Jealous?

Knockout x human reader

Knocky gets a bit mad and jelly🤭

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"Thanks knockout." You thanked your boyfriend as you exited his vehicle mode. "Anytime sweetspark." As you walked away you called over your shoulder. "If you dont pick me up after school I'm going to my friends house!" Ya about that. Last time he forgot to pick you up, and you ended up staying at your friends without telling him, and he had a literal spark attack he almost started crying when he saw you.

He revved his engine before taking off leaving a pile of dust. As you continued to walk over to the door you saw the popular guys of the school, sitting at the wall. One in particular was watching as you walked by, making you uncomfortable. You didn't really have a popular group, just you and your friends, which you were completely fine with. "Y/n!" Your friends called out your name as he/she saw you. "That's a nice car you have there, who's is it?" You blushed. You hadn't actually told them that you were dating someone, so you were preparing to have an ear full. "Well, it um, it's my boyfriends." ".......WHAT!!!" Oh no...

Time skip

Well that was lovely. All your friends were bothering you with questions upon questions. Which you sometimes answered to. I mean what were you supposed to tell them. 'Ya I'm dating a giant alien robot that is billions of years older than me and has been at war for eons.' Ya, that would not end well. Anyhow the day is almost over and you couldn't wait to get out of here. All you could think about was if knockout would remember to pick you up. I mean you didn't mind going to your friends, it has been awhile since the two of you had a sleepover, but you just wanted to know that he didn't forget.

Ring!!

And theres the bell. You packed all your things and made your way to the front foyay(I cant remember how to spell it) and walked out the door. You felt relief wash over you when you saw the red Aston Martin parked in the parking lot. You started walking over to him, when you noticed that the exact same guy from this morning was following you. Just as you made it to knockout he spoke up. "Hey cutie." You looked at him. 'Cutie??' "Do you wanna, go out sometime?" "Uh- I-im sorry but I'm already dating someone else." His expression changed to one of annoyance. "And you expect me to believe that?" Suddenly knockout spoke up. "Well you best believe it-" his door opened to reveal a nice looking man with red eyes and strawberry hair. ",because I'm her boyfriend." He growled. You blushed as he pulled you close to his muscled body and glared at the guy. "Oh! I-im sorry.." He took off probably embarrassed that he had said those things in front of your boyfriend, but you weren't complaining. Knockout took you to the passenger side and opened the door for you. You hopped in and watched as his hollow form fizzled away and the engine turn on. The drive was quiet, but you didnt want to say anything. You could feel the anger coming off knockout.

When you both arrive at the nemesis and med bay, you put all your things down, and squeaked when you felt something slide around your body. Knockout had put both of his hands behind your body to he was holding you like if he were holding water. You looked up at him with wary eyes."Knockout??" Without any warning he took your lips on his and kissed you passionately making you moan in surprise. He pulled away and shoved his face into your body so that his head was squished up against your stomach area. You giggled at the ticklish sensation when he nuzzled his head as far as possible murmuring death threats and saying mine over and over again.

You didnt know he could get this jealous.

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UwU

Chapter 6 - Part 3, The prophecy

Back at the temple, Rose was not doing well.

She was struggling the entire night, trying to figure out the pain in her after the event. However, she couldn’t keep on with the pain while pacing the endless room forever. At some point, she got so tired she decided to try the “meditation” exercise from Garnet, “Meditating can help you relax and clear your mind, especially my mind when im a new fusion” She once said.

Behind the gem, the room decided to show a visual representation of a memory, the problem. It showed a figure on a pink working desk with a giant mirror, a giant bowl of pebbles, along with equipment such as tweezers, containers and a dropper filled with pink fluids.

Behind the gem, the room decided to show a visual representation of a memory, the problem. It showed a figure on a pink working desk with a giant mirror, a giant bowl of pebbles, along with equipment such as tweezers, containers and a dropper filled with pink fluids.

Pink was testing out her essence on the newly arrived pebbles in her experiment chamber, but that day, she was out of her game.

“These pebbles should be emerging right now! Why isn’t this working like how I planned!?”

Before she barged in her chamber and tried to distract herself with work, she was rejected, yet again by Blue and Yellow of getting her own colony. Blue repeated it hundreds of times, “You’re not ready, you haven’t achieved your full diamond powers yet, without that being taken control, you could potentially destroy your own planet without starting the colonization!”

She was filled with more rage than ever! Yellow didn’t even blink an eye when she stormed out of the pool chamber, “We’ll let you know when you’re ready.”

“UGHH!” The smallest diamond frustrated and full of built up energy, the yet to emerge pebble was not helping her calm down, she tightened her fist, she stood up from the desk, and BAM! Where the working station was, stood a pile of rubble, with the giant mirror the only thing still intact.

She was surprised, taken aback, she noticed her slight glow from her physical form and her gem, which returned to her normal tone when she finally calmed down. She got down to her knees and speculated the damage in front of her.

The working station was in a state beyond recognition, the tools and essence containers are all in shambles, the pebbles were all scattered about, some chipped while some cracked, with none in good shape.

She was examining the pebbles with little damage, but then she heard something from the pile…

“Help…me…” A small, newly formed pebble was stuck under the piles of debris, “I can’t…get up…” The little thing tried to reach out...

The pebble’s face was covered in cracks, she was not going to make it.

Pink was mortified, it was very hard to believe, was this all from the new power? Was this all her fault?

How can she love, when the people she loves suffer around her?  

She composed herself, dried off her tears and sadness, and did what was best for the new gem in pain.

Outside of the chamber, pink pearl was just clearing up the toys lying around, until she heard a thundering crash from her diamond’s workplace at the other side of the wall.

The pearl wasn’t keen on entering the experiment chamber of her diamond, but her diamond was taking a comparatively longer time than last time.

She stowed the toys away and knocked on the chamber door.

Knock knock

“Yes Pearl?” Her diamond responded from the inside.

“My diamond, is there something wrong? You’ve been in there for an awfully long time, is there something I can do for you?”

“….”

“Why yes pearl, there is. I need you to bring me one of my rare sapphires, there is something I need to consult…”

“Of course, right away my diamond!” Pinkpearl scurried off the room and went in

Realizing her destructive powers are getting out of hand, She asked Coral to invite a competent sapphire and leave them be.

The pink sapphire entered the room in a little dress with various heart designs, her gem located at the side of her dress.

“Sapphire, I am concerned with a certain...force of destruction in the upcoming future, can you tell me anything about it?

The pink sapphire spoke to her diamond, “My diamond, I foresee something that is not in your liking. If the destructive force you spoke of is not tamed, someone you cherish, someone close to you, someone dear to you, will endure eons of pain and suffering for the rest of their gem life, and it will never be healed.”

Pink diamond made a small but unrecognizable “gulp” sound, but she kept her composure.

“Anything else you can tell me? Maybe an…alternative to…prevent that specific outcome?” Pink questioned nervously, gritting her teeth, trying her best not to speak from her mind.

“I can try...my diamond, but my ability of predicting another outcome comes in…a different  form.” The sapphire tried to look further into the future, and she found something, but what was spoken out of her mouth was not to her diamond’s liking.

“To lessen the pain of the one you hold dear,

Another must endure, it must be a peer,

Instead of one in sole pain and agony,

One shall hurt, but it will be an irony.”

Pink diamond was not pleased, she opened her mouth and tried to say something, but for a while she was speechless, moments passed and she was able to blurt out, “What…what was that?”

The sapphire slightly gritted her teeth, as if she was embarrassed of her extra special ability. “Apologies My diamond, but that is the only way to showcase glimpses of another outcome, you would have to decipher it, and come to your own conclusion.”

Sighh, “Very well, thank you sapphire, that will be all.”

The sapphire left the room, back to her duties.

Pink diamond became nervous after what the gem said, she thanked the gem and dismissed. After some thinking, and some anxiety, she realized the gem that would be hurt forever would be her own pearl!

“Nononono, I…I can’t risk losing her! She's the closest gem I have as a friend! I can’t…”

As she covered her face with her hands, she went through the poem one more time.

“Wait, it must be a peer?

She turns her attention to the edge of the working desk, a little diamond shaped pink box with three ribbons in white, yellow and blue wrapped around it. She gently lifts the box, and sighs, “If it can help me save pearl from eternal damnation, I’ll do it.”

Pink brings the box outside of the experiment chamber, and was met with her pearl.

The small gem salutes her diamond, “My diamond, is everything alright?”

Pink went to the centre of the room, placing the box in the midst.

She opens a gift from the other diamonds, they thought having another pearl might help her organizing her stuff, she wasn’t keen on opening it, until now…

The ribbons were unwrapped, the box was opened, and out comes a glowing shell with a pearl levitating from the box, “Please identify yourself.” The voice was rather different than pinkpearl.

“Pink diamond.” Pink stated while pearl observed from the other end.

“Greetings Pink diamond, please refer customization options.” The gem announced.

Pink was trying to not shove the gem back into the back, regretting her choice of opening the box in front of pearl, she also didn’t want her to think the new gem was replacing her. Moments passed by, and she didn’t say anything.

“Default setting selected, please stand by.” The gem floated with grace, rising to higher altitudes and glowed into a form of a pearl figure. Multi Color palettes were the design for the default setting, so when she walked off the platform, she was the only figure not entirely pink.

Pink reached her hand out to pinkpearl and said, “Pearl, come meet the new pearl from the other diamonds.”

“Ohh, a new friend! Hi! I’m pearl! What’s your name?”

“Greetings pearl, I am Pearl.” The multicolour pearl politely greeted, but it left Pink confused in how to differentiate the two.

It took her a moment, but she quickly came up with a solution.

“You know pearl, since she’s also called Pearl, why don’t we give you a nickname? You know, so it won’t be confusing.” Pink suggested to pinkpearl.

“Why of course! Another nickname! What will it be?” pearl said excitedly.

“Yep, and this time, it's gonna be different! How about…Coral?”

“I love it!” To be fair, pearl would have loved any name she was given, so she never thought of it once whatever Pink suggested.

For once, Pink was able to sigh without the need to worry about something else, everything was going well as the two pearls stood within her sight, facing one another, smiling bigger than the other.

The view glitched, and everything turned different, Pearl and Coral, pointing weapons at each other instead of the first smiling version

The images paused and dissipated all around the room. At the last moment, Rose gasped, lying sideways and waking up from her deep slumber.

The last image she saw, imprinted on her mind, bothered her even more.

“I… I need to find them and set things straight before anything terrible happens!”

She got up, rushed out from her room and immediately ran into the future seeing fusion, Garnet.

“Oh! Garnet! Hurry! I need to know where Coral and Pearl are, do you see them anywhere?” Rose unintentionally demanded while shaking the fusion by the shoulders.

After the intense shaking, Garnet pointed to the warp pad and said, “Pearl said if anyone needs her, she would be at the sky arena with Coral, they should still be there.”

“Ohok good, I’ll just, go check up on them, hopefully nothing’s going on. Haha…ha…” and immediately rushed to the warp pad,

SHiinningggg

End of part 3

(A/N: heyho! If you read till the end, you get some additional information!

At this point (If you did the bingo card that is) you should have a bunch ticked, but there doesnt seem to be a complete line? If it is, then congrats! You’re getting close! 

BTW the next part is the last for the chapter! BYE!)

Imposter (2/2): Avengers x gn!Reader

S.S: sorry about the wait on this second part, havent had a lot of motivation to do much for a while. Im not sure how much I like this ending but I hope yall like it!

p.s::: Also, I write these as my own character first so if there are mentions of an OC let me know so I can fix it so everyone can enjoy!

Warnings: Angst, language, nothing else I dont think...

Word count: 1449

MASTERLIST  Pt1

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My door slammed behind me as rage fumed from my being.

“What a bitch.” I muttered moving to my bathroom and stripping from my sweaty clothes and turning on the shower.

The lukewarm shower felt nice against my hot skin, creating a calming effect. It was nice. Relaxing almost. Until a sudden pounding at my door broke the peace.

“What!” I yelled, not bothering to get out of the shower not really caring who was there, just the fact that they interrupted my relaxation.

“Y/N, open the door we need to talk! Now!” Tony’s distinct voice called through the door. Mumbling a few curses as I reluctantly stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my torso and opening my bedroom door to an angry looking Tony and Steve face of disappointment.

“Im kinda busy, what do you want?” I asked.

“What the hell did you say to Brooke? She's in tears.” Tony barked, eliciting an eyeroll.

“What a drama queen.” I mumbled under my breath.

“The hell did you say?” Tony said, gripping my wrist. I glared at him ripping my wrist from his hand.

“I said she’s a drama queen. Get over it.” I said clearly. “I told her that I didn’t trust her. I have the right not to trust someone who has been a part of Shield for the last 4 years, just come out about her powers.” I restated the conversation from earlier.

“Why would you say that to her? She's just trying to fit in.” Steve said in a sad sympathetic tone.

“Well, she seems to have fit in quite well, now hasn’t she.” I sent the two a fake smile “I’m going back to my shower.” I closed the door, ignoring the pounding knocks on the door as I walked back to my shower. 

The pounding against my door finally ceased and I got out a few minutes afterwards, changing to sweats and a loose shirt. 

I ran my finger through my tangled hair as I made my way to the kitchen to grab something to eat. As soon as I turned into the living room, the team was there coddling to the sniffling Brooke on the couch.

“Seriously, you’re still crying? It’s been an hour and a half.” I scoff at the sight, eyes all turning to me, looks of rage across each face.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you trying to be an asshole or something?” Sam questioned, standing from his seat and making his way towards me.

“I’m just trying to show you that not everything is as it seems.” I sneered peering at Brooke over his shoulder.

“You’re a monster.” She whimpered quietly.

“Then maybe you should watch yourself. Monsters are dangerous.” I mocked moving past Sam to the kitchen. 

Suddenly the quiet room went into chaos as Brooke stood up, placing her hand onto my clothed shoulder turning me to face her. Her hand still on my shoulder I took her wrist into my hand, tightening the grip.

A collective gasp came from the group, many standing from their spots on the couch. Brooke's eyes widened, frozen in shock before she realized that she was supposed to collapse right about now. As soon as I felt her knees buckle, falsely, I gripped her shoulders.

“Don’t play games with me. Don't ever, ever think you’re capable of that.” I chided, staring into her brown eyes.

Her mouth opened like a fish out of water, still in shock that her facade had been broken.

“I saw who you are. You really are a monster. The people you killed, families, innocent children.” She said, loud enough for the Avengers to hear, thinking she was really doing something. And she was, her words got under my skin. 

“Oh ya? What else did you see? How I killed them? How I watched each of their souls leave their body before I determined it was a completed mission?” I sneered, seeing the tears in her eyes.

“You killed so many.” she whimpered pathetically.

“Do you know why?” I asked, truly testing her. Noone really knew the reason behind my mercenary days, they believed that I had been manipulated like Bucky and forced into it. Which was accurate if you looked at it sideways and squinted.

“You were manipulated. You were under Hydra’s control.” she stated confidently, tears still evident in her eyes. Another false. 

“Bravo, you've read my file.” I smirked, “I was never manipulated into anything. And It wasn't Hydra, it was called The Mist.” 

Brooke’s eyes widened, being caught in her lie, tears dripping down her cheeks. She took a timid step back, which I responded with taking a step towards her.

“Believe me, I've brushed against your skin plenty of times before this. If your powers were true you would be curled up on the floor in unconsolable tears right now.” I remarked.

I looked over her shoulder to the Avengers standing guard, Tony looking through archives coming across a secret file under my name. “You really should have done your research before coming after me.” I directed to Brooke looking at her again.

“Well, I’m sure now that your true past has been exposed they don't want anything to do with you anyways, considering how awful you really were.” Brooke sneered.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t want to have someone untrustworthy on the team.” I started. “But I’ve proven myself trustworthy enough times to show that I’m not some bitch trying to wiggle her way into the Avengers.”

“I’ve been loyal to them, showed them they could trust me.” she argued her defenses high.

“I’m sure you have, every time you told them something from their past, something that could be found within a file.” I countered. “Every time you touched someone, even though you supposedly avoided contact, just so one of the guys could catch you and coddle you.” I moved towards her, causing her to step backwards. “Every mission that someone had to come to your aid because you couldn't handle fighting like an Avenger.” 

Her legs hit the couch and her knees buckled causing her to fall into the cushions. I planted myself in front of her, towering over her terrified figure.

“Your nothing but a liar. You’re not Avenger material, and after this scheme you're not even worth being a SHIELD agent.” I sneered. Her brown eyes widened as tears threatened to spill. 

“I don’t know what you're talking about.” she muttered quietly.

“God! You really don't know when you’ve lost do you? Get over yourself. You lost. You don't deserve a spot on this team or in this organization. Get out before I do something I might regret.” I emphasized. 

At that she leapt up from the couch and retreated to her room, packed her bags and ran through the compound exiting the doors.

“Friday, call Fury. Tell him we have a stray agent.” I call out, turning back to the kitchen.

My way was blocked by a broadening figure. I looked up to see Steve, his face twisted with regret.

“I don't need an apology from any of you. I get it. Misguidance can be one hell of a factor in doing something you regret.” I stated before brushing past the Captain, hiding the rageful tears in my eyes.

I heard the sound of footsteps following me through the doorway, the sound of boots against the wooden floor of the kitchen.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Tony questioned. His tone was soft and filled with worry.

“Well, considering the welcoming party thrown for Bucky, that was talked about all over the world, I figured that if you truly knew my history my party wouldn't be as kind.” I turned to face them with a knowing look.

Ranges of guilt and empathy passed over the faces of the heros in front of me.

“Besides, ‘The Mist’ was disassembled eons ago after I left. I didn't think it was appropriate to bring up a ghost story of another evil organization. We have enough shit to deal with.” I gave a half-hearted smile to them, which was slimmly returned.

“We’re sorry. For everything.” Nat apologized, her green eyes boring into mine. I gave her a soft smile.

“Like I said, Misguidance is a hell of a thing. So no more apologizing let's just get back to the way things were and hope to God that Wanda comes home soon.” A quiet chuckle rumbles from the few in front of me as they move in for a quick hug.

Though there was still some healing to be done, everything went back to normal and we were the compatible team that people believed we always were.

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S.S: Again tell me what you think! Let me know of any errors or anything so I can fix them!! Thanks again for reading!

flesh stays no farther reason (2/6)

It takes three weeks for him to contact her again.

A one word text after only one night of fucking (albeit, glorious, life-altering, religion-defying fucking) shouldn’t make her heart flutter the way it does now.

-

Five times Ben looks for Rey and the one time she finds him.

-

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 4.7K

Read on AO3

2

rank sweat of an enseamed bed

It takes three weeks for him to contact her again.

She’s just gotten home from what is, quite possibly, the most draining shift she’s had this year, when the notification brightens her phone, and subsequently, her day.

From u/KyL0_R3N

Hi.

A one word text after only one night of fucking (albeit, glorious, life-altering, religion-defying fucking) shouldn’t make her heart flutter the way it does now. 

From u/R3yoflight

hey

From u/KyL0_R3N

How have you been?

From u/R3yoflight

good, for the most part

work sucks, but thats just the way it goes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

hbu?

meeting go well??

From u/KyL0_R3N

I’m glad you’re doing good. Sorry about work. 

I know how that can be, unfortunately.

The meeting did go well. Thank you for asking.

I’m sorry I didn’t call you after our night together.

Rey stares down at her phone, not knowing how to respond. 

The morning after their night together was a point of contention in Rey’s mind. On one hand, it was a hook-up. An old-fashioned, wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am hook-up that just so happened to be between two thoroughly compatible people. They had barely even talked to one another. She hadn’t made fun of his stupid, clearly made-up name, hadn’t teased him for his large ears that she found too endearing, she hadn’t even gotten his actual phone number. 

But… it was so, so sweet.

The way he had handled her was not that of an impassive man looking to get off and get going. It was of someone who knew how to take care of another, who wanted to take care of her. The gentleness of his lips from the last time they kiss will forever be burned into her brain.

Part of her had expect get a call the next day, with Kylo confessing that he had the same butterfly feeling she did. After a few days past and she hadn’t received so much as a new post alert on reddit from him, she decided to push back the feelings into a tight corner of her mind that was slowly filling up with emotions she wasn’t ready to unpack. 

From u/R3yoflight

it’s nbd, i know how hook-ups go

don’t feel bad

From u/KyL0_R3N

I think it is a big deal, but I know what you mean.

I would like to see you again.

Would you like to see me?

Would she? Would she even survive being with Kylo Ren again?

Rey decides its all comes down to attitude, and she’ll go in with a better one this time.

From u/R3yoflight

yeah, i would

u have another big meeting u need to prep 4?

It takes him a whole 10 minutes to respond, a first for him.

From u/KyL0_R3N

Sure.

What about the 8th? 

Does that work for you?

From u/R3yoflight

i work the 7th and the 8th, but the hotel we 

were at last time is p close to my job

i could meet you there and just pack stuff

for work

From u/KyL0_R3N

We can do another date so you don’t have to do that.

From u/R3yoflight

nah 

i don’t want u to have to move ur meeting

so im good if ur good

From u/KyL0_R3N

Of course.

I’m good, too.

From u/R3yoflight

🤗🤗🤗

-

Rey bounces the ball of her foot on the hard concrete beneath her, watching the clock with rapt attention. The minutes seem to slow the further she got into the day, making the last hour and a half feel like an eon. Plutt had already barked at her to make herself useful somewhere, but there’s only so much to do when they’re down cars for the day. 

The moment the clock strikes 5:30, Rey is out of the shop like a bat out of hell. She thinks about stopping in some bathroom and changing into a skirt or dress or at least some clean underwear, but she can’t bring herself to waste that much time.

She want’s to see Kylo. Desperately. 

The wall she’d constructed around all her curiosities from their last meeting had come crumbling down with the promise of a second one, and this time, she was determined to know a little bit more about the man in question.

He’d sent her the room number a few hours ago, letting her know to meet him there whenever she got off work. Her mind had already begun reeling in the possibilities of tonight by that point, and it only added gas to the flame.

There’s a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead when she walks into the lobby, and a few things become apparent at once.

One, the hotel is full to the brim with people who look like they make in an hour what she makes in 5 years.

Two, she absolutely should have taken the time to change into something that wasn’t the grease-stained overalls that had seen much better days, probably long before she’s fished them out of a bin at the goodwill.

Three, the doorman (with white gloves) looked moments away from calling the cops on her. 

“Excuse me, miss,” the doorman says, walking up to Rey. She gulps and prays with every fibre in her being that he’ll just inform her she dropped something and let her go on her merry way. “May I ask if you’re staying at this establishment?” His tone isn’t accusatory… yet.

“Um… sort of? I’m meeting someone,” She explains. A few of the posh guest are trying to remain inconspicuous as they attempt to hear what’s going on. It makes her cheeks burn red.

“Ah, well, the bar is downstairs and… there is a dress code.”

Rey has felt small plenty of times before in her life. This is nothing new.

“He’s in his- our room, already,” She tells him, keeping her eyes on the doorman and actively ignoring the now-open stares of the lobby. The doorman’s eyes narrow.

“Why don’t you check in with the front desk to make sure you have the correct room number, shall we?” Without waiting for her response, the man moves his arm and begins walking her to the far end of the lobby, where beautiful women in black blazers stare on at her.

“I really don’t think that’s necessary. I’ll just call Kylo and tell him I can’t-“”

“I beg your pardon?” The blood runs out of the face of the doorman. “What did you say your friend’s name was?”

“Kylo. He’s upstairs but I don’t want to bug-”

“My apologies, Miss. I had no idea that Mr. Ren was expecting guest. Allow me to escort me to your suite-”

“That’s really not necessary. I’ll just go now-” 

“Rey?”

Her whole body freezes as his voice cuts across the lobby. She doesn’t turn to look at him, instead still focusing on the now queezy-looking doorman. She feels his presence come up beside her, and the warm, large hand come to rest on her lower back.

“Is everything alright?” He asks.

The doorman looks at her with wide eyes and a pleading stare.

“Everything was fine, I was just coming upstairs.” The lie rolls off her tongue and she hopes she sounds convincing. Rey finally glances upwards to look at Kylo, maybe to flash him an ill-advised smile and silently say ‘lets go please.’

It is striking just how beautiful he is, especially after so long without seeing him. His hair looks even more perfect now than she was remembering it, but Rey assumes that her imagination will never quite compete with the real thing. 

“You we’re taking a while and I got nervous. I’m glad I came down when I did.” His eyes shoot over to the doorman who looks moments away from passing out, so she acts quickly.

“Well, I’m here. Let’s get going, please.” Rey takes both her hands and pushes against the solid bark that is his chest, and Kylo eventually complies, but still sending a death glare the the rest of the hotel staff.

When she’s finally pushed them into the elevator and they’re blessedly alone, Rey takes a deep breath of relief. For as poorly as that interaction went, it could’ve gone much worse.

“What did he say to you?”

Kylo’s voice is low and sends the wrong kind of nervousness to her gut. 

“He was just making sure I was in the right place. He had every right to ask what I was doing here. I mean, I know how I’m dressed and how I look, so if we could just move on-“”

“No one should speak down to you, no matter how you’re dressed, Rey. It isn’t okay.”

“But it is!” She snaps. “Because I know people in the service industry are just doing what their told and that guy is probably underpaid as is and his boss would have reprimanded him if he’d said nothing, so it’s fine!”

Kylo stays silent beside her and she can’t bring herself to look at him. The elevator takes it’s time, crawling to their floor, but blessedly does not stop to board anyone else.

“You were going to leave, weren’t you?” He asks, voice suddenly much smaller than it was a moment ago.

“I just don’t want to be a problem for anybody. For you, for the doorman, for… I probably should leave, even now,” Rey admits. For an evening she was so looking forward to, it really is going sour.

Rey feels a hand come around her cheek and gently guide her to look up at him. His expression is softer now and his lips have that delicious pout that she should absolutely not be thinking about kissing right now.

“You’re not a problem.”

Kylo stares down at her with such intensity, she thinks she’ll melt right then and there.

The elevator chime breaks them from their reverie and Kylo steps out into the hallway. He holds his hand out for her, looking at her with a question. Giving her an option. You can go back down and leave right now and just remember Kylo Ren fondly for the rest of your life or you can go with him right now and see whatever else this bizarre experience will give to you, her mind says. 

Rey makes up her mind and takes his hand.

-

She’s on him the moment he closes the door behind them. No warning, no hesitation; just Rey pouncing on Kylo. She kisses him so deeply, the way she’s thought about for the last 3 and a half weeks, that she can feel it in her toes. For his part, Kylo doesn’t seem all that surprised. He scoops her up in his arms the moment she’s between them, making Rey’s heart flutter.

He holds her up, not pinned to anything and just lets her make out with him. Suspended in air, only holding onto him, hands touching any part of him she can reach; it’s delicious. 

“We should… go to… the bed…” He says between kisses. Rey whines into his mouth (why, she’ll never know).

“No… here…” She breaths against his lips. 

Kylo immediately lowers them to the floor, and holds himself above her. The carpet is plush against her back and is almost softer than the old futon she’s been using as a bed for the last few years.

“You… deserve a bed…” He says, while quickly undoing the buttons to her overalls. She’s trying to help him, but her hands get distracted by the growing hardness between his legs. 

“What this… here is good…” She tries to say. She’s not sure if this would make sense to anyone outside of the two of them, but she’s can’t care at the moment. 

The second the last button comes undone, Kylo focuses on getting her completely bare. He practically rips off every piece of clothing on her body, until she’s left only in her tube socks. When her hands go to take them off, he stops her.

“Leave it,” Kylo orders. Rey feels herself gush. 

Once she’s in the perfect state of undress, Kylo doesn’t even bother taking off the rest of his clothes. He just opens his belt and fly, taking out his beet-red cock and pumping it a few times. 

“… Missed your cunt…” He says against her lips as he slides the head of his cock over her core. She’s squirming under him, trying to force him to put it inside of her. “… so tight and wet for me…and you’ll just… let me make a mess of it, huh? Let me fuck it ‘till it’s… molded to me… full of my come…”

She arches her back, pressing her chest into the coarse fibers of his shirt. His hands go to hold down her abdomen as he slides himself into her, stretching her out every bit of the way.

The drag of him makes Rey delirious; like Kylo is reaching a part of her that hasn’t existed until he came into her life. If she thought that her body would be more accepting of him since last time, she would be wrong. 

“… take me so fucking well, baby…” Kylo breaths, making Rey clench. He whimpers at the sensation. Her hands go up to his neck, one holding him there and the other rubbing the shell of his ear. His whole body trembles beneath her touch. He grips the underside of her thigh, as a warning almost, before pounding into her. 

Full force, no hold-backs, pounding her right into the floor. She’s sure he’ll have to tip housekeeping very well this time around. 

With every stroke, Kylo make Rey feel split in two. He bumps her cervix more often than not, and her clit rubs deliciously on the metal of his belt buckle. The hard, cold metal feels so good and so rough that Rey is reduced to muffled cries and moans agains his skin. 

He bites more hickeys into her chest and shoulders, deeper and harder than the ones last time. Her chest will be covered in purple marks of Kylo for a long time to come and she loves it. Her legs wrap around to his back, squeezing him. His movements become messy and uncoordinated and she knows he’s close, just from the sounds he’s making above her. Rey does nothing to stop her oncoming orgasm, just letting the feeling wash over her as she convulses beneath Kylo.

He with her the next moment, come spilling out of him like the grunts spilling from his mouth. His hips still thrust, harder and more infrequent, like he’s making his final claim on her body. She lets him manhandle her as she feels a warm, sloshing heat in her core. 

Kylo rest on top of her as their breathing slows. Rey feels a twinge of carpet burn on her back and her ass but ignores it. Kylo’s hands have found their way to her sides, nearly engulfing her waist. They slide up her arms until they find her hands, and interlocks their fingers together. 

He plants warm, wet kisses on her sternum, up her throat, and eventually her lips. Rey smiles into the kiss. 

Then, as if called, her stomach growls so loud, Kylo stills. He pulls back to look down at her with a quirked eyebrow. She bites her lip and her cheeks would be red from embarrassment if they weren’t already red from their fucking.

“… would you like dinner?” He asks. She nods. 

-

The wet ends of her hair tickle the back of neck, so she pushes it out of the robe. The water pressure in the massive shower was enough for Rey to sell her soul, but the burger she’s currently devouring is coming in at a close second. 

After their entryway tryst, Rey had happily jumped into the shower while Kylo had ordered them dinner, assuring her that she could order both the Tomato Bisque and french fries as her side.

When she’d gotten out and into the plush robe, Rey had found Kylo on one side of the bed, some nascar race on the TV, and him biting into his too-raw-for-her-taste steak. 

It was a beautiful sight. 

She’s sitting at the edge of the bed, Kylo on the other side and a few feet away from her, both watching the television. It’s too quiet for how loud her head is right now, so she can’t help the word vomit that forms.

“What do you mean when you say you’re in tech?” She asks, eyes still on the television screen.

“I work in research and development for a technology company,” he tells her, unhelpfully.

“What does that even mean?” She can’t help but sound exasperated. 

“My job is to come up with the next best gadget or update and figure out a way to make it work,” he says as he shifts on the bed. Rey still hasn’t looked at him.

“Must be hard to be successful in that field right now… I mean, First Order pretty much has a monopoly on any techie thing out there.”

Kylo chuckles.

“I wouldn’t exactly say monopoly… but yeah. But I still make do.”

Rey hums while chewing.

“Do you like working at an auto shop?” He asks, after a few moments of silence between them. She shrugs.

“I like fixing things, so that parts nice, but… my boss sucks.”

“Why don’t you go work somewhere else?” Rey can’t stop the sharp ‘ha!’ that escapes her.

“I’m a young, female mechanic, with no higher education degree, who’s immigration status is tenuous at best, who can barely afford her half of a shithole of an apartment. I’m not the bright, shining pupil that most places would want to take on.”

She finally looks back over at Kylo, who seems to be in thought while polishing off the rest of his food. 

“If you’re struggling financially, I could-”

She cuts him off. “No. That’s not what this is about.” The burger suddenly taste like ash in her mouth, so she sets the rest of it down. “I make due on my own. I don’t need a… benefactor.” This makes him chuckle, causing Rey to give him an incredulous look. 

“Sorry, sorry…” He chuckles, “It’s just… benefactor? I at least think I would be deserving the title of sugar daddy.” Rey rolls her eyes and throws a soggy french fry at him. He catches it and eats it right away.

“I don’t need a benefactor or sugar daddy. But… thank you.”

They fall silent for a while before Kylo gets up and removes the trays from their room. Rey scoots back, laying herself in the middle of the bed between the mountain of pillows. When Kylo returns, he stays at the foot of the bed, watching Rey. They say nothing, just keep heavy eye contact with one another. 

Her eyes rake down his form, shirtless with some joggers on. She doesn’t see a band of underwear so she hopes that means he’s going without. 

Feeling bold, she pushes herself up and craws her way across the bed to him. When she’s finally in front of him, she goes on her knees so that they’re eye level. Her hands trace the muscles in his arms and chest, dipping down to his toned abdomen. Rey feels his eyes on her face the entire time, but looks down to wherever her hands go to next. 

“I didn’t get the opportunity to ride you, last time,” her eyes flick up to his, “I think we should rectify that.”

Kylo doesn’t say anything, just keeps looking at her with that intense gaze that could kill a lesser woman. His hands come up to push the robe off her shoulders, pooling around her calves and revealing her naked body. 

His hands brush up her sides as they make their way to her jaw, and when he’s finally got a hold of her, he kisses her. It’s slower than any of the ones they shared earlier, and reminds her of that goodbye kiss from last time; the sweetest nectar that she’ll never be able to perfectly replicate with anyone else.

The kiss deepens and Kylo crawls into bed with her. They move until she’s situated over him, straddling his stomach. His hands kneed her ass, pushing the flesh until she’s sure it’ll bruise. She allows herself to grind on him, making his abs slick with her want. His hands suddenly let go of her, and she feels him go to push off his joggers. 

Rey kisses his neck, remembering what he said in all those earlier messages about liking both giving and receiving hickeys. So she bites. He gasps. 

When he’s finally naked, Rey reaches around to pull at him. He’s already so hard and dripping that Rey gets a little swell of pride. She takes him in hand once she scoots back, and holds him center with her. She glides down on him, slick enough to take him in one go.

His whole body is flushed, his lips even poutier than normal, his breath coming out in spurts. 

“Why… do I aways feel… like you’re holding back… whenever you… get your cock… in me,” She asks between shallow thrust. Kylo tips his head back as his hands go to hold her hips.

“Rey… your cunt… I could fucking come right now. I don’t care if we have sex every day for the next year… your cunt is like a vice. I could come in you right now… fuck…” Rey smiles down at him, proud to see this big man reduced to the puddle he’s currently in. It’s as endearing as it is hot.

She starts to move in earnest, riding him with her whole body. She eats up the sounds he makes, his praises of ‘good girl’ and ‘riding daddy’s cock so well.’

Without her asking, Kylo brings a thumb to her clit, moving in time with her thrust, making her yelp. “Need you… to come… with me…” He breaths. Rey nods as she adjust her angle, making him hit the spot in her that’s guaranteed to get her there in no time. 

Her hips can’t keep up with his thrust, so their movement become sloppy, until Kylo takes charge and starts guiding her and slamming up into her.

“… So perfect… riding my cock like a good girl… you’re so fucking hot… like this…” He says, but his praises are lost on her as she’s thrown over the edge. Rey complies into him and Kylo catches her, still pistoling his hips into her. He comes after a few more thrust, biting into her skin like last time.

Rey rides out the last of her orgasm while he’s still pulsing inside of her. Her hands still grip at his shoulders and Kylo wraps his arms around her back and hold her there. She feels the warm rush of fluids dribbling out of her, and Rey knows he can feel his own come dripping back down his cock, but he makes no indication that they need to move. 

They stay like this so long, Rey cradled against Kylo’s chest, feeling so safe and warm and wanted, that she falls into the deepest sleep.

-

She’s groggy when she wakes. Kylo has maneuvered them so that she’s tucked under his arm, halfway covering his torso. He’s snoring lightly and the rise and fall of his chest is oddly soothing. She lays there for a while, hours maybe, but isn’t able to fall back asleep. 

Rey busies herself by looking at him unashamedly. Kylo is built, to say the very least. His arms are thick with muscle, and even relaxed, his stomach looks well toned. 

Why did he need to post that on reddit? She thinks. He’s beautiful. He could get anyone just off his looks, let alone his wallet. 

Eventually he stirs, hands instantly seeking her out, and head going into the crook of her neck and nuzzling there. His hair tickles her, making her giggle lightly against him as he holds her even closer.

“What time is it?” He asks, voice muffled by her skin. She glances at the clock across from her.

“6:27… I’ll need to leave in an hour,” she says. Her voice is quiet and she feels a slight, almost imperceptible shift in his body language. She brings her hands up, running her fingers through his hair, hoping he’ll relax back again. 

Neither of them say anything for a while, and it’s becoming very clear that their form of intimacy is best experienced in silence. It should concern her how quickly they’re forming habits. It’s probably one of the first things he wanted to avoid when making that post.

But the sound of soft rain hitting the window, the warmth of the expensive sheets, the feel of Kylo’s body pressed against hers, makes it very hard for Rey to feel sorry for anything. 

They shower together, after she came up with some half-hearted excuse that it would save time and water, but he makes no sexual advances on her, so she doesn’t try and pester him. Would it be nice to end their tryst with some wet shower sex or even mutual oral? Sure, but Rey didn’t want to push her luck. She was glad enough to spend this time with him, even if neither of them were getting off.

When they’re both dry and dressed, him in a perfectly tailored suit and her in the same greasy overalls from yesterday, he takes her hand. She had been reaching for her bag, but lost momentum halfway through when he touched her.

“I… don’t want to go another three weeks without seeing or hearing from you again,” he tells her. 

“You can call me? I’ll give you my number. I work usually six days a week, but sometimes I’ll have a few days off in a row, so… we can meet up then, if you’re… up for it?” She tells him. Something in his face falls, but she doesn’t quite know where to place it.

“…That would be… yeah. We should exchange numbers.” 

He passes him her phone as she does the same, putting in her number with the little purple devil emoji beside it because he probably doesn’t have any emojis in his contacts and she wasn’t him to remember her. Not that she’s overly concerned with that happening, but, it’s always better to be safe.

When they exchange phones again, she looks down to see the contact he’s placed, but looks back up at him, confused.

“Ben Solo… what’s that?”

“Me… well, my real name. I haven’t gone by it in a while but… I just wanted you to know it,” he tells her. Rey’s lips tremble. You are not going to cry because he told you his real name, she chides herself. It is the absolute bare minimum to do, so you will not read into it more than you should.  

“Well…” She begins, looking down at the phone again because looking in his eyes is too much right now, “It is a very nice name. Certainly more realistic than Kylo Ren.”

Ben has the wherewithal to look a little sheepish at her teasing. He brings a hand through his hair and smiles at the floor.

“It was something I liked when I was a teenager and became too rebellious for my own good. It was my first aol email,” He says. Rey laughs as she imagines a gangly 13-year-old Ben running home to his computer every day after school and changing his AIM status to some moody-angst ridden lyric of a bad he thought was too cool for mainstream.

When the laughter dies down and Rey is able to look at him without bursting into giggles, she thanks him.

“Thank you for last night. And for… telling me your name.” He smiles at her, and puts a hand on her jaw, tilting her head further up. Before he can bring her into another soul-melting kiss, she speaks again.

“Ben is a very nice name but… I think I prefer calling you daddy.”

His grin is wolfish. 

Back to those summer days

Pairing: Gruvia 

look its not angst (totally) see i can do fluff...kinda. well enjoy anyways. 

----

“So you’re leaving me?” Lyon said with an eye roll. “Lets just calm down before you do anything stupid.” 

He stood and walked towards Juvia, arms open ready to hug her. And normally it would work. She would blow off their arguments and his hurtful words and just run back to him like always. 

But not anymore. 

Anger took control as she took a step back, a clear sign of disinterest. 

“No Lyon, Juvia is done with you.” She spoke firmly. Her arms folded in front of her chest as she put her foot down. “Juvia won’t tolerate your behavior.” 

The white haired man let out a obnoxious laugh. “Behavior? What am I a child? Juvia you got your head all mixed up so lets just go to bed and forget about this.” He tried to reach for her again but she swatted his hand down. 

“Juvia said no.” Her chin tilted up as she stared into his eyes. “Juvia doesn’t love you anymore.” 

It was his turn to step back. His eyes raked over her and then widened. “Whats his name.” 

“What?” She asked. 

“What. Is. His. Name.” He demanded. 

Picking up her purse, she turned to the door. “It doesn’t matter whether there is another person or not. What matters is that we are done, so don’t accuse Juvia of something that never happened. You might not be the best person but Juvia would never sink that low, she has enough dignity to walk away without the lust of another person.” Her head snapped towards him and she scowled. “Unlike you.” 

Before Lyon could react she was already slamming to door shut to their now un-shared apartment and got into her car. There she let the tears fall and her body shook her core. She couldn’t believe she did that. She couldn’t believe she had the strength to get out of a terrible relationship before things got worse. 

She wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for him though. Taking out her phone she opened the text message from her old friend, the one she fell in love with years ago. 

They had gone to elementary, middle and high school together and she remembers how she used to fawn and chase after him in those time. Before they started college in the fall, summer belonged to them. 

She recalls all the blissful moments they shared on their dates. It was a romantic summer fling that movies and book could only dream of capturing. And she can remember the heartbreak of them departing to their separate places. The phone call after the airport drop off and the amount of tears shed as she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold him in her arms for a few years. 

The was a pain of knowing that he could easily forget about her and move on. fall in the arms of another girl and be happier than they would be together. She tried to move on but every time she closed her eyes, she was transported back to the lake side when he said “i love you.” for the first time. 

It hurt when their phone calls and texts died off and how during her darkest moments she couldn't call him. So when she started dating Lyon, it felt wrong. She tried to make the best of it and at first he was sweet but then she stopped caring about her treatment because if she couldn’t have the man who respected her and treated her like a goddess, there was no point. 

But then one night after a massive fight between them, she didn’t know what to do. She was all alone in Levy’s apartment where she was staying the night and clicked his contact by mistake. Her tears were clear through the phone and by the time she finished her speech, he was coasting her through her sobs. 

“Im so sorry Juv. I wish I was there.” 

“You do?” She sniffled and hugged her knees tighter. 

“Well yeah, you didn’t think I would just forget about you like that?” 

And she felt horrible. She cried harder as she realized that the man she loved was still hers after all this time, that in one word they could be together once more. Her cries became joyful as he said he was coming back home for the summer time and she knew what she had to do. 

As the months passed she found herself growing further and further apart from Lyon and when she found out about him cheating, it was almost numbing and freeing at the same time. 

So her she sat, free of Lyon and tears in her eyes. 

She looked down at her phone and sent a text before speeding off towards her destination. Her heart was beating faster than a drum and her palms began to sweat. She ignored every text and call from her ex-boyfriend and refused to go back to him. She knew her worth and it was time for the old confident Juvia to stand again. 

she parked the car quickly and barely locked it as she raced onto the beach. Stopping in her tracks she saw him. His back towards her as he looked out to the ocean. The sea was special to them. 

Without missing a beat she raced towards him and he spun around just in time to catch her in his arms. Her eyes shined bright as she caught a glimpse of him. 

He looked just as before but with hair that needed a cut and arms that showed his daily gym routine. 

“Hi.” Her smile couldn’t be contained as her eyes never left his. 

“Hi” He repeated. 

The stood holding each other for what seemed like an eternity. The waves crashed slowly behind them as she took this moment to brush her fingers on his cheek. 

“Juvia missed you.” She whispered. She wasn’t sure if things were actually gonna pick up from the summer and she hoped that it wouldn’t end just as quick. 

He smiled before brushing their noses together. “I missed you more.” He said before kissing her. 

It was like fireworks. She hadn’t felt this warmth in what felt like eons as his hand pulled her closer. Her arms went around his neck and deepened their kiss further. This felt right. This felt like home and it felt like freedom and happiness. 

Their kiss finished but their hands never moved. He wiped the tears pricking the corner of her eyes and took her hand before walking down to the shore. 

“I’m moving back home.” He stated and her head snapped to his. 

“What? But Juvia thought-”

“Ehh the school wasn’t for me. I felt lonely and the program wasn’t even that great. Plus.” He leaned towards her. “I couldn’t take not being near you when ever I pleased.”

She giggled as he kissed her hand and spun her around before grabbing her waist and pulling her close. “Hearing you cry that night on the phone made me realize just how unhappy I was. No matter how bright the sun shined, there was this cloud hanging over me and i knew that you were the only one to clear my sky.” 

“Hmm college made you a poet Gray-sama.” She hummed before pecking his lips. “But Juvia feels the same way. Now lets go get food!”

He laughed before following her to her car. She tossed him the keys and drove off towards their favorite restaurant. The window blew through the windows and through her blue locks. The music played as he rested his free hand on her thigh and told her all about how awful his roommate was and what it was like there. 

It took her back to when they had their first date. The beach, then dinner at Cana’s Diner. It felt right to be back in that mind frame. 

“So tell me about this boyfriend?” He said over the music and she let out a pout. 

“no Gray-sama is gonna make fun of Juvia.”

“I promise I won’t.” 

“Fine!’ She said before whispering the name. 

“LYON? No wonder you weren’t happy. I may have been friends with him but there is no way in hell he could have treated you better than me.” 

“You have a point.” 

They parked the car and before getting out, Gray asked another question. “Was the sex good?”

“Gray!”

“I’m kidding!” He laughed. 

She ignored him and shot him a glare before taking his arm and walking inside.

---

Hope you liked it!! 

I also wrote this in ten minutes sooooo.  

To the Void (Lucilius x Oc)

Pairing: Lucilius/Oc (Luna)

Genre: ANGST ANGST ANGST IM A HORRID MONSTER ANGST ANGST TURN AWAY 

Disclaimer: I really don’t think I need to mention this but due to how this pairing is, obviously some things don’t relate well to canon/would most likely never happen in canon. Lucilius would probably never have a lover. Lucilius would probably have a different motivation for his whole ‘destroy the world’ thing. I KNOW. I KNOW VERY WELL, AND I AM DOING MY BEST TO CREATE A STORY AND BACKSTORY, IT HAS NO BACKING IN CANON BECAUSE ASTRALS/LUCILIUS HIMSELF WAS NEVER FULLY DEVELOPED. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND BEFORE READING. Also, a lot of my other friends’ ocs are in here as well, because I love them lol. 

With that out of the way, please enjoy this???? And also please let me know if you like these things and wouldn’t mind seeing more for Lucilius/Luna, since I have plenty more for them!

Lucilius worked continuously in his lab. Even Belial was starting to get worried about his behavior.

“Listen Cilius, you can’t keep-“

“Quiet you!” Lucilius would snap back, thrusting his scalpel towards the brunette. He was breathing heavily and the bags under his eyes seemed to have gotten worse than before. “I told you I’m busy working!”

Belial clamped his mouth shut and nodded, leaving the astral to continue his work.

Lucilius furiously scribbled notes on a scroll before he growled and snapped his quill in two. He slammed his hand against his desk and cursed loudly.

“Damn it! Damn it all to hell! What good is this world? What use is there to a place where I am denied my dreams? How long must I suffer alone before you give me back my life?!” He yelled to no one in particular. “I don’t care anymore! I don’t care! Useless! Useless! Useless! This is useless!”

He chucked some of his work across the room and screamed into his hands. He was never good at dealing with emotions. Especially not something as intense as grief. Being this hateful, sad, repentant, and guilty had placed a heavy burden on himself.

 Normally, his wife would’ve comforted him. Her sweet words and soothing touches would’ve eased the beast within him, and he found solace in being wrapped in her arms. Then again, if she were here, he wouldn’t be feeling this suffering. 

Tomorrow would be their anniversary. But it would not be a happy celebration. It would not be a joyous occasion spent in each other’s arms and lips. It would be desolate, cold, and dark. It would be a constant reminder of what he had lost, and what he never could get back.

A hundred years have passed by. But they all melded into the same day. It was suffering just getting up to an empty bed, where the soft feel of her lips and her melodic voice would wake him up and tell him good morning. It was exhausting to remember to eat, drink, and clean, all things that seemed trivial and even more meaningless than before.

Existing was hard. So hard, and so painful that he wished to rid of it all. If he had to suffer through the pain of losing his only love, then the others should too. It was only fair.

He saw his children were grieving, but a part of him couldn’t help but feel angered and jealous of them. They looked to her as a mother figure. But they would move on. They had their own lovers and things to attend to. But him? Oh no, he’d be back to being absolutely, completely, utterly alone. They wouldn’t understand the desperation for literally anything to just end his misery, or for his wife to suddenly spring back to life.

 No, they’d cry for a bit before forgetting. Their pain would be temporary. Simply because the bond they shared was completely different from the one he shared with her.

 They already seemed to be getting their lives back together, continuing their work and jobs as if everything were normal. He wanted to scream. They should be in as much pain as he was. It was only fair.

 He gazed up at the clock and noticed it was late evening. He sadly nodded before he crept to his room.

 “Father, there you are, I-“ Astra began, but Lucilius was unresponsive. He couldn’t hear her. He just continued walking. Astra lowered her hands to her side and nodded. “A...alright...”

Lucilius closed his door behind him and struggled to his bed, where he laid down and curled into a pathetic ball. For thirty six thousand five hundred days, he had to sleep alone. People said time heals the pain, but he felt as if he’s gotten more bitter and emotional as time went on.

 He was angry one of the few people who mattered so much to him had to die. He was depressed his wife was no longer there to love him and make him feel whole again. He was numb as he registered that the good times would not come back. He was alone again. This time, it was even worse, he was surrounded by people who just couldn’t understand how traumatizing it was to finally receive the love you craved, only to have it taken away from you.

 He clenched his eyes shut.

 He was not good. He would never be good. He was only good when his wife was there, who taught him how to be like that. But now she was gone, and he was a wreck.

That’s right, I was never good to begin with. Why should I pretend any longer?

In the hundred years he’s been grieving, he’s missed out on a lot of things. His kids would struggle to get him to come out, but after a while, they too gave up when he was practically catatonic. It was like he was a dead corpse.

He closed his eyes.

I’m not good. I’ve only ever been bad. Why should I stop now? Who’s gonna stop me?

An idea formed in his head. For once, he thought of nothing. The idea brought him comfort he hadn’t felt in eons, as he went into a dreamless sleep.

As morning rose, he quickly scurried to the middle of the garden where his wife lay. Her casket wasn’t to be buried, and Lucilius was grateful for that. She lay in the crystal coffin, dressed in all white and with a small smile on her face.

Lucilius loved her smile.

He couldn’t help but tearfully smile back at his wife. Seeing her smile almost made it seem like she was comforting even in the afterlife. She always was a faithful and devoted wife. He really wouldn’t be surprised to see her fight out of the underworld. That’s just the type of woman she was, and one that he loved with all his heart.

He rested his head against the glass and closed his eyes.

“My love...happy anniversary… I have a gift for you. You might not like the sound of it. I know, I know. But this is one I wish to give. It’ll be better for the both of us, and the entire world.” He whispered. 

“I’m going to do something so big. For our ‘Big Finale’, if you will. You won’t understand until you see it. And when you do, I will be there by your side once more darling. We will be joined again, and you won’t ever have to feel pain. You will never have to watch anyone suffer. You will never have to bear the weight of my mistakes again. This time, we can have our own paradise as everything disappears. Won’t it be nice?” He cooed. 

The corpse did not answer. But he smiled. 

“I hope you’ll love this gift when it comes to fruition. I will begin working on it immediately. For your sake, and mines, I will complete it. I will allow nothing to stop me. Not even our children can stop this finale. It’s just too important to me. I will make you smile again. Once we are reunited, I will hold you close and never let go. My dream will come true again, and we can live out our days in nothingness.” 

The wind billowed softly against the piles of flowers surrounding the casket, tickling Lucilius’ legs. However, he could not feel a thing, too caught up in the newfound euphoria at this idea. 

“Please be patient for me love. Guide me to that place where I can be in your arms. I will take the world’s evolution into my own hands and start it over from zero.Wait for me, until then, when I am worthy of seeing you and holding you.” 

He heaved a sigh, and droplets of tears flowed down his cheeks. 

“I’m crying but...I feel so happy...is this your doing? Is this your way of telling me not to do it? Gods...I can’t just quit. I can’t quit, not when you and I are merely inches apart. I want your eyes to open again. I want to feel your warmth. My love, don’t you get it? You’re the only thing that can provide me that. Please...don’t stop me. Don’t tell me I’m a good man, that I don’t need to do this. You know very well I am no good. I am not nice. I have never been nice. I have never been good unless I was with you. Please, don’t tell me it’s fine the way it is. Soon you’ll be forgotten and-” He choked out a sob and collapsed against the casket, tearfully hiding his face in his sleeves. 

“-What if the others forget you? What if I forget you? I don’t want anyone else. I don’t need anyone else. I need you, just you. Please don’t deny me that. Please. I can’t continue without you.” 

Lucifer, Stella, and Sandalphon quietly peeked their head into the gardens through the door and saw their father crying and pleading for Luna to come back. 

“One hundred years…” Lucifer murmured. 

“Should we...talk to him?” Stella worriedly asked. 

“I don’t know if that’s the best. He nearly stabbed Belial and I for asking if he was alright.” Sandalphon shook his head. 

“It’s so unfair. He’s...he’s suffering like this. Can’t we do something?” Stella pleaded. 

“Unless you can bring our mother back, he’s going to unfortunately be like this.” Sandalphon grumbled, folding his arms and looking away. 

“Can we get Mari to-”

“I had tried that, my love.” Lucifer sadly answered. “Primals do not have a soul. Only a core. And...it was destroyed.” 

“I don’t believe it.” Stella shook her head. “I don’t believe that’s all we can do.” 

“I want to believe, I really do. But it seems pointless here. Our mother is dead. And Lucilius has to accept it just like we-” Sandalphon choked, heaving until Lucifer placed a hand on his shoulder. “We did. Just like we did.” 

“Sandalphon…” Stella whispered, before hugging both of them. “I know it hurts. I know.” 

“Stella? Sandy? Lucifer?” A tiny voice called out. Aurora tugged on Lucifer’s pant legs as Stella and Sandalphon quickly rubbed their eyes. 

“Yes, Aurora?” Lucifer bent down and smiled as best as he could to his baby sister. 

“Have you seen papa? I’ve been looking everywhere, but everyone’s been avoiding my question.” She pouted. 

“Oh he’s-” Lucifer cut himself off before he smiled again. “I think he’s coming in soon. He’s just taking a small walk.” 

“But I think someone’s behind you-” She tried to peek but Lucifer held her down by her shoulders. 

“Heh, no, it’s just Sandalphon and his bad allergies. Here, how about us four go and make some tea?” 

“Oh! Yes please!” She grasped onto his hand and followed him, with Sandalphon and Stella sharing a worried glance back at Lucilius before they walked in. 

Lucilius had stopped his crying and tried to calm his breathing. 

“My love. I’m sorry. This is one of the times I cannot do as you say. Please, understand, this is for the better. Our children will not have to learn of suffering any longer, and we...we can be together. You can hate me all you want after that. I don’t mind. You can curse me, make me feel pain, I don’t care. I just want to see you one last time before we disappear.” 

“I want to return to the Void with you.” 

Much of Haematica’s tasks these days were about inspection, where she might have once done the upkeep herself. Copernicus handled the cleaning of the supplies, and she hadn’t been dissatisfied with his work in eons. He had learned quickly that a doctor’s tools had to be more than clean. They had to be pristine. They had to be antiseptic.

On this morning, after receiving her clearance, he handed her a box. “From Estevao,” he explained. “He said you would definitely be interested in this.”

Haematica pursed her lips. In her opinion, Estevao was less than a poor man’s dandy. A poor man was still capable of some modicum of tact. Were it not for his honest work at generating a trade operation on that lonely cliff near Mirrorlight Bay, she would have immediately disregarded the delivery.

She was quite glad she didn’t.

Gloves. Beautiful thick gloves made of latex, the one indisputably excellent thing about the nature flight. Haematica, like most plaguelings, grew up without it. If you couldn’t survive infection, there was no hope for you anyway. But in a clan where she was the surgeon responsible for cutting them open and forcibly fixing or removing what ailed them, it was worth its weight in gold. Outside the Scarred Wasteland, healing was allowed to take time, to take resources, and none could be so precious as a clean pair of latex gloves.

“Send a message back,” she said calmly, slipping her hands inside them and flexing. “They’re too thick. I could weed nettles with these and not feel anything. That’s no good for surgery. If he can halve this, it’ll do, and the Medical Sector will pay handsomely for them.” As an afterthought, she added: “And make them in pink.”

“I’ll bear it in mind, but it won’t reach him for awhile. He’s in with Phasmatis.”

Haematica removed the gloves and crossed her arms. “Phasmatis is still learning how to control her power. And she’s still just a beginner at anatomy. I hope you’re not telling me she is actually practicing on a live patient right now.”

Copernicus automatically stood a bit straighter. “No ma'am! But the nature of the injury is… Coagulum thought it was best if Phasmatis attended until you arrived. Unofficial pre-diagnosis, no correction.”

“A practice diagnosis for Phasmatis? What exactly is the nature of the injury? Did one of the children get a greenstick fracture?”

“It’s probably better if you go see for yourself. I think you’ll understand why Coagulum made the call if you do.”

He wasn’t wrong, and Haematica had to cover her mouth as soon as she saw. Estevao was clearly sedated but he was still awake, so she couldn’t risk laughing. She recognized all too well what she was seeing.

Phasmatis was sitting on a stool beside him with a thick tome–Haematica’s own book of bones which she allowed the girl to use for study. Her posture was prim and her runes glowed faintly from within the folds of her off-white gown. It made her look like a strange, studious ghost to Haematica’s eyes. White was such a strange choice for a hospital; but then again the girl wasn’t practiced enough to get into the truly bloody bits yet.

“Your report,” said Haematica, once she was sure she was calm.

“Yes…” Phasmatis answered slowly. “Multiple dislocations… Left and right inferior radioulnar, Grade 1 acromioclavicular dislocation… Trauma to the iliac crests evidenced by bruises but the bones are alright. Evidence of unusual trauma to the patella, but of low severity.”

“Just the shoulders and wrists?” Phasmatis looked up at her, and Haematica walked over and very gently rolled Estevao’s ankles and gently felt around his knees. “Amazing.”

“Miss? Do you know something about this?”

“Oh absolutely. It’s been a long time since Bruma put someone in the Ragdoller.” She slid her fingers under the backsides of his knees, ignoring the delirious giggle it earned from the drugged patient. “Amazing. Usually she dislocates the wrists, shoulders, and either the knees or the ankles. If she’s dealing with a truly dangerous dragon she’ll even strike the hips. Dual posterior dislocation, it’s as impressive as it is a hideous sight.”

“It seems inappropriate to be amazed, if I may say. Dislocation is dangerous and permanently lowers the integrity of the joint.”

“So it does.” She gazed curiously down at the vaguely aware patient. “It makes me wonder what exactly he did.”

Phasmatis raised her chin and frowned imperiously. “Does that matter?”

“To his treatment? No. But Bruma is a cool temper and this man is at the head of an industry producing latex that we will certainly be using. I would like to know just what he was doing that would rile her up to this degree before I enter a business deal with him.” She patted Phasmatis’ shoulder fondly. “But your dedication to the patient’s treatment regardless of their character is noted. Fetch Copernicus and have him give a local anesthesia, I’ll be in to get the joints back in, you’ll shadow.”

“Yes, miss.”

Haematica took her leave, gliding down the hall to her personal study. A chalkboard hung beside the doorway. Typically it was empty this early in the morning, but today there was a thin white scribble on it.

Bog - M, Sha. 14e. Unknown donor.

She cracked the door. A thin haze rolled out around her feet as the cool air seeped out. The body was there on the cold metal table, grey and motionless. Though she was delighted, Haematica sighed. Receiving shadowborn cadavers was never a simple affair out here. Too often, it was someone trying to dispose of a body and curry her favor at the same time. It was insulting, frankly. She wasn’t some butcher they could dump their bodies on. She was a woman of science, but also of compassion.

Sure, she would at least identify the cause of death, maybe poke around a little more than she had to, but she wasn’t going to dissect any old donated body. Her conscience would never rest unless she was sure the family was alright with it. Gods, she’d have to call Carnelian again… Or maybe Camellia would be faster, since she was actually present. Being able to just ask the body who it was and where it came from would simplify things immensely.

Down the hall, she heard the familiar whistling of Aether. When she spoke it was with the typical fae monotone but her whistling had a distinctively happy lilting to it this morning. Aether was a dentist. She operated out of Promenade Medical Bay because tooth removal was a form of surgery, but most of her work these days was maintaining hatchling dental health. If she was whistling so cheerfully, it meant someone hadn’t cared for a bad tooth and she was preparing to take it for her collection.

Aether was skittish, but probably could have fit in easily among plague dragons for her love of collecting teeth.

Haematica didn’t bother her, turning instead to go look in on the Queen’s room. It was empty, save for Coagulum, who greeted her with a nonchalant “Mornin’ Hae.”

“Good morning. Has Telos run off again?”

“Mm, yeah.” The mirror scratched lazily at her stomach. “Her blood’s back up to snuff, and she’s been getting antsy and irritable being in bed these past few days. Tungsten came and got her.”

“An official discharge then.”

“Tungsten didn’t say. Just said that ‘Doing nothing for a long time can also be stressful for someone who’s gotten used to a certain level of activity’ and took her out.” She snickered. “I could tell ‘er Majesty was feeling punchy.”

“Punchy...” Haematica muttered, more tasting the word than asking for a meaning. Coagulum was full of colorful words like that.

“Aggressive. She trained a bunch with Perilous, but when the last time she got to give anyone a good haymaker? She was getting pent up, it’s better this way.”

Haematica tapped a foot thoughtfully. “I’ll expect you to find Miss Tungsten and get proper discharge paperwork done. Just because she’s the queen is no reason to not keep a proper record.” She ignored the lazy sigh. Coagulum liked to cut corners where she thought she could get away with it, but she was dependable. Generally. “And speaking of people feeling punchy, what happened to our Nature Liaison?”

Coagulum’s face curdled into malicious glee. “Have you see him? He got the Ragdoller!”

“I noticed. I’m asking if you know why.”

“Gossip on the street is that it all went down at the Sundial Brewery. Arcanus and Carnelian were having a round, Estevao came in, and you know how that insufferable little prick is. I’ve no doubt he thought he was being cute, but he made a suggestion about easing the queen’s stress to Arcanus that was a little too forward. Arcanus almost drew on ‘im!”

Haematica laid a tired hand over her face. “Gods, how much of a fool can a single dragon be?”

“Right, right? So Carnelian keeps Arcanus cool, cause they’re on good terms now it seems like; and Arcanus is the Queen’s Knight, he can’t be getting in bar fights, even if it’s for the queen’s honor. But Carnelian’s no such clean record and he’s all prepared to get nasty about it.” She slapped merrily at her knee. “I can only imagine what Estevao’s condition would’ve been if Carnelian’d had at him.”

“Did Bruma actually stop Carnelian?”

“Ah, well, yes and no. Remember Cloud and ‘Milla have their little nocturne girl at home with them.”

“Aine, of course. So Bruma would have intervened as their bouncer to end the situation before it got rowdy.”

“Just so,” Coagulum answered, though she couldn’t hide another snicker. “Well, and because Bruma’s a chivalrous kind of lady. She can’t stand hearing anybody, let alone some outland brown-noser, make those kinda nasty comments.”

“Just how nasty was this comment? The man is an idiot who doesn’t realize he grates on others, but he seems otherwise sincere about wanting little to no trouble.”

“Mmm, suffice to say he his suggestion failed to treat the Queen with the respect that the widow of an exalt is due.” Crass as she was, Coagulum wrinkled her nose. “I’m sure plenty move on, find new mates and such but Telos is… Our queen is loyal, dammit. To us and to Fragment; even if he’s not on this plane anymore. And Arcanus is a man of morals. Neither of them deserve the implication that he should be ashamed to let her grieve so long ‘uncomforted’. That shit-eater’s got no business thinking he can say that! In a crowded bar–!”

“Volume,” Haematica said sternly but reflexively.

“Sorry. It just... It ain’t right is all…”

It didn’t escape Haematica’s memory that Coagulum had not always been among Telos’ supporters. Early on, her blunt tongue had been one of many to say that other dragons were more fit. That Telos was too young, too inexperienced, too much of an outsider. And yet now here was the same dragon, agitated that some nobody had come into the clan and suggested–albeit ignorantly–something that tread on the queen’s sincere grief.

“Weren’t you suggesting something similar just last week?”

Coagulum blushed furiously. “That wasn’t about Telos!” A sharp glare from Haematica corrected her, and she said again, more quietly: “That’s wasn’t about Telos! And even if it were, it wasn’t a suggestion that someone should get in bed with her and...and soothe her. That’s a disgusting thing to say about anyone, much less a damned widow. It was only a suggestion that some of the more stressed members of the clan who are shy of the Bramble District be educated on masturbation. It’s a physiologically proven and valid method of reducing stress hormones in the blood and you know it.”

Haematica covered her mouth to hide a grin, and Coagulum knew instantly she’d been teased. Of course Haematica knew already. She just took advantage because it was a sensitive topic.

“You’re a demon, Hae.”

“You’re mistaking me for Asura,” she said humbly.

Estevao probably didn’t know just how far down his own throat he put his foot.  Those trails of gold tears on Telos’ cheeks were not some invitation or request to be comforted. To her and to the entire clan, they were representative of things unforgotten, things still missed and pain still felt even though the eons had passed and life went on. They were not something that could be wiped away so easily.

“I had him anesthetized maybe 15 minutes ago,” Haematica said with a smile too wide and too bright. “Shall we go give our patient a lesson on the appropriate way to talk about our Queen?”

Coagulum smirked. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Chapter 3 - Ohána  Are you not full? Aidan asked sarcastically, still in awe of the meal in front of him. The lasts of some bananas and strawberries were spread along a chocolate nutella spread, a crepe that had beside it a pool of ham and some spilled maple syrup that was all beginning to fall off of the side of Rick's plate, on a smaller saucer next in line housed the remains of two sunny side up eggs and on another plate next to that was the leftover morsels of a croissant ham sandwich. "Probably not until I get my shake," he said scratching his mustache of any more possibly entrapped food. As such of a beast Rick himself was, Aidan thought to himself. He was more surprised that he had successfully avoided dropping any of the remnants of this huge smorgasbord of food on any part of his still pristine white suit. Rick's tie fell from atop his shoulders as he lifted the remaining croissant sandwich into his mouth, his eyes now looking at Aidan. "and to think he didn't even care how close he was to a suddenly abrupt mad-dash to the dry cleaners". Aidan thought ironically to himself. I guess that's how Rick and him differed. He was spectacularly lucky in the most infuriating way possible, to be more specific the type of infuriatingly luck that makes you do incredibly stupid things just in order to see if you could get as close as that person would. Aidan looked down at his now worn cast. Rick wiped his mouth clean and cleared his throat. "Are you done daydreaming Cinderella? "Nope," Aidan said as he smiled and looked around Fenton's café diner. Rick coughed. "You know" He said as he reached for the last morsel of a crepe. "I know this place gets a lot of slack on the island for just being another one of those invading food chains but you have to admit, they make some pretty damn good food. "It was incredibly misleading," Aidan thought to himself, sensibly the place felt like a Denny's but the food in comparison to the decor felt like a delicious foreign oddity. Is a crepe a French dish.? "Hell should I know." Aidan grimaced and sternly said"You fucking went there" "Never ate any crepes" "Well you got on the wrong flight then." "Yeah the airline fucked up again and sent me to Hawaii." Aidan laughed. Rick & Aidan walked out of the pancake house, while Rick drummaged through his to-go container as he followed Aidan across the street. Aidan looked at the grass along the parking lot. Where is it? he thought to himself as they walked. Rick munched on. "So, is it just me ? or is Sarah's mother getting worse by the day? " Aidan flinched as he stared at rick shamefully. "What?" he defended. "Its not natural to take death with ease" Aidan said. He looked across the parking lot to a sparkling brown van. "Its been 6 years though, you would think that she would eventually get better & stop acting like everything is still the same." He said as he fiddled with the last of the leftovers as they walked to the  back of the van. "You know they say playing with your food every 5 seconds can be symptoms for growth problems" "Mumfherfagala fy-uck you" Rick said through the food as Aidan knocked on the back of the van. They waited a moment for signs of intelligent life until the van door clicked, slid halfway open stopping short with a sudden clang. "Shit" Peni said from inside the van. "Come on through the back" he said "He still has to get it fixed?"Rick said  . "Yuhp," Aidan said as they walked to the back. The side door unlocked and Peni waved them in. The van inside was packed almost to the brim with beanie babies and plush toys and smelled of hookah and lavender.They both situated themselves in the back seats among the mini plush toys. "You getting ready to set up shop in Makoa Valley?" "Yuhp" he said. "They used to call it the land of dreams back when i was in school, now its just the land of dreams and hotel services" Rick closed the door behind them as Peni put the keys in the ignition. "You know , you really should invest in some seat-belts back here Peni."Aidan said. Peni sighed and looked into the rear view mirror "Doesn't one of you own a car?" "Its in for repairs"Rick said. Peni frowned. "Well then I don't want to keep hearing about not having seat belts ok, this ride's on the house" They both looked at each other and nodded. I"'m also not planning on keeping this van for very long, rather not put more money into it anyway", he mumbled to himself ,this is just my day hustle." Peni said with a sanguine smile into the mirror. "Hows Kalena? Rick asked as he looked out the window into the beginning of the valley's hills. "Good,still pregnant" Aidan paused ."Shouldn't you be with her now?" " The baby's not due for a couple of months and im going to need every penny I can get just to get her going." Peni said as he made the turn into the valley road intersection. "Wait why did you guys  call me if you don't even have a car to get back? ."Alexandra is going to pick us up from the hotel for the festival after she finished her tours ." Aidan said. "God bless that little woman" Peni said to him-self. "Is she still working for Aola ?" he asked "Yeah, but i can tell its beginning to annoy her." "Why?" I thought she was getting paid well. "She is but she keeps getting hit on by every artist that she shows even an ounce of hospitality to." "Oh" he said surpised at how fast things had changed. Well ..She knows how to hold her own. "I wouldn't bet on it" Aidan refuted. "Really?" Peni's eyes opened wide. "Its been a while since she's been in a serious relationship, she doesn't mention it but i think she's starting to get docile." "Just like her mother" Peni added. "Boy if you had seen her mother back in the day, her eyes could burn a hole through the middle of earth." "Alex used to find it quite fun for a bit." "And she would even make a game out of it" Rick grumbled to himself as he closed his eyes. Peni smirked as he drove along. "Well, ever since I first met that little fiery girl in Mahana I can't even fathom the thought of somebody settling her fire ."  Peni said in a hopeful tone. "Yeah".. Aidan said as he got lost on the horizon. Peni smiled . " remember in pre- k she would always end up going her own way even, her mother had a hard time with her .. "Peni said as he trailed off. He stopped and looked back to see that he had indeed lost both Aidan and Rick to the beautiful morning. Peni sighed. "Well...." Peni said now loudly. " Its about 15 miles till we get to the hotels , so take a nap and enjoy the ride." They both looked outside at the vast beyond. Aidan scrunched his nose and rubbed the morning crust from his eyes. It was surprisingly calm and still for the Sunday morn, the humidity was low , enough that the light cut through the sky in neat diamond rays leaving a translucent spectacle cherisable even to the experienced gaze. A snore interrupted Aidan's daze. Rick lay asleep, in a food coma basking in the glow of the sun. Well that didn't take long, he thought.Next time i'll make him pay for the food and he probably won't eat as much, hopefully.Aidan smiled to himself. 20 minutes had passed like it had been 3 on that road , it was smooth. Aidan, now contempt looked into the rear view mirror to see Peni's eyes for a moment and then quickly looking away. Peni in a flux, laying his arm out of the window bit his nail and sighed. "What is it ?" Aidan poked. "Nothing" he said fretfully. Aidan sucked his teeth. "You can tell me anything Peni..... come-on" Peni paused and looked out onto the road in a perlexed mood. "You need to control your friend Aidan" Peni warned. "What? Aidan thought surprised. He looked over at Rick, so caught up in a deep and impenetrable nap not even a gunshot could perturb his slumber. "What?". "He' s starting to garner a reputation for himself"  Peni said fretfully . "Really? "Aidan said  "I hadn't noticed, he said as he chuckled, what does that have anything to do with you though Peni?" "Im going to be a father soon Aidan.....what if its a girl? I have to take the responsibility to protect her anyway i see fit" Aidan shrugged. "From Rick?" Peni quipped "I know it sounds quite strange and I didn't have to think about it initially but, after Kelani got pregnant i starting thinking about how I grew up and what kind of people I listened too. I remember Rick's  father slightly and what he was to me. He wasn't supposed to be such a bad person but he never had any plans only missions to do. "Missions aren't bad" "Ah but sometimes you forget the point of them, he never seemed to plan for danger or anybody else. Im afraid Rick has the same issue." "and whats that ?" Aidan said. "He's magically irresponsible and yet incredibly influential" "You can't say that" Aidan remarked. "I can if I'm trying to warn someone else" "And that would be me ?" he said "Yeah" "Rick isn't as bad as you think he is" he defended. Peni breathed out a sigh of contempt. "Do you know why his car's in the shop." "No, but ... " "Do you know if he's paying for it?" "...... no but." "You see you don't know and it won't kill you now but you really should be asking him about these things because they will eventually add up to something big." Aidan shrugged. "maybe, if your not careful" Peni added. Peni took some gum out of the side compartment and ate it while he brushed through his hair as they drove along the interpass. Aidan sat perplexed in thought. "So.. I realized that if Rick stays the same way indefinitley, he wont grow up to be any better than his own father  , and will eventually have a son for himself . Aidan stopped him " Or daughter". "Either way it isn't a cycle that i would want to have continue on to influence generations to come ." "Well what about me ,Peni?" Aidan said. "Well, even an intelligent man like yourself can still get into bad circumstances look at your arm for instance." "Oh com-eon, We both know he wasn't to blame for.... this.. " he paused. Was he?  he paused then shrugged the thought away "It wasn't that simple" he thought. "It wasnt that simple." he refuted to Peni. "Im sure it wasn't." Peni sided. "Though all of this points down a road i dont think you want to go down right now. At the very least though you  still need to try to help him when you can, push him to be a better man so it in turn can help you and my future daughter. "Or son" Aidan interrupted. "Or son...out" Peni sided. "In the future." Rick snored on. "All in all I actually wish that his father had been able to have had someone like you with him growing up, hell even i would have been lucky to have had someone like you by my side, you've always been able to balance people very well. Aidan flinched...."Your not coming on to me are you Peni ?" Peni chuckled as he looked at him through the rear view mirror "Oh you aint ready for all this fluff Big Kahuna" Aidan laughed. "Im baffled Kalena can even handle that much fluff." he quipped as they continued driving  through the inter-pass into the mid-day through Makoa Valley.

http://figment.com/books/1001093-Infinity-Pool-