You can participate in this year's event by posting to the collections on AO3 and Squidgeworld, or by sharing your creations on your favorite social media site using #PolyshipWeek25.
2025 Prompt Schedule
Day One - 19 November: Only One Bed, Metamours, Kidnapped
Day Two - 20 November: Supernatural Creatures, In the Kitchen, Rain
Day Three - 21 November: Cuddle Pollen, Sharing Clothes, Royalty
Day Four - 22 November: Meet the Family, Aro/Ace-Spectrum, Beach
Day Five - 23 November: "It takes a village…", Team as Family, Jewelry
Day Six - 24 November: Games Night, Matching Costumes, Recovery
Day Seven - 25 November: Came Back Wrong, Compersion, Snow
Day Eight - 26 November: Free Day!
As per always, this event is open to any polyships for any fandom, including original characters and works, and any medium you'd like to create in. There are no content restrictions, but please do tag your works appropriately!
For questions, feel free to send an ask or email the modmail at [email protected]. We can't wait to see what you come up with this year.
Finally, if your favorite prompt didn't make it in, never fear! The remaining suggested prompts are listed alphabetically below the cut, and you are welcome to use them for the free day or as alternates.
Polyship Week 2025 Alternate Prompts:
Accidental Child/Pet Acquisition
Body Image
Camping
Canon Polycule
Committing a Heist Together
Dating Same Person Separately
"Did you even read the Google calendar?!"
Draw the Squad
Dysfunction in the polycule
Entire polycule fell for/flirt with the same person
Fake Divorce
Family Traditions
Fishing
Frenemies in the polycule
Harmony
Heatwave
Hiding Birthday/Christmas presents from each other
authors note: been awhile since I wrote some good angst, my apologies for the suffering I cause (I'll post an alt happy end!)
authors note 2: and I'm late with a post again 😅 whoopsie
summary: Natasha and Wanda lose their girlfriend on a mission, and in her grief Wandas powers bring her back. But is she really back or is Wanda just refusing to face reality while Natasha loses herself in it?
warnings: violence & blood(fatal injury on a mission), angst(Reader death, super depressed WandaNat, Readers resurrection gone wrong, depressed yet hopeful Wanda, depressed and angry Nat), no happy end
word count: 6,559
Day 2 Day 7, alt ending
Polyship Week 2025 Masterlist Natasha Masterlist
Wanda Masterlist WandaNat Masterlist
Natasha watches with baited breath as you fall, and as soon as you hit the ground everything changes. The sound of the battle fades away, replaced by the sound of her pounding heart as her focus moves to you and you alone. Finally her brain and feet catch up to reality and as she races to get to your side.
"Y/n!" she shouts as she falls to her knees beside you, ignoring the pain that radiates from this action.
Her eyes quickly look you over and once she sees the dark red patch growing on your uniform she wastes no time in pressing her hand against that spot. You let out a choked sob and your hand clutches at her wrist, not trying to remove it but simply lamenting in how badly that hurt
"I know Detka(baby), I know" she coos to you before her other hand presses her comms, "I need immediate medical evac! Y/n has been hit!"
"Roger that Agent Romanoff. Medics en route" a SHIELD agent back at headquarters replies
You open your mouth to say something, to assure her that it's not as bad as it looks or just that you're okay, but instead a raspy choking sound leaves you, and blood trickles down your lower lip. Natasha's heart hammers even harder at the sight, and she quickly moves the zipper of your uniform down, intent on getting a good look at the injury to try and do what she could in the meantime. But what she finds has a lump of pure dread building in her throat, because there's a gunshot wound to your chest, and its obvious you're loosing a lot of blood
"Oh god" she mutters, quickly bringing you into her lap and pressing her hand against the wound once more, making you flinch again
she's no stranger to the warmth and wetness of blood, more than she wants to remember has been on her hands over the years, but the feeling of yours seeping against her palm has her feeling nauseous. Sure this isn't the first time she's felt it, you've been injured before in training and on missions, leaving Wanda and her to patch you up. But this time, your injury was much worse.
When you look up at her through your teary eyes and you're distinctly aware that you've never seen her look so scared before. Not even when she had a nightmare of the Red Room. That fact alone is enough to make you realize that this is bad. And obviously getting shot is always bad, but this was real bad
"Hey, talk to me" she whispers, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of your own heartbeat in your ears
"It hurts…" you croak out, your voice sounding rough and raw
She nods her head and tries to blink back her tears, "I know it does, but evac is on the way, okay? They'll give you some pain meds and get you stable"
"Okay" you reply, letting out a breath that rattles your chest.
The blood loss is starting to get to you now, and you can feel your mind getting hazy and your body growing weaker. Natasha must feel it too because she suddenly presses more firmly against your wound.
"You're going to be okay" she says adamantly, and you're not sure if she's trying to assure herself or you
You do your best to nod but it ends up being just a jerky movement that makes your head spin. You try to put up a strong front for her sake though, "Wanda's gonna be so overprotective now"
Natasha smiles softly, making a few of her built-up tears roll down her cheeks, "And what makes you think I won't be?"
"You're already overprotective"
She lets out a small huff of acknowledgment, unable to argue with you. But the small humorous moment isn't enough to make her oblivious to you. She can see the light sheen of sweat on your forehead, the way your skin has paled, how your eyes are struggling to focus, how your grip on her wrist has loosened, and how your bleeding has only slowed but not stopped.
"Tasha" you call out lightly, pulling her attention away from her near spiraling thoughts, "I'm cold"
Those simple words make her go from feeling extreme worry to pure terror and her hand immediately shoots up to her comms again, "I need an ETA on that evac"
The same agent from before replies, "ETA is twenty minutes"
She swallows roughly and desperately tries to ignore the nagging voice at the back of her head that tells her you don't have that long, you need help now. Her hold tightens on you and her tears start to fall freely, "I need you to hang on a little longer, okay?"
The way her voice shakes has a knot forming in your stomach. You knew you weren't doing great, but getting the confirmation in the sound of your girlfriend's voice as she pleads for you to fight, well that hits harder than you anticipated. Tears streak down your cheeks then too and you try to swallow away the lump of unease in your throat
You use what little strength you have left to raise your free hand to her face. You gently trace the ridge of her nose with your finger, then the curve of her lip with your thumb before you cup her cheek. She takes a shuddering breath and leans into you touch, and she brings the hand not holding pressure on your wound up to your hand on her cheek
"I love you- "
"Don't" she interrupts, her voice cracking, "Don't act like this is the last time you'll say that. Don't act like this is the last time I'll hold you. Don't"
You can feel the way her body starts to tremble as she tries to hold in her emotions, and though you want to assure her that you'll be okay the reality is that you know you won't be. You can feel that much.
"Tasha" you whisper, shakily rubbing your thumb against her cheek
She shakes her head gently, "Don't"
"I love you" you tell her, "I love you Natasha"
"I love you too. I love you so much Y/n" she chokes out, her lip trembling as she speaks, "You mean so much to me, and to Wanda"
The thought of your other girlfriend being her tears at Natasha heart. This wasn't fair. She shouldn't be having to prepare her goodbyes to you, and she shouldn't have to be doing it alone. If it had to be this way, then Wanda should at least get the same chance she's getting. But life is cruel
"I know I do. And you both mean the world to me" you admit softly, your vision starting to blurry around the edges, "Please tell her I love her, please Tasha. She has to know"
"She already knows detka(baby)" Nat assures you, pressing your hand more firmly against her cheek, "But I promise, I'll tell her"
Your breathing becomes even more ragged and you start to struggle to talk, "Don't….don't let her….see this…she'll want…want to know….but….don't"
Natasha shakes her head, agreeing that this sight isn't something the Sokovian needs to see. Natasha herself wishe's she wasn't seeing it, wishe's it wasn't real, wishe's it was a cruel trick. But she knows it isn't. And she also knows she won't look away from you. She loves you too much to let you suffer alone, even if this is killing her
"Please stay with me" she whimpers, pulling you closer, "Please"
Your chest rattles again as you take another breath and you start to cough. Your whole body shakes with the force of them and blood starts to spill past your lips. Your unfocused eyes widen as you gasp and choke on your own blood
"Shh" Natasha coos through her sobs as she lets go of your hand on her cheek in order to softly rub your head, letting her fingers work through your tangled hair, "I've got you, just breathe detka(baby)"
Your body trembles in her hold and your mouth opens as if you're going to say something, but then suddenly, your body goes completely slack in her hold. Natasha breath catches in her throat and her eyes desperately scan you for any sign of life. But she finds none
"Y/n?" she calls out desperately as her hand cups your face, "Hey, come on. Don't you do this. Wake up"
But you don't. You continue to lay limp in her hold, your eyes wide open and yet seeing nothing. A violent sob tears out of her throat and she finally lets go of your wound in order to wrap both her arms around you. She holds you tightly in her shaking grasp and nuzzles her cheek against the top of your head
"No no no, please" she begs through her sobs, "please don't go, please"
You of course don't answer, and this only makes her break further. And eventually, after an uncertain amount of time, she hears the Shield agent tell her that evac has arrived. It's almost enough to make her spiral.
When the evac receives no word from Natasha, Clint is called over comms to help. When he finds her holding you, cradling your body as she cries, he knows it's too late. And his heart breaks for his best friend
"Nat?" he calls out softly, not wanting to startle her while in such a vulnerable state
She only lets out a whimper in response and he quickly approaches, kneeling down next to her and rubbing her shoulder. She practically throws herself and you into his arms
"Oh honey." he whispers, not knowing what he could possibly say
She lets out a choked sob and presses her head against his shoulder, "she's gone….I couldn't….I couldn't stop the bleeding"
He looks down and can tell by the amount of blood on the ground, on Natasha and on you that the injury was somewhere vital enough that she never stood a chance in doing so. Not without medical equipment
"You did everything you could Nat" he assures her
"But it wasn't enough" she whimpers, "I lost her"
"I'm so sorry Natasha." He sighs, but a large boom in the distance brings him back to the present. The rest of the team is still busy fighting, and he had to get Natasha out of potential danger, "Come on, we need to get you two to the evac quinjet"
At first Natasha doesn't see the point, you're already gone and there's nothing they can do about that. But she knows she has to get you back home, back to Wanda. Even if the thought of facing your other girlfriend without you by her side and telling her that your smile, laugh or touch would never brighten their days again has her already nauseous stomach lurching. She keeps your body cradled in her arms, close against her chest as she rises to her feet and almost stoicly starts walking to to quinjet. Clint obviously knows its a front, shock and numbness shielding her from the harsh reality. So he follows close beside her, keeping his hand on the small of her back to help support her as she carries the weight of your loss the entire way to the jet
As they walk up the ramp she does her best to ignore the pity filled stares of the medics and walks your limp body over to the stretcher they had prepared for you. She hesitates for a moment, not quite ready to let you go yet, but Clint's hand on her shoulder prompts her to set you down. She gently situates you in a position that you would've felt comfortable in before stepping away and taking a seat directly across from you. She knows you're gone, knows you won't call out for her, but she refuses to be far from you.
Her hands shake as she fumbles to buckle herself in, and despite the tears streaming down her cheeks she manages to hold herself together. Clint sits down beside her as the medics and crew get ready for takeoff. One of the medics, just wanting to be thorough, comes over to you and checks for a pulse. And Natasha knows he won't find one, she felt your last breath leave you, had felt you go limp. She knows he won't find anything. But when the medic drops his head with a sigh and walks away from you, she can't contain the soul crushing grief
The sound that escapes her is unlike anything Clint has ever heard her make. And while that's absolutely understandable, it also shakes him to his core. He does his best to comfort her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close, but he knows there's nothing he can truly offer. There's no comfort to be had when going through a loss like this
The flight home feels almost endless for Natasha. For nearly an hour she has fluctuated through multiple emotions. Dread of facing Wanda alone, anger at the universe and of course Hydra for taking you from her, and of course deep sadness at your loss. She has cried more than she ever thought possible, to the point that her throat is sore and her eyes are red. she's experienced grief before, but nothing this profound.
As the quinjet approaches the tower she does her best to pull herself together. Not because she's afraid of being seen as weak by being emotional, but because she knows that right now she has to be strong for Wanda. They can both break down later, together in the solace of their room. But Wanda will need a rock right now when she learns of your fate, and she intends to be that rock
At the tower, Wanda nervously awaits the arrival of the quinjet. When the evac call went out for you she had been notified immediately, and was understandably worried about your condition. The radio silence since then has only made her anxiety grow, and her mind has been swimming with multiple possible scenarios as to what's happened. And even now, with everything still unknown, she can't help but feel some relief at the sight of the quinjet landing. Because no matter what, at least you and Natasha are home
But as soon as the ramp opens and Natasha walks out, eyes rimmed red, a sadness unlike anything she's seen before etched onto her features, and mission gear covered in blood, she knows. She just doesn't want to accept it. Tears build in her eyes as she rushe's forward, desperate to hear something hopeful come out of the redheads mouth
"Where's Y/n?" she asks, her voice trembling as her girlfriend descends the ramp
Natasha shoulders slump and her lower lip wobbles, "Wans, she….she's gone"
The defeat in her girlfriends voice has Wanda's tears falling, but she still refuses to believe it, "No, no she can't be"
Nat's gaze falls to the ground between them, as if she's ashamed to admit her next words and can't look Wanda in the eyes while she says them, "I did everything I could. I'm sorry Wans, but she is gone. Y/n died"
"No" Wanda contends, her chest rising and falling rapidly as panic sets in.
She attempts to rush forward past Natasha but the Russian manages to grab her. She doesn't want Wanda to see you like she has. Pale, lifeless and covered in blood.
"Let go Natasha, I have to see her" Wanda begs, almost sobbing now
"That's not how you want to see her. When you close your eyes and think of her, you don't want to remember her that way."
But Wanda is stubborn and she refuses to believe the harsh reality that you're really gone until she sees it. She struggles in her girlfriends grasp and looks at her pleadingly. But Natasha doesn't have to respond, because the medics have started to bring your body out. Wanda freezes as she sees the stretcher, a bloodstained white sheet covering a body. A body she knows is you. Not just because of what your other girlfriend has told her, but because in their haste to cover you, they missed one of your hands. Her resolve finally breaks
"No…no no no" she whimpers, clutching onto Natasha's bloodstained hands, "Tasha…"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" the Russian chokes out
As the medics wheel you past Wanda feels her world come crashing around her. Her knees buckle and she brings Natasha to the ground with her as a sound that's a mix between a sob and a scream tears its way out of her as her body trembles. Natasha had thought she was prepared, she expected this much as she had reacted the same way. But what she wasn't prepared for was the large wave of red energy that lashe's out of Wanda and into almost all the surroundings
In retrospect, she should have expected it. The same thing had happened when Pietro had died. Only unlike in Sokovia the energy doesn't do any harm to anyone. It simply passes through Natasha and the medics and rattles your stretcher
Clint had walked out in time to witness that and quickly rushe's over to where both women are knelt on the ground. He lays a gentle hand on each of their shoulders, as he tries to offer them some guidance
"Come on, let's get you both to your room. You need time to be alone together to process this" he tells them before looking at Nat, "And you need to get cleaned up"
Natasha looks down at herself, and upon seeing the front of her gear stained with a massive amount of your blood her upset stomach has finally had enough. Bile rises in her throat and she lurches to the side to avoid being sick on Wanda, who is sobbing almost hysterically at this point
"Okay, it's okay" he coos, as he rubs Nat's back with one hand and pulls Wanda against him with the other. He can feel his own eyes water as he watches them fall apart and he knows he'll need help getting them to their room
Thankfully Bucky hadn't been on the mission and he was nearby enough to have heard the commotion. In his rush to help he had passed by the medics and stretcher, and had realized the team had lost someone. He just didn't know who until he saw the two women in such a state. Wanda was only ever quiet and kind. And Natasha was always stoic and sarcastic. To see them like this, he knew it was their girlfriend under that bloody sheet
"How can I help?" he asks the archer, sadness lacing his tone
Clint looks at the women and then back at him, "Can you help Wanda to their room? I'll get Nat."
"Of course" he agrees, bending down to help her to her feet
He quickly realizes though that she's in no mindset to walk so he scoops her up into his arms instead. As soon as she's emptied the contents of her stomach, Clint does the same with Nat. Both men are very solemn as they walk, not knowing what to say to each other of the women they carry. So they resign themselves to being a more physical comfort. They hold your girlfriends close until they reach your shared room.
Clint quickly puts the code in to unlock the door and Bucky follows him inside. They set both women down on the bed, and Bucky instinctively takes a step back. He'd never been in here before, he never had reason to be as he wasn't particularly close with any of the three of you, so he feels a bit like an outsider overstepping right now.
Clint must sense this, because he turns to address him then, "Thank you. I need to stay here with them right now, could you handle informing the team of what happened and how the girls will need some space to deal with this alone before getting their support"
"Yeah, of course" he tells him before he makes his way to the door. He turns around before leaving, "I'm very sorry for your loss"
Clint was no stranger to helping Natasha shower. Since meeting her he's helped her multiple times when she was struggling with her PTSD or an injury she didn't want to admit to having. So helping her to the bathroom while she's almost unresponsive is nothing new. He sets her down on the closed toilet and starts to run the water, trying to get it the right temperature for her
He reaches out and brushe's some of her hair out of her face, "I'll be right back. I need to tend to Wanda"
Nat doesn't respond so he quickly goes to Wanda, who is still sitting on the edge of the bed, trembling and crying. Clint pulls back the covers, helps her out of her shoes, lays her back and tucks her in. Its not perfect and she's likely not entirely comfortable, but it's all he can do for the moment. He then heads back in with Nat and checks on the water. Satisfied with the temperature he leans over in front of her
"We're gonna do this like old times" he tells her, "I'm going to help you out of your suit, and then stand right outside the bathroom door while you finish getting undressed and hop in the shower, okay?"
But he receives no answer, just a blank stare. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "Nat honey, I understand this is incredibly hard, but I need your help here, okay? Please?"
She blinks and finally looks at him and her answer comes out so softly that he almost misses it, "Okay"
He nods then does exactly what he said. He helps her out of her belt and holsters, then her boots, then her suit. He makes sure she can stand on her own and support herself before he leaves, closing the door softly behind him. He took her gear with him, not wanting it to sit on the floor and remind her or Wanda of what had occurred. He'll get her guns and gear cleaned up, and Stark can make her a new suit. This one will never see the light of day again
After he leaves Natasha stands there for a moment, looking at herself in the mirror. She takes note of your smeared blood on her cheek where you had touched her and on her stomach where it had soaked through your clothes and hers. The sight has tears running down her cheeks again and she quickly rids herself of her bra and underwear and gets in the shower.
She lets the hot water run down her face and front for a few minutes, wanting to be rid of all the evidence of the violence that had occurred to you. She watches the water turn pink as it swirls the drain and can't contain the sob that slips out. This isn't the first time she's washed away blood, but it is the first time that she feels like she's washing away evidence of you. Of your existence. And that just adds to the pain she's already feeling.
Eventually she pulls herself out of the shower, turns it off, dries off and changes into her pajamas that had been left in there this morning. she's not sure how she managed to do all of that and honestly Clint isn't either when she opens the door. Regardless he helps her over and into bed too. As soon as she's there Wanda turns to her and buries her face against her chest. Nat doesn't hesitate to wrap her arms around her girlfriend, pulling her close to offer what little comfort she can
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call or tell FRIDAY you need me" he tells them before taking his leave
The medics take you to SHIELDS morgue that's in the tower, and you're quickly brought out from under the sheet and placed on a metal table. The mortician sees no need to rush so he takes his time in getting your gear off. But as soon as your top is off he hears a metallic clank and looks down to find the bullet on the table. His brows furrow in confusion, there'd been no evidence in your gear that the bullet had gone all the way through you, and there shouldn't have been a way for it to come back out the entrance wound.
He rolls your body to the side to double check your back and sure enough, there's no hole. He places you back down and prods though the bloody mess of your stomach, attempting to figure out what's going on but instead he just winds up more confused because he finds no entry wound. He gets his supplies ready and just as he goes to turn the water on your eyes open and you take in a gasp. He screams and runs out of the room, leaving you to feel the cold table beneath you and stare up at the gray ceiling. You make no effort to move.
As soon as Clint is told the news he goes to check for himself. There's no in hell he's telling your girlfriends anything until he's absolutely certain. And when he first sees you, he almost is. You're sitting up, breathing, clearly alive as the doctors clean you up. But when he walks in to see you sitting there, letting the doctors clean you up while poking and prodding with a blank expression on your face and not offering a word, he has his doubts
"She hasn't spoken yet?"
The one doctor looks at him, "Not a word. Won't answer any questions and didn't ask any herself"
His brows furrow, "She didn't even ask for Natasha and Wanda?"
"No."
Clint sighs but figures you might be just as traumatized as Natasha is and besides there's a more important question right now, "How is it possible that she's….."
"Alive and seemingly unharmed?" the doctor finishe's, "I have no idea. There's no medical explanation I can give you for that"
Once they've gotten you cleaned up and settled he knows he has no choice. He heads back up to your room where he lets himself in, and finds your girlfriends just how he'd left them. Cuddled together and crying. He has no clue how to tell them, if he just outright said it they'd likely think him cruel or malicious.
"I…I need you both to come with me"
Wanda doesn't move but Nat sits up enough to look at him, knowing from his voice that something serious is happening, "Why?"
"Something happened. Something with Y/n"
Wanda sits up then too and lets out a broken, "What do you mean? Did someone…"
"No, no one did anything to her body" he clarifies, "She…she got up"
Both their hearts jump at that but for entirely different reasons. While Wanda is full of hope while Natasha's is full of trepidation.
Wanda hurries to get out of bed, "she's alive?!"
"Yes" Clint nods
But Natasha shakes her head, her heart guarded by disbelief, "That's not possible"
"Natasha, we have to go see her!" Wanda exclaims, not understanding why the Russian is not beside her
She slowly gets out of bed, "I held her as she died Clint. I don't want it to be true, but I know I lost her."
"I know, believe me I know" he says, "But I wouldn't have come here saying this if it wasn't true. She opened her eyes and took in a breath, scared the shit out of the mortician. She's with doctors right now, there's not a mark on her"
Both women practically race past him and out the door, eager to see you for themselves. He has to run to catch up so he can properly lead them to where you currently are. As soon as Wanda sees you she races to your side, but Natasha chooses to linger in the doorway. As happy as she is to see you sitting there, something in her gut tells her this isn't right
Tears stream down Wandas cheeks as she cups yours, her thumbs brush over your cheeks softly, "Oh my god, Malysh(baby)"
But you don't say anything, you don't even give any indication that you heard her. She doesn't seem bothered by this though, at least not currently. She's too busy looking you over. She lets her hands trail over your chest to feel the breaths you take before she runs them across your abdomen feeling for a wound that isn't there
"How is this possible"" she asks, more to herself than anyone else
"The doctors are sure there's no medical explanation" Clint tells her
"That's because there isn't one" Nat affirms, taking a tentative step into the room, "I think…I think this was Wanda"
The brunette turns to face her girlfriend, "Me?"
"Your powers, they surged when the medics brought her body…..when they brought her past us"
"I just lost control of them with my grief" she explains, "I didn't…I didn't think…."
"Its alright" Clint assures, "I don't really think the how or why is important. What matters is she's here, she's alive"
Wanda nods and cups your face once more, "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
But you're still silent, almost eerily so. Her brows furrow and her stomach twists. But she pushe's away any negative feelings and turns to Clint for guidance
"She hasn't said anything yet" he explains, "Doctors couldn't get her to answer any questions"
Wanda swallows thickly but refuses to let go of her joy, "I'm sure she just needs some time. I can't imagine what she's been through"
But Natasha isn't so sure. She tentatively steps closer to the bed, "Y/n?"
You still don't respond, your eyes don't even glance in her direction. And she feels like she's been plunged into ice cold water. Because those might be your eyes, but they're lacking everything that made them distinctly you. There's no brightness in them, no emotion. It makes her feel ill all over again. But she doesn't say anything about it, because she honestly hopes she's wrong. She hopes more than anything that you'll snap out of this funk, so she'll at least give you time
It's been a little over a week since you woke up. Your behavior hasn't improved. You don't engage in conversation or answer questions, you don't even acknowledge that you're being spoken to. There's no contagious laughter or gentle touches. No corny jokes or soft flirtatious remarks. No hand holding or forehead kisses. No hugs or cuddles. No bright eyes or warm smiles. You just sit and stare.
Wanda, ever the optimistic one, is refusing to let your uncharacteristic silence get to her. She's just happy you came back, even if you aren't yourself yet. She's willing to give you the time you need to recover. She helps you get dressed, tend to your hair, eat, and shower. And she talks to you almost constantly despite your lack of reaction. If your behavior bothers her, she isn't letting it show
Natasha on the other hand refuses to say you came back to them, because truly, you haven't. You're just an empty shell of the woman she loves. You're her girlfriend's body, but not her. All individuality and heart, they're gone. You aren't going to get better. And she's starting to resent the fact that Wanda is refusing to see it
"There we go, all settled" Wanda says with a soft smile as she gets you settled into bed
Natasha stands at the foot of the bed, her heart aching at the scene. It was right, but it wasn't. Because that wasn't you, not anymore. She blinks back her tears and looks away from you
"Wans, can we talk?"
She looks up at the redhead, "What is it Tasha?"
"I'm gonna go sleep on the couch in Clint's room" she says, gesturing to the door of the shared quarters
Wanda's brows furrow, "What? Why?"
"Because I can't….I can't be in bed with her" she admits, "I can't keep sleeping beside her pretending everything is fine"
"Natasha!" she scolds, "Its not Y/n's fault she's having trouble coming back to herself"
"You're right. Its yours" she says under her breath, hoping the younger woman doesn't catch it
But she did, and her expression twists into one of sadness and guilt, "She needs support, Tasha. And ever since she woke up, you haven't been giving her any. You hardly look at her or touch her, I'm doing everything. And now…now you just want to leave us at night?"
"Because it isn't her!" she snaps, clenching her fists when she sees the hurt expression on the younger woman's face, "At first I wanted to have some hope, even if I knew it was impossible. But I can't keep going on like this when she's….like that"
"Its only been a few days" Wanda stresses, practically begging
"It's been nearly two weeks, Wans" Nat sighs, "She doesn't recognize us, she doesn't care about us. She just sits and stares because that's all she can do"
"That's not true!" Wanda shouts, clutching your hand even though you don't return the gesture, "She loves us! You know she does"
"Y/n loved us. But that's not her, not anymore." She says, a few tears falling down her cheeks, "And I can't pretend like you can"
And with that she turns and walks out the door, leaving Wanda alone with you. The woman wipes her own tears away before she looks at you, "It's okay, Tashas just…she's struggling. I lost you too, but she watched it, felt it. So having you back when you aren't yourself yet, it's difficult for her."
A few days have passed since your girlfriends disagreement, and while Natasha did come back to the room at times throughout the day, she still kept her distance with you. This only managed to upset Wanda further, and now the tension between them was palpable.
"How is she?" the redhead asks, breaking the tension filled silence. She hated that a part of her still held onto hope despite everything
"Oh, so now you care?" Wanda scoffs, still hurt by the older woman's words and actions, "Unbelievable"
"Of course I care, Wanda. I loved her too." Natasha answers softly, as if she's trying not to fight
"Love" Wanda corrects, her tone harsher than she intended, "She's right here Natasha, so you love her."
The older woman sighs, frustrated that Wanda won't just let go and accept the circumstances, "Has she improved?"
"No" Wanda answers, averting her gaze because she knows Nat won't like the answer, "She still lets me help her with basic tasks, but she still wont talk or do things on her own"
"Then she's not right here, is she?" Natasha asks bitterly
Wanda has to blink back tears as her brows furrow, "She is. She's right here. I talk to her every day. I hold her every night. She's right here Natasha! Why cant you see that?!"
"Because that's not our girlfriend!" she shouts, frustration boiling in her blood. Because why does she refuse to see what's in front of her, "That's just the empty shell of who she used to be!"
"Stop saying that!" she shouts as she starts to cry
Natasha's hit her breaking point now and decides to ask the one thing she knows Wanda will have the answer to, "Are there even any thoughts going on in her head?"
"I…I don't know" the brunette mumbles as her fingers toy with the hem of her shirt
"You haven't looked?" Natasha asks exasperatedly, not understanding why that wasn't the first thing she did, "Why the hell not?!"
"Because that's very invasive and I don't have her consent. She's been through enough trauma" she weekly excuses. In reality she hasn't done it because she's absolutely terrified that Natasha is right
"Bullshit!" Nat exclaims, "You don't want to look because you're afraid of what you'll find"
"Maybe I am afraid, is that really so wrong?" she asks, looking at Natasha almost pleadingly
"It's not wrong" the redhead sighs, her frustration momentarily softening, "I understand your hesitancy, but we have to know what's going on in there Wans. I need to know."
Wanda swallows thickly and nods her head. She knows her girlfriend is right, she knows this has to be done, but it still fills her with a sense of unease, "Okay. You're right, we need to know so we can help her"
Natasha lets out a breath of relief at that. It finally seems like Wanda was starting to come to her senses. She watches Wanda lift a hand to your temple and close her eyes. The brunette concentrates, focusing her powers on reaching inside your mind. For a moment Wanda thinks something must be blocking her out of your mind. But then she realizes the cold silence she's feeling is your mind. The dread she feels is immeasurable. Her eyes fly open with a gasp, and she covers her mouth with her hands as a sob escapes her.
That coupled with the broken expression on her face tells Natasha everything she needs to know. She tears her gaze away from you then, unable to look at you any longer. She knew that wasn't really you, but God did she hate being right. An almost overwhelming anger fills her. How dare the universe make her lose you not once but twice. She knew life was unfair but this, this was downright cruel. But, she reminds herself, this wouldn't have happened if Wanda hadn't interfered
"What the hell did you do, Wanda?" she seethes, saying the words before she realizes. But she can't take them back now
The younger woman turns to her with tear filled eyes and agony written on her features, "Natasha, no….I….I didn't mean to. This….it just happened…"
"And it shouldn't have." she retorts, her green eyes blazing.
She can't do this, she can't stay knowing that's not you, knowing you'll never really come back to them. And intentional or not, this was Wanda's doing. The anger she feels at her girlfriend may be unfair, but right now she doesn't see it that way. In her eyes, Wanda made them both needlessly suffer and then refused to even see it, let alone own up to it
"You did this, so you can figure out what to do now" she says pointedly, causing Wanda's chest to tighten, "I'm done, and so are we"
"Natasha, wait" Wanda cries out, reaching out for her. But it's too late
She's already turned and walked towards the door. She doesn't even look back at either of them before closing the door with a slam. The finality of it causes Wanda's heart to shatter. she's just lost both her girlfriends, and there's nothing she can do to fix it.
Characters: Legosi (BEASTARS), Louis (BEASTARS), Haru (BEASTARS)
Additional Tags: Dates, Festivals, Haunted Houses, There Was Only One Bed, Hotels, Sexual Tension, polyship week's polyship week 2025, sexual content
Summary: Legoshi asks Haru to go on a double date with him and Louis. If only they would admit they wanted to go on a date with each other.
For polyship week's day 1 prompt: sharing a bed
Read on ao3
Legoshi hesitated outside Haru’s apartment. He had thought through how to bring this suggestion up a dozen times in his head, but the words still felt clumsy. Would they think he was weird? Pushing the worry aside, he rapped his knuckle against the door.
When Haru answered his knock, her eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Legoshi! What are you doing here?" She pulled out her phone. “You didn't text me.”
His tail nudged the back of his legs. “I wanted to ask you in person.”
Her happiness didn’t waver. “Oh. Louis is here, though, just so you know.”
She opened the door wider so he could see the deer sitting poised on her flower-print armchair. Louis’ eyes met his for a brief moment before the deer looked down at the tea he was drinking.
Legoshi gulped. This was better yet more nerve-wracking. “I, uh…I was wondering if…” He blurted the words out before he could wuss out. “If you’d want to go to the festival with me. And Louis.” At least he had the sense to tack that on instead of what he had almost said. Both of you. He wasn’t asking Louis on a date. He was inviting him along. For a double date. That’s all. Then why did he feel so nervous about asking?
Haru blinked, then gave a small smile. “A date with both of you? I’d love to.”
There was a clink as Louis set his teacup down. He crossed his legs, somehow making himself look more regal than usual. “I suppose I can agree to this proposition. However,” he pointed a finger at Legoshi, “you will be buying my dinner in compensation for having to tolerate you during what should be a romantic evening.”
Before Legoshi could stop it, his tail gave a wag. “Sure thing, Louis.”
Haru laughed, looping her arm through Legoshi’s. "It’s a date, then."
Louis sighed dramatically, but there was something almost like a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "You better make this worth my time.”
Legoshi was the first to arrive. He stood awkwardly near the entrance, eyes and ears both peeled for any sign of them.
Haru was the next to arrive. It was easy for her to spot him due to his height. Her short arm waved as she quickened her pace. Legoshi’s breath caught at the sight of her. The pink shade of her cherry blossom yukata made the white of her fur glisten. He had never seen her so lovely.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured when she was close enough to hear him.
She inclined her head. “Thank you. You cleaned up well yourself.”
His own yukata was a plain deep blue. He scratched the back of his head. “Thanks.”
It did not take long for Louis to appear. His russet fur contrasted elegantly with his emerald green yukata.
"Well," he said, his eyes taking in both Legoshi and Haru with a careful neutrality that didn't quite mask his appreciation. "Shall we?"
They were a unique sight: a predator with two herbivores, a small rabbit with two larger males. People in the crowd stopped what they were doing to observe them and, no doubt, whispered amongst themselves about their theories.
Haru could not have cared less. She was used to judgment, even fear. But it obviously bothered Legoshi, who hunched his shoulders to appear as small as possible. In contrast, Louis held his head higher than usual, as if daring anyone to approach them.
"Stop slouching," Louis hissed. "You look like you're ashamed to be here."
"I'm not," Legoshi protested. "I just don't want to scare anyone."
"By making yourself look suspicious? Brilliant strategy."
Haru walked slightly ahead of them, pretending not to hear their bickering. She clapped as some dancers who had been twirling in the center of the square took a bow.
Just then, a particularly rowdy group jostled past them, and Legoshi instinctively stepped closer to Haru, causing his arm to brush against Louis' in the process. The contact sent an unexpected jolt through both of them. Legoshi's ears twitched, and Louis stiffened momentarily before continuing as if nothing had happened.
But something had changed. As they continued walking, they were both hyperaware of the other’s location. When Legoshi bent down to hear something Haru said over the music, his tail swept against Louis’ side. When Louis reached out to look at a handcrafted headband he thought Haru might like, his hand brushed Legoshi’s.
While they both pretended not to notice the other’s reaction, Haru did. She caught the way Legoshi’s tail wagged in response to any attention from the deer and saw the way Louis’ eyes lingered on the wolf when he wasn’t paying attention. It was almost amusing.
"Look," Legoshi said, pointing to a row of game stalls. "We could try to win you something, Haru."
Louis' eyes narrowed. "An excellent idea." The words were laced with challenge. He scanned his options before choosing a shooting gallery.
He took the toy rifle, his slender fingers curling around the trigger with an elegance that made Legoshi’s breath catch. The gun fired, knocking down every target.
The badger attendant’s eyebrows rose in appreciation. "Impressive shooting. Your pick of the grand prizes,” he said, pointing to the top shelf where the grand prizes were displayed.
Louis selected a plush red deer with golden antlers. It was, unmistakably, meant to resemble himself. He presented it to her with a slight bow, the gesture both gallant and slightly mocking.
"For you," he said.
Haru accepted the gift with a small smile. "Thank you, Louis. I didn't realize you were such a good shot."
Louis shrugged, as if his perfect performance had been nothing special. "A necessary skill for someone in my position." He turned to Legoshi, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Show us what you can do."
Legoshi’s ears flattened. He hated guns. The noise, the smell, the danger. They were not designed for creatures of his size with claws too big and clumsy for the delicate trigger. But he wasn’t about to let Louis gloat over him forfeiting. His hands fumbled as he tried to aim. Every shot fell far from his target.
"Perhaps you should stick to activities better suited to your... natural abilities," Louis suggested, not bothering to hide his amusement.
Legoshi's ears flattened further against his head, and his tail tucked slightly between his legs. He handed the rifle back to the badger.
"Sorry, Haru," he said quietly. "I'm not very good at this."
"It's fine," she assured him, hugging the plush deer to her chest. "There are plenty of other games."
Legoshi looked at his options and noticed a strength test. That would fit his natural abilities like Louis suggested. “I want to do that one.”
“How predictable.”
Haru noticed the slight droop to Legoshi’s ears at Louis’ words. “I’d like to see you try it,” she said with an encouraging smile.
Legoshi rolled his sleeves up but hesitated to actually lift the mallet. He wanted to show off that he too had skills, but the part of him that had spent so long trying to seem as docile as possible feared showing his raw strength so openly. Especially in front of Haru, who had worked so hard not to fear him, and Louis, who loved to constantly remind him of their inherent differences.
"Go on," Louis prompted. "Show us what you're made of. I'm sure Haru is dying to see your... talents."
The familiar challenge in his voice gave him the push he needed. The mallet struck the platform with a crack. There was a woosh as the striker shot up before the bell rang out.
Haru clapped as the vendor handed her the wolf plush that Legoshi pointed to. It was grey like him, but with large golden eyes. She adjusted the deer so that she could hold them both side by side in her arms.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”
Suddenly, there was a surge in the crowd. Several animals jostled into Louis' side. He stumbled forward, bumping into Legoshi, who pushed against Haru enough to knock her off-balance.
As the small rabbit began to topple backward, both Louis and Legoshi moved to catch her. Their arms pressed together in their haste to steady her. Legoshi froze, his fur prickling where their skin touched. Louis went equally still, his breath catching in his throat. For a suspended moment, neither of them moved away, even after Haru was stable.
Haru, trapped between them, observed their reactions with shrewd eyes. She felt the tension in their bodies, saw Legoshi's tail thump, and noted the way Louis was holding his breath. Neither seemed aware of her scrutiny, locked as they were in the moment.
"I'm fine," she said finally, breaking the spell. "You can let go now."
They moved at the same time, stepping back from each other as if burned. Legoshi tucked his tail between his legs, while Louis turned away, clearly giving himself a moment to regain control of himself.
"Maybe we should find somewhere less crowded,” Haru suggested.
Louis nodded, still not quite looking at either of them. "Yes," he agreed. "This area is becoming intolerable."
As they moved away from the game area, their previous competitive energy transformed into something more uncertain. Haru observed the way Legoshi walked with his hands shoved deep in his pockets and his tail tucked against his legs, and Louis maintained more distance from both of them.
Haru hid a small smile. The evening was proving far more interesting than she had anticipated. The push and pull between them—one so open yet unaware, the other so controlled yet transparent in his denial—was fascinating to watch.
Suspicions heightened, Haru continued to observe the subtleties of their actions. The way Legoshi’s tail reacted every time Louis gave him attention or moved closer. The way Louis’ antlers tilted toward Legoshi the same way sunflowers follow the sun.
While they walked, Haru spotted a building decorated with skulls, and the words Enter if you dare written dramatically with red paint to look like blood.
Haru's eyes lit up. “Let’s go through the haunted house!”
Legoshi swallowed audibly. "Are you sure about that, Haru? Those places can be... intense."
Louis squared his shoulders. "If Haru says she wants to, then we should go. Unless you're afraid, Legoshi?"
The challenge was clear, and despite his reservations, Legoshi found himself unable to back down. "I'm not," he said, though his ears betrayed his uncertainty. "I just want to make sure Haru will be comfortable."
Haru smiled, looking between them with an innocence that neither quite believed. "With both of you to protect me, what could possibly go wrong?"
“Let’s go, then,” Legoshi said with a decisiveness he didn’t feel. He had been through these before, although it had been years since then. He had begged his grandpa to take him several times, only to end up clutching onto his leg the entire time because of the intense imagery. He wondered if Haru knew what might lie inside. Ghosts and goblins were one thing, but images of ravenous carnivores would strike too close to home now.
As they approached the gaping void of darkness in front of them, Haru adjusted the stuffed animals so that she could hold them in one arm while holding onto Legoshi’s hand with the other. “You go first,” she ordered.
The sounds of moans and creaking doors surrounded them. “But…” Legoshi’s voice trailed off. His fur was already standing on end.
“No, buts,” she said. “You’re the biggest and strongest. You’ll protect me, won’t you?” She shot him a dazzling smile that killed his reservations in an instant. Of course, he would always protect her.
He nodded and started moving forward. “Stay close behind me. We don’t want to get separated.”
They arranged themselves in a line with Legoshi in the front, Haru in the middle, and Louis in the rear.
“Hold on,” Louis said. “Give me one of those.”
“Oh.” Haru looked at the stuffed animals. “You want to hold my hand that bad?” she teased.
Louis tried to play off the accuracy of her statement, but she could see the hint of embarrassment on his face. “It will be easier to get separated if we don’t, won’t it? I won’t lose it, I promise.”
Her plan would be harder, too. “Sure,” she said, making sure to hand him the wolf stuff instead of the deer.
His eye gave the smallest twitch before he took the offered animal and then took hold of her hand. “Alright, wolf, lead the way.”
The atmosphere was designed to get under your skin. The air was cool with damp against their fur. The air was filled with artificial scents, mildew, decay, and blood—too realistic for Legoshi’s comfort. Growls mixed with the screams, lights painting the silhouettes of beasts with gaping maws on the walls. It all made Legoshi’s skin itch, his fangs ache. His hand tightened on Haru’s.
“It’s okay,” she promised, and it hurt to hear as much as it was relieving. He was supposed to be the one protecting her.
They moved across a section of uneven terrain, a ramp with slotted steps at the end. “Watch your step,” Legoshi warned.
Haru took cautious steps, but her foot caught the edge of the first step anyway. She started falling forward, but Legoshi could feel the way her arm lurched and was quick to catch her.
“Thanks,” she said.
They could all hear his tail knocking against the narrow wall. “Of course.”
“Shit,” he said when they began to move forward again.
“What is it?” Louis asked.
“It’s one of those squeeze things. Where you have to go through separately.”
“It’s okay,” Haru said reassuringly. “We’ll hold hands again once we’re on the other side.”
The pressured weight was almost too much for Haru’s small body, but she managed to push her way to the other side. Once out, she was careful to move to the side silently, in the hope that Legoshi would not immediately notice her presence. Somehow it worked, and Louis was the first to stretch his hand out. Legoshi took it without a thought.
It wasn’t until they had resumed walking that his brain processed that it was not Haru’s hand he was holding.
"Where's Haru?" Legoshi asked, panic rising in his throat. He looked around, trying to spot the white rabbit.
"I'm here," Haru called from behind Louis. "Just got a little mixed up. Keep going."
Legoshi hesitated, instinct telling him to go back and ensure Haru was beside him again. But Louis huffed impatiently.
"She said she's fine. Let's move on before we hold up the next group."
Reluctantly, Legoshi turned and continued forward, now acutely aware of Louis' presence directly behind him rather than Haru's. Now it felt like he was protecting Louis instead of her. A primal part of him stirred at the thought of protecting the deer who seemed so reluctant for it.
The path narrowed again, forcing them to walk through a tunnel lined with teeth. The ceiling lowered, requiring Legoshi to hunch even more than usual, his back nearly brushing against Louis' chest. The close quarters amplified every sensation—the sound of Louis' measured breathing, the warmth radiating from his body, the feel of the fur in his hand.
Suddenly, a prop corpse dropped from the ceiling directly in front of Legoshi. His tail curled, which wrapped around Louis’ leg, which just happened to be in its path. In his genuine shock, Louis’ hand shot out instinctively to grab onto something.
That something was Legoshi's arm.
This touch wasn’t like the others that evening; this was deliberate and desperate. Each finger burned against his skin.
As quickly as he'd grabbed him, Louis released his hold, stepping back as far as he could in the narrow space. Legoshi's tail unwound from his ankle in the same moment.
"I thought you were Haru," Louis lied.
"You knew exactly who I was," Legoshi said. They had discussed the shift in their positions. Normally, he would let the lie go, but for some reason, it irked him that Louis would deny what he did.
The deer snapped, covering up his discomfort, "Why would I deliberately grab you?"
"Why indeed," Haru murmured from behind them, her voice carrying a hint of knowing amusement that made both males stiffen.
"Can we please continue?" Louis asked, his tone clipped. "I'd like to get through this childish attraction sometime tonight."
The tension between them was sharper now—more dangerous—a precarious balance between denial and awareness.
The group continued through the haunted house in taut silence. They jumped when appropriate and made audible sounds of fright or disgust at the horrors presented to them. But the manufactured frights paled in comparison to the real fear taking root in the males—the fear of what was happening between them.
Haru silently observed them, wondering how long they would continue to dance around each other. When they emerged from the attraction, the males immediately looked anywhere but at each other. Louis made a show of straightening his yukata while Legoshi read off the listing of the nearest food stall.
"Well," Haru said, breaking the silence with deliberate cheerfulness, "that was fun. What should we do next?" Her question was loaded; what were they planning to do about their feelings?
Neither of them answered her, both standing tense.
A whistle drew their attention to the start of bursts of color in the night sky.
"Fireworks," Legoshi said, relief evident in his voice at the distraction. "We should find a place to watch."
Louis nodded, equally grateful for the change in focus. "Let’s see if there is any grass still open by the central square."
They not only managed to find an open spot, but a friendly giraffe wearing a visor handed them a complimentary blanket on the way over. Haru spread the checkered blanket out and chuckled when she realized how tight a squeeze it was going to be.
“I’ll sit in front, that way you can extend your legs out to either side. We should all fit that way.”
She was right; they did fit, even though Legoshi’s feet extended beyond the edge of the blanket. Louis and Legoshi’s shoulders touched, while Haru leaned back against them, resting her head against Legoshi’s large chest. Louis placed his hands on either side of him, which put his fingers just shy of brushing Legoshi’s tail.
A dazzling golden bloom exploded in the sky.
Legoshi’s tail thumped, and the ends of his fur touched Louis’ fingers on the way down.
Louis didn’t move.
The fireworks followed a general pattern. Two slow blasts, followed by a larger one. It was an almost relaxing sound despite how loud it was. However, the pattern did not last. In rapid succession, a series of intense bursts of color filled the sky, making an intricate design of falling specs of colors: green, blue, pink, yellow, orange, and white. The sudden shift started Louis, whose hand moved over—only an inch—but that was enough. The deer’s hand landed on the soft fur of the wolf’s tail.
Legoshi stilled, his breath catching in his throat at the contact. Shivers ran up the length of his tail and to the base of his spine. Louis did not move away right away, mesmerized enough by the softness of his fur to enjoy it for a moment, a moment too long to play off as accidental. When Louis finally tucked his hand into his lap, Legoshi’s tail was freed to betray the wolf with its happy wagging.
“You really like fireworks, huh, Legoshi?” Haru asked. She knew his tail was wagging because of Louis and not the fireworks, and she made sure it was clear in her tone—hopefully enough for it to beat its way into both of the males’ thick skulls.
“Uh? Oh! Yeah! They are lovely,” Legoshi quickly stammered.
Haru rolled her eyes, disappointed that neither of them was looking at her to see it. Yet, when she tilted her head back to see where they were looking, she was pleased to see that Legoshi was giving Louis a look that hardly concealed his longing. Of course, Louis was deliberately keeping his gaze locked on the sky even though the fireworks had already ended.
“You two are impossible,” she said.
"I don't know what you mean," Louis replied, while Legoshi said nothing.
Haru sighed. “Whatever. We should get something to eat before heading back. I’m starving.”
They transitioned to the food stalls. Haru selected a plate of dumplings, Louis ordered skewers, and Legoshi decided on a tofu bowl.
The entire air smelled delicious, but the scent coming from Louis’ skewers in particular made the wolf’s nose twitch. The vegetables were grilled to absolute perfection. Even the elegant way Louis used his teeth to remove the vegetables was captivating.
Louis’ lips quirked when he noticed the wolf staring at him intently. “What?”
“Nothing.” Legoshi quickly shoved a spoonful of tofu and rice into his mouth.
“You were staring.”
Legoshi continued eating.
“Is the tofu not doing it for you? Thinking about how I’d taste better?”
Legoshi choked on his food. “N—no! It’s your food—your food looks good,” he stammered out so quickly his words nearly bumped into each other.
Haru looked between them with a look of equal amusement and exasperation.
Louis gave a dramatic sigh. “Fine. Have some.” He held the skewer out.
Legoshi hesitated before leaning forward. His lips brushed Louis’ fingers as he took the bite.
Louis’ smirk faltered, but he managed to keep his hand steady.
Noticing his reaction, Legoshi pulled back, his own face burning. “S—sorry!”
Louis cleared his throat. “Hopefully that satisfied your appetite.”
Haru giggled as she popped a dumpling into her mouth. “You’re both so weird.”
Louis shot her a look, but before he could retort, a dollop of sauce from his skewer dripped onto his fingers. He moved to wipe it away, but Legoshi—without thinking—leaned in and licked it off.
Louis went entirely rigid. Even Haru froze mid-bite, eyes widening.
Legoshi blinked, only then realizing what he’d done. "I—I couldn’t help it! It just looked so good—"
Louis glared at him. "And you thought licking me was an appropriate response?"
"It was just so good I couldn't help myself," Legoshi blurted, immediately regretting his choice of words. Shit! It totally sounded like he wanted to eat Louis again! "The sauce! The sauce was good. Not you. I wasn't tasting you. I was tasting the sauce. Which just happened to be on you." His ears fell entirely flat against his head in mortification.
Louis was caught between annoyance and something more complex. The spot where Legoshi’s tongue licked him remained unnaturally warm. “Don’t do that again,” he finally demanded.
“I won’t,” Legoshi promised. “I don’t know what came over me.”
But he did. His impulses kept pulling him in closer to the deer all evening. It almost reminded him of how obsessed he had become with Haru so suddenly. Except this was uniquely different. Whereas then he had not been able to distinguish between his desire for meat and sex and love—all three hitting him all at once—this was a singular feeling, but what that feeling was he could not comprehend yet.
“We should head back,” Louis said.
Haru checked her phone and groaned. "Shit. We missed the last train."
Legoshi’s ears shot up. "How are we going to get back?”
“We’ll have to wait until morning,” Louis said. “There should be hotels nearby.”
“Just a sec,” Haru said, already pulling up Zoozle. “I’ll search for one.”
She scrolled through several listings, but the only option she could find was a single room with a double bed. Everything else was either already booked or only a single bed.
“Looks like we’ll have to share,” she explained. “The only thing available is a double.”
"Share?" Legoshi’s tail puffed up. "But, we can’t all sleep together."
Haru smirked. "Relax, Legoshi. It’s just for one night. Or is there a reason you are so opposed to the idea?"
Legoshi was not about to answer that.
"It’s only sleeping,” Louis said. “Unless you prefer sleeping on a park bench?" Louis asked him.
Legoshi’s ears drooped. "N-No, but—"
"Then it’s settled," Haru said, already pressing to book the room. "Try not to kill each other before morning."
Louis’ lips twitched.
Legoshi’s tail gave a single, hesitant flick.
The hotel room was small, keeping them in close quarters regardless of where they went in the room. The air seemed thicker because of it, cloying with the scent of cheap air freshener, the warmth of their bodies, and the tension that had been building all evening.
Haru walked over to the small end table and set her stuffed animals down. Their bodies rested against one another, as if they were embracing. She adjusted the deer just so, making sure its muzzle brushed against the wolf’s fur.
Turning around, Haru smirked at the males' reactions to her display. Legoshi looked as if he had been caught doing something wrong, his tail flicking nervously, while Louis was glaring as the plushies had personally attacked him.
"I'm tired," she announced, making a show of stretching her arms above her head. "And I've made an executive decision about the sleeping arrangements."
Both males turned to her, expressions wary.
"Legoshi will sleep in the middle," she declared.
Legoshi’s tail immediately thumped against the bedframe. Louis’ ears twitched.
Haru smirked to herself. "I'm fed up with you two sulking at each other all night. You've been dancing around whatever this is for hours now, and honestly, it's exhausting to watch."
Louis' eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Haru crossed her arms. "You do. You both do. It's obvious you're into each other, and watching you deny it is getting old."
She waited for one of them to respond. When neither of them did, she sighed. "I'm going to wash up. I’ll let you two figure out who gets which side of the bed."
The bathroom door closed behind her with a decisive click, leaving Legoshi and Louis alone. Neither spoke immediately, the silence stretching between them like a strained wire.
"This is ridiculous," Louis said finally. "She is clearly tired and imagining things."
Legoshi nodded too quickly. "Definitely. Completely imagining things." His tail, however, continued its gentle swaying.
Louis glanced at the offending appendage, his expression darkening. "Would you control that thing? It's distracting."
Legoshi grabbed his tail with both hands, holding it still with visible effort. "Sorry," he mumbled. "It has a mind of its own sometimes."
"Clearly," Louis replied dryly. He turned away, busying himself with removing his watch and placing it on the nightstand.
Thankfully, the room came with complimentary sleepwear they could change into since none of them had extra clothes. The awkwardness was palpable as they settled into bed. Haru faced the wall, Legoshi faced her, and Louis faced away from Legoshi. That way, the males’ backs were to each other.
No homo here, Haru thought to herself wryly.
Legoshi lay stiff as a board, acutely aware of every point where his body came close to touching either bedmate. Haru's small form radiated surprising warmth beside him. Louis, on his other side, maintained a careful distance, though Legoshi could sense the tension in his body, mirroring his own.
"Goodnight," Haru said softly.
"Goodnight," Legoshi responded automatically.
Louis' "goodnight" came a moment later, the word clipped and formal.
Silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft sounds of their breathing. Legoshi stared up at the ceiling and wondered how he was possibly going to sleep with his heart thundering in his chest and his senses overwhelmed by the proximity of his companions.
A subtle depression began to form beneath Legoshi's greater weight, causing both Haru and Louis to tilt slightly toward him. Legoshi was painfully aware of this effect, trying to redistribute his weight without making obvious adjustments.
"You can relax, you know," Haru said reassuringly. "I don't bite." She gave a soft laugh. "Unless you want me to."
Legoshi made a strangled noise that might have been a cough or a suppressed whimper. Louis, on his other side, remained silent, though his scent sharpened perceptibly.
"I'm just teasing," she continued, clearly enjoying their discomfort. "Though, if you did want to have sex with me tonight, it would be the perfect opportunity."
"Haru!" Legoshi's voice cracked on her name.
"What? It isn’t like I haven’t already fucked both of you." The amusement in her tone was unmistakable. "Or maybe you two would prefer to have sex with each other. I wouldn't mind watching."
This time, it was Louis who reacted, sitting up abruptly. "That's enough, Haru," he said, his voice tight with controlled anger—or perhaps something else entirely. "This situation is awkward enough without your provocations."
Haru chuckled. "Just trying to clear the air. The tension between you two is so thick I could cut it with a knife." She settled back against her pillow. "But fine, have it your way. We'll all just lie here pretending we're only thinking pure thoughts about sleep."
Silence fell once more, but it was heavier than before. The idea Haru had planted—of him and Louis together—sent a shock of heat through Legoshi’s body. Sleep was now the furthest thing from Legoshi's mind. Every time Louis shifted, Legoshi’s tail twitched. Every time Louis breathed, Legoshi’s ears flicked. It was torture, being so aware of Louis while pretending not to be. Legoshi tried to focus on Haru instead, on the gentle rhythm of her breathing, but his attention kept being dragged back to the presence behind him, magnetic and unavoidable.
As if it were a measuring device for his arousal, Legoshi’s tail thumped. First, gently—once, twice, three times—but as his arousal built, so did the pace of his tail. He tried to will his tail into stillness, but to no avail. In a desperate move, he shifted position, trying to pin his traitorous tail beneath his leg. For a moment, it seemed to work—the thumping stopped, and Legoshi exhaled slowly in relief.
But the relief was short-lived. His tail, apparently determined to express what he would not allow himself to voice, escaped from beneath his leg. Beyond his control, his tail stretched out behind him, brushing directly against Louis' leg.
The contact was electric. Legoshi felt it like a shock running up his spine, his breath catching audibly in his throat. Louis went completely rigid, every muscle tensing in a reaction that Legoshi could feel through the mattress.
For a suspended moment, neither moved. The contact sent continuous pulses of awareness through his body. He should move it; he knew he should. But some rebellious part of him—the part that had been increasingly difficult to ignore all evening—kept it exactly where it was.
Louis' scent suddenly transformed into a sharp and spicy aroma that filled Legoshi's nostrils and made his head swim. It was arousal, undeniable and potent.
If Louis was aroused, and he was aroused, then…
“Control your damn tail.” The words were harsh, but they were rawer than usual.
“Sorry,” Legoshi mumbled, forcing his tail back into retreat. “I can’t always—”
"You two are impossible," Haru interrupted, her voice heavy with exasperation. "I'm going to sleep. Try not to wake me with whatever this is you're doing." She went quiet, her breath quickly evening out in the pretense of sleep.
Legoshi tried to focus on Haru—her softness, her breathing, her scent—but his instincts screamed at him to close the small yet significant gap between him and Louis.
His instincts screamed at him to turn around. Yet fear held him in place—fear of rejection, fear of misreading the signals, fear of damaging their friendship.
But as the minutes ticked by, another fear began to overshadow these: the fear that if he did nothing, this moment would pass and they would return to their careful distance, pretending that nothing had changed when everything had.
Slowly, Legoshi rolled over. He could still see well enough in the darkness to take in Louis’ raw, majestic features. The smooth sheen to his antlers, the fine line of his fur, the powerful curve of his snout.
"Stop staring at me like that, you pervert." What should have been harsh came out sounding breathless.
Legoshi’s ears flattened. "I—I didn’t mean to—"
Louis rolled over to face him. "Then don’t," he snapped, but his voice was unsteady. He was affected. And he hated it.
Legoshi’s tail wagged traitorously.
"Too scared to actually do something?"
Legoshi’s claws dug into the mattress. "I’m not—"
"Then prove it." Louis shoved his hand toward Legoshi’s muzzle. "Go on. Show me how not into this you are."
Legoshi froze. His breath was hot against Louis’ fingers, his fangs grazing the skin. "D-Don’t—"
"Or what?” Louis pushed his hand further in, his voice a low taunt. "Don’t tell me this is what you’re into?"
Legoshi felt trapped—caught between his instinctual response to the presence of herbivore flesh so close to his fangs and the very different hunger that Louis' proximity awakened in him.
He wanted to bite down, to feel the pressure against his teeth, but he also knew it was a trap. If he gave in, he would be proving Louis right about his lack of control. If he pulled away, he would be admitting that Louis affected him too deeply.
So he did neither—he simply endured, trembling slightly, his eyes locked with Louis' in a silent battle of wills that neither seemed prepared to lose.
Louis’ smirk was venomous. "Scared? You’ve eaten me before, haven’t you?" His voice dropped, husky. "You know exactly how I taste. How I feel."
Legoshi’s breath hitched at the flood of memory. The warmth of his blood. The filling satisfaction of his flesh.
Haru groaned, sitting up abruptly. “You two are disgusting. If you’re gonna dry-hump each other’s personal space all night, shouldn’t you at least kiss like normal people?"
Legoshi spat out Louis’ hand like it was on fire. His face was, in fact, burning. "It’s not—! We weren’t—!"
Louis wiped his hand on the sheets. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
"I know exactly what I’m talking about," Haru shot back, crossing her arms. "If you have to stuff something into his mouth, couldn’t it at least be your dick?"
Legoshi made a strangled noise that might have been a gasp or a whimper. Louis stiffened beside him, his scent spiking sharply renewed arousal.
"You're both so obvious it's painful," Haru continued mercilessly. "Now, either kiss or go to sleep and stop wasting my time."
“It’s not—” But Legoshi could not bring himself to finish the denial.
Louis’ eyes narrowed. Haru’s words hung in the air like a challenge. "Fine," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If it's nothing, then this won't mean anything."
Before Legoshi could process what was happening, Louis grabbed him by the collar of his sleep shirt and yanked him forward. Their lips crashed together, electric and shocking. Legoshi melted into the kiss, a whine escaping him as his fingers clutched at Louis’ shoulders.
Louis' lips were firm against his, confident but with an underlying desperation. Legoshi responded with a hesitant eagerness that quickly grew more assured as Louis didn't pull away, didn't reject him.
The kiss deepened, became something more primal. Louis' hand moved from Legoshi's collar to the back of his neck, fingers tangling in the thick fur there. Legoshi's claws dug deeper into Louis' shoulders, not enough to hurt but enough to feel, to anchor himself to this moment that felt almost unreal in its intensity.
“Took you long enough,” Haru muttered, flopping back onto the pillows with a satisfied grin.
As quick as it began, Louis shoved Legoshi back and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “There. Happy? It meant nothing.”
Legoshi’s ears drooped. He opened his mouth—then closed it, unsure what to say, how to admit anything when Louis was looking at him like that.
Haru rolled her eyes. "Sure, Louis. Nothing."
Legoshi kept staring at Louis, trying to wrap his head around the situation. Louis clearly wanted him back. Then, why was he acting like this? Louis had slept around as much as Haru, hadn’t he? Was he that unfuckable?
Idiot. Legoshi stomped that thought down into the depths of his mind. That couldn’t be it—not after he had kissed him like that.
His dad, then. It had to be because of his dad.
Legoshi let out an unconscious whimper.
Louis groaned and rolled back over to face him. “What is it now, wolf?”
“N—nothing,” Legoshi said. No way was he going to tell him that he was empathizing with his difficult position.
“Are you seriously that horny, stupid mutt?”
For some reason, that just made him even hornier.
It must have shown on his face, because Louis leaned in closer. “Fine. If you’re really offering.” He gripped the base of his sensitive ears. “But this is just sex.”
Legoshi’s breath caught in anticipation. "Okay."
Right now, he’d take what he could get.
Haru turned away, grinning into her pillow as the bed creaked.
For all Louis’ claims this was meaningless, he acted like he was starving. His hands were everywhere, mouth hot and demanding.
Legoshi let him take control, let him take everything he wanted. Let him force him onto his stomach so Louis wouldn’t have to see the smitten look on his face. Let him bend his knees up, so his ass was on display. Let him fold his uncontrollable tail down and out of the way. Let him fill him up to the point of bursting—the point where he could feel the wolf clawing its way up to howl into the night.
“Louis.”
Louis’ hand covered his mouth. “Quiet.”
Legoshi let Louis set the pace—fast, rough, desperate—like he was trying to fuck the feelings out of himself.
When it was over, Louis collapsed against him, his chest heaving.
"This changes nothing," he panted.
Legoshi’s tongue flicked over the shell of Louis’ ear.
Louis shivered but didn’t pull away.
Louis was already dressed by the time the others woke, his antlers held high, his expression carefully blank. He stood by the window, pretending to be absorbed in the view outside—anything to avoid looking at the bed. At them.
Legoshi groaned, rubbing his face with a hand. His fur was a mess, his eyes bleary from lack of sleep. Beside him, Haru stirred. She sat up, stretching her arms above her head.
"You're up early," she said to Louis, making no move yet to get out of bed.
“Force of habit. You should both get ready. Check out is in half an hour.” His tone was businesslike, as if he was not hung up over last night’s events at all.
In contrast, Legoshi was incapable of even attempting normalcy. He stumbled slightly as he made his way to the bathroom, his tail tucked low behind him, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor. When he passed near Louis, he gave him a wide berth, as if afraid that getting too close might shatter the fragile pretense they were both trying to maintain.
On the train, Louis pulled out his phone, scrolling through it like his life depended on it. His thumb hovered over the screen, but he wasn’t actually reading anything.
Legoshi sat beside Haru, his tail twitching restlessly. He wanted to say something—anything. An apology. A confession. A joke, even. But the words stuck in his throat, tangled up in his ribs.
The train swayed gently as it rounded a curve, the motion causing their shoulders to bump momentarily before they adjusted their positions. In that brief contact, Legoshi felt again the electric awareness that had characterized every touch they had shared since the festival began.
Perhaps words weren't necessary. Perhaps he could communicate what he couldn't bring himself to say aloud another way.
Legoshi allowed his tail to brush lightly against Haru's leg. She glanced at him, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Then, with deliberate casualness, he stretched his tail further, letting the tip brush against Louis’ leg—light enough that he could dismiss it as accidental if needed.
Louis' eyes remained fixed on his phone, but his fingers paused in their scrolling. His breathing quickened slightly. He didn't look up or otherwise acknowledge the touch, but crucially, he didn't move away from it either.
Haru's smile widened slightly.
They walked Haru to her doorstep, the evening air thick with unspoken words and the weight of everything left unsaid. The rabbit insisted on them both giving her farewell kisses. While Louis’ was a proper, gentlemanly kiss, Legoshi kissed her like the eager puppy he was. He licked more than kissed and even pecked over her cheek and nose before letting her go. Haru’s face was pink with happiness and laughter by the time she shut the door behind her.
Louis turned away from the apartment building first. “Don’t follow me.”
Legoshi watched him go, the distance between them growing exponentially with each step. His chest ached. If he let him walk away now, then this was how it would always be—Louis walking away, Legoshi left standing there, wondering if he’d ever be brave enough to close the gap.
Legoshi ran forward. "Louis! Stop!" His voice was rough, desperate. His paw closed around Louis’ wrist, pulling him to a halt.
Louis did not slow or turn. If anything, his steps became more determined. He was nearly at the intersection. In moments, he would be gone from sight.
Legoshi lunged, fully unleashing his natural speed to close the distance in a mere moment. His arms caught Louis, almost identical to how he had caught Haru so long ago. Preventing escape. Yet, unlike the desire to take that had fueled him before, now he was driven by the need to connect.
Louis’ body shivered. His antlers twitched.
"Let go of me." But he didn’t struggle.
Legoshi’s heart pounded. "Did last night really not mean anything?" He swallowed hard, his grip tightening just a little. "For once, Louis. Tell me the truth."
"Why does it matter? We’re both in love with Haru."
Legoshi dropped his arms, taking Louis’ hands in his instead. He looked down at them, noticing how different they were. Haru’s were tiny, soft, and fragile. Louis’ were slender, elegant, but strong. Legoshi’s own were large, rough, and dangerous. “If only you could be as honest as your hands,” he murmured.
Louis’ eyes narrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Of course it matters." Legoshi stepped closer, close enough that their chests were nearly touching, close enough to feel the heat radiating off Louis’ body. "It could be easier, don’t you think?" His voice dropped, softer now. "The three of us."
Louis’ breath hitched. "There isn’t any us." But his voice wavered, his resolve cracking like thin ice.
Legoshi smiled, his long fangs glinting in the glow of the streetlight. Louis had never seen anything so terrifying. So beautiful.
His stomach twisted. "Stop looking at me like that."
"I can’t," Legoshi said simply.
"Why not?" Louis’ glare was sharp, but his voice was raw, vulnerable.
"Because I want you."
Something in Louis snapped.
"You idiot—" He shoved Legoshi back, but then his hand was in Legoshi’s fur, yanking him forward until their foreheads pressed together, their breaths mingling. "I hate this," he growled, his voice rough, his scent wild. "I hate that I want you."
Legoshi’s heart raced. "Then stop fighting it."
The last of Louis' resistance collapsed. Louis’ antlers, always held so high, dropped as he yanked Legoshi forward by the neck. His hands shook, not from fear, but from the effort of finally letting go. Their lips met in a kiss far more deliberate than the previous. This was a surrender, a dam breaking after too much pressure.
When they finally broke apart, Louis' breathing was ragged, his composed facade in tatters. He still gripped Legoshi's shirt, as if afraid the wolf might disappear if he let go.
Legoshi’s ears perked, his tail wagging so hard his whole body shook.
"What do you even want from me?" Louis asked, voice breathless. "I already fucked you."
Legoshi's response was unexpected—a small, confident smirk. "I want you to do it again."
Louis sighed as if deeply inconvenienced, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "That I can do," he conceded, the admission surprisingly easy now that the first barrier had fallen.
Legoshi's tail wagged with renewed enthusiasm, the sight so guileless, so genuinely happy, that Louis felt something warm unfurl in his chest.
"The rest will come later," Legoshi added, his voice carrying a certainty that Louis found both irritating and oddly comforting.
Louis huffed. "You sound awfully confident for someone who couldn't even look me in the eye this morning."
"I am. I know you want me too."
The fact that he had seen through him—through all the harsh tones—pierced something inside him. Louis was so used to playing a role, and now, Legoshi was asking him to be honest, to take what he wanted.
It was as exhilarating as it was intimidating.
"Come on," Louis said finally, tugging lightly on Legoshi's hand. "Let's go home."
Legoshi knew he meant their respective homes, but still, he wanted to believe that there was a deeper meaning to his statement. The acknowledgment that they could belong in the same home.
Here is a bit of the first fic I am working on for Polyship Week...
"I don't exactly have a place in London anymore."
"Don't be obtuse, it doesn't suit you. I will not be offended if you want a place of your own, but I am in no rush to reclaim your room." Hearing Q call what had been his guest room 'your room' made James feel slightly sappy.
"But I do think it is time we talked. About us."
(If you enjoyed Shameful Company, this is a sequel/prequel!)
Once again popping up on your feed because it's the last day of @polyshipweek, and as I've already stated I really dropped the ball on it, but if may I offer this humble winterwidowhawk drabble to finish things off? I used Alternate Prompt 1: Accidental Child/Pet Acquisition and since it's an alternate prompt I really could use it for any of the days. I'll likely do my best to write at least a couple drabbles if not a longer oneshot or chapter update to wrap things up and have 8 fics for the event even if it's not all contained within the single week.
Title: accidentally in love (with a kitten)
Author: Jesmalestiel
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None
Relationship: Bucky/Clint/Natasha
Word Count: 100
Summary: Bucky brings home another stray.
Read on AO3!
Thanks as always to @tinysugacube for her grammatical prowess, as well as to Marvin for his official seal of approval
