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Cyberangel from Cyberangel Hanser, Eyn, Applebeetle, Zoe, Gon, HOYO-MiX

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eyn & solus
Iâve theorised before that (Modern) Mandoâa is a creole language. One fun fact about creoles is that they often derive their indefinite article (if they have one) from the substrate languageâs word for âoneâ (as in the numeral 1).
So what if Mandoâa did that too? That would mean that eyn meant âoneâ in Classical Mandoâa (or Old/Archaic/whatever you want to call it). And that youâd expect there to be several compound words that use eyn instead of solus (words that were borrowed directly from Classical Mandoâa or perhaps formed during the pidginisation phase).
And I think we probably have at least a few:
anay âeveryâ < an-eyn âall-oneâ
mayen âanyâ < meg-eyn âwhich-oneâ or maj- (which used to be pronounced as may) + eyn
enaab âmetreâ could be from eyn-taab âone stepâ
Solus is I think most likely a loan from High Galactic (i.e. Latin); couple of the other numerals (tâad, cuir) seem Indo-European to me too. But if solus is a native word, itâs probably something like sol-us, âcount thing,â making the root *sol- mean âcountâ (and conversely the meaning âalone, vulnerableâ comes from being single and alone)âat least thatâs the meaning it has in most compound words. It could alternatively be that those compounds get the meaning of âcountâ from the word âoneâ and the original meaning is something like âlone thing.â
Answer these questions three to see what may become of thee (okay there's a lot more than three, there's fifteen) (number eleven is also timed so watch out for that)
I saw @sjofn-lofnsdottrâ repost @alixennialââ when she did this quiz so I decided to see how my character would answer it.Â
And...yeah, this sounds about right. Eynâs a big damn hero, she knows it, she knows you know it, and she *likes* the adulation that comes with it. Is that shallow of her? Maybe. But itâs who she is.Â
Tagging @sarahsynaâ on this because Iâm dying to see how Gabrielle (thatâs Eynâs wife and the lady clinging to her leg in the picture above) would come out.
Endless Kimi no Na wa (21/?)
(Iâd be) everything you need
hello beautiful people - here is a little fun story written for the @1dffchallengesâ quarantine challenge.
huge thank you to @booksncoffeeââ for another stunning banner and to @yourpolaroid07 (i have no idea why i canât tag you) for being the greatest gem and reading over it for me and correcting all my stupid mistakes.
so, here it is, hope it will make you smile because i sure did have a lot of fun writing this. if you like it, please come talk to me
(Iâd be) everything you need
(Niallâs texts are in bold, Katieâs are in italics)
 âMum, I swear Iâll be fine. Iâll place an order and just get some takeaway tonight.â Katie assured, having had this discussion pretty much every time they spoke over the last few days.
 âBug, you have no idea how long an order is processed right now. It can take up to a week, if not longer. You canât order all your meals,â her mum reasoned.
 âWell, what do you want me to do?â she huffed irritated. Sure, she knew her mum had the best intentions and was probably worried, but she had just gotten off the flight. It was an especially cold and windy night in England and all she wanted was to get into her bed. Even the perspective of having to spend the next two weeks locked up in her flat, didnât make her crave home any less.
 âJust call Niall. Iâm sure heâd be happy to help.â
Katie rolled her eyes, glad her mother couldnât see her. She mentioned asking Niall for help before Katie even left the country. But she did not want to contact Niall. Her and Niall werenât exactly friends. Sure, theyâve known each other for years, but Niall Horan was Joshâs friend, not hers. Did she have a crush on her older brotherâs best friend? Well, that was a whole other story and not the point at all.
 She hadnât even seen Niall in forever. The last time they were both back home was over a year ago. And now she was just supposed to call him up and ask for help? Katie did not like asking for help, having to rely on others, owe any favours. Especially from people who werenât her family. Or family-like.
 âOkay, mum, Iâm getting into the cab. Have a good night, yeah?â she said, partly because she did indeed hail a taxi, but mostly because she didnât want to go in circles in this conversation, theyâve been over it already. Sure, Katie didnât really have anyone close enough to rely on at times like these, she had a few colleagues, but those were mates to go to a pub with once a month or have a small chat in the break room, not burden them with groceries, because of the mandatory quarantine upon her return.
 Her mum sighed, knowing she couldnât make her daughter do anything. âYou too, sweetie. Keep in touch, please. Let me know if anything is wrong,â she said, the worry evident in her voice.
 âOf course, love you,â Katie replied, her irritation dissolving slightly. There wasnât a doubt in her head that her mumâs heart was in the right place, but she hated when people worried about her like that, some part of her always felt guilty for making them feel that way.
  1st day of quarantine
 âHello?â Katie answered her ringing phone, curious about who it might be. It was usual for her to get unknown calls on her work phone, but not her private one.
 âKitty Kat!â She didnât even have to ask to know who was on the other side of the line, not only the booming happy voice was familiar, but there was only one person who called her that. And even though she spent years telling him that the nickname was awful, after not hearing it for so long, it made her smile.
 âHello Niall,â she said, setting her laptop down on the coffee table and focusing on the call.
 âHeard you need some help. I did hesitate to accept though, because I was quite hurt it was Josh calling me and not you.â He sounded exactly how she remembered, his voice laced with a joking undertone, his usual easygoing attitude seeping through.
 âI⊠Iâm fine, really.â Katie was gonna kill her brother. Maybe he wanted to help, but he made her look incompetent to take care of herself, which she did not appreciate.
 âOh, so youâre not stuck at home for the next two weeks with an empty fridge?â She didnât even have to see Niall to know he just raised a brow in mock surprise. She could just tell from his tone. But she did wonder what he looked like now. Whether his hair was still natural brown instead of the blonde he used to dye it. Whether his shoulders were even wider than the last time she had seen him. Whether he still had a very small belly from all the beer he had been drinking or maybe he had abs now.
 âUmm.. No, I have some leftover takeaway from last night,â she assured, just slightly embarrassed.
 He sighed. âLook, itâs no problem, I promise. Just text me the list, I have a few hours before work anyway.â
 Katie hesitated for a moment, but no matter how much she hated admitting it, she really did need help. âOkay, thank you.â
 âOh and text me your address, too. How does your brother not know where you live?â He sounded surprised, which she understood, considering she had a pretty good relationship with Josh.
 She chuckled. âBecause heâs a little prick who hasnât visited me yet. And surprisingly enough, he never orders me any gifts.â
 Niall snickered. âHeâs twice your height, I think thatâs barely âlittleâ. And heâs older.â
 âHeeeey, heâs not that much taller than me!â She whined offended, even though he was.
 He let out a laugh, a true belly laugh, one she hadnât heard in years actually. But sheâd know that laugh anytime anywhere, he just had one of those special ones. âSure, sure. And heâs not even that tall either, youâre just tiny.â
 âNo, Iâm not!â She disagreed, although she definitely didnât count to the tall part of the population. But she was not that short.
 âThatâs okay, youâre cute.â His words made Katie blush. She was sure he thought nothing of them, the words slipping easily off his tongue, like he didnât even have to think about them. âOh and donât do that thing when youâll try and buy everything for the next two weeks, I really donât mind doing a few more grocery runs for you. Wouldnât want you to get sick from unfresh foods.â
 She licked her lips to keep from smiling, because of how thoughtful he was. âThank you.â
 âOkay, Iâm hanging up then, itâs good to talk to you again, Kitty Kat.â The whole conversation made her heart beat a teeny tiny bit faster, the warmth of hearing a familiar voice and Niall being so nice, flowing through her entire body.
 âYou too, Niall. And thank you, Iâll send the list in a minute.â
 So she did, trying to keep it as basic as possible, only the actual necessary products. Her intercom rang a mere hour later. She buzzed Niall in and waited behind closed doors, having to restrain herself from observing him through the peephole. He knocked on her door softly to let her know he was leaving the bags. She waited a few seconds, giving him time to leave safely, after all the whole point of this was avoiding interactions with other people. She brought the bags inside and pretty much sprinted to the window, hoping he hadnât left yet. She was lucky enough to have a window going out onto the entrance of the building.
 It was a few seconds before Niall appeared outside. Katie didnât have a clear view of him, especially not his face, but she noticed his hair was darker, long gone was the blonde he used to dye it into. He seemed taller, though that was pretty unlikely. More muscular. He looked grown up. Seeing him like this, after quite some time, she felt a slight flutter in her stomach. It made her excited. And Katie wondered whether he thought about her like that, imagining what she looked like now, whether she changed, what hairstyle was she wearing, whether she gained weight or slimmed down, what kind of makeup did she like now. Was he excited to find out?
 She didnât like admitting it, but truth be told, she always had a little crush on Niall Horan. And Katie hated it, because it was such a cliche, liking your older brotherâs best friend. But she did. Niall was funny and kind. He loved bickering with her, but it wasnât like her brotherâs teasing, it made her feel special. He had a nickname just for her. Kitty Kat came to be because Josh liked calling her Kate, knowing she hated it, it not being her actual name. But Niallâs nickname didnât make her irritated, no matter how much she pretended it did. It made her warm inside, like she was important enough to be referred to in an individual way.
 But she had to stop thinking those thoughts Niall was helping her because he had a good heart. And because he was a family friend. That was it. He did not have a special place in his heart for her, no matter how much she imagined he maybe did in the past.
 She moved from the window a few minutes after he disappeared and went to unpack the groceries. She was irritated there was no receipt, Niall was supposed to let her know how much she owed him, having refused when she offered to transfer some money beforehand. But there was another piece of paper. A post-it note stuck to the carton of eggs.
 please let me know as soon as you need anything else. iâll be doing some shopping for myself later in the week, so itâs no problem. happy to help, N xx
 She refused to dwell on the xs. But the note as a whole was very sweet. In fact, Katie may or may not have put it on her fridge.
  5th day of quarantine
 Katie was trying to work through the splitting headache, but it was not going well. The last three days, she felt like the headache and burning eyes were her only constant companions. Other than that, she was feeling okay. No cough, no temperature, nothing. It was just because she was staring at the screen all day (and some nights), working and working, crunching numbers, filling and checking spreadsheets. Her eye actually started twitching yesterday, which wasnât a good sign. Unfortunately, she ran out of ibuprofen. And magnesium. She was quite desperate, the pain making it near impossible to focus on anything.
 So eventually, she gave in, sending a text to Niall.
 very sorry to be a bother, but could you maybe possibly go to the pharmacy for me?
 She did not expect her phone to start ringing just a second after. Since that first day, Niall hadnât called her. He checked in on her a few times (almost every day, sometimes just sending her memes or funny things that happened to him, instead of starting the conversation with âare you alright?â), but it was always through texts. But now he was calling her and she was so shocked, it must have been at least a fourth ring when she answered.
 âHiya, sorry, itâs okay if -â she started.
 He didnât let her finish though, rushing out his questions, sounding a little bit worried. âWhatâs wrong? Are you feeling alright?â
 âYeah, Iâm okay, just ran out of ibuprofen,â she explained.
 âDo you have any symptoms?â he asked, not entirely convinced.
 âNo, no, itâs not that,â she assured. âJust a splitting headache from too much work and computer time. And also a magnesium deficiency, probably.â
 âAre you sure?â he asked again, but this time his voice was much calmer, almost back to normal.
 âYes, Iâve been drinking a shit ton of coffee everyday to even attempt to keep up with my work and Iâm just a bit wiped out.â
 âOkay, I canât really go out right now, Iâm at work, but -â
 This time Katie was the one who cut him off. âOh, itâs fine, really.â
 âBUT,â he continued despite the interruption, his voice a bit more stern, âI just texted my roommate, so it shouldnât take too long.â
 If only he could see her now, he would notice a look of horror that crossed her face. âNo, Niall, I donât want to bother anyone.â
 âOh stop, heâs a nice guy and he can leave his work for half an hour. He owed me a favour anyway.â Niall made it seem like the most trivial thing and she really did need the medicine, so she gave up fighting.
 âWell, be sure to thank him for me,â she said instead. âBuy him a nice beer.â
 He chuckled. âOkay, I will. But youâre really okay? Youâd tell me if you were getting sick, right?â
 âWell, itâs not like you could come take care of me anyway.â She meant it as a joke, expecting Niall to let out another of his signature chuckles, but he did quite the opposite, sounding a bit exasperated.
 âWhy not?â
 âI canât exactly see people at the moment, remember?â She said gently, not really sure about his mood.
 Niall huffed. âDo you really think Iâd care about that? Just let you be alone if you were sick?â
 She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. All she wanted to ask was âwhy wouldnât youâ, but she bit her lip, too afraid, not wanting to make things weird just because she probably thought a bit too much about his words.
 Katie took a breath before speaking, trying to sound lighthearted. âWell, itâs good Iâm not sick, so you donât have to risk your own health.â
 âYouâd let me know though, right?â He persisted.
 âYeah, I would.â She wanted to add another joke saying sheâd need someone to get her medicine, but the mood was not light and funny, the atmosphere suddenly very thick.
 âAlright, good.â It seemed like he finally exhaled after getting his answer. âWell, I have to go back to work, Iâll text you when Pete brings the meds.â
 âOkay. Thank you,â was all Katie could muster out through her fighting thoughts.
 ~~
 howâs the headache?
 completely gone, thanks to your brilliant roommate
 heeeey iâm the one who sent him on that quest!
 hahahaha
 i know
 thank you, again
 damn, i never thought iâd be saying so many thank yous to niall horan
 canât say iâm complaining
 but on a more serious note, do you like pop quizzes?
 hmmm yeah? i think i only did pub quiz like once or twice, but it was fun
 why?
 me and a few mates are doing one tomorrow, you should join
 how bad is your memory? i canât go to the pub
 whoâs talking about a pub?
 weâre doing it on zoom
 oh
 itâs still staring at the screen, but itâs not work and it seems like you need some fun
 yeah, i guess i kinda do. thank you, but i donât want to impose
 you wonât, i just invited you
 stillâŠ
 itâs just a few mates, i promise itâs all good. i actually already told them youâre joining
and they hate being blown off
 oh yeah, no pressure
 haha no but seriously, if you donât want to thatâs fine, but i think youâll enjoy it
 okay. thank you. youâll send me the details?
 of course
 should i prepare anything?
 nope, just yourself. and your brilliant mind
 weâre switching, someone else preparing questions everytime, so you have to wait your turn
 The mention of her becoming a part of their regular quiz made her stomach flutter slightly. She dared having this little hope of actually becoming friends with Niall, or rather maintaining some form of contact, but this was still unexpected. But also very nice to know he kind of wanted that too.
  6th day of quarantine
 When Katieâs phone started ringing and she noticed her brotherâs face lighting up the screen, she smiled. The last time they had spoken was when she called to give him a piece of mind for calling Niall for her, but she actually loved and appreciated her brother very much. Maybe they werenât the absolute closest, but they had a good relationship. There was this knowledge deep down that theyâd jump through fire for the other, if need be.
 âHiya,â she answered, wrapping up the email she was writing (she might or might not be getting some work done on a Saturday).
 âWhy is Niall calling me asking about your favourite alcohol?â Josh asked right away, no hello needed. He sounded very curious, loving to pry into her life a bit.
 Katie laughed, having received a text from Niall informing her of a package waiting outside her door, which turned out to be three bottles of wine and a note saying quizzes are no fun without booze.
 âWhat can I say, he takes good care of my needs,â she replied, half-jokingly.
 âI told him itâs whiskey,â her brother informed, very much knowing she did not like whiskey. The only drink she was able to swallow was whiskey sour, but it was definitely not her favourite.
 âWow, thanks for that, Jojo,â she said, her words dripping with sarcasm.
 He whined at the nickname he hated, but had to endure since they were kids.
 âHe did call bullshit though and asked about wine. So I told him red, naturally.â Just by his tone, she could say he had a shit-eating grin on his face, very proud of himself.
 Katie furrowed her brows. All three bottles that were sitting in her fridge currently were white. Either Niall knew her brother well enough to catch the lies, which he probably did after years of friendship, or he somehow knew her.
 âYouâre a dick,â she laughed.
 âThatâs what older brothers are for, Kate. But in a serious matter, I hope youâre not getting too buddy-buddy, I couldnât stand you two ganging up on me.â
 She bit her lip, deciding it was probably best to not mention her plans for tonight. It wasnât a big deal anyway, Niall was just a nice guy, who was probably feeling sorry for her, because she had no friends here and was sitting alone for days, spending most of her time working.
 âOh weâre gonna be best friends in no time, you should be very scared.â
 ~~
 Katie was nervous. In fact, she was nervous about a number of things. First of all, the quiz with Niallâs friends. She didnât know any of those people and she was scared of making a fool of herself. Secondly, she was about to skype with Niall. He offered to have a little chat before the quiz, so he could introduce the group a little, explain whoâs who and all that. But it was going to be the first time sheâd truly see him and he, her. Well, through the screen of course, but still.
 And now she was worrying she might have gone a little overboard with her look. It was nice to have a reason to dress up in something fancier than leggings and an oversized sweater, to even put some makeup on. But, because it was the first time Niall will see her in quite a bit (especially up close), she made an actual effort. (But she didnât care about that, she was not wondering whether heâll even pay attention to her looks, not at all).
 When the music she was playing suddenly cut off, replaced with the ringtone of an incoming skype call, her throat instantly dried up. She took a sip of her wine before answering, her laptop screen taken over by Niallâs smiling face, literally brightening it up.
 He was wearing a button down, it wasnât necessarily an elegant one, but still a nice one, his hair looked styled, like he actually took the time to tame it. It seemed like he made sure to look good, like he cared. And it excited her because maybe, just maybe, he wanted to look good for her too. Or maybe he liked someone from his friend group and was dressing up for them.
 âI see youâre putting the wine to good use. Did I pick a good one?â he asked, taking a sip of his beer, a proud grin on his face.
 Katie smiled, her nerves slightly easing. No matter how much he might have changed and grown, he was still familiar.
 âYes, thank you. Although I am a bit worried what kind of idea you have of me based on the amount of bottles you got me,â she joked, taking another sip.
 He let out a booming laugh, one that made something in her flutter. âNah, thereâs just never enough wine,â he shrugged. âAlthough personally I'm more of a beer guy. But you have over a week more of quarantine, you may need it.â
 âI heard you sought some guidance from my brother,â she inquired with a raised brow, sly grin taking over her features.
 Niall grunted, covering his face in embarrassment. To her, it was incredibly cute that he went to so much trouble just to get her something she liked. âDid he really sell me out? What an asshole.â
 âYup,â she replied, actually proud of her brother for telling her. âBut, surprisingly enough, you didnât buy red wine. Nor whiskey, thankfully.â
 âYeah, I figured he was lying, I remember how much you both loved teasing each other,â he chuckled just at the memory of many fights and banters. âApparently, still canât let the opportunity pass.â
 âOh, never,â she laughed along with him. âOkay, talk to me about your friends. What should I expect?â
 âWait, before we get to that, why do you actually need to quarantine? Were you on some crazy vacations?â he asked the question thatâs been on his mind ever since his roommate asked him about it.
 âOh. Well, not really, I was visiting Frankie, thatâs my best friend from uni. She lives in Brussels now. I was thinking of cancelling, but we spent most of the time just staying in or being really careful, you know, not taking any unnecessary risks, so I guess the worst part was the flight.â She shrugged, constantly wishing her two best friends werenât scattered around the world.
 âI see,â he nodded in understanding. âHad a good time, then?â
 âOh yeah, very! Havenât seen her in forever. Really needed that as well. I, umâŠ,â she tucked her hair behind her ear timidly, looking down for a second. âI donât have many friends here, really. As you might have noticed,â she chuckled nervously.
 âFinding it hard to meet people?â he asked with furrowed brows, but didnât even wait for a response, another question coming to his mind. âActually, how long have you lived here? I think the last Iâd heard, you were in Chicago?â
 âSeattle,â she corrected. âYeah, I left like 7 months ago. I got offered a transfer here and a little promotion, I guess, a chance to prove myself, which was an amazing opportunity. I had to go to San Francisco for 4 weeks of training, before coming here though.â She explained, hoping he wouldnât dig deeper on the subject, because it was not a conversation she wanted to have with him right now.
 âThat sounds amazing, congrats,â he said simply and she exhaled in relief.
 âThanks,â she chuckled. âBut yeah, so Iâve been here a while, but havenât really made friends yet.â
 âI guess working from home is not really helpful, huh?â he observed.
 âNo, it definitely isnât.â
 âWell, Iâm always around if you want to hang out. Or go out once this whole pandemic calms down,â he proposed and she smiled appreciatively. âOkay, letâs give you some dirt on my mates, then.â
 ~~
 The quiz was actually very fun. Katie hadnât laughed that much in a bit, it would be a very long time if she hadnât counted her time in Belgium. She met six of Niallâs friends, two of them were friends from work, plus a girlfriend of one of them, one was a friend from his little soccer team and the last two were friends from uni, who were also a couple. Everyone was incredibly nice, making sure she felt welcomed and included, going as far as explaining most of their inside jokes.
 They had this tradition of one question dedicated to each person taking part, so they gave Katie a minute to come up with her own question about herself, since they didnât know her well enough. She panicked a bit, her mind going blank, so she went with what came to her mind first, which was who she went to prom with, the answers being her ex that she broke up with a week before, her best friend or alone. Surprisingly, no one got it right, not even Niall.
 âDid you really go to prom with your ex?â he asked, when they talked right after the quiz. It just so happened that they ended up being the only two left on the call, everyone else disconnecting as soon as they were finished.
 âYup,â she laughed, filling up her wine glass. They were both pretty tipsy already, on their path to drunk. âBut we were friendly! You know, we were just going to different unis and stuff, it just wasnât that serious. And everyone else was already taken!â
 âWell, you could have always asked me,â he said, shrugging nonchalantly.
 âAre you kidding? You used to tease me about it whenever I saw you my senior year!â
 He did, whenever he came home from uni (which was a lot during his first year) and saw her, always asking whether she had a hot date yet.
 âYeah, âcause I wanted to take you!â Niall exclaimed.
 âWhat? Now thatâs just lies,â she chuckled incredulously.
âAbsolutely not, I had a little crush on you.â Â Niallâs eyes were focused on his fingers picking at the beer bottle label.
 âNo, you didnât,â she shook her head, although her mind went straight back to the question about him in the quiz - who was his first crush. The answer choices were his teacher, his friendâs mum or his friendâs sister. As soon as it was asked, he whined, a blush flushing his cheeks. But when it was announced that the correct answer was his friendâs sister, she was pretty sure his eyes were trained on her, like he wanted to see her reaction. As much as a rational part of her brain didnât want to misinterpret the whole situation and get false hope, she did wonder if there was a possibility that it might have been her.
 âExcuse me, I think I know my feelings better, thank you very much,â he said, pretending to be offended. âI just hid it well. Maybe too well.â Niall added the last part as an afterthought, quietly, but not enough for her to miss it.
 Maybe it was the wine, or maybe just Niallâs (virtual) presence that had her feeling brave, like he made her giddily nervous, but also brought a sense of safety and calm. Whatever it was, she was feeling brave enough to say, âfunny, I had a crush on you, too. What a cliche, huh?â
 He scrunched his brows in confusion. âHow so?â
 She shrugged, little half-smile on her face. âLiking your brotherâs best friend.â
 âMore cliche than liking your best friendâs little sister?â He inquired, before taking a gulp of beer.
 She laughed, her mind a bit too fuzzy to comprehend that they just admitted to liking each other. Once upon a time, at least. âI guess weâre just a pair of walking cliches.â Katie quirked as she hid  her timid smile behind her wine glass.
  10th day of quarantine
 Katie was fucked, there was no other way to put it. She was usually so good with planning and thinking ahead, always trying to be prepared, but at the most unfortunate time, it slipped her mind. She forgot her period was coming, or rather she forgot she was running out of tampons. And now she was stuck in her apartment, pondering if the possible fee for violating the quarantine is worth saving her from the massive embarrassment. Even though she was actually too responsible to go out now.
 If Niall was a good friend, she wouldnât have that much of a problem asking him for it. She would have no problem asking him if he was a woman. And she would definitely have less of a problem, if she didnât like him.
 But, no matter what, she had a problem and he was pretty much the only person she could count on to help her right now. So she swallowed her pride, pulled all of her courage and rang Niall, because she felt like, no matter how embarrassing, the situation required a proper call, not a text.
 He answered on the second ring. âHey, everything good? Youâre not dying, are ya?â His words were joking, but his voice had a serious undertone, he even sounded a little worried.
 âA bit,â she chuckled nervously, âbut not because of the obvious. Youâre not going to the shop today by any chance?â
 âWhat do you need?â he asked, instead of answering her question.
 âWell, this will be awkward, butâŠâ Katie started, but hesitated for a second, biting her lip.
 âHit me,â he encouraged.
 âI got my period and I forgot I have like one tampon left.â Even though she obviously couldnât see him, she closed her eyes, like her shame burned them, spitting out the words as fast as possible.
 âOh,â he let out a little sound of surprise, clearing his throat right after to mask it. âAlright, just send me which ones you want and Iâll get them.â
 âI hate being a burden.â
 âStop it, youâre not a burden,â he reassured right away. âI was actually going to the shop anyway, need a few things. Just text me, so I donât forget and add whatever else you want, yeah?â
 Niallâs words made her smile, she wasnât sure if he really was going shopping, or just said it to make her feel better, but she just appreciated his reaction, not making a big deal out of it, just accepting her ask and thinking nothing more of it. She knew a lot of guys who would be so lost hearing that kind of request, but Niall was nothing if not alright. And that was just another great quality of his that she needed to add to the list in her mind that was growing scarily quick.
 âOkay, thank you. Youâre saving my life, kinda.â
 âMmm, Iâm sure weâll figure out a way for you to pay me back, no worries,â he laughed, before ending the call.
 An hour later, Katie got the text to pick up the bag from her door. There was no sign of Niall, as usual, but there was a bag with not only the tampons she asked for, but also with two different types of pads, a bag of chips, frozen pizza, some fresh fruits, four different chocolate bars and cookies n cream ice cream. There was also another note inside.
 thought some of those might help make you feel better, N xx
 And there he was with the xs again. It was probably just the way he signed everything. Either way, the care package was incredibly thoughtful, so Katie picked up her phone to text him.
 was not expecting a package like that. thatâs a lot of stuff. but thank you, thatâs very sweet
 just wasnât sure what you like. El always ate pretty much sweets only, while Lil loved stuffing herself with salty snacks and fast foods
 Elaine and Liliana were his older sisters, Lil was married and with a child on the way, five years older than Niall, while Elaine was just two years older than him. Maybe that was the reason why he had no problem helping her today, having grown up with sisters always made guys act a bit different, or at least thatâs what her mum always said.
 wasnât sure about the ice cream flavour though, so played it a bit safe
 cookies and creams is a good one
 whatâs your favourite?
 pistachio
 okay, noted
 Katie couldnât explain why, but even little comments like that made her heart beat just a tiny bit faster. It wasnât just because he was attentive to details, but it was like he wanted to know more about her, to soak every piece of information in. And then there were comments like that, the kind that made her think about the future, not just the immediate one right after her quarantine, but the actual future. Will they just stay friendly? Become best friends? Or will one of them be brave enough to make the first step into more? Katie didnât know if there was more in the cards. When it came to her, it wasnât just that stupid crush from her youth that came back. The feelings grew and were constantly growing, as she got to know more and more of Niall. But she didnât know how he was feeling. Maybe there were signs, but she was never that great at reading them. Time will tell if one of them will pluck the courage to take that leap of faith, or if she just misread the situations. A part of her was very anxious about it, but another part was excited. And all of her was hopeful.
  12th day of quarantine
 âCatch me up on your life. I feel like the last time I really knew what was happening with you was high school,â Niall inquired, folding his hands to rest his chin on top. He looked adorable like this.
 It was a Friday night and they were skyping. Just the two of them, having drinks over video call. As it turns out, they do their pop quiz every other week and so he asked her if she wanted to hang out with him to survive her last days of solitude.
 âOh, you think you knew what was going on in my life back then?â Katie chuckled, a sly grin on her face.
 âWell, I was in your house like every other day,â he reasoned.
 âPlease, even I didnât know what was happening in my life at that time.â She joked, because, if she was being honest, high school was a mess.
 He laughed. âYeah, okay, point taken. But still, how was uni for you? How did you end up at the company youâre working for now?â
 âUni was fun. Stressful, most of the time, but I have some good memories. And the company was just a fluke,â she shrugged, taking a sip of her wine, the last bottle of the three Niall bought her last week.
 âWas it hard leaving Seattle behind?â he asked.
 âUm..â she got embarrassed, nibbling on her bottom lip, clearly thinking over her answer. âYes and no, I guess. I mean⊠I had a boyfriend,â she admitted, going into the story she didnât like retelling, but actually didnât mind that much right now. Not only because she trusted Niall, but because she was over that whole situation, even if it still brought up some unpleasant memories. âWe had been together for about two years. And he didnât want to move here with me. Like, didnât even consider it. Just outright told me to reject the offer, basically. And most of our friends took his side. I guess they were mostly his friends to begin with, but it still stung. So yeah, it was hard, but there also really wasnât much left for me there.â When she finished, she shrugged again, hoping to look quite unbothered, as it really was just a thing of the past. Katie took another sip of wine, while Niall looked at her with a look that she couldnât decipher. But thankfully, it wasnât pitiful.
 âOkay, first, Iâm sorry,â he said after a second. âBut second, that was such a dick move. I mean, it was a huge opportunity for you and he expected you to just give it up? Like an ultimatum? Not even âwe can work it outâ or something?â He sounded genuinely surprised, even a little disgusted, which made Katie smile slightly, his reaction making her feel better.
 âIt was more like âif youâre even considering taking it, then fuck youâ, so yeah, pretty much,â she said, her words feeling much lighter than before.
 âWow,â Niall chuckled humorlessly. âHe really did not know how lucky he was to have you.â
 âStoooop,â she said, her face growing hot.
 âNo, Iâm serious. Iâd say good riddance to him.â
 âI kinda see it now too, to be honest,â she admitted, a faint smile on her lips. âIt did make me realise how he didnât really love me. Noticed a bunch of not great behaviours, actually. So hey, itâs all for the better.â
 âOh for sure.â
 âWhat about you? Any tragic love story?â Katie asked, reaching for her glass.
 âUmmâŠâ he took a big gulp of his beer, while she raised her brow, indicating it was her time to grill him. âKinda the opposite of your story, actually,â Niall admitted.
 âYouâre joking,â she gasped, her eyes growing wider.
 âNope,â he shook his head, a half-smile on his lips. âI followed my girlfriend here. She got a great job, so I came with. It wasnât far anyway, but yeah, she was the reason. I did say no to a proper job opportunity myself for that, actually. And then she dumped me four months later. Taking most of our mutual friends with her as well.â
 Katie was pretty much speechless. She did hear he had a girlfriend, they moved in together here, but she hadnât heard when it ended and definitely not how. âWow,â a shaky laugh escaped her lips. âBad breakup?â she asked after a second.
 Niall licked his lips. âNot the worst, I mean, there wasnât any cheating or anything, although she did get another boyfriend like two weeks later. But it did suck. We got a flat together and everything. I get that you can fall out of love with someone or whatever, but I did rearrange my life for her, so you know, if she was having doubts back thenâŠâ He let his voice linger. Itâs been a while since he thought about her, even the last time they accidentally crossed paths a few months ago, he hadnât really felt anything anymore.
 âShe should have said it,â Katie finished his thought and he nodded.
 âYeah. It felt a little out of the blue. But itâs been over a year now, so Iâve dealt with that. It was the most exciting story about my life, though. Other than that itâs just work, footie, pub quizzes and booze,â he chuckled, taking another gulp of his beer, as to prove his point.
 âA boring life is the best kind, though,â she noticed. âI think itâs so underrated. Iâd take stability over drama anyday.â
 âYes! Thank you!â Niall got excited, scooting a little closer and even pointing a finger at her through the screen. âThatâs what I think too.â
 âGreat minds think alike,â she laughed, moving her finger between them two.
 It was probably the most personal conversation she had ever had with Niall. And it felt good. Maybe not exactly because their stories were good, but because she felt like there was a certain level of understanding. He was such an easy person to talk to, no matter the subject. And this conversation, hearing his story, made her appreciate him even more, especially his character. Being willing to sacrifice himself for love was a big thing. She just hoped that he still had it in him, that the past didnât make him close his heart off, but by his honesty and vulnerability, she didnât think that was the case. And that really did make her happy.
 They were quiet for a moment, at first just kind of looking at each other with soft eyes, feeling somehow connected, even through a computer screen. But then Katie furrowed her brows before crossing her eyes, which made Niall also pull a face, before they both burst out laughing.
 âWell, I didnât know the friends who took her side, but the ones you have now are pretty great,â she said, closing the subject. âThanks for inviting me to the quiz last week, it was a lot of fun.â
 âThank you for joining us. And you know youâre already invited to the next one.â
 Katie smiled, looking down for a second. When she raised her eyes again, Niall was giving her a weird look, like he couldnât figure her out.
 âWhat?â she asked.
 He shrugged. âYou say thank you too much.â
 She chuckled, âwell, I was raised right.â
 âYeah, but you donât have to say it for everything. Weâre actually just hoping you wonât blow us off when your quarantine is over,â he said.
 âYou? Never,â she said, her words making matching grins appear on both their faces.
  1 day after quarantine
 To be honest, Katie didnât know what she was doing. It was the first day of her freedom and she invited Niall for dinner. She was making a dish that was his favourite when they were younger, her mum used to always tell Josh to invite Niall around, when she was cooking it. She wanted to do something nice for him, to repay him for all the help. Another reason might have been the fact that she really wanted to see him. As nice as texting and skype was, she wanted to be face to face with him, hear his voice clearly, not slightly distorted by her laptop speakers. Maybe even touch him.
 To say she was nervous would be an understatement. She went crazy yesterday, cleaning the entire flat, then ironing half of her clothes, because she couldnât decide on one outfit she might want to wear. She eventually settled on a casual black skirt, with a slightly sheer, emerald blouse. Her hair was pinned up a bit messily, while she still hadnât decided if sheâs gonna keep it that way or let it loose, or maybe tie it up⊠She put some makeup on, but didnât want to overdo it. It was just a casual dinner with a childhood friend, after all.
 Just seconds after she turned off the stove, her doorbell rang. It was like the sound went to her heart instead of her ears, making it beat just a little bit faster, excited about the person waiting outside.
 Katie pulled off her apron quickly and went to welcome her guest, finally.
 âHiya,â Niall said as soon as she pulled the door open. He squeezed in next to her, handing her a bottle of wine and taking off his jacket. âOh my god, do I smell chilli?â he asked, turning to face her as soon as he hung it up.
 Katie smiled, just seeing him made her happy, but his words and the excited glint in his eyes made her even happier. âYeah. I got my mumâs recipe, so hopefully itâll be at least half as good as hers,â she shrugged innocently, trying to check him out as discreetly as possible.
 He looked good, the screen did him no justice and he looked good even then. In the flesh he looked more buff, definitely spent his lockdown working out. His hair looked softer and more fluffy and there was a slight stubble on his face. The simple t-shirt he was wearing clung beautifully to his bicep.
 âThat recipe is like your familyâs best kept secret,â he said, eyes wide.
 She laughed. âItâs really not, my mum just didnât want yours to have it, because she loved you coming over and praising her.â
 âOh and youâre hoping for that same praise, arenât you?â Niall asked, with a raised brow.
 She chuckled again, shrugging her shoulder like she didnât even know what he was talking about. And then he took a step closer and wrapped her in a hug.
 âItâs good to finally see you properly. You look beautiful,â he said so close to her ear, she could feel his breath on her neck, raising goosebumps on its way.
 It only took her a second to settle into the hug, her arms around his waist, her face nuzzled into his neck, breathing in the mixture of freshly washed clothes and his cologne. The thing was, Niall was an amazing hugger. She knew it before, but now that he was slightly bigger, he was even better. And he smelt amazing. Katie had to force herself to pull away before it became an awkwardly long embrace.
 âYou look good as well, itâs nice to actually hang out.â
 âThanks for inviting me.â
 âThanks for all the help. Come on, I just turned the stove off, so we should eat while itâs hot.â
 She gestured for him to go first into the kitchen, creating herself an opportunity to unashamedly look at his ass, which looked pretty good in his dark grey trousers.
 Katie had been stressing all day if theyâd have something to talk about. They had skyped twice and texted throughout most days, they were about to run out of topics to discuss at some point, right?
 Well, apparently not anytime soon. They spent the whole meal talking between bites, Niall pretty much moaning at the first taste of chilli, which made Katie laugh unattractively, covering her mouth in an attempt to keep the food from spilling out. But the conversation just flowed so naturally between them. They actually sat at the table, in front of empty plates for almost an hour, just chatting, before they ran out of wine which eventually prompted them to move. They cleared the plates, opened another bottle of wine, this time the white one Niall had brought, and moved to the sofa.
 âCan I ask you something?â Niall asked, waiting a second after they settled, while she was quickly responding to a text from her mum.
 âSure,â she said, putting her phone down and twisting her body towards him, one leg bent on the couch.
 He looked down for a second, then licked his lips, before meeting her eyes again carefully. âIs this a date?â
 âWellâŠâ She bit her lip. âIt was meant as a thank you, but I guessâŠâ She hesitated for a second, but then saw a small flash of light in his eyes, which gave her that little bit of courage she needed. âIt could be. If you want it to be.â
 âSee, thatâs a tricky question,â he said with a grin, which made Katie raise her brows in question. âBecause yes, I would very much like to be dating you, but itâs also weird not being the one organising the date, especially the first one. I just showed up, while you planned the whole thing.â
 She laughed, her heart feeling instantly lighter, looking at him with admiration. âYou can always take a lead with the second one.â
 âDeal.â
 He brushed the hair that escaped her updo out of her face, putting it behind her ear. Katie was pretty sure he was about to kiss her, but she didnât want to wait a second longer, his earlier words giving her enough courage to lean in and be the one to initiate the kiss.
 He tasted like wine and chilli, probably exactly the same way she did, but somehow the kiss was sweet, their mouths finding their rhythm easily, almost like they were meant to work together.
 When they parted, she let out a soft laugh. One of disbelief. And happiness. She just kissed Niall. And now she had a bunch of butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
 âWhat are you laughing about? Was it that terrible?â he asked, his voice a little bit panicked.
 âNo, god no, it was great,â Katie rushed to assure him, in case he couldnât tell her emotions by the huge grin on her face. âItâs just⊠Unexpected. I really did not think we would end up like this.â
 âHow so?â His arm was holding her hip, as if he was making sure she didnât pull away.
 âI mean⊠Well, did you ever think weâd be here?â she asked him, not really sure how to explain her thoughts.
 âUm⊠Not really, no. I used to think weâd date at some point, but when we had both gone to uni that hope kinda died,â he admitted.
 âReally?â
 âYeah. Why are ya so surprised?â He chuckled at her reaction.
 âI meanâŠâ Katie hesitated for a moment, reaching for his hand to play with the ring on his finger. âYeah, we apparently had a crush on each other back in the day. And weâve known each other forever, but we also didnât know each other that well, not really.â
 âYeah,â Niall sighed in understanding, âitâs this weird feeling of knowing someone for years while also just truly learning about them now. But itâs not necessarily bad though, is it?â
 âNot at all, I like learning more about you. Getting closer to you.â She gave him a gentle smile, which he returned right away,
 âThat feeling is very mutual.â
 âLife just works in a weird way, doesnât it? Weâve been living pretty close to each other for months without even realising. And we havenât spoken for over a year, but now it justâŠâ
 âSomething clicked,â he shrugged, flicking her palm to trace mindless patterns on the back of it.
 âYeah, it did.â
 âMaybe it was meant to be.â His words were so light, but at the same time, they held so much conviction, they made Katieâs heart soar.
 âI guess weâll have to wait and see, huh?â she asked cheekily. âI think it all depends on what youâll prepare for that second date.â
 He chuckled. âOh wow, well, that chilli is gonna be hard to beat. But I feel like all the shopping Iâve done for you should count for something, you know, like a little advance.â
 âOh great, we havenât even started dating properly and youâre already slacking. Nice one, Horan.â
 Her words made him let out a booming laugh, his head thrown back. And all she could do was look at him and admire the beautiful man beside her, thanking the universe for giving them a chance to find each other.
 ~~
 âDo you have a morning shift tomorrow?â Katie asked, when another episode had ended. They talked some more, then kissed some more, before eventually settling down to watch some tv, enjoying the quiet moments of just holding each other, having more than enough words between them that night.
 Even the small fact of him choosing a tv show to start watching together instead of a movie made her do a little mental note in her head. Because it was one more thing indicating that he wanted to do this again. If she even had any doubts still.
 âMmmm, no,â he says, rubbing at his eye sleepily. âIâm starting at two in the afternoon.â
 Katie learned he had 3 possible work shifts when he texted her at midnight that heâs at the shop and theyâve run out of the cereal she wanted. He was an IT support specialist, which she found very interesting, although she didnât understand a lot of his explanation when she asked him about his job.
 âDo you wanna stay the night?â she asked. When he looked at her surprised, a flush appeared on her cheeks. âJust to watch another episode and go to sleep, I didnât mean⊠like..â
 âNo, yeah, of course, I wouldnât want toâŠâ he rushed to say.
 âOh, you wouldnât?â She looked at him with an arched brow, playful smile on her face. âSo youâre not into me?â
 âWhat? Shit, no, of course I am, come on, you should know that.â He raised his brows and both their minds went back to a moment when they were kissing earlier (well, some people would probably call it making out) and she felt his hardening dick on her tight.
 She bit her lip to sustain a smile, because it was nice to feel that way, to feel wanted, but also for the other person to be open about it, not afraid to admit his feelings towards her. Itâs been a while since she felt like that. Sexy, free, confident. A bit vulnerable, but safe.
 âYeah, I guess I do,â she said with a wicked smile, planting a kiss on his lips.
 It was crazy how comfortable she felt with him. She didnât hesitate to cuddle up to his body, didnât think about going in for a kiss, even despite it being just hours since their first one. With Niall, there were just no doubts, not anymore.
 âSo sleep or one more episode?â he asked, his arm tucking her closer to him.
 âAre you gonna fall asleep halfway through?â
 âNope, Iâm pretty awake now, your proposal made me come alive again,â he chuckled, tickling her side, which made her yelp in surprise.
 So they watched two more episodes before eventually getting ready to sleep. Katie took pride in being a good host, providing Niall with fresh towels and a toothbrush, before he even got the chance to ask. She also made him take the bathroom first, so she could put the blanket covering her bed and all the extra pillows away. She did a quick scroll through her socials, deliberately avoiding a text from Frankie, asking how the night had gone. She could wait until tomorrow, when Katie would call her for a proper gossip.
 âDo you mind if I sleep in just my boxers?â Niall asked, walking out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped securely around his waist, his glistening chest on full display. He had definitely been working out. âI can wear a shirt too, if you want me to.â
 Katie shook her head. âWhatever youâre comfortable with, Iâm good with whatever,â she said, passing him with a smile to take her turn getting ready to sleep.
 She tried to be as quick as possible, removing her makeup and brushing teeth. When she emerged, Niall was tucked in bed, on the left side, which was exactly the one that had always been empty, since she slept on the right.
 Her pajamas were simple, consisting of cotton shorts and a simple t-shirt. After all, they still had time for something sexier, you shouldnât play all your cards right away.
 âFirst date and you already got me into bed,â he said watching her climb under the sheets. âDamn, woman, youâre good.â
 There was a huge grin on his face, which made it impossible for her not to mirror his expression.
 âYou took my side,â she said, fluffing her pillow before lying down. The bedside lamp was the only source of light in the room, which bathed them both in the golden glow. Niall couldnât tear his eyes away from her, she looked stunning.
 âOh shit, sorry, it actually looked less slept on,â he started explaining, making a move to get up. âWe can switch.â
 Katie laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder to stop him. âIâm just messing with you, you got it right.â
 âUhhh I hate you,â he whined, burrowing his head in the pillow. For a second he wished he really was on the wrong side, because then the pillow would smell of Katie and not fabric softener.
 âOh but you donât. Iâm pretty sure you said you liked me, actually,â she chuckled, loving the joking atmosphere that felt so natural between them.
 âYouâre lucky I have a soft spot for you,â he turned his head to look at her again. She moved closer, resting her head on the edge of his pillow, before moving after a second to plant a kiss on his lips.
 It was impossible to not feel how his lips stretched into a smile during the kiss. It seemed like they spent the whole night just smiling and kissing. But neither of them were complaining.
 With Niall it was all so easy. Sure, at times she might be a bit nervous, especially right before seeing him or talking to him, but once she felt his presence, most of it went away. She felt free. He had seen her do so much stupid shit over the years, she just knew he wouldnât judge or be put off. It was just that level of comfort and familiarity, that was what he brought her. And she didnât understand how, but at the same time he made her feel giddy and excited. It was like he calmed her and made her heart beat faster at the same time. It was against her logic, but she decided not to question it. Because there was no question to her that it was a good thing. She liked that feeling. She craved that feeling.
 It was crazy how unexpectedly things could happen. Two weeks ago she didnât even want to call him, not wanting to bother him, any relationship between them vanished over more than a year ago. And now she wanted to keep in contact with him as much as possible. She wanted to talk to him everyday. Somehow, over such a short time, he became a constant part of her day, whether it was sharing memes, random thoughts or having actual deep conversations. She never even thought sheâd be here, falling for someone so fast. Least of all, falling for Joshâs best friend. But that was a funny thing about life and love, it crept up on you when you least expected it. And sometimes, it did so in simply the best way.
 The pandemic was a horrific thing that affected countless peopleâs lives, but in a surprising twist of events, it gave Katie a light in such a dark time. And that light went by the name of none other than Niall Horan.

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Love afternoon like these
oh its time for more drunk drawings of another wyn/avery au. this time: tma au, including 'wyns dad was the previous archivist' and 'avery has to save wyn from the buried, which he already knows shes terrified of' , and also elias is Still Here and Still Bastard






