#(<- most predictable mf in the planet)

[kuragesoda]

eh, close enough . welcome back sans undertale

[game-boy-pocket]

Seems like people are insulting Mario and Donkey Kong fans for caring about lore in a series that "has no lore" a lot lately.

I think these people need to sit down and shut up and maybe actually play some Mario games with their brains turned on, because you don't even need to turn to the RPGs to find the lore.

The series might not have the most air tight, rock solid in your face continuity in video game history. But to suggest there's absolutely NO lore is a brain dead take, especially if you're one of those "oh you have to look between the lines and infer the implications" mfs who says Zelda is some deep shit.

Mario was a blue collar worker in his early adult life, and while it was originally suggested this took place in Brooklyn New York, we now know it was New Donk City where this took place, and the festival you attend in Odyssey is a tribute to the history of the city, complete with the original Donkey Kong encounter, which, as we know now, was actually Cranky Kong ( weather I want to admit this at all ), and Cranky Kong went on to have quite a complex family tree.

We know where the planets and the stars come from in Mario's world. They start as little baby stars that are watched over and cared for by Rosalina, who herself was just a lost child who lost her own family. Her observatory passes by the Mushroom Kingdom once every 100 years. She likely made friends with Mario, her first non-Luma friend, and has vowed to watch over his world, which explains why she is returning more often.

Wart, the villain of Super Mario Bros 2 may even have implications about the realm of dreams. While the ending of Mario 2 is implied to be a dream, the prologue suggests it is, at the same time, very real. With the only other game Wart appears in being the Legend of Zelda, Links Awakening, a game in which Link is trapped on an island that is materialized by the dreams of an ancient slumbering whale called the Wind Fish. Many Mario enemies appear in this game as well. Not only does this imply the realm of dreams is more than just sleeping thoughts, but it suggests a connection to the Legend of Zelda, which isn't entirely unsurprising given the amount of references each series has of the other.

We know that storks deliver children in Mario canon. Mario was fated to be a hero, as predicted by Kamek, and so an attempt to kidnap him as a baby failed, and a tribe of Yoshi's ensured his survival multiple times. Not only that, but Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Donkey Kong, Wario, and Bowser are all the seven star children who are fated to be linked by destiny.

We know that Professor E. Gadd, the scientist who helps Luigi out in the Luigi's Mansion games, not only invents the water pack on Mario's back, but Bowser Junior's magic paint brush, and the magic brush makes a return in Bowser's Fury, where Junior's magic paint has very averse effects on Bowser.

The setting of Mario Sunshine, Isle Delfino, appears on the globe in Super Mario Sunshine, it's also the home of the Shine Sprites, and the Piantas that have continued to attend Mario Kart and other sporting events ever since they were introduced.

In 3D Land, we learn where the magic Tanooky leaves come from, and that they may even have been the explanation for the "False Bowsers" in the original Super Mario Bros, this isn't even a one off thing, as that same tree is not far from Peach's Castle in Super Mario Odyssey.

Again, I haven't even dug into RPGs here. The Mario series absolutely has lore. It's not my fault some people just choose not to care about it, but let those of us who do care have a little fun, huh?

[electricalhuzzah]

Hi, it's me again :D

I was just thinking of an idea for another fanart for Heinz Dilemma based on Bill's comment on one of the pages of The Book of Bill where he gives advice to the reader that if Ford happens to start talking about his moth collection, they should just jump off a cliff.

Besides this very helpful advice, we get to know that Bill probably had to listen to so. many. facts. about moths. as Ford could never shut up about them and Bill just had to endure to keep his "good muse" fasade.

So I imagined a cute little idea that, while past Bill might have hated being dragged through the process of endless lectures on lepidopterology, current, human Bill would actually enjoy that (even though he would probably not be able to retain any information given whatsoever). I can imagine him just leaning in as he sits with Ford as the scientist infodumps about his favorite moths from his collection. Maybe he would even ask Ford to talk about them before sleep as his nerd talk works better than a sleeping pill lol.

And that brings me to the question that got me to immediately open Tumblr to ask:

Is BOB even canon in the Heinz Dilemma universe? Because I'm not sure if I've ever seen a mention of it and I just gotta know

As always- hope you're having a good day/night ^^

And thank you again for the nice reblogs on my art, appreciate that a lot <33

hi!!! :D fords moth obsession is truly so very special to meeee. i dont talk bout portal era nearly enough but i feel very similarly as u said abt bill maintaining the muse image. i think he fell down the pipeline of like “ok just listen to him say this boring shit about moths even though it’s literally the most uninteresting thing on this goddamn planet” -> “omg wait im literally the only one whos listened to him talk about moths this long ISOLATION TACTIC TIME BABEY” -> “holy actual fuck how is he STILL yapping abt these goddamn creatures i literally just isolation tactic’d him— wait no fuck wait now this means im ACTUALLY THE ONLY MF whos listening to his ass talk about moths. this is torture who could’ve predicted this would backfire” -> “at least his voice has that medium sexy coffee-corroded rumble when he yaps for fucking ever” -> “i’m NOT soft i am NOT sentimental everyone who says otherwise can EAT BLISTER JUICES” -> “one sixer please.” does that make sense does anyone else see that or am i just having visions and saying nonsense mcgucket style

ANYWAYS that was a tangent. you are CORRECT heinz bill DOES get ford to yap them both to sleep!!! im so horribly soft about them sometimes,,, i think bill likes to put hsi head right by fords chest/neck before asking him moth questions so that he can be surrounded by that voice rumble as he falls asleep,,, and also reciting moth facts is kinda like counting sheep for ford so they both fall asleep to it and audghehrbdbrbb ……. when they sleep together but they both have The Demons™️ about sleep………….

i think i said this in an ask WAY WAY back when i first got the tumblr app but! as i wrote heinz dilemma i kinda had it in the back of my mind that the theraprism intercepted the book of bill before it ever left the facility (didnt end up getting a chance to mention it in the fic itself… big whoops on clairty gang thats my bad ;-; ). with the exception of the pines finding tbob/tbob ever making it past the prism in the first place, p much all the events transpired are considered canon to heinz (i think? with the caveat of My Dumbass Mightve Fucked Something Up and You Could Probably Catch Me Cherry-Picking More if You Really Wanted To).

bill hearing screams when he returns to the triangle form, bill’s patient number, the one-line mention of smiledip dog being in the theraprism, the idea of ax speaking in rhymes when keeping records/relaying events, the olms being a malleable interpretation of the orbs of light that work at the theraprism, the blink-and-youll-miss-it mention of ciphertology’s existence kinda, the implied traumatic tijuana nose flour stan lore that got brought up, and dipper’s protective/vengeful mentality towards bill are some of the things i remember drawing specifically from tbob/the website!

holy long walk for a short drink of water i say so many words ANYways hope youre having a good one too my homie :DD and ofc anytime on the reblogs ur art literally makes my day!!! <33

[sarcastic-sketches]

EDA's Part 2

Books #11 - 20

[Master Post]

-chugs more tea- We're getting there fellas and my comments about each book have now gotten longer and more... spoilery.

As per usual with these sort of things, these are just my opinions and I don't expect everyone to come away from these books feeling the same way I have. That said, I would love to talk to people about these books as they have utterly consumed me.

#11 Dreamstone

26th January 2025

This was a fun one, mostly for all the different characters and how interesting they all were. I kind of predicted where they were going with the crystals and thought they could have done more with them but, ultimately, this was a story about human nature not the stones really.

Sam really developed a lot in this story realising that making decisions isn't easy but making them for herself all the same. The Doctor is just good at making it look easy so people go with it. If you look confident about a decision people argue less and waste less time

#12 Seeing I

26th January 2025

Seeing I is here!! I'd heard good things about this one. I felt Sam was really trying to bite off more than she could chew but thats 17yr old pride for you. Only to fucking smash right out of the park and break through that barrier she'd been struggling with to become her own person. The Doctor once again weaponising his ability to be the most annoying mf on any given planet to get his way. At least, until his meddling came and bit him in the ass and bit him hard. The fact that he was still suffering from those consequences even after the event had passed was very good. Japser and Stewart mention <3

#13 Placebo Effect

Skipped.

#14 Vanderdekens Children

28th January 2025

I actually really liked this one. It turned into another sci-fi tropes I love to see but mostly the Messing With Gravity thing. It did remind me a little of Event Horizon, looking for faster than light travel by simply going from Point A to Point B without actually travelling anywhere only to not realise where the Point B might end up. Ships haunted as a result naturally. Then you find out why.

I do like The Doctor very obviously using hypnotism in this book to calm someone down and being utterly guileless about it too.

You can tell Sam's time away has done her the world of good, she's looking to The Doctor for direction less and less and trusting herself more.

Glad to see some things never change though

Ah yes, a scene familiar to anyone who has ever played or seen Alien: Isolation.

#15 Scarlette Empress

1st February 2025

Scarlette Empress is so far one of my favourites simply for the insights it gives us into each of the characters from their own mouths, right next to how they are perceived by the characters they are sharing space with. Actually, this whole book is kind of about challenging your perceptions of others and yourself. Huh.

These two sections were fascinating to me on how The Doctor perceives himself through the interactions of others. He's about 7 years into his current Eighth self and still working out who he is and I don't think that ever stops.

Old Empress who lived in a jar for thousands of years like a genie gets freed and, as my friend described it, 'Comes straight out of the jar hornier than god'

This guy has The Traumatic Experience With Spiders in one of his earlier lives and now needs back up. Sam is that person who gets the cup and a piece of card while The Doctor is standing on a chair - he doesn't want to kill it he just wants it away from him... Only to then befriend said Spider in the next few scenes because of course he does. Turns out it's half the size of Iris' double decker bus and bored as all hell.

#16 The Janus Conjuction

3rd February 2025

The Doctor's contempt for the military will never get old honestly; 'Some of my best friends are soldiers' oh my god, shut the fuck up. Also, jeeessus, Eight's companions sure do have Experiences™️. The body horror in this one was great, complete bodily disintegration and not into piles of ash you can neatly sweep away either. Nope. Slime puddle.

The spiders are back but The Doctor seems to handle it much better since he allows an entire nursery of baby spiders to climb all over him. I thought it was kind of cute even if the other character in the scene thought he was being eaten.

I am weak for characters who talk to little droids like people:

#17 Beltempest

5th February 2025

Not a fan of this one. Between Sam suddenly having a desire for children, completely out of left field and only seeming to act as a mirror for the overarching plot metaphor going on, and the Doctor being near emotionless in the aftermath of Sam's potential death which is in stark contrast to his behaviour in the previous book... I'm not sure this story ever got around to the point it was trying to make.

At times I couldn't help but feel that Sam was being ridiculously stubborn to the point of spiting herself - like, girl, you wanna move away from childish things and immaturity? Accept the fucking help that's given to you, holy fuck - and I had to wonder why she was still travelling with the Doctor if she didn't seem to be happy to travel with him.

This book basically boiled down to the episode Kill the Moon, but its a sun and not a moon. And I didn't enjoy that episode either.

There is this section which is funny in hindsight given we now know for a fact the TARDIS does what she wants. (Too bad, Doctor. Better start getting used to it now because it most certainly is her being willful)

#18 The Face-Eater

7th February 2025

Oooooh this was a really good monster of the week book. The monster itself was such a cool concept and I found myself checking the ceiling and corners of my eyes in my own house at night while I was reading it. It's like if someone took the Great Machine from the film 9, the shape shifter from The Thing, and the cave dwellers from The Descent and rolled them into one entity.

The characters were well done - you know they had to have been when one of them is so annoying you want to reach through the screen to smack them yourself. It had a nifty POV trick at one point that nearly had me second guessing some of my suspicions as to what was going on with certain characters.

I love how Eight is an immediate retaliation against Seven but some habits are hard to shake off.

#19 The Taint

7th February 2025

FITZ!!! Been looking forward to this one and jesus christ people were not kidding this guy is such a fucking pathetic wet rag of a man.

At least he's self aware:

His self preservation is constantly at odds with his desire to try and help people, but he does seem to just invite trouble on himself a lot. Listen buddy I know it's the 60s, and I know you get better, but with the way you behaved with Sam (or rather didn't behave) you're on thin fucking ice, my guy.

Not sure I understood what was going on with the plot though - inherited organic coding that grew and evolved as it went down the bloodline until the program was complete and then awakened the host as a sort of sleeper agent down the bloodline? Sure.

#20 Demontage

8th February 2025

Doctor Who meets Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is what I got from this one essentially. Casino murder mystery with a side of art fraud.

Fitz's self preservation instincts on top form as he somehow manages to get a target painted on his back by doing nothing, while The Doctor - the actual target - tries to bluff his own assassin. Comedy of errors all round.

Terrifying answer, Doctor, thank you so much

Look at them. Their braincells aligned just to be annoying.

[troofless]

just binge read grand blue, god it’s peak, may be part of my top 3 ongoing manga up there w medalist and gekkan shoujo nozaki kun.

iori’s gradual descent into corruption (alcoholism) is so funny, the comedy is amazing, but outside of the wacky stuff the romance portion is really well written and iori is the smoothest mf (mc) in a romance semi-harem series and honestly my second favourite nearly losing to my favourite womanizer tohyama kinji. he acts dumb but he’s actually really emotionally smart, like with his sister, and turns down azusa, sakurako etc. showing that he does care for other people’s feelings/can keep a cool head when the time comes for it. peak mc tbh.

his dynamic with chisa is so adorable and you can tell they were really made for each other. no stupid distasteful tsundere hitting tropes, but instead chisa’s tsundere is done in a silent way that gets it’s point across anyway, and despite that you can just tell she has his back even if he’s the dumbest mf on the planet bc she trusts him. honestly the cooking okonomiyaki scene sealed the deal early on, but the more i read the more peak the ship got. this is probably my manga of the year…. (medalist doesn’t get one yet bc it has too little chapters and i read it over the span of a few months abandoning it only to pick it back up and reread after the first ep was launched).

i once dropped the manga 1-2 chapters in bc i couldn’t stand the stripping jokes but after a few years passed going back to it now i appreciate the jokes better now. and yeah it gets better after ep 3 or so when it stabilises the main cast and dynamic. chisa is honestly pretty cool w iori and doesn’t go down the tropey tsundere girl route of ‘i openly insult and hit him but deep down i like him’ bit, which is really refreshing (too much baka test exposure i fear). she’s mostly just silent and accepting of iori’s antics, sometimes even goes along with them after getting an explanation from iori, and even when miscommunication occurs most of the time she’s like ‘nahhhh it must be a misunderstanding (correctly predicts iori’s actions)’. they were literally made for each other man.

every chapter makes me laugh out loud so hard man the jokes never get old and it always has a new spin to it to keep things fresh instead of recycling the same jokes all the time. and the plot isn’t stagnant with each chapter just being a new spin on the same joke premise, it keeps moving with new people being introduced, people going places, or relationships progressing, etc. and the panels with the ugly faces are always amazing. some of them belong to a shounen battle manga even. also as a seinen manga they go into pretty r18 territory which is pretty nice unlike the kiddy school h*ndh*lding romcoms smh /j

also props to kohei for getting his girl 🙏👍 bro deserves it

please read this drinking-uh diving- uh romantic comedy- uh university manga it’s peak writing

[phoebosacerales]

idk if you've seen what happened in Valencia, Spain. It was strongly hit by DANA recently, on October 29, and it was the worst DANA catastrophe out of all Spain history. It's been a real madness, and what angers people the most is the bad management of the government. If they had acted well, many lives would've been saved, because they were preventable deaths. The help the victims got was mostly by other civilians and a huge long story that I wouldn't be able to end if I had to tell it all.

My point is, if you find it interesting and you heard about it you could analyze the astrology behind all these events, 'cause this event definitely is a turning point for spanish people.

Oh, I'm seeing it now. What you're telling me sounds very familiar, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul went through a similar catastrophe in April this year, when incredible heavy rains and storms flooded rivers, lakes and destroyed entire cities, and all because the government hasn't been doing what's needed to prevent this. It's a very predictable event caused by climate change's aggravation of the effects of El Niño. It was the worst we've seen, 94% of Rio Grande do Sul's cities were affected. To get an idea, Rio Grande do Sul is a big state, like more than half a Spain.

I think I wouldn't be able to give a deep analysis of what's happening in Spain, I don't have the lived experience of the country and not much context. I only dare make analysis for the USA because that's the imperial core and those mfs politics affect the whole world.¹ So, this is just a superficial reading and I think I can compare it to Brazil, because we had the same ascendant and consequently the same house placements on the Aries Ingress chart, and it's interesting to see how the different degrees of the angles change predictions a whole lot. I actually have something on my drafts about other aspects of the climate crisis for Brazil this year, I'm glad you asked this question so I can introduce the topic.

I've been attributing these latest escalations of the climate crisis to Saturn in Pisces. We're to expect this realistically and I believe Saturn in Pisces is fitting, because as the last sign it has a bit of an apocalyptic/endings theme to it and it's been very scary how things are escalating now.² To make this clear, the sky isn't to blame and astrology does not cause any of these issues, it just shows tendencies through symbols. Any prediction heavily depends on context and the context of climate change, of bad urban planning etc is of our own political leaders' making and their inaction.

Madrid and Brasília both have gotten Capricorn rising on the Aries Ingress 2024, and that happens for many places, but the annual ruler for each country differs depending on the strength and condition of the planets that have dignity on the exact degree of the ascendant. If we get a cardinal sign rising, in order to analyze the whole year we need to open up 3 more complementary charts for each of the next seasons. This is how hard mundane astrology is.

Brasília

Here's how things looked for Brasil. The 4th house and the IC are obviously always affected when we get catastrophes like this. The Sun is in the 4th house here, but the IC is in Pisces with Saturn and Venus. We also have to consider that these planets are moving and soon we're going to see Mars get into Pisces too. On the degree where Saturn finds itself there's a fixed star called Alpha Hydrus, (the male Hydra, a water snake), which is a more obscure constellation near the south pole that represents the tail end of the river Eridanus.³

Three weeks after the Aries Ingress, Mars meets Saturn. One of the most important conjunctions to watch for in mundane astrology is the Mars-Saturn one, because they're famous for signaling calamity and disease. And they're a lot more frequent than the Great Conjunctions (Jupiter-Saturn). The chart for their conjunction can be interpreted, but to keep it short, I'm just going to say that the conjunction was in the 6th house and they met at 14°, on top of the fixed star Achernar of the river Eridanus. One of the worst things about the floods was that it meant a lot of spreading of diseases through the water, which happens with Mars-Saturn in water signs.

Full Moon in Scorpio

Soon after the conjunction, the Full Moon in Scorpio came with Mars-Saturn in the 4th house this time, and that's when it happened. Notice how Mars reached the conjunction with the IC of the Aries Ingress, where there's another fixed star very much related to stories involving water: Markab, of the Pegasus constellation, who in the myth used its hooves to create a spring on Mount Helicon. The Full Moon is in fall in the 12th house, ruling the 8th, indicating huge loss.

I also recommend this analysis made by a local astrologer from Rio Grande do Sul where she compares this year to another historical flood in 1941 that had similar configurations, and she takes Uranus and Jupiter into account, because of how in mundane astrology Jupiter (especially Mars-Jupiter) gets associated with storms and rain.

Madrid

Now, in Spain, the Aries Ingress didn't indicate this so strongly, because the IC isn't in Pisces. But still, the Mars-Saturn conjunction still happened and here Mars also rules the 4th house. And then Jupiter is on the IC, with the close aspect to Saturn in Pisces. But because we're on Scorpio season, we should look at the Libra Ingress chart, where Jupiter acts as the ruler for the trimester and it's ruling the 4th. Notice how it has anticia with Mars in fall in the 8th, who rules the IC. And then Saturn actually falls in the 4th house now. This is how the lingering effects of a Mars-Saturn conjunction shows up: whenever aspects are made between them we can prepare to see something. The Mars-Saturn-Venus water grand trine also had something to do with the hurricanes in the gulf of Mexico.

The Full Moon in Aries and the New Moon in Scorpio

The disaster happened after the Full Moon in Aries, which also had Sagittarius rising. When a lunation shows that kind of similarity to the Ingress chart we can count on seeing the most significant events of the season or year. The IC is the same too, but the Moon is there with it. It has extra importance because of the aspect to the ascendant. Full Moons have to do with big events related to the masses. Here it makes a square to Mars in the 8th in mutual reception. Because this happened very near the end of the lunation and it's probably still going on to some degree, you should also see the chart for the New Moon in Scorpio. Here there's similitude with the Aries Ingress and now Mars looks directly at the ascendant degree ruling the lunation.

Those are my simple observations, but I bet there's better local astrologers who can do this with much more skill and lived experience of Spain; because I think that's important, not only to understand the astrology better, but also to give it a heart, and not look at these horrible things from a detached point of view.

-------------------

¹ See tag #mundane astrology to check what I've been writing on this. And see my book recomendations for my sources in mundane astrology.

² I've been writing about this aspect of the constellations and symbolism surrounding Pisces and I hope I'll be able to post it soon. It's not just a superficial association.

³ Hydrus is not a very well researched constellation and I wouldn't consider it in higher latitudes, but I've been watching out for it since these events.

[pineyw00dsshesquatch]

I had a job interview at this fancee bakery place that's so hype on whitey boy's first trip to France, they have the batshit idea to import French flour to bumfuck nowhere TX. They won't offer gluten free or vegan options because it's not 'authentic'. "Our import flour is special, celiac people can eat it" My old job said that too with King Arthur flour, but they still had the fucking brains to offer GF products.

Post relevant cuz MF said "the French have a way better work ethic than we do in America"

WELL NO SHIT BOZO. They work hard and get to play harder with some of the best worker protections on the fucking planet. They JUSTIFIABLY riot when those protections come under threat. He's a contractor bro starting a restaurant business, so I'm guessing he just has a seething contempt for every (likely) brown person working under him.

I think I dodged a bullet not getting the job at that place cuz they just have an air of indignation towards their staff and customer base right out the gate and are way sniffing their own farts. My old gig had a hard time staffing for advanced bread techniques in New England with a robust scene of small restaurants, so I think he's gonna be shit outta luck soon way out here if his attitude predicts their likely hellish turnover.

You won't have "inauthentic" gluten free or vegan options, but you have a drive thru? One of the most anti-european dining options in existence?

The French really don’t fuck around.

[esha-isboogara]

it’s cold outside

i wrote this after i forgot my hoodie in the rain last week. it’s short stupid and sweet the esha signature trio. enjoy my fellow simps

din djarin x afab reader

y/n is a stubborn mf but din is a patient man

☆ fluffy fluff fluff. that’s about it

Weather was not easy to predict as it varied from planet to planet. You usually just dressed for how you assumed it would be. And of course today happened to be one of the coldest day despite it being the middle of summer.

Somehow Din always knew what the weather would be like. No matter what.

And you still ignored his advice on clothing.

You shivered, crossing your arms in a vein attempt to preserve your body heat.

He looked down at you.

“Cold”?

You shook your head determined to seem tough. “No no it was just a chill. I’ll be okay don’t worry”.

He shrugged off his dark cloak and wrapped it around you. “You’re so damned stubborn. But I cannot allow you to freeze to death. Take it”.

Again you shook your head in protest. He had told you about a thousand times to at least bring a cloak since the desert was below freezing at night.

You made the wise decision to not listen.

“Keep your cloak Mandolorian. I am able to manage on my own”. You huffed indigently.

“You are going to be the death of me”. He replied ,stopping in his tracks and turning towards you. “Please take the cloak Y/n…I care about you and I don’t want you to get sick

For a brief moment you hesitated unsure of how to react. Din was a discreet lover, not too fond of affection but the little things always seemed to fluster you.

“I guess I’ll take it but only because you are ever so insistent”. You snatched from his hand and wrapped it around your shoulders. The fabric felt refreshing against your freezing skin. “Thank you Din…”.

He nodded and kept walking doing his best to keep pace with you and not leave you behind. In all honesty he didn’t really need the cloak for himself. The beskar armor kept him at a comfortable temperature in most climates but he figured you’d need it halfway through.

“You’re such a stubborn brat y/n, but I will admit it only makes me love you more”.

[recklessmark]

Two/Eight detected

east athletic person on the face of the planet

Summary: you were the spearhead of the FBI Cyber Division to solve Two/Eight— the most damaging hack committed by an individual. Never had you predicted to cross path with Mark Lee during your time doing your job, neither before that. Even if you did, everything about him was magically coincidental and surely you couldn’t expect coincidence. It unnecessarily stressed you out more than the cyberattack. But only then you could realize Two/Eight was bigger than the hack itself.

Pairing: Bodyguard Mark x FBI Special Agent Reader

Genre: forbidden relationship, angst, a little fluff, smut

Warning: language, infidelity, manipulation, mention of cybersex, unprotected sex (be safe!), dom/sub theme, oral sex, fingering, sir kink, daddy kink, spanking, sex toy, finger sucking, degradation, dirty talk, name calling, gagging, mention of alcohol, sex and drug addiction, mention of deaths and blood, mental illness.

Word count: 25k (i have a serious backache proofreading this)

A/N: his age doesn’t fit the profile of the character but let’s just imagine it does because i have a thing for his age idk if it’s age kink lol i’m 18 and mf is still young af whatever.

The glow of the computer screen cast a colorful hue on your face as your fingers danced across the keyboard, the rhythmic tapping blending with the sounds emanating from the speakers. The city of Lyon sprawled before you, a breathtaking mosaic of towering skyscrapers, neon lights, and bustling streets. Yet, your attention remained fixated on the video tape, its contents a tantalizing mystery that demanded your full focus.

Playing the tape over and over again, your mind whirred with possibilities as you meticulously combed through the accompanying materials, determined to decipher the cryptic puzzle that lay before you.

Finally, a victorious smile curled upon your lips, a spark of revelation igniting within your eyes. Satisfied with your analysis, you rose from your seat with purpose, anticipation coursing through your veins like an electric current.

Confidently striding into the tension-laden conference room, you commanded the attention of your colleagues, the air heavy with anticipation.

“I know why the profiles never fit.” You declared with unwavering assurance. "He isn't your typical serial arsonist. His disorder is something entirely different."

“Which is?” A fellow raised their head to meet your gaze.

Leaning casually against the doorframe, you exhaled a measured breath. "It's an extreme manifestation of OCD. Specifically, a condition known as scrupulosity—an obsession intertwined with religious fervor and compulsions."

Just as the weight of your discovery settled upon the room, your pocket buzzed with the vibration of your phone. Retrieving it swiftly, you glanced at the contact name, your brows knitting together in mild confusion.

"Alright then, search it up if you need further information," you calmly instructed, a reassuring smile gracing your lips. With that, you turned and strode away, leaving your colleagues to digest the revelation.

As you made your way toward your cubicle, the bustling noise of the office surrounded you, a distant hum against the backdrop of your thoughts.

“What is it Jeong?”

“Have you checked your emails?”

"Not yet," you replied, a touch of confusion lacing your words.

“Do it now.”

Your lips pursed in confusion at his demanding tone as you hastened your steps, reaching your workspace. Settling into your chair, you scooted closer to your desk Opening your inbox as instructed, you stared at the screen, seeking answers within the digital realm.

The email immediately startled you with its content. Scrolling through the message with a furrowed brow, you absorbed its urgency.

"And?" you replied, your voice laced with impatience.

"Be here as soon as possible," came the curt response.

Swiveling in your chair, a mixture of frustration and confusion clouding your features, you questioned the suddenness of it all. "Why all of sudden?"

"You're the Executive Assistant of the Cyber Division. It's your duty to be here," Jaehyun's voice dripped with aggression, his words pushing against your resistance.

A quiet sigh escaped your lips as you examined your hand, contemplating your next move. "But I thought you already had someone to replace me."

“Yeah we do have some rising-star nominees but no one is capable enough to handle this case. I believe you’re aware of it too.”

Your mind raced, torn between loyalty to your current position at Interpol and the pressing demand from the CCRSB (FBI Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch). You were caught in the middle, balancing the intricacies of friendship and professional obligations.

"But I'm currently committed here, at Interpol. I can't just abandon my—" you began, your words trailing off.

"Your secondment has been temporarily maintained in statu quo. There won't be anything for you to do there after this weekend," he interrupted firmly.

Weary, you leaned back in your chair, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon your shoulders. Jaehyun's voice continued, unyielding in its directive. "Enough with the excuses. I'll see you on Monday."

The call abruptly ended, leaving you no opportunity to voice your concerns. Jaehyun, your friend but also your technical superior as the Executive Assistant Director of the CCRSB, had made an irrational request—one that demanded you catch a flight back to the United States within the next two days. The moment you saw his contact on your phone, you knew it’s going to be this fucking bullshit.

Rubbing your temples in frustration, you redirected your attention from the email tab back to the article you had been reading halfway through.

TWO/EIGHT HACK AFTERMATH.

“One month after the Two/Eight attack, hackers still at large...”

The words blurred before your eyes... Of course your head was aching.

Your grip tightened around the sleek black pistol, your fingers finding solace in its cold, deadly embrace. Eight. Nine. Ten. Ten shots fired, one after the other, each finding its mark with unwavering precision. It was by pure coincidence you discovered your hidden talent. No one would have expected it, least of all you. After all, you were the least athletic person on the face of the planet, the embodiment of clumsiness. PE was a joke. You purposely forgot your gym clothes most of the time so you could just do health assignments instead of participating in class. You were embarrassed to do anything physical in front of your classmates. So no, you did not want to go hunting with your dad when he suggested it. You couldn’t understand why he liked it either. He was kind of nerdy like you. But rather than loving books and languages like he did, you preferred computers, and codes. After your mom tried to reason with you, you gave up eventually. No one ever expected an afternoon bird hunting game could change your life.

In the indoor shooting range, where others drowned out the noise with headphones or earbuds, you relished in the absence of such distractions. Every sound, every echo, was amplified, allowing you to perceive the presence of another person solely through your acute hearing.

"How does it feel?" you blurted out suddenly, your arms lowering to your sides. A shiver ran down your spine as the sound of footsteps echoed from behind you. They were gentle and sedate. The kind of how calm-manner male billionaires walked in movies.

“You’re an experienced firearm user, aren’t you?”

You knew it was a man. However, you did not anticipate that voice. Dark, venomous, devilish. You could sense his proximity, his presence enveloping you like a shadow. It was the smell that hit you first. Overwhelming. A musky, earthy, and clean scent; mixed with gun powder, and the smell of the place your parents always went when they had to get new tires and something else you couldn’t put your finger on. You could feel it in the air though, like the oxygen itself was coating your skin. You did not know there’s any perfume resembled this fragrance. Surely, there was not. He’s not wearing cologne, you could bet a million dollars on it.

"Why is it that people always feel the need to ask the painfully obvious?" you quipped, your tone tinged with nonchalant sarcasm.

“You know that it has been three questions in a row?”

"Ah, so we're keeping count now? That makes it four," came the response, accompanied by a small chuckle from him that somehow managed to break the tension hanging between you.

You still had not laid your eyes on him, neither had him. But by now, you could feel a burning gaze on the side of your face. miraculously making the tiny hair on your arms stand up.

“You’re mean.” He remarked in assertiveness.

It was a trait of yours that you were well aware of, though he was the first to vocalize it so boldly, straight to your face. It stirred something within you—a desire to be even meaner to him than you were to others. Not because of his straightforwardness, but because of the unsettling effect he was having on you. There was an undeniable air of intimidation surrounding him.

With a twist of your heels, you finally turned your gaze towards him, and once again, he took you by surprise. Everything about him fascinated you. Standing at approximately 5'9", give or take an inch, he exuded an enigmatic aura. Jet-black hair, meticulously styled with a few strands falling effortlessly onto his forehead. His eyes, round and down-turned, held a sharpness and piercing gaze that could see right through you. The prominence of his jawline added to his air of determination. Dressed in a black dress shirt and matching slacks, he was the epitome of darkness and mystery. If Hades were to take on human form, this man before you would undoubtedly be his embodiment.

He arched a brow teasingly, and in that moment, you realized you had been staring at him like a thirsty chick spotting Ben Barnes. Admittedly, he was the most strikingly attractive man you had ever laid eyes on. However, the fact that he had managed to elicit such a reaction from you was utterly unacceptable.

"Uh... thanks?" you responded, your voice tinged with uncertainty. What exactly did he expect you to say? You had no clue. Hell if you knew.

He chuckled again. “Are you always like this?”

A chuckle escaped him once again. "Are you always like this?"

"Like what?" you asked, your gaze fixed on him, seeking clarification.

"Dry and... unfriendly," he replied, his words laced with a hint of amusement.

You pursed your lips and nodded ever so slightly, silently judging his assessment. He had accused you of being mean, but you saw no evidence to suggest that he was any better, considering the way he had approached you right from the start. The only difference so far was that he laughed twice and you definitely had scowled more than twice.

"I haven't seen you here before," he continued, his tone softening in an attempt to alleviate the tension.

You nodded. "Yeah, I've been out of the States for nine months. Haven't touched one of these," you gestured toward the pistol in your hand, "during that entire period."

"Twisted fate," he mumbled under his breath, a hint of intrigue in his voice. "Wanna make a bet?"

A coy smirk played on his lips, drawing your attention. You squinted at him, not particularly fond of games of chance, but secretly intrigued by the mysterious tricks he might have up his sleeve. Just as you were about to reply, his phone suddenly rang, shattering the momentary connection between you.

You gestured for him to answer the call with a shrug on your shoulder. He swiftly fished the vibrating device out of his pocket, a glimpse of thunder flashing across his eyes as he glared at the screen. It was a fleeting moment, but one that didn't escape your notice. Whoever was on the other end of that call must hold a significant place in his life. Whether it was for better or worse, you couldn't quite discern.

"Yeah?" he answered, raising the phone to his ear, followed by a long pause. "Give me ten minutes."

With that, he ended the call and massaged the back of his neck wearily. You simply observed him in silence, waiting for him to break it. After a heavy sigh, his eyes found their way back to you.

"Maybe next time then," he began, his voice laced with determination. "Give me your number." He extended his long arm toward you, his phone awaiting your digits. Obviously he’s not asking, he’s demanding.

Though his intensity made you uncomfortable, there was an inexplicable pull that urged you to keep in touch with him. You wanted to know more about him, about the story behind those dark eyes. You’re not finding a soulmate. You didn’t hope to either. However the connection was apparently too strong that you can’t bring yourself to cut it from here.

"Name?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on the screen.

"Y/N," you replied.

"Nice," he murmured, typing in your name before tucking his phone back into his pocket. "Y/N... see you again."

Before you could process what was happening, the heavy black metal door slammed shut at the corner of the room. He hadn't even bothered to reveal his name. What the hell? This felt too real to be a dream. You chuckled quietly. It did feel like a prank though.

The target of the Two/Eight hack was none other than Lee Corp, a colossal empire in the realm of technology. The hack hadn't managed to completely obliterate them, but it had left behind a trail of devastation that was nothing short of catastrophic. Their entire business revolved around digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation, which meant that rebuilding their database from scratch was their only viable option. It was a miracle in itself that they had survived the relentless attack.

And now, here you stood, within the hallowed halls of their main building, overseeing their arduous journey towards recovery.

"I believe it's time to have a chat with the board of directors," you murmured, your strides echoing down the hallway. "Starting with the CTO and CEO."

The sound of your heels clicking against the polished porcelain floor drew glances from the fellow agents who were toiling away alongside you. You offered them a slight nod in acknowledgment as they greeted you in return.

"Oh, and at the field office as well," you added, coming to a stop by a cubicle and casually leaning against it with one arm. Your gaze settled on your coworker, Lillian, narrowing your eyes ever so slightly.

"What?" she inquired, her brows furrowing in confusion.

“Tell him to grip the underside of your jaw, not to block your windpipe. Otherwise, he will choke you to death someday.”

The young lady was practically gaping at your throwaway tone.

Her lips parted, but no words escaped them. It seemed she had forgotten just how observant and casual you could be, especially when it came to matters of intimacy.

Disregarding Lillian's appalled expression, you clapped your hands together to grab everyone's attention. "Alright, folks, it's time for a break. Lunchtime."

With approving nods, the agents, including Lillian, abandoned their documents, computers, cardboard boxes, and whatever else had consumed their attention. They gradually made their way towards the wide glass door until you were the only one left standing. You glanced around the now deserted floor, a sense of relief washing over you. Honestly, it looked far better than the confines of the FBI office. More spacious, easier to breathe. Though, you suspected that the weight of the work itself was the true culprit behind the haunting atmosphere of your workplace.

As you wandered through the vast office space, a fleeting shadow caught your attention in your peripheral view. You turned swiftly, expecting to find someone there, but there was no one. Odd. The 23rd floor was off-limits to those outside the Bureau. You could only caught a mere glimpse of them but you’re sure that was not a female.

With cautious steps, you made your way towards the corridor at the back of the expansive office. You had meticulously surveyed the entire floor upon your arrival and knew it led to a stairwell. A mild grimace tugged at your lips as you attempted to minimize the click of your heels. There was no doubt that they were already aware of your presence, and quite possibly gone.

And indeed, they had.

The abrupt sound of a door slamming shut reverberated through the walls. You cursed under your breath and sprinted towards the direction of the noise, hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever it was, even if it was just their hair color. But it was too late. The door was locked, accessible only to the employees of Lee Corp. They possessed ID cards granting them passage through gates, rooms, doors, and elevators. Unfortunately, you didn't have that privilege. The best you were allowed was to use the elevators. As for the front gate, you simply had to flash your badge at the guards.

Annoyed, you huffed and gave up on twisting the door handle. It was then that you noticed a small sticky note attached to the magnetic stripe card reader. It had been deliberately left there, meant for you. You peeled it off with a frown. The words on it read, "TWISTED FATE."

You flinched dramatically when someone abruptly tapped your shoulder. “What you’re doing?”

"Screw you, Jay. You scared me half to death," you retorted, throwing a punch at Jaehyun's chest. For him, it was nothing more than a gentle brush against his clothes. A smile crept across his lips, revealing the adorable dimples on both sides of his cheeks. No matter how angry you were at him, those dimples were your ultimate weakness. His gaze swept over you, taking in your appearance, before settling on the note in your hand.

"What's that?" he questioned.

You shot it a glare, internally debating whether or not to tell him the truth. It shouldn't necessarily bother him, though.

"Just a Starbucks order," you replied evenly, shrugging your shoulder.

He narrowed his eyes at you, clearly not entirely convinced by your blatant lie. Yet he didn't press further. If you didn't want to share, he wouldn't push.

"Alright. Wanna grab lunch? I heard they have, uh..." he paused, trying to recall from memory, "oh yeah, Thai food."

"You seem quite interested in their cuisine," you remarked, engaging in conversation as you made your way out of the office. Little did you know, there was someone watching you at the end of the corridor with a coy smirk, eyes glistening with a secret that remained hidden from the world.

Finally, you were able to have some time for yourself. It was Saturday, work-free. You glanced at the mountain of papers with tediousness. At this point, it’s uncertain to state that whoever behind Two/Eight could get away with it, nor were they going to get caught. Apparently they’re good enough to not be caught yet. But one thing was clear: Lee Corp needed to weather the storm of their recovery. They had been struck at the very core, a wound that needed urgent attention before they bled out completely.

Of course, as a decent person, you couldn't single-handedly save this damn behemoth of an empire. However, by planting a honeypot in their domain server, you could become their protector. It was technically illegal to secretly infiltrate a private domain like that, but it was the only way to gain some semblance of control over this mess—whatever they called it. Biggest hack, the most eventful attack or the most wonderful revolution. If they’re planning on another attack, the honeypot would notice it. And, with any luck, no one would be able to detect it without access to your account.

The silent contemplation swirling in your mind was abruptly shattered by a new message on your laptop.

user20809: sweetheart, you’re still not telling me what you’re wearing.

Damn it. You had momentarily forgotten that you were chatting with your online friend. Could you even call him a fuck buddy? You weren't sure, considering you had no idea what he looked like. All you knew about him so far was his name: Mark. Simple, yet intriguing, much more captivating than any man you had ever encountered in your life. Oh, and let's not forget that son of a bitch at the indoor shooting range. A week had passed since he got your number, and here you were, met with absolute silence.

user21407: sorry, i was thinking about something.

You sent it before taking a quick look of your clothes.

user21407: cotton sweater and shorts.

It’s weird how you were talking to an anonymous man through a website. But in a world where humans constantly wasted your time, there was nothing inherently wrong with it. Especially the so-called "legendary dominants" who became downright offensive the moment they discovered your career. It was almost too perfect how Mark aligned with you—mentally, emotionally, and sexually. It wasn't just about indulging in some wild encounters; sometimes, you both simply vented to each other. It was therapeutic. He listened without judgment to everything you shared, no questions asked. And you reciprocated the same. Perhaps it was exchanging small, daily stories or sharing a good laugh over a funny mishap. Neither of you ever broached the topic of your professions, and strangely enough, you were perfectly content with that.

user20809: you’re distracted, aren’t you? and who were you talking to, with that disrespectful tone?

You glowered. Disrespectful? What did you say? “cotton sweater and shorts.” Very succinct, and troublesome.

user21407: oh i’m sorry.

user20809: sorry what?

Don’t ask why you have complete no clue about his information. Despite your attempts to hack into his information several times, you remained clueless. The website itself was heavily encrypted, but that posed little challenge for your skills. The true hurdle lay in the fact that Mark seemed to possess no identity, no social network presence, no discernible IP address. Or perhaps he intentionally obscured his digital footprint. Regardless, trying to identify someone with only their first name proved futile, even with your access to the comprehensive residents database.

Had the thought of meeting him in person crossed your mind? Absolutely. Yet such a meeting would have to wait until you completed your mission involving Two/Eight and Lee Corp. There were pressing matters at hand, and once those were resolved, only then could you entertain the possibility of unveiling the enigmatic man who had captured your heart.

user21407: i’m sorry sir.

You pondered the title for a few seconds before sending your text. It’s hard to conjecture what he wanted to be addressed as, sometimes “daddy” was perfect, sometimes “sir” was the preference. But judging by his demanding tone, you assumed the second option was better.

Another ten seconds passed before you heard a chime from your device again.

user20809: you have been a bad girl and bad girls should be punished. don’t you agree?

You gulped nervously as you typed on your keyboard.

user21407: yes sir.

user20809: yet we’re not doing it today. keep that for another time.

You absentmindedly stared at your desktop while the dots were moving in the chat box, indicating that Mark was typing. What on earth made he so kind today? Regularly, he would not let you come for at least an hour straight. Practically you could do it yourself, because obviously no one was watching you. But he would know, somehow miraculously only by texts. You had tried it once. The first and also the last time.

user20809: i have a surprise for you, and don’t forget to take your vitamins.

With that he went offline, leaving you in befuddlement. Okay, you entirely had no idea what he was talking about. Surprise? What surprise? Did he discover your identity?

You closed your laptop with a huge sigh. Usually talking with Mark helped relieve your stress but somehow this time he stressed you out more than the hack itself. You did not even know what you’re feeling. Anxious, expectant or scared? Most likely all of them.

“Y/L/N, Ms Doubleday is here.”

One of your colleagues announced while you were analyzing some data on the white board. This conference room held the secretive repository of information pertaining to Two/Eight—everything from potential causes and damages to the list of suspects. It was all meticulously documented, either in print, saved on computers, or even scribbled on this whiteboard. The sensitive nature of this case restricted access to only a select few agents.

"I'll be there in a moment," you replied, not bothering to glance in the man's direction. But he continued lingering, and confusion knitted your brows together.

"Is there something else?"

"She insists on having her bodyguard present during the interrogation," he informed you.

You scoffed, deepening the grimace on your face. Is this a joke?

It was understandable for her to have a bodyguard, considering she was the Chief Technology Officer of Lee Corp and also the CEO's only daughter. However, demanding the presence of a guard to babysit her during an FBI interview posed a bit of a problem.

"I'll speak to her. You can leave now.”

Your coworker nodded and hurriedly exited the room. Turning your attention to the schematic representation next to the whiteboard, you glared at it. It depicted the intricate connections between the suspects and anyone directly involved in the hack. The CEO of Lee Corp resided at the center, a logical choice. And right below her was Hazel Doubleday—the CTO. It made sense, yet studying this diagram gave you a headache more torturous than navigating the Tokyo subway system.

With a final frustrated toss, you discarded the black marker into a nearby basket. Retrieving your blazer from the chair, you slipped it on while treading to the interrogation department.

From a distance, you spotted a woman clad in the typical office attire of a white blouse and pencil skirt. Honestly, you had encountered countless female leaders, but it was rare to witness someone with such a mundane sense of style. She resembled more of a junior receptionist than the Chief Technology Officer of the largest technology corporation in the United States. No, you weren't criticizing her fashion choices—far from it. She simply possessed an air of peculiarity, which often attracted certain judgments.

Nevertheless, the man standing opposite her, his back turned towards you, exuded undeniable attractiveness. That figure triggered a sense of familiarity within you, as if you had met him before.

"Ms. Doubleday, right?" you inquired, closing the distance with your composed steps.

Once again, you couldn't fathom how this woman had ascended to such a high position within a colossal empire. It wasn't that you doubted her capabilities or talent—if she had any. However, her nails were at least three inches long, an extreme impracticality for someone in her line of work, constantly typing away on keyboards under an immense workload. You were certain she had a lot on her plate at this very moment. That is, if she was indeed the one responsible for the job.

"Yes, that's correct," she replied, nodding her head in agreement.

You mustered a polite smile. "I'm Special Agent Y/F/N Y/L/N. But Y/F/N is fine." Pausing for a split second, you continued, "Rumors have circulated that you insisted on having your bodyguard accompany you. Is that true?"

She confirmed your suspicion with a nod. "I don't feel safe without him."

You fought to suppress a laugh. Did she think that FBI was going to abduct her? And hell if this field office was not one of the safest places in the country.

“Where is he then?”

“Here.”

And there it was. The attractive man standing by her side. But why did his voice sound so familiar? Of course, it made sense. Your eyes widened in astonishment as you glanced to the side, locking eyes with the bodyguard. He was none other than the man you had encountered at the indoor shooting range. Was this coincidental?

A sly smile graced his thin lips as he observed your surprised expression. Not just anyone could elicit such a visual response from you, and he knew it.

You cleared your throat, realizing that you had overreacted. It was an embarrassing display of emotion. Clutching the plastic folder tightly in your hand, you redirected your attention to Hazel.

"Alright, he can accompany you, but only if he has followed the instructions," you stated, trying to regain your composure.

"He has," Hazel confirmed with a nod.

With a nod of acknowledgment, you walked past them, unlocking the designated room, and gestured for them to enter. Closing the door behind you, you found yourself still in a state of bewilderment. Inhaling deeply, you attempted to calm your nerves. You’re not a high school teenager to easily be flustered, you reminded yourself.

Pressing the record button on the camera positioned in the room, you took a seat on the opposite side of the table. The isolated space exuded an air of peace. Before uttering a word, you took your time studying their faces, their body language. The smallest details held immense significance and were not to be overlooked.

"Ms. Doubleday, I'll get straight to the point. First of all, have any of your employees installed unauthorized applications?"

You finally spoke up. One, two, three...eight seconds passed. It was amusing how she stared back at you with confused eyes. Your speculation seemed to be on the mark. Someone else was pulling the strings while she merely played the role of a puppet, a figurehead.

With a heavy sigh, you drew in a breath, intertwining your hands on the desk.

“"You know, it's painfully clear just how devastating this hack has been," you began, your eyes flickering between the woman and her guard. Suddenly, you became acutely aware of the intensity in his gaze as he observed you. There was something behind those eyes, something familiar. It reminded you of the conversation you had with him before, but this time, it held a heightened level of intensity, especially as you mentioned Two/Eight. You made a mental note to delve deeper into that later.

"Not only for the United States, but if there is even the slightest potential threat to other countries, I'm afraid Interpol will have to intervene if—"

"You work for Interpol?" Hazel interrupted, her voice betraying a tremor of fear. The poor girl must have believed that the damage had spread to an international scale. You were merely speaking hypothetically.

"Yeah. And if you think we're going to come banging on your doors, well, that's not how it works. What you see in movies is just media invention. There are no Interpol agents out there, armed and busting down doors to make arrests. We mostly work with mundane emails, digital documents, and paperwork," you explained, sensing her concerns and feeling a sense of responsibility to clarify. But the primary culprit here was Hollywood, which seemed to have an addiction to putting so-called Interpol agents in harm's way.

"That's not the point, though," you continued, your tone unwavering. "What I'm trying to convey is that time is a luxury we can't afford. Once Interpol steps in, I won't be able to help you. I didn't come here just for a casual Q&A session. So, it would be greatly appreciated if you could be more... open and honest."

"What do you mean?" she muttered, attempting to feign confusion. Someone needed to inform this woman that she possessed no talent for acting. Her entire life seemed to be exposed on her face.

You absentmindedly brushed your knuckles, your eyes keenly examining the pair sitting across from you.

“Do you two fuck?”

you asked abruptly, your question seemingly irrelevant. The shock on their faces and the questioning scowl directed at you were the expected responses. The small room descended into what felt like an eternity of silence, stretching for over thirty seconds in reality. You were comfortable with silence; it was inconsequential when they continued to stare at you with blank eyes. It provided you with the opportunity to observe their reactions.

"How do you know?" Hazel finally spoke, and you couldn't help but wonder if the CTO herself was aware that she had subtly confirmed your deduction.

"Your guard does a decent job of concealing it. However, it's not difficult to discern," you unfolded. “Your knee continually brush his, your hair is long blonde but you have short black hair on your collar-“

Hazel lowered her head, noticing the hair on her shirt.

"—your lipstick is patchy, and both of you have plump lips."

"That's incredible," she exclaimed, her amazement genuine.

You knitted and unknitted your hands. Hazel was undeniably an adorable girl but she’s wasting your precious time. Her sex life held no interest for you; you simply needed a verbal confirmation to address the doubts lingering in your mind.

“To summarize,” you lowered your eyes, “My career path started as a detective inspector. After two years, I joined the Bureau. Another three years in the CID and now have been the Executive Assistant of the Cyber Division. Interpol Criminal Intelligence Analyst is the cherry on top. Do the math.” You finished with a tight-lipped smile.

"I began my career as a detective inspector, then joined the Bureau after two years. Spent another three years in the CID before becoming the Executive Assistant of the Cyber Division. And now, I'm an Interpol Criminal Intelligence Analyst. Do the math." You finished with a tight-lipped smile.

Your implication was clear: there was no possible way she could deceive you. You knew how a person's relationship status could be revealed by the subtle adjustments they made to their jewelry. Whatever facade she was attempting to maintain was far too superficial.

"What's CID?" she asked, in a seemingly respectful manner.

"Criminal Investigation Division," her bodyguard answered before you could even respond.

Leaning back in your chair, you observed as Hazel remained silent. "Alright then. Enough with the introductions. Since this is our first interview, I won't force you against your will. You may leave now."

Surprisingly, she glanced over you, clearly not expecting you to let her off the hook so easily. Keeping her here any longer would be meaningless. You were not auditioning for a criminal investigation documentary. She was supposed to provide you with information, not the other way around. And if she couldn't fulfill that role, someone else would.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you. Feel free to contact me if there's anything I can assist you with," she said, rising from her seat, her hand gripping her bodyguard's shoulder, signaling him to leave with her.

"I said you may leave. Not him," you clarified, your voice firm.

The girl shot you a perplexed look. "What? Wait—"

"You can wait outside until we're finished. It'll only take ten minutes.”

Your attempt at reassurance fell flat, and there was no hint of warmth in your tone. Hazel glared at the man, who returned her gaze with a mild nod. Why did it feel like he had more authority than his own client? Reluctantly, Hazel walked out, leaving you alone with him in the interview room.

The air grew thick, almost suffocating, but you ignored the tension, focusing on calming your racing heart. Just breathe, you reminded yourself, taking a fucking breath.

"So," you beamed, though the smile failed to reach your eyes. "I need your name for communication purposes."

“Mark. Mark Lee.”

Again. What the fuck?

Your eyes widened as you met Mark's gaze. His expression remained unreadable, concealing whatever emotions were stirring beneath his heart-stopping, perfect face. Instinctively, your ankles crossed under the table. It was a common name, sure. But out of countless names, did it have to be Mark? This was only coincidental, wasn’t it?

For a full second, your breath caught as you detected a subtle curl at the corner of his lips.

"Okay, Mr. Lee," you withdrew your hands from the table, placing them in your lap. "Tell me about Ms. Doubleday's schedule."

Wait. Why did you even ask that?

Was it helpful? Maybe.

Did you want to know about it? No.

You sighed quietly, waiting for Mark to respond. Addressing him by that name felt strange. You couldn't recall how many Marks you had encountered in your life, but this Mark felt different. Likely giving the similar vibe to the Mark you knew. Not exactly ‘knowing’ but yeah, you still technically knew him. Right?

"She sticks to a strict schedule," his low, dark voice drew you back to reality. "Mornings, she goes to the company until 4pm. Then she heads home, takes care of her own business. After 8pm, it's her personal time, and it marks the end of my workday. I'll work extra hours if she goes out."

Okay. You had to admit, that wasn't really helpful at all. It didn't seem like you would gain any useful information from him either.

"Well, um... I know this may sound a bit personal, but is it normal to sleep with your client? Like, is it part of the job under a contract or something?" you asked, feeling nosy and intrusive.

What the hell Y/N? You were playing a huge major role in solving the hardest cybercrime case ever and now you’re here to question about a random dude’s sex life. You fought the urge to bang your head on the table and tried to remain calm like you didn’t just ask such an embarrassing question. “It’s fine,” you told yourself, “maybe he could give you some data that you could use for the future, let’s stay optimistic and cool.”

He took a moment to contemplate something before responding. "Isn't it my duty to fulfill my client's desires?"

His savage answer, delivered with an indifferent tone, caught you off guard. So, it was fine then... you supposed. Fidgeting with the hem of your blazer, you tried to come up with another question. It better be useful.

"Honestly, she seems unwilling to actively provide me with information. Do you know the reason behind that, considering you're close to her?"

Finally.

"Agent Y/L/N," the intensity of his gaze sent goosebumps across your skin, causing you to subconsciously gulp down a lump of air. "My job is to protect my client and fulfill the assigned tasks. Not be a fucking therapist. I don't know shit."

So this is where we end up, huh?

To be honest, you couldn't help but acknowledge that Mark was more than just a bodyguard. There were numerous clues that supported your suspicions.

Firstly, his presence in the room. It was clear that individuals unrelated to a case should never be in an interview room. Hazel Doubleday had been informed and asked to accept the terms and rules before the interrogation began. Yet she still insisted on having him here.

Alright, maybe it wasn't directly relevant to the hack, but it indicated a connection between them, a situationship or whatever they wanted to call it. And you believed it could potentially lead you to something hidden behind the curtains.

Thirdly, if it was true that she was merely a figurehead, Mark surely knew. He was the closest person to her. Perhaps, he even knew who was truly pulling the strings.

Lastly, he refused to provide you with details. All his answers had been vague. He wasn't lying, but he clearly understood that revealing too much wouldn't be a smart move. It demonstrated that he was more than just a bodyguard, at least in terms of his cleverness.

"Alright," you nodded. "Then we can wrap things up here. Thank you."

Standing up, you turned off the recorder. Mark didn't say anything, simply silently making his way towards the exit.

"Oh, sorry. Can I ask one last thing?" you stopped him midway, his hand tightening on the door handle. He turned around to face you. "Yeah?"

"Is it classic or acoustic?" you tilted your head slightly, folding your arms across your chest.

Mark furrowed his brows, trying to comprehend your sudden question. "What?"

"Your guitar, is it acoustic or classic?" you repeated, watching his facial expression intently.

"Acoustic," he replied. "Why?"

"You have short nails on your left hand, but they're slightly longer on your right hand."

“And what does that information for?”

You shrugged, “Nothing, just pure curiosity.”

Unexpectedly, he grinned at you, his smile vibrant and oddly soothing. Yet, what he was about to say probably wouldn't bring you any comfort.

“I’m surprised, about everything. I hope that my surprise didn’t disappoint you.”

And fuck your life if this was once again coincidental.

Your fingers ceased their dance across the keyboard as a plastic folder landed with a thud on your desk, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"Mark Lee. Joined the Navy, rose to the highest rank of MCPO in just five years. The youngest in history." 

“Master Chief Petty Officer? Only five fucking years for that?”

“Yeah.” Lillian said, her voice tinged with surprise. She had clearly been taken aback by her own findings. Now it was your turn to delve into this revelation.

Were you surprised? Indeed shocked.

MCPO, a rank only three levels below MCPON—the Navy's highest enlisted position. Taking the folder into your hands, you nodded at your colleague and left your office. Jaehyun had granted your request for a small workspace. But it still baffled you how the entire FBI Cyber Division was helpless with this case. Did they merely want to pass on their headache to you? At this point, you doubted whether your return here would make much of a difference.

Two/Eight itself had been troublesome enough let alone a Mark Lee. How much secret did this man hide? He’s literally your cybersex buddy. If this was not the most embarrassing scenario in your life, you didn’t even want to know how worse your life was going to be.

Jaehyun raised his head slightly to take a glance of the person that recklessly stomped into his office without knocking. Couldn’t be anyone besides his dear friend.

“How many time do I have to remind that you report to me? Learn some manners.” He lowered his head and focused on his work again.

You took a seat across from him. "Were you in the Navy or something?" 

"The USMC," he corrected, his voice laced with a touch of irritation. "Why do you ask?"

You offered a nonchalant hum in response. "Do you happen to know anything about a guy named Mark Lee?"

"No," he replied, almost too quickly.

"You don't? Wasn't he the Navy's MCPO?”

"The higher their rank, the more they tend to keep a low profile. And for the record, I served in the Marine Corps. How would I know anything about a Navy guy?"

"Bullshit," you muttered under your breath, earning a stern glare in return.

Jaehyun's voice pierced the air, breaking the silence that had settled between you two. "What is all of this about?" 

“He is Lee Corp CTO’s personal bodyguard. They acted quite suspicious.” You explained, voice laced with exhaustion. A realization struck you, so glaringly obvious that it made your brows furrow in frustration.

“Hey!” Your boss let out a tired breath as you called him again. "Why is it called Lee Corp? Could it have any connection to Mark Lee? It's literally his last name."

Your words dripped with a sense of delight, as if you had just uncovered a significant clue. But Jaehyun's response shattered your enthusiasm, tossing confusion your way in the form of a perplexed look.

"Y/L/N," he said, addressing you by your last name, a sign of his seriousness. "He's not the only one with that last name. He's just a bodyguard who happened to be a former Navy MCPO. What does his surname have to do with a technology business? Are you crazy?"

He was right, of course. It was likely just a coincidence—a meaningless connection. Yet, it was astonishing how many coincidences seemed to surround Mark's existence. Then again, maybe you were overanalyzing things.

“Hey you have no right to insult me looking like a peach.” You argued defensively.

“That’s not nice! You can’t say that because I’m handsome!”

“Since when I’m a nice person? And in my opinion, one of the reasons we haven't cracked this case is because your looks are a major distraction to our colleagues.”

You suppressed a laugh as the image of Jaehyun speechless replayed in your head. Quickly, you refocused your attention on the document in your hands.

Six months after leaving the Navy, Mark had been directly hired by Phillip Doubleday, the CEO of Lee Corp. He had served as a personal bodyguard for nearly three years, with Hazel Doubleday being his first and only client thus far. It seemed he had no intention of switching jobs. What drove him to remain in such a mundane role? He was a remarkable individual, having achieved numerous accolades during his time in the Navy, rising to the rank of MCPO in just five years. His official profile was pristine, but there was something unsettling about what lay beneath the surface. Particularly his enigmatic background—there was no record of his life prior to joining the Navy. Having never worked for the US Armed Forces, you were unaware of their practices. If they intentionally erased or confidentially archived their personnel's past records, it would prove nearly impossible for you to unearth them.

You grabbed a sticky note and scribbled on it with a marker.

"MARK LEE."

You glared at the new note on the whiteboard one last time and left the conference room.

It had been two weeks since the last time you chatted with Mark. He hadn’t been online ever since. What’s now? Did your appearance disappoint him? Or it’s your voice? Or did it shock him to his core that you’re an ex-detective inspector, a FBI agent, an Interpol criminal intelligence analyst?

But that last possibility seemed illogical. It was more plausible that the situation worked the other way around. Besides, you had no inkling of what he was truly capable of—both in the past and the present.

A heavy sigh escaped your lips as you realized you couldn't afford to dwell on him any longer. The hack remained your number one priority.

"TWISTED FATE" 

The words echoed in your mind. Someone had purposefully left that note for you. It felt familiar, but you couldn't recall where you had encountered or heard that phrase before.

Fuck. You groaned irritatingly. Coding an entire domain seemed like child's play compared to dealing with this nonsensical riddle. Maybe you should've chosen a different career, one that didn't involve being a detective inspector or a federal agent. Your Computer Science degree felt irrelevant to the job at hand. Why had you opted for such a challenging path? All of the Sherlock crap was a fraud.

With frustration coursing through your veins, you shut down your laptop, determined to give yourself a damn break. The documents could wait. If you stared at them for another minute, you feared you might strangle yourself out of sheer exasperation. Thoughts of murder swirled in your mind, an unwelcome companion.

Glancing at your reflection in the full-length mirror of your room, you adjusted your hair. All you needed was to slip on a bra and a jacket, and you'd be decent enough to go out.

You began walking aimlessly, your mind devoid of thoughts. Like a lost bird in an endless sea of people, you meandered through the cityscape, feeling utterly alone and pathetic. But strangely enough, you found solace in that fact. It was a relief that no one cared about your inner turmoil.

Eventually, you turned into a secluded alley, seeking refuge from the cacophony of car honks, celebrity advertisements, and distant chatter. As you reached the riverbank, the noises gradually faded, leaving behind an almost eerie silence.

"You definitely lack the potential to be a stalker," you murmured, leaning your forearms on the cold metal rails. The night breeze caressed your skin, offering a soothing respite. This place held a special significance for you. Before you, a river stretched out, its undulating waters shimmering under the moon's gentle glow. Not many were aware of this hidden gem. You had stumbled upon it by chance—a serendipitous discovery.

"I believe it's more about your sensitivity than my talent," a voice responded,  breaking the silence.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

You clasped your hands together, tilting your head slightly to catch a glimpse of Mark, who mirrored your posture. The cigarette smoke that was slipped from under his coat snaked around your throat, threatening to close it if you didn’t inhale. God, you had missed the illicitness of the scent, your nose akin to a bloodhound, detecting others who hadn't given up on the habit as easily as you had and taking advantage of the free rush. You gave into it, let its tendrils inside your lungs with a deep, calm breath. It undid the months of quitting you had endured, but it was worth it as the mint and nicotine wormed their way through your nervous system, releasing the cyber bombing stress that had accumulated. Your shoulders were still tight, but you could breathe again.

It’s funny how carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide made that more possible than clean, fresh oxygen and a peaceful scenery surrounding you.

It was ironic how carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide seemed to offer more solace than clean, fresh oxygen and a tranquil backdrop.

"Do you have it here?" you asked in a hushed tone, your gaze fixed on the river, boredom laced within.

Without a word, Mark turned his body, leaning against the barriers. His hand delved into his pocket, retrieving the small foil box that you had yearned for just as much as the habit itself.

There it was. His crooked smile, on full display. You always wondered what a guy like Mark was doing with Hazel Doubleday. They were polar opposites, not in the "look-how-much-better-we-make-each-other" kind of way. He was rugged, unkempt. She looked like an airbrushed Instagram post even when she went to check the mail. It’s not your business, nonetheless. They’re not even officially in an exclusive relationship. But their relationship wasn't your business; it was merely deduction. Because if they were in a relationship, he wouldn’t have reach out to you on that website in the first place.

Lowering your head, you redirected your attention to the river's flow. A mocking smile graced your lips, a self-inflicted embarrassment. At least they had physical intimacy. Taking a moment to collect yourself, you glared back up at Mark, who was already extending the small pack in his hand.

“Never knew you smoke.”

He lit the cigarette that was pressed between your lips, his gaze meeting yours. Your stomach lurched unexpectedly, sending a wave of heat through your chest and straight down to your sex.

“I quit a long time ago, but you know, with the load of work, it helps.” You said bluntly despite the sudden bewildering feeling.

He lit his own cigarette, inhaling deeply and closing his eyes in a moment of bliss. Exhaling slowly, he stared directly at you, peering through your facade of nonchalance and recognizing the anguish simmering within.

"I get it," he said, his voice calm and understanding.

You tapped your cigarette lightly, watching the ash fell into the river and disappeared in the darkness. A half-hearted smile plastered across your lips. “You do, and choose to be a huge obstacle anyway.”

“Everything has its own reasons.” The calmness of his voice was maddening.

You hummed. “Makes sense.“

Taking another drag and blowing the smoke out into the chilly abyss. You felt it release a knot deep inside your chest, like the oxygen you had been breathing in and out the past few months was toxic, not the habit you had tried—and failed, apparently—to quit.

"So, why were you following me?" you asked, your tone laced with curiosity.

"Maybe I just wanted to see you.”

"Bullshit," you scoffed, unconvinced by his response.

Mark bit his lip, flicking his ash into the wind.

"Shit, sorry," you quickly apologized, realizing your joke might have struck a nerve. "I didn't mean any harm, alright?" The sudden seriousness etched across his face made you uneasy. You hadn't intended to anger him.

He shook his head, took a step closer to you. When his hand reached out and brushed your cheek, your body erupted in flames. His skin was softer than you expected, especially given the amount of time the man spent in the Navy and the brutal nature of every career he had ever done.

"I know the cyber bombing has been taking its toll on you, but it's true that I've always been serious about you, even in our texts. I genuinely want to spend time with you," he confessed.

Your skin felt branded where his had grazed it. You wondered what that touch might do to the rest of you.

“Ha. Who said I don’t like it?”

“Touché.” He laughed, and hell if it didn’t sound genuine. He stubbed out his cigarette, tossed it over the rails. You did the same with yours. “I’m done. You?”

“I am, but…” You let your words trail off, not sure how to finish them.

Like a magnet, you didn’t want to be pulled away from Mark just yet. His earnest drew you closer, but once there, his musk—smoke and mint—changed the terms of your attraction to him. You wanted him, plain and simple. Your chest swelled with lust, each breast aching independently of the other.

It had been a long damned month since you last touched yourself. Maybe that’s why you kept imagining Mark’s hands on your body. Especially after you met him for the first time. That and his scent.

“But you don’t want to go home, yet, do you?”

“Not yet.” You admitted honestly.

“Then let’s not.” He pulled out two more cigarettes and handed you one. You grinned. The conspiracy you shared added to the pull you felt towards him. He drew in closer to you than he had before, this time bracing an arm over your shoulder. He flicked the lighter, the small flame not near as hot on your skin as his breath.

Fuck, you wanted to taste the menthol on his lips, swirl your tongue around his mouth and suck the smoke right from his lungs. Kill two birds, one stone.

He didn’t push back after lighting your cigarette. His proximity reminded your body of each day you hadn’t had a man’s hands, breath, lips, on it.

The tension in the air wrapped around both of you, wove between the mere inches that separated your faces. It was cold with the night air and occasional wind, but the chill that shuddered through you had nothing to do with the weather.

You didn’t know who made the first move. You honestly didn’t. You only knew that one minute you were taking a pull from the cigarette, and the next his lips were on yours. His tongue teased your mouth open, and smoke wafted around you, a blend of both your exhalations. He tasted exactly like he smelled—exactly like you had hoped. Like mint and smoke and desire.

The kiss was hot, just mouths exploring, while your hands still held the lit cigarettes by your sides.

Then it was over, the inches back between you, feeling more like miles now that you had tasted him. It hadn’t alleviated the craving, but rather made it worse. An ache settled on your still-damp lips, tingled your tongue. You wanted to know more, wanted to know everything about this man, off-limits or not.

Your underwear was wet with proof of everything you wanted. When your vision cleared, you noticed a bulge in Mark’s pants that pretty much told the same story. Then why had you stopped? Besides the obvious, of course.

“I’m sorry, Y/N.” Your name rolling off his tongue was like a thumb pressed to your clit—you flooded with moisture thinking what else his tongue might be capable of making you feel. “I know you can’t be involved with me, regarding your professionalism. It’s just that when I walked around and saw you tonight, I thought maybe everything would be okay. Then out here, I just, you know. Lost control. I’m really sorry.”

Well, the lid was already off the can, so to speak. No use in only sinning halfway. It was that driving thought—that and the desperate need to taste the rest of Mark—that had your body pressed against his, your hands fisted in his hair before you could overthink the whole thing.

You sucked his bottom lip into your mouth to nibble on and sate your ache. The moan that followed had your hips rocking into his.

“Jesus Christ. Can we really do this?” His voice was breathy and uneven.

It’s not a matter to you that you were in public. Nobody would want to dart their eyes at this corner anyway. Neither was your job requirement. It’s going to remain confidential between you and him. Just once.

You nodded into his neck, trailing your teeth along the sensitive flesh beneath his earlobe. He groaned quietly before pulling you with him by your wrist.

“My car is nearby.” He muttered before you could question.

He led you to his car, was parked a couple blocks away. Unlocking the door quickly, he pushed you into the passenger seat and entered his driver seat.

“Can we go to your place?” He asked while starting his car.

You nodded eagerly and then instructed him the way to your condo. Time suddenly became longer as the red number on the elevator monitor screen switched from G to 18. It took both of you everything to not run hands on the other, well aware that there’s a camera. Being with Mark alone had already looked suspicious enough.

As soon as you locked your door, you were picked up by him. He flopped you on the bed, onto your belly and faced the strategically placed wall mirror. Everything flashed before your eyes like a thunder. You shirt was off before you could comprehend everything. He was quick and brutal, beyond anything you could possibly imagine through his messages.

Suddenly, he was on you, holding you down from behind as he pulled down your pants, threw it on the floor and ripped your panties off. He inhaled them deeply, forced you to do the same, and then stuffed them in your mouth before undressing your upper body too.

“I remember you still have a punishment.” Mark said.

Forcing your face down and ass up, he spanked you three times, hard. You gasped through your panties gag. It hurt, a little more than you were expecting, more than you thought you could tolerate. And it was exactly what you had been hoping for. Your clit pulsed harder than ever and in spite of the initial shock, you found yourself wiggling your ass back toward him for more.

“Such a little slut. You love this, don’t you, gagged with your own wet panties, offering your ass to me.”

Slowly rubbing your slit, he gently pushed into your pussy with two fingers.

“Don’t make a noise or I will add two more spanks.”

You wiggled a little more, unsure of how hard you wanted to push.

“On your back,” he instructed you again and freed your mouth, wiping the salvia with the flimsy fabric. This time you complied.

You watched Mark stretched his long arm out, finding something in your nightstand drawer. Certain enough, you knew what’s inside.

“How do you know?” You asked breathlessly.

“You told me once.”

Did you? Goddamn it. You couldn’t even recall what you ate for lunch let alone a message you sent long ago. What currently on your mind was Mark. Everything about him.

“Do you remember I offered a bet when we met for the very first time?”

You’re amazed how you actually spent time to ponder his question before nodding your head in response. He hummed approvingly and sat down between your legs.

“I want to make it happen, now. Listen carefully. I have to make a phone call to report my situation therefore I need you to be quiet for me. You can’t come until I give you permission. If you can do that, you’ll be rewarded. Am I clear?”

You squirmed underneath him, your inflamed skin irritated by the messy bedding. “Yes, daddy.” You whispered sweetly, knowing how much he loved to hear you say it.

He turned on the vibrator and began roving around your various sensitive zones. Your mind began traveling along with the vibrations as you sunk deeper into your arousal. A moan escaped your lips subconsciously.

“Shut up,” Mark scolded, admiring your beautiful body. He slapped your clit, eliciting a sharp gasp before pulling out his phone from his pocket with his free hand.

You clammed your lips shut, watching him making his phone call. The other side picked up almost immediately, after the second ring if your calculation was right.

“Hi. I would like to check again if you have any late schedule tonight.” He said calmly into the phone.

A smirk lingered on his lips mischievously as he pushed the toy right into your clit. He began to draw little circles around it and your breathing came faster, your cheeks burning a little pinker. Your eyes closed again and your were deliciously pathetic.

“No Miss. I just have some work that has to be done. You can ask Masen if you want to go .”

His eyes examined you intently while he talked. You whimpered, overwhelmed with the pleasure. And he flicked your clit hard. You released an incomprehensible torrent of swears in whispers.

“Miss, you must have mistaken something.”

He had you in your zone and you were getting close. You were certain that he had already have felt the few little tremors but he had graciously let them slide. You knew that was gonna gush, but when and how you got there was up to him. You were at his mercy.

He changed the setting to pulsate and kept on exploring your pussy. You exhaled slowly, trying to control your orgasm.

“Goodnight Miss.”

Mark carelessly threw his phone away on the mattress and stopped the vibrator, earning a desperate whine from you.

“What did I say?” He asked in an authoritative tone.

“You- you asked me to be quiet.”

“And were you quiet?”

“N-no daddy...” You trailed off nervously, shivering under his sexy charm. You noticed how hard his cock was, straining underneath his jeans.

He then made you flipped onto your belly again, lifting your hips so he could slip a pillow underneath, propping your ass up higher for him. “You lost the bet. I suppose you should expect for punishment baby.”

Then your punishment resumed, and the harder he spanked you the more wetness you felt between your legs.

“Tell me you’re sorry.” He instructed, and you obeyed at once.

“I-I’m s-sorry.” You breathed.

“For what?”

“For being such a d-dirty… insatiable girl…”

“Mmm, that’s right you are.”

His hand stroked you everywhere, soothing the aching pain. Your ass, thighs, between your legs. You shuddered with the need of wanting him.

“Give me a safe word, baby. A word you’ll say if I push you too far, and you feel uncomfortable…” He cooed.

“Um... “ You scanned your room unreasonably, looking for help. “Execute?”

It’s a perfect turn-off because whenever you breaking someone’s door off, it’s necessary to count to three and repeated “execute” out loud for three times.

“Good. Now what that means is, I won’t stop if you say ‘no’ or even ‘stop’. I will only stop if I hear you say ‘execute’. Is that understood?”

“Yes daddy.”

“Such a quick learner.”

You felt him undressed himself and tossed his clothes away behind you. He reached up and gently pressed your head down, until your face flushed against the mattress. At this angle, your ass and dripping pussy are laid completely bare, for him to do with as he pleased.

“Do you want me inside you, baby?”

“Oh, yes…”

“Beg for it.” Your ass wriggled and he smacked it again, hard. “I said, beg.”

“P-please… please, I want you inside me…”

“And what will you do for me?”

“Anything…” It embarrassed you how easily and quickly you gave him that answer, but it seemed to please him.

“I’m clean. Can I go raw?”

You nodded in eagerness. And with that, Mark slid his hard cock inside you, thrusting slow and deep, building your rhythm as he went in. He gripped your hips and thrusted in and out. In the midst of your fervor, you were utterly euphoric.

“Is this what you want, whore?”

He buried yourself in you and reached for your clit. The circles he made hit you exactly right, and he applied just enough pressure. You’re so hot and bothered, it’s almost instantaneous. Leaning over you, he pressed your face close to yours.

“Are you coming for me already, slut?”

“Oh god… yes…”

“I didn’t give you permission, did I?”

Startled, you stumbled over an apology, but it’s far too late to stop yourself. He chastised you, but mercilessly he didn’t stop. He played with your clit and pounded into you nonstop until your orgasm peaked and subsided.

Mark allowed you to rest your entire body on the bed, spent and breathless. After a few moments, when you had collected yourself, he pulled you up by your hair, until you’re on your knees.

“Turn over and crawl to me.”

You gulped as he purred into your ear. Hearing him shifted behind you, you obliged his command and got in between his legs.

Stroking your hair back tenderly, he looked you over and smiled.

“Suck it.”

Starting slowly, you licked him from his base to tip, tasting yourself on it and loving the effect you had on him. Adding your hands to help, you used your lips and tongue to slather his cock with your saliva. He let you minister to him on your own for a little longer, but ultimately he took control.

“Grab your elbows behind your back.”

Doing as you’re told, you’re left with his cock in your mouth as he straightened his back and gripped you by the hair. After a few hard thrusts, he pulled back for a moment.

“Open your mouth. Wider. Tongue out. That’s my good girl…”

He started to fuck your mouth, relentless. You don’t have much of a gag reflex, but when he used your mouth like this, choking on his cock was inevitable, as was drooling all over yourself. Mark was making a mess of you, and he loved every second of it.

Your breasts bounced as he rammed into you, and when he commanded you to look up at him, you saw how much he’s enjoying you in this compromised, worshipful position. Pulling back again, he caressed your face with his cock.

“You good?” He checked on you endearingly.

“Yes...”

Without another word, he renewed his assault on your mouth with vigor. When he made you try to say “Thank you, Sir” with your mouth full of his cock, it pushed him over the edge. His cum filled your mouth, but he pulled back at the last second and let some of it drip all over your lips, cheeks, and tits.

Running his fingers along your face, his look of satisfaction was the greatest gift. He collected his cum with his thumb and shoved it into your mouth, waiting for you to lick it clean.

“You did so good.”

He leaned down to kiss you on your lips and carried you to the bathroom. You tiredly nuzzled your face into his bare chest, earning an adorable chuckle from him.

“Let’s get yourself clean up then we can sleep.”

Mark pulled up to his covert apartment, time ticking away relentlessly. He had to be quick, as his window of opportunity would close at 10 am. He had a mere hour left.

Retrieving his phone, he settled in front of his computer setup. By now, FBI agents would surely be swarming Lee Corp. He had discreetly planted a femtocell on their floor that fateful day. What exactly was he up to?

Hacking the FBI.

It was the beginning of Stage 2, a daring move considering that Two/Eight alone couldn't completely bring down Lee Corp.

Mark had already scanned your badge number while you slept, enabling him to infiltrate their servers. He knew it. He knew he was manipulating you but after he completed his mission, he vowed to protect you from the fallout. Hopefully.

Sure, what he was doing might sound impossible but he’s here to tell everyone, he were capable of anything.

Step 1: identify the target and its flaw. There were always flaws, Mark learnt that early in life. His first hack, the local library. A vulnerable FTP server and its AS/400. A far cry from the android zero-days he’s using to own the FBI standard-issue smartphones. The library was a test to see if he could even get into the system. He had since set greater goals.

For instance, step 2: build malware and prepare an attack. At his fingertips, the zero-day was wrapped in code like a Christmas present and became an exploit. The programmatic expression of his will. He lived for this shit.

Step 3: a reverse shell, two-stage exploit. The ideal package. Load the malware into the femtocell delivery system, his personal cell tower that would intercept all mobile data. Similar to his first time, when he found yourself staring at late book fees, employee names, member addresses. Everything was revealed. The secret of the perfect hack? Make it infallible. Hidden within the kernel is a logic bomb, malicious code designed to execute under circumstances he had programmed. Should the FBI take an image of the femtocell, all memory would self-corrupt or explode.

Step 4: write the script. Why did it himself? Because that’s how he learn, and know exactly what, when and how it’s going to run. He didn’t do anything harmful his first time. Just looked around, but he felt so powerful. Eleven years old and in complete control of the Washington Township public library. Today was different, he hacked the world.

Final step: launch the attack. Once he did, he would own the android phone of every FBI agent in that building. He would own Lee Corp’s networks, applications, everything. domain admin. This. The thrill of owning a system, this was the greatest rush. God access. The feeling never got old.

The backdoor had a hard-coded C2 domain pointing to a listener on your machine which he had injected.

#ls

sent.

waiting for connect...

All he had to do left was hack the registrar and change the name server configs.

connect from k6f7241/192.251.68.242:36268apc_hw05_aos_640.bin

Once he hijacked the domain he could shut down their access to the paper data delivery before the FBI noticed.

rwwwshell-2.0.pl

#shred-f -n 3 *

sent.

Now. He had officially owned the FBI, keeping track on their investigation and Lee Corp’s database recovery. And no one could notice.

As you analyzed lines of code, your phone buzzed incessantly on your desk. Normally, you would ignore it during work, but the persistent vibrations began to grate on your nerves. This better be important, you thought, not in the mood to entertain another damn sales call peddling life insurance.

Unknown: 3 missed calls.

Unknown: 1 new message.

You swiped to open the message.

Unknown: Meet me at the staircase.

With a swipe, you opened the message, your brows knitting together in a slight scowl. Was this some kind of prank?

You: Who is this?

Unknown: Your daddy.

Startled, you instinctively glanced around the office floor, a sense of caution washing over you. Although you weren't doing anything illegal, the idea of being caught in the act made you uneasy. When you woke up that morning, Mark had already vanished, leaving no trace of his presence, not even a strand of his hair.

You: How do you get my number?

Oh shit. You had forgotten that you gave it to him at the shooting range. Placing your phone back on your desk, you absentmindedly scanned the sea of code on your monitor. Something felt off, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it. After a few seconds, your phone vibrated against the solid surface, but you ignored it for a full minute. Eventually, you allowed your computer to sleep and grabbed your personal device before stepping out through the wide glass door.

Unknown: I expect you to be here around 10:30.

Your eyes briefly flicked to the small digital clock at the top of the screen. It read 10:28.

Taking the elevator would take forever. Casting furtive glances over your shoulder to ensure your actions went unnoticed, you tread your way to the staircase. You didn’t know why Mark wanted to see you all of a sudden but judging by his tone through the texts, you supposed it’s about something significant.

As soon as you made a turn on the stairs, Mark glared up at your rushing figure as he’s leaning on the wall. Wordlessly, he walked away, tilting his head in gesture to tell you to follow him. He led you to the men restroom and locked the door afterward.

"What is this? We shouldn't be seen—"

"Together," he finished your sentence, his grip tightening on your wrists, pinning them above your head. "Can't you just relax for a moment? Why can't I see you?" he questioned.

"Because I'm at work," you quipped, attempting to reason with him.

He squinted at you, his face inching closer to yours. "What's with the nonchalance?"

With a forceful yank, you freed your hands from his grasp. He may be strong, but you were a fucking FBI agent—no simple handgrip could hold you down. Mark released you and placed his hands on his hips, waiting for an explanation for your demeanor.

“Listen, I don’t have time to play whatever stupid game you’re having on your mind. I suggest you should think about last night as a sweet accident, plain and simple.”

Okay, you knew you were being kind of rude but practically Mark was still a suspect. Rules had been broken, and it couldn't happen again—for both your sakes. You couldn't bear to prolong this situation, not until Lee Corp found a viable solution for their recovery and the mastermind behind Two/Eight was unmasked.

“What was that even supposed to mean?”

Mark questioned with a scoff, obviously angry with your coldness. How could you just brush everything off easily like that? Had you ever had any true feelings toward him? Or that’s it, an accident?

You sighed heavily. “I understand what you’re feeling.” Of course you did, your job was to read people. “But there’s nothing I can do about this until this hack is completely over.”

It amazed Mark how quick you could change into an entire different person after one night. One moment, you were on your knees, submitting to him, and the next, you were a relentless Federal Agent, spouting cyber-bombing jargon. He couldn't even fathom the extent of your transformation once you discovered everything.

“Fine.” He finally relented. “But I can still see you, right?”

“Only afterwork.” You decided.

The restroom fell into a depressing silence. You’re confused. Mark hadn’t backed off, you couldn’t get out here if he didn’t fucking move.

“Is there anything else? I can’t be away for too long.”

He stared at you in silence, his gaze piercing through your very being. Anxious, you clenched your hands, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. It was as if he could read your mind. His eyes briefly glanced at your hand by your side before returning to your face.

"Be honest. What do you feel about me?" he inquired, catching you off guard.

Your lips parted slightly at his unexpected question. You’re at loss of words and it had to be right at this moment. What should you say? Should it be a lie or a truth or something vague?

Drawing in a deep breath, you were enveloped by Mark's scent. It was musky, the unmistakable aroma of cashmeran, a potent blend of woody-ambery notes. There was also a hint of camphor, a sharp and cooling scent reminiscent of camphor laurel. And beneath it all, a faint trace of Jean Patou Joy, a luxuriously rich perfume laden with rose and jasmine, likely belonging to his client.

That was the best you could discern. It was a stark contrast from the first time you had caught a whiff of him. This time, there was no comforting fabric softener, and the absence of cigarette smoke indicated that he refrained from smoking at work, a scent difficult to erase.

You raised your gaze, meeting Mark's impatient stare once again, his raised eyebrow demanding an answer. Damn, how much time had you wasted? Sometimes, you wished you could silence your overactive brain. Why were you even examining his fabric softener?

"Uh, I think..." you muttered hesitantly, "I'm attracted to you."

"That's it?" Mark pressed, his voice filled with expectation.

You shrugged, uncertain about your response. "Perhaps I do like you. That's the best I can manage, at least for now."

He locked eyes with you for a brief moment, searching for something, before stepping back. "I'll call you later," he stated, opening the door for you as he spoke.

"You should expect a call too. We'll arrange another interview, but only after we're done with the others," you informed him, your mind already racing ahead.

Mark nodded easily, his gaze lingering on you as you walked away, your footsteps accompanied by the subtle adjustment of your blazer. It was a pity that by the time you could arrange an interview with him, he would have already completed Stage 2, and any trace of Two/Eight would be completely erased.

Rather than heading straight back to the 23rd floor, you took advantage of the situation, engaging in casual conversations with some employees along the way. You asked them questions about the corporation, gaining insights into its functioning. What perplexed you was that the CTO never personally assigned tasks; it was always her assistant who verbally conveyed the instructions. Little did they know, the person they believed to be her assistant was, in fact, her bodyguard.

Your certainty grew that Hazel Doubleday was nothing more than a figurehead. But why Mark Lee? It made no sense how he could handle the actual responsibilities of a CTO, even if he was being paid for it. Mentally noting the puzzling information you had gathered, you strolled back to the Bureau office.

Unexpectedly, you met Mark on the 23th floor. He was engrossed in something on the computer with another agent. A frown etched across your face as you discreetly positioned yourself behind a corner, ensuring that you remained unnoticed. Only after Mark disappeared through another door did you enter the office.

"What was that? You do realize this floor is off-limits to non-Bureau personnel, right?" you questioned assertively, standing beside the fellow agent.

She widened her eyes in bewilderment, stumbling through her explanation. "Oh, it's a kernel security check failure. I don't know how to fix it. He just happened to come by and saw me struggling, so he offered to help."

Placing your hands on your hips, you glared at her. "How is it possible that you don't know how to fix such a simple error?"

The girl averted her gaze, feeling the weight of your accusation. You had to be strict. After all, the entire building was under investigation, and there was no room for mistakes. Moreover, it bothered you on a personal level. You were striving to maintain professionalism, while your coworker seemed to be shamelessly flirting with Mark, practically eye-fucking him right then and there. While you were dedicated to your job, she was busy cozying up to a potential suspect.

"Jeong!" you snapped your fingers when your boss emerged from a conference room. He had insisted on working in there, claiming he needed a private and quiet space.

His eyes immediately landed on you, and he quickened his pace, inspecting both you and the nervous agent. "What's going on?"

"How did you train your employees?" you glared back at him.

Confusion clouded his brows. "My job is to monitor them, not-"

“Give her a code test, doesn’t have to be too hard. I suggest building a malware.”

"What's happening?" he repeated, utterly perplexed by the unfolding situation.

"She let a non-Bureau personnel inside and allowed them to use the computer. Her excuse was that she didn't know how to fix a kernel failure."

You explained assertively. Technically, as the Executive Assistant, you had the authority to remove her from the case entirely, but that would be overly dramatic.

"And who is that?" Jaehyun asked.

"Mark Lee."

A momentary silence fell over him before he called someone else to escort the agent to a private room. "If her results are satisfactory, you can send her back here," you added.

Afterward, you turned your gaze back to your boss, deliberately staring at him as you blurted out, "You know about this, don't you?" He nodded, causing a sigh to escape your lips. "Care to explain?"

"I requested to meet him. There's something to discuss with Doubleday, but she hasn't arrived yet."

“All right,” you muttered easily, “you should get going.”

Jaehyun looked at you questioningly but he stalked off anyway. Once he exited through the main entrance, you took a seat at the computer. The desktop still displayed lines of code. You scrolled and typed on the keyboard. It appeared to be a security code, albeit in a slightly different form. Yet, they all served the same purpose. Your brow furrowed as you meticulously analyzed it once more. It seemed perfectly normal, yet something felt off. How could Mark even know about coding?

You hated how you’re all riled up because Mark didn’t make a mere contact with you since that day at Lee Corp. You ran your fingers through your hair annoyingly, feeling upset with yourself. What’s wrong with you? You’re the one that demanded this. And when he’s giving exactly what you wanted, why was it ridiculously irritating you?

This was good. This was right. But it didn’t feel right, neither good. It actually felt a little off. Like you’re missing something important. You didn’t even know whether it’s about the cyber bombing or about Mark. Or both of them.

The sound of your phone rang out of the blue drew your attention. Staring at the device for a moment, you picked up the call. “Agent Y/L/N.”

You pulled up at the mansion at nearly midnight. There were some police cars surrounding the house, the peaceful neighborhood must be stirring up by now. You took your time to make an observation around the residential area before stamping inside.

“It’s a bullet on his back.” An officer immediately informed you as he walking on your side.

“You didn’t call me to investigate his death cause, did you?”

“Nah.”

“Then why exactly I’m here?”

You stopped at the sliding glass door. There were a lot of officers walking around, collecting evidence. You eyes deliberately inspected the body laying on the ground, blood gushing out from his back, soaking his shirt with the scarlet red.

“I think you may need his hard drive. It could be helpful, he’s the CEO anyway.”

You glanced back at the officer. “Where is his office?”

“Upstair, the last room on the left hall.”

You mumbled a quick “thank you” and jogged toward the luxurious staircase. This mansion had an absolute outstanding design but you didn’t have spare time to scrutinize it. You put on your gloves before stepping inside the spacious room. It was decorated in classic French style. There were bookshelves everywhere, towering over you. Intently, you inspected the furniture, the electronics and documents inside the cabinets. Everything looked right, for a businessman’s life. However no one is perfect. There must be something else. Something that was hidden.

You walked around the room. You drew the curtains. You looked under the cabinets. You knocked the walls. There was still absolute nothing. Pursing your lips, you mentally analyzed everything again.

Phillip Doubleday was a CEO of the largest technology company of the country. He had abundant responsibilities. His only daughter was a superficial airhead with no valid capacity. And it burdened him more, certainly, so he had someone else do the job for her. He had ADHD, judging by the methylphenidate inside his drawer. Your brows pulled slightly as you discovered something else. He’s also an addict, there was fucking oxycodone. However it’s weird. It’s estimated that more than 25 percent of adolescents with substance use problems fit the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. He used methylphenidate— a medicine licensed for the treatment of ADHD but why also used oxycodone? Because he’s an addict before he’s diagnosed with ADHD which also meant he no longer used drugs.

You fished out your phone and searched for the familiar contact. “875, Archer Crescent St. Be quick.”

Hanging up the call, you then picked up the small oxycodone bottle and as expected, there was a memory card inside.

“Y/N?”

You almost flinched. Your breath caught in your throat, your heart drummed fast against your ribs. Casually, you shoved both of your hands inside the overcoat pockets to hide the drug bottle.

“I thought the police has isolated you from the scene.”

You turned around to look at Mark, who was also staring at you, and shirtless. It’s embarrassing how you found yourself shamelessly checking his well-built torso. But why the hell was he even shirtless?

A frown displayed on his face. “Uhm not really. We’re in the first room of the corridor. I saw you and you didn’t come back out. What are you doing?”

“Well, we’re collecting his hard drive. Probably be helpful.” You said nonchalantly as you slowly walked outside. “And why are you here?”

He moved from the doorway to allow you space and then walked beside you. “Hazel, she doesn’t want to talk to the police. I don’t know what to do, maybe you could help. I guess.”

“Since when you call her by her first name?” You glowered.

“I always do.”

You rolled your eyes in annoyance at his casualty. You didn’t know why and what made you so mad. It felt like a motherfucker just stole your Christmas present. Unfocused on your way, you suddenly bumped into something. A 5’9 wall.

“What the fuck?” You exclaimed. Exasperation colored your voice as Mark blocked your sight.

“You’re jealous? Aren’t you?”

You gaped in surprise but swiftly masked your facial expression with indifference again. Unfortunately, it was notable enough that Mark had already noted it.

“The only thing that makes me jealous right now was that people are peacefully sleeping on their cozy bed but I’m fucking here-“ You walked passed him into the bedroom opposite the staircase “-dealing with a miserable sobbing woman.”

He scoffed at your rudeness. “No doubt. You’re jealous.”

You ignored him and stepped further inside. Hazel Doubleday was all crying hysterically with a bathrobe wrapped around her petite figure. You darted your eyes at Mark again. Now you could partly guess what they were doing. No, you fucking knew exactly what they were doing.

With a heavy sigh, you sat down on the chair opposite her bed. Mark subsequently mimicked your movement but he sat on the mattress, next to the girl. She nuzzled her face in his bare chest and continued squealing. You were irritated badly but still, sharing some empathy with the poor woman. She just lost her dad. She’s completely on her own now.

“Ms Doubleday.” Your voice came out quietly. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” She murmured yet all you heard was utter gibberish since her voice was muffled.

During your time doing these jobs, you had dealt with countless alike situations. Whether it’s the victims’s families or the agents that sacrificed while doing their mission, you were always being there. And tragically, it numbed you. Of course, you’re a decent human being but you’re a Federal Agent, not a therapist. You’re trained for this, keeping your composure in any certain circumstances.

“Listen.” You spoke again in a tender tone and after a moment, she finally stopped crying. Mark patted her head in a reassurance. “I know it’s a huge loss and I understand what you’re feeling right now. But I need you to tell me what happened. Like what were you doing at that time?”

She separated her head from Mark’s arms, her eyes were red and swollen. “We were- we...” She stammered, nervously looking at you and then at him.

“You were in the middle of a sexual intercourse. I gathered that.” You impatiently finished her sentence.

Her eyes widened shockingly, bewildered by your coolness. “Yeah... and dad was sitting in the patio reading books as usual. But all of a sudden, when I was about to go to bed, I heard a gunshot. And that’s it.” She cried again.

You nodded in acknowledgment. “And where was he?” You asked, implying Mark.

“He was taking a shower.”

You stood up and walked to the bathroom. The floor was wet. You even could smell the fragrance of his body wash. You knew she wasn’t lying since she’s a bad liar. Nonetheless, you still wanted to check again, just to make sure.

“Agent Y/L/N.”

You turned your head back as the girl called you. “Yes?”

“I think my dad is-“

“Is what?”

“Is-“ she stuttered, “is murdered.”

Her baseless conjecture made you scowl. “Miss, how did you come up with that accusation?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s his rivals, a lot people hate him. I- I don’t know, I just guess so...” Her voice trailed off and you took your time to penetrate her words.

He did not look like he’s murdered. The bullet was not aimed to kill, it was on his back, lower about inches from his right shoulder. He died from blood loss, it was fact. Anyhow, you still weren’t able to be certain whether that bullet was purposely shot or not at this current point. They had to examine his body first.

“What makes you even think about that? Is he involved in any illegal activities? Did he do something wrong?”

It’s rare for people who only did legal business to kill each other only from envy. It’s not a good enough motivation for a standard homicide. If it was, it had to be pure hatred. But why hated someone to the point that you wanted to shoot them?

As Hazel remained silence, probably realized that she had said something she shouldn’t, your eyes flitted on Mark. His eyes were glinting with something virtually undetectable, like a candle fire flaming in the darkness. Most people probably wouldn’t have picked up on that, but it’s your job to read people, notice the tiniest of changes in their demeanor. It briefly disappeared after seconds before he decisively stood up and walked out of the room.

“If you feel unsafe, I’ll leave some officers here tonight.” You mustered before following Mark outside.

The FBI agents had already here to collect the hard drive. You greeted them with a nod and jogged down the stairs to find Mark. Turned out he’s leaning against your car, already put on a plain t-shirt. There’s a cigarette between his lips.

“Shouldn’t you be with her now? Poor girl is probably traumatized.”

“Nope.” He blew the smoke out. “I’m not paid to listen to her cry.”

You watched the thin smoke vanished into the air. He’s gazing at the night sky, he seemed to have a lot on his mind. Peaceful outside, chaotic inside.

“Then are you paid to fuck her?”

A low chuckle escaped his lips. He threw the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. “Technically I can say it’s a yes. But for the record, I don’t give a shit about money.”

And he did actually look like he didn’t care about wealth.

“I don’t do hookups, neither relationship. You’re the only one I’m serious with.” He continued, seeming to know what’s on your mind.

Unreasonably, you felt a weight lifted off your chest and a warm feeling pooled inside. Honestly, you didn’t expect this. It’s clear that you were interested in Mark too. You would be more than delighted to take things further with him, nonetheless, there’s still a thing between you and him. You could not do that until this case was over.

A curl tugged at the corner of your lips at his genuine remark. “You should get inside. It’s late.”

He shook his head slightly. “No. I want to be with you tonight.”

“You can’t. Go inside.”

“Yes I can.”

You ignored him and his stubbornness. He just really splashed cold water on the flame flickering inside you. Fishing your keys out, you walked pass him to get into your car. But he’s quicker to catch your wrist and snatched your key. As you’re still lost in confusion, he opened the passenger door and pushed you inside before getting into the driver seat.

“What the fuck? You can’t do-“

You’re halfway cut off by a rough kiss on your lips. Mark wrapped his hand around your throat to pull you closer to him. The bitter taste of cigarette coated your tongue addictively. You stared at him with wide eyes. His mouth was still passionately sucking on your lip.

“I can do this, I can’t do that. Can you just shut up because I’ll fucking do whatever I want to.” He murmured against your swollen lips, hot breath fanning your skin.

“But-“

“No but.” He scolded. “Just fucking forget about how a cryptoviral extortion caused Two/Eight or how terrorists are usually cowards. Enjoy your night.”

You were befuddled by his sudden behavior. Though, you gulped and fastened your seatbelt as Mark started the car. His hand occasionally squeezed your thigh while he’s driving. It slowly climbed up until he merely near your core. He kept his hand there, hot and threatening. The best you could do were remaining quiet.

It’s beyond your comprehension how one minute you were witnessing a dead body, the next minute you’re sucking Mark’s face.

When his hand left the doorknob, he traced it up your arm and over the slope of your shoulder. You didn't stop him. You just closed your eyes and shuddered. His hands gripped your waist and he pulled your hips into his. You let your body relax against his, one of his legs settled between your thighs.

You breathed in and when you exhaled it was almost a moan. You had to stop your hips from instinctively working against his leg. It had been a while since you’d had anything besides her hands and depraved thoughts about him. That was fucking embarrassing.

You gently pushed his shirt up over his head and ran your hands over his chest.

"You should tell me to stop." You mumbled under your breath.

Mark laughed this time. As though you were the one out of control. He would kill for that to be the case.

"Sure," he lied before he kissed you again.

If kissing you before had been life-altering, then kissing you now was earth-shattering. Mark kissed the way he talked - wide and loose.

His calloused hands cupped the delicate skin along your jawbone. He guided one of them between your legs and, at his touch, the floor slanted beneath you. The kiss grew messy, all lips and teeth. Warmth spread down your limbs and pooled between your legs where he cupped you, his fingers and palm working against the fabric of your pants.

You took off your coat and your blouse by yourself, tossing them somewhere on the couch. Mark paused for only a second before starting to work at your bra strap. He left a trail of hot wet kisses down your shoulder as the straps fell. You raised your arms so he could pull your top off completely.

You kissed him again, your bare chests pressed together. Your nipples hardened as they brushed against his skin. You broke the kiss to take a step back. Mark made a noise in protest and reached for you again.

"Come here."

He smiled, pulling you with him toward your desk, sitting easily onto the desk. He wanted you to straddle him but there were papers everywhere. "Why is your desk so messy?"

He stared at it, doing sex Tetris in his mind to try and triangulate a position that wouldn't knock everything over.

"Because I work." You whispered back. Towers of papers slid off the desk. Cups of paperclips and pens spilled onto the carpet.

The body-positive mantras you shouted at yourself every morning in the mirror were helpful, but their efficacy paled in comparison to his hands grabbing your ass and thighs with such sheer appreciation.

With your knees finally having something to work with, you used the edge of the desk and his shoulders to grind against him desperately. The friction between fabric and crotches and the shape of his cock underneath you lit you on fire. You were about to come just from dry humping him, something you hadn't done since high school. You had forgotten this was even an option.

Mark fondled your breasts and squeezed your nipples. As soon as he pinched, you cried out.

“Do you like that?” He asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes more...” You implored.

He let go of the sensitive nubs and chastised you, just a little.

“I’m going to need you to ask nicely.”

You whimpered again and looked up at him with eyes full of longing. “Please… please, daddy?” You begged.

“Hmm… I don’t know,” he teased, “We’ll see how good you can be.”

Biting back your whimper this time, you did your best to look contrite.

“Pick up those papers off the floor.” He ordered. Obediently, you did as you were told. You stacked up all the papers and then held the pile out to him.

“On that shelf, please.” He said, and immediately wondered if politeness was a buzzkill for you.

If it was, you showed no sign of it. You simply followed his instructions and then presented yourself to him, your exposed nipples still standing at attention. He took you by the waist and pulled you back to him.

“Such a good girl.” He whispered and you let him guide you to the other side of the desk, where there was a bit more room.

“Bend over.” He commanded you.

Slowly, deliberately, he pulled your pants and your underwear down and helped you step out of the clothing. For a few brief moments, he simply savored the sight of you. Your naked body, bent over the stupid desk, waiting for him to touch you, to taste you.

Running his hand up the inside of your right thigh, he prompted you to open your legs for him. He slipped his fingers between your legs and groaned out loud at the dripping wetness he found there.

“What a slut,” you could hear the smirk in his voice, “you are so fucking wet.”

Teasing your clit, Mark worked his way around your eager pussy. Leaning forward, he spoke softly in your ear with a crucial reminder.

“Now, remember. You can’t be too loud, or I’ll have to stop. Are you going to be a good, quiet girl for me?” He taunted you. It clearly wouldn’t be easy. You were already squirming and clamping your mouth shut.

“Y-yes… yes, daddy…”

You kept pressing yourself against his hand, until he practically had no other choice but to thrust his fingers inside you. You gulped back a moan that threatened to be much too loud, and you stilled your movements until you quieted down. Then he found your sweet spot.

You cried out, unbridled. He couldn’t help but thrust a few more times, but eventually he took his hand away from you. A threat is no good without follow through.

“No, please… please don’t stop…” You begged. The sound of it sent a thrill from top to toes. He was feeling pretty fucking heady from the way you responded to him. The ache in your voice, the pleading in your eyes.

He walked around to the front of the desk, but you didn’t move. You stayed bent over, legs spread apart, and kept begging.

“Clearly that isn’t true.” He shook his head and sighed, doing hid best to convey disappointment in your lack of self-control. “Open your mouth.” He instructed.

You obeyed, and he gently stuffed your panties, which he was keeping inside his pocket, until it filled your mouth. You looked up at him, eyes wide, and nodded when he chastised you again.

“There, we’ll see if this helps stifle all that naughty moaning of yours.”

Returning to his position behind your bare ass, he landed one sharp smack that made you cry out in muffled surprise.

“If you’re going to get the orgasm you crave, you need to be punished for your disobedience another way.” He spanked you again. Twice. “Don’t you agree?”

You whimpered a little through your gag, and then nodded your consent.

He told you as much, and then resumed his exploration of all the delights between your legs again. You had been wet before, but after all those spankings, you were an absolute mess.

“Oh, fuck… look at you.” He teased in amusement. “Apparently my dirty girl really, really enjoys her punishment. Is that right?”

You hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then nodded.

“Yeah? You liked being spanked, didn’t you, my filthy, dirty girl…”

As he talked, he slid his fingers back inside you, taking a little time to get back to where he knew you wanted him to go. Your hips wriggled, your soaking wet pussy rubbing against his hand, the volume of your moans suppressed by the makeshift gag filling your mouth.

He finally landed on your spot again, and your cries grew louder, but not loud enough to conquer the gag.

“That’s much better,” he praised you. “Making me gag you so I could fuck you properly was a very good idea.”

While he stroked your walls, he reached around and started to torment one of your perky nipples. And he did his job, working you into a frenzy by caressing your g-spot and fondling your nipple until you bucked and writhed under his touch.

“Tell me,” he directed you. “Tell me when you cum.”

Mark pulled the cloth out of your mouth and you cried out instantly.

“Oh god- I’m cumming...”

Unrestrained, you was yelling so loud anyone on that floor probably heard you. As the waves of your orgasm subsided, he kept my hand in place while he pulled her back and cradled you against him, smiling.

“Now everyone next door definitely knows what a dirty slut you are.” He proceeded to stick his fingers in your eager, willing mouth, one by one. You luxuriated in licking and sucking each finger, slowly, letting him play with your lips and sticking out your tongue for me when he told you to.

Withdrawing his fingers from your mouth, he pinned you on the desk and squatted behind you. You felt hot breath against your exposed slit, couldn't help but mewling and wriggling where you bent. Then you felt his warm, wet muscle take a tentative taste. And another. Then a much longer exploratory lick, causing you to keen softly as your heart raced. Unable to resist, he buried his head in between your thighs, greedily lapping away. And you loved every second of it.

A gasp escaped your lips once you felt Mark swirl his tongue around your clit. Arching your back in response to the wonderful stimulation, you began to grind against his face, forcing him to hold you still with his large, powerful hands.

It was impossible to tell how long he had been at this. Could have been minutes? Perhaps an hour? It didn't matter, only that he had been sloppily devouring you, his silky mane spilling over your legs as he did. He intended to enjoy himself, using his warm, wet muscle to explore your velvety inner walls and tease your clit. Then just as you were about to reach your peak... it ceased.

You whined, desperately trying to listen to what Mark was doing. You could feel his figure shift; come to think of it, he was probably standing up. For a brief moment, you felt his warm fingers against your bottom lip; he was telling you to quiet down.

Obediently, you did as ordered, although it did nothing to ease the needy, growing ache in your now empty cunt. You saw him sit down on the desk before his hands grabbed your waist and let you straddle his lap. He had taken off his pants as now you’re staring at his hard cock. You lifted yourself up a little for him to slide inside your walls.

"Holy shit," you groaned.

You laced your fingers behind his neck for leverage as you sat down down him, inch by inch.

You gasped when you’d taken him to the hilt. "God, you feel good." You said breathily with his hands gripped at your hips.

Mark grabbed your cheeks with one of his hands and your lips puckered in a fish face.

"How good?"

You felt his cock twitch inside you and you clamped down with your kegels. "Really fucking good."

You moved against each other slowly at first while his thumb traced over your clit. Your grip on his neck tightened as you clenched around his cock. You panted, open-mouthed and silent. Mark pressed his face into your neck, his teeth against your pulsing jugular.

It turned into fucking, his thrusts wide more than a little desperate. He held your waist firmly in place and rammed into you now. This wasn't something he was letting happen to him. He was doing this with you.

He pushed off the desk and held you up by your ass. His shoulders flexed and this brought some kind of sound out of you. You held onto him midair. Mark put you down on the desk again and, as you lay flat, you could feel him go deeper inside you with the new angle. Your fingertips grazed his sternum.

Without warning, Mark gave one solid thrust. Your knees came up to your shoulders and your grabbed them, pulling your legs apart, wide and open. You heard a devilish laugh from him, obviously amused by your greediness. “Is this what you want? Hmm fucking slut.”

You wanted to rip yourself in half at the seam so he could fuck you all the way to your center. You stared over the slope of your body, between your breasts and over your stomach. You wanted to frame this image. Mark gripping your hips, hair falling in his handsome face while his entire body worked toward where your hips met. Every other function eschewed for this.

Then there it was, that moment you realized your orgasm was coming. You sat up and pulled yourself up toward him. One, two, three times he crushed into you, mouth open and teeth bared as he came. Your chest rose to meet his thrusts each time, your body taking in everything it could give you. He reached between your legs and barely had to touch your clit before you came so hard you astral projected.

It took several breaths before your soul returned to your body. When it did, there was only enough of you to notice small things.

The feeling of his leg muscles on the inside of your thighs.

The smell of his hair.

Your bodies slick with sweat.

Mark kissed you again and there was that feeling of being branded, pieces deep inside you unfurling.

After cleaning both of you with a shower, he let you sleep on your bed. Yet, he’s fully awake. His eyes intently stared at you in your peaceful sleep. He could be like this forever, having you in his arms. Only if he could.

He shifted slightly on the mattress. After making sure that you’re deeply asleep, he got up and looked his clothes in the darkness. Subsequently, he wandered around your apartment, trying to be noiseless. There it was, your coat.

Collecting it from the ground, Mark dived his hand inside the pocket. As soon as he found the thing, the lights suddenly lit up the room.

“So this is what you’re after.”

You knew he’s planning on something else. Something that was going to make Lee Corp collapse entirely. An overkill after Two/Eight.

And the fastest way to track it was through an account inside Lee Corp domain.

You waltzed around the building in hurry. You couldn’t break down a department door with a FBI badge and request to check their computers. It would cause a media panic. People in the building glanced at you while you’re running. What were you doing? You’re still attracting attention. It wasn’t going to work.

You would have to get someone off their work station. Here. She’s the perfect candidate. The old lady, around sixty, sitting at the cubicle in the corner.

“Hi, Edie. I’m Cheryl from I.T.” You approached her with a friendly smile.

She glared up at you. “Hello.”

“We’ve detected you using some unauthorized remote access software to connect to your computer work station from home.” You improvised.

“Oh my. That can’t be true.”

“Don’t worry, I’m just gonna take a look at your machine and perform an assessment to make sure you don’t have an unauthorized desktop sharing device installed.”

“Well, I’m gonna have to contest that. I’ve hardened my install further than the standard configuration including a restrictive host base firewall rule set and white listing to block unauthorized apps from running.”

You might’ve chosen the wrong candidate.

“I think I know your culprit though.” She quickly added. “Fred over there, using GoToMyPC all the time. Let me introduce you.”

She led you to the other row of cubicles and you followed wordlessly.

“Fred.” The woman knocked on his desk to grab his attention from the music blaring loudly inside his earphones. “This nice lady is checking your machine.”

“Not again.” He groaned frustratingly.

Nonetheless, he moved from his chair and strolled away. You managed a friendly smile before sitting down and logged in his computer. You could easily guess his password based on the calendar on his table. It’s his child birthday.

So this was what Mark was doing. He wanted to sign his own firmware and bypass your patch. If he did that, he would blow up the downtown recovery building. Your only chance to stop it was to get to the hardware security modules, the HSMs. They’re on the 21th floor.

Grounding your heels, you pushed the swivel chair and got up. You were in a rush yet life still wanted to test you. The elevators were full, it would take decades waiting. With the fastest speed you could possibly reach, it took you roughly three minutes to run from the 21th floor from the 10th floor.

Your heart was drumming so loudly that you could hear every beat in your ears. And after all of that efforts, the office was locked. You wiped the sweats on your forehead with the back of your hand.

“Federal agent.” You showed your badge to the security standing beside the entrance. “What’s going on?”

“An electric accident occurred yesterday. This floor is in a need of maintenance so,” he shrugged, “temporarily unavailable.”

It really had to be now.

“Alright thanks.” You said before reluctantly stalking off.

Fuck. What are you going to do? You massaged your skull in exasperation. There had to be a way.

Mark laid his head on the desk. You had isolated him in this interview room since this early morning. He had no clue what time it was now and it felt like he had been sitting here forever.

“Get up.”

Your voice echoed into the walls as soon as you opened the door. Despite how much you wanted to put on a cold face and remained nonchalant, seeing Mark in a state like this made your heart twist in pain.

He straightened his back and silently stared at you. You didn’t expect him to talk either, only tread forward to unlock his handcuff. He didn’t understand. What are you doing?

“Come on, I have something to show you.” You stepped back and commanded him to stand up. He was definitely confused but he did as told anyway. “Careful.” Your voice was frantic. He almost collapsed back on the chair, probably from the tingle of his legs, you meant, he hadn’t moved a muscle for approximately four hours.

Of course you were upset by what he did yet it’s undeniable that you did feel the honesty in every word he had ever said to you. Nobody could accuse you of being stupid for this. You had worked with sadistic terrorists, professional hitmen, natural born killers, or pure psychopaths. Mark could not fool you.

With a quiet sigh, you led him out of the room and strolled down the corridor. You made a turn at the corner that gave onto your field office CCRSB department, where some of your colleagues were chatting.

“You think she’s a wack job because she claims she can feel her sister’s anxiety?”

“I never said wack job.”

More accurate, they were debating.

“Actually there maybe a physiological basis for it.” You interrupted them abruptly. “Reversed asymmetry monozygotic eggs split late. Between nine to twelve days. The DNA matches right down to the very last stranded code. And there’s sporadic documentation of shared physiological pain.”

You knew what case they were talking about. The kidnap two days ago. And the victim had a mirror twin.

“And you believe it?” Jason— the 6’2 male agent replied.

You shrugged one shoulder. “Oh I’m just saying it’s possible. I don’t know everything. I mean despite the fact that you think I do.”

“I’ve never said that.”

“Everyday since I met you.”

“This morning at breakfast.” Lillian, who was arguing with him a minute ago, added.

“Yesterday when she beat you at cards.” Now it’s Henry— the rising-star, genius boy. Despite the fact that he had failed the pistol qualification for the third times and wasn’t armed, he’s a formidable nominee for your position when you were not here.

“Anybody ever heard of sarcasm?” Jason muttered in a snarky tone.

The conversation had drawn enough attention that now everyone that happened to be in the office glared at Mark with variety of emotions. Some even put on a shocking face when he realized who he was— you’re talking about his past career. The youngest MCPO in the Navy history. Only a certain amount of them recognized him in a total different way, the ones that were allowed to stepped inside the conference room. You didn’t look but you knew for sure that he was staring back at them, reading their entire life behind those faces. He’s not as good as you but he’s pretty observant to read people at the first sight. You had learned that because you read him too. And so did he.

All of a sudden, the news from the TV hanging on the wall in the center of the office blared out. Countless eyes swiftly left you and Mark to glaze over the wide screen.

“The data dump from Two/Eight was easily the largest and most damning doxxing case in history. While only a small percentage of the documents in the breach has been substantiated at this time, those that have are proving to be accurate. With regard to their source, the intelligence community is cautioning the overall veracity of the data dump and rush to judgment, citing fears or falsified documents-“

“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Henry quoted and leaned on of his hip on the copy machine next to him.

“Sherlock Holmes was a fictional character.” You mused and turned your head to look at Mark. “Whoever did this isn’t.”

Before someone could request you to clarify what you just said, you already disappeared behind the the door that led to the confidential conference room, leaving your colleagues in daze as you always did.

You gestured Mark to sit down at the desk in the middle of the room. He hadn’t spoken a word to you since he saw you. Silent treatment. Straight-up sedative. Anyhow, the schematic representation in front of him made him exclaim quietly in his head. It was the most insane thing he had ever seen. Even the white board beside was full of handwriting that he assumed to be yours. No wonder you’re always in such an unapproachable state. With this amount of work, who doesn’t?

Photos of people with a summary of their information below, each of them was connected together with lines that he was unable to count exactly how many. Some of the faces were crossed by red marker. There were many theories for that case, perhaps their alibis were valid, perhaps they’re innocent, or perhaps they’re dead. For instance, Phillip Doubleday. Despite all of that matters, he could see clearly that in the middle of the complicated diagram, it’s him.

You gave him a moment to scrutinize before speaking up. “Do you know how many people were there?” You didn’t surprised when he kept his silence. It was rhetorical question nonetheless.

“This is the hardest case so far and probably will be the hardest ever. We’re having 6,392 agents working on it. However, there are precisely 34 agents out there. No one saw you in handcuff and only three of them out there know your face and witnessed that you’re here in this room. With me.”

Mark knew what you were practically implying.

“Disable Stage 2 and you’re free. I promise.”

“When did you find out?”

Both of you were smart enough to understand each other even if everything you uttered out loud was vague. He was not talking about Stage 2.

“20% when I first interviewed you. 99% when you appeared on the 23th floor that day. The kernel security check failure, it was a trap to lure me in. You caused the error and the code that you entered on the machine was to eliminate my honeypot.” If he hadn’t scanned your badge number that day, he wouldn’t have noticed it. And he wouldn’t have stood a chance to start Stage 2. You were crafty enough to cover it perfectly. “And the last percentage of faith I had in you vanished completely not after I caught you red handed. It’s when you accidentally exposed yourself.”

You paused and Mark rubbed his knee with his thumb, waiting for you to continue.

“Cryptoviral extortion,” you spitted out eventually, “when we were on the car you said cryptoviral extortion is the cause of Two/Eight. Nobody ever knew that. The biggest clue we’ve got so far is that it’s a ransomware yet we don’t know what exact technique it is. You admitted it.”

He exhaled. You were right. It was accidental and he only remembered it when you reminded him. But,

“That’s not bad but a little too late. Don’t you think?” He decided to talk finally, in a teasing tone. “I’ve been trying to give you a hint since the beginning.”

You frowned slightly in confusion. Hint? What did he ever give you that was relevant to the hack? Your brain made a flashback in your head, replaying every scene since you came back to the US. And there it was, the missing detail. It’s the note.

“Twisted fate.” Mark muttered.

You let out a heavy breath and leaned your back on the shelf behind you. “You’re going to blow the downtown building up. Mark, this is cruel.”

He bit out a half-hearted smile. There’s a fog of something coated his eyes, it looked like a mixture of pain and determination.

“This world is always cruel. You can’t stop me.”

Yes, you can. There must be a way and you had to figure it out.

You tucked your hand in your blazer pocket to fish out something. “I found this in your wallet.” You showed it in front of him. It’s the resident card of his private condo.

And you didn’t have time for this.

“All right, we’ll see what I can find there.” You mustered coolly and walked toward the door. “I’m not putting you in handcuff again.“

He wasn’t going to run, you knew it. Even if he was, it’s impossible to escape this room let alone this building. Yet little did you know, only after half an hour since you’d gone, the door was opened again.

“She knows about Stage 2.”

You looked around the place as you stepped inside. It was definitely not well-organized but not really messy too. This was a small apartment with no room at all except of the bathroom. A bed here, sofa there, kitchen, TV, bookshelf, and his computer setup. Cozy but lonely.

If there was anything here, it must be on his machine. You sat down on his swivel chair. His desk faced the window that showed the view of the street. A photo frame caught your eyes. It was an old picture of his family, when Mark was a child. His parents looked familiar, like you must have seen them somewhere. But no matter how hard you tried to remember, you’re clueless.

You were running a password cracker on his computer, this was the fastest way. Took you 2 minutes to get in and it would probably be an hour if you attempted to do it yourself. You made a thorough search on it. Nothing looked suspicious. Everyone had a bug. The question was: What is his? You wished you could see yourself through his eyes. Didn’t he wish he could see himself through yours? As you stepped through your code, line by line, debugging it to find the cause of your runtime error. And finally, there it was. An encrypted folder.

You cracked it again. Taking a little more time yet succeeded after all. Your eyes widened as you clicked in a random file. It was an article of the explosion of a hotel 8 years ago. There were roughly 100 victims and 28 people found dead. What’s actually insane here was that you’re the detective inspector of that case.

“Inspector Y/L/N believed that the massive overkill explosion is not a pure accident. However, there’s no evidence to prove that statement to be true...”

Until now, you were still unable to prove it true.

Why the hell did Mark archived all these files? They were all about the explosion. You respectively clicked in every file. Ultimately, you had apprehened what this was all about. Your eyes flitted on the photo frame and back again on the desktop.

“Lee Corp’s CEO and his wife passed away from the hotel explosion in Washington D.C.”

You tediously relaxed on the chair, swiveling it around. No wonder why you found them familiar. Your fingers idly tapped on the desk, your gaze pinned on the computer screen. You did not expect this. When you detected the scene of the hotel that day, the polices said that the cause was the gas leak, which was then proven to be true. Nevertheless, you still had a gut that the explosion was a crime. An organized crime to be exact. That was a five star affluent hotel, gas leak sounded like a superficial excuse.

Mark’s dad was the former CEO of Lee Corp. Actually, he created Lee Corp with his bare hands. You just acknowledged that a minute ago in an article. You had doubted it, only if you spent time to investigate more. Why the fuck that you never reckoned of the empire’s history? You were too focused on the hack to look at the bigger picture. But still, it’s confusing why Two/Eight targeted Lee Corp if it’s his dad’s accomplishment.

You had dug six feet deep in his machine and there’s absolutely no trace of Two/Eight or Stage 2. And it’s obvious that he worked on it here. This was the only place that safe enough for him to commit a massive cybercrime like this. He must have wiped everything. Why not this encrypted file either?

You mulled over everything carefully as question to question came up on your mind. This was Mark’s private apartment. You found his resident card in his wallet. You could use a password cracker on his computer. If he established Two/Eight on his own, there’s no doubt he’s a criminal mastermind. The hack was a perfect infallible organized crime. Why everything seemed to be easy?

Because he fucking made it easy for you. You frantically got up and rushed out of the door. Damn it. This was a distraction.

“How long it’s gonna take?”

“Shut up. You have wasted fucking thirty minutes, knowing damn well time is a luxury and I can’t afford it.” Mark asserted while his fingers still working fast on the script.

He then heard a frustrating sigh beside him. Though, he didn’t have time to look up. “Are you fucking stupid? I have to sneak a laptop for you in front of my employees. You think it’s a piece of cake?”

Mark remained silent for a full second and the room fell into a sole serenity. No more keyboard clicking sound, no more argument.

“I’m done.” He breathed in relief.

“Really? I don’t want to know though, keep your mouth shut. If she comes back to see me like this, she’ll slit my throat-“

“Well, I’m not a murderer.”

The door creaked opened abruptly, drawing the eyes of both men inside the room. Honestly, out of every surprise you ever had, this was the best one so far.

“I’m not hearing you explain, Jeong.” You leaned on the door frame with your arms crossed. “Maybe later.”

Jaehyun only stared at you in bewilderment. One, he didn’t anticipate you to be back so soon as Mark said it would take you about two hours. Turned out you’re smarter than they thought. Two, your calmness shocked him. You weren’t showing any emotion. Sad, upset, angry. There’s absolute nothing. However, you had given him a chance to explain which meant you still trusted him.

“Lee,” your eyes laid on Mark, “come with me.”

Both of the men exchanged confusing look and neither of them knew what’s currently on your mind. Without another word, Mark stood up and calmly approached you at the doorway. You tossed Jaehyun a last glance with narrowed eyes, implying “you better be persuasive with your explanation” before turning you back at him and walked away.

Mark followed your steps, utterly clueless about what you’re doing. As he walked out, your fellows glared up fleetingly and concentrated back to their tasks. You weren’t lying, they were all too busy to give a fuck who he was. As long as he’s with you, no question asked.

You’re about to pushed the elevator button when Mark stopped you all of a sudden.

“When Stage 2 is activated, the entire city will run into an electricity loss.” He scratched the back of his head, infuriatingly adorable. “And if my calculation is right, it will happen in the less than sixty seconds.”

Your lips parted slightly, unsure what you should say. All of the electronics in front of your eyes collectively shut down. The sound of people exclaimed irritatingly filled up the space. You scoffed helplessly as he only stared back at you.

“You’re really a mastermind, aren’t you?” You asked yet it definitely didn’t sound like a question. “Hurry up before you fucking blow up that building.”

You then pulled him with you and ran down the stairs. You must have run 6,000 steps since this morning at Lee Corp. But you could not complain, ever second ticked brought people nearer to death.

“Where are we going?” He asked while you’re driving. He knew this street, of course he did. It led to the recovery building.

“We’re gonna stop it.”

Kill process: when an unwanted process is running and you need to terminate it. You needed to kill Stage 2 before it killed anyone else. The fastest way was getting into the recovery building before it’s blown up.

You were right. Mark got around your patch and signed his own malware with a clone HSM. If you could roll it back, the clean version with overwrite his malware and buy you some time to revoke the stolen keys. If the malware had already loaded, hydrogen was filling up the battery room right now. There were too many factors to predict when it’s going to blow. Could be two hours or it could explode at any second. Why did we always cut these thing do damn close?

“Stop now.” He bit out. This was nothing different from suicide.

You ignored him, pushing harder on the accelerator pedal. Mark looked at you with stern eyes. “I said stop the car. Now.” He gripped your hand on the steering wheel.

Fuck. You should’ve put him in restraint. With sheer reluctance, you pulled over the car on the side of the street, afraid that you’re going to cause an accident.

Pushing your head back on your seat, you drubbed your fist on the wheel in rage. Tears started to streamed down your face. You cried even louder when he cupped your face in his huge hands. The warmth of his palms grazed your skin.

“Mark.” You sniffed. “People are going to die.”

He wiped the tears with his thumb and buried your face in the crook of his neck, letting you cry in his secure embrace. You wanted to get mad at him, you wanted to put him in jail for everything he did. But for the life of you, you could never do that. Because you empathized. Because you understood how broken he was.

“I know about your parents.” You muttered in his ear, feeling his body stiffened. “I know you want to take revenge on the people behind that explosion. I know you want justice back for them and the other victims.”

This was what you’re always good at. Negotiation. Mark was never a bad person, you could swear on that. You only had to fix his bug.

“But you couldn’t repeat history. Another massive explosion is not going to bring justice back to those people. This is what they’ve wanted all along. For us to buy in on our worst shelves. And you just made it easier for them. You didn’t start a revolution. You just made us docile enough for their slaughtering. And you can stand here and blame Lee Corp, and every other conglomerate out there for taking advantage of us. Blame the FBI, NSA, CIA for letting them get away with this. Blame all the world’s leaders for aiding and abetting them. Blame Adam Smith for inventing modern-day capitalism in the first fucking place. Blame money for dividing us, blame us for letting it. But none of that’s true. The truth is— you’re the one to blame.”

You separated your face from his shoulder. Staring into his eyes, you could see the hatred deep down inside him had softened. You only needed to push his button, just a little more.

“Look,” you took his hands inside yours and squeezed soothingly, “I will help you, I promise. The people that were responsible for that explosion, I will make them pay for it. Just please, stop this. You’re going to kill innocent people.”

Mark lowered his eyes. You let him ponder although your inside was stirred up with suspense, not knowing when would the building explode. Your hands didn’t leave his, you wanted to make him feel safe. He should know that he’s not alone, that you’re always here for him no matter what.

“We couldn’t get into the building now. Even if we could, it’s not going to change anything.” He sighed. Whatever on your mind was definitely not a possible solution. Anyhow, before you could burst out in tears again in despair, he quickly added. “The only way to disable Stage 2 is to write a cancel code. But we’re in an energy loss, I can’t work on that.”

“I just need to know you can disable it, let me worry the rest.” You squeezed his hands reassuringly one last time before starting your car again and made a 180 degree turn.

You pulled up to an alley that was near downtown. Mark didn’t know what you’re doing yet you looked confident about it. You unbuckled your belt and got out of the car, causing him to mimicked your actions in a rush.

Holding his hand, you subsequently pulled him to a block on the street. All he could see were the black metal double-door and a guy standing in front of it. You gave him a mild nod and wordlessly, he opened the door, only enough for both of you to walk inside.

As soon as Mark stepped inside, the chaotic noises of people made his head ache. They were literally partying and it’s probably just afternoon. You led him pass the drunk cliques, the flirtatious chicks and the making-out couples to a staircase that gave into another space underneath the ground.

And it’s not any better than the one upstairs. This looked like a place where a certain group of people gathered together. Maybe a mob crew, maybe the addicts, maybe the rebels or maybe undercover cops. Here, they’re all hackers.

“Stay here and don’t move until I come back.” You told him and then disappeared behind the crowd.

A CTF tournament. Capture the flag. It’s like the hacker olympics. Teams around the world compete to solve challenges. Reverse-engineering protocol exploitation, forensics. The entire city is suffering an energy crisis while they’re here, exercising their inner anarchy. It’s times like these he really wished he had a mute button for life.

Mark did as he’s told, standing like a statue in this enormous underground club, or whatever it was. After a few minutes you came back with an obvious frustrated face.

“We’re fucked. All the machines are taken. they’re in the middle of the final round of the qualifier for a CTF. It’s them versus nine other countries and from the scoreboard, the Koreans are ride or die. It’s gonna take forever before this is over.” You tried to speak in a louder volume than you usually used. They’re yelling, hollering and cursing like in a battlefield.

“Or I could just win it for them.”

He mused and glanced around the groups of people gathering around the rows of tables. You followed him as he approached a random guy with round glasses.

“They let you save and load your game, restoring all the mines you found and all the shells you cleared. That’s the weakness. The game trusts whatever data you give in to recreate the board. Poison the data. You could make it run whatever code you want.”

He bent down and talked to the guy while you stood beside and observed.

“Yeah we already thought about that. It won’t work. There’s a server-side key used to verify the game saves.” The boy debated.

“And without it, you just get a checksum error, which is why you play the game until you find the mine first. Once you know the full board, you can derive the key. And you already spotted the code injection vulnerability in the save handler function, right?”

The stranger widened his eyes in realization. “Dude you’re a genius. Okay, just do it.”

He got up from the chair and invited Mark to sit down. Your eyes followed the other guy until his figured disappeared behind the corner. Sometimes you wondered how good Mark actually was. Like he had just been here for about ten minutes and he could already find a way to win the game. Even you were dazzled.

You fidgeted your blazer impatiently. You didn’t know how long would it take to blow up the building. Could Mark do it on time? Damn it, you’re panicking.

“You’re having an attack?” Mark asked while his eyes still fixed on the screen.

“No, I’m good. Just work on it.” You managed in a shaky voice and tread toward the restroom.

As soon as you locked the door, you took off your blazer and unbuttoned the first button of your dress shirt. Your breath was shallow, suddenly felt in a lack of oxygen. You tried to calm your nerve down. In and out. In and out. Gripping tightly on the sink counter, you glared at the reflection in the mirror. Everything is going to be fine, you reassured yourself.

Hot tears ran down your face again. Mark was right. This world was always cruel. It bewildered you how people treated each other under the affluence off wealth and power. Only if you could put those bastards in jail that year, Mark wouldn’t be like this. Two/Eight would never have happened.

“Y/N?”

Abrupt knocks on the door made you frantically wiped your tears off. You recognized the voice.

“I did it.” Mark muttered proudly as you opened the door. “We did it.” He repeated and hugged you tightly.

You started sobbing, your body trembled in his arms. “Hey it’s alright. Don’t cry baby.” He patted your back to soothe you. His other hand stroked your hair comfortably and pressed kissed on your head while you’re still crying.

“I’m sorry Mark.” You mumbled. Your tears had probably wet his shirt.

“It’s not your fault. Don’t be sorry.”

You watched the depressing conversation in front of you. It had drawn out most of the oxygen inside your lungs.

“Before you go, I just have one more question.” The girl muttered in a quiet voice. “My dad... is it you?”

You tucked your hands in your pockets when Mark darted his eyes at you. Honestly, you did have the same thought as hers but clearly, Mark could never do that.

“Ms Doubleday, the gunshot was accidental. The bullet was tragically from a fight of your new neighbor. Nothing more or less.” You remarked in nonchalance and Hazel lowered her head.

It’s sad that she had lost everything but judging by all the things she did, it’s fair. Quietly, Mark got up from the chair and stalked off. Your eyes followed him momentarily and laid back on the drained woman. “Take care of yourself.”

You found Mark leaning his back against the wall at a secluded corner. He couldn’t smoke because he’s currently at your field office. The FBI interview room had become a place to untangle personal conflict for them since Mark refused to go back to that mansion. Neither did he allow Hazel to appear at his residence. So you had to interfere, of course with the help of Jaehyun.

Speaking of the devil, he still owed you an explanation. But that would happen it the next few minutes.

“I think it’s obvious that she had feelings for you.” You blurted out, staring at his emotionless face.

“I think it’s obvious that you’re talking nonsense.”

His defense proved that he acknowledged the truth too. He just did not want to admit it. Hazel was a bitch. Drugs, alcohol and sex addict. You didn’t even want to know how hard it was for Mark to deal with her under daily circumstances. He chose the easiest way to get into Lee Corp without bring suspicious. Phillip Doubleday didn’t care about what his daughter did, he just needed someone to fit her position. Mark was the perfect candidate. Certainly, he did that intentionally and voluntarily but he also had to sacrificed for it, a lot.

He did her job, he made sure the employees completed there tasks, all without appreciation. He also had to buy her drugs, protect her from the predators when she’s drunk in a club, and satisfy her needs. He witnessed they corrupted his dad’s empire, the mental child of the man. They turned Lee Corp into an evil conglomerate, a devil that banked on people. He could only watched in silence and completely feel helpless about it. That’s why he wanted to kill Lee Corp. He rather ended it by himself than letting those motherfuckers ruined it. He did all of that only to fight for his parents, for everyone’s justice. It was an absolute mess, no wonder why he smoked. You definitely needed to seek him a therapist.

“Come on, it’s over.” You wrapped your arm around his shoulder and pulled him with you. “Let’s go see our dear friend.”

Jaehyun suppressed the urge to scold you when you banged into his office abruptly. He did you wrong. He couldn’t get mad at you, not until he gave you an elucidation.

You pulled an easy smile and flopped on the sofa. “So, did you know everything from the beginning?”

“No.” He answered immediately, sitting down opposite you. “I only figured out on our first day at Lee Corp.”

The day that Mark left you the note. So Jaehyun being there was not a coincidence.

“Okay. Go on.”

He clasped his hand, his eyes fleetingly laid on Mark before they stared back at you.

“Mark did a lot for me. Six years ago, the USMC went on a mission and miserably we got some troubles with our ship. Fortunately, we received help from the Navy yet that was a tough time. They didn’t have enough food in storage and we’re middle of nowhere on the Pacific Ocean so we had to share. Mark barely ate, he gave most of his food for me.”

It’s heartwarming how much Jaehyun was grateful for Mark’s little action, that he helped the sick fucker to blow a downtown building up. Alright, you knew that was not nice. Sorry.

“Not only that,” he quickly added as he saw the snarky expression on your face, “we went to the same high school, we were close friends. His parents helped me lot. My family was unable to pay for my college tuition and they did not hesitate to allow me a loan, saying that I didn’t have to pay back. But when I finally earned enough to return the favor, they’re gone.”

Well, this was actually heart-wrenching.

“I know it’s wrong but I can not resist helping him.” He sighed.

“Took me weeks to persuade this douchebag with my backup plan, only for it to return to zero now.” Mark spoke up, his tone mocked you.

“It’s not a zero.” You punched him playfully with your fist and he caught your wrist in his hand, pulling your figure into his embrace. “I never break my promise.” You muttered in his chest.

“Is that so?” He laughed.

Jaehyun glared at the lovey-dovey couple in front of him with sheer despiser.

“Get the fuck out.”

Mark only silently staring at you while you’re working on your laptop. You said you had something to show him and yet he had been sitting here in your boring office for an hour. And it’s embarrassing how he’s turned on by the image of you concentrating with your work. He wished he could throw the stupid device in front of you away and bend you over his lap to spank your ass for wasting his time. Only if the walls of your office were not transparent glass and your colleagues were not out there walking around.

“All right, you’re ready?” You asked finally, looking up at him.

Of course he’s fucking ready.

“Yeah.” He replied quietly and you smiled, turning your laptop around for him to see.

His brows pulled together in the middle of his head. The more he read, the further they went. You grinned widely at his shocking facial expression. His eyes laid on you to ask for a confirmation.

“It’s authentic. Everything Phillip Doubleday owned is now your inheritance. Not only did I find out his testament in that memory card, I also discovered a voice record of the people that happen to be there when they decided they’re going to blow up the hotel.” You mused in delight.

“Why did he do all of this? Doesn’t this prove that he has acknowledged my identity and still not exposed me?” Mark questioned, obviously confused about all of this.

“Maybe he regretted.” You suggested. “Why else did he let you handle the CTO job that easy? Sounds like a fantasy to me.”

You didn’t know either. He’s dead so probably it would remain as a mystery.

“It’s a little too late, don’t you think?”

“We only regret when it’s too late to fix our mistake.” You cocked your head before mustering a radiant smile. “With all of this, including the shares that Hazel Doubleday transferred to you, Lee Corp is yours. It wouldn’t take long to finish with the rest.”

Were we going to the end?

“And what if I tell you that we can reverse Two/Eight?” Mark smiled back at you. It had been years since the last time he was being happy like this.

“I know it’s not hypothetical. You can do it.” You responded. “And you will do it.”

You were right. This was the real revolution. When he launched the cyber bombing, he had encrypted Lee Corp database in an image of his family. In case everything went wrong. When he decoded it, the database would recover. It would be like Two/Eight had never happened.

Once the upper management was on board, he would be on his way to rebuilding the database and the hack would officially be behind us. Didn’t mean that in his spare time, he couldn’t find ways to purge Lee Corp of all their shitbags. You know, your typical subprime mortgage scammers, Ponzi schemers... Pension embezzlers and sexual harassers. That way, when Lee Corp gets back on its feet, they would no longer be evil. Because changing the world was never about tearing Lee Corp down. It’s about making them better. Maybe he fucked up an already fucked-up world, but he’s fixing it now, hitting “undo”. And damn, it felt great.

“The request to reopen the case has been passed.” You tossed the folder on the wide wooden desk, causing Mark to glance up at you. “Thanks me later.” A tight-lipped smile plastered across your face.

“Come here.” He pushed his executive chair back and gestured you to sit on his lap, which you obediently obliged.

“You have questions.” He murmured.

“Nothing about you is coincidental, is it?”

Mark secured his arms around your hips, his eyes locked with you. Gently, he tucked the strands of your hair behind your ear.

“When the explosion happened, I was in the Navy. I only had two weeks break to complete their funeral. I always know it was never an accident. Phillip Doubleday was my dad’s half-brother. He was the result of cheating. Anyhow, he lived with his mother for his entire life until she’s dead and during those years, my family still supported them financially. It was never hidden that he’s jealous of dad for everything he had, even the company that he built up with bare hands. So Phillip worked on his plan with dad’s rivals— the assholes from other tech companies. They bought the shares of Lee Corp’s shareholders over years. And when dad found out he’s behind all of that, he wanted to arrange a meeting. The location was that hotel but when it exploded, Phillip was nowhere to be found. That’s when I realized there’s something off. Nonetheless, I’m absolutely sure about my conjecture when dad’s property was inherited for Phillip. Their death was unexpected, did not have time to write a testament so technically, it was legal. He did not know about me either, the only time he ever visited me was when I was a new-born baby. He probably thought that I was still in the Navy back then. The bastard didn’t even bother to rename the company, which I’m indeed thankful for.” He pressed a kiss on your head. “And you’re the only one that wanted to solve that case. Had my attention since then.”

You hummed and wrapped your arms around his neck, patting his back in empathy for how open he’s being with you. You had partly figured it out yet the story was more crazy than you thought. Mark paused for a second to pull himself together before continuing.

“The only coincidence is when I discovered you on the site. You attracted me by your messages so I hacked you, out of pure curiosity. It was hard work but the effort worth it when I saw the result. I started to research you and you definitely did not disappoint me. An absolute outstanding profile.” He grinned delightedly.

Your lips curled up in a smile in return. You still remained silent as you knew that there’s more he wanted to say.

“Our first night together, it was not a setup. I actually wanted to be with you. But I think you have known that I scanned your badge that night. It was a fortune so I guessed I have to take full advantage of it. Hacking FBI is not a piece of cake and Jaehyun refused to help me.”

Well, you did not know about it. You always wondered why did he find out the honeypot you injected in Lee Corp domain. Only now you understood why people never allowed personal feelings to interfere in their work life.

“That’s all I have to say. However,” he tightened his grip around you, inching his face closer to yours, “You were right.”

You scowled confusingly. “About what?”

“About it’s not a zero.” He kissed you unexpectedly. It was gentle and full of appreciation. “Because I have you now.” He mumbled against your lips.

“I love you.” You beamed.

“I love you too.”

©️ DREAMYKRAM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[miekasa]

speaking of college boys, what do the college au aot babies study??

Okay, okay, I think I’ve talked about this in an ask before but I can’t find it 😭😭 but it’s okay, I love college aus, so I’ll talk about it again! Plus, now I’ve got more thoughts for more characters, so here we go

Levi — neuroscience and psychology of human behavior

He started out on track to do a bachelor of arts in psychology, but when they touched on the anatomy and biological parts of it during his first year lecture, he switched to a bachelor of science.

The focus is still psychology, but through a more clinical lens. Essentially, he gets the best of both worlds this way. He’s intuitive and analytical, so clinical and mental diagnosis is easy to dissect for him. He’s also canonically good at math, so the calculus and stats parts aren’t too bad, either.

This major also leaves him with a few options post-grad, which is a nice bonus for him. He’s likely going to medical school, but that’s not the only route open to him: law school, therapy, lab work, medicine and pharmacy, even teaching are all viable options without going to grad school.

Do not talk to him about Freud unless you wanna get punted off a building.

Be careful with him, because with a single glance he’s already got scarily accurate predictions about your parental and emotional attachment styles, your behavior in social settings, and the onset (or seemingly lack thereof) of your frontal lobe development.

He thinks he’s so smart making comments like, “I see those synaptic connections aren’t working so well for you today,” like mf come here let me lobotomize you and see how well your synaptic connects are working after that🙄

Eren — general health sciences

He’s interested in science and the discovery aspects of it, but picking a specific field of focus right now feels too final. He likes it this way, because his schedule and requirements are less restrictive, and he has more room to find out what really interests him.

He does best when he’s doing something he loves, so picking a major with a bunch of reqs that he couldn’t care less about would have sucked big time for him. It also would have affected his grades. There are still some classes he has to take that he’s not fond of (see: chemistry), but that’s to be expected. Science in general is cool to him and he hopes to make his own discovery some day, even if it’s microscopic.

He also plays a lot of sports, keeping his schedule flexible is important. The sports end up helping him excel academically, which is a nice bonus. Honestly, Eren uses his time at university to learn more about himself than anything, so having control and freedom to do what he likes the majority of the time was important to him. 

He uses his elective credits to take philosophy or history courses of his interest, or maybe even a course that you’re in just to spend time with you. He also uses you as a live model for his homework bye, congrats on being patient number one to him.

Armin — astronomy and physics

He’s still interested in marine biology, but unless he attended a school near a coast, or with a specialized integrated program for that, it’s unlikely he’d major in it during undergrad.

Space and ocean exploration aren’t all that different. Both are vast, largely unexplored domains that reel-in Armin’s interest for discovery. So, while studying astronomy, he still gets to study evolution and make his own predictions about what could be out there because there’s so much to know.

Physics comes with the territory of learning about planetary science, and he’s mathematically inclined, so it works out for him. Learning about the different physical properties of other planets and space masses is honestly pretty sick to him. Because math isn’t a struggle, he actually considered aeronautical engineering, but he didn’t want to be a part of the college to military pipeline; that is, he didn’t want any potential design of his to be weaponized. 

He still gets to study animal biology through his elective courses, and might even find a few focused on marine animals to satiate him. Plant and cell biology are also of interest to him, and are just further applications of his primary study anyway, so he’s got plenty of room to work with.

This boy is interning at NASA and still, with his whole chest out is like, “I don’t need to discover a new planet, you’re my whole world.” Armin, go check on the Mars rover or something please.

Mikasa — anthropology + minor in japanese language studies

Anthropology is virtually interdisciplinary in nature, and Mikasa is a pretty well rounded student, so she’s able to excel in a program like this. She gets to study history, science, cultural studies, and even a bit of art all at once.

She’s still debating between going to law school vs med school, so anthro this is a good in-betweener. She gets a taste of science through her anatomy and kin courses; and lots of practice with reading and dissecting texts through the historical and cultural lectures. So, when the time comes to decide, she’ll have some experience with both.

Don’t know whether it’s confirmed that she’s (part) Japanese or not, but either way I headcanon that she speaks/spoke some second language at home. She wanted to delve more into it, and courses were offered at the university so why not?

Cultural studies courses end up being her favorite. She likes learning about the history of people and their cultures, and it encourages her to learn more about her own family history and culture. It also propels her to apply for a study abroad opportunity, so she spends at least one semester doing an exchange program and absolutely loves it.

She would also encourage you to apply and go, too. You guys might not be in the same program, but if there’s an applicable program in the same country she’s going to, then she’d definitely want you to apply. Spending the semester away with you would be a dream come true.

Hange — bioengineering + minor in political philosophy and law

It’s almost self-sabotage to be in an engineering program and have a minor; the coursework for engineering alone is backbreaking, and bioengineering has the added weight of human intricacies, but of course Hange makes it possible. 

They’re nothing short of a genius, so of course they have time to work a completely unrelated minor into their schedule. It doesn’t surprise anyone that they go on to complete an MD-PhD after undergrad. Insane. 

Bioengineering is essentially the synthesis of chemical engineering and health sciences; Hange spends their time exploring biological sciences and applies the engineering aspects of their coursework to their understanding of (and interest in creating) medicine. Truly a one of a kind mind. 

They also have an interest in philosophy and justice, so when they found out they only needed a measly nine or ten courses to minor in, they went for it, of course. In honesty, they don’t find the studies all that opposing: both law making and medicine making both have some kind of philosophy or method to them in their eyes. 

Hange has... little to no free time pls. They don’t mind it, because they love their coursework, but this means you are essentially ducking into their labs or scrambling to find them in-between their classes during your time in undergrad. They appreciate every second spent with you tho, and will gladly rope you into long discussions about their work. 

Jean — biochemistry + minor in art sustainability

He was undeclared his first year, and took a little bit of everything: art, science, history, anthropology, english. Basically, anything that fit into his schedule. It was hard for him to pick one thing—he liked the science and lab applications of STEM courses, but not the math; and the obvious painting and creativity of art, but hated the pretentious air about art history.

What he wants to do is make a difference, which is how he ends up knowing that he wants to go to med school after, so he picks a science-heavy major, but uses his elective spaces to take art courses. When he mixes the two, he ends up on sustainability—and the complexities about it that are applicable to both science and art are what really reels him in.

Interdisciplinary studies end up being his forte. He can approach sustainability from a science perspective which impacts his art style and materials; and tuning into his creative side allows him to think about science not just from a purely clinical perspective, but from a human one, too—patients are people after all.

He believes that everything is connected somehow, even things as seemingly opposite as art and biochemistry. And he works towards finding the unique intersection where everything overlaps. His studies are pretty cool, and he’s very passionate about them, so ask him about it 😌

The art he makes is pretty sick, too, and often commentary about science; he’s proving they’re not so opposite. You also heavily influence his studies in both areas: caring about you so much inspires him to take the healthcare focus seriously, and your very nature is inspiration to his art. 

Sasha — nursing

She’s friendly and good at working with people, so nursing was an easy choice for her. She accredits most of her motivation to being around her younger family members, and learns that she finds a simple kind of joy in helping to take care of others.

She struggles a bit her first year when it’s mostly all grades and standardized testing, but when she starts getting clinical experience and working in the hospital on campus, things round out for her.

Patient care is her strongest point. A lot of people often forget that knowing everything isn’t everything; if you don’t know how to calm or even just talk to your patient, you’re not that great of a healthcare professional.

Pretty certain that she wants to work with kids in the future, but she’s open to public health and even being a travel nurse if she finds opportunity there!

Of course, she’s pretty doting when it comes to you and all her friends. She might want to go into pediatrics, but the basics of nursing and health care extend to everyone, so you’re guaranteed to be well taken care of with Sasha around. You might even have to switch roles and take care of her sometimes, because her coursework can get pretty out of hand.

Connie — computer engineering with a focus on game design

He might not look it, but Connie has a brain under that shaved head of his. Computer engineering is cool to him because he basically learns about how simple things he uses every day (ie: phone, computer, microwave) works.

Systems and coding are actually the easy part for him, especially when they get into the application of it and aren’t just stuck looking at examples. That’s how he gets into game design.

The part about math and electricity and magnetic fields… well let’s just say he needed to make friends with someone who likes math and hardware his first year to get through it. But the struggle was worth it, because by his junior year he’s found a professor willing to mentor/supervise him as he works on his game and other projects, so life is good.

His school work is definitely hard, which is why the lives by the mantra of “work hard, party harder.” It’s only fair. 

He makes you a little avatar so you can test out his games for him <33 best boyfriend things <33 He’d also… build a game about your relationship. Every level is a different date you guys went on, and he definitely includes something cheesy, like “There are unlimited lives because I love you forever babe <3”

Porco — kinesiology + maybe mechanical engineering

He’s pretty into athletics and working out, but didn’t wanna go down the sports psychology route; he wanted something that left him with a few more options, so he ended up in kinesiology.

He was surprisingly pretty good at biology in high school, so something stem-oriented works out in his favor, and it turns out he’s pretty damn good at anatomy, too. He’ll probably end up in physical therapy after graduation.

He’s also got a knack for cars, which is where the engineering comes in, but he doesn’t care so much for the math part of it (he doesn’t care for it at all actually, fuck that); he just wants the hands on experience of building/fixing things and working with his hands. So, if he can get a minor in it and not struggle through 4 years of math, then he’d do that. If not, he’d take a few workshop-like classes.

Because he wants to go into physical therapy, you are essentially his practice patient. Your back hurts? Not a problem, he’s basically a professional masseuse. Muscle aches? He’s got a remedy and understanding of why it’s happening. Don’t let him catch you hunting over your desk grinding away at your homework, because he will poke your neck and correct your posture (he’ll also massage your shoulders, but after the scolding).

Pieck — classics + minor in philosophy

Ancient studies interest her, but more than that, the language of ancient Greek and Roman culture fascinates her, so classics is the way to go.

Because her focus within Classics ends up being Greek and Latin language studies, she is essentially learning both languages at the same time. She gets farther with Latin that she does with Greek. For whatever reason, the former comes almost naturally to her, so her written and translated work is more complex in Latin.

However, she finds cultural studies relation to Greece more interesting than that of Rome, so it’s a give and take with both; better at languages for Roman studies, better at culture and history for Greek studies.

Her minor is a natural evolution from her primary coursework. Ancient Romans and Greeks set the foundation for a lot of modern day philosophy, so it comes up in her major classes, but she wanted to delve further into the philosophy, and not just look at it historically, so she takes more courses to fulfill the minor.

Can be found laying on a blanket in the quad on a hot day, with her books spread out all around her, highlighter in hand as she works through her reading. You’re always invited to sit with her, and more often than not, it ends up with Pieck’s head in your lap, a book in her hands, and your own schoolwork in yours as you both read in each other’s company.

Bertholdt — computer science and coding

He’s level headed, good at planning, and above all, patient, so he’s cut out for this. He doesn’t consider himself to be particularly creative, which is why he doesn’t pick a speciality with lots of design; but he’s good at streamlining and ideas to life.

The patience really comes in when his code doesn’t run. It’s frustrating to scroll for two hours just to find out that the issue is a missing semi-colon in line 273 that he overlooked, but Berty will sit there until he finds it.

He’s also good at fixing issues. That’s not limited to issues in the code itself; it can mean finding shorter ways to produce the same function or loop, or integrating new aspects into existing code.

Also, he’d just be so cute, coding away on his computer. Just imagine: Berty working on his homework in the library, he’s got his signature crewneck + collared shirt look going for him, his blue-light glasses, a cup of coffee nearly as tall as him sitting at the corner of his desk. Adorable.

He’d make little codes/programs for you, too, even if it’s silly. A simple code that helps you decide what to eat for dinner or where to go on a date, one that shuffles different reminders for you, hell he’ll even forgo the torture of design engineering just to build you a little robot that says “I love you” to you.

Reiner — english + minor in justice & political philosophy

Everyone expects Reiner, star quarterback of the university’s rugby team, to be a business student or communications student; but no, he’s an English major, and he loves it.

Just imagine a guy as huge as Reiner absolutely manhandling someone on the field, just to show up in his lectures with a tiny paperback of The Great Gatsby tucked between his fingers with his reading glasses on. It’s so precious.

He’s always running a bit late to class—either coming from the gym, or practice, or oversleeping from exhaustion—but he’s so sweet to his professors and genuinely interested in the literature that they don’t give him a hard time about it. They can tell that balancing school and sports is difficult, and they just appreciate that he takes his studies seriously.

Yeah he’s in a book club and he dog-ears his books. What about it. They’re doing poetry this month and Reiner actually likes Edgar Allen Poe. Who said jocks can’t be sentimental.

He also reads a lot outside of his classes, and has a soft spot for coming of age stories. He usually empathizes with the main character somehow. His ideal weekend plans after a week of grueling games and essays is taking a long, relaxing shower at your place, while you both share a bottle of wine, and maybe even get you to read a chapter or two of his current book out loud to him.

Annie — clinical psychology/neuroscience

Almost scarily analytical and methodic, so this major was calling her name. Localizing brain legions is… insanely intuitive to her it’s incredible. She’ll be an insanely impressive doctor someday, even if she doesn’t end up working with patients directly. 

She doesn’t care too much for the more philosophical/reading heavy parts of psychology. Even experiments and research closer to the social end of the spectrum aren’t all that interesting to her; but the brain science behind it it.

Nobody should be good at cellular biology. Nobody should be able to ace cell bio and neuro and calc and work towards their thesis proposal in the same semester, but Annie proves it’s possible.

Ends up working in one of her professor’s labs by her junior year. She was offered three TA positions working with first year students, but she swiftly turned them down. Teaching isn’t her thing.

She doesn’t bring up her studies to you unprompted, but if you ask her about them she’ll explain it to you. Her notes are color coded and it’s super neat, and very cute; coloring them is somewhat relaxing for her. She usually saves the coloring part for when you guys study together; there’s extra comfort in doing it with you around.

[stepswordsen]

JuAli WIP doodles 2

Continued off my previous JuAli post! I wanted to post the rest of my JuAli doodles since November~ Since these are pretty rough WIPs, I'll put the rest of the drawings and all my thought rambles under the cut below.

I would like to redraw and refine these drawings soon, starting with the Judar hanfu doodles I had~ Though, for now, I drew a quick Judar chibi~ 

Some quick JuAli doodles:

JuAli Idea 1:

JuAli Idea 2: 

Note: When I make comic styled idea drafts, the dialogue is always read from right to left.

JuAli idea 1 rambles:

There was a JuAli idea I had that was based on the concept of someone's rukh turning pink when they blush. I used this concept for my own purposes for JuAli~

I think Judar teasing Alibaba to see his flustered reactions is so cute. Since Judar's a Magi, he'd notice it and get this smug sense of satisfaction until he gets the tables turned on him. I think they have lots of moments where they embarrass and fluster each other. They're the cute, emotionally awkward couple at first :)

JuAli idea 2 rambles:

I had another separate JuAli idea in my head where JuAli lightheartedly bicker and Judar fake cries to try to get his bf to tell him he's cute. Because he is an annoying nyam nyam /endearing

He would totally do this tbh. The idea is so funny to me. The fake tears are super effective!

So he makes a more innocent cutesy expression with fake tears. Alibaba feels a little frustrated, but innerly he's thinking maybe it is pretty cute... And Judar’s like “Come on, don’t give me that look~ Not even a little bit?” And Alibaba is like “Urgh— NO!!! IT ISN'T!!!” And then Judar's expression reverts back to normal and he just goes like, “Ok, fine...” But he still tries to get him to say it, teehee.

Some thoughts on my first impressions of Judar:

I think I forgot to mention last time, but I also love drawing pointed underlashes on Judar. It’s such a nice touch.

So I’m not even surprised cuz I guessed that Judar would be one of my faves the first time he showed up in a cameo appearance in the manga. In Ch. 15. And he ended up being my fave. Totally expected tbh, this chara is perfectly sen-core. In terms of design, character, personality, and vibes... Everything.  

I knew I was right with the meow meow mf instincts. My meow meow mf instincts were on point again and I never fucking miss LMAO

When it comes to my masc faves, I always adopt a very specific character type that my friends and I have personally named meow meow mf ™️

Basically, if they’re a meow meow mf ™️, then the character has these character design tropes or character traits:

Usually has a black and/or white hair or colour scheme

Morally questionable or morally bankrupt or evil. Otherwise, they are totally down for murder

More complicated/complex than they initially seem

Either a stoic aloof :| or smiley ^-^ cat cot type

A smug edgy bastard

Passive aggressive, violent, and/or threatens people

Emotionally repressed and/or has emotional issues

If they have these, then they qualify to be sen-core. Filling all those traits is so highly specific, yet it includes so many characters from my faves.  

Like, all my top fave charas are like this, I could not be more predictable if I tried. My tastes are so predictable, I have the most obvious predictable tastes on this planet lmaooo /lh

Judar is perfectly catered to my tastes in cat-like masc charas I want to adopt <3 What a squishable skrunkly. Cat cot. Gremlin meow meow mf.

Observations of similarities between my other faves:

My top main faves ever are: Hibari Kyouya (KHR), Ashiya Douman (FGO), Xanxus (KHR), Idate (WATGBS AU), and Judar (Magi). My top main faves are all very important and personal charas for me.

One of my friends told me that Idate (WATGBS AU) and Judar (Magi) are just all of my other top main faves combined and wrapped in a neat little package. Teehee.

Tfw Hibari, Douman, Xanxus, Idate, and Judar, are my top main faves ever, and Idate has traits from them all. I think it’s just more obvious with Idate, he has some very similar traits from my other faves.

Meanwhile, Judar has bits of traits from pretty much every single one of my main faves. That’s insane to me. When I first saw Judar, I was like... “Sen-core meow meow mf in my manga? I’m literally done for.” But he’s none of my faves in particular, he’s his own character and not really exactly similar to anyone else.

Judar is both everyone of my faves, and no one in particular. Like, he has some traits from Douman (FGO), Idate (WATGBS AU), Hibari (KHR), Ren (SK), etc., but at the same time, is none of them.

I think I have a lot to say about the similarities he shares with my other series’ faves, but I think it’ll go in another post for now.

Like... he has some traits from EVERYONE of my main faves, but isn’t really any one of them. Usually, most of my sen-core meow meow mfs faves are VERY different from each other, character and personality-wise, they usually just have similar basics. I cherish all of my cat faves very much <333 And they're all very unique!

Needless to say, I am so obsessed with this gremlin cat cot. Judar is very me-core. My friends were the ones that introduced me to Magi, and I’m very grateful to them that I found such an amazing series, Judar, one of the most perfect sen-core meow meow mfs ever, a Sun/Moon/Eclipse themed cat cot, and JuAli, a Light/Darkness, Sun/Moon, Fire/Ice, Rivals/Enemies to Lovers, sen-core ship.

The similarities my faves have between each other:

With Judar and Douman, it's the fact that they both have a black sun leitmotif and that they're both (^-^) smiley type meow meows. Judar is the Fallen Magi and black rukh user. Douman is specialized in magic and sorcery, and curses. He has Ītzpāpālōtl, the Aztec god of darkness, as one of their component spirits. Also, they have eaten gods.  

They both play the role of an antagonist or opposing figure towards the protagonists at first, in their respective stories. Douman carries Yin/Yang and Sun/Moon symbolism with his character, they wear crescent moon shaped magatama earrings. Judar is both the black sun and the moon.

I have a WATGBS AU with friends where we entirely revamped and rewrote our WATGBS AU faves for our own purposes, and we're writing our own stories for them. The WATGBS AU version of Idate (that I wrote together with my friends), and Judar, have some similarities with their personalities, vibes, general demeanours, trauma reactions and powers.

With Judar and Idate, it's the way they do whatever they want and do things just to enjoy themselves. They can get violent. They want to play with others, and treat things just like a game. They have this air of playfulness, and they have this childlike sense of entitlement when it comes to their wants.

Like, out of my faves, Hibari, Xanxus, Idate, and Judar, etc. are this very specific brand of “Delusional meow meow living in his own bubble that thinks he's the coolest cat king of the world.” They think they're hot stuff. These characters are the kings of their own lives and the world around them, even if only in their own heads /endearing

Idate's villain arc in my and my friends' WATGBS AU reminds me of Judar who initially wanted to get back at the world for allowing such atrocities to happen to him... weh weh weh. The way they were upset after finding out what happened to their parents... Idate finding out the truth about his past and parents definitely contributed to descent to madness. Also their powers are both darkness based.  

My friends have also talked about this with me before. The chapters with Belial's dungeon showed that Judar was, understandably so upset about what happened to his parents... And for being used his entire life to satisfy others' selfishness, his loss of agency from childhood, and the fact that all the emotional issues he has were directly caused by Al-Thamen.

There's something I want to say about the similarities between Judar and Tao Ren, another fave of mine, but I'll leave that for another post. I think this is getting pretty long.

[taechnological]

Seokjin hasn’t posted anything on ig again and I have a feeling that he’s trying to master how to use the app. That man either chaotically wings it or gives his 110% when he wants to accomplish something. Bring the thirst traps on Seokjin

the best thing about him is that u can NOT predict that man's next move. like. AT. ALL. i'd like u to give it a try but lemme tell u beforehand that u CAN'T. kim seokjin is the most unpredictable mf on this ENTIRE planet.

[quinnxra]

get to know!

Rules: answer the questions and tag nine people you want to get to know better/catch up with.

First of all, I feel so?? fucking?? honoured?? to have been tagged by the queen @helena-thessaloniki ?? My heart's about to burst, truly.

Second, I literally only know like 2 people on Tumblr, so...looks like I’m going to have to fully break the rules here 😅

Three ships:

Ben Solo (aka Kylo Ren)/Rey (Star Wars): enemies to lover trope, redemption arc!Ben.

This was the first pairing that I shipped so hard. I remember 4 years ago I spent an entire summer combing through over 10,000 fics on ao3, lol. The Reylo community's artists and fic writers are so fucking next lvl; they’d predicted shit far before the 2nd and 3rd movies were even released (fanboys can stay mad). I remember reading 30 page meta-analyses and essays back then about the lore, the ship, literature parallels, etc. and they were all so fucking academically rigorous, well thought-out and well-written? I’m still not over it. Anyways, Ben and Rey are a Dyad (two that are one) and share a Force Bond, so you can imagine how much fun fic writers got to have playing around with that idea (spoiler: imagine how fucking incredible the orgasms must feel with the Force Bond, oh god *shiver*).

In a nutshell, you’ve got this big, bad, extremely powerful dude who finally meets his match in the Force––this literal nobody from a desert planet in the middle of nowhere––and she challenges him in ways no one has ever challenged him before and shows him compassion in ways that no one has ever shown him before and oh god all the built-up angst and tension happen on a literal cosmic scale that puts all other enemies to lovers tropes to shame. Rey’s quite literally the light to Kylo’s darkness and together they bring balance to the Force. That’s all you gotta to know.

Levi/Mikasa (Attack on Titan): The potential between these two, oh my god.

Okay, I am obsessed with this ship right now, holy fuck. And I owe it mostly to incredible writers like Helena, @hashire and Lamentablebrats (on ao3). They brought this ship to life, honestly.

Levi’s my favourite fictional character of all time (god, for so many reasons) and I could probably write a 5 page essay doing a deep dive on his character and why he’s so great, but I’ll keep it simple here. I feel like most people get so caught up in the whole "hype-machine" aspect of Levi's character (don't get me wrong, this sexy mf is a fucking badass) that they forget how well-written and complex of a character he is. This man has grown up through so much adversity, has watched virtually every single person closest to him die and has endured so much on his own, but still, despite it all, refuses to give-in to the pain, the sorrow, the hurt. Levi has such a strong resolve and moral compass, and although he comes off as cold or stoic, he's actually the biggest softie inside (I think this duality actually makes him even sexier, lol.) People often forget how observant, sharp, thoughtful and compassionate he is, how unapologetically human he is. I think he's so deserving of love, and who better to give him it than the girl in the story whose ability to love is her greatest strength?

I love the idea of the two strongest characters in the AoT universe finding solace in each other's arms after they've each been through so much on their own. I love the idea of them being there for each other when no one else can. Both of them have really interesting personalities, and I think at the end of the day, they understand each other in ways that no one else is able to. RM fic writers have done such an excellent job exploring Levi and Mikasa's interesting dynamic, and it's made me fall even more in love with the ship.

Ri Jeong Hyeok/Yoon Seri (Crash Landing on You): Star-crossed lovers (I mean, North Korean soldier whose dad is a super prominent army figure + South Korean heiress who accidentally lands herself in NK in a paragliding accident? and now he has to hide her while trying to smuggle her back across the border? Sign me the fuck up). I’m not gonna lie, I have a thing for the whole quiet, stoic, disciplined, sharp, ravishingly sexy army dude type of character, and Ri Jeong Hyeok fits that bill so perfectly. It was so fun seeing Yoon Seri (this super strong, playful and self-confident woman who owns her own multi-million–billion?–dollar company) push his buttons and drive him crazy, haha.

But yeah, this ship. This ship had me fucked up. This kdrama was a roller coaster ride from start to finish; it was equal parts light, fun and funny and equal parts heavy, angsty and downright depressing (I mean, this ship takes star-crossed lovers to a whole new level).

Last song: "Zombie” (acoustic version) – The Cranberries

Last movie: Watched Cruella last night. Was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The set and costume design and overall production quality were top tier.

Currently watching: Banana Fish (I have been putting off watching the last 4 eps for the last 2 months bc I read spoilers and am dreading the inevitable pain the ending will bring). Just started JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures (I’m 8 eps in but the plot isn’t really pulling me in? I love the art and animation style though and am hoping that things get better as more characters are introduced, haha).

Currently reading: My MCAT prep books I recently picked up The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and A Little Life by Hanya Yanaghara (Ikik, I’m late to the game–I’d been putting off reading these because I was afraid they were overhyped/overrated :P). Not sure which one to read first...The Bell Jar looks like it can be easily finished in one sitting so I’m thinking to do that first? haha

Currently craving: A mojito by the beach. God, I can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed either of those.

Nine people:

get to know!

Rules: answer the questions and tag nine people you want to get to know better/catch up with.

Tagged by @infinitelystrangemachinex 😊🖤

Three ships: - Draco/Hermione (Harry Potter): enemies to lover trope, Pride and Prejudice retelling, flawed and dimensional characters, only/reluctantly intellectually compatible with each other, and of course redemption arc!Draco

- Levi/Mikasa (Attack on Titan): the parallels, ridiculous chemistry, angst and ability to relate, the only two who could truly challenge, appreciate and understand each other

- Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye (FMAB): the most delightfully understated ‘relationship’ ever, I swear, I mean, Elizabeth?? the phone call scene when he knows something is wrong immediately?? the fight scenes protecting each other?? the history?? agh my heart 

Last song: “God is She” - In this Moment

Last movie: Hmmm. I think Captain Marvel when I was visiting my parents last month, it was the only MCU movie they hadn’t seen

Currently watching: Vinland Saga, slowly but surely

Currently reading: The Red Queen, I’m 115 pages in and I’m very underwhelmed after so many people recommended this, please someone tell me whether or not to continue aha 

Currently craving: iced coffee, always (it’s currently 9 pm heh) 

Nine people: @a-slut-for-smut @quinnxra @blacklunamarie @crinklyhatesyou @linaxlight @joanofsn4rk @idealistic-imaginings @andromedafrigga43 @drivingthescrew

[junker-town]

Mapping out the USWNT’s future

Who you can expect to see come in and out of the team heading into the next World Cup in four years.

The World Cup is over and there won’t be another one for four years, but the United States women’s national team will have to spend that period constantly developing its roster.

There are 12 players 30 or older on the current USWNT, and it had the oldest average age of any team at the World Cup. There’s also some incredible young talent in the youth national team ranks. The squad is likely to experience some significant turnover ahead of the 2023 World Cup, and these are the players you should be keeping an eye on.

But first...

They’re going to run it back for the Olympics

Many of the players on the current USWNT were also on the 2016 side that disappointed in Brazil, and they’re going to want to make amends for that. The Olympics has a smaller roster size — 18 instead of 23 — so there will be some tough omissions. But don’t expect any of the older star players to retire or get cut until after the Olympics in Japan.

Expected to be on their way out

These are players who, due to either age or a recent lack of playing time, will probably not be on every USWNT roster after 2020.

GK Ashlyn Harris — She’s two years older than starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher so Jill Ellis (or whoever replaces her) will likely want to start giving the backup reps to a young player and start grooming Harris’ future replacement.

DF Ali Krieger — Krieger is 34 and was out of the team for two years until just before the World Cup, so it would be surprising if she continued past the Olympics.

DF Becky Sauerbrunn — Center backs tend to age better than players at other positions, so perhaps we shouldn’t count Sauerbrunn out. But she hasn’t been at quite her previous world-beating form for club or country over the past couple of years, and she’ll be 38 when the next World Cup rolls around.

MF Allie Long — Long spent more team off the USWNT than on it during the past year and likely made her way back into the squad for locker room chemistry reasons, rather than footballing ones. Unless she starts turning in NWSL MVP-quality performances, she’s among the prime candidates to miss out on the Olympics due to the smaller roster size.

FW Carli Lloyd — Don’t tell Lloyd that a 40-year-old is unlikely to make the USWNT’s next World Cup roster... but a 40-year-old is unlikely to make the USWNT’s next World Cup roster.

FW Jessica McDonald — McDonald finally getting her USWNT shot at 31 has been an amazing story. But unfortunately, the other forwards she’s behind are around the same age, and Ellis is going to need to start succession planning for the front line immediately. That means a young player is likely to take McDonald’s place.

FW Megan Rapinoe — Hey, I’m not going to bet against Rapinoe. But she’ll be 38 when 2023 rolls around, and with her increased public profile following this World Cup, she has opportunities to make a lot more money outside of soccer than she ever did playing the game.

Future unclear

These players won’t necessarily be too old to be at their physical peak in 2023, but for various reasons, it’s not obvious how much of a future they have with the USWNT.

GK Adrianna Franch — On NWSL form, Franch should have been the starting keeper already. At 28, she’s probably a bit too old to take over from Naeher in the future. She might stay on the roster as a backup, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ellis opt for two young keepers that she rotates behind Naeher.

DF Kelley O’Hara — O’Hara said herself that she didn’t think she’d be able to make the impact she did at the World Cup after her injury issues over the past couple of years. Her ankles might not let her make it another four years at the top of the pro game.

DF Emily Sonnett — There’s no real knock on Sonnett, and no reason she shouldn’t stay in the team. She’s 25, and will probably be better in four years. She’s played well for Portland Thorns. But Ellis doesn’t seem to rate her as highly as her other defenders, and she’s been left off rosters when healthy before.

MF Morgan Brian — Ellis clearly believes in Brian’s talent. Even when she’s been in poor club form or struggling for fitness, she’s gotten call-ups and substitute appearances. But if Brian can’t stay fit for an entire season, Ellis will have to start considering other options.

FW Alex Morgan — No one would put it past Morgan to stay on top of her game for the next four years and chase down Abby Wambach’s record. Her development as a deep-lying forward that is no longer reliant on her pace means she can continue to be an effective national team player well into her 30s. But she’s going to be 34 when the next World Cup rolls around, which is old for a women’s soccer player, so she’s in this section.

FW Tobin Heath — Same deal as Morgan, basically. Her technical skills mean she’ll be useful even if she has no pace, but she’s even older than Morgan.

FW Christen Press — Unlike Morgan and Heath, Press clearly is not first choice at the moment, so she might have a harder time hanging onto her place as she ages into her mid-30s.

Even better next time?

These players are definitely sticking around for the next four years, and they’ll be expected to become the new stars of the team.

GK Alyssa Naeher — Naeher exceeded expectations in her first World Cup as the USWNT No. 1, and she should get better with experience. Goalkeepers usually don’t decline until well into their late 30s.

DF Abby Dahlkemper — She’s one of the best passing center backs in the world at 26, and she should be an even more intelligent distributor of the ball at 30.

DF/MF Julie Ertz — I’m not sure if Ertz’s future is at defensive midfield or center back, but she’s sensational at both of them, and shouldn’t be any slower in 2023 than she is right now.

DF Tierna Davidson — A prediction: Davidson will become the USWNT’s starting left back shortly, clearing the way for...

DF/FW Crystal Dunn — Dunn to move into a wide forward role. She’s one of the best attackers in NWSL and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her take over Rapinoe’s role shortly.

MF Lindsey Horan — Another prediction: By 2023, Horan will be the consensus best player on the planet.

MF Sam Mewis — Mewis is one of the slickest passers in the world, and at 26, she still has room to grow in that area. Expect her to be a truly world class playmaker in four years.

MF Rose Lavelle — It looks like Lavelle has finally put her recurring injuries behind her, and now the sky’s the limit. She hasn’t had an extended run in a club team with decent teammates and an attacking philosophy yet. We have no idea how good she can be.

FW Mallory Pugh — Same for Pugh, and she’s on the same team with Lavelle. Their combinations were nuts in the couple games they got to play together for the Washington Spirit before heading off to international duty. With every other forward on the squad being 30 or older, 21-year-old Pugh will be counted on to become one of the team’s best players quickly.

Fringe players still battling

These NWSL players didn’t make the USWNT roster this time around, and probably won’t for the Olympics. However, their national team dreams are far from over if they play well in NWSL.

GK Jane Campbell — Previously on the roster, Campbell is the leading candidate to start getting Harris’ minutes. She’s having a very solid season for the Houston Dash.

GK Aubrey Bledsoe — Bledsoe isn’t as young as Campbell, and her distribution leaves quite a bit to be desired, but she’s developed into NWSL’s best shot-stopper. If she can improve her goal kicks and passing, she’ll get a NT shot.

DF Casey Short — Short is one of NWSL’s most consistent defenders, but doesn’t make much of an attacking contribution from fullback, which Ellis values. Still, she’s one of the best fullbacks in the country and should be on the roster.

DF Megan Oyster — While the international players were away, Oyster was arguably the best center back in NWSL and one of the biggest reasons that Reign FC moved up into first place. She’s had two caps, and is clearly on Ellis’ radar.

DF Emily Menges — Ask Thorns fans and some will tell you, in a low whisper so no one hears, that Menges is actually the best central defender on their team. She doesn’t quite have Sonnett’s physical talent, but she’s more composed and makes fewer mistakes.

DF Jaelene Hinkle — You probably think that Hinkle is out of the national team because of her personal views on homosexuality, and most fans seem OK with that decision. If that’s the case, she obviously has no path back to the national team. But U.S. Soccer says she was only cut for soccer reasons and that her personal views have nothing to do with her exclusion. If that’s true, her status as the league’s assist leader while playing good defense on arguably the best team in NWSL is going to lead to her being reconsidered.

MF Danielle Colaprico — An injury led to Colaprico having to decline a call-up just before the World Cup, and that was that for her chances of making the roster. She’s been the most consistent holding midfielder in the league since she arrived, though, and should get another shot.

MF Sofia Huerta — This is a weird case. Huerta was tried out at right back by Ellis, and asked for a trade from Chicago to Houston to get more time at that position, in order to make the World Cup team. Houston correctly identified that Huerta was one of the best attacking midfielders in the league, so they played her there, ruining her chances of making the USWNT. Unfortunately, her 2019 numbers aren’t even close to what she did in 2018, and now she doesn’t look USWNT quality at either position. But there’s no denying that Huerta, at her best, is one of the 23 best American footballers. Don’t count her out yet.

FW Kealia Ohai — I don’t know why it hasn’t quite worked out for Ohai. She’s looked amazing in bursts at Houston, and she’s got a few national team caps. But she hasn’t translated her best performances and blazing speed into consistent production yet. At 27, her time isn’t up yet, but the clock is ticking fast.

FW Midge Purce — Like Huerta, Purce is likely considered a right back prospect by Ellis. Problem for Portland is, she’s been balling in a more advanced position, and right back Ellie Carpenter is back from Australia duty. Purce is talented enough to play for the USWNT, but it’s hard to see her getting a chance under the current circumstances.

FW Lynn Williams — The former NWSL MVP has gotten plenty of national team call-ups, but hasn’t quite meshed with Ellis and her system. There’s a serious dearth of prime-age striker talent in the pool, though, with most of Ellis’ options being in their 30s or teenagers. Being a good 26-year-old is enough to get Williams another look.

Coming soon... we think

These young players have turned pro and had a taste of USWNT action. I expect them to become regulars over the next couple of years.

GK Casey Murphy — The prime candidate to replace Harris’ minutes and become Naeher’s understudy. The 23-year-old has played a pro season in France with Montpellier and is currently playing out of her mind for Reign FC.

UT Hailie Mace — Mace is going to make the national team simply because of her ability to play literally every position on the field. She’s getting most of her minutes for Rosengard in Norway at striker, but she’s played a lot of winger, fullback, and even a little center back, on the left and right sides. She’s a player Ellis wants on her bench.

MF Andi Sullivan — Ask any coach in NWSL and they’ll tell you that Sullivan is a lock to be a national team fixture for the next decade. The 23-year-old is already captain of the Washington Spirit and can play any midfield position.

MF/FW Savannah McCaskill — McCaskill has gotten her national team minutes under Ellis at central midfield, but it looks like her new team Chicago Red Stars intend on using her as a deep-lying forward, linking superstar striker Sam Kerr and the midfield behind her. As a hard-working midfield-forward tweener, she could replace a lot of Carli Lloyd’s minutes.

Ones for the longer-range future

These players are rookies or college players at the moment, but they’ve turned in impressive youth national team performances, and are firmly on Ellis’ radar.

GK Meagan McClelland — She was the Big Ten freshman of the year at Rutgers and is already getting called into Under-23 camps at 18 years old.

DF Tegan McGrady — Hamstring injuries have kept the Spirit left back from making a big impact in her rookie season, but if she gets healthy, she’s expected to enter the national team rotation.

DF Emily Fox — Fox already has three caps and is probably the best player still plying her trade in college. The UNC star should become a fixture on the roster whenever Sauerbrunn decides to call it quits.

DF Sam Staab — Staab has exceeded expectations in her rookie year for the Spirit and is one of the big contenders for rookie of the year. She’s incredible at hitting long-range passes with her left foot, something Ellis values.

DF Alana Cook — Currently out of the USWNT hype spotlight due to her move to Paris Saint-Germain. Hopefully she can keep getting paid abroad and doesn’t need to move home to get onto Ellis’ radar.

DF/MF Naomi Girma — The Stanford sophomore can play in defense or midfield, which is certainly a plus for her future national team prospects. With Cook and Davidson gone, she’ll be expected to lead the Stanford defense.

MF Jaelin Howell — The 19-year-old has already been to a senior camp and was the midfield anchor for Florida State’s national title-winning team as a frehsman. She’s already a good enough DM to help any team in the world that doesn’t have Julie Ertz.

MF Brianna Pinto — An intelligent and slick passing midfielder, Pinto has already been called into a senior national team camp. With Dorian Bailey graduating, she’ll now be expected to lead UNC’s midfield.

MF Kate Wiesner — Wiesner has yet to make her collegiate debut, but she’s the No. 1 ranked player in her recruiting class. She should become the starting left winger at Penn State immediately and start making a case for national team looks with her excellent left foot service.

FW Ashley Sanchez — Sanchez has actually failed to reach the heights she was predicted to since she first got called into a full national team camp, but no one is writing her off at 20 years old. With Mace departing UCLA, Sanchez will be expected to take over a starring role this season.

FW Catarina Macario — Brazilian-American Macario is widely considered the best player in college soccer, but won’t be eligible for U.S. citizenship for two years. She’s made it clear that she wants to play for the USWNT, though, and regularly participates in Under-23 national team camps even though she can’t play official games under FIFA rules. She should be fast-tracked to the full national team whenever her citizenship comes through.

FW Sophia Smith — The most obvious candidate for USWNT stardom in the future, Smith has 21 goals in 25 Under-20 appearances, and scored seven goals in 13 appearances for Stanford as a freshman.

There are so many great NWSL and college players we couldn’t fit here

Seriously, watch NWSL. If you’re a real nerd and want to get into this stuff hardcore, you can find great info on youth soccer at Top Drawer Soccer, and college soccer games are usually on streaming services you already have like ESPN3 and ESPN+. There are — no joke — 50 other players I thought of that could have conceivably made this list, so huge thanks to my supremely nerdy pals Fitzcamel and Travis Clark for helping me put this together.

[ladypjmoon]

BTS FF Reads for July...

Greetings Readers!!!

Sorry this is a few days late—I like to post my reviews during the first week of each month—but it’s summer and I’ve been spending time with friends and family...while enjoying the sun and beautiful weather!  

So, without further delay...here’s my BTS FanFiction recommended reading list for July!!!

Summertime was made for reading and these are some fantastically amazing stories I’ve had the pleasure to read—and, of course, cheerzzz to all these talented writers...and Thank You for sharing your beautiful works of art with the fandom!

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01)   Title: Pull Me Closer

Ship:  Yoonmin

Author:  by Willow_Odessa2333

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/11002941

Summary: College!AU where Jimin can’t sleep without listening to a *certain someone’s* channel, and then hears someone in the library that sounds JUST like him, but brushes it off until..... Or in which Jimin meets Yoongi, the voice behind the anonymous live stream host he kind of fell in love with.

My Review: I’m starting you out with a sugary delight that’s so sweet it’ll give you cavities—so remember to brush after reading, lol!  But seriously, this is Yoonmin at their most romantic—full of fluff and feels galore—and it’s sure to bring a smile to your face...so, enjoy!  

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02)   Title: Butterfingers

Ship:  Yoonmin

Author:  by ohdizzy

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7848391

Summary:  Jimin's life is no fairytale.  But if it was, it'd go something like this.  (Or: the AU in which Jimin is cursed to drop whatever he’s holding every time he sees the person he loves)

My Review: Here’s another Yoonmin gem where Jimin’s lost his creative edge and has a painting project due.  Taehyung decides he needs a muse—enter barista Min Yoongi, covered in tattoos.  The plot is pure love, the twist is Jimin’s cursed by the gods to drop things around the person he loves because he hates love and the friends to lovers ending is predictably cliché but beautifully done!    

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03)   Title: Come First

Ship:  Yoonjin

Author:  by jinified

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/10155545

Summary:  “You could go in there, you know.” Hoseok suggests offhandedly.  “No,” Seokjin says immediately with a dismissive shake of his head, “he told me to never interrupt him when he’s in there.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m serious! We have an established boundary zone because—”

“Please don’t.”

“—we’re roommates.”

or: Yoongi has been in the studio too long and Seokjin tries to persuade him to leave. It doesn't go quite according to plan.

My Review: This shorty is pure Yoonjin smut and fun while the simplistic plot only adds to the air of humor and believability—I can actually see this happening...oh yes!          

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04)   Title: Dahlia

Ship:  Yoonseok | Sope

Author:  by signifying_nothing

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8726908

Summary:  witchchild jeongguk accidentally summons a pair of demons

My Review: I find the summary on this fic a little misleading because it’s actually quite a soulful piece of work.  There’s a lot of meat to this one so don’t be surprised by the plot depth and fully developed characters.  Make sure you’re heart, mind and soul are open when you read this one because there’s a fuckton of good questions that are sparked by this basic angel-demon theme.  I loved this story a lot and those of you who like to read unusual story lines will too!!!

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05)   Title:  Daily Smoothies

Ship:  Taekook | Vkook

Author:  by Missmozzie

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8291000

Summary:  Taehyung likes smoothies, and so does Jeongguk.

My Review: I love awkward Taekook and this is a really cute college au with an added Yoonmin flare...enjoy!

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06)   Title: Eternal

Ship:  Jikook

Author:  by staycute1234

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/6228838

Summary:  Jungkook has been chasing Jimin for centuries.

My Review: This story spans a few hundred centuries following the vampire, Jungkook, as he waits for his soulmate, Jimin, to be continually reborn so they can be together for another human lifetime. There is blood and smut in this story but it’s sensual and not gore—however, if you’re the squeamish sort you might want to refrain from reading this one.  For all you vamp-lovers, this is a fabulous story and a great read!  

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07)   Title: Finally

Ship:  Vmin

Author:  by rosiex

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/10577745

Summary:  In which Jimin and Taehyung finally share their first kiss.

My Review: I adore this story—it’s quick but thorough!  We follow Jimin’s thought process surrounding his first kiss with Taehyung...which is also his first time kissing a boy.  Jimin’s mental dialog is genuine and detailed as he leads the reader through the physical and mental aspects that change his relationship status of his best friend from friend to lover.  This is a great little story with a big emotional footprint!          

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08)   Title: Homefront

Ship:  Namji | Minjoon

Author:  by ACatWhoWrites

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7998787

Summary:  There were times Jimin felt a lot and didn't feel at all. Times before he was a dad that he'd rather never forget and times he'd rather never think of again. Times when he was alone and choking on ash and slipping in mud made of blood and exposed dirt. Times before dancing with his daughter to animated guitar music and planning dates to pick flowers in the park.

My Review: I don’t normally read fictions that portray BTS members are parents (not my thing) but this one grabbed my heart. This is a multi-layered piece that surrounds a soldier (Jimin) who’s past and military obligations overlap with his life as a single father.  I love the underlying theme of finding love when and where you least expect it...because it reminds the reader there’s always hope!

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09)   Title: Insanity (in G minor)

Ship: Yoonmin

Author:  by neatospiffy

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/9575978

Summary:  Yoongi is a pianist who runs a music shop in a small town. Jimin is his unlikely studentroommate?  the music!au that nobody asked for tbqh heavily inspired by Yoongi's First Love, the piano version of Butterfly, and several Yoonmin fics I've read in the past.

My Review: I have a hard time reading plots about or with child abuse—however, since it was implied, not graphically depicted, I got through it fine.  Most of the fiction revolves around how Jimin comes to live with his piano instructor and how their bond forms over a love of music...eventually, they fall into a romantic relationship.  This is a very touching Yoonmin story that deserves your attention and will reward you with a happy heart in the end!

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10)   Title: Meet The Parents

Ship:  Yoonjin

Author:  by rosiex

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7851541

Summary:  Yoongi predicts that meeting Seokjin's parents will be a disaster.  He was right.

My Review: An honest and cringe-worthy account of meeting your partner’s parents and knowing they instantly hate you.  I found this story both funny and sad as I suffered through second-hand embarrassment and dreaded the ride home and ensuing fight that had the potential to rip them apart, but doesn’t—with an ending that’s pure Yoongi...at least in my mind.

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11)   Title: Never Judge a Book by its Cover

Ship:  Jikook

Author:  by whenIseeUsmile

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/9841067

Summary:  Thanks to Jungkook's idiot best friend, he drowned the books he borrowed from the library. Now, he has to work there to work off his debt. He doesn't really like the job but that one boy that always has his nose buried in his books makes his days much better.  Or in which Jungkook meets bookworm Jimin and falls harder than he thought he would.

My Review: This story is fabulous!  It has a generous amount of fluff and feels along with a well-structured plot that flows easily, making it a great read—and it doesn’t hurt to that there’s a healthy dose of side Taegi either...can I get an Hell Yeah!

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12)   Title: Passengers

Ship:  Yoonmin

Author:  by unclassified_senpai

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/9180250

Summary:  The spacecraft Starship Avalon is traveling to a distant colony planet, Homestead II, a journey that will take 120 years to complete. The colonists and the entire crew are in Hibernation Pods, but a malfunction awakens one passenger, mechanical engineer Min Yoongi, 90 years too soon.  A YoonMin PassengersAU.

My Review: You all know I’m Yoonmin trash (she said proudly) and this is Yoonmin in epic proportion!  This is a must read!!!  And, if you’re a stalker (like me) you can go read the comments I made throughout the story however, here’s a section of my last comment...

“Seriously, you did a spectacular job on this story and the research you put into it (behind-the-scenes) shows immensely! I love Yoonmin but in this setting...I don't know, there was just something so beautifully quiet and peaceful about the Yoonmin ship that I haven't found in any of my other reading travels. The characters were so truthful and exactly how I see them in my own mind, including all their pain and insecurities--somehow you managed to keep this same quiet echo through the entire series...which is a feat in and of itself. And Namjoon killed me--every chapter watching his body fade and fail was done with honest and painful simplicity...I cried more for Joonie than I did when Yoonmin separated after their misunderstanding.”

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13)   Title: The 8 by 8 Rule

Ship:  Taekook | Vkook

Author:  by Rix

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7344526

Summary:   Jungkook drinks a lot of water. Taehyung's into it.

My Review: This is another story that won’t be to everyone’s liking so READ the TAGS!  I laughed and blushed my way through this one because Rix’s sex scenes are off the MF hook!  I enjoyed reading this one—but again, I love me some bottom Jungkookie so yeah...don’t read this one in church, lmfao!

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14)   Title: sidereal

Ship:  Vmin

Author:  by darling

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8029858

Summary:  Here we observe the Earth and the Sun in their natural habitat: each other.

My Review: This story is another with the theme of domestic abuse—it’s heart-wrenching and bittersweet—with a happy ending but I caution you all to READ the TAGS for triggers!  Darling is one of my favorite authors because of the unique perspective, style and voice...so I highly encourage you to read this or any other piece by this fantastic writer!    

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15)   Title: you have 1 new message

Ship:  Namjin

Author:  by bazooka

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7481172

Summary:  

r u n c h r a n d a.

fuck, this is going to sound like the weirdest shit. okay look i used ur selcas to catfish and this older dude is gonna buy me stuff but i have to send him a selca with a peace sign

~ * ~ pingkeu jin ~ * ~

hahahahahahaha wtf

My Review: This is a long one however, don’t be afraid—it’s written in a texting format so it’s a very fast-paced read.  It’s Namjin centric with the other members contributing here and there but the plot spirals into a suspenseful thriller and has a great ending...that’s sure to put a dimple in your smile! ;)    

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16)   Title: Figuring It Out as We Go

Ship:  Jikook

Author:  by peppermint_wind

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/6078801

Summary:  Jungkook never thought this would happen to him; eighteen years old and questioning everything he used to know. Staying up late watching gay music videos with wide-eyes, phone tucked to his chest, probably isn't helping him much, either, but what is he supposed to do when he realizes seeing two men together makes his whole body ache?

**Based off of Jungkook covering Troye Sivan's, "Fools."

"Jimin’s breathing begins to even, and Jungkook watches his chest rise and fall, steady and slow, like how waves wash up on Busan beaches."

My Review: A very sweet coming about Jungkook discovering and accepting that he’s gay and has feelings for Jimin.  The feels in this story are deep and intense—it’ll make your heart beat faster, ngl!      

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17)   Title: breathing underwater

Ship:  Taekook | Vkook

Author:  by parallels

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/3604374

Summary:  Taehyung meets Jungkook on an impromptu summer road trip to Busan.

My Review: This is an odd little gem that I really love—it’s very poetic and beautiful.  I will mention that Taehyung almost drowns and Jungkook saves him so if this is a trigger for you please be careful as drowning is described with great feeling.    

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18)   Title: describe your ideal type here

Ship:  Sugakookie

Author:  by fruitily

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/11229873

Summary:  he means well. this is what jungkook tells himself when taehyung shoves a sheet of paper in his face at eight in the morning when he’s mechanically shoveling cereal into his mouth at the kitchen table in sort of a dissociative state. TAEHYUNG’S MATCHMAKING SERVICES, it reads at the top in taehyung’s glaring handwriting. jungkook doesn’t even want to read the rest of it.  or: taehyung makes a business out of matchmaking. yoongi smiles at jungkook at a coffee shop and it's really a downwards spiral from there on. both jungkook and yoongi probably need new roommates.

My Review: This story is wonderful!  Sugakookie done well is always a good time but honestly, I absolutely loved Vmin in this one.  The fact that you never know for sure if Vmin is a couple through the entire story is delightful and fun! Definitely read this one!!!    

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19)   Title: Good Job (with a G and a J)

Ship:  Namseok

Author:  by taetaetiger (sexyvanillatiger)

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8045644

Summary:  “Good, Hoseok," Namjoon says. "That’s exactly right. Very good.” Oh. Oh, Hoseok thinks. Oh, he feels crawling down his spine. Oh, he sits higher in his seat. Oh, he tightens his legs together and feels a rush through his stomach, through the insides of his thighs, through his groin. Oh.

My Review: A college au story with brilliant Namjoon tutoring Hoseok at Seokjin’s request.  This story is cute, funny and all-around a good read so add it to your summer reading list!    

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20)   Title: when the lights go out (run away with me)

Ship:  Sugamon

Author:  by JemKay

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/5690152

Summary:  Yoongi’s soft when he’s tipsy, softer when he’s cold, and softest when Namjoon says “I

love you.”

My Review: God this story is “Chick-flick-central” and so worth your time an effort—Namjoon is precious and Yoongi is his spitfire-self that melts in Joonie’s hands—this is a beautiful love story...so check it out!  

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Alright, that wraps up my listing for July—it’s a long one because it’s summer and most of you have extra free time on your hands...I know I do!!!  So, hope these keep a smile on your face during daylight hours by the pool, lake or beach!

As always, let me know if you’ve fallen in love with a certain story and send me the link so I can check it out!!!

Happy Reading and see you all next month!  

^___^  PJ

[othersportsnews-blog]

Large-funds transfers make for a fascinating summertime for Mexico supporters

New Post has been published on https://othersportsnews.com/large-funds-transfers-make-for-a-fascinating-summertime-for-mexico-supporters/

Large-funds transfers make for a fascinating summertime for Mexico supporters

Taylor Twellman reveals just how much away Javier Hernandez was from joining Big League Soccer.

This year’s European summertime transfer window has confirmed to be pretty chaotic for the Mexicans overseas. Irrespective of whether it be through an eye-catching return to the Premier League for Javier Hernandez or an overlooked addition of Omar Govea in Belgium, the past couple of months have been fascinating to stick to.

Whilst there is certainly nevertheless time still left for additional modifications, here is a summary of all the huge signings and loans that have took place so much:

The significant moves

Javier Hernandez, FW, West Ham (England) — Transfer

A transfer away from the Bundesliga’s Bayer Leverkusen appeared inevitable. Right after a time stuffed with damage complications, and a location at 12th put in the league table, Hernandez’s name was straight away connected to a quantity of rumored clubs. In the conclude, it was West Ham that was ready to steal the participant, who nevertheless had a year still left on his contract with Leverkusen.

In spite of the truth that Chicharito is not going to be ready to consider element in the UEFA Champions League or Europa League, weekly minutes in the Premier League need to be additional than sufficient to aid him prepare for up coming year’s Planet Cup.

Javier Hernandez’s transfer to West Ham was just one of the most significant moves of the summertime.

Guillermo Ochoa, GK, Regular Liege (Belgium) — Transfer

Ochoa’s shift to Regular Liege is a baffling just one. The 32-year-previous, who has on a regular basis shined for club and state, is having a step down just after actively playing in Spain with Granada. The decision to be a part of Les Rouches gets to be even additional perplexing when you take into consideration that the Belgian club completed in ninth put last time.

Possibly way, it truly is admirable to see the Mexican dedicated to staying in Europe — primarily when higher-shelling out Big League Soccer and Liga MX gives ended up most likely accessible. Preserving in head that Ochoa nevertheless has at minimum a number of excellent several years still left in him, let’s see if a excellent time may well be ready to garner a very well-deserved huge transfer.

Andres Guardado, MF, Real Betis (Spain) — Transfer

Just when it looked like Guardado would be joining MLS, the veteran made a decision to shift back again to Spain through a transfer to Real Betis. Right after dominating the Eredivisie for 3 seasons with PSV Eindhoven, it will be thrilling to see if he can transition this sort around to La Liga.

Granted, no Champions League or Europa League matches will be accessible, but it truly is nevertheless a smaller step in the suitable direction for the 30-year-previous midfielder. Whilst his earlier time in Spain with Valencia was underwhelming, Guardado is now returning with additional self esteem and refined technological capabilities.

Hector Moreno, DF, Roma (Italy) — Transfer

Moreno to Roma is just one of the additional interesting Mexican transfers of the year. Very similar to Guardado, the defender thrived in the Eredivisie with constant and dominant performances for PSV. Around the summertime, Moreno then joined just one of Italy’s leading clubs and signed a 4-year contract with the corporation.

With a extended record of world-class gamers on the roster, it truly is heading to be intriguing to see how the proficient 29-year-previous will do the job with his new club. Minutes in the Champions League group stage will also be priceless for Moreno.

Carlos Salcedo, DF, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) — Loan

Pursuing a promising start in Serie A’s Fiorentina, which afterwards turned into a regular location on the bench, Salcedo will be despatched on bank loan to Eintracht Frankfurt from Chivas. The 23-year-previous defender, who nevertheless needs to do the job on his decision-building, will now get to best his competencies alongside fellow Mexican Marco Fabian.

Right after the departure of Jesus Vallejo for Real Madrid, Salcedo will have a enormous opportunity to fight for a starting off job for his new club. Given a solid year, a start for Mexico in the up coming Planet Cup may well not be out of the concern both.

Hirving Lozano, MF, PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) — Transfer

The prototype and design of Mexico’s youth enhancement has ultimately earned his significantly-predicted shift to Europe. On June 19, PSV introduced that Lozano agreed to a six-year contract with the Eredivisie club.

In spite of fan hopes of a transfer to a even bigger crew, the decision to be a part of the Eredivisie club is the proper just one for the 21-year-previous.

Lozano has an enormous amount of probable but also must be specified time and persistence to elevate his competencies. Right after watching him simply breeze past Liga MX defenders in Mexico, the winger need to be ready to carry on setting up up his name in the Netherlands.

The underneath-the-radar modifications

Antonio Briseno, DF, Feirense (Portugal) — Transfer

Six several years just after profitable the 2011 U17 Planet Cup, Briseno is now acquiring his likelihood to enjoy in Europe. The 23-year-previous defender, who not too long ago signed a two-year contract with Portugal’s Feirense, will will need to strike the floor jogging in purchase to attain relevance with Mexico’s senior countrywide crew.

Omar Govea, MF, Royal Excel Mouscron (Belgium) — Loan

It really is not the most sensational shift, but it truly is just one that could convert into anything exclusive for Govea. Right after getting to be a key participant for Porto’s B squad, the 21-year-previous midfielder is now established to progress his occupation in Belgium’s leading flight.

Uriel Antuna, MF, Metropolis Soccer Team (Unknown) — Transfer

Final 7 days, it was introduced that Metropolis Soccer Team had signed the 19-year-previous winger. Wherever Antuna will be positioned inside the organization’s several clubs remains to be seen.

Carlos Pena, MF, Rangers (Scotland) — Transfer

On the record of achievable moves to Europe, no one predicted that Rangers would be bringing in Pena. Whilst it could be argued that it truly is a step in the erroneous direction, the unpredicted transfer may well be the actual point that the inconsistent participant needs.

Eduardo Herrera, FW, Rangers (Scotland) — Transfer

A different a bit shocking transfer to Rangers. Like Pena, the out-of-sort Herrera may well be ready to rediscover his scoring in a new atmosphere overseas.

Joao Maleck, FW, Porto B (Portugal) — Loan

Maleck, who is also a Santos Laguna product like Antuna, was despatched on bank loan to Porto B previously this thirty day period. The forward will now be a element of an corporation that proceeds to grow its Mexican representation.

Cesar Hernandez addresses Liga MX and the Mexican countrywide crew for ESPN FC. Twitter: @cesarhfutbol.

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