ᶠᵘᶻᶻᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗˢ

Some guilt filled you up before you answered. It had been too long since you’d sent her a text inquiring about how she was and checking up on Jim. You knew he’d been young when it had happened but he had memories of his father he’d never be able to forget and your heart broke for your cousin. 

Yet, your phone was nearing it’s last ring before it falsely reported to your dear Aunt that you were nowhere near your phone. Fearing she wouldn’t be available again if you waited, you picked up right before your recorded message of “Sorry to miss your call! I’ll try to get back to you. Leave a message after-” could play. You’d recorded it long ago and run out of time but never gone back to fix it.

“Barbs! Hi!” You spoke quickly, hoping she wouldn’t hang up due to your momentary silence.

“Y/N! God it feels like forever since we’ve talked,” She laughed breathlessly and you realized that things must have been hard for her recently. She sounded stressed but ever the optimist she was still going strong. You didn’t think you’d ever heard her anything other than positive. 

“I know, I know,” You sympathized. “I’ve been working doubles and I’m sure you’re no different... How’s Jim?”

“Oh you know him, always out with Toby. Goodness Y/N! He’s got the most darling girlfriend! Claire is a gem, and she knows how to cook!” Barbara had said airily but then rushed into the real business of her call and her tone changed from charged with excitement to something a little more bashful with underlying hints of mirth.

“There’s an opening at the hospital. I know our town isn’t as glamorous as New York but if you’re interested, I’ve put in a good word for you. I’d love to have you here, these days we need all the help we can get.” 

And with that, your heart had stopped, restarted, did a somersault, and then resumed it’s natural beat. Barbara wanted you to work in Arcadia with her? It was a level of trust you hadn’t been prepared to be presented to you but you puffed up your chest with pride. 

“Y/N? Still with me?” She teased after your silence had stretched on, your heart in your throat and your stomach was somewhere on the ground. “I’ve got to meet with a patient in a few-”

“Yes,” 

“What?” 

“Yes!” You repeated, a grin breaking out on your face. You loved your home, you loved your job, but most of all you loved the thought of experiencing something new. 

“Oh Y/N that’s fantastic! I’ll text you the number and set everything up, I can’t wait,” Barbara gushed and you couldn’t help the excited giggle that burst from you. 

You bid your farewell to your aunt and despite not having your interview yet, you had set to packing already entranced with the thought of living in Arcadia.

Little did you know then but it would be the best decision you’d ever made.

𝕠𝕠𝕠𝕠𝕠𝕠

𝙸'𝚟 𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠

Steve, ugh gag, checked in but only with questions of Aja. Krel adored Aja as everyone else did. She was a warrior yet empathetic beyond many beings- human or otherwise- capability. She was proud to be herself no matter what and you couldn’t help but be drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Or like Luug to the cookies Lucy Blank made each and every evening. 

Yes, he did adore his sister but he had also lived in her shadow and grown wary beyond his age from her mistakes back on Akiridion-5. Krel couldn’t blame her but he had never had the sense of freedom she had grabbed hold of and claimed was her right. 

He was too complacent even before coming to Earth and now he understood it was because he needed to be needed. And it seemed more often than not, he wasn’t needed. 

Sighing, he placed his headphones over his ears, tapped his foot to the lively beat, and worried no more. 

--

“Hey buttsnack, can’t leave your girlfriend’s side? My girlfriend is a total ninja-kicking angel and-” Steve rambled on and no one, save for Eli, was listening. Claire rolled her eyes and cracked a smile when Jim looked down at her and did the same. 

“I’m siding with Steve on this one Jimbo, help me find Arrgh more socks,” Toby chimed in and there was a grateful, deep, hum from the large troll that had crowded into Nancy Domzalski’s home along with Blinky who was sat beside Claire once Jim finally got up with a sigh and a fond grin. 

Everyone was enjoying the music, the snacks, the company when suddenly Nana hollered, “Oh Toby-Pie!” in a pitched tone that made the newest cat in the house want to run towards Arrgh despite the consequences. 

“NANA,” Toby groaned, embarrassed as always when she called him that. He was a soldier, a wicked sidekick (he thought he was quite the hero but he’d have to run it by Jim). “Not around my friends” He pleaded as he went to see her in the kitchen. 

Their voices were quiet outside of some murmurs that couldn’t be made out over Eli’s laughter that played like a broken record at all of Steve’s spent and silly jokes. Jim had gone back to sitting with Claire and both had taken to throwing popcorn at Steve, wondering how many their could get caught in his hair before he noticed. So far they’d each gotten three. 

Toby emerged from the kitchen with a sheepish look and turned the music down. “Nana is bringing over her b-boyfriend. You guys cool if Krel comes too?” Toby had to stop himself from gagging over the words but perked up at the thought of his friend.

Everyone took on a similar expression of barely hidden guilt except for Steve who was pounding on Nana’s piano, singing of the blue love of his life. Everyone liked Krel, it just hadn’t occured to them that something was missing, the he was missing. 

“Of course!” Claire interjected, hoping the enthusiasm would make up for the heavy silence that had only lasted a short few seconds but seemed to linger in the air. “I have to ask him if he can help tutor me for my next math test,” 

 --

The call came as Krel was drifting in and out of sleep, some laid back music pressed tight against his ears so that he could shut out the sound of Ricky vacuuming and Luug trying to eat the machine. Suddenly, his phone was vibrating in his pocket and he nearly dropped the portable tech once he saw his friend’s face on the screen. 

“I can’t help you hack into NASA Eli until you give me a good reason,” He immediately replied but his hello to the Pepperjack was drowned out by a chorus of ‘hellos’ and ‘did he pick up?’. 

“Krel! Come to Toby’s, we’re gonna watch the movie we made now that we’ve gotten all the footage back,” Eli croaked through the speaker and Krel grinned. Finally! He was invited to be somewhere! And better yet he could shine through the movie! Call him vain but Krel had lived too long in a shadow to not delight in the spotlight sometimes. 

“Be right over!” Krel beamed, shouting a goodbye to the Blanks before running to Toby’s. 

“What is plaguing you my dear?” They asked, walking towards you without a sound to be heard. If you closed your eyes you wondered if you could even hear them breathing. 

“Nothing,” You spoke honestly, holding out your hand and they took it with a chilled hand, skating their thumb across the tops of your knuckles. You beamed at Skrael and tugged them down to where you sat. “Just thinking of you,” 

“As usual,” Skrael poked fun, settling down on the floor and leaning back against you after you carefully removed the skull atop their head. 

“I can’t help myself,” You gushed, chin falling to rest against their shoulder and eyes falling shut in contentment. “How long have I been yours now?” 

“Since the day we met,” 

You couldn’t deny the words. You had been taken with the beauty and grace that Skrael exuded. You weren’t sure if it was the calming cool that they held in every word towards you or the piercing way their unique eyes had followed you as you’d practiced magic alone in a secluded part of Arcadia. There was a group of hedge witches within HexTech but you had never wished for a coven.

However, now as you traveled with Bellroc, Nari, and Skrael you felt as if you’d become a part of their order. Skrael had never spoken the words you felt in your heart but as they pressed a chilling kiss to your cheek that sent a shiver down your spine you couldn’t help but feel as if they loved you just as much as you loved them. 

Your giggle was a melody sweeter than honey to Skrael’s ears that they wished to hear until the end of time. Even now they knew they would not-could not- be without you for the rest of their long existence. You were there’s and they refused to let you go yet you seemed pleased to stay where you were. 

“How long have I been yours?” Skrael found themselves asking and you sat up a bit straighter, wrapping your arms around them, the yellow of your sweater contrasting startlingly against the black of Skrael’s cloak. 

“I-I mean,” You stammered wracking your brain and Skrael fell away from your grip so they could sit in front of you, hands intertwined with yours and knees bumping together. “Darling, I don’t think I know,” You finally spoke honestly, a slightly embarrassed flush on your cheeks. 

Skrael squeezed your hands and a pattern of frost wrapped around your wrist, resembling a bracelet. “My soul and heart is yours for as long as this bracelet stays steadfast around your wrist.” 

Your doe eyes were wide but adoring and you pulled Skrael into a long kiss. They weren’t often fond of the toe curling and breath taking kisses, thinking the grand show of affection cheapened the feelings somehow. They opted for light brushes of lips against cheeks, noses, eyelids. Their favorite thing to do after a long day was to hold you close in private as you drifted into a fitful sleep. 

“Hisirdoux?” Came your sleepy voice as you rose from the couch, rubbing the sleep from your eyes and smoothing out the front of your scrubs. Of course you had come to his place straight after work. “God, sorry for crashing, I didn’t meant to intrude-” 

“Y/N,” Douxie laughed softly, ruffling your hair as Archie walked in figure eights through your legs. “You can stay any time you want, okay?” 

You looked at him through half-lidded eyes, studying him for a second before eventually nodding. “Fine. But I promise I won’t make a habit of it. I was watching Arch and we curled up on the couch and before I knew it I was out,” 

“Then I blame him,” Douxie said, nodding his chin towards the lazy cat who was now on the back of the couch, eyes closed and soft snores drifting into the air. 

That got you to smile and you rolled your eyes and you wrapped your arms around Douxie’s waist for a second before pulling away with some embarrassment. There was no doubt the wizard was your friend but you weren’t close and hugging only happened once in a while. It was hard to call you two friends really, you were a glorified Catsitter. 

“You look exhausted you know,” You had to point out at Doux’s drooping eyelids and the bags underneath that made him look five years older than he was. 

“Why thank you Y/N, you look ravishing yourself,” His voice was more gritty the later it got and it nearly caused you to blush but you scoffed at his teasing. “It’s because you use my full name- I swear it’s going to give me grays,” 

“You were given that name for a reason so I’m going to use it, Hisirdoux.” You emphasized, a wicked glint in your eyes. “That being said, go to sleep. I’ll head out and lock the door behind me.” 

Doux nodded and in his half asleep stupor allowed himself to brush a kiss against your temple. He took a note of the scent of your shampoo. He supposed it was okay to admit he liked it so long as it stayed between him and his consciousness. 

“Goodnight, darling. Get home safe.” 

“Goodnight,” You smiled gently at the sentiment, squeezing his hand in reassurance before turning your back on him. 

True to your word, the lock clicked shut as you closed the door behind you. Douxie slumped onto the couch that was still warm from where you’d been sleeping. The pillow smelled like you.

“Going to admit you like her?” Archie purred, hopping onto his wizard’s stomach.