#the daises are chaining him up cause get it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ghostlykeyes · 2 years

Note

hiii i was wondering if you could write something like y/n takes denji out on a picnic cause he never went on one and when they're looking for a place to sit they see a field of daisies and then denji remembers that yn can make flower crowns so he drags her there and she teaches him how to make them ( can i be 🩰 anon? )

You shall be 🩰 anon henceforth!

So this deviates juuust a little from the original prompt, but is very close; I hope you still enjoy!

Daisies

word count: 1557

Pairing: Denji/Reader

Honestly, Denji had his doubts about the picnic you planned for this afternoon. He’s had his doubts since you asked him if he likes picnics and he responded, hm, dunno, never had one, and you’d looked at him all funny and disbelieving like he grew a second head. You’d told him matter-of-factly that you’d have to fix that as soon as possible. He opened his mouth to point out that hey, food is food! Who cares where you eat it as long as you’re getting a meal?

But then you gave him that look like you always do when you want something and, sure enough, minutes later he was rummaging through Aki’s closet looking for a picnic basket.

(Aki, unsurprisingly, did not have one. He rolled his eyes when Denji asked, but still gave him a handful of money and told him where to buy one, and a picnic blanket, too. Because you’re sure as hell not getting grass stains all over my good sheets for...whatever it is you're up to, Aki had said. Denji had a sneaking suspicion that maybe Aki’s just trying to help him not fuck this date up, but he said nothing except “oh, thanks, man” and took the money.)

So now, Denji’s here. The early June sun hangs way up above your heads, and the cool breeze whispering over the field makes sure that you two aren’t sweating through your clothes. When you pick the right spot and roll out your picnic blanket, the ground underneath is soft and warm. It’s heavenly.

Not that Denji notices at first. He’s too busy rifling through the picnic basket, looking for the sandwiches you’d packed inside. Once he finds them, he pulls out the food and offers you half. Denji lets himself get lost in the taste of his favorite sandwich, and the time flows easily by while you chat and eat.

It really is perfect, and everything is so pretty and warm and summery that the scene looks ripped straight from a postcard. Denji feels warm, like contentment is sinking down through his skin and into his bones. It’s nice, but…

Well, honestly, he’s a little bored. Surely there’s more to a picnic than just picking a nice, grassy spot and eating a sandwich? This can’t be all.

Denji stretches and scans the scenery. Grass and wildflowers, as far as the eye can see. What to do with a shit-ton of grass and wildflowers...Suddenly, an idea pops into his mind.

“Hey,” he says, head lolling back lazily, “you really like making those flower chain thingys, right?”

No response. He squints at you. After a moment, he realizes; food coma. You’re in that comfy spot right after a meal where a nap just sounded too good to resist, and you drifted right off without even meaning to. Oh, well. He’d just have to entertain himself until you slept the sandwich off.

Denji stands, careful not to wake you. Off he goes to the nearest patch of delicate white flowers with bright yellow centers. Daises, he remembers you saying, were perfect for flower chains.

For a long while, Denji wades through the wildflowers, calf-deep in daisies. It would’ve been simple to just yank a big handful out of the ground and head back, but he took his time. You deserve the best, he thinks, even when it comes to something so small. Nothing with petals missing, nothing with bug bites or a center that’s not perfectly, brilliantly yellow. Denji hunts for perfection in the wildflower patch, and doesn’t stop until he has a generous handful of it.

Then he heads back and sets his pile on the picnic blanket. Denji folds his legs up under him criss-cross and gingerly picks up two of the daises. His eyes narrow at them, almost suspicious, like he’s expecting some kind of freakish daisy devil to pop out. But no floral abominations attack him, and the only sound breaking the silence is the peaceful in-and-out of your breathing.

“Okay,” he mutters under his breath and starts gently bending one of the stems. “Seriously can’t be that hard.”

You’d shown him how to do this, once. It was the first nice day of spring and you’d sat next to him in the sunshine spread over Aki’s front step. He remembers the way your fingers fit around his, how you gently guided his hands through the motions. He remembers being surprised at just how soft your hands were. He remembers how quickly his palms got all sweaty, and how he stammered over his words when you gave him a sweet smile and told him he was a natural at daisy-chain-making.

(Power stole the flower crown from him after you left and hooked it around one of her horns. Later, after she got bored with her new prize and tossed it out, Denji fished it out of the garbage. It's not pretty anymore, not really, and it's so wilted now it's barely recognizable as flowers. Still, it puts a warmth into his chest when he sees it, even all brown and wilted, and so it stays on top of his dresser.)

Half an hour passes in the early afternoon sun. Denji holds the crown up to examine his work, his hopes high. Finally, after a long half hour of his finest efforts—

It looks like shit, Denji realizes. His shoulders sag as he takes in the daisy chain. Maybe there is some trick to it he’s not getting. You can’t really blame him for not getting it exactly right; after all, he wasn’t exactly focusing on the flowers during his first lesson with you. It’s okay, though. At least he can hide the evidence.

Denji’s getting ready to chuck his poor flower crown like a frisbee when a huge yawn stops him. He looks over to see you stretching.

“Mornin’, baby,” he smiles crookedly at you.

“Denj,” you croon sleepily at him. Before he knows it, you’re crawling over his lap. You gasp when you see the daisy chain grasped tightly in his fist. Denji prepares for the frown he knows is coming. You'll probably ask how he managed such a mess, and--

“This is wonderful,” you beam at him, softly taking the flowers from his grasp. You turn the chain around in your hands, gentle like you're handling glass, and your eyes are wide and shining.

Oh, Denji thinks, pleasantly surprised. You like it!

He knows you’re probably lying to make him feel good, but it works. A comfortable warmth spreads through his chest and across his cheeks. Denji smiles sheepishly.

“I tried my best,” he says, honest.

“You really did a great job,” you compliment again, and Denji’s about to ask if you need your eyes checked but you place the crown, a little crooked, on your head. “I love it, Denji.”

His heart does a flip in his chest—he wishes he could play it cool, but how’s he supposed to be smooth when you’re sitting on his lap, looking so adorable in his sad excuse for a flower crown? He smiles at you, a little wobbly, and gently straightens the daisy chain. (It immediately slips, turning lopsided again. You both pretend not to notice.)

“‘M glad you like it,” he says earnestly. “I ended up not using a ton of those flowers, though.” Denji nods at the pile of leftover daisies.

“Here,” you say, settling comfortably in his lap. You tenderly pick up the flowers resting in front of you. “You worked so hard to pick all of these, I’ll have to make another one. We can match!”

“Yours is probably gonna be ten times better,” Denji murmurs, nuzzling the back of your neck. You just shush him. He wraps his arms around your waist, content to rest his chin on your shoulder and watch as your skilled fingers weave together another daisy chain. It takes a few minutes but Denji watches, transfixed, the whole time. He thinks of how he loves your soft hands, and soft smile, and how you accept him just as he is--crooked daisy chains and all.

“Done,” you proclaim, wriggling out of his embrace. Gingerly, you brush the hair from Denji’s eyes. He leans into your touch, and for a moment you just linger. It’s a perfect moment, both of you young and in love and basking in the gentle summer sun. You stay there, just like that, for awhile, with Denji content against your touch, before setting the flower crown on his head.

A huge smile breaks across your face as you lean back and observe him. His heart stutters in his chest. Fuck, you’re so pretty. You look like some kind of angel, he thinks, with that wilted, messy flower crown hanging lopsided on your head. His angel. So gorgeous, even in a sad excuse for a homemade halo, woven together by his own clumsy, calloused hands. The thought makes his cheeks get warm.

Denji thinks he understands, now, what he’s been missing.

“I think maybe we gotta have another picnic tomorrow,” he says, and he can’t hold back a crooked grin when your laugh fills the air and it’s bright and warm and feels yellow like the flowers all around him.

His doubts are gone, and Denji would make you a thousand wilting daisy chains just to see your smile.

#chainsaw man #chainsaw man x reader #chainsaw man/reader #denji x reader #denji x you #Denji/reader #denji imagines #chainsaw man imagine #chainsaw man imagines #SFW #Denji has had ENOUGH struggles I say #we ONLY write fluff for him I say

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abloomntime · 4 years

Text

A Bloom In Time Ch30

Red hair of flaming rose. Blue eyes of sparkling ocean. Red freckles falling across her face like delicate flower petals. And the voice strong enough to rival a banshee and shatter his ears if he still had any after he died.

But nevermind that. It was all there...RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HIM!! She matched the woman from his memory to a t. Poppy. Poppy Rose Bloomington. A name that was just as sweet as the flowers that bloomed in her name and with a personality to match. Pale blue claws fazed their way through the glass and grabbed onto thin air it seemed as the glitching monstrousity pulled his head through tilting it sideways with a wide fanged smile that could rival a wolf's and eyes redder than blood that glowed like the creature from her nightmares! The metal clanging from the chains around his wrists only added to the overall creepiness of the monster. On top of his bodies unnatural twitching, like a glitching laptop screen. Jerking around and making him all more scarier. Moonjumper wasn't sure what he was thinking when he heard the impossibility of HER still being around and threw it into the back of his mind as he didn't want to gaze upon the past ever since that incident almost three months ago now, wanting to push any run off thoughts and worries away from his shaken self to recover and get back to some kind of normality and peace of mind. But it was incredible how one finds themselves revolving back around to old thoughts when you were all alone most of the time and decided to ask Timmy all he knew. Which was still vaugue at the time since dear Timmy hadn't really known a lot about her either, so even if it was underhanded....It just became too much after a while of being alone with the wondering and the curiousity eating at him, he finally relented and decided to take action. Getting Timmy to agree to ask about her and to do it discreetly to avoid suspicion from the Snatcher of course. Who know what he'd do if he found out about this? What Timmy brought back to tell him...What darling Hattie and Bow oh so innocently filled him in on, and what Timmy repeated back to him...It lined up perfectly more and more he thought about it, and more and more the curiousity in him grew. After all, this was his lost friend he was talking about. His very best friend. Poppy had always been there for him thick and thin through the good and the bad times he had with Vanessa. And he thought she was lost forever during the great frost but-....Now here she was. In the flesh and blood. Perfectly healthy and safe, and ALIVE!! He knew he probably shouldn't be here doing this, but the curousity became too much ti bare. He HAD to know if she was ok and here. He had to know if the only friend he ever had during that dark time was alright. Moonjumper never meant to be seen. Good pecking heavens NO!! The rage and power Snatcher would probably have fueling his protective nature for their friend would've been too much for him to face alone. But-

And now that he was here, and saw her..And she saw him and reacted. There was no way he could just leave and not deal with Snatcher later. Absolutely no way. So the best thing he could do was come in and explain himself ...Yeah. It's not like that wouldn't scare her even more and cause her to stumble back and land on her behind, shuffling back more when the entity pulled himself all the way through and was now in the same once safe place floating in mid air. The ragged and torn jacket around his shoulders flew around if it wasn't glitching like it was being blown around by some unseen wind and the chains clamped onto his wrists floated as he came near. Clacking that eerie sound of his as he edged nearer with that smile of his. The panic and fear on Poppy's face increasing as he loomed over her. Heart pounding in her chest as the shadow from her nightmare with red eyes and claws coming back for her.

She screamed.

The shriek was quick and short but it echoed throughout the silent ship as sharp as a knife and it was shocking enough for Moonjumper to get him to stop mid air and the smile to be replaced by a look of shock. Taking the monster's shocked stillness as a chance to escape, Poppy quickly scrambled to her feet and ran off back towards the direction of the girls. Maternal instinct wailing for the safety of the children.

"SNATCHER HELP!!"

She never thought she could crawl so fast in her life but peck it! She dove through that tiny door like death itself was chasing after her and crawled a marathon faster than a train to the girls'. Who by now had been startled awake from the sudden wail and were blinking confused and scared, jumping when the grown woman came running in. Breathing heavily panting and looking like one of those damsels in distress in a horror movie. Obviously being freaked out freaked them out even more especially as she kept looking around wildly.

"What's wrong Poppy?," Bow asked innocentlt wiping at her eyes.

But Poppy was too scared to move or do anything at the moment. She was panicking. What was she gonna do?! There was a monster on the ship and she had no way of knowing how dangerous it was! On top of that there was two little kids to worry about and she had ZERO clue as to how to get them outta here safely! She was panicking to the point it was starting to become hard to breath and think. The red eyes and shadows from her nightmares just in the other room and the cold was starting to creep up again on her to the point she had to lean on one of he bed posts for support. Goosebumps lined her arms from the cold and darkness seeping in from the walls around her and she only looked up when one shadow with hands loomed over her from behind and like in a horror story looked behind her to the monster from the window. Red eyes and chains clacking. Claws reaching for her terribly- She screamed again. This time louder than the first two times and loud enough to make the two little girls wince back and cover their ears in pain from that. The Starella book left on the bedside table found itself being hurled at the glitching and twitching ghost's body as it was the first thing Poppy grabbed in her panicked state but completely passed through his body like a normal ghost. It hit the wall behind them with a thud before falling to the floor with another thud from the poor book she threw. Startling him for a moment in another phase of shock blinking.

"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU MONSTER!!," She yelled at the thing and stumbled back against the nightstand.

"Poppy, it's ME!!," Moonjumper pleaded to the red head looking guilty and holding up his hands in a non threatening gesture. "PHILIP!!"

Silence.

The blue eyes still stared at him and her chest heaved in and out quickly still staring at the constantly shaking and flinching creature before her as if he wasn't real and just a figment of her imagination, but the fact the two girls were also looking between them confused and obviously still half asleep was enough proof to see that he was indeed there floating in front of her. He didn't dare move in case provoking another scared reaction out of the lady or children but he was mostly focused on the woman standing before him. Both still silently stared for a few more painful moments that felt like hours but in reality it was a few minutes of tense staring between the two of them. Until Poppy finally blinked, a movement beyond her heavy breathing.

"P-P-Philip?", she squeaked out. Barely over a whisper. It was super hard to catch but somehow this spirit managed to hear and he gave a gentle smile to her.

"Y-Yes. Philip Snider. Y-You remember me right?" he leaned down more until he was eyes level still smiling despite her shuffling back a lil bit against the nightstand. "I bought flowers from you all the time for my Darling Vanessa. You remember don't you?" He lifted a hand towards her smiling steadily and as a friendly gesture. "D-Do you remember the last batch of flowers I bought from you?"

"Daises.." They both answered at the same time and Poppy paused. Moonjumper smiled even more now, the frightful haze falling away and despite his frightful and still very twitchy appearence remained friendly looking. Now that she got a good look past the fog she could make out all kinds of details on his. Red markings on his face in the form of red lines was connected from the bottom of his eyes and lead to the sides of his head and bottom of his chin. A monocule sat on his right eye and both said eyes were red as blood as shiny blueish white hair flowed down his shoulders, and a tattered torn coat waved from his body as well. ......This did NOT look like Philip, and a quite flash of doubt crossed her mind before disappearing as he spoke again....Or one of the girls.

"Uncle Moonjumper?," Hattie asked tilting her head as the ghost flinched and turned to them. Momentarily forgetting they were still present with the two adults. "What are you doing here? We haven't seen you for like a really long time."

......He gave a nervous smile to them both. "T-That's right. I-It's me. I just....needed to stop by see s-s-something for myself." His eyes glanced back over to Poppy who still stood frozen against the nightstand, making the candle lopsided behind her.

.....Poppy shook her head. "N-No. No! Y-Y-You can't be Philip. " She pointed at him-....It-....The thing! "Ya'll look nothin' like him! He wasn't some....twitchy mess of ...What are y-ya exactly?"

He regarded Poppy for a long moment before sighing and reaching a hand up to rub at his head. Well...It was too late to back out now, and he'd come this far hasn't he. He turned fully to Poppy. "Well, yes. I admit I look nothing like I did when I was alive, but neither does my other half or any other ghost for that matter. Some of the one I've seen look very stranger....And you wouldn't be too far off on me not being the same Philip as you remember. I-...I-I actually go by Moonjumper now. "

"Moonjumper?," Poppy questioned raising a brow at him. What kind of name was that?...Well considering she new someone called Cookie and Snatcher, she couldn't really be judging others on names. And she still had no idea who this fella was besides claiming he was Philip....But...He knew the exact type of flowers she gave him on that fateful day and her. And he knew who Philip was and Vanessa. Instantly an assortment of questions bobbled up in her mind that she had no problem asking. "But Snatcher said Philip wasn't-...I mean-....Y-You're not him!"

Moonjumper, as he called himself now instead of Philip, tilted his still twitching head at her and blink. "I beg pardon, but Snatcher said what?"

Poppy's eyebrow raised further. "Snatcher said Philip wasn't around anymore, and I sure as peck would believe him over some....creature that chased me through the window!".....A sudden flash of realization flashed over her momemtarily before she asked. "Wait a sec. Do ya know him?"

Moonjumper stared at her. Snatcher.....had the audacity to tell Poppy that they weren't-...You had got to be PECKING me! Did he seriously tell her neither of them were her best friend from when they were alive all those years ago!? What ELSE had the infernal spook been telling her behind his back?! ..Or would it be their back in this scenario? BAH!! Doesn't matter. What did was that Snatcher was deliberatly lying to his friend and he wasn't going to stand by and let such important matters slip by such as this and wouldn't let misinformation about HIM and what happened to them of all people slip by because of some peckneck shadow!! Annoyance was clearly present on his face and Poppy got a small feeling of worry thinking she might've made the spook mad. Both girls just tiredly silently watched and exchanged confused glances to one another.

Moonjumper huffed making Poppy flinch at the sound. "HA! That's rich coming from him! That halfling is lying right to your face!"

.....Poppy blinked. "W-What?"

Moonjumper smiled sweetly. "Why? Didn't dear Snatcher tell you?" He chuckled and gave a smile similar to Snatcher's smug one. "We're two halves of the same person.~ Split at death and now wondering through death two halves of the same person.~"

Poppy's eyes widened big and in shock not processing the words he said right. "W-What?"

"Oh! He didn't tell you did he?" He smiled and gestured to himself with a smile. "Well allow me to elaborate for you, my dear.~ Snatcher and I are both Prince Philip Snider Of the Kingdom of Subconette.~ When we died in the frozen celler we split personalities resulting in us becoming two very different ghosts. How I have no idea, but it's quite the sight isn't it?~"

Poppy's eyes widened even more as well as the girls as Moonjumper just willingly spilt all the information of their death out on the table like they were just talking about afternoon tea and the weather.

".....No...NO!! T-THAT'S CRAZY TALK!! T-THERE'S NO WAY-"

"Are you sure about that?"

She just stared at him. Dead silent but a voice in the back of her head echoed that thought. Are you sure about that? She had been frozen, brought back to life by a ghost trying to get rid of another ghost who blamed her for stealing her man and cursed everyone to be frozen by a magical alien hour glass, seen talking penguins, owls, cats, traveled through space, walked on a spaceship, and said alien also happened to be said ghost's daughter. Can't get crazier than that! ..Ok maybe it can. But really. With EVERYTHING she had experienced so far was it too hard to beleive this could also be a possibility? A person being split in two upon death? Was such a thing even possible? Before she even got the thought process to speak a word Moonjumper paused. A strange buzzing of energy only he could feel was in the air and soon his confused expression turned into one of wide eyed worry!

"I have to leave!," he suddenly said making her snap outta it long enough to blink and finally find her words.

"Wait. Wha!? Y-Y-YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE NOW!! NOT AFTER EVERYTHIN' YA JUST SAID!!" She made an attempt to grab at him but her arm just passed right through him.

Moonjumper was worriedly looking around backing away a few feet. " I'm afraid I have no choice." He looked back to her quickly. " We'll meet again I promise! When's it's safe, I'll send Timmy to get you! Don't worry Hattie knows how to get to me! Until then don't seek me out and don't tell Snatcher!"

"WAIT!!"

She pushed herself of the nightstand arm outstretched in an attempt to stop him, but much in a way shattered glass would, the ghost broke into pieces before their very eyes and faded into nothing. Leaving Poppy to stop and stand there. Arm still outstrectched to where Moonjumper once was, now nothing but empty air and no ghost or Philip there. .....She blinked and lowered her arm a few inches after a few uncomfortable seconds of silence...But it wasn't for long, when suddenly there was an emergence of purple starting to crawl from her shadow and she gasped seeing the purple coloring extend from her shadow until it elongated from her and two yellow orbs and a toothy snarl came from it in the form of Snatcher. Fur standing on edge and ready to attack like how he looked on that day the Mafia Boss attempted to kiss her hand. Poppy on instinct backed away a few feet as Snatcher's head snapped back and forth, searching for anything that could be labled a threat here. He had felt a nagging feeling back in his forest, he was just sitting here trimming Rough Patch of his loose leaves to help take his mind off the events plauging his mind hopefull to just have peace for once when he felt it. A burning feeling of danger screeching loud and proud in front of him and nagging him in the direction upwards, and he knew one thing had happend. Poppy's soul binded to his magic was summoning him because of danger present. He couldn't have dropped the bushcat on the chair with a meow faster and teleported there to make sure she was safe and sound. After a few tense moments of him looking around and not detecting any threats, he calmed down, the fluff around his shoulders and hair smoothing back down to it's regular fluffiness and looked down to Poppy who was still staring at him and didn't move when he leaned down to give her a worried look. The girls still confused and tiredly looking at each other and watching.

"Are you alright?," He asked softly as if he was talking to the girls, "Why did you summon me?"

"I-...." Poppy opened her mouth and stopped herself....Staring at Snatcher (Philip).....No. NO. Not now. She couldn't bring herself to say anything. Not when she felt so drained and confused all of a sudden. Instead answering with. "I-...I had a nightmare."

He stared at her for a moment before sighing in relief and leaning back up. "*sigh* Not the first time I've had to deal with this kind of thing.....You want me to stay again?" He asked kinda hopeful of her answer for him.

".....Yes." She found herself saying without thinking and she blinked surprised at her answer.

Snatcher smiled and a light yellow dusted his cheeks and he sighed again. Thank goodness. Only a nightmare. He had to deal with plenty of those himself for sure. Patting her on the back, one of his clawed hands nudged Poppy forward towards the door and he floated towards the bed where Bow was yawning and blinking tiredly obviously not used to battling sleep this time of night.

"Go to sleep. I'll take care of them and meet you in the attic."

Moonjumper watched their movements from a safe distance away. In ABSOLUTE SHOCK at what he had just witnessed. Snatcher....Was....BLUSHING!!! The purple noodle's yellow blush was unmistakable to Moonjumper as he watched the other ghost treat Poppy as if she was a helpless damsel in distress and actually smiled, blushed, and offered to do her something without any conditions or catches. Moonjumper always suspected there was a part of him that might've been in love with Poppy but he had no clue Snatcher would hold that part. Red eyes narrowed at the purple ghost with greed glinting in them. Too long...Too long to have something else he cared about slip away to that guy. He lost his family. His home. His beloved Vanessa. He was NOT about to lose his only friend to Snatcher too.

#Snatcher

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veridium · 4 years

Text

shot at the night

Good morning and happy Sunday, folks!

Time for a College AU Update to end the suffering of that beautiful cliff-hanger @bitchesofostwick set up for us last week. Hope you enjoy the highs and lows of college soccer!

fic master post // last chapter

One minute they are having a great time, even though it’s freezing and the Beam isn’t helping nearly as much as she hoped it would. The crowd is lively and drenched in school sweaters, beanies, and scarves -- Ellinor being a perfect example. It’s overwhelming. But only one moment pushes her over the edge: seeing a crowd of jerseys around the goal, the same goal Cassandra volleyed around that night after practice. The same one she was laying in front of, back on the grass and leg curled up against her.

An unbearable ringing in her ear. Ellinor’s voice from her standing position next to her. The cheez-its all over them and their feet. The crowd isn’t noisy anymore. She wishes it was.

“...Liv! Liv, hey…” she hears Ellinor as she sits down, shaking Liv’s thigh. She feels her, she hears her say her name, but she can’t follow. She’s consumed in the sight of Cassandra’s face straining with pain: biting her lip, opening and closing her eyes harshly while her chest rises and falls rigidly against her knee.

Olivia’s heart beats faster than she can count, like a hummingbird’s hopped up on a red bull.

Ellinor’s hand switches from her thigh to her shoulder, shaking again. “Liv!”

Olivia shakes her head. “Ellinor…”

“Liv, it’s okay, they’re gonna--”

“What happened? What did they do?”

“I don’t know!” she says, aggravated. She seems distracted, and she probably is. A couple yards away Cullen looks like a Bull preparing to charge at the man in bright blue, and the players are mean-mugging the other team. There’s cursing, and shouting, so loud the stilled crowd can hear them from the bleachers.

“What happened?!” she repeats, as if now she’ll know. As if she saw something Liv didn’t see, even though they were sitting together in the same spot at the same time.

“I think...I think a player did Cassandra dirty,” Maryden offers.

Ellinor stands up again, probably to see it all better. Olivia doesn’t need to. She can’t bear to take her eyes off of Cassandra still on the ground. One of her teammates crouches beside her and is talking to her. But are they saying the right things? What are they saying? Are they being nice to her?

Olivia’s panic heightens. “Someone...s-someone did this on purpose?”

“That player would get a yellow card, I think. It’s a big foul to play aggressively like that, especially with a goalie.”

Ellinor puts her hands on her hips. “Red card, they have to! That was a red card!” She must be reading Cullen’s lips. She is an expert on the subject of his lips, after all.

“What are they saying?!” Olivia asks, hands tugging at the knee-cap rips in her jeans.

“They’re….they...shit, the ref is being an idiot,” Ellinor replies. “He’s arguing with Cullen...fuck, and now Lys is walking over…”

“W-why is he arguing? Isn’t it a fault--”

“A foul…”

“A foul, yes, thank you Maryden,” Olivia tries her best to maintain diplomacy, but it’s falling fast. Before she can think to say anything else, however, the crowd erupts in boos and groans. Their side of the crowd, that is. The players start to disburse from the area, all except for a few of the who remain near Cassandra. A couple guys in navy blue jumpsuits with a medic bag jog over -- what took them so long?

Then, the Knights side of the audience starts booing even louder than before.

“Fuck that! Fuck you, Ref!” Ellinor shouts, hands cupped around her mouth.

Olivia’s ear ringing intensifies as Ellinor sits back down in a huff. “Wait...w-wait, what?” she looks at her.

“The ref is yellow-carding the player.”

“Normal people words, Ellinor!”

“It means they won’t take them off the field! Just a warning. Cullen was right, they’re gonna play like devils.”

Olivia’s brows lift so high they stand to broach the stratosphere. The ref is indeed walking with a small yellow card above his head, whistling so that both sides see. The ringing in her mind turns to Kill Bill sirens. Hearing ‘stern warning,’ it’s yellow-jumpsuit-and-sword time. She slowly turns her head and sees the Warden’s side, where one player is being talked to more than most. It’s someone pretty with a long, brown ponytail and a hairband. Someone whispers something, and they smile. Laugh, even. Their teammate pats them on the shoulder. It’s all congratulations disguised as comfort. No respect, no remorse.

Oh, hell no.

Olivia slides her jacket off of her shoulders. Cold? Fuck cold. She takes out one stud earring. While working on the other, she catches Ellinor’s attention.

“Uh, Liv...what are you--”

“Hold these.” Liv shoves her jewelry in Ellinor’s lap without a damn to give. Ellinor acts like the cheez-its have been spilled all over again.

“Liv, no.”

“Yes.”

“No, don’t--”

“Be right back.”

“No!”

She laces her fingers to crack her knuckles. As if entranced by seeing red, she rises and side-steps to the stairs, pushing past a nice older couple. Her nose and mouth are crinkling, hot air fuming out her nostrils as she races down.

“Liv!” Ellinor screams again.

Feeling like she is being followed -- which she most likely is -- Olivia only hastens. Down the fence aisle, boots hitting the concrete as she nears the opening to the field. Then, hands grab her right arm.

“Olivia Berenice, do not even think--!”

Liv’s mouth arrives before her body does, and she turns toward the Warden’s side of the field. With her free hand she punches against the fence; a loud hissing sound reverberates and further concerns the masses. If they weren’t already, surely what followed would be the cherry on top:

“YOU WANT TO BRING THAT SMILE OVER HERE, YOU SON OF A BITCH? I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT! NUMBER 14! YEAH, YOU! HOW ABOUT YOU TAKE THAT TACKY-ASS HAIRBAND AND SHOVE IT DOWN YOUR THROAT! THAT’S RIGHT! CHOKE YOU RANK, ABHORRENT BASTARD!”

Maryden, with Ellinor’s help -- or someone, Olivia can’t really tell in the moment -- hoist Olivia up over their shoulder. That does nothing to break her focus, especially considering the player has noticed her rancor and is staring worriedly at the bleachers where some bouncy goth blonde is frothing at the mouth. Their teammates see, too, and their faces are even more grim. The sick glee has gone.

While she clamors and nearly knees the person who’s carrying her in the gut several times, she gets one last promise in: “THERE IS NOT A CHAIN OR LOCK OR WALL THAT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP ME FROM SHOVING MY FOOT SO FAR UP YOUR ASS YOU’LL BE FLOSSING WITH MY SHOELACES!”

The crowd is nervously observing her when she is returned to their seats. Turns out it was Maryden, the taller of the three, carrying her while Ellinor was reinforcement and likely smiling at everyone to save face.

“AND FUCK YOU, WARDENS!! FUCK YOU AND YOUR GRIMEY ASSES!”

Apparently that is a much more popular sentiment. The crowds start applauding voraciously, as if they’re front row for a Boxing match. They could be, if only her friends wouldn’t be such killjoys and let justice be brought down.

“Liv, contain yourself, dammit!” Ellinor lands next to her, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. More shaking.

Growling, Olivia frees herself from her grip, spitting her own hair out of the side of her mouth. “Kindly kiss my ass Ellinor, you’d be melting the fence down to get to her if it was Cullen!”

Ellinor opens her mouth, finger pointed, but she stops. Slouching a bit, she looks away and concedes quietly.

“Still, you could have caused a penalty,” Maryden warns over Ellinor’s shoulder, all cool and collected as if she was just picking daises somewhere, and not man-handling a 5’2” enraged queer girl like a disgruntled shih tzu.

“I hope I do. Maybe then the Ref will recognize one when they see it!”

Unfortunately, in her fury Olivia has lost track of the most important thing -- the most important person -- and she races to catch up. Cassandra is not only standing, but walking. Limping heavily, she has her arm around Cullen. Is that Cullen? Curly blonde, red face...yes, that’s Cullen. The crowd applauds with relief and encouragement.

“See, Liv? She’s up!”

Olivia, far from satisfied: “Yes, that’s just her natural swaggering gait.”

“Well…”

Maryden clears her throat. “Cassandra is very fit and capable. I’m sure she’ll bounce back super fast!”

Olivia scowls, still watching as Cass is escorted off the field. The medic is on her like bees on honey. Meanwhile, she seems more concerned with talking to Cullen, who’s listening intently like he’s being told a litany of life-altering secrets. Perhaps that there’s writing on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Cassandra, though, Cassandra still seems focused. She can barely put any weight on her foot; despite that, it’s as if it hardly matters to her. Maryden is right.

Though her knuckles turn white from clamping on the bench edge, Olivia remembers a lick of sense enough to do as Ellinor wishes. She even feels a bit ashamed, like waking up from a fever dream having made lunatic choices all night long. Ellinor’s mounting agitation provides a distraction.

“Shit…”

Olivia blinks. “What?”

Ellinor watched like a hawk, nose tipped toward the sky. “I think Cullen is working as Captain now.”

Olivia follows her stare and sees the two teams congregating back to their respective formations. Cullen is back to his spot, talking to two other players, pointing and gesturing towards them like he’s calling some shots. Maybe Ellinor is right. It would make sense, with their bromance and Cullen’s experience, that Cassandra would default to him. Olivia glances to the sideline one more time to see that the medics are still tending to Cassandra and her leg, all three looking much calmer.

With a deep breath, she curls her arm around Ellinor, who stops bobbing her anxious leg up and down. “Well then, we’re in good hands.” And so they were.

Continuing to keep calm as best she can, Olivia pays more attention to the game. The Knights, having lost their leader unjustly, are reinvigorated. The replacement goalie looks younger but is ready for business. And Cullen? Cullen goes from Golden Retriever to German Shepherd. For the bulk of the second half the Wardens try time and time again to make it past the Knights’ defense, to no avail. With each advance Ellinor nearly skyrockets into the air watching out for him. When the time outs hit, Cullen is the one talking the team through the huddle, and he does so with considerable fortitude.

It’s getting to be final few minutes in the game -- or so Maryden and Ellinor promise after it goes longer than the promised 90. Time making up for all the penalties, they say. Well, to Olivia it’s just time preventing her from finding out if Cass is okay. During the last 15-20 minutes of the game, she was taken off the field. It looked like the ankle was causing more pain, too much to just be taped up on the bench. But no one can know for sure. It’s a little harder to breathe without her there.

With all this said, the moment the whistles finally sound off, and their half of the crowd leaps to their feet, it’s a good moment. Good because the team deserves it, and even better because Ellinor loses her damn mind.

“AHHH DID YOU SEE HIM! DID YOU SEE HIM THAT LAST TIME? THAT SLIDE TO BLOCK?!” Ellinor yells as she hops up and down. Maryden is dancing with her, which is a God-send, because all Olivia can do is stand up and clap. That, and a sweet, sweet smile that is dual-purpose for showing her teeth as the Wardens slip off the field. To no one’s surprise, the hand-shakes between the two teams is kept brief to avoid further injury.

The team is also going wild on the field, tackling and running around each other like excited kids. One or two get a water bottle sprayed in their face. Laughter, smiles, and joy. When the trophy gets handed off -- yes, a trophy, a real trophy -- Cullen is the rightful receiver. The players hoist him up onto their shoulders, up and down with fists up in the air. He’s smiling modestly but sincerely as he holds the hunk of metal above his head. Ellinor is almost crying as she pulls the collar of her sweater up over her mouth and holds it there.

It kinda aches to watch, knowing how much Cassandra worked to lead them here. However, Olivia notices Cullen gaze down at everyone supporting him. Though she can’t hear what he says, by the shape of his lips he seems to say something like “for Cassandra, guys.”

Then, smiling feels easier to do.

Ellinor takes hold of her hand, pulling her along with Maryden down to the steps. The majority of the audience is doing the same to get down to the grass and join in. “Come on!” she says, “let’s go see them!”

Olivia follows along until they make it to the field, where she can better see the nearby locker rooms. She pulls back, and Ellinor turns. Olivia slows to a halt and eyes the lockers. Without having to utter a word, Ellinor gets the message. A brief respite in her wide smile.

“Liv, she’s going to be okay. Don’t worry!”

“What if she isn’t?”

From across the field, Cullen’s champion voice calls Ellinor’s name. Then, several others repeat it, like she’s the First Lady of Soccer. Ellinor waves a hand at them, as if they’re interrupting some private conference, but Olivia quickly stops her.

“Hey, go! Go see him!” she encourages, “I’m just gonna hang back and see if she can answer my texts.”

Ellinor eyes her, but when the boys call after her a second time, she gives in. She gives Olivia a one-armed hug before running off toward her Knight-in-shining-jersey and his comrades. It’s all rather romantic, what she sees of it. Olivia follows the boundary sideline and keeps her distance; luckily for the Wardens, they decide to clear out rather expediently.

Watching the players and their loved ones congregate, Olivia pulls out her phone. No messages, no calls, no nothing. She wonders if Cassandra would even have phone access, or think of using it. Wouldn’t this be a time to call family, anyways?

She sends along a message just as a shot in the dark:

-- Hey, you okay?

Her eyes light up when the message is almost immediately read, as if Cass had their messages pulled up already. The typing symbol appears. Then, a response:

Cassandra: Was just about to text

Cassandra: Is the game still going?

-- No, the Knights won!

Cassandra doesn’t reply. Olivia’s ear ringing sets off again. She twitches her freezing fingers, teetering on how to act. The boundaries of what is too much and what is too little seem so incoherent. She hadn’t exactly read the part in the new budding romance manual titled “What To Do If Your Girlfriend Falls in Sport Combat.”

-- You need help? I’m out here if you need me.

Cassandra: I’m okay. Medic says I should think about hospital.

-- Really? I can drive you

Cassandra: It’s probably just a sprain, I’ll be fine

-- Do you need a ride? I can give you one! It’s fine!

As she hits send, the grass in front of Olivia becomes vastly overshadowed. Looking up, she sees part of the party has come to her. Cullen, with Ellinor under his arm and the trophy in his free hand, along with several others: Rylen, Lys, Krem and Maryden, and a still more. They’re all looking at her expectantly, and it feels like the field lights all hone on her. A day ago, she would have said they all thought her too bizarre or scary to do this. How things change.

“Hey, Liv,” Cullen says first, face glistening with sweat and likely Powerade, “any news?”

Wait...they all just expect that I know? She scans from right to left. Their previous expressions of raw, unadulterated joy have become sorrier. She folds her arms against herself, phone tucked.

“She says she’s good. They said to go to the hospital, but she disagrees.”

“Fuck yeah, she’s a tank,” Rylen remarked. “That asshole had a red card coming!”

They sound off in groans and growls of agreement. Olivia silently sighs and tucks hair behind her ear.

Cullen frowns. “If she needs to, she should go. She knows we won, right? I should go check on her--”

“Yeah, she--”

“Yeah, I know!”

They all turn on a dime toward the commanding voice behind them. Olivia is the last to see through all their broad figures, but she really doesn’t need to. She knows that voice. What’s harder to take is the sight that comes with it: crutches, right lower leg wrapped in ice and tape, and brow just as sweaty as her team’s are. Still in her uniform but with a down jacket over it.

While they rush over to her, doing everything short of tackling her to the ground, Cullen, Ellinor, and Olivia hang back. Ellinor watches Olivia as she tries her best not to shrivel up and die, mortified with her own over-sentimentality. She gives her a caring look, one of those ‘it’s okay, dude, don’t beat yourself up’ looks.

Cullen has his own matter to settle. Breaking from Ellinor’s hold, he joins the group and faces his friend and roommate who’s everyone’s talking at with exuberance and concern at the same time.

“Hey, Cass,” he says, the trophy in both hands. “Look, I, uh, if anyone deserves this, it’s you.”

He holds it out to her, which is a bit charmingly clumsy considering both Cassandra’s hands are occupied with crutches. Several others murmur in affirmation, things like “yeah, Captain,” “Oh Captain, my Captain!” and “Boss Lady.” A few whistles. Cassandra locks eyes with him and smiles as she straightens up as much as possible. She glances at either side of her before shaking her head.

She gently pushes the trophy gently back towards him. “You brought it home, Cullen. The honor is yours. And all of you! You have made me the proudest Captain this side of the continent.”

The happy mob’s affirmations grow louder. Some claps, even. Cullen chuckles heartily and, unable to help himself, hands off the trophy to Lysette and pulls Cassandra into a hug. She almost loses her crutches, but no matter. Her one capable arm reaching back around Cullen’s shoulders, patting him with as much strength as she can, says the embrace is anything but unwelcome.

Olivia bites back a sigh of relief, one Ellinor notices of course.

“Hey,” she says out the side of her mouth, “you good?”

Olivia slides her phone into her back pocket. Guess I won’t be needing this anymore. “Y-yeah. Yeah, I am.”

“You sure?”

“I just...”

Rylen’s rallying voice cuts through the merriment, just as it all seems concluded. “Hey! If anyone needs a trophy, it’s ‘Livia!”

Olivia freezes as she looks back to the group, who is once again all turning to look at her. Cullen and Cass are the last to, but when they do, Cassandra’s eyes land directly on her.

“Yeah, man,” Krem laughs, “scared the shit out of the offense, you hear that?” he asks Cassandra, who doesn’t so much as sniff in his direction. She’s still staring, hard to read as ever. Suddenly the infamy feels more like an embarrassing tattle-tale, and Olivia can feel her cheeks growing red from something other than Whiskey during a November night. More players chime in with their version of the sordid event:

“Yeah, see that? The--”

“--she had what, three people holding her back? Chr--”

“Yeah, we should have had her on the field to back up Rylen!”

“Shit, no kidding--”

“Hate it if that was what was waiting for me on the side-line”

“--that shoelaces line? Man--”

“Hey, hey, everyone,” Cullen intervenes, hands out and dad voice on full blast. He’s tuned into Olivia’s embarrassment like the nightly news. “Give her a break, okay?”

They all go solemnly silent, which makes it even worse. Olivia’s finally brave enough to lock eyes with Cassandra, who still hasn’t flinched. Dammit, if only she knew how she was taking all this. It’s not like she meant to go back on her WWE ways tonight. Dammit, lowkey, Olivia. We’re supposed to be lowkey. This is not lowkey! This is like the opposite of lowkey! High-key! Mt. Everest Key!

A nudge from Ellinor knocks her out of her mental death spiral enough to realize they’re all expecting her to see what she has to say for herself.

“I, uh…” she says to Cassandra, not daring to move.

A sudden, uneven grin. One could almost say cocky. Regardless, it’s a grin, and it’s on Cassandra’s face as she speaks her first words to her:

“Let this be a lesson, then, everyone: don’t cross my girlfriend.”

Blush? No, not blush. Lava, molten to the core, floods Olivia’s cheeks. Her heart nearly stops dead after so much racing. ‘Oohs’ and ‘aahs’ surround them, not nearly as rambunctious as before, but then someone wolf-whistles. Olivia wants to simultaneously jump her bones and roar about how much she scared the living shit out of her.

She said it. Loud and clear.

“Olivia?” Cassandra then asks, amidst the reactions.

“Uh...u-uh...yeah,” she mutters, taking one last look at Ellinor before coming forward. Step by step, until she’s as close as she can be while still being respectable. Then, a halt.

The others go even quieter. Cassandra smirks a bit. “I have a favor to ask.”

Olivia’s brows lift sincerely. “Yes?”

A pause, wherein Cassandra takes a stiff breath. Her throat catches on something that sounds like pain under good, honest humor.

“Could you please take me to the hospital so that I can get this son-of-a-bitch x-rayed and some ibuprofen?”

She waits until there’s just a hint of doubt in Cassandra’s face. So much so the “audience” of sorts shuts up again to hang on her word. When it’s just the right moment, she comes even closer.

“...get in my car, Pentaghast,” she commands, slipping her keys out of her coat pocket and twirling them around on her finger.

As if the moment wasn’t momentous enough, either the adrenaline or savvy romance of it proves inspiring. Cassandra smiles even wider, reaching just enough to snag the edge of Olivia’s coat and pull her in. In return, Olivia takes hold of the neck of her jersey, just enough for the drama without pulling her off her already-precarious balance. It’s the fourth time they ever share a kiss on a soccer field.

Everyone erupts in laughter, more clapping, and whistling. Olivia and Cassandra end their kiss in order for a proper congratulatory hug.

Rylen, again, proves the most dedicated to capping off the moment: “I told you, Krem! Pay up!”

“I didn’t bet no, dude!”

“Yeah but you bet maybe! $5 or three fireball shots at the afterparty!”

From farther away, Ellinor’s voice squeaks with a bit of shivering: “Did you say ‘fireball’?”

#day & age #college AU #ellinor trevelyan #olivia sinclair #college!Olivia #modern!olivia #THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF COLLEGE INTRAMURAL SOCCER

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artisticestheticreads · 5 years

Text

Summertime Magic VIII

A/N: Sorry, it’s late but I have had no sleep because insomnia is a bxtch and my sanity is being tested. But I hope y’all enjoy.

WARNING: Angst, blood and teary moments

SONG RECOMMENDATION: TOO DEEP TO TURN BACK by Daniel Caesar

N’Jadaka was home, fresh out of the shower when he looked through his neatly organized closet. He decided to slip on a navy blue thin tee with jeans and matching converse. He put his father’s chain on and his gold Rolex with diamond studs in to complete the look. He took a look in the mirror by his front door before he left. “Fuck, can’t wait to get my shit blessed. Lookin’ like a pretty ass bummy nigga.” On his way to Y/N’s place, he got a call and grinned as he answered through the BlueTooth system in his car. “What up, cuz?”

On the other side, Shuri was in her lab as everyone slept. She sported her white lab coat with protective goggles and shoes as well. “Hello, prince. I am calling to see if you are ready for the youth center.” N’Jadaka steered the wheel with his left hand. “Yeah, but why the hell you up so late?” She held up a test tube with a glowing liquid that subtly changed colors. “You should know by now that rarely sleep. Just like you, dear cousin. Besides, I am working on a new cure for ones who do not have the bones of their former selves. This will be perfect for the elderly or just a child with a sprained ankle. I used one of the healing herbs from Zuri’s garden with a touch of vibranium.”

“That couldn’t wait until the morning. You need all the sleep you can get, Shuri.”

“I can sleep when I am dead, N’Jadaka. But I will be down to look at the youth center. T’Challa and Okoye will be in New York, planning for the center out there.” N’Jadaka nodded stopping at the red light when he turned to the right to see his baby’s future shop. “When you gonna be here?”

“I will be there in 72 hours so I want my room set for me. Clean sheets and all.”

“Don’t push it, cuz”, he said with a straight face pulling up to the liquor store. “Aye, cuz. Ima call ya back. Love you, sis.” She smiled and said, “love you too.” He stepped in the store and grabbed a hand cart; walking over to the chip section to grab a few things that were Y/N’s favorite. He strolled over to the cooler when he felt like he was being watched. He rose his brow paying no mind when he felt a target on his back. He put the drinks in the cart and looked through the glass door to see a figure mirrored against it. When he was about to get over to the icee section, a man stood beside him, just a few inches shorter than the prince. “What up, my nigga? You a little too close”, N’Jadaka said with a brow rose.

The man wore a floral jersey with jean shorts that stopped passed his knees. His skin was light skin and fairly toned with red beaming through. “You the nigga with homegirl down the street?” N’Jadaka turned faced to him with the cart beside on the counter, arms folded in front of his crotch. “Why da fuck you wanna know?”

“ ’Cause you with my homie’s girl? Dat’s why, nigga?” N’Jadaka looked him up, down, and chuckled which the man didn’t like. “The fuck you laughing at?” N’Jadaka looked at him in the eye inching closer to him. “Nigga, have you looked at ya self in the mirror, hm? You look like a Chris Brown background dancer reject. You look like the type of nigga that lipsyncs Trey Songz and lick ya ashy ass lips every two seconds on Instagram live and shit. Nigga, just moonwalk ya ass to where you ever you claim to be from and tell ya nigga that if he did his muthafucking job, like a real ass nigga like me, his ass would have never been demoted and I wouldn’t have got promoted.” He placed the icee in a drink tray when the guy still stood there. Without looking at him, he asked: “you still here, little nigga?” The man walked away and N’Jadaka paid for his stuff and left when he noticed a man selling flowers on the corner.

He pulled up to the house getting his stuff and knocked on the door with the stuff behind his back. Y/N opened the door with a smile and her hair under a hair wrap. She wore a black short bodysuit and damn, did she look good. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and then her lips softly. “Mmm mmm, lips are magically delicious”, he told her; that made her giggle with a small snort. “Come in, silly.” When they walked in, N’Jadaka saw CJ in the chair with a cape around his neck for his cut. “Aye, what up bruh,” Daka said and CJ gave him a nod. “Good. Good.”

“Oh, Daka. What is behind ya back”, Y/N asked as she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. “Choose a hand”, he said with his brow rose and she smiled, pointing to the left. He pulled it from behind his back and revealed her favorite snacks and icee. Y/N shimmed and did her happy dance getting the stuff. “Too bad you ain’t pick the right”, he told her as he pulled out the right from his back, watching her eyes get big with a pout. He held out the beautiful bouquet of rainbow daises that were wrapped in yellow tissue paper. “You can have them but you gotta do something for me.”

“And what is that?”

“You gotta do that thing I love so much.” She rolled her eyes and smiled a little scrunching her nose for him. He chuckled as he handed her the flowers and she kissed his lips. “Thank youuuu, Daka.” She put them in a vase and placed them on her coffee table. He kicked his shoes off by the door and sat on the couch waiting. Soon, CJ was gone and N’Jadaka took his place at the sink for his hair to be washed. “Don't’ be falling asleep like last time.” After she washed his hair, she began twisting and finally got to the shape up. As she stood in front of him, he rubbed the back up her plush thighs and looked up to her. She kissed his forehead and smiled against his skin.

Once she was done, she cleaned up with his help and they sat on the couch, feeling comfortable as they ate snacks up until someone opened the door. Kesha wore a hoodie with a pair of shorts and sandals. “Hey, girl”, she said as she saw the couple on the couch. “N’Daka.” He rolled his eyes still looking up at the screen. “Koolio.” Kesha walked over the other side of the couch and sat in the styling chair. “Shay, your appointment isn’t for another hour.”

“I know but we can get a head start.” N’Jadaka held her down closer to him and she giggled before finally getting out of his arms. Y/N flopped the cape out and was about to wrap it around her neck when Shay stopped her. “Is it clean?” Y/N gave her look that N’Jadaka also gave her at the same time. Y/N wrapped the cape around and began to blow dry her hair better before flat ironing it. They sat in silence as the TV played in the background. Y/N looked over at N’Jadaka who watched her. “Yes, Mista Man. Can I help you?”

“Why you so damn pretty, huh? Old thick, cocoa butter self.” He leaned back and continued. “Ya got a man? I know yo cute ass do.” She looked at him with a smile and said “I mean I do but don’t you got a girl? You all handsome over there so I know you got one somewhere.” He stood, making his way to the kitchen and leaned into her ear. “I don’t have a girl. I got a princess.” He kissed the crook of her neck before getting to the fridge. Kesha sat there being irritated and aggravated at the cuteness. “Don’t burn me, Y/N.”

“When have I ever burned you, Kesha”; silence. “Exactly”. N’Jadaka pulled out the popcorn of the microwave and sat at the counter, watching Kesha being more bitter than ever. “Baby, guess what?”

“What, love?” He kissed her cheek and sat on the couch, eating. “Shuri gonna be in town in a couple of days.” Y/N looked over at him and asked: “so I finally get to meet Shuri in person?” He nodded. “Yeah. She coming out to look at the center we got up. Someplace in downtown and whatnot.” Y/N nodded and added “bet.” Kesha looked between them with something to say but kept it quiet. After her hair was done in a slick ponytail and side part. She handed the money to Y/N and watched her as she walked into her room.

When Y/N turned, she saw Kesha staring at her. “Y/N, we need to talk.” Y/N locked her safe and sat on the bed. “What’s up?” Shay beside her and said, “he changin’ you.” Baby Girl side eyed her and said: “the fuck are you talking about?”

“You changed. You don’t even call me anymore.”

“Seriously? I’ve been working.”

“And being with him 24/7″.

“Well, excuse me for spending too much time with my man, Kesha.”

“Well, you being a clingy ass bug-a-boo. A nigga shows you attention and you hop on him quick as fuck.” Y/N rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Look, I don’t know what is up with you but this is not the bitch I know and love.”

“If you love me Shay, then ya ass will be happy I’m with a man like him.”

“Psh. He just like any otha nigga from the hood.” Y/N stood and folded her arms, eyebrow raised up. “No, he ain’t. He a real man. He helps me a lot. Have you noticed that or have you been selfish?” Kesha stood and asked “excuse me? But I am only looking out for you.” Y/N asked “how, Sway? How?”

“I mean..” She stopped to think of what to say next. “Ima just come out and say it. He using you but you too stupid to see it.”

“Did you forget that I can snatch that fucking ponytail out ya raggedy-ass head?” Shay rolled her eyes and said “girl, bye. Do you see how that nigga looks? I mean....why you think he with you, sis? He can be fucking otha bitches half ya size.” That cut Y/N to her core. Her expression had dropped along with her hands. She was in such a deep thought, trying to fight tears. She always on the heavy side but when she got older, her body matured before everyone. She had to keep herself covered with big clothes to keep the boys’ wandering eyes away from her frame. Girls called her fat, chunky, disgusting and all. Kesha was there to make her feel better but Y/N slowly realized that Kesha had become one of the girls she hated. She walked up as she told her “you are just jealous.”

“Jealous of what, exactly? Look at me.”

“Ya jealous because Y/N got a real man who loves the way she is while you fucking otha bitches’ niggas”, they heard from the door. N’Jadaka stood there, arms folded and made his way over. He wrapped his arms around Y/N and told Kesha “you just another bitter ass skinny ass female who hatin’ on her homegirl because she got someone who cares. Y/N is a full ass package while you just the little envelope that muthafuckas toss away on the ground and step all over. Ya just another trash ass person with nothing to offer anymore.” Y/N stood still rubbing his arms and looking down. He held her chin up with a single finger and asked his lady, “you want her to leave, baby girl?” She nodded to stop her crying from coming through. He looked at Kesha then to the door and back at her. “Go. Now.”

“Whatever. nigga.” Before she left, she said “watch. He gonna break ya heart like everyone and ya know it.” Y/N looked to her and said: “add ya self to the list.” Y/N held her hand out and said: “I want my key back.” Kesha tried to not show how shook she was but it didn’t work as she struggled to take it. When she finally did, she threw it on the bed and stormed out the home. N’Jadaka had let her go to lock up and came back to see her sitting on the bed beside the key. “Baby Girl, you okay?” She looked up to him then down. He stood quietly watching her as she sat there, head to the ground until he held his hands out. She looked to him as he smirked and said “get up. I got you, baby. Always will.” She took his hands and he held her to his chest before they walked to the bathroom.

“Alright, little one. Look in the mirror, shoulders back and chin up.” She did as she was told he said “very good. Now, repeat after me, aight?” She nodded and he began. “I am beautiful.”

“I am beautiful.”

“Good. I am powerful.”

“I am powerful.”

“I am strong.”

He looked to her in the mirror and kissed her head. “Say I am loved.” She looked up to him to see his smirk and she copied. “I am loved.” He smiled and added, “and I matter.” When she repeated and he kissed her temple, they stood for a while warm embrace. The next day, Y/N and Daka stood in front of her store and said “I can’t believe I did it. This will all be mine next week.” N’Jadaka pulled her closer and rubbed her shoulder. “I’m proud of you, baby girl. In these couple of months, you did so much.” He kissed the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I can’t wait to get everything ready. Black tables, gold, and black furniture, cream and gray walls and a cute reception desk on the right side of the corner. Clean stations and everyone lined up.” N’Jadaka chuckled and said, “wanna hit the supply store again?”

“Yeah. I can see if the cha-”, she was cut off by her phone vibrating; she smiled when she saw it was her mother calling. “Hey, ma-”. Her smile suddenly dropped into a frown. N’Jadaka looked at her as she hung up; she was just frozen. “Daka, take me to Cedars.” They hurried to the hospital and when the doors open, she ran into her brother’s arms. “Where is pa?” He led them down to a room where her dad was sitting up watching TV, in a hospital bed. “There goes my baby girl.” She ran to him and held him. “Awe, baby. I’m okay.” She looked at his legs and asked what happened; he just chuckled. “Baby girl, I was working and I guess someone forgot to put up the wet floor sign and I fell.”

“Both knees are swollen and completely out of place”, her mom said to his other side. “How do you feel”, Y/N asked and he looked to her. “I’ll be fine.” Her mom added, “they wanna start the surgery right away but we don’t have enough.” Y/N looked to her wallet and nodded. “Let me go talk them.” N’Jadaka followed as they went to the desk. “I’m sorry, Miss Y/L/N but we have no choice but do the procedure now.”

“My folks cant afford it. What happens if he doesn’t get it right away?”

“Then he’ll be in more pain than before.” Y/N rolled her eyes away from the woman and thought about something. “How much do they need?” N’Jadaka looked at her as the woman said “5,000 more.” Y/N took a deep breath and nodded. It was either her shop or her father’s health. She pulled out her checkbook and wrote a check, handing it to the woman. She nodded as she left the couple alone. N’Jadaka watched as she sat down and made his way over. “Baby Girl-”.

“I guess the shop is gonna be on hold. I’ll have to cancel my appointment with the guy tomorrow. I can’t watch my dad in pain no more. I can’t.” She had tears fall down her cheeks and he sat beside her, cradling her. “Baby, I can help.” She looked up to him and shook her head. “It’s okay, Daka. Thanks. It can wait. I promise.” A few minutes later, she went to tell her parents as N’Jadaka. He thought it was great that she helped her father but then she had to go back to square one. “Hey, baby girl. I’m going to the cafeteria. Do any of yall want anything?” They declined but he offered to get them something to drink. When he got to the cafeteria, he got an incoming call.

“Hey, princess.” Shuri can sense the tone of his voice and was worried. “Everything okay, cousin?” N’Jadaka took a deep breath and said “I’ll be aight. Y/N’s pop is having his surgery and she used half her money to pay.” That’s when he got the idea. “Hey, cuz. When does your flight land again?” Later on in the day, Okoye met him in front of the hospital. She wore regular civilian clothes. He did the salute and said “you good?” She placed her hand on his shoulder and said “yes, I am. When does it start?”

“In a couple of hours. Y/N and her mom is still here but the brother went home. Did she give it to you?” She dug in her jacket pocket and handed him a tablet. “Cut it in half and put it in each of their glasses. Shuri said that they will be out all night until we are done. Shuri is bringing everything we need for tonight.” He nodded held the baggy. “What would I do without you, Ye?”

“What are best friends for, Prince? Good luck. I will be back in a few with Shuri and Ayo.” He went back and saw them standing beside him, backs turned to the door. He pulled out his swiss army knife to cut the thick pill, dripped each piece into their drinks and watched as the suds dissolved. He walked up to them, unsuspicious and said: “how you feeling, sir?”

“I will be alright because of my firstborn. Thank you, baby girl. I promise we will pay you back. She shook her head and held his hand. “It’s the least I can do, pa. Don’t worry. Just get better.” She kissed his cheek as N’Jadaka watched. Later that night, everyone was sleeping when N’Jadaka waited outside. Shuri, Okoye, and Ayo arrived in a rent a jeep and parked. They hopped out, Shuri had a backpack and walked over to him. “So, I guess they already did it, right?”

“Yeah, but they put a metal plate in his knees.”

“Ugh, amateurs. Metal is so hard to move with and the healing process will way too long. Let’s go.” They walked past the woman at the desk who was occupied and made it to the room. “Ayo and Okoye, stand out here and watch for anyone.” They followed orders and Shuri went over to the women. “Wow, they are really knocked out.” She knelt down to look at Y/N and lifted her arm. “Yeah, she is knocked out cold. She is really beautiful in person.”

“I know that, little one. Now, get ya ass over here”. She placed her bag on the hook beside the bed and dug info her kit, handing him a syringe. “Ok, this is the liquid form of the pill. Put it in his vein on his arm and he will be knocked out completely.” She whispered to Y/N’s dad as N’Jadaka finished. “You won’t be in pain anymore, sir. Thank me later.” She nodded as she sanitized her hands and put some gloves on, followed by a mask. She did a small incision on his right knee and pulled the plate out; she pulled out another syringe with the formula she made when they talked on the phone and inserted the liquid in his joints. “Okay, let’s see. What we can do?”

The next morning, the sun shined against their skin as Y/N stretched and yawned. “Wow, I was knocked out”, she said but when she looked to the bed, she got worried. She shook her mom’s shoulder to wake her. “Ma, where is pa?” All of a sudden, they heard the toilet flush. Y/N stood when she noticed her dad walked out, completely fine. Better than that actually. Her eyes felt misty as she watched. “Pa, how-why are you outta bed?”

“I had to piss.” He walked over to the bed to sit, not struggling. Her mom walked over to his side and asked: “Tommy, how do you feel?” He kissed her hand and said “I’m good, baby. I feel like I can play football again.” She had a few tears falling and her dad wiped them off. Y/N kissed her dad’s cheek as he thanked her and felt her phone vibrate. “Hey, babe. Left earlier today to shower and get Shuri. Don’t worry. I’m giving the dude the rundown for your shop. You will get a better one, one day.”

On the other died of town, N’Jadaka stood outside of his car and wore a pair of burgundy, pinstripe trousers with a white button-down, gold plate necklace, watch his gold-rimmed glasses paired with velvet black loafers. An Asian man parked beside him and stepped out in a full navy suit. “Steven Lu?” The man nodded and they shook hands. They walked into the store, looking around as N’Jadaka explained the details to him.

*𝒯𝒜𝒢𝒢𝐸𝒟 𝐿𝒪𝒱𝐸𝒮*

@muse-of-mbaku

@im5ftbutmythroat66

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@melanin-samii

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@amirra88

#n'jadaka #n'jadaka udaku #n'jadaka x reader #n'jadaka x oc #Erik Kilmonger #Erik Stevens #Erik Killmonger #Erik killmonger x Reader #erik killmonger x oc #bp fanfic #summertime magic fic #summertime magic

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bangtanoneshotsx · 5 years

Text

Jewels part one-V

A chain of daises shaped as a flower crown lay on top of your head, somehow managing to stay in place as you ran around. The sun beat down, blinding you slightly as you looked around the field, trying to spot your best friend. Just behind an oak tree, you spotted a flash of white. Letting out a squeal of excitement, you ran forward, being careful where you placed your uncovered feet.

“Found you!” You exclaimed, placing your hand on your best friend, making him jump slightly.

“No fair!” The young boy’s lips formed a pout as he begged for another round, insisting that you cheated.

“Just admit it Tae, I’m best!” A confident grin was on your face as you folded your arms, holding your head up high.

“No way!” The ten year old protested, too proud to admit it. “Anyway I’m older, that definitely makes me better.” A proud grin formed on his lips as he figured out a loophole to your claim. A huff left your lips as your smile turned into a frown. You hated when he used his age against you. Often he reminded you when there was something to gain, whether it was bragging rights or the last slice of chocolate cake. Though to be fair, he often shared the cake with you.

“That just makes you an old man!” You instantly regretted your words, as a mischievous glint appeared in Taehyung’s eyes. Spinning on your heels, you gave a laugh as you ran away, Taehyung quickly behind you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With your head placed on your hand you gave a sigh, watching as the bride and groom danced in the middle of the dance floor, all eyes on them. Behind them, the house flags decorated the wall. The symbol of the emerald family next to the sapphire’s flag. The one symbol of the fate that you were tied to.

“It’s so stupid.” Taehyung spoke, announcing his presence as he took a seat beside you. You gave a grin as his voice broke, making him roll his eyes. “Shut up.”

“I didn’t say a word.” You grinned, before sighing. “But yeah, it’s stupid.”

“Does she even love him?” Taehyung asked, looking to your cousin who seemed happy enough to be parading around in a white dress. You shrugged your shoulders, leaning back, your eyes darting around the ballroom, trying to find your mother as you snuck a sip of the champagne someone had left on the table. Your face screwing up slightly at the taste, you turned back to Taehyung.

“Mother said he was the only good bachelor left, whatever that means.”

“So she doesn’t love him.” Taehyung sounded disappointed, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to understand the world before him.

“I wish we didn’t have that rule.” He spoke before looking to you, his eyes soft. “I wish we could marry anyone we wanted to.” There was something in Taehyung’s eyes that you couldn’t detect, the teenage boy was confusing to you.

“Yeah well we can’t. Get used to it Tae, we’re destined to marry someone we hate ‘cause of stupid history.” You looked up as a slice of cake was placed in front of you. Looking up you found a waiter, who only gave a silent smile before walking away, a tray of slices of cake in his hand. Realising this meant the first dance was nearly over, you gave a huff, stabbing your fork into the chocolate sponge, already feeling the pain of a night that seemed to go on for forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You could only cry, holding the pillow close to your chest as you curled into the fetal position. You knew you were never destined for Taehyung romantically, but you thought he could be there as a best friend. Now, he had been ripped away from you by some cruel fate that was twisted by history.

History that was made by your ancestors. The feud between families that created boundaries. Boundaries that meant that Taehyung and you could never be more than friends, maybe not even that.

The day after Taehyung’s 18th birthday, he was ripped from you. Turning into an adult meant it was finally time for him to learn how to take over from his father. Something Taehyung was dreading. He was sent back to his city, back to his home where he could learn from ‘experts’ where he could learn the best way to look after what his family had. You both knew it was happening. You were reminded of it every time someone found the two of you together. Taehyung and you would sigh, rolling your eyes. The threat didn’t seem real, you two were going to be together forever, you were partners in crime. And now, the only thing you had from Taehyung was his old t-shirt and a letter saying goodbye.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You let out a sigh. You didn’t recognise the young woman in the mirror. This woman wasn’t you. It couldn’t be. This woman wore a white wedding dress, her hair in curls as a tiara and veil lay on her head. This woman was getting married to a man she didn’t love.

“You look beautiful.” Your mother whispered, letting a tear roll down her cheek as she dabbed her cheek with your father’s handkerchief.

“Mother!” You groaned, turning from the mirror to face her. “You’ll make me cry.” She gave a sniffle.

“Sorry darling, but I never thought this day would come.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” At your confused expression she gave a chuckle.

“I think everyone always thought you and Kim Taehyung would have run away together.” At his name you froze. The name of the man you hadn’t seen for 6 years. The man you used to love. His name still created an ache in your heart, an empty spot where he used to be.

“Mother I haven’t seen him for years.” Your mother gave a sigh, nodding her head.

“True. Anyway, you’ll see him today.” Ah yes, the one stupid rule created after the feud that meant you had to see the man you used to love get married to another woman.

Maybe you’d feel nothing. Maybe it would be like watching a stranger get married. You weren’t sure if you even knew him anymore.

But when a knock sounded at the door, your father’s voice telling you it was time, as your heart pounded, you doubted that everything would be okay.

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raphpanda21 · 5 years

Text

The Tale of Mr Bumbles

Cerberus was lost. Well as lost as a giant hound of hell could be when it was too stubborn to admit it was lost and just turn back. Lost, hungry and tired. He wouldn’t be lost at all if not for his dad’s stubbornness.

‘Stupid Daddy! Don’t need bath! Smell fine! Show daddy! He be upset and forget about bath! ‘

Huffing in exhaustion he stopped on the hillside overlooking a fertile valley crisscrossed with fields of flowers and grain and scattered clusters of smaller forests. Cerberus even as a dog could appreciate the beauty of the scene but it seemed almost too perfect at the same time. A soft spring breeze brushed over him cooling his tired body but with it came the mouth watering smell of food. Coming to full attention once more he began to follow his nose eager to locate the source of the smell and perhaps secure some sustenance for himself.

Wandering down the hillside he creeped into a forest near the origin of the smell carefully crawling among the underbrush as he got closer.

‘Best see who has food. See if is good food. ‘

Coming to the very edge of the forest he peered out from beneath a bush nose twitching as the smell of he food was now mixed with a sweet flower and honey scent. Only about ten feet away he saw the source of the delicious smells. Seated amongst a cluster of daises a small little girl sat surrounded by a pile of daisy crowns and chains a small stuffed bee seemingly her only companion. What really drew Cerberus’ attention though was the buttered bread and olives she was slowly picking at.

The girl appeared to be young and alone. In Cerberus’ experience children always had the easiest touch even with hell hounds like himself. Figuring he had nothing to lose he slinked slowly out from the underbrush making a point to make as much noise as possible so as not to startle the little one.

Stepping on a twig it cracked loudly drawing the young child’s attention. A cherub like face turned to face him the first emotion being clearly confusion at seeing him but quickly shifting to excitement as a smile of wonder spread over her features.

Puppy!? Come here puppy!

The young little girl that looked like she couldn’t be more than 5 summers at most eagerly pat the ground trying to encourage him to come closer. Not one to ever turn down an invitation he quickened his gait coming to a stop before her situating himself closer to the food than to to the owner it belonged to. Giving a soft whine he looked at the food and then at her hoping the little child would be smart enough to figure it out.

The little girl was slightly disappointed at the distance but hearing the whine and following his stare she tilted her head in concern.

Are you hungry? Poor puppy. Here!

The young child smiled and held up a large chunk of freshly buttered bread . Very carefully Cerberus reached out mindful to use his front teeth to carefully lift the bread from her grasp. Safely away from her small digits he quickly devoured the offering licking his chops in enjoyment after he finished it.

The little girl giggled in delight enthralled with the mysterious large puppy. Cerberus’ tail wagged pleased at the sound her happiness and his now fuller belly.

‘She is sweet pup. ‘

Sensing the child’s eagerness to touch him he decided to reward her moving closer nudging her hand in encouragement with his snout.

The child didn’t waste any time eagerly reaching out to stroke his head softly scratching between his ears and around his nape.

‘Dis pup very good at pets.’

Cerberus tongue lulled out in pleasure as the pets and her pleasent scent lulled him into a relaxed state.

‘Dis can’t better get.’

It turned out Cerberus was wrong as a short time later he found himself not unlike Dionysos reclined on a diaz being served grapes by his adoring attendants except in this reality he was a pooch reclined in the lap of a small rose of a child being feed olives.

‘Maybe don’t need go home. Dis pretty nice. ‘

As soon as he thought it he knew he didn’t really mean it. His daddy was hopeless without him. Even if he was mad at him he would eventually go back because Daddy needed him the most. He had the most important job of all the puppers after all.

With much effort he rolled over groaning in mild protest at his now more than full belly. As he shifted his hind legs kicked something furry. Whipping his head ears laid pack at the unknown interloper he quickly located the threat which turned out was no threat at all. Curiosity getting the better of him he leaned closer sniffing the small stuffed bumblebee noticing pleasantly it was soaked in her smell.

‘Pup must love dis lots. It gets many hugs.’

Seeing his attention on her Mr Bumbles she picked it up holding it up for his inspection

This is Mr Bumbles. My mommy gave him to me. He is my bestest friend. Since you are my friend now Mr Bumbles is your friend too!

Cerberus looked at the stuffed insect and back to the small pup not exactly sure what she was getting at but gathering at the very least that the fake insect was Mr Bumbles.

Beginning to feel tired with his now overfull belly and the warm sun of the afternoon beating down on him he yawned loudly showing off the deadly arsenal he sported. As is often the case yawns were contagious and the little one was yawning as well. Deciding he might as well have a rest before actually trying to find his way home he curled himself around her small frame his lips curling up slightly in as close as a doggy smile as a beast could manage as the little one curled into his side. A short time later her soft even breathes leveled out as she slipped into dreamland Cerberus following her shortly after.

The two of them napped together for how long Cerberus had no scope but the moment a scent hit his nose he awoke instantly. A dangerous predator was near. Twitching his nose to take the scent in more deeply he slowly opened his eyes. Too close and judging by the scent it had been stalking them for sometime. Moving carefully he slipped himself free of the slumbering child moving far enough away from her that she would hopefully not wake. He let out a deep warning growl as he made his way into the nearby forest where the predator lay in wait. Out of the line of sight of the slumbering child he shifted form becoming double his earlier size and all three heads becoming visible. Not wanting to waste anytime he bounded off the predator now made the prey. The scent was familiar to him so he hoped to resolve things peacefully but he knew that maddening hunger could make even the gentlest creature unreasonable.

Finally he found the creature in question being upwind it had not been altered to his precense but the snake head which served as its tail hissed in warning alerting the beast which turned to face him the lion head bearing its fangs in warning.

He knew this creature the chimera and although not friends they were not enemies either. He growled a his hackles slowly rolling up his broad back two of his heads snapping their large jaws in warning.

‘Leave. Go away.’

The snake hissed in response a low rumbling roar coming from the lion head as it paced in front of him.

‘We hunger. Eat Child. You go! ‘

Looking at the creature before him he saw the gnawing hunger lurking in it’s eyes. He felt sympathy but he would not allow the kind hearted girl to become its dinners. All three heads snarling he lunged planning to give a warning bite and hopefully scare him off but the chimera had less passive plans . Anticipating his move the chimera dodged his attack slashing out angrily in retaliation catching Cerberus in his side with his claws causing a yelp of surprise to slip from Cerberus.

The pup gloves were of it seemed. Still he didn’t want to hurt the chimera badly despite the painful sting growing in his side. Hunger made a beast out of many. Circling the chimera he waited watching for his moment to strike. The fates were on Cerberus’ side as the chimera so focused on him did not mind where its feet feel and hitting a divet in the ground the chimera momentarily stumbled providing Cerberus his chance. Moving quickly he slammed the full weight of his body into the Chimera making it loose its balance completely. Not wishing to loose the opportunity Cerberus slammed one paw down on the beasts throat pinning it down as two of its heads bit into the nap of the beast a red stain darkening his midnight muzzle even more.

The goat bleated in a panic horns trying to swipe at the two bent heads with little success.

‘Let go! Stop! Let’s make deal!’

Cerberus does not release the creature it’s free head growling lowly.

‘No deal. You go. Go underworld. Say Cerberus sends. Better for us type. Plenty to care. Daddy is kind. ‘

Ever so slowly he released the Chimera moving back from the prone creature which slowly regained its footing letting out a soft rumbling sound.

‘Is far? Terrible hunger. ‘

Cerberus whined softly shaking the only head that’s muzzle wasn’t covered in blood.

‘Not far. Follow stream. It gets small. Goes in cave. You go. ‘

For a moment both creatures just looked at each other assessing the damage done. Both were a little bloody but nothing that would have long term effects. The Chimrera was the first to move nodding its head in acknowledgement an unspoken thanks understood between them as he headed in the direction Cerberus had indicated.

Shifting back to his single head form he made his way back to he hoped the still sleeping child. He tried to lick the blood from his chops with little success and his side twinged painfully with his movements fresh blood staining his fur. He wouldn’t stay long. Just make sure the little was safe and be on his way.

Making his way into the clearing he saw the small one awake and alert looking about for something but eyes falling on him she smiled getting up with her toy and quickly running to his side. As she got closer her smile slowly turns to a look of concern seeing the blood on him.

Puppy is hurt?

Tears start to come to her eyes as she clutched her bumblebee tighter to herself.

Seeing her tears he reached up to nuzzle her gently in comfort forgetting the state of his muzzle . Pulling back she giggled rubbing at the large wet smear he had left on her face smearing the blood like an over abundance of rouge.

I haven’t learned how to heal things yet but my Mr Bumbles always makes my boo boos feel better.” Holding it up to him she smiles. You should borrow him. Mama takes care of all my boo boos so I think you need him more.

Cerberus was surprised he could tell that the bee was special to the little pup. His daddy though had always harped the importance of manners so he took it gently from her hold. He needed to go though. This wasn’t his place and he needed to have his side seen to. Giving her one last nuzzle he trotted away quickly not giving himself a chance to change his mind. Disappearing from her sight he began to trace the steps of the Chimera.

Back in the valley a woman appeared at the far edge of the field calling out to the child.

Persephone dear, come along my sweetie it is time for your lessons.

The child Persephone hesitated still looking to the forest where the puppy had disappeared before turning and running towards the women quickly disappearing from sight.

Present day

Daddy had let the mean one stay the night again and it had him in a sour mood. Wanting some comfort he snuffed around his bed looking for something. His nose led him to his desired item quickly. Although very faint now Mr Bumbles still held the faint scent of the small girl from long ago. Taking it in his jaws he settled down gently holding it and letting the memories and smell calm his turbulent feelings.

#drabble #greekgods #loreolympus #inspired #cerberus #thebumblebee #persephone #lore olympus

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pratktcven · 6 years

Text

crushed and blue

crushed and blue part one. shance. not rated. inspired by this post by @kitausu. also available on ao3

WK01.MON.AUG21.

There is no air conditioning in the lecture hall. Budget cuts, Shiro guesses. Or maybe there was no air conditioning to begin with. Summer ends quickly here, as August fades into September, and the heat often dissipates into chill within a week or two.

Shiro sighs. Looks up. The windows have been opened to tempt a nonexistent breeze, but the only thing they let in is the drone of dying cicadas. The hum nearly drowns out the professor's monotone. Shiro's eyes droop. He struggles to stay awake, weighed down by the oppressive heat and boredom, and almost misses the professor's cue to hand out the syllabus.

Almost.

With a repressed yawn, Shiro stands and tucks the stack of papers atop his prosthesis. As the professor explains his stance on late work, missed tests, and plagiarism, Shiro walks slowly up the stairs. He gives each row a sheaf of carefully counted papers and tells them quietly to pass them down the line.

The boy at the end of the fifth row smiles at him. Whispers, "Thanks," before turning to give the girl several seats down the rest. He has to stretch to reach her, a movement which exposes the slender line of his neck. Shiro notes that the boy is wearing two rainbow-colored jelly chokers, one stacked right on top of the other.

Huh, Shiro thinks. That's cute.

The thought disappears as quickly as it comes and, after an imperceptible pause, Shiro begins to count the number of students in the next row. It's going to be a long morning.

WK01.WED.AUG23.

Shiro sits for most of the second lesson. He does not repeat the mistake of a button-down and slacks; today he is in black straight leg jeans and a lavender t-shirt made of a breathable linen blend. He sips on his vanilla iced latte quietly, hoping that the cold and the caffeine will prevent his attention from wandering.

It does.

Barely.

Halfway through the lecture, Shiro's attention snags on the boy at the end of the fifth row. Like many other students, his gaze alternates between the prepared power point projected, his open laptop, and the cracked windows. His fingers—long and thin—touch the choker around his slender neck, a band of crushed baby blue velvet.

Their eyes accidentally meet.

The boy smiles.

Caught, cheeks burning, Shiro quickly looks away.

WK01.FRI.AUG25.

The boy walks in a minute before class begins. He is dressed head to toe in black: baggy tank top, tight jeans, high top sneakers. A black cord is wrapped snug around his neck, a simple line interrupted by a heavy platinum circle.

It looks like an o-ring, Shiro's traitorous brain supplies. Then, even more inappropriately, He'd look really good at the end of a leash.

Shiro very deliberately turns towards the front of the room and spends the rest of the lecture staring at the professor's slides like his life depends on it.

WK02.MON.AUG28.

The cicadas outside the classroom wail in the rising heat, providing the perfect backdrop for the stifling humidity that has built up inside the lecture hall. A few students are asleep, their faces tucked down into the crooks of their arms. Neither Shiro nor the professor say anything. This is a 100-level history class, and many of the students are taking it for a required humanities credit.

Shiro's eyes flicker to the boy at the end of the fifth row.

To his neck.

To the tiny red ribbon knotted over his adam's apple.

Outside, the cicadas continue to scream.

WK02.WED.AUG30.

Today, the boy wears a chain of golden daises. The centers are made of cubic zirconia and—as the sun rises above the treetops and bathes the lecture hall in mid-morning light—the fake diamonds adorning his throat sparkle.

WK02.FRI.SEP01.

It is the last day of the semester for students to drop out of class with no repercussions, and the number of people who enrolled in Introduction to World History has dwindled from 250 to 187. Of that, only a hundred or so continue to come to show up, and the once crowded lecture hall is less than half full.

Not that Shiro blames the absentees. Everything the professor says is taken directly from his overly-wordy slides, and all slides are available online the same day they are used in class. Combined with the professor's ability to make everything sound dry and irrelevant, Shiro honestly wonders why anyone bothers to come at all.

And if the boy—his choker a line of glinting pyramid studs—begins to sits at the end of the second row, Shiro assumes it's to see the fine print in the slides better.

WK03.MON.SEP04.

Shiro rarely sleeps in. He is a creature of habit who wakes up at six, goes for his standard run, then returns to his apartment to shower, dress, and make drip coffee. He eats a banana, a slice of peanut butter toast, and a handful of almonds while the coffee percolates. When said coffee is finished, he dumps as much as he can into his gigantic thermos and sweetens it with whatever creamer his roommates haven't touched. Then, half an hour before morning classes begin at eight, Shiro is out the door and prepared to face the day.

The only difference between today and any other day is that classes have been recessed for the holiday.

This does not matter much to Shiro. He heads to the main library instead of the lecture hall; he has several papers to finish and a few chapters to catch up on, something that is easier for him to do away from the distraction of home. He loves his roommates, he does, but he's let Allura and Matt sidetrack him too much in the past couple of weeks. He needs to hunker down and spend the day being productive.

This is, of course, when Shiro sees the boy across the street.

Luckily, the boy is with a friend, and he doesn't see Shiro stare at his dusky rose crop top, distressed light wash jeans, and metallic slip-ons. He is too far away for Shiro to make out the details of his choker, but he can tell it's there, a stark line of white against his skin. It isn't until they have almost passed one another that the boy notices him.

"Oh," the boy says when he sees Shiro. Smiles. Waves. "Hi!"

"Hi," Shiro croaks as he waves back helplessly. There must be a strange expression on his face because the friend—a big guy with dark hair and an impressive shoulder tattoo—raises an eyebrow.

Shiro curses internally as he drops his hand and forces himself to keep walking. For the sake of his sanity, he needs to keep the exchange from going further. It takes more willpower than he expects, but he manages it, and he enters the library feeling triumphant. This hubris lasts as long as it takes him to find an empty table, to sit down, and to absently wonder if the boy's choker was made of lace or not.

This time, Shiro curses aloud.

WK03.WED.SEP06.

Shiro is the first to get to the lecture hall, ten or fifteen minutes before class begins at eight. Sometimes, a few early birds are waiting in the vestibule, hunched over cups of coffee or their phones. No one is there today when Shiro unlocks the door and turns on the lights. Not that he expects it. Many students become progressively lax about their schedule as the semester wears on, choosing to get five more minutes of sleep instead showing up five minutes early to their first lesson.

Once the other doors are unlocked, Shiro grabs the old combo desk from the corner. The chair is made of faded plastic, its sheen long lost, and the small table attached to the right arm is barely big enough to fit Shiro's laptop and medium-sized coffee cup. Only years of experience save him from knocking both to the floor when someone says,

"Hey."

Shiro looks up sharply. He's surprised to see the boy in front of him; the boy is one of those students who always walks in a bare minute before the professor begins his lecture, not that Shiro pays him special attention or anything.

"Hey," Shiro responds. "Can I… help you with something?"

The boy grins. Licks his gloss-tacky lips. Swallows. Shiro struggles to ignore the way it makes his choker—a plain blue cord with a star pendant—cut gently into his skin.

"Well, no, not really," the boy says. "I just realized that—when I saw you the other day—that we've never been introduced, mano a mano. I mean, I know you probably have a thousand and one undergrads to take care of but…" The boy shrugs, a nonchalant gesture that causes his wide-neck shirt to slip further down one shoulder, then holds out his hand. "I'm Lance. Well, technically, my name is Leandro Santiago Almodóvar Fuentes, but most people just stick with Lance."

Cute, Shiro thinks as he lifts his right arm. Aloud, he returns, "Takashi Shirogane. But most people just stick with Shiro."

There's an awkward pause when Lance realizes that Shiro's right arm is a prothesis. This is not unusual, as most people tend not to notice that it's fake until they're up close. Luckily, Lance's hesitation ends as quickly as it arose. He treats the gesture normally, wrapping his hand around Shiro's unfeeling fingers before pumping up and down a couple times. Shiro may not be able to gauge the firmness of Lance's grip, but he can still tell that Lance has a good handshake.

"So what are you drinking?" Lance asks when he lets go.

Unphased by the non-sequitur, Shiro answers, "An iced vanilla latte with an extra shot."

"From the campus coffee shop?"

"Oh, god no." Shiro laughs and shakes his head. "That stuff is awful! No—I go to this café a few blocks south of campus. This Beans Business."

"Wait," Lance interrupts. "The name of the café is This Beans Business?" When Shiro nods in affirmation, Lance giggles. The sound is pitched lower than Shiro expects. "That is honestly the best name I've ever heard for a coffee shop."

"You should try it," Shiro recommends. "They have the best espresso, but if you're not a coffee drinker, they have a lot of alternatives, like bubble tea. Also, they're open until midnight on weekdays. I practically lived there during my junior year."

Shiro and Lance talk for the next ten minutes while the lecture hall slowly fills up. Lance smiles easily; gestures with not only his hands but his entire body; and frequently touches his choker, an absent motion that Shiro follows every time. And even though Lance never says anything about it—or gives any indication that he notices the stray of Shiro's gaze—Shiro still feels obvious, and is glad for the barrier of his small desk between them.

"Guess that's my cue to sit down," Lance murmurs when the professor shuffles in. "Same time Friday?"

"Same time Friday," Shiro says.

WK03.FRI.SEP08.

Lance is not in the vestibule when Shiro arrives. Shiro feels a twinge of disappointment beneath his breastbone that he immediately quashes. He is earlier than usual—here to prepare for the first test—and no one, not even the professor, shows up twenty-five minutes before the lecture starts.

Shiro opens the door. Flicks the light switch. Makes sure the other doors are unlocked, then grabs his desk. He doesn't sit down immediately, choosing instead to lean against the wall and grin coffee from his thermos. Allura bought coconut creamer on her last grocery store run; she prefers hazelnut, Shiro knows, but on will on occasion branch out.

(Coconut is Shiro's favorite, and he tends to add more than usual to his thermos. It's a good thing that Allura always buys the largest bottle possible.)

Students begin to trickle in around 7:40. Some faces are familiar and some are not. The students who tend to skip stay further away from the front while the ones who show up every day take their regular seats. It is quiet save for the rustle of paper, the click of laptop keys, and murmured variations of, "How hard do you think this is going to be?"

A lot of the students toss nervous glances in Shiro's direction. He understands their anxiety. Different professors have different testing styles, and not knowing if the teacher likes trick questions or if they are more straight-forward can be nerve-wracking. He wants to tell them not to worry—this is just an entry-level history class, after all—but he keeps his face as neutral as possible and sips at his coffee. They'll find out soon enough.

Shiro has nearly emptied his thermos by the time Lance arrives at 7:56. He's dressed in jeans that cling to his long legs, an over-sized graphic tee, and a plain black choker. He gives Shiro a small, harried smile as he descends the stairs, then plops into his normal seat at the end of the second row. His hair is a mess of curls. He yawns—wide and long—and rubs roughly at his eyes.

Oh. Shiro's cheeks flush with embarrassed realization. He overslept.

Shiro pushes off the wall and busies himself until the professor walks in. The professor gives the class a quick overview of the test, which is a simple twenty-five multiple choice with a short essay, then hands Shiro the copies to pass out.

"When you're finished, please place your test on my desk," the professor drones. Shiro hands the first row their copies. "You may begin as soon as you receive your test."

Lance smiles contritely as Shiro steps up. He mouths, Sorry.

Shiro shrugs gently and smiles back. Whispers, "Good luck," as he hands Lance the counted stack of tests, then moves onto the next row of students. He knows he shouldn't have favorites—that he should see each student equally—but…

Lance tugs on his choker in concentration.

#shiro #lance #shance #my fic #text

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shewhowantsmouseears · 7 years

Text

Love Like Lava, 1

Notes: Welcome to my newest project - Love Like Lava, a Greek Myth AU about Aphrodite and Hephaestus! For those of you who knew me under a different account, you'll recognize that I tried and failed to do this story before. But now that I've got two amazing editors on my side, why not give it another go? And let me get this straight right away : I don't intend to follow the Greek Myths to the exact letter, cause... well, that'd make this a very gross story. I think of it more as re-imaging a fairy tale, like I did with The Nutcracker, Segreto/The Little Mermaid, Grimm City/Red Riding Hood, etc. As always, tremendous amounts of thanks for my wonderful editors, Drucilla and BlueShifted. Summary: The lives of all the Gods and Goddesses are about to change when Aphrodite arrives. But who is she, where did she come from, and what will she do? Even she has no idea.

It started with a feeling. It was small, at first, tugging at the back at the minds of all the gods and goddesses, be they on Mount Olympus, in the depths of the Underworld, or taking their pleasures in the realm of mortals. A whisper of their own voices told them “something is coming”. Many of the higher-ups, like Hera, the queen of the gods, and Ares, the arrogant god of war, ignored the message – something was always coming, they reasoned, such as the start of a new day. But when the new day came, the feeling grew stronger – something was coming. With each and every passing day, this feeling got stronger, the voices louder until it couldn't be ignored. It wasn't even apparent whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, only that something that was coming. Eventually the lower godly creatures, such as Persephone the demigoddess, and the nymphs and mermaids and satyrs, could no longer hold themselves back, and spoke about it in hushed tones. The conversation moved up higher and higher on the chain until no one on Mount Olympus could ignore it – something was coming.

Zeus, ruler of all the gods, was the most frightened – prophecies had been told that a son would dethrone him, as he had done to his father, and his father had done to his own. Thus he commanded that all the gods and goddesses to scour the mortal lands for the thing that was coming. Perhaps one of the hundreds of ladies he had frolicked with was expecting. So far, no child of his had ever had the power or will to take what belonged to him, but the fear ate away inside of him. When his searchers would return with no news, he would roar at them to search again, holding his fists high as a warning to their next failure.

Soon he demanded the search be spread among the demigods, the nymphs, the mermaids, the satyrs, and all who were not mortal. Days were spent in wasteful looking, and it became mutually agreed that whatever was coming, it wasn’t wanted. The thing wasn’t even here yet and it was already causing so much trouble. Some of the more nefarious immortals thought of killing the something upon seeing it. The more peaceful gods overheard this, and argued that they needed to give the something a chance. One particular argument of this fashion occurred on a large beach that wasn’t too far from Mount Olympus. The angry ones and the peaceful ones argued incessantly, ready to grab their weapons and brutally prove their way if that’s what it took.

But before a sword could leave its scabbard or a spear could be lobbied, they all felt a new feeling wash over their minds. Instead of being told something was coming, now the feeling said something was there. All their heads turned toward the ocean. During their yelling and stomping of feet, a large pink seashell larger than the tallest mortal ever born had slid onto the sand. Silence fell on the group as the seashell opened, and the occupant brushed off sea foam from her dress. After getting herself partially cleaned up, she stepped out of the shell, trying to keep her flowing dress from getting wet. She was a young lady mouse, fur as dark as the furthest depths of the ocean, and eyes shining like brilliant sea shells. Little wisps of hair curled around her large ears, rolling back and forth like waves on a calm day. She then looked up at the mighty gods and goddesses and smiled. “Hello,” she chirped. “Would you mind telling me where I am?”

And thus, the goddess Aphrodite arrived into the world.

~*~

Mount Olympus was an infinite space, defying both time and logic. It was a mystical mountain, forged on the tallest point on the planet, unable to be seen by any human. It reached out into the stars, and stretched across endless floors and chairs, with an infinite supply of food and drink of all kinds. Dark clouds floated in and out of their sanctuary, typically surrounding the most imperial thrones belonging to Zeus and Hera. It was an all-encompassing space, yet at that moment, Zeus thought their home felt very crowded. That probably had to do with the entire trail of gods and goddess following the new figure he was unfamiliar with. Hera wasn't with him, which was good fortune for Aphrodite – most likely she was drinking away her anger and sorrows. Lord Zeus looked down from his throne at the newcomer, and he drew a long breath as he got a good look at her. “What’s this?” His mighty voice boomed, slamming a hand down on his chair in delight. “What is this marvelous creature that has stepped before me?”

The newborn goddess blinked up at him. Was she supposed to answer that? She looked behind at her at all the men and women gazing so intensely upon her. “I’m not sure,” she finally responded. “They told me to come up here.” She shrugged, but it was the simple truth. They'd forgotten their quarrel and immediately grabbed her by her tiny wrists, heading right to the mountain in song and celebration. The goddess kept asking important questions, such as who they were and where she was, but her efforts went ignored. After a while, she decided to try and be patient and hope the answers would be delivered.

“Mount Olympus has been blessed!” Zeus declared, standing up and waving a hand. “For this is the goddess that surpasses all others! We will redefine beauty in her name and image! Let us all praise and celebrate!” He stomped his foot hard, and as the newcomer heard all the wild cheering behind her, she began to realize Zeus wasn’t exactly talking to her – or listening. He grabbed a handful of clouds, and threw it down on the floor, instantly materializing it to a chair adorned with jewels. “Here shall she sit, as one of us!”

She raised her black-furred hand in a small attempt to be noticed. “It’s very nice, but I’d like to ask-”

“And her name shall be… Aphrodite!” Zeus continued onward, and the newly named goddess squeaked as multiple arms lifted her up, plopping her into the seat. “Goddess of beauty! And…” Only then did Zeus pause in his incredibly loud speech. He turned his head toward her, eyes transfixed. Aphrodite shrugged again, helpless to his inquiry. How was she supposed to give him any answers when he wouldn't offer any first? But at least having a name was nice. After a moment of intense study between the two, Zeus waved again, his firm hand outstretched. “And goddess of love! All hail Goddess Aphrodite! Let the celebration begin!”

And so it was echoed back and forth between the crowd.

“All hail Goddess Aphrodite!”

Aphrodite sighed heavily, leaning on an open palm and watching the party begin. All right, so today she wasn't going to get any answers. At least everyone seemed to be happy, though for a celebration all about her it seemed to barely include her. Maybe tomorrow someone would finally listen to what she had to say.

~*~

The celebration lasted an entire month, full of drink and feasting. It was difficult to tell whether Zeus was celebrating the arrival of such a lovely goddess or that he was incredibly relieved the prophecy hadn’t been fulfilled. Yet all of the gods, save for eternally jealous Hera who spent her time either drinking heavily or glaring daggers at the new woman, were happy to join in the merriment. As the declared the goddess of love and beauty, they continuously praised her body, her face, her eyes, all which exuded her loveliness. The goddess mostly accepted these things without asking anything, nodding and going along with whatever they were saying. However as the month of partying continued, the goddess felt boredom building up inside of her. She wasn’t rude enough to say so as her tiny feet dangled off her imperial throne, but she was rather looking forward to the whole thing ending. Maybe then she could finally do something.

When the month was over and the gods resumed their lives, Aphrodite hopped off of her chair, and started to walk. It felt wonderful to move again! She skipped, she twirled, she bounced, but it occurred to her that if she dilly-dallied too long here, the others might suddenly praise the beauty of her movement and a whole new party would start. She absolutely had to get away before that nonsense picked up again.

But where to go? No one had ever answered her questions, so when she looked down at the fluffy clouds that made up the floor, she tilted her head in thought. With a wave of her hand, the clouds parted, and she saw the whole scope of the mortal realm before her. Having little to no idea of what was below, she decided it couldn't possibly be any more boring than Mount Olympus. So she jumped.

~*~

The demi-goddess Persephone didn’t notice she had company at first. She was taking a nap on a flowerbed, imagining sordid things between her and her husband. It was one of her favorite hobbies on the mortal plane, and many elaborate gardens had been born whenever she felt like taking a snooze. Today she'd been found a particularly grassy area a stone's throw from a mortal village, and she flopped on her back without hesitation. Later that day, the villagers would find a whole collection of roses, daises and honeysuckles to pick from. As for this moment, when she turned over in her rest, her hand brushed upon a very silky texture. Knowing no flower had such a feel, her eyes popped open, and she looked at her guest.

Goddess Aphrodite was perhaps the smallest goddess to have ever grace Olympus. Since her form was a mouse, this was to be expected – though Aphrodite had heard murmurs during the party that someone named Hephaestus used to be the tiniest. Her black fur was neatly smoothed down at all times, as was her dress, that color of sea foam that always seemed to be flowing around her despite the lack of wind. A pretty little lock of bangs hung from her forehead and Persephone noted that her eyes seemed to change color – perhaps to better suit whoever was looking at her. For Persephone, they were grass green, and the newcomer smiled. “Hello.”

Persephone needed a moment to collect herself – she had never seen someone so beautiful before. She blinked hard, trying to get out of her stupor, but in doing so, she realized exactly who this must have been. “Are sudden entrances your thing now?” Persephone forced herself to sit up, brushing flower petals off of herself. She hadn’t meant to sound irritable, but she had been awoken from a particularly lovely dream. She ran a hand over her head, flattening her white feathers, and her dress squeezed itself against her body to give a better appearance. If one took a better look, they would see her dress was actually made out of thin vines wrapping around herself. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be having another round back on the mountain.”

“That got boring,” Aphrodite admitted with a shrug. Her eyes kept roaming all over Persephone, curiosity in every blink. Though she was trying to be still, she kept leaning in to get a better look at this and that. “I wanted to come down here and see what we ruled over.”

“And you started with me?” Persephone’s frown on her beak grew larger. She was not one to be ruled over – she had gotten more than enough of that from her overprotective mother.

“No. I wanted to know what these were.” Aphrodite pointed to above Persephone’s head.

Persephone glanced up – she wasn’t surprised to see the incredibly tall roses that had grown during her slumber. They had hunched over so they could coat her with petals, but now that she was up, they had started to shrink down in respect. “What, you’ve never seen a rose before? I thought you were the all-knowing symbol of love and beauty.” She smirked in a bit of a mean fashion, but it stopped when Aphrodite shrugged again.

“That’s what they say,” Aphrodite replied casually, picking up one of the rose petals and twisting it around her fingers to inspect it. She would've eaten it if Persephone didn't look at her with wide eyes, and so she let it drop back to the ground.

Persephone also picked a rose petal up, and rubbed it between her fingers. It smeared red on her fingers, which she used to add blush to her cheeks. “They’re called roses. Since I’ve got rule over plants like my mother, they tend to pop up whenever I think of someone I love.”

Aphrodite plucked a whole rose for herself, admiring it. “It’s very pretty.” The rose appeared to bow in her hands, the thorns falling off one by one in reverence. She seemed a little disappointed that even plants were treating her as super special.

Persephone hesitated, studying Aphrodite's bizarre expression. She'd heard a few things from her mother about Aphrodite – but come to think of it, it had all been about her beauty. Nothing else of notice. Nothing about her personality, nothing about her intelligence, not even if she preferred red over blue. With a rare dash of humility and pity, Persephone sat on her knees and straightened herself up, in order to start over and make a proper introduction as one immortal to another. “My Goddess name is Persephone. My chosen name is Daisy.” She lowered her head respectfully, as did all the flowers in tune with her.

Aphrodite looked up the rose, having started to pick its petals for herself. She had wanted to see what the “inside” of a rose looked like, but the concept of different names threw her off. “What’s a chosen name?”

Persephone – Daisy, rather, now stared twice as hard. Hadn’t this newborn goddess been told anything? Then it hit her hard – this really was a newborn, in the biggest sense of the word. “Sheesh,” she muttered under her breath. “All they did was tell you that you look good.” She began to stand up, making this decision more out of annoyance than real responsibility. “Look, if you want to hang out around me, you’re going to learn how things work. First off, the chosen name is what you give yourself after Zeus gives you a name. It’s what you allow your friends and family to call you, those that mean something to you.”

Aphrodite brightened considerably, dropping the forgotten flower and clasping her hands together eagerly. “Does this mean we’re friends?” The partygoers had been nice, in a way, but they weren't exactly what one could call friends. If what she thought of the concept was true, then she desperately wanted a friend.

Daisy almost said no. She looked down at the tiny goddess, whose innocent eyes sparkled with discovery. The dear probably didn’t have any actual friends. Daisy clicked her tongue and then held her hand out. “Yes, we are. Now come along, you’ve got a lot to learn.”

The two goddesses went out into the mortal world, one teaching the other. It shocked and angered Daisy that her companion had been told so astonishingly little. Daisy hadn't been at the party, as she'd chosen to never visit Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, had gone to the celebration the first couple of days, more out of obligation more than anything else, and she had only seen a few glimpses of Aphrodite. Each time, she told her daughter, Aphrodite had been sitting on her new seat while the gods poured gifts at her feet, telling her how beautiful she was. Daisy now realized that was the only thing they did to her and with her. They hadn’t treated her as a new member of Olympus, but instead as more of a trophy, something to admire on the mantle. This made it difficult to teach at first, as Daisy continued to assume that Aphrodite would know the simplest of things, yet Daisy would only be rewarded with a head tilt.

Thankfully, it turned out Aphrodite had a personality under her naivety. She was cheerful and pleasant, able to find happiness in the smallest of lessons. She cared deeply for others, even those she just met, and she eagerly enjoyed each new thing she learned. Yet she was so bored of all those men and women who slobbered at her feet and told her she was pretty, pretty, pretty...yes, she got the idea but what else was there? She didn’t even like being worshipped. Daisy found herself being drawn to the dear, although she couldn't tell if this was actually friendship or pity. Either way, Aphrodite was happy.

The day was almost over when they walked into that small mortal village, the sun sinking into the earth. Mortals could not see them unless the goddesses wished for it, and for now, the two were content to be hidden. Daisy had been leading Aphrodite to the local temple, which worshipped the god of war, Ares. “See, when we have temples, people come here to pray to whatever god is housed there.” This temple was the tallest building in the village, and murals on the walls depicted famous battles. Aphrodite didn’t care for it. The murals were ghastly in their depictions of the loss of life, and instead of praising a victor, the paintings praised the actual taking of lives. She could smell dust and rotted animal meat from within and she grimaced.

“Sometimes they ask us for favors, or guidance,” Daisy continued, ignoring Aphrodite’s disgust, though she too found the temple to be quite garish. “Or they just thank us. Since this is Ares’ temple, they come here to ask for his help when they know a fight is coming.”

“What if whoever they’re fighting also prays to him?” Aphrodite asked, stepping away from the temple that seemed to tower over her in a superior fashion.

“Usually, whoever makes the best sacrifice gets the win.” Daisy now started to notice Aphrodite’s displeasure, and tried to think of a way to change the subject while still teaching her friend. “I suppose when you get a temple made, they’ll come to you asking for good luck on their weddings, since you're the goddess of love.” Then she paused. Here was another lesson in a lesson. “A wedding is when two people-”

“I know what a wedding is!” Aphrodite suddenly interrupted, whipping her head around.

Daisy stopped, startled. Aphrodite had to be told what certain animals were, what rain was, and even the names of gods she already met. “…You do?”

“Oh, yes!” Aphrodite was getting cheerful again, but it was much more than before. She was rocking on her heels, hands clasped together. “I know all about them. That’s when two people pledge their love for one another with a special ceremony. They declare how much they care for each other with their family and friends present.” She placed her hands over her chest, as if she was the blushing bride. “They exchange golden rings which become a symbol of their love to whoever they meet. They vow to love only each other, for the rest of their lives. And everyone there celebrates their unity.”

Daisy’s eyebrow quirked up. “You didn’t know what roses were, but you know that much about weddings? Who told you?”

“No one told me. I just know.” Aphrodite shrugged. It had come as naturally to her as breathing. Was this really so strange? She was afraid for a moment that she had offended her first and only friend, and began to twiddle her thumbs as she waited for Daisy's response.

Daisy mulled over this for a few seconds, rubbing her beak in contemplation. True, most gods knew automatically about whatever they ruled over – Daisy knew everything and anything about seeds and trees, but she had assumed Aphrodite had only been given the title goddess of love due to her beauty. “Aphrodite, do you know what a scroll is?”

Aphrodite shook her head. “No.” It seemed to bother her that she didn’t know it, frowning.

“Do you know what a date is?”

Instantly Aphrodite was full of wonderment and excitement, hands clapping twice as she babbled on. “That’s when two people want to test their love by going out into the world and spending time together! That way they can see if they want to spend even more time together!”

“What’s a dog?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s a love letter?”

“That’s when a person expresses their heartfelt emotions through writing! Sometimes it’s a secret! They write it out on a…” She then paused, eyes moving left to right, as something clicked together in her mind. “Oh, they write it on a scroll, don’t they?” She even mimicked the action, looking at Daisy for approval.

Daisy nodded but her mind was elsewhere. Though the gods had definitely idolized her beauty too much, they had gotten one aspect of it right. For one reason or another, Aphrodite knew everything about love, and as long as something was connected to love, she would know that too. It was bizarre, but Daisy couldn’t help but find some amusement in it. She chuckled, a few petals falling off of her hair. “You’re a little weird, you know that, right?”

Aphrodite blinked. “What’s ‘weird’?”

“…What’s a honeymoon?”

“Oh! That’s when the married couple decide to continue celebrating their newfound unity…” And on and on Aphrodite rambled with Daisy visibly holding back laughter. At least she was eager about the subject which people would pray to her over. She could think of a few gods who loathed their duty, and theirs tended to be a miserable existence. But Aphrodite was in love with love.

When night finally fell, Daisy lamented she had to return home before her mother threw a fit. Aphrodite asked why she didn’t live on Mount Olympus, and Daisy’s face momentarily turned dark, her eyes cast away. “It’s not exactly a welcoming place for me and my husband, like it was during your party.” She said quietly, rubbing her arm. “Some of us aren’t allowed to stay there...and others choose not to stay at all.” Her voice was bitter, harsher than her first moments of sarcasm when she met Aphrodite. The mouse could understand not wanting to stay there, given the boredom she felt, but she didn’t know why there was such acidity in Daisy’s voice. There was history, but Aphrodite could see this wasn’t hers to discover yet. Instead, she tried to make the situation happy.

“Well, before we go, I chose a name.” She smiled, rocking back and forth on her bare feet in anticipation.

It did the trick and Daisy looked back at her with a relaxed expression. “What is it?”

“Everyone in the party commented on how small I was. So I thought I’d go with Minnie. Like 'mini'? Is that all right? Do you like it?”

Daisy smiled as well, a flower blossoming on her shoulder, one that Minnie had yet to learn the name for. “I like it. It suits you. Come see me again, okay? It’s embarrassing to have a high ranked goddess know so little.” Yet even as she said such a thing, her face was soft, speaking to her real friend. Daisy had tried not to make her into one, yet there Minnie was, taking a piece of Daisy's heart without meaning to.

They hugged each other, and Minnie was very happy to have such an extended vocabulary because of this fun girl. She liked Daisy very much. As she made her way back to Olympus, she figured out why – Daisy had simply been real with her. She said what she honestly thought of Minnie – that name was growing on her more and more with every minute – and even expressed negative emotions to her. It had been a thrill.

~*~

Here she was in Olympus again, and every god and goddess that noticed her stopped what they were doing in order to gawk. Slack jaws, wide eyes, throats swallowing, she had become used to the looks and noises. Those that could speak praised her, but did not speak to her.

“Hail, Goddess Aphrodite!”

“The sun shines on the beauty of Aphrodite!”

“I can die, now that those eyes have gazed upon me!”

Blah blah blah – that had been another thing Daisy had taught her, and Minnie giggled as she remembered. She almost thought about telling the passersby her chosen name, but then decided against it. If they hadn’t bothered to tell her such a thing existed, why bother sharing it with them? She found her throne, once again adorned in extravagant gifts, and brushed them off to sit down. Gods and goddesses didn’t need to eat, but Minnie enjoyed the act of eating. It had been another way of learning. She picked up a fresh batch of purple round things – she’d have to ask Daisy what they were next time - and popped one into her mouth. It was juicy and sweet, and Minnie enjoyed them.

“Sooo, someone’s been around my temple!” a loud voice rumbled above her, as Minnie had been ready to eat another purple circle. She knew that voice well – this had been one of her constant visitors during the party.

Ares, the god of war, was bigger than her in every sense of the word. Now only did he tower above her as his temple had, his girth said he had probably eaten more of the purple rounds than the world had to offer. It was difficult to tell he was a feline, given that his hot red helmet hid his ears, and most of his body was the same way – covered in shiny red and gold armor as if he was expected to fight in the next second. But you could see his face well enough, as his yellow eyes bore down on Minnie.

“I guess I did,” Minnie answered, rolling a purple round in her fingers.

Ares laughed at that, banging his fist against the plate on his chest, and so made himself even louder. “That’s a good eye you got there! Makin’ sure you done seen the best temple for the best god around! It’s a real amazin’ temple, ain’t it?”

“Well,” Minnie tried to be honest, moving around so she was sitting upright and politely, “I only saw it because Daisy…Persephone was showing me around.”

Ares seemed to ignore certain parts of that sentence. “Persephone! She’s up and around?” He rubbed his hand under his chin full of stubble. “Guess it ain’t time yet for that husband of hers ta drag her back down below…Ya might wanna stay clear of her, or a pretty thing like yerself might get kidnapped!”

Minnie’s brows knit together. “She didn’t mention anything like that.”

“Well, who would?” Pete found this funny, making his loud, banging laugh again. “Havin’ ta hitch up with the god of death, that’s probably worse than death! Get it? HAR HAR HAR HAR!”

Minnie didn’t laugh, and instead popped several round purples into her mouth in order to have an excuse. She didn’t like this lesson. She didn't like Ares. “I like her. She’s my friend.”

“Aw, now don’t go poutin’ like that… Course, even when yer poutin’ yer the prettiest thing around!” He slipped an arm around Minnie’s shoulders and his armor was cold. She shivered. “I’m just lookin’ out for ya. We gotta take care of our new goddess. Hey, let’s have another round for the most beautiful gal in the realm!” He raised a fist to his passing brethren, and they cheered for Pete’s enthusiasm. “You just sit tight and I’ll go getcha a good drink, gorgeous!” He squeezed her tightly in a one-armed hug that smelled of blood, before bounding off.

“I don’t want…” But it was useless, and she knew it. With a loud sigh, she declined to eat any further. She eased back into her seat as another party began to start up, thanks to Ares. Those that noticed she had started to nap praised that even asleep and curled up, she was as beautiful as ever.

“All hail Goddess Aphrodite!”

#disney #fanfic #love like lava #minnie mouse #daisy duck

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