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SEBASTIAN FUCK YOU HOW DARE YOU.... hope he dies [affectionate]

JORDYN DRUNK is both hilarious and sad as hell... give the girl a BREAK (I am lying)

Invested In Your Succes

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sup gang. this chapter is frickin huge. good luck lol

i feel like the character dynamics go pretty hard in this one but maybe that's just me

a few minor spoilers in the cws this time but if your worried about the content make sure to check 'em

enjoy!

CWs: Caning, stress positions, mentions of previous torture (beating), mentions of previous gun violence, controlling whumper, creepy whumper, lowkey whumper turned whumpee, allusions to non-con prostitution (briefly mentioned), minor cosmic horror, threats of violence, forced to drink alcohol, drunk whumpee

Invested In Your Success

“P-please, Father… No more… I- I’ll be good.”

My voice croaked out weakly, wavering and cracking with every word. Exhaustion and pain gripped every single fibre of my being in a stranglehold. I just wanted it all to end. I knew that I’d made mistakes, disobeyed Father’s orders, and that was why I deserved this, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. It was too much.

Thwack!

I yelped at the sharp sting of the cane across my back, taking its place among dozens of other hot, stinging welts. I supposed I should just be grateful that Father had chosen to wait for me to recover from my concussion and broken sternum before continuing my insubordination punishments. Those few weeks of rest were the most peace I’d felt in… I couldn’t even remember. Maybe my whole life. It was all undercut by the dread of what was awaiting me once I was better, though. 

It started with the discipline training days. A few days after my beating for failing to protect the SWAT officers, Father dragged me into a room of the facility I’d never been in before. Metal fastenings lined the walls and buckled ropes hung from the ceiling. He set me down on my knees and fastened my hands behind me with some cuffs, hooking them onto a rope so that my arms were wrenched upwards painfully. My ankles were subsequently cuffed to the fastenings on the walls, so I had no choice but to kneel, sitting up off my calves to try and alleviate the pain in my shoulders. Then, Father just left, closing the door and leaving me in the dark.

For eight long hours, I suffered there in unknowable agony, amplified by my lack of sight. By the time he came and released me, the strain in my muscles was so great that I couldn’t move for a good forty minutes afterwards. Then he told me that, until I learned to respect him and his authority, and to never talk back again, this was going to be a weekly thing. I couldn’t stop myself from crying.

Getting shot was almost a good thing, in that regard. It was nice getting to talk to Vivienne and Brianna, and my injuries meant that Father couldn’t justify doling out my punishments for a while, lest he make them worse and ruin my performance as a hero. All that was over with now, though.

Thwack!

“Agh! F-Father! Dad, please! I’m sorry!”

I’d already been in this position for hours, though I’d lost my exact count once the pain got too bad. My arms were restrained over my head, pulling me up onto the tips of my toes. Do I support myself and use up my dwindling muscle strength, or do I just let myself hang, ruining my shoulders with steadily worsening dislocation? That was the question I was left with, though it quickly became pointless to wonder as my calves steadily lost strength and more weight was put on my arms regardless. Now, instead of letting me go, Father was caning me.

“Stop talking, Jordyn,” Father said, calmly. “You know you were forbidden from informing those superheroes of your circumstances, yet you did so anyway. Now be quiet and accept your punishment.”

It was the truth. In my never-ending stupidity and my concussion-induced haze, I’d said a lot of stuff to Vivienne and Brianna that I hadn’t intended to. Father watched the whole thing unfold through my visor camera, sealing my fate. He was right, I deserved this. But, deserved or not, it didn’t change how weak I was. It didn’t change how much I just wanted it to be over. I stifled a sob as the next hit came, vowing to at least follow Father’s orders and not speak, if I couldn’t stop myself from vocalising at all.

A few more strikes, and the punishment finally ended. Father unlocked the cuffs on my wrists and I collapsed with a cry, my dislocated shoulders sending a lance of pain through my body.

“That will be all for now, Jordyn. You have one more discipline session next week, and then we’ll see if the training holds or not. You have two hours to get yourself fixed and rest. Then, you and I have an engagement to attend. I will meet you in your quarters then. Do not be late.”

An engagement? That was the first I’d heard of this. And apparently, that was all I would hear of this, as Father left the room before I could sum up the energy to ask any questions. Oh well. That wasn’t super important right now, anyway. What was important was getting my shoulders back into their sockets. This was really gonna suck.

I grimaced, gingerly rolling onto my back and trying not to hiss at the feeling of my welts against the cold floor. I needed to calm down. This wouldn’t work if I wasn’t relaxed.

I closed my eyes, spending several minutes just breathing, and thinking about calming things. Sitting on rooftops on quiet evenings. Relaxing in my room with a book. Drawing. My shower. Talking with Vivienne and Brianna. I wasn’t expecting those two to pop up in my mind's eye, but it made sense. Their calm demeanour while Vivienne was treating me was part of the reason I didn’t freak out nearly as much as I could have, considering the situation. Brianna was especially good at keeping my mind off of it, her low voice hitting my ear at a comforting frequency as she told me how brave I was being. The thought of that memory made my stomach flutter a bit.

Now that I was calm, I slowly shifted my right arm up until it was over my head, and then carefully reached for my other shoulder. Sure enough, the joint popped back in with one last terrible shot of pain before everything subsided – on that side, at least. Now to do it all over again.

I cursed, spitting one of the words I’d heard the other officers use up at the ceiling. Did everyone’s life involve this much pain?

—

The designated time had come and I stood at the ready in my room, donned in my armour, trying to fight back against the shakiness in my exhausted muscles. Father should be here any minute.

Sure enough, the door slid open and Father walked in, looking me over. He nodded.

“Good, you’re ready. You can leave your helmet here. You won’t need it.”

I frowned, pulling it off and leaving it on the bed. That was highly unusual. Half the reason I was being punished was simply for removing my mouthpiece in front of Vivienne and Brianna. I didn’t even want to consider what Father would do if I’d taken my whole helmet off.

He raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t shaved your head yet.”

A spike of adrenaline shot through me as I reached up to touch my head. He was right, I’d totally forgotten. I hadn’t needed to during my month of recovery, and to be honest, I’d been putting it off, savouring what little hair growth I could get. Right now it was sitting at around half an inch. Surely that wasn’t so bad, right? Still, I couldn’t afford another mistake.

“I- I’m sorry, sir. It slipped my mind.”

He sighed, turning to leave the room and motioning for me to follow. “I suppose it can’t be helped. It’s too late now, and in all fairness, you are recovering from a brain injury. Forgetfulness is to be expected.”

Relief flooded my body. He was letting me off the hook. “Thank you, sir.”

“I expect it to be done before you leave for patrol tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” I tried to hide my disappointment, already mourning the little bit of soft fluff I’d managed to grow.

The silence dragged on as I followed him down the hallway and into the elevator, and with it, my curiosity about the night only grew. “Permission to speak?” I asked. 

“Granted.”

“What is this event we’re going to?”

“A party among my friends, to celebrate your relative success.”

“What’s a party?”

He looked at me, a hint of amusement at the edges of his eyes. “You’ll see.”

Once we reached the garage, we got into Father’s car and he drove me through the city. It was nice to be able to see everything without my helmet on for once, and when we arrived at our destination, I finally got to enjoy the sensation of something I’d been waiting for since the day I woke up; feeling the wind in my hair. It almost made up for the terrible day I’d had. Sadly, it was only for the short walk from the car to the building, though.

Once inside, we took an elevator all the way up to the penthouse floor. When the doors opened in front of me, I was greeted by the sight of dozens of older, suited people milling around a large space. Music was playing, and the air was thick with the scent of perfumes and colognes. They all turned to see who the new arrivals were, and all of their eyes quickly locked on to me. I tried to school my expression of discomfort, remembering that I couldn’t hide behind my helmet. The urge to turtle behind the neckpiece of my armour was strong.

“Andy, it’s good to see you!” A man approached us as we stepped into the room; sharply dressed, with his dark brown hair slicked back. A quick glance around at the faces and body language of everyone present confirmed my hunch: this man was the most important person here. He was younger than most of his companions, probably around 40, with angular features; high cheekbones and a sharp jaw.

“Mr. Beaumond,” Father greeted, shaking the man’s hand. “A pleasure, as always.”

Mr. Beaumond turned to me, his dark eyes travelling up and down my form appraisingly. They settled on my face, staring into my soul. A shiver crawled up my spine and I nervously averted my eyes, looking down at his shoes.

“Wow, Andy. I mean, seriously, wow. You’ve outdone yourself. The resemblance is actually uncanny!”

“I should hope so,” Father replied. “If her appearance wasn’t exact, it would mean something went wrong.”

I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was used to that by this point. I’d already accepted the fact that I was an idiot. No reason to agonise over not understanding the conversations of my betters.

“So, how much to rent her out for a night, huh?” Mr. Beaumond grinned and waggled his eyebrows, lightly elbowing Father. Then he burst into laughter, like it was all a joke. Something in his eyes told me it wasn’t. Despite not really understanding, a deeply uncomfortable feeling settled into my gut.

Father’s expression changed slightly, though he maintained the cordial smile. “Jordyn is not for sale, I’m afraid. I prefer to keep her activities tightly monitored in order to maximise her effectiveness. Perhaps we can discuss this in the context of some of the subjects still in development, but given the risks to the program that would involve, I would need quite the hefty funding bonus in order to consider it.”

Mr. Beaumond patted Father on the shoulder. “Ah, lighten up, Andy. It was just a joke! That being said, I’ll hold you to that.” He winked. I was shocked. No one had ever treated Father so casually before, and the way this man was acting was clearly putting Father in a bad mood. If it had been me, Father would have had me nursing multiple broken bones already. And yet, Father was still maintaining that calm, diplomatic smile. An icy sensation crept through my body. 

This man held power over him. I could barely wrap my head around the concept. It just didn’t fit with my idea of how the world worked. Father was always at the top of the food chain. The employees at the facility and the police were below him, and I was below them, sitting with the rank and file officers, if not below them, too. Simply put; I was the prey, and Father was the predator. He hunted. He controlled. No one stood against him. The idea that there was anyone that Father was beholden to was terrifying. That the man could cause me so much pain and not be the most powerful was incomprehensible. It made me wonder how much worse Father’s predator would be, when their ire was faced upon me.

“Enough about business, it’s a party!” Mr. Beaumond jovially announced, snapping me out of my paranoid spiralling. “Come, you two! It’s an open bar, so get anything you like.”

He corralled us towards the tall bench that many of the party-goers were milling around. The wall beyond the bench was covered by floor-to-ceiling shelves, all filled with bottles of varying shapes and sizes. A man in a waistcoat stood behind the bench, rushing between people and filling glasses with the liquids inside the various bottles. His speed and efficiency in his work was fascinating to watch.

“Jordyn doesn’t drink,” Father said, to which I was tempted to argue that I do indeed drink, I have water all the time, when he continued, “She’ll just have a coke.”

The man behind the bar nodded and started filling up a glass with some sort of bubbly, dark brown liquid. Mr. Beaumond laughed that laugh of his.

“What is she, fourteen? Come on, Andy, don’t be a stick in the mud. She’s an adult; she can have a drink if she wants to.” He turned to me, and I had to resist the urge to back up. “Well, Jordie? What do you say? Care to have a drink with the grown-ups?”

I found myself at a loss for words, gaping like a fish as I kept trying to speak, only to come up empty. To say yes would be to go directly against Father’s wishes. To say no would be to go against Mr. Beaumond’s wishes. I didn’t know which was worse. Even outside of that, I had no idea how to respond. Wasn’t I getting a drink anyway? Maybe I was misunderstanding some terminology that the two men took for granted. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“As her handler, I would prefer that Jordyn doesn’t drink anything alcoholic tonight.” Father said pointedly. “She’s going out on patrol tomorrow for the first time since her injury. I would rather not have a hangover muddy her performance any more than inactivity no doubt already has. We wouldn’t want your investments to go to waste, after all.”

Mr. Beaumond put his hands up in mock surrender. “You’re her boss.”

Father handed me the glass of brown liquid as he ordered a drink of his own. I took a sniff and immediately recoiled as the sweet smell seemed to fizzle up my nose. Father laughed at my reaction as I tentatively took a sip. Again, the sweetness was almost overpowering, and it felt like the liquid was gently stabbing the inside of my mouth, tingling as it travelled down my throat. Surprisingly, that wasn’t actually a bad thing. It was just… weird. And new. I’d only ever had water before, so this whole thing was a very novel experience. I actually kind of liked it.

“Well, you two have fun now,” Mr. Beaumond said. “I’m gonna go mingle. We’ll talk business soon, yeah Andy?” He turned to me, giving me a wink. “Catch you later, sweetcheeks.”

With that, he sauntered off into the crowd. Father and I watched him go.

“Who is he?” I asked quietly.

“Sebastian Beaumond,” Father answered. “He’s a senator, and one of the key investors in your rehabilitation program. Treat him with the same respect you would treat me.”

I could have sworn he said the last part through gritted teeth.

—

If there was one thing I’d learned about parties throughout the night, it was that they were incredibly overwhelming. As soon as Mr. Beaumond left us alone, it seemed like everyone wanted a piece of me, and Father was little help, often engaging in completely unrelated conversations while I was left to fend for myself among all of the strangers who had a weird fixation with my face, for some reason. I lost count of how many times some old person pinched my cheek or poked me. It didn’t help that I was still in quite a lot of pain from the day’s punishments; my calves quivering and my shoulders steadily pulsing with sharp muscle stabs, the welts on my back still stinging with every movement. At least the drink Father gave me was nice…

Finally, after enduring the unwanted affections and confusing compliments from dozens of people, I was able to find the space to duck away and hide in a corner, catching my breath away from the crowd. Most people had gotten caught in conversations with each other, leaving me free to slip into the shadows, subtly pulling them around me to further obscure myself from view. I’d had enough interaction for one night, and not having my helmet on, despite how I usually disliked its oppressive cage around my head, was making me feel exposed and vulnerable.

A felt a presence coming closer, and a shiver travelled down my spine. Mr. Beaumond approached, two drinks in hand. I watched him warily as he came near, crowding me into the corner of safety I’d hidden in.

“It’s pretty dark around here,” he said, looking around. “That your doing? Don’t tell me you’re trying to hide away, Jordie? You’re practically the life of the party!”

I blinked up at him, trying to avoid staring too hard into the black pits of his eyes. Something about them was unsettling. “I… I, uh…”

He let out a small laugh. “Not much of a talker, are you? Here, drink this. It should help with that.” He held out one of the glasses. Inside was a brown liquid; lighter than the drink I’d had earlier, and without the bubbles. Its scent made my nose burn.

“I… I shouldn’t. Father said I wasn’t allowed.”

“Father did, hm? That’s what you call him? Ah, that’s cute. Well, he’s not around right now, is he? Besides, this party is to celebrate you! You deserve to cut loose a little. Go on, drink it.”

Mr. Beaumond leaned in closer. I didn’t want to say no to him, but the knowledge of what would await me if I disobeyed Father was too strong a warning to ignore. I hesitantly shook my head.

“Father would find out. I don’t want to be punished. I- I’m sorry, Mr. Beaumond.”

His face dropped all expression, becoming totally blank. The darkness of his pupils seemed to draw me in. There was nothing behind them; no light, no goodness, only a strange flickering at the edges of my vision that filled me with awful, primordial anxiety. It was the exact same sensation I felt right before my seizure a few months ago; a predator was watching me, and I was completely helpless against it. I was staring into the abyss, and it stared straight back into me.

“A word of advice, Jordyn, since I know you’re new to the whole ‘being alive’ thing. When someone offers you something, it’s polite to take it, regardless of what you really want. Maybe you should worry less about how Andreas will react, and worry more about me. Who knows, I might feel slighted by your snubbing of my offer. Andreas owes me a lot of money; I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I paid you a visit in the facility some day to teach you a lesson in respect. And I would be very thorough, Jordyn. You think you know pain? You think you understand humiliation? I can break you in ways you can barely comprehend, ways Andreas wouldn’t even dare think of. Andreas may own you, but I own him. I own this city. There is nowhere you can go to be safe from me.”

He leaned back a little as I stood there, completely frozen. My heart raced like it was trying to escape from my chest. That same old easy smile overtook his face, replacing the cold, empty blankness. The smile was honestly worse.

“All that is to say… C’mon. Don’t be boring, Jordie. Take a drink with me.”

I took the drink from him, too petrified to do anything but obey. The liquid inside sloshed against the glass from the way my hands were shaking. He noticed it, and the edges of his eyes crinkled in delight.

“Aww, did I scare you? I’m sorry, babe. Drink up, it’ll make you feel better.”

“Mr. Beaumond, what are you doing?”

I’d never been so relieved to see Father in my life. He strode up to us, a stern look on his face that, for once, wasn’t directed at me. Mr. Beaumond didn’t look at him, keeping his horribly empty gaze locked on to me. 

“Just giving the little lady a drink, nothing to lose your head over.”

“I thought I told you that wasn’t happening.”

Mr. Beaumond rounded on him, seeming to tower over Father despite being slightly shorter.

“Tell me, Andy. What makes you think you have a say? If I recall correctly, I own almost seventy percent of the shares for your little project. Doesn’t that mean I have a say in how things are run? A bigger say than yours, even?”

Father took a deep breath. I could almost feel his anger rising. “Even so, as I said earlier, I believe it would be foolish to get her drunk the night before her redeployment. Her public image could be at stake.”

Mr. Beaumond tilted his head. “It’s funny that you think I don’t know what your real goal is. ‘Revitalising the police?’ Please, don’t make me laugh. I know what you’re really planning with this little project of yours, and I just want you to know, I am invested in your success. Believe it or not, I want you to succeed. This world needs changing, and I do think you’re the one to do it. That being said, I could just as easily change my mind. It would be a cinch to cut your funding down to nothing. You’d have to downsize quite a bit. Maybe even let go of poor little Jordyn here. I would take good care of her, of course, but you’d be left without your soldier. You could start again with another subject, but how would that look in the eyes of the public? Your pet superhero just up and disappears, but it’s okay, because now you’ve got a new one, with no news of where the first one went? That wouldn’t go down well, especially with the rumours that are already floating around about Jordyn. Tell me, Andy. What’s worse? A hero in a program people are already suspicious of disappearing? Or, said superhero going back to work with a hangover? Hell, it might actually convince people you don’t hold the leash as tight as you do. It would be good for you. Just think about it.”

Father grit his teeth and finally submitted, looking down at the floor. “Do as he says, Jordyn. Drink.”

I didn’t even know what the drink was, but after how insistent Mr. Beaumond had been, I felt hesitant out of pure principle. “But-”

Father looked at me sharply and I had to resist the instinct to recoil. “You still have one week left on your insubordination punishment. Don’t make me extend that further.”

He was right. I couldn’t afford to be forced into that horrible room for even a second longer than I already had to. Whatever this drink was, it couldn’t be worse than that. I took a deep breath and brought the glass up to my lips, taking as big of a gulp as I could manage in order to finish it quicker.

That was a mistake.

The bitter liquid burned the inside of my mouth and all the way down my throat. I had to resist the urge to retch, forcing myself to swallow. A sudden nausea snapped through me for a split second before fading. 

“That was awful,” I muttered, pulling a face.

Mr. Beaumond laughed. “Keep going, you’ve still got half a glass left!”

I tried not to shudder, steeling myself for the unpleasant experience before taking another large sip. Better to just get it over and done with.

By the time I was done, I was actively resisting the need to throw up. I put the glass down on a nearby table and stumbled back to the wall, leaning heavily against it. My head felt like it was spinning slightly, and the sensation was awful. I felt like I was slowly losing control of my own body, and in a place as dangerous and unsafe as this, I needed as much control as I could get. 

“There’s a good girl,” Mr. Beaumond said. He held out the other glass. “Not done yet, though. Come on, you can do it.”

I let out a whine as my stomach dropped, looking to Father for help. He just nodded. I was completely on my own.

—

I stared at the floor, trying not to puke as the world spun horribly around me. My entire face felt numb, and my thoughts felt slow. If I thought the sensation of lacking control was bad after one glass, I had no idea what was coming once I’d finished the second one. Thankfully, Mr. Beaumond left me alone after that, patting me on the back and congratulating me for a job well done before sauntering off to bother someone else. Father told me to keep my head down and not talk to anyone for the rest of the night, so that’s what I was doing, lounging in a chair, hiding behind my shadows, and just trying to stay alive. At least the numbness made my injuries hurt a little less. It was a very minor comfort, in the face of everything else. 

Time lost all meaning as I sat there, swaying back and forth. It felt like I’d been at this party for hours and hours, but that couldn’t be right; the clock on the wall hadn’t changed enough for that.

“Jordyn.”

I looked up at the sound of my name. Father stood over me, a carefully even expression on his face. I knew him well enough by now to notice the hint of worry underneath it, though. Behind him, the room had almost emptied out.

“Yeh…yeah, dad?”

His lip curled downwards a little at that. “We’re moving to a boardroom to discuss business. Given your… state, I believe it best that you do not attend. You can go home.”

I blinked. “R-really?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “Use your shadows to obscure your face. If you allow anyone to see it, I will know, and there will be dire consequences. Am I understood?”

I nodded rapidly and immediately regretted it, as a wave of nausea travelled up my throat. “Yea- urp.” I quickly covered my mouth in case anything came out.

Father sighed. He waved a hand at me, as if shooing me off. “Get going. And if you need to throw up, do it somewhere no one will see.”

I nodded much more carefully as he walked away. Standing up was difficult, but I managed it with a bit of effort, stumbling over to the elevator and failing multiple times at pressing the button for the ground floor. This trip was going to be a pain, that was for sure.

—

I was lost.

No matter how hard I looked, no matter how many street signs I stared at, no matter how much I surveyed the area from atop a building, I just couldn’t find my way back to the precinct. My sense of direction was completely shot from the spinning in my head, and I’d already had to stop to throw up once. This night couldn’t possibly get any worse.

Father was going to be so mad at me.

The thought made a sob rip from my chest. I stumbled back against a wall and sank to the floor, unable to hold it back anymore. Once he found me, he was gonna hurt me again, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. 

“Seven? Is that you?”

I blinked away my tears, looking up and ensuring that a cloud of shadows remained around my face. Vivienne stood not too far away, dressed in street clothes with a satchel around her shoulder. Her outfit was simple but cute; a yellow long-sleeve underneath a dark green cardigan, and a pair of skinny denim jeans. It made envy and longing burn deep down in my gut. What I wouldn’t give to get to wear cute stuff like that.

I sniffled. “Vivienne?”

“Hey,” she said. “Haven’t seen you around in a while. Are you alright? What’s, uh… what’s going on with your helmet? It looks like a cloud.”

“I left it at home. Usin’ shadows to hide m’ face.”

Vivienne frowned. “Are you drunk?”

The question brought the memory of Mr. Beaumond forcing me to drink straight back to the forefront of my mind and I crumpled into another fit of sobbing.

“Woah, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!” Vivienne said. “Here, c’mon. Let’s get you up off the floor, okay?”

She reached down and I took her hand, using it to help myself up. My balance was off though, and I stumbled against her, my head falling down onto her shoulder. She smelled nice.

“Are you… okay, Seven?”

No. I wasn’t okay. I didn’t want to feel like this anymore; so helpless and out of control. I didn’t want to be lost. I didn’t want Father to hurt me anymore. I didn’t want to be a superhero. I choked on another sob and shook my head against her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” She wrapped her arms around me, burying one in the short hair on the back of my head, and I practically melted into her. No one had ever held me like this before. No one had touched me so gently, not since the early days of my rehabilitation. I never wanted it to end.

“He… H-he made me drink… I di’n’t wanna, but he made me… sss…said he’d hurt me. I feel so bad ‘n I’m lost ‘n dad’s g’nna punish me again ‘f I don’ get back.”

Vivienne stiffened in my arms. “Who made you drink, Seven? Who said they’d hurt you?”

“Please don’ call me that,” I muttered. “Nn… N-name’s Jordyn. M’ not a number. I’m a person ‘n I’m not a number… I just… I wanna be a person…” My eyes pricked with hot tears.

“Okay. Okay, Jordyn,” Vivienne said, rubbing the back of my head. “That’s a nice name. Much better than Seven. Now, who did you say threatened you?”

“Mr. B- Beaumond.” 

“I… I’m sorry, I don’t know who that is. I wish I could help you more.”

I groaned, shaking my head and burying my face in the cotton of Vivienne’s cardigan. “S’ okay… You… you smell nice…”

Vivienne laughed. It sounded like music. The thought brought a small smile to my face. “Thanks. It’s probably my perfume.”

I hummed, closing my eyes. If I wasn’t standing, I could easily fall asleep like this, cuddled up to Vivienne. Her shoulder was at just the right height for me to rest my head on. Hell, I was almost about to doze off just like that when I remembered what I was supposed to be doing.

“Can you… help me get home, please?” I asked.

“Okay, sure. Where do you live?”

“Precinct 23.”

“You… You live at the precinct?” I could practically hear the frown in Vivienne’s voice.

“There’s a big facility un’er it. I’ve lived there forever.”

“You’ve been under the precinct your entire life?”

“As far back ‘s I rem’ber, anyway. I dunno what I did before then. ‘S been a year since I woke up. Dad says I’ve always been a hero, but I don’ remember it. I… I don’t really like it. I don’ like the fighting.”

“I… I see…” Vivienne muttered. I was probably saying too much, but I couldn’t find it in me to care, and without my helmet on, Father wouldn’t see, anyway. For once, I was completely free of his surveillance. The moment would be over far too soon, though.

“Alright, well… I can take you to the precinct, but you’ll have to get inside yourself. Is that okay?”

I nodded against her shoulder. “Mhm.”

“Hold on to your guts. I’m about to teleport.”

The air popped in my ears as the scenery changed to the front entrance of the precinct. What a handy power to have.

“This is you,” Vivienne said, finally pulling back from the hug. I quickly amassed my shadows again to hide my face as we parted. “Do you need anything else?”

“Mm, no,” I replied. “Thanks for… Thanks for talking to me.”

Vivienne smiled, tilting her head slightly. The streetlights sparkled in her eyes. My stomach filled with butterflies at the sight.

“No problem. See you around, Jordyn.”

With a slight pop, she teleported away.

God, what an amazing woman. 

I looked at the precinct. Now I just had to find my way back to my room. Easy, right?

—

I awoke to the feeling of someone nudging me in the side. My head was pounding. There was so much noise, and the light that was creeping through my eyelids was like needles being driven directly into my brain.

“Jordyn?” someone asked. I thought I recognised the voice as Mr. Sadler’s.

“Wh… what?”

“Why are you sleeping in the corridor?”

The memories of last night came rushing back. Stumbling into the elevator and heading down. Wandering through the halls, trying door after door to no avail. Finally, giving up and flopping down on the floor, sleeping right there in the hallway. I groaned, burying myself under a dark sheet of shadow to hide away.

“Leave me alone…”

Mr. Sadler laughed. “Long night, huh? Sounds like you’re gonna have fun at work today.”

The reminder felt worse than a broken sternum. I would legitimately rather die.

taglist: @steelandblood @sapphicwhump @urnumber1star @alsolucakairomi @idkwhattodowiththisaltiamsorry

@iamheretohurt @anoyedartist @dontyoubleedoutonme @seastarblue

Did not expect to get a new whumper out of this chapter but Sebastian just forced himself into the plot anyway. He's creepy and awful and i kinda love it. I hate him.

jordyn just keeps having a real bad time. It won't get better any time soon i'm afraid. at least she gets occasional homoerotic encounters to keep her going.

Thanks for reading! leave a comment or reblog and lemme know what you thought! it's very appreciated :)

see you all next time for the return of our beloved bird woman. Ciao!

CHARACTER INTRO ➣ JONATHAN VALE

(Image description: an animated pixel drawing of a character. They have long brown hair, brown eyes, and scarring on the right side of their body. They’re wearing sunglasses, dark pants, steel-toed boots, a black undershirt, an overcoat, and fingerless gloves.)

Name: Jonathan Vale

Age: 17

Sex: ♂

Gender: Male

Orientation: Gay

Nationality: Canadian

Ethnicity: White 

Birthplace: Peterborough, Ontario

Languages: English

Jonathan is the first of two children born to a working class family in Peterborough. When he was twelve years old, he survived a fatal car accident that rendered him blind; all but one other person involved, including his parents and younger sister, were killed. After his release from the hospital, Jon moved to Toronto with his uncle, enrolled in public school, and began the long and arduous process of re-adjusting to the world without the eyesight he’d previously taken for granted. He has a guide dog with which he previously ran track and an affinity for TV crime dramas. 

Tag List: Message me or comment/reblog to be added.

Base credit

Okay I like the vibes I get from this

WIP intro: Welcome to the Circus

Title: Welcome to the Circus

Genre: YA sci-fi fantasy/dystopia 

POV: First person present

Status: Third draft in progress

Life in the domes getting you down? Long hours in the factories wearing you out? Scared of the clockwork automaton in your house? Have no fear, my darling, soon the Circus will be here…

Geri has been lighting up the Circus stage since she was seven as Libra, fire dancing with her stage-twin Alfie (better known as Leo to the crowds) and traveling in the Circus wagon from dome to dome. Ten years on under Circus Master McMagister’s watchful eye, she and Alfie have blossomed into the darlings of the Circus—cocky, confident, and always prepared to charm paying admirers. High-flying life as a Circus member is far better than that of a common person.

No, Geri’s not worried about Alfie’s alcohol dependence, nor the growing crowd who isn’t so charmed by the Circus, nor the shiny new clockwork automaton unveiled by the Supreme President, thank you very much. Not until an unthinkable tragedy wracks her to her very core and forces her to confront what she’s never had the courage to before: her role in life, her identity, even the very world she calls home…

It’s time for the real show to begin.

This story is very dear to my heart and I would love to share it with more people! Look for character intro posts in the near future, then I’ll gauge interest and see what I want to do about posting excerpts.

Tag list (if you can even call it that yet—reply and/or shoot me an ask to be added): @blueinkblot

Reblogs greatly appreciated <3

“How many people have died to achieve this world domination of yours?” “769.” “…What?” “769 people died to achieve my plans. I counted them, and had each of their names etched on my throne so I never forget what my victory cost the world. Now tell me, how many have you killed to see me dead?”

“Where do you keep getting these from!?” The demon asked the last person in the universe, frustrated and confused as he was paid with a soul that had no right to exist.

You are a werewolf and you are an expert at living among humans undetected. You are so good, that a vampire thought you were an ordinary human and bit you.

After his adventure in Camelot is over, Sonic, now King Arthur, realises he can't leave. Desperate to return to his home world, he embarks on a journey. He doesn't account for this journey bringing him closer to his knights, as well as meeting people he never thought he'd have the chance to. As Sonic deals with friendship, magic, love, and the pressure of authority; the most pressing question of all is; which world does he choose?

A sequel to Sonic and the Black Knight.

Thank you to my wonderful artists @sparksketching, @starprincejelly and @thelastmelinian, and also to my beta reader @lumivall! Also, to @silvers-starrway, who I commissioned to make lovely art of the characters ^^ It's been an honour working with you all, and a huge pleasure to be part of @sthbigbang .

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: DCU, Danny Phantom Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Danny Phantom & Kon-El, Danny Phantom & Match, Danny phantom & Batman, Danny Phantom & YJL Characters: Danny Phantom - Character, Kon-El, Match - Character, Batman, Superman, Red Robin - Character, Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood Additional Tags: Danny got reincarnated into a superbat clone, He’s physically three years old, Kon-El Match and Danny are all sort of brothers, The idea is from a writing prompt on tumblr, I got permission to make a fic for it Series: Part 3 of Danny Fenton x DCU Summary:

Danny got reincarnated into a superbat clone. Physically he’s three years old. There are two other clones, Match and Kon-El, that are physically older than him. (Mentally not so much) When Danny finds out that he is scheduled to be terminated and his brothers will continue to be experimented on, they all escape. They end up at mountain where they meet some of the young justice league and their mentors. The physically older two clones don’t trust them and to be honest neither does Danny (he didn’t come thing far by trusting random strangers dressed in weird costumes even if he does sort of recognize them) but he at least doesn’t outright snarl at them like some people.

This was inspired by one of puppetmasters13u prompts https://www.tumblr.com/puppetmaster13u/749443565613170688/prompt-295?source=share 

@puppetmaster13u

@joey-dragon

@shadowkatt99

@leafyeyes417

For the rare pair challenge: my favorite one is Sam/Alex!

unfffff I love this one how HOT would that be 🥵

My brain is scrambled tho because I have shipped them both with Sebastian as the openly gay one to even out the dynamic. I interpret Alex as closeted and Sam as bi/pan but skewing more towards women. Like he's not opposed to getting with a guy if he liked them but hasn't really thought about it kind of thing.

So how would they end up getting together?

Ok, I think I want Alex to be coming back from college. He lost his sports scholarship due to bad grades and was forced to come home, leaving his secret fling in the city at the same time. He's heartbroken, he's dejected, he's wallowing.

A couple of weeks after coming back, Haley decides she's had enough of his moping and they are going to a bar in the little town nearby to see some people from their high school perform. They're in a band now, and getting some minor success playing gigs at local venues.

Alex is totally plastered by the time Goblin Destroyer comes on stage. That must be why time slows when he sees Sam. Why his smile makes him feel warm and his heart race.

"Holy shit," he murmurs to himself. The scrawny class clown he knew in high school looks so different.

Haley eyes him knowingly. "No. Nuhuh. Not him. When I said we were getting you laid tonight I didn't mean one of the few people from Pelican Town!"

"But he's gotten SO hot."

"He's got a mullet, Lexie."

"Mullets can be hot," he pouts.

And then they begin their set, and Alex is certain he must be drunk as hell because he doesn't even like this kind of music but he's dancing along to it and having the best time. He's amazed that Sam can play the guitar and sing at the same time. He's amazed by Sam's voice, the rasp in it seriously fucking with his inhibition. And even when he stops singing, and just shreds a guitar solo, Alex is still awe-struck.

They hadn't been sure they would stay for the whole performance, but then Alex is cheering along with the crowd after their final song, cheeks flushed with exertion and heart racing.

He hasn't thought about his ex in hours. He hasn't thought about how royally fucked up his life is. And he doesn't want it to end. But Sam disappears.

Suddenly the crowd is too stifling. He needs to get outside. He needs to breathe. Haley seems to be having the time of her life pressed up against a wall with a man she met fifteen minutes ago. Alex texts her that he will be outside, and pushes his way to the exit.

It's cold, instant relief. It's quiet too, just a group of smokers chatting in the parking lot. He turns to walk the opposite direction from them, when someone bumps into him.

"Alex?"

Sam.

Teehee this is my most cliffhanger one yet I was really getting into that one. I might actually write it for real. If you'd be interested in being tagged if/when I post the fic, reblog or comment letting me know! (What are we naming this ship??)

Send me any Stardew Valley rarepair and I will tell you how I would make them work! (Even non-marriage npcs) If youre lucky you may get a mini fic out of it. Check the list below to see if Ive already answered yours

Rarepair Masterlist

look at this thing this deserves attention!!

Her New Favourite Game

Mc gets super bored while she's stuck in the apartment. So while he's busy working on his laptop and accting like a little bitch (affectionate), she pulls out her phone and sends him a very specific text. She knows it can backfire terribly, but at this point she'll take anything other than staring at the ceiling for another five hours.

"I'm standing right behind you." The message starts out. Saeyoung glances at the notification. It's nice of Mc to warn him of her presence so he doesn't get spooked. After all, the music blasting from his headphones drowns out any possible noise. The screen of his phone lights up again only seconds later. "I am not wearing anything."

Grinning, Mc watches as his shoulders tense. So he did see the message. Saeyoung lets out a sputtering noise and leans forward, as if forcing himself to stare at the code in front of him and only that. His hands are shaky and his fingers fly back to the backspace key a lot more frequently than before. His breathing is heavy, and Mc is thankful that his music is too loud for him to hear her laughter.

"You look tense", her follow up reads, "I could help you relax a little bit ~"

A yelp echoes through the small apartment, as Saeyoung grabs his phone and slams it to the floor screen down. He turns his head lightly, only barely enabling Mc to see his frown. What she can also see however, is the shade of deep red coloring his ears and face.

"I- I don't need to relax! I am relaxed. I have never been more relaxed in my life!", he stutteres, not daring to turn around any further, afraid of what he might see if he does.

Endlessly amused by the situation she created, Mc giggles to herself. "It's okay to be a little excited...I am too...," she coos.

It got progressively harder for her to keep up the act. After all, she's lounging on the couch and, contrary to what she somehow convinced the shy hacker of, fully clothed, save for her bare feet.

Another strange noise creeps over his lips.

"I am not excited and neither should you be."

His claim isn't convincing at all, but very endearing to Mc to say the least.

"Fine, I am going to have some fun on my own then." She gets up from the couch and heads for the bedroom. "You're free to come play with me if you change your mind."

Saeyoung swallows as he listens to Mc's steps leaving the room. Letting out a shaky breath, he holds himself back. His legs are shaking, filled with the need to jump up from where he sits and following Mc to go "play" with her.

"God," he sighs, "Keep it together, this is not what you're here for, Seven."

Umbeknownst to him, Mc stands behind the door, a sly smile on decorating her face at him scolding himself. It seems like one of the outcomes she deemed the most unlikely is more attainable than she anticipated.

Knowing that, from now on, this was going to be her new favourite game.

Masterlist

Reader Insert CoD AU ~

Make a Mercy Out of Me[könig]:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Future installment #2

Future installment #3

War is Over (and what have we done?)[graves]:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Future installment #5

Future installment #6

These are all related storylines so, if you want it to make sense as time goes on, I recommend reading all of it.

this was honestly so good!! would recommend if you dont mind it being a fem!reader

He's cheating, isn't he?

~Price x Reader

~Angst

As the weeks turned into months, you couldn't ignore the growing unease that had settled in your heart. It had started innocently enough, with Price getting up to take a phone call in the living room. At first, it didn't raise any suspicion, but it soon became a regular occurrence, happening every week, sometimes even multiple times within the week.

You knew deep down that Price would never cheat on you. His love for you was undeniable, and you were well aware of it. However, the constant disappearances for hours on end began to wear on your trust and your self-esteem.

Price would always tell you that he was just going to get groceries, but when he returned, there would only be one bag in his hand. It didn't make sense for him to be gone for hours just to bring back one bag of groceries.

The months went by, and the secret phone calls continued. With each instance, your patience wore thinner, and the restraint you had built was beginning to crumble. You couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right.

When you asked him about the calls, he only mumbled that it was work. But you couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't simply take those calls near you if they were indeed just work-related matters.

The increasing secrecy and lack of transparency were eroding your trust and leaving you with a growing sense of unease. It was clear that something was amiss, and you couldn't help but wonder who Price was hiding from you.

One day, as you lay with your head nestled in Price's lap, his fingers gently brushing through your hair, the soothing rhythm of his touch had started to lull you into a peaceful state. But that tranquility was abruptly interrupted when his phone rang, startling him.

Price quickly moved you off his lap to take the call. You felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside as he did, a sense of rejection and abandonment washing over you. You got up from the couch, the slow, deliberate steps taking you to your bedroom, where you leaned your ear against the door, desperate to eavesdrop.

Through the muffled sound, you heard Price's voice as he spoke on the phone. The words were unclear, but you strained to listen. There was a long pause, and then Price let out a sigh, a heavy and weighted sound that filled you with dread.

"...Four months..." Those two words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and your heart sank as you tried to make sense of what they meant.

It felt like the ground beneath you was slipping away, and you couldn't help but wonder if Price was planning on leaving you in four months, ending your relationship and moving on to someone else. Tears welled up in your eyes as you walked back to the couch, your mind racing.

The thought left you emotionally paralyzed, tears threatening to brim in your eyes as you walked away from the door, quietly retaking your spot on the couch. Your gaze fixed on the television, your mind racing. Price soon entered the living room and took a seat next to you, his concern evident in his voice.

"Love?"

You were lost in your thoughts, not immediately hearing him. It was only when he said your name that you snapped back to reality, forcing a smile and responding, "Sorry, hun, just daydreaming."

Price smiled and placed his hand over yours, "You know I love you, right? More than anything."

Your smile almost faltered, but you managed to keep up the facade, placing your hand over his and gently squeezing. "I know you do."

He kissed your forehead and you leaned your head back into his lap, his hand combing through your hair, while his attention shifted to the TV. But for you, everything else seemed to fade away.

You battled back tears and internal questions. Who was this other woman? When had Price started seeing her? What excuse would he make to end your marriage?

Over the next three months, you worked hard to keep up the facade. Occasionally, it would slip, and you'd find yourself crying in Price's arms, but you always made excuses, blaming it on cramps or a bad day. However, your heart was heavy with the uncertainty and fear of what might be coming.

However, one day during dinner, as you looked up from your plate, you saw blood trickling from Price's nose. Your eyes widened in alarm.

"Oh my god, hun, your nose is bleeding," Concern evident in your voice. Price raised his hand to his nose and saw the blood on his fingertips.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Let me just clean it up," he assured you. As he got up from the chair, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. Panic set in as you rushed to his side.

"Give me a second; I'm going to get my phone and call 911," you said, running to the other room, your fingers trembling as you dialed for help.

You sat in the hospital room, holding Price's hand while he slept in the hospital bed. The tension was palpable, but you had no idea of the heavy news that was about to be revealed. The doctor entered the room, and you turned your attention to him, your heart already drumming in your chest.

"The tumor has grown significantly over the past three months," the doctor said, his voice laden with sorrow. "I'm very sorry to say, but he only has a few weeks, a month at best."

Your world froze as the words left the doctor's mouth. "What do you mean, tumor? What tumor are you talking about?" you asked in shock, your voice trembling.

The doctor's eyes widened as he realized that Price had never shared this information with you. "I'm very sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your husband has had a brain tumor for the past year. He has been coming here quite frequently for CT scans. I thought he shared the news with you.”

Your heart dropped, and your ears were ringing as the doctor's words sank in. "Thank you, doctor. I think I want some alone time if that's okay with you," you said, turning away to be by Price's side, your hand finding his again.

"Of course," The doctor nodded and left the room, leaving you in silence.

This revelation shattered your world. All those months of misunderstanding, suspicion, and fear, thinking that he was cheating on you, were suddenly replaced with the realization that he had been dealing with a life-threatening condition. And he had hidden it from you, for what reason, you couldn't fathom.

Alone with Price, your hand found his once more. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and as they met yours, he saw the tears streaming down your face. Confusion and worry knitted his brows, and tears welled up in his own eyes.

"You know, don't you?" he whispered.

"Why didn't you tell me?" you sobbed, gripping his hand tightly. Price's own tears fell freely now. Using his other hand, he covered yours, squeezing it with all the strength he had left.

"I didn't want it to ruin you. I didn't want you to let it destroy you, for you to count down the days you had left with me. I wanted us to live a normal life together. I wanted your last year with me to be full of happiness. I just wanted you to be happy. I'm so sorry,"

Price confessed, his voice cracking. You dropped your head as you cried out, the weight of his secret too much to bear. Price did his best to sit up, his hands cupping your face, making you look at him.

"I thought you were cheating on me," you cried out as tears ran down your face. Price looked shocked but quickly laughed softly through his own tears.

"Sweetheart, I would never," he assured you. You reached over and hugged him tightly, burying your face in his neck as you sobbed out your anguish.

"I don't want you to die," you choked out as Price's tears streamed down his face, and he held you even tighter.

"I don't want to die either," he whispered back. He cried with you, and you both shared your pain, finding comfort in one another. Eventually, you fell asleep next to him on the hospital bed.

Two weeks later, you found yourself standing in front of Price's casket, a sea of mourners around you. Your eyes were vacant and hollow, lost in a world of pain and sorrow as you gazed at his lifeless form, lying in the casket. The weight of his absence was suffocating, and the pain of losing him was overwhelming, etching deep lines of grief and despair on your face.

The world moved around you, but you felt frozen in time, unable to comprehend that Price was gone. As the solemn ceremony continued, the reality of your loss settled heavily on your shoulders, and the tears flowed freely, reflecting the profound sense of emptiness that had taken root in your heart.

You had been going through the motions of daily life, the absence of Price weighing heavily on your heart. As you checked the mail one afternoon, you noticed a letter that seemed different from the usual bills and advertisements. Your eyes grew wide with curiosity as you recognized the handwriting on the envelope, and your heart raced with anticipation.

Rushing to the living room, you tore open the envelope with trembling hands. Your eyes scanned the familiar words, and tears welled up as you realized it was a letter from Price. Your heart ached as you devoured every word, feeling his presence through his written words, and a bittersweet mix of emotions washed over you.

My Dearest y/n,

As I sit here, pen in hand, I am filled with a mixture of emotions that I'm struggling to put into words. I write this letter in the hope that it reaches you a few days after I'm gone, a small attempt to convey what's in my heart before my time in this world ends.

I want you to know how much I love you. I want you to carry that love with you always. You are the sun, the warmth that has filled my heart, and the love that has given my life meaning.

I want you to understand that my decision to keep my illness from you was not out of deceit or a desire to protect you from pain. It was a misguided attempt to preserve your happiness.

I see now that my silence did more harm than good, and for that, I am truly sorry. The weight of my secret was a heavy burden, and I regret not sharing it with you sooner.

As you face the days without me, I want you to know that it's okay to grieve, to feel anger, sadness, and loss. Emotions are a natural part of life, and there is no right or wrong way to experience them.

I want you to cherish the memories we created together. The laughter, the shared dreams, the quiet moments, they are all a testament to the beautiful life we built. Please, hold on to those memories, for they will keep me alive in your heart.

Live your life, my love. Pursue your dreams, follow your passions, and find joy in the simple pleasures of life. I have always believed in your strength, your resilience, and your ability to make the most of every moment. You have a bright future ahead, and I hope you embrace it with all the enthusiasm and optimism that you have always possessed.

I may be leaving this world, but my love for you will never fade. I will always be with you in spirit, watching over you, guiding you, and protecting you. You are a remarkable person, and you deserve all the love and happiness that life can offer.

I'm grateful for the love you gave me, and I am blessed to have known you. Cherish the life we had together, and as you move forward, carry our love with you in your heart. Until we meet again in a better place, my love, I will be waiting for you, just as you will always be in my heart.

With all the love in my soul,

John Price.

You can almost hear his voice echoing through the written lines. Your heart tightens, and tears roll down your cheeks as you finish reading.

Uncontrollable sobs wrack your body, and the ache in your chest intensifies with each passing moment. You find yourself gasping for breath between heart-wrenching cries. The raw pain of loss washes over you, and each word in the letter feels like a bittersweet echo of the love you shared.

In the days that followed, the words lingered, an ethereal presence in your heart. The letter remained a harbinger of sorrow, a tangible testament to the void Price left behind. Tears now blurred the lines, rendering his words almost unreadable. Yet, within those blurred lines, you found a flicker of resilience.

The pain of loss remained, an unwelcome companion, but within the lines of his letter, there was an urge to honor his memory through living life the way he would have wanted you too.

Slowly, like the tentative bloom of flowers after a harsh winter, you began to unfurl. You traced a path towards healing, stumbling through the fog of sorrow. The world around you seemed dull at first, colors muted and sounds distant. Yet, with each passing day, a glimmer of resilience emerged, a hesitant spark pushing through the darkness.

You found yourself in small moments – a sunrise painting the sky with hues of warmth, a stray cat lying on your porch, the scent of rain on the pavement. In these fragments of life, you began to glimpse a flicker of the light that once danced in your husband's eyes.

Carrying his memory, you navigated the world anew, a hesitant traveler on a journey of healing. His words echoed in your mind, encouraging you to embrace the vibrant symphony of existence. You found fragments of him in unexpected places – a familiar song on the radio, a butterfly dancing in the garden, or the scent of his favorite cologne lingering in the air.

In these moments, you felt a connection beyond the tangible, a comforting presence whispering that he was still with you. It wasn't a cure for the ache of loss, but rather a soothing balm, a reminder that love could transcend the boundaries of life and death.

*squeals* I love this so much!! ❤️ 💗

Also the other demons are staying far away from Night cuz they know he's in a bad mood

Ink Month 2023 Day 4

Selfish

“He will be fine. A collection of minor injuries, a fracture in his arm, and a possible concussion.” Edward said to Dark, the two of them standing outside the room Host was resting in. “We will continue to monitor him, but I am more than confident he will recover with no problems. He’s already awake..”

“I still can’t believe he went after several middle-ranks alone. What was he thinking?” Dark sighed with a shake of his head. “Even I would struggle with that. He’s lucky to be alive.” 

“Pride is still a big part of Host, even if he claims to have gotten over it with his age, loss of sight, and wanting to focus on the younger Hunters. He got called out. He couldn’t let that go.” 

“Well, those Demons won’t be calling anyone out for the rest of eternity.” Dark couldn’t help from softly chuckling. 

“I think Host has a different Demon to worry about.” Edward gestured down the hall where Night was storming down it, almost looking like he was on the verge of going feral. Dark took hold of Edward’s arm and got them out of the way, Night not even seeing them as he went into the room. 

“What the hell were you thinking!?” Night snapped as he closed the door. 

“Good morning to you, too.” Host weakly laughed, not bothering to turn his head. He was bandaged up, his arm in a sling, and a monitor had the steady beeping of his heart rate. 

“Why did you go after them!? Why did you fight them alone!?” Night went over to stand at the side of Host’s bed. 

“They said I couldn’t stop them, and I proved them wrong.” Host stated.

“They were almost right! Look at you.” Night made a face at his wording. “Don’t.” He said before Host could make his usual joke. 

“You should see the Demons.” Host decided to say that instead. 

“Congratulations, you killed them, but they almost did the same to you.” 

“But they didn’t.” 

“For fuck’s sake, Host! That’s not what the problem is!” Night ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

“My job is to protect others from dangerous Demons. Those Demons would have started hunting in that town if I didn’t stop them.” Host finally turned his face toward Night

“You could have gotten back up. You could have at least called Dark or someone who could help. You can’t do this on your own anymore.” 

“Because I’m blind?”

“Because you’ve been at this longer than some Hunters have been alive. Because you’ve earned the privilege to do your work from here. Because-”

“You can’t tell me I can only stay here. It’s not fair to have the other Hunters go out in the field while I hide behind a desk.” Host turned his head back away, wanting this conversation to end but refusing to back down. 

“You’re not hiding. You’re doing what is needed to keep them alive as well.” Night took hold of Host’s hand and squeezed it. 

“It’s selfish of me to not help as much as I can.” 

“It’s not.”

“It is.”

“Then you can call me selfish because I don’t want you to die.” Night’s voice cracked, and he placed his other hand on his chest. He felt this tightness in there and fought the tears threatening to form. “I love you, Host. I can’t lose you.” There was a long pause as the two stayed where they were before Host finally broke the silence. 

“You love me?” 

“Yeah…I’m sorry it took so long to say it.” Night lifted Host’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “I can be a bit stubborn.” 

“As can I.” Host took a deep breath. “Alright, I won’t go on my own anymore.” He swallowed and sniffed. “I love you, too.” 

“You better.” Night chuckled and leaned over to kiss Host. 

“Not going on my own or loving you back?” Host asked with a soft chuckle against Night’s lips.

“Both.” Night chuckled as well before kissing Host again. 

I love it! That spice at the end tho yowza 🥵

Ink Month 2023 Day 14

Precious

Night was sitting on the couch in the dimly lit room. The TV had automatically turned off at this point, and the only light source was a dying lightbulb from a lamp across the room. He didn’t care; he couldn’t move. Host had fallen asleep during the movie they were watching, his head rested in his lap, and Night couldn’t bear the thought of moving and waking him just yet. 

“So soft.” Night whispered to himself, running a hand through Host’s hair. “So peaceful.” He paused when Host hummed and nuzzled his head against Night’s legs a little before going still again. Host was known as a threat, cunning, and able to take down middle-ranks and possibly even high-ranks on his own with just a bat, but when he was asleep, it reminded Night of what he actually was.

Human. 

His Human. 

Host was fragile compared to him, but he was still the most wonderful and precious thing in his life. He’d fight and kill anyone or anything that would risk taking Host away from him. Night never thought he’d be with another again, let alone another Human, after what happened with Day, but…here he was. 

“You are truly one of the most unique Humans out there.” Night knew Host couldn’t hear him, lost in his dreams, and that made saying the words much easier. “I know there are several other Humans with Demon mates, well, ‘boyfriends’ for some of them.” He softly chuckled, knowing that those who weren’t claimed yet were likely to go down that route soon. Their adoration of each other was thick enough that Night could literally smell it. He honestly probably was radiating the same scent as he gently caressed Host’s face, rubbing his thumb against his cheek before tucking it under his cloth blindfold and then removing it. 

Night knew he had permission to remove said cloth when it was only himself and Host around. He and Edward were the only ones allowed to see him without it, never wanting to worry the others about the damage done to his face and eyes. Night didn’t know the story behind the scars, though. He wondered if he would be told one day or if that would just always remain a secret. 

“They may be with Demons, but I don’t think any other Human could be with the creator of them.” He continued as his hand slid down Host’s neck and then paused just past the crook of it, right where a claim mark would be. “And, maybe one day, you’ll be claimed by him as well…maybe even allow yourself to be turned into a Demon so he’ll never fear losing you to age.” Night could feel that temptation crawling up his spine. 

Host was asleep. He’d have no idea it was happening until it was too late, and they could live their full potential together. 

No.

He can’t do that.

Not unless Hosts tells me that he wants it. 

But until that day comes, or if it never does-

“I’ll keep you safe.” Night kissed Host’s forehead. That was the final thing to finally wake him.

“Huh? Night? Did I fall asleep again?” Host mumbled, opening his eyes and showing Night the wide, endless clouds that they were. 

“You did.” Night chuckled.

“We’re never going to get to watch a new movie at this rate.” Host grunted as he sat up. 

“I’d watch the same movie for the rest of eternity if it meant that you got some rest.” Night leaned back against the couch with another chuckle. “Since someone works himself too much.” 

“I do not work myself that much.” Host huffed, turning around and partially crawling across the couch until he found Night’s lap and sat on it. 

“Really? Because the last time I checked, I have to quite literally drag you from your office nearly every, well, I’d say night, but it’s basically morning by the time I get to you.” Night teased, resting his hands on Host’s hips. 

“Then you should get to me sooner if it’s that big of the problem.” Host teased back with a playful poke to Night’s chest. 

“Or I could make it so you won’t be able to work the next day~” Night purred and tightened his grip on Host. 

“I’d like to see you try.” Host would have been purring as well if he could. 

“Is that a challenge?” 

“It’s a dare.” 

“Get ready, then.” Night stood up, lifting Host with him like he weighed nothing, and was out of the living room and to the bedroom in a blink. 

*chef's kiss* hehe I want to believe after Night gives Host his lesson, he doesn't regret riling him up and is happy to be with him

Here's some Host trying out the brat game and teasing Night~ ----------

Host was known for his sass, not being afraid to speak his mind, and enjoying a playful tease. But those tended to be verbal. He wasn’t much for physicality, or at least wasn’t one to bring it up first. It just didn’t come to mind.

Today was a different day, a very different day. 

Today, Host came up with a new idea and knew Night was going to feel a certain way about it, and that made his idea sound more and more fun as he got everything set up. 

Night was currently getting ready for a meeting that Host knew he couldn’t get out of, one he had to attend and needed to leave in a few minutes to be there on time. And that meant he wouldn’t have time to do anything about what Host was about to do.

“You’re leaving soon, right?” Host asked from behind the bathroom door. 

“Yeah. It’s a quick meeting, so it’ll probably be a little less than an hour till I’m back.” Night explained, standing in front of the full-body mirror they had on the wall and fixing the collar of his shirt. 

“Hopefully, it won’t be too long.” Host added a hum to his voice as he opened the bathroom door and leaned against the frame, knowing the moment Night turned his head, he’d see everything. 

“Now, why are you saying it like…” Night’s voice got caught in his throat when he did what Host expected and turned his head, getting more than an eyeful of the outfit. 

“Everything alright?” Host asked, pretending that he didn’t know damn well why Night was struggling to breathe for a second.

He wore a matching pair of red panties and bralette, black lace roses along the edges, and there was a black sheer fabric that came from the bottom of the bralette and went down to the top of Host’s thighs. The usual bandage that covered his eyes was also replaced with a red one. 

“Oh, you are so not fair.” Night nearly growled. 

“What do you mean? I’m just getting dressed for the evening. Wanted to wear something comfortable.” Host played with the end of the sheer fabric. 

“You know I have to leave, and you wear that?” Night knew he needed to keep calm, that he needed to be fully collected by the time he left, but it was getting harder to in several meanings of the word. 

“Your leaving didn’t affect my choice of clothing.” Host played innocent and walked away from the door, heading for where the bed was. “Like I said-” He crawled across the bed and laid on his stomach, sticking his ass up in the air. “-Just wanted to be comfortable.” 

“You are going to be very sorry when I get back.” Night warned. 

“I look forward to it~” Host half-sang, pushing his ass up in the air a little more. Night cursed softly to himself and left in a snap of his fingers to prevent himself from caving into his temptations. “Being a brat is more fun than I thought.” Host hummed and rolled over to his back, happily waiting for Night to return and make true to his promise. 

----------

@ariesshower824

Haha!

Playing around a little more with horned!omegaverse with Phantom doing some touch-ups to Jackie’s horns

----------

Phantom softly hummed to himself as he iced some sugar cookies he made. He planned on going out and dropping off some of the cookies to the others. Mare’s sweet tooth seemed to have gotten worse since he and Mad became mates, so he made sure to make an extra batch just for those two. 

“Phan?”

Speaking of mates. 

“In the kitchen,” Phantom called, placing one of his finished cookies aside to have the royal icing dry before putting it with the others in the box. Jackie had fallen asleep on the couch earlier, and his hair was just as spiky as his horns. 

“Cookies?” Jackie asked as he smelled the air. 

“I got bored and wanted to try a new recipe,” Phantom explained as he sat his piping bag down. “And you look like you had the best nap.” He added with a giggle, reaching up in an attempt to fix Jackie’s hair. 

“Would have been better if you were there.” Jackie grinned and got another giggle from Phantom. 

“You are adorable.” Phantom guided Jackie down to kiss his forehead, getting a better look at Jackie’s horns. “When was the last time I freshened these up?” He asked with a hum, gently holding one of Jackie’s horns and rubbing his thumb against it. 

“Don’t know. We’ve been extra busy lately.” Jackie shrugged. 

“I have to wait for my next batch of cookies to cool off before I ice them. Maybe I can paint you while we wait.” Phantom offered. 

“I’m okay with that.” Jackie almost had a purr in his voice.

“If we also had tails, you’d be wagging it.” Phantom teased. “Come on, let me spoil you a little.” He took hold of Jackie’s hand and walked them to their bedroom. Jackie bounced up on the bed and laid on his back, having the biggest smile as he waited. Phantom went to the closet and took out his bottle of horn-paint, giving it a little shake. “Might need to get some more horn-paint next time we’re out.” He commented as he grabbed the rest of his supplies of brushes, paper towels, and a bottle of horn-paint remover. 

The look of the store clerk’s face was still fresh in Phantom’s mind when he had bought all of this stuff all those months ago. Usually, when an omega bought horn-paint, they’d avoid the remover. Not even looking in the direction of it and often even going to stores that didn’t even sell it. It was considered a jinx to buy both paint and remover at the same time, a sign to fate to ruin the relationship. Phantom didn’t care about superstitions and only cared about making the designs on Jackie’s horns as perfect as possible. Erasers were just as useful as pencils when it came to art. Remover was the same for horn-paint.  

“We should buy remover again. The clerk’s faces are always priceless.” Jackie laughed. 

“They think we’re tempting destiny to ruin us,” Phantom said as he crawled into the bed. He sat his supplies on the bedside table and adjusted Jackie’s head to rest on his lap. 

“It’d take more than destiny to take me away from you. I’d fight the universe you keep you by my side.” Jackie’s smile was soft and tender as he looked up at Phantom. Phantom felt his heart flutter, and he leaned over, kissing Jackie with his own soft smile. 

“I love you, too,” Phantom whispered against Jackie’s lips. Jackie fully purred this time and lifted his head to kiss Phantom back. Phantom kissed Jackie’s nose and sat back up. 

Jackie’s smile stayed as he watched Phantom work. How he poured a small amount of remover into the bottle’s cap before doing the same to the horn-paint. The look of pure concentration on Phantom’s face as he picked up one of the brushes and started painting over the slightly faded lines on his horns. He could even see the tip of Phantom’s tongue sticking out between his lips as he worked on the thinner lines, hand moving with precise grace and confidence. Eventually, Phantom started using the remover to sharpen the lines, and Jackie swore he fell more in love with this man every day. 

One day, he’ll have enough saved to add more rubies to the dark silver chains on Phantom’s horns. Maybe he’ll even ask for a raise soon. He wanted the best for Phantom.   

“And done.” Phantom half sang as he set his brush aside. “Well, with the front, I’ll take care of the back after this dries.” He took his phone out and turned the camera on, having it front-facing as he held it in front of Jackie’s face so he could see his horns. “What do you think?”

“Perfect as always.” Jackie praised, always adoring the lace-like pattern Phantom painted. “Just-”

“Just like me?” Phantom said for Jackie and got both of them to laugh. “You always say that.”

“And I always mean it,” Jackie said.

“You do.” Phantom agreed and went down for another kiss.

----------

@bookwormscififan

Damn what an ending

Meeting A Magical Man Pt. 69

Part 1: Link Prev: Link Next: [TBA]

Marvin turned his head at the sound of the wall being destroyed. He watched as Actor flew through the air and landed on the ground. 

Actor was still moving, still breathing. He was still alive. 

But with that look of pure rage in Mad’s eyes as he came down to the first floor. He might not be for long. 

He let his aura drop, more than confident that Mad could handle himself or, at least,  the others still standing would help since his mind returned and his focus returned to Chase. 

“If I wasn’t the one dealing with this poison bullshit, I’d be impressed.” Dark huffed as Marvin knelt down with him. 

“How’s he doing?” Marvin asked, placing a hand on Chase’s cheek and looking at him. 

He was pale. Very pale. 

“Alive. I’m certain adrenaline’s running out. Chase is going to feel the last bit of the healing. If you want to do that one trick you and JJ have, I suggest doing it now.” Dark was used to the smell of blood, but even he appeared to be done with it. 

“Hey, babe.” Chase held out the words and weakly laughed. 

“It’s okay, darling. You’re almost better.” Marvin knew he had handled the man who had done this to Chase. The cracking of his bones as he was slammed into the wall still echoed in his brain. He’ll get over it eventually. He always did.

“I’m, like, so warm, and-” Chase’s comment turned into a pain-filled scream. 

“Thought it’d hit sooner,” Dark said almost too casually. “Hold him still, or he’ll ruin everything I’ve done before I finish.” 

“Chase, Chase, sweetie, you need to stay still for a little longer.” Marvin pressed his hands to Chase’s shoulders. 

“It burns! Stop! Stop!” Chase screamed, legs kicking as if he was trying to run. 

“I need a minute!” Dark raised his voice so he could be heard over Chase. 

“I hate doing this,” Marvin said to himself. He shook his hands in the hair, getting them to glow before pressing both of them to the center of Chase’s chest. The glowing seeped into Chase and slowly started showing in his skin, going in lines that appeared to follow his veins. 

“I…I can’t feel anything.” Chase blinked away the tears that had formed in his moments of pain. His entire body was numb. He couldn’t move, paralyzed by magic. 

“It’s okay. Everything will be okay.” Marvin spoke through gritted teeth, tense with concentration. 

“Done.” Dark pulled his hands away. “Keep that up for a little longer to be sure he won’t start screaming again.” He looked at himself and his hands, caked in blood, and knowing that it was a miracle Chase was alive. 

“Shit.” Marvin only lasted a few more seconds before he stopped the spell, panting heavily and feeling pure exhaustion hit him hard. “I hate doing that so much.” 

“Longest you’ve been able to hold that spell,” Dark commented. “More practice and-”

“Shut up.” Marvin cut him off. “Not now.” 

“Understood.” Dark nodded

The three were too busy to notice Mike sneaking past them, walking with soft, deliberate steps before running over to where Mad and Actor were still fighting. 

Mad’s magic was more powerful, but Actor had much more training in fighting, knew how to move, to be one step ahead, and to conserve his energy. Actor was still going strong, but Mad was getting tired and stumbling, and Actor took one of his stumbles to his advantage. There were large chunks of debris from the hole in the upstairs wall, and, using some magic, Actor sent one of the pieces flying and slammed it into Mad’s side, knocking him over and pining him down with it. Actor knew Mad wouldn’t stay down long, so he lifted another piece and was ready to slam it down on Mad’s head. 

Everything happened in seconds, including the firing of a gun that sent a bullet through Actor’s leg and made him fall. 

Mad got the debris off of himself, beginning to feel the warmth of his own fire, a sign that he would lose control if he didn’t finish this soon. He stood up, legs trembling, desperation coursing through him, and felt a sickening coldness take over as he held a hand out toward Actor. A rope of flames came from what surrounded Mad and wrapped around Actor’s neck, hoisting him in the air. Actor screamed and clawed helplessly at his own neck, trying to get the fire off of him, but each movement caused the hole in his leg to bleed more, blood dripping to the floor, and his fighting got weaker and weaker. 

“He’s going to kill him,” Anti commented from where he and Mare watched. 

“Send me down there,” Mare said, dropping the broken, empty gun, hand pressed over his aching ribs, body begging for rest, but he refused to stop. 

“What? Dude, you’re a walking-”

“Send me down, or I’m jumping down there myself!” Mare snapped. 

“Fine, fine. Geeze.” Anti snapped his fingers and saw Mare appear on the first floor on Mad’s side of the room. 

“No!” Mike screamed, running to Mad and grabbing his arm, ignoring the pain as he got burned as well. “Let him go! Let him go! Please! Please let him go!” His voice cracked as he begged for Actor’s life.

Mad’s eyes looked empty as if he wasn’t there anymore. He didn’t react at all to Mike, to anything around him. He was tired. He was so tired and just wanted all of this to end. 

“Mad.” Mare spoke softly and walked up behind him. Even in his altered state of mind, Mad’s flames didn’t hurt Mare. “Starlight.” Mare placed a gentle hand on Mad’s shoulder and whispered in his ear. “Let him go.” There was a pause. It only lasted a second, but it clung to the air for what felt like forever. 

Eventually, Mad let his arm drop, nearly knocking Mike over, and his fire vanished. Mike scrambled over to Actor while Mad stared off at them. Mad sniffed and looked at Mare. 

“I want to go home.” 

“We will.”

“Wilford, mind healing up, Mare? He’s holding himself like someone with broken ribs.” Anti said after appearing next to Mare and Mad. 

“Ask JJ to numb him. It’ll make the healing go smoother.” Dark stated. Marvin and Chase walked over with him, Chase leaning against Marvin.

“We can do that back at the house.” Mare suggested. “I don’t think any of us want to stay here longer than necessary.” 

“Jackie?” Phantom moved his hands from Jackie’s eyes to his cheeks. 

“Are you done?” Jackie asked, voice soft.

“I’m done. I think I got your eyes are back to how they were before.” 

“Everyone else okay?” 

“They’re okay.” 

“Cool. Plug your ears.” 

“Why?”

“Trust me.” Jackie waited until Phantom covered his ears before letting out a shout. “Mother fucker! That hurt like a bitch! God damn! Holy shit balls!” 

“Jackie’s fine,” Marvin said with a weak giggle. 

“Dark.” Anti’s voice was quiet, but Marvin could pick up the firmness in it. “Don’t.” Marvin looked over his shoulder and saw that Dark had a glowing hand toward where Actor lay, Mike trying to cover him as much as he could with his own body.

“Hold him, please.” Marvin handed Chase over to Wilford. “I’ll be a moment.” He said before Chase could protest. 

“A dead man is a man we no longer have to worry about,” Dark said and breathed heavily through his nose when he had both Anti and Marvin lowering his hand. 

“We got this. Trust me.” Anti said, and when Dark said nothing, he moved to stand between Dark and Actor. “Do you trust me?” 

“I do,” Dark said with a sigh. 

“Then go wait with the others. Me and Marvin will only be a minute.” Anti waited as Dark hesitated before sighing again. 

“Fine. But I’m coming back if you take a second longer than a minute.” Dark warned before walking off to where everyone else was gathered. 

“Mare shot him somewhere he can recover from and still walk. He might have a limp, depending on how good the doctors you go to are,” Anti said to Mike, arms crossed and speaking casually. Marvin reached into his pocket and tossed a tube of burn cream. 

“I made the burn cream with magical elements. I’ve worked enough with Mad’s fire to know how to heal its effects. Rub that on his neck, and he’ll survive.” Marvin placed his hands on his hips. 

“What?” Mike picked up the tube. “Why?” 

“Because it’ll hurt him more to know he’s only alive because we let him live,” Marvin said. 

“Make sure he knows that if he ever tries to fuck with us again, there won’t be mercy.” Anti added. 

“Good luck.” Marvin clicked his tongue as he and Anti walked off. 

“We’re just leaving them?” Chase asked.

“Yep. Let’s go home.” Marvin took Chase from Wilford. “Can you send us back, Wilford? I think I’m out of juice.”

“Can do!” Wilford’s cheery tone felt strange with the rest of the energy in the room and, with a snap of his fingers, sent them all away from the mess of bodies, blood, and pain. 

----------

Tags: @brokentimewatch @bookwormscififan @d-structive @rainymae523 @ashtonisvibing

Sweet

A/N: A little thing for @ariesshower824 with Host and his sweet tooth.

-

"What are you doing still writing?" Night asked as he stepped into Host's office, seeing him still typing away at his computer. "Your novel can wait for a few hours while you rest."

"I... I admit I lost track of time," Host said sheepishly, saving his document and turning off the computer before turning in his chair to face Night. "Thank you for coming to get me."

"I don't want my love too tired and sleeping in his office," Night replied with a chuckle, helping Host out of his seat and leading him down the hall to their bedroom, gently guiding him to sit down before moving to get the wound dressing supplies.

"Are you going to change my wrappings?” Host asked, tilting his head as he listened to Night gathering items. “I assume that’s due to the feeling of my eyes leaking, in which case I thank you.”

“Sit still,” Night said softly, climbing onto the bed to kneel in front of Host, beginning to remove his bandages and toss them aside. “Lift your chin slightly.” Carefully, Night cleaned the area around Host’s eyes, making sure to keep the skin as clean as possible to avoid infection.

“I swear, you’re better at changing these bandages than me,” Host joked, tilting his head while Night wrapped a fresh bandage around his eyes. “Thank you for changing them, dear,” he said when Night tucked the end of the bandage into the wrapping and sat back.

“Here, open,” he said, waiting for Host to open his mouth before popping a small chocolate onto his tongue, waiting as Host closed his mouth and considered the flavour before smiling.

“Chocolate. Sweet.” He lifted his arms as Night moved to remove his shirt, clambering off the bed to remove his pants before crawling back under the covers, waiting for Night to lay down.

“Not as sweet as you,” Night replied, holding Host close and smiling as he nuzzled his face into the crook of his neck. “I love you, grand writer.”

“I love you, too, dear,” Host whispered, curling up beside Night and falling asleep.

-----------

@iamvegorott @brokentimewatch

Don't Starve Emotions Ch. 11

AO3: Link

Beefalo Spotting

“So…what do Beefalo look like?” Jackie asked, both hands resting on his forehead, using them like a sun visor. 

“You’re just now asking this?” Phantom asked back with a laugh. “We’ve looked the whole day, it’s literally turning into dusk as we speak.” The sky changed colors while he was talking, adding to his point. 

“I was hoping you’d notice it first or it’ll be like really obvious but it just hit me that there’s a chance I’ve missed it because I know nothing about this game.” Jackie had a weak laugh with his confession. 

“Well, you’re right about it being really obvious and we definitely didn’t pass by them. Even without knowing you would absolutely have some sort of reaction if you saw massive mammoth-size fluff balls.” Phantom’s laugh was stronger. 

“Oh yeah, no massive mammoths.” Jackie lowered his arms when there wasn’t sun in his eyes anymore. 

“I hope we find them soon. If they’re too far away, we’ll need to move camp since we can’t use a whole day just to travel whenever we need something from the Beefalo, but we can’t be too close if we end up here through more than one season.” Phantom slipped off his backpack and pulled out the supplies to make some torches so they could continue searching through the night. 

“What changes with seasons?” Jackie asked, taking the grass and twigs that were handed to him. 

“Babies.”

“Babies?” 

“The Beefalos get red butts, get aggressive, and then they have babies.” Phantom went ahead and made a torch as the sky started going dark. Jackie quickly made himself a torch as well

“They get red butts and have babies?” 

“They go into heat.” Phantom held his torch so his face was lit perfectly for Jackie to see. “Can’t blame their aggression. Who doesn’t get a little spicy when horny?” He winked at Jackie before walking. Jackie had to pause and take a moment to get his brain back into his head, knowing the warmth on his face wasn’t from the fire he held. He only needed a few big steps until he caught up with Phantom.  

“Hopefully we get out of here before-” Jackie’s comment got cut off by a deep rumbling sound, something he just couldn’t quite place what it was, almost making him think it was a damaged trumpet. “What?”

“Beefalo!” Phantom cheered and took off. Jackie was again caught off guard and had to chase after Phantom, using the light from his torch to know where to go. “They’re even cuter in person!” 

“Holy shit.” Jackie knew Phantom said the Beefalos were going to be big, but he never imagined they would be that big. Mammoth was an accurate description since they were the size of elephants and looked like puffballs of fur. 

“Look at these handsome fellows.” Phantom chuckled, walking up to one of the Beefalo and gently petting their side. The Beefalo made another rumbling sound, much softer than what they heard earlier. 

“I get their name now,” Jackie said as he joined Phantom. “Like buffalo.” He smiled when Phantom laughed, a soft, kind laugh. 

“It’s not so bad once you get into it.” Phantom stepped closer to Jackie until their shoulders were touching. “A lot of things sound scary and confusing but it’s actually really fun and nice.” 

“Yeah…” Jackie nearly whispered his agreement, seeing that his hand was getting closer to Phantom’s. He thickly swallowed as he slowly moved his hand, feeling a flutter in his chest when he placed his hand on top of Phantom’s. That fluttering grew as Phantom kept his hand in place and looked at him. Even with the limited lighting, Phantom’s eyes were shining bright and his smile was even brighter. 

Jackie felt those thoughts from before returning, thoughts of how Phantom was never afraid to be himself, blunt in the best way but also willing to go out of his way for those he cared for. How he was fun and charming and able to make anyone laugh…and then that fear hit him as well. It hit him hard when he noticed Phantom leaning closer to him, the sun rising and adding beautiful hues to the world around them, making the moment perfect. 

It was more than perfect…

And that terrified Jackie.

“We should let the others know we found the Beefalo.” Jackie turned away, breaking the moment himself this time. 

Maybe he should talk with Chase about this. He hated the pain in his heart this was causing him and it stung more knowing he was likely hurting Phantom as well.

“Oh…okay.” Phantom tried not to sound disappointed, lowering his torch to make it stop burning as he walked with Jackie.

x~x~x

“The more seeds the better. If we find Beefalo, then we can make gardens and those make much better foods to put into our crockpots.” Mad said as he flipped through the blueprint book, noting what they’d need to make more supplies. “Berries are nice but we’re going to want more filling food before we run out of those.” He had been walking in circles, trying to put things into organized piles and Mare had literally grabbed his shoulders to make him be still for a moment and it technically worked, aside from Mad’s hands on the book. “When Phantom and Jackie get back, depending on where the Beefalo are, we might have to move camp, if not, we can work on making chests which means we’ll need a lot more wood and I mean a lot. If we’re trying to make everything while surviving we’re going to need a lot of things and some of the stuff we need doesn’t stack and we’ll need separate chests for those items so they don’t-”

“How do you still have air in your lungs?” Anti said with a laugh. “I don’t think you’ve breathed once during all that.” 

“I bet the talent was very nice when he and Mare were having fun earlier.” Marvin chuckled.

“Did you guys actually fuck out there?” Anti asked Mad, who went stiff and red in the face. 

“Much braver than me and that’s saying something.” Marvin nudged Mad with his elbow and he and Anti started laughing when Mad just blushed deeper. 

“Alright, that’s enough. We-”

“There’s Phantom!” Mad slipped away from the three and rushed to meet Phantom and Jackie. 

“We found Beefalo, about a day away, we might want to move just a bit closer,” Phantom said as soon as Mad reached him. 

“Were there a lot of them?”

“A whole field and then some.”

“Perfect!” Mad was back to buzzing with endless thoughts. “After Illinois and Yancy return with more rabbits, we’ll start packing what we have and use Bing’s map to decide the best place to go. Maybe there’s a rock field we can camp near as well, we’ll have to check for our bird friend, we’ll need to warn everyone about that and-”

“Mare, your boyfriend’s not breathing again!” Phantom called out with the biggest grin. 

“I am breathing!” 

Excellent as always!

Carried Away

For @ariesshower824 Here's some Host working way too late, and Night deciding it's time to head home

Carried Away

Night knew that his mate had the habit of working late enough that it would technically be the next day, and tonight was one of those times. The Demon creator strolled through the nearly empty halls, hearing the last remaining Humans cursing at themselves for losing track of time or having their own Demon partners trying to get them to leave. It was a bit funny hearing his own kind being so attached to their Humans, much like how he was to his own.

Night paused and watched one of The Twins carrying the head Researcher out of his office, giving him an idea of how to handle his workaholic.

"Have a good evening, Mare." Night nodded a bit with his parting words. "And good luck with your pouting Human."

"I'm not pouting!" Mad protested through his pout, arms crossed as he was held over Mare's shoulder.

"Try to get some sleep, Madrick. Work cannot be done if you're too tired." Night advised, chuckling when Mad just continued his pout with a huff.

"See you tomorrow." Mare gave a little salute before walking off. Night just gave another nod and resumed his journey to Host's office. "Owl? It's time to head home." Night said as he stepped into the room, not bothering with knocking.

"Let me finish these last few pages, and we can go." Host ran his fingers over the page he was on.

"Those pages will still be here tomorrow," Night stated, going to Host's desk.

"I'm already in the middle of them, might as well finish before I lose my motivation." Host stated back, pausing when he felt Night's hands on his shoulders.

"You never lose motivation, owl. You're always ready to work." Night hummed and began working on the knots in Host's shoulders, grinning when he saw his mate melting a little.

"I'll only need five minutes." Host was still trying to fight against calling it a day.

"Five minutes turn into twenty, and twenty turns into an hour. I know how this goes."

"I am not that bad."

"You can be." Night leaned over and whispered into Host's ear, deciding to go with the idea he had earlier. "And I am three seconds away from just carrying you home."

"You would never." Host scoffed.

"One." Night nearly purred his count.

"You're being ridiculous."

"Two."

"You're not actually going to do that."

"Three."

"Night!" Host yelped in shock when Night turned his chair and pulled him out of it. "Put me down this instant!" He demanded as he found himself up in Night's arms.

"Nope. I warned you that I would carry you. And I always follow through." Night began heading out of the office. "And everyone else has already gone, so there is no worry about being seen like this."

"That is not my concern."

"Tell that to your blush."

"I am not-!"

"Perhaps we could help ourselves to some of those chocolates I bought this morning. A sweet treat before bed." Night grinned when that offer got Host to stop.

"You're not playing fair." Host huffed, resting his head on Night's shoulder and allowing himself to be carried out of the building with no more resistance.

"I love you too."