Derek drifted toward the alley involuntarily, a fish on a line. His heart fell. A witch, pale as the dead, stood at the end of the alley cornered by palace officers. They were all human, but they had weapons, and the witch looked like he was about to keel over. A thin silver chain dangled between the fingers of his left hand. His eyes were wide but glazed. Derek should run. He couldn’t risk being spotted by the officers who—despite their allegiance to the king—would no doubt report to the High Priestess. He clenched his free hand, digging his claws into palm. The witch swayed and tipped against the wall. The chain slipped down, but he managed to hold onto it. The officers advanced on him. Derek’s jaw clenched. So many witches were dead or imprisoned. Could he walk away from this one? He threw the last of his krill bowl at the back of the nearest officer’s head. The fried fish exploded against his hair, spattering sauce and meat all down his back. He shouted and whipped around. Derek charged with his head lowered, shoulder-checking them both into one of the garbage bins lining the alley. He threw the witch’s left arm over his shoulders and pulled him close. He wasn’t quite unconscious, so he managed to stay upright with Derek taking most of his weight while they ran. He was burning with fever even though both of their coats. “Keep to the sliver,” he slurred. “Shh,” Derek snapped. He could hear the officers swearing and clambering up to chase them. They had to get off the street. He swiveled his head until he saw an opening between a tailor and hat shop. He maneuvered the witch over the uneven rocks and into the scraggly, dry grass.

• thank hell for all the authors who write angst, whump, and hurt no comfort, for us to luxuriate in blorbo's hurt and pain and cry or cackle.
• thank hell for all the authors who write cheating, love triangles and affairs for us to consume large quantities of popcorn to and yell 'oh no, they didn't'.
• thank hell for all the authors who write case fic, mission fic, and intricate, plot-driven stories to replicate the feel of canon, when canon has stopped or gone wrong.
• thank hell for all the authors who write 'fix it' fics when canon has betrayed us with bad vibes, plot holes and deaths.
• thank hell for all the authors who write poly ships when what we need is just for everyone to get along and screw instead of screw up.
• thank hell for all the authors who write gen fic when we're not interested in romance.
• thank hell for all the authors in fandom, and all the wonderful, different kinds of fanfiction they write for us.

• Thank hell for the authors who write crack fic and fluff fic and stuff so tooth-rottingly sweet that we can practically all agree it’s ooc and we don’t even care, for when we just need to laugh or smile