#they're not just her subjects. they saved her and gave her a loving home!!! they are her family and she would do anything for them!!! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

livelaughwhump · 4 months

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Yes! I love this idea! Sorry I couldn't answer the ask directly. After I saved it to my drafts, it wouldn't let me edit it again. @rosekins621

Content: mentioned past trauma, mentioned past captivity, regression, self-deprecation, self-hatred, former pet whumpee

Elliot stared blankly out the window as the world rushed by in a blur. The storage truck behind the van lurched over a pothole and Elliot cringed at the sound. He wondered if any of the team's belongings would be broken by the time they arrived. Fortunately, Elliot didn't own much, so it didn't really matter to him

"Are you excited, El?" Broderick asked from the driver's seat.

Elliot shrugged. Truthfully, he wasn't. He didn't like moving. He'd moved too many times as a kid and the process only served to make him anxious. Moving from foster home to foster home, then back to the children's home. That's what this felt like.

Lyra gently rubbed his shoulder. "It's not your fault we're moving, if that's what you're thinking."

It wasn't, but now that was all he could think about. "Aren't-Aren't we moving because of M-Master?" He asked timidly.

Yvonne shook her head. "No, of course not." Karine cleared her throat and nudged Yvonne, who chuckled awkwardly and said, "I mean...that's part of it, yeah." Elliot sighed and turned back to face the window. "It's just that Christian knows where the old safe house is. Our best chance at evading him is moving far away. Don't worry, though. The new safehouse is gonna be almost exactly like our old one."

Elliot glanced over at her again. "Almost?"

Yvonne pressed her lips into a tight line and flushed. Karine pinched the bridge of her nose. They were clearly hiding something, but Elliot didn't care enough to push the subject.

Lyra, of course, knew the real reason behind his reaction to moving. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, sunshine. The only thing that's changing is our house. We're all still here and we always will be." Elliot nodded, but it was the only reaction he could muster.

The truck came to a sudden stop and Elliot felt his heart sink. This was exactly how it felt whenever he was forced to meet a new family that would inevitably give him up in a few weeks.

Lyra held his hand as the team spilled out of the van and continued to do so as they entered the house. Elliot refused to look at the house as they entered, but he could hear the echo of their footsteps bouncing off the empty walls.

"Elliot? Do you want to pick out your room first?" Karine asked.

Elliot briefly looked up at the hallway of open doors before them. He shook his head.

Landon shrugged. "Guess I'll choose first then."

Karine elbowed him in the ribs and whispered, "You know where you're going, moron."

Landon groaned. "Can't we re-vote? Why do I have to be in the basement?"

Elliot gasped upon hearing that final word and tears instantly sprung to his eyes. "B-Basement?"

Karine smacked Landon upside the head, which made Elliot flinch.

Lyra knelt in front of him and gently held his hands. "Sunshine, it's okay. It's nothing like Christian's basement. It's like a little hang out spot with a bedroom attached. It's fully furnished with a TV and a mini bar."

"But since three of us don't really drink, we'll probably use it as an extra kitchen," Yvonne added

"Speak for yourself," Landon said. "If I'm living in the basement, I'm doing whatever I want with that area."

Karine flicked him. "You need to stop talking," she scolded.

Elliot started crying. "I-I don't w-wanna go b-back in the basement. P-Please, don't l-lock me up. I can be g-good."

"Oh, sunshine. You are good. You're the best, in fact. We're not locking you up, I promise," Lyra assured him. "Why dont we show you so you can see for yourself?"

Elliot's eyes went round.

It's a trick. They're gonna take you down to the basement and put you in chains and leave you there for the rest of your miserable life. You'll never see the sun again after today

Lyra held his hand and gently led him to a door along the opposite wall from the bedrooms. "Look, it's right here. I'm just gonna open the door and show you, okay? I just want you to look. You don't even have to go down." Elliot's breath hitched as they started to turn the doorknob.

They're gonna push you down the stairs and lock the door behind you

Lyra opened the door to reveal a carpeted staircase leading down into darkness.

Look at it, mutt. Look at the darkness. That's where you're going. Down into the endless dark and cold, and you're never coming back up

Elliot started sobbing and instantly dropped to the ground, groveling at Lyra's feet. "No, please! Please, Master, I'll do anything! Please, don't l-leave me in the d-dark. I p-promise I can be a g-good pet. I-I'll sleep on-on the floor or-or even outside if-if I have to. P-Please, a-anything but th-that." Tears began to pool on the floor and his pathetic sobs echoed in the empty house.

"Elliot," Lyra gently said. Elliot Pet flinched and wrapped its arms protectively around its head. "Sunshine, it's okay, really. No one is going to hurt you and you never have to set foot down there if you don't want to, I promise. You're safe."

Pet was quivering uncontrollably. "I'm s-sorry, Master."

Lyra's heart shattered. Karine leaned over to Landon and whispered, "Go get Elliot's things from the truck and start setting up his room."

"What?" Landon whisper-shouted. "Why me?"

"Because this is your fault. I told you not to mention the basement and now he's in his pet headspace again," Karine pointed out. "He doesn't have much. It's just his mattress, his comforter, his bedside table, and his lamp. He needs something comforting and familiar, so go do it or I'll lock the door to the basement and you'll end up sleeping on the couch from now on."

Landon ground his jaw until he looked at the pitiful state that Elliot was in; the way his shoulders shook, the humiliating position he'd willingly put himself in, the tears pooling beneath his head. Landon sighed. "Fine."

As Landon left, Karine quickly ushered Broderick and Yvonne out as well until it was just Lyra and Elliot in the hallway.

"Sunshine? Can you look at me please?" Lyra asked. Pet did as it was told. It lifted its tear-streaked face from the floor and locked eyes with Lyra. Lyra smiled at it. "There's my boy," they said. "Can you tell me your name?"

Pet answered without thinking. "S-Slaves don't h-have names."

Lyra slowly shook their head. "Even if that were true, you're not a slave. Not anymore. I know you know it. What's your name?"

Pet had to think for several long seconds before it figured out the answer Lyra was looking for. Everyone on the team had their own nicknames for him, but there was one thing that they all called him. "E-E-Elliot."

Lyra's smile grew. "Good job," they softly praised. "Now, where are we?"

Pet Elliot glanced around the empty space they were in. "Our-Our new s-safehouse?"

"Exactly, and who am I?"

"L-Lyra."

She nodded. "And have I, Lyra, ever hurt you?" Elliot shook his head. "Would I ever hurt you?" He shook his head again. "So, what do you have to be afraid of?"

Elliot glanced to his right at the—now-closed—basement door, then back to her. "N-Nothing."

Lyra's smile grew again. "Exactly. I won't ever let anything happen to you, Elliot. As long as I'm here, you have nothing to be afraid of." Elliot nodded in understanding. "Can you tell me your name one more time?"

"E-Elliot."

"Very good. And do you feel more like Elliot or more like Pet right now?"

"I-I feel like E-Elliot."

Lyra gently kissed his forehead, a proud smile on her face. "I'm so proud of you, Elliot. How are you feeling now?"

Elliot thought about it, still glancing at the basement door. "I-I feel o-okay. Do-Do you p-promise I-I won't have to go down there?"

"I promise," Lyra said. "Don't think of it as a basement, okay? Just think of it as Landon's room with a downward staircase. Can you do that?" Elliot nodded. "Great. Are you ready to help unload the truck?"

Elliot's gaze wavered. "Can-Can you h-hold me for-for a little while f-first?"

Lyra smiled and opened her arms. "Always." Elliot crawled into her embrace and relaxed. She rocked him back and forth, carding her fingers through his hair.

Elliot couldn't help the smile that began to crawl across his face as he let Lyra hold him. He was still frightened of the basement, but he truly believed that Lyra would never let anything bad happen to him. If she promised him that he wouldn't have to go to the basement, then he believed her.

I hope you enjoyed this! This was a lot of fun to write. Unfortunately, this is going to be a non-canon drabble, as the team is not moving (for a very specific reason that I will be happy to explain at some point) but I do consider the end scene of Lyra comforting Elliot to be canon because I like to believe that Elliot slips into his "Pet" headspace every once in a while and Lyra is always there to help him out of it.

If anyone else has any drabble requests, suggestions, or questions for me or my characters, please feel free to send them to me!

Taglist

@l-antre-des-merveilles @pigeonwhumps @nicolepascaline @burningkittypoet @whumpinggrounds @suffering-and-misery @make-them-scream @honeycollectswhump @rabass @whumpdreamz @clairelsonao3 @rosewriteswhump @cepheusgalaxy @pinkraindropsfell @mj-or-say10 @considerablecolors @whatamidoingherehelpme @whumped4whumplover @ladybizarre13 @theaustralianfrog

If anyone wants to be added to or removed from the taglist, please let me know!😊

Or if you only want to be tagged in main chapters

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topazy · 1 year

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Inside, outside

Pairings: 10k x reader, Addy Carver x sister reader

Warnings: Swearing, child death

Chapter: 4.10

You shake your head, watching as Warren storms on ahead, not stopping to take a much needed break. She was leading you towards something called the black rainbow; not that any of you knew what it meant, but she had currently led you into a large open field in the middle of the country.

Rolling your eyes, you rub at your forehead, feeling a headache come on, most likely caused by a lack of food, water, and sleep or by Murphy continuing to moan. You walk forward to get further away from his irritating voice and unintentionally listen in on 10k and Sarge’s conversation.

“What was it like being in the Marines?”

“I'm still a Marine,” Sarge beams at him. “I reckon I’ll die as one. They were my family. After they rescued me from my old family, they gave me something to live for other than myself. Still does. What about you? What keeps you going, ten thousand?”

“My girl.”

A woozy feeling builds up in your stomach, and your face flushes red. You know 10k loves you, but he doesn’t talk much openly to others about his feelings, so hearing how much he says that causes your heart to speed up.

“Getting her to Newmerica is the goal. At least there we can find a new home and start fresh.”

No missions, no saving the world, no Murphy. No matter how hard he tried, 10k couldn’t let go of the things you'd been through together.

“You know that’s back that way, right?” Sarge looks at him confused.

“Yeah, but if history has taught me anything, it is that following Warren is our safest bet, and it will get us where we need to be.”

“Disgusting, isn’t it?”

You jump in surprise when Murphy appears behind you, scowling. Knowing he’s talking about what 10k just said, you flip him off and say, “Shut up, Alvin.”

He scoffs, “Alvin? Who pissed in the cornflakes this morning?”

Doc puts his arm around your shoulder and says, “Don’t listen to him; he’s old and jealous of you young kids in love.”

“Pfft love, that’s what they're calling it.”

Usually you don’t rise to Murphy’s teasing, and by the look on Doc’s face, you know you shouldn’t, but you snap back at him. “You wouldn’t recognise it because you’ve never been in it.”

“Of course I have,” Murphy says, clearing his throat. “Trust me, you’ll fall in and out of it quicker than I ever did.”

Doc quickly changes the subject to avoid saying anything else. The last few days, Murphy had been more belligerent than usual, taking every opportunity he could to cause an argument. You didn’t know what his issue was, but the way he kept staring at Warren suggests it somehow related to her.

—

The first building you come across is one that you’d been in previously, years before, and returning brought back memories of Red and 5K.

Tellers lab.

The air feels tense as you walk along the outside of the building, the silence only broken by Murphy asking the question you were too afraid to ask. “Warren? Why the hell did you bring us back here?”

She hesitates before answering, “I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”

The grounds of the building are scattered with dead bodies, and Sarge looks around confused. “What in the holy heck happened here?”

“We tried to help some people, but it didn’t work out.” You say, biting on your lower lip, remembering all the people who died. You turn around and see something moving fast—“Z incoming!”

The last time you were at the lab, someone had put metal helmets on Zs, making them merciless proof. 10k manages to trip the Z up with a metal chain, causing Doc to let out a loud laugh.

“Stop playing with that damn thing!” Warren orders before tossing a piece of metal in the opposite direction for the Z to chase. “All right, everybody suits up.”

—

Wearing a suit that was on a dead body moments before felt disgusting. Thinking about it makes your skin crawl.

You look up, feeling a hand on your back, to see 10k giving you a sad smile and asking, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you?”

“No,” he chuckled softly, pulling you to your feet. “But I will be once we leave this place.

“Good because I was lying.”

You follow the others and head inside the lab, which is now covered in dampness and has what looks like a fungus growing on the walls. Warren claimed she was searching for batteries, but you didn’t believe her.

The further into the building you went, the darker it got, with the only light coming from your torches, which is how you, 10k, and Warren got separated from the others. You watch bewildered as Warren automatically knows how to find the secret rooms and codes to enter them. Well, most of them.

Warren, try shaking her shoulder. “Warren!”

She looks hypnotized while trying to figure out different padlock codes for what looks like a metallic freezer with lots of chains and locks around it. Warren mumbles to herself, managing to get some of them off.

You and 10k share a look of concern when a rattling sound comes from outside. Seconds later, a Z burst through the door; it knocked you to the ground and pinned you against the wall.

“Warren!”

She suddenly grabs a chain and smacks the Z on the head with it, saying, “I show you mercy.” She drops the chain to the ground and then looks at the 10k, confused. “What are you doing here?”

“We were following you.”

She looks around the room and asks, “What am I doing here?”

“You were trying to get into that,” you say, getting to your feet and pointing to the metallic object. “I think you were having one of your visions.”

The lights in the room start to flicker as a beeping noise goes off. 10k watches as she struggles to remove the chains. “You knew the combination to all the other locks. You're on the last one.”

“I don’t remember,” Warren walks up to 10k. “Hit me.”

“What?”

“Hit me. Sometimes fighting triggers the dream. Hit me.”

You look between them and say, “I’ll do it.”

“No offense, but I think our boy here is a little bit stronger than you.”

“I don’t know. I think you should let Astra do it.”

“Come on!” Warren rolls her eyes. “Don’t sissy out, just hit me.”

10K very lightly hits her cheek; his cheeks flush with embarrassment at how weak the slap was. It was obvious he didn’t want to hurt her.

“Hit me.” 10k goes to move his hand again, but Warren catches his wrist, squeezing it tightly. “Harder!”

You push 10k aside and punch Warren in the face, knocking her to the ground. You both look down. “Shit, I think that might leave a bruise.”

10K bites on his lip, looking down at her then back at you, “Any unresolved issues I need to know about?”

You shake your head, trying to laugh it off. In truth, you adored Warren and had a lot of respect for her, but all the rage you felt when she wanted to leave 10k behind when he fell out of the boat or hurt him to get information about Murphy came flooding back at once.

Minutes later, Warren wakes up, knowing the code, and unlocks the final padlock. She opens the door and puts her hand through a thick layer of slime and goo, pulling out three metal objects, including a transmitter.

She looks back at you and says, “Let’s go.”

—

You meet up with the others, who are gathered around a test tube that has a little boy trapped inside it. His body is frozen inside, but his mind is still alive. Sarge tried to split the power from a battery so that the power for the tank stays on, keeping the little boy alive, and so Warren has enough to get a radio working.

Amazingly, it works, and you managed to make contact with Citizen Z, who had information on the black rainbow. Hearing his voice was good; you always worried something bad had happened to him whenever he went silent for too long.

“Kaya’s been drilling down into deep storage looking for anything black and rainbow.”

“Did you find anything?”

“We had intruders here, zona soldiers. They copied all the black-and-white files, then wiped the servers. They also used a secure NSA hardline to spoof into the NORAD computers. They logged onto the administrator account for a defunct weapons program. Guess what it was called.”

“Black rainbow.”

“What is a black rainbow?” Warren asks.

“You won’t believe…”

The radio cuts out before you can hear Kaya’s answer. The only way to get the radio to work again is by turning the tank with the kid in it off, which means turning off his life support. Your group starts to debate what to do; Sarge wants to somehow save the boy, while Murphy wants to show him mercy. It was a difficult decision to make, but the kid was already dead; his brain was only functioning because of a machine, which was incredibly cruel considering he would never move, talk, or be remotely human again.

Warren makes the tough call and orders Sarge to divert the power to the radio, but when she’s unable to do it, you step in. You put your arm around Sarge and said, “She can’t do this.”

Warren nods and takes over, granting the young child mercy before turning his power off. When the power is diverted back to the radio and you are able to make contact with Citizen Z again, you learn that Black Rainbow is a biological weapon of mass destruction.

And the only way to stop it from being blasted was by getting the president of the United States' thumbprint and resetting the missile at the launch site.

Shit, nothing is ever going to be easy.

—

The car ride towards Washington is tense; everyone is still reeling from what happened at the lab and the information you’d found out about Black Rainbow. You sit in the back of the truck in between Doc and 10k, trying not to fall asleep. Your fingers play with 10k’s hair as he sleeps with his head resting on your lap.

While driving, Sarge motions to the sky and says, “It’s a beautiful sunset.”

“It’s only beautiful if someone is there to watch it,” Warren says bluntly.

“That’s not true,” you say quietly. “The world is still full of beautiful things we can’t see; it’s just a little harder to notice now.”

#z nation #inside outisde #10k x reader #10k x you #z nation 10k #z nation fanfiction #z nation fandom #10k z nation #z nation x reader #z nation fanfic #z nation warren #sarge z nation #murphy z nation #doc z nation #10k/reader #10k/you

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soullistrations · 16 days

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reactions about the new 911 behind a cut bc i'm not saying anything that hasn't already been said (and i'm about to reblog a few of those posts)

i've been watching a couple episodes late bc my partner got into it so we watch it together, and we were just. sitting there like. they're really comparing this child to a dog? they're really doing that?

like. they handled that whole plot line SO badly. the scare tactic music when karen found the ripped up stuffed animal, and again when she was at the foot of their bed? the fact that the social worker was like 'she made it known that she wanted to keep her blanket' but didn't feel the need to go into more detail so the foster family just had to figure out on their own that that was a trigger for her? like! as fosters, they should have gotten SO much more information, but the way the episode was structured was for *drama* instead of empathy or accuracy. the ending, with karen telling mara how strong and brave she was, and that she didn't need to be brave, and identifying a positive coping mechanism to help with her transition? absolutely lovely. most of the rest of it? a mess.

as for hen being like 'i don't know if we can keep her'--i do think that set up was also for drama, bc as i said above, in a real circumstance i do think they would have been more informed. if it was just mara and no other children, i don't think hen would have brought that up at all. but...look. fostering is hard. she wasn't wrong about denny needing to feel safe in his own home. i think it would be realistic for her to be concerned about making sure the environment is safe for all the kids in the home. but that conversation itself, and the fact that hen needed to be convinced to give mara another chance through saving a traumatized dog, was trash. there was a better way to approach a complicated situation like that.

eddie's storyline was. fine. i can tell it was rushed bc of the short season, and some of the character beats that i think they would have taken more time on just had to be told to the audience in shorthand, and frankly, i can forgive that. bobby's scene with eddie was very nice. how relieved he was by her moving out at the end was, frankly, funny. like 'haha i can't wait to move out' '*relieved sigh* me EITHER' girl if i was marisol i would be so offended.

buck is a hot mess and i'm glad tommy gave him another chance bc he made an absolute fool out of himself, but his scenes with maddie and eddie were both really nice.

overall it just. hm. it felt uneven. like eddie and buck's storylines were both treated in a really light way, which kind of worked with the subject matter and resolution of their plots. but then when hen and karen's got a...sort of similar treatment? with the ~~spooky child~~ thing they were trying at the beginning of the episode, it rang very unsympathetic and dehumanizing toward a little black girl in pain, which is not what i want, need, or expect from this show.

#rebamble #rebs watches 911 #idk my tags it's whatever

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deripmaver · 9 months

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I agree with a lot of criticisms behind the Apostle Casca theory, but I don't think they're inherently tied to the concept itself. We've seen with Ganishka that an apostle doesn't HAVE to serve the Godhand and can even stand against them, and we've seen with Gutsca themselves that the sacrifices don't have to perish for it to work. I also think you're missing an excellent candidate for Casca's potential sacrifice: Griffith himself. He fits the category for the whole "loved one who's the source of all your suffering and the object of your hate, anger, grieving love, etc" thing that comes with most of the sacrifices. The plan could be to sacrifice MB Boy to free Griffith, but it backfires and Griffith gets branded alone or with him. That'd be a very fitting punishment for him and could cause a lot of issues for him down the line that could lead to his downfall. Casca having her own brand could also impact the sacrifice and/or her transformation into an Apostle.

I also think viewing the idea as something "evil" that only evil people would do kind of misses the tragedy behind the sacrifices. It's not just a regular "deal with the devil" situation, it's people being put through the most horrific circumstances by the designs of fate for the express purpose of breaking them mentally and emotionally, leaving them in a state of despair and desperation so great that they'd do anything to escape it, or to never feel pain so great again, only for the Godhand to turn them into cruel, vicious demons. We've seen a fourteen year old girl sacrifice her abusive parents and it turned her into a murderous monster with twisted emotions (Rosine.) Griffith had to literally lose everything and THEN be emotionally manipulated to finally do it. It's coercive by nature, a fixed game made by the Godhand through Causality. The apostles are just as much victims of the Godhand as the sacrifices.

It'd be excellent payoff for all the shit Casca's been through since Golden Age. She's lost her comrades, her bodily autonomy, her sanity, her freedom, even her child, to the man who she devoted her life to, who once saved her and gave her a home and a family in the Hawks, who made her the proud warrior she once was. And now she's trapped in a kingdom made in his image, populated by people who all worship him, completely unaware of the demon he truly is, surrounded by the same apostles who killed her friends and destroyed her sanity, soon to realize that her own child has become a vessel to that same man. That's not even getting into her repressed memories, including what Guts did to her in Fangs of Ego. If the Behelit is hers, the story has everything it needs to drive her to make a sacrifice.

Casca sacrificing Griffith would be the perfect way to turn that around. It'd be horribly tragic for her to reach that despair and become a monster, but it'd also be amazingly powerful to see her subject her abuser to the same brand he gave her, to gain the power she needs to finally fight back, the catharsis of unleashing her rage against him, the apostles he commands, and the kingdom he worked so hard to achieve. After about 300 chapters of suffering and strife, I truly believe, if done right, it could be the perfect climax for Casca's arc.

Sorry for the accidental essay lol Im just very passionate about the theory

You're fine anon LOL berserk provokes REALLY STRONG FEELINGS in pretty much everyone who reads it, myself included.

Idk if you've just seen the shorter ask answer or the whole longass essay post but just a couple things here, first off the scenario you laid out in this ask is actually one of the circumstances I'd be totally ok with the theory coming true!!!

My issues with the theory really do stem from how it, currently, would force Casca to work for and be subservient to Griffith, and how she'd be working alongside the monsters who killed her friends etc, but I mentioned a couple scenarios in the longer post where she could become an apostle and not have that happen (god hand schism, some weird effect of the brand, etc). This one that you've given me here is another example that I'd be very happy with, and ultimately what I want for her is exactly the same thing you want for her, that she's the one who brings about Griffith's downfall and forces his dream to slip through his fingers after unleashing the full force of her rage on him. I REALLY want to see that happen, oh my GOD.

I suppose, to me, I don't want to speculate too far outside the bounds of what's been seen in canon, which is why my post sticks to the "rules" we've seen so far, but that doesn't mean things couldn't change in a way that makes the theory palatable to me.

This next section I'm gonna get kind of pissy and anon I PROMISE it's not at you in particular LOL I'm fine with getting anons like this to discuss my meta and stuff, and I really like your idea for how the apostle Casca theory could happen in a way that doesn't make me want to tear my hair out, it's around some general stuff in the past few days.

I need to be clear that I don't think you have to be "evil" to be an apostle, and I don't think the people who sacrifice to become apostles are evil. Genuinely, I don't think either of my posts on the topic made that claim at all at any point, and in my longer post I made a point of mentioning Rosine sacrificing her abusive parents AND how Griffith had to be at complete rock bottom to sacrifice the BotH.

I think, and again I'm not mad at you about this I promise, there was a post going around saying "it's 2023 and people still think good people can't become apostles only evil people can," which I'm PRETTY SURE was a subtweet because of that first ask I answered about the apostle Casca theory. I think people have used that to determine what my posts said, which is kind of frustrating because this is not an argument I made at any point. There's like an offhand line in the ask that says "people forget Casca is a good person" before the anon, again, drives in how their issue is with Casca working for Griffith. So, I agree with you that you don't need to be evil to be an apostle, which is something that I've said multiple times at this point, and I never claimed all apostles are evil in the first place 😭

Ok so anyone reading this, don't send me asks about how not all apostles are evil, this conversation is closed, we have established that I agree with u and I NEVER said they were and I have reaffirmed my position on that multiple times!!!!!!!

But yes hahahaha I now have written you a whole essay in response to your ask, I like this kind of discussion so I hope this doesn't put you off, and I think your feelings on the apostle Casca theory are completely legitimate!! Ultimately what happens in canon happens and we'll have to live with it regardless so ya know, we'll see!

#asks

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myaquariusheart · 1 year

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Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3, so I watched this on Saturday and wow that was emotional as hell. I absolutely love every single one of the movies, I love them. They're so deep, emotional and so funny. I went into the film not watching any trailers beforehand or having any idea what it could even be about. Mum kept saying let's go watch Groot in the cinema and the whole time I thought she was saying Gru, as in the minions. Anyway, I am so happy I ended up watching it. When Kraglin was trying to control Yondu's arrow, I'm not even kidding I started tearing up, I don't know why it got to me so much? I think the cinema always makes me so emotional anyway. It was just so cute how he was trying to follow in Yondu's footsteps and I do really love Yondu as well. He was so funny and sweet even though he was meant to be a villain character he was really cute to me. Anyway, the whole movie was looking into Rocket's past, he got badly injured and they found he couldn't be helped medically because his heart had a built-in bomb inside his heart. Anyway, we found out everything, how he was made, how he was the smartest test subject that guy made. I hate that man, not even going to mention his name and I know he's not dead but he should be. He abused animals so badly just to make his perfect society, what was the need, what's going to come out of it? Every time rockets past came out my eyes were tearing up and I was about to cry every time but I stopped myself because common now, I'm not a pussy. It was just toooo emotional, everything, all the character development, I loved Mantis in this, she was so vocal and wanted to find her purpose by the end of the movie and I love that for her, she was always speaking up for herself and for Drax. The film had an amazing way of incorporating humor straight after such a heart-stabbing moment just happened. I literally forgot to mention Gamora was in it. I loved the way Quill was just outspoken about the way they were in love, I thought he was slowly going to flirt with her and make her fall in love with him in a natural way but he was super salty and obvious. It was hilarious for the audience but I also was really sad for him at the same time. I was surprised by the ending because I thought they were going to stay together? they went through all that trouble to save Rocket because he's family and then they separated. I also love that they all come from broken homes/ being alone for most of their lives and they came together and made their own family. Quill has a lot of love and he's such a great selfless leader, can he just marry me? There's just so much but my brain can't put everything together. The use of music as well was just fantastic. Whenever Quill would take out his headphones all the music would stop and we would be in the moment it was super cool, the soundtrack was good too, and loved the way Rocket played 'Come and Get Your Love' at the end, it really made my heart melt. It was overall such an amazing film and when I have some spare time I'm going to go watch it again I want to experience it all and possibly even cry if I need to. It was so good looking into Rocket's backstory, he's such a strong character and has been through so much loss and hardship. Quill gave him the role to be the leader and I know he is so honored because he came from a place where he was regarded as nothing. I'm sure he didn't expect what his life would be like this. The ferret thing Layla was so cute as well, I honestly thought all the other animals were going to survive and actually shocked me so much when all 3 of them died? That man is honestly such a monster and is probably worse than Thanos. Now that I have finished with uni, I might treat myself to a whole Avengers marathon and watch all the movies in order and I might review them on here and give my opinion.

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lilmissbacon · 2 years

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Rise of the Guardians' Burgess kids as Adults

Yo, these pieces took be FOUR DAYS to finish 😭 I'm running so low on juice right now. It's wasn't even the coloring, the coloring was easy. The line work was a pain in the ass.

I thought I'd also talk about who each are and what I think about these characters as people and to why I designed them the way I did.

Note; They are all around 23 years old while Sophie is about 16.

Jamie

He was the one I felt would change the least as he got older. I imagine who grew up to be a theorist on real-world and film/movie subjects.

I also like to think that he'd be chosen to became a spirit at some point. His center would be belief and he'd have the ability to shape shift. He is able to actually be seen despite being a spirit, but only when he shape shifts. That way, he turns into someone else (like Tooth or Bunny) so humans will see him, think he is that person, and the belief in that spirit's existence will continue on.

Jamie would be kinda like a guarantee in the Guardians' belief. To keep it high and growing.

Also, you know those highschoolers/college kids that go into the army after graduation? Well, Jamie would really want to become a Guardian, which is kinda like the spirit equivalent. So, Jamie's vest is a navy green in reference to that.

Sophie

I made her top a lighter shade of green to signify her being Jamie's little sister. Also to the fact that she'd want to make a world a better place like the Guardians. She doesn't necessarily want to become a spirit/Guardian to do so but if she's chosen, she's chosen. She doesn't really care too much.

I like to think that Bunny would go to visit her often when he's not busy. To the point where she kinda becomes his protegé. So she knows many forms of art but prefers to paint and sew. Hence the little flower and patterning stitched into her sweater.

Cupcake

She's still pretty similar to her child self, only instead of her appearance scaring off people, it's welcoming. She's cute and can be super gentle. Many people assume so at first glance but she's still also very hardy and strong.

She's also much more smiley and lucky going than when she was younger.

Monty

I love the trope that started with Neville Longbottom, of the dorky looking kid growing up to be hot 😂

I like to think that the night the Guardians fought Pitch and how the kids helped basically save the world, probably gave Monty a big confident boost. He doesn't become a jerk or anything, he's just become more comfortable in speaking his mind and being more extroverted.

He's still a nerd and I see him working with computers from home for a semi-big company.

Claude

He's a sports guy and mostly plays soccer. With Jack visiting and playing with the kids so often over the years, I think he probably adopted the most of Jack's parkour skills. So it makes him a very maneuverable player on the team.

When he's not working out or playing sports, he's playing video games of all kinds with his friends and twin.

Caleb

Goes by He/They pronouns. They're a dancer who makes tutorials on YouTube and choreography for the local choirs and plays/musicals.

Side note; he wears their hair down just as often as in a messy bun. It's was just easier on me to draw the bun. For my sanity 😅

Pippa

The tallest of the group, I see her as kinda like the disorganized pansexual of the group. She's like Honeylemon from Big Hero 6 but more tomboyish and jokey.

I think she'd be into pottery as a profession and she'll sculpt to music ranging from classical, to pop, to hard metal.

All

I'm really soft for the idea that they all managed to stick around the small town of Burgess. It's their home, they like living in a town where everyone knows everyone and they're all just really close childhood friends.

They're the group that everyone around town knows. Probably even have a group name like the Spirit Squad or Frost Fleet (since they're Jack's first believers).

I also gave them all something that was blue in reference to being Jack's first believers. Jamie and Cupcake's jeans, Pippa's general outfit, Monty's eyes and his shoes are super dark blue, Claude's shorts and watch, Caleb's Jacket and even Sophie's hair clip. The amount of blue they have on doesn't amount to how much they still believe or anything, it's just a little thing I wanted to add.

I really hope you enjoyed this little art post.

#rise of the guardians #rotg #dreamworks #jamie bennett #burgess kids #art #my designs

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lydias--stiles · 3 years

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jiara | drabble | post-s2 + john b is oblivious™ | title: changes // david bowie

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

John B had no clue when it happened, but suddenly he couldn't unsee it, and by then it was almost too embarrassing to ask.

Sarah has told him he was the biggest dreamer of all the Pogues (“And I love that about you! I swear!”), but that those tendencies usually made him understand the joke... last. Or apparently, how in the hell JJ and Kie got together.

He knew they were close — duh, P4L — but he had never made the connection that sharing a J would lead to Kie throwing her legs across JJ's lap and giggling in his shoulder. Yeah. Kie was giggling now.

It started when they were rescued from the island and resumed normal life, or as normal as a life for a Pogue good be. Sarah broke into her trust fund to afford an apartment for her and Cleo, Kie and Pope went home to their family, and JJ and John B found their way back to the Château. They all clung together, but he reckoned he'd been more focused on Sarah — they decided to lay off on the husband and wife thing for a bit — that he didn't notice JJ and Kie hanging out alone.

But Pope knew. Cleo knew. And Sarah definitely knew.

John B gawked at the pair from the threshold of the Château, perfectly able to see them snuggled up in the hammock. Sarah appeared behind him.

“What're you looking at?” she asked.

“Uh...” He scratched his cheek, confused. “JJ and Kiara... apparently.”

“Oh, yeah,” she breezily retorted, making him gaze at her in surprise. “They're cute, huh?”

“Whoa, you knew?!”

The girl chuckled and moved back inside. He followed her. “You didn't?”

“No!” he exclaimed. “Wha– what about Pope?”

“I mean... it doesn't seem like Pope really cares,” she shrugged. Rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, she found a bag of tortilla chips and then went searching for salsa. “How did you not know?”

“'Cause I'm focused on you!” His arms spread out, unsure why he was so shocked, or if he was maybe ashamed he didn't see that JJ was whipped for Kie.

It actually made sense. They were both super slow, smoked weed and made the same terrible jokes. He was bad, but the two of them together? Worst fucking comedy special.

Dumping the chips in a bowl, Sarah sent him a sweet smile. The bandana necklace laid comfortably on her skin. “You should talk to JJ, after Kie's gone home. They probably thought you were aware of it all.”

If he really thought about it, he guessed he always kind of knew. They all, at one point, had a crush on her, but he never considered her to be attainable. (“No Pogue on Pogue macking!”) But JJ? He always flirted. He always looked at her, went for her, sought her out. Of course JJ liked her.

And the fact that Kie allowed JJ to pursue her, meant that their relationship was a big fucking deal. This was no summer fling.

(Man, John B really needed to get his head out of the clouds.)

“How long have you known?” he eventually asked, when both were seated outside on the plastic chairs. The couple swung nearby, their voices hushed and their laughter chiming in the sweet, humid air.

Sarah pondered for a moment. Her head was tilted towards the sun, its light filtering through the trees, and he wondered if JJ had that moment as well — where he looked at Kie and felt that quiet awe washing over him; what he always felt around Sarah.

“Well, Kiara's hot, he'd be an idiot if he wasn't into her,” she began, causing him to chuckle. “but... I think on the lifeboat? When Kiara saved him?”

He frowned. “Anyone of us would've saved him.”

“It's what happened when he gained consciousness, John B,” she gently explained. “He looked at her like she was a literal goddess. Major heart-eyes.”

“Really?”

“You are so blind!” she laughed. Her hand reached out to graze beneath his eyes. “Do you need glasses?”

“Bro! John B needs fuckin' glasses!” JJ yelled, having caught the tail end of their conversation. Kie's bright face popped up beside him.

“He's always squinting at the board,” Kie added. “At first it's endearing, but now...”

“Thanks, guys,” John B deadpanned, “so supportive.”

The two crawled out the hammock at the sight of the chips and six-packs of beers.

“What were you guys talking about?” John B casually probed as they plopped down opposite of them. Cleo and Pope would probably be here soon.

They shared a look, something he couldn't read — oh, man, they had their own lingo already? — and then JJ uttered, “Surfing.”

“Surfing?”

“That's it?” Sarah mused.

“And beaches. And bunk beds,” JJ continued with a lazy drawl. Kiara rolled her eyes and mumbled seriously? at Sarah, to which the girl grinned and shrugged.

Slapping her hand over JJ's mouth, Kie said, “It's just a dream at this point, but, like, maybe going on a surf trip one day.” A wry smile ticked up her lips. “With the gold we don't have.”

“Fuckin' Cameron,” JJ grumbled. “No offense, Sarah.”

“None taken.”

John B smirked, “She's a Routledge now.”

Sarah grimaced. “Really?”

“Babe!”

“It's a very specific name, JB,” she tried, but her amusement gave her away. There it was, exposed: he had a shit last name.

After Pope and Cleo arrived, they all moved to the boat and went out for a relaxed day in the marsh; free of dead bodies for once. John B lived for these days — him and his family, forged in fire and blood and shit talking, lounging in the sun as Kie played Marley from her speaker and passed the J around the group. Salt pricked his tongue and the buzz of booze got him all competitive with the boys.

Carpe diem, or whatever.

And that was when he got a clear picture of them. Of Kie and JJ curled together, her giggling in his shoulder and his wide grin solely fixed on her, how she later snatched the trucker hat from his head and used it to hide a smooch.

Sarah whistled regardless, Cleo catcalling along as John B snuck a glance at Pope. He seemed fine, like Sarah had said. Smiling, laughing, his face tilted to the sun and completely unbothered.

Damn, he'd been so clueless.

He carefully approached the subject that night, the two standing side by side in the cramped bathroom brushing their teeth. “So... you and Kie.”

“Yup,” he quipped.

“Cool.”

JJ eyed him through the mirror. “You good, bro?”

John B smirked, leaning against the wall. “Yeah. I just thought that 'door was closed'.”

“You and me both,” the boy puffed. It could be the piss yellow lighting, but John B believed he spotted a slight flush on the boy's cheeks.

He kept pushing. “So? It's going well? Gimme something, JJ.”

He was gone when Kie and Pope were trying to make it work and JJ never had a legit girlfriend (Haley from second grade didn't count), so he felt like he had to make up for lost time. JJ was his fucking brother. If someone had to act like a little shit, it was him.

His blue eyes narrowed to slits. Spitting out the toothpaste, he wiped off his mouth and didn't lose his distinct JJ swagger as he said, “She drives me damn crazy, but it's worth it. That enough?”

John B grinned. That was more than enough. His thumb and index finger pressed together and mumbled a toothy goodnight, shouldering past the blonde to his bedroom.

Kiara and JJ together. Maybe the biggest twist of all.

#jiara #obx fanfiction #outer banks #still figuring out their voices yikes

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trueshellz · 3 years

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@regs09

I hope this is okay! I tried to show her as helpful as possible but a little sparky too. They're not all the same length but I tried to use different scenarios too.

Kuroo

The first time he saw you, you were surrounded by 2nd years pestering you for your phone number and he truly felt sorry for those guys. You couldn’t have had a bigger ‘fuck off’ face even if you tried. As he walked over, he was getting ready to set them straight when he overheard you.

“If you don’t get away from me in the next 10 seconds, I will rearrange your face.”

He’d never seen boys run away apologising so fast in his life, his signature laugh being heard by everyone, even Kenma gave him a WTF look as they walked together down the corridor.

“Oya? You seemed to have put them right in their place.”

Still annoyed at the situation, you whirled around and glared at him, hands placed on your hips. You knew Kuroo Tetsuro, everyone knew Kuroo Tetsuro. Third year, Nekoma volleyball captain, signature smile and absolute flirt.

“You wanna go as well, pretty boy?” You huffed as he held his hands up in mock surrender, grin wide across his face.

“Woah there, sparky. I was coming over to help you.”

Hiking your bag up your shoulder, you purposely walked between him and Kenma. “I didn’t need your help.”

The second time he saw you, he was grabbing a book from the library and he saw you sat with one of the 1st year girls. Exam week was around the corner so the library was busier than usual, he could see some of his teammates in the back too, knowing full well if they failed exams they could be pulled from the upcoming games.

He could see the girl was stressed out from the way she was flailing her arms, her face red as she pointed at her books. He saw you smile as you leaned over, pointing to something before taking out a mini whiteboard and pen from you bag. You giggled as she held her arms up in the air, she must have got the answer right. He was momentarily stunned by your change in demeanor and he could feel himself smile as you clapped for your student.

When you were dating, Kuroo was more than aware of how people perceived you. He had the same issue to some extent, being perceived as a harsh captain with a scheming personality meant some students were often scared to approach him. But when you were alone, you would often curl up to him on the sofa and often acted cute in front of him especially when he came home after a game to help cheer him up. Packing bento boxes for his lunches with cute cut out fruit and animal shaped onigiri and leaving cute notes in his bags and books.

You would always come near the end of Nekoma practice matches with drinks or healthy snacks for his team, who loved you for this reason. Yamamoto more so than the rest, a huge flirt who tried to hug attack you every time only to get yelled at by your boyfriend and given clean up duties as punishment.

"Tetsu, he just wants a hug."

He mock pouted as he looked at you, his lip stuck out almost comically. "Those hugs are mine, he can't have any."

The manager and you got along well too, you would help them by sweeping up after the boys or tidying away the equipment. A few times you helped Lev out when he tore his uniform falling over or tripping on his long legs as he got used to playing volleyball. He would feel so bad too, looking at you like a lost puppy as you sewed up his hem or patched a hole he had in his shorts or t shirt. The one time he managed to rip the stitching of his t shirt up to his arm pit when he skidded across the floor trying to save the ball. Needless to say, it didn't end well and you were glad you had taken to carrying a sewing kit with you when you went to watch them practice.

"I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine, Lev. Don't worry about it."

Kuroo knew the saying: Don't judge a book by it's cover, but he didn't realise how true it was until he met you. He could have missed out on one of the best people in his life.

Bokuto

Bokuto was known for having a cheery outlook on life, yes he had his emo moments but it took a lot to get him down generally. But you always baffled him, whenever he saw you it seemed as though you were angry or annoyed. In class, no matter the task or who you worked with, you looked fed up. After school when you were walking home, you seemed frustrated. At lunchtime, you sat with friends but you seemed like you'd had enough. You were a conundrum to him.

After school one day, he was walking towards the local shop to grab some snacks and he saw you crouching on the ground, your face was a mixture of awe and sadness as you looked at a box on the ground. As he neared you, he could hear small whines and the scratching against the box and when he peered over your shoulder he could see some puppies in the box.

"Someone left them here alone?"

You jumped as you heard his voice, looking up to see him standing over you, he had his bag slung on his shoulder and was still dressed in his volleyball gear. You'd seen him around school, he sat on the opposite side of the classroom to you so you never worked together. You knew he was the captain of the school's volleyball team but didn't know much else about him.

"Yeah, it's so cruel. They're only babies too."

And that was how you two became started friends and eventually dating, bonding over your love for animals and disdain for the situation. He accompanied you to the local animal shelter where you dropped the puppies off, not being able to take them home. He was enthralled by your change in demeanor, you would always smile at him and act a lot more animated. You would help Akaashi get him out of his funk when he had a bad day or one of his moves didn't go to plan. He had taken to buying you the famous octopus plushie too and would use it to gauge your mood, you found it hilarious. If you were sad or angry, he would come bearing snacks or gifts and if you were happy, he knew he was able to hug attack you and smother you in kisses.

Attending every game, you would always dress in his team number and cheer the loudest for him. After school, you would help him unwind, either spending time giving him a massage or just cuddling on the sofa together. You would lay on him, arms and legs intertwined as you watched television or playing with hair as his head was in your lap. Even going as far to sometimes climb into the front of his hoodie so you would be skin to skin with him. You loved the feel of his heartbeat against your ears and his breathing would calm you. You spent more time in his lap, head buried in his neck than sat alone as you lived feeling his body heat against you. Thankfully, Koutaro didn't mind, he loved the attention and having you close to him.

Who knew such a angry little bean would become such a cute little sloth?

Osamu

Every weekend like clockwork at lunchtime, you would walk in and order 2 meals. One to eat at the time and one to pick up at the end of your meal and take away. You always sat in the corner by yourself, flicking through your phone. You weren't rude or anything, but you had an aura of 'leave me alone' or else which usually kept people away from you. As Osamu watched, he couldn't help but wonder about you and your background.

He tried talking to you first, but apart from polite conversation you didn't seem to want to talk to him. He tried broaching lots of subjects but you just gave minimal answers. He was quite frustrated to say the least, Atsumu didn't help with his idea either. They just seemed to be annoying or potentially harassing, neither a great choice.

It was the end of the day when he was packing away, you had just left the restaurant and Osamu was packing all the left over food in boxes to give to the homeless people around the restaurant. He didn't like wasting food, not being one to be ungrateful and decided early on to donate it to those who were less fortunate. Carrying the snack packs, he started his usual journey down the roads and handing his packages out to anyone who was in need.

As he rounded the corner, he saw you leaning down speaking to an elderly lady who had a small child. She looked tired, her cheeks red from exhaustion and cold, the child looking equally cold in this weather too. They had been selling fruit from what he could see and he stared in fascination as you not only bought their remaining stock but gave them the second meal you bought that day.

"No, no. You always do this. It's not fair, we'll exchange. You give me food for my fruit."

"Auntie, no. You know very well that I don't expect payment for this. Its a gift. Take the food, go home and eat. Use the money for your daughter."

Nearing to you, he bowed quickly before leaning down and handing the child some onigiri. She smiled up at him, all toothy and he felt his heart warm up seeing her munch away at the rice ball. Looking at you, he could see the broad smile on your face as you bantered with the woman, seeing you like this was such a contrast to your usual stoic attitude.

This routine continued for a few weeks, eventually you would help Osamu out with his packing. Carrying some of the lighter packages to hand out to everyone, your conversation becoming more and more in depth the more you spoke to one another. You had more in common than you thought, including your selflessness you both had similar taste in music and movies.

One thing led to another and soon you found yourself dating, Osamu didn't realise how cute you were in real life until you moved in together. He remembered how shocked he was when you bought matching Pikachu onesies to wear and would take lots of selfies with him. His phone was full of cute pictures that he got during the day with little messages and lovey dovey quotes. The apartment was full of couple things like matching slippers and the progression of your relationship through little mementos strewn across the wall.

You would spend any spare time you had at his shop helping him, or trying to as you seemed to get distracted by how pretty your boyfriend was. Or you would come behind him and attach yourself in a backhug, Osamu wouldn't be able to get much done with a limpet attached so you compromised on a only doing that when he had a break.

What started as a fascination ended up being one of the biggest surprises of his life and he couldn't imagine his life without you in it.

#haikyui x reader #osamu x reader #osamu miya #haikyuu request #haikyuu fluff #kuroo x reader #bokuto x reader #kuroo x y/n #bokuto x y/n #osamu x y/n #haikyuu scenarios #haikyuu headcannons #haikyuu fanfiction #kuroo tetsuro hcs #kuroo tetsuro #bokuto kotaro

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deafchild2000 · 3 years

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So....my stupid ass was up at 12 in the morning and was thinking:

Imagine these girls being friends as adults?

And yes, I am legitimately serious about this AU, OK. This is what happens when I think too much and consider everything in a fictional relationship.

So, where to start? Well, I guess we see what happened fictionally after S1, S2, and S3.

Annabelle Stephenson as Miriam Kent

Miriam Kent: Mayor's daughter, competitive and attention seeker. Miriam just gave up on Zane and that was it. If Zane wanted to chase a loner like Rikki and hang out with her stupid friends, then that's his choice...but then again, can say friends be "stupid" when they're mermaids with magic powers? Yeah, years with video blackmail she managed to preserve through upgraded phones (seriously, who locks someone in a house and forgets windows is overlooking the pool!?) and a near-death experience with being frozen alive (That's the only conclusion she could come up with) made her more prone to keep away and saving Zane from them (though she's sure he was a victim as well when she thinks to that time he was severely sunburnt!). She eventually graduated and traveled to Paris to tag along to fulfill her dream to be a fashion designer. But she struggled, being a small fish in a big pond, and felt envious as Tiffany moved ahead as a model. They fought and suddenly, Miriam was alone. The experience somewhat humbled her (but she remained a bitch). She ended up catching up and becoming an accomplished designer graduate and returned home to the Gold Coast after a few more years in France. Feeling inspired after returning home, she created a clothing line which she labels Land B4 Seas (a jab and revealed bitterness to being ignored for a mermaid) and starts an online boutique. Later on, a friend invited her to a gallery opening for a popular artist, but not finding the artist impressive. She ends up walking into a different gallery opening and comes across beautiful underwater artwork that inspires her& buys against her better judgment. She asks to meet the artist, who reveals her name to be Charlotte...

Brittany Byrnes as Charlotte Watsford

Charlotte Watsford: Artist, daughter, and second-generation failed mermaid. After what happened in the Gold Coast, it was safe to say she developed low self-esteem and morale for herself and went to therapy...and never fully recovered. Transferring school and graduating someplace else, she did try to avoid anything from her past. Mermaid merchandise, handmade jewelry, blonds with blue eyes? She veered from. It was a miracle that she began painting again. Taking a job as a part-time art teacher while working as a street artist. Eventually, she felt it was time to sell her older artwork for her mermaid days and found herself recognized by an art collector passing by and fallen in love with her underwater work. From there, she not only grew with her craft, but Charlotte started doing small art galleries. She enjoyed using her other (land) subjects, but the collector, her agent, and curator agreed that her best works were the underwater. So lifelike, it was as if she'd swam deeper even experienced divers can go yet so personal that it spoke to another's sense of personal depth. By inconvenience, Charlotte's already small gallery opening was booked with a Mother's, so the rented space was shared (and it didn't help that the opposing artist was more popular), but it was by chance that a wondering fashion designer invited to the opposing gallery wandered into hers and brought all her underwater artwork and introduced herself as Miriam Kent...

Alice Hunter as Tiffany Brown

Tiffany Brown: Former underappreciated sidekick to business partner and model. Tiffany grew up with Miriam on an equal footing, but it was her shy demeanor that caused the unbalance as they got older. Tiffany followed Miriam to Paris, which was the beginning of the end of their friendship. Tiffany flourished as a budding model while Miriam struggled as a design student, and an ugly fight ensued and they parted ways. Tiffany came back to the Gold Coast to study business (the ability to read a contract is a powerful tool) and started investing in small businesses while she modeled at an agency. It was during a shoot that one of the models bailed and endangered to be scrapped for good when she just picked a random girl off the street, who turned out to be, just, an ethereal beauty! After explaning the situation and borderline begging, the girl stepped in for the shoot with a strange request not to do anything involving water. After the shoot, Tiffany was grateful for her help and asked to pay her back. She gave her her number for lunch on a piece of paper and signed it, Bella H. ...

Indiana Evans as Isabella "Bella" Hartley

Bella Hartley: Former singer, mermaid, gelatin dessert makerand reclusive baby of the group. After saving the world from a comet, Bella thought keeping her friendship and relationship after high school would be easy. But nothing is rarely easy. For starters, a girl named Emma Gilbert enters (or re-entered, according to Lewis) the picture, watching the girls foregoing their crystals, learning how long the girls were mermaids and found herself essentially pushed out. She tried to find solace in Will but found out he was cheating on her and just...couldn't find it in herself to forgive him. And he took the breakup badly. Like "restraining order" badly. This led to Bella living a somewhat isolated life when she decided to move from the coast. However, she's found a strange side hustle using her powers to create gelatin desserts with Agar Agar Powder (seaweed) which she makes and sells out of her home. She hadn't talked to any of the girls or guys since. One day, she was out buying ingredients when grabbed off the street and asked to be a stand-in model. The girl asked her seemed desperate and Bella didn't see the harm in helping her, just as long as she wasn't involved in anything with water. The shoot was really fun and when the model, who formally introduced herself as Tiffany, asked how she could repay her, and to her own surprise, Bella agreed to lunch...

How they become friends:

Miriam flat out asks Charlotte to work under her as a designer. While both careers are technically art, Charlotte's resistant. So, she takes her out to eat after the gallery and got drunk bonding over boys not wanting them, failed friendships, and the lowered self-esteem they fought through. Charlotte ended up saying yes during the hangover the next morning.

Bella and Tiffany had lunch together and bonded over being underappreciated and unimportant in their friendships and relationships. Bella brought one of her gelatine desserts to the table and with one taste, Tiffany was already offering to invest in her side business.

Miriam and Tiffany ended up meeting again somewhere down the road when Miriam had created a lot of clothes that needed models in them and truly didn't expect the "T. Brown" she hired to be Tiffany. Initially awkward, Miriam powered through it and impressed Tiffany with her plans, who then impressed her with her understanding of business and gave her advice on how to grow if she planned on opening a boutique. The encounter would be the beginning of a bridge rebuilding between them.

Tiffany met Charlotte during the shoot and was impressed that her artwork was the inspiration behind Miriam's designs. Charlotte claims she's just a painter who's learning as she goes along but Miriam is a huge help. She shows Tiffany one of her paintings and Tiffany is quick to buy one.

That painting she brought from Charlotte ended up proudly in Tiffany's home and when Bella came over, she instantly recognized the artwork that could only match the insight of a mermaid. She wanted to meet the painter behind the painting and Tiffany just arranged a breakfast meeting for all four women. Meeting Charlotte, she easily doesn't expect her to be one, having not to drink from a straw and spilled a drink on herself. But the same can't be said for Bella, who gets hit with the drink and runs and...Charlotte follows and THAT'S how the two find out they share a past with a familiar group of friends.

Meanwhile, Miriam (who knows the signs) is surprised that Bella might be a mermaid but has no idea why Charlotte followed after her...or she does and doesn't want to admit it. She won't deny it: Bella's beautiful and if she wasn't already Bisexual, she would turn for her. However, she sees a bit of a loner attitude, which is a far cry from what Tiffany calls her ("the embodiment of living sunshine") but part of her couldn't help but be intrigued by the crystal around her neck. Maybe it's the designer in her, but she's never seen a gem like that before. Tiffany is a bit worried about how long the girls have been home, but Miriam stops her, saying Charlotte likely has her talking and will be out sooner than expected. It's an hour later when they return, Bella completely shamefaced, but apologizing for taking so long and blaming part of it on a conversation. As an ice breaker, Charlotte asked where they all went to school and it shocked them when they all realize they were all students at South Coast High, just missing each other shy of a few years and classes. Tiffany asks how she could miss both girls, but to answer that is a bit painful (especially because it regards being a mermaid and saving the world). Charlotte just calls it preoccupations and rotten luck, which Miriam is happy to drink to that. But when Tiffany starts talking and casually name drops Lewis, which catches Bella off-guard on how she knows him, which raises the question of how Bella knows him and Miriam just starts day drinking early because this breakfast was no longer just about chance coincidences.

#h2o just add water #charlotte watsford #Miriam Kent #bella hartley #Tiffany h2o just add water #annabelle Stephenson #Brittany Byrnes #Indiana evans #Alice Hunter

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imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl · 4 years

Text

The Perfect Bad Boy (Pt. 08 of 18)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Summary: Working as a lifeguard in the Hawkins Community Pool, you try to fit in after moving from New York. Things were going pretty well when you notice you've been under someone's stare. Billy Hargrove, Hawkins' bad boy, has been staring at you since day one. You never intended to have anything to do with him, judging by the reputation he has. But Billy won't leave you alone, determined to show you his feelings are different this time...

Word count: 2.2K

As if your heart flooding you with confusing feelings wasn't enough, there are weird, strange animals lurking in the woods... But those have to be just part of the wild live of the woods surrounding Hawkins... Right?

<- Previous part (07)

Next part (09) ->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

Something In The Woods...

To say you're pissed is an understatement. A storm is passing by, which brought a heavy summer rain over Hawkins. And since the pool is closed when it's raining, you called Billy, inviting him over for lunch. But minutes later Monica called you to say that the manager wants to make a training session on first aid with all the lifeguards. As if you didn't know. You, as did everyone, had to go through a test before getting the job.

It's impressing to know that you wouldn't be so mad if you didn't have plans with Billy. So you make sure to close the meeting room door with a loud thud when you get in, muttering good morning to everyone before sitting beside Billy in the back.

“So much for that lunch date.” He says.

“It wasn't a date,” you tell him. “I just wanted to make a lasagna and since my aunt had to go to the clinic, I thought you'd like to join me.” Shrugging your shoulders, you give him a sassy look. Of course you wanted to spend time with him, and this rainy day would make it perfect...

“Doesn't Diane get tired of driving all the way to Indianapolis? It's a two-hour drive.”

“Diane loves driving. And she owns the clinic so she can pretty much make her own schedules.” You feel when your leg touches his. “Why do we have to do this training thing? As if we didn't know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”

“Anthony is a dick.” He mumbles as the manager starts talking. But you don't plan to pay attention. Billy suddenly pulls your chair closer, so it's glued to his. He then puts an arm around your shoulders. “Better.”

Rolling your eyes, you pretend to listen to the long speech Anthony gives. It goes on for two hours, and you can't help but make funny comments with Billy, as he holds back the laughs, what makes the manager give you both angry stares. When the training is done, Anthony says that those who were supposed to be working today will have to stay. Which is great because it means you.

“I swear to God I'll report Anthony,” Monica complains, sitting beside you and Billy by the pool, your legs on the water. The rain stopped, but the heavy clouds are promising that more is to come. “May I sit here or will you guys make out?”

“I'm down for it if she is,” Billy smirks.

“Of course you can sit here, Mon.” You elbow him, rolling your eyes. “How's Christopher?” You decide to change the subject and tease her instead.

“He gave me this.” She shows her hand, which has a ring on it. “It's nothing but... It means something to us.”

The sweet smile on her lips brings joy to your heart. It's no doubt they're in love with each other. You wonder if you'll be attending to their weeding someday.

Your hand comes to the necklace Billy made you, which you've been wearing every day. As you feel Monica's ring has a secret meaning, known only by her and Christopher, this necklace has a secret meaning too. You give Billy a quick glance, just to check if he's wearing his. And you smile to see he is. Your stomach burns when your eyes meet, and you look away.

“You look very good together,” Mon says, gesturing at you and Billy.

“I know,” Billy says, and you can hear the cocky smile through his voice.

You elbow him again, a little harder, and you laugh at the exaggerated groan he makes. “I–” You're cut off because you're suddenly lifted and thrown in the water. You sink right before pushing yourself up again. “You idiot!” You throw water at him, and Monica moves away

“Oh, he got ya,” Mon yells in between her laughs.

“I hate you!” Using both his knees as a support, you push yourself up, grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him into the water too. You're aware he actually pushed himself because you wouldn't be able to pull him all by yourself. But you ignore it, slapping him lightly and throwing water on him.

He does the same, but soon enough he starts pulling you close. You're a breathless mess, trying to swim away from him. But, obviously, you slowly surrender, allowing him to hold you. “We should get out. Anthony won't like it.”

“As you wish, princess.” He won't push you. That much is clear.

At the end of the day, you're walking to your cars under light rain. You invited Billy for dinner since lunch was ruined by Anthony and all the small amount of power he let get to his head being the manager. He gives you a glance when you part ways. “What?”

“Come in my car.”

“But I have to drive this baby home.” You gesture at your car, walking backwards.

“Why don't you let me pick you up and drive you home from now on? Save up some gas.” It's so stupid how his smile makes you blush even from afar.

“What about your gas, Hargrove?” You ask as you get into the car. “Let's get going. That lasagna won't make itself.” Winking at him, you speed away, determined to get to your place before he does.

He does make a mess on the road since he was quick to follow that you were trying to outrun him. The dark clouds are making the night crawl in faster, and it's getting dark soon. Eventually, you both get stuck on the same red light, and you take a look at him through the review mirror. You're growing closer, way too close, but you're trying not to think about it too much. You're enjoying it, taking in all the moments you share.

You still can't force yourself to kiss him... It would make you go way too deep in this, head first, and you think you need some more time. But it doesn't mean it's not torture when he stands too close. It's a freaking war against yourself to step away. That's the big decision you've been avoiding.

Taking a deep breath, you look at your right, at the woods. This road is one of your favorites because it cuts through the forest, and you have the trees surrounding you from both sides. It looks beautiful, even through the darkness. You would certainly get lost in there. Guess you'll still need some time for that too, to get used and learn your way through Hawkins woods. A smile comes to your lips when you see something moving, among the trees. A deer, maybe. You know there are deers here. Squinting your eyes, you try to see it better, to find out what it really is. Most of its body is hidden behind a thick tree, and when it moves, slowly, you can see the head. You're suddenly taken aback because that's not a deer. It bolts away, further into the woods. A strange sensation builds up in your core. But you push it down. There must be several wild animals here, and that must be one of them... It looks more like a dog, a strange dog because its skin looked weird, naked. Sticky, even.

You're dragged out of your thoughts when Billy's speeds pass you, blasting the horns. Rolling your eyes, you set in motion too.

Billy gets to your house first, waiting by the front door with a smirk on his face. “You won the battle, Hargrove, not the war,” you say, unlocking the door and stepping in. “I saw something in the woods back there, by the way.”

“Another squirrel?”

“No, it was bigger.” You move to the kitchen and he follows you. “I thought it could be a deer but the head was shaped differently. And it looked like the fur was ripped off.”

As you start getting what you'll need for the lasagna, you wait for him to say anything. But he doesn't, so you turn to look at him. Billy is frozen, by the table, his eyes with a blank expression, suddenly glued to the floor. You've never seen him like this, worried as if there was an imminent danger around you right now. “Billy? Are you ok?” You walk over him, taking his hand. He takes a deep breath before looking at you, his eyes softening.

“Yes, I just remembered the accident. Not a very pleasant memory.”

“Well, try to relax.” You pull the chair and gestures for him to sit down, and when he does, you start trying to massage his shoulders. By what he told you, Billy had a rough life, and you hate to see how sad he gets when a bad memory hits. You like him, so very much, that you just want to make him feel better. “I suck at this, hope I'm not hurting you.”

“Uhm...” He grabs your arms and pulls you suddenly, making you bend over until both your arms are around his neck, your face is next to his. “But this is much better.”

“Jerk,” you mutter, standing back up and going to the kitchen counter. “Now come help me.”

“Immediately, ma'am.”

“So... You kept your promise,” you say, avoiding his eyes. “You've been wearing your piece.” You gesture at the earring.

“I told you I would.” He moves closer, a hand taking the earring that's around your neck. “I'm glad to see you're using your piece to, princess.”

“Stop calling me that, Billy,” you say in a low voice. The name makes you so damn nervous, and the tone he uses only makes it worse. It's low, calming... And it feels like it burns right through you.

“Why? I know you like it.”

“I–” You're interrupted by the front door being open, and Diane's light voice greeting you.

The night goes on pretty nicely. Your aunt gives you some space, only joining you for dinner. When Billy goes home, it's almost eleven. But in the next three days, the summer storm keeps the pool closed, and lucky for you, one of the days was your day off. So you went to his place, spend all day there, doing literally nothing, just laying on the couch and talking.

All the time you spend with him is never enough. You always have to go back home, and when you do, you're missing him already. You usually wake up holding the pillow and imagining how it would feel like to lay on his chest and fall asleep beside him...

Today, the storm finally was blown away, and it looks like the sun is angry for being hid for days because it's so damn hot. You've never seen the pool so crowded, and you've been walking around all day, looking out for the kids. You're drained out after lunch, and despite trying to stay on your chair, you can't. A five years old kid slipped and fell into the water, and you had to pick him up. Thankfully, he was well and resumed playing in seconds. But the sun is being rough on you today, and the heat is so much worse. Even in the shadow, you feel it like you're in a damn oven.

“(Y/N). Drink some water.” Billy hands you a bottle and you take a sip. “Have more. You're a little pale today.”

“Yeah, this place is overflowing. Half of Hawkins is here.” You tell him, eyes still scanning through the sea of people. “I need you to go back to your chair, please. The kids are crazy today, Billy, help me out.” You touch his shoulder, using his body as a support for a few seconds. “If you yell, they'll obey.”

“Alright, but drink some water every once in a while, ok?”

“Alright.” You let go of him, offering a small smile when he worriedly looks down at you.

You start pacing around again, warning the kids over and over again not to run. Your head is killing you, like the sun is hitting you with a freaking hammer. And you're so damn tired already, but the people just keep coming, diving and yelling. You're usually happy to see them having fun, but today you're beaten up as if you were hit by a car this morning. The ground bellows your feet starts moving, and you have to use the wall to regain your balance. Your throat is dry, but the cafeteria is on the other side of the pools and you're way too exhausted to walk all the way there. You decide to just head back to the chair to rest a bit.

You see white dots on your sight as you walk, struggling to move on a straight line, using one of your hands blocking the sun from your eyes. When you finally reach your chair, you breathe out in relief. You're about to push yourself up when you lose your strength, lowering your body until you're sitting on the ground.

“Are you ok?” Someone asks, and you see her figure kneeling by your side.

You nod, trying to get back up, but your body doesn't seem to work. You close your eyes shut when everything spins around, and then it just goes black.

@chloe-skywalker @dpaccione @tilesandtokens @dreamin-of-dacre @funeral-7 @uncookspaget @youhavemyfantasticbeasts

#billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove x y/n #imagine billy hargrove #billy hargrove #billy hargrove fanfiction #billy stranger things #stranger things imagin #stranger things imagine #imagine stranger things #stranger things fanfiction

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mistwraiths · 2 years

Text

3.5 stars

Évike is the only girl in her village without magic. The Woodsman come to her village and take a wolf-girl away, and they never return. After a betrayal, Évike is sacrificed to them. However, after a monster attack, the only Woodsman left with her is the prince, Gáspár, and he has a better plan. Help him gather pagan magic so his father can keep the throne, or his vicious bastard brother will seize it akknd bring death to pagans and other cultures as well. Through their travels, they start growing closer and soon have to decide what side their on and what they're willing to risk for a nation that's only ever hated them.

I actually enjoyed this book overall but I rated it a bit lower because this book felt too long in places with not a lot happening. Which is odd because the plot is interesting and should be the main focus, it didn't completely feel like it. I've said this once and I'll say it again: constant traveling or journeying isn't fun to read and it's hard to keep it interesting in the long run. A lot of the traveling became rote: travel, monster attack, telling a story, rinse and repeat. This book suffers from extended traveling which takes up a lot of the book leaving less time for the "true" plot in my opinion.

The writing in this book is compared to books that were called lyrical and fairytale-esque. I want to know who put that because personally I'd like a word. It's nothing like that. The writing felt achingly raw and gritty, and very atmospheric and dark. Also, this wasn't an issue for me, but this book is extremely full of gore. If you're squeamish or struggle with graphic depictions of gore, avoid this book.

The subject material of this book is heavy and dense, and the amount of care, detail, and research is well done. The Wolf and the Woodsman has themes and deals with religious persecution, ethic cleansing, along with cultural genocide and oppression. The Hungarian and Jewish history and mythology fill these pages. I will say you could easily argue there's the whole abused saving their abusers here as well, and it's kind of not great. Both Évike and Gáspár both have suffered from their homes and people.

I really liked the magic concept, the body horror magic system. I think it was unique and I would have liked to learn more about it. While the world history is rich, the pace suffers because there is constant story telling of myths and legends and fairy tales. It also just never felt like there was a rhyme or reason or something we could learn from most of the stories.

Once we get into the "main plot" of dealing with the King and the bastard brother, I felt like the story did pick up its pace and we finally really realize how horrible everything truly is. The people in the city being oppressed, the boiling pot of violence threatening the others who have different religions. I loved seeing the main character meet with her estranged father and experience his culture. I wish we got more with the political/royal part.

I liked both Évike and Gáspár. Évike is angry, rightfully so, and ruthless at times, and also constantly horny. She's not a likable protagonist but I enjoyed her overall. Gáspár is wonderfully tortured and secretly a softie. Their romance was enjoyable since both were clearly obsessed with each other and hated it, and each other.

The ending with a surprise attack kind of felt like it popped up out of nowhere but I'm fine with it. I actually liked the epilogue because it gave us a bit of a run down on what was happening now in the world, and a glimpse of the future for Évike and Gáspár. I still have some questions regarding Gáspár's brother and his ability though.

#the wolf and the woodsman #ava reid #steph's book review #book review #steph reads

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fanmoose12 · 4 years

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How about one where hanji has taken a job that seemed innocent enough but it turned out that her job were experimenting on criminals (trying to make like a superhuman or something). Hanji hated the revelation but they'll kill her if she leaves. She got really close to Levi who's one of the promising candidates. One day she heard they're going to kill him so she helped him escape. Her boss found out and was going to kill her until Levi saved her. They ran away together 💛

thank you so much for your prompt, your idea was so cool!!!!

i hope i managed to write it equally cool :0

Hange should have known better. She should have known better than to trust a stranger in a rich three piece suit and round glasses, who looked both handsome and smart and who was waiting for her after her shift at that shitty restaurant. She should have known better than to accept his job proposition, which definitely sounded too good to be true. She should have known better than to blatantly ignore all of the warnings just because she thought that she had finally found a perfect job.

Hange should have known better.

But she didn’t.

In her defense, in the beginning, it all looked innocent enough. Sure, there were some very suspicious signs, like the fact that she had to work in an underground laboratory, or the fact that there was too much security around for it to be a simple science organization, or the fact that she was provided with her own personal bedroom, so she could work all day and not go home in the evenings. But the work was so fascinating, her research so thrilling, that Hange decided to ignore all of it.

Zeke, the man, who offered her this place, told her that she was hired to develop a formula, which could enhance human physical abilities and accelerate regeneration process. It would help save millions of lives, Zeke said.

And Hange, stupid and naïve Hange, believed him. Or, maybe, she just chose to believe, turning the blind eye on the suspicious occurrences inside the lab.

It was really her dream job, and Hange was happy, finally getting recognition for all of her talents.

And even after Zeke started bringing men in, telling her to test her formula on them, Hange still continued her work.

Those men were criminals, Zeke said, rapists and murderers, who didn’t deserve to live. And again, Hange believed him, and she didn’t care how much pain she brought these men. They probably deserved something way worse than what she did to them.

So she ignored their screams of pain, threats of revenge and pleas for release. She ignored it all and proceeded with her work.

But then one day, everything changed. Hange understood what a monster she had become, and how far she went in her pursuit of knowledge.

Everything changed the moment Hange laid her eyes on him.

***

Levi Ackerman was just another filthy criminal, Zeke said. But this time, Hange didn’t believe him.

There was something different about him, Hange had felt it the moment she laid her eyes on him. Hange watched him for a long time, trying to pin point what exactly it was.

And then, as he raised his head to glare at her, it finally hit her.

His eyes.

They were beautiful, the intense anger behind them hypnotizing Hange.

But that was not why he was so different from Hange’s previous test subjects. Even though he was glaring furiously, murderously, at everything and everyone around him, there was no malevolence in that gaze.

He wanted to escape, but he had no desire to kill them. His eyes didn’t show the need for power or hunger for violence. Even though, Hange just met him, even though they did not exchange a single word between them, somehow she knew. The man in front of her was cruel, but he didn’t enjoy it. Maybe, he stole and hurt and killed, but it was out of necessity, a way to survive. He didn’t enjoy what he did, didn’t like causing other people pain.

And then Hange understood another thing – neither did she.

“I’ll leave you to your work, Doctor Zoe.” Zeke walked past her, but Hange paid no mind to him.

Her eyes were still focused on Levi Ackerman, Hange couldn’t look away from his angry eyes. If looks could kill, Hange was sure she would be a dead woman ten times already.

Slowly, with her legs shaking, she made her way towards him.

She stopped right in front of him, not knowing what to do.

Of course, she knew what she had to do, as she had done it a dozen times already.

She had to take the man’s hand in hers, inject her serum into his vein, and then monitor the results, writing every little reaction of his body in her journal.

But looking at this man, Hange couldn’t find it in herself to do it. She was sick of just the thought of hurting him.

“What are you waiting for, four-eyes?” the man hissed, baring his teeth at her.

“I don’t know,” Hange let out a bitter laugh, surprising even herself. “I just don’t want to do it.”

And Levi raised his eyes, studying her face. “Are you new around here?”

“No,” Hange’s knees continued to shake, so she sat down on the cold floor. She studied her fingernails, avoiding Levi’s confused eyes. “I’ve done this to a dozen of men, but for some reason… I can’t bring myself to do it to you.”

“And how am I different?”

Hange shrugged. “Don’t know. But you… you don’t look like a person, who deserves this. You don’t look like a person, who likes hurting innocent people.”

“And neither do you.”

Hange snapped her eyes to stare at the man. He stared right back.

“What’s your name?” Levi asked suddenly.

“Hange… Hange Zoe.”

Levi nodded. “Alright, Hange Zoe. Just do your thing already. I know that if you won’t, Zeke will still make you do it by threatening or hurting you.”

“This thing,” Hange nodded at the syringe with her compound, which she held tightly in her hands. “This thing will hurt you. A lot.”

Levi shook his head. “I’ve had worse, I can take it. Besides, I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

“You seem to be incredibly kind for a criminal,” Hange regarded him with wide, surprised eyes.

“And you seem too soft for a scientist, who experiments on people.”

“Touché,” and despite herself, Hange grinned at Levi.

With a deep breath, she grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. She clenched the syringe. Her hands trembled.

“Are you sure?” she asked, looking up at Levi beneath her fringe.

“Just fucking do it already, four-eyes.”

And Hange injected the syringe into his vein.

She closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to see Levi’s face contorted in pain.

However, ten seconds passed, and then another ten, but she didn’t hear Levi’s screams of pain even grunts of discomfort.

Hange slowly opened her eyes, and was shocked to see that Levi remained completely calm in his seat, his posture relaxed and unfazed.

“Are you…” Hange began slowly, not believing her eyes. “Are you alright?”

Levi nodded.

Hange looked at the syringe in her hands, she was sure it was the right one, but why hadn’t it worked? All the men, she had tested it on before, immediately began to convulse violently and scream in unbearable pain the moment her compound entered their bloodstream.

But Levi didn’t even break a sweat.

“Do you feel something?”

Levi nodded again. “I feel… weird, as though… some kind of power is cursing through me. And,” Levi lifted his shirt, searching for something there. “There was a cut. One of Zeke’s men cut me, when they tried to capture me. But look at it now.”

Hange stared at it with wide eyes. There was actually a wound on Levi’s stomach, but it was rapidly closing in. In seconds, it was completely gone, not a trace of it left. It didn’t even leave a scar!

Hange’s head was reeling.

“It worked…” she whispered fervently. “My serum actually worked…”

***

When he found out about the news, Zeke was beyond himself with happiness.

So glad her work had finally produced results, Zeke gave Hange her own office, and even provided her with her personal assistant. Moblit Berner was a nice, quiet man, who was just a victim of circumstances, the same as Hange was. She took immediate liking to him. He listened to her carefully and obeyed her every command. They made a great team.

Hange expected to continue her experiments with other test subjects, but Zeke told her to focus on Levi.

He was their first success, and Zeke needed Hange to understand why. What was so special about him, what part of his organism made him so susceptible to Hange’s formula? What did he have that others lacked?

And Hange studied him thoroughly, searching for something abnormal in his system, but she couldn’t find it. Even without her compound, Levi seemed to be stronger, quicker and more adept at survival than ordinary people. But Hange couldn’t find an explanation to this.

She spent almost every waking moment with Levi. She studied him, she checked the changes in his body, which were induced by her compound, she pushed him to his limits to see just how strong he was and she trained him to become even more powerful.

And during all of this, she unintentionally, accidentally, completely unwillingly… fell in love with him.

***

Levi was amazing.

Not just his physique or his quick reflexes, he himself, his mind, heart and soul were extraordinary.

At least to Hange.

He was such a hard person to understand. He rarely spoke, and even when he did he never said what was actually on his mind. His words seemed cryptic and inapprehensible. His face never betrayed his feelings.

But that didn’t stop Hange from trying to understand him. Levi was a mystery, an enigma and a challenge. And Hange was never the one to give up a good challenge.

So she studied his behavior, his quirks and habits just as thorough as she studied his organism.

She looked for the smallest changes in his eyes, face expressions and tones of voice. She learned to understand him. And the more she learned, the more she looked at him, the more Hange liked what she saw.

And then, Hange found out that Levi wasn’t difficult to read at all. He was hiding all of his true feelings, because he was afraid to get hurt. But deep down, he was one of the kindest, most caring person Hange ever knew.

Hange hated what she had to do to him. She hated poking him with needles and syringes, hated making him run a hundred laps, just to see how much it takes before he was utterly and completely exhausted, hated seeing him fighting with a dozen of Zeke’s men, testing his reflexes and strength. Hange’s heart broke every time she saw his sweat-covered face, his trembling limbs and the cuts and bruises on his body.

But she couldn’t help it, she couldn’t help him.

She knew that she was a prisoner here, just as Levi was. She knew that if she dared to disobey then Zeke would kill her, and then assign someone new to Levi, someone, who will be much crueler and less considerate to him.

So she continued her work, proceeded with her research and against all odds hoped that Levi would be merciful enough to forgive her.

***

“Why haven’t you tried to escape yet?” Hange asked him one time.

She made sure there was no security around. The only people in the room were her and Levi. Even Moblit was absent, since Hange knew that Levi didn’t trust her assistant the way Hange did.

Well, she hoped he trusted her.

“Are you encouraging me to escape, four-eyes?” Levi looked up at her, and Hange saw a ghost of a smirk on his lips.

“No!” Hange protested. “I just…” she waved her hand uncertainly in the air, thinking about her next words. “I was just thinking about it for a while now. I know you’re strong, I know exactly how strong you are, and I’m sure that if you tried, you have big chances to escape unnoticed. So why are you still here?”

“You’re my watcher,” Levi told her seriously, staring deeply into her eyes.

Hange gasped, understanding everything Levi left unsaid.

“Are you saying that—”

Levi turned his head to the side, facing away from Hange. His voice was almost angry, as he spoke. “I’m saying that if I escape, the blame will fall on you, four-eyes. And Zeke will make you pay. I don’t want that to happen.”

“Levi…” Hange took a step towards him, but he turned to look at her and the fierceness of his gaze paralyzed Hange.

“I know it’s stupid,” Levi said. His fists visibly trembled. “I know that you’re one of them, and I should hate you, but. I can’t. I’ve tried, but you’re so fucking nice to me! Ever since our first meeting, you’ve been nothing but kind. You looked at me – a thief and a murderer, who could kill you with his bare hands, — and you still chose to be kind to me. You were afraid to hurt me! What the fuck, Hange?” Levi crossed the distance between them swiftly and gripped Hange’s shoulders. He stared into her face, searching for something there. “Why don’t you hate me, Hange?” he whispered. “Why aren’t you disgusted by me?”

“Because I know you,” Hange laid her hand on his cheek, smiling warmly at him. “I see you, Levi. I know you’re a good person, and that’s why… that’s why I want to help you.”

Levi’s gaze turned confused, he opened his mouth to ask Hange to elaborate, but she beat him to it.

“I know how you can escape.” Hange began, turning away from Levi. His beautiful grey eyes, which looked at her so intently and with so much emotion, were distracting her. The way he still gripped her shoulders tightly was even worse, and Hange took a step back, getting away from his warm and strong hands. “Zeke told me that he wants you to go on a mission to test your skills in practice. I don’t know yet what this is going to be, and there is going to be a lot of security with you, but I think… I think it can work. I’m sure you can deal with all the guards, and that way the blame wouldn’t be on me. If that concerns you so much.”

“It does.” Levi told her quietly, but fiercely.

“A-alright!” Hange said and hurried to get out of that room.

Being so close to Levi, listening to his words and looking into his eyes, Hange felt confused. She simultaneously wanted Levi to stop and at the same she wanted him to continue, wanted to hold him in her arms and never let go, protecting him from the world around them.

“We’ll think of a plan some other time!” Hange put on a forceful smile and then exited the room, closing the door behind herself.

She leaned her back against the door and took a deep, calming breath.

Just what kind of a mess she was getting into?

***

Hange anxiously checked her phone for the tenth time, waiting for a signal from Levi.

His mission had begun three hours ago, and he promised to call Hange once he successfully managed to escape from Zeke.

Three hours. And still no phone call.

Despite herself, Hange was starting to get nervous.

“Is everything alright?” Moblit asked, looking at her strangely.

“Yes!” Hange smiled way too widely. “Of course, everything is great!”

“Are you worried about Levi Ackerman?”

Hange sighed. Nothing was getting past her assistant.

“A bit.” She gave Moblit a crooked grin.

“You…” Moblit began tentatively. “You are not worried about the mission, right? You were planning something else with him. Right?”

Hange widened her eyes, staring at her assistant in shock. How did he—?

“Didn’t know you were so observant, Moblit.”

He smiled warmly. “I’ve learned from the best.” Then looking at Hange’s still nervous face, he added. “You shouldn’t worry, though. Levi is strong and smart. He’ll be fine.”

Moblit placed a hand onto Hange’s shoulder, and squeezed it gently. Hange replied him with a small, but sincere and grateful smile.

“Another coffee?” he gestured at Hange’s empty cup.

“Yes please.”

Before Moblit had returned with her coffee, though, Hange heard a loud commotion in the main hall. She ran outside, dying to see an angry and pissed-off Zeke, who would inform her that he managed to lose their only test subject.

She threw the door open and was immediately met with Zeke’s furious face.

A victorious smile almost appeared on Hange’s lips.

But then she noticed a body, lying next to Zeke’s feet. Levi’s body.

Hange ran to him without a second thought.

“What happened to him?” Hange asked, as she turned Levi’s prone body around to take a look on his face.

“That son of a bitch tried to escape. He killed almost every member of my personal guard, before they managed to calm him down. I would have shot him like a dog,” Zeke spat angrily. “But, unfortunately, we still need him.”

Hange’s hands shook as she looked over Levi’s face. It was covered in bruises and cuts. Hange guessed it looked much worse before, as she could see that regeneration process had already started, even though it was slower than usual. That was probably caused by a sedative Zeke had injected him with.

“We won’t need him for much longer,” Zeke continued, breaking Hange out of her thoughts. She snapped her head up to look at Zeke, her heart racing wildly.

“Just what do you mean by that?” she asked slowly, willing her voice not to shake.

“Prepare him for an operation. As soon as we’ll find another candidate, you’ll transplant all of his organs.”

“What!” Hange exclaimed, completely shocked by Zeke’s plan. “It will never work! We still don’t know which part of his body makes him so susceptible to the formula, and if we transplant all of the organs, they’ll get rejected by the recipient’s organism!”

“It won’t work?” Zeke leaned in, staring dangerously at Hange. “You have to make it work, Doctor Zoe. Or I’ll find myself a better scientist. Do you understand what I’m implying?”

Hange nodded, swallowing heavily.

“Great!” Zeke straightened and clasped his hands. “Then start working immediately!”

Before he walked away, Zeke turned back to Hange.

“Here,” he extended a gun towards Hange. “I cannot provide you with security, so use this to defend yourself. In case, he wakes up and tries to attack you. Although, I’m sure it won’t happen. He seems to be weirdly fond of you.” Zeke looked at Hange knowingly. He gave her one last smile before leaving the room.

Hange exhaled shakily when Zeke closed the door after himself. This was much more nerve-wrecking than she expected.

Looking back at Levi, Hange felt her heart skip a beat. It was her fault he was like this. It was her plan, and it didn’t work, and Levi had to suffer for it.

Hange shook her head, getting rid of such thoughts. Now was not the time to become depressed. She needed to concentrate on finding a way to save Levi.

She wouldn’t let him get hurt this time and she was ready to do anything to save him.

***

Hange was carefully tending to Levi’s wounds. Superhuman or not, but due to a sedative, his wounds were healing slowly, and Hange didn’t want to risk an infection.

Besides, it gave her hands something to do, and it helped her bring her thoughts into order.

Just as Hange was wiping blood from a nasty cut on Levi’s left cheek, his eyes fluttered open.

“Hange?” he whispered, as he focused his gaze on her.

Hange nodded, avoiding Levi’s eyes.

“So I fucked up, huh?” he asked hoarsely.

Hange bowed her head, clutching Levi’s shirt tightly in her hands. “I’m so sorry, Levi. If it weren’t for my stupid plan, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Levi roughly grabbed her hand. “Look at me, Hange.” His voice was deep and commanding. Hange slowly raised her eyes. Levi was glaring furiously at her, his mouth set in a hard line. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for this shit! It was my own fucking fault, so shut your stupid mouth.”

Hange freed her hand out of Levi’s grasp and took a few steps away from him. “Zeke wants to kill you.” She said quietly, her voice shaking. “He wants to find another candidate, and then transplant all of your organs to him. He hopes that this way, the new test subject will be able to receive my compound.”

“Oh,” Levi’s voice was strangely quiet. “Will that work?”

“No!” Hange shouted. “I won’t let that happen.” She promised him fiercely, her eyes burning with intense fire. “You’re getting out of here. Right fucking now.”

And then she took Levi by the hand, dragging him out of the room.

“Oi, Hange,” Levi tried to free himself, but Hange held him tightly. “Stop, goddamn it! We don’t even have a plan, what the fuck are you doing?!”

“Do you trust me?” Hange asked, not stopping and turning around to stare at Levi.

“With my life.” Levi answered.

“G-good,” Hange stammered, looking away. Levi’s earnest and passionate gaze confused her. “Then follow me. And quietly, please. You managed to get rid of most Zeke’s security, but there still may be some guards around. I’ll lead you to the back door. There shouldn’t be any soldiers there, and you will be able to escape unnoticed. Run until the end of the alley, my friend Erwin will be waiting there for you. I called him, while you were unconscious, and he agreed to help you with finding a hiding place. With Erwin’s help, I don’t think Zeke would be able to find you.”

Hange stopped in front of a corridor, leading to the back door of the laboratory.

Levi stared at her, his eyes wide.

One more step, and he will have his freedom. But Levi wasn’t keen on getting there, he didn’t want to say goodbye to Hange just yet.

“Go with me,” he blurted out suddenly. He didn’t mean to, but looking up at Hange, Levi knew that he really wanted that, he really wanted to run away with her. “I know you hate working here, so let’s escape together.”

Hange shook her head sadly. “I can’t leave just yet. Moblit is still here, and I can’t leave him all alone.” She smiled gently, but unhappily. “Maybe, we will meet again. I’m hoping we do.”

“Thank you,” he said, and for the first time in his life, Levi regretted his complete inability to express his feelings. He wanted to say so much more, Hange deserved to hear so much more, but he just couldn’t find the right words. So Levi hoped she would understand him.

The soft look in her eyes told Levi that Hange managed to read him as easily this time, as she always did.

“I need you to do one more thing,” Hange said before Levi turned to walk away. Slowly she reached behind her back and took out the gun. She extended it to Levi.

“Hange, I don’t—”

“Zeke will know if I just let you walk away,” she explained, cutting Levi off. “We need to make it more believable. Make it look like I’ve tried to stop you.”

“No.” Levi said resolutely, knowing exactly where this was going. “No, Hange, no fucking way. I’m not going to do it.”

“Levi.” Hange pressed, her voice serious. “I would have done it myself, but Zeke is smart and will know if I shoot myself. So,” she took Levi’s palm and closed it around the handle of a gun. “You have to do it.”

“Hange,” Levi whispered in desperation. “I’ve killed dozens of men and women, but I can’t. I can’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’ll be fine,” Hange promised with a soft smile. “If you don’t do this, Zeke will do something way worse to me.”

That seemed to convince Levi, as he focused on the gun in his hands. He raised it slowly. “Will that assistant of yours take care of you?”

“Of course,” a smile didn’t disappear from Hange’s lips. “Just do it, Levi. I trust you.”

“You really shouldn’t.” he muttered, shaking his head.

Without breaking an eye contact with her, Levi pressed the gun into Hange’s abdomen. His finger trembled on the trigger.

Levi took a deep breath and fired.

He dropped the gun immediately, as his hands clutched Hange’s stomach. He took off her lab coat and pressed it to the wound.

“You need to apply pressure to it.” He spoke urgently, feverishly. Levi carefully sat her down, so her back was leaning against the wall.

Hange’s face was contorted in pain, and she breathed heavily through her nose. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” she said. Her voice was shaking.

She put her bloodied hand onto Levi’s shoulder and weakly pushed him away. “You need to go, Levi. Don’t worry, I’ll be alright.”

Levi’s face paled as he watched her struggles. He wanted to help, to soothe her pain, but he knew it was his time to go. Hange risked her life for his chance of an escape. He couldn’t let her down.

But before he walked away, Levi leaned in and placed his hands on both of Hange’s cheeks.

“I’ll come back for you, I promise.” He looked deeply into her eyes. He quickly pressed a kiss on her forehead.

It took all of his willpower to withdraw himself from Hange. He gave her one last look, and then disappeared behind the door.

Hange didn’t move from her place on the floor, her head spinning from all the pain. She clutched her wound tightly, counting the seconds in her head. She needed to wait for at least two minutes, to give Levi some time.

When two minutes passed, Hange took a deep breath, gathering all of her energy.

“Help!” she screamed at last.

And then, she passed out.

***

Hange woke up in a hospital. She turned her head to the side and sighed in relief upon noticing Moblit sitting by her bed, a book in his hand.

“That was the most stupid thing you’ve ever done,” he said without putting his book down. Then he closed it with a bang and lowered it down, revealing to Hange his fierce glare.

“I didn’t manage to fool you?” Hange asked, honestly surprised. She thought her plan was so smart…

“I spend too much time around you. I know just how stupid you can be.” Moblit sighed, and then his eyes became a little softer. “Don’t worry, though. Zeke didn’t seem to suspect anything.”

“Thank god,” Hange breathed out.

“Why did you do this, Hange?” Moblit asked as he got up to pour Hange a glass of water. His back was facing her, when he asked his next question. “Are you in love with him, with that Levi Ackerman?”

Hange chuckled softly. “Nothing gets past you, eh, Moblit?”

“Why are you still here?” Moblit passed her a glass of water and studied her face intently. “Why didn’t you run away with him?”

“Oi,” Hange smacked his arm, feigning offence. “I can’t just leave you here. Besides,” Hange gazed in the window, her gaze becoming distant and wistful. “I have to destroy everything in that lab. I can’t let Zeke recreate my compound, I have to make sure that he would never hurt other people again.”

Moblit shook his head, staring at Hange softly. “You’re too righteous for your own good. But that’s why I admire you so much. Whatever you need, I’ll be there for you, Hange.”

Hange smiled at him, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it tightly. “Thank you, Moblit. You are the best assistant in the world.”

***

Through the next month, Hange tried to bury herself in her work. She tried to be as obedient as possible, following through Zeke’s every order and restricting herself from questioning his decisions. She tried to be as unsuspicious as possible. Zeke was a very smart man, and Hange knew that even the smallest mistake could lead to her downfall.

Zeke brought her new test subjects, and Hange focused her whole attention on them, making changes to her formula to make it work.

There wasn’t much success in her attempts, but Hange didn’t give up. She couldn’t allow herself to, because every time she wasn’t thinking about her work, every time she let her mind wonder, her thoughts were always about him.

It’s been a month since she last saw Levi, and since then she heard nothing about him. She was sure that Levi was safe with Erwin, she was sure that her friend was taking good care about him but… Hange wanted to hear his voice so much, wanted to talk him at least once. However, she didn’t dare to call Erwin and ask about Levi. Zeke might have wired her phone, and Hange didn’t want to put Levi’s safety on the line just to calm her nerves.

So she worked and worked, and then worked some more. She tried to completely exhaust herself, so every time she went to bed, she would immediately fall asleep, her mind blissfully empty from any kind of intrusive thoughts.

And it seemed to work, even though Moblit was looking at her strangely and hovering above her even more than usual. But Hange repeated to him again and again: she was fine.

Looking at herself in the mirror - skin pale, eyes bleak with dark circles underneath and cheeks thin – she repeated the same mantra. She was fine.

And with each passing day it became harder and harder to believe her own lie.

***

Hange looked up from her notes, suddenly feeling strange. Something… something was wrong. Hange felt as though something, someone, important was missing.

She looked around the lab, the realization dawning on her.

Moblit!

For the past month her assistant didn’t leave her for a second, always following after Hange and making sure she was eating and drinking regularly. But Hange hadn’t seen him at all today.

She felt her stomach twist itself into knots.

Something was wrong.

Hange closed her journal and got to her feet. She pushed the door to the lab open and headed towards Zeke’s office.

Surely, he must know where Moblit was.

Maybe, he became ill or overslept. Surely, nothing bad could happen to him. Hange was just panicking over nothing. Perhaps, her sleep deprivation and crazy work schedule were to blame.

Hange walked up to Zeke’s office, opening the door and walking inside.

And she froze immediately, her eyes going wide in shock.

Two of Zeke’s men were holding the kneeling Moblit tightly in their arms, while Zeke was grabbing him by the hair, making him stare directly at him.

As he heard Hange walk in, Zeke looked up.

His lips immediately curled into a sweet smile.

“Doctor Zoe,” he drew out, releasing Moblit. “What a great timing you have! We were just talking about you.”

“What is going on here?” Hange asked, not taking her eyes away from Moblit’s back. She couldn’t see his face just yet, but she knew she wouldn’t like the look of it.

“I just told you. Mister Berner and I were having a very lovely conversation. You should join in.”

“Let Moblit go.” Hange demanded.

“Oh?” Zeke raised his eyebrow. “And what else should I do?” He swiftly walked up to Hange, gripping her elbow roughly. “You’re forgetting yourself, Doctor Zoe.” He hissed into her face. “One word from me, and your genius brain will be all over my wall. But we wouldn’t want that to happen, right?” Zeke straightened, fixing his tie. His face was back to normal, all signs of anger disappearing.

“Go on and kill me,” Hange told him in a low, dangerous voice. “And what will you do next? Do you think you will be able to find another scientist so quickly? Someone smart enough to work with my formula, but stupid enough to agree to work for you? Good luck.”

“Ah, I have to admit you’re correct, Doctor Zoe. You are an exceptional woman. So smart, so bright. And all of it has gone to waste. Because of some dirty street rat!”

Hange’s eyes widened just a fraction. But it was enough to confirm every last one of Zeke’s suspicions.

“I knew something was up.” Zeke sighed, turning away from Hange. “I knew something was up from the very moment I saw the expression on your face, when you first met that beast, that monster, that Levi Ackerman. But your work had been as good as ever, and you even succeeded with your formula! I tried to ignore all the signs: how you spoke too gently with him, and how both of you stared for too long at each other, and how he lashed out at everyone around him, except for you. And then he escaped. Right from under your nose. But you got shot. Excellent idea, by the way. It really convinced me that you are innocent, that you just lost your focus for a moment, and that bastard took advantage of it. But that was a lie, right? A plan, carefully constructed by you, and perfectly executed by Levi Ackerman.”

Zeke shook his head, looking at Hange with disappointment. “Do you know what gave you away?”

Hange didn’t reply to him, staring back at him defiantly.

“A few days ago, my people managed to find him. He disappeared as quickly as he appeared. He wasn’t alone, though. A man was with him, one Erwin Smith.” Zeke smiled at Hange. “Surely, a name rings a bell to you, right?”

“Never heard of him.” Hange said through gritted teeth.

Zeke tsked. “Just what kind of a person forgets her university friends, huh, Doctor Zoe?”

Hange cursed under her breath. “So you know everything. Then why didn’t you just kill me? Why all of this show? Why do you need Moblit? He is innocent in all of this!”

“Maybe, he is.” Zeke gestured to his men, and they led Moblit to him.

Hange was horrified at the sight of her friend’s bruised and bloodied face. Her loyal and dear assistant. All of his sufferings were on her.

“But you were right, Doctor,” Zeke grinned, as his eyes remained cruel and calculating, watching Hange’s every reaction. “Unfortunately, I do need you. I can’t kill you. But I don’t need him. Maybe, his death will teach you a lesson.”

“No!” Hange cried out desperately. “Please, don’t do this. He has done nothing wrong! I’ll do anything you want, just don’t hurt him!”

“Anything I want?” Zeke’s grin turned feral, as he looked up at the ceiling, considering his answer. “Alright, I won’t kill him. I’ll even let him go. On one condition,” Zeke’s pleased expression made a chill ran through Hange’s spine. “He will bring Levi Ackerman to me. I’m sure that if Mister Berner tells him that you’re in trouble, he’ll come running here, hurrying to your rescue.”

Hange looked up at him. She was having a hard time believing that this man could be so cruel. And so smart. He had played her like a damn fool, managing to twist everything to his favor.

“Gentlemen,” Zeke turned to his guards. “Escort Doctor Zoe to her room. And make sure to lock it. She’ll be waiting for her knight in shining armor there. And Mister Berner,” Zeke flashed him a brilliant smile. “I hope you won’t disappoint me. And if you do, know that your dear superior will die in horrible pain. Understood?”

Moblit nodded, swallowing heavily.

With one last look at her friend’s anguished face, Hange was led out of the room.

***

Hange stared at the cracks on the white ceiling in her bedroom. She scoffed at the thought. Her bedroom. It was nothing more than her cage, and she was nothing more than a prisoner.

She was a prisoner, and a fool, a goddamn idiot. To be caught so easily…

If she wasn’t so naïve, if she was content with her work at that shitty restaurant, if she didn’t strive to be something more… None of it would have happened.

She would have been living a boring, but safe life. Moblit and Levi wouldn’t have suffered for her mistakes.

And now she even got Erwin involved in her mess.

She was such an idiot!

Hange grabbed the pillow underneath her head and punched it in frustration. She raised it high above her and then smashed it into the wall on the opposite side of the room.

It hit the wall with a loud ‘pouf’ and then landed softly on the floor.

In the next moment, a door to her room opened.

Hange tensed, raising her head in alarm. Was she behaving too loudly?

However, her heart stopped beating inside her chest as she took a better look at the person on the threshold. Her heart stopped for a moment and then started beating with twice its usual speed.

Levi was standing right in front of her.

It couldn’t be.

Had she not noticed how she fell asleep? Was it just a dream?

“The fuck you’re still sitting there, four-eyes?” It was his voice, deep and husky, just as Hange remembered it. Just as she heard it so many times in her dreams.

“Levi?” Hange asked, still not quite believing it was actually him.

“Who else could it be?” Levi huffed in annoyance. He walked inside the room and took Hange by the hand. His touch was soft and gentle. “Come on, get up and let’s go. We don’t have much time.”

And while Hange agreed completely with him - if Levi actually came to rescue her, then they needed to run, and fast. But… Hange just couldn’t stop herself.

She launched herself onto Levi, holding him tightly in her arms.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered, laying her cheek on top of Levi’s hair.

“Hange, we don’t have time for this,” Levi replied in an unusually soft voice. Despite his words, however, he laid his hands onto her back, pressing himself even closer to her.

“Alright, let’s go,” Hange said after a few seconds. She let go of Levi, returning her posture and grinning at him.

Before she could turn around and start walking, though, Levi grabbed her wrist.

“Wait,” he said, taking her face in his hands and inspecting it carefully. “Did he hurt you?”

Hange shook her head, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of Levi’s worried gaze.

“I’m fine,” she reassured Levi.

He nodded and let go of her. In the next moment, he took her hand into his, intertwining their fingers.

“Let’s go then

***

As they ran together through the dark corridors, Hange couldn’t get one particular thought out of her head.

“Is Moblit fine?” she asked Levi finally.

“He is. Erwin will look after him, don’t worry.”

Hange breathed out in relief. “Thank the goodness,” she whispered. “It’s my fault he got hurt.”

Levi tugged harshly on her hand. “Stop this shit, Hange. None of it is your fault. That son of a bitch Zeke is to blame.”

Hange said nothing, just stared at Levi with grateful and gentle smile. She squeezed his hand tighter.

***

Soon they reached the stairwell, and Hange stopped.

“You should go now,” Hange said, nodding to the stairwell. “I need to finish something first.”

She tried to free her hand out of Levi’s grasp, but he held on tight.

“Jesus Christ,” Levi hissed angrily. “Just how much of a shithead you are, Hange? I came here to save your sorry ass, and I’m not going to let you go. I’ve done it one time and I’m not repeating this mistake ever again,” Levi’s eyes bored into hers with fierce intensity. Hange couldn’t look away. “If you need something done, then I’m going with you. And then we get out. Together.”

“But it could be dangerous…” Hange protested weakly.

“That’s why I’m going with you.”

Levi didn’t let her say anything else, and pushed Hange forward, following after her to the laboratory.

As they descended down the long stairwell, another thought popped into Hange’s mind.

They ran through the whole complex, passed through a dozens of rooms. And they saw not a single guard.

It couldn’t be possible. Zeke should have known that Levi wasn’t going to surrender so easily. He should have known that Levi would try and save her.

Zeke should have known.

“Levi, wait!” Hange tried to stop him, but it was too late. They already reached the doors to the laboratory.

And Levi had already opened them.

***

Hange looked inside the lab.

And just as she predicted, Zeke was already there, already waiting for them. Heavily armed guards stood behind him.

“You are so smart and yet so predictable, Doctor Zoe,” Zeke said as soon as Hange and Levi walked inside the lab. “I knew you would come here. Couldn’t leave your invention behind?”

“I came to destroy it.” Hange replied, holding her head high and staring at Zeke defiantly.

“A shame, really,” Zeke took off his glasses and started cleaning them with a handkerchief. “You could have changed the world,” he told Hange, smiling sadly at her. “But you chose to save one man instead.”

“Let us go, Zeke,” Levi stepped forward, partially covering Hange’s body with his. “You know you can’t fight me. And neither can your stupid lackeys. Let us go, and no one will get hurt.”

Zeke throw his head back and laughed.

“You think you can beat me?” Zeke put the glasses back on his face. He stared at Levi, his eyes cold and dangerous. “You may be stronger than me, Levi Ackerman, you may be quicker than me. But you are definitely not smarter than me.”

In the next moment, Levi started moving.

He ran so swiftly, Hange’s eyes couldn’t quite follow him.

He approached the closest soldier to him, and punched him. The man lost his balance, and Levi used this to disarm him. He grabbed the gun, shot the man and then aimed the gun at the next one. Before the other guard could react, Levi already shot him right in the face.

The rest of the guards came to stand in front of Zeke, hiding him behind their backs. Their guns were all trained on Levi.

They started shooting, and Levi moved, dodging all of their bullets. While they were busy recharging, Levi already killed three other soldiers.

Levi raised his gun to his next victim. However, before he was able to fire, a man in the middle dropped his gun and lifted his hands.

“Please stop,” he whispered shakily. “We surrender.”

“Good,” Levi nodded. “Then get the fuck out of here.”

He didn’t need to be told twice.

The other four men lowered their weapons as well and then followed after their friend, leaving Zeke all alone.

But he was far from surrendering.

Zeke held his own gun. But it wasn’t aimed at Levi.

It was aimed at Hange.

“Lower your weapon, please,” he told Levi, smirking victoriously. “Or I blow her brains out.”

Levi cursed, but slowly put his gun on the ground.

“What do you want from us?” Hange asked loudly, fearlessly taking a step towards Zeke. “You know we wouldn’t work for you anymore, then what’s the point? Just kill both of us and be done with it.”

“My dear Doctor Zoe,” Zeke shook his head. “You disobeyed me. You destroyed everything I’ve worked for. And you want me to just kill you? That’s too easy. I want you to suffer. I want you beg me to kill you.”

“I will never beg.” Hange’s voice was strong and confident. She made another step forward, her forehead almost touching the barrel of Zeke’s gun.

Levi wanted to shout, wanted to shake Hange and ask what the fuck was she doing. But then Hange glanced at him, for less than a second, but it was enough for Levi to understand.

Hange stood so close to Zeke, and now all of his attention was on her.

She was giving him a chance to attack. Levi didn’t waste another second.

He charged at Zeke, grabbing him by the waist and knocking him to the ground. Hange came to stand above Zeke. She stepped on his hand, which was still holding the gun.

“Surrender, Zeke,” Hange looked down on him. “Surrender, swear not to look for us anymore, and we’ll let you live.”

Zeke said nothing, his eyes darting from Hange above him to Levi, who was keeping him in place with a knee on his chest. He couldn’t escape.

“Fine,” he said finally. “I surrender.”

“Smart choice,” Hange grinned at him.

She kneeled next to Zeke. She grabbed him by his tie and then punched him in the face, still smiling happily.

Hange’s fist managed to broke Zeke’s nose, as his face immediately became covered in blood.

“That’s for Moblit.” Hange told him in a sweet voice.

Then she got to her feet and, extending her hand towards Levi, helped him get up as well.

“Let’s hope it was our last time seeing each other, Zeke!” Hange waved her hand, as she started walking, Levi following after her.

“If I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.” Levi promised him darkly.

Hange giggled, as she saw the expression of pure terror on Zeke’s face.

Hand in hand, they walked out of Zeke’s laboratory, leaving all of its horrors behind.

***

His fingers gently stroked the small scar on the otherwise smooth and warm skin.

“It didn’t hurt that much,” Hange whispered, noticing the troubled and painful expression on Levi’s face.

“But it did hurt.” Levi refused to raise his eyes to look at Hange, his gaze still focused on the mark on her abdomen.

“Levi,” Hange called him softly. She lifted his chin and gently kissed his lips. “That was my idea, and it was me who convinced you to do it. Besides, it had worked for a while.” Hange sighed. “It would have worked for a lot longer, if Zeke wasn’t a noisy asshole, who probably scrolled through my Instagram account until he found my picture with Erwin.”

A slight smirk graced Levi’s lips. “At least, he left us alone.”

“Mm, yeah,” Hange lazily kissed his chin. “That’s because you saved me. My knight in shining armor.” She added with a grin.

Levi flicked her nose. “You’re so stupid, Hange.” His voice was annoyed, but his eyes looked at Hange with softness he rarely shown to anyone else, but her.

“Besides,” he added, his hands coming to embrace her. “You saved me first.”

Hange smiled softly, and then gently kissed Levi’s forehead.

“Let’s go to sleep,” she mumbled quietly, laying her head on Levi’s chest.

Levi nodded, covering both of their bodies with a blanket.

Now that Hange was safe in his arms, he could finally sleep peacefully.

#levihan #levihan fanfiction #levi x hange #levi and hange #levi ackerman #hange zoe #snk #snk fanfiction #rivahan #snk fandom #aot #aot fanfiction #my fics

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ezpezlemonsquez · 3 years

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Okay, so I've heard about that theory in which princess Yue was to be the Avatar but since Aang hadn't died but just had frozen himself, the cycle was somehow broken and that's why Yue was born so weak and had to be saved by the Moon Spirit. This actually gave me a fanfiction idea, so

in this concept Yue is Sokka and Suki's child, as Lu Ten is Mai and Zuko's. They spend a bit of their vacation at their houses in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. Everything is peaceful. Everything is fine.

***

Lu Ten was screaming. He didn't have any control over his body, needless to say, his mind. He just wanted it to be over. Suddenly, he felt a gentle tug on his shoulder and he shuddered. Then he felt the second tug, a little bit more intense than the previous one.

"Lu" said someone with a really soft voice. "Lu, wake up."

So Lu Ten screamed for the last time and this time he immediately woke up and sat up on his bed. He was panting heavily, the sweat dripping off his body. At first he couldn't see anything. Only after a few breaths was his vision slowly getting better.

"Everything's alright, Lu." The same voice rang out again, finally letting Lu Ten fully get back to reality. It was kind of like his anchor and though he had sometimes heard it in his dreams, it had never been so clear before. Lu Ten blinked and he realised why this time it was different.

"Yue" he whispered and lied down again, utterly exhausted, as he saw his beautiful friend right in front of him. Her dark brown hair tickled his face when she leaned towards him to make sure he's awake. For real now. Lu Ten took one last deep breath and got up from the bed. He walked to the table and drank some water he'd prepared himself in a cup. The rest of it he spilled on his head. Yue came up to him and gently touched his shoulder.

"Everything alright?" she asked caringly. He nodded.

"Yeah" he answered, not being completely sure if he reassured her, or himself. "Yeah, everything's fine, it was just, uhm..."

Yue raised her eyebrow.

"A nightmare?"

"No, no, I don't have nightmares, no." He forced a laugh.

"Right" snorted Yue. "You know, you may be one really powerful firebender but that doesn't make you any truthbender."

"You say so?"

"I literally heard you screaming, Lu Ten. I woke you up."

The boy shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe you needed something?" he suggested and he suddenly realised something. "Wait a second, why were you even here?"

Yue seemed a bit confused for a moment.

"Uhm, I heard your scream" she answered finally, trying to be convincing. "I walked in to make sure you're not in any trouble. As always."

"Very funny, Yu. You were saying something about being a truthbender...?" he said, as if he was wondering.

"Excuse me, I'm the daughter of Sokka and Suki, I was basically born with the power of truthbending. Gotta have a talent, you know?" she said jokingly, throwing her hair behind her back.

"Yeah, of course. Come on, Yue, what were you doing outside this late?" He nudged her teasingly. "Perhaps a date or something? You know, holiday fling?" He insinuated, while feeling a bit of jealousy that she actually might have confirmed.

"I wish." She winced. "I... I was, uhm, kind of having nightmares myself" she admitted finally. "I woke up and I decided to take a walk. Moon soothes me."

Lu Ten's face changed immediately.

"Yue, I'm sorry." He shook his head. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine, really. Now come, you want to take a walk with me?" She held out the hand to him. He smiled.

"Sure. Let me just put on some shirt."

She nodded. After a while, they were walking by calm, peaceful streets of the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. Neither of them was saying anything, they just walked silently, hand in hand, being happy of each other's presence. They stopped at the fountain. It was a clear, warm night, so they took off their shoes and sat down, letting their feet dip into water. They were sitting silently until Lu Ten spoke up.

"It's a beautiful moon."

Yue smiled.

"Yeah, it really is. You know, my dad used to tell me the history of a girl from the Northern Water Tribe. She was a princess, actually. She was beautiful, and kind, and very brave, because when the time came, she was ready to sacrifice her life to become the Moon Spirit. I was named Yue after her."

"Did your parents know her?"

"My dad, yeah. They seemed to have been pretty close, you should've heard how he talked about her."

"Yeah, listen, from what I've been told, you should've seen my granduncle's face when my parents told him I was gonna be named after his son. Apparently, he cried so much. My father told not once that it was the least he could do for him for... well, everything."

"General Iroh was more like a father to your dad than Ozai, wasn't he?"

"He was." Lu Ten nodded. "He still is."

Yue looked up at the moon, thinking.

"You want to tell me about this nightmare that's bothering you?" asked Lu Ten softly. Yue sighed.

"This dream it... It comes back to me every full moon. But please, don't laugh, okay?" She looked at him pleadingly, with a weak smile.

"I won't, I promise."

"Okay, so, in this dream... I am about to become the Avatar. I can feel it's a great power, so I'm preparing myself to take it in. I'm waiting and waiting and it exhausts me but I reassure myself that once I take in the Avatar's powers, all my strengths will come back to me three times as great. And suddenly, something happens. Light blinds me, but no new strengths came. Instead, I'm just getting weaker and weaker. I don't know what's happening, but I can barely breathe. It's like, the circle has been broken and I don't know what to do. I try to scream but I can't even open my mouth. It's... it's horrifying." Tears appeared in Yue's eyes. She lowered her voice to whisper and she just looked at her hands. "I'm dying" she said barely audibly. Lu Ten didn't say anything. He took her hand and gently stroked it. He wanted to remind her she didn't have to be scared, because he was there. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to her.

"Anyway" she said after a while, when she managed to collect herself. "That's when I wake up." She looked at him with a sour smile. "Every time. No sooner, no later. I don't know what it means, so."

"Have you told about it anyone?" he asked, moving closer to her. She laughed quietly.

"No, absolutely not. And I forbid you to."

"Okay, no worries, just... I want to help you."

"I know, but please, don't tell anyone. I'll manage. So, you wanna share your dream now?" she asked immediately, trying to escape from the uncomfortable subject. Lu Ten let go of Yue's hand and smiled sourly.

"My dream is strictly connected with this city" he started. "I'm in Ba Sing Se but this isn't, you know, our Ba Sing Se. I'm in the Fire Nation's Army uniform. I have my own unit under command. It isn't big but I feel like it's great anyway. I know I trust these people. And suddenly, we begin to fight. At first, we win. We're going further and further into the town and I feel I'm on a tear, so I don't stop. Somebody's shouting my name but I ignore it. I run and I fight. I shout I don't need any more people, I'm calling off the reinforcements. Everything's great. But then I'm trapped. Earthbenders, more than I can possibly take, surround me. It's just me, my whole unit has suddenly disappeared. I try to fight them but I can't hold off them all. Nevertheless, I don't call for help. I just... try to take down these people. They're an obstacle. Someone shoots me, so I scream. I feel warmth of my blood. My vision blurs. I give more shots, and I get the same amount at me. Finally, I collapse. In my head there's just granduncle's song. It bores into my mind, I can't think of anything else, I can't hear anything but this song. It's more powerful than any thought, any sound I try to focus on. It hurts more than my wounds. So I scream. And I scream again and again, until I can't scream anymore." He looked at Yue seriously. "I'm dying, too" he whispered. Yue didn't say anything. She just moved closer and hugged him. He hugged her even tighter. The tears started to fall down their cheeks. They were both crying, because that felt like the only right thing to do.

"Don't tell anyone" whispered Lu Ten after a while.

"I won't" promised Yue.

They sat there, hugging each other, for a long time. They barely moved. Then Lu Ten cleared his throat and slightly moved away.

"We should go back home."

Yue nodded, sniffling.

"Yeah. Yeah, we should."

"I bet granduncle Iroh could make us some soothing tea, if you'd like."

"I would love to, but tomorrow, okay? We'll go to The Jasmine Dragon."

"Okay. Come on, I'll walk you." He held out his hand. Yue took it without hesitation.

"Thanks" she said quietly, smiling weakly. They didn't talk on their way back home. They really didn't feel like it. When they arrived at Yue's home, she hesitated.

"What is it?" asked Lu Ten.

"Actually... uhm..." She looked at him awkwardly, then she shook her head. "You know what, never mind."

"No, tell me, what's wrong?"

"I was gonna ask you, since I won't be getting much sleep tonight, if you wanted to keep me company" she admitted, smiling. "But then I figured you'd probably want to catch even a few hours of sleep."

"Actually, no, not at all. And I'd rather sit silently with you than alone, so." He smiled. "I would love to keep you company."

She looked at him gratefully and open the door. They sat on the carpet, near each other, trying not to fall asleep. But after a while they didn't even realise they did. They were sitting, leaning back against the wall, Yue's head resting on Lu Ten's shoulder and his head resting on hers. And when they were together, no more nightmares bothered either of them that night.

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morelikesin · 3 years

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You Know You're Cute, Right?

ANOTHER APEX FIC BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTROL MYSELF SKNDLWKDM,, this time I wrote differently than how I normally do - it consists of quick snippets of a day-in-the-life type thing, featuring Mirage-Octane-Bloodhound-Caustic as a polycule 💕 Huge inspo from this song (as well as included in the fic)✨

youtube

Take this as a late Christmas-early New Years gift ✨ Super fluffy and casual type work, with a heavy dash of romanticism because I'll be damned if I'm not a romantic. Fic under the cut 💕💕

"You call your cat sweetheart? 'Zander-"

"Not a word."

Elliott suppressed a snort. That cheeky little smile he had when he found an opening for playful jabs was always so irritating - the kind of irritating that made the scientist want to kiss it right off of him.

"I think it's cute," Octavio hummed, leaning back into the sofa with his arms crossed behind his head. "That means you're cute. Que lindo."

The way Alexander scoffed an "Octavio" would've been more intimidating had it not been for the big, sleepy cat he cradled in his arms. She stretched her big fluffy paws, made a squeak as she yawned, and buried her head into the man's chest.

Blóð smiled.

"Vhatever helps you sleep at night, elskan."

It was incredibly late. The last time they had checked the clock wasn't that long ago, and apparently it was supposed to be sometime around 4 in the morning. It didn't feel that way at all.

They knew it'd kick their ass in the morning - getting so little sleep.

Well, Octavio might be fine. But Elliott had made it a habit to wake up at 8, Blóð still hadn't made much progress on getting more sleep to begin with, Alexander had his internal clock waking him at 7, and they all had somewhere to be at 9. This entire night was probably a huge mistake. They normally try to get to sleep by 2, but admittedly, they may or may not have a bad practice of keeping each other awake for company's sake.

And now that an entirely new subject was brought up after Alexander had rather adoringly picked up Bear, his senior cat, and called her "sweetheart," the prospect of playfully pestering him about his soft spot was all too enticing to go to sleep just yet.

"You've never even called us sweetheart," Octavio began. "You save it for her?"

There was a brief pause. Alexander had kept petting her back paw with his thumb, as his eyes remained averted until he sighed. "It...is something I've grown accustomed to for her, yes."

Elliott made a pleased hum. "Well isn't that just adorable," he teased before leaning over and petting Bear across her back - fur unbelievably soft.

It started as a joke a while ago - the way they noticed how Bear could make anyone sleepy just by looking at her - her cozy looking fur, her sweet little face, her ability to get comfortable and sleep virtually anywhere - but over time the joke had increased its humour when the idea became seemingly true. Alexander occasionally would mention how he'd sometimes stop working at his desk late at night because Bear was sleeping in his lap, and turn in a few hours early compared to his usual 2 in the morning bed time. This was deemed an exaggeration until the three others experienced it for themselves.

This happened to be one of those magical sleepy-Bear moments, as made evident by how Blóð made a quiet yawn shortly after leaning over to give Bear a loving scritch under her chin.

Octavio staved off a matching yawn. He rubbed at his eyes, began to stand, and nodded to Alexander's bed. "We should probably try and get some sleep."

The sun coming in through the blinds was a rude awakening. Elliott instinctually raised an arm to cover his eyes - making a soft groan in annoyance at the bright rays somehow coming through at a perfect angle to hit him in the face. Turning, he lowered his arm and began to sit up slowly as to not wake up the sleeping Octavio who had his arm wrapped around his waist.

Elliott sighed, and leaned down to give him a kiss on the temple. He lingered for a moment before sitting up again and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He noticed a weight on his legs, and looked to see a peacefully sleeping Bear curled up in a ball. As he went to pet her head, his eyes glanced up to see Blóð sitting in Alexander's desk chair - hands busy sewing a thick-fur item. From the time spent with the hunter, Elliott had picked up on the types of hides they'd hunt and use - this one appearing to be rabbit fur. What they were making, though, wasn't clear yet.

Elliott's voice came deeper, and a bit more throaty in post-sleep fashion, "Morning."

Blóð briefly looked up, gave a gentle smile, and proceeded to look back down to continue their work. "Góðan morgin. How did you sl'leep?"

"Pretty good, considering." He took in a deep breath, and stretched his arms out in front of him. He rested his hands in his lap as he went to speak again, "When did you wake up?"

"Before Alexander, but not by long."

Elliott frowned slightly. Blóð took notice when they looked back up to gauge his reaction. They made an effort to ease his concerns.

"I'm sure Octavio will get me to take a nap vith him later today," they assured, "don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Elliott made a small hum indicating reluctant agreement. "...Alright. Just promise me to keep doin' what you're doin' - trying t'get more sleep, I mean."

"I promise, ástin."

If Elliott was a sucker for anything, it'd be terms of endearment - especially when they're used so casually. Having all four of them be big on using said terms made for an eternally happy Witt.

"Beloved, right?"

Blóð hummed, "Yes. Closest tr'ranslation I can equate to it." They briefly stopped their handiwork in the wake of a smile they couldn't seem to get rid of. "I'm touched you remembered."

Elliott smirked and made a quiet laugh, turning his head to find the time on the side table clock - 8:21 AM - before looking back over. "I try my best. Making it a goal to learn as much as I can from you and Octavio."

"We find it very sweet," Blóð assured, letting it be known that Octavio and they had seemingly discussed the language efforts before. "Alexander said as much, that you and he were doing so."

"Think I can speak for him when I say that we love learning it. Speaking of him...?"

"He's downstairs."

Elliott made a quiet "Ah." As much as it pained him to do so, he gently lifted Bear and set her on a free spot of the blanket so he could get up - her being left generally unfazed, besides her slightly annoyed tail wag in being moved from her spot.

With Octavio being so small, Elliott could easily leave the bed without disturbing him too much, albeit moving his arm so it wasn't draped across his body anymore. He stretched, walked over to Blóð, and gestured for a kiss. They hummed, seemingly still in their work, but Elliott knew they were keen - the hunter picking up the hint and looking up so their lips could gently meet.

"Que lindo, mis amores."

The two of them made a small hum in surprise before pulling away from one another with a blush. Blóð was smiling to themself shyly, while Elliott made a small chortle and flirted with the newly-awakened Octavio, wearing his darling little smirk.

"Welcome to join us."

Octavio laughed - the sound half-purr, half-grain. "I'd love to. Watching is only so much fun."

He started to rise, stretching his arms upwards and making a groan before reaching over the bed to grab his prosthetics and put them on. Standing, shaking his legs to help himself wake up, he made a small yawn before walking around the bed and giving a kiss to each partner - looking satisfied with himself.

"Big guy downstairs?"

Blóð nodded.

Elliott and Octavio made a mutual decision to go see him - the latter turning around before they headed out the bedroom door to question Blóð. "You comin' down?"

They shook their head, hands busy sewing the fur item again. "I will soon. I von't be long in finishing this."

Octavio nodded, and proceeded to take Elliott's hand as they went downstairs.

Dr. Somers and Alexander seemed to be having a chat when the two made it to the kitchen, their hands busy with mugs of black coffee all the while. Elliott could never understand how people drank their coffee so bitter, much less Octavio.

Dr. Somers was the first to notice the two, as she was facing the stairs leaning against the counter. Giving a small wave and giving a nod to Alexander, she drank from her mug and gave them a minute to exchange expected affections - something she learned the polycule are incredibly prone to do, despite several joking complaints about PDA from the others.

Octavio quipped with a laugh between his words as Elliott and Alexander exchanged a coffee-flavored kiss, "Not even creamer, 'Zander?"

The man bore an amused hum. "Black coffee actually tastes like coffee. You may as well drink candy if you add so much sugar to it."

"You sound old."

"No avoiding that, I'm afraid." He gestured for a kiss, to which Octavio happily gave, before drinking from his mug again. "How did you sleep?"

"Great!"

Elliott gave a "Ditto" in response, though he followed it up with a fitting yawn and a "Wish I slept some more, though."

The statement was seconded by the way Alexander made a soft hum in agreement, and thirded by Octavio and his rightly timed yawn.

Dr. Somers waited a few quiet moments before stepping forward and piping into the conversation. "It'll just be a few stores we stop by, darlin's. Doubt we'll be out that long."

"That's still gonna' be so long," Octavio complained, his voice coming as a whine.

It was common knowledge that Octavio wasn't exactly big on shopping. Elliott, however, could spend all day doing it. If they had to disagree on anything, it'd be how long they were out for things - Alexander and Blóð keeping things relatively frustration-free during a shopping trip, though Blóð would always get antsy to go home if they stayed out longer than a few hours out in a city.

"It'll be fine, babe," Elliott assured the man while rubbing his back. "It's kinda'- kinda' just mainly food shopping, isn't it? You like doing that."

"Aren't we going to the pet store after, though?"

Elliott rose a brow, "'Tavio, are you complaining about that?"

Octavio snorted and began walking to the fridge - grabbing a Bang from inside and popping the can open. "No, para nada - prefer that to everything else, even food."

Mary laughed at that, shaking her head before taking a gulp of coffee and making her way to the living room. Before she left, though, she spoke with her back still facing them, "Oh, remind me t'grab a level while we're out - puttin' up a shelf an' think I lost the one I had."

"Lucky for you, I'm the best at reminding people of things," Elliott half-joked. Mary laughed again and took her leave with a "Thanks."

Being left alone in the kitchen, the three stood in comfortable silence for a few moments. Alexander prompted a question shortly thereafter;

"Is Blóð still upstairs?"

"Yeah," Octavio began, "Think they were working on something - dijo no tardará mucho. I can go see them if-"

The stairs creaked a bit as someone walked down the stairs, causing Octavio to cut himself off as he turned to see who it was. In seeing so, he sighed damn near dreamily and softened his gaze a bit - Elliott and Alexander softening all the same.

Pulling their past-the-waist long black hair behind their jewelry-adorned ear, they rounded the last stair and looked up to see their partners - smiling warmly and lowering their hands to fold their arms. The coyote jaw necklace (that Octavio had gifted them this past holiday, knowing they loved real animal items), that rest against their lower chest rose slightly with every breath, as quaint a detail it was to notice. Not a day goes by do any of them not love seeing their pretty face.

And Elliott made sure to tell them that.

"Not a day goes by do we not love seeing your pretty face."

Blóð bore a chuckle and rolled their eyes, though it didn't mask the rosy blush the comment gave them. "I should say the same for you, ástin."

They unfolded their arms and looked back to the three. They couldn't suppress the amused hum they made in seeing that the three were still checking them out - becoming more flushed and brushing their hair behind their ear again, looking away with a shy smile.

They always looked at each other with such warmth. They got playful tease about it from the others, especially Alexander given he was quite brooding to most things, but the gazes never subsided. They'd like to say they were subtle about it - but everyone else would vote against it. And it'd be true.

They were obvious about it. So sticky-sweet obvious - embraces and hand holding and gazes and kisses and all. They didn't mind.

By 10 till 9, mostly everyone was ready - save for Loba, Renee, and Elliott, who always took a while to clean up to their own high standards. Elliott called from upstairs whether he should wear his orange body mist or his cologne, and with the majority vote leaning towards cologne today - well, he must please the people.

With Renee in tow, Elliott had finally come from upstairs. He looked handsome as ever, however, wearing a black turtleneck and an orange, knee length open-front sweater. His hair looked meticulously tended to, tossed to the opposite side of his pierced right ear and framing his face well.

The cologne served him wonders, too, with Blóð and Alexander taking a clear liking to it.

Octavio walked down the stairs with a pep in his step - smoothing back his hair as best he could just so it could partly fall into his face once again. Swinging around the corner, he spotted his partners and proceeded to greet Blóð and Elliott with a firm smack on their behinds. They were startled, sure, but Elliott only looked down to give Octavio a laugh and a smack of his own, while Blóð merely scoffed in jest.

Octavio bit his lip. "Don't you all look good? Eres tan sexy," he gave a wink while unabashedly checking them out. Blóð was always so pretty, even when showing their strength in the games or when they hunted or chopped wood (Octavio could go on for days about that), Elliott was always so charming and confident (even if his suave attempts happened to fail, they were all the more charming), and the rolled-sleeve button up that was unbuttoned just enough to show collarbone and brief chest on Alexander was something Octavio (and the other two, admittedly) would store in the memory bank for personal satisfaction.

"¿Qué hubo?"

"Just talkin' about whatever." Elliott adjusted the cuffs of his orange jacket sleeves, rolling them up his forearm a bit. He took notice of Octavio's outfit. "You gonna' be alright out there? You know I love you in your crop tops, but-"

Octavio made a "Pshhh" and scrunched his nose up a bit in response to that, cutting him off. "I'll be fine, bebé. Can't be that cold outside, can it?"

Alexander seemed to check his phone for confirmation on that. "Sixty degrees."

Elliott did find the temperature better than he had anticipated, but still swiveled his head back to Octavio with brows furrowed in concern.

"You don't even have a jacket."

"I can grab one before we go."

Elliott seemed satisfied by that and left the discussion there.

Loba came downstairs, holding the car keys and jangling them as her other hand brushed her hair past her shoulder. "Any takers on being driver?"

Alexander motioned her to give the keys to him, to which she happily did - she was a great driver, but happened to not be particularly fond of doing so, rather liking going on drives as a passenger.

Octavio quickly claimed shotgun.

Before they left, Blóð gave Octavio the fur item they'd been sewing earlier - the latter finding that it was a soft rabbit fur coat. The delight in his face was all Blóð needed to feel assured that he liked it, and helped him put it on. It was a little big, and just how Octavio liked his sweaters and coats. To all of their agreement, he looked rather stylish in it.

They were out for most of the afternoon, starting with a two hour Costco trip (that Octavio nearly made his partners carry him for), several smaller shops in between just to browse, a liquor store to buy champagne and sauvignon to celebrate New Years tonight (along with sparkling juice for Octavio who nay drank alcohol), and a hardware store mainly for Mary to pick up that level Elliott reminded her of. By 4:30, their last store of the day was the pet store - everyone individually needing one thing or another.

When they got inside, Elliott asked his partners if they could accompany him for a minute - guiding them to the aquarium section and proposing something.

"Pick one of these guys that you like," Elliott gestured to the wall of individually kept male betta fish, of all sorts of colors and sizes. "You remember those 5 gallon tanks I got a while back? Thought I'd use 'em, and thought a' you guys."

Like Blóð was simply an animal person, and how Octavio and Alexander were cat people, Elliott was partial towards fish. The two large tanks he manages in the living room are rather serene, and despite Renee's concerns, the fish kept there seem to love the foot traffic of everyone coming through.

"One collectively, or-?"

Elliott shook his head, politely cutting Alexander off, "Three total. Was thinking you all pick one, and I set their tanks up in my room. I-I thought it was a cute idea, I dunno'-"

"It's sweet, actually," Alexander softly spoke.

"Think so?"

Blóð made a content hum - leaning down a bit and surveying the curious little fish to see which one stood out to them. "Incr'redibly, my love."

Octavio's approval was nonverbal, made of him apparently finding which one he wanted immediately and picking up the container the little guy was kept in. He looked to Elliott with stars in his eyes and a grin, "Can we name them?"

Elliott chortled and waved his hand dismissively, "I enco- en- enco- implore you to."

"Octavio Dos."

His answer was so quick the others couldn't help but bear a laugh.

And by the time everyone was at checkout, there was definite fawning over the three new additions to Elliott's personal tanks - Ljón, the cream-colored, fiesty little thing that had fins flowing long behind him that Blóð adored, Violet, the red, pink, and white dumbo betta that was adorably curious much to Alexander's affection, and the deep-red colored Octavio Dos.

On the way home, it was decided to just grab something to eat on the way - near everyone could cook, but the idea of standing around in the kitchen to cook for fifteen people was lost.

Natalie passed the aux cord to Octavio, who was just taking his coat off for the ride home. He looked a little beyond himself.

"You trust me with the music? Wow - what'd they put in these fries?"

Natalie held off on a laugh while she tried to finish chewing, though her smile was tell enough on her amusement. "I actually like your music taste."

Makoa requested simply, "Nothing too dirty though, please, Silva."

"Me? Liking dirty music?" Octavio snorted, "You know me so well. How about flirty music?"

The man chortled. "That works, brotha'."

Octavio hooked the cord to his phone, and swiped his screen for a few moments before stopping on something. He looked hesitant, briefly, and pressed his screen. He set his phone down and put his hand on Alexander's, their arms both resting on the armrest.

The song sounded so dreamy. When the intro became a little more recognizable, before the lyrics, Loba made a snort from the back.

"You like this song?"

Octavio feigned offense, looking back to her with a "Of course I like this song!"

He shook his head and laughed softly - looking over to Blóð, who sat behind Alexander, he sang over the song and moved his hand from Alexander to cup their face.

"You're so uwu," his voice came sweet and a bit grainy, moving his hand from their cheek to their chin. Blóð practically giggled - blushing and leaning forward into his touch.

"You make me wanna' do," Octavio took his hand away and gave them a wink, "Naughty things to you - all these things to you, you."

Elliott joined the flirt-singing, joining Octavio in the chorus while they oh-so shamelessly wooed their other two partners (and each other, mind you). The others would've said a joke about it, but Ajay was busy holding Natalie's hand and cuddling up to her, while Anita was busy running her hand through Loba's hair and speaking quietly amongst themselves. The others didn't have the heart to interrupt their moment.

Besides, the song was catchy.

"You know you're cute, right?" Octavio sung in Alexander's direction, who shook his head. Still, he wore a soft smile and kept his hand reached over to rub Octavio's thigh.

Elliott leaned over to the side behind Octavio's seat, Blóð matching the movement from the opposite side, and wrapped an arm around the hunter's waist. He continued the phrase with a cocky smile, "Cute as a button-"

Then the two sang together, "Undoing the buttons and pushing your buttons, I just wanna' get you right-"

It was a red light, and so Alexander took the opportunity to lean over and kiss Octavio - lingering for a moment or two before pulling away and focusing back on the road just in time for the light to turn green.

Octavio's heart was a puddle.

Blóð reached a free hand across the armrest to drape his hand over the one Alexander had over Octavio's leg, their fingers soft and gentle in the way they caressed the back of both their hands. Elliott went to continue singing the song, but Octavio stole a kiss much to his surprise. He hummed, and just before they pulled away, Elliott opened his eyes and let his gaze linger at the man driving.

The glimpse of one another was quick, but just as warm as everything else, and left Elliott with a bigger smile than previously.

Octavio pulled up his leg that wasn't currently the resting place of Alexander's and Blóð's, resting his arm on his knee.

He was so lucky.

And finally by 6, everyone was tuckered out - ready to take some personal time alone before reconvening later tonight for celebrations. Putting groceries away, Elliott setting up the bettas (as well as having a bit of an audience while doing so), and having a pre-celebratory drink from the sauvignon left the group in need of a quick sit-down. They found themselves just comfortable in the living room, along with Bear and Octavio's cat, Octave, sleeping on one of the couches. Rightly, this was the couch the four of them decided to occupy.

Renee crossed her legs, her black-painted nails running over the leather of her knee-high boots. "Any plans before tonight?"

"Oh?" Tae Joon began, "I thought we were just going to be alone before- ah, ten tonight?"

"I'm just wondering if that was the time we could agree on."

Octavio gave a nod. "Should work for me, at least. I plan on getting blasted, hah."

There was a heavy silence - his other partners looking rather surprised and, especially Blóð, flushed upon hearing that.

Elliott cleared his throat. "Come again?"

Anita snorted at his wording. Elliott gave a quick "Not- not what I meant, uh-"

Renee shrugged, wearing a look painfully smug. "I mean...a bit too much information, but I'm sure that'll go well."

Alexander cleared his throat.

Octavio, despite his nature to immediately take things dirty, just now got what the issue was. And did he find it hilarious.

Through a series of snorts and laughs, he reiterated what he meant; "If I meant I was gonna' get pounded, I would just say that-"

Blóð, Elliott, and Alexander made a simultaneous "Octavio-!"

He kept laughing, shaking his head, "I meant- like, I'm gonna' smoke a joint. Ay, Dios mío - but hey, if that other option is on the table-"

There was another simultaneous "Octavio!" and it seemed to get him to stop talking and simply laugh. He and the others found this absolutely hilarious, leaving his partners to be lost for words and red in the face.

Octavio snorted, and dared to entertain a final joke.

"Like a refreshment."

"What?" Loba narrowed her eyes, leaning forward in interest in what he could possibly say right now.

"Y'know," Octavio snickered, "Quickie's like a refreshment. And there's four of us - heh, call that a concession stand."

Loba couldn't hold the shocked, boisterous laugh she made hearing that - no one really could.

There was a silence after the laughter died down. It was broken when Ajay snorted, though.

"Stop encouraging him-!" Elliott near scrambled to say, but was cut short when Ajay gave him a laugh and a 'look.'

"I know the one flirting wit' 'im all day isn't telling me t' not encourage him. Don't act like you don't like this."

Elliott quickly bit his tongue and raised his hands in the air.

"Touché."

Another small bout of quiet settled.

Loba snorted.

Octavio looked at her, and when their eyes met, they both snorted, and had to turn away to not outright laugh.

Given the situation, a little fun was wanted out of it. Of course, trivia about one another was a frequent, and a favourite, activity amongst themselves. If they all had any one exact thing in common, it'd be that they were all unabashedly nosy.

Loba uncrossed, then recrossed, her legs as she sat up a little. "Truth or dare without the dare, anyone?"

"I think that's a thing called 'having a conversation,'" Anita jokingly mocked.

"Then let's have one." Loba hummed, "I actually had a question for you," she pointed a nude-shade manicured finger towards Dr. Nox, who looked suddenly surprised.

"What is it?"

The woman leaned forward a bit, cusping her hand around her face as if she was telling a secret - the hand facing no one, ultimately defeating the purpose - and talking somewhat low but audible for everyone to still hear.

"Be honest. Is that sweetheart thing true, or was Octavio being dramatic?"

"Oh my god."

His exasperated expression made his partners in particular so delightfully entertained - Octavio especially, laughing and giving a shrug as he left the man to answer the question for himself. He must've mentioned it to them when they were at a store earlier today.

"The people are waiting," Ajay chimed in. It earned the approval of Loba, as told by the way she looked smug about someone else prodding it.

Alexander lifted his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose in thought, and when he couldn't stave the answer off any longer he was brought to the doorstep of needing to say something.

With hesitation, he sighed. "True enough that she responds to it as well as her actual name."

As if on cue, right after he finished speaking and everyone was ready to pull the expected "big guy soft for a cat" card, Bear shifted her position from simply lying beside him to lying on her side and pressing her face against his upper leg. Despite it all, the instinct to lower a hand and pet her big sweet face was lost not in the man.

The onslaught of "Aww!"s would've been anticipated.

#apex legends #apex caustic #apex bloodhound #apex mirage #apex octane #my work #my art #don't steal #original #morelikesin #traditional art

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hisgirlfriday22 · 5 years

Text

Untangle Me

Chapter One - McGuire’s Pub

.........

"Come on, Molly, you never do anything fun! It's only one night, and it wouldn't be the same without you!"

Molly sighed as she rolled her eyes at her coworker and friend. "That's not true, Hannah. I do plenty of fun things.." She muttered as she continued to straighten up her classroom. Due to the rainy weather outside, she'd been forced to keep her toddlers inside, and they'd practically trashed the room out of boredom. Ahh, the life of a preschool teacher...

"Pffft, sure you do. You work and you babysit. And when you're not watching kids, you go home and watch Netflix, am I right? Don't even try to deny it. Besides, what is one night out going to hurt?" Hannah asked. Her brow was raised as she gave Molly a smug smirk. She was right and she knew it.

Molly sighed and opened her mouth to speak, but she was quickly cut off by her friend once more.

"You haven't even had a night out since you broke up with Asher..."

Molly tensed a bit as she turned to look at Hannah. A hard glare was evident in her eyes. "That's not fair." She said firmly. Molly hadn't had the best relationship with Asher, and though it took so long for her to admit it to herself, breaking up with him had been the best thing she'd ever done for herself. But, it still was painful. She'd spent years with him, and it was hard to just let all of that go.

Hannah frowned at the look on her friend's face. She was regretful of her words, or rather, how she'd put them. She knew Asher was a tough subject for Molly and she should have never brought him up. Still, she knew a night out with her friends was exactly what Molly needed, even if she didn't see it. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you, that's all. You're always doing things for others, but you never do anything for yourself. I think a night out is just what you need. "

Molly sighed as she placed the last stray toy on the shelf. She really just wanted to go home and have a relaxing night in, but perhaps there was some truth in what Hannah was saying. "You know what...fine, I'll go. But just this once, okay? And you have to promise not to harass me about going out again."

A bright grin spread across Hannah's face as she nodded eagerly. "Deal! We're meeting at McGuire's pub at 8:30, don't be late! I swear you're going to have the best time! You won't regret it!"

.....

And so that's how Molly found herself seated at a table with Hannah and Sophie, surrounded by drunk people and loud Irish music. If she was honest, this wasn't her cup of tea and she longed to go home, but she didn't want to disappoint her friends. So, she sipped idly at a glass of wine and took in her surroundings the best she could.

Sophia and Hannah had gotten lost in their own conversation, and though Molly knew they weren't trying to exclude her in any way, she felt like a third wheel and didn't want to butt into the conversation. Using the excuse of getting a second glass of wine, Molly stood from the table and made her way toward the surprisingly less crowded bar and took a seat. She let out a quiet sigh as she pulled out her phone from her pocket and began scrolling through her notifications. She quickly got lost in her own little world until she was interrupted by the feeling of an arm wrapping around her waist.

With a gasp, Molly looked up to see the smiling face of a man about her age, maybe a bit older. "There you are, Sweetheart, I wondering where you'd gotten off to." He said in a thick Australian accent. His bold actions and words earned a look of complete bewilderment from Molly. Who was this man and what the hell did he think he was doing?

"I..." Molly started, but she paused when the man leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"Just play along...The man beside you slipped something into your drink. " He whispered, causing Molly to tense. She did her best not to look at the man beside her or her drink. Instead, she forced a smile and looked up at the oddly familiar man.

"Hey! Just thought I'd wait for you at the bar." She told him. Molly wondered if her face betrayed her confusion, and perhaps her fear. She really hoped not, though she did have a hard time controlling her expressions.

"Good call." The man replied before looking to the bartender. He ordered himself a Guinness before turning his attention to Molly. "And what do you want, Love?" Damn this man was laying it on thick, wasn't he?"

"Oh,um, just water with lime please." She said to the bartender, forcing a smile. She wanted to get away from this whole situation, but it seemed she was rather stuck. If she walked away now, it'd be quite clear to the man who attempted to drug her that she wasn't with the man who was being far too familiar with her for her liking.

Thankfully the man seemed to note Molly's discomfort, so he removed his arm from her waist before reaching for her hand. "Want to step outside a bit?" He asked her in a whisper, to which Molly nodded as she quickly slid off the barstool, not letting go of her water for a moment. She kept a hold of the man's hand as they weaved through the crowd of people and headed straight toward the outdoor seating area.

Molly was apprehensive about going outside with this man, and understandably so. She didn't know him, she didn't know his intentions. Still, he had saved her from something horrible, and though looks could be deceiving, he seemed completely harmless.

As they stepped out into the cool autumn air, Molly let out a shaky breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her hand was still holding on to the man's hand as he led her to an empty table toward the back of the patio.

"I'd let you keep it if I didn't need it." The man teased with a grin as he gently tugged his hand away from Molly's grip.

Molly felt her cheeks burn with a blush and she quickly stuffed her hand into the pocket of her skinny jeans. She cleared her throat and took a seat at the table. "Sorry about that...Uh, thank you for...back there. I should have been paying more attention." She said.

A soft smile tugged at his lips as the man took a seat across from Molly at the table. "It's alright. I can tell your mind is a bit preoccupied. I'm just glad I got to you before you took a sip." He said. His smile faded slightly as the gravity of the situation seemed to hit him. However, his smile quickly returned as he offered his hand to Molly once more. "My name's Lachlan, uh, but my friends call me Lachy."

Molly slipped her hand into his and shook it gently, her smile mirroring his. "It's nice to meet you Lachy, despite the circumstances. I'm Molly." She couldn't help but wonder why he seemed so familiar to her. There had to be somewhere she'd seen him before, though she couldn't think of where. It wasn't really all that common to see an Australian in Folly Beach, South Carolina...

Molly was once again pulled from her thoughts by the sound of a muttered curse. She looked at Lachy to see an apologetic look on his face. "I have to go. My set starts in ten minutes." Molly must have had a confused expression on her face because Lachy gestured toward the door as he continued. "My uh, my band. We're playing next. I'm sure they're wondering where I'm at. Uh...You could come with me if you want? I'm sure it'd be okay for you to stand where out guitar cases are..."

Molly nodded slowly. "Oh, of course. Yeah, you should go." She said, smiling a bit. "I have friends here, actually. And they're probably wondering where I went. I should go find them." She explained.

Lachy gave her a curious look, and Molly figured he was wondering why she'd separated from her friends, but thankfully he didn't question it. Instead, he scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I see. Well, uh, if you're planning on staying for a while, would you like to have a drink after the set?"

Molly hesitated for a moment before she responded with a nod. She didn't know this guy, she really shouldn't be agreeing to spend time with him, but she felt she owed him at least a drink. He did potentially save her life, after all. Besides, she was certain Sophia and Hannah would be in their own little world the rest of the night anyway if they hadn't found guys to dance with already, that is. "Sure, that sounds nice." She said, offering him one more smile.

Lachy's smile brightened a bit as he offered her his hand, which Molly took against her better judgment and the two made their way back into the bar. After a quick 'see you later", they quickly went their separate ways, Lachy heading toward the small stage while Molly returned to the table with her friends. She wasn't even certain they had realized she had slipped away until Hannah gave her an accusing look.

"And where the hell have you been?" She asked her. "You slipped away to get another glass of wine almost 45 minutes ago!"

Molly bit her lip and held up her glass of water. "Uh, long story." She said as she slid into the chair she'd occupied previously.

"Mhmm, and who was that guy you were walking back in with?" Sophia questioned. A sly smirk tugged at her lips, and Molly had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

"Just a guy I met. He kinda saved me from a potentially bad situation." She said with a shrug before she sipped the cold water. "Apparently someone slipped something into my drink." She held her hand up before her friends could begin freaking out. "Don't worry, I didn't drink any of it. Thankfully he was there."

"Molly, you have to pay attention. That's why it's better to stay with the group you came with." Hannah's voice was edged with annoyance, but Molly ignored it.

"Well, I'm fine." She left the conversation at that, not offering to say anything else on the matter as the sound of Irish folk music began to drift through the pub. Molly turned her attention to the stage, and her eyes widened slightly as she looked at the other people who joined Lachy on the stage. At least two of them seemed familiar as well, and she knew exactly where she'd seen them before.

"Molly, you okay?" Hannah asked, having noticed the strange expression on her friend's face. "I take it you recognize them?"

Molly looked to Hannah, her eyes were still wide with shock. "Why are the..."

Sophie interrupted Molly as she yelled out over the loud music. "They have 21 and up gig at Irish pubs and bars when they tour the U.S. and Canada, we thought it might be fun to go. We see enough of them at work, after all, maybe their adult shows aren't so bad. Oh don't look so put out, it's going to be fun! They sing Irish and Scottish Folk music from what I understand."

"But the damn Wiggles?" Molly asked, in exasperation. That's where she'd seen Lachy before. She'd seen him almost daily on the classroom TV for 30 minutes before the toddlers went down for their nap. The same man on stage, singing the first few lines of Loch Lomond was the same man who pretended to fall asleep in the most random places on her toddlers' favorite tv show.

"Well, their band is called the Unusual Commoners. But yes, three of them, at least are Wiggles." Hannah replied with a snorted laugh. "What, you didn't recognize him earlier?"

Molly's eyes widened again as the girls continued with their giggles. "You look shocked...We saw you step out with him, and no, we didn't think you knew who he was...You should get his number, he's a cutie." Sophie teased. Her words were slurred a bit, which told Molly she'd probably already had more than enough alcohol for the night.

Molly rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. She didn't dignify that comment with a response as she turned her attention back to the stage where the man she'd just spent almost an hour with was singing his heart out and playing the hell out of a guitar. She had to admit, he was good, very good.

"For a Wiggle." She murmured with a small smile as she settled in her chair to enjoy the rest of the set.

#lachy wiggle #lachy gillespie #lachlan gillespie #the wiggles

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