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bevioletskies · 3 years

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how sweet it is (to be loved by you)

summary: Although he would never admit it, Apollo really wants to impress Klavier by making dessert from scratch for their first date at his apartment, despite his complete lack of baking experience. With the help of his overenthusiastic sister (and no help from his mischievous cat), Apollo thinks he just might be able to pull it off.

word count: 4.8k | read on ao3

a/n: For @klapollo-week, day four of seven (prompt: "cooking"). All seven of my fics take place in the same continuity! However, each can be read as a stand-alone, with the exception of day seven being a sequel to day five.

This fic takes place at some distant point in time after Spirit of Justice where Apollo and Trucy have learned that they’re siblings, but doesn’t reference any specific plotlines otherwise. Fic title is from the song How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by Marvin Gaye.

“Don’t look at me like that, okay? I can feel you judging me, and I don’t appreciate it. I swear, I-I know what I’m doing! But it doesn’t help with you staring at me like you just know I’m gonna screw up!”

Mikeko blinked. “Mreow.”

“Polly, are you talking to your cat again?” Apollo turned to see Trucy walking towards him with huge bags of flour and sugar in her arms.

“Just a reminder - his name is Mikeko, and he’s an asshole,” Apollo grouched, hurrying over to help before she could drop everything on the floor. The last thing he needed was to get white powder stuck in his kitchen tile grout, again. There was a reason Ema wasn’t allowed to bring her forensics kit to his place anymore. “He peed on my rug the other day. I thought he was sick so I took him to the vet, and nothing. He’s an asshole.”

“You talk about your cat like you talk about your boyfriend, and I dunno which one’s worse,” Trucy mused, elbowing him playfully. “Though obviously, you love ‘em both, since that cat tree over there looks like it costs more than your TV. And, y’know, the fact that you asked me to help you bake for him! Er, your boyfriend, not your cat.”

“You don’t say,” Apollo said dryly, hoisting the bags onto the kitchen counter. “Klavier has an insatiable sweet tooth for a guy with a six-pack. I blame his parents and their baking habits.”

“C’mon, you love his parents,” Trucy giggled. She hopped onto the counter, nearly knocking the flour over in the process. Apollo shot her a dirty look that she blatantly ignored. “So, what’re we making? I’m surprised you asked me to help and then didn’t tell me what we were gonna do!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Apollo sighed, smoothing out the wrinkles in his apron. “We’re making, uh...bienenstich, or bee sting cake. It’s one of his childhood favorites, apparently; it’s got vanilla cream and…” He paused to glance down at the recipe on his phone. “...‘a crunchy caramelized almond topping’.”

“Sounds yummy!” Trucy replied, idly swinging her legs back and forth. Mikeko seemed very interested in chasing her untied shoelaces. “Seriously, though, why did you ask me? I mean, when I first started living with Daddy, I learned how to cook pretty fast, but I never really learned how to bake.”

Apollo softened. “I just wanted to hang out with you, Truce. That’s all.”

Trucy folded her hands over her heart. “Aww, Polly!” She then grinned devilishly. “Of course you did.”

“Now you’re an asshole, too,” Apollo informed her, kissing her cheek before turning back to the other side of the kitchen. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Mikeko, sitting in his sink, lounging lazily across every last mixing bowl he’d just washed. “Mik, what the hell - you were just on the floor a second ago, you - ”

“Meow,” Mikeko interrupted, his tail swishing nonchalantly through the air.

“...cool, cool.” Apollo wiped his hands, then proceeded to lift Mikeko right out of the sink and deposit him onto his cat tree. His paws were still damp; he mewled in protest. “Well, this is going about as well as I expected.”

“I’m excited,” Trucy offered, still beaming. “Let’s go!”

_____

Once Trucy found the appropriate playlist to blast on her phone (“Any performer worth their salt knows they need good background music, Polly!” “But...this isn’t a performance. Also, this is more Maroon 5 than I’m comfortable with.”), she got to work on re-washing the dishes Mikeko had ruined while Apollo shuffled around the kitchen, grabbing the rest of the ingredients. He’d bought quite a few items he didn’t usually have in stock, having next to no experience with baking. The recipe claimed bienenstich was easy to make, though he had his doubts when it came to his abilities - and his luck.

“So, how’ve you and Klavier been?” Trucy asked, drying the last of the spatulas. “Things must be pretty good if you’re baking for him.”

“Good, definitely good,” Apollo replied. “We’ve had a couple of hiccups, but nothing we’ve had to worry about, y’know?”

“Gee, how romantic,” Trucy drawled. “I was hoping for something juicier than that, Polly! Have you had any fun dates lately? Cute moments? Nice gifts? It sure was nice of his mom to send more apple strudels to the agency the other day!”

“Are you my sister, or a tabloid reporter?” Apollo flicked a spray of flour onto the front of her apron, ducking before she could retaliate. “Well, we had a good time at his parents’ house the other day. I made pretzels with his mom, and his dad had a ton of podcast recommendations for like, nerd stuff. We, uh...we even talked about Mom for a bit. They wanna meet her someday.”

Trucy’s eyes widened. “Really? When’s that gonna happen?”

“Not sure,” Apollo admitted. “But hey, do you wanna join us when it does? They’ve been dying to meet you, too.”

“Like you have to ask!” Trucy said brightly. She took a moment to methodically spread out all of their equipment across the kitchen counter, smiling in satisfaction when she was done. “There - we’re ready to go. What’s the actual first step?”

“The dough, it says,” Apollo said, turning back to the recipe. “We’re s’posed to mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Although I guess the actual actual first step is measuring the ingredients.”

“I’ll do dry, you do wet,” Trucy replied, passing him one of the mixing bowls. “Y’know…‘cos you're such a wet blanket and all.”

Apollo blinked. “...okay, wow. We’re here to bake a cake, not roast me.” Trucy giggled mischievously, then got to work on measuring out the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Apollo, meanwhile, started with pouring the milk - easy enough - then stared at the egg carton and sticks of butter sitting in front of him. He’d never been intimidated by either before, but right now, he found them oddly daunting.

“Polly, are you trying to perceive the ingredients or somethin’?” Trucy asked, rapping her knuckles against the side of his head a little too sharply for his liking. “The cake isn’t a lie, you know.”

Once again, Apollo found himself looking at her incredulously. “Wha - th-that joke is older than you are!” Then, a brief swish of movement over Trucy’s shoulder caught his eye. “Wait…” Sitting on the opposite counter was Mikeko, who was innocently sniffing the bag of sliced almonds. “Mik - ”

“Mrrh,” Mikeko purred, his tail perking up at the sound of his name. He then flopped onto his side, rolling over to present his belly. “Mrrh?”

“Don’t ‘mrrh’ me, get away from there,” Apollo huffed, flapping his hands in Mikeko’s direction. He seemed unmoved. “Do you want me to lock you in my bedroom? Really? Is that what we have to do?” Sighing, Mikeko got up and hopped down from the counter, sauntering off to the living room with a sulky grimace. “Thank you.”

“You really do act like he’s human,” Trucy commented, watching Mikeko go. “Mr. Edgeworth’s like that with Pess, only he’s way nicer to her than you are to Mikeko.”

“Probably because Pess doesn’t sit on his chest in the middle of the night while he's sleeping and make him think he’s having a heart attack,” Apollo said wryly, reaching for the sticks of butter. If he let them sit out for too long, they were going to start melting. “How’s that whole...thing going, anyway? I feel like Mr. Edgeworth’s been visiting the agency a lot lately...only, nothing ever seems to happen.”

“Story of their lives, according to Ema and Aunt Maya,” Trucy said, rolling her eyes exasperatedly. “At this rate, I’m gonna get married before Daddy does!” She then smirked. “Or should I say, you’re gonna get - ”

“Hey, l-let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Apollo protested, his cheeks reddening. “How’s it going with the dry ingredients?”

“All done!” Trucy chirped, tilting her bowl slightly so he could see. “Wait, you still haven’t done the butter or eggs yet? Apollo!”

“Yeah, yeah, I was kinda busy dealing with that jerk over there.” Trucy glanced across the way to the living room; she could’ve sworn Mikeko was sticking his tongue out at them. Apollo then pushed the butter towards her. “Here - you do the butter, I’ll take care of the eggs.” The two of them worked in silence for a minute or so, the only sounds in the apartment being the crinkle of the butter’s parchment paper and the tap-tap of the eggs against the mixing bowl. It didn’t take long before their silence was broken. “...shit.”

“Eggshell?” Trucy guessed without looking up. “Sheesh, you really did need help. Here, give it to me!”

Apollo nudged the bowl in her direction, defeated, then wiped the sweat off his brow. “Damn, I didn’t think I was gonna be this bad! I made bread and pretzels with Klavier’s mom, and that went pretty well.”

“I bet it’s ‘cos she did most of the work,” Trucy teased. “Wait - Apollo, there’s more eggshell in here than actual egg!”

“I…” Apollo paused. “...have no excuses.” He then groaned. “Ugh, we still have so much left to do! This cake better be worth it.”

“It’s more like if you think your boyfriend’s worth it, and he is, isn’t he?” Trucy finished fishing out the last of the eggshells, then poked Apollo’s side with her yolk-covered finger. “So c’mon, let’s keep going. We mix them together, right?”

Apollo smiled softly. “Yeah. And hey, I’m...I’m really glad you’re here, Trucy. Thanks for helping me out.”

“It’s just baking, Polly, you don’t hafta be so dramatic,” Trucy said, though she was beaming regardless. “Now move it, or this cake’s still gonna be in the oven when he gets here!”

_____

A little over two hours later, Apollo jumped up from his couch at the sound of his doorbell. His face brightened when he saw Klavier on the other side of the door, dressed casually in an oversized hoodie and joggers. Klavier had been so particular about how he’d dressed for their first few dates that Apollo was always happy to see him in more relaxed attire. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Klavier raised an eyebrow. “You always greet me in the strangest ways, schatz. Did something happen, are you okay?”

Apollo let out an internal sigh of relief; Klavier had yet to notice anything off-putting at all. “No, no, I-I’m fine, just - i-it’s been a long day, and it’s good to see you. I mean, it’s always good to see you - usually good to see you, depending on what’s going on, ‘cos not gonna lie, you still pull the most inane crap in the courtroom, but, uh. It’s good that you’re here. Hi.”

Klavier’s eyebrows remained raised. “...hi. Anyway, I brought dinner and dessert.” He lifted the two bags he was carrying so Apollo could see. “As it turns out, our favorite Taiwanese place was having a promotion. Spend thirty dollars or more, we get free tofu pudding. Achtung, I love a good deal!”

“That’s not what your bank account says,” Apollo teased. “And, er, that’s great, and we should definitely eat it while it’s fresh, but I actually made dessert for us, too.”

“Really?” Apollo was starting to think Klavier’s eyebrows were never going to come back down. “What did you make?”

“No spoilers,” Apollo said, tugging on Klavier’s sleeve. “C’mon, get in here before my neighbors spot you. I swear, I heard one of them blasting Love With No Chance Of Parole the other night. If they find out you’re my boyfriend, I’m never gonna hear the end of it.”

“Finally starting to recognize my songs, are you?” Klavier chuckled, stepping into Apollo’s apartment. “I’ll make a Gavinners fan out of you yet, baby.” He then looked around, curious, as he took off his shoes. “Your place doesn’t look nearly as bad as you made it sound. It’s...charming.”

“Real diplomatic way of saying it looks like crap,” Apollo said wryly, closing the door behind him. He was well aware of his peeling wallpaper and cat-scratched furniture, his dusty windows and his water-damaged ceiling. “Wait until you have to use my bathroom. I swear the sink is haunted.”

“How comforting.” Klavier’s eyes lit up at the sound of tiny little feet padding over in his direction; he crouched down so he could be at eye level, one hand outstretched to beckon him closer. “Why, guten tag, kätzchen! I’m so glad I finally get to meet you.” Mikeko stopped dead in his tracks, eyeing Klavier up and down warily. Then, without another sound, he turned and walked away, tail swishing pointedly in the air. Klavier looked up at Apollo dejectedly. “Ach, what did I do?”

“Mikeko only likes me and tolerates Trucy,” Apollo shrugged, trying not to laugh at Klavier’s miserable expression. “I wouldn’t take it personally. C’mon, let’s eat!”

“I’m going to take it a little personally,” Klavier muttered under his breath, following Apollo across the open living space. It wasn’t long before they were set up at the dining table, working their way through their Taiwanese beef noodles, fried chicken, and scallion pancakes. Apollo hummed happily as he ate; he hadn’t realized how hungry he was or how difficult baking could be until now. “So, how was your day?”

“Didn’t do much,” Apollo said, shrugging. “Since it’s my day off, I just kinda - y’know, played video games, watched some TV. Re-organized my bookshelf for the millionth time. I still haven’t decided if my brain likes it organized by author, title, genre, or color.”

“You also made dessert, apparently,” Klavier replied. “Are you really not going to tell me what it is?”

“Curiosity killed the cat, and even though my cat’s an asshole, I prefer him alive,” Apollo said, playfully nudging Klavier’s leg with his foot. “You can wait thirty minutes, can’t you?”

“Ach, the suspense,” Klavier laughed. “Fine, fine. Can I at least ask why you decided to bake for us?”

“It’s the first time you’ve been to my place, so I figured I’d do something nice,” Apollo said, sniffing very slightly. The smell of burnt sugar was starting to waft into his nose; he crossed his fingers underneath the table in the hopes that Klavier couldn’t smell it, too.

“Er - are you okay, Apollo?” Klavier asked, lowering his chopsticks. “You’re...sniffling. I didn’t accidentally bring some pollen in here, did I?”

“Sniffing, not sniffling,” Apollo corrected. “There’s a difference. And nah, it’s nothing. Just wasn’t sure if Mik might’ve peed somewhere...as he does.”

“Ah, cats,” Klavier said, nodding sagely. “Don’t tell your kätzchen I’m more of a dog person, bitte. We’re already off to a bad start as it is.”

“Brave of you, saying that out loud,” Apollo remarked. “If Mik comes after you in your sleep tonight, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Klavier turned to look at Mikeko, who was currently on the kitchen counter, scarfing down his dinner. He lifted his head to make direct eye contact, chewing menacingly all the while. Klavier shuddered. “How about you, what were you up to today?”

“The most boring prosecutor’s office meeting ever, not that that’s anything new,” Klavier sighed, turning back to face Apollo. “And I had no cases to prosecute, so I spent my day wishing I was here instead. Even if you and Mikeko weren’t around, I’d rather watch your wallpaper die a slow death than listen to Herr Payne whine about his life while we’re all waiting for the coffee maker. I don’t see how it’s my or Herr Blackquill’s fault that he hasn’t had a raise in over ten years. If all he can brag about is making new defense attorneys cry instead of actually doing his job, then he should be grateful he still has a career to begin with, ach.”

Apollo blinked. “...huh. I guess I never really thought about the kind of office politics you have to deal with. Meanwhile, the only thing I’ve had to deal with lately is Athena nearly breaking Trucy’s finger during an arm-wrestling match.”

Klavier winced, popping a piece of chicken in his mouth. “Is that something that happens often?”

“More often than it should,” Apollo replied sagely. Klavier wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or slightly terrified.

After they finished dinner, Klavier insisted on helping Apollo with the dishes, seeing as how there was a huge pile of them in the sink, almost none of them from their dinner. Some were splattered with cake batter, others with vanilla cream. Thankfully, Apollo had already rinsed all the pans and utensils he’d used to make the topping, or else the sliced almonds would’ve given him away entirely.

“No peeking in the fridge or you’re not getting any,” Apollo warned, waving a spatula in his face.

“Are we talking about dessert, or...something else?” Klavier blinked innocently when Apollo continued to glare. “Ja, ja, I hear you.” He then paused. “Can I at least speculate? I have an educated guess.”

“You have zero patience sometimes,” Apollo complained, knocking his hip against Klavier’s, though with their height difference, it was more like his hip against Klavier’s thigh. “Let’s finish up here so you have nothing to complain about, alright?”

As they puttered around the kitchen together, Apollo had to subtly, but constantly direct Klavier away from the oven before he could see the remnants of a burnt pan still left on one of the stovetop elements; he hadn’t had enough time to completely scrub them away, though he had gotten rid of the worst of it. For once, he was grateful Klavier favored heavy scents, which seemed to be masking the smell for him.

“Mrrp.” Just as Klavier was drying the last of the plates, he felt something weaving between his ankles. “Mreow?”

“Have you changed your mind about me, kätzchen?” he asked, delighted. Mikeko aggressively smushed his face against Klavier’s calf in response. Apollo watched them both in amazement. “Is that a ja or a nein?”

“Mrrh,” Mikeko rumbled.

“Oh, this is definitely a trap,” Apollo warned. “He probably wants something from you, so don’t fall for it, Klav.”

“You talk about him like he’s an unruly witness on the witness stand,” Klavier said, amused. “He’s just a sweet little kätzchen, what could he possibly - ” Mikeko sneezed, violently.

“There it is,” Apollo sighed.

Klavier winced at the wet spot Mikeko had left behind on his sweatpants. “Achtung, gesundheit!” He then chuckled, shaking his head as Mikeko wandered off, clearly pretending nothing had happened. Either that, or he was embarrassed, though Apollo suspected it was more the former than the latter. “Like human, like cat, I see; it’s allergy season all around. Is it my cologne, do you think?”

“Might be,” Apollo shrugged, wiping his hands. “Okay, you big baby, are you ready for dessert now?”

“You’re acting like I’ve talked about nothing else,” Klavier protested, wrapping his arms around Apollo from behind and burying his face against Apollo’s neck. He then began pressing slow, deliberate kisses along the length of Apollo’s throat. His nose was momentarily filled with the scent of Klavier’s aforementioned cologne, the scent of sandalwood instead of burnt sugar. “I would love to have dessert, baby.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Then we can eat what you made after.”

“Why am I dating you,” Apollo groaned, lightly shoving him away. Klavier snickered, hopping up onto the kitchen counter. “Sheesh, you’re like a cheap Hallmark card and a bad pick-up artist at the same time.”

“Is there such a thing as a good pick-up artist?” Klavier mused, still grinning. “Anyway, I’m serious. Let’s see what you made for us, liebe.” Apollo felt oddly nervous as he opened his refrigerator and carefully pulled out the covered tray from the top shelf. He set it down on the counter, right beside Klavier, then went to grab plates, forks, and a decent-sized knife. “Ah, a knife! Was my prediction correct?”

“Can you let me live for two seconds, please?” Apollo grumbled, softening when Klavier leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. “Okay, okay, careful around the guy with the knife in his hand. I-I’m gonna take off the cover now.”

They both held their breaths just as Apollo lifted the tray cover, as overly dramatic as it sounded. The sensation was stupidly similar to how they felt during a particularly stressful trial. Klavier’s eyes widened at the sight before him. “...bienenstich?”

“Wait…” Apollo leaned closer. “...what happened?!”

The state of his bienenstich was...questionable, to say the least. To start, the caramelized almond topping, which had hardened nicely in the refrigerator earlier, now looked like it had been through an earthquake, full of little holes and fissures. The thick layer of vanilla cream between the two layers of cake was oozing out the sides, having somehow melted since Apollo put it in the fridge over an hour ago. Finally, most of the bottom layer of cake was soggy and crumbling apart, clearly thanks to the melting cream.

“You gotta be kidding me!” Apollo exclaimed, setting the knife aside and hurriedly digging his phone out of his pocket. “Here, I took a picture earlier, i-it - it looked perfect, I-I made sure of it - ”

“I’m sure it did, Apollo,” Klavier said gently, rubbing his shoulders in sympathy. “Let’s see your picture, then.”

Groaning, Apollo held his phone up to Klavier’s face. “Seriously, look. I took so many photos, I was gonna send ‘em to your parents and thank them for teaching me the basics...I even made the topping three times ‘cos I burnt the first two attempts!”

“Is that what that smell was?” Klavier shrunk at Apollo’s venomous expression. “Sorry, baby, I just - I didn’t want to say anything in case it was, you know, a weird apartment smell.” He then perked up. “But if you ask me...looks have nothing to do with taste. That goes for both food and people, apropos, though I consider myself blessed that you’re the very best of both.”

“Har, har...also, ew,” Apollo added, wrinkling his nose. “Well, let’s hope you’re right.” With renewed vigor, he picked up the knife once more and carefully cut two modest-sized pieces, transferring them to their respective plates. He passed one plate to Klavier, then, after they exchanged nervous looks, they both took their first tentative bites. “...oh.”

“See? It’s just as I said!” Klavier declared, grinning victoriously. “I’m not going to pretend it’s the most perfect bienenstich I’ve ever had, but - it’s good, Apollo. It’s really, really good. I wouldn’t have known it was your first attempt if I hadn’t seen it. Even then, it’s hardly a disaster. Just a bit, ah, lopsided.”

Apollo was quiet for another moment or so, letting the taste linger on his tongue. The texture was a bit odd, thanks to the half-melted cream and the soggy cake, but it was just as sweet and satisfying as he’d been hoping it would be. “...huh. So I guess we didn’t accidentally swap the salt and sugar like I thought we might’ve done.”

“We?” Klavier echoed as he took another bite, more generous in size this time.

“Yeah, Trucy came over to help me. Guess I forgot to mention that,” Apollo added. “We haven’t had much time to hang out outside of work stuff lately, so...I thought it’d be a fun afternoon thing. Kinda turned into a nightmare instead? Like, the smell of burnt sugar is everywhere for a reason. Don’t look inside my oven, please.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Klavier laughed, delighted. “I can only imagine what went on before I got here, achtung.” It wasn’t long before he was scraping his plate clean; he was still eyeing the rest of the cake hungrily. He turned when Apollo made a mild noise of disgust. “Ah - what happened?”

“What always happens around here.” Apollo plucked a tiny, but obvious cat hair from the end of his fork. “At least I didn’t eat this one. I think I’ve consumed more cat hairs than I’ve had paying clients.” He then looked at Klavier with raised eyebrows. “You’re not expecting another piece right now, are you?”

“I like bienenstich, okay?” Klavier said defensively, though he finally got down from the kitchen counter so he could put his fork and plate in the sink, dropping a sticky-sweet kiss on Apollo’s cheek on his way over. “Danke, baby, that was really good. Can I take some back with me, bitte?”

“Of course, babe. I’m certainly not eating the rest of it by myself,” Apollo snorted, finishing off his own piece. He put his dishes in the sink, taking a moment to rinse off his and Klavier’s plates, then let out a relieved sigh. “Well, at least it tasted good, even if it looked like crap.”

“I know it’s pointless, saying this to you, but - don’t worry so much, hm?” Klavier wrapped his arms around Apollo’s midsection; before Apollo knew it, he was being lifted and set down onto the counter, right where Klavier had been. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly, bringing his hands to rest on Klavier’s shoulders, his legs wrapped loosely around Klavier’s waist. “I’m impressed, liebling, I mean it. I know Mama’s been teaching you how to bake, but for you to do it on your own time for us to enjoy...I should really step up my game here, don’t you think?”

“Hardly,” Apollo said, dropping his head to Klavier’s shoulder, pressing a kiss to Klavier’s neck. “Thanks, Klav. Glad you liked it.”

“Bitte schön,” Klavier replied, gently lifting Apollo’s chin so he could kiss him properly. They both tasted like vanilla and honey; Apollo pushed Klavier’s hair out of his face so it wouldn't run the risk of getting sticky. Mere seconds later, they were interrupted by a tiny, impudent meow. Sighing, Klavier reluctantly broke away so he could stare down at the culprit by his feet. “Can I help you, kätzchen? I thought we were cool...until you used my sweatpants as a tissue, that is. These are Moncler, I’ll have you know.”

“Mreow,” Mikeko trilled, tail thrashing violently against Klavier’s leg. Shaking his head in amusement, Apollo got down from the counter so he could pick him up and cradle him, rocking him back and forth like a baby. “Mrrp.”

“I’m kinda curious to see if he’ll let you pet him,” Apollo said. “You wanna try?” Klavier lifted a cautious hand, then slowly began petting Mikeko, taking care not to disturb the sleekness of his long, thick fur. Klavier let out a soft laugh when Mikeko began to purr, his eyes closing contentedly as he smushed his face against Klavier’s hand, just like he’d done to his leg earlier. “Hey, would you look at that - it’s a not-Christmas miracle!”

“I feel as if I’ve been blessed,” Klavier chuckled, rubbing Mikeko’s ears for good measure. “Have I passed your secret test somehow, kätzchen? Am I a good partner for your papa?” Mikeko mewled happily.

“I can’t believe you didn’t even do anything and he already likes you,” Apollo sighed. “Mik, I thought you were smarter than this.”

“I can’t tell if you want him to like me or not,” Klavier said dryly, dropping a kiss to the top of Mikeko’s forehead. Mikeko’s purr only seemed to intensify. Apollo rolled his eyes; now Klavier was just showing off. “So now that all of our bienenstich excitement is over, should we put a movie on, maybe try a small bite of that tofu pudding? I have a desperate need to cuddle after the day I’ve had.”

“Day you had?” Apollo echoed, neatly depositing Mikeko back onto his cat tree. “You said you had a boring meeting and no trials. How bad could it have been?”

“I had to listen to Herr Payne gush about his wife that definitely exists,” Klavier bemoaned, lifting the back of his hand to his forehead as if he were about to faint. Apollo was sure if he rolled his eyes any harder, he would sprain something. “Herr Debeste kept asking to borrow a pencil for some reason. I’m serious, baby, don’t laugh at me, he kept knocking on my door every thirty minutes - ”

“The only baby I see around here is you, baby,” Apollo teased, prodding Klavier in the chest. “But fine, fine, I hear you. You go sulk on the couch and pick out a movie while you wait. I'm gonna put the bienenstich back in the fridge and send your mom my pre-disaster pictures. Maybe she’ll have some advice for my next attempt.”

Klavier perked up. “Next attempt? You mean you’re going to make it again? Ah, ich liebe dich, mein schatz, mein süßer, mein - ”

“Oh my god,” Apollo groaned, sighing. “Maybe, okay? Maybe. I’m not making any promises, I don’t want my apartment to permanently smell like burnt sugar hell.” Still, Apollo found himself biting back a smile, kissing Klavier briefly before lightly nudging him in the direction of his living room. “...and I love you, too. Dork.”

_____

a/n: Welcome to my fourth entry for Klapollo Week 2021! Continuity-wise, this is the sixth of seven fics, but again, there is no need to read the others to follow each fic on its own. Mikeko being a jerk who only likes maybe three people at a time is one of my favorite random headcanons! I know I set a lot of my fics in Apollo's apartment (or Klavier's), but one of the main reasons that I do is for Mikeko and Mikeko alone. If you're looking for a Mikeko-centric fic (kind of), if you could read my mind is one of my favorite short-ish fics that I've ever written.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Likes and reblogs would be much appreciated. Hoping you’re all safe and healthy and doing well ❤️

#KlapolloWeek2021 #klapollo #kyodoroki #klapollo fic #ace attorney #ace attorney fic #myfic #long post #almost forgot to post this oops lmao #also my day two fic hasn't been archived! guess i'll send y'all a quick ask later #i think i'd tagged something incorrectly so that's my bad

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thatcrazycrowgirl · 3 years

Text

Imagine...

Shay saving you from a bear attack and tending to your injuries.

-----

“Damn that cursed ice! Damn it to hell!”

Those were the words that shot out of your mouth as you twisted painfully on the ground. You looked down to see various cuts on bruises on your lower leg and your ankle starting to swell.

It had been a typical morning of hunting and trapping for you. It was something you were never good at before, but had been forced to take up, like every other man and woman in the settlement, due to the lack of any trading ships showing up in the past six months and winter just starting to dust the earth with ice and snow.

Unfortunately, with everyone trying to scrape by, the amount of wildlife around the area the lived in was starting to dwindle, forcing you to try and hunt further out into an unknown territory.

Things had gone smoothly at first, until you were attempting to duck into some bushes for cover, while you continued to track a group of hares. Unbeknownst to you, under the bushes was a layer of ice that you slipped on in your haste, causing you to tumble down a short slope - more bushes and fallen branches scratching you up as you descended.

When you finally hit the ground below, you had landed on your ankle wrong, causing you to cry out in pain - and to only make matters worse, the amount of noise you were making alerted a nearby bear, who, once it saw you, clearly wasn’t happy about you stumbling into its territory.

Now, your eyes widened as it started to rush towards you, the only muscles you could move being your mouth and your chest as a loud gasp escaped you.

You were certain you were done for, when you heard a shot ring out, echoing amongst the trees, and saw the bear stumble and drop dead right in front of you.

What? Who?

You barely had time to gather your thoughts, before you heard a man calling out your name - his distinct Irish brogue instantly recognizable.

You turned to see that it was none other than your lover, Shay Cormac, who was now hurrying towards you.

“Shay...? You’re back!” you exclaimed in disbelief. You hadn’t expected his return from sea for another month.

“And a good thing too!” he replied as he knelt down and began to examine your leg. “What are you doin’ so far from the settlement?” he began to question you. “Does anyone even know you’re out here?”

“I had no choice,” you explained as he proceeded to wrap a piece of cloth around one of the still-bleeding injuries. The makeshift bandage slowly turned a deep red, as it soaked up the liquid. “The pickings are getting slim in the forest right outside of the settlement, so I knew if I wanted to bring home anything of substance, I’d have to try my luck out here.”

He shook his head as he carefully pressed his gloved fingertips against your ankle, feeling around for any broken bones. “Did you manage to get anything?”

You gestured to your haversack only a few feet away. You considered yourself fortunate that you didn’t lose it when you fell. “Only a few hares and a squirrel, but it’s better than nothing,” you shrugged.

“Right,” he acknowledged. “Well, I think that enough huntin’ for one day. Come on, let’s get you home.”

With that, Shay quickly gathered up your bag and slung it over his body, before scooping you up in his arms.

-----

Some time later, the two of you were warming up in front of the small fireplace in your cabin with a few cups of freshly-brewed coffee. Shay had helped you out of your torn clothes and into your sleep shirt, and was now carefully looking over every scratch and scrape on your body, cleaning out and bandaging the bleeding cuts, and pressing the softest of kisses against your bruises.

Fortunately, the worst of it all, was that you had only sprained you ankle.

Despite the soreness of your body from your fall, you still couldn’t help the heat that flowed through it, or the way your breath hitched every time the Irishman pressed his slightly-chapped lips against your bare skin.

Oh, how you had missed the touch of those lips.

“Well, if this is the sort of treatment I’m going to get, maybe I should fall down more often,” you softly joked a little, tucking a loose lock of hair behind his ear, before teasing it a bit with your fingertips.

He looked up from your bluish-purple knee. “Now, don’t you be gettin’ any ideas,” he said, pretending to look a little stern. “What you need to be worryin’ about is gettin’ plenty of rest.”

Despite his words, though, he pressed another lingering kiss to your knee, his now darkening eyes never leaving yours. The light from the fireplace reflected in his gaze, making your breath catch in your throat once more.

“And who’s going to make sure I remain in bed, where I belong?” you just barely managed to breathe out. You couldn’t help but grin as the pads of your fingers brushed over the sensitive spot right behind his ear, making him reflexively shudder with unexpected pleasure.

“Oh, I think you already know the answer to that question,” he replied, a flirty smile finally appearing on his face as he allowed you to pull him in for a kiss. He lifted a hand up to cup your face, making sure to keep his touch as gentle as possible.

You wrapped your arms around his neck in return and leaned back, so you were lying down, pulling him down with you. He made careful sure not to rest himself upon your injured body, but remained near you, nonetheless.

“And don’t you fret...about everyone else,” he then added quietly between kisses. “My ship should have enough supplies to get them through...until another trading vessel arrives.”

“Bless you, Captain Cormac,” you smiled up at him, genuine gratitude and relief now coating your voice. The two of you shared a few more kisses, before you added, in the same teasing tone as before, “So...is that it, then? You’ll just drop off the supplies and be on your way?”

He lifted his eyebrows. “What? And leave you to stumble around and risk twistin’ your other ankle? Not likely!” he stated, teasing you as well.

You both chuckled at this, for your stubbornness wasn’t an unknown thing, and he was absolutely right in pointing out your likeliness to try and continue to go about your daily tasks, despite your injuries.

He then left another lingering kiss upon your eager lips, before trailing them down to your neck, making you mewl softly as you slipped your fingers into his hair.

“Besides...the winds are too harsh to sail back out to sea anytime soon,” he pointed out. “So, I’ll be here for a while to help you out, while you recover...” He paused to nuzzle your neck, before concluding in your ear, “...if you’ll have me, that is.”

You gently nudged his head back so you could look at his face, your eyes now filled with the love you had for him. “No matter how many times you come and go from here, I’ll always have you.”

Shay visibly melted right then and there, his features even softer than before. “A ghrá...” he husked, as he again caressed your face.

Momentarily forgetting about the tender state of your body, he suddenly launched in with a much more passionate kiss than before, as he wrapped his arms around you - his actions telling you just how much he missed you during his time at sea.

Despite your aching body protesting somewhat, you responded enthusiastically in turn - moaning into his mouth and sighing when he groaned in response. You didn’t care if the tip of his nose was still cold or if your ankle was still dully throbbing; the only thing that mattered was that your love was back in your arms, and had the intention of remaining in them, and with you, for a long, long time.

#I just really wanted to write some Shay fluff #blame the cold weather lol #(as always: I hope this is in character enough)#Shay Cormac x Reader #Shay Cormac #my ac writings

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afoolandathief · 3 years

Text

Word find tag catch-up

Catching up on my tag games, so here we go -

I got a few tags and some of these excerpts are pretty long, so I'm putting these below the cut:

TWs for swearing, food and drink, alcohol, blood, needles, vomit, death and violence, mentions of sex, and a slight reference to body image:

Tagged by @thegreatobsesso to find shine, shade, trust, and life:

Shine

“You should try exercising, Caz,” she said, switching to her other arm. “You’re not going to stay young and thin forever.”

“Believe me, Amelia,” he replied from underneath the blanket. “My body is not going to change much for a very long time.”

“Well, it may help that you don’t eat anything.”

He poked his head out from the blanket.

“I eat,” he said.

“I never see you eating, Caz.”

He grinned.

“Well, I guess that’s because, when I’m with you, I’m only hungry for -”

“If you say you’re only hungry for me — or a certain part of my body — I’m going to kick you,” she cut in. “Anyway, I should be back in at most 30 minutes. Hopefully it’ll be sub-20.”

“Enjoy the sunshine,” he said, ducking back under the blanket and falling asleep.

Shade

“Juni,” Caz said weakly. “Didn’t think I’d see you again tonight. Back for more?”

“I’ve had my fill,” the prince said.

“You sure about that?”

“Where is it, you bloodsucker?” Juniper demanded while turning a shade of emerald.

“Um, where is what?”

“Don’t play dumb, it’s not that cute.” The prince gritted his teeth and continued, “Where is the armband?”

Trust

“You’re a vegetarian?” Jade asked.

“Yeah, always a little weird growing up on a farm and not eating meat, I suppose.”

“I don’t know why people would care, but then, I’m used to people with weird diets,” Jade swallowed. “Not that I think your diet is weird!”

Violet laughed her tinkling laugh again. “You’re fine.”

“Is it bad if I still order the chicken panini?”

“Not at all. Though I’m sure all those chickens that died might mind,” Violet stared at Jade.

Jade didn’t say anything for a moment. “Oh shit," she finally said. “You’re messing with me again.”

“Yup," Violet grinned. She handed Jade a sandwich wrapped in wax paper. “You want to try our mango juice with that? Grew the mangoes myself.”

“You’re messing with me again, you can’t grow mangoes here,” Jade said.

“I have a greenhouse.”

“Still, you couldn’t easily grow a mango tree.”

“Trust me, I can grow anything,” Violet said, her eyes flashing the same way they had the other night. She poured a pitcher of the bright orange liquid into a plastic cup and handed it to Jade.

Jade took a sip. “Good as always. Which reminds me, I still owe you for the lemonade.”

“Consider that paid for by keeping me company, if only for a short while. In fact, consider it the same today.”

Life

She turned her keys in the ignition. The engine sputtered, but refused to start.

“With double the pay, you could save up for a truck that’s not a piece of shit,” Caz retorted.

Jade turned the keys again, this time revving the gas until the engine roared to life.

“This is a good truck,” she said. “I just need new spark plugs.”

Tagged by @pertinax--loculos to find travel, needle, depth, weather and save:

Travel

Marie and Caz were huddled around a phonogram.

“I can’t believe you have a recording of Buddy Bolden,” Caz said. “I thought there were none left.”

“I managed to hold onto a few records after I left New Orleans,” Marie said.

“So you were in New Orleans right when jazz was taking off?” Caz asked. “Wow, I should’ve come to America a lot sooner than when I did. I didn’t get to New York until about 20 years after Bolden was around.”

“You were in New York during the heyday of jazz,” Marie said. “Not to mention where a lot of great minds were meeting then. I wish I had been there.”

“I figured you would have traveled there yourself.”

“Well, I stayed in Haiti for a bit after the revolution,” Marie said. “But I went to Florida to help the Seminoles in their fight a little while after, and then New Orleans. I just kept traveling around the south and west after that.”

“I’ve never been to Haiti, actually,” Caz remarked. “The closest was when I went to Cuba a few times for, uh, work reasons.”

“It’s a beautiful island,” Marie said. “I miss it a lot.”

“You grew up there?”

“I did.”

“How old are you exactly, if you mind me asking?”

“Just about 250 years old.”

“Ha! I’ve got you beat by about 350 years,” Caz said. He rubbed his neck, narrowly missing a hanging plant with his elbow. “Um, guess that’s not really something to brag about.”

“Well, you are blessed with being forever young,” Marie smiled softly. “Witches eventually do age, albeit slowly, myself included.”

“True,” Caz sighed.

Needle

“You’ll sleep upstairs with the other girls, but let’s get you outfitted first. I’m interested in trying a sample of you myself.”

Renner tied off her left elbow and began searching her arm for a vein.

Jade felt the sting of the needle and looked down to see it attached to a vial not too different than the one that had been sticking out of Arravich’s arm in the hospital. Renner attached a long winding tube to it, placing the end of it in a wine glass. He pushed down on the vial, sending a dark red stream through the tube into the glass.

“Just a small amount, Renner,” Valfierno said. “I don’t want to overindulge.”

He began to take a sip just as a knock was heard at the door.

“Go ahead, Renner, I’m curious to see who would be at our door at this hour.”

Renner opened the door to reveal a shocked-looking Caz.

Depth

“What was up with you and that one kid, anyway?”

Jade realized Caz was talking to her.

“Who, Matt?” she asked.

“I mean, he was alright to look at, but,” Caz paused to hiccup. “He had the depth of a — what do you call it in English? — ah, right, the depth of a tide pool.”

Jade tried to track Caz in the mirror, but he had leaned down to slurp loudly from Derek’s neck.

“I just figured,” he continued, getting up to lean against Jade’s seat like he was maneuvering on a ship at sea. “That you preferred someone with a little more class and maturity.”

He proceeded to belch almost directly in Jade’s ear.

“‘Scuse me,” he said in a swinging tone. Then, as if realizing the irony, he burst into high-pitched laughter as he fell back into his seat.

“What is wrong with you?” Jade snapped. She wrinkled her nose at the acetone scent on Caz’s breath. “Are you — are you drunk?”

“No, I’m just,” Caz paused long enough to answer Jade’s question. “I’m just a little bit buzzed.”

Weather

In his six-hundred-and-seventeenth year of being on this earth, Casimir Jozef Mraz had come to a realization.

He was absolutely, hopelessly in love.

Of course, Caz fell in love at least once every decade. But this time was different, he thought, as he lay in bed, not used to trying to sleep at night. It had to be; he couldn’t find a damned thing wrong with this girl, even her name.

Amelia.

It was old-fashioned, and he liked that. Speaking it felt warm and familiar on his lips.

Lying next to him, Amelia’s eyelids fluttered for a moment, before going still as her breathing evened out and she fell even deeper into sleep. Caz heard her heartbeat slow to steady rhythm.

He leaned closer, cradling his arm around her, taking care not to catch the gold strands of hair that seemed to change texture with the weather, curling up in wiry spirals.

Caz watched a shadow falling across her ski-jump nose twist and morph as she shifted slightly. She looked almost like porcelain now, blue veins painted on her neck and chest like delft tile. She sighed again in her sleep.

So many people he had been with had wound up dead or forgotten over the years. Caz was determined this time would be different.

Save

Jade had gotten herself lost in a thought, again.

Usually this occurred when she was at her kitchen table, trying to piece together a spell; or when she took apart her laptop so it no longer sounded like a jet engine. It wasn’t supposed to involve Jade charging forward into the next room of a crowded party, ignoring all instincts to run outside and take a deep breath of cool night air.

Maybe it was hearing that someone else could get hurt. But that didn’t make any sense. Don’t try to save the world. Just focus on the next step in surviving. That was what she lived by.

No, she realized. For the first time in a long while, Jade was actually afraid.

Tagged by @diphthongsfordays to find space, scream, soft and scare:

Space

He jumped to his feet and ran towards the space between Jade and the alleyway.

Then he was falling to his knees and dry heaving.

“What the hell?” he gasped. He looked around at a circle of white surrounding him, a series of sigils carved into it by Jade’s knife. “What is this?”

“Table salt,” she said. “Combined with a few wards. Vampires are pretty susceptible to threshold magic, aren’t they?”

Caz choked back some bile and rose unsteadily to his feet.

Scream

“Lila, you seem to have calmed down a bit,” Caz said, stroking an ear larger than his hand.

He held the wolf back by the nape of her neck and leaned towards the other vampire.

“Sai cosa, Giuseppe? Non avevi torto riguardo alla tua supposizione,” he said, a small, wicked smile playing on his lips.

He released his grip on Lila.

“Ma devi capire quanto fosse stupido ferirla se mi sentivo in quel modo.”

Caz walked away from the alley, a strange and familiar feeling of satisfaction growing in the pit of his stomach as he heard Valfierno’s screams behind him increase in pitch and desperation. It was a sensation he hadn’t come across in years, and it felt good. He looked up at the full yellow moon and grinned, his teeth flashing in the light.

Soft

She looked up at Violet.

“Do you think we could each carry one of them?”

“If you can maintain a levitation spell for the whole length of the walk back,” she replied. “But your arm looks pretty bad, Jade.”

“Hmm,” Jade furrowed her brow. “I vote we leave Amelia.”

“No,” Caz whined softly into the stone. “Don’t leave my girlfriend behind.”

“Caz you’re currently bleeding out from where she carved into you. I don’t think she’s your girlfriend anymore.”

Scare

She was getting closer to him. Caz could smell that scrape still bleeding from her wrist. He was already faint from hunger. He needed to get her out of here.

The best method, he decided, was to scare her.

“So what if I am?” he asked, before smiling his widest and sharpest smile. “And if I am, may I remind you you’re currently backed into a corner by someone much stronger and faster than you, Jade?”

Mistake. You made a mistake, you fool.

He knew it as soon as the words left his lips. Don’t ever piss off a witch. His left ankle left the ground first, carried upward by a root looping around it, followed by his right.

Tagging, if you'd like: @drippingmoon, @authortango, @author-a-holmes, @avian-writes & @faelanvance to find calm, lake, ivory & estimate.

#my writing #writeblr #something wicked #tag game #thegreatobsesso #pertinax--loculos #diphthongsfordays #tw: swearing #tw: body image #tw: food #tw: drink #tw: alcohol #tw: blood #tw: needles #tw: vomit

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snowdice · 4 years

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Big Bang (Sort of) Editing Story [Day 11]

I started writing this fic while editing my Big Bang story, but am going to continue doing it for other things now that Kill Dear is out. I will write and publish 100 words of the story every time I finish doing whatever task I’m doing. If you’d like to block these proceedings, please feel free to block the tag proofread stories. I will reblog this post with the parts of the story I do today. Edited chapters 1 & 2 are linked; everything else I’ve done so far is under the cut.

My Master Post Part 1 Part 2

I was going to do the bingo fic, today but I haven’t been feeling 100% so didn’t start it in the morning. I kinda wanted to work on this one instead so I’m going to. :)

Chapter 3

The figure whose head Patton had just slammed a cookie sheet over tottered forward and fell to the floor; the knife fell limply from its hand onto the floor. Patton immediately stepped forward to kick the weapon away towards Logan. Logan stepped forward to grab it and stored it away quickly at the bottom of the chest at the foot of his bed.

He looked back up at Patton. “T-thank you,” he said.

“Um-huh,” Patton replied, still looking down at the fallen figure. It did not seem like it’d be getting up anytime soon. He slowly lowered the cookie sheet.

He cautiously knelt down next to the person.

“Patton, what are you doing?” Logan asked.

“I just want to see,” Patton said. He carefully shoved the figure over to its back so he could peer at his face. It was a young boy with a pale face and kinda squiggly dark hair that framed his face unevenly. “Oh,” Patton said softly. “He’s just a baby.”

“What are you talking about?” Logan asked.

“He’s like 12,” Patton said with a frown. “Maybe 13.”

“He also had a knife,” Logan stressed, but he did move closer to get a better look at him. “We should call the guards.”

“But...”

“No, Patton,” Logan said firmly.

“Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding?” Patton tried.

“A misunderstanding?” Logan scoffed. “What? Did he accidently sneak past the guards into the royal family’s private hallway and come into my bedroom in the middle of the night with a knife?”

Patton looked down at the kid. “Well…”

“He’s clearly an assassin,” Logan said. “We need to call the guards so they can deal with him appropriately.”

“Can we at least wait until he wakes up?” Patton said. “I want to talk to him. Maybe…”

“He’s not a feral cat you can tame.”

Patton bit his lip and looked up at Logan about to do something sorta mean. “But aren’t you curious?” Patton beseeched. “He’s so young. Who would have sent him? Who would have trained him if he’s really an assassin? How’d he get past the guards? Don’t you want to know? They probably wouldn’t tell you if we let the guards take him away.”

Patton could see Logan’s resolve breaking. He was weak to his own curiosity and whoever this kid was, was a curiosity. He sighed. “We’ll have to check him for any weapons before he wakes up, and we’ll have to restrain him.” Patton beamed up at him. “We’ll call the guards and tell Father as soon as we’re done or at the first sign of trouble.”

“Sure,” Patton readily agreed.

“Hmm,” Logan said. “Watch him closely for a couple of seconds.” He ducked through the door to his little work area and then ran back with a corked bottle. “May I borrow your bracelets?”

“Sure. Why?” Patton asked, already working them off his own wrists.

“This is a binding potion,” Logan explained, taking the bracelets and pouring a couple of drops carefully on them. “It keeps people locked in place. It’s rather strong though and if I applied it directly on his skin, it’d hurt him and be hard to take off. This way, the bracelets will just act like magical cuffs. They’ll hold his arms in place wherever we need them to be.” He waited for a moment and then tapped his own finger to where he’d applied the potion. “It’s dry” he said. “Help me get these on him.” Patton nodded and grabbed the boy’s thin wrists in his, pulling back the dark sleeves so Logan could snap the brackets on him. Then, Logan grabbed both of his hands and moved them above his head, so they laid against the ground. Patton shifted him around, so he was laying prone. “Okay, now we should make sure he doesn’t have any other weapons on him.”

Patton nodded and they both started awkwardly patting at his clothing, feeling for anything that could be a weapon. “He’s really skinny,” Patton said while his hands brushed across his rib cage.

“Strange,” Logan said. “You would think one would keep one’s assassins well fed.”

“And older,” Patton pointed out.

“It’ll be another question for when he wakes,” Logan said. “He doesn’t seem to have any other weapons on him.”

“Let’s get him sat up,” Patton suggested, “so he’s easier to talk to.”

Logan nodded, and they worked on pulling him into a sitting position against the wall. The boy made a slight sound at being moved and Logan met his eyes. They quickly finished setting him up and settled his hands next to him on the ground to pin them there.

Then, they both stood back to watch. The boy shifted a bit more and then sucked in a sudden breath. He went tense all over the second before his eyes opened. His head lifted to look at them with absolutely terrified eyes. Logan shifted beside him, clearly about to speak, but Patton’s hand struck out to grab Logan’s shoulder. Logan glanced at him and then stood back.

Patton moved forward to kneel in front of him. “Hey there,” he said with a slight smile. The boy seemed to try to curl away from him into the wall. Strangely, he didn’t seem to even attempt to pull against his restraints.

“What’s your name?” Patton asked. He paused but the boy didn’t respond. He just stared at him with scared eyes. “My name’s Patton,” he offered, “and that’s Logan.” The boy glanced at Logan, and then looked away, staring down at his lap. Patton waited, but he didn’t move. Eventually, Patton tilted his head so he could get a look at his face. “Oh, honey,” Patton said. “Are you crying?” Patton reached out to touch his cheek and he flinched back with a sharp inhale but there wasn’t very far for him to go. “Hey, it’s okay,” Patton soothed. He gently wiped away a few of the tears that had fallen onto his cheeks. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The boy did not respond, and Patton settled back on his knees with a frown. He glanced at Logan who shrugged. Patton bit his lip in thought for a moment. They weren’t going to be able to speak to him until he calmed down. How could Patton calm him down? Patton’s eyes skirted around the room. The book Logan was reading? No. One of the old fancy crowns they’d borrowed from Thomathy? No. Cookies?

“Are you hungry?” Patton asked the boy. He didn’t confirm verbally, but his head did tilt up in interest. “We have some cookies,” Patton said. He stood, perhaps too quickly because he cowered into the wall as though he expected Patton to lunge at him. Patton smiled apologetically and walked over to the plate they’d luckily stacked the leftover cookies on before Patton had used the cookie sheet for different purposes.

With a smile, he selected a mint chocolate chip cookie from the plate and walked back over to the boy. He was slower this time with his movements, but the kiddo still tracked him carefully with his eyes as he knelt back in front of him. “Here,” Patton offered. “Try this one. It’s my favorite.”

The boy didn’t open his mouth. In fact, he pressed his lips even harder together.

“Come on,” Patton tempted. “They’re really good. It’s my mama’s own recipe and she made them herself. She’s one of the only two people who know how to make them perfect.”

Patton glanced over at Logan and smiled. He got a glare back in return. Patton leaned forward slightly like he was telling the boy a secret. “Logan’s the other person who knows how to make them,” he divulged. “When I was six, my mama got sick for a few days and I was really sad. He wanted to cook me my favorite cookies to cheer me up. He had no idea how to do it, but he was determined. He snuck into the kitchen in the middle of the night and tried to make them.” Patton laughed at the memory. “He did really, really bad. Logan hadn’t ever cooked anything before, let alone mint chocolate chip cookies. There was flour everywhere and he managed to break three wooden spoons. But, when mama got better, she taught him how to make them. That way, he can make them for me if she ever can’t.”

Patton offered the treat again. “Come on,” Patton said when he still didn’t move to eat it. “What’s wrong?”

Logan stepped forward suddenly and Patton blinked at him. He reached for the cookie and tore off a small piece of it before offering it to Patton. Patton opened his mouth, confused, and let him pop it into his mouth. He chewed it and swallowed.

“Try again,” Logan said, stepping away.

Patton turned back to the boy and held out the cookie. After a moment’s hesitation, the boy opened his mouth. Patton let him take a bite. “See!” he said. “It’s good, huh?”

He chewed and swallowed the bite of cookie. “W-what’s going on?” he finally spoke in a low scratchy tone. Hmm, maybe Patton should get him some water soon.

“We were hoping you could tell us that,” Patton said. “Lo and I were a bit startled by you showing up in his bedroom in the middle of the night.”

“I… was knocked unconscious,” the boy said.

“Well, you gave us quite the fright there with that knife of yours.”

The boy seemed to shrink at the reminder.

“Want to tell us what that was about?” Patton asked.

He shook his head, shoulders climbing.

“Let us rephrase,” Logan said calmly. “Clearly you were here to assassinate either my father, myself, or both. So, the relevant questions are who sent you to do so and why?” The boy shook his head and Logan frowned. “No?” he asked. “Apologies, but ‘no’ is not a sufficient answer.”

Chapter 4

Logan’s statement did not appear to go over well with the small assassin. He went still and curled over into himself as though to protect his more vulnerable areas. Honestly, Logan thought agitated, Logan hadn’t threatened any bodily harm. He’d even prefaced the statement with an apology even though he didn’t feel as though he had anything to apologize for! Just like father had taught him!

Patton shot him a glare, telling him he was somehow in the wrong despite the fact that he’d been the one who was almost assassinated. Logan grumbled and returned to quietly sulking in the background while Patton cooed at the assassin, trying to cajole him out of the ball he’d wrapped himself into.

Logan did have to admit the situation was odd. He was young. He didn’t even know anyone trained assassins so young. His kingdom did have a guild of trained assassins/spies, but one couldn’t even join the military until one was of age (though they could start training at 16 with special permission) and all assassins must have at least a year of military training before being considered. It would be years more before they were sent out on actual missions.

So, where had this young boy came from? Surely, he wasn’t acting of his own violation, especially considering his age and temperament. What was his or whoever had sent him’s greater purpose? One didn’t attempt the risky act of regicide without some reasoning. Why did he only have one weapon? Most hired killers would be provided with a backup at the very least and more than likely an arsenal. Why was he acting so skittish? It was a strange attitude for a trained killer.

He had piqued Logan’s curiosity and Logan wanted answers.

“There, see?” Patton was saying. He was hand feeding more of the cookie to the assassin who looked just as startled by this fact the second time around as the first. “How about a compromise?”

Logan eyed him suspiciously. He was willing to let Patton lead since Logan was well aware of his own shortcomings when it came to tact, but his friend also had a bit of a bleeding heart. Logan refused to let him put himself at risk.

Ironically, the assassin seemed to be on the same page as Logan. His eyes tracked Patton distrustfully. “Compromise?” he echoed.

“Yes!” Patton said, unconcerned with the blatant discomfort in the room.

“We’ll ask you a question and you answer it,” Patton said. “Then you can ask a question and we’ll answer that. Then we can keep going back and forth like that.”

The assassin seemed unsure about this, but he slowly nodded. “What’s your question?” he asked.

Patton looked back at Logan and inclined his head. Logan took a step forward. “Who are you?” Logan asked. The assassin hesitated.

“Maybe a more specific question,” Patton suggested. “We’ve got plenty of time and ‘who are you?’ is a bit of a big question. There are so many different answers!”

“Very well,” Logan agreed. “Let’s start with, what’s your name?”

The assassin considered him, looking overly cautious for such a mundane question. “It’s Virgil,” he said after a moment.

“Last name?” Logan prompted.

“I-” he hesitated, looking distressed. “I don’t have one.”

“You don’t have one?” Logan asked.

And… he was curling up into a ball again. “Sorry,” he said softly. He started to cry again.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, hey,” Patton soothed. “That was good.”

Logan frowned. It was not ‘good’. It had given them basically no information. “Why-”

“It’s Virgil’s turn to ask a question, Logan,” Patton said. Logan almost groaned. This was going to take forever, wasn’t it?

Virgil’s eyes bounced between them. “Why haven’t you called someone to take me away yet?” he asked.

“We wanted to ask you a few questions ourselves before getting the castle guards involved,” Logan answered.

“Are…” he shut his mouth, likely realizing he’d have to wait for his next question.

Logan considered him. “Why do you have no last name?” Logan asked.

Virgil looked away. “I’m an orphan. I don’t know who my parents were, and no one bothered to give me one.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” Logan acknowledged. “And your question?”

“Are…” Virgil said. “Are you going to torture me if I don’t answer something right?”

Patton let out a little pained exhale.

“Why would we do that?” Logan asked.

“Why wouldn’t you do that?” he replied.

“Where the hell are you from where that’s a question?”

“Why the hell should I tell you?”

“Why the hell would you be defending a place that makes you think that’s a normal question?”

“What the fuck are you even on about?”

“Okay,” Patton cut Logan off before he retorted in kind. “I think that’s enough of the question game at the moment.” He stood up and walked back over to the plate of cookies.

“He-” Logan started to grouse and got a sugar cookie pushed into his mouth to silence him.

Logan frowned around the cookie as Patton went back and offered the other cookie to Virgil. Virgil turned his head away from it. Logan’s eyes watched the assassin as Patton thought for a moment and then tore a bit of the cookie off. He ate the bite himself before offering the cookie again. This Virgil was a suspicious thing, Logan thought as the boy slowly ate a bite of cookie.

It made Logan’s curiosity itch even more, but at this rate he wasn’t going to get any answers. He polished off the sugar cookie and then walked over to sit on the floor next to where Patton was kneeling.

Virgil watched him move and Logan met his eyes. “No, by the way,” Logan thought to answer. “We aren’t going to hurt you.”

Logan tried not to bristle at the disbelieving look on his face. Logically that distrust had nothing to do with Logan personally, but with whatever his experiences were before this.

Logan tilted his head at him. “Why the one knife?”

Virgil blinked at that. “What?”

“The knife,” Logan reiterated. “You were clearly here to use it, but you only have one. It seems odd.”

“Uh…” Virgil said. “I don’t know. That’s all they gave me.”

Logan nodded. “Me or my dad?” he asked. “Or both?”

Virgil clearly didn’t want to answer. “The king,” he said.

Logan nodded, and it suddenly hit him exactly what would have occurred if he and Patton hadn’t happened to be awake. Virgil seemed to see the realization on his face. He braced himself as though expecting to be struck. Logan felt suddenly nauseous, the idea of a dead father hitting a bit too close to home after…

“And the guards?” Logan asked.

“I didn’t,” Virgil rushed to say. “Just a light sleeping potion. They probably didn’t even notice anything happen.”

“Okay,” Logan said. “Good.”

“What are you going to do with me?” Virgil asked.

“We’ll hand you over to the guards,” Logan said. “They’ll figure out what to do with you from there.”

He nodded, looking small, and Logan refused to feel guilty for it. Virgil had come here with the intention of killing Logan’s dad! Logan had no reason to feel guilty about turning him in. Besides, it wasn’t as though any of them were going to hurt or kill a literal child. Dad would never let them anyway. He’d be fine! There was no reason for his sad eyes that seemed almost too big for his face to make Logan want to squirm uncomfortably.

Logan sighed. “Are you still hungry?” he asked. “We do actually have more than just cookies in spite of Patton’s efforts.”

“We don’t have any more jam though because of Logan’s efforts earlier,” Patton said sweetly. Logan pursed his lips but didn’t deny it. Instead he just walked over to where they’d stored their extra snacks.

“How about some cheese?” Logan suggested, “and perhaps some milk to drink?”

“Why are you trying to feed me?” Virgil asked.

“Because you look hungry. Are you?”

He bit his lip and nodded. They split up the cheese between the three of them which seemed to soothe Virgil’s worry of poison. He ate what they offered him without complaint and drank most of the milk.

Logan managed to squeeze a few more answers out of the boy, but nowhere near enough to satiate his curiosity. Eventually, morning came, and Logan sighed. “We should probably…” he said, “turn you in.”

The boy looked like he might burst into sobs, but he just hung his head. Another stab of that unfounded guilt shot through Logan and the frown on Patton’s face just made it worse.

“I’ll talk to my father first,” Logan promised. “He’s a kind man. Nothing bad will happen to you.”

Virgil clearly didn’t believe him, but Logan knew it would be okay in the end.

“We should probably hide him before we leave though,” Logan told Patton. “Just in case.”

Patton nodded and looked around. “Closet?”

“That will be adequate,” Logan agreed. He turned to Virgil. “Those bracelets make your arms stay in place as you have seen, but I can move them at will. I’ll take your arms and guide you to the closet. You walk behind me. Understand?”

Virgil nodded and Logan picked up both of his wrists, pulling his arms in front of him and then using his grip to help the boy stand. He didn’t resist being pulled to his feet or led to the closet.

“Alright, let’s go,” Logan said. Patton had on his unhappy face, but Logan did his best to ignore it. This was the correct decision. He and Patton left his bedroom and crossed to his dad’s room. Logan knocked. He’d expected that he’d have to wake his father since it was still very early in the morning, so he was surprised when the door opened before Logan had even finished knocking.

“Logan,” Father said. “I was just coming to see you.” He was already dressed, and Logan raked his brain for any early morning appointments for today and came up blank.

“What about?” Logan asked.

“There’s been word that Lamir’s new Queen may be considering an alliance with Mocnejsi. Seeing as I knew her mother fairly well, I’m hoping I can talk her out of it,” he said.

“What should I do?” Logan asked.

Father turned back into the room. “You’ll stay here and oversee things while I’m gone,” he told Logan over his shoulder. “I’ll only be gone for three weeks and there is nothing major that will need to happen. Just make sure everything runs like usual.”

“You’re going to be gone for three weeks?” Logan asked.

“Yes,” Father confirmed.

Logan glanced at Patton who had turned to him, hands clasped and was shooting him his best pleading expression. “Okay,” Logan said, “have a nice trip.”

Chapter 5

Virgil sat as still as he could in the dark space he’d been put in. He could feel the warning tingle of the binding magic at his wrists telling him not to move too much or else. He was just lucky that they’d chosen to use metal instead of cloth to apply the potion and that he’d been unconscious until it dried. He knew from experience that there was no escaping the pain that type of potion brought until it dried no matter how still you were. Now, at least, if he didn’t try to struggle against his binding it wouldn’t hurt him. It sucked because all he wanted to do was move. He wanted to struggle and pull against the binding at his wrist, but he couldn’t. Even if it wouldn’t put him in crippling amounts of pain, he’d still not be able to get away.

So, instead he just shook. He was such a fuck up. He couldn’t even remember the right room and now he was going to die. No, he was probably going to be tortured and then he was going to die. His breath came quicker and quicker the longer he remained in the closet. He’d tried to murder their king. He’d come into their prince’s bedroom in the middle of the night wielding a knife. There was no way he wasn’t going to be made to suffer for that. It didn’t matter how gently the prince and his… person had treated him so far.

He heard the muffled sounds of people approaching the closet and curled into himself. Oh, god he was going to die. He had been breathing quickly, but now he couldn’t breathe at all. It felt like someone had poured tar into his lungs. The closet door opened, and he flinched, curled into a ball and choking on nothing.

“Hey, hey,” a familiar voice said. Patton, Virgil’s mind offered: the other guy with the prince. When Virgil managed to flick his eyes open, he saw Patton had gotten to his knees in front of him. He dully noted that the boy had reached out and touched his shoulder. “Oh sweetie, I’m sorry. Can you breathe for me?”

What was the point? He wondered, but after a few moments, he managed to suck in a couple of breaths.

When he managed to calm enough to look around, he noticed that instead of there being a bunch of castle guards standing around waiting to drag him off to some dungeon, it was just the prince and Patton again. He blinked up at them in confusion.

“There’s been a change of plans,” the prince explained.

“What?” Virgil asked dumbly. “What do you mean?”

“My father is going to be away for the next three weeks,” the prince said. “Considering you didn’t kill the guards and your only targets seems to be my father and perhaps myself, you are likely not a real danger to anyone if you escape and I’m willing to take the risk with myself. With that in mind, Patton and I have decided not to turn you in yet.”

Well what the hell did that mean? Was that good or bad? On one hand, it meant that he wouldn’t be executed yet, but what exactly did the prince want with him?

As Virgil began to freak out about the possibilities, the prince continued to speak, seemingly more to himself than to Virgil or Patton.

“We will need to figure out how to care for you in the interim. We’ll have to provide you with more food than just snacks as well as find you a place to sleep. At least one of us will have to be with you at all times, and with Father gone, I’ll have to attend to some royal duties. Luckily it isn’t strange for Patton to come into my quarters at will.” He considered Virgil with discerning eyes. “Also, your general health seems to be lacking, so I’ll have to account for preexisting conditions. First thing, first though. I imagine keeping you in those bracelets all the time would be impractical. We’ll need another solution, especially for sleep.”

Virgil did not like the sound of that. He assumed based on what the prince had done so far that he’d enact some sort of magical bondage. From Virgil’s experience, magical bondage ranged from unpleasant to legitimately agonizing.

“Patton, if you will watch him for the time being, I need to go work on a more precise binding potion then the one I’ve been using.”

“Sure,” Patton agreed, but the prince was wondering away before he’d even finished the word. Patton shook his head fondly before turning back to Virgil. “Wanna come out of the closet now?”

He really, really didn’t, but he was pretty sure he didn’t have a choice in the matter. He curled his legs into himself as much as he could and waited to be dragged out into the room, but he wasn’t touched.

“Okay,” Patton said. “That’s fine. It’s a pretty nice closet.” Virgil said nothing but did breathe a sigh of relief about being able to stay. It wasn’t very rational because in actuality he was no safer here than anywhere else in the room, but the closet felt more defensible even if they could drag him out of it whenever they wanted.

Patton seemed content to sit outside the closet and leave him in peace for the moment. A few minutes later Patton made a sound and Virgil looked over to see him yawn. He smiled when he saw Virgil watching. “It was a long night for all of us, I imagine,” he said. “Hmm… actually. Wait there.”

Like he could go anywhere else. He couldn’t get a good enough angle to see what Patton was doing, but he could here him moving around the room and rustling through a few things. He came back into view holding a comical number of pillows and blankets.

“Here,” Patton said. He offered Virgil one of the blankets and then seemed to remember that Virgil could not reach out to take it. “Hmm…” He spread out the blanket next to Virgil. “Do you mind if I touch you?”

“Why are you even asking?” Virgil asked. “You can do whatever you want with me.”

Patton frowned and Virgil scrunched into himself at the expression, but it lightened the next moment. “I know it’s a bit of a bad situation and you are technically a prisoner, but I don’t want to hurt you or make you feel bad,” Patton said.

Virgil didn’t know how to respond to that. There was no way that it wasn’t some sort of trick, but he didn’t dare outright say that he thought that.

“Can I touch you a bit?” Patton asked once again. “Just to help you get onto the blanket.”

“Sure,” Virgil agreed.

The other boy smiled sweetly and grabbed his wrists with gentle fingers. Virgil let his whole body follow Patton’s guidance until he was situated rather comfortably on an unbelievably soft blanket.

“Head,” Patton said, holding up a pillow. Virgil lifted his head slightly and the pillow was shoved underneath it.

Another blanket was settled over him the next. Patton was weird. “There you go!” Patton said. “Now you can take a nap.”

Virgil blinked up at him in confusion. That was… not happening. What exactly about this situation did Patton think was conducive to sleep?

“…Or rest comfortably at least,” Patton said after a moment. He arranged a pillow and blanket for himself and laid on his side, so he was facing Virgil. He yawned slightly again but didn’t close his eyes. They stared at each other for an uncomfortably long moment.

“What are we doing?” Virgil finally asked when he realized Patton was not planning to ever break the awkward silence.

“We’re resting,” Patton said, “and hanging out.”

“Hanging out?” Virgil asked.

“Mmm, yeah,” Patton said popping up onto his elbow to peer at him. “Let’s talk some! We can get to know each other.”

Virgil looked at him suspicious about where this was going. “Talk about what?” he asked, eyes narrowed.

Patton hummed a quiet tune and his fingers tapped against the side of his face as he wiggled a bit back and forth. “Do you like cats?”

“Cats?” Virgil asked. “Uh… sure?”

“I love cats,” Patton divulged. “There are a lot of cats in the castle. Not all of them like people very much, but I like to try to pet them! I even made up a game where I get points for every cat that lets me pet it. The grumpier they are, the more points I get!”

“You… try to pet wild cats?” Virgil asked.

“Uh huh!”

Virgil thought back to the few untamed cats he’d met in his life. “Don’t they… try to murder you.”

“Sometimes,” Patton said with a shrug. He moved his arm suddenly and Virgil startled, but he just rolled down his sleeve so Virgil could see a large, fairly fresh-looking scratch on his arm. “This one’s from Mr. Calico Man. He does not like his ears touched apparently, but he will let me give him chin scratchies!”

This boy was insane.

“I think I’ve pet every single cat in the castle at least once, except for Ghost Kitty.”

“Who is Ghost Kitty?”

“Oh, Ghost Kitty is the prettiest thing in the world,” Patton gushed. “She hangs out in the gardens a lot, but no one ever can get anywhere near it. She’s completely black and only started showing up about a year ago. I can’t even see her for more than 2 seconds at a time let alone try to pet her, but I will some day and on that day, I’ll get 1,000 points!”

“How many points are they usually?”

“For ones like Mittens and Cleo who I’ve known since they were babies, only 1. For Sandra it’s 5 since she can get a bit tetchy, but usually won’t run away. Lily Flower and Red Hot like to run away, but won’t try to scratch me if I do catch them so they’re 10. Ones like Mr. Calico Man are worth 100.”

“So, you are going to try to pet a cat that is 10x more feral than the one that slashed your arm?”

“She’s so pretty!”

“You have no survival instincts whatsoever, do you?” Virgil asked.

Patton smiled wryly at him. “I apparently have a couple,” he said.

Virgil blinked at him and thought back, connecting the dots. Only Patton and the prince knew he was here, and the prince had been in front of him when he’d came into the room… “You were the one to knock me unconscious,” he concluded.

“I’d say sorry, but you were coming in here with the intention of hurting someone I care about,” Patton said with a shrug.

Right. Virgil had almost forgotten amongst his soft tone and gentle countenance that the man laying docilly next to him definitely hated his guts, and would probably relish in whatever the prince had planned for him.

Virgil let his fists clench, but otherwise didn’t let onto his distress at the thought as Patton softly brought the conversation back to the previous topic and continued to ramble on about the different cats of the castle.

Chapter 6

Virgil had started to feign sleep about an hour after Logan had left to his potions lab. Patton could tell because his arms never relaxed. Patton kept talking to him in soft tones even though he was no longer responding.

He seemed exhausted, but he was also clearly not planning to sleep any time soon. Patton wondered what had led up to him being here both recently which had caused the dark circles under his eyes and long term that had caused the sunkenness of his cheeks.

Patton’s stomach growled reminding him of the passage of time. He had no idea how long whatever Logan was doing was going to take, but someone was going to have to go to the kitchen and get some breakfast soon. The snacks truly had not been enough to hold them through the night.

He felt secure enough even knowing Virgil wasn’t actually sleeping to push himself to his feet and walk over to the potions lab door. “Hey Lo,” Patton called. Virgil still hadn’t moved to indicate he was still awake.

“Yes?” he asked.

“How long are you going to take? I need to get food soon and maybe come up with an excuse for at least one of us to stay here all day.”

“It’ll be a little while longer,” Logan said.

Patton glanced back at Virgil. He caught the boy with his eyes open this time and saw him wince at being caught. “Maybe Virgil can stay in there with you well I go get things?”

“That would be fine,” Logan said, turning back to what he was working on. “Bring him in here if you’d like.”

“Okie dokie,” Patton chirped. He turned to Virgil who was looking up at him. “I’m going to take your arms and lead you to the other room, okay?”

He nodded and Patton leaned down and grabbed his wrists. He went tenser somehow when Patton moved his arms to his front and Patton frowned, but didn’t comment. He helped him get to his feet and led him into the other room.

“You can seat him over there,” Logan said pointing.

Virgil was looking around the room with wide eyes and Patton had to stop and think about what this room might look like to someone who hadn’t been enthusiastically introduced to every new potion ingredient and piece of equipment as they arrived. There were shelves of ingredients, all organized and labeled. He kept all powders in uniform glass vials and liquids in bulbous containers. Whole dried herbs hung from strings in one area and there were containers of fresh ones glowing a soft green; the preservation spells that Logan came up with himself kept them fresh for months longer than they would usually last.

Logan had three separate areas for potion making. There was one space for potions that required more dangerous ingredients which currently had something simmering at it, but the enchanted protective curtain wasn’t drawn around it, so Patton imagined it must not be doing anything that could be too harmful at the moment. The table he used for experiments was empty and thoroughly cleaned so he was clearly making something with an already well-established recipe. Currently, he was standing at his table reserved only for non-harmful substances. He was chopping up what appeared to be mint as two smaller pots boiled in front of him.

Patton led Virgil over to the indicated chair which was out of the way of even the non-dangerous ingredient zone. He still seemed to be trying to take in the room as Patton settled his wrists on the chair armrests.

“Any requests?” he asked Logan.

“Not really,” Logan replied. He glanced up at Patton. “Though if you can sneak me some of the leftover macaroni salad from dinner, that would be appreciated.”

“That’s not breakfast!” Patton chided.

“Which is why I requested that you to sneak it.”

Patton shook his head and turned back to Virgil. “What about you?” he asked.

He looked up at Patton and shook his head. Virgil looked a bit scared and out-of-sorts. He wanted to reach forward and pat him on the head or kiss his cheek to comfort him, but he imagined that would go over worse than badly. Instead, he flashed the boy a quick smile and then turned to leave the room.

He left Logan’s private chambers and closed the door behind him before walking down the hall.

“Good morning Patton,” one of the stationed guards greeted.

He smiled at her and the other guard. “Good morning Kalani. Hi Owen.”

“I see you and the prince had a sleepover,” Kalani said. “Should we be planning on him not making it to his royal duties until later today?”

“Actually,” said Patton. “Maybe all day. He was feeling a little sick. Had a headache.” It was… probably true. They hadn’t slept a wink last night.

“Hmm,” Kalani said. “Maybe there is something going around. Clover said she had a bit of a dizzy spell last night.”

“Oh,” Patton answered. Clover had been one of the two guards set to watch the door to the royal wing. At least Virgil had been telling the truth about not hurting anyone.

9783

“I hope she feels better. I’m going to go get Logan something to eat for breakfast since he can’t come himself, so I’ll see you again in a few minutes.”

The guards nodded to him and he turned to walk down the hall. The areas around the kitchens would be pretty busy at this point in the morning so instead of taking any of the busier paths to it, he walked past the dinning hall towards the guest hall and took the staircase that led straight outside. It was a longer path because he had to go around and through the garden, but it was worth not getting in anyone’s way.

Patton always did like the garden. It was pretty at every time of year. Even now as the flowers started to get sparser in the fall, it was still wonderful, and it smelt great. He took just the briefest moment to himself to splash a hand through one of the fountains with a giggle. He turned away to continue on his path to the kitchen which is when he saw her.

“Oh,” he said softly. “Hi kitty.”

Ghost Kitty was there and stared at him briefly before taking off into one of the bushes.

“Bye kitty,” he said just as soft. He smiled even though she’d ran away because that was the closest, he’d ever gotten to her.

#proofread stories #not writing

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thatesqcrush · 4 years

Text

Tie You Up

Sonny Carisi x Reader. Summary: You decide to spice things up with Sonny.

CW: NSFW - we gon’ get freaky with our Cannoli. This has language, bondage, spanking, orgasm denial, and role-play.

WC: 3595

Tags: @melsquared79 @madpanda75 @tropes-and-tales @neely1177 @amirightcounselor @mrsrafaelbarba @skittle479 @ottosuricato @delia26 @sass-and-suspenders @glimmerglittergirl @dreila03 @mommakat32 @garturbo @lovebennycolon @imjustreallynosy @whyissvuruiningmylovelife @sweetsummertime99 @evee87 @scarlettsoldier @cesarofangirl78 @redlipstickandblacktea @redlipstickandplaid @zoeykaytesmom @differentshadesofgray @misssirenlove @letty-o @esparza-army @bananas-pajamas @trekinthruthestarwars @mishaissocoollike - anyone else just ask, xo

***

“Sonny, this is the fifth late night in a row,” you whined into the receiver. “I am starting to think you are purposely avoiding me.”

“Babe, you know it is not like that,” Sonny replied, rubbing his forehead. “I have this big case and this lawyer –”

“Buchanan,” you interrupted.

“Right, he takes no shit. He’s a formidable defense attorney. He used to give Barba lotta grief. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. I am still pretty green to all of this and I don’t want to give him any advantage.”

“I know; I am sorry to be giving you grief. I just … miss you,” you sighed, as you folded your laundry. “I’m lonely.” You waited a beat before continuing; your voice was a near whisper. “And horny.”

Sonny shifted in his seat, your words shooting straight down to his cock. “I know babe. I am too. I promise I will make it up to you. Tomorrow is Friday – we have opening statements and then I will be free for the whole weekend.”

“Okay,” you replied. “Come to my place. I’m working until noon and then taking a class until 3; we can get a head start to the weekend.”

“Oh, that’s right. How are ya classes?”

“Going really well. Learning a lot,” you replied. “See you soon.”

“Perfect. Love you doll.”

“Love you too. Good luck tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

You and Sonny had an active, healthy sex life. Despite the busy schedules you both had - sometimes it felt as if you were passing ships - you both made sure to make each other a priority and regularly had sex.

What Sonny didn’t know was that after a night with your girlfriends where the talk steered into beyond 50 shades, your curiosity got the best of you and you became slightly infatuated with Kinbaku - Japanese bondage. Kinbaku involves tying someone using simple but intricate, gorgeous patterns using several pieces of rope, usually hemp or linen. The idea behind it is to use the rope as a symbol of power.

You had just finished your classes and became very proficient. The idea of tying Sonny up and having him completely at your mercy was titillating.

****

Despite being an ADA, Sonny was still, by nature a cop. So when he noticed the door to your apartment was ajar, inner alarms went off. He instinctively reached for his holster that was no longer there. “Y/N?” he called out. The apartment was pitch black and he cautiously turned on the lights.

What he saw surprised him.

There was an empty chair with a coil of red jute rope on the seat.

“Y/N?” he called out once more.

You cleared your throat, drawing attention to yourself. Sonny felt all the blood in his body drain and pool south. There you were, in Sonny’s dress blues – just the shirt, sans pants and a pair of black patent pumps. Your makeup was heavy – dark lined eyes and pouty red lips. Your hair was pulled back into a low chignon; it was all topped off with his service hat.

Sonny let out a whistle. “Y/N,” he rumbled your name, his tone dark. His bright blue eyes were filled with want and desire. “What is all of this?”

You ignored him as you circled around him, taking in his appearance. Sonny wore a fitted dark charcoal grey three piece suit with an orange speckled tie. His ass looked really good and you had to control yourself from just throwing him down and climbing on top of him (even if you could, you were petite in comparison).

“There was a complaint about marijuana from the neighbors. I had to come and do a search to see if there's any illicit contraband,” you replied seriously. You felt corny with your prepared dialogue and hoped Sonny would play along.

“I hope you have a warrant for that; I know my rights,” Sonny replied, stifling a chuckle as he began to remove his suit jacket.

“Uh-uh, keep your hands where I can see them,” you replied sternly. Sonny cocked a brow as he shrugged his jacket back on, his hands raised in front of his chest.

You helped him out of his jacket, tossing it on the couch. Sonny began to protest, knowing his jacket would wrinkle but you gave him a stern look which instantly quieted him. You then quietly began to roll up the sleeves of his white dress shirt.

Sonny towered over you, being six feet tall. Yet from day one all you knew of him was as a gentle giant. You met while he was taking evening classes at Fordham - you literally fell into his arms on a very crowded 1 train that jerked to a stop after someone pulled the emergency cord. Your coffee spilled everywhere. At the time he was a 3L at Fordham Law and you were at nearby Fordham getting your advanced certificate in advanced faith formation and Christian spirituality.

After a few more causal run-ins on the subway – you always had a habit of getting on and off around the same spot on the platform (something Sonny later warned you to not do), Sonny asked you out for coffee. It was near instant love as he regaled you with stories of working for the 16th over napoleons and coffee and you challenged and piqued his mind on the complexities of faith, something that he struggled with given the nature of his work.

After you rolled up his sleeves, you stood on your tiptoes to press a small kiss to the corner of his lips. You removed the rope from the seat. “Take a seat,” you commanded, patting the empty chair. Sonny sat, his hand rested on his chin, his long fingers covered part of his mouth, which was twitching into a smile. He was eager to see how this all played out.

“I have a warrant – right here,” you replied unbuttoning your – well Sonny’s – shirt. Under his dress blues, you wore a sheer tulle embroidered bodysuit with a thong back and an open gusset. It was embroidered with marijuana leaves. You saw it hanging in the window display of a storefront near where you took your class; it was practically kismet. The embroidered leaves covered you strategically but left very little to the imagination.

Sonny felt his cock twitch as he drank you in; his pants became uncomfortably tight. “Oh my, be still my heart.”

You sat on Sonny’s lap and without hesitation, his hands were all over you. You pulled away, standing once more. “Oh no. You made me wait for almost a whole week. You can wait a little more.” Sonny knew he was in for a long night.

“Come on babe,” Sonny begged. “Please.” He was already incredibly turned on, his voice was stressed and it played out in his accent, the diphthong made the vowel in on, sound like awn.

“Nope, no can do,” you replied sweetly, your voice in sing-song. Gripping Sonny’s face, you kissed him passionately. You felt his cock harden underneath you. “Oh Sonny, why didn't you disclose you had a concealed carry? I'm going to need to restrain you.” And very quickly, before his brain even registered what was happening, you had his arms tied behind his back in “teppo” also known as shouldering the rifle.

“Y/N?” Sonny questioned, his heart beginning to race. “Whatcha playin’ at?”

You stood before Sonny and were pleased at your handiwork. “See, you thought I was taking a class on theology, but instead, I was taking a rope-play class. And I thought we could have a lot of fun with it,” you replied, shrugging off Sonny’s police shirt entirely. Sonny’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as your words registered. You sat on Sonny’s lap again and rubbed your self shamelessly, feeling his erection straining against his pants. Your eyes met and for an instant your resolve softened. “You trust me, right Sonny?”

Sonny detected the hesitancy in your voice. “I trust you. If it gets too much, I know our word. Gabagool.”

You smiled brightly in triumph before kissing him once more. Your tongues slid against each other; he tasted like mint and coffee. With each passing second, the kiss grew with intensity and need. You ran your hands through his silver hair as you continued to grind against his erection, eliciting repeated groans from him.

Sonny felt helpless as his hands were tied. He felt like he was a prisoner, which he suspected was the point. He was desperate for relief and his hips jerked instinctively. You responded by getting off of him.

“No,” Sonny whined. “I’ll stay still,” he promised. Come back.”

You dropped to your knees and spread Sonny’s legs so you were in between them. You ran your hands up his covered legs, before settling at his thighs. You scraped your nails against his thighs and you felt his muscles twitch. You fumbled with his pants, working to unbuckle his belt and unfasten the button and zipper. Sonny raised his hips slightly in an effort to help you so you could remove his pants.

You palmed his erection through his boxers. “Oh, that's not a gun at all!” you quipped with a smirk. Sonny threw his head back and moaned. “Fuck, y/n. That feels good.”

“Imagine how much better it would feel with my mouth on ya,” you commented, your brow cocked. Without missing a beat, you reached into his boxers and released his cock. His cock was painfully hard; pre-cum weeped from the tip. You licked your lips hungrily, desperate to suck his cock. You knew he was desperate too. Instead you spat in your hand and proceeded to give him a hand-job. “Ah fuck love,” Sonny rumbled. “Such a tease.”

“It must be so painful to have an attractive police officer like myself here, and you can't do anything about it,” you teased as your hand stroked him rhythmically. The dampness in between your legs grew and you could feel your arousal between your legs drip. You continued to work Sonny with your hand. Truly you took endless pride in knowing that you were the sole cause for him falling apart.

“Are you going to fuck me with this cock?”

“Yes,” Sonny hissed. His eyes were slammed shut, as he lost himself in the pleasure of your strokes.

“Then you better not come.”

Sonny’s eyes flew open as you removed your hand. You pushed over a chair and sat across from him. Sonny’s eyes were fixed on you as you removed your heels and spread your legs. He could see the large dark spot that had formed along the gusset of the bodysuit you wore and could smell the musky sweet scent that was distinctly yours. You spread your legs and gave Sonny an eyeful of your soaked pussy. You had recently gotten waxed, and your delicate skin glistened with your arousal. You slid a finger down your lips, before sliding a finger inside of you. Your eyes fluttered closed as you began to masturbate, your lips were parted slightly; your skin was flushed with feverish desire. Sonny’s eyes were fixated on your movements.

“You’re such a fucking tease,” Sonny groaned. “I want to taste your pussy so badly.”

“We’ll see,” you sang. You scooted down on the chair, so that you were on the edge of the seat. Leaning back and gripping the edge of the chair on the sides, you raised your legs so that your feet were on his thighs. You knew from past experience with Sonny that he had a bit of a foot kink, so you made sure that your feet were well taken care of and that your toes were always well-dressed, with a not a chip in the polish in sight. Your feet were perpendicular on either side of his cock, and you began to move your feet in unison as you gave him a foot-job. Sonny’s head flew back once more, and he moaned your name loudly. “Oh God, fuck, Y/N!”

The muscles in your legs quivered as you continued to stroke his cock with your feet. Beads of sweat rolled down your face and your core trembled. It was as if you were having your own workout.

“Keep that up babe and I am going to come,” Sonny warned. You nodded and slowed your movements before coming to a full stop.

“I am going to remove the ropes,” you began. “Don’t try anything funny.” You sat up fully in the chair and removed Sonny’s hat, tossing it to the side. You reached behind and undid your chignon, letting your hair cascade over your shoulders.

Walking behind Sonny, you quickly undid the ropes. Sonny groaned as his arms resumed sensation from the position they were in as the lactic acid that had previously built up began to dissipate. Sonny quickly kicked off his shoes and the remainder of his clothing while you gathered the rope together once more.

Without warning, Sonny scooped you, throwing you over his shoulder. His hand came down on your ass with a large spank before grabbing a fistful of flesh, squeezing. “Sonny!” you squealed. “I told you not to-,” you began, warning. Another smack landed on your ass.

“Doll, you had your fun. Now it’s my turn,” Sonny replied huskily. Sonny carried you over to your bedroom, before throwing you gently over onto the bed. The bed creaked with Sonny’s weight. He covered his body with yours and kissed you once more. His hips rubbed against you and instinctively you raised your hips, desperate for some friction to ease the growing ache in your loins.

You wrapped your legs around Sonny’s waist eagerly. Sonny nuzzled your neck and you moved your head to the side to provide him with greater access. He sucked on a particularly sensitive spot along your neckline and you moaned. Your eyes which had shuttered closed, opened and you saw the red rope on the bed and you deduced that Sonny had brought it in with him when he carried you in.

You used the palms of your hands to push Sonny’s weight off of you and rolled him into his back. Straddling him, you leaned over to grab the rope and quickly tied bound his wrists together and then bound his arms over his head using a simple column knot along the bedpost.

Sonny let out what sounded like a combination of a sob/groan. “No, no,” you commented. “Tonight’s about what I want… and what I want, is to suck your cock.”

You bent down and gently kissed Sonny before making your way down his body, placing kisses along his body.

Your lips were plush and soft; Sonny shivered under your kisses. Finally, you reached in between his legs and without missing a beat, or even waiting for him to say anything, you took him in your mouth. Sonny wanted nothing more to wrap his hands through your hair but he couldn’t. He tugged on the restraints hoping they’d give but you had him secured.

You rhythmically bobbed on his impressive shaft. His cock was painfully hard; the mix of his salty pre-cum and his own musky, masculine scent sent you into overdrive. As your mouth worked him, you used your hand to stroke the shaft, adding to his pleasure. Another hand went to his balls, cupping and rolling them gently. You hummed around his cock and the vibrations caused Sonny’s hips to jerk upwards in response. You continued your oral ministrations, using the flat of your tongue to run up and down the sides of his shaft. You then used the point of your tongue to flick against the underside of the head of his cock. You took your time, no rush to do anything more. Sonny groaned. “Oh fuck doll - need to -- need to --” he choked out.

You pulled off with a very audible, wet sounding pop. Sonny’s chest rose and fell, his heart was hammering in his chest. You moved to his side, and pressed small kisses by the corner of his mouth. Sonny was quivering, sweat dripping from every pore. Some of his hair was plastered against his forehead. “I love sucking your cock,” you purred in his ear. “Makes me so… wet.”

Sonny turned his head to kiss you deeply, which you obliged. As you kissed him, you reached down to his cock and resumed jerking him off. You could feel him starting to tense and you knew he wasn’t going to last much longer so you slowly came to a stop.

You climbed on top of Sonny, and began to remove the halter top portion of your bodysuit. “Leave it on,” Sonny replied, his normally bright blue eyes were heavy lidded and blown with lust. “You look so fucking hot.”

You cocked your head and nodded, before rising up slightly to reach down and guide him inside of you. Sonny let out a string of curses in Italian as you sighed, blissfully feeling full. Languidly you began rocking and bouncing against him. Sonny grunted as your pussy gripped his cock tightly like a vice.

“Oh Dominick,” you moaned obscenely and loudly, not caring if your neighbors heard. “I fucking love your cock.” You knew from past experience calling Sonny by his name always gave him an extra oomph. Your head fell forward as you dug your nails into his chest, leaving crescent marks on his skin.

Sonny grunted as you rode his cock. He was desperate to touch you. It was driving him absolutely mad that he couldn’t. “Please,” he begged. “Baby girl I want to make you feel so good.”

You opened your eyes and met Sonny’s eyes. You nodded. “Okay.” Slowly you climbed off of Sonny and on very wobbly legs, loosened the rope. Sonny grimaced as his arms began to regain their function. Standing fully in front of you, Sonny drank you in once more. Your eyes raked Sonny from head to groin, and somehow seeing his cock coated in your cream made you even more aroused.

There was a glint in Sonny’s eyes and he gave you a very knowing smirk. You stood against the bed, waiting to see who would move next. Sonny did - he took one step and grabbed you by the outsides of your thighs. Before you knew it, you were flat on your back on the bed, your ankles hoisted in the air. Sonny stroked cock against your labia, coating his cock with more of your arousal. “Look how wet you are for me. Dimmi come ti piace scopare.” Sonny slowly sunk back into you, balls deep. The lewd mixture of moans and skin on skin filled the room as he pounded into you, bumping your cervix with each snap of his hips. Sonny turned his attention to one leg and pressed kisses before gently grazing your skin with his teeth.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” you babbled incoherently. You reached down to rub your clitoris in concentric circles. Sonny looked down to watch his cock disappear in and out of you. He grunted as he continued to fuck you relentlessly. Your tits were straining against the bodysuit, the material provided delicate pressure against your sensitive nipples. You were completely wrecked as you were ravaged by Sonny.

Sonny all of a sudden dropped his full weight on top of you. His arms braced the side of your head and your legs hooked around his hips. You kept rubbing your clit while another hand gripped a bicep. Sonny bent his head to your ear and grunted something in Italian - “Scopami, si cosi mi piaci cosi” you weren’t sure what it was but it sounded sexy as hell. Sonny’s own thrusts became erratic and soon he stiffened - one hand grabbed at your clothed breast as he released his seed into you. “That’s right, give it to me baby, give me that cream.” It was all too much and the coil in your belly snapped. You wailed Sonny’s name as your pussy clenched around his cock. Sonny groaned your name, shuddering as his release came to an end. You both laid there, still intimately connected, desperately trying to catch your own respective breaths. Your legs felt like jello and slowly you brought them back to the bed.

Your eyes felt hazy and you were ready to drift back to sleep, when you felt your legs spread open once more. Sonny was in between your legs. “I want one more,” he rasped and before you could protest, his tongue was in between your folds. You threw your head back onto the bed, groaning as his tongue did indescribable, wonderful, magical things. You gripped his head tightly against you. Your body was overstimulated yet, you were in dire need to come again. Sonny reveled in the mix of your sweet juices and his own release. “You gonna come again for me sweet girl? Sborrami in faccia.” Sonny dove back into your folds, eating you out as if he was a starving man. You sobbed, writhing against his tongue and nose as another orgasm coursed through you. Sonny continued to lick you through your release until you finally stopped shuddering. Sonny peppered kisses along your skin, before cozying up next to you once more. You turned over to face Sonny and you placed a soft kiss on his lips.

“I love you Sonny.” A goofy, sleepy smile graced his face.

Holding you close, he whispered “I love you Y/N. Cazzo e stato incredible. Facciamolo ancora.”

FIN.

***

Translations:

Dimmi come te piaci scopare: tell me how you like it.

Si cosi mi piaci, cosi: Omg, you feel so good

Scopami: Fuck me.

That was amazing: Cazzo e stato incredible.

Let’s do it again: Facciamolo ancora,

#sonny carisi x reader #carisi x reader #carisi and reader #sonny carisi smut #sonny carisi and reader #sonny carisi imagine

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kathyprior4200 · 3 years

Text

Zoophobia: The Remix

All characters, art, and settings belong to Vivziepop/Vivienne Medrano, no copyright intended. https://zoophobiacomic.com/

Chapter One: “Cameron’s Early Years”

“Greetings. My name is Salvia, a human staff member at Zoo Phoenix Academy. Don’t mind my thick red hair, it often covers my face. I love romance films and novels and I play violin. I also have extensive knowledge of psychic powers and prophecy. Me having existed since ancient times could explain it.”

“Let me tell you an incredible, albeit bizarre story about the world I’m from. It is what mortals call ’Zoophobia.’ First, a provenance about said world…”

“Safe Haven…it is a sanctuary, an oasis for animals, anthropomorphic beings and other creatures. The Zoo Phoenix Academy is part of it. We sustain ourselves here…and serve as a utopia and protected escape for all kinds of creatures that are ostracized by the human-dominated world beyond the Oceania Forest. That is why there are so few humans here.”

“Safe Haven is split into seven districts and each district has an important purpose and contributes to the society as a whole. The Animal District, Capital City, the wealthy E! District, Marine District, Avian District, the Farming District and the District of Magic. (Do not go to Xirxine Labs, they do horrible experiments on beings deemed ‘troublesome.’) Pacts were made and spells were cast to prohibit malevolent forces from entering the boundaries of Safe Haven. But to maintain the peace and tranquility of this thriving culture, very specific rules were put into effect by the original peacekeepers who founded Safe Haven.”

“Evil forces include evil spirits, rogue vampires, true demons, and blood hunters. (And don’t forget many of the entitled angels in Heaven, they can be deceiving.) The laws here are strict and they keep the dangers out, while keeping the citizens inside and safe. But this is why no living being is permitted to leave for good. It goes against the pacts that protect us. And breaking those pacts could lead to the corruption of the magic that shields us. Without magic, we would be at the mercy of not only dark monsters, but also outside humans who have wanted to hunt us all down. We would be overcome with the dark forces that have been wanting to enter Safe Haven for centuries.”

“Safe Haven has not had a violent crime or a dangerous predator in years, and we do everything we can to keep it that way. But one circumstance changed all that we knew.”

“This story first begins in the human world…and follows an ordinary female by the name of Cameron Walden…”

0 0 0

“Are you ready to go, sweetheart?”

“Coming, mommy!”

A jubilant fair-haired girl jumped for joy before dragging her small suitcase behind her down the hall. She was around six years old and her hair was slightly messy. Her golden-brown-haired mother looked at her with loving eyes.

“What will we do on our camping trip today?” little Cameron asked eagerly.

“Hmm,” she said. “Last year we went canoeing at the lake and made crafts out of sticks. Remember when we roasted marshmallows under the stars?”

“Oh yes!” Cameron said. “Those snores were delicious!”

“I think you mean s’mores,” her mother chuckled. “Your face and hands were so sticky afterwards. You looked like a goopy little monster.” She playfully pinched her cheeks and made a funny face as Cameron giggled.

“But I’m thinking this year, we’ll do some of your favorite activities. I know how much you enjoy fishing.”

“Oh yay!” Cameron cheered. “I remember daddy catching at least two. And I got to feel their smooth scaly skin. Glad he let them go at the end.”

“He might teach you this time. But you’ll have to be patient.”

“Don’t worry, I will…maybe.”

Her mother chuckled again. “Let’s go, your dad is waiting for us.”

Cameron’s father also had white skin and golden brown hair, except he had a scruffy beard that he often let Cameron feel. His eyes were kind and thoughtful and a Christian cross necklace hung around his neck. All of them wore casual jeans, brown hiking shoes and shirts of gray.

Soon, Cameron and her family piled into their car and Cameron’s father drove them through the city streets. The city was dull and gray, reminiscent of New York City but without the splendor. But even the smoggy city didn’t deter Cameron’s excitement. During the long drive to the woods, Cameron and her family sang some songs, played I Spy and that game where you call out a word and then have to call another word that starts with the end letter.

“Salad,” said Cameron’s father.

“Diver,” said her mother.

“River,” Cameron said.

“Ratable,” said her father.

“Uh, lion!” said her mother.

“Ha! You lose!” said her father.

“No fair! Ratable has a silent ‘e.’ You cheated!”

Her father just shrugged playfully and winked at Cameron before focusing back on the road.

“Why’d I space out like that?” her mother mumbled.

They entered through the woods, trees surrounding either side as they rushed by. The dullness of the city faded behind them as greenery whizzed to life as they drove.

“Have you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up?” her mother asked.

“I don’t know,” Cameron answered. “But I do want to help people and make the world a better place!”

“Great spirit you have there,” her father remarked. “Anything in particular?”

“Maybe…a counselor! Or a zookeeper! Or maybe a marine biologist! Surely it can’t be that hard comforting animals and humans the same!”

“Well,” her mother began. “I know how much you love animals, especially fish. But humans are more…complex creatures. You need to have good listening skills in order to start. And…” she said in a singsong voice, “That means making friends!”

Cameron groaned. She was quite shy, even in her youth.

“I know it can be hard,” said her mother. “But you can’t expect to be alone forever. There are so many different individuals out there. And it’s true some of them may be...strange at first glance."

“What if they…don’t like me or hurt me?”

“No one would hurt you,” she said. “If they did, I’d make them run for the hills. Plus no one could possibly dislike such a sweet angel like yourself. Just take it one step at a time. You’ll find someone special to love. And I know you will be confident and successful one day, whatever you decide to do.”

Cameron smiled at the thought as they continued down a dirt path. Her mother had always wanted her to be happy above all else. The car swayed and bounced as they went deeper in. At last, they found their favorite camping spot and parked. It was a pleasant area with a few pine trees, a wooden bench and a small ledge overlooking a nearby lake. As Cameron’s father pitched the tent and gathered wood, Cameron and her mother gazed at the nearby lake. Sunlight shimmered and sparkled on the water, mesmerizing Cameron. A few ducks quacked off to the side and horsetail reeds swayed in the cool breeze. A dragonfly zoomed in and out among the reeds, occasionally touching the liquid surface. It was a relief to get away from the city and into the much cleaner fresh air.

After a fun day of hiking (Cameron identified several types of leaves and tracks), hide and seek (Cameron climbed a small tree but was found anyway) and fishing (Cameron caught one small fish), they had an early evening dinner over the fire. Cameron inhaled the scent of sizzling bratwurst and hamburgers as the meat cooked. A few stars had already appeared as the sun painted the sky orange and gold. The meat was delicious and slightly overcooked. Then they had s’mores for dessert.

“Aw man,” groaned her father as he stared at his blackened marshmallow on a stick, “I overdid mine.” Then he grinned playfully and proceeded to eat it.

“Gross!” Cameron remarked with a face. “How can you eat that?”

“A marshmallow is a marshmallow,” he said with a shrug.

Cameron’s marshmallow was a perfect golden brown in between the chocolate pieces and graham crackers. Cameron’s mother had her marshmallow plain white.

After the satisfying meal, Cameron was eager to explore some more. “Can we go on a quick hike, Dad?” she asked. “It’s not as hot now.” A refreshing breeze caressed her skin.

Her dad nodded. “There’s still some light out. We can look around and gaze at the stars too.”

“Just don’t go too far,” added her mother. “And take a flashlight with you.”

“See you shortly,” called her father as he took Cameron’s hand and began their nightly hike. Cameron’s mother waved with a smile while sitting on a log and finishing her dinner. The fire crackled brightly.

By now, the sky has turned a dark indigo. The moonlight lit the path in front of them but they were still careful not to trip over any stray sticks, holes or rocks. Along the way, they spotted a rabbit, several squirrels, and even a stag hidden among the trees. The natural world was a wondrous place for Cameron. She and her father eventually relaxed on a cool boulder, naming the various constellations above them.

“This is the best camping trip ever, Dad!” Cameron smiled.

“It sure has been lots of fun, kiddo,” her father smiled. For a while, they let themselves be mesmerized by the twinkling stars and the comforting sound of the still night air. Then all too soon, he sat up and said, “We should head on back. After all, an overnight sleepover never gets old.”

“Yeah, let’s go!” said Cameron. She let out a yawn and was looking forward to being warm in her cozy sleeping bag. They got off the rock and walked back hand in hand.

As they wondered the trails back toward camp, the forest was quiet. Eerily quiet. There were no bird songs or bugs or even the swaying of the wind. Even with the flashlight and moonlight, it grew much darker than before. Cameron grew silent and scooted closer to her father as they walked. A prickling feeling crept up to her neck…she felt like something was watching her. With every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves, she flinched slightly.

“Are there m-monsters out here?” she asked, almost in a whisper.

“Don’t be concerned. Other than the devil and wild animals, monsters don’t exist. Everything is fine,” her father assured her.

Cameron grew less and less convinced as they continued their trek. Shadows flickered and warped this way and that, a trick of the eyes. Cameron whimpered softly. Something tall loomed up ahead. A large tree was in front of them, larger than the other trees around. It looked like an ancient oak tree with hanging branches and a worn down trunk. Cyan fog surrounded the tree and the area, giving it an enigmatic and ominous feel.

A low hooting sound came from nearby. Cameron glanced at a black hole in the tree, at her eye-level. A smaller branch stuck off to the side of it. She peered inside and didn’t see anything.

But then…a pair of glowing yellow eyes blinked from inside. And a white owl emerged onto the branch! She shined her flashlight at it and it didn’t flinch. Just stared intently.

Cameron had never seen such a majestic creature before. It had white feathers, tiny black spots on its coat and a sharp hooked beak. But there was something peculiar about this owl. Looking closely, Cameron could make out zig-zag yellow stripes down the front of its body. And its eyes…they were big and yellow like an owl’s but seemed…older. Instead of being a single color, the large orbs glowed yellow with dark stripes like a bumblebee. It almost appeared as if the lines in the eyes were moving. Strange small jagged eyelashes jutted out from the sides of the orbs. The owl eyed Cameron like she was an innocent mouse; she did not like the look at all.

Cameron blinked and for a millisecond, she saw a bizarre being; what looked like a bird but with the head of a woman with white blonde hair and pale skin. Before she could comprehend what it was (a harpy), it had turned back into an owl in the blink of an eye. After letting out an ominous hoot, it vanished into the hole as Cameron’s father called her name. She hurried off to catch up to him.

Cameron shook her head, convinced it was just her fearful imagination. No owl would come out and look through her like that.

A strange sense of foreboding flowed through Cameron. She and her father quickened their pace.

Back at camp, a low growling sound grew steadily louder.

Growl. Crunch. Crunch. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sounds of steps and shuffling grew closer. Cameron’s mother looked around, holding a bratwurst in one hand.

Grooooowwwlll….snort, snort.

Hot breath on neck. Snapping of twigs.

Cameron’s mother slowly turned around, meeting large dark eyes…

A scream echoed out into the night, almost paralyzing Cameron in her tracks.

“Dad?”

It was shrill and pleading…and then it rang out again.

Longer lasting screams and roars seemed to be coming from everywhere. The world seemed to be spinning.

“What was that?!” Cameron cried.

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling we need to get back,” said her father with concern. For the first time, he appeared sacred as well.

Without hesitation, her father grabbed hold of her hand and raced as fast as his legs could carry him. Cameron briefly tripped over a log but her father picked her up. A sudden gust of biting wind pushed against them, but they still ran. They flinched from the sudden cold and the dust that flew in their faces. It drowned out the screams until they faded away. The wind came to a howling peak and then halted as they reached the clearing.

Her father suddenly gasped and froze to a stop, Cameron almost bumping into him. His flashlight fell to the ground. There was the tangy smell of…Cameron figured it wasn’t the cooked dinner they had.

“Stay back, Cameron!” her father ordered sharply, pushing her behind him. “And don’t watch!”

But of course she did…then wished she hadn’t.

Standing over a figure in the dirt was a monstrous brown bear. The bear bared his sharp teeth, paw on its food, mouth caked with blood. Tearing and squelching was heard. Crimson splotches looked jarring in the limited light. And underneath the bear was…

“M-mom?!”

In one swift motion, her father retrieved a gun he had safely secured behind him and took aim.

Bang! Bang!

Several shots rang out, deafening like bombs. Cameron covered her ears and yelped. A primal bellow of protest followed. The bear roared one last time before bounding and stomping away. Bush leaves rustled as a few more shots rang out. Her father yelled curses and raced toward where the bear had left.

Creeping closer, Cameron sank to her knees and stared in disbelief. It was her mother…or what was left of her. Her face was ashen, dirty and pale, scratches all along her body. Her back and belly had disastrous bites, thick dark red blood oozing onto the grassy ground. Muscle and viscera were visible from the gashes.

Cameron turned her mother’s face around and was met with guttural heaving breaths. The unnatural agonizing kind right before death.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god…” Cameron muttered, voice cracking, eyes wide. “Somebody help! Help!” The smell made her gag, but she still stayed.

Her mother’s eyes fluttered. She slowly reached a pale shaking hand toward Cameron. Cameron moved closer as both their hands met. The cold clammy hand squeezed her little fingers.

“S-safe Haven…” she wheezed, staring long and hard into Cameron’s eyes. “You’ll do…g-great things. Unite them all. Stay safe, safe…”

“Mom, w-what do you mean? Safe Haven, what?”

“My a-angel…”

Her mother wheezed and croaked again before her hand went limp, letting go of Cameron’s fingers. Her mother gave her one last kind look before her eyes glazed over. She had stopped moving. Nothing but cold flesh, blood and a lifeless form.

“Mom? Mom! Mooooom!!!”

Cameron’s father pulled her back a bit. Without a word, Cameron’s father cradled his wife’s body as Cameron buried her face in her bloodstained clothes.

Her father pulled her back a bit after gently lowing her mother to the ground. He closed her eyes with his fingers. She looked like she was asleep, even though she wasn’t. (Or if she was, it was eternal and dreamless. Or maybe she was already in Heaven; Cameron didn’t know). Cameron and her father stood silently still, embracing each other. Tears rolled down their faces, Cameron’s primal sobs echoing through the night. Her hands were stained with leftover blood. After about ten minutes of utter grief, her father looked at her.

“Cameron, get in the car.”

“W-why?”

“Just do it.”

A sternness and aloofness look appeared on his face, a look Cameron had never seen him make in front of her. The bright color and spark in his eyes had been snuffed out. Without waiting for another answer, her father picked her up, carried her over to the car and placed her in the back seat. The door closed. From outside, the fire was put out, leaving only dying embers and sad orange sparks. The light gray smoke curled into spirals, doing somber dances in the breeze before vanishing.

Cameron waited in the back seat, curled up into a ball. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her mother had been mauled by a bear before her eyes…and she could’ve been next! The ruthless face of the bear would haunt her memories for many years. Not long after, she saw flashes of red and blue light through the dirt-spotted windows. Her mother’s body was covered by a white sheet and taken on a stretcher by medics who had driven by. Fortunately, they still had decent cell phone service. Without another word, her father packed up the tent and all their belongings, tossing them in the back. He got in the driver’s seat and took them home on a long solemn drive.

0 0 0

The funeral went as well as one would expect. Prayers and condolences were spoken and family members talked in hushed tones, all wearing black. Cameron glanced around passively at the stained glass church windows, sad and bored at the proceedings. Her mother’s coffin was gently lowered into the ground afterwards. Vivid flowers were placed everywhere; red, pink, white, yellow and purple. Being so young, Cameron later didn’t remember the funeral at all. All she knew was that an important part of her life had vanished.

She and her father were never the same afterwards. As Cameron grew up and went to the dismal public school, he became preoccupied with his work. She hardly saw him much anymore. They grew distant, not in a bad way but similar to how different friends grow apart when their interests take them down new paths.

Cameron went to therapy for a while, with Mrs. Winkler, a kind old lady. But the sessions didn’t seem to help. For one thing, Cameron’s fear of animals grew worse each passing year. The fact that she had taken a trip to the zoo with her father only deepened it.

Her father had hoped that a new trip would cheer her up. But the animals would scare her as they roared and pawed at her through the glass when she watched. No one noticed a glowing golden apple which appeared in the exhibits…it let out light and made strange humming noises. The animals all threw themselves menacingly at Cameron with roars, hisses, and growls: Lions, tigers, bears, cheetahs…But it wasn’t just the predatory animals that somehow grew agitated at her. The flamingos squawked nosily, the gators snapped their jaws, and the monkeys would laugh and throw food at her which bounced off the cage wall. The sharks and birds, and oh goodness, the snakes too. The only animals that didn’t appear to pay her any attention were the fish. They just swam around and around as if nothing happened.

Strangely enough, her father didn’t notice.

“What has gotten into you, Cam?” he asked in disbelief after she screamed and sobbed. “Those animals aren’t attacking you.”

“Y-yes they are!” she cried. “Didn’t you see?”

But no one else seemed to notice either. They were just smiling and observing the animals like regular visitors. And the animals were doing their normal routines. A few people gave Cameron looks and raised their eyebrows.

Her father pulled her close. “You’re almost a teenager. Stop acting like a sacred child.”

“I-I know what I saw!” she sobbed. “I know it!”

Her father sighed and merely said, “Let’s go home.”

Cameron lowered her head. She used to enjoy the zoo more than anything…now she had an unbreakable fear of animals. (It had gotten bad to the point where she didn’t even want any pets.)

Cameron didn’t see a grinning yellow face with matching eyes blending within the trees when she left the zoo. Nor did she hear its high pitched cackle. A slender hand held up a golden apple and the illusions replayed.

Another thing that didn’t help was school. Cameron was smart enough in class (especially in literature) but was often bullied for her meekness. Many of the bullies would make animal sounds and jump at her from behind corners.

“Look how sacred she is!” they would mock. “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? And everything else in existence? Lamb Cam!”

“Don’t call me that!” she spat. “It’s Cameron!”

“Scram, Cam! Scaredy cat! Scaredy cat! Mrrow!”

And the creepers too as she became a teen.

“Ride me like an animal, Cam! Damn!”

“Are you a turtle, dearie? Cause I’d love to fly through your tender shell…”

“You must be a kitty cat, ‘cause you’ve got some fine pus…”

“Don’t you finish that sentence!”

After finally graduating high school hell, Cameron went to college. After hard work, she got her degree in Guidance Counseling. She figured she’d stray away from animals and gear more toward helping members of her own species. Helping others was her purpose…and getting her degree was a great accomplishment. Friends and boyfriends came and went. She soon lived on her own.

Getting a job, however…much easier said than done. No matter where Cameron looked or how many interviews she went to, they all seemed to dismiss her.

“I’m sorry, you don’t have the right qualifications we’re looking for.”

“We are currently reaching out to other applicants at this time. Thank you for your interest.”

“No social skills…no experience…hmm…not quite fit for this position.”

They always changed their minds at the last minute. Cameron never understood why.

Cameron buried her face in her hands in her room. The fear and sorrow would never go away. The gray skies and the pattering of rain over the glum city matched her mood. She was now twenty-five years old, unemployed, and utterly alone.

Her last hope was a new job position offered to her by a lady with white blonde hair. She had given Cameron her business card and office address: “KayCee: guidance counselor position interview, 12:00 sharp tomorrow.”

Another failed interview, but she figured she’d give it a try.

And then her nightmares. The nightmares that always seemed to come back. They were always the same. Cameron racing through the forest, being chased by every animal and mythical creature in existence. The gnashing of teeth, swipes of paws, being chewed on and swallowed into darkness. Then, thinking it was all over, she’d wake up…

…only to see her mother’s dead body on the floor in front of her.

“Monster! Monster!” a shadowy crowd chanted, surrounding her. But they were pointing their fingers at her, their glowing white eyes accusing.

“No! No, I’m not a monster!” Cameron cried, looking down. Her mother��s head snapped up and her eyes were yellow and black stripes, eyelashes curling out on all sides. “Monster!” She let out a crazed laugh, white teeth sharp, tongue out, eyes rolling back.

Cameron felt herself falling, falling, being watched by dozens of eyes. Eyes, eyes everywhere. Staring into her reflection, she gasped and screamed in horror. She saw her frightened blonde face, but her body consisted of white feathers, talon feet, a thin neck and bat-like wings. She was a harpy. An abomination…becoming what she feared itself.

More screams as she fell down, down, her black pupils growing wider…

0 0 0

Cameron’s pupils shrank back as she lay on her back on a couch. She wore a business casual light gray shirt and a dark skirt. A back headband sat on her golden brown hair, while a few strands hung from either side of her freckled face. The walls were stark gray on all sides. A lone palm frond plant sat in a pot to the side. A grandfather clock ticked quietly in the room, the pendulum swinging from side to side in rhythm.

“I had that dream again…it was so vivid this time,” Cameron told Mrs. Winkler.

“Perhaps your upcoming job assignment played a part in that?” The elder Mrs. Winkler suggested. The therapist wore a gray dress and took notes on a clipboard.

“Maybe,” said Cameron. “But why that dream? I haven’t had it in so long. It was just…so unexpected.”

Cameron sat up. “It was like reliving the whole thing. And bringing back all those memories.” She shuddered slightly, glancing off to the side. “I mean, I’ve been stressed out lately but…I’ve never had that dream so suddenly…”

“Well, dear…” the therapist began, looking at her clipboard. “It sounds to me like…”

Cameron glanced up at the clock, which chimed 12:00.

“Oh! Oh my god, I’m late!” she cried. She leaned in, hands clasped. “Thank you so, so much for listening, Mrs. Winkler! Wish me luck!”

Cameron grabbed her handbag, turned the doorknob and hurried out of the room. “Taxi!” she yelled as she bounded out of the building and down the steps. The rain poured down as she got in. She soon arrived at the other building.

Inside the office, a voice came over through the PA with a bzzt.

“Ms. KayCee. The 12 0’ clock is here…late.”

“Send her in,” replied the woman. She had a tan face, long white hair and narrowed eyes that appeared to glow. She wore a gray business suit and a green pendant around her neck. She sat at her desk with an apple and a pencil holder off to the side. She glanced down at some paperwork in front of her, pen in hand. Rain pattered from outside the window.

Cameron appeared in the doorway. “I’m so sorry I’m late!”

“Come in,” said the woman.

Cameron caught her breath and hustled over to the desk. “I uh…lost track of time.”

“It’s quite…alright…”

The woman glanced up in surprise, noticing Cameron’s wet hair.

“It’s, heh…r-raining outside…” Cameron stuttered nervously, making a gesture.

“Take a seat please,” said KayCee. “So we can begin to discuss your placement with this program.”

Cameron lowered herself into a chair.

“Again, so sorry for being late,” Cameron said.

“It’s alright,” KayCee replied.

Cameron nervously glanced off to the side. KayCee stared intently at Cameron, a faint yellow glow around her eyes. She rested her chin on her hands.

Cameron raised an eyebrow, a faint chill racing through her body. “Do…I know you from some…”

“Yes,” KayCee cut her off.

Cameron knew that KayCee didn’t want to get into the déjà vu moments. After a brief moment of staring, KayCee cleared her throat and looked at the forms in front of her.

“Well looking at your report and resume, I wasn’t able to find a suitable position for you. We don’t seem to have a vacant job here with need of your skills…”

‘Oh no. Not again,’ Cameron thought with dread.

“I’m afraid there is not much I could do…”

Cameron leaned forward and put her arms and elbows on the desk in a begging position. “Please! I really need this job! I have been waiting for an assignment for so long, there has to be something!”

Lightning flashed and thunder cracked from outside as KayCee looked over the form again.

KayCee observed the form. It read “Classified” in bold letters at the top. “Needed positions” “Possible applicants” were shown. “Guidance Counselor” was heavily circled underneath it. Off to the side read: “Agreement to transfer required.” “Must be informed of where.” Below was a “job applicants” list.

“Well…” KayCee began. “You do have a degree in counseling, do you not?”

“Yes! I do!” Cameron said. She didn’t even question how this lady knew that fact. “I’ll take it! Please!”

“It’s a transfer position, it would require relocation,” KayCee mentioned.

Cameron stood up and leaned into her face. “I’ll take it! Wherever it is, I’ll take it!”

“Very well then,” said KayCee. “A private jet will take you from this building on Thursday, 9:00. I suggest you pack all your things.”

Cameron raced over and hugged her. “Yes! Oh yes! Thank you!” KayCee’s eyes briefly turned white with glowing yellow stripes. She narrowed her normal eyes and deadpanned, “Don’t be late.”

“Oh I won’t!” Cameron declared, stepping back. She put her hands together. “Thank you so much!”

“You are quite welcome, Ms. Walden,” KayCee said, reaching for the red apple.

“Oh! Call me Cameron!” Cameron took her bag and opened the door. “Thanks again!” she called before shutting the door with a click.

“Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm,” KayCee chuckled lowly. Her fingers grew crooked and her black nails grew sharp. The apple in her hand vibrated and a golden spiral emerged from the center. Soon the apple was golden and glowing in her hand. KayCee lounged on her desk, knocking over the pencils in the holder off the desk with a foot.

“No Ms. Cameron…” She then spoke in a high pitched echoing shrill, “Thank you!”

In a flash of magic, KayCee had turned into her true form. A being with wild white poufy hair that sizzled with white electricity strands. She wore a white dress with holes in them. She grinned a sinister grin of sharp golden teeth. Her black and yellow striped eyes and long jagged eyelashes made her appearance all the more untamed. She let out an evil maniacal laugh.

0 0 0

“Salvia here again. As you probably have figured out, KayCee is no ordinary human. She is Eris, the Greek Goddess of Strife and Chaos. For she was the one who tossed the Golden Apple of Discord to provoke arguments between Aphrodite, Athena and Hera over who was the fairest goddess. Paris of Troy chose Aphrodite, igniting the Trojan War. Eris, along with Jestine and some other deities, exist to cause discord, nightmares and all sorts of trouble. KayCee/Eris indeed, sent Cameron to Safe Haven, knowing full well that she had no knowledge about the denizens of the destination. Her plan is thus: with Cameron fearing the animal residents and Safe Haven having been discovered by an outsider, the magic protecting it weakens over time. Eris hopes the barriers will eventually break, resulting in war and mass murders from the dark forces…and the humans. For the more chaos there is, the more her power grows. And she won’t stop until every world becomes her chaotic playground.”

“None of us knows what Eris truly wants, but one thing is for sure. Cameron and all of us have to keep our guard up. Eris thrives on manipulation, deceit and black sorcery. To her, the apocalypse is an entertaining musical.”

“For now, we continue our story of Cameron, who soon departs her hometown and embarks on her journey toward Safe Haven…”

Chapter Two: “Cameron’s Arrival to Safe Haven”

It wasn’t long before Cameron arrived outside the building where she had her meeting with KayCee. The sky was clear but smoggy with tan pollution. The city silhouette stood in the background. She soon spotted the jet…which looked more like a dull forest green plane. The plane was old-fashioned with a propeller in the front and two wings on either side of the craft. It was dull green in color and decorated with black stripes. Cameron wore her usual gray clothes and carried her suitcase. At the ramp of steps, a figure stood waiting for her.

“I’ve never been on a private j…plane, before. Are you the pilot, Miss…?”

“Snake.” The woman answered in a low voice.

“Snake?” Cameron asked in confusion.

The woman had light green skin and strangled forest green hair decorated with dark specks. A pair of sunglasses rested on her head. She wore a green tank top, an emerald green scarf and a green-gray skirt. Long elbow-length gloves covered her hands and a white cigarette was in her mouth.

“Interesting name,” said Cameron. “Does it mean anything?”

Snake did not answer.

Cameron continued, “Because I have never heard of someone naming a child something like that.”

Had Cameron been anyone else, she would’ve gotten a harsh slap for the insult. Instead, Snake crossed her arms, holding her cigarette between two fingers. “Save the jaw-flappin’ fer later, hunny. I don’t wanna fly with a headache.” She dropped her cigarette and crushed it with her green high heel on the ground.

Cameron flinched. “Oh! I-I’m sorry! I’m just a bit anxious…”

Cameron walked up the steps and into the aircraft. “Going to new places and everything, ya know?”

“Sure,” Snake answered with disinterest. “Just put a sock in it ‘till we get there.”

Snake sat down and pulled various levers and pressed buttons. The plane was soon off the ground and flying over the city. The propeller spun fast and they zoomed away. Cameron sat nervously in her seat. ‘I hope this was a good idea,’ she thought to herself. ‘There’s no turning back now…’

As the plane swooped over a vast forest, a spectral form of KayCee/Eris grinned mischievously against a large boulder, watching the plane. The sun rose over the hill in front of them, a promise of a new life and adventure.

Snake piloted the plane, sunglasses over her eyes, lost in thought. She briefly cleaned her teeth with a toothpick in one hand, going around her two white fangs.

Snake was in fact, a loner and shapeshifter, who could transform into a green snake at will. One of her friends was Taxi, a yellow werewolf who worked as a cab driver, mechanic…and merrymaker. She would drive monster trucks around while Snake would fly and fix various planes. The two of them bonded over their love of machines, smoking and drinking. Snake was also a secret agent in Safe Haven, skilled with guns and weapons. Her skills in stealth were so great, that she was soon hired by the Zoo Phoenix Academy staff to travel to the human world to retrieve recruits.

Snake, Taxi and Taxi’s werewolf friends would often party, drink and get into trouble. Although Snake had enjoyed it, she also was not proud that she had killed other people on the streets. So in a way, this job was fine with her.

But then Cameron broke the tranquil silence.

“Wow! I didn’t know the forest was this big,” she exclaimed. “We’ve been flying over it for hours…it’s like, endless!”

Snake scoffed. “Yeah…why ya think it’s called the f*ckin’ “Oceania” Forest, hm? ‘Cause it’s big. What’d I say about talkin’?”

Honk!

Cameron looked out the window with a loud gasp. “Oh my…” A giant sky blue bird was honking outside her window. It was larger than any regular bird she had seen.

“Snake!” Cameron wailed out loud, making Snake flinch. “T-there’s a giant bird outside the window!” Cameron grabbed onto her.

“What?” Snake asked.

“G-giant bird! It was huge…giant…! What if it attacks the plane?!”

“Get back to yer seat!” Snake yelled, baring her fangs.

‘Snakes on a plane!’ Cameron thought in fear, after spotting her fangs.

Cameron obliged and looked out the window. The bird was gone.

‘Great, now I’m seeing things…’ she thought.

The sun set outside, turning the sky pink and yellow. Cameron sat, bored. She fell asleep as night fell. The next day, Cameron woke up, sunlight shining through the window.

Snake was nowhere to be seen.

“Hello?”

She stood up and walked down the dark empty aisle.

“Uh…what’s going on?”

No answer.

“S-Snake?!”

Cameron looked out the window and saw a bunch of shadowy creatures outside.

“Oh god.”

Trying to be brave, she peered out the window.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god…”

“Surprise!” hollered the bizarre creatures.

Cameron walked down the steps, stunned. There were so many strange new faces, she couldn’t keep track. Fabian the fox, Perci and Malcom the red and green dragons, Carrie the blonde demon, Zechariah the cheetah, Principal Winston the one with the yellow squid head, a teal eel with a monocle, a person with orange and yellow hair, a midnight blue stag, a yellow fox, and Salvia too. All the Zoo Phoenix Academy staff were there to welcome her.

Cameron stared off into space, seeing the creatures. Was this some kind of prank? Were these just people in costumes trying to bully her again?

Just then, Perci the dragon got into her face and said, “Welcome to the zoo, Cameron Walden! Well—hah! Of course it isn’t really a zoo! Sorta ironic that I just called it that, really! Hahahaha!”

Cameron gulped. She felt like it was a zoo…a dangerous wacky one with escaped mythical creatures. Perci put an arm around her. The eel shook her hand. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear!”

Were these really talking animals?

A strong hand lifted up Cameron’s arm as a tough light gray face with blonde hair inspected her.

“She sure is a scrawny-gangly-shaky li’ thing, ain’t she?” Carrie remarked in a gruff voice.

“Oh nonsense Carrie,” said Fabian the red fox. “I think Ms. Cameron looks perfectly fine.” He gave her a wink and a sultry look, Cameron cringing in disgust. Was that fox hitting on her?

“I’ll take your word on that, Fabian!” called the blind green dragon teacher Malcom. His hair was black, skin light green. He walked up to her. “Good evening? Morning? Day!”

There was a brief silence.

“How about a kiss, pretty lady?” Fabian cooed, getting close to her with his tongue.

“Eeeeiiiiahhhhhhee!”

Cameron screamed at the top of her lungs. “S-stay back! A-all of you! Don’t come any closer!”

The animals glared at her, teeth showing. Any moment, they would pounce on her. For several moments, Cameron could only hear growls, slurps, mutters and hisses.

The cheetah rumbled in thought as the squid principal slurped his tea loudly beside him.

Cameron took more steps back. “I-I mean it! Stay away from me! Stay away! D-don’t come any closer!”

“Calm down, dearie,” Perci reassured. But Cameron only heard a strange growl from him that sounded like “Raaalmm, rrowwn, geeerrek!” She was too scared to properly comprehend the human speech.

Cameron suddenly pointed behind them. “Look! What’s that over there?” She promptly dashed away with a zip while only Perci glanced behind him. The others narrowed their eyes in confusion.

Cameron screamed some more before skidding to a halt. She gasped. “Oh my! What on Earth?”

Before her lay a vibrant magical world beyond her greatest imagination. It was a cross between Jurassic Park, Zootopia and a child’s version of New York. A blue sea creature eel with three eyes slithered across a teal street with dark stones on it. A slender red bird appeared to be pulling a covered wagon in the distance. A yellow cab drove by a golden dragon and a yellow bird with long feathers. The buildings were curved, concaved and had glass coverings around them. There was a small pond, several sidewalks and lamps illuminating the small park below. Birds of many colors flapped and fluttered freely in the air, some of them looking like pterodactyls. A large red spotted wall had several archways of different sizes, green vines going up it and a large golden eye in the center. Several birds were perching on the top of the wall. A few waterfalls flowed through the arches of the wall. There were several dinosaurs too; a two headed blue longneck, a golden dinosaur with multiple eyes and a flap of skin on its head, and a violet triceratops that looked like a pincher beetle. Nearby buildings of blue, yellow and pink read “Gym,” “Liquor,” and “Le Crumbles” respectively.

Cameron shook her head. “This is not happening…I’m dreaming this.”

Cameron felt something soft and furry press against her back. Without a word, her eyes darted upwards and met the gaze of a cheetah.

“Is there something wrong, Miss?” asked the cheetah.

But of course, Cameron only heard hungry growls. She saw the cheetah’s teeth and maw and felt lightheaded.

“Uhhh…”

This was it…she was now cat food. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted onto the ground. The cheetah rolled his eyes and sighed in concern.

“Somebody get our new visitor to the infirmary.”

“I can do it,” Fabian purred.

“No. I got it,” barked Carrie, lifting up Cameron’s form easily.

0 0 0

“Wuuuhh?”

Cameron groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Her vision cleared and she saw a man with tan skin and blonde hair with bangs jutting off to one side. He wore a sky blue shirt, a torn white tie and dark pants. Cameron was lying on a table. In the dark room, a sky blue poster with a yellow smiley face read “Smile! It’s almost over!”

“You okay, hun?” the man asked. He was Chastopher the nurse.

“W-what’s going on?” Cameron asked, sitting up.

“You are in the nurse’s office, my dear!”

Cameron rubbed her head. “Oh thank god…I just had the worst dream ev…what is that?” Her face turned pale.

The man held a red power drill in one hand. As he turned around, Cameron swore she heard the screeching music from “Psycho.”

“Willis said you needed a checkup!” he babbled, leaning close to her face. “Willis is very smart, you know!”

He hugged a stuffed lime-colored unicorn with a black button eye and flicked on the drill. The drill buzzed loudly, mixing with his crazed giggles.

“Help!” Cameron screamed. She dove under his legs off the table and scrambled away. Cameron flung open the door and gulped with a pause. The cheetah was back, blocking her way.

“Are you feeling better, Miss Walden?”

“No.” Cameron replied, eye twitching. Why was she talking to a cheetah? Animals didn’t talk, yet here they were. She turned around, clutching her head. There had to be a way to escape.

“Okay! O-kay! T-This is just a big crazy dream! Wake up! Wake up Cameron! Wake up!”

“Wake up,” the nurse sang with a dopey expression, holding his toy. After closing her eyes, she opened them again. To her disappointment, she was still in the same place.

“Are you finished?” the cheetah deadpanned, an annoyed look on his furry face.

Cameron sighed. “Okay…I give up…w-what’s going on?”

“Were you not informed about…”

“About what? Informed about what?!”

The cheetah stared at her in confusion. “You were not informed about this place before being sent here?”

“Sent where? Where am I?!”

Oh dear, this was going to be hard to explain. They needed a better place to talk.

“Follow me, Miss...” said the cheetah, moving on four legs.

Feeling like she had no choice, Cameron awkwardly obliged. Cameron peeked back toward the room and saw the nurse sleeping against his toy.

“S-So…” Cameron began as she raced to catch up to the cheetah. “Y-you’re a giant cheetah?”

“Yes.”

“Just checking…”

They walked past green lockers and into an office.

“Have a seat, Miss,” said the cheetah. He mentioned to a large purple desk chair as Cameron slowly sat down.

Sluurrrrppp!

The principal with a yellow and red squid head with three lip-like designs on his forehead was slurping loudly from a pink teacup. He wore a dark business suit with buttons. A matching pink teapot sat at his desk and slobber dribbled onto the desk surface. Cameron darted her eyes toward him in bewilderment.

The cheetah smiled. “Oh this is Principal Winston. He is quite harmless.”

“Right…” Cameron breathed, pulling her knees closer together.

The cheetah stared at Cameron with concern. He felt bad for this newcomer who had been so traumatized on her first visit. He remembered when he himself first arrived to Safe Haven, formerly being a regular cheetah and accidentally falling through a portal. He had magically gained the ability to talk thanks to Salvia and became one of the staff members at the school. Although he missed his original family, he had found other creatures like himself…a new family.

Perhaps he could help Cameron be a part of it…quirkiness and all. But the hard truth had to come first.

The cheetah straightened his spine and cleared his throat.

“Well my dear Miss Cameron. I have some news for you. My name is Zechariah, and I regret to inform you that there seems to have been some sort of mistake with the company that employed you. You were hired to be a guidance counselor, correct?”

“Y-yes.”

“Well, all humans employed or chosen to be sent here are given strict details about this world, and it is their choice to be transferred.”

Zechariah’s eyes glowed yellow and narrowed in suspicion. “Whoever sent you, did an incredibly dishonest thing…for once here, you cannot return to the outside world you once knew…”

Cameron could hardly breathe. “S-So I’m stuck in the crazy magical world of oversized talking animals?”

“I am afraid so, Miss.” Then he added in a more professional tone, “Also, this is an interspecies society. There are many different creatures. Not just ‘animals.’”

Cameron shuddered with renewed terror. “Like what? Other scary things? Vampires?”

“Yes.”

“Mermaids? Demons? Ghosts?”

“Yes.”

“Aliens?”

“Aliens do not exist, Miss Cameron.”

“Where am I right now?” Cameron wondered out loud.

“You are in the Zoo Phoenix Academy,” said Zechariah. “This is where you were employed. So we brought you right here. Would you like a tour?”

“Okay?” Cameron hesitated.

Zechariah held up his tail which had a watch on it. He spoke into the device. “Jackie, can you come to my office please?”

“Absolutely!” a voice replied.

Cameron grabbed onto Zechariah’s tail. “Who’s Jackie?”

Cameron soon got her answer when a woman strolled into the room. “Hey, hey hey!” she trilled in a sing-song voice. Jackie wore a long dress in different shades of blue; navy blue at the top to sky blue at the bottom. Her dress had yellow trim around it and she wore matching yellow shoes. Her skin was light brown and her hair was in vibrant shades of blue, with yellow tufts toward the back and a green tip that served as a bang. Her hair was reminiscent of parrot feathers.

She was a parrot shapeshifter…and she chatted like one too.

She walked over to Cameron and eagerly shook her hand.

“Hello, hello, hello! I’m Jackie! Drama instructor. So you are the new girl everyone’s talking about? What’s your name?”

“Cameron,” she replied nervously.

“You caused quite a scene huh, Cam?”

“It’s Cameron.”

Zechariah leaned over.

“She is in need of a tour, Jackie.”

Jackie put an arm around a stunned Cameron and guided her through the door.

“Not another word, Zech! I got this!”

0 0 0

Jackie eagerly showed Cameron around the vast campus. Despite being inhabited by strange beings, Cameron couldn’t help but admire the buildings and scenery. The grass was bright green and fresh and the trees provided ample shade for hot days. The building exteriors were made of smooth glass and round in globe shapes. They walked through a cobblestone courtyard, where a fountain trickled in the center. On either side of the entrance, there were statues of phoenixes made of bloodstone, garnet and rubies. The phoenix was the mascot, symbolizing rebirth and new hope. “Rise from the ashes, soar into success!” was the academy motto.

“I love our mascot, don’t you?” Jackie asked Cameron. Cameron mostly zoned out as Jackie chatted on and on. “Though I’d much prefer parrots! They’re so beautiful and lively. The school would do good to spread some more musical cheer. And parrots would be perfect! Just notice how well they can talk and sing. The Zoo Parrot Academy, wouldn’t have to worry about changing the acronym.”

They soon walked through some double doors and into a vast chamber made up of the red spotted wall.

“I really think you will love working here, Cam! This is the main lobby. All the subject wings branch off from here.”

Reflected watery light of an aquarium danced around the floor and walls. Jackie guided Cameron through a large room with an elevator and long tan chairs off to the side. A winding green staircase swirled up to an upper level with glass panes and a marvelous view of the outside. Several archways branched off to different sections. They passed under an arch, which was against a light blue wall, leading to the aquarium. Inside, Cameron could see a friendly-looking fish, a hammerhead shark, a swordfish and a bottlenose dolphin gliding playfully through the water.

“Have I gone insane?” Cameron breathed as she looked up at the aquarium ceiling in wonder.

“No, not really!” Jackie replied.

One archway had a grandfather clock beside it, another was adorned with red curtains and another was supported by Greek pillars.

Cameron stopped for a moment as Jackie turned around.

“You ready?” she asked.

Cameron stood there puzzled as Jackie wandered off toward the stairs. Jackie looked at her and laughed sheepishly.

“What? Did you think I was gonna be like ‘Come, I’ll show you my wing first?!’”

Cameron nodded.

“Oh, that would be kinda silly. I mean, why not save the best for last?! There are so many great places to explore here, wouldn’t want to deprive you of the diverse experience, ya know?”

Cameron let out a small understanding smile. “Thank you.”

“Alrighty! Let’s flutter on up! Heh…or walk, rather…”

Cameron rolled her eyes as she followed Jackie up the stairs.

They walked into the first wing supported by Greek pillars, and Cameron could smell the scent of dusty books.

“This is the library!” said Jackie. Then she covered her mouth, speaking softer. “I forgot I’m supposed to whisper in here!”

Going inside, there were rows and rows of books on shelves all around them. Some were leather bond with yellowed pages while others looked brand new. There were also magazines and modern computers on round desks where students were doing their work. Several winged birds were busy organizing the books on the higher shelves, which arched toward the high stained-glass ceiling. The ceiling had glass designs of owls, phoenixes and trees. At the front desk, a camel lady with thin glasses was busy exchanging books with passerby.

“Here you’ll find everything you need to study on counseling techniques, textbooks or just reading for fun. It’s the go-to place for research of all kinds. The students here are teenagers but we have majors and college-like courses in this high school!”

“Quiet!” whispered a nearby gray owl with a monocle at Jackie.

“Sorry!” she whispered.

“Well…that’s quite something,” said Cameron.

“I know, right? Trying to combine different curriculums, school systems and diverse races and species of students can be a lot of work. But thankfully the founders of Safe Haven helped out tremendously.”

“And they are?” Cameron asked.

But Jackie instead got distracted and waved at a red-haired woman in the distance.

Toward the back of the library was a shadowed section labeled “Restricted Section,” which housed books on dark magic. Sitting at the edge of that section on a chair was Salvia with a book in hand. Jackie guided Cameron over to the red-haired woman. They stopped just short of her.

Salvia lifted up her face slightly from a book labeled “Romeo and Juliet 2: Love and Lies.” She wore a black dress with red etched patterns.

“Can I help you?”

“This is Salvia, one of the staff members,” said Jackie in an excited whisper. Jackie gestured for Cameron to introduce herself.

“Uh…hi,” Cameron said with a nervous grin and wave. Salvia peered at her closely, her eyes hidden behind her hair. “You’re the newcomer, right?”

Cameron nodded.

“Welcome to Z.P.A.,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Zoo Phoenix Academy, the place you’ll be staying at briefly until we can get you a new home nearby.”

Cameron paced back and forth, anxious again. “No one has explained exactly what is going on here, what this place is, what’s it called?” Cameron asked. “I know you guys are trying to keep me from getting scared but I’ve had it with being confused! Explain things to me.”

“Shhh!” several voices shushed Cameron when she raised her voice.

“Oh of course,” said Salvia, putting the book down and conjuring magical images and sigils in front of her. “Might as well explain it to you now rather than wait three whole weeks later after witnessing a vampire attack to do it.”

“W-What?” Cameron asked before she was shushed again.

“I can see glimpses of the future,” Salvia mentioned. “Anyway, Cameron, you’ve only been exposed to the Zoo Phoenix Academy and its grounds…we were gonna wait until you felt more comfortable with the school but, if you insist on knowing this place…”

“Yes, I’m still a capable adult,” Cameron added.

“This place is much bigger than what you have experienced. It is called…Safe Haven.”

(“Salvia here. For the next few minutes, I described the magical protection and the origins of Safe Haven that I had already verbalized in the introduction narration. Feel free to go back if needed but let’s skip and continue on.”)

Cameron stood, jaw dropping. “Oh my God! There really are monsters out there?!”

“Do not worry,” said Salvia. “As long as you’re here, you should be safe. I’m hoping you’ll get more used to this place and not cause the magical barrier to eventually collapse.”

“I’d never do that!”

“Not intentionally. But someone else wants to make sure that happens.”

“Who is it?” Cameron asked, but Jackie stood in the way, much to the annoyance of Cameron and Salvia.

“Thank you Salvia,” said Jackie with a nervous chuckle, pushing Cameron along, “But we better get going! Heh, heh! So many things to see.”

Salvia gave Cameron a knowing apologetic look before going back to her book.

Moe shushes followed them out of the library. “Whew, I can speak again!” Jackie boomed as they entered a hall with brass walls. Jackie’s voice echoed off the walls. “Echo! Echo!” Cameron flinched and grit her teeth.

“On with the tour!” They passed through another archway flanked by torches and five golden rings overhead. “This is the Sports Wing!” said Jackie as they walked down the hall. “Here you’ll find our gymnasium, our pool, outdoor courts and dance studios.”

Cameron looked through a glass window at an indoor basketball court. The court walls were decorated with vines. A monkey was busy swinging from the vines with his tail, dribbling a basketball in his hands. A bear, a bull, a ram, a goat and a chipmunk were stomping around, trying to get the basketball. The monkey dunked it into a nearby hoop as a zebra coach blew his whistle.

Outside in the courtyard, a few lions were practicing fencing while a fox and a hare did gymnastic tricks on bars. Several cheetahs raced each other along a round track and a black bearded centaur hopped over hurdles along the way. A dog and a cat were busy playing hand ball. A few hyena hybrids snickered as they taped a “kick me” sign on the back of a student with peacock feathers.

In a swimming pool, a boy with shark features and a girl with blue scaly skin laughed as they raced each other down the lanes. A woman with swan feathers was preening herself in a hot tub as several male ducks peered for a closer look. A mermaid relaxed beside her, staring at her reflection.

Several brightly colored werewolves were listening to blaring electronic music in the weight room as they lifted barbells and rapidly punched hanging bags. A lone black-wearing vampire stood in the corner drinking dark red liquid from a bottle. The boxing ring was currently being used by bi-pedal boxer dogs.

“Too much sweat and exertion for me,” Jackie mentioned. “I’m more for the grace and beauty of the theater! Onward!”

They soon left the Sports Wing and headed through the arch with the grandfather clock.

“Here is the History Wing!”

They walked around what looked like a museum, with a variety of items on display. There were ceramic pots from ancient civilizations within glass boxes all around. Various paintings were hung from the walls, with signatures. Several weapons were on display further back. Among the weapons were a few that glowed white with swirls and crosses.

“Oh, those are angelic weapons. They are highly valuable and rare. It is said that they can kill any demon in Hell.”

“Why not use them to fight off the monsters?” asked Cameron.

“Good question. Some demons gather the weapons and sell them on the black market for later use. They kill each other off, causing lots of chaos. Heaven’s been using the Exorcists who wield these weapons to eliminate demons each year for centuries. Archangel Adina’s idea to insure ‘purity’ up there.”

“How do you know all this?”

“A friend of a friend of an ex told me. Horrible stuff, I’m telling you. Best to lay low and stay safe.”

They continued onward past treasure chests, antique clothing and various art of mythical creatures in battle or passionate embraces. Exiting that wing, they turned toward another wing made of metal.

“Ah, the Science and Engineering Wing! Perhaps the most confusing and loud section there is. Try not to touch anything!”

It was indeed very loud. Clanks, hisses, bangs and booms permeated through the rooms. Cameron had to cover her ears as she followed Jackie. In one area, raccoons, cats and a few dwarves were working on a metal machine that bellowed smoke and sparks. It had wheels, engines, pipes and canvas wings on either side of it. “Primitive flying car” was labeled next to it. A gopher was working on a computer as green 0s and 1s blinked down a screen. A few other students were taking notes on a steampunk blimp made by a snake inventor of the Industrial Revolution.

There were also several dimmed laboratories illuminated with teal blue fluorescent lights. Blue flames flickered under Bunsen burners while students peered through microscopes at their ant friends. A blue anglerfish man was pouring colorful contents from different vials together, snickering. A mad scientist in a lab coat was instructing one class on how to make a serum that could strengthen the DNA of animal hybrids.

“Let’s move on,” Jackie coughed, swiping away the nearby smoke.

They exited the wing and had arrived at the vast bustling cafeteria.

“The heart…erm, stomach of the campus!” Jackie joked.

Rows of white tables hosted hungry students and staff. Several birds were slurping up bowls of worms. Werewolves were munching on raw meat while horses chewed casually on hay blades. There was also regular food for the more human-like beings as well: salads, sandwiches, soups, potatoes, tacos, casseroles, stews, banquet style meals, fruit desserts and ice cream. There was even a stand giving out spectral food for ghosts. Like many college eating areas, there were various sections serving different kinds of dishes like a miniature food mall. It was an all-you-can-eat paradise.

Cameron’s stomach grumbled as she inhaled the scents of exotic foods. But Cameron soon led her out and back to the main lobby.

“And now, for the best and last part of the tour…” she led Cameron through the wing with red curtains. Rusty and another spotted animal watched them go from the top of the stairs.

“This is the Arts Wing!”

Jackie held her arms in the air as they walked down a hall. The walls were red and decorated with spirals. A poster with a comedy and tragedy theater mask shone within a frame of lights. There was a red “Just Dance” poster and a green movie posted with a clawed black hand labeled “Now showing: The Ded.” There was a painting of a waterfall and a nearby forest.

Cameron looked around. “Oh my, never woulda guessed…”

Jackie laughed. “Hahaha! Sarcasm! I like you Cam!”

They stopped by the dance room and pushed open the double red doors.

“Baby! I got someone for you to meet!” Jackie trilled.

A man with the same colored skin as Jackie, clapped his hands. A group of girls, Mia and Ava, Penelope and Camilla were in pink tutus and ballet slippers doing practice.

“Okay girls! Once you’re warmed up…Jackie!”

The man turned around and beamed.

“Oh god…” Cameron looked in disgust.

The man wore a vibrant red pinstriped suit with blue vertical stripes on it. His bow tie was yellow with red and blue dots on it. His hair was mostly red with a white spot to the left side and blue tips toward the bottom back. His hair also resembled parrot feathers. He currently wore dark blue pants, pointed black shoes and a pink tutu. He also had a gold tooth.

He leaned into Cameron, his eyes golden yellow.

“Salutations senorita! Name?”

“C-Cameron.”

“Soopity, doopity to meetcha! My name is Alanzo but call me Al! It’s shorter!”

He also eagerly shook Cameron’s hand before hugging his wife.

“Heh, nice to meet you,” Cameron began. “So what subject do you…”

“Dance!” Alanzo explained with a flourish.

Jackie chuckled nervously, guiding Cameron out of the room. “Well honey, we gotta run. Got a lot of school to show!”

“You do yer thang, gal!” Alanzo said with a snap of his fingers.

“So he was…” Cameron began as they walked out of the room and down the hall.

Jackie smiled. “That was my husband. We both work in this wing!”

Jackie showed Cameron more rooms.

“And here is…the Art Room!”

Addison and his adoptive Indian snake mother Latika were busy painting on a canvas. A vivid painting of a flying phoenix hung in the background.

“The Music Room!”

Calvin, a yellow crocodile with a black and yellow back with squares on it, played a tuba, which matched his color scheme. A smiling brown fox named Christopher played a white saxophone with blue swirls on it. A black porcupine named Priscilla played a black cello.

Dodododo do-do-do-do…they played a cheerful tune that sounded like Gooseworx’s two Zoophobia themes. (Look it up on YouTube!)

“The Film Room!”

A white and gray wolf twin (Leonardo or Vincent) held onto a fire hydrant with a joyful expression as a fan blew him back. A green screen was in the background. A cheetah, a gray-haired student and the other wolf twin looked at a screen in bewilderment. Another guy with a black hat, flinched from the force of air.

“Why do the animals have giant fans?” asked Cameron.

“Guess they got a bigger budget!” Jackie exclaimed.

“But why?”

“Their last film almost did win at the festival,” Jackie pondered.

At last, they entered a vast auditorium.

Jackie spread out her arms. “And here is my domain! The Theater!”

Cameron glanced down at a group of figures sitting on the stage.

“A-are those your students?”

Jackie wiped a tear from her eye. “Yep! They are my little prodigies!”

Then she trilled in a sing-song voice: “Good afternoon my sparkling little turtle doves!”

“Hey Jackie!” the students harmonized in song.

To Cameron’s bewilderment, an orange fox named Spam, peered at her from atop her head…then licked her face randomly before scampering off.

Spam, Penelope, Jack, Makenzie, Zillion, Kayla, Sahara, Daimon, Taylor and Vanexa were all there.

Penelope wore a stylish white dress and a teal headband with two peacock feathers on it. She was currently admiring herself in a small hand mirror. Mackenzie the cat girl had messy red hair, pale skin and a lavender shirt with a cat on it. She saw herself as a cat after being raised by her equally cat-loving mother Margo.

Jack was a light brown jackal with a worn down body and droopy ears. Zillion was a mix up of creatures and had yellow skin, purple eyes, purple antennae-like ears and a small green snake for a tail. Taylor was a guy with red sclera eyes, light brown hair with purple sides, and he wore brown clothing. He and Zillion were currently locked in an arm wrestling match.

Kayla the beautiful kangaroo was Zillion’s girlfriend; she was happily perched on top of the black grand piano. Sahara was a dark skinned woman wearing a pink head scarf over her dark hair. She had an affinity for magic. Behind her was a darker colored jackal Damion, with red pupils, black sclera and wearing tattered clothes of red and black. Finally, Vanexa was a purple bi-pedal cat, reading a book with a disinterested look on her face. She viewed those around her in a detached annoyance.

‘These are her students?! Just more magical freaky animals?! How crazy can this world get?!’ thought Cameron.

Zillion pinned down Taylor’s arm, much to the latter’s annoyance. “Who’s your friend, cracker jacks?” he asked Jackie.

Jackie put an arm around Cameron. “This here is your new guidance counselor fellas!” Cameron awkwardly looked off to the side.

“Oh good!” Jack and Damion called at the same time.

Damion smirked sarcastically, “I need a lot of ‘guidance!’”

Cameron walked over and pointed at Zillion. “Um sorry, I hate to ask but…what exactly are you? I want to know how scared I should be…”

“Well I…” Zillion began to explain but Jack snickered with a “Kekekeke!” from beside him. Zillion glared at Jack.

“Pass,” Zillion deadpanned. “Not even I know what I am.”

McKenzie sniffed Cameron for a moment, then let out a “Hiss!” It was her habit among strangers. Cameron flinched in confusion.

Damion chuckled and leaned toward Cameron. “You really got your work cut out for you, lady! Just sayin’.”

Cameron stared at him. “H-how are you floating like that?”

Damion grinned. “Oh well it’s because…” He turned on a flashlight under his face and bared his fangs wide, his eyes swirled stripes of red against black. “I’m the Antichrist! Hahahahaha!”

Cameron almost felt like fainting again.

Jack inched closer to Cameron with an apologetic look. “I’m really sorry about my cousin!” He smiled and clutched her hand. “Hello! My name is Jack! And I would like to schedule with you as soon as possible!”

Cameron raised an eyebrow. “Uh, okay?”

Jack let go. “Sorry! It’s been a while since I had someone to talk about my problems…”

Clang!

A stage light fell down and collapsed on top of Jack. He fell to the floor in a heap. A pool of dark blood was visible on the floor around his head. One of his paws had an exposed bone. Cameron covered her mouth in fear and shock.

“Aw man! Not again! You okay dude?” Zillion asked in concern.

Zillion turned to Cameron. “Yeah, this happens a lot. He’ll be alright.”

“Hey, Jackie! Another light fell!” Taylor called.

“I saw it!” she answered.

“So Cam!” said Jackie. “Do you wanna stick around for the class?”

“I’m sorry to say…I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Cameron breathed in almost a whisper.

“Understandable, hun! Vanexa, would you mind escorting Cam to her office?”

The purple cat nodded and led the way, book in hand.

Jackie turned back to the class and clapped her hands. “Alright guys! Showtime!”

They soon reached a pair of wooden doors underneath a sign that read “Guidance.”

“T-thank you. V-Vanexa was it?” Cameron asked nervously. Vanexa did not answer. There was an awkward silence as they looked each other in the eyes. They each seemed to be trying to decipher the other’s thoughts. Cameron coughed.

“W-well…yeah…good evening to you, talking cat…” Cameron stuttered.

“Enjoy your stay,” said Vanexa before she walked back down the hall.

0 0 0

Cameron slammed the door shut behind her, catching her breath. Her office was small and dimly lit with a few books on one shelf to the left. A palm plant was off to one side and blinds were in the center of a yellow wall. In the center was a desk with a couple chairs and “C. Walden” on a label. A pink gift bag lay on her desk with a bunch of strange items inside; a pink flower with yellow tips, a green dragon figure, and what appeared to be cosmetics. Cameron read the tag on the gift: “Dear Cameron, Welcome to the Family! Z.P.A. Staff.”

Cameron smiled slightly at the thoughtful gift.

Cameron was reminded of Mrs. Winkler’s office…and then was reminded of home. This small space didn’t feel much like home.

“How are you coping with things thus far, Cameron?”

Cameron whirled behind her and spotted Zechariah the cheetah.

“Holy mother of…please d-don’t do that…”

“My apologies,” he said.

Cameron sighed. “Yeah…well all things considered…” She slide down onto the floor, overwhelmed.

“I’m sure this is a lot to handle,” said Zechariah.

“Yeah…”

“This place will take some getting used to, Miss. Miss?”

To Zechariah’s surprise, Cameron was sniffing and sobbing, burying her face in her knees. This was not how Zechariah imagined the newcomer would feel.

“I am truly sorry this has happened to you, Miss,” Zechariah said empathetically. “I wish there was more I could do…”

Although stern on the outside, Zechariah had a sweet and protective heart. Being a staff member had gotten him exposed to more human emotions. As the ZPA staff had welcomed him during his arrival to Safe Haven, it was no wonder that he went out of his way to try and do the same for others.

Zechariah nuzzled his furry face into Cameron’s like a comforting cat. Cameron didn’t flinch this time. In fact, she cried and wrapped her arms around the cheetah. She didn’t care that he wasn’t a regular human. She just needed something…someone to give her comfort. Someone to let her know she wasn’t alone in this strange new world. Zechariah’s warm soft chest felt good to Cameron…like a comforting blanket or a pet. Zechariah stared in brief surprise, before closing his eyes and embracing the gesture. Cameron reminded him of when he had been a young cub, trying to find his place.

Cameron’s animal-loving side from her childhood briefly came back…before it faded with the moment of their separation.

“There is…something you may like to see,” mentioned Zechariah in a soft voice. He had an idea. “This way, Miss.”

Cameron followed Zechariah up the stairs and into the observatory.

“W-what’s up here?” Cameron asked.

Then she looked skyward and gasped.

“Oh my god…”

Shimmering in the starry night sky were glowing yellow koi fish floating in the air. They had yellow skin, glowing white eyes, white lines and spot designs across their bodies. One large fish had a yin-yang symbol on its forehead and was as big as an airplane. Their fins were transparent and flowing gracefully like they were angel wings underwater.

“These are guardian fish spirits,” said Zechariah. “The Fish of Peace. They appear when everything is safe. Similar to the butterfly orcas, used to calm anxiety.”

“How…how’d you know I like fish?” Cameron breathed. “This is…beautiful!”

‘Salvia’s magic of course,’ Zechariah thought.

Zechariah purred. “Welcome home, Miss Cameron.”

A magnificent ocean-colored whale swam by among the fish, decorated with bioluminescent spots along its back.

For several minutes, the two of them stared in wonder at the ethereal spirits. Cameron felt like maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all. Especially with her new furry friend and mentor.

Then a question spilled out of her mouth.

“So…where am I going to live anyway?”

One of the fish in the sky turned a deathly white and took on yellow and black stripped eyes. She peered closely at Cameron. “And so it begins…”

0 0 0

One day later, an earth-colored griffin-like creature named Skoni pulled a cart of packages around the street. He sang the “Mail Time” song out loud:

“Here’s the mail

It never fails

It makes me want to wag my tail

When it comes, I wanna wail

Mail!”

He stopped and knocked on Cameron’s door.

Cameron cracked open the door of her new small home. “Y-yes?”

“Package, ma’am!”

Cameron took the package and stared at Skoni. He suddenly appeared to be sprouting eyes all over his body…

“Get away monster!” Cameron cried, waving a bat at him.

Skoni looked taken aback. “You just arrived yesterday, lady! I’m here to deliver your mail! Gaah!”

“Demon!” Cameron yelled, squirting hose water in his face.

“Fine!” Skoni scoffed. “Have a nice day!”

Cameron blinked a few times and saw a regular pouting Skoni trot away. “Oh you were just delivering the mail again... Sorry!”

Eris (or “KayCee”) laughed as the Skoni illusion replayed from her golden apple. She ate a sub sandwich in the darkness. “So let’s get this party started then, shall we?”

Chapter Three: “Jack’s Counseling Session”

Cameron’s first test of her new career began several days later. Jack had mentioned that he wanted to get an appointment with her as soon as possible. And by sheer luck, his desire was granted. (However, he had to deal with several shoves from Rusty, slipping on a banana peel and tripping on the sidewalk several times on his way there.)

Cameron glanced at a long list of confidential session notes provided to her by Salvia for the week:

Client One: Jackson Wells. Concern: Daily bad luck.

Client Two: Addison Woods. Concern: Trauma from experimentation in Xirxine labs.

Client Three: McKenzie Payoray. Concern: Daily bullying and coping with feline lifestyle.

Client Four: Damion Beelzly. Concern: Proper educational environment.

Clients Five and Six: Zillion Martinez and Kayla Christling. Concern: Anniversary troubles.

Client Seven: Vanexa Pierce. Concern: Solitude and fitting in.

Client Eight: Camilla Jimenez. Concern: Dancer, hopeless romantic, doesn’t like her rep.

Client Nine: Autumn. Concern: Increase self-worth.

Client Ten: Tom. Concern: Break up with Addison and stealing souls.

Client Eleven: Daphne Dafadellia. Concern: Being less judgmental toward men.

Client Twelve: Rusty (Call him by his real name Reuben, he hates it). Concern: Bullying issues.

(Don’t mind my mind reading.)

Cameron smiled as she stood on a chair and hung up a sign on her office door that read “Ms. Walden. ZPA Guidance.”

She placed a small green tree in a pot on a side table, hung up a blue poster of two fish that read “Just keep swimming,” and placed a golden dragon statue on a side table as well. Her desk was polished and had a label on it with her name. She stepped back and observed her handiwork.

“Mhm! Much better!”

She glanced at her watch and sat down at her desk, arms folded in front of her.

‘Okay, you can do this,’ she encouraged to herself. Her heart jolted when she heard a knocking at the door.

Jack peered into the room.

“Um Ms. Walden? I’m uh, here for my session…”

“Oh yes! Jackson, good morning to you,” greeted Cameron. She mentioned to a purple beanbag chair on the floor. “Please take a seat and we can get started! Hope you don’t mind bean-bags…”

Jack settled onto the bean-bag, enjoying the comfort. “Naw, they are actually really nice, heh…Also I, um, like what you did with the new room! It’s very humble!”

“Thank you!”

Cameron placed a hand under her chin with a sheepish grin. “Yes I’m…very thankful to Zechariah for letting me change rooms. I kinda have a weird connection with my surroundings. The old room was just a little too intimidating on first arrival…”

“Yeah, I understand what you mean…” mentioned Jack.

Cameron cleared her throat. “So! You are my first official counseling session here at Z.P.A.! Is there um, anything bothering you at all that you would like to talk about? Anything!”

Jack stuttered, already beginning to feel a sort of crush for her. Cameron had appeared so nice on her first day and he figured maybe she could ease his current situation a bit. “Umm…well…I think for things I tell you to make sense…I have to kinda fill you in a bit about...myself...and my “condition,” or well…my curse…”

Jack then explained his origins.

“You see…my parents were extremely close…according to my mother. And when she got pregnant with me, they were very excited. But…before I was born, my father was killed in a very freak accident. My mother was devastated by it. In desperation, she turned to her sister. My aunt Narissa, who…well is married to the devil…as creepy as that sounds. She begged him to make a deal but as a gift to his wife, he granted my mother her wish. To give her unborn child the gift of eternal life…But the devil’s magic works in very odd ways…so his gift was really a curse. When I was born, he cursed me with immortality…along with a supernatural affinity for bad luck…and, heh…thing is…I still feel pain…”

He barely remembered himself as a pup, flinching in a grass bed as Lucifer’s long dark finger shot a bolt of hot magic through him…burning him to his very core.

His mother was grateful she didn’t have to worry about him dying, but was concerned about the bad luck.

Jack glanced off to the side. “So, um, yeah. Not being able to die on top of the very crazy, often violent things that happen to me…with the pain…it um…yeah…not fun.”

Jack looked at Cameron in concern.

“You okay, Miss. Walden? I’m sorry if my story is a little strange…”

“No…” Cameron replied. “I’m just…still getting used to hearing about the…supernatural things…and the devil being real…”

Cameron continued. “Phewww…I am very sorry for your situation, Jackson. It sounds…simply dreadful. What else would you like to share about your hardships? I can tell there is a lot you have to tell…”

Jack twiddled his thumbs. “I really hope you don’t mind me talking a lot about myself. I just think it’s a good idea to fill things in.”

“No Jack, it’s fine,” Cameron encouraged. “It helps to know these things!”

“Yeah, I’m sorry, it’s just…been a while since I explained this stuff. I don’t often tell people about the curse anymore.”

“Why is that?”

Jack buried his face in his hands as he explained.

“Well because…It just gets hard explaining it over and over to people…why so much crazy stuff happens to me, around me. And the moment I mention that it is an actual “curse,” people immediately get sacred to be around me. I can’t really blame them; they don’t want to get hurt. But…sometimes I don’t really like it. I don’t like people avoiding me out of fear. And I don’t like people thinking I’m making it up for attention!”

Cameron was reminded of how many people with disabilities felt similarly about having to explain their conditions to other people who didn’t experience them. Some had trouble walking or controlling their bodies. Others felt chronic pain or experienced constant negative thoughts in their heads. Their disabilities were things they were born with and had no control over. Similar to Jack’s bad luck.

Jack continued. “It just gets a little stressful sometimes, plus some people think I’m pretty…well, weird ‘cause the whole curse thing and my luck has made me pretty superstitious. It really doesn’t help how people see me with all my behaviors and, um, customs. Heh. (You’d feel the same if you noticed me with four ladybugs on my ears, four leaf clovers and a dreamcatcher around my neck, a rabbit’s foot and dice hanging from my legs and me holding a cricket in a cage. Trying every good luck charm imaginable to counteract the bad. Of course, nothing works.) Most people here kinda avoid me for the most part just seeing what kind of stuff happens and finding me odd.”

“Do you have any real or close friends, Jack?” Cameron asked.

Jack brightened. “Oh yes! I have a few. And honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without my best friend Zill…”

“I think I know him…in Jackie’s class, right?” Cameron asked. “What creature is he anyway?”

“I have no idea! I’m not sure he knows either. In fact, he always seems confused about it.”

“He doesn’t know?”

“I don’t think so!”

“So how long have you known Zill?”

“Since I found him! About thirteen years now,” said Jack.

Cameron appeared confused. “I…I’m sorry, you ‘found’ him?”

“Yeah!”

“What do you mean by that?”

Jack chuckled a bit. “Oh heh-yeah sorry, let me explain!”

Jack then explained the next part of his origins.

“I was born in Safe Haven’s animal district. It’s a kind and more natural environment, so my upbringing was more ‘traditional,’ I guess. My mom never really explained my curse to me when I was younger. I just thought the world was against me and that she didn’t even care. So I ran away from home a lot back then. I just felt I had to escape somehow.”

“It was never much help, but I seemed to kinda enjoy the time away from her. I remember the last time I ran away, I was like five, and during a really foggy rainy night, I took shelter in a tree. I heard some growling in the forest. It was really scary at the time, cause most animals in the district respect private boundaries, plus I was young too…heh. I heard this creature emerge from the bushes. He approached the entrance to where I was hiding. His eyes were glowing green. I had never seen anything like him before and I was extremely scared. He was just really curious of me I think, but he behaved much more…well bestial than what I was used to. He was like…well, an ‘animal,’ which was new for me. Most animals in the district can still speak universally! Especially upon first meeting.”

“Zill was extremely wary of me and I was just terrified! But really he was just extremely curious of me. Unlike me, Zill was just unafraid and bold! Also surprisingly unfazed by my curse. (He put back my broken arm like it was nothing.) In fact, for the first time, I had met someone who not only was unfazed by it, but he actually…intervened! (After water poured on my head from a leaf, he used his wing to keep me dry.) So really, Zill meant a lot to me, almost right off the bat.”

“We actually kinda lived together in the forest for like a full month, getting to know each other as friends. He didn’t talk to me at first, but when he started to talk, he only spoke Spanish! Which was like jibberish to be…heh. So the language barrier was still there, yet we still understood each other somehow. After a while I decided to actually bring Zill home with me! My mom was beyond happy I was back. But she actually didn’t take very warmly to Zill.”

He remembered going along with Zill, with his mother being worried that Zill might harm him. He then told his mother that he didn’t need constant protection all the time.

“How did Zill get his name?” Cameron asked.

“Oh! Well, he spelled his name for me in the dirt while we were in the forest.”

Cameron listened with intent curiosity. “It’s interesting he was so intelligent, despite living in the forest!”

“Well I mean lots of intelligent animals live in the wild! But I understand what you mean. Zill did come off as pretty primitive at first.”

“So did you two live together?”

Jack nodded. “Actually we did! For a little while before we officially started school! Zill was with us through the move to the city district. During those first years, I taught him how to speak English. (Notecards with pictures and words on it were helpful for us. He’d read words like “apple” and lots of food terms to start off with.) By the time we did first start school, he was already decently bi-lingual! A lot of other kids would call Zill names and stuff cause of how he looked. But he never let it get to him though.”

“But when I was picked on…”

Jack remembered Zill admiring a butterfly before he was knocked to the ground by a hard dodgeball to the face. Rusty the bully dog laughed after Jack had fallen.

“Haha! Take that you wimpy loser!”

Zill growled and his eyes flashed green. He shot a flaming dodgeball back at Rusty which hit him in the face with a “wham!” Green energy glowed around his hand.

“Zill didn’t take kindly to that. Neither of us ever really found out how exactly his ‘powers’ seemed to work, but he had a lot less control back then.”

A young Kayla rushed over to Rusty. “Oh gosh! Are you okay?”

But Rusty just elbowed her away, causing her to fall with an “oof!”

“Get off me you dumb girl!”

Zill growled in anger again.

“Zill has always had issues with people who bully or attack.”

Kayla stood up, furious. She separated the two boys. “Stop! No more! I’m fine,” she told Zill. “Both of you! No fighting! This is a playground!”

Rusty scoffed at her. “Get out of my way or I’ll beat you up too! I’m not afraid to hit a dumb girl…”

Kayla then smacked him hard in the face with a “pow!” before he landed flat on his back. Kayla let out a “hmpth” and strolled away. Zill instantly admired her courage and feistiness.

“Zill met his girlfriend Kayla on the first day of grade school,” said Jack.

Cameron gasped. “Oh my! They have been dating for that long? Oh how sweet.”

Jack shook his head. “Oh, no, heh. Zill didn’t get with Kay for a while. Through most of school he was…well, um ‘loose’ with girls. Flirting with them, showing off his strength and dazzling them with his charm. Many teen boys are like that. He always had genuine feelings for Kayla, but he never had the guts to go for her. He just didn’t think she’d be interested. Which I guess was understandable. He didn’t have the best rep with the ladies, growing up. He was a party animal…heh, sorry.”

“But! He used to love to sing! And had a knack for it! So I suggested he try out for the school musical once we entered Z.P.A.! He scored the lead alongside Kayla in the show! (I remember them getting a standing ovation at the end. Zill wore a purple suit and hat while Kayla wore a cross necklace and a blue and white dress.) And that was when they really got to know each other! Once they really got together, Zill really slowed down on his party lifestyle. It was interesting how much of a change there was. But! I was really happy that he had found such a stable relationship. Plus Kayla was a wonderful girl honestly!”

Jack faltered. “But once he started dating…like I said, our relationship kinda, I dunno, changed…”

‘”Our relationship changed?’ How so?” Cameron asked. “Was he just less close as a friend?”

Jack stuttered slightly. “Um, well! I mean, maybe I said that the wrong way. It was just…so hard to explain! He just suddenly had so many friends and attention once he changed with Kayla. I guess I just missed a little of the constant we had before he had such a serious relationship. I’m just a little worried that the way things might progress…”

Tears came to Jack’s eyes, his face glum. “That maybe he…eventually won’t need me as a friend…I’m sorry, it’s a dumb worry…”

“No Jack,” said Cameron. “When a friend starts to change, or befriends other people, it’s normal to feel worried about where you stand. But I’m sure if the two of you are as close as you say, you will never grow apart!”

“Yeah?”

“Ya know, we talked a lot about Zill. Why don’t you tell me more about yourself! Do you have many other friends?”

Jack pondered in thought. “I think that’s why I have this insecurity. Like I said before, I only have a few friends because people are scared to be around me, understandably.” He remembered getting his head sawn off, a beehive landing on his head and getting attacked by a green sewer monster.

“I have one other really close friend but I rarely see her.”

“What about your family?” asked Cameron.

“My family?”

Jack thought of Damion the troublemaker teen jackal, Lucifer and his jackal wife Narissa, Tentradora the succubus pink cyborg nanny and a blue demon guard named Major Styx. (Grumpy Major Styx wanted Damion to be his submissive love servant and Tentradora was very “touchy-feely” and overprotective. Narissa kept to herself and Lucifer was very prideful as a goat-like demon.)

Jack explained, “It’s complicated. I think deep down I love my family, but they do just remind me directly of my curse. My mom Mindy used to take me to visit my uncle and aunt a lot.”

“Your uncle? The devil?”

Jack sighed. “Yeah…”

“I felt very alone when I went there. To Hell. That side of my family has nothing in common with me. Plus when Damian came along he just became a constant pain. Sorry if that’s mean to say. My family makes me look out for him a lot, so I tend to get frustrated with him often. Anyways, even though it was pretty stupid, I decided one day to sneak out of the palace just to clear my head. Hell outside of the protection of the palace gets pretty dangerous. But I kinda stopped worrying about my own physical well-being. So my carelessness caught up with me, and a demon attacked me!”

“A one-eyed, stripped giant monstrosity! It had two slender legs and a tail…and a large maw under its red glowing eye. Yeah, I guess it was pretty freaky. Dangerous situations tend to shock me more than actually scare me. But then Jill showed up.”

Jack remembered a purple cat demon leaping into the air and stabbing the monster with a triangular bladed scythe. After several deep stabs and Jill slicing off its hand, the monster tumbled down to the ground. Jack watched with fear and awe against a rock wall.

“Jill?” asked Cameron. ‘Jack and Jill…’

“Yeah!” said Jack. “I figured I was on the subject of my only close friends. Jill is definitely one of the most important people in my life…heh. She saved me. Besides Zill, she was the only one who ever protected me. Jill and I started spending time with each other after that. She was a stray demon who spent a lot of time fending for herself against other demons.”

Jack added, “Sorry if it seems I’m jumping around too much. I get carried away.”

“It’s fine, Jack,” said Cameron.

Jack continued. “Anyway, I loved spending time with Jill. She was rough with everyone but with me, she was so soft. Her hugs were the best! I snuck out to hang with her during every Hell visit, and as we got older…”

Jack let out a forlorn sigh. “I guess nothing really stays the same.”

“I encouraged her to test herself to be a member of the royal guard. She passed the test with flying colors and was accepted to live in the palace! Lucifer gave her a black collar with a red diamond gem on it to mark her new status. I was so proud of her! She ended up head of the royal guard. I was so happy because we would be able to see each other more often. But then she met this guy she worked with. And kinda…ended up spending more time with him than with me. Which hurt a bit. I had always hoped we would stay close…maybe even get closer.”

“So you had a crush on her?” Cameron asked.

“Well, I crush easily,” Jack answered. “I’m happy she found someone though. She deserves that. So does Zill. I just get lonely...”

After a few sad moments he muttered, “I’m sorry this took a turn. I don’t want it to seem like I’m complaining about the fact they are happy. I hope that’s not what it sounds like.”

Cameron stared with empathy at Jack. “Jack, it’s fine. I can tell you are a very emotional person, and it’s normal to get lonely in your situation. But I really think you’ll be able to find someone for you in time. And talking about these feelings are the point of counseling. So no need to apologize. You seem to talk very highly of others. What about yourself?”

“This event was…not a highly moment...I…there was one time Damion locked me in a locker for a whole week. All because he didn’t want me to tell Zill that he had missed Kayla’s anniversary. S-since I couldn’t die, I was just trapped inside my head…starving, deteriorating, not knowing what time it was. It felt like I was dying again and again in a nightmare. By the time someone found me and unchained me, it had been one week later. Took me a full day of fluids to recover, even though my body regenerated itself. It may sound strange to you but…I wanted desperately to die in those moments.”

A chilling silence permeated the space.

“Sometimes…I wish I hadn’t been born. I wish that dad hadn’t died. Then my mom wouldn’t have been so obsessed with keeping me alive. It feels like Hell much of the time. Sometimes I blame her, wishing she could experience the curse through my eyes. Other times I blame myself; what did I ever do to deserve…”

A few books randomly toppled from a shelf and hit Jack in the head. “…this?” He groaned and rubbed his head.

Cameron looked at Jack with a somber expression. “I’m…sorry you had to go through that. And regarding your curse…no one should have to go through anything like that. I guess death isn’t the worst thing in the world…”

As Jack sobbed and sniffled for several minutes, Cameron walked over and gave him a comforting embrace. Jack breathed deeply, face blushing. Even after Cameron let go, he still felt her warmth and kindness. He wiped more tears away.

“S-sorry…”

“It’s okay Jack.”

“Besides the curse and all the negatives. Tell me about Jackson,” said Cameron.

“Me?”

“Yes! Your interests? Goals? Hobbies? Things that make you happy. Anything!”

Jack thought hard about it. “Um…well let’s see. I play the drums! I play the drums while Spam does guitar and lyrics. Kayla and Zill sing and play piano and Vanexa helps too. I also, um, work part time at the Safe Haven observatory. I really love space. Just everything about the universe and its infinite vastness fascinates me! It’s inspiring. I love studying astronomy and science.”

“Oh!” Cameron exclaimed with joy.

“I also love to cook! That’s my favorite hobby! I don’t have many people to cook for, so I usually take food to the foster home, the same one that took Zill in for a while. I’m still deciding which path I’d like to take for a career, being like a real chef or going into astronomy.”

Jack continued. “Next year is my final year at the academy so I need to decide soon what my final major will be. I’m still able to take plenty of classes for both, though!”

Cameron was very pleased. “Well! Well working at the observatory and being able to exercise your culinary skills gives you a good way to sample your career options. I’m sure you will make the right choice and have a successful career, Jack!”

Jack smiled warmly. “Thank you, Ms. Walden. Thank you for listening! You’re more attentive than the last counselor.”

“Well that’s what I’m here for!”

“So…are you still scared living here after the past few days?” Jack asked.

Cameron glanced off to the side. “Well, uh, ya…I mean…I’m getting used to things. Talking to you wasn’t scary. You are very kind and not frightening at all, past the fur. Which alone is surprising but there are a few people here who don’t scare me as much. So thank you! For not being scary. Is there anything else you’d like to talk about in this session?”

Jack stood up. “I think that’s enough for this time. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

He opened the door and looked at her one last time with a smile. “Thanks again, Ms. Walden. Welcome to Safe Haven!”

Cameron waved. “Take care, Jackson!”

As Jack was walking down the hall…

Slam!

Rusy slammed him into a locker and he slid to the floor. Rusty barked in laughter, leering over Jack.

“Watch where yer goin’ wimp! Heh heh! You gonna cry or what?”

“No?” Jack whimpered.

“Yeah you are! P*ssy! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

Rusty laughed as he strutted away. Jack made his way to the observatory as the setting sun turned the sky a salmon pink. He spotted a blonde man wearing glasses and a blue suit with a tight white collar.

“Hey Dan!”

The man smiled. “Jack! You’re early! It’s barely dark out!”

“Yeah. I feel like coming in before my shift to relax a bit. Can I go up?”

“Of course! Nobody is up there right now.”

“Thanks Dan!”

Jack slipped on a blue uniform and climbed up the stars. He made it to the top and his eyes grew wide in wonder. Yellow ethereal koi fish swam and glided across the starry night sky. The spotted bioluminescent midnight blue whale traveled beside the fish as well. The city lights and the greenhouse globe buildings illuminated the night in their spectacular vivid glows. One building was pink, the other a faded golden yellow. Jack became transfixed by the spirits. For the first time in a while, he felt hopeful and positive.

Jack smiled and sighed contently as he gazed dreamily up at the Fish of Peace. “It’s never lonely at night.”

Despite the bad luck, Jack knew he wasn’t alone. He had Zill, Spam, Vanexa, Jill, Kayla…all those who cared for him. His bandmates were the ones who helped save him from a monster, and it led to him being more tolerant of his curse. Zill had tried to “save” him multiple times by deflecting the bad luck events but Jack didn’t want him to get hurt. Instead of exhausting themselves to try and stop the curse, Jack’s friends helped pull himself together (literally and figuratively) and were simply there to support him after the bad moments. Although some of them were often preoccupied with lovers, they would always come back for Jack. For he was the silent supporting stone of their bonds.

And now he had Cameron…a loving mentor…and perhaps a new mother-like figure in his life. Although he had a crush on her, it was not solely romantic. It was mixed with feelings of appreciation and friendship.

Jack felt at home with himself for the first time in years. Because he realized an enlightening truth: not even a curse could keep his friends away.

0 0 0

Zechariah was busy jotting down notes at his desk when Cameron entered the room.

“Z-Zechariah?” Cameron asked.

“Miss Cameron!” Zechariah greeted. “Did your first session go well?”

Cameron smiled, pleased to have helped out Jack. Helping others made her feel truly at home for the first time. “Actually, it really did!”

#zoophobia #vivziepop #zoophobiacomic #hazbinhotel #badluckjack

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toonqueen · 4 years

Text

Duckvember 2020

-Dreadful-

SORRY I’M ON A KICK WITH MY HEADCANON FOR NEGA-GLADSTONE.

*Sees what the next prompt after this is.* Well shit. Btw Grandma Coot in this is Grandma Duck. Nega Grandma doesn’t use her married name in the Negaverse cuz FUN TIMES.

This again is in the 87/comics universe headcanon I have. Whee.

Some casual cussing cuz Negaversers cuss okay.

:readmore:

---------

“I have some business in the city. Would you like to come with me?” Elvira Coot asked her grandson.

The young teenager was sprawled out on the couch, watching some violent cartoon nonsense on TV. He looked up at her, since the show wasn’t really holding his attention. “Which city?” Grimstone replied as he fiddled to find the off button on the remote.

“Which city,” she snorted, as if Grimstone had cracked a bad joke, “I remember when Duckburg was farmland. St. Canard is the only real city around here.”

“Alright, I’ll go. Right now?”

“Yes, right now.”

Grimstone got up quickly to put on his shoes and an overly large sweater his Grandma had knit him. A sweater she had done within days of taking him in. Though she was sometimes short with her grandson, and often painfully blunt, she obviously cared for him.

Grim’s childhood was rough; from a controlling mother to being locked up in a basement for years before running away and joining a wayward group of kids. Despite his Grandmother’s harsh attitude, this was the best he had it so far. Meals three times a day, and actually appreciated when he did work around the farm. Grimstone was allowed to wander the swamps freely, spend alone time in his very own bedroom.

“Where are we going exactly?” Grimstone asked as they headed to the pickup truck parked out front.

“Picking up two more generators,” Grandma answered, climbing into the truck. Grimstone hopped in beside her.

“Don’t you have, like, four already?” Grimstone stated as he buckled his seat belt. Grandma started the truck without putting on hers. Grimstone wordlessly glared at her until she sighed and put on her own seat belt. The young teen already had several arguments with his Grandmother that she couldn’t be a doomsday prepper but not wear her seat belt for safety. There was irony somewhere in that.

“Six,” Grandma corrected, “you can never have too many generators for when the world ends.”

Grimstone, upon first being taken in by his Grandmother, did find her doomsday survivalist side an unexpected quirk. His mother had never been like that. Sure, his mother dearest had lived “in the now’” making some selfish decisions but wasn’t so pessimistic about the future.

And the way Grandma stocked up, like there would be hundreds staying on the farm when the time came. He found that even more strange; before he came to the farm it was just her living there alone. She’d mention the other family sometimes, his cousins. All her many grandkids. Grim often wondered why she wasn’t a part of their lives anymore. She hadn’t even been a part of his until he accidentally found the farm. And that was just pure luck.

Ol’ Elvira Coot had purposely stopped talking about the inlaw side of the family related to the McDucks. She noticed Grimstone would tense up and get unusually quiet whenever she mentioned them. She also picked up the boy was a little claustrophobic. Grimstone definitely did not like going into some of the storage rooms in the basement. There were a few comments Grim had made here and there about staying with other relatives when his parents died. The same he clearly ran away from.

Grandma didn’t pry since it seemed to upset him, but she was willing to listen if he ever wanted to talk. Often Elvira just wanted to tell him that if she had known her daughter died, she would have come get him, but she wasn’t sure if that’d only upset Grimstone more. One day she’d tell him everything.

Most of the drive Grimstone was silent, which was normal for him. He always liked to observe the wide expanse of the swamp around the farm, turning into dry grasslands before getting closer to St. Canard. Crossing the bridge, he finally piped up. “They fixed the frayed cables on the left side finally.”

“Yeah, I just noticed that, too,” Grandma Coot retorted. A worrisome thought crossed her mind, but she bit her tongue. “You can stay in the truck while everything gets loaded.”

“Nah, I’ll go with you. Maybe you’ll get a better deal if they know you have this adorable mouth to feed,” Grimstone said, playfully sarcastic. He gave a cheeky smile without showing any teeth.

His Grandma noticed ages ago Grimstone never smiled with his teeth. Just like her.

“Hmm, I wouldn’t bet on that, bucko,” Grandma replied, keeping her eyes on the road as she reached over to ruffle his hair. She remembered when he would shy away from any physical contact. However, it only took a couple weeks to get over that wall, and the little brat quickly accepted hugs and affection.

Grim turned his gaze from the window to the elderly duck. “Hey, can we stop by that ice cream place we went to last time? After you pick up your stuff?”

Grandma Coot chuckled. “Oh, so that was your scam all along, huh? Here I thought you just wanted to keep your precious grandma company when all you really wanted was that tabasco ice cream again, hmm?”

Although Elvira was only feigning hurt and joking, Grimstone still felt like he had to defend himself. “What! No!” he argued. “I just thought of it now! That ice cream was some good shit but I still like spending time with you!”

“I know, I know. How about we pick up a whole carton of it to bring home? *But*, then you have to clean out the goat stalls,” she bargained.

“Yeah, sure, okay, fine,” Grim grumbled and crossed his arms. In truth, he really didn’t mind the busy work around the farm. He wasn’t going to let her know that any time soon, though, since chores were often traded for treats. “Sometimes I wonder how you took care of that place all by yourself before I came along.”

It was a simple comment. He didn’t mean anything by it. Elvira sighed sadly, “Well, I wasn’t always alone.” After a silent pause, she added gingerly, “But now I have your bastard ass to keep me on my toes.”

“Hey!” Grim playfully back-handed his Grandma lightly on the arm.

“If you’re calling that a punch, we need to work on your fighting later,” Elvira smirked.

“My shooting’s gotten really good! I hit all the cans yesterday!” the teen said defensively.

“I know, I know. I saw,” Elvira chuckled, and smiled.

Grimstone smiled faintly in return. Sure, she was a weird old lady sometimes, but he was glad he had at least one family member that liked him around.

It wasn’t long until they pulled into the parking lot of a warehouse near the pier. There was a large boat with a dark green tarp over its semi-exposed cargo. Grimstone recognized the familiar generators. There were two rugged looking seagulls standing outside a small building nearby.

“Stay in the truck,” Elvira ordered. Grimstone didn’t understand; why bring him if she was only going to make him wait in the truck? He grumbled lowly but did as he was told--for now.

Grandma hopped out of the truck and headed to the building beside the dock. “Right, boys. The usual deal?” She looked up at the two much taller birds.

“Actually, the arrangement is going to be a little different. The boss is here today and wants to change some things,” one of the seagulls explained. He directed a hand to the door of the building.

Elvira’s eyes narrowed as she proceeded to enter. She had a feeling their “boss” was up to something. “Well, you old bastard, what do you want now?” she growled.

Scrooge sat behind a desk in the office, lazily puffing a cigar. “Me? Nothing,” he replied. “The price stays the same for you. I just need to know why you require so many of these generators. Powering a whole city up there, are you now?”

“You keep selling me crap I need to keep replacing. That's why,” she lied somewhat. At least two previous generators she had to mod and repair herself.

“You haven’t found anything interested in that cesspool, have you?” Scrooge inquired, shifting and turning his chair halfway around. He looked out the window at her truck.

“Nothing you’d care about,” Elvira muttered, “and I prefer my home not be called a ‘cesspool’, thank you.”

“Why stay on a useless swamp that barely has any fertile farmland? You’ve always been hiding something. Before we can finish this transaction I need to know what that is,” Scrooge insisted, not turning back around.

“There isn’t anythi--” Elvira started to raise her voice but was interrupted by one of the seagulls practically throwing a familiar fourteen year old to the floor.

“Hey, boss, we found this kid snooping around,” one seagull explained.

“I wasn’t snooping around! I was literally standing at the rail of the dock looking out at the water, you idiot! I--” As soon as Grimstone started to get to his feet, he noticed the duck sitting behind the desk and froze.

Elvira momentarily took his sudden silence as him worried she was mad. “Grim! I told you to stay in the truck,” she said, walking over to her grandson. She stopped then, and realized the kid wasn’t upset. Something far worse. He looked panicked, terrified, frightened.

At the sound of Grim’s voice, Scrooge spun his chair back around, facing forward. His surprised look melted into an oily, insidious smirk.

“Well, if it isn’t my lucky charm. Wondered where you went off to. Been a while, hasn’t it?” Scrooge stood from his chair, cane in hand, and stalked around the desk.

Grandma Coot didn’t need to know the history between these two. Grimstone had a run-in with Scrooge at some point between his parents passing and joining the gang of kids, and it obviously had left the most painful scars. She quickly stepped in between the two, snapped, “I don’t think so. We’re leaving. Keep your generators.”

Grimstone, still stunned, went to join his Grandma. Before he could move, one of the guards grabbed Elvira from behind. She fought, fists flailing, before her arms were pinned down to her sides.

Grimstone backed up against the opposite wall.

“You’ll be leaving without the lad,” Scrooge explained. “Trust me, once you know what he is you wouldn’t want to take him with you.”

“Don’t you lay a finger on him!” Elvira growled and snarled. Though her arms were trapped, she furiously kicked back at the seagull holding her.

Scrooge could only chuckle as he approached the cowering boy. “It seems I made quite an impression on you.”

“I’ll go with you. Just please don’t tell her,” Grimstone muttered.

“Oh no, sonny. She needs to know what you are or else she’ll try to come get you. Like she used to try with all the other brats,” Scrooge taunted. He pressed his cane handle under Grimstone’s chin, just getting a whimper from the boy. He drew back the cane, bringing it down on Grimstone’s head.

Grimstone tumbled to the floor. He scrambled to get up, on hands and knees when Scrooge hooked his cane around his neck and violently yanked. The boy took a sharp breath like he had been drowning for those brief seconds. “Open up, and then I’ll let her go. Hm?”

At first the young duck didn’t do anything. His head was swimming. His mind jumped to the night Scrooge had exposed his secret to the rest of the family. To Matilda, the woman who’d taken him in, to all the cousins near his age. He lost everything after that, and he was going to lose it all over again.

Grim was brought back to reality when Scrooge pulled on his neck with the cane. He saw his Grandma fighting furiously to get out of the guard’s arms. He couldn’t let her get hurt, even if it meant losing the last family member he had on his side.

With a strained sob, Grimstone’s beak split down his cheeks. Past the orange and into the feathers, and down his neck appeared a row of teeth, opening like a second mouth. This was only a small glimpse of the truth, but he didn’t want to ruin the sweater his Grandma had so lovingly made him.

Though his torso rumbled, shifted, he made sure the extra toothy mouth opened wide on his bill and neck. He was sure Scrooge wouldn’t ask him to show more.

“See, looks like Daphne had a little monster. So, how about my employees load you up with two generators--no charge this time. Can’t say I’m not gener--” When Scrooge looked up from Grim to his Grandmother, he was in for another surprise.

Elvira had the same wide row of fangs split open past her cheeks. Not only that, but feathered tendril-like limbs were coming out each sleeve of her blouse alongside her arms. The fleshy vines grabbed around the seagull’s arms. With a squeeze and a bend, the guard had to let go. Scrooge’s cane was still hooked on Grimstone’s neck when the old mallard tugged on it again. The teen, while still consumed with emotional dread, was elated by what he saw.

His Grandma was like him? Why didn’t he realize that was a possibility before? His mother had been like this too. Not until this moment had he finally put two and two together.

“Oh, I see. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Scrooge’s voice seemed calm, “then, let's make another arrangement. How about--”

There wasn’t any negotiating, as Elvira’s tendrils wrapped around the stunned guard that was loosely holding her. She was able to lift his body with the monstrous limbs and toss the seagull right at Scrooge. Both crashed through the window and into the water outside.

Grimstone would have been dragged with Scrooge too, but spare tendrils held him tight, plucking off the cane.

Grandma Coot then grabbed Grim’s upper arm with her hand. She quickly made him run with her to the truck. One of her tendril’s was putting the key in the ignition and turning it while her hands checked the wound on Grimstone’s head. He had curled up on himself in the passenger seat, still not knowing what to make of the situation. By reflex, Grimstone stiffened and his exposed openings of teeth closed up.

Elvira gave him a soft smile before taking the wheel, tendrils retracting back up into her sleeves.

“I had thought Donald would inherit the curse. But of course it would be you. Looks like I have a lot more to teach you than just shooting,” she said, as if this was the only way she could comfort him. Accepting him. She hit the gas and drove off like a bat out of Hell.

Grimstone had so many questions now. Questions he was sure he’d get answers to later. That she was like him. He uncurled and got comfortable, easing back and relaxing, as if nothing was wrong. He wasn’t exposed as a monster, because she was one too. In that moment, strangely enough, it meant they were still family.

“So, uh… Can we still stop for that ice cream?”

------

Thanks again to @cataradical for beta ahhhh.

This came up with the prompt cuz I could picture my Nega Grandma duck saying 'Dreadful' to Scrooge with the same energy as that Kim Kardashian tragic gif. loool.

#duckvember 2020 #duckvember #gladstone gander #grandma duck #elvira coot #elvira duck #negaverse #scrooge mcduck #uncle scrooge

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bethpeaches123 · 4 years

Text

Oh, it’s you.

So I had an idea rolling around in my brain for a little while, and then a real-life situation presented itself that was eerily similar to this, and instead of acting on it in real life, I’m acting on it in fanfiction form. Because it’s less risky, ha. Here’s some enemies to friends to luvers. I’ve also posted it on AO3 for your reading pleasure. :) Enjoy! I would love some feedback too!

“Thanks,” said Katniss Everdeen briskly to the Uber driver in the front seat of the red Corolla. He grunted his acknowledgement in response as her hand grasped the door handle and pushed the rear passenger-side door open, swinging her slender legs out onto the sidewalk. She leaned back into the car and grabbed the bottle of wine off the seat, then ducked out and straightened up, slamming the car door closed as it drove off.

Turning to face the towering brick townhouse belonging to her cousin Gale and her childhood best friend Madge, Katniss squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

“You don’t have to stay all night. Just a couple of hours,” she muttered to herself. “That’s like…four half-hours. Or...six twenty-minute periods…or 12 ten-minute chunks…or…anyway, whatever. Just do it. It’s Madge’s birthday, she wants you to be here, just suck it up.”

The night wind suddenly swelled, a gust whooshing past her, stirring up a pile of dead brown leaves around her feet that had fallen from the maple tree on their tiny front lawn. She realized with a start that she probably looks a little crazy to any onlookers, standing on the sidewalk in front of a picturesque townhouse after dark, staring up at it and muttering irritatedly to herself.

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “You’ve gotta get out more, you’re losing it being alone in that apartment all the time,” she muttered again, before stopping and shaking her head. You’re doing it again; quit talking to yourself already and just go inside, she thought.

She adjusted the crossbody strap of her clutch (the bright gold colour was out of character for her, but it was a gift from her sister and the nicest purse she owned) and curled the loose strands of dark chocolate hair that had slipped free from her side braid behind her ears. Smoothing her forest green shirt dress down over her slim frame, she tweaked the braided brown leather belt around her waist and absently brushed a piece of lint from the right thigh of her black tights, glancing down at her camel-coloured heeled booties.

She wasn’t entirely sure of the dress code of the evening, but at twenty-five, they were still at that age of being grownups, but not totally grownups, if that made sense; they were old enough to legally drink the copious amounts of liquor they downed at one of Gale and Madge’s house parties, but they were still young enough to thankfully not feel the full force of a crippling hangover the next day.

Hopefully this looks okay, she thought. Who are you trying to impress anyway? Stop. Stalling, she grumbled internally.

Irritated was her mood of the night and the night was only just beginning.

Clutching the bottle of wine with the golden bow on the neck, she pulled open the wrought-iron gate and proceeded up the short staircase to the house.

Leaning over and pressing the doorbell off to the right of the heavy black door, she glanced up at the night sky over her left shoulder and her eyes flickered to the wind blowing in the trees again. It was a warm night for the end of October – so warm she’d left her jacket at home and opted for just the long-sleeved dress. It wasn’t like she was walking anywhere. She’d take an Uber home later.

Katniss could hear the sounds of an upbeat indie tune floating through the open living room bay window off to the left. Her eyes flicked back to the front just in time to hear a voice on the other side of the door, where it swung open to reveal the guest of honour for the evening.

“Katniss! Hey! God, I’m so glad you’re here – Gale was wondering when you were going to show. Now maybe he’ll finally shut up,” said Madge, her smile spreading across her face and reaching her arms out to hug her best friend.

“Sorry I’m late,” said Katniss sheepishly, squeezing her back. “Carl the Uber driver wasn’t as prompt as the app said he’d be. He won’t be getting five stars from me tonight.”

Madge’s grin grew. “No matter – you’re here now, that’s what counts,” replied the pretty blonde. Her eyes softened as she looked at her old friend, hesitating. “How are you doing? How’s…everything? After…everything last week?”

“I’m okay. Really. It’s getting better every day.” Katniss said, quietly. She really didn’t want to go into details right here, right now. Or ever. The evening was supposed to be a happy occasion, for Madge. Katniss didn’t want to get into the depressing details of the collapse of her relationship with her long-time boyfriend Darius a few weeks before and the messy division of their things when he moved out of their shared apartment.

“Good, I’m glad to hear that...listen, I know it’s not the time or place, so I won’t pry, but please, let’s go for coffee again this week. You can bitch all you want about how much of a douchebag he is, and I’ll happily reassure you how you’re so much better without him,” said the birthday girl wryly.

“Deal,” replied Katniss, a small smile on her lips. “Here – this is for you,” holding up the bottle of Nova 7 that she knew Madge loved. “I know technically I should’ve gotten you champagne for your champagne birthday, but I thought you’d like this more.”

“Oh my God you’re my favourite person, you know that, right?” squealed Madge. “I mean, besides Gale, but whatever – where did you get this?! I’ve been trying all the liquor stores around town and they said they haven’t gotten a shipment in ages!”

“I had it specially ordered from their website! I’m glad you’re happy – I love you, but I’m never going through that hassle again. Customs are a bitch,” grimaced Katniss. Getting the white wine shipped from Canada seemed a bit much, but 25 was a big birthday and Madge had been Katniss’s best friend ever since they’d been paired together in Mr. Heffernan’s English Lit class in sixth grade. She deserved to be on the receiving end of a splurge.

“Well, you and I are going to drink this together tonight – no one else gets a drop,” beamed Madge. “Come on, I’ll stick it in the back of the fridge so no one can get at it before we do.”

She stepped over the threshold into the front porch and started to toe off her booties when Madge glanced down and stopped her. “No, no, leave them on, they’re part of your whole outfit. You look really good tonight, by the way,” she said, appraisingly. “I mean, not that you don’t usually, but, y’know, dresses are kinda rare for you. I’m babbling. Ignore me. It’s the wine. Come get a glass or three and start drinking with me please,” pleaded Madge as she turned back towards the kitchen down the hall and spotted her new husband. “Gale! Gale, Katniss is here! Get her a glass of Riesling, ASAP!”

“Hey Catnip! Good to see you – finally,” smirked Gale as he strode down the front hall towards them, but Katniss could see gentle concern in his eyes. He didn’t think you’d show, she thought to herself. She mentally huffed at her cousin.

“Obviously I’m here, it’s not like I’d miss my best friend’s birthday,” she said, somewhat shortly.

“Oh – of course not, I know that, I j-just...anyway, I’m glad you’re here. There’s a taco dip with your name on it so I hope you came hungry,” her older cousin stammered, glancing at his wife for reinforcement.

Both he and Madge seemed a little on edge at her presence, like they were afraid anything they’d say would set her off in some way. She knew they were only worried about her since the breakup, but it still irritated her to think that their shared glances probably meant they’d been talking about her before she’d shown up. Katniss hated being the centre of anyone’s attention or gossip.

It’s not gossip; they’re concerned about you because they love you, Prim’s voice popped in her head. Her younger sister was always her voice of reason and regularly called her out when she got in her own head and complained about people being interested in her personal life. With Prim on the other side of the country in medical school at Stanford though, she wasn’t here in person to call her out. But Katniss knew her as well as she knew herself, and knew it was exactly what Prim would say in this situation.

Steeling herself and wiping the scowl off her face, Katniss offered Gale a small, embarrassed smile and said, “I was really hoping you’d make your famous taco dip. I skipped dinner specifically for it.”

A flicker of relief passed over his face and Gale turned and gestured for her to follow him towards the dining room down the hall as Madge returned to the living room filled with guests. “I even covered it in extra shredded old cheddar, your favourite,” he grinned.

“Mmmm, hell yes. Where are the chips? I’m digging in right away,” she said eagerly, following behind him.

As they bypassed the living room and entered the dining room, she glanced back towards the front of the house and scanned the crowd. There was already a decent number of people here, some faces she recognized like old college pals Rue, Thom and Thresh, but others she’d never seen before. Gale’s work friends, probably, she thought absently.

“Is Joanna coming?” Katniss asked, turning her attention back towards the spread of food. “I haven’t talked to her all week. I meant to text her earlier, but I forgot.”

“Yep, she said she’s coming by once she’s finished at the office. Some big case she’s working on or something,” Gale replied. “Let me get you that Riesling, I’ll be right back,” as he turned towards the kitchen, leaving her to focus on the food. Grabbing a plate from the stack off to the left, she started piling taco dip onto it, her mouth watering in anticipation.

“Yeesh, Everdeen – leave some for the rest of us, why don’t you?” drawled a familiar voice.

Oh no. Not him, she groaned inwardly, the flush of annoyance rising up her neck and spreading across her face. She stiffened as she heard him chuckle softly and reluctantly turned to face the speaker.

“Oh, it’s you. Hello Peeta,” she said politely. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Why? Obviously I’d come to celebrate Madge. Besides, would you have stayed home and not graced us with your presence had you’d known?” Peeta smirked.

“Hmm, something like that,” she replied, pursing her lips before continuing reluctantly. “How are you? How are Delly and Connor? He must be, what, three now?” enquiring after his wife and son.

“…Yeah, he’s three now. Three and a half, actually, as he’ll tell you. Time flies when you’re having fun,” Peeta replied grimly, averting his eyes from her face. Confused at his response, Katniss was saved from having to reply by Gale appearing to their sides with her glass of wine.

“One Riesling for the lady. Hey Peeta, what can I get you? Beer? Liquor? Something to wipe that sour expression off your face?” asked Gale, wryly.

“Beer is fine, thanks Gale,” the wavy-haired blond replied. “I have to have something that’ll help wash down this taco dip, if Katniss doesn’t eat it all first.”

Katniss scowled at him. “Chill out, Mellark, there’s plenty there. I barely took any,” she retorted. Grabbing her plate and piling on a handful of nacho chips quickly, she turned and carried the plate and her glass of wine away from the irritating man before he could respond. Fuck, he’s such a dick, she stewed. Why does he have to be related to Madge?

Peeta Mellark and Madge Undersee-Hawthorne were indeed cousins, but he was also a former classmate of theirs from junior high and high school. It wasn’t like he and Katniss were friends though – they couldn’t have been further from that. Complete opposites throughout their early days, Peeta was a popular jock who seemed to get along with everyone. Everyone except quiet, kept-to-herself Katniss.

She had no idea why he never warmed to her – she’d sometimes catch him staring at her across the classroom or in the hallways, but he rarely spoke to her throughout their academic careers. She’d usually shoot him a puzzled look in return, because that’s exactly what he did to her – puzzled her.

Stupid Peeta Mellark. Why did he have to be here? And where was his wife, Delly? Katniss hadn’t laid eyes on the blonde bitch yet, but she was sure she’d know when she entered the room because the temperature would probably drop to below freezing, just like Delly’s chilly demeanour.

Katniss was never friends with Peeta, but she never understood what he saw in Delly. What was the title of that book she’d seen in Barnes & Noble one time? Why Men Marry Bitches? Maybe someone should’ve picked up a copy for Peeta Mellark because he could use some psychoanalysis as to why he married someone so horrible. Though, considering what she’d heard about the elder Mrs. Mellark while in school, maybe someone should pick up a book called Why Men Marry Their Mothers for him instead.

She moved through the crowd towards Rue and Thresh, when a flash of short brown hair caught her eye in the main hallway. “Jo! In here!” she waved to the petite brunette in a black pencil skirt and crisp white collared shirt. Johanna was her and Madge’s former college roommate-turned-other-best-friend who was currently kicking ass working at the hottest law firm in the city. She was fresh out of law school and had to article for a year before she could pass the bar and be a full lawyer, but the partners at her firm were already so impressed by her drive and her no-holds-barred attitude, they’d already offered her a position once she’d passed the bar in a few months’ time.

“Hey Kitty-cat, how goes it?” said Johanna, snaking her arm around Katniss’ shoulders in a side hug. “Ooh, gimmie that, I earned a big drink after the freakin’ day I’ve had,” pulling the glass of wine from her friend’s hand and taking a big gulp, then grimacing. “Ugh, never mind, I forgot you like girly drinks. I need something harder tonight.”

“Wine is sophisticated, thank you very much. Rough day?” Katniss asked sympathetically, taking the glass back and swallowing a mouthful of the cold, sweet liquid.

“Fuck me, it was brutal. This lawsuit is gonna be the death of me and I’m not even a lawyer yet,” Johanna groaned. “If I have to read through one more brief, I’m gonna stab my eyeballs out and shove them down the managing partner’s throat.”

“Graphic, but okay, sure,” winced Katniss. Jo was never one to hold back with her…colourful language. “Here comes Gale – give him your drink order, he’ll get you sorted.”

“Hey Jo, want a whiskey?” asked Gale as he approached, sizing up the brunette’s irritated expression.

“You read my mind, Hawthorne. Make it a triple? Or will we all judge me?” Jo drawled, glancing at her friends.

“Nah, the night is young. We’re celebrating!” Gale grinned. “ice, right?”

“Yep, thanks. So, Kitty, how are you? Finally feeling free of that douche canoe, Darius? Jesus, I’m so glad that’s finally over. You were way too good for him.”

“I can always count on you to not mince words. Jesus,” Katniss shot back. She knew Johanna hadn’t been Darius’s biggest fan, but now that they were broken up, she didn’t hold back on voicing her dislike of him.

“Well, at least you didn’t marry him. Divorces are messy. Though, you would’ve had me as your lawyer and I would’ve milked that fucker for everything he had, so maybe it’s a bit of a loss. I would’ve enjoyed that,” smirked Jo.

“God, you’re unbelievable,” sighed Katniss, but she said it with a small smile. Even though her bark was bad, Jo’s bite wasn’t. Katniss knew it was her friend’s way of showing concern and care for her.

“Whatever, you know you love me. Hey, is that Peeta? I saw his bitchy wife when I came in but didn’t see him,” Johanna said, gazing towards the dining room.

“Ugh, yes. What a tool. I was barely in the room when he started harassing me about taking too much taco dip. I’m pretty sure every one of our friends knows that taco dip was made with me in mind – Gale knows it’s my favourite.” Katniss grumbled.

“Well, maybe he needs a reminder. You can tell him yourself, because he’s headed this way.”

“Ugh, fuck me.” Katniss groaned, her eyes rolling back into her head.

“Sorry Everdeen, I’m a married man,” smirked Peeta, coming up behind her, a bottle of Stella Artois in his grasp.

Katniss flushed at his response, while Johanna smiled blandly at the young man. “I wonder for how much longer,” she muttered under her breath so that only Katniss could hear. Katniss’s brow furrowed at the comment, but brushed it off. Odd.

“Ah, Peeta. Everyone’s favourite prick,” smirked Johanna as she raised her voice, her eyes flicking between Katniss and the tall, brawny blond.

Katniss snorted. “What a lovely description, Jo. Very flattering.”

Peeta shot Katniss an irritated look before turning back to Johanna. “Nice to see you too, Jo. How’s life at your hot shot firm? Madge tells me your bosses love you.”

“Yeah, I think it’s more so that they’re afraid of me. Which I’m fine with. Men need intimidation a lot more than they realize.” Johanna replied, smugly.

“Well, you’ve got that covered then,” Katniss piped up.

“Speaking of intimidating women, Mellark, where’s your wife? Still got your balls in a vise or what?”

“Jo! Jesus.” Katniss blurted, her eyes wide and flickering to Peeta to gage his reaction. She didn’t like Peeta, but she also didn’t like awkward conversations about people’s relationships. Or any kind of conversation about relationships.

Peeta stiffened slightly at Joanna’s remark and drew his mouth in a thin line. “She’s over there talking to some co-worker of Gale’s. She’s fine.”

“Really? That’s not what Madge sa-,”

“Jo, I think Gale is waving at you – he’s got your whiskey,” Katniss interrupted. If there was one thing that could shut Johanna up, it was the promise of liquor.

“Finally, be right back,” Johanna threw over her shoulder as she strode towards Gale in the dining room.

Peeta glanced at Katniss, a slight frown on his face, which she ignored. She was eager to move away from the subject of his wife. “How’s Connor? How old did you say he was again?” she asked, nervously. She realized too late that by drawing Johanna’s attention to Gale and her drink, she was leaving herself alone with the person she despised the most at the party. Great. Just when I thought I’d escaped him, I land myself in another conversation with him. Good one, Everdeen.

“…Um…he’s three and a half…what was Johanna talking about? What did Madge say about Delly?”

Katniss pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and chewed on it, stalling. “Oh, nothing. She just…she said Delly seemed a little off lately, that’s all. I think she was concerned.”

Peeta snorted. “Concerned. Sure she was. You’re a terrible liar, Everdeen,” he said, bitterly.

Katniss glanced at him again, thinking awkwardly about the conversation she’d had with Madge the week before. Madge had made a passing comment to her and Jo about Delly being bitchier than usual and said Peeta seemed withdrawn and moody. It wasn’t really Delly she was concerned about; it was her cousin. Peeta wasn’t a bitter person. But ever since he and Delly married a few months before Connor’s birth, almost four years ago, they’d all seen a shift in him. He was friendly to everyone (except Katniss, of course) but there was an edge to him that hadn’t been there before. It seemed to be getting more and more pronounced as time went on.

Why do you care if he’s out of sorts? She didn’t, really. She was just curious. Even though he wasn’t nice to her, he was generally nice to everyone else, so to see him so bitter confused Katniss. Not that she cared, though. Because she didn’t. Really.

“Yeah, well, ask her yourself then. Excuse me, I need a refill.” Katniss said shortly, turning and leaving him alone for the second time that night.

_________________________________

The night wore on, with Katniss managing to avoid Peeta for the most part, sticking to chatting with Johanna or Madge or one of their other college friends. When she noticed Madge’s wine glass empty at the same time as hers as they were both pleasantly buzzed, she said, smiling, “what do you think, Mrs. Hawthorne? Time to crack open the Nova?”

“Excellent idea, Ms. Everdeen. Would you do the honours?” beamed Madge, her eyes a little glassy by now. The two of them made their way to the kitchen, where a few other people were already gathered, chatting. Katniss pulled open the refrigerator door and poked her head in, searching for the bottle of imported wine, but didn’t see it.

“Where’d you put it, Madge? Did you forget to put it in?” she asked.

“No, it’s in there, I swear – you know I love it super cold.” Madge replied breezily.

“What are you looking for?” asked another voice.

“A bottle of wine I brought for Madge– ” started Katniss, turning around and stopping, her eyes on Peeta Mellark.

And the bottle of Nova 7.

The empty bottle of Nova 7.

“…what the fuck. Are you KIDDING me right now? Did you open and DRINK that?!” Katniss screeched. “Are you actually kidding me?? Fuck you, Mellark!! Do you know what I went through to get that for her?!” She could feel hot tears forming in her eyes, catching her off guard.

Peeta had started to smirk, but when he saw her face, he faltered and his mouth dropped open slightly. “I didn’t–I thought–Gale said there was white wine in–we didn’t–” he stammered, his eyes darting to his wife’s, then back to Katniss's. Katniss hadn’t noticed Delly off to the side, her hand clutching an almost empty wine glass.

“What’s the big deal, it’s just a bottle of wine, there’s plenty here,” said the blonde woman testily as she rolled her eyes. “Personally, I never saw the appeal of Canadian wines. There are so many better brands from Australia or Spain. Canada’s not even that foreign; they’re like, right next door.”

Madge groaned and launched into Delly and Peeta, shouting about the importance of the special birthday gift to the oblivious couple. Katniss tuned her out as she could feel the heat rising in her neck up through her face. She was already having a shitty day moping over Darius and didn’t even want to come to the party in the first place; she definitely didn’t want to have to deal with stupid Peeta Mellark and his stupid bitch wife; and the only thing she’d been looking forward to was sharing the bottle with her best friend.

And the two of them had ruined it.

She had to get out of there before the tears spilled over and she embarrassed herself in front of them. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room without a backwards glance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

#katniss everdeen #Peeta Mellark #everlark fanfiction #everlark fanfic #enemies to lovers

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openheart12 · 3 years

Text

I Did Something Bad

A/N: Today is my lovely adoptive mom’s @burnsoslow birthday! I never thought me making a post about yk what would lead to our friendship and Kryce! I hope you have the best day ever and that it is every bit as amazing as you are! I’m so thankful for your friendship and how you make me laugh until I cry or pee fvhujskdghfn and you’re the only one who could ever make me into a Drake stan. I love you so much! Eat all the cake you can for me! Happy birthday, love! I hope you know how much I adore you ❤

A/N 2: This is very much full of Donald Trump hate and despitement because who wouldn’t hate him anyways jkhkdjgh there’s also quite a bit of cussing

Word Count: 2,613

Thank you @rigatonireid for pre-reading!!

“This is bullshit,” Kurns exclaimed as Bryce and Dick were watching the events unfolding at the United States Capitol. “This is why you don’t vote for oranges.” She said while rolling her eyes.

“Agreed,” the two men replied in unison.

“Jinx!” They replied again at the same time that led to twenty minutes of them saying “jinx again” in response until Dick finally gave in and let Bryce win.

“You win, Bryce-y poo,” he had said. Kurns had kept her attention glued to the television during their little game.

“You okay over there, banana flavored moonpie?” Dick asked, directing his attention over to Kurns.

“No, look at all those turnips. And the cult leader himself told them to do this shit. People actually voted for this moron? They should all get head CTs to check for brain damage which they undoubtedly have.”

“Would it make you feel better if we overthrew the government while kidnapping Donnie?” Dick asked seriously.

“Yes, actually,” she answered with a wide grin.

“Okay, let me make a few phone calls and can you download some episodes of My Little Pony on Netflix for Bryce?” Kurns nodded her head in response, she also took the liberty of downloading Among Us on their phones so they wouldn’t be bored on the flight.

The flight from North Delanois was a little over eight hours and being on a plane that long with a toddler, well Bryce, was going to be a challenge.

It was a private jet so hopefully it would be more bearable, but just in case she also downloaded a few episodes of Max and Ruby and Yo Gabba Gabba. She also downloaded some episodes of Parks and Rec and Friends for herself.

After packing the essentials; clothing, toiletries, handcuffs, whipped cream, ice cubes -who knew- and My Little Pony gummies, they were off to the airport.

“Dick Kock,” Dick said introducing himself along with Kurns and Bryce.

Kurns was decked out in a Taylor Swift 1989 t-shirt and a pair of leggings with her trusty white vans whereas Bryce was dressed in a rainbow colored polka dot shirt, black and white striped pants, one blue croc and the other was yellow, and socks with weed on them. Him and Kurns had forgotten about meth since it already landed them in jail one. Chris P. Bacon was still a sore subject for the pair.

They boarded the plane and Bryce immediately went to find his gummies. Kurns took a seat next to Dick and pulled up CNN news to get an update on the attack on the Capitol.

Suddenly breaking news flashed across her phone screen: Taylor Swift set to release her tenth studio album later today.

“OH MY GOD! BRYCE LOOK!” Kurns exclaimed, jumping up out of her seat to show Bryce.

“OH MY GOD! TS10! TS10! TS10!” He chanted.

“Oh wow, that sure is exciting!” Dick chimed in.

“By the way, D, I think we should call this Operation ‘I Did Something Bad’ in honor of Taylor’s new album.”

“That’s a spectacular idea, Kurnel Mustard!” Bryce said with a smirk, it had been a new nickname he had given her after the three of them had played Clue one night.

“Shut up, Apple Bottom Jeans, Boots with the Fur,” she retaliated, mocking the Little Pony named Apple Jacks.

“Stfu,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You must be really mad if you’re talking in text.”

“Dick,” he pouted, “she’s doing it again.”

“Be nice you two, we have a long flight ahead of us.”

For the first two hours, they each did their own thing; Dick was reading a hunting magazine, Kurns was watching the news, and Bryce had already finished the entirety of My Little Pony.

“Do you guys wanna play Among us?” Kurns asked out of the blue.

“Hell yeah! I just bought the baby crew mate and I’m dying to use it,” Bryce responded.

“I’ve never played before but sure!”

“Okay so you’re either a crew mate or impostor and if you’re a crew mate, you have to do these tasks whilst trying not to die and if you’re an impostor, you go around killing other crew mates trying not to get caught in the process. You’ll get the hang of it eventually,” Kurns explained.

“Thanks love bug,” Dick placed a quick kiss to the side of her head.

The three of them found an open lobby and talked in the chat box waiting for the game to start and when it did, Dick asked the question of, “why is my name red?”

“Oh my God, Dick! Don’t say that. It means you’re an impostor,” Bryce explained at the same exact time Kurns called an emergency meeting.

“It’s purple,” Kurns typed in the text box, referring to Bryce’s color.

“What the frick! It’s so not me. I’m not playing anymore,” he pouted, turning off his phone and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Now, children, can you two not get along? Think about the bigger picture,” Dick intervened.

“True, but I’m still not going to play with her.”

His statement didn’t affect Kurns in the slightest and she went back to playing the game. Dick joined her while Bryce was running away from an imaginary dragon and he ended up colliding into one of the seats, face first.

“Ow,” he rubbed his forehead that was now bright red.

“That’s what you get for being a baby,” Kurns said, not looking up from her phone while Dick went to go check on his blueberry muffin.

“You okay, strawberry flavored fig bar? That’s quite a hit you took.”

“Yeah, a kiss would make it feel better though,” he said, using his puppy dog eyes. Dick smiled softly at him before kissing his forehead all better.

The three of them spent the next six hours playing games, eating, and watching movies from the age of the dinosaurs that Kurns had saved since she was over 10,000 years old.

After landing in Washington D.C., the trio headed straight to the Whitehouse, if people could storm the Capitol, how much harder could it be to kidnap the president? That was Kurns logic at least and as it turns out, it wasn’t that much harder.

Kurns went to the Oval Office while Dick and Bryce went to the bunker since that apparently seemed to be Trump’s favorite place in the Whitehouse. But unexpectedly, Kurns found the Donald Duck under the office in the Oval, tweeting away on his iPhone 4s.

“Mr. Racist,” she called and he immediately turned to look at her.

“What? I’m tremendously busy if you can’t tell.”

“I see that, Mr. Pigman.”

“That is hugely racist towards me. I happen to be winning very bigly at the moment. I’m trending on Twitter!” He said proudly, he then proceeded to show Kurns his crusty ass phone.

“Come on, I have some candy for you if you come with me,” Kurns coaxed him out from under the desk and led him to the white van they had brought with them, you know, the kind your parents warn you to stay away from.

“Fake news!” Trump exclaimed with a huff. “You must be friends with sleepy Joe.”

“You’re right,” she winked.

“You know, frankly, this doesn’t make America great.”

“I disagree, I think this definitely makes America great again,” Kurns retaliated.

“Does Mikey know about this?”

“Yeah, we planned it with the fly,” she snickered.

“Well, it’s fake news, believe me.”

“What?”

“Nothing you libtards wouldn’t understand it anyways. Anyways, what's that thing on your face?”

“My mask?”

“Yeah, what’s that for?”

Kurns shook her head, not even being surprised by the question. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic, Donald Dump.”

“What’s a panoramic?”

“Don’t worry about it.” She got out her walkie talkie to talk to the boys. “The orange has expired. Over,” she said, their code word for getting Trump out.

“Okay, bet, we’re on our way out. Over.”

“Good job, K!” Dick said.

“See you soon and thanks! Over.”

Fifteen minutes later, Dick and Bryce arrived with a six foot cutout of Donald.

“What the fuck is that?”

“Hey, that’s me!” Trump chimed in.

“Shut the fuck up,” Kurns said, she was quickly losing brain cells being in his proximity.

“That is rude, quite frankly.”

“We found it in his bedroom… along with some other, uh, questionable things,” Bryce explained.

“Like what?”

“Like a, uh, dildo with Pence on it.”

“Ew…” they all turned to look at Trump who was looking away and whistling, trying to pretend he wasn’t there.

“Oh, um, about that. That was a tremendous invasion of privacy.”

“Shut the fuck up,” they all said in unison and he pulled an imaginary zipper over his lips and threw away the key like a literal child.

“I can’t be near him anymore,” Kurns said suddenly, getting out her phone to call someone.

“Who are you calling?” Dick asked.

“Joe, I was gonna invite him to go get some ice cream.”

“OMG! I wanna go too!” Bryce exclaimed.

“And me!” Trump said.

“No, to both of you. You two have to keep an eye on Don and make sure he stays off of Twitter.” She was explaining when Joe picked up the phone. “Hey, Joe, do you want to go get ice cream somewhere?”

“Duh! Taylor is actually here right now and you don’t care if she comes do you?” He asked to make sure.

“Of course not! You can bring Champ and Major too! I know Jill is busy right now.”

“Okay! On our way!” He said before hanging up.

“Where are you going to go?”

“Probably McDonald’s or something, Taylor is also coming with us, he said.”

“YOU MEAN THE TAYLOR?” Bryce asked in shock.

“Yeah, him and Taylor are like BFF’s.”

“I still like her music 25% less, okay?” Donald brought up.

“Shut the fuck up,” Kurns said again.

“Fine, fine. But could you make sure Barron is fed?”

“Oop,” Bryce slapped his hand over his mouth.

“Yes, now shut up.”

Kurns was getting ready to go meet Joe and Taylor when Melania walked up to the van. “You have Trump?” She asked quietly.

“Yeah, why? You need him?”

“Yeah, could you make him sign this?” She placed some papers in Kurns hand. She read them and wasn’t shocked after realizing they were divorce papers.

“No problem, hold tight real quick. Dick, make him sign these!”

“Of course, ladybug.” He took a hold of Trump’s hand and wrote his name for him since he wouldn’t do it himself.

“Here you go,” Kurns handed the papers back to Melania and she left without looking back. “Okay, I’m leaving. Be careful with that moron and for the love of God, don’t let his supporters know you have him.”

“Roger that!” Bryce responded.

“Don’t worry, vanilla brown sugar! We’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. Have fun!” He called after her.

She met Joe and Taylor at a local McDonald’s and greeted both of them with a hug. “Congratulations on winning the election and congratulations on album number ten!” She reached down to pet both of the German Shepherds who happily wagged their tails.

“Thanks!” They replied in unison.

“So how are the boys?” Taylor asked.

“Good! They sent their regards. They’re actually, uh, holdingtrumphostage,” she said fast enough so hopefully they couldn’t understand but they are actually educated.

“WHAT?” Joe exclaimed.

“Miss gurl, how did y’all pull that off?” Taylor asked while hysterically laughing.

“It was easier than I thought! Either security sucks or they wanted Trump gone and I can’t blame them for that.”

“Amen sister!” Joe replied.

“Can we see him?” Taylor asked.

“I mean, yeah if you want!”

“Okay let’s go!” She went to get up when Joe gently grabbed her arm.

“But the ice cream…” He reminded her.

“Of course, how could I forget?” She playfully rolled her eyes. They all ate their ice cream before heading back to the Whitehouse.

Once arriving, Taylor and Joe headed straight to the front doors while Kurns stood there like 🧍‍♀️. “Hey guys, he's actually right there,” she said, pointing to the white van.

Taylor opened the door to find Bryce half asleep on the ground, Dick was listening to ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ and dancing in his seat meanwhile, Donald had his lips glued to the side of the door, making out with it.

“What the fuck?” All three of them asked at the same time.

“OMG TAYLOR! HI! HOW ARE YOU?” Bryce shouted, jumping up off of the floor and pulling her into a hug.

“Hi!”

“Hello, Ms. Swift,” Dick greeted, gracefully bowing. “Mr. President,” he nodded.

“How did you all meet?” Don asked.

“We actually just met, our hate for you is what we bond over!” Joe explained in terms he would understand. Hopefully.

“Oh,” was all he said and started to play with his fingers. “I don’t know if you knew this, but Washington D.C. is actually the capital of the United Stats. Did you know that?”

“What did you think it was? And it’s the United States, not… Stats.” Kurns asked in a surprisingly concerning tone.

“I thought it was like a stat… or well state. Whatever it is.”

“Oh,” Kurns said while Taylor called him an idiot under her breath.

“That’s embarrassing miss gurl,” Bryce chimed in.

“ARE YOU TALKING TIKTOK TO ME? I WILL BAN YOU,” Trump threatened.

“Please, these empty promises you keep making are getting really old just like your term,” Dick said, making the others die of laughter… no literally, some Trump supporter that had been walking by had just collapsed and died.

“And I oop-” Kurns and Bryce said at the same time.

“IFHCBXNZNZ, HAHAHAHA,” Bryce barked out.

“Can we get something to eat? I really want some Dino nuggies 🥺,” Trump pleaded.

“No,” they all replied.

“So what are we going to do with him?” Taylor asked.

“I don’t know, what do y’all want to do with him?”

“Excellent question, K, I say we feed him to some alligators!” Bryce exclaimed, flapping his two arms together to make an alligator jaw and started running towards Donald who jumped back in fear.

“That’s not nice,” he pouted, a lone tear trickling down his cheek.

“Fuck you, but not literally or physically,” Taylor said, making sure to explain what she meant.

“I want some My Little Pony gummies!”

“Me too!” Donald said with a smile now on his crusty, orange ass face.

“No,” they replied again.

“Fine,” he crossed his arms over his chest and turned his back to them, like the toddler he is.

“Anyways, y’all want to go get Cookout?” Kurns suggested.

“Yeah, of course!” Joe responded.

The five of them headed to the nearest Cookout to get food and milkshakes, leaving Trump behind all alone. After hanging out with Taylor and Joe, it was unfortunately time to head back to North Delanois. With promises to meet up soon, the trio were soon enough taking off at the airport.

“What ended up happening to Trump?” Bryce asked seriously.

“He went to prison.”

“As he should, period,” Kurns said with a smirk.

“What are we going to do when we land?”

“Sleep!” Kurns and Bryce said.

“Of course, my love doves. I’m going to try to do that right now, so please try to get along.”

“Promise!” Kurns said, holding out her pinky finger which he took and kissed. The rest of the flight was surprisingly peaceful, Kurns and Bryce were able to get along while Dick slept. It had been a fun trip, one they hoped they would actually never have to make again.

Tags: @burnsoslow @ao719 @callmeellabella @rigatonireid because no one else should have to read this :)

#kryce and dick chronicles #happy birthday burnsy!!

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talesofphantombandits · 4 years

Text

Zero to Six ~ Chapter Twelve.

Guys!!! I worked my ass off tonight. This was going to be the last chapter but I wrote more than I was expecting to. So the final chapter I’ll edit it tomorrow then post it in a few days.

Honestly had a hard time getting Inspiration to write this, but the constant support (That still amazes me) has kept me going. I decided that I’d left it long enough and sat down tonight and just went for it. I’m happy with what I’ve wrote and I hope you’ll enjoy it too. I edited over it once but I’m so drained that I’ve probably missed some errors. So sorry about that. I hope everyone's keeping safe, Love you all <3

Warnings: Swearing, Violence.

tags: @i-am-sarah , @whothefuckstolemykeds , @drowsyrrog , @culturefiendtrashqueen , @rogue-barnes-16--main-account–main-account , @alliwantfromyouistomakelovetome, @valerie-weasley , @sueeatstheworld , @bleona2808 , @pippin248 , @myfatbottomedgirls , @httpfandxms , @cooliosmosh , @speckles-s , @walking-disgrace , @itsmeaudrieee , @fight-the-freaking-fairies , @irrelevant-pumpkin , @captain-sparkles-who , @podcasts-8-my-heart , @foulvintagenature , @imjustboredso , @loophoria @tealaquinn

___________________________________________________________

Ducking behind a table I waited for Ones intervention, no way was I going out when it was raining bullets.

“One hurry the hell up!” I slid my back down the flat surface and sighed.

“I GOT IT!”

Suddenly a booming sound pierced the air. Every guard, every piece of metal that wasn’t tied down went flying to the right side of the boat. Sticking to the wall.

Which also meant the metal stick Three had gifted me tore out my hands.

“Well there goes my protection.”

So Ones giant magnet worked eh? Who knew.

When everything had settled I peered over the top of the table to marvel at the unusual scene in front of me.

“One.” I whispered through coms, too stunned to get anything else out.

A blinding light and a white heat sent me crashing to the floor.

One of the grenades that had stuck to the side had blown. “Zero you okay?” Seven spoke.

“I’m good, I’m fine.” I crawled back to where I’d previously been perched.

Everyone was released and came crashing down, then the bullets started flying again.

I just rolled my eyes, One pressed the button again and everyone flew to the other side of the boat.

“It’s like watching table tennis.” I mused

I heard a faint. “I wasn’t sure it would work, I mean I had a suspicion it would.”

“One what the hell!” I could hear the other guys scolding him.

He could have put us all in great danger, god I hate this man so much some times.

When everything calmed again we all huddled once more and decided to move up a deck.

“We have to find Rovach!” One announced obviously high on the adrenaline of his magnets working.

Scoping the top level we headed towards the kitchen were we’d found the back door to the bedroom.

But as we approached more gunfire showered us.

Luckily One had his new toy now, you can bet your ass he was going to use it any chance he got.

All the guards where in the kitchen when he’d pressed the bottom, and you know what’s in a kitchen? Knives, forks.

All the sharp things.

It wasn’t a pretty sight and with Two next to me shooting I tried not to glance too much at the scene.

“Four, how are you. Are you safe?” I took a second to catch my breath.

“Can’t really talk sweetheart, kind of busy not getting caught.”

“Okay smart ass.” I opened my eyes, taking a deep breath I followed the rest of the guys through the kitchen.

“The boats moving.” Two observed.

“That- that’s bad.” One said, I just looked at him worried.

Some how Ones phone that operated the magnet had broke and cracked the screen, meaning we were stuck with guards shooting at us from all angles.

But One and Seven decided shouting at each other would be a good solution. I just rolled my eyes again, hitting my head in the wall I was up against.

I was honestly missing being stuck in a flat, not having to be in the middle of all the bickering. At least there it was peaceful and I wasn’t getting shot at.

Two left on her own little mission to kill the engine.

I was going to go assist but one stopped me.

“Nah ah you’re staying in my sight.”

“Yes dad.”

One decided that we should split up which meant I’d be alone with him.

Joy.

“You know it really is amazing.”

“What is?” One was shifting his gun at every little sound.

“The magnet, I mean it would be if you’d stop breaking the control.”

He stopped abruptly and I bumped straight into his back. “You keep sassing me girl and I’ll make you go back to just hacking and coms in a stuffy flat. No friends, no Four.”

I just held my hands up in defence.

Suddenly the power came back to the remote just in time to save Five from a guy coming at her with a knife.

“I feel like a Jedi.” Me and Five just looked at each other.

Suddenly I was being pushed into five. Confused I only saw a flash of the guy launching himself at One.

I scrambled up and helped Five up too, we started running out onto the deck.

“Five, find Rovach. I’ll distract the guards.”

I stopped in my tracks, Four was going to do this alone but he didn’t have to I could help him.

After nearly loosing him last time and being so helpless I had to do something.

“Zero come on!” I hadn’t even noticed that Five had stopped running and was staring at me with furrowed brows, hand outstretched to me.

“I- I can’t. I have to help him.” I took a step back and she lowered her hand.

She gave me a understanding look.

“Be safe.”

I smiled at her and nodded. “You too.”

With that I took off running. Surveying every corner for guards, I wouldn’t do much good to Four dead would I.

I started climbing the stairs when suddenly two loud explosions rocked the boat and threw me off balance. I fell into the railing. “Shit!” I hung on tight expecting more explosions.

I stood up, looked down as the whole boat started screaming. I took a moment to catch my breath before climbing again taking two steps at a time.

Great, on top of everything now we were sinking.

“I’ve got four guys on me. I’m on the upper deck, and i’m screwed.” I could hear the same fear in his voice from that night in Tokyo.

It honestly made me want to burst out crying.

“Don’t worry Four I’m coming to back you up.” I was so breathless from running.

“No stay out of this.”

“Why aren’t you with Five Zero! FIVE WHY IS SHE NOT WITH YOU!” One chimed in with his dad bullshit again.

I just ignored the voices coming through coms and tried to get to Four as quickly as possible. No one could change my mind.

Everyone needed to stop treating me like a child.

Lightning flashed through the clouds just as I heard screaming up ahead. It went dark again only to light up Fours figure on the very top of the boat.

I bolted in his direction, It may have seemed like a dumb decision but all I could think of was getting to Four and making sure he didn’t have to fight alone.

I was here to help, so God dam it I was going to fight.

I ran up the last set of stairs rounding the corner expecting to see Four but with my luck I ran straight into one of the guards. Screeching at the sudden shock, I had no time to react when his fist connected to my jaw. I stumbled back grabbing onto the hand rails of the top of the staircase, but just as I’d regained myself a kick to my chest sent me flying down the stairs.

I hit the deck winded, groaning at the pain coursing in my back. I took two deep breaths, managing to roll onto my side.

The guard was walking slowly down the stairs smirking at me. Shit.

I put my head down on the deck and went limp, I pretended to pass out. Then the guy reached me, kicking with his shoe I suddenly gripped his ankle and bit down as hard as I could.

He was screaming and wiggling trying to get away, I released and took advantage punching him in the crotch.

He doubled over in pain as I managed to my feet, I managed to knock him out with one punch.

Now slightly limping I made it up the stairs again, trying to regain my breath.

I got to the top and made my way around the outside. I got to the pool but a guard came out the door so I hid putting my back against the wall.

I peered round, my eyes immediately connecting with Fours over the other side of the pool.

I shot forward a little so surprised, It dawned on me how out in the open he was. My heart started racing, all I could do was stare at him with tear filled eyes. We were surrounded.

Suddenly I heard shuffling coming from behind me. “You bitch! I’m going to make you pay.”

The guy from the bottom of the stairs came charging at me, I hadn’t even realised that I had walked backwards out into the open until Four had Shouted my name.

I looked around confused.

But quickly focused back on the guy in front of me when his footsteps got louder. He threw another punch but this one I manged to duck in time. Running under his hand I got behind him and Kicked his back. He stumbled forward. I looked up to see Four being attacked as soon as I moved to go help him the guy got back up and started charging me again.

“Jesus Christ, do you ever give up!” I blocked another swing with my forearm.

He moaned and proceeded to get a knife out his back pocket. I stumbled back in horror. Where’s that metal stick when I needed it.

He started slashing the air with it.

“This.”

I stepped back avoiding the slashing.

“Isn’t”

Another step back.

“Fair.”

My back hit a wall.

“Shit.” I said breathlessly.

Final Chapter

#ben hardy #ben hardy fanfic #ben hardy four #ben hardy fanfiction #6 underground #6 underground four #6 underground fanfiction #6 underground fanfic #6 underground billy #four fanfiction #four fanfic #four #billy fanfiction #billy

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saikostories · 4 years

Text

BTS - Six Days (JK) (M)

If you continued reading at this pace you could finish reading your book tonight. But only if there weeent any distractions. And there was one tall one entering your flat right now. You sighed deeply as you heard Jungkook walking towards your bedroom. He had been out with the boys but Jungkook wasn’t the one to get completely trashed, he was only slightly drunk. And in fact very horny. Immediately when he entered the bedroom he let himself fall next to you and tried to get your attention.

“Y/nnn”

“Y/nn”

“Babe”

“What do you want Jungkook?”

“You.”

“Not right now. I’m tired and I want to finish this book.”

“But pleeeeeaaaaase”

“God jungkook why are you always so needy? Can’t you go one day without sex?”

“I’m not needy, you’re the needy one here. You always want to fuck when I’m tired after practice.”

“You are always the one that wants to fuck at the most inappropriate times! Remember your last concert or the dinner lately-“

“Fine. How about a bet, who can last the longest without sex?”

“And what does the winner get?”

“The loser does all the housework for a week.”

“Fine, I’ll win anyways.”

Jungkook left the room, frustrated but determined to win. You finished your book and went to sleep as planned. Jungkook joined you later after playing some video ganmes. The next morning you found yourself in your normal position in Jungkooks arms. You snuggled closer up to him, only to feel his boner poking you in the back. He groaned and you shifted around a bit to accidentally rub your butt against it. He groaned again, gripping your hips tightly to stop you from moving.

“Why don’t you just give up? Imagine what fun we could have right now…”

“Are you kidding me? If I give up after one day you will never let this down. I am stronger than this.”

“Let’s see for how long”

You giggled as he rolled away from you to escape your teasing. He had dance practice today so he wouldn’t be home till late in the evening. And after, practice, he was always too tired to do anything besides falling on to the bed and sleep. His luck.

The next few days went on normally how they would anyways. Just without the sex. He had a lot of schedules with the group that provides enough distraction for him. When he came home he was mostly tired so he went to sleep immediately. As he’d as it or better he was, he couldn’t sleep with you cuddled up in his arms. He just got up really early in the morning to take care of his problems before you could tempt him to just give up. It was not only hard for jungkook, you were suffering as well. But you wouldn’t give in that quickly. You were close to giving in when he came out of the shower, only his towel around his hips, his toned chest and stomach glistening with water droplets. He was honestly a sinful gift from the heavens. But you realised the temptation and just crossed your legs and pretended to be completely captured by a game on your phone.

You decided to get him back for it on the same evening, walking around only in your underwear pretending to look somewhere. Whatever you looked for was strategically placed under the TV so you had to bend down right in front of jungkook who was sitting on the couch. You could hear him breathing harder, but he didn’t move. After you returned to the bedroom, you could hear the bathroom door being locked and you’d Smirked hopefully he would give in soon.

On the fourth date you received a text from Namjoon.

n: as the leader of the group and as Jungkooks friend, you need to end this stupid bet. Jungkook is a mess. He can’t focus for long and he’s constantly in a bad mood. Please give in. You know his ego wouldn’t let him.

That was Jungkooks problem, he started this bet, and if his ego was too big then he had to suffer, he could give in at any time. And you thought he would when he came back this evening. He arrived him and gave you the usual kiss as he greeted you. But instead of pulling back, his kisses grew stronger with more need. He walked you backwards until your back hit the wall, kissing you roughly as his hands roamed over your body. He was close to his breaking point ready to give up. His kisses were raw and needy and he proceeded to suck hickies onto your neck. You could t help but moan, tangling your hands in his hair before he suddenly pulled away. He was panting hard and so were you. But you knew him better than this, he was way to stubborn to give in. His arms trapped you against the wall as he whispered

“You know I’m not going to lose this, baby”

“Neither will I”

You captured him in one last kiss before you duck under his arms and walked towards the bedroom with a smirk. He followed you but he made sure you didn’t cuddle up too close to him to avoid you rubbing your ass on his dick. He wouldn’t survive it this night.

On the morning of the fifth day, you seriously considered throwing this bet out of the window. Jungkook had a concert and a fansigning and would sleep in a hotel for one night. But as bad as you wanted Jungkook, to finally fuck You again, you would at least a week. That was your promise to yourself.

Taehyung was at the door to pick Jungkook up and jungkook made sure to only give you a quick kiss before he left. Taehyung grinned widely and obviously held back a bunch of stupid comments. Through out their fansign, you received multiple texts from Tae informing you that Jungkook had been asked by fans if he had any worries or if he was really stressed since he seemed so tensed and unfocused. You made sure to fuck around with him a bit more, getting into his favourite lingerie set and posing as nicely as you could. Your phone buzzes and to your surprise it Tae not Jungkook.

T: what the fuck did you just do?? Jungkook looks like he will pass out any second. Or like he will stab us all.

The concert was hell for Jungkook. He loved it, he loved performing, he loved the fans, no question. But he couldn’t get you off his mind. Especially not after the picture you had sent him earlier. He needed to end this as soon as he got home. The night at the hotel was too long. He shared a room with Taehyung who wouldn’t stop teasing him until he fell asleep. He couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

You were surprised when you heard the front door being unlocked, usually you would get a text lime “I’ll be home in five.” You were just in one of Jungkooks big shirts and your panties, since you had just gotten up. Jungkook entered the flat, slamming the door shut behind him and dropped his things carelessly in the floor. He walked over to you in quick and determined steps and crashed his lips onto yours. You melted into his arms as he grabbed your thighs so you would wrap them around his waist and lifted you onto the kitchen counter. After a while, he pulled back to catch his breath. You chuckled.

“Well it’s nice to see you too jungkook”

“I give up. This stupid bet needs to end. I give up okay. It has been six day since I last fucked you, I can’t do this any longer. I’ll do all the housework for a week, I don’t care. Just let me fuck you right and now.”

It was very unlikely for him to beg and you can see the desperation in his eyes. Six days were too long. You grabbed his hair and pulled him close to kiss him, throwing you onto the fluffy mattress.

In seconds he was back hovering over you, trailing kisses down your neck. You were both impatient and needy so t took no time before you both pulled your shirt over your head. You were only in your panties and jungkook proceeded into taking off his pants as well, leaving him in his boxers. He was already incredibly hard. His kisses answered to your breasts gently sucking your nipple as his fingers totes with the other one. You moaned and arched your back, trying to grind yourself on to his knee that was placed between your thighs. He growled lowly.

“I can hear how fucking wet you are.”

His lips trailed lower and he wasted no time until he pulled down your panties. Without any further warnings, he wrapped his lips around your clit and pushed a finger inside of you. You were dripping wet and he could easily push a second finger, curling his digits upwards so they would brush against your spots with every thrusts. You were so needy it didn’t take long till you were clenching around him close to your orgasm. His fingers worked with an intensity borderline painful as his lips were wrapped tightly around your clit and you tried to speak between moans and panting.

“Wait stop jungkook.”

He looked at you questioningly. Why on earth would you stop him from giving you an orgasm after he hadn’t touched in 6 days.

“I want you inside me when I cum”

He didn’t need to be told twice, hastily taking his boxers off before he hovered over you. He didn’t tease you this time, he hadn’t the strength for it. When he pushed inside of you until he had filled you up all the way both of you let out a guttural moan.

“Fuck you’re so tight, stop moving around or I will lose it all right now.”

It had been too long since you felt this full and satisfied. You couldn’t stop clenching around him. Jungkook was too close already to go slow or tease you any further, he thrusted into you harder and faster.

“Faster. Faster jungkook. Faster and harder.”

“Ohhhh god. You don’t know how much I missed this. How much I missed youuuu….”

“I’m s-so close Jungkook. I c-can’t hold it any l-longer…”

“F-fuck y/n … oh my god… FUCK ME… Y/NNNNN”

His fingers went straight to your clit rubbing hard circles onto it and you lost it as your orgasm ripped through you. Your vision went white as you clenched erratically around him. He followed quickly after you, groaning and moaning your name. He made sure to ride both of your highs out completely before he pulled out and dropped next to you on the bed.

“We are never gonna make a bet this stupid again okay? Six days without fucking you… completely

Wasted. Think of all the things we could’ve done.”

“We have plenty of time now don’t we.”

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craftyshipper · 5 years

Text

Fire In The Hole

Hi guys! I've been a little quiet on the writing lately but I promise I'm still working on my current stories, I've just been a busy bee with other personal things.

But here is my piece that I did for the todomomorisingzine! We're finally able to post them and I hope you enjoy it!

Also, the zine team has a survey to potentially re-open the store to clear out the remaining stock, so if you're interested please visit @todomomorisingzine and click their survey link. :)

Anyway, enjoy!

_________

"All hands on deck!"

An explosion sent the boat rocking, nearly forcing Momo to her knees as wood splintered around her. Cringing at the sight of broken parts of her ship, she sprung back into action, drawing her sword as three men armed with weapons of their own surrounded her.

"Look at this lass playing pirate." The one with rotted teeth and shaggy brown hair grinned while his companions laughed.

Momo smirked and reached up to remove the hat from her head and tossed it aside, leaving only a bandana to cover the crown of her head. She tucked a stray black braid behind her ear and faced the men, her black locks swaying in the sea breeze.

"You know," She began, moving into a fighting stance, "mangy water rats like you shouldn't judge a pirate by her gender." Momo smiled when that seemed to strike a nerve in, who she guessed, was the leader.

"Get her!"

Quickly sidestepping, she put out her booted foot, easily tripping the first attacker before swiveling on her heel to catch the punch aimed at her head. Twisting her body, which forced the man to fall in her direction, she swiftly slammed her elbow into his chest, knocking the air from his lungs.

"Ye wench!" The third assailant snarled in her direction.

The smile that played across his lips made Momo frown. She spun on her foot as a fourth pirate slammed a knee into her stomach making her pitch forward but the man behind her snatched one of the braids in her hair and yanked hard sending pain along her scalp.

A cry of pain escaped her as she reached up to tug at the man's wrist, attempting to release his grip on her hair.

"Momo!" The call came from one of her crewmates, Jirou, who was trapped in a fight with two opponents of her own. She just hoped the other four females of her crew were doing alright as well. Their crew was made up of all females and there were only six of them in total while the ship was easily being attacked by a dozen or more pirates.

"Let go!" Momo's tone, which was laced with pain, made the male smile even wider.

"Come now little lass." The laughter in his voice didn't go unnoticed by her. "Your future husband awaits ye."

"I'll never marry that bilge rat!"

"Be respectful, he's paying a lot of money to get ye back." He grinned. "Ye should be grateful he cares-"

The pirate’s words were cut off as a booted foot slammed into his head, forcing him to release Momo's hair as he hit the deck hard.

"What the hell!?"

A man with red and white hair soared across the ship, the rope from the mainmast gripped tightly in his fist before he skidded on his heels across the deck of the vessel.

"S-Shouto?" Momo landed on her knees holding her stomach, one eye clenched tightly from the pain.

"We spotted the cannon fire." Shouto moved to her side as the other two men raised their swords again, several others soon joining them, leaving Shouto and Momo outnumbered.

He held his hand out to her and she didn't hesitate to accept his help with a smile. Using the toe of his boot, he tossed up her discarded sword, which she caught easily in her right hand before moving to stand back to back with her new partner.

"Let's do this!"

Momo lunged forward and parried her sword against one of the pirate's before stepping back and proceeded to attack him with the tip of her weapon, nearly slicing into her opponent before he deflected it and shoved her away. She hit Shouto's back, but he kept his balance and pressed into her, giving her the push she needed to thrust her sword forward again. The man met her attacks with his own but was taken aback when she ducked his last move and twisted on her feet instead before slamming the hilt of her sword into his stomach.

With a smirk on his lips, Shouto marveled at the skill of her swordsmanship. Thanks to her father who had taught her everything he had known over the first eighteen years of her life before he told her to run away. She is a formidable foe, female or not, she was not one to be trifled with.

"You're improving," he quipped and kneed his own rival in the gut, sending him to the ground, it was subtle, but he recognized her change of fighting style immediately.

"You're not so bad yourself." She let a grin spread over her lips as she reached out her arm, allowing him to get a firm grip before he swung her around in a circle, her boots knocking into the heads of several of the men at once.

When she landed back on her feet, she stared angrily down at the one that was still conscious. "You can tell Shigaraki that I will never marry him." Her tone final.

"You'll pay," he laughed as an explosion rocked the ship, “and so will he." Momo's heart leaped into her throat before she was thrown against the railing.

Once she stabilized herself, her dark eyes glanced at Shouto, fear filling the black orbs when one of the men staggered to his feet and raised his weapon above the red and white-haired male's head.

"Shouto!”

Momo's warning didn’t give the red- and white-haired male enough time to react as the man's blade came down on him. His eye widened, blood splattering across his clothes before he realized Momo had jumped in to save him. The sword had sliced into her shoulder forcing a cry of pain from her.

Snapping himself out of his frozen state at her sacrifice, he swung out his arm to slam it into the man's throat, forcing the blade from his companions' body.

“Are you alright?!” Shouto questioned her as he helped her to her feet, locking his arm firmly around her waist, while her uninjured arm came to rest around his neck. Another explosion rocked the ship, nearly sending them to their knees.

A loud whistle sounded and Shouto knew his crew had rescued the other females from the ship. Breathing out a sigh of relief, now he just had to get the two of them out of here.

Picking up the raven-haired beauty into his arms, he dashed towards the side of the boat, hoping the plank they had used to board her ship was still there. Fear and frustration settled over him when he realized that option was no longer an option, the side where the plank had been, was blown to pieces.

“Dammit!” He cursed and hurriedly turned in several directions, hoping to find another way out.

“Just go without me,” Momo whispered through gritted teeth, knowing it would be difficult for him to escape with her in tow.

He heard her spoken words, but he refused to leave her, how could she expect him to leave her behind. It may have been something his old man would have done, but he couldn't leave a comrade behind, especially if it was her.

“A captain goes down with their ship,” she smiled up at him with tears in her eyes, “remember?”

“If you think I’m going to leave you here to die, then you really are crazy.” His gray eye locked gazes with hers, her heart started to beat too quickly for her chest to handle.

“But-"

“Shut up.”

Momo’s eyes widened at the anger in his tone. She had never seen him get mad at her before in the last few years that she's known him.

“I’ve already lost my family, I'm not about to let someone else I love die.”

“Shouto…” His name left her lips on a whisper as a tear slipped down her cheek.

“While I still live and breathe, you will not perish," he vowed. A choked sob escaped her.

He proceeded with the task at hand, not giving her a chance to respond.

“Captain!”

The call had him spinning towards the source and he spotted the green-haired crewmate of his, sailing by on their ship.

“Hurry, the ship is going down!”

Before he could speak, another explosion nearly made him drop the female in his arms.

“Arrgh.”

A giggle sounded from the woman in his hold

“Are you seriously laughing right now?”

“I can’t help it, you sounded like a true pirate.” She smiled with a grimace as his mouth quirked up in a half-smile, at least her wound didn’t dampen her mood.

Reaching to his side he grabbed the rope that had a grappling hook attached to the end.

“I need you to hold onto me.”

Nodding, she latched her arms around his neck as he stepped up on the edge of the ship. He twirled the rope with his right hand, thanking his luck that it snagged onto his ship with ease.

He moved to take the plunge, but a soft voice gave him pause.

“I love you too.”

He smiled at words until she decided to speak up again with words that made him roll his eyes.

“If we go, we go together.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

And he jumped.

__________

Shouto watched Momo while she slept, his eyes traveled to the pale white bandage over her shoulder and couldn’t help thinking it was his fault she had been hurt. After they had successfully made it to his ship, his crewmates and hers immediately tended to her wound before she lost consciousness, she had been asleep up until now.

“Don't blame yourself for this.”

Her voice startled him and his gray eye met hers in the candlelit room of the Captain's quarters. Her hand reached out to caress his face, the pad of her fingers brushing the strap of the patch over his left eye. His hand immediately came up to take hers as she sat up on the bed to come face to face with his seated form.

“Why do you wear the eyepatch?”

Momo knew of the scar that was hidden beneath the patch from the stories Shouto had told her about his family. But according to him, his eye was perfectly fine.

“The scar is unsightly.”

“Shouto, none of your friends would see you any differently.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.” She smiled and forced his hand from hers so she could reach out again. “May I?”

With a defeated sigh he nodded at her pleading tone and she didn’t hesitate to slip it off his face. What surprised her was the blue eye that greeted her and she couldn’t contain the blush that crept across her cheeks.

“Oh.” She looked away and Shouto was about to remind her that he had warned her until she spoke once more. “You never said you had heterochromia.”

“Sorry.” He smiled slightly at her as she hesitantly brought her hand back to his face, her thumb brushing the rough skin under his eye.

“You have beautiful eyes, you should show both of them more often.”

“I’ll do it for you,” he murmured and turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand as she sucked in a sharp breath, “but I also have a request.”

“Oh sure.”

“Can I kiss you?”

His blunt question caught her off guard and she couldn’t help the giddy smile that spread across her lips.

“Please do.”

When his lips touched hers she couldn’t stop the fluttering in her chest as a euphoric feeling filled her with such force she felt she would float away. His lips were surprisingly soft against her own before she parted her lips slightly to deepen the kiss. Her arms wound around his neck to pull him closer while his hands rested on her hips.

They parted if only to catch their breath and she couldn’t help but whisper a certain pirate phrase against his lips.

“Well blow me down.”

The embarrassed look he gave her sent her into a fit of giggles. “What? I wanted to sound like a true pirate too.”

The joke made at his expense forced him to shove her back onto the bed and assault her sides. He was careful not to jostle her shoulder too much as he tickled her but with how much she was laughing he doubted she even noticed.

“Shouto!” She snorted unladylike and it was a sound he would never get tired of hearing.

#todomomo #shouto todoroki #momo yaoyorozu #craftyshipper fanfiction

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duskowithapen · 4 years

Text

Aurix Chapter Three

In Which Ghouls are Fought (and Celeste is Followed)

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When Celeste walked into the training room the next morning, she was in a good mood. All her theory work was done for the week, along with the associated homework. In the library, she’d managed to find a book about Earth art history when looking for the extra readings for Politics. It had replications of paintings, sculptures, and illustrations from across the planet going back thousands of years. It was fascinating. And, given the fact that it doubled as a history text, she could use it as a reading for her War History assignment if she chose to focus on Earth-based warfare. Certainly none of her classmates would choose it – they all seemed to prefer looking at the civil wars of Solaria, or the logical battle strategies of Zenith. Earth was considered too backwards for their standards. Their loss.

But either way, Celeste walked into the training room that Thursday morning with a smile on her face, having completely forgotten about yesterday’s debacle of a sparring match. At least, until she saw her teacher waiting for her with a smirk.

She immediately went pale. If she were to look into a mirror, she would see the small silvery freckles that dotted her cheeks and forehead fairly glowing with how much blood drained from her face.

Professor Riven sounded almost absurdly happy when he addressed her. “Hello Celeste, how are you this morning?”

Trying not to step too close, Celeste nodded in response. In vain she tried to bring back that smile which so easily graced her face seconds before. Her hand was shaky when she gave him a thumbs up. He called me by name. He never calls me by name.

“That’s good. I saw that all your theory work for this week was marked as complete, so I decided that we would have a full-day training and conditioning session. If you keep finishing your work so quickly, I’ll make this into a weekly thing.” His smile wasn’t nice. It was evil.

Celeste nodded again.

“We’re going to start with a nice jog as a warm up.” Professor Riven headed to the door. “It’ll be easy – you just need to keep up with me.” And the man was off, running down the hall towards the stairs at a steady lope.

He’s going to kill me, Celeste thought as she scrambled to catch up with her teacher and his much longer legs. He’s going to make me run to my death for disappointing him yesterday!

She wasn’t completely wrong. The ‘warm up’ jog eventually led to the larger Red Fountain student gym, where Celeste was put through a gruelling exercise circuit that seemed designed specifically to cause every single muscle in her body to ache. A two minute break between each station was all she was allowed – enough time for her to get her breath back, and have a sip of water, but not much else. A cool down run and stretch proceeded lunch, which she was mortified to actually share with her teacher.

Professor Riven followed her into the dining hall, grumbling about the food standard at Red Fountain. According to him, the food was good for nutrients and calories, but tasted like cardboard compared to the food found elsewhere. All the other students stared as he dropped down in the seat across from her. The round tables allowed for up to six seats, and there were just enough seats for every student. For first time, Celeste saw empty tables in a ring around hers– students either doubling up at other tables, or walking in, seeing Professor Riven eating with a red-faced student, and immediately walking out. Said professor forced a second sandwich and extra apple down her throat, complaining all the while about fairies and their tendency to go on extreme diets.

With a steely look in his eye, he said to her, “If I ever find out about you skipping out on meals or eating less for the sake of being skinny or having a nice body, I will let seniors use you for target practise. And seniors don’t miss.”

Just then, Helia walked past to say hello. “It’s nice to see you spending time with others, Riven. And I don’t believe I’ve seen any crying students yet.”

He’d just grumbled in response. “I haven’t made anyone faint in almost 24 hours either.”

“A new record,” Helia said sombrely. He snuck Celeste a wink when Professor Riven started growling, and she had to hide her smile behind her apple.

After lunch, they returned to the training room where Celeste was forced to contort her body into various uncomfortable positions. She had been familiar with some of them, having snuck through the old connection tunnels to spy on classes in the Aurais girl’s school on the other side of the mountain, but many were new and painful.

Professor Riven was unapologetic even as he stretched beside her (she was smug over the fact that she could go down into the splits and he couldn’t). “You need to be flexible in both body and strategy if you want to be winning any of your sparring matches. As a girl, your greatest advantage will be your flexibility and speed. Don’t try to match your opponents blow for blow – you’re not built to take those kinds of hits. Avoid them.”

The thing that made Celeste hate her teacher just a little less was the fact that he worked alongside her. He didn’t just watch – he matched her step for step, stretch for stretch, station for station. It was as much for his benefit as for hers. And when he set up a new training dummy, he went first.

“This is a new invention of Timmy’s, designed for your kind of fighting style,” Professor Riven slapped a hand on the skinny, tree-like machine that was almost as tall as he was. “The aim is to hit the buttons on the body without getting hit by the arms. Speed and evasion. Watch closely.”

On the first setting, the various arms didn’t move very fast. They were rigid in their positions, spinning around the main body at a low speed. The buttons were easy enough to find, lighting up as the exercise started and disappearing once hit. After successfully hitting all twenty buttons without injury, Professor Riven moved aside to let her have a go.

Celeste didn’t come through quite as unscathed. One hit caught her across the stomach, and she coughed even as Professor Riven explained to her where she went wrong and how to place her feet better.

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you ready to go again?”

She nodded. The pain was already fading.

“Okay. Watch me again. This is the second level.” Again, the lights came on, and again Professor Riven hit all twenty buttons without injury. The machine moved just a little bit faster this time, and the lower most arms were able to bend from their static position in swiping movements. When Celeste had her turn, one caught her hard enough at the ankle to make her stumble into another arm. The subsequent collision with the ground rammed the breath from her lungs.

Once she caught her breath, a hand appeared in her face. Professor Riven looked down at her with something like concern in his face. “Alright?”

She glared at the machine and nodded even as she was pulled to her feet. She was bested by a machine.

Professor Riven laughed. “Want to go again? Keep an eye on those lower arms – and keep moving. A sitting duck is a dead duck.”

When the arms went for her ankles again, Celeste was ready – jumping onto the arm as she pulled one leg back into a punishing kick on the last remaining light. The metal bent in a little at the force.

“Well,” her teacher said dryly, “Looks like you’ve beat that level. Want to try the next?”

Celeste’s earlier exhaustion was forgotten as she and Professor Riven took turns beating each level of the machine. It wasn’t until the sixth level that things went wrong.

All the arms were moving now, rotating in their sockets and shifting up and down. Celeste was moments away from hitting the last light when something flashed off glass in the corner of her eye – the sun had moved into the window. That split second of inattention cost her, and a metal arm caught her sharply across the shoulder. She gasped at the sudden pain, moving away from the machine’s reach to rub the feeling back into it.

With a curse, Professor Riven sprang forward and shut down the program. Sharp eyes turned to her, catching the way her hand shook over the ball of her shoulder. “What’s wrong with your shoulder?”

She waved a dismissive hand – notably, not the hand connected to the hit shoulder – even as blood drained from her face. She was fine.

When Professor Riven crossed his arms, Celeste knew he wasn’t buying it. “Did the Evader hit you too hard?”

Celeste shook her head rapidly, lifting both hands with a wince before dropping them. How was she going to explain this? Without getting into trouble?

“I didn’t see you get hit in the shoulder yesterday, so what happened?” When Celeste instinctively denied it, Professor Riven stared her down. “I know you’re injured – your face gives you away every time. How bad is it? Do you need to see one of the nurses?”

At that, Celeste shuddered and took a step back. Don’t send me to the nurses! They were scary. When Professor Saladin brought her to Red Fountain, they wouldn’t let her out of the infirmary for a whole two days, stabbing her with needles and sighing over her weight and berating the cowed looking Headmaster about her vitamin intake, whatever that meant. If Professor Riven made her go back…

He sighed. “Look, we didn’t get off on the right foot. I wasn’t told anything until right before I met you so I was frustrated, I’m pretty sure you weren’t told anything so you were confused, and everything about this,” here he waved a hand between them, “Isn’t exactly Red Fountain regelation. You’re the first female student at the school, and you’re the first to essentially be given an apprenticeship. You’re my apprentice, which means that I’m responsible for your wellbeing, and that means I need to know if you’re injured. Continuing to train on an injury will only make it worse. I don’t want to hurt you.” Saying all this caused the man to become tense – he couldn’t look her directly in the eye, instead glancing either at her shoulder or just over it. “So just tell me, please, how did you injure yourself and how bad is it?”

Even as she grabbed her tablet, Celeste couldn’t figure out how to explain it. To be honest with herself, she had no idea how bad her injury was. Medical stuff hadn’t exactly been on her reading list – the first and last time she’d looked at a book on medicine, she had been ten and put off by the large words and specific language. But Professor Riven was… he looked worried. Like the Headmaster did, the first time she snuck out of the castle. And he was nice to her. He said please.

So she typed out an answer. I was doing some extra training outside last night and landed on it wrong. I’m not sure how bad it is though, but I don’t think it’s very bad. Just sore.

Professor Riven read it with a blank look before glancing up. “Are you able to let me have a look at it? Or would you prefer to get it checked by a nurse? I need to know the extent of the damage before we keep training.”

With a shrug, Celeste pulled down the zipper on her uniform. She’d been provided with a reinforced sleeveless undershirt – a crop top, she was told – when she got her uniform to support and protect her chest, so it wasn’t like anyone would be seeing anything they shouldn’t. She carefully peeled her left arm out of the clingy suit and turned her back to her teacher.

She heard him inhale sharply as he took in the damage. Ugly purple and blue bruising formed a mottled pattern over the ball of her shoulder and down her back, fading into lighter blues at the edges. Warm fingers put firm pressure at the light points and Celeste hissed. That hurt! They moved immediately as Professor Riven circled around to look her in the eyes.

“How did this happen Celeste? Because that kind of bruising doesn’t just come from a training accident.”

She stiffened. It was a training accident, she wrote again, but I fell out of a tree. See, that was kinda the truth. She didn’t need to explain the exact circumstances of how she fell out of the tree…

“Celeste…” To her surprise, the teacher led her over to the benches built into the wall and sat, making sure to keep a fair amount of space between them. “Celeste, are you being bullied?”

Her face said it all. What?

“I’ve fallen from plenty of trees Celeste, I’ve watched my squad mates fall from trees, and none of them resulted in bruises like that. Not unless we were pushed.” His face was almost soft as he continued, “I heard some of the things the other students were saying yesterday. Did one of them try something? Was it one of the seniors?”

She shook her head even as she wrote a reply. No, it had nothing to do with any other student. I was careless and stupid and not paying enough attention to my surroundings.

“You don’t need to protect them.” Professor Riven was getting angry now. There was something different about it though – it wasn’t his normal, disdainful kind of snarl. “If someone is hurting you, you need to tell me so I can make them stop.”

There was no one it was my fault Celeste typed quickly. Can we get back to training?

“Are you going to have another one of these late night ‘training sessions’?” He asked, making weird movements with his fingers.

I’ll wait until my shoulder is healed, she wrote distractedly, but I want to keep doing them. What was that thing you did with your fingers?

He blinked. “What?”

Celeste copied him – hands in fists on either side of her face, first two fingers up, before mouthing the words ‘training sessions’ while bending her fingers up and down.

“Oh, that. Those are called quotation marks, and I did them because I don’t believe you.” He didn’t seem to care anymore, walking away to grab a small tub out of his bag. “But I have no proof that it wasn’t a training session, and you don’t trust me enough to tell me the truth, so we’ll be leaving it at that for today. Go put some of this on your bruise. We’re done here.”

When she didn’t move to take the tub, he scowled. “Are you going to take it?”

Thank you Professor Riven, she wrote after a moment. Do we have another training session tomorrow?

The man scowled harder as he shoved the tablet back into her hand, “Don’t call me Professor – it makes me sound old. Just call me Riven. And yes, we still have training. Don’t be late.”

Professor – Riven walked out of the room without looking back, leaving Celeste standing dumbfounded with a tub of bruise paste in one hand and a tablet in the other. What… what was that?

***************

Riven was still scowling hours later, storming down the outdoor corridors on his way to his quarters. Thankfully there were no students around, otherwise he would have broken his now 36 hour no-fainting streak. He had fled to Magix and a bar he knew that only asked one question – what are you drinking? – after he gave the girl the bruise paste. There, he spent a couple of hours trying to drown his sorrows. Or more accurately, trying to drown that heaviness in his chest that showed up when he realised just how little his student trusted him.

He didn’t know why it affected him so much. He barely knew the girl! He had been training her for less than two weeks. In that time, she had said very little to him – their interaction earlier was the most he’d ever heard from her. He had read the reports given by the other teachers (participates very little, but seems to be listening intently), glanced over her results from this test or that essay (which were surprisingly high), developed training sessions based on how she responded to different fighting styles (she needed a weapon that would both increase her reach and not impact her speed or manoeuvrability, perhaps a dual weapon), but he hadn’t tried to get to know her beyond that. He didn’t know what her favourite food was. He didn’t know if purple was her favourite colour, even though it was the colour of her cape pin. He didn’t even know why she refused to speak!

It’s not surprising that Celeste didn’t trust him enough to tell him what was really going on. But it still hurt.

There had been a fleeting though this morning that they were actually getting somewhere. The warm up jog may have started as a somewhat cruel punishment for her failure in the ring, the girl lagging behind due to her much shorter legs, but by the end they were racing each other to the gym. Then there was the workout circuit, and then lunch, and then playing with Timmy’s new machine… It was like training with the squad again. It was like being back at school, when he had his squad and Musa and the other Winx and that sense of everything being right in the world, even when things were actively trying to kill them.

Oh magic, Musa… That was a whole other issue there. He missed her so much, and regretted the way he left things between them, but… His stupid pride stopped him from reaching out. What could he even say to her anyway? Hey, I’m sorry for being a douche, take me back?

Riven scoffed as he rounded the building. Neither of the women in his life trusted him it seemed. Musa had every reason not to, given the amount of times he’d been brainwashed and turned against her. And Celeste, well… none of the students trusted him as a teacher. Why should she?

A sound pulled him out of his increasingly maudlin (and not exactly sober) musings, drawing his attention upwards. He was near the senior dorms – they sat on top of the library wing, consisting of two floors, each with three squad rooms, a common room, a study space and a small training area. There were only two senior squads this year, so they’d split themselves up. The noise was coming from the topmost floor, where a window had opened, and a person was climbing out.

Riven opened his mouth to call out – to berate them, tell them to grease the hinges if they didn’t want to be caught, to indulge in his seniority as a student started babbling in fear of the hated professor, he didn’t know – but then the clouds shifted letting through enough moonlight to shine off long pitch black hair, pale skin glowing as Celeste fairly floated down the wall.

Anything he was going to say dried up at that point. Celeste was sneaking out of her dorm room. Words flashed through his mind – late night training sessions. This was his chance to find out what was really going on (a chance to find out who was hurting his student).

Silently Riven followed the girl through the school, frowning as she went further inside the campus rather than towards one of the open areas or training rooms. She was good at avoiding the cameras, which made Riven feel something akin to pride at his obviously skilled student, sneaking through their blind spots via shadows and spaces Riven didn’t even know existed. She stopped at the hanger bay and his mouth dropped. She was leaving the school?!

Oh shit, he hadn’t taught her how to drive yet! Did she know how to pilot a plane? Or a wind rider?

Thankfully, for Riven’s sake, Celeste didn’t jump into one of the various aircraft sitting around. Instead, she made her way to the exhaust vents that cycled fresh air from outside into the hanger. With the ease of someone who’d done it a dozen times before, Celeste tugged the cover off the vent and slipped inside.

With a curse, Riven sprinted over to his wind rider. There was no way he was going through the exhaust vents, even if he could fit, and this way he’d have an easier time following her to wherever she was going. It still took a good five minutes after leaving Red Fountain to spot her – somehow Celeste had already gotten out of the vents and onto solid ground, steadily making her way into the surrounding woods.

Riven followed her for a good half hour, occasionally ducking into and behind the tree line as the girl periodically looked to the stars. Celeste is achieving high marks in Navigation, he remembered one of the reports saying, her comprehension and application of star charts far exceeds the expected knowledge base of a freshman. It didn’t take him long to realise they were headed to Black Mud Swamp, and something dropped in his stomach. Who was she meeting out here? Witches? The thought made him shiver. Witches weren’t something freshmen should mess with – especially not his student. In his distraction, Riven didn’t realise he’d lost sight of her till it was too late – Celeste had disappeared into the depths of the swamp, and the trees were becoming too tight packed to continue on the wind rider.

On foot, Riven was able to follow Celeste’s trail. She wasn’t making any attempts to hide it, so she wasn’t expecting to be followed. At one point, the trail led to the base of a tree before stopping – looking up, he could barely see a dark lump slung over a branch. After climbing the tree (with much cursing) he found a deep blue coat. It was obviously well cared for, as despite the fading fabric, the hems were still in good condition. Had she put this here for safekeeping? What is she doing?

Thinking back to when he first saw her climbing out the window, he paled. Celeste wasn’t wearing her uniform. The shadows and distance had hidden a lot from him – enough that a deep blue coat looked similar to a bright blue cape – but he could distinctly remember seeing a lot of black rather than cream. She’d hidden easily enough in the shadows after all.

Then he heard the high-pitched screeching.

OH SHIT.

Riven sprinted through the swamp, uncaring of the noise he was making. His student was alone in Black Mud Swamp, without armour or even a proper weapon, at the mercy of the ghoul infestation Codatorta was planning on making the sophomore students clear out for detention.

When he burst into the clearing, Riven was expecting an injured student, maybe some blood. Definitely something akin to a damsel-in-distress situation, like Musa – the Winx had found themselves in over the years.

He wasn’t expecting… this.

Celeste looked like she was having the time of her life.

Riven had never seen the girl smile so widely… or with so much glee. Her weapon may have only been a tree branch, stripped clean of smaller off shoots and leaves, but she was wielding it like her bokken. She was darting around the clearing, swinging at the malformed creatures like she was going for a home run. Even as he watched, she kicked one ghoul into the air before sending it flying. Another tried to run up her leg before she flung it into a small knot of already downed opponents. He could only stare, open mouthed, as Celeste completely decimated the twenty-odd ghouls. Where was this confidence in the arena?!

For the moment, Riven was content to just watch, blue coat balled up in his arms. He’d give her the dressing down of a lifetime when she was done.

Of course, that’s when the troll showed up.

#aurix #winx club #fanfiction #ao3 #Celeste #Riven #fight scene #that hopefully was okay #never fought a day in my life #worried big brother

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