#intheafterall

[saisai-chan]

Pink. Lots of pink. All the pink. Maybe a little lavender but mostly pink.

jkl; ahgkl;agh;

[saiyukisecretsanta-blog]

Lighthouse - for InTheAfterAll

He didn’t think he would ever get used to it.

There were times when the feelings would strike, but he could do nothing to distract himself from them.

This moment. Was one of those times.

As Hakkai drove through the rain, he was sure the others felt it as well as he did; when the wind chilled by the night, whipped against them. A sensation, that seemed to ache into the deepest recesses of their minds and souls.

They’d been driving for long enough that they felt the sun rise on their backs, and watched as it began to set; as it became hidden by the clouds now rumbling overhead. It was when the first drops started to pelt down, that a wave of sorrow spilled over the party.

The only noises were the sounds of the Jeep and Goku’s quiet grumbling about being hungry and wet.

The silence stretched. He was unsure at what point the memories truly started, but he knew when they paused. They were disrupted everytime Goku shifted closer into his side; he was grateful for it, the warmth and reminder that he wasn’t back there anymore.

That he wasn’t alone.

He loved her, his mother. All he wanted to do was to make her happy.

All he got in return was her tears, and a fear of being alone at night.

As they drove onwards; it’s almost like their combined hope ignited a light. A beacon shone into the darkness, illuminating a safe passage; like a lighthouse that called them home.

Getting closer they felt a wave of relief wash over them as they spilled from the Jeep, through the doors of the roadside hotel.

It was warm and -

“Oh no! Give me a second I’ll get some towels!”

A woman. Watching her dart from the room, he was surprised at how quickly she returned; arms laden with fuzzy towels, before she began pushing them towards the fireplace.

Draping towels over each of them, she stoked the fire before speaking again.

“Did you want some tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate?”

Murmurs were her only response before she bustled out again, returning shortly after with a tray of drinks.

Once her task was done, she just sat in a nearby armchair; waiting, for what he wasn’t sure. Hakkai was the one who spoke next,

“Miss, would you happen to have 4 rooms available for the night?”

“Of course! I just thought you might want to warm up first, but we can deal with that now if you like?”

A nod, then the others rose around him; leaving to head to the rooms they were being given. Gojyo though, he couldn’t find it in himself to move.

When she returned she just smiled, sitting beside him after he gestured to the empty space.

“You don’t feel like going to bed yet?”

“I just don’t wanna move, it’s too nice here. A warm fire and a beautiful woman by my side. Who would leave?” While his voice was cheerful, his eyes held no mirth; and she seemed to see straight through him.

“You know, if you feel lonely; you can admit that. You can travel with others but still get a feeling of loneliness. What’s really bothering you?” She finished, skin lit by the fireplace, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but since we’re probably not going to see each other again, you could think of this as an opportunity to get everything off your chest.”

Her smile as gentle as her words; he couldn’t help but reach out, slinging his arm across her shoulder to pull her into his side. Shifting closer she leant into him.

So he told her. About his mother and what she tried to do, that he doesn’t like being alone, or the rain; that it’s a painful reminder.

As she nodded along, he felt himself becoming lighter; like it was actually lifting weight from himself telling her this. Finishing his story, he was surprised when she shifted away from him; a pang in his chest before her intentions were made clear.

Pulling him down, she rested his head on her knees; before beginning to massage his scalp, humming softly.

“It’s terrible that you had to go through that, but at the end of the day; the things that do us the most harm, can often do us the best good. You are stronger for what you went through those days.” He tried to speak, what words he didn’t know; but she continued.

“I’m happy to spend the night with you here if you like? You seem like you could just use a quiet relaxing night.” A hum and a smile were his response as he enjoyed the sensations she was giving him. Gentle hands massaging his shoulders and neck.

Feeling himself wake, he sat up, surprised to discover the blanket across his person; and the cushion beneath his head. Turning at the sound of someone entering the room; he was finally able to see her in daylight. The light filtering in through the window, making her almost glow as she set a plate of food next to him.

This, was the feeling. When he and Hakkai lived together, it was this nice safe feeling. She possessed it too.

“Wow, who knew I had such a beautiful woman taking care of me last night?” Winking softly, he couldn’t help the comment; not that she seemed to mind as a laugh spilled from her lips.

“Sure sure playboy, you should eat your breakfast before heading to your actual room; it’s 4 am, but you should be able to slip a shower in, before getting some more sleep.”

Rising, he folded the blanket as he stood; collecting the food before walking towards her. Pecking her softly on the cheek, he passed her the blanket; delighting in the way her skin flushed before he walked past her, heading to his room.

He didn’t like being alone at night; but sometimes, people were there to help with that. Even in the unlikeliest of ways.

He would never lose the experiences of that night; but sometimes he could forget them.

[avarice-n-spice-blog]

So I was thinking...Does Rowan have snacks stashed at the manor? Individual serving packs of mini oreos? Now, we know what happens when the last of the ice cream or the last piece of pizza is eaten but if she does have a stash and finds that some is missing or half eatenor oh lord all gone what would she do?

Okay so she does not because she’s not really over there often enough to hoard food. Mostly the boys tend to invade her (very limited) space, and they stay at the bakery. It’s just easier that way because her Gran is less likely to wonder why they’re all watching Criminal Minds at 3 am on a school night. (Because she wouldn’t know lmfao).

BUT.

If Rowan did have a stash, she’d be very careful about it. Consequences on half/all eaten snacks would depend on the person though. If it was one of her boys it would just be straight up murder time. They KNOW better (especially Tim. Rowan would put aside specific stashes just for him because she knows about his bad snacking habits and sweets addiction. So if he eats her’s that not only means he committed the cardinal sin and ate her food, but it means he ate her food AFTER eating all of his. That she specifically or aside for him. So that he wouldn’t eat her’s).

If it was like Cass or Steph or something she’d be more forgiving. Steph is her makeup buddy and and Cass is just too pure™ and should never be punished for anything Rowan would totally spoil the quiet girl who is older then her but also a perfect cinnamon roll.

If it was Dick or Jason, she’d probably just be like ‘Hey Damian you should get that crocodile you wanted. I know Your dad said there’s no place for it in the manor but I hear Jason’s got a nice, gatorless place.’ Or like 'Tim. When’s the last time you updated everyone’s PC? Like have you checked Dick’s system? Does he need his security updated? You should totally go into the bat cave and pull up his hard drive and do him a favor.’ *and then everyone gets to see the 300 selfies Dick has taken in various unsavory positions that he forgot he saved from his phone* (Dick will never know how Rowan knew. No one will ever know.)

But then like, one day Bruce finds a bag of chips. It is a small, simple bag and he’s kind of hungry. He doesn’t want to bother Alfred. He eats them.

And suddenly his daily Bruce Wayne™ schedule is filled with nothing but meetings for a month. He hates meetings. He would take a gala or a community service appearance over arguing with the CEO of that overseas oil company for six hours. Alfred what is going on why did you let me do this how did this happen.

And then Rowan. Sits in the background. With ink stains on her fingers and the knowledge that no one will ever know that Robin and Red Robin swung her into the illustrious Bruce Wayne’s office at 2 am because their poor dad ate their girlfriend’s chips.