Summary: While making your rounds of the Isle making sure everyone still fears your name, you run into an old acquaintance. Someone oversees this and doesn't take lightly to others touching what is his.
Bingo: @eclipsingbingo with the square 'Jealousy'
*Gif does not belong to me
Boots clicking with every step, you had not a care in the world as you walked through the Isle of the Lost. Why would you? You were the daughter of Madame Gothel, the Mother Gothel. Everyone on the Isle knew of your mother's story and with that came protection, a blanket of safety that her name alone offered you.
That didn't mean you let the glare on your features fall or had your back turned on anyone for too long. With brisk steps you passed through different sections of the Isle, never staying for too long. It was only when you saw the back of someone's head whom you never thought you'd see again.
"Jay?" You slowly question, your voice hesitant in case who you thought was in front of you was an illusion or just an insanely good look-alike whom you've never seen before that day. It was only when the boy's head of long brown hair turned and a whisper of your name left his lips that you knew it was him. "What are you doing here? I thought you had gotten off this island and were at Auradon."
"Some circumstances have changed," He muttered with a coy grin, bounding his way over to you. The fast approach made you take a few small steps back, trying to put distance in between the two of you in case he decided to try something, though Jay bypassed this easily, one of his strides making up for three of yours as he wrapped his arms tightly around you. "I've missed you. We all have."
You froze immediately as you were engulfed, not expecting the embrace and hardly knowing what to call it. The feeling that arose from being trapped within Jay's arms was odd, almost comforting. That didn't matter though as you kept your arms glued to your side, not raising them to return the gesture.
"I'm sure it would've passed," You mumbled, voice gruff as you remembered what it had been like before Jay, Mal, Evie and Carlos left the Isle. How things have changed since then. Your words caused Jay to finally pull back, which you were both grateful for since the action was weak, though also longed for it to return, the simple contact something you have never experienced on the Isle evoking something within you. It must have been some trickery Auradon had taught them. "You never did say why you were here. And if you're here, I'm assuming so are the others."
"About that," Jay trailed off, hand sheepishly going to rub at the back of his neck. The action instantly had you quirking an eyebrow, never before seen such an action from the taller VK. Or former VK. "Carlos actually sent me to come and find you. We were wondering if we could use your help. Like old times-"
"What do we have here?" A taunting voice called out, cutting off the end of Jay's sentence, not that you needed to hear the rest of it to know what he was asking of you. You didn't even bat an eye to the new voice, coming well accustomed to it in the past year, more so than before Jay and his little redeemed squad had run off. "Runnin' into ya two times in a day has got ta be a good omen."
Jay's whole deemer immediately changed at not only the sight of him but also the sound. Turning an annoyed glare that held more heat than you knew Jay could still muster onto the newest arrival, Jay greeted him with a less than pleased grunt, "Hook."
Harry Hook, in all his glory, came out from the shadows he had previously lurking in so the deranged grin he was flashing could be seen by all.
"Don't sound so sad ta see me," Harry's laugh felt as if a harsh bite had sunken into you. It wasn't unwelcomed but such a stark contrast to what Jay had offered you moments ago. His eyes fell on you quickly, blue irises sucking you in as he walked closer, sealing his spot at your side as he wrapped a tight arm around your waist and pulled you flush to his side. "I was wondering when the two of yer would meet again. It was only a matter of time I suppose."
Jay's eyes locked in on the hand on your waist, Harry's fingers flexing at the sight as they curled in tighter. The sensation didn't hurt, not when you've felt it before. It was almost comforting, though in a different way to how Jay tried offering it. You weren't oblivious enough to not understand that Harry was staking his claim, however, making it known to Jay how things were running this time around.
"I didn't know the two of you had buddied up since we've been gone," Jay had to drag his eyes away from where the two of you were connected, never taking his eyes off of you as he refused to look into Harry's.
"Things have changed since you and the others were taken off the Isle," You shrugged your shoulders up as you spoke, giving it to Jay plainly. After he and the others left you were without a gang to call your own, leaving you to resort to other means of getting by. "Not all of us were whisked away to be Princesses and Princes."
"I can see that," Jay breathes out as if the words were vile on his tongue. You weren't ashamed of this. Just because you had grown closer to Harry and his crew in his and the other's absence didn't mean you were going to flip a switch now that they were back. "It was nice catching up with you. If you want to talk more, you know where to find us."
"I'll see you around Jay," You bid your farewell, surprised that Harry was able to remain as quiet as he did. Not sparing you another word, though his eyes flickered down to where Harry kept his hold on you, Jay turned away so he could make his way back to the hideout he must've come from.
"Now wasn't that a lovely chat," Harry chirped, rounding on you once Jay was out of sight. His other hand came down to your hip, resting there tightly as he slowly began to back you up. "I was just on my way to warn ya as well of Mal and her little crew's arrival. Somehow ya always beat me to it though."
"I must just be lucky at sniffing out people with pretty faces," You say, not a second later your back came in contact with the wall behind you, a small huff leaving your nose at the contact. With a cruel quirk of your lips, you bring a hand up to pass through some of his hair. "Maybe that's how I found you all those months ago."
"Cute," Harry barked out a bitter laugh, bringing his face closer to yours. Some of that bitterness seeped into his face as he looked down at you, his next words coming as a sting. "Uma doesn't want ya going near them. Who knows what they've brought from Auradon. And we all know how close ya were with them before they left."
"Good thing Uma doesn't control what I do then," You dipped your face to the side as Harry tried to trap your lips in a harsh kiss, his teeth ready to make an appearance. Instead, a kiss was left on your cheek, the pirate recoiling back once he realised. With a smirk of your own, you leaned in, trailing feather-light kisses across his neck and jaw. Your lips ghosted his skin, never staying in one spot for too long. "Though I'm sure an exception could be made if you asked nicely."
"Stay away from Jay and his friends," Harry spoke lowly, lips chasing after yours as you continued to evade him. With a raised brow, you stared at him as if you were waiting for more, leaning back so he couldn't reach you. With an eye roll from his dark eyes, an abundance of eyeliner smeared around them, he grinned out, "Please."
You waited a few moments, bringing both of your hands up to cup his face. Dragging him slowly, you brushed your lips quickly against his, muttering before finally giving him what he wanted, "I'll consider it."
Warnings: smut, unprotected sex, spanking, orgasm denial, possessive Ari, a hint of dark/grey Ari?
Rating: Explicit
Square filled for @julybreakbingo: Square filled: "Park"
Square filled for @eclipsingbingo: Held down
This story is part of my Lumberjack Tales masterlist
Solitude. No people. No stress. No noises. That’s how he likes it, and he wouldn’t want to change it for anything.
He chose this life. After selling his company for more money than he could ever spend, Ari bought a forest to build a huge, luxurious cabin for himself alone. He’s got everything he needs. And what he doesn’t get, he can make with his strong hands.
Some people may call him crazy. A former CEO and successful businessman turning into a lumberjack building his furniture on free terms. Ari doesn’t care. He gives a shit on other people’s opinion.
Today is one of the rare days he must drive to the only town near his private forest. Ari hates leaving his solitude and meeting people. After a bad divorce, he’s not the most social person.
But – a man gotta eat even if he’s got a beautiful garden behind his cabin and a lake filled with fish. He needs more to fill his pantry. Beer, toilet paper, and batteries do not grow on trees.
“Mr. Levinson,” Susie, the clerk from the grocery store chirps when Ari walks toward the checkout. “Is that all?” She glances at the two shopping carts filled with everything he’ll need over the next weeks. Maybe even a month, or two. “Plastic or paper?”
“Paper,” he grumbles under his breath. “Plastic is bad for the environment.” Ari shakes his head at his words. Years ago, he would’ve given a shit on the environment or nature. He was obsessed with making money, a pretty woman, and fast cars.
“Sure,” she gives him a tight smile but says nothing. “Just a minute.” She snaps her fingers at the new bag boy. “Sean, get over here. We have a customer.”
Ari would like to roll his eyes as the boy groans loudly. He was on his phone, undoubtedly making a TikTok video to share with his two followers instead of doing his job.
“SEAN!” She grunts when he doesn’t move an inch. “If you don’t come here in a second, you are fired.”
“Man, if I made my first million with my video, I’ll quit,” Sean grumbles while reluctantly starting to pack Ari’s groceries into paper bags. “You will see. I’ll get out of this shitty town in no time.”
Ari holds back a comment. He learned that it’s better to shut your mouth and not get involved with the town’s folk. Unlike the cheery clerk at the grocery store, most people in this sleepy little town do not like him.
Especially because he stopped them from clearing the forest he bought. “Cash or card?”
“Card,” Ari swipes his card over the device. “Have a good day.”
Before Sean can grab the bags to carry them outside, Ari wraps his arms around the paper bags to carry them out of the store.
“Idiot!” Susie mutters. “You had to piss him off. Now he won’t come back anytime soon.”
Sean harrumphs. “This is the only store in town. Your love interest will be back. This doesn’t mean he wants to take you out…”
Back in his cabin Ari busies himself putting the groceries and toiletries away. Only to make a list for more. Soon it will be winter, and he needs more supplies. Ari hates driving to town during winter. He tries to leave his cabin less during the cold times.
His dog lies on the carpet in front of the fireplace in the living room, yawning loudly as his owner tells him they’ll need more wood.
“Come, buddy. We go for one last round for tonight,” Ari clicks his tongue, causing his dog to jump up and follow him toward the door. The Estrela Mountain Dog walks next to Ari as he steps out of the cabin.
Ari closes his eyes and inhales the air deeply. He can already smell the approaching thunderstorm. “We need to hurry, buddy. I know how much you hate getting your fur wet.”
He flashes his dog a smile before buttoning up his red-black checkered plaid. “Let’s go, Bear. We don’t wanna miss dinner.”
“HEY! STOP! This is private property!”
You are already out of breath when the man and his dog chase after you. All you wanted was to go for a swim in the lake. How should you have known that the forest is private property? You camped in forests all your life without getting into trouble.
Now this big guy is chasing after you like a madman. “STOP! You cannot come to my property and steal…”
“Bear. Get them!” The man calls for his dog. The giant beast speeds up to outrun you. It jumps at you. Pushing against your back so you land on the ground, face first in the mud. Rain is pouring down on you, soaking your shorts and shirt. “Good job!”
The dog sits down on your back, making you groan loudly. “Get off me you beast.”
“Hold them down,” the man approaches you and the dog. He crouches down next to you to rip your baseball cap off your head. “What are you doing on my property?"
“I wanted to go for a swim, dude! I camp not far away from the lake. I didn’t know this was private property! Who buys a fucking forest!! That’s just wrong.”
“Dude?” He laughs. “Bear, we caught an angry wood nymph, not an intruder.” The man clicks his tongue, and the beast finally gets off your back. “There are warning signs, lady.”
“I told you,” You struggle to get on your knees, groaning as your back hurts from the dog’s attack, “I didn’t see a sign. I camp wherever I want to.”
“Not on my property,” he snaps at you as he gets back up. “Come on, the thunderstorm will only get worse.” He holds out his hand as you struggle to get back on your feet. The dog got you good. “I’ll show you the way back to the road.”
“Fucker,” you slap his hand away and get back up on your feet without his help. “You can’t let your dog attack people.”
“You are an intruder, and he tried to defend my property.”
“Dude, do I look like a danger to you, your dog, or your property?” You size the man up. He quirks a brow. “That’s what I thought.” While you try to rub the dirt from your knees and shin, the man huffs.
“You walk around my property with your little backpack and believe you get away with it? Lady, this is not a park. You can’t just come here and waltz around my property like you own it.”
“I got it, okay. This is your forest, and you hate people,” you wrinkle your nose as the rain runs down your face. “If you’d excuse me now. I’ll find my way out of your forest and into the next to put up my tent somewhere else.”
“In the middle of a thunderstorm?” He asks. “You’re not only a criminal but crazy too. You’ll get yourself killed.”
“Well, good thing that I’m not your problem, Mr. Property,” you turn around to walk opposite the way you came from. “Have a nice life.”
“Lady, that’s crazy,” despite his former behavior, he follows you. “The rain is going to get worse. You’re going to catch a cold or worse.”
“Anything is better than being around you,” you side-eye the man. If he gets too close, you’ll get your pepper spray out and show him what happens when he messes with you.
“Wait…wait up,” he grabs your arm to stop you from running off.
“Don’t touch me,” you try to wiggle out of his grasp. “I’m warning you! I got the black belt!”
He releases you but blocks your path. “I won’t hurt you, lady. My name is Ari, this is Bear.” Ari points at his dog. “He didn’t want to hurt you. If Bear wanted to hurt you, you’d be dog food.”
“You have a way with words, huh?” You look him up and down. “So…where is this street?”
“We can’t walk through the forest now,” he sighs and points toward something in the distance. “If you don’t want to walk through a forest in the middle of one of the worst thunderstorms this area ever experienced, you should come with me to my cabin.”
“Right,” you curl your upper lip. “I’ll go with you to your cabin so you can make a filet out of my ass. I won’t go anywhere with you.”
Ari snorts. He starts laughing as you watch him. “I don’t want to eat you, lady,” he grins. “I mean, I love to eat a lady out.” His eyes drop to your soaked shorts, “but only if she begs me.”
You look down at your soaked clothes. Your backpack gets heavier per minute and Ari is right, the rain is mercilessly pouring down on you. “I’ll take a picture and send it to my friend with our position and your name.”
“Be my guest,” Ari poses for you. He grins into the camera when you snap a few pictures to send them to your friend. “What about Bear?”
“Fine,” you snap a few pictures of the dog to send them to your friend too. “If you kill me now, you’ll get hunted down by my friends.”
“I won’t take the risk,” Ari winks at you. “Come on. I want to get out of my wet clothes and have some coffee.”
You begrudgingly follow Ari, hoping he’s not a psycho killer or looking for a basement wife…
“See, I’m not a killer,” Ari hands you another cup of tea. “After the storm calmed, I’ll drive you to town. You shouldn’t camp in the only other forest around here.”
“Why?” you take a sip before looking at him. You cannot deny that he’s not as bad as you believed he was. Ari offered sweatpants and one of his plaids to you. He shared his dinner with you and brewed tea for you.
“Let’s say the men around here a rather…hmm…how do I put it…”
“Assholes?”
“I think that sums it up,” Ari sits on the other side of the couch to give you space. After the first minutes he knew, you’re not a bad person and now he tries to make you see, that he’s not a bad guy either.
“Hmm…crap,” you sigh deeply. “I wanted to do something reckless for once and now, my friend will laugh about me.”
“You never camped before, right?” He watches you drop your gaze. “Why did you lie?”
“My friends bragged about their adventure trips, and I only ever soaked in the sun or visited museums during holidays. I bought a tent and…you know the rest.”
Ari snorts. “You’re the worst camper I ever met.”
“Fair,” you shrug and giggle as his eyes drop to your legs. He subconsciously licks his lips and shifts in his seat. “So…” you scoot a little closer to Ari, “how long are you living here…alone?”
“Hmm…?” He lifts his eyes from your legs to meet your eyes. “A few years.” Ari murmurs. “I left my old life behind to live here, on my own.”
“Must’ve been a good life,” you scoot even closer to look Ari in the eyes. “This is not a normal cabin. It’s rather…luxurious.”
Ari drops his eyes to your lips, licking his own. “I was a businessman before becoming a lumberjack.”
“Lumberjack,” you purr the word. “You mean the big guys wearing plaids and cutting wood.” This time, you lick your lips. “You must be very strong if you cut wood all day.”
“Not all day, sweetness,” Ari scoots a little closer, his thigh brushing yours. “Only if I need wood for my fireplace.”
“Hmm…” you get bold and move your hand to his bicep, squeezing hard. “Very strong.”
“Strong enough to throw you around if you come to my property and try to swim in my lake,” he moves his hand to your thigh, toying with the sweatpants you’re wearing. “I can spank you too, to make sure you’ll never break into anyone’s property again.”
Your eyelashes flutter, and your lips part. “You think I’d let you spank me for breaking into your property?”
His cheeks dimple. Ari dips his head as his hand creeps higher until he can press it flat against your mound. “I think you’d let me do anything I want to do to you.”
“Look at you,” he purrs in your ear. “Such a good girl, kneeling for me. I bet,” Ari circles you to watch you kneel in front of his couch. He pushes against your shoulders, forcing you to bend your upper half over the couch. “Hmm…what a nice ass you have.”
Ari cups the back of your neck to hold you down on the couch. He’s not too rough but makes sure you can feel his strength.
“I’d love to just fuck you, but you’d only cum all over my cock. I need you to feel the consequences of your actions in your bones.” Ari runs his free hand over your ass, humming as you start to whimper. He grips one cheek roughly, testing your reaction. “I’ll use this body to my liking, and you won’t deny me.”
You choke out a moan when the first smack hits your ass. “Yes…”
“Count, little tramp,” his features harden, and he smacks your cheek a little harder this time.
“One.”
“Again,” he slaps your other cheek, making it sting. “Again!”
“Two.”
“How many can you take?” It’s not a question. Ari told you he’ll give you ten, and you’ll take ten with pleasure if you get his glorious cock in return. You’re already soaking wet and cannot deny that the next smack pushes you closer to the edge.
“All you have to give, sir,” you whimper. “Three…”
“Good girl,” he soothingly runs his hand over your stinging cheeks. “Seven more and you’ll get something nice.”
The next smacks come faster and harder. “Four, five, six, seven,” at eight you’re out of breath and cry out in pleasured pain.
“Eight, nine,” he slaps your ass with both hands. “And lastly,” he slams his hand between your legs, hitting your clit. Your legs tremble and you soak his hand with your cum.
“Oh God…” You can’t come down from your unexpected high. Ari grabs you by the back of your neck to push you onto the couch.
You end up underneath him, whimpering as he moves one hand to your crotch to lift your butt to help him sink into you. He pokes your entrance, impatiently pushing the first inches into your weeping hole.
“Fuck, that’s a wet cunt,” he groans in your ear while conquering your cunt with one hard thrust. “Yeah, you’re a good girl.”
Pressed into the furniture by his hard body you can’t do anything but lie there and let him slowly fuck into you. Your juices soak his cock, and his balls with every deep thrust.
Ari is by all means not gentle. He fucks you for punishment, to make sure your body knows you did a bad thing. “Oh, baby. I lied,” he whispers in your ear after a particularly deep thrust. “I’m going to keep you here for my pleasure.” He thrusts three, or four more times, always avoiding hitting your G-spot.
Ari purrs your name and fills your cunt seconds later. “Aw, don’t whine, baby,” he sinks his teeth in your neck to leave another mark on your body. “This was punishment. You’ll cum when I allow you to cum.”
He groans against your neck, teeth grazing over one of the marks he left. Ari is a man possessed. After he filled you for the first time, he took his time to rub cream into your ass. He toyed with you, fingers and tongue bringing you to the edge, only to not let you cum again.
With your hands restrained to the bedpost, you can only watch him move on top of you. Your hands itch to touch him, but you haven’t earned it yet. You’ve been a bad girl, and he won’t allow you to get more than he’s willing to give.
Ari slowly thrusts into you, thick cock rubbing against your walls. “I want you to cum for me. Come on, little tramp, soak my cock. I want to fill this slutty hole up.”
“Please—” you eagerly meet his thrusts. “I need…please…Sir…A-R-I…” You shudder through your high. Your whole body sizes up and for a moment, you fear you died and ended up in heaven. This is the most intense orgasm you ever experienced, and it takes your breath away.
“Good…” Ari thrusts one last time and stills his hips. His warmth fills you again, and you wonder how many times he already fucked you before he let you come. “Good girl. So, fucking good for me.”
He collapses on top of you, exhausted and satisfied. “Fuck…” you breathe out. “Fuck…fuck…that was…”
“Damn, this cunt feels so good. I’m glad you’re a criminal wanting to break into my property. I didn’t have such a good fuck in years…”
“Well…I got two more weeks off so…” you wiggle your hips, making Ari groan. “I could just invade your property for a little longer and you can punish me again.”
Ari lifts his head to look at you underneath him. He smirks, liking your idea. While you look up at him, mirroring his smirk Ari plans to keep you forever…
A/N: A dark, paranormal, romance set in an urban fantasy!
Tags: Achillean Romance, Age Gap, Alternate Universe - Boarding School, Creature Feature, Dark Fiction, Fae AU, Underage Character(s)
Summary
Bucky is determined to make a good impression.
Bingos and Events:
@anyfandomdarkbingo - Boarding School AU
@ao3tagbingo - Blood Kink
AU Challenge - Vampire
@augustwritingchallenge: Trick AU Treat 2025 - Day 1: Glow
@badthingshappenbingo - Trail of Blood
@bloodyheartsbingo: A Vesper Bleeding on Your Lips' Card (Bloody Hearts Mini Bingo I) - U R Great: General - Throwing a party in someone's honor to show how they're appreciated
@darkacademiabingo:
Dark Academia Bingo - Boarding School
Dark Academia Scenarios Flash Event - Amongst the elite, treacherous murmurs rise, the potential of exposure cracking honor and valor
@darkspicyevanstan: Paranormal Fantasy
@deadbingoclub: October - Bloodplay
@deaddovedec: 2024 - Week 1: Day 2 - Bloodloss
@deaddovekink:
Ageplay April 2024 - Day 1: Jailbait
Kinktober: Dead Dove Chapter 2025 - Day 29: Claimed
@eclipsingbingo:
Forbidden Love
The Rising Moon Flash - Broken Glass
@fairytalebingo: Mad Monster Bingo - Vampire
@thefairytalebingo - Vampire
@fandomsandstuff: Never Have I Ever - Creative Edition: Urban Fantasy
@fandombingo:
Crime & Mystery Trope Flash - Secret Messages
Dark Deception Bingo - School
Neverwhere Bingo - Something Hunting You from the Shadows
Valentine Trope Flash - Card 1: Chocolate Lava Cake, Card 2: Strawberry Mousse, Card 4: Turkish Delight
Wonderland Bingo - Arson
@fictober-event: 2025 - “This is annoying.”
@halloweenhorrorbingo: 2024 - Drinking Blood
@hurtcomfort-bingo: Pick Your Poison Bingo - Dizziness
@julybreakbingo: 2025 - Vampire AU
@kinktober-2025 - Day 7: Bloodplay
Macrocest: Winter Bingo - Free Space
@monsterfucktoberbingo - Free Space
@monthlywritingchallenges: Darktober - Alt Prompt: A smile you shouldn't trust
@multifandom-flash: Here There Be Monsters Bingo - Seelie
@fandombingo - Oogie Boogie (Nightmare Before Christmas Bingo), "I'm not finished with you yet." (Valentine Trope Flash), Desire is the perfect catalyst for emotions (Reverse: 1999 Bingo)
@squarebysquare - Unexpected Powers
@eclipsingbingo - "Wanna bet?"
@character-plus-bingo - 'There's trouble close at hand.' (Oogie Boogie Bingo)
@thebutcherbingo - The Bugs Are Eating You (Down The Rabbit Hole Bingo)
@halloweenhorrorbingo - The Moment When You Think The Danger Is Over (2024 Alternate Prompt)
@hurtcomfort-bingo - Altered Perception (Pick Your Poison)
Summary: On Spiral Hill, after Swing reveals his true nature, everyone from Halloween Town and Twisted Wonderland comes together to stop the nocturnal fae from succeeding. During the final battle, the Housewarden of Ramshackle, a dorm based on the Creativity of the Boogeyman, makes a well-deserved stand with the help of their friends on Christmas Eve.
AKA Swing's Bad No Good Horrible Rotten Christmas Eve!
Here is my fanfiction piece for the year of 2026: the first chapter of a two-shot that I wanted to do and I was obsessing with writing for a few weeks now. I know that there are other stories I need to get to and I want to wait until Chapter 8/English Server version of the Twisted Wonderland Christmas event, but I wanted to write out my AU version of the Final Boss Fight With Swing featuring my version of Yuu. I felt that it would be interesting to write, considering that Ramshackle dorm has Oogie Boogie as the mascot. Plus I like the idea of my OC Felix haunting the narrative as well as the NRC students being nice to Yuu. The first chapter is longer than usual, featuring two songs and a lot of mayhem and references. The translations of the dialogue come from Valkyrii on YouTube. And in the spirit of Greed and Desire, I decided to fulfill 13 prompts from 13 bingos, representing the Twisted Wonderland characters in the story. If there are other tags that are missing, please let me know. Thank you! Story under the cut:
Well, Jack Howl and Ruggie Bucchi were about to die on Spiral Hill. Not by their Housewarden or some other disaster at Night Raven College, but by an ancient fae about to destroy them for several reasons that include letting the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, get away, mentioning Skully J. Graves, and insulting said powerful fae right in his face.
"This is all because you had to say something unnecessary and now Swing's totally lost it, hasn't he?!" Ruggie glared at his kouhai while dodging lightning and cosmic magic.
Jack Howl rubbed the back of his head, still sore, along with Ruggie as they both ducked. "Honestly, even I didn’t expect him to get this angry!”
"Oh, ya think insulting him with the King of Halloween’s name wouldn't do anything?!"
"Who are you calling pathetic?" Swing spoke as he stomped towards the two boys, causing them to back away with each step. "Who are you calling a loser? WHO SAID I COULDN'T DEFEAT SKULLY J. GRAVES?! Skully isn't even worth mentioning. The truth is, I was the one who won! And he ran away from me to a place I can never steal from!"
Both beastmen gulped, knowing full well that the fairy meant the afterlife, and they did not know how to feel about that.
"I want Halloween no matter what." Swing continued seriously before his greed took over, and he grinned. "No, that's not all. I'll take Halloween, Christmas, everything, every last holiday! Mr. Swing will claim them all! Then, it will FINALLY be Mr. Swing's victory, won't it? Isn't that right?!"
"... So, from the very start, you planned to hog every holiday for yourself? You WERE planning to use Oogie Boogie too, weren't you?!" Jack Howl growled.
"Of course I was. That's what it means to be King of Desire, isn't it? EVERYTHING belongs to Mr. Swing! ALL OF IT!" Swing stretched out his arms wide as his centipede tattoo stretched out from his neck, clicking its mandibles together hungrily while Swing laughed maniacally. Before anyone could make a move, however, someone else spoke up.
"I heard that just now... So THAT'S your true nature!"
"Huh?!" Swing, Jack, and Ruggie turned to see Oogie Boogie coming out of nowhere, charging at the dark fairy.
"Oogie Boogie, why are you here?" Swing asked, genuinely surprised to see the Boogeyman out of his lair. He was so shocked that he did not notice a shadow pulling Jack and Ruggie away from him.
"Jack! Ruggie-senpai! Are you okay?!" Deuce exclaimed as he rushed towards the students along with the rest of the group and Jack Skellington.
"Deuce and everyone else, too." Howl grinned before wincing in pain, causing the shadow to retract its hand from his cheek.
"You and Ruggie are completely beaten up," Silver noted in worry.
Lilia smiled at Ruggie, who huffed in annoyance. "Looks like Jack's voice managed to reach Ruggie after all."
"Well, this is annoying." The dark fairy deadpanned. "Why are you in a place like this? And with that Jack Skellington, you hate so much, no less. What about Santa? Christmas? What in the world is going on?!”
Oogie crossed his arms, leaning towards Swing as he glared at the other. "I heard everything from these guys that you tricked me! Taking all the holidays for yourself, huh? Blowing me away and that I ain't fit to rule, right?!"
"What? Tricked you? I would never do that to you, Mr. Oogie Boogie! You don't trust Mr. Swing?" Swing gasped and frowned, his ears drooping as his eyes watered in a creepy-cute way. All he earned was a dismissive stub.
"SAVE IT! A little Spade and Shadow convinced me otherwise. I can't believe this. What a joke!"
Cater chuckled along with Rook and Lilia when they watched the heated exchange take place, "There's no way he'd believe you now~!"
"In the end, it seems you couldn't gain anyone's trust," Lilia added smugly.
"Quietly admit your crimes and surrender!" Silver demanded, taking out a sword that he had borrowed from a giant Nutcracker in Christmas Town.
"If you do it now, I'll forgive you by just giving you a tiiiiight squeeze~!" Floyd grinned while cracking his neck. As every human, beastman, monster, and other beings closed in on the fairy, Swing had a delayed reaction to a previous comment.
"Wait... Little Shadow?"
“Not anymore~!" Oogie cooed, stepping back as the shadow from before marched to Swing and poked Swing's chest.
“How dare you...?” The shadow lifted its head, revealing a glaring Yuu from beneath the hood. “How dare you treat my friends so shamefully? Do you know who you are dealing with?!”
“What’s this all of a sudden? Since when did you grow a backbone? Did Mr. Swing miss something?!"
Yuu pulled off the shadow jacket from their shoulders and threw it into the air, letting it disperse into bats. They wore a dark brown zoot suit with white pinstripes, a black buttoned shirt, a yellow and black striped tie, burlap patches all over the suit, a matching fedora with white trim, a long black and red skirt that resembled a roulette wheel, a bracelet on each wrist with spikes poking out that reminded Yuu of buzzsaws, and a familiar purple spider sitting right on top of their fedora. Their curly brown hair flowed with the movement.
“I am Yuu Imamura of Ramshackle House,” Yuu stated with confidence as they pulled out a mage pen from their pocket and let Grim, who was wearing a black and white fedora, hop onto their shoulder. The NRC students smirked, Skellington clapped his hands, Oogie felt his ego grow instantly, and Swing’s face fell into an eye-twitching wall of envious disbelief. “Our dormitory is founded on the Creativity of the Boogeyman. We live our lives to the fullest and strive for the best experiences. It does not matter how odd we are. We come together to play games, eat feasts, and defeat any opponent. I do not need to be called great. I know we are the best by luck and skill alone.”
“Yer in trouble now, Swing! With my Hench-Human and the Boogeyman on our side, you’re gonna taste defeat by Grim the Great!” Grim boasted with a grin as he pointed to the fae. Yuu patted his head, then frowned as they hugged themselves, knowing their previous actions.
“Jack Skellington, please tell Santa I’m sorry.”
Skellington blinked, surprised. “Whatever for, Yuu?”
“I’m on the Naughty List and Boogie List. Not only for my desires and flaws, but for what I did and about to do. When Swing first did Switch the Doom, I noticed something familiar within me and remembered something. Before we opened the book, a friend of mine used his unique magic to keep an eye out for Grim and me. A part of that magic had traveled with us. Because of this, I found out that I have swapped my unique magic with him. Since you’d thought I would never have powerful magic like you or my peers, you overlooked me to the point that you didn’t notice I held onto the spell when you recast your magic.”
"You cheated?!" Swing frowned, recalling an itch that he had in Halloween Town when he recast his magic, but he thought nothing of it at the time.
Yuu gave a somewhat tired grin, “It’s called a hustle, Sweetheart. Granted, it got me tired and woozy, but it'll be worth it. It took a spirit of Halloween to give me the tools to your weakness."
“And that would be?”
Sensing what was about to happen, but somewhat unsure, Ruggie took out a pair of sparkling red dice from his pocket and threw them to Yuu while whistling. Yuu caught the dice, cupped them with both hands, and closed their eyes, concentrating their energy while praying for a holiday miracle. When they opened their eyes, the pupils were brown with a hint of green among them, while the rest were hollow.
“On the roll of the dice," Yuu and Oogie spoke out loud as Yuu shook the dice with both hands, and the full moon above them shone as bright as the sun. "Let’s live life and kick things up a notch! HIVE JIVE!"
With a strong throw, the pair of dice flew a few feet away, landing just below Spiral Hill with the moon shining on it like a spotlight that Oogie’s shadow helped project.
The dice’s silhouette on the moon showed twelve as a result.
The Housewarden smirked, cracking their neck in anticipation. Perfect. They called out to their friends, “Are you guys all for being a swarm?”
Remembering his promise, Howl handed Ruggie a ladybug pin, which the hyena accepted with some hesitation. Ruggie then grabbed a few items from behind him: three masks. Ruggie gave Howl a brown mask with eyes, threw a blue mask to Deuce, and then donned his ladybug mask. He did not know why, but it felt right to wear. Everyone then glanced and nodded, expecting to go along with it to help with their plan.
“Ready, Mx. Housewarden!”
Oh well, at least it was the thought and solidarity that counted—it worked.
Twelve shadow bugs went from Yuu’s feet to the twelve mages, each of them feeling the shadows tap their bodies. All pairs of eyes turned hollow, and the pins glowed brightly. The eyes widened before they narrowed with fiendish and determined glee.
“Ramshackle, represent!” Thirteen voices exclaimed in unison.
Swing scowled, crossing his arms. "Tch... is that all? It's just a glorified spell to make you bugs more of a hive than you are. Either way, it seems the stitches on my mouth loosened up a bit too much. Fine then. I'll just take all your lives along with everything else in an All or Nothing brawl! Now then, who should I dispose of first~?"
Everyone glared at the smug Swing, taking a step back. Yuu made sure to put the dice in their pocket.
"Times like this call for a coin." Swing reached into one of his pockets for his lucky coin... only to freeze when he felt nothing. "Hm? It's not here." Panicking, he and his centipede checked through every pocket, coming up with nothing. He pressed both his hands on his head, beginning to hyperventilate. "It's not here... no, no, NO, IT'S NOT HERE!"
"What's he looking for?" Grim asked among the hivemind.
"He seems extremely flustered," Ortho noted.
It was then that Ruggie laughed. "Shehehehehe! Is this what you're looking for~?" He pulled out a familiar coin that glittered in his hand.
"That's Swing's coin?!" Jack Howl shouted in shock. "When did you--!"
"You were guarding it so carefully, I figured it had to be something really valuable. So, I couldn't help myself. I just had to take it when I got to you!"
Swing growled, remembering how Ruggie turned into a hyena and bit him hard. That must have been when he got the coin without detecting anything.
"Way to go, Ladybug! That's the Ruggie we know!" Yuu squealed in delight, hopping a little and clapping their hands.
The hyena nodded to Yuu, then glared at Swing. "But it turns out it's just a toy. Totally worthless..."
"GIVE IT BACK!" Swing suddenly roared, pouncing on the beastman, but Ruggie dodged him and took off quickly.
"Combining everyone's strength," Deuce snarled as everyone got ready to work together. He held hands with Yuu as they both stood with Oogie Boogie, who grinned with anticipation. "This time, we settle it once and for ALL!"
Yuu smiled. "And I got a few ideas that would make this interesting~!"
Meanwhile, Ruggie was, once again, running for his life across the graveyard with the nocturnal fairy hot on his trail. He tripped on a rock and landed on a gravestone, keeping the coin in his hand as he struggled to get up. From a distance, he spotted the others, specifically Yuu, Grim, and Oogie, as his hollow eyes sparkled and a strange feeling came over him. His eyes darted back to the opponent, the Funeral's March playing in his mind as the message was clear:
Felix's third and final favor for Ruggie? DEFEAT MR. SWING.
"Well, we're doomed." Ruggie deadpanned, bracing himself for the charging Swing, only to stop with the fairy when they heard something in the background that caused the grounds to glow an iridescent color.
"Huh, music?!"
Swing decided to ignore it as he snarled at Ruggie and charged again, "Return it. That belongs to Mr. Swing!"
Ruggie dodged again, "We didn't think you'd get this worked up!"
"Skully did mention it. That Swing will never let go of anything he's gotten his hands on!" Jack Howl exclaimed as he rushed in to help his senpai. As the others got into different positions, Oogie Boogie seemed to take center stage as he stepped forward with his arms crossed.
"Well, well, well... ya came at a bad time!" He drawled with amusement, feeling as if he had a whole crew of henchmen at his beck and call, not noticing Skellington's intrigued stares as the boogeyman taunted Swing directly. "But you just crossed the line. Ya wanna get wild?"
With a wave of his stub, the hivemind who called themselves Ramshackle got into motion, crying out, "Okay, WE'LL SHOW YOU WILD!"
Ruggie summoned his Jack-in-the-Box along with Howl and Deuce as he paced with quick feet, getting into the rhythm of the music as he sang.
"Better come right, better luck tryin' gettin' to our level. 'Cause you might die, never the time, tryna start a battle!" He flipped the coin a little before passing it to Deuce as Swing jumped towards him. "Here, catch!"
"C-Catch?!" Deuce stammered, trying not to drop the coin as he hid it from Swing’s line of sight.
Yuu nodded at the strategy. "Good idea, Ladybug! Let's play keep away with Swing's coin until we can beat him. Just because he lost his focus doesn't mean he lost his power. Be careful!"
"Yes, Housewarden!" The mages responded through the hive as Jack Howl stepped up to the plate, catching Swing a little off guard by throwing punches towards him while he was distracted.
"Bleeding isn't in our blood. You'll be crying when we're done. Beating you is what we do, do, do, yeah!"
Deuce tossed the coin to Howl when Swing got too close before taking out his pen and dodging each of Swing's punches in some sort of battle dance. He then waved his finger before pulling back. "Body on body. We're naughty! Not even sorry, and when you pull up, we'll pull up a little late to the party!"
"Locked and loaded, we were born for this," sang Yuu as they pulled the trio into a huddle, protecting them with their body like an older sibling would. When Swing came from behind to attack, Ruggie growled and grabbed Yuu by the shoulders, twirling with them away. "There ain't no point in avoiding it. Annoyed? A bit. We're gonna beat ya. Where's the clock? Our time is ticking!"
"Knocking you out like a lullaby," Deuce sang as he cracked his knuckles, fire forming from within his floating box and fists.
"Hear that sound ringing in your mind." Howl snarled, summoning vines on his limbs and flora magic in his box.
Remembering his promise, Ruggie twirled Yuu towards Oogie, patting the prefect on the head as he snatched the coin as if to tell Yuu to leave the magic to the professionals. Both Ruggie and Yuu exchanged hollow glares before Ruggie rushed off with water spheres, and his box crackled with ice.
"Better sit down for the show 'cause we're gonna show you how it's done, done, done!"
In a rhythmic beat, the three jack-in-the-boxes burst open with magic, hitting Swing right in the face and sides. The trio then threw spells at the fairy, keeping him in the middle as they tossed the coin amongst themselves. While this was going on, Yuu pushed their concern away for now and decided to strategize as they always did. Too bad they did not have their stim toy at the moment, and they did not want to risk losing the dice.
With encouragement from a nearby Floyd, Yuu reached for Oogie's stub, rubbing their fingers against the burlap as they relaxed their body and activated their brain. They then spoke through the hivemind:
“Swing has probably a thousand years of experience and is driven by desire alone. He can take a lot of hits, is unpredictable, knows every physical and magical element known to most mages, and makes everything a game before annihilating his prey. Once something of his gets taken, however, Swing's focus only targets getting the item back. His greed can be his downfall, but we can't underestimate him now either. He still has tremendous power."
“Like a horror monster in a film or a cockroach? He can’t go down easily.”
“Exactly, Carrion Beetle! We're evenly matched for now if we play our cards right. We chip away at his health until he passes out, or we find a better plan. If he gets that coin back, we’re done!"
With a new goal in mind, the other mages got their pens, weapons, and present boxes ready, throwing spells at the fae just as he held the coin in his hands.
"Ramshackle don't miss, how it's done, done done!"
The coin flew into the air towards the full moon. Howl, Ruggie, and Deuce raced to retrieve it on Spiral Hill. Once they had reached the top, they turned to find Yuu following them with three full cups of liquid.
"Hey, Ramshackle, don't quit! How it's done, done one! Run, run, we run the town. The whole world playin' our sound, Turnin' up, it's goin' down..."
"Thank you, Housewarden!" Deuce smiled as he took his cup along with his two friends.
"Um, Yuu? What is this?" Howl stared at the questionable glowing and squirming liquid that seemed to hiss and chitter.
"We grabbed some cups of stew before we left in case you boys need some!"
Ruggie groaned and rolled his eyes. "Great. Our last meals are snakes and spiders. And why does it look like lava?"
"Boys, who's trackin' the coin?!" Oogie reminded the teenagers, motioning to the falling coin as it fell beneath thorns and brambles that covered a large patch of the cemetery before them. The three boys, Yuu and Swing from nearby, also stared in the direction where the coin went.
"Ramshackle, show this, how it's done, done, done."
"What meaning does that coin even have?" Deuce asked incredulously.
"There is no meaning." Swing muttered before he roared and rushed towards the brambles like a train. "It's just that Mr. Swing hates having what belongs to Mr. Swing stolen!"
"Is that guy's greed bottomless?!" Howl exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yeeeaaaaaah, this cemetery's gonna be trashed." Ruggie droned before he, Jack Howl, and Deuce chugged their stew, smacking their lips in satisfaction. "Hmm, surprisingly not bad."
With determination, Deuce smirked and cast a water spell with his Jack-in-the-Box, "Okay, let's do this. You're up, Grim and Yuu!"
"Right! Let's go, Hench-human!" Grim hopped off a gravestone and rushed towards the thorns. Yuu called out to the water Deuce had created.
"Friend, help Grim keep the coin away from Swing!" The water shaped into ribbons, then, with the aid of Yuu's flowing arm movements, the ribbons pulled away at the vines while giving Grim cover. Yuu laughed, "Yeah, something about when you come for the crown. That's so humbling, huh?"
"All of a sudden, you're running away from a fight you've started, like what?" Grim sang tauntingly as he swept the coin away with his tail. Zero ran with Grim to help toss the coin around. Swing attempted fire spells to evaporate the water ribbons, but Victor's flying spider webs stopped the magic.
"Nothing to us. Run up, you're done up, we come up from sunup to sundown, so come out to play!" Victor and Yuu sang as a water tendril tripped Swing straight into the thorns.
Grim cheered as he grabbed the coin in his paws, Zero barking happily… until Swing brushed away the webs and thorns, then snatched the coin from Grim. "We won either way, we're one in a million! We kill 'em, like, really? You want it? Okay!"
“Ya think taking my coin away would stop Mr. Swing?” Swing panted a little, having a moment of triumph when he grasped the coin, only for the last of the water to flick the coin away from his fingers.
"Wanna bet?" Ace challenged Swing with a smirk as he and his team began their next attack while passing along the coin amongst themselves.
"Heels!" Ortho kicked Swing’s shins with all the power he could muster. Swing barely dodged it.
"Nails!" Ace threw a punch that Swing caught, but Ace elbowed him with his free arm before pushing himself back.
"Blade..." Silver thrust his sword towards Swing, but the fairy dodged, then almost fell when Floyd came to pounce and squeeze him.
"Mascara~!" Floyd pushed Swing towards a mausoleum where Rook was leaning against a wall, using a pocket mirror to check himself.
"Fit check for my Napalm Era." Rook put away the mirror and pushed Swing into a clearing using a frosty wind spell.
"Need to beat my face," Kalim sang, putting an arm around Swing's shoulders as best he could. Lilia joined in, popping from behind while upside down.
"Make it cute and savage~!"
Cater jumped in to do a surprise selfie with the Pop Culture Club members and Swing, the three members winking while Swing looked confused. "Mira, Mira on my phone, who's the baddest?”
"Us, Hello~?!" Kalim and Lilia laughed, pushing the fae back. Swing glanced around, trying to track his coin again.
"I'm not finished with you yet!" Jack Howl exclaimed as he rushed to Swing with Zero joining in on the chase.
"Knocking you out like a lullaby," Jack Skellington plucked the coin out from behind Yuu’s ear with a grin. Oogie tried to bump his enemy out of the spotlight, causing the former to drop the coin near Spiral Hill. "Hear that sound ringing in your mind. Better sit down for the show 'cause we're gonna show you!"
"We're gonna show you!" Howl, Deuce, and Ruggie readied their ice magic while their peers summoned barriers. "We're gonna show you how it's done, done, done!"
"GIMME MY COIN!" Swing demanded, tired of the shields and barrages of magic, having lost sight of the coin. He was promptly ignored.
“We don't talk, but we bite, full of venom.” Rook smiled as he made sure Yuu looked presentable.
Floyd added while pushing Yuu towards the spotlight, “Spittin' facts, you know that's how it's done, done, done!”
"Okay, like I know I ramble, but when shootin' my words, I go rando! Took blood, sweat, and tears to look natural!" Cater and Lilia stood back-to-back, sharing lyrics in syncopated rhythm.
"That's how it's done, done, done!" Everyone then lined up in a row, extending their arms towards their approaching Housewarden.
“Hear our voice unwavering," Yuu stepped forward, singing with determination as the moon shone brightly on them and a burst of magical energy released throughout the cemetery, causing Swing to stumble back, "Till our song defeats the night. Makin' fear afraid to breathe 'til the dark becomes the light!"
Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie watched the dreary atmosphere come back to life with magic as the visitors from Twisted Wonderland chanted with excitement, "How it's done, done, done! Run, run, we run the town. The whole world playin' our sound. Turnin' up, it's goin' down. Ramshackle, show this, how it's done, done, done!”
Deuce and Yuu exchanged subtle looks, nodding to each other before Yuu took off.
“We hunt you down!”
"Down, down, down!"
"We got you now!"
"Now, now, now!"
"We show you how!"
"How, how, how!"
"Ramshackle don't miss, how it's done, done, done!"
Swing, who had just recovered from an onslaught of magic and physical activity, slumped onto the floor in front of the posing mages.
“Great job, everyone! The magic of Twisted Wonderland is so spectacular!” Jack Skellington cheered, ever encouraging, whereas Oogie pressed his stubs against his forehead in frustration, lamenting that he had once been associated with the Pumpkin King.
Floyd laughed in relief. "Wow, that was easy. Devil Stinger got all tuckered out!"
"Now we could make sure he never gets that coin again. Yuu’s going to get rid of it right now. We’re saved!" Ace grinned triumphantly.
There was a pause, then Ortho spoke up. “… do you think he’s finished?”
“Nope!” Suddenly, Swing appeared behind the twelve students, glaring at them with a manic smile. “But you are~!” With his centipede and cosmic magic, he barreled over the teenagers in hot pursuit.
Yuu was about to reach the Hinterlands when a voice startled them. "SHADOW!"
Yuu yelped and dashed towards the trees, only to trip when Swing's centipede flew towards their ankles and wrapped its body around them. Spits crawled underneath their fedora.
"You dare to challenge me?" Swing hissed as Yuu fell to the ground, and the centipede pulled. They gripped the ground with their fingers, but their nails dragged as they were getting pulled. "Attempt to defeat me? Try to take something away from me, the King of Desire?!"
The centipede loosened itself from Yuu’s ankles, only for Swing to grab their ankles and tug them harshly, sending Yuu crashing into a gravestone that crumbled on impact. He then marched his way over to the groaning Housewarden, the latter making sure they held onto his coin tightly. "I, who have spared you and taken you under my wing. I, who knows all your secret desires, accept them. After all I've done for you, ya betray me?!"
Swing narrowed his eyes, focusing on the prefect’s neck, which was bruised a little with a recognizable handprint. His emerald eyes widened.
"Don't tell me. You took the pain with that wolf bug. Why? For them?!" Swing grabbed Yuu by the neck and presented them like a ragdoll, forcing them to look at their peers: the students of Night Raven College. Grim. Skellington. Zero. Oogie. "The ones who ignore you? Who takes you for granted every day for their own gain? For being weak?!"
Ruggie and Jack Howl snarled, about to intervene when Deuce and Lilia held out their arms.
With his free hand, the King of Desire forcefully opened Yuu’s fingers one by one to release his coin, Yuu crying out with each tug. "They're doing this to pity you! To make you feel special. You don't need that pity. Can’t you see that none of them will ever understand you as I can? For we are of the same cloth whose desires blend to one source.” When the coin got free, it fell into Swing’s hand. He dropped Yuu unceremoniously, sucking his teeth as he glared down at the human and placed his boot on their chest as if to crush them underfoot.
“Don’t make Mr. Swing your enemy and destroy you. For we are smarter, we are stronger, we are invincible, we have the power, we are superior to them, AND WE SHALL RULE!"
Yuu choked a sob, their right hand still extended as it shook with pain. Swing lifted his foot off and kneeled to Yuu, gently taking their hand and raising them back to their feet. He spoke calmly with an enticing smile.
“All we have to do is work together. Little Shadow—Yuu—join me."
It was then that Yuu realized the key difference between Swing and Felix: Felix would never hurt them on purpose. They hung their head low, which Swing accepted as a defeat, walking with them hand in hand.
"That's better. See? Was that so hard? All you have to do is listen to Mr. Swing—"
With a snarl, Yuu suddenly pulled at Swing's arm at the wrist, opened wide, and bit the arm hard, drawing green blood. Swing screamed, letting go of the coin. Yuu caught it and held it behind their back.
"No, you listen!" Yuu snarled in an Oogie-like sneer, their fangs bared as green blood dripped a little. "We've dealt with you for too long, and we'd never join you. That's because..."
"We are stronger," Floyd and Yuu giggled, their eyes sparkling with sadistic glee as Yuu hid the coin in their pocket.
"We are tres magnifique," Rook and Yuu flipped their hair majestically with a wink.
"We are invincible," Deuce and Yuu cracked their knuckles, the latter silently reminding Deuce that they needed his rebel side fully out.
"We are persistent," Silver and Yuu took a determined stance against the fae.
"We know about our desires and get them ourselves!" Howl and Yuu crossed their arms with confidence.
"We have the power," Cater and Yuu proclaimed with a flourish.
"We have to protect them from you!" Yuu then pushed Swing back before he could protest. As they advanced towards the fairy, they did not notice that a few of their allies had run off somewhere.
"It's you who is to be feared!" Lilia and Yuu glared at Swing, elbowing him roughly.
"'Cause you are a monster!" Grim and Yuu exclaimed, clawing Swing’s face.
"You are scary!" Kalim and Yuu shoved Swing, who doubled over.
"You are greedy!" Ruggie and Yuu barked, a sweeping kick sending Swing falling backwards to the ground.
"You are dangerous!" Ortho and Yuu stomped on Swing's chest.
"You are the unlucky one!" Ace and Yuu sneered, clutching Swing's collar and pulling him close as if going to punch him.
"And you're... not… him!" Yuu shouted, a new baritone voice blended in as they sobbed tears of blot from their widened eyes, letting go of Swing. Then their lips quirked upwards, shaking their head in disbelief as Swing got back up to his feet. "... which makes you fair game."
"Angler-Shrimpy!" Floyd cried out with a grin as he rushed back into the cemetery with Skellington, Rook, Howl, and Silver following close behind. "Oogie's shadow and Skellington took us to a lake this town has that apparently dried up. Who knew? Don't worry. We got the water back and expanded it so it could reach this spot! Try it; the skeleton fishies are so cool~!"
Shit, Swing cursed in thought. After all that trouble of drying up the lake so that the Butterfly of Ramshackle did not get any ideas. Green translucent water seeped from the ground, covering the graveyard with half a foot of water. Swing instinctively hopped to the surface, thankful that he was a bug fae.
A large wave formed from the lake water, the tip of it extending like a head as it lowered to press against Yuu's awaiting palm. Yuu smiled, patting the water like a close friend. One glance around, and the lake understood who the foe was.
Yuu took off their shoes to become barefoot and briefly took off their fedora to wrap their hair in a bun before placing the fedora back in place. Despite their sore body, Yuu gave Swing a manic grin as they tilted their head up and sang in a menacing whisper while holding out their pen,
"When Mr. Oogie Boogie says there's trouble close at hand, ya better pay attention now 'cause we're the boogeyman."
The pen glittered in their grip, and Yuu threw the pen in the air towards the moon. Under the moonlight, the pen magically grew and shifted into a cane with a microphone attached to it, the main microphone piece consisting of the same violet magestone Grim usually wore. The moonlight also shifted slightly into blacklight. The mages' clothes and pupils glowed bright, Oogie's brown burlap changed to green, and Yuu's outfit changed to a neon green, blue, and purple.
Their friends stood in alarm at first, recognizing the song as a silly melody that Felix would sing to himself sometimes. With devious grins, the mages joined in. "And if you aren't shaking, there's somethin' very wrong!"
"'Cause this might be the last time you hear the Boogie Song." Oogie chuckled with delight.
Yuu crooned to their microphone with their friends responding to their call. The water rippled, changing itself to different shapes such as spikes, tendrils, and buzzsaws to attack Swing. Yuu then sang while keeping the coin away, "We're the Ramshackle dorm!"
“Ha! I spent a month in Oogie’s lair. This is child’s play!” Swing boasted as he dodged the water shapes with a sarcastic laugh. “Finally, you’re getting interesting, Shadow! I’d be glad if it weren’t for my coin being stolen!”
"Did you know that some butterflies are parasitic?" Yuu asked out of the blue, poking at their fangs. "And did you know that in Ramshackle, we can hunt someone down by blood and targets?"
Swing's eyes darted to the fresh blood still on his arm, then to the mages and the rippling water by his feet. Echolocation came to mind.
"And did you know that while you were so busy looking down at us bugs, you forgot that we're connected to your biggest threat~?!"
Swing blinked and stopped, getting splashed by water spikes in the process. Wait. The bugs were connected due to powerful magic. One of the bugs was the Spade Beetle. When Swing beat up Yuu, he had also beaten up Spade Beetle, who would give the pain back. Double shit. Now, Swing had to avoid Deuce at all costs.
Oogie and the young mages laughed at Swing’s face. "It's funny! We're laughing! Ya really are too much!"
With a smooth motion, Yuu smirked and slid over to Swing, glancing up at him menacingly despite their head probably reaching Swing’s chin. "And now, with your permission, I'm going to do my stuff!"
"... what are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna do the best I can~" Yuu promised before throwing the coin over to the hyena nearby. "HIT IT, LADYBUG!"
He can't forgive even a single coin being stolen, Ruggie thought as he caught the coin and flipped it a few times. Yeah, I totally get how that feels. He then spoke aloud, "If this is that precious to you, then you should've kept it somewhere safe."
Sensing something was wrong, Swing’s face fell. "Hey, wait a second. What are you planning? Don't tell me...!"
"Something that's yours... We'll do this to it!" After giving Oogie a look and the two nodding, Ruggie threw the coin straight to the other, letting it flip in the air. Swing reached to nab it, but Oogie inhaled deeply like a vacuum, pulling it closer to him as he opened wide and caught the coin in his mouth.
"Noooooooooo!" Swing cried out in agony as Oogie swallowed the coin whole. "STOP IT! What do you think you're doing?!"
As Swing held his head with both his hands in panic, Ruggie and Oogie smirked and crossed their arms with the former laughing, "Ya really thought no one could ever take anything from you, huh? That's pretty naive!"
"Swing is flustered, and his magic is unstable, which means..." Lilia mused in pensive thought when a familiar sensation returned to his being as he exclaimed, "Our original magic has returned! Everyone, now's the time! Give it everything you've got!"
"YEAH!" The Ramshackle hivemind cheered at the news, devious smiles on their faces.
Swing’s eye twitched. "Excuse me...?"
Chains and shackles made of water wrapped around the nocturnal fairy’s wrists.
“Ya ain’t excused!” Everyone droned as Swing yelped and got pulled into a thick wall of lake water.
The NRC students got prepared. Grim spat out fire. Kalim summoned a pillar of water. Cater created a clone. Everyone tested out their original spells happily. "Whoa, the sound of rolling dice to us is music in the air!"
"'Cause I'm a gambling Boogeyman, although I don't play fair~!" Oogie and Yuu exclaimed in exuberant harmony, the red dice rolling in between Yuu's fingers.
Swing spat out water, annoyed as he emerged from the wall. Welp. It was time to rip apart a sack of bugs for his coin. He had done more unusual actions in centuries. He charged at Oogie, only for ice, water, lightning, fire, leaves, and cosmic magic to hit him relentlessly. It did not help when multiple arrows came flying at him, a few of them landing on his body. Rook had his bow and arrow at the ready, joined by Phobos from the shadows.
"It's much more fun, we must confess!" The assassins grinned, fist-bumping each other in an opportunistic truce.
Floyd used the nearby water to partially transform, forming webbed hands and eel features as he slid over Swing’s feet while singing, "With lives on the line!"
"Not ours, of course, but yours, old boy. Now that'll be just fine!" Oogie's grin grew when Swing got hit by Floyd, then got pounced on by a large white wolf.
"Ugh, stop it! Let go! Hey, you're being too persistent!" Swing winced, struggling to break free from the tight grip, but Howl shifted back to his humanoid form and kept Swing at bay.
"The power of those you looked down on so much... feel it for yourself!"
When the timing felt right and the mages of Night Raven exchanged looks, Lilia politely tapped Yuu's shoulder. "Mx. Yuu, if you're up for it, we want to give you the second half of your Christmas present."
"We want you to perform the finishing blow!" Cater winked while Ace and Floyd smiled mischievously. The Housewarden of Ramshackle gasped at such an honor. They did not deserve such friends or gifts. And Swing's previous words did not help matters. Their face fell as they tied their microphone to their back, their confidence melting into insecurity as they backed up.
“I’m not sure," Yuu hugged themselves, biting their lip as they glanced at the floor warily. "I'm not magical or powerful like you guys. I don't even know how to dance that well. I might mess up or slow you all down."
Deuce went up to Yuu, grasping their hands into his. "You think Oogie cares if he messes up?"
Yuu's eyes darted to Oogie for a second, then they shook their head. Deuce smirked.
"Then let's give it our all! For one special night, you are the strongest mage of Twisted Wonderland. Don't think about it. Just do what feels right!"
Yuu thought for a moment, daydreaming about what they wanted to do as Victor popped out from their fedora and whispered in their ear, helping create a clear image of what they desired. They smiled brightly.
“I got something, but I’ll need a head start!” They cheered as they ran to the main gates of the cemetery that led to Halloween Town, with Deuce following close behind.
“A HEADSTART?!” Swing exclaimed, having a feeling that this final blow would involve the Spade Beetle's signature spell. Triple shit! He struggled to get out of Jack Howl’s grip. “Hell no! Get off me! Release Mr. Swing right now!”
"Oh brother, you're somethin'! You put us in a spin~!" Oogie spun around with sadistic glee.
The rest of the mages sang as they surrounded Swing menacingly, "Ya aren't comprehending the position that you're in!"
"It's hopeless!" scoffed Ruggie.
"You're finished!" Howl snarled.
Grim crossed his arms smugly, "Ya haven't got a prayer!"
"'Cause we're Ramshackle dorm," Oogie motioned to the group dedicated to him, accepting them full-heartedly as he sang proudly. "And you ain't going NOWHERE~!"
Powerful magic coursed through Yuu’s veins as they grinned at Deuce with a flourished bow. "Wanna play a game, blue beetle?"
"Let's dance until we're dead, Mx. Yuu!" Deuce called back, alerting Yuu to run to Spiral Hill.
The dance began like this:
The Flea blew fire to trap the centipede.
“FNAH!” Grim blew his blue fire to surround Swing in a ring, then shouted to Yuu. “Do us proud, Hench-Boss!”
The Fly gave the Butterfly a breeze.
“Knock ‘em out of the park with some wind, Yuu!” Ace smirked, adding some of his wind magic to surround Yuu’s body and feet.
The Blue Beetle joined the Butterfly's dance.
"Mind if I join in on the fun?" Deuce laughed as he joined Yuu in racing to the top of Spiral Hill, holding hands as if they were both dance partners. Deuce's unique magic flowed through his and Yuu's limbs, gathering their stored energy.
The Ants gave support, however they could.
“Yaas, King!” Both Caters cheered as they took their phones and snapped pictures of Yuu and Deuce. “Slay, literally~! We’ll hold him down for you!” They then joined Howl by holding Swing’s legs in place.
The Ladybug brought luck and stilled the foe.
"Fly, bugs, fly! Laugh With Me!" Ruggie threw his remaining ladybug luck to the duo, then activated his signature spell to trap Swing further.
The Wolf Spider snarled and held his prey back.
Jack Howl still held Swing in a vice grip as he snarled and closed his eyes, using the hivemind to apply part of his Unique Magic to the runners. “Faster, sharper, stronger!” Yuu and Deuce ran faster to Spiral Hill as they felt stronger and their eyes glowed with sharp intensity.
The Millipede provided a shield.
“Just like we taught ya, Angler-Shrimpy! Bind The Heart!” Floyd also applied his Unique Magic to the duo, blocking any frazzled spells from Swing and his centipede.
The Scarab gave the partners water.
“You can do anything, Yuu! Oasis Maker!” Kalim summoned extra water that hovered close to Yuu and Deuce's bodies, forming wings.
The Mosquito focused on his mark.
"Spade-Trickster, aim for the base of the jaw or the jugular! Roi du desir is open for your attack!" Rook instructed, using magic to indicate Swing's weak spots.
The Carrion Beetle checked their vitals.
"Usage of blot within the hivemind is 25%." Ortho analyzed the magestones, then cheered, "You are clear for impact!"
The Bedbug stayed with the rest to wait for prey.
Silver stayed in the background for defense, waiting with the rest so they could capture Swing while also praying for Yuu and Deuce to succeed.
The Bat blessed the dance.
"I bless that your aim be true, and that your endeavours with Swing will be met with success!" Lilia clasped his hands, adding fae magic to the duo.
Swing struggled against the grip of the teenagers, barraged a second time by spells as he gritted his teeth. "You... you lot...! YOU MISERABLE LITTLE BUGS!"
And the Butterfly fed its hive.
Yuu and Deuce got to the top of Spiral Hill, red sparkles appearing on their bodies as they leapt into the air. Their bodies covered the full moon as they raised their fists, resembling a flying butterfly and beetle about to attack. The Boogeyman and the hive sang once more.
"Whoa, I'm the Oogie Boogie Man!"
"The Ramshackle Dorm!"
"The Oogie Boogie Man~!"
"Bet The Limit: Midnight Special!" Deuce and Yuu exclaimed, socking Swing right in the jugular and jaw respectively.
The Unique Magic and two fists collided with Swing so hard that a fang flew out of his mouth, and he flew twenty feet away to the side, his body tumbling in a spin as he dropped to the ground. Deuce and Yuu almost collapsed in a heap, but Oogie caught them in time.
"Whoa, that was a mean right hook!" Ace whistled, impressed.
"Get 'im before he gets up!" Grim shouted. As everyone pounced on Swing, Deuce, Yuu, and Oogie stood back on their feet, panting heavily with proud smiles on their faces. Yuu's eyes sparkled with tears, their hands trembling with adrenaline and magic. They turned to hear Swing shouting with everyone's hands and paws on his body.
"No, let go of me, you rotten little bugs! IT'S MINE, I TELL YOU! MINE! GET AWAY FROM ME!" The fae then glared at Oogie. "You can't do this to me! I thought we were brothers!"
Oogie scowled and crossed his arms. "Fool me once, shame on you. But fool me twice? No dice! Now, for the final coin toss…"
Suddenly, Yuu's eyes glowed a soft gold color. It surprised them that it took a while for their perception to shift. In their mind, they saw a man in a blue zoot suit and fedora, butterfly wings on his back as he took out Swing's former coin from his pocket. The man grinned at Yuu, placing a finger to his lips to keep the human quiet before he flipped the coin and caught it in the air. He smirked, showing Heads while mouthing, Mine now. Then, he nodded to Oogie.
“Ramshackle? He’s all yours~!” Oogie nodded knowingly. The mages proceed to beat Swing up with fists and tie him up with anything they got their hands on.
Victor emerged from Yuu's hat, calling out while showing his webbing. “May I join? I got threads!”
“The more, the merrier~!” The Ramshackle Hive cheered.
“Perfect! I may be biased when I say this, but I like you twisted fellas~!” Spits hopped off, then shifted to his humanoid form as he joined Deuce in adding to the swarming heap, holding his webs like a rope. Yuu stayed with Oogie, their twisted perception shared with Oogie and Swing as they all watched the scene change.
Swing was in a torn, black burlap sack with several bugs all over his sore body, the creepy crawlies nibbling on his skin. A large millipede hugged his waist in a tight squeeze. A bat bit his shoulder and drank his blood. A large wolf spider wrapped around his throat while Victor worked tirelessly to wrap Swing's body with webbing in a sewing motion. A ladybug and a blue beetle scittered on his face as he attempted to drag himself out of the swarm and sack. In the altered state of reality, the bugs were eating him alive.
Yuu stayed at their spot, golden eyes widened as they occasionally winced at some of the injuries being inflicted.
"You rotten bugs! Let go!" Swing rasped, desperate to escape and tear everyone apart as he thrashed. The human shook their head, creating a water barrier between them and Swing, tears trickling down their cheeks. Swing glared at his former friend and shadow, raising a weak arm to them.
"IMAMURA!" He roared, reaching once more to an item he would never get back, before he was consumed by the darkness and living beings he looked down upon.
Thirteen voices laughed darkly, blending into one strong voice.
james “bucky” barnes x steve rogers | mcu | mini playlist
🅴 | 🔞 | dark fiction | bang post | fic masterpost | word count: 3k+
tags: alternate universe, creature feature, dark romance, dubious consent, family secrets, gothic fantasy tendencies, manipulation, non con body mod, non traditional omegaverse, sexual content, shrunkyclunks, steve might be a himbo, bucky delights in this though, relishes in it even
A wry glint had peaked through the thousand yard stare that marred Steve’s features that day. He didn’t want to impose then but maybe he should have taken Sam up on his offer.
bingo fills + event prompts
au challenge | tattoo parlor au
@avengers-assemble-bingo:
main event | natasha romanoff
bucky barnes birthday bingo | tattoo shop au
kinky bingo | alt: lurking in the dark
@thebo3bingo | blood loss
@buckybarnesevents: hot bucky summer 2025
week 3 | "not now!", heat/rut
@buckyboybingo | free space
@character-a-character-b: june bingo | helping shave
@character-plus-bingo:
captain america | free space
winter soldier | free space
@darkacademiabingo | tattoo parlor au
@darkspicyevanstan | non-traditional omegaverse
@deaddovedec: 2024 | week 2: day 14 | something red
@deaddovekink:
august heat | mating cycles: rut
femboy feb | fashion
heatwave | free day
kinktober '23 | free day
@eclipsingbingo:
main event | bleeding
the rising moon flash event | held down
@thefairytalebingo | gorgon
@fandombingo: dark deception bingo | vanish
@fandom-free-bingo:
fool's edition | new beginnings
madness may | free space
untamed | free space
@fictionaldelightsbingo: under the sea | free space
@halcyonianlove | june paramour: dr. strange
@herohardshipsbingo | coping mechanisms
@hurtcomfort-bingo | free space
@intotheomegaverse & @stuckygeekevents: omegaween 2025 | free space
@julybreakbingo '24 | free space
@killacharacterbingo | war
marvel-smash-bingo | sam wilson
@multifandom-flash: here there be monsters bingo | greek mythology
@secretcrypticevents: into the wilds bingo | gorgon
Summary: How would Lute react to crushing/falling in love with someone in Hell?
Bingo: @eclipsingbingo Square: First Meeting
A/N: It’s been so long since I posted something properly and I know I said it would be Alastor but don’t worry I have two Alastor fic/headcannon stories in the works so I’ll hopefully be able to post those soon. I also have a longer overlord Huskerdust au fic in the works so a lot of my writing attention is going to that. I wrote this in the middle of class so if there are any mistakes I'll be able to fix them later.
The way the two of you meet would be during an Extermination.
Lute would be searching for any Sinners that hadn’t taken the opportunity to hide while they still could or were new to Hell and hadn’t been informed what an Extermination was.
Then her eyes would land on you.
At first, she would think you were one of her own Angels who for some reason wasn’t in uniform before coming to her senses as she took in the telltale signs of a Sinner.
For a few seconds, she would hesitate, spotting you throwing her off kilter. In those few seconds, you would become aware of her presence, stopping whatever you were doing to stare her down for a few seconds.
What caught Lute’s attention the most and what hooked her in was how not a spec of fear could be seen on your face; your eyes instead blazing as you waited, almost daring her to try and kill you.
Of course Lute immediately took you up on that challenge.
Her wings spread out as far as they could reach, showing off their span before launching forward, her spear aimed and pointed at you as she got impossibly closer.
Though her Angelic blade never met your skin—much to Lute’s surprise—as you threw up what seemed to be an Angelic weapon of your own.
Lute couldn’t recognise it for the life of her. Looking back on it, she would blame it on the heat of the moment, never being met with a Sinner who had somehow gotten their hands on an Angelic weapon or who was that pretty. It didn’t help though that when buying it off an Overlord they had done their own tinkering to it.
The shock didn’t last long though. As soon as you started pushing on your weapon, trying to dig it closer to Lute, her senses came back to her and the current situation the two of you were in caught up to her.
No matter how pretty you were, she pushed all thoughts aside and focused on trying to dig her spear as far into your chest as she could, hoping to rid of you as quickly as possible so she could move on to the next sinner that needed retribution.
You didn’t make it that easy though.
With every thrust of Lute’s Angelic spear, you would block it with the blade of your own, never allowing her more than a few small cuts, deep red blood trickling out of them. But for every cut that littered your body, you made sure to return the favour with a sharper, more drawn-out one, golden blood making an appearance and beginning to stain the uniform she was made to wear.
The dance of Angelic weapons that the two of you seemed to walk was never-ending, a continuous walts of red slashes and gilded strikes.
Neither of you would back down; Lute because she was an Angel and it was her duty to slay the Sinners that crossed her path on Extermination Day; You because it was your life she was after and to turn away could lead to a fate out of your control. Also, your street cred would be reduced to nothing if you ran away from an Angel, the lieutenant at that.
By the end of it, you were both covered in a mix of your own and each other’s blood. Red staining clothes while gold brightened the dim night as the day came to an end.
It was only when a loud, almost roar-like screech filled the air, alerting everyone of what had just happened.
Extermination Day had come to an end, and you had survived even while fighting an Angel.
No matter that the countdown had finished and a full year awaited until the Angel in front of you was technically allowed to kill you, you still kept your guard up. After spending years in Hell, nothing surprised you anymore, so if the Angel was to breach the agreement made by Heaven, you wouldn’t be surprised.
Lute only spared you with a look however, her spear still held up as she too knew not to turn her back on a Sinner, not when it was on their turf.
Spreading her wings wide once again, with a powerful flutter she took off from the ground, racing up to the sky where hoards of other Angels were gathering. Lute made sure not to look back, not wanting to waste another second on you when you had effectively wasted a few hours of her Extermination, bringing her number of killed Sinners down.
You didn’t bother to hide your staring, keeping your eyes glued to her until she grew too far away that she was nothing but a spec in the sky.
Like any other Extermination, after all the Angels had vanished, you carried on with your day, having things to do and places to be.
Lute however couldn’t get you out of her head for many days–months–to come. Like a plague, you consumed her entire being, never leaving her alone for more than a few seconds.
Not once did she bring you up to anyone, not wanting anyone to try and piece together the information that was keeping her so distracted. Only once was it almost weaselled out of her, Adam being too nosy as to why she wasn’t able to beat her prior year's record of Sinners killed. She was able to get herself out of that pickle. So to make sure it didn’t happen again, she kept her lips sealed as to anything including fighting a Sinner on Extermination Day.
She couldn’t help but look forward to the next one though, training just as hard to make sure she was up to par when the time came. Lute kept telling herself that if she reached a certain amount of kills in the first few hours of it, she would be able to create a small pocket of time saved just for you.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Title: To New Beginnings (So Long As It's With You)
Fandom: Teen Wolf x Solo Leveling
Character/Pairing: Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski, Stiles Stilinski, Peter Hale, Original Characters
Rating: T
Word Count: 6,517
Summary: A single deviation lands Stiles and Peter in a whole new world.
They both agree that they're far better for it.
Tags: Post-Season 6A, Canon Divergence AU, Dimension Travel, Crossover, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Original Character(s), Established Relationship, Domestic, Outsider POV, Multiple POV, Alternate Universe - Solo Leveling Fusion
Submitted For:
- 51+ Crossover Fandoms - 022. partnership
- Post-July Break Bingo 2023 - "I can't lose you too."
- 100 Prompts Challenge - 010. Stranger
- Across the Universe Bingo - Dimension Hopping
- Gen Prompt Bingo [Round 25] - Fork in the Road AU
- Seasonal Delights Bingo: Language of Flowers [Card 2] - Sweet Pea
- Seasonal Delights Bingo: Types of Love [Card 1] - "With You, I Found That it's Not as Lonely to Be Alone" (@seasonaldelightsbingo x2)
- Lyrical Escape Bingo - "Until the dawn of time, we'll hold on." (@lyricalescape)
- Any Fandom Angst Bingo - Trapped (@anyfandomangstbingo)
- Winter Break Advent 2023 - December 11th-15th: Physical Hurt/Comfort | Going Through it Together | Kidnapped or captured by the same person | If you think that I'm someone to give up and leave - that'll never be me | Desperate measures + Working together
- Fandom-Free Bingo: Frosty Edition - Stranded
- Fandom-Free Bingo: Flight Edition - Opportunities
- Fandom-Free Bingo: Valentine Edition - Begging Not to Go
- Fandom-Free Bingo: Wild Edition [Card 2] - Falling Asleep on One Another
- Fandom-Free Bingo: WBN Edition [Card 2] - The Truth About (Lies)
- Fandom-Free Bingo: Maritime May Edition [Card 2] - Curled Up On Their Chest (@fandom-free-bingo x6)
- Eclipsing Bingo - Sharing a Bed (@eclipsingbingo)
SUMMARY | Invited to the annual Overlord ball, Angel has big plans for the night. With his father and brother overlooking his every move as the family business is put in jeopardy, there isn't much room for mistakes. Good thing Angel's target for the night willingly walks straight into his trap.
RATING | Mature
WARNING/TAG(S) | Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings
A/N | @rubra-wav created the beautiful banner below so go check out their content since they have some amazing stuff.
EVENTS | @eclipsingbingo | First Kiss | Whispering Sweet Nothings | @fandombingo | Repeatedly Checking Their Pulse To Assure Yourself Their Still Alive | @multifandom-flash | Drugged Lipstick | How Many Fingers | Have I Mentioned I Am Sexually Active Today? | @fandom-free-bingo | Curiosity Killed The Cat | @character-a-character-b | Primal Encounters
AO3 LINK | Read Here
The dress that Angel wore hugged every curve of his body, keeping him snug within the black and pink fabrics. As he walked through the Overlord gathering he held himself with poise, playing the part he needed to for tonight.
It wasn’t often that a gathering such as this was held. The monthly meetings were a bore of politics that Angel never bothered showing up for, sending his brother in his place so he could hear the conversation later on, but this was different. This was an event that only happened once a year, a gathering of everyone important with even the chance of one of the Deadly’s making an appearance.
Angel had a mission though, one he couldn’t afford to mess up while his father and brother were mingling in the crowd keeping Sinner’s occupied. Recently a chunk of their territory had been stolen, and with it vanished some of their profit all due to a certain Gambling Demon earning more confidence and attempting to reach further across the pentagram.
Though Angel hadn’t cared personally for the loss, his family had taken it as a personal attack, sending him to deal with the problem and what better place than the annual gala that he would attend? That’s why he was walking around the large hall looking out for the short demon while in the best dress he could find, hoping to catch his attention one way or another.
It was a shame it was Angel who had to complete this mission since he would much rather spend the night getting drinks and mingling with some of the crowd but he couldn’t blame his family for being picked as he was the best choice for this job. No one could seduce an Overlord like he could, it was how he first started getting his family some recognition before they began climbing the ranks of Hell.
A quick and seamless job is all he could hope for but he wouldn’t mind if it got a little bit messy; That just came with the territory.
It wasn’t Angel who found the Overlord, instead, Arackniss came towards him, his pace slow as to now raise any alarm bells, simply making it look as if he had something to say to his brother that didn’t involve singling out an attending Overlord. Having to end his current conversation with one of the Vees who were trying to strike a fashion deal with him, Angel made room for his brother, waiting to hear the new intel.
“You’re boy is over by the bar,” Arackniss started, tossing the drink in his hand in a circle as he stared into it, subtly flaunting the liquor that Angel wasn’t currently allowed to drink.
Though Angel knew better than to look over at the bar immediately, Angel couldn’t help but take a glance at who may be seated over there. Upon seeing the workers attending the event, he also caught sight of an overly red Overlord sitting beside his short but well-groomed target.
Beginning the short journey over to the bar while doing his best not to spark any unwanted conversation on the way over, Arackniss snorted from behind him, “Don’t fuck it up.”
“I’m not goin’ to,” Angel hissed over his shoulder, shooting his older brother a glare before he focused back in on his target.
Making sure to rid himself of any prior annoyance, Angel sauntered his way over to the bar, situating himself on the other side of his small target before feigning as if he hadn’t noticed him, instead making a show of pondering what he might get from the drink menu provided.
The ditzy dress may have made him look clueless, or the fact that he was almost unrecognisable as an Overlord since he almost never attended meetings, but the golden eyes of his target turned to his, Alastor turning to shadows as the attention left him. Angel continued to ignore him, waiting for the Overlord to speak up before letting him fall into his trap.
“If you need help I can see if they’ll let me whip something up for you,” His gruff voice pierced through Angel’s ears, making him slowly turn his gaze towards him. Schooling a drink of his own that was almost empty, the Gambling Demon stared up at him, half a smirk lacing his features. “Of course, I’m sure anything on their menu will do.”
“I bet you’d be able to make me somethin’ perfect if you’re offerin’,” Angel took him up, taking a slow seat as he watched the Overlord shoot one of the workers a look, gaining approval which the Sinner would’ve been foolish to deny before he was rounding the counter and taking a look over the stock that the bar had.
Using the time it took the Overlord to place a martini glass in front of him and begin throwing different alcohols in a mixer, Angel took in his appearance. He wore clean black dress pants paired with some slacks, a slightly lighter suit jacket lined with gold covering a simple white shirt, all of it being topped off with a golden bow. Angel couldn’t help but admire how his hair was slicked back or how the red of his wings almost glowed in the lighting.
“So, what brings a guy like you to one of these parties?” The Overlord questioned as he slid the drink over to Angel, not a drop of it spilling as he came to a stop. Bringing the drink to his lips and taking a slow test sip, making sure the glass or the liquid didn’t actually touch his lips, Angel felt the eyes of the Overlord on him as he swallowed. “I don’t think I’ve seen your face at one of these things before.”
“Oh, my brother invited me. He’s recently started workin’ for one of the Overlords and is apparently ranked high enough for the both of us to turn up here,” Attempting to act as if it were no big deal Angel flapped one of his free hands around, waving off the status he held to lower the Overlords guard. “But what about you mista? What’s a fancy little kitty like yourself doin’ up here?”
“I’m one of the Overlords that’s meant to be trying to bargain for more territory or some sort of deal,” He acted as if the title was a pain in his ass as if it was more hassle than it was worth as his eyes quickly skittered around the room, easily tracking the other Overlords that were doing just that. Pushing one of his hands forward, he offered it to Angel, waiting for him to take it before bringing it softly to his lips where he placed a delicate kiss on the back of his hand. “Where are my manners? I’m Husk, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Throughout the whole interaction, Husk kept his golden eyes locked with Angel’s two-toned ones, both an intimidating aura surrounding him that radiated power as well as a comforting glow that wanted to reach out to him. It was almost as intoxicating as the drink Husk had made for him. “Angel, it’s nice meetin’ you.”
“Hm, fitting,” Husk hummed, his smirk growing if that was possible. Remaining on the opposite side of the bar, Husk leaned forward, resting his forearms on the countertop as he stared up at Angel through lidded eyes. “Who did you say your brother worked for, again?”
“I didn’t,” Angel muses, finishing his drink before he sets it down and leans into one of his hands, resting his head there as he matches Husk’s expression. Doing what he did best, Angel propped his chest fluff up as his dress opened up, one of his fingers toying with the stem of his drink as his lashes fluttered. A quickly raised brow from the Overlord pulled a chuckle out of him, adding, “But he works for the Mafia Demon I think. I tend to tune him out when he rants about work.”
“Maybe you should start paying attention,” Husk spoke slowly, his deep voice gruff around the edges as the words were almost purred to him. Angel couldn’t help but wonder if there was an underlying meaning to Husk’s words. “You never know when he might say something important.”
“I’ll start payin’ attention when he starts talking about somethin’ interestin’,” Angel responded in a purr of his own, bringing a finger up to trace down the fur that lined Husk’s cheek. It wasn’t often an Overlord allowed him to get this close and personal, especially not when they knew who he was. “I ain’t got time to worry about which goon he chased after or whose debt he’s out collectin’. This however is quite interestin’ and seems worthy of my time.”
A huff of laughter snorted its way out of Husk, glee lining his golden eyes as Angel stared into them. He couldn’t help but work his charm; If the old sucker fell for it then that was on him.
“Say, why don’t we get out of here?” Husk offered, one of the corners of his lips ticking up in a smirk. Staring up at Angel with hooded eyes, mischief poorly concealed behind them, Angel knew he had the Overlord right where he wanted him. The way Husk leaned forward before speaking as if sharing a secret, told Angel everything he had to know. “Away from prying eyes. Somewhere it can be just the two of us.”
“I think… that’s a brilliant idea,” Angel paused deliberately, taking a second to think over his next words as if this had all been a spontaneous encounter. Taking a look around the large hall that they were currently in, Angel’s eyes landed on his father's and Arackniss’s, both of them watching him and Husk’s every movement. It hardly did anything to light Angel’s nerves on fire, instead turning back to stare into the warm glow of the Overlord turned bartended in front of him. “Too bad I don’t know any places nearby. I wouldn’t want to keep a pretty thing like you waitin’.”
“I’m sure I can figure out something for the two of us,” Husk shrugged off Angel’s feigned worries, his posture remaining confident as he stared up at Angel from where he leaned. “I do after all own the building we’re hosting this in.”
That piece of information had been something Angel missed. He wasn’t certain if he wasn’t listening close enough when he was being debriefed on the mission or if it had been something his whole family had missed. Regardless, Angel hadn’t a clue he was standing on enemy territory until a few seconds, nothing having given away since the building was located on what could be considered neutral turf. “Why don’t you leade the way then, Handsome?”
As Angel spoke to him, a challenging glimmer sparked to life in Husk’s eyes. Chancing a glance over Angel’s shoulders for a few seconds, locking onto something before they flicked back to Angel’s. Leaning up for a kiss, pulling Angel down slightly so he could reach Husk’s elevated height from where he was leaning across the bar counter. Husk made a show of licking his lips, savouring the taste of Angel on them. All Angel could think about was how he had just taken a dose of the poison that laced his lips, the reason he had avoided anything touching his lips all night.
“Shall we?” Husk offered Angel his hand as he rounded the bar once more, standing as tall as his short frame would allow. Angel placed one of the hands from his top set of arms in Husk’s, slowly raising himself from the stool. With the additional height of his heels, Angel stood at almost double Husk’s height, towering over him. That however did little to deter Husk as the shorter Overlord began leading the way through the large hall, weaving their way to one of the many exits.
As Angel trailed behind them, his eyes locked onto Arackniss’s, giving his brother a clear nod as they passed by one another even if Angel was sure he had witnessed Husk planting a kiss on his lips. The job was done. Whatever happened after this wasn’t up to Angel.
Husk had led him to a hidden door that blended with the hall's walls. He easily pressed a concealed pressure plate as two doors slid open, revealing an elevator. Holding the door open for Angel, Husk allowed Angel to walk in first before he stepped in moments later, the door shutting behind him. As soon as Angel was sure the two of them were alone, his hands were immediately on Husk’s, trying to smear his lipstick from the Overlord’s lips.
“You idiot,” Angel hissed. Husk stood stock still as Angel fretted over him, wiping his thumbs over his lips and trying to eliminate any of the remaining pinkish colour. His efforts didn’t matter too much as Husk had already tasted the lipstick, making that clear right after they had kissed. “Why would you kiss me? You knew the lipstick was poisoned.”
“To make sure your family got off your back,” Husk’s hands fumbled for Angel’s, putting a stop to his frantic attempts to clean his lips. Husk didn’t take into account Angel’s other set of arms or even the third set that were kept hidden most of the time. A new pair of hands were instantly on Husk’s face, attempting to do the same thing that the first pair had failed to do. “We had to make sure they saw you give me the poison so they couldn’t blame you for me not dying.”
“You didn’t have to go lickin’ your lips to rub it in their faces though,” Angel almost shouted, panic seeping into his words. Husk stared up at him with a small smile on his face despite it all, only pushing Angel further on edge as he turned frantic. “Now you’ve consumed it. Quick, how many fingers am I holdin’ up?”
“Stop with that bullshit,” Husk had to drag another one of Angel’s hands away as he attempted to check his pulse to make sure it was still beating smoothly. Rolling his eyes at the low squeak that erupted from Angel as he was dragged around, being pulled out of the elevator doors once they opened as sat on a plush bed after they walked through a long hallway. “I’m the one who gave you that drugged lipstick, don’t you think I’d make sure I’m immune to it first?”
“Oh,” Angel came to a slow end, sitting on the edge of one of Husk’s beds, his two sets of arms being held by Husk, a soothing thumb running over the back of both of them. Angel guesses he should have thought of that. Husk hadn’t become an Overlord off of pure luck, even if that was his trademark. Though, now that the worry had fled from Angel’s being, a firey annoyance filled it instead as he glared at Husk. “Why’d you scare me then? You could’ve said somethin’ sooner so I didn’t freak out.”
“I’m sorry Legs,” Husk murmured, finally releasing Angel’s hands so he could use one of his own to cup the spider’s chin. His hand alone almost dwarfed Angel’s face, just like most things in comparison did–other than his height, of course. “Didn’t think you’d work yourself up so much over it. But since we’re up here… we might as well put this room to good use.”
A large grin split across Angel’s face as he wound a hand up Husk’s suit, tangling the Gambling Overlord’s tie within his fingers before tugging him forward, bringing their faces within inches of one another. “I like the sound of that Whiskers.”
