

But like, you know how nervous energy is palpable in that incredibly annoying way? Have you ever been able to reel in your own anxiety, when you’re around nervous person? (Because if you have, please tell me how.)

Bill knows he needs to fix it for her, but he’s trying to figure out how. But she’s good--man she’s good--and asking for what she wants would be ballsy and courageous in a way she’s tired of being so she’s not about to do that, but she’ll give him a hint. And very subtly, maybe she just knocks her ass back into him a tad--just a tap.

Bill waits.

But then she whines a little, does it again. And at this point Bill’s not sure if it’s actually sex that she wants, or if she wants that...something else that they tried once.

She speaks up before he can guess.

“Do you remember,” she says as she removes his thumb, “That one time that we...”

And Bill’s on it, immediately. He knows what she means, and he doesn’t want her to have to ask for it. So maybe he shimmies out of his boxers, and gently rolls her over onto her stomach. They’ll be more contact for her this way, more closeness, and she loves it when he rests some of his weight on her. He lifts her t-shirt a little bit, reaches his hand between her legs just to make sure she’s ready and--Jesus, she always is. So he slips inside slowly, fills her up, and it’s always really difficult for the first few seconds--because she’s so tight, so wet for him. But he grits his teeth, and usually after a second or two he can get it under control enough. She sighs and goes boneless under him immediately, sinking into the mattress, tucking her arms under her pillow. Bill lies on her back, caging her arms with his, nuzzling his cheek into her soft skin.

“Is this better sweet girl?” he murmurs to her, and she whimpers a little. And listen, I have no doubt--no doubt at all--that tiger falls into a real deep sleep after this. But I also have NO DOUBT AT ALL--that a few hours later, Bill wakes up to her full on grinding on him, working for it. And the angle is so perfect--it’s difficult for her to move the way she needs but it’s real easy for him, so as soon as he’s awake enough and just drives his hips down into her--they’re both coming in no time at all.

BUT THEN ALSO

Listen, Bill tired as fuck alright? Maybe he’s back from somewhere, maybe she’s on set with him somewhere. He’s pulling real late nights so usually when he stumbles back to his hotel tiger is already curled up in bed, asleep. And it’s a real devastating thing when desire and exhaustion are battling, because nobody wins. And Bill wants to bang her brains out but he also just WANTS SLEEP ALWAYS and these days sleep is winning out.

And like, not only are his nights late, but his mornings are fucking early. And maybe this is the first time in a long time that he has a day off the next day. And he’s dead to the world, but maybe he wakes up real early the next morning just because his internal clock says it’s time to wake up. And he’s super drowsy, not fully awake because he also knows he doesn’t have to be. But then like...tiger backs her ass up into him in her sleep, like she sometimes does. And that friction stirred something--still not enough to wake him up, but something. And he can feel her lips pursing round his thumb, rhythmically sucking, And oh god--she smells so good. And he’s so tired, so warm and cuddly, and he’s a big sappy love bug and wants some more closeness with his girl but he’s nowhere near awake or motivated enough for sex. So instead he just burrows that cute little nose further into her neck, maybe rolls his hips into hers.

“Tiger,” he murmurs in her ear and Jesus if she wasn’t wet before, that’ll do it every time. His gravelly, sleepy voice in her ear, deep and raspy, his warm breath on her neck. She stirs a little.

“Please kid,” he whispers, “Can I....?”

And she’s also very much not awake yet so she just rolls her ass into his groin again, purring a little, which is all the confirmation he needs. So he tugs her panties down, pulls his boxers down to just his mid-thigh, and slowly pushes into her. It’s incredible--it’s euphoric and comforting and warm and just everything he needs. He sighs happily, curls around her even more, locks her tighter in his arms. But tiger--listen, she’s good to him, too. And she wants to make sure that he’s getting what he needs, and not just what’s good enough because that’s all he has the energy for. She doesn’t want him to ever go without something he wants or needs.

“Do you want me to do it for you, bud?” she murmurs sleepily to him, and her offer is clear. If he needs a release he can lie back and she’ll get him there, no strings attached. And he will eventually need that but right now....this is all that wants.

“No,” he says softly, “Just you, kid. Just this.”

#sub tiger #soft bill #sleepy bill #bill skarsgard #bill skarsgard drabble #BFF!Bill

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espoirmerveilleux · 5 years

Text

You’d think I would’ve learned by now

I’m going to be good. Sensible. Post this and then put the laptop away, the phone on the charger for the night and go watch football and not worry. So she says. And if you believe that I’ve got a lovely piece of oceanfront property in South Dakota, but it comes at a price.

Anyroad, I haven’t exactly got an update yet, but I’ve got a lot, and a big chunk of it from today alone. I’m happy with it, by and large. So I’m being foolish once again and sharing the newest bit (which I don’t think I’ll edit much in the end).

Right. So eventually this will be a part of the next chapter of Look After You. Which is taking on a life of it’s own and I’m kind of just along for the ride.

If you’re interested, you can read more below the cut.

He is gasping. “Isobel. Fuck, baby.” Like he’s every bit as much in disbelief as she.

“Yes,” she agrees softly, finding her voice. It’s husky now; she’s given it quite a workout. She laughs at that, at the realisation that it’s just like it is when he’s there beside her, and she feels so good now, like everything is right with the universe. “Oh, my darling man, I love you!”

“And I love you. And whatever that was …” His voice is full and gravelly; she can hear sleep closing in on him. She loves him in these moments; there’s a bald sort of intimacy that comes after sex and just before sleep and she’d be hard pressed to quantify it, except to say that it’s pure. There’s a stillness of heart and a clear certainty that this is right; they are right. They are for each other.

“We’ll have to do that again,” she tells him, “only I can’t figure how, seeing as you belong to me for good come Friday.”

“Oi,” he rumbles, “you’re wrong you know.” He allows it to sit there between them, and she could swear he can see her ire rising because he comes back with, “I’ve been yours for years now. You just needed to come to it in your own time,” at just the right juncture.

She chuckles, hums her agreement. “I suppose you could always ring me when you’re out mowing the lawn. Start things going on the phone and then finish inside. Best of both worlds.”

“That turns you on, does it: axle grease on my shirt and bits of grass in my hair?” The grin he wears is audible and her heart does a funny little hiccup.

She is caught on the back foot by the effervescent joy he radiates through the telephone line; she makes him happy. It’s still such a novel thought, and a part of her hopes that the wonderment will linger indefinitely.

“As a matter of fact, yes, it does rather. As does finishing. With you inside …” She laughs in oversensitised agreement when he moans softly. “Better watch out or you’ll get me going again!”

“If that’s what you want, I'm happy to oblige, but I reckon I need a good few hours of sleep before a repeat performance.” He is slurring words now, clearly hitting a wall, and she wonders whether he’ll clean up first or simply collapse where he lies.

“I’m so glad we played tonight, love. I took a big risk—“

“Tell me you weren’t thinking I’d be cross—“

“No; not cross, exactly, just … Look, we’re still new enough at this; there wasn’t a precedent. I suppose I thought perhaps you’d find me overly eager, or … I don’t know. And it doesn’t matter now because it went well and—“

“Isobel?” he interrupts. “Beauty, I say this … in the kindest way I know how … Do shut up.”

“I— Okay— I don’t—“ Whatever she thought he might say, that wasn’t it.

“That was the single most erotic experience of my entire life. Don’t you dare go and try to qualify what you did. It was every fantasy I’ve ever had, all rolled into one, and you’d best be ready when I get home on Friday because, this quickly, I need you again. Alright?”

“What a hardship. However shall I bear it?”

“Are you ready, sweetheart? Because get ready—“ he tells her, but a yawn overtakes him, swallowing up the last few words.

She laughs, full of joy and free of inhibition. “I’ll believe it when I see it, Major.”

“Oh, I’ll make a believer of ye.” He yawns again. “But now I’m for bed, and ye’d best be as well.”

She can see him stretched out amongst the covers, all loose-limbed and still bare, looking good enough to eat and warm and wonderful to lie with. The weight of distance rushes in, settles heavy on her heart. “I am, I— I will, soon. Just going to put the lad out, make sure we’re locked up. The trouble is, your pillow doesn’t hold me, or wake me up with a coffee and a kiss. Or wake me for other reasons entirely.”

“What can I do for you? Ring you in the morning?” He is so sincere; she can see the look in his eyes that accompanies his words.

She swallows hard round the lump in her throat. “Only if it fits into your schedule. You know I’m alright. I’ll be fine.”

“Quite right; I do know. But you don’t sound convinced.”

“No, no; I’ll be brilliant. Elsie’s here and as soon as the tradesmen go we’ve plans to go shopping. And I’ll cook something splendid in our brand new kitchen, and we’ll get squiffy together and it’ll be great fun. Alright?”

“There’s my girl,” he agrees.

“ … But you’ll be on my mind the entire time, and I’ll be wondering what you’re doing whilst I’m getting breakfast, and trying on things I intend to buy for your enjoyment, and getting drunk and stupid.”

“That’s exactly as it’s meant to be, then. You know I’ll be waking up, wondering why you’re not there, soft and warm beside me, all sexy, sleepy eyes. And there’ll be a cold shower that’ll just succeed at taking the edge off, and after I’m through bitching about traffic and substandard coffee I’ll miss you beside me in theatre. Those looks you give that reassure me I’m still on my game; even the ones that say I’m making a hash of it and I’d best step aside. And when it’s all over and you’re not there to work the kinks out of my shoulders, or to lie on the couch with your head on my chest whilst the rugby’s on. You think it’s just you feeling out of sorts but it’s not, love. I’m only half myself when you’re not around.”

She’s silent for a moment, long enough that he calls her name. “Oh, hell, Richard. I hadn’t cried since early morning, and now that’s right out. I don’t deserve you, wonderful man.”

“That son of yours would beg to differ.”

He is referring, of course, to the conversation he had with Matthew in the pub as he was psyching himself up to propose to Isobel. The one during which Matthew told Richard that his mother was as happy with him in her life as she’d been with Matthew’s father. He’d also asserted that, between Isobel’s hand-wringing over whether he’d ever get round to asking, and Richard’s doubting that she’d ever accept him, they absolutely deserved one another.

“Best not challenge him on that score then, eh? Right you are.” A conversational pause, and then, “You’re shattered, darling. I hear it in your voice. You’re a love to keep chatting to me, but I shan’t keep you any longer.”

“No, no; do stay on the line with me, please. I can’t feel you beside me, but you sound as if you’re right here. You haven’t got to say anything if you don’t want. Just listening to you breathe is lovely. Unless you think me exceedingly soppy, that is …”

“Hush, my love. There’s nothing I’d rather do. Now, are you comfortable? Not going to sleep on the wet spot, are you?”

He barks a laugh. “Nope. That’s what my t-shirt is for.”

“Ah. Very good.” She grins. “Alright, so we’ve just made love and you’re all … like you get—“

“Oh? And how’s that?”

“No more talking, pet. You’re all … lax and tousled. Sexy. Warm. Vulnerable. And you’re too sensitive, so you’ve turned on your side, facing away. But you fuss at me about wanting me close—“

“I do not fuss,” he objects.

“I said, ‘hush.’ And you do so fuss, but luckily for you I find it endearing, so I press up against your back—“

“Still naked, I hope—“

“Oi. Whose story is this? I’m not the one has to be up for work in six hours. Now shall I continue, or what?”

“I’m a lovely man, remember. It’s what you said. And wonderful.” When she says nothing, he adds, “And I’m shutting up now.”

“Right. Yes, fine, I’m still naked, and I’m pressed up against your back, kissing the freckles on your shoulder blade. Running my fingers through your hair, across your forehead. Telling you all the things nobody else knows: that I love you, our life together. Who I am now that you’re with me, how you see the world.” She is rambling, but it’s just what she does when he’s there in her arms, both of them giddy with exhaustion. So she closes her eyes, breathing deep and becoming the story she’s telling.

“I love the sound of your breath and the silk of your hair between my fingers, the way your heart beats through your back and into my chest. Like we’re one being. I love the way your brow smoothens out as you drop off to sleep, the way you breathe deeper, more freely. I love knowing that you trust me enough to let me hold you, your body and your heart, all the secrets you’ve shared with me. Just me. I’m so thankful that you’ve opened yourself up to me: your heart and your arms, your bed. Your life, present and future. I’m grateful to be where you are, darling man. I’ll always be yours. Your lover; your friend. Anything; everything that you need me to be.”

“I love you, Isobel,” she hears him breathe, barely conscious.

“I know, husband mine. Sleep now. I’m with you. I am. And I love you so. With all I have and all that I am, I love you.”

#ejb writes #fanfic #downton abbey #richobel #isobel crawley #dr richard clarkson #modern retirement au #look after you #an update is forthcoming #no really

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imagine-loki · 5 years

Text

Giftless

TITLE: Giftless CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 12/50

AUTHOR: nekoamamori ORIGINAL IMAGINE:

Imagine that you are Stark’s niece and you secretly share a strong relationship with Loki since he entered the crew. One day you get hurt so bad during a mission that you are about to die. Loki knows a spell that will save you and share his immortality with you but you and he will be linked forever sharing thoughts, pain, emotions…

RATING: T NOTES/WARNINGS: Underage reader (no sex!!) Also on AO3 click here

You woke the next morning to find that you were using Loki’s lap as a pillow. That was strange and not how you remembered falling asleep. You remembered that Loki had covered you with a blanket during on of the movies you’d watched the night before. You must’ve fallen asleep during it. Oops. You sat up, wrapping the blanket around your shoulders. You were fully dressed and in your living room, so clearly nothing had happened. “Good morning,” he greeted you with a warm smile.

“Morning,” you replied sheepishly. You were sure you were blushing all sorts of shades of red. “You could’ve woken me. I’m sure sleeping sitting up on the couch wasn’t comfortable.” You were babbling, which you tended to do when you were uncomfortable.

“Nonsense,” Loki chuckled. “Besides, I was not sleeping,”

“You stayed up all night?” you demanded incredulously. That wasn’t good for anyone, even a god.

He shrugged in reply. “I have mentioned before that I need less sleep than you do,” he replied, his tone teasing. “I am also on twenty-four hour guard duty in case you have forgotten,” he added with a smirk.

“They really don’t expect you to sleep for days?” you demanded. That didn’t seem logical. Even supers needed sleep. And you weren’t that vulnerable while you were grounded.

He shrugged. “Perhaps I will be able to take a nap later, if you can promise to keep out of trouble after your combat training this morning,” he told you with a smirk.

That got your back up. “Combat training?!” you demanded. You thought he had killed you quite enough yesterday.

“One day of training is not enough for you to be able to protect yourself,” he reminded you far too logically. He was enjoying your distress. “But we will work more gently today. It will not help to wear your body down.”

You didn’t have an argument for that. “Also, point of fact, I am capable of keeping out of trouble,” you grumbled at him. Seriously, you weren’t a troublemaker. You were a teenager with no powers in a tower of superheros. There was only so much trouble you could get into.

“Sure you can, darling,” he laughed as you spluttered at him, puffing up grumpily. “Your uncle is here, if you would like to have breakfast with him,” he told you, changing the subject. “He was not pleased to find you sleeping on me last night, but I also reminded him that I am on twenty-four hour guard duty. He made the mistake of asking how I would guard you while you were using me as a pillow. I kindly demonstrated for him.” He had his Cheshire Cat grin so you knew he was up to something.

“Oh no, what’d you do?” you asked, concerned that he might have hurt Tony. The two notoriously didn’t like each other.

“I threw a dagger at him. Do not fear. He is unharmed, though I am surprised his yelling did not wake you. He did concede the point that I was capable of guarding you,” he gave you his mischievous grin again, making you smile in return. At least Tony wasn’t hurt. And had somehow let Loki stay in your room all night. The 24 hour guard duty had probably made Tony behave.

“I should go have breakfast with him,” you told Loki, who nodded and stood. You had to reassure Tony that you were alive and well. Loki offered you a hand and helped you to your feet. You stretched, desperately needing it from sleeping on the couch all night and then took Loki’s hand so you could walk down to breakfast together. You took your plate from Helene and sat down with Tony.

“Morning,” you greeted your sleepy uncle.

“Morning,” he grumbled. “Where’s your guard?” he growled. You gestured to the doorway where Loki was entering with his breakfast. He sat at a nearby table, not disturbing you. “I better not find out he’s shirking,” he growled, intent on hating Loki.

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” you replied dryly. Tony looked up at you questioningly, but you shook your head. You weren’t going to be explaining that if he hadn’t figured it out by now. He’d figure out you were dating Loki soon enough.

“I’m going to be gone until late. Anything you need before I head out?” he asked. You shook your head, used to him coming and going at all hours.

“Is there any luck with The Harlequin?” You asked. Besides that she was a huge threat, you were grounded until she was dealt with.

Tony shook his head with a heavy sigh. “Her minions were out in full force last night, though. I’ll be glad if I never see another clown again,” he groaned.

You shuddered. You hated clowns in the first place. Evil clowns were just worse. “I don’t blame you,”

“Just stay safe, Kat. I don’t want to have to worry about you while I’m out there fighting bad guys,” Tony told you, overprotective as always.

You rolled your eyes. “Don’t forget that I’m grounded. I can’t leave the compound,” you reminded him. You were perfectly safe in the tower’s walls.

“For which I’m grateful right now. The Harlequin is dangerous, and so are her clowns, for all that they’re just minions.”

He had to leave shortly afterwards to go finish paperwork or stuff in his lab or something for Pepper before heading out on patrol.

“Ready for lessons?” Loki purred in your ear after you had finished eating. You hadn’t even seen him move. You smiled up at him, unphased by his sudden appearance at your side.

“I’m not exactly dressed for it,” you reminded him as if that were going to get you out of the training.

“I can take care of that,” he whispered, his tone was firm. You weren’t going to be able to stall or hedge your way out of this. Stubborn god.

You sighed realizing you might as well get it over with since he wasn’t going to relent on you learning to protect yourself. You weren’t going to be able to stall or hedge or squirm your way out of this one. You nodded and got to your feet with a heavy sigh and walked with him to the training room you had stolen the previous day.

Loki was much more careful with training that day and kept a better watch on your stamina. He wanted to help you, not kill you. You worked on dagger and staff work today. His logic was that there were plenty of everyday objects that could be a staff and it was useful to have some range against an opponent with powers. You still worked up a sweat and you were still exhausted well before the end, but not nearly as brain numbed or battle fevered as you had gotten the day before.

Loki walked you back upstairs after you had finished for the day. “Can you stay out of trouble for a couple of hours?” he asked. You could see that he was more tired than he had wanted to admit. “I would like to take that nap we discussed.”

You rolled your eyes. Tony kept saying that if you kept doing that they were going to fall out of your head. You pointed out that his hadn’t fallen out of his head yet and he shut up on the subject. “I’m going to get a shower and then do homework at that desk,” you pointed to the one in you sittingroom. “If it would make you feel better, you can take your nap on the couch.”

He nodded. “I will take you up on that. Try not to die while I take a shower,” he teased.

“I think I can manage that,” you replied with a grin. He leaned down and kissed you lightly. Kisses were new, but definitely something you could get used to.

“Good, I would hate to have to find a new girlfriend. No one would compare.” He purred warmly, though he didn’t press further than simple kisses. You shooed him back to his own room, laughing, and hurriedly got a shower and changed into jeans and the hoodie that smelled like him. You sat at your desk on your comfy desk chair and worked on homework. Loki came back shortly and had sandwiches with you for lunch.

“Ooh, you trusted me not to die long enough to get us lunch,” You grinned at him, teasing. He handed you your sandwich with a laugh and sat on your couch while you both ate.

“Are you sure you will be alright?” Loki asked when his sandwich was gone. His tone was all gentleness and concern. He didn’t want to leave you unguarded.

You smiled at him, trying to be reassuring. “Take your nap, Loki. I’m not leaving this room. I’ll wake you if something happens,” you promised him, in all seriousness. “I really do have homework to finish.” You turned back to your homework while he laid down on your couch. You couldn’t help sneaking glances over at him occasionally to make sure he was actually getting some rest.

The rest of the night went without issue. You got your homework done, survived while Loki took his nap, and he started to teach you how to play chess before it got too late and you needed to get to bed. He searched your bedroom for threats before he let you enter and he still insisted on sitting in the recliner next to your bed. You tried to insist that you were perfectly safe in your room with him guarding the only entrance.

“Twenty-four hour guard duty, love. You are stuck with my company.” He insisted. You sighed, but could tell that there was no arguing with him. Not when your safety, his honor, and duty were on the line.

“Will you at least read me a story then?” you asked him. If he was going to stay in your room, he might as well make himself useful. He smiled warmly and summoned a small ball of light above him. He opened the book of fairy tales on your nightstand and began to read. You fell asleep listening to his warm honeyed accented voice reading to you, soothing you to sleep with his words.

#Loki #Lover #Submitted fic #submission #giftless #chapter 12 #Nekoamamori

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buckys-forgotten-plum · 5 years

Text

Hold me tighter ||2||

Prompt- y/n hasn’t made much progress in controlling her abilities, but that doesn’t mean she’s not making progress with Bucky.

Warnings- language, lil angst maybe? A LOT of fluff. Like an abundance of fluff.

I had a lot of fun writing the first one and I thought maybe a 2nd part would be cute, disclaimer though, I had to redo this THREE SEPARATE TIMES so I am so sorry if the ending is right shit.

————————————————————

“C’mon kid, you can do it. Just focus,” Bucky’s voice is quiet as he stands directly behind you, hands lightly placed on both of your shoulders.

“What if I panic again?” you ask, wringing your hands together nervously.

“I’ll be here to help you and Tony is in the corner. You’ll be fine, I believe in you,”

A small whine escapes your lips as Bucky removes his hands and takes a tiny step back. Your heart was beating a mile a minute as you stood at the far end of the empty training room. You look back at Bucky nervously and he gives you a reassuring nod before you turn to face your target. The three of you had been in this room for the past three hours, all three being spent on trying to get control over your strange power that Bucky had began to call “Blinking”.

“Go ahead y/n” Tony speaks from afar as he watches the scene unfold.

After the surprising events that had taken place a few days before, Tony had figured out how skittish you were and had quickly changed the way he approached you. The day that Bucky had calmed you down was the day that a small crack in your heavily built wall appeared. Once you had awoken from the incredibly deep sleep that you had fallen into (you had later found that it had taken 14 hours before you had woken up) it was hard to detach yourself from the metal armed assassin who had stayed the entire time. It was weird and uncomfortable for you, but it became second nature to follow him around like a lost puppy. He was the only one who had controlled your power without the use of sedatives or beating you into a coma, and that meant a lot to you.

It didn’t seem to bother Bucky though, he actually quite liked your company. The two of you would always make late night trips to the kitchen for snacks or you would accompany him every time he went to work out, whenever Bucky would have the need to go somewhere you would be right there with him. He had become your rock, something to stabilize you when control was lost and anxiety took over your mind. You had only had one other panic attack after that first day, but your second time around was handled much better than the first since Bucky knew what to do right away. The thought gave you comfort as you took a small step forward and a deep breath in.

“Okay, okay, okay, okay,” you mutter under your breath, shaking out your hands and feet in a nervous manner.

You focused on one spot, thinking of how it felt to “blink” and trying to make it happen. Your body began to flit in and out of sight after a few seconds and it didn’t take long before you popped up on the other side of the gym, stumbling forward and onto your knees. The sound of a happy shout from across the room was heard as Bucky cheered you on. Tony clapped loudly, a smile on his face as he slowly stood from his seated position on stacked up wrestling mats. Your chest was heaving up and down in a mix of anxiety and excitement, your body was shaking slightly as you picked yourself up from the floor and turned around to see the two men across the room.

“I did it,” the raspy mumble left your lips in a moment of realization.

Your eyes met Bucky’s and you couldn’t hold back the small smile on you lips as you saw the proud one that Bucky held on his. The flickering began to happen once again and before you knew what was even happening, you popped up right in front of Bucky, falling into his open arms.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that” You apologize quickly and begin to take a step back, but Bucky’s arms wrap around your waist before you can move and he pulls you into him.

“I’m proud of you, kid,” He states proudly, lifting you up so your feet are hovering just above the floor.

“I think that’ll be good for today, no point in stressing out too much, plus Terminator .5 over here has to get ready for a mission,” Tony says nonchalantly, making his way over to the exit.

“A mission?” you mumble out, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal, dollface. Just a low level intelligence run. I won’t be more than 3 days max, and steve is comin’ with me so there’s really nothing to worry about,” Bucky explains and gives you a reassuring smile.

“Can I um... Would I be able to com-” “Definitely not y/n, you’re incredibly unstable and could get hurt. Or hurt others,” Tony interrupted, not even making the move to turn around and face you.

“He’s right, kid. Just...Wait for me alright? You won’t even notice I’m gone,” Bucky jokes, a chuckle rumbling from low in his chest.

“You and I both know that’s a goddamn lie,” you whine out and push your forehead into Bucky’s hard chest.

His chuckles become louder at your childish behavior and he picks you up off the floor even more. “Tony will take care of you just fine, and you can start making friends with the other people who live here. I’m not the only person here ya know,”

“I don’t like anyone else here,” you mumble out quietly, your nerves beginning to get the best of you as the flickering begins, “What if it happens again?”

“Hey, hey, hey. You’re gonna be fine. You know you’re safe here now so you shouldn’t worry so much,” Bucky quickly tries to calm you down, wrapping your legs around his waist so he could hold you tighter.

The action made you snake your arms around his neck, one of your hands going into his hair just to try and gain a few more tiny touches. “I leave tomorrow morning, we can spend as much time together as you need before then, alright?”

“okay,” you mumble and push your face into Bucky’s neck, still craving any kind of touch.

Bucky was silent as he carried you out of the now empty gym to make the short journey to his room. He needed to start packing for the mission and since you need to calm down for a bit, he just decided it be easier if you were there with him. When Bucky made it back to his room, your body still wrapped around him like a sloth, he made his way over to the large bed, “Can I put you here for a sec doll? I won’t take too long to pack everything and afterwards we can just watch movies or something,”

You nod your head silently and let go of your source of warmth. Bucky walks off into his dresser and you crawl up to the top of the bed and into the covers. Your arms immediately go to wrap around one of Bucky’s pillows, shoving your face into it to feel the cool fabric and smell the spicy cologne that had rubbed off from him. The quiet ruffling of Bucky mixed with the soothing scent and feel of the sheets, quickly put you into a sleepy state. Your eyes were hooded while they followed Bucky around the room as he readied himself for the upcoming mission. He began to hum to himself quietly, it was a song that he always played in the background whenever he was doing something. Everytime Bucky worked out, cooked, did his laundry, even when he was in the shower, that specific song would play. You hadn’t heard it until Bucky asked Friday to play the song during that first night he had helped you.

“I like that song,” you mumble softly from your comfortable spot on the bed.

Bucky looks up from his nearly packed duffle bag and meets your tired gaze, “If it helps you when I’m gone, just ask Friday to put my playlist on,”

“M’kay”

It only took a few more minutes for Bucky to finish packing and once he zipped his bag up in finality, he went straight for the bed. You had fallen into an extremely light sleep, light enough that when Bucky slid in next to you, your hands immediately grasped onto his shirt, fisting it tightly. Bucky slung his leg over both of yours as his arms looped around your torso.

“Buck, can we just stay here?” you ask quietly, pushing your face into his chest and taking in a deep breath of his scent.

“Anything, honey” he mumbles into your hair.

“M’not close enough,” you whine out and try to get your body closer to his.

Ever since the thought came up of not being able to even see Bucky for three days it felt like you were miles apart already, “Sweetheart, we really can’t get much closer,” he laughs lightly and tightens his hold on around your waist.

“Your sweatshirt is too big... In the way n’stuff” you mumble, hands letting go of the soft material and traveling down to the hem.

“Doll, what’re you-Whoa!” Bucky’s entire body shivers as your cold hands move up his bare torso as you try and lift the sweatshirt up his muscular form, “Y/n I don’t think-” “Bucky please... I need to be closer” you mutter, body beginning to flicker due to your upset state of mind.

“Okay, kid. give me a second alright?” He says, sitting up and quickly removing the grey sweatshirt, leaving him in nothing but his black joggers.

Bucky immediately goes back down to wrap himself around you and you instantly melt into the new feeling, “Better, doll?”

“mhm,”

“Good, you know I’d do anything for you,”

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

It had been six days since Steve and Bucky had left for that mission. That meant it had been three days after Steve and Bucky were meant to be back home. When the two super soldiers had first left the base, you weren’t too worried. The first day wasn’t too hard, the second was a little rough and super boring, by day three the only thing keeping you intact was the knowledge of Bucky’s return by the end of the night. And yet he didn’t show, nor did his best friend. Tony had told you it had probably just been travelling issues, bad weather. And yet on day five, there wasn’t any sign of their safety or return. That was the day you had an attack. It was a full-blown one and even though he tried, Tony couldn’t stop the exhausting amount of ‘blinking’ that happened throughout the four hours it took before you passed out. You had woken up 13 hours later in Bucky’s bed with a change of clothes laid out in front of you. Tony must have put them there. You smiled when lifting up the soft material, smelling Bucks spicy cologne. It didn’t take long before you were stripping off the wrinkled clothes from the day before and pulling the oversized sweatshirt down to cover the bare tops of your thighs.

“Mr. Stark has told me to inform you of Agent Barnes arrival, y/n”

Fridays words immediately sent shivers up your body as they drowned out the low beat of the song that played in the background. Your body began to flicker with nerves and excited, but panic quickly flooded your brain as you realized what was about to happen.

“Wait, no! No! No! I don’t have pants on!” Before you could get to the boxers that ensured proper coverage, your body popped out of sight.

You popped back up in the living room, all of Earths Mightiest Heroes gathered around to welcome back their friends. The momentum that was always gathered when you teleported sent you flying into the thing you were truly focused on the most.

“Whoa!” Bucky let out a surprised yelp as you flew into his hard frame, “hey kid,”

“Hi Buck,” you mumble out quietly as Bucky automatically picked you up, something that had become second nature to him.

His cold fingers, flesh and metal, wrapped around your bare thighs as he lifted you up to his waist and wrapped your legs around him, “how’d you do while I was gone?”

“Not good,” you reply shyly, quickly shoving your face into the crook of Bucky’s neck.

“A thunderstorm came two days ago, shook her up pretty bad,” Tony notes softly from a few feet away., “Couldn’t stop popping up everywhere for four hours,”

Your face heats up in embarrassment, body flickering lightly, “Tony tried to help but it didn’t work. ‘Was real awful,”

“M’sorry that happened doll, I would’ve been back sooner but the mission took longer than expected and there were some complications,” Bucky explains, flesh hand gently moving up the length of your thigh in a comforting motion, “sweetheart are you not wearing any pants,” he mumbles lowly into your ear.

“Got too excited about you being back and didn’t have time to put any on before I showed up,” you whine out, red in the face from the awfully awkward situation.

Bucky’s chuckle rumbled out from low in his chest as he thought about your situation. His metal hand went to grab the hem of the oversized sweatshirt and tug it down to cover your bottom and a small portion of your thighs. You couldn’t move your face from the spot between his shoulder and neck from sheer embarrassment as you heard the quiet laughs of everyone surrounding you and felt the familiar flicker that moved your body.

“It’s not like any of us haven’t walked around in our underwear before y/n, you’re perfectly fine,” Steve says, trying to dull the pain in your heart from how awkward you felt.

The super soldiers words didn’t help at all as you imagined how Bucky would look if he walked around in just his boxers.

Oh god....

The thought definitely made your body heat up even more (if that was possible) and the flickering become almost violent, “doll you’re okay, calm down,” Bucky mumbles, his warm breath fanning your ear.

A small whine escaped your lips, “I’m sorry Buck,”

“About wha-“ Before Bucky could finish his question, you blinked out of sight.

Your eyes were closed as you awaited the harsh feeling of hitting the floor. But, after a second or two, you realized your ass wasn’t going to become bruised from a harsh fall as you felt the strong grip of someone’s hands on your thighs.

“Whaaaat the fuck....” Bucky trails from above, eyes wide in confusion and surprised.

“How did you- did I take you with me?” You gasp out, eyes just as wide as Bucky’s as you stared at each other.

His hands tightly gripped your thighs as you both tried to comprehend what had just happened, “you didn’t know you could do that?”

You shake your head silently, lips slightly parted and brain going a mile a minute.

“Well, I guess that’s something to add to the list,” Bucky chuckles as he sits down on the bed, you in his lap.

“Do you feel okay?” you ask worriedly, hands going up to cradle either side of his face.

“Yeah I’m alright lovie, just a little dizzy,” he answers, leaning into your touch.

Bucky wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you closer to him, a happy smile on his face for being able to hold you again. A content sigh fell from your lips as you closed your eyes and focused on his lovely touch.

“You wanna lay down honey?” he mumbles, pushing his face into your hair and breathing in the scent he had become so dependant on, “Missed you so much,”

“Missed you too bubby,” you admit in a small voice, melting into the affectionate attention that Bucky was giving you.

The cuddly assassin that held you close made the move to lay both of you onto the bed, but before getting comfortable, Bucky discards the white t-shirt that he had on and tossed it to the floor. This had become part of your daily routine after you had met Bucky. The two of you would always snuggle up together and watch movies or talk until you both fell asleep. You had become each others safety blankets and during the few days Bucky was gone, neither of you had slept very well. After Buck had laid back down, you automatically moved into the warmth of his chest while Bucky slung his leg over both of yours. He shifted to lay on his stomach, your small frame partially under his weight. The pressure brought you a sense of containment and comfort, and as Bucky nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck, it was hard not to just fall asleep right away. You wrapped one of your arms around his neck, resting your hand on his back as the other one went into his hair.

“So tired,” he grumbles sleepily, voice slightly muffled by the fluffy wall of your hair.

“Me too, bubby”

“Gonna have to figure out that two person teleporting thing later” Bucky states a bit suddenly.

You puff out your lips grumpily “Okay, can we eat before though? I haven’t eaten in ages,”

Bucky chuckles and moves his head to gently pat your head in admiration, “Anything for you, baby”

“Thank you Bub, don’t know what I would do without you,”

“I’ll always be here for you, sweetheart. Basically my second half now,” you could feel him smile before he gently places an almost nonexistent kiss to the space right under your ear.

A light giggle escapes your lips from the small tickle his stubble left on your throat and angled yourself to face him. His eyes were drooping in sleep but they held a very pretty sparkle to them as he smiled up at you, crows feet that showed in the corner of his blue eyes making your heart skip a beat and your body flicker slightly, “You okay honey?” his eyebrows knit together in worry as soon as he saw the small reaction.

“Yeah, I um... It was a good flicker this time,” you blush, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth to stop the grin that threatened to break out.

Bucky smiled widely at your comment and gently moved up a bit to be at your level. His metal hand came up to caress your cheek, the cool metal tips of his fingers feeling quite wonderful on your hot skin, “Sweetheart I really did miss you,”

“I missed you too, B”

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Here it is @k-n-e <3

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melikeylikeyjimin · 6 years

Text

Mental || Six

Word Count: 3,231 Words

Genre: Psychiatric Patient! Hoseok x Doctor! Reader, Fluff, Angst, Smut(?)

a/n: I was sick so I couldn’t finish writing it when I wanted, but here it is! I hope you guys enjoy it.

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

Monday came by at a rapid pace. The two days of the weekend effortlessly flying by in a blur. My eyes squinted around my dim habitat. My eyes were still filled with sleepiness. The tiny slit of sunshine shone through my wine colored curtains. I sat up slowly already dreading the start of my day.

I awoke with a sense of anxiousness, all because of my newest patient, Hoseok. Hoseok was not the first patient I saw during my schedule. He would fall behind the other boys still and I would check in on him after lunch.

I pulled my thick blankets away from my stiff body that radiated sleepiness off of it. My eyes trained on the clock, I wanted to desperately go back to bed even though it was only eight in the morning. I pulled myself together and pushed myself towards the bathroom to take my shower to begin my day.

I started up the shower letting the water become a boiling temperature. I needed the water to burn so I could wake up. I stripped myself of my simple pajamas and let my body relax into the boiling temperatures of the water. I was dressed and ready to begin my shift within twenty minutes.

I checked my appearance for the nth time, trying to convince myself that today would be ok. I took a deep breath and locked my little apartment behind me. I rode in the elevator with my materials. I had all the medical files of my patients and the key cards.

Over the weekend, Mr. Song had the special key card to Hoseok's isolated room delivered. I slipped it into my pocket and went to eat the breakfast that I knew I would need. I was hesitant to eat at first, my nervousness getting to my head.

I had never felt this uneasy about a new patient before, but I was losing my head. My thoughts were scattered all over the place just like my instincts. I wanted to help this man but even though I've never seen him or met him before, my instincts were telling me to escape and save myself.

I ate what I could force myself to keep down before clocking myself in for my shift. Mr. Song caught me right before I left the staff room. "Y/N, how are you holding up, are you fired up to start?" I didn't know if I should lie to him or not. I chose that lying would be better, I was probably just being over dramatic in the first place.

I nodded my head at him, "Of course I'm elated to be able to start working with Hoseok! I really hope I can do something for him." He smiled instantly, "Go get them, tiger." I nodded and he left me on my own. I checked the time to make sure I wasn't running late for Yoongi's session, not like it would have mattered. Yoongi was most likely asleep as always but being punctual was just respectful.

I mounted the elevator and rode it to Yoongi's floor like any other morning. I arrived at his door and knocked before entering. Just as I had suspected, he was dead asleep. It was always hard to keep Yoongi awake. I closed the door behind me and turned on his bedside lamp to talk to him. He didn't stir or even move a muscle. I sighed in desperation and called his name, "Yoongi."

I was ignored. I shook him slightly hoping to at least get some type of reaction out of him but not to much avail. After a few more minutes of attempts and fails he finally stirred. "Thank god, I have been trying to wake you for what seems like forever," I told him. He squinted his eyes at the light as if even the artificial light was deadly.

He sat up in bed. "Good Morning, Yoongi." I smiled. He only nodded in a form of greeting but didn't speak. He wasn't one for useless words or greetings. "How are you feeling?"

"Lonely." I frowned at his answer. He usually answered that he was ok and that he never needed anything. Was his medicine no longer strong enough to keep his depression at bay? I decided to further interrogate him on his feelings of loneliness. The pills should help him not feel any of those negative feelings with that strength.

"Why do you feel that way?" "I don't know, I just do." "So, you aren't sure where these feelings came from at all?" He shook his head. He moved his eyes so they were staring straight into my soul. Sometimes I felt like his eyes were trying to tell me a story or trying to say unspoken words to me that he couldn't find in himself to say out loud, but I couldn't always figure it out.

"Can you think of any factors that might be making you feel this way or anything I can do to help you with that feeling?" He nodded and I waited for him to tell me any observations he had. "Got any factors?" He shook his head, "All I do is sleep." I nodded because it was true. All he seemed to do was eat and sleep. "Then are there any ways for me to help?"

"Stay." Even though I was his doctor, my heart swelled at his words. I felt like I was getting so far with Yoongi. He was finally acting like he was talking to a friend or acquaintance and that I wasn't just some random person. "I'll see about making our sessions even longer than they normally are, okay?" He nodded. "Well, if you don't need anything then I'll be on my way and that'll be it for our session today." He stayed silent and I took it as an answer.

"You can lay back down and go to sleep again," I told him. He nodded and laid down. I went to turn his lamp off but he grabbed my hand again like the other time. "Do you need something, Yoongi?"

"Can you stay for 5 more minutes?" I nodded and pulled a chair up next to his bed. He didn't let go of my hand but closed his eyes to sleep. I stayed silent and would leave once he fell asleep. Once I heard his already pretty subtle breathing even out, I gently pried my hand away from his grasp. I switched his lamp off and left his room quietly, closing the heavy door behind me.

I looked over my shoulder one last time before closing it completely. I could have sworn I saw Yoongi smile. I shook it off and began to prepare for Jungkook's session. We weren't going into town today. That was scheduled for tomorrow and I knew he was growing restless in waiting. I rode the elevator up to the twelfth floor and I felt the anxiety that I didn't know subsided, return.

I walked into the room and looked over at it but didn't want to look for too long. I quickly looked away and grabbed Jungkook's items and left. I arrived at Jungkook's room to find him simply just waiting on the bed. "Hi, Y/N." He greeted me immediately. I smiled warmly, "Hi, Jungkook." I handed him his ramen as I sat down on the bed next to him and waited for him to finish his meal in silence.

There was absolutely no sound other than the sound of Jungkook slurping his noodles happily. After a few minutes, he finally finished and we began talking, "So are you excited for tomorrow?" I asked. I could tell how giddy he was. He was acting like a third grader the night before a school field trip. "Yes, I am so excited I can't wait!" Every word of his was oozing with that excitement.

"Good, I'm sure the two of us will have fun." "Is there anything special you want to do that day?" I listened as he told me of all these cool things he wanted to do. Most of them consisted of playing games at an arcade, going to an amusement park, or eating at a well-rated ramen shop. I was fine with any of these as my childhood didn't really consist of these things.

We were too poor to go out and eat, go out and have fun, etc. It was always my mom and I, on our own. "Well, I'm sure we can split those activities out because as long as you do good, we'll continue to do it every week."

"I'll be on my best behavior." He smiled. "You better be or I'll have to bring you straight back." He nodded not wanting to think about losing his special privilege.

"Y/N, can I know more about you?" He asked after a brief silence. "Why do you want to know more about me all of a sudden?" "Because you seem to know everything about me, and while you are my doctor, I also see you as a friend." I smiled when he said, friend. It was technically really against the rules for you to have any type of relationship with a patient other than the regular patient-doctor one. I didn't mind breaking the rule this one time though.

"Alright, what do you want to know about me?"

"Where are you from?"

"Ah, I'm from Daegu, you don't have to tell me where you're from though." I teased. He rolled his eyes because he knew I had a lot of information on him. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Nope." I said popping the p, "It's just me and my mom."

"What happened to your dad?" Jungkook asked the question carefully. He was looking for any signs of discomfort to see if he needed to retract his question. He saw me slightly hesitate but before he could say anything about it, I cut him off.

"He left us. We were happy when I was first born, but he gambled a lot. He put our family into debt and then straight up left leaving us without money. My mom had to take care of me by herself." He was frowning at me when I turned to look at him. "You don't have to feel sad, Jungkook. I mean, I'm doing what I want to do now. so that's all that matters." I said trying to lighten the mood.

He nodded but I could still see him mulling over the information and regretting having asked the question in the first place. "I think that's enough questions for today, don't you?" Jungkook nodded. I smiled and patted his knee before standing up. "Don't think about it too much Jeon, just know I'm happy now." He finally smiled and nodded.

"Bye, Y/N." I gave him a look and left, closing the door behind me. My lunch break was technically now but I didn't feel that hungry. Today was one of the few days I didn't eat with Dylan and Jisoo due to our different schedules. I decided I'd take a break in my room instead of grabbing lunch. I was going to need all the courage I could get before I could show up in front of Hoseok's room.

I entered the elevator and went up to my room. As soon as I entered I flopped on my bed and sighed. I was already tired from today and I hadn't even dealt with my biggest challenge yet. I bit my lip trying to calm myself. I couldn't tell why I was so nervous about this even if he was dangerous.

I would have protection right outside the door at all times. Plus, I haven't even met him yet, maybe he's different than what the rumors were portraying him as. I heard a knock at my door that startled me out of my thoughts. I pushed myself up and went to answer the door. I opened the door to find Jisoo outside. I moved aside for her to step inside.

"What are you doing here Jisoo?" I asked. "I came to check up on my baby since it's her big day!"

"I'm not getting married, Jisoo."

"I know that, but I could feel your anxiety from a mile away so I came to check up on you." She smiled. We sat down on my bed together and talked. "Are you scared?" She finally asked. "I don't know really. I am but at the same time I feel like I shouldn't be." She grabbed my hand from my lap and squeezed it. "You'll do fine, I know you will."

"I hope so, I still want to save him," I told her. "Knowing you, you will Y/N. You have something special that draws everyone to you and your personality has a calming effect." I smiled at her words. Jisoo was always there for me and always knew how to help me feel better about certain situations. "Are you going to be fine now?" She asked.

I nodded, "Yes, thank you Jisoo." She pulled me into a hug as we walked to the door. "I have to go now, I ditched work to check up on you." She joked. "Jisoo, don't do that!" I warned her. She shrugged her shoulders, "I'll go back now, but if he hurts you, you bet I'll hurt him." I laughed but I could tell she was serious. She waved before walking back down the hallway to the elevators.

I checked the clock, it was about time for me to go back to work as well. It was now or never. I put my shoes back on and locked my door behind me. I hopped in the elevator to the 12th floor. As I watched the numbers get closer and closer to twelve, my anxiety built. I took a deep breath as the elevator doors opened and stepped outside.

I walked down the hall and saw a pair of guards waiting by the door already. I greeted them and scanned my card hearing the door's lock click open. I pulled the handle down and stepped into the bright white room. There he was. Hoseok was sitting on his bed staring at the wall in front of him until his eyes wandered over to mine.

Our eyes locked as the door shut behind me. His eyes were overflowing with emotions. Some I could read like surprise and anxiety, but there was something else that I couldn't read. He wasn't easy to read like Jungkook was. I snapped out of it and push the voice I didn't know got stuck in my throat to speak.

"Hi there Hoseok, my name is Y/N and I'm your new doctor." He stared at me without saying a word. I gulped trying to soothe my dry throat. He stood up from the bed and walked towards me. I could already feel myself cowering in fear as I took small steps back, trying to increase the distance.

Soon there was no distance left and I was against the wall. He got extremely close to me, causing my eyes to squeeze shut. "Hello." I could feel his breath fan out against my face. I slowly opened my eyes to see his face extremely close, but he didn't look angry or as if he might hurt me.

"How are you?" I pressed on with questions. "If I'm in a place like this, how do you think?" He pulled away slightly before he moved away completely and sat back down on the bed. "Did I scare you?" He asked after I didn't answer his last question. "No," I replied timidly.

"You don't have to lie, I can tell. You can leave if you want." I looked into his eyes and after I saw that I saw a new emotion. Sadness. He didn't want me to leave but to him, he thought I would. I finally straightened myself out and pushed away from the wall.

I strode across the room to him and sat next to him on the bed. He looked at me surprised as if no one ever came that close to him on their own will. I grabbed his hands in mine, "I'm not going to leave. I'm not like the others." His lips parted to say something but they didn't. He closed his lips and swallowed down whatever he wanted to say. That was the only thing I was confident in. I wouldn't give up on him like the other doctors. Not after seeing his eyes...

My eyes drunk up his facial features. They were different than the picture. The picture was nothing like the real thing. His slightly tan skin, high cheekbones, and jawline drew you in. His lips were full and his nose was strong. I loved his eyes most of all, they seemed so expressive. I realized I was staring at him and still holding his hands so I blinked and let go of his hands.

"If you wanted to check me out so bad, I wasn't going to stop you." He joked. I felt blood rush to my cheeks. "I wasn't, but anyways, I'll be your new doctor." I tried to move on from his last comment. "Alright, Y/N." My name rolling off his tongue was a different feeling than hearing anyone else say it. This man was doing abnormal things to me.

"If you need anything, then you come to me. No matter what time of day, I will be here to help you." "And how do you expect me to come get you?" He asked sarcastically. I knew he was talking about being stuck in this room. I bit my lip trying to think of a way for him to contact me. "How's this, I come up here right before lunch usually, I'll check in on you when I come up here for supplies." He nodded. He looked like he wanted to make a comment about something, but he kept it in. "What about in the evening?" He asked.

Did he really need me that often? I would do it, but I was questioning his needs. "I'll come around after dinner." He finally seemed satisfied with the answer. "Can I tell you something, Y/N?" I nodded my head right away. "You are very pretty, and I am afraid to break you." I felt flattered by his words but the second half brought back a bit of the anxiety from earlier.

"Thank you, but I'll be okay." I finally answered. He smirked and grabbed one of my hands and held it. "You have this very calming effect on me. I'd even bet that it works better than the pills I'm on." He joked. I gently pulled my hand from his grip, feeling a little uncomfortable.

There was a knock on the door signaling that our time was up. He looked at the door with anger but gave me a tight-lipped smile. "Until next time, Y/N." I nodded and excused myself. I locked his door behind me and thanked the guards.

As soon as I entered the elevator I let the walls break down. Hoseok was different. My heart was racing as I tried to calm it down. I didn't know how I felt about him, but I'd still have to meet him later tonight.

#hoseok #jung hoseok #bts hoseok #bts jhope #jhope #bts #bts hoseok x reader #bts hoseok senarios #bts imagines #bts jungkook #bts fanfic #kpop #kpop fanfic #jisoo #blackpink #jungkook #yoongi #bts yoongi #mental

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ladyseaheart1668 · 6 years

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Endless Summer Fan Novel (Book 3, Chapter 2)

We make our way over to the cluster of huts. As we approach, I realize that some of them actually appear to be stalls, but if there are any wares for sale, they've all been packed away for the night.

“It's...some kind of market,” Jake murmurs. “But it looks like everything's shuttered up.”

I start to feel doubt creeping in at the edge of my mind. “Do you really think someone out here might have seen our friends?”

“It is an island after all,” Yvonne remarks with a shrug. I'm not sure if that answer is a yes or a no.

“Guess we're gonna hafta start pounding on doors.” Jake walks up to what looks like the central hut and raises his fist to knock. But before his fist meets the wood, a small round window on the door flies open. I yelp as a male Vaanti, his face covered by a bright orange frog mask with enormous red lips, appears in the window.

“Salabok tijii!” he growls. “We're closed!”

“Even for the Catalysts?” I ask.

Jake nods. “Twelve Catalysts of myth and legend. Well...three of them at the moment. Perhaps you've heard of us?”

“Catalysts, you say? Yes. That is very impressive. Still closed.” He grunts, drawing back from the window, preparing to close it. “There were others like you at the cove recently. But not nearly as annoying!”

“Others?” I gasp. “Like us? Who? How many?”

“How should I know? Go away!”

“Wait! I, uh...I might have something that'll interest you...”

Jake looks at me in surprise. “You're gonna barter with this guy?”

I pull off my backpack and dig around inside for something that might be useful. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have much. I've got the destroyed time-portal gun, an amber arrowhead that he probably has dozens of, a few filthy quarters that have probably been there since before I even left on this trip, a bottle of Midol that's probably been there even longer than the quarters...I look around frantically, and spot something sticking out of the pocket of Jake's green bomber jacket.

“How about this sublime cigar?” I pluck Lundgren's partially-smoked Havana cigar from Jake's pocket and hold it up. “You haven't lived until you've tried one of these babies!”

Jake grins. “Princess ain't wrong. I, uh...may have sampled it a little...”

“Hmm.” The Vaanti strokes his chin. “Promising.”

I hold it out to him. “Okay, so I'll trade it to you for--”

“Gurgi does not need it,” he snaps. “Have several. ...Your selling technique, though. That has promise.”

“I...what...?”

He stares at me for a moment, chuckling softly. “Come back tomorrow and Gurgi will have a business proposition for you.” With that, he slams the window shut.

“Rude,” Estela mutters in irritation. Jake brings a hand to his mouth, trying in vain to cover a yawn. It occurs to me that he and Estela have probably not had a proper night's sleep in three days.

“Sounds like our best bet'll be to ask around in the morning,” he murmurs.

“Agreed. In the meantime, we should probably all get some sleep.”

“Good call, Princess. I think that patch of sand over there is callin' my name.”

“I will take the first watch,” Yvonne volunteers.

We find a secluded spot near the treeline to spend the night. Before I sleep, I take off the heaviest pieces of my amber armor and set them aside. As much as I feel safer wearing it, particularly since it protected me from a hail of bullets back at MASADA, there's just no way I could possibly sleep in it. I lie down in the sand, curling up on my side. Jake's arm curls around me, and pulls me gently against his chest. I feel him kiss my ear.

“You looked like you needed a big spoon.”

I smile in the darkness, twining my fingers through his. “I definitely did.”

Curled up with Jake, feeling secure and protected in his embrace, I let my exhaustion take me, dropping immediately into deep, dreamless sleep.

* * *

The distant sound of shouting breaks through the darkness. Blearily, I climb back towards consciousness, making my way to wakefulness through a dense fog. I open my eyes to find Yvonne standing in front of a market stall, now laden with wares. The same Vaanti from last night, the one with the frog mask, is there, looking highly agitated.

“Gurgi said go away!” he shouts. “We have had enough of your kind raiding and pillaging!”

“Not all of us are like that, ami,” Yvonne protests. “Some of the most respectable people you will ever meet are pirates!”

“Oh, really? Is that why you pocketed those mezzberries?”

“What, these? Were they not samples?”

“You're all the same! Thieving good-for-nothings!”

Behind me, Jake stirs, sitting up groggily. “Mmmuh...whershtha fire...?” he mumbles. Nearby, Estela pushes herself up on her hands, blinking sleepily. I sit up and start to gather the discarded pieces of my armor, putting them back on.

“Come now!” Yvonne is saying. “I'm a customer like everyone else.”

“Leave! Unless you have some throats to cut or property to steal!”

“C'est dommage,” Yvonne sighs. She turns and walks back over to us.

“Everything okay?” I ask, fastening my cuirass. She merely shrugs, munching on a handful of berries.

I look back at the collection of huts. The little area seems to have come alive with Vaanti now, weaving in and out of stalls, examining the wares. The trader in the frog mask is trying to get their attention.

“Kostarii!” he calls. “Gurgi's stall is where dreams are bought and sold! Come trade with one who is patronized by Elyyshar Varyyn himself!”

Any lingering sleepiness vanishes in an instant. “Varyyn?” Three Catalysts escaped MASADA with Varyyn. And one of them was my best friend.

“That's our cue,” Jake says, getting to his feet. He, Estela, and I rush over to the stalls, Yvonne following behind us with a scowl on her face. Several Vaanti turn as we approach, peering curiously at us behind their masks. Gurgi looks up at me.

“Ahh! Just the one Gurgi wanted to see! Come, there's a deal to be made!”

I rush over eagerly. “Varyyn was here? When? Where did he go?”

Gurgi looks up at the crowd, and then back at the wares on his counter. “Gurgi can take you to the elyyshar. But first your help is needed. You see, there hasn't been a single sale today. If things don't turn around soon, Gurgi will have to close permanently.”

“We didn't come here looking for a job!” Estela snaps.

“Just help complete one barter,” Gurgi pleads. “Then we go see the elyyshar.”

I grit my teeth, curling my hands into fists. I don't want to delay. Diego was with Varyyn. I want him back. But I know better than to bite the hand that feeds me.

“...I...suppose that sounds simple enough.”

“Hawk Frog Mart's wares?” Jake says, shaking his head in dismay. “What even is most of this stuff?”

“Pah! The value of my goods will be obvious to any who see them!”

“If you say so,” Estela says skeptically. We each gather an item, and wander through the market, trying our luck with the various patrons. I pick up what looks like some kind of doll made out of wood and leaves. After about thirty minutes, I've gotten nowhere. And it doesn't seem the others have had much luck, either.

“Aw, come on!” Jake says to a disinterested Vaanti woman. “It's, uh...a hat made of bananas! What's not to like?”

“Come and get your seaweed crackers!” Yvonne calls. “Mes amis, I can attest to their deliciousness!” She stuffs one into her mouth.

“No, no!” Gurgi cries. “Those are opaba lisi! Dried leeches!” Yvonne's eyes widen and she spits out the mouthful onto the sand, gagging.

Nearby, Estela thrusts a bag at another Vaanti, her exasperation plain. “It's simple. I give you this bag of seashells and you give me something in return. Ready? And go.”

“Go,” the Vaanti repeats. Then he turns and continues on his way. I sigh, tossing the doll thing back on the counter. I wander over to Yvonne and cup my hands over my mouth, calling out to the gathered crowd, “Anyone wanna trade for some opaba lisi?”

To my mild surprise, a ram-masked Vaanti turns eagerly toward me. “Opaba lisi? Koh!” He removes a wriggling centipede from a pouch at his waist and holds it out to me.

“Oh!” I look down at the squirming thing. “You want to give me that in exchange?”

“Khalarat ryysa! Tosskal!” The man drops the cetipede into my hand, and happily accepts a handful of dessicated leeches.

“Yes, indeed,” Gurgi declares. “Opoba lisi is a powerful aphrodisiac.”

“Really?” Jake asks, wandering up to us. “Go figure.”

I glance over at Yvonne, who seems to have cornered a male Vaanti beside a hut.

“Mmm, I do like a man of mystery,” she says coquettishly. “Perhaps you'll give me a glimpse of your handsome face?”

The Vaanti lets out a weak, “Uhhh...”, glancing around for an escape route.

“An aphrodisiac is about the last thing she needs,” Estela remarks. I chuckle, turning to hand the cetipede to Gurgi. He accepts it eagerly.

“Oh, thank you, Catalysts! You have saved me!”

“Oh, don't thank us,” Estela says with a smile. “That was all Alodia.”

“Seriously, nice work, Princess.” But my attention is on Gurgi.

“Okay, we made a sale. Will you tell us where Varyyn and our friends are now?”

Gurgi pulls out a small bundle wrapped in leaves and places it on the counter. “These are the elyyshar's requested goods. He and his entourage are camped in a hidden inlet west of the cove.” He points toward a gap in the cliff face, through which I can see an expanse of beach. “Perhaps you would not mind delivering these goods to Elyyshar Varyyn?”

I don't need to be asked twice. I snatch up the bundle and run towards the inlet. Jake and Estela follow close behind me. I hear Yvonne's voice from across the market.

“I will be here if you need me, mes amis! Now where were we, mon beau mec bleu?” ...Good lord, I hope the poor man manages to escape. But selfish as it probably is, I can't think about him right now. I am thinking about another man.

We duck between an opening in the cliffs and arrive on a secluded strip of beach. Michelle, Raj, Varyyn, and Diego are sitting together on the sand. I drop the bundle and race towards them, my heart in my throat.

“Diego! Diego!” Diego turns and immediately leaps to his feet, his eyes wide.

“Allie!” I throw my arms around his neck and he scoops me up, gripping me so hard it almost hurts, even through my armor. “You're okay! I knew it! I knew you had to be okay!”

“It's Alodia! It's Alodia!” Raj's massive frame nearly knocks me and Diego over when he joins in the hug.

“Alodia, thank goodness...” Michelle comes up on the other side to add herself to the group hug.

“Ah...is this a proper greeting?” I hear Varyyn ask from where I am buried inside a magnificent pile of my friends' arms. I feel him approach from behind me and awkwardly put his arms around the group. “...It is good to see you, Alodia.”

“I missed you guys,” I croak tearfully.

Jake clears his throat. “Hey, Estela and I are okay, too, just in case you hooligans were wondering.”

They step back from me to look at Jake and Estela. Diego is the first to break away to pull them both into a hug. “Glad you two are all right. Thanks for looking after Allie for me.” Jake snorts and ruffles his hair.

“You gotta know by now I ain't gonna let anything happen to her.”

“Wait,” Michelle says suddenly, her expression falling. “Sean was in the helicopter with you. Is he...?”

“We don't know,” Estela says grimly. “After Alodia fell, he and Craig went to search along the coast while Jake and I went into the forest.”

“What about Zahra?” Diego asks. “And Quinn?”

Jake's face is tight with pain. “No idea, Short Stuff. ...Skrillex fell just before Alodia. And Red...”

He trails off. I glance at Jake uncertainly. ...There are things I know about him that he doesn't know I know. Things I saw in the visions that came when I touched his idol. I know that his habit of handing out nicknames came from Mike. Just three days ago, he saw Mike alive after believing he had been dead for three years. ...Alive, but with his mind imprisoned inside some wretched cybersuit. The fact that he has barely called anyone by name since I reunited with him has not escaped me. I take his hand and squeeze it, feeling him grip back.

“...I've sent my best scouts to locate everyone,” Varyyn says softly. “If the others can be found, they will find them.”

“I don't like that 'if'...” Michelle declares, her voice breaking.

Raj claps his hands. “Homies, what we need right now is a dope-ass brunch. You can't be anxious on a full stomach.”

“I am starving,” Diego admits.

“The supplies from the trading post should arrive soon.”

“Oh! Fuck me, I almost forgot!” I look around for the bundle. Apparently, Estela picked it up after I dropped it to hug Diego, because she passes it to me now. I hand it to Varyyn, who inspects it briefly before passing it to Raj.

“All right! The good stuff's finally here!” He eagerly tears into the bundle. His expression wavers slightly. “What the...a mango and a bunch of seaweed? Where's the coconut milk? And the spices?”

“Oh...I guess that's all he had?” I scratch my head awkwardly. “Sorry, I didn't look in the bundle beforehand...”

Raj shake his head. “It's fine. I've made feasts with less than this. I'll just...” He falters, swallowing. “I'll just...I can...um...” He stares at the pile of seaweed and the meagerly sized mango, his hands trembling.

“...Raj...?”

“I can't make anything with this!” he screams, making us all jump. He flings the ingredients to the ground and storms off down the beach.

“I...think we broke Raj again,” Diego murmurs.

I bite my lip. “You guys wait here. I'm gonna go check on him.”

I hurry to catch up with Raj. To my mild surprise, he slows down to let me catch up with him. For a moment, we walk silently along the water together.

“...You okay?” I ask. As we round a rocky outcropping, light reflects off the tears on his eyelashes.

“I'm sorry, Alodia. I can't do it.”

“Raj, it's okay. You don't have to prove your cooking skills. You're our resident top chef and everyone knows it.”

“I know. It's just...I'm always the one to bring everyone together, to lighten the mood...” He stops walking, his gaze falling. “I don't think I can do it now, Alodia. After everything we've seen...I don't think I have it in me anymore.”

I put a hand on his shoulder. I'm searching for words when a soft green glow filters onto his face. I look up sharply. The same translucent, sexless figure we encountered last night is suddenly there beside us, leading concernedly towards Raj.

“...You again?”

Raj sees who I'm talking to and yelps, staggering back. “Ohhh, god! I am too sober for this to be happening!”

“What are you?” I ask the ghostly thing. “What do you want from us?”

The figure flares with light, and extends its hand towards Raj, offering him a leatherbound book. It gestures with the book, almost imploringly. Raj looks down at it, trembling.

“...That's...Grandma's recipe book...? But...I thought that got burned up!” He shakes his head wildly. “I shouldn't. It's a trap. It's a trap!”

But my mind is making connections. I do not know what this thing is, if it's been sent by the Endless or if it's something else entirely. But if I'm right...

“It's not a trap. I've seen this before. I think it's trying to help us.” I reach out to take the book. Once again, the figure vanishes the moment my fingers close around the slim volume. “Here, Raj. You'll want to see this.”

Raj reaches out uncertainly, and I let the white haze consume me.

In an outdoor marketplace, stalls lined with brightly colored produce stretch as far as the eye can see. Raj stands in the middle of an empty walkway, surrounded by a small film crew and a cameraman.

“All right,” a woman I assume is the director says. “Let's take it again. Can I get starting positions?”

Raj frowns a little. “Sorry, uh...does somebody have my coffee?”

“Get Raj his coffee, please,” the director calls. “And we're rolling in 3...2...1...”

The crew quiets. Raj picks up a bundle of leeks and smiles into the camera. “Hey, guys! Raj Bhandarkar here. We're outside of one of my favorite outdoor markets in the world, La Boqueria in Barcelona! As you know, my cooking is majorly inspired by my buddies from college. That's why I'm here with my bro of bros, Craig Hsiao!”

Craig, in a T-shirt and denim jacket, steps up beside Raj, grinning. “Yo!”

“You ready to get sickly leeked, dude?”

“Uh...what?” Craig's face suddenly lights up. “Oh! You mean your grandma's chicken and leek curry? That stuff's bomb!”

“You know it! We're gonna need fresh ginger, a few cinnamon sticks, and, uh...” He suddenly trails off, frowning.

“You okay?” the director asks.

“I'm fine. Sorry. Late night last night.”

Craig grins, clapping him on the back. “Hey, it's not his fault everyone wants to buy drinks for the star of Bhandarkar Fills Bellies!”

“Okay, let's try starting with the interview instead. Ready? And...action!”

Raj grins into the camera again. “So, broseph, I'd ask you what your favorite food is if I didn't already know your feelings on the subject of fried chicken.”

Craig laughs. “I try to keep it gourmet, you know? Plus a little szechuan makes everything tastier.”

A series of beeps from Raj's pocket interrupts the filming again. He pulls it out of his pocket and glances at the screen.

“Oh, it's Chris! Sorry guys, I gotta take this real quick.”

“Like, Chris Winters?!” Craig yelps. “The movie star?!”

The camera man stops recording as Raj puts the phone to his ear. “Chris, my boy! S'up? ...Milan? Tonight? I dunno, man...All right, all right, now we're talkin'! It's a deal. See you there, dude!” He puts his phone away and turns to the crew. “I'm gonna have to cut this short, guys.”

“What?!” the director yelps. “Raj, we've barely got enough footage to work with for the episode!”

“We're about to get a whole lot more! We're gonna take Grandma's curry to a premiere afterparty in Milan!”

“Whaaaaaaat?!” Craig cries. “Hell yeah!”

“Chris wants me to take over catering. He says we can film whatever we want. You're coming, right Craig?”

“Bro, Imma keep living your dream with you as long as I can!”

The world is once again awash with light, and I am back on the beach with Raj. I release the book, smiling at him. He stares at the leatherbound volume quivering in his hands.

“Did...Alodia, did I just see the future?”

I nod, my grin widening. “Yeah. And I saw it, too.”

“In my family, my grandma was the only one who believed in my cooking...Do you really think I could have my own show someday?”

“Raj, your food is already legendary with us. It's only a matter of time before other people catch on.”

“...Yeah...you know, I think you're right.” He flips open the recipe book, drawing in a deep breath. “All right, Grandma, let's do this!”

The two of us head back to the others. They look up as we approach, concern in their eyes.

“Everything okay, Julio Child?”

“Guys,” Raj says seriously. “The X-Files was right. The truth is out there!”

“You know that was just a TV show, right?” Diego deadpans. I snort, coming over to ruffle his hair with both hands.

“You're one to talk!” He laughs, swatting my hands away. Michelle frowns at Raj.

“Hey, Raj...where did you get that book?”

He shakes his head dismissively. “Never mind, doodlejumps! We're goin' back to the market!” He jogs towards the break in the cliffs.

“Come on, everyone!” I call. “Follow that chef!”

As we're making our way back to the trading post, Varyyn suddenly stops and looks out at the water. I turn to see what's caught his eye, and spot brightly-colored sails bobbing and swaying amid the tide.

“Windsurfers,” he says wistfully. “This cave has the best waves in all of Vaanu.”

“Little do the people of Elyys'tel know that surfing is their king's true calling,” Diego says with a grin.

“You are my true calling, Diego,” Varyyn replies, smiling as a blush creeps over Diego's handsome face. “...But surfing is also very good.”

Diego snorts. “You just had to ruin it, didn't you?”

Varyyn smirks, leaning down to plant a kiss on the top of Diego's head.

“There you are, mon chers!” We turn to see Yvonne striding over to us, smiling widely. “My masked beau was shier than I'd expected. Though he was kind enough to give me his sea catch for the day...” She holds out a woven satchel filled with oyster shells.

“Oh, sweet!” Raj exclaims. “I should be able to crack these babies open.” He digs around in the sand for a moment and pulls out a rock before sitting down next to the satchel.

“Yvonne,” I say, “are you sure he gave these to you? You didn't take them?”

“Oh, my,” Yvonne replies cheerfully, “but this is a beautiful view...”

“Ugh, these are tough,” Raj mutters in annoyance. “Where's Sean when you need him?”

I can't help but notice how Michelle's expression darkens at the mention of Sean. She wanders towards the trading post, searching for something to distract her.

“What's that hut there?” she asks, pointing. “The one decorated with flowers?”

“Ahh,” Varyyn says. “Someone has been joined in a handfasting.”

“A handfasting?”

“In Vaanti society, when two people love each other deeply, they may choose to bond their lives together in a ceremony called Niala'rei. Before friends and family, they are symbolically joined and must spend a year and a day in each other's presence. If they still love one another after that time, their spirits are believed to become one for all eternity.”

Jake comes up beside me, silently placing a hand on my back. I edge a little closer to him.

“That's...beautiful,” Diego says softly, meeting Varyyn's eyes.

“A beautiful hell perhaps!” Yvonne scoffs.

Jake looks over at Raj. “How those oysters comin', Cookie?”

Raj opens his mouth to reply, but he's cut off by a scatter of cries from the Vaanti bustling through the trading post. We look up to find that they've all stopped to stare in alarm at the water.

“He is back!” Gurgi yelps. “Run for your lives!”

I pull away from Jake to find a better vantage point, and squint out across the sea. My heart leaps into my throat as I see exactly what has the Vaanti in such a panic. A massive wooden sailing ship, like a brigantine or a galleon, is cutting through the waves toward the beach.

“Is that a pirate ship?” Diego gasps. Yvonne's hands curl into fists.

“Malatesta,” she growls through gritted teeth. “You bastard!”

Distant explosions accompany bursts of white smoke on the sides of the ship, and then there are cannonballs arcing through the air towards the Vaanti dwellings.

“Look out!” Estela screams. I drop to my knees, covering my head with my forearms as a hut next to me shatters apart, raining down sharp flinders. I feel debris striking at my arms and against my armor. When it seems to have all settled, I look up and find Estela in front of me. She takes my arms, helping me to my feet. The others are rushing over.

“You all right?” Jake asks anxiously, looking me over.

I nod, shaking a little. “I'm fine.”

“Good reflexes,” Diego quips.

“Well, someone around here has to be the clearheaded one,” Michelle remarks. Around us, the Vaanti are scattering, running for the cliffs. Gurgi is at his stall, frantically gathering his goods.

“Get out of here, Catalysts!” he cries. “He's coming to--” He is interrupted by a loud thunk from the side of his stall that makes him yelp. A harpoon is lodged in the wood, connected to a hemp rope in a makeshift zipline.

“Is it the Caped Crusader?” Raj gasps.

“Please be Christian Bale, not Ben Affleck,” Diego mutters.

The man in the long coat does not appear to be either Bale or Affleck. He is a tall, handsome young man with a bushy blond beard and the weathered skin of a sailor. He hops onto the sand beside Gurgi's stall. Yvonne marches over to him, her own lovely, sea-weathered face twisted with rage.

“Look what crawled out of the cesspools!” she sneers.

The man narrows his sapphire-blue eyes at her. “If it isn't my least favorite ghost. Stand aside, Yvonne. Unless you're ready to return to the grave.”

“What's going on here?” I demand.

“Parley's just finishing up. Now it is time to take what's mine.” He pulls a wheellock pistol from his belt.

“Malatesta, you scabrous bilge eel!” Yvonne roars. “I'm not about to let you sack this place!”

“These people live peacefully here!” Varyyn growls. “You will not harm them.”

“Wait, Malatesta?” I gape at the man in front of me. “You mean this is your old captain?”

“The very same,” Yvonne confirms flatly. She draws her own pistol, but with a sharp crack and a puff of smoke, Malatesta shoots it from her hand and sends it tumbling across the sand.

“Missed,” he sneers. “I was aiming at your head. Second time's the charm, eh?”

“Stop!” I shout. “That's enough!” Malatesta turns to me, looking me over with a critical eye.

“Tell me, Yvonne. Who is the tiny one with the yellow hair? She is the size of a kitten, and yet in that armor she clearly fancies herself a lioness.”

“My name is Alodia!” I snap. “And you can turn right around and sail away. There is nothing of value here.”

“How dare you!” Gurgi squawks indignantly.

“That's a little harsh, Allie,” Diego adds plaintively.

“Gurgi works night and day to supply this shop with...” He trails off suddenly, catching my eye. “...With...nothing! Gurgi has nothing!”

“You don't gotta tell us twice,” Raj agrees.

“You see?” I say, looking back at Malatesta. “Are you really gonna try to kill people over fruit and seashells?”

Malatesta is already reloading his pistol. “I said the talking is finished, little kitten. Get out of my way!”

Yvonne lets out a wordless roar of fury and runs headlong at Malatesta, tackling him into the surf. They devolve into what can only be described as a brawl, neither gaining the upper hand as they wrestle and box in the shallow water.

“That's it!” Gurgi shouts. “Give him a good throttling!”

Diego moans. “I can't watch! They're like bloodthirsty animals on National Geographic!”

“More like animals in heat,” I mutter, smirking in spite of myself. “I almost wonder if we should give them some privacy.”

Finally, soaking wet and heaving with exhaustion, the two pirates stop and break apart, glaring murderously at each other.

“You always thought you were better at everything!” Malatesta snarls.

“I am better, you pox-ridden guttersnipe! You remember what you told me on the coast of Barbados? That you were the greatest wave rider? You were wrong! I was I who was the best!”

“Tell it to my arse! You're a wave rider like a cabin boy's a first mate!”

“Okay, I'm seeing your point, Allie,” Diego murmurs to me. “This is clearly foreplay.”

Malatesta points to the natural pillars rising out of the sea in the distance. “See those columns over there? I'd bet my ship ye couldn't get a group around the lot of them in less than an hour's time!”

Yvonne straightens, raising an eyebrow. “What did you say?”

“I said, I bet my ship ye can't...” He stops, his eyes going wide. “Oh...never mind...”

“Oho! You can't get out of it now, you leprous barrel monkey! You're on!”

Malatesta growls in frustration. “Fine, ye fork-tongued scalamagdrion. But come back in more than an hour and I get every last plantain and filbert out of that stall, understand? Blasted blue elves owe me after what they did to me crew! And if your friends even try to stop me, I'll blast this place sky high!”

“What?!” Gurgi yelps. “No! No deal!”

“Bon,” Yvonne declares. “The wager is accepted. And since I get to choose a condition as well, I select Alodia to represent me in the test of skill.”

“Wait...windsurfing?” I sputter.

Yvonne retrieves her hat and straightens her jacket, making her way out of the surf and over to me. “Oui. For a ship. A ship that will help us find your friends.” She slings an arm around my shoulders and whispers in my ear. “The fact is, he's right. I am a terrible wave rider.”

“But then, why would you...”

“Tricks of the trade, ma fille!”

Malatesta pulls out a small hourglass and trudges toward the other side of the cove. The rest of us follow.

“Woooo! It's on!” Raj crows.

“Oh, boy,” I groan. “What have I gotten into...?”

“You will do very well,” Varyyn says reassuringly. “You bested even Uqzhaal at quuk'tanoi.”

“Yeah,” Jake agrees. “It was enough to win you a mask. You'll be fine.”

I look to where Malatesta has managed to acquire two boards. “I guess I won't be alone out there...but I don't know who I'm supposed to take with me.”

“Well, if you're looking for speedy maneuvering, Jake's your dude,” Raj says. “He killed it in our jet ski race at The Celestial. And we all know you two work well together.”

“But Alodia's going to need stamina and control more than speed,” Michelle argues. “Those pillars are scattered way out. I think Estela might be a stronger choice.”

“Or Varyyn,” Diego suggests. “He understands the area better than anyone. He's been coming to this cove for years.”

Yvonne is hoisting the single sails on the two unclaimed boards. She smiles coyly at me. “Who will it be, Alodia?”

I sigh heavily. “Sensible as it might be to take someone who knows the area, Raj is not wrong when he says Jake and I work well together. And not just for the obvious reasons.” In spite of myself, I grin at him. “We're proven to work well in tandem, by land, sea, or air.”

“I like the way you think, Princess. Time to get wet.” He pulls off his shirt and heads over to the surfboards. I carefully remove my armor, and strip off the clothes underneath until I'm down to my bra and panties.

“You've got one hour to make it around the farthest pillar and back,” Malatesta informs us. “A breath longer, and it's time to pay up or get blown up. ...Go!”

He flips the hourglass and slams it down in the sand. Jake and I grab the sails on our boards and run toward the water. When the water reaches our knees, we swing ourselves onto the boards and angle the sails backwards. I grasp the rig attached to the sail and feel the sail catch the wind and push me forward.

“I think this is probably the quickest path,” Jake calls. He maneuvers and harnesses the wind, taut muscles rippling under his skin. “Stick close, Princess, and we'll be home in time for supper!”

“Only if you can keep that up!” I call back.

We skim along the water's surface, and I start to wonder what I was so worried about. I survived quuk'tanoi, and it seems whatever windsurfing skills got me through that aren't as rusty as I feared. As we near the first set of columns, a huge wave comes crashing through the area around us, forcing us toward the cliffs. In the water below us, I see a school of fish riding the powerful current, and follow their example.

“Let's give it all we got!” I call.

“What floats your boat floats my boat, Princess!”

We angle our sails back and surge along the cliffside. Carefully, we make our way through the jagged spurs of rock. It's not long before the final column comes into view. We plot a safe course and round the pillar smoothly, turning back toward the shore. We wind our way back through the colonnade, eyes on the prize. As we pass a rock outcropping, something heavy and black drops onto my sail.

“What the hell is...” I look up and hear myself yelp when I find a large black spider crawling down the sail fabric.

“Good gravy!” Jake exclaims. “Keep cool, Princess. He probably just wants a ride or something.”

“Well, he's weighing me down!” I reach up to grab the creature. “Get off my boat!”

To my unwelcome surprise, my fingers close around something metal. The spider's limbs are mechanical. Instead of a head, there's what can only a tiny camera. The moment I tighten my grip even slightly, I hear a crunch as the delicate machinery crumbles. I keep it clasped in my palm as I turn my attention back to my task. I won't throw it overboard now. It may be useful later. I lean my sail into the wind, gunning for the shore.

Finally, Jake and I glide smoothly onto the beach. At the other side of the cove, I notice a small crowd of Vaanti have gathered to watch us. Our friends cheer as we climb ashore.

“Damn!” Raj gushes. “You guys were like a couple of those walks-on-water lizards!”

I rush towards Malatesta, my heart knocking painfully against my ribs as I peer at the hourglass. I let out a shuddering breath.

“There's still sand running through it! We did it!”

Malatesta stares at the hourglass, his eyes wide with disbelief. “...No...”

Yvonne grins wickedly. “Oui.”

“No!” he bellows, violently kicking over the hourglass and sending sand flying. “No! No! You cheating little wench!”

“I believe you mean Respectable Sea Captain, cheri. Now, say the words.”

“I won't!”

“Say them or I'll tell everyone from here to Tortuga--”

“Fine!” Malatesta grits his teeth, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “The Dorado...is yours.”

“Hahaaaaa!” Yvonne crows. She pulls off her hat and descends into a sweeping bow, grinning at us. “Make whatever preparations you need, amis! We depart at dusk!”

“Well, we won't sail on empty stomachs!” Raj declares. “Let me back at those oysters!” The others disperse slightly, but Varyyn and Diego hang behind with me as I pull my clothes back on.

“I guess we're gonna be a pirate crew,” Diego remarks, grinning. “Can't say I'm complaining!”

“If everything works out, maybe we'll find the others sooner this way.”

“Alodia, you have my deepest gratitude for solving this conflict peaceably,” Varyyn says. “I'll make sure my scouts know where we're headed.”

Diego shades his eyes, looking towards the sun, which is already sinking low on the horizon. “Gonna be another beautiful sunset.” He gasps. “Ohmygod, Allie! Have you been up into the hills yet? Varyyn showed me this spot where you can see for miles out to sea.”

He points to a secluded hilltop, thickly covered in soft, swaying grass. It looks inviting, even from where I am now.

“A very special place, that,” Varyyn says, nodding sagely. “The view of the sunset from there is...inspiring.”

Diego elbows me. “You should totally take a certain someone up there while we've got a couple hours to kill.”

“Especially if you would like them to fall in love with you,” Varyyn adds. I can't help myself. I burst out laughing.

“Geez, guys! Matchmaker much?”

Diego grins and comes up behind me, grabbing my upper arms and swaying with me while he sings, “Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!” On the last word, he shoves me gently towards Jake, who is at the water's edge, vigrously rubbing sand and saltwater out of his hair. Relenting, I walk over to him. My armor is still discarded on the beach, but I have a feeling I won't need it for a bit.

Coming up behind Jake, I cinch my arms around his waist and nuzzle his neck. He chuckles. “Hello to you, too, Princess.”

“So, there's a secluded hilltop over there, and a gorgeous sunset due very shortly. Care to join me?”

“Is, uh, clothing optional?”

“Might be. Wanna find out?” Jake turns in my embrace and laces his fingers together at the small of my back.

“Absolutely.”

Hand in hand, we make our way up the hill. When we reach a sharp incline, Jake leaps it deftly before offering me his hand with a playful smile.

“You remember the last time we went hiking together?” he asks. I take his hand.

“That feels like forever ago,” I reply as I hop over the incline.

“Time is so weird on this island, maybe it was.”

“I'm glad there's no rock climbing on this one, though. I have a feeling we'll need our energy for the top.” I wink coquettishly.

We reach the top within a few more minutes. I immediately feel the breath rush out of my body. The sky looks like the sort of sunset painters dream of. The impossibly beautiful palette of pastel pink and lush orange brushed with fingers of purple, the dramatic swirl of color around the sinking sun, look like something a film crew labored to create to set the perfect romantic mood, even knowing no one would be paying that much attention to the background. Meanwhile, the sea glistens in the bath of light, the water dark and sultry in contrast to the colors reflected on its undulating surface. I feel my throat tightening.

“Oh, god...I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life...”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Jake murmurs. I turn to look at him and realize he's staring at me. I can't help laughing, and give him a playful swat.

“That was corny as hell, Top Gun.”

“Aww, you saying you don't like corn, Princess?”

“It's like when those ridiculous action movies try to shove a romance plot in at the end.”

“Hey!” he says indignantly. “Action movies are awesome!”

I grin. “...I like them, too,” I confess. He raises an eyebrow.

“Seriously?”

“Diego insists on watching Die Hard every Christmas. You could say I was indoctrinated.” The memory tugs at the corner of my mind, an image of Diego curled up on the sofa under a blanket, munching air-popped popcorn from plastic bowl while the movie flickers on the screen across the room...

“So Pop Culture Petey has some taste after all.”

“Yeah...”

We sit down together in the grass, and I nestle into Jake's side. He winds an arm around me as the wind picks up, trailing cool fingers over our faces. For a moment, I close my eyes, savoring the scent of the man beside me. Sweat and saltwater, notes of spicy-sweet cologne woven deep into the fibers of his green bomber jacket and lingering even though he probably hasn't reapplied the stuff since we landed on the island god-knows-how-long ago...

“So, what do you like about action movies?” he asks me. I open my eyes.

“The protagonists,” I answer promptly. “They always manage to keep it together even when the world around them is falling apart.”

“That must be why I like you.”

“What?”

“Feel like you just described yourself there, Princess.” I snort, elbowing him lightly.

“Flatterer.” I turn to him with a grin. “You know...I may well be pretty, but I think I would look even better kissing you. I mean, have you seen yourself?”

Jake grins back, bringing his other arm around me. “What's a pair of good-looking people on a romantic sunlit cliff to do?”

“I have a few ideas,” I reply, brushing a few strands of hair from his eyes. I close the distance between us, pressing my mouth to his. He kisses me back eagerly, hands slipping under my shirt. I'm glad I didn't put my armor back on immediately.

Since I fell from the chopper, Jake's horrified face has haunted me. Suddenly, all the tension I've built up since then, all the fear I've been forcing down since we've been separated just so I could stand a chance of keeping it together long enough to actually find him...all the wild relief and desire I've held back since I saw him again...everything...absolutely everything is bubbling up and threatening to consume me. He tugs at my clothes, his whole body quivering, and I know he's feeling the same.

“Princess...do you want to...?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “Right now.”

“Good.”

We pull desperately at each other's clothes, tearing them off as fast as our hands will move, and it isn't fast enough. Not for me. He laughs in my ear as I fumble with his belt.

“In a rush there, Princess?”

“Are you asking me to slow down?”

“Not a chance.”

He sheds the rest of his clothes and rolls on top of me, kissing me hungrily. Then, for just a moment, he breaks the kiss and pushes himself up on his elbows to look down at me. One hand strokes my face, brushing stray wisps of hair from my forehead.

“Alodia...”

“...Jake...” His hand drifts down my body towards my hips. I gasp, arching my back as his fingers find a sensitive spot and press in gently. I reach down to grasp his lower back, pulling his hips towards mine. He sinks into me easily, and we find our rhythm. It doesn't take long. We may have not known each other long...but all things considered, we have probably known each other for at least a thousand lifetimes. How many times have we fallen in love? Did it take longer before? Did it happen so quickly this time only because we already knew it was meant to be? Does any of that really matter, when I'm here and entwined in pleasure with the man I love? No. Fuck destiny. Fuck fate. Fuck La Huerta. Fuck the Endless. Right now, nothing matters except me and Jake, together in front of the sunset.

“Alodia...Alodia...I love you...”

“I love you, Jake...” My fingers curl into his flesh as I throw my head back, moaning with ecstacy, not caring who hears. Finally, satisfied and slick with sweat, Jake rolls off me, nuzzling close to me on the grass. The breeze has turned cooler, and as it passes over my sweat-soaked skin, I shiver. Jake smiles a little, grabbing his jacket and drawing it over me like a blanket. I smile, curling into him.

“...How 'bout that sunset, huh?”

“It's pretty great, Princess. But it's great because I get to share it with you.”

“What can I say? I have a great copilot. Really makes a difference.”

… I don't know why I said that. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know I've made a mistake. But the way Jake's expression suddenly alters frightens me. Suddenly, he's looking through me, his gaze distant and haunted. I raise a hand to stroke his cheek, trying not to tremble.

“Jake? You okay?” He shakes his head slightly, as if waking himself up. He clears his throat and sits up.

“We should...uh...we should go back...”

“Wait, what?”

He offers me a half-hearted smile. “Don't wanna climb down in the dark, right?” He starts to get up, but I catch his arm, pulling him back down.

“Jake, let me help you,” I plead softly. “I can't help you work through whatever's going on if you don't talk to me.” It's hypocritical as hell for me to be saying anything like that, but I'll let him scold me later if necessary. Right now, I only care about him. My grip on his arms tightens and he meets my gaze. His eyes start to water as his composure cracks. Finally, a strangled sob escapes him.

“I'm not good to my copilots, okay?!” he cries. “Everyone I care about's been hurt because of me! Whether I run or fight, something happens, and I...” He trails off, exhaling hard. He looks out over the water as if searching for answers from the sea. He picks up a fistful of dirt and grass and throws it over the cliffs edge. I stroke his back, gently.

“I'm here, Jake,” I murmur. “I'm right here.”

He lets his head fall into his hands. “...I love you, Alodia. I love you so much. I want to give you the best life I can. But when I think of everything I've had to do to survive the last few years, I just...” He tilts his head back, running his fingers through his hair. “You don't deserve to deal with that. To deal with me.”

He lowers his hands, looking back out over the water. I lay a hand on his shoulder and kiss his cheek.

“Hey. I think I get to decide what I deserve.” His eyes snap towards me. He looks uncertain. Skeptical. “We've been through more together than anyone else in this world could understand. By all accounts, we should be dead, insane, or both. But whenever things got tough, you were there. Whenever I didn't know what to do, you did. Given all we're facing, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have by my side.”

Jake stares at me for a long moment. Finally, I see the ghost of a real smile on his lips. He draws me close and kisses me gently, gratefully.

“You're somethin' else, you know that?”

“I try.” I look back out over the horizon, where the sun has almost entirely vanished. “We should probably get back. We'll be leaving for the ship soon.”

“Yeah. Don't want Blondbeard getting his panties in a twist.”

We gather our discarded clothes and start to pull them back on. Jake shrugs on his jacket, pausing a moment.

“Hey, Alodia...Thanks. I mean it.”

“Anytime, Jake. I mean it. ...I love you.”

“...Love you, too, Princess.”

* * *

Back on the beach, Raj has turned oysters, seaweed, and mango into stew with his usual skill and flair. We fill our bellies, and then Jake helps me put my armor back on. The moon is coming into view as we make our way onto a pair of rowboats bound for the galleon anchored in the harbor.

“Guess Frenchie and Cap'n Crunch are already aboard,” Jake muses.

Diego grins. “Hey, guys, think we'll get to release the kraken?”

“This time there'll be rum, right?” Raj asks. “I mean, there's gotta be...”

I chuckle, looking back towards the marketplace, where a large crowd has gathered around Gurgi's stall.

“Now Gurgi can not only boast that the elyyshar is his patron, but the Catalysts, too,” I remark. “Looks like he might be getting a little more than he bargained for.”

“May he do well with it,” Varyyn replies mildly.

As we reach the ship, a rope ladder is lowered for us, and we ascend it one at a time. At the top, I hop over the side and find myself on an ornately appointed deck. Yvonne waits to greet us.

“Welcome aboard The Dorado, mes amis! She is quite yar, non?”

“Lovely,” I agree, glancing around. “But...is it just us?”

“Just us and la femme mysterieuse.”

“...Who?”

“She means the witch,” Malatesta mutters, gesturing towards the prow of the ship. I turn to look, and I feel my heart stop.

A woman in jeans and a brown suede jacket stands at the prow of the ship, her back to me as she gazes out at the water. I can't see her face, but I don't need to. A long, copper-colored braid cascades over her shoulder, tumbling to her waist. I would know her anywhere. I speak her name, my voice coming out in a weak croak.

“...Quinn...?”

#pixelberry choices #playchoices #choices stories you play #Endless Summer #Diego Ricardo Ortiz Soto #Jake McKenzie #sean gayle #raj bhandarkar #Craig Hsiao #aleister rourke #quinn kelly #estela montoya #michelle nguyen #zahra namazi #grace hall

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starshineskyandthepowerofrock · 3 years

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Part 17 of Starshine, Sky, and the Power of Rock.

Skylar doesn't say anything for an unbearable amount of time. I bookmark the page I'm on and begin packing away the books as if they're nothing of concern. She just watches me in horrible silence.

Perhaps I can divert her attention. "I thought you liked animals enough to be vegetarian," I say with feigned casualness. "Now you're wearing dragon skin?"

"It's fake," she says.

"Oh," is all I say back. I zip up my suitcase and slide it back under my bed. Then I lay back down like nothing happened.

Skylar stares at me for a bit longer then retreats to the bathroom to get ready for bed. When she's finally out I'm pretending to sleep. Her footsteps are slow, amplified. The ba-bump ba-bump ba-bump of my heart pounds in my ears. Is she getting closer? She's getting closer! I'm hyperaware of every sound now, which only emphasizes the fact that I can't hear her breathing. She isn't alive. She doesn't have a soul. She lacks the compassion to keep my oddities a secret. Come tomorrow I'm sure she'll have told her friends about my fascination with the macabre and my sisters will end my social life right then and-

"First the fake arm and now this?"

I involuntarily twitch from surprise.

"I knew it. You're awake," she says.

I sigh and sit up, pushing my sleep mask away from my eyes. I can't stand to look at her, so I stare at my knees instead.

"What else do you have going on, huh?" she asks. "Why do I only learn interesting things about you when you don't want me to?"

"If you tell anyone about this..." I say, my voice quavering.

"You'll what?"

I shake my head. "Please..."

She chuckles softly. "Come on, you don't really think I'd do that. I haven't told anyone about your arm, have I? I mean, I get close every time you give me crap but I haven't gone through with it."

"Skylar, I'm serious."

"What? What'll happen if people find out you have..." she glances at my nightstand, where I accidentally left Final Kiss. "... good taste in books?"

I look at her. Her hair sits in a tangled white bun just above her shoulders and her form is concealed by an oversized tee that looks like it's on its third or fourth owner. "Maybe it's hard for someone who can't hide how much of a freak she is to comprehend, but I actually know what being normal feels like and I'm not interested in going back to the alternative."

Skylar raises an eyebrow, arms crossed. "I'd hardly call a fake arm and liking horror enough to make you a freak."

"Well, freakishness is relative," I say. "The Glade bloodline is renowned for our dedication to protecting the kingdom from creatures of the night. You know how horrified my family was when they learned I found them interesting?"

"So they know then?"

I shake my head. "They think it's all in the past. A few years back I learned to keep things like that to myself if I wanted my family to..." I trail off. Skylar tilts her head, curious. Or is she just fishing for information on me? "Why am I telling you this?"

Skylar puts her hands up and walks over to her casket. "Hey, if you don't wanna tell me it's fine."

"Oh, your stupid reverse psychology isn't working on me, vampire."

"I'm not using reverse psychology, I just realized I was prying," she says, grabbing her CD player and climbing in. "Look, I'll keep your secret, okay? Unlike you I actually know how to do that."

"You're the one that came in unannounced!"

"I wasn't talking about your secret." She slides her earbuds in and pulls the lid closed.

🥀🥀🥀

Skylar keeps her word through Sunday and into the next week. I can only guess for how much longer she'll keep it up, whether she's just biding her time or if perhaps she really does intend to keep quiet about all this. We barely exchange words save for what's necessary. I will admit to one exception to this, something that actually happened this morning.

In the dining hall during breakfast I was leaving the lunch line when we crossed paths on the way to our respective tables. I'd noticed a red smudge on her lip.

"You have blood on your face," I'd told her.

"Oh, thanks," she'd said and wiped it away.

The exchange amounted to one sentence per party and yet it's consumed my thoughts this whole day.

"So you'll take the bottom then?"

"...What?" I say, hardly conscious of the here and now.

"Gossamer?"

"Hellooo?"

I'm only brought back to the present when one of them snaps her fingers in my face. I realize after the fact that it was Skylar.

"You're doing the bottom harmony, right?" she asks.

Oh, that's right, we're in singing class. My hands remember they're holding this week's assigned sheet music, which I look down at in an effort to appear aware of my surroundings. "Y-yes, that's fine."

Princess Starshine straightens out her papers. "Great, because we're on soon."

"Soon?" I ask. "How soon is 'soon'? Ah... Your Highness..." I nod my head a bit, still unsure what level of formality is right with her.

"Like, after this group," she says.

The group of four boys singing before the class is suddenly brought back to my attention. I can hardly consider how well I'll do, though. Not when all I can think about is what compelled me to help Skylar out this morning. I certainly wasn't concerned for her. Why would I ever feel concern for a vampire? It's not like she'd have been embarrassed if I'd let her walk by with her mouth bloody. That would require the capacity for emotion, something her kind lacks. Which begs the question of how she was able to cry-

No. No, those were fake tears. Obviously.

Come on, Goss, at least snap out of this enough to sing. We've sang as a group quite a few times now and I suppose we sound good but I'd hardly consider us a band, at least socially. I feel no sense of camaraderie, no cooperation outside of what's necessary. It's how it should be. I'll admit it does take some of the fun out of performing, but if I'm not performing with the right people I see no reason to make it seem like I'm enjoying myself.

I'm focused just enough to hit the correct notes but my mind drifts once again to where it shouldn't. I recall the first group assignment we were given, for which we'd all assumed Skylar would take the bottom harmony seeing as she speaks in a rather low register. Now, that would have been a problem for me because I'm an alto that can't hit high notes to save my life, so I told her to sing the middle harmony because I'm not singing the same vocal part as her. She told me not to worry because she's actually a soprano.

It's been long enough that I'm no longer surprised by this fact but I do think about it quite a bit. If her singing range is naturally high why does she speak so low? The only logical conclusion I can come to is that it's a conscious choice. But to what end? What does she stand to gain from changing the way she speaks? What else about her is manufactured? This is exactly why she can't be trusted, look at the way she's messing with my-

"Gossamer?" Crescent says.

"Hm?"

"We can sit back down now," she says, walking back to her seat with the others.

"Oh," I say. I hope this ordeal won't affect my grades too much.

🥀🥀🥀

My mind only continues to drift throughout the rest of the day, to the point that I'm dreading spending my mandatory after-school hours with my sisters. I need an anchor of some sort to keep me where I need to be. An opening line upon entry to their dorm that'll make it clear my mind is on anything but my vampire roommate.

"It sure is getting chilly," I settle on.

"Ugh," Summer says. "I hate it."

I nod in feigned agreement. "But at least we get to bust out the cute jackets."

"And scarves!" Breezy says.

"Yeah, I guess." Summer says before continuing her tirade on why the princess did absolutely nothing to get all that attention I mean she's not even that pretty I hear cat people have spikes on their tongues that's so undateable she thinksalltheboyswantherbutshedoesn'tevenknowwhatkissingfeelslikeshe'ssuchaposer...

White noise enters my ears and white noise leaves my mouth as needed. It's almost like a second set of homework, this evening ritual. That gives me an idea.

"Well, I'd better head out early," I say when there's finally a lull in the conversation. "I have a lot of homework tonight."

"I'd bet it's harder when you're so sleepy in class," Aspen says.

"Yeah, because the vampire keeps waking you up," Dewdrop says.

"How do vampires even have nightmares?" Summer says.

"I bet she's just faking it," Dewdrop says.

"Yeah," I say, sliding on the straps of my backpack, which is abnormally light today. "I bet."

🥀🥀🥀

I emerge from the bathroom, freshly showered and ready for sleep, to find Skylar staring at my bed from across the room.

"Can I help you?" I ask.

"You gonna tell me what's going on with all those books?" she asks.

"I don't see why it's any of your business," I say, climbing into bed.

Sky shrugs. "I guess it's not." She pads over to her casket. "You're just... You're more interesting than I thought you'd be."

I'm unsure how to respond to that, so instead I lay down and put my sleep mask on.

🥀🥀🥀

Thuds and whimpers wake me like a premature alarm clock from a dream I hardly recall. I have no energy to complain tonight, and I guess doing so wouldn't force her to stop having bad dreams. So I pretend to be asleep.

The usual few seconds of silence pass. Then the casket lid creaks. Labored breaths from a creature unused to breathing invade my hearing. I'm still trying to figure out why she does that, and why I find it more disturbing than when her lungs are unnaturally still. Hands fumble through darkness. They find something plastic. Then the lid creaks again. Something in my gut tells me my time is almost up. For what, I'm not sure but maybe that's why I say:

"Skylar?"

All movement stops. Silence again. Then she says, "Yeah?"

I push up my sleep mask and there she is, CD player in one hand and halfway-closed casket lid in the other. Her face conveys nothing but her arm propped up on the lid shakes ever so slightly. Her eyes are glowing. Vampire eyes do that.

She furrows her brow when I don't respond. "Yeah?" she repeats.

I blink. "Uh. Um..."

She raises her eyebrows expectantly, but I have nothing to say. Or, well... Actually I have plenty but nothing I'm willing to share. And yet my heart rate quickens when she starts closing the casket again.

"Wait!" I say, despite myself.

She opens it again, annoyed. "Whaaat?"

So many questions nag at me, but they're so buried I'm unsure what they even are. It's not until I recall something Summer said this evening that I say, "Your nightmares."

Skylar diverts her eyes, head held high in an effort to appear as though she's not shrinking. "What about them?"

"Um..." I say quietly, opening the tightly sealed part of me that houses these questions with great care. Now that I'm finally looking, I realize that I have tons. "How long have you had them?" I start with.

Skylar shrugs. "As long as I can remember. My parents are pretty sure I had them as a baby. What's it to you?" she asks, suspicion in her voice.

"Well, you got me to spill everything about me!"

"I don't know about everything," she says, head turning to me again. "Plus, you know more about me than I ever needed you to."

"Knowing you came from the Band of Darkness raises more questions than it answers."

"Don't say it like that," she says, voice quiet. Almost a hiss.

"Oh sorry, would you prefer 'you are familiar with the Band of Darkness'? Or perhaps, 'you worked for them.' Or - How would you put it? You were in 'cahoots' with them."

Skylar slowly yet suddenly rises from her casket. "I. Left. Them." There is a fury radiating from her that wasn't even there when she punched me in the jaw in the Serpentine Forest. I scoot away until my back touches the wall.

"Okay! Okay, you left them!" I say, acutely aware of the way the glow from her sunken eyes reflects off her fangs.

Skylar sighs and sits back down in her casket. "Is that all you wanted to know? That I've had nightmares my whole life?"

"Well, I was just curious..." I start, but what is it I'm curious about?

"I don't know why they happen, if that's what you're wondering," Skylar says, staring at the bathroom door instead of me.

I contemplate this, quiet. I'm the type to believe that dreams are mere byproducts of our brains organizing information and have no greater significance. But to have such consistent nightmares, well, there must be something behind that. Either that or she's just extraordinarily unlucky when it comes to her brain producing nonsensical images in her sleep. But that seems unlikely. "Perhaps something happened. Something you don't remember."

"What, like something traumatized me as a baby?" she asks, the corner of her mouth ticked up in amusement. "Can't think of anything that could do that."

"Well, like I said, you wouldn't remember it."

"Right, right, 'cause I'm traumatized. I'm repressing it, right?" She's not taking this seriously anymore. Or maybe she's redirecting the conversation away from the truth... whatever the truth is. "Let me ask you something now," she says, looking at me in a move just sudden enough to feel calculated. "How can a soulless monster be traumatized?"

I scoff as if the answer is obvious. But it really isn't. I internally ask myself the same question, over and over, digging for an answer that Skylar patiently waits for me to give. Her eyes, pinpoints of blinding blue light in a sea of black, cut through me as my search gets more and more desperate. In my search I uncover memories I had stowed away to be ignored: the giggles she's shared with the princess, the excited stories she's exchanged with Crescent, the way she'd shaken every time all eyes were on her, the way she stands tall and with pride now, ever since...

I can't help but answer her question with a question. "Who was that werewolf?"

All traces of smugness are wiped from her face. "He's dead to me, is who he is."

"Yes, naturally," I say, finally allowing myself to recall the gut-wrenching image of the beast holding a carefully carved wooden stake to Skylar's chest, her eyes wide and raw with unmistakable tears. In that moment, I had forgotten she too was a monster, and so the sight of a grown man holding a much smaller, younger girl's life in his hands with the words "I love you" fresh off both their tongues was enough to propell me into saving her.

I saved her.

This isn't about that.

"But. Who was he, though?" I ask.

Skylar sighs and shakes her head. "I'm not giving you the whole story. Just... he taught me guitar then he and the rest of the Band of Darkness turned out to be evil so I left him and I want nothing to do with him." Her voice steels with an intense resolve at this last part.

She's right, that really doesn't sound like the full story. "He was your guitar instructor? That's it?"

"He's not my boyfriend!" she exclaims. "Can you get your sisters to stop saying that? I'm gay!"

I'd actually suspected both of those facts long before this conversation began. "Not like that, just..."

But Skylar is shoving her earbuds into the headphone jack of her CD player now. "Listen, the last thing I need after a nightmare is to talk about my feelings, okay? Especially not with someone who doesn't think I have any."

Then she closes the casket, leaving me with the thoughts that I'd so carefully tucked away exposed. Raw. Bleeding. Screaming for answers scarier than anything Willow Withers could write.

#elf oc #vampire oc #fantasy wip #fantasy story #gossamer glade #skylar acdalur

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sherrybaby14 · 7 years

Text

Negan’s Monster

This is for @ladylorelitany Negan Monster Marsh Challenge

Summary: You are a Fairy who started off the apocalypse by Negan’s side. (I used the True Blood Fairy for those who are familiar, if not I think I explained it enough to figure it out).

Warnings: Angst (more than imagined) light smut, told in flashbacks, ended up being a little on the sad side. This is not what I normally write fyi...

Words: 5k

Tags: @thecynicalnerd @marauderice @mac5323 @idonthavehusbandsihavelovers @kellyn1604 @negan--is--god @roschelesworld @taintedgenre @screeching-pterodactyl-fangirl @purplemuse89 @blondesouthsquad @buckyscrystalqueen @kawaiirepublic @captainemwinchester @enchantingoblivion @jmackie1983 @jasoncrouse @theonethatgotaway213 @myheart4ever47 @jeffreydeanneganstrash @negans-network

The sun was setting and you knew it was time to find shelter for the night. You were sick and tired of sleeping in trees and promised yourself tomorrow you would stop earlier and find a nice warm bed to rest your head. Of course, you’d made that promise the past three nights and never kept it.

With a yawn, you turned off the road and into the forest. A shiver ran down your spine and your stomach ached. Maybe tomorrow you would find a house with a fireplace and food. It was a welcome dream; one you knew was much more fantasy than reality.

You came to a small clearing and debated on starting a fire. It might draw the attention of walkers, but that didn’t concern you. After all, you weren’t their type. One had never tried to bite you, your blood off-putting to them, and if it did you had a feeling all that would result would be a nasty bruise. You and your kind were immune.

Your kind. Were there any of you left? The night the walkers came brought some closure to you, having spent your entire life being called a freak show, now you knew what it was that made you different.

~~~

“Y/N,” a voice pulled you from your slumber. “Y/N, wake up.”

Your eyes popped open to see a beautiful woman, slightly older than you perched on your bed. You blinked several times, certain this was a dream.

“I’m your Godmother.” She gave you a smile, but it didn’t hide the worry in her eyes.

“Godmother?” You sat up. “My Godmother is Aunt Christine.”

“Y/N. We don’t have much time. I need you to listen to me.” She reached out and grabbed your hand. Without moving her mouth you heard her voice inside your head. We can communicate like this if it makes you feel more comfortable.

“You’re like me.” You shot up in bed and squeezed her hand. “I’ve wanted to meet someone else like this my entire life.”

The sleepiness fell away and you were flooded with excitement. In your years on this planet reading minds had been a one-way street, but now there was someone else. You weren’t alone.

“I want you to come with me.” She glanced towards the window. “A strange death is about to befall your dimension. We’re collecting all the Fae and taking them home.”

“Go with you? Fae? Dimension?” There were too many strange words in that sentence.

“We don’t have time.” She stood up from the bed. “The dead are rising here. It’s not safe for any living creature. Fae included.”

“Like a fairy? I’m a fairy?” You didn’t know much about mythical creatures, but you were pretty sure they were just myths. Then you realized how selfish you were being. “Dead rising?”

“There is Fae in your bloodline. You’re the first in generations to present, but we watch out for our own. I’ve been watching over you since the day you were born and right now I need you to trust me. We need to leave.” She pulled you into a standing position. “This world is dying.”

“Wait.” You pulled your arm back. “What about my family? My friends? Can they come too?”

“The dimension is for Fae only.” She shook her head. “You will finally be with your own people Y/N.”

“No.” Your brain started to process what she was saying. “Death is coming for my world and you want me to abandon the people I care about? We need to help them! We need to help as many people as we can, not run away and hide.”

“The portal is closing.” She glanced over her shoulder. “It’s now or never. If you stay, I can’t protect you.”

You didn’t say a word as the woman walked back into the darkness of your bedroom and disappeared into nothing.

When she left you sat back on your bed and convinced yourself it was a dream before lying back down and willing yourself back to sleep.

~~~

A tear ran down your cheek. You should have left with the strange woman. Twenty fours after her arrival your family was dead. It seemed like the entire town was dead or walking around without a brain.

It didn’t take long after that to be picked up by a group of survivors. At first you tried to keep on the cheery side, telling yourself you were building the new world. But low populations made people stand out and it didn’t take long for the leader to realize you were different.

~~~

The sun beat down, making everyone sweat, but you felt like part of a team as you worked towards lifting the fence. This place would be perfect for keeping out the walkers and there were rooms enough for everyone to live comfortably. Maybe life in the new world wouldn’t be so bad.

“Alright everyone, let’s take a break.” Negan wiped his brow. “I think we can finish another three sections before nightfall if we don’t pass out from the heat first.”

Negan was a nice man; you were lucky to fall under his wing. There were fourteen of you working together. Right now your priority was getting the factory up and running, then he wanted to start scouting, bring in more people. You had visions of an independent society. A smile spread across your face, imagining a group of hardworking, equal individuals. Maybe violence would become a thing of the past.

She’s so fucking hot. I bet I could make her sweat harder than this sun. She doesn’t belong out here, hell no, she belongs in a bed wiggling underneath me as I fuck her brains out.

Your eyes went wide and you looked up to see Matt staring at you, he gave a light laugh and a small smile.

I bet her pussy is tighter than leather glove two sizes too small. I’ll probably have to work myself inside her, bet she’s a screamer too. Wonder if she takes it up the ass? That’ll really make her scream. I bet I could jam it up there, just claim it slipped. She’d love it, that dirty little slut.

You brought your hand back and slapped Matt across the face.

“Ow! What the fuck Y/N?” He grabbed his cheek.

“I am not a dirty little slut and I will never sleep with you, focus on another leather glove asshole!”

The entire group stared at you. Matt looked horrified, everyone else looked confused.

“I ummm…” You struggled with an explanation.

“Stay away from me.” Matt looked disgusted. “You fucking freak.”

Tears stung at the corner of your eyes. That was a name you were far too used to. You turned towards the factory ready to run off when a warm arm wrapped around you and pulled you close.

“Hey it’s alright.” Negan’s voice was soft as you were against his chest. “Y/N and I are going to take a little walk. Be back here in an hour.”

The rest of the group sauntered off and you tried to hide your tears.

“Hey, it’s alright.” Negan rubbed your back. “I could tell Matt was a pervert. I’m not a big fan of treating ladies that way.”

You knew it was wrong, but your mind wandered inside Negan’s.

Not right at all. I hate seeing Y/N upset like this, she’s the best of the bunch. I wish I could make her feel better, tell her how smart and beautiful she is, she’d probably think I’m a creepy old man. There’s got to be at least fifteen, maybe twenty years between us. I’m not sure. I’ll kick out a thousand Matt’s before I give her a reason to go.

“I’m not going anywhere.” You lifted your head and smiled at Negan. “And I’ve always had a thing for older men.”

“Amazing.” Negan tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. “You really are something special, aren’t you?”

Special. That word was much better than freak. You blushed at the compliment and dropped your head against his chest as he pulled you back in for a hug. You didn’t need to read his mind to know how safe you were.

~~~

Safe and naive. The memory itself felt fresh, but everything that happened in between pushed it to ages ago.

Your stomach ached and another shiver made you hug yourself for some warmth. It was dangerous, but you needed a fire, at least for a little bit. It would distract you from the hunger at least. Your body was getting weaker by the second, but you scoured the area for sticks. It hadn’t rained in some time, so you didn’t need to worry about wet logs.

A nagging voice in the back of your head told you this was dangerous. But it had been weeks since you took off. Nobody was on your trail. Besides, maybe the fire would attract some decent people, and this time you would know than to let their charms take advantage of you.

~~~

“I am proud to announce, the Sanctuary is officially up and running.” Negan lifted his arm to the building behind him.

You clapped harder than anyone else. It was nothing short of a modern marvel what the man had accomplished. In a few weeks he restored the power, hot water, and built the impressive fence. Of course it was a team effort, but Negan had been the organizer and driving force. You’d never been more proud.

“We stand at twenty-five members, so far, and as far as I’m concerned. It’s you people who are the heart and soul of this place. Without you, I’d be cornered up in some room, swinging my baseball bat at nothing, you truly are my Saviors.” Negan dipped his head.

Saviors. What a perfect term for this group of people. Everyone started clapping and cheering again.

“To show my gratitude, tonight there will be a party.” The people started jumping up and down, a smile swelled on your face. “And all you fuckers better come showered and clean dressed.”

Everyone laughed. You rolled your eyes at his potty mouth but figured there were worse traits. Negan walked towards the group and people started to disperse. A party? It had been so long. You’d found an old dress shoved in the back of some house nearby on one of the scavenging trips. You took it, knowing an occasion like this would arise.

“Is the lady pleased?” Negan walked right up to you.

“Very much so.” The man went out of his way to make you feel comfortable around him, and you appreciate that. He could be so intimidating to others, but you didn’t see that side of him.

“Be my date?” He raised his eyebrows.

“What?” You didn’t see this coming. Since your profession of liking older men weeks ago he never made a move. You thought that meant he wasn’t interested.

“Will you please be my date to tonight’s festivities?” He looked almost nervous.

You couldn’t help it as your power kicked in briefly.

If she says no, I’ll never bother her again. I just want to see her happy.

“I’d love to.” You smiled. “Meet me outside my room at seven?”

“I’ll even shave for ya.” He winked.

You felt like your heart was going to burst. This was your lucky day.

A few hours later you were in your dress, pacing back and forth in front of your door. At seven exactly there was a knock. You didn’t bother playing smooth as you yanked open the door. There he was, flashing that smile that made you melt.

“Don’t you look like a million bucks?” His eyes ran you up and down. “I think the Saviors are going to be jealous of me tonight.”

He leaned down and placed a kiss on your cheek before offering you his arm. You were practically glowing at the two of you headed down to the main room.

There was an old boombox playing CDs and a table set out with drinks and bags of pretzels. In the old world it would have been a poor party, but tonight it almost felt like a grand wedding. People were mingling and laughing, the twenty-five of your seeming like a larger group than you actually were.

“Do you want to dance?” Negan didn’t wait for an answer as he took you on to the floor.

The song switched to a slow one and he held you close as you swayed back and forth. The night only started and you hoped it would never end. The hours passed and the drinks went down. People started to trickle away.

“Can I ask you something Y/N?” Negan walked you to a chair. “About your gift? We don’t have to talk about it if you’re not comfortable.”

“Only with you.” There was no point in lying. “I know some people suspect something, after the Matt incident, but I hope they forget. It makes them look at me funny.”

“Your secrets are safe with me Doll.” He laughed. The pet name almost made you jump on his lap. “Can you control it? The mind reading?”

“For the most part.” You didn’t think anyone had ever been so direct with you about this before, not even your parents. “It was harder when I was a kid. Sometimes I’ll get distracted and then the thoughts are just there, that’s what happened with Matt, but most of the time now I have to try to listen. I’ve learned to block it out. Trust me, knowing what everyone is thinking makes for a lonely existence.”

“I believe that.” Negan took your hand. “What am I thinking right now?”

You shut your eyes and concentrated, not used to be invited in.

She is so beautiful. I don’t deserve someone like her. I worship the ground she walks on and am lucky I get to be in the same room as her, let alone dance with her all night.

“I’m not that special.” You smiled. “You put on a tough exterior, but really you’re a very sweet man underneath.”

I want to kiss you. Negan licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. I’m going to kiss you.

You shut your eyes as you tilted your head to the side. His lips crashed against yours as his hands went to your waist. He pulled you into his lap and you ran your hands down his back, parting your lips to invite his tongue inside. He rolled into your mouth, passion filling his every move. You wanted him, God did you want him. Negan pulled his mouth away and you let out a small whimper.

“I don’t need to be a psychic to know what you’re thinking Doll.” He lifted you to your feet and rose from his seat. “Let’s go back to my room.”

He grabbed your hand and led you out of the nearly empty party. Nobody paid you any attention as you left. Negan ran and tugged you behind him, you appreciated his candor and were thrilled the weeks of sexual tension were coming to an end.

There was no need to unlock his room. He walked in first and grabbed your waist, pulling you against him and resuming the kiss as he closed the door. You though your arms around his neck, making him lean down to your height as you returned the movements of his tongue against your own.

Negan used the opportunity to pick up his feet and yank off his shoes. You’d waited long enough for the man and undid his belt before working on his fly. He moved his hands to the back of your dress and undid the zipper, letting the garment fall to the floor. You shoved his pants down and then grabbed the hem of his shirt.

He broke the kiss to pull his top over his head and stood in front of you completely naked. You gasped at the size of his girth and length.

“It’s all for you Doll.” His mouth went straight to your neck and he undid the clasp on your bra, ripping it off. You dropped your arms and it fell to the floor, then pushed your bare chest against his, enjoying the feeling of skin to skin contact. His fingers went under your panties and pushed them down your thighs. You lifted your feet and slipped off both shoes in the process making you as naked as he was.

With a grunt he pushed you down on the bed, falling with you. His hand started at your stomach and slid down, he probed you with a single digit, making you cry out, but you were more than ready for him.

“I wanted to do this since the first day I saw you.” He repositioned himself between your legs.

“I’ve wanted you to.” You couldn’t finish the sentence, unsure what the next word would be.

In one push he was in you to the hilt. You cried out as your walls spasmed, stretching to accommodate his thick cock. He stayed inside of you and looked down at you with heavy, hungry eyes. You wiggled underneath him and tried to rock your body, enjoying the feeling of fullness, but needing more.

He responded by pulling almost the entire way out before slamming back into you.

“Ugghh!” You arched your back, loving how complete you felt.

“You’re fucking perfect Doll.” He repeated the motion, making you cry out again. “Everything about you is perfect for me.”

His praises and thrusts were making you come apart. He kept pumping into you, making your toes curl and heart race. The scream starting forming in the back of your throat along with the bursting coil in your core. You came and moaned loudly at the same time, met with a grunt from Negan who exploded inside of you, his cock filling you so tightly you felt the bursts of seamen.

It took a moment for you to catch your breath as he pulled out and rolled onto his back, pulling you against his chest onto your side in the process.

“I’m not on the pill.” You felt his white juices leak down your thigh.

“I’m not going anywhere Doll.” He stroked your arm.

You smiled at the thought of getting pregnant with Negan’s baby, knowing the child would be protected at all costs. There was no better father. Then you thought about your trait being passed down.

“I’m not a psychic.” You brought your hand to his chest and started running in through his patch of hair. “I’m a Fae.”

“My fairy princess?” Negan’s hand stopped momentarily. “I didn’t know they existed, of course, I didn’t know the dead would rise and walk around.”

“I assume I’m the last one.” Your eyes felt heavy with sleep. “The rest left. But if I have a child there’s a small chance it’s genetic.”

“Inherit it from your mother?” Negan pulled you closer.

“It skips around generations at random, from what I can tell.” You let out a yawn.

“Hey.” Negan grabbed your chin and tilted your head up. “I finally have you in my bed, I don’t plan on doing much sleeping.”

He pressed his lips against yours and excitement flooded you again. What a wonderful man he was, not seeing your gifts as a curse, but a blessing that he would pass down his own lineage. Death may have taken the world, but that night you felt like you were in heaven.

~~~

It took a while, but the flames of the fire took off. You put your pack under your head and used it as a pillow as you cuddled close to the warmth.

Your first night with Negan was a pleasant memory, one you would always cherish. A smirk came to your face when you tried to count the orgasms the man gave you that night. It wasn’t always so terrible with him. You almost forgot that.

The smirk faded when the bad memories started forcing out the good ones. You spent months ignoring the signs. The way he was manipulating you, what he was turning the Sanctuary into. Was it your love for the man that blinded you or were just ignorant? Maybe you were so used to tuning people out that you only saw what you wanted to see. Now you couldn’t understand how you’d managed to ignore so much for so long.

~~~

“Y/N. Will you come with me today?” Negan started to dress. “Another group of survivors arrived. I was hoping you could read them for me. Can they be trusted?”

Read them. That was the term Negan used now. Your group of twenty-five had doubled in the past month, and every new arrival was interviewed by Negan, most with your assistance. You nodded as you pulled on the pair of jeans.

“What would I do without you?” Negan placed a kiss on your forehead. “Come on.”

He took your hand as you went into the hallway. It was busy this morning. You watched some of the people leaving their rooms, boxes in hands.

“The population boom means less space.” Negan put his arm around your shoulder, tucking you away from the scene. “We have to relocate people to some of the common areas.”

“Common areas?” You didn’t like the sound of that. “Couldn’t we just fix up more of the space above? There’s a zillion floors.”

“But then we’d have to make sure all of those floors got water and heat. It makes more sense to house the people together.”

“How are you deciding who goes where?” Out of the corner of your eye you swore you saw one of Negan’s fighters shove someone.

“It’s all done fairly. Don’t worry Doll.” Negan kissed the top of your head. “I just want what’s best for everyone.”

You stopped at the intake area. There were four people, all men, all of them looked exhausted.

“Welcome to the Sanctuary gentlemen.” Negan walked in front of them. “Why don’t we get to know each other?”

He asked a few basic questions while you poked around in each of their minds.

“Excuse me for a moment.” Negan walked to you and signaled to step out into the hall. You obliged him. “What’s the news cupcake?”

You bit your lip, not knowing how to proceed.

“Tell me, I’m a big boy. I can take it. I need you to help me out.”

“Promise you won’t hurt them?” You hated this part.

“You know I won’t.” Negan looked at you with his big brown eyes.

“They’re part of a bigger group.” It sickened you to listen to what they planned. “When they leave here, they’re going to come back with guns and rob the place.”

You folded your arms. Negan shook his head.

“You know I can’t let this stand Y/N. I have to protect the people here. I don’t like violence any more than you do, but what else am I supposed to do?”

“I’m going to check on the garden project.” You squeezed his arm before walking away.

“Hey.” He stepped forward and cupped your cheek before placing a hard kiss on your lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” You smiled and turned.

Negan walked back in the room. The echoes of the men screaming were harder to drown out than the voices inside people’s heads.

You waited at the top of the guard fence for Negan to get back. Some things were on your mind that needed to be discussed.

Queen Bee pacing back and forth, like that will make her husband get here any sooner. The two of them are horrible enough they deserve each other.

“Excuse me?” You stopped dead in your tracks. “First of all, we’re not married and we’re not bad people either. Negan does what he does to ensure the survival of everyone here. All two hundred of them. What would you rather he do? Close the gates? Not take in any more survivors? Is it better that people work hard for some food than to have lazy fat people inside here and dying skinny ones on the other side?”

You spit out the speech Negan gave you when you confronted him about the new state of conditions inside the Sanctuary. He explained that points were the only way to make it work. The guard looked stunned and you rolled your eyes, almost annoyed he hadn’t heard the rumors about Negan’s psychic girlfriend. Before the two of you could respond the convoy returned. You gave the guard a smug smile before heading towards the ladder and climbing down.

With a double step you walked towards the parked trucks. They were already starting to unload and your eyes could barely believe that amount of stuff they were hauling. Negan walked out of the truck and spotted you, moving closer at a quick pace.

“Y/N, what are you doing out here?” He put his arm around you. “I thought you’d be overseeing the gardening.”

“You got all this stuff from scavenging? In one outing?” It was amazing. Almost too good to be true.

You focused your thoughts on Negan.

Every time I come back I swear she’s more beautiful than when I left her. How did I get so lucky?

“You ask yourself that a lot.” You frowned, it no longer had the same effect on you. “I heard that you’re charging points for medicine now?”

“We’ve been over this Doll. Can you think of a fairer way?” Negan put his hands in his pockets. “Because I’m all ears.”

You didn’t want to fight, any Negan was right anyway. With a sigh, you shook your head.

“There’s something I want to tell you.” You rolled your shoulder’s back about to speak when one of Negan’s soldiers came over.

“Sites about fifty miles away. Ninety-minute drive.” The young man didn’t pay you any attention.

“Niko. This is my special lady Y/N.” Negan gritted his teeth. “Niko is new Doll. Why don’t you say hello?”

OH fuck. Shit fuck shit. La la la la la la. Wow she’s beautiful. And smart. Negan is a lucky man. Oh fuck fuck fuck. He’ll kill me. Please don’t say you heard me swear.

“Why thank you Niko.” You gave a huge smile and acted coy. “I’m not sure Negan would appreciate those thoughts about his lady, but you seem like a real gentleman.”

He was coaching them. This guy didn’t think you were beautiful or that Negan was lucky. He thought you were terrifying.

“What’s a ninety-minute drive?” You looked up at Negan.

“Setting up another outpost.” Your man grinned at you. “Going to head out tonight around nine o’clock. What do you say me and you go have some dinner, maybe a little play time before I take off?”

You know what sort of play time I have in mind Doll. Negan raised his eyebrows.

He didn’t ask what your news was and you didn’t volunteer it. Something sneaky was going on, you had a feeling reading minds wasn’t going to be enough to get to the bottom of it.

When Negan left you followed him. It was easier than you thought to climb into the back of one of the trucks. The ninety-minute drive ended up being more than two hours. You weren’t close enough to listen in to any thoughts and spent the entire time wondering if this was a good idea or not.

Part of you knew to stay in the truck, keep your eyes closed and wait for the ride home. But then you heard Negan’s voice. It was strong and sarcastic. Gone was the sweet, stern, caring man you knew. It drew you out of your hiding spot.

All eyes were on him as people knelt in a row. You moved along the shadows in the back, trying to get a view without being seen.

“This is the new world order.” Negan swung a baseball bat. “Do you consent? You work for us now, you work for me now. I take half of your shit every week, I give you some added protection, and every one of you stays alive. Is that a deal?”

There were some sniffles from the group in front of him.

“I said is that a deal?” Negan stopped in front of one of the men. “Because if not, Lucille here could persuade you otherwise?”

This was where all the supplies were coming from. No. It couldn’t be, not your Negan. You didn’t have to read his mind to know what he was thinking, but you did it anyway.

Look at this sorry fuck. Just agree to it anyway so I can get my ass home and back in bed. This group will probably be dead in a month anyway. Should’ve just had Simon wipe them out and take their inventory. What a waste of my fucking time.

You brought your hand to your mouth and bit back a scream. The last few months flashed before your eyes. Negan was playing you. Everything he said was fake. He knew how to trick and manipulate and you were his first target.

Numbness and sorrow filled your body as you backed up away from the scene and into the trees. You kept your head down and walked in a straight line, with no purpose or goal, your heartbreaking as you wished to be back in your bedroom with your Godmother.

The sound of the engine kicking over was distant. The Saviors were going home without you. That meant you had at least a four-hour head start. Your hand went to your stomach.

Given the option, you would have made the same choice. There was always a fear that your child would have a monster for a parent. You always assumed the monster would be you since that’s what a fairy was when it boiled down to it. And you had been the last few months, but no more.

You promise your child and yourself that as you took off into the woods, looking to start a new all over again.

~~~

That memory usually gave you strength, but you were barely three months along and needed to get more food.

“Soon.” You rubbed your stomach. “We’ll stop running soon. I promise.”

You were so tired, and the fire felt like a warm blanket, encasing you and keeping you safe from the world. Sleep was about to overtake you when a twig snapped, popping your eyes open.

“Legend says that the Fae were by-products of a war between Heaven and Hell. They served neither side and both at the same time making them too bad for Heaven and too good for Hell. The perfect definition of a neutral being.” Negan’s voice brought a tear to your eye. “I’ve been studying up ever since I met you Doll.”

He walked out of the tree-line and your lips quivered.

“Don’t be sad. I’m here to take care of you, and our baby.” He stepped towards and you bent down, almost becoming eye level with you. “I’ve missed you Doll.”

“I’ve missed you too.” You felt horrible admitting that tidbit. “But you hurt people. You steal and kill and…”

“And keep my people alive and fed and sheltered.” He rubbed your head, pushing your hair back. “Maybe I do some bad things, so I can do more good. Have you ever thought about that?”

“Every day.” You curled into his hand, wanting more of him. “But I can’t justify your decisions. You were so kind when I met you.”

“Have I ever been unkind to you? Will I ever harm our baby? You’re probably doing more damage, not eating or sleeping enough. What if it rains? Who will help you when you’re in labor?”

“I’ll figure it out.” Your voice shook.

“Shhhh.” He scooped his arms underneath you and brought you to his chest. “Let me take care of you. You’re my fairy princess.”

The tears started to roll down your cheeks and you felt a weight lift off your chest as his lips pushed against yours. You shut your eyes and in that moment you were back at the party in the Sanctuary, idealistic and eager for the new world.

“I love you Doll. Never forget that.”

“But…you’re a monster.” You tried to focus on the people in the lineups faces. “How many people have you murdered?”

“Aren’t we all monsters in a way?” Negan kissed your cheek. “You be my monster and I’ll be yours? We make an unstoppable team.”

You wanted to give in and your head started to nod without your consent. Then he lifted you in the air and you felt at peace as he walked you away from the fire and sleep finally came too.

~~~

The sun rose and you blinked your eyes open. The only view in front of you was the snuffed out fire. Your stomach rumbled and side ached from sleeping on the hard ground. Every night a vision of Negan came for you, and every morning reality returned.

Running was the right thing. At least that’s what you told yourself as you readied to continue moving. After all, the world was death and everyone belonged on a side.

#monster mash 2017 #negan's thirst squad #negan smut #negan x reader #twd negan #negans network

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