He died. He fucking died. Finally, Eddie Munson - lifelong coward, lifelong runner away from all things scary - did the brave thing, took the stand against evil and what the fuck is his reward? Death.
This is just fucking great.
“Eeeeddie.” An eerie voice creeps from inside the darkness of oblivion that Eddie has found himself in. “Eddie Munson. I want to make a deal with you. For your life.”
Eddie’s not an idiot. He knows how this goes, he’s been playing Dungeons and Dragons since its creation. He knows exactly what happens when a disembodied voice promises you things while you’re in the fugue state of death.
“Thanks, but no thanks!” He tries to shout, but it doesn’t come out any louder than his regular voice, and gets swallowed up by the darkness almost immediately.
“Oh, Eddie. Are you sure?” He can almost feel the voice curling around him, cloying but empty like cigarette smoke. “I can promise you vengeance against those who’ve wronged you. I can make you powerful. Unstoppable- unkillable, even. I can give you a second chance at life. All you have to do is pledge your allegiance to me.”
Usually Eddie sleeps through his history classes, but even he knows that pledging allegiance blindly is how genocide happens, who the fuck does Vecna think he’s fooling?
“Fuck that, man!” He attempts to yell into the void again. “Eddie Munson is no champion for the evil bad guy. No, thank you!”
An echoing voice breaks through the mist in answer. It sounds like two voices layered on top of each other, one hopeful, the other weary, but both resolute. “We can offer another choice. We can put you back. You can save everyone, but you’ll have to start at the beginning. It will not be easy, but you can stop him. Do you accept?”
Well. Fuck.
* * * * *
Read the whole fic on Ao3: End of The Beginning
Relationships: Will Byers & Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson
Characters: Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler, Barbara "Barb" Holland, Jonathan Byers, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Joyce Byers, Jim "Chief" Hopper
Additional Tags: Canon Compliant(kind of), Everybody Lives, Alternate Universe (but also the same), Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang 2023-2024, Inspired by Art, Time Loop (but not really)
Word count: 12,440
Rated M but just for language and themes (no smut, sorry my dudes)
No archive warnings
Artist: @alduade-art
Betas: Ash (who’s not on tumblr) and @alduade-art
Thanks to the mods @strangerthingsreversebigbang for being totally easy to work with and on top of everything all the time! This event was great!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Leo Fitz/Jemma Simmons
Characters: Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons
Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Idiots to lovers too, Through the Years, Canon-ish, Fitzsimmons Secret Santa 2023
Summary:
Jemma Simmons absolutely does not have a crush on her best friend and lab partner. It's just the constant presence of a parasitic plant at this time of year that brings out these urges, she swears.
Or, all the times Jemma nearly plants a kiss on Fitz, and one time he finally manages to plant one on her.
A/N: I'm trying my hand at a Sam Winchester centric fiction. The 3 part mini-series will be posted after Law & Love ends. Read on for a synopsis
Sam has been keeping a secret from Dean. For a while now - it’s killing him but he doesn’t know how to explain it to his older brother. How do you tell someone you’ve looked up to your whole life that you’ve finally found someone who gets you; who has the same sexual energy, desires and fetishes? And that she’s older than both of them.
Dean would probably not bat an eye, even be proud of his little brother for a moment. Until he found out who Sam has been sneaking around with.
Send me an ask if you want tagged. My forevers will automatically be tagged.
thanks for the tags @isahorcrux and @thequibblah I waiting for another Sunday to roll around but this week hasn't actually been seven days has it?
this is from Class of '78
tagging @firefeufuego @theswanhero @kay-elle-cee @crimson-snitch @sunshinemarauder and anyone who fancies sharing something
Happy Sunday, lovelies! Here’s a snippet from Revival, the 5x05 rewrite I’ve been plotting for months now. It’s angsty and smutty! Two of my favorite things to write. Coming this Friday!!
They talk about everything. He tells her things that he hasn’t spoken a single word about in years. He thought that things might be awkward but it’s not there. It feels like he’s talking to his old friend — which, he guesses, is all she is now.
Just a friend. Purely platonic.
To his alcohol-induced mind, that word is the most reprehensible one in the entirety of the English language. It bothers him more than he’d like to admit. Because he can’t still love her, can he? He hasn’t let himself think about that possibility for so long now that it feels weird, digging up these memories and feelings he so desperately forced himself to repress.
They have too much history to be just friends. For Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones, they can never be just friends.
“For the first two years, I couldn’t sleep on the right side of the bed.”
Her revelation comes so unexpectedly, like a random, torrential downpour in the heat of mid-summer. It pelts down against his skin in a violent rush, each metaphorical drop leaving a red welt with its impact. His blood rushes through his veins, simmering at the surface.
Even now, seven long years later, she can still affect him like this.
Featuring: Female Hunter Reader, Dean Winchester and Sam
Summary: Dean calls her back into their lives because Chuck is on the rampage. Can they put the past behind them and save the world?
Word Count: 2485
Warnings: Unrequited feelings, loss of a surrogate family member, angst. Flashbacks in italics.
Series Masterlist
“Actually--- I just miss you.”
I pause because it sounds sincere, but my logical side wins before I can let myself trip into the ‘what if’ pit.
“Bullshit, Winchester, what do you want?” I call him out, waiting for whatever end of the world freighttrain they derailed this time. After crossing dimensions to find their resurrected mom with help from the son of the Devil, I thought maybe they would have calmed down. Apparently, none of us are that lucky.
“Listen, we’re on God’s radar and since you’re in the books, we figured you might want in when we gank him,” Dean offers like he was doing me a favor. At best it comes off as a neatly packaged warning.
“I was in one of your trashy novels and you think he’s gonna come looking for me?” I stew and slip the nozzle into my gas tank. “Look, if you want help, say the word I’ll be there. But don’t set your crusade on my shoulders just to feel better about asking for it.”
“Look, Chuck’s already taken out Becky. You do remember Becky, don’t you?” Dean does not let it go. Of course I remembered Becky, the girl was stupid enough to trust a demon and use a love potion on Sam. The worst kind of civilian was the desperate kind.
“Are you sure that wasn’t personal? Didn’t they have a thing?” I push back, eying the numbers counting up my total.
“You’re impossible, you know that?” Dean mutters. “Fine! Let’s say we’re calling in a favor. Happy?! Get here when you can.”
He hangs up before I can answer. I refuse my receipt and slip back into my truck. Somehow, Kansas is never far enough away.
“What’d she say?” Sam asks Dean as he settles back into his seat at the library table.
“She practically made me beg her to come,” Dean groans, tossing his phone onto the table.
“Good,” Sam states simply, unphased by Dean’s reproach.
“I forgot you were on her side,” Dean snips, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I wasn’t on anybody’s side! You were a dick,” Sam reminds him.
“Look, let’s not rehash that whole mess right now, okay? I cut the cord, she moved on. We’re all better for it,” Dean sets the record straight.
Sam doesn’t say anything for a few moments, letting Dean sit in his own shit for a while. “It will be good to see her, all things considered.”
Dean sighs, hangs his head and nods. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
I was fourteen and Dean Winchester was the most beautiful asshole imaginable. His oversized leather jacket and wrists full of charms and twine placed him that much further out of my league. Add in the five year age difference and I wasn’t even a blip on his radar.
By the time Sam left for Stanford, I was no longer a thorn in their sides, thanks to John Winchester pissing off the small circle of hunters my parents trusted one after another. I sure missed them in the in-between years, though.
I shake my head at my sudden clarity, nostalgia be damned. I was a naive kid and it hurts looking back at how things must have really been like. I let it go, for the next stretch of highway at least. No sense letting the sour taste linger.
If I keep her steady, I might make it before midnight.
Dean isn’t waiting up for her, he isn’t. He’s looking for signs of Chuck. He’s keeping busy, he wouldn’t be sleeping anyway.
He knows getting her back to the bunker is a mixed bag of stupid. But seeing her home safe is more pressing than his ego or even her feelings. He can protect her here, or try to.
He can do that part right.
I don’t want to knock, but Sam’s not answering his phone. And calling Dean back feels too much like being the bigger person. I kick the massive reinforced door and hedge my bets.
I mentally walk the bunker as I wait, counting the steps. I don’t make it to the library by the time the door swings open. Dean looks worse for the wear, but he doesn’t recoil at the sight of me, which is progress I suppose.
Well, he shouldn’t, he’s the one who called me.
“Hey,” I break the silence.
“Thanks for coming,” Dean takes me in and I feel very small. “Just come here and get this over with?”
I raise my hands awkwardly and give him a hug, a passing bro hug, where my tits don’t get smushed and we don’t have time to get a whiff of each other.
“Okay,” Dean huffs, emphasising the forced familiarity of it all.
“So, where’s Sam? He didn’t answer.” I trudge down the stairs, bag casually over my shoulder.
“Probably silenced it, he went to bed an hour or so ago,” Dean explains.
“Smart man,” I groan out as I stretch out my back. “So, is it do or die or do I have a shot at a few winks?”
“Have at it, room’s still there.” Dean nods toward the hallway. “I’ll fill you in in the morning.”
I start towards the silent siren’s call of clean sheets, but stop as I realize Dean isn’t following. I turn around and see him tipping back a beer as he scrolls for cases. “Anybody else on the way?”
“What? Oh, nope, just you, for now. We have our feelers out if it goes south, but lots of folks are needed where they are.” Dean is trying to downplay my part already.
“So you’re just trolling for cases because you like looking like shit on toast or because this has got you so wound up you can’t sleep?” I need to know what I am walking into.
“You know, I was gonna say you looked good, but now I’m really glad I didn’t bother.” Dean rolls his eyes and takes another long pull of his beer.
“Get some sleep, Dean. I’ll be here to annoy you when you wake up,” I call over my shoulder, not bothering to wait for his lackluster rebuttal.
Someone moved the griddle and I am losing my mind trying to find it. The kitchen is not that big, where could it have gone?! I am not spiraling with the suffocating reality that life went on in my absence or anything, I just want to make some damn food already.
I am now lowered to checking under the cabinets, on all fours like a dog whose favorite ball is stuck under the couch. Somebody stomps down the steps behind me and I try not to flinch when Dean grunts, “here.”
I crane my head up and he’s got it in his hand, he doesn’t smile.
“I take it you’re lookin’ for this?” Dean hands it to me by the handle, like he is offering me a weapon.
“Thanks, who moved it anyway?” I grumble, trying to regain some composure with the quelling adrenaline from the search.
“That would be Mrs. Butters,” Dean said. “Forest nymph, like a psycho Mary Poppins.”
“What’s more psycho than Mary Poppins?” It slips out and I just let it hang there.
“Anyway, she left, so feel free to put it back where it was,” Dean shuffles to the coffee maker. He’s in his robe and his hair is mussed and I find no satisfaction that he actually made it to bed. “You know, when you’re done banging around long enough to actually use it.”
So, I woke him… of course I did.
“I didn’t mean to,” I say to the batter, willing it to purge the shame crawling over my skin.
Dean steps closer and mumbles, “‘s fine, I was already up.”
I start whisking and swallow down the apology, my mother tongue always there beneath the surface. The bacon crackles in the pan and the coffee is a welcome burn against the other things that try to escape my throat. Once I hear the telltale sounds of Sam coming in from his run, the whole day seems brighter.
How could I forget one while trying not to stare at the other?
I feel Dean wake up more as I start plating up each part of the meal, family style which feels appropriate after so long. He doesn’t say anything but I earn some bright eyes as the food makes it onto the table.
“Save some for your brother,” I warn with a stern flipper.
“Whate-er, he cand fis ‘or himsef,” Dean mutters, mouth already full of bacon.
I can’t help but shake my head and holler for Sam to get in here already.
“P-P-P-AAAAAAAAAAAN-CAKES!” I bellow like a boxing ring announcer, breaking off horribly as Sam starts to laugh at me. That gentle rumble setting down the last of my worries. He drapes his arm over my shoulder and leans in to kiss my cheek. I scrunch my face up and squirm away, because that’s what we’ve always done: affection and deflection as comic relief.
“Over there, Legs, before Grumpus gets it all,” I insist, scraping the last of the batter out of the bowl. I feel it before I even sit down, they’re fighting. Sam doesn’t look in Dean’s direction and Dean’s eyes are shaded in practiced indifference somewhere over my left shoulder.
It is going to be one of those cases.
Dean remembers when they met back up, the first time. It was right after those idiotic Ghostfacers busted in on the Morton House, before Hell. But it wasn’t the actual memory of the case that haunts Dean about that day. It was the way Chuck wrote about it, about her.
“A chubby girl, just younger than Sam, she always held a candle for Dean. But, Dean was always too busy to notice, or to care.”
He hated himself for that once he read it. And now, he just hates Chuck all the more for planting it in his head in the first place. If he had figured it out on his own, maybe he could have handled it better. Maybe if Chuck hadn’t been pulling the strings she wouldn’t have been dragged along, again.
Did he call her because he wanted to keep her safe? Or did he call her because Chuck wants her to suffer with them?
It was Sam’s idea. Which doesn’t mean it wasn’t part of Chuck’s plan, but somehow it’s still better than if it was his own.
He wonders if she’s ever read the books, but then he cranks the brake on that train of thought because he doesn’t want to believe that’s the Dean she knows.
Unity
She struts into the kitchen like she is walking down a runaway. Her presence radiates elegance, control, and whispers of something so ancient the names the angels gave her cannot truly convey her power. Amara has breached the bunker and I am frozen on the spot.
“Oh, hi,” she says, voice deep and completely casual.
I force myself to breathe.
She passes me by to rifle through the refrigerator--- for a beer? And that’s when Sam and Dean find us. She’s got intel. Of course she does, because a twelve hour scour through the lore last night with Sam got us nowhere. Dean’s plan, or Death’s plan is still the prize hog.
Chuck is Earthside. Or at least that’s what she says. I’m getting the feeling this sudden appearance could have been an email, but I keep that to myself. The last time I made the mistake of questioning her intentions she nearly ate my soul. Some days I still wonder if I would have been better off if she had.
Jack looks like she’s come to take his binky, but he bucks up fast. He may not be a Winchester, but he can lie like one. Sam looks like he’s going to be sick. And I am utterly useless during the entire exchange. What am I even doing here?
Dean doesn’t realize how he shifts to face Amara, how his body literally gravitates to her side. But I still catch it, because she’s always had his full attention and I was just the idiot watching from the rafters. A mere mortal who was not made for such cosmic stages.
They wander off, conspiring or worse and I remind myself that it is none of my business.
Jack asks if Sam is angry, but he nails it when he figures out Sam is disappointed. Leave it to Sam to rise above his own feelings to reassure the kid, “Jack, look... I wish you'd have been up front with us. But sacrificing your life for a cause... takes a lot of courage. I still think it's wrong, though.”
Then Dean spears through their moment with a mission, and Jack jumps to it. Oh, bub. I start to worry Dean’s done something to make Jack so desperate for his approval. Something John-like. If you do well, will you not be accepted?
Amara’s apparently gone and Dean forgot I’m here. Sam is no better. They used to do this a lot, it’s nothing new. But it isn’t the fun kind of familiar, it’s the commercial you’ve been avoiding by flipping through the stations only to land back on it in the end.
As I start to squirm with the tension, Sam remembers I exist long enough to make me part of his out. At least I get to be useful by proxy. “That's not what I'm doing. Besides, she just got here, we can’t just ditch her when we called in the favor.”
“You don't even have any leads!” Dean is pissed.
And they’re off. Fighting, not arguing, not bickering. Full on righteous anger and booming baritones. I barely keep up before Jack walks in on Dean justifying his demise.
“---But he's not like you. He's not like Cas. He's just not.”
I am unsurprised my name is missing from that oh so select list.
I watch Sam watch them leave and I need to move. I rush over and give the kid a hug before Dean can bite my head off for messing with their departure window.
“Make him play the alphabet game near any major city and don’t let him cheat by talking over you to claim a word,” I tell Jack sternly. Dean looks at me like I just signed his death sentence, but keeps his trap shut.
I silently dare him to bury himself deeper.
Sam clears his throat and the moment of reprieve is broken. Dean and Jack leave. It feels wrong to have Sam without Dean. Especially because I know it is a true divide and not just a physical separation. My chest crowds in on itself to pick up the splinters, but they’re someone else’s mess to clean up. And I’m stupid enough to wait around and see if they can.
Hi guys~! So it’s my OC Neva’s birthday today 🥰! I decided to write this for her (i had another moodboard for her but its very spoiler-y for Fractured)! Also to clear something up, Vangeance isn’t ordering them to throw her a party he’s ordering them to take the day off 😅! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this I had so much fun, its not really canon for Fractured but it has some parts from my series in it!
Taglist: @thoughtfullyrainynightmare @succulentsunrise (i wasn’t sure if you wanted to read this or not 😅)
Word Count: 3,784
Warnings: None
———
Neva couldn’t stop the sigh from escaping her as she looked at the calendar. It was March 31st; her birthday. She hadn’t told anyone, except for the Captain, and as far as she knew he was the only one that knew. She never made a big deal out of it, mostly the Captain would give her the day off, although when she was younger he tended to buy her a couple of gifts. But she had made him stop when she turned 15 and had made the decision to join the magic knights, she didn’t want anyone to know that they knew each other beforehand. She quickly tied the bottom of her braid with her small ribbon and looked at her reflection again.
“ Gods I’m getting old.”
“ Neva, are you awake?” She heard Mimosa call from the other side of her bedroom door, Neva stood up and walked towards the door and opened it.
“ Yeah, what’s up?” Neva asked as she noticed Klaus and Yuno were standing behind her, Neva leaned against her door frame and crossed her arms.
“ We’re headed out on a mission, just some bandits in the woods nearby, are you ready to go?” Mimosa asked, Neva blinked, usually she wouldn’t turn down such a mission, but today wasn’t a usual day.
“ Sorry, I can’t. I have the day off.” She shrugged and watched the surprise flash across her friends' faces.
“ T-The day off? You never have the day off!” Klaus said in disbelief. He wasn’t wrong, Neva never wanted to take a day off, she loved her job and always wanted a chance to prove herself to everyone. But not today, today she just wanted some peace and quiet.
“ I know. But I just felt like it was time y’know?” She told them before pushing herself off the door frame, she walked past the threshold and closed it behind her. “ You guys go and take care of the bandits, and be careful alright?” She told them before walking past them and down the hall. There was a certain spot at the base where she liked to hang out on her birthday, and that's where she was headed.
Yuno and the others blinked as she walked away, why didn’t she want to go on a mission? Was she ill? Yuno had no clue, but it wasn’t like her. Maybe...she was going to meet someone? He shook his head, no, that wasn’t it. She would’ve mentioned it if she was dating someone, wouldn’t she? Even if she was seeing someone, why would he care?
“ Yuno,” Klaus called, suddenly pulling Yuno out of his thoughts. “ Has Neva told you anything? Like if she were sick or she had a prior engagement?” He asked as he crossed his arms, Yuno shrugged.
“ No. Why would she?” He asked a little confused, why would she tell him something but not the others?
“ Well, you two do hang out a lot more. I always see you talking in the halls, going around the capital, and even going on missions together. So I assumed she maybe would have mentioned something.” Klaus said with a shrug, Yuno frowned, they weren’t always together were they? I mean, there have been a few times that it was only the two of them, but it wasn’t anything like what Klaus was insinuating.
“ No, and we don’t hang out all the time. We just happen to always be going in similar directions is all.” Yuno told him, he noticed the disbelief in their eyes and he glared. “ Stop it. You’re trying to make it into something that it isn’t.” He muttered before walking away.
“ Uh-huh, so it’s all just a coincidence?” Mimosa teased in a hushed tone as she followed behind him.
“ One time is what I’d call a coincidence, multiple times though, usually means something.” Klaus muttered as he also followed behind them. Klaus and Mimosa began whispering amongst themselves, counting all the times they had seen the two talking, joking around, and training together. It was more than just mere coincidences.
They liked each other.
———-
As the three Golden Dawn members walked through the halls they noticed their captain, William Vangeance, walking out of his office. He turned to them with a slight frown on his face.
“ I thought you three had already left for your mission?” He asked in a somewhat confused tone, he had briefed them a few minutes ago so he assumed they would already be on their way to the bandits location by now.
“ We went to go get Neva and bring her with us, but she said she had the day off sir.” Mimosa explained, the Captain chuckled softly before nodding.
“ Of course she does, she always gets today off every year.” He told them, he watched as confusion spread across the others faces. His eyebrows raised in slight surprise. “ Oh, I guess she didn’t tell you. It’s her birthday today. I always give her today off, I assumed she would have told you three.” He added with a frown, to say he was completely surprised that she neglected to tell her friends would be a lie. As far as he knew he was the only one who knew her birthday was today.
“ It’s her birthday?!” All three exclaimed in surprise, they had absolutely no idea. She never mentioned it, not even once. She knew all of their birthdays, but not one of them knew hers. The Captain nodded.
“ Yes it is,” he chuckled softly. “ she probably forgot to mention it.” Yuno frowned slightly at the look in his captain's eyes, it was as though he knew that Neva hadn’t forgotten to mention it. But Yuno didn’t push him on it, he knew he would just give another excuse.
“ How about this; I’ll give your mission to Alecdora and a couple of others and you three can have the day off as well? I’m sure you’ll want to give Neva presents and maybe a cake.” Vangeance told them with a small smile, Yuno picked up on the tone. It wasn’t a question, it was an order. The three of them wouldn’t be going on that mission today.
“ Is that an order Captain?” Yuno asked, even though he already knew the answer. Vangeance nodded, his smile never leaving his face.
“ If that's the only way any of you will listen, then yes, it is.” Vangeance said before turning to walk away. ‘ Do try to make it fun and memorable for her, please. She deserves it.’ He thought with a small smile as he walked away, leaving the three Golden Dawn members alone.
Yuno, Mimosa, and Klaus just stared at him as he walked away. They were given the day off as well? Actually, they were ordered too. But the three of them didn’t really mind, as now they could plan something for Neva’s birthday.
“ Alright team, new plan!” Klaus announced with a clap of his hands, the others looked at him. “ Neva currently thinks we’re on our way to the bandits hideout, now that’ll give us a couple of hours to buy things and plan a party.So, who wants to be in charge of what?” He asked before crossing his arms.
“ Ooh I can get stuff to make her a birthday cake!” Mimosa said cheerfully, the others frowned.
“ Why don’t we just buy her a cake?” Yuno asked in a confused tone, he wondered if Mimosa even knew how to cook let alone bake. It would just be easier to buy one, he even knew where her favorite bakery was and could go get it.
“ Because it’ll mean more if we make it ourselves!” Mimosa argued as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “ Hm, should we all buy her separate presents or all get one together?” Mimosa thought aloud as she put a hand under her chin. Klaus frowned in thought also.
“ Hm, I say we all agree on something. That way it’ll mean more and she’ll know we were all thinking of her.” Klaus decided, Yuno smirked a bit.
“ You’re only saying that because we don’t have time to go shopping on our own.” Yuno watched Klaus blush furiously as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
“ N-No, that’s not the only reason!” Klaus exclaimed before clearing his throat. “ Anyway, let’s go figure out somewhere we can plan more discreetly. Just in case Neva happens to see us.” Klaus added before walking away, Mimosa and Yuno followed.
——-
“ Ok, so we have all the stuff for a cake, and we have some decorations. Now all we need is a gift!” Mimosa said as she set all the ingredients to make a cake down on the table, they had asked to borrow the kitchen and mess hall for a short while and, luckily, they were given permission to do so. Yuno frowned as he looked over the ingredients, he noticed there was a key ingredient missing.
“ Where’s the cocoa powder?” He asked Mimosa, who turned to him with a confused frown.
“ Cocoa powder? I didn’t pick any up.” Mimosa said, looking very confused, Klaus did as well. Yuno sighed and shook his head before going over to the cabinets and looking through them.
“ Neva’s favorite cake is chocolate, especially if it has a strawberry filling in the middle. As far as icing goes she isn’t really picky, she’ll pretty much take anything as long as it isn’t too sweet. She also likes to have a little crunch so if we can find some vanilla cookies maybe we can put those around it, why are you two looking at me like that?” Yuno asked with a frown.
Mimosa and Klaus were just staring at him, wide eyes and raised eyebrows. Yuno didn’t really try to get to know anyone, much like Neva, so for him to know what her favorite cake was, is pretty surprising. Mimosa and Klaus shared a look which only confused Yuno further, it was as though he had confirmed something.
“ What?” He repeated, making the two snap to attention.
“ Oh it’s just surprising that you know what her favorite cake is, that's all!” Mimosa said with an embarrassed laugh.
“ Not really. She orders it a lot whenever she gets paid, she also likes to have a small cup of tea with it as well. I’ll have to look and see if we have any.” He muttered the last part to himself. Klaus and Mimosa blinked at him.
“ He even knows what she likes to drink?!” Klaus whispered and she nodded.
“ Apparently so! How can he not like her if he notices all those things?!” Mimosa whispered back, when suddenly Bell appeared next to them.
“ I wish Yuno paid attention to me like he does her! He’s always with her, always notices what she’s doing, he’s even drawn her!” She huffed causing the two Golden Dawn members to jump before looking at the young Wind Spirit.
“ Drawn?” They asked with a confused tilt of their heads, they didn’t know Yuno could draw. He never showed them any of his art nor did he even show an interest in it. Bell nodded before pulling out a big notepad, although they didn’t really know where she pulled it out from.
“ I went looking for this when I heard you all planning a surprise party and you needed a present. Maybe one of Yuno’s drawings would be good.” Bell suggested before handing it to Mimosa. She flipped it open, Klaus watching over her shoulder, and saw quite a few beautiful sketches of scenery, some of the buildings, one of Asta and the people at the church, and then one that surprised them.
It was of Neva, smiling in awe, with bright eyes full of wonder. Her hair in its normal braid falling over her shoulder, she was bent over staring at or into something and whatever it was made her very happy. This picture was the only one colored. The background was dark, with warm oranges and soft yellows gracing her face and the area she was in, she had a soft blush on her cheeks, and it looked like there were lanterns around. Mimosa frowned a bit, it looked like the lanterns you’d see at the Star Festival. Mimosa and Klaus both smiled softly, he did like her and this drawing proved it. This was how she looked to him, she was a warm, sweet, and beautiful person.
“ Wow, Yuno, this is beautiful! You should give this to Neva!” Mimosa said softly as she turned to him, he quickly walked over and snatched it out of her hands.
“ No.” He answered simply before tucking the notepad next to his grimoire. They weren’t supposed to see the drawings, especially not that one. That picture was special to him. It was the first time he ever truly saw Neva, the side of her she didn’t want anyone to see. As far as he knew she didn’t even know that he knew, and he wanted to keep it that way.
“ Why not? It's beautiful and I’m sure she’d-.” Klaus started before Yuno cut him off.
“ I said no.” Yuno snapped coldly, causing both Mimosa and Klaus to look surprised once again. He sighed before rubbing the back of his neck. “ I apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped.” He muttered before going back to looking for the tea.
“ It’s ok if you like her y’know,” Mimosa started gently. “ I mean, you can have a crush on her and still be friends if that's what you’re worried about! Or if you’re worried she doesn’t feel the same way all you can do is ask and find out!” Mimosa told him.
“ You need to start on the cake.” Yuno told them curtly, effectively changing the subject. Both Klaus and Mimosa exchanged another look before doing as they were told.
Yuno couldn’t figure out why Mimosa was trying to convince him what he was feeling was a crush, Neva was nothing more than a friend. Friends knew what their friends favorite cake was, how their eyes lit up anytime dessert was mentioned, how they went from a smirk to a smile whenever they really enjoyed something, how sweet her laugh was…he shook his head quickly to rid himself of these thoughts. He couldn’t have a crush on her; they were teammates, allies, and close friends. He didn’t want to ruin any of that. He also needed to focus on becoming the Wizard King, there was no time for silly things such as crushes.
——
Neva sighed as she watched the sun set from the tallest building at the Golden Dawn HQ. This was her favorite spot in the entire place, she could sit there all day and no one would bother her. Which was why she decided to spend her birthdays here, every year.
“ Took you long enough.” Neva teased as she heard someone walk over to her, she turned to her right and saw Vangeance standing there, a soft smile on his face.
“ I apologize, I was held up in a meeting.” He said as he sat next to her, this was their thing. Neva spent a majority of her birthday up here, by herself, but for an hour or two Vangeance would come and sit with her and talk.
“ Happy birthday by the way.” He added, causing her to shake her head.
“ Thanks, but I’m getting so old! Look, I’m getting wrinkles!” She said pointing to non existent wrinkles, Vangeance chuckled before shaking his head.
“ No you’re not, you’re still young and wrinkleless, so please stop worrying.” He told her, he usually brought a small cake for them to share, but Neva noticed it was absent. She wondered why, but decided she would keep it to herself for now.
“ So, may I ask why you decided not to tell the others today was your birthday?” He asked after they had sat in silence for a moment, he saw the surprise on her face and a tinge of pink appear on her cheeks.
“ It’s none of their business.” She muttered, pulling her knees up and hugging them.
“ You’re right, it is none of their business. But they’re your friends, so I’m sure they would have liked to know. I would’ve thought you’d at least tell Yuno about it.” Vangeance said and watched as her face became more pink at the mention of the young man, so it was true, she did have a crush on him.
“ He doesn’t need to know that.” She muttered looking away, she didn’t want to get too close to them, it would only hurt him and the others if they did. It would also hurt her.
“ It’s ok to tell people little things like that, I’m sure you know everyones birthdays here, so tell them yours. It’s a way for you to gain their trust. I understand you don’t want to tell them certain things and that’s ok. But, if you want to become Captain someday, you need to trust, and become trusted.” Vangeance told her softly and watched as she thought about his words. She needed to learn to trust others as she trusted him, he wasn’t going to be around forever, so he wanted to make sure she would have people to lean on in case that were to happen sooner rather than later.
“ I know that,” she grumbled before sighing and looking at him. “ I just...I just don’t want anyone to get hurt, or to feel hurt.” She muttered before setting her legs down and looking away from him.
“ I know that, but you can’t always control what happens. People will get hurt, even if you don’t want or intend for them too, that’s just life Neva.” He explained softly before a frown appeared on his face.
“ Why do you trust me so much?” He asked, he watched as surprise graced her face, she wasn’t expecting that question. Vangeance had a feeling he knew her answer, but he wanted to hear her reason. He watched her contemplate her answer for a good few minutes.
“ I…” she started before suddenly a loud boom and a cloud of black smoke appeared. They both stood up and rushed down the tower. Were they under attack?
——-
As Neva and Vangenace ran through the halls they noticed the smoke and the boom had come from the kitchen. Why would the enemy go for the kitchen? Neva walked through the doors, her grimoire out, and frowned at the sight.
Mimosa was standing there, surrounded by smoke, and she tried to clear it away while coughing. Klaus’s face was covered in dirt, actually, all of their faces were but his moreso, he pulled his glasses off to clean them and shook his head. While Yuno, well, he was just done and his face expressed that completely.
“ I told you we should’ve just bought her a cake.” Yuno told them deadpan, and both Mimosa and Klaus turned.
“ Who would’ve thought the oven would explode?!” Klaus shouted, Yuno’s face didn’t change at all.
“ I did. Because the three of us have no idea what we’re doing.” He was right, they didn’t know what to do at all. They were winging it and in the process almost burned down the entire Golden Dawn kitchen!
“ U-Um...what are you three doing?” Neva asked with a confused tilt of her head. Vangeance walked up beside her, looking slightly confused himself, he had assumed they would go buy her things. The three in question turned to look at her.
“ W-Well,” Mimosa started with a bashful laugh.
“ We were trying to bake a cake for your birthday.” Yuno finished, there wasn’t a point in lying to her. Neva blinked before looking around, the kitchen was a complete mess.
“ I thought you all were on a mission?” She asked with a frown and she crossed her arms.
“ The Captain gave us the day off, so we decided to try and make you a cake with the spare time we had.” Klaus explained, she turned to glare at Vangeance, who only shrugged in response and a small smile was on his face.
Neva shook her head before turning back to the others, she truly appreciated the effort, but she didn’t understand why they would go to such lengths for her. She didn’t do anything to deserve a party, hell she didn’t even tell them that today was her birthday! So why did they feel the need to go out of their way to surprise her? Looking around, seeing how much of a mess they had made, the black powder on their faces from when the oven had blown up, and the completely toasted cake that sat on the counter in front of them made Neva laugh, not the small soft ones she normally did, but a loud roaring laugh.
Yuno and the others frowned when she began to laugh, were the smoke fumes making her delirious? Yuno used his wind magic to get rid of most of the smoke, but he had to admit, hearing her laugh like that made his heart skip a beat. He liked her normal laugh, but this one? This laugh he loved. It was true laughter, the kind you didn’t hear very often, it made his heart flutter, caused butterflies in his stomach, and his face to turn a shade of pink. Yeah, maybe he did have a small crush on her. Neva walked over to them and a small smile was on her face as her laughter died.
“ You three are completely ridiculous, you should’ve just went and bought me a cake instead of going through this trouble.” She started but held up a hand as Mimosa went to speak. “ But, I really appreciate the thought. This has been the most fun I’ve had in a while, thank you.” She added softly before deciding to add one more thing. “ Don’t ever try and cook again.”
Vangeance watched the four with a small smile on his face, he hadn’t heard her laugh like that in a long time, and it made him very happy. He shook his head as he looked at the state of the kitchen.
He did want them to make her birthday memorable and they delivered.
——-
Sorry this isn’t very good, I’ve been having so many doubts about my OC and my OC fic that I’m super nervous about posting this haha 😅. but I hope you all enjoyed it! Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a good day 🥰~!
