#that's clearly... um... a crab... not a bear...

[fnaf-flags]

The Bear Flag picked from Crab!

Requested by Anon

[filthforfriends]

Just imagine Ethan as a Dad that would be just *chefs kiss* 💋

I imagine his 4 year old kiddo running up to him with a "drawing" thats just scribbles on a page for the 7th time today. Ethan is sitting at his computer, trying to produce music, but he's also hellbent on encouraging his child's creativity, regardless of how it tests his patience.

So when he hears the high pitched screech of "Papà, papà, look what I made!" Of course the child bursts into the room without knocking and interrupts him mid-thought.

"Ah, okay. One moment," he'd placate while halfway lost in rhythm. (I can so clearly hear those words in his tone of voice.) His kid has at least learned to wait for this. Of course they're also vibrating with excitement, next to some very expensive, very breakable equipment. Ethan can't really focus while worried that his child is going to trip over a bass drum petal and take the skin of their entire shin. This was supposed to be dad's special room, where only grownups were allowed, but he'd broken that rule before the little ones could even talk by showing them his music.

"Aright, what do we have?" His hands would land on his thighs as punctuation while Ethan turned his chair and refocused attention.

"I made a present for you!" Cue piece of notebook paper with a bunch of red and green lines thrust into Ethan's hands.

"Oh, wow. A Christmas tree in May!" He'd act excited and his kiddo would know not to be put off by his almost monotone way of speaking. Thats just how papà talks.

"No, papà its a crab! Don't you see it?" Ethan couldn't bear the disappointed expression that children make when adults don't understand their drawings. He would tilt his head to the side and pretend to have a revelation.

"Oh, now I do! Of course I can see right here" gestures vaguely to a part of the page. "It is clearly a crab, yes."

"That's its leg."

"And how many legs do crabs have?" Ethan gets up and grabs the tape he keeps in the desk drawer expressly for this purpose. He hangs the paper on the one wall that isn't soundproofed next to many other drawings. A composite of his favorites would become the cover art of a future album.

"Six!"

"Almost..." he coaxes, encouraging.

"Um, eight. Like a spider. A sea spider!"

"A sea spider?" he'd repeat, using his most theatrical voice. Ethan would lift his little one off the ground with an exaggerated groan, making them burst into giggles.

"How many claws?"

"Two! Thats easy."

"Alright, do you know if mamma or dad are home, yet, my little marine biologist?" The Torchio household nanny would be waiting right outside the door, ready to take the kid from Ethan's arms. He had made it clear that the children were allowed to interrupt him to give him their art.

"Your mamma just pulled into the driveway." Their nanny would speak directly to the little one, as per request of Ethan and his partners. He wanted his children to be treated like equals, talked to not over. Upon hearing their mamma come through the door the child would wiggle around until set on the ground so they could go running through the house, squealing. Ethan doesn't bother reminding them to knock for the 7th time today.

[bubble-tea-bunny]

dive into you

[bennett x reader]

author’s note: lil fic for bestest boy benny inspired by the song by nct dream and the summer season :’)

word count: 3,600

There’s a bakery opposite of Angel’s Share, just across the cobblestone road, and every morning the smell of freshly baked bread wafts from its open double doors, ready to welcome patrons and the crisp air of the early hours. Bennett has easily fallen into the routine of making this his first stop of the day. When he wakes, eyes slow to open and greeted by little squares of light on the ceiling of his bedroom from the sunlight shining through the window, he swears he can already smell that bread and the pastries and the care put into each one. He doesn’t often find it in him to be lazy, to be sluggish this early, for a new day was a new promise of adventure, and whether he’s swept along by the wind to the wilds or to the bakery, it’s an adventure all the same.

He always picks out food for his dads. He considers carefully what they might like to have (some prefer to have the same each time, others don’t mind the variety and like to be surprised), and carefully, slowly he fills the tray. Usually it isn’t busy during the time he’s there, but he doesn’t want to take risks as he holds it securely with both hands whenever he’s perusing the selection. Even if there were no people to bump into, with his luck, he might bump into one of the displays in the middle of the shop instead, consequence of paying more attention to the shelves against the wall where there are loaves baked into fun shapes like fish or crabs, rather than to what’s in front of him. He’d hate to drop everything on his tray and waste it.

Sometimes the bakery keeps the doors closed, and while uncommon, it’s nothing unusual. On these occasions, the entry of each customer is announced by the small bell jingling just overhead. It’s the only sound in the shop, ringing several times in the past ten minutes but it’s mere background noise, easily ignored, as Bennett absorbs himself in choosing what to buy today.

“Good morning!”

Bennett’s hand freezes just above a loaf of bread that looks like a bear and he glances behind him to the counter because the sound of your bubbly voice, conversely, is much more difficult to ignore. Though to be fair, to him, you’re no mere background noise.

You’re carrying a basket of more loaves just taken from the oven, half of them regularly shaped into circles and the other half like turtles, and grin at the customers who have just walked in. He watches you make your way over to a shelf several feet away from him to arrange the bread, and he stares long enough that you’ve taken notice. Your smile is bright and reaches your eyes, and he’s embarrassed to have been caught. His cheeks grow warm and you can probably see the dusting of red across his face, a speculation which doesn’t help alleviate this embarrassment one bit.

“Good morning, Bennett,” you greet him, more quietly since he’s closer.

He likes when you say his name, and it never fails to make his heart skip a beat and he stutters out an O-Oh, um… as if surprised that you’re talking to him, much less that you know who he is. It shouldn’t take him off guard that you know, considering how often he comes to the bakery, so he supposes it has more to do with the fact that he can’t believe his name should be spoken by a voice as gentle as yours, honeyed tones like the softly plucked notes of the Holy Lyre der Himmel.

Finally he musters an equally quiet Good morning in response, smiling back but he’s certain it looks more like a cringe, owed to his nerves. If it does, you don’t point it out, and simply return to your task. Only when another patron comes up to Bennett’s other side, muttering a pardon as they grab a loaf from the shelf he’s standing in front of, does he break his gaze from you. His hand that had been hovering above the bread that whole time he drops back down to his side, and he scoots to make room with another stutter and a sorry.

You’re back behind the counter when Bennett is ready to pay. The pile of bread, cake slices, sandwiches, and other miscellaneous pastries had in the past led you to ask him if these were snacks for the road, for you’d guessed him to be an adventurer doing commissions for the guild by the sword at his side. He’d chuckled and explained his actual purpose for buying as much as he did, and your grin had widened, and if he wasn’t imagining things, you’d been extra careful when packing every treat.

I’m sure they’ll really appreciate your gesture, you’d said. That’s sweet of you. And it’s not frequently that events in the course of his life run smoothly, but that day they had, and with no falter in his words he remarks it’s thanks to you, for you’re the reason there’s anything to bring back to his dads in the first place. You’d laughed and his chest tightened and he thinks that’s the point where he started to fall (to where, he hesitated to state exactly). But in any case, it was true—without you, there was no bakery filled to the brim with delicious food, and if he had anything to say about that, Mondstadt would be worse off for it.

This morning, Bennett is digging around his wallet for the appropriate amount of Mora while you pack what he’d picked out. Having gone through this process many times prior, he knows approximately how much it should cost.

“Ah—”

A few coins slip from his hand and clatter to the wooden floor, and he bends to pick them up. But on the way down, his head knocks into the tray that he neglected to push all the way onto the countertop, so part of it still stuck out. You blink in surprise at the jostling of the tray and his subsequent Ouch!, muffled because he’s obscured by the counter.

“Are you okay?” You sound genuinely worried, but to Bennett the accident had been no big deal. At least none of the food had fallen.

“Yeah,” he assures you. He’s still trying to gather up the stray Mora, fingers failing to get a proper grip on them and he huffs in slight exasperation. His face once more is burning from the embarrassment of being so clumsy. He’s clumsy around everyone, and it’s something he has long since come to accept, but it matters a lot more when it’s you.

Finally he stands back up, the money clutched in his fist victoriously. “Yeah!” he repeats now that you can hear him clearly. “It’s no big deal.”

For a second you don’t quite believe him, but it’s hard to argue with that smile on his face. There’s no pain he’s trying to hide (embarrassment, on the other hand, is a different issue entirely).

Upon handing him his package you tell him you’ll see him tomorrow and he feels sort of special because you don’t say it to anyone else. To others, you say Thank you, come again! but you know his routine and you know to expect him at the same time each morning. Judging by the look in your eyes and the sound of your voice when you see and greet him, you anticipate his visit every time, and his heart wants to soar out from the confines of his chest upon this realization and he is exhilarated. The wind and the new day have fulfilled their promise of an adventure, and the clock hasn’t even struck noon.

One day you’re a little distracted, focused on a paper in your hand as Bennett approaches the counter with his tray of baked goods. For the most part, your face gives nothing away, but then your brows furrow slightly, a subtle action he doesn’t miss, and he proceeds to ask if anything is wrong. He asks it kindly, keeps his tone neutral, wordlessly conveying that you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. He would hate to pry.

You purse your lips, pausing like you’re caught between saying yes and no. He waits patiently for whichever one it might be.

“I ran out of sugar and had been meaning to make more,” you start, opting to share with him what’s been troubling you.“I bought out Flora’s stock of sweet flowers but it wasn’t enough, so I may have to set aside time to pick more myself later.”

The mention of heading outside of the city makes Bennett perk up, for he never turns down a chance to go exploring. He’s about to offer to do it for you, but it’s the thought of possibly going with you instead that makes him hold back and rephrase his question.

“This afternoon?” he inquires, head tilting. You nod, and up until now he’d felt confident in the offer he was going to present, but then his nerves get the better of him and it doesn’t come out quite the way he was hoping. “I-I could go with you! You know, if you want! To protect you… Just in case…” He trails off and he wants to go hide in a hole. There are few other ways this could have gone worse.

You don’t answer right away, and he regrets having said anything at all, but your beautiful smile soon follows the silence and it sets his mind at ease, and you agree with a concise and cheery Sure! Well, at least the worst way this could have gone had not come to pass. It was the small victories for Bennett—just as important as the big ones. The next challenge would be to avoid making a fool of himself out there, in what should be his natural element; he does want to impress you. But that’s a big ask for someone like him…

Both of you agree to meet at the front gate in the late afternoon. By then, the traffic in the bakery is slow enough that you’re able to step away earlier than the normal closing time. You’ve changed into clothes more appropriate for walking around: in lieu of a dress, your typical work attire, you sport a tunic and trousers you don’t mind dirtying. The trousers are tailored to fit properly but the tunic is a tad big, the sleeves a bit too long, but Bennett thinks you look cute in it. A basket hangs on your forearm and you wave as you walk up to him.

“I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” you say.

Bennett shakes his head. “Not long at all.” Technically the agreed upon meeting time was only five minutes ago, so you aren’t very late. Though he does refrain from sharing that he’d arrived early, in fear that he could end up late somehow and you would be the one who had to wait. Really, it’s been more like fifteen minutes for him, but he just keeps quiet about that.

One of the nice things about summer is that the sun sets later. There’s still a sufficient amount of light to illuminate the fields as you walk around in search of sweet flowers. At first, the extent of your conversation is discussing where you might be able to find a high concentration of them, then silence filled with the sifting of grass beneath your shoes and the occasional exclamation of having spotted a flower to be picked and tucked away in your basket.

Honestly, walking with you around the wilds of Mondstadt hadn’t been anywhere on Bennett’s list to do today, or any day really, not until he could muster the courage to invite you out like this, and who knew when that might be. Your need for sweet flowers had dropped the opportunity right into his lap, and thankfully he hadn’t squandered it. But now he’s at a loss as to what to talk about; he didn’t think he’d ever get this far.

Maybe you sense his struggle to come up with a topic of conversation because you’re the one to speak up, asking about his adventures and the commissions he takes. Done anything exciting recently?

Bennett’s eyes light up, a reaction which you can't help but smile at, and he regales you of the goings-on of his latest missions. He omits the instances where his clumsiness had made things more difficult (of which there were many), but each story is still truthful. Most of his commissions the past month hadn’t been anything too bold—after a mission that involved nearly getting himself trapped in a ruin due to solving a puzzle wrong then getting food poisoning on top of that from the snack he’d prepped that day, he’s been choosing jobs that he knows he’s more capable of.

To him, they aren’t too exciting, and in the larger scope of things, perhaps they aren’t, but you don’t seem to think that as you hang on each word. You’re absorbed in his story about trying to dismantle towers in a hilichurl camp, and gasp at the mention of their reinforcements coming to attack in the midst of it. Wow, you remark after he finishes his recounting of the event. You’re amazing, Bennett!

His heart does a flip again at the sound of his name and he shrugs offhandedly. He’s not inclined to think so, but your awed comment is sincere and has him reconsidering: yeah, that was pretty cool of him, wasn’t it? For all his clumsiness, he doesn’t often see the feats for what they are, accompanied by blunders or not, but you’re the fresh perspective he’d been missing, and he wishes you’d stepped into his life sooner.

The entirety of your outing together has thus far been free of any monsters, but as soon as Bennett makes this observation it’s like the universe has heard: hydro slimes suddenly pop out from the ground, halting you in your tracks. You squeak in surprise and Bennett is quick to shift into a fighting stance, knees slightly bent and one arm out in front of you protectively.

“Just stay there!” he instructs before drawing his sword and rushing forward.

Luckily there aren’t many slimes to fight off, and they aren’t very big. His sword cuts through them easily, cleanly. They burst and spray water upon being sliced apart, so at the end, when they’re all dead, the only evidence they had been there to begin with is the slight dampness to his clothes and the squish of dirt turned to mud. With a sigh of triumph, Bennett resumes a relaxed stance, then sheathes his weapon and turns to you.

As instructed, you’ve stayed in place, but it seems to have been more out of being frozen in fear than anything else. You’re clutching your basket close, and once the slimes are gone, you follow Bennett’s lead and relax, shoulders releasing the tension they had been filled with for the duration of that fight. You let out a deep exhale of relief, hand placed over your heart which has yet to slow back down to its normal pace.

“Thank you.”

Bennett flashes a toothy grin and waves his hand as if to say It’s not a problem. “That’s what I’m here for isn’t it?”

You smile back. “I’m glad we went together.”

Together. He likes the sound of that. He thinks to himself that he’d go with you to other places too; you need only to give the word. To the edge of this world, and through a portal to the next? He’d meet you by the front gate at dawn.

He’s surprised that the encounter with those slimes had gone as smoothly as it had. It isn’t uncommon for him to get hit a few times, bruises quick to form on his arms or his legs. And it’s quite the run of luck, of which he’s ordinarily in short supply, that he should get through a fight with nary a scratch on him while with you. His efforts to impress are actually succeeding.

However, this is another case of speaking too soon, because he starts to walk back to you, but then his foot gets caught on a rock concealed by the tall grass, and he tumbles to the ground.

“Oof!”

His chest collides with the earth as he lands with a thud and the breath is stolen from his lungs. You gasp and close the gap between you, and in viewing you in his peripherals, he notes that you are much more graceful at it.

“Are you all right?”

Bracing his hands on the dirt, small bits of rock digging into his palms, Bennett pushes himself up to sit on his knees. “Yeah, I’m okay!” Here he thought he had handled himself perfectly well, but then just like that, his clumsiness returned, and once more before you he is awkward, blundering Bennett.

Unlike the incident at the bakery when he’d bumped his head into the tray, this fall had actually hurt, and he can’t hide it successfully, a slight wince of pain crossing his face in spite of his smile. Even if you hadn’t caught on to that, the injuries elsewhere on his body give it away completely.

“Your arms are all scraped up…” After Bennett stands back up, you gingerly take hold of his forearm and angle it to examine the scrapes there, thin red lines from tiny stones tearing the skin.

Your grip is light, like you’re scared to injure him further, and Bennett is thankful for the darkness that is setting in as the sun disappears and the moon begins its trek across the sky, for it conceals the way his cheeks redden to be this close to you, to be touched by you. The concern in your gaze as you look at his arm makes his chest squeeze but not in the good way, and he bends his knees slightly to duck into your line of view.

“Don’t worry! I’m fine.” And it’s true. He’s sustained worse, though he steers clear of sharing this part. He doesn’t like to see you worried.

He straightens up when you finally meet his eyes and dons his smile again, easy and reassuring. It seems to convince you, as you nod and let go. He drops his arm back down to his side but he’s already missing the feather-light sensation of your fingertips. Successfully reassured, your smile also returns, replacing the thin line of worry that your lips had previously been set in.

It’s dark now but the air is still warm, a consequence of the season. In the daytime the heat is more extreme, made even more so by the fire curling from the edge of his sword. At the conclusion of whatever commission he has taken, he’s left sweating, satisfied but exhausted. Missions in the summer are more difficult to get through, the sun beating down with little mercy and its heat lingering into the night, but he thinks that if he were to have you there with him, he’d hardly notice.

Your delicate gaze is the cool ocean breeze and your soft smile the deluge of waves washing over him, a force he receives gladly because he is falling into you, deeper into the expanse of your heart. He’s diving into the sea, the unbearable heat of summer long forgotten as he makes his way to the bottom. What he hopes to find he isn’t sure, but he’d be content to remain there forever, consumed by you and all the love you have to offer.

“Okay?” he asks, voice soft. You had nodded but he also wants verbal confirmation that you won’t burden yourself with worry anymore.

You catch on to his own need for reassurance, and he wants to sink into the refreshing fondness of your eyes as you watch him. “Okay.”

The moon up above illuminates your face, and he wants to run his fingers along all the parts it touches: the line of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the cupid’s bow of your lips. He yearns to be closer to you than that moonlight adorning your skin, and maybe it’s strange that he should be envious of it, of that light which has the privilege to hold you so near, but the feelings he has for you are what’s written about in books, and in those stories, people do tend to do strange things.

In the morning, he stops by the bakery as usual but this time is surprised when you set a cake down alongside the other baked goods he buys. You answer his question before he can voice it.

“For yesterday,” you state simply. “For my hero.”

Your—?

“I think ‘hero’ is too strong a word for it,” Bennett replies, chuckling quietly and rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. After all, they had just been slimes.

You hum noncommittally, corner of your mouth lifted in a grin. “Maybe, but yesterday you were mine. So please take this as thanks.”

He’d like to be yours every day, and the thought of how nice that would be makes his whole world just a little brighter, like the crystal butterflies fluttering around him in the wild on the warm summer nights; and he hopes that the next adventure the wind guides him on leads straight back to you.

[reviseyourwhat]

y'all need to start a word world fandom. you heard me right. that show on pbs kids with the funny word friends?? fandom. now. the characters are amazing, and you will see why if you continue reading.

ok first we got sheep! who is an absolute girlboss!! I headcanon her to be a fem genderfluid, panromantic sweetheart!! her voice is iconic and she's basically my fave character like please show her more love. we would be best friends irl!! she likes dressing up/acting and singing! sometimes she's forgetful but she's always there to help! she/they/he

pig and ant 😈now. I don't think they're gay. BUT this is the perfect chance for a queer platonic relationship!! They are best buddies through and through and they're just lovely! I headcanon pig to be bigender only because my younger self thought he was a girl for the longest time?? so now he's both!! ant is cisgender gnc male because idk the vibes ig?? pig is giving me some heavy biromantic vibes and ant actually gives me demi/biromantic vibes?? anyways I love them and their relationship. pig is sometimes a bit too hungry, but he cares for his friends! he's an amazing chef who always has his bestie, ant, to help him not eat everything. ant is a tiny guy with tons of cousins who can be unable to do things at times due to being so small, but pig reminds him that there's always a way and even if there isnt, they can still have fun! pig is she/he and ant is he/they/it/she

next for frog and duck hehe. frog is obviously duck's older brother figure I mean it's so obvious and I fucking love them?? I like how frog clearly shows what it's like to have anxiety?? like what?? its a bit exaggerated but cmon its like a preschool show!! id say they did an alright job! He can get frustrated with duck at times but they always find a solution together!! frog loves to invent things and he's really smart!! which pairs up nicely with duck, who isn't on the same level as frog quite yet and is much more immature (due to being younger ofc) . frog is OBVIOUSLY trans masc enby, demi/biromantic ace. and duck is probably cis boy aro/ace (i mean he's literally like 4 or smth lol) frog is he/they and duck is he/they/it

bear is probably gnc transfem and AA i love her. I like how they allow her to embrace femininity but still be interested in things that are less gendered? Like she still loves playing a princess, wearing bows and stuff but she also loves skateboarding, painting and I think basketball?? love that girl. probably in a qpr with sheep but it's been so long since I've watched the show tbh i just don't know. anyways she/they/ and probably some neos?? i don't know many neos so I couldn't say for sure but she def uses neos. she lesbian and we all know it

dog is a dog, he's also god since I believe he created word world. (first character in theme song where the world was created, biggest house) I KNOW IT"S CRINGE to have these headcanons about a preschool show but it's a big comfort show for meeeee. dog cannot talk like other word friends but ppl still understand him(most of the time)! I think that's cool. he has a fucking LETTER/BALLPIT IN HIS HOUSE HE'S SO COOL!! and um he/it and idk about romantic/sexual attraction and i also dont care he's a fucking dog lol.

most other characters in the show arent seen as often so ill just do quick stuff

elephant genderfluid woman lover she/he

kangaroo bigender only he/him tho men lover

robot agender he/it/they ace/aro (yooo the AAA)

monkey masc enby he/they/it/banana neos ig biromantic

crab is jamaican. end of story

shark is same as duck.

ok enough of this if this doesnt somehow start a word world fandom I'm gonna send threats to sheep and you'll never find her letters.

[starrysupercell]

I've never celebrated Father's Day so I like writing good bonds like this okay?

😤 This is one of four paternal-centric oneshots I have planned. Based off of the picture we got today. Here. 💙💢

☆☆☆☆

🧸🍭 Spiritual Guidance 🏹💚

The sun proudly showed off its warmth, the waves lapped its soothing tunes, and the cool shade soothed the light. It all came together for an amazing ambiance. Bo leaned back with a calm, faint smile on his face. What could ruin the beauty of this day?

A shrill whistle split through nature's relaxing scenery, giving Bo the rudest possible answer. It was like a missile aimed straight through his head. His closed eyes furrowed, but he opted to ignore the disturbance in favor of basking in the weather summer had to offer.

"Hey!" He heard regardless. "Can't you take a look at the sign!? No food or drinks!"

The new coastguard. Buzz, he believed. He was overzealous, but he meant well.

"..It's only a lollipop, dude." Was the answer. Bo recognized Leon's voice. He opened his eyes.

"Only a lo-!" Buzz scoffed, sounded very offended, "Only a lollipop! Don't you get it, kid? This is a choking hazard! Imagine you're swimming, a-and you start choking on it? Then what? There, in the middle of the ocean? I'll have to drag you to shore, and then perform the heimlich maneuver. If there's even time left for you in this cruel, cruel world. Do you know how difficult all of that is?" The dinosaur mimed the actions as he spoke, hoping to get the point across to this junior.

Bo sat up and turned to the talking two. They weren't that far from where he lay, but it was too far for his vision.

"I'm not even gonna go swimming," Leon complained. Not that far away, Jacky skidded with her jetski into a forest of palm trees and crashed to a stop suddenly. Mortis smacked a robot with his shovel instead of the crab he was aiming for. Oops. "I'm just here to get someone and then I'll be off the beach."

"It's the principle of it, kid. If I let you bring in some candy, then I'll have to let everybody! A lollipop today, a full-course meal tomorrow. Imagine that! How many people would get cramps because they swim after they eat?"

That's enough, Bo decided, and stood. He started to head in the direction of their voices. "Is there a way to resolve this issue amicably?" He called out to grab their attention.

Leon faced him, his frown immediately turning to a smile. "Bo! Yeah. I was actually coming to get you. Me and Nita wanted to show you something."

"Very well," Bo said. "We'll get off the beach and be out of your way." He told Buzz pointedly. The dino nodded, and was about to pleasantly respond when he was interrupted.

"RAAUUGGH!!!"

"Uh-oh." Leon said as the conscious beach-goers looked questioningly to the source of the shout.

"That was Nita. What's happening?" Bo asked him.

"Uhhh, I'll explain as we go, c'mon!" Leon began to run and speak so Bo could follow.

Buzz smiled. Another job well done. Days without an accident so far: four. (Because, he's been here for four days.) He trotted off elsewhere on the beach.

Jacky groaned as she barely regained consciousness, rubbing her face. Good thing she wore a helmet.

Mortis' foot got snapped by the crab and he hopped in pain, accidentially entering the sun's rays. He threw himself forward back under his umbrella, landing unceremoniously in the sand. How mortifying, he thought as he tapped his fingers on the sand, peeved.

Back to Leon and Bo, Leon recounted the events as they rounded the hill to reach the top where Rosa stood.

"So what's going on is, um, one of the dinosaurs has Nita dangling from its mouth." Leon explained. "Rosa's trying to help, but I don't think she can reach her." Before too long they were within hearing distance of Rosa.

"Just let go of it, Nita! I can catch you!" The boxer called out, arms outstretched.

"No!!!" Nita roared back, swinging herself around violently.

"Oh..." Rosa said with worry. She startled and looked at Leon and Bo. "What a relief. You're back. She won't listen to me." It's been that way ever since... Nita and Leon came to the park.

"She's holding onto something?" Bo asked, looking up at the blob of blue that was Nita in her new outfit.

"Yeah," Rosa said. "It's..." Leon frowned up at her, and she sighed softly. "Something."

"Nita, let go of it. It's okay. I'm here." Bo said. The little bear cub was torn between listening and saving whatever it was she had in her hands. She frowned, narrowed her eyes and continued to hold on tight but stopped swinging around. Leon kept his frown too.

Bo hummed. Clearly, whatever it was that she had in her clutch was important enough for her to want to keep. It'd be unfair to force her to leave it behind. "That's okay, then." He called out to her, retrieving the bow from his back. "Keep your grip strong and hold still." He nocked an arrow and pulled back as he aimed steadily. Nita was distinct enough from the dinosaur that carried her, and she was obeying his order to stay still.

"Rosa, if you will, catch her as she falls." Bo said.

"You got it," she said. She had no doubt that Bo could manage the shot. Even so, Nita was still a kid and that was something hard to shake off when there were explosive arrows in the mix. Her plant, Vinny, stretched around her shoulder and looked up in determination.

Bo fired an arrow, and nocked another one by the time it reached the dino's snout. It showed its ire by giving a warning groan and tilting its head. The archer steadied his aim and shot at it again. Rosa braced herself.

The dino's had enough. A snack wasn't worth all this trouble. It let its maw open and down came Nita, who took the chance to clutch the item close to her.

Rosa held out her arms and ran to stand under Nita. Nice, easy catch. Nita looked up and around as Bo walked over and Leon cheered and joined.

"There you go," Rosa plopped Nita down on the ground. The dino stomped away, disinterested in the reunion. "Cripes, how eventful." She sighed, holding her fist out for Vinny to bump against in triumph. The plant stared after the retreating dino with excitement.

"It's settled now," Bo remarked, patting Nita on the head. She grinned, and looked over the chest.

It was made of dark word. The worst damage were the torn, gnawed-on leaves and colorful flowers she and Leon had decorated it It was also scratched up in some places.

"The big guy probably thought it looked appetizing." Rosa remarked.

"Hmmgh." Nita nodded. Leon looked slightly disappointed.

"What is it?" Bo asked curiously.

The twins exchanged glances, and Leon nodded with a smile. Nita beamed and shifted the chest, holding it out proudly.

"For me?" Bo questioned with surprise, idly reaching for it.

"Yeah," Leon grinned. "Happy... Father's Day...!" He said, kicking at the ground, a bit abashed.

Bo blinked. It was his turn to clutch onto the chest. Father. He never considered the possibility of... well, not replacing, because he could never replace who they've lost. But the mere notion of becoming a father figure to these two was... very, very heartwarming.

He ran his hand across the top, and felt notches atop the surface. Upon closer inspection, it featured an etching of a bear, a chameleon, an eagle.

"There's... items inside too." Rosa broke the silence with a voice barely higher than a whisper, "Made out of wood and coconut shells. The kids worked hard on it all. I helped, but they had all the ideas and did most of the work." She informed him.

He opened the top, and true to her word there were carved items inside. Plates, trinkets, and even a birdhouse. They really took the time to plan, and make all of this. Patiently crafting and putting thought into this Father's Day.

He felt very humbled. "Thank you," he said, gently shutting the lid. "I appreciate it. I'm... honored." But it felt far from enough.

Leon and Nita looked up at him with bright faces. Bo knelt down, and placed the chest aside carefully. He held his arms out for the both of them.

Nita practically dove into his chest. She sniffed, wiping at her eyes roughly and burrowing into the embrace, squeezing them shut. "...Thank you," she muttered. It was so rare for her to speak nowadays.

Leon approached more calmly, simply walking into the hug. "Haha, crybaby," he said to Nita, but even his voice wavered and he held at both Nita and Bo in the tight hug.

Bo remained silent at all this, but smiled. This was beyond words.

The sun's shine, the blue waves and cooling trees were nothing. He's never felt more at ease any other time than now. This was truly the perfect ambience.

[snickletastic]

Interrupted {Jason Todd x Reader}

warnings~ cursing, mostly fluffy i think

request~  Jason reluctantly goes with his wife to her high school reunion, They see her old friends and have the unfortunate chance of running into her cheating ex and the mean girl he cheated on her with. They try to start shit with the reader who just takes it in stride before thanking them. But she's not living in the past anymore and introduces them to Jason much to the bully couple's jealousy.

a/n~ i ended up having a whole lot of fun with this one, but of course encountered some awkward moments during it. i think it goes pretty smoothly, but there are some bumpy parts that im sure youll notice. i hope you guys like it :)

___________________

“I just know that this is gonna be great,” you murmured while leaning over the counter to get near to the mirror so you could get a closer look at your lipstick application. 

Jason let out a quiet groan as he buttoned his shirt, “I’m going for the food. You know that, right?”

“Yeah baby, I know,” You shut the tube of lipstick and turned to your husband, who was rolling up the sleeves of his button up. “You should wear these shirts more often, you look adorable.”

“Adorable? I was hoping for something along the lines of sexy,” Jason mocked, “maybe dashing? Absolutely fetching?”

You ignored his complaining and fixed his tie for him. “I need you to be serious tonight...or at least a little serious,” you focused on pulling the tie through the hoop, “I really want this to go well.”

“Can you believe it’s been ten years since you graduated? Feelin’ old yet?” Jason teased while watching you fasten his tie.

“Don’t you start,” you lightheartedly threatened him, “You’re a year older, anyways.”

“I know you are but what am I?”

“You’re a moron,” you rolled your eyes.

“I know you ar-”

“Quit that, you man-child!”

“Fine,” Jason stepped back and admired you, “You’re looking sexy tonight.”

You blushed, “Than-”

“For an oldie,” Jason teased again, “Sorry. Okay. I promise. I’m done now.”

“Can we go now, or are there any other jokes you wanna make?”

Jason considered quips for a moment, looking thoughtful. “No, I’m pretty sure I’m done.” You sighed in relief and began walking out the door. “Don’t forget your walker, babe,” Jason called out while watching you leave.

_____________________

The banquet hall of the upscale Gotham hotel was filled with hundreds of familiar faces. You graduated from Gotham City High School, so your class had about 1,000 students or so due to how overpopulated the city is. Why? You could never figure it out. Why is Gotham so populated when there is a new psychopathic murderer every other week? A man dressed in a batsuit defending the city? A running theme of poison being dropped from blimps flying over? Who knows. Maybe it’s the charm.

Jason never had the chance to graduate, because, well, he died. You were worried that he’d be uncomfortable at the reunion, him being reminded of things he missed out on. But you were also hopeful that this would give him the chance to experience things he never got to. Now here you stood, watching your husband down 3 crab cakes all at once.  There was nothing you could do other than stand there and stare in disbelief; not at his immaturity, but at the size his throat must be to be able to eat so much at once. “Huh,” you wondered aloud.

Leaving your husband at the buffet, you wandered off to the center of socialization in the room hoping to find some old friends. You met with some old buddies, sharing information about your lives nowadays. The most interesting part of the reunion thus far was the people who seemed to be background characters in highschool; npc’s. It was amazing to see people you disregarded along the way without trying to; whether it was the girl who sat behind you in biology or the guy you’d make awkward eye contact with in the halls every now and then, you’d forgotten that they were living people, too. Now the boy who swallowed an eraser back in sophomore year was a doctor. The girl who got bullied for being a nerd was a renowned writer. Straying away towards the walls, watching people interact, you stood with a glass of soda in deep thoughts. 

Until you got interrupted.

“Y/n? Is that really you?” an obnoxiously high voice approached you. Turning, you saw the most dreadful glimpse of the night; your ex-boyfriend, Blake, and on his right arm, the girl he cheated on you with in senior year, Kennedy. You could already feel yourself turning nauseous from the sight.

“Wow! It is her!” Blake jeered.

“Hey,” you tried to say pleasantly, but it came out as more of a cry for help.

“I saw you standing over here all alone, staring at everyone having all this fun- I figured you needed some company!” Kennedy taunted in her grating voice.

“Actually, I-”

“No need to explain yourself, snookie bear,” Blake smirked. You could feel your back tense at the pet name he used to call you even though you told him how much you hated it. “We just wanted to tell you that Kennedy and I,” Blake squeezed his partners waist, “Are getting married next weekend in Bel-Air!” Kennedy squealed and held out her hand, displaying her big diamond ring.

“Um, congratulations guys. That’s great. I didn’t expect either of you to last this long. As a matter of fact, I thought I heard that the two of you broke up a few years ago,” You smiled at them, mockingly. There were rumours that he had cheated on her with her sister. 

“We moved past that,” Kennedy’s smile faded, “Now we are happy together. That’s all that matters.”

“Hey, three’s company,” You shrugged and took a sip of your soda, “I have to g-” You were interrupted by an arm slipping around your waist, and the sudden appearance of a body emerging next to you. Jason. You looked back to the distasteful couple in front of you, and there was nothing you wished for more in that moment than a camera. Jason towered over Blake, and even Kennedy, who was in heels. He casted a shadow over their boastful attitudes, too.

“Hi,” Jason waved at them.

“Who’s this?” Blake’s demeanor changed immediately.

“This is my husband, Jason. Jason, this is Blake and Kennedy,” you introduced everybody to each other. Jason must have remembered their names from your stories, because his face dropped the moment you said them.

Blake sheepishly held out his hand towards Jason, who seemed to contemplate accepting it or not. He did though, and he certainly asserted his dominance by clutching Blake’s hand so hard that you could hear something crack. He finally let go, and Blake softly whimpered and held his hand, clearly in pain. 

His fiance ignored him, though. “Why, I didn’t realize you were married,” Kennedy held out her right hand, putting her left one, with the ring, behind her back. Jason graciously accepted the handshake, “Nice to meet you. I like your eyes, the blue really stands out.” Kennedy blushed at the compliment and flashed a smile. “The shade of them doesn’t help you look any less dead inside, though,” Jason quipped and let go of her hand.

“My husband and I have to go now,” you broke the awkward silence, “It’s been so great seeing the two of you again. I hope you find happiness with your new wife- and her sister.”

You held onto Jason’s arm and walked away. “Do you wanna dance?” Jason asked, trying to ease your apprehension.

“Not really, I just wanna go home now,” You shrugged.

“Fair enough,” Jason said before stopping at the buffet table again, stuffing some hors d’oeuvres into his pants pockets. 

“You can’t possibly be serious,” you shook your head and smiled at his foolishness.

“One thing I learned on the streets is that you always take free food no matter what. I’m not passing up these fancy ass snacks.”

_________

Later on, you sat on the couch with Jason while watching television. He pulled shrimp out of his pocket and munched on it unwittingly. Earlier he offered you a fancy cheese from his left pocket, but you declined. 

Now you were just bummed out that the reunion ended up being a letdown, and Jason took notice. He just wasn’t sure how to go about making you feel better other than offering you pocket cheese. 

You laid and admired his features as he ate another shrimp, and then watched as his eyes flickered. You knew that face. He had an idea. He grabbed the remote and turned the T.V. to one of those strange music channels that played romantic piano. Then, he got up and held his hand out to you, “May I have this dance?” he bowed to you.

“Huh?”

“Just go with it,” he exhaled.

“Okay,” you took his hand and he pulled you up.

He awkwardly rested one hand on the small of your back and held the other one out dramatically, like a ballroom dancer. “Trust me, I’m a professional,” he beamed.

The two of you did a dreadful ballroom dance in the middle of the living room, in your pajamas. It was so much better than the reunion had been. All that was there were things of the past, but all that matters now is fooling around with the guy you love to the sound of uncopyrighted music on the T.V.

masterlist

[shell-senji]

Saitofest 2020: Stars

For @saitofest​ Day 1 Prompt: Fond Memories Note: image courtesy of @impracticaldemon​ (thanks for organizing the event also!)

Stars

It is well after dark when Saitō returns from his patrol, and the night is briskly cold, his exhales leaving his mouth in little puffs of smoke. 

It’s unusually quiet in the Shinsengumi compound; many of the Wolves of Mibu are gone, either on patrol or off to Shimabara to prowl for a different sort of prey. Others are likely asleep. Even they seem to be abnormally inactive tonight.

He can sense the few members still awake who’ve been tasked with patrolling the compound itself, but as they’re on the periphery, they don’t break the illusion of almost peaceful stillness—something the Shinsengumi’s residence doesn’t typically have.

Not that Saitō minds, of course; neither the cold nor the silence affect him adversely. Rather, he finds it soothing after being surrounded by so many people all day. Here, seated on the engawa in the tranquility of a crisp winter night, he relishes the rare moment when he can allow himself to relax and unwind—well, as much as any member of the Shinsengumi can. His guard is never truly down, after all. 

Behind him, he hears the slide of a door opening, then closing, and from the soft, tentative footsteps, it can only be Yukimura.

Then, the sound of her voice confirms it.

“Saitō-san?”

The scent of tea reaches him before she does. She kneels, setting a tray with two steaming cups beside him, and then sits.

“I saw you come back, and I thought you might like some tea to warm you up after your patrol.”

Saitō nods and accepts the offering with a murmured thank-you.

The cup is warm in his hands, and the curling wisps of steam rising from it mingle with his own exhales as he sips it carefully. 

To his surprise, she remains sitting with him, drinking her own tea quietly for several minutes. Then, not to his surprise—he has noticed that Yukimura has a tendency to grow unsettled in long silences—she speaks.

“Does Saitō-san like the stars?” 

He looks at her briefly, considering, before turning his face back toward the objects in question, where they twinkle vibrantly in the seemingly endless expanse of inky night sky. “I suppose. Why do you ask?”

Yukimura shrugs. “I’ve always loved them for some reason. Some people make wishes on them, but that’s not why I like them. Um…they are…peaceful somehow?” Her shoulders bob up and down again. “I don’t know… I especially like cold nights like this, you know, when the stars are so very bright, where you can see the constellations so clearly.”

Saitō hums in agreement, and Yukimura takes it as a cue to continue.

“That one”—she sets her tea aside and gestures, drawing imaginary lines between some of the glittering specks—“is the big bear, and that is the little bear.”

“And that star”—she points to one of the brightest in the sky—“is tenrō, the celestial wolf.”(1) She angles her face slightly toward him, a smile curving her lips. “I thought that one might interest you.”

It is said innocently, with good intentions, and Saitō is sure that she either does not know or has forgotten that miburō, the nickname bestowed upon them, is seldom meant nicely. He lets it slide, making a noncommittal noise in reply.

Yukimura motions toward two bright stars in close proximity and then dimmer ones near them. “Those are the twins. And to the left, that’s the crab.”

He nods, reassuring her that he is, in fact, still listening. He realizes, with no small amount of wonder, that he is interested in what she has to say. Normally, by this point, constant idle chitchat from someone would have begun to grate on his nerves.

And thus, with no interruption from Saitō, she continues, her hand waving as she points out more constellations and tells him some of the lore surrounding their names. They are fanciful tales, very likely rooted more in myth than in fact, but whoever has educated her has done so in great detail.

“You are very knowledgeable about constellations,” Saitō says, only marginally aware of the trace of admiration that has crept into his tone. 

“Oh! Thank you!” The brightness in her voice rivals the brilliance of the celestial bodies they’d been discussing. “My…” She falters, the word trailing off as she swallows hard. “My father taught me about them…” 

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see her inhale deeply, her hands clenching the fabric of her hakama. There is tension in the air between them now, likely born of the awkward topic that is Kōdō.

“I…um…” Yukimura takes another purposeful breath. “Anyway, I apologize, Saitō-san, for chattering so much. I know you must be tired,” she says, affecting false cheer as she stands and bows deeply. “I’m so sorry for keeping you!”

She pivots on her heel, clearly intent on making a retreat back to her room. With a swiftness unmatched by most, perhaps all save a precious few in the Shinsengumi, he snatches the hem of her sleeve, forcing her to stop. 

“Yukimura.”

She turns partially back toward him, though her face is obscured by darkness. Saitō can’t quite put his finger on why he feels compelled to offer her comfort, but he attempts to do so all the same. 

“There is nothing wrong with having fond memories of your childhood,” he says, his own memories of his family and childhood home forever colored by what happened when he killed the hatamoto’s son. He is also well acquainted with the duality of man. “What Kōdō did—is potentially still doing—does not erase the good things he did for you. Just as good people are capable of evil, so too is the reverse true.” 

With that, he releases her sleeve and resumes staring at the sky, his head tipped back ever so slightly.

When she whispers, “Thank you, Saitō-san,” he merely nods, and then she’s scurrying off to her room, leaving him to trace the constellations she pointed out with his gaze.

Yukimura, he muses, is not unlike a star herself in a way. Her hopefulness, her upbeat attitude, her desire to be helpful, to be a friend when truly they had done little to earn her friendship, at least initially—it all coalesces into this personality that shines even amidst the inherent darkness of the Shinsengumi. Or perhaps it is because of that darkness that she seems to shine brighter. Whatever the case, somehow, she has become a presence in their lives that they can’t help but appreciate. 

Much in the way that a person can hardly look at the sky on a clear night and not admire the stars.

For a very brief moment, before he mentally chastises himself for indulgent philosophizing and heads to bed, Saitō hopes that their own personal star won’t ever dim in her brightness.

 ~End~

(1) based on the Wikipedia article for Sirius. 

Author’s notes: It was a cold starry night last night, and well, this happened. Also, please note, with the exception of Sirius, this assumes a very Western perspective regarding the constellations, which obviously may not be even remotely historically accurate. I started to do some research on astronomy in Japanese history and, well, ultimately I decided that rabbit’s hole was one I’d better stay out of if I wanted to get this finished any time this century. Lastly, I do not usually write in present tense…I have NO idea why my muse wanted this one to be that way… 

[loversandantiheroes]

I was listening to my rainy day playlist and when this came out, I kinda pictured your Harvey playing this on piano for the farmer Flax. Not singing, cause it has the L word in the lyrics and he can't say it yet. But even if he can't say it, I think its lyrics suits him and his feelings quite well:) (tumblr won't let me put a link in here, but it's "The way you look tonight", Tony Bennett version)

This is very sweet and also calls for a minific.

——————————————-

“You’re sure this is alright?”

Emily flaps a hand at him.  “Of course it’s alright.  Besides, as far as I know the only other person in town who has a piano is Elliot, and sweet as he may be when you can actually get his attention, I really doubt he’d warm to this idea of someone sat in his living room tickling his ivories.”

She offers a smile as she swipes a rag over the top of the old upright in the corner of the bar, kicking up a little dust.

“Besides,” she adds, fanning the air in front of her, “Gus clearly isn’t using it.”

Harvey chews his lip, lifting the lid.  “Any idea when it was last tuned?”

“Hm.  Not that long.  Four months?  Five, maybe?  Though I expect that’s just about the last time anybody’s laid hands on this poor girl.”

Tentatively, Harvey finds middle C, hoping for a clear note and not an off-tune warble.  Or worse, a thunk.  But the note rings out, pitch-perfect as far as his ears can tell, and he smiles a little.

“I’m surprised you have time for this,” Emily says, leaning against the piano as he eases himself onto the bench.  There’s a knowing grin on her face.  “I thought your lunch hour was booked from here to eternity.”

Harvey only raises an eyebrow and tries to pretend his face doesn’t immediately flush hot.  “I…it’s a busy week.  I’ve got some free time.”

He doesn’t mean it to come out quite as dejected as it does.  But there it is.  He can’t even bear to look at whatever expression that has brought to Emily’s face.

“You miss her already,” she says, a bit too gleeful for his liking.

He mumbles something, very possibly in agreement, and begins digging in his satchel for his sheet music.  “Sort of why I’m here.  Not just the free time, I mean, of course that’s why…I….  I used to play,” he says, stumbling lamely into the point as he so often does.  He takes a deep breath, holds it until his head starts to swim a little, then lets it out in a rush.  “I want to see if I still can.  Or can pick it back up.”

“For her?”

“For me,” he says, a small, considering crease in his brow.  “But for her, too.”

Another thing he can’t quite find the angle to unpack.  How much she makes him want to chase after the things he once loved.  To throw himself at them, half-reckless, to try and reclaim them.  For the chance to prove to himself that he could do it.  Even the things that terrify him.  Especially the things that terrify him.

“Well, would you want a hand with that?” Emily offers, startling him out of his thoughts.  She is, he realizes a bit belatedly, pointing at the music book in his hands.  “I’ve got plenty of experience from high school.  Can’t sing for the life of me, so most days in music class I just turned sheet music for the teacher.”

“Oh, I…y-you don’t have to,” he says, awkwardly clutching the book.  “I don’t want to get you in any more trouble with Gus than I already am.”

Emily only laughs.  “Please, I couldn’t get in trouble with Gus if I tried.  He’s so much of a softie he can’t even bring himself to make people settle their bar tabs half the time.  Besides that, he’s got his hands full right now.  Willy’s got his crab magic going again and dropped off a huge basket full of the little snippers.  We’d both prefer it if I wasn’t there for it.”

Rather reluctantly, Harvey gives up his death grip on the music book.

At the sight of the cover, Emily’s face lights up like a Winter Star tree.

“The Way You Look Tonight.  Bless your heart,” she says, and for once the phrase doesn’t ring of a thinly veiled insult.  “You’re really in love with her, aren’t you?”

Harvey blanches, fumbling the book away from her and setting it against the stand.

“Oh.”  The levity’s gone now.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that word was so…” she pauses, and he can feel her eyes tracking him and Yoba he wishes she would stop looking at him.  

“Sharp,” she finishes.

“It’s fine,” he says, too curtly.

“Your aura’s gone all bubblegum.”

“I- what?”  He blinks up at her, in the moment suddenly too confused to remember to be upset.

“Your aura,” Emily says, wiggling her fingers a few inches over his head.  “Pure pink.  I struck a nerve.  I didn’t mean to.”

“My aura.  Right.”  And suddenly he remember it is Emily he’s talking to, or, closer to the point, being a bit of an asshole to, and his puffed up anxiety bubble deflates just a bit.  “Sorry.  I, uh, I suppose I’m usually chartreuse,” he says with an attempt at a smile.

“Kind of brown, actually,” she says musingly.  “Brown and yellow, like old gold.  But you’ve got this mix of red and pink and orange going on these days,” she adds this with a knowing smile, as if it’s some secret that only the two of them are in on, and he can only smile back, completely baffled.

“Well that’s…good?  I hope?”

“It would strongly suggest you are that thing I said that I won’t repeat again.”

“Thank you,” he says.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“Apology accepted.”  She leans in, opening the booklet and patting him on the shoulder.  “It also means the sex must be amazing, so congratulations.”

Harvey swears, covering his face and nearly sliding off the piano bench in embarrassment.

“You’re almost as bad as she is,” he mutters through his hands as she laughs.

“And you’re not even going to ask?”

He uncovers his face, which he knows has to be blisteringly red.  “Ask what?”

“What color her aura is?”

Emily raises her eyebrows, the offer dangling.

“Alright, alright.  I’ll bite, why not?  What color is her aura?”

She smiles, big and broad.  “The girl is a bonfire.  Red-orange.  Bright as anything.”

“I see,” he says.  He doesn’t.  “And red, that’s…?”

Emily’s smile softens.  “That thing I said that I won’t repeat again.”

“Oh.”

Harvey falls quiet.  He doesn’t quite believe in auras.  Not in a fashion that has any real weight.  And it isn’t as though he doesn’t know how she feels.  That he hasn’t seen the look in her eyes when she’s nearly said the words he has to dance around, or said something in surrogate.  But that someone else could look at her and see it, see that in her face, and know it was for him.

Auras or no auras, that’s something.

Harvey rubs the tip of one ear, smiling unconsciously.  “We should get started.”

There’s a moment of mortal terror as he lays his hands on the keys.  How long has it even been since he’s done this?  Ten years?  Longer, surely.  The lessons stopped when he was seventeen, but he vaguely remembers noodling around on borrowed keyboards in college once or twice after a few too many drinks.

He takes a breath.  Fumbles his position.  Plays the first chord.

The world, he is relieved to find, does not implode.

It’s clumsy.  He has to start over twice after his hands shake so hard he can’t quite keep his fingers on the keys properly.  But it’s nerves more than rust, he finds, and by the time his phone starts blaring the end of his lunch hour, he’s made it fully to the end of the song twice.

“Thank you,” he tells Emily as he packs up.  “For the help and for your patience.  I can’t imagine that was too kind on your ears.”

“Harvey, I’ve heard Gus singing along to Carmen, I have been tempered in fire,” she says with a laugh.  “And you’ve got some pretty solid skill, you’ll knock the rust out in no time.”

He smiles, dipping his head.  “Thank you.”

“Coming back tomorrow?”

Harvey nods, sucking in a breath.  “I think I can probably squeeze in a rush through before…um…” he gestures vaguely in the direction Pierre’s lies.

“Aerobics?”

He makes a choked sound in agreement.

“Does she know you’re-”

“No!” he says, mortified.  “I mean, Yoba, I hope she doesn’t.  I don’t have much pride, but I’d rather not sacrifice the last shred of it by telling her the only reason I can… keep up with her is because I spend Tuesdays Sweatin’ To The Oldies.”

“You really think it’d make a difference to her?” Emily asks, eyebrows raised.

Harvey frowns, thinking of her face.  The way she laughs when he’s done something ridiculous that she somehow finds endearing.  His shoulders drop an inch.

“Maybe not.”

From his back pocket, his phone blares off another warning.

“Right, sorry, I have to go.  Thank you, again, for, for you help and I uh-”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Harvey,” Emily finishes helpfully.

“Yes.  Right.  That,” he stammers, fumbling his book back into the bag.  “See you tomorrow.”