#But... failing and still being left out all the time.....

[novelistwriter]

Twin Returned... kinda

DP x DC Prompt

Danyal and Damian are twins, and both want to live up to the expectations of their grandfather. Yet Danyal is always falling behind in requirements that Ra's sets. Danyal is scared, but doesn't show it out in the open, on what his grandfather would do with him if he fails too many times.

He got his answer when Ra's had killed him, but not in any slow and painful way. Ra's had killed him quickly by cutting off his head without hesitation when he had failed again. Ra's even left the room as if nothing had happened, leaving Talia and Damian in the room with Danyal's body and head.

Both of them had made sure that Ra's wasn't in the Lazarus Pit chamber before trying to resurrect Danyal, Talia having sewn Danyal's head back on to the best of her ability, Damian wasn't fight to keep his tears back like his mother. Alas, Danyal's body was consumed by the Lazarus Pit, leaving behind a grieving Mother and a twin without his other half.

Danyal was healed and revived by the Lazarus Pit, but was taken to the Infinite Realms and placed in the Fentons basement when they tried turning on the portal prematurely. Danyal has trouble speaking, as his vocal cords are still healing, the Lazarus Pit couldn't fully heal them, but he has gained some advanced healing after becoming a Liminal because of the revival, and his death scar is something he doesn't want to show, so he hides it as best he can.

Almost all of the Danny Phantom Canon happens, except Danyal is distant, quiet, and not trying to make friends. He just wants to return to Dami's side and feel his mother's embrace one more time. It's only until the Disasteroid comes that has a different outcome.

Danyal was pulled from the world, being in Clockwork's tower. He was told that all of the people in that world are meant to die by the Disasteroid, and if their deaths are prevented, the timelines of multiple realities will collapse. Danyal is not meant to die, as he is needed to grow up and become the Ghost King since he inherited the title after he beat Pariah.

Danyal is going to miss Jazz, as he grew to like her, but is still happy that he finally gets to be by his twins' side again. He didn't hear that there might be a side effect of his form undergoing an alteration that'll stick for a long while. Hence why he's currently in the Lazarus Pit that he was put in by his mother and twin. He hasn't surfaced because something is keeping him in it while his body is painfully morphing into a mythological creature known as a Hydra.

Damian is not happy to be brought back to the Lazarus Pit that had taken his twin from him, nor is he happy to see the man that had killed him. Ra's had captured Damian, looking to transfer his soul into his heir. Talia had defected and taken quite a few assassins with her to start a League of Shadows instead. Danyal's death caused the woman to drop Damian off to his father and begin preparations for taking down her father. Both of them had agreed to keep Danyal a secret, as they wanted to spare Bruce the heartache over losing a son he never met.

Just as the Ritual was about to be completed, the Bats and Talia had finally broken in after dealing with the Assassins. Yet it wasn't any of them that stopped the Ritual. It was the big Hydra that burst out of the Lazarus Pit and, upon seeing Ra's, devoured the man (Danyal is gonna regurgitate the bones of his grandfather later when he realizes what he did). With the magic gone, Damian is free, but he's having a stared down with the Hydra. Before anyone could do something, the Hydra telepathically speaks in a raspy voice that's all too familiar to Damian and Talia.

"Dami... I am... happy to... see you again"

[bewitched-hours]

ANGST IDEA: (if you write it uh.. he/they pronouns for reader)

Two-Time gets so enamored with y/n, they start following them around, until they get the idea,, that y/n would be the best sacrifice for The Spawn. And stabs them mid round (it could be anything, just as long as Two-Time or any other sentinel ends up killing y/n)

And 1x ends up being the killer..

While casting Necromancy, She summons y/n without realizing it, and while they’re checking their minions, he senses a new being under their control.

Revealing Y/n as a minion, somewhat still aware, like a sleepy person, kinda wobbling around and whatnot.. and feels a bit .. bad..

I don't do he/they but I can offer They/Them as the closest to male pronouns as stated in my ruleset(again, nothing against guys but I honestly write a bit more on relatability and for my fellow gals because I see mostly AMAB reader fics-) Also I may have misunderstood the request, I apologize if this isn't what you wanted-

Reader has They/Them-

It wasn't supposed to be even possible... But the Spectre seemed to have been bored.

And by the stars, Two Time's infatuation with you gave it an idea.

You thought it was innocent at first and that you could handle them despite not reciprocating their feelings. You were just kind like that, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings.

Hell, you even went out of your way to apologize to killers and make sure they didn't feel discouraged by a missed attack... Even though they wouldn't be in the first place...

But what no one could've seen coming was Two Time suddenly backstabbing you and successfully killing you..?

That wasn't right. Something was up, especially when you were nowhere to be found after that round. Even your cabin was completely destroyed which only meant...

You were actually dead dead. Gone from existence entirely.

Obviously, the blame was on Two Time. They stabbed you after all and all they could talk about was the Spawn possibly giving them a third life to better protect everyone.

It left a sour taste in their mouths but the Spectre did grant them a third life to keep them insane.

The next round was when things got interesting.

1x1x1x1 was chosen as the killer and in the middle of it, she chose to use necromancy. Raising minions from the dead to help him with taking care of the pesky survivors.

Although you horrified the survivors with your appearance, 1x failed to realise it until much later while checking on the minions because she felt a new presence among them.

And there you stood. Not entirely stable as you looked more like someone fighting off exhaustion and being on the edge of collapsing. It looked pitiful enough.

So when the round ended and you were taken to the killer's cabin with them, 1x merely picked you up and explained what happened quickly before hauling you off with them.

Did you even know what was happening? You didn't show any resistance but the vengeance she could feel from you when you spotted Two Time was enough to allow you to be a true minion.

There would just need to be a few modifications...

Anything you'd like to request/ask? Check out my pinned post first and I'll be happy to write up whatever you want!

[misspantymime]

Bat x Family ("A Family Meeting...Sort Of")

a/n: Once again, I forgot to update within the week. I'm ready for any punishment you have for me! Also, did the Batfam seem awkward? I usually don't right all of them together. (///￣ ￣///)

TW: Slight mention of starvation of children (no deaths though!)

Taglist: @c4xcocoa, @shinning-stars, @whognuthis, @dkddkdkdkdkdkdk, @nisarelle, @tree-ag, @welpthisisboringing, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake, @thatoneraeder, @celesteelysia, @scentedwombatarcade, @nxdxsworld, @lonely-entity, @jsprien213, @cocobally229, @kokazuu, @alishii, @misdollface, @charlenexoxo1, @wendee-go, @lunoorbonoor, @rainschnael, @punkandnerdy9, @mintynilla, @nervousalpacalady, @mallowryblog, @sirenetheblogger, @cupid73

Anya Forger! Child! Reader x Yandere! Platonic! Batfam

When Bruce called for a “family meeting”, Dick only had half an idea of what it was about.

More than likely, it had something to do with the trafficking bust that happened less than a week ago. The one that Jason seemed to fumble, despite his protests that the place had been cleared out before he even reached the location. Supposedly, the “product” had been left without food or water for an undisclosed amount of time before the GCPD had gotten a lead, but there had miraculously been no deaths.

That being said, Red Hood wasn’t the only one to drop the ball.

The breakout from Arkham had involved more major threats and the consensus had been that resources would be better allocated to that issue, above everything else. Or, to put more bluntly, the trafficking business, while urgent, just wasn’t to be prioritized at the moment. Which would eventually bite them in the butts later.

Through police contacts, the grapevine, and the ravenous media, Dick had heard less than stellar remarks on the poor handling of it all. Many papers and news outlets were questioning the lack of urgency from the GCPD and the Bats, seeing as some of the most vulnerable people of society’s lives had been put at stake yet appeared to not be on they’re radar. Not to mention the main perpetrators had slinked away unscathed.

So, if Bruce was going to ream them over the poor handling of the case, Dick was more than ready to take it on the chin. Even if the others weren’t.

Which is why when he reached the parlor, Dick was met, not unsurprisingly, with chaotic arguing.

“-admit it, Todd, you failed.” Damian’s resolute assertion was the first thing Dick heard but it was soon followed by–

“Listen, you damn demon brat, I told you already–” Jason was cut off, by Duke trying to placate them all.

“Look, guys, no one expected this, alright? You can’t blame him for that.”

“Incompetence doesn’t justify failure. It was in his territory, so it was his responsibility.” Damian argued just as Tim added his two cents.

“Yeah, but why are we all here, anyway? If he has something to say, he can just say it to Jay, right?” He groaned, rubbing his temple while nursing a cup of coffee. No steam, so they must have been at it for a while.

“Maybe he needs all hands on deck for it or something?” Steph chimed in, lounging on one of many seats, back leaning on one armrest while her legs hung over the other.

Cass simply observed the carnage from the side.

“Hey, hey, look we all messed up, alright?” Dick chided gently, with his trademarked golden boy smile as he stepped fully into the parlor, ”Let’s just see what Bruce wants, okay?”

Someone had to play peacemaker, since it looked like Duke was fighting for his life and Alfred was nowhere to be seen. 

“I hardly see where I–” Daminan started.

“Listen, we all could’ve done better,” Dick reiterated, “We’ll just hear him out and see how we can make this better.”

“I kind of doubt that’s possible” Barbara spoke up, on her laptop and scanning the various pages scrolling across the screen. “This is a bit of a–”

“Shitshow?” Jason prompted.

“Yes,” She sighed, before adding on, “No perps, and the place was, apparently, cleaned out before they got there. The GCPD is still scanning for anything, to be honest, but it’s not looking good.”

Barabara’s olive green eyes soon grew darker as she continued,

“Some of the kids were in critical condition.”

A hush fell over the room, smothering any irritation under a somber atmosphere. 

Just then, the door opened once again and Alfred, proper as ever, strolled in amidst the cold tension, seemingly none the wiser. If anything, the butler almost looked…amused?

“Master Wayne would like to apologize, but it seems he is…preoccupied at the moment.”

“The hell? He’s the one who called us” Jason grouched, flopping down on an armchair. 

 “Yes, but something of utmost importance has come to his attention.”

A sort of sharpness tinged the atmosphere, as they all tensed in anticipation. 

‘What could be so important?’, They all thought.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Bruce was not prepared for this.

He was not prepared for any of this.

 Bruce was ready to leave you to your show– a loud sort of spy cartoon? –but you had other plans, charging him as soon as the words “I have an errand to run” left his lips.

“An adventure!” You cried excitedly, latching onto his suit’s pant leg. “Lemme come!”

“Wha–? No, it’s an errand.” He repeated, trying to slip from your grasp. However, it proved to be far stronger than he expected, as you clung onto his leg even when he swung it to-and-fro rather inelegantly. 

‘I need to get to the cave with the others. Alfred can probably keep her away long enough for me to give them the rundown.’ Bruce sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“I wanna go with Papa!” You cheered once again, your small hands leaving wrinkles in his pant leg.

“You’ll be bored” Bruce tried to reason with you, “Just stay and watch your show.”

‘She can’t get anywhere near the Batcave.’

And he failed. Spectacularly.

“No, no, no!” You exclaimed, climbing higher up his leg to cling off his waist, “I wanna be with Papa!”

‘This is illogical. Why is she so attached to me right when she got here?’  

You beamed up at him, shamelessly hanging off him like a juvenile monkey from a less than willing tree, “Please?”

“(Name)–” Bruce sighed again.

“Pretty please?” You emphasized in a drawn out whine.

While he was far from a master negotiator, Bruce fully believed he could hold his own in terms of brokering a deal. The social minefield of Gotham’s elite proved to be a formidable challenge time and time again, while the overt battleground of it’s underbelly remained default even for the most hardened of individuals. 

That being said, Bruce Wayne would not fold to a six year-old.

“Papa!”

He would not fold.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Dick stared at him.

Bruce stared past him, through the open doorway.

The parlor remained quiet, but the it’s inhabitants faces spoke volumes:

Alfred contained a chuckle behind a cough and his fist.

Tim raised an eyebrow over his cup of coffee, frozen just before taking a sip.

Jason, faced away from the door itself, did a double take upon shooting a glance over his shoulder. 

Duke’s face seemed to be caught between a gawking expression of shock and a nervous laugh.

Cass–stoic and steely eyed Cass– betrayed the slightest widening of her eyes.

Steph hid a bemused and bewildered sort of smirk behind her hand.

Damian looked aghast, bordering on disgusted.

And Barbara? She simply looked at him over the rim of her glasses.

All the while, you grinned quite triumphantly in his arms, balanced on his hip.

“Uh, B? You got a little–” Dick pointed and Bruce immediately cut him off.

“Yes, I know.” He asserted.

You grinned mischievously as a satisfied giggle escaped you.

“Everyone… this is (Name).”

a/n: Start of the Batfam shenanigans! Hope you stick around to see more! (´｡• ᵕ •｡) ♡

[cupidstrace]

Once Upon A Time

Summary; You don't fall in love easily. But there was a time.

Pairing; Gojo Satoru x Reader

You sit across from a man in a small diner, watching him drone on and on about the gritty details of corporate as if you yourself don’t deal with it every passing day. The world outside the window speeds by in a blur, just like it always has, ever since three years ago.

He offers a charming smile that has your heart curling in your chest. You smile back.

His lips move, and you have to will yourself to listen. “You’re staring at me. What, have you fallen already?”

You laugh softly.

You don’t fall in love anymore. Or believe in it.

But there was once a time.

You were once a kid, brave enough to chase the impossible. Naive enough to believe you could reach it. A dreamer, full of grand ideas, chasing some sort of utopia in which everything would end up fine, and you would lose nothing in the process.

But that’s not how the world works. There’s give and there’s take. There’s the living and the dead and the fact that nothing will ever remain truly stagnant. Not love. Not even you.

You were once in love.

Gojo Satoru was insufferably cocky. Reckless. Arrogant, even.

But he was brilliant. Brave enough to chase the impossible, and stubborn enough to achieve it. He believed that strength wasn’t about how many enemies you could bring to their knees, but how many people you could keep standing.

And he was good.

He had a penchant for getting in over his head and telling you nothing. He’d come home and curl up with his head in your lap like that made up for all the silences, the half-truths, the lives he lived outside your door. He said he was a teacher. But he never let you visit the school. He never let you all the way in.

He’d watch you drift off fondly and be gone by the time you woke.

And yes, he wasn’t always present. Yes, you never married him, too swept up in arguments over finances and commitment and you never think of me as anything but a way to redeem yourself to realize that he wanted to propose. Yes, you never got any further than small murmurs at 2 am about a white picket fence and two kids in a faraway land where nothing ever mattered.

But you loved him. And he loved you. Very much.

He’d take you out when time allowed, which wasn’t very often. You’d wait late into the night to hand him a bag of sweets and see him beam. He’d whisper names in his sleep that he couldn’t bring himself to say in the daylight, and you never asked. Just held him closer.

He looked at you as if you were some fragile thing, and he was breaking you, ruining you, just by being fragile himself. He held you as if you were worth everything, and his worth was determined by how close he could mold your body to his. As if your warmth might redeem him.

Sometimes, in the quiet of the evening, with the TV humming something forgettable in the background, he’d ask if you thought he was strong enough to protect you. Even though he failed others. Even though the weight of a million could-have-beens pressed into every word he uttered and every action he took.

You used to tell him that strength didn’t mean carrying the world. It meant being vulnerable enough to let others into that world.

And for a while, you believed that.

You believed a lot of things, once.

The man taps your hand softly, and you snap out of it, offering an apologetic look. “Sorry. I was just.. thinking.”

He nods, eyes crinkling. “Do tell.”

You stare at him for a moment, searching his eyes for some flash of blue that you know won’t be there. Searching his smile for the feigned arrogance of the man that held you close all those years ago. “Do you ever wish you could turn back time?”

He hums, taking a sip of his drink before responding. “Is this one of those first date opener questions?”

You muster a soft laugh. “Maybe.”

“Yes,” he responds. “All the time. The past is like.. sand after a long day at the beach. Sometimes you go home and sit in silence and realize there’s still grains left in your asscrack. But they’ll wash away. You can’t keep going back to the beach just to slip more sand in your bathing suit.”

You blink at his metaphor, then tilt your head. “You go to the beach a lot?”

He grins. “All the time. You?”

You nod.

You wish you could turn back time to that day three years ago and ask him to stay. You wish you could stop him at the door, hold his face in your hands, and tell him not to go. Not this time. You wish you’d begged. Screamed. Something. Anything.

Instead, all you have left is a voicemail.

It’s old. Glitchy. You’ve played it so many times the words have started to slur together, like the memory of his voice is disintegrating. Softened by time, warped by grief. You’ve listened to it while staring at the photo frame on your nightstand, as if you could will him back into existence just by refusing to forget.

Hi, baby. I’m helping one of my students, so I might come back late.

..hey.

When I get home, let’s get married.

A weak laugh follows. It hurts to hear it every time, like he knew he’d never get the chance.

Let’s buy that little house on an island somewhere no one knows our names. We’ll build a fence. Two kids. No more work. No more secrets. Just you and me. I promise.

I love you, baby.

I’ll be home soon.

But he never was. Not really.

Not even a body. No final words beyond that message, stuttering through static like some ghost caught on repeat.

All they gave you was an apology. Gutted and formal and not nearly enough of an explanation to excuse the fact that he was gone. And a small, weathered box his subordinate found beneath your shared wardrobe. With a ring inside.

The one you pointed to years ago in a window you passed once and never mentioned again. Still gleaming. Still waiting.

Sometimes, in your lowest moments, you play the message back and whisper that you would’ve said yes. Because you would’ve. A million times over.

But the line’s long dead.

You blink and you’re back to the present, watching the man across from you motion to his bicep. “And that’s where the jellyfish stung me.”

He looks up at you as if waiting for some sort of awestruck look. Or concern. Or maybe both.

You hesitate, then muster a small “oh.”

The man pauses at your reaction, then laughs, sheepish. “It wasn’t a bad sting though. Anyway, yeah.. that was the first time I went to the beach. The real beach, not the metaphorical one. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

You let yourself giggle at his joke, hand coming up to twist at the ring hanging on your necklace. A nervous tic. “..I always wanted to live somewhere tropical. Remote. With shore for miles.”

He grins and nods enthusiastically. “Me too. Somewhere fun, you know? A fresh start.”

“Right,” you whisper, looking down at the ring. “Somewhere peaceful.”

He catches the shift in your tone, and for a brief moment, something unreadable flickers in his eyes. Not suspicion, or pity. Quiet understanding. “..an ex?”

“My boyfriend,” you murmur. “He was – is – somewhere peaceful. I hope.”

You clear your throat and let the silence settle like dust. Let it say everything you won’t. He doesn’t try to sweep it away.

The server comes by with a smile and a check you barely remember asking for. You both reach for it at the same time.

“I’ve got it,” he says, hand brushing yours.

You let him.

Outside, the sky has turned that soft sienna that only comes at the end of a particularly long day. 

You wonder, briefly, if he’s up there.

If the stars twinkle less to mock you for remembering and more to remind you he’s smiling, watching, from somewhere you can no longer reach.

He holds the door open for you. “Want to take a walk?”

You stare at him, then smile softly. “Yes. Thank you.”

You walk side by side through streets you’ve walked before, by a sunset you’ve seen a million times over. But it’s different, somehow. Lighter.

“Do you think people only get one true love?” you ask, voice barely a whisper.

He thinks for a moment, then looks down at you. His hand touches yours, light, then he intertwines your fingers with his when you don’t pull away. “I think if you’re lucky, you get one true love who teaches you something. And if you’re brave, you’ll keep your heart open long enough to find it again.”

You stay quiet. But your shoulders drop, and the words seep through your ribs, somewhere between the neverending ache and something softer.

The ring on your necklace lies warm on your skin. The sun disappears beneath the horizon line, winking out like a bittersweet goodbye.

Maybe you were right. Maybe nothing stays stagnant.

Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

You squeeze his hand and keep walking.

[clfixationstation]

ngl I cannot bring myself to agree with the "Catra's redemption was rushed" crowd, whether they like the show overall or not. Perhaps I have a different view of redemption than most. To me, a redemption arc begins when a character experiences guilt and remorse for their actions, which Catra expresses in early season 4 when she has a nightmare about how she threw Entrapta under the bus and activated the portal. Catra's nightmare shows her images of Entrapta and Adora questioning her, placing the onus for her actions on her: "What did you do to me?" "Why did you do it?"

Derailing: Why did she do it? Not because Adora made her. Catra can't use that excuse anymore. "Why did you do it?" Adora also asked Catra this as a child (s5ep3 Corridors) after she hit Lonnie. Back then, it was because Catra was terrified of losing Adora's friendship and thereby being "discarded" by Shadow Weaver. She was scared for her life. But now? Catra didn't activate the portal for safety; she did it to win. She did it to prove to the world she could be victorious, to Shadow Weaver, Hordak, Adora, to everyone who refused to believe in her. Yet after pulling that lever, Catra's true desires were revealed; she wanted to be relatively safe, surrounded by friends, allowed to love Adora, and recognized for her worth. She didn't need to dominate. When that false reality shattered, Catra's hope was shattered with it. She fell back on her sense of injustice, reduced to her own agony, inflicting it upon the world and herself. After the portal, Catra had to face that her goal of ascending through the Horde was hollow.

One could even argue Catra feels regret at the end of season 3 with this look she gives Adora of "ohhh I fucked up, I fucked up big time." Catra looks sickened, with herself and with how Adora now sees her.

From this point in the story, it was blatant to me that Catra was headed for redemption. Catra clearly knows that she went too far and may have completely burned every bridge and ruined all hope of redemption. But she can't yet confront that her ambitions will not fulfill her. So, she doubles down. In classic sunk-cost fallacy fashion, Catra seemingly strengthens her allegiance to the Horde, taking control and commanding operations. Despite herself, Catra's guilt creeps up on her, not only through the nightmare but also in her approach to Adora. Unlike in s1-3, throughout season 4 Catra avoids Adora almost entirely, only engaging from afar. Catra evades confronting the amount of pain she's caused Adora, the seemingly irreparable chasm she's clawed between them, focusing solely on strengthening the Horde. She still cares, but she denies herself that regular interaction.

This suppression poisons Catra's fragile friendship with Scorpia as well. Catra continually lashes out at Scorpia, projecting her own insecurities and frustrations onto her. Her behavior pushes Scorpia away and causes her to leave the Horde, to leave Catra. This is the first time someone left because of her. It almost feels like self-sabotage, Catra pushing Scorpia more and more, becoming crueler, creating reason for her to defect. Catra doesn't feel worthy of Scorpia's friendship, of anyone's. And so Scorpia's kindness enrages her, reminds her of how far she's fallen, and how much lower she will go. Catra also lashes out at her former comrades, Lonnie, Rogelio, and Kyle, further isolating herself from anyone who cares about her, pinning her entire existence on proving herself through Horde victory. She failed in the friendship department; the Horde is all she has left.

But Catra can't fool herself forever, and she certainly couldn't fool Double Trouble. After defeating Hordak, who does Catra have left to prove herself to? Horde Prime? Herself? Neither of those people care. For the first time, Catra is completely alone, and Double Trouble doesn't let Catra hide from how she got there. They read Catra to filth, summarizing what I wrote above: Catra pushed all her friends away in pursuit of a villainous role she didn't desire; her heart laid elsewhere. Now both goals are in ruins. Depleted, with nothing left to prove, Catra asks Glimmer to kill her. Catra's guilt permeated season 4, seeping into all her relationships and degrading her mental state. But guilt is meaningless without action. Which brings us to season 5.

I got soooo off track, so I'll try to wrap it up. So yes, Catra's redemption arc started in s3/4 when she first felt remorse for her actions - not in season 5. Even then, her change took time to develop. Initially, Catra still tried to align herself with Prime, but convinced him to spare Glimmer, indicating her shifting allegiance. The girls begin to empathize with each other and Catra sees how much Glimmer cares for Adora and the life Adora has built for herself. Fully expecting to die, Catra chooses to throw away the small amount of favor she earned with Prime and save Glimmer, therefore protecting Adora. Catra apologizes to Adora for everything. Her body is stolen from her and she dies as a consequence of her actions. She's revived and chooses to join the Rebellion. She slips up but genuinely tries to make amends, not for her own conscience but because it's right. She wants to do better. She accepts ire from the Princesses without retaliation. She defends Adora from Shadow Weaver. She gives Adora the strength to choose to live and allow herself to desire, and together they save the world.

This redemption is not immediate. It was given time, the foundation established across seasons. Catra does not have a sudden change of heart. It builds gradually, even within the final season. Nothing about Catra's arc was rushed and nothing about it was easy. Each day, she fought the harmful instincts cemented in her from years of abuse to become a better person, experiencing realistic regression and growth. Catra was tormented by others and herself for her entire life and all it did was make her worse. She deserves a soft universe, the new world she and Adora created together

[sharieb]

hello! just wanted to say I LOVEEE the way you do non-mc content. that being said could i request a headcanon on: lets say non-mc and the LI’s broke up because the dudes were still hung up on MC (they end up regretting it lol). then later on see non-mc in public who has moved on to someone else who is doing everything they guys failed to do.

The One Who Never Got It Right

Pairing: LADs x Non-Mc reader Genre: Angst (Breakup regrets) Writer's notes: Thought I could be getting more fluffs to do, but instead I got slapped in the face with this one, welp, no rest for the wicked, I guess 😅

He sees you across the bustling Skyhaven terminal—laughing, radiant, clinging to the arm of someone who isn’t him.

The man by your side is kind-eyed, attentive. He holds your bag, listens intently, and actually smiles when you talk. He doesn’t look distracted or distant—he’s there. Present.

Caleb halts mid-stride, fingers curling around the edge of his datapad. For a moment, it’s like the mission debrief in his hand doesn’t even exist.

He remembers every time he cut conversations short, gave you half his presence, let you walk beside him in silence because his mind was always elsewhere—on MC.

He thought you didn’t notice. That you’d wait. That maybe you’d always be around until he figured himself out.

Now you’re smiling in ways he never earned.

The worst part? You glance his way. See him. Then look away just as easily, returning to your conversation without missing a beat.

He used to be the safe place. Now, he's just a distant name in your past.

Later that night, he types a message to you. Deletes it. Writes it again.

In the end, he just stares at your contact photo for hours, then shuts off the holoscreen. And for the first time in a long time, Caleb can’t strategise his way out of the ache in his chest.

Mission Log 6.14.3A — Deleted Draft I saw her today. Not MC. Her. The one who asked me to be present. To try. To stop living like the past was all I had left. I thought letting her go would make me noble. Thought I was sparing her the weight of being second to a ghost. But maybe she wasn’t second. Maybe I just never gave her the space to be first. And someone else did. I hope he keeps holding her the way I never learned how to. I hope he never makes her feel like a placeholder. …I hope she never looks back.

He saw you at a gallery opening.

You're dressed in something elegant, arm-in-arm with a gentle-faced man who looks at you like you're art incarnate.

The moment hits him like a palette knife to the ribs.

You’re glowing—not in a spotlight way, but in a quiet, contented kind of joy he never could give.

He flashes his usual grin to the crowd, but his fingers twitch at his side.

Because of that new guy? He’s whispering something in your ear. And you’re laughing. That laugh used to belong to Rafayel, once.

But he made jokes about still missing MC. Let you hear silence when you needed security. Let you fade beside someone else’s memory.

Now?

Someone else painting you with attention. Frames you with love.

He downs his champagne and pretends to care about the next exhibit, but he draws you three times from memory that night.

None of them capture your smile the way he just did.

He doesn’t stop drawing until dawn. Each page is more desperate than the last.

 Sketchbook Entry — Page Torn Out She asked me once what I thought love looked like. I told her it was impossible to capture - always shifting, always out of reach. But she caught it. She was it. And I? I framed her in glass and called it finished. She wanted a mess. Partnership. Splattered hands and stained shirts. I gave her monologues and empty wine glasses. I thought she was a phase. A warm red before I returned to ash. But she was permanent. I saw her smile today. It wasn’t for me. And for once, I couldn’t paint a damn thing.

He was leaning on the railing of a shadowed walkway, scanning the crowd below on a recon run, when he spotted you.

You're tucked into the side of someone unfamiliar—someone laughing with you, their hand laced with yours, feeding you a bite of something sweet.

The softness on your face is devastating. It used to be his. It was once the only softness he’d let himself keep.

He stays hidden, watching.

That guy kisses your knuckles. And you smile like you trust him completely.

His chest tightens, fingers twitching. He almost drops the comms unit in his hand.

You’d begged him once to try, to stop comparing you to MC. To see you. He hadn’t known how to let go back then. Now?

He’s thinking about how that man just wiped whipped cream from your lip without flinching—and how he never even learned your coffee order.

“Idiot,” he mutters to himself, pushing off the railing.

But he doesn’t go down there. He’s already done enough damage.

And this time… someone else didn’t waste the chance. He hates it. He admires it.

Mostly, he regrets that it wasn’t him who made you stay.

Encrypted Voice Log – Never Sent SYLUS.ENTRY_097.BURNOUT Timestamp: Corrupted “She looks better without me. You’d think that’d piss me off, wouldn’t you?” “It doesn’t.” “Not really.” “He holds her like he’s not afraid she’ll disappear. Like he’s not too busy sharpening knives to hold her with both hands.” “I didn’t know how to do that. Couldn’t stop chasing shadows.” “I told myself she was a game. A way to forget.” “But she was never small. Never temporary. She waited for me to look up. I never did.” “He did.” [long pause] “She’s not coming back. Good. Let her stay gone. Let her stay whole.”

It’s late in the museum observatory, and Xavier’s here to recalibrate a projection model—until he looks down from the upper dome and sees you.

You're walking hand-in-hand with someone else through the starlit halls. Laughing. Calm.

The person beside you spins you under their arm, and you twirl without hesitation, radiant under the artificial cosmos.

He stands frozen in the upper dome, unseen.

You once asked Xavier to dance. He hesitated, too quiet and too caught up in thoughts of MC to say yes.

But that stranger below? He didn’t hesitate at all.

And you look so light in his arms. So free.

Xavier leans his forehead against the glass, breathing deeply.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, even though you can’t hear him.

His star map reboots beside him, scattering constellations. But for the first time, he doesn’t reach out to correct them.

Because he knows now, you weren’t meant to orbit him forever.

And you didn’t. You became your own universe. One that he was never brave enough to explore.

Private Memoir Entry – Unpublished I was always afraid I’d look at her and see someone else. So I never truly looked. Not the way she deserved. She asked me once if I was choosing to heal with her or without her. I said, “Without.” She nodded. Didn’t cry. Just left. And now I’ve healed. Or so I pretend. But sometimes I think healing isn’t a choice. Sometimes it’s a cost. I gave up the one person who saw me in the shadows and stayed. And someone else saw her light and danced into it.

You’re seated in a corner café with a man Zayne doesn’t recognise—easy smiles, shared laughter, his coat wrapped around your shoulders.

Zayne was on his way to deliver lab files to the main district med unit but now… he can’t move.

His gaze locks on the way the man leans in to tuck your hair behind your ear. How your eyes crinkle with joy.

It’s the kind of comfort Zayne never offered you—not because he didn’t care, but because he was too distracted chasing clarity with MC.

You once told him you felt like his second choice. He never answered that. And now, someone else treats you like you're the only choice.

He doesn’t interrupt. Doesn’t approach.

But that image burns in his mind for weeks. It replays in the sterile quiet of his clinic, on late nights when no one needs stitching up.

And when he returns home, he finds one of your old letters still tucked inside his medical textbook.

He rereads it, fingers trembling, and realises too late—he could’ve loved you right, if only he’d let himself try.

His next patient finds him staring into nothing, stethoscope in hand, utterly elsewhere.

Medical Log – Never Filed Patient: N/A Status: Unreachable Treatment note: Emotional detachment leads to unintentional abandonment. Prognosis: Permanent loss. Notes: She used to come into my clinic with little things. Fake injuries. Paper cuts. Just to be near me. I knew. And I let her pretend. I let myself believe I had time. That once I stopped thinking about MC, I could finally give this girl the pieces I hadn’t sealed away. But healing is slow. And people… they don’t always wait for your hands to stop trembling. She’s warm now. She’s whole. And I still wear gloves to hold my regrets.

[harlivyanddansen]

The largest part of a show's audience isn't online. And more likely than not, even if an aspect of the show is very popular online, it may not be for the viewing audience as a whole. So yes, if it's seen as pandering, focusing on that aspect in any way can be the death knell to any show.

Lena's prevalence in Seasons 5 and 6 is clearly evidence of this. The ratings dropped significantly because while the online fandom had been asking for more of her, the general audience was not.

They were friends with secrets, which I don't see as a great foundation for a friendship, let alone romantic. If Lena were a man, I'd be questioning his motives *hard,* and it would have been far more obvious they were going for a villain-or-hero arc where the show's resident Luthor was concerned.

As for the 'warring houses' comment, let me put it this way: They were far more willing to kill off a Superman to bring the desired one out of hiding (the one who still hated Lex), than they were to make a popular fan ship canon (which arguably would have benefited them, even with all the characters coming out over the last 5-10 years). They were betting on a horse who had already won rather than a filly who never left the stable, so to speak.

The biggest problem with making the ship canon is that the main selling point, that being the actresses on the show having chemistry, does not translate well into any other projects.

This is not speculation. As an Olicity fan, I watched my ship fail spectacularly in the Media Tie-In comics for Arrow. And it was all because the ship leaned so heavily on the chemistry between Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards.

Add to that the fact that Kara in the comics COULD NOT *BE* more different from Melissa's (night and day), and I can see why they wouldn't do it. I don't have as much information on Lena, but my impression is that she'd have the same problem.

As for HarlIvy, their journey started in the early 90's with BtAS. They had three episodes at least (some of the best in the entire series), and while it wasn't made canon until the comics over a decade later, the reason why it worked was that their chemistry wasn't based on the performances of the actresses. It was based on characters who, even sanitized, were still very much in line with who they were in the comics, in the case of Ivy (Harley was created for the show and took off like a rocket). It took nearly 30 years for the ship to get their own show.

Does any of this mean SC won't become canon? No, but given that they gave the ship name to a company in-universe in the comics, I don't see it happening any time soon.

Lena Luthor and Kara Danvers are my roman empire.

They did such a Lois Lane treatment on Lena. A highly intelligent woman, so clever, who doesn't connect the dots but by all means should, especially as close as Kara and Lena (and Supergirl and Lena!) are.

Every single thing about them is love-interest-coded and their chemistry is off the charts from day one. The push and pull, their body language, their dynamic. The way neither wanted to hurt the other and ended up making all of the wrong decisions for the right reasons because of it. The way Kara goes to bat for Lena every single time no matter what. The way Kara offers herself up in Lena's place so quickly even when she's just found out that Lena has kryptonite. The way Lena is so hurt by Kara keeping such a huge secret and the way it hurts Kara to keep it.

They keep throwing men at both Kara and Lena who only have half the chemistry and it just feels forced every single time. I refuse to believe that it's just because I'm a lesbian and therefore probably biased.

James and Lena? Bad.

Mon-El and Kara? Horrible.

The best thing they could've done, the thing to give the show the most closure, the most satisfying ending, would have been to have Lena and Kara get together in the finale.

[sillyseraphie]

“the last flower crown”

wherein: his feelings for you haunted him like a ghost from the moment he lost you.

pairing/s: mydei x gn!reader

today's teas are: angst, hurt/slight comfort!

cw: mentions of death+murder+golden blood, amphoreus quest spoilers! unedited!

others: used the song "multo" by cup of joe (actually listened to this while writing) and the anime "frieren: beyond journey's end" as the ref for this!

mydei stood there, watching a bunch of children chasing each other, their cheery laughter ringing through the air.

lost deep in thoughts, he failed to notice a presence nearing him and the soft footsteps that followed.

the crown prince felt something light dropping on top of his head, snapping him out of his thoughts. "the son of gorgo will be crowned in pretty little flowers!" your voice reached his ears, catching his attention.

the world around him felt vibrant and alive the moment his eyes met yours, ones that always brought him peace and comfort.

and oh, that smile of yours, the look of admiration in your eyes when you stare at him, your voice...

the faintest hint of love in your gaze.

they all sent fluttering butterflies in his stomach.

"it's unfair, deimos."

deimos. right, that is what you call him, and every time you do, it makes his heart race without fail.

mydei raised an eyebrow at your spoken words. "unfair? how so?"

"your beauty. it's cruel." your answer only fueled his confusion. what do you mean that his beauty is cruel? "you're so insanely pretty and effortlessly gorgeous, you could even rival women's beauty at this point. i'm envious, i must admit. no wonder lord phainon signed you up in that beauty contest!" he grumbled under his breath at the memory.

"and did i forget to mention that you look even more beautiful with flower crowns? it's lovely. i could stare and admire you for eternity." you playfully said, yet every spoken word felt so genuine.

before you could continue, the kremnoan prince beat you to it with his hand (or his golden gauntlet) placed over your mouth, and on a second thought, you could've sworn that there was a hint of shyness in the way his brows furrowed. "enough."

he brought his hand down and crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze averting elsewhere when he took notice in the way you kept staring at him like he's some masterpiece made to be admired.

it didn't take long for your attention to get stolen from him as the kids called and asked you to teach them how to make a flower crown.

mydei watched you laugh at the group of children circling around you, a small huff leaving his lips when you called out to him to join you to make the flower crowns with the little ones.

how infuriating, he thought to himself, and yet he couldn't help but admire the gleeful look on your face when he finally joined you and the group of children with the flower crown you made still on top of his head (and he didn't bother to take it off).

( he found himself recalling your words earlier—how and why are you envious of his beauty, when your own outshines everything? your smile, your eyes, your voice, your body, your heart, your soul, he finds all of it beautiful. you may not see it yourself, but he can.

to him, you defined beauty itself. )

mydei closed his eyes, savoring the moment before him and the laughter that left your lips, which always sounded like a perfect melody in his ears.

but the moment he opened his eyes, everything had shifted.

the laughter that once filled the air around him faded into a cold, haunting silence and now replaced by the harsh sounds of shovels digging into the ground.

the vibrant scene before him vanished, and he was faced with a cruel reality; your coffin, being piled with soil.

his breath hitched and he could feel his heart sinking, the joy and warmth disappearing in an instant, leaving him only with a chilling, empty void. the peaceful moment he wished to hold forever shattered. the warmth of your presence, your laughter—they're all gone.

you were gone.

and he never got the chance to make you a flower crown and see you wear it on top of your head with that lovely smile on your lips.

he stood there, the weight of regret settling so heavily on him. you knew him, you saw everything in him, you understood, accepted, admired him, and yet,

he barely knew you.

years spent together without leaving each other's sides most of the time, and yet all those years felt like mere seconds to him.

he knew you were fragile, your life can be taken easily anytime.

he knew. but why didn't he take the opportunity to get to know you better while you were still there?

─────────────────────────

a life without you by his side is something mydei never wishes for.

everything felt so cold and empty since you left, bringing the warmth and radiance along with you.

why did you have to leave so soon? the question echoed in his mind.

he yearned to hear you laugh and your voice calling out to him, to see your smile, to see your eyes—ones that he often gets lost in, to feel your warm, gentle hands braiding his hair and your fingers brushing through his locks.

he yearned for you.

mydei gently placed a fresh, vibrant crown of flowers on top of your grave, replacing the old one that had wilted and lost its color.

your absence has been haunting him like a ghost. he could still hear your voice in his silent moments, calling his name.

every time he glances at the empty space beside him that you used to occupy, your face comes into his mind.

no matter how deep he buries the past—the pain, his heart still aches. it was as if his past isn't the one that gets buried, but him. it felt like he was being buried alive by his overwhelming feelings that haunted him like a ghost every night.

and it felt so suffocating, to the point he finds himself unable to escape from it and break free.

─────────────────────────

"how..."

the sound of a blade being pulled out from a flesh and liquid dripping down to the ground filled the air.

mydei collapsed on the cold, hard ground, his body now lying in a pool of golden blood.

the son of gorgo was finally meeting his end after getting rejected by death several times throughout the years he has lived in his life.

his heartbeat had gotten slower and weaker in each second that passed, his breaths shallow, the warmth leaving his bleeding body.

'become the dawn, deliverer'—was his last words, and he hoped these words would reach the hero of amphoreus.

right as the warrior was about to take his last breath, the blurry sight of golden blood pooling the floor before him shifted into a vibrant field of flowers.

and there you were, lying beside him— softly smiling and your eyes staring at him with such warmth, admiration, and pure love, the top of your head adorned with a flower crown.

the very same, and last flower crown he had left on your grave.

the sight sent a rush of warmth through his chest, and in that moment, he found himself swearing before the life in his eyes faded,

that in another life, in a different universe—where none of this chaos exists, he will find you, just like how you found him in this cruel world.

─────────────────────────

💌: thank you for coming! i hope you enjoyed today's sweet teas and tales! let me know in the comments if you wish to be tagged in my written works, i will be making a tag list!

silly taggies! @sqgeism @strawbairicake

please do not copy without permission and proper credits .ᐟ

[hyukascampfire]

(🍸) SOMETHING BORROWED .. い葉 hard thoughts

𝓘N WHICH 𝗒𝗎𝗇𝗁𝗈'𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝖽𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗎𝗉, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗏𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗍

engaged윤호 ‧ f rea 17OO . . . smut non idol ˃ ᵕ ˂ infidelity/hardcore cheating angst crying during sex

ɑ︭ : literally my first atz fic but this vision came to me and i knew it had to be yunho

You were doing so good at pretending his engagement brought you to happy tears, or that the thought of him waiting at the end of the aisle for anybody but yourself was anything but gutwrenching. And then Yunho went and told you that they were getting married, and your carefully constructed lie that even you began to believe went crumbling down all over again. Tenfold. 

“Oh… my god,” you said, smiling so tight it’s a wonder he didn’t know right away. “Yunho. That’s crazy. Congratulations!” It was a good effort, but it wasn’t even convincing to your own ears.

“I know.” Yunho’s smile was broad, so truly filled to the brim with excitement. Afterall, he was hitting a major life milestone, even this time he’d be doing without you. “It’s like we graduated high school yesterday. Now we’re getting married and starting families...”

The rueful smile you mustered had ached so terribly. Sure, he was doing that. You certainly weren’t. He was leaving you alone, just when your brain had finally matured enough to name those dazzling emotions in your chest whenever you looked at him. But you weren’t about to go and steal such a big moment for your long-time best friend by saying something sappy and drawing all the attention to yourself, so you gave him false smiles and sugary congratulations until the moment faded and you were left with the emptiness of one, stone-cold fact.

Jeong Yunho, your best friend and long-time love of your life, will be getting married. And it will not be to you.

It’s not even like you hate the girl. She’s sweet. You would rather no other woman be Yunho’s partner in life, if only it weren’t draining the life force out of you to watch them love each other. Exchange kisses that you never got to feel and only existed in your shameful fantasies, become each other’s in every way that you imagine being Yunho’s and him being yours.

And, if you weren’t currently sprawled out in the same bed he no doubt makes love to her in. Yunho was always bad at boundaries with you. Not only would you cuddle, but his fingers would find the plush of your hips in ways that felt beyond the denomination of best friends. He spread kisses with so much ease. Some pressed to the top of your head, always since he hit that growth spurt in middle school and was ecstatic to finally be taller than you, some chaste and against your shoulders when he’d hug you from behind.

Even moreso now, when his wedding is an excruciating three weeks away. Three. And you’re alone here with him, laying in his bed, still loving him. It’s wrong, and even your bruised heart knows it. Not enough for you to stop yourself though, clearly.

“Where are you guys going for the honeymoon?” you ask, eyes getting droopy. You know better than to fall asleep in this bed though. Who knows what would happen, should his fiancé come home to find the two of you dozed off together. Perhaps that’s a glaring sign that you shouldn’t be doing it, to both protect his relationship and your own hopeless heart, but you’re as bad at boundaries as he is. Especially knowing that soon he’ll be promised to another woman, and that’ll be the effective end of times like these. No more nights curled up on the couch, binging your shows together, no more any of it.

“Not sure,” he hums. There’s a strange look in his eyes, one that has butterflies erupting violently in your belly. The button-down he had been trying on for you, the one he’ll wear on that awful day, is rumpled and pushed up to his elbows. He looks down at you, beautiful fingers trying and failing at a tie.

“You don’t know where you’re going?” you ask, climbing out of bed to help him. That’s weird. Yunho has seemed excited about all fronts of this wedding. Actively a part of planning the decor, the venue—any girl’s dream. The love of their life being just as involved and in love with such a beautiful day as you are. “It’s less than a month away, Yunho…” Your fingers loop the sleek tie, painfully reminiscent of the way you had done just the same for him on your prom night. That had been the best night of your life: pretending to be his, wrapped in glittering fabric and his arms. Now you will wrap yourself in something grown and silky, but you’ll go it alone and you’ll be sat in the pews instead. Tutting, you add, “It’s hard to book places the closer you get. It should’ve been booked months ago.”

His mouth twitches like he wants to say something, but he doesn’t. You freeze at the look on his face, the way his eyes soften and dart between yours, the way tension simmers in just the way you work the tie at his neck.

“Hey?” you say, voice thin and unsure. Like sending feelers out more than anything. The air becomes suffocating like the weight of the plethora of things that you absolutely should not do right now, but the fragile boundaries have never felt closer to snapping than this very moment. “Are you seriously getting second thoughts?”

Silence rings out in the bedroom for the longest moment. Snapping all the tension, he finally says, “I’m sorry.”

Sorry? Sorry for what? Why would he be sorry to you for questioning his marriage? Your mind fractures into fifteen different, convoluted directions. And then he just kisses you. The first time you feel those lips of his outside of fever dreams, they’re hot on your mouth and moving with crumbling fervor. The clashing of your teeth ring like warning bells that the both of you make the conscious decision not to hear or heed. You whimper confused sounds into his mouth and he consumes them each. His fingers curl into the back of your hair to drag you into him closer as if that might erase all the time you’ve spent dancing around this, or as if it might leave no room for you to think about the wrongness of it. 

You’re barely able to pull yourself away. “Mfffh—Yunho,” you say, breathless and dazed.

The back of your knees hit the bed and then so does your back. And just like that, you’ve slipped right back in that damn bed of theirs. “Fuck,” he chokes into your mouth. “Don’t even say it. I don’t know.”

Inhibitions are smashed to bits somewhere on the floor. You tug that tie loose around his neck and instead of doing what’s right, you do exactly what’s wrong. “Don’t marry her, Yu,” you say, chest welling up like drowning. “Please.” The words spill out quicker than you can rationalize.

He doesn’t answer you. You know that it’s because he can’t make any promises. That should be enough for you to pull back. And sure, it stings. But as self-destructive as it is, you’ll accept crumbs. You’ll accept the ‘mistake’ sex and the regret just to have him once. Disgusting.

Your tongues dance as you fumble with your clothes like you’re running out of borrowed time. You certainly are, aren’t you? The clinking of his belt turns your insides over and sends your hands shaky as you drag both your pajama shorts and panties down in one fell swoop. Faster. Needier. More, unattainably more. Your blood sings the word until he’s inside you, and suddenly you know the shape of your best friend and how snugly he fits inside you. There is no way you’ll ever be able to forget it. That and the sight of his handsome face only a breath’s width from you, breathing each other’s air. They sear into the back of your fluttering eyelids.

Yunho’s grabbing fistfulls of your hips and losing himself. His whimpers fall into your neck and shoulders. Soon enough he’s losing rhythm and the headboard is beating the walls and you’re both so close to forgetting the betrayal of it.

So close. Tears burn trails down your temples, glistening in the soft light. The ache shocks you, but so does the strange detached, floatiness.

“Shhh.” His voice cracks as he wipes them away with a gentle, slow thumb amidst all the frenzy. “Why’re you crying, baby?” Canting his hips just right, a shudder grips the both of you. “Please don’t.”

Kissing him just to taste, you take his lip as you pull away. “I… I can’t take it. I don’t want you to just fuck me and…” Voice breaking off into a whimper, you try to gather your scrambled thoughts. “And then just… you be able to forget about it and go back to her. I love you so much, Yu. It’s not fair.” You know you sound pathetic, but you’re already here letting him fuck you in her bed. How much lower can you go?

Much, much lower, it seems. Yunho brings his left hand up, twinkling with his promise to another. Pulling the ring off his finger, he rolls it between his fingers and then cups the soft curve of your chin. “Open your mouth,” he says, soft. Dumbed down, mindless, you do without second thought. And then he lays his ring on your tongue and fucks you with it there. You roll it around, taste it like the bubbling champagne and floral arrangements that it vows. “No—” he breathes, falling out desperately. “No, let me see it. This should’ve been… yours.”

So you hold your tongue out for him, letting him see that ring in your mouth, in hopes that maybe, by some miracle, it’ll change his mind, and it will be yours. Even as your insides twist up. Even as you shake apart on his length, and he stills above you and pulls out at the very last moment to spill over your belly. The pads of his fingers taste bitter as he collapses over you and takes the metal right back off your tongue, ripping away that future you had let yourself imagine might be yours just like how the clarity post-orgasm seeps back over your thoughts. 

As he pulls away, the air stagnates with shame, and it is sharp. How are you supposed to let him go now? All the words you want to say get caught up in your throat and won’t come out. You can’t ask him if things have changed, or what you’re going to do now. So you will just go on the way he seems to be, rolling the moment off his shoulders like it wasn’t dirty and wrong. You will push it all down once again, and then some.

OO1. 【 tagging 】 . . . @lvrs-street2mmorrow , @soohashits , @f4iryfever , @arcturus444 , @linqed , @serenityism00 , @immelissaaa , @luv4cheol , @lickingan0rchid , @20-cms , @hhoneylix , @beestvng , @hyucktapes , @bewitchless @blankliving , @yaoizee , @stormy1408 , @missychief1404 , @izzyy-stuff , @lunesdesire , @sunoolver , @cherricola-star , @xylatox , @hearteyes4hobi , @hyunj00 , @taebatu , @caratcakemoa , @biteyoubiteme , @dawngyu , @hyunruhi , @heesmiles , @lunesdesire , @yystarz

rblgs & asks >ᴗ<

[corrcdedcoffin]

Pissed - JJ Maybank

request: yes

summary: you and jj get into a drunken fight and ignore each other for days. in those few days, your friends don't hear from you and go looking for you, only to find you unconscious in the middle of nowhere.

warnings: hurt/comfort fic. drunk fights. mentions of blood and stitches. fluff. happy ending.

Pissed was an understatement. You were furious; full of blinding rage — and so was he.

It started off as a small argument when you saw some girl throwing herself at JJ. You knew he wouldn't ever entertain it, but you were drunk and got jealous (something JJ always thought was cute, except for that day). So, things got heated between you.

You couldn't help it — whoever she was, was practically drooling all over him and trying to touch him wherever she could get her grubby little hands. You saw him laugh hard at something she said, only making her lean into him even more. It drove you mad. Even more so when he didn't seem to be getting rid of her.

Why wasn't he getting rid of her?

Usually when you argue, it hardly ever turns into a full blown fight. It was one of the things the rest of the pogues were surprised by, but fond of. But this time, things were said that can't necessarily be taken back.

Clingy. Possessive. Annoying.

The way he shouted them at you was on a constant loop in your mind. The fact that he'd shouted at you in the first place was enough to have you offended.

Asshole. Fuckface.  Mentions of a break up.

Don't fucking talk to me again.

You couldn't escape it. Everyone knew that JJ was prone to outbursts, but never with you. No, he always kept his cool with you, even during fights. He always found a way to calm himself and you down, always said he didn't want you to go to bed angry because if you did, it meant he failed at making you happy. At being your person.

Now, it's been two days.

Two whole days without seeing or talking to him. Two days of bone crushing dread. 

Kiara had told you about everyone getting together at John B's, and said JJ was already there. You didn't mind keeping it civil while with friends, but you weren't gonna be the first one to break. You were standing your ground. 

When you arrived, JJ got up and left without a word. 

It was like taking a knife straight to the heart. 

You acted like it didn't bother you, but your friends knew you both better than that. Pope tried to offer some consolation and advice, you shrugged it off and said you were fine, but he'd never seen you so quiet before.

On the third day, no one had heard from you at all. John B texted you about the swell, and all he got in reply was a simple no at ten in the morning.

Sarah and Kiara texted and called you throughout the day wanting to have a girls night, go shopping, do something without the boys. They knew you were upset, and nothing could cure a hurting heart like some time with your girls. 

They didn't get a response either.  It wasn't until later that they started to really worry.

You had always been good at keeping your friends in the loop, even if you weren't up to hanging out. You'd say you wouldn't make it, but you'd see them the next day, or whenever you could. You'd still respond to random texts and sent tiktok's, at the very least giving a reaction to it.

Today was radio silence. Even JJ was starting to worry, though he tried not to show it. The girls got mad at him for that.

"You're being an idiot, JJ" Kiara told him.

"Seriously! What if something happened to her?" Sarah added.

JJ rolled his eyes, sighing. "Nothing happened, okay? She's probably just trying to get a rise outta me, and it's not gonna work, alright?"

Everyone was silent at that, because they knew you'd never take it that far.

"I'm gonna go look for her" Sarah spoke, getting up from the couch. She had an uneasy feeling she couldn't ignore. 

Kiara volunteered to go with her, and eventually everyone except JJ had got up from their seats and headed towards the twinkie.

Pope looked back at JJ and let out a deep breath, full of disappointment. "Come on, man. Even you know this is out of character for her, and if you really aren't worried like you're acting, then you're not who I thought you were."

He let the door slam after that, making JJ groan and harshly rub his face. The thought of something happening to you was eating him from the inside out. It wasn't until he heard the sputtering engine start that he got up and ran to the van, shouting for them to wait.

After deciding the first logical place to check was your house, the ride was silent. Shaking legs, fiddling fingers, insides of cheeks being chewed.

It got worse after they found out you weren't home.

They checked everywhere. The boneyard, the park, your favourite cafe, the bar, even checked if you worked that day. Nobody had heard from you.

Everyone was arguing on where to look next, having a hard time deciding since you didn't frequent very many places, and being unable to come up with anything that would make sense for you. They were silenced when JJ got behind the wheel, telling them all to get in.

There was one spot they didn't check.

The drive was a bit lengthy for the tension, the trees growing thicker didn't put anyone at ease. It was a spot you and JJ had found a few years ago while fucking around and exploring questionable terrain. You'd found a small, beaten path and begged him to see where it lead.

To both your surprise, it was a small pond with a semi stable gazebo with a hole in the roof that was big enough to stargaze through. You'd spent quite a bit of time out there together, calling it your own and claiming it as your future wedding spot.

The memories had JJ clenching his jaw.

How could he have been so stupid, so stubborn? You were the light of his life, how could he treat you like this? All you did was shower him with the love he so deeply craved. You cared about him more than anyone, and he hurt you. There were a million thoughts running through his mind. 

Were you hurt? Were you with someone else? Was this really a break up and not just a fight gone too far?

If it was a break up, JJ didn't know if he'd ever be okay again. You were his girl, forever and always. He knew he'd never be able to move on from you, and he never wanted to. 

He slowed down as they got closer, hearts and minds feeling slight relief at the sight of your car. Before he had the van in park, Sarah and Pope had hopped out and ran to your car to check for you. 

JJ was silent as he walked past and through the trees, everyone sharing looks of confusion before shrugging and following along. It was quiet. Mosquitos buzzing and crickets chirping could be heard all around. The occasional twig snapping under someones shoe. 

"Where the hell are we going?" John B broke the silence. 

The path was dark. Sarah and Pope had turned on their phones flashlight as JJ replied, "It's a spot we found a few years ago."

Just ahead they could see the clearing, and the faint outline of the gazebo. Kiara called out your name as she looked around, but got no response. As they got closer to the gazebo, JJ started to run. 

It wasn't until he kneeled down that they saw you lying there. 

"Hey, hey, wake up" he shook you gently. No response. 

"C'mon, baby" he tried again, but it wasn't until Pope shone the light on you that they noticed the blood trickling down your temple. 

"Oh god, what happened?" Kiara asked no one in particular. 

John B walked around looking at the gazebo, noticing a fallen board nearby, a tiny splotch of blood on the corner. "This happened" he held it up. 

JJ clenched his jaw, ashamed of himself for being so stubborn and letting you get hurt. He scooped you up and held you tight, "Hospital. Now."

Everyone ran back down the trail and got the van ready to go, JJ going as fast as he could without light, trying not to trip and hurt you even more. Pope helped him get you in the van, Sarah shutting the door as John B sped back to town. 

He sat on the floor with you pulled against him. Cradling your head and gently stroking your hair away from your face, pulling it out of the drying blood and exposing your wound. It didn't look life threatening, but you'd definitely need stitches. 

"Check her nose" Pope said, turning his flashlight back on. 

"For what?" John B asked. 

"If her brain is bleeding!"

"There's no blood" said Sarah. 

"It's not blood that comes out, it would be clear and watery and it's not good."

JJ looked, then wiped a finger under your nose. "She's good" was all he said. 

They went back to being silent after that, watching with sadness as JJ caressed you and kissed at your head over and over. Any other time anyone saw him tear up at something, they'd have laughed and poked fun at him for breaking his tough guy exterior. This time, they were silent. 

It was his worst nightmare come true. Fighting and not talking, on the brink of losing you not just temporarily, but forever. 

He ran into the hospital as fast as he could when they pulled up, careful not to shake your head too much. He screamed for help. He placed you on a bed. He watched as they ran away with you, checking your pulse and your breathing, and he was left there to wait. 

It felt like a lifetime sitting in that waiting room. Twiddling his thumbs, watching the news, reading shitty magazines. He tried to nap, but his brain was working overtime telling him all the things he did wrong in your relationship, specifically the last four days. 

He tried to see you. 

The doctors and nurses kept telling him no, family only. They didn't listen when he said he was your boyfriend, and they didn't care that he was the one to bring you in. Pope and John B had to hold him back and talk the staff out of kicking him out. 

He had to wait nearly six hours before he got to see you. Six dreadful hours. Your parents never showed up, so the doctor finally let him in after JJ explained that they were on another continent, and the only family that was here, was them. 

They all piled into your room, staring at you. Stitched and bandaged, monitor clipped to your finger and an IV attached to the opposite hand. 

"She's going to be fine," the doctor began. "Minor concussion at most."

"Then what's the IV for?" JJ asked. 

The doctor sighed, knowing he wasn't letting up until he got answers. "C'mon man. She's got no one else here" JJ spoke, fatigue preventing him from snapping. 

"It's antibiotics in case of any infection from the wood, just a precaution. I'll leave you to it" she nodded before leaving the room. 

Everyone stayed for a little while before leaving. John B and Sarah said they'd be back in the morning with some clothes for you both and some food. JJ sat in the stiff visitors chair, scooting close and holding your hand, resting his head on your bed and finally getting some sleep for the first time in days. 

He woke up to a soothing scratch against his scalp. He always loved when you'd play with his hair. 

His head shot up and he stared at you, wide eyed. Everything he wanted to say to you got bunched up in a ball and stuck in his throat, his eyes watering as he struggled to get any sort of word out. 

"It's okay" you whispered, and he lost it. 

"It's not okay" he shook his head, "I'm so sorry" he sobbed. He apologized over and over, a blubbering mess. You rubbed his hand, his arm and his back as he cried until he calmed down. 

"God, I'm an idiot" he sniffled, "You're the one hurt and in the hospital and you're the one comforting me" he shook his head, wiping his eyes and nose. 

"That's okay" you shrugged. 

"No, it's not!" he argued, rubbing his face in distress. "Are you okay? How's your head?" he asked, moving to sit next to you on the bed, not letting go of your hand. 

"It's fine. A little sore but.." you shrugged. 

He just stared at you. He tried to come up with anything to make the situation better, but he couldn't. 

"I'm so sorry, baby" he whispered. "For everything. The fight, the things I said, everything after. For being so fucking stubborn I- I'm so, so sorry." 

You nodded. "I'm sorry too. I--"

"No, you don't have anything to be sorry for."

"JJ stop. Just because I hit myself in the head doesn't mean I didn't also fuck up, okay? I lost my shit on you and it wasn't cool, I was just.. I don't know. Drunk and jealous, and I didn't handle it well, clearly."

"We were both idiots" he stated. "I just, I need to make sure you weren't serious when you mentioned breaking up. Or if you were." He choked out. 

Every single part of him was praying you didn't mean it. He wasn't sure what he'd do if you did. 

You shook your head, tears spilling out. "No," you sniffled. "I don't want that. Do you?"

"No, no, absolutely not. You're it for me, sweetheart."

You were released from the hospital a few hours later. John B and Sarah had brought you some clean clothes and a peanut butter sandwich with a wildberry juice box. You scarfed it down before they even started to take you home. When parking outside your apartment, they both gave you a big hug and kiss on the head before leaving. 

JJ didn't let go of you since you woke up. He always had a hand on you, or holding you, he even helped you get dressed before leaving the hospital. He doted on you all day long, making you food and snacks, bringing you water, massaging wherever he could get his hands on you. 

You'd spent the day watching movies, talking, cuddling. Making up for the days lost. 

He'd made spaghetti for dinner, then ran a bath for you, candles all around and bubbles filling the tub. He undressed you, helped you in, and then sat on the floor right next to you. 

"What're you so far away for?" you asked, and he scooched closer. You shook your head. "Get in" you said. 

You watched as he undressed and climbed in behind you. You leaned back against him and closed your eyes, enjoying the feeling of him rubbing your arms, shoulders, neck and chest. Relishing in the love and affection he was showering you in. 

It was quiet and relaxing, and you never wanted it to end. 

"I love you" JJ whispered, kissing your head. "So much."

"I love you, J."

[ballsandbabes]

Connection Lost

authors note: I know this is a very sports themed blog, but i recently stumbled about some very interesting Infos for a love and deepspace character, that got me inspired// y/n = your name// not proof read// GIF not mine // Have fun <3

pairing: Luke (LADS) x fem!reader

summary: Well, its pure chaos,but basically Luke has the hots for reader, who is an informant for Sylus. So what happends when filthy thoughts enter Lukes mind, while he still has the link to his brother??

genre: romance, fluff

word count: 9.5k

The N-109 Zone was colder than you imagined.

Not the kind of cold that gnawed at your skin—though the recycled air in the outpost left much to be desired—but the kind that wrapped around your thoughts. Isolated. Quiet. Too quiet.

You were new here. An informant Sylus had handpicked for reasons still unclear. He’d said he needed someone sharp, someone who didn’t ask too many questions—and you? You couldn’t help it. You were curious about the N109 Zone and it inhabitants, especially about the twins.

You failed your Hunter Examn three times and thus exhausted the maximum number of attempts. Now you were banned and would never be able to become a Hunter. But that didn't mean you weren't good. You did things your own way, at your own pace. You needed your rhythm and that fell apart when they tried to squeeze you into the Hunter Guild mould. You were almost broken. And now here you are. In a new city, without a proper job and with broken dreams. In short, the last year just sucked. sometimes you wished you hadn't moved to Linkon to fulfil your dream of becoming a Hunter. You've had all sorts of jobs over the past few months, none of them well paid.

But when a black letter fluttered through your letterbox, your hitherto dreary life took off again. The mysterious organisation Onychinus had asked for you. In a fit of ‘I have nothing left to lose anyway’, you ventured into the forbidden zone. You had been subjected to a series of tests before you finally met him: Sylus. The head of the organisation. Gangster. Ready for violence. Handsome.

Sylus was loud, unpredictable, often seen with a too-wide grin and a datapad that blinked with encrypted secrets. And then there were the twins: Luke and Kieran. At first you found them totally annoying whenever you handed in your reports at HQ. Stupid questions, sarcastic remarks and just all-round idiocy, you thought. Most of the time, you were just annoyed when they were around.

Everything turned out differently than you thought. One evening, you made your way back to your flat in Linkon, with Sylus' new assignment in your pocket. Over the next few days, you were to shadow a person whose name had only been shortened to MC, a young woman. A Hunter. You had felt like you were being followed the whole time, but you didn't think anything of it, as the crowds in Linkon always increased in the evening. But by the time you turned into your street, it should have been too late. With a loud clang, something metallic hit you on the back of the head.

They had stolen all the documents from you that said anything about MC. The twins had searched for you after your long absence and brought you to the headquater's crane room. You had grown fond of sylus, why didn't you know? But you seemed to remind him of someone he knew. That was also the reason why he had ordered you to live at the base from now on. Before you could say anything about it, your city flat had been cancelled. And that's how you ended up here.

Sylus and the twins had become something like your family. You had lost your father in the war and you no longer had the wish to see your stepmother. You were alone. And to be honest it felt great, to be able to come home to someone, even if it was just the twins. The two of them fascinated you. They seemed to share a brain. Finished each other's sentences and always seemed to know what the other was thinking. it felt like they shared their senses and thoughts, in a sense that they felt closer to being one single entity split in half, than two regular brothers. As you figured out relatively quickly both remained with their own personal tastes and personalities, even though they were pretty similar. You always asked yourself, if that meant that they also had shared feelings.

That couldn't be true for Kieran, he was leaning over the armchair next to you with his head to the floor, reading a book. he was the younger of the two and also the slightly smaller one. He was the calm, reliable, and stubborn one of the two. Kieran didn't seem like the type to share his feelings with his brother.

Luke, on the other hand, was a completely different story. He was temperamental, unpredictable and vigilant. He also had a penchant for cold things, especially ice cream, as you noted. So being around him, felt always colder than the zone you were stationed in—until he wasn’t.

The first time he looked at you, really looked, it was like you’d stepped into someone else’s memory.

___ _ _ _

“Stop staring,” Kieran muttered to his brother one night after you’d left the surveillance room. You weren’t supposed to hear it. But the door hadn’t quite shut.

“I wasn’t,” Luke replied, voice sharper than usual.

“You feel her too. Don’t deny it. You know I can feel your nerves lighting up like a relay. She’s pretty. I get it,” Kieran said annoyed. For his nineteen years, he was sometimes quite altruistic and mature.

A pause.

“I don’t want you in this, Kieran,” Luke finally said, “Not this.”

The silence that followed was heavier than any gravity shift. What was that about? MC, the woman you were supposed to be shadowing? Granted, she really was a beauty. Did Luke fall in love with the young woman while sifting through all the footage? You had to suppress a little laugh. Sure, he was spontaneous and impulsive, but that was a new level of stupidity, even for him.

But at the same moment, that the smile appeared on your face, something else had spread. A kind of sadness. You loved spending time with the two of them, but Luke was your favourite. He always had suggestions for things to do, he took you out of your everyday life, he gave you the feeling of endless freedom. His sarcastic remarks, the silly remarks, they made you smile. You were totally blown away when he knocked on your door and wanted to take you for a night-time ride on his motorbike, in the zone.

But his affections already seemed to be focussed on someone else.

___ _ _ _

Since overhearing the twins' conversation, you had become curious. Could the two of them really read each other's thoughts? The more you researched it, the more you learned. So it was no wonder, that you learned quickly, that the twins shared more than DNA. They were psychic mirrors—linked by something deeper than blood. Thoughts, pain, senses… pleasure. It was said that if one twin dreamed, the other would wake remembering it. It was totally strange. How was that possible???

You started catching Luke looking at you more often. But he never said anything beyond protocol. Never broke rank. Never touched. You were pretty sure that this was a new task for sylus to keep an eye on you. So you thought nothing of it.

___ _ _ _

Until the night, when the rain came—acidic and red, scattering your outpost’s comms and knocking out part of the signal array. The rain in the N109 zone was almost toxic due to the air pollution. If it fell very heavily in the same place, it corroded the surface. Sylus didn't like the fact that you wanted to go out to do your chores. He thought it was stupid and careless, but now was time to shadow your target inconspicuously. So you went nevertheless. And now??

Now you were stranded inside the auxiliary hub, alone, until the door opened with a mechanical hiss and Luke stepped through, soaked and grim-faced.

“I came to check on you,” he said. His voice had an edge—like he was trying not to feel something too deeply.

You smiled, teasing despite the tension,“Sylus send you?”

“No,” he replied.

"Then Kieran send you to check," you figured. The silence stretched. Then, softly, almost like an admission, “Sylus is on duty...Some meeting. And Kieran...he doesn’t know I’m here.”

That caught you, “But… I thought you two—”

“Always,” Luke said, “We’re always connected. Every thought. Every flicker of sensation. If I burn my hand, he flinches. If I close my eyes and dream, he sees what I see.”

You swallowed,“So… right now, he—?”

Luke stepped closer, “Not if I block him. Which I can’t do for long, only a few minutes. But I had to try. He would be so mad if he knew I am here.”

He looked at you then, like you were the answer to a question he hadn’t dared to ask until now.

“Do you know what it’s like,” he murmured, “to never have a moment that’s only yours?”

You shook your head. It must be awful, to share everything. When not even your thoughts were your own.

“I want this. I want the moments we share. But I don’t want him to feel it too,” Luke admitted. There was a fragility in his voice that cracked the shield you’d seen him wear like armor. For once, Luke didn’t seem like the older, colder twin. He seemed… human. Longing. Afraid.

“What happens if you cut the link?” you asked.

He hesitated. “To be honest, there is no way to to so. But if I had to guess, I would say Pain. For both of us. It’d probably be like slicing a wire that runs through your bones.”

You reached up, fingers brushing his wrist. His breath caught—so did yours,“ I cant imagine what it must be like to not be your own person, but rather two. Then how about we make this moment yours.”

You two had sat down. You asked him if there was anything he wanted to say that was none of Kieran's business. That he always wanted to feel that was none of Kieran's business. And so a short, honest conversation began. Luke confessed that he had once been in love, but that it had been a bad thing that Kieran had interfered. Kieran had been afraid of losing his brother, of having to share and had always beaten the girl up. You had asked him if there had been anyone else after that. He had replied that he couldn't allow you to do that in his situation. Not if it was always under observation. This answer brought tears to your eyes. The idea of never being able to love because there would always be someone else around made you sad. It also occurred to you that it wouldn't be easy to find someone who was okay with this situation.

"There should be moments and feelings that belong only to you," you say, leaning slightly towards him.

Mirroring your actions, he leaned in as well, and you felt the hum of restrained energy ripple between you—like static caught in the air, like the moment before a lightning strike. Something seemed to pull you towards him. And as his lips met yours, a tremor ran through him. A split-second later, a burst of pain flared behind his eyes. He gritted his teeth and pulled away, clutching his temple.

“Kieran...he,” he gasped.

“He...what?,” you asked. He did not answer. He felt Kieran bite his hand, a warning. Luke had felt the pain too. Kieran had done it to remind him that he too would feel the pain and heartache if it backfired.

Luke had almost forgotten about that. If you didn't feel the same as him, it would just be a game for you, both brothers would have to feel the strong emotions of unrequited love.

___ _ _ _

Luke didn’t speak to you for three days after the kiss. Not in the halls of the N-109 outpost, not over the comms, not even a glance when you passed in the mess hall and brushed shoulders by accident—though you were sure it wasn’t an accident. You replayed that moment in the auxiliary hub over and over in your mind. The kiss. The way he’d said “He can’t hear me.” The pain that flared in him before silence fell.

And now that silence was everywhere. It wrapped around you like a shroud. You weren’t the only one who noticed. Sylus cornered you by the diagnostics console on the fourth morning. He leaned lazily against the panel, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in a look that was too casual to be innocent.

“Y/n, did you do something to Luke?” he asked bluntly.

You blinked, “What?”

“He’s been—off. Shut down. Like someone flipped all his switches halfway and forgot to put the rest back,” Sylus explained his point of view.

You gave him a wary look, “Maybe he’s just busy.”

Thats when Kieran felt the need to enter the conversation,a s he entered the room. He snorted,“My brother doesn’t get ‘busy.’ He gets obsessed. If he’s not working, he’s reading reports. If he’s not reading, he’s training. Lately, he’s doing none of that. You’re the variable.”

You tried to shrug it off, “We talked. That’s it.”

Sylus tilted his head, smile thin, “Talked, huh?” Kids these days were something different he thought. Kieran watched you a moment longer, something sharper in his eyes now, “I haven’t felt him lately. He cuts our connection sometimes....he has never done this before. It’s muffled. Like I’m hearing echoes through water.”

Your chest tightened,“You said once you shared everything. What happens if—?”

“If he cuts me out?” leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Then he’s hurting. Bad.”

You didn’t say anything, but Kieran wasn’t stupid. His eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked into place.

“Oh, no. Don’t tell me he—? Ohhh. He did.”

You looked down, voice barely above a whisper, “He said he wanted something that was his. Just for once.”

Kieran straightened slowly, the amusement drained from his face.

“He wouldn’t do that. Not unless…,” He trailed off, then swore under his breath,“He’s falling. That idiot.”

“Falling?,” you echoed.

“In love,” Kieran said bitterly,“Which is exactly why he’s avoiding you now.”

"That would explain a lot," Sylus chimed in. You stared at Kieran, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

Kieran ran a hand through his hair, “Oh, it makes perfect sense if you know Luke. He feels things harder than I do. Deeper. He tries to control it, manage it like a system, but if he falls for you—then it’s not just him anymore. It’s me too. I’ll feel it. Every heartbeat. Every ache. Every crack. Every longing.”

You stepped back, suddenly cold,“You’d feel it if his heart breaks?”

Kieran nodded,“Down to the last shattered piece.”

Seeing the shock on your face, Sylus stepped in,"We should probably have told you this earlier.... There is an organisation that is experimenting with the protocores on humans. Luke and Kieran come from just such a lab. They were born twins and orphans. That's why. times chose them, or so we assume. I found them on one of my missions when they were just six. They've lived and worked here with me ever since."

"Both Luka and I each have a piece of the same protocore in our bodies. We don't know where exactly, but it connects us and makes us one person," Kieran explained further.

You couldn’t believe it. Not really, but the tears in your eyes said something different.....This was horrible. You could never grasp what the both of them must have been through.

Not until later that night, when you found Luke standing alone on the northern perimeter of the dome, hands clasped behind his back, watching the storm swirl outside like it could wash away whatever he was wrestling with.

“Luke,” you said softly. He stiffened, didn’t turn.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” you tried again. He didn’t answer.

“I deserve to know why,” was your last try.

He was silent for a long moment, before speaking in a low voice, rough with restraint, “I suppressed the link to give you a moment that was mine. Just mine. I thought… I could hold onto it. Like a keepsake. But I underestimated the pain Kieran would feel, if the connection was lost. I cant imagine what it would feel like if I cut him off forever...the pain...”

Your heart twisted,“Then why are you shutting me out? Maybe I can help?”

He finally turned. His eyes were tired—dark circles under them, skin pale under the faint glow of the perimeter lights. His voice cracked like something barely held together,“Because I don’t want to fall in love with you.”

Silence dropped like a blade.

“Luke—,” you were taken aback.

“If I do,” he said, taking a step back, “you’ll be in every thought. Every breath. And if I lose you… it won’t just hurt me. Kieran will feel it too. He won’t say it, but he will. We’re not just connected—we’re entangled. We always have been.”

He looked down at his hands, as if they were covered in something he couldn’t scrub off.

“I suppressing the link would make it easier. But it didn’t. I still feel everything, more even, I can feel his pain, his anger towards me” he admitted.

You took a step toward him, and he didn’t move.

“Then don’t do it alone,” you said gently, “If you’re scared, I’ll be scared with you. But don’t pretend it didn’t mean anything. It did. To me.”

He looked up, and for the first time, you saw fear behind his usual calm—raw and honest.

“I’m not afraid of pain,” he whispered, “I’m afraid of what happens if you’re the one to walk away.”

You reached out, took his hand, “Then don’t give me a reason to.”

He didn’t pull away. For now, the storm stayed outside.

___ _ _ _

Let it be said: sneaking around a top-secret blacksite base controlled by Onychirus is technically treason. But it doesn’t feel like treason when Luke has his hand on the small of your back and is tugging you into some obscure storage closet between Section 4 and the emergency escape corridor. The lights in here flicker like a bad romance holodrama.

“Are we seriously doing this again?” you ask, breathless from running. Luke’s smirk is all slow, dangerous confidence,“We’re alone.”

“Until Sylus finds us and ejects us into space,” you teased. He kisses you anyway.

Across the base, Kieran groans and slams his datapad onto the table. It bounces, nearly shattering against the steel surface.

“He’s doing it again,” he growls to no one in particular.

The mercenary standing nearby flinches,“Who’s doing what?”

“My brother. My emotionally-repressed genius brother who thinks suppressing a psychic bond is the same thing as disabling it.” Kieran pinches the bridge of his nose,“I’m getting secondhand butterflies. BUTTERFLIES. You know what that feels like? Like indigestion and emotional weakness. In my chest.”

The merc hurries away. Too much family drama.

___ _ _ _

Back in the closet, Luke’s lips brush against your jawline like it’s classified. His hands settle on your waist and stay there.

“You’re laughing,” he says against your skin.

“I’m not,” you say clearly giggling.

“You are. I can feel it,” he smiled.

You giggle anyway and swat at him,“You’re supposed to be cold and mysterious.”

“I’m a liar,” he murmurs, before kissing you again. The whole thing is reckless, warm, and a little awkward—especially when you both bump into a shelf of prototype drone parts and nearly knock an entire crate over.

CLANK.

You both freeze. Luke whispers, “We need to be more careful.”

You whisper, “You’re the one with your hands on my ass.”

“…Noted.”

After the butterfly flew away, Kieran was able to get back to work. He stares at a half-finished data schematic and suddenly drops his stylus. His hand flexes. His heart rate spikes.

“What now,” he mutters aloud. A flash of heat wavers through his body. A shiver of tension. Someone is kissing. He is kissing? No, not him. Not really.

“Luke,” he growls, eyes narrowing, “You absolute idiot.”

"Like its a suprise", Sylus low voice said suddenly, "I want you to finish your work properly, lets go get the two. This needs to end."

And he was right. Kieran hadn't been able to concentrate on his work for a fortnight because his brother's feelings and senses had been transferred to him. Strong ones at that. It practically put him out of action.

___ _ _ _

“Found them,” Sylus announces five minutes later, as he opens the closet door with the force of a judge issuing a death sentence.

You and Luke spring apart like guilty teenagers caught making out behind a gym—which, emotionally, is basically what this is. Sylus stares at the scene in front of him: Luke’s jacket half-off, your lipstick smeared, both of you wide-eyed like escapees from a romance drama.

“You know,” he says flatly, “I may be the leader of a semi-illegal black ops mercenary syndicate, but even I have standards. A closet, really???”

Luke brushes imaginary dust off his shirt. “We weren’t—”

“I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING. I FELT IT THROUGH THE BOND, Luke. I had to stop working because you were ‘probably not being tortured.’” Kieran gestures with both hands, enraged, “Do you have any idea how awkward it is to get secondhand arousal from my own twin? This is emotional WARFARE.”

“Sorry,” you apologized sheepishly.

Sylus turns to you, eyes narrowed. “And now to you young Lady. I trusted you.”

“Wait, what?,” all exclaimed, turning to face Sylus.

He waves you off. “Not really. But still. I had higher hopes.”

“You didn’t have to feel it if you weren’t so nosy,” Luke turned now to his brother.

Kieran makes an exasperated noise that sounds like a dying engine,“You suppressed the bond, not shut it down. You can’t mute a fire alarm by shoving a sock in your ears!”

Luke raises an eyebrow,“That’s not how fire alarms work.”

Kieran groans into his hand,“You know what? Fine. Go ahead. Keep sneaking around like horny civilians on shore leave. I’ll just be here. Being the right hand to a cutthroat corporation. Babysitting my psychically-linked disaster of a brother who keep getting emotionally entangled with his co-worker.”

As he storms off, you and Luke exchange a look.

Luke shrugs, “So… back to the closet?”

“Let’s try the ventilation shafts this time,” you grin, “More plausible deniability.”

In the shadows of the base, Kieran sits in silence, eyes glowing faintly blue. He taps into the bond—just for a second—and feels the echo of your lips against Luke’s. Kieran’s jaw tightens,“…He’s going to get himself killed.”

But there’s a faint smile on his face.

___ _ _ _

Sylus kicked the door to HQ open with all the dramatics of a man juggling a galaxy's worth of secrets in one arm and a mysterious woman in the other.

“Alright,” he grunted, dragging her in by the wrist, “we've got a guest.”

The woman—MC, as she introduced herself—was cold-eyed, scarred, and strangely calm for someone who’d just been pulled out of a top-security Onychirus intel hunt. Her presence was charged. Not psychic. Not kinetic. But undeniably… known.

And Luke, standing across the command deck, barely noticed her. Because you were standing just beside her. You. Hair a little messy from recon. Cheeks flushed from the elevator ride. Laughing softly at something Sylus had muttered.

Luke’s jaw clenched. His heart rate spiked. He looked away, hard. Suppress it. Focus.

“...and this,” Sylus was saying, gesturing toward MC, “this is an intruder send by the hunters. Wanted to attend an auction but merely was desguised. Beginners mistake. But there are also some good news, the hunters know a lot. Maybe shes someone who knows how to sever and reestablish twin psych-links.”

Silence.

Luke’s head snapped up so fast Kieran looked over, alarmed.

“Sorry—what?,” Kieran asked, crossing his arms, stepping out of the shadow like a very irritated backup drive.

MC nodded slowly. “I, myself have a protocore in my body, therefore I read your neural sequencing. You’re "broadcasting" on an open shared frequency. Crude but stable. With the right focus node, it’s possible to turn the link off temporarily… and back on, without psychic recoil.”

Sylus blinked, “You're telling me these two could—what—toggle their brains like Bluetooth?”

MC just smiled,“Basically.”

Luke forgot how to breathe. MC handed Sylus something, “The calibration protocol’s inside. Use a neuro-sink, boost frequency buffering, and you’ll get privacy.”

Privacy.

Luke made a noise that was halfway between a cough and a desperate prayer.

Sylus didn’t even look up. “I swear to the void, if you two start dry-humping across my air vents the minute you get emotional autonomy, I’m going to jettison myself into space.”

And thats, how all of you spend the afternoon. You tested it. Neuro-sync chamber. Calm lighting. A quiet hum. MC guiding Kieran and Luke through mental alignment, then detachment.

Luke stared. He felt the link to his brother loosen. He stood up. Kieran blinked at the sudden action,“You good?”

Luke walked right past him. You were still in the hall, besides the little room MC, Kieran and Luke tried to disable the link, when Luke emerged, and it only took a look for everything to combust. He walked straight to the hall. Straight to you.

“Are you—?,” you began to question. And then he was on you. Mouth crushing against yours. Hands gripping your hips, pulling you into him like you were the only solid thing left in the universe. You gasped into his mouth. He groaned.

“Oh my stars—,” Kieran’s voice echoed from the comm system. “Were not fully detached.”

MC coughed politely in the background.

“Can they breathe?” she asked.

“They’re young. Let them burn it off,” Sylus said, sipping from his thermal flask,“They’ll pass out eventually.”

___ _ _ _

By the time you and Luke emerged in the dinner hall—clothes slightly rumpled, hair an arguable disaster—Sylus was reviewing MC’s data, waiting for dinner to be served and Kieran had fully committed to pretending you didn’t exist.

“Are you okay?” you asked him.

He scowled,“Your boyfriend’s psychic horniness just leaked through the backup link and I got a vision of a janitor’s closet that I wish I could unsee.”

Luke didn’t even pretend to be sorry. Sylus sighed deeply, not looking up from the display,“If you break anything while making out, you're both getting reassigned to waste-processing in a Nebulon outpost.”

You saluted. Luke smirked.

Luke had you. His head was clear. His brother wasn’t screaming. And teenage horny chaos reigned supreme.

[sunflowerry-vol6]

IF YOU WERE MINE || CEO Harry x Reader

characters count:

summary: your husband opens your marriage, while his best friend Harry is determined to steal you

first part

Harry’s POV:

The next morning unexpectedly doesn’t start with Tom shouting. I wake up to the smell of something tasty — I don’t even know when the last time I ate something home-cooked was. I mean, I do know how to cook, but when you operate a billion-dollar company, you don’t really have time to use all of your skills.

I rub my eyes softly, assessing the situation. I’m in the guest room where I slept with you, in your house, where you took me after yesterday. God, when Tom finds out, I bet he’ll be furious. See, the thing about Tom is that the man is in constant competition with me. Ever since school, he always wanted to get better grades, earn more money, get more girls — but he always failed. I was better at everything. The only thing he had that I didn’t was you.

When he got shitfaced at his bachelor party and I was the responsible one taking him home, he confessed to me that, more than anything, he was afraid you’d leave him for me. But how do you fumble so badly after that? Oh, y/n, I’m sorry, but I don’t think he ever truly loved you. I think he loved the idea of someone like you on his arm, making every man in the room jealous. You’d think he’d treat you like a goddess, worship the ground you walk on, do everything you asked just to make sure you wouldn’t leave him. But Tom became too brave, and the way he treated you seemed to worsen every day.

Well, it’s always the ugly men that get confidence out of nowhere.

I put on my suit pants and shirt from the pile of neatly folded clothes I left on the chair last night. I button it halfway and glance through the window. His car’s not here. I check my watch — there’s no way he went to work at this hour. That’s when it finally hits me: he didn’t come home last night. It shouldn’t make me this giddy — he’s hurting you, after all — but it does. This fucking wanker is making it easier for me. He’s leading you right into my arms after years of being afraid this might happen.

I can’t hide my smug expression when I walk downstairs, but my smile immediately softens as I see you in your pajamas with the most serious expression ever, flipping the omelet. You look like you’re performing a science experiment and a million lives depend on it.

“Morning, sunshine,” I say softly, my voice still groggy from sleep. I press a kiss to your cheek. “It smells good.”

You let out a satisfied sigh. “I made you coffee. No sugar, with milk.”

Of course you know how I like my coffee. I can’t count how many times we’ve gotten coffee together.

“Thank you, love,” I say, sitting down at the table and taking a sip. “He didn’t come home last night, did he?”

“No, but I’m glad he didn’t. I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with him this morning,” you say, grabbing two plates.

I chuckle. “You know he’ll blow up like a pufferfish when he finds out about us.”

You place the plates — omelet, cherry tomatoes, and some greens — on the table. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s so simple, domestic, and soft. You always take care of your body — vitamins, greens, fruits, fiber. The idea of you caring enough to make sure I eat well is already enough to get me on one knee for you.

“Tom always cared more about beating you than being a good husband,” you say, sitting down across from me. “He’ll blow up for sure, but you know… I don’t think I’m scared of him anymore.”

“You shouldn’t be. He should’ve been scared of losing you a long time ago.”

I look down at my plate — the omelet is perfectly cooked, fluffy, folded.

“God, I don’t even know why I stayed that long. Maybe I thought if I worked hard enough, I could fix him. Or maybe…”

You sigh. “Maybe I just didn’t want to admit I was that unhappy.”

“He didn’t deserve your effort,” I say softly but firmly.

“You always say the right thing, don’t you?”

“No,” I smile gently. “I just don’t lie to you.”

You return the smile. “Eat or it’ll get cold,” you nod toward my plate. I finally take a bite and almost moan. I missed homemade food so much that this omelet just melts in my mouth. Oh, y/n — what can’t you do?

“God… can you turn from my right hand to my personal chef?” I ask with my mouth full.

You chuckle, chewing thoroughly before speaking. “Just come here more and I’ll cook for you.”

There’s a moment of silence. We eat in a kind of peace neither of us really knew we needed. The kind of quiet that doesn’t ache. When you finish, you lean back a little in your chair, your fingers wrapped around your coffee mug.

“So what happens now, H?”

I meet your gaze. “Now? We do this properly.”

You raise one eyebrow. “Properly?”

I lean forward, elbows on the table. My voice is calm and dripping with sincerity. “I’m not going to be some secret affair, y/n. Not for you. I want to be the man you come home to. I want to wake up to you — without the guilt, without looking over our shoulders.”

Your breath catches.

“And when the divorce papers are signed, I want the world to know. I want to take you out, hold your hand in public, tell people you’re mine. I’ve waited long enough, haven’t I?”

Your lips part. There’s that flicker of hope again.

“And if Tom doesn’t let go easily?”

“Then he can drag himself through the mud, and I’ll still be here. Standing next to you. Protecting you. Loving you.”

A quiet laugh escapes your lips, soft and bitter. “God. You always loved me better, didn’t you?”

“Always.”

You put your mug on the table, softly grabbing both of my hands. “I can’t promise I won’t mess this up.” Your voice is quiet.

I gently squeeze your hands. “Then we’ll mess it up together. But you won’t run alone anymore. I’m in this, y/n. All the way.”

You lean over the table, softly placing a kiss on my lips. It’s short — but when your lips find mine, it isn’t shy or hesitant.

It’s earned. Years in the making. The kind of kiss that doesn’t ask what happens next, because this — me and you — is what’s next.

And Tom?

He can keep the ashes of what he ruined.

We’re building something real.

Pleasing office building, 9:03 AM

My hand brushes against yours, intertwining our fingers as the elevator door closes. We’re both dressed impeccably — you in your tailored navy suit and silk button-up, me in an all-black suit that screams don’t test me. Who would’ve said that just a couple of hours ago, we were kissing in your kitchen after eating omelets you made?

“You sure you want to be here today?” I gently brush a strand of hair behind your ear.

You take a deep breath. “Tom isn’t the reason I run my business. And I’m not giving up the empire I helped build because he wants to play games.”

“That’s my girl,” I say, smiling proudly.

Boardroom, 10:45 AM

I sit at the head of the long glass table. You’re next to me. Your laptop is open, your posture is queen-like — effortless, commanding. The room is filled with department heads and investors, but all eyes subtly flicker between the two of you.

Tom hasn’t shown up.

“Mr. Styles, shall we proceed?” one of the investors, Mr. Hale, asks.

I nod. “Yes. Let’s begin. y/n…” I turn slightly toward you, inviting you to lead. The look on my face makes it clear to everyone in the room: she’s not just an investor’s wife. She’s a force to be reckoned with.

You launch into the quarterly projections without missing a beat — clear, eloquent, deadly smart. I watch you like you’re giving a symphony performance, leaning back in my chair with the slightest hint of pride.

“We’ve noticed a huge rise in sales after global pop stars Jennie and Rosé wore our Pleasing crewnecks from a PR kit,” you explain. “We can’t ignore the global rise of K-pop stars and their influence on fashion. They have the ability to sell out luxury items from Chanel, YSL, Gucci, and other household brands. Their fanbases are loyal enough to buy out every item they wear or collaboration they create. Groups like Blackpink, NewJeans — they could be our chance not only to raise sales and reach a younger audience but to break into the Asian market.”

You change the slide. “Lastly, our pop-ups have been a great success, giving us significant recognition on social media. If we combine that success with a collaboration with global pop stars, we’ve got ourselves a win.”

By the end, everyone is nodding. Once again, my love — you proved yourself.

I smile softly. “Brilliant. Thank you so much, y/n.”

“Damn, where do you get those ideas in that little head of yours, Mrs. Harrington?” Mr. Hale says, impressed.

“If I told you, you might take my job away,” you reply with a soft smile, returning to your seat as the voting begins.

My Office, 1:15 PM — Lunch Arrives

We’re seated on the long leather couch in your private office. Glass walls, skyline view, privacy glass engaged.

You open your takeout container, clearly starving.

“You know… I’m aware of how smart and hardworking you are, yet every single time you take over that boardroom, I’m speechless,” I say softly.

“I always wondered if you ever regretted hiring me, investing in me… I thought there must be a reason Tom wouldn’t, while he invested in your company.” You take a bite of your pasta.

“Tom invested in my company only to get shares and a seat on the board. But as you know, he only cares about cashing out — not actually showing up for meetings. And to your question…” I gently grab your hand. “No. I don’t regret it. I’d invest in you again and again. I know you don’t see it, but I’ll make a damn graph of how much our sales have grown since you took the position.” I grin, and you return my smile.

There’s a knock on the door. My assistant opens it carefully.

“Mr. Styles… Mr. Harrington just arrived. He’s heading to the lobby.”

“Hold him there. I’ll come down,” I say calmly.

“I can talk to him—”

I don’t let you finish.

“No.” My tone is low, firm. “Let me handle him.”

Taglist: @pauli-loveslouistomlinson @cherryberrystompers @hontpwk @avensgreenvans @venusnettles @nanaisinmars @sincerely-yours-marsbar @fallingwillow @myonlyangel13 @lexiecamposv @emmie2308

[phan3145]

Title: Slippery Slope. Fandom: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Rating: T. ( Cursing) Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader.

Notes: Hello! Yada yada pregnant yada yada writers block yada yada lost 3 chapters and had to transfer everything I had left to a google doc from word. Anyway, ON WITH THE SHOW! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me thus far ❤️ Tagging @smashee0789

Chapter 15: Naïve

You

No sooner had the word left your mouth, did every ape around you, excluding Soona and the Matriarch, begin to speak and sign at once.

“Speaks! Echo speaks!”

“Elder…spoke true.”

“Is said…Echos cannot…speak.”

“She…spoke…heard her!”

“Say more…say more Echo!”

You were suddenly surrounded, the young apes no longer keeping a respectable distance. Some tapped your leg while others circled you. E, no, Eden was fighting her way through bigger apes to get to you. The overwhelming feeling of being cornered wasn’t as striking as it probably should have been, but it was still there as a tingle at the base of your spine. You couldn’t even think of words to appease the chanting around you. The only thing you could think of was the turn the events of today had taken. You didn’t sign up for this.

Eden had grown frustrated at fighting for a place next to you. You saw her huff in anger before charging over to Soona. She kneeled to pick up Eden, but was just as surprised as you when Eden began to climb up her legs, waist, and back. Soona stood as Eden centered herself on her shoulders, a vague idea of what she was about to do tickling your brain. Then, without further preamble, Eden leapt off of Soona with a force that startled both you and ape.

“Eden no- fuck!” You screamed without really thinking. You had just enough time to hold out your arms to catch her before you were toppled to the ground from the impact.

Your pelvic muscles screamed at you, not as loud as your back, but enough to make you wince and whine. Eden was standing on your chest, looking at you now with concern as she wondered what had caused you to cry out in pain. She patted your cheek and moved hair that had fallen into your face. You winced again, hissing as you took in your next breath. Soona stepped closer then, face showing concern the longer you remained flat on your back.

You huffed out a breath, testing your shoulders to make sure nothing was broken before raising a hand and showing a thumbs up. “I’m alright.”

“Can speak…can speak!”

The chorus started again. You internally groaned, the noise becoming an external one when you heard one of them ask, “Fuck?…what does…fuck…mean?”

“Echo word.” Another added.

“Echo word…Echo what does…fuck mean.

Greeeeeat. You’re around children for two minutes and you already taught them how to swear.

You sit up slowly, holding Eden as you do. She was spirited for one so small, you’d give her that. She hissed and swiped at any ape that stepped too close to you, not needing words to communicate to the others that they needed to back off. You appreciated the effort as you caught your breath, trying and somewhat failing to calm your racing heart. All in all though, the situation could be worse.

You looked up then, to find the Matriarch staring at you. You fought the urge to swallow. Though she was an ape, and that fact alone intimidated you, she had a very calm presence about her that told you that you were in no danger. Whether that was due to her obvious age, or the softness you saw in her eyes, you were unsure. She did her best to smile at you, “Our youngest…seems…attached…to you.”

The other apes around you had quieted to a hush, stepping back in what felt like respect as the Matriarch began to shuffle towards you. You nodded, Eden remaining fixed in your lap while her head glanced back and forth from you to the Matriarch. “I suppose. I found her by the water. Soona said she wandered off…?”

The unspoken question was obvious. The Matriarch simply hummed, “Youngling…may have…mis-under-stood…my teaching.”

You raised your eyebrows, “Which was?”

“All life…holds…intelligence,” The Matriarch began. “From boar…to Eagle…to Echo…speech matters not…all must be…respected.”

You nodded, not quite sure where she was going with this. She offered you her stick, which you took with a signed Thank you from your free hand. As you stood, Eden clung to your clothes, until she was hanging off of your back by your shoulders. Your instinct was to brace her, but by the way her head rested against you, you were sure she was just fine. The Matriarch spared Eden a single glance before continuing, “Echos…are not respected…seen as…pests…I say Echos…can be as…smart as ape…Master of Birds…befriended one…planned to meet Echo…downstream…today…to discuss…im-por-tant matters.”

“That’s right,” you agreed. You noticed the stinted way she talked, slower, not nearly as clear as Noa or Soona. You wondered if it was due to her age or if it was a personal choice, similar to Anaya often speaking in the third person. It was almost soothing, the way she spoke. You felt comfortable enough to ask, “Where did the misunderstanding happen?”

“Younglings,” she continued. “Did not believe…an echo could…speak…but…Master of Birds…would not speak…downstream with…a silent Echo…if they could…only see…they would know.”

You arched your neck slightly to look at Eden, “Did you take that as an invitation or a challenge?”

Eden’s lips thinned, refusing to acknowledge your question. Of course her hands were busy, but she also refused to nod or shake her head. You simply shrugged your shoulders, a task much harder with her weight hanging off them. “Suit yourself.”

The Matriarch hummed, “Think she…saw lesson as…permission��she is small…easy to miss...I am…grateful…that you found her…comforted her.”

“Oh,” you said, stunned by her thanks. “It was no problem, really. I’m just surprised you knew Noa and I were planning to meet downstream.”

“Have heard…much…about you.” The Matriarch chuffed, “Especially…before this sunrise.”

“You’re an elder!” You guessed, lowering your head and bending your knees in some show of respect. “I am sorry if I offended you or your clan yesterday by not showing. I was…I was not prepared to do so.”

You heard Soona and the children begin to hoot behind you, a few discreet sounds coming from Eden as she trembled against your back. The Matriarch simply shook her head, signing as she explained, “I am not…elder…though I am…old…am known as…honored teacher.”

“Honored teacher,” you repeated and signed at the same time. “My apologies. I guess…I’m more well known by your clan than I originally thought.”

You gave a sideways glance to Soona, feeling slightly betrayed. You couldn’t fault her though, or any them for that matter, when it came to the clan knowing about you. In a way, you were more protected should a random ape stumble upon you. It hadn’t happened yet, no sign of any others except the usual trio, but that could change now that Summer was in full swing.

“Known?” The Matriarch parroted. “By some…yes…more gossip…and guess…from most.”

“Oh,” you responded dumbly. You wanted to ask how the idea of you had been received, but fear acted as a lead weight to your tongue. Fear of being seen as a nuisance or a pest. Or worse, a threat. The vague notion of you might be better than the clan outright knowing how imbedded you had become within the life of their Master of Birds.

Your thoughts were interrupted then by their Honored Teacher, another hum leaving her as she made a vague gesture to the young apes. “Have much to…teach…but thought…you would…like to…help.”

It sounded more like a question. Were you being told or asked? The younglings began to hover around you once more before sitting near the edge of the bank in a lineup…all still staring at you. Even Eden tumbled from your shoulders to join the group. You looked between their tiny, expectant faces, Soona, and the matriarch. What were you meant to do here? You shifted from one foot to the other, watching Soona seat herself on the ground next to the students. The look she fixed you with was curious, as if in this moment you knew more than she did.

Were they waiting for your answer?

The silence stretched another heartbeat before you cleared your throat, “Sure. I don’t know how much help I’ll be…but I can try.”

At that, multiple tiny arms went up, waving frantically while the children hooted for attention. Your eyes widened slightly at their enthusiasm, Soona seeming just as surprised as you. Their Honored Teacher used her staff to point at one of the children, who proudly stood and asked, “Does Echo have a name?”

“I do,” you answered just as proudly. You gave your first name, letting the information be absorbed, even commented on before you asked, “What are your names?”

The largest of the young apes stepped forward, the one who had scented you earlier, pointing to himself as he said, “Able.”

You nodded, watching as he pointed to the slightly smaller ape next to him, “Atlas.”

A hoot of excitement drew your attention to three clustered apes, who answered one after the other, “Juno.”

“Sky.”

“Ravi.”

You mouthed each name after it was said, trying to remember faces with names. Their features weren’t too distinct yet, seeing as they were young, but a few had arm bands or fur markings that caught your eye. Able was the easiest, seeing as he was the biggest, but the three female apes had very little in terms of distinction. You turned then to the two remaining apes. They looked between each other skeptically, before the one on the left pointed to himself, much like Able had, “Breeze.”

The final one mimicked his friend, “Ford.”

That was a lot of names, unusual ones you knew you would struggle to remember. Too bad you couldn’t write them down. Ford’s head turned slightly to the side then, studying you, before he asked, “Why do you only have hair on head…are Echos meant to be bald?”

The question took you by surprise, and you would have felt insulted if it had come from anyone else…but coming from an ape child, it was almost cute. You heard a slight huff behind you from their honored teacher, who was clearly displeased with Ford’s question.

You simply smirked and shook your head, “Echos are not meant to have hair everywhere as thick as apes do. We are just different that way; like how fish have scales, and birds have feathers. We have hair in places that are vulnerable to cold, meant to help keep us warm. We also have more hair than what you see on my head. The other hairs are just thinner and harder to see.”

Juno’s hand went into the air then, so excited she did not wait for their Honored Teacher to call on her.

“How do you speak?”

You hesitated, wondering how best to explain it. They were children after all, so maybe a simple answer was best. “A long time ago, all Echos could speak. Now, only some of us can. I’m one of the ones who can, so I do.”

“Why? Why only some?” Able asked.

“Well, it’s complicated.” You bit your lip, hands tightening at your sides, “First, Echos became sick, and there weren’t a lot of us after that. We could still talk then, but many years- uh, generations later, Echos started to lose the ability to speak. We weren’t sure why or how to stop it. We just…kept to ourselves after that. The ones that could speak lived together, and the ones who couldn’t lived outside with…nature.”

Sky hooted, “Echo lived with other speaking Echos?”

“Where?” Able chimed in again, “Where are speaking clan of Echos?”

“Is Echo alone?” Atlas interjected. “Did your clan lose ability to speak?”

“Is Echo going to join our clan?” Juno said, “Master of Birds was meant to speak with Echo today.”

Your mouth felt dry then. You swallowed hard, willing the sudden sting in your eyes to go away. The children were still hurling questions at you, but you didn’t hear them. Your mind had begun to tune them out as your current situation was brought into focus. What you thought was going to be an impersonal lesson about Echos and coexistence, had suddenly turned into a very personal lesson about your life. At this stage you didn’t even have a response to the questions they were asking, mind too busy trying to figure out how to answer without causing more trouble between the species. You weren’t prepared to teach Echo 101 to children today. Again, you didn’t sign up for this.

That’s when an unexpected silence suddenly came over the group in front of you, another loud and very disapproving grunt resounding from their Honored Teacher. Or, so you assumed. Your eyes cut to her then, attention solely on you, eyebrows raised in a silent question.

You nodded, taking a deep breath through your nose as you tried to remember the multitude of things the apes had wanted to know. After another moment of silence, you replied, “My clan did not lose their ability to speak, but they did lose me. I travelled a very long way away from home, and found myself here living on the edge of your territory. I am alone now, but that’s okay. I’m an Echo, and Echos can be a clan of many or a clan of one. I choose to be a clan of one, because it makes me happy.”

You waited for more questions, but an unexpected lull fell over the group. The children were torn, looking back and forth between each other and the ground. That’s when you realized the tone of the group had shifted to something almost uncomfortable. Did you do that? What had you said? Was it just them reacting to being scolded?

No

Your eyes found Soona, who looked almost sad, but she wasn’t looking at you. She wasn't staring off into the distance either. Her gaze was clearly on something else, but before you could think more of it, another hand slowly went into the air.

It was Eden, who waited patiently for their Honored Teacher to point at her before she began to sign her question, Why does Master of Birds speak with Echo?

That was a complicated answer, one you weren’t sure you wanted to explain, when a familiar voice behind you chimed in, “Because I…enjoy what Echo…has to say.”

You turned sharply then, seeing Noa standing a few feet behind you. You had never seen him look sheepish before, but the way he stood reminded you of when you were a child being yelled at by your parents. He did not seem angry though, which put you at ease immediately, causing a smile to bubble up as you sighed out, “Hello, Noa.”

The corner of his mouth twitched up then, “Hello, Echo…younglings…honored teacher.”

Younglings? You assumed that’s what the apes call their children, and as you thought about it, Able had called Eden a newborn earlier. You also recalled Anya and Noa exchanging the same insult when they were teasing each other. You would need to ask about the different terms for apes and their ages, not wanting to offend anyone accidentally by referring to them as the wrong age class.

You heard their honored teacher chuff in amusement, “Son…welcome…younglings have…many questions…best for…another day…time for Echo…to meet with…Master of Birds.”

Son?!

Your head snapped towards their honored teacher so fast you thought you might have pulled something. If she noticed your confusion, she did not show it, simply nodding and hooting something you did not understand to the children. In turn, they all started to shuffle back up stream, running and chasing after one another in a way that was obviously playful. All except Eden, who tugged on your arm until you bent down to her level. She grabbed the back of your head then and crashed her forehead against yours, rubbing it back and forth a few times before pulling away. You rubbed the sore spot between your brows, watching Eden take Soona’s hand before pulling her along to follow after the others.

Soona did not pause to say goodbye, which was strange by itself, but then you caught her tossing a pointed look over her shoulder towards Noa. You couldn’t quite decipher the meaning behind it, and before you could focus on it any longer, Soona’s head swiveled and she gave a last minute wave in your direction. Your hand rose slightly to return the gesture, before Soona’s attention was jerked back towards Eden. You snorted a small laugh, lowering your hand as you watched them go.

All too soon, you found yourself alone with Noa and his mother. You felt his eyes on you, but you could not meet his gaze, mind overwhelmed with everything you had just experienced. Did you just answer youngling questions about humans? As if you were some expert brought in to teach a class of students.

“You are…alright?” Noa asked, breaking the silence.

You turned to face him again, nodding silently before his mother added, “She is…very kind…very good…with younglings.”

“Thank you, honored teacher.” You replied and signed.

She nodded once, hand raising so her knuckles nudged your shoulder, “I am…called Dar…should you ever…need my name.”

You felt your eyebrows raise slightly, before replying, “Thank you, Dar. I enjoyed learning with your group.”

Dar hummed contentedly, eyes shifting to Noa, “I will…depart…return to…younglings…allow you and…Echo to speak.”

Noa grunted in understanding, before his mother turned back towards you, “I am…happy…to have met you…hope to see…you again…soon.”

You swallowed, trying to smile, “I hope to see you, and the younglings, again too.”

With that, Noa’s mother turned and followed the same path the younglings had taken mere moments ago. You and Noa remained quiet, exchanging patient glances until you both determined Dar was a good distance away. You raised both eyebrows at Noa then, as you asked, “You told your mother about me?”

Noa shrugged, face expressionless, though he would not meet your eye, “Echo is…important…mother deserved…to know.”

You nodded, suddenly aware of the midday sun beating down on you. The energy between you and Noa seemed to shift into a tense silence along with the heat. You supposed neither of you really knew how to start. Taking a deep breath, you asked, “Walk with me?”

Noa cocked his head slightly, but grunted in agreement before shuffling alongside you. You didn’t have far to go, but you wanted an excuse to move closer to the water, closer to your rock. Your feet toed the edge of the water before you turned back to Noa, “I’m going to cool off real quick, then I suppose we have some things to discuss.”

“Yes…we do.” Noa said, looking skeptically at the water’s edge.

There was a twinge of pain in your abdomen as you took your first step into the water, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, you waded in up to your waist, cupping some water in your hand before splashing it onto your face. You sighed in relief, repeating the process and allowing the water to dampen your hair slightly. From the corner of your eye, you caught Noa staring, deep in thought as he watched you. Inhaling deeply, you decided stalling wouldn’t do either of you any good.

You carefully made your way back to the water’s edge, finding a rock slightly submerged in water, and just big enough to sit on. This allowed you to keep your legs in the water, which would keep your temperature down as well. Wrapping your arms around your knees you arched your back in a slight stretch before sighing, “I should probably start off by saying that I don’t want to fight. I just want to talk.”

“I do not…wish to fight…either.” Noa agreed. “I…regret yesterday…I was…wrong…came to say that…last night.”

You nodded, “I regret yesterday too.”

Silence engulfed you both once again. You wanted to apologize. Then, you remembered the look on his face after you had thrown that rock, anc when he found you on the ground with Anaya. The shame of it all practically clawed at the back of your throat. Where were you even supposed to start? Had things been permanently damaged between the two of you that now you couldn’t even speak to him like you used to?

“What does…” Noa pasused, the beginning of his question catching you off guard. “What does…naïve mean?”

Your brows furrowed, “I don’t understand.”

Noa’s jaw worked a moment before he explained, “You said…I was naïve…about other apes…accepting you.”

“Yes,” you drawled. “And you called me naïve for questioning the mark.”

Noa huffed, “Yes…but what does…it mean.”

You were confused for only another moment, before you felt laughter bubble up inside of you. “Wait. Did you call me naïve just because I called you naïve?”

Noa turned his head away, looking far upstream before he admitted, “…Maybe.”

You couldn’t hold it in, you started to full on cackle at the thought. You supposed that’s how mad he had truly been, deciding to just throw the word back at you instead of questioning what it meant in the moment. Truthfully, you probably would have done the same. Your side started to twinge from your laughter, and you noticed Noa had turned back at the sound he was so familiar with. He had that warm smile on his face, the one you had seen that night in your burrow.

“Missed…that sound.” Noa commented.

Your laughter died then, and the weight of yesterday hit you again with full force. So much had happened. Your attention was suddenly drawn to the water, fingers running through the sluggish current before you muttered, “Naïve isn’t bad necessarily. It sort of means…innocent thinking. You would call someone naïve who…doesn’t know or understand something because they haven’t had experience with whatever it is they’re talking about.”

Noa was silent, absorbing your words. Then, “Naïve is like…calling ape…a youngling.”

“Well, not…actually no, that’s pretty accurate.” You chuckled.

Noa chuffed in amusement along with you, before admitting, “I was…naïve about…you.”

That caused you to freeze, the hair on your arm standing on end. What did he mean by that? Did he mean about you being a good Echo? Had Anaya told him about Micheal and he knew you had hidden it from him?

Thankfully, Noa explained, “I thought…I knew…better…I was…wrong…Echo is not…pest…or member of…Eagle Clan…I can not…decide…for you…I am…sorry.”

You felt the tension in your body ease slightly. “I’m sorry too, Noa. I understand what you were trying to do. I just…I wasn’t ready. There are things I’m not ready to do…or tell you. I want to, and I will, just….just not yet.”

“Tell me?” Noa parroted. He shuffled closer to the water's edge then, voice softer as he assured, “Can tell me…anything…will listen…not get upset…understand now…you need…time…patience.”

You weren’t quite sure what to say to that. You were stunned by this sudden turn around. Then again, Noa always had been careful with you; could see what you needed sometimes better than you could. It made hiding things from him all the more painful. All you could do was nod, mumbling, “Thank you.”

Noa reached for you then, not suddenly or urgently, but carefully, as if you were the wild animal that may spook if any sudden movement was made. Perhaps in this situation, you were. The movement didn’t surprise you, but the action itself did as he grasped you by your elbow. You leaned in closer, mirroring his hunched position as his gaze focused in on your arm. There was a sort of wonder in his voice as he observed, “You are…more vulnerable…to cold…and heat…that is purpose…of thin…hard to see…hair.”

You blinked rapidly, noticing for the first time, the damp hair of your arm standing on end. How bizarre. It was such a small thing for him to notice. That’s when his words rang again in your ears, and something clicked in your mind. He had been listening when the young apes were asking you questions. Noa had been there.

That’s when all the oddities of before seemed to fall into place. You weren’t sure how long he had been there of course, but he had been there towards the end of the questions at least. When it started to become too much for you, he had stepped in. The disapproving grunt, Soona looking pointedly at something behind you, the young apes going quiet and not looking towards you anymore…that had been him.

Noa continued, not realizing you were having your own revelation, eyes still fixed on your arm. “The younglings…liked learning…about Echos…there is…much to learn…I want to…learn too.”

This statement shook you out of your previous thoughts as a new one took shape. You called Noa’s name, causing him to lock eyes with you, before you asked, “Do you know what a compromise is?”

[pheastinyworld]

lazy mornings ❀•°•───────•

Word count: 0.96k

Warnings: none??

author's note: this is for my darling @perre4ult cause she's not feeling well and she gave me this idea (also kay's not feeling good either, you two seriously need to get better). sorry its a bit short...

| phe's main masterlist |

the night before, you had been watching a movie in gabe’s dorm room. you both had managed to find some spare time in between your studying and his hockey schedule. it was perfect, the two of your bodies snuggled up together, laptop perched up against your legs, as you both just bathed in each other’s presence. 

“i don't know if i can stay up any longer,” you had said, mumbling in your tired state. 

gabe nodded, stroking your hair and placing a kiss on top of your head. “don't worry, go to sleep baby.”

of course, somewhere in between the soft kisses and the time creeping closer to midnight, you did in fact drift into sleep; the movie long forgotten. gabe, fighting to keep his eyes awake, managed to put the laptop away with his free hand. the other arm stayed as still as possible around you, your back leaning against it. he would never dare to wake you up. 

it was now morning and your eyes were the first to open, your hand going to rub the remnants of sleep that had caught on your eyelashes. disorientated at first - the dark-colored sheets and the faint, soapy scent so unlike your usual white linens and lavender - you settled as the steady rise and fall behind you made it clear you were in gabe’s arms.

warm breaths of air tickled your neck from behind. one arm was draped across your waist, pulling you into him so you couldn’t possibly be even an inch apart. gabe shifted against you, nuzzling his face further into your neck as he tried to will himself back into sleep, sighing contently as he hugged you close. 

you cherished these moments, the warm sun pouring in through the small window, your boyfriend clinging to you like he was scared you were going to vanish into thin air. 

you felt his eyelashes flutter open against your skin and almost immediately, gentle, delicate lips pressed sleepy kisses along your neck, making you feel all fuzzy inside. the edges of your lips tugged up and you slowly turned yourself onto your other side so you were facing him.

gabe nearly melted when you slipped your arms around his torso and pressed your face into his chest. honestly, he was still surprised and very much coming to terms with the fact he actually got to do this; got to wake up next to you, being met with that affectionate glint flickering in your eyes that was reserved just for him. it made him want to combust. 

“morning,” his voice was low and rasped from the back of his throat, but it was the most comforting thing. you just hummed in response.  

one of his hands left your waist and came up to brush the hair out of your face, tired eyes peering down to his chest where you were trying to lull yourself back to sleep but failing. 

“y’look really pretty right now.” he muttered, awkwardly craning his neck down to kiss your tinted cheeks that were blushing from his words.

“shut up, ‘just woke up. i know you’re lying.” you laughed, opening one of your eyes and pulling your head back to get a good look at him. 

gabe rolled his eyes and pressed against the small of your back, bringing you into his middle, legs tangling lazily with yours. 

“you calling me a liar?” his voice was playful as he pinched the skin of your hips making you squirm.

“oh absolutely.” 

he looked so boyish when he first woke up; hair sticking up in every direction, all messy, bits falling down into his forehead. he looked so soft, you almost couldn’t bear it. 

“definitely not lying.” he smiled, that cute little sleepy smile, all shy and sheepish, like he wanted to hide back into your neck. 

he was just so perfect you couldn’t resist anymore, you needed to smother him in kisses. as if he knew you had made this decision, he leaned in closer just so you could reach him, allowing you to press a kiss onto the tip of his nose, trailing across to his blushed up cheeks. 

you felt him hum contently, wandering hands slipping under the hoodie you wore and beginning to trace delicate circles on your back, gently moving his fingers against your spine.

you two barely even needed to speak, just wanted to be close to one another. it was so sickeningly sweet. 

he seemed to lean into your touch once you lingered on his lips, lazy kisses, all broken when you started to giggle against him.

“morning breath,” you complained, trying to pull away but gabe continued to chase for your lips.

“don't whine.” he chuckled, managing to catch your lips again. “let me do my favorite morning routine.” 

you snorted, sweeping back his tangled hair that was tickling your face, then brushing through the brunette locks with your fingers. “morning routine?” you questioned.

“mhm.” gabe nodded softly, his lips resting against your forehead as he breathed you in with his eyes gently shut. “got to make up for all the times throughout the day when i don't get to kiss my pretty girlfriend.” 

as if to make his point concrete, he grinned down at you and pressed a slow kiss against your lips, mouth warm and soft. it was the sort of kiss that sent shivers up your back and you absolutely melted into him. 

when gabe finally pulled away, he didn’t go far; his face stayed close, nose brushing against yours and both of you were caught mirroring the same kind of smile, all full of love. 

“i love you.” he whispered like he only wanted you to hear it.

“i love you too.” 

slow, lazy mornings were your favorite.

[miraculous-ninjabird]

Thinking about how Feng Xin, Xie Lian, and Mu Qing all betrayed each other in their own ways following the fall of Xianle.

We are all familiar with the retainer's failures during this time.

Feng Xin's betrayal stems directly from his departure. It may have ultimately been the best choice from him but the fact remains that he made a vow to stay and he didn't. Even it it was Xie Lian who ultimately told him to leave, it's obvious he never believed he actually would, and Feng Xin has carried guilt over this ever since. Being the correct choice for him personally does not change how hurt Xie Lian is by the fact the one person he thought would stay didn't.

Mu Qing, on the other hand, did not betray anyone when he left. He made no such vow to stand by Xie Lian's side and thus it wasn't a betrayal for him to chose to leave in order to prioritize his mother. His betrayal entirely stems from the events that took place on the mountain. Xie Lian was going through the worst time of his life, just trying to get by, and ended up getting ganged up on by gods. Mu Qing saw this and did nothing out of fear of the retribution he might face from the other heavenly officials. His later assistance comes too little too late for Xie Lian who is hurt by being turned on by someone who he saw as a friend.

I see less talk about how Xie Lian isn't an innocent victim in this fallout either. His on form of betrayal comes in the form of his own short sightedness. He's so caught up in how the situation affects him specifically that he doesn't give much care for the others who are supporting him. He fails to recognize that Mu Qing and Feng Xin have lost all the same things he has-their home, their godhood, and their dignity. He sees them as friends, yes, but he still somewhat expects them to stay and act as his retainers even when doing so is ultimately harmful to their relationship. He is difficult to interact with, pushes them away, and gets irrationally upset when they don't live up to the idea of what he thinks they should be. He lies and retreats in on himself when he should be more open and trusting than ever because he just can't let go of the idea of being above the perceived expectations of what he should be. He betrays them by refusing to see.

The tragedy of it all is that you cannot blame any of them for the tragedy of this. They all made poor decisions in the depths of the darkest time of their lives that could be justified from their own viewpoints. It breeds empathy.

Xie Lian being to horrifically distraught after everything to function is an understandable reaction. Mu Qing refusing to assist Xie Lian because he can't risk his new position and the ability to assist it provides is an understandable reaction. Feng Xin leaving when told to go because while he is loyal, he can't bear to watch as Xie Lian continues to tear himself apart is understandable.

Tragic, yet inevitable. I like the way the story doesn't just forever sperate them due to resentment, but I also like how that everything isn't just magically better once they get a chance to talk it out. Mistakes were made, harm was caused, and there is no fixing that but there is moving forward and I really really love that message.

[aosawako]

Answer

“Feelings that come back

Are feelings that never left.”

Tobio Kageyama

Tobio Kageyama asked you to be his girlfriend in your 3rd year of middle school. It was the most he’d ever let someone in at the time. At the time, he was completely focused on volleyball and unable to let you completely in.

That didn’t mean you didn’t try. You managed to make him more comfortable with you, but you couldn’t change his mindset.

It was sweet at times, other times not so much. You understood him in a way no one else did. Understood why he never depended on anyone and chose to do it himself instead. Though, his independence in volleyball appeared in your relationship with him. Tobio insisted on not telling you anything, not communicating because he believed he didn’t need to.

He believed he could do it himself, forever and always. It started frustrating you, though you never admitted it. Instead, you tried to lightly encourage him to depend on you. At least a little. But he didn’t.

There was only so much a person could take before it became too much. Kageyama would push you away and then it would repeat. All it took was a bad game, someone else acting up, a slight mistake in his game.

Tobio would try, he really did. Though he couldn’t change because of the people around him. They just kept disappointing him over and over. Which lead to him being frustrated around you, shutting you out in the process.

That led to what happened a year ago. You told him how you felt, and he couldn’t answer you. Tobio just stared at you, he wanted to say something but he didn’t know what.

He wasn’t like you, comforting and good with words. You knew what to say to him, how to ease him even at the worst moments. He wasn’t anything like you, he couldn’t give you anything more than an, “Okay.”

It was nearing the end of the school year, a few months before summer. You had told him you wanted him to feel like he could open up with you. That you understood why he didn’t but it tired you how he wouldn’t attempt to communicate, just shut you out.

“I really do like you , Tobio.” You had sighed softly, preparing yourself. “And I’ll be rooting for you, in every way imaginable. Maybe right now isn’t the time for us, and maybe we’ll have a better chance in the future.”

Tobio Kageyama thought about that moment often. More frequently than he liked to admit. He saw you around at Karasuno, staring as you passed.

He thought about what you meant, a better chance in the future? Was his time up yet, or could he still make it?

Kageyama had changed, his team taught him more than he thought they would. He could depend on them, he wasn’t alone on the court anymore. The team irritated him but it was different this time. More for stupid reasons over anything.

Now, all he was missing was…you. He thought he lost feelings for you, but all he did was gain them back. He had grown, and you weren't there. You didn't see the fact he had changed. Tobio wasn't going to avoid communication with you, nor try not to depend on you.

So did you mean it? Would there be a chance to make it right this time?

Sugawara was the first person he asked. Kôshi supported the idea, only if Tobio was ready to be the person for you. He saw the progress and growth in him over the school year.

Then Kageyama asked Hinata before sending the message. If he really should do it, if you would even respond.

Hinata was excited for his friend, saying that if you said you really did like him, you would love him now. He encouraged him to send the message because even if it did go wrong, it's better to fail knowing you tried rather than fail not knowing if it could've worked.

You were walking home from school, chewing at your gum, headphones blasting. The music was cut off by a message being read.

‘From Tobio: I miss you.’

Then your music started up again, and you let it. Not checking your phone once as you walked, millions of thoughts running in your mind.

As soon as you got home you opened it, you saw exactly what you heard. You pondered for a moment, what to say. You had noticed his changes, they were subtle. But he had grown more from who he was.

He was in practice when you had responded. So as soon as it was over, he checked his phone. Relief filled him when he saw your name, a simple message followed but it was exactly what he needed. You reciprocated, you missed him too.

(Click photo if blurry)

His message surprised you to say the least. He was almost outside? The two of you didn't live necessarily far from each other, however it would take some time to get to your house. Was he already heading there before he sent you that?

That didn’t really matter at the moment. You quickly got yourself ready, whatever that meant. After a few minutes, you grabbed a pair of shoes. Putting them on before stepping out.

It was already dark out, but you could still spot him. He was standing in front of your house near the sidewalk. The door clicked close after you pushed it into place.

Kageyama looked back to see you, taking his hands out of his pockets. Rubbing them on his sides, was he nervous?

You approached him, walking down to the street. You were going to say something first but he beat you to it.

The top of his head was visible when he gave you a short bow, “Thank you for coming.”

“Well, I just came out of my house. I should thank you. You ran all this way didn’t you?”

Tobio stared at you, lips parting. “I did but it was nothing.” His head perked when he heard you laugh at him, he missed that.

“Thank you..Tobio. I can still call you that right?” He nodded. It was still new to him, but it was welcomed. His eyes stayed on you, he hadn’t been able to get a good look at you in a while.

“What I told you, I meant it. I do miss you and want to get back together.” Kageyama stumbled on his last words, but you could still see he was attempting to be better for you. “I promise you’ll be a priority and I’ll do my best to communicate. I won’t let you down.”

You smiled, he was so serious about it. He only really ever said something if he meant it. The silence sat for a moment, “Then..I trust you keep your promise. You’ve never let me down before so there really isn’t a need to say-“

Kageyama didn’t mean to cut you off but he couldn't wait. “Will you be my girlfriend?” He stared at you like you created volleyball itself. His ears were pink, followed by his face dusted with blush.

“Yes, I will.” You didn’t hesitate when you said it. Tobio really liked that, more than he would want to admit. You saw him bolt to the corner of the street, you were about to follow. Then he ran back, gently pushing flowers into your hands.

“I hope you like them, thank you again.” He watched you touch the flowers. His hands shoved back into his pockets, they were so sweaty. He didn't want you to see that.

“Thank you Tobio. That’s so sweet, you really didn't have to. Did you keep them over there in case I said no?” He looked away from you sheepishly.

“Maybe.” He looked back feeling your arms wrap around him. His face was so red, he was happy he didn't have any of his teammates around. Especially now that he was hugging you back, yeah. It was better that they weren't there.

Bonus ౨ৎ

Kageyama laid in bed, just about to fall asleep. His phone flashed back on, making him grab it begrudgingly. It was Sugawara.

Practice does pay off.